Mechanical properties of high alloyed cast and rolled CrMnNi TRIP steels with varying Ni contents

High alloyed metastable austenitic or austenitic-martensitic steels show a strain induced formation of martensite during mechanical loading. These kinds of steels are well known as material for rolled products. Based on the System Fe-Cr-Mn-Ni a new generation of cast steels with TRIP effect will be discussed. The investigations show how the mechanical properties and the fraction of the formed martensite are influenced by varying Ni contents. The mechanical properties in the cast state of the material are quite similar to those in the rolled state. This is valid for tensile as well as compression loading. Under certain conditions, an isothermal formation of martensite was observed in some of the steels. The experimental results are based on tensile and compression tests. The specimens were analysed by optical microscopy, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), dilatometer tests and a special method for the detection of the ferromagnetic phase contents, the magnetic balance

Acetylation of cell wall is required for structural integrity of the leaf surface and exerts a global impact on plant stress responses.

The epidermis on leaves protects plants from pathogen invasion and provides a waterproof barrier. It consists of a layer of cells that is surrounded by thick cell walls, which are partially impregnated by highly hydrophobic cuticular components. We show that the Arabidopsis T-DNA insertion mutants of REDUCED WALL ACETYLATION 2 (rwa2), previously identified as having reduced O-acetylation of both pectins and hemicelluloses, exhibit pleiotrophic phenotype on the leaf surface. The cuticle layer appeared diffused and was significantly thicker and underneath cell wall layer was interspersed with electron-dense deposits. A large number of trichomes were collapsed and surface permeability of the leaves was enhanced in rwa2 as compared to the wild type. A massive reprogramming of the transcriptome was observed in rwa2 as compared to the wild type, including a coordinated up-regulation of genes involved in responses to abiotic stress, particularly detoxification of reactive oxygen species and defense against microbial pathogens (e.g., lipid transfer proteins, peroxidases). In accordance, peroxidase activities were found to be elevated in rwa2 as compared to the wild type. These results indicate that cell wall acetylation is essential for maintaining the structural integrity of leaf epidermis, and that reduction of cell wall acetylation leads to global stress responses in Arabidopsis

Cutting edge: Trans-signaling via the soluble IL-6R abrogates the induction of FoxP3 in naive CD4+CD25- T cells

Chronic inflammatory diseases may develop when regulatory T cells (Tregs) fail to control the balance between tolerance and immunity. Alternatively, activated immune cells might prevent the induction or activation of Tregs in such diseases. In this study, we demonstrate that trans-signaling into T cells via the soluble IL-6 receptor completely abrogates the de novo induction of adaptive Tregs. Mechanistically, IL-6 trans-signaling augmented the expression of the TGF-β signaling inhibitor SMAD7. Consequently, SMAD7 overexpression in T cells using newly created transgenic mice rendered CD4+CD25 - T cells resistant to the induction of FoxP3. Finally, IL-6 trans-signaling inhibited Treg-mediated suppression in a murine model of colitis. In summary, IL-6 trans-signaling into T cells emerges as a key pathway for blockade of the development of adaptive Tregs and thus may play a pivotal role in shifting the balance between effector and regulatory T cell numbers in chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Copyright © 2007 by The American Association of Immunologists, Inc

Avaliação cardiocirculatória do sevofluorano como agente de manutenção anestésica em cães, em diferentes concentrações de oxigênio e óxido nitroso Sevoflurane cardiocirculatory study in dogs with different oxygen and nitrous oxide concentrations

Com o objetivo de avaliar as alterações cardiocirculatórias resultantes da manutenção anestésica com sevofluorano, três grupos de 10 cães cada foram anestesiados por 60 minutos com fluxo diluente de 100% de oxigênio (grupo 1), de 50% de oxigênio e de óxido nitroso (grupo 2) ou 27% de oxigênio e 63% de óxido nitroso (grupo 3). A tranqüilização foi realizada com levomepromazina (0,5 mg/kg) e a indução com tiopental (12,5 mg/kg). A freqüência cardíaca apresentou elevação significativa após a indução (P<0,05), mantendo-se mais alta que a basal, em todos os grupos, durante toda a anestesia. As variações das pressões arteriais sistólica, média e diastólica foram pouco significativas e mantiveram-se em todos os grupos dentro de valores aceitáveis para a espécie e a utilização do óxido nitroso não interferiu nessa variação. O sevofluorano demonstrou ser um bom agente de manutenção anestésica em cães, e a adição de 63% de óxido nitroso ao fluxo diluente de oxigênio reduziu a necessidade anestésica de maneira significativa.<br>Thirty healthy mongrel dogs, premedicated with levomepromazine (0.5mg/kg) and induced with tiopental sodium were anesthetized for 60 minutes as follow:group 1 (G1) sevoflurane in oxygen 100%; group 2 (G2) sevoflurane in nitrous oxide and oxygen 50% each and group 3 (G3) sevoflurane in oxygen 27% and nitrous oxide 63%. Heart rate increased significantly after induction (P<0.05), maintaining higher than baseline values in all groups. Mean and systolic arterial pressures decreased (P<0.05) along the time but the mean blood pressure variation was different between groups (G1<G2<G3). Diastolic blood pressure also decreased significantly after induction (P<0.05) maintaining higher than baseline values in all groups. Sevoflurane should be a good agent for the anesthesia maintenance in dogs, with minimal cardiocirculatory effects and, at 63% nitrous oxide concentration, the anesthetical requirement decrease significantly

Modelling the nucleation, growth and agglomeration of alumina inclusions in molten steel by combining Kampmann–Wagner numerical model with particle size grouping method

Abstract Recent inclusion models are mainly focused on the compositional evolution of inclusion, steel and slag. Due to the importance of inclusion size distribution to steel properties, the evolution of inclusion size distributions should also be accounted for. As the first step to establish a model to predict the evolution of inclusion size distribution, the nucleation, growth and removal of alumina inclusions in molten steel were modeled by combining Kampmann and Wagner numerical model for nucleation, growth and coarsening with particle size grouping method. The model could simulate the time evolution of the size distribution of alumina inclusions after aluminum de-oxidation. The model was validated by using the experimental size distribution data of alumina inclusions available in the literature. The model calculation results were also compared with previous simulation results. The influences of interfacial tension between steel and inclusion and diffusion coefficient on the calculated inclusion size distribution were investigated. As interfacial tension between steel and alumina increases, the maximum number density decreases and the peak value of radius increases. As diffusion coefficient increases, the maximum number density decreases and the peak-value radius increases. The calculated size distribution curves showed a change from log normal to fractal, which is due to the change of dominating mechanisms for crystal growth and agglomeration