Effect of Plasma Treatment on Corrosion Layers of Bronze

Plasma chemical process for conservation of metallic objects is a relatively new way of effective and fast treatment of corroded objects. Removal of corrosion products is based on plasma chemical reduction of corrosion layers by radio-frequency (RF) low pressure hydrogen plasma. Model corrosion layers on bronze were studied. SEM/EDX analyses on corroded and treated samples were performed

Predominant frequency variations in the ambient noise recorded in the Colfiorito basin (Umbria, Italy)

The Colfiorito basin is located at the boundary between Umbria and Marche districts in Central Italy. The area was struck by several strong earthquakes in the past, and during the September 1997 to April 1998 seismic sequence, the macroseismic intensity was as large as IX (MCS scale) in the region. Ambient noise measurements are carried out over fifty points in the basin; H/V spectral ratios as well as spectral ratios using a reference rock site are calculated. Polarization analyses are also performed in narrow frequency bands where spectral amplitude peaks are observed to dominate, to discriminate preferential directions of propagation in the noise wave field which could be related to source or path effects, other than site effects. In the spectral ratios, the frequencies of the most pronounced peaks generally agree with the resonance frequencies computed for the measurement sites on the basis of 1-D velocity models, at least where no strong lateral variations of the sediment thickness are present.UnpublishedNice, Franceope

Predominant frequency variations in the ambient noise recorded in the Colfiorito basin (Umbria, Italy)

The Colfiorito basin is located at the boundary between Umbria and Marche districts in Central Italy. The area was struck by several strong earthquakes in the past, and during the September 1997 to April 1998 seismic sequence, the macroseismic intensity was as large as IX (MCS scale) in the region. Ambient noise measurements are carried out over fifty points in the basin; H/V spectral ratios as well as spectral ratios using a reference rock site are calculated. Polarization analyses are also performed in narrow frequency bands where spectral amplitude peaks are observed to dominate, to discriminate preferential directions of propagation in the noise wave field which could be related to source or path effects, other than site effects. In the spectral ratios, the frequencies of the most pronounced peaks generally agree with the resonance frequencies computed for the measurement sites on the basis of 1-D velocity models, at least where no strong lateral variations of the sediment thickness are present

Predominant frequency variations in the ambient noise recorded in the Colfiorito basin (Umbria, Italy)

The Colfiorito basin is located at the boundary between Umbria and Marche districts in Central Italy. The area was struck by several strong earthquakes in the past, and during the September 1997 to April 1998 seismic sequence, the macroseismic intensity was as large as IX (MCS scale) in the region. Ambient noise measurements are carried out over fifty points in the basin; H/V spectral ratios as well as spectral ratios using a reference rock site are calculated. Polarization analyses are also performed in narrow frequency bands where spectral amplitude peaks are observed to dominate, to discriminate preferential directions of propagation in the noise wave field which could be related to source or path effects, other than site effects. In the spectral ratios, the frequencies of the most pronounced peaks generally agree with the resonance frequencies computed for the measurement sites on the basis of 1-D velocity models, at least where no strong lateral variations of the sediment thickness are present

The MICA-129Met/Val dimorphism affects plasma membrane expression and shedding of the NKG2D ligand MICA.

The MHC class I chain-related molecule A (MICA) is a ligand for the activating natural killer (NK) cell receptor NKG2D. A polymorphism causing a valine to methionine exchange at position 129 affects binding to NKG2D, cytotoxicity, interferon-γ release by NK cells and activation of CD8(+) T cells. It is known that tumors can escape NKG2D-mediated immune surveillance by proteolytic shedding of MICA. Therefore, we investigated whether this polymorphism affects plasma membrane expression (pmMICA) and shedding of MICA. Expression of pmMICA was higher in a panel of tumor (n = 16, P = 0.0699) and melanoma cell lines (n = 13, P = 0.0429) carrying the MICA-129Val/Val genotype. MICA-129Val homozygous melanoma cell lines released more soluble MICA (sMICA) by shedding (P = 0.0015). MICA-129Met or MICA-129Val isoforms differing only in this amino acid were expressed in the MICA-negative melanoma cell line Malme, and clones with similar pmMICA expression intensity were selected. The MICA-129Met clones released more sMICA (P = 0.0006), and a higher proportion of the MICA-129Met than the MICA-129Val variant was retained in intracellular compartments (P = 0.0199). The MICA-129Met clones also expressed more MICA messenger RNA (P = 0.0047). The latter phenotype was also observed in mouse L cells transfected with the MICA expression constructs (P = 0.0212). In conclusion, the MICA-129Met/Val dimorphism affects the expression density of MICA on the plasma membrane. More of the MICA-129Met variants were retained intracellularly. If expressed at the cell surface, the MICA-129Met isoform was more susceptible to shedding. Both processes appear to limit the cell surface expression of MICA-129Met variants that have a high binding avidity to NKG2D.peerReviewe