Search

We quantified the disparity between gas-phase and stellar metallicity in a large galaxy sample obtained from the MaNGA DR17 survey. We found that the gas metallicity is on average closely aligned with the stellar metallicity in the centers of intermediate-mass galaxies. Conversely, the difference is notably larger within the center of massive galaxies. It reaches about −0.18 dex on average for the most massive galaxies, while for low-mass galaxies, the gas metallicity exhibits a slightly lower value than the stellar metallicity. Moreover, the most prominent instances of a reduced gas-phase metallicity in relation to stellar metallicity were observed within the centers of massive red galaxies with low specific star formation rates. Because of the absence of a correlation between the integral mass fraction of neutral gas and the disparity between gas and stellar metallicity, we suggest that the diminished gas-phase metallicity in the centers of massive galaxies might be attributed to the replenishment of gas-depleted central regions through processes such as radial gas flows or accretion from the circumgalactic medium rather than gas infall from the intergalactic medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a search for galaxies in the local Universe with extremely low oxygen abundance, that is, more than 25 times lower than solar, which corresponds to 12 + log(O/H) < 7.3. To determine the oxygen abundance, we apply the direct Te method for objects where the [O III]λ4363 line is detected. We identified 21 extremely metal-poor galaxies in the early data release of the Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument (DESI EDR), for some of which we also derived N/O, Ne/O, Ar/O, and S/O ratios. We find that many DESI galaxies with extremely low oxygen abundance exhibit a higher N/O ratio in comparison to the reference low-metallicity sample collected from the literature. We suggest that the elevation in N/O ratio may be explained by a contamination with metal-rich gas caused by gas inflow or a merger event. Moreover, contrary to some recent studies, we find that Ar/O and S/O ratios are enhanced as well, while the Ne/O ratio does not show such elevation. One of the galaxies, J0713+5608, has a remarkably low oxygen abundance of 6.978 ± 0.095 dex. This measurement aligns with the lowest known oxygen abundances in galaxies to date. Given the relatively high uncertainty, this galaxy may have the lowest oxygen abundance ever found. Additionally, J0713+5608 exhibited an enhanced N/O ratio compared to the typical N/O ratio observed in metal-poor galaxies within the local Universe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The contact interaction of complex-profile elements of machine-building structures is in many cases a factor that determines the performance, durability, load capacity and other characteristics of the product as a whole. The paper describes a variational formulation of the problem of contact interaction of bodies. The purpose of the work is to improve the variational formulation of the problem of the contact interaction of elastic-plastic bodies under perturbances in the shape of nominally matching contact surfaces and the properties of the surface layers of the material. The contact of bodies along congruent surfaces is studied. In addition, the modification of these surfaces is considered. The problem is reduced to a variational inequality. The roughness of the surface layers of contacting bodies is taken into account. Plastic deformations of these bodies' materials are also taken into account. It was established that the distribution of contact pressure is significantly uneven. It was also found that by modifying the geometric shape of the contacting surfaces, it is possible to achieve a reduction in the level of contact pressure. In addition, a similar effect is observed when reducing the contact roughness of the surface layers of the materials of the contacting bodies. In the presence of a set of factors taken into account (disturbance of nominally coincident surfaces, influence of surface layers' roughness and elastic-plastic deformation of the materials of the contacting bodies), the resulting effect exceeds those of each of the effects. Therefore, by means of certain constructive and technological measures, it is possible to significantly improve the conditions of contact interaction between bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present survey represents a continuation of our study of high mass star forming regions in the lines of deuterated molecules, the first results of which were published in [1]. This paper present the results of observations of 50 objects in the line of ortho modification of singly deuterated ammonia NH2D at a frequency of 85.9 GHz, carried out using the 20-m radio telescope of the Onsala Space Observatory (Sweden). This line is detected in 29 sources. The analysis of obtained data, as well as the fact that the gas density in the investigated sources, according to independent estimates, is significantly lower than the critical density for this NH2D transition, indicate non-LTE excitation of NH2D. Based on non-LTE modeling, estimates of the relative content of the NH2D molecule and the degree of deuterium enrichment were obtain, and the dependencies of these parameters on temperature and velocity dispersion were analyzed with and without taking into account detection limits assuming the same gas density in all sources. An anti-correlation between the NH2D relative abundances and the kinetic temperature is revealed in a temperature range of 15–50 K. At the same time, a significant decrease in the ratio of the NH2D/NH3 abundances with increasing temperature, predicted by the available chemical models, is not observed under the adopted assumptions. An anti-correlation was also revealed between the relative content of the main isotopologue of ammonia NH and the velocity dispersion, while no statistically significant correlation with the kinetic temperature of sources in the same temperature range was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contextual cueing is a phenomenon in which repeatedly encountered arrays of items can enhance the visual search for a target item. This is widely attributed to attentional guidance driven by contextual memory acquired during visual search. Some studies suggest that children may have an immature ability to use contextual cues compared to adults, while others argue that contextual learning capacity is similar across ages. To test the development of context-guided attention, this study compared contextual cueing effects among three age groups: adults (aged 18–33 years, N = 32), teenagers (aged 15–17 years, N = 41), and younger children (aged 8–9 years, N = 43). Moreover, this study introduced a measure of response time variability that tracks fluctuations in response time throughout the experiment, in addition to the conventional analysis of response times. The results showed that all age groups demonstrated significantly faster responses in repeated than non-repeated search contexts. Notably, adults and teenagers exhibited smaller response time variability in repeated contexts than in non-repeated ones, while younger children did not. This implies that children are less efficient at consolidating contextual information into a stable memory representation, which may lead to less stable attentional guidance during visual search. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hypersonic flow around bodies of different geometries, made of composite materials, was investigated and different methods of decreasing the maximum temperatures of their surface were estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the findings of a newborn screening (NBS) pilot project for 5q-spinal muscular atrophy (5q-SMA) in multiple regions across Russia for during the year 2022. The aim was to assess the feasibility and reproducibility of NBS for SMA5q in diverse populations and estimate the real prevalence of 5q-SMA in Russia as well as the distribution of patients with different number of SMN2 copies. The pilot project of NBS here was based on data, involving the analysis of 202,908 newborns. SMA screening assay was performed using a commercially available real-time polymerase chain reaction kit, the Eonis SCID-SMA. In one year, 202,908 newborns were screened, identifying 26 infants with homozygous deletion of SMN1 exon 7, yielding an estimated 5q-SMA incidence of 1:7804 newborns. It was found that 38.46% had two SMN2 copies, 42.31% had three copies, 15.38% had four copies, and 3.85% had five copies of SMN2. Immediate treatment was proposed for patients with two or three SMN2 copies. Infants with four or more SMN2 copies warranted further investigation on management and treatment. Short-term monitoring after gene therapy showed motor function improvements. Delays in treatment initiation were observed, including the testing for adeno-associated virus 9 antibodies and nonmedical factors. The study emphasizes the need for a standardized algorithm for early diagnosis and management through NBS to benefit affected families. Overall, the NBS program for 5q-SMA in Russia demonstrated the potential to improve outcomes and transform SMA from a devastating disease to a chronic condition with evolving medical requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Visual search is facilitated when participants encounter targets in repeated display arrangements. This "contextual-cueing" effect is attributed to incidental learning of spatial distractor-target relations, which subsequently guides visual search more effectively toward the target location. Conversely, behaviorally significant, though task-irrelevant, negative emotional stimuli may involuntarily capture attention and thus hamper performance in visual search. This raises the question of how these two attention-guiding factors connect. Methods: To this end, we investigated how an emotionally alerting stimulus induced by different classes of emotional (face, scene) pictures prior to the search task relates to memory-related plasticity. We tested 46 participants who were presented with repeated and non-repeated search layouts, preceded at variable (50, 500, 1,000 ms) intervals by emotional vs. neutral faces or scenes. Results: We found that contextual learning was increased with emotional compared to neutral scenes, which resulted in no contextual cueing was observed at all, while no modulation of the cueing effect was observed for emotional (vs. neutral) faces. This modulation occurred independent of the intervals between the emotional stimulus and the search display. Discussion: We conclude that emotional scenes are particularly effective in withdrawing attentional resources, biasing individual participants to perform a visual search task in a passive, i.e., receptive, manner, which, in turn, improves automatic contextual learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual search is faster when a fixed target location is paired with a spatially invariant (vs. randomly changing) distractor configuration, thus indicating that repeated contexts are learned, thereby guiding attention to the target (contextual cueing [CC]). Evidence for memory-guided attention has also been revealed with electrophysiological (electroencephalographic [EEG]) recordings, starting with an enhanced early posterior negativity (N1pc), which signals a preattentive bias toward the target, and, subsequently, attentional and postselective components, such as the posterior contralateral negativity (PCN) and contralateral delay activity (CDA), respectively. Despite effective learning, relearning of previously acquired contexts is inflexible: The CC benefits disappear when the target is relocated to a new position within an otherwise invariant context and corresponding EEG correlates are diminished. The present study tested whether global statistical properties that induce predictions going beyond the immediate invariant layout can facilitate contextual relearning. Global statistical regularities were implemented by presenting repeated and nonrepeated displays in separate streaks (mini blocks) of trials in the relocation phase, with individual displays being presented in a fixed and thus predictable order. Our results revealed a significant CC effect (and an associated modulation of the N1pc, PCN, and CDA components) during initial learning. Critically, the global statistical regularities in the relocation phase also resulted in a reliable CCeffect, thus revealing effective relearning with predictive streaks. Moreover, this relearning was reflected in an enhanced PCN amplitude for repeated relative to nonrepeated contexts. Temporally ordered contexts may thus adapt memory-based guidance of attention, particularly the allocation of covert attention in the visual display. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main aim of this study was to validate 500 true-false general-knowledge questions in Russian. These norms are valuable to researchers in many fields, as is shown by the impact and relevance of similar norms available in other languages. Although the Russian language is widely spoken, there are no norms available in this language for this type of questions. True-false questions are very useful for measuring semantic memory, among other topics, in neurocognitive studies where there is a trade-off between experimental time and the need for many trials. These types of experimental materials are heavily rooted in cultural background knowledge, making the mere translation from one language to another insufficient. The present research aims to fill this gap. One hundred fifty-five participants answered 500 true-false general knowledge questions split over several consecutive days and three topics: Social Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Culture & Sport. The participants' task was to indicate whether the statements were true or not, as well as the confidence they had in the correctness of their answer. Despite obtaining questions on each of the topics covering all difficulty levels, grouped analyses showed that Social Science's accuracy was higher than for Natural Science's or Culture & Sport questions. In relation to confidence, the grouped perceived difficulty was higher for questions about Culture & Sports when compared with the other two topics. Thus, this study reports and makes available a large pool of Russian true-false general knowledge questions covering different levels of difficulty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participants can learn to faster detect targets embedded in repeatedly encountered spatial arrangements of distractors – termed the “contextual cueing” (CC) effect. However, cueing is severely compromised following target relocation in an otherwise unchanged distractor arrangement. Previous research demonstrated that this re-location cost is due to persistent misguidance of search towards the original location. Since CC reflects top-down guidance of contextual memory, this misguidance is an instance of a “distraction” effect that operates from acquired memory, rather than being driven by salient but irrelevant stimuli in the display. While traditional accounts of CC emphasize the acquisition of search-guiding memory “templates” specific to particular displays, contextual learning also tunes attentional (oculomotor) scanning routines to the overall statistics of the display arrangements, yielding a context-unspecific LT “proceduralization” of search. Using reaction-time and oculomotor-scanning measures, we confirmed both mechanisms to contribute to initial contextual learning as well as the “distraction” effect produced by relocating the targets of repeated displays. We suspect that guidance and misguidance of search by repeated contexts involve two complementary LT mechanisms: procedural optimization of broad, i.e., display-generic, scanning routines, and learning of where to expect the target in specific repeated-context displays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neural network ensembling is a common and robust way to increase model efficiency. In this paper, we propose a new neural network ensemble algorithm based on Audibert's empirical star algorithm. We provide optimal theoretical minimax bound on the excess squared risk. Additionally, we empirically study this algorithm on regression and classification tasks and compare it to most popular ensembling methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visual search for a target is faster when the spatial layout of distractors is repeatedly encountered, illustrating that statistical learning of contextual invariances facilitates attentional guidance (contextual cueing; Chun & Jiang, 1998, Cognitive Psychology, 36, 28–71). While contextual learning is usually relatively efficient, relocating the target to an unexpected location (within an otherwise unchanged search layout) typically abolishes contextual cueing and the benefits deriving from invariant contexts recover only slowly with extensive training (Zellin et al., 2014, Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 21(4), 1073–1079). However, a recent study by Peterson et al. (2022, Attention, Perception, & Psychophysics, 84(2), 474–489) in fact reported rather strong adaptation of spatial contextual memories following target position changes, thus contrasting with prior work. Peterson et al. argued that previous studies may have been underpowered to detect a reliable recovery of contextual cueing after the change. However, their experiments also used a specific display design that frequently presented the targets at the same locations, which might reduce the predictability of the contextual cues thereby facilitating its flexible relearning (irrespective of statistical power). The current study was a (high-powered) replication of Peterson et al., taking into account both statistical power and target overlap in context-memory adaptation. We found reliable contextual cueing for the initial target location irrespective of whether the targets shared their location across multiple displays, or not. However, contextual adaptation following a target relocation event occurred only when target locations were shared. This suggests that cue predictability modulates contextual adaptation, over and above a possible (yet negligible) influence of statistical power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reaction of butyryl chloride with ethynylbenzene in the presence of AlCl3 afforded a mixture of the Z/E‐isomers of 1‐chloro‐2‐phenylhex‐1‐en‐3‐one. 1,2‐Diphenylethyne under these conditions gave a novel polycarbocycle core, 6aH‐benzo[a]fluorene. The chemical structure of 11‐chloro‐5,6‐diphenyl‐6a‐propyl‐6aH‐benzo[a]fluorene was established by means of IE‐MS, 1H, 13C NMR, COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and 2D INADEQUATE technique. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use spectra and maps of the J  = 1 − 0 and J  = 2 − 1 DCO+, DCN, DNC, |$\rm N_2D^+$| lines, and 111−101 ortho- and para-NH2D lines, obtained with the  Institut de Radioastronomie Millimétrique (IRAM)-30 m telescope, as well as observations of their hydrogenated isotopologues to study deuteration processes in five high-mass star-forming regions. The temperature was estimated from CH 3CCH lines, also observed with the IRAM-30 m telescope, and from NH 3 lines, observed with the 100 m radio telescope in Effelsberg, as well as using the integrated intensity ratios of the J  = 1 − 0 H13CN and HN13C lines and their main isotopologues. Applying a non-local thermodynamic equilibrium radiative transfer model with radex , the gas density and the molecular column densities were estimated. D/H ratios are 0.001–0.05 for DCO+, 0.001–0.02 for DCN, 0.001–0.05 for DNC, and 0.02–0.4 for NH2D. The D/H ratios decrease with increasing temperature in the range of 20–40 K and slightly vary at densities |$n(\rm H_2) \sim 10^4\!-\!10^6$| cm−3. The deuterium fraction of |$\rm N_2H^{+}$| is 0.008–0.1 at temperatures in the range of 20–25 K and at a density of ∼105 cm−3. We also estimate relative abundances and find ∼10−11–10−9 for DCO+ and DNC, ∼10−11–10−10 for |$\rm N_2D^+$|⁠ , and ∼10−10–10−8 for NH2D. The relative abundances of these species decrease with increasing temperature. However, the DCN/H2 ratio is almost constant (∼10−10). The observational results agree with the predictions of chemical models (although in some cases there are significant differences). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fullerene C60 reacted with trifluoromethanesulfonamide, N,N-dichlorotrifluoromethanesulfon-amide, or N-(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imino-λ3-iodane in the presence of N-iodosuccinimide to give N-(trifluoro-methane-sulfonyl) aza[60]fulleroid as the only product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physics of drop motion in microchannels is fundamental to provide insights when designing applications of drop-based microfluidics. In this paper, we develop a boundary-integral method to simulate the motion of drops in microchannels of finite depth with flat walls and fixed depth but otherwise arbitrary geometries. To reduce computational time, we use a moving frame that follows the droplet throughout its motion. We provide a full description of the method, including our channel-meshing algorithm, which is a combination of Monte Carlo techniques and Delaunay triangulation, and compare our results to infinite-depth simulations. For regular geometries of uniform cross section, the infinite-depth limit is approached slowly with increasing depth, though we show much faster convergence by scaling with maximum vs average velocities. For non-regular channel geometries, features such as different branch heights can affect drop partitioning, breaking the symmetric behavior usually observed in regular geometries. Moreover, non-regular geometries also present challenges when comparing the results for deep and infinite-depth channels. To probe inertial effects on drop motion, the full Navier–Stokes equations are first solved for the entire channel, and the tabulated solution is then used as a boundary condition at the moving-frame surface for the Stokes flow inside the moving frame. For moderate Reynolds numbers up to Re = 5, inertial effects on the undisturbed flow are small even for more complex geometries, suggesting that inertial contributions in this range are likely small. This work provides an important tool for the design and analysis of three-dimensional droplet-based microfluidic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The atomic radial distribution function of vitreous AgGeAsSe3, obtained based on the experimental intensity curves taken with monochromatic copper and molybdenum radiation, is interpreted using a fragmentary model in the entire ordering region (~9 Å). It is shown that the glass consists of selenium and selenium-arsenic tetrahedra with germanium and silver atoms inside. The spatial arrangement of such tetrahedra in glass within the ordering region is similar to their arrangement in the GeAsSe and GeSe2 structures. It is proposed that the "openwork" structure of the fragments of these structures allows the movement of Ag+ ions (ionic conductivity) in vitreous AgGeAsSe3. Fragments of the structure of the ion-conducting compound Ag2Se are not found in the studied glass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main role in the control of tuberculosis infection is played by macrophages and Th1 and CD8+ T cells. The study aimed to identify the most diagnostically significant CD8+ T cell subsets in tuberculosis patients. Methods: Peripheral blood samples from patients with clinical, radiological, and bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis (TB, n = 32) and healthy subjects (HC, n = 31) were collected and analyzed using 10-color flow cytometry. Results: The frequency of the EM4 CD3+CD8+ cells was reduced in the peripheral blood of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, while the relative and absolute number of EM1 CD3+CD8+ cells increased compared to the control group. CD57 expression was reduced in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis on EM1, EM2, and pE1 CD3+CD8+ cells, whereas the EM3 cells had a high level of CD57 expression. The relative and absolute number of Tc2 (CCR6–CXCR3–) cells in peripheral blood in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis was increased, while the frequency of Tc1 (CCR6–CXCR3+) was decreased, compared to healthy donors. Conclusions: Patients with pulmonary tuberculosis have an abnormal CD3+CD8+ cell profile and demonstrate their impaired maturation and functional activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The broad concept of "homeostasis" in relation not only to organisms, but also to populations, ecosystems, and socio–ecological and economic systems (in the context of sustainable development) is discussed. Sustainability is the major quality of systems. The following mathematical formalizations and examples of various definitions of sustainability are discussed: according to Lyapunov (stability), Lagrange (steadiness), Poisson (periodic stability), Svirezhev (hierarchical stability), Holling (elasticity), Fleishman (vitality), and Gnedenko (reliability). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel method of waste plastics conversion to a matrix for metal NPs was proposed. • Waste PET was converted to a hydrogel matrix for the synthesis of Au and Ag NPs. • Hydrogel plays a dual role of reductant and matrix for Au or Ag NPs growth. • Application of the hybrid hydrogel as a catalyst was demonstrated. • Hybrid hydrogel with NPs shows high reusability after four catalytic reactions. The progressive accumulation of discarded plastic in the environment demands further development of waste management of plastic waste and conversion technologies of such waste to value-added materials. Recently, the conversion of plastic waste to functional materials via chemical recycling has attracted considerable attention. In this report, plastic waste (PET) was utilized for the preparation of a hydrogel-based catalyst via a cross-linking reaction of PET-derived oligo(terephthalamide)s followed by the electroless metallization. The polymeric matrix of PET-derived hydrogel plays multiple roles of (i) an adsorption media for noble metal ions such as Au3+ and Ag+, (ii) a reducing agent of Au3+ and Ag+ ions to Au0 and Ag0, and (iii) a matrix for the controlled growth of Au and Ag nanoparticles (AuNPs and AgNPs). The obtained hybrid hydrogels after metallization contained well-dispersed AuNPs and AgNPs of 6.1 ± 3.7 nm or 6.1 ± 1.4 nm size, respectively. The catalytic activities of the hybrid hydrogels with metal nanoparticles were studied in a model system of p -nitrophenol reduction in an aqueous solution. The hybrid materials of both Au@hydrogel and Ag@hydrogel were catalytically active for the reduction of p -nitrophenol, obeying the first-order kinetics. Importantly, the AuNPs or AgNPs in the hydrogel matrix preserved the original catalytic activity after multiple p -nitrophenol reduction reactions, showing a promising reusability of the catalysts. The proposed here approach aims to broaden the scope of conversion routes of plastic waste to value-added materials as well as to develop new types of polymeric matrices for templating and growth of metal nanoparticles for catalytic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The condensation of 4,4-dichlorobut-3-en-2-one with aromatic aldehydes in the presence of a cata-lytic amount of sulfuric acid afforded 1,1-dichloro-5-(4-R-phenyl)penta-1,4-dien-3-ones which reacted with substituted hydrazines under mild conditions in chemo- and regioselective fashion to give 3-[(E)-2-arylethenyl]-5-chloro-1-methyl-1H-pyrazoles in up to 81% yield. The reaction of 4-bromo-1,1-dichloro-5-(4-methoxy-phenyl)-penta-1,4-dien-3-one with N,N-dimethylhydrazine produced 3-[1-bromo-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-ethenyl]-5-chloro-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole which was converted to 5-chloro-3-[(4-methoxyphenyl)-ethynyl]-1-methyl-1H-pyrazole in 69% yield on heating in DMSO in the presence of KF at 120°C. The structure of the synthesized compounds was confirmed by IR, NMR, and mass spectra and elemental analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possibilities of the formation and characteristics of a special type of stationary concentrated vortices are studied with respect to the Earth's atmosphere. A generalization of this type of vortices to a spherical coordinate system is presented, belonging to the class of Gromeki–Beltrami, N.E. Zhukovsky, and S.G. Chefranov flows. Two types of new solutions to the problem of a concentrated vortex with two and three velocity vector components are constructed: (1) the centers of the Cartesian and spherical coordinate systems coincide; (2) the spherical vortex is located above a solid surface. The distributions of vector fields of velocities and pressure in a concentrated vortex are found. This solution expands the problem of a concentrated vortex in a cylindrical coordinate system studied previously by the authors. The influence of the thickness of the spherical layer on the change in flow characteristics is analyzed. The use of the obtained characteristics of concentrated vortices to interpret a number of observed anomalous phenomena in the atmosphere, such as UFOs and ball lightning, is discussed, the explanation of frequently involves mechanisms that lie beyond the boundaries of modern physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In development of earlier works on estimating the maximum temperatures of a shell immersed in a flow, a conjugate problem of nonstationary heat transfer in a supersonic flow around a spherically blunted hollow cylindrical model is considered for the conditions of some previous experimental studies [1–4]. The calculated and experimental data are compared, and the possible ways of reducing the maximum body temperatures are evaluated both by choosing the geometric characteristics of the model and of the thermophysical characteristics of materials, including the possible presence of a two-layered cylindrical holder. It is shown that the obtained dimensionless relations allow one to carry out quick estimation of the decrease in maximum temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the presence of data uncertainty and noise raises critical issues to be handled on both theoretical and computational grounds. Therefore, robustification and robust optimization have gained attention from theoretical and practical points of view for the establishment of a modeling framework in mathematical optimization to immunize solutions against diverse uncertainties. Data of both the input and output variables, underlying the problems to be addressed, are affected by the noise of different kinds, such that standard statistical models alone may not be sufficient to ensure trustworthy results due to the complexity of the model. Consequently, we propose including parametric uncertainties reflecting future scenarios in multivariate adaptive regression splines (MARS), which, in turn, show great promise for fitting nonlinear multivariate functions, where additive and interactive effects of the predictors are employed to assess the response variable. We robustify MARS through the usage of robust optimization techniques. Due to the large complexity of the underlying model in prior studies, we applied a so-called weak robustification. Now, we exploit a geometrical and combinatorial approach to allow for a more complete robustification, by formulating Robust MARS (RMARS) under Cross-Polytope Uncertainty. In this study, we use RMARS for energy data and demonstrate its superior performance through a simulation study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over recent years, many researchers have supported the autoimmune theory of sarcoidosis. The presence of uncontrolled inflammatory response on local and system levels in patients with sarcoidosis did not define that the immunoregulatory mechanisms could be affected. The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution and the disturbance circulating Treg cell subsets in the peripheral blood in patients with sarcoidosis. Materials and methods: A prospective comparative study was performed in 2016–2018 (34 patients with sarcoidosis (men (67.6%), women (32.3%)) were examined). Healthy subjects—the control group (n = 40). The diagnosis of pulmonary sarcoidosis was performed according to the standard criteria. We used two ten-color combinations of antibodies for Treg immunophenotyping. The first one contained CD39–FITC, CD127–PE, CCR4–PE/Dazzle™ 594, CD25–PC5.5, CD161–PC7, CD4–APC, CD8–APC–AF700, CD3–APC/Cy7, HLA–DR–PacBlue, and CD45 RA–BV 510™, while the second consisted of CXCR3–Alexa Fluor 488, CD25–РЕ, CXCR5–РЕ/Dazzle™ 594, CCR4–PerСP/Сy5.5, CCR6–РЕ/Cy7, CD4–АPC, CD8 АPC–AF700, CD3–АPC/Cy7, CCR7–BV 421, and CD45 RA–BV 510. The flow cytometry data were analyzed by using Kaluza software v2.3. A statistical analysis was performed with Statistica 7.0 and GraphPad Prism 8 software packages. Results of the study: Primarily, we found that patients with sarcoidosis had decreased absolute numbers of Treg cells in circulation. We noted that the level of CCR7-expressing Tregs decreased in patients with sarcoidosis vs. the control group (65.55% (60.08; 70.60) vs. 76.93% (69.59; 79.86) with p < 0.001). We noticed that the relative numbers of CD45RA–CCR7+ Tregs decreased in patients with sarcoidosis (27.11% vs. 35.43%, p < 0.001), while the frequency of CD45 RA–CCR7– and CD45RA+ CCR7– Tregs increased compared to the control group (33.3% vs. 22.73% and 0.76% vs. 0.51% with p < 0.001 and p = 0.028, respectively). CXCR3-expressing Treg cell subsets—Th1-like CCR60078CXCR3+ Tregs and Th17.1-like CCR6+ CXCR3+ Tregs—significantly increased in patients with sarcoidosis vs. the control group (14.4% vs. 10.5% with p < 0.01 and 27.9% vs. 22.8% with p < 0.01, respectively). Furthermore, the levels of peripheral blood EM Th17-like Tregs significantly decreased in the sarcoidosis group vs. the control group (36.38% vs. 46.70% with p < 0.001). Finally, we found that CXCR5 expression was increased in CM Tregs cell subsets in patients with sarcoidosis. Conclusions: Our data indicated a decrease in circulating Tregs absolute numbers and several alterations in Treg cell subsets. Moreover, our results highlight the presence of increased levels of CM CXCR5+ follicular Tregs in the periphery that could be linked with the imbalance of follicular Th cell subsets and alterations in B cell, based on the immune response. The balance between the two functionally distinct Treg cell populations—Th1-like and Th17-like Tregs—could be used in sarcoidosis diagnosis and the determination of prognosis and disease outcomes. Furthermore, we want to declare that analysis of Treg numbers of phenotypes could fully characterize their functional activity in peripherally inflamed tissues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, sarcoidosis remains one of the diseases with unknown etiology, which significantly complicates its diagnosis and treatment. Various causes of sarcoidosis have been studied for many years. Both organic and inorganic trigger factors, provoking the development of granulomatous inflammation are considered. However, the most promising and evidence-based hypothesis is the development of sarcoidosis as an autoimmune disease, provoked by various adjuvants in genetic predisposed individuals. This concept fits into the structure of the autoimmune/inflammatory syndrome, induced by adjuvants (ASIA) that was proposed in 2011 by Professor Shoenfeld Y. In this paper, the authors reveal the presence of major and minor ASIA criteria for sarcoidosis, propose a new concept of the course of sarcoidosis within the framework of ASIA, and point out the difficulties in creating a model of the disease and the selection of therapy. It is obvious that the data obtained not only bring us closer to understanding the nature of sarcoidosis, but also potentiate new studies confirming this hypothesis by obtaining a model of the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of the compound N1-(2,3,4-trimethoxy)-N2-{2-[(2,3,4-trimethoxybenzyl)amino]ethyl}-1,2-ethane-diamine (code ALM-802) on the amplitude of the Ca2+ response in the cell was studied in in vitro experiments. The concentration of intracellular calcium was assessed using a Fura-2 two-wave probe. The experiments were performed on a culture of isolated rat hippocampal neurons. The effect of compound ALM-802 on the activity of ryanodine receptors (RyR2) was studied on an isolated strip of rat myocardium. The compound ALM-802 (69.8 μM) in hippocampal neurons causes a significant decrease in the amplitude of the Ca2+ response induced by addition of KCl to the medium. Experiments performed on an isolated myocardial strip showed that compound ALM-802 (10-5 M) almost completely blocked the positive inotropic reaction of the strip to the RyR2 agonist caffeine (5×10-5 M). The data obtained indicate that the decrease in the concentration of Ca2+ ions in the cell caused by ALM-802 is due to its ability to block RyR2 located on the membrane of the sarcoplasmic reticulum, which can be associated with the antiarrhythmic activity of the compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of a study of the state and possibilities of increasing the capacity of grain transshipment in the ports of Ukraine and substantiation based on the developed trend models of forecast volumes of grain cargo transshipment in Berdyansk and Mariupol seaports of the South-Eastern region of Ukraine until 2025 are presented. The studies established the characteristics of grain cargo flows in the seaports of Ukraine, the SWOT analysis revealed the strengths and weaknesses, advantages and threats of the Mariupol Sea Trade Port, developed trend forecast models for grain transshipment volumes in the ports of the South-Eastern region of Ukraine and substantiated the forecast volumes of transshipment grain cargo until 2025. A rather uneven loading of the Mariupol port during the year is shown. August and all summer months are especially critical, when both industrial and agricultural goods need to be exported from the nearby region at the same time. The urgent need to increase the capacity of elevators for the ports of Chornomorsk, Reni and Olvia, as well as the ports of the Sea of Azov, in particular, the construction of a new elevator in the port of Mariupol, which is a timely strategic decision, has been substantiated. It was noted that at present most of the country's seaports are expected to increase the transshipment of food cargo of all kinds. To predict the volumes of transshipment of grain cargo at the Berdyansk and Mariupol seaports, based on the analysis of data from the state enterprise "Administration of the Sea Ports of Ukraine", forecast models (trends) are proposed that contribute to the growth of production capacity and competitiveness of agricultural products of the adjacent agro-industrial region. It is shown that the forecast for the next 2-4 years is optimistic – subject to a good grain harvest, the transshipment of grain cargo by 2025 in the Berdyansk and Mariupol ports can reach 2,000 and 1,300 thousand tons, respectively, that is, increase compared to 2021, respectively, 5 and 1.3 times. The conducted SWOT-analysis made it possible to identify and evaluate the factors influencing decision-making on the possibility of developing the Mariupol seaport. On the basis of analytical data, a long-term forecast was made for the further development of the transport and logistics component of the seaports of the South-East region of Ukraine, which will expand and improve port services aimed at increasing its throughput. Among the most important measures is the construction of an elevator in the Mariupol seaport, which will help increase the quality and safe transportation of agricultural products in the chain from the producer to the end consumer. The main measures aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the Mariupol port were identified, including: construction of complexes for transshipment of grain, containers, vegetable oil; dredging, construction of hydrotechnical bank protection structures; reconstruction of berths 2-4 and 14-15 of the port; reconstruction of the nearby railway station Mariupol-Port. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an apparatus for attosecond transient-absorption spectroscopy (ATAS) featuring soft-X-ray (SXR) supercontinua that extend beyond 450 eV. This instrument combines an attosecond table-top high-harmonic light source with mid-infrared (mid-IR) pulses, both driven by 1.7–1.9 mJ, sub-11 fs pulses centered at 1.76 μ m. A remarkably low timing jitter of ∼ 20 as is achieved through active stabilization of the pump and probe arms of the instrument. A temporal resolution of better than 400 as is demonstrated through ATAS measurements at the argon L 2 , 3 -edges. A spectral resolving power of 1490 is demonstrated through simultaneous absorption measurements at the sulfur L 2 , 3 - and carbon K-edges of OCS. Coupled with its high SXR photon flux, this instrument paves the way to attosecond time-resolved spectroscopy of organic molecules in the gas phase or in aqueous solutions, as well as thin films of advanced materials. Such measurements will advance the studies of complex systems to the electronic time scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron microscopy (EM) provides a uniquely detailed view of cellular morphology, including organelles and fine subcellular ultrastructure. While the acquisition and (semi-) automatic segmentation of multicellular EM volumes are now becoming routine, large-scale analysis remains severely limited by the lack of generally applicable pipelines for automatic extraction of comprehensive morphological descriptors. Here, we present a novel unsupervised method for learning cellular morphology features directly from 3D EM data: a neural network delivers a representation of cells by shape and ultrastructure. Applied to the full volume of an entire three-segmented worm of the annelid Platynereis dumerilii, it yields a visually consistent grouping of cells supported by specific gene expression profiles. Integration of features across spatial neighbours can retrieve tissues and organs, revealing, for example, a detailed organisation of the animal foregut. We envision that the unbiased nature of the proposed morphological descriptors will enable rapid exploration of very different biological questions in large EM volumes, greatly increasing the impact of these invaluable, but costly resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The review summarizes and systematizes data on the anti-inflammatory effect of the synthetic peptide LKEKK in vitro and in vivo. Based on the analysis, it was concluded that this peptide has a significant therapeutic potential as an anti-inflammatory drug in Crohn's disease, various forms of colitis and contact dermatitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The object of research is the processes of automatic optimal passing of one’s own ship with many dangerous targets, including maneuvering ones, by the method of constructing the area of permissible passing parameters in the on-board computer. According to the European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA), the largest number of ship accidents in 2014–2019 occurred due to collision (32 %). On modern ships, for observation and passing with targets, ARLM (automatic radar laying means) is used, which allows to automate manual operations, and the built-in function «Playing the maneuver» provides the navigator with a convenient graphic interface for solving passing problems. At the same time, ARLM is an automated system that assumes the presence of an operator in the control circuit. The presence of a person in the control circuit is related to the «human factor», which is a prerequisite for the occurrence of various types of accidents, including ship collisions. The most effective means of reducing the influence of the «human factor» on control processes is the introduction of automatic control modules in automated systems. The paper develops a method for the passing module, which allows automatic and optimal passing with many targets, including maneuvering ones. The number of targets for passing is not limited by the method, but is limited only by the capabilities of the ARLM to track the targets. The obtained results are explained by the fact that at each step of the on-board computer, a region of permissible passing parameters is constructed for all purposes, passing parameters that optimize a given optimality criterion are selected from the constructed region, the selected parameters are used as software in the control law. The developed method can be used on ships, subject to integration into the existing automated system of an on-board computer with an open architecture, to increase the capabilities of automatic traffic control, in this case, the possibility of automatic optimal passing with many objectives, including maneuvering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract—The authors discuss the use of the Greenell concept of ecological niches to analyze the taxonomic structure of communities and their relationship with environmental factors. The modeling of ecological niches was carried out using the results of 30-year studies of macrozoobenthos communities on 90 small and 12 medium-sized plain rivers in the region of the Kuibyshev, Saratov, and Volgograd reservoirs. Geoclimatic indicators, relief characteristics, and hydrochemical assessments of the water quality at sampling points were considered as abiotic factors, where 11 variables with the least collinearity were selected. The multidimensional space of the initial abiotic factors was projected onto the orthogonal axes of the first two principal components; ordination diagrams with plotted points of the presence of species were constructed. The model of the potential ecological niche of each species was represented as an area in the space of latent variables, in which the habitat suitability index Z estimated by the probability density of occurrence corresponds to the given constraints. The authors used the Schoener and Hellinger indices to quantify the proportion of overlapping niches belonging to two different benthos taxa. The matrix of distances between overlapping niches was formed for all possible paired combinations of the 40 most ecologically significant macrozoobenthos species. Cluster analysis of the obtained distance matrix was carried out by the methods of hierarchical agglomeration and fuzzy k-means. In the general multidimensional space of abiotic variables of the region studied, four areas of collective niches for groups of species with maximum distances between their centroids were identified. The analysis of intergroup variation of environmental factors is given, and the characteristic features of each group are discussed: ecological strategy, biological traits, and tolerance level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The object of research is the processes of automatic control of the vessel rotation around the pivot point with zero drift. In recent years, the number of vessels and their sizes has increased significantly, while the size of ports has grown much more slowly. There is an urgent need to optimize control processes, especially in compressed waters. One of the directions of such optimization is the use of the pivot point concept – an alternative vision of the vessel movement during its maneuvering. It is shown that the circulation radius and the position of the vessel on circulation are determined by the pivot point abscissa and ordinate. Linearized models of the two most common control schemes are considered: the control scheme of a single-screw conventional vessel without a bow thruster and the control scheme of a single-screw conventional vessel with a bow thruster. For the steady state of each of these schemes, controls were obtained that ensure the circulation of the vessel around a pivot point position without drift angle. This makes it possible to reduce the width of the traffic lane, increase traffic safety, reduce hydrodynamic resistance and fuel consumption, create favorable conditions for carrying out technological operations, for example, mooring, and reduce the influence of the human factor on control processes. The workability and effectiveness of the developed methods were verified by mathematical modeling of the MSС Container Ship (Dis. 32025t) automatic mooring without drift angle on the imitation modeling stand created by the authors on the basis of the Navi Trainer 5000 navigation simulator. The obtained capabilities are explained by the use of the mathematical model of the vessel in the on-board controller of the automated system and modern mathematical apparatus. The developed methods can be used on the vessels, provided to integration into the existing automated system of an on-board controller with open architecture, to increase the capabilities of automatic vessel movement control. Today, all automated systems already use the electronic principle of generating and transmitting signals from control devices (power plant telegraph, rudder, bow and stern thruster telegraphs and etc.) to executive devices, which greatly simplifies the integration of the on-board controller and the creation of a closed circuit of automatic control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, we present a detailed comparative analysis of the bioactive substances of soybean varieties k-11538 (Russia), k-11559 (Russia), k-569 (China), k-5367 (China), k-5373 (China), k-5586 (Sweden), and Primorskaya-86 (Russia) using an LSM 800 confocal laser microscope and an amaZon ion trap SL mass spectrometer. Laser microscopy made it possible to clarify in detail the spatial arrangement of the polyphenolic content of soybeans. Our results revealed that the phenolics of soybean are spatially located mainly in the seed coat and the outer layer of the cotyledon. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used in combination with an amaZon SL BRUKER DALTONIKS ion trap (tandem mass spectrometry) to identify target analytes in soybean extracts. The results of initial studies revealed the presence of 63 compounds, and 45 of the target analytes were identified as polyphenolic compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the 30-m IRAM radio telescope, we observed several massive star forming regions at wavelengths of 3–4 and 2 mm. The temperature of the gas in the sources was estimated from the lines of CH3CCH and from the transitions of the NH3 molecule obtained during observations at the 100-m radio telescope in Effelsberg. As a result, a correlation between the integrated intensity ratios of the J = 1−0 transitions of H13CN–HN13C and the kinetic temperature has been obtained. The obtained results allow us to propose the use of the intensity ratio H13CN–HN13C as a possible temperature indicator of interstellar clouds. We also compared the obtained estimates of the kinetic temperature with the dust temperature . As a result, no significant correlation was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of a study of the state and possibilities of increasing the capacity of grain transshipment in the ports of Ukraine and substantiation based on the developed trend models of forecast volumes of grain cargo transshipment in Berdyansk and Mariupol seaports of the South-Eastern region of Ukraine until 2025 are presented. The studies established the characteristics of grain cargo flows in the seaports of Ukraine, the SWOT analysis revealed the strengths and weaknesses, advantages and threats of the Mariupol Sea Trade Port, developed trend forecast models for grain transshipment volumes in the ports of the South-Eastern region of Ukraine and substantiated the forecast volumes of transshipment grain cargo until 2025. A rather uneven loading of the Mariupol port during the year is shown. August and all summer months are especially critical, when both industrial and agricultural goods need to be exported from the nearby region at the same time. The urgent need to increase the capacity of elevators for the ports of Chornomorsk, Reni and Olvia, as well as the ports of the Sea of Azov, in particular, the construction of a new elevator in the port of Mariupol, which is a timely strategic decision, has been substantiated. It was noted that at present most of the country's seaports are expected to increase the transshipment of food cargo of all kinds. To predict the volumes of transshipment of grain cargo at the Berdyansk and Mariupol seaports, based on the analysis of data from the state enterprise "Administration of the Sea Ports of Ukraine", forecast models (trends) are proposed that contribute to the growth of production capacity and competitiveness of agricultural products of the adjacent agro-industrial region. It is shown that the forecast for the next 2-4 years is optimistic – subject to a good grain harvest, the transshipment of grain cargo by 2025 in the Berdyansk and Mariupol ports can reach 2,000 and 1,300 thousand tons, respectively, that is, increase compared to 2021, respectively, 5 and 1.3 times. The conducted SWOT-analysis made it possible to identify and evaluate the factors influencing decision-making on the possibility of developing the Mariupol seaport. On the basis of analytical data, a long-term forecast was made for the further development of the transport and logistics component of the seaports of the South-East region of Ukraine, which will expand and improve port services aimed at increasing its throughput. Among the most important measures is the construction of an elevator in the Mariupol seaport, which will help increase the quality and safe transportation of agricultural products in the chain from the producer to the end consumer. The main measures aimed at increasing the competitiveness of the Mariupol port were identified, including: construction of complexes for transshipment of grain, containers, vegetable oil; dredging, construction of hydrotechnical bank protection structures; reconstruction of berths 2-4 and 14-15 of the port; reconstruction of the nearby railway station Mariupol-Port. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flow at different angles of attack past a spherically blunted cone, the spherical and conical parts of which are made of different materials is considered. It is shown theoretically that the manufacture of the side surface of such a body from a highly thermally conductive material provides heat removal from its spherical part, which experiences maximum thermal loads and, accordingly, a decrease in the maximum body temperatures in this area. Dimensionless expressions are obtained for estimating the decrease in the maximum temperatures of a conical body in the area of its spherical bluntness, when the body is immersed in a flow at different angles of attack, by choosing the geometry of the body and materials that have the necessary thermophysical characteristics to cover it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing number of the population all around the world suffer from age-associated neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD). This disorder presents different signs of genetic, epigenetic and environmental origin, and molecular, cellular and intracellular dysfunction. At the molecular level, α-synuclein (αSyn) was identified as the principal molecule constituting the Lewy bodies (LB). The gut microbiota participates in the pathogenesis of PD and may contribute to the loss of dopaminergic neurons through mitochondrial dysfunction. The most important pathogenetic link is an imbalance of Ca2+ ions, which is associated with redox imbalance in the cells and increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this review, genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors that cause these disorders and their cause-and-effect relationships are considered. As a constituent of environmental factors, the example of organophosphates (OPs) is also reviewed. The role of endothelial damage in the pathogenesis of PD is discussed, and a 'triple hit hypothesis' is proposed as a modification of Braak's dual hit one. In the absence of effective therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, more and more evidence is emerging about the positive impact of nutritional structure and healthy lifestyle on the state of blood vessels and the risk of developing these diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We constructed an oxygen abundance map and N/O ratio map of the unusually low excitation dwarf irregular galaxy NGC 4163 based on publicly available spectroscopy obtained by the MaNGA survey. We detected auroral emission line [O II]λλ$$ \lambda \lambda $$7320,7330 which allows us to measure chemical abundance by direct Te$$ {\mathrm{T}}_e $$ method. We found that the scatter of the oxygen abundance derived by the strong line method is large. The oxygen abundances 12 + log(O/H) derived by strong line method vary from ∼7.3$$ \sim 7.3 $$ to ∼7.8$$ \sim 7.8 $$ with a mean value of ∼7.55$$ \sim 7.55 $$. The oxygen abundances derived in two apertures of 2 arcseconds by the direct Te$$ {\mathrm{T}}_e $$ method using our measurements of the O+$$ {\mathrm{O}}^{+} $$ auroral line is about 7.8 dex. The nitrogen‐to‐oxygen ratio log(N/O)$$ \log \left(\mathrm{N}/\mathrm{O}\right) $$ of about −1.5 is typical value for a low metallicity galaxy, maybe slightly shifted towards higher N/O ratios with respect to the N/O values in the H II regions in nearby galaxies. An unusual negative trend between log$$ \log $$(N/O) and oxygen abundance is detected. NGC 4163 is a gas‐poor galaxy with a neutral atomic gas mass fraction of around 0.25. The oxygen abundance in the galaxy is only around 0.1 of the oxygen abundance potentially attainable in a galaxy with such a gas mass fraction. The low metallicity coupled with the low gas mass fraction implies that either the metallicity of the interstellar medium of the galaxy was reduced by pristine gas infall in the recent epoch or the evolution of this galaxy was accompanied by strong galactic winds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inclusion of plant components in meat products plays a substantial role in human nutrition, since such inclusions are a source of biologically active substances, promote digestion, and increase the nutritional composition of food products. The purpose of this paper is to review the latest studies on the use of plant components in the production of meat products and search for new ones that can be used as substitutes for artificial additives and meat raw materials. During the study, methods of analysis, comparison, and synthesis of papers of Ukrainian and foreign researchers located in scientometric databases, such as Web of Science, Scopus, and internet resources, are used. During the study of the literature, the main problems of meat products production are considered: spoilage of products during storage, increased content of nitrates and phosphates, development of pathogenic microflora. It is identified that the main centre of research is oxidative processes during the production and storage of finished meat products. It is identified that due to the high content of vitamins, phenolic compounds, and micro- and microelements, plant inclusions can act as inhibitors in such reactions. In the course of the study, it is determined that the most commonly used: peel, pulp, juices, and extracts of fruits and vegetables as plant inclusions. The main task of such inclusions is to replace synthetic inclusions with natural ones to increase the nutritional value and composition of food products. A comparative analysis of the nutritional value and chemical composition of fruits, vegetables, and their juices is conducted to select the most fitting plant inclusions that are common on the Ukrainian market. The indicators are summarised in the table. Replacing artificial antioxidants, preservatives, and other compounds with their natural counterparts is essential for modern manufacturing, as such technological solutions will help make food more functional, healthy, and increase the level of beneficial compounds in food [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new process-based model designed to develop a methodology for the inventory of greenhouse gas emissions from peatbog soils is presented. Within the framework of the general model, a new parameterized formula for calculating methane oxidation in the aerated soil layer and the vegetation layer is proposed. The proposed approach is defined as model-empirical, since the theoretical model relies on the use of values of model parameters determined by a specially developed experimental procedure. A detailed description of the model calibration by means of experimental studies of soil samples is given. Examples of the calculated dependences of methane and carbon dioxide flux densities on the peatbog water level are presented. A comparison with data on methane fluxes measured in boreal bogs demonstrated a satisfactory consistence of the calculated and measured values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large topologically associated domains (TADs) contain irregularly spaced nucleosome clutches, and interactions between such clutches are thought to aid the compaction of these domains. Here, we reconstituted TAD-sized chromatin fibers containing hundreds of nucleosomes on native source human and lambda-phage DNA and compared their mechanical properties at the single-molecule level with shorter '601' arrays with various nucleosome repeat lengths. Fluorescent imaging showed increased compaction upon saturation of the DNA with histones and increasing magnesium concentration. Nucleosome clusters and their structural fluctuations were visualized in confined nanochannels. Force spectroscopy revealed not only similar mechanical properties of the TAD-sized fibers as shorter fibers but also large rupture events, consistent with breaking the interactions between distant clutches of nucleosomes. Though the arrays of native human DNA, lambda-phage and '601' DNA featured minor differences in reconstitution yield and nucleosome stability, the fibers' global structural and mechanical properties were similar, including the interactions between nucleosome clutches. These single-molecule experiments quantify the mechanical forces that stabilize large TAD-sized chromatin domains consisting of disordered, dynamically interacting nucleosome clutches and their effect on the condensation of large chromatin domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]