The contribution of constitutional supercooling to nucleation and grain formation

The concept of constitutional supercooling (CS) including the term itself was first described and discussed qualitatively by Rutter and Chalmers in order to understand the formation of cellular structures during the solidification of tin, and then quantified by Tiller et al. On that basis, Winegard and Chalmers further considered 'supercooling and dendritic freezing of alloys' where they described how CS promotes the heterogeneous nucleation of new crystals and the formation of an equiaxed zone. Since then the importance of CS in promoting the formation of equiaxed microstructures in both grain refined and unrefined alloys has been clearly revealed and quantified. This paper describes our current understanding of the role of CS in promoting nucleation and grain formation. It also highlights that CS, on the one hand, develops a nucleation-free zone surrounding each nucleated and growing grain and, on the other hand, protects this grain from readily remelting when temperature fluctuations occur due to convection. Further, due to the importance of the diffusion field that generates CS, recent analytical models are evaluated and compared with a numerical model. A comprehensive description of the mechanisms affecting nucleation and grain formation and the prediction of grain size is presented with reference to the influence of the casting conditions applied during the practical casting of an alloy

Recent advances in grain refinement of light metals and alloys

Grain refinement leads, in general, to a decreased tendency to hot tearing, a more dispersed and refined porosity distribution, and improved directional feeding characteristics during solidification. Reduced as-cast grain size can also lead to improved mechanical properties and wrought processing by reducing the recrystallized grain size and achieving a fully recrystallized microstructure. It is now well established that the two key factors controlling grain refinement are the nucleant particles including their potency, size distribution and particle number density, and the rate of development of growth restriction, Q, generated by the alloy chemistry which establishes the undercooling needed to trigger nucleation events and facilitates their survival. The theories underpinning our current understanding of nucleation and grain formation are presented. The application of the latest theories to the light alloys of Al, Mg and Ti is explored as well as their applicability to a range of casting and solidification environments. In addition, processing by the application of physical processes such as external fields and additive manufacturing is discussed. To conclude, the current challenges for the development of reliable grain refining technologies for difficult to refine alloy systems are presented

Village-Integrated Eye Worker trial (VIEW): rationale and design of a cluster-randomised trial to prevent corneal ulcers in resource-limited settings.

IntroductionCorneal opacity is a leading cause of blindness worldwide. In resource-limited settings, untreated traumatic corneal abrasions may result in infection and ultimately, opacity. Although antimicrobial treatment of corneal ulcers may successfully cure infections, the scarring that accompanies the resolution of infection can still result in visual impairment. Prevention may be the optimal approach for reducing corneal blindness. Studies have employed community health workers to provide prompt administration of antimicrobials after corneal abrasions to prevent infections, but these studies were not designed to determine the effectiveness of such a programme.Methods and analysisThe Village-Integrated Eye Worker trial (VIEW) is a cluster-randomised trial designed to assess the effectiveness of a community health worker intervention to prevent corneal ulcers. Twenty-four Village Development Committees (VDCs) in Nepal were randomised to receive a corneal ulcer prevention programme or to no intervention. Female Community Health Volunteers (FCHVs) in intervention VDCs are trained to diagnose corneal abrasions, provide antimicrobials and to refer participants when needed. An annual census is conducted over 3 years in all study VDCs to assess the incidence of corneal ulceration via corneal photography (primary outcome). Masked outcome assessors grade corneal photographs to determine the presence or absence of incident corneal opacities. The primary analysis is negative binomial regression to compare the incidence of corneal ulceration by study arm.Ethics and disseminationThe University of California San Francisco Committee on Human Research, Nepal Netra Jyoti Sangh and the Nepal Health Research Council have given ethical approval for the trial. The results of this trial will be presented at local and international meetings and submitted to peer-reviewed journals for publication.Trial registration numberNCT01969786; Pre-results

Assessment of the Reconstructed Aerodynamics of the Mars Science Laboratory Entry Vehicle

On August 5, 2012, the Mars Science Laboratory entry vehicle successfully entered Mars atmosphere, flying a guided entry until parachute deploy. The Curiosity rover landed safely in Gale crater upon completion of the Entry Descent and Landing sequence. This paper compares the aerodynamics of the entry capsule extracted from onboard flight data, including Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) accelerometer and rate gyro information, and heatshield surface pressure measurements. From the onboard data, static force and moment data has been extracted. This data is compared to preflight predictions. The information collected by MSL represents the most complete set of information collected during Mars entry to date. It allows the separation of aerodynamic performance from atmospheric conditions. The comparisons show the MSL aerodynamic characteristics have been identified and resolved to an accuracy better than the aerodynamic database uncertainties used in preflight simulations. A number of small anomalies have been identified and are discussed. This data will help revise aerodynamic databases for future missions and will guide computational fluid dynamics (CFD) development to improved prediction codes

Comparison study of metal oxides (CeO2, CuO, SnO2, CdO, ZnO and TiO2) decked few layered graphene nanocomposites for Dye-Sensitized solar cells

Recent research is focused on few layered graphene (FLG) with various metal oxides (MOs) as (MOs; CeO2, CuO, SnO2, CdO, ZnO, and TiO2) nanocomposite materials are alternatives to critically important in the fabrication of solar cell devices. In this work, FLG with different MOs nanocomposites were prepared by a novel eco-friendly viable ultrasonic assisted route (UAR). The prepared FLG/MO nanocomposites were performed with various characterization techniques. The crystal and phase compositional were carried out through using X-ray diffraction technique. Surface morphological studies by field emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). Spectroscopic methods were done by Raman and UV-Vis Diffuse reflectance spectra (UV-DRS). The prepared FLG/MO nanocomposites materials were used as a photoanode, in the fabrication of dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs). Compared to TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) and other FLG/MO nanocomposites, FLG/TiO2 nanocomposites exhibited superior photovoltaic properties. The ob-tained results indicate that FLG/TiO2 nanocomposites significantly improved the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of DSSCs. The photovoltaic analyses were performed in a solar simulator with an air mass (AM) of 1.5 G, power density of 100 m W/m2, and current density-voltage (J-V) was investigated using N719 dye.Funding: ?This research was funded by QATAR NATIONAL RESEARCH FUND (QNRF), grant number NPRP: 12S-0131-190030? and ?The APC was funded by QATAR NATIONAL RE-SEARCH FUND (QNRF)?.Scopu

Elevated Blood Lead Concentrations and Vitamin D Deficiency in Winter and Summer in Young Urban Children

BACKGROUND: It is widely recognized that blood lead concentrations are higher in the summer than in winter. Although the effects of some environmental factors such as lead in dust on this phenomenon have been studied, relationships to sunlight-induced vitamin D synthesis have not been adequately investigated. Vitamin D status is influenced by the diet, sunlight exposure, age, skin pigmentation, and other factors, and may modify gastrointestinal lead absorption or release of lead stored in bones into the bloodstream. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: We collected paired blood samples from 142 young, urban African-American and Hispanic children in the winter and summer to study the seasonal increase in blood lead and its relationships to vitamin D nutrition, age, and race. RESULTS: A winter/summer (W/S) increase in blood lead concentrations of 32.4% was found for children 1–3 years of age. There was a smaller W/S increase of 13.0% in children 4–8 years of age. None of the 51 Hispanic children had an elevated blood lead concentration (≥ 10 μg/dL) during the winter, and only one had an elevated summertime concentration. In contrast, elevated blood lead concentrations were frequent in the 91 African-American children, especially those 1–3 years of age. For the latter, the percentage with elevated blood lead levels increased from 12.2% in winter to 22.5% in summer. A 1.2% W/S increase in serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (serum 25-OH-D) concentrations was found for children 1–3 years of age. However, in children 4–8 years of age the W/S increase in serum 25-OH-D was much larger—33.6%. The percentages of children with low (< 16 μg/L) serum 25-OH-D concentrations were 12.0% in winter and 0.7% in summer and were consistently greater in African-American than in Hispanic children. The seasonal increases in blood lead and serum 25-OH-D in children 4–8 years of age were significantly associated. CONCLUSION: The higher summertime serum 25-OH-D concentrations for the 4- to 8-year-old children are likely caused by increased sunlight-induced vitamin D synthesis and may contribute to the seasonal increase in blood lead. Age and race are key factors that affect blood lead and vitamin D nutrition, as well as their interactions, in young urban children

Super-reflection of light from a random amplifying medium with disorder in the complex refractive index : Statistics of fluctuations

The probability distribution of the reflection coefficient for light reflected from a one-dimensional random amplifying medium with {\it cross-correlated} spatial disorder in the real and the imaginary parts of the refractive index is derived using the method of invariant imbedding. The statistics of fluctuations have been obtained for both the correlated telegraph noise and the Gaussian white-noise models for the disorder. In both cases, an enhanced backscattering (super-reflection with reflection coefficient greater than unity) results because of coherent feedback due to Anderson localization and coherent amplification in the medium. The results show that the effect of randomness in the imaginary part of the refractive index on localization and super-reflection is qualitatively different.Comment: RevTex 6 pages, 3 figures in ps file

Compact Hyperbolic Extra Dimensions: Branes, Kaluza-Klein Modes and Cosmology

We reconsider theories with low gravitational (or string) scale M_* where Newton's constant is generated via new large-volume spatial dimensions, while Standard Model states are localized to a 3-brane. Utilizing compact hyperbolic manifolds (CHM's) we show that the spectrum of Kaluza-Klein (KK) modes is radically altered. This allows an early universe cosmology with normal evolution up to substantial temperatures, and completely negates the constraints on M_* arising from astrophysics. Furthermore, an exponential hierarchy between the usual Planck scale and the true fundamental scale of physics can emerge with only order unity coefficients. The linear size of the internal space remains small. The proposal has striking testable signatures.Comment: 4 pages, no figure

A Randomized Trial of Nighttime Physician Staffing in an Intensive Care Unit

Background Increasing numbers of intensive care units (ICUs) are adopting the practice of nighttime intensivist staffing despite the lack of experimental evidence of its effectiveness. Methods We conducted a 1-year randomized trial in an academic medical ICU of the effects of nighttime staffing with in-hospital intensivists (intervention) as compared with nighttime coverage by daytime intensivists who were available for consultation by telephone (control). We randomly assigned blocks of 7 consecutive nights to the intervention or the control strategy. The primary outcome was patients’ length of stay in the ICU. Secondary outcomes were patients’ length of stay in the hospital, ICU and in-hospital mortality, discharge disposition, and rates of readmission to the ICU. For length-of-stay outcomes, we performed time-to-event analyses, with data censored at the time of a patient’s death or transfer to another ICU. Results A total of 1598 patients were included in the analyses. The median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) III score (in which scores range from 0 to 299, with higher scores indicating more severe illness) was 67 (interquartile range, 47 to 91), the median length of stay in the ICU was 52.7 hours (interquartile range, 29.0 to 113.4), and mortality in the ICU was 18%. Patients who were admitted on intervention days were exposed to nighttime intensivists on more nights than were patients admitted on control days (median, 100% of nights [interquartile range, 67 to 100] vs. median, 0% [interquartile range, 0 to 33]; P\u3c0.001). Nonetheless, intensivist staffing on the night of admission did not have a significant effect on the length of stay in the ICU (rate ratio for the time to ICU discharge, 0.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.88 to 1.09; P=0.72), ICU mortality (relative risk, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.90 to 1.28), or any other end point. Analyses restricted to patients who were admitted at night showed similar results, as did sensitivity analyses that used different definitions of exposure and outcome. Conclusions In an academic medical ICU in the United States, nighttime in-hospital intensivist staffing did not improve patient outcomes. (Funded by University of Pennsylvania Health System and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01434823.

An integrated Petri net-pseudo bond graph model for nuclear hazard assessment

A pseudo-bond graph is presented to model the heat transferred from the fuel rods to the coolant via its cladding in a generic nuclear reactor case study. Simulations performed using this model are used to explore the temperatures of the core components under ordinary and emergency scenarios, considering various conditions of coolant supply and reactor power output. The model is combined with a timed stochastic Petri net to produce a hybrid model, in which the reactor operation and fault status is determined by the Petri net and fed into the bond graph to examine the resulting impact on core temperatures, which in turn are fed back into the Petri net process. The results predict the distribution of the reactor operational durations before a disruption occurs. The model provides the temperature profiles attained by the cladding and fuel components, indicating a low probability of dangerous temperatures