Novel method for refinement of retained austenite in micro/nano-structured bainitic steels

A comparative study was conducted to assess the effects of two different heat treatments on the amount and morphology of the retained austenite in a micro/nano-structured bainitic steel. The heat treatments used in this work were two-stage bainitic transformation and bainitic-partitioning transformation. Both methods resulted in the generation of a multi-phase microstructure containing nanoscale bainitic ferrite, and/or fresh martensitic phases and much finer retained austenite. Both heat treatments were verified to be effective in refining the retained austenite in micro/nano-structured bainite and increasing the hardness. However, the bainitic transformation followed by partitioning cycle was proved to be a more viable approach than the two-stage bainitic transformation due to much shorter processing time, i.e. ∼2 h compared to ∼4 day, respectively

Phase Diagram Of The Biham-Middleton-Levine Traffic Model In Three Dimensions

We study numerically the behavior of the Biham-Middleton-Levine traffic model in three dimensions. Our extensive numerical simulations show that the phase diagram for this model in three dimensions is markedly different from that in one and two dimensions. In addition to the full speed moving as well as the completely jamming phases, whose respective average asymptotic car speeds $$ equal one and zero, we observe an extensive region of car densities $\rho$ with a low but non-zero average asymptotic car speed. The transition from this extensive low average asymptotic car speed region to the completely jamming region is at least second order. We argue that this low speed region is a result of the formation of a spatially-limited-extended percolating cluster. Thus, this low speed phase is present in $n > 3$ dimensional Biham-Middleton-Levine model as well.Comment: Minor clarifications, 1 figure adde

Scaling and non-Abelian signature in fractional quantum Hall quasiparticle tunneling amplitude

We study the scaling behavior in the tunneling amplitude when quasiparticles tunnel along a straight path between the two edges of a fractional quantum Hall annulus. Such scaling behavior originates from the propagation and tunneling of charged quasielectrons and quasiholes in an effective field analysis. In the limit when the annulus deforms continuously into a quasi-one-dimensional ring, we conjecture the exact functional form of the tunneling amplitude for several cases, which reproduces the numerical results in finite systems exactly. The results for Abelian quasiparticle tunneling is consistent with the scaling anaysis; this allows for the extraction of the conformal dimensions of the quasiparticles. We analyze the scaling behavior of both Abelian and non-Abelian quasiparticles in the Read-Rezayi Z_k-parafermion states. Interestingly, the non-Abelian quasiparticle tunneling amplitudes exhibit nontrivial k-dependent corrections to the scaling exponent.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figure

Transcriptome analysis reveals response regulator SO2426-mediated gene expression in Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 under chromate challenge

BACKGROUND: Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 exhibits diverse metal ion-reducing capabilities and thus is of potential utility as a bioremediation agent. Knowledge of the molecular components and regulatory mechanisms dictating cellular responses to heavy metal stress, however, remains incomplete. In a previous work, the S. oneidensis so2426 gene, annotated as a DNA-binding response regulator, was demonstrated to be specifically responsive at both the transcript and protein levels to acute chromate [Cr(VI)] challenge. To delineate the cellular function of SO2426 and its contribution to metal stress response, we integrated genetic and physiological approaches with a genome-wide screen for target gene candidates comprising the SO2426 regulon. RESULTS: Inactivation of so2426 by an in-frame deletion resulted in enhanced chromate sensitivity and a reduced capacity to remove extracellular Cr(VI) relative to the parental strain. Time-resolved microarray analysis was used to compare transcriptomic profiles of wild-type and SO2426-deficient mutant S. oneidensis under conditions of chromate exposure. In total, 841 genes (18% of the arrayed genome) were up- or downregulated at least twofold in the Δso2426 mutant for at least one of six time-point conditions. Hierarchical cluster analysis of temporal transcriptional profiles identified a distinct cluster (n = 46) comprised of co-ordinately regulated genes exhibiting significant downregulated expression (p < 0.05) over time. Thirteen of these genes encoded proteins associated with transport and binding functions, particularly those involved in Fe transport and homeostasis (e.g., siderophore biosynthetic enzymes, TonB-dependent receptors, and the iron-storage protein ferritin). A conserved hypothetical operon (so1188-so1189-so1190), previously identified as a potential target of Fur-mediated repression, as well as a putative bicyclomycin resistance gene (so2280) and cation efflux family protein gene (so2045) also were repressed in the so2426 deletion mutant. Furthermore, the temporal expression profiles of four regulatory genes including a cpxR homolog were perturbed in the chromate-challenged mutant. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest a previously unrecognized functional role for the response regulator SO2426 in the activation of genes required for siderophore-mediated Fe acquisition, Fe storage, and other cation transport mechanisms. SO2426 regulatory function is involved at a fundamental molecular level in the linkage between Fe homeostasis and the cellular response to chromate-induced stress in S. oneidensis

Spin-orbit tuned metal-insulator transitions in single-crystal Sr2Ir1-xRhxO4 (0\leqx\leq1)

Sr2IrO4 is a magnetic insulator driven by spin-orbit interaction (SOI) whereas the isoelectronic and isostructural Sr2RhO4 is a paramagnetic metal. The contrasting ground states have been shown to result from the critical role of the strong SOI in the iridate. Our investigation of structural, transport, magnetic and thermal properties reveals that substituting 4d Rh4+ (4d5) ions for 5d Ir4+(5d5) ions in Sr2IrO4 directly reduces the SOI and rebalances the competing energies so profoundly that it generates a rich phase diagram for Sr2Ir1-xRhxO4 featuring two major effects: (1) Light Rh doping (0\leqx\leq0.16) prompts a simultaneous and precipitous drop in both the electrical resistivity and the magnetic ordering temperature TC, which is suppressed to zero at x = 0.16 from 240 K at x=0. (2) However, with heavier Rh doping (0.24< x<0.85 (\pm0.05)) disorder scattering leads to localized states and a return to an insulating state with spin frustration and exotic magnetic behavior that only disappears near x=1. The intricacy of Sr2Ir1-xRhxO4 is further highlighted by comparison with Sr2Ir1-xRuxO4 where Ru4+(4d4) drives a direct crossover from the insulating to metallic states.Comment: 5 figure

Impact of stabilization environment and heating rates on P84 co-polyimide/nanocrystaline cellulose carbon membrane for hydrogen enrichment

These past few decades, the separation of various gas mixtures problems in order to obtain high purity gases can be overcome by the introduction of membrane-based technology. This current research was focusing on the development of tubular carbon membranes (TCMs) from polymeric precursors for the separation of hydrogen and nitrogen. The fabrication of TCMs involved the dip coating technique and was using P84 co-polyimide as the main precursor by blending of nanocrystaline cellulose (NCC) as an additive. It was believed a slight adjustment on time, temperature, or environment of the carbonization protocol for the commercially available PI/NCC membranes can alter the final properties of the carbons produced. The modifications on the carbonization parameters such as stabilization conditions and heating rates during fabrication of PI/NCC-based carbon membranes could also affect their gas separation performance. A large variety of TCMs for gas separation have been developed by simple carbonization of a PI/NCC deposited on a ceramic tubular support. Herein, in this study, the effect of different heating rates (1, 3, 5, and 7 °C/min) and stabilization environment (Argon, Nitrogen, and Helium) were investigated for all resultant TCMs. As a result, it was observed that stabilization under Argon environment with heating rate of 3 °C/min produced carbon membranes with the best H2/N2 separation and the highest selectivity of 434.68 ± 1.39, respectively

Effects of geometric anisotropy on local field distribution: Ewald-Kornfeld formulation

We have applied the Ewald-Kornfeld formulation to a tetragonal lattice of point dipoles, in an attempt to examine the effects of geometric anisotropy on the local field distribution. The various problems encountered in the computation of the conditionally convergent summation of the near field are addressed and the methods of overcoming them are discussed. The results show that the geometric anisotropy has a significant impact on the local field distribution. The change in the local field can lead to a generalized Clausius-Mossotti equation for the anisotropic case.Comment: Accepted for publications, Journal of Physics: Condensed Matte