bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Monolayer Twisted Graphene-Based Schottky Transistor
Authors: Ahmadi Ramin , Ahmadi Mohammad Taghi , Rahimian Koloor Seyed Saeid , Petrů Michal
Published: July 2021

The outstanding properties of graphene-based components, such as twisted graphene, motivates nanoelectronic researchers to focus on their applications in device technology. Twisted graphene as a new class of graphene structures is investigated in the platform of transistor application in this research study. Therefore, its geometry effect on Schottky transistor operation is analyzed and the relationship between the diameter of twist and number of twists are explored. A metal–semiconductor–metal twisted graphene-based junction as a Schottky transistor is considered. By employing the dispersion relation and quantum tunneling the variation of transistor performance under channel length, the diameter of twisted graphene, and the number of twists deviation are studied. The results show that twisted graphene with a smaller diameter affects the efficiency of twisted graphene-based Schottky transistors. Additionally, as another main characteristic, the ID-VGS is explored, which indicates that the threshold voltage is increased by diameter and number of twists in this type of transistor.
Cyclic Mechanical Fatigue Lifetime of Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-Based Eco-Piezoceramics
Authors: Bartolomé José F. , Fuentes-Cobas Luis E. , García Álvaro , Jacas Alfredo , Pardo Lorena
Published: July 2021

The mechanical strength and cyclic fatigue behavior of PIC700 commercial eco-piezoceramic disks are investigated under biaxial loading on unpoled and poled samples. The bending strength of unpoled samples was higher than those of poled ones. Fatigue tests were conducted under a load ratio of 10 at a frequency of 20 Hz with a sinusoidal waveform. The curve fitting for the S-N fatigue diagram is used to predict the lifetime of these eco-piezoceramics and describe their fatigue behavior. It was also found that the unpoled samples exhibited higher fatigue resistance than the poled ones. The fatigue limit of maximum load for ten million cycles of unpoled and poled samples was estimated to be 160 and 135 MPa, respectively. The detailed observations of the fatigue fracture surfaces by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated that a wavy surface with a mixture of transgranular and intergranular fractures occurred preferentially in the case of the poled material. On the other hand, transgranular fractures seem to be predominant in the unpoled samples. It appears that the poling process causes the change in failure characteristics due to domain orientation that leaves an anisotropic stress field in the material. The poled ceramics possess a local stress concentration created by the orientation under the electric poling field of the 90° ferroelectric–ferroelastic domains. Under this local stress concentration, a microstructural degeneration is induced by domain switching under the cyclic load that accelerates crack growth, thereby reducing fatigue lifetime.
Autonomous Machine Learning Algorithm for Stress Monitoring in Concrete Using Elastoacoustical Effect
Authors: Lalik Krzysztof , Kozek Mateusz , Dominik Ireneusz
Published: July 2021

The measurement of stress in concrete structures is a complex issue. This paper presents a new measurement system called a self-acoustic system (SAS), which uses frequency measurements of acoustic waves to determine the condition of concrete structures. The SAS uses a positive feedback loop between ultrasonic heads, which causes excitation to a stable limit cycle. The frequency of this cycle is related to the propagation time of an acoustic wave, which directly depends on stresses in the test object. The coupling mechanism between acoustic wave propagation speed and stress is the elastoacoustic effect described in this paper. Thus, the proposed system enables the coupling between the limit cycle frequency and the stress degree of the concrete structure. This paper presents a machine learning algorithm to analyse the frequency spectrum of the SAS system. The proposed solution is a real-time classifier that enables online analysis of the frequency spectrum from the SAS system. With this approach, an autonomous system for stress condition identification of concrete structures is built and described.
On a Multivariate Analog of the Zolotarev Problem
Authors: Khokhlov Yury , Korolev Victor
Published: July 2021

A generalized multivariate problem due to V. M. Zolotarev is considered. Some related results on geometric random sums and (multivariate) geometric stable distributions are extended to a more general case of “anisotropic” random summation where sums of independent random vectors with multivariate random index having a special multivariate geometric distribution are considered. Anisotropic-geometric stable distributions are introduced. It is demonstrated that these distributions are coordinate-wise scale mixtures of elliptically contoured stable distributions with the Marshall–Olkin mixing distributions. The corresponding “anisotropic” analogs of multivariate Laplace, Linnik and Mittag–Leffler distributions are introduced. Some relations between these distributions are presented.
Numerical Analysis of Flow Phenomena in Discharge Object with Siphon Using Lattice Boltzmann Method and CFD
Authors: Fürst Jiří , Halada Tomáš , Sedlář Milan , Krátký Tomáš , Procházka Pavel , Komárek Martin
Published: July 2021

This article presents numerical simulation of flow in the discharge object with the welded siphon and the free water level. The main numerical tool used in this study is the lattice Boltzmann method combined with the Volume-of-Fluid approach and the Smagorinski LES model. Some aspects of the numerical method are discussed, especially the formulation of the outlet boundary condition. The simulations are carried out with in-house software based on the open-source Palabos framework. Presented results are compared with the CFD simulations, based on the ANSYS CFX software applying the SST and SAS turbulence models and the free-surface flow modeling by means of the Volume-of-Fluid method. The evolution and interactions of main flow structures are analyzed using visualizations and the spectral analysis. All numerical simulations are verified by the experimental data obtained in the hydraulic laboratory with water circuit. A stationary flow regime has been visualized by means of PIV. Both the vertical planes and horizontal planes have been examined, focused mainly on the regions below and behind the siphon outlet. The results show a good agreement of calculated and measured complex flow structures, including time-averaged and instantaneous flow fields.
Fractional Calculus in Russia at the End of XIX Century
Authors: Rogosin Sergei , Dubatovskaya Maryna
Published: July 2021

In this survey paper, we analyze the development of Fractional Calculus in Russia at the end of the XIX century, in particular, the results by A. V. Letnikov, N. Ya. Sonine, and P. A. Nekrasov. Some of the discussed results are either unknown or inaccessible.
Analysis and Optimization of Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Machine for Cogging Torque Reduction
Authors: Usman Hina , Ikram Junaid , Alimgeer Khurram Saleem , Yousuf Muhammad , Bukhari Syed Sabir Hussain , Ro Jong-Suk
Published: July 2021

In this paper, a hexagonal magnet shape is proposed to have an arc profile capable of reducing torque ripples resulting from cogging torque in a single-sided axial flux permanent magnet (AFPM) machine. The arc-shaped permanent magnet increases the air-gap length effectively and makes the flux of the air-gap more sinusoidal, which decreases air-gap flux density and hence causes a reduction in cogging torque. Cogging torque is the basic source of vibration, along with the noise in PM machines, since it is the main cause of torque ripples. Cogging torque is independent of the load current and is proportional to the air-gap flux and the reluctance variation. Three-dimensional finite element analysis (FEA) is used in the JMAG-Designer to analyze the performance of the conventional and proposed hexagonal-shaped PM AFPM machines. The proposed shape is designed to reduce cogging torque, and the voltage remains the same as compared to the conventional hexagonal-shaped PM machine. Further, optimization is performed by utilizing an asymmetric overhang. Latin hypercube sampling (LHS) is used to create samples, the kriging method is applied to approximate the model, and a genetic algorithm is applied to obtain the optimum parameters of the machine.
Jellyfish Collagen: A Biocompatible Collagen Source for 3D Scaffold Fabrication and Enhanced Chondrogenicity
Authors: Ahmed Zara , Powell Lydia C. , Matin Navid , Mearns-Spragg Andrew , Thornton Catherine A. , Khan Ilyas M. , Francis Lewis W.
Published: July 2021

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a multifactorial disease leading to degeneration of articular cartilage, causing morbidity in approximately 8.5 million of the UK population. As the dense extracellular matrix of articular cartilage is primarily composed of collagen, cartilage repair strategies have exploited the biocompatibility and mechanical strength of bovine and porcine collagen to produce robust scaffolds for procedures such as matrix-induced chondrocyte implantation (MACI). However, mammalian sourced collagens pose safety risks such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, transmissible spongiform encephalopathy and possible transmission of viral vectors. This study characterised a non-mammalian jellyfish (Rhizostoma pulmo) collagen as an alternative, safer source in scaffold production for clinical use. Jellyfish collagen demonstrated comparable scaffold structural properties and stability when compared to mammalian collagen. Jellyfish collagen also displayed comparable immunogenic responses (platelet and leukocyte activation/cell death) and cytokine release profile in comparison to mammalian collagen in vitro. Further histological analysis of jellyfish collagen revealed bovine chondroprogenitor cell invasion and proliferation in the scaffold structures, where the scaffold supported enhanced chondrogenesis in the presence of TGFβ1. This study highlights the potential of jellyfish collagen as a safe and biocompatible biomaterial for both OA repair and further regenerative medicine applications.
Marine Sulfated Polysaccharides as Promising Antiviral Agents: A Comprehensive Report and Modeling Study Focusing on SARS CoV-2
Authors: Salih Abdalla E. M. , Thissera Bathini , Yaseen Mohammed , Hassane Ahmed S. I. , El-Seedi Hesham R. , Sayed Ahmed M. , Rateb Mostafa E.
Published: July 2021

SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2) is a novel coronavirus strain that emerged at the end of 2019, causing millions of deaths so far. Despite enormous efforts being made through various drug discovery campaigns, there is still a desperate need for treatments with high efficacy and selectivity. Recently, marine sulfated polysaccharides (MSPs) have earned significant attention and are widely examined against many viral infections. This article attempted to produce a comprehensive report about MSPs from different marine sources alongside their antiviral effects against various viral species covering the last 25 years of research articles. Additionally, these reported MSPs were subjected to molecular docking and dynamic simulation experiments to ascertain potential interactions with both the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS CoV-2’s spike protein (S-protein) and human angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2). The possible binding sites on both S-protein’s RBD and ACE2 were determined based on how they bind to heparin, which has been reported to exhibit significant antiviral activity against SARS CoV-2 through binding to RBD, preventing the virus from affecting ACE2. Moreover, our modeling results illustrate that heparin can also bind to and block ACE2, acting as a competitor and protective agent against SARS CoV-2 infection. Nine of the investigated MSPs candidates exhibited promising results, taking into consideration the newly emerged SARS CoV-2 variants, of which five were not previously reported to exert antiviral activity against SARS CoV-2, including sulfated galactofucan (1), sulfated polymannuroguluronate (SPMG) (2), sulfated mannan (3), sulfated heterorhamnan (8), and chondroitin sulfate E (CS-E) (9). These results shed light on the importance of sulfated polysaccharides as potential SARS-CoV-2 inhibitors.
Marine Peptides: Structure, Bioactivities, and a New Hope for Therapeutic Application
Authors: Ovchinnikova Tatiana V.
Published: July 2021

Over the last years, plethora of bioactive peptides have been isolated from organisms which live in sea water [...]
Anti-Cancer and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Three New Chromone Derivatives from the Marine-Derived Penicillium citrinum
Authors: Chu Yi-Cheng , Chang Chun-Hao , Liao Hsiang-Ruei , Fu Shu-Ling , Chen Jih-Jung
Published: July 2021

Three new and uncommon chromone analogs, epiremisporine F (1), epiremisporine G (2), and epiremisporine H (3), were isolated from marine-origin Penicillium citrinum. Among the isolated compounds, compounds 2–3 remarkably suppressed fMLP-induced superoxide anion generation by human neutrophils, with IC50 values of 31.68 ± 2.53, and 33.52 ± 0.42 μM, respectively. Compound 3 exhibited cytotoxic activities against human colon carcinoma (HT-29) and non-small lung cancer cell (A549) with IC50 values of 21.17 ± 4.89 and 31.43 ± 3.01 μM, respectively, and Western blot assay confirmed that compound 3 obviously induced apoptosis of HT-29 cells, via Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase 3 signaling cascades.
The Anti-Viral Applications of Marine Resources for COVID-19 Treatment: An Overview
Authors: Geahchan Sarah , Ehrlich Hermann , Rahman M.
Published: July 2021

The ongoing pandemic has led to an urgent need for novel drug discovery and potential therapeutics for Sars-CoV-2 infected patients. Although Remdesivir and the anti-inflammatory agent dexamethasone are currently on the market for treatment, Remdesivir lacks full efficacy and thus, more drugs are needed. This review was conducted through literature search of PubMed, MDPI, Google Scholar and Scopus. Upon review of existing literature, it is evident that marine organisms harbor numerous active metabolites with anti-viral properties that serve as potential leads for COVID-19 therapy. Inorganic polyphosphates (polyP) naturally found in marine bacteria and sponges have been shown to prevent viral entry, induce the innate immune response, and downregulate human ACE-2. Furthermore, several marine metabolites isolated from diverse sponges and algae have been shown to inhibit main protease (Mpro), a crucial protein required for the viral life cycle. Sulfated polysaccharides have also been shown to have potent anti-viral effects due to their anionic properties and high molecular weight. Likewise, select marine sponges produce bromotyrosines which have been shown to prevent viral entry, replication and protein synthesis. The numerous compounds isolated from marine resources demonstrate significant potential against COVID-19. The present review for the first time highlights marine bioactive compounds, their sources, and their anti-viral mechanisms of action, with a focus on potential COVID-19 treatment.
Purification and Biological Function of Caldecrin
Authors: Tomomura Akito , Bandow Kenjiro , Tomomura Mineko
Published: July 2021

Blood calcium homeostasis is critical for biological function. Caldecrin, or chymotrypsin-like elastase, was originally identified in the pancreas as a serum calcium-decreasing factor. The serum calcium-decreasing activity of caldecrin requires the trypsin-mediated activation of the protein. Protease activity-deficient mature caldecrin can also reduce serum calcium concentration, indicating that structural processing is necessary for serum calcium-decreasing activity. Caldecrin suppresses the differentiation of bone-resorbing osteoclasts from bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) by inhibiting receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL)-induced nuclear factor of activated T-cell cytoplasmic 1 expression via the Syk–PLCγ–Ca2+ oscillation-calcineurin signaling pathway. It also suppresses mature osteoclastic bone resorption by RANKL-stimulated TRAF6–c-Src–Syk–calcium entry and actin ring formation. Caldecrin inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced osteoclast formation in RANKL-primed BMMs by inducing the NF-κB negative regulator A20. In addition, caldecrin suppresses LPS-mediated M1 macrophage polarization through the immunoreceptor triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (TREM) 2, suggesting that caldecrin may function as an anti-osteoclastogenic and anti-inflammatory factor via TREM2. The ectopic intramuscular expression of caldecrin cDNA prevents bone resorption in ovariectomized mice, and the administration of caldecrin protein also prevents skeletal muscle destruction in dystrophic mice. In vivo and in vitro studies have indicated that caldecrin is a unique multifunctional protease and a possible therapeutic target for skeletal and inflammatory diseases.
Delivery of Foreign Materials into Adherent Cells by Gold Nanoparticle-Mediated Photoporation
Authors: Du Xiaofan , Wang Jing , Chen Lan , Zhang Zhenxi , Yao Cuiping
Published: July 2021

Delivering extracellular materials into adherent cells presents several challenges. A homemade photoporation platform, mediated by gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), was constructed to find a suitable method for finding all adherent cells in this process with high delivery efficiency. The thermal dynamics of AuNPs could be monitored. Based on this system, 60 nm AuNPs were selected to be attached to cells for optimal photoporation. After irradiating the cells covered with AuNPs using a nanosecond pulse laser, fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran in the medium were delivered into optoporated adherent HeLa (human cervical cell lines) cells. The delivery efficiency and cell viability of this process were evaluated using a fluorescence microscope and flow cytometry. The experimental results showed that targeting cells using antibodies, laser irradiation from the top of the cell culture well, and reducing the cell medium are important for improving the delivery efficiency. The optimal loading efficiency for adherent HeLa cells was 53.4%.
Membrane Fouling Controlled by Adjustment of Biological Treatment Parameters in Step-Aerating MBR
Authors: Banti Dimitra C. , Mitrakas Manassis , Samaras Petros
Published: July 2021

A promising solution for membrane fouling reduction in membrane bioreactors (MBRs) could be the adjustment of operating parameters of the MBR, such as hydraulic retention time (HRT), food/microorganisms (F/M) loading and dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration, aiming to modify the sludge morphology to the direction of improvement of the membrane filtration. In this work, these parameters were investigated in a step-aerating pilot MBR that treated municipal wastewater, in order to control the filamentous population. When F/M loading in the first aeration tank (AT1) was ≤0.65 ± 0.2 g COD/g MLSS/d at 20 ± 3 °C, DO = 2.5 ± 0.1 mg/L and HRT = 1.6 h, the filamentous bacteria were controlled effectively at a moderate filament index of 1.5–3. The moderate population of filamentous bacteria improved the membrane performance, leading to low transmembrane pressure (TMP) at values ≤ 2 kPa for a great period, while at the control MBR the TMP gradually increased reaching 14 kPa. Soluble microbial products (SMP), were also maintained at low concentrations, contributing additionally to the reduction of ΤΜP. Finally, the step-aerating MBR process and the selected imposed operating conditions of HRT, F/M and DO improved the MBR performance in terms of fouling control, facilitating its future wider application.
Support Vector Regression Modelling of an Aerobic Granular Sludge in Sequential Batch Reactor
Authors: Ahmad Yasmin Nur Sakinah , Abdul Wahab Norhaliza , Ismail Fatimah Sham , Musa Mu’azu Jibrin , Halim Mohd Hakim Ab , Anuar Aznah Nor
Published: July 2021

Support vector regression (SVR) models have been designed to predict the concentration of chemical oxygen demand in sequential batch reactors under high temperatures. The complex internal interaction between the sludge characteristics and their influent were used to develop the models. The prediction becomes harder when dealing with a limited dataset due to the limitation of the experimental works. A radial basis function algorithm with selected kernel parameters of cost and gamma was used to developed SVR models. The kernel parameters were selected by using a grid search method and were further optimized by using particle swarm optimization and genetic algorithm. The SVR models were then compared with an artificial neural network. The prediction results R2 were within >90% for all predicted concentration of COD. The results showed the potential of SVR for simulating the complex aerobic granulation process and providing an excellent tool to help predict the behaviour in aerobic granular reactors of wastewater treatment.
Scale-Up and Long-Term Study of Electrodialysis with Ultrafiltration Membrane for the Separation of a Herring Milt Hydrolysate
Authors: Thibodeau Jacinthe , Benoit Noémie , Perreault Véronique , Bazinet Laurent
Published: July 2021

Electrodialysis with ultrafiltration membrane (EDUF) was selected to separate a herring milt hydrolysate (HMH) in a scale-up and long-term study for the recovery of bioactive peptides. The scale-up was performed to maximise peptide recovery by placing a total membrane area of 0.08 m2 for each anionic and cationic compartment. Twelve consecutive runs were carried out, for a total of 69 h, with minimal salt solution cleaning in between experiments. The final peptide migration rate showed that cationic peptides had a higher average migration rate (5.2 ± 0.8 g/m2·h), compared to anionic peptides (4.7 ± 1.1 g/m2·h). Migration was also selective according to peptide identifications and molecular mass distribution where only small molecular weights were found (<1000 Da) in both recovery compartments. The areal system resistance slightly decreased during each run and the averaged values were stable in between experiments since they were all found in the 95% confidence interval. In addition, total relative energy consumption was quite consistent with an average value of 39.95 ± 6.47 Wh/g all along the 12 consecutive runs. Finally, according to membrane characterization, there was no visual fouling on the different membranes present in the EDUF cell after 69 h of treatment. This may be due to the salt cleaning in between experiments which allowed removal of peptides from the membranes, thus allowing recovering initial system working parameters at the beginning of each run. The entire process was revealed to be very consistent and repeatable in terms of peptide migration, global system resistance, and energy consumption. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time such EDUF conditions (membrane surface, duration, and minimal salt cleaning between experiments) are being tested on a complex hydrolysate.
Characterization of a Bimetallic Multilayered Composite “Stainless Steel/Copper” Fabricated with Wire-Feed Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Osipovich Kseniya , Vorontsov Andrey , Chumaevskii Andrey , Gurianov Denis , Shamarin Nikolai , Savchenko Nikolai , Kolubaev Evgeny
Published: July 2021

The results of investigating the structure and properties of multilayered bimetallic “steel–copper” macrocomposite systems, obtained by wire-feed electron beam additive manufacturing, are presented in the paper. The features of boundary formation during 3D printing are revealed when changing the filaments of stainless steel and copper. Inhomogeneities in the distribution of steel and copper in the boundary zone were detected. Interphase interaction occurs both in the steel and copper parts of the structural boundary: Cu particles with an average size of 5 µm are formed in the iron matrix; Fe particles with an average size of 10 µm are formed in the copper matrix. It was revealed that such structural elements, as solid solutions of both copper and iron, are formed in the boundary zone, with additional mutual dissolution of alloying elements and mechanical mixtures of system components. The presence of the disc-shaped precipitations randomly located in the matrix was revealed in the structure of the “copper–steel” boundary by transmission electron microscopy; this is associated with rapid cooling of alloys and the subsequent thermal effect at lower temperatures during the application of subsequent layers. The existence of these disc-shaped precipitations of steel, arranged randomly in the Cu matrix, allows us to draw conclusions on the spinodal decomposition of alloying elements of steel. The characteristics of mechanical and micromechanical properties of a bimetallic multilayered composite with a complex formed structure lie in the range of characteristics inherent in additive steel and additive copper.
Inverse Identification of the Ductile Failure Law for Ti6Al4V Based on Orthogonal Cutting Experimental Outcomes
Authors: Sela Andrés , Soler Daniel , Ortiz-de-Zarate Gorka , Germain Guénaël , Ducobu François , Arrazola Pedro J.
Published: July 2021

Despite the prevalence of machining, tools and cutting conditions are often chosen based on empirical databases, which are hard to be made, and they are only valid in the range of conditions tested to develop it. Predictive numerical models have thus emerged as a promising approach. To function correctly, they require accurate data related to appropriate material properties (e.g., constitutive models, ductile failure law). Nevertheless, material characterization is usually carried out through thermomechanical tests, under conditions far different from those encountered in machining. In addition, segmented chips observed when cutting titanium alloys make it a challenge to develop an accurate model. At low cutting speeds, chip segmentation is assumed to be due to lack of ductility of the material. In this work, orthogonal cutting tests of Ti6Al4V alloy were carried out, varying the uncut chip thickness from 0.2 to 0.4 mm and the cutting speed from 2.5 to 7.5 m/min. The temperature in the shear zone was measured through infrared measurements with high resolution. It was observed experimentally, and in the FEM, that chip segmentation causes oscillations in the workpiece temperature, chip thickness and cutting forces. Moreover, workpiece temperature and cutting force signals were observed to be in counterphase, which was predicted by the ductile failure model. Oscillation frequency was employed in order to improve the ductile failure law by using inverse simulation, reducing the prediction error of segmentation frequency from more than 100% to an average error lower than 10%.
Effects of Hot Isostatic Pressing and Heat Treatment on the Microstructure and Mechanical Properties of Cast TiAl Alloy
Authors: Yu Wen , Zhou Jianxin , Yin Yajun , Feng Xin , Nan Hai , Lin Junpin , Ding Xianfei , Duan Wei
Published: July 2021

Hot isostatic pressing (HIP) and subsequent heat-treatments (HT) are necessary for titanium aluminide (TiAl) casting components. But there are few studies carefully comparing the microstructure changes from the initial as-cast condition to the final heat-treated condition. In this study, the microstructures of Ti-47Al-2Cr-2Nb (at%) alloy in the as-cast, as-HIPed and as-heat-treated conditions were characterized by optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The mechanical properties after HTs were determined by the tensile tests at 700 °C. The results show that after HIP and HTs, all the microstructures exhibit a nearly lamellar (NL) structure and can be divided into an edge region and a central area. The microstructure after HIP in the edge region is normal, while distorted lamellae and many fine recrystallized grains exist in the central area. The yield strengths after three HTs are nearly the same, but the elongation after the HT at 1310 °C is much more than that after HTs at 1185 °C and 1280 °C. A refinement of colony size induced by distorted lamellae in as-HIPed condition is considered responsible for the great improvement in elongation.
Increasing the Durability of Trimming Dies Used to Clean Anodes in the Aluminum Industry
Authors: Gârleanu Delia , Borda Claudia , Gârleanu Gabriel , Modrogan Cristina , Dumitraș Marius , Dobrotă Dan , Racz Sever-Gabriel , Dascălu Loredana Cristina
Published: July 2021

Increasing the durability of trimming dies used to clean anodes is a very important goal in order to reduce the costs involved in obtaining aluminum. The research focused both on choosing an optimal material for the execution of trimming dies and on the application of technologies for plating active areas and, at the same time, on optimizing the geometric shape of the active area of the trimming die. In order to choose an optimal material from which to make the trimming dies, it was taken into account that they are usually made of X210Cr12 steel. In the stage of choosing an optimal material for the execution of the trimming dies, five steels were taken into account, namely: K105, K107, K110, K360, and K460. Analyses of the metallographic structure of the passage area were performed between the metal deposited by welding and the base material, demonstrating the fact that hot welding plating allows obtaining a more homogeneous metallographic structure compared to cold welding plating. The choice of new material was not a solution to increase the durability of the trimming die. Change in the trimming die geometry determined a reduction in deformations of about 13.8 times and of the equivalent stresses of about 7 times compared to those obtained in the case of the old trimming die. In addition, the durability of the trimming die with the new construction shape increases approximately three times compared to the trimming die with the old geometric shape. This demonstrates that the solution to increasing the durability of the trimming die is to adopt an optimal geometry of the active part at the expense of choosing an optimal material.
Fatigue Variability of Alloy 625 Thin-Tube Brazed Specimens
Authors: Lee Seulbi , Kim Hanjong , Park Seonghun , Choi Yoon Suk
Published: July 2021

As an advanced heat exchanger for aero-turbine applications, a tubular-type heat exchanger was developed. To ensure the optimum performance of the heat exchanger, it is necessary to assess the structural integrity of the tubes, considering the assembly processes such as brazing. In this study, fatigue tests at room temperature and 1000 K were performed for 0.135 mm-thick alloy 625 tubes (outer diameter of 1.5 mm), which were brazed to the grip of the fatigue specimen. The variability in fatigue life was investigated by analyzing the locations of the fatigue failure, fracture surfaces, and microstructures of the brazed joint and tube. At room temperature, the specimens failed near the brazed joint for high σmax values, while both brazed joint failure and tube side failure were observed for low σmax values. The largest variability in fatigue life under the same test conditions was found when one specimen failed in the brazed joint, while the other specimen failed in the middle of the tube. The specimen with brazed joint failure showed multiple crack initiations circumferentially near the surface of the filler metal layer and growth of cracks in the tube, resulting in a short fatigue life. At 1000 K, all the specimens exhibited failure in the middle of the tube. In this case, the short-life specimen showed crack initiation and growth along the grains with large through thickness in addition to multiple crack initiations at the carbides inside the tube. The results suggest that the variability in the fatigue life of the alloy 625 thin-tube brazed specimen is affected by the presence of the brazed joint, as well as the spatial distribution of the grain size and carbides.
Preparation Methods for Graphene Metal and Polymer Based Composites for EMI Shielding Materials: State of the Art Review of the Conventional and Machine Learning Methods
Authors: Ayub Saba , Guan Beh Hoe , Ahmad Faiz , Javed Muhammad Faisal , Mosavi Amir , Felde Imre
Published: July 2021

Advancement of novel electromagnetic inference (EMI) materials is essential in various industries. The purpose of this study is to present a state-of-the-art review on the methods used in the formation of graphene-, metal- and polymer-based composite EMI materials. The study indicates that in graphene- and metal-based composites, the utilization of alternating deposition method provides the highest shielding effectiveness. However, in polymer-based composite, the utilization of chemical vapor deposition method showed the highest shielding effectiveness. Furthermore, this review reveals that there is a gap in the literature in terms of the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning methods. The results further reveal that within the past half-decade machine learning methods, including artificial neural networks, have brought significant improvement for modelling EMI materials. We identified a research trend in the direction of using advanced forms of machine learning for comparative analysis, research and development employing hybrid and ensemble machine learning methods to deliver higher performance.
Phase Transformation of Alumina, Silica and Iron Oxide during Carbothermic Reduction of Fly Ash for Ceramics Production
Authors: Yu Qingchun , Deng Yong , Feng Yuebin , Li Ziyong
Published: July 2021

Fly ash is a by-product from burning of coal. Utilization of fly ash by carbothermic reduction is an effective way to recover aluminum, silicon, and iron to enhance product-added value. This work is focused on the phase transformation of Al2O3, SiO2 and Fe2O3 during carbothermic reduction of fly ash in air. A comparative analysis of carbothermic reduction of fly ash in air and in nitrogen was made. Thermodynamics analysis was performed to illustrate the possible reactions for residue and condensate. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscope (SEM), and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) were employed to characterize the phase composition, surface morphology, and microstructure of the reduced products. Results show that Fe3Si and Fe2Si appear sequentially with increasing of temperature. Al5O6N is an intermediate compound. Residue of Al9FeSi3, Al, and Si, and condensate of SiC, AlN and C are obtained. β-SiAlON was not found in the residue. Nitrogen is involved in the reduction of Al2O3 but not in the reduction of SiO2 and Fe2O3. Carbothermic reduction of fly ash in air did not behave the same as fly ash in nitrogen.
Viscosity and Structural Investigation of High-Concentration Al2O3 and MgO Slag System for FeO Reduction in Electric Arc Furnace Processing
Authors: Kim Youngjae , Min Dong-Joon
Published: July 2021

In the present study, the viscosity of the CaO–SiO2–FeO–Al2O3–MgO slag system was measured for the recovery of FeO in the electric arc furnace (EAF) process using Al dross. Considering the MgO-saturated operational condition of the EAF, the viscosity was measured in the MgO-saturated composition at 1823 K with varying FeO and Al2O3 concentrations. An increase in the slag viscosity with decreasing temperature was observed. The activation energy was evaluated, and the change in the thermodynamically equilibrated phase was considered. The changes in the aluminate structure with varying FeO and Al2O3 concentrations were investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, which revealed an increase in the [AlO4] tetrahedral structure with increasing Al2O3 concentration. Depolymerization of the aluminate structure was observed at higher FeO concentrations. The Raman spectra showed the polymerization of the silicate network structure at higher Al2O3 concentrations. By associations between the silicate and aluminate structures, a more highly polymerized slag structure was achieved in the present system by increasing the Al2O3 concentration.
Stacking Fault Energy in Relation to Hydrogen Environment Embrittlement of Metastable Austenitic Stainless CrNi-Steels
Authors: Fussik Robert , Egels Gero , Theisen Werner , Weber Sebastian
Published: July 2021

Metastable austenitic steels react to plastic deformation with a thermally and/or mechanically induced martensitic phase transformation. The martensitic transformation to α’-martensite can take place directly or indirectly via the intermediate stage of ε-martensite from the single-phase austenite. This effect is influenced by the stacking fault energy (SFE) of austenitic steels. An SFE < 20 mJ/m2 is known to promote indirect conversion, while an SFE > 20 mJ/m2 promotes the direct conversion of austenite into α’-martensite. This relationship has thus far not been considered in relation to the hydrogen environment embrittlement (HEE) of metastable austenitic CrNi steels. To gain new insights into HEE under consideration of the SFE and martensite formation of metastable CrNi steels, tensile tests were carried out in this study at room temperature in an air environment and in a hydrogen gas atmosphere with a pressure of p = 10 MPa. These tests were conducted on a conventionally produced alloy AISI 304L and a laboratory-scale modification of this alloy. In terms of metal physics, the steels under consideration differed in the value of the experimentally determined SFE. The SFE of the AISI 304L was 22.7 ± 0.8 mJ/m2 and the SFE of the 304 mod alloy was 18.7 ± 0.4 mJ/m2. The tensile specimens tested in air revealed a direct γ → α’ conversion for AISI 304L and an indirect γ → ε → α’ conversion for 304 mod. From the results it could be deduced that the indirect phase transformation is responsible for a significant increase in the content of deformation-induced α’-martensite due to a reduction of the SFE value below 20 mJ/m2 in hydrogen gas atmosphere.
Urinary 2-Hydroxyglutarate Enantiomers Are Markedly Elevated in a Murine Model of Type 2 Diabetic Kidney Disease
Authors: Baek Judy , Pennathur Subramaniam
Published: July 2021

Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of diabetic kidney disease (DKD); nutrient overload leads to increased production of metabolic byproducts that may become toxic at high levels. One metabolic byproduct may be 2-hydroxyglutarate (2-HG), a metabolite with many regulatory functions that exists in both enantiomeric forms physiologically. We quantitatively determined the levels of L and D-2HG enantiomers in the urine, plasma, and kidney cortex of db/db mice, a pathophysiologically relevant murine model of type 2 diabetes and DKD. We found increased fractional excretion of both L and D-2HG enantiomers, suggesting increased tubular secretion and/or production of the two metabolites in DKD. Quantitation of TCA cycle metabolites in db/db cortex suggests that TCA cycle overload and an increase in 2-HG precursor substrate, α-ketoglutarate, drive the increased L and D-2HG production in DKD. In conclusion, we demonstrated increased 2-HG enantiomer production and urinary excretion in murine type 2 DKD, which may contribute to metabolic reprogramming and progression of diabetic kidney disease.
Phase I In Vitro Metabolic Profiling of the Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists CUMYL-THPINACA and ADAMANTYL-THPINACA
Authors: Monti Manuela Carla , Scheurer Eva , Mercer-Chalmers-Bender Katja
Published: July 2021

Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) remain popular drugs of abuse. As many SCRAs are known to be mostly metabolized, in vitro phase I metabolic profiling was conducted of the two indazole-3-carboxamide SCRAs: CUMYL-THPINACA and ADAMANTYL-THPINACA. Both compounds were incubated using pooled human liver microsomes. The sample clean-up consisted of solid phase extraction, followed by analysis using liquid chromatography coupled to a high resolution mass spectrometer. In silico-assisted metabolite identification and structure elucidation with the data-mining software Compound Discoverer was applied. Overall, 28 metabolites were detected for CUMYL-THPINACA and 13 metabolites for ADAMATYL-THPINACA. Various mono-, di-, and tri-hydroxylated metabolites were detected. For each SCRA, an abundant and characteristic di-hydroxylated metabolite was identified as a possible in vivo biomarker for screening methods. Metabolizing cytochrome P450 isoenzymes were investigated via incubation of relevant recombinant liver enzymes. The involvement of mainly CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 in the metabolism of both substances were noted, and for CUMYL-THPINACA the additional involvement (to a lesser extent) of CYP2C8, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 was observed. The results suggest that ADAMANTYL-THPINACA might be more prone to metabolic drug−drug interactions than CUMYL-THPINACA, when co-administrated with strong CYP3A4 inhibitors.
Changes of Milk Metabolomic Profiles Resulting from a Mycotoxins-Contaminated Corn Silage Intake by Dairy Cows
Authors: Rocchetti Gabriele , Ghilardelli Francesca , Bonini Paolo , Lucini Luigi , Masoero Francesco , Gallo Antonio
Published: July 2021

In this study, an untargeted metabolomics approach based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) was used for investigating changes in chemical profiles of cow milk considering diets based on mycotoxins-contaminated corn silages. For this purpose, 45 milk samples were classified into five clusters according to the corn silage contamination profile, namely (1) low levels of Aspergillus- and Penicillium-mycotoxins; (2) low levels of fumonisins and other Fusarium-mycotoxins; (3) high levels of Aspergillus-mycotoxins; (4) high levels of non-regulated Fusarium-mycotoxins; (5) high levels of fumonisins and their metabolites, and subsequently analyzed by UHPLC-HRMS followed by a multivariate statistical analysis (both unsupervised and supervised statistical approaches). Overall, the milk metabolomic profile highlighted potential correlations between the quality of contaminated corn silages (as part of the total mixed ration) and milk composition. Metabolomics allowed to identify 628 significant milk metabolites as affected by the five levels of corn silage contamination considered, with amino acids and peptides showing the highest metabolite set enrichment (134 compounds). Additionally, 78 metabolites were selected as the best discriminant of the prediction model built, possessing a variable importance in projection score >1.2. The average Log Fold-Change variations of the discriminant metabolites provided evidence that sphingolipids, together with purine and pyrimidine-derived metabolites were the most affected chemical classes. Also, metabolomics revealed a significant accumulation of oxidized glutathione in milk samples belonging to the silage cluster contaminated by emerging Aspergillus toxins, likely involved in the oxidative imbalance. These preliminary findings provide new insights into the potential role of milk metabolomics to provide chemical indicators of mycotoxins-contaminated corn silage feeding systems.
Morphological and Compositional Studies on Al/Ti/TiN/Si, Al/TiN/Si, Al/W/Si, Al/WN/Si Systems to Test the Diffusion Barrier Properties of Nanoscale-Thick Layers between Al and Si
Authors: Censabella Maria , Drago Cristina , Cafra Brunella , Badalà Paolo , Bassi Anna , Piccitto Giovanni , Mirabella Salvatore , Grimaldi Maria Grazia , Ruffino Francesco
Published: July 2021

In this work, an investigation of the properties of nanoscale-thick Ti/TiN, TiN, W, WN layers as diffusion barriers between Si and Al is carried out in view of Si-based electronic applications. Heat treatments were performed on the samples to activate interdiffusion between Si and Al. Changing annealing time and temperature, each sample was morphologically characterized by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy and compositionally characterized by Rutherford backscattering analysis. The aim is to evaluate the efficiency of the layers as diffusion barriers between Si and Al and, at the same time, to evaluate the surface morphological changes upon annealing processes.
A Multi-Core Controller for an Embedded AI System Supporting Parallel Recognition
Authors: Jang Suyeon , Oh Hyun Woo , Yoon Young Hyun , Hwang Dong Hyun , Jeong Won Sik , Lee Seung Eun
Published: July 2021

Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) technology encourage the adoption of AI systems for various applications. In most deployments, AI-based computing systems adopt the architecture in which the central server processes most of the data. This characteristic makes the system use a high amount of network bandwidth and can cause security issues. In order to overcome these issues, a new AI model called federated learning was presented. Federated learning adopts an architecture in which the clients take care of data training and transmit only the trained result to the central server. As the data training from the client abstracts and reduces the original data, the system operates with reduced network resources and reinforced data security. A system with federated learning supports a variety of client systems. To build an AI system with resource-limited client systems, composing the client system with multiple embedded AI processors is valid. For realizing the system with this architecture, introducing a controller to arbitrate and utilize the AI processors becomes a stringent requirement. In this paper, we propose an embedded AI system for federated learning that can be composed flexibly with the AI core depending on the application. In order to realize the proposed system, we designed a controller for multiple AI cores and implemented it on a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). The operation of the designed controller was verified through image and speech applications, and the performance was verified through a simulator.
Fabrication of a 3D Nanomagnetic Circuit with Multi-Layered Materials for Applications in Spintronics
Authors: Meng Fanfan , Donnelly Claire , Skoric Luka , Hierro-Rodriguez Aurelio , Liao Jung-wei , Fernández-Pacheco Amalio
Published: July 2021

Three-dimensional (3D) spintronic devices are attracting significant research interest due to their potential for both fundamental studies and computing applications. However, their implementations face great challenges regarding not only the fabrication of 3D nanomagnets with high quality materials, but also their integration into 2D microelectronic circuits. In this study, we developed a new fabrication process to facilitate the efficient integration of both non-planar 3D geometries and high-quality multi-layered magnetic materials to prototype 3D spintronic devices, as a first step to investigate new physical effects in such systems. Specifically, we exploited 3D nanoprinting, physical vapour deposition and lithographic techniques to realise a 3D nanomagnetic circuit based on a nanobridge geometry, coated with high quality Ta/CoFeB/Ta layers. The successful establishment of this 3D circuit was verified through magnetotransport measurements in combination with micromagnetic simulations and finite element modelling. This fabrication process provides new capabilities for the realisation of a greater variety of 3D nanomagnetic circuits, which will facilitate the understanding and exploitation of 3D spintronic systems.