Resolving the neural circuits of anxiety

Although anxiety disorders represent a major societal problem demanding new therapeutic targets, these efforts have languished in the absence of a mechanistic understanding of this subjective emotional state. While it is impossible to know with certainty the subjective experience of a rodent, rodent models hold promise in dissecting well-conserved limbic circuits. The application of modern approaches in neuroscience has already begun to unmask the neural circuit intricacies underlying anxiety by allowing direct examination of hypotheses drawn from existing psychological concepts. This information points toward an updated conceptual model for what neural circuit perturbations could give rise to pathological anxiety and thereby provides a roadmap for future therapeutic development.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (U.S.) (NIH Director’s New Innovator Award DP2-DK-102256-01)National Institute of Mental Health (U.S.) (NIH) R01-MH102441-01)JPB Foundatio

Characterization, Deposition Mechanisms and Modeling of Metallic Glass Powders for Cold Spray

This chapter describes recent efforts to understand the effects that chemical and physical properties of metallic glass (MG) powder particles have on the synthesis of their cold-sprayed coatings. Understanding the mechanical response of MG is fundamental to evaluate the conditions at which their powder particles can be deposited by cold spray. The characteristics of the feedstock powders are evaluated and used to ascertain ideal cold spray parameters. This information is also used to model the deposition mechanism of metallic glasses in the cold spray process. FE analysis and simulation is used to identify the phenomena behind the formation of MG coatings (i.e., homogenous or inhomogeneous deformation). The model defined considers strain rate and temperature dependence of MGs under different conditions

Precipitation phenomena in Al-Zn-Mg alloy matrix composites reinforced with B4C particles

Abstract To provide insight into precipitation phenomena in age-hardening Al-Zn-Mg(-Cu) matrix composites, an Al 7075 alloy composite reinforced with B4C particles was selected as a model system. The bulk composites were fabricated via plasma activated sintering and followed by a peak aged (T6) heat treatment. Two types of Al matrix zones were identified in the composite: (1) the regions in the vicinity of the matrix/reinforcement interface, defined as “matrix plastic zone” (MPZ) hereafter, and (2) the regions away from the matrix/reinforcement interface, simply defined as matrix hereafter. The precipitation behavior in the MPZ was characterized and compared to that in the matrix. The MPZ contained a high density of dislocations. The number density of GP zones in the MPZ is lower than that in the matrix while the average size of the GP zones in MPZ is coarser. In addition, semi-coherent platelet η′ precipitates were observed but only in the MPZ. The dislocations and the Al/B4C interfaces provide more heterogeneous nucleation sites for the η′ precipitates in the MPZ. The growth and coarsening of the η′ precipitates caused rapid depletion of Mg and Zn solute atoms in the MPZ