Evaluation of cement degradation induced by the metabolic products of two fungal strains

Summary During their metabolism, microorganisms can produce acids able to bring about the degradation of cement. Two acid-producing alkalophilic fungal strains have been isolated from soil, a strain ofAspergillus niger which produces gluconic and oxalic acid and ofMycelia sterila which produces gluconic and malic acid. After eleven months of contact the acids produced byAspergillus dissolved portlandite with a low leaching of calcium, increased the cement porosity by 11.4%, and reduced the bending strength by 78%. The second strain is responsible for a significant dissolution of portlandite with a leaching of calcium of 4.2% of the initial content, an increase of the porosity of 11%, and a loss of the bending strength of 62%. Direct contact of mycelia with the cement surface is not necessary for effective dissolution to take place. Low pH and a high temperature favor the the production of acids.     

高硼多组分铸铁的组织及相元素分布

这种新提出的新型铸铁的化学成分为在0.7C–5W–5Mo–5V–10Cr–2.5Ti (wt%)中分别添加1.6wt% B和2.7wt% B。这项工作的目的是研究硼的含量对合金的结构状态和阶段元素分布对耐磨结构成分的形成影响。结果表明,当B含量为1.6wt%时,合金由三种共晶组成:(a) “M₂(C,B)₅+铁素体”具有“汉字”形貌 (89.8vol%), (b) “M₇(CB)₃+奥氏体”具有“莲座”形貌,(c) “M₃C+奥氏体”具有“莱氏体”形貌 (2.7vol%)。当硼含量为2.7wt%时,基体硬度由HRC 31提高到HRC 38.5。组织中出现了平均显微硬度为HV 2797的初生碳化物M₂(C,B)₅,体积分数为17.6vol%。共晶体(a)和(b,c)的体积分数分别降低到71.2vol%和3.9vol%。基体为“铁素体/奥氏体” (1.6wt% B) 和“铁素体/珠光体”(2.7wt% B),两种铸铁均含有致密析出碳化物(Ti,M)C和碳硼化物(Ti,M)(C,В),体积分数为7.3%–7.5%。基于能量色散X射线能谱,给出了元素相的分布和相应的相公式。     

Understanding natural-cultural systems for development planning: The problems of developing societies

This paper traces the levels of understanding based on which three development-planning exercises were carried out in a microwatershed in the South Indian State of Kerala: the first by a governmental department and the other two by a nongovernmental organization. The microwatershed is considered here as a natural-cultural system. The authors identify three levels of understanding: the first level influenced by a technological solution, the second one by certain methods, and the third by the ideological viewpoints. The authors argue for a critical understanding of the ideological viewpoints implicit at the third level. This argument, based on the experience of the case study, derives strength from the developments in Critical Systems Perspective.     

Extracellular matrix components in intestinal development

Intestinal morphogenesis and differentiation are dependent on heterotypic cell interactions between embryonic epithelial cells (endoderm) and stromal cells (mesenchyme). Extracellular matrix molecules represent attractive candidates for regulators of these interactions. The structural and functional diversity of the extracellular matrix as intestinal development proceeds is demonstrated by 1) spatio-temporal specific expression of the classically described constituents, 2) the finding of laminin and collagen IV variants, 3) changes in the ratio of individual constituent chains, and 4) a stage-specific regulation of basement membrane molecule production, in particular by glucocorticoids. The orientation/assembly of these extracellular matrix molecules could direct precise cellular functions through interactions via integrin molecules. The involvement of extracellular matrix, and in particular basement membrane molecules in heterotypic cell interactions leading to epithelial cell differentiation, has been highlighted by the use of experimental models such as cocultures, hybrid intestines and antisense approaches. These models allowed us to conclude that a correct elaboration and assembly of the basement membrane, following close contacts between epithelial and fibroblastic cells, is necessary for the expression of differentiation markers such as digestive enzymes.     

Ultrastructural localisation of substance P and choline acetyltransferase in endothelial cells of rat coronary artery and release of substance P and acetylcholine during hypoxia

Substance P and choline acetyltransferase have been localised in a small proportion of endothelial cells of rat coronary arteries using electron microscopic immunocytochemistry. During a hypoxic period of 1 min, coronary vasodilatation was produced in the Langendorff heart preparation and increased levels of substance P and acetylcholine were released into the perfusate. The possibility that these substances are released from endothelial cells during hypoxia and contribute to the hyperaemic response is discussed.     

Pathological changes in olfactory neurons in patients with Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease is a central nervous system disorder characterized by the presence of neurofibrillary tangles, neuritic plaques and dystrophic neurites in susceptible areas of the brain. Investigation of the mechanism and development of the disease has been hampered by the lack of an animal model and the inaccessibility of neural tissue during the illness. Deficits in odour detection and discrimination are among the signs of Alzheimer's and previous anatomical studies suggest that olfactory pathways may be involved early in the illness. Neurons in the olfactory epithelium, which are of central origin, are relatively accessible for biopsy and could be used as a source of living nerve cells for the study of Alzheimer's disease if they can be shown to have characteristics of this disease. As these neurons have the unusual property of arising from stem cells throughout the life of the organism, they are good candidates for the development of cell cultures or cell lines which may express the disorder from living patients. We report here that nasal epithelium tissue taken at autopsy shows unique pathological changes in morphology, distribution and immunoreactivity of neuronal structures in patients with Alzheimer's disease.     

Further evidence for the existence of a bottleneck in the metabolism of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The growth physiology of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains H1022 and Whi2+ has been studied in aerobic batch and continuous (chemostat) cultures. Results from the measurement of biomass and medium components (off-line) together with oxygen, carbon dioxide and heat measurements (on-line) have been used in an attempt to explore the existence of 'overflow' or 'bottleneck' metabolism as opposed to catabolite repression (Crabtree effect) in these strains. Chemostat experiments indicated that specific oxygen uptake rate (qO2) was linearly related to the dilution rate (D) at values below the critical dilution rate (D crit), becoming constant above D crit, which is in agreement with the bottleneck theory. However, batch culture experiments indicated negligible oxygen consumption during the initial glucose growth phase, the culture exhibiting purely anaerobic metabolism. The bottleneck theory would propose that qO2 has a constant (maximum) value under these conditions. The results presented here suggest that while the bottleneck theory can be adequately used to describe chemostat growth of S. cerevisiae, some other control mechanism must be operating under conditions of high glucose concentrations, such as those initially prevailing in the batch culture experiments.     

PAX6 haploinsufficiency causes cerebral malformation and olfactory dysfunction in humans.

PAX6 is widely expressed in the central nervous system. Heterozygous PAX6 mutations in human aniridia cause defects that would seem to be confined to the eye. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and smell testing reveal the absence or hypoplasia of the anterior commissure and reduced olfaction in a large proportion of aniridia cases, which shows that PAX6 haploinsuffiency causes more widespread human neuro developmental anomalies.