Size Of Ribbons Research Articles

Structural responses of heterogeneous FeB(P)CCu amorphous alloys under nanoindentation

The nano-scaled structural heterogeneity is closely associated with the magnetic softness and mechanical properties of Fe-based amorphous alloys. However, limited by the shape and size of ribbons, the details of the atomic-scale structural evolution in ribbons under external stimulation are still missing. In this work, Maxwell-Voigt model with 2 K units and 1 Mx unit was employed to investigate the structural response of FeBCCu amorphous ribbons by substitution of P for B during creeping process under nanoindentation. The P-added alloy exhibited a more sensitive mechanical response at various loading rates, especially for the reduction of hardness and the increase of maximum indentation depth and creep displacement. With the help of creep analysis using above Maxwell-Voigt model, both types of defects were inclined to be activated at a quasi-static loading mode in P-added alloy, and the small size defects seemed to be easily activated and finally coupled into large defects in the fast loading mode, revealing the atomic diffusion and reconstruction process of activated defects. These types of defects evolved into the response of structural heterogeneity to external stimulation, manifesting a large deformation behavior during creeping. This work enlightens the comprehensive insights into the evolution of structural defects in Fe-based amorphous ribbons and has certain guiding significance for the structural design of high-performance alloys.

Head and neck radiotherapy causes significant disruptions of cochlear ribbon synapses and consequent sensorineural hearing loss

PurposeTo investigate the possible effects of head and neck radiotherapy on hearing function in mice. MethodAdult C57BL/6J mice were irradiated to the head and neck once with cobalt-60 rays at doses of 10 Gy or 20 Gy. Hearing function was estimated by the detection of auditory brainstem response (ABR) thresholds and the suprathreshold function of cochlear was indicated by the peak amplitudes and latencies of wave I. The mice were tested on days 1, 7, 14, and 21 after radiation treatment, and untreated mice in littermates served as controls. The cochlear pre-synaptic ribbons were labeled using an anti-RIBEYE/CtBP2 antibody, and the synaptic vesicle membrane was traced using anti-vesicular glutamate transporter 3 (VGLUT-3) antibody. The number and size of the pre-synaptic ribbons were counted along the cochlear axis from the apex to the base. The expression of VGLUT-3 was measured by the intensity of immunofluorescence. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was also performed to evaluate the structural changes in the cochlea. ResultsCompared with the controls, mice treated with 10 Gy and 20 Gy doses on days 1, 7, 14, and 21 were found to have significant disruptions in ABR thresholds and amplitudes (p < 0.05). Moreover, mice in the 20 Gy group, compared with the 10 Gy group, showed greater hearing loss and suprathreshold deficits (p < 0.05). Quantitative analysis revealed a decrease in the number and size of CtBP2-positive puncta in both the 10 Gy and 20 Gy groups compared with the controls (p < 0.05); in the 20 Gy group, the number and size of CtBP2-positive puncta were less than those in the 10 Gy group (p < 0.05). We observed a significant disruption in the expression of VGLUT-3 in the group treated with 20 Gy. However, compared with the control group, both immunofluorescence and H&E staining revealed no significant changes in the number of hair cells or the array for the 10 or 20 Gy treatments (p > 0.05). ConclusionRadiation therapy targeting the head and neck can cause sensorineural hearing loss via disruption specific to the cochlear ribbon synapses. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that cochlear ribbon synapses may be a subcellular target of radiation-induced hearing loss.

Ti Addition Effect on the Grain Structure Evolution and Thermoelectric Transport Properties of Hf0.5Zr0.5NiSn0.98Sb0.02 Half-Heusler Alloy.

Compositional tuning is one of the important approaches to enhance the electronic and thermal transport properties of thermoelectric materials since it can generate point defects as well as control the phase evolution behavior. Herein, we investigated the Ti addition effect on the grain growth during melt spinning and thermoelectric transport properties of Hf0.5Zr0.5NiSn0.98Sb0.02 half-Heusler compound. The characteristic grain size of melt-spun ribbons was reduced by Ti addition, and very low lattice thermal conductivity lower than 0.27 W m−1 K−1 was obtained within the whole measured temperature range (300–800 K) due to the intensified point defect (substituted Ti) and grain boundary (reduced grain size) phonon scattering. Due to this synergetic effect on the thermal transport properties, a maximum thermoelectric figure of merit, zT, of 0.47 was obtained at 800 K in (Hf0.5Zr0.5)0.8Ti0.2NiSn0.98Sb0.02.

Correlation of composition, cooling rate and superheating temperature with solidification behaviors and microstructures of Al–Bi–Sn ribbons

In this paper, Al85Bi6Sn9, Al75Bi9Sn16, Al60Bi14.4Sn25.6 and Al45Bi19.8Sn35.2 immiscible alloys ribbons were prepared using a single-roller melt-spinning technique. The influences of the composition, the rotating speed of copper roller and the melt superheating temperature were investigated in terms of the thickness, width, phase constitution and microstructures of Al–Bi–Sn ribbons. The results showed that the (Al), (Bi) and (Sn) solid solution phases existed in all the investigated Al–Bi–Sn ribbons. When the rotating speed was larger than 2000 revolutions per minute (rpm), the amorphous phase also was formed. The thickness of ribbons increased and the width decreased with the increase in the aluminum content or with the descent in the melt superheating temperature. The grain sizes of Sn–Bi-rich phase and Al-rich phase decreased gradually with the increases in the rotating speed, the aluminum content or the distance to the free surface. Although there was no obvious macrosegregation under the rapid solidification, the microsegregation still occurred under the rapid solidification. In addition, the grain size of Al75Bi9Sn16 ribbons had a minimum value after the melt superheating treatment at 910 °C. The impact of melt thermal treatment on the microstructure was analyzed from the views of thermodynamics and kinetics. The changes in the grain size and morphology were attributable to the differences in migration rate, solidification rate and the time of liquid-liquid phase separation (L-LPS). The results are conducive for understanding the effects of composition and melt treatment on the microstructures of immiscible alloys.

Structure and inverse magnetocaloric effect in Ni-Co-Mn-Sn(Si) Heusler alloys

In the presented work, a systematic study of crystal structure, microstructure, magneto-structural behavior and inverse magnetocaloric effect in the Ni44Co6Mn39Sn11-xSix (x = 1, 2 at.%) Heusler alloys, obtained by conventional casting and rapid solidification process, have been performed. All alloys, independently of the chemical composition, i.e. different addition of Si and fabrication process (melt-spinning and induction melting) were fully martensitic at ambient temperature. This was the case in spite of the large difference in the mean grain size of ribbons compared to bulk. Interestingly, the microstructure of ribbons consists of larger grains of about 5–20 μm in diameter with martensitic relief and smaller cells of about 1 μm. The crystal structure of both ribbons and bulk was identified as modulated six-layered (12 M) martensite with five additional spots between main reflections in the reciprocal space. The characteristic temperatures of the martensitic transformation were lower for melt-spun ribbons with respect to bulk. This may be connected with the grain refinement, internal stresses and high density of dislocations caused by rapid solidification process. Moreover, the addition of Si enhances the transformation temperatures. The calculated values of magnetic entropy change were higher for bulk alloys than ribbons.

Structure and magnetic properties of Alnico ribbons

Al-Ni-Co alloy has been widely applied in various industrial fields due to its excellent thermal and magnetic stability. In this paper, new Al-Ni-Co ribbons are prepared by simple processes combining melt-spinning with annealing, and their phase transition, microstructure and magnetic properties are studied. The results show that after as-spun ribbons are annealed, the grain size of ribbons increases from 1.1 ± 0.3 μm to 4.8 ± 0.8 μm, but still much smaller than that of the bulk Al-Ni-Co alloy manufactured by traditional technologies. In addition, some rod-like Al70Co20Ni10-type, Al9Co2-type and Fe2Nb-type phases are precipitated at grain boundaries; simultaneously, the distinct spinodal decomposition microstructure with periodic ingredient variation is thoroughly formed in all grains by the reaction of α → α1 + α2. Furthermore, the α1 and α2 distribute alternately like a maze, the Fe-Co-rich α1 phase holds 35.9–47.3 vol%, while the Al-Ni-rich α2 phase occupies the rest. Finally, the coercivity of annealed ribbons can reach to 485.3 ± 76.6 Oe. If the annealed ribbons are further aged at 560 °C, their Hc even increases to 738.1 ± 81.0 Oe. The coercivity mechanism is discussed by the combination of microstructure and domain structure.

Microstructure and phase transition of Fe-24Cr-12Co-1.5Si ribbons

Fe-24Cr-12Co-1.5Si ribbons were prepared by simple melt spinning and aging processes, and their microstructure and phase transition were studied. The average grain size of the aged ribbons is ∼4.22 μm, much smaller than that of traditional bulk Fe-Cr-Co alloy. The as-spun ribbons are mainly composed of BCC-type α and FCC-type Cr(M). During aging treatment, the Cr(M) phase firstly partly transforms into (CrSi)0.99(FeCo)1.01 at the initially higher aging temperature, accompanied by the continuous spinodal decomposition of α→α1+α2, and at the lower aging temperature the residual Cr(M) and α turn into Fe(Si,M)2 (M = Cr, Co) and Co2Si rather than (CrSi)0.99(FeCo)1.01. And a new uniform cellular microstructure is formed in the ribbons after multi-stage aging, in which the (Fe,Co)-rich α1 phase is located in the cellular interior, while the Cr-rich α2 phase concentrates in the cellular boundaries.

Fano Resonance in a Metasurface Composed of Graphene Ribbon Superlattice

We present a metasurface composed of graphene ribbon superlattice that supports plasmonic Fano resonance in a simple symmetric configuration. Without the necessity of changing the geometry size of graphene ribbons, we tune the Fano resonance of the metasurface containing identical graphene ribbons by simply changing the global or local periods of the superlattice. The increase of the global period of the superlattice leads to a blue-shift of the broad resonance of the bright mode, while the increase of the local period leads to simultaneous shifts of the broad resonance of the bright mode and the sharp resonance of the dark mode toward opposite direction with respect to each other. The resonance shift mechanism can be well explained by the restoring force model for longitudinal dipole arrays. In addition, the overall spectral position of the Fano resonance can be actively tuned by the fermi level of graphene ribbons. Our methods provide a simple and flexible pathway to tune the plasmonic Fano resonance, which holds great potentials for tunable biosensing and slow light applications with improved performance.

Spatial Gradients in the Size of Inner Hair Cell Ribbons Emerge Before the Onset of Hearing in Rats.

The size and locations of pre-synaptic ribbons and glutamate receptors within and around inner hair cells are correlated with auditory afferent response features such as the spontaneous discharge rate (SR), threshold, and dynamic range of sound intensity representation (the so-called SR-groups). To test if the development of these spatial gradients requires experience with sound intensity, we quantified the size and spatial distribution of synaptic ribbons from the inner hair cells of neonatal rats before and after the onset of hearing (from post-natal day (P) 3 to P33). To quantify ribbon size, we used high resolution fluorescence confocal microscopy and 3-D reconstructions of immunolabeled ribbons. The size, density, and spatial distribution of ribbons changed during development. At P3, ribbons were densely clustered near the basal/modiolar face of the hair cell where low SR-groups preferentially contact adult hair cells. By P12, the disparity in ribbon count was less striking and ribbons were equally likely to occupy both faces. At all ages before P12, ribbons were larger on the modiolar face than on the pillar face. These differences initially grew larger with age but collapsed around the onset of hearing. Between P12 and P33, the spatial gradients remained small and began to re-emerge around P33. Even by P12, we did not find spatial gradients in the size of the post-synaptic glutamate receptors as is found on afferent terminals contacting adult inner hair cells. These results suggest that spatial gradients in ribbon size develop in the absence of sensory experience.

Innervation regulates synaptic ribbons in lateral line mechanosensory hair cells

Failure to form proper synapses in mechanosensory hair cells, the sensory cells responsible for hearing and balance, leads to deafness and balance disorders. Ribbons are electron-dense structures that tether synaptic vesicles to the presynaptic zone of mechanosensory hair cells where they are juxtaposed with the post-synaptic endings of afferent fibers. They are initially formed throughout the cytoplasm, and, as cells mature, ribbons translocate to the basolateral membrane of hair cells to form functional synapses. We have examined the effect of post-synaptic elements on ribbon formation and maintenance in the zebrafish lateral line system by observing mutants that lack hair cell innervation, wild-type larvae whose nerves have been transected and ribbons in regenerating hair cells. Our results demonstrate that innervation is not required for initial ribbon formation but suggest that it is crucial for regulating the number, size and localization of ribbons in maturing hair cells, and for ribbon maintenance at the mature synapse.

Innervation regulates synaptic ribbons in lateral line mechanosensory hair cells.

Failure to form proper synapses in mechanosensory hair cells, the sensory cells responsible for hearing and balance, leads to deafness and balance disorders. Ribbons are electron-dense structures that tether synaptic vesicles to the presynaptic zone of mechanosensory hair cells where they are juxtaposed with the post-synaptic endings of afferent fibers. They are initially formed throughout the cytoplasm, and, as cells mature, ribbons translocate to the basolateral membrane of hair cells to form functional synapses. We have examined the effect of post-synaptic elements on ribbon formation and maintenance in the zebrafish lateral line system by observing mutants that lack hair cell innervation, wild-type larvae whose nerves have been transected and ribbons in regenerating hair cells. Our results demonstrate that innervation is not required for initial ribbon formation but suggest that it is crucial for regulating the number, size and localization of ribbons in maturing hair cells, and for ribbon maintenance at the mature synapse.

Spontaneous and Partial Repair of Ribbon Synapse in Cochlear Inner Hair Cells After Ototoxic Withdrawal.

Ototoxicity is one of the major causes of sensorineural deafness. However, it remains unclear whether sensorineural deafness is reversible after ototoxic withdrawal. Here, we report that the ribbon synapses between the inner hair cells (IHCs) and spiral ganglion nerve (SGN) fibers can be restored after ototoxic trauma. This corresponds with hearing restoration after ototoxic withdrawal. In this study, adult mice were injected daily with a low dose of gentamicin for 14 consecutive days. Immunostaining for RIBEYE/CtBP2 was used to estimate the number and size of synaptic ribbons in the cochlea. Hearing thresholds were assessed using auditory brainstem responses. Auditory temporal processing between IHCs and SGNs was evaluated by compound action potentials. We found automatic hearing restoration after ototoxicity withdrawal, which corresponded to the number and size recovery of synaptic ribbons, although both hearing and synaptic recovery were not complete. Thus, our study indicates that sensorineural deafness in mice can be reversible after ototoxic withdrawal due to an intrinsic repair of ribbon synapse in the cochlea.

Dynamic changes in hair cell ribbon synapse induced by loss of spiral ganglion neurons in mice

Background Previous studies have suggested that primary degeneration of hair cells causes secondary degeneration of spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs), but the effect of SGN degeneration on hair cells has not been studied. In the adult mouse inner ear ouabain can selectively and permanently induce the degeneration of type 1 SGNs while leaving type 2 SGNs, efferent fibers, and sensory hair cells relatively intact. This study aimed to investigate the dynamic changes in hair cell ribbon synapse induced by loss of SGNs using ouabain application to the round window niche of adult mice. Methods In the analysis, 24 CBA/CAJ mice aged 8-10 weeks, were used, of which 6 normal mice were used as the control group. After ouabain application in the round window niche 6 times in an hour, ABR threshold shifts at least 30 dB in the three experimental groups which had six mice for 1-week group, six for 1-month group, and six for 3-month group. All 24 animals underwent function test at 1 week and then immunostaining at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months. Results The loss of neurons was followed by degeneration of postsynaptic specializations at the afferent synapse with hair cells. One week after ouabain treatment, the nerve endings of type 1 SGNs and postsynaptic densities, as measured by Na/K ATPase and PSD-95, were affected but not entirely missing, but their partial loss had consequences for synaptic ribbons that form the presynaptic specialization at the synapse between hair cells and primary afferent neurons. Ribbon numbers in inner hair cells decreased (some of them broken and the ribbon number much decreased), and the arrangement of the synaptic ribbons had undergone a dynamic reorganization: ribbons with or without associated postsynaptic densities moved from their normal location in the basal membrane of the cell to a more apical location and the neural endings alone were also found at more apical locations without associated ribbons. After 1 month, when the neural postsynaptic densities had completed their degeneration, most ribbons were lost and the remaining ribbons had no contact with postsynaptic densities; after 3 months, the ribbon synapses were gone except for an occasional remnant of a CtBP2-positive vesicle. Hair cells were intact other than the loss of ribbons (based on immunohistochemistry and DPOAE). Conclusion These findings define the effect of SGN loss on the precise spatiotemporal size and location of ribbons and the time course of synaptic degeneration and provide a model for studying plasticity and regeneration.

Size and boundary scattering controlled contribution of spectral phonons to the thermal conductivity in graphene ribbons

Although graphene holds great promise in thermal applications owing to its superior thermal conductivity, an intriguing question remains as to which polarizations and frequencies are dominant in its heat conduction. In this work, by incorporating the direction-dependent phonon-boundary scattering and the special selection rule for three-phonon scattering into the linearized phonon Boltzmann transport equation, we systematically investigate the relative contributions from longitudinal-acoustic, transverse-acoustic, and out-of-plane acoustic (ZA) branches to the thermal conductivity of graphene ribbons, focusing on the effects of their size and temperature. We find that the relative contribution from ZA branch to heat conduction increases with decreasing the size, specularity parameter, and temperature of graphene ribbons. Our analysis reveals that this change arises from the huge difference in the phonon dispersion and in the phonon mean free path of Umklapp process between in-plane and out-of-plane branches.

Structural, thermal and magnetic properties of Fe–Si–B–P–Cu melt-spun ribbons: Application of non-isothermal kinetics and the amorphous random anisotropy model

The microstructural variation of Fe–Si–B–P–Cu melt-spun ribbons was analyzed on the basis of non-isothermal kinetics and the amorphous random anisotropy model. The magnitude of latent heat of the crystallization process obtained from DSC curves increases with the increase of quenching wheel speed. The apparent activation energies of the nucleation and growth of α-Fe nanocrystallites increase as the quenching wheel speed increases. Thermal analysis implies that the size of the local short-medium order (cluster) in melt-spun ribbons reduces with the increase of quenching wheel speed. Meanwhile, magnetic measurements display that the coercivity of the stress-released ribbons decreases with the increasing quenching wheel speed. This confirms the thermal analysis results on the basis of the amorphous random anisotropy model. Combing thermal analysis with magnetic measurements, it is believed that the cluster size of the melt-spun ribbons decreases with the increase of the cooling rate during melt-spinning process. Nanocrystalline alloy with desirable microstructure and soft magnetic properties is anticipated to be obtained from an amorphous alloy prepared at an appropriate cooling rate by adjusting the quenching wheel speed.

The magnetocaloric effect and hysteresis properties of melt-spun Gd5Si1.8Ge1.8Sn0.4 alloy

The master Gd5Si1.8Ge1.8Sn0.4 MCE alloy was prepared by the arc-melt method. The alloy was re-melted and melt-spun by single-roller melt spinning at different copper wheel speeds. Temperature-dependent x-ray diffraction (XRD) and magnetic measurement confirm the first-order magnetic–crystallographic transition of as-cast Gd5 Si1.8Ge1.8Sn0.4. From powder XRD results, the melt-spun technique preserves the monoclinic phase of Gd5Si1.8Ge1.8Sn0.4 but broadens the corresponding Bragg reflection which implies the smaller crystalline size of the melt-spun ribbons. For the spun ribbons, the refrigerant capacity (RC) is comparable to that of the as-prepared Gd5Si1.8Ge1.8Sn0.4. The thermal (∼9.2 K) and magnetic hysteresis (∼62 J kg−1 at 270 K) near TC of the as-cast alloy have been significantly reduced (∼4 K and ∼5.7 J kg−1 to ∼7.5 J kg−1 for ribbons, respectively) with the help of the melt-spun technique. The low hysteresis and large RC values make the spun ribbons suitable for magnetic refrigeration application near room temperature.

Preparation of C60 Ribbons by in situ Crystallization in a Microfluidic System

Abstract This letter reports a fabrication method for C60 crystalline thin ribbons using a microfluidic system. The bulk size of the C60 ribbons is controlled by hydrodynamic force.

Bi3+/M2+ Oxyphosphate: A Continuous Series of Polycationic Species from the 1D Single Chain to the 2D Planes. Part 1: From HREM Images to Crystal-Structure Deduction

This work deals with the crystal-structure deduction of new structural types of Bi3+-M2+ oxyphosphates (M is a transition element) from HREM images. Previous studies showed the unequivocal attribution of particular HREM contrasts to the corresponding Bi/M/O-based polycationic species in similar materials. On this basis, the examination of isolated crystallites of polyphased samples led to new HREM contrasts assigned to new polycationic species in three new structural types. This helped us to solve one crystal structure, and the two other forms have been deduced through HREM image decoding. It helped to model the investigated materials from the structural point of view as well as the chemical one. The three assumed crystal structures are formed by polycationic ribbons, n tetrahedra wide, surrounded by PO4 groups, as already encountered in these series of oxyphosphates. However, here we deal with the original n= 4-6 cases, whereas, up to this work, only the n= 1-3 ribbons have been reported. The greater size of ribbons is associated with particular structural modifications responsible for complex HREM contrasts. The validity of the proposed models is verified in Part 2 of this work.

Ultrastructural and biochemical responses of photoreceptor pinealocytes to light and dark in vivo and in vitro

The teleost pineal organ contains functional photoreceptors that synapse with pinealofugal neurons. This study examined the effects of environmental lighting on protein content and levels of putative amino acid transmitters, as well as structural components associated with protein synthesis and neurotransmission. Goldfish subjected to continual illumination for 3 days tended to have increased pineal levels of free amino acids and protein compared to dark adapted glands. Similar responses to environmental lighting occurred in cultured glands suggesting a functional relationship to photosensory mechanisms. Morphometric ultrastructural analyses of pineal photoreceptors showed an increased size of nucleoli (especially the fibrillar component), Golgi bodies, and synaptic ribbons when glands were subjected to continuous light both in vivo and in vitro . The good agreement between protein levels and nucleolar morphology indicates a general effect of environmental lighting on photoreceptor protein metabolism, which may be related to photoreceptor outer segment renewal. Parallel changes in levels of certain amino acids (e.g., glutamate) and size of synaptic ribbons is consistent with an hypothesized role of amino acids in photoreceptor neurotransmission.

Rapidly quenched Fe-Co-Si ribbons

By using a rapid quenching method, Fe-Go-Si alloy ribbons were prepared and their grain structure and magnetic properties were observed. The size of ribbons obtained are 50∼70 μm in thickness and 2 ∼4 mm in width and their average grain size is 2∼ 20 μm. By annealing ribbons in a vacuum atmosphere the grain grew to be about 1∼2 mm and the ribbons had