Ductile crack propagation with the strain-energy density criterion

The strain energy density criterion is used to characterize subcritical crack growth in a thin aluminum alloy sheet undergoing general yielding. A finite element analysis which incorporates both material and geometrical nonlinear behaviors of the cracked sheets is developed to predict fracture loads at varying crack growth increments. The predicted results are in excellent agreement with those measured experimentally, thus confirming the validity of the strain energy density criterion for characterizing ductile crack propagation.

Numerical Simulation of Heat Transfer and Kinetics in the Bulk Growth of Silicon Carbide

The growth process of 2-inch silicon carbide (SiC) single crystals by the physical vapor transport method (or modified Lely method) has been modeled and simulated. The comprehensive process model incorporates the calculations of radio frequency (RF) induction heating, heat and mass transfer and growth kinetics. The transport equations for electromagnetic field, heat transfer, and species transport are solved using a finite volume-based numerical scheme called MASTRAPP (Multizone Adaptive Scheme for Transport and Phase Change Process). Temperature distribution for a 2-inch growth system is calculated, and the effects of induction heating frequency and current on the temperature distribution and growth rate are investigated. The predicted results have been compared with the experimental data.

A Finite Element Analysis of a Crack Penetrating or Deflecting into an Interface in a Thin Laminate

The crack tip driving force of a crack growing from a pre-crack that is perpendicular to and terminating at an interface between two materials is investigated using a linear fracture mechanics theory. The analysis is performed both for a crack penetrating the interface, growing straight ahead, and for a crack deflecting into the interface. The results from finite element calculations are compared with asymptotic solutions for infinitesimally small crack extensions. The solution is found to be accurate even for fairly large amounts of crack growth. Further, by comparing the crack tip driving force of the deflected crack with that of the penetrating crack, it is shown how to control the path of the crack by choosing the adhesion of the interface relative to the material toughness.

Study On Buoyancy Convection Phenomenon In The Crystal Growth Process

Real-time phase shift Mach-Zehnder interference technique, imaging technique, and computer image processing technique were combined to perform a real-time diagnosis of NaClO3 crystal, which described both the dissolution process and the crystallization process of the NaClO3 crystal in real-time condition. The dissolution fringes and the growth fringes in the process were obtained. Moreover, a distribution of concentration field in this process was obtained by inversion calculation. Finally, the buoyancy convection phenomenon caused by gravity in the crystal growth process was analyzed. The results showed that this convection phenomenon directly influences the growth rate of each crystal face in the crystal.

Influence Of Micro-Impurity On Protein Crystal Growth Studied By The Etch Figure Method

The investigation of the effect of micro impurity on crystal growth by optical microscopy has been validated. The results showed that the growth rate of a lysozyme crystal was affected even if the concentration of impurity of fluorescent-labeled lysozyme (abbreviation, F-lysozyme) was very small. Different concentrations of F-lysozyme had different effects on crystal growth rate. The growth rate decreased much more as F-lysozyme concentration increased. The density of incorporated F-lysozyme on different grown layers of a lysozyme crystal during crystal growth was obtained from the results of flat-bottomed etch pits density. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Homoepitaxial growth of ZnO films via low-temperature liquid-phase epitaxy

Homoepitaxial ZnO films have been grown via liquid-phase epitaxy (LPE) on (000 1) oriented ZnO substrates. X-ray rocking curve revealed the high quality of the ZnO films with a FWHM of 40 arc sec. Films of thickness about 20 gm were gown in the temperature range 700-720 degrees C. The growth rate of ZnO films was estimated to be 0.3 mu m h(-1). Atomic force microscope analysis showed that the surface roughness of ZnO films was very low, which further confirmed the high crystallinity of ZnO films. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of water temperature on the growth performance and digestive enzyme activities of Chinese longsnout catfish (Leiocassis longirostris Gunther)

The present study was carried out to investigate the influence of water temperature on the growth performance and digestive enzyme (pepsin, trypsin and lipase) activities of Chinese longsnout catfish. Triplicate groups of Chinese longsnout catfish (35.6 +/- 0.48 g, mean +/- SE) were reared at different water temperatures (20, 24, 28 and 32 degrees C). The feeding rate (FR), specific growth rate (SGR) and feed efficiency ratio (FER) were significantly affected by water temperatures and regression relationships between water temperature and FI, SGR as well as FER were expressed as FR=-0.016T2+0.91T-10.88 (n=12, R2=0.8752), SGR=-0.026T2+1.39T-17.29 (n=12, R2=0.7599) and FER=-0.013T2+0.70T-8.43 (n=12, R2=0.7272). Based on these, the optimum temperatures for FR, SGR and FER were 27.66, 26.69 and 26.44 degrees C respectively. The specific activities of digestive enzymes at 24 or 28 degrees C were significantly higher than that at 20 or 32 degrees C. In addition, there was a significant linear regression between FR or SGR and specific activities of pepsin and lipase, which indicated that pepsin and lipase played important roles in regulating growth through nutrient digestion in Chinese longsnout catfish.

A one-year investigation of the relationship between serum GH levels and the growth of F-4 transgenic and non-transgenic common carp Cyprinus carpio

It has been demonstrated that growth hormone (GH) transgenic fish often posses a trait for fast growth. Here, we investigated the growth of F-4 'all-fish' GH transgenic carp Cyprinus carpio and their serum GH levels for a year. The results showed that F-4 all-fish GH transgenic carp were significantly larger in body mass (c. two-fold, P < 0 center dot 001) and body length (c. 1 center dot 3 fold, P < 0 center dot 001), compared with the non-transgenic group. The discrepancy of serum GH levels between the transgenic carp group and control group is 54 fold, when the water temperature was 12-34 degrees C. When the water temperature decreased to 3 center dot 5 degrees C in January, the discrepancy was 256 fold. The serum GH level of the transgenic group was relatively constant, while that of control varied greatly based on month and water temperature. The changes of growth rates between the transgenic group and the control group were similar for a year. Taken together, the results indicated that F-4 all-fish GH transgenic carp had not only higher and constant serum GH levels but also a significant fast-growing effect, compared with the control. To our knowledge, this is the first report on a one-year investigation of growth trait and serum growth hormone level in F-4 all-fish GH transgenic carp.

The effect of different dietary iron levels on growth and hepatic iron concentration in juvenile gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio)

P>An 83-day growth trial was conducted using a flow-through system to examine the effects of different dietary iron levels on growth and hepatic iron concentration in juvenile gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio). Six purified diets supplemented with different levels of iron (0, 10, 30, 60, 100 and 200 mg kg(-1)) (as ferrous sulfate) were fed to triplicate groups of fish (initial weight 2.12 +/- 0.00 g per fish). The results showed that the addition of iron to the basal diet did not significantly affect the specific growth rate (SGR), feed efficiency (FE), survival, red blood cell amount (RBC), hemoglobin content (Hb), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH) or mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC). Hepatic iron concentration and hematocrit (Hct) were significantly influenced by dietary iron level (P < 0.05). On the basis of the iron concentration for the maintenance of optimum hepatic iron concentration and Hct, it was concluded that the dietary iron concentration of juvenile gibel carp should be not less than 202 mg Fe kg(-1) diet.

Effects of dietary ascorbic acid supplementation on the growth performance, immune and stress response in juvenile Leiocassis longirostris Gunther exposed to ammonia

This experiment was designed to investigate the effect of dietary supplemental ascorbic acid (AA) on the feed intake, growth, serum lysozyme, hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD) and handling stress response in Chinese longsnout catfish (Leiocassis longirostris Gunther) exposed to three levels of unionized ammonia nitrogen (UIA-N). Juvenile Chinese longsnout catfish were reared in 54 fibreglass tanks with a 3 x 3 factorial design treatment consisting of three supplemental AA levels in ascorbyl 2-monophosphate (38, 364 and 630 mg AA equivalent kg(-1) diet) and three UIA-N concentrations [0.004 (the control), 0.037 and 0.292 mg L-1]. The fish were sampled on the 11th, 32nd and 60th day. On the 62nd day, the remaining fish were subjected to an acute stress by being held in a dipnet out of water for 60 s, and sampled at 30 min post handling. The results showed that the specific growth rate (SGR) in 32 days significantly decreased with increased water UIA-N (P=0.0476) but was not affected by dietary supplemental AA (P > 0.05). After 60 days, SGR, feeding rate (FR) and feed conversion efficiency (FCE) significantly increased with increased dietary supplemental AA (P < 0.001) while remaining unaffected by water UIA-N (P > 0.05). There was no significant interaction between dietary AA and UIA-N for growth responses (P > 0.05). The serum lysozyme activity on the 11th day and the hepatic SOD activity on the 32nd day were significantly affected at high (0.292 mg L-1) water UIA-N. On the 62nd day, the increase in cortisol resulting from acute stress significantly decreased by higher UIA-N (P=0.038). It is suggested that Chinese longsnout catfish displayed an adaptive response after long-term UIA-N exposure, and AA had beneficial effects on the growth and feed intake of catfish and alleviated the negative effects of chronic ammonia stress. A chronically higher ammonia level shows a tendency to inhibit the cortisol response to another acute stressor.

Effects of solar UV radiation on diurnal photosynthetic performance and growth of Gracilaria lemaneiformis (Rhodophyta)

Previous studies on diurnal photosynthesis of macroalgal species have shown that at similar levels of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR, 400-700nm) the photosynthetic rate is lower in the afternoon than in the morning. However, the impacts of solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR, 280-400nm) have been little considered. We investigated the diurnal photosynthetic behaviour of the economically significant red alga Gracilaria lemaneiformis in the absence or presence of UV-A+B or UV-B with a flow-through system. While UV-A and UV-B, respectively, inhibited noontime Pmax by 22% and 14% on the sunny days, UV-A during sunrise (PAR below about 50Wm-2) increased the net photosynthesis by about 8% when compared with PAR alone. UV-A + PAR also resulted in higher apparent photosynthetic efficiency in the morning than in the afternoon period than PAR alone. Nevertheless, integrated daytime photosynthetic production under solar PAR alone was higher than with either PAR + UV-A+B or PAR + UV-A. Relative growth rate in the long term (9 days) matched the integrated photosynthetic production in that UV-A led to 9-15% and UV-B to 19-22% reduction, respectively. UV-absorbing compounds were found to be higher in the thalli exposed to PAR+UV-A+B than under PAR alone, reflecting a protective response to UVR.

Effects of dietary manganese on growth and tissue manganese concentrations of juvenile gibel carp, Carassius auratus gibelio

A 68-day growth trial was conducted in a flow-through system to determine the effect of dietary manganese levels on growth and tissue manganese concentration of juvenile gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio). Seven purified diets containing 7.21, 8.46, 9.50, 10.50, 13.03, 19.72 and 22.17 mg manganese (as manganic sulfate) per kilogram diet were fed to triplicate groups of fish (initial weight 3.21 +/- 0.01 g). The results showed that dietary manganese levels did not significantly affect feed intake of the fish. Specific growth rate, feed efficiency, total hepatic superoxide dismutase activity, carcass and skeletal manganese concentration increased significantly with increased dietary manganese(P < 0.05) while condition factor decreased significantly(P < 0.05). It was concluded that dietary requirement of manganese was 13.77 mg Mn per kilogram diet. Carcass and skeletal manganese concentration could also be used to evaluate the manganese requirement. Total hepatic superoxide dismulase activity was not a sensitive indicator for dietary requirement.

Light histories influence the impacts of solar ultraviolet radiation on photosynthesis and growth in a marine diatom, Skeletonema costatum

Phytoplanktonic species acclimated to high light are known to show less photoinhibition. However, little has been documented on how cells grown under indoor conditions for decades without exposure to UV radiation (UVR, 280-400 nm) would respond differently to solar UVR compared to those in situ grown under natural solar radiation. Here, we have shown the comparative photosynthetic and growth responses to solar UVR in an indoor-(IS) and a naturally grown (WS) Skeletonema costatum type. In short-term experiment (<1 day), phi(PSII) and photosynthetic carbon fixation rate were more inhibited by UVR in the IS than in the WS cells. The rate of UVR-induced damages of PSII was faster and their repair was significantly slower in IS than in WS. Even under changing solar radiation simulated for vertical mixing, solar UVR-induced higher inhibition of photosynthetic rate in IS than in WS cells. During long-term (10 days) exposures to solar radiation, the specific growth rate was much lower in IS than WS at the beginning, then increased 3 days later to reach an equivalent level as that of WS. UVR-induced inhibition of photosynthetic carbon fixation in the IS was identical with that of WS at the end of the long-term exposure. The photosynthetic acclimation was not accompanied with increased contents of UV-absorbing compounds, indicating that repair processes for UVR-induced damages must have been accelerated or upgraded. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Photosynthesis and growth of Arthrospira (Spirulina) platensis (Cyanophyta) in response to solar UV radiation, with special reference to its minor variant

The minor variant of the economically important cyanobacterium, Arthrospira platensis, usually appears in commercial production ponds under solar radiation. However, how sensitive the minor variant to solar UVR and whether its occurrence relates to the solar exposures are not known. We investigated the photochemical efficiency of PSII and growth rate of D-0083 strain and its minor variant in semi-continuous cultures under PAR (400-700 nm) alone, PAR + UV-A (320-400 nm) and PAR + UV-A + UV-B (280-700 nm) of solar radiation. The effective quantum yield of D-0083 at 14:00 p.m. decreased by about 86% under PAR, 87% under PAR + UV-A and 92% under PAR + UV-A + UV-B (280-315 nm), respectively. That of the minor variant was reduced by 93% under PAR and to undetectable values in the presence of UV-A or UV-A + UV-B. Diurnal change of the yield showed constant pattern during long-term (10 days) exposures, high in the early morning and late afternoon but the lowest at noontime in both strains, with the UVR-related inhibition being always higher in the variant than D-0083. During the long-term exposures, cells of D-0083 acclimated faster to solar UV radiation and showed paralleled growth rates among the treatments with or without UVR at the end of the experiment; however, growth of the minor variant was significantly reduced by UV-A and UV-B throughout the period. Comparing to the major strain D-0083, the minor variant was more sensitive to UVR in terms of its growth, quantum yield and acclimation to solar radiation. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Effect of dietary carbohydrate-to-lipid ratios on growth and feed utilization in Chinese longsnout catfish (Leiocassis longirostris Gunther)

An 8-week growth trial was carried out in a semi-recirculation system at 26 +/- 0.5 degrees C to investigate the optimal dietary carbohydrate-to-lipid (CHO:L) ratio for carnivorous Chinese longsnout catfish (Leiocassis longirostris Gunther). Triplicate tanks of fish were assigned to each of five isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets with different carbohydrate-to-lipid ratios (0.75, 1.48, 1.98, 2.99 and 5.07). The results showed that a higher specific growth rate (SGR) and feed rate (FR) were observed in the fish fed diet ratios of 1.98 CHO:L (P < 0.05). Overloading dietary carbohydrate (5.07 CHO:L ratio) caused skeletal malformations. Apparent digestibility of dry matter (ADC(d)) significantly increased with dietary CHO:L ratio (P < 0.05), while significantly higher apparent digestibility of protein (ADC(p)) and apparent digestibility of energy (ACD(e)) was observed only in the 1.98 CHO:L group (P < 0.05). Whole body contents of dry matter, lipid and energy significantly increased as the CHO:L ratio decreased (P < 0.05). The hepatosomatic index (HSI) was highest at 1.98 CHO:L ratio (P < 0.05). Highest dietary CHO:L ratio resulted in lower liver glycogen, liver lipid, plasma glucose and plasma triacylglycerol (P < 0.05), whereas there was no significant difference in plasma total cholesterol (P > 0.05). High dietary CHO:L ratio caused pathological changes in fish morphology and liver histology. Based on maximum growth, the optimal carbohydrate-to-lipid ratio was 1.98 for Chinese longsnout catfish.