Pressure infiltration of Al and Al-12 wt% Si alloy into compacts of SiC and oxidized SiC particles

Oxidizing SiC particles is a common practice in the fabrication of SiC/Al composites through direct mixing of the liquid metal and the ceramic particles. This practice is addressed to reduce the reaction between the two materials. In a previous work it was concluded that oxidizing SiC particles scarcely affected the threshold pressure for infiltration of pure Al into compacts made of those particles. In this work we present a detailed study of this problem for infiltration of pure Al and the eutectic Al-Si alloy. Our results indicate that oxidizing of SiC particles does not affect significantly either the threshold pressure or the infiltration kinetics. This conclusion is equally valid for both pure Al and the eutectic alloy.     

FLOW CURVES, STRESS RELAXATION AND CREEP MEASUREMENTS OF STARCH GELS

Flow curves, stress relaxation, and creep compliance were measured for various types of corn starch gel that underwent different degrees of modification. The four starches were native corn starch, medium hydroxypropylated distarch phosphate, highly hydroxypropylated distarch phosphate, and distarch phosphate. All the starches exhibited pseudo-yield stress behavior at low shear rates and shear-thinning at higher shear rates. Stress relaxation data at different strains indicated strain-softening phenomenon for all starches. Higher degrees of cross-linking decreased the half relaxation time due to the addition of rigid filler into the matrix. Increasing the concentration increased the relaxation modulus for all starches. Creep compliance and recovery measurements were conducted over the range of 3.2 Pa-320 Pa. In the linear viscoelastic region, the compliance data were not dependent on the magnitude of stress applied. As concentration increases, higher stress magnitude leads to nonlinear behavior. The creep compliance data were fitted into the Ninomiya and Ferry relation from dynamic viscoelastic data and the Maxwell-Voigt model. Ninomiya and Ferry overpredicted the relaxation data while the Maxwell-Voigt model fitted the data reasonably well.     

Influence of the crosstalk on the intensity of HAADF-STEM images of quaternary semiconductor materials

The influence of the neighbouring atomic-columns in determining the composition at atomic column scale of quaternary semiconductor compounds, using simulated HAADF-STEM images is evaluated. The InAlAsSb alloy, a promising material in the photovoltaic field, is considered. We find that the so called ‘crosstalk’ effect plays an important role for the aimed compositional determination. The intensity transfer is larger from neighbouring atomic columns with higher average Z, and towards atomic columns with smaller Z. Our results show that in order to obtain precise information on the column composition, the HAADF-STEM intensities of both columns need to be taken into account simultaneously.     

Protein composition of milk from Holstein–Friesian dairy cows and its relationship with the genetic variants A and B of κ-casein and β-lactoglobulin (Part I)

The protein composition and the milk yield (morning milking) were studied in 10 Chilean Holstein–Friesian first lactation dairy cows during the spring season. In addition, the genetic variants A and B of κ-casein (κ-CN) and β-lactoglobulin (β-Lg) were also identified. The results showed that the casein content is significantly affected by the presence of B variant of κ-CN. Moreover, positive interactions between the B variant of κ-CN with AB of β-Lg and the combination of A κ-CN with AA of β-Lg for the total protein content, were found.     

EFFECT OF STORAGE TEMPERATURE ON THE GROWTH OF LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES ON QUESO BLANCO SLICES*

A five‐strain cocktail of Listeria monocytogenes (10⁴ cfu/mL) was inoculated onto individual vacuum‐packaged slices (ca. 50 g each) of a commercial, Hispanic‐style cheese, that being Queso Blanco. Growth was determined at appropriate intervals during storage at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25C. In general, as the incubation temperature increased, a shorter lag phase duration (LPD) and a faster growth rate (GR) were observed. The LPD values at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25C were 65.3, 19.9, 2.1, 8.4 and 11.4 h, respectively. The GR values were 0.011, 0.036, 0.061, 0.090 and 0.099 log cfu/h at 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25C, respectively. There were no statistical differences in LPD at 10, 15, 20 and 25C. However, the LPD during growth at 5C was statistically (P ≤ 0.05) longer than at all other temperatures. The GR values at 20 and 25C were not significantly different from each other, whereas the GR values at 5, 10 and 15C were significantly different from each other as well as from the GR at 20 and 25C (P ≤ 0.05). The maximum population density (MPD) showed relatively little variation over the range of storage temperatures tested, with an average of 8.38 log cfu/g (SD = 0.33). The results of this study indicate that not even the lowest trial temperature of 5C prevented growth over time of the inoculated L. monocytogenes on this sliced product, and that proper storage and handling procedures are required to prevent the bacterium from contaminating the product and/or to control its growth.     

Some Characteristics of Whole Corn: Whole Soybean (70:30) and Rice: Whole Soybean (70:30) Mixtures Processed by Simple Extrusion Cooking

Mixtures of corn or rice with dehulled soybeans (70:30) were extruded at three cone openings. Processing temperatures were inversely correlated with cone opening. As cone opening increased fat retention and nitrogen solubility index increased, while dispersibility, protein nutritive value and acceptability (as “atole”) by school children decreased. The PER and NPR of the mixtures were significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with processing temperature (r = 0.90 for both) and sensory score (r = 0.83 and 0.82, respectively). No correlation was observed between protein nutritive value and residual antiphysiological factors of the products. After storage of mixtures for 12 wk at 4° and 25° C, fat acidity values were lower than 2%; those stored at 35°C showed nearly 10%. All samples were equally acceptable.     

FORECLOSURES,INVESTORS, AND UNEVEN DEVELOPMENT DURING THE GREAT RECESSION IN THE LOS ANGELES METROPOLITAN AREA

In the wake of the U.S. housing crisis, what has happened to the substantial stock of foreclosed or real estate–owned (REO) properties is only beginning to be understood. The eventual outcomes of these properties are central to our understanding of the varied impacts of the foreclosure crisis, including its contribution to enduring and emerging patterns of uneven development. This article considers the scope and potential impacts of investor purchases of foreclosures in diverse neighborhoods in the Los Angeles region. Overall, findings suggest that very different patterns of investment emerged in the urban core, the postwar inner‐ring suburbs, and the exurbs. In addition, investors’ purchases and strategies varied significantly according to neighborhood racial composition and, to a much lesser extent, neighborhood socioeconomic characteristics. These patterns highlight two major issues: a sharp divide in investment between the relatively similar urban/inner‐ring suburban core and the newer exurbs; and the enduring relationship between race and capital investment in neighborhoods in the wake of the housing crisis.