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The article presents the results of metallographic analysis of blacksmithing items, found during excavations at the Podgory V settlement, located on the Samara Bend. The materials of the 1999-2001 excavations are represented by items and sets (including burials ones) belonging to the period from the Early Iron Age to the Middle Ages. The most representative materials are related to the Imenkovo culture of the IV–VII centuries. The sample of ferrous metal artifacts subjected to metallographic study amounted to 21 pieces: knives, awls, sickle, arrowhead, earring with a polyhedron, fixing ring, fire lighter and plate. The metallographic collection included rod-shaped objects, some of which were identified as semi-finished products (metal raw material). It was found that the main material for most of the items was low carbon steel. Packing of blanks was often used and local cementation was applied. The share of heat-treated products is high, signs of high-temperature forging were recorded. The revealed characteristics of forgings from Podgory Vsetlement, in general, correspond to the level of development and technological appearance of East European early medieval ironworking. However, there were also found such features that distinguish the “Podgory” sample from the archaeometallographic collections of other Middle Volga sites of the Early Middle Ages. The peculiarity manifested itself in the use of the characteristic twisting technique of two- or multilayer blanks.

The production of edge-glued boards is one of the possibilities of using European beech wood for products with higher added value. European beech is highly abundant in the forests of Central Europe, but it is a wood species that has specific characteristics that affect the efficiency of processing. The dimensions and quality of the raw material are determined by the standard. This study analyzes the influence of the quality of European beech raw material on the quantitative and qualitative yield during the production of cross-sections used to produce edge-glued boards. Results show that the effect of class (raw material quality) on the quantity of timber produced is not remarkable. For classes III.B and III.C, the most prevalent factors diminishing yield were the quality and extent of red false heartwood, as well as cracks. This study confirmed that superior raw material quality has a positive impact on the yield of blanks with the highest quality.

The article presents short characteristic of bone-carving craft of medieval Azak according to materials of archaeological excavations in 2012–2013. It also suggests criteria for identifying bone-carving workshops at archaeological sites and lists some related difficulties. In the article is given the description of used raw materials and listed range of products. It is noted that quantity of manufacturing wastes on the one hand and blanks and products on the other is incommensurable. Some production techniques are reconstructed based on the traces of processing preserved on waste and blanks. For the first time for Azak a workshop where bone coin scales were produced is discovered. The conclusion is made about rather high qualification of local bone-carvers and it is noted that the ratio of bones from different animals among production wastes is proportional to meat consumption wastes.

The task of modern science and technology is to develop new and improve the characteristics of already used materials for the production of competitive products. Due to the reorientation of sales markets and the search for alternative suppliers of carbide tools, OJSC “BSW – Management Company of “BMK” Holding” began cooperation with Chinese firms‑manufacturers/ suppliers of carbide blanks. The article examines the features of the microstructure of carbide blanks. The blanks differ from the serially used blanks in microstructure, in particular, in the class of tungsten carbide grain. This is explained by the fact that grades of alloy with nanoscale tungsten carbide grain are used for the production of blanks to achieve the necessary durability during operation. The features in the microstructure of the hard alloy also led to changes in the “density” parameter towards reduction, which is also inherent in all Chinese blanks and does not affect their operational properties. Inhibitors of grain growth – transition metal carbides, for example, VC, Cr2C3, NbC, TaC are added to hard alloy mixtures to prevent grain growth during sintering. Recently, there has been a trend towards introducing TaC + TiC additives into WC–Co alloys, which prevent grain growth and have a negligible effect on all other properties of hard alloys.

The article presents a method for one-sided etching of channel openings in unetched microchannel plate blanks using dilute hydrofluoric acid. In this work, we used the blanks of MCP 18-10 microchannel plates. The treatment was carried out in 0.2 N hydrofluoric acid solution at room temperature without oscillating or stirring the solution. Following etching, the diameter of channel openings increased by over 10% of the diameter of MCP 18-10 channels, which increased the electron transmission of the device. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for measuring the resistive characteristics of channels in the blanks of microchannel plates was developed. Two probes were used for measurements, which minimized leakage currents through adjacent channels. The resistive properties of single channels of the microchannel insert in the reduced blank of MCP 18-10 were studied. It was established that the resistance of the channels depends on their position in the microchannel honeycomb. It was shown that the channels located in close proximity to the monolithic frame have less resistance compared to those located in the middle of a multicore glass honeycomb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on the impact of the wood sawing pattern on 50 mm thick beech timber, followed by cross-cutting on the 3 m long, 50 × 50 mm beech blanks. The study analyzed two methods of cutting patterns of beech blanks (parallel to the surface of the timber and parallel to the grain fiber of the timber) regarding yield values and the size of longitudinal warping after air-drying. The yield values were higher (from 65.14 to 72.70 %) when producing long beech blanks using the method of sawing parallel to the timber’s axis (B) compared to parallel to the edge of the blank (from 60.38 to 68.40 %). Results showed that a crucial factor for choosing the cutting method (A or B) is the taper of the logs. For blanks with a taper ≥ 1.3 cm.m-1, it is more advantageous in terms of longitudinal warping and yield to use the method of sawing parallel to the timber's axis.

Introduction: The Metabolomics Quality Assurance and Quality Control Consortium (mQACC) organized a workshop during the Metabolomics 2022 conference. Objectives: The goal of the workshop was to disseminate recent findings from mQACC community-engagement efforts and to solicit feedback about a living guidance document of QA/QC best practices for untargeted LC–MS metabolomics. Methods: Four QC-related topics were presented. Results: During the discussion, participants expressed the need for detailed guidance on a broad range of QA/QC-related topics accompanied by use-cases. Conclusions: Ongoing efforts will continue to identify, catalog, harmonize, and disseminate QA/QC best practices, including outreach activities, to establish and continually update QA/QC guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on the impact of the wood sawing pattern on 50 mm thick beech timber, followed by cross-cutting on the 3 m long, 50 x 50 mm beech blanks. The study analyzed two methods of cutting patterns of beech blanks (parallel to the surface of the timber and parallel to the grain fiber of the timber) regarding yield values and the size of longitudinal warping after air-drying. The yield values were higher (from 65.14 to 72.70 %) when producing long beech blanks using the method of sawing parallel to the timber's axis (B) compared to parallel to the edge of the blank (from 60.38 to 68.40 %). Results showed that a crucial factor for choosing the cutting method (A or B) is the taper of the logs. For blanks with a taper ≥ 1.3 cm.m-1, it is more advantageous in terms of longitudinal warping and yield to use the method of sawing parallel to the timber's axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on the new technology and equipment of vertical‑stack molding (VSM), created by OJSC “BELNIILIT” for the manufacture of vertical‑stack molds. The development is intended for the production of molds and cast blanks of oil, which are later used for the manufacture of piston rings of internal combustion engines.The difference between the above‑mentioned technology and traditional methods of VSM is the use of models without drafts. The development is export‑oriented and has a great economic effect for ring manufacturers due to the absence of drafts on castings, since part of the mechanical operations for their processing is excluded, the metal consumption of blanks is reduced, the production spaces required in this regard are reduced, the necessary labor supply is reduced, etc.OJSC “BELNIILIT” has successfully carried out experimental design and technological work on the new scientific and technical products creation, which are of great interest to the world manufacturers of piston rings. An industrial sample of a molding machine and a mold manipulator were manufactured.

The molecular hydride negative ions of mass 129 amu, 127IH 2 −, 127ID− and 128TeH−, have been studied in order better to understand potential backgrounds in AMS measurements of 129I. All three of these ions appear to be stable or, if metastable, to have lifetimes that are sufficiently long to allow at least some of them to reach the high voltage terminal of the accelerator. It is found, however, that these make only a minor contribution to the combined rate of 127I7+ and 128Te7+ ions that pass around the analysing magnet when it is set for 129I7+ detection. The principal contribution comes instead from the injection of 127I− ions into the accelerator along with the 129I− ions, despite the use of a low Cs sputtering energy in the ion source that was intended to eliminate them. This contribution is, however, small and is effectively removed by a Wien filter. In addition, a sample of Woodward iodine, obtained from the University of Arizona, was found to have an 129I/127I ratio of (13.3 ± 0.9) × 10−15. This is the lowest ratio so far reported. In contrast, the batch of Woodward iodine that was being used as an iodine carrier in our laboratory was found to have a much higher ratio of (78.2 ± 2.4) × 10−15. A search for a lower ratio blank failed to find a suitable material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Enzyme assays have widespread applications in drug discovery from plants to natural products. The appropriate use of blanks in enzyme assays is important for assay baseline-correction, and the correction of false signals associated with background matrix interferences. However, the blank-correction procedures reported in published literature are highly inconsistent. We investigated the influence of using different types of blanks on the final calculated activity/inhibition results for three enzymes of significance in diabetes and obesity; α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and lipase. This is the first study to examine how different blank-correcting methods affect enzyme assay results. Although assays targeting the above enzymes are common in the literature, there is a scarcity of detailed published protocols. Therefore, we have provided comprehensive, step-by-step protocols for α-glucosidase-, α-amylase- and lipase-inhibition assays that can be performed in 96-well format in a simple, fast, and resource-efficient manner with clear instructions for blank-correction and calculation of results. Results In the three assays analysed here, using only a buffer blank underestimated the enzyme inhibitory potential of the test sample. In the absorbance-based α-glucosidase assay, enzyme inhibition was underestimated when a sample blank was omitted for the coloured plant extracts. Similarly, in the fluorescence-based α-amylase and lipase assays, enzyme inhibition was underestimated when a substrate blank was omitted. For all three assays, method six [Raw Data - (Substrate + Sample Blank)] enabled the correction of interferences due to the buffer, sample, and substrate without double-blanking, and eliminated the need to add substrate to each sample blank. Conclusion The choice of blanks and blank-correction methods contribute to the variability of assay results and the likelihood of underestimating the enzyme inhibitory potential of a test sample. This highlights the importance of standardising the use of blanks and the reporting of blank-correction procedures in published studies in order to ensure the accuracy and reproducibility of results, and avoid overlooked opportunities in drug discovery research due to inadvertent underestimation of enzyme inhibitory potential of test samples resulting from unsuitable blank-correction. Based on our assessments, we recommend method six [RD − (Su + SaB)] as a suitable method for blank-correction of raw data in enzyme assays.

The analysis of the impact of proposed external conditions for hot air drying of steamed beech wood (Fagus sylvatica L.) blanks from the initial moisture content of w1 - 50 % to final moisture content w2 = 10 % on the maintaining the colour of wood obtained in the process of steaming at the following modes: mode I (tI = 95 ± 2.5 °C), mode II (tII = 115 ± 2.5 °C), mode III (tIII = 135 ± 2.5 °C) is presented in the paper. The drying process is divided into two parts. Evaporation of free water from wet wood at drying medium temperatures ts = 35 ÷ 40 °C and relative humidity f = 70 - 60 %, when there are no chemical changes in the lignin-saccharide complex of beech wood manifested by the decomposition of chromophore structures and the formation of new functional groups manifested by a change in the colour of the wood. Evaporation of bound water from beech wood below the hygroscopicity limit is performed at the temperatures ts = 70 ÷ 80 °C. The colour coordinates in the colour space CIE L*a*b* of beech wood steamed by mode I after drying are: L* = 69.6 ± 1.7; a* = 11.3 ± 0.9; b* = 19.6 ± 1.2, steamed by mode II are: L* = 64.6 ± 1.6; a* = 13.0 ± 0.7; b* = 22.7 ± 1.0 and steamed mode III are: L* = 54.5 ± 1.5; a* = 13.4 ± 1.1; b* = 25.3 ± 1.3. Differences in the colour of dried steamed beech wood according to the proposed drying mode and dried in an air-conditioned space is in the range of values ΔE* = 1.3 - 1.8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There can be no doubt that Wolfgang Iser’s literary theory was strongly influenced by Roman Ingarden’s writings on literature. Iser often quotes from Ingarden and develops some of his key ideas. The main aim of this article is to show that even in the cases where Iser develops Ingarden’s ideas and concepts he significantly changes their meaning and function. This tendency is not arbitrary but rather mirrors the difference of aims between the two theories. In this article, the author tries to show how Ingarden’s theory revolves around his consideration of the differences between the real and purely intentional object. Here, the literary work serves as an example of the purely intentional object. By contrast, Iser’s work revolves around his opposition to any theory which emphasizes the essential meaning of a work of literature without considering the reading process itself. This attention to the reading process is the main aim of Iser’s theory. The article develops the thesis that the two opposing definitions of the literary work arise from this essential difference, which in turn explains the dissimilarity, in terms of both meaning and function, between such seemingly similar concepts as Ingarden’s ‘places of indeterminacy’ (die Unbestimmtheitstellen) and Iser’s ‘blanks’ (die Leerstellen).

Sequencing microbial DNA from deep subsurface environments is complicated by a number of issues ranging from contamination to non-reproducible results. Many samples obtained from these environments – which are of great interest due to the potential to stimulate microbial methane generation – contain low biomass. Therefore, samples from these environments are difficult to study as sequencing results can be easily impacted by contamination. In this case, the low amount of sample biomass may be effectively swamped by the contaminating DNA and generate misleading results. Additionally, performing field work in these environments can be difficult, as researchers generally have limited access to and time on site. Therefore, optimizing a sampling plan to produce the best results while collecting the greatest number of samples over a short period of time is ideal. This study aimed to recommend an adequate sampling plan for field researchers obtaining microbial biomass for 16S rRNA gene sequencing, applicable specifically to low biomass oil and gas-producing environments. Forty-nine different samples were collected by filtering specific volumes of produced water from a hydraulically fractured well producing from the Niobrara Shale. Water was collected in two different sampling events 24 h apart. Four to five samples were collected from 11 specific volumes. These samples along with eight different blanks were submitted for analysis. DNA was extracted from each sample, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and 16S rRNA Illumina MiSeq gene sequencing were performed to determine relative concentrations of biomass and microbial community composition, respectively. The qPCR results varied across sampled volumes, while no discernible trend correlated contamination to volume of water filtered. This suggests that collecting a larger volume of sample may not result in larger biomass concentrations or better representation of a sampled environment. Researchers could prioritize collecting many low volume samples over few high-volume samples. Our results suggest that there also may be variability in the concentration of microbial communities present in produced waters over short (i.e., hours) time scales, which warrants further investigation. Submission of multiple blanks is also vital to determining how contamination or low biomass effects may influence a sample set collected from an unknown environment.

Background: Enzyme assays have widespread applications in drug discovery from plants to natural products. The appropriate use of blanks in enzyme assays is important for assay baseline-correction, and the correction of false signals associated with background matrix interferences. However, the blank-correction procedures reported in published literature are highly inconsistent. We investigated the influence of using different types of blanks on the final calculated activity/inhibition results for three enzymes of significance in diabetes and obesity; α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and lipase. This is the first study to examine how different blank-correcting methods affect enzyme assay results. Although assays targeting the above enzymes are common in the literature, there is a scarcity of detailed published protocols. Therefore, we have provided comprehensive, step-by-step protocols for α-glucosidase-, α-amylase- and lipase-inhibition assays that can be performed in 96-well format in a simple, fast, and resource-efficient manner with clear instructions for blank-correction and calculation of results. Results: In the three assays analysed here, using only a buffer blank underestimated the enzyme inhibitory potential of the test sample. In the absorbance-based α-glucosidase assay, enzyme inhibition was underestimated when a sample blank was omitted for the coloured plant extracts. Similarly, in the fluorescence-based α-amylase and lipase assays, enzyme inhibition was underestimated when a substrate blank was omitted. For all three assays, method six [Raw Data - (Substrate + Sample Blank)] enabled the correction of interferences due to the buffer, sample, and substrate without double-blanking, and eliminated the need to add substrate to each sample blank. Conclusion: The choice of blanks and blank-correction methods contribute to the variability of assay results and the likelihood of underestimating the enzyme inhibitory potential of a test sample. This highlights the importance of standardising the use of blanks and the reporting of blank-correction procedures in published studies in order to ensure the accuracy and reproducibility of results, and avoid overlooked opportunities in drug discovery research due to inadvertent underestimation of enzyme inhibitory potential of test samples resulting from unsuitable blank-correction. Based on our assessments, we recommend method six [RD − (Su + SaB)] as a suitable method for blank-correction of raw data in enzyme assays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sequencing microbial DNA from deep subsurface environments is complicated by a number of issues ranging from contamination to non-reproducible results. Many samples obtained from these environments – which are of great interest due to the potential to stimulate microbial methane generation – contain low biomass. Therefore, samples from these environments are difficult to study as sequencing results can be easily impacted by contamination. In this case, the low amount of sample biomass may be effectively swamped by the contaminating DNA and generate misleading results. Additionally, performing field work in these environments can be difficult, as researchers generally have limited access to and time on site. Therefore, optimizing a sampling plan to produce the best results while collecting the greatest number of samples over a short period of time is ideal. This study aimed to recommend an adequate sampling plan for field researchers obtaining microbial biomass for 16S rRNA gene sequencing, applicable specifically to low biomass oil and gas-producing environments. Forty-nine different samples were collected by filtering specific volumes of produced water from a hydraulically fractured well producing from the Niobrara Shale. Water was collected in two different sampling events 24 h apart. Four to five samples were collected from 11 specific volumes. These samples along with eight different blanks were submitted for analysis. DNA was extracted from each sample, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and 16S rRNA Illumina MiSeq gene sequencing were performed to determine relative concentrations of biomass and microbial community composition, respectively. The qPCR results varied across sampled volumes, while no discernible trend correlated contamination to volume of water filtered. This suggests that collecting a larger volume of sample may not result in larger biomass concentrations or better representation of a sampled environment. Researchers could prioritize collecting many low volume samples over few high-volume samples. Our results suggest that there also may be variability in the concentration of microbial communities present in produced waters over short (i.e., hours) time scales, which warrants further investigation. Submission of multiple blanks is also vital to determining how contamination or low biomass effects may influence a sample set collected from an unknown environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with the role of the implied reader in Evelyn Waugh’s novels. An attempt will be made to define who the implied reader is and what is his position and role in fictional realm. By analysing narrative strategies and techniques within a selection of Waugh’s works, I attempt to discuss the changing relationship between author/narrator and the implied reader. I try to point that within Evelyn Waugh’s writing one can observe a simultaneous evolution of the narrator voice and the role ascribed to the implied reader. What is more, I discuss the limits of interpretation. I try to present and analyse how both the author/narrator and the text can impose limitations on the implied reader allowing him to move freely, however, within a set frame. Intertextuality is one of the focal points of the article, as I try to propose that the use of specific intertextual references in several different novels enhances the reader’s understanding of Waugh’s fictional world. An attempt is made to prove that through analysis of different levels of understanding intertextual relation the reader takes on himself a role of creator. Furthermore, I draw attention to the places of indeterminacy. In this discussion I include both structures of indeterminacy proposed by Roman Ingarden i.e. blanks and negations, as both are needed not only to establish the interaction that takes place between text and the implied reader, but also to try to regulate such relation. An attempt will be made to explain how important filling the gaps within the text is and how completing the blanks affects the reader and the process of reading as such.

• The connection of the fruit-bearing branch with the stem ensures higher kernel mass. • Fruit size do not change in the first 20 days after girdling + defoliation is applied. • The occurrence of blanks is both linked to leaves and phloem removal. • Branch fruit mass weakly correlates with branch leaf area. • Tree leaf area correlates better to fruit mass in non-masting than in masting years. Hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) is an important nut crop with clear mast seeding behaviour leading to alternate yield and, thus, to management issues. It was hypothesized that masting is associated to accumulation/depletion of carbon within storage tissues (i.e. stem, large branches, roots). We hypothesized that fruit yield depends both on carbon fixed by leaves on the same branch and carbon stored in the main stem. We therefore conducted a manipulation of carbon sink-source resources on fruit-bearing branches of C. avellana cv. 'Tonda di Giffoni' by combining girdling and defoliation on a set of branches. We measured the number and diameter of nuts and leaves, the dry weight of fruits and seeds and the amount of blanks over the growing season. We also estimated the whole tree leaf area by allometric equations and the tree yield by collecting all nuts separately on 15 trees at maturity. The average seed dry mass in the un-defoliated girdled treatment was significantly lower than the control (0.5 vs. 0.9 g) suggesting that the fruit-bearing branches need to import carbon from the main stem and that the carbon autonomy of fruit-bearing branches is not supported during kernel maturation process. We also observed that the correlation at whole tree level between leaf area and seed mass is strong in non-masting years, while it becomes weaker in masting years reinforcing the hypothesis that the productivity of masting yields also relies on stored resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advanced high strength steels (AHSS) and ultra-high strength steels (UHSS) have been increasingly implemented by the automotive industry for better crashworthiness and fuel economy. However, these steels are often sensitive to the trimmed edge cracking. The objective of the present paper is to study the sheared edge of ultra-high strength dual-phase steel, DP980, in mechanical trimming and hole punching by sheared edge quality assessment, stretchability, and hole expansion tests as well as finite element analysis. Furthermore, the mechanism of fracture propagation in trimming and hole punching processes of DP980 was discussed. Rather a unique fracture mechanism was observed for trimming of DP980 steel leading to the burr removal at the final stage of the trimming process. Finite element analysis revealed that, under very large clearances, a secondary crack initiates from the edge of the lower tool, and the primary propagated crack turns toward it simultaneously. Intersecting of these two cracks leads to the total separation and leaves the edge of the trimmed part with a broken burr. Fracture observation of trimmed specimens revealed that crack initiation sites under tension moved from the middle of the trimmed surface toward the burr tip with increasing the clearance. This study demonstrates the importance of stretchability tests for designing the stamping dies as well as a reliable finite element simulation for characterizing the material behavior during the shearing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In industrial production, the roller trace design is still based on the trial-and-error method that is more like an art than science. In this paper, we establish the mathematical model of the involute curve roller trace and adopted the forming clearance compensation in the attaching-mandrel process. The backward pass roller trace is optimized to avoid the roller interference due to blank springback. The spinning simulation model of seven forming passes is set up and verified by the experiments with superalloy GH3030. The wall thickness, the strain distribution, and the tool forces are analyzed. The results show that the forming clearance compensation can greatly shorten the forming time and enhance the production efficiency and saving energy. The metal accumulates at the edge of the blank, and the maximum thinning zone appeared near the edge and is prone to crack. In the straightening pass, the tool forces of both the roller and the mandrel are larger than those in the other passes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have indicated that reducing the process energy demand is as important as improving the energy conversion efficiency to make manufacturing equipment more energy efficient. However, little work has been done to understand the energy demand characteristics of the widely employed drawing process. In this paper, the energy demand of the cylindrical drawing process under a range of operating parameters was measured and analyzed. Since any energy saving efforts should not have negative effects on the product quality, the forming quality of the drawn part indicated by the maximum thinning and thickening ratios and variation of thickness was also considered. To identify the main contributors to energy demand and forming quality, two sets of experiments were designed based on the Taguchi method. The first set of experiments include three parameters (i.e., punch velocity, blank holder force, and drawn depth) at three levels, while the second set of experiments only include two factors (i.e., punch velocity and blank holder force) at three levels due to their impacts on the forming quality. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and analysis of means (ANOM) were then used to analyze the experimental results. Finally, grey relational analysis (GRA) was used to reveal the correlation between the forming quality and the process energy. Results show that the mean thickness variation has the strongest relational grading with the process energy, which suggests that the process energy can be used as an effective indicator to predict mean thickness variation of the drawn part. The identified characteristics of the process energy and the forming quality can be used to select process parameters for reduced energy demands of drawing processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There can be no doubt that Wolfgang Iser’s literary theory was strongly influenced by Roman Ingarden’s writings on literature. Iser often quotes from Ingarden and develops some of his key ideas. The main aim of this article is to show that even in the cases where Iser develops Ingarden’s ideas and concepts he significantly changes their meaning and function. This tendency is not arbitrary but rather mirrors the difference of aims between the two theories. In this article, the author tries to show how Ingarden’s theory revolves around his consideration of the differences between the real and purely intentional object. Here, the literary work serves as an example of the purely intentional object. By contrast, Iser’s work revolves around his opposition to any theory which emphasizes the essential meaning of a work of literature without considering the reading process itself. This attention to the reading process is the main aim of Iser’s theory. The article develops the thesis that the two opposing definitions of the literary work arise from this essential difference, which in turn explains the dissimilarity, in terms of both meaning and function, between such seemingly similar concepts as Ingarden’s ‘places of indeterminacy’ (die Unbestimmtheitstellen) and Iser’s ‘blanks’ (die Leerstellen). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The asymmetric cylinder with oblique-straight flange spinning has the potential to become a production process for this shape of the aerospace part. This complex shaped part was attempted to be formed by synchronous multipass spinning from a blank disk of 6061-O aluminum alloy with 1.15-mm thickness. The working principle of synchronous multipass spinning focuses on the fact that the radial and axial positions of the roller are synchronized with the spindle rotation to form the roller path. The roller path was calculated by dispersing a pass set into numerous points. The dimensional space between two points from the corresponding curves in a single-pass set was integrated into the trajectory around the circumference. Here, a pass set is the path along which the roller propagates in the two-dimensional space defined by the radial and axial directions. This shape was confirmed to be spun, and the formation mechanism of this spinning process was investigated. Contrastive experiments with paired arcs and pairs of straight lines as roller paths were performed on a spinning machine. The working condition of the cylinder wall with pairs of straight lines roller path was broken because of the higher pull resistance from the remaining part of the flange. The working condition of the flange of the paired arcs follows the law of shear spinning approximately that the cylinder wall forming does not comply. Suitable metal distributions for the flange and an appropriate force state for the cylinder wall are realized by the paired arcs roller path in the spinning process to form the asymmetric cylinder with oblique-straight flange. This provides a theoretical basis for the spinning of the asymmetric cylinder with the oblique-straight flange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As energy efficiency increases in importance, researchers have identified manufacturing processes as opportunities where energy consumption can be reduced. Drawing is one widely employed, energy intensive manufacturing process, which could benefit by analysis of energy consumption during operation. To optimize the energy consumption of the drawing process, this paper developed an explicit model to quantify the process energy for the cylindrical drawing process by analyzing the dynamic punch force during the process. In this analysis, the evolution of the stress and strain was analyzed in the drawn part by considering all the structure parameters of the drawn part. The stress and strain analyses were integrated into an overall process energy model, and the behavior of the model was classified into three categories, based on their physical mechanisms, i.e., deformation energy, bending energy, and friction energy. The model was validated using numerical experiments designed by the Taguchi method where two different kinds of materials were tested over 18 runs. The results from the numerical experiments were compared with those from the model, and show that the maximum variation of the process energy predicted by this model is less than 10% for a given part. Sensitivity analysis was performed on the model to understand the contributions of the process parameters on the process energy to guide process optimization for lower energy consumption. The established model can assist in the rapid design of drawn parts with lower embodied energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy directors (EDs) have been widely used in ultrasonic welding (UW) of polymers and polymer-based composites. They help concentrate the welding energy and localize the weld at the location where the EDs are present. However, the utilization of EDs increases manufacturing cost and time, especially for complex parts and structures. This paper presents a method for UW of carbon fiber reinforced composite without using EDs. A reusable annular clamp (called a blankholder) is used as part of the weld tool to apply a variable force (called blank holding force) on the composite sheets during the UW. The effect of the blank holding force (BHF) on the weld formation is investigated. The results show that the duration of the BHF had significant impact on the weld formation. There is a critical duration with which a localized weld can form. Suitable durations of BHF at different levels of welding energy are determined by experiments. The main function of the BHF is to create an initial melting area by improving the contact condition. The initial melting area will act as an ED to concentrate the welding energy, and therefore, promotes the formation of a localized weld. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of blanks for frictional disks with a bronze coating is considered. The coatings are produced by means of plasma spraying. The frictional disks are intended for used in vehicle transmissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents technological process of forging blank camshafts. It describes materials used on the camshafts blanks. The paper also sets out the conditions for the selection of manufacturing technology of semi-finished products. It shows the process of forging and stamping. The ending work in the production process of semi-finished products is described. The card for forging process of semi-finished camshafts is developed.

Bending complex curved steel plates for constructing ship hull has long been a challenge in shipbuilding industry. This paper presents a novel incremental bending process to obtain complicated curved steel plates by a series of sequential and layered punches. Taking advantage of this process, the blank plate that is fixed and held by a flexible supporting system can incrementally be bent into the target shape by a press tool along a planned tool path step by step and layer by layer. Acting as a "lower die," the flexible supporting system can provide flexible and multifunctional supports for the work piece during the forming process, whose four general motion modes are demonstrated in this paper. Meanwhile, the procedures of tool path planning and forming layering are also explained in detail. In addition, aiming at different motion modes of the flexible supporting system, two springback compensation methods are given. Furthermore, according to the forming principle presented in this paper, an original incremental prototype equipment was designed and manufactured, which is mainly composed of a three-axis computer numerical control (CNC) machine, a flexible supporting system, and a three-dimensional (3D) scanning feedback system. A series of forming experiments focusing on a gradual curvature shape were carried out using this prototype to investigate the feasibility and validity of this forming process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A stamp forming die whose flexible blank holder (BH) was designed using finite element (FE) analysis was built. The tooling also included active draw beads, local wrinkling sensors, and local force transducers. Wrinkling was controlled using a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) feedback loop and blank holder force (BHF). Local forces in the tooling were also controlled using blank holder forces in a PID feedback loop. A third closed-loop control system that could be used to control local punch forces (LPF) near draw beads featured an advanced PID controller with a Smith Predictor and Kalman Filter. A Bang-bang controller was also incorporated into that control system in order to prevent control saturation. Fuzzy logic was used to transition from one controller to the other. Once closed-loop control was implemented, tests were performed in order to evaluate the strains in the pans for various forming conditions. These results were compared to open-loop tests and it was found that the strains' paths for closed-loop control tests resulted in convergence and were further from the forming limit than strains from open-loop control tests. Furthermore, it was seen that the strains in critical regions had more uniform strain fields once closed-loop control of local punch forces was implemented. Hence, it was concluded that controlling local punch forces resulted in the indirect control of strains in critical regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new hypoid gearing using a common crown rack is introduced. The proposed hypoid gear has no unloaded gear transmission error. The common crown rack is located at a neutral position between the pinion and gear blanks. An arbitrary generating surface inclined at a pressure angle is prescribed. The proposed hypoid gearing is in point contact, fulfilling a constant speed ratio along the curved line of action. The synthesis feasibility is numerically verified for the entire range of hypoid gears, including parallel-, intersecting-, and crossed-axis gear systems. The proposed hypoid gear is compared with the hypoid gear by Gleason method and the differences between the two are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article deals with the role of the implied reader in Evelyn Waugh's novels. An attempt will be made to define who the implied reader is and what is his position and role in fictional realm. By analysing narrative strategies and techniques within a selection of Waugh's works, I attempt to discuss the changing relationship between author/narrator and the implied reader. I try to point that within Evelyn Waugh's writing one can observe a simultaneous evolution of the narrator voice and the role ascribed to the implied reader. What is more, I discuss the limits of interpretation. I try to present and analyse how both the author/narrator and the text can impose limitations on the implied reader allowing him to move freely, however, within a set frame. Intertextuality is one of the focal points of the article, as I try to propose that the use of specific intertextual references in several different novels enhances the reader's understanding of Waugh's fictional world. An attempt is made to prove that through analysis of different levels of understanding intertextual relation the reader takes on himself a role of creator. Furthermore, I draw attention to the places of indeterminacy. In this discussion I include both structures of indeterminacy proposed by Roman Ingarden i.e. blanks and negations, as both are needed not only to establish the interaction that takes place between text and the implied reader, but also to try to regulate such relation. An attempt will be made to explain how important filling the gaps within the text is and how completing the blanks affects the reader and the process of reading as such. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Enthymema is the property of Enthymema, International Journal of Literary Criticism, Literary Theory & Philosophy of Literature 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 aims at exploring the potentialities of cold orbital forming in forming complex sheet metal. Aiming at a complex mobile phone shell component of aluminum alloy, two technical schemes for cold orbital forming are first presented. Then, the optimized one, i.e., the more complex inner surface of mobile phone shell is arranged to be formed by the rocking punch with a complex motion, is determined by analyzing the nonuniform plastic deformation laws and punch filling behaviors. On the basis of the optimized technical scheme, the blank geometry in cold orbital forming of mobile phone shell is also optimized based on the forming status of the most difficult forming zone. The consistent finite element (FE) simulated and experimental results indicate that under the optimized technical scheme, not only the bosses in the mobile phone shell are fully formed but also the obtained flow lines are reasonable, which proves that the technical scheme presented in this study is feasible and cold orbital forming exhibits huge potentialities in forming complex sheet metal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A recent addition to the many milling processes used in manufacturing to cut straight bevel gears (SBGs) is a new face-hobbing (FH) method that uses a virtual hypocycloid straight-lined mechanism to produce straight-lined teeth. Despite earning much attention because of its high productivity, however, this method is unable to handle lengthwise crowning on tooth surfaces, which results in poor contact performance. This paper therefore proposes a novel lengthwise crowning method, applicable on a modern six-axis computer numerical control (CNC) bevel gear cutting machine, in which the gear blank performs a swinging motion during machining. This swinging motion is enabled by machine setting modifications, which here are derived from a mathematical model of a double (profile and lengthwise) crowned gear. After the model's correctness is confirmed using ease-off and tooth contact analyses, a final investigation examines the effect of two key parameters related to contact performance indexes whose interrelations are graphed to provide a designer reference. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automotive industries are very much interested in implementing warm forming technology for fabrication of light weight auto-body panels using aluminum alloys without localized thinning or splitting. A nonheat treatable and low formable AA5754-H22 aluminum alloy sheet was selected in the present work, and a laboratory scale warm deep drawing test set-up and process sequences were designed to improve material flow through independent heating of punch and dies. Significant enhancement in cup depth was observed when the temperature of punch and dies were set to 30 °C and 200 °C, respectively. Thermo-mechanical finite-element (FE) model of the nonisothermal deep drawing test was developed successfully to study the improvement in material flow incorporating Barlat-89 yield theory using temperature dependent anisotropy coefficients and Cowper-Symonds hardening model. It was found that a nonisothermal temperature gradient of approximately 93 °C was established within the blank from the center to flange at the start of deformation, and subsequent evolution of temperature gradient helped in improving material flow into the die cavity. The effect of temperature gradient on forming behavior in terms of cup height, ear profile, and thinning development across flange, cup wall, and blank center were predicted and validated with experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gear skiving is a technique proposed a long time ago for cutting internal gears at high productivity. Until recently, many problems have prevented its widespread use. With current technological breakthroughs, however, skiving is drawing attention again. The present paper describes cutting tool parameters, which could be vital for the optimum design of skiving cutters. Cutting tool parameters include depth of cut, rake angle, and clearance angle at each point on a cutting edge. They continuously change with progress in the cutting process. The parameters are defined on the basis of an oblique cutting model, which is a three-dimensional extension of an orthogonal cutting model. The example calculations in this study revealed the following features: Although rake angles almost always remain negative, clearance angles remain positive. At the points where clearance angles are large, depths of cut are large, but rake angles are small (i.e., largely negative). The decrease in shaft angle between the cutter and working blank axes increases depths of cut and clearance angles, while reducing rake angles (i.e., yields largely negative rake angles). Meanwhile, the increase in cutter tool face offset; i.e., the axial position of a tool face measured from a reference point on the conjugate pinion, narrows the area where depths of cut and clearance angles are small, but rake angles become largely negative. These parameters could be useful for evaluating tool cutting efficiencies in internal gear skiving. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Stratum Plus Journal is the property of P.P. Stratum plus 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.)

Molybdenum-coated blanks for frictional disks in vehicle transmissions permit improvement in their performance. The coating is applied by plasma spraying. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The surface relief of blanks and silica glass fibers is studied by atomic force microscopy. The temperature change during free cooling is recorded using an infrared pyrometer. The results of the measurements of the roughness of the blank and fiber could indicate the effect of the cooling time of the quartz glass (QG) on the morphology of its surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is a comparative approach to provisioning strategies in two quarries in the microregion of Antofagasta de la Sierra (Catamarca). The lithic context in two workshops located in Pampa Oeste Zona de Aprovisionamiento y Cantera (POZAC) y Punta de la Peña Zona de Aprovisionamiento y Cantera (PPZAC) is analyzed. According to systematic surveys and technical-morphological analysis of assemblages including cores and debitage, different trends in core exploitation and blank extraction are observed. This variability responds to a variety of decisions taken by individuals or groups of individuals when provisioning themselves of a specific resource, a volcanic rock suitable for stone flaking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sawing solid wood (lumber, wooden boards) into blanks is an important technological operation, which has significant influence on the efficiency of the woodworking industry as a whole. Selecting a rational variant of lumber cutting is a complex multicriteria problem with many stochastic factors, characterized by incomplete information and fuzzy attributes. About this property by currently used automatic optimizing cross-cut saw is not always rational use of wood raw material. And since the optimization algorithms of these saw functions as a "black box", their improvement is not possible. Therefore topical the task of developing a new approach to the optimal cross-cutting that takes into account stochastic properties of wood as a material from biological origin. Here we propose a new approach to the problem of lumber optimal cutting in the conditions of uncertainty of lumber quantity and fuzziness lengths of defect-free areas. To account for these conditions, we applied the methods of fuzzy sets theory and used a genetic algorithm to simulate the process of human learning in the implementation the technological operation. Thus, the rules of behavior with yet another defect-free area is defined in fuzzy expert system that can be configured to perform specific production tasks using genetic algorithm. The author's implementation of the genetic algorithm is used to set up the parameters of fuzzy expert system. Working capacity of the developed system verified on simulated and real-world data. Implementation of this approach will make it suitable for the control of automated or fully automatic optimizing cross cutting of solid wood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most substantial flaws in examination questions that are used during exams in various educational centers during training and certification of specialists in penetrant testing are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archivo de Prehistoria Levantina is the property of Museu de Prehistoria de Valencia 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.)

Scavenging bird deterrence frequently fails due to habituation. We demonstrated such habituation by gulls and corvids to blank rounds used in a dawn-to-dusk regime at a landfill site in southern England. We then combined blank rounds with live rounds and shot birds whenever they attempted to land. Gull numbers declined significantly despite only 1.9% of the population being shot. Corvid numbers returned to precontrol levels despite 52.7% of the population being shot. We suggest that shooting reduces gull habituation to blank rounds but is ineffective at reducing habituation by corvids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Several in vitro experiments were conducted to determine effects of additives on rate and extent of gas production when several substrates were incubated in batch cultures of mixed rumen microorganisms. In all experiments, 500mg of substrate was incubated with 50ml of buffered rumen fluid at 39°C and gas production was measured at 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 16, 21, 26, 31, 36, 48, 60, 72, 96 and 120h. In experiments involving organic acids, three substrates differing in their forage:concentrate ratio (80:20 (F80), 50:50 (F50) and 20:80 (F20)) were incubated without additives, but in the presence of two doses (4 and 8mM) of fumarate or malate. In the experiment with fibrolytic enzymes, samples of four tropical forages were incubated without additives and with three different enzyme solutions (cellulase, xylanase, and a 1:1 mixture of cellulase and xylanase) added at a rate of 20IU/g dry matter forage. Blanks (i.e., bottles without sample) containing only buffered rumen fluid (B0) or buffered rumen fluid plus the corresponding dose of each additive (BA) were included for correction. Gas production values were fitted to the exponential model: gas= A(1−e(−c(t −lag))), and the average gas production rate (AGPR; mlgas/h) and organic matter effective degradability (OMED) were calculated. There were no blank×substrate or blank×additive interactions in any experiment. When B0 were used to correct gas production values, adding malate linearly increased (P<0.05) parameters A (asymptotic gas production) and AGPR for all substrates, but no differences due to malate addition occurred for any substrate when gas values were corrected for BA. Adding fumarate to all substrates linearly increased (P<0.05) parameters A, c (fractional rate of gas production) and AGPR when B0 was used for calculations, but it only tended (P<0.10) to linearly increase AGFR for substrate F80 and asymptotic gas production for substrate F50 when using BA for calculations. In the experiment with enzymes, there were only subtle differences between results obtained using B0 and BA for correcting gas values. With both blanks, treatment of forages with cellulase and the cellulase:xylanase mixture decreased (P<0.05) lag and increased (P<0.05) OMED for all forages. Results demonstrate that using different blanks for correction purposes can produce different calculated effects between treatments, and therefore, can change interpretation of results, but this effect depends on the type of additives examined. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Electrochemically modulated liquid chromatography (EMLC) is used on-line to remove metal ions from the blank solution and improve detection limits in inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The EMLC column contains glassy carbon particles held at an appropriate negative applied potential (Eapp). The supporting electrolyte and reference electrode are outside the porous stainless steel column to minimize contamination of the blank flow stream. Various metal ions, such as Tl+ and Pb2+, are retained at cathodic values of Eapp with an efficiency of 99% or better at liquid flow rates of 50–80μlmin-1. Other metals are retained at an Eapp that is moderately positive with respect to their standard reduction potentials. This latter observation suggests that surface functional groups on the carbon stationary phase are also important. The column can be cleaned easily by stripping the deposited metal at high anodic values of Eapp. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A brief review is given of concepts, basic definitions, and terminology for metrological detection and quantification capabilities, representing harmonized recommendations and norms of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), respectively. Treatment of the (low-level) blank and variance function are discussed in some detail, together with special problems arising with detection decisions and the reporting of low-level data. Key references to the international documents follow, as well as specialized references addressing very low-level counting data, skewed environmental blank distributions, and multiple and multivariate detection decisions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Spike- and blank-based procedures were applied to estimate the detection limits (DLs) for example analytes from inorganic and organic methods for water samples to compare with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Method Detection Limit (MDL) procedures (revisions 1.11 and 2.0). The multi-concentration spike-based procedures ASTM Within-laboratory Critical Level (DQCALC) and EPA's Lowest Concentration Minimum Reporting Level were compared in one application, with DQCALC further applied to many methods. The blank-based DLs, MDL b99 (99th percentile) or MDL bY (= mean blank concentration + s × t), estimated using large numbers (>100) of blank samples often provide DLs that better approach or achieve the desired ≤1% false positive risk level compared to spike-based DLs. For primarily organic methods that do not provide many uncensored blank results, spike-based DQCALC or MDL rev. 2.0 are needed to simulate the blank distribution and estimate the DL. DQCALC is especially useful for estimating DLs for multi-analyte methods having very different analyte response characteristics. Time series plots of DLs estimated using different procedures reveal that DLs are dependent on the applied procedure, should not be expected to be static over time, and seem best viewed as falling over a range versus being a single value. Use of both blank- and spike-based DL procedures help inform this DL range. Data reporting conventions that censor data at a threshold and report "less than" that threshold concentration as the reporting level have unknown and potentially high false negative risk. The U.S. Geological Survey National Water Quality Laboratory's Laboratory Reporting Level (LRL) convention (applied primarily to organic methods) attempts to simultaneously minimize both the false positive and false negative risk when