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Background & Aims: The SAMP1/Yit mouse strain develops spontaneous ileitis with histologic features of Crohn's disease. Disease expression in the SAMP1/YitFc subline (SAMP1/Fc) is partially inhibited by outcross to C57BL/6J (B6) mice, suggesting complex genetic control of disease susceptibility with both dominant and recessive determinants. We performed a genetic analysis of a (B6 x SAMP1/Fc)F(2) cross to localize the genes regulating intestinal inflammation in this model., Methods: A genome-wide scan was performed using a panel of microsatellite loci determined to be informative for this cross. Quantitative trait loci were identified with Map Manager QT using a serial regression approach. Positional candidate genes were selectively sequenced at the genomic level to identify potential susceptibility genes for functional screening., Results: A genome-wide scan of (B6 x SAMP1/Fc)F(2) mice identified a SAMP-derived quantitative trait loci with additive effects on chromosome 9 in a region likely to have been inherited from the AKR mouse strain. The candidate interval contains several genes of interest because of their potential role in either immune system function, intestinal epithelial function, or both. Suggestive evidence for additional loci was also observed on chromosomes 6 and X., Conclusions: The SAMP1/Fc allele for a locus, designated Ibdq1, promotes inflammation-associated epithelial damage in these mice. Consistent with persistent mild ileitis in (B6 x SAMP1/Fc)F(1) mice, this locus appears to function in an additive fashion. Two genes in this interval, encoding the interleukin 10 receptor alpha chain and interleukin 18, are excellent candidates for Ibdq1.

The development of plasma accelerators for spacecraft propulsion that can capture space matter and energy shows great promise for spacecraft advancement. Such a technical approach offers a viable solution to the challenges associated with traditional rocket fuel. In the present paper, we explore the utilization of interplanetary matter as fuel for plasma thrusters on space vehicles, specifically for flights within the vicinity of Earth. Herein, solar radiation is considered a source of energy for the ionization and acceleration of particles captured from the space environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The possibility of using nanosecond laser pulses for perforation of elements of a diffusion-welded joint of the ceramic–metal–ceramic type has been studied. An improvement in the mechanical properties of compounds with elements pretreated by a repetitively pulsed Nd:YAG laser compared to untreated elements has been experimentally demonstrated. In particular, an increase in the tensile strength of the connection with treated elements from 40 to 50% are shown. Comparative studies of the distribution of strains in diffusion-welded joints with and without preliminary laser treatment were also carried out. The results make it possible to reduce energy consumption for the diffusion welding process and improve the quality of joints of dissimilar materials in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mycobacterium avium subsp. Paratuberculosis (MAP) is an intracellular pathogen that causes Johne's disease (JD) in cattle and other ruminants. IL10RA encodes the alpha chain of the IL-10 receptor that binds the cytokine IL-10, and is one of the candidate genes that have been found to be associated with JD infection status. In this study, a previously developed IL10RA knockout (IL10RAKO) bovine mammary epithelial (MAC-T) cell line and wild-type (WT) MAC-T cells were infected with live MAP for 72 h to identify potential immunoregulatory miRNAs, inflammatory genes, and cytokines/chemokines impacted by MAP infection in the presence/absence of IL10RA. Cytokine and chemokine concentrations in culture supernatants were measured by multiplexing immunoassay. Total RNA was extracted from the MAC-T cells, and qPCR was performed to determine the expression of inflammatory genes and selected bovine miRNAs. Results showed that the levels of TNF-α, IL-6, CXCL8, CXCL10, CCL2, and CCL3 were significantly induced in WT MAC-T cells and IL-10 was significantly inhibited post-MAP infection. However, IL10RAKO MAC-T cells had greater secretion of TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-γ, CCL3, CCL4, CXCL8, and CXCL10, and lower secretion of VEGF-α. Moreover, the expression of inflammatory genes (TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-6) was also more significantly induced in IL10RAKO cells than in WT MAC-T cells post-MAP-infection, and unlike the WT cells, anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and SOCS3 and chemokines CCL2 were not significantly induced. In addition, the expression of miRNAs (miR133b, miR-92a, and miR-184) was increased in WT MAC-T cells post-MAP-infection; however, there was no significant induction of these miRNAs in the IL10RAKO cells, which suggests IL10 receptor is somehow involved in regulating the miRNA response to MAP infection. Target gene function analysis further suggests that miR-92a may be involved in interleukin signaling, and miR-133b and miR-184 may be involved in other signaling pathways. These findings support the involvement of IL10RA in the regulation of innate immune response to MAP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deficits in gastrointestinal (GI) paracellular permeability has been implicated in etiology of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), and E-cadherin, a key component of the epithelial junctional complex, has been implicated in both barrier function and IBD. We have previously described antibodies against E-cadherin that activate cell adhesion, and in this study, we show that they increase transepithelial electrical resistance in epithelial cell monolayers in vitro. We therefore tested the hypothesis that adhesion activating E-cadherin mAbs will enhance epithelial barrier function in vivo and limit progression of inflammation in IBD. Activating mAbs to mouse E-cadherin were tested in different mouse models of IBD including the IL10-/- and adoptive T cell transfer models of colitis. Previously established histological and biomarker measures of inflammation were evaluated to monitor disease progression. Mouse E-cadherin activating mAb treatment reduced total colitis score, individual histological measures of inflammation, and other hallmarks of inflammation compared to control treatment. Activating mAbs also reduced the fecal accumulation lipocalin2 and albumin content, consistent with enhanced barrier function. Therefore, E-cadherin activation could be a potential strategy for limiting inflammation in UC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: High-quality and high-throughput eco-friendly regimes of laser cutting glasses, sapphire and other transparent materials are found based on the model. Possible practical applications are in display manufacturing, the automotive and other industries. A strategy is proposed for achieving a practically important mode of laser processing—a so-called "smooth" laser filamentation cutting (LFC) of transparent materials by a moving beam of a pulse-periodic pico- or subpicosecond laser. With such cutting, the surface of the sidewalls of the cuts have a significantly improved smoothness, and, as a result, the laser-cut plates have increased resistance to damage and cracking due to mechanical impacts during their subsequent use. According to the proposed analytical model, for the case when each filament is formed only by a single laser pulse, the strategy of such cutting is defined by a set of necessary conditions, whose implementation requires, in turn, a certain selection and matching with each other of irradiation parameters (pulse duration and energy, repetition rate, pitch of filaments following) and of material parameters—thermal, optical and mechanical strength constants. The model shows good agreement with experiments on sapphire and tempered glass. Besides, LFC modes are also predicted that provide very high cutting speeds of the order of 1–25 m/s or more, or allow cutting with an extremely low average laser power, but still at a speed acceptable for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consideration is given to the formation of conditions and parameters of diffuse and volume discharges, which are widely used for laser generation in VUV, UV, visible and IR spectral ranges in different high-pressure gases and gas mixtures. It was found that spectral parameters of volume and diffuse discharges are similar. The difference between these discharge modes is found to be associated with the conditions of their formation. The diffuse discharges are formed due to runaway electrons, for which one or two electrodes with a small radius of curvature are used. To form volume discharges, it is necessary to carry out preionization of the discharge gap using an additional source, as well as to ensure a uniform electric field between the electrodes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Crohn's disease (CD) is a chronic, relapsing inflammatory bowel disease affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Although its precise etiology has not been fully elucidated, an imbalance of the intestinal microbiota has been known to play a role in CD. Fecal metabolites derived from microbiota may be related to the onset and progression of CD Objectives: This study aimed to clarify the transition of gut microbiota and fecal metabolites associated with disease progression using SAMP1/YitFc mice, a model of spontaneous CD Methods: The ileum tissues isolated from SAMP1/YitFc mice at different ages were stained with hematoxylin–eosin for histologic characterization with CD progression. Feces from control, Institute of Cancer Research (ICR; n = 6), and SAMP1/YitFc (n = 8) mice at different ages were subjected to microbial analysis and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis to investigate fluctuations in gut microbiota and fecal metabolites with CD progression Results: Relative abundance of the Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, Bacteroidaceae, and Bacteroidales S24-7 at family-level gut microbiota and fecal metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids, lactate, glucose, xylose, and choline, dramatically fluctuated with histologic progression of intestinal inflammation in SAMP1/YitFc mice. Unlike the other metabolites, fecal taurine concentration in SAMP1/YitFc mice was higher than ICR mice regardless of age Conclusion: The fecal metabolites showing characteristic fluctuations may help to understand the inflammatory mechanism associated with CD, and might be utilized as potential biomarkers in predicting CD pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The review provides an up-to-date overview and discussion of phenomena related to positive streamer breakdowns in short uniform and non-uniform field (corona) gaps. The terminology used to specify different types of streamer phenomena is critically discussed in light of a unified theory of high-pressure gas discharges describing the sequence of ionization events from initial electron avalanches up to a partial or complete breakdown. The emphasis is given to the understanding of the formation of an active cathode spot by the streamer arrival to the cathode, which is the critical but still obscure phase of the breakdown development. Based on the analysis including a computer simulation model a hypothesis is advanced that also such widely studied and practically important gas discharge phenomena as negative corona Trichel pulses and fast ionization instabilities in cathode regions of high-pressure gas discharges are due to the formation of positive streamers in the immediate cathode vicinity. The proposed hypothesis offers attractive feature of the unification of a wide scale of high-pressure gas discharges within the general class of positive streamer initiated breakdown phenomena. Moreover, it provides indications for further study in the field both by experiment and computer simulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) include colitis ulcerosa and Crohn's disease, besides the rare microscopic colitis. Both diseases show a long-lasting, relapsing-remitting, or even chronic active course with tremendous impact on quality of life. IBDs frequently cause disability, surgical interventions, and high costs; as in other autoimmune diseases, their prevalent occurrence at an early phase of life raises the burden on health care systems. Unfortunately, our understanding of the pathogenesis is still incomplete and treatment therefore largely focuses on suppressing the resulting excessive inflammation. One obstacle for deciphering the causative processes is the scarcity of models that parallel the development of the disease, since intestinal inflammation is mostly induced artificially; moreover, the intestinal epithelium, which strongly contributes to IBD pathogenesis, is difficult to assess. Recently, the development of intestinal epithelial organoids has overcome many of those problems. Here, we give an overview on the current understanding of the pathogenesis of IBDs with reference to the limitations of previous well-established experimental models. We highlight the advantages and detriments of recent organoid-based experimental setups within the IBD field and suggest possible future applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The conversion of hydrocarbons during the treatment of a methane-ethane mixture with a barrier discharge in an electrophysical setup was experimentally studied. The theoretical estimation of plasmakinetic processes occurring in a discharge was performed for the developed plasmachemical reactor using the ZDPlasKin algorithm. Experimental results were in agreement with theoretical estimates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Morphometric peculiarities of the development of Оesophagostomum dentatum Rudolphi, 1803 from egg to infective larva were studied under laboratory conditions at various temperatures. The determined optimum temperature for embryonic and postembryonic development of О. dentatum larvae from domestic pig (Sus scrofa domesticus Linnaeus, 1758) is 22 °С. At this temperature, 81 % of larvae develop to the third stage (L3) on the 10th day. Temperatures of 24 °С and 20 °С are less favorable for the development of the nematode, at those temperatures only 67 and 63 % of larvae, respectively, reached infective stage by the 10th day of cultivation. Embryonic development of О. dentatum eggs is characterized by their lengthening (by 8.87–9.50 %, р < 0.01) and widening (by 6.77-9.35 %, р < 0.05–0.01), and post-embryonic larval development is associated with lengthening (by 4.59–17.33 %, р < 0.01-0.001). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for the effective control of the pulp gas phase composition in the flotation process using dynamic effects of high energy ultrasound on the base of phased array technology and determination of its parameters are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) summarizes a group of chronic intestinal disorders with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis being most prominent. Though much effort is put into identification of causative factors, its etiology is still not understood. Risk factors for disease development include genetic predisposition and environmental triggers. Crucial for identification and analysis of relevant factors are mouse models. Experimental IBD in mice occurs spontaneously or is induced by chemicals, cell transfer, pathogens, or genetic mutation. These models were utilized for analyzing genetic contribution to disease and genotype-environmental interactions. In these studies, a variety of modifier loci were identified, thereby demonstrating the complexity of disease. A major contribution of distal chromosome 3 was independently replicated in several studies. The first colitogenic QTL in this region was detected using the IL-10-deficient mouse model and called cytokine deficiency- induced colitis susceptibility (Cdcs)1. This quantitative trait locus contains at least three subintervals with independent genetic factors. This locus or defined subintervals were replicated in at least seven studies, using models based on dysregulation of innate or adaptive immunity or pathogen control. In this review we illustrate the various models used for genetic mapping of susceptibility to experimental IBD and display Cdcs1-related loci as well as the mechanism of their contribution identified so far. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In addition to their well-established role(s) in the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal (GI)-related inflammatory disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and inflammation-associated colorectal cancer (CRC), emerging evidence confirms the critical involvement of the interleukin-1 (IL-1) cytokine family and their ligands in the maintenance of normal gut homeostasis. In fact, the paradigm that IBD occurs in two distinct phases is substantiated by the observation that classic IL-1 family members, such as IL-1, the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), and IL-18, possess dichotomous functions depending on the phase of disease, as well as on their role in initiating vs. sustaining chronic gut inflammation. Another recently characterized IL-1 family member, IL-33, also possesses dual functions in the gut. IL-33 is upregulated in IBD and potently induces Th2 immune responses, while also amplifying Th1-mediated inflammation. Neutralization studies in acute colitis mod els, however, have yielded controversial results and recent reports suggest a protective role of IL-33 in epithelial regeneration and mucosal wound healing. Finally, although lit tle is currently known regarding the potential contribution of IL-36 family members in GI inflammation/homeostasis, another IL-1 family member, IL-37, is emerging as a potent anti-inflammatory cytokine with the ability to down-regulate colitis.This new bodyof information has important translational implications for both the prevention and treatment of patients suffering from IBD and inflammation-associated CRC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are complex disorders caused by a combination of environmental, microbial, and genetic factors. Genome-wide association studies in humans have successfully identified multiple genes and loci associated with disease susceptibility, but the mechanisms by which these loci interact with each other and/or with environmental factors (i.e., intestinal microbiota) to cause disease are poorly understood. Helicobacter hepaticus-induced intestinal inflammation in mice is an ideal model system for elucidating the genetic basis of IBD susceptibility in a bacterially induced system, as there are significant differences in H. hepaticus-induced disease susceptibility among inbred mouse strains. Infected A/J mice develop acute overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines followed 2-3 months later by chronic cecal inflammation, whereas infected C57BL/6 mice fail to develop cecal inflammation or increased cytokine expression. The goal of this project was to use quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping to evaluate genetic factors that contribute to the differential disease susceptibility between these two mouse strains. Using acute cecal IL-12/23p40 expression as a biomarker for disease susceptibility, QTL analysis of H. hepaticus-infected F mice revealed involvement of multiple loci. The loci with the strongest association were located on Chromosome 3 and Chromosome 17, with logarithm of odds (LOD) scores of 6.89 and 3.09, respectively. Cecal expression of IL-12/23p40 in H. hepaticus-infected C57BL/6J-Chr3/NaJ chromosome substitution mice had an intermediate phenotype, significantly higher than in resistant C57BL/6 but lower than in susceptible A/J mice, confirming the importance of this locus to the immune response to H. hepaticus infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which comprises two main types, namely, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, affects approximately 3.6 million people in the USA and Europe, and an alarming rise in low-incidence areas, such as Asia, is currently being observed. In the last decade, spontaneous mutations in a diversity of genes have been identified, and these have helped to elucidate pathways that can lead to IBD. Animal studies have also increased our knowledge of the pathological dialogue between the intestinal microbiota and components of the innate and adaptive immune systems misdirecting the immune system to attack the colon. Present-day medical therapy of IBD consists of salicylates, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants and immunomodulators. However, their use may result in severe side effects and complications, such as an increased rate of malignancies or infectious diseases. In clinical practice, there is still a high frequency of incomplete or absent response to medical therapy, indicating a compelling need for new therapeutic strategies. This review summarizes current epidemiology, pathogenesis and diagnostic strategies in IBD. It also provides insight in today’s differentiated clinical therapy and describes mechanisms of promising future medicinal approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The limit characteristics of switches based on open discharge (OD) with counter-propagating electron beams were studied. Such switches (kivotrons) are able to generate high-voltage pulses with a sub-nanosecond leading edge. Separately obtained limit values of the switch parameters are as follows: current density up to 1000 A cm−2, operating voltage up to 100 kV, switching time down to 100 ps, the degree of pulse compression up to 100, a pulse repetition frequency up to 100 kHz (in burst mode), and an efficiency of more than 0.9. It was shown that the fast current development arises when the discharge self-sustaining mode is caused by the photoemission from the cathodes due to the resonant radiation emitted by fast helium atoms that have a large Doppler shift with respect to the line center. As a result, the emitted radiation reaches the cathodes without absorption by the helium gas. The presence of a fast atom group with an energy determined by the applied voltage was experimentally demonstrated. The dynamics of the plasma decay was studied. It is shown that the radiative, collisional-radiative, and three-body collision recombination mechanisms significantly contribute to the afterglow decay only when the plasma density remains higher than 1012 cm−3. The main mechanism of the further plasma decay is the diffusion of plasma particles onto the wall. Therefore, the effect of recombination in the plasma bulk is observed only during the first 10–20 μs of the afterglow. The results of the lasing characteristics of a copper vapor laser excited by pulses generated by an OD-based switch are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]