The effect of surface preparation on the protective properties of Al2O3 and HfO2 thin films deposited on cp-titanium by atomic layer deposition

Atomic layer deposition (ALD), a method that allows the formation of thin and conformal films on substrates of interest, was employed to prepare thin films of alumina (Al2O3) and hafnia (HfO2), with the aim of protecting the surface of the commercially pure titanium (cp-Ti) used in biomedical applications. Prior to deposition, cp-Ti specimens have been prepared in two ways \u2013 grinding and grinding followed by polishing. Such surfaces have been denoted as rough and smooth, respectively. The thickness, composition, morphology and topography of alumina and hafnia films have been determined using ellipsometry, focused ion beam microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry and 3D profilometry. A homogeneous stoichiometric composition of alumina and hafnia was obtained with a layer thickness of ca. 150 nm. The anti-corrosive properties of ALD thin films were measured in simulated body fluid solution, using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization curves. The roughness of the cp-Ti surface plays an important role in the protective properties of these films, especially those of hafnia. In general, when deposited on a smooth surface, ALD films with better anti-corrosive properties were obtained, as evidenced by EIS long-term, 40-day tests. ALD films showed very low porosity, calculated from electrochemical parameters, and significantly lower corrosion current densities, compared with those from bare cp-Ti specimens. Lower porosity and slightly better protective properties were provided by films of hafnia. On the other hand, according to EIS long-term tests, alumina retained slightly greater impedance values than hafnia. Since both alumina and hafnia are biocompatible materials, this study confirms the possibility of their use to reduce the risk of failure of medical implants made of cp-Ti, in the human body environment

Implementation and performance of SIBYLS: a dual endstation small-angle X-ray scattering and macromolecular crystallography beamline at the Advanced Light Source.

The SIBYLS beamline (12.3.1) of the Advanced Light Source at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, supported by the US Department of Energy and the National Institutes of Health, is optimized for both small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and macromolecular crystallography (MX), making it unique among the world's mostly SAXS or MX dedicated beamlines. Since SIBYLS was commissioned, assessments of the limitations and advantages of a combined SAXS and MX beamline have suggested new strategies for integration and optimal data collection methods and have led to additional hardware and software enhancements. Features described include a dual mode monochromator [containing both Si(111) crystals and Mo/B(4)C multilayer elements], rapid beamline optics conversion between SAXS and MX modes, active beam stabilization, sample-loading robotics, and mail-in and remote data collection. These features allow users to gain valuable insights from both dynamic solution scattering and high-resolution atomic diffraction experiments performed at a single synchrotron beamline. Key practical issues considered for data collection and analysis include radiation damage, structural ensembles, alternative conformers and flexibility. SIBYLS develops and applies efficient combined MX and SAXS methods that deliver high-impact results by providing robust cost-effective routes to connect structures to biology and by performing experiments that aid beamline designs for next generation light sources

Global Waste Management Outlook

The Global Waste Management Outlook, a collective effort of the United Nations Environment Programme and the International Waste Management Association, is a pioneering scientific global assessment on the state of waste management and a call for action to the international community. Prepared as a follow up to the Rio+20 Summit and as a response to UNEP Governing Council decision GC 27/12, the document establishes the rationale and the tools for taking a holistic approach towards waste management and recognizing waste and resource management as a significant contributor to sustainable development and climate change mitigation. To complement the Sustainable Development Goals of the Post-2015 Development Agenda, the Outlook sets forth Global Waste Management Goals and a Global Call to Action to achieve those goals

GAME: Grb and All-sky Monitor Experiment

We describe the GRB and All-sky Monitor Experiment (GAME) mission submitted by a large international collaboration (Italy, Germany, Czech Repubblic, Slovenia, Brazil) in response to the 2012 ESA call for a small mission opportunity for a launch in 2017 and presently under further investigation for subsequent opportunities. The general scientific objective is to perform measurements of key importance for GRB science and to provide the wide astrophysical community of an advanced X-ray all-sky monitoring system. The proposed payload was based on silicon drift detectors (~1-50 keV), CdZnTe (CZT) detectors (~15-200 keV) and crystal scintillators in phoswich (NaI/CsI) configuration (~20 keV-20 MeV), three well established technologies, for a total weight of ~250 kg and a required power of ~240 W. Such instrumentation allows a unique, unprecedented and very powerful combination of large field of view (3-4 sr), a broad energy energy band extending from ~1 keV up to ~20 MeV, an energy resolution as good as ~300 eV in the 1-30 keV energy range, a source location accuracy of ~1 arcmin. The mission profile included a launch (e.g., by Vega) into a low Earth orbit, a baseline sky scanning mode plus pointed observations of regions of particular interest, data transmission to ground via X-band (4.8 Gb/orbit, Alcantara and Malindi ground stations), and prompt transmission of GRB / transient triggers.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, published in International Journal of Modern Physics

The Functional Microdomain in Transmembrane Helices 2 and 7 Regulates Expression, Activation, and Coupling Pathways of the Gonadotropin-releasing Hormone Receptor

Structural microdomains of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) consist of spatially related side chains that mediate discrete functions. The conserved helix 2/helix 7 microdomain was identified because the gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) receptor appears to have interchanged the Asp(2.50) and Asn(7.49) residues which are conserved in transmembrane helices 2 and 7 of rhodopsin-like GPCRs. We now demonstrate that different side chains of this microdomain contribute specifically to receptor expression, heterotrimeric G protein-, and small G protein-mediated signaling. An Asn residue is required in position 2.50(87) for expression of the GnRH receptor at the cell surface, most likely through an interaction with the conserved Asn(1.50(53)) residue, which we also find is required for receptor expression. Most GPCRs require an Asp side chain at either the helix 2 or helix 7 locus of the microdomain for coupling to heterotrimeric G proteins, but the GnRH receptor has transferred the requirement for an acidic residue from helix 2 to 7. However, the presence of Asp at the helix 7 locus precludes small G protein-dependent coupling to phospholipase D. These results implicate specific components of the helix 2/helix 7 microdomain in receptor expression and in determining the ability of the receptor to adopt distinct activated conformations that are optimal for interaction with heterotrimeric and small G proteins

Dinamička simulacija mehaničkih opterećenja – pristup zasnovan na svojstvima industrijskih elektromotornih pogona

Dynamic emulation of mechanical loads presents a modern and interesting approach for testing and validating performance of electrical drives without a real mechanical load included in the test rig. The paper presents an approach to dynamic emulation of mechanical loads when the load torque and inertia mass of emulated load can be significantly greater than that of laboratory test rig. Closed-loop control of load torque and feedforward compensation of inertia and friction torques are used in a test rig. The approach is focused on the use with standard industrial converters. The described method can be used for design and validation of speed control algorithms in mechatronic applications. Experimental results with the emulation of linear loads are presented in end of the paper.Dinamička simulacija mehaničkih opterećenja predstavlja moderan i zanimljiv pristup testiranju i validaciji ponašanja elektromotornih pogona bez uključenog stvarnog mehaničkog opterećenja u eksperimentalni postav. U radu je predstavljen pristup s dinamičkom simulacijom mehaničkih opterećenja za slučaj kada moment tereta ili moment tromosti simuliranog tereta mogu biti daleko veći od onih dostupnih u eksperimentalnom postavu. U postavu se koristi upravljanje momentom tereta u zatvorenoj petlji uz unaprijednu petlju kompenzacije momenta tromosti i momenata trenja. Pristup je usmjeren na upotrebu standardnih industrijskih pretvarača. Opisana metoda može se koristiti za sintezu i validaciju algoritama za upravljanje po brzini u mehatroničkim primjenama. U radu su predstavljeni eksperimentalni rezultati za slučaj simulacije linearnih tereta

Simultaneous expression of Oct4 and genes of three germ layers in single cell-derived multipotent adult progenitor cells

Future application of adult stem cells in clinical therapies largely depends on the successful isolation of homogeneous stem cells with high plasticity. Multipotent adult progenitor cells (MAPCs) are thought to be a more primitive stem cell population capable of extensive in vitro proliferation with no senescence or loss of differentiation capability. The present study was aimed to find a less complicated and more economical protocol for obtaining single cell-derived MAPCs and understand the molecule mechanism of multi-lineage differentiation of MAPCs. We successfully obtained a comparatively homogeneous population of MAPCs and confirmed that single cell-derived MAPCs were able to transcribe Oct4 and genes of three germ layers simultaneously, and differentiate into multiple lineages. Our observations suggest that single cell-derived MAPCs under appropriate circumstances could maintain not only characteristics of stem cells but multi-lineage differentiation potential through quantitative modulation of corresponding regulating gene expression, rather than switching on expression of specific genes

THESEUS::A key space mission concept for Multi-Messenger Astrophysics

The recent discovery of the electromagnetic counterpart of the gravitational wave source GW170817, has demonstrated the huge informative power of multi-messenger observations. During the next decade the nascent field of multi-messenger astronomy will mature significantly. Around 2030, third generation gravitational wave detectors will be roughly ten times more sensitive than the current ones. At the same time, neutrino detectors currently upgrading to multi km^3 telescopes, will include a 10 km^3 facility in the Southern hemisphere that is expected to be operational around 2030. In this review, we describe the most promising high frequency gravitational wave and neutrino sources that will be detected in the next two decades. In this context, we show the important role of the Transient High Energy Sky and Early Universe Surveyor (THESEUS), a mission concept proposed to ESA by a large international collaboration in response to the call for the Cosmic Vision Programme M5 missions. THESEUS aims at providing a substantial advancement in early Universe science as well as playing a fundamental role in multi-messenger and time-domain astrophysics, operating in strong synergy with future gravitational wave and neutrino detectors as well as major ground- and space-based telescopes. This review is an extension of the THESEUS white paper (Amati et al. 2017), also in light of the discovery of GW170817/GRB170817A that was announced on October 16th, 2017.Comment: 25 pages, 13 figures, accepted to Advances in Space Research with minor revisions. Details on the THESEUS instrumentation, science case and expected performances can also be found in Amati et al. 2017 (arXiv:1710.04638) and in the presentations of the THESEUS Workshop 2017 (http://www.isdc.unige.ch/theseus/workshop2017-programme.html). v2 few typos correcte

Planning for conservation in the Mediterranean Sea : an ecoregional approach

Our study demonstrates that setting conservation targets for each Mediterranean ecoregion, can lead to outcomes more comprehensive in the representation of the Mediterranean biodiversity overcoming the great variability in availability of biodiversity and socioeconomic data among countries.peer-reviewe

Linked read technology for assembling large complex and polyploid genomes

Background: Short read DNA sequencing technologies have revolutionized genome assembly by providing high accuracy and throughput data at low cost. But it remains challenging to assemble short read data, particularly for large, complex and polyploid genomes. The linked read strategy has the potential to enhance the value of short reads for genome assembly because all reads originating from a single long molecule of DNA share a common barcode. However, the majority of studies to date that have employed linked reads were focused on human haplotype phasing and genome assembly. Results: Here we describe a de novo maize B73 genome assembly generated via linked read technology which contains ~ 172,000 scaffolds with an N50 of 89 kb that cover 50% of the genome. Based on comparisons to the B73 reference genome, 91% of linked read contigs are accurately assembled. Because it was possible to identify errors with \u3e 76% accuracy using machine learning, it may be possible to identify and potentially correct systematic errors. Complex polyploids represent one of the last grand challenges in genome assembly. Linked read technology was able to successfully resolve the two subgenomes of the recent allopolyploid, proso millet (Panicum miliaceum). Our assembly covers ~ 83% of the 1 Gb genome and consists of 30,819 scaffolds with an N50 of 912 kb. Conclusions: Our analysis provides a framework for future de novo genome assemblies using linked reads, and we suggest computational strategies that if implemented have the potential to further improve linked read assemblies, particularly for repetitive genomes