Discriminability of tryptophan containing dipeptides using quantum control

We show that the coherent manipulation of molecular wavepackets in the excited states of trp-containing dipeptides allows efficient discrimination among them. Optimal dynamic discrimination fails, however, for some dipeptide couples. When considering the limited spectral resources at play (3nm bandwidth at 266nm), we discuss the concept of discriminability, which appears uncorrelated to both static spectra and relaxation lifetime

Analyzing the Influence of Diatomite and Mineral Fertilizers on the Features of Cadmium-Contaminated Urban Lawns

Contamination with heavy metals is among key anthropogenic pressures, experienced by urban lawns. It results in depletion of their environmental quality and functions. Implementation of fertilizers, containing silicon, is a promising approach to increase urban lawns’ sustainability to heavy metals’ pollution. Based on the field experiment, an influence of cadmium contamination on the chemical features and biomass quality of modeled urban green lawn ecosystems was studied. We demonstrated an increase of cadmium consumption by biomass on the second year of observations as the result of diatomite implementation together with mineral fertilizers. Both total sugar and disaccharides’ content in biomass was 15-20% higher for the contaminated plots where diatomite was implemented together with mineral fertilizers, compared to the uncontaminated control. This evidences a positive effect of the implemented reclaiming on stress tolerance of the green lawns

Structural study of the type II 3-dehydroquinate dehydratase from Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae

9 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables.The structure of the type II dehydroquinate dehydratase (DHQase) from Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, the third enzyme of the shikimate pathway, has been determined. Crystals diffracting to 1.7 Å were obtained in space and on earth using the counter-diffusion technique. The structure was solved using molecular replacement and refined to high resolution. The overall structure of the dodecameric enzyme is described and compared with structures of DHQases from other bacteria. DHQases contain a flexible loop that presumably closes over the active site upon substrate binding. The enzyme can exist in an open or closed conformation. The present structure displays the open conformation, with a sulfate anion bound in the active site. The availability of this structure opens a route to structure-based antibiotics targetting this pathogenic bacterium.We thank Professor Kabsch for providing XDS free of charge. We acknowledge the support of the European Space Agency and the European Community Action to Research Infrastructure Action of the Improving Human Potential Programme to the EMBL Hamburg Outstation, contract No. HPRI-CT-1999-00017. We thank Olivier Minster (ESA) for his support of space science. The authors acknowledge the excellent work of Dr Eva ManÄ as in managing the logistics concerning the space mission. We thank Viscount Dirk Frimout for his support for space crystallization experiments.Peer reviewe

Results of Epizootiological Monitoring of Small Mammals Habitant in Crimea Over the Period of 2015–2017

Objective of this work is to analyze the spatial distribution of various species of small mammals, caught between 2015 and 2017, and to identify the dominant species in different landscape areas, as well as their role in functioning of natural foci of zoonotic infections (tularemia, leptospirosis, tick-borne encephalitis, Lyme disease, Crimean hemorrhagic fever, hantavirus infection) in the territory of Crimea. Materials and methods. Small mammals were caught during the period of 2015–2017 and investigated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) and direct hemagglutination reaction. Results and conclusions. The dominant species of small mammals, containing the causative agents of some or other natural-focal infection are ubiquitous species, i.e. disseminated across the territory of the whole peninsula. In the presence of concomitant favorable conditions, they may contribute to the expansion of the natural foci of these infections. Positive tests for Lyme disease detected not only in small mammals caught in mountain-forest areas, but in steppe zone too may testify to the fact that the border of the natural focus of this infection is expanded. To clarify the boundaries of the natural foci of infections circulating in the territory of Crimea, it is necessary to conduct comprehensive analysis of distribution of small mammals, blood-sucking ectoparasites, and also epidemic manifestations in different natural areas of Crimea

Acute mitral chodae rupture in the early postcovid in heavy physical active men. Case series

The opinion that COVID-19 is a greater threat only to the elderly people has changed over the past year. Experience has been accumulated in the development of complications of varying severity in young patients who had optimal health indicators before infection. The consequences of myocarditis are most dangerous, especially in athletes and military personnel. We present a series of clinical cases of spontaneous mitral valve chordae rupture in highly trained middle-aged men in the early post-COVID period. In all cases, the infection proceeded subclinically; SARS-CoV-2 was verified only by analysis for IgM. 1–2 weeks after infection, against the background of a routine training process, patients felt pain in the heart area, which was underestimated. Patients presented for help at 2 and 10 weeks with complaints of reduced endurance and shortness of breath. Echocardiography revealed rupture of one of the chords of the anterior part of the mitral valve against the background of signs of myocarditis with the development of valvular insufficiency of the 1st degree. By the time of treatment, the pathology of other laboratory data and ECG was not observed. The control after 6 months showed in 1 patient a focus of myocardial fibrosis according to MRI, a minimal increase in NT-proBNP, a decrease in exercise tolerance, in 2 patients there was no visible fibrosis, normal NT-proBNP and complete restoration of exercise tolerance, but a decrease in local myocardial deformation according to echocardiography

Raman signal from a hindered hydrogen rotor

We present a method for calculation of Raman modes of the quantum solid phase I hydrogen and deuterium. We use the mean-field assumption that the quantized excitations are localized on one molecule. This is done by explicit solution of the time-dependent Schroedinger equation in an angle-dependent potential, and direct calculation of the polarization. We show that in the free rotor limit, the H₂ and D₂ frequencies differ by a factor of 2, which evolves toward √2 as the modes acquire librational character due to stronger interactions. The ratio overshoots √2 if anharmonic terms weaken the harmonic potential. We also use density functional theory and molecular dynamics to calculate the E_(2g) optical phonon frequency and the Raman linewidths. The molecular dynamics shows that the molecules are not free rotors except at very low pressure and high temperature, and become like oscillators as phase II is approached. We fit the interaction strengths to experimental frequencies, but good agreement for intensities requires us to also include strong preferred orientation and stimulated Raman effects between S₀ (1) and S₀ (0) contributions. The experimental Raman spectrum for phase II cannot be reproduced, suggesting that the mean-field assumption is invalid in that case

Interaction of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4G with the nuclear cap-binding complex provides a link between nuclear and cytoplasmic functions of the m7 guanosine cap

In eukaryotes the majority of mRNAs have an m7G cap that is added cotranscriptionally and that plays an important role in many aspects of mRNA metabolism. The nuclear cap-binding complex (CBC; consisting of CBP20 and CBP80) mediates the stimulatory functions of the cap in pre-mRNA splicing, 3' end formation, and U snRNA export. As little is known about how nuclear CBC mediates the effects of the cap in higher eukaryotes, we have characterized proteins that interact with CBC in HeLa cell nuclear extracts as potential mediators of its function. Using cross-linking and coimmunoprecipitation, we show that eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4G (eIF4G), in addition to its function in the cytoplasm, is a nuclear CBC-interacting protein. We demonstrate that eIF4G interacts with CBC in vitro and that, in addition to its cytoplasmic localization, there is a significant nuclear pool of eIF4G in mammalian cells in vivo. Immunoprecipitation experiments suggest that, in contrast to the cytoplasmic pool, much of the nuclear eIF4G is not associated with eIF4E (translation cap binding protein of eIF4F) but is associated with CBC. While eIF4G stably associates with spliceosomes in vitro and shows close association with spliceosomal snRNPs and splicing factors in vivo, depletion studies show that it does not participate directly in the splicing reaction. Taken together the data indicate that nuclear eIF4G may be recruited to pre-mRNAs via its interaction with CBC and accompanies the mRNA to the cytoplasm, facilitating the switching of CBC for eIF4F. This may provide a mechanism to couple nuclear and cytoplasmic functions of the mRNA cap structure

Increasing the Analytical Sensitivity by Oligonucleotides Modified with Para- and Ortho-Twisted Intercalating Nucleic Acids – TINA

The sensitivity and specificity of clinical diagnostic assays using DNA hybridization techniques are limited by the dissociation of double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antiparallel duplex helices. This situation can be improved by addition of DNA stabilizing molecules such as nucleic acid intercalators. Here, we report the synthesis of a novel ortho-Twisted Intercalating Nucleic Acid (TINA) amidite utilizing the phosphoramidite approach, and examine the stabilizing effect of ortho- and para-TINA molecules in antiparallel DNA duplex formation. In a thermal stability assay, ortho- and para-TINA molecules increased the melting point (Tm) of Watson-Crick based antiparallel DNA duplexes. The increase in Tm was greatest when the intercalators were placed at the 5′ and 3′ termini (preferable) or, if placed internally, for each half or whole helix turn. Terminally positioned TINA molecules improved analytical sensitivity in a DNA hybridization capture assay targeting the Escherichia coli rrs gene. The corresponding sequence from the Pseudomonas aeruginosa rrs gene was used as cross-reactivity control. At 150 mM ionic strength, analytical sensitivity was improved 27-fold by addition of ortho-TINA molecules and 7-fold by addition of para-TINA molecules (versus the unmodified DNA oligonucleotide), with a 4-fold increase retained at 1 M ionic strength. Both intercalators sustained the discrimination of mismatches in the dsDNA (indicated by ΔTm), unless placed directly adjacent to the mismatch – in which case they partly concealed ΔTm (most pronounced for para-TINA molecules). We anticipate that the presented rules for placement of TINA molecules will be broadly applicable in hybridization capture assays and target amplification systems

Management of personnel motivation

The article examines the involvement of doctors and students of the medical university in the work process by means of a questionnaire.В статье рассматривается вовлеченность врачей и студентов медицинского университета в рабочий процесс с помощью анкетирования

Самонастраивающаяся система автоматического управления посевным агрегатом

The selfadjusting automatic control of sowing unit and differentiated introduction of mineral fertilizers doses according to agrochemical indicators of the soil (precision agriculture) are used wider nowadays. It was defined that the main requirement to the differentiated seeding and fertilizing is an accuracy and duration of transition from one norm to another. Established that at a speed of unit of 10 km/h object moves for 0.5 s about on 1.5 m and more. Thus in this device the radio channel originated differentiated correction is updated in 10 s, and in the RTK mode - 0.5-2 s that breaks the accuracy of introduction of seeds and fertilizers. The block schematic diagram of system of automatic control of technological process of seeding and mineral fertilizing with use of navigation means of machine-tractor aggregates orientation in the field and technical means for realization of technology of precision agriculture at sowing and fertilizers application due to electronic maps of soil fertility and navigation satellite systems was worked out. It was noted that for regulation of a fertilizing dose it is necessary to complete the unit with the electric drive, and for error reduction use navigation GLONASS, GPS, Galileo receivers. To tracking of four leading navigation systems GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/Compass receiver with 32 canals developed by domestic-owned firm «KB NAVIS» was suggested. It was established that the automated device created by All-Russia Research Institute of Mechanization for Agriculture information based on NAVSTAR and GLONASS/GPS system successfully operates seeding and make possible the differentiate fertilizing.В настоящее время большое развитие получает применение автоматизации управления посевным агрегатом и дифференцированным внесением доз минеральных удобрений в соответствии с агрохимическими показателями почвы (точное земледелие). Определили, что главное требование к дифференцированным высеву семян и внесению минеральных удобрений - это точность и продолжительность перехода с одной нормы на другую. Установили, что при скорости агрегата 10 км/ч объект перемещается за 0,5 с на 1,5 м и более. При этом в выпускаемом устройстве дифференцированная поправка, поступающая по радиоканалу, обновляется через 10 с, а в режиме RTK - через 0,5-2 с, что нарушает точность внесения семян и удобрений. Разработали структурную схему системы автоматического регулирования технологического процесса высева семян и внесения минеральных удобрений с использованием навигационных средств ориентации МТА на поле и технические средства для реализации технологии точного земледелия при посеве и внесении удобрений с помощью электронных карт плодородия земель и спутниковых навигационных систем. Отметили, что для регулирования дозы внесения удобрений необходимо укомплектовать агрегат электроприводом, а для уменьшения погрешности - использовать навигационные приемники ГЛОНАСС, GPS, Galileo. Предложили для слежения четырех ведущих навигационных систем применять разработанный отечественной фирмой «КБ НАВИС» приемник GPS/ГЛОНАСС/Galileo/Compass на 32 канала. Установили, что созданное ВИМ информационное автоматизированное устройство на базе NAVSTAR и системы ГЛОНАСС/GPS успешно управляет посевом и позволяет вносить удобрения дифференцированн