The statistical theory of the fracture of fragile bodies. Part 2: The integral equation method

It is demonstrated how with the aid of a bending test, the Weibull fracture risk function can be determined - without postulating its analytical form - by resolving an integral equation. The respective solutions for rectangular and circular section beams are given. In the first case the function is expressed as an algorithm and in the second, in the form of series. Taking into account that the cumulative fracture probability appearing in the solution to the integral equation must be continuous and monotonically increasing, any case of fabrication or selection of samples can be treated

Sobre lo constitución química del agua de amasado y los teorías de la hidratación del cemento

Se estudia la composición del agua de amasado (a/c = 0,5) de un cemento comercial, obteniendo que a los 10 minutos del comienzo se trata de una solución muy concentrada de KOH y NaOH con algo de CaOH, SO4Ca, Al, Fe y vestigios de Si. La composición del agua de amasado a la 24 horas es similar. Evaporando estas soluciones no se encontró ninguna zona de composición del tipo CaO.H2O.SiO2 correspondiente a la familia de las tobermoritas y, por lo tanto, esto se inclina fuertemente a favor de la teoría topoquímica de la hidratación

Compatibilidad interfacial e interna en el compuesto fibra de cobre cemento

This paper presents the mechanical behaviour of a compacted composite formed by short ductile copper fibres randomly distributed in portland cement matrix. The samples, a half with fibres and the other without them, were subjected to compression fatigue. So, 1 hertz and the value of stress corresponding to the 1% of the probability of fracture by gradual load were used. Diagrams of cumulative probability of fracture against cycles are obtained for both types of samples. Scanning electron microscopy shows that the mechanisms of fracture are different in each case. Samples of compacted neat-cement paste finish their life with a catastrophic fracture whereas samples of composite behave like a pseudoductile material devoid of catastrophic failure. The results are discussed and compared with the ones obtained by thermal shock and by the interface brittleness theory, as well as with the statistical theory of time-dependent fracture for cementitious materials subjected to cyclic loading. So, in the thermal shock microcracks are generated in the interface matrix-fibre which simultaneously act as emmitings and sumps of cracks whereas this does not occur in mechanical fatigue.Este trabajo presenta el comportamiento mecánico de un compuesto fabricado por compactación y constituido por fibras de cobre distribuidas aleatoriamente en una matriz de cemento portland. Las muestras, la mitad con fibras y la otra sin ellas, se sometieron a fatiga por compresión. El ciclo de carga fue de 1 hertz y la carga aplicada aquella correspondiente a la tensión asociada a un 1% de probabilidad de fractura cuando la carga se aplica gradualmente. Para ambos tipos de muestras se graficaron los diagramas de probabilidad acumulativa de fractura en función del número de ciclos. Con microscopía electrónica de barrido se observó que el mecanismo de fractura es diferente para cada tipo de muestras. Aquellas de pasta pura de cemento compactada terminaron su ciclo de vida en forma catastrófica, mientras que aquellas con fibra presentaron un comportamiento seudodúctil sin falla catastrófica. Se discuten los resultados y se comparan con otros obtenidos por choque térmico y con la teoría de fragilidad interfacial, así como con la teoría estadística del tiempo de fractura para materiales base cemento sometidos a carga cíclica. En el caso del choque térmico las microfisuras se generan en la interface matriz-fibra las que actúan simultáneamente como emisoras y bloqueadoras de grietas, mientras que esto no ocurre en el caso de fatiga mecánica

Hidratación inicial del clínker

Not availableUsando la técnica de microscopía electrónica de barrido (SEM) se estudió el comienzo de la hidratación de una muestra de clínker pulida. Los resultados obtenidos no concuerdan con el modelo de Williamson de la solidificación del cemento, siendo más natural pensar una solidificación por crecimiento continuo y no a partir de una solución sobresaturada

Time-resolved temperature measurements during pulsed laser irradiation uslng thin film metal thermometers

In this article, we describe a technique using Nisi and Pt thin film metal thermometers to provide accurate temperature information on a nanosecond time scale during pulsed laser processing of materials. A surface layer of interest is deposited onto the thermometer layer, and temperatures are determined from temperature dependent changes in the metal film's resistance. Details concerning the design and fabrication of the device structure and experimental considerations in making nanosecond resolved resistance measurements are discussed. Simple analytical estimates are presented to extract quantities such as incident laser energy stored in the sample. Finally, transient temperature data in the thermometer film, in combination with heat flow calculations, allow temperature determination as a function of time and depth into the sample and, additionally, can provide information about material properties of the surface layer

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis serotype O : 1 infection in a captive Seba's short tailed-fruit bat (Carollia perspicillata) colony in Switzerland

BackgroundBetween February and April 2016, a slight increase in mortality was observed in a colony consisting of 400 captive Seba's short-tailed bats (Carollia perspicillata). These animals cohabited with other nocturnal animal species in a dome of a private zoo in Switzerland.ResultsGross and histological analysis of two (14.3%) out of the 13 animals submitted for necropsy within this period revealed a necrosuppurative pneumonia, hepatitis, splenitis, enterocolitis, and endometritis, with abundant intralesional colonies of Gram-negative rods. Yersinia (Y.) pseudotuberculosis serotype O:1 and biotype 1 belonging to the sequence type ST90 was isolated from the affected organs in both animals. Following this diagnosis, 1/4 of the colony (99 animals) was culled and submitted for gross and histopathological analysis, and a bacterial culture selective for Yersinia spp. of lung, liver, and spleen was performed. From these 99 animals, one gravid female was tested and found to be positive for Y. pseudotuberculosis in the absence of clinical symptoms and histopathological lesions. PCR analysis of altogether three bacterial isolates for virulence factors revealed the presence of the ail gene, and one isolate was also positive for the virF and yadA plasmid genes.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that Carollia perspicillata are susceptible to lethal yersiniosis but do not represent a regular reservoir for Y. pseudotuberculosis. Culling of 1/4 of the population was sufficient to limit the spread of this infection among the colony. Moreover, no infections were detected in cohabitant nocturnal animals and caretakers, indicating that the zoonotic risk in this case was low.Peer reviewe

Simple and efficient expression of Agaricus meleagris pyranose dehydrogenase in Pichia pastoris

Pyranose dehydrogenase (PDH) is a fungal flavin-dependent sugar oxidoreductase that is highly interesting for applications in organic synthesis or electrochemistry. The low expression levels of the filamentous fungus Agaricus meleagris as well as the demand for engineered PDH make heterologous expression necessary. Recently, Aspergillus species were described to efficiently secrete recombinant PDH. Here, we evaluate recombinant protein production with expression hosts more suitable for genetic engineering. Expression in Escherichia coli resulted in no soluble or active PDH. Heterologous expression in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris was investigated using two different signal sequences as well as a codon-optimized sequence. A 96-well plate activity screening for transformants of all constructs was established and the best expressing clone was used for large-scale production in 50-L scale, which gave a volumetric yield of 223 mg L−1 PDH or 1,330 U L−1 d−1 in space–time yield. Purification yielded 13.4 g of pure enzyme representing 95.8% of the initial activity. The hyperglycosylated recombinant enzyme had a 20% lower specific activity than the native enzyme; however, the kinetic properties were essentially identical. This study demonstrates the successful expression of PDH in the eukaryotic host organism P. pastoris paving the way for protein engineering. Additionally, the feasibility of large-scale production of the enzyme with this expression system together with a simplified purification scheme for easy high-yield purification is shown

Discovery and characterization of a new family of lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases

Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) are a recently discovered class of enzymes capable of oxidizing recalcitrant polysaccharides. They are attracting considerable attention owing to their potential use in biomass conversion, notably in the production of biofuels. Previous studies have identified two discrete sequence-based families of these enzymes termed AA9 (formerly GH61) and AA10 (formerly CBM33). Here, we report the discovery of a third family of LPMOs. Using a chitin-degrading exemplar from Aspergillus oryzae, we show that the three-dimensional structure of the enzyme shares some features of the previous two classes of LPMOs, including a copper active center featuring the 'histidine brace' active site, but is distinct in terms of its active site details and its EPR spectroscopy. The newly characterized AA11 family expands the LPMO clan, potentially broadening both the range of potential substrates and the types of reactive copper-oxygen species formed at the active site of LPMOs