Effect of alloying elements on the Sr modification of Al-Si cast alloys

Strontium-based modifier alloys are commonly adopted to modify the eutectic silicon in aluminum-silicon casting alloys by changing the silicon shape from an acicular to a spherical form. Usually, the modifier alloy necessary to properly change the silicon shape depends on the silicon content, but the alloying elements’ content may have an influence. The AlSr10 master alloy’s modifying effect was studied on four Al-Si alloys through the characterization of microstructural and mechanical properties (micro-hardness and impact tests). The experimental results obtained on gravity cast samples highlighted the interdependence in the modification of silicon between the Si content and the alloying elements. After modification, a higher microstructural homogeneity characterized by a reduction of up to 22.8% in the size of intermetallics was observed, with a generalized reduction in secondary dendritic arm spacing. The presence of iron-based polygonal-shaped intermetallics negatively affects Sr modification; coarser silicon particles tend to grow close to α-Fe. The presence of casting defects such as bifilm reduces Sr modification’s beneficial effects, and little increase in absorbed impact energy is observed in this work

Rorschach Space responses and anger

In this study, three different subtypes of Space responses to the Rorschach test were hypothesized: S-fusion, S-reversal, and S-integration. The relationship between these subtypes and feelings of anger and aggression was investigated. The Rorschach test, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory-2 (STAXI-2), and the Aggression Questionnaire (AQ) were administered to 50 university students. Scores on the STAXI-2 were positively associated with S-fusion and negatively associated with S-integration. No significant associations of S subtypes with aggression were found. The findings support the hypothesis that different figure-ground relationships, shown in the subtypes of S responses, indicate different psychological processes. </jats:p

Roughness at the depinning threshold for a long-range elastic string

In this paper, we compute the roughness exponent zeta of a long-range elastic string, at the depinning threshold, in a random medium with high precision, using a numerical method which exploits the analytic structure of the problem (`no-passing' theorem), but avoids direct simulation of the evolution equations. This roughness exponent has recently been studied by simulations, functional renormalization group calculations, and by experiments (fracture of solids, liquid meniscus in 4He). Our result zeta = 0.390 +/- 0.002 is significantly larger than what was stated in previous simulations, which were consistent with a one-loop renormalization group calculation. The data are furthermore incompatible with the experimental results for crack propagation in solids and for a 4He contact line on a rough substrate. This implies that the experiments cannot be described by pure harmonic long-range elasticity in the quasi-static limit.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure

Implementation and Validation of Constrained Density Functional Theory Forces in the CP2K Package

Constrained density functional theory (CDFT) is a powerful tool for the prediction of electron transfer parameters in condensed phase simulations at a reasonable computational cost. In this work we present an extension to CDFT in the popular mixed Gaussian/plane wave electronic structure package CP2K, implementing the additional force terms arising from a constraint based on Hirshfeld charge partitioning. This improves upon the existing Becke partitioning scheme, which is prone to give unphysical atomic charges. We verify this implementation for a variety of systems: electron transfer in (H_{2}O)_{2}^{+} in a vacuum, electron tunnelling between oxygen vacancy centers in solid MgO, and electron self-exchange in aqueous Ru^{2+}-Ru^{3+}. We find good agreement with previous plane-wave CDFT results for the same systems, but at a significantly lower computational cost, and we discuss the general reliability of condensed phase CDFT calculations

On quantization of r-matrices for Belavin-Drinfeld Triples

We suggest a formula for quantum universal $R$-matrices corresponding to quasitriangular classical $r$-matrices classified by Belavin and Drinfeld for all simple Lie algebras. The $R$-matrices are obtained by twisting the standard universal $R$-matrix.Comment: 12 pages, LaTe

Evaluation and Utilization of a Tall Fescue Germplasm Collection at Pergamino INTA, Argentina

One hundred and fifty four accessions of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) representing different types grown around the world were evaluated at Pergamino Inta Experimental Station. A multivariate analysis was carried out to evaluate individual and group variations. Three principal components (PCs) explained 70 % of the variation. Cluster analysis (Ward method) allowed the identification of 7 groups of populations. Plants from the most promising populations were selected in order to form a new breeding gene pool. The main objective of this study is to develop a new cultivar with improved winter herbage yield. Selected genotypes were mostly of Mediterranean origin

Flowering Distribution Pattern in White Clover Cultivars

A trial was carried out at Pergamino Agricultural Experimental Station to examine the distribution pattern and the profuseness of inflorescence production of white clover (Trifolium repens L.). The treatments were 16 cultivars (Churrinche, El Lucero MAG, Bayucuá, Estanzuela Zapicán, Lucero Plus Inta, Haifa, California, Ladino Gigante Lodigiano, Dubrava, Susi, Merwi, Blanca, Sonja, Espanso, Nora, S 184) of different origins and leaf size. The experimental design was a lattice with four replications. Southamerican cultivars showed a similar distribution pattern and had the highest inflorescence production. They also flowered earlier than foreign cultivars, except Haifa. Some of the cultivars evaluated did not have an acceptable inflorescence production. Some others produced seeds at the end of the season under bad weather conditions. Small-leaved varieties tended to have less inflorescence density. The spread of flowering during the reproductive cycle and the number of inflorescence per unit area are important characters that must be considered during breeding and before releasing introduced cultivars to the market

Improving energy efficiency and Indoor Environmental Quality in the School of Mathematics at the Sapienza University campus in Rome

SDG 7 "affordable and clean energy" aims at expanding infrastructure and upgrading technology to provide clean and more efficient energy in all countries, encouraging socio-economic growth and helping the environment. Its implementation through legislative instruments led to the writing of the Sapienza Energy Plan and the Energy Implementation Program, which define a series of medium-term implementation strategies on buildings inside and outside the Sapienza University campus. Strategies aimed at the energy redevelopment of the building envelope to achieve the minimization of energy needs and the construction of PV systems as well as the technical and regulatory adaptation of existing HVAC systems to improve the environmental comfort conditions. By the requirements of current legislation, the Energy Performance has been quantified through the energy efficiency analysis of the building in its current state and post-interventions, led using a simulation on an energy diagnostic software. After the analyses, the refurbishment interventions have allowed defining the guidelines, in compliance with the contents of the Guidelines for the energy efficiency of cultural heritage and the PES, through a series of strategies aimed at the conservation and improvement of the building envelope and at improving the energy efficiency and the IEQ of the School of Mathematics

The 2-Dimensional Quantum Euclidean Algebra

The algebra dual to Woronowicz's deformation of the 2-\-di\-men\-sion\-al Euclidean group is constructed. The same algebra is obtained from $SU_{q}(2)$ via contraction on both the group and algebra levels.Comment: 8 pages, LBL-31711 and UCB-PTH-92/0