Physical Model of Inclusions Removal at Static Steel-Slag Interface

Inclusions are one of the important factors affecting the cleanliness of molten steel. The current optimization of inclusion removal methods mainly focuses on promoting inclusions to float to the slag-steel interface so that the inclusions can be absorbed and removed by the refining slag. However, the research on the floating removal of inclusions cannot be carried out directly in the ladle, so methods such as mathematical models and physical models were developed. This article uses silicone oil to simulate the slag layer; polypropylene particles; and aluminum oxide particles to simulate inclusions to establish a water model experiment. By changing the viscosity of silicone oil and the diameter of particles, the factors affecting the movement of inclusions at the slag-steel interface were explored. Based on the water model, a mathematical model of the floating behavior of inclusions at the slag-steel interface was constructed, and parameters such as particle diameter and interfacial tension in the water model experiment were studied by the mathematical model for calculation. Both the mathematical model and the water model experimental results show that after the viscosity of silicone oil increases from 0.048 Pa·s to 0.096 Pa·s, the dimensionless displacement and terminal velocity of the particles decreases. When the diameter of the same particle increases, the dimensionless displacement and terminal velocity increases. The dimensionless displacement of polypropylene particles of the same diameter is larger than that of aluminum oxide particles, and the terminal velocity is smaller than that of aluminum oxide particles. This is attributed to the better overall three-phase wettability of polypropylene particle. When the liquid level increases, the dimensionless displacement and terminal velocity of particles under the same conditions show only slight differences (less than 10%).

The Role of Metallurgical Features in the Microbially Influenced Corrosion of Carbon Steel: A Critical Review

Microbially influenced corrosion (MIC) is a potentially critical degradation mechanism for a wide range of materials exposed to environments that contain relevant microorganisms. The likelihood and rate of MIC are affected by microbiological, chemical, and metallurgical factors; hence, the understanding of the mechanisms involved, verification of the presence of MIC, and the development of mitigation methods require a multidisciplinary approach. Much of the recent focus in MIC research has been on the microbiological and chemical aspects, with less attention given to metallurgical attributes. Here, we address this knowledge gap by providing a critical synthesis of the literature on the metallurgical aspects of MIC of carbon steel, a material frequently associated with MIC failures and widely used in construction and infrastructure globally. The article begins by introducing the process of MIC, then progresses to explore the complexities of various metallurgical factors relevant to MIC in carbon steel. These factors include chemical composition, grain size, grain boundaries, microstructural phases, inclusions, and welds, highlighting their potential influence on MIC processes. This review systematically presents key discoveries, trends, and the limitations of prior research, offering some novel insights into the impact of metallurgical factors on MIC, particularly for the benefit of those already familiar with other aspects of MIC. The article concludes with recommendations for documenting metallurgical data in MIC research. An appreciation of relevant metallurgical attributes is essential for a critical assessment of a material's vulnerability to MIC to advance research practices and to broaden the collective knowledge in this rapidly evolving area of study.

An Online Monitoring System for In Situ and Real-Time Analyzing of Inclusions within the Molten Metal

Traditional methods for assessing the cleanliness of liquid metal are characterized by prolonged detection times, delays, and susceptibility to variations in sampling conditions. To address these limitations, an online cleanliness-analyzing system grounded in the method of the electrical sensing zone has been developed. This system facilitates real-time, in situ, and quantitative analysis of inclusion size and amount in liquid metal. Comprising pneumatic, embedded, and host computer modules, the system supports the continuous, online evaluation of metal cleanliness across various metallurgical processes in high-temperature environments. Tests conducted with gallium liquid at 90 °C and aluminum melt at 800 °C have validated the system's ability to precisely and quantitatively detect inclusions in molten metal in real time. The detection procedure is stable and reliable, offering immediate data feedback that effectively captures fluctuations in inclusion amount, thereby meeting the metallurgical industry's demand for real-time analyzing and control of inclusion cleanliness in liquid metal. Additionally, the system was used to analyze inclusion size distribution during the hot-dip galvanizing process. At a zinc melt temperature of 500 °C, it achieved a detection limit of 21 μm, simultaneously providing real-time data on the size and amount distribution of inclusions. This represents a novel strategy for the online monitoring and quality control of zinc slag throughout the hot-dip galvanizing process.

Research on Online Monitoring Technology and Filtration Process of Inclusions in Aluminum Melt

Online monitoring and real-time feedback on inclusions in molten metal are essential for metal quality control. However, existing methods for detecting aluminum melt inclusions face challenges, including interference, prolonged processing times, and latency. This paper presents the design and development of an online monitoring system for molten metal inclusions. Initially, the system facilitates real-time adjustment of signal acquisition parameters through a multiplexer. Subsequently, it employs a detection algorithm capable of swiftly extracting pulse peaks, with this task integrated into our proprietary host computer software to ensure timely detection and data visualization. Ultimately, we developed a monitoring device integrated with this online monitoring system, enabling the online monitoring of the aluminum alloy filtration process. Our findings indicate that the system can accurately measure the size and concentration of inclusions during the filtration process in real time, offering enhanced detection speed and stability compared to the industrial LiMCA CM (liquid metal cleanliness analyzer continuous monitoring) standard. Furthermore, our evaluation of the filtration process demonstrates that the effectiveness of filtration significantly improves with the increase in inclusion sizes, and the synergistic effect of combining CFF (ceramic foam filter) and MCF (metallics cartridge filter) filtration methods exceeds the performance of the CFF method alone. This system thus provides valuable technical support for optimizing filtration processes and controlling inclusion quality.

Mechanics of Small-Scale Spherical Inclusions Using Nonlocal Poroelasticity Integrated with Light Gradient Boosting Machine

Detecting inclusions in materials at small scales is of high importance to ensure the quality, structural integrity and performance efficiency of microelectromechanical machines and products. Ultrasound waves are commonly used as a non-destructive method to find inclusions or structural flaws in a material. Mathematical continuum models can be used to enable ultrasound techniques to provide quantitative information about the change in the mechanical properties due to the presence of inclusions. In this paper, a nonlocal size-dependent poroelasticity model integrated with machine learning is developed for the description of the mechanical behaviour of spherical inclusions under uniform radial compression. The scale effects on fluid pressure and radial displacement are captured using Eringen's theory of nonlocality. The conservation of mass law is utilised for both the solid matrix and fluid content of the poroelastic material to derive the storage equation. The governing differential equations are derived by decoupling the equilibrium equation and effective stress-strain relations in the spherical coordinate system. An accurate numerical solution is obtained using the Galerkin discretisation technique and a precise integration method. A Dormand-Prince solution is also developed for comparison purposes. A light gradient boosting machine learning model in conjunction with the nonlocal model is used to extract the pattern of changes in the mechanical response of the poroelastic inclusion. The optimised hyperparameters are calculated by a grid search cross validation. The modelling estimation power is enhanced by considering nonlocal effects and applying machine learning processes, facilitating the detection of ultrasmall inclusions within a poroelastic medium at micro/nanoscales.

Study on Influence of Rare Earth Ce on Micro and Macro Properties of U75V Steel

Non-metallic inclusions in steel have great influence on the continuity of the steel matrix and the mechanical properties of steel. The precipitation sequence of Ce inclusions in molten steel is predicted by thermodynamic calculations. The results show that Ce content will affect the precipitation sequence of rare earth inclusions in molten steel, and the formation of CeO2, Ce2O3 and CeAlO3 will be inhibited with the increase in Ce content. Our laboratory smelted the test steel without rare earth additive and the test steel with rare earth Ce additive (0.0008%, 0.0013%, 0.0032%, 0.0042%). It was found that the MnS inclusions and inclusions containing Al, Ca, Mg and Si oxides or sulfides in the steel after rare earth addition were modified into complex inclusions containing CeAlO3 and Ce2O2S. The size of inclusion in steel was reduced and the aspect ratio of inclusion was improved. The addition of Ce also improved the grain size of U75V steel and significantly refined the pearlite lamellar spacing. After mechanical property testing of the test steel, it was found that when Ce is increased within 0.0042%, the tensile and impact properties of U75V steel are also improved.

Pit initiation on biomedical alloys-A review

Biomedical alloys, like many engineering alloys, have chemical or physical heterogeneities at the surface, and such heterogeneities can potentially act as sites for pit initiation. Alloys of particular interest are 316/316L (and 316LVM) stainless steel, nitinol, and CoCr alloys. This review focuses on the sites-generally inclusions-that have been associated with pitting in various studies of biomedical alloys in simulated physiological solutions. The effect of these sites is discussed in relation to factors such as type and size. For both 316/316L stainless steel and nitinol, pitting has been found to initiate at two different types of inclusions: sulfide and oxide inclusions in stainless steel, and carbide and oxide inclusions in nitinol. Sulfide inclusions tend to be the predominant sites for pitting on 316/316L stainless steel, while there is some evidence to suggest that carbide inclusions may be more effective than oxide inclusions for pitting on nitinol. CoCrMo alloys differ from the other two alloys in that, although particles can be present in the form of carbides, the carbides typically do not provide sites for pit initiation except possibly for alloys with a high-C content, certain heat treatments, and when anodically polarized to high potentials. CoNiCrMo differs further in that TiN inclusions can be present in the vicinity of pits and might be associated with them, but irrespective of the initiation site, any pits are unlikely to grow because of repassivation.

Quality evaluation of Hawk tea from different months and regions based on quantitative analysis of multiple components with a single marker (QAMS) combined with HPLC fingerprint

BACKGROUND

Hawk tea, a medicinal and edible plant, has been consumed for thousands of years in Southwest China. To date, no unified food safety standard for Hawk tea has been established, and systematic research on the quality of Hawk tea is lacking.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to develop a comprehensive evaluation method for the quality of Hawk tea based on inclusions content, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fingerprinting combined with the quantitative analysis of multiple components with a single marker (QAMS) method.

METHODS

The contents of total flavonoids, total phenols, total polysaccharides, and total protein were determined using the colorimetric method. An effective comprehensive evaluation method was established to classify the 16 batches of samples based on HPLC fingerprint analysis combined with similarity analysis (SA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), principal component analysis (PCA), partial least-squares discrimination analysis (PLS-DA), and the QAMS method.

RESULTS

Flavonoids were the main chemical components of Hawk tea. The accuracy of the QAMS method was verified by comparing the calculated results with those of the external standard method (ESM). No significant differences were found between the two methods. Additionally, the fingerprint of Hawk tea was also established.

CONCLUSION

The method established in this study can be used for the comprehensive quality evaluation of Hawk tea and can also provide a reference for the quality evaluation of other herbal medicines.

Machine-Learning Algorithms for Process Condition Data-Based Inclusion Prediction in Continuous-Casting Process: A Case Study

Quality-related prediction in the continuous-casting process is important for the quality and process control of casting slabs. As intelligent manufacturing technologies continue to evolve, numerous data-driven techniques have been available for industrial applications. This case study was aimed at developing a machine-learning algorithm, capable of predicting slag inclusion defects in continuous-casting slabs, based on process condition sensor data. A large dataset consisting of sensor data from nearly 7300 casting samples has been analyzed, with the empirical mode decomposition (EMD) algorithm utilized to process the multi-modal time series. The following machine-learning algorithms have been examined: K-Nearest neighbors, support vector classifier (linear and nonlinear kernels), decision trees, random forests, AdaBoost, and Artificial Neural Networks. Four over-sampling or under-sampling algorithms have been adopted to solve imbalanced data distribution. In the experiment, the optimized random forest outperformed other machine-learning algorithms in terms of recall and ROC AUC, which could provide valuable insights for quality control.

Energy Equivalence Based Estimation of Hybrid Composites Mechanical Properties

Hybrid composites, usually combining natural and synthetic reinforcing filaments, have gained a lot of attention due to their better properties than traditional two-component materials. For structural applications of hybrid composites, there is a need to precisely determine their mechanical properties on the basis of the mechanical properties, volume fractions, and geometrical distributions of constituent materials. The most common methods, such as the rule of mixture, are inaccurate. More advanced methods, giving better results in the case of classic composites, are difficult to apply in the case of several types of reinforcement. In the present research, a new estimation method is considered, which is simple and accurate. The approach is based on the definition of two configurations: the real, heterogeneous, multi-phase hybrid composite configuration, and the fictitious, quasi-homogeneous one, in which the inclusions are "smeared out" over a representative volume. A hypothesis of the internal strain energy equivalence between the two configurations is formulated. The effect of reinforcing inclusions on the mechanical properties of a matrix material is expressed by functions of constituent properties, their volume fractions, and geometrical distribution. The analytical formulas are derived for an isotropic case of a hybrid composite reinforced with randomly distributed particles. The validation of the proposed approach is performed by comparing the estimated hybrid composite properties with the results of other methods, and with experimental data available in the literature. It is shown that a very good agreement is obtained between experimentally measured hybrid composite properties and their predictions resulting from the proposed estimation method. The estimation errors are much lower than the errors of other methods.

Influence of the Scatter Index of Non-Metallic Inclusions in Structural Steel on the Fatigue Resistance Coefficient

One of the main parameters characterizing steel is tensile strength. Conducting actual research is time consuming and expensive. For this reason, the technique uses simplified methods that allow one to quickly estimate the resistance of the material to fatigue. They are conducted mainly by computer methods. For the proper development of programs to determine the fatigue parameters of steel, solid data preparation is necessary. Unfortunately, some studies are performed on materials produced in laboratory conditions, which is only an approximation of the actual production conditions. Real alloys contain natural impurities which can affect their properties. Therefore, it is important to use real results obtained on an industrial scale for analysis including computer simulations. One of the important parameters that can be used to describe the properties of steel is the scatter index. It is the quotient of the average distance between the pollution and the average size of the pollution. This parameter makes it possible to take into account the fatigue strength of steel, taking into account the size of impurities and the distance between these impurities. The paper attempted to determine the scatter index and its impact on the fatigue resistance coefficient for steel melted in an industrial 140 ton electric furnace. The tests were carried out on structural steel with an average carbon content of 0.26%. The steel was hardened and tempered in all temperature tempering ranges (low, medium, and high). The fatigue resistance coefficient in the scatter index function was determined and discussed for each of the applied heat treatment parameters.

Nipah Virus Impairs Autocrine IFN Signaling by Sequestering STAT1 and STAT2 into Inclusion Bodies

Nipah virus (NiV) is an emerging zoonotic paramyxovirus that causes fatal infections in humans. As with most disease-causing viruses, the pathogenic potential of NiV is linked to its ability to block antiviral responses, e.g., by antagonizing IFN signaling through blocking STAT proteins. One of the STAT1/2-binding proteins of NiV is the phosphoprotein (P), but its functional role in IFN antagonism in a full viral context is not well defined. As NiV P is required for genome replication and specifically accumulates in cytosolic inclusion bodies (IBs) of infected cells, we hypothesized that this compartmentalization might play a role in P-mediated IFN antagonism. Supporting this notion, we show here that NiV can inhibit IFN-dependent antiviral signaling via a NiV P-dependent sequestration of STAT1 and STAT2 into viral IBs. Consequently, the phosphorylation/activation and nuclear translocation of STAT proteins in response to IFN is limited, as indicated by the lack of nuclear pSTAT in NiV-infected cells. Blocking autocrine IFN signaling by sequestering STAT proteins in IBs is a not yet described mechanism by which NiV could block antiviral gene expression and provides the first evidence that cytosolic NiV IBs may play a functional role in IFN antagonism.

Crystal-Storing Histiocytosis: The Iceberg of More Serious Conditions

Crystal-storing histiocytosis is a rare condition that is histologically characterized by intracellular cytoplasmic crystalline inclusions. It usually presents monoclonal immunoglobulins that deposit within histiocytes, which accumulate and affect different organs of the human body and are commonly associated with lymphoproliferative conditions, especially those with plasmacytic differentiation. The prognosis of this condition is variable and related to the underlying clinical disease. In this review article, we aim to describe and discuss the clinical and pathological characteristics of crystal-storing histiocytosis based on the available literature and to provide a thorough differential diagnosis.

Modification of Inclusions by Rare Earth Elements in a High-Strength Oil Casing Steel for Improved Sulfur Resistance

Steel casing pipes used in the construction of deep oil wells usually require both high strength and corrosion-resistant behavior. Due to the exploration of deep H₂S-bearing oil reservoirs, sulfide stress cracking (SSC) is becoming an increasingly serious concern for casing steel. The nonmetallic inclusions in the steel are among the key reasons for its service failure. The rare earth element Ce can be used to modify the inclusions in casing steel and improve its SSC resistance. Here, taking C110 grade casing steel (the highest class currently in service) as the investigated object, the modification behavior of Ce inclusions in the steel and the effect of the addition of Ce in varying amounts (0.01, 0.024, and 0.042 wt.%) on the modified products were studied through high-temperature tube furnace experiments and thermodynamic calculations. The results showed that Ce had an obvious modification effect on the CaO·Al₂O₃ inclusions in casing steel, and the diffusion of dissolved Ce in the steel was the limiting step of the modification reaction. With the extension of reaction time, the sequence describing the modification of inclusions in the steel was determined as follows: CaO·Al₂O₃ → CeAlO₃ → Ce₂O₃/Ce₂O₂S. The final stable product after modification depended on the amount of Ce added. With 0.01 wt.% Ce, the stable phase in molten steel was Ce₂O₃; on the other hand, upon adding ≥0.024 wt.% Ce, the stable phase became Ce₂O₂S. In addition, the thermodynamic stability of Ce₂O₃ decreased, and it was transformed into CeAlO₃, Ce₂O₂S, Ce₂S₃, and CeS during solidification. On the basis of our results and the considerations for smooth casting, the addition of a proper amount of a rare earth element is suggested for industrial trials, following the achievement of a significant and surprising improvement in the qualified rate of SSC resistance for the final steel products. The relevant mechanism is also analyzed.

A peridynamic approach to simulating fatigue crack propagation in composite materials

In this article, a numerical tool is proposed in the framework of bond-based peridynamics to simulate fatigue crack propagation in composite materials and structures. The cycle-dependent damage-cumulative model derived from Peerlings' law and applied to a bilinear constitutive law is used to evaluate the fatigue degradation of the bond stiffness. Several benchmark cases are studied to validate the proposed approach. Finally, static and fatigue crack propagations in composite systems with single or multi-inclusions are simulated to illustrate the capabilities and characteristics of the developed approach. This article is part of the theme issue 'Ageing and durability of composite materials'.

Channel-Type Induction Heating Tundish Technology for Continuous Casting: A Review

With the increasing demand for special steel, the quality of steel has become critical during the continuous casting tundish process. In recent years, tundish heating technology has played a key role in low superheat casting. Toward this, researchers have reported on the metallurgical effects of induction heating tundish (IHT). From 1984 to date, the channel-type IHT has been investigated in the production of continuous casting of special steel. In this article, the principle of this channel-type IHT technology and equipment composition were illustrated. A brief summary and comments were undertaken on the channel-type IHT, including physical modeling and numerical modeling. The application development trend of tundish induction heating equipment is summarized combined with industrial application data, which provide a reference for a better understanding of the induction heating process of tundish.

Chlamydia trachomatis Cell-to-Cell Spread through Tunneling Nanotubes

Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) are transient cellular connections that consist of dynamic membrane protrusions. They play an important role in cell-to-cell communication and mediate the intercellular exchanges of molecules and organelles. TNTs can form between different cell types and may contribute to the spread of pathogens by serving as cytoplasmic corridors. We demonstrate that Chlamydia (C.) trachomatis-infected human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells and other cells form TNT-like structures through which reticulate bodies (RBs) pass into uninfected cells. Observed TNTs have a life span of 1 to 5 h and contain microtubules, which are essential for chlamydial transfer. They can bridge distances of up to 50 μm between connecting neighboring cells. Consistent with the biological role for TNTs, we show that C. trachomatis spread also occurs under conditions in which the extracellular route of chlamydial entry into host cells is blocked. Based on our findings, we propose that TNTs play a critical role in the direct, cell-to-cell transmission of chlamydia. IMPORTANCE Intracellular bacterial pathogens often undergo a life cycle in which they parasitize infected host cells in membranous vacuoles. Two pathways have been described by which chlamydia can exit infected host cells: lytic cell destruction or exit via extrusion formation. Whether direct, cell-to-cell contact may also play a role in the spread of infection is unknown. Tunneling nanotubes (TNTs) interconnect the cytoplasm of adjacent cells to mediate efficient communication and the exchange of material between them. We used Chlamydia trachomatis and immortalized cells to analyze whether TNTs mediate bacterial transmission from an infected donor to uninfected acceptor cells. We show that chlamydia-infected cells build TNTs through which the intracellular reticulate bodies (RBs) of the chlamydia can pass into uninfected neighboring cells. Our study contributes to the understanding of the function of TNTs in the cell-to-cell transmission of intracellular pathogens and provides new insights into the strategies by which chlamydia spreads among multicellular tissues.

[Factors associated with patient participation in early return to the home Heart Failure program : a case-control study at the Centre Hospitalier de Troyes in 2017-2018]

OBJECTIVES

In 2013, the French National Health Insurance set up a programme to help patients with heart failure to return home and stay there (PRADO). During a hospitalization for cardiac decompensation, the medical team decides on the inclusion of the patient in the programme based on eligibility criteria defined. The objective of this study was to identify the factors most associated with the inclusion of heart failure patients in the PRADO program.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a monocentric retrospective analytical stratified case-control study. It focused on the analysis of patient records hospitalized for cardiac decompensation between 01/01/2017 and 31/12/2018 in the cardiology department of the Centre Hospitalier de Troyes. For each patient included in the PRADO Heart Failure programme, one or two controls, not included in the PRADO Heart Failure programme were matched. The matching was exact without discounting. It was performed on the following criteria: age in 10-year increments, sex, main diagnosis of the stay, major category of diagnosis of the stay and its type (medical or surgical), the severity score of the Homogeneous Group of Patients of the stay and the Charlson score.

RESULTS

A total of 40 patients included in PRADO Heart Failure were matched to 56 controls not included in PRADO Heart Failure. Patients with respiratory disease (3.77 [1.07 - 13.29]), as well as patients on renin-angiotensin system inhibitors (2.24 [1.61 - 5.31]) were more often included in the PRADO Heart Failure programme. The most frequent criteria for non-eligibility were the need to transfer the patient to a specialised institution and significant impairment of higher functions.

CONCLUSION

Respiratory comorbidity and renin-angiotensin system blocker treatment are the factors most associated with the inclusion of heart failure patients in the PRADO Heart Failure programme.

Autophagy mediates the clearance of oligodendroglial SNCA/alpha-synuclein and TPPP/p25A in multiple system atrophy models

Accumulation of the neuronal protein SNCA/alpha-synuclein and of the oligodendroglial phosphoprotein TPPP/p25A within the glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs) represents the key histophathological hallmark of multiple system atrophy (MSA). Even though the levels/distribution of both oligodendroglial SNCA and TPPP/p25A proteins are critical for disease pathogenesis, the proteolytic mechanisms involved in their turnover in health and disease remain poorly understood. Herein, by pharmacological and molecular modulation of the autophagy-lysosome pathway (ALP) and the proteasome we demonstrate that the endogenous oligodendroglial SNCA and TPPP/p25A are degraded mainly by the ALP in murine primary oligodendrocytes and oligodendroglial cell lines under basal conditions. We also identify a KFERQ-like motif in the TPPP/p25A sequence that enables its effective degradation via chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) in an in vitro system of rat brain lysosomes. Furthermore, in a MSA-like setting established by addition of human recombinant SNCA pre-formed fibrils (PFFs) as seeds of pathological SNCA, we thoroughly characterize the contribution of CMA and macroautophagy in particular, in the removal of the exogenously added and the seeded oligodendroglial SNCA pathological assemblies. We also show that PFF treatment impairs autophagic flux and that TPPP/p25A exerts an inhibitory effect on macroautophagy, while at the same time CMA is upregulated to remove the pathological SNCA species formed within oligodendrocytes. Finally, augmentation of CMA or macroautophagy accelerates the removal of the engendered pathological SNCA conformations further suggesting that autophagy targeting may represent a successful approach for the clearance of pathological SNCA and/or TPPP/p25A in the context of MSA.Abbreviations: 3MA: 3-methyladenine; ACTB: actin, beta; ALP: autophagy-lysosome pathway; ATG5: autophagy related 5; AR7: atypical retinoid 7; CMA: chaperone-mediated autophagy; CMV: cytomegalovirus; CTSD: cathepsin D; DAPI: 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; DMEM: Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium; Epox: epoxomicin; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; GCIs: glial cytoplasmic inclusions; GFP: green fluorescent protein; HMW: high molecular weight; h: hours; HSPA8/HSC70: heat shock protein 8; LAMP1: lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1; LAMP2A: lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2A; MAP1LC3/LC3: microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3; mcherry: monomeric cherry; MFI: mean fluorescence intensity; mRFP: monomeric red fluorescent protein; MSA: multiple system atrophy; OLN: oligodendrocytes; OPCs: oligodendroglial progenitor cells; PBS: phosphate-buffered saline; PC12: pheochromocytoma cell line; PD: Parkinson disease; PFFs: pre-formed fibrils; PIs: protease inhibitors; PSMB5: proteasome (prosome, macropain) subunit, beta type 5; Rap: rapamycin; RFP: red fluorescent protein; Scr: scrambled; SDS: sodium dodecyl sulfate; SE: standard error; siRNAs: small interfering RNAs; SNCA: synuclein, alpha; SQSTM1: sequestosome 1; TPPP: tubulin polymerization promoting protein; TUBA: tubulin, alpha; UPS: ubiquitin-proteasome system; WT: wild type.

Ultrasonic Bending Vibration-Assisted Purification Experimental Study of 7085 Aluminum Alloy Melt

Aiming at the problem that melt inclusions in the casting process of 7085 aluminum alloy seriously affect the ingot quality, this study introduces ultrasonic bending vibration into the melt of the launder in the semi-continuous casting process of 7085 aluminum alloy and investigates the online purification effect of ultrasonic bending vibration on the melt of 7085 aluminum alloy through a metallographic analysis, SEM analysis, and EDS energy spectrum analysis. The results show that, under the action of the ultrasonic, the inclusions in the aluminum melt are transformed from a large number of elongated large inclusions with a size of more than 50 μm, and granular inclusions with a size of about 5–15 μm, into a small amount of smaller than 30 μm point-like small inclusions. In addition, the average area ratio of inclusions in the melted sample was reduced from 3.835 (±0.05)% to 0.458 (±0.05)%, and the residual refining agent in the aluminum melt was effectively removed. It was also found that under the action of ultrasonic bending vibration, the tiny inclusions in the melt aggregate with each other, and interact with the residual refining agent in the melt to further grow, and are attached to the inner surface of the ceramic cavity channel to be removed.

Non-granulomatous inflammatory lesions of CNS: Approach to diagnosis

Infections constitute an important and common category of diseases, particularly in less developed countries. Infections present with a broad spectrum of clinical and radiologic features dictated by the cell and tissue tropism and host response elicited, posing a considerable diagnostic challenge. Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial in preventing mortality and morbidity. Recourse is often made to biopsy for ascertaining the diagnosis, and hence the pathologist plays a vital role in patient management. Therefore, knowledge of the histopathologic changes is necessary to recognize the histological changes and guide the diagnostic workup and management. Each microbial agent elicits a distinctive pattern of inflammatory tissue response, which can serve as a clue to the etiological agent. Based on the causative organism, microbial, and host factors, the inflammatory response may be acute or chronic, necrotic or non-necrotic. The inflammation can be of varied patterns - lymphohistiocytic, granulomatous, inflammatory demyelinating, fibrosing, or showing minimal inflammation. The pattern of necrosis also differs based on the causative organism. Typically, pyogenic bacteria are associated with suppurative inflammation, tuberculosis with caseous granulomatous, and fungi with suppurative granulomatous inflammation. Viral infections are associated with lymphohistiocytic non-necrotizing inflammation and, based on cell tropism, can cause demyelination (e.g., JCV) and/or viral inclusions. Parasitic infections (protozoal or metazoal) display a broad spectrum of inflammatory changes that overlap with other types of infections. This review briefly describes pathological patterns and associated pathogens and provides an algorithmic approach based on pattern recognition that may be useful for the practicing pathologist.

Electron microscopy in the diagnosis of skeletal muscle disorders: Its utility and limitations

Electron microscopy (EM) has a substantial role in the diagnosis of skeletal muscle disorders. The ultrastructural changes can be observed in muscle fibers and other components of the muscle tissue. EM serves as a confirmatory tool where the diagnosis is already established by enzyme histochemistry staining. Although it is indispensable in the diagnosis of rare forms of congenital myopathies not appreciated by light microscope, such as cylindrical spiral myopathy, zebra body myopathy, fingerprint body myopathy, and intranuclear rod myopathy, in cases not subjected to histochemical staining, it is required for definitive diagnosis in certain groups of muscle disorders, which includes congenital myopathies, metabolic myopathies in particular mitochondrial myopathies and glycogenosis, and in vacuolar myopathies. It does not have diagnostic implications in muscular dystrophies and neurogenic disorders. In the recent past, despite the availability of advanced diagnostic techniques, electron microscopy continues to play a vital role in the diagnosis of skeletal muscle disorders. This review gives an account of ultrastructural features of skeletal muscle disorders, the role of EM in the diagnosis, and its limitations.

Exploiting flow cytometry for the unbiased quantification of protein inclusions in Caenorhabditis elegans

The aggregation of proteins into inclusions or plaques is a prominent hallmark of a diverse range of pathologies including neurodegenerative diseases. The quantification of such inclusions in Caenorhabditis elegans models of aggregation is usually achieved by fluorescence microscopy or other techniques involving biochemical fractionation of worm lysates. Here, we describe a simple and rapid flow cytometry-based approach that allows fluorescently tagged inclusions to be enumerated in whole worm lysate in a quantitative and unbiased fashion. We demonstrate that this technique is applicable to multiple C. elegans models of aggregation and importantly, can be used to monitor the dynamics of inclusion formation in response to heat shock and during ageing. This includes the characterisation of physicochemical properties of inclusions, such as their apparent size, which may reveal how aggregate formation is distinct in different tissues or at different stages of pathology or ageing. This new method can be used as a powerful technique for the medium- to high-throughput quantification of inclusions in future studies of genetic or chemical modulators of aggregation in C. elegans.

Defect Structures of Magnetic Nanoparticles in Smectic A Liquid Crystals

Topological defects in anisotropic fluids like liquid crystals serve as a playground for the research of various effects. In this study, we concentrated on a hybrid system of chiral rod-like molecules doped by magnetic nanoparticles. In textures of the smectic A phase, we observed linear defects and found that clusters of nanoparticles promote nucleation of smectic layer defects just at the phase transition from the isotropic to the smectic A (SmA) phase. In different geometries, we studied and analysed creation of defects which can be explained by attractive elastic forces between nanoparticles in the SmA phase. On cooling the studied hybrid system, clusters grow up to the critical dimension, and the smectic texture is stabilised. The presented effects are theoretically described and explained if we consider the elastic interaction of two point defects and stabilisation of prismatic dislocation loops due to the presence of nanoparticles.

Effect of Cerium on the Microstructure and Inclusion Evolution of C-Mn Cryogenic Vessel Steels

The effects of Cerium (Ce) were studied on the casting slab quality, microstructure, and inclusion evolution of cryogenic vessel steel. An optical metallographic microscope, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectrometer, and Thermo-calc thermodynamic software were used for characterization and analysis. The results indicated that the central segregation was significantly improved after adding Ce and reached the lowest level when the content of Ce was 0.0009 wt.%. Meanwhile, the presence of Ce reduces the size of ferrite and improves pearlite morphology. Ce also enables the modification of Al₂O₃ and MnS + Ti₄C₂S₂ inclusions into ellipsoid CeAlO₃ and spherical Ce₂O₂S + Ti₄C₂S₂ composite inclusions, respectively, which are easier to remove. The formed Ce₂O₂S inclusions are fine and can work as heterogeneous nucleation points to refine the microstructure of steel.

Cancellation of Auxetic Properties in F.C.C. Hard Sphere Crystals by Hybrid Layer-Channel Nanoinclusions Filled by Hard Spheres of Another Diameter

The elastic properties of f.c.c. hard sphere crystals with periodic arrays of nanoinclusions filled by hard spheres of another diameter are the subject of this paper. It has been shown that a simple modification of the model structure is sufficient to cause very significant changes in its elastic properties. The use of inclusions in the form of joined (mutually orthogonal) layers and channels showed that the resulting tetragonal system exhibited a complete lack of auxetic properties when the inclusion spheres reached sufficiently large diameter. Moreover, it was very surprising that this hybrid inclusion, which can completely eliminate auxeticity, was composed of components that, alone, in these conditions, enhanced the auxeticity either slightly (layer) or strongly (channel). The study was performed with computer simulations using the Monte Carlo method in the isothermal-isobaric (NpT) ensemble with a variable box shape.

Neurons and Glia Interplay in α-Synucleinopathies

Accumulation of the neuronal presynaptic protein alpha-synuclein within proteinaceous inclusions represents the key histophathological hallmark of a spectrum of neurodegenerative disorders, referred to by the umbrella term a-synucleinopathies. Even though alpha-synuclein is expressed predominantly in neurons, pathological aggregates of the protein are also found in the glial cells of the brain. In Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, alpha-synuclein accumulates mainly in neurons forming the Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites, whereas in multiple system atrophy, the protein aggregates mostly in the glial cytoplasmic inclusions within oligodendrocytes. In addition, astrogliosis and microgliosis are found in the synucleinopathy brains, whereas both astrocytes and microglia internalize alpha-synuclein and contribute to the spread of pathology. The mechanisms underlying the pathological accumulation of alpha-synuclein in glial cells that under physiological conditions express low to non-detectable levels of the protein are an area of intense research. Undoubtedly, the presence of aggregated alpha-synuclein can disrupt glial function in general and can contribute to neurodegeneration through numerous pathways. Herein, we summarize the current knowledge on the role of alpha-synuclein in both neurons and glia, highlighting the contribution of the neuron-glia connectome in the disease initiation and progression, which may represent potential therapeutic target for a-synucleinopathies.

A Peculiar New Genus of Bibionomorpha (Diptera) with Brachycera-Like Modification of Antennae from Mid-Cretaceous Amber of Myanmar

Simple Summary

The mid-Cretaceous amber of Myanmar (also known as Burmese amber) is almost 100 MYA old and represents an invaluable source of information about the evolution of life in the late Mesozoic. This is particularly true for the early flies (lower Diptera) which underwent rapid radiation during the Cretaceous period. Here we describe a remarkable nematocerous fossil fly which shows a character typical of the flies of the suborder Brachycera—with strongly modified antenna—representing new evidence that such a Brachycera-like modification of the antennae has evolved several times during the evolutionary history of Diptera.

Abstract

A new fossil genus of Bibionidae (Diptera: Bibionomorpha), Burmahesperinus gen. nov., from the mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber, is described and illustrated (type species Burmahesperinus antennatus sp. nov., the other two species included are B. conicus sp. nov. and B. pedicellatus sp. nov.). The new genus is tentatively placed in a new subfamily, Burmahesperininae subfam. nov. of the family Bibionidae. Its possible phylogenetic position is briefly discussed. The new genus, as well as the subfamily, possesses the wing venation similar to the recent genus Hesperinus Walker, 1848, in combination with Brachycera-like modification of both the male and female antenna and the overall habitus typical of fungus gnats (Sciaroidea).

Inclusion body fibromatosis - A report of four cases and review of literature

Inclusion body fibromatosis (IBF) also called the “Reye tumor” is a rare spindle cell proliferation with distinct clinicopathological features. This is a report of four cases of IBF from a single institute. Typical location, age, size of the lesion, bland histology, and paranuclear inclusions are the distinguishing features of this entity. Medical literature search reveals very few series of cases of IBF, the remaining cases being in the form of case reports. The aim of this report is to highlight the typical features of this rare entity.

The binding behaviours between cyclopentanocucurbit[6]uril and three amino acids

Binding behaviours between cyclopentanocucurbit[6]uril (CyP6Q[6]) and three amino acids have been investigated by means of X-ray crystallography, proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and isothermal titration calorimetry. The results showed that CyP6Q[6] forms a 1 : 2 inclusion complex with glycine, but 1 : 1 complexes with both leucine and lysine. Whereas the carboxyl group of glycine can enter the interior of the cavity of CyP6Q[6], only the alkyl chains of leucine and lysine can enter this cavity. Interestingly, leucine can adopt two different self-assembly modes upon its interaction with cucurbituril, depending on the external conditions, whereas glycine and lysine do not exhibit such behaviour.

Quantifying the Comprehensive Characteristics of Inclusion-Induced Defects Using an Integrated Destructive and Non-Destructive Method

Driven by the continuous improvement of the mechanical properties, especially the fatigue property of the high-strength steels, it is particularly important to characterize the type, size, and distribution of inclusions and the critical inclusions in the steel matrix, as they are decisive for the fatigue life performance. This paper presents an integrated approach for the comprehensive characterization of the inclusions in metals by combining the advantages of destructive methods based on metallography and non-destructive testing methods using ultrasonic detection technology. The position and size of inclusions were obtained by scanning ultrasonic microscope, and the composition and micro-image of inclusions were further analyzed by scanning electron microscope. According to the results obtained by the proposed approach, the distribution laws of oxide inclusions and sulfide inclusions in the samples were statistically analyzed, and then the maximum distribution analysis method was used to predict the maximum inclusions. We compare the predicted size value with the value obtained by the characterization method to establish a certain corresponding relationship. The results show that large defects in metals can be accurately characterized by the proposed method, and the size of inclusions predicted by extreme value analysis is close to that of the scanning electron microscope. The integrated destructive and non-destructive method can reveal the in situ information of inclusions and give the possible relationship between inclusions and process and material properties.

Diversity of the Fossil Genus Palaeoglaesum Wagner (Diptera, Psychodidae) in the Upper Cretaceous Amber of Myanmar

Simple Summary

Bruchomyiinae is one of seven subfamilies of Psychodidae. In the contemporary fauna, this small, relict subfamily occurs mainly in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Examination of inclusions preserved in the Upper Cretaceous amber of Myanmar (also known as Burmese amber), which is almost 100 mya, shows that this subfamily was abundant during the Cretaceous period. The extinct genus Palaeoglaesum is known only from this fossil resin. Moreover, its numerous inclusions and high diversification confirm that the Mesozoic was the stage of the early evolution and radiation of Psychodidae. Here we describe three new species and we provide additional details regarding the morphology of fossil species.

Abstract

Cretaceous Myanmar amber is abundant in inclusions belonging to the genus Palaeoglaesum. In addition, a significant morphological diversity among representatives of Palaeoglaesum can be observed. However, none of its representatives have been found in other fossil materials. Herein three new species: P. stebneri sp. nov., Skibińska and Krzemiński P. teres sp. nov. Skibińska and Albrycht, and P. pilosus sp. nov. Skibińska, Krzemiński and Zhang from Cretaceous Myanmar amber are described and illustrated. The very small size and characters of male hypopygium with aedeagus strongly bent and apically forked are pertinent to diagnosing the genus and species. New materials show that this genus and the whole subfamily Bruchomyiinae were probably more abundant and more diverse than the presently known extant fauna.

A Kinetic Model for the Modification of Al2O3 Inclusions during Calcium Treatment in High-Carbon Hard Wire Steel

Laboratory-scale experiments for the modification of Al₂O₃ inclusions by calcium treatment in high-carbon hard wire steel were performed and the compositions and morphological evolution of inclusions were studied. The kinetics of the modification of Al₂O₃ inclusions by calcium treatment were studied in high-carbon hard wire steel based on the unreacted shrinking core model, considering the transfer of Ca and Al through the boundary layer and within the product layer, coupled with thermodynamic equilibrium at the interfaces. The diffusion of Al in the inclusion layer was the limiting link in the inclusion modification process. The Ca concentration in molten steel had the greatest influence on the inclusion modification time. The modification time for inclusions tended to be longer in the transformation of higher CaO-containing calcium aluminate. The modification of Al₂O₃ into CA₆ was fastest, while the most time was needed to modify CA into C₁₂A₇. It took about six times time longer at the later stage of inclusion modification than at the early stage. The complete modification time for inclusions increased with the square of their radii. The changes of CaO contents with melting time were estimated based on a kinetic model and was consistent with experimental results.

Concentric Inclusions in the Intestinal Epithelium of Echiura Bonellia viridis: Structure and Possible Function

The study of the anatomy and fine structure of Echiura is of great importance for understanding the biology of these animals, which lead a secretive life and dominate in various benthic communities. The first data on the organization of the siphonal part of the midgut of female Bonellia viridis were obtained by the methods of scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Unusual concentric inclusions similar in the ultrastructure to those described in other animals, e.g., in the gut of many nematode species and in the tegument of some cestodes, were first found in the cells of the midgut. It is known that, in these animals, the concentric inclusions play an important role in the binding of chemical agents inherent in redox environments. Interestingly, the individuals of B. viridis studied were found on the surface of a substrate devoid of redox environment signs. New results indicate the presence in B. viridis and, possibly, in all spoon worms, of preadaptations to life in redox environments. New data on the structure and composition of concentric inclusions will shed light on their origin and function.

Intriguing and Beautiful: Adamacrocera adami gen. et sp. nov. from the Upper Cretaceous Amber of Myanmar Represents a New Subfamily of Keroplatidae (Diptera: Bibionomorpha)

A new fossil genus and species of Keroplatidae (Diptera, Bibionomorpha, Sciaroidea), Adamacrocera adami gen. et sp. nov., from the Upper Cretaceous Burmese amber is described and illustrated. Based on morphological evidence, it is placed in a new subfamily Adamacrocerinae subfam. nov. The new genus, as well as the subfamily, possesses the wing venation characteristic of the genera of some Sciaroidea incertae sedis, as well as that of the fossil families Archizelmiridae, Antefungivoridae and Mesosciophilidae, in combination with macrocerine-like habitus and male terminalia.

Effect of Turning Amount on Metallurgical Qualities and Mechanical Properties of GH4169 Superalloy

The determination of an appropriate amount of turning for superalloy ingot surfaces, in a scientific and reasonable manner, is vital to the improvement of the metallurgical quality and comprehensive performance of superalloy ingots. In the present study, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy, a high-temperature testing machine, a Brinell hardness tester and the Image-Pro Plus software were used to analyze and compare the types and amounts of inclusions, the average area of the (Al,Mg)O inclusions, and the mechanical properties of points at different distances from the edge of the GH4169 superalloy vacuum arc remelting (VAR) ingot edge. The effects of the amount of turning to which the superalloy is subjected, the metallurgical qualities, and the mechanical properties were systematically studied. The results showed that the five inclusion types did not change as the sampling locations moved away from the ingot edge, but the amount of inclusions and the average area of the (Al,Mg)O inclusions first decreased and then stabilized. Similarly, the tensile strength, elongation, section shrinkage, hardness, and fatigue life first increased and then stabilized. Finally, this experiment tentatively determined that an appropriate amount of turning for a GH4169 superalloy ingot is 36–48 mm.

B Cells and Antibodies in Kawasaki Disease

The etiology of Kawasaki disease (KD), the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children, is currently unknown. Epidemiology supports a relationship of KD to an infectious disease. Several pathological mechanisms are being considered, including a superantigen response, direct invasion by an infectious etiology or an autoimmune phenomenon. Treating affected patients with intravenous immunoglobulin is effective at reducing the rates of coronary aneurysms. However, the role of B cells and antibodies in KD pathogenesis remains unclear. Murine models are not clear on the role for B cells and antibodies in pathogenesis. Studies on rare aneurysm specimens reveal plasma cell infiltrates. Antibodies generated from these aneurysmal plasma cell infiltrates showed cross-reaction to intracellular inclusions in the bronchial epithelium of a number of pathologic specimens from children with KD. These antibodies have not defined an etiology. Notably, a number of autoantibody responses have been reported in children with KD. Recent studies show acute B cell responses are similar in children with KD compared to children with infections, lending further support of an infectious disease cause of KD. Here, we will review and discuss the inconsistencies in the literature in relation to B cell responses, specific antibodies, and a potential role for humoral immunity in KD pathogenesis or diagnosis.

Analysis of α-Synuclein Pathology in PINK1 Knockout Rat Brains

Mutations in PTEN induced kinase 1 (PINK1) cause autosomal recessive Parkinson’s disease (PD). The main pathological hallmarks of PD are loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and the formation of protein aggregates containing α-synuclein. Previous studies of PINK1 knockout (PINK1-/-) rats have reported mitochondrial dysfunction, locomotor behavioral deficits, loss of neurons in the substantia nigra and α-synuclein aggregates in various brain regions. We sought to characterize PINK1-/- rats in more detail specifically with respect to α-synuclein pathology because abnormal α-synuclein has been implicated genetically, biophysically and neuropathologically as a mechanism of PD pathogenesis. Moreover, the spontaneous formation of α-synuclein aggregates without α-synuclein overexpression, injection or toxin administration is a rare and important characteristic for an animal model of PD or other synucleinopathies, such as dementia with Lewy bodies and multiple system atrophy. We observed α-synuclein-immunoreactive aggregates in various brain regions of PINK1-/- rats including cortex, thalamus, striatum and ventral midbrain, but nowhere in wild-type (WT) rats. Co-immunofluorescence showed that the α-synuclein-immunoreactive aggregates are both thioflavin S and ubiquitin positive. Many cells in the brains of PINK1-/- rats but not WT rats contained protease-resistant α-synuclein. Total synuclein protein levels were unchanged; however, biochemical fractionation showed a significant shift of α-synuclein from the cytosolic fraction to the synaptic vesicle-enriched fraction of PINK1-/- brain homogenates compared to WT. This data indicates that PINK1 deficiency results in abnormal α-synuclein localization, protease resistance and aggregation in vivo. The PINK1-/- rat could be a useful animal model to study the role of abnormal α-synuclein in PD-related neurodegeneration.

Lipidomic Analysis of α-Synuclein Neurotoxicity Identifies Stearoyl CoA Desaturase as a Target for Parkinson Treatment

In Parkinson's disease (PD), α-synuclein (αS) pathologically impacts the brain, a highly lipid-rich organ. We investigated how alterations in αS or lipid/fatty acid homeostasis affect each other. Lipidomic profiling of human αS-expressing yeast revealed increases in oleic acid (OA, 18:1), diglycerides, and triglycerides. These findings were recapitulated in rodent and human neuronal models of αS dyshomeostasis (overexpression; patient-derived triplication or E46K mutation; E46K mice). Preventing lipid droplet formation or augmenting OA increased αS yeast toxicity; suppressing the OA-generating enzyme stearoyl-CoA-desaturase (SCD) was protective. Genetic or pharmacological SCD inhibition ameliorated toxicity in αS-overexpressing rat neurons. In a C. elegans model, SCD knockout prevented αS-induced dopaminergic degeneration. Conversely, we observed detrimental effects of OA on αS homeostasis: in human neural cells, excess OA caused αS inclusion formation, which was reversed by SCD inhibition. Thus, monounsaturated fatty acid metabolism is pivotal for αS-induced neurotoxicity, and inhibiting SCD represents a novel PD therapeutic approach.

Effects of Different Melting Technologies on the Purity of Superalloy GH4738

The choice of melting technique is crucial for controlling the purity of a superalloy, which is especially important because purity has come to limit progress in the superalloy field. In this study, double- and triple-melting techniques were used to refine the GH4738 superalloy. Elemental analyses, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy, high-temperature cupping machine, high-temperature fatigue testing machine, and Image-Pro Plus software were used to analyze and compare the contents of specific elements, the types and sizes of inclusions, the mechanical properties, and the probabilities of white spot formation using the two melting techniques. The effects of the different melting processes on the purity of the superalloy were systematically studied. In terms of controlling the presence of impurities, the triple-melting process resulted in lower levels of harmful N, S, and O impurities in the superalloy, the triple-melted superalloy also contained fewer types of inclusion of smaller sizes and in smaller amounts than the double-melted alloy. Triple melting also promotes tensile strength and fatigue life, and minimizes the probability of forming defects in the superalloy.

A Case of Juvenile Onset Neuronal Intranuclear Inclusion Disease With a Negative Antemortem Skin Biopsy

Neuronal intranuclear (hyaline) inclusion disease (NIID) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder with a variable clinical presentation and multiple subtypes. We present the clinicopathologic details of a patient with juvenile-onset NIID and discuss the pathogenesis. We also discuss the utility of antemortem skin biopsy which was negative in our case.

Studying Spatial Protein Quality Control, Proteopathies, and Aging Using Different Model Misfolding Proteins in S. cerevisiae

Protein quality control (PQC) is critical to maintain a functioning proteome. Misfolded or toxic proteins are either refolded or degraded by a system of temporal quality control and can also be sequestered into aggregates or inclusions by a system of spatial quality control. Breakdown of this concerted PQC network with age leads to an increased risk for the onset of disease, particularly neurological disease. Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been used extensively to elucidate PQC pathways and general evolutionary conservation of the PQC machinery has led to the development of several useful S. cerevisiae models of human neurological diseases. Key to both of these types of studies has been the development of several different model misfolding proteins, which are used to challenge and monitor the PQC machinery. In this review, we summarize and compare the model misfolding proteins that have been used to specifically study spatial PQC in S. cerevisiae, as well as the misfolding proteins that have been shown to be subject to spatial quality control in S. cerevisiae models of human neurological diseases.

Candidatus Actinochlamydia pangasiae sp. nov. (Chlamydiales, Actinochlamydiaceae), a bacterium associated with epitheliocystis in Pangasianodon hypophthalmus

Chlamydial infections are recognised as causative agent of epitheliocystis, reported from over 90 fish species. In the present study, the farmed striped catfish Pangasianodon hypophthalmus (14-15 cm, 70-90 g) with a history of cumulative mortality of about 23% during June and July 2015, were brought to the laboratory. The histopathological examination of gills from the affected fish revealed presence of granular basophilic intracellular inclusions, mostly at the base of the interlamellar region and in gill filaments. A concurrent infection with Trichodina spp., Ichthyobodo spp. and Dactylogyrus spp. was observed in the gills. The presence of chlamydial DNA in the gills of affected fish was confirmed by amplification and sequencing of 16S rRNA gene. BLAST-n analysis of these amplicons revealed maximum similarity (96%) with Candidatus Actinochlamydia clariae. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis, it was inferred that the epitheliocystis agents from striped catfish were novel and belonged to the taxon Ca. Actinochlamydia. It is proposed that epitheliocystis agents from striped catfish will be named as Ca. Actinochlamydia pangasiae. The 16S rRNA gene amplicons from novel chlamydiae were labelled and linked to inclusions by in situ hybridisation. This is the first report of epitheliocystis from India in a new fish host P. hypophthalmus.

Triangular cyclic rotaxanes: Size, fluctuations, and switching properties

We examine one of the simplest cyclic rotaxanes-a molecule made from three rods with variable length between 0 and L. This [3]rotaxane, unlike a traditional molecule, shows significant size and shape fluctuations. We quantify these using a number of different measures. In particular, we show that the average angles are [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] and the most populated lengths lie at [Formula: see text], and [Formula: see text] The triangles are usually obtuse. We discuss the area allowed within the triangle for inclusion compounds. Inspired by the linear rotaxane switches, we also consider the statistical mechanics of switching when stations with attractive interactions promote small-cycle areas.

PolyQ-expanded huntingtin and ataxin-3 sequester ubiquitin adaptors hHR23B and UBQLN2 into aggregates via conjugated ubiquitin

The components of ubiquitin (Ub)-proteasome system, such as Ub, Ub adaptors, or proteasome subunits, are commonly accumulated with the aggregated proteins in inclusions, but how protein aggregates sequester Ub-related proteins remains elusive. Using N-terminal huntingtin (Htt-N552) and ataxin (Atx)-3 as model proteins, we investigated the molecular mechanism underlying sequestration of Ub adaptors by polyQ-expanded proteins. We found that polyQ-expanded Htt-N552 and Atx-3 sequester endogenous Ub adaptors, human RAD23 homolog B (hHR23B) and ubiquilin (UBQLN)-2, into inclusions. This sequestration effect is dependent on the UBA domains of Ub adaptors and the conjugated Ub of the aggregated proteins. Moreover, polyQ-expanded Htt-N552 and Atx-3 reduce the protein level of xeroderma pigmentosum group C (XPC) by sequestration of hHR23B, suggesting that this process may cut down the available quantity of hHR23B and thus affect its normal function in stabilizing XPC. Our findings demonstrate that polyQ-expanded proteins sequester Ub adaptors or other Ub-related proteins into aggregates or inclusions through ubiquitination of the pathogenic proteins. This study may also provide a common mechanism for the formation of Ub-positive inclusions in cells.-Yang, H., Yue, H.-W., He, W.-T., Hong, J.-Y., Jiang, L.-L., Hu, H.-Y. PolyQ-expanded huntingtin and ataxin-3 sequester ubiquitin adaptors hHR23B and UBQLN2 into aggregates via conjugated ubiquitin.

Prion-like propagation of pathology in Parkinson disease

Over 100 years ago, Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites were defined as a pathologic hallmark of Parkinson disease. Eighty years later, α-synuclein was found to be the primary component of these inclusions. Emerging evidence suggests that α-synuclein pathology propagates across interconnected networks throughout the nervous system in a prion-like manner. Pathologic α-synuclein seeds aggregation of native α-synuclein, resulting in the formation of insoluble inclusions. These seeds can propagate within the neuron and to interconnected neurons, resulting in the spread of pathology throughout the brain. Here, we discuss how the findings that α-synuclein pathology spreads throughout the nervous system has revolutionized our understanding about Parkinson disease pathogenesis and resulted in the development of novel therapeutic strategies to halt disease progression.

Impacts of Modification of Alloying Method on Inclusion Evolution in RH Refining of Silicon Steel

This study explores the effect of introducing additional alloy elements not only in a different order but also at different stages of the Ruhrstahl-Heraeus (RH) process of low-carbon silicon steel production. A more economical method, described as “pre-alloying”, has been introduced. The evolution of MnO-FeO inclusions produced by pre-alloying was investigated. Results show that spherical 3FeO·MnO inclusions form first, then shelled FeO·zMnO (z = 0.7–4) inclusions nucleate on the surface of pre-existing 3FeO·MnO. Spherical FeO·zMnO (z = 3–5) is further evolved from shelled 3FeO·MnO by diffusion. Because these MnO-FeO inclusions float up into the slag before degassing, the pre-alloying process does not affect the quality of the melt in the end. Both carbon content and inclusion size conform to industry standards.

Pitting Initiation and Propagation of X70 Pipeline Steel Exposed to Chloride-Containing Environments

Inclusion-induced pitting initiation mechanisms in X70 steel were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, scanning Kelvin probe force microscopy (SKPFM), immersion and electrochemical polarization tests in chloride-containing ion solutions. There are three inclusion types in the X70 steel. Corrosion test results indicated that pitting corrosion resistance of type A inclusion < type C inclusion < type B inclusion, i.e., (Mn, Ca)S < matrix < (Al, Ca)O. SKPFM test results show that the type A inclusion exhibited both lower and higher potentials than the matrix, while the type B inclusion exhibited higher potential than the matrix. The corrosion test and the SKPFM potential test results are consistent. Potentiodynamic polarization results indicate that the type A and C are active inclusions, while the type B is an inactive inclusion. Three kinds of possible mechanisms of inclusion-induced pitting corrosion are established for the X70 steel.

First Principles Study of Adsorption of Hydrogen on Typical Alloying Elements and Inclusions in Molten 2219 Al Alloy

To better understand the effect of the components of molten 2219 Al alloy on the hydrogen content dissolved in it, the H adsorption on various positions of alloying element clusters of Cu, Mn and Al, as well as the inclusion of Al₂O₃, MgO and Al₄C₃, were investigated by means of first principles calculation, and the thermodynamic stability of H adsorbed on each possible site was also studied on the basis of formation energy. Results show that the interaction between Al, MgO, Al₄C₃ and H atoms is mainly repulsive and energetically unfavorable; a favorable interaction between Cu, Mn, Al₂O₃ and H atoms was determined, with H being more likely to be adsorbed on the top of the third atomic layer of Cu(111), the second atomic layer of Mn(111), and the O atom in the third atomic layer of Al₂O₃, compared with other sites. It was found that alloying elements Cu and Mn and including Al₂O₃ may increase the hydrogen adsorption in the molten 2219 Al alloy with Al₂O₃ being the most sensitive component in this regard.

Cytomegaloviral hypophysitis in a simian immunodeficiency virus-infected rhesus macaque (Macacca mulatta)

Rhesus macaques experimentally infected with Simian Immunodeficiency Virus (SIV) experience immunosuppression and often opportunistic infection. Among the most common opportunistic infections are rhesus cytomegalovirus (RhCMV), a ubiquitous betaherpesvirus that undergoes continuous low-level replication in immunocompetent monkeys. Upon SIV-mediated immunodeficiency, RhCMV reactivates and results in lesions in numerous organ systems including the nervous and reproductive systems. We report the first case of cytomegaloviral hypophysitis in a SIV-immunocompromised rhesus macaque.