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Nanoeutectic oxide layers have been obtained by laser surface nanocrystallization on oxide ceramics with eutectic composition. The eutectic layer can effectively improve the surface performance of oxide materials. This paper provides a comprehensive review of this promising technique. It includes the numerical simulation of temperature field in the melt pool associated with laser surface melting, formation mechanisms and growth kinetics of the coupled nanoeutectic structure, and the influence of processing parameters on structure and properties of eutectic oxide layer. In combination with other preparation techniques, such as directional solidification and additive manufacturing methods, the formation mechanism and prevention of bubbles and cracks are clarified. The relationship between microstructure and performance with gradient feature is also indicated. This review attempts to inspire imaginations and insights into material design and process optimization for laser surface nanocrystallization of oxide ceramics with eutectic composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) ceramic coatings were formed on Ti2AlNb alloy in various NaAlO2 electrolytes containing 2 g L−1, 4 g L−1, and 6 g −1 Na2CrO4 additive, respectively. The influence of Na2CrO4 additive in NaAlO2 electrolyte on structure and high-temperature oxidation behavior at 800 °C was investigated. The Na2CrO4 additive in the NaAlO2 electrolyte not only promotes the formation of γ-Al2O3 phase and densification of ceramic coatings, but also participates directly in the growth of ceramic coating to form new Cr3O and (Al0.948Cr0.052)2O3 phases. The PEO ceramic coatings formed in NaAlO2 electrolytes with 2 g L−1 and 4 g L−1 Na2CrO4 additive show better oxidation resistance than those PEO coatings formed in a NaAlO2 basic electrolyte based on isothermal oxidation tests at 800 °C up to 150 h. A thin and uniform isothermally oxidized layer is formed in the interlayer adjacent the substrate, which protects the substrate from the inward diffusion of oxygen and the outward diffusion of metallic elements. The PEO ceramic coatings formed in NaAlO2 electrolyte with 4 g L−1 Na2CrO4 additive exhibit the least mass gain among all the specimens, which is only a half of the ceramic coating formed in a NaAlO2 basic electrolyte without any Na2CrO4 additive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Axon guidance needs help from the glial cell system during embryogenesis. In the Drosophila embryonic central nervous system (CNS), longitudinal glia (LG) have been implicated in axon guidance but the mechanism remains unclear. We identified the protein encoded by the Drosophila gene unzipped ( uzip) as a novel cell adhesion molecule (CAM). Uzip expressed in Drosophila S2 cells triggered cell aggregation through homophilic binding. In the embryonic CNS, Uzip was mainly produced by the LG but was also located at axons, which is consistent with the secretion of Uzip expressed in cultured cells. Although uzip mutants displayed no axonal defect, loss of uzip enhanced the axonal defects in the mutant of N-cadherin ( CadN) and the Wnt gene family member wnt5. Overexpression of uzip could rescue the phenotype in the CadN uzip D43 mutant. Thus, Uzip is a novel CAM from the LG regulating axon guidance. Developmental Dynamics, 2011. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The mechanism of phase transition from X2-RE 2 SiO 5 to apatite is revealed. • The formation of apatite in corroded Y 2 SiO 5 is inhibited by introducing Yb. • Silica-rich grain boundary is considered to reduce the corrosion degree. Environmental barrier coatings (EBCs) are usually coated on SiC ceramic or ceramic matrix composites (CMCs), in order to prevent the attack from corrosive media like water vapor and molten oxides. Solid-solutionizing strategy containing high-entropy engineering is considered as an effective way to mediate corrosion resistances of rare-earth silicates, which are promising candidates for the topcoats of EBCs. In this work, high-temperature corrosion behaviors of hot-pressed (Y 1− x Yb x) 2 SiO 5 ceramics have been investigated in a 50 %H 2 O–50 %O 2 environment at temperatures of 1573/1673/1773 K for 100 h. The main corrosion product of Y 2 SiO 5 is apatite phase, whose formation can be distinctly inhibited by introducing Yb. Consequently, introducing Yb avoids the tensile stress and cracks effectively, which are induced by the volume reduction due to the phase transition to apatite at elevated temperatures. The inhibition of apatite formation by introducing Yb is attributed to the relatively lower volatilization pressure of Yb 2 O 3 than Y 2 O 3 and the smaller cationic radius of Yb3+ than Y3+. Meanwhile, the composition deviations between grain boundary and grain surface results in the grain surface corrosion and ridge-like corrosion characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]