Biocorrosion of carbon steel alloys by an hydrogenotrophic sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfovibrio capillatus isolated from a Mexican oil field separator

The hydrogenotrophic sulfate-reducing bacterium (SRB) Desulfovibrio capillatus (DSM14982(T)) was isolated from an oil field separator with serious corrosion problems; this is the study of its role in the corrosion of carbon steels under anaerobic conditions. Immersion tests with two steel alloys, St-35.8 (typical carbon steel employed in European naval industry), and API-5XL52 (weathering alloy steel employed in Mexican oil industries) were performed. Total exposure was 45 days and different concentrations of thiosulfate as electron acceptor for bacterial growth were employed. The samples immersed in media with SRB undergo fast activation and numerous active sites form on the surface. Microscopic observations were made by environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM). Weight loss and electrochemical testing included open circuit potential (E-corr), polarization resistance (R-p), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and electrochemical noise (EN) were measured with and without bacteria in the culture medium in order to determine corrosion rates and mechanisms. All electrochemical techniques have shown that after the end of the exponential phase the corrosion activity notably increased due to the high concentration of bacterial metabolites. Finally, the corrosion behavior of API-5XL52 was worse than St-35.8. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Ceratomicose em equinos Equine keratomycosis

O cavalo, dado o seu meio ambiente, está sujeito a afecções frequentes da córnea e da conjuntiva, tecidos oculares bastante expostos a bactérias e fungos, principalmente Aspergillus spp. e Fusarium spp. As ceratites ulcerativas bacterianas e fúngicas, bem como as ceratites fúngicas não ulcerativas, caracterizadas principalmente pelo abscesso estromal, são frequentes nessa espécie. Ocorrida a lesão inicial, perpetua-se um ciclo vicioso, com liberação de citocinas inflamatórias, que desencadeiam uma rápida e severa infiltração corneal por células polimorfonucleares. A córnea torna-se sujeita à destruição por enzimas proteolíticas liberadas pelos micro-organismos e por células inflamatórias, capazes de desencadear a dissolução estromal e a perfuração do bulbo ocular. O tratamento clínico para a resolução da doença corneal e o controle da uveíte reflexa deve ser agressivo e associado, muitas das vezes, à terapia cirúrgica. Este artigo discorre sobre a fisiopatologia e o tratamento da ceratomicose em equinos.<br>Environmental and behavioral factors make horses susceptible to corneal and conjunctival lesions, since these structures are constantly exposed to bacteria and fungi specially Aspergillus spp. and Fusarium spp. Bacterial and fungal ulcerative keratitis, as well as non-ulcerative fungal keratitis such as stromal abscess, are frequent in horses. A "cascade" effect follows the initial lesion which triggers the release of inflammatory cytokines followed by an acute and severe infiltrate of polymorphonuclear cells in the cornea. The cornea becomes susceptible to the activity of proteolytic enzymes released by microorganisms and polymorphonuclear cells, resulting in stromal degradation and ocular perforation. The medical treatment targeting the corneal disease and the controlling of reflexive uveitis should be aggressive and surgical therapy should be associated in most of the cases. This paper reviews the pathophysiology of keratomycosis in horses and specific aspects of the treatment in this species

Current strategies for the assessment and evaluation of genetic diversity in chicken resources

Chicken genetic resources comprise a wide range of breeds and populations including red jungle fowl (the assumed progenitor of all domestic breeds), native and fancy breeds, middle level food producers, industrial stocks and specialised lines. Based on the suggestion that the more distant a breed or population is the more likely it is to carry unique genetic features, the assessment of genetic distances by means of molecular marker information may provide useful information for initial evaluation of chicken genetic resources. During the last two decades several molecular marker classes have become available. Variable numbers of tandem repeat loci, in particular microsatellites, have been successfully used in chicken diversity studies. Genetic diversity measures using the highly polymorphic variable number of tandem repeat lociyield reliable and accurate information for the study of genetic relationships between chicken populations. First results of the European project on chicken biodiversity (AVIANDIV) obtained from microsatellite typing in DNA pools of 51 diverse chicken breeds showed that jungle fowl populations, traditional unselected breeds and broiler lines appear to be widely heterogeneous populations that may include a large portion of the genetic diversity of the tested breeds. In contrast, highly selected strains (layers and experimental lines) are characterised by a lower polymorphism. They behave as outliers from the set of breeds sampled. Single nucleotide polymorphism is a new and very promising molecular marker system which offers opportunities to assess the genetic diversity in farm animal species differently by investigating the mode and extent of changes in certain positions in the genome

Effects of topical 0.2% Cyclosporine A on corneal neovascularization induced by xenologous amniotic membrane implantation into a corneal stroma micropocket of rats Efeitos do uso tópico da Ciclosporina A (CsA) 0,2% na neovascularização corneal induzida pelo implante de membrana amniótica xenógena em microbolsa no estroma da córnea de ratos

The objective of the study was to evaluate the topical effects of 0.2% Cyclosporine A (CsA) on corneal neovascularization of rats following surgical implantation of equine amniotic membrane into a corneal stroma micropocket. The implantation of xenologous amniotic membrane was performed bilaterally in 90 rats. In the same day of the surgery each right eye started receiving topical CsA twice a day. The left eye received no medication and served as a control. The evaluation of corneal neovascularization was performed by computerized image analysis and histopathological evaluation at 1, 3, 7, 15, 30 and 60 days postoperatively. For the image analysis 10 animals were used per time period, and for the histopathological examination, five animals were used per time period. Image analysis found that corneal neovascularization began on the 3rd postoperative day, reached its peak on the 7th day, and then progressively and rapidly decreased. Statistic analysis indicated that neovascularization of the CsA treated eye on the 7th day was significantly higher than that observed in untreated eyes. On the 30th day, however, this pattern was reversed with the neovascularization observed in the CsA treated eyes declining to the low levels observed on the 3rd day. The degree of neovascularization in the untreated eyes on the 30th day declined to the baseline levels found on day 3 at the 60th day. Histopathological analysis indicated that deposition of collagen in the implanted tissue was completed by the 15th day. Therefore, we concluded that (1) equine amniotic membrane in rat corneal stroma produced an intense neovascularization until the 15th day postoperatively and then regressed, (2) deposition of collagen of the implanted tissue was completed on the 15th day postoperatively, and (3) use of CsA was associated with increase in the corneal neovascularization initially, followed by a quick and intense regression.<br>Este estudo teve como objetivo a avaliação dos efeitos tópicos da Ciclosporina a 0,2% (CsA) sobre a neovascularização corneana de ratos após implante cirúrgico de membrana amniótica eqüina em microbolsa do estroma corneana. O implante da membrana foi feito bilateralmente em 90 ratos. O tratamento com CsA iniciou-se no mesmo dia da cirurgia, nos olhos direitos dos animais, duas vezes ao dia. Os olhos esquerdos não receberam nenhum tratamento e serviram de controle. A avaliação da neovascularização corneana foi feita por análise de imagem computadorizada e por exame histopatológico aos dias 1, 3, 7, 15, 30 e 60 de pós-cirúrgico. Para a análise de imagem foram utilizados 10 animais por período, e para o exame histopatológico, 5 por período. A análise de imagem demonstrou que a neovascularização iniciou-se no 3° dia pós-cirúrgico, alcançou seu pico no 7° dia e então regrediu rápida e progressivamente até o 60° dia. A análise estatística indicou que a neovascularização no 7º dia nos olhos tratados com CsA foi significantemente mais acentuada do que aquela observada nos olhos não tratados. Entretanto, no 30º dia este fato se reverteu, e a neovascularização observada nos olhos tratados com CsA diminuíra a níveis baixos comparáveis àquela do 3º dia. Já nos olhos não tratados, o grau de neovascularização somente pôde ser comparado àquele nível básico encontrado no 3º dia aos 60 dias de pós-operatório. A análise histopatológica demonstrou que a deposição de colágeno no tecido implantado se completou no 15º dia. Desta maneira, foi possível concluir que (1) a membrana amniótica em estroma corneano de ratos produz intensa neovascularização até o 15º dia de pós-operatório com posterior regressão, (2) a deposição de colágeno do tecido implantado foi completa ao 15º dia de pós-operatório, e que (3) o uso de CsA esteve associado com aumento inicial da neovascularização corneana, seguido de rápida e intensa regressão

Beam Test Performance Studies of CMS Phase-2 Outer Tracker Module Prototypes

International audienceA new tracking detector will be installed as part of the Phase-2 upgrade of the CMS detector for the high-luminosity LHC era. This tracking detector includes the Inner Tracker, equipped with silicon pixel sensor modules, and the Outer Tracker, consisting of modules with two parallel stacked silicon sensors. The Outer Tracker front-end ASICs will be able to correlate hits from charged particles in these two sensors to perform on-module discrimination of transverse momenta $p_\mathrm{T}$. The $p_\mathrm{T}$ information is generated at a frequency of 40 MHz and will be used in the Level-1 trigger decision of CMS. Prototypes of the so-called 2S modules were tested at the Test Beam Facility at DESY Hamburg between 2019 and 2020. These modules use the final front-end ASIC, the CMS Binary Chip (CBC), and for the first time the Concentrator Integrated Circuit (CIC), optical readout and on-module power conversion. In total, seven modules were tested, one of which was assembled with sensors irradiated with protons. An important aspect was to show that it is possible to read out modules synchronously. A cluster hit efficiency of about 99.75% was achieved for all modules. The CBC $p_\mathrm{T}$ discrimination mechanism has been verified to work together with the CIC and optical readout. The measured module performance meets the requirements for operation in the upgraded CMS tracking detector

Evaluation of planar silicon pixel sensors with the RD53A readout chip for the Phase-2 Upgrade of the CMS Inner Tracker

The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN will undergo an upgrade in order to increase its luminosity to $7.5 \times 10^{34}$ cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$. The increased luminosity during this High-Luminosity running phase\\ (HL-LHC), starting around 2029, means a higher rate of proton-proton interactions, hence a larger ionizing dose and particle fluence for the detectors. The current tracking system of the CMS experiment will be fully replaced in order to cope with the new operating conditions. Prototype planar pixel sensors for the CMS Inner Tracker with square $50 \mu$m $\times \; 50 \mu$m and rectangular $100 \mu$m $\times \; 25 \mu$m pixels read out by the RD53A chip were characterized in the lab and at the DESY-II testbeam facility in order to identify designs that meet the requirements of CMS at the HL-LHC. A spatial resolution of approximately 3.4$\mu$m (2$\mu$m) is obtained using the modules with $50 \mu$m $\times \; 50 \mu$m ($100 \mu$m $\times \; 25 \mu$m) pixels at the optimal angle of incidence before irradiation. After irradiation to a 1 MeV neutron equivalent fluence of $\Phi_{\rm eq} = 5.3 \times 10^{15}$ cm$^{-2}$, a resolution of 9.4$\mu$m is achieved at a bias voltage of 800 V using a module with $50 \mu$m $\times \; 50 \mu$m pixel size. All modules retain a hit efficiency in excess of 99\% after irradiation to fluences up to $2.1 \times 10^{16}$ cm$^{-2}$. Further studies of the electrical properties of the modules, especially crosstalk, are also presented in this paper.The Large Hadron Collider at CERN will undergo an upgrade inorder to increase its luminosity to7.5 × 10$^{34}$ cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$. The increased luminosityduring this High-Luminosity running phase, starting around 2029,means a higher rate of proton-proton interactions, hence a largerionizing dose and particle fluence for the detectors. The currenttracking system of the CMS experiment will be fully replaced inorder to cope with the new operating conditions. Prototype planarpixel sensors for the CMS Inner Tracker with square50 μm × 50 μm and rectangular100 μm × 25 μm pixels read out by theRD53A chip were characterized in the lab and at the DESY-II testbeamfacility in order to identify designs that meet the requirements ofCMS during the High-Luminosity running phase. A spatial resolutionof approximately 3.4 μm (2 μm) is obtained using themodules with 50 μm × 50 μm(100 μm × 25 μm) pixels at the optimalangle of incidence before irradiation. After irradiation to a 1 MeVneutron equivalent fluence ofΦ$_{eq}$ = 5.3 × 10$^{15}$ cm$^{-2}$, a resolution of9.4 μm is achieved at a bias voltage of 800 V using a modulewith 50 μm × 50 μm pixel size. All modulesretain a hit efficiency in excess of 99% after irradiation tofluences up to 2.1 × 10$^{16}$ cm$^{-2}$. Further studies ofthe electrical properties of the modules, especially crosstalk, arealso presented in this paper.The Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN will undergo an upgrade in order to increase its luminosity to $7.5 \times 10^{34}$ cm$^{-2}$s$^{-1}$. The increased luminosity during this High-Luminosity running phase (HL-LHC), starting around 2029, means a higher rate of proton-proton interactions, hence a larger ionizing dose and particle fluence for the detectors. The current tracking system of the CMS experiment will be fully replaced in order to cope with the new operating conditions. Prototype planar pixel sensors for the CMS Inner Tracker with square $50 \mu$m $\times \; 50 \mu$m and rectangular $100 \mu$m $\times \; 25 \mu$m pixels read out by the RD53A chip were characterized in the lab and at the DESY-II testbeam facility in order to identify designs that meet the requirements of CMS at the HL-LHC. A spatial resolution of approximately 3.4$\mu$m (2$\mu$m) is obtained using the modules with $50 \mu$m $\times \; 50 \mu$m ($100 \mu$m $\times \; 25 \mu$m) pixels at the optimal angle of incidence before irradiation. After irradiation to a 1 MeV neutron equivalent fluence of $\Phi_{\rm eq} = 5.3 \times 10^{15}$ cm$^{-2}$, a resolution of 9.4$\mu$m is achieved at a bias voltage of 800 V using a module with $50 \mu$m $\times \; 50 \mu$m pixel size. All modules retain a hit efficiency in excess of 99% after irradiation to fluences up to $2.1 \times 10^{16}$ cm$^{-2}$. Further studies of the electrical properties of the modules, especially crosstalk, are also presented in this paper

Beam test performance of a prototype module with Short Strip ASICs for the CMS HL-LHC tracker upgrade

International audienceThe Short Strip ASIC (SSA) is one of the four front-endchips designed for the upgrade of the CMS Outer Tracker for the HighLuminosity LHC. Together with the Macro-Pixel ASIC (MPA) it willinstrument modules containing a strip and a macro-pixel sensorstacked on top of each other. The SSA provides both full readout ofthe strip hit information when triggered, and, together with theMPA, correlated clusters called stubs from the two sensors for useby the CMS Level-1 (L1) trigger system. Results from the firstprototype module consisting of a sensor and two SSA chips arepresented. The prototype module has been characterized at theFermilab Test Beam Facility using a 120 GeV proton beam