Ice/metal interfaces: fracture energy and fractography

Results are presented of the fracture tests of ice/metal interfaces in an attempt to utilize fracture mechanics to characterize the failure of ice/solid adhesion. The four-point bending delamination specimen was used to measure the fracture energy of ice/aluminium and ice/steel joints at — 15 °C. The interfacial fracture energy was found to be dependent on ice type and formation procedure of the ice/metal composites. Crack growth was in a manner of asymmetrical bursting, and both cohesive and adhesive failure mechanisms were observed. Although the fracture of ice/metal interfaces was brittle in nature, the evidence of dislocation slip in ice crystals, as revealed by etching and replicating, suggests that microplastic deformations occur in the ice component.     

Biographies

This biography of William F. Ballhaus Jr. discusses his role in creating the field of computational fluid dynamics at the NASA Ames Research Center.     

Two proto-oncogenes that play dual roles in embryonal cell growth and differentiation

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Clinical and experimental data indicate that hyperglycemia can aggravate the consequences of stroke and cerebral ischemia. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of moderate hyperglycemia on the response of the blood-brain barrier to normothermic (37 degrees C) and hypothermic (30 degrees C) global forebrain ischemia. METHODS: Sixteen rats underwent 20 minutes of four-vessel occlusion followed by 30 minutes of postischemic recirculation. We used the protein tracer horseradish peroxidase as an indicator of increased vascular permeability, and rats were perfusion-fixed for microscopic analysis. To produce moderate hyperglycemia, we gave an intraperitoneal injection of 50% dextrose 15 minutes before the ischemic insult. RESULTS: After normothermic brain ischemia, normoglycemic rats (plasma glucose level, 115 +/- 3 mg/dl) demonstrated extravasated horseradish peroxidase mainly restricted to the cerebral cortex. In contrast, more severe and widespread protein extravasation was documented throughout the neuraxis of hyperglycemic (plasma glucose level, 342 +/- 27) rats. Sites of protein leakage included the cerebral cortex, striatum, hippocampus, thalamus, and cerebellum. Foci of protein extravasation were associated with pial and large penetrating vessels. Intraischemic hypothermia significantly attenuated the blood-brain barrier consequences of hyperglycemic brain ischemia. CONCLUSIONS: Under normothermic ischemic conditions, hyperglycemia significantly worsens the degree of acute blood-brain barrier breakdown compared with normoglycemia. Postischemic blood-brain barrier disruption may play an important role in the pathogenesis of increased brain damage associated with systemic hyperglycemia.     

A new ellipsometric approach for determining dielectric function of graphene in the infrared spectral region

Simple ellipsometric method for determining dielectric constants of absorbing two-dimensional materials on dielectric substrates is developed. The method is based on the analytical formulas obtained in the framework of a long-wave limit. An important feature of this approach lies in the fact that for data handling the problematic numerical calculation methods are not in use. The inversion problem is resolved analytically. The developed method has no need for the initial guesses of the desired parameters that is very useful from the practical point of view, for example, in the light of in-line control.     

The development of a deep knowledge diagnostic expert system using fault tree analysis information

In this paper a diagnostic Knowledge Based Expert System (KBES) prototype for a nuclear Auxiliary Boiler Feed System (ABFS) was developed. A commercial Expert System shell accesses heuristic production rules to quickly resolve the majority of common faults. Supplementing this are a series of C functions which access the Fault Tree data base previously developed during the licensing process. These functions perform diagnostics, give detailed explanations of failure mechanisms, and identify system failure risks through examination of cut sets. The capture of both heuristic and Fault Tree information has resulted in a more exhaustive diagnostic tool with a domain of application unrestricted by the limitations of previous operator experience.     

Expression of multiple apoptosis-regulatory genes in human breast cancer cell lines and primary tumors

Low molecular mass polypeptides (LMP) 2 and LMP7 and transporter associated with antigen processing (TAP) subunits TAP1 and TAP2 play a crucial role in antigen processing and cell surface expression of HLA class I molecules. Since monoclonal antibodies (mAb) to these molecules will facilitate the analysis of their expression, structure and function in normal and transformed cells, in the present study we have developed these reagents. Specifically anti-LMP2 and LMP7 mAb were generated from BALB/c mice immunized with specific peptides, and anti-TAP1 and TAP2 mAb from BALB/c mice immunized with respective recombinant proteins. mAb VF101-39F7 and VF101-39G5 were shown to be specific for LMP2, mAb VF103-5D5 and VF103-8C2 for LMP7, mAb VF108-1B3 and VF108-12D6 for TAP1 and mAb VF118-1E4 and VF118-2C5 for TAP2, since they reacted specifically with the corresponding immunogens in ELISA and with the corresponding LMP and TAP subunits when tested in Western blotting with human lymphoid cell extracts. Furthermore, the mAb immunoprecipitated components with the characteristic electrophoretic mobility from lymphoid cells. Both anti-LMP and anti-TAP mAb stained keratinocytes and infiltrating lymphocytes in frozen and formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded sections of normal skin in indirect immunoperoxidase reactions. Furthermore, all the mAb except mAb VF103-5D5 stained the cytoplasm of lymphoid cells in an intracytoplasmic staining reaction. The specificity and reactivity pattern of the mAb we have characterized indicate that they will be valuable reagents to analyze the cellular expression and tissue distribution of LMP and TAP subunits.     

Chemiluminescent autoxidation of linolenic acid films on silica gel

Films of linolenic acid supported on chromatographic type silica gel undergo autoxidation at a rate which is slow compared to that in homogeneous phase at low surface coverage but comparable to it at coverages approximating a close-packed monolayer. The new observation reported here is that these surface phase oxidations are chemiluminescent. The quantum yield is ca. 10⁻¹² quanta per molecule of fatty acid reacted for a close-packed monolayer and remains approximately constant with decreasing coverage. The emission intensity is temperature dependent, with an apparent activation energy of 10 kcal mol⁻¹, and shows an induction period for close-packed monolayers. The emission spectrum contains a component consistent with excited state ketone emission and a low energy component, ca. 600+ nm, which could be due to singlet oxygen emission. The existence of the emission means that surface autoxidation reactions can be followed in place; the nature of the emission may provide insight into the autoxidation mechanism beyond that which may be inferred from conventional rate measurements.     

Trends in stream water quality in Environmental Change Network upland catchments: the first 5 years

Hydrochemical data from catchment streams at three Environmental Change Network (ECN) upland catchments in north-east Scotland, south-east Scotland and northern England have been subjected to statistical analysis to separate the components due to long-term trend, season and flow. The relative variances due to each are presented for pH, Ca, SO4-S, NO3-N, DOC and Cl. Long-term trends have been identified with increases in concentration for NO3-N and DOC, decreases in SO4-S concentrations, along with short-term seasonal fluctuations. Application of this trend technique has allowed the detection of changes and contributed to an improved understanding of catchment behaviour.