Effect of niobium clustering and precipitation on strength of a NbTi-microalloyed ferritic steel

The microstructure-property relationship of an NbTi-microalloyed ferritic steel was studied as a function of thermo-mechanical schedule using Gleeble 3500 simulator, optical and scanning electron microscope, and atom probe tomography

An aberrant phase transition of stress granules triggered by misfolded protein and prevented by chaperone function

Stress granules (SG) are membrane-less compartments involved in regulating mRNAs during stress. Aberrant forms of SGs have been implicated in age-related diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but the molecular events triggering their formation are still unknown. Here, we find that misfolded proteins, such as ALS-linked variants of SOD1, specifically accumulate and aggregate within SGs in human cells. This decreases the dynamics of SGs, changes SG composition, and triggers an aberrant liquid-to-solid transition of in vitro reconstituted compartments. We show that chaperone recruitment prevents the formation of aberrant SGs and promotes SG disassembly when the stress subsides. Moreover, we identify a backup system for SG clearance, which involves transport of aberrant SGs to the aggresome and their degradation by autophagy. Thus, cells employ a system of SG quality control to prevent accumulation of misfolded proteins and maintain the dynamic state of SGs, which may have relevance for ALS and related diseases

DIRAC current, upcoming and planned capabilities and technologies

DIRAC is the interware for building and operating large scale distributed computing systems. It is adopted by multiple collaborations from various scientific domains for implementing their computing models. DIRAC provides a framework and a rich set of ready-to-use services for Workload, Data and Production Management tasks of small, medium and large scientific communities having different computing requirements. The base functionality can be easily extended by custom components supporting community specific workflows. DIRAC is at the same time an aging project, and a new DiracX project is taking shape for replacing DIRAC in the long term. This contribution will highlight DIRAC’s current, upcoming and planned capabilities and technologies, and how the transition to DiracX will take place. Examples include, but are not limited to, adoption of security tokens and interactions with Identity Provider services, integration of Clouds and High Performance Computers, interface with Rucio, improved monitoring and deployment procedures

Spitzer Observations of the Predicted Eddington Flare from Blazar OJ 287

Binary black hole (BH) central engine description for the unique blazar OJ 287 predicted that the next secondary BH impact-induced bremsstrahlung flare should peak on 2019 July 31. This prediction was based on detailed general relativistic modeling of the secondary BH trajectory around the primary BH and its accretion disk. The expected flare was termed the Eddington flare to commemorate the centennial celebrations of now-famous solar eclipse observations to test general relativity by Sir Arthur Eddington. We analyze the multi-epoch Spitzer observations of the expected flare between 2019 July 31 and 2019 September 6, as well as baseline observations during 2019 February-March. Observed Spitzer flux density variations during the predicted outburst time display a strong similarity with the observed optical pericenter flare from OJ 287 during 2007 September. The predicted flare appears comparable to the 2007 flare after subtracting the expected higher base-level Spitzer flux densities at 3.55 and 4.49 $\mu$m compared to the optical R-band. Comparing the 2019 and 2007 outburst lightcurves and the previously calculated predictions, we find that the Eddington flare arrived within 4 hours of the predicted time. Our Spitzer observations are well consistent with the presence of a nano-Hertz gravitational wave emitting spinning massive binary BH that inspirals along a general relativistic eccentric orbit in OJ 287. These multi-epoch Spitzer observations provide a parametric constraint on the celebrated BH no-hair theorem.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, to appear in ApJ

Crustal architecture of the Laptev Rift System in the East Siberian Arctic based on 2D long-offset seismic profiles and gravity modelling

The Laptev Shelf in the East Siberian Arctic represents a rare tectonic setting where an active oceanic spreading centre, the Gakkel Ridge, intersects a continental margin. The North America–Eurasia plate boundary follows the Gakkel Ridge and passes into a continental shelf; this has resulted in the development of a wide rift system that has been active since the Late Cretaceous. The new long-offset seismic profiles provide a reliable basis for deciphering the structural characteristics of this rift system. We use two new seismic profiles, along with one acquired in the 1990s, to examine the crustal architecture of the rift system. Our approach combines seismic interpretation, time to depth conversion of seismic profiles and 2D gravity forward modelling. The obtained results indicate the presence of hyperextended continental crust beneath the Ust' Lena Rift Basin and exhumed continental mantle at the base of the syn-rift succession along the rift axis. The upper crust was removed by brittle stretching, while the lower crust experienced extreme ductile thinning. Our results show that continental crust can be eliminated in the course of rifting without a considerable heat input from asthenospheric mantle

CRUSE®-An innovative mobile application for patient monitoring and management in chronic spontaneous urticaria

Background: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is unpredictable and can severely impair patients' quality of life. Patients with CSU need a convenient, user-friendly platform to complete patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) on their mobile devices. CRUSE ®, the Chronic Urticaria Self Evaluation app, aims to address this unmet need. Methods: CRUSE ® was developed by an international steering committee of urticaria specialists. Priorities for the app based on recent findings in CSU were defined to allow patients to track and record their symptoms and medication use over time and send photographs. The CRUSE ® app collects patient data such as age, sex, disease onset, triggers, medication, and CSU characteristics that can be sent securely to physicians, providing real-time insights. Additionally, CRUSE ® contains PROMs to assess disease activity and control, which are individualised to patient profiles and clinical manifestations. Results: CRUSE ® was launched in Germany in March 2022 and is now available for free in 17 countries. It is adapted to the local language and displays a country-specific list of available urticaria medications. English and Ukrainian versions are available worldwide. From July 2022 to June 2023, 25,710 observations were documented by 2540 users; 72.7% were females, with a mean age of 39.6 years. At baseline, 93.7% and 51.3% of users had wheals and angioedema, respectively. Second-generation antihistamines were used in 74.0% of days. Conclusions: The initial data from CRUSE ® show the wide use and utility of effectively tracking patients' disease activity and control, paving the way for personalised CSU management.</p

CRUSE®-An innovative mobile application for patient monitoring and management in chronic spontaneous urticaria

Background: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is unpredictable and can severely impair patients' quality of life. Patients with CSU need a convenient, user-friendly platform to complete patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) on their mobile devices. CRUSE ®, the Chronic Urticaria Self Evaluation app, aims to address this unmet need. Methods: CRUSE ® was developed by an international steering committee of urticaria specialists. Priorities for the app based on recent findings in CSU were defined to allow patients to track and record their symptoms and medication use over time and send photographs. The CRUSE ® app collects patient data such as age, sex, disease onset, triggers, medication, and CSU characteristics that can be sent securely to physicians, providing real-time insights. Additionally, CRUSE ® contains PROMs to assess disease activity and control, which are individualised to patient profiles and clinical manifestations. Results: CRUSE ® was launched in Germany in March 2022 and is now available for free in 17 countries. It is adapted to the local language and displays a country-specific list of available urticaria medications. English and Ukrainian versions are available worldwide. From July 2022 to June 2023, 25,710 observations were documented by 2540 users; 72.7% were females, with a mean age of 39.6 years. At baseline, 93.7% and 51.3% of users had wheals and angioedema, respectively. Second-generation antihistamines were used in 74.0% of days. Conclusions: The initial data from CRUSE ® show the wide use and utility of effectively tracking patients' disease activity and control, paving the way for personalised CSU management.</p