Stretching and twisting of the DNA duplexes in coarse grained dynamical models

Three coarse-grained models of the double-stranded DNA are proposed and compared in the context of mechanical manipulation such as twisting and various schemes of stretching. The models differ in the number of effective beads (between two and five) representing each nucleotide. They all show similar behavior and, in particular, lead to a torque-force phase diagrams qualitatively consistent with experiments and all-atom simulations

Mechanical unfolding of proteins – comparative non-equilibrium molecular dynamics study

Mechanical signals regulate functions of mechanosensitive proteins by inducing structural changes that are determinant for force-dependent interactions. Talin is a focal adhesion protein that is known to extend under mechanical load, and it has been shown to unfold via intermediate states. Here, we compared different nonequilibrium molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study unfolding of the talin rod. We combined boxed MD (BXD), steered MD, and umbrella sampling (US) techniques and provide free energy profiles for unfolding of talin rod subdomains. We conducted BXD, steered MD, and US simulations at different detail levels and demonstrate how these different techniques can be used to study protein unfolding under tension. Unfolding free energy profiles determined by BXD suggest that the intermediate states in talin rod subdomains are stabilized by force during unfolding, and US confirmed these results

Reakcja odmian pszenicy orkisz (Triticum aestivum spp. spelta) na dokarmianie dolistne

Field experiments were carried out in 2015–2017 on medium heavy mixed rendzina. The aim of the study was to assess the yield and weed infestation of winter spelt wheat cultivars (Oberkulmer Rotkorn, Badengold and Frankenkorn) under foliar application with Santaura Pro+ or Pro Horti Micro Amin Mg fertilizers. Among the evaluated spelt cultivars, the largest yield of grain, as well as the largest number and weight of grains from ear was produced by Badengold cv., while the highest 1000-grains mass was characterized by Oberkulmer Rotkorn cv. Prohorti Micro Amin Mg foliar fertilizer was more yield-forming. Compared to the control object, three-fold application of this preparation resulted in a significant increase in the grain yield, the weight of 1000 grains, as well as number and weight of grains in the ear. Santaura Pro+ fertilizer also had a positive effect on the yielding of spelt, however differences in relation to the control object were statistically insignificant. Tested foliar fertilizers did not differentiate the weight of weed in the canopy of spelt

Electrocatalytical Properties of Palladium-Decorated Cobalt Coatings Obtained by Electrodeposition and Galvanic Displacment

This work presents the studies on the electrochemical process of thin palladium layers formation onto electrodeposited cobalt coatings. The suggested methodology consists of the preparation of thick and smooth cobalt substrate via galvanostatic electrodeposition. Cobalt coatings were prepared under different cathodic current density conditions from acidic bath containing cobalt sulphate and addition of boric acid. Obtained cobalt layers were analyzed by x-ray diffraction to determine their phase composition. Freshly prepared cobalt coatings were modificated by the galvanic displacement method in PdCl2 solution, to obtain smooth and compact Pd layer. The comparison of electrocatalytic properties of Co coatings with Co/Pd ones enabled to determine the influence of Palladium presence in cathodic deposits on the hydrogen evolution process

Investigation of Two-Step Metallization Process of Plastic 3D Prints Fabricated by SLA Method

This paper presents the results of experiments on metallization of plastic elements produced using 3D printing technology from the light-hardened resins. The obtained coatings were bimetallic (Cu/Ni). The first step of metallization was the electroless deposition of copper. The second one was electrodeposition of nickel on the previously prepared copper substrate. The parameters of 3D prints preparation and metallization processes were deeply investigated. The etching of plastics substrates and duration of electroless metallization of 3D prints by copper were analyzed. In the next step the influence of nickel electrodeposition time was investigated. The coating were analyzed by XRD method and morphology of surface was analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The thickness of coatings was calculated based on mass differences and measured by using optical microscopy method. The optimal parameters for both processes were specified

Influence of Magnetic Field on Electroless Metallization of 3D Prints by Copper and Nickel

3D printing is a technology with possibilities related to the production of elements of any geometry, directly from a digital project. Elements made of plastic are metalized to give new properties such as conductivity or corrosion resistance. In this work, experimental work related to the electroless deposition of metallic coatings on plastics was carried out. For this purpose, the copper and nickel coatings were catalytically deposited on elements printed using hard-lightened resin. The effect of the metallization time on the properties of copper and nickel coatings was determined. In addition, the process of deposition metals in the magnetic field was analyzed with different direction of magnetic field to the surface of the samples. The coatings were analyzed by XRF, XRD method and morphology of surface was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM)