A new extra-fine grade Ni powder (XF Ni) has demonstrated increased sintering activity in Co-Fe-Ni binders for diamond tool applications. XF Ni has the advantage of significantly lower cost than XF Co. Up to 30% of XF Co was substituted with XF Ni while maintaining comparable apparent hardness and transverse rupture strength to pure Co binders. Ni substantially increased the diffusion of Fe. Diamond tool producers can take advantage of the improved sintering properties of XF Ni powder to substantially lower material costs.

Highly compressible Ni-Mo steels are attractive materials for PM due to high sinter density and ease of processing. Extra-fine Ni admixed PM steels have demonstrated improved mechanical properties and rolling contact fatigue resistance due to a more uniform microstructure and increased Ni diffusion during sintering. Sinter densities of single press single sinter XF Ni-Mo steels can approach at moderate compaction pressures. Leaner alloys based on extra-fine Ni powder are possible depending on the performance requirements of the PM steel part. Extra-fine Ni steels are particularly attractive for the growing market of high performance PM gears and sprockets.

The olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) is one of the most widely cultured flatfish in Korea and Japan. During development, in a process known as metamorphosis, this fish reorients itself to lie on one side, the body flattens, and the eye migrates to the other side of the body. However, few studies have focused on molecule regulation mechanism of eye development in olive flounder. To reveal the molecular mechanism of eye development, we performed the studies on identification of genes expressed in the eye of olive flounder using EST and RT-PCR strategy. A total of 270 ESTs were sequenced, and 178 (65.9%) clones were identified as known genes and 92 (34.1%) as unknown genes. Among the 178 EST clones, 29 (16.3%) clones were representing 9 unique genes identified as homologous to the previously reported olive flounder ESTs, 131 (73.6%) clones representing 107 unique genes were identified as orthologs of known genes from other organisms. We also identified a kind of eye development associated proteins, indicating EST as a powerful method for identifying eye development-related genes of fish as well as identifying novel genes. Further functional studies on these genes will provide more information on molecule regulation mechanism of eye development in olive flounder.