Synthesis and Characterization of Nanostructured Oxide Layers on Ti-Nb-Zr-Ta and Ti-Nb-Zr-Fe Biomedical Alloys

Nanoporous/nanotubular complex oxide layers were developed on high-fraction β phase quaternary Ti-Nb-Zr-Ta and Ti-Nb-Zr-Fe promising biomedical alloys with a low elasticity modulus. Surface modification was achieved by electrochemical anodization aimed at the synthesis of the morphology of the nanostructures, which exhibited inner diameters of 15–100 nm. SEM, EDS, XRD, and current evolution analyses were performed for the characterization of the oxide layers. By optimizing the process parameters of electrochemical anodization, complex oxide layers with pore/tube openings of 18–92 nm on Ti-10Nb-10Zr-5Ta, 19–89 nm on Ti-20Nb-20Zr-4Ta, and 17–72 nm on Ti-29.3Nb-13.6Zr-1.9Fe alloys were synthesized using 1 M H3PO4 + 0.5 wt% HF aqueous electrolytes and 0.5 wt% NH4F + 2 wt% H20 + ethylene glycol organic electrolytes

Complete Genome Sequence of a Genotype G23P[37] Pheasant Rotavirus Strain Identified in Hungary

We investigated the genomic properties of a rotavirus A strain isolated from diarrheic pheasant poults in Hungary in 2015. Sequence analyses revealed a shared genomic constellation (G23-P[37]-I4-R4-C4-M4-A16-N10-T4-E4-H4) and close relationship (range of nucleotide sequence similarity: VP2, 88%; VP1 and NSP4, 98%) with another pheasant rotavirus strain isolated previously in Germany

Lineage diversification, homo- and heterologous reassortment and recombination shape the evolution of chicken orthoreoviruses

The near complete genome sequences of ten field avian orthoreovirus (ARV) strains collected from young chicken between 2002 and 2011 in Hungary have been determined in order to explore the genetic diversity and evolutionary mechanisms affecting ARVs in this region. Sequence analyses and phylogenetic calculations revealed similar geographic distribution and distinct evolution in case of eight studied strains that were closely related to the recently described Hungarian strain T1781. The remaining two strains showed the highest similarity with the US origin AVS-B. The topology of the phylogenetic trees of certain segments was affected by several potential homologous reassortment events between strains of Hungarian, Chinese and US origin. Analyzing the μB gene a possible heterologous reassortment event was identified in three Hungarian strains. Recombination events were detected in as much as a dozen cases implying that beside point mutations and reassorment this mechanism also plays an important role in the diversification of ARVs. All these mechanisms in concert may explain the reduced effectiveness of immunization using commercial vaccine strains

Deposition temperature influence on the wear behaviour of carbon-based coatings deposited on hardened steel

An evaluation regarding the influence of substrate material characteristics and deposition parameters on the tribological behaviour of carbon-based is presented. Chromium nitride interlayers and carbon-based thin films were deposited on hardened AISI 5115 case hardening steel, by magnetron sputtering. The physical vapour deposition (PVD) deposition was performed at three different temperatures: 180 °C, 200 °C and 250 °C. The chemical composition of the samples was assessed by Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy (RBS), the structure by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and the surface morphology by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The surface chemistry was analysed by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Raman Spectroscopy. The coatings are homogeneous, amorphous, with a smooth surface. The mechanical behaviour has been assessed on a pin-on disk rotational tribometer (wear characteristics), on a micro scratch tester (adhesion to the substrate), by ball-cratering (film thickness); by nanoindentation (hardness and the modulus of elasticity). A strong correlation between the substrate characteristics, but more importantly, of the deposition temperature, on one hand, and the mechanical characteristics, on the other hand, has been observed. The fracture toughness is positively influenced by the presence of the ceramic interlayer (chromium nitride). The modulus of elasticity and friction coefficient (both in dry conditions and lubricated) are decreased for higher deposition temperatures, however the higher deposition temperature negatively affects the hardness of the steel substrate.We hereby acknowledge the structural funds project PRO-DD (POSCCE, O.2.2.1., ID 123, SMIS 2637, ctr. no 11/2009) for providing some of the infrastructure used in this work

Rotavirus strains in neglected animal species including lambs, goats and camelids

Surveillance of rotavirus infections and circulating strains in small ruminants (i.e. lambs, goats and camelids) has been a neglected research area in the past. However, recent years that have seen an intensification of surveillance in humans and livestock animals, where vaccines to reduce disease burden caused by Rotavirus A (RVA) are available, led to the efforts to better understand the epidemiology, ecology and evolution of RVA strains in other hosts, including lambs, goats and camelids. The aim of this review is to provide an update of the epidemiology and strain diversity of RV strains in these species through searching for relevant information in public data bases