Spores of puffball fungus Lycoperdon pyriforme as a reference standard of stable monodisperse aerosol for calibration of optical instruments

Advanced air quality control requires real-time monitoring of particulate matter size and concentration, which can only be done using optical instruments. However, such techniques need regular calibration with reference samples. In this study, we suggest that puffball fungus (Lycoperdon pyriforme) spores can be utilized as a reference standard having a monodisperse size distribution. We compare the Lycoperdon pyriforme spores with the other commonly used reference samples, such as Al2O3 powder and polystyrene latex (PSL) microspheres. Here we demonstrate that the puffball spores do not coagulate and, thus, maintain the same particle size in the aerosol state for at least 15 minutes, which is enough for instrument calibration. Moreover, the puffball mushrooms can be stored for several years and no agglomeration of the spores occurs. They are also much cheaper than other calibration samples and no additional devices are needed for aerosol generation since the fungal fruiting body acts as an atomizer itself. The aforementioned features make the fungal spores a highly promising substance for calibration and validation of particle size analyzers, which outperforms the existing, artificially produced particles for aerosol sampling. Furthermore, the L. pyriforme spores are convenient for basic research and development of new optical measurement techniques, taking into account their uniform particle size and absent coagulation in the aeroso

Ultrasonic dispersion of agglomerated particles in metal melt

This work considers the deagglomeration and wettability of particles by metal melt and proposes a mechanism of particle agglomerate dispersion by ultrasonic cavitation. The main dependences connecting the processing time and intensity with the physical and chemical properties of particles and the melt as well as acoustic parameters are obtained. For the first time found that melt during ultrasonic treatment, inclusive the particles agglomerates proportional to melt viscosity and the size of the agglomerates. It has been established that time ultrasonic treatment melt containing the particles agglomerates is proportional to melt viscosity and the size of the agglomerates. The required time for successful melt infiltration in the agglomerates, wettability and their introduction into the melt takes ten minutes. The suggested equation allows estimating the intensity of ultrasonic radiation, required to destroy the agglomerates of particles in the melt. It was found that intensity of the ultrasound must be inversely proportional to the radius of the agglomerates. The theoretical results are confirmed by comparing with experimental dates

Mechanisms of acoustic processing of a metal melt containing nanoparticles

Wave processing with the frequencies from subsound (vibration) to ultrasound is used to produce nanopowder-modified composite alloys. This work considers mechanisms of such processing of metal melts, which lead to deagglomeration and wettability of particles of a metal melt and to the destruction of growing crystals during solidification. The main dependences for the threshold of the turbulence and cavitation were obtained. Resonance phenomena that contribute to positive changes in the melt are discussed. Possible mechanisms of the destruction of growing crystals and agglomerates of particles at the high-frequency processing of the melt are considered, including the destruction of agglomerates in the front of an acoustic wave and the destruction of crystals by oscillating solid particles

MAPKs are highly abundant but do not contribute to α1-adrenergic contraction of rat saphenous arteries in the early postnatal period

Previously, the abundance of p42/44 and p38 MAPK proteins had been shown to be higher in arteries of 1- to 2-week-old compared to 2- to 3-month-old rats. However, the role of MAPKs in vascular tone regulation in early ontogenesis remains largely unexplored. We tested the hypothesis that the contribution of p42/44 and p38 MAPKs to the contraction of peripheral arteries is higher in the early postnatal period compared to adulthood. Saphenous arteries of 1- to 2-week-old and 2- to 3-month-old rats were studied using wire myography and western blotting. The α(1)-adrenoceptor agonist methoxamine did not increase the phosphorylation level of p38 MAPK in either 1- to 2-week-old or 2- to 3-month-old rats. Accordingly, inhibition of p38 MAPK did not affect arterial contraction to methoxamine in either age group. Methoxamine increased the phosphorylation level of p42/44 MAPKs in arteries of 2- to 3-month-old and of p44 MAPK in 1- to 2-week-old rats. Inhibition of p42/44 MAPKs reduced methoxamine-induced contractions in arteries of 2- to 3-month-old, but not 1- to 2-week-old rats. Thus, despite a high abundance in arterial tissue, p38 and p42/44 MAPKs do not regulate contraction of the saphenous artery in the early postnatal period. However, p42/44 MAPK activity contributes to arterial contractions in adult rats

Theoretical and experimental investigations of the process of vibration treatment of liquid metals containing nanoparticles

It is known that the use of external effects, such as acoustic fields (from ultrasonic to low-frequency range), help in breaking down agglomerates, improving particle wettability, providing uniform particle distribution in the melt volume, and reducing the grain size. The fragmentation of growing crystals, de-agglomeration of particles and their mixing in liquid metal under the influence of vibration (with frequencies of 10–100 Hz) are considered in this paper. The major advantage of such a technique in comparison with high-frequency methods (sonic, ultrasonic) is the capability of processing large melt volumes proportional to the wavelength. The mechanisms of the breaking down of particle agglomerates and the mixing of particles under conditions of cavitation and turbulence during the vibration treatment of the melt are considered. Expressions linking the threshold intensity and frequency with the amplitude necessary to activate mechanisms of turbulence and cavitation were obtained. The results of vibration treatment experiments for an aluminum alloy containing diamond nanoparticles are given. This treatment makes it possible to significantly reduce the grain size and to improve the casting homogeneity and thus improve the mechanical properties of the alloy

Review of the problems of additive manufacturing of nanostructured high-energy materials

This article dwells upon the additive manufacturing of high-energy materials (HEM) with regards to the problems of this technology’s development. This work is aimed at identifying and describing the main problems currently arising in the use of AM for nanostructured highenergy materials and gives an idea of the valuable opportunities that it provides in the hope of promoting further development in this area. Original approaches are proposed for solving one of the main problems in the production of nanostructured HEM—safety and viscosity reduction of the polymer-nanopowder system. Studies have shown an almost complete degree of deagglomeration of microencapsulated aluminum powders. Such powders have the potential to create new systems for safe 3D printing using high-energy materials

Ultrasonic impact on a metal melt containing electrostaticly charged nanoparticles

Ultrasonic processing is applied to modify nanopowders of metals for the creation of composition alloys. The introduction of particles to metal is prevented by their low wettability in the metal melt. We use electrostatic charging of particles to increase the wettability of particles and to prevent their agglomeration. Mechanisms of the ultrasonic impact on melts of metals containing charged nanoparticles are considered. We find that an electric charge of the surface leads to a decrease in the contact angle. Expressions for the time of ultrasonic processing depending on physical and chemical characteristics of particles and the melt are found