Revealing differential expression patterns of piRNA in FACS blood cells of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients.

Non-coding RNA expression has shown to have cell type-specificity. The regulatory characteristics of these molecules are impacted by changes in their expression levels. We performed next-generation sequencing and examined small RNA-seq data obtained from 6 different types of blood cells separated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting of severe COVID-19 patients and healthy control donors.

SARS-CoV-2 Impact on Red Blood Cell Morphology.

Severe COVID-19 alters the biochemical and morphological characteristics of blood cells in a wide variety of ways. To date, however, the vast majority of research has been devoted to the study of leukocytes, while erythrocyte morphological changes have received significantly less attention. The aim of this research was to identify erythrocyte morphology abnormalities that occur in COVID-19, compare the number of different poikilocyte types, and measure erythrocyte sizes to provide data on size dispersion.

Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer through the Multi-Ligand Binding of Prostate-Derived Extracellular Vesicles and miRNA Analysis.

Background: The development of new non-invasive markers for prostate cancer (PC) diagnosis, prognosis, and management is an important issue that needs to be addressed to decrease PC mortality. Small extracellular vesicles (SEVs) secreted by prostate gland or prostate cancer cells into the plasma are considered next-generation diagnostic tools because their chemical composition might reflect the PC development. The population of plasma vesicles is extremely heterogeneous.

3D Nanocomposite with High Aspect Ratio Based on Polyaniline Decorated with Silver NPs: Synthesis and Application as Electrochemical Glucose Sensor.

In this paper, we present a new methodology for creating 3D ordered porous nanocomposites based on anodic aluminum oxide template with polyaniline (PANI) and silver NPs. The approach includes in situ synthesis of polyaniline on templates of anodic aluminum oxide nanomembranes and laser-induced deposition (LID) of Ag NPs directly on the pore walls. The proposed method allows for the formation of structures with a high aspect ratio of the pores, topological ordering and uniformity of properties throughout the sample, and a high specific surface area.

Tuning the Optical Properties and Conductivity of Bundles in Networks of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes.

The films of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) are a promising material for flexible transparent electrodes, which performance depends not only on the properties of individual nanotubes but also, foremost, on bundling of individual nanotubes. This work investigates the impact of densification on optical and electronic properties of SWCNT bundles and fabricated films. Our ab initio analysis shows that the optimally densified bundles, consisting of a mixture of quasi-metallic and semiconducting SWCNTs, demonstrate quasi-metallic behavior and can be considered as an effective conducting medium.

Direct Laser Writing of Copper Micropatterns from Deep Eutectic Solvents Using Pulsed near-IR Radiation.

In this study, we developed a method for the fabrication of electrically conductive copper patterns of arbitrary topology and films on dielectric substrates, by improved laser-induced synthesis from deep eutectic solvents. A significant increase in the processing efficiency was achieved by acceptor substrate pretreatment, with the laser-induced microplasma technique, using auxiliary glass substrates and optional laser post-processing of the recorded structures; thus, the proposed approach offers a complete manufacturing cycle, utilizing a single, commercially available, pulsed Yb fiber laser system. The potential implications of the presented research are amplified by the observation of laser-induced periodic surface structures (LIPSSs) that may be useful for the further tuning of tracks' functional properties.

Phylogenetic position and morphology of Raphidiophrys elongata sp. nov. (Haptista: Centroplasthelida) with notes on cyst wall structure and evolution.

The majority of centrohelids bear external coverings consisting of organic spicules or siliceous scales. Cyst coverings are usually reinforced with additional layers of modified scales. The cyst wall of Raphidiophrys heterophryoidea has an unusual and complex structure.

Optical Studies and Transmission Electron Microscopy of HgCdTe Quantum Well Heterostructures for Very Long Wavelength Lasers.

HgTe/CdHgTe quantum well (QW) heterostructures have attracted a lot of interest recently due to insights they provided towards the physics of topological insulators and massless Dirac fermions. Our work focuses on HgCdTe QWs with the energy spectrum close to the graphene-like relativistic dispersion that is supposed to suppress the non-radiative Auger recombination. We combine various methods such as photoconductivity, photoluminescence and magneto-optical measurements as well as transmission electron microscopy to retrofit growth parameters in multi-QW waveguide structures, designed for long wavelengths lasing in the range of 10-22 μm.

Bright Single-Photon Emitters with a CdSe Quantum Dot and Multimode Tapered Nanoantenna for the Visible Spectral Range.

We report on single photon emitters for the green-yellow spectral range, which comprise a CdSe/ZnSe quantum dot placed inside a semiconductor tapered nanocolumn acting as a multimode nanoantenna. Despite the presence of many optical modes inside, such a nanoantenna is able to collect the quantum dot radiation and ensure its effective output. We demonstrate periodic arrays of such emitters, which are fabricated by focused ion beam etching from a II-VI/III-V heterostructure grown using molecular beam epitaxy.

Room-Temperature Lasing from Mie-Resonant Nonplasmonic Nanoparticles.

Subwavelength particles supporting Mie resonances underpin a strategy in nanophotonics for efficient control and manipulation of light by employing both an electric and a magnetic optically induced multipolar resonant response. Here, we demonstrate that monolithic dielectric nanoparticles made of CsPbBr halide perovskites can exhibit both efficient Mie-resonant lasing and structural coloring in the visible and near-IR frequency ranges. We employ a simple chemical synthesis with nearly epitaxial quality for fabricating subwavelength cubes with high optical gain and demonstrate single-mode lasing governed by the Mie resonances from nanocubes as small as 310 nm by the side length.

Heterogeneity of the nucleic acid repertoire of plasma extracellular vesicles demonstrated using high-sensitivity fluorescence-activated sorting.

The aim of this study was to investigate cell source-dependent nucleic acids repertoire of diverse subpopulations of plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs). Blood plasma from nine healthy volunteers was used for the analysis. Samples of EVs were obtained by differential centrifugation of plasma.

Interface-Assisted Synthesis of the MnFeO Gradient Film with Multifunctional Properties.

Anisotropic gradient materials are considered as promising and novel in that they have numerous functional properties and are able to transform into hierarchical microstructures. We report a facile method of gradient inorganic thin film synthesis through diffusion-controlled deposition at the gas-solution interface. To investigate the reaction of interfacial phase boundary controllable hydrolysis by gaseous ammonium, an aqueous solution of FeCl and MnCl was chosen, as the precipitation pH values for the hydroxides of these metals differ gradually.

Application of high-sensitivity flow cytometry in combination with low-voltage scanning electron microscopy for characterization of nanosized objects during platelet concentrate storage.

Platelet concentrates are used in clinic for therapy and prophylaxis of conditions associated with platelet deficiency or malfunction. The characteristics of platelet concentrates gradually change during pretransfusion storage, affecting their clinical effectiveness and the risk of adverse transfusion reactions. The presence of platelet-derived membrane vesicles is an important characteristic of platelet concentrates.

Nanosecond-Laser Generation of Nanoparticles in Liquids: From Ablation through Bubble Dynamics to Nanoparticle Yield.

A comprehensive picture of the nanosecond-laser generation of colloidal nanoparticles in liquids is nowadays the demand of their high-throughput industrial fabrication for diverse perspective biomedical, material science, and optoelectronic applications. In this study, using silicon as an example, we present a self-consistent experimental visualization and theoretical description of key transient stages during nanosecond-laser generation of colloidal nanoparticles in liquids: plasma-mediated injection of ablated mass into the liquid and driving the vapor bubble, finalized by the colloid appearance in the liquid. The explored fundamental transient stages envision the basic temporal and spatial scales, as well as laser parameter windows, for the demanded high-throughput nanosecond-laser generation of colloidal nanoparticles in liquids.

Nanoporous water oxidation electrodes with a low loading of laser-deposited Ru/C exhibit enhanced corrosion stability.

For the oxidation of water to dioxygen, oxide-covered ruthenium metal is known as the most efficient catalyst, however, with limited stability. Herein, we present a strategy for incorporating a Ru/C composite onto a novel nanoporous electrode surface with low noble metal loading and improved stability. The Ru/C is coated on the pore walls of anodic alumina templates in a one-step laser-induced deposition method from Ru(CO) solutions.

Copper-Stabilized Si/Au Nanowhiskers for Advanced Nanoelectronic Applications.

We report here the growth and functional properties of silicon-based nanowhisker (NW) diodes produced by the vapor-liquid-solid process using a pulsed laser deposition technique. For the first time, we demonstrate that this method could be employed to control the size and shape of silicon NWs by using a two-component catalyst material (Au/Cu ≈ 60:1). During the NW growth, copper is distributed on the outer surface of the NW, whereas gold sticks as a droplet to its top.