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The surface tension and density of bi-distilled water, water salt solution and salt solutions of the DNA, irradiated by non-thermal millimeter electromagnetic waves with the frequencies 64.5 GHz, 50.3 GHz and 48.3 GHz with modulation 1 Hz and 16 Hz are investigated. The measurements of test samples show that due to irradiation the surface tension does not change. The densities of water salt solution and the salt solutions of the DNA increase under irradiation at the frequencies 64.5 GHz and 50.3 GHz with modulation 1 Hz. When modulated with a frequency of 16 Hz, the density increases at a carrier frequency of 64.5 GHz and decreases at a carrier frequency of 50.3 GHz which coincides with the resonant frequencies of oscillations of water hexagonal structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examine how the position of a magnetizable body in a magnetic fluid droplet resting on a horizontal plane can be controlled by the tilt of an external uniform magnetic field. The paper presents experiments that demonstrate the levitation of the body in a drop and uses an analytical model in which the results are obtained numerically. The impact of problem parameters, such as intensity, direction of the magnetic field, and drop volume, on the levitation height of the body is studied both theoretically and experimentally. It is discovered that there is a set of parameter values required to levitate the body. Theoretical results are in qualitative agreement with the experimentally observed levitation heights. • Magnetizable bodies of different shapes can levitate in an MF drop in a tilted field. • The body position could be controlled by tuning tilt angle and strength of the field. • There is a set of parameter values required to levitate the ball in an MF drop. • Theoretical results are in qualitative agreement with experimental data. • There is no hysteresis of the ball position when the field is tilted back and forth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of a uniform applied tilted magnetic field on the deformation of a magnetic fluid droplet (resting on a horizontal plane) with an immersed magnetizable ball is investigated numerically and compared with experimental data. It is shown that the ball takes its equilibrium position in the droplet at a certain levitation height above the plane under a uniform tilted field. A 3D mathematical model is used to predict the deformation of the droplet under uniform fields of different directions and magnitudes. The calculated drop shapes are in good agreement with the experimental ones, especially for small volumes and high magnetic fields. • MF drop shapes with a magnetizable ball are studied in a tilted uniform magnetic field. • The paper presents experiments that demonstrate the shapes of the MF surface. • The paper also uses an analytical model in which the results are obtained numerically. • Theoretical results are in good qualitative agreement with experimental drop shapes. • The best fit is achieved with small volumes and high fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Nowadays, it is well known that the gut bacterial microbiome is crucially important for the adaptation of multicellular organisms to their environment. In this study, we aimed to identify the differences between the bacteriomes of two closely related marine snail species living in sympatry but feeding in different micro-niches. Although there were significant interspecies differences detected during the summer season, we did not observe this dissimilarity during the cold season. Moreover, the diversity of bacterial communities associated with snails decreased in autumn. We suggest that bacteria predominantly associated with one species degrade its toxic feeding substrate. These results help to understand the role of bacteriomes in the adaptation and divergence of closely related species. Symbiotic microorganisms may provide their hosts with abilities critical to their occupation of microhabitats. Gut (intestinal) bacterial communities aid animals to digest substrates that are either innutritious or toxic, as well as support their development and physiology. The role of microbial communities associated with sibling species in the hosts' adaptation remains largely unexplored. In this study, we examined the composition and plasticity of the bacteriomes in two sibling intertidal gastropod species, Littorina fabalis and L. obtusata, which are sympatric but differ in microhabitats. We applied 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding and shotgun sequencing to describe associated microbial communities and their spatial and temporal variation. A significant drop in the intestinal bacteriome diversity was revealed during the cold season, which may reflect temperature-related metabolic shifts and changes in snail behavior. Importantly, there were significant interspecies differences in the gut bacteriome composition in summer but not in autumn. The genera Vibrio, Aliivibrio, Moritella and Planktotalea were found to be predominantly associated with L. fabalis, while Granulosicoccus, Octadecabacter, Colwellia, Pseudomonas, Pseudoalteromonas and Maribacter were found to be mostly associated with L. obtusata. Based on these preferential associations, we analyzed the metabolic pathways' enrichment. We hypothesized that the L. obtusata gut bacteriome contributes to decomposing algae and detoxifying polyphenols produced by fucoids. Thus, differences in the sets of associated bacteria may equip their closely phylogenetically related hosts with a unique ability to occupy specific micro-niches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper a new non-linear error detection code with three non-linear check bits and an even number of k information bits is introduced. The proposed code may be considered as a modified parity code. The parity bit is split into two non-linear check bits and a third non-linear check bit is added. All odd errors are detected with certainty. All (also even) errors of arbitrary multiplicity for which at least one of the information bits is correct are detected with a probability greater than or equal to 1/2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extreme aggressiveness and lethality of many cancer types appeal to the problem of the development of new-generation treatment strategies based on smart materials with a mechanism of action that differs from standard treatment approaches. The targeted delivery of nanoparticles to specific cancer cell receptors is believed to be such a strategy; however, there are no targeted nano-drugs that have successfully completed clinical trials to date. To meet the challenge, we designed an alternative way to eliminate tumors in vivo. Here, we show for the first time that the targeting of lectin-equipped polymer nanoparticles to the glycosylation profile of cancer cells, followed by photodynamic therapy (PDT), is a promising strategy for the treatment of aggressive tumors. We synthesized polymer nanoparticles loaded with magnetite and a PDT agent, IR775 dye (mPLGA/IR775). The magnetite incorporation into the PLGA particle structure allows for the quantitative tracking of their accumulation in different organs and the performing of magnetic-assisted delivery, while IR775 makes fluorescent in vivo bioimaging as well as light-induced PDT possible, thus realizing the theranostics concept. To equip PLGA nanoparticles with targeting modality, the particles were conjugated with lectins of different origins, and the flow cytometry screening revealed that the most effective candidate for breast cancer cell labeling is ConA, a lectin from Canavalia ensiformis. In vivo experiments showed that after i.v. administration, mPLGA/IR775–ConA nanoparticles efficiently accumulated in the allograft tumors under the external magnetic field; produced a bright fluorescent signal for in vivo bioimaging; and led to 100% tumor growth inhibition after the single session of PDT, even for large solid tumors of more than 200 mm3 in BALB/c mice. The obtained results indicate that the mPLGA/IR775 nanostructure has great potential to become a highly effective oncotheranostic agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The equilibrium of a spherical magnetizable body in a magnetic fluid drop resting on a horizontal plane in a uniform horizontal magnetic field is studied experimentally and theoretically. The dependences of the ball levitation height on the volume of the magnetic fluid and on the applied magnetic field are obtained numerically. In contrast to a vertical field in which noticeable levitation of a body has been predicted theoretically and confirmed experimentally, in a horizontal field, the theory predicts only a small lift of the ball, which is confirmed experimentally (levitation of the body has not been observed). The case of a tilted magnetic field is also investigated experimentally. It is found that the ball can levitate not only in a vertical, but also in a tilted magnetic field (in a certain range of tilt angles). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of enhanced permeability and retention is often not sufficient for highly effective cancer therapy with nanoparticles, and the development of active targeted drug delivery systems based on nanoparticles is probably the main direction of modern cancer medicine. To meet the challenge, we developed polymer PLGA nanoparticles loaded with fluorescent photosensitive xanthene dye, Rose Bengal, and decorated with HER2-recognizing artificial scaffold protein, affibody ZHER2:342. The obtained 170 nm PLGA nanoparticles possess both fluorescent and photosensitive properties. Namely, under irradiation with the green light of 540 nm nanoparticles, they produced reactive oxygen species leading to cancer cell death. The chemical conjugation of PLGA with anti-HER2 affibody resulted in the selective binding of nanoparticles only to HER2-overexpressing cancer cells. HER2 is a receptor tyrosine kinase that belongs to the EGFR/ERbB family and is overexpressed in 30% of breast cancers, thus serving as a clinically relevant oncomarker. However, the standard targeting molecules such as full-size antibodies possess serious drawbacks, such as high immunogenicity and the need for mammalian cell production. We believe that the developed affibody-decorated targeted photosensitive PLGA nanoparticles will provide new solutions for ongoing problems in cancer diagnostics and treatment, as well in cancer theranostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid multimodal nanoparticles, applicable simultaneously to the noninvasive imaging and therapeutic treatment, are highly demanded for clinical use. Here, Fe-Au core-satellite nanoparticles prepared by the method of pulsed laser ablation in liquids were evaluated as dual magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) contrast agents and as sensitizers for laser-induced hyperthermia of cancer cells. The biocompatibility of Fe-Au nanoparticles was improved by coating with polyacrylic acid, which provided excellent colloidal stability of nanoparticles with highly negative ζ-potential in water (−38 ± 7 mV) and retained hydrodynamic size (88 ± 20 nm) in a physiological environment. The ferromagnetic iron cores offered great contrast in MRI images with r2 = 11.8 ± 0.8 mM−1 s−1 (at 1 T), while Au satellites showed X-ray attenuation in CT. The intravenous injection of nanoparticles enabled clear tumor border visualization in mice. Plasmonic peak in the Fe-Au hybrids had a tail in the near-infrared region (NIR), allowing them to cause hyperthermia under 808 nm laser exposure. Under NIR irradiation Fe-Au particles provided 24.1 °C/W heating and an IC50 value below 32 µg/mL for three different cancer cell lines. Taken together, these results show that laser synthesized Fe-Au core-satellite nanoparticles are excellent theranostic agents with multimodal imaging and photothermal capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, two approaches are evaluated using the Full Error Detection and Correction (FEDC) method for a pipelined structure. The approaches are referred to as Full Duplication with Comparison (FDC) and Concurrent Checking with Parity Prediction (CCPP). Aforementioned approaches are focused on the borderline cases of FEDC method which implement Error Detection Circuit (EDC) in two manners for the purpose of protection of combinational logic to address the soft errors of unspecified duration. The FDC approach implements a full duplication of the combinational circuit, as the most complex and expensive implementation of the FEDC method, and the CCPP approach implements only the parity prediction bit, being the simplest and cheapest technique, for soft error detection. Both approaches are capable of detecting soft errors in the combinational logic, with single faults being injected into the design. On the one hand, the FDC approach managed to detect and correct all injected faults while the CCPP approach could not detect multiple faults created at the output of combinational circuit. On the other hand, the FDC approach leads to higher power consumption and area increase compared to the CCPP approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Azacarbazoles have attracted significant interest due to their valuable properties, such as anti-pathogenic and antitumor activity. In this study, a series of structurally related tricyclic benzo[4,5]- and tertacyclic naphtho[2′,1′:4,5]imidazo[1,2-c]pyrimidinone derivatives with one or two positively charged tethers were synthesized and evaluated for anti-proliferative activity. Lead tetracyclic derivative 5b with two amino-bearing arms inhibited the metabolic activity of A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells with a CC50 value of 3.6 μM, with remarkable selectivity (SI = 17.3) over VA13 immortalized fibroblasts. Cell-cycle assays revealed that 5b triggers G2/M arrest without signs of apoptosis. A study of its interaction with various DNA G4s and duplexes followed by dual luciferase and intercalator displacement assays suggests that intercalation, rather than the modulation of G4-regulated oncogene expression, might contribute to the observed activity. Finally, a water-soluble salt of 5b was shown to cause no acute toxic effects, changes in mice behavior, or any decrease in body weight after a 72 h treatment at concentrations up to 20 mg/kg. Thus, 5b is a promising candidate for studies in vivo; however, further investigations are needed to elucidate its molecular target(s). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanoparticle-based chemotherapy is considered to be an effective approach to cancer diagnostics and therapy in modern biomedicine. However, efficient tumor targeting remains a great challenge due to the lack of specificity, selectivity, and high dosage of chemotherapeutic drugs required. A two-step targeted drug delivery strategy (DDS), involving cancer cell pre-targeting, first with a first nontoxic module and subsequent targeting with a second complementary toxic module, is a solution for decreasing doses for administration and lowering systemic toxicity. To prove two-step DDS efficiency, we performed a direct comparison of one-step and two-step DDS based on chemotherapy loaded PLGA nanoparticles and barnase*barstar interface. Namely, we developed and thoroughly characterized the two-step targeting strategy of HER2-overexpressing cancer cells. The first targeting block consists of anti-HER2 scaffold polypeptide DARPin9_29 fused with barstar. Barstar exhibits an extremely effective binding to ribonuclease barnase with Kaff = 1014 M−1, thus making the barnase*barstar protein pair one of the strongest known protein*protein complexes. A therapeutic PLGA-based nanocarrier coupled to barnase was used as a second targeting block. The PLGA nanoparticles were loaded with diagnostic dye, Nile Blue, and a chemotherapeutic drug, doxorubicin. We showed that the two-step DDS increases the performance of chemotherapy-loaded nanocarriers: IC50 of doxorubicin delivered via two-step DDS was more than 100 times lower than that for one-step DDS: IC50 = 43 ± 3 nM for two-step DDS vs. IC50 = 4972 ± 1965 nM for one-step DDS. The obtained results demonstrate the significant efficiency of two-step DDS over the classical one-step one. We believe that the obtained data will significantly change the direction of research in developing targeted anti-cancer drugs and promote the creation of new generation cancer treatment strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An 8-week growth trial was conducted to determine the sensitivity of white sturgeon (Acipenser transmontanus) to the toxicological effects of elevated dietary selenium (Se). Juvenile white sturgeon were fed diets supplemented with Se in the form of l-selenomethionine (SeMet), resulting in dietary concentrations of 0.4, 9.6, 20.5, 41.7, 89.8, and 191.1μgSe/g diet on a dry weight basis. Effects of dietary SeMet on survival, swimming activity, growth, whole-body proximate composition, tissue Se concentrations, and histopathology were determined. Sturgeon survival among treatment groups did not differ significantly with a mean survival rate of 99±0.43% across all groups. A significant decrease (p <0.05) in swimming activity and growth rate was observed in sturgeon fed at or above 41.7μgSe/g diet. Dietary SeMet concentrations were negatively correlated with whole-body protein and lipid content, but positively correlated with ash and moisture content. Selenium accumulated in the kidney, muscle, liver, gill, and plasma tissues in a dose-dependent manner. Histopathological alterations in the liver and kidney were observed in sturgeon fed above 20.5μgSe/g diet. The threshold dietary Se toxicity concentration for white sturgeon was estimated to lie between 10 and 20μgSe/g diet based on the histopathological alterations in the kidney. Research examining the consequences of elevated dietary Se concentrations on more sensitive life stages and the interactive effects of Se with other chemical or physical stressors are needed in order to determine if dietary threshold should be lowered to minimize the potential impacts of Se on white sturgeon in the San Francisco Bay-Delta. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper two new methods for the design of fault-tolerant pipelined sequential and combinational circuits, called Error Detection and Partial Error Correction (EDPEC) and Full Error Detection and Correction (FEDC), are described. The proposed methods are based on an Error Detection Logic (EDC) in the combinational circuit part combined with fault tolerant memory elements implemented using fault tolerant master–slave flip-flops. If a transient error, due to a transient fault in the combinational circuit part is detected by the EDC, the error signal controls the latching stage of the flip-flops such that the previous correct state of the register stage is retained until the transient error disappears. The system can continue to work in its previous correct state and no additional recovery procedure (with typically reduced clock frequency) is necessary. The target applications are dataflow processing blocks, for which software-based recovery methods cannot be easily applied. The presented architectures address both single events as well as timing faults of arbitrarily long duration. An example of this architecture is developed and described, based on the carry look-ahead adder. The timing conditions are carefully investigated and simulated up to the layout level. The enhancement of the baseline architecture is demonstrated with respect to the achieved fault tolerance for the single event and timing faults. It is observed that the number of uncorrected single events is reduced by the EDPEC architecture by 2.36 times compared with previous solution. The FEDC architecture further reduces the number of uncorrected events to zero and outperforms the Triple Modular Redundancy (TMR) with respect to correction of timing faults. The power overhead of both new architectures is about 26–28% lower than the TMR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of non-invasive photothermal therapy (PTT) methods utilizing nanoparticles as sensitizers is one of the most promising directions in modern oncology. Nanoparticles loaded with photothermal dyes are capable of delivering a sufficient amount of a therapeutic substance and releasing it with the desired kinetics in vivo. However, the effectiveness of oncotherapy methods, including PTT, is often limited due to poor penetration of sensitizers into the tumor, especially into solid tumors of epithelial origin characterized by tight cellular junctions. In this work, we synthesized 200 nm nanoparticles from the biocompatible copolymer of lactic and glycolic acid, PLGA, loaded with magnesium phthalocyanine, PLGA/Pht-Mg. The PLGA/Pht-Mg particles under the irradiation with NIR light (808 nm), heat the surrounding solution by 40 °C. The effectiveness of using such particles for cancer cells elimination was demonstrated in 2D culture in vitro and in our original 3D model with multicellular spheroids possessing tight cell contacts. It was shown that the mean inhibitory concentration of such nanoparticles upon light irradiation for 15 min worsens by more than an order of magnitude: IC50 increases from 3 µg/mL for 2D culture vs. 117 µg/mL for 3D culture. However, when using the JO-4 intercellular junction opener protein, which causes a short epithelial–mesenchymal transition and transiently opens intercellular junctions in epithelial cells, the efficiency of nanoparticles in 3D culture was comparable or even outperforming that for 2D (IC50 = 1.9 µg/mL with JO-4). Synergy in the co-administration of PTT nanosensitizers and JO-4 protein was found to retain in vivo using orthotopic tumors of BALB/c mice: we demonstrated that the efficiency in the delivery of such nanoparticles to the tumor is 2.5 times increased when PLGA/Pht-Mg nanoparticles are administered together with JO-4. Thus the targeting the tumor cell junctions can significantly increase the performance of PTT nanosensitizers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]