Fabrication of corrugated Ge-doped silica fibers

We present a method of fabricating Ge-doped SiO2 fibers with corrugations around their full circumference for a desired length in the longitudinal direction. The procedure comprises three steps: hydrogenation of Ge-doped SiO2 fibers to increase photosensitivity, recording of Bragg gratings with ultraviolet light to achieve modulation of refractive index, and chemical etching. Finite-length, radially corrugated fibers may be used as couplers. Corrugated tapered fibers are used as high energy throughput probes in scanning near-field optical microscopy

Identification of Hepatic Niche Harboring Human Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemic Cells via the SDF-1/CXCR4 Axis

In acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) patients, the bone marrow niche is widely known to be an important element of treatment response and relapse. Furthermore, a characteristic liver pathology observed in ALL patients implies that the hepatic microenvironment provides an extramedullary niche for leukemic cells. However, it remains unclear whether the liver actually provides a specific niche. The mechanism underlying this pathology is also poorly understood. Here, to answer these questions, we reconstituted the histopathology of leukemic liver by using patients-derived primary ALL cells into NOD/SCID/Yc null mice. The liver pathology in this model was similar to that observed in the patients. By using this model, we clearly demonstrated that bile duct epithelial cells form a hepatic niche that supports infiltration and proliferation of ALL cells in the liver. Furthermore, we showed that functions of the niche are maintained by the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis, proposing a novel therapeutic approach targeting the extramedullary niche by inhibition of the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the liver dissemination of leukemia is not due to nonselective infiltration, but rather systematic invasion and proliferation of leukemic cells in hepatic niche. Although the contribution of SDF-1/CXCR4 axis is reported in some cancer cells or leukemic niches such as bone marrow, we demonstrated that this axis works even in the extramedullary niche of leukemic cells. Our findings form the basis for therapeutic approaches that target the extramedullary niche by inhibiting the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis

Emodin Suppresses Migration and Invasion through the Modulation of CXCR4 Expression in an Orthotopic Model of Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma

10.1371/journal.pone.0057015PLoS ONE83

Study of the deformability of 5xxx series aluminum alloys with high Mg content in a semi-industrial extrusion process

W pracy przedstawiono wyniki badań procesu wyciskania na gorąco stopów AlMg o wysokich zawartościach Mg; analizę odkształcalności materiału i badania własności wytrzymałościowych wyrobu. Próby wyciskania kształtowników ze stopów aluminium w gatunkach PN-EN 5083 i PN-EN 5019 wykonano na półprzemysłowej prasie hydraulicznej poziomej o nacisku 5 MN, z wykorzystaniem matryc płaskich 2-otworowych. Analizowano parametry procesu wyciskania oraz własności mechaniczne kształtowników wyciskanych ze stopów o rożnej zawartości Mg. Określono maksymalną, dopuszczalną prędkość wypływu metalu z otworu matrycy i graniczne temperatury solidus i likwidus ww. stopów w zależności od zawartości Mg w stopie.This paper presents the results of studies of the hot extrusion process of AlMg aluminum alloys with high Mg content; analysis of material deformability, and tests of product strength properties. Trial extrusions of sections made of aluminum alloy grades PN-EN 5083 and PN-EN 5019 were conducted on a semi-industrial horizontal hydraulic press with a pressing force of 5 MN using 2-hole flat dies. Extrusion process parameters and mechanical properties of sections extruded from alloys of varying Mg content were analyzed. The maximum acceptable rate of metal extrusion from the die hole and limit solidus and liquidus temperatures of the aforementioned alloys were determined depending on the Mg content in the alloy

Influences of horizontal and vertical build orientations and post-fabrication processes on the fatigue behavior of stainless steel 316L produced by selective laser melting

In this paper, the influences of build orientation and post-fabrication processes, including stress-relief, machining, and shot-peening, on the fatigue behavior of stainless steel (SS) 316L manufactured using selective laser melting (SLM) are studied. It was found that horizontally-built (XY) and machined (M) test pieces, which had not been previously studied in the literature, in both stress-relieved (SR) or non-stress-relieved (NSR) conditions show superior fatigue behavior compared to vertically-built (ZX) and conventionally-manufactured SS 316L. The XY, M, and SR (XY-M-SR) test pieces displayed fatigue behavior similar to the XY-M-NSR test pieces, implying that SR does not have a considerable effect on the fatigue behavior of XY and M test pieces. ZX-M-SR test pieces, due to their considerably lower ductility, exhibited significantly larger scatter and a lower fatigue strength compared to ZX-M-NSR samples. Shot-peening (SP) displayed a positive effect on improving the fatigue behavior of the ZX-NSR test pieces due to a compressive stress of 58 MPa induced on the surface of the test pieces. Fractography of the tensile and fatigue test pieces revealed a deeper understanding of the relationships between the process parameters, microstructure, and mechanical properties for SS 316L produced by laser systems. For example, fish-eye fracture pattern or spherical stair features were not previously observed or explained for cyclically-loaded SLM-printed parts in the literature. This study provides comprehensive insight into the anisotropy of the static and fatigue properties of SLM-printed parts, as well as the pre- and post-fabrication parameters that can be employed to improve the fatigue behavior of steel alloys manufactured using laser systems

Analysis of mechanical properties and dimensional accuracy of hollow thin-walled shapes extruded from AW6082 alloy

W pracy przedstawiono wyniki badań właściwości wyciskanych cienkościennych (grubość ścianki ok. 1,2 mm) kształtowników zamkniętych ze stopu AW6082 w stanie T5. Kształtowniki wyciskano metodą wyciskania zgrzewającego, za pomocą 6-otworowych matryc mostkowo-komorowych. Optymalizowano parametry wyciskania zmieniając prędkość wyciskania oraz szybkość chłodzenia. Wyznaczono właściwości mechaniczne, twardość, grubość ścianek oraz chropowatość powierzchni kształtowników poddanych wyciskaniu z różną prędkością (9, 10 i 12 m/min), chłodzonych na wybiegu prasy z różną szybkością chłodzenia (natryskiwanie wodne-spray, fala wodna) oraz starzonych sztucznie w temperaturze 180oC w czasie 2 godzin. Na podstawie badań stwierdzono, że przy najwyższej zastosowanej prędkości wyciskania 12 mm/min udało się osiągnąć wysokie właściwości mechaniczne oraz drobnoziarnistą równomierną strukturę. Na podstawie badań grubości profili stwierdzono, że pomimo otrzymania wyrobu o zadowalającej tolerancji grubości istnieje konieczność korekty matrycy, aby uzyskać bardziej równomierny rozkład. Zmiana grubości ścianki owalnego profilu wynika nie tylko ze szczeliny wypływu ale również z trudnego do przewidzenia na etapie projektowania ugięcia matrycy podczas wyciskania. Prędkość wyciskania wpływa również na jakość powierzchni profilu, która wyrażona poprzez parametr chropowatości Ra jest najgorsza przy wyciskaniu z prędkością 9m/min. W wyniku wzrostu prędkości wyciskania do 10 lub 12 mm/min chropowatość obniża się, co poprawia jakość powierzchni. Zmiana szybkości chłodzenia z chłodzenia powietrzem na natryskiwanie wodne lub za pomocą tzw. fali wodnej spowodowała wzrost wytrzymałości do zakładanej i pożądanej przez odbiorcę końcowego tj. Rm, > 310 MPa, ale jednocześnie nie wpłynęło to na znaczny spadek wydłużenia względnego A.This paper presents the results of tests of the properties of hollow thin-walled (wall thickness approx. 1.2 mm) shapes made of AW6082 alloy in T5 state. Shapes were extruded using the bonding extrusion method, by means of 6-hole porthole dies. Extrusion parameters were optimized by changing the rate of extrusion and cooling. Mechanical properties, hardness, wall thickness and surface coarseness of shapes subjected to extrusion at various rates (9, 10 and 12 m/min), cooled on the press coasting at different cooling rates (water spray, water wave), and artificially aged at a temperature of 180 oC over 2 hours, were determined. Based on the tests, it was found that high mechanical properties and a uniform, finegrained structure were successfully achieved at the highest applied extrusion rate of 12 mm/min. Based on the shape thickness measurements, it was determined that, despite achievement of a product of satisfactory thickness tolerance, it is necessary to correct the die to obtain more uniform distribution. The change of the wall thickness of the oval shape results from the complexity of the die orifice and also from the die deflection during extrusion, which is difficult to predict at the designing stage. Extrusion rate also has an impact on the surface quality of the shape, which is expressed by the parameter of coarseness Ra, and this quality was lowest for extrusion at a rate of 9 m/min. As a result of an increase in extrusion rate from 10 to 12 mm/min, coarseness is reduced, improving surface quality. The change in cooling rate from air cooling to water spraying or by means of a so-called water wave caused an increase of strength to the level assumed and desired by the end recipient, i.e. Rm, > 310 MPa, but at the same time, did not have an impact on the significant reduction of relative elongation A