Influence of oxygenation time on crack growth in titanium alloy under cyclic bending

The paper contains the results of tests on the fatigue crack growth in Ti–6Al–4V titanium alloy. Plane specimens of 4 mm in thickness with a unilateral notch were used. An analysis of crack growth was carried out for specimens without and after 2 and 4 h oxygenation process as well as fatigue crack growth rate was determined. From the test results it appears that the fatigue crack growth in the specimens without thermo-chemical treatment differs from the fatigue crack growth in the specimens after oxygenation. It has been also found that the applied surface treatment increases fatigue life of the considered alloy.Досліджено втомний ріст тріщин у титановому сплаві Ti–6Al–4V у вихідному стані та після високотемпературного насичення киснем на плоских зразках товщиною 4 mm з одностороннім боковим надрізом за навантаження згином. Виконано фрактографічний аналіз особливостей втомного росту тріщини і визначено її швидкість для різних станів металу: у вихідному та після 2 і 4 h насичення киснем. Виявлено, що хімікотермічна обробка впливає на втомний ріст тріщини, при цьому підвищується втомна довговічність.Исследован усталостный рост трещин в титановом сплаве Ti–6Al–4V в исходном состоянии и после высокотемпературного насыщения кислородом на плоских образцах толщиной 4 mm с односторонним боковым надрезом при нагружении изгибом. Проведен фрактографический анализ особенностей усталостного роста тещин и определена её скорость для разных состояний металла: в исходном и после 2 и 4 h насыщения кислородом. Выявлено, что химико-термическая обработка влияет на усталостный рост трещин, при этом повышается усталостная долговечность

Novel Sex Cells and Evidence for Sex Pheromones in Diatoms

BACKGROUND: Diatoms belong to the stramenopiles, one of the largest groups of eukaryotes, which are primarily characterized by a presence of an anterior flagellum with tubular mastigonemes and usually a second, smooth flagellum. Based on cell wall morphology, diatoms have historically been divided into centrics and pennates, of which only the former have flagella and only on the sperm. Molecular phylogenies show the pennates to have evolved from among the centrics. However, the timing of flagellum loss--whether before the evolution of the pennate lineage or after--is unknown, because sexual reproduction has been so little studied in the 'araphid' basal pennate lineages, to which Pseudostaurosira belongs. METHODS/PRINCIPAL FINDING: Sexual reproduction of an araphid pennate, Pseudostaurosira trainorii, was studied with light microscopy (including time lapse observations and immunofluorescence staining observed under confocal scanning laser microscopy) and SEM. We show that the species produces motile male gametes. Motility is mostly associated with the extrusion and retrieval of microtubule-based 'threads', which are structures hitherto unknown in stramenopiles, their number varying from one to three per cell. We also report experimental evidence for sex pheromones that reciprocally stimulate sexualization of compatible clones and orientate motility of the male gametes after an initial 'random walk'. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The threads superficially resemble flagella, in that both are produced by male gametes and contain microtubules. However, one striking difference is that threads cannot beat or undulate and have no motility of their own, and they do not bear mastigonemes. Threads are sticky and catch and draw objects, including eggs. The motility conferred by the threads is probably crucial for sexual reproduction of P. trainorii, because this diatom is non-motile in its vegetative stage but obligately outbreeding. Our pheromone experiments are the first studies in which gametogenesis has been induced in diatoms by cell-free exudates, opening new possibilities for molecular 'dissection' of sexualization