Crystallographic models of ribbons and ribbon-based J-aggregate nanotubes from the geometry of tube ends.

Self-assembly into tubular structures typically proceeds by helical winding of ribbon intermediates, however, only the central parts of the tubes, that retain no information on the ribbon geometry, have received attention so far. We propose the procedure of establishing the crystal structure of ribbons and ribbon-based tubes on the basis of crystallographic analysis of the tube-end geometry, where the terminal parts of the ribbons fold and form characteristic mono/bilayer polygonal shapes. The terminal parts of flattened J-aggregate nanotubes of trimethine cyanine dye were clearly resolved in electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy images, and the original parallelogram shape of ribbons was reconstructed and interpreted as a two-dimensional [1-10]/[010] facetted crystal with inclined molecular π-stacks parallel to the long ribbon side.

Anomalous Laterally Stressed Kinetically Trapped DNA Surface Conformations.

DNA kinking is inevitable for the highly anisotropic 1D-1D electrostatic interaction with the one-dimensionally periodically charged surface. The double helical structure of the DNA kinetically trapped on positively charged monomolecular films comprising the lamellar templates is strongly laterally stressed and extremely perturbed at the nanometer scale. The DNA kinetic trapping is not a smooth 3D-> 2D conformational flattening but is a complex nonlinear in-plane mechanical response (bending, tensile and unzipping) driven by the physics beyond the scope of the applicability of the linear worm-like chain approximation.

Electrophysiological characterization of the activating action of a novel liposomal nitric oxide carrier on Maxi-K channels in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells.

The aim of this study was to establish the mechanisms of action of a novel liposomal nitric oxide (NO) carrier on large-conductance Ca-activated channels (BK or Maxi-K) expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) isolated from the rat main pulmonary artery (MPA). Experimental design comprised of both whole-cell and cell-attached single-channel recordings using the patch-clamp techniques. The liposomal form of NO, Lip(NO), increased whole-cell outward K currents in a dose dependent manner while shifting the activation curve negatively by about 50 mV with respect to unstimulated cells with the EC value of 0.

"Flora of Russia" on iNaturalist: a dataset.

Background: The "Flora of Russia" project on iNaturalist brought together professional scientists and amateur naturalists from all over the country. Over 10,000 people were involved in the data collection.

New Information: Within 20 months, the participants accumulated 750,143 photo observations of 6,857 species of the Russian flora.

Electrical Excitation of Long-Range Surface Plasmons in PC/OLED Structure with Two Metal Nanolayers.

A current-driven source of long-range surface plasmons (LRSPs) on a duplex metal nanolayer is reported. Electrical excitation of LRSPs was experimentally observed in a planar structure, where an organic light-emitting film was sandwiched between two metal nanolayers that served as electrodes. To achieve the LRSP propagation in these metal nanolayers at the interface with air, the light-emitting structure was bordered by a one-dimensional photonic crystal (PC) on the other side.

Screening for Plant Volatile Emissions with Allelopathic Activity and the Identification of L-Fenchone and 1,8-Cineole from Star Anise () Leaves.

One hundred and thirty-nine medicinal plant species were screened for their allelopathic activity through volatile emissions using as a test plant. Volatile emissions from the leaves of star anise () showed the highest inhibition (100%) on the radicle and hypocotyl growth. Using headspace gas collection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), seven major volatile compounds from the leaves of star anise, including α-pinene, β-pinene, camphene, 1,8-cineole, D-limonene, camphor, and L-fenchone were detected.

Risk factors and prognosis of voice disorders after surgical treatment of thyroid and parathyroid diseases.

Aim: To analyze risk factors and prognosis of voice disorders after surgical treatment of thyroid and parathyroid diseases.

Material And Methods: There were 1272 patients who were operated in the endocrine surgery department for the period from January 1, 2016 to April 30, 2017. We studied the incidence of VF paresis, VF paralysis, and persistent dysphonia as clinical outcomes.

[Complete ileal substitution of the obliterated ureter].

The article presents the experience of successful surgical treatment of a patient with complete ureteral obliteration after transurethral endoscopic pyelolithotripsy in the left renal pelvis with lithoextraction and stenting. Two months later the patient developed stent obstruction and underwent repeat stenting and insertion of a left nephrostomy tube. After another 1.

Crystallography and Molecular Arrangement of Polymorphic Monolayer J-Aggregates of a Cyanine Dye: Multiangle Polarized Light Fluorescence Optical Microscopy Study.

The molecular orientation in monolayer J-aggregates of 3,3-di(γ-sulfopropyl)-5,5-dichlorotiamonomethinecyanine dye has been precisely estimated using improved linear polarization measurements in the fluorescence microscope in which a multiangle set of polarization data is obtained using sample rotation. The estimated molecular orientation supplemented with the previously established crystallographic constraints based on the analysis of the well-developed two-dimensional J-aggregate shapes unambiguously indicate the staircase type of molecular arrangement for striplike J-aggregates with the staircases oriented along strips. The molecular transition dipoles are inclined at an angle of ∼25° to the strip direction, whereas the characteristic strip vertex angle ∼45° is formed by the [100] and [1-10] directions of the monoclinic unit cell.

Excess of L-alanine in amino acids synthesized in a plasma torch generated by a hypervelocity meteorite impact reproduced in the Laboratory.

We present a laboratory reproduction of hypervelocity impacts of a carbon containing meteorite on a mineral substance representative of planetary surfaces. The physical conditions of the resulting impact plasma torch provide favorable conditions for abiogenic synthesis of protein amino acids: We identified glycine and alanine, and in smaller quantities serine, in the produced material. Moreover, we observe breaking of alanine mirror symmetry with L excess, which coincides with the bioorganic world.

AFM visualization at a single-molecule level of denaturated states of proteins on graphite.

Different graphitic materials are either already used or believed to be advantageous in biomedical and biotechnological applications, e.g., as biomaterials or substrates for sensors.

Polymorphism of Two-Dimensional Cyanine Dye J-Aggregates and Its Genesis: Fluorescence Microscopy and Atomic Force Microscopy Study.

Polymorphic J-aggregates of monomethine cyanine dye 3,3'-di(γ-sulfopropyl)-5,5'-dichlorotiamonomethinecyanine (TC) have been studied by fluorescence optical microscopy (FOM) and by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The in situ FOM observations in a solution drop distinguish two J-aggregate morphology classes: flexible strips and rigid rods. The AFM imaging of dried samples reveals a strong J-aggregate structural rearrangement under adsorption on a mica surface with the strips self-folding and the rods squashing into rectangular bilayers and much deeper destruction.

[Fast myocardial perfusion imaging of stress--first protocol using CZT-technology: a preliminary report of the correlation to invasive coronary angiography].

Background: Myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) is valuable for diagnosing coronary disease and assessing the risk of cardiac events. New technology based on semiconductors (Cadmium zinc telluride-CZT) enables reducing imaging time and improving image quality.

Methods: We retrospectively identified 57 patients who underwent MPI at Assuta using a CZT camera and invasive coronary angiography (ICA) within 60 days following nuclear testing without an intervening cardiac event, and without history of coronary disease.

Identification of octanal as plant growth inhibitory volatile compound released from Heracleum sosnowskyi fruit.

Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden of the Apiaceae family is a malignant invasive plant in Eastern Europe, Belarus and Russia. The species is known for its prolific seed production, which has been linked to the plant's invasive success. The fruit also has a strong aroma, but the contribution of the fruit's volatile constituent to out-compete neighboring plants has not been fully established.

Angelicin as the principal allelochemical in Heracleum sosnowskyi fruit.

Distribution patterns of furocoumarins in fruits of the invasive species Heracleum sosnowskyi Manden. (Sosnowskyi's hogweed) during a cold stratification period were investigated. Angelicin, bergapten, methoxalen and imperatorin were mainly localized in the fruit coats and their content varied depending on the fruit source.

Comparison of the diagnostic accuracies of very low stress-dose with standard-dose myocardial perfusion imaging: Automated quantification of one-day, stress-first SPECT using a CZT camera.

Background: Previous studies have demonstrated accurate diagnosis of reduced dose myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) using Cadmium-Zinc-Telluride (CZT) technology. We compared the diagnostic performances of very low stress-dose (<2 mSv) with standard-dose stress-first, quantitative MPI using a CZT camera.

Methods: Patients without known coronary artery- disease who underwent a stress-first Tc-99 m sestamibi CZT-MPI and invasive coronary angiography (ICA), and low-risk patients without ICA were included.

Isotope ratios of H, C, and O in CO2 and H2O of the martian atmosphere.

Stable isotope ratios of H, C, and O are powerful indicators of a wide variety of planetary geophysical processes, and for Mars they reveal the record of loss of its atmosphere and subsequent interactions with its surface such as carbonate formation. We report in situ measurements of the isotopic ratios of D/H and (18)O/(16)O in water and (13)C/(12)C, (18)O/(16)O, (17)O/(16)O, and (13)C(18)O/(12)C(16)O in carbon dioxide, made in the martian atmosphere at Gale Crater from the Curiosity rover using the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM)'s tunable laser spectrometer (TLS). Comparison between our measurements in the modern atmosphere and those of martian meteorites such as ALH 84001 implies that the martian reservoirs of CO2 and H2O were largely established ~4 billion years ago, but that atmospheric loss or surface interaction may be still ongoing.

[Contemporary work conditions and occupational morbidity in metallurgists].

Based on analysis of materials provided by Central Council of Russian Federal Coal Miners Trade Union, the authors assessed contemporary work conditions and occupational morbidity among workers engaged into iron industry. In these enterprises, a total of 68.4% of certified workplaces are assigned to hazardous and jeopardy class (3 and 4 degree of variable hazards).

Detection of internal cracks and ultrasound characterization of nanostructured Bi₂Te₃-based thermoelectrics via acoustic microscopy.

The search for thermoelectric (TE) materials for highly efficient devices aims at improving the TE efficiency and broadening their areas of applications. We created nanostructured thermoelectric Bi-Sb-Te-family materials by high energy (ball milling) pre-treatment of the parent materials followed by high-pressure/high-temperature treatment. Bi₀.

[A study of lamellas of the web recombinant protein by atomic force microscopy].

Lamellas formed on the mica by protein 1F9, a recombinant analogue of the web protein, have been studied by atomic force microscopy. It has been shown that the molecules of 1F9 dissolved in strong solvents are capable of aggregating on the mica surface to form lamellas less than 1 nm in height and more than 1 microm in length. A model of a plane zigzag has been constructed to describe the conformation of 1F9 molecules on the mica surface.

High-resolution atomic force microscopy study of hexaglycylamide epitaxial structures on graphite.

Two types of hexaglycylamide (HGA) epitaxial lamellar structures coexisting on the surface of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) exposed to water solutions were studied by high-resolution atomic force microscopy (AFM). Lamellae are distinguished by growth direction and by morphology. The lamellae of the first type (L1) produced by depositions from more dilute solutions are close-packed with a period of ∼5.

High-resolution atomic force microscopy of DNA.

A method using high resolution atomic force microscopy for imaging DNA has been elaborated. Using super-sharp probes and modified graphite as support for molecule adsorption, DNA molecule images were obtained whose resolution made possible the observation of their fine structure with repeated helical motifs. The method can be used to visualize individual spread molecules of single-stranded DNA.

[Preclinical tests of Staphylococcus aureus somatic antigen as the basis for drugs for treatment of staphylococcal skin infections].

Aim: To analyze results of conducted preclinical animal tests of ointment and gel preparations based on the somatic antigen ("Somatin") of Staphylococcus aureus.

Materials And Methods: Contents of ointment and gel as well as method of "Somatin" extraction from cytosomatin ointment are presented. Standard serum was obtained by immunization of rabbits by "Somatin".

[Work conditions and occupational morbidity in workers of aluminium production enterprises].

The article covers analysis of work conditions for aluminium plant workers, through workplaces certification. The authors specified work condition classes according to the jeopardy degree. Number of workplaces with conditions having occupational hazards' MAC and MAL excess 10-fold and over (class 3.