The effect of yttrium and thorium on the oxidation behavior of Ni-Cr-Al alloys

The effect of quaternary additions of 0.5% Y and 0.5 and 1.0% Th to a base alloy of Ni-10Cr-5Al on the oxidation behavior and mechanism was studied during oxidation in air over the range of 1000–1200°C. The presence of yttrium decreased the oxidation kinetics slightly, whereas the addition of thorium caused a slight increase. Oxide scale adherence was markedly improved by the addition of the quaternary elements. Although a number of oxides formed on yttrium-containing alloys, quantitative x-ray diffraction clearly showed that the rate-controlling step was the diffusion of oxygen through short-circuit paths in a thin layer of alumina that formed parabolically with time. Mixed oxides containing both aluminum and yttrium formed by the reaction of Y₂O₃ to form YAlOP₃ initially, and Y₃Al₅O₁₂ (YAG) after longer times. Although the scale adherence of the yttrium-containing alloy was considerably better than the base alloys, spalling did occur that was attributed to the formation of the voluminous YAG particles that grew in a mushroom-like manner, lifting the protective scale off the substrate locally. The YAG particles formed primarily at grain boundaries in the substrate in which the yttrium originally existed as YNi₉. This intermetallic compound reacted to form Y₂O₃, liberating metallic nickel that subsequently reacted to form NiO or NiAl₂O₄ spinel or both. The Y₂O₃ reacted with aluminum to ultimately form the YAG mushrooms. Thorium did not form any mixed oxides; the only oxide involving thorium was ThO₂, which existed as small particles at the oxide-metal interface. A highly beneficial effect of the thoria particles in reducing film spalling was observed. Scale spalling in the base alloy was attributed to void formation at the oxide-metal interface, the voids forming by condensation of excess vacancies from the Kirkendall effect associated with fast back-diffusion, of nickel into the substrate as aluminum was preferentially oxidized and diffused slowly outward. The mechanism of improved scale adherence in the quaternary alloys was the elimination of voids by annihilation of the Kirkendall vacancies at vacancy sinks introduced by the noncoherent interfaces between yttrium and thorium-containing intermetallics or oxides or both.This work is based on a portion of the dissertation of Arun Kumar in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles.Supported by NASA-Ames under grant No. NGR 05-007-352.     

Structure-activity relationships for analogs of (+)-(E)-endo-Β-bergamoten-12-oic acid,an oviposition stimulant ofHelicoverpa zea (Boddie)

-Bergamotenoic acid, a compound previously shown to stimulate oviposition inH. zea, was converted into a set of bicyclic analogs and tested with a set of acyclic side chain analogs to ascertain the molecular structure that maximizes insect behavioral response. While changes in the bicyclic ring elicited no variation in response, alteration in the side chain structure of-bergamotenoic acid resulted in significant changes in moth preference. Free rotation about the C-C bond proximal to the carboxylic acid group appears to be an important structural factor, since saturation of the side chain double bond significantly increased activity. The carboxylic acid group seems to be required for strong oviposition stimulation, since analogs lacking the carboxylic acid group exhibited no significant oviposition activity. Oviposition preference ofH. zea was also influenced by the length of the hydrocarbon chain to which the carboxylic acid is attached. While hexanoic acid was found inactive, the ovipositional preference for the heptanoic and octanoic acids was greatest for the one 8-carbon tested. This and other work suggest that carboxylic acids of specific chain lengths influence the oviposition behavior of bothHelicoverpa andHeliothis species and may be associated with host-plant selection. The potential use of this information in designing integrated pest management strategies for control ofH. zea is discussed.     

CX3CL1 Action on Microglia Protects from Diet-Induced Obesity by Restoring POMC Neuronal Excitability and Melanocortin System Activity Impaired by High-Fat Diet Feeding

Both hypothalamic microglial inflammation and melanocortin pathway dysfunction contribute to diet-induced obesity (DIO) pathogenesis. Previous studies involving models of altered microglial signaling demonstrate altered DIO susceptibility with corresponding POMC neuron cytological changes, suggesting a link between microglia and the melanocortin system. We addressed this hypothesis using the specific microglial silencing molecule, CX3CL1 (fractalkine), to determine whether reducing hypothalamic microglial activation can restore POMC/melanocortin signaling to protect against DIO. We performed metabolic analyses in high fat diet (HFD)-fed mice with targeted viral overexpression of CX3CL1 in the hypothalamus. Electrophysiologic recording in hypothalamic slices from POMC-MAPT-GFP mice was used to determine the effects of HFD feeding and microglial silencing via minocycline or CX3CL1 on GFP-labeled POMC neurons. Finally, mice with hypothalamic overexpression of CX3CL1 received central treatment with the melanocortin receptor antagonist SHU9119 to determine whether melanocortin signaling is required for the metabolic benefits of CX3CL1. Hypothalamic overexpression of CX3CL1 increased leptin sensitivity and POMC gene expression, while reducing weight gain in animals fed an HFD. In electrophysiological recordings from hypothalamic slice preparations, HFD feeding was associated with reduced POMC neuron excitability and increased amplitude of inhibitory postsynaptic currents. Microglial silencing using minocycline or CX3CL1 treatment reversed these HFD-induced changes in POMC neuron electrophysiologic properties. Correspondingly, blockade of melanocortin receptor signaling in vivo prevented both the acute and chronic reduction in food intake and body weight mediated by CX3CL1. Our results show that suppressing microglial activation during HFD feeding reduces DIO susceptibility via a mechanism involving increased POMC neuron excitability and melanocortin signaling.     

The oxidation of Fe-19.6Cr-15.1Mn stainless steel

The oxidation behavior in air of Fe-19.6Cr-15.1Mn was studied from 700 to 1000°C. Pseudoparabolic kinetics were followed, giving an activation energy of 80 kcal/mole. The scale structure varied with temperature, although spinel formation occurred at all temperatures. At both 700 and 800°C, a thin outer layer of -Mn₂O₃ formed. The inner layer at 700°C was (Fe,Cr,Mn)₃O₄, but at 800°C there was an intermediate layer of Fe₂O₃ and an inner layer of Cr₂O₃ + (Fe, Cr,Mn)₃O₄. Oxidation at 900°C produced an outer layer of Fe₃O₄ and an inner layer of Cr₂O₃+(Fe,Cr,Mn)₃O₄. Oxidation at 1000°C caused some internal oxidation of chromium. In addition, a thin layer of Cr₂O₃ formed in some regions with an intermediate layer of Fe₃O₄ and an outer layer of (Fe,Mn)₃O₄. A comparison of rates for Fe₃O₄ formation during oxidation of FeO as well as for the oxidation of various stainless steels, which form spinels, gave good agreement and strongly suggests that spinel growth was rate controlling. The oxidation rate of this alloy (high-Cr) was compared with that of an alloy previously studied, Fe-9.5Cr-17.8Mn (low-Cr) and was less by about a factor of 12 at 1000°C and by about a factor of 100 at 800°C. The marked differences can be ascribed to the destabilization of wustite by the higher chromium alloy. No wustite formation occurred in the high-Cr alloy, whereas, extensive wustite formed in the low-Cr alloy. Scale structures are explained by the use of calculated stability diagrams. The mechanism of oxidation is discussed and compared with that of the low-Cr alloy.     

Storage of Spinach Under Low Oxygen Atmosphere Above the Extinction Point

The extinction point of spinach was <0.4% but above 0.2% O₂ at 0° and 5°C. Respiration rates were ～2.3 times greater at 5°C than at 0°C and were similar among cultivars. In 0.8% O₂ atmosphere, O₂ uptake of three cultivars was reduced by an average of 53% and CO₂ production was reduced by 35% relative to those stored in air. Deterioration of leaves was reduced by 30 to 54%, while weight loss, color and chlorophyll content were not affected by the 0.8% O₂ atmosphere. Thus O₂ could be allowed to be depleted to 0.8% in modified atmosphere packaging without quality loss due to anoxia.     

A robust source tracking algorithm for partially adaptive arrays

A new algorithm for overcoming the problem of incidental cancellation and improving the convergence behaviour of large partially adaptive arrays is proposed and investigated. The algorithm uses an auxiliary adaptive source tracker to separate individual sources in the environment before using the resulting outputs to cancel unwanted jamming picked up through the main beam of the system. Because the source tracker's outputs are roughly orthogonal in the steady state and the positions of sources of significant powers are available, the algorithm possesses fast convergence behaviour and solves the problem of incidental cancellation in the most natural manner by adding back the desired signal to the canceller output if the former is cancelled during the adaptation process. In addition, the algorithm has about the same computational complexity as partially adaptive generalized sidelobe cancellers using steepest descent based algorithms.     

传统中药现代化--中药健康食品的开发

传统中药是现代生活健康的宝库,其功效在保健及慢性疾病的治疗方面尤其显著,并已备受世界重视.要成功将中药引进世界市场,最基本要求是要从科学方法去证明其效用及安全性;更重要是依从传统中医学对复方应用的要求去作研究.本文陈述了我们对传统中药古方"生脉散"研究及开发抗氧化健康食品的经验.透过现代生化及药理技术,我们发现"生脉散"中的五味子含丰富的抗氧化活性成分,为传统中医学利用"生脉散"治疗心脏病提供了理论依据.     

Model for photo-induced long-term drain current transients in GaAs MESFETs

A simple model is presented for the negative drain current transients observed in GaAs MESFETs when subjected to ionizing radiation. The two dominant mechanisms are proposed to be electron trapping under the Schottky gate and in the neutral semi-insulating substrate. The model is suitable for the design and evaluation of radiation-resistant GaAs MESFET integrated circuits using common electrical simulators such as SPICE3.