Barium strontium titanate glass-ceramics were successfully produced with one major crystalline phase when Al^sub 2^O^sub 3^ was added to the melt. A dielectric constant of 1000 and a breakdown ...strength of 800 kV/cm was achieved; however the energy density was only measured to be 0.3-0.9 J/cm^sup 3^. These energy density values were lower than anticipated due to the presence of dendrites and pores in the microstructure. Using BaF^sub 2^ as a refining agent improved the microstructure and doubled the energy density for BST 80/20 samples. However, no refining agent reduced the increasing amount of hysteresis that developed with increasing applied electric field. This phenomenon is believed to be due to interfacial polarization.PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
Cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitors (CKIs) are negative regulators of the cell cycle. They can bind to cyclin‐dependent kinase (CDK)‐cyclin complexes and inhibit CDK activities. We identified a single ...homologous gene of the CDK interacting protein/kinase inhibitory protein (Cip/Kip) family, BmCKI, in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. The gene transcribes two splice variants: a 654‐bp‐long BmCKI‐L (the longer splice variant) encoding a protein with 217 amino acids and a 579‐bp‐long BmCKI‐S (the shorter splice variant) encoding a protein with 192 amino acids. BmCKI‐L and BmCKI‐S contain the Cip/Kip family conserved cyclin‐binding domain and the CDK‐binding domain. They are localized in the nucleus and have an unconventional bipartite nuclear localization signal at amino acid residues 181–210. Overexpression of BmCKI‐L or BmCKI‐S affected cell cycle progression; the cell cycle was arrested in the first gap phase of cell cycle (G1). RNA interference of BmCKI‐L or BmCKI‐S led to cells accumulating in the second gap phase and the mitotic phase of cell cycle (G2/M). Both BmCKI‐L and BmCKI‐S are involved in cell cycle regulation and probably have similar effects. The transgenic silkworm with BmCKI‐L overexpression (BmCKI‐L‐OE), exhibited embryonic lethal, larva developmental retardation and lethal phenotypes. These results suggest that BmCKI‐L might regulate the growth and development of silkworm. These findings clarify the function of CKIs and increase our understanding of cell cycle regulation in the silkworm.
This paper is the fourth contribution in the Genera of Phytopathogenic Fungi (GOPHY) series. The series provides morphological descriptions and information about the pathology, distribution, hosts ...and disease symptoms, as well as DNA barcodes for the taxa covered. Moreover, 12 whole-genome sequences for the type or new species in the treated genera are provided. The fourth paper in the GOPHY series covers 19 genera of phytopathogenic fungi and their relatives, including Ascochyta , Cadophora , Celoporthe , Cercospora , Coleophoma , Cytospora , Dendrostoma , Didymella , Endothia , Heterophaeomoniella , Leptosphaerulina , Melampsora , Nigrospora , Pezicula , Phaeomoniella , Pseudocercospora , Pteridopassalora , Zymoseptoria , and one genus of oomycetes, Phytophthora . This study includes two new genera, 30 new species, five new combinations, and 43 typifications of older names.
Bombyx mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) is one of the primary pathogens that causes severe economic losses to sericulture. Comparative transcriptomics analysis has been widely applied to explore the ...antiviral mechanism in resistant strains. Here, to identify genes involved in BmNPV infection, we identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and performed weighted gene co‐expression network analysis (WGCNA) between two Bombyx mori strains: strain 871 (susceptible to BmNPV infection) and the near‐isogenic strain 871C (resistant to BmNPV). Our results showed that 400 genes were associated with resistance in strain 871C, and 76 genes were related to susceptibility in strain 871. In addition, the correlation analysis of DEGs and WGCNA showed that 40 genes related to resistance were highly expressed in the resistant strain. Among them, gene BGIBMGA004291 was the most noticeable. We further identified the effect of gene BGIBMGA004291, which encoded a multiprotein bridge factor 2 (MBF2) family member (MBF2‐10), on viral infection in cells. Our data suggested that MBF2‐10 inhibited viral infection. Taken together, this study showed specific module trait correlations related to viral infection in strains 871 and 871C, and we identified a resistance‐related gene. These findings suggested promising candidate genes with antiviral activity, aiding in the analysis of the antiviral molecular mechanisms in resistant strains.
Tubulointerstitial nephritis is a cardinal renal manifestation in leptospirosis and LipL32, the major lipoprotein component of leptospiral outer membrane proteins (OMPs), induces a robust ...inflammatory response in cultured renal proximal tubule cells through a nuclear factor-κB-related pathway. Here, we investigated whether Toll-like receptor (TLR), known to play a pivotal role in innate immunity, could mediate the inflammatory response induced by leptospiral OMPs in renal proximal tubule cells. TLR expression was analyzed by flow cytometry and indirect immunofluorescence in cultured mouse proximal tubule (pyruvate kinase simian virus 40-proximal straight (PKSV-PR)) cells. Reverse transcription-competitive polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were undertaken to analyze the inducible effects of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1 also termed CCL2) by pathogenic and non-pathogenic leptospiral OMPs and recombinant lipoproteins in either PKSV-PR cells or TLR-transfected human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells. Anti-TLR antibodies were used for blocking experiments. Leptospira santarosai serovar Shermani OMPs and LipL32 induced a significant increase in TLR2 but not TLR4 expression in PKSV-PR cells. The increase in iNOS and CCL2/MCP-1 mRNA expressions could be prevented by an anti-TLR2 antibody, but not by an anti-TLR4 antibody. Furthermore, leptospiral OMPs stimulated both CCL2/MCP-1 mRNA and secreted protein in transfected HEK 293 cells with a TLR2-expressing plasmid, but had no effect in cells with a TLR4-expressing plasmid. In conclusion, these findings indicate that the stimulation of iNOS and CCL2/MCP-1 caused by pathogenic leptospiral OMPs, in particular LipL32, in proximal tubule cells requires TLR2 for the early inflammatory response.
Cavitation erosion causes serious problems for hydraulic machinery. Selective laser melting (SLM), is a type of additive manufacturing that can produce metal parts directly and it has begun to be ...used in various industrial settings. However, the erosion properties of the SLM processed parts have only rarely been reported. The paper addresses the cavitation erosion behavior of AlSi10Mg samples fabricated by SLM at different laser scanning speeds. A wrought sample was also tested to provide a basis for comparison. Sample hardness and microstructure were investigated. Results showed the cavitation erosion behaviors of SLM samples to differ greatly from that of the wrought sample. The erosion rate of SLM samples was found to peak in the first 30s. This was accompanied by the removal of particles inside pores. After peaking, the erosion rate of the SLM samples decreased significantly. SLM samples showed an extremely low erosion rate entering the steady-state period. Large, deep craters which were common wear marks on the wrought sample, were not present on the SLM samples. Different scanning speeds resulted in different max erosion rates.
•SLM samples have a fine cellular-dendritic structure and pores.•SLM samples have an extremely high erosion rates in the beginning of the tests.•The removal of unmelted particles inside pores was observed in the beginning.•The erosion rate of SLM samples is very low in the steady-state period.•Different scanning speeds influence sample densities and the max erosion rates.