Influence of nut shell powder content on the tribological properties of recycled polyolefin composites

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of nut shell powder (NSP) content on the tribological properties of recycled polyolefin (R-PO) composites. NSP was previously grinded the dried nut shell by crusher machine cryogenically in liquid nitrogen. NSP/R-PO composites with NSP content of 5, 10 and 20 vol.% were prepared in this study. These composites were extruded by a twin screw extruder and injection-molded. Their tribological properties were measured by a reciprocating type sliding wear tester at constant normal load and sliding speed under dry condition. It was found that NSP is effective for reducing the wear resistance of R-PO, and the influence of NSP content on the tribological properties of NSP/R-PO composites does not remarkably appear, but they are improved with the addition of low content such as 5 vol.%. This may be attributed to the change of wear mechanism according to the filling of NSP. © 2016 Author(s).MEXT, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technolog

A frameshift deletion mutation in the cardiac myosin-binding protein C gene associated with dilated phase of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and dilated cardiomyopathy

SummaryObjectivesA few studies reported that some mutations in the cardiac myosin-binding protein C (MyBPC) gene were associated with dilated phase of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (D-HCM) resembling dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). We studied 5 unrelated cardiomyopathy probands caused by an identical mutation in the MyBPC gene. The results of clinical and genetic investigations in these patients are presented in this paper.MethodsWe analyzed MyBPC gene in DCM patients as well as patients with HCM.ResultsAn R945fs/105 mutation, 2-base deletion at nucleotides 18,535 and 18,536, was identified in 4 of the 176 HCM probands and in 1 of the 54 DCM probands. Genetic analysis in relatives of those probands revealed another one member with this mutation. A total of 6 subjects had R945fs/105 mutation. The mean age of these six patients at diagnosis was 61 years. At initial evaluation, three of them were diagnosed as having HCM with normal left ventricular (LV) systolic function. The other two patients already had D-HCM. The remaining one patient was diagnosed as having DCM because of reduced LV systolic function (ejection fraction=31%) without increased LV wall thickness. During follow-up (7.6 years), all three patients with impaired LV systolic function were admitted for treatment of heart failure and/or sustained ventricular tachycardia. Finally, one patient with the diagnosis of D-HCM died of heart failure.ConclusionsThe patients with this mutation may develop LV systolic dysfunction and suffer from cardiovascular events through mid-life and beyond

Revised Magnetic Structure and Tricritical Behavior of the CMR Compound NaCr2_2O4_4 Investigated with High Resolution Neutron Diffraction and μ+\mu^+SR

The mixed valence Cr compound NaCr$_2$O$_4$, synthesized using a high-pressure technique, offers a unique playground for investigating unconventional physical properties in condensed matter. In the present study, muon spin rotation/relaxation ($\mu^+$SR) and high-resolution neutron powder diffraction (NPD) measurements were carried out to clarify the true magnetic ground state of this interesting compound. Our detailed study brings new insight, allowing us to confirm the existence of a commensurate antiferromagnetic order (C-AFM) and to extract its ordered Cr moment $\mu^{\rm C}_{\rm Cr}=(4.30\pm0.01)\mu_B$. Such a value of the ordered moment is in fact compatible with the existence of high-spin Cr sites. Further, the value of the canting angle of the Cr spin axial vector is refined as $\theta_{\rm c}=(8.8\pm0.5)^{\circ}$. Employing high-quality samples in combination with time-of-flight NPD, a novel magnetic supercell was also revealed. Such supercell display an incommensurate (IC)-AFM propagation vector (0~0~${\textstyle \frac{1}{2}-}\delta$), having an ordered moment $\mu^{\rm IC}_{\rm Cr}=(2.20\pm0.03)\mu_B$. It is suggested that the C-AFM and IC-AFM modulations are due to itinerant and localized contributions to the magnetic moment, respectively. Finally, the direct measurement of the magnetic order parameter provided a value of the critical exponent $\beta = 0.245 \approx \frac{1}{4}$, suggesting a non conventional critical behavior for the magnetic phase transition in NaCr$_2$O$_4$

Competition between magnetic interactions and structural instabilities leading to itinerant frustration in the triangular lattice antiferromagnet LiCrSe2

LiCrSe2 constitutes a recent valuable addition to the ensemble of two-dimensional triangular lattice antiferromagnets. In this work, we present a comprehensive study of the low temperature nuclear and magnetic structure established in this material. Being subject to a strong magnetoelastic coupling, LiCrSe2 was found to undergo a first order structural transition from a trigonal crystal system (P3 \uaf m1) to a monoclinic one (C2/m) at T s = 30 K. Such restructuring of the lattice is accompanied by a magnetic transition at T N = 30 K. Refinement of the magnetic structure with neutron diffraction data and complementary muon spin rotation analysis reveal the presence of a complex incommensurate magnetic structure with a up-up-down-down arrangement of the chromium moments with ferromagnetic double chains coupled antiferromagnetically. The spin axial vector is also modulated both in direction and modulus, resulting in a spin density wave-like order with periodic suppression of the chromium moment along the chains. This behavior is believed to appear as a result of strong competition between direct exchange antiferromagnetic and superexchange ferromagnetic couplings established between both nearest neighbor and next nearest neighbor Cr3+ ions. We finally conjecture that the resulting magnetic order is stabilized via subtle vacancy/charge order within the lithium layers, potentially causing a mix of two co-existing magnetic phases within the sample

Forge-Hardened TiZr Null-Matrix Alloy for Neutron Scattering under Extreme Conditions

For neutron scattering research that is performed under extreme conditions, such as high static pressures, high-strength metals that are transparent to the neutron beam are required. The diffraction of the neutron beam by the metal, which follows Bragg’s law, can be completely removed by alloying two metallic elements that have coherent scattering lengths with opposite signs. An alloy of Ti and Zr, which is known as a TiZr null-matrix alloy, is an ideal combination for such purposes. In this study, we increased the hardness of a TiZr null-matrix alloy via extensive mechanical deformation at high temperatures. We successfully used the resulting product in a high-pressure cell designed for high-static-pressure neutron scattering. This hardened TiZr null-matrix alloy may play a complementary role to normal TiZr alloy in future neutron scattering research under extreme conditions