An Ancestral Member of the Polysaccharide Lyase Family 2 Displays Endolytic Activity and Magnesium Dependence

Polysaccharide lyases (PLs) are enzymes that cleave glycosidic linkages in hexuronate polysaccharides, such as homogalacturonan (HG), using a β-elimination mechanism. Traditionally, PL activities on HG have been associated with catalytic calcium cofactors, unusually high pH optima, and arginine Brønstead bases. Recently, however, PL families that harness transition metal cofactors, utilize lysine and histidine Brønstead bases, and display more neutral pH optima have been described. One such family is PL2, which has members found primarily in phytopathogenic (e.g., Dickeya spp. and Pectobacterium spp.) or enteropathogenic (e.g., Yersinia spp.) bacterial species. PL2 is divided into two major subfamilies that are correlated with either an endolytic or exolytic activity. This study has focused on the activity of a PL2 member, which is not classified within either subfamily and helps to illuminate the origin of enzyme activities within the family. In addition, the role of Mg²⁺ as a preferential catalytic metal for an intracellular PL2 (PaePL2) is described. The implications for the relationship between catalytic metal selectivity and the cellular location of pectate lyase-mediated catalysis are discussed.     

Crack Tip Opening Angle as a Fracture Resistance Parameter to Describe Ductile Crack Extension and Arrest in Steel Pipes under Service Pressure

The angle between two element sides representing the crack tip is defined as the crack tip opening angle (CTOA). Its critical value is used as a criterion of fracture resistance for characterizing stable tearing in thin metallic materials. Various methods are used for determination of the CTOA. Optical microscopy is one of the most common methods as well as fitting of experimental load-displacement diagrams by the finite element method (DIC). Additionally, analytical analysis using the experimental load-displacement curve method (SSM) derived from the plastic hinge model of deflection in three-point bending of a ductile specimen is applied. This approach assumes a constant rotation centre distance. Values of CTOA for API 5L X65 pipe steel found by three methods—DIC, CNM, and SSM—are given. Values of CTOA given by these three methods are similar and close to 20°. A discussion on the different parameters used to characterize the fracture resistance of running cracks in a pipe under service pressure is presented. The energy of fracture at impact determined by Charpy or drop-weight tear test (DWTT) tests and the critical J energy parameter are considered as well as the yield locus after damage, cohesive zone energy, and CTOA is another approach. One notes that CTOA is assumed to be constant during stable crack extension and decreases linearly with crack length during the instable and primary phase. A numerical technique to describe a ductile running crack using the node release technique and using CTOA as the fracture resistance criterion is presented. This method is compared with three different two-curve methods (TCMs): the Battelle, high strength line pipe (HLP), and HLP-Sumitomo methods. The Batelle TCM, as the oldest method, based on Charpy energy, gives a strongly conservative prediction. Predictions by the CTOA method are close to those obtained by the HLP-Sumitomo one.     

Facilitating the genesis of functional working spaces in guided explorations

ZDM – Mathematics Education - Approximating given real-valued functions by affine functions is among the most basic activities with functions. In this study we examine two contexts in which...     

Effect of ferritic microstructure on local damage zone distance associated with fracture near notch

A deterministic approach is used to analyze cleavage failure near the notch root by application of a local fracture criterion. Micromechanism of fracture is assessed using finite element calculations. Two ferritic microstructures have been selected; they differ significantly in the carbide thickness as the fracture data scattered widely. Local damage zones are calculated from the normal stress distributions and compared with those from the notch root to the location of failure initiation. To this end, the static three-point bend Charpy V-notch specimens were used. Microfractography identifies the local damage zone distances and their locations with reference to the prevailing microstructures.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>-stress estimation by the two-parameter approach for a specimen with a V-shaped notch

In the present research, T-stress solutions are provided for a V-shaped notch in the case of surface defects in a pressurised pipeline. The V-shaped notch is analyzed with the use of the finite element method by the Castem2000 commercial software to determine the stress distribution ahead of the notch tip. The notch aspect ratio is varied. In contrast to a crack, it is found that the T-stress is not constant and depends on the distance from the notch tip. To estimate the T-stress in the case of a notch, a novel method is developed, inspired by the volumetric method approach proposed by Pluvinage. The method is based on averaging the T-stress over the effective distance ahead of the notch tip. The effective distance is determined by the point with the minimum stress gradient in the fracture process zone. This approach is successfully used to quantify the constraints of the notch-tip fields for various geometries and loading conditions. Moreover, the proposed T-stress estimation creates a basis for analyzing the crack path under mixed-mode loading from the viewpoint of the two-parameter fracture mechanics.     

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