Can hair width and scale pattern and direction of dorsal scapular mammalian hair be a relatively simple means to identify species?

Hair width and surface scale patterns (morphological characteristics) of hair from 21 selected species representing seven orders of mammals from the western United States were studied using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The orders studied were Artiodactyla, Carnivora, Chiroptera, Didelphimorphia, Insectivora, Lagomorpha and Rodentia. Hair width, scale length and height, scale patterns, and scale position in relation to the shaft were used to characterize differences in morphology for both the species and orders. Specimens were taken from the dorsal scapular region and the centres of hair shafts of mature mammals were used for images. A key (identification chart) was created to characterize each species. These studies suggest that morphological differences in guard hair and underfur could provide a useful atlas for forensics, taxonomy and archaeology.     

Impulse Capacitor Discharge Welding of Hollow Structure Made of Nickel-Base Alloy

Future steam turbines will use hollow structures so that the turbine inlet temperature can be in- creased to improve the thermal efficiency. These hollow structures are made of the nickel-base alloy Nicro- fer 6025 HT and consist of a wire mesh between two cover sheets. The cover sheets can be joined to the wire mesh by capacitor discharge welding due to its extremely short welding duration. The goal of this re- search is to investigate suitable welding parameters so that the weld spots form in an optimum way to in- crease the tensile shear strength and reduce spattering. Tensile shear tests, three-point bending tests, and micrographs were used to judge the joint quality of structures made with various welding parameters. The results show that the best welds are obtained with a transmission ratio of 1:200, welding energy of 70% to 95%, and electrode force of 7 to 9 MPa.