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In this study, the accumulative roll bonding (ARB) method, a severe plastic deformation (SPD) process, was used to fabricate copper-2 wt% silicon carbide composite strips. The ARB process was successfully conducted for up to nine cycles on pure copper strips with silicon carbide particles distributed between them, as well as on monolithic copper. Equiaxed tensile and Vickers hardness tests were conducted to evaluate the mechanical properties of the samples. SEM was utilized to study the fracture surfaces and to determine the fracture mechanism of ARB processed monolithic copper and composite samples after the tensile test. Texture parameters were calculated through X-ray analysis. The Rietveld method using MAUD software were employed to assess the crystallite size of the samples. Results indicated that average amount of porosity decreased and interface bonding between copper strip layers improved with increasing the number of ARB cycles. Moreover, an increased number of cycles led to homogeneous distribution of SiC particles within the copper matrix. The tensile strength of the fabricated composites improved with an increase in the number of cycles, ultimately reaching 483 MPa after nine cycles, compared to 388 MPa for the composite processed with a single cycle of ARB and 194 MPa for annealed copper strips. Initially, the elongation of the composite samples decreased dramatically to about 6% after applying five cycle of ARB process from the 46% observed for annealed pure copper strip. However, it improved as the process continued, reaching 8.9% after the ninth cycle. Investigation of fracture surfaces after the tensile test using SEM revealed that the dominant failure mode was shear ductile fracture. Analysis of sample textures demonstrated that the dominant texture was (100). Crystallite sizes for pure copper and nine cyclesrolled composites, as determined by Reitveld method, reached 111 nm and 89 nm, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Rubber Industry is the property of Editorial Office of China Rubber Industry and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The effect of the rolling process and modes of continuous induction annealing until the state of secondary recrystallization of a brass strip on its properties and texture parameters is studied. Their close interrelation is explained. Directions for reducing the variance of the quality characteristics are considered and examples of their implementation are presented, i.e., the use of indirect texture control, advancement of systems of online management, application of statistical spectral analysis for detecting and eliminating the causes of high-frequency inhomogeneities of the quality characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the accumulative roll bonding (ARB) method, a severe plastic deformation (SPD) process, was used to fabricate copper-2 wt% silicon carbide composite strips. The ARB process was successfully conducted for up to nine cycles on pure copper strips with silicon carbide particles distributed between them, as well as on monolithic copper. Equiaxed tensile and Vickers hardness tests were conducted to evaluate the mechanical properties of the samples. SEM was utilized to study the fracture surfaces and to determine the fracture mechanism of ARB processed monolithic copper and composite samples after the tensile test. Texture parameters were calculated through X-ray analysis. The Rietveld method using MAUD software were employed to assess the crystallite size of the samples. Results indicated that average amount of porosity decreased and interface bonding between copper strip layers improved with increasing the number of ARB cycles. Moreover, an increased number of cycles led to homogeneous distribution of SiC particles within the copper matrix. The tensile strength of the fabricated composites improved with an increase in the number of cycles, ultimately reaching 483 MPa after nine cycles, compared to 388 MPa for the composite processed with a single cycle of ARB and 194 MPa for annealed copper strips. Initially, the elongation of the composite samples decreased dramatically to about 6% after applying five cycle of ARB process from the 46% observed for annealed pure copper strip. However, it improved as the process continued, reaching 8.9% after the ninth cycle. Investigation of fracture surfaces after the tensile test using SEM revealed that the dominant failure mode was shear ductile fracture. Analysis of sample textures demonstrated that the dominant texture was (100). Crystallite sizes for pure copper and nine cycles-rolled composites, as determined by Reitveld method, reached 111 nm and 89 nm, respectively.

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

• Microstructure and texture of a NGOES produced via double stage cold rolling is influenced by the intermediate thickness. • Grain size after final annealing is decreased in samples with higher cold rolling reduction of the second rolling step. • Overall magnetic quality of the texture can be seen to improve with a higher intermediate thickness. • Polarization in rolling direction and transversal direction is improved at higher intermediate thickness. • Anisotropy of magnetic properties increases at higher intermediate thickness. Non-grain oriented electrical steels (NGOES) are typically used in electric applications with rotating magnetic fields and thus essential for the production of electric motors. The increasing number of electric vehicles results in a growing demand for electrical steel sheets used in the stacked laminations of rotor and stator components. E-mobility applications require the best possible magnetic properties for optimum performance and efficiency, especially at high frequencies. In addition, increased mechanical strength is necessary to withstand the centrifugal forces resulting from high revolution speeds. Chemical composition, microstructure and crystallographic texture strongly influence the magnetic properties, whereas the mechanical properties are mainly affected by the chemical composition and grain size. Optimizing the texture is a possible method for improving the magnetic properties without significantly compromising the mechanical strength. In this work a special processing route for the production of 3.25% Si NGOES sample material has been studied, using laboratory cold rolling and annealing facilities. Compared to the classical processing route of single stage cold rolling and annealing, this alternative method involves two cold rolling steps with an intermediate annealing treatment between the first and second rolling sequence and a final annealing treatment after the second rolling step. The samples were produced with different intermediate thicknesses, changing the amount of cold rolling deformation of each sample variation. The degree of deformation affects the recrystallization and grain growth behavior and thus the resulting microstructure and texture. The microstructural and textural evolution was investigated in the hot rolled, intermediate annealed and final annealed state using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Finished samples were additionally examined using magnetic testing and tensile testing. The results indicate a correlation between the intermediate thickness and the final grain size of the steel samples. Furthermore, the highly grain size dependent mechanical strength and magnetic losses are influenced. EBSD-data were used to interpret the texture and to calculate a parameter describing the magnetic quality of the texture. The results show a strong improvement of magnetically favorable texture components along with increasing intermediate thickness, enabling significantly better polarization values in rolling direction and transversal direction. However, anisotropy of the magnetic properties increases as well due to the textural changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate effects of fish protein hydrolysate (FPH) supplementation in plant protein based diets for tiger puffer (Takifugu rubripes) on growth performance, intestinal peptide and amino acid transporters, and the expression of protein synthesis-related genes and texture parameters in muscle. Tiger puffer were fed negative and positive control diets with 280 and 400 g/kg fish meal (LFM and HFM) or test diets containing 52 and 104 g/kg FPH supplement as 60 and 120 g/kg fish meal (FPH6 and FPH12) substitute for 56 days. Each diet was randomly fed to triplicate groups of 30 fish per tank. Growth parameters (final body weight, weight gain and specific growth rate) in the LFM group were significantly lower than that of the HFM group (p < 0.05), while no differences in those growth results were observed among the FPH6, FPH12 and HFM groups (p > 0.05). Compared with the LFM group, the expressions of intestinal PepT1, EAAT3, PAT1 and y+LAT2 were up-regulated in the FPH12 and HFM groups, while intestinal CAT1 and B°AT1 mRNA levels showed opposite trends. To protein synthesis-related gene expression, compared with the LFM group, mRNA levels of TOR and S6k1 was not significantly affected by dietary treatments, but mRNA level of 4E-BP1 increased in the FPH12 group. Lower chewiness and higher adhesiveness were observed when FPH was supplemented to the diets. In conclusion, FPH supplementation in plant protein based diets demonstrated a sparing effect on fish meal, without the negative effect on the growth of tiger puffer.

BackgroundEsophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an aggressive type of cancer, associated with poor prognosis. The development of an accurate and non-invasive method to evaluate the pathologic response of patients with ESCC to chemoradiotherapy remains a critical issue. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the importance of vascular permeability and texture parameters in predicting the response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) in patients with ESCC.MethodsThis prospective analysis included patients with T1–T2 stage of ESCC, without either lymphatic or metastasis, and distant metastasis. All patients underwent surgery having received two rounds of NACRT. All patients underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) twice, i.e., before the first NACRT and after the second NACRT. Patients were assessed for treatment response at 30 days after the second NACRT. Patients were divided into the complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) groups based on their responses to NACRT. Vascular permeability and texture parameters were extracted from the DCE-MRI scans. After assessing the diagnostic performance of individual parameters, a combined model with vascular permeability and texture parameters was generated to predict the response to NACRT.ResultsIn this study, the CR and PR groups included 16 patients each. The volume transfer constant (Ktrans), extracellular extravascular volume fraction (ve), and entropy values, as well as changes to each of these parameters, extracted from the second DCE-MRI scans, showed significant differences between the CR and PR groups. The area under the curve (AUC) of Ktrans, ve, and entropy values showed good diagnostic ability (0.813, 0.789, and 0.707, respectively). A logistic regression model combining Ktrans, ve, and entropy had significant diagnostic ability (AUC=0.977).ConclusionsThe use of a combined model with vascular permeability and texture parameters can improve post-NACRT prognostication in patients with ESCC.

Background: Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is an aggressive type of cancer, associated with poor prognosis. The development of an accurate and non-invasive method to evaluate the pathologic response of patients with ESCC to chemoradiotherapy remains a critical issue. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the importance of vascular permeability and texture parameters in predicting the response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NACRT) in patients with ESCC. Methods: This prospective analysis included patients with T1–T2 stage of ESCC, without either lymphatic or metastasis, and distant metastasis. All patients underwent surgery having received two rounds of NACRT. All patients underwent dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI) twice, i.e., before the first NACRT and after the second NACRT. Patients were assessed for treatment response at 30 days after the second NACRT. Patients were divided into the complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) groups based on their responses to NACRT. Vascular permeability and texture parameters were extracted from the DCE-MRI scans. After assessing the diagnostic performance of individual parameters, a combined model with vascular permeability and texture parameters was generated to predict the response to NACRT. Results: In this study, the CR and PR groups included 16 patients each. The volume transfer constant (Ktrans), extracellular extravascular volume fraction (ve), and entropy values, as well as changes to each of these parameters, extracted from the second DCE-MRI scans, showed significant differences between the CR and PR groups. The area under the curve (AUC) of Ktrans, ve, and entropy values showed good diagnostic ability (0.813, 0.789, and 0.707, respectively). A logistic regression model combining Ktrans, ve, and entropy had significant diagnostic ability (AUC=0.977). Conclusions: The use of a combined model with vascular permeability and texture parameters can improve post-NACRT prognostication in patients with ESCC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The texture, structure and mechanical properties of thick strips from brass L63 produced by different methods and then annealed in a continuous cycle in a transverse magnetic field or statically (in coils) in an in-and-out furnace are studied. The effect of the mode of preliminary treatment on the relation between the texture and the properties of the annealed strips is considered. Reliable enough equations relating the texture parameter used earlier for controlling fcc materials and low-alloy alloys based on them with the properties of the strips are derived. The prospects and the efficiency of online texture control of the properties of thick strips subjected to continuous induction annealing are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Results of X-ray investigations of dependence of the crystallographic texture of hafnium and zirconium on degrees of cold rolling are presented. To obtain numerical principles, the method of inverse pole figures (IPF) with calculation of the texture parameters of Kearns (TP) for a chosen direction has been used. Measuring was carried out in the plane of the plates, as well as in the other two directions relating to rolling. The trigonal diagram of TP changes with degrees of deformation was built. Two stages of TP changes with deformation degrees are revealed: rate of the TP changes at the initial stage and, in part, characteristics of the subsequent stage depend on the initial texture of the materials. The second stage is characterized either by achievement of a minimum of TP in the rolling direction of the plates, or by moderate and even slight changes of them. In an example of hafnium, it has established that the increased rate of initial changes in TP is exclusively associated with intensive twinning predominantly by the {10‾12} system. Arguments for dominance of twinning in the texture formation in hafnium and zirconium on the subsequent stage of rolling deformation are given

• Double stage cold rolled samples exhibit a pronounced η-fiber and γ-fiber. • Overall magnetic quality of the texture can be seen to improve with a higher intermediate annealing temperature. • Polarization is improved at higher intermediate annealing temperatures. • Magnetic losses decrease at higher intermediate annealing temperatures. Non-grain oriented electrical steels (NGOES) are commonly used as stacked laminations of rotors and stators in electrical vehicles. In order to achieve the best performance and efficiency for the motor, NGOES need the best possible magnetic properties of high polarization and low magnetic losses. Two important aspects influencing these magnetic properties are the grain size and the crystallographic texture of the material. Grain size and texture of the finished steel strongly depend on the production route and the processing parameters. Another important aspect besides the magnetic properties is the mechanical strength, which is needed to withstand the centrifugal forces, accounted with high rotational speed in high frequency applications. In this work a special processing route for the production of 3.25% Si NGOES sample material has been studied, using laboratory cold rolling and annealing facilities. Compared to the classical processing route of cold rolling and annealing, this alternative method involves two cold rolling steps with an intermediate annealing treatment between the first and second rolling step and a final annealing treatment after the second rolling sequence. The samples were heat treated at different intermediate and final annealing temperatures, influencing the recrystallization and grain growth behavior and thus the resulting microstructure and texture. Finished samples were examined using magnetic testing, tensile testing, light imaging microscopy and by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). The results indicate a correlation between the two annealing treatments (intermediate and final) and the final grain size of the steel samples. Furthermore the highly grain size dependent magnetic losses are influenced. EBSD-data was used to interpret the texture and to calculate a parameter describing the magnetic quality of the texture. The results show a strong improvement of magnetically favorable texture components along with increasing intermediate annealing temperatures, enabling significantly better magnetic properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to identify ultrasound parameters reflecting subchondral porosity (Po), subchondral plate thickness (Tpl) and bone volume fraction at the trabecular bone region (BV/TVTb). Sixteen osteoarthritic human lateral femoral condyles were evaluated ex vivo using a 15-MHz pulsed-echo ultrasound 3-D scanning system. The cartilage-subchondral bone (C-B) surface region (layer 1) and inner subchondral bone region (layer 2) were analyzed; we newly introduced entropy (ENT) and correlation (COR) of ultrasound texture parameters of the parallel (x) or perpendicular (z) direction to the C-B interface for this analysis. Po, Tpl and BV/TVTb were evaluated as reference measurements using micro-computed tomography. ENTL1x (ENT of layer 1, x-direction) and ENTL1z were significantly correlated with Po (both r values = 0.58), CORL2x with Tpl (r = -0.73) and CORL2z with BV/TVTb (r = -0.66). These are efficient indicators of the characteristics of osteoarthritis-related subchondral bone; the other texture parameters were not significant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) has become one of the most important ways to extract post-disaster collapsed building information, due to its extreme versatility and almost all-weather, day-and-night working capability, etc. In view of the fact that the inherent statistical distribution of speckle in SAR images is not used to extract collapsed building information, this paper proposed a novel texture feature of statistical models of SAR images to extract the collapsed buildings. In the proposed feature, the texture parameter of G0 distribution from SAR images is used to reflect the uniformity of the target to extract the collapsed building. This feature not only considers the statistical distribution of SAR images, providing more accurate description of the object texture, but also is applied to extract collapsed building information of single-, dual- or full-polarization SAR data. The RADARSAT-2 data of Yushu earthquake which acquired on April 21, 2010 is used to present and analyze the performance of the proposed method. In addition, the applicability of this feature to SAR data with different polarizations is also analysed, which provides decision support for the data selection of collapsed building information extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a heterogeneous clutter model named \mathcal L distribution is introduced into the level set method for segmentation of high-resolution polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (PolSAR) images. Level set methods are robust and effective techniques for segmentation. However, traditional level set methods for PolSAR data are based on the complex Wishart distribution, which is not an applicable model to high-resolution PolSAR images and heterogeneous regions such as forest and urban areas. The \mathcal L distribution is proved to be a highly flexible model for multilook PolSAR data, which is based on the product model with a generalized-gamma-distributed texture component. The \mathcal L -model-based level set segmentation method is assessed using C-band, X-band, and L-band PolSAR data acquired by RADARSAT-2, TerraSAR-X, and ESAR sensors, respectively. Experimental results show that the \mathcal L-distribution model has a better capacity for characterizing high-resolution PolSAR data, especially for extremely heterogeneous regions. Compared with the Wishart-model-based and Kummer-U-model-based level set methods and Markov random field based methods, it is observed that the proposed level set algorithm can obtain more precise segmentation results. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Optical remote sensing is still one of the most attractive choices for obtaining leaf area index (LAI) information, but currently may be derived from remotely sensed data with limited accuracy. Effective leaf area index (LAIe) of montane evergreen broad-leaved forest in southwest Sichuan was inventoried and assessed in 83 sample field plots of 20 m×20 m using different types of image processing techniques, including simple spectral band, simple spectral band ratios and principal component. Texture information was extracted by gray level co-occurrence matrices (GLCM) from different types of processing image. The results showed that there were correlations of different degrees between LAIe and texture parameters, and highly significant correlations were observed between LAIe with the homogeneity of the B1 band, B1 / B4 band ratio or principal component PC1. Using texture information of remotely sensed data as auxiliary variables, we developed geostatistics models. Compared with the model based on NDVI auxiliary variable, the accuracy of LAIe were improved, presenting an increase by 5. 3% with the homogeneity of the B1 band, 11. 0% with the homogeneity B1 / B4 band ratio, and 14. 5% with the homogeneity principal component PC1, and the statistical errors were also reduced to some extent. The optimal LAIe model of spatial geostatistics was obtained when taking NDVI and homogeneity principal component PC1 as auxiliary variables (R2 =0. 840,RMSE =0. 212). Our results provided a new way to estimate regional spatial distribution of LAI using other auxiliary variables besides the vegetation index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative physical models for non-oriented electrical steels require precise knowledge of chemical and microstructural parameters for the material, with crystallographic texture being one of the most important. Describing the structure–property relationships in these materials is made difficult in that all of the parameters have an effect on magnetic properties. In the present study, a set of non-oriented electrical steel specimens are examined, where chemistry and grain size are kept similar from sample to sample, but texture is varied. A new texture parameter called Magnetic Texture Factor is introduced which is defined as the ratio of the volume fractions of 〈100〉 direction to 〈111〉 direction along magnetization vector. It was found that this Magnetic Texture Factor was a better parameter for identifying trends of magnetic properties with crystallographic texture than the often used Texture Factor , which is described as the ratio of the volume fractions of {100} planes to {111} planes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-lubricated bearings are essential parts of marine propulsion systems. However, severe friction and wear of water-lubricated bearings usually occur under marine running conditions. Surface texture technology has been verified as an effective method for improving material tribological properties and been successfully applied in many fields. Here, the effects of surface spherical-platform texture parameters on the tribological performance of water-lubricated bearings were investigated using 9 types of spherical-platform textured high density polyethylene (HDPE) specimens, manufactured using 3D printer technology. Two groups of tests with different applied loads and rotational speeds were performed to simulate low-speed and heavy-load conditions of water-lubricated bearings. By analyzing the friction coefficient, wear mass loss, and surface topography, spherical-platform textures were concluded to have had a positive effect on the tribological performance of water-lubricated bearings. Specimens with 1/2 spherical-platform texture showed the best ability to promote the wedge-shaped effect and cavitation effect of lubrication, which improved the bearing tribological performance. This study provided an experimental foundation for optimizing the surface texture of water-lubricated bearings. • A new spherical-platform texture with 9 kinds of parameter for water-lubricated bearings was manufactured and studied. • The wedge effect and the cavitation effect were promoted by the spherical-platform texture to improve the tribological performance. • The specimen with 1/2 spherical-platform texture and 1 mm upper surface diameter presented the best tribological properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work developed a phase congruency algorithm combined with texture analysis to quantitatively characterize collagen morphology in second-harmonic generation (SHG) images from human scars. The extracted phase and texture parameters of the SHG images quantified collagen directionality, homogeneity, and coarseness in scars and varied with scar duration. Phase parameters showed an increasing tendency of the mean of phase congruency with scar duration, indicating that collagen fibers are better oriented over time. Texture parameters calculated from local difference local binary pattern (LD-LBP) and Haar wavelet transform, demonstrated that the LD-LBP variance decreased and the energy of all subimages increased with scar duration. It implied that collagen has a more regular pattern and becomes coarser with scar duration. In addition, the random forest regression was used to predict scar duration, demonstrating reliable performance of the extracted phase and texture parameters in characterizing collagen morphology in scar SHG images. Results indicate that the extracted parameters using the proposed method can be used as quantitative indicators to monitor scar progression with time and can help understand the mechanism of scar progression.