Predeformation and Subsequent Annealing—A Way for Controlling Morphology of Carbides in Large Dimensional Bulk Nanocrystalline Fe-Al-Cr Alloy

In this study, a processing route is introduced to control the morphology of carbide and the grain size of nanocrystalline matrix of Fe-Al-Cr alloy. After predeformation followed by annealing treatment, the grain size of nanocrystalline matrix decreased slightly and the Cr₇C₃ phases transformed from a fiber shape to the globular shape. The yield strength and the flow stress of the alloy increased from 1048 to 1338 MPa and 1150 to 1550 MPa, respectively, while the ductility of the alloy also became better. This proposed method may open a way for controlling the morphology of carbide and the grain size of matrix in bulk nanocrystalline materials to receive higher strength and better plasticity.     

Application of distributed intelligence to reduce the bullwhip effect

The paper applies distributed intelligence to the bullwhip or Forrester effect, which it manages to reduce in a range of time series to which a genetic algorithm was applied. The paper is divided into four parts. The first provides an overview of the Forrester, or bullwhip, effect. The second describes the genetic algorithms in terms of being devices that provide the model with intelligence, and introduces the agent network and the general model that supports them. The third describes the software used in the model described. The final section provides numeric examples and draws a number of conclusions.     

物联网环境下基于NFC的一次性口令认证方案

针对当前部分传统身份认证技术存在耗能高、计算量大、效率低等缺陷,提出一种基于近场通信（Near Field Communication, NFC）技术的一次性口令认证方案。该方案不仅具有一次性口令成本较低、实现简单的优点,适用于物联网环境;同时通信双方运用NFC技术进行交互,利用NFC设备初始化时进行的冲突检测有效地解决了一次性口令认证明文传输的安全性问题。通过对其进行分析,可知该方案在有效防止常见攻击的同时保证了较小的计算量和较高的效率,能够应用到物联网环境中。     

High‐Interstitial Stainless Austenitic Steel Castings

Interstitial atoms are most effective in strengthening austenitic steels. In stainless grades, chromium strongly reduces the solubility limit of carbon. High‐nitrogen contents require costly pressure or powder metallurgy to dissolve N in the melt. The combination of both elements comes with a high‐interstitial solubility at normal pressure of air. Sand casting with 18 mass% Cr and Mn each and 0.85 mass% (C + N) were industrially produced. The investigation revealed: proof strength R_p0.2 = 457 [MPa], true fracture strength R = 1714 [MPa], fracture elongation A = 44%, notch impact toughness KV = 290 J combined with a DBTT of ?94°C, an impact wear resistance comparable to Hadfield steel X120Mn12 but combined with a good corrosion resistance. Deep freezing and cold working does not effect the low relative magnetic permeability. This unique combination of properties offers advantages in application.     

Theoretical study of the role of metallic contacts in probing transport features of pure and defected graphene nanoribbons

Understanding the roles of disorder and metal/graphene interface on the electronic and transport properties of graphene-based systems is crucial for a consistent analysis of the data deriving from experimental measurements. The present work is devoted to the detailed study of graphene nanoribbon systems by means of self-consistent quantum transport calculations. The computational formalism is based on a coupled Schrödinger/Poisson approach that respects both chemistry and electrostatics, applied to pure/defected graphene nanoribbons (ideally or end-contacted by various fcc metals). We theoretically characterize the formation of metal-graphene junctions as well as the effects of backscattering due to the presence of vacancies and impurities. Our results evidence that disorder can infer significant alterations on the conduction process, giving rise to mobility gaps in the conductance distribution. Moreover, we show the importance of metal-graphene coupling that gives rise to doping-related phenomena and a degradation of conductance quantization characteristics.     

Creep response of a LDPE‐based nanocomposite

Polymer nanocomposites and their behavior have been widely investigated by several paths, including mechanical, rheological, and permeability tests, finding that several parameters (such as the polymer matrix, the nanofiller, their amounts, the presence of compatibilizers, processing parameters, etc.) can influence the main properties. However, less information is available regarding the creep response of polymer nanocomposites; in particular, few or no data are reported about the combined effect of different loads and different temperatures. In this article, the creep behavior of a low density polyethylene/organomodified clay nanocomposite has been investigated. The characterization of viscoelastic response has taken into account both the effects of applied load and temperature, which are often considered separately. Dynamic–mechanical and structural analysis was also performed in order to get a deeper understanding of the involved phenomena. The nanocomposite showed lower creep deformations (up to ～20%) and the relative differences with the neat polymer matrix were found to be increasing upon increasing the applied load (up to ～24%) and the temperature (up to ～38%). © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 44180.     

Fluorescent Mechanism‐Based Probe for Aerobic Flavin‐Dependent Enzyme Activity

Diversity in non‐ribosomal peptide and polyketide secondary metabolism is facilitated by interactions between biosynthetic domains with discrete monomer loading and their cognate tailoring enzymes, such as oxidation or halogenation enzymes. The cooperation between peptidyl carrier proteins and flavin‐dependent enzymes offers a specialized strategy for monomer selectivity for oxidization of small molecules from within a complex cellular milieu. In an effort to study this process, we have developed fluorescent probes to selectively label aerobic flavin‐dependent enzymes. Here we report the preparation and implementation of these tools to label oxidase, monooxygenase, and halogenase flavin‐dependent enzymes.     

Polysaccharide and volatile composition of Cabernet wine affected by different over-lees ageing

The influence of different over-lees ageing conditions on the soluble polysaccharides?? glycosyl residue and volatile composition of Cabernet wine was addressed in this work. Specific operating conditions have been considered: wine ageing on fine white lees, wine ageing on fine red lees, wine ageing on fine second-passage white lees and short ageing on rough red lees, which were compared with ageing without lees. The ageing on lees led to an increase in all wine polysaccharide glycosyl residues, with the exception of glucose, xylose and myo-inositol, and to volatile profile modifications. Different behaviours could be observed between the four types of lees, giving important hints for a rational use of them in winemaking. In particular, the use of red grape-derived lees caused the major release of polysaccharides; on the other hand, white grape-derived lees were more effective in enhancing ester content. Second-passage lees did not lead to any increase in wine polysaccharides, whereas they allowed aroma changes, and short ageing on rough red lees caused the greatest adsorption of several volatiles.     

Antifungal Effect of Allium tuberosum,Cinnamomum cassia,and Pogostemon cablin Essential Oils and Their Components Against Population of Aspergillus Species

Antifungal activity of Allium tuberosum (AT), Cinnamomum cassia (CC), and Pogostemon cablin (Patchouli, P) essential oils against Aspergillus flavus strains 3.2758 and 3.4408 and Aspergillus oryzae was tested at 2 water activity levels (a_w: 0.95 and 0.98). Main components of tested essential oils were: allyl trisulfide 40.05% (AT), cinnamaldehyde 87.23% (CC), and patchouli alcohol 44.52% (P). The minimal inhibitory concentration of the plant essential oils against A. flavus strains 3.2758 and 3.4408 and A. oryzae was 250 ppm (A. tuberosum and C. cassia), whereas Patchouli essential oil inhibited fungi at concentration > 1500 ppm. The essential oils exhibited suppression effect on colony growth at all concentrations (100, 175, and 250 ppm for A. tuberosum; 25, 50, and 75 for C. cassia; 100, 250, and 500 for P. cablin essential oil). Results of the study represent a solution for possible application of essential oil of C. cassia in different food systems due to its strong inhibitory effect against tested Aspergillus species. In real food system (table grapes), C. cassia essential oil exhibited stronger antifungal activity compared to cinnamaldehyde.