Structural studies of hydrated rare earth nitrates within the stereoatomic model of crystal structures.

All crystal structures containing nitrate ions, water molecules and one of the rare earth (RE) metal atoms (La-Lu, Y, Sc) were extracted from the Inorganic Crystal Structure Database. The composition of the identified compounds is analyzed in terms of the number of coordinated and uncoordinated water molecules and nitrate ions. Among the resulting compounds, several isotypic and morphotropic series are observed.

Physicochemical Characterization and Antimicrobial Properties of Lanthanide Nitrates in Dilute Aqueous Solutions.

This work presents the results of studying dilute aqueous solutions of commercial (NO) · HO salts with = Ce-Lu using X-ray diffraction (XRD), IR spectroscopy, X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS: EXAFS/XANES), and pH measurements. As a reference point, XRD and XAS measurements for characterized (NO) · HO microcrystalline powder samples were performed. The local structure of -nitrate complexes in 20 mM (NO) · HO aqueous solution was studied under total external reflection conditions and EXAFS geometry was applied to obtain high-quality EXAFS data for solutions with low concentrations of ions.

Annealing-Induced Structural Behavior of Mn Dopant Ions in Calcium Orthovanadate Ca(VO) Single Crystals.

The crystal and local structures of Czochralski-grown calcium orthovanadate (Ca(VO)) single crystals doped with over-stoichiometric 0.05 wt % MnO (CVO:0.05Mn) and annealed under different conditions are studied by single-crystal conventional and synchrotron X-ray diffraction, X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and electron paramagnetic resonance for the first time.

Revealing the peculiar local behavior of manganese and cobalt in diffusion-doped calcium orthovanadate Ca(VO).

Laser Ca(VO) single crystals (СVO; space group 3, = 21) with crystallochemical formula Ca1Ca2Ca3Ca4(Ca5 + Са5А)(V1V2V3)O grown by the Czochralski method were doped with МnO (CVO:МnO) and СoO (CVO:CoO) by high-temperature diffusion annealing. Statistical and local structures were comprehensively studied by single-crystal and powder synchrotron X-ray diffraction and conventional single-crystal X-ray diffraction as well as by X-ray absorption spectroscopy for the first time. The presence of Mn ions with a mixed formal charge and Co ions in the Ca2 (monocapped trigonal prism), Ca3 (two-capped trigonal prism), and Ca4 (octahedron) sites was revealed by diffraction methods.

Impact of composition and structural parameters on the catalytic activity of MFI type titanosilicalites.

Titanosilicalite of the MFI type was obtained a hydrothermal method. Its initial and annealed at 75 °C (TS-1P(75)) and 500 °C (TS-1P(500)) forms were studied by X-ray powder diffraction (PXRD), X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS-method), Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), temperature-programmed ammonia desorption (TPD NH), and pyridine adsorption (Py). The full-profile Rietveld method allowed us to observe the presence of the organic template tetrapropylammonium hydroxide (TPAOH) in the framework voids, as well as to determine the silicate module (Si/Ti = 73.

Peculiar Structural Effects in Pure and Doped Functional Single Crystals of Complex Compositions.

Results of a detailed structural characterization of nominally pure and doped single crystals of scheelite, eulytin, and perovskite families obtained by melt methods were considered and analyzed. The influence of growth and post-growth annealing conditions on actual compositions of crystals is shown. The reasons for the coloration of the crystals are explained.

Synthesis and physico-chemical properties of poly(-vinyl pyrrolidone)-based hydrogels with titania nanoparticles.

Poly(-vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP)-based hydrogels with titania nanoparticles (TN) were synthesized by the sol-gel method for the first time and were characterized in different states (native, freeze-dried, air-dried to constant weight and ground to powder, or swollen to constant weight in HO or DO) by various methods such as wide-angle and small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering, neutron spin-echo (NSE) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The static (static polymer-polymer correlation length (mesh size), associates of cross-links and PVP microchains) and dynamic (polymer chain relaxation rate, hydrodynamic polymer-polymer correlation length) structural elements were determined. The incorporation of titania nanoparticles into PVP hydrogel slightly increases the size of structural inhomogeneities (an increase in the static and dynamic polymer-polymer correlation length, the formation of associates of cross-links and PVP chains).

Structure and dynamics of titania - poly(N-vinyl caprolactam) composite hydrogels.

The morphologies and dynamics of poly(N-vinyl caprolactam) (PVCL) based hydrogels with titania nanoparticles in different states (native, air-dried to a constant weight and swollen in HO or DO) are studied by a combination of complementary techniques: wide angle X-ray scattering, small angle neutron scattering, neutron spin echo spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry. The results suggest the presence of different structural types of water leading to different properties of the hydrogels. We propose a hierarchical structure of hydrogels spanning from the molecular to the microscopic scale consistent with both the static structure (polymer mesh size, association of the nodes of crosslinks and microchains of PVCL) and the dynamics (rate of relaxation of polymer chains, hydrodynamic polymer-polymer correlation length).

[Inluence of osteoporosis and its causative factors on the prevention of recurrence of urinary stone disease].

Introduction: The aim of postoperative examination, treatment and follow-up of patients with urinary stone disease is a prevention of recurrence. A choice of method of prevention is based on the results of postoperative examination with consideration of etiological factors of urinary stone disease. An analysis of influence of osteoporosis and its causative factors on the recurrence of urinary stone disease is presented in the article.

Effects of Different Stimuli on the Structure of Nano-Anatase and Poly(-vinylcaprolactam) in the Nano-Anatase/Poly(-vinylcaprolactam) Composites.

Nanocomposites based on poly(-vinylcaprolactam) containing functional nano-anatase particles were produced by mixing and mechanical grinding of mixtures of poly(-vinylcaprolactam) and Hombifine N (nano-anatase) powders in a porcelain mortar (method 1) and by mechanical milling of the same powders using a high-energy planetary ball mill (method 2). Differences in the diffraction patterns of nanocomposites prepared by method 1 (partial crystallization and an amorphization of nano-anatase particles in the nano-anatase/poly(-vinylcaprolactam) composite) and method 2 (amorphization of nano-anatase particles) were found. An increase in the X-ray intensity was found to cause physical degradation of the polymer in nano-anatase/poly(-vinylcaprolactam) composites depending on its prehistory.

A natural human monoclonal antibody targeting Staphylococcus Protein A protects against Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia.

Staphylococcus aureus can cause devastating and life-threatening infections. With the increase in multidrug resistant strains, novel therapies are needed. Limited success with active and passive immunization strategies have been attributed to S.

[Peptide phage display in biotechnology and biomedicine].

To date peptide phage display is one of the most common combinatorial methods used for identifying specific peptide ligands. Phage display peptide libraries containing billions different clones successfully used for selection of ligands with high affinity and selectivity toward wide range of targets including individual proteins, bacteria, viruses, spores, different kind of cancer cells and variety of nonorganic targets (metals, alloys, semiconductors etc.) Success of using filamentous phage in phage display technologies relays on the robustness of phage particles and a possibility to genetically modify its DNA to construct new phage variants with novel properties.

[Biocompatibility of electrospun poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and its composites scaffolds for tissue engineering].

Development of biodegradable polymers-based scaffolds for tissue engineering is a promising trend in bioengineering. The electrospun scaffolds from poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) were produced using different additives that changed the physical and chemical characteristics of the products. As a result, the construct consisting of interwoven threads of different diameter (0.

Synthesis, composition, and structure of sillenite-type solid solutions in the Bi2O3-SiO2-MnO2 system.

Individual compounds and solid solutions are obtained under hydrothermal conditions in the Bi(2)O(3)-SiO(2)-MnO(2) system in the form of faceted crystals and epitaxial films on the Bi(24)Si(2)O(40) substrate. The crystals have the shape of a cube (for the molar ratio of the starting components Na(2)SiO(3)·9H(2)O:Mn(NO(3))(2)·6H(2)O > 1), a tetrahedron (for Na(2)SiO(3)·9H(2)O:Mn(NO(3))(2)·6H(2)O < 1), or a tetrahedron-cube combination (for Na(2)SiO(3)·9H(2)O:Mn(NO(3))(2)·6H(2)O = 1). Crystal-chemical analysis based on the data of single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, IR spectra, and the results of calculation of the local balance by the bond-valence method reveals formation of the Bi(24)(Si(4+),Mn(4+))(2)O(40) phases, which probably include Mn(5+) ions (epitaxial films), as well as the Bi(24)(Si(4+),Bi(3+),Mn(4+))(2)O(40) and Bi(24)(Si(4+),Mn(4+))(2)O(40) phases in the (1 - x)Bi(3+)(24)Si(4+)(2)O(40) - x(Bi(3+)(24)Mn(4+)(2)O(40)) system and the Bi(24)(Bi(3+),Mn(4+))(2)O(40) phase in the (1 - x)Bi(3+)(24)Bi(3+)(2)(O(39)ⁱ(1)) - x(Bi(3+)(24)Mn(4+)(2)O(40)) system.

Mutations in fd phage major coat protein modulate affinity of the displayed peptide.

Multibillion-clone libraries of phages displaying guest peptides fused to the major coat protein pVIII (landscape libraries) are a rich source of probes for proteinaceous and non-proteinaceous targets. As opposed to the pIII-type fusion phages, which display peptides as independent structural domains, the guest peptides in the pVIII-fusion phages can be structurally and functionally influenced by contiguous subunits. To decipher the impact of the locale of a guest peptide on its affinity characteristics, we constructed a library of phages carrying beta-galactosidase-binding peptide ADTFAKSMQ at the N-terminus of the pVIII protein surrounded by random amino acids.

[Clinical implications of physicochemical examination of uroliths and urine].

We have examined composition of uroliths (qualitative and quantitative x-ray tests) and measured 24-h excretion of electrolytes (Cl-, NO2-, NO3-, SO4(2-), PO4(3-), cytrate, isocytrate and uric acid) using ion-exchange chromatography with a conductometric detector. We revealed correlations between ion characteristics, their concentration in the urine before and after treatment and composition of disintegrated uroliths and clinical data. This allowed us to identify some urinary ions which indicate activity of urolithogenesis, predisposition to urolithiasis, production of certain uroliths, reflect some processes running in patients with urolithiasis.

Diversity and censoring of landscape phage libraries.

Libraries of random peptides displayed on the surface of filamentous phages are a valuable source for biospecific ligands. However, their successful use can be hindered by a disproportionate representation of different phage clones and fluctuation of their composition that arises during phage reproduction, which have potential to affect efficiency of selection of clones with an optimal binding. Therefore, there is a need to develop phage display libraries with extended and varied repertoires of displayed peptides.

[Study of a role of artificial mycobacterial particles in the realization of immunological processes in experimental animal tuberculosis].

The protective properties of artificial mycobacterial particles versus BCG vaccine were studied in laboratory animals with experimental tuberculosis. The findings of the decreased rate of a tuberculous process and on the increased mean life span in animals inoculated with M. bovis suggest that immunization of guinea-pigs with mycobacterial particles promotes the enhanced development of antituberculous immunity in the animals.

[Urolithiasis: current aspects of diagnosis and treatment].

The aim of the study was clinicodiagnostic assessment of current methods of computer visualization (spiral computed tomography, multispiral computed tomography) and their role in specification of indications, contraindications and technical characteristics of current methods of urolithiasis treatment. The results of combined examination and therapy of 759 urolithiasis patients treated in the urological clinic of I.M.

Efficient differentiation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains of the W-Beijing family from Russia using highly polymorphic VNTR loci.

The W-Beijing family is a widespread Mycobacterium tuberculosis clonal lineage that frequently causes epidemic outbreaks. This family is genetically homogeneous and conserved, so ETR-VNTR (exact tandem repeat-variable number of tandem repeats) typing is insufficient for strain differentiation, due to a common ETR-A to E profile (42435). This leads to the false clustering in molecular epidemiological studies, especially in the regions of predominance of the W-Beijing family.

[Differentiation of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis W-Beijing family strains from the Russian Federation by the VNTR-typing].

Recent phylogenetic studies allowed the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex to be divided into a number of the strain families. The W-Beijing family is one of most widespread M. tuberculosis variants frequently causing epidemic outbreaks.

[Use of a phage peptide library in mapping the group-specific hemagglutinating domain of alpha-virus glycoprotein E2].

Phage display peptide library f88-4/15 (G. P. Smith, USA) was used for mapping the hemagglutination activity domain of glycoprotein E2 of alphaviruses.

[Ability of a recombinant protein containing fragment 114-122 of myelin basic protein, to cause allergic encephalomyelitis in guinea pigs].

Four genetic constructions have been designed, capable of producing in E. coli the hybrid beta-galactosidases containing the encephalitogenic determinant 114-122 of myelin basic protein. The ability of chromatography-purified proteins to cause allergic encephalomyelitis in guinea pigs has been investigated.