Influence of Heat Treatment on Defect Structures in Single-Crystalline Blade Roots Studied by X-ray Topography and Positron Annihilation Lifetime Spectroscopy

Single-crystalline superalloy CMSX-4 is studied in the as-cast state and after heat treatment, with material being taken from turbine blade castings. The effect of the heat treatment on the defect structure of the root area near the selector/root connection is emphasized. Multiscale analysis is performed to correlate results obtained by X-ray topography and positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). Electron microscopy observations were also carried out to characterize the inhomogeneity in dendritic structure. The X-ray topography was used to compare defects of the misorientation nature, occurring in as-cast and treated states. The type and concentration of defects before and after heat treatment in different root areas were determined using the PALS method, which enables voids, mono-vacancies, and dislocations to be taken into account. In this way, differences in the concentration of defects caused by heat treatment are rationalized

The cytoskeleton in cell-autonomous immunity: structural determinants of host defence

Host cells use antimicrobial proteins, pathogen-restrictive compartmentalization and cell death in their defence against intracellular pathogens. Recent work has revealed that four components of the cytoskeleton — actin, microtubules, intermediate filaments and septins, which are well known for their roles in cell division, shape and movement — have important functions in innate immunity and cellular self-defence. Investigations using cellular and animal models have shown that these cytoskeletal proteins are crucial for sensing bacteria and for mobilizing effector mechanisms to eliminate them. In this Review, we highlight the emerging roles of the cytoskeleton as a structural determinant of cell-autonomous host defence

A method of monitoring of flotation reagents concentration in circulating waters of the coal processing plants by measurements the air bubbles velocity

W pracy przedstawiono wyniki badań nad zawartościami odczynników flotacyjnych w różnych punktach obiegu wodno-mułowego (nadawa na flotację, filtrat i woda obiegowa) zakładów przeróbczych kopalni węgla kamiennego Jankowice i Knurów, przy zastosowaniu prostej fizykochemicznej metody detekcji obecności substancji powierzchniowo aktywnych w wodzie. Metoda ta (zwana Simple Physicochemical Method for Detection - SPMD) polega na pomiarze prędkości pojedynczych pęcherzyków powietrza i wykorzystuje zjawisko zmniejszania prędkości wypływających pęcherzyków gazowych w obecności związków powierzchniowo czynnych. Wykonano także pomiary wpływu stężenia odczynników flotacyjnych Montanolu i Flotanolu na prędkości pęcherzyków powietrza i dzięki otrzymanym w ten sposób krzywym kalibracyjnym wyznaczono stężenia odczynników flotacyjnych w badanych próbkach wód obiegowych (w przeliczeniu na stężenie Montanolu oraz Flotanolu). Stwierdzono, że badane próbki wód obiegowych zawierały różne stężenia substancji powierzchniowo aktywnych. Ponadto, stężenia odczynników w wodach obiegowych ZP KWK Jankowice były o ponad rząd wielkości wyższe niż w ZP KWK Knurów - w wodach z Jankowic CMontanol = 0,89 mg/dm3, a wodach z Knurowa tylko 0,04 mg/dm3.Results of monitoring of concentrations of flotation reagents, at different points of the water circulating system (flotation feed, filtrate, circulating water) in the processing plants of the Knurów and Jankowice Coal Mines, are presented. The studies were carried out using a Simple Physicochemical Method for Detection (SPMD) of surface active substances in water. The SPMD method is based on measurements of variations of the bubble average velocity. Velocity of the rising bubbles is very sensitive to presence of surface active substances in water and decreases rapidly, at low concentrations of organic contaminants, with the solution concentration. The bubble velocity is lowered in surfactant solutions due to formation of the dynamic adsorption layer over surface of the rising bubble, which retards fluidity of its interface. When in surfactant solution the bubble surface is fully immobilized by the dynamic adsorption layer then the bubble velocity is by over 50% lower than in clean water. It was showed that the simple experimental set-up consisting of long glass tube with the capillary in bottom, air container and stop-watch enabled monitoring of variations of flotation reagent concentration in circulating waters of the coal processing plants. Precision of the SPMD method was found to be satisfactory when the time of the bubble rise over distance of 140 cm was measured 20 times and mean values were calculated. It was found that in all samples studied of the circulating waters the velocity of the rising bubbles was lower than in tap water. Moreover, values of the bubble velocity were systematically and significantly lower in the case of the samples from the water circulating system of the KWK Jankowice Processing Plant. Thus, flotation reagents were present in the circulating waters and their concentration was higher in circulating waters of the KWK Jankowice. Montanol and flotanol were chosen as the reference flotation reagents for determination concentration of the flotation reagents in the circulating waters. The dependences of the bubble rising velocity on concentration of montanol and flotanol were determined and the obtained calibration curves were used for calculation the flotation reagent concentration (expressed as equivalent concentrations of montanol and flotanol). It was found that the concentrations of the flotation reagents in circulating waters of the KWK Jankowice Processing Plant were by over order of magnitude higher than that ones in the KWK Knurów - CMontanol = 0,89 mg/dm3 in samples from Jankowice, while in samples from Knurów only 0,04 mg/dm3

The Mössbauer and X-Ray Studies οf the Spinel Ferrites Cu0.5Fe0.5Cr2Se4Cu_{0.5}Fe_{0.5}Cr_2Se_4 and Cu0.2Fe0.8Cr2Se4Cu_{0.2}Fe_{0.8}Cr_2Se_4 Prepared by the Ceramic Method

Seleno-spinels with nominal chemical composition $Cu_{0.5}Fe_{0.5}Cr_2Se_4$ and $Cu_{0.2}Fe_{0.8}Cr_2Se_4$ were prepared as polycrystalline samples using ceramic method. The assumed composition was verified by wavelength-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The X-ray analysis was carried out in order to make phase analysis and to compare its results with those obtained with the Mössbauer spectroscopy

The Mössbauer Spectroscopy and Analytical Investigations οf the Polycrystalline Compounds with General Formula ZnxSnyCrzSe4Zn_xSn_yCr_zSe_4

We present combined X-ray powder diffraction and Mössbauer $\text{}^{119}Sn$ studies of polycrystalline compounds with a general formula $Zn_xSn_yCr_zSe_4$ (where x+y+z ≈3). The obtained single-phase compounds crystallize in the spinel cubic structure - Fd3m. Tin ions are found to occupy both tetrahedral and octahedral sublattices. On the contrary to the strong tetrahedral site preference energy of Sn, the presented data strongly suggest that the increase in lattice parameters with Sn doping is caused by Sn ions that incorporated into octahedral positions. A quadrupole and isomer shifts of $\text{}^{119}Sn$ in $(SnSe_4)^{6-}$ and $(SnSe_6)^{4-}$ are also reported

A pH- and ionic strength-dependent conformational change in the neck region regulates DNGR-1 function in dendritic cells

DNGR‐1 is receptor expressed by certain dendritic cell (DC) subsets and by DC precursors in mouse. It possesses a C‐type lectin‐like domain (CTLD) followed by a poorly characterized neck region coupled to a transmembrane region and short intracellular tail. The CTLD of DNGR‐1 binds F‐actin exposed by dead cell corpses and causes the receptor to signal and potentiate cross‐presentation of dead cell‐associated antigens by DCs. Here, we describe a conformational change that occurs in the neck region of DNGR‐1 in a pH‐ and ionic strength‐dependent manner and that controls cross‐presentation of dead cell‐associated antigens. We identify residues in the neck region that, when mutated, lock DNGR‐1 in one of the two conformational states to potentiate cross‐presentation. In contrast, we show that chimeric proteins in which the neck region of DNGR‐1 is replaced by that of unrelated C‐type lectin receptors fail to promote cross‐presentation. Our results suggest that the neck region of DNGR‐1 is an integral receptor component that senses receptor progression through the endocytic pathway and has evolved to maximize extraction of antigens from cell corpses, coupling DNGR‐1 function to its cellular localization

The Mössbauer Spectroscopy and Analytical Investigations οf the Polycrystalline Compounds with General Formula Zn x

We present combined X-ray powder diffraction and Mössbauer $\text{}^{119}Sn$ studies of polycrystalline compounds with a general formula $Zn_xSn_yCr_zSe_4$ (where x+y+z ≈3). The obtained single-phase compounds crystallize in the spinel cubic structure - Fd3m. Tin ions are found to occupy both tetrahedral and octahedral sublattices. On the contrary to the strong tetrahedral site preference energy of Sn, the presented data strongly suggest that the increase in lattice parameters with Sn doping is caused by Sn ions that incorporated into octahedral positions. A quadrupole and isomer shifts of $\text{}^{119}Sn$ in $(SnSe_4)^{6-}$ and $(SnSe_6)^{4-}$ are also reported