Mathematical model of the mechanical properties of Ti-alloyed hypoeutectic cast iron for mixer blades

The object of research is hypoeutectic cast iron intended for cast parts operating under abrasive friction conditions. Such parts are mixer blades, the operational properties of which include durability, assessed by abrasion resistance and strength. To give the blades such properties, cast irons, which are materials of the blades, are alloyed with elements that contribute to the formation of carbides of various compositions. The main problem that impedes the targeted selection of materials for mixer blades or finished blades from different materials or different chemical composition is the lack of substantiated selection criteria. If the shipment is carried out only with the provision of data on the chemical composition of the alloy, it is necessary to be able to evaluate the expected mechanical properties, in particular abrasion resistance and strength. Using the methods of regression analysis, a mathematical model has been obtained that includes two regression equations, which allows for a targeted selection of the chemical composition that provides the maximum possible value of mechanical properties – ultimate strength and coefficient of wear resistance. Optimization of the chemical composition, carried out according to this model, made it possible to determine the following chemical composition: C=2.94 %, Ceq=3.3 %, Ti=1.56 %, providing the maximum ultimate strength σb=391 MPa; C=2.78 %, Ceq=3.14 %, Ti=1.61 %, providing a maximum wear resistance coefficient Kwr=12 %. In the case of priority of the strength criterion, the calculated optimal chemical composition makes it possible to reduce the mass-dimensional characteristics of the mixing units of the mixers. A procedure is proposed for using this model to select a batch of blades with the expected best performance propertie

The β-Catenin/T-Cell Factor/Lymphocyte Enhancer Factor Signaling Pathway Is Required for Normal and Stress-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy

In cells capable of entering the cell cycle, including cancer cells, β-catenin has been termed a master switch, driving proliferation over differentiation. However, its role as a transcriptional activator in terminally differentiated cells is relatively unknown. Herein we utilize conditional, cardiac-specific deletion of the β-catenin gene and cardiac-specific expression of a dominant inhibitory mutant of Lef-1 (Lef-1Δ20), one of the members of the T-cell factor/lymphocyte enhancer factor (Tcf/Lef) family of transcription factors that functions as a coactivator with β-catenin, to demonstrate that β-catenin/Tcf/Lef-dependent gene expression regulates both physiologic and pathological growth (hypertrophy) of the heart. Indeed, the profound nature of the growth impairment of the heart in the Lef-1Δ20 mouse, which leads to very early development of heart failure and premature death, suggests β-catenin/Tcf/Lef targets are dominant regulators of cardiomyocyte growth. Thus, our studies, employing complementary models in vivo, implicate β-catenin/Tcf/Lef signaling as an essential growth-regulatory pathway in terminally differentiated cells

Cardiotoxicity of the cancer therapeutic agent imatinib mesylate.

Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) is a small-molecule inhibitor of the fusion protein Bcr-Abl, the causal agent in chronic myelogenous leukemia. Here we report ten individuals who developed severe congestive heart failure while on imatinib and we show that imatinib-treated mice develop left ventricular contractile dysfunction. Transmission electron micrographs from humans and mice treated with imatinib show mitochondrial abnormalities and accumulation of membrane whorls in both vacuoles and the sarco- (endo-) plasmic reticulum, findings suggestive of a toxic myopathy. With imatinib treatment, cardiomyocytes in culture show activation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response, collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential, release of cytochrome c into the cytosol, reduction in cellular ATP content and cell death. Retroviral gene transfer of an imatinib-resistant mutant of c-Abl, alleviation of ER stress or inhibition of Jun amino-terminal kinases, which are activated as a consequence of ER stress, largely rescues cardiomyocytes from imatinib-induced death. Thus, cardiotoxicity is an unanticipated side effect of inhibition of c-Abl by imatinib

Growth Process, Structure and Electronic Properties of Cr₂GeC and Cr_2-xMn_xGeC Thin Films Prepared by Magnetron Sputtering

The growth and phase formation features, along with the influence of structure and morphology on the electronic, optical, and transport properties of Cr2GeC and Cr2-xMnxGeC MAX phase thin films synthesized by magnetron sputtering technique, were studied. It was found that the Cr:Ge:C atomic ratios most likely play the main role in the formation of a thin film of the MAX phase. A slight excess of carbon and manganese doping significantly improved the phase composition of the films. Cr2GeC films with a thicknesses exceeding 40 nm consisted of crystallites with well-developed facets, exhibiting metallic optical and transport properties. The hopping conduction observed in the Cr2-xMnxGeC film could be attributed to the columnar form of crystallites. Calculations based on a two-band model indicated high carrier concentrations N, P and mobility μ in the best-synthesized Cr2GeC film, suggesting transport properties close to single crystal material. The findings of this study can be utilized to enhance the growth technology of MAX phase thin films