Effect of Si on Fe-rich intermetallic formation and mechanical properties of heattreated Al-Cu-Mn-Fe alloys

The effect of Si on Fe-rich intermetallics formation and mechanical properties of heat-treated squeeze cast Al-5.0Cu-0.6Mn-0.7Fe alloy was investigated. Our results show that increasing Si content promotes the formation of Al15(FeMn)3(SiCu)2 (${\alpha}$-Fe), and varying the morphology of T (Al20Cu3Mn2) where the size decreases and the amount increases. The major reason is that Si promotes heterogeneous nucleation of the intermetallics leading to finer precipitates. Si addition significantly enhances ultimate tensile strength and yield strength of the alloys. The strengthening effect is mainly owing to the dispersoid strengthening by increasing volume fraction of T phase and less harmful ${\alpha}$-Fe with a compact structure, which make the cracks more difficult to initiate and propagation during tensile test. The squeeze cast Al-5.0Cu-0.6Mn-0.7Fe alloy with 1.1% Si shows significantly improved mechanical properties than the alloy without Si addition, which has tensile strength of 386 MPa, yield strength of 280 MPa and elongation of 8.6%.Comment: 8 figure

Analytical coupling characterization of multi-stage planetary gear free vibration considering flexible structure

The mode characteristics and the parameter sensitivity for a two-stage NGW spur planetary gear system are studied based on the principles of structure natural dynamical characteristics. Considering the influence of flexible structure including shaft, the planet carrier, and the ring-gear, the coupled lateral-torsional-axial vibration dynamical model of the planetary gear system is established under the generalized coordinate system using the shafting element method. With the model, the natural frequency and vibration mode are solved, and the results indicate that the flexibility of ring-gear has a greater effect on natural frequency. Several distinct types of vibration mode are summarized, such as planet torsional mode, sun-gear shaft axial mode, ring-gear axial mode and so on. However, the translational mode which is one of the modes in the coupled lateral-torsional lumped mass model is not found in this study. Within the scope of the time-varying, mesh stiffness mainly affects the planet torsional mode of corresponding stage. Furthermore, the variation of radial bearing stiffness will also do effect on axial vibration mode, and the variation of bearing stiffness not only affects the vibration modes of adjacent stage of planetary gear train, but also affects the nonadjacent stage. The results demonstrate the coupling characteristics of the system under the free vibration condition

GEP100/Arf6 Is Required for Epidermal Growth Factor-Induced ERK/Rac1 Signaling and Cell Migration in Human Hepatoma HepG2 Cells

BACKGROUND: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling is implicated in the invasion and metastasis of hepatoma cells. However, the signaling pathways for EGF-induced motility of hepatoma cells remain undefined. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We found that EGF dose-dependently stimulated the migration of human hepatoma cells HepG2, with the maximal effect at 10 ng/mL. Additionally, EGF increased Arf6 activity, and ectopic expression of Arf6 T27N, a dominant negative Arf6 mutant, largely abolish EGF-induced cell migration. Blocking GEP100 with GEP100 siRNA or GEP100-△PH, a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain deletion mutant of GEP100, blocked EGF-induced Arf6 activity and cell migration. EGF also increased ERK and Rac1 activity. Ectopic expression GEP100 siRNA, GEP100-△PH, or Arf6-T27N suppressed EGF-induced ERK and Rac1 activity. Furthermore, blocking ERK signaling with its inhibitor U0126 remarkably inhibited both EGF-induced Rac1 activation as well as cell migration, and ectopic expression of inactive mutant form of Rac1 (Rac1-T17N) also largely abolished EGF-induced cell migration. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Taken together, this study highlights the function of the PH domain of GEP100 and its regulated Arf6/ERK/Rac1 signaling cascade in EGF-induced hepatoma cell migration. These findings could provide a rationale for designing new therapy based on inhibition of hepatoma metastasis