Constructing Fluorogenic Bacillus Spores (F-Spores) via Hydrophobic Decoration of Coat Proteins

Background: Bacterial spores are protected by a coat consisting of about 60 different proteins assembled as a biochemically complex structure with intriguing morphological and mechanical properties. Historically, the coat has been considered a static structure providing rigidity and mainly acting as a sieve to exclude exogenous large toxic molecules, such as lytic enzymes. Over recent years, however, new information about the coat’s architecture and function have emerged from experiments using innovative tools such as automated scanning microscopy, and high resolution atomic force microscopy. Principal Findings: Using thin-section electron microscopy, we found that the coat of Bacillus spores has topologically specific proteins forming a layer that is identifiable because it spontaneously becomes decorated with hydrophobic fluorogenic probes from the milieu. Moreover, spores with decorated coat proteins (termed F-spores) have the unexpected attribute of responding to external germination signals by generating intense fluorescence. Fluorescence data from diverse experimental designs, including F-spores constructed from five different Bacilli species, indicated that the fluorogenic ability of F-spores is under control of a putative germination-dependent mechanism. Conclusions: This work uncovers a novel attribute of spore-coat proteins that we exploited to decorate a specific layer imparting germination-dependent fluorogenicity to F-spores. We expect that F-spores will provide a model system to gai

Biallelic VARS variants cause developmental encephalopathy with microcephaly that is recapitulated in vars knockout zebrafish

Aminoacyl tRNA synthetases (ARSs) link specific amino acids with their cognate transfer RNAs in a critical early step of protein translation. Mutations in ARSs have emerged as a cause of recessive, often complex neurological disease traits. Here we report an allelic series consisting of seven novel and two previously reported biallelic variants in valyl-tRNA synthetase (VARS) in ten patients with a developmental encephalopathy with microcephaly, often associated with early-onset epilepsy. In silico, in vitro, and yeast complementation assays demonstrate that the underlying pathomechanism of these mutations is most likely a loss of protein function. Zebrafish modeling accurately recapitulated some of the key neurological disease traits. These results provide both genetic and biological insights into neurodevelopmental disease and pave the way for further in-depth research on ARS related recessive disorders and precision therapies

History, Commemoration, and Belief: Abraham Lincoln in American Memory, 1945-2001

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/91765/1/Schuman-History_Commemoration_Belief.pd

Austenite Grain Size Estimtion from Chord Lengths of Logarithmic-Normal Distribution

Linear section of grains in polyhedral material microstructure is a system of chords. The mean length of chords is the linear grain size of the microstructure. For the prior austenite grains of low alloy structural steels, the chord length is a random variable of gamma- or logarithmic-normal distribution. The statistical grain size estimation belongs to the quantitative metallographic problems. The so-called point estimation is a well known procedure. The interval estimation (grain size confidence interval) for the gamma distribution was given elsewhere, but for the logarithmic-normal distribution is the subject of the present contribution. The statistical analysis is analogous to the one for the gamma distribution

Austenite Grain Size Estimation in Structural Steels by Linear Section Method / Ocena Wielkości Ziarna Austenitu Metodą Przekrojów Liniowych

Linear section of grains in polyhedral material microstructure is a system of chords on a test line. The mean chord length is the linear grain size of the material. In the prior austenite microstructure of low alloy structural steels, the chord length is a random variable which has the gamma distribution. The distribution parameters are closely related to the austenite linear grain size. Because the sequent chord lengths are statistically independent, the grain size interval estimation (confidence interval) may be performed by the chi-square distribution

Argonne National Laboratory Reports

The goal of this study was to develop an iron-based alloy, similar to Type 316 stainless steel in mechanical and corrosion properties but with a reduced chromium content or, ideally, no chromium. A total of twenty-six 225-g ingots and ten 2.5 to 12 kg ingots of various compositions in the Fe-Si-Mn-Ni-C system were prepared. All ingots contained from 5 to 11 w/o silicon and drew their corrosion resistance primarily from this component. The composition ranges of the remaining major alloying elements were (in w/o) 0-24 Mn, 0-35 Ni, and 0.08 to 0.95 C. Most of the alloys were reduced to sheet, demonstrating the hot fabricability of these high-silicon alloys. The mechanical and corrosion properties of these alloys are attractive. Tensile tests showed yield strengths of 303 to 379 Mpa (44 to 55 ksi), ultimate tensile strengths of 731 to 882 MPa (106 to 128 ksi), and elongations of 34 to 77%. Air oxidation rates were lower than those of 300-series stainless steels at 1000 C. Salt water corrosion rates for these alloys fall between those of stainless steels and plain carbon steels and are 5 to 10 times lower than the rates for plain carbon steels

Argonne National Laboratory Reports

This report describes the fabrication of a new boron-copper neutron absorbing material that was developed to meet the upgrading needs of the Intense Pulsed Neutron Source (IPNS) at Argonne National Laboratory. To increase the intensity of the neutron beams from the IPNS, the target uranium was changed from depleted uranium to uranium enriched to 77.5% U-235. To keep the multiplication factor, k(sub eff) (number of fissions in one generation/number of fissions in preceding generation) at a safe level, a new neutron absorber material was needed. The previous materials, boral and cadmium, could not meet the new requirements and a search of the literature showed that no currently available material was acceptable