Shining Light on Black Rock Coatings in Smelter-Impacted Areas

Earth scientists have long known of the existence of black coatings on exposed rocks in smelter-impacted areas such as Sudbury, Ontario or Rouyn-Noranda, Québec. Black rock coatings in the Greater Sudbury area are remarkable geological records of atmospheric conditions, including mixing, scavenging, and oxidation processes, deposition rates, and the nature and source of anthropogenic releases to the atmosphere. The coatings are composed of an amorphous silica matrix that has trapped atmosphere-borne nanoparticles and has preserved their chemical and isotopic signature. These coatings are the product of high emissions of SO2 and subsequent non-stoichiometric dissolution of exposed siliceous rocks. The coatings contain spherical smelter-derived Cu–Ni-oxide particulate matter (micrometre and nanometre-sized) and metal-sulphate rich layers composed of nanometer aggregates of Fe–Cu sulphates. Lead, As, and Se-bearing nanoparticles emitted from smelters are incorporated in metal-sulphate-rich layers along the atmosphere-coating interface, presumably during coating formation. On a regional scale, ratios between different metal(loid)s in the coatings indicate that small diameter primary Pb, As and Se-bearing sulphate aerosols have been deposited at higher rates compared to larger, Ni-bearing particulate matter. High sulphur isotope values in coatings closer to smelting centres and their decrease with distance from the smelters is attributed to an increase in mixing of primary and secondary sulphates. SOMMAIRELes géoscientifiques connaissent depuis longtemps l’existence d’une couche noire sur les roches exposées aux abords des fonderies comme celles de Sudbury en Ontario ou Rouyn-Noranda au Québec.   Les couches noires des roches de la grande région de Sudbury constituent de remarquables enregistrements géologiques des phénomènes atmosphériques, notamment des processus de mélange, de piégeage, et d'oxydation, ainsi que des taux de sédimentation et de la nature et de l’origine des rejets anthropiques dans l'atmosphère.   Ces couches noires sont constituées d'une matrice de silice amorphe qui a piégé des nanoparticules atmosphériques et conservé leur signature chimique et isotopique.  Ces couches noires sont le produit de fortes émissions atmosphériques de SO2 et d’une dissolution non-stœchiométrique subséquente des roches siliceuses exposées.  Ces couches noires contiennent des sphérules de particules atmosphériques d’oxydes de Cu-Ni (de taille micrométrique et nanométrique) issues de la fonderie, et des couches riches en sulfate de métaux constituées d’agrégats nanométriques de sulfates de Fe-Cu.   Les nanoparticules de plomb, d’As et de Se émises par les fonderies sont incorporées dans les couches riches en sulfate de métal à l'interface de l’atmosphère et de cette couche, probablement lors de la formation de cette couche.  À l’échelle régionale, les rapports de concentration des différents métaux ou métalloïdes dans les couches noires indiquent que les aérosols de faible diamètre de sulfate de Pb, d’As et de Se primaires ont été déposés à des taux plus élevés que les particules nickélifères de plus grande dimension.  Les valeurs plus élevées des isotopes du soufre observées dans les couches à proximité des fonderies et leur diminution en fonction de l’éloignement des fonderies sont attribuées à une augmentation du mélange entre sulfates à l’émission et post-émission

Experimental Study of Slat Noise from 30P30N Three-Element High-Lift Airfoil in JAXA Hard-Wall Low-Speed Wind Tunnel

Aeroacoustic measurements associated with noise radiation from the leading edge slat of the canonical, unswept 30P30N three-element high-lift airfoil configuration have been obtained in a 2 m x 2 m hard-wall wind tunnel at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Performed as part of a collaborative effort on airframe noise between JAXA and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the model geometry and majority of instrumentation details are identical to a NASA model with the exception of a larger span. For an angle of attack up to 10 degrees, the mean surface Cp distributions agree well with free-air computational fluid dynamics predictions corresponding to a corrected angle of attack. After employing suitable acoustic treatment for the brackets and end-wall effects, an approximately 2D noise source map is obtained from microphone array measurements, thus supporting the feasibility of generating a measurement database that can be used for comparison with free-air numerical simulations. Both surface pressure spectra obtained via KuliteTM transducers and the acoustic spectra derived from microphone array measurements display a mixture of a broad band component and narrow-band peaks (NBPs), both of which are most intense at the lower angles of attack and become progressively weaker as the angle of attack is increased. The NBPs exhibit a substantially higher spanwise coherence in comparison to the broadband portion of the spectrum and, hence, confirm the trends observed in previous numerical simulations. Somewhat surprisingly, measurements show that the presence of trip dots between the stagnation point and slat cusp enhances the NBP levels rather than mitigating them as found in a previous experiment

Psychosocial twin cohort studies in Japan: the Keio Twin Research Center (KoTReC)

The Keio Twin Research Center (KoTReC) was established in 2009 at Keio University to combine two longitudinal cohort projects — the Keio Twin Study (KTS) for adolescence and adulthood and the Tokyo Twin Cohort Project (ToTCoP) for infancy and childhood. KoTReC also conducted a two-time panel study of self-control and psychopathology in twin adolescence in 2012 and 2013 and three independent anonymous cross-sectional twin surveys (ToTcross) before 2012 — the ToTCross, the Junior and Senior High School Survey and the High School Survey. This article introduces the recent research designs of KoTReC and its publications

Achieving Superconductivity with Higher Tc in Lightweight Al-Ti-Mg Alloys: Prediction using Machine Learning and Synthesis via High-Pressure Torsion Process

Aluminum (Al) and titanium (Ti) are superconducting materials but their superconducting transition temperatures (Tc) are quite low as 1.20 and 0.39 K, respectively, while magnesium (Mg) never exhibits superconductivity. In this study, we explored new superconductors with higher Tc in the Al–Mg–Ti ternary system, along with the prediction using machine learning. High-pressure torsion (HPT) is utilized to produce the superconducting states. While performing AC magnetization measurements, we found, for the first time, superconducting states with Tc=4.0 and 7.3 K for a composition of Al:Ti = 1:2. The magnetic anomalies appeared more sharply when the sample was processed by HPT at 573 K than at room temperature, and the anomalies exhibited DC magnetic field dependence characteristic of superconductivity. Magnetic anomalies also appeared at ∼55 and ∼93 K, being supported by the prediction using the machine learning for the Al–Ti–O system, and this suggests that Al–Ti oxides play an important role in the advent of such anomalies but that the addition of Mg could be less effective

Comparison of NTF Experimental Data with CFD Predictions from the Third AIAA CFD Drag Prediction Workshop

Recently acquired experimental data for the DLR-F6 wing-body transonic transport con figuration from the National Transonic Facility (NTF) are compared with the database of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) predictions generated for the Third AIAA CFD Drag Prediction Workshop (DPW-III). The NTF data were collected after the DPW-III, which was conducted with blind test cases. These data include both absolute drag levels and increments associated with this wing-body geometry. The baseline DLR-F6 wing-body geometry is also augmented with a side-of-body fairing which eliminates the flow separation in this juncture region. A comparison between computed and experimentally observed sizes of the side-of-body flow-separation bubble is included. The CFD results for the drag polars and separation bubble sizes are computed on grids which represent current engineering best practices for drag predictions. In addition to these data, a more rigorous attempt to predict absolute drag at the design point is provided. Here, a series of three grid densities are utilized to establish an asymptotic trend of computed drag with respect to grid convergence. This trend is then extrapolated to estimate a grid-converged absolute drag level

DOCK2 is involved in the host genetics and biology of severe COVID-19

「コロナ制圧タスクフォース」COVID-19疾患感受性遺伝子DOCK2の重症化機序を解明 --アジア最大のバイオレポジトリーでCOVID-19の治療標的を発見--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-08-10.Identifying the host genetic factors underlying severe COVID-19 is an emerging challenge. Here we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) involving 2, 393 cases of COVID-19 in a cohort of Japanese individuals collected during the initial waves of the pandemic, with 3, 289 unaffected controls. We identified a variant on chromosome 5 at 5q35 (rs60200309-A), close to the dedicator of cytokinesis 2 gene (DOCK2), which was associated with severe COVID-19 in patients less than 65 years of age. This risk allele was prevalent in East Asian individuals but rare in Europeans, highlighting the value of genome-wide association studies in non-European populations. RNA-sequencing analysis of 473 bulk peripheral blood samples identified decreased expression of DOCK2 associated with the risk allele in these younger patients. DOCK2 expression was suppressed in patients with severe cases of COVID-19. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis (n = 61 individuals) identified cell-type-specific downregulation of DOCK2 and a COVID-19-specific decreasing effect of the risk allele on DOCK2 expression in non-classical monocytes. Immunohistochemistry of lung specimens from patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia showed suppressed DOCK2 expression. Moreover, inhibition of DOCK2 function with CPYPP increased the severity of pneumonia in a Syrian hamster model of SARS-CoV-2 infection, characterized by weight loss, lung oedema, enhanced viral loads, impaired macrophage recruitment and dysregulated type I interferon responses. We conclude that DOCK2 has an important role in the host immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the development of severe COVID-19, and could be further explored as a potential biomarker and/or therapeutic target

Estimation model of training support system for Finite Element Analysis and implementation of training scenario as knowledge patterns

This paper presents an arrangement method of FEA modeling knowledge by using a design pattern methodology, and deals with an estimation method of FEA training scenario. The prototype support system and its training knowledge can be arranged and classified in several patterns, while the mechanics of a beam structure has been picked up as an example of training subject. Essential evaluation problems were prepared for checking the synthetic achievement and the effectivity of training support system onto any beginners of the code called MARC/MENTAT has been investigated. Through the simulation with the prototype training support system, an evaluation model as the synthetic achievement test for any training scenario was shown with the degree vector. Observing the reusability of training programs, the compression rate of iterated common operations was estimated for the prototype training support system

Focused ion beam fabrication of novel core-shell nanowire structures

A novel method of indirect deposition by means of a focused ion beam (FIB) is utilized to develop metal/insulator/semiconductor nanowire core-shell structures. This method is based upon depositing an annular pattern centered on a nanowire, with secondary deposition then coating the wire. Typical cross-sectional deposition area increments as a function of ion doses are 1.3 x 10(-2) mu m(2) nC(-1) for Pt and 3.5 x 10(-2) mu m(2) nC(-1) for SiO2. The structures are examined with a transmission electron microscope (TEM) using a new nanowire TEM sample preparation method that allows direct examinations of individually selected core-shell nanowires fabricated under different indirect FIB deposition conditions. Elemental analyses by means of energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy and electron energy filtered TEM imaging verify the deposition of SiO2 and Pt layers. Relatively uniform Pt and SiO2 coatings on individual GaP nanowires can be achieved with overall thickness deviation of about 10% for deposition up to 25-30 nm thick Pt or SiO2 shells. It should be possible to extend this approach to any nanowire/nanotube system, and to a wide range of coatings in any desired layer sequences

Effect of Laves Phase on High-Temperature Deformation and Microstructure Evolution in an 18Cr-2Mo-0.5Nb Ferritic Stainless Steel

Niobium-containing ferritic stainless steels are finding new applications in automotive exhaust components because of their oxidation resistance, thermal fatigue resistance, and high-temperature strength. The mechanical behavior of Nb-containing ferritic steels at service temperatures of 973 K (700 A degrees C) and higher results from the convolution of dynamic microstructural changes including precipitation, precipitate coarsening, strain hardening, recovery, and recrystallization. The relative contributions of these competing processes have yet to be clarified. In this study, the high-temperature flow strength of an 18Cr-2Mo-0.5Nb ferritic stainless steel (SUS 444) was correlated with microstructure under different strain and initial precipitate distributions to clarify the relative role of the strengthening and softening processes. High-temperature tensile tests at 1023 K (750 A degrees C) of un-aged (initial microstructure is precipitate-free) and pre-aged (initial microstructure contains precipitates) samples were carried out and transmission electron microscopy was used to assess dislocation distributions and precipitate morphology. The difference in the stress-strain curves between un-aged and pre-aged samples was drastic; the yield strength of the un-aged sample was twice that of the pre-aged sample, and the un-aged sample exhibits a noticeable yield drop. Transmission electron microscopy revealed a Laves phase nucleated and grew during the high-temperature tensile test in the un-aged sample and the majority of the precipitates in the pre-aged sample were the same Laves phase. Furthermore, a strain effect on precipitate growth was recognized in un-aged and pre-aged conditions by comparing grip (no strain) and gage (strained) sections of tensile samples. The dominant strengthening contribution in un-aged samples is initially the precipitate shearing mechanism and it changes to Orowan strengthening beyond the ultimate tensile strength, whereas the dominant contribution in the pre-aged samples appears to be Orowan strengthening throughout the stress-strain curve