Study of beta phase in Al-Mg-Si alloys by means of unconventional methods of electron microscopy

Hliníkové Al-Mg-Si slitiny nachází hlavní uplatnění především v automobilovém a stavebním průmyslu. Hexagonální ’ fáze je jednou z fází objevených v tomto typu slitin. Oproti klasické čtvercové -fází se vyznačuje rozdílnou krystalovou orientací vůči matrici a tvarem. Tradiční metodou pro jejich zobrazování je klasická rastrovací elektronová mikroskopie (SEM), navzdory tomu, že v mnoha případech neposkytuje dostatečné informace. Je to rychlé a efektivní, avšak není dostatečnou v případě tenkých nebo poškozených precipitátů v důsledku připravného metalografického procesu. Pozorovat a jednoznačně identifikovat tyto precipitáty by mohla pomoci rastrovací nízkoenergiová elektronová mikroskopie, která díky fyzikálním principům nabízí v porovnání se SEM řadu nezanedbatelných výhod jako jsou zmenšení interakčního objemu, zlepšení materiálového kontrastu i vyšší kontrast krystalografický.Aluminium Al-Mg-Si alloys are the most commonly used in automotive and construction industry. Hexagonal ’-phase is one of the metastable phases occured in this type of alloys. Unlike classic square -phase, this ’-phase is characterized by different crystalographic orientation to the matrix and shape. Standard method used for identification of aluminium alloys is scanning electron microscopy (SEM), because of its quickness and efficiency, but in case of very thin or damaged structures (as a result of metallographic process) it’s insufficient. Scanning low energy electron microscopy (SLEEM) can be appropriate for identification of mentioned precipitates due to its physical principles resulting in many advantages compared to SEM. So the most important benefits are interaction volume reduction (which leads to improvement of surface sensitivity), increase of material contrast (ability to change matrix / precipitates contrast) as well as crystalographic contrast.

Study of metals by low voltage SEM

Tato bakalářská práce se zabývá demonstrací výhod metody mikroskopie pomalými elektrony v oblasti materiálových věd. Rastrovací nízkoenergiov elektronová mikroskopie je mimořádně užitečná pro studium celé řady materiálů, jako jsou oceli, slitiny, keramika a tenké vrstvy. Experimentální část bakalářské práce byla provedena na rastrovacím elektronovém mikroskopu TESCAN VEGA TS 5130 vybaveném režimem katodové čočky, který se nachází na Ústavu přístrojové techniky AVČR, v.v.i..The aim of this thesis is to demonstrate the advantages of the scanning low energy electron microscopy (SLEEM) in the field of materials science. The SLEEM can be very effectively used for investigation of wide range of materials, such as steels, alloys, ceramics and thin films. Experimental part of this work was performed on the scanning electron microscope TESCAN VEGA TS 5310 equipped with cathode lens mode at Institute of Scientific Instruments of the ASCR, v.v.i..

Development of Onchocerca volvulus in humanized NSG mice and detection of parasite biomarkers in urine and serum.

BACKGROUND: The study of Onchocerca volvulus has been limited by its host range, with only humans and non-human primates shown to be susceptible to the full life cycle infection. Small animal models that support the development of adult parasites have not been identified. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We hypothesized that highly immunodeficient NSG mice would support the survival and maturation of O. volvulus and alteration of the host microenvironment through the addition of various human cells and tissues would further enhance the level of parasite maturation. NSG mice were humanized with: (1) umbilical cord derived CD34+ stem cells, (2) fetal derived liver, thymus and CD34+ stem cells or (3) primary human skeletal muscle cells. NSG and humanized NSG mice were infected with 100 O. volvulus infective larvae (L3) for 4 to 12 weeks. When necropsies of infected animals were performed, it was observed that parasites survived and developed throughout the infection time course. In each of the different humanized mouse models, worms matured from L3 to advanced fourth stage larvae, with both male and female organ development. In addition, worms increased in length by up to 4-fold. Serum and urine, collected from humanized mice for identification of potential biomarkers of infection, allowed for the identification of 10 O. volvulus-derived proteins found specifically in either the urine or the serum of the humanized O. volvulus-infected NSG mice. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The newly identified mouse models for onchocerciasis will enable the development of O. volvulus specific biomarkers, screening for new therapeutic approaches and potentially studying the human immune response to infection with O. volvulus

Macrophages and neutrophils from humans and mice kill larval Strongyloides stercoralis during innate immunity

The parasitic nematode Strongyloides stercoralis (Ss) infects 30-100 million people worldwide, yet little is known about the immune response in humans. Previous studies on innate immunity to Ss in mice have demonstrated a role for eosinophils, neutrophils (PMN) and complement activation in the protective immune response

Chemical, mineralogical and ceramic properties of kaolinitic materials from the Tresnuraghes mining district (Western Sardinia, Italy)

Kaolinitic materials crop out in the Tresnuraghes mining district (Western Sardinia, Italy). Three main kaolinitic deposits, located in the Patalza, Salamura and Su Fongarazzu areas, respectively, were investigated in order to assess their potential in the ceramic industry. The parent rock-types of this raw material are the Oligocene-Miocene rhyolitic-rhyodacitic ignimbrites. Chemical and mineralogical analyses were performed on representative samples of each deposit, by XRD and XRF methodologies. The chemical analyses generally show high silica and low alumina contents in all samples, typical of weakly kaolinized materials. The main mineralogical association consists of kaolinite and cristobalite with quartz and smectite as the minor components. Alunite may be present as a main mineral in the Salamura and Su Fongarazzu deposits, making these clay materials unsuitable for ceramic applications. The Patalza deposit exhibits low iron and sulphur contents, but low plasticity and excessive refractoriness. The Patalza materials can be used as unconventional raw materials to replace both kaolin and silica in white-firing bodies. Results show that the introduction of the Patalza "kaolins" was well tolerated in bodies for tableware, wall and floor tiles, without significant changes in porosity, bulk density, pore size distribution and coefficient of thermal expansion. The main drawback of using the Patalza material is the slight increase of firing shrinkage, while the main advantage is a systematic increase in mechanical resistance

Absence of Complex I Is Associated with Diminished Respiratory Chain Function in European Mistletoe

Parasitism is a life history strategy found across all domains of life whereby nutrition is obtained from a host. It is often associated with reductive evolution of the genome, including loss of genes from the organellar genomes [1, 2]. In some unicellular parasites, the mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) has been lost entirely, with far-reaching consequences for the physiology of the organism [3, 4]. Recently, mitogenome sequences of several species of the hemiparasitic plant mistletoe (Viscum sp.) have been reported [5, 6], revealing a striking loss of genes not seen in any other multicellular eukaryotes. In particular, the nad genes encoding subunits of respiratory complex I are all absent and other protein-coding genes are also lost or highly diverged in sequence, raising the question what remains of the respiratory complexes and mitochondrial functions. Here we show that oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in European mistletoe, Viscum album, is highly diminished. Complex I activity and protein subunits of complex I could not be detected. The levels of complex IV and ATP synthase were at least 5-fold lower than in the non-parasitic model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, whereas alternative dehydrogenases and oxidases were higher in abundance. Carbon flux analysis indicates that cytosolic reactions including glycolysis are greater contributors to ATP synthesis than the mitochondrial tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Our results describe the extreme adjustments in mitochondrial functions of the first reported multicellular eukaryote without complex I

Development and Application of a Multi-dimensional Strategy for Measuring Fidelity of Implementation of a Districtwide Intervention

This symposium describes a multi-dimensional strategy to examine fidelity of implementation in an authentic school district context. An existing large-district peer mentoring program provides an example. The presentation will address development of a logic model to articulate a theory of change; collaborative creation of a data set aligned with essential concepts and research questions; identification of independent, dependent, and covariate variables; issues related to use of big data that include conditioning and transformation of data prior to analysis; operationalization of a strategy to capture fidelity of implementation data from all stakeholders; and ways in which fidelity indicators might be used

Interactions between calliphoridae dipters and Helicodiceros muscivorus

This article reports on the experimental results of a research programme dealing with the reproductive strategies of Helicodiceros muscivorus (L. fil.) Engler(Araceae: Aroideae). In particular, the role played by the odorous mixture emanated by the vegetable species as olfactory information received by the insects, and the importance of that specific biological activity in governing the behavioural choices made by the pollinating insects is studied