Bax affects intracellular Ca2+ stores and induces Ca2+ wave propagation

In the present study, we evaluated proapoptotic protein Bax on mitochondria and Ca2+ homeostasis in primary cultured astrocytes. We found that recombinant Bax (rBax, 10 and 100 ng/ml) induces a loss in mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)). This effect might be related to the inhibition of respiratory rates and a partial release of cytochrome c, which may change mitochondrial morphology. the loss of DeltaPsi(m) and a selective permeabilization of mitochondrial membranes contribute to the release of Ca2+ from the mitochondria. This was inhibited by cyclosporin A (5 muM) and Ruthenium Red (1 mug/ml), indicating the involvement of mitochondrial Ca2+ transport mechanisms. Bax-induced mitochondrial Ca2+ release evokes Ca2+ waves and wave propagation between cells. Our results show that Bax induces mitochondrial alteration that affects Ca2+ homeostasis and signaling. These changes show that Ca2+ signals might be correlated with the proapoptotic activities of Bax.Universidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, INFAR, Dept Pharmacol, BR-04044020 São Paulo, BrazilNINDS, Biochem Sect, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892 USAUniv São Paulo, Inst Quim, Dept Biochem, São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, UNIFESP, INFAR, Dept Pharmacol, BR-04044020 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Laves Phase Formation in High Entropy Alloys

One of the intriguing recent results in the field of high-entropy alloys is the discovery of single-phase equiatomic multi-component Laves intermetallics. However, there is no clear understanding that a combination of chemical elements will form such high-entropy compounds. Here we contribute to understanding this issue by modifying the composition of duodenary TiZrHfN-bVCrMoMnFeCoNiAl (12x) alloy in which we recently reported the fabrication of hexagonal C14 Laves phase. We consider three alloys based on 12x: 7x = 12x-VCrMoMnFe, 12x + Sc, 12x + Be and observe that all of them crystalize with the formation of C14 Laves phase as a dominant structure. We report that 12x + Be alloy reveals a single-phase C14 structure with a very high concentration of structural defects and ultra-fine dendritic microstructure with an almost homogenous distribution of the constituted elements over the alloy matrix. The analysis of electrical and magnetic properties reveals that the Laves phases are Curie-Weiss paramagnets, which demonstrate metallic conduction; 7x and 12x alloys also reveal a pronounced Kondo-like anomaly. Analysis of experimental data as well as ab initio calculations suggest that chemical complexity and compositional disorder cause strong s-d band scattering and thus the rather high density of d-states in the conduction band. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Acknowledgments: Experiments were performed using scientific instruments included in the Collective Equipment Center “Ural-M” and the “Geoanalitik” shared research facilities of the IGG UB RAS. The re-equipment and comprehensive development of the "Geoanalitik" shared research facilities of the IGG UB RAS is financially supported by the grant of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (Agreement No. 075-15-2021-680). The numerical calculations are carried out using computing resources of the federal collective usage center ‘Complex for Simulation and Data Processing for Mega-science Facilities’ at NRC ‘Kurchatov Institute’ (accessed on ckp.nrcki.ru/, 11 January 2021) and Joint Supercomputer Center of Russian Academy of Sciences (accessed on www.jscc.ru, 1 January 2021)

EFFECT OF TITANIUM ON THERMOPHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF GLASS-FORMING ALLOYS Cu-Zr

High-temperature studies of thermal diffusivity and structural transformations in Cu50Zr50 and Cu50-xZr50-xTix alloys (x = 0 - 8 at.%) under controlled heating conditions were carried out. The sequence and type of reactions were determined under the thermal treatment of Cu-Zr-Ti alloys over a wide temperature range.Работа выполнена при финансовой поддержке РФФИ (№ гранта 16-02-00835)

The Digitalization of Russian Politics and Political Participation

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Metastable microheterogeneity of melts in the Ga-Bi system with limited solubility of components in liquid state

A set of acoustic (using the pulse phase method for ultrasound velocity v (s) measurement) and gamma-absorption experiments with the Ga-Bi melts have been performed to clear the nature of their microinhomogeneity. Both methods allow determining upsilon (s) and intensity of the penetrating gamma-beam, I, at various distances, h, from the bottom of the measuring cell. Distinct upsilon (s)(h) and I(h) dependences were discovered in one phase domain of the phase diagrams. It is clear that such inhomogeneity is connected with the chemical inhomogeneity of the melt which, in its turn, can exist if one of the components forms very large particles containing 10(4)-10(5) atoms. The cupola-like borders of the domains where such inhomogeneity exists were fitted in the phase diagrams of the systems under investigation. The inhomogeneity has been confirmed in special acoustic experiments with superposition of ultrasound and low-frequency oscillation

Metastable microheterogeneity of melts in the Ga-Bi system with limited solubility of components in liquid state

A set of acoustic (using the pulse phase method for ultrasound velocity v (s) measurement) and gamma-absorption experiments with the Ga-Bi melts have been performed to clear the nature of their microinhomogeneity. Both methods allow determining upsilon (s) and intensity of the penetrating gamma-beam, I, at various distances, h, from the bottom of the measuring cell. Distinct upsilon (s)(h) and I(h) dependences were discovered in one phase domain of the phase diagrams. It is clear that such inhomogeneity is connected with the chemical inhomogeneity of the melt which, in its turn, can exist if one of the components forms very large particles containing 10(4)-10(5) atoms. The cupola-like borders of the domains where such inhomogeneity exists were fitted in the phase diagrams of the systems under investigation. The inhomogeneity has been confirmed in special acoustic experiments with superposition of ultrasound and low-frequency oscillation

Metastable microheterogeneity of melts in the Ga-Bi system with limited solubility of components in liquid state

A set of acoustic (using the pulse phase method for ultrasound velocity v (s) measurement) and gamma-absorption experiments with the Ga-Bi melts have been performed to clear the nature of their microinhomogeneity. Both methods allow determining upsilon (s) and intensity of the penetrating gamma-beam, I, at various distances, h, from the bottom of the measuring cell. Distinct upsilon (s)(h) and I(h) dependences were discovered in one phase domain of the phase diagrams. It is clear that such inhomogeneity is connected with the chemical inhomogeneity of the melt which, in its turn, can exist if one of the components forms very large particles containing 10(4)-10(5) atoms. The cupola-like borders of the domains where such inhomogeneity exists were fitted in the phase diagrams of the systems under investigation. The inhomogeneity has been confirmed in special acoustic experiments with superposition of ultrasound and low-frequency oscillation