Three-point impact bending tests, using the split Hopkinson pressure bar method, were performed to evaluate the fracture resistance of monolithic silicon nitride (SN) and carbon-fiber-reinforced silicon nitride (CFRSN) ceramics. By applying ramped incident-stress waves in the split Hopkinson pressure bar apparatus, relatively smooth stresstime curves could be recorded without using any artificial filtering process. The maximum load in the load-deflection curve of the CFRSN material increased, in comparison to its static value, when impact testing was applied. Such behavior was substantially different from that of the monolithic SN material, for which the maximum load values from impact and static testing were almost the same. The time dependence of strength in the CFRSN ceramic was then investigated by using relaxation tests, and the impact strength behavior could be explained by these results. Also, the shear strength was significantly dependent on the deformation rate, whereas the tensile strength was almost independent of it. The experimental results were compared with the numerical predictions of the stress distribution that were obtained by using finite-element analysis.

We report a 70-year-old man with primary (AL) amyloidosis with predominantly vascular deposition of amyloid diagnosed by renal biopsy, who was successfully treated using two chemotherapy regimens. There was rapid elevation of the serum creatinine level without remarkable proteinuria or hematuria. Renal histological examination showed some thickened arterial walls with amyloid fibril accumulation, and only a small amount of amyloid deposition in the glomeruli. Immunohistochemical examination was positive for anti-kappa staining. Serum immunoelectrophoresis and immunofixation testing did not show monoclonal proteins, and urine immunoelectrophoresis did not show Bence-Jones proteins. Serum free light chain (FLC) analysis showed that the serum FLC level and FLC kappa/lambda ratio were abnormally high for his renal function. He received two courses of VAD (vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone), followed by BD (bortezomib and dexamethasone), resulting in a hematologic partial response. Renal amyloidosis with vascular-limited amyloid deposition has few urinary findings. Early diagnosis of this condition is challenging, because kidney biopsies are not usually performed in patients without significant urinary findings. We suggest several currently available methods of achieving earlier detection of this condition.

Thermal activation theory is well-known to be a useful theory to explain the mechanical behaviour of various metals in the wide range of temperature and strain-rate. In this study, a number of trials to obtain the lower yield stress or flow stress at high strain rates from quasi-static data were carried out using the data shown in the report titled "The final report of research group on high-speed deformation of steels for automotive use". A relation between the thermal component of stress and the strain rate obtained from experiments for αFe and the temperature-strain rate parameter were used with thermal activation theory. The predictions were successfully performed and they showed that the stress-strain behaviour at high strain rates can be evaluated from quasi-static data with good accuracy.

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