Future Armoured Troop Carrying Vehicles

Present-day reliance on wheeled and tracked armour personnel carriers (APCs) and infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs), may be changed in the future. Shaped charge grenades and impovised explosive devices (IEDs)represent a considerable threat, even to well protected main battle tanks (MBTs). Paradoxically, the crew of wheeled and tracked troop-carrying vehicles is numerically three to four times larger than that of MBTs, however, their protection in all aspects is significantly lower. Therefore, heavier vehicles may get more attention in the future, where sharing the chassis and a number of components with MBTs could provide significant reductions in procurement costs and maintenance, as well as a simplified logistics in relation to the latest tracked. Obviously, the IFVs mobility of heavy vehicles would be lower than that of lighter vehicles. However, by applying various degrees of modular armour protection, a significant rise in strategic, operational, and tactical mobility could be achieved. Such heavy tracked vehicles, built on a common chassis as MBTs, may equip the future heavy brigades, which will be in contrast to the lighter wheeled vehicles included in rapid deployment brigades. As a result, tracked personnel carrying vehicles may extinct in the future.Defence Science Journal, 2010, 60(5), pp.483-490, DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.14429/dsj.60.55

Pharmacogenetics of ophthalmic topical β-blockers

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. The primary glaucoma risk factor is elevated intraocular pressure. Topical β-blockers are affordable and widely used to lower intraocular pressure. Genetic variability has been postulated to contribute to interpersonal differences in efficacy and safety of topical β-blockers. This review summarizes clinically significant polymorphisms that have been identified in the β-adrenergic receptors (ADRB1, ADRB2 and ADRB3). The implications of polymorphisms in CYP2D6 are also discussed. Although the candidate-gene approach has facilitated significant progress in our understanding of the genetic basis of glaucoma treatment response, most drug responses involve a large number of genes, each containing multiple polymorphisms. Genome-wide association studies may yield a more comprehensive set of polymorphisms associated with glaucoma outcomes. An understanding of the genetic mechanisms associated with variability in individual responses to topical β-blockers may advance individualized treatment at a lower cost

On the Flexibility of Deployable Dome Structures and their Application in Architecture

In this paper we discuss flexibility and applicability of deployable dome structures in contemporary architecture. A deployable dome is a spatial structure derived from appropriately connected planar polygonal panels. Nowadays, deployable domes are little researched comparing to other deployable structures, such as pseudo-cylinders, for example. When designing these configurations, either changeable supports' spans or strain of some structural elements might occur, depending on the underlying geometrical analysis. Such occurrences, usually being undesirable, can be avoided by the adequate geometrical solution which can also satisfy various sizes of the structures. Therefore, they could answer the purpose both in architectural and urban design. Thus, choosing suitable dimension of the structure, numerous applications can be obtained, starting from street furniture to large scale convertible structures for covering open spaces

The microstructure infl uence on the chip formation process of Al-Cu alloy cast conventionally and in semi solid state

For many metal alloys, the process of metal cutting is accompanied by extensive plastic deformation and fracture. To study this process, quick stop sectional samples of hypoeutectic Al-Cu alloy chip formation, either as conventionally cast alloy or as “semi solid metal” are used. The type of chip formation is classifi ed according to crack formation mechanism and propagation. During cutting, in all specimens used, quasi-continuous chips with built-up edge (BUE) are obtained. The formation of BUE is undesirable since it is a highly deformed body with a semi stable top which periodically breaks away giving rise to poor workpiece surface quality

Utjecaj mikrostrukture na proces nastajanja strugotine za konvencionalnu i polutekuću lijevanu Al-Cu leguru

For many metal alloys, the process of metal cutting is accompanied by extensive plastic deformation and fracture. To study this process, quick stop sectional samples of hypoeutectic Al-Cu alloy chip formation, either as conventionally cast alloy or as “semi solid metal” are used. The type of chip formation is classified according to crack formation mechanism and propagation. During cutting, in all specimens used, quasi-continuous chips with built-up edge (BUE) are obtained. The formation of BUE is undesirable since it is a highly deformed body with a semi stable top which periodically breaks away giving rise to poor workpiece surface quality.Za mnoge metalne legure, proces rezanja je praćen intenzivnom plastičnom deformacijom i lomom. Za istraživanje tog procesa u radu je korištena metoda brzog zaustavljanja procesa rezanja. Materijal uzorka je podeutektička Al-Cu legura, lijevana konvencionalno i kao „polu čvrsti metal“ (semi solid metal-SSM). Vrsta strugotine koja je obrazovana klasifi cirana je prema mehanizmu nastajanja i širenja pukotina. Tokom rezanja, u svim uzorcima nastajala je, kvazi-kontinuirano strugotina sa naslagama (BUE). Stvaranje BUE je nepoželjan proces, jer je to jako deformirani volumen sa polu stabilnim oblikom, koji povremeno raste i odvaja se, što dovodi do lošeg kvaliteta obrađene površine

Cloning of Canine Galactokinase (\u3cem\u3eGALK1\u3c/em\u3e) and Evaluation as a Candidate Gene for Hereditary Cataracts in Labrador Retrievers

We identified a pedigree of Labrador retrievers (LR) that develop hereditary cataracts between 6 and 18 months of age. In humans, galactokinase deficiency is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by juvenile onset of cataracts.1 In order to evaluate GALK1 as a candidate gene, we cloned and sequenced the canine GALK1 gene and tested a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the gene for segregation with cataracts in the LR pedigree

The influence of polymer addition on flexural strength, fracture mode and porosity of traditional ceramics

The usage of air-swept milling of raw materials is the most efficient method for preventing the negative lime-blowing process of ceramic roofing tiles. How-ever, after air-swept milling the clay minerals lose water which has to be re-turned back before the shaping procedure. Addition of surface active materials could increase hydrophilicity of the raw material and reduce needed time for re-wetting trough the control of meso-, micro- and nanoporosity of the clay ma¬terial. In view of that, the object of this research was to study the influence of polyethylene glycol (PEG600) on porosity, mechanical properties and fracture surface characteristics of traditional ceramic materials. It was founded that with the addition of polyethylene glycol (PEG600) to traditional clay materials it is possible to achieve desired porosity, from meso, through micro and up to na¬no, without degrading the mechanical properties of the final products

Functional Analysis of HSF4 Mutations Found in Patients With Autosomal Recessive Congenital Cataracts

PURPOSE. The goal of this study was to functionally evaluate three previously uncharacterized heat shock factor protein 4 (HSF4) mutations (c.595_599delGGGCC, c.1213C>T, c.1327þ4A>G) encoding mutant HSF4 proteins (G199EfsX15, R405X, and M419GfsX29) with missing C-terminal ends. These HSF4 mutations were previously identified in families with congenital autosomal recessive cataracts. METHODS. FLAG-tagged recombinant wild type (WT) and mutant HSF4 proteins were analyzed using the protein stability assay, cellular immunofluorescence, Western blotting, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), and reporter activation. RESULTS. HSF4 mutant proteins did not differ in the protein turnover rate when compared with WT HSF4. Immunofluorescence revealed that WT and mutant HSF4 proteins were properly trafficked to the nucleus. EMSA analysis revealed that the G199EfsX15 and M419GfsX29 proteins exhibited decreased heat shock element (HSE)-mediated DNA binding, whereas the R405X mutant exhibited increased HSE-mediated DNA binding when compared with WT HSF4. All three HSF4 mutant proteins exhibited abolished HSE-mediated luciferase reporter activation. Detailed evaluation of the C-terminal region identified three novel domains: two activation domains and one repression domain. CONCLUSIONS. The three HSF4 autosomal recessive mutations evaluated here result in a loss of HSF4 function due to a loss of regulatory domains present at the C-terminal end. These findings collectively indicate that the transcriptional activation of HSF4 is mediated by interactions between activator and repressor domains within the C-terminal end

Cloning and Characterization of Canine \u3cem\u3ePAX6\u3c/em\u3e and Evaluation as a Candidate Gene in a Canine Model of Aniridia

Purpose: Mutations in PAX6 cause human aniridia. The small eye (sey) mouse represents an animal model for aniridia. However, no large animal model currently exists. We cloned and characterized canine PAX6, and evaluated PAX6 for causal associations with inherited aniridia in dogs. Methods: Canine PAX6 was cloned from a canine retinal cDNA library using primers designed from human and mouse PAX6 consensus sequences. An RH3000 radiation hybrid panel was used to localize PAX6 within the canine genome. Genomic DNA was extracted from whole blood of dogs with inherited aniridia, and association testing was performed using markers on CFA18. Fourteen PAX6 exons were sequenced and scanned for mutations, and a Southern blot was used to test for large deletions. Results: Like the human gene, canine PAX6 has 13 exons and 12 introns, plus an alternatively spliced exon (5a). PAX6 nucleotide and amino acid sequences were highly conserved between dog, human, and mouse. The canine PAX6 cDNA sequence determined in this study spans 2 large gaps present in the current canine genomic sequence. Radiation hybrid mapping placed canine PAX6 on CFA18 in a region with synteny to HSA11p13. Exon-scanning revealed single nucleotide polymorphisms, but no pathological mutations, and Southern blot analysis revealed no differences between normal and affected animals. Conclusions: Canine PAX6 was cloned and characterized, and results provide sequence information for gaps in the current canine genome sequence. Canine PAX6 nucleotide and amino acid sequences, as well as gene organization and map location, were highly homologous with that of the human gene. PAX6 was evaluated in dogs with an inherited form of aniridia, and sequence analysis indicated no pathological mutations in the coding regions or splice sites of aniridia-affected dogs, and Southern blot analysis showed no large deletions