Interface reactions between rutile coatings and molten aluminium or AlSi7Mg0.6 alloy

Rutile coatings deposited on corundum substrates are considered as promising functional elements improving the efficiency of the filtration of oxide inclusions out of aluminium melts. This contribution describes the reactions between rutile and two kinds of the aluminium melts and discusses the consequences of these reactions for the filtration process. It was found that the contact of rutile coatings with molten aluminium leads to the formation of a corundum layer at the solid/liquid interface. The exposure of the rutile coatings to molten AlSi7Mg0.6 alloy produces an interface layer of MgTiO₃. The interface layers possess defined orientation relationship to rutile which is characteristic for locally heteroepitaxial growth. The density functional theory calculations revealed that the TiO₂/α-Al₂O₃ and TiO₂/MgTiO₃ interfaces with the orientation relationships observed experimentally have low interface energies. The mechanisms of the interface layer formation and the impact of these layers on the degradation of the rutile coatings are discussed.     

Barriers in spatial interactions and communications

Barriers are defined as discontinuities in the broadly defined marginal costs of communication, usually leading to a discontinuity in interaction. This paper addresses conceptual issues about barriers to communication. Several typologies of barriers are given. For example, according to the degree of permeability, barriers may discourage interaction, or may even be entirely impermeable, but examples may also be given of barriers which stimulate communication in one or both directions. Another typology of barriers addresses reasons of existence, including natural barriers, barriers created for protection purposes, barriers created for reasons of convenience, etc. The paper concludes with a number of suggestions for further research on communication barriers.     

PIXE analysis and fission track dating of obsidian from South American prehispanic cultures (Colombia, Ecuador)

In the present work we have coupled PIXE with fission track dating to characterise obsidian artefacts from about 40 archaeological sites of Colombia and Ecuador. PIXE analysis, carried out with the external beam line of the AGLAE tandem accelerator, yields the content in about 15 elements with Z > 8, whereas fission track dating is applied to ages in excess of about 10 000 years. About 120 artefacts were investigated by PIXE, of which 50 were dated by fission tracks. Ages and compositions were compared to those of obsidians from all known geological sources of the region. We show that this double characterisation allows us to determine the number of obsidian sources exploited in an ancient past and to give some insight into obsidian circulation.     

Sex-Specific Effects of Plastic Caging in Murine Viral Myocarditis

Background: Myocarditis is an inflammatory heart disease caused by viral infections that can lead to heart failure, and occurs more often in men than women. Since animal studies have shown that myocarditis is influenced by sex hormones, we hypothesized that endocrine disruptors, which interfere with natural hormones, may play a role in the progression of the disease. The human population is exposed to the endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA) from plastics, such as water bottles and plastic food containers. Methods: Male and female adult BALB/c mice were housed in plastic versus glass caging, or exposed to BPA in drinking water versus control water. Myocarditis was induced with coxsackievirus B3 on day 0, and the endpoints were assessed on day 10 post infection. Results: We found that male BALB/c mice that were exposed to plastic caging had increased myocarditis due to complement activation and elevated numbers of macrophages and neutrophils, whereas females had elevated mast cell activation and fibrosis. Conclusions: These findings show that housing mice in traditional plastic caging increases viral myocarditis in males and females, but using sex-specific immune mechanisms.     

Filtration Efficiency of Functionalized Ceramic Foam Filters for Aluminum Melt Filtration

Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B - The influence of filter surface chemistry on the filtration efficiency of cast aluminum alloys was evaluated for four different filter coating...     

Synthesis of Au microwires by selective oxidation of Au–W thin-film composition spreads

Abstract

We report on the stress-induced growth of Au microwires out of a surrounding Au–W matrix by selective oxidation, in view of a possible application as ‘micro-Velcro’. The Au wires are extruded due to the high compressive stress in the tungsten oxide formed by oxidation of elemental W. The samples were fabricated as a thin-film materials library using combinatorial sputter deposition followed by thermal oxidation. Sizes and shapes of the Au microwires were investigated as a function of the W to Au ratio. The coherence length and stress state of the Au microwires were related to their shape and plastic deformation. Depending on the composition of the Au–W precursor, the oxidized samples showed regions with differently shaped Au microwires. The Au₄₈W₅₂ composition yielded wires with the maximum length to diameter ratio due to the high compressive stress in the tungsten oxide matrix. The values of wire length (35 μm) and diameter (2 μm) achieved at the Au₄₈W₅₂ composition are suitable for micro-Velcro applications.     

The new external ion beam analysis setup at the Demokritos Tandem accelerator and first applications in cultural heritage

At the 5.5 MV Tandem VdG accelerator of the Institute of Nuclear Physics of N.C.S.R. “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece, an external ion-beam set-up has been recently developed and installed. The aim of this development was to integrate the analytical capabilities of the PIXE, RBS and PIGE ion beam techniques in one experimental set-up, so that to attain a complete elemental and near surface structural characterization of samples in an almost non-destructive way and without any limitation concerning their size or conductive state. A careful 3D mechanical drawing optimized the set-up experimental parameters achieving probe dimensions at the millimeter range (1 mm²) and fulfilling the special requirements imposed for optimum performance of the aforementioned techniques, including the possibility to use heavier, than protons, ion beams. For the digital pulse processing of the X-ray, γ-ray and charged particle detector signals, novel hardware and software tools were developed based on a custom FPGA configuration.The first applications were focused in the quality control of materials that have been intentionally contaminated with a particular tracer-element (“tagged” materials). The tagged materials which were developed and tested are technologically authentic replicas of ancient attic ceramics with black glazed decoration. Analytical diagnostic studies were carried out for a few representative paintings of contemporary Greek painters in order to identify and document materials/pigments and techniques and eventually to prevent trade of fakes. Finally, ancient glass beads were also examined with respect to the sodium concentration and its in-depth homogeneity.     

Whence CRIPTO: The Reemergence of an Oncofetal Factor in ‘Wounds’ That Fail to Heal

There exists a set of factors termed oncofetal proteins that play key roles in ontogeny before they decline or disappear as the organism’s tissues achieve homeostasis, only to then re-emerge in cancer. Although the unique therapeutic potential presented by such factors has been recognized for more than a century, their clinical utility has yet to be fully realized1. This review highlights the small signaling protein CRIPTO encoded by the tumor derived growth factor 1 (TDGF1/Tdgf1) gene, an oft cited oncofetal protein whose presence in the cancer literature as a tumor promoter, diagnostic marker and viable therapeutic target continues to grow. We touch lightly on features well established and well-reviewed since its discovery more than 30 years ago, including CRIPTO’s early developmental roles and modulation of SMAD2/3 activation by a selected set of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family ligands. We predominantly focus instead on more recent and less well understood additions to the CRIPTO signaling repertoire, on its potential upstream regulators and on new conceptual ground for understanding its mode of action in the multicellular and often stressful contexts of neoplastic transformation and progression. We ask whence it re-emerges in cancer and where it ‘hides’ between the time of its fetal activity and its oncogenic reemergence. In this regard, we examine CRIPTO’s restriction to rare cells in the adult, its potential for paracrine crosstalk, and its emerging role in inflammation and tissue regeneration—roles it may reprise in tumorigenesis, acting on subsets of tumor cells to foster cancer initiation and progression. We also consider critical gaps in knowledge and resources that stand between the recent, exciting momentum in the CRIPTO field and highly actionable CRIPTO manipulation for cancer therapy and beyond.