Comparison of the effect of argon, hydrogen, and nitrogen gases on the reduced graphene oxide-hydroxyapatite nanocomposites characteristics

In this study, the effect of the argon, nitrogen, and hydrogen gases on the final properties of the reduced graphene oxide-hydroxyapatite nanocomposites synthesized by gas injected hydrothermal method was investigated. Four samples were synthesized, which in the first sample the pressure was controlled by volume change at a constant concentration. In subsequent samples, the pressure inside the autoclave was adjusted by the injecting gases. The initial pressure of the injected gases was 10 bar and the final pressure considered was 25 bar. The synthesized powders were consolidated at 950 °C and 2 MPa by spark plasma sintering method. The final samples were subjected to Vickers indentation analysis. The findings of this study indicate that the injection of argon, hydrogen, and nitrogen gases improved the mechanical properties of the nanocomposites. Injection of gases increased the crystallinity and particle size of hydroxyapatite, and this increase was greater for nitrogen gas than for others. Injection of these gases increased the rate of graphene oxide reduction and in this case the effect of nitrogen gas was greater than the others. Figure not available: See fulltext. © 2020 The Author(s)

Engineering a two-helix bundle protein for folding studies

The SAP domain from the Saccharomyces cerevisiae THO1 protein contains a hydrophobic core and just two α-helices. It could provide a system for studying protein folding that bridges the gap between studies on isolated helices and those on larger protein domains. We have engineered the SAP domain for protein folding studies by inserting a tryptophan residue into the hydrophobic core (L31W) and solved its structure. The helical regions had a backbone root mean-squared deviation of 0.9 Å from those of wild type. The mutation L31W destabilised wild type by 0.8 ± 0.1 kcal mol−1. The mutant folded in a reversible, apparent two-state manner with a microscopic folding rate constant of around 3700 s−1 and is suitable for extended studies of folding

Crystal structure and assembly of the functional Nanoarchaeum equitans tRNA splicing endonuclease

The RNA splicing and processing endonuclease from Nanoarchaeum equitans (NEQ) belongs to the recently identified (αβ)2 family of splicing endonucleases that require two different subunits for splicing activity. N. equitans splicing endonuclease comprises the catalytic subunit (NEQ205) and the structural subunit (NEQ261). Here, we report the crystal structure of the functional NEQ enzyme at 2.1 Å containing both subunits, as well as that of the NEQ261 subunit alone at 2.2 Å. The functional enzyme resembles previously known α2 and α4 endonucleases but forms a heterotetramer: a dimer of two heterodimers of the catalytic subunit (NEQ205) and the structural subunit (NEQ261). Surprisingly, NEQ261 alone forms a homodimer, similar to the previously known homodimer of the catalytic subunit. The homodimers of isolated subunits are inhibitory to heterodimerization as illustrated by a covalently linked catalytic homodimer that had no RNA cleavage activity upon mixing with the structural subunit. Detailed structural comparison reveals a more favorable hetero- than homodimerization interface, thereby suggesting a possible regulation mechanism of enzyme assembly through available subunits. Finally, the uniquely flexible active site of the NEQ endonuclease provides a possible explanation for its broader substrate specificity

Light meson spectroscopy from Dalitz plot analyses ηc decays to η0K + K − , η0π + π − , and ηπ + π − produced in two-photon interactions

We study the processes γγ → ηc → η0KþK−, η0πþπ−, and ηπþπ− using a data sample of 519 fb−1 recorded with the BABAR detector operating at the SLAC PEP-II asymmetric-energy e+e− collider at center-of-mass energies at and near the Υ(nS) (n = 2, 3, 4) resonances. This is the first observation of the decay ηc → η0KþK− and we measure the branching fraction Γðηc → η0KþK−Þ=ðΓðηc → η0πþπ−Þ 1⁄4 0.644 0.039stat 0.032sys. Significant interference is observed between γγ → ηc → ηπþπ− and the nonresonant two-photon process γγ → ηπþπ−. A Dalitz plot analysis is performed of ηc decays to η0KþK−, η0πþπ−, and ηπþπ−. Combined with our previous analysis of ηc → KK ̄ π, we measure the K 0ð1430Þ parameters and the ratio between its η0K and πK couplings. The decay ηc → η0πþπ− is dominated by the f0ð2100Þ resonance, also observed in J=ψ radiative decays. A new a0(1700)→ ηπ resonance is observed in the ηc → ηπþπ− channel. We also compare ηc decays to η and η0 final states in association with scalar mesons as they relate to the identification of the scalar glueball

Bayesian Averaging over Many Dynamic Model Structures with Evidence on the Great Ratios and Liquidity Trap Risk

A Bayesian model averaging procedure is presented that makes use of a finite mixture of many model structures within the class of vector autoregressive (VAR) processes. It is applied to two empirical issues. First, stability of the Great Ratios in U.S. macro-economic time series is investigated, together with the effect of permanent shocks on business cycles. Second, the linear VAR model is extended to include a smooth transition function in a (monetary) equation and stochastic volatility in the disturbances. The risk of a liquidity trap in the U.S.A. and Japan is evaluated. Although this risk found to be reasonably high, we find only mild evidence that the monetary policy transmission mechanism is different and that central banks consider the expected cost of a liquidity trap in policy setting. Posterior probabilities of different models are evaluated using Markov chain Monte Carlo techniques

Middle East - North Africa and the millennium development goals : implications for German development cooperation

          Closed-loop controlled combustion is a promising technique to improve the overall performance of internal combustion engines and Diesel engines in particular. In order for this technique to be implemented some form of feedback from the combustion process is required. The feedback signal is processed and from it combustionrelated parameters are computed. These parameters are then fed to a control process which drives a series of outputs (e.g. injection timing in Diesel engines) to control their values. This paper’s focus lies on the processing and computation that is needed on the feedback signal before this is ready to be fed to the control process as well as on the electronics necessary to support it. A number of feedback alternatives are briefly discussed and for one of them, the in-cylinder pressure sensor, the CA50 (crank angle in which the integrated heat release curve reaches its 50% value) and the IMEP (Indicated Mean Effective Pressure) are identified as two potential control variables. The hardware architecture of a system capable of calculating both of them on-line is proposed and necessary feasibility size and speed considerations are made by implementing critical blocks in VHDL targeting a flash-based Actel ProASIC3 automotive-grade FPGA