Thermodynamic Assessment of the Sn-Ti System

Summary.: The knowledge of phase equilibria and thermodynamic properties in the ternary Cu-Sn-Ti system is of technical importance for active brazing filler metals. Thermodynamic descriptions of the binary systems Cu-Ti and Cu-Sn are well established. In this work a self-consistent thermodynamic description of the Sn-Ti binary system has been obtained by fitting critically reviewed thermochemical and phase diagram data. The newest and most consistent lattice stability has been used, and all the intermetallic phases and recent experimental information have been taken into account. The equilibrium measurement on the Sn-rich side and more experimental thermodynamic properties are required for a better thermodynamic description of this system. The evaluated thermodynamic description of the Sn-Ti binary system will serve as part of the thermodynamic database for Cu-Sn-Ti brazing alloy

Critical evaluation of the FeeNi, FeeTi and FeeNieTi alloy systems

The FeeNieTi alloy system has been evaluated, together with FeeNi and FeeTi binary subsystems, to provide reliable information for applications and in view of a thermodynamic modelling of the system. Available literature has been critically evaluated, mainly considering phase constitution and phase equilibria, thermochemical and diffusion data, as well as ab initio atomistic calculations. A discussion of the presently available CALPHAD-type thermodynamic assessments is also presented. Finally, new experimental investigations needed to solve uncertain and contradictory data are suggested

Silica-based composite and mixed-oxide nanoparticles from atmospheric pressure flame synthesis

Binary TiO2/SiO2 and SnO2/SiO2 nanoparticles have been synthesized by feeding evaporated precursor mixtures into an atmospheric pressure diffusion flame. Particles with controlled Si:Ti and Si:Sn ratios were produced at various flow rates of oxygen and the resulting powders were characterized by BET (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) surface area analysis, XRD, TEM and Raman spectroscopy. In the Si-O-Ti system, mixed oxide composite particles exhibiting anatase segregation formed when the Si:Ti ratio exceeded 9.8:1, while at lower concentrations only mixed oxide single phase particles were found. Arrangement of the species and phases within the particles correspond to an intermediate equilibrium state at elevated temperature. This can be explained by rapid quenching of the particles in the flame and is in accordance with liquid phase solubility data of Ti in SiO2. In contrast, only composite particles formed in the Sn-O-Si system, with SnO2 nanoparticles predominantly found adhering to the surface of SiO2 substrate nanoparticles. Differences in the arrangement of phases and constituents within the particles were observed at constant precursor mixture concentration and the size of the resultant segregated phase was influenced by varying the flow rate of the oxidant. The above effect is due to the variation of the residence time and quenching rate experienced by the binary oxide nanoparticles when varying the oxygen flow rate and shows the flexibility of diffusion flame aerosol reactor

Osteoarthritis of the knee – clinical assessments and inflammatory markers11Supported by a grant from the Robert Bosch Stiftung, Stuttgart, Germany.

AbstractObjective: The present cross sectional study was performed to test the hypothesis that in osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee severity of this disease is related to local levels of inflammatory metabolites and their corresponding enzymes.Methods: From 41 patients with OA of the knee (age range 45–79 years) undergoing arthroscopy blood, synovial fluid (SF) and synovial membrane (SM) were collected. Clinical conditions were primarily assessed by the WOMAC-index and radiographic grading (K&L-grade). Concentrations of PGE2, TxB2and NO2/3and that of IL-6, IL-1α, IL-1β, TNFα, COX-2 and iNOS were determined in SF and SM, respectively.Results: With advancing age K&L-grade and COX-2 in SM increased significantly (P=0.005 and P=0.01, respectively). TNFα and IL-1α were not detectable in SM samples. Apart from a correlation between PGE2and WOMAC-index (r=0.36, P=0.035) no significant relationships could be found between the various inflammatory parameters and any of the assessed clinical signs.Conclusions: Apparently no direct relationships exist between the measured markers of inflammation (e.g. PGE2, NO2/3) or the involved enzymes (e.g. COX-2, iNOS) and the severity of OA of the knee. The degenerative condition of this disease might be due to the more local, mainly mechanical injury with little systemic upset. However, further longitudinal studies are needed to clarify whether the assessed biochemical markers could serve as predictors for the progression of OA

Detection and Molecular Characterization of Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp. Circulating in Wild Small Mammals from Portugal

Simple Summary Wild small mammals can be a veterinary and public health concern, because they can act as reservoir hosts for numerous pathogens and potentially transmit them to humans, domestic animals and other wildlife species. This study represents the first investigation of the diarrhea-causing parasites Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. in wild rodents and shrews from Portugal. Cryptosporidium spp. was rarely and Giardia was frequently detected in the feces of the analyzed species, with the southwestern water voles (Arvicola sapidus) and Lusitanian pine voles (Microtus lusitanicus) showing the highest infection rates of Giardia spp. Genetic characterization based on common genomic marker sequences revealed the rodent-adapted Giardia microti and potentially zoonotic Cryptosporidium muris as the only circulating species. These findings suggest the limited role of wild rodents and shrews as natural sources of human infections in Portugal regarding the investigated parasites. Moreover, the host ranges of Giardia and Cryptosporidium spp. were extended and the obtained genetic sequences of Giardia microti are useful for future comparative studies. From the One-Heath perspective, this study helps to understand the epidemiology of Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. in wildlife. Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. are important diarrhea-causing protozoan parasites worldwide that exhibit broad host ranges. Wild small mammals can harbor host-adapted and potentially zoonotic species of both parasites. The aim of this study was to investigate Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. in wild rodents and shrews in Portugal, focusing on the protist's occurrence and genetic diversity. Molecular screening by PCR at the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene locus of 290 fecal samples from wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus), southwestern water voles (Arvicola sapidus), Cabrera's voles (Microtus cabrerae), Lusitanian pine voles (Microtus lusitanicus), Algerian mice (Mus spretus) and greater white-toothed shrews (Crocidura russula) in Northeast Portugal revealed the low occurrence of Cryptosporidium spp. (1%) and high occurrence of Giardia spp. (32.8%). The analysis revealed that species was the only significant factor associated with the increasing probability of Giardia spp. infection, with the highest prevalence reported in southwestern water voles and Lusitanian pine voles. Cryptosporidium and Giardia species determination at the SSU rRNA gene locus revealed C. muris and G. microti as the only circulating species, respectively. Subtyping of the glutamate dehydrogenase (gdh) and beta-giardin (bg) genes provided evidence of the high genetic diversity within the G. microti clade. This study suggests that rodent-adapted G. microti occurs to a large extent in cricetid hosts and supports the limited role of wild rodents and shrews as natural sources of human infections in Northeast Portugal regarding the investigated parasites. Moreover, this is the first record of G. microti in southwestern water voles, Lusitanian pine voles, Algerian mice, wood mice and Cabrera's voles and C. muris in Cabrera's voles. Finally, this study improves the database of sequences relevant for the sequence typing of G. microti strains and provides new insights about the epidemiology of Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. in wild rodents and shrews, two parasite genera of high importance for public and animal health

Adenosine receptors (version 2019.4) in the IUPHAR/BPS Guide to Pharmacology Database

Adenosine receptors (nomenclature as agreed by the NC-IUPHAR Subcommittee on Adenosine Receptors [103]) are activated by the endogenous ligand adenosine (potentially inosine also at A3 receptors). Crystal structures for the antagonist-bound [146, 305, 213, 55], agonist-bound [362, 196, 198] and G protein-bound A2A adenosine receptors [43] have been described. The structures of an antagonist-bound A1 receptor [123] and an adenosine-bound A1 receptor-Gi complex [80] have been resolved by cryo-electronmicroscopy. Another structure of an antagonist-bound A1 receptor obtained with X-ray crystallography has also been reported [51]

Adenosine receptors in GtoPdb v.2021.2

Adenosine receptors (nomenclature as agreed by the NC-IUPHAR Subcommittee on Adenosine Receptors [110]) are activated by the endogenous ligand adenosine (potentially inosine also at A3 receptors). Crystal structures for the antagonist-bound [153, 313, 221, 61], agonist-bound [375, 203, 204] and G protein-bound A2A adenosine receptors [49] have been described. The structures of an antagonist-bound A1 receptor [128] and an adenosine-bound A1 receptor-Gi complex [86] have been resolved by cryo-electronmicroscopy. Another structure of an antagonist-bound A1 receptor obtained with X-ray crystallography has also been reported [57]. caffeine is a nonselective antagonist for adenosine receptors, while istradefylline, a selective A2A receptor antagonist, is on the market for the treatment of Parkinson's disease

Adenosine receptors in GtoPdb v.2023.1

Adenosine receptors (nomenclature as agreed by the NC-IUPHAR Subcommittee on Adenosine Receptors [112]) are activated by the endogenous ligand adenosine (potentially inosine also at A3 receptors). Crystal structures for the antagonist-bound [155, 316, 224, 62], agonist-bound [379, 205, 206] and G protein-bound A2A adenosine receptors [49] have been described. The structures of an antagonist-bound A1 receptor [130] and an adenosine-bound A1 receptor-Gi complex [87] have been resolved by cryo-electronmicroscopy. Another structure of an antagonist-bound A1 receptor obtained with X-ray crystallography has also been reported [58]. The structure of the A2B receptor has also been elucidated [57]. caffeine is a nonselective antagonist for adenosine receptors, while istradefylline, a selective A2A receptor antagonist, is on the market for the treatment of Parkinson's disease

Electrophysiological activation by masked primes: Independence of prime-related and target-related activities

Visual stimuli that are made invisible by metacontrast masking (primes) have a marked influence on behavioral and psychophysiological measures such as reaction time (RT) and the lateralized readiness potential (LRP). 4 experiments are reported that shed light on the effects that masked primes have on the LRP. Participants had a go-nogo task in which the prime was associated with 1 of 2 responses even if the target required participants to refrain from responding. To analyze the electrophysiological responses, we computed the LRP and applied an averaging method separating the activation due to the prime and the target. The results demonstrated that (a) masked primes activate responses even in a nogo situation, (b) this prime-related activation is independent of masking, (c) and is also independent of whether prime and target require the same responses (congruent condition) or different responses (incongruent condition)

Soil conditions and phylogenetic relatedness influence total community trait space during early plant succession

This study is part of the Transregional Collaborative Research Centre 38 (SFB/TRR 38: ecosystem assembly and succession). The authors thank the working group Z1 (monitoring) members of the SFB/TRR 38 who helped us to perform this study and the Vattenfall Europe Mining A.G. for providing the research site.Aims The total space of traits covered by the members of plant com- munities is an important parameter of ecosystem functioning and complexity. We trace the variability of trait space during early plant succession and ask how trait space co-varies with phylogenetic community structure and soil conditions. Particularly, we are inter - ested in the small-scale variability in trait space and the influence of biotic and abiotic filters. Methods We use data on species richness and soil conditions from the first 7 years of initial succession of an artificial catchment in north-east- ern Germany. Total functional attribute diversity serves as a proxy to total trait space. Important Findings Total trait space steadily increased during succession. We observed high small-scale variability in total trait space that was positively cor - related with species richness and phylogenetic segregation and nega- tively correlated with total plant cover. Trait space increased with soil carbonate content, while pH and the fraction of sandy material behaved indifferently. Our results indicate that during early succession, habitat filtering processes gain importance leading to a lesser increase in trait space than expected from the increase in species richness alone