The Effect of Ligands and Transducers on the Neurotensin Recep-tor 1 (NTS1) Conformational Ensemble

Using a discrete, intracellular 19F-NMR probe on Neurotensin receptor 1 (NTS1) transmembrane helix (TM) 6, we aim to understand how ligands and transducers modulate the receptors structural ensemble in solution. For apo NTS1, 19F-NMR spectra reveal an ensemble of at least three states (one inactive and two active-like) in equilibrium that exchange on the ms-s timescale. Dynamic NMR experiments reveal that these substates follow a linear three-site exchange process that is both thermodynamically and kinetically remodeled by orthosteric ligands. As previously observed in other GPCRs, the full agonist is insufficient to completely stabilize the active state. Receptor coupling to b-arrestin-1 or the C-terminal helix of Gaq, which comprises >60% of the GPCR/G protein interface surface area, abolishes the inactive substate. But whereas b-arrestin-1 selects for preexisting active-like substates, the Gaq peptide induces two new substates. Both transducer molecules promote substantial line-broadening of active states suggesting contributions from additional us-ms exchange processes. Together, our study suggests i) the NTS1 allosteric activation mechanism is alternatively dominated by induced fit or conformational selection depending on the coupled transducer, and ii) the available static structures do not represent the entire conformational ensemble observed in solution.

Laser-TIG welding of galvanized steel – numerical and experimental assessment of the effect of arc in various setups

The technology of laser-TIG welding utilizes the arc as a secondary heat source during laser welding. In TIG-leading configuration, the low-current arc precedes the beam to preheat the material. The numerical simulations representing various setups combining laser and arc were performed to study the changes of thermal cycles on the interface of thin metal sheets of overlap joint. The relations between the position of the arc towards the beam, additional heat input, and temperature gradients are discussed. The technology of laser-TIG welding of zinc-coated deep-drawing steel was experimentally applied in the same joint configuration. A good agreement between the calculated and experimental welds was achieved. The arc current less than 40 A did not cause the vaporization, neither oxidation of zinc coating on the interface surface of metal sheets. Nevertheless, the quality of laser-TIG welds was better compared to laser welds. The 40A arc current increased the heat input by about 50% and led to an almost 60% decrease in cooling rate compared to autonomous laser welding. Prolonged heating and cooling time are the key factors of improving the weld quality.

The Deformable and Strength Characteristics of Nanocomposites Improving

Mechanical properties of composites and nanocomposites have been considered in the assumptions of linear elasticity. To describe the nanoscale contact between matrices and inclusions on the interface surface, the conditions of ideal contact and non-classical Gurtin-Murdoch conditions have been implemented. The influence of shapes and relative sizes of inhomogeneities and matrices of representative volumes on the effective elasticity modulus of nanocomposites has been treated. Matrices in the form of cube and cylinder of finite sizes and inhomogeneity in the form of spheres and fibers have been considered. Finite element-based calculation models have been generalized to composites with distributed nanoinclusions of random and ordered orientation. The resulting models create the informative base for nanocomposites synthesis technologies with improved deformable and strength characteristics.

Influence of the hydraulic pump unit on the quality of the rolled surface

To ensure the competitiveness of rolled metal in the modern market, the decisive factor is the quality of the rolled surface (defects with a depth of no more than 0.2 mm are allowed without stripping). Rolling processing is a source of formation of small surface defects, most of which are obtained in the process of deformation of a continuously cast billet (hereinafter referred to as CCB, billet) at hot rolling mills in the presence of areas with non-removed furnace scale. This is the main reason for the formation of such types of surface defects as rolled scale, ripple, scale shells, which reduces the quality of the rolled surface and increases the sorting of metal with surface defects. In addition, the scale not removed from the surface of the CCB has a negative impact not only on the quality of metal products, but also on the operation of rolling equipment.One of the directions that allows to achieve high quality of the surface of long products in production conditions is the effective removal of scale from the surface of the initial billet before hot deformation. Scale removal from the surface of the workpiece is carried out on the installation of a hydraulic descaling unit, but not always a satisfactory (complete) scale removal occurs.To determine the cause of poor – quality scale removal before hot deformation, the efficiency of the hydraulic descaling unit and the state of the metal – scale interface surface were investigated.

A new upper bound for the largest growth rate of linear Rayleigh–Taylor instability

We investigate the effect of (interface) surface tensor on the linear Rayleigh–Taylor (RT) instability in stratified incompressible viscous fluids. The existence of linear RT instability solutions with largest growth rate Λ is proved under the instability condition (i.e., the surface tension coefficient ϑ is less than a threshold $\vartheta _{\mathrm{c}}$ ϑ c ) by the modified variational method of PDEs. Moreover, we find a new upper bound for Λ. In particular, we directly observe from the upper bound that Λ decreasingly converges to zero as ϑ goes from zero to the threshold $\vartheta _{\mathrm{c}}$ ϑ c .