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We studied HCl uptake by MgCl2 and sea salt over a relative humidity (RH) range from 0% to 34% at 278–313 K using a differential bead‐filled flow tube coupled to a high‐pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometer. The results showed that dry MgCl2 and sea salt are essentially inert to gaseous HCl with a probability of less than 10−6. However, under humid conditions, HCl was found to be efficiently taken up by wet inorganic surfaces. The HCl uptake coefficient for MgCl2 and sea salt increased squarely with RH, reaching a value of 0.00123 and 0.00171, respectively, at 29% RH and 298 K. Such wetting behavior is even enhanced at elevated temperatures, with the coefficient reaching 0.00208 and 0.00239, respectively, at 313 K. Based on the study of the dependence of γHCl on the initial HCl concentration, we estimate γHCl as 0.012 at 24% RH at a typical HCl concentration in the troposphere. In addition, the observation of the remarkable enhancement in the OH uptake by the HCl‐treated salts agrees with the results of our previous investigation, which suggested that water absorption on salts enhances γOH by lowering the surface pH. The proposed mechanism of HCl uptake by sea salt aerosol has implications for ozone production in the marine boundary layer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite communication systems are known to have complicated spatial resource management. The problem occurs because of the impossibility to realize fully digital beamforming since its hardware implementation consumes too much power of the on-board battery. On another hand, analog beamforming can not provide enough system coverage in realistic user distribution scenarios. In this paper, we justify the choice of the hybrid multi-beamforming structure for some realistic user distributions. Such a structure guarantees enough coverage with minimal power consumption. For this structure, we propose a new spatial resource allocation intended to minimize handovers and to simplify the calculation of the time user spends inside each satellite beam spot. Numerical results with real system parameters are provided to confirm feasibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ebola virus (EBOV) causes severe human disease with a high case fatality rate. The balance of evidence implies that the virus circulates in bats. The molecular basis for host–viral interactions, including the role for phosphorylation during infections, is largely undescribed. To address this, and to better understand the biology of EBOV, the phosphorylation of EBOV proteins was analyzed in virions purified from infected monkey Vero-E6 cells and bat EpoNi/22.1 cells using high-resolution mass spectrometry. All EBOV structural proteins were detected with high coverage, along with phosphopeptides. Phosphorylation sites were identified in all viral structural proteins. Comparison of EBOV protein phosphorylation in monkey and bat cells showed only partial overlap of phosphorylation sites, with shared sites found in NP, VP35, and VP24 proteins, and no common sites in the other proteins. Three-dimensional structural models were built for NP, VP35, VP40, GP, VP30 and VP24 proteins using available crystal structures or by de novo structure prediction to elucidate the potential role of the phosphorylation sites. Phosphorylation of one of the identified sites in VP35, Thr-210, was demonstrated to govern the transcriptional activity of the EBOV polymerase complex. Thr-210 phosphorylation was also shown to be important for VP35 interaction with NP. This is the first study to compare phosphorylation of all EBOV virion proteins produced in primate versus bat cells, and to demonstrate the role of VP35 phosphorylation in the viral life cycle. The results uncover a novel mechanism of EBOV transcription and identify novel targets for antiviral drug development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is devoted to AUE, a street subculture on social media and in cities. The term AUE in Russian translates as "prisoners' ways are united", or "prisoners' criminal union". It is a subculture that promotes a criminal way of life, cultivates an image of a hooligan, and is based on hatred towards law enforcement. However, there is a certain stylization in all of that, especially when AUE manifests on Russian social media. Members are aged between 12-13 years and 25-30 years; there are older members as well. The goal of this study is to perform a comprehensive analysis of collective stereotypes about crime and prison that exist among the street youth. The phenomenon of AUE is viewed as a hierarchy of finance and power that solves the social problems that the youth faces. Financial and legal help may be provided to prisoners "from the street". It also creates youth financial institutions such as a shared cash fund and a system for financial and physical support. The article lists popular paradigms about crime and prison, and social practices of the street youth. This article also discusses the social and psychological features of AUE members by creating a generalized portrait of an AUE member. We also determine the degree of hostility of this movement to the state and society. Finally, we identify youth groups that may be targeted by the destructive AUE ideology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Russia's place in the sixteenth-century European Reformation has remained largely an understudied subject in the West. Indeed, most early modern scholarship rarely crosses the Carpathians or Lake Peipus. Similarly, in Russia, scholars have not yet produced a systematic study of Ivan the Terrible's views vis-à-vis the Reformation. This article examines Ivan the Terrible's polemic against Protestantism within the context of the regional eastern European and larger, continental Reformation. For Ivan, Protestants constituted both internal and external threats, posing grave danger to Orthodox doctrine, Russian society, and the safety of Muscovy's borders. Theologically, in the czar's worldview, Protestants were heretics and schismatics par excellence, whose split from apostolic succession endangered not only Roman Catholicism, but the integrity of the Orthodox church as well. Socially, Ivan thought, Protestants championed moral degeneracy, while politically they threatened global and regional security by overwhelming neighboring European states with upheavals and revolt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HIV-1 has eluded vaccine therapy for the past 40 years. The virus mutates rapidly and is protected by a shifting glycan shield of mannose sugars, which has hindered the broad neutralization of the virus by antibodies (Abs). Studies have shown that mannose residues are self-adhesive, but it is not known if these adhesions drive HIV-1 to aggregate in solution, further complicating Ab neutralization. The behavior of HIV-1 in culture media was monitored using Dynamic Light Scattering and complementary atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging in the presence of anti-gp120 Abs, lectins, mannosidase, and mucin. After accounting for the serum contribution from the culture media, HIV-1 was found to be diffusing in solution in 400–700 nm clusters. These clusters could be sheared into single virus particles by filtration, but the dispersed particles clustered back within a short time frame. Sample preparation prior to AFM and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging appears to disperse clusters, but the clusters become visible in AFM when they are stabilized by Abs in solution. The clustered form of the virus appears to restrict access of Abs, lectins, and glycosidases to surfaces within the cluster. Mannosidase treatment following virus dispersion by filtration prevented clustering, suggesting that the mannose glycan shield is involved in cluster formation. Dispersed HIV-1 particles that were bound by Abs did not re-cluster back. Free mucin molecules (porcine gastric mucin) effectively dispersed HIV-1 clusters, even those stabilized by Abs. HIV-1-loaded mucin dried on the AFM surface with a fern-like fractal pattern, similar to that seen clinically in cervical mucin during the more penetrable ovulation stage. IMPORTANCE The phenomenon of reversible clustering is expected to further nuance HIV immune stealth because virus surfaces can escape interaction with antibodies (Abs) by hiding temporarily within clusters. It is well known that mucin reduces HIV virulence, and the current perspective is that mucin aggregates HIV-1 to reduce infections. Our findings, however, suggest that mucin is dispersing HIV clusters. The study proposes a new paradigm for how HIV-1 may broadly evade Ab recognition with reversible clustering and why mucin effectively neutralizes HIV-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The two-dimensional Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+y (Bi2212), the most studied prototype cuprate superconductor, is a lamellar system made of a stack of two-dimensional corrugated CuO2 bilayers separated by Bi2O2 + ySr2 O2 layers. While the large majority of theories, proposed to interpret unconventional high Tc superconductivity in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+y, assume a centrosymmetric tetragonal CuO2 lattice for the [CuO2]Ca[CuO2] bilayer, here, we report new compelling results providing evidence for local noncentrosymmetric symmetry at the Cu atom. We have measured polarized Cu K-edge XANES (X-ray absorption near-edge structure) and the K-edge X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) of a Bi2212 single-crystal near-optimum doping. The Cu K-edge XMCD signal was measured at ID12 beamline of ESRF with the k-vector of X-ray beam parallel to c-axis, i.e., with the electric field of X-ray beam E//ab, using a 17-T magnetic field parallel to the c-axis of a Bi2212 single crystal. Numerical simulations of the XMCD signal of Bi2212 by multiple scattering theory have shown agreement with the experimental XMCD signal only for the local structure with noncentrosymmetric Bb2b space group of Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+y. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is devoted to experimental investigation of an efficient mechanism of distributed excitation of nonstationary Görtler vortices in a boundary layer on concave wall due to scattering of three-dimensional, streamwise oriented freestream vortices on natural two-dimensional base-flow nonuniformity associated with the boundary layer growth. The investigations are performed in a broad range of disturbance frequencies and spanwise wavenumbers. The measurements have shown that the distributed receptivity mechanism is able to modify significantly the disturbance growth rates. This mechanism is found to be able to compete successfully with the linear instability mechanism. It is found that at relatively low frequencies and not too large freestream disturbance amplitudes, the Görtler modes’ development is dominated basically by the corresponding linear instability mechanism. Meanwhile, this mechanism becomes weaker with growth of frequency and, simultaneously, the distributed receptivity mechanism gets stronger. This leads to enhancement of role of the latter in amplification of Görtler instability modes, and at high frequencies the role of the distributed receptivity mechanism becomes very important and often even decisive one. Based on deep processing of the experimental data, quantitative values of the distributed linear receptivity coefficients are obtained for the case of excitation of unsteady Görtler modes and estimated for the case of steady Görtler vortices by means of extrapolation to the zero frequency. A complementary experiment devoted to investigation of the problem of linear unsteady Görtler instability is performed for the particular conditions of the distributed receptivity experiments. All main stability characteristics are obtained and compared with calculated ones. In general, the experimental information presented in this paper can be used for verification of various instability and vortex receptivitytheories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Temporal lobe epilepsy is usually associated with cognitive decline and memory deficits. Despite numerous existing studies on various animal models, the mechanisms of these deficits remain largely unclear. A specific form of long-term synaptic efficacy changes-long-term depression (LTD)-is thought to play an important role in memory formation and learning. However, extremely little is known about the possible alteration of LTD induction and dynamics after a status epilepticus (SE). In this work, we investigated the acute and delayed effects of lithium-pilocarpine-induced SE on NMDAR-dependent and NMDAR-independent hippocampal LTD in vitro. We found that SE affected the NMDAR-dependent and NMDAR-independent forms of LTD in different manners. The NMDAR-dependent form of LTD was almost intact 3 days after SE, but it switched from a predominantly presynaptic to a more postsynaptic locus of expression. In contrast, the NMDAR-independent LTD in the hippocampal Schaffer collaterals-CA1 synapses was fully abolished 3 days after SE. Our results emphasize the role of non-NMDA-dependent synaptic plasticity changes in the processes of epileptogenesis and the potential for therapy development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While for a long time, iron-based superconductors have been investigated looking at the average crystalline structure, there is now growing interest on the divergence of local from the average structure. Here, we use advanced data analysis of EXAFS, a fast and local probe, which has key advantages compared to crystallographic measurements, in unveiling the dynamics of the local structure. The results show that the Fe-As pair oscillates in the double-well potential both in undoped and in cobalt-doped LaFeAsO crystals. The parameters and the characteristics of the double-well potential are determined by curve fits of the polarized EXAFS data. Temperature-dependent Fe-As pair distribution and tunneling frequency are derived from selected model of two potential wells. We observe the softening of the Fe-As oscillations at the tetragonal to orthorhombic structural phase transition at 150 K in LaFeAsO. A weak broad softening is observed while decreasing the temperature from 70 to 40 K in superconducting LaFeCoAsO which could be correlated with the onset of short-range charge density wave order. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have explored the potential neuroprotective effect of local lentiviraly-mediated overexpression of nerve growth factor (NGF) on in vivo long-term potentiation (LTP) in the rat hippocampus under pathological conditions. The suspension of lentiviral particles was prepared using a genetic construct containing the human NGF gene under the control of a neuron-specific CaMKII promoter. Two weeks after the viral injection NGF concentration in the hippocampus doubled. In vivo recordings of total electrical activity in the dentate gyrus were performed. While the increased expression of NGF did not affect the amplitude of evoked postsynaptic potentials recorded after a high-frequency stimulation of the perforant path, it prevented the LTP decline induced by the i.c.v. administration of 50 nM beta-amyloid (25–35) 1 h prior to tetanization. Our results demonstrate that increased endogenous NGF concentration can rescue hippocampal neuronal function from beta-amyloid peptide induced impairment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work is 5devoted to non YAG-Laser surgery, which is used for traumatic genesis hemophthalmia treatment, during 20 years practice. YAG-Laser vitreolysis is a select operation or an independent unit. YAG-laser destruction on vitreous reduces the time of treatment of traumatic hemophthalmia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: An experimental study using a bead-filled flow tube system coupled to a high-pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometer was performed to characterize the products and kinetic mechanism of the release of chlorine containing species by the heterogeneous reaction of OH radicals on a NaCl surface. Although only species corresponding to HCl were observed, the kinetic model and an experiment with O3 verified that Cl2, the sole product of the heterogeneous reaction, was converted to HCl in the presence of H. The yield of Cl2 per OH was determined to be 0.020±0.002 and 0.022±0.002 at 0 and 6% of relative humidity (RH), respectively. The XPS study indicated that the chlorine deficit caused by OH uptake was enhanced under wet conditions. An enhancement in Cl2 production was observed under wet conditions, which was consistent with the measured chlorine deficit in NaCl. Two reaction mechanisms were proposed to describe the heterogeneous uptake of OH by NaCl. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We discuss an investigation of the dark matter decay modes of the neutron, proposed by Fornal and Grinstein (2018–2020), Berezhiani (2017, 2018) and Ivanov et al. (2018) for solution of the neutron lifetime anomaly problem, through the analysis of the electrodisintegration of the deuteron d into dark matter fermions χ and protons p close to threshold. We calculate the triple-differential cross section for the reaction e − + d → χ + p + e − and propose to search for such a dark matter channel in coincidence experiments on the electrodisintegration of the deuteron e − + d → n + p + e − into neutrons n and protons close to threshold with outgoing electrons, protons, and neutrons in coincidence. An absence of neutron signals should testify to a detection of dark matter fermions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The HIV-1 Tat protein interacts with TAR RNA and recruits CDK9/cyclin T1 and other host factors to induce HIV-1 transcription. Thus, Tat–TAR RNA interaction, which is unique for HIV-1, represents an attractive target for anti-HIV-1 therapeutics. To target Tat–TAR RNA interaction, we used a crystal structure of acetylpromazine bound to the bulge of TAR RNA, to dock compounds from the Enamine database containing over two million individual compounds. The docking procedure identified 173 compounds that were further analyzed for the inhibition of HIV-1 infection. The top ten inhibitory compounds with IC50 ≤ 6 µM were selected and the three least toxic compounds, T6780107 (IC50 = 2.97 μM), T0516-4834 (IC50 = 0.2 μM) and T5628834 (IC50 = 3.46 μM), were further tested for HIV-1 transcription inhibition. Only the T0516-4834 compound showed selective inhibition of Tat-induced HIV-1 transcription, whereas the T6780107 compound inhibited equally basal and Tat-induced transcription and the T5628834 compound only inhibited basal HIV-1 transcription. The compounds were tested for the inhibition of translation and showed minimal (<25%) effect. The T0516-4834 compound also showed the strongest inhibition of HIV-1 RNA expression and p24 production in CEM T cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells infected with HIV-1 IIIB. Of the three compounds, only the T0516-4834 compound significantly disrupted Tat–TAR RNA interaction. Additionally, of the three tested compounds, T5628834 and, to a lesser extent, T0516-4834 disrupted Tat–CDK9/cyclin T1 interaction. None of the three compounds showed significant inhibition of the cellular CDK9 and cyclin T1 levels. In silico modelling showed that the T0516-4834 compound interacted with TAR RNA by binding to the bulge formed by U23, U25, C39, G26,C39 and U40 residues. Taken together, our study identified a novel benzoxazole compound that disrupted Tat–TAR RNA interaction and inhibited Tat-induced transcription and HIV-1 infection, suggesting that this compound might serve as a new lead for anti-HIV-1 therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Many peptides and proteins, containing N α-alkylamino acids (including proline) at the second position, are prone to intramolecular aminolysis (IA) with elimination of N-terminal dipeptide sequence as 2,5-diketopiperazines (DKP). We synthesized a series of short peptides, containing N-alkylamino acids at position 2, and studied their stability in the presence of acetic acid and amines. The presence of side chains in the second and the third amino acid residues and alkylation at N α of the third amino acid residue slowed down IA. N α-Alkyl residue in the first amino acid residue impeded IA only in peptides, containing three or more residues. Side chains of the first amino acids did not affect significantly the cleavage rates. Acetic acid promoted IA more strongly than aqueous ammonia, while tertiary amines were less effective. Peptides with methionine-S-oxide residues were more labile than the unoxidized analogs, suggesting intramolecular assistance of the S-oxide group in aminolysis. Surprisingly, intermediate compounds of the formula Boc–Met-MeXaa-Sar–NHR underwent rapid cleavage (endopeptolysis) upon attempted acidolytic deprotection. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper examines the observed impact of past economic downturns on human development indicators in 29 countries of the region. We estimate empirical elasticities of key human development indicators covering demographics, crime, epidemiology, unemployment, and poverty with respect to changes in per-capita purchase power parity (PPP) gross domestic product. Based on published gross domestic product growth projections from the IMF, we then project the likely impact on the human development indicators in coming years for the countries in the region. The results suggest that the adverse impact of past downturn in income on poverty, public health, mortality, and suicide and homicide rates is likely to be considerable, long-lasting, and to affect the poorest disproportionately. Based on our results, we argue that policy-makers will need better and more timely data to provide the evidence base for policies; and that those policies need to take into account the looming substantial backslide in human development indicators stemming from the global economic crisis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A profile of impurities in bortezomib anhydride, produced by a recently developed convergent technology, has been characterized. HPLC-MS analysis of the drug essence revealed three impurities: an epimer of bortezomib, resulting from partial racemization of L-phenylalanine's stereogenic center during the chemical synthesis, and two epimeric products of oxidative degradation of bortezomib, in which boron is replaced by the OH group. The impurities were obtained by chemical synthesis and characterized by physical methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For many contemporary historians, the 1689 Treaty of Nerchinsk was not only the first diplomatic treaty between China and a European power, but also an example of a peaceful boundary settlement, which ended the protracted conflict between the two expanding empires. Yet despite modern emphasis on territorial demarcation, clarity of border signs hardly dominated this seventeenth century conflict in the Far East. In fact, careful examination of the published Russian archival record of Muscovite-Qing diplomatic correspondence reveals that competition for tributary allegiances of indigenous and settler populations proved to be a much greater source of tension between the two empires. Ultimately, the mercurial loyalties of local Tungus and Mongol tribes as well the cross-nation desertions of Cossacks, military commanders and Ming loyalists drove both Qing and Muscovite officials to stabilize their shared frontiers through negotiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Bortezomib is a first-in-class therapeutic antineoplastic agent used for treating patients with multiple myeloma and mantle cell lymphoma. In this paper we report an improved method for synthesis of the title compound using a convergent approach. TBTU was found to efficiently suppress racemization in the fragment condensation. In comparison with the original synthesis, the presented one is shorter by two steps, higher in yield, and provides better atom economy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: We have previously reported that p53 mutated radioresistant lymphoma cell lines undergo mitotic catastrophe after irradiation, resulting in metaphase arrest and the generation of endopolyploid cells. A proportion of these endopolyploid cells then undergo a process of depolyploidisation, stages of which are partially reminiscent of meiotic prophase. Furthermore, expression of meiosis-specific proteins of the cancer/testis antigens group of genes has previously been reported in tumours. We therefore investigated whether expression of meiosis-specific genes was associated with the polyploidy response in our tumour model. Methods: Three lymphoma cell lines, Namalwa, WI-L2-NS and TK6, of varying p53 status were exposed to a single 10 Gy dose of gamma radiation and their responses assessed over an extended time course. DNA flow cytometry and mitotic counts were used to assess the kinetics and extent of polyploidisation and mitotic progression. Expression of meiotic genes was analysed using RTPCR and western blotting. In addition, localisation of the meiotic cohesin REC8 and its relation to centromeres was analysed by immunofluorescence. Results: The principal meiotic regulator MOS was found to be significantly post-transcriptionally up-regulated after irradiation in p53 mutated but not p53 wild-type lymphoma cells. The maximum expression of MOS coincided with the maximal fraction of metaphase arrested cells and was directly proportional to both the extent of the arrest and the number of endopolyploid cells that subsequently emerged. The meiotic cohesin REC8 was also found to be up-regulated after irradiation, linking sister chromatid centromeres in the metaphase-arrested and subsequent giant cells. Finally, RT-PCR revealed expression of the meiosis-prophase genes, DMC1, STAG3, SYCP3 and SYCP1. Conclusion: We conclude that multiple meiotic genes are aberrantly activated during mitotic catastrophe in p53 mutated lymphoma cells after irradiation. Furthermore, we suggest that the coordinated expression of MOS and REC8 regulate the extent of arrested mitoses and polyploidy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 3D receptivity of 2D laminar boundary layers to localized surface vibrations has been investigated both experimentally and theoretically for two types of basic flow: (i) the Blasius boundary layer and (ii) a boundary layer with a negative streamwise pressure gradient (Hartree parameter βH=0.10). For the boundary-layer excitation, a specially designed surface vibrator was used. The development of the excited wave-trains was measured by means of hot-wire anemometry and decomposed into oblique normal Tollmien–Schlichting-modes. The initial spectra of the excited perturbations at the position of the vibrator was obtained by two different techniques. The first used an additional source which was mounted upstream and provided the amplification curves for the instability modes in the vicinity of the vibrator, the second was based on linear stability calculations. The receptivity coefficients were defined as the ratio of the initial wavenumber spectrum of the excited TS-waves and the corresponding resonant spectrum of the surface vibrations. They were determined for each fixed frequency as a function of the spanwise wavenumber.The boundary value problem for the disturbance produced by the vibrating membrane was solved theoretically for the same conditions as in the experiments in the framework of the classical hydrodynamic stability theory. The Navier–Stokes equations were linearized around a incompressible basic flow described by a solution of the Falkner–Skan equation. Comparisons of the theoretical and experimental results on the 3D receptivity show good quantitative agreement. It is concluded that the favorable pressure gradient increases the boundary-layer receptivity to surface vibrations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Maximizing the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) is a significant effort focused on the substrate design. In this paper, we are reporting on an important enhancement in the SERS signal that has been reached with a hybrid asymmetric dimer array on gold film coupled to the efficient adsorption of thiophenol molecules on this array. Indeed, the key factor for the SERS effect is the adsorption efficiency of chemical molecules on the surface of plasmonic nanostructures, which is measured by the value of the adsorption constant usually named K. In addition, this approach can be applied to several SERS substrates allowing a prescriptive estimate of their relative performance as sensor and to probe the affinity of substrates for a target analyte. Moreover, this prescriptive estimate leads to higher predictability of SERS activity of molecules, which is also a key point for the development of sensors for a broad spectrum of analytes. We experimentally investigated the sensitivity of the Au/Si asymmetric dimer array on the gold film for SERS sensing of thiophenol molecules, which are well-known for their excellent adsorption on noble metals and serving as a proof-of-concept in our study. For this sensing, a detection limit of 10 pM was achieved as well as an adsorption constant K of 6 × 10 6 M − 1 . The enhancement factor of 5.2 × 10 10 was found at the detection limit of 10 pM for thiophenol molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research focused on the issue of reducing the coal dust emission from the coal mining industry. Out of various binders for dust suppression, the authors used sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC) with the spraying technology. The PM10 coal dust was recognized as the most harmful fraction. A laboratory setup based on a sealed dust suppression bunker with 10 g dust samples was tested, placed on a square with the dimensions of 250 × 250 mm. The air with the coal dust was blown and spread for one minute, until the concentration was equalized over the volume of the bunker; then, the concentration was measured for one hour. The untreated and treated samples of water and aqueous solutions with the SCMC content of 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.4% were tested and the dust suppression efficiency was calculated. The best obtained efficiency of the 0.1% solution of SCMC was compared with other less or more concentrated solutions or distilled/technical water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theoretical identification methods for complex industrial control objects give very cumbersome and complex mathematical relations, the use of which for practical purposes is not constructive. In this regard, methods for obtaining mathematical models based on experimental data have now become the main focus of identification theory. In this paper is described the method of identification of industrial control objects developed according to their acceleration characteristics. The structure of the object under study is determined by the type of amplitude-phase frequency response and dynamic parameters are determined by experimental data. The high adequacy of the method is confirmed by similar studies on known (reference) models. The scientific novelty of the work consists in development of a new method for identifying complex industrial control objects by their acceleration characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research is devoted to the study of the functional role structure of the interaction of the company's top management. The subject area of the study includes projects of digital transformation of business processes. The functional role status of IT directors for such positions as CIO, CDO, CDTO, CTO, CA was investigated. The analysis of the most frequently used models of interaction of IT directors was carried out and the optimal model was determined. The study was conducted using the Delphi expert assessment and the hierarchy analysis method. For the established optimal model related to the integration type of management, the organisational features of its application are described. Solutions are proposed to improve the quality of functional-role interaction of IT directors, which consider personal effectiveness, interaction style, ability to adopt technologies. The results of the study inform scientists about new data in the field of organisational behaviour for companies implementing digital initiatives. Practitioners can use the results of our research to adapt their organisational structure in such a way as to reduce the risks of the human factor during the implementation of the digital transformation strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite widespread utilization of immunotherapy, treating immune-cold tumors remains a challenge. Multiomic analyses and experimental validation identified the OTUD4/CD73 proteolytic axis as a promising target in treating immune-suppressive triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). Mechanistically, deubiquitylation of CD73 by OTUD4 counteracted its ubiquitylation by TRIM21, resulting in CD73 stabilization inhibiting tumor immune responses. We further demonstrated the importance of TGF-β signaling for orchestrating the OTUD4/CD73 proteolytic axis within tumor cells. Spatial transcriptomics profiling discovered spatially resolved features of interacting malignant and immune cells pertaining to expression levels of OTUD4 and CD73. In addition, ST80, a newly developed inhibitor, specifically disrupted proteolytic interaction between CD73 and OTUD4, leading to reinvigoration of cytotoxic CD8+ T cell activities. In preclinical models of TNBC, ST80 treatment sensitized refractory tumors to anti-PD-L1 therapy. Collectively, our findings uncover what we believe to be a novel strategy for targeting the immunosuppressive OTUD4/CD73 proteolytic axis in treating immune-suppressive breast cancers with the inhibitor ST80. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates several known-age samples of light, nondyed linen textile dated between 1200 B.C. and A.D. 1500 by combined capillary electrophoresis/mass spectrometry. Analysis of the textile cellulose enzymatic hydrolysates; Use of field ionization and field desorption variants of mass spectrometry; Evidence of alkylated cellulose sequences.

Few diagnostic methods are available that describe uremia related changes of the albumin molecule structure in hemodialysis patients. The impaired human serum albumin (HSA) function is an essential part of the uremic syndrome and probably influences the long-term outcome of patients on maintenance dialysis. The albumin binding capacity (characterized for different binding centers on the molecule) is one of the relevant clinical parameters. During the current study, marker substances were utilized to evaluate center-specific binding capacity. Patients were divided into 3 groups depending on the time on hemodialysis (HD) treatment (in years) with healthy blood donors as control. Compared to healthy persons, results demonstrate a considerable impairment of binding characteristics in HD patients. Only in patients on maintenance HD for more than 5 years did ligand binding properties improve significantly. A correlation between the time of chronic HD and the recovery in binding capacity was found for the majority of binding centers of the HSA molecule. Similar results were seen applying such analytical methods as thermography (melting points) and thermofluorescence. Binding capacity impairment found for specified binding centers on the HSA molecule as the main serum carrier protein may have a direct impact on different clinical situations and the HD long-term outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work shows that the rate of free respiration of liver mitochondria (in the absence of ATP synthesis (state 4) during the oxidation of succinate is 1.7 times higher than during the oxidation of glutamate with malate. In turn, in the case of oxidation of ferrocyanide with ascorbate, this value is 3.1 times greater than in the case of succinate oxidation. A similar pattern is also observed upon stimulation of free respiration by low concentrations (5 and 10 μM) of the protonophore uncoupler 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP). It is found that the passive leakage rate of protons in state 4 is the same if the H+/O ratios are 10, 6, and 2 upon the oxidation of glutamate with malate, succinate, and ferrocyanide with ascorbate, respectively. At these values of the H+/O ratio, low concentrations of DNP stimulate passive proton leakage equally during the oxidation of these respiration substrates. In the case of succinate oxidation, bypassing complex III by N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl- p -phenylenediamine (TMPD) to the maximum degree, as well as switching this complex completely to idle mode by α,ω-hexadecanedioic acid (HDA) cause a 3-fold stimulation of respiration in state 4. We conclude that at mitochondrial free respiration the values of the H+/2e− ratio for complexes I, III, and IV of the respiratory chain are 4, 4, and 2, respectively. It is assumed that the free respiration of mitochondria is carried out by simple diffusion of protons through the inner membrane, and the rate of this diffusion depends on the total number of protons released by the complexes of the electron transport chain into the intermembrane space. • Mitochondrial free respiration rate depends on the ETC complexes involved in energy transformation. • TMPD and HDA cause 3-fold stimulation of state 4 respiration of succinate-fueled mitochondria. • At mitochondrial free respiration H+/2e– for complexes I, III, and IV are 4, 4, and 2, respectively. • Free respiration is based on simple diffusion of H+ across the inner membrane. • The diffusion rate depends on the number of H+ released by ETC into the intermembrane space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to evaluate the changes in concentrations of some biochemical parameters, as well as macro and microscopic alterations during Eimeria stiedae infection in rabbits. The experiment was performed using 12 threemonth-old healthy rabbits, randomly allocated into 2 equal groups: G1 (controls, uninfected animals) and G2 (rabbits infected with E. stiedae). Blood samples were collected at time zero (prior to the infection), 6th, 24th, and 48th hours, and also 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th days after the infection. After sampling, the blood was centrifuged, plasma was separated and frozen at -20 °C until analyzed. Thawed plasma was used for the quantitative determination of haptoglobin (Hp), total protein (TP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total cholesterol (TC), total bilirubin (TBIL), urea, and creatinine (CREA). The results in infected rabbits revealed a significant increase in Hp, AST, ALT, GGT, TBIL, and TC levels, as well as a significant decrease in ALP and urea. A weak hyperproteinemia was also observed. There were no changes in CREA concentration. At the end of the clinical investigation, all rabbits were humanely euthanized and necropsied. The post-mortem examination of the infected group revealed hepatomegaly, multifocal yellowish nodules diffusely spread over the liver surface and in the parenchyma, considerably dilated bile ducts, and biliary hyperplasia. Given the results obtained from this experiment, it can be affirmed that hepatic eimeriosis in rabbits is a severe parasitic disease leading to significant disturbances of liver histology and resulting changes in the biochemical profile of infected rabbits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasmonics is one of the most used domains for applications to optical devices, biological and chemical sensing, and non-linear optics, for instance. Indeed, plasmonics enables confining the electromagnetic field at the nanoscale. The resonances of plasmonic systems can be set in a given domain of a spectrum by adjusting the geometry, the spatial arrangement, and the nature of the materials. Moreover, symmetry breaking can be used for the further improvement of the optical properties of the plasmonic systems. In the last three years, great advances in or insights into the use of symmetry breaking in plasmonics have occurred. In this mini-review, we present recent insights and advances on the use of symmetry breaking in plasmonics for applications to chemistry, sensing, devices, non-linear optics, and chirality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present here the amplification of the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) signal of nanodisks on a gold film for SERS sensing of small molecules (thiophenol) with an excellent sensitivity. The enhancement is achieved by adding a silicon underlayer for the composition of the nanodisks. We experimentally investigated the sensitivity of the suggested Au/Si disk-shaped nanoresonators for chemical sensing by SERS. We achieved values of enhancement factors of 5 × 10 7 − 6 × 10 7 for thiophenol sensing. Moreover, we remarked that the enhancement factor (EF) values reached experimentally behave qualitatively as those evaluated with the E 4 model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Metal-dielectric micro/nano-composites have surface plasmon resonances in visible and near-infrared domains. Excitation of coupled metal-dielectric resonances is also important. These different resonances can allow enhancement of the electromagnetic field at a subwavelength scale. Hybrid plasmonic structures act as optical antennae by concentrating large electromagnetic energy in micro- and nano-scales. Plasmonic structures are proposed for various applications such as optical filters, investigation of quantum electrodynamics effects, solar energy concentration, magnetic recording, nanolasing, medical imaging and biodetection, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS), and optical super-resolution microscopy. We present the review of recent achievements in experimental and theoretical studies of metal-dielectric micro and nano antennae that are important for fundamental and applied research. The main impact is application of metal-dielectric optical antennae for the efficient SERS sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proteomic studies have identified moesin (MSN), a protein containing a four-point-one, ezrin, radixin, moesin (FERM) domain, and the receptor CD44 as hub proteins found within a coexpression module strongly linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD) traits and microglia. These proteins are more abundant in Alzheimer's patient brains, and their levels are positively correlated with cognitive decline, amyloid plaque deposition, and neurofibrillary tangle burden. The MSN FERM domain interacts with the phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) and the cytoplasmic tail of CD44. Inhibiting the MSN-CD44 interaction may help limit AD-associated neuronal damage. Here, we investigated the feasibility of developing inhibitors that target this protein-protein interaction. We have employed structural, mutational, and phagedisplay studies to examine how CD44 binds to the FERM domain of MSN. Interestingly, we have identified an allosteric site located close to the PIP2 binding pocket that influences CD44 binding. These findings suggest a mechanism in which PIP2 binding to the FERM domain stimulates CD44 binding through an allosteric effect, leading to the formation of a neighboring pocket capable of accommodating a receptor tail. Furthermore, high-throughput screening of a chemical library identified two compounds that disrupt the MSN-CD44 interaction. One compound series was further optimized for biochemical activity, specificity, and solubility. Our results suggest that the FERM domain holds potential as a drug development target. Small molecule preliminary leads generated from this study could serve as a foundation for additional medicinal chemistry efforts with the goal of controlling microglial activity in AD by modifying the MSN-CD44 interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: HIV-1 transcription activator protein Tat is phosphorylated in vitro by CDK2 and DNA-PK on Ser-16 residue and by PKR on Tat Ser-46 residue. Here we analyzed Tat phosphorylation in cultured cells and its functionality. Results: Mass spectrometry analysis showed primarily Tat Ser-16 phosphorylation in cultured cells. In vitro, CDK2/cyclin E predominantly phosphorylated Tat Ser-16 and PKR—Tat Ser-46. Alanine mutations of either Ser-16 or Ser-46 decreased overall Tat phosphorylation. Phosphorylation of Tat Ser-16 was reduced in cultured cells treated by a small molecule inhibitor of CDK2 and, to a lesser extent, an inhibitor of DNA-PK. Conditional knock-downs of CDK2 and PKR inhibited and induced one round HIV-1 replication respectively. HIV-1 proviral transcription was inhibited by Tat alanine mutants and partially restored by S16E mutation. Pseudotyped HIV-1 with Tat S16E mutation replicated well, and HIV-1 Tat S46E—poorly, but no live viruses were obtained with Tat S16A or Tat S46A mutations. TAR RNA binding was affected by Tat Ser-16 alanine mutation. Binding to cyclin T1 showed decreased binding of all Ser-16 and Ser-46 Tat mutants with S16D and Tat S46D mutationts showing the strongest effect. Molecular modelling and molecular dynamic analysis revealed significant structural changes in Tat/CDK9/cyclin T1 complex with phosphorylated Ser-16 residue, but not with phosphorylated Ser-46 residue. Conclusion: Phosphorylation of Tat Ser-16 induces HIV-1 transcription, facilitates binding to TAR RNA and rearranges CDK9/cyclin T1/Tat complex. Thus, phosphorylation of Tat Ser-16 regulates HIV-1 transcription and may serve as target for HIV-1 therapeutics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Original multiscale flaked silver SERS-substrate (MFSS substrate) was applied for glycated albumin (GA) biosensing. The substrate is composed from silver flakes that have three orders of magnitude size dispersion: from 50 nm to 2 μm. The multiscale silver structure refracts the incident light and various surface plasmons are excited. Some of the internal plasmons are localized and give rise of the large local electric field. It was demonstrated that Raman scattering signal strongly depends: a) on "hot spots" formation at the edges and points of contact of silver plates, and b) on the angle of incidence. As a result the silver structure operates as an effective SERS substrate. To achieve the selectivity to glycated part, the surface of SERS-substrate was modified with 4-mercaptophenylboronic acid (4-mPBA). Various saccharides (Fru, Glc, Suc, Dex) were taken as model compounds for the glycated proteins determination. The saccharides contain cis -diol groups that form five- or six-membered ethers with boronic acid. Spectrum of SERS-substrate changes after sugar/glycated albumin treatment. Main differences in the SERS-spectra of sugar/glycated albumin treated SERS-substrate and control are referred to phenylboronic acid vibrations (999, 1021, 1072 and 1589 cm−1). Principal component analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Squares Regression (PLS-R) were used to discriminate spectra and to construct calibration curve, as well as to measure GA values in real samples of human plasma. Multiscale flaked silver SERS-substrate modified with 4-mPBA allows quantitative one-step biosensing of glycated albumin in 15 μl of human plasma. Image 1 • Silver SERS-substrate was used for glycated human albumin biosensing. • The main differences in spectra are observed at 416, 470, 999, 1021, 1072, 1572 and 1589 cm−1. • SERS-effect depends on "hot spots" formation at the edges of silver plates, and on the angle of incidence. • Quantitative one-step biosensing of glycated albumin in 15 μl of human plasma had been done. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential use of glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) to fabricate single-circuit (SC) and double-circuit (DC) transmission towers was explored herein. Numerical simulations were also done in ANSYS Mechanical software using SOLID186 finite elements. The computations showed that for 110 kV SC and 35 kV and 110 kV DC anchor towers, GFRP structures are not acceptable due to poor stiffness. Different tower configurations with one and two poles made of GFRP and steel–GFRP were modeled. Hybrid steel–GFRP towers exhibited much better stiffness than GFRP ones. Here we advise SC and DC towers with two steel–GFRP columns braced by a metal cage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterogeneous Pd‐containing nanocatalysts, based on poly (propylene imine) dendrimers immobilized in silica pores and networks, obtained by co‐hydrolysis in situ, have been synthesized and examined in the hydrogenation of various unsaturated compounds. The catalyst activity and selectivity were found to strongly depend on the carrier structure as well as on the substrate electron and geometric features. Thus, mesoporous catalyst, synthesized in presence of both polymeric template and tetraethoxysilane, revealed the maximum activity in the hydrogenation of various styrenes, including bulky and rigid stilbene and its isomers, reaching TOF values of about 230000 h−1. Other mesoporous catalyst, synthesized in the presence of polymeric template, but without addition of Si(OEt)4, provided the trans‐cyclooctene formation with the selectivity of 90–95 %, appearing as similar to homogeneous dendrimer‐based catalysts. Microporous catalyst, obtained only on the presence of Si(OEt)4, while dendrimer molecules acting as both anchored ligands and template, demonstrated the maximum activity in the hydrogenation of terminal linear alkynes and conjugated dienes, reaching TOF values up to 400000 h−1. Herein the total selectivity on alkene in the case of terminal alkynes and conjugated dienes reached 95–99 % even at hydrogen pressure of 30 atm. The catalysts synthesized can be easily isolated from reaction products and recycled without significant loss of activity. The key is in the structure! Novel heterogeneous Pd‐containing hydrogenation nanocatalysts, based on poly(propylene imine) dendrimers immobilized in silica pores and networks, obtained by co‐hydrolysis in situ, have been synthesized and examined in the selective hydrogenation of various dienes, aceylenes and styrenes. The structure of the carrier structure has been found to have a crucial influence on the catalyst activity and selectivity. By carefully adjusting the reaction conditions, Pd catalysts demonstrate TOF values up to 400000 h−1 and total selectivity on the desired products of 90–95 % even at hydrogen pressure of 30 atm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The filoviruses Marburg virus (MARV) and Ebola virus (EBOV) cause hemorrhagic fever in humans and nonhuman primates, with high case fatality rates. MARV VP30 is known to be phosphorylated and to interact with nucleoprotein (NP), but its role in regulation of viral transcription is disputed. Here, we analyzed phosphorylation of VP30 by mass spectrometry, which resulted in identification of multiple phosphorylated amino acids. Modeling the full-length three-dimensional structure of VP30 and mapping the identified phosphorylation sites showed that all sites lie in disordered regions, mostly in the N-terminal domain of the protein. Minigenome analysis of the identified phosphorylation sites demonstrated that phosphorylation of a cluster of amino acids at positions 46 through 53 inhibits transcription. To test the effect of VP30 phosphorylation on its interaction with other MARV proteins, coimmunoprecipitation analyses were performed. They demonstrated the involvement of VP30 phosphorylation in interaction with two other proteins of the MARV ribonucleoprotein complex, NP and VP35. To identify the role of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) in the identified effects, a small molecule, 1E7-03, targeting a noncatalytic site of the enzyme that previously was shown to increase EBOV VP30 phosphorylation was used. Treatment of cells with 1E7-03 increased phosphorylation of VP30 at a cluster of phosphorylated amino acids from Ser-46 to Thr-53, reduced transcription of MARV minigenome, enhanced binding to NP and VP35, and dramatically reduced replication of infectious MARV particles. Thus, MARV VP30 phosphorylation can be targeted for development of future antivirals such as PP1-targeting compounds. IMPORTANCE The largest outbreak of MARV occurred in Angola in 2004 to 2005 and had a 90% case fatality rate. There are no approved treatments available for MARV. Development of antivirals as therapeutics requires a fundamental understanding of the viral life cycle. Because of the close similarity of MARV to another member of Filoviridae family, EBOV, it was assumed that the two viruses have similar mechanisms of regulation of transcription and replication. Here, characterization of the role of VP30 and its phosphorylation sites in transcription of the MARV genome demonstrated differences from those of EBOV. The identified phosphorylation sites appeared to inhibit transcription and appeared to be involved in interaction with both NP and VP35 ribonucleoproteins. A small molecule targeting PP1 inhibited transcription of the MARV genome, effectively suppressing replication of the viral particles. These data demonstrate the possibility developing antivirals based on compounds targeting PP1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple interlinked factors like demographics, migration patterns, and economics are presently leading to the critical shortage of labour available for low-skilled, physically demanding tasks like soft fruit harvesting. This paper presents a biomimetic robotic solution covering the full 'Perception-Action' loop targeting harvesting of strawberries in a state-of-the-art vertical growing environment. The novelty emerges from both dealing with crop/environment variance as well as configuring the robot action system to deal with a range of runtime task constraints. Unlike the commonly used deep neural networks, the proposed perception system uses conditional Generative Adversarial Networks to identify the ripe fruit using synthetic data. The network can effectively train the synthetic data using the image-to-image translation concept, thereby avoiding the tedious work of collecting and labelling the real dataset. Once the harvest-ready fruit is localised using point cloud data generated by a stereo camera, our platform's action system can coordinate the arm to reach/cut the stem using the Passive Motion Paradigm framework inspired by studies on neural control of movement in the brain. Results from field trials for strawberry detection, reaching/cutting the stem of the fruit, and extension to analysing complex canopy structures/bimanual coordination (searching/picking) are presented. While this article focuses on strawberry harvesting, ongoing research towards adaptation of the architecture to other crops such as tomatoes and sweet peppers is briefly described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]