Interface structure and formation mechanism of diffusion-bonded joints of TiAl-based alloy to titanium alloy

Vacuum diffusion bonding of a TiAl based alloy (TAD) to a titanium alloy (TC2) was carried out at 1 273 K for 15～120 min under a pressure of 25 MPa . The kinds of the reaction products and the interface structures of the joints were investigated by SEM, EPMA and XRD. Based on this, a formation mechanism of the interface structure was elucidated. Experimental and analytical results show that two reaction layers have formed during the diffusion bonding of TAD to TC2. One is Al rich α(Ti)layer adjacent to TC2,and the other is (Ti 3Al+TiAl)layer adjacent to TAD,thus the interface structure of the TAD/TC2 joints is TAD/(Ti 3Al+TiAl)/α(Ti)/TC2.This interface structure forms according to a three stage mechanism,namely(a)the occurrence of a single phase α(Ti)layer;(b)the occurrence of a duplex phase(Ti 3Al+TiAl)layer;and(c)the growth of the α(Ti)and (Ti 3Al+TiAl)layers.

Diffusion and sound absorption properties of the quadratic residue diffuser structure with perforated panel

Acoustic structure study always is the academic research interest. Diffusion ab？sorbing structure（DiflFsorber） has good research value because it has both diflFusion property and sound absorption property. Quadratic residue diffusers（QRD） structure which had good diffusion property was combined with the perforated panel which had good sound absorption property in this study. According to standard AES-4id-2001, the diffusion experiments were carried out to study QRD structure and ones composited with perforated-panels which had1 mm-thickness and perforated percentage of 3%, 5%, 8% respectively. The polar coordinate diagrams of different structure were analyzed to derive the diffusion coefficients. Results showed that the composite structure still had good diffusion performance in the frequency range from100 Hz to 800 Hz. The reflection sound energy of composite structure reduced obviously in the perforated panel resonance frequency range where there was about 2 dB reduction averagely.The study result can provide the reference for the design and development of diifsorber.

Recent development of transient electronics

Transient electronics are an emerging class of electronics with the unique characteristic to completely dissolve within a programmed period of time. Since no harmful byproducts are released, these electronics can be used in the human body as a diagnostic tool, for instance, or they can be used as environmentally friendly alternatives to existing electronics which disintegrate when exposed to water. Thus, the most crucial aspect of transient electronics is their ability to disintegrate in a practical manner and a review of the literature on this topic is essential for understanding the current capabilities of transient electronics and areas of future research. In the past, only partial dissolution of transient electronics was possible, however, total dissolution has been achieved with a recent discovery that silicon nanomembrane undergoes hydrolysis. The use of single- and multi-layered structures has also been explored as a way to extend the lifetime of the electronics. Analytical models have been developed to study the dissolution of various functional materials as well as the devices constructed from this set of functional materials and these models prove to be useful in the design of the transient electronics.

Candidate Biomarkers in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Review of MRI Studies

Searching for effective biomarkers is one of the most challenging tasks in the research ？eld of Autism Spectrum Disorder（ASD）. Magnetic resonance imaging（MRI） provides a non-invasive and powerful tool for investigating changes in the structure, function, maturation,connectivity, and metabolism of the brain of children with ASD. Here, we review the more recent MRI studies in young children with ASD, aiming to provide candidate biomarkers for the diagnosis of childhood ASD. The review covers structural imaging methods, diffusion tensor imaging, resting-state functional MRI, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Future advances in neuroimaging techniques, as well as cross-disciplinary studies and largescale collaborations will be needed for an integrated approach linking neuroimaging, genetics, and phenotypic data to allow the discovery of new, effective biomarkers.

General synthesis of sponge-like ultrafine nanoporous metals by dealloying in citric acid

A general method is proposed to synthesize ultrafine nanoporous Cu, Ag, and Ni with novel sponge-like morphologies, high porosities, and large surface areas. The materials are produced by dealloying Mgc~/IzsY10 （M = Cu, Ag, and Ni） metallic glasses in citric acid. Citric acid played a key role due to its capping effect, which reduced the surface diffusion of metals. A structural model consistent with the sponge-like morphology was constructed to calculate the porosity and the surface area. The mechanism of the dealloying process in citric acid, involving ligament formation and coarsening, was illustrated. The mechanism was capable of explaining the experimental trends of dealloying, especially the morphology. A glucose sensor, which can be further developed into a high-precision real-time glucose monitor for medical use, was constructed using sponge-like nanoporous copper. Our findings are not only relevant to understanding the dealloying mechanism of metallic glasses, but also provide promising materials for multiple applications.

Can multi-modal neuroimaging evidence from hippocampus provide biomarkers for the progression of amnestic mild cognitive impairment?

Impaired structure and function of the hippocampus is a valuable predictor of progression from amnestic mild cognitive impairment（a MCI） to Alzheimer＇s disease（AD）. As a part of the medial temporal lobe memory system,the hippocampus is one of the brain regions affected earliest by AD neuropathology,and shows progressive degeneration as a MCI progresses to AD. Currently,no validated biomarkers can precisely predict the conversion from a MCI to AD. Therefore,there is a great need of sensitive tools for the early detection of AD progression. In this review,we summarize the specifi c structural and functional changes in the hippocampus from recent a MCI studies using neurophysiological and neuroimaging data. We suggest that a combination of advanced multi-modal neuroimaging measures in discovering biomarkers will provide more precise and sensitive measures of hippocampal changes than using only one of them. These will potentially affect early diagnosis and disease-modifying treatments. We propose a new sequential and progressive framework in which the impairment spreads from the integrity of fibers to volume and then to function in hippocampal subregions. Meanwhile,this is likely to be accompanied by progressive impairment of behavioral and neuropsychological performance in the progression of a MCI to AD.