Minimal dissipation theory and shear bands in biaxial tests

True biaxial tests of granular materials are investigated by applying the principle of minimal dissipation and comparing to two dimensional contact dynamics simulations. It is shown that the macroscopic steady state manifested by constant stress ratio and constant volume is the result of the ever changing microscopic structure which minimizes the dissipation rate. The shear band angle in the varying shear band structures is found to be constant. We also show that introducing friction on the walls reduces the degeneracy of the optimal shear band structures to one for a wide range of parameters which gives a non-constant stress ratio curve with varying aspect ratio that can be calculated.     

Gelatinization of Starch During Preparation of Indian Unleaved Flat Breads

The comparison of starch granule deformation and extent of starch gelatinization in a few common Indian unleavened flat breads (Chapati, Parontha and Poorie) was made. The starch granule swelling was evaluated by scanning electron as well as polarized light microscopy. The peak viscosity in Haake rotary viscosimeter and hydration capacity were used for comparing the extent of starch gelatinization in crust and crumb of these baked products. Although a few of the starch granules on the outside of crust, maintained a weak outline those in the crumb area gave only a matrix of gelatinized starch. The extent of starch gelatinization was reflected by the related increase in hydration capacity of these products. However, the peak viscosity values were found to be inversely related to the extent of starch gelatinization. As compared to crumb, a higher extent of browning was observed in the crust. Water absorption, type of cereal, mode and efficiency of heat transfer were found to control the extent of starch gelatinization in these baked products.     

Male pheromone of swift moth,Hepialus hecta L. (Lepidoptera: Hepialidae)

(R)-6-Ethyl-2-methyl-2,3-dihydro-4H-pyran-4-one, (1R,3S,5R)-3-ethyl-1,8-dimethyl-2,9-dioxabicyclo[3.3. 1]non-7-ene, and (1R,3S,5R)-3-ethyl-1,8-dimethyl-2,9-dioxabicyclo[3.3.1]non-7-en-6-one represent the main components in the male pheromone of the swift moth,Hepialus hecta. The amounts of the three components were 40, 5, and 5 g per male, respectively. Structure elucidation of the compounds was based on spectroscopic data as compared to synthetic reference samples. The absolute configurations were determined by gas chromatography on chiral stationary phases; optically active samples served as reference compounds. Electrophysiological and behavioral experiments with natural material and synthetic samples clearly showed the three heterocyclic compounds to act as pheromones. (E, E)--Farnesene represents the main component of the scent secretion of maleHepialus humuli.     

Processing of the quench detection signals in W7-X

The Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) project uses superconductive coils for generation of the magnetic field to keep the plasma. One of the important safety systems is the protection against quench events. The quench detection system of W7-X protects the superconducting coils, the superconducting bus bar sections and the high temperature superconductor of the current leads against the damage because of a quench and against the high stress by a fast discharge of the magnet system.Therefore, the present design of the quench detection system (QDS) uses a two-stage safety concept for discharging the magnetic system. This paper describes the present design of the system assembly from the quench detection unit (QDU) for the detection of the quench to the quench detection interface (QDI) to implement the two-stage safety concept.     

Pre-Transplant Serum Leptin Levels and Relapse of Acute Myeloid Leukemia after Allogeneic Transplantation

Weight loss and metabolic activity influence outcome after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT). This study evaluates pre-conditioning Leptin, a peptide hormone involved in metabolism and immune homeostasis, as a prognostic factor for survival, relapse and non-relapse mortality (NRM) following alloSCT. Leptin serum levels prior to conditioning were determined in a cohort of patients transplanted for various hematologic malignancies (n = 524) and correlated retrospectively with clinical outcome. Findings related to patients with acute leukemia (AL) from this sample were validated in an independent cohort. Low pre-conditioning serum Leptin was an independent prognostic marker for increased risk of relapse (but not of NRM and overall mortality) following alloSCT for AL of intermediate and advanced stage (beyond first complete remission). Multivariate analysis revealed a hazard ratio (HR) for relapse of 0.75 per log2 increase (0.59–0.96, p = 0.020). This effect was similar in an independent validation cohort. Pre-conditioning serum Leptin was validated as a prognostic marker for early relapse by fitting the multivariate Cox model to the validation data. Pre-conditioning serum Leptin levels may serve as an independent prognostic marker for relapse following alloSCT in intermediate and advanced stage AL patients. Prospective studies are required to prove whether serum Leptin could be used for guiding nutritional intervention in patients with AL undergoing alloSCT.     

不同磁场作用对AZ31镁合金的凝固组织的影响

镁合金是具有优越性能的金属材料,镁合金的加工是目前国内外正在深入进行研究的新课题.实验发现在镁合金的凝固过程中施加低频或静态磁场都能细化晶粒,但静磁场得到的细化效果要优于低频交流磁场,同时随磁感应强度的增加,静磁场细化晶粒的效果明显提高;在静磁场条件下晶界共晶体组织的厚度明显减小,同时在晶内出现了大量细小块状化合物,这有利于改善镁合金的综合性能.