Fine scale characterization of surface/subsurface and nanosized debris particles on worn Cu-10 % Pb nanocomposites

The identification of the damage mechanisms involved in the wear process demands the finer scale characterization of the surface, as well as the subsurface region of the wear scar region, and to this end, this article discusses the results obtained with Cu-10 wt% Pb-based metallic nanocomposites using a host of characterization techniques, including transmission electron microscopy and ion milling microscopy. Apart from finer scale characterization to understand deformation and cracking during the wear process, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis of wear debris confirms the occurrence of oxidation of Pb phase to Pb3O4. In order to understand the role of oxides on friction and wear, sliding wear tests in argon were also carried out and such tests did not result in the formation of any tribo-oxides, as confirmed using electron probe microanalysis. Conclusively, oxidative wear is attributed as the dominant wear mechanism in ambient conditions for Cu-10 wt% Pb composite.

Allosteric regulation and substrate activation in cytosolic nucleotidase II from Legionella pneumophila

Cytosolic nucleotidase II (cN-II) from Legionellapneumophila (Lp) catalyzes the hydrolysis of GMP and dGMP displaying sigmoidal curves, whereas catalysis of IMP hydrolysis displayed a biphasic curve in the initial rate versus substrate concentration plots. Allosteric modulators of mammalian cN-II did not activate LpcN-II although GTP, GDP and the substrate GMP were specific activators. Crystal structures of the tetrameric LpcN-II revealed an activator-binding site at the dimer interface. A double mutation in this allosteric-binding site abolished activation, confirming the structural observations. The substrate GMP acting as an activator, partitioning between the allosteric and active site, is the basis for the sigmoidicity of the initial velocity versus GMP concentration plot. The LpcN-II tetramer showed differences in subunit organization upon activator binding that are absent in the activator-bound human cN-II structure. This is the first observation of a structural change induced by activator binding in cN-II that may be the molecular mechanism for enzyme activation. DatabaseThe coordinates and structure factors reported in this paper have been submitted to the Protein Data Bank under the accession numbers and . The accession number of GMP complexed LpcN-II is . Structured digital abstract andby() andby() Structured digital abstract was added on 5 March 2014 after original online publication]

Microscopic description of the evolution of the local structure and an evaluation of the chemical pressure concept in a solid solution

Extended x-ray absorption fine-structure studies have been performed at the Zn K and Cd K edges for a series of solid solutions of wurtzite Zn1-xCdxS samples with x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0, where the lattice parameter as a function of x evolves according to the well-known Vegard's law. In conjunction with extensive, large-scale first-principles electronic structure calculations with full geometry optimizations, these results establish that the percentage variation in the nearest-neighbor bond distances are lower by nearly an order of magnitude compared to what would be expected on the basis of lattice parameter variation, seriously undermining the chemical pressure concept. With experimental results that allow us to probe up to the third coordination shell distances, we provide a direct description of how the local structure, apparently inconsistent with the global structure, evolves very rapidly with interatomic distances to become consistent with it. We show that the basic features of this structural evolution with the composition can be visualized with nearly invariant Zn-S-4 and Cd-S-4 tetrahedral units retaining their structural integrity, while the tilts between these tetrahedral building blocks change with composition to conform to the changing lattice parameters according to the Vegard's law within a relatively short length scale. These results underline the limits of applicability of the chemical pressure concept that has been a favored tool of experimentalists to control physical properties of a large variety of condensed matter systems.

Levels of Alpha-Toxin Correlate with Distinct Phenotypic Response Profiles of Blood Mononuclear Cells and with agr Background of Community-Associated Staphylococcus aureus Isolates

Epidemiological studies of Staphylococcus aureus have shown a relation between certain clones and the presence of specific virulence genes, but how this translates into virulence-associated functional responses is not fully elucidated. Here we addressed this issue by analyses of community-acquired S. aureus strains characterized with respect to antibiotic resistance, ST types, agr types, and virulence gene profiles. Supernatants containing exotoxins were prepared from overnight bacterial cultures, and tested in proliferation assays using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The strains displayed stable phenotypic response profiles, defined by either a proliferative or cytotoxic response. Although, virtually all strains elicited superantigen-mediated proliferative responses, the strains with a cytotoxic profile induced proliferation only in cultures with the most diluted supernatants. This indicated that the superantigen-response was masked by a cytotoxic effect which was also confirmed by flow cytometry analysis. The cytotoxic supernatants contained significantly higher levels of alpha-toxin than did the proliferative supernatants. Addition of alpha-toxin to supernatants characterized as proliferative switched the response into cytotoxic profiles. In contrast, no effect of Panton Valentine Leukocidin, delta-toxin or phenol soluble modulin alpha-3 was noted in the proliferative assay. Furthermore, a significant association between agr type and phenotypic profile was found, where agrII and agrIII strains had predominantly a proliferative profile whereas agrI and IV strains had a predominantly cytotoxic profile. The differential response profiles associated with specific S. aureus strains with varying toxin production could possibly have an impact on disease manifestations, and as such may reflect specific pathotypes.

Key challenges for the creation and maintenance of specialist protein resources

As the volume of data relating to proteins increases, researchers rely more and more on the analysis of published data, thus increasing the importance of good access to these data that vary from the supplemental material of individual articles, all the way to major reference databases with professional staff and long-term funding. Specialist protein resources fill an important middle ground, providing interactive web interfaces to their databases for a focused topic or family of proteins, using specialized approaches that are not feasible in the major reference databases. Many are labors of love, run by a single lab with little or no dedicated funding and there are many challenges to building and maintaining them. This perspective arose from a meeting of several specialist protein resources and major reference databases held at the Wellcome Trust Genome Campus (Cambridge, UK) on August 11 and 12, 2014. During this meeting some common key challenges involved in creating and maintaining such resources were discussed, along with various approaches to address them. In laying out these challenges, we aim to inform users about how these issues impact our resources and illustrate ways in which our working together could enhance their accuracy, currency, and overall value. Proteins 2015; 83:1005-1013. (c) 2015 The Authors. Proteins: Structure, Function, and Bioinformatics Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Creating a specialist protein resource network: a meeting report for the protein bioinformatics and community resources retreat

During 11-12 August 2014, a Protein Bioinformatics and Community Resources Retreat was held at the Wellcome Trust Genome Campus in Hinxton, UK. This meeting brought together the principal investigators of several specialized protein resources (such as CAZy, TCDB and MEROPS) as well as those from protein databases from the large Bioinformatics centres (including UniProt and RefSeq). The retreat was divided into five sessions: (1) key challenges, (2) the databases represented, (3) best practices for maintenance and curation, (4) information flow to and from large data centers and (5) communication and funding. An important outcome of this meeting was the creation of a Specialist Protein Resource Network that we believe will improve coordination of the activities of its member resources. We invite further protein database resources to join the network and continue the dialogue.

Modelling staphylococcal pneumonia in a human 3D lung tissue model system delineates toxin-mediated pathology

Staphylococcus aureus necrotizing pneumonia is recognized as a toxin-mediated disease, yet the tissue-destructive events remain elusive, partly as a result of lack of mechanistic studies in human lung tissue. In this study, a three-dimensional (3D) tissue model composed of human lung epithelial cells and fibroblasts was used to delineate the role of specific staphylococcal exotoxins in tissue pathology associated with severe pneumonia. To this end, the models were exposed to the mixture of exotoxins produced by S. aureus strains isolated from patients with varying severity of lung infection, namely necrotizing pneumonia or lung empyema, or to purified toxins. The necrotizing pneumonia strains secreted high levels of alpha-toxin and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL), and triggered high cytotoxicity, inflammation, necrosis and loss of E-cadherin from the lung epithelium. In contrast, the lung empyema strain produced moderate levels of PVL, but negligible amounts of alpha-toxin, and triggered limited tissue damage. alpha-toxin had a direct damaging effect on the epithelium, as verified using toxin-deficient mutants and pure alpha-toxin. Moreover, PVL contributed to pathology through the lysis of neutrophils. A combination of alpha-toxin and PVL resulted in the most severe epithelial injury. In addition, toxin-induced release of pro-inflammatory mediators from lung tissue models resulted in enhanced neutrophil migration. Using a collection of 31 strains from patients with staphylococcal pneumonia revealed that strains producing high levels of alpha-toxin and PVL were cytotoxic and associated with fatal outcome. Also, the strains that produced the highest toxin levels induced significantly greater epithelial disruption. Of importance, toxin-mediated lung epithelium destruction could be inhibited by polyspecific intravenous immunoglobulin containing antibodies against alpha-toxin and PVL. This study introduces a novel model system for study of staphylococcal pneumonia in a human setting. The results reveal that the combination and levels of alpha-toxin and PVL correlate with tissue pathology and clinical outcome associated with pneumonia.

正交铺设层合板的蠕变屈曲分析

研究了正交铺设层合板的蠕变失稳问题. 为了更好地模拟实际情况, 在单层板的本构关系中, 材料各主方向模量的松弛时间均取不同值, 并在建立控制方程时考虑了横向剪切变形的影响. 通过理论分析, 得到了粘弹性层合板的瞬时弹性临界载荷和持久临界载荷. 并在算例中首次利用时间增量方法得到了有初始挠度层合板在长期受载时的蠕变变形, 计算结果表明了持久临界载荷对于粘弹性层合板的具体含义, 从而使粘弹性层合板的蠕变屈曲问题有了较完整的理论体系和数值方法. 而且这种理论分析方法和计算方法可用于解决其它复合材料粘弹性板和壳的蠕变屈曲问题.

Deformation Twinning Mechanisms in Nanocrystalline Ni

Extensive transmission electron microscopy examinations confirm that twinning does occur upon large plastic deformation in nanocrystalline Ni, for which no sign of deformation twinning was found in previous tensile tests. Compelling evidence has been obtained for several twinning mechanisms that operate in nanocrystalline grains, with the grain boundary emission of partial dislocations determined as the most proficient. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.

Coberturas muertas de follajes de árboles de sombra, para el control de malezas en café (Coffea arabica L.)

Este estudio realizado en el Centro Experimental de Café del Pacffico, Masatepe, Nicaragua, enfoca el papel de las hojas y ramas podadas y su efecto como cobertura muerta en el control de malezas. Las hojas frescas y pequeñas ramas de Gliricidia sepíum (Jacq) steud, lnga paterno Harms, Simarouba glauca D.C y Clusia rosea Jacq, fueron colocados en parcelas de 1.5 x 1.5 m dentro de un cafetal en producción en dos grosores antes de las primeras lluvias en mayo de 1991. Cada uno de los cuatro bloques también tenía un testigo sin una cobertura de hojas. Durante los dos meses del ensayo la cobertura de Madero Negro se descompuso más rápido, perdiendo 63-66% de su peso, mientras las tres otras especies perdieron 12-18% de su peso inicial. las coberturas redujeron el número de individuos de malezas a las 2, 4 y 9 semanas en comparación con el testigo (F=22**, 23** y 36**). Referente a biomasa de las malezas a las 5 semanas no hubo diferencia significativa entre el testigo y las coberturas, ya que cada maleza individual era más grande en la cobertura. A las 2, 4 y 9 semanas las coberturas de descomposición lenta tuvieron menos malezas que la cobertura de rápida descomposición (F = 15**, 17* * y 67* *). Coberturas dobles lograron disminuir el número de individuos pero no en todas las fechas. En conclusión, los árboles de sombra según la especie tienen un posible papel en el manejo de malezas en café.

Prueba de rendimiento por beneficiado húmedo de café (Coffea arábica L.) variedades Catuaí amarillo y Catuaí rojo

El objetivo principal de la investigación fue estudiar el rendimiento de variedades Catuai amarillo y Catuai rojo utilizando beneticiado vía húmeda, ambas variedades pertenecientes a Coffea arabica L. Esta prueba consistió en la conversión de 0.197 m3 ( una fanega ), de café uva maduro a oro para ambas variedades. El café utilizado en dicha investigación se obtuvo de la hacienda Santa Gertrudis, ubicada en Jinotepe, tomando de aquí la muestra del Catuai amarillo. Y la otra muestra del Catuai rojo fue obtenida de la hacienda Australia, Situada en San Marcos. El proceso de beneficiado fue realizado en el beneficio San francisco localizado entre las Ciudades de San Marcos y la Concepción, la primera perteneciente al departamento de Carazo y la segunda al departamento de Masaya. Las dos variedades de de café fueron sometida al proceso de beneficiado obteniéndose del Catuai amarillo los mejores rendimientos en todas las variables evaluadas durante todo el proceso en comparación al Catuai rojo. A pesar del manejo agronómico que realizan los caficultores en estas zonas y la época del año en que fue realizada esta prueba, al final ambas, la variedad amarilla pesó 21.40 kg (46.50 libras), con 17.61 por ciento de rendimiento y con 11 por ciento de humedad, todo esto en café oro bruto. Mientras que la variedad roja pesó 20.20 kg (44.50 libras), con un rendimiento del 17.05 por ciento y con un porcentaje de humedad del 11.60 por ciento. Utilizando la criba número 15 para hacer la clasificación del grano por tamaño para la posterior selección para exportación, el mejor resultado en esta prueba lo tuvo el Catuai rojo con un 90 por ciento de grano de primera, ligeramente mayor que el 83.3 por ciento presentado por el Catuai amarillo.

Representaciones del imaginario medieval en el siglo XIX : la mano de gloria según Nerval, Bertrand, Maupassant y Schwob

Integran este número de la revista ponencias presentadas en Studia Hispanica Medievalia VIII: Actas de las IX Jornadas Internacionales de Literatura Española Medieval, 2008, y de Homenaje al Quinto Centenario de Amadis de Gaula.

Heating, current drive and confinement regimes with the JET ICRH and lhcd systems

During its 1990 operation, 2 large RF systems were available on JET. The Ion Cyclotron Resonance Heating (ICRH) system was equipped with new beryllium screens and with feedback matching systems. Specific impurities generated by ICRH were reduced to negligible levels even in the most stringent H-mode conditions. A maximum power of 22 MW was coupled to L-mode plasmas. High quality H-modes (tau-E greater-than-or-equal-to 2.5 tau-EG) were achieved using dipole phasing. A new high confinement mode was discovered. It combines the properties of the H-mode regime to the low central diffusivities obtained by pellet injection. A value of n(d) tau-E T(i) = 7.8 x 10(20) m-3 s keV was obtained in this mode with T(e) approximately T(i) approximately 11 keV. In the L-mode regime, a regime, a record (140 kW) D-He-3 fusion power was generated with 10 - 14 MW of ICRH at the He-3 cyclotron frequency. Experiments were performed with the prototype launcher of the Lower Hybrid Current Drive (LHCD) systems with coupled power up to 1.6 MW with current drive efficiencies up to < n(e) > R I(CD)/P = 0.4 x 10(20) m-2 A/W. Fast electrons are driven by LHCD to tail temperatures of 100 keV with a hollow radial profile. Paradoxically, LHCD induces central heating particularly in combination with ICRH. Finally we present the first observations of the synergistic acceleration of fast electrons by Transit Time Magnetic Pumping (TTMP) (from ICRH) and Electron Landau Damping (ELD) (from LHCD). The synergism generates TTMP current drive even without phasing the ICRH antennae.

Comparative Response of Two Hydrilla Strains to Fluridone

Experiments were conducted in a controlled-environmental growth chamber to evaluate the response of two strains of the invasive submersed plant Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle to fluridone (1-methyl-3-phenyl-5-[3-trifluoromethyl)phenyl]- 4(1H)-pyridinone). (PDF has 6 pages.)

Peces continentales de la Argentina: Bibliografía. Lepidosiren paradoxa.

Espanol: Este trabajo tiene como objetivo la recopilación de la información existente sobre las especies presentes en nuestro territorio. Para ello, se elaboraron fichas que contienen las referencias argentinas y de aquellas revisiones de autores extranjeros que involucran taxas de nuestro país. Como principales fuentes de información se consultaron Ringuelet et al. (1967), CLOFFSCA (2003), López et al. (2003; 2006), Liotta (2006) y las bases de datos on-line de W. N. Eschmeyer y Fish Base. Esta es una publicación abierta, por lo que requerirá de actualización permanente, para lo cual sería necesario se sume a nuestra tarea la buena voluntad y colaboración de la comunidad ictiológica. Esperamos con este aporte colaborar en la construcción de una base de datos de los peces continentales de la Argentina. La concreción de esta herramienta dará soporte a los planes generados desde los diferentes sectores involucrados en el tema, además de fomentar la difusión de la disciplina y la reafirmación de los derechos soberanos sobre nuestros recursos naturales. English: The goal of this work is to compile the existing information about the species present in our country. This has been done by means of datasheets that list both local references and reviews by foreign authors that include Argentine taxa. The main information sources consulted were Ringuelet et al. (1967), CLOFFSCA (2003), López et al. (2003; 2006), Liotta (2006) and the online databases of W. N. Eschmeyer and Fish Base. This is an open-ended publication. As such, it will require permanent updating, which will depend on the good will and collaboration of the ichthyological community. With this contribution, we hope to help to build a database of the freshwater fish of Argentina. The completion of this project will provide support to diverse plans emanating from different sectors, as well as promote the diffusion of this field of research and reaffirm Argentina’s sovereign rights over our natural resources. (Texto en English y Espanol. PDF tiene ocho paginas.)