Spatially resolved simulation of a radio frequency driven micro atmospheric pressure plasma jet and its effluent

Radio frequency driven plasma jets are frequently employed as efficient plasma sources for surface modification and other processes at atmospheric pressure. The radio-frequency driven micro atmospheric pressure plasma jet ($\mu$APPJ) is a particular variant of that concept whose geometry allows direct optical access. In this work, the characteristics of the $\mu$APPJ operated with a helium-oxygen mixture and its interaction with a helium environment are studied by numerical simulation. The density and temperature of the electrons, as well as the concentration of all reactive species are studied both in the jet itself and in its effluent. It is found that the effluent is essentially free of charge carriers but contains a substantial amount of activated oxygen (O, O$_3$ and O$_2(^1\Delta)$). The simulation results are verified by comparison with experimental data

Ionization by bulk heating of electrons in capacitive radio frequency atmospheric pressure microplasmas

Electron heating and ionization dynamics in capacitively coupled radio frequency (RF) atmospheric pressure microplasmas operated in helium are investigated by Particle in Cell simulations and semi-analytical modeling. A strong heating of electrons and ionization in the plasma bulk due to high bulk electric fields are observed at distinct times within the RF period. Based on the model the electric field is identified to be a drift field caused by a low electrical conductivity due to the high electron-neutral collision frequency at atmospheric pressure. Thus, the ionization is mainly caused by ohmic heating in this "Omega-mode". The phase of strongest bulk electric field and ionization is affected by the driving voltage amplitude. At high amplitudes, the plasma density is high, so that the sheath impedance is comparable to the bulk resistance. Thus, voltage and current are about 45{\deg} out of phase and maximum ionization is observed during sheath expansion with local maxima at the sheath edges. At low driving voltages, the plasma density is low and the discharge becomes more resistive resulting in a smaller phase shift of about 4{\deg}. Thus, maximum ionization occurs later within the RF period with a maximum in the discharge center. Significant analogies to electronegative low pressure macroscopic discharges operated in the Drift-Ambipolar mode are found, where similar mechanisms induced by a high electronegativity instead of a high collision frequency have been identified

Efflux in Acinetobacter baumannii can be determined by measuring accumulation of H33342 (bis-benzamide)

10.1093/jac/dkt052Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy6871594-160

On inconsistency of experimental data on primary nuclei spectra with sea level muon intensity measurements

For the first time a complete set of the most recent direct data on primary cosmic ray spectra is used as input into calculations of muon flux at sea level in wide energy range $E_\mu=1-3\cdot10^5$ GeV. Computations have been performed with the CORSIKA/QGSJET and CORSIKA/VENUS codes. The comparison of the obtained muon intensity with the data of muon experiments shows, that measurements of primary nuclei spectra conform to sea level muon data only up to several tens of GeV and result in essential deficit of muons at higher energies. As it follows from our examination, uncertainties in muon flux measurements and in the description of nuclear cascades development are not suitable to explain this contradiction, and the only remaining factor, leading to this situation, is underestimation of primary light nuclei fluxes. We have considered systematic effects, that may distort the results of the primary cosmic ray measurements with the application of the emulsion chambers. We suggest, that re-examination of these measurements is required with the employment of different hadronic interaction models. Also, in our point of view, it is necessary to perform estimates of possible influence of the fact, that sizable fraction of events, identified as protons, actually are antiprotons. Study of these cosmic ray component begins to attract much attention, but today nothing definite is known for the energies $>40$ GeV. In any case, to realize whether the mentioned, or some other reasons are the sources of disagreement of the data on primaries with the data on muons, the indicated effects should be thoroughly analyzed

Multicenter Evaluation of Independent High-Throughput and RT-qPCR Technologies for the Development of Analytical Workflows for Circulating miRNA Analysis.

BACKGROUND:Among emerging circulating biomarkers, miRNA has the potential to detect lung cancer and follow the course of the disease. However, miRNA analysis deserves further standardization before implementation into clinical trials or practice. Here, we performed international ring experiments to explore (pre)-analytical factors relevant to the outcome of miRNA blood tests in the context of the EU network CANCER-ID. METHODS:Cell-free (cfmiRNA) and extracellular vesicle-derived miRNA (EVmiRNA) were extracted using the miRNeasy Serum/Plasma Advanced, and the ExoRNeasy Maxi kit, respectively, in a plasma cohort of 27 NSCLC patients and 20 healthy individuals. Extracted miRNA was investigated using small RNA sequencing and hybridization platforms. Validation of the identified miRNA candidates was performed using quantitative PCR. RESULTS:We demonstrate the highest read counts in healthy individuals and NSCLC patients using QIAseq. Moreover, QIAseq showed 15.9% and 162.9% more cfmiRNA and EVmiRNA miRNA counts, respectively, in NSCLC patients compared to healthy control samples. However, a systematic comparison of selected miRNAs revealed little agreement between high-throughput platforms, thus some miRNAs are detected with one technology, but not with the other. Adding to this, 35% (9 of 26) of selected miRNAs in the cfmiRNA and 42% (11 of 26) in the EVmiRNA fraction were differentially expressed by at least one qPCR platform; about half of the miRNAs (54%) were concordant for both platforms. CONCLUSIONS:Changing of (pre)-analytical methods of miRNA analysis has a significant impact on blood test results and is therefore a major confounding factor. In addition, to confirm miRNA biomarker candidates screening studies should be followed by targeted validation using an independent platform or technology

Течение и исходы острого коронарного синдрома в условиях новой коронавирусной инфекции COVID-19

Abstract We analyzed the clinical condition of patients with COVID-19 of varying severity, changes in instrumental and laboratory parameters, and assessed the impact of the severity of the course of a new coronavirus infection on the outcomes of acute coronary syndrome.AIM OF STUDY To study the mutual influence of acute coronary syndrome and the new coronavirus infection COVID-19 on the nature of the course and outcomes of the disease.Materia l and methods In March 21, 2020 – May 31, 2021, 3 625 patients were treated for COVID-19, including 131 patients with acute coronary syndrome due to COVID-19 disease. All patients underwent a number of studies: computed tomography of the chest, electrocardiography, echocardiography, monitoring of biomarkers of myocardial damage, diagnostic coronary angiography and, if necessary, intracoronary therapeutic intervention.Results Data on the distribution of patients with COVID-19 according to the presence or absence of ST segment elevation on the electrocardiogram and the degree of lung tissue damage, as well as information on mortality in these groups, are presented. The role of troponin I in the assessment of myocardial ischemia was analyzed. The direct dependence of its level on the volume of lung damage was found. The inverse relationship was shown between the degree of damage to the lung tissue and the indices of oxygen saturation in the blood. A poor prognostic value of low left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with COVID-19 disease has been described.Conclusions The development of acute coronary syndrome in the course of COVID-19 significantly worsens the prognosis of the disease, which requires the development of algorithms for providing medical care to patients in this category, as well as maximum vigilance in their treatment.ЦЕЛЬ ИССЛЕДОВАНИЯ Изучить взаимное влияние ОКС и НКИ COVID-19 на характер течения и исходы заболевания.МАТЕРИАЛ И МЕТОДЫ В ГБУЗ «НИИ СП им. Н.В. Склифосовского ДЗМ» с 21 марта 2020 по 31 мая 2021 года по поводу COVID-19 находились на лечении 3625 пациентов. В том числе по поводу ОКС на фоне заболевания COVID-19 госпитализирован 131 пациент. Всем больным был проведен ряд исследований: компьютерная томография органов грудной клетки, электрокардиография, эхокардиография, контроль биомаркеров повреждения миокарда, диагностическая коронароангиография и, при необходимости, интракоронарное лечебное вмешательство.РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ Представлены данные о распределении больных COVID-19 по признаку наличия или отсутствия элевации сегмента ST на электрокардиограмме и степени поражения легочной ткани, а также сведения о летальности в данных группах. Проанализирована роль биомаркера тропонин I в оценке ишемии миокарда. Обнаружена прямая зависимость его уровня от объема повреждения легких. Показана обратная зависимость между степенью поражения легочной ткани и показателями сатурации кислорода в крови. Описано неблагоприятное прогностическое значение низкой фракции выброса левого желудочка у пациентов с заболеванием COVID-19.ЗАКЛЮЧЕНИЕ Развитие острого коронарного синдрома на фоне COVID-19 значительно ухудшает прогноз заболевания, что требует разработки алгоритмов оказания медицинской помощи больным этой категории, а также максимальной настороженности при их лечении

The Chemokine CXCL12 Is Essential for the Clearance of the Filaria Litomosoides sigmodontis in Resistant Mice

Litomosoides sigmodontis is a cause of filarial infection in rodents. Once infective larvae overcome the skin barrier, they enter the lymphatic system and then settle in the pleural cavity, causing soft tissue infection. The outcome of infection depends on the parasite's modulatory ability and also on the immune response of the infected host, which is influenced by its genetic background. The goal of this study was to determine whether host factors such as the chemokine axis CXCL12/CXCR4, which notably participates in the control of immune surveillance, can influence the outcome of the infection. We therefore set up comparative analyses of subcutaneous infection by L. sigmodontis in two inbred mouse strains with different outcomes: one susceptible strain (BALB/c) and one resistant strain (C57BL/6). We showed that rapid parasite clearance was associated with a L. sigmodontis-specific CXCL12-dependent cell response in C57BL/6 mice. CXCL12 was produced mainly by pleural mesothelial cells during infection. Conversely, the delayed parasite clearance in BALB/c mice was neither associated with an increase in CXCL12 levels nor with cell influx into the pleural cavity. Remarkably, interfering with the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in both strains of mice delayed filarial development, as evidenced by the postponement of the fourth molting process. Furthermore, the in vitro growth of stage 4 filariae was favored by the addition of low amounts of CXCL12. The CXCL12/CXCR4 axis thus appears to have a dual effect on the L. sigmodontis life cycle: by acting as a host-cell restriction factor for infection, and as a growth factor for worms

Comparative genomics of the major parasitic worms

Parasitic nematodes (roundworms) and platyhelminths (flatworms) cause debilitating chronic infections of humans and animals, decimate crop production and are a major impediment to socioeconomic development. Here we report a broad comparative study of 81 genomes of parasitic and non-parasitic worms. We have identified gene family births and hundreds of expanded gene families at key nodes in the phylogeny that are relevant to parasitism. Examples include gene families that modulate host immune responses, enable parasite migration though host tissues or allow the parasite to feed. We reveal extensive lineage-specific differences in core metabolism and protein families historically targeted for drug development. From an in silico screen, we have identified and prioritized new potential drug targets and compounds for testing. This comparative genomics resource provides a much-needed boost for the research community to understand and combat parasitic worms