Flash sintering (FS) is a novel field-assisted sintering technology, where the ceramic is heated internally by the Joule effect. While FS promises a tremendous reduction of ceramic firing time and furnace temperature, it has been applied only at the laboratory scale to date. The key limitation of scaling up the technique to the industrial manufacturing level is the intrinsic difficulty managing the heat generation and obtaining homogenous microstructures in components of industrial interest. Heterogeneous regions primarily originate from the different types of thermal gradients that develop during FS; therefore, the management of heat generation is crucial to achieve uniformity. In this article, we discuss the advantages of controlling the microstructural homogeneity of ceramics during FS, and the technical routes to achieve this. The origin and formation mechanisms of thermal gradients upon flash sintering are outlined. Possible approaches to reduce thermal and microstructural gradients are identified. The opportunities and challenges in scale-up of FS are discussed from both industrial and scientific perspectives.
Chlamydia trachomatis is a common STI that is often asymptomatic, and can only be diagnosed through a screening test. Despite acute infection being asymtpoamtic, long term consequences of untreated CT infection can lead to infertility in men and women, increased risk of ectopic preganancy, and the economic burden of the long-term impacts far outweigh the cost of testing and treatment. Despite this, there is currently no concentrated CT screening programme in the DPRK, a region that is indicated to have high STI rates, including CT. Taking into account prevalency, the geopolitical situation of the DPRK, and the cost per positive test, this paper explores whether or not a CT screening programme would be cost-effective in the DPRK.
Int. rod act i on Analytical data for 270 rock samples from the Lime Peak area, Circle C-6 quadrangle, Alaska, are presented in Table 1 and the sample locations are shown on plate 1. The samples were collected primarily by W.D. Menzie, B.L. Reed. H.L. Foster and G.W. Cushing during June 1984 as part of an investigation of the geology of tin occurrences near Lime Peak.
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