Direct Observation of Vortex Dynamics in Superconducting Films with Regular Arrays of Defects

The microscopic mechanism of the matching effect in a superconductor, which manifested itself as the production of peaks or cusps in the critical current at specific values of the applied magnetic field, was investigated with Lorentz microscopy to allow direct observation of the behavior of vortices in a niobium thin film having a regular array of artificial defects. Vortices were observed to form regular and consequently rigid lattices at the matching magnetic field, at its multiples, and at its fractions. The dynamic observation furthermore revealed that vortices were most difficult to move at the matching field, whereas excess vortices moved easily.     

The Impact of Multiple Freeze–Thaw Cycles on the Microstructure of Aggregates from a Soddy-Podzolic Soil: A Microtomographic Analysis

With the help of computed X-ray microtomography with a resolution of 2.75 μm, changes in the microstructure and pore space of aggregates of 3 mm in diameter from the virgin soddy-podzolic soil (Glossic Retisol (Loamic)) in the air-dry, capillary-moistened, and frozen states after five freeze–thaw cycles were studied in a laboratory experiment. The freezing of the samples was performed at their capillary moistening. It was shown that capillary moistening of initially air-dry samples from the humus (AY), eluvial (EL), and illuvial (BT1) horizons at room temperature resulted in the development of the platy, fine vesicular, and angular blocky microstructure, respectively. The total volume of tomographically visible pores >10 μm increased by 1.3, 2.2, and 3.4 times, respectively. After freeze–thaw cycles, frozen aggregates partly preserved the structural arrangement formed during the capillary moistening. At the same time, in the frozen aggregate from the AY horizon, the total tomographic porosity decreased to the initial level of the air-dry soil. In the frozen aggregate from the EL horizon, large vesicular pores were formed, owing to which the total pore volume retained its increased values. The resistance of aggregate shape to the action of freeze–thaw cycles differed. The aggregate from the EL horizon completely lost its original configuration by the end of the experiment. The aggregate from the AY horizon displayed definite features of sagging after five freeze–thaw cycles, whereas the aggregate from the BT1 horizon preserved its original configuration.     

Conformational switches modulate protein interactions in peptide antibiotic synthetases

Protein dynamics plays an important role in protein function. Many functionally important motions occur on the microsecond and low millisecond time scale and can be characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation experiments. We describe the different states of a peptidyl carrier protein (PCP) that play a crucial role in its function as a peptide shuttle in the nonribosomal peptide synthetases of the tyrocidine A system. Both apo-PCP (without the bound 4'-phosphopantetheine cofactor) and holo-PCP exist in two different stable conformations. We show that one of the apo conformations and one of the holo conformations are identical, whereas the two remaining conformations are only detectable by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy in either the apo or holo form. We further demonstrate that this conformational diversity is an essential prerequisite for the directed movement of the 4'-PP cofactor and its interaction with externally acting proteins such as thioesterases and 4'-PP transferase.     

Comparison of Different Glycerol and Egg Yolk Concentrations Added to Tris‐based Extender for the Collared Peccaries (Tayassu tajacu) Semen Freezing

This study aimed to evaluate various concentrations of egg yolk (5, 10, or 20%) in combination with different concentrations of glycerol (3% or 6%) added to a Tris‐based extender on the post‐thaw characteristics of sperm obtained from Tayassu tajacu. For this purpose, semen from 10 sexually male mature collared peccaries was collected by electroejaculation and evaluated for sperm motility, vigour, viability, morphology and functional membrane integrity. The ejaculates were initially extended in Tris‐fructose plus egg yolk (5%, 10% or 20%). After cooling, the semen was added to Tris‐egg yolk plus glycerol (6% or 12%), resulting in a final concentration of 3% or 6% glycerol of the extender. Straws were frozen using liquid nitrogen and thawed in a water bath at 37°C for 30 s. The frozen–thawed semen was evaluated as reported for fresh semen. After thawing, a significant decrease was verified for sperm motility and vigour, for all the samples in comparison with fresh semen. However, no differences were evidenced among treatments for any sperm characteristics evaluated (p > 0.05), except for the combination between 10% egg yolk and 6% glycerol, which provided the worst preservation of functional membrane integrity (p < 0.05). The interactions between higher concentrations of egg yolk (20%) and glycerol (6%) and also between lower concentrations of the same substances (5% egg yolk and 3% glycerol) added to the Tris‐based extender negatively affected the preservation of the normal sperm morphology after thawing (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the use of Tris‐based extender added to 10% or 20% egg yolk plus 3% glycerol is recommended for effective sperm cryopreservation in collared peccaries.     

Phosphorylation of the autophagy receptor optineurin restricts Salmonella growth

Selective autophagy can be mediated via receptor molecules that link specific cargoes to the autophagosomal membranes decorated by ubiquitin-like microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) modifiers. Although several autophagy receptors have been identified, little is known about mechanisms controlling their functions in vivo. In this work, we found that phosphorylation of an autophagy receptor, optineurin, promoted selective autophagy of ubiquitin-coated cytosolic Salmonella enterica. The protein kinase TANK binding kinase 1 (TBK1) phosphorylated optineurin on serine-177, enhancing LC3 binding affinity and autophagic clearance of cytosolic Salmonella. Conversely, ubiquitin- or LC3-binding optineurin mutants and silencing of optineurin or TBK1 impaired Salmonella autophagy, resulting in increased intracellular bacterial proliferation. We propose that phosphorylation of autophagy receptors might be a general mechanism for regulation of cargo-selective autophagy.     

Effect of Sericin Supplementation During In Vitro Maturation on the Maturation,Fertilization and Development of Porcine Oocytes

This study aimed to examine the effects of sericin supplementation during in vitro oocyte maturation on the nuclear maturation, fertilization and development of porcine oocytes. Cumulus‐oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured in maturation medium supplemented with 0 (control), 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5 or 5.0% sericin and were then subjected to in vitro fertilization and embryo culture. More COCs matured with 1.0% sericin underwent germinal vesicle breakdown and reached metaphase II compared with the control COCs matured without sericin (p < 0.01). The proportions of oocytes with DNA‐fragmented nuclei did not differ between the groups, regardless of the sericin level. The total fertilization rate of oocytes matured with 1.0% sericin was higher (p < 0.05) than that of oocytes matured with 0.1%, 2.5% and 5.0% sericin. Supplementation with more than 1.0% sericin decreased the DNA fragmentation index of the blastocysts compared with the control group (p < 0.05). However, the supplementation of the maturation medium with sericin had no beneficial effects on the cleavage, development to the blastocyst stage and the total cell number of the embryos. Our findings indicate that supplementation with 1.0% sericin during maturation culture may improve the nuclear maturation and the quality of the embryos but does not affect blastocyst formation.     

施用活性硅降低重金属移动性的研究

该研究通过一系列的土柱实验研究土壤中硅和重金属的反应机制。土柱实验在可溶性镉、铜、镍和铅酸盐的情况下,用各种活性硅（硅藻土,沸石,无定形二氧化硅,浓缩单硅酸）处理灰森林土。所有富硅物质都用电子显微镜测试分析过。富硅物质对土壤中重金属的钝化试验结果表明：硅藻土和浓缩单硅酸比沸石和无定形二氧化硅更能降低重金属的移动性。重金属移动性的降低是由土壤溶液中单硅酸和重金属的反应,以及富硅物质表面对重金属的吸附实现的。重金属在土壤中移动的强度与自身种类有关。施用富硅物质可明显降低镉和镍的移动性,对铜和铅的效果不明显。     

Compression of Ice to 210 Gigapascals: Infrared Evidence for a Symmetric Hydrogen-Bonded Phase

Protonated and deuterated ices (H2O and D2O) compressed to a maximum pressure of 210 gigapascals at 85 to 300 kelvin exhibit a phase transition at 60 gigapascals in H2O ice (70 gigapascals in D2O ice) on the basis of their infrared reflectance spectra determined with synchrotron radiation. The transition is characterized by soft-mode behavior of the nu3 O-H or O-D stretch below the transition, followed by a hardening (positive pressure shift) above it. This behavior is interpreted as the transformation of ice phase VII to a structure with symmetric hydrogen bonds. The spectroscopic features of the phase persisted to the maximum pressures (210 gigapascals) of the measurements, although changes in vibrational mode coupling were observed at 150 to 160 gigapascals.