Complex trait susceptibilities and population diversity in a sample of 4,145 Russians.

The population of Russia consists of more than 150 local ethnicities. The ethnic diversity and geographic origins, which extend from eastern Europe to Asia, make the population uniquely positioned to investigate the shared properties of inherited disease risks between European and Asian ancestries. We present the analysis of genetic and phenotypic data from a cohort of 4,145 individuals collected in three metro areas in western Russia.

Soluble Fluorinated Cardo Copolyimide as an Effective Additive to Photopolymerizable Compositions Based on Di(meth)acrylates: Application for Highly Thermostable Primary Protective Coating of Silica Optical Fiber.

The development of photocurable compositions is in high demand for the manufacture of functional materials for electronics, optics, medicine, energy, etc. The properties of the final photo-cured material are primarily determined by the initial mixture, which needs to be tuned for each application. In this study we propose to use simple systems based on di(meth)acrylate, polyimide and photoinitiator for the preparation of new photo-curable compositions.

Age of the magma chamber and its physicochemical state under Elbrus Greater Caucasus, Russia using zircon petrochronology and modeling insights.

Mount Elbrus, Europe's tallest and largely glaciated volcano, is made of silicic lavas and is known for Holocene eruptions, but the size and state of its magma chamber remain poorly constrained. We report high spatial resolution U-Th-Pb zircon ages, co-registered with oxygen and hafnium isotopic values, span ~ 0.6 Ma in each lava, documenting magmatic initiation that forms the current edifice.

Cytokine Storm Signature in Patients with Moderate and Severe COVID-19.

Hypercytokinemia, found in SARS-CoV-2 infection, contributes to multiple organ dysfunctions with acute respiratory distress syndrome, shock etc. The aim of this study was to describe cytokine storm signatures in patients with acute COVID-19 and to investigate their influence on severity of the infection. Plasma levels of 47 cytokines were investigated in 73 patients with moderate and severe COVID-19 (41 and 32, respectively) and 11 healthy donors (HD).

Genotype imputation and polygenic score estimation in northwestern Russian population.

Numerous studies demonstrated the lack of transferability of polygenic score (PGS) models across populations and the problem arising from unequal presentation of ancestries across genetic studies. However, even within European ancestry there are ethnic groups that are rarely presented in genetic studies. For instance, Russians, being one of the largest, diverse, and yet understudied group in Europe.

Case Report: Supernormal Vascular Aging in Leningrad Siege Survivors.

Age-related changes in the vascular system play an important role in the biological age and lifespan of a person and maybe affected from an early age onward. One of the indicators of changes in the vascular system is arterial wall stiffness and its main measure, i.e.

Imbalanced Immune Response of T-Cell and B-Cell Subsets in Patients with Moderate and Severe COVID-19.

Background: The immunological changes associated with COVID-19 are largely unknown.

Methods: Patients with COVID-19 showing moderate ( = 18; SpO2 > 93%, respiratory rate > 22 per minute, CRP > 10 mg/L) and severe ( = 23; SpO < 93%, respiratory rate >30 per minute, PaO/FiO ≤ 300 mmHg, permanent oxygen therapy, qSOFA > 2) infection, and 37 healthy donors (HD) were enrolled. Circulating T- and B-cell subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry.

The economic potential of metalliferous sub-volcanic brines.

The transition to a low-carbon economy will increase demand for a wide range of metals, notably copper, which is used extensively in power generation and in electric vehicles. Increased demand will require new, sustainable approaches to copper exploration and extraction. Conventional copper mining entails energy-intensive extraction of relatively low-grade ore from large open pits or underground mines and subsequent ore refining.

The Significance of Phenotyping and Quantification of Plasma Extracellular Vesicles Levels Using High-Sensitivity Flow Cytometry during COVID-19 Treatment.

New investigation results point to the potential participation of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the pathogenesis of coronavirus infection, its progression, and mechanisms of the therapy effectiveness. This dictates the necessity to transfer scientific testing technologies to medical practice. Here, we demonstrated the method of phenotyping and quantitative analysis of plasma EVs based on differential centrifugation, immunostaining, and high-sensitivity multicolor flow cytometry.

A 300-kb microduplication of 7q36.3 in a patient with triphalangeal thumb-polysyndactyly syndrome combined with congenital heart disease and optic disc coloboma: a case report.

Background: Triphalangeal thumb-polysyndactyly syndrome (TPT-PS) is a rare well-defined autosomal dominant disorder characterized by long thumbs with three phalanges combined with pre- and postaxial polydactyly/syndactyly of limbs. By now, the syndrome has been reported in several large families from different ethnic backgrounds, with a high degree of inter- and intrafamilial variability. The genome locus responsible for TPT-PS has been mapped to the 7q36.

Deep long period volcanic earthquakes generated by degassing of volatile-rich basaltic magmas.

Deep long-period (DLP) earthquakes observed beneath active volcanoes are sometimes considered as precursors to eruptions. Their origin remains, however, unclear. Here, we present a possible DLP generating mechanism related to the rapid growth of gas bubbles in response to the slow decompression of over-saturated magma.

Pervasive Hydrothermal Events Associated with Large Igneous Provinces Documented by the Columbia River Basaltic Province.

The degree and extent of crustal hydrothermal alteration related to the eruption of large igneous provinces is poorly known and not easily recognizable in the field. We here report a new δO dataset for dikes and lavas from the Columbia River Basalt Group (16-15 Ma) in the western USA, and document that dikes on average are 1-2‰ more depleted in δO than basalt flows. We show that this observation is best explained with the involvement of heated meteoric  waters during their cooling in the crust.

Author Correction: Plants with genetically encoded autoluminescence.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Plants with genetically encoded autoluminescence.

Autoluminescent plants engineered to express a bacterial bioluminescence gene cluster in plastids have not been widely adopted because of low light output. We engineered tobacco plants with a fungal bioluminescence system that converts caffeic acid (present in all plants) into luciferin and report self-sustained luminescence that is visible to the naked eye. Our findings could underpin development of a suite of imaging tools for plants.

The obtaining of high-density specimens and analysis of mechanical strength characteristics of a composite based on ZrO2-WC nanopowders.

The structures, processes of shrinkage, and phase composition of the compact system ZrO2-WC, obtained by hot pressing with the transmission of high current, are considered in the article. We found that as a result of compaction, the ZrO2-WC-ceramics have uniform density distribution, with the following optimal mode consolidation values T = 1,350°C, P = 30 MPa and t = 2 min. These conditions allow us to achieve the best combination of ceramic properties by criteria density and strength.

Hydrothermal alteration of kimberlite by convective flows of external water.

Kimberlite volcanism involves the emplacement of olivine-rich volcaniclastic deposits into volcanic vents or pipes. Kimberlite deposits are typically pervasively serpentinised as a result of the reaction of olivine and water within a temperature range of 130-400 °C or less. We present a model for the influx of ground water into hot kimberlite deposits coupled with progressive cooling and serpentisation.

[Research of cytoskeleton-dependent mechanisms of contractile activity regulation in the smooth muscles].

Influence of modulation of cytoskeleton by colchicine, vinblastine and cytochalasine B on contractile reactions of smooth muscles has been investigated by mechanographical method, by the methods of the double sucrose gup junction. Ratio F/G-actin in smooth muscle cells defined a method of a fluorescent microscopy. Microfilaments in a greater degree than microtubule are involved in regulation of reductions caused by hyperpotassic-induced reductions of membrane of smooth muscle segments of the rat aorta and generation of action potentials and reductions smooth muscle cells from guinea pig urethra.

[Dynamics of cardiovascular system functional state indices in patients with idiopathic mitral valve prolapse against the background of magnerot and alprazolam therapy].

144 patients with idiopathic mitral valve prolapse (MVP) were examined. They were divided into groups of treatment with magnerot, and placebo (control group). Decrease of echocardiography indices of MVP was noticed in the patients who received magnerot.

[Methods of electrocardiosignal processing and analysis].

Methods for allocation of the fiducial point in each cardiac cycle are suggested. The methods are based on detection of the TP segment in the electrocardiosignal. A new filter method for elimination of the isoline drift based on the use of pulse signals of a complex shape is suggested.

[An energy approach to detection of electrocardiosignal arrhythmias].

A new approach to detection of cardiac arrhythmias based on the analysis of changes in the electrocardiosignal energy in each cardiac cycle is suggested.

[Postoperative recurrence of a nodular goiter].

Long-term results were followed up from 3 to 15 years in 649 patients with different morphological forms of the nodular goiter. Postoperative recurrent nodular goiter was diagnosed in 26.8% of the patients.

[Synthesis of modified fragments of fibrinogen and their effect on the activity of proteolytic enzymes].

New analogues of the Gly-Pro-Arg and Arg-Gly-Asp fragments of fibrinogen were synthesized: Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro (I), Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro-Met-OMe (II), Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro-Phe (III), Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro-Asp (IV), Gly-Pro-Arg-Pro-Glu (V), and Arg-Asn-Trp-Asp (VI). Their effect on the activity of proteases of various types was studied with the method of lysis of fibrin plates. All the peptides were found to inhibit plasmin activity (by 60-85%) and the gamma-subunit of nerve growth factor (by 55-93%).

[The structure-antiaggregative activity relationship in a series of Arg-Gly-Asp analogs].

A series of analogues of Arg-Gly-Asp tripeptide, the common structural element of most of the integrin receptor ligands, possessing different conformational features for the interaction with platelet receptors, were synthesized by the methods of conventional peptide chemistry for use in the search for antithrombotic agents. The distance between the guanidine group of Arg and the beta-carboxyl group of Asp was shown to affect the antiaggregative activity. A potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation, tripeptide Arg-betaAla-Asp, with IC50 = 10.

[Low ability of blood lymphocytes to produce interferon-gamma in patients with idiopathic prolapse of mitral valve].

Aim: To examine lymphocyte ability to synthetize interferon-gamma in patients with mitral prolapse (MP).

Material And Methods: The diagnosis of MP was made in 75 patients at echocardiography. ECG monitoring was made and the study of the ability of blood lymphocytes to produce IFN-gamma (If-g).