Influence of heat treatment on fatigue properties of 6101 series aluminium alloy wires

AAAC conductor fatigue resistance in overhead power lines is critical for electrical safety and stability of power transmission system. The article discusses the influence of the artificial aging of 6101 series aluminium alloy wires on their operational properties. Moreover, the influence of the proposed heat treatment on the fatigue strength and the nature of breakthroughs of the tested wires was compared

Influence of heat treatment on fatigue properties of 6101 series aluminium alloy wires

AAAC conductor fatigue resistance in overhead power lines is critical for electrical safety and stability of power transmission system. The article discusses the influence of the artificial aging of 6101 series aluminium alloy wires on their operational properties. Moreover, the influence of the proposed heat treatment on the fatigue strength and the nature of breakthroughs of the tested wires was compared

The influence of heat treatment and plastic deformation on the electrical and mechanical properties of CuAg alloys for the construction of high-field bitter type electromagnets

Cu-Ag alloys may be used in the form of sheets for the construction of bitter type magnets. The paper presents results of laboratory studies on obtaining of ingots from Cu-(1÷7wt.%)Ag alloys, solution treatment and aging and rolling process. Has been shown influence of different heat treatment and plastic deformation on the mechanical and electrical properties. The microstructural analysis of castings and sheets with the use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is also presented

Characterisation of Cu-CNTs composite electrical properties in elevated temperatures

The current trend towards nanotechnology creates possibilities for its use in materials science as manufacturing material with extraordinary properties, and is one of the goals for scientists in this field. Carbon nanotubes in particular are promising due to their electrical, thermal and mechanical properties, which have been of interest for researchers around the world. This paper focuses on the manufacturing process of the Cu-CNT composite via powder metallurgy and KOBO extrusion process, its further cold drawing process, and electrical resistance test at an elevated temperature. As obtained data proved, the higher the CNT content the lower the electrical resistance

Manufacturing and properties of cast Cu-Ag alloys designed for electrotechnical applications

The results of the current paper present the research concerning the obtaining of Cu-Ag alloys with wt. % of silver ranging between 5 and 20 % using continuous casting process. The process parameters have been introduced. Selected results regarding physical and mechanical properties of the casts have been discussed. Strength coefficients describing the plastic deformation range of the Cu-Ag alloys have been calculated using Hollomon’s equation. Additionally, in order to determine the influence of the temperature with Differential Scanning Calorimeter (DSC) on the electrical resistance, the values of temperature coefficients of resistance have been determined for all of the tested alloys

Paradoxical antidepressant effects of alcohol are related to acid sphingomyelinase and its control of sphingolipid homeostasis

Alcohol is a widely consumed drug that can lead to addiction and severe brain damage. However, alcohol is also used as self-medication for psychiatric problems, such as depression, frequently resulting in depression-alcoholism comorbidity. Here, we identify the first molecular mechanism for alcohol use with the goal to self-medicate and ameliorate the behavioral symptoms of a genetically induced innate depression. An induced over-expression of acid sphingomyelinase (ASM), as was observed in depressed patients, enhanced the consumption of alcohol in a mouse model of depression. ASM hyperactivity facilitates the establishment of the conditioned behavioral effects of alcohol, and thus drug memories. Opposite effects on drinking and alcohol reward learning were observed in animals with reduced ASM function. Importantly, free-choice alcohol drinking—but not forced alcohol exposure—reduces depression-like behavior selectively in depressed animals through the normalization of brain ASM activity. No such effects were observed in normal mice. ASM hyperactivity caused sphingolipid and subsequent monoamine transmitter hypo-activity in the brain. Free-choice alcohol drinking restores nucleus accumbens sphingolipid- and monoamine homeostasis selectively in depressed mice. A gene expression analysis suggested strong control of ASM on the expression of genes related to the regulation of pH, ion transmembrane transport, behavioral fear response, neuroprotection and neuropeptide signaling pathways. These findings suggest that the paradoxical antidepressant effects of alcohol in depressed organisms are mediated by ASM and its control of sphingolipid homeostasis. Both emerge as a new treatment target specifically for depression-induced alcoholism. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00401-016-1658-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Neutral sphingomyelinase mediates the co-morbidity trias of alcohol abuse, major depression and bone defects

Mental disorders are highly comorbid and occur together with physical diseases, which are often considered to arise from separate pathogenic pathways. We observed in alcohol-dependent patients increased serum activity of neutral sphingomyelinase. A genetic association analysis in 456,693 volunteers found associations of haplotypes of SMPD3 coding for NSM-2 (NSM) with alcohol consumption, but also with affective state, and bone mineralisation. Functional analysis in mice showed that NSM controls alcohol consumption, affective behaviour, and their interaction by regulating hippocampal volume, cortical connectivity, and monoaminergic responses. Furthermore, NSM controlled bone–brain communication by enhancing osteocalcin signalling, which can independently supress alcohol consumption and reduce depressive behaviour. Altogether, we identified a single gene source for multiple pathways originating in the brain and bone, which interlink disorders of a mental–physical co-morbidity trias of alcohol abuse—depression/anxiety—bone disorder. Targeting NSM and osteocalcin signalling may, thus, provide a new systems approach in the treatment of a mental–physical co-morbidity trias

Neutral sphingomyelinase mediates the co-morbidity trias of alcohol abuse, major depression and bone defects

Abstract Mental disorders are highly comorbid and occur together with physical diseases, which are often considered to arise from separate pathogenic pathways. We observed in alcohol-dependent patients increased serum activity of neutral sphingomyelinase. A genetic association analysis in 456,693 volunteers found associations of haplotypes of SMPD3 coding for NSM-2 (NSM) with alcohol consumption, but also with affective state, and bone mineralisation. Functional analysis in mice showed that NSM controls alcohol consumption, affective behaviour, and their interaction by regulating hippocampal volume, cortical connectivity, and monoaminergic responses. Furthermore, NSM controlled bone–brain communication by enhancing osteocalcin signalling, which can independently supress alcohol consumption and reduce depressive behaviour. Altogether, we identified a single gene source for multiple pathways originating in the brain and bone, which interlink disorders of a mental–physical co-morbidity trias of alcohol abuse—depression/anxiety—bone disorder. Targeting NSM and osteocalcin signalling may, thus, provide a new systems approach in the treatment of a mental–physical co-morbidity trias