A Methodological Analysis of Complex Dynamics of Grain Prices

A model of the wheat secondary market pricing mechanism is developed in the paper. The study is based on the data of agricultural relative stability in the period of 2000–2006. An adaptive model is constructed by combining several standard time-series ones. It allows assessing the pricing situation in the future by taking into account both seasonal fluctuations and specifics of the current year.wheat market; seasonal fluctuations

NCAM induces CaMKIIα-mediated RPTPα phosphorylation to enhance its catalytic activity and neurite outgrowth

Receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase α (RPTPα) phosphatase activity is required for intracellular signaling cascades that are activated in motile cells and growing neurites. Little is known, however, about mechanisms that coordinate RPTPα activity with cell behavior. We show that clustering of neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) at the cell surface is coupled to an increase in serine phosphorylation and phosphatase activity of RPTPα. NCAM associates with T- and L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels, and NCAM clustering at the cell surface results in Ca2+ influx via these channels and activation of NCAM-associated calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IIα (CaMKIIα). Clustering of NCAM promotes its redistribution to lipid rafts and the formation of a NCAM–RPTPα–CaMKIIα complex, resulting in serine phosphorylation of RPTPα by CaMKIIα. Overexpression of RPTPα with mutated Ser180 and Ser204 interferes with NCAM-induced neurite outgrowth, which indicates that neurite extension depends on NCAM-induced up-regulation of RPTPα activity. Thus, we reveal a novel function for a cell adhesion molecule in coordination of cell behavior with intracellular phosphatase activity

The Transformation of Di- and Tri-chloromethane Induced By Low Voltage Discharge

This article is focused on the transformation of di- and trichloromethane by induced low-voltage discharges in the liquid phase. To generate discharges, a direct current source is used (capacitance 2200 μF, voltage 60 V). The products and probable intermediates of the CH2Cl2 and CHCl3 transformation were determined by the methods of thermodynamic modeling, FTIR spectroscopy and electron microscopy. Under the action of low-voltage discharges on the liquid substrates, needle fullerene- like structures are formed. In this case the gas phase consists mainly of hydrogen chloride. From the simulation of the nonequilibrium composition of particles and molecular systems it follows that in the course of induced reactions of CH2Cl2 and CHCl3 and geminal elimination of HCl molecules, predominantly carbene-type intermediates are generated. Keywords: dichloromethane, trichloromethane, low temperature plasma, discharges in the liquid phas

Synthesis of Decorated Carbon Structures with Encapsulated Components by Low-Voltage Electric Discharge Treatment

Abstract: Polycondensation of complexes of chloromethanes with triphenylphosphine by the action of low-voltage electric discharges in the liquid phase gives nanosized solid products. The elemental composition involving the generation of element distribution maps (scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersive X‑ray spectroscopy mapping) and the component composition (by direct evolved gas analysis–mass spectrometry) of the solid products have been studied. The elemental and component compositions of the result-ing structures vary widely depending on the chlorine content in the substrate and on the amount of triphenylphosphine taken. Thermal desorption analysis revealed abnormal behavior of HCl and benzene present in the solid products. In thermal desorption spectra, these components appear at an uncharacteristically high temperature. The observed anomaly in the behavior of HCl is due to HCl binding into a complex of the solid anion HCI-2 with triphenyl(chloromethyl)phosphonium chloride, which requires a relatively high temperature (up to 800 K) to decompose. The abnormal behavior of benzene is associated with its encapsulated state in nanostructures. The appearance of benzene begins at 650 K and continues up to temperatures above 1300 K. © 2022, The Author(s).The work was carried out with the equipment of the "Modern Nanotechnologies" Ural Shared-Use Center at the Ural Federal University. The study was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, project no. 18-29-24008

The N Terminus of the Prion Protein Mediates Functional Interactions with the Neuronal Cell Adhesion Molecule (NCAM) Fibronectin Domain

The cellular form of the prion protein (PrPC) is a highly conserved glycoprotein mostly expressed in the central and peripheral nervous systems by different cell types in mammals. A misfolded, pathogenic isoform, denoted as prion, is related to a class of neurodegenerative diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathy. PrPC function has not been unequivocally clarified, and it is rather defined as a pleiotropic protein likely acting as a dynamic cell surface scaffolding protein for the assembly of different signaling modules. Among the variety of PrPC protein interactors, the neuronal cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) has been studied in vivo, but the structural basis of this functional interaction is still a matter of debate. Here we focused on the structural determinants responsible for human PrPC (HuPrP) and NCAM interaction using stimulated emission depletion (STED) nanoscopy, SPR, and NMR spectroscopy approaches. PrPC co-localizes with NCAM in mouse hippocampal neurons, and this interaction is mainly mediated by the intrinsically disordered PrPC N-terminal tail, which binds with high affinity to the NCAM fibronectin type-3 domain. NMR structural investigations revealed surface-interacting epitopes governing the interaction between HuPrP N terminus and the second module of the NCAM fibronectin type-3 domain. Our data provided molecular details about the interaction between HuPrP and the NCAM fibronectin domain, and revealed a new role of PrPC N terminus as a dynamic and functional element responsible for protein-protein interaction

Wnt secretion and gradient formation.

Concentration gradients formed by the lipid-modified morphogens of the Wnt family are known for their pivotal roles during embryogenesis and adult tissue homeostasis. Wnt morphogens are also implicated in a variety of human diseases, especially cancer. Therefore, the signaling cascades triggered by Wnts have received considerable attention during recent decades. However, how Wnts are secreted and how concentration gradients are formed remains poorly understood. The use of model organisms such as Drosophila melanogaster has provided important advances in this area. For instance, we have previously shown that the lipid raft-associated reggie/flotillin proteins influence Wnt secretion and spreading in Drosophila. Our work supports the notion that producing cells secrete Wnt molecules in at least two pools: a poorly diffusible one and a reggie/flotillin-dependent highly diffusible pool which allows morphogen spreading over long distances away from its source of production. Here we revise the current views of Wnt secretion and spreading, and propose two models for the role of the reggie/flotillin proteins in these processes: (i) reggies/flotillins regulate the basolateral endocytosis of the poorly diffusible, membrane-bound Wnt pool, which is then sorted and secreted to apical compartments for long-range diffusion, and (ii) lipid rafts organized by reggies/flotillins serve as "dating points" where extracellular Wnt transiently interacts with lipoprotein receptors to allow its capture and further spreading via lipoprotein particles. We further discuss these processes in the context of human breast cancer. A better understanding of these phenomena may be relevant for identification of novel drug targets and therapeutic strategies

EFA6 regulates selective polarised transport and axon regeneration from the axon initial segment

Central nervous system (CNS) axons lose their intrinsic ability to regenerate with maturity, whilst peripheral (PNS) axons do not. A key difference between these neuronal types is their ability to transport integrins into axons. Integrins can mediate PNS regeneration, but are excluded from adult CNS axons along with their rab11 carriers. We reasoned that exclusion of the contents of rab11 vesicles including integrins might contribute to the intrinsic inability of CNS neurons to regenerate, and investigated this using laser axotomy. We identify a novel regulator of selective axon transport and regeneration, the ARF6 GEF EFA6. EFA6 exerts its effects from a location within the axon initial segment (AIS). EFA6 does not localise here in DRG axons, and in these neurons, ARF activation is counteracted by an ARF-GAP which is absent from the CNS, ACAP1. Depleting EFA6 from cortical neurons permits endosomal integrin transport and enhances regeneration, whilst overexpressing EFA6 prevents DRG regeneration. Our results demonstrate that ARF6 is an intrinsic regulator of regenerative capacity, implicating EFA6 as a focal molecule linking the axon initial segment, signalling and transport