A new analysis of 14O beta decay: branching ratios and CVC consistency

The ground-state Gamow-Teller transition in the decay of 14O is strongly hindered and the electron spectrum deviates markedly from the allowed shape. A reanalysis of the only available data on this spectrum changes the branching ratio assigned to this transition by seven standard deviations: our new result is (0.54 \pm 0.02)%. The Kurie plot data from two earlier publications are also examined and a revision to their published branching ratios is recommended. The required nuclear matrix elements are calculated with the shell model and, for the first time, consistency is obtained between the M1 matrix element deduced from the analog gamma transition in 14N and that deduced from the slope of the shape-correction function in the beta transition, a requirement of the conserved vector current hypothesis. This consistency is only obtained, however, if renormalized rather than free-nucleon operators are used in the shell-model calculations. In the mirror decay of 14C a similar situation occurs. Consistency between the 14C lifetime, the slope of the shape-correction function and the M1 matrix element from gamma decay can only be achieved with renormalized operators in the shell-model calculation.Comment: 9 pages; revtex4; one figur

Effects of F, B2O3 and P2O5 on the solubility of water in haplogranite melts compared to natural silicate melts

The effects of F, B2O3 and P2O5 on the H2O solubility in a haplogranite liquid (36 wt. % SiO2, 39 wt. % NaAlSi3O8, 25 wt. % KAlSi3O8) have been determined at 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 kb and 800, 850, and 900°C. The H2O solubility increases with increasing F and B content of the melt. The H2O solubility increase in more important at high pressure (2 and 3 kb) than at low pressure (0.5 kb). At 2 kb and 800°C, the H2O solubility increases from 5.94 to 8.22 wt. % H2O with increasing F content in the melt from 0 to 4.55 wt. %, corresponding to a linear H2O solubility increase of 0.53 mol H2O/mol F. With addition of 4.35 wt. % B2O3, the H2O solubility increases up to 6.86 wt. % H2O at 2 kb and 800°C, corresponding to a linear increase of 1.05 mol H2O/mol B2O3. The results allow to define the individual effects of fluorine and boron on H2O solubility in haplogranitic melts with compositions close to that of H2O-saturated thermal minima (at 0.5–3 kb). Although P has a dramatic effect on the phase relations in the haplogranite system, its effect on the H2O solubility was found to be negligible in natural melt compositions. The concominant increase in H2O solubility and F can not be interpreted on the basis of the available spectroscopic data (existence of hydrated aluminofluoride complexes or not). In contrast, hydrated borates or more probably boroxol complexes have been demonstrated in B-bearing hydrous melts

Macroscopic fe-simulation of residual stresses in thermo-mechanically processed steels considering phase transformation effects

Residual stresses are an important issue as they affect both the manufacturing processes as well as the performance of the final parts. Taking into account the whole process chain of hot forming, the integrated heat treatment provided by a defined temperature profile for cooling of the parts offers a great potential for the targeted adjustment of the desired residual stress state. However, in addition to elastic, plastic and linear thermal strain components, the complex material phenomena arising from phase transformation effects of the polymorphic steels have to be considered in order to predict the residual stresses. These transformation strains account for the plastic deformation at the phase boundary between the emerging and the parent phase. In addition, they are strongly related to the transformation induced plasticity (TRIP) phenomena which depend on the stress state. The aim of this study is the investigation of TRIP effects and their impact on residual stresses regarding the typical hot forming steels 1.7225 (DIN: 42CrMo4) and 1.3505 (DIN: 100Cr6) by means of an experimental-numerical approach. The TRIP behaviour of the materials under consideration is integrated into an FE simulation model in the commercial software Simufact.forming for the purpose of residual stress prediction. The experimental thermo-mechanical investigations are carried out using a quenching and forming dilatometer. These experiments are numerically modelled by means of FEM which allows TRIP coefficients to be determined phasespecifically by numerical identification. For validation of the improved FE-model, an experimental thermo-mechanical reference process is considered, in which cylindrical specimens with an eccentric hole are hot formed and subsequently cooled by different temperature routes. Finally, the numerical model is validated by means of a comparison between residual stress states determined with X-ray diffraction and predicted residual stresses from the simulation

Usage-based and emergentist approaches to language acquisition

It was long considered to be impossible to learn grammar based on linguistic experience alone. In the past decade, however, advances in usage-based linguistic theory, computational linguistics, and developmental psychology changed the view on this matter. So-called usage-based and emergentist approaches to language acquisition state that language can be learned from language use itself, by means of social skills like joint attention, and by means of powerful generalization mechanisms. This paper first summarizes the assumptions regarding the nature of linguistic representations and processing. Usage-based theories are nonmodular and nonreductionist, i.e., they emphasize the form-function relationships, and deal with all of language, not just selected levels of representations. Furthermore, storage and processing is considered to be analytic as well as holistic, such that there is a continuum between children's unanalyzed chunks and abstract units found in adult language. In the second part, the empirical evidence is reviewed. Children's linguistic competence is shown to be limited initially, and it is demonstrated how children can generalize knowledge based on direct and indirect positive evidence. It is argued that with these general learning mechanisms, the usage-based paradigm can be extended to multilingual language situations and to language acquisition under special circumstances

Introduction to tailored forming

In recent years, the requirements for technical components have been increasing steadily. This development is intensified by the desire for products with lower weight, smaller size and extended functionality, but at the same time higher resistance against specific loads. Mono-material components manufactured according to established processes reach their limits regarding conflicting requirements. It is, for example, hardly possible to combine excellent mechanical properties with lightweight construction using mono-materials. Thus, a significant increase in production quality, lightweight design, functionality and efficiency can only be reached by combining different materials in one component. The superior aim of the Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1153 is to develop novel process chains for the production of hybrid solid components. In contrast to existing process chains in bulk metal forming, in which the joining process takes place during forming or at the end of the process chain, the CRC 1153 uses tailored semi-finished workpieces which are joined before the forming process. This results in a geometric and thermomechanical influence on the joining zone during the forming process which cannot be created by conventional joining techniques. The present work gives an overview of the CRC and the Tailored Forming approach including the applied joining, forming and finishing processes as well as a short summary of the accompanying design and evaluation methods

Numerical and experimental investigations on the fatigue life of hot work tool steel X38CRMOV5-3 under forging process conditions

Hot forging dies experience during service excessive cyclic thermo-mechanical, tribological as well as chemical loads. These loads occur in a repeated manner and may cause premature fatigue failure of the forming tools and thus lead to an interruption of the production process. Die failures due to fatigue crack initiation constitute about 25 % of all failure types. The initiation and propagation of fatigue cracks can mainly be ascribed to high cyclic thermal and mechanical loads exerted on the tool material. Thus the hot work tool steel in service should combine a high red hardness with the ability to withstand heat checking at a high abrasion resistance. One of the most commonly used hot work tool steels for manufacturing high quality tools for hot forming operations like forging and casting is AISI H13 (X38CrMoV5-3), which also provides these properties. The numerical simulation based on the finite element method (FEM) has so far become an indispensable tool for the design and optimisation of hot forging processes. So far FE based process simulations are limited to obtaining accurate results related to the formability of the workpiece material and the necessary press force. Tool related aspects like the prediction of the tool life quantity and the estimation of abrasive wear is so far limited to cold forming tools. Due to the complex thermo-mechanical phenomena occurring in the interface layer between workpiece and forming tool it was so far not possible to give a reliable estimation on the tool life as current modelling approaches do not capture relevant influences in order to describe forging die fatigue and damage mechanisms in a realistic manner. For the prediction of the maximum cycles until fatigue failure it is still a common approach to resort to strain amplitude based models which neither take into account the transient temperature evolution nor the triaxiality of the local stress state. It is obvious that hot work tool steel materials need a more sophisticated modelling as severe thermo-mechanical loads are prevailing. In order to make a reliable estimation on the tool life quantity of forging dies it is therefore necessary to use advanced and sophisticated material models

Identification of low-frequency TRAF3IP2 coding variants in psoriatic arthritis patients and functional characterization

Introduction: In recent genome-wide association studies for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and psoriasis vulgaris, common coding variants in the TRAF3IP2 gene were identified to contribute to susceptibility to both disease entities. The risk allele of p.Asp10Asn (rs33980500) proved to be most significantly associated and to encode a mutant protein with an almost completely disrupted binding property to TRAF6, supporting its impact as a main disease-causing variant and modulator of IL-17 signaling. Methods: To identify further variants, exons 2-4 encoding both known TNF-receptor-associated factor (TRAF) binding domains were sequenced in 871 PsA patients. Seven missense variants and one three-base-pair insertion were identified in 0.06% to 1.02% of alleles. Five of these variants were also present in 931 control individuals at comparable frequency. Constructs containing full-length wild-type or mutant TRAF3IP2 were generated and used to analyze functionally all variants for TRAF6-binding in a mammalian two-hybrid assay. Results: None of the newly found alleles, though, encoded proteins with different binding properties to TRAF6, or to the cytoplasmic tail of the IL-17-receptor α-chain, suggesting that they do not contribute to susceptibility. Conclusions: Thus, the TRAF3IP2-variant p.Asp10Asn is the only susceptibility allele with functional impact on TRAF6 binding, at least in the German population

Numerical Modelling of High Speed Blanking Considering Thermoviscoplastic Effects

To achieve the required specifications of the cut-edge profile of a blank, a time consuming trial and error procedures based on empirical information are utilized. However, the modern industry demands high quality product specifications in the shortest possible production time. Therefore, in order to predict the cut-edge profile and speed up the production process, it is essential to develop a reliable numerical model of the high speed blanking process which can predict the cut-edge profile of the blanks. In this study, the Lagrangian based finite element (FE) approach was used to model large strain deformation that takes place in the shearzone during blanking. However, the large deformation is difficult to model using Lagrangian approach as it leads to a severe distortion of the FE mesh. Therefore, in order to overcome a premature termination of the analysis due to the mesh distortion, an adaptive remeshing and rezoning technique was developed. Furthermore, to model the ductile fracture, the discrete crack propagation method was implemented in the MSC.Marc® Due to high speed of the cutting stamp, thermoviscoplastic material behaviour has to be taken into account. The Johnson-Cook plasticity model was used to model viscoplasticity. The results obtained from the FE analysis are presented in this paper