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The main problem in creating anti-coronavirus vaccines that target mainly proteins of the outer membrane of the virus is the rapid variability in the RNA genome of the pathogen that encodes these proteins. In addition, the introduction of technologies that can affordably and quickly produce flexible vaccine formulas that easily adapt to the emergence of new subtypes of SARS-CoV-2 is required. Universal adjuvant oligonucleotide vaccines based on conserved regions of the SARS-CoV-2 genome can take into account the dynamics of rapid changes in the virus genome, as well as be easily synthesized on automatic DNA synthesizers in large quantities in a short time. In this brief report, the effectiveness of four phosphorothioate constructs of the La-S-so-type adjuvant oligonucleotide vaccine is evaluated on B6.Cg-Tg (K18-ACE2)2 transgenic mice for the first time. In our primary trials, the oligonucleotide vaccine increased the survival rate of animals infected with SARS-CoV-2 and also reduced the destructive effects of the virus on the lung tissue of mice, activating both their innate and adaptive immunity. The obtained results show that the development of adjuvant oligonucleotide vaccine constructs of the La-S-so type is an affordable and efficient platform for the prevention of coronavirus infections, including those caused by SARS-CoV-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Changing environmental parameters with the development of global warming and the growing anthropogenic influence lead to the spread of insect pests in new habitats, abundant in their host plants. While remaining visually undetected, representatives of the hemipteran insect pests in the suborder Sternorrhyncha cause large-scale economic losses. In this review, we consider the main pathogenic superfamilies of the suborder and present new methods of dealing with them that meet the requirements for modern insecticides and take into account the need for the development of insecticides that do not cause global warming. We solve the problem of environmental pollution caused by modern insecticides by proposing the use of oligonucleotide insecticides based on conservative fragments of genomes of insect pests which slow down the emergence of resistance to the applied insecticides. Our proposed approach opens up new horizons for both safe and effective insect pest control. Sternorrhyncha representatives are serious pests of agriculture and forestry all over the world, primarily causing damage to woody plants. Sternorrhyncha members are vectors for the transfer of a large number of viral diseases, and subsequently, the host plant weakens. Additionally, many are inherent in the release of honeydew, on which fungal diseases develop. Today, an innovative approach is needed to create new and effective ways to control the number of these insects based on environmentally friendly insecticides. Of particular relevance to such developments is the need to take into account the large number of organisms living together with insect pests in this group, including beneficial insects. Practically without changing their location on their host plant, they adopted to be more invisible and protected due to their small size, symbiosis with ants, the ability to camouflage with a leaf, and moderately deplete plants and others, rarely leading them to death but still causing substantial economic loss in the subtropics and tropics. Due to the lack of presence in the literature, this review fills in this pesky spot by examining (on the example of distinct species from four superfamilies) the characteristic adaptations for this suborder and the chemical methods of combating these insects that allow them to survive in various environmental conditions, suggesting new and highly promising ways of using olinscides for plant protection against Sternorrhyncha members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon nanotube films are a promising class of materials for bolometric photodetectors due to a unique combination of extremely thin (nm-sized) free-standing form factor with small thermal capacity and intriguing electronic and optical properties, thereby, ensuring high sensitivity and high speed of operation. Nevertheless, the key parameter for bolometric sensor material—the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR)—is unacceptably low limiting the application of the carbon nanotube films. Here, we examine the plasma treatment of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) films as the effective method for the TCR enhancement. We study the effect of different plasma gases (oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen) on the conductivity of treated films. Also, we investigate the effect of defectiveness, length, and bundling degree of the SWCNTs on TCR. The optimized procedure allows to increase the TCR up to 1.7% K−1 by modulus at 100 K and to 0.8% K−1 at 300 K. The bolometer prototypes based on the plasma-treated SWCNT films demonstrate high sensitivity over a wide IR range (∼21 V/W), a short response time (∼1 ms), and low noise equivalent power (∼8 × 10−9 W Hz−1/2) at the temperature of 100 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two letters to the editor are presented in response to the article "Epidemiologic Studies Utilizing Surveys: Accounting for the Sampling Design," by E. L. Korn and B. I. Graubard in a 1991 issue and a response by the authors to the letter by Ilya D. Novikov and colleagues.

Insects vastly outnumber us in terms of species and total biomass, and are among the most efficient and voracious consumers of plants on the planet. As a result, to preserve crops, one of the primary tasks in agriculture has always been the need to control and reduce the number of insect pests. The current use of chemical insecticides leads to the accumulation of xenobiotics in ecosystems and a decreased number of species in those ecosystems, including insects. Sustainable development of human society is impossible without useful insects, so the control of insect pests must be effective and selective at the same time. In this article, we show for the first time a natural way to regulate the number of insect pests based on the use of extracellular double-stranded DNA secreted by the plant Pittosporum tobira. Using a principle similar to one found in nature, we show that the topical application of artificially synthesized short antisense oligonucleotide insecticides (olinscides, DNA insecticides) is an effective and selective way to control the insect Coccus hesperidum. Using contact oligonucleotide insecticide Coccus-11 at a concentration of 100 ng/μL on C. hesperidum larvae resulted in a mortality of 95.59 ± 1.63% within 12 days. Green oligonucleotide insecticides, created by nature and later discovered by humans, demonstrate a new method to control insect pests that is beneficial and safe for macromolecular insect pest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a facile, cost-efficient, environmentally friendly, and scalable process to renew single-walled carbon nanotube membranes serving as extreme ultraviolet (EUV) protective pellicles. The method comprises of high-temperature treatment of the membrane by Joule (resistive) heating at temperatures higher than 1000 °C and pressure below 0.3 Pa. Using model Sn aerosol nanoparticles, the primary contaminant from extreme ultraviolet light sources, we demonstrate the proposed method to clean the membrane with the power consumption as low as 20 W/cm2. We show the proposed method to cause no harm to carbon nanotube structure, opening a route towards multiple membrane renovation. We confirm the applicability of the approach using in situ deposition from the semi-industrial EUV light source and subsequent Sn-based contaminant removal, which restores the EUV-UV-vis-NIR transmittance of the film and, therefore, the light source performance. The proposed method supports pulse-cycling opening an avenue for enhanced protection of the lithography mask and stable performance of the EUV light source. Additionally, the approach suits other composite contaminants based on such species as Pb, In, Sb, etc. [Display omitted] • We propose a technology for cleaning nanotube membranes from aerosol contaminations. • The technology is proven for semi-industrial EUV pellicles and aerosol filters. • The technology is energy efficient (20W/cm2), fast (3 min), sustainable, and scalable. • The cleaning causes no harm for nanotube structure as well as membrane morphology. • The technology is suitable for Sn and In while can be extended for other composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Sense of coherence (SOC) is a central construct in Antonovsky’s salutogenic theory, which focuses on people’s health-promoting and health-protecting characteristics. We examined prospectively the association of SOC with all-cause mortality during 22 years (1989–2011). Methods The data of 585 men from the Israel longitudinal study of Glucose Intolerance, Obesity, and Hypertension (The Israel GOH) comprised the analytic sample. Participants were 48–67 years old at study entry (1989). Information on sociodemographic, medical history and health-related risk factors were obtained at baseline through a face-to-face interview. Participants completed Antonovsky’s 29-item SOC scale. Information on all-cause mortality was obtained from the Israeli Mortality Register (1989 through 2011). We evaluated the effect of SOC on time-to-death using multiple Cox proportional hazard regression. Results Controlling for sociodemographic, smoking status and morbidities, there was strong evidence of an association between SOC and 22-year all-cause mortality [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) = 0.992, 95% CI 0.986–0.998 per unit]. Strong SOC was associated with a 35% reduction in all-cause mortality relative to weak SOC (aHR = 0.653, 95% CI 0.454–0.939). There was no convincing evidence of a survival advantage for individuals with intermediate level of SOC relative to persons reporting weak SOC (aHR = 0.821, 95% CI 0.595–1.134). Conclusions Our study provides strong evidence of an association between SOC and mortality, above and beyond potential confounding factors and established risk factors. Considerable more research is needed on the role of SOC in health and survival and the potential pathways linking SOC and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The worldwide shortage of vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection while the pandemic still remains uncontrolled has led many countries to the dilemma of whether or not to vaccinate previously infected persons. Understanding the level of protection conferred by previous infection compared with that of vaccination is important for policy-making. We analyzed an updated individual-level database of the entire population of Israel to assess the protection provided by both prior infection and vaccination in preventing subsequent SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospitalization with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), severe disease, and death due to COVID-19. Outcome data were collected from December 20, 2020, to March 20, 2021. Vaccination was highly protective, with overall estimated effectiveness of 94.5% (95% confidence interval (CI): 94.3, 94.7) for documented infection, 95.8% (95% CI: 95.2, 96.2) for hospitalization, 96.3% (95% CI: 95.7, 96.9) for severe illness, and 96.0% (95% CI: 94.9, 96.9) for death. Similarly, the overall estimated level of protection provided by prior SARS-CoV-2 infection was 94.8% (95% CI: 94.4, 95.1) for documented infection, 94.1% (95% CI: 91.9, 95.7) for hospitalization, and 96.4% (95% CI: 92.5, 98.3) for severe illness. Our results should be considered by policy-makers when deciding whether or not to prioritize vaccination of previously infected adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work is devoted to a novel efficient strategy for single-walled carbon nanotube doping employing heat treatment with nitrogen dioxide (NO 2). Unlike numerous reports of unstable NO 2 doping at room temperature, our method combines high efficiency and stability, enabled by its temperature-dependent adsorption on the nanotube surface. We reveal that doping stability increases with the treatment temperature reaching maxima at 300 °C avoiding any detrimental effect on nanotube structure and optical transmittance. As a result, we demonstrate doped carbon nanotube transparent conductive films exhibiting competitive performance (in respect to films treated with other dopants) with a less than 50% drop in conductive characteristics for over a year. Thermo-programmed desorption analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirm the preferential formation of long-living adsorbed nitrogen species, such as NO 3 -groups, as a result of high-temperature treatment. We believe the current work provides a basis for the robust and technologically efficient doping of single-walled carbon nanotubes and related structures at industrial scales, as the developed method could be easily coupled with a continuous technology of carbon nano materials production. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To compare gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk among two ethnic minority groups, with high type-2 diabetes (T2DM) prevalence, as compared to the Jewish population majority group. Methods: A historical cohort study was conducted using clinical data collected between January 1, 2007, and December 31, 2011. The study sample included 20–45-year-old women; 2938 Ethiopian, 5849 Arab and 5156 non-Ethiopian Jewish women. GDM was defined according to the two-step strategy: step 1: glucose ≥ 140 mg/dl and step 2: using Coustan and Carpenter's diagnostic criteria. GDM risk was tested in a multivariable model, adjusted for age, parity and pre-gestational values of the metabolic syndrome components. Results: Mean body mass index (BMI) values and morbid obesity rates were lowest among Ethiopian women and highest among Arab women. The prevalence of pre-gestational diabetes was significantly higher among Ethiopian (2.7%) and Arab (4.1%) women than among non-Ethiopian Jewish women (1.6%), and GDM screening rates were relatively high (85.5%, 87.2% and 83%, respectively). The proportion of pregnancies complicated with GDM was higher among Ethiopian women (4.3%) but not significantly different between Arab (2.9%) and non-Ethiopian Jewish (2.2%) women. In multivariable analysis, GDM was associated with Ethiopian ancestry (OR, 2.55; 95% CI, 1.60–4.08), adjusted for age, BMI, plasma triglyceride level and parity. Arab ethnicity was not significantly associated with GDM risk in multivariable analysis. Conclusions: Both Ethiopian and Arab minority ethnicities have a higher risk of T2DM in comparison with other Israeli women, but only Ethiopian origin is an independent risk factor for GDM while Arab ethnicity is not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Bacterial cellulose membranes can be purified in supercritical media. • Processing of BC films in scCO 2 provides the necessary sterility. • Inactivated bacteria preserve the morphology after processing in supercritical fluids. Abstract In this paper, we report our attempts to elaborate the method of purification and simultaneous sterilization of bacterial cellulose films by means of processing them under high pressure, including supercritical conditions for carbon dioxide, for future application in medicine. Bacterial cellulose films were produced by Gluconacetobacter hansenii. The processed samples were controlled by means of AFM, SEM, EDS, IR spectrometry, elemental and microbiological analysis. It was shown that conventional methods do not always provide complete removal of cells and endotoxins and the samples contain traces of compounds used for washing. It was revealed that the outer lipopolysaccharide membrane of the producent cells was destroyed during processing, but bacterial cells still preserved their shape and dimensions. The processed samples were sterile; the level of endotoxins was strongly reduced, though, unfortunately the degree of purification required for medical use was not achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Method of magnetite particles stabilization and functionalization was developed. • Barnase ∗ Barstar interface makes the method universal in terms of self-assembly. • Fusion protein of C-terminal part of Mms6 and Barstar stabilized particles in PBS. • Targeted delivery of modified particles to HER2/neu+ cancer cells was realized. Abstract Surface modification of nanoparticles with various biologically active molecules makes it possible to realize the huge biomedical potential of various nanoobjects. Functionally active particles are usually obtained through stabilization by polymers and subsequent chemical conjugation with biomolecules, such as, antibodies or aptamers. This entails a number of problems, such as non-oriented conjugation, low coupling yield and the inability to easily vary the attached components on demand. To solve this problem, we developed a novel method of magnetite nanoparticles stabilization with simultaneous modification by functionally active protein – Barstar, for subsequent self-assembly of the necessary components with these particles through the interaction of high-affinity protein pair Barnase ∗ Barstar (K aff = 1014 M−1). Namely, we developed a biocompatible Bs-C-Mms6 fusion protein containing the C-terminal part of the Mms6 (magnetite-binding protein of magnetotactic bacteria) and Barstar (an inhibitor of bacterial ribonuclease Barnase). We obtained stable in PBS magnetite nanoparticles modified with Bs-C-Mms6. These particles can be used for self-assembly with any type of Barnase-containing molecules. To demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach for the development of targeted nanoparticles, we performed a self-assembly of these particles with a fusion protein of Barnase and DARPin9.29, namely DARPin9.29-Bn. DARPin9.29 recognizes the extracellular domain of clinically important HER2/neu oncomarker. We have shown that such particles selectively bind this oncomarker and can be used to detect HER2/neu-positive cancer cells for diagnostic purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We present our use of magnetic resonance (MR) measurement to determine the amount of residual breast tissue (RBT) following total mastectomy with reconstruction. Methods: Breast MR images of 45 women who underwent surgery between January and November 2011 were reviewed. The cohort included therapeutic and prophylactic mastectomies. RBT was evaluated at four pointswith a digital caliper assessing T2-weighted and T1-weighted images. Results: Patients undergoing mastectomy for carcinoma tended to have less RBT than in prophylactic surgery. Greater age and recent surgery both correlated with larger RBT. Conclusions: Variable thickness of RBT is demonstrable followingmastectomy and implant reconstruction using MR imaging. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: In April 2004 the Israeli Ministry of Health decided to condition DRG payment for hip surgery by time between hospitalisation and operation, giving a fine for every day's delay beyond 48h. An evaluation study performed 2 years after the reform has shown the positive influence of the reform on patient's survival in the hospital. This study evaluates the impact of the reform on the longer-term mortality of patients. Methods: A retrospective study based on data from nine hospitals of the national trauma registry available for the years 2001–2007, with surveillance on 2-year survival through data of Ministry of the Interior. The study population includes patients aged 65 and above with an isolated hip fracture following trauma. Mortality curves and Cox regression were utilised to compare the influence of different parameters on long-term mortality. Results: Earlier surgery had a significant positive impact on survival through the whole length of the study period. In the period after the introduction of the new reimbursement system for hip fracture surgeries, a significant decrease in the longer-term mortality was observed up to 6 months of follow-up, even when adjusted by patients’ age, gender and the receiving hospital. After 6 months there was no further decrease in relative risk, though the survival advantage remained with patients hospitalised after the reform. Conclusions: The reform appears successful in decreasing the longer-term patient mortality after hip fracture through influencing surgical practice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Macrosiphoniella sanborni is a widespread pest of Chrysanthemum morifolium that causes significant damage to world floriculture. Chemical insecticides and biological methods of control have a number of disadvantages that can be improved by using oligonucleotide insecticides. In this article, we present, for the first time, the results of using oligonucleotide insecticides, for which the target sequence is an internal transcribed spacer (ITS) in a polycistronic rRNA transcript. The mortality of wingless aphid individuals after a Macsan-11 treatment was recorded at a level of 67.15 ± 3.32% 7 days after a single treatment with a solution at a concentration of 100 ng/μL and 97.38 ± 2.49% 7 days after a double treatment with a solution of the same concentration and a daily interval. The contact use of the control oligonucleotide (ACTG) 2 ACT-11. as well as the oligonucleotide insecticides Macsan-11(3') and Macsan-11(5') was not accompanied by insect mortality. Given the high variability in the internal transcribed spacer, which has proven to be a promising target for the action of oligonucleotide insecticides, it is possible to create selective preparations. This study showed the prospects of ribosomal insect pest genes as targets for the action of olinscides, and also demonstrated the high specificity of such insecticidal agents.

Climate change creates favourable conditions for the growth of insect populations. Today, the world is seeing an increase in the number of insect pest infestations associated with a long-term increase in the average temperature of climatic systems. For example, local invasions of Icerya purchasi Maskell, a citrus pest recognized worldwide, have increased in size and number in recent years. Controlling this pest is complicated because not all chemical insecticides are effective, and their use is undesirable since citrus fruit is used for food and chemical agents cumulatively harm human health. In this article, we demonstrated for the first time the successful use of a short single-stranded fragment of the 28S ribosomal RNA gene called "oligoICER-11" to control cottony cushion scale, and we propose the use of green oligonucleotide insecticides with a low carbon footprint for large-scale implementation in agriculture and forestry. Using the contact oligonucleotide insecticide oligoICER-11 at a concentration of 100 ng/μL on I. purchasi larvae resulted in a mortality of 70.55 ± 0.77% within 10 days. Thus, climate change is driving the need in both agriculture and forestry for oligonucleotide insecticides (DNA insecticides, olinscides): safe, effective, affordable insecticides with a low carbon footprint and long operational life.

In terms of the incidence among all tumors, skin cancer is on top, with the most deadly among them being melanoma. The search for new therapeutic agents to combat melanoma is very relevant. In our opinion, antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) aimed at suppressing the genes responsible for their viability in cancer cells give hope for treatment, which makes it possible to eliminate cancer cells near the tumor site both before and after surgery. In this article, we describe how Skeen-11 phosphorothioate oligonucleotide significantly decreased the proliferative activity of murine melanoma cells. Injections of Skeen-11 also inhibited tumor growth in mice with inoculated melanoma. A toxicity study showed no side effects with dose adjustments. The results show that the use of ASO Skeen-11 in vivo reduced the tumor size within 7 days, reduced the number of mitoses in the tumor cells, and increased the amount of necrosis compared with the control group.

Having observed how botanicals and other natural compounds are used by nature to control pests in the environment, we began investigating natural polymers, DNA and RNA, as promising tools for insect pest management. Over the last decade, unmodified short antisense DNA oligonucleotides have shown a clear potential for use as insecticides. Our research has concentrated mainly on Lymantria dispar larvae using an antisense oligoRING sequence from its inhibitor-of-apoptosis gene. In this article, we propose a novel biotechnology to protect plants from insect pests using DNA insecticide with improved insecticidal activity based on a new antisense oligoRIBO-11 sequence from the 5.8S ribosomal RNA gene. This investigational oligoRIBO-11 insecticide causes higher mortality among both L. dispar larvae grown in the lab and those collected from the forest; in addition, it is more affordable and faster acting, which makes it a prospective candidate for use in the development of a ready-to-use preparation.