Reconstruction of the Distal Oblique Bundle of the Interosseous Membrane with Extensor Carpi Radialis Hemitendon: A New Minimally-Invasive Technique

The main stabilizing element of the distal radioulnar joint (DRUJ) is the triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC). Secondary stabilizers include the distal oblique band (DOB), which is inconsistently found. When TFCC repair has failed or cannot be performed, DOB reconstruction is a therapeutic option. Even though distal radioulnar ligamentoplasty remains the technique of choice, recent papers show similar outcomes from both methods. We present two cases of successful DOB repair with the extensor carpi radialis longus (ECRL) hemitendon.

MAS NMR on a Red/Far-Red Photochromic Cyanobacteriochrome All2699 from Nostoc

Unlike canonical phytochromes, the GAF domain of cyanobacteriochromes (CBCRs) can bind bilins autonomously and is sufficient for functional photocycles. Despite the astonishing spectral diversity of CBCRs, the GAF1 domain of the three-GAF-domain photoreceptor all2699 from the cyanobacterium Nostoc 7120 is the only CBCR-GAF known that converts from a red-absorbing (Pr) dark state to a far-red-absorbing (Pfr) photoproduct, analogous to the more conservative phytochromes. Here we report a solid-state NMR spectroscopic study of all2699g1 in its Pr state. Conclusive NMR evidence unveils a particular stereochemical heterogeneity at the tetrahedral C31 atom, whereas the crystal structure shows exclusively the R-stereochemistry at this chiral center. Additional NMR experiments were performed on a construct comprising the GAF1 and GAF2 domains of all2699, showing a greater precision in the chromophore–protein interactions in the GAF1-2 construct. A 3D Pr structural model of the all2699g1-2 construct predicts a tongue-like region extending from the GAF2 domain (akin to canonical phytochromes) in the direction of the chromophore, shielding it from the solvent. In addition, this stabilizing element allows exclusively the R-stereochemistry for the chromophore-protein linkage. Site-directed mutagenesis performed on three conserved motifs in the hairpin-like tip confirms the interaction of the tongue region with the GAF1-bound chromophore.

The proportion of soil aggregates in dependence on the fraction composition of humic substances

Humic substances (HS) are an important stabilizing element in the formation of soil aggregates. The experiment included 6 soil types (Haplic Fluvisol, Haplic Chernozem, Cutanic Luvisol, Haplic Cambisol, Haplic Planosol, Rendzic Leptosol), each in four types of ecosystems (forest, meadow, urban, and agro-ecosystems). Soil macroaggregates were separated with the sieve (dry and wet sieve) to size fractions of net aggregates; humic acids (HA) and fulvic acids (FA) were divided into 3(4) fractions: free and bound with mobile R₂O₃, bound with Ca²⁺, and bound with mineral components and stable R₂O₃. The influence of HA and FA fractions on the proportion of dry-sieved macroaggregates (DSA) and wet-sieved macroaggregates (WSA) was different. Mainly HA bound with polyvalent cations had a positive influence. In the case of HS, their influence depends also on the components with which HA and FA are bound. WSA of the 0.5–1 mm size fraction that is an important indicator of changes in ecosystems, had a higher proportion in the ecosystems influenced by man (agro-ecosystem > urban >) than in the ecosystems close to nature (> meadow > forest ecosystems). The influence of ecosystem was reflected in the proportion of those fractions of DSA and WSA on which the effect of soil type and HS was not shown, and vice versa.

The Difference of Lamellar Structure Formation between Ti-45Al-5.4V-3.6Nb-Y Alloy and Ti-44Al-4Nb-4V-0.3Mo-Y Alloy

In this study, the effect factors on the formation of lamellar structure for Ti-45Al-5.4V-3.6Nb-Y alloy and Ti-44Al-4Nb-4V-0.3Mo-Y alloy is discussed in detail. During heat treatment in different procedures, temperature was the common factor influencing the formation of lamellar structures of Ti-45Al-5.4V-3.6Nb-Y and Ti-44Al-4Nb-4V-0.3Mo-Y alloys. In the range of 1230 °C and 1300 °C, the volume fraction of lamellar structure in Ti-45Al-5.4V-3.6Nb-Y alloy was proportional to the annealing temperature. However, between 1210 °C and 1260 °C, the volume fraction of lamellar structure in Ti-44Al-4Nb-4V-0.3Mo-Y alloy deceased when temperature was located in the α + γ + β triple phase field and then increased when temperature was in the α + β binary phase field. Besides the influence of temperature, the lamellar structure formation of Ti-44Al-4Nb-4V-0.3Mo-Y alloy was also affected by the β-phase stabilizing element.

Deletion of the short N-terminal extension in OCP reveals the main site for the FRP binding

The photoactive Orange Carotenoid Protein (OCP) plays a central role in cyanobacterial photoprotection. Photoconversion entails significant structural rearrangements in OCP required for its binding to the phycobilisome to induce excitation energy dissipation, whereas the fluorescence recovery protein (FRP) is required for OCP detachment and restoration of phycobilisome fluorescence. Although key to understanding the whole reversible mechanism of photoprotection, the FRP binding site on OCP has been representing challenge since the discovery of FRP in 2010 and is currently unknown. OCP comprises two structural domains organized into a compact basic orange form due to specific protein-chromophore and inter-domain protein-protein interactions and interacts with FRP tightly only when photoactivated. As an important stabilizing element in the orange OCP, the short αA-helix within the N-terminal extension (NTE) binds to OCP’s C-terminal domain (CTD), but unfolds upon photoactivation and interferes with phycobilisome binding. By using an alloy of biochemical and biophysical techniques, here we demonstrate that the NTE shares specific structural and functional similarities with FRP and discover the main site of OCP-FRP interactions in the OCP-CTD.

Microstructural Difference between Unreinforced Canning of TC17 Alloy and the Matrix in SiCf/TC17 Composite Fabricated by HIP Process

Continuous unidirectional SiCf/TC17 composite has been fabricated by hot isostatic pressing (HIP). After consolidation, the TC17 canning (the unreinforced ambient portion of the specimen) showed an equiaxed microstructure, whereas the matrix of SiCf/TC17 composite (deposited on the continuous SiC fibers by magnetron sputtering) exhibited a typical lamellar structure. In this work, the heat treatments under different condition, XRD, SEM and WDS have been employed to characterize and analyze the microstructural difference. The results indicated that the difference in β transus temperature (Tβ) between the canning and matrix of TC17 alloy induced the microstructural diversity. The introduction of C element (an intensive α stabilizing element) into the matrix alloy may be ascribed to the diffusion of carbon layer at the surface of SiC fiber. As a result, Tβ of matrix TC17 alloy increased to above 1000 °C, much higher than that of the canning TC17 alloy (890 °C). The investigation of microstructure difference reveals the microstructure evolution in SiCf/TC17 composite, which can provide an effective reference for following processing design.

Mechanical Properties of Ti-Mn-Al-Fe Alloys after Solution Heat Treatment

To develop a low-cost β Ti alloy, the influence of Mn in Ti-Al-Fe alloys on solution treatment behavior and mechanical properties was investigated. Although it has been known that Mn is a β stabilizing element in Ti alloys, Mn has not often been used for Ti alloys in spite of its low cost and sustainability so far, since Mn easily evaporates under low-pressure atmosphere, which is a common condition when melting Ti alloys. Therefore, general β Ti alloys include a high amount of expensive elements such as V, Mo and Nb to stabilize the β matrix phase. In this paper, Ti-8 to 10Mn-1Fe-3Al alloys (mass%) were produced by cold crucible levitation melting under atmospheric pressure to inhibit Mn loss by vaporization. As results, it was found that the β transus was lowered with increasing Mn amount, but the full β phase was obtained in solution-treated alloys over 1113 K, even in the 8%Mn alloy. Through tensile and Charpy impact tests of the full beta-phase samples, the ductility and toughness increase monotonically with increasing Mn amount from 8 to 10% in spite of the tensile strength having almost constant value. Ti-10Mn-1Fe-3Al alloy has the best mechanical properties among the alloys used in this study.