Morphology and transport properties of membranes obtained by coagulation of cellulose solutions in isobutanol.

The evolution of structural-morphological transformations of cellulose membranes obtained from solutions in N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide through various temperature isobutanol coagulation baths and subsequent treatment with water and their transport properties were studied. Using SEM, it was found that during coagulation in water and drying of the membranes, a uniform monolithic microheterogeneous texture was formed. The replacement of an aqueous precipitation bath with an isobutanol one leads to the formation of a porous structure with wide pore size and shape distributions.

Novel Strongly Correlated Europium Superhydrides.

We conducted a joint experimental-theoretical investigation of the high-pressure chemistry of europium polyhydrides at pressures of 86-130 GPa. We discovered several novel magnetic Eu superhydrides stabilized by anharmonic effects: cubic EuH, hexagonal EuH, and an unexpected cubic (3) clathrate phase, EuH. Monte Carlo simulations indicate that cubic EuH has antiferromagnetic ordering with of up to 24 K, whereas hexagonal EuH and 3-EuH possess ferromagnetic ordering with = 137 and 336 K, respectively.

Fine details of crystal structure and atomic vibrations in YbB with a metal-insulator transition.

The crystal structure of single-crystal Kondo insulator YbB was studied at nine temperatures in the range 85-293 K based on X-ray diffraction data. Very weak Jahn-Teller distortions of the cubic lattice were detected at all temperatures, but did not require a revision of the structural model. Heat capacity and electrical conductivity of YbB single crystals were studied in the temperature range 1.

Flux growth, structure refinement and Mössbauer studies of FeGaBO single crystals.

High-quality FeGaBO single crystals (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0) in the form of basal plates were synthesized by the flux technique.

Disruption of Cationic/Anionic Viscoelastic Surfactant Micellar Networks by Hydrocarbon as a Basis of Enhanced Fracturing Fluids Clean-Up.

Studies of the effects produced by the solubilization of hydrophobic substances by micellar aggregates in water medium are quite important for applications of viscoelastic surfactant solutions for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), especially in hydraulic fracturing technology. The present paper aims at the investigation of the structural transformations produced by the absorption of an aliphatic hydrocarbon (n-decane) by mixed wormlike micelles of cationic (n-octyltrimethylammonium bromide, C8TAB) and anionic (potassium oleate) surfactants enriched by C8TAB. As a result of contact with a small amount (0.

Evaluation of immune and chemical precipitation methods for plasma exosome isolation.

Exosomes are a type of extracellular vesicles (EVs) secreted by multiple mammalian cell types and involved in intercellular communication. Numerous studies have explored the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of exosomes. The key challenge is the lack of efficient and standard techniques for isolation and downstream analysis of nanovesicles.

The comparative analysis of the properties and structures of purine nucleoside phosphorylases from thermophilic bacterium HB27.

Two recombinant purine nucleoside phosphorylases from thermophilic bacterium HB27 encoded by genes TT_C1070 (PNPI) and TT_C0194 (PNPII) were purified and characterized. The comparative analysis of their sequences, molecular weight, enzymes specificity and kinetics of the catalyzed reaction were realized. As a result, it was determined that the PNPI is specific to guanosine while the PNPII to adenosine.

The first pentagonal-bipyramidal vanadium(III) complexes with a Schiff-base NO pentadentate ligand: synthesis, structure and magnetic properties.

A series of three mononuclear pentagonal-bipyramidal V(iii) complexes with the equatorial pentadentate N3O2 ligand (2,6-diacethylpyridinebis(benzoylhydrazone), H2DAPBH) in the different charge states (H2DAPBH0, HDAPBH1-, DAPBH2-) and various apical ligands (Cl-, CH3OH, SCN-) were synthesized and characterized structurally and magnetically: [V(H2DAPBH)Cl2]Cl·C2H5OH (1), [V(HDAPBH)(NCS)2]·0.5CH3CN·0.5CH3OH (2) and [V(DAPBH)(CH3OH)2]Cl·CH3OH (3).

Dual Targeting of Cancer Cells with DARPin-Based Toxins for Overcoming Tumor Escape.

We report here a combined anti-cancer therapy directed toward HER2 and EpCAM, common tumor-associated antigens of breast cancer cells. The combined therapeutic effect is achieved owing to two highly toxic proteins-a low immunogenic variant of exotoxin A and ribonuclease Barnase from . The delivery of toxins to cancer cells was carried out by targeting designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins).

Bacterial Cellulose () Biocomposites and Their Cytocompatibility.

A series of novel polysaccharide-based biocomposites was obtained by impregnation of bacterial cellulose produced by (BC) with the solutions of negatively charged polysaccharides-hyaluronan (HA), sodium alginate (ALG), or κ-carrageenan (CAR)-and subsequently with positively charged chitosan (CS). The penetration of the polysaccharide solutions into the BC network and their interaction to form a polyelectrolyte complex changed the architecture of the BC network. The structure, morphology, and properties of the biocomposites depended on the type of impregnated anionic polysaccharides, and those polysaccharides in turn determined the nature of the interaction with CS.

Capturing the Conformational Ensemble of the Mixed Folded Polyglutamine Protein Ataxin-3.

Ataxin-3 is a deubiquitinase involved in protein quality control and other essential cellular functions. It preferentially interacts with polyubiquitin chains of four or more units attached to proteins delivered to the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Ataxin-3 is composed of an N-terminal Josephin domain and a flexible C terminus that contains two or three ubiquitin-interacting motifs (UIMs) and a polyglutamine tract, which, when expanded beyond a threshold, leads to protein aggregation and misfolding and causes spinocerebellar ataxia type 3.

Hydrophobic up-conversion carboxylated nanocellulose/fluoride phosphor composite films modified with alkyl ketene dimer.

Hydrophobic up-conversion nanocomposite films have been developed based on TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibrils (TOCNF) modified with alkyl ketene dimer (AKD) as a matrix and MF:Ho (M = Ca, Sr) as a phosphor. Fabrication of homogeneous, strong and translucent TOCNF/MF:Ho-AKD films with water contact angle of 123 ± 2° was accomplished with mild drying at 110 °C. These hydrophobic nanocomposite films demonstrated stable up-conversion luminescence in the visible spectral range upon excitation of the I level of Ho ions by laser irradiation at 1912 nm both under ambient conditions and in a humid atmosphere (92 ± 2% humidity).

Total Blood Exosomes in Breast Cancer: Potential Role in Crucial Steps of Tumorigenesis.

Exosomes are crucial players in cell-to-cell communication and are involved in tumorigenesis. There are two fractions of blood circulating exosomes: free and cell-surface-associated. Here, we compared the effect of total blood exosomes (contain plasma exosomes and blood cell-surface-associated exosomes) and plasma exosomes from breast cancer patients (BCPs, = 43) and healthy females (HFs, = 35) on crucial steps of tumor progression.

A new TlFeHf(MoO) ternary molybdate: crystal structure and properties.

Single crystals of TlFeHf(MoO) [a = b = 10.5550 (3), c = 37.7824 (9) Å, γ = 120°] are obtained by the self-flux method in the TlMoO-Fe(MoO)-Hf(MoO) system.

Chiral Symmetry Breaking in Large Peptide Systems.

Chiral symmetry breaking in far from equilibrium systems with large number of amino acids and peptides, like a prebiotic Earth, was considered. It was shown that if organic catalysts were abundant, then effective averaging of enantioselectivity would prohibit any symmetry breaking in such systems. It was further argued that non-linear (catalytic) reactions must be very scarce (called the abundance parameter) and catalysts should work on small groups of similar reactions (called the similarity parameter) in order to chiral symmetry breaking have a chance to occur.

Fabrication and evaluation of nanocontainers for lipophilic anticancer drug delivery in 3D in vitro model.

Presently, most of anticancer drugs are high toxic for normal cells and, and as a result, they have severe side effects. Moreover, most of the formulations are lipophilic and have poor selectivity. To overcome these limitations, various drug delivery systems could be proposed.

Polarization Switching in 2D Nanoscale Ferroelectrics: Computer Simulation and Experimental Data Analysis.

The polarization switching kinetics of nanosized ferroelectric crystals and the transition between homogeneous and domain switching in nanoscale ferroelectric films are considered. Homogeneous switching according to the Ginzburg-Landau-Devonshire (LGD) theory is possible only in two-dimensional (2D) ferroelectrics. The main condition for the applicability of the LGD theory in such systems is its homogeneity along the polarization switching direction.

Proteomic Approach for Searching for Universal, Tissue-Specific, and Line-Specific Markers of Extracellular Vesicles in Lung and Colorectal Adenocarcinoma Cell Lines.

Tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes, contain proteins that mirror the molecular landscape of producer cells. Being potentially detectible in biological fluids, EVs are of great interest for the screening of cancer biomarkers. To reveal universal, tissue-specific, and line-specific markers, we performed label-free mass spectrometric profiling of EVs originating from the human colon cancer cell lines Caco-2, HT29, and HCT-116, as well as from the lung cancer cell lines NCI-H23 and A549.

Metasurfaces with Maximum Chirality Empowered by Bound States in the Continuum.

We demonstrate that rotationally symmetric chiral metasurfaces can support sharp resonances with the maximum optical chirality determined by precise shaping of bound states in the continuum (BICs). Being uncoupled from one circular polarization of light and resonantly coupled to its counterpart, a metasurface hosting the chiral BIC resonance exhibits a narrow peak in the circular dichroism spectrum with the quality factor limited by weak dissipation losses. We propose a realization of such chiral BIC metasurfaces based on pairs of dielectric bars and validate the concept of maximum chirality by numerical simulations.

Synthesis, structure and properties of layered PrMoO-based oxymolybdates doped with Mg.

Undoped and Mg-doped PrMoO oxymolybdate polycrystals and single crystals have been prepared by solid-state reactions and flux growth. The compounds have been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, energy-dispersive spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, scanning transmission electron microscopy, single crystal X-ray structure analysis, differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetry. The (MgO)(PrO)(MoO) (x + y + z = 1) solid solution series has been shown to extend to x = 0.

Tennantite: multi-temperature crystal structure, phase transition and electronic structure of synthetic CuAsS.

The structure of synthetic tennantite CuAsS was investigated at various temperatures in the 90-293 K range. It crystallizes in space group I{\overline 4}3m. No structural transformation was observed in this temperature range.

Highly luminescent crystals of a novel linear π-conjugated thiophene-phenylene co-oligomer with a benzothiadiazole fragment.

The synthesis, growth from solutions and structure of crystals of a new linear thiophene-phenylene co-oligomer with a central benzothiadiazole fragment with a conjugated core, (TMS-2T-Ph)-BTD, are presented. Single-crystal samples in the form of needles with a length of up to 7 mm were grown and their crystal structure was determined at 85 K and 293 K using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The conformational differences between the crystal structures are insignificant.

Crystal structure and structural phase transition in bismuth-containing HoFe(BO) in the temperature range 11-500 K.

An accurate single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of bismuth-containing HoFe(BO) between 11 and 500 K has revealed structural phase transition at T = 365 K. The Bi atoms enter the composition from BiMoO-based flux during crystal growth and significantly affect T. The content of Bi was estimated by two independent methods, establishing the composition as (HoBi)Fe(BO).

Efficient screening of ligand-receptor complex formation using fluorescence labeling and size-exclusion chromatography.

Evidence of a complex formation is a crucial step in the structural studies of ligand-receptor interactions. Here we presented a simple and fast approach for qualitative screening of the complex formation between the chimeric extracellular domain of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7-ECD) and three-finger proteins. Complex formation of snake toxins α-Bgtx and WTX, as well as of recombinant analogs of human proteins Lynx1 and SLURP-1, with α7-ECD was confirmed using fluorescently labeled ligands and size-exclusion chromatography with simultaneous absorbance and fluorescence detection.

Pressure Induced Spin Crossover and Magnetic Properties of Multiferroic BaNbFeSiO.

Recently, the iron containing langasite-type crystal BaNbFeSiO has attracted great attention as a new magnetically induced multiferroic. In this work, magnetic, structural and electronic properties of the multiferroic BaNbFeSiO were investigated by several methods, including synchrotron X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and synchrotron Mössbauer source technique at high quasi-hydrostatic pressures (up to 70 GPa), created in diamond anvil cells. At room temperature, two structural transitions at pressures of about 3.