On the spheroidized carbide dissolution and elemental partitioning in a high carbon bearing steel 100Cr6

We report on the characterization of high carbon bearing steel 100Cr6 using electron microscopy and atom probe tomography in combination with multi-component diffusion simulations (DICTRA). Scanning electron micrographs show that around 14 vol.% spheroidized carbides are formed during soft annealing and only 3 vol.% remain after dissolution into the austenitic matrix by austenitization at 1123 K (850 {\deg}C) for 300 s. The spheroidized particles are identified as (Fe, Cr)3C by transmission electron microscopy. Atom probe analyses reveal the redistribution and partitioning behaviors of elements, i.e. C, Si, Mn, Cr, Fe in both, the spheroidized carbides and the bainitic matrix in the sample isothermally heat-treated at 773 K (500 {\deg}C) after austenitization. A homogeneous distribution of C and gradual gradient of Cr was detected within the spheroidized carbides. Due to its limited diffusivity in (Fe, Cr)3C, Cr exhibits a maximum concentration at the surface of spheroidized carbides (16 at.%) and decreases gradually from surface towards the core down to a level of about 2 at.%. The atom probe results also indicate that the partially dissolved spheroidized carbides during austenitization may serve as nucleation sites for intermediate temperature cementite within bainite, which results in a relatively softer surface and harder core in spheroidized particles. This microstructure may contribute to the good wear resistance and fatigue propertie

Die Kategorien des Subjektiven : Grundlagen einer biografieorientierten subjektbezogenen Fallanalyse in der Sozialen Arbeit

With the aim of establishing the position of the subject in the context of social work, this thesis elaborates the categories of subjectivity for a biographic addressee research in order to explore the autonomy of the biographical Gestalt-movement . In this context, the theory of the Gestalt-Circle and the pathic categories of V. v. Weizsäcker's anthropology are particularly important. Furthermore, the category of crisis proves to be fundamental. This is because the unity of the biography arises from the pathic existence of human life only through the ability of the subject to overcome the discontinuity of life and to form an unity - the biographic form of its own individuality. It is shown that the antilogical inconsistent nature of human behavior that results from the self-movement of the living can be explained by the categories of the subjective . As a result, the work provides a decisive contribution to the discourse of the importance of the subject in social work in general and the subject-oriented addressee research in particular

Calculation of Monte-Carlo Sensitivities for a portfolio of time coupled options and application to conventional power plants

Current European energy markets are significantly influenced by a strongly growing share of highly volatile renewable electricity generation, not only changing the absolute level and structure of electricity prices but also leading to an increased demand for conventional generation flexibility to compensate supply and demand variations. Standardised reserve energy products provide an established way to trade such flexibility, however imposing additional operational constraints on the involved generation portfolios. This enforces the ability of utilities to derive values and sensitivities of their asset portfolios subject to external reserve requirements in order to manage market price risks and perform state of the art portfolio optimisation. In this thesis we adopt the Proxy Simulation Scheme (PSS) method of Fries and Kampen (2007) – originally developed with a focus on fixed income markets – for the rolling intrinsic valuation of stylised power plants subject to complex technical constraints. Thereby we succeed to overcome well known numerical performance issues of standard Monte-Carlo approaches and are able to derive robust Monte-Carlo portfolio sensitivities with respect to the underlying price of electricity of both first and second order (∆ and Γ). We employ electricity prices that are affected by a strong photovoltaic production to take into account the current reality of energy markets in Europe. To our knowledge this application of the PSS methodology to energy related real option valuation has not been presented in academic literature before. Based on this approach we are able to analyse the impact of technical constraints including minimum up- and down-time and externally imposed reserve requirements on the risk profile of stand-alone power plant options in detail. We confirm the quality of our results via backtesting with a Delta-Gamma hedging framework and a Taylor series approach to replicate single step probability densities of option values via numerically derived sensitivities. Furthermore we evaluate and discuss a variety of power plant option portfolios including technically more flexible and inflexible portfolios as well as larger and smaller portfolios. Thereby we are able to analyse the impact of reserve requirements on different portfolios allowing us to provide a complete value and risk assessment of varying levels of reserve requirements in each portfolio context. Finally we compare portfolio results of simplified and numerically more cost efficient option dispatching rules with the full rolling intrinsic approach as applied otherwise throughout this thesis

Light as a chronobiologic countermeasure for long-duration space operations

Long-duration space missions require adaptation to work-rest schedules which are substantially shifted with respect to earth. Astronauts are expected to work in two-shift operations and the environmental synchronizers (zeitgebers) in a spacecraft differ significantly from those on earth. A study on circadian rhythms, sleep, and performance was conducted by exposing four subjects to 6 deg head-down tilt bedrest (to simulate the effects of the weightless condition) and imposing a 12-h shift (6 h delay per day for two days). Bright light was tested in a cross-over design as a countermeasure for achieving faster resynchronization and regaining stable conditions for sleep and circadian rhythmicity. Data collection included objective sleep recording, temperature, heart rate, and excretion of hormones and electrolytes as well as performance and responses to questionnaires. Even without a shift in the sleep-wake cycle, the sleep quantity, circadian amplitudes and 24 h means decreased in many functions under bedrest conditions. During the shift days, sleepiness and fatigue increased, and alertness decreased. However, sleep quantity was regained, and resynchronization was completed within seven days after the shift for almost all functions, irrespective of whether light was administered during day-time or night-time hours. The time of day of light exposure surprisingly appeared not to have a discriminatory effect on the resynchronization speed under shift and bedrest conditions. The results indicate that simulated weightlessness alters circadian rhythms and sleep, and that schedule changes induce additional physiological disruption with decreased subjective alertness and increased fatigue. Because of their operational implications, these phenomena deserve additional investigation

Correlation between weather and incidence of selected ophthalmological diagnoses: a database analysis

Purpose: Our aim was to correlate the overall patient volume and the incidence of several ophthalmological diseases in our emergency department with weather data. Patients and methods: For data analysis, we used our clinical data warehouse and weather data. We investigated the weekly overall patient volume and the average weekly incidence of all encoded diagnoses of "conjunctivitis", "foreign body", "acute iridocyclitis", and "corneal abrasion". A Spearman's correlation was performed to link these data with the weekly average sunshine duration, temperature, and wind speed. Results: We noticed increased patient volume in correlation with increasing sunshine duration and higher temperature. Moreover, we found a positive correlation between the weekly incidences of conjunctivitis and of foreign body and weather data. Conclusion: The results of this data analysis reveal the possible influence of external conditions on the health of a population and can be used for weather-dependent resource allocation

Footprint-weighted tile approach for a spruce forest and a nearby patchy clearing using the ACASA model

The ACASA (Advanced Canopy-Atmosphere-Soil Algorithm) model, with a higher-order closure for tall vegetation, has already been successfully tested and validated for homogeneous spruce forests. The aim of this paper is to test the model using a footprint-weighted tile approach for a clearing with a heterogeneous structure of the underlying surface. The comparison with flux data shows a good agreement with a footprint-aggregated tile approach of the model. However, the results of a comparison with a tile approach on the basis of the mean land use classification of the clearing is not significantly different. It is assumed that the footprint model is not accurate enough to separate small-scale heterogeneities. All measured fluxes are corrected by forcing the energy balance closure of the test data either by maintaining the measured Bowen ratio or by the attribution of the residual depending on the fractions of sensible and latent heat flux to the buoyancy flux. The comparison with the model, in which the energy balance is closed, shows that the buoyancy correction for Bowen ratios > 1.5 better fits the measured data. For lower Bowen ratios, the correction probably lies between the two methods, but the amount of available data was too small to make a conclusion. With an assumption of similarity between water and carbon dioxide fluxes, no correction of the net ecosystem exchange is necessary for Bowen ratios > 1.5

Автоматизация тестирования и мониторинга удаленных серверов с VPN-сервисом

В сравнении с традиционными методами ручного тестирования, автоматизированное тестирование позволяет существенно сократить расходы компаний, занимающихся разработкой программного обеспечения. Поэтому технологии автоматизации тестирования набирают всё большую популярность среди софтверных компаний. Целью данной работы является автоматизация тестирования и мониторинга VPN-сервиса посредством разработки фреймворка для тестирования и мониторинга удалённых серверов на языке программирования Python, а также реализация тестов на языке программирования Java для тестирования пользовательского интерфейса мобильного Android-приложения для создания VPN-соединения.In comparison with the traditional methods of manual testing, automated testing significantly reduces the costs of software development companies. Therefore, test automation is gaining more and more popularity among those companies. The purpose of this work is to automate the testing and monitoring of the VPN service by developing a framework for testing and monitoring remote servers in the Python programming language, as well as implementing tests in the Java programming language to test the user interface of the mobile Android application for creating a VPN connection

Syntheses and Properties of Cycloamidines Based on 4H-Imidazoles*

Employing three different syntheses a broad spectrum of 4H-imidazoles 3a -3s has been synthesized. In the course of the two-fold aminolysis reaction leading to derivatives 3q -3s, deeply colored byproducts could be isolated and structural characterized.These novel donor-acceptor derivatives of type 7 consist of an 1H-and 4H-imidazole which are connected by a nitrogen bridge and rearrange via rapid 1,3-/1,5-hydride shifts. Using 1 H NMR experiments the aminolysis product 3p shows prototropic isomers which could be detected in equilibrium for the first time. Cyclovoltammetric measurements of a series of substituted 2-aryl derivatives 3d -3i displayed two reversible single electron transfer steps with relatively small semiquinone formation constants between 10 2 and 4 × 10 3 . The 4H-imidazole 3d was successfully converted into boratetraaza-pentalene 8a, which showed two well separated reduction potentials. The value of semiquinone formation constant of 8a (1.8 × 10 15 ) is even higher than those reported for similar derivatives. 4H-imidazoles can also be employed for the efficient complexation of catalytically important metals as exemplified by copper complexes 11 and 12. Derivative 3m, which possesses an additional chelating pyridine substructure, formed a stable complex of structural composition Zn(3m) 2 with diethyl zinc

A multi-center study of their physicochemical characteristics, cell culture and in vivo experiments

PVP-capped silver nanoparticles with a diameter of the metallic core of 70 nm, a hydrodynamic diameter of 120 nm and a zeta potential of −20 mV were prepared and investigated with regard to their biological activity. This review summarizes the physicochemical properties (dissolution, protein adsorption, dispersability) of these nanoparticles and the cellular consequences of the exposure of a broad range of biological test systems to this defined type of silver nanoparticles. Silver nanoparticles dissolve in water in the presence of oxygen. In addition, in biological media (i.e., in the presence of proteins) the surface of silver nanoparticles is rapidly coated by a protein corona that influences their physicochemical and biological properties including cellular uptake. Silver nanoparticles are taken up by cell-type specific endocytosis pathways as demonstrated for hMSC, primary T-cells, primary monocytes, and astrocytes. A visualization of particles inside cells is possible by X-ray microscopy, fluorescence microscopy, and combined FIB/SEM analysis. By staining organelles, their localization inside the cell can be additionally determined. While primary brain astrocytes are shown to be fairly tolerant toward silver nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles induce the formation of DNA double-strand-breaks (DSB) and lead to chromosomal aberrations and sister-chromatid exchanges in Chinese hamster fibroblast cell lines (CHO9, K1, V79B). An exposure of rats to silver nanoparticles in vivo induced a moderate pulmonary toxicity, however, only at rather high concentrations. The same was found in precision-cut lung slices of rats in which silver nanoparticles remained mainly at the tissue surface. In a human 3D triple-cell culture model consisting of three cell types (alveolar epithelial cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells), adverse effects were also only found at high silver concentrations. The silver ions that are released from silver nanoparticles may be harmful to skin with disrupted barrier (e.g., wounds) and induce oxidative stress in skin cells (HaCaT). In conclusion, the data obtained on the effects of this well-defined type of silver nanoparticles on various biological systems clearly demonstrate that cell-type specific properties as well as experimental conditions determine the biocompatibility of and the cellular responses to an exposure with silver nanoparticles

Decompressive craniectomy plus best medical treatment versus best medical treatment alone for spontaneous severe deep supratentorial intracerebral haemorrhage:a randomised controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND: It is unknown whether decompressive craniectomy improves clinical outcome for people with spontaneous severe deep intracerebral haemorrhage. The SWITCH trial aimed to assess whether decompressive craniectomy plus best medical treatment in these patients improves outcome at 6 months compared to best medical treatment alone.METHODS: In this multicentre, randomised, open-label, assessor-blinded trial conducted in 42 stroke centres in Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland, adults (18-75 years) with a severe intracerebral haemorrhage involving the basal ganglia or thalamus were randomly assigned to receive either decompressive craniectomy plus best medical treatment or best medical treatment alone. The primary outcome was a score of 5-6 on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 180 days, analysed in the intention-to-treat population. This trial is registered with ClincalTrials.gov, NCT02258919, and is completed.FINDINGS: SWITCH had to be stopped early due to lack of funding. Between Oct 6, 2014, and April 4, 2023, 201 individuals were randomly assigned and 197 gave delayed informed consent (96 decompressive craniectomy plus best medical treatment, 101 best medical treatment). 63 (32%) were women and 134 (68%) men, the median age was 61 years (IQR 51-68), and the median haematoma volume 57 mL (IQR 44-74). 42 (44%) of 95 participants assigned to decompressive craniectomy plus best medical treatment and 55 (58%) assigned to best medical treatment alone had an mRS of 5-6 at 180 days (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] 0·77, 95% CI 0·59 to 1·01, adjusted risk difference [aRD] -13%, 95% CI -26 to 0, p=0·057). In the per-protocol analysis, 36 (47%) of 77 participants in the decompressive craniectomy plus best medical treatment group and 44 (60%) of 73 in the best medical treatment alone group had an mRS of 5-6 (aRR 0·76, 95% CI 0·58 to 1·00, aRD -15%, 95% CI -28 to 0). Severe adverse events occurred in 42 (41%) of 103 participants receiving decompressive craniectomy plus best medical treatment and 41 (44%) of 94 receiving best medical treatment.INTERPRETATION: SWITCH provides weak evidence that decompressive craniectomy plus best medical treatment might be superior to best medical treatment alone in people with severe deep intracerebral haemorrhage. The results do not apply to intracerebral haemorrhage in other locations, and survival is associated with severe disability in both groups.FUNDING: Swiss National Science Foundation, Swiss Heart Foundation, Inselspital Stiftung, and Boehringer Ingelheim.</p