Convergent-beam attosecond x-ray crystallography.

Sub-ångström spatial resolution of electron density coupled with sub-femtosecond to few-femtosecond temporal resolution is required to directly observe the dynamics of the electronic structure of a molecule after photoinitiation or some other ultrafast perturbation, such as by soft X-rays. Meeting this challenge, pushing the field of quantum crystallography to attosecond timescales, would bring insights into how the electronic and nuclear degrees of freedom couple, enable the study of quantum coherences involved in molecular dynamics, and ultimately enable these dynamics to be controlled. Here, we propose to reach this realm by employing convergent-beam x-ray crystallography with high-power attosecond pulses from a hard-x-ray free-electron laser.

Real-time data processing for serial crystallography experiments.

We report the use of streaming data interfaces to perform fully online data processing for serial crystallography experiments, without storing intermediate data on disk. The system produces Bragg reflection intensity measurements suitable for scaling and merging, with a latency of less than 1 s per frame. Our system uses the CrystFEL software in combination with the ASAP::O data framework.

Fast and efficient hard X-ray projection imaging below 10 nm resolution.

High-resolution X-ray imaging of noncrystalline objects is often achieved through the approach of scanning coherent diffractive imaging known as ptychography. The imaging resolution is usually limited by the scattering properties of the sample, where weak diffraction signals at the highest scattering angles compete with parasitic scattering. Here, we demonstrate that X-ray multilayer Laue lenses with a high numerical aperture (NA) can be used to create a strong reference beam that holographically boosts weak scattering from the sample over a large range of scattering angles, enabling high-resolution imaging that is tolerant of such background.

X-ray focusing below 3 nm with aberration-corrected multilayer Laue lenses.

Multilayer Laue lenses are volume diffractive optical elements for hard X-rays with the potential to focus beams to sizes as small as 1 nm. This ability is limited by the precision of the manufacturing process, whereby systematic errors that arise during fabrication contribute to wavefront aberrations even after calibration of the deposition process based on wavefront metrology. Such aberrations can be compensated by using a phase plate.

Mechanism of pro-MMP9 activation in co-culture of pro-inflammatory macrophages and cardiomyocytes.

Objective: A wide range of cardiac diseases is associated with inflammation. "Inflamed" heart tissue is infiltrated with pro-inflammatory macrophages which extensively secrete matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), a regulator of extracellular matrix turnover. As MMP9 is released from macrophages in a latent form, it requires activation.

Associations of Tissue and Soluble LOX-1 with Human Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

Background Indication for prophylactic surgical abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair depends on the maximal aortic diameter. The lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) is the major receptor for uptake of oxidized low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and is implicated in atherosclerosis. A soluble form of LOX-1 (sLOX-1) has been discussed as a novel biomarker in coronary artery disease and stroke.

Neurotensin-Binding Immunoglobulin G in Patients with Parkinson's Disease.

Introduction: Neurotensin (NTS) is a 13-amino acid neuropeptide functionally linked with the brain dopaminergic system via expression of the NTS peptide or its receptor in dopamine neurons. Neuropeptide-binding immunoglobulins (Igs) are present in humans and can be involved in both physiological and pathological processes. Considering the functional link between NTS and dopamine neurons, we studied the occurrence of NTS-binding IgG autoantibodies in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD).

NOX4 mRNA correlates with plaque stability in patients with carotid artery stenosis.

Carotid artery stenosis (CAS) develops from atherosclerotic lesions and plaques. Plaque rupture or stenosis may result in occlusion of the carotid artery. Accordingly, the asymptomatic disease becomes symptomatic, characterized by ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attacks, indicating an urgent need for better understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms and eventually prevent symptomatic CAS.

Induction of Heme Oxygenase-1 Is Linked to the Severity of Disease in Human Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

Background Rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) is associated with high case fatality rates, and risk of rupture increases with the AAA diameter. Heme oxygenase-1 (gene , protein HO-1) is a stress-induced protein and induction has protective effects in the vessel wall. mice are more susceptible to angiotensin II-induced AAA formation, but the regulation in human nonruptured and ruptured AAA is only poorly understood.

Histological Justification for the Need of Radiofrequency Ablation of Pulmonary Arteries in Patients with High-Grade Secondary Pulmonary Hypertension.

Unlabelled: was to perform a histological assessment of the effectiveness of radiofrequency exposure for circular denervation of the pulmonary artery in patients with secondary high pulmonary hypertension.

Materials And Methods: The study was carried out on the autopsy material derived from non-operated patients. Three groups were formed.

Synthesis of 3(2)-phosphonylated thiazolo[3,2-]oxopyrimidines.

A series of 3(2)-phosphonylated thiazolo[3,2-]oxopyrimidines was synthesized for the first time by the reactions of chloroethynylphosphonates with unsubstituted and 5(6)-substituted 2-thiouracils. The reaction of chloroethynylphosphonates with 6-substituted 2-thiouracils bearing electron-donor groups (CH, Ph) proceeded with high regioselectivity involving the cyclization through the N-nitrogen atom to form new 3-phosphonylated thiazolo[3,2-]-5-oxopyrimidines with good yield. In the case of unsubstituted and 5-methyl-2-thiouracils, cyclization occurred predominantly through the N atom and partially via the N-nitrogen atom to form a mixture of the corresponding thiazolo[3,2-]-7- and 5-oxopyrimidines.

Effectiveness of Bokeria-Boldyrev ACH Solution in Surgerical Treatment of Adult Patients with Obstructive Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

The study examined effectiveness of pharmaco-cold cardioplegia employing solutions of enhanced buffer capacity during surgery of obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in adult patients (N=51) operated during 2013-2018. In group 1 (N=28), the cardioplegia was performed with HTK (Custodiol) solution, whereas in group 2 (N=23), it was carried out with Bokeria-Boldyrev ACH solution. The mean, minimum, and maximum ages in group 1 were 46, 21, and 64 years, respectively; in group 2 - 42, 14, and 70 years, respectively.

[Effectiveness of the Cox Maze-IV Procedure in Cardiac Surgery Patients With Atrial Fibrillation].

Aim Analyzing a 5-year experience of surgical treatment of cardiosurgical patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).Material and methods The study analyzed results of surgical treatment with extracorporeal circulation in 132 patients with AF who underwent the Maze-IV procedure using a radiofrequency ablator with transmurality feedback from 2013 through 2018.Results Two fatal outcomes were observed in the study group.

Near-Edge Soft X-ray Absorption Mass Spectrometry of Protonated Melittin.

We have investigated the photoionization and photofragmentation yields of gas-phase multiply protonated melittin cations for photon energies at the K-shell absorption edges of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen. Two similar experimental approaches were employed. In both experiments, mass selected [melittin+qH] (q=2-4) ions were accumulated in radiofrequency ion traps.

Anomalous optical nonreciprocity in magnetic nanoisland arrays.

We study the phenomenon of optical nonreciprocity in multilayer systems of magnetic nanoislands [FeNi-AlO] . An anomalously large optical nonreciprocity was observed in these systems. The effect was manifested in nonequivalence of polarization plane rotation of reflected light for the sample in an initial position and rotated by [Formula: see text].

Soft X-ray Spectroscopy as a Probe for Gas-Phase Protein Structure: Electron Impact Ionization from Within.

Preservation of protein conformation upon transfer into the gas phase is key for structure determination of free single molecules, for example using X-ray free-electron lasers. In the gas phase, the helicity of melittin decreases strongly as the protein's protonation state increases. We demonstrate the sensitivity of soft X-ray spectroscopy to the gas-phase structure of melittin cations ([melittin+qH] , q=2-4) in a cryogenic linear radiofrequency ion trap.

Radical-driven processes within a peptidic sequence of type I collagen upon single-photon ionisation in the gas phase.

We report on an experimental single-photon absorption study on gas-phase protonated collagen peptides employing a combination of mass spectrometry and synchrotron radiation. Partial ion yields for the main photoabsorption products vary steadily with photon energy over the range from 14 to 545 eV. At low energy, non-dissociative photoionisation competes with neutral molecule loss from the precursor ion, whereas fragmentation of the peptide backbone dominates at soft X-ray energies.

A comparative VUV absorption mass-spectroscopy study on protonated peptides of different size.

The ionization of gas-phase protonated peptides and proteins can induce molecular responses ranging from purely non-dissociative ionization to extensive multifragmentation of the system. In the case of soft X-ray photoionization, a monotonic transition between both regimes occurs in the mass range between 0.5 and 10 kDa.

Single-photon absorption of isolated collagen mimetic peptides and triple-helix models in the VUV-X energy range.

Cartilage and tendons owe their special mechanical properties to the fibrous collagen structure. These strong fibrils are aggregates of a sub-unit consisting of three collagen proteins wound around each other in a triple helix. Even though collagen is the most abundant protein in the human body, the response of this protein complex to ionizing radiation has never been studied.

[The Phenomenon of Short PQ Interval in Children].

Data of analysis of the clinical course of a natural phenomenon of short PQ interval in 300 children are presented. During the period.

Near edge X-ray absorption mass spectrometry of gas phase proteins: the influence of protein size.

Multiply protonated peptides and proteins in the gas phase can respond to near edge X-ray absorption in three different ways: (i) non dissociative ionization and ionization accompanied by loss of small neutrals, both known to dominate for proteins with masses in the 10 kDa range. (ii) Formation of immonium ions, dominating for peptides in the 1 kDa range. (iii) Backbone scission leading to sequence ions which is typically weaker and has mainly been observed for peptides in the 1 kDa range.

Multiple Ionization of Free Ubiquitin Molecular Ions in Extreme Ultraviolet Free-Electron Laser Pulses.

The fragmentation of free tenfold protonated ubiquitin in intense 70 femtosecond pulses of 90 eV photons from the FLASH facility was investigated. Mass spectrometric investigation of the fragment cations produced after removal of many electrons revealed fragmentation predominantly into immonium ions and related ions, with yields increasing linearly with intensity. Ionization clearly triggers a localized molecular response that occurs before the excitation energy equilibrates.

Experimental study of the effects of sodium ion concentrations on the function of the myocardium exposed to cardioplegic ischemia.

A new cardioplegic solution based on three natural dipeptides was developed and introduced at the Laboratory of Cardioplegia, A. N. Bakulev Research Center of Cardiovascular Surgery.

[Asymptomatic ventricular pre-excitation in children: a 17 year follow-up study].

Results of long term clinic-electrophysiological follow-up of a large group of children with Wolf-Parkinson-White (WPW) phenomenon are present. From 1993 to 2011 we examined 176 children - 117 boys (66,5%) and 59 girls (33,5%) - with manifesting type of WPW. Age at first examination was 12.