Isobornyl and Isocamphyl Photostabilizers in Poly(lactic acid)-Based Electrospun Fibers.

In this work, electrospun polylactide fibers with new photostabilizing additives, 4-methyl-2,6-diisobornylphenol (DIBP) and N-isocamphylaniline (NICA), have been tested under the influence of UV-C radiation (254 nm). The changes in the polymers' chemical structure under UV-C radiation were revealed through the increase in absorption in the 3600-3100 cm region in regard to the FTIR spectra. In the samples that were irradiated for 1 h, the stabilizing effect of the photoprotectors became most noticeable as the difference in the content of the hydroxyl groups in stabilized and the pure PLA reached a maximum.

Macromolecular Hydrodynamics and Fractal Structures of the Lignins of Fir Wood and Oat Husks.

The topological structure of the macromolecules of lignins isolated from oat husk and fir wood was studied by means of macromolecular hydrodynamic methods. The macromolecular properties were analyzed by evaluating the intrinsic viscosity and coefficients of the translational diffusion and the sedimentation velocity of the lignins in dilute dimethylformamide solutions. The average molecular weights (M) and polydispersity parameters were calculated based on the results of the fractionation, as follows: M = 14.

Tailoring Photoprotection of Polylactide with New Isobornyl Derivatives of Phenol and Aniline.

This article is devoted to the development of new photostabilizers for polylactide (PLA), a polymer that is an environmentally friendly alternative to polymers and is based on fossil raw materials. We have elucidated the role of the reaction center of two potential PLA photoprotectors: -isobornylaniline and 2-isobornylphenol, in reactions occurring in a polymer matrix under the action of UV-C radiation. PLA samples with the photostabilizers were irradiated under a wavelength of 253.

Various effects of the expression of the xyloglucanase gene from Penicillium canescens in transgenic aspen under semi-natural conditions.

Background: Recombinant carbohydrases genes are used to produce transgenic woody plants with improved phenotypic traits. However, cultivation of such plants in open field is challenging due to a number of problems. Therefore, additional research is needed to alleviate them.

Fluctuations out of equilibrium.

A generalized fluctuation-dissipation theorem involving slowly varying parameters is presented. Application of the Langevin method, the method of moments and of a multiscale technique reveal that not only dissipation but also dispersive contributions determine the spectral functions of fluctuations in arbitrary statistical systems. The non-Joule dispersive contribution is characterized by a novel non-local effect due to the additional phase shift between the force and the response of the system.

Theory of Thomson scattering in inhomogeneous plasmas.

A self-consistent kinetic theory of Thomson scattering of an electromagnetic field by a nonuniform plasma is derived. We show that not only the imaginary part, but also the time and space derivatives of the real part of the dielectric susceptibility determine the amplitude and the width of the Thomson scattering spectral lines. As a result of inhomogeneity, these properties become asymmetric with respect to inversion of the sign of the frequency.

Thomson scattering in inhomogeneous plasmas: The Role of the Fluctuation-Dissipation Theorem.

A self-consistent kinetic theory of Thomson scattering of an electromagnetic field by a non-uniform plasma is derived. We draw the readers' attention to the inconsistency in recent results on the Thomson scattering in inhomogeneous plasma, which leads to violation of the Fluctuation-Dissipation Theorem. We show, that not only the imaginary part, but also the derivatives of the real part of the dielectric susceptibility determine the amplitude and the width of the Thomson scattering spectral lines.

In vitro gastrointestinal-resistant pectin hydrogel particles for β-glucuronidase adsorption.

Pectin hydrogel particles (PHPs) were prepared by ionotropic gelation of low methylesterified pectin of Tanacetum vulgare L. with calcium ions. Wet PHPs prepared from TVF exhibited a smaller diameter and the lower weight as well as exhibited the best textural properties in terms of hardness and elasticity compared to the PHPs prepared from commercial low methylesterified pectin (CU701) used for comparison.

Clinical Actionability of Comprehensive Genomic Profiling for Management of Rare or Refractory Cancers.

Background: The frequency with which targeted tumor sequencing results will lead to implemented change in care is unclear. Prospective assessment of the feasibility and limitations of using genomic sequencing is critically important.

Methods: A prospective clinical study was conducted on 100 patients with diverse-histology, rare, or poor-prognosis cancers to evaluate the clinical actionability of a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA)-certified, comprehensive genomic profiling assay (FoundationOne), using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumors.

Pontin, a new mutant p53-binding protein, promotes gain-of-function of mutant p53.

Tumor-suppressor p53 is frequently mutated in human cancers. Many tumor-associated mutant p53 (mutp53) proteins gain new functions in promoting tumorigenesis, defined as gain-of-function (GOF). The mechanisms for mutp53 GOF are not well understood.

E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM32 negatively regulates tumor suppressor p53 to promote tumorigenesis.

Tumor suppressor p53 has a key role in maintaining genomic stability and preventing tumorigenesis through its regulation of cellular stress responses, including apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and senescence. To ensure its proper levels and functions in cells, p53 is tightly regulated mainly through post-translational modifications, such as ubiquitination. Here, we identified E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM32 as a novel p53 target gene and negative regulator to regulate p53-mediated stress responses.

The evolution of MDM2 family genes.

MDM2 and MDM4 are proto-oncoproteins that bind to and inhibit members of the p53 protein family, p53, p73 and possibly p63. p53 is a mammalian tumor suppressor and p63 and p73 are critical for development. With the sequencing of genomes from multiple organisms there is mounting evidence for a consensus scenario of p53 gene family evolution.

[Lignins of Rhodiola rosea and Serratula coronata: peculiarities of chemical structure and antioxidant properties].

Data on comparative investigations of chemical structure of lignins from medical grassy plants Rhodiola rosea and Serratula coronata lignins were obtained. The NMR and ESR spectroscopy, and functional and element analysis were used. The high antioxidant activity of lignins was shown.

Pattern formation in drying droplets of polyelectrolyte and salt.

We have discovered spectacular patterns formed by drying aqueous drops of sodium poly(styrene sulfonate) containing fixed amounts of sodium chloride. Crystallization of salt molecules takes place at a critical concentration and several factors such as the polyelectrolyte concentration and humidity affect the final patterns formed. The observed patterns include concentric rings, needle-like structures, chains of triangular-shaped crystallites, etc.

Sequences from ancestral single-stranded DNA viruses in vertebrate genomes: the parvoviridae and circoviridae are more than 40 to 50 million years old.

Vertebrate genomic assemblies were analyzed for endogenous sequences related to any known viruses with single-stranded DNA genomes. Numerous high-confidence examples related to the Circoviridae and two genera in the family Parvoviridae, the parvoviruses and dependoviruses, were found and were broadly distributed among 31 of the 49 vertebrate species tested. Our analyses indicate that the ages of both virus families may exceed 40 to 50 million years.

Unexpected inheritance: multiple integrations of ancient bornavirus and ebolavirus/marburgvirus sequences in vertebrate genomes.

Vertebrate genomes contain numerous copies of retroviral sequences, acquired over the course of evolution. Until recently they were thought to be the only type of RNA viruses to be so represented, because integration of a DNA copy of their genome is required for their replication. In this study, an extensive sequence comparison was conducted in which 5,666 viral genes from all known non-retroviral families with single-stranded RNA genomes were matched against the germline genomes of 48 vertebrate species, to determine if such viruses could also contribute to the vertebrate genetic heritage.

The origins and evolution of the p53 family of genes.

A common ancestor to the three p53 family members of human genes p53, p63, and p73 is first detected in the evolution of modern-day sea anemones, in which both structurally and functionally it acts to protect the germ line from genomic instabilities in response to stresses. This p63/p73 common ancestor gene is found in almost all invertebrates and first duplicates to produce a p53 gene and a p63/p73 ancestor in cartilaginous fish. Bony fish contain all three genes, p53, p63, and p73, and the functions of these three transcription factors diversify in the higher vertebrates.

Intra-cavity generation of Bessel-like beams with longitudinally dependent cone angles.

We report on two resonator systems for producing Bessel-like beams with longitudinally dependent cone angles (LDBLBs). Such beams have extended propagation distances as compared to conventional Bessel-Gauss beams, with a far field pattern that is also Bessel-like in structure (i.e.

Bessel-like beams with z-dependent cone angles.

The conventional means of generating Bessel-Gauss beams by axicons in the laboratory results in the distinct disadvantage of an abrupt change in intensity at the boundary of the non-diffracting region. We outline theoretically and then demonstrate experimentally a concept for the creation of Bessel-like beams that have a z-dependent cone angle, thereby allowing for a far greater quasi non-diffracting propagation region.

Differential levels of transcription of p53-regulated genes by the arginine/proline polymorphism: p53 with arginine at codon 72 favors apoptosis.

Human populations contain a functional coding polymorphism (codon 72) in the p53 gene. To explore whether this polymorphism alters the transcriptional pattern of p53-regulated genes, the human isogenic cell lines harboring p53 with either the proline or arginine at codon 72 were employed to activate p53-mediated transcription. Thirty-four p53-regulated genes were assayed for their increased levels of mRNA using quantitative real-time PCR.

[Oxidation of sulfur-containing substrates by an association of acidophilic chemolithotrophic microorganisms].

Quantitative and qualitative changes in the content of elements in the solid and liquid phases occurred as the pulp moved through fermenters during biooxidation of an ore flotation concentrate. The association of microorganisms were adapted for utilizing sulfur-containing substrates; however, the rate of their oxidation was insufficient, which led to an increase in the amount of sodium cyanide required for gold recovery. The replacement of one-fourth of the liquid phase of the pulp (density, 13%) with a mineral medium without an energy source, the fractional addition of FeSO4 x 7H2O (1 g/l per day), and the improvement of pulp aeration made it possible to increase the content of SO4(2-) by 80.

Electrostatic origin of the genome packing in viruses.

Many ssRNA/ssDNA viruses bind their genome by highly basic semiflexible peptide arms of capsid proteins. Here, we show that nonspecific electrostatic interactions control both the length of the genome and genome conformations. Analysis of available experimental data shows that the genome length is linear in the net charge on the capsid peptide arms, irrespective of the actual amino acid sequence, with a proportionality coefficient of 1.

Microscopic folds and macroscopic jerks in compressed lipid monolayers.

We report hitherto unrecognized cooperative behavior in the stochastic collapse of certain compressed lipid monolayers implicated in pulmonary function. The cooperativity emerges from a statistical analysis of the collapse events captured using fluorescence microscopy and digital image analysis. The collapse events involve folding of the monolayer on a micron scale, yet each event produces a macroscopic jerk of the layer.