Search

Macromolecular assembly depends on tightly regulated pairwise binding interactions that are selectively favored at assembly sites while being disfavored in the soluble phase. This selective control can arise due to molecular density-enhanced binding, as recently found for the kinetochore scaffold protein CENP-T. When clustered, CENP-T recruits markedly more Ndc80 complexes than its monomeric counterpart, but the underlying molecular basis remains elusive. Here, we use quantitative in vitro assays to reveal two distinct mechanisms driving this behavior. First, Ndc80 binding to CENP-T is a two-step process: initially, Ndc80 molecules rapidly associate and dissociate from disordered N-terminal binding sites on CENP-T. Over time, these sites undergo maturation, resulting in stronger Ndc80 retention. Second, we find that this maturation transition is regulated by a kinetic barrier that is sensitive to the molecular environment. In the soluble phase, binding site maturation is slow, but within CENP-T clusters, this process is markedly accelerated. Notably, the two Ndc80 binding sites in human CENP-T exhibit distinct maturation rates and environmental sensitivities, which correlate with their different amino acid content and predicted binding conformations. This clustering-induced maturation is evident in dividing human cells, suggesting a distinct regulatory entry point for controlling kinetochore assembly. We propose that the tunable acceleration of binding site maturation by molecular crowding may represent a general mechanism for promoting the formation of macromolecular structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The interaction of the eutectic plasticizer—aqua complex "glycerin–water" with sawdust of larch wood of two fractional compositions was studied: a fine fraction (wood flour) and a coarse fraction (sawdust) with a particle size of 1−3 mm. Methods: The methods of optical microscopy were used to study the surface properties of samples, to measure the dynamic viscosity of spent solutions on a Brookfield viscometer; to measure the VGS retention index, a modified Jaime water retention technique was used. The obtained data are compared with the results of previous studies, in which it was shown that arabinogalactan (AG) performs the functions of a eutectic plasticizer in the structure of larch wood and is in the form of an aqua complex «AG–water». Results and Discussion: It was found that the amount of the attached aqua-complex—"glycerin−water" to the samples of larch sawdust corresponds to the amount of AG previously extracted from sawdust. The process of replacing the aqua-complex "AG−water" with the aqua-complex "glycerin–water" is analyzed on the diagram of relaxation states "two polymers–solvent." The experimental results are interpreted on the basis of previously obtained data on the effect of water and glycerin on the relaxation state of polymer components of wood. Conclusions: The fundamental difference between the two eutectic plasticizers is demonstrated: if, when drying larch wood, the destruction of the aqua-complex "AG−water" leads to the transfer of polymer components of wood from a highly elastic to a glassy state, then when using the aqua-complex "glycerin−water" (VGS), water is removed during drying, and the remaining glycerin ensures the preservation of polymer components of wood in a highly elastic state. The possible technological aspects of the revealed patterns are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants known as obligate aerobes developed different mechanisms to overcome the damage incurred under oxygen limitation. One of the survival strategies to have commonly appeared in hydrophytic plants is the escape strategy, which accelerates plant axial organs' growth in order to escape hypoxic conditions as soon as possible. The present study aimed to distinguish the alterations in coleoptile elongation, viability and metabolic profiles in coleoptiles of slow- and fast-growing rice varieties. All the parameters were tested at 3, 5 and 7 days after sowing, to highlight changes during seedling development in normal and submerged conditions. The obtained results indicated that coleoptile elongation correlated with higher resistance to oxygen deprivation. GS-MS-based metabolic profiling indicated that coleoptiles of the fast-growing cultivar accumulated higher amounts of sugar phosphates, disaccharides, fatty acid derivatives and sterols, which are important for maintaining growth, membrane stability and viability. The slow-growing variety was characterized by a greater abundance of carboxylates, including lactate and phosphoric acid, indicating an energy crisis and cytosol acidification, leading to cell damage and low tolerance. Therefore, a metabolomics approach could be used for phenotyping (chemotyping) in the large-scale screening of newly developed varieties with higher tolerance to oxygen deprivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scope of the work is to develop high-speed and fairly accurate methods for calculating (i) the productivity of wells with multi-stage hydraulic fracturing and (ii) the fluids flow near fractures to fast perform multivariate calculations for inversion framework or optimization problems. For this purpose we propose a method of decomposing the spatial problem of fluid inflow to fractures into two-dimensional problems in the fractures and one-dimensional problems in the reservoir through stream tubes. The structure of the stream tubes is assumed to be fixed and can be determined by a simplified analytical method or from a preliminary numerical solution of a steady state spatial problem. In the simplified method a combination of two typical drainage elements near fractures is considered with the stream-tube parameterization based on exact analytical solutions. This method has satisfactory accuracy and can be used to quickly calculating well productivity in the case of infinite conductivity fractures. Its advantage over known analytical models is demonstrated. Estimates for the applicability of this approach to the finite permeability fractures are also obtained. Computing two-component and two-phase flows, we demonstrate the possibility of increasing the speed of high-precision numerical simulation up to two orders of magnitude due to reducing the dimension of the non-steady transport problem. Parallel algorithms of solving transport problems in independent stream tubes additionally speeds up calculations. The achieved reduction in computer time makes it possible, in principle, to solve inverse problems on high-resolution grids, such as the design of multi-stage hydraulic fracturing or the identification of fracture parameters based on the results of tracer studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The part of the life cycle concerning the vectors of avian haemosporidians of the genus Haemoproteus remains only partially studied. This work presents the results of capturing and analyzing female Culicoides biting midges for Haemoproteus infection, collected on the Curonian Spit of the Baltic Sea. The midges were collected from April to August 2023 in dry and wet habitats of the Spit using light traps. Each parous female midge was identified to the species level and then its salivary glands were isolated to prepare a thin smear. The preparation was examined under a light microscope for the presence of parasite stages infecting the birds (sporozoites). PCR analysis was also conducted to assess the prevalence of infection in the midges and the genetic diversity of Haemoproteus spp. among vectors on the Curonian Spit. As a result, 995 Culicoides females belonging to 12 species were collected over the course of 4 months. The highest number of midges was recorded in June. The dominant species were Culicoides kibunensis and Culicoides pictipennis. Molecular analysis showed that 2.71% (n = 27) of the examined individuals contained DNA of Haemoproteus spp. Parasites were found in midges of C. pictipennis, C. kibunensis, C. segnis, C. obsoletus, C. punctatus, C. reconditus, C. festivipennis, and C. pallidicornis from May 15 to July 13. The DNA of the identified parasites belonged to six genetic lineages of Haemoproteus—Haemoproteus parabelopolskyi hSYAT02, H. asymmetricus hTUPHI01, H. minutus hTURDUS2, H. spp. hBRAM1, hHAWF6, and hHIICT1. Sporozoites of H. parabelopolskyi hSYAT02 were detected in two individuals of C. pictipennis and one of C. kibunensis. Thus, taking into account the previous results of other studies, we have assumed that these two midge species are competent vectors for Haemoproteus parasites on the Curonian Spit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multifunctional fuel additive packages (MFAPs) are critical for the production of modern diesel fuels with improved performance and environmental characteristics. The most significant property of these packages is the cleaning ability determined in relation to fuel injectors, but this property does not determine the advantages of using MFAPs, which are most often formulated by fuel and additive manufacturers as the ability to increase, restore and maintain engine power at a high level. In this study, an instantaneous and reproducible increase in engine power of 3.9–4.4 % was recorded when switching to fuel with an additive, regardless of the composition of diesel fuel and diesel engine design, while the influence of each component of the multifunctional additive on the recorded effect was determined. An assumption was made about the mechanism of power increase associated with an increase in fuel combustion efficiency, and not the cleaning mechanism of the additive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique properties and possible fields of application of submicron powders from refractory oxides obtained by aerosol-spray pyrolysis are considered. Analysis of experimental results obtained by researchers at different times convincingly proves the prospects of using nonagglomerating aerosol submicron spherical powders to produce ceramic materials with a high-density, uniform, and fine-grained structure that does not contain pores. The uniqueness of aerosol powders is due to the presence in particles of a nanopolycrystalline substructure with a developed network of grain boundaries, which during the sintering process, has a significant impact on the efficiency of diffusion mass transfer and promotes to increase the rate and completeness of pore overgrowth. Aerosol powders acquire these properties through the use of ultrasonic spray pyrolysis, where equilibrium physical and chemical processes occur in ultra-small local volumes of aerosol droplets ensuring a high degree of homogeneity of the resulting powder. Being formed ultra-thin substructure of aerosol powders ensures their complete sintering at low temperatures allowing the formation of a high-density, nonporous ceramic material with extreme physical and mechanical characteristics. The practical use of nanostructured aerosol powders does not require the use of operations related to their preliminary preparation (grinding–crushing, classification, purification from impurities, etc.), and, unlike ultrafine powders, such powders are easily molded using traditional methods of powder technology (uniaxial pressing, hot casting, etc.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 450 genetic defects result in inborn errors of immunity (IEI). Their individual prevalence in specific cohorts is influenced by national characteristics and other factors. We present results of genetic testing conducted in 1809 Russian children with IEI. Genetic defects confirming IEI were found in 1112 out of 1809 (61.5%) probands. These defects included variants in 118 single genes (87.9% of patients) and aberrations in 6 chromosomes (11.8%). Notably, three patients harbored pathogenic variants in more than one IEI gene. Large deletions constituted 5% of all defects. Out of the 799 original variants, 350 (44%) have not been described previously. Rare genetic defects (10 or fewer patients per gene) were identified in 20% of the patients. Among 967 probands with germline variants, defects were inherited in an autosomal dominant manner in 29%, X-linked in 34%, and autosomal recessive in 37%. Four females with non-random X-inactivation exhibited symptoms of X-linked diseases (BTK, WAS, CYBB, IKBKG gene defects). Despite a relatively low rate of consanguinity in Russia, 47.9% of autosomal recessive gene defects were found in a homozygous state. Notably, 28% of these cases carried “Slavic” mutation of the NBN gene or known hot-spot mutations in other genes. The diversity of IEI genetic forms and the high frequency of newly described variants underscore the genetic heterogeneity within the Russian IEI group. The new variants identified in this extensive cohort will enrich genetic databases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The expanded newborn screening (NBS) program in the Russian Federation was initiated in 2023, among which severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) is screened using TREC/KREC assays. Here, we report a rare case of a TP63-associated disease identified through this NBS program. Dried blood spots from newborns were initially screened for TREC/KREC levels, and those with values below the cut-off underwent confirmatory testing and further genetic analysis, including whole-exome sequencing (WES). A male newborn was identified with significantly reduced TREC values, indicative of T cell lymphopenia. Genetic analysis revealed a heterozygous NM_003722.5:c.1027C>T variant in TP63, leading to the p.(Arg343Trp) substitution within the DNA binding domain. This mutation has been previously associated with Ectrodactyly–Ectodermal Dysplasia–Cleft lip/palate syndrome (EEC) syndrome and shown to reduce the transactivation activity of TP63 in a dominant-negative manner. This case represents one of the few instances of immune system involvement in a patient with a TP63 mutation, highlighting the need for further investigation into the immunological aspects of TP63-associated disorders. Our findings suggest that comprehensive immunological evaluation should be considered for patients with TP63 mutations to better understand and manage potential immune dysfunctions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fe1-xO, although chemically simple, possesses a complex structural and magnetic phase diagram. The crystal structures of Fe1-xO and its magnetic properties at extreme conditions are still a matter of debate. Here, we performed a systematic investigation on Fe0.94O up to 94 GPa and 1700 K using synchrotron X-ray diffraction and synchrotron Mössbauer source spectroscopy. We observe a transition of Fe0.94O to the monoclinic phases above 40 GPa and at high temperatures and use the group theory analysis of the observed phases to discuss their properties and their relation to the ambient pressure phases. The Mössbauer spectra of the rhombohedral and the room temperature monoclinic phase contain a component attributed to Fe2.5+, caused by the electron exchange between the Fe3+ defect and neighboring Fe2+ atoms. Our results present a structural and magnetic transitional pressure-temperature diagram of Fe1-xO and show the complex physicochemical properties of simple Fe1-xO binary oxide under extreme conditions. This work concerns a systematic study of Fe1-xO employing complementary methods of powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction and synchrotron Mössbauer source spectroscopy up to 94 GPa and 1700 K. It presents a structural and magnetic transitional pressure-temperature diagram of Fe1-xO and demonstrates the complex physicochemical properties of simple Fe1-xO binary oxide under extreme conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The predictive accuracy of total metal content in contaminated soils for determining phytotoxicity has long been debated. Attempts to determine the “phytoavailable” metal fraction have yielded inconsistent results. Further complications arise in contaminated soils containing multiple metals, making interpretation of results difficult. Therefore, our study focused on an agricultural field in El Melón, Valparaíso region, central Chile, which is predominantly contaminated with copper due to the destruction of a tailings dam by the 1965 earthquake. Our primary objective was to determine which soil copper pool, either soluble or total, controls copper phytotoxicity at this unique site. Total copper ranged from 76 to 1672 mg/kg, while soluble copper (extracted by 0.1 M KNO3) ranged from 0.11 to 0.34 mg/kg. Using a prolonged 128-day ecotoxicity assessment with pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), our results indicate that total soil copper content emerges as a robust predictor of various plant responses. Regressions showed significant relationships for shoot copper content (R2 = 0.77, P < 0.001), shoot dry weight (R2 = 0.56, P = 0.02), xylem thickness (R2 = 0.33, P = 0.08), and leaf thickness (R2 = 0.29, P = 0.10). Conversely, the influence of soluble copper concentration on pepper responses and shoot copper content was not statistically significant (P > 0.1). Our discussion underscores that plant element uptake depends not only on the concentrations in the soil solution (intensity), but also on the total element content in the soil (quantity) and its supply kinetics (capacity). Therefore, the total metal content of the soil was found to be a more reliable predictor of plant responses than the soluble copper fraction in the soil. The anatomical changes observed in this study represent, to the best of our knowledge, the first report of metal-induced stress in Capsicum annuum. From this novel perspective, the results of our study are significant, especially for plant water relations, given their dependence on xylem and leaf thickness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern microtechnology methods are widely used to create neural networks on a chip with a connection architecture demonstrating properties of modularity and hierarchy similar to brain networks. Such in vitro networks serve as a valuable model for studying the interplay of functional architecture within modules, their activity, and the effectiveness of inter-module interaction. In this study, we use a two-chamber microfluidic platform to investigate functional connectivity and global activity in hierarchically connected modular neural networks. We found that the strength of functional connections within the module and the profile of network spontaneous activity determine the effectiveness of inter-modular interaction and integration activity in the network. The direction of intermodular activity propagation configures the different densities of inhibitory synapses in the network. The developed microfluidic platform holds the potential to explore function-structure relationships and efficient information processing in two- or multilayer neural networks, in both healthy and pathological states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of an experimental study of combustion of diesel fuel at atomization by a steam jet and fuel presence in the mixing and gas generation zone at different temperatures of the air supplied to the burner chamber. The research aim is to develop a method of burning liquid hydrocarbon fuel atomized by a jet of superheated steam as a promising approach to increasing the combustion efficiency and reducing the content of harmful substances in combustion products. When the temperature of the primary air was increased to 200°, the flame temperature was found to grow, which led to reduction of the concentration of CO in the combustion products and increase in the NO content. After this value, no changes in the content of harmful substances were observed, which is probably due to the complete evaporation of the fuel in the gas generation chamber due to the heat of the supplied air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium basal rot of onions causes large losses during storage of commercial production of onion bulbs, which in turn adversely affects the food market situation in the off-season period. There are no data on the composition of Fusarium spp., which causes onion basal rot in the Russian Federation. Therefore, our research was aimed at Fusarium spp. causing onion basal rot in the Moscow Region of the Russian Federation and studying the pathogenicity of these species for the host plant. We studied 20 isolates of Fusarium spp. collected from affected mature bulbs and seed bulbs. Species identification of the isolates was carried out using analysis of the nucleotide sequences of the three genetic loci ITS, tef1 and rpb2, as well as was based on the macro- and micromorphological characteristics of these isolates. As a result, the species F. annulatum (F. fujikuroi species complex), F. oxysporum (F. oxysporum species complex), F. acuminatum (F. tricinctum species complex) and F. solani (F. solani species complex) were identified to involve in the pathogenesis of Fusarium basal rot. We have shown for the first time that the species F. annulatum and F. acuminatum are highly aggressive and capable of causing onion basal rot. The predominant species were F. annulatum and F. oxysporum. The proportion of these species in the total number of analyzed isolates was 60% and 25%, respectively. The largest proportion (33%) of highly aggressive on mature bulbs isolates was found in the species F. annulatum. The data obtained provide practical insights for developing strategies to manage Fusarium fungi responsible for onion basal rot Moscow Region of the Russian Federation. In addition, data about species composition and aggressive isolates may be used in onion breeding for resistance to Fusarium basal rot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The article is dedicated to the study of the efficiency of complex of physical exercises on the dynamics of work of the cardiovascular system in primary school-age children with. Evaluation of the efficiency of influence of the complex of physical exercises on the dynamics of work of the cardiovascular system of children with scoliosis. Materials and Methods: 30 children (18 boys and 12 girls) with scoliosis, who performed the complex program of physical exercises, were examined. The age range of children is from 7 to 10. The activity of the cardiovascular system was evaluated based on the parameters of pulse pressure, stroke volume, maximal and relative aerobic capacity, pulse tolerance limit, and mean aortic pressure. Results: A possible increase in all parameters of the cardiovascular system after physical exercises was found. Increase in Maximum aerobic capacity (200,01±11,27 against 94,11±6,79 in boys; 210,01±7,90 against 64,32±1,22 in girls; (p<0,05) and relative Maximum aerobic capacity (5,97±0,51 against 3,57±0,79 in boys; 6,81±0,67 against 2,62±0,19 in girls; p<0,05) was shown. A possible increase in aortic pressure after physical exercises can indicate the increased pressure on a child's organism. Conclusion: Scoliosis progression in children forms increased pressure on the work of the cardiovascular system, which manifests in the increase of pulse, mean aortic pressure, and stroke volume, and differs depending on age and sex and requires the development of the individual rehabilitation plan with consideration of found changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work the combustion characteristics of liquid hydrocarbons when atomized by a high speed air jet were studied, using diesel fuel as an example. This approach to spraying liquid fuel in combustion processes has a number of advantages over traditional spraying: the ability to supply fuel with a low degree of purification, reducing the chance of coking of fuel equipment. Using an atmospheric burner device with natural air supply into the mixing chamber, the dependences of the composition of intermediate and final combustion products were studied, and the flame temperature was measured at various fuel flow rates and parameters of the atomizing air jet (flow rate, temperature). A comparison of the obtained characteristics was made for equivalent modes at different temperatures of the supplied atomizer. It was found that when heated air is used as a sprayer, higher flame temperatures are ensured, which ensures more complete fuel burnout and a decrease in CO concentration in the flue gases, but at the same time, a slight increase in NOx was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Audiovisual news is a critical cultural phenomenon that has been influencing audience worldviews for more than a hundred years. To understand historical trends in multimodal audiovisual news, we need to explore them longitudinally using large sets of data. Despite promising developments in film history, computational video analysis, and other relevant fields, current research streams have limitations related to the scope of data used, the systematism of analysis, and the modalities and elements to be studied in audiovisual material and its metadata. Simultaneously, each disciplinary approach contributes significant input to research reducing these limitations. We therefore advocate for combining the strengths of several disciplines. Here we propose a multidisciplinary framework for systematically studying large collections of historical audiovisual news to gain a coherent picture of their temporal dynamics, cultural diversity, and potential societal effects across several quantitative and qualitative dimensions of analysis. By using newsreels as an example of such complex historically formed data, we combine the context crucial to qualitative approaches with the systematicity and ability to cover large amounts of data from quantitative methods. The framework template for historical newsreels is exemplified by a case study of the "News of the Day" newsreel series produced in the Soviet Union during 1944–1992. The proposed framework enables a more nuanced analysis of longitudinal collections of audiovisual news, expanding our understanding of the dynamics of global knowledge cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The problem of infertility treatment currently has medical, socio-demographic and economic significance. Progress in the field of reproductive technologies has improved the situation, but the issue has not yet been completely resolved. Infertility is diagnosed in 8-12% of couples of reproductive age; in Russia this figure exceeds 15%, and, according to WHO, it is a critical level. It is known that immunological factors can disrupt the reproductive process at the stages of folliculogenesis, ovulation, and implantation. These include vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and others. The aim of this study: to assess the levels of VEGF and TNF-α in women with different outcomes of hormonal stimulation of the ovaries during the treatment of infertility using ART methods. Materials and methods: Based on voluntary informed consent, a simple open comparative randomized study was conducted with the participation of 71 women in the Volgograd region undergoing infertility treatment using ART methods. Inclusion criteria were the age up to 42 years inclusive and the anti-Mullerian hormone level over 1.2 ng/mL. Before ovulation stimulation with gonadotropins, data on ovarian reserve parameters were collected. Based on the results of stimulation, women were divided into 3 groups: Group 1 -- with high and normal ovarian response -- 10 or more oocytes were obtained (control group); Group 2 -- with suboptimal ovarian response -- 5-9 oocytes received; Group 3 -- with a poor response -- 4 or less oocytes were received. After venipuncture, which was performed in preparation for standard anesthesia, VEGF and TNF-α were quantitatively determined in the blood plasma using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The study results showed a statistically significant difference in VEGF levels in follicular fluid and serum between the groups of women with high/normal, suboptimal and poor ovarian response to gonadotropin stimulation. A higher level of this marker was observed in the serum of patients with high/ normal and poor response -- 48.15±4.23 and 41.29±8.26 pg/mL, respectively, while in women with a suboptimal response a lower VEGF level was determined --29.19±3.41 pg/mL. The levels of VEGF in the follicular fluid of women included in the high/normal, suboptimal and poor response groups were 35.95±3.20; 27.42±2.53 and 41.22±3.23 pg/mL, respectively (Table 1). As for TNF-α, its serum level in women with a high and normal response was lower than in the patients with a suboptimal response. In the follicular fluid of patients of group 3, there was a higher level of TNF-α, compared to groups 1 and 2, where the indicator was almost the same. However, the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Thus, VEGF is directly involved in the mechanisms of regulation of oocyte maturation and can be not only a marker of poor ovarian response, but also a predictor of unsatisfactory results of ovarian stimulation in the treatment of infertility using ART methods. TNF-alpha in follicular fluid does not have a statistically significant effect on follicle development in the treatment of infertility using assisted reproductive technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Newborn screening (NBS) for severe inborn errors of immunity (IEI), affecting T lymphocytes, and implementing measurements of T cell receptor excision circles (TREC) has been shown to be effective in early diagnosis and improved prognosis of patients with these genetic disorders. Few studies conducted on smaller groups of newborns report results of NBS that also include measurement of kappa-deleting recombination excision circles (KREC) for IEI affecting B lymphocytes. A pilot NBS study utilizing TREC/KREC detection was conducted on 202,908 infants born in 8 regions of Russia over a 14-month period. One hundred thirty-four newborns (0.66‰) were NBS positive after the first test and subsequent retest, 41% of whom were born preterm. After lymphocyte subsets were assessed via flow cytometry, samples of 18 infants (0.09‰) were sent for whole exome sequencing. Confirmed genetic defects were consistent with autosomal recessive agammaglobulinemia in 1/18, severe combined immunodeficiency – in 7/18, 22q11.2DS syndrome – in 4/18, combined immunodeficiency – in 1/18 and trisomy 21 syndrome – in 1/18. Two patients in whom no genetic defect was found met criteria of (severe) combined immunodeficiency with syndromic features. Three patients appeared to have transient lymphopenia. Our findings demonstrate the value of implementing combined TREC/KREC NBS screening and inform the development of policies and guidelines for its integration into routine newborn screening programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the possibility of using 4-hexylresorcinol to increase the efficiency of anti-mycobacterial chemotherapy. In an in vitro experiment, 4-hexylresorcinol increased the efficiency of rifampicin, kanamycin, and isoniazid against Mycobacterium smegmatis by 3-5 times. Experiments in sanitation of BALB/c mice infected with M. smegmatis showed the best efficacy of the isoniazid and 4-hexylresorcinol combination in comparison with isoniazid monotherapy. The growth-inhibiting activity of the combination of antibiotic rifabutin with 4-hexylresorcinol was shown on 6 strains of M. tuberculosis. A 2-fold decrease in the minimum inhibitory concentration of this antibiotic in the presence of half-minimum inhibitory concentration of 4-hexylresorcinol was demonstrated for monoresistant strain M. tuberculosis 5360/42Hr. On the mouse model of experimental tuberculosis caused by M. tuberculosis H37Rv, a 5-fold decrease in lung contamination and more rapid complete cure were achieved in animals treated with the combination of rifabutin and 4-hexylresorcinol in comparison with rifabutin monotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study touches upon the characteristics of liquid (diesel) fuel combustion in a high-velocity jet of superheated steam in the combustor of a hot water boiler, the thermal power of the burner being approximately equal to 40 kW. It is shown that the burner based on the steam fuel atomizing technology meets modern technical and environmental standards and is quite advantageous in relation to its analogs. It is revealed adding steam makes it possible to cause a severalfold decrease in CO and NO concentrations in combustion products. At the same time, the amount of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide emissions when using this burner is quite smaller (2.5- and 1.4-fold, respectively) than when using a Weishaupt burner. Recommendations for optimizing the operation of such devices are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses a rare case of a previously healthy male patient who developed both acute pericarditis and uveitis as a presentation of meningococcal septicemia. The patient experienced symptoms such as chest pain, fever, sore throat, fatigue, myalgia, and blurred vision in his right eye. Medical examinations revealed atrial fibrillation, elevated troponin I levels, systemic inflammatory response, and myopericarditis. The patient was treated with antibiotics and showed significant clinical improvement. The case highlights the importance of considering rare extra-meningeal manifestations of meningococcal infection and conducting thorough investigations. [Extracted from the article]

This paper presents the results of studies on silicon carbide production by self-propagating high-temperature synthesis. To provide the necessary energy for the process, the synthesis was performed using magnesium-thermal reduction of silicon dioxide in an argon atmosphere. This study was characterized by the use of carbon fibers as a carbon source. It was determined that during magnesium-thermal synthesis, hexagonal particles with a size of 1 – 2 μm and a thickness of approximately 0.2 – 0.3 μm were mainly formed. X-ray phase analysis showed the predominant formation of a cubic syngony of silicon carbide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dormant forms of causative agents of healthcare-acquired infections Moraxella catarrhalis and Kocuria rhizophila have been obtained. Dormant forms cells retained viability during long-term storage (≈107 CFU/ml after 2 months) under provocative conditions (lack of nutrient sources; temperature 20°C, oxygen access) were characterized by heat resistance, and acquired special ultrastructural organization typical of dormant forms (compacted nucleoid, thickened cell wall). They were also capable of forming alternative phenotypes (dominant and small colony variants) in a new cycle of germination in a fresh medium. These results demonstrate that the dormant forms can be responsible both for survival in the environment and persistence in the host organism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Many organisms rely on mineral nutrients taken directly from the soil or aquatic environment, and therefore, developed mechanisms to cope with the limitation of a given essential nutrient. For example, photosynthetic cells have well-defined responses to phosphate limitation, including the replacement of cellular membrane phospholipids with non-phosphorous lipids. Under phosphate starvation, phospholipids in extraplastidial membranes are replaced by betaine lipids in microalgae. In higher plants, the synthesis of betaine lipid is lost, driving plants to other strategies to cope with phosphate starvation where they replace their phospholipids by glycolipids. Results: The aim of this work was to evaluate to what extent betaine lipids and PC lipids share physicochemical properties and could substitute for each other. By neutron diffraction experiments and dynamic molecular simulation of two synthetic lipids, the dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and the dipalmitoyl-diacylglyceryl-N,N,N-trimethylhomoserine (DP-DGTS), we found that DP-DGTS bilayers are thicker than DPPC bilayers and therefore are more rigid. Furthermore, DP-DGTS bilayers are more repulsive, especially at long range, maybe due to unexpected unscreened electrostatic contribution. Finally, DP-DGTS bilayers could coexist in the gel and fluid phases. Conclusion: The different properties and hydration responses of PC and DGTS provide an explanation for the diversity of betaine lipids observed in marine organisms and for their disappearance in seed plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Among the genomic biomarkers, high microsatellite instability (MSI-H) has received FDA approval for selecting patients for immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors. In this regard, methods for accurate testing of MSI-H for a wide range of tumors are required. In this study, we developed an MSI testing method based on NGS of 81 microsatellite repeats and assessed its accuracy in 294 tumors from three cancer types. The method achieved the accuracy of classification of MSI-H and MSS tumors with AUC 0.99. The method can be integrated into the procedure of genomic profiling of tumors in standard clinic practice. Due to the use of a relatively large number of microsatellite markers, the method provides a quantitative assessment of MSI status and can be used in studies of the significance of MSI load as a prognostic marker of treatment outcome. Purpose: To develop a method for testing the MSI based on targeted NGS. Methods: Based on the results of previous studies, 81 microsatellite loci with high variability in MSI-H tumors were selected, and a method for calculating the MSI score was developed. Using the MSI score, we defined the MSI status in endometral (162), colon (153), and stomach (190) cancers. Accuracy of the MSI scores was evaluated by comparison with MMR immunohistochemistry for 137 endometrium (63 dMMR and 74 pMMR), 76 colon (29 dMMR and 47 pMMR), and 81 stomach (8 dMMR and 73 pMMR) cancers. Results: Classification of MSS and MSI-H tumors was performed with AUC (0.99), sensitivity (92%), and specificity (98%) for all tumors without division into types. The accuracy of MSI testing in endometrial cancer was lower than for stomach and colon cancer (0.98, 87%, and 100%, respectively). The use of 27 loci only, the most informative for endometrial cancer, increased the overall accuracy (1.00, 99%, and 99%). Comparison of MSI score values in 505 tumors showed that MSI score is significantly higher in colon (p < 10−5) and stomach (p = 0.008) cancer compared with endometrial cancer. Conclusion: The MSI score accurately determines MSI status for endometrial, colon, and stomach cancers and can be used to quantify the degree of MSI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oleic acid is a monounsaturated fatty acid increasing oil oxidative stability. High content of oleic acid is thus a valuable trait in oilseed crops. Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) normally accumulates linoleic acid as a major fatty acid, but a mutant expressing a high oleic phenotype form was previously obtained by chemical mutagenesis and mapped on the sunflower genome. Several studies suggest the presence of additional genes involved in the control of the high content of oleic acid, with their expression possibly depending on the genetic background. To test this hypothesis, we performed a QTL mapping of the high oleic acid trait within two independent F2 crosses involving lines with contrasting oleic acid content from the Pustovoit All-Russia Research Institute of Oil Crops (VNIIMK) collection. We applied genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) to construct single nucleotide polymorphism-based genetic maps and performed QTL mapping using quantitative and qualitative encoding for oleic acid content. Our results support the finding that the oleic acid content in the assessed crosses is controlled by one major effect locus. However, different dominant/recessive effects of the major locus were reported for both crosses. Additionally, a possible translocation between chromosome 7 and 14 was reported in one assessed cross. We defined a set of single nucleotide polymorphism markers for each cross which could be used for marker-assisted selection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we consider a class of generalized nonlinear hyperbolic partial differential equations of the Hunter-Saxton-Calogero type, which arise in the theory of control of liquid crystals and in the control of unsteady gas flows. We found such conditions that the original equation can be reduced to linear one by contact transformations. The general exact multivalued solutions of the Hunter-Saxton-Calogero equation are found. The obtained solutions are visualized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aviation gasoline is a fuel for spark-ignition piston internal combustion engines, which are usually used in light aircraft (small aviation and general aviation). This technique is widely used for regional and interregional transportation, for the initial training and retraining of aviation staff, for private use, for agricultural purposes, for the development of aviation sports and tourism, and for combat and rescue operations. This article gives some estimates of the production and consumption of aviation gasoline in the EU, North and South America, Asia–Pacific, Africa, and CIS countries. Export possibilities and the reliance on import within different regions are analyzed. Economic indicators for aviation gasoline are calculated by assessing the share of its production in the GDP and per capita consumption. In the context of the transition to unleaded aviation gasoline, the structure of the piston aviation fleet and its readiness for the transition are considered. The paper also analyzes the following existing components of unleaded aviation gasoline: technical capabilities and promising components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shale and tight oil reservoirs, with horizontal wells and hydraulic fractures, typically have a recovery ratio of around 10%. The exploration of tight oil and shale in North America has proven economically viable, thanks to advancements, such as horizontal wells, hydraulic fracturing, and other enhanced oil recovery techniques. Taking inspiration from the global experience (the North American shale experience), the exploration and development of the West Siberian tight and shale reserves was more focused on the reported best practices of the exploration of North American shale. In this study, the advance in the specific areas of shale and tight oil exploration was considered, with more emphasis placed on the progress in the exploration of West Siberian shales. According to the review literature, thermal enhanced recovery methods capable of converting organic matter into hydrocarbons were studied more than other methods of enhanced oil recovery. Aligned with global trends, there has been a growing focus on research aiming to integrate data-driven approaches and pore-scale simulations to enhance recovery from tight and shale formations. Multiple pilot studies have showcased promising prospects for implementing multistage hydraulic fracturing. Nevertheless, there are limited pilot studies dedicated to enhanced oil recovery methods for West Siberian shale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article substantiates the design solutions by creating a three-dimensional groundwater flow model to obtain predictive water inflows into the designed vertical and horizontal drainage systems for the periods of construction and operation of hydroelectric power plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with Barenblat's model of non-stationary two-phase filtration of oil and water with active reagents. This model describes frontal It is described by the first order hyperbolic system of two nonlinear partial differential equations. We show that this system is equivalent to the symplectic Monge–Ampère equation. In the case of carbonized water this equation is contact equivalent to the linear wave equation. This gives us a possibility to construct exact multivalued solutions of Barenblat's equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]