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The article focuses on the erection of residential buildings from large-sized volumetric blocks as a modern and progressive trend in housing construction. It is noted that one of the major tasks in the development of this promising area of construction is to justify the choice of type of volumetric blocks. The authors propose a method of type formation that, depending on the set objective, can either be composed of large-sized volumetric blocks only, or include combinations of large-sized and smaller-sized blocks. The article details the steps and procedure of modeling the type of volumetric blocks, which comprises three stages. At the first stage, the parameters of boundary blocks are determined, and then, by changing these parameters step by step, the parameters of blocks between the boundary blocks are set. The second stage involves developing options for the placement of blocks in accordance with the space and layout design solutions employed in the residential buildings to be erected. At the third stage, blocks are selected, and their actual type is approved. The stages of modeling of the volumetric blocks type are illustrated by practical examples, tables, and figures.

Inflammatory bowel diseases are extremely common throughout the world. However, in most cases, it is asymptomatic at the initial stage. Therefore, it is important to develop non-invasive diagnostic methods that allow identification of the IBD risks in a timely manner. It is well known that gastrointestinal microbiota secrete volatile compounds (VOCs) and their composition may change in IBD. We propose a non-invasive method to identify the dynamics of IBD development in the acute and remission stage at the level of VOCs in model of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) with chemically induced colitis measured by headspace GC/MS (HS GC/MS). Methods: VOCs profile was identified using a headspace GC/MS (HS GC/MS). GC/MS data were processed using MetaboAnalyst 5.0 and GraphPad Prism 8.0.1 software. The disease activity index (DAI) and histological method were used to assess intestinal inflammation. The peak of intestinal inflammation activity was reached on day 7, according to the disease activity index. Histological examination data showed changes in the intestine due to different stages of inflammation. As the acute inflammation stage was reached, the metabolomic profile also underwent changes, especially at the short-fatty acids level. A higher relative amounts of acetic acid (p value < 0.025) and lower relative amounts of propanoic acid (p value < 0.0005), butanoic acid (p value < 0.005) and phenol 4-methyl- (p value = 0.053) were observed in DSS7 group on day 7 compared to the control group. In remission stage, disease activity indexes decreased, and the histological picture also improved. But metabolome changes continued despite the withdrawal of the DSS examination. A lower relative amounts of propanoic acid (p value < 0.025), butanoic acid (p value < 0.0005), pentanoic acid (p value < 0.0005), and a significant de-crease of hexanoic acid (p value < 0.0005) relative amounts were observed in the DSS14 group compared to the control group on day 14. A model of DSS-induced colitis in rats was successfully implemented for metabolomic assessment of different stages of inflammation. We demonstrated that the ratios of volatile compounds change in response to DSS before the appearance of standard signs of inflammation, determined by DAI and histological examination. Changes in the volatile metabolome persisted even after visual intestine repair and it confirms the high sensitivity of the microbiota to the damaging effects of DSS. The use of HS GC/MS may be an important addition to existing methods for assessing inflammation at early stages.

Myocardial remodeling is an inevitable risk factor for cardiac arrhythmias and can potentially be corrected with cell therapy. Although the generation of cardiac cells ex vivo is possible, specific approaches to cell replacement therapy remain unclear. On the one hand, adhesive myocyte cells must be viable and conjugated with the electromechanical syncytium of the recipient tissue, which is unattainable without an external scaffold substrate. On the other hand, the outer scaffold may hinder cell delivery, for example, making intramyocardial injection difficult. To resolve this contradiction, we developed molecular vehicles that combine a wrapped (rather than outer) polymer scaffold that is enveloped by the cell and provides excitability restoration (lost when cells were harvested) before engraftment. It also provides a coating with human fibronectin, which initiates the process of graft adhesion into the recipient tissue and can carry fluorescent markers for the external control of the non-invasive cell position. In this work, we used a type of scaffold that allowed us to use the advantages of a scaffold-free cell suspension for cell delivery. Fragmented nanofibers (0.85 µm ± 0.18 µm in diameter) with fluorescent labels were used, with solitary cells seeded on them. Cell implantation experiments were performed in vivo. The proposed molecular vehicles made it possible to establish rapid (30 min) electromechanical contact between excitable grafts and the recipient heart. Excitable grafts were visualized with optical mapping on a rat heart with Langendorff perfusion at a 0.72 ± 0.32 Hz heart rate. Thus, the pre-restored grafts’ excitability (with the help of a wrapped polymer scaffold) allowed rapid electromechanical coupling with the recipient tissue. This information could provide a basis for the reduction of engraftment arrhythmias in the first days after cell therapy.

The study is aimed at developing a tool for the formation of a rational set of machines for excavation work in urban areas. The instrument to be developed will affect the main project parameters, such as the project cost and term of implementation. An expert survey was launched among the leading specialists of the construction industry to make a set of significant parameters and identify the weighting ratio, since both are required to select the machines for rational sets designated for excavation work in urban environments. The equation of multiple regression was solved to determine the extent of significance by calculating Fisher’s ratio. This equation shows that significant parameters are inter-related and can be used in this method. A method for making a rational set of machines, designated for the performance of excavation work in urban environments, has the following stages: at the first stage, the choice of the necessary excavation work at the construction site is made; at the second stage, limitations, arising at the site, are introduced; at the third stage, the minimum number of major machines is determined; at the fourth stage, a rational set of machines is made step by step. If implemented, this study demonstrates the high economic efficiency of the proposed method of expanding excavation work in urban environments. The study shows that the use of a mathematical model will boost the project’s success, as it demonstrates the critical factors of risk at the initial stage of the life cycle of a construction project.

We have considered the dependences of the specific (κ) and molar (Λ) electrical conductivity (EC) of aqueous electrolyte solutions on the molar concentration and temperature for sulfates of divalent metals (Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd) in a wide concentration range at 5 – 35°C. To describe such systems we propose a modified cubic equation (MCE): κ = C∙c3k + Q∙c2k + L∙ck, where C, Q, L, k are empirical parameters, fixed parameter k = 0.5 has been considered as well. From the correlation between the calculated parameters we assume that two of them are sufficient. The maximum of specific EC (κm) and the corresponding concentration (cm) have been calculated. We also assume that the systems under study are isomorphic in the normalized coordinates (κ/κm via c/cm). For the dependences like κ = A∙cx + B∙cy it is shown that x = 1 is a good approximation over the generalized sample. Empirical dependences with y = 5/4 and y = 4/3 are also considered. It is shown that they give comparable results to MCE. The proposed approach is tested on EC data of aqueous solutions of some salts. Similar two-parameter κ(κm, cm; c) equations of other authors have been considered. In order to describe the dependence of the specific EC on temperature and concentration we propose an equation κ = (A25 + a∙θ)∙c – (B25 + b∙θ)∙c5/4, where θ is the reduced temperature and A25, a, B25 and b are empirical parameters. Also a generalized equation for the molar EC of concentrated electrolyte solutions is proposed: Λ(Λ*, Λm, cm; c), where Λ* is the effective limiting molar EC, and Λm is the molar EC at c = cm. It was found that Λ* and Λm depend linearly on temperature. The average value of the exponent is close to 1/3, which brings the generalized molar EC equation closer to the equation derived from the quasi-lattice model of electrolyte solutions.

Germanium–tin nanoparticles are promising materials for near- and mid-infrared photonics thanks to their tunable optical properties and compatibility with silicon technology. This work proposes modifying the spark discharge method to produce Ge/Sn aerosol nanoparticles during the simultaneous erosion of germanium and tin electrodes. Since tin and germanium have a significant difference in the potential for electrical erosion, an electrical circuit damped for one period was developed to ensure the synthesis of Ge/Sn nanoparticles consisting of independent germanium and tin crystals of different sizes, with the ratio of the atomic fraction of tin to germanium varying from 0.08 ± 0.03 to 0.24 ± 0.07. We investigated the elemental and phase composition, size, morphology, and Raman and absorbance spectra of the nanoparticles synthesized under different inter-electrode gap voltages and the presence of additional thermal treatment directly in a gas flow at 750 °C. The research shows that the in-flow thermal treatment of aerosol-agglomerated nanoparticles produced special individual bicrystalline Janus Ge/Sn nanoparticles with an average size of 27 nm and a decreasing absorption function with a changing slope at 700 nm.

The hippocampus is known as the brain region implicated in visuospatial processes and processes associated with learning and short- and long-term memory. An important functional characteristic of the hippocampus is lifelong neurogenesis. A decrease or increase in adult hippocampal neurogenesis is associated with a wide range of neurological diseases. We have previously shown that in adult male mice with a chronic positive fighting experience in daily agonistic interactions, there is an increase in the proliferation of progenitor neurons and the production of young neurons in the dentate gyrus (in hippocampus), and these neurogenesis parameters remain modified during 2 weeks of deprivation of further fights. The aim of the present work was to identify hippocampal genes associated with neurogenesis and involved in the formation of behavioral features in mice with the chronic experience of wins in aggressive confrontations, as well as during the subsequent 2-week deprivation of agonistic interactions. Hippocampal gene expression profiles were compared among three groups of adult male mice: chronically winning for 20 days in the agonistic interactions, chronically victorious for 20 days followed by the 2-week deprivation of fights, and intact (control) mice. Neurogenesis-associated genes were identified whose transcription levels changed during the social confrontations and in the subsequent period of deprivation of fights. In the experimental males, some of these genes are associated with behavioral traits, including abnormal aggression-related behavior, an abnormal anxiety-related response, and others. Two genes encoding transcription factors (Nr1d1 and Fmr1) were likely to contribute the most to the between-group differences. It can be concluded that the chronic experience of wins in agonistic interactions alters hippocampal levels of transcription of multiple genes in adult male mice. The transcriptome changes get reversed only partially after the 2-week period of deprivation of fights. The identified differentially expressed genes associated with neurogenesis and involved in the control of a behavior/neurological phenotype can be used in further studies to identify targets for therapeutic correction of the neurological disturbances that develop in winners under the conditions of chronic social confrontations.

A study of the molecular magnetism of the hydrated salts [Ln(H2O)6Cl2]Cl (Ln = Gd (1Gd), Dy (1Dy), Er (1Er), Yb (1Yb)) and lanthanide chloride complexes with 2,2′;6′,2″-terpyridine (terpy) synthesized on their basis, [Ln(H2O)4(terpy)Cl]Cl2·3H2O (Ln = Gd (2Gd), Dy (2Dy), Er (2Er), and Yb (2Yb), was carried out. It was found that both the initial hydrated chlorides containing Dy, Er, Yb, and their derivatives with terpyridine exhibit the properties of single-molecule magnets. For the complexes with terpyridine, the values of the remagnetization barriers increase from Er to Dy, while for the aquachlorides, the corresponding values increase in the series Ueff (1Dy) < Ueff (1Er). It was found that magnetic relaxation in Yb complexes mostly proceeds according to the Raman mechanism.

Mn5Ge3 epitaxial thin films previously grown mainly on Ge substrate have been synthesized on Si(111) using the co-deposition of Mn and Ge at a temperature of 390 °C. RMS roughness decreases by almost a factor of two in the transition from a completely polycrystalline to a highly ordered growth mode. This mode has been stabilized by changing the ratio of the Mn and Ge evaporation rate from the stoichiometric in the buffer layer. Highly ordered Mn5Ge3 film has two azimuthal crystallite orientations, namely Mn5Ge3 (001) [1-10] and Mn5Ge3 (001) [010] matching Si(111)[-110]. Lattice parameters derived a (7.112(1) Å) and c (5.027(1) Å) are close to the bulk values. Considering all structural data, we proposed a double buffer layer model suggesting that all layers have identical crystal structure with P6₃/mcm symmetry similar to Mn5Ge3, but orientation and level of Si concentration are different, which eliminates 8% lattice mismatch between Si and Mn5Ge3 film. Mn5Ge3 film on Si(111) demonstrates no difference in magnetic properties compared to other reported films. TC is about 300 K, which implies no significant excess of Mn or Si doping. It means that the buffer layer not only serves as a platform for the growth of the relaxed Mn5Ge3 film, but is also a good diffusion barrier.

In 2021, the fifth edition of the WHO classification of tumors of the central nervous system (WHO CNS5) was published. Molecular features of tumors were directly incorporated into the diagnostic decision tree, thus affecting both the typing and staging of the tumor. It has changed the traditional approach, based solely on histopathological classification. The Cancer Genome Atlas project (TCGA) is one of the main sources of molecular information about gliomas, including clinically annotated transcriptomic and genomic profiles. Although TCGA itself has played a pivotal role in developing the WHO CNS5 classification, its proprietary databases still retain outdated diagnoses which frequently appear incorrect and misleading according to the WHO CNS5 standards. We aimed to define the up-to-date annotations for gliomas from TCGA’s database that other scientists can use in their research. Based on WHO CNS5 guidelines, we developed an algorithm for the reclassification of TCGA glioma samples by molecular features. We updated tumor type and diagnosis for 828 out of a total of 1122 TCGA glioma cases, after which available transcriptomic and methylation data showed clustering features more consistent with the updated grouping. We also observed better stratification by overall survival for the updated diagnoses, yet WHO grade 3 IDH-mutant oligodendrogliomas and astrocytomas are still indistinguishable. We also detected altered performance in the previous diagnostic transcriptomic molecular biomarkers (expression of SPRY1, CRNDE and FREM2 genes and FREM2 molecular pathway) and prognostic gene signature (FN1, ITGA5, OSMR, and NGFR) after reclassification. Thus, we conclude that further efforts are needed to reconsider glioma molecular biomarkers.

A new 1D-coordination polymer [Co(Piv)2(NH2(CH2)6NH2)]n (1, Piv is Me3CCO2− anion) was obtained, the mononuclear fragments {Co(O2CR)2} within which are linked by μ-bridged molecules of hexamethylenediamine (NH2(CH2)6NH2). For this compound, two different monoclinic C2/c (α-1) and P2/n (β-1) phases were found at room temperature by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, with a similar structure of chains and their packages in unit cells. The low-temperature phase (γ-1) of crystal 1 at 150 K corresponds to the triclinic space group P-1. As the temperature decreases, the structural phase transition (SPT) in the α-1 and β-1 crystals is accompanied by an increase in the crystal packing density caused by the rearrangements of both H-bonds and the nearest ligand environment of the cobalt atom (“octahedral CoN2O4 around the metal center at room temperature” → “pseudo-tetrahedral CoN2O2 at 150 K”). The SPT was confirmed by DSC in the temperature range 210–150 K; when heated above 220 K, anomalies in the behavior of the heat flow are observed, which may be associated with the reversibility of SPT; endo effects are observed up to 300 K. The SPT starts below 200 K. At 100 K, a mixture of phases was found in sample 1: 27% α-1 phase, 61% γ-1 phase. In addition, at 100 K, 12% of the new δ-1 phase was detected, which was identified from the diffraction pattern at 260 K upon subsequent heating: the a,b,c-parameters and unit cell volume are close to the structure parameters of γ-1, and the values of the α,β,γ-angles are significantly different. Further heating leads to a phase transition from δ-1 to α-1, which both coexist at room temperature. According to the DC magnetometry data, during cooling and heating, the χMT(T) curves for 1 form a hysteresis loop with ~110 K, in which the difference in the χMT values reaches 9%. Ab initio calculations of the electronic structure of cobalt(II) in α-1 and γ-1 have been performed. Based on the EPR data at 10 K and the ab initio calculations, the behavior of the χMT(T) curve for 1 was simulated in the temperature range of 2–150 K. It was found that 1 exhibits slow magnetic relaxation in a field of 1000 Oe.

The clinical course of the new coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has shown that patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) are characterized by a high mortality rate, poor response to standard treatment, and low virus-specific antibody response after recovery and/or vaccination. To date, there are no data on the safety and efficacy of the combined vector vaccine Sputnik V in patients with CLL. Here, we analyzed and compared the magnitudes of the antibody and T cell responses after vaccination with the Sputnik V vaccine among healthy donors and individuals with CLL with different statuses of preexposure to coronavirus. We found that vaccination of the COVID-19–recovered individuals resulted in the boosting of pre-existing immune responses in both healthy donors and CLL patients. However, the COVID-19–naïve CLL patients demonstrated a considerably lower antibody response than the healthy donors, although they developed a robust T cell response. Regardless of the previous infection, the individuals over 70 years old demonstrated a decreased response to vaccination, as did those receiving anti-CD20 therapy. In summary, we showed that Sputnik V, like other vaccines, did not induce a robust antibody response in individuals with CLL; however, it provided for the development of a significant anti-COVID-19 T cell response.

Ferroelectric nanodomains were formed in bulk lithium niobate single crystals near nanostructured microtracks laser-inscribed by 1030-nm 0.3-ps ultrashort laser pulses at variable pulse energies in sub- and weakly filamentary laser nanopatterning regimes. The microtracks and related nanodomains were characterized by optical, scanning probe and confocal second-harmonic generation microscopy methods. The nanoscale material sub-structure in the microtracks was visualized in the sample cross-sections by atomic force microscopy (AFM), appearing weakly birefringent in polarimetric microscope images. The piezoresponce force microscopy (PFM) revealed sub-100 nm ferroelectric domains formed in the vicinity of the embedded microtrack seeds, indicating a promising opportunity to arrange nanodomains in the bulk ferroelectric crystal in on-demand positions. These findings open a new modality in direct laser writing technology, which is related to nanoscale writing of ferroelectric nanodomains and prospective three-dimensional micro-electrooptical and nanophotonic devices in nonlinear-optical ferroelectrics.

Heat-up and hot-injection methods were employed to synthesize Ni nanoparticles (NPs) with narrow size distribution in the presence of hyperbranched pyridylphenylene polymer (PPP) as a stabilizing agent. It was shown that depending on the synthetic method, Ni NPs were formed either in a cross-linked polymer network or stabilized by a soluble hyperbranched polymer. Ni NPs were characterized by a combination of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning TEM, thermogravimetric analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and magnetic measurements. The architecture of polymer support was found to significantly effect Ni NPs characteristics and behavior. The Ni NPs demonstrated a high catalytic activity in a model Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction. No significant drop in activity was observed upon repeated use after magnetic separation in five consecutive catalytic cycles. We believe that hyperbranched PPP can serve as universal platform for the controllable synthesis of Ni NPs, acting as highly active and stable catalysts.

Herein, we report the synthesis, structure and magnetic properties of two mononuclear complexes of general formula [Dy(acac)3(L)], where L = 2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolo[4,5-f][1,10] phenanthroline (1) or 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione (2), and acac− = acetylacetonate anion. A distorted square-antiprismatic N2O6 environment around the central Dy(III) ion is formed by three acetylacetonate anions and a phenanthroline-type ligand. Both complexes display a single-molecule magnet (SMM) behavior at zero applied magnetic field. Modification of the peripheral part of ligands L provide substantial effects both on the magnetic relaxation barrier Ueff and on the quantum tunneling of magnetization (QTM). Ab initio quantum-chemical calculations are used to analyze the electronic structure and magnetic properties.

The series of Co(II), Fe(II), and Ni(II) mononuclear coordination compounds of [CoL(NCS)2]·3DMSO (1), [CoL(H2O)2](ClO4)2·DMSO (2), [CoL(H2O)(EtOH)][CoCl4]·2H2O (2a), [FeL(NCS)2]·DMSO (3), and [NiL(NCS)2]·CH3CN (4) composition (where L is 2,6-bis(1-(2-(4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-2-yl)hydrazineylidene)ethyl)pyridine), with an [MLA2] coordination unit (where A is a pair of apical monodentate ligands), was synthesized. In compounds 1, 2, 2a, and 3, the ligand L is pentadentate, and cobalt and iron ions are placed in a heavily distorted pentagonal pyramidal coordination environment, while in 4 the Ni(II) ion is hexacoordinated. Easy plane-type magnetic anisotropy (D = 13.69, 11.46, 19.5, and 6.2 cm−1 for 1, 2, 2a, and 4, respectively) was established for cobalt and nickel compounds, while easy axis-type magnetic anisotropy (D = −14.5 cm−1) was established for iron compound 3. The cobalt coordination compounds 1 and 2 show SIM behavior under a 1500 Oe external magnetic field, with effective magnetization reversal barriers of 65(1) and 60(1) K for 1 and 2, respectively. The combination of Orbach and Raman relaxation mechanisms was shown to adequately describe the temperature dependence of relaxation times for 1 and 2. CASSCF/NEVPT2 calculations were performed to model the parameters of the effective spin Hamiltonian for the compounds under study.

This study explored the mechanisms by which the stability of super-secondary structures of the 3β-corner type autonomously outside the protein globule are maintained in an aqueous environment. A molecular dynamic (MD) study determined the behavioral diversity of a large set of non-homologous 3β-corner structures of various origins. We focused on geometric parameters such as change in gyration radius, solvent-accessible area, major conformer lifetime and torsion angles, and the number of hydrogen bonds. Ultimately, a set of 3β-corners from 330 structures was characterized by a root mean square deviation (RMSD) of less than 5 Å, a change in the gyration radius of no more than 5%, and the preservation of amino acid residues positioned within the allowed regions on the Ramachandran map. The studied structures retained their topologies throughout the MD experiments. Thus, the 3β-corner structure was found to be rather stable per se in a water environment, i.e., without the rest of a protein molecule, and can act as the nucleus or “ready-made” building block in protein folding. The 3β-corner can also be considered as an independent object for study in field of structural biology.

The magnetic properties of the Fe1−xAgxCr2S4 (0 < x < 0.2) solid solution were investigated in the temperature range 4–300 K in a DC field of 0.1 and 45 kOe. Fe1−xAgxCr2S4 is characterized by the transition temperature from the paramagnetic to the ferromagnetic state (Tc) and the irreversibility temperature (Tirr). The replacement of iron with silver ions in Fe1−xAgxCr2S4 leads to an increase in the Curie temperatures from 185 K (x = 0) to 216 K (x = 0.2) and Tcusp from 45 K (x = 0) to 125 K (x = 0.2). A section of the Fe1−xAgxCr2S4 magnetic phase diagram in the region under study has been constructed. The diagram reveals the following regions: paramagnetic, ferromagnetic, region of conditionally recurrent spin-glass (SG), and below 10 K a region associated with orbital ordering.

The power of most of the enterobacterial O antigen types to provide robust protection against direct recognition of the cell surface by bacteriophage receptor-recognition proteins (RBP) has been recently recognized. The bacteriophages infecting O antigen producing strains of E. coli employ various strategies to tackle this nonspecific protection. T-even related phages, including RB49-like viruses, often have wide host ranges, being considered good candidates for use in phage therapy. However, the mechanisms by which these phages overcome the O antigen barrier remain unknown. We demonstrate here that RB49 and related phages Cognac49 and Whisky49 directly use certain types of O antigen as their primary receptors recognized by the virus long tail fibers (LTF) RBP gp38, so the O antigen becomes an attractant instead of an obstacle. Simultaneously to recognize multiple O antigen types, LTFs of each of these phages can bind to additional receptors, such as OmpA protein, enabling them to infect some rough strains of E. coli. We speculate that the mechanical force of the deployment of the short tail fibers (STF) triggered by the LTF binding to the O antigen or underneath of it, allows the receptor binding domains of STF to break through the O polysaccharide layer.

Multiple studies have demonstrated that various nanoparticles (NPs) stimulate osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and inhibit adipogenic ones. The mechanisms of these effects are not determined. The aim of this paper was to estimate Wharton’s Jelly MSCs phenotype and humoral factor production during tri-lineage differentiation per se and in the presence of silicon–gold NPs. Silicon (SiNPs), gold (AuNPs), and 10% Au-doped Si nanoparticles (SiAuNPs) were synthesized by laser ablation, characterized, and studied in MSC cultures before and during differentiation. Humoral factor production (n = 41) was analyzed by Luminex technology. NPs were nontoxic, did not induce ROS production, and stimulated G-CSF, GM-CSF, VEGF, CXCL1 (GRO) production in four day MSC cultures. During MSC differentiation, all NPs stimulated CD13 and CD90 expression in osteogenic cultures. MSC differentiation resulted in a decrease in multiple humoral factor production to day 14 of incubation. NPs did not significantly affect the production in chondrogenic cultures and stimulated it in both osteogenic and adipogenic ones. The major difference in the protein production between osteogenic and adipogenic MSC cultures in the presence of NPs was VEGF level, which was unaffected in osteogenic cells and 4–9 times increased in adipogenic ones. The effects of NPs decreased in a row AuNPs > SiAuNPs > SiNPs. Taken collectively, high expression of CD13 and CD90 by MSCs and critical level of VEGF production can, at least, partially explain the stimulatory effect of NPs on MSC osteogenic differentiation.

We proposed a novel method of nanostructure preparation for observation of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and metal-enhanced fluorescence (MEF) based on the deposition of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) above the thin dye film by dry aerosol printing. We detected various enhanced SERS and MEF signals of films of malachite green (MG) and rhodamine B (RhB) mixtures, depending on the surface packing density of Au NPs on the strip, and found the optimum one to achieve the 3.5 × 105 SERS enhancement. It was shown that statistical methods of chemometrics such as projection on latent structures provided the opportunity to distinguish SERS of MG from 100 ppm RhB in a mixture, whereas separation of MEF signals are feasible even for a mixture of MG and 1 ppm RhB due to two-photon excitation.

Three-layer iron-rich Fe3+xSi1−x/Ge/Fe3+xSi1−x (0.2 < x < 0.64) heterostructures on a Si(111) surface with Ge thicknesses of 4 nm and 7 nm were grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Systematic studies of the structural and morphological properties of the synthesized samples have shown that an increase in the Ge thickness causes a prolonged atomic diffusion through the interfaces, which significantly increases the lattice misfits in the Ge/Fe3+xSi1−x heterosystem due to the incorporation of Ge atoms into the Fe3+xSi1−x bottom layer. The resultant lowering of the total free energy caused by the development of the surface roughness results in a transition from an epitaxial to a polycrystalline growth of the upper Fe3+xSi1−x. The average lattice distortion and residual stress of the upper Fe3+xSi1−x were determined by electron diffraction and theoretical calculations to be equivalent to 0.2 GPa for the upper epitaxial layer with a volume misfit of −0.63% compared with a undistorted counterpart. The volume misfit follows the resultant interatomic misfit of |0.42|% with the bottom Ge layer, independently determined by atomic force microscopy. The variation in structural order and morphology significantly changes the magnetic properties of the upper Fe3+xSi1−x layer and leads to a subtle effect on the transport properties of the Ge layer. Both hysteresis loops and FMR spectra differ for the structures with 4 nm and 7 nm Ge layers. The FMR spectra exhibit two distinct absorption lines corresponding to two layers of ferromagnetic Fe3+xSi1−x films. At the same time, a third FMR line appears in the sample with the thicker Ge. The angular dependences of the resonance field of the FMR spectra measured in the plane of the film have a pronounced easy-axis type anisotropy, as well as an anisotropy corresponding to the cubic crystal symmetry of Fe3+xSi1−x, which implies the epitaxial orientation relationship of Fe3+xSi1−x (111)[0−11] || Ge(111)[1−10] || Fe3+xSi1−x (111)[0−11] || Si(111)[1−10]. Calculated from ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) data saturation magnetization exceeds 1000 kA/m. The temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity of a Ge layer with thicknesses of 4 nm and 7 nm is of semiconducting type, which is, however, determined by different transport mechanisms.

This study investigates the processes of interaction of nanosecond pulsed-periodic laser radiation with the flow of aerosol agglomerates of gold nanoparticles synthesized in a spark discharge. Nanoparticles in a gas flow are spatially separated nano-objects whose interaction with each other and with the walls of an experimental cell was insignificant. Therefore, the energy absorbed by nanoparticles was used only for their own heating with further shape and size modification and on heat transfer to the surrounding gas. In the research, we used laser radiation with wavelengths of 527 and 1053 nm at pulse energies up to 900 µJ and pulse repetition rates up to 500 Hz. The dynamics of changes in the nanoparticles size during their sintering process depending on the laser pulses energy is characterized by an S-shaped shrinkage curve. Complete sintering of the initial agglomerates with their transformation into spherical nanoparticles is achieved by a series of impacting laser pulses. The result of nanoparticles’ laser modification is largely determined by the pulse energy and the efficiency of the nanoparticles’ radiation absorption.

Involvement of the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in maladaptive cardiac remodeling and heart failure (HF) upon pressure overload has been studied extensively, but less is known about the role of TLR2. Interplay and redundancy of TLR4 with TLR2 have been reported in other organs but were not investigated during cardiac dysfunction. We explored whether TLR2 deficiency leads to less adverse cardiac remodeling upon chronic pressure overload and whether TLR2 and TLR4 additively contribute to this. We subjected 35 male C57BL/6J mice (wildtype (WT) or TLR2 knockout (KO)) to sham or transverse aortic constriction (TAC) surgery. After 12 weeks, echocardiography and electrocardiography were performed, and hearts were extracted for molecular and histological analysis. TLR2 deficiency (n = 14) was confirmed in all KO mice by PCR and resulted in less hypertrophy (heart weight to tibia length ratio (HW/TL), smaller cross-sectional cardiomyocyte area and decreased brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) mRNA expression, p < 0.05), increased contractility (QRS and QTc, p < 0.05), and less inflammation (e.g., interleukins 6 and 1β, p < 0.05) after TAC compared to WT animals (n = 11). Even though TLR2 KO TAC animals presented with lower levels of ventricular TLR4 mRNA than WT TAC animals (13.2 ± 0.8 vs. 16.6 ± 0.7 mg/mm, p < 0.01), TLR4 mRNA expression was increased in animals with the largest ventricular mass, highest hypertrophy, and lowest ejection fraction, leading to two distinct groups of TLR2 KO TAC animals with variations in cardiac remodeling. This variation, however, was not seen in WT TAC animals even though heart weight/tibia length correlated with expression of TLR4 in these animals (r = 0.078, p = 0.005). Our data suggest that TLR2 deficiency ameliorates adverse cardiac remodeling and that ventricular TLR2 and TLR4 additively contribute to adverse cardiac remodeling during chronic pressure overload. Therefore, both TLRs may be therapeutic targets to prevent or interfere in the underlying molecular processes.

A series of heterometallic GdIII-VIV compounds were synthesized by the reaction of VOSO4·3H2O with cyclobutane-1,1-dicarboxylic acid salts M2(cbdc) (M = Na, Rb, Cs). The new compounds were formed by [Gd(VO)2(cbdc)4(H2O)8]− trinuclear anionic units that were similar in composition but differed in structure, depending on the nature of the alkali metal cation incorporated in the crystal structure of the compound. In the case of Na+, the {GdV2}− units were characterized by identical V···Gd distances and were linked into the 1D-polymeric chain [NaGd(VO)2(cbdc)4(H2O)10]n (1). In the systems with Rb+ and Cs+, the V···Gd distances were different, and the {GdV2}− units were linked into the 3D-framework {[RbGd(VO)2(cbdc)4(H2O)10]·2.5H2O}n (2) and the octanuclear molecule {[CsGd(VO)2(cbdc)4(H2O)11]·5H2O}2 (3), respectively. According to dc-magnetic measurements, the VIV and GdIII ions were ferromagnetically coupled in compound 1 (JVGd = 0.163 ± 0.008 cm−1), while in compounds 2 and 3, ferro- and weak antiferromagnetic exchange interactions were observed (JVGd = 0.989 ± 0.028 and −0.089 ± 0.008 cm−1 for 2, 0.656 ± 0.009 and −0.050 ± 0.004 cm−1 for 3). Analysis of the EPR spectra of 1 revealed the presence of weak magnetic anisotropy of GdIII ions (D ~ 0.08 cm−1 and E/D ~ 0.1–0.15). Ac-susceptibility measurements showed an occurrence the field-induced slow relaxation of magnetization in 1–3.

Solvent-free aerosol jet printing has been investigated for fabricating metallic and semiconductor (gas-sensitive) microstructures based on copper nanoparticles on alumina, borosilicate glass, and silicon substrates. The synthesis of nanoparticles was carried out using a spark discharge directly in the printing process without the stage of preparing nano-ink. Printed lines with a width of 100–150 µm and a height of 5–7 µm were formed from submicron agglomerates consisting of primary nanoparticles 10.8 ± 4.9 nm in size with an amorphous oxide shell. The electrical resistivity, surface morphology, and shrinkage of printed lines were investigated depending on the reduction sintering temperature. Sintering of copper oxides of nanoparticles began at a temperature of 450 °C in a hydrogen atmosphere with shrinkage at the level of 45–60%. Moreover, aerosol heat treatment was used to obtain highly conductive lines by increasing the packing density of deposited nanoparticles, providing in-situ transformation of submicron agglomerates into spherical nanoparticles with a size of 20–50 nm. Copper lines of spherical nanoparticles demonstrated excellent resistivity at 5 μΩ·cm, about three times higher than that of bulk copper. In turn, semiconductor microstructures based on unsintered agglomerates of oxidized copper have a fairly high sensitivity to NH3 and CO. Values of response of the sensor based on non-sintered oxidized copper nanoparticles to ammonia and carbon monoxide concentration of 40 ppm were about 20% and 80%, respectively.

Results of the numerical simulation of the electronic structure of ultra–short single-walled carbon nanotubes (0, 9) of D3h,D3d and D d 3 symmetries at singlet and triplet spin states under an applied electric eld were presented. The dependencies of the energy gap, ionization potential, electron af nity and work function on the length of nanotubes at the singlet and triplet spin state were described. It was revealed, that the spin-dependent eld-induced electronic structure restructuring determines the change of the spin channel resistance. The critical electric eld value ~0.5 V/A inverts spin polarization The carbon nanotubes can act as spin lter and can be used for spintronic logic gates design, that makes nanotubes promising material for spintronic implementation.

For nanoparticle synthesis in a spark discharge, the influence of the degree of electrode asymmetry in the rod-to-rod configuration, using the example of silver electrodes, on the energy efficiency and nanoparticle composition is studied. The asymmetry degree was determined by the angle between electrodes’ end faces. Two types of discharge current pulses were used: oscillation-damped and unipolar, in which electrodes changed their polarities and had a constant polarity during a single discharge, respectively. A significant influence of the asymmetry degree of the electrode arrangement on the synthesized nanoparticle size, agglomeration and concentration, and on the synthesis energy efficiency, has been established. An increase in the degree of the electrode asymmetry with the oscillation-damped discharge current pulse led to an increased mass production rate and energy efficiency of nanoparticle synthesis, a significant fraction of which had large dimensions of more than 40 nm. The effect of the transfer of synthesized nanoparticles to the opposite electrode at the unipolar discharge current pulse led to the appearance of electroerosive instability, manifested in the formation of a protrusion on the anode surface, around which spark discharges, leading to its further growth and electrode gap closure.

We have applied spark ablation technology for producing nanoparticles from platinum ingots (purity of 99.97 wt. %) as a feed material by using air as a carrier gas. A maximum production rate of about 400 mg/h was achieved with an energy per pulse of 0.5 J and a pulse repetition rate of 250 Hz. The synthesized nanomaterial, composed of an amorphous platinum oxide PtO (83 wt. %) and a crystalline metallic platinum (17 wt. %), was used for formulating functional colloidal ink. Annealing of the deposited ink at 750 °C resulted in the formation of a polycrystalline material comprising 99.7 wt. % of platinum. To demonstrate the possibility of application of the formulated ink in printed electronics, we have patterned conductive lines and microheaters on alumina substrates and 20 μm thick low-temperature co-fired ceramic (LTCC) membranes with the use of aerosol jet printing technology. The power consumption of microheaters fabricated on LTCC membranes was found to be about 140 mW at a temperature of the hot part of 500 °C, thus allowing one to consider these structures as promising micro-hotplates for metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) gas sensors. The catalytic activity of the synthesized nanoparticles was demonstrated by measuring the resistance transients of the non-sintered microheaters upon exposure to 2500 ppm of hydrogen.

A cost-effective, scalable and versatile method of preparing nano-ink without hazardous chemical precursors is a prerequisite for widespread adoption of printed electronics. Precursor-free synthesis by spark discharge is promising for this purpose. The synthesis of platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) using a spark discharge under Ar, N2, and air has been investigated to prepare highly conductive nano-ink. The size, chemical composition, and mass production rate of PtNPs significantly depended on the carrier gas. Pure metallic PtNPs with sizes of 5.5 ± 1.8 and 7.1 ± 2.4 nm were formed under Ar and N2, respectively. PtNPs with sizes of 18.2 ± 9.0 nm produced using air consisted of amorphous oxide PtO and metallic Pt. The mass production rates of PtNPs were 53 ± 6, 366 ± 59, and 490 ± 36 mg/h using a spark discharge under Ar, N2, and air, respectively. It was found that the energy dissipated in the spark gap is not a significant parameter that determines the mass production rate. Stable Pt nano-ink (25 wt.%) was prepared only on the basis of PtNPs synthesized under air. Narrow (about 30 μm) and conductive Pt lines were formed by the aerosol jet printing with prepared nano-ink. The resistivity of the Pt lines sintered at 750 °C was (1.2 ± 0.1)·10−7 Ω·m, which is about 1.1 times higher than that of bulk Pt.

Daily agonistic interactions of mice are an effective experimental approach to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the excitation of the brain neurons and the formation of alternative social behavior patterns. An RNA-Seq analysis was used to compare the ventral tegmental area (VTA) transcriptome profiles for three groups of male C57BL/6J mice: winners, a group of chronically winning mice, losers, a group of chronically defeated mice, and controls. The data obtained show that both winners and defeated mice experience stress, which however, has a more drastic effect on defeated animals causing more significant changes in the levels of gene transcription. Four genes (Nrgn, Ercc2, Otx2, and Six3) changed their VTA expression profiles in opposite directions in winners and defeated mice. It was first shown that Nrgn (neurogranin) expression was highly correlated with the expression of the genes involved in dopamine synthesis and transport (Th, Ddc, Slc6a3, and Drd2) in the VTA of defeated mice but not in winners. The obtained network of 31 coregulated genes, encoding proteins associated with nervous system development (including 24 genes associated with the generation of neurons), may be potentially useful for studying their role in the VTA dopaminergic neurons maturation under the influence of social stress.

The demand for the development of local laser sintering of nanoparticle arrays is explained by the expanding needs for printed electronics for functional microstructure formation, on heat-sensitive substrates in particular. This work is based on the research into the sintering of arrays of silver nanoparticles synthesized in a spark discharge and deposited on a substrate by focused aerosol flow. The sintering was done by continuous and pulsed lasers with wavelengths 527, 980 and 1054 nm. Sintered samples were studied by measuring the resistivity, cross-section profile area and microstructure features. The highest average conductivity, equal to the half of the bulk silver conductivity, was achieved when sintering by continuous radiation with a wavelength 980 nm. The results showed that when using pulsed radiation the direct heating of nanoparticles in the sample surface layer dominates with the formation of a pore-free conductive layer of around 0.5 μm thick and crystallite of 70−80 nm size. It was found that laser sintering by radiation with a wavelength 527 nm required an order of magnitude lower specific energy costs as compared to the longwave laser radiation. The high energy efficiency of laser sintering is explained by special conditions for radiation absorption at plasmon resonance.