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To reduce the sintering temperature of liquid-phase sintered conductive SiC ceramics, the SiC nanopowder with Sc2O3 additives was intentionally oxidized by heat treatment in air to enhance the SiO2 content coated on SiC surfaces moderately. Taking advantage of the lower eutectic temperature (1660 °C) between SiO2 and Sc2O3, conductive SiC ceramics were successfully sintered at 1700 °C. The effects of sintering temperature (1700–1900 °C), holding time (1–10 min), and additive content (1–7 wt.%) on microstructural, mechanical, and electrical properties were systematically investigated. The phase composition of as-received SiC ceramics contained Sc–Si–O–C–N and doped β-SiC, without apparent phase transformation of β-SiC to α-SiC. The Vickers hardness, elastic modulus, and fracture toughness of SiC ceramics varied within the ranges of 18.08–22.29 GPa, 269.12–391.16 GPa, and 4.09–7.86 MPa m1/2, respectively. The electrical resistivity of conductive SiC ceramics obtained under different process conditions varied in a small range (1–10 Ω cm). Meanwhile, the low-temperature sintering, phase formation, and evolution mechanisms of electrical properties were discussed in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there has been an increasing focus on exploring the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and tumors. However, there is no consensus on the association between COVID-19 and lymphoma. In this study, genome-wide association study (GWAS) summary data sets for COVID-19 and lymphoma were obtained from the OPEN GWAS website. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected as genetic instrument variants for fulling P < 5 × 10−8 and linkage disequilibrium [LD] r2 < 0.001. Both palindromic and outlier SNPs were removed. Cochran's Q test, the MR‒Egger intercept test, and leave-one-out analysis were employed to assess the sensitivity of the effect of COVID-19 on lymphoma. The results showed that COVID-19 patients with very severe respiratory symptoms have an increased risk of developing diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (IVW, OR = 1.765, 95% CI 1.174–2.651, P = 0.006). There was no association between COVID-19 with very severe respiratory symptoms and Hodgkin's lymphoma or other types of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. No horizontal or directional pleiotropy was observed in the Mendelian randomization analysis. In conclusion, SARS-CoV-2 infection with very severe respiratory symptoms may be a potential risk factor for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and follow-up studies with larger samples are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous studies validated the prognostic significance of lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR) in patients with solid tumors and some hematologic malignancies. However, the correlation between LMR and Myelodysplastic Neoplasms (MDS) was unclear. The study intends to investigate the prognostic impact of LMR on MDS patients. 91 newly diagnosed MDS patients were included in this retrospective study. The cut-off of LMR was 3.2 by X-Tile. All patients were divided into the low LMR group (<3.2) and the high LMR group (≥3.2). Clinical characteristics were compared between the two groups. Patients in the high LMR group (n = 67) had better OS (P = 0.007) from the Kaplan-Meier survival curves. The results of the univariate analysis demonstrated that LMR was a prognostic factor for OS [hazard ratio (HR) = 2.070, 95%CI 1.201-3.571, P = 0.009]. After multivariate cox analysis, low LMR was confirmed to be an independent predictor of poor OS in MDS patients (HR = 1.872, 95%CI 1.084-3.230, P = 0.024). LMR, a representative marker of systematic inflammation and immune response, has potential prognostic significance in MDS patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The background of deep peak-shaving poses demanding requirements for the performance of metal components in thermal power plants. The cracking of the connecting fins on the side wall of the flue seriously endangers the safe operation of the system. Herein, welding simulations were carried out using the finite element method to understand the cracking process of the connecting fins. By changing the welding process and fin size, their effect on stress and deformation was explored. The results showed that increasing the welding rate would decrease the flexural deformation of the flue-side wall. Additionally, the yield range of the connecting fin depended more on width than thickness, and increased with increasing width. As for the relationship between fin size and flexural deformation, the maximum deformation decreased with the increase in thickness, while it first decreased and then increased with increasing width. Overall, the post-welding stress and deformation of the boiler flue side wall exhibited more sensitivity to the fin width compared with the fin thickness and welding rate. This article clarifies the stress distribution status of the connecting fins in the flue side wall under different welding conditions, providing a basis for analyzing its cracking phenomenon, and further providing theoretical guidance for optimizing the structural parameter design of the side wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For nuclear power generation as a carbon‐neutral energy source, in‐vessel retention (IVR) must be implemented to maintain the structural integrity of nuclear reactor pressure vessel (RPV) for more than 72 h under severe accidental conditions. This technology requires accurate prediction of creep deformation and life of RPV material being operated under pressure and extremely high‐temperature gradient. The current work develops a simplified deformation‐mechanism‐based true‐stress (DMTS) model for creep behavior/life‐prediction of SA508 Gr.3 steel, a typical RPV material, above the phase transformation temperatures (800–1000°C). This model is used to evaluate the time to specific creep strain (t3% and t5%) and rupture (tr), in comparison with popular empirical methods such as Orr–Sherby–Dorn (OSD) and Larson–Miller (LM). The simplified DMTS model achieves an excellent agreement with the experimental observations. The controlling deformation mechanisms are also discussed by metallurgical examinations, which provide the physical premise for the model development and application. Highlights: A simplified deformation‐mechanism‐based true‐stress (DMTS) creep model was proposed.This model predicted the creep‐strain time and life of SA508 Gr. 3 at 800–1000°C.The prediction accuracy of simplified DMTS was compared with LM and OSD methods.The dominant creep deformation mechanism was dislocation climb‐plus‐glide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micro-arc oxidation (MAO) is very effective to enhance the corrosion performance of Mg alloys. However, the micro-pores in MAO coatings provide a channel for the corrosion medium to reach the alloy matrix. In this work, electron beam strengthening (EBS) is performed to improve the microstructure of the Mg alloy and the MAO coating is prepared subsequently to improve the corrosion performance. The crystalline size of the Mg alloy decreases, the roughness improves, and the corrosion resistance increases. Furthermore, refinement of the grain size by EBS improves the discharge in MAO. The noticeable effect of EBS on the microstructure of the coating lies in the improvement of density, such as porosity reduction by 47.8%. The compactness of the coatings also increases significantly, subsequently improving the corrosion resistance. The corrosion mechanism is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, there has been a lot of interest in the AlCoCrFeNi2.1 eutectic high‐entropy alloys (EHEAs), which can achieve a good balance of strength and ductility. The relationship between the microstructure and mechanical properties of the alloy was established in this study by examining the microstructural evolution during heat treatment of 500–1000°C. The results show that the alloy's microstructure remained unchanged when the heat treatment temperature was lower than 700°C. With further rise above 800°C, the B2II precipitates were inspected in the L12 matrix. Besides, L12II started to be precipitated from the B2 matrix at 900°C. The tensile test results conducted at 20–1000°C showed that both the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength decreased as the temperature rose. As for the elongation, however, it increased dramatically when the testing temperature was over 800°C, being attributed to the dynamic recrystallization. The results obtained provided a fundamental understanding of high‐temperature properties for duplex HEAs. Highlights: The B2II precipitates were precipitated from the L12 at 800°C.The B2II and L12II were precipitated from the L12 and B2 over 900°C.The yield and tensile strength decreased sharply at 20–700°C and slowly at 800–1000°C.The elongation first remained stable at 20–700°C and then increased sharply at 800–1000°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Controlling nutritional status (CONUT) score, based on three indexes including serum albumin (ALB), total cholesterol (CHO), and absolute lymphocyte count (ALC), has been closely associated with the prognosis of cancer patients. Multiple studies revealed the significance of CONUT score in hematological malignancies, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), multiple myeloma (MM), and leukemia. This review aimed to explore the prognostic role of CONUT score in hematological malignancies. We conducted this review through Pubmed to summarize the published studies on the CONUT score in hematological malignancies, using the terms: Controlling nutritional status, CONUT score, hematological malignancy, lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and leukemia. CONUT score can reflect not only the nutritional status but also the inflammatory status of patients with hematological malignancies. It can assist in predicting the survival of patients with DLBCL, PTCL, MM, adult T-cell leukemia (ATL), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and acute myeloid leukemia with myelodysplasia related changes (AML-MRC). CONUT score plays an important role in predicting the prognosis of patients with hematological malignancies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrogen (N)‐doped conductive silicon carbide (SiC) of various electrical resistivity grades can satisfy diverse requirements in engineering applications. To understand the mechanisms that determine the electrical resistivity of N‐doped conductive SiC ceramics during the fast spark plasma sintering (SPS) process, SiC ceramics were synthesized using SPS in an N2 atmosphere with SiC powder and traditional Al2O3–Y2O3 additive as raw materials at a sintering temperature of 1850–2000°C for 1–10 min. The electrical resistivity was successfully varied over a wide range of 10−3–101 Ω cm by modifying the sintering conditions. The SPS‐SiC ceramics consisted of mainly Y–Al–Si–O–C–N glass phase and N‐doped SiC. The Y–Al–Si–O–C–N glass phase decomposed to an Si‐rich phase and N‐doped YxSiyCz at 2000°C. The Vickers hardness, elastic modulus, and fracture toughness of the SPS‐SiC ceramics varied within the ranges of 14.35–25.12 GPa, 310.97–400.12 GPa, and 2.46–5.39 MPa m1/2, respectively. The electrical resistivity of the obtained SPS‐SiC ceramics was primarily determined by their carrier mobility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This study analyzed the effect of phase transformation on the creep behavior and deformation mechanism of SA508 Gr.3 steel used for nuclear reactor pressure vessels (RPVs). The creep tests were conducted on the steel at the temperatures from 650 to 800 °C at a stress ranging from 15 to 80 MPa. Detailed microstructural examination and theoretical analysis were conducted on the specimens to investigate the creep mechanism in each testing condition. The results showed that phase transformation induced an increase in the minimum creep rate and a decline in creep life. Based on the calculations of stress exponents, activation energies, Larson-Miller and Orr-Sherby-Dorn parameters, the creep deformation and fracture behavior were deemed to be different before and after phase transformation. Before the phase transformation, the predominant creep-deformation mechanism was dislocation gliding whereas it was converted to dislocation climbing after the phase transformation. During the phase transformation, the dislocation gliding coupled with grain-boundary sliding became the rate-controlling creep mechanism. This study provides a comprehensive insight into understanding the creep deformation of the RPV steel, giving a direct guideline to optimize the parameters for in-vessel retention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this work, a composite coating prepared by laser cladding on a Ni-17Mo-7Cr based superalloy was thermally exposed at 1073 K for 240 h. A detailed electron microscopy examination was performed to characterize the microstructure of the aged coating. Results indicate that: the original Mo 6 Ni 6 C dendrites in the aged coating were coarsened while the coarsening layers were essentially the Mo-deficient and Cr-rich Mo 6 Ni 6 C, due to low diffusivity of Mo. Long-term thermal exposure promoted a great amount of nano-sized Mo 6 Ni 6 C and micro-sized Cr 3 C 2 particles being precipitated in the interdendritic zones. In the aged coating, three types of Cr 3 C 2 were presented: discrete Cr 3 C 2 , Cr 3 C 2 close to the graphite and Cr 3 C 2 approaching to the Mo 6 Ni 6 C. The transformation of Mo 6 Ni 6 C to Cr 3 C 2 merely occurred in the newly formed Mo 6 Ni 6 C rather than in the original Mo 6 Ni 6 C dendrites, because deficiency of Mo and enrichment of Cr in the new Mo 6 Ni 6 C depressed their stability. Lastly, the mechanical behavior of the aged coating was characterized by Vickers hardness, nano-indentation and nano-scratch tests with the aim to unveil the effect of microstructural evolution on mechanical properties. Our findings provide basic information to understand the aged-induced microstructural modification and its effect on mechanical properties for a laser-induced coating prepared on the Ni-17Mo-7Cr based superalloy. The results obtained cannot only apply to the investigated Ni-based superalloys, but also to other Hastelloy series superalloys. Highlights • The coarsening layers around original Mo 6 Ni 6 C dendrites were Mo-deficient and Cr-rich Mo 6 Ni 6 C. • Some newly precipitated Mo 6 Ni 6 C were transformed to the Cr 3 C 2 in aging. • The aged interdendritic zones had a higher elastic modulus and hardness than the non-treated ones. • An excellent local wear resistance has been achieved in the aged coating. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nuclear power, as a reliable clean and economical energy source, has gained great attention from all over the world. The A508–3 steel will be introduced as the structural materials for Chinese nuclear reactor pressure vessels (RPVs). This work investigated the temperature–dependence microstructural evolution during high–temperature heat treatments, and built the relationship between the microstructure and mechanical properties for the steel before and after phase transition. The results show that the original steel consists of the bainite, allotriomorphic ferrite, retained austenite and few Mo–rich M 2 C carbides. The phase–transition temperature of the steel is determined to be 750 °C. The tensile tests performed at 20–1000 °C indicate that both of the yield strength and ultimate tensile strength decrease monotonously with increasing the temperature. Before phase transition, precipitation of cementite from the retained austenite and coarsening of cementite at the austenite–ferrite interphases should be responsible for their sharp decrease. After phase transition, the growth of austenite grain reduces the strength moderately. As for the elongation, however, it increases dramatically when the testing temperature is over 750 °C, due to the dissolution of cementite and formation of austenite. The obtained results will provide some fundamental data to understand and implement the In–Vessel Retention strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Electrically Excited Doubly Salient Variable Reluctance Machine (EEDSVRM) is a new type of brushless machine designed according to the principle of air gap reluctance change. There is neither permanent magnet steel nor excitation winding on the rotor. The rotor is made of silicon steel sheets, thus the structure of the variable reluctance machine is very simple. There are many optimization methods for this type of machine optimal design, such as novel machine topology optimization, finite element simulation-based optimization, mathematical analysis-based optimization, intelligent algorithm-based optimization, and multiple fusion-based optimization. Firstly, this article introduces the basic structure and working principle of the EEDSVRM and analyzes both its common regularity and individual difference. Then, the different optimization design methods of EEDSVRM are reviewed, the advantages and disadvantages of the different optimization methods are summarized, and the research interests of the optimization design of variable reluctance machines in the future are prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fatigue crack growth (FCG) behavior of 34CrMo4 steel, a typical material for gas cylinders, has been investigated. Specimens were taken from the base material (BM) as well as the hot-drawn (HD) cylinder and cold-flow (CF) formed cylinder along the longitudinal and transverse directions. The FCG tests were conducted under different stress ratios for different materials and directions. The main purpose of this research was to explore the influences of the mechanical and thermal processes, sampling direction and stress ratio on the FCG behavior of 34CrMo4 steel. To further reveal the mechanism of crack propagation at different stages, the microstructures and fracture modes of FCG specimens were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), respectively. The results showed that HD and CF materials exhibited better resistance to fatigue crack propagation than BM. The FCG rates of investigated materials can be accelerated by the increase in stress ratio. However, the sampling direction had little effect on the FCG rate. Finally, a driving force parameter (DFP) model was used to fit the experimental FCG data of three materials with different mechanical and thermal processes. A unified transition stage between the stable and unstable FCG stages of three materials under various experimental conditions was revealed by DFP model, playing an important role on the early warning of fatigue fracture for different types of 34CrMo4 steel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stress and temperature effects on the creep behaviors and mechanisms of a typical nuclear reactor pressure vessel material, SA508 Gr.3 steel, are investigated, over the temperature range of 450–750 °C and stress range of 10–400 MPa. Because of the importance of creep life prediction for nuclear reactor failure prevention, three creep models are assessed: Orr-Sherby-Dorn (OSD) and Larson-Miller (LM) parameter methods, and deformation-mechanism based true-stress (DMTS) model. The OSD model employs a single activation energy Q and stress exponent n , which shows a large discrepancy between the experimental and predicted time-to-strain (3% and 5%) data with a coefficient of determination (R 2 ) less than 0.33 over the temperature range of 450–750 °C. Both the OSD and LM methods are effective in correlating the time-to-rupture with R 2 ∼0.84 over a narrow temperature range of 650–750 °C. The DMTS creep model, on the other hand, characterizes the creep behavior in three normalized stress regions: low, intermediate and high, as dominated by grain boundary sliding (GBS), intragranular dislocation climb (IDC) and dislocation glide (IDG), respectively. The microstructural characteristics and creep damage mechanisms of SA508 Gr.3 steel are also examined using scanning/transmission electron microscopy to confirm the predominance of the aforementioned creep deformation mechanisms. The DMTS model provides a fully consistent description of the strain-time curves, the minimum creep rates (MCRs) and the time-to-strain/rupture as well. They are all in good agreement with the experimental observations, particularly with R 2 ∼0.94, 0.995, and 0.79 for time to 3% strain, time to 5% strain, and time to rupture, respectively. These analyses demonstrate that the DMTS model is an effective tool in assessing creep properties of SA508 Gr.3 steel for in-vessel retention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work investigated the effect of high- and medium-temperature thermal exposure on the microstructure and mechanical performance of the graphite/Au/Hastelloy N alloy brazed joint. The microstructure in the joint was studied with the aid of scanning electron microscope coupled with transmission electron microscope analysis. The nano-indentation was used to probe the nano-scale elastic modulus and hardness of reaction phases in the joint. The joint bond strength was evaluated by a shear test. Results indicate that: three zones (zone 1, 2 and 3) were observed in the joint with the zone 1 close to graphite while the zone 3 adjacent to Hastelloy N alloy. The precipitates in each zone were characterized and their formation mechanism was proposed. High-temperature thermal exposure was performed at 1333 K for 1–90 min. A longer soaking time facilitated the carbon diffusion and then produced a hierarchical structure with a more smooth transition of coefficient of thermal expansion, being favorable for the enhancement of the joint strength. Among the soaking time under investigation, the highest joint bond strength obtained was 34.1 MPa. Medium-temperature thermal exposure was carried out at 873–1073 K for 240 h. A high-quality joint was maintained when the joint was aged below 973 K. Over 973 K, a valid bonding was not achieved at the graphite/filler interface due to the precipitation of extensive carbon segregation in the zone 1 of the joint. The work performed will provide basic design principle for the graphite/Hastelloy N alloy brazed combinations used in molten salt reactors. • The element Mo had a separating effect on the Au-Ni system. • The elastic modulus and hardness of the Mo 2 C were 200.3 GPa and 21.2 GPa. • A hierarchical structure with a smooth CTE transition was produced in the joint. • The highest joint shear strength obtained in this work was 34.1 MPa. • Lots of carbon segregation were produced in the brazing seam when aged over 973 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rechargeable Li‐ion batteries (LIBs) are electrochemical storage device widely applied in electric vehicles, mobile electronic devices, etc. However, traditional LIBs containing liquid electrolytes suffer from flammability, poor electrochemical stability, and limited operational temperature range. Replacement of the liquid electrolytes with inorganic solid‐state electrolytes (SSEs) would solve this problem. However, several critical issues, such as poor interfacial compatibility, low ionic conductivity at ambient temperatures, etc., need to be surmounted before the commercialization of all‐solid‐state Li‐ion batteries (ASSLIBs). In this review, a brief historical context for the inorganic SSEs is described first. Then, two critical issues in the ASSLIBs are highlighted: interfacial incompatibility of the electrodes and SSEs and internal stresses. For the interfacial incompatibility, the discussion is focused on the dynamic characterization of the electrode/SSE interfaces, the origin and evolution of the interfacial resistance, and interface engineering to minimize the interfacial resistance. The internal stresses in the ASSLIBs are another major concern because rigid contacts are introduced. Stress generation, stress evolution during battery cycling, stress measurement/simulation, and ways to alleviate the stresses are outlined in detail. Finally, current challenges and perspectives for future development of the inorganic SSEs and ASSLIBs are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the DD98M single crystal superalloys were brazed to themselves using a Pd-Si composite filler. The effect of brazing temperature and soaking time on the microstructure and mechanical behavior of the joints was studied. The microstructure and phase constitution in the joint were identified by the SEM and EDS analysis. The results indicated that the joint obtained was constituted by DD98M/zone 2/zone 1/zone 2/DD98M. The zone 1 was primarily made up of the Ni (Pd, Cr, Co) (s.s), Pd4Si, Pd (Ni, Ti, Al) (s.s) and Pd-rich Ni (Pd, Cr, Co) (s.s), while the zone 2 consisted of the Ni (Pd, Cr, Co) (s.s) and Al2Pd5. During the brazing process, increasing the brazing temperature strengthened the fluidity of the liquid filler, which was favorable to eliminating the solidified pores in the brazing seam. Furthermore, a higher brazing temperature would cause the phases in the zones 1 and 2 to be coarsened remarkably. When setting the brazing temperature to 1060 °C, extending the soaking time made the amount of Pd (Ni, Ti, Al) (s.s) decrease, whereas the amount of Pd4Si increased, because the peritectic reaction between the Pd (Ni, Ti, Al) (s.s) and remnant liquid filler was enhanced. Among the brazing process parameters under investigation, the maximum joint average shear strength obtained reached 338 MPa when the joint was brazed at 1060 °C for 30 min. A ductile fracture mode happened during the shear tests under a joining condition. The work performed can provide valuable data to design the single crystal superalloy brazed joint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Ni–17Mo–7Cr-based superalloy was laser surface-modified to improve its tribological properties. Si particles were employed as coating materials. Si melted on the surface of the alloy during the process, triggering the formation of Mo6Ni6C carbides and Ni–Si intermetallics. A defect-free coating obtained was mostly made up of primary Mo6Ni6C and γ-Ni31Si12, as well as a eutectic structure of β1-Ni3Si and α-Ni-based solid solution (α-Ni (s.s)). The volume fraction of hard reinforcements (Mo6Ni6C, γ-Ni31Si12, and β1-Ni3Si) reached up to 85% in the coating. High-temperature microstructural stability of the coating was investigated by aging the coating at 1073 K for 240–480 h, to reveal its microstructural evolution. In addition, the mechanical performance of the coating was investigated. The nanoscale elastic modulus and hardness of Mo6Ni6C, γ-Ni31Si12, and α-Ni (s.s) were characterized using the nanoindentation tests. The nanoscratch tests were performed to measure the local wear resistance of the coating. Lastly, the Vickers hardness distribution across the cross-section of the coating before and after thermal exposure was compared. The work performed provides basic information understanding the microstructural evolution and mechanical performance of laser-induced coatings on Ni-based superalloys. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An integral manufacturing process with hot drawing and cold flow forming was proposed for large-diameter seamless steel gas cylinders. The main purpose of this study was to find out the effects of the manufacturing process on the microstructure and mechanical properties of gas cylinders made of 34CrMo4 steel. Two preformed cylinders were produced by hot drawing. One cylinder was then further manufactured by cold flow forming. The experiments were carried out using three types of material sample, namely, base material (BM), hot drawing cylinder (HD), and cold flow-formed cylinder (CF). Tensile and impact tests were performed to examine the mechanical properties of the cylinders in longitudinal and transverse directions. Microstructure evolution was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) to reveal the relation between the mechanical properties and the microstructure of the material. It is found that the mechanical properties of the 34CrMo4 steel gas cylinders were significantly improved after hot drawing and flow forming plus a designed heat treatment, compared with the base material. The observations of microstructure features such as grain size, subgrain boundaries, and residual strain support the increase in mechanical properties due to the proposed manufacturing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, (Au79Ni17Pd4)96Ti4 (wt.%) filler alloy was designed and employed to join SiC ceramics. The effects of brazing temperature and soaking time on the microstructure and fracture morphology of joints were investigated. The results show that the joint obtained can be described as SiC/reaction layer/braze/reaction layer/SiC. The reaction layer was composed of TiC and Au (Si, Ti). The wettability of the filler alloy toward the SiC ceramics was analyzed. The braze zone was mainly constituted by Pd2Si, Ni2Si, and Au (Ni, Si). A large number of nano-sized TiC particles were distributed within the Au (Ni, Si) layer. The formation mechanism of the braze containing different phases was discussed. The brazing temperature and soaking time had a significant effect on the reaction layer at the SiC/braze interface and TiC particles within the Au (Ni, Si) layer, while they showed a negligible effect on the Pd2Si and Ni2Si within the braze. The inherent reason was also clarified in detail. The joint fractography indicated that a good bonding was achieved between the filler alloy and SiC, while joint fracture was primarily induced by the thermal stresses residing after the brazing cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It has been reported that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with an increased risk of malignancies, including lymphoma. A number of large observational studies have been devoted to exploring the causal link between IBD and malignant lymphoma. However, no consensus exists on whether there is a causal relationship between IBD and malignant lymphoma., Methods: The summary dataset of the IBD and lymphoma genome-wide association studies (GWAS) was obtained from the OPEN GWAS website. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected as genetic instrumental variants (IVs) for fulling P < 5 × 10 -8 and linkage disequilibrium (LD) of r 2 = 0.001 in the IBD GWAS. The proxy SNPs with LD of r 2 > 0.8 were identified. Palindromic SNPs and outlier SNPs were excluded. The assessments of sensitivity employed the Cochran's Q test, Mendelian randomization (MR)-Egger intercept test, and leave-one-out analysis., Results: The MR analysis results proved the causality of IBD on diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The risk of developing DLBCL is increased by 28.6% in patients with IBD [odds ratio (OR) IVW = 1.286, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.066-1.552, P = 0.009]. The results of the subgroup analysis showed that Crohn's disease (OR IVW = 1.218, 95% CI 1.030-1.441, P = 0.021) rather than ulcerative colitis (OR IVW = 1.206, 95% CI 0.984-1.478, P = 0.072) had a causal effect on DLBCL. No horizontal and directional pleiotropy was observed in the MR studies., Conclusions: The above MR study concluded that IBD itself is causally responsible for DLBCL, especially Crohn's disease. Further investigations are needed to elucidate the mechanism underlying this direct causal link., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Lu, Chen, Tao, Xu, Li, Wang and Yu.)