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The mechanical properties of an extruded Mg-10Gd sample, specifically designed for vascular stents, are crucial for predicting its behavior under service conditions. Achieving homogeneous stresses in the hoop direction, essential for characterizing vascular stents, poses challenges in experimental testing based on standard specimens featuring a reduced cross section. This study utilizes an elasto-visco-plastic self-consistent polycrystal model (ΔEVPSC) with the predominant twinning reorientation (PTR) scheme as a numerical tool, offering an alternative to mechanical testing. For verification, various mechanical experiments, such as uniaxial tension, compression, notched-bar tension, three-point bending, and C-ring compression tests, were conducted. The resulting force vs. displacement curves and textures were then compared with those based on the ΔEVPSC model. The computational model's significance is highlighted by simulation results demonstrating that the differential hardening along with a weak strength differential effect observed in the Mg-10Gd sample is a result of the interplay between micromechanical deformation mechanisms and deformation-induced texture evolution. Furthermore, the study highlights that incorporating the axisymmetric texture from the as-received material incorporating the measured texture gradient significantly improves predictive accuracy on the strength in the hoop direction. Ultimately, the findings suggest that the ΔEVPSC model can effectively predict the mechanical behavior resulting from loading scenarios that are impossible to realize experimentally, emphasizing its valuable contribution as a digital twin.

• Mg-10Gd rod produced for vascular stents was investigated. • CP-FEM simulation was used to validate the mechanical behavior in hoop direction. • Simulated force responses and texture were in good agreement with experiments. The mechanical properties of an extruded Mg-10Gd sample, specifically designed for vascular stents, are crucial for predicting its behavior under service conditions. Achieving homogeneous stresses in the hoop direction, essential for characterizing vascular stents, poses challenges in experimental testing based on standard specimens featuring a reduced cross section. This study utilizes an elasto-visco-plastic self-consistent polycrystal model (ΔEVPSC) with the predominant twinning reorientation (PTR) scheme as a numerical tool, offering an alternative to mechanical testing. For verification, various mechanical experiments, such as uniaxial tension, compression, notched-bar tension, three-point bending, and C-ring compression tests, were conducted. The resulting force vs. displacement curves and textures were then compared with those based on the ΔEVPSC model. The computational model's significance is highlighted by simulation results demonstrating that the differential hardening along with a weak strength differential effect observed in the Mg-10Gd sample is a result of the interplay between micromechanical deformation mechanisms and deformation-induced texture evolution. Furthermore, the study highlights that incorporating the axisymmetric texture from the as-received material incorporating the measured texture gradient significantly improves predictive accuracy on the strength in the hoop direction. Ultimately, the findings suggest that the ΔEVPSC model can effectively predict the mechanical behavior resulting from loading scenarios that are impossible to realize experimentally, emphasizing its valuable contribution as a digital twin. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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ABSTRACT The marine bacterium Vibrio alginolyticus possesses a polar flagellum driven by a sodium ion flow. The main components of the flagellar motor are the stator and rotor. The C-ring and MS-ring, which are composed of FliG and FliF, respectively, are parts of the rotor. Here, we purified an MS-ring composed of FliF–FliG fusion proteins and solved the near-atomic resolution structure of the S-ring—the upper part of the MS-ring—using cryo-electron microscopy. This is the first report of an S-ring structure from Vibrio, whereas, previously, only those from Salmonella have been reported. The Vibrio S-ring structure reveals novel features compared with that of Salmonella, such as tilt angle differences of the RBM3 domain and the β-collar region, which contribute to the vertical arrangement of the upper part of the β-collar region despite the diversity in the RBM3 domain angles. Additionally, there is a decrease of the inter-subunit interaction between RBM3 domains, which influences the efficiency of the MS-ring formation in different bacterial species. Furthermore, although the inner-surface electrostatic properties of Vibrio and Salmonella S-rings are altered, the residues potentially interacting with other flagellar components, such as FliE and FlgB, are well structurally conserved in the Vibrio S-ring. These comparisons clarified the conserved and non-conserved structural features of the MS-ring across different species.IMPORTANCEUnderstanding the structure and function of the flagellar motor in bacterial species is essential for uncovering the mechanisms underlying bacterial motility and pathogenesis. Our study revealed the structure of the Vibrio S-ring, a part of its polar flagellar motor, and highlighted its unique features compared with the well-studied Salmonella S-ring. The observed differences in the inter-subunit interactions and in the tilt angles between the Vibrio and Salmonella S-rings highlighted the species-specific variations and the mechanism for the optimization of MS-ring formation in the flagellar assembly. By concentrating on the region where the S-ring and the rod proteins interact, we uncovered conserved residues essential for the interaction. Our research contributes to the advancement of bacterial flagellar biology.

Proton-powered c-ring rotation in mitochondrial ATP synthase is crucial to convert the transmembrane protonmotive force into torque to drive the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Capitalizing on recent cryo-EM structures, we aim at a structural and energetic understanding of how functional directional rotation is achieved. We performed multi-microsecond atomistic simulations to determine the free energy profiles along the c-ring rotation angle before and after the arrival of a new proton. Our results reveal that rotation proceeds by dynamic sliding of the ring over the a-subunit surface, during which interactions with conserved polar residues stabilize distinct intermediates. Ordered water chains line up for a Grotthuss-type proton transfer in one of these intermediates. After proton transfer, a high barrier prevents backward rotation and an overall drop in free energy favors forward rotation, ensuring the directionality of c-ring rotation required for the thermodynamically disfavored ATP synthesis. The essential arginine of the a-subunit stabilizes the rotated configuration through a salt bridge with the c-ring. Overall, we describe a complete mechanism for the rotation step of the ATP synthase rotor, thereby illuminating a process critical to all life at atomic resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slender cylindrical structures such as cables and signal poles often experience vortex-induced vibrations. Recently, scholars have developed a novel mitigating measure by equipping a C-ring on the structures, where the C-ring is always behind the cylinder by tail rudder, but the mitigation mechanism is still unclear. To this end, the OpenFOAM©, an open source software, has been adopted in this study to carry out the large-eddy simulations (LES) to investigate the influence of a C-ring on the aerodynamic forces, surface pressure, and flow around a circular cylinder at Re = 1000, where the dynamic k -equation LES model is employed. Although the Re is far smaller than that in the reality, the aerodynamic characteristics and flow is also representative and worth studying in this subcritical range. Furthermore, to determine the appropriate radii (R) and arc lengths (θ) of the C-ring, various values of R (0.7 D, 0.8 D, 0.9 D, and 1.0 D, where D is diameter of the cylinder) and θ (60°, 90°, 120°, 150°, and 180°) are considered and studied herein. The results indicate that a C-ring can reduce the SD of the lift coefficient by 40%–90% compared to that of a bare cylinder, whereas it has an unremarkable effect on the mean drag coefficient. The C-ring also has a significant influence on the fluctuating pressure coefficients, resulting in a small SD of the fluctuating lift. The spanwise flow on the leeward side of the cylinder under the influence of C-rings with different radii and arc lengths can be categorized into three modes. Meanwhile, the C-ring mitigates wind-induced vibrations by enhancing the spanwise flow on the leeward side of the cylinder. Finally, the appropriate parameters for the C-ring are recommended as follows: R = 0.7 D and θ = 180°; R = 0.8 D and θ = 150°; R = 0.9 D and θ = 150°; R = 1.0 D and θ = 120°, 150°. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the pursuit of more efficient gas turbine engines, components are required to operate for longer times at elevated temperatures. This increased time in service, together with a complex loading regime, can expose the material to environmental attack. This work has demonstrated that the interaction of stress, NaCl and a sulphur-containing environment is critical to cause crack initiation in the early stages of the exposure and accelerated corrosion rates in CMSX-4 at 550°C. The effect of having small concentrations of moisture in the gaseous environment or as water crystallisation in the salt is still to be investigated. A working hypothesis is that the interaction of alkali chlorides with a sulphur-containing atmosphere is the trigger to a self-sustaining cycle where metal chloride formation, vaporisation and oxidation lead to high amounts of hydrogen injection in a rapid manner and, therefore, hydrogen embrittlement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper; we will study the relationship between simple submodules of M and the C-ring. A ring R is called C-ring if every torsion module M over R has simple submodules. We investigated that if M is a torsion module over a semisimple ring; so, R is C-ring. Also, we study C-ring when R is Noetherian and T(M) = M such that any direct sum of modules with (SIP) has (SSP) implies that R is C- ring. We proved that if M is a torsion module and M = W + W′, this means R is C-ring where W and W′ are direct sum of M. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The c subunits, which constitute the c‐ring apparatus of the F1FO‐ATPase, could be the main components of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). The well‐known modulator of the mPTP formation and opening is the cyclophilin D (CyPD), a peptidyl‐prolyl cis‐trans isomerase. On the loop, which connects the two hairpin α‐helix of c subunit, is present the unique proline residue (Pro40) that could be a biological target of CyPD. Indeed, the proline cis‐trans isomerization might provide the switch that interconverts the open/closed states of the pore by pulling out the c‐ring lipid plug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first FDA approved, MDR-TB inhibitory drug bedaquiline (BDQ), entraps the c-ring of the proton-translocating F 0 region of enzyme ATP synthase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis , thus obstructing successive ATP production. Present-day BDQ-resistance has been associated with cardiotoxicity and mutation(s) in the atpE gene encoding the c subunit of ATP synthase (ATPc) generating five distinct ATPc mutants: Ala63→Pro, Ile66→Met, Asp28→Gly, Asp28→Val and Glu61→Asp. We created three discrete libraries, first by repurposing bedaquiline via scaffold hopping approach, second one having natural plant compounds and the third being experimentally derived analogues of BDQ to identify one drug candidate that can inhibit ATPc activity more efficiently with less toxic properties. For this purpose, we adopted techniques like molecular dynamics simulation, virtual screening, PCA, DCCM, binding affinity analysis to gauge structure-function relationship of the L136-ATPc complexes. L136 was found to induce a distinguishable conformational change in the bound ATPc which captivated the c 9 rotor ring. L136 displays a binding free energy of -57.294, -59.027, -57.273, -58.726, -55.889 and -58.651 kcal/mol for ATPc_WT and the five respective mutants. The pIC 50 value for the L136 ligand for the same proteins was unveiled to be 6.760, 7.285, 6.898, 7.222, 6.987 and 7.687. Moreover, L136 exhibited a strong ADMET profile. Furthermore, we discovered that the change in the hydrophobic platform in ATPc mutants hinders BDQ binding, which is overcome by L136, ensuring efficient binding and providing an assessment of L136's mechanism of ATPc inhibition. L136 provides a scope for in vivo test for future clinical drug trials.

Terahertz switch is one of the key components of future communication, radar, and imaging systems. Limited by the strong electromagnetic coupling in subwavelength scale, the traditional terahertz switch is difficult to meet the increasing application requirements. In this paper, a parallel topology terahertz meta-chip switch based on the combination of equivalent circuit theory and electromagnetic coupling is proposed. The meta-chip is realized by adjusting the density of two-dimensional electron gas of InP-HEMT, which converts the electromagnetic coupling between the microstructure and microstrips. By using the 90 nm gate length InP-HEMT process, a C-ring loaded meta-chip is fabricated and tested in this paper. The results show an insertion loss lower than 1 dB with a 10 dB switching ratio, which is 20% higher than that without C-ring while ensuring the rather low insertion loss. It shows that the presented mechanism has positive significance for the design of terahertz band functional devices.

C-Ring oxidized estrone acetate derivatives as antiproliferative agents were prepared and tested against five cancer cell lines by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Flow cytometry assays to evaluate cell viability and modifications in cell cycle phases and molecular docking research against estrogen receptor α, steroid sulfatase, and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 were performed. 9α-Hydroxy,11β-nitrooxyestrone acetate was the most cytotoxic molecule against hormone-dependent cancer cells. Furthermore, flow cytometry experiments revealed that this 9α-hydroxy,11β-nitrooxy derivative markedly reduced HepaRG cells viability (~92%) after 24 h of treatment. However, 9α-hydroxyestrone acetate led to selective inhibition of HepaRG cells growth, inducing a G0/G1 cycle arrest, and did not originate a proliferation effect on T47-D cancer cells. Docking studies estimated a generally lower affinity of these compounds to estrogen receptor α than predicted for estrone and 17β-estradiol. Therefore, this structural modification can be of interest to develop new anticancer estrane derivatives devoid of estrogenic action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The marine bacterium Vibrio alginolyticus possesses a polar flagellum driven by a sodium ion flow. The main components of the flagellar motor are the stator and rotor. The C-ring and MS-ring, which are composed of FliG and FliF, respectively, are parts of the rotor. Here, we purified an MS-ring composed of FliF-FliG fusion proteins and solved the near-atomic resolution structure of the S-ring-the upper part of the MS-ring-using cryo-electron microscopy. This is the first report of an S-ring structure from Vibrio , whereas, previously, only those from Salmonella have been reported. The Vibrio S-ring structure reveals novel features compared with that of Salmonella , such as tilt angle differences of the RBM3 domain and the β-collar region, which contribute to the vertical arrangement of the upper part of the β-collar region despite the diversity in the RBM3 domain angles. Additionally, there is a decrease of the inter-subunit interaction between RBM3 domains, which influences the efficiency of the MS-ring formation in different bacterial species. Furthermore, although the inner-surface electrostatic properties of Vibrio and Salmonella S-rings are altered, the residues potentially interacting with other flagellar components, such as FliE and FlgB, are well structurally conserved in the Vibrio S-ring. These comparisons clarified the conserved and non-conserved structural features of the MS-ring across different species.IMPORTANCEUnderstanding the structure and function of the flagellar motor in bacterial species is essential for uncovering the mechanisms underlying bacterial motility and pathogenesis. Our study revealed the structure of the Vibrio S-ring, a part of its polar flagellar motor, and highlighted its unique features compared with the well-studied Salmonella S-ring. The observed differences in the inter-subunit interactions and in the tilt angles between the Vibrio and Salmonella S-rings highlighted the species-specific variations and the mechanism for the optimization of MS-ring formation in the flagellar assembly. By concentrating on the region where the S-ring and the rod proteins interact, we uncovered conserved residues essential for the interaction. Our research contributes to the advancement of bacterial flagellar biology., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Stress corrosion cracking test methods of corrosion‐resistant alloys are reviewed. The interest to write a review on this topic was drawn by demands for oil country tubular goods applicable in deep wells with high pressures, high temperatures, and the presence of H2S, where stress corrosion cracking is one of the most critical failure modes. All conventional methods for determining the stress corrosion cracking resistance of an alloy, mainly slow strain rate testing, constant load testing (tensile, 4‐PB), constant strain testing (U‐bend, C‐ring), and fracture mechanics (double cantilever beam sample) are covered. Considering the variety of testing solutions, the field of search is narrowed to hot (up to 250°C) aqueous chloride solutions with dissolved H2S and CO2 gases under high pressure (up to 200 bar total pressure). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce the concept of wsa-supplements and investigate the objects of the class of short exact sequences determined by wsa-supplement submodules, where a submodule U of a module M is called a wsa-supplement in M if there is a submodule V of M with U+V=M and U∩V is weakly semiartinian. We prove that a module M is weakly semiartinian if and only if every submodule of M is a wsa-supplement in M. We introduce CC-rings as a generalization of C-rings and show that a ring is a right CC-ring if and only if every singular right module has a crumbling submodule. The class of all short exact sequences determined by wsa-supplement submodules is shown to be a proper class which is both injectively and co-injectively generated. We investigate the homological objects of this proper class along with its relation to CC-rings.

C-Ring oxidized estrone acetate derivatives as antiproliferative agents were prepared and tested against five cancer cell lines by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. Flow cytometry assays to evaluate cell viability and modifications in cell cycle phases and molecular docking research against estrogen receptor α, steroid sulfatase, and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 were performed. 9α-Hydroxy,11β-nitrooxyestrone acetate was the most cytotoxic molecule against hormone-dependent cancer cells. Furthermore, flow cytometry experiments revealed that this 9α-hydroxy,11β-nitrooxy derivative markedly reduced HepaRG cells viability (~92%) after 24 h of treatment. However, 9α-hydroxyestrone acetate led to selective inhibition of HepaRG cells growth, inducing a G0/G1 cycle arrest, and did not originate a proliferation effect on T47-D cancer cells. Docking studies estimated a generally lower affinity of these compounds to estrogen receptor α than predicted for estrone and 17β-estradiol. Therefore, this structural modification can be of interest to develop new anticancer estrane derivatives devoid of estrogenic action.

The bolted flanged joint with metal C-rings is commonly applied to long-term services for several decades. It has been affirmed that the produced stress relaxation can cause the sealing load to continuously decay during the long-time service, which is unfavorable for the sealing performance. This paper presents a finite element (FE) method to investigate the stress relaxation characteristics of the bolted flanged joint with a metal C-ring. The Nonlinear Isotropic Hardening constitutive model is used to describe the rate independent plasticity of all the materials, and the Strain Hardening equation is used as the creep constitutive equation. In the FE model, the bolted flanged joint is considered as a whole, and the stress relaxations of all the components including of the gaskets, the bolts and the flanges are calculated by the unitized method. The method can be adopted to investigate the stress relaxation characteristic of the bolted flanged joint at any time, and estimate the active time when the critical sealing load has been defined. By comparison with the performed experiments, the FE method was verified. Based on the proposed FE model, some simulation results are presented and discussed, which mainly correspond with the relations of some design parameters of the metal C-ring with the stress relaxation of the bolted flanged joint. It explains how the stress relaxation characteristic is influenced by these parameters, which is helpful for the design, assemblage, and maintenance of the bolted flanged joint with long-term service requirements. • The stress relaxation of the bolted flanged joint is unfavorable for the sealing performance of the pressure vessel. • A FE method is developed to investigate the stress relaxation characteristics of the bolted flanged joint. • The developed FE model is novel, and the stress relaxations of all the components are calculated as a whole. • The model was verified by the performed experiments. • The model provides a reliable evaluation on the stress relaxation characteristics of the bolted flanged joint. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

( S )-Blebbistatin is a micromolar myosin II ATPase inhibitor that is extensively used in research. In search of analogs with improved potency, we have synthesized for the first time C-ring modified analogs. We introduced hydroxymethyl or allyloxymethyl functionalities in search of additional favorable interactions and a more optimal filling of the binding pocket. Unfortunately, the resulting compounds did not significantly inhibit the ATPase activity of rabbit skeletal-muscle myosin II. This and earlier reports suggest that rational design of potent myosin II inhibitors based on the architecture of the blebbistatin binding pocket is an ineffective strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of gas turbines to increase fuel efficiency is resulting in progressively higher operating temperatures in the under platform regions of the blades. These regions have traditionally been considered low risk areas. However, higher metal temperatures combined with stresses and the deposition of contaminants from the cooling air system may result in complex degradation mechanisms. Static stress corrosion testing has been conducted on C-ring specimens at a range of stresses in a hot corrosion environment. Cracks were observed in C-rings after exposure times greater than 100 h. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) systems were used to image cracks and characterise deposits to improve understanding of the mechanism. Finite element analysis (FEA) has been used to model the stress intensity under test conditions. CMSX-4 specimens subject to static stresses combined with hot corrosion demonstrated significant material degradation (crack initiation and propagation) suggesting a combined stress corrosion mechanism resulting in cracking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: The ATP yield of plant respiration (ATP/hexose unit respired) quantitatively links active heterotrophic processes with substrate consumption. Despite its importance, plant respiratory ATP yield is uncertain. The aim here was to integrate current knowledge of cellular mechanisms with inferences required to fill knowledge gaps to generate a contemporary estimate of respiratory ATP yield and identify important unknowns., Method: A numerical balance sheet model combining respiratory carbon metabolism and electron transport pathways with uses of the resulting transmembrane electrochemical proton gradient was created and parameterized for healthy, non-photosynthesizing plant cells catabolizing sucrose or starch to produce cytosolic ATP., Key Results: Mechanistically, the number of c subunits in the mitochondrial ATP synthase Fo sector c-ring, which is unquantified in plants, affects ATP yield. A value of 10 was (justifiably) used in the model, in which case respiration of sucrose potentially yields about 27.5 ATP/hexose (0.5 ATP/hexose more from starch). Actual ATP yield often will be smaller than its potential due to bypasses of energy-conserving reactions in the respiratory chain, even in unstressed plants. Notably, all else being optimal, if 25 % of respiratory O2 uptake is via the alternative oxidase - a typically observed fraction - ATP yield falls 15 % below its potential., Conclusions: Plant respiratory ATP yield is smaller than often assumed (certainly less than older textbook values of 36-38 ATP/hexose) leading to underestimation of active-process substrate requirements. This hinders understanding of ecological/evolutionary trade-offs between competing active processes and assessments of crop growth gains possible through bioengineering of processes that consume ATP. Determining the plant mitochondrial ATP synthase c-ring size, the degree of any minimally required (useful) bypasses of energy-conserving reactions in the respiratory chain, and the magnitude of any 'leaks' in the inner mitochondrial membrane are key research needs., (© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

The number and location of flagella, bacterial organelles of locomotion, are species specific and appear in regular patterns that represent one of the earliest taxonomic criteria in microbiology. However, the mechanisms that reproducibly establish these patterns during each round of cell division are poorly understood. FlhG (previously YlxH) is a major determinant for a variety of flagellation patterns. Here, we show that FlhG is a structural homolog of the ATPase MinD, which serves in cell-division site determination. Like MinD, FlhG forms homodimers that are dependent on ATP and lipids. It interacts with a complex of the flagellar C-ring proteins FliM and FliY (also FliN) in the Gram-positive, peritrichousflagellated Bacillus subtilis and the Gram-negative, polar-flagellated Shewanella putrefaciens. FlhG interacts with FliM/FliY in a nucleotide-independent manner and activates FliM/FliY to assemble with the C-ring protein FliG in vitro. FlhG-driven assembly of the FliM/FliY/FliG complex is strongly enhanced by ATP and lipids. The protein shows a highly dynamic subcellular distribution between cytoplasm and flagellar basal bodies, suggesting that FlhG effects flagellar location and number during assembly of the C-ring. We describe the molecular evolution of a MinD-like ATPase into a flagellation pattern effector and suggest that the underappreciated structural diversity of the C-ring proteins might contribute to the formation of different flagellation patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The c subunits, which constitute the c-ring apparatus of the F 1 F O -ATPase, could be the main components of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). The well-known modulator of the mPTP formation and opening is the cyclophilin D (CyPD), a peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase. On the loop, which connects the two hairpin α-helix of c subunit, is present the unique proline residue (Pro 40 ) that could be a biological target of CyPD. Indeed, the proline cis-trans isomerization might provide the switch that interconverts the open/closed states of the pore by pulling out the c-ring lipid plug., (© 2022 The Author. Proteins: Structure, Function, and Bioinformatics published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

The polar flagellum of Vibrio alginolyticus is driven by sodium ion flux via a stator complex, composed of PomA and PomB, across the cell membrane. The interaction between PomA and the rotor component FliG is believed to generate torque required for flagellar rotation. Previous research reported that a GFP-fused FliG retained function in the Vibrio flagellar motor. In this study, we found that N-terminal or C-terminal fusion of GFP has different effects on both torque generation and the switching frequency of the direction of flagellar motor rotation. We could detect the GFP-fused FliG in the basal-body (rotor) fraction although its association with the basal body was less stable than that of intact FliG. Furthermore, the fusion of GFP to the C-terminus of FliG, which is believed to be directly involved in torque generation, resulted in very slow motility and prohibited the directional change of motor rotation. On the other hand, the fusion of GFP to the N-terminus of FliG conferred almost the same swimming speed as intact FliG. These results are consistent with the premise that the Cterminal domain of FliG is directly involved in torque generation and the GFP fusions are useful to analyze the functions of various domains of FliG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This review focuses on the ATP synthases of alkaliphilic bacteria and, in particular, those that successfully overcome the bioenergetic challenges of achieving robust H+-coupled ATP synthesis at external pH values >10. At such pH values the protonmotive force, which is posited to provide the energetic driving force for ATP synthesis, is too low to account for the ATP synthesis observed. The protonmotive force is lowered at a very high pH by the need to maintain a cytoplasmic pH well below the pH outside, which results in an energetically adverse pH gradient. Several anticipated solutions to this bioenergetic conundrum have been ruled out. Although the transmembrane sodium motive force is high under alkaline conditions, respiratory alkaliphilic bacteria do not use Na+- instead of H+-coupled ATP synthases. Nor do they offset the adverse pH gradient with a compensatory increase in the transmembrane electrical potential component of the protonmotive force. Moreover, studies of ATP synthase rotors indicate that alkaliphiles cannot fully resolve the energetic problem by using an ATP synthase with a large number of c-subunits in the synthase rotor ring. Increased attention now focuses on delocalized gradients near the membrane surface and H+ transfers to ATP synthases via membrane-associated microcircuits between the H+ pumping complexes and synthases. Microcircuits likely depend upon proximity of pumps and synthases, specific membrane properties and specific adaptations of the participating enzyme complexes. ATP synthesis in alkaliphiles depends upon alkaliphile-specific adaptations of the ATP synthase and there is also evidence for alkaliphile-specific adaptations of respiratory chain components. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The main purpose of this paper is to study when a ( T, I, D) construction ring is a C-ring in the sense of Echi (Port Math 50:277–295, 1993) where I is not necessarily a maximal ideal of T. This study allows us to generalize some results proved in Echi (Port Math 50:13–23, 1994) and to give new examples of C-rings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a mathematical method for identifying, separating and quantifying the 3D significant distortions. Measurement of a gas quenched C-ring type sample is performed by a Coordinate Measuring Machine (CMM). Quenching simulation is done with the commercial software Forge 2008 TTT®. After comparisons, we notice that the distortions and their tendencies are the same but not exactly the amplitudes. We only focus on distortions which have a physical origin, like the pincers opening, often observed in the literature. As a first explanation, we underline the role of phase transformations and volume dilatation of the steel during quenching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rotational mechanism of ATP synthases requires a unique interface between the stator a subunit and the rotating c-ring to accommodate stability and smooth rotation simultaneously. The recently published c-ring crystal structure of the ATP synthase of Ilyobacter tartaricus represents the conformation in the absence of subunit a. However, in order to understand the dynamic structural processes during ion translocation, studies in the presence of subunit a are required. Here, by intersubunit Cys–Cys cross-linking, the relative topography of the interacting helical faces of subunits a and c from the I. tartaricus ATP synthase has been mapped. According to these data, the essential stator arginine ( aR226) is located between the c-ring binding pocket and the cytoplasm. Furthermore, the spatially vicinal residues cT67C and cG68C in the isolated c-ring structure yielded largely asymmetric cross-linking products with aN230C of subunit a, suggesting a small, but significant conformational change of binding-site residues upon contact with subunit a. The conformational change was dependent on the positive charge of the stator arginine or the aR226H substitution. Energy-minimization calculations revealed possible modes for the interaction between the stator arginine and the c-ring. These biochemical results and structural restraints support a model in which the stator arginine operates as a pendulum, moving in and out of the binding pocket as the c-ring rotates along the interface with subunit a. This mechanism allows efficient interaction between subunit a and the c-ring and simultaneously allows almost frictionless movement against each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A module M is said to satisfy the C11 condition if every submodule of M has a (i.e., at least one) complement which is a direct summand. It is known that the C1 condition implies the C11 condition and that the class of C11-modules is closed under direct sums but not under direct summands. We show that if M = M1 ⊕ M2, where M has C11 and M1 is a fully invariant submodule of M, then both M1 and M2 are C11-modules. Moreover, the C11 condition is shown to be closed under formation of the ring of column finite matrices of size Γ, the ring of m-by-m upper triangular matrices and right essential overrings. For a module M, we also show that all essential extensions of M satisfying C11 are essential extensions of C11-modules constructed from M and certain subsets of idempotent elements of the ring of endomorphisms of the injective hull of M. Finally, we prove that if M is a C11-module, then so is its rational hull. Examples are provided to illustrate and delimit the theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An e-ring is a pair (R, E) consisting of an associative ring R with unity l together with a subset E ⊆ R of elements, called eflects, with properties suggested by the so-called effect operators on a Hilbert space. Examples are given in which R is a unital C*-algebra, the ring of finite elements in an ordered field, the ring of continuous functions on a compact Hausdorff space, or the ring of measurable functions on a Borel space. We review the basic facts about e-rings and give a structure theorem for the case in which E satisfies the descending chain condition. Motivated by the notion of sequential observation of effects in quantum mechanics, we study the existence and uniqueness of square roots in an e-ring, we apply some of the same techniques to give conditions for the existence of multiplicative inverses, and we make contact with the theory of Jordan algebras. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A theory of monoids in the category of bicomodules of a coalgebra C or C-rings is developed. This can be viewed as a dual version of the coring theory. The notion of a matrix ring context consisting of two bicomodules and two maps is introduced and the corresponding example of a C-ring (termed a matrix C -ring) is constructed. It is shown that a matrix ring context can be associated to any bicomodule which is a one-sided quasi-finite injector. Based on this, the notion of a Galois module is introduced and the structure theorem, generalising Schneider’s Theorem II [Schneider, Isr. J. Math., 72:167–195, 1990], is proven. This is then applied to the C-ring associated to a weak entwining structure and a structure theorem for a weak A-Galois coextension is derived. The theory of matrix ring contexts for a firm coalgebra (or infinite matrix ring contexts) is outlined. A Galois connection associated to a matrix C-ring is constructed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this investigation is to evaluate a new method of testing thick, C-shaped rings for determining the radial tensile strength of thick. filament-wound composite structures such as flywheel rotors. The proposed method of loading C-rings with a hydraulic jack is simpler than previously used loading methods and is shown to be quite tolerant of eccentricity of the jack. It is shown by sectioning a C-ring that residual stresses in the specimen are negligible. Based on a detailed stress analysis and post-failure inspections of appropriately dimensioned specimens, it is concluded that failure is caused by radial tensile stress at a single critical location in the specimen. The radial tensile strengths of four candidate flywheel rotor materials measured with C-rings were generally less than strengths measured with flexure specimens. The simplicity of specimen preparation and testing by the proposed method, in conjunction with promising early results, suggests that the C-ring test method is suitable for widespread use and possible standardization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discrepancies observed in the measured strains and those calculated on the basis of a plane-stress elasticity solution for a thick, polar--orthotropic, C-shaped ring with end loading are investigated by finite element analysis (FEA). Thick C-rings are used as test specimens for determining the tensile radial strength of composite flywheel rotors. The C-ring is modeled in three dimensions and the strains predicted on the surface of the specimen are compared with the measured strains to validate the model. The discrepancies in the strains and stresses predicted by the plane-stress elasticity and 3-D finite element approaches are attributed to the Poisson's effect, which gives rise to a significant variation of stresses and strains across the axial thickness. The discrepancies depend on the geometry of the specimen. Therefore, the effects of the geometric dimensions on the variation of stresses are studied using the 3-D FEA and a guideline is proposed for selecting a C-ring specimen geometry to have approximately uniform stresses through the axial thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To develop guidelines for using C-ring specimens for evaluating the fracture strength of ceramics in tubular form, a series of finite-element analysis (FEA) calculations was performed. These calculations focused on the ranges of specimen dimensions and loading distributions required to maintain a uniaxial stress state within the C-ring specimen under diametral loading. Results of the FEA calculations indicated that the degree of uniaxiality of the C-ring stress state could be described completely by a combination of the width-to-thickness ratio (b/t) and the inner radius-to-outer radius ratio (ri/ro). It was also found that a reasonably wide range of geometries can be used with accuracy to extract fracture strength design data, provided b/t does not get too large or ri/ro too low. Given the potential statistical distribution of flaws in most ceramics, there is also cause for concern when b/t → 0 or ri/ro → 1 as this implies a small sample of flaws in the critical tensile stress region. Calculations also indicated that the uniaxiality of the C-ring stress state followed the expected 1/ν, dependence so that the behaviors of different materials can be surmised easily from the current results calculated for ν = 0.155. As expected, and in contrast to O-ring specimens, the loading distribution between the C-ring surface and platum do not seem to have any effect on the stress state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Several C-ring modified analogues of a potent antileukemic diterpene, triptolide (1), were synthesized and their structure–activity relationships were studied. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Dark teas are prepared by a microbial fermentation process. Flavan-3-ol B-ring fission analogues (FBRFAs) are some of the key bioactive constituents that characterize dark teas. The precursors and the synthetic mechanism involved in the formation of FBRFAs are not known. Using a unique solid-state fermentation system with β-cyclodextrin inclusion complexation as well as targeted chromatographic isolation, spectroscopic identification, and Feature-based Molecular Networking on the Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking web platform, we reveal that dihydromyricetin and the FBRFAs, including teadenol A and fuzhuanin A, are derived from epigallocatechin gallate upon exposure to fungal strains isolated from Fuzhuan brick tea. In particular, the strains from subphylum Pezizomycotina were key drivers for these B-/C-ring oxidation transformations. These are the same transformations seen during the fermentation process of dark teas. These discoveries set the stage to enrich dark teas and other food products for these health-promoting constituents.