The quantity of OA and activity of cellulase and polygalacturonase are involved in variation of virulence in Sclerotium rolfsii

In order to understand the pathogenic mechanisms of Sclerotium rolfsii on peanut and to analyze the variation of virulence in S.rolfsii strains,the highly virulent strain(ZY2)and weakly virulent strain(GP3-1)were investigated under both in vivo and in vitro conditions.The results indicated that S.rolfsii directly infected peanut by producing infection cushions.ZY2 formed infection cushions earlier than GP3-1,and ZY2 produced a greater number of infection cushions compare to GP3-1.Both strains could utilize cellulose,xylose,or polygalacturonic acid in the Czapek medium.The activities of cellulase(CL)and polygalacturonase(PG)in the inoculated peanut stems increased significantly at 9 h after inoculation.The activities of CL and PG produced by ZY2 in the inoculated stems were significantly higher than that produced by GP3-1.Both strains could produce oxalic acid(OA),and the content of OA produced by ZY2 in the inoculated stems was higher than that produced by GP3-1.In summary,it suggested that S.rolfsii destroyed peanut cells through physical and biochemical factors by secreting a large amount of OA,CL and PG during the formation of infection cushions.The difference in OA content,activity of CL and PG produced by highly and weakly virulent strains played important roles in variation of virulence.

Review on cyclic plasticity of magnesium alloys:Experiments and constitutive models

Fatigue analysis has always been a concern in the design and assessment of Mg alloy structure components subjected to cyclic loading,and research on the cyclic plasticity is fundamental to investigate the corresponding fatigue failure.Thus,this work reviews the progress in the cyclic plasticity of Mg alloys.First,the existing macroscopic and microscopic experimental results of Mg alloys are summarized.Then,corresponding macroscopic phenomenological constitutive models and crystal plasticity-based models are reviewed.Finally,some conclusions and recommended topics on the cyclic plasticity of Mg alloys are provided to boost the further development and application of Mg alloys.

Spalling fracture mechanism of granite subjected to dynamic tensile loading

Rocks are likely to undergo spalling failure under dynamic loading.The fracture development and rock failure behaviours were investigated during dynamic tensile loading.Tests were conducted with a split-Hopkinson pressure bar(SHPB)in four different impact loading conditions.Thin sections near failure surfaces were also made to evaluate the growth patterns of fractures observed by polarizing microscope.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)was used to observe mineral grains on failure surfaces and to evaluate their response to loading and failure.The results indicate that the number of spalling cracks increases with increase in peak impact loads and that quartz sustains abundant intergranular fracturing.Cleavage planes and their direction relative to loading play a vital role in rock strength and fracturing.Separation along cleavage planes perpendicular to loading without the movement of micaceous minerals parallel to loading appears to be unique to the rock spalling process.

Pollen Grain Germination and Pollen Tube Growth in Pistil of Rice

The germination of pollen grain in vitro and the growth of pollen tube in the pistil of rice were observed with a microscope. The stigma was removed at different time points after pollination to study its effect on seed setting rate. The rice pollen grain started to germinate at 2 min after pollination and the pollen tube penetrated stigma into style in 5-10 min, 30 min later the end of pollen tube reached the bottom of ovary, and only some pollen tubes arrived at embryo sac at 40 min after pollination. Meanwhile, a small amount of callose began to deposit in the pollen tubes, a great deal of callose was observed at 50 min after pollination, whereas the pollen grain began to shrink. The growing rates of pollen tube in the rice stigma, style and ovary were 1500, 5000, and 5400 μm/h, respectively. The seed setting rate was quite low when the stigma was removed at about 10-15 min after pollination, gradually increased when it removed at 20 min to 50 min after pollination, and over 60% when it removed at 50 min after pollination and finally tended to be stable.

Ice Crystal Sizes and Their Impact on Microwave Assisted Freeze Drying

Freeze drying of an aqueous solution would result in the non-uniform distribution of solute concentration.Because ice is almost transparent to microwave, therefore such a non-uniform distribution may affect the microwave assisted freeze drying. The direct observation of the ice crystals formed under microscope reveals that the ice crystal sizes formed from de-ionized water depend on the cooling rate with fast cooling rate giving smaller ice crystals as expected. Once there is a sufficient amount of solute mixed with the de-ionized water, for example the reactive red,the size and its distribution are not very much dependent on either cooling rate or the final temperature provided there is sufficient time of cooling and the final temperature is not too low. The size of ice crystals formed within the solution of reactive red is usually below 100μm with a freezing rate of 1℃·min-1 for a droplet of the size of less than 1 mm. A simplified simulation indicates that such a small ice crystal would not cause a significant non-uniform distribution of temperature for microwave assisted freeze drying. When the ice crystal size is larger than 5 mm, heat conduction from the solute concentrated region to the ice region may need to be considered.

QUANTIFICATION OF SHEAR DAMAGE EVOLUTION IN ALUMINIUM ALLOY 2024T3

Shear damage may occur in the process of metal machining such as blanking and cutting, where localized shear deformation is developed. Experimental findings indicate that microscopic shear damage evolution in aluminium alloy 2024T3 （A1 2024T3） is a multi-stage mechanism, including particle cracking, micro-shear banding, matrix microcracking and coalescence of microcracks. This study is an attempt to use a set of equations to describe the multi-stage shear damage evolution in Al 2024T3. The shear damage variables in terms of multi-couple parameters of a power-law hardening material have been defined. An evolution curve of shearing damage has been calculated from experimental data. The values of the shear damage variable at different stages of damage have also been calculated. By making use of the findings, the relation between the microscopic shear damage evolution and the macroscopic shear response of the material has been discussed.

Austenite formation during intercritical annealing in C-Mn cold-rolled dual phase steel

Two different kinds of experimental techniques were used to in-situ study the austenite formation during intercritical annealing in C-Mn dual phase steel. The microstructure evolution was observed by confocal laser scanning microscope, and the austenite isothermal and non-isothermal transformation kinetics were studied by dilatometry. The results indicate that banded structure is produced for the reason of composition segregation and the competition between recrystallization and phase transformation. Austenite prefers to nucleate not only at ferrite/ferrite grain boundaries, but also inside the grains of ferrite.Furthermore, the austenitizing process is accomplished mainly via migration of the existing austenite/ferrite interface rather than nucleation of new grains. The incubation process can be divided into two stages which are controlled by carbon and manganese diffusion, respectively. During the incubation process, the nucleation rate of austenite decreases, and austenite growth changes from two-dimensional to one-dimensional. The partitioning coefficient, defined as the ratio of manganese content in the austenite to that in the adjacent ferrite, increases with increasing soaking time.

ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC OBSERVATION OF DIFFERENTIATION OF LEUKEMIC CELL CLONE AFTER CFU-MIX CULTURE

By scanning and transmission electron microscopy, leukemlc celb were obwrved after CFU-Mix culture. Even though granulocytlc growth factor, erythropoietin and lymphocytlc growth factor were added at vitor, acute leukemlc celb still showed defects In differentiation and maturation. These were characterized by abnormal colony which consisted of smooth cells, bizarre shape, nuclear-cytoplasmic asynchrony In development, and appearance of nuclear bleb. However, chronic myelogenous leukemlc celb were more nature than the acute ones, manifesting in normal colony with finger- like projections and ruffled membrane. Macrophages and eosinophils could be observed. It b suggested that there b a difference In differentiation between acute and chronic leukemia cells.

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY AND NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF DYNAMIC FRACTURE IN DUCTILE SOLIDS

Spall tests in pure copper and LY12 aluminum alloy are performed. The mechanism of the nucleation, growth and coalescence of micro-voids is observed by means of microscopic observation of the recovered specimens. The model presented in Ref. [4] is incorporated in a hydrodynamic one-dimensional finite-difference computer code to simulate the processes of spallation in pure copper and LY12 aluminum alloy specimens. This model can satisfactorily describe the processes of spallation.

Corneal histomorphology and electron microscopic observation of R124L mutated corneal dystrophy in a relapsed pedigree

·AIM:To investigate the histological characteristics and ultrastructure of recurrent Chinese R124 L mutated corneal dystrophy after keratoplasty.·METHODS:The subjects were enrolled from a Chinese family of corneal dystrophy with R124 L heterozygous gene mutation and with a history of consanguineous marriage.Normal corneal samples were used as controls.·RESULTS:In this family,2 patients(3 eyes)underwent penetrating keratoplasty(PKP)and 2 patients(4 eyes)underwent lamellar keratoplasty(LKP).They had recurrence at 33.5±3.0(range 30-36)mo after keratoplasty.Among them,1 patient(1 eye)underwent PKP again and 1 patient(2 eyes)underwent LKP again.In the R124 L mutated recurrent corneal dystrophy,the corneal turbidity was mainly distributed from the upper corneal cortex to the anterior stroma;the corneal epithelium surface was rougher and more uneven;and,the corneal erosions were larger.Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that the thickness of the corneal epithelium was uneven;the arrangement of the epithelial cells was disordered;and,some corneal epithelial cells were swollen.The results of Congo red staining,Masson’s trichrome staining and Periodic acid-Schiff staining were positive,while that of Alcian blue staining was negative.Under a transmission electron microscope,deposition of high electron density substances between epithelial and basal cells,and,apoptosis of basal cells were observed.Many high electron density depositions were observed in the sub-epithelial and anterior corneal matrix.·CONCLUSION:In the Chinese family of recurrent corneal dystrophy with R124 L gene mutation,the corneal epithelia of the recurrent cases are rougher,and the corneal depositions are extra cellular amyloid fibrin.

ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC OBSERVATION OF SIMIAN SARCOMA VIRUS TRANSFORMED NIH 3T3 CELLS IN VITRO

For electronic microscopic observation, we found SSV-transformed NIH 3T3 cells were different from non-transformed cells. In SSV-transformed NIH 3T3 cells nuclei cytoplasma ratio was increased and in cytoplasma the ribosomes (polyribosomes were attached to the swollen rough endoplasmic reticulum. It was likely that ribosomes were lined together functionally and structionally to produce specific protein (PDGF-like protein).

Performance of the microscopic observation drug susceptibility assay in pyrazinamide susceptibility testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Background Drug susceptibility assay is very important in tuberculosis therapy. Pyrazinamide is a first line antituberculosis drug and diagnosis of its resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis （M. tuberculosis） is difficult and time consuming by conventional methods. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the performance of the microscopic observation drug susceptibility （MODS） assay in the detection of pyrazinamide resistance in M. tuberculosis relative to the conventional Wayne assay and Lowenstein-Jensen （L J） proportion method. Methods M. tuberculosis clinical isolates （n=132） were tested by the MODS and the Wayne assay： the results were compared with those obtained by the LJ proportion method. Mutations in the gene were identified by direct sequencing of the pncA genes of all isolates in which pyrazinamide resistance was detected by any of the three methods. Results Compared to the LJ results, the sensitivity and specificity of the MODS assay were 97.8% and 96.5% respectively; the sensitivity and specificity of the Wayne assay were 87.0% and 97.7% respectively. Mutations in the pncA gene were found in 41 of 46 strains that were pyrazinamide resistant （3 tests）, in 1 of the 4 strains （LJ only）, in 42 of 48 strains （at least I test）, but no mutations in 1 strain sensitive according to the MODS assay only. The MODS assay, Wayne assay and LJ proportion method provided results in a median time of 6, 7 and 26 days respectively. Conclusions MODS assay offers a rapid, simple and reliable method for the detection of pyrazinamide resistance in M. tuberculosis and is an optimal alternative method in resource limited countries.

Effects of CaO on Precipitation Morphology of Metallic Iron in Reduction of Iron Oxides Under CO Atmosphere

Growth process of iron whiskers and mechanism of CaO influence on precipitation morphology of metallic iron at the gas-solid interfaces was studied. Analytical reagents of Fe（NO3）3 and Ca（NO3）2 aqueous solution were used to prepare sheet film sample of Fe2 O3-CAO by thermal decomposition at high temperature. In-situ observation was con-ducted using a stereo optical microscope and a hot-stage. And reduction kinetics of samples was studied by thermo gravimetrie （TG） method. Some samples after reduction were analyzed by using the scanning electron microscope （SEM）, energy dispersive spectrometer （EDS） and fourier transform infrared （FT-IR） spectrometer. Results indi-cate that during the reduction of iron oxides with CO, metallic iron is mostly precipitated as whisker and the precipi- tation behavior mainly depends on reduction rate. Doping CaO can significantly increase the reduction rate and effec-tively change the precipitation morphology of metallic iron after the reduction. When CaO doping concentration is less than 4% （mass percent）, CaO can promote whisker formation of reduced iron; as it reaches 6% （mass per- cent）, CaO inhibits iron whiskers growth; as it is more than 8% （mass percent）, no whiskers could be observed. Therefore, controlling the quantity of Ca^2＋ is effective to control the formation and growth of iron whiskers during gaseous reduction and thus eliminating ore grain sticking caused by intertexture of iron whiskers.

Electron microscopic observations of apoptotic cells in various etiologies of human cardiovascular diseases

Abstract Objective To observe apoptotic process in various cardiovascular disorders with a particular attention to the ultrastructural morphology of apoptosis in cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells. Methods Transmission electron microscopic observations of the tissue specimens obtained from endomyocardial biopsies or surgical excisions of left ventricular myocardium or calcified aortic valves were carried out in 50 patients with various cardiovascular diseases. Results The ultrastructural features of apoptosis was consistently observed in cardiomyocytes, fibroblasts, vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells in all diseased tissues. In cardiomyopathies and rheumatic heart diseases apoptosis was commonly observed in the cardiomyocytes. It was often found that fibroblasts underwent apoptosis in calcific aortic valve tissues. Apoptosis of arterial smooth muscle cells was a frequent finding in renal arterial stenosis due to Takayasu's arteritis and fibromuscular dysplasia. Regardless of the cell types, the nuclear hallmarks of apoptosis were identical with minor modifications of the fragmentation of the condensed cells into apoptotic bodies. Conclusions Based on electron microscopic findings, it is suggested that the underlying disease processes determine which type of cells predominantly undergoes apoptotic changes in various cardiovascular disorders. In addition, different cells with similar structural morphology may have common ultrastructural features of apoptosis.

A mass abrasion model with the melting and cutting mechanisms during high-speed projectile penetration into concrete slabs

In this study,ogive-nose projectile penetration into concrete slabs was tested at initial projectile impact velocities ranging from 1325.0 m/s to 1425.0 m/s.The depth of penetration and mass loss of the projectiles were measured,and the residual projectiles were recovered after the penetration tests.Scanning electron microscopy and metallographic microscopy of the microstructures were performed on various sections and outer surfaces of the projectiles taken from different locations of the residual projectiles,to analyze the intrinsic mechanisms of mass abrasion.The analysis results reveal that,during high-speed projectile penetration,projectile abrasion is caused by multiple mechanisms.Based on the cavity expansion theory,a projectile penetration model was established by considering the two main mass loss mechanisms observed in the microscopic tests.The theoretical predictions of the penetration depth,mass loss rate,and change of projectile head are consistent with the experimental results obtained both in this study and previous research.

ULTRASTRUCTURAL CYTOCHEMISTRY OF HUMAN GASTRIC CANCER: ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC OBSERVATIONS OF FIVE ORGANELLAE MARKER ENZYMES

The distribution of ALPase, ACPase, G6Pase TPPase and CCOase of gastric cancer and normal gastric epithelium were studied ultrastructurally. The results showed that normal gastric epithelium had no ALPase reaction. The reactions of ACPase, G6Pase, TPPase and CCOase were found in the corresponding organellae which were cosistent with their functions. In tubular adenocarcinoma cells, their reactions were more apparent in the corresponding organellae. Some cells of tubular adenocarcinomas showed ALPase reaction. The mucinous adenocarcinoma cells had higher ACPase and TPPase reactions. In poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma cells, the five marker enzymes showed negative or faint reactions. The biological significance and mechanisms of distribution of the five marker enzymes were discussed.

ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC OBSERVATIONS OF TEGUMENTAL DAMAGE IN ADULT SCHISTOSOMA JAPONICUM AFTER IN VIVO TREATMENT WITH LEVO-PRAZIQUANTEL

The in vivo effects of a single dose of levo-praziquantel,75 mg/kg in PEG 400,on the tegumental surface of adult S.japonicum were compared with the effects of a single dose(150mg/kg) of the mixed isomer preparation,using scanning and transmission electron microscope.Worms were recovered from

NEWS AND NOTES

Lung biopsies examined with light microscope and electron microscope were performed in 34 cases of diffuse pulmonary disease.Open lung biopsy was done in 2 cases,