Correlation of creep rate with microstructural changes during high temperature creep

Creep tests were conducted on Haynes 188 cobalt-base alloy and alpha titanium. The tests on Haynes 188 were conducted at 1600 F and 1800 F for stresses from 3 to 20 ksi, and the as-received, mill-annealed results were compared to specimens given 5%, 10%, and 15% room temperature prestrains and then annealed one hour at 1800 F. The tests on alpha titanium were performed at 7,250 and 10,000 psi at 500 C. One creep test was done at 527 C and 10,000 psi to provide information on kinetics. Results for annealed titanium were compared to specimens given 10% and 20% room temperature prestrains followed by 100 hours recovery at 550 C. Electron microscopy was used to relate dislocation and precipitate structure to the creep behavior of the two materials. The results on Haynes 188 alloy reveal that the time to reach 0.5% creep strain at 1600 F increases with increasing prestrain for exposure times less than 1,000 hours, the increase at 15% prestrain being more than a factor of ten

Taxonomy and Natural History of Hydnora (Hydnoraceae)

Hydnora is a genus of subterranean holoparasitic herbs found in arid and semiarid regions of Africa, Madagascar, and the southwestern part of the Arabian peninsula. Results from field and herbarium studies suggest the genus consists of four or five species, although more than 12 have been described. The recent rediscovery of H. triceps, a plant that had remained uncollected for a century, supports the need for additional field work. Taxonomic research has been impeded by a paucity of collections, which are often fragmentary in nature and poorly preserved. Supraspecific classification, species complexes, floral biology, and uses are discussed

Interesting, Provocative, and Enigmatic: Morphological Observations on Southeastern Quillworts (\u3ci\u3eIsoetes\u3c/i\u3e Isoetaceae, Lycopodiophyta

The unique morphology of quillworts has received limited attention, and such studies have been limited to only a few species. Our extensive field work during the past two decades has revealed variation in the structures of the plant, including the rhizomorph, scales, phyllopodia, and abscission caps. Polarity of the axes of southeastern quillwort rhizomorphs varies from discoid (most species), to elongate, to upright with axis branching in several species. In species of intermittent streams, these branched rhizomorphs produce plantlets that break off in running water. Scales are tiny brown or black structures in alternating whorls with sporophylls (leaves). They are often overlooked and easily removed when rinsing specimens. Found in most southeastern terrestrial/amphibious species, scales are absent from aquatic species. Scales are distinct from phyllopodia, the sclerified bases of sporophylls, but intermediates between scales and phyllopodia occur. Not all species with scales have phyllopodia. Although scales cannot be used for determination of species, their presence or absence is of taxonomic value. Research on southeastern Isoetes phylogeny could help determine which of the rhizomorph and scale characters are plesiomorphic

Structural Attributes of the Hypogeous Holoparasite Hydnora Triceps Drège & Meyer (Hydnoraceae)

The morphology of the hypogeous root holoparasite Hydnora triceps is highly reduced, and as with many holoparasites, the vegetative body is difficult to interpret. The vegetative body of H. triceps has been historically considered a pilot root studded with lateral appendages known as haustorial roots. We found the vegetative body of H. triceps to consist of a rhizome with a thickened root-cap-like structure that covered a vegetative shoot apical meristem. From the apical meristem, procambial strands originated and developed into endarch collateral vascular bundles arranged radially around a pith without an interfascicular cambium. Xylem vessels had scalariform pitting and simple perforation plates. A continuous periderm without root hairs was observed. Increase in girth was attributed to cork and fascicular cambia. Haustorial roots or bumps on the surface of the vegetative body were exogenous, contained meristems and were the origins of vegetative branching, budding, and haustoria. The haustoria of H. triceps were cylindrical and penetrated the host root stele. Phloem and xylem elements were observed within the endophyte, and direct xylem to host-xylem contacts were observed. The arrangement of vascular tissues and xylem anatomy of H. triceps are likely plesiomorphic features in light of Hydnoraceae\u27s placement in the Piperales

Variation in Establishment Success for American Mistletoe [\u3ci\u3ePhoradendron leucarpum\u3c/i\u3e (Raf.) Reveal & M.C. Johnst. (Viscaceae)] Appears Most Likely to Predict its Distribution in Virginia and North Carolina, United States

Dispersal limitation and variation in habitat suitability may determine an association of American mistletoe [Phoradendron leucarpum (Raf.) Reveal & M.C. Johnst. (Viscaceae)] with forested wetlands in Virginia and North Carolina, United States. Here, we first tested the alternative hypothesis that variation in host availability drives this habitat relationship. We used a generalized linear model to show a positive effect of forested wetland habitat on American mistletoe occurrence after accounting for both variation in host availability and differences among regions in host use. We then used seed sowing experiments to quantify how light availability and flood regime determine the viability of American mistletoe, allowing us to evaluate the potential for establishment limitation to determine this habitat relationship. Light availability predicted establishment rates but % canopy openness did not predict seed germination rates. Thus, variation in the ability for American mistletoe to establish across forested habitat types with different local light availabilities is a potentially important mechanism in determining its distribution

Synaptic Scaling Balances Learning in a Spiking Model of Neocortex

Learning in the brain requires complementary mechanisms: potentiation and activity-dependent homeostatic scaling. We introduce synaptic scaling to a biologically-realistic spiking model of neocortex which can learn changes in oscillatory rhythms using STDP, and show that scaling is necessary to balance both positive and negative changes in input from potentiation and atrophy. We discuss some of the issues that arise when considering synaptic scaling in such a model, and show that scaling regulates activity whilst allowing learning to remain unaltered.Comment: 10 page

Calcium buffering in the heart in health and disease

Changes of intracellular Ca2+ concentration regulate many aspects of cardiac myocyte function. About 99% of the cytoplasmic calcium in cardiac myocytes is bound to buffers, and their properties will therefore have a major influence on Ca2+ signaling. This article considers the fundamental properties and identities of the buffers and how to measure them. It reviews the effects of buffering on the systolic Ca2+ transient and how this may change physiologically, and in heart failure and both atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, as well. It is concluded that the consequences of this strong buffering may be more significant than currently appreciated, and a fuller understanding is needed for proper understanding of cardiac calcium cycling and contractility

Modeling Stress-Dependent Anisotropic Elastoplastic Unbound Granular Base in Flexible Pavements

Unbound granular base (UGB) has a cross-anisotropic and nonlinear (stress-dependent) modulus with a plastic behavior. Existing UGB models address nonlinear cross-anisotropy and plasticity separately. It is unknown how the two characteristics are coupled into a finite element model (FEM) and how this will affect the pavement responses. This study presents a coupled nonlinear cross-anisotropic elastoplastic (NAEP) constitutive model for the UGB and implements it in a weak form equation-based FEM. No material subroutine is needed to address the circular dependence between the stress-dependent anisotropic modulus, structural stress responses, and elastoplastic deformation. The NAEP model was calibrated by triaxial resilient modulus and strength tests and validated using laboratory measurements in a large-scale soil-tank pavement structural test. It is found that the NAEP model is valid and effective in predicting the UGB responses in flexible pavements. The model predicted less horizontal tensile stresses at the base bottom and introduced compressive stresses in the middle and top of the base course. This is caused by an increasing confinement resulting from a horizontal plastic dilation in the base course, which cannot be modeled without considering plasticity. The stress-dependent modulus for the UGB material decreases with depth and the distance from loading centerline. Compared with a nonlinear anisotropic elastic model, the NAEP model predicted the same tensile strain at asphalt layer bottom, a higher base modulus, and a higher subgrade compressive strain. Thus, the nonlinear anisotropic elastic UGB model results in the same fatigue life as the NAEP model but may riskily under-predict rutting damage