Various solution-treatments were applied on a rapidly solidified and subsequently rolled Mg-7.50Al-1.07Ca-0.17Mn (mass%) alloy sheet, and a room-temperature stretch formability, tensile properties, ...microstructures, and textures of the solution-treated sheets have been investigated. Although the solution-treatment at 400 °C gives high strengths, the sheet shows poor room-temperature stretch formability with the Index Erichsen value of 4.8 mm due to densely dispersed second phase particles. Also, the particles tend to distribute to the rolling direction, leading to limited elongation to failure of 11.0% along the transverse direction. The solution-treatment at higher temperature leads to the sparse and relatively uniform dispersion of the particles. This results in the significant improvement in the room-temperature stretch formability and ductility. The Index Erichsen increases to 6.8 mm by the solution-treatment at 450 °C for 4 h, and the sheet shows large elongation to failure of 19.1% and 17.1% along the rolling and transverse directions, respectively. The sheet also exhibits high strengths and in-plane isotropic properties, tensile strength over 320 MPa and 0.2% proof stress of ~180 MPa could be obtained due to fine grain structure with the average grain size of 9.5 μm.
Electron-boson coupling plays a key role in superconductivity for many systems. However, in copper-based high-critical temperature (
) superconductors, its relation to superconductivity remains ...controversial despite strong spectroscopic fingerprints. In this study, we used angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy to find a pronounced correlation between the superconducting gap and the bosonic coupling strength near the Brillouin zone boundary in Bi
Sr
CaCu
O
The bosonic coupling strength rapidly increases from the overdoped Fermi liquid regime to the optimally doped strange metal, concomitant with the quadrupled superconducting gap and the doubled gap-to-
ratio across the pseudogap boundary. This synchronized lattice and electronic response suggests that the effects of electronic interaction and the electron-phonon coupling (EPC) reinforce each other in a positive-feedback loop upon entering the strange-metal regime, which in turn drives a stronger superconductivity.
Mapping of terrestrial chlorophyll fluorescence from space has shown potential for providing global measurements related to gross primary productivity (GPP). In particular, space-based fluorescence ...may provide information on the length of the carbon uptake period. Here, for the first time we test the ability of satellite fluorescence retrievals to track seasonal cycle of photosynthesis as estimated from a diverse set of tower gas exchange measurements from around the world. The satellite fluorescence retrievals are obtained using new observations near the 740nm emission feature from the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment 2 (GOME-2) instrument offering the highest temporal and spatial resolution of available global measurements. Because GOME-2 has a large ground footprint (~40×80km2) as compared with that of the flux towers and the GOME-2 data require averaging to reduce random errors, we additionally compare with seasonal cycles of upscaled GPP estimated from a machine learning approach averaged over the same temporal and spatial domain as the satellite data surrounding the tower locations. We also examine the seasonality of absorbed photosynthetically-active radiation (APAR) estimated from satellite measurements. Finally, to assess whether global vegetation models may benefit from the satellite fluorescence retrievals through validation or additional constraints, we examine seasonal cycles of GPP as produced from an ensemble of vegetation models. Several of the data-driven models rely on satellite reflectance-based vegetation parameters to derive estimates of APAR that are used to compute GPP. For forested (especially deciduous broadleaf and mixed forests) and cropland sites, the GOME-2 fluorescence data track the spring onset and autumn shutoff of photosynthesis as delineated by the upscaled GPP estimates. In contrast, the reflectance-based indicators and many of the models, particularly those driven by data, tend to overestimate the length of the photosynthetically-active period for these biomes. Satellite fluorescence measurements therefore show potential for improving the seasonal dependence of photosynthesis simulated by global models at similar spatial scales.
•Satellite fluorescence captures seasonality of gross primary productivity.•Satellite fluorescence may help improve modeling of carbon uptake period.•Satellite fluorescence better indicator of photosynthesis than vegetation indices
An anomalous in-plane anisotropy was found in a basal-textured Mg–Al–Zn alloy sheet due to a minor fraction of transverse direction (TD)-orient (0001) poles induced high activation of tensile ...twinning. This led to deteriorated tensile properties along the TD, emphasizing an importance of microtexture designing for wrought magnesium with high-performance.
•A basal-textured AZ31 alloy contains a minor fraction of TD-orient (0001) poles.•TD-orient grains favor the activation of tensile twinning during the TD-tension.•High fraction of tensile twinning leads to deteriorated strength and ductility.
According to the ‘Adhesion–Decalcification’ concept, specific functional monomers within dental adhesives can ionically interact with hydroxyapatite (HAp). Such ionic bonding has been demonstrated ...for 10-methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP) to manifest in the form of self-assembled ‘nano-layering’. However, it remained to be explored if such nano-layering also occurs on tooth tissue when commercial MDP-containing adhesives (Clearfil SE Bond, Kuraray; Scotchbond Universal, 3M ESPE) were applied following common clinical application protocols. We therefore characterized adhesive-dentin interfaces chemically, using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), and ultrastructurally, using (scanning) transmission electron microscopy (TEM/STEM). Both adhesives revealed nano-layering at the adhesive interface, not only within the hybrid layer but also, particularly for Clearfil SE Bond (Kuraray), extending into the adhesive layer. Since such self-assembled nano-layering of two 10-MDP molecules, joined by stable MDP-Ca salt formation, must make the adhesive interface more resistant to biodegradation, it may well explain the documented favorable clinical longevity of bonds produced by 10-MDP-based adhesives.
We clarified the role of Zn on the mechanical properties and texture evolution in Mg-1.2Al-0.5Ca-0.4Mn-xZn (wt.%, x = 0, 0.8 and 1.6) alloy sheets fabricated by twin-roll casting and hot rolling. The ...room temperature stretch formability of the solution-treated sheet is improved with increasing Zn content, x. The Mg-1.2Al-0.5Ca-0.4Mn-1.6Zn alloy shows excellent stretch formability with the largest Index Erichsen value of 8.2 mm due to a weak transverse direction split texture. The development of the transverse direction split texture is attributed to the preferential nucleation of recrystallized grains at double twin boundaries promoted by the moderate segregation of Zn and Al. Subsequent artificial aging at 170 °C for 2 h (T6) leads to a substantial increase in strength without loss of ductility. The peak-aged Mg-1.2Al-0.5Ca-0.4Mn-1.6Zn alloy exhibits a high tensile yield stress of 210 MPa with an excellent elongation of 30.1% because of the dense dispersion of Guinier Preston zones within the Mg matrix. The insights gained in this work would establish a base for rational design and fabrication of bake-hardenable magnesium alloy sheet with excellent room temperature formability and high strength.
Display omitted
•This work established a base to design strong and formable magnesium alloy sheets.•The Zn addition is effective to achieve excellent room temperature formability.•The Zn addition changes recrystallization mechanism during the heat treatment.•The addition of Zn increases the number density of G.P. zone formed during aging.
Besides chemically interacting with hard tooth tissue, acidic functional monomers of self-etch adhesives should etch the prepared tooth surface to dissolve the smear layer and to provide surface ...micro-retention. Although the etching efficacy of functional monomers is commonly determined in terms of pH, the pH of adhesives cannot accurately be measured. Better is to measure the hydroxyapatite (HAp)–dissolving capacity, also considering that functional monomers may form monomer-Ca salts. Here, the etching efficacy of 6 functional monomers (GPDM, phenyl-P, MTEGP, 4-META, 6-MHP and 10-MDP) was investigated. Solutions containing 15 wt% monomer, 45 wt% ethanol, and 40 wt% water were prepared. Initially, we observed enamel surfaces exposed to monomer solution by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). X-ray diffraction (XRD) was employed to detect monomer-Ca salt formation. Phenyl-P exhibited a strong etching effect, while 10-MDP–treated enamel showed substance deposition, which was identified by XRD as 10-MDP–Ca salt. To confirm these SEM/XRD findings, we determined the etching efficacy of functional monomers by measuring both the concentration of Ca released from HAp using inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) and the amount of monomer-Ca salt formation using 31P magic-angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). ICP-AES revealed that the highest Ca concentration was produced by phenyl-P and the lowest Ca concentration, almost equally, by 4-META and 10-MDP. Only 10-MDP formed 10-MDP–Ca salts, indicating that 10-MDP released more Ca from HAp than was measured by ICP-AES. Part of the released Ca was consumed to form 10-MDP–Ca salts. It is concluded that the repeatedly reported higher bonding effectiveness of 10-MDP–based adhesives must not only be attributed to the more intense chemical bonding of 10-MDP but also to its higher etching potential, a combination the other functional monomers investigated lack.
The successful application of various nanoplatforms in medicine under
in vitro conditions has generated some interest in agri-nanotechnology. This technology holds the promise of controlled release ...of agrochemicals and site targeted delivery of various macromolecules needed for improved plant disease resistance, efficient nutrient utilization and enhanced plant growth. Processes such as nanoencapsulation show the benefit of more efficient use and safer handling of pesticides with less exposure to the environment that guarantees ecoprotection. The uptake efficiency and effects of various nanoparticles on the growth and metabolic functions vary differently among plants. Nanoparticle mediated plant transformation has the potential for genetic modification of plants for further improvement. Specifically, application of nanoparticle technology in plant pathology targets specific agricultural problems in plant–pathogen interactions and provide new ways for crop protection. Herein we reviewed the delivery of nanoparticulate materials to plants and their ultimate effects which could provide some insights for the safe use of this novel technology for the improvement of crops.
Remote sensing of terrestrial vegetation fluorescence from space is of interest because it can potentially provide global coverage of the functional status of vegetation. For example, fluorescence ...observations may provide a means to detect vegetation stress before chlorophyll reductions take place. Although there have been many measurements of fluorescence from ground- and airborne-based instruments, there has been scant information available from satellites. In this work, we use high-spectral resolution data from the Thermal And Near-infrared Sensor for carbon Observation - Fourier Transform Spectrometer (TANSO-FTS) on the Japanese Greenhouse gases Observing SATellite (GOSAT) that is in a sun-synchronous orbit with an equator crossing time near 13:00 LT. We use filling-in of the potassium (K) I solar Fraunhofer line near 770 nm to derive chlorophyll fluorescence and related parameters such as the fluorescence yield at that wavelength. We map these parameters globally for two months (July and December 2009) and show a full seasonal cycle for several different locations, including two in the Amazonia region. We also compare the derived fluorescence information with that provided by the MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI). These comparisons show that for several areas these two indices exhibit different seasonality and/or relative intensity variations, and that changes in fluorescence frequently lead those seen in the EVI for those regions. The derived fluorescence therefore provides information that is related to, but independent of the reflectance.
Mild self-etch adhesives demineralize dentin only partially, leaving hydroxyapatite around collagen within a submicron hybrid layer. We hypothesized that this residual hydroxyapatite may serve as a ...receptor for chemical interaction with the functional monomer and, subsequently, contribute to adhesive performance in addition to micro-mechanical hybridization. We therefore chemically characterized the adhesive interaction of 3 functional monomers with synthetic hydroxyapatite, using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. We further characterized their interaction with dentin ultra-morphologically, using transmission electron microscopy. The monomer 10-methacryloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (10-MDP) readily adhered to hydroxyapatite. This bond appeared very stable, as confirmed by the low dissolution rate of its calcium salt in water. The bonding potential of 4-methacryloxyethyl trimellitic acid (4-MET) was substantially lower. The monomer 2-methacryloxyethyl phenyl hydrogen phosphate (phenyl-P) and its bond to hydroxyapatite did not appear to be hydrolytically stable. Besides self-etching dentin, specific functional monomers have additional chemical bonding efficacy that is expected to contribute to their adhesive potential to tooth tissue.