Designed amyloid beta peptide fibril - a tool for high-throughput screening of fibril inhibitors

Amyloid beta peptide (Abeta) fibril formation is widely believed to be the causative event of Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. Therapeutic approaches are therefore in development that target various sites in the production and aggregation of Abeta. Herein we present a high-throughput screening tool to generate novel hit compounds that block Abeta fibril formation. This tool is an application for our fibril model (Abeta(16-37)Y(20)K(22)K(24))(4), which is a covalent assembly of four Abeta fragments. With this tool, screening studies are complete within one hour, as opposed to days with native Abeta(1-40). A Z' factor of 0.84+/-0.03 was determined for fibril formation and inhibition, followed by the reporter molecule thioflavin T. Herein we also describe the analysis of a broad range of reported inhibitors and non-inhibitors of Abeta fibril formation to test the validity of the system.     

煅烧设备对建筑石膏性能影响的探索研究

概述了国内建筑石膏的主要煅烧设备及其煅烧方式,重点研究了不同煅烧设备制备出的建筑石膏的物理和化学性能,从而分析比较不同煅烧设备对建筑石膏的影响。     

Flexible asymmetric spinning

Metal spinning is used to form shell components, but is constrained by two features: it can only produce axisymmetric shapes; it requires a dedicated mandrel for each product. Examination of pressures between product and mandrel revealed that contact is limited to three well defined areas. This suggested that the full mandrel could be replaced by three rollers. Furthermore, if these rollers could be controlled, they could represent any symmetric or asymmetric mandrel. A seven-axis machine has been designed, manufactured, and used to spin trial parts. The machine design is described, and preliminary results give an indicator of process capability.     

Prevention of liquid metal embrittlement cracks in resistance spot welds by adaption of electrode geometry

ABSTRACT

Advanced high strength steels are usually coated by a zinc layer for an increased resistance against corrosion. During the resistance spot welding of zinc coated steel grades, liquid metal embrittlement (LME) may occur. As a result, cracking inside and around the spot weld indentation is observable. The extent of LME cracks is influenced by a variety of different factors. In this study, the impact of the used electrode geometry is investigated over a stepwise varied weld time. A spot welding finite element simulation is used to analyse and explain the observed effects. Results show significant differences especially for highly increased weld times. Based on identical overall dimensions, electrode geometries with a larger working plane allow for longer weld times, while still preventing LME within the investigated material and maintaining accessibility.     

Analysing utility tunnels and highway networks coordination dilemma

Utilities are an integral component of the total transportation network comprising highways, railways, airways, and waterways, as well as pipelines, wires, and cables that transport people, goods, and public services. The perennial dilemma of mutual interference between utility lines and transportation networks could be minimised making use of utility tunnel systems. Utilidors most striking feature is that they house several types of power, water, sewage, communications, gas and other statutory services in an easily accessible space. Placing utilities in tunnels under public rights-of-way reduces the continual cutting of pavements resulting from utility burial practices and facilitates the installation, inspection, replacement, and maintenance operations. Utility tunnels and transportation networks may not be compatible at transmission levels. Highway systems are generally planned to avoid high-density areas insofar as is possible. However, where the location of utility networks coincides sufficiently with the highway routes, the situation becomes more favourable to the utility tunnel concept. This paper discusses how compatibility of utility system networks with highway system networks could be greatly improved by appropriate attention to utilidor systems in urban planning. A sustainable approach to the dilemma of where to locate utilities in urban streets and highways has become urgent as the need for services expands in our modern cities. Interference between the safety and flow of highway traffic and utility tunnel operation could be a problem unless adequate measures are undertaken.     

Effect of the curing régime on compressive strength

In a previous issue the Instituto Eduardo Torroja in Spain described the development of lightweight panels made from ordinary Portland cement and rice husk ash (RHA). This paper discusses the crucial effect of the curing régime on compressive strength with temperatures maintained at 30C and relative humidity at 80 percent.     

Synthesis,structure, and magnetic property of hexagonal perovskite Ba5Sn1.1Mn3.9O15

A new compound Ba₅Sn_1.1Mn_3.9O₁₅ has been synthesized at 1300 °C by solid-state reaction. The structure was characterized by X-ray, electron and neutron diffraction methods. Ba₅Sn_1.1Mn_3.9O₁₅ crystallizes in hexagonal space group P6₃/mmc with a = 5.717 Å and c = 23.534 Å. The magnetic measurement reveals that Ba₅Sn_1.1Mn_3.9O₁₅ has a spin glass transition at 7 K.