The present work aims to fabricate CrMnFeCoNi high-entropy alloy (HEA) possessing outstanding wear and corrosion properties via laser additive manufacturing (LAM) and subsequent laser shock peening ...(LSP). The surface morphology, microstructure, microhardness and residual stress of LAM-fabricated specimen were characterized before and after LSP. Additionally, sliding wear and electrochemical corrosion experiments were conducted to evaluate the suitability of LSP for improving wear and corrosion resistance. Results indicated that friction coefficients and wear rates of LAM-fabricated specimens obviously decreased after LSP. Both untreated and LSP-treated specimens displayed uniform wear mechanisms, including abrasive and adhesive wear, while the wear damage level of the high-energy LSP-treated specimen was the mildest. Moreover, LSP-treated specimens exhibited lower corrosion current density and higher corrosion potential as compared with the untreated specimen, suggesting an enhancement in corrosion resistance. The hardened surface layer had positive effects on inhibiting furrow and spalling to resist material removal, and the compressive residual stress enhanced the adhesion of tribo-layers on the worn surface to protect the underlying layer from further damage. The grain refinement and compressive residual stress synergistically contributed to form compact passive films, thereby restraining the aggression of corrosive ions to enhance the corrosion resistance.
•LAM-fabricated CrMnFeCoNi HEA is treated by LSP.•LSP improves the wear and corrosion resistance of LAM-fabricated CrMnFeCoNi HEA.•The wear and corrosion mechanisms of CrMnFeCoNi HEA treated by LSP are discussed.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
During laser paint stripping of certain materials, flames could occur that may partially block the laser beam attenuating its intensity and contaminate the optics in addition to fire hazards. This ...paper demonstrates a laser paint stripping (LPS) technique that effectively suppressed combustion flames, plasma and sparks during the process. The samples used were aluminium alloy sheets with multi-layer paint coatings, provided by CRRC Changchun Railway Vehicles Co., Ltd. The laser beam was defocused to decrease the laser fluence and avoid the formation of sparks, while an inert gas, argon, was blown against the processed area to reduce the heat and oxygen around the beam material interaction zone and hence avoid the formation of combustion flames. The scanning speed of the laser beam was carefully controlled to ensure an appropriate pulse overlap and prevent the aluminium alloy substrate from being overheated. The results show that the painting was effectively removed with significant suppression of flames and sparks during the processing.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
The present work studies the microstructure and corrosion behaviour of 25 vol.% SiCp/AA2124-T4 metal matrix composites (MMCs) and AA2124-T4 aluminium alloy; and also the capability of excimer laser ...surface melting (LSM) to improve the corrosion resistance of the SiCp/AA2124 MMC and the monolithic alloy (MA). Microstructural characterization has shown significant influence of the presence and size of SiC particles on the fine Al2Cu precipitate and Mg segregation at SiC/Al interfacial regions. Such precipitates are revealed to be active sites for corrosion initiation in the MMCs, while the preferential sites for corrosion initiation in the MA are the coarse intermetallics. Corrosion evaluation performed in a 0.6 M NaCl solution suggests that the corrosion resistance of the MMC reinforced with micrometre-sized SiC particles is inferior to that of the MA and the MMC reinforced with submicrometre-sized SiC particles. The submicrometre-sized SiC particles have little adverse effect on the corrosion resistance of the MMC due to the reduced interfacial precipitates.Thin films of up to several micrometres have been achieved by excimer LSM on both the MMC and the MA. The surface roughness and the thickness of the melted layer increase with increasing laser fluence. High number of pulses (40 P) results in significant porosity in the MA and networks of cracking in the MMC. A homogeneous layer without chemical segregation except the Cu-rich segregation bands has been obtained on the MA; while complex microstructures are observed for the MMC, including the Cu-rich segregation bands, Al-Si eutectic structure and microsegregation-free structure laid in sequence from the bottom of the melted layer to the top surface. The modelling work suggest that the presence of SiC particles gives rise in high temperatures in the melt pool, which is useful to explain the materials responses upon laser irradiation, such as decomposition of SiC, evaporation of matrix alloy, and oxides formation. The fast cooling rate up to 1011 K/s is responsible for the formation of microsegregation-free structure.Corrosion evaluation has indicated improvement of corrosion resistance of the MMC and the MA after excimer LSM due to the reduction of the intermetallics. For the laser-melted MA, the corrosion behaviour is governed by the surface morphology and the porosity. The significant rippled structure obtained under high laser fluence could lead to crevice corrosion in the valley between the ripples whilst the pores could provide penetrating routes for the chloride solution to reach the Cu-rich segregation bands, leading to the delamination of the melted layer. For the laser-melted MMC, corrosion mainly initiated at the SiC remnants, which are rich in Si. The corrosion sites of the laser-melted MMC are in the form of small cracked blisters.
The present work studies the microstructure and corrosion behaviour of 25 vol.% SiCp/AA2124-T4 metal matrix composites (MMCs) and AA2124-T4 aluminium alloy; and also the capability of excimer laser ...surface melting (LSM) to improve the corrosion resistance of the SiCp/AA2124 MMC and the monolithic alloy (MA). Microstructural characterization has shown significant influence of the presence and size of SiC particles on the fine Al2Cu precipitate and Mg segregation at SiC/Al interfacial regions. Such precipitates are revealed to be active sites for corrosion initiation in the MMCs, while the preferential sites for corrosion initiation in the MA are the coarse intermetallics. Corrosion evaluation performed in a 0.6 M NaCl solution suggests that the corrosion resistance of the MMC reinforced with micrometre-sized SiC particles is inferior to that of the MA and the MMC reinforced with submicrometre-sized SiC particles. The submicrometre-sized SiC particles have little adverse effect on the corrosion resistance of the MMC due to the reduced interfacial precipitates. Thin films of up to several micrometres have been achieved by excimer LSM on both the MMC and the MA. The surface roughness and the thickness of the melted layer increase with increasing laser fluence. High number of pulses (40 P) results in significant porosity in the MA and networks of cracking in the MMC. A homogeneous layer without chemical segregation except the Cu-rich segregation bands has been obtained on the MA; while complex microstructures are observed for the MMC, including the Cu-rich segregation bands, Al-Si eutectic structure and microsegregation-free structure laid in sequence from the bottom of the melted layer to the top surface. The modelling work suggest that the presence of SiC particles gives rise in high temperatures in the melt pool, which is useful to explain the materials responses upon laser irradiation, such as decomposition of SiC, evaporation of matrix alloy, and oxides formation. The fast cooling rate up to 1011 K/s is responsible for the formation of microsegregation-free structure. Corrosion evaluation has indicated improvement of corrosion resistance of the MMC and the MA after excimer LSM due to the reduction of the intermetallics. For the laser-melted MA, the corrosion behaviour is governed by the surface morphology and the porosity. The significant rippled structure obtained under high laser fluence could lead to crevice corrosion in the valley between the ripples whilst the pores could provide penetrating routes for the chloride solution to reach the Cu-rich segregation bands, leading to the delamination of the melted layer. For the laser-melted MMC, corrosion mainly initiated at the SiC remnants, which are rich in Si. The corrosion sites of the laser-melted MMC are in the form of small cracked blisters.
Surface cleaning is an essential step within the manufacturing process that ensures and enhances the integrity of the final component. Conventional surface cleaning methods have various shortfalls ...leading to the need for a more controllable surface cleaning methods such as laser cleaning. By utilising the principle behind laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), an economical inline monitoring system is implemented in a laser cleaning cell, to achieve a closed-loop laser coating removal from tungsten carbide substrate. Cutting tests were performed on the re-coated laser coating removed inserts showing similar performance as compared to the as-received coated inserts.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Systemic inflammation may impair male fertility, and its underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. The present study investigates the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced systemic ...inflammation on the testis and epididymis in mice. Intraperitoneal injection of LPS significantly impaired testicular functions, including testosterone production, spermatogenesis, and blood–testis barrier permeability. The epididymitis characterized by leukocyte infiltration and fibrosis was observed in the cauda epididymis after LPS injection. LPS-induced testicular dysfunction and epididymitis were abolished in tumor necrosis factor alpha (Tnfa) knockout mice. Pomalidomide, a TNFA inhibitor, blocked the detrimental effects of LPS on the testis and epididymis. The results indicate that LPS-induced systemic inflammation impairs male fertility through TNFA production, suggesting that the intervention on TNFA production would be considered for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory impairment of male fertility. Summary Sentence LPS-induced systemic inflammation leads to testicular dysfunction and epididymitis through TNFA production in mice.
Mumps virus (MuV) infection frequently causes orchitis and impairs male fertility. However, the mechanisms underlying the innate immune responses to MuV infection in the testis have yet to be ...investigated. This study showed that MuV induced innate immune responses in mouse Sertoli and Leydig cells through TLR2 and retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) signaling, which result in the production of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, including TNF-α, IL-6, MCP-1, CXCL10, and type 1 interferons (IFN-α and IFN-β). By contrast, MuV did not induce the cytokine production in male germ cells. In response to MuV infection, Sertoli cells produced higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines but lower levels of type 1 IFNs than Leydig cells did. The MuV-induced cytokine production by Sertoli and Leydig cells was significantly reduced by the knockout of TLR2 or the knockdown of RIG-I signaling. The local injection of MuV into the testis triggered the testicular innate immune responses in vivo. Moreover, MuV infection suppressed testosterone synthesis by Leydig cells. This is the first study examining the innate immune responses to MuV infection in testicular cells. The results provide novel insights into the mechanisms underlying the MuV-induced innate immune responses in the testis.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
A prospective analysis investigating the associations between pathogenic copy number variations (pCNVs) and ultrasound soft markers (USMs) in fetuses and evaluating the clinical value of copy number ...variation sequencing (CNV-seq) in such pregnancy studies was carried out. 3,398 unrelated Chinese women with singleton pregnancies and undergone amniocentesis at 18-36 weeks of gestation for fetal CNV-seq were included. According to the prenatal fetal ultrasound screening results, the samples were divided into 3 groups: normal ultrasound (n = 2616), solitary USM (n = 663), and two or more USMs (n = 119). CNV-seq was performed successfully using all samples. The prevalence of pCNVs in fetuses with normal ultrasound and USMs was 3.03% (79/2616) and 2.94% (23/782), respectively. The risk of segmental aneuploidies was significantly higher in the two or more USMs group (5/119, 4.20%) than in the normal ultrasound (27/2616, 1.04%) or solitary USM (9/663, 1.36%) groups (p = 0.002 and p = 0.031, respectively). Assuming that the resolution of karyotyping is ~5 Mb, a cytogenetic analysis would miss 33 of 102 (32.35%) pCNVs in these samples. Our results suggest an association between pCNVs and fetal USMs; multiple USMs indicate an increased risk of fetal segmental aneuploidies. In prenatal diagnostic testing, CNV-Seq identified additional, clinically significant cytogenetic information.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
•Remodeling of actin microfilaments at the ectoplasmic specialization (ES) is crucial to confer spermatid transport.•ES remodeling is regulated by the coordinated effects of actin bundling and ...branched actin polymerization-inducing proteins.•Spermiation is an F-actin remodeling cellular event.
The transport of germ cells across the seminiferous epithelium is composed of a series of cellular events during the epithelial cycle essential to the completion of spermatogenesis. Without the timely transport of spermatids during spermiogenesis, spermatozoa that are transformed from step 19 spermatids in the rat testis fail to reach the luminal edge of the apical compartment and enter the tubule lumen at spermiation, thereby arriving the epididymis for further maturation. Step 19 spermatids and/or sperms that remain in the epithelium beyond stage VIII of the epithelial cycle will be removed by the Sertoli cell via phagocytosis to form phagosomes and be degraded by lysosomes, leading to subfertility and/or infertility. However, the biology of spermatid transport, in particular the final events that lead to spermiation remain elusive. Based on recent data in the field, we critically evaluate the biology of spermiation herein by focusing on the actin binding proteins (ABPs) that regulate the organization of actin microfilaments at the Sertoli–spermatid interface, which is crucial for spermatid transport during this event. The hypothesis we put forth herein also highlights some specific areas of research that can be pursued by investigators in the years to come.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
The mumps virus (MuV) causes epidemic parotitis. MuV also frequently infects the testis and induces orchitis, an important etiological factor contributing to male infertility. However, mechanisms ...underlying MuV infection of the testis remain unknown. Here, we describe that sialic acid, AXL, and MER receptor tyrosine kinases regulate MuV entry and replication in mouse major testicular cells, including Sertoli and Leydig cells. Sialic acid, AXL, and MER were present in Sertoli and Leydig cells. Sialic acid specifically mediated MuV entry into Sertoli and Leydig cells, whereas both AXL and MER facilitated MuV replication within cells through the inhibition of cellular innate antiviral responses. Mechanistically, the inhibition of type 1 interferon signaling by AXL and MER is essential for MuV replication in Sertoli and Leydig cells. Our findings provide novel insights into the mechanisms behind MuV infection and replication in the testis.
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