Disperse fine equiaxed α-Al2O3 nanoparticles with narrow size distribution are important materials in nanotechnology and nanomaterials, but syntheses of disperse fine equiaxed α-Al2O3 nanoparticles usually result in fine γ-Al2O3 nanoparticles or large α-Al2O3 nanoparticles larger than 15 nm. α-Al2O3 has a higher surface energy than γ-Al2O3 and becomes thermodynamically not stable with respect t...

The objective of the present study was to establish a method for quantitative analysis of von Willebrand factor (vWF) multimeric composition using a mathematical framework based on curve fitting. Plasma vWF multimers from 15 healthy subjects and 13 patients with advanced pulmonary vascular disease were analyzed by Western immunoblotting followed by luminography. Quantitative analysis of luminog...

The present work reports a discrete stress-dependent, complex compliance spectra method that may be used to predict the mechanical response of nonlinear viscoelastic polymers during creep and recovery processes. The method is based on the observation that the real and imaginary parts of a discrete complex compliance frequency spectra obtained from creep and recovery measurements are smooth, eas...

The present work addresses the various ingredients required for reliable finite element simulations of cold isostatic pressing (CIP) of metal powders. A plastic constitutive model for finite deformation is presented and implemented into an explicit finite element (FE) code. The FE implementation is verified so that numerical errors (both temporal and spatial errors) are kept under control. Ther...

Refractory oxide dispersion strengthened 13Cr-2Mo steel powder was successfully consolidated to near theoretical density using high voltage electric discharge compaction. Cylindrical samples with relative density from 90% to 97% and dimensions of 10 mm in diameter and 10-15 mm in height were obtained. Consolidation conditions such as pressure and voltage were varied in some ranges to determine ...

Binder jet printing (BJP) is a metal additive manufacturing method that manufactures parts with complex geometry by depositing powder layer-by-layer, selectively joining particles in each layer with a polymeric binder and finally curing the binder. After the printing process, the parts still in the powder bed must be sintered to achieve full densification (A. Mostafaei, Y. Behnamian, Y.L. Krime...

A new beam emission spectroscopy turbulence imaging system has recently been installed onto the MAST spherical tokamak. The system utilises a high-throughput, direct coupled imaging optics, and a single large interference filter for collection of the Doppler shifted D(α) emission from the ~2 MW heating beam of ~70 keV injection energy. The collected light is imaged onto a 2D array detector with...

Habitat loss, overexploitation, and numerous other stressors have caused global declines in apex predators. This "trophic downgrading" has generated widespread concern because of the fundamental role that apex predators can play in ecosystem functioning, disease regulation, and biodiversity maintenance. In attempts to combat declines, managers have conducted reintroductions, imposed stricter ha...

This study evaluates the disintegrant properties--tablet disintegration time (DT) and crushing strength--friability/disintegration time (CSFR/DT) ratio of a paracetamol tablet formulation prepared with sorghum and plantain starches in comparison with corn starch BP. The effects of disintegrant concentration, relative density of tablets and the mode of disintegrants addition were studied. The st...

Neighboring plants can affect the likelihood that a focal plant is attacked by herbivores. Both the density of conspecific neighbors (resource concentration or dilution effects) and the relative density of heterospecific neighbors (associational effects or effects of neighbor frequency) within the local neighborhood can affect herbivore load and plant damage. Understanding how these neighborhoo...