Search

The results of investigation of the gain properties of 1300 nm vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers active regions based on In0.60Ga0.40As/In0.53Al0.20Ga0.27As superlattices and threshold characteristics comparison of superlattices and highly lattice mismatched In0.74Al0.16Ga0.10As quantum wells are presented. The heterostructure of injection lasers with an In0.60Ga0.40As/In0.53Al0.20Ga0.27As superlattice was grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Mesa structure of injection lasers was obtained by selective liquid etching followed by the application of ohmic contacts. The formation of injection lasers with various cavity lengths is performed using the method of manually cleaving mirrors. The output characteristics were measured in a pulsed mode using a large area calibrated germanium photodiode. Spectral characteristics were measured using a spectrophotometer based on monochromator. The achieved threshold characteristics (modal gain about 40 cm–1, transparency current density about 650 A/cm2, internal optical losses about 8 cm–1) of injection lasers based on In0.60Ga0.40As/In0.53Al0.20Ga0.27As superlattices with low lattice mismatch InGaAs layers are comparable to previously presented lasers based on active regions with strongly strained In0.74Al0.16Ga0.10As quantum wells. The characteristic temperatures T0 and T1 were 60 K and 87 K for injection lasers with a cavity length of 1 mm. An increase in the frequency of small-signal modulation of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers and their temperature stability is associated with the use of highly strained In0.74Ga0.26As/In0.53Al0.25Ga0.21As superlattices. The proposed active regions based on InGaAs-InP superlattices have the potential to be used in the development of vertical-cavity surface-emitting lasers in the 1300 nm spectral range. The findings of this work can be applied in the realization of experimental species and optimization of modulation parameters for vertical-cavity lasers operating in the 1300 nm wavelength range.

Background/Objectives: The study of oxidative stress in cells and ways to prevent it attract increasing attention. Antioxidant defense of cells can be activated by releasing the transcription factor Nrf2 from a complex with Keap1, its inhibitor protein. The aim of the work was to study the effect of the modular nanotransporter (MNT) carrying an R1 anti-Keap1 monobody (MNTR1) on cell homeostasis. Methods: The murine hepatocyte AML12 cells were used for the study. The interaction of fluorescently labeled MNTR1 with Keap1 fused to hrGFP was studied using the Fluorescence-Lifetime Imaging Microscopy–Förster Resonance Energy Transfer (FLIM-FRET) technique on living AML12 cells transfected with the Keap1-hrGFP gene. The release of Nrf2 from the complex with Keap1 and its levels in the cytoplasm and nuclei of the AML12 cells were examined using a cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA) and confocal laser scanning microscopy, respectively. The effect of MNT on the formation of reactive oxygen species was studied by flow cytometry using 6-carboxy-2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate. Results: MNTR1 is able to interact with Keap1 in the cytoplasm, leading to the release of Nrf2 from the complex with Keap1 and a rapid rise in Nrf2 levels both in the cytoplasm and nuclei, ultimately causing protection of cells from the action of hydrogen peroxide. The possibility of cleavage of the monobody in endosomes leads to an increase in the observed effects. Conclusions: These findings open up a new approach to specifically modulating the interaction of intracellular proteins, as demonstrated by the example of the Keap1-Nrf2 system.

Late leaf spot (LLS) caused by the Ascomycete Nothopassalora personata (N.p.) (Syn. Cercosporidium personatum) is the main foliar disease of peanuts in Argentina and in peanut producing areas of the world, causing up to 70% yield losses. The extremely slow growth of this fungus in culture, that takes around one month to form a 1 cm colony (0.45 mm/day), and the lack of adequate young tissues from where to extract nucleic acids, have hindered genetic studies of this pathogen. Here, we report the first genome sequence of a N. personata isolate from South America, as well as genetic variants on its conserved genes, and the complete sequence of its mating-type locus MAT1-2 idiomorph. The N. personata isolate IPAVE 0302 was obtained from peanut leaves in Córdoba, Argentina. The whole genome sequencing of IPAVE 0302 was performed as paired end 150 bp NovaSeq 6000 and de novo assembled. Clean reads were mapped to the reference genome for this species NRRL 64463 and the genetic variants on highly conserved genes and throughout the genome were analyzed. Sequencing data were submitted to NCBI GenBank Bioproject PRJNA948451, accession number SRR23957761. Additional Fasta files are available from Harvard Dataverse (https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/9AGPMG and https://doi.org/10.7910/DVN/YDO3V6). The data reported here will be the basis for the analysis of genetic diversity of the LLS pathogen of peanut in Argentina, information that is critical to make decisions on management strategies.

The genetic diversity that exists in natural populations of Arachis duranensis, the wild diploid donor of the A subgenome of cultivated tetraploid peanut, has the potential to improve crop adaptability, resilience to major pests and diseases, and drought tolerance. Despite its potential value for peanut improvement, limited research has been focused on the association between allelic variation, environmental factors, and response to early (ELS) and late leaf spot (LLS) diseases. The present study implemented a landscape genomics approach to gain a better understanding of the genetic variability of A. duranensis represented in the ex-situ peanut germplasm collection maintained at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which spans the entire geographic range of the species in its center of origin in South America. A set of 2810 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers allowed a high-resolution genome-wide characterization of natural populations. The analysis of population structure showed a complex pattern of genetic diversity with five putative groups. The incorporation of bioclimatic variables for genotype-environment associations, using the latent factor mixed model (LFMM2) method, provided insights into the genomic signatures of environmental adaptation, and led to the identification of SNP loci whose allele frequencies were correlated with elevation, temperature, and precipitation-related variables (q < 0.05). The LFMM2 analysis for ELS and LLS detected candidate SNPs and genomic regions on chromosomes A02, A03, A04, A06, and A08. These findings highlight the importance of the application of landscape genomics in ex situ collections of peanut and other crop wild relatives to effectively identify favorable alleles and germplasm for incorporation into breeding programs. We report new sources of A. duranensis germplasm harboring adaptive allelic variation, which have the potential to be utilized in introgression breeding for a single or multiple environmental factors, as well as for resistance to leaf spot diseases.

Abstract Objective Two main fungal leaf spot diseases occur in peanut, namely early leaf spot (ELS) and late leaf spot (LLS), these cause a yearly average of $44 million losses. Limited genetic information, 3534 bp of sequencing, exists about the causal agent of LLS, Cercosporidium personatum (syn. Nothopassalora personata, syn. Phaeoisariopsis personata). The extremely slow growth of this fungus, approximately 1 cm colony in 6 months, and challenges in nucleic acid extractions have hindered research on LLS. Our goal in this work is to provide a reference genome for research on this pathogen. Results Whole genome and transcriptome sequencing of the LLS fungus were obtained. A total of 233,542,110 reads of the genome were de novo assembled resulting in 1061 scaffolds, and estimated genome size 27,597,787 bp. RNA sequencing resulted in 11,848,198 reads that were de novo assembled into 13,343 contigs. Genome annotation resulted in 10,703 putative genes. BUSCO analysis of the genome and annotation resulted in 91.1% and 89.5% completeness, respectively. Phylogenetic dendrograms for 5442 bp and 4401 bp of RNA Polymerase II largest and second largest subunits, and for 5474 bp of the ribosomal RNA cistron of C. personatum are presented in relation to closely related fungi.

The relevance. The required statistical identification of natural and anthropogenic biogeochemical anomalies when conducting ecological and geochemical studies on the territories of buried exogenous ores with a weak anthropogenic pressure. The difficulty of their identification according to their sources is related to a similar litho-siderophilic geochemical specialization of sedimentary rocks of iron ore, titanium-zirconium formations and modern soils of taiga zone landscapes. Moreover, the research implemented a method for biomaterial sample preparation. This method is aimed at obtaining the possibility of using a biomaterial sample as a natural indicator to reveal the aeolian and dust aerosol substance intake. As a result, there is an urgent need to involve steps in biogeochemical data statistical processing that allows one qualitatively differentiate the effects of chemical elements concentration via root nutrition and dust accumulation on the leaves. The aim. Statistical assessment of content variability and relationships of chemical elements in aspen leaves in the zone of anthropogenic influence of transport roads crossing the localization areas of buried iron ore deposits of the Bakcharsko-Kolpashevo ore district, Kolpashevo-Turukhan mineragenic zone. Qualitative biogeochemical identification of biomaterial enrichment through root and dust in areas of anomalous concentration of chemical elements using data on accumulation of rare earth elements. Objects. Soil, leaves of common aspen (Populus tremula L., 1753). Methods. Regional biogeochemical and lithochemical sampling was carried out in three profiles along local roads with asphalt and unpaved surfaces at the entrances to settlements. The sampling points common for the methods were shifted off the roads at a distance of at least 20 m to undisturbed landscapes. After sample preparation, the concentration of 28 chemical elements in the samples was determined by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The interpretation of geochemical data was based on the results of multicomponent statistical analysis. Results. The studied territories along the lines of regional research are characterized by the background biogeochemical and lithochemical values. The revealed biogeochemical anomaly is caused by a dust halo that accompanies the unpaved road. The rare earth elements levels show the influence of fine dust-aerosol and aeolian material intake.

Munsell Soil Colour Charts are widely used by soil scientists as the most unbiased way for determining the colour of soil samples. However, there are only a few studies on the variance in people's assessment of the colour of soil samples on this scale and the factors that determine this variance. In this work, we analyze the colour estimates of > 100 undisturbed soil samples by 20 people. For diverse soil samples collected from Anthrosols, Arenosols, Histosols, Podzols and Retisols at the Smolenskoye Poozerye national park, the fraction of votes that support the mode differs from 0.15 to 0.63 with mean of 0.29. The agreement of people’s estimates is significantly less pronounced for hue than for value (p = 0.0001) and chroma (p = 0.002) in dark and muted, but not in light and saturated samples. On average, females vote for mode in more fraction of samples than males (p = 0.026). Moreover, there are people who vote for and against mode more frequently that it is expected by chance. Within-sample variances of estimates calculated after conversion into RGB and CIELAB systems correlate weekly with uncertainty of estimates calculated as fraction of votes that do not support the mode. Soil horizons have different variances in colour estimates. The uncertainty in colour estimation with a Munsell Soil Colour Chart is highly dependent on both sample characteristics and people. The agreement between participants in colour assessment increases substantially when neighboring Munsell chips are treated as equal.

The relevance of the study is related to the need to introduce new methods of deep geochemical mapping into the practice of forecasting and prospecting. Purpose: to identify and evaluate the features of the anomalous geochemical field above the overburdened lead-zinc mineralization based on snow and atmogeochemical sampling. Methods: geochemical mapping, mathematical processing of the results of geochemical work, modeling of geochemical fields using multivariate statistics, geological and genetic interpretation of geochemical data. Object: geochemical halos of the Turuntaevsky lead-zinc ore occurrence. Results. As a result of the processing of geochemical data, it was found that most of the chemical elements in the snow cover and soil air are characterized by a low degree of heterogeneity in the distribution of contents, which indicates the absence of contrasting geochemical halos in the area. After mathematical processing of geochemical data, it was found that the most contrasting anomalies of the main ore elements Pb+Zn, As, Sn and Cu and their normalized contents are located above the wells that exposed ore mineralization. According to the results of snow testing in the distribution of all ore elements: Pb+Zn, As, Sn and Cu, false anomalies are also distinguished, located within the development of forest vegetation. The data obtained give grounds to assert that it is not possible to accurately determine the superimposed halos in the snow cover from changes in the concentrations of trace elements. However, the results of correlation and regression analyzes indicate the presence of relationships between elements with similar geochemical properties. Most likely, in this case, the components are differentiated according to the main forms of occurrence: dissolved and undissolved. A number of elements exhibit a relationship with both liquid and solid phases. The presence of significant interrelations of trace elements with markers of undissolved (rare-earth elements) and dissolved (Na+Cl) occurrence forms makes it possible to use indicator ratios to detect weakly manifested superimposed halos in the snow cover.

Electron density distribution in uniformly doped AlGaAs/GaAs superlattices with respective layer thicknesses 1.5/10 nm and a different number of quantum wells was investigated. Experimental samples containing 3, 5 and 25 periods with the same layer parameters were grown by molecular beam epitaxy. Capacitance-voltage profiling was used to determine the carrier concentration profiles in the structures both numerically and experimentally. During the analysis of experimental capacitance-voltage characteristics it was found that the maximum electron concentration increases with an increase in the number of quantum wells starting from 7,1∙1016 сm–3 for 3 wells up to 9,2∙1016 сm–3 for 25 wells with overall superlattice doping level of 1017 сm–3. In some samples saturation areas are observed on the concentration profiles, that are associated with the region of superlattice. Concentration values, obtained from computer modeling, correspond to the experimental data with an error of less than 10 %. Capacitance-voltage profiling is a suitable technique for determining the carrier concentration profiles in thin barrier superlattices. Despite the fact that the method provides distribution of the “apparent” carrier concentration profile, it can be used to estimate the dopant atoms distribution in the strongly coupled quantum well heterostructures.

The proper viral assembly relies on both nucleic acids and structural viral proteins. Thus a biologically active agent that provides the degradation of one of these key proteins and/or destroys the viral factory could suppress viral replication efficiently. The nucleocapsid protein (N-protein) is a key protein for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. As a bioactive agent, we offer a modular nanotransporter (MNT) developed by us, which, in addition to an antibody mimetic to the N-protein, contains an amino acid sequence for the attraction of the Keap1 E3 ubiquitin ligase. This should lead to the subsequent degradation of the N-protein. We have shown that the functional properties of modules within the MNT permit its internalization into target cells, endosome escape into the cytosol, and binding to the N-protein. Using flow cytometry and western blotting, we demonstrated significant degradation of N-protein when A549 and A431 cells transfected with a plasmid coding for N-protein were incubated with the developed MNTs. The proposed MNTs open up a new approach for the treatment of viral diseases.

Treatment of various diseases, in particular cancer, usually requires the targeting of biologically active molecules at a selected subcellular compartment. We modified our previously developed modular nanotransporters (MNTs) for targeting mitochondria. The new MNTs are capable of binding to the protein predominantly localized on the outer mitochondrial membrane, Keap1. These MNTs possessing antiKeap1 monobody co-localize with mitochondria upon addition to the cells. They efficiently interact with Keap1 both in solution and within living cells. A conjugate of the MNT with a photosensitizer, chlorin e6, demonstrated significantly higher photocytotoxicity than chlorin e6 alone. We assume that MNTs of this kind can improve efficiency of therapeutic photosensitizers and radionuclides emitting short-range particles.

The growth of nanoscale columnar AlxGa1-xN/AlN heterostructures on the surface of silicon substrates using plasma-activated nitrogen molecular-beam epitaxy was investigated in this work. Silicon substrates include atomic-smooth cSi substrate, Si substrate with a transition layer of porous silicon porSi/cSi and a hybrid substrate involving a silicon carbide layer grown with matched substitution of the atoms on the surface of porous silicon SiC/porSi/cSi. A complex analysis performed using a set of structural and spectroscopic techniques demonstrated that the epitaxial growth of the nuclear AlN layer on all types of the substrates in a N-enriched environment resulted in the formation of AlxGa1-xN/AlN heterostructures with a Ga-polar surface, which was realized only on the SiC/porSi/cSi substrate. The layer of AlxGa1-xN on cSi and porSi/cSi substrates was in the state of disordered alloy with an excess of gallium atom content. It was shown that a great difference in the lattice parameters of a substrate–film pair resulted not only in the appearance of a number of various defects but also in a considerable effect on the chemical process of the formation of the alloys, in our case, the AlxGa1-xN alloy. It was shown that nanoscale columns of AlxGa1-xN formed on SiC/porSi/cSi substrate were inclined relative to the c-axis, which was connected with the features of the formation of a SiC layer by the matched substitution of the atoms on the porous Si substrate, resulting in the formation of the inclined (111) SiC facets at the boundary of the (111) Si surface and pores in Si. Optical studies of the grown samples demonstrated that the optical band-to-band transition for the AlxGa1-xN alloy with Eg = 3.99 eVB was observed only for the heterostructure grown on the SiC/porSi/cSi substrate. A qualitative model is proposed to explain the difference in the formation of AlxGa1-xN layers on the substrates of cSi, porSi/cSi and SiC/porSi/cSi. The results obtained in our work demonstrate the availability of using SiC/porSi/cSi substrates for the integration of silicon technology and that used for the synthesis of nanoscale columnar AlxGa1-xN heterostructures using plasma-activated molecular-beam epitaxy with a nitrogen source.

The complexities of translational strategies make this stage of implementing genetic information one of the most challenging to comprehend and, simultaneously, perhaps the most engaging. It is evident that this diverse range of strategies results not only from a long evolutionary history, but is also of paramount importance for refining gene expression and metabolic modulation. This notion is particularly accurate for organisms that predominantly exhibit biochemical and physiological reactions with a lack of behavioural ones. Plants are a group of organisms that exhibit such features. Addressing unfavourable environmental conditions plays a pivotal role in plant physiology. This is particularly evident with the changing conditions of global warming and the irrevocable loss or depletion of natural ecosystems. In conceptual terms, the plant response to abiotic stress comprises a set of elaborate and intricate strategies. This is influenced by a range of abiotic factors that cause stressful conditions, and molecular genetic mechanisms that fine-tune metabolic pathways allowing the plant organism to overcome non-standard and non-optimal conditions. This review aims to focus on the current state of the art in the field of translational regulation in plants under abiotic stress conditions. Different regulatory elements and patterns are being assessed chronologically. We deem it important to focus on significant high-performance techniques for studying the genetic information dynamics during the translation phase.

The present work is concerned with finding optimal technological conditions for the synthesis of heterostructures with a metamorphic buffer for InGaAs/InP photodetectors in the wavelength range of 2.2–2.6 um using molecular beam epitaxy. Three choices of buffer structure differing in design and growth parameters were proposed. The internal structure of the grown samples was investigated by X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. Experimental data analysis has shown that the greatest degree of elastic strain relaxation in the InGaAs active layer was achieved in the sample where the metamorphic buffer formation ended with a consecutive increase and decrease in temperature. The said buffer also had InAs/InAlAs superlattice inserts. The dislocation density in this sample turned out to be minimal out of three, which allowed us to conclude that the described heterostructure configuration appears to be the most appropriate for manufacturing of short wavelength infrared range pin-photodetectors with high photosensitivity.

In this study, we analyzed the result of the influence of the non-polar plane of a sapphire substrate on the structural, morphological, and optical properties and Raman scattering of the grown epitaxial GaN film. It was found that selected technological conditions for the performed chloride-hydride epitaxy let us obtain the samples of structurally qualitative semi-polar wurtzite gallium nitride with (11¯22) orientation on m-sapphire. Using a set of structural and spectral methods of analysis the structural, morphological, and optical properties of the films were studied and the value of residual bi-axial stresses was determined. A complex of the obtained results means a high structural and optical quality of the epitaxial gallium nitride film. Optimization of the applied technological technique in the future can be a promising approach for the growth of the qualitative GaN structures on m-sapphire substrates.

Abstract Background Aspergillus species cause aflatoxin contamination in groundnut kernels, being a health threat in agricultural products and leading to commodity rejection by domestic and international markets. Presence of Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus colonizing groundnut in eastern Ethiopia, as well as presence of aflatoxins have been reported, though in this region, no genetic studies have been done of these species in relation to their aflatoxin production. Results In this study, 145 Aspergillus isolates obtained from groundnut kernels in eastern Ethiopia were genetically fingerprinted using 23 Insertion/Deletion (InDel) markers within the aflatoxin-biosynthesis gene cluster (ABC), identifying 133 ABC genotypes. Eighty-four isolates were analyzed by Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UPLC) for in vitro aflatoxin production. Analysis of genetic distances based on the approximately 85 kb-ABC by Neighbor Joining (NJ), 3D-Principal Coordinate Analysis (3D-PCoA), and Structure software, clustered the isolates into three main groups as a gradient in their aflatoxin production. Group I, contained 98% A. flavus, including L- and non-producers of sclerotia (NPS), producers of B1 and B2 aflatoxins, and most of them collected from the lowland-dry Babile area. Group II was a genetic admixture population of A. flavus (NPS) and A. flavus S morphotype, both low producers of aflatoxins. Group III was primarily represented by A. parasiticus and A. flavus S morphotype isolates both producers of B1, B2 and G1, G2 aflatoxins, and originated from the regions of Darolabu and Gursum. The highest in vitro producer of aflatoxin B1 was A. flavus NPS N1436 (77.98 μg/mL), and the highest producer of aflatoxin G1 was A. parasiticus N1348 (50.33 μg/mL), these isolates were from Gursum and Darolabu, respectively. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that combined the use of InDel fingerprinting of the ABC and corresponding aflatoxin production capability to describe the genetic diversity of Aspergillus isolates from groundnut in eastern Ethiopia. Three InDel markers, AFLC04, AFLC08 and AFLC19, accounted for the main assignment of individuals to the three Groups; their loci corresponded to aflC (pksA), hypC, and aflW (moxY) genes, respectively. Despite InDels within the ABC being often associated to loss of aflatoxin production, the vast InDel polymorphism observed in the Aspergillus isolates did not completely impaired their aflatoxin production in vitro.

Dynamic loading causes (1) a substantial change in the strength and deformation parameters of sandy soil and (2) excessive viscoplastic deformation. The goal of this study is to create a new analytical solution to the problem of the settlement of (1) the foundation that is the source of dynamic loading, and (2) a nearby foundation, taking into account the rheological properties of sandy soil subjected to vibration, given that these rheological properties depend on shear stresses. The proposed solution allows the progress of deformation over time to be described. The present paper states and provides an analytical solution for the problem of evaluating the settlement of a single foundation that transmits static and dynamic harmonic pressure to the base. The authors also analyze the settlement of another foundation located at some distance from the transmitting foundation. The second foundation transmits static pressure to the base. The dependence of the viscosity coefficient on the shear stress intensity and vibration intensity, as well as the vibrocreep decay over time, are based on the exponential and homographic dependencies previously identified by two of the authors (A.Z. Ter-Martirosyan and E.S. Sobolev). The solution to the problem is obtained by numerical integration in the Mathcad program of an analytical expression for nonlinear viscoplastic deformations. As a result of the research, the authors have found that the dynamic viscoplastic component makes the greatest contribution to foundation settlement. The settlement of the transmitting foundation increases along with increasing static and dynamic pressure transmitted to the base. The settlement of the nearby foundation increases when the pressure increases under the foundation, but it reduces when static pressure from the transmitting foundation, the depth of the foundation, and the distance between the foundations increase. General analytical dependencies obtained by the authors comply with the results of laboratory and field experiments performed by other researchers. These dependencies can be used to predict the settlement of foundations in whose unsaturated sandy bases mechanical vibrations propagate.

The relevance of the research is determined by informative improvement of lithochemical exploration on secondary scattering halos under humid tropical weathering. Widespread distribution of large weathering cover leads to limitations in study of basement rocks in natural outcrops. In such cases the role of geochemical methods increases when mapping the basement and exploration of ore deposits localized there. Specific feature of tropical hypergene redistribution of chemical elements is high intensity, general prevalence of removal with parallel accumulation of several components in the laterization process. Combination of these processes results in high variability of geochemical background and appearance of secondary anomalies of some metal elements that are not associated with ore deposits. As a result, landscape-geochemical mapping is very relevant. The mapping allows making the zoning of territories based on components distribution features in elementary landscapes and systematizing the prior factors of geochemical background variability. The values of chemical elements concentration contain data on all natural processes that have affected the composition of the studied material. Therefore, the investigation of lithochemical data by statistical analysis tools allows obtaining a mathematical model in the form of a typological landscape-geochemical map. The aim of the study is to differentiate the territory on geochemical background variability. Methods: multivariate factor, correlation and cluster analysis of multi-component data of lithochemical exploration on secondary scattering halos. Results. We obtained classification model of geochemical background that reflects relations between chemical elements accumulation levels, geomorphology and geology, taking into account the amplitude and spatial characteristics of geochemical field variability in secondary scattering halos; we also determined trace elements associated with gold mineralization.

In this paper, we describe the effect of local electric field enhancement due to the existence of photonic edge states in a nanoplasmonic crystal. These states can be excited by a normal incident wave and are localized along the continuous line defect, where translational symmetry is broken. The nanoplasmonic crystal is formed by a triangular lattice of SiO2 cylinders on top of SiO2 and Ag thin films. Numerical simulations demonstrated that edge modes that are concentrated around a defect in a nanophotonic crystal may result in 12 field enhancements of the electric field for the incident plane wave of wavelength 545 nm. This effect can be employed for improving the sensitivity of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy, increasing the Purcell factor of quantum systems and improving the efficiency of higher harmonic generation.

To compare the effectiveness of various bioactive agents reversibly acting within a cell on a target intracellular macromolecule, it is necessary to assess effective cytoplasmic concentrations of the delivered bioactive agents. In this work, based on a simple equilibrium model and the cellular thermal shift assay (CETSA), an approach is proposed to assess effective concentrations of both a delivered bioactive agent and a target protein. This approach was tested by evaluating the average concentrations of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and Kelch-like ECH-associated-protein 1 (Keap1) proteins in the cytoplasm for five different cell lines (Hepa1, MEF, RAW264.7, 3LL, and AML12) and comparing the results with known literature data. The proposed approach makes it possible to analyze both binary interactions and ternary competition systems; thus, it can have a wide application for the analysis of protein–protein or molecule–protein interactions in the cell. The concentrations of Nrf2 and Keap1 in the cell can be useful not only in analyzing the conditions for the activation of the Nrf2 system, but also for comparing the effectiveness of various drug delivery systems, where the delivered molecule is able to interact with Keap1.

The development of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-targeting agents for the treatment of malignant melanoma requires cheap and easy animal tumor models for high-throughput in vivo screening. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop mouse syngeneic melanoma model that expresses human EGFR. Cloudman S91 clone M3 mouse melanoma cells were transduced with lentiviral particles carrying the human EGFR gene followed by a multistep selection process. The resulting M3-EGFR has been tested for EGFR expression and functionality in vitro and in vivo. Radioligand assay confirmed the presence of 13,900 ± 1500 EGF binding sites per cell at a dissociation constant of 5.3 ± 1.4 nM. M3-EGFR demonstrated the ability to bind and internalize specifically and provide the anticipated intracellular nuclear import of three different EGFR-targeted modular nanotransporters designed for specific anti-cancer drug delivery. Introduction of the human EGFR gene did not alter the tumorigenicity of the offspring M3-EGFR cells in host immunocompetent DBA/2J mice. Preservation of the expression of EGFR in vivo was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. To sum up, we successfully developed the first mouse syngeneic melanoma model with preserved in vivo expression of human EGFR.

Since cell nucleus is one of the most vulnerable compartments, the maximum therapeutic effect from a variety of locally acting agents, such as photosensitizers, alfa-emitters, Auger electron emitters, will be expected when they get there. Therefore, the targeted delivery of these agents into the nuclei of target tumor cells is necessary for their anticancer effects and minimization of side effects. Modular nanotransporters (MNT) are artificial polypeptides comprising several predefined modules that recognize target cell, launching their subsequent internalization, escape from endosomes, and transport the drug load to the nucleus. This technology significantly enhances the cytotoxicity of locally acting drugs in vitro and in vivo. Epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR) are useful molecular targets as they are overexpressed in glioblastoma, head-and-neck cancer, bladder cancer, and other malignancies. Here, we examined the possibility of using internalizable anti-EGFR affibody as an EGFR-targeting MNT module for drug transport into the cancer cell nuclei. It binds to both murine and human EGFR facilitating preclinical studies. We showed that MNT with affibody on the N-terminus (MNTN-affibody) effectively delivered the Auger electron emitter 111In to target cell nuclei and had pronounced cytotoxic efficacy against EGFR-overexpressing human A431 epidermoid carcinoma cells. Using EGFR-expressing human adenocarcinoma MCF-7 cells, we demonstrated that in contrast to MNT with N-terminal epidermal growth factor (EGF), MNTN-affibody and MNT with EGF on the C-terminus did not stimulate cancer cell proliferation.

Abstract Background Aflatoxin contamination in peanut seeds is still a serious problem for the industry and human health. No stable aflatoxin resistant cultivars have yet been produced, and given the narrow genetic background of cultivated peanuts, wild species became an important source of genetic diversity. Wild peanut seeds, however, are not abundant, thus, an effective method of screening for aflatoxin accumulation using minimal seeds is highly desirable. In addition, keeping record of genetic fingerprinting of each accession would be very useful for breeding programs and for the identification of accessions within germplasm collections. Results In this study, we report a method of screening for aflatoxin accumulation that is applicable to the small-size seeds of wild peanuts, increases the reliability by testing seed viability, and records the genetic fingerprinting of the samples. Aflatoxin levels observed among 20 wild peanut species varied from zero to 19000 ng.g-1 and 155 ng.g-1 of aflatoxin B1 and B2, respectively. We report the screening of 373 molecular markers, including 288 novel SSRs, tested on 20 wild peanut species. Multivariate analysis by Neighbor-Joining, Principal Component Analysis and 3D-Principal Coordinate Analysis using 134 (36 %) transferable markers, in general grouped the samples according to their reported genomes. The best 88 markers, those with high fluorescence, good scorability and transferability, are reported with BLAST results. High quality markers (total 98) that discriminated genomes are reported. A high quality marker with UPIC score 16 (16 out of 20 species discriminated) had significant hits on BLAST2GO to a pentatricopeptide-repeat protein, another marker with score 5 had hits on UDP-D-apiose synthase, and a third one with score 12 had BLASTn hits on La-RP 1B protein. Together, these three markers discriminated all 20 species tested. Conclusions This study provides a reliable method to screen wild species of peanut for aflatoxin resistance using minimal seeds. In addition we report 288 new SSRs for peanut, and a cost-effective combination of markers sufficient to discriminate all 20 species tested. These tools can be used for the systematic search of aflatoxin resistant germplasm keeping record of the genetic fingerprinting of the accessions tested for breeding purpose.

Aim. Study of the effectiveness of pharmacological management of experimental osteoporosis with rosuvastatin, L-norvaline and their combination in comparison with strontium ranelate. Materials and methods. Simulation of hypoestrogenic osteoporosis was performed by bilateral oophorectomy in female Wistar rats. Four weeks after the surgery, the animals were administered study drugs during 4 weeks. After 12 weeks in the experimental animals, the parameters of intraosseous microcirculation of the proximal metaphysis of the femur were analyzed and the coefficient of endothelial dysfunction was calculated on the basis of laser Doppler flowmetry data. Calculation and registration of parameters of microcirculation were performed using the Biopac systems MP-150 laser doppler flowmeter and the TSD-144 needle sensor, and the results were processed using the AcqKnowledge version 4.1-4.2 software. For a comprehensive assessment of the formation of osteoporotic shifts and the effectiveness of therapy with the drugs studied, histomorphometry of the proximal metaphysis of the femurs was performed. When calculating the width of the bone trabecula, ImageJ version 1.39 was used. Results. It was found that L-norvaline and rosuvastatin in the doses under study in monotherapy and in combination significantly increase the parameters of regional intraosseous microcirculation of the vertex femur region. The investigated drugs and their combination, in comparison with the reference preparation, have an endothelial protective activity. This circumstance favorably affects intraosseous microcirculation, which contributes to the stable course of bone remodeling and prevents progression of osteoporotic disorders. In a morphometric study, it was established that L-norvaline, rosuvastatin, and their combination in these dosages prevented a decrease in the average width of bone trabeculae to the level of animals with experimental osteoporosis. Conclusion. L-norvaline, rosuvastatin and their combination in these dosages have a significant osteoprotective effect.

The object of study is clastic Middle Triassic of the central part of the Pronchishchev Range. The territory of researches is located on the border of Ust’-Anabar and Lena-Olenek facies districts and has poor geological knowledge. During field study of outcrops and test pits new data for Triassic of the right bank of the Peschanaya River were obtained. Lithofacial analysis and analysis of cyclical structure of the Anisian and Ladinian were carried out. The stratigraphic subdivision of the strata was made according to the results of a comprehensive bio- and lithostratigraphic analysis. The succession includes the Karangatinskaya and the Tuora-Khainskaya (Anisian), the Ust’-Olenekskaya and Olimpiiskaya (Ladinian) formations. The lithofacial analysis showed that the sedimentation occurred in mainly sea-shallow conditions with constant exposure of normal waves. Upward the succession a part of coastal sediments increase. Stages of fast sea level rising took place. The analysis of cyclical structures showed that the studied deposits represent the series of regressive sedimentological cycles of decameter scale with а transgressive orientation. They form the large regressive sedimentary cycle with a pronounced binomial structure. It has been found that the Anisian part of the studied section has very similar features of a structure with Leno-Olenek type sections. The structure of the Ladinian part is also similar to the sections of the Lena-Olenek type and is characterized by a slightly reduced thickness of the Olympic formation. It is typical for the western part of the Lena-Olenek facies district. Structural features of the selected cycles allow you to use them in lithostratigraphic correlations of geological sections within the considered sedimentation basin. This is especially true for sites with rare and relatively uniform fossil fauna.

Smut disease caused by the fungal pathogen Thecaphora frezii Carranza & Lindquist is threatening the peanut production in Argentina. Fungicides commonly used in the peanut crop have shown little or no effect controlling the disease, making it a priority to obtain peanut varieties resistant to smut. In this study, recombinant inbred lines (RILs) were developed from three crosses between three susceptible peanut elite cultivars (Arachis hypogaea L. subsp. hypogaea) and two resistant landraces (Arachis hypogaea L. subsp. fastigiata Waldron). Parents and RILs were evaluated under high inoculum pressure (12000 teliospores g-1 of soil) over three years. Disease resistance parameters showed a broad range of variation with incidence mean values ranging from 1.0 to 35.0% and disease severity index ranging from 0.01 to 0.30. Average heritability (h2) estimates of 0.61 to 0.73 indicated that resistance in the RILs was heritable, with several lines (4 to 7 from each cross) showing a high degree of resistance and stability over three years. Evidence of genetic transfer between genetically distinguishable germplasm (introgression in a broad sense) was further supported by simple-sequence repeats (SSRs) and Insertion/Deletion (InDel) marker genotyping. This is the first report of smut genetic resistance identified in peanut landraces and its introgression into elite peanut cultivars.

We developed and tested a 2D periodic array of cold-electron bolometers arranged into a wideband frequency selective metasurface that absorbs more than 70% of the incident power in the frequency range 100–800 GHz. The array had 10 × 10 unit cells, each containing four bolometers incorporated into a ring. The chip with bolometers was mounted on the back side of the silicon lens without a back-reflector. Preliminary experiments demonstrated voltage responsivity as high as 109 V/W for the current-biased series array. Simulation of the noise performance shows realization of background noise-limited performance with NEPtot < NEPphot for the optical power load P0 > 15 pW. Results of numerical simulation made for the unit cell of the array are presented together with the equivalent diagram based on lumped network elements. The unit cell also was developed numerically to operate in two radiation modes.

Gamma-ray emitting 111In, which is extensively used for imaging, is also a source of short-range Auger electrons (AE). While exhibiting negligible effect outside cells, these AE become highly toxic near DNA within the cell nucleus. Therefore, these radionuclides can be used as a therapeutic anticancer agent if delivered precisely into the nuclei of tumor target cells. Modular nanotransporters (MNTs) designed to provide receptor-targeted delivery of short-range therapeutic cargoes into the nuclei of target cells are perspective candidates for specific intracellular delivery of AE emitters. The objective of this study was to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of 111In attached MNTs to kill human bladder cancer cells overexpressing epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The cytotoxicity of 111In delivered by the EGFR-targeted MNT (111In-MNT) was greatly enhanced on EJ-, HT-1376-, and 5637-expressing EGFR bladder cancer cell lines compared with 111In non-targeted control. In vivo microSPECT/CT imaging and antitumor efficacy studies revealed prolonged intratumoral retention of 111In-MNT with t½ = 4.1 ± 0.5 days as well as significant dose-dependent tumor growth delay (up to 90% growth inhibition) after local infusion of 111In-MNT in EJ xenograft-bearing mice.

A dominant area of antibody research is the extension of the use of this mighty experimental and therapeutic tool for the specific detection of molecules for diagnostics, visualization, and activity blocking. Despite the ability to raise antibodies against different proteins, numerous applications of antibodies in basic research fields, clinical practice, and biotechnology are restricted to permeabilized cells or extracellular antigens, such as membrane or secreted proteins. With the exception of small groups of autoantibodies, natural antibodies to intracellular targets cannot be used within living cells. This excludes the scope of a major class of intracellular targets, including some infamous cancer-associated molecules. Some of these targets are still not druggable via small molecules because of large flat contact areas and the absence of deep hydrophobic pockets in which small molecules can insert and perturb their activity. Thus, the development of technologies for the targeted intracellular delivery of antibodies, their fragments, or antibody-like molecules is extremely important. Various strategies for intracellular targeting of antibodies via protein-transduction domains or their mimics, liposomes, polymer vesicles, and viral envelopes, are reviewed in this article. The pitfalls, challenges, and perspectives of these technologies are discussed.

This review describes artificial modular nanotransporters (MNTs) delivering their cargos into target cells and then into the nuclei – the most vulnerable cell compartment for most anticancer agents and especially for radionuclides emitting short-range particles. The MNT strategy uses natural subcellular transport processes inherent in practically all cells including cancer cells. The MNTs use these processes just as a passenger who purchased tickets for a multiple-transfer trip making use of different kinds of public transport to reach the desired destination. The MNTs are fusion polypeptides consisting of several parts, replaceable modules, accomplishing binding to a specific receptor on the cell and subsequent internalization, endosomal escape and transport into the cell nucleus. Radionuclides emitting short-range particles, like Auger electron emitters, acquire cell specificity and significantly higher cytotoxicity both in vitro and in vivo when delivered by the MNTs into the nuclei of cancer cells. MNT modules are interchangeable, allowing replacement of receptor recognition modules, which permits their use for different types of cancer cells and, as a cocktail of several MNTs, for targeting several tumor-specific molecules for personalized medicine.

The experiment was carried out on 120 female white Wistar rats, to study the endothelio- and osteoprotective action of the combination of rosuvastatin with L-norvaline in the model of experimental osteoporosis. It was found that, after ovariectomy in rats, endothelial dysfunction of the vessels of the microcirculatory bed of bone tissue develops, leading to the appearance of osteoporosis, but the combination of the studied drugs prevents the decrease in the level of microcirculation in the bone tissue, thereby preventing the thinning of bone trabeculae and preventing the occurrence of microfractures in them.