The Influence of Microstructure on Hydrogen Diffusion and Embrittlement of Multiphase Fine-Grained Steels with Increased Plasticity and Strength

The influence of microstructure on hydrogen diffusion and embrittlement of multiphase fine-grained structural steels with increased plasticity and strength was studied with electrochemical experiments which provide the hydrogenation of specimens in conditions simulating practice requirements. By means of all experimental data obtained from permeation experiments, mechanical investigations, SEM and EDS analyses, TRIP steel has shown greater resistance to hydrogen embrittlement than DP steel, testified by lower index of hydrogen embrittlement, lower diffusion coefficient, less inclusions and favourable microstructure with residual austenite. Namely, the residual austenite in the aspect of hydrogen embrittlement is a favourable phase in relation to martensite, because of its higher solubility of carbon and hydrogen and lower hardness. Therefore, TRIP steel could be considered the more suitable structural material than DP steel for application in conditions where contact with hydrogen is inevitable

The Evolution Of A Balanced Scorecard

Both professionals and academics have long criticized the use of traditional financial performance measures and called for balance in performance measurement systems. In 1992, Kaplan and Norton introduced the Balanced Scorecard and it has been adopted widely around the world and offered as a superior combination of nonfinancial and financial measures of performance. This paper is the result of a 15-year field study of a Fortune 500 company’s Balanced Scorecard. Both qualitative and quantitative data were collected to address the following research questions with respect to the Balanced Scorecard: 1) What has changed over time? 2) What has not changed over time? 3) Why has it endured? Changes highlighted are that the Balanced Scorecard was unaffected by a major change in organizational structure, a narrowing of focus and reduction in the scope over time, processes for changing the design were formalized, and that it has become engrained in the compensation system. Factors that have remained constant over time are the purpose of the Balanced Scorecard, its use for relative performance evaluation, and its use as a tool for best practice sharing. Two factors that appear to explain why it has endured are its use as a learning and communication tool and its ability to influence behavior. The paper concludes with a list of key success factors for building and sustaining a successful scorecard. This list might also be helpful to researchers seeking to investigate the design, use or impact of a Balanced Scorecard

Adsorption of Organic Acids on Blast Furnace Sludge

This paper describes the adsorption of two organic (acetic and citric) acids on the blast furnace sludge, a representative by-product of the steelmaking industry. By PIXE, XRD, BETand SEM methods, it was shown that blast furnace sludge is a complex heterogeneous material with a specific surface area of s = 31.46 m2 g–1, composed mainly of amorphous phase (w = 76.2 %), calcite (w = 9.9 %), magnetite (w = 6.3 %) and kaolinite (w = 2.2 %). Chemically, blast furnace sludge is dominated by O (w = 42.23 %) and C (w = 31.74 %). The adsorption process is analyzed using the theories of Freundlich and Langmuir. The experimental data were better fitted to the Langmuir isotherm. The negative Gibbs energy values indicate the spontaneous nature of adsorption. After adsorption the surface image changes in the BFS were observed, and BET surface area increased when acetic acid was adsorbed. Contrarily, blast furnace sludge became almost non-porous in the case of citric acid adsorption and BETsurface area decreased significantly

TYPES OF STRATEGIES FOR THE TOURISTIC FIRMS

to develop new ideas, products, services and destinations. For example, there is aninternational interest in developing niches, which are specific interests and activities thatpeople might find interesting as an activity for their holiday. Recent developments thatcharacterize this include the rise of natural-based ecotourism products, of wine and food-based tourism, following on people’s interests, provides an example of a successfuldevelopment of niche products. With all these roles, researchers as well as governmentshave agreed on the need of development strategies, as a successful and beneficial waytowards the future.strategy, corporate strategy, business strategy, developing strategies, tourismoperators

Three-dimensional fluorescent microscopy via simultaneous illumination and detection at multiple planes.

The conventional optical microscope is an inherently two-dimensional (2D) imaging tool. The objective lens, eyepiece and image sensor are all designed to capture light emitted from a 2D 'object plane'. Existing technologies, such as confocal or light sheet fluorescence microscopy have to utilize mechanical scanning, a time-multiplexing process, to capture a 3D image. In this paper, we present a 3D optical microscopy method based upon simultaneously illuminating and detecting multiple focal planes. This is implemented by adding two diffractive optical elements to modify the illumination and detection optics. We demonstrate that the image quality of this technique is comparable to conventional light sheet fluorescent microscopy with the advantage of the simultaneous imaging of multiple axial planes and reduced number of scans required to image the whole sample volume

Promotion expenditure, categories, time lag structure and the demand for almonds

The Almond Board of California (ABC) finances four promotional programs to increase the demand for California almonds: public relations, advertising, food services and nutrition research. This analysis relates ABC's expenditures by category to U.S. almond demand. It assesses ABC's return on investment and guides managerial decisions across programs. ABC expenditures have a significant effect on domestic almond shipments, explaining 16.7% of the variation in shipments. However, only advertising is strongly significanteach dollar spent increases almonds shipped eight months later by 8.25 pounds. Food services approached significanceeach dollar spent increases almonds shipped 11 months later by 32.8 pounds.Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited

A prospective analysis of the injury incidence of young male professional football players on artificial turf

Background: The effects of synthetic surfaces on the risk of injuries is still debated in literature and the majority of published data seems to be contradictory. For such reasons the understanding of injury incidence on such surfaces, especially in youth sport, is fundamental for injury prevention. Objectives: The aim of this study was to prospectively report the epidemiology of injuries in young football players, playing on artificial turfs, during a one sports season. Patients and Methods: 80 young male football players (age 16.1 ± 3.7 years; height 174 ± 6.6 cm; weight 64.2 ± 6.3 kg) were enrolled in a prospective cohort study. The participants were then divided in two groups; the first included players age ranging from 17 to 19 (OP) whereas the second included players age ranging from 13 to 16 (YP). Injury incidence was recorded prospectively, according to the consensus statement for soccer. Results: A total of 107 injuries (35 from the OP and 72 from the YP) were recorded during an exposure time of 83.760 hours (incidence 1.28/1000 per player hours); 22 during matches (incidence 2.84/1000 per player hours, 20.5%) and 85 during training (incidence 1.15/1000 per player hours, 79.5%). Thigh and groin were the most common injury locations (33.6% and 21.5%, respectively) while muscle injuries such as contractures and strains were the most common injury typologies (68.23%). No statistical differences between groups were displayed, except for the rate of severe injuries during matches, with the OP displaying slightly higher rates compared to the YP. Severe injuries accounted for 10.28% of the total injuries reported. The average time lost due to injuries was 14 days. Re-injuries accounted for 4.67% of all injuries sustained during the season. Conclusions: In professional youth soccer injury rates are reasonably low. Muscle injuries are the most common type of injuries while groin and thigh the most common locations. Artificial turf pitches don’t seem to contribute to injury incidence in young football players

Kajian Lingkungan Tempat Pemilahan Sampah di Kota Makassar

This study aims to evaluate the existing condition of waste sorting place in Makkassar City and the existing regulations in supporting the handling of waste in Makassar City in order to produce formulation of waste sorting system from household to TPS. Methods of data collection used in this study are: (1) study of literature and regulation, and waste management system in several cities and major countries to be adopted in Makassar; (2) field survey to find out the complaints in the community around the place of sorting of garbage; (3) Focus Group Discussion (FGD) from various stakeholders including the community around the place of waste segregation and related SKPD. Likert scale (as one of attitude scale) for the development of statistical analysis technique where ordinal data is converted to interval data, the result will be analyzed using Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to formulate policy about septic and environmentally friendly waste separation place in Makassar City. The result of the research shows that: (1) Waste Bank and TPS3R in Makassar city can improve the economy of society and reduce unemployment, (2) Waste Bank in Makassar city acceptable to society and not cause negative impact, (3) TPS3TR in Makassar City according to people's perception around the location can make dirty air due to dust and environmental smoke, (4) TPS3TR in Makassar City according to the perception of the people around the location can disrupt the general traffic around the TPS3R location, (5) Garbage Bank and TPS3R in Makassar City can improve people's economy and reduce unemployment

Deteksi Distribusi White Spot Syndrome Virus pada Berbagai Organ Udang Vaname (Litopenaeus Vannamei)

One way to detect the presence of the White Spot Syndrome Virus in several organs Vaname shrimp(Litopenaeus vannamei) were infected with the method of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). WSSV virus isknown to attack various target organs, but it is difficult to detect early on shrimp. Therefore, this study aims todetect the presence of the distribution of White Spot Syndrome Virus in several organs Vaname shrimp(Litopenaeus vannamei) were infected with the Polymerase Chain Reaction method in order to early detectionefforts for the prevention and treatment of diseases caused by the virus. Organ observed that the swimming legs,gills, stomach and antennal gland. Research stages include sample preparation and DNA extraction, DNAamplification and electrophoresis. DNA extraction was performed using the method DTAB and CTAB-DNAamplification is done by using nested PCR. The emergence of DNA bands is an indicator of the presence ofWSSV in shrimp Vaname several organs which are then presented desktriptif. The results showed four WSSVinfected organs were observed. Based on the appearance, the entire sample of the swimming leg and antennalgland positively infected, then successively gills and stomach. The swimming leg can be used to diagnose thedisease early on shrimp WSSV Vaname without turning off the shrimp

Lens epithelial cell apoptosis and intracellular Ca(2+) increase in the presence of xanthurenic acid

BACKGROUND: Xanthurenic acid is an endogenous product of tryptophan degradation by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). We have previously reported that IDO is present in mammalian lenses, and xanthurenic acid is accumulated in the lenses with aging. Here, we studied the involvement of xanthurenic acid in the human lens epithelial cell physiology. METHODS: Human lens epithelial cells primary cultures were used. Control cells, and cells in the presence of xanthurenic acid grow in the dark. Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence studies were performed. RESULTS: In the presence of xanthurenic acid human lens epithelial cells undergo apoptosis-like cell death. In the control cells gelsolin stained the perinuclear region, whereas in the presence of 10 μM xanthurenic acid gelsolin is translocated to the cytoskeleton, but does not lead to cytoskeleton breakdown. In the same condition caspase-3 activation, and DNA fragmentation was observed. At low (5 to 10 μM) of xanthurenic acid concentration, the elongation of the cytoskeleton was associated with migration of mitochondria and cytochrome c release. At higher concentrations xanthurenic acid (20 μM and 40 μM) damaged mitochondria were observed in the perinuclear region, and nuclear DNA cleavage was observed. We observed an induction of calpain Lp 82 and an increase of free Ca(2+) in the cells in a xanthurenic acid concentration-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that xanthurenic acid accumulation in human lens epithelial cells disturbs the normal cell physiology and leads to a cascade of pathological events. Xanthurenic acid induces calpain Lp82 and caspases in the cells growing in the dark and can be involved in senile cataract development