In situ synchrotron radiation diffraction investigation of the compression behaviour at 350 °C of ZK40 alloys with addition of CaO and Y

The evolution of the microstructure during compression is investigated with in situ synchrotron radiation diffraction in as-cast ZK40, ZK40-2CaO and ZK40-1Y Mg alloys. The specimens were compressed at 350 °C with a strain rate of 10−3 s−1 until 30% deformation. The Y containing alloy showed the highest 0.2% proof strength in compression of 35 MPa at 350 °C which is double that of the ZK40 alloy, while the CaO added alloy shows a moderate increment at 23 MPa. The Y containing alloy shows some work hardening, while the CaO modified and the ZK40 alloys do not show work hardening after yield. Synchrotron radiation diffraction timelines show that continuous and discontinuous dynamic recrystallization occurs during deformation of the ZK40 alloy while a small amount of dynamic recrystallization was observed in the ZK40-1Y alloy. However, dynamic recrystallization was not present in the ZK40-2CaO alloy. SEM-EBSD analysis conducted on the deformed samples shows a significantly high volume fraction of twins in the Y and CaO containing alloys which was absent in the ZK40 alloy. The modified deformation behaviours observed in the CaO and Y containing alloys were attributed to the presence of intermetallic particles found at the grain boundaries and to the role of Ca and Y in stabilising twinning.The authors acknowledge the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchro-tron for the provision of facilities within the framework of proposal I-20130434.RHBacknowledgesUniversityofSãoPaulofor granting the fellowship 'Bolsa Empreendedorismo'

Wnt5a induces ROR1 to associate with 14-3-3ζ for enhanced chemotaxis and proliferation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells.

Wnt5a can activate Rho GTPases in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells by inducing the recruitment of ARHGEF2 to ROR1. Mass spectrometry on immune precipitates of Wnt5a-activated ROR1 identified 14-3-3ζ, which was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation. The capacity of Wnt5a to induce ROR1 to complex with 14-3-3ζ could be blocked in CLL cells by treatment with cirmtuzumab, a humanized mAb targeting ROR1. Silencing 14-3-3ζ via small interfering RNA impaired the capacity of Wnt5a to: (1) induce recruitment of ARHGEF2 to ROR1, (2) enhance in vitro exchange activity of ARHGEF2 and (3) induce activation of RhoA and Rac1 in CLL cells. Furthermore, CRISPR/Cas9 deletion of 14-3-3ζ in ROR1-negative CLL cell-line MEC1, and in MEC1 cells transfected to express ROR1 (MEC1-ROR1), demonstrated that 14-3-3ζ was necessary for the growth/engraftment advantage of MEC1-ROR1 over MEC1 cells. We identified a binding motif (RSPS857SAS) in ROR1 for 14-3-3ζ. Site-directed mutagenesis of ROR1 demonstrated that serine-857 was required for the recruitment of 14-3-3ζ and ARHGEF2 to ROR1, and activation of RhoA and Rac1. Collectively, this study reveals that 14-3-3ζ plays a critical role in Wnt5a/ROR1 signaling, leading to enhanced CLL migration and proliferation

Myopericarditis diagnosed by a 64-slice coronary CT angiography "triple rule out" protocol

We report a case of myopericarditis in a 30-year-old male complaining of shortness of breath. In an emergency department (ED) setting, the symptoms of myopericarditis may overlap with many disease entities and can be a challenging diagnosis to make. However, with the use of a 64-section coronary CT angiography in a “triple rule out” (TRO) protocol, we were able to detect a large pericardial effusion surrounding the heart and moderate global hypokinesis in the setting of normal-sized heart chambers and normal coronary arteries. We were further able to exclude pulmonary embolism and thoracic dissection. This is the first reported case of diagnosing myopericarditis using a TRO protocol. It demonstrates the usefulness of TRO in making an emergent diagnosis of myopericarditis while excluding other life-threatening diseases that can lead to earlier appropriate ED disposition and care

On the influence of solution and ageing treatments on the microstructure of ZK40 alloys modified with Ca, Gd, Nd and y additions

Abstract As-cast ZK40 alloys, modified with the addition of CaO, Gd, Nd and Y were investigated. Solution heat treatments were performed based on differential thermal analysis results. The unmodified ZK40 alloy exhibited microstructure with nearly no intermetallic compound but with precipitates formed during the solution treatment. The modified ZK40 alloys exhibited a semi-dissolved network of intermetallic compounds along the grain boundaries and zones of intermetallic compounds within the grains. Interestingly, no precipitates were observed immediately next to the grain boundaries. The energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy line scans showed an enrichment of Zn and Zr in the regions where the precipitates are found, suggesting that they are Zn-Zr precipitates. The ageing behaviour was compared between the as-cast and the solution treated materials and it was found that apart from the ZK40-Gd, ZK40-Nd and ZK40-Y aged at 200 °C after solution treatment, there is no notable ageing response for the investigated alloys.</jats:p

Determinants of postnatal spleen tissue regeneration and organogenesis

Abstract The spleen is an organ that filters the blood and is responsible for generating blood-borne immune responses. It is also an organ with a remarkable capacity to regenerate. Techniques for splenic auto-transplantation have emerged to take advantage of this characteristic and rebuild spleen tissue in individuals undergoing splenectomy. While this procedure has been performed for decades, the underlying mechanisms controlling spleen regeneration have remained elusive. Insights into secondary lymphoid organogenesis and the roles of stromal organiser cells and lymphotoxin signalling in lymph node development have helped reveal similar requirements for spleen regeneration. These factors are now considered in the regulation of embryonic and postnatal spleen formation, and in the establishment of mature white pulp and marginal zone compartments which are essential for spleen-mediated immunity. A greater understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms which control spleen development will assist in the design of more precise and efficient tissue grafting methods for spleen regeneration on demand. Regeneration of organs which harbour functional white pulp tissue will also offer novel opportunities for effective immunotherapy against cancer as well as infectious diseases

Thixomolded AZ91D and MRI153M magnesium alloys and their enhanced corrosion resistance

© 2020 The Authors. Materials and Corrosion published by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim AZ91D and MRI153M alloys were produced by thixomolding. Their corrosion resistance is significantly higher than that of similar materials produced by ingot or die-casting. A corrosion rate smaller than 0.2 mm/year in 5 wt% NaCl solution is measured for the thixomolded AZ91D alloy. The corrosion behaviour was evaluated using immersion tests, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, hydrogen evolution, glow discharge optical emission spectroscopy, and atomic emission spectroelectrochemistry. A bimodal microstructure is observed for both alloys, with the presence of coarse primary α-Mg grains, fine secondary α-Mg grains, β-phase, and other phases with a minor volume fraction. The amount of coarse primary α-Mg is significantly higher for the AZ91D compared with the MRI153M. The network of β-phase around the fine secondary α-Mg grains is better established in the thixomolded AZ91D alloy. A combination of several factors such as the ratio of primary to secondary α-Mg grains, localised corrosion or barrier effect due to other phases, as well as regions of preferential dissolution of the α-Mg due to chemical segregation, are thought to be responsible for the high corrosion resistance exhibited by the thixomolded AZ91D and MRI153M.German Ministry of Education and Research; Christian Doppler Societ

WiseEye: next generation expandable and programmable camera trap platform for wildlife research

Funding: The work was supported by the RCUK Digital Economy programme to the dot.rural Digital Economy Hub; award reference: EP/G066051/1. The work of S. Newey and RJI was part funded by the Scottish Government's Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services (RESAS). Details published as an Open Source Toolkit, PLOS Journals at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0169758Peer reviewedPublisher PD

The Impact of Medical Interpretation Method on Time and Errors

Background: Twenty-two million Americans have limited English proficiency. Interpreting for limited English proficient patients is intended to enhance communication and delivery of quality medical care. Objective: Little is known about the impact of various interpreting methods on interpreting speed and errors. This investigation addresses this important gap. Design: Four scripted clinical encounters were used to enable the comparison of equivalent clinical content. These scripts were run across four interpreting methods, including remote simultaneous, remote consecutive, proximate consecutive, and proximate ad hoc interpreting. The first 3 methods utilized professional, trained interpreters, whereas the ad hoc method utilized untrained staff. Measurements: Audiotaped transcripts of the encounters were coded, using a prespecified algorithm to determine medical error and linguistic error, by coders blinded to the interpreting method. Encounters were also timed. Results: Remote simultaneous medical interpreting (RSMI) encounters averaged 12.72 vs 18.24 minutes for the next fastest mode (proximate ad hoc) (p = 0.002). There were 12 times more medical errors of moderate or greater clinical significance among utterances in non-RSMI encounters compared to RSMI encounters (p = 0.0002). Conclusions: Whereas limited by the small number of interpreters involved, our study found that RSMI resulted in fewer medical errors and was faster than non-RSMI methods of interpreting

A Model of Proto-Anti-Codon RNA Enzymes Requiring l-Amino Acid Homochirality

All living organisms encode the 20 natural amino acid units of polypeptides using a universal scheme of triplet nucleotide “codons”. Disparate features of this codon scheme are potentially informative of early molecular evolution: (i) the absence of any codons for d-amino acids; (ii) the odd combination of alternate codon patterns for some amino acids; (iii) the confinement of synonymous positions to a codon’s third nucleotide; (iv) the use of 20 specific amino acids rather than a number closer to the full coding potential of 64; and (v) the evolutionary relationship of patterns in stop codons to amino acid codons. Here I propose a model for an ancestral proto-anti-codon RNA (pacRNA) auto-aminoacylation system and show that pacRNAs would naturally manifest features of the codon table. I show that pacRNAs could implement all the steps for auto-aminoacylation: amino acid coordination, intermediate activation of the amino acid by the 5′-end of the pacRNA, and 3′-aminoacylation of the pacRNA. The anti-codon cradles of pacRNAs would have been able to recognize and coordinate only a small number of l-amino acids via hydrogen bonding. A need for proper spatial coordination would have limited the number of chargeable amino acids for all anti-codon sequences, in addition to making some anti-codon sequences unsuitable. Thus, the pacRNA model implies that the idiosyncrasies of the anti-codon table and l-amino acid homochirality co-evolved during a single evolutionary period. These results further imply that early life consisted of an aminoacylated RNA world with a richer enzymatic potential than ribonucleotides alone

Past Achievements and Future Challenges in 3D Photonic Metamaterials

Photonic metamaterials are man-made structures composed of tailored micro- or nanostructured metallo-dielectric sub-wavelength building blocks that are densely packed into an effective material. This deceptively simple, yet powerful, truly revolutionary concept allows for achieving novel, unusual, and sometimes even unheard-of optical properties, such as magnetism at optical frequencies, negative refractive indices, large positive refractive indices, zero reflection via impedance matching, perfect absorption, giant circular dichroism, or enhanced nonlinear optical properties. Possible applications of metamaterials comprise ultrahigh-resolution imaging systems, compact polarization optics, and cloaking devices. This review describes the experimental progress recently made fabricating three-dimensional metamaterial structures and discusses some remaining future challenges