Coupled Deformation and Diffusion Process at the Stainless Steel/Carbon Steel Interface in the Deformation Bonding Process

Cylindrical and surface-treated blanks were used to prepare stainless steel/carbon steel composite specimens at different temperatures. The coupled deformation and diffusion of materials at the interface were investigated by SEM and ultrasonic “C” scanning detection. The difference in the elongation of the two metals is shown to result in tearing at the interface in the deformation bonding process. Cracks are mainly located in a more readily expanding substrate and are more pronounced at lower deformation temperatures. With an increase in deformation temperatures, the bonding efficiency also increases significantly, but the diffusion layer thickness is basically the same. The bonding efficiency of composites can be greatly improved by mechanical surface treatment at normal deformation temperatures.Композиты на основе нержавеющей и углеродистой сталей получали при различных температурах с использованием цилиндрических образцов и образцов, подверженных поверхностной обработке. Исследовали совместную деформацию и диффузию материалов вблизи межфазной границы с помощью растровой электронной микроскопии и ультразвукового С-сканирования. Результаты показывают, что различие в удлинении двух металлов приводит к разрыву вблизи межфазной границы в процессе деформационного соединения. Трещины в основном располагаются в легче растяжимой подложке и более резко выражены при низкой температуре деформации. С увеличением температуры деформации качество соединения значительно повышается, но толщина диффузионного слоя в основном одинакова. Качество соединения композитов можно улучшить путем поверхностной механической обработки при нормальной температуре деформации

Guillain-Barré Syndrome-related campylobacter jejuni in Bangladesh: ganglioside mimicry and cross-reactive antibodies

BACKGROUND: <br/> Campylobacter jejuni is the predominant antecedent infection in Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Molecular mimicry and cross-reactive immune responses to C. jejuni lipo-oligosaccharides (LOS) precipitate the development of GBS, although this mechanism has not been established in patients from developing countries. We determined the carbohydrate mimicry between C. jejuni LOS and gangliosides, and the cross-reactive antibody response in patients with GBS in Bangladesh.<br/> METHODOLOGY:<br/> Sera from 97 GBS patients, and 120 neurological and family controls were tested for antibody reactivity against LOS from C. jejuni isolates from GBS patients in Bangladesh (BD-07, BD-39, BD-10, BD-67 and BD-94) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cross-reactivity to LOS was determined by ELISA. The LOS outer core structures of C. jejuni strains associated with GBS/MFS were determined by mass spectrometry.<br/> PRINCIPLE FINDINGS:<br/> IgG antibodies to LOS from C. jejuni BD-07, BD-39, BD-10, and BD-67 IgG antibodies were found in serum from 56%, 58%, 14% and 15% of GBS patients respectively, as compared to very low frequency (<3%) in controls (p<0.001). Monoclonal antibodies specific for GM1 and GD1a reacted strongly with LOS from the C. jejuni strains (BD-07 and BD-39). Mass spectrometry analysis confirmed the presence of GM1 and GD1a carbohydrate mimics in the LOS from C. jejuni BD-07 and BD-39. Both BD-10 and BD-67 express the same LOS outer core, which appears to be a novel structure displaying GA2 and GD3 mimicry. Up to 90-100% of serum reactivity to gangliosides in two patients (DK-07 and DK-39) was inhibited by 50 µg/ml of LOS from the autologous C. jejuni isolates. However, patient DK-07 developed an anti-GD1a immune response while patient DK-39 developed an anti-GM1 immune response.<br/> CONCLUSION:<br/> Carbohydrate mimicry between C. jejuni LOS and gangliosides, and cross-reactive serum antibody precipitate the majority of GBS cases in Bangladesh

Placental growth factor and its potential role in diabetic retinopathy and other ocular neovascular diseases.

The role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), including in retinal vascular diseases, has been well studied, and pharmacological blockade of VEGF is the gold standard of treatment for neovascular age-related macular degeneration, retinal vein occlusion and diabetic macular oedema. Placental growth factor (PGF, previously known as PlGF), a homologue of VEGF, is a multifunctional peptide associated with angiogenesis-dependent pathologies in the eye and non-ocular conditions. Animal studies using genetic modification and pharmacological treatment have demonstrated a mechanistic role for PGF in pathological angiogenesis. Inhibition decreases neovascularization and microvascular abnormalities across different models, including oxygen-induced retinopathy, laser-induced choroidal neovascularization and in diabetic mice exhibiting retinopathies. High levels of PGF have been found in the vitreous of patients with diabetic retinopathy. Despite these strong animal data, the exact role of PGF in pathological angiogenesis in retinal vascular diseases remains to be defined, and the benefits of PGF-specific inhibition in humans with retinal neovascular diseases and macular oedema remain controversial. Comparative effectiveness research studies in patients with diabetic retinal disease have shown that treatment that inhibits both VEGF and PGF may provide superior outcomes in certain patients compared with treatment that inhibits only VEGF. This review summarizes current knowledge of PGF, including its relationship to VEGF and its role in pathological angiogenesis in retinal diseases, and identifies some key unanswered questions about PGF that can serve as a pathway for future basic, translational and clinical research

CHANG-ES XXIII: influence of a galactic wind in NGC 5775

Galaxie

Mapping a super-invader in a biodiversity hotspot, an eDNA-based success story

The lesser Antilles archipelago in the Caribbean is known as a biodiversity hotspot, hosting many endemic species. However, recent introduction of a highly invasive species, the Australian redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus), has led to significant threats to this fragile ecosystem. Here we developed, validated, and optimized a species-specific eDNA-based detection protocol targeting the 16S region of the mitochondrial gene of C. quadricarinatus. Our aim was to assess the crayfish distribution across Martinique Island. Our developed assay was species-specific and showed high sensitivity in laboratory, mesocosm and field conditions. A significant and positive correlation was found between species biomass, detection probability and efficiency through mesocosm experiments. Moreover, we found eDNA persisted up to 23 days in tropical freshwaters. We investigated a total of 83 locations, spread over 53 rivers and two closed water basins using our novel eDNA assay and traditional trapping, the latter, undertaken to confirm the reliability of the molecular-based detection method. Overall, we detected C. quadricarinatus at 47 locations using eDNA and 28 using traditional trapping, all positive trapping sites were positive for eDNA. We found that eDNA-based monitoring was less time-consuming and less influenced by the crayfishes often patchy distributions, proving a more reliable tool for future large-scale surveys. The clear threat and worrying distribution of this invasive species is particularly alarming as the archipelago belongs to one of the 25 identified biodiversity hotspots on Earth.N

The Physics of Star Cluster Formation and Evolution

© 2020 Springer-Verlag. The final publication is available at Springer via https://doi.org/10.1007/s11214-020-00689-4.Star clusters form in dense, hierarchically collapsing gas clouds. Bulk kinetic energy is transformed to turbulence with stars forming from cores fed by filaments. In the most compact regions, stellar feedback is least effective in removing the gas and stars may form very efficiently. These are also the regions where, in high-mass clusters, ejecta from some kind of high-mass stars are effectively captured during the formation phase of some of the low mass stars and effectively channeled into the latter to form multiple populations. Star formation epochs in star clusters are generally set by gas flows that determine the abundance of gas in the cluster. We argue that there is likely only one star formation epoch after which clusters remain essentially clear of gas by cluster winds. Collisional dynamics is important in this phase leading to core collapse, expansion and eventual dispersion of every cluster. We review recent developments in the field with a focus on theoretical work.Peer reviewe

Effects of Dietary Protein and Lipid Levels on Growth Performance, Feed Utilization and Biochemical Parameters of Barbless Carp (Cyprinus pellegrini)

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of varying dietary protein (35%, 40%, 45%) and lipid (4%, 8%, 12%) levels with protein to energy (P/E) ratios ranging from 17.04 to 23.58 g protein/MJ on growth performance, feed utilization, and biochemical parameters of barbless carp (Cyprinus pellegrini). Fish fed diets with 40% protein exhibited higher thermal growth coefficient (TGC) and energy retention compared with fish fed the diets with 35% protein, higher protein efficiency ratio (PER), and protein retention, compared with fish fed diets with 35% and 45% protein. TGC and energy retention were significantly lower in fish fed the diets with 4% lipid compared to fish fed diets with 8% and 12% lipid. Fish fed the diet with 40% protein and 12% lipid had similar TGC as those fed the diets containing 8% and 12% lipid with 45% protein, but showed relatively better PER. Further, fish fed the diet with 40% protein and 12% lipid exhibited relatively lower plasma γ-glutamyl transferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase activities, and total protein and blood urea nitrogen contents compared with fish fed the other diets. These results indicate that a diet containing 40% protein and 12% lipid with P/E of 19.38 g protein/MJ would be suitable for growth and health of barbless carp

X-ray flashes in ROSAT PSPC data

The authors find 24 short (200--2,500s) X-ray flashes from all the ROSAT Position Sensitive Proportional Counter (PSPC) observations above galactic latitude 30 degrees ({approximately} 9.6 Msec) and some observations toward low latitudes ({approximately} 2.4 Msec). The brightest flash is quite extraordinary. Its flux rises from nondetection by a factor of > 200 in less than 100 sec. Its spectrum can be fitted either by a thermal plasma model with kT {ge} 2.4 keV, or by a single power-law with the photon number index of {approx} {minus}1.7. Photon statistics are not sufficient to obtain spectra for other flashes. The flash event fields can vary from optically crowded regions to blank fields. Although eight flashes are found from observations from nearby galaxies, and three of them are within the optical extent of their corresponding galaxies, they could not statistically establish that there are two different populations between nearby galaxies and control fields

Influence of extrusion temperature on microstructure and mechanical properties of Mg-4Y-4Sm-0.5Zr alloy

International audienceThe solution-treated Mg-4Y-4Sm-0.5Zr alloy was extruded at temperatures from 325 degrees C to 500 degrees C. Dynamic recrystallization (DRX) completely occurs when the alloy is extruded at 350 degrees C and above. The grains of the extruded alloy are obviously refined by the occurrence of DRX. The average grain size of the extruded alloy increases with increasing the extrusion temperature, leading to a slight decrease of the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and the yield strength (YS). On the contrary, the UTS and YS of the extruded and aged alloy increase with increasing the extrusion temperature. Values of UTS of 400 MPa, YS larger than 300 MPa and elongation (EL) of 7% are achieved after extrusion at 400 degrees C and ageing at 200 degrees C for 16 h. Both grain refinement and precipitation are efficient strengthening mechanisms for the Mg-4Y-4Sm-0.5Zr alloy