Search

To solve the problem of high energy consumption in tailings pretreatment methods and explore a low energy consumption tailings activation method, alkaline hydrothermal activation pretreatment was carried out on part of sulfur tailings to enhance their activity and improve the mechanical properties of sulfur tailings-based geopolymers. The influences of activation temperature and activation time on alkaline hydrothermal activation effect have been studied. X-ray diffraction technology, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis, thermogravimetric analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging analysis, and scanning electron microscopy test were used to characterize the performance of activated sulfur tailings and sulfur tailings-based geopolymers. The results show that when the sulfur tailings are activated at 200 °C for 2. 0 h, the prepared geopolymer obtains the highest 3 and 28 d compressive strength, which are 15. 5 and 22. 1 MPa, respectively. Alkaline hydrothermal activation can effectively destroy the crystalline phase in sulfur tailings, promote the release of active silica and aluminum. More hydration product gel is formed in the gel system to improve the pore structure of geopolymer, thus improving the compressive strength of sulfur tailings-based geopolymers. The above experimental results indicate that alkaline hydrothermal activation is a method that can effectively improve the activity of sulfur tailings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Left ventricular dyssynchrony (LVD), the loss of coordinated contraction in the left ventricle, is an early sign of heart failure. LVD can be assessed using phase analysis techniques with gated single‐photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). This study aimed to investigate the impact of obesity on LVD through phase analysis. Methods: We retrospectively enrolled 152 obese patients and 80 age‐ and sex‐matched nonobese patients who showed normal myocardial perfusion and normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) on MPI. Phase standard deviation (PSD) and phase histogram bandwidth (PBW), as phase analysis parameters, were compared between patients with and without obesity. Results: Although PSD values were within the normal range (cut‐off value >23) for both groups, the PSD values of obese patients were higher than those of the nonobese (20.49 ± 8.66 vs. 14.81 ± 4.93; p < 0.05). PBW values of obese patients were statistically significantly higher than those of the nonobese (57.03 ± 23.17 vs. 41.40 ± 9.96; p < 0.05). The PBW values of obese patients exceeded the normal limits (cut‐off value >49). A weak positive correlation was observed between body mass index (BMI) and PBW values in obese patients (r = 0.181, p < 0.05). In patients of normal weight, no correlations were found between BMI and phase analysis parameters. Conclusion: LVD may develop in obese patients, even when myocardial perfusion and ejection fraction are preserved. The use of phase analysis with gated SPECT could be an additional finding improving the early detection of left ventricular dyssynchrony in obese patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to assess the diagnostic efficacy of left ventricular synchrony (LVS) for detecting coronary artery disease (CAD). We explored whether the LVS index derived from phase analysis of D-SPECT provides superior diagnostic value compared to conventional perfusion analysis in identifying obstructive CAD. Patients with suspected or confirmed CAD underwent drug-stress/rest gated D-SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) and coronary angiography (CAG). A 50% stenosis was set as the threshold for obstructive CAD. 110 participants were enrolled in this analysis. There were significant differences in phase standard deviation (PSD), phase histogram bandwidth (PHB) and entropy among the four groups. Patients without cardiac disease and those with mild-moderate stenosis exhibited no noticeable contraction asynchrony. However, LVS indices demonstrated a gradual increase with the progression of coronary stenosis when compared to NC (P < 0.001). Obstructive CAD was identified in 43 out of 110 participants (39%). Optimal cutoff values for diagnosing obstructive CAD during stress were determined as 7.6° for PSD, 24° for PHB, and 37% for entropy, respectively. Notably, PSD, PHB, and entropy indices exhibited higher sensitivity compared to MPI. The integration of the stress-induced LVS indices into routine MPI analysis resulted in a significantly greater area under the curve (AUC), leading to improved diagnostic performance and enhanced differential capacity. Stress-induced LVS indices increase with the severity of coronary artery stenosis by D-SPECT phase analysis. Further, the indices-derived phase analysis exhibits superior sensitivity and discriminatory ability compared to MPI in detecting obstructive CAD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, thermal analysis, composition phase, microstructure and physical and mechanical properties of Al2O3-based composites with titanium diboride and carbide reinforcements fabricated by in-situ spark plasma sintering method in Al-FeTiO3-B2O3-C alumino-thermic system have been investigated. This research explores the potential of utilizing Kahnuj (Iran-Kerman) ilmenite concentrate as a replacement for TiO2. The results of the thermal analysis demonstrate that aluminothermic reactions significantly intensify after the melting of aluminum and different compounds of iron aluminides (FeAl, Fe2Al5, and Fe3Al) and titanium diboride (TiB2) and carbide (TiC) are formed. Among the different systems of raw materials (Al-FeTiO3-C, Al-FeTiO3-B2O3, and Al + FeTiO3 + C + B2O3) only for system Al + FeTiO3 + B2O3, the intermetallic compounds of Fe3Al and Fe4Al13 are stable. For heat treatment with higher heating rates, the boron oxide participates more effectively in the aluminothermic reaction and the composition of titanium diboride is more noticeably formed. In the condition of 45 MPa in mechanical pressure, argon gas atmosphere with 3 bar pressure, heating rate of 100 °C/min, temperature of 1400 °C with dwelling time of 4 min (Optimum condition) for in-situ SPS processing of Al-FeTiO3-C system, the composite samples with the highest homogeneity in microstructure, density (4.10 g/cm3), hardness (281HV), bending strength (271.5 MPa) and highest wear resistance (Friction coefficient of 0.3 and 0.003 g of weight loss with 500 m of sliding distance) with optimal phase composition (Fe, Al2O3, TiC,...) was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-entropy alloys (HEAs) have drawn significant attention due to their unique design and superior mechanical properties. Comprising 5–35 at% of five or more elements with similar atomic radii, HEAs exhibit high configurational entropy, resulting in single-phase solid solutions rather than intermetallic compounds. Additive manufacturing (AM), particularly direct energy deposition (DED), is effective for producing HEAs due to its rapid cooling rates, which ensure uniform microstructures and minimize defects. These alloys typically form face-centered cubic (FCC) or body-centered cubic (BCC) structures, contributing to their exceptional strength, hardness, and mechanical performance across various temperatures. However, FCC-structured HEAs often have low yield strengths, posing a challenge for structural applications. In this study, a Ni-Co-Fe-Cr-Al-Ti HEA was manufactured using the DED method. This study proposes that the addition of aluminum and titanium creates a γ + γ′ phase structure within a multicomponent FCC-HEA matrix, enhancing the thermal stability and coarsening the resistance and strength. The γ′ phase with an ordered FCC structure significantly improves the mechanical properties. Analysis confirmed the presence of the γ + γ′ structure and demonstrated the alloy's high tensile strength and microhardness. This approach underscores the potential of AM techniques in advancing HEA production for high-performance applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The beet webworm, Loxostege sticticalis, a worldwide pest of many crops, performs a seasonal migration, causing periodic outbreaks in Asia, Europe and North America. Although long‐distance migration is well documented in China, patterns of transboundary migration among China, Russia and Mongolia are largely unknown. We performed a phase analysis of L. sticticalis periodic outbreaks among three countries based on 30 years of historical population data, analyzed the wind systems during migration over boundary regions, and traced the migratory routes in a case study of outbreaks in 2008 by trajectory simulation. RESULTS: Highly synchronized outbreak years of L. sticticalis were observed between China and Mongolia, China and eastern Siberia, China and western Siberia, Mongolia and eastern Siberia, eastern Siberia and western Siberia from 1978 to 2008, indicating possible transboundary migration between these regions. Winds at 300–600 m altitude, where adult migration usually occurs, also showed a high probability of northwestern winds in Haila'er (China), Chita (Russia) and Choybalsan (Mongolia), favoring successful adult migration from these areas to northern and northeastern China. Back trajectory analysis further showed that the first‐generation adults that caused the severe outbreak of second‐generation larvae in 2008 originated from eastern Siberia, eastern Mongolia, and the boundary regions of China–Russia and China–Mongolia. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrated that the source of L. sticticalis outbreaks in northern China was closely related to the outbreaks in Siberia and Mongolia via long‐distance transboundary windborne migration. This information will help guide international monitoring and management strategies against this notorious pest. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society is the property of Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The solar wind, representing one of the most impacting phenomena in the circum-terrestrial space, constitutes one of the several manifestations of the magnetic activity of the Sun. With the aim of shedding light on the scales beyond the rotational period of the Sun (i.e., Space Climate scales), this study investigates the phase relationship of a solar activity physical proxy, the Ca II K index, with solar wind properties measured near the Earth, over the whole space era (last five solar cycles). Using a powerful tool such as the Hilbert–Huang transform, we investigate the dependence of their phase coherence on the obtained time scale components. Phase coherence at the same time scales is found between all the components and is also preserved between adjacent components with time scales ≳ 2 yrs. Finally, given the availability of the intrinsic modes of oscillation, we explore how the relationship of Ca II K index with solar wind parameters depends on the time scale considered. According to our results, we hypothesize the presence of a bifurcation in the phase-space Ca II K index vs. solar wind speed (dynamic pressure), where the time scale seems to act as a bifurcation parameter. This concept may be pivotal for unraveling the complex interplay between solar activity and solar wind, bearing implications from the prediction and the interpretation point of view in Space Climate studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study discusses the anhydrous glass tube isothermal pyrolysis simulation for a crude oil, in order to explore the effects of effluent pressure on crude oil cracking. The results of gas chromatograph indicate that effluent pressure promotes the cracking of crude oil, increasing yields of C1–C5 saturates but inhibiting the generation of olefins. According to the calibration result of Soave–Redlich–Kwong equation of state, fluid phase transitions occur at very high effluent pressures, resulting in constant effluent pressure with no further increase in cracking efficiency and with invariant yields of pyrolysates. This study suggests that fluid phase transitions should be considered in petroleum exploration, which can help us to precisely determine the type of petroleum resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Gold (1001-1277) is the property of Gold Magazine Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study proposes a new optical system with the potential for time-lapse observation of living cellular tissue beyond the diffraction limit through speckle interferometry to facilitate biological research. The spatial resolution of this optical system was investigated and improved upon. This study also experimentally verified a finding from an earlier simulation study that the new super-resolution technology could be realised by analysing the phase distribution related to the shape of the measured object, preserved in the light reflected from the object. Additionally, a method was presented to confirm the positions of microstructures, based on the extracted characteristics of the structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abundant tuff mineral resources offer a promising solution to the shortage of fly ash (FA) and silica fume (SF) resources as emerging supplementary cementitious materials. However, a lack of clarity on its hydration mechanism has hindered its practical engineering application. In this study, high SiO2-content tuff powder (TP) was examined to assess the mechanical and workability performance of mortar specimens with varying particle sizes of the TP as complete replacements for FA or SF. Microscopic analysis techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential thermal analysis (DTG), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), were employed to elucidate the hydration mechanism of the TP and its feasibility as a substitute for SF or FA. Results indicated that TP primarily functions as nuclei and filler, promoting cement hydration, with smaller particle sizes amplifying the hydration ability and increasing Ca(OH)2 and C-S-H gel content. The specimens with TP (median particle size 7.58 μm) demonstrated 9.2% and 29.9% higher flexural and compressive strengths at 28 days, respectively, compared to the FA specimens of equal mass. However, fluidity decreased by 23.1% accordingly. Due to TP's smaller specific surface area compared to SF, the TP specimens exhibited higher fluidity but with decreased strength relative to the SF specimens. Overall, TP shows potential as a replacement for FA with additional measures to ensure workability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D electron diffraction (3D ED) has shown great potential in crystal structure determination in materials, small organic molecules, and macromolecules. In this work, an automated, low‐dose and low‐bias 3D ED protocol has been implemented to identify six phases from a multiple‐phase melt‐crystallisation product of an active pharmaceutical ingredient, griseofulvin (GSF). Batch data collection under low‐dose conditions using a widely available commercial software was combined with automated data analysis to collect and process over 230 datasets in three days. Accurate unit cell parameters obtained from 3D ED data allowed direct phase identification of GSF Forms III, I and the known GSF inclusion complex (IC) with polyethylene glycol (PEG) (GSF‐PEG IC‐I), as well as three minor phases, namely GSF Forms II, V and an elusive new phase, GSF‐PEG IC‐II. Their structures were then directly determined by 3D ED. Furthermore, we reveal how the stabilities of the two GSF‐PEG IC polymorphs are closely related to their crystal structures. These results demonstrate the power of automated 3D ED for accurate phase identification and direct structure determination of complex, beam‐sensitive crystallisation products, which is significant for drug development where solid form screening is crucial for the overall efficacy of the drug product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D electron diffraction (3D ED) has shown great potential in crystal structure determination in materials, small organic molecules, and macromolecules. In this work, an automated, low‐dose and low‐bias 3D ED protocol has been implemented to identify six phases from a multiple‐phase melt‐crystallisation product of an active pharmaceutical ingredient, griseofulvin (GSF). Batch data collection under low‐dose conditions using a widely available commercial software was combined with automated data analysis to collect and process over 230 datasets in three days. Accurate unit cell parameters obtained from 3D ED data allowed direct phase identification of GSF Forms III, I and the known GSF inclusion complex (IC) with polyethylene glycol (PEG) (GSF‐PEG IC‐I), as well as three minor phases, namely GSF Forms II, V and an elusive new phase, GSF‐PEG IC‐II. Their structures were then directly determined by 3D ED. Furthermore, we reveal how the stabilities of the two GSF‐PEG IC polymorphs are closely related to their crystal structures. These results demonstrate the power of automated 3D ED for accurate phase identification and direct structure determination of complex, beam‐sensitive crystallisation products, which is significant for drug development where solid form screening is crucial for the overall efficacy of the drug product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electroless nickel plating is widely used to improve the functional characteristics of the engineering parts produced by different manufacturing processes. In most of the cases, these plated surfaces require precision finishing to achieve the desired optical properties for mirror applications. It is difficult to get a high level of surface finish using conventional finishing techniques because of high forces and heat generation. It may result in degradation in the surface properties. In the present work, a compliant finishing tool is used to achieve a surface roughness at the nanoscale on the nickel-plated surface with stainless steel as substrate. The residual stress influences the optical properties of the finished surface. The x-ray diffraction is used to analyze the phase and residual stress on the substrate, as-plated, and ultra-precision finished surface. Microhardness and wear characteristics of these samples are also studied to understand the effect of surface finishing operation on nickel plating. The hardness of the as-plated surface is much higher than the substrate, and there is negligible effect of finishing process on the hardness. Both as-plated and finished surfaces show better wear resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We are concerned with the existence of traveling waves for density‐dependent diffusion reaction nonlinear convection equations with small time delay. We first study the existence and uniqueness of smooth and sharp‐type traveling wavefront solution of the wave speed c ≥ c∗ for equation without time delay, where c∗ is the minimal wave speed. Meanwhile, we construct a variational principle for c∗ from which the upper bound of c∗ is determined, while the lower bound of c∗ is attained by using the phase plane analysis. Then, we obtain the existence of smooth traveling wavefront solution for equation with small time delay for c > c∗ by applying the perturbation method and implicit function theorem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the evolution of sport, the level of athletes is increasing. To be able to win it is necessary to understand what factors influence performance in competition and training. Sports performance analysis has evolved in accordance with data collection in competition practice, with performance indicators related to actions connected to performance outcome.Introduction. We intend to verify the importance of task analysis in the performance analysis procedures. The review starts with task definition, then task analysis procedures and sports science application to finish with examples of performance analysis with task analysis. Material and Methods. Each task has one or more goals with actions to be carried out and with task, performer, and environment constraints that influence it. Task analysis is a methodology to have information about technique, productivity and safety that allows developing training programmes. Sports task analysis has a preparatory phase, a description (phase analysis), assessment, and an intervention. Performance analysis was based on biomechanical and notational analysis including performance indicators and afterwards reinforced with the ecological dynamics approach with an emphasis on the performer-environment relationship. Similarities between actions from different sports could be observed with performance analysis using task analysis (phase analysis with description of the segmental actions and mechanical principles).Results. Performance task analysis could support evidence-based training programmes with a replication of key features and performance indicators in dry-land training tasks. Future research should identify task constraints and performance indicators with technological devices and make performance analysis more coach friendly.Conclusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this work was to carry out comparative studies of WC-Co-Cr coatings deposited using the high velocity oxy fuel (HVOF) method onto two types of substrate material: structural steel S235 and magnesium alloy AZ31. The influence of the substrate material type on the microstructure, phase composition, crystallite size, porosity, Vickers microhardness, instrumental hardness (HIT), Young's modulus (EIT), and fracture toughness was investigated. For both substrates, the deposited coatings deposited were characterized with fine-grained and compact microstructure. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed presence of following phases: WC, W2C, Co0.9W0.1, and Co3W9C4. The WC phase was the most desirable and stable one with crystallites were below 100 nm. On the other hand, the size of the W2C crystallites was below 30 nm. The coatings obtained showed porosity values equal to 2.3 ± 0.4 vol% and 2.8 ± 0.7 vol% for AZ31 and S235, respectively. The average Vickers microhardness for both types of sample was appproximately 1200 HV0.3. The average HIT values for carbide particles and metallic matrix were around 29 GPa and 6.5 GPa, respectively. In the case of EIT, it was around 620 GPa and 190 GPa for WC and Co-Cr, respectively. The differences between coatings were negligible. The EIT value for both coatings was equal to 344 ± 11 GPa. The fracture toughness was around 4.5 MPa · m1/2 in both cases. The investigations revealed that it is possible to replace steel substrate material with a much lighter equivalent, in this case AZ31 alloy, without deterioration of the coating properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the beneficial effects on phase detection arising from the motion of an ac-coupled Doppler radar. Indeed, although the presence of an ac coupling stage suppresses the dc offset after the receiver RF output, due to the coupling capacitor, a high-pass behavior is introduced; the presence of a high-pass behavior leads to signal distortion, particularly for low Doppler frequencies, which are typical in many biomedical or industrial applications. Since the target displacement is usually extracted from the phase history, this effect might, in turn, worsen the overall accuracy of the system. Moreover, if the target alternates stationary and moving time intervals, the phase detection step becomes challenging. Indeed, during the stationary time, the output of the RF front-end shows only noise fluctuations that, in turn, result in uncorrelated phases which might be confused with the real target displacement. This negative effect might be avoided by keeping the radar continuously moving, thus exploiting what is usually considered a state that is negative and worthy of attention. In this contribution, this effect is addressed from a different perspective, and ad hoc experimental case studies are shown to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed system. This task has been accomplished through theoretical analysis and related experimental activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose is to explore the improvement mechanism of coating and laser micro-texture on the surface properties of cemented carbide, so as to give full play to the technical advantages of both and improve the overall surface properties of the material. Design/methodology/approach: The surface hardness of the coating was measured by a microhardness tester, the surface element composition of the coating was tested by an energy spectrum analyzer and the phase was measured by an X-ray diffractometer to observe the surface morphology after the friction and wear experiment. Findings: Laser will generate new oxide and nitride films on the surface of the coating, which will improve the hardness of the coating surface and the bonding strength between the coating and the substrate. The surface micro-texture can collect wear debris during the friction process, reduce abrasive wear and play a good role in inhibiting the expansion of the coating failure zone. Originality/value: Most of the research on traditional laser coating is to process micro-texture first and then coating. This study is the opposite. In this paper, the modification effect of laser on the coating surface is explored, and the parameters of laser and coating are optimized, which paves the way for the subsequent milling experiments of textured coating tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The angular distributions of the elastic and inelastic scattering of α-particles on 10B nuclei were measured at an energy of 29 MeV (with excitation of the 0.718 MeV (1+) state). The data obtained by us, together with the angular distributions of the elastic scattering measured earlier in a wide range of energies from 24 to 90 MeV, were described using an optical model, the coupled-channel method, and parameterized phase analysis. The optimal parameters of optical potentials were found, and a good description of the experimental data in the specified energy range of α-particles was achieved. By taking into account the contribution of the elastic transfer mechanism of the 6Li cluster, it was possible to correctly reproduce the rise of the cross section at the backward angles in the elastic channel. The value of the quadrupole deformation parameter was extracted from the analysis of inelastic scattering using the coupled-channel method. The geometric parameters of the interaction potentials were determined using parameterized phase analysis. The radii of the 10B nuclei in the high-energy region (30 MeV and above) obtained by PPA are in good agreement with the radii calculated in the framework of the optical model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multilayer CrN/ZrN coatings deposited by the vacuum-arc method were subjected to thermal cycling in a furnace. The change in surface roughness of the coatings was studied using laser scanning confocal microscopy. Additional research was carried out using synchrotron radiation in asymmetric mode to detect the effect of thermal cycling on coating degradation. An analysis of the experimental data showed that the deposited coatings gradually degraded as the number of heating cycles increased. It should be noted that coatings obtained at substrate holder speeds of 5 and 8 rpm are more resistant to this type of impact than those obtained at speeds of 0.5 and 3.5 rpm. It is also noted that holding for 10 cycles has practically no effect on the phase state of the coatings. X-ray diffraction patterns showed the presence of β-Zr phase in the samples obtained at a substrate holder rotation speed of 5 and 8 rpm, which affected their thermal stability. However, after 40 cycles, the CoWO4 phase was detected in the coatings, which indicates the oxidation of the substrate and the loss of the protective functions of the coatings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Duzce University Journal of Science & Technology is the property of Duzce University Journal of Science & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The characteristics of red pigments of the Gaya cultural circles, the ancient federation kingdom in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, have been investigated using multiple analyses (SEM–EDS, XRD, Raman and Mössbauer spectroscopy). In results, reddish ochre- and pure hematite-based pigments were distinguished. In addition, as the redness of the pigment increased, the proportion of well crystalline and magnetically ordered α-Fe2O3 phase also increased, whereas the amorphous and superparamagnetic Fe2O3 phase were decreased. These results indicate that the ancient Gaya people produced various red pigments according to their use by thermal treatment of reddish ochre and high-purity iron compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, new sorting technology of coal and gangue not merely focuses on the identification of coal and gangue, but also emphasizes the fine identification of coal. Therefore, this paper takes the main coal types, including one-third coking coal, gas coal, and gangue in Huainan coalfield as the research object, and proposes a method to identify coal types and gangue. The ADXRD patterns and EDXRD patterns of the samples were obtained through X-ray diffractometer and EDXRD test platform, respectively. The differences between the phase composition and the internal connection between the ADXRD pattern and EDXRD pattern of the samples were discussed, and the conversion of ADXRD pattern to EDXRD pattern of coal and gangue was simulated, the PSO-SVM identification model of coal types and gangue was established. The experimental results show that this method provides a new and effective technical way for coal types and gangue identification, which has important reference significance for fine identification of coal and gangue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To compare phase analysis with positron emission tomography (PA) and magnetic resonance feature tracking derived myocardial strain (FT) for left ventricular (LV) mechanical dyssynchrony using PETMR system in patients with ischemic heart disease. Methods and results: Patients who underwent rest-pharmacological stress 13N ammonia PETMR were enrolled. Histogram bandwidth (BW) and phase standard deviation (PSD) were compared to global longitudinal, long axis radial, short axis circumferential, and radial strain (GLS, GRS, SA Circ, and SA Rad) obtained from FT. LV dyssynchrony index (SDI) derived from PA and FT were compared. BW and PSD showed significant correlations with FT (a Pearson's coefficient r = 0.64, P <.0001, and r = 0.51, P <.0001 for SA Circ; r = 0.67, P <.0001, and r = 0.74, P <.0001 for GLS; r = − 0.60, P <.0001, r = − 0.61, P <.0001 for SA Rad; r = − 0.62, P <.0001, and r = − 0.68, P <.0001 for GRS, respectively). Bland-Altman plots for SDI showed a preferable agreement (95% limit of agreement − 0.12 to 0.075, − 0.20 to 0.098, − 0.38 to 0.077, and − 0.37 to 0.032; bias 0.0068 ± 0.056, 0.026 ± 0.068, 0.11 ± 0.088, and 0.13 ± 0.079 for SA Circ, SA Rad, GLS, and GRS, respectively). Conclusion: In simultaneous acquisition using PETMR, comparison of PET phase analysis and MR strain showed a good correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Phase analysis can assess left ventricular dyssynchrony. The independent prognostic value of phase variables over positron emission tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (PET-MPI) variables including myocardial flow reserve (MFR) has not been studied. The aim of this study was to explore the prognostic value of phase variables for predicting mortality over standard PET-MPI variables. Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent pharmacological stress-rest 82Rb PET study were enrolled. All PET-MPI variables including phase variables (phase entropy, phase bandwidth, and phase standard deviation) were automatically obtained by QPET software (Cedars-Sinai, Los Angeles, CA). Cox proportional hazard analyses were used to assess associations with all-cause mortality (ACM). Results: In a total of 3963 patients (median age 71 years; 57% male), 923 patients (23%) died during a median follow-up of 5 years. Annualized mortality rates increased with stress phase entropy, with a 4.6-fold difference between the lowest and highest decile groups of entropy (2.6 vs. 12.0%/year). Abnormal stress phase entropy (optimal cutoff value, 43.8%) stratified ACM risk in patients with normal and impaired MFR (both p < 0.001). Among three phase variables, only stress phase entropy was significantly associated with ACM after the adjustment of standard clinical and PET-MPI variables including MFR and stress-rest change of phase variables, whether modeled as binary variables (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.44 for abnormal entropy [> 43.8%]; 95%CI, 1.18–1.75; p < 0.001) or continuous variables (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.05 per 5% increase; 95%CI, 1.01–1.10; p = 0.030). The addition of stress phase entropy to the standard PET-MPI variables significantly improved the discriminatory power for ACM prediction (p < 0.001), but the other phase variables did not (p > 0.1). Conclusion: Stress phase entropy is independently and incrementally associated with ACM beyond standard PET-MPI variables including MFR. Phase entropy can be obtained automatically and included in clinical reporting of PET-MPI studies to improve patient risk prediction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Measuring the deflection of bridges in service is crucial for monitoring their structural health conditions. Recently, the image measurement method has been developed to measure the bridge deflection, wherein the camera for taking images is installed at a distant place where the target bridge can be seen. In this study, we developed a simple but effective optical method to measure the out-of-plane displacement of a bridge, which could not be done before, from the images captured with a camera installed under the bridge. The proposed method converts the virtual in-plane displacement evaluated from the sampling moiré measurement into the out-of-plane displacement under the assumption that the target bridge and the reference point move in the in-plane direction as a rigid-body deformation, or the in-plane displacement is absent or negligible. In field experiments to measure the deflection of a viaduct during the passage of a high-speed train (Japanese Shinkansen) with a speed of 320 km/h, we successfully measured the bridge deflection less than 1 mm from images recorded with a camera installed under the bridge floor. When comparing the difference in deflections measured from the proposed method and a conventional Laser Doppler vibrometer, the average absolute difference was less than 0.05 mm. Our developed method is simple and cost-effective, making this technique very efficient in structural health monitoring of elevated railway or road bridges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The qualitative X-ray phase analysis of natural and artificial food sweeteners was applied to trace the authenticity of such food additives. The mineral composition of different sweeteners commonly added to foods was studied to estimate their mineral profiles and assess the risk related to the toxic elements intake caused by sweetener consumption. The concentration of twenty elements (Ag, Al, B, Ba, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sr, Ti, V, and Zn) was measured using the inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) method after the representative samples were wet-digested with a concentrated nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide mixture in a closed-vessel microwave-assisted system. Differences between the mineral compositions of the examined sweeteners were statistically evaluated and discussed. The relationships between the concentrations of the elements determined in the analyzed sweeteners were also investigated. The successful application of the X-ray powder diffraction method proved the identity of all investigated sweeteners; all the analyzed products contained the expected sweetening agent. The results of the quantification of all the elements in the examined sweeteners indicated that these products cannot be considered nutritionally dense. Hence, the presence of toxic elements like Cd, Cr, Ni, and Pb distinctly indicates the need to test such products to guarantee their quality and ensure consumer safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Si3N4/TiN ceramic composites have been prepared by hot pressing in a nitrogen atmosphere using fine Si3N4 and Ti powders and CaO–Al2O3 sintering aids and investigated. The results demonstrate that hot pressing was accompanied by titanium nitridation, yielding titanium nitride with the composition TiN0.9. Reaction between silicon nitride and the sintering aid led to the formation of a Ca-α-SiAlON with the composition Ca0.67(Si10Al2)(N15.3O0.7). In addition to the major phases, calcium aluminosilicate with the composition Ca3Al2Si3O12 was identified. Increasing the percentage of titanium nitride in the composites prepared at a temperature of 1650°C led to an increase in their density and Vickers microhardness: from 3.18 ± 0.03 to 4.33 ± 0.03 g/cm3 and from 17 ± 1.1 to 29.4 ± 0.9 GPa, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the effect of Mg content on precipitation behavior and resulting mechanical properties of Al–Mg–Si(–Cu) alloy plates manufactured by gravity casting and cold rolling. An alloy with a relatively low Mg content (0.3 wt%) remains after baking hardening without sufficient transformation of Mg–Si clusters or stable Mg2Si in the low temperature phase, whereas, alloys with relatively high Mg content mainly form major strengthening contributors such as β′- and β′′ phases. DSC analysis combined by thermodynamic modeling demonstrates that the formation of β′- or β′′-phases in the 0.3 Mg samples requires much high pre-aging (P.A.) temperatures, which limits improvement of strength by bake hardening (B.H.). This new observation provides the guideline to design the content of Mg and pre-aging condition to obtain optimal bake-hardening characteristics for Al–Mg–Si(–Cu) alloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), a thermal barrier coating material characterized by low thermal conductivity, is typically deposited via electron beam-physical vapor deposition. Notably, oxygen depletion occurs during this process, causing color changes in YSZ. Therefore, YSZ is speculated to undergo phase transformation during this process, which demands careful consideration owing to its effect on the life of thermal coatings. To study this phenomenon, bulk samples were prepared, subjected to vacuum heat treatment to induce oxygen depletion, and followed by oxidative heat treatment. Experimental results showed that the color of the samples changed to black after the vacuum heat treatment and to a lighter color after the oxidative heat treatment. In addition, X-ray diffraction and Raman analyses were performed. The monoclinic phase formation was confirmed during the vacuum heat treatment; however, it disappeared after the oxidation heat treatment. The coating obtained in a high vacuum atmosphere exhibited a black color and cubic phase, which changed to a bright color and tetragonal phase after the oxidation heat treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the midstream of drywall production, gypsum raw material is calcinated to make stucco, which contains not only calcium sulfate hemihydrate (the desired constituent), but also gypsum (under-calcinated), soluble calcium sulfate (over-calcinated), and insoluble phases. Here, we propose a quantitative phase analysis that measures the amount of all calcium sulfate phases in the stucco mix. The phase content was calculated using calcination mass loss and hydration mass gain of original, semi-hydrated, and fully hydrated samples. The proposed uncomplicated sample preparation and conventional measurement routines make it an excellent on-site quality control measure in an industrial setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

17-4 Precipitation-hardened steel has attracted worldwide attention due to its applications. In the manufacture of 17-4 PH SS using SLM, several parameters play an important role. In the present study, the hexagonal island sizes were varied as 1.25-2.5-3.75-5-6.75-7.5-8.75-10 mm to understand the microstructure, microhardness, residual stresses, and corrosion behavior of 17-4 precipitation hardened stainless steel fabricated by laser-powder bed fusion with a scan rotation angle of 90°. The results indicate that the average time per layer decreases as the island size increases. The quality of the surface increased with a decrease in hexagonal island size as scan length reduced. The hardness varied with island size and higher hardness was exhibited due to fine grain size. The medium island size microstructure consists of regular molten pools and lower heat accumulation. Large and small molten pools were observed on the front and side surface respectively for samples with different hexagonal island sizes. Austenite phase was detected in all samples with the highest intensity at hexagonal inside out sample with an island size of 2.5 mm at 43.500°. Both hexagonal samples with 2.5 mm island size and 10 mm samples almost exhibit ɣ-austenite phase in the finer grain size area, as per EBSD orientation maps. The residual stresses increased as the hexagonal island size increased because when a large island size is used, it produces a long scanning track with a weak pre-heating effect, resulting in a high-temperature gradient and high residual stress. Higher corrosion resistance was obtained for 2.5 mm hexagonal scan strategy island size because of finer grain size and lower defects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface treatment of metals by pulsed laser radiation in the range of colored oxide structure formation makes it possible to obtain a quasi-amorphous nanostructured layer. Metal surface oxide films of different chemical and mechanical structure are formed under laser action. They determine, in addition to surface microgeometry, its coloring. Currently, there is no single opinion about the composition of oxide films formed on the surface of metals as a result of laser processing. Therefore, determination of the conformity of oxide film composition to a certain color formation is of scientific and practical interest. The object of research is specified areas of a 12Kh18N10T steel surface, painted in contrasting colors as a result of laser marking with different parameters. As a result of the study, the chemical and phase composition of oxide films for coloring a metal surface are determined with prescribed laser marking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The phase analysis of Cu-0.41%Cr-0.20%Zr alloy treated by vacuum melting + solid solution + aging was carried out by means of SEM, TEM, EDXS and XRD. The results show that there are three phases in the alloy, namely the copper matrix phase, the chrome-rich phase and the zirconium-rich phase. The distribution of phase size is bimodal. The coarse phase size is microns scale, and the main components are elemental chromium and Cu5Zr, which are formed during the casting process and are not easy to dissolve in the subsequent aging process. The fine phase size is nanometer scale, and the composition is ordered bcc pure chromium and Cu5Zr. There is no chromium and zirconium intermediate phase. Under this condition, the volume fraction of precipitated phase is about 30 %. The heat treatment process can be further optimized by increasing the aging temperature, lengthening the aging time or adopting the second aging method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Design and fabrication of low-cost biomedical Ti alloys has recently received considerable attention. Herein, additive manufacturing employing laser engineered net shaping (LENS) is used to fabricate low-cost Ti-5wt%Mo and Ti-10wt%Mo alloys from mixed elemental powders, and the resulting features are studied and compared with those of LENS-produced commercially pure Ti (CP-Ti). Optimization of the processing parameters shows that, on increasing Mo, densification is slightly reduced. Phase analysis and microstructural investigations on the Ti-Mo alloys show strong dependency on the level of Mo additions. CP-Ti sample exhibits an α phase microstructure with mainly coarse and some fine platelike features, whereas addition of 5% Mo results in a mixture of acicular α0 distributed within β phase grains. Addition of 10%Mo stabilizes the β phase, while minor peaks indicating the presence of some β phase are detected by X-ray phase analysis. Mechanical characterization reveals that Ti-10%Mo has the lowest elastic modulus due to its dominant β phase structure as well as the highest microhardness and yield strength due to solid-solution strengthening effects from Mo and the presence of the nanoscale β phase. However, the presence of the β phase and the slightly lower densification also reduce the deformation strain in comparison to the Ti-5%Mo and CP-Ti. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure, phase and chemical composition of electric-spark coatings (ESC) obtained on the Elitron installation from powder electrode wires were investigated using a Neophot-2 optical computer microscope, an EVO-40XVP (Carl Zeiss) scanning electron microscope, DRON-3.0 X-ray diffractometer, EXPERT 02L elemental composition analyzer. The structure of the ESC is an austenitic matrix with boride inclusions (Fe,Cr)B, iron boride Fe2B, chromium borides of iron Cr1.65Fe0.35B0.96. The distribution of Cr, Fe and C in these coatings is uneven and varies in wide range. The micromechanical characteristics of the modified surface layer of steel 45 were analyzed using Ultra Nano Hardness Tester and Nan Scratch Tester. The article provides an analysis of the frictional behavior of the ESC under conditions of dry friction and boundary lubrication according to the finger-disc scheme. Frictional stability of such coatings indicates the expediency of using electric-spark alloying (ESA) technology with powder wires (PW) and powder wires with graphite (PWG) to increase the service life of both machine parts and cutting tools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The detection of microcalcifications in the breast by mammography is of great importance for the early diagnostics of breast cancer. This study aimed to establish the basic morphological and crystal-chemical properties of microscopic calcifications and their impact on breast cancer tissue. During the retrospective study, 55 out of 469 breast cancer samples had microcalcifications. The expression of the estrogen and progesterone receptors and Her2-neu showed no significant difference from the non-calcified samples. An in-depth study of 60 tumor samples revealed a higher expression of osteopontin in the calcified breast cancer samples (p ˂ 0.01). The mineral deposits had a hydroxyapatite composition. Within the group of calcified breast cancer samples, we detected six cases of colocalization of oxalate microcalcifications together with biominerals of the usual "hydroxyapatite" phase composition. The simultaneous presence of calcium oxalate and hydroxyapatite was accompanied by a different spatial localization of microcalcifications. Thus, the phase compositions of microcalcifications could not be used as criteria for the differential diagnostics of breast tumors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The carbonation action in concrete, in which carbonation reactions transform calcium hydroxide into calcium carbonate, is considered as a multi-phase physico-chemical process. Generally, carbonation in the cementitious composites has negative effects on the protection of reinforced bars due to the accelerated corrosion problem. The investigation of the carbonation degree is, therefore, necessary to evaluate the carbonation influence on the reinforced cementitious composites. In the present paper, experimental techniques to measure the carbonation degree in concrete are reviewed, including both qualitative and quantitative methods. It should be noted that, while qualitative technique focuses on the alterations in the concrete pore solution alkalinity which reflects the carbonation depth through the pH indicator, most quantitative methods could provide accurate determination of the CO2 penetration capacity during the carbonation process. The method used, for the practical phase, depends on the purpose of the carbonation degree measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society is the property of Bulletin of the Chinese Ceramic Society Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As a result of the sol-gel method, we were able to produce pure ZnO and ZnO-doped TiO2 nanocomposites. The hexagonal wurtzite phase in ZnO products was discovered by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). ZnO products are typically hexagonal wurtzite crystallites, formed according to the Debye Scherrer formula. Nanocomposites with significant morphological changes were created using the sol-gel process, including those that resembled rocks. To determine the composition of Zn, O, and Ti atoms in the samples, a multidimensional X-ray analysis was performed. There is an energy gap between 3.61 eV, as determined by UV-vis spectroscopy. In this study, pure ZnO and ZnO-doped TiO2 nanocomposites were used to study the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under visible light irradiation. Over an irradiation course of 6 h, a ZnO-doped TiO2 composite (84%) were studied. As determined by the kinetic analysis, nanocomposites made from pure ZnO and ZnO-doped TiO2 followed pseudo-first-order kinetics. In the presence of ZnO-doped TiO2 nanocomposites, antibacterial activity was significantly improved. This was shown to be effective against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and B. sublittus). There is evidence that the metal oxide nanocomposites that are produced can be used as an appropriate antimicrobial and disinfection alternative, particularly in biomedical settings, as reported in more detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Sedimentologica Sinica is the property of Acta Sedimentologica Sinica Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Inzynieria Mineralna is the property of Polskie Towarzystwo Przerobki Kopalin and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The high temperature self-progressive combustion synthesis method, especially for aluminothermic systems, is a new method for making all kinds of intermetallic compounds, ceramics and composites with high melting point and hardness. In this study, first the homogenized powder mixtures in the desired ratio in alumino-thermic systems of Al-Fe2O3, Al-Cr2O3, Al-Cr2O3-Si, Al-Fe2O3-Cr2O3-NiO and Fe2O3-NiO is subjected in differential thermal analysis process and then, the phase composition (X-ray diffraction) of the thermal analyzed samples has been investigated. The obtained results indicate the formation of intermetallic compounds of iron and chromium aluminide as secondary phases with the presence of excess aluminum over the stoichiometric values in the thermally analyzed samples. In addition, with the presence of silicon in the aluminothermic mixtures, chromium silicide compounds are formed instead of chromium aluminide. For the Al-Fe2O3-Cr2O3-NiO system, the metallic phase of stainless steel with a ratio of Fe0.7Cr0.19Ni0.11 and the ceramic phase of Al2O3.are formed. For the Fe2O3-NiO system, only nickel ferrite is formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Uzbek Chemical Journal / O'Zbekiston Kimyo Jurnali is the property of Institute of General & Inorganic Chemistry of Academy of Sciences of Republic of Uzbekistan and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) are concerned as potential materials due to their wide-ranging applications. The green synthesis of ZnO NPs using of plant extract as capping agent has been attracted much of interest of reserachers. Pineapple peel wastes are aboundance in Thailand and its extract contained high levels of phytochemical compounds (flavonoids and their derivatives). In this study, pineapple extract was used as a capping agent in ZnO NP synthesis, and KOH and a lye solution were used as reducing agents for comparison. The XRD patterns exhibit pure-phase ZnO with high crystallinity. The averages of the most petite crystalline sizes obtained from the Scherrer equation calculation of the prepared ZnO powder are 64.61 and 65.41 nm for KOH solution and lye use, respectively. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy confirmed the presence of ZnO particles and pineapple extract residue in the as-received powder. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images and transmission electron microscope (TEM) images showed the nano-size of the synthesized particles. The flower-like ZnO-NPs from a 0.06 M zinc precursor and KOH solution exhibited fascinating optical properties. Finally, all the results showed that lye from wood ash could be applied in ZnO nanoparticle synthesis using pineapple peel extract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Speckle interferometry techniques based on the phase-detection method have been widely used to observe microstructures beyond the diffraction limit, and the observations of hard solid samples such as microspheres and micro-characters have been previously reported. In this study, the possibility of applying this super-resolution technology to the observation of biological tissues is investigated using plant-cell chromosomes, which are relatively easy to handle and compatible with the diffraction limit. The results reveal that the new super-resolution technique, which is based on speckle interferometry, can be used to observe cellular tissues with complex structures that are subjected to conventional cell-fixation treatments similar to solid samples. However, the shape of the fixed-treated chromosomes is distorted and differs from that of living cells. Furthermore, when observing real living cells using current optics systems, the sample is typically observed vertically. This study indicates that these optics systems must be improved to allow horizontal placements of the samples in the culture medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Physics Essays is the property of Physics Essays Publication and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The effect of annealing on the phase composition, the lattice parameters, and the linear thermal expansion coefficient (LTEC) of the α and γ phases in VNS9-Sh TRIP steel is studied by high-temperature X-ray diffraction. Annealing at 450°C does not lead to a change in the single-phase martensitic structure of the cold-rolled TRIP steel, but annealing at 600°C is accompanied by partial decomposition of the α phase with the precipitation of 46% γ phase, and annealing at 700°C leads to the formation of 28% γ phase. The values of LTEC of the α phase are 11.6 × 10–6, 12.4 × 10–6, and 11.7 × 10–6 K–1 after annealing at 450, 600, and 700°C, respectively; the LTECs of the γ phase are 19.2 × 10–6 and 17.5 × 10–6 K–1 after annealing at 600 and 700°C, respectively. An inverse relationship takes place between the LTECs and lattice periods: smaller lattice parameters correspond to higher values of LTEC for the α and γ phases of the steel after annealing at 600°C as compared to annealing at 700°C and annealing at 450°C for the α phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]