Do thermal effects cause the propulsion of bulk graphene material?

In a recent article, Zhang et al.1 observed the direct propulsion of a bulk graphene sponge when exposed to laser light. They attributed this to the momentum of the light-induced ejected electrons. However, the force provided by the ejected electrons is about 2.7 × 10−11 N (supposing that the average current and the kinetic energy of the ejected electrons are 9 × 10−7 A and 70 eV, respectively), which is far smaller than the gravitational force of a 0.86 mg graphene sponge. From our knowledge of rarefied gas dynamics, the horizontal, vertical and rotational motion of the laser-illuminated graphene sponge could be due to the radiometric force

Segregation of Mn, Si, Al, and oxygen during the friction stir welding of DH36 steel

This work investigates the role of welding speed in elemental segregation of Mn, Si, Al, and oxygen during friction stir welding (FSW) in DH36 steel. The experimental work undertaken showed that when the speed of the FSW process exceeds 500 RPM with a traverse speed of 400 mm/min, then elemental segregation of Mn, Si, Al, and O occurred. The mechanism of this segregation is not fully understood; additionally, the presence of oxygen within these segregated elements needs investigation. This work examines the elemental segregation within DH36 steel by conducting heat treatment experiments on unwelded samples incrementally in the range of 1200–1500 °C and at cooling rates similar to that in FSW process. The results of heat treatments were compared with samples welded under two extremes of weld tool speeds, namely W1 low tool speeds (200 RPM with traverse speed of 100 mm/min) and W2 high tool speeds (550 RPM with traverse speed of 400 mm/min). The results from the heat treatment trials showed that segregation commences when the temperature exceeds 1400 °C and Mn, Si, Al, and oxygen segregation progress occurs at 1450 °C and at a cooling rate associated with acicular ferrite formation. It was also found that high rotational speeds exceeding 500 RPM caused localized melting at the advancing-trailing side of the friction stir-welded samples. The study aims to estimate peak temperature limits at which elemental segregation does not occur and hence prevent their occurrence in practice by applying the findings to the tool’s rotational and traverse speed that correspond to the defined temperature

Analysis of Heat Input Effects in Passive Thermographic NDE

The use of digital imaging techniques for analysing and enhancing IR video frames in thermographic NDE [1–6] allows some improvement in resolution of surface temperature contrast. Of equal importance, however, to the magnitude and longevity of the generated contrast is the magnitude and length of the function governing the input heating rate and source impedance [7], In thermogaphic testing the limiting factor is usually the maximum temperature rise (or drop) over a given time span that the heated (cooled) face of the sample can be subjected to without damage occuring. In this study single step and profiled radiative heat pulses have been assessed numerically and experimentally and compared to contact heating (as with a hot liquid in a flexible bag). The detrimental effects of convective and radiative surface heat losses have been examined and their significance to the testing of low and high diffusivity materials assessed. All results presented here are for the two-sided testing configuration although, in principle, the results are applicable to single sided testing also.</p

Environment Orientation : a structured simulation approach for agent-based complex systems

Complex systems are collections of independent agents interacting with each other and with their environment to produce emergent behaviour. Agent-based computer simulation is one of the main ways of studying complex systems. A naive approach to such simulation can fare poorly, due to large communication overhead, and due to the scope for deadlock between the interacting agents sharing a computational platform. Agent interaction can instead be considered entirely from the point of view of the environment(s) within which the agents interact. Structuring a simulation using such Environment Orientation leads to a simulation that reduces communication overhead, that is effectively deadlock-free, and yet still behaves in the manner required. Additionally the Environment Orientation architecture eases the development of more sophisticated large-scale simulations, with multiple kinds of complex agents, situated in and interacting with multiple kinds of environments. We describe the Environment Orientation simulation architecture. We report on a number of experiments that demonstrate the effectiveness of the Environment Orientation approach: a simple flocking system, a flocking system with multiple sensory environments, and a flocking system in an external environment

Radio emission from Supernova Remnants

The explosion of a supernova releases almost instantaneously about 10^51 ergs of mechanic energy, changing irreversibly the physical and chemical properties of large regions in the galaxies. The stellar ejecta, the nebula resulting from the powerful shock waves, and sometimes a compact stellar remnant, constitute a supernova remnant (SNR). They can radiate their energy across the whole electromagnetic spectrum, but the great majority are radio sources. Almost 70 years after the first detection of radio emission coming from a SNR, great progress has been achieved in the comprehension of their physical characteristics and evolution. We review the present knowledge of different aspects of radio remnants, focusing on sources of the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds, where the SNRs can be spatially resolved. We present a brief overview of theoretical background, analyze morphology and polarization properties, and review and critical discuss different methods applied to determine the radio spectrum and distances. The consequences of the interaction between the SNR shocks and the surrounding medium are examined, including the question of whether SNRs can trigger the formation of new stars. Cases of multispectral comparison are presented. A section is devoted to reviewing recent results of radio SNRs in the Magellanic Clouds, with particular emphasis on the radio properties of SN 1987A, an ideal laboratory to investigate dynamical evolution of an SNR in near real time. The review concludes with a summary of issues on radio SNRs that deserve further study, and analyzing the prospects for future research with the latest generation radio telescopes.Comment: Revised version. 48 pages, 15 figure

A multiplex marker set for microsatellite typing and sexing of sooty terns Onychoprion fuscatus

OBJECTIVES: Seabirds have suffered dramatic population declines in recent decades with one such species being the sooty tern Onychoprion fuscatus. An urgent call to re-assess their conservation status has been made given that some populations, such as the one on Ascension Island, South Atlantic, have declined by over 80% in three generations. Little is known about their population genetics, which would aid conservation management through understanding ecological processes and vulnerability to environmental change. We developed a multiplex microsatellite marker set for sooty terns including sex-typing markers to assist population genetics studies. RESULTS: Fifty microsatellite loci were isolated and tested in 23 individuals from Ascension Island. Thirty-one were polymorphic and displayed between 4 and 20 alleles. Three loci were Z-linked and two autosomal loci deviated from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The remaining 26 autosomal loci together with three sex-typing makers were optimised in seven polymerase chain reaction plexes. These 26 highly polymorphic markers will be useful for understanding genetic structure of the Ascension Island population and the species as a whole. Combining these with recently developed microsatellite markers isolated from Indian Ocean birds will allow for assessment of global population structure and genetic diversity

Dementia in Swedish Twins: Predicting Incident Cases

Thirty same-sex twin pairs were identified in which both members were assessed at baseline and one twin subsequently developed dementia, at least 3 years subsequent to the baseline measurement, while the partner remained cognitively intact for at least three additional years. Eighteen of the 30 cases were diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Baseline assessments, conducted when twins’ average age was 70.6 (SD = 6.8), included a mailed questionnaire and in-person testing. Which twin would develop dementia was predicted by less favorable lipid values (higher apoB, ratio of apoB to apoA1, and total cholesterol), poorer grip strength, and—to a lesser extent—higher emotionality on the EAS Temperament Scale. Given the long preclinical period that characterizes Alzheimer’s disease, these findings may suggest late life risk factors for dementia, or may reflect changes that are part of preclinical disease

Early biomarkers and potential mediators of ventilation-induced lung injury in very preterm lambs

BACKGROUND: Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is closely associated with ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI) in very preterm infants. The greatest risk of VILI may be in the immediate period after birth, when the lungs are surfactant deficient, still partially filled with liquid and not uniformly aerated. However, there have been very few studies that have examined this immediate post-birth period and identified the initial injury-related pathways that are activated. We aimed to determine if the early response genes; connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), cysteine rich-61 (CYR61) and early growth response 1 (EGR1), were rapidly induced by VILI in preterm lambs and whether ventilation with different tidal volumes caused different inflammatory cytokine and early response gene expression. METHODS: To identify early markers of VILI, preterm lambs (132 d gestational age; GA, term approximately 147 d) were resuscitated with an injurious ventilation strategy (V(T) 20 mL/kg for 15 min) then gently ventilated (5 mL/kg) for 15, 30, 60 or 120 min (n = 4 in each). To determine if early response genes and inflammatory cytokines were differentially regulated by different ventilation strategies, separate groups of preterm lambs (125 d GA; n = 5 in each) were ventilated from birth with a V(T) of 5 (VG5) or 10 mL/kg (VG10) for 135 minutes. Lung gene expression levels were compared to levels prior to ventilation in age-matched control fetuses. RESULTS: CTGF, CYR61 and EGR1 lung mRNA levels were increased approximately 25, 50 and 120-fold respectively (p < 0.05), within 30 minutes of injurious ventilation. VG5 and VG10 caused significant increases in CTGF, CYR61, EGR1, IL1- , IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA levels compared to control levels. CTGF, CYR61, IL-6 and IL-8 expression levels were higher in VG10 than VG5 lambs; although only the IL-6 and CYR61 mRNA levels reached significance. CONCLUSION: CTGF, CYR61 and EGR1 may be novel early markers of lung injury and mechanical ventilation from birth using relatively low tidal volumes may be less injurious than using higher tidal volumes