The mass of the black hole in the X-ray binary LMC X-1

© 2016, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.A dynamical estimate of the mass of the black hole in the LMC X-1 binary system is obtained in the framework of a Roche model for the optical star, based on fitting of the He I 4471 Å and He II 4200 Å absorption lines assuming LTE. The mass of the black hole derived from the radial-velocity curve for the He II 4200 Å line is mx = 10.55 M⊙, close to the value found earlier based on a model with two point bodies [1]

Femtosecond primary charge separation in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 photosystem I

AbstractThe ultrafast (<100fs) conversion of delocalized exciton into charge-separated state between the primary donor P700 (bleaching at 705nm) and the primary acceptor A0 (bleaching at 690nm) in photosystem I (PS I) complexes from Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 was observed. The data were obtained by application of pump–probe technique with 20-fs low-energy pump pulses centered at 720nm. The earliest absorbance changes (close to zero delay) with a bleaching at 690nm are similar to the product of the absorption spectrum of PS I complex and the laser pulse spectrum, which represents the efficiency spectrum of the light absorption by PS I upon femtosecond excitation centered at 720nm. During the first ∼60fs the energy transfer from the chlorophyll (Chl) species bleaching at 690nm to the Chl bleaching at 705nm occurs, resulting in almost equal bleaching of the two forms with the formation of delocalized exciton between 690-nm and 705-nm Chls. Within the next ∼40fs the formation of a new broad band centered at ∼660nm (attributed to the appearance of Chl anion radical) is observed. This band decays with time constant simultaneously with an electron transfer to A1 (phylloquinone). The subtraction of kinetic difference absorption spectra of the closed (state P700+A0A1) PS I reaction center (RC) from that of the open (state P700A0A1) RC reveals the pure spectrum of the P700+A0− ion–radical pair. The experimental data were analyzed using a simple kinetic scheme: An* →k1 [(PA0)*A1→<100fs P+A0−A1] →k2P+A0A1−, and a global fitting procedure based on the singular value decomposition analysis. The calculated kinetics of transitions between intermediate states and their spectra were similar to the kinetics recorded at 694 and 705nm and the experimental spectra obtained by subtraction of the spectra of closed RCs from the spectra of open RCs. As a result, we found that the main events in RCs of PS I under our experimental conditions include very fast (<100fs) charge separation with the formation of the P700+A0−A1 state in approximately one half of the RCs, the ∼5-ps energy transfer from antenna Chl* to P700A0A1 in the remaining RCs, and ∼25-ps formation of the secondary radical pair P700+A0A1−

Characteristics of intestinal microbiota of infants according to data of sequencing of the 16s RRNA gene

The article presents the results of a single study the intestinal microbiota of healthy infants. Study was performed 11 fecal samples, followed by targeted sequencing the amplified sites on the 16S rRNA gene Miseq platform (Illumina, USA), according to standard protocols. Total 600 unique OTU (operation taxonomic units), grouped into 7 bacterial phyla (Phylum) have been identified. Each sample had an average of 190±80 OTU at the species level. Established predominance of gram-positive anaerobic bacteria (71±23%). Quantitative phylum distribution was as follows: phylum Firmicutes – 43±15% (represented by Clostridium spp., Blautia spp., Lactobacillus spp., Enterococcus spp. and Veillonella spp.), The phylum Actinobacteria – 38±10% (of which more than 90% the OTU were represented Bifidobacterium spp.) and the phylum Proteobacteria – 15±8% (represented by the family Enterobacteriaceae). Representatives of phylum Bacteroidetes been identified (7–15%) in only three of eleven samples. All samples characterized by low species diversity, Shannon index and criterion α-diversity were in the range of 1,5–4,2, and 3–20, respectively. Children who are breastfed, observed a higher number of representatives of Proteobacteria, compared with children on artificial feeding. Noted the influence of adverse factors of pregnancy mothers (antibiotics, respiratory infection) on the composition of the intestinal microbiota of children, which reflected in the dominance of Klebsiella pneumoniae in one case, and the dominance of Enterococcus durans otherwise

NOVEL AMPHIPHILIC CHOLESTEROL-CONTAINING NANOCARRIERS FOR CREATION OF DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS

In the present research a synthesis and investigation of novel promising nanocarriers based on amphiphilic copolymers with prolonged resistance to biodegradation was proposed

A System for Information Management in BioMedical Studies—SIMBioMS

Summary: SIMBioMS is a web-based open source software system for managing data and information in biomedical studies. It provides a solution for the collection, storage, management and retrieval of information about research subjects and biomedical samples, as well as experimental data obtained using a range of high-throughput technologies, including gene expression, genotyping, proteomics and metabonomics. The system can easily be customized and has proven to be successful in several large-scale multi-site collaborative projects. It is compatible with emerging functional genomics data standards and provides data import and export in accepted standard formats. Protocols for transferring data to durable archives at the European Bioinformatics Institute have been implemented

Эпидемиологические и вирусологические аспекты гриппа, острых респираторных вирусных инфекций и тяжелых острых респираторных инфекций в Республике Молдова, сезон 2018/2019

Agenția Națională pentru Sănătate Publică, Congresul al VIII-lea al specialiștilor din domeniul sănătății publice și managementului sanitar 24-25 octombrie 2019 Chișinău, Republica MoldovaSezonul de gripă 2018/2019 a debutat mai devreme în comparație cu sezoanele precedente. Perioada epidemică a debutat în săptămâna 03/2019, atingând apogeul în săptămâna 06/2019 și s-a terminat în săptămâna 11/2019. Virusul gripal A(H1)pdm09 a fost predominant, fi ind detectat în 79,8% din cazurile de gripă confi rmate de laborator. Virusul gripal A(H3) a fost detectat în 20,2% cazuri. Virusurile gripale de tip B nu au fost detectate în acest sezon. Toate (4) virusurile gripale A(H1)pdm09 caracterizate genetic aparțin subgrupei 6B.1 (reprezentată prin A/Michigan/45/2015). Principalele caracteristici ale virusurilor din grupa 6B.1 sunt prezența substituțiilor aminoacizilor S84N, S162N (cu apariția unui nou loc potențial de glicozilare) și I216T în HA1. Virusurile gripale A/H3 detectate aparțin subclaselor 3C.2a1b și 3C.2a2. În ceea ce privește virusurile H3N2 circulante în prezent, caracterizarea lor antigenică prin reacția de hemaglutinoinhibare rămâne dificilă din cauza aglutinării instabile a globulelor roșii de cobai, curcan și umane. Nivelul morbidității prin gripă a sporit de 2,2 ori față de sezonul 2017/2018. Nivelul morbidității prin IACRS în sezonul 2018/2019 s-a majorat de 1,07 ori, iar prin SARI – de 1,17 ori față de sezonul precedent. Începând cu săptămâna 40/2018, virusurile respiratorii negripale au fost detectate în 37,7% (130/345) din probe colectate în timpul monitoringului în sistemul de tip santinelă. Au predominat rinovirusurile, adenovirusurile și virusul respirator sincițial.The influenza season started earlier that previous seasons. The epidemic period started at week 03/2019, peaked in week 06/2019 and ended in week 11/2019. Influenza A(H1)pdm09 was the predominant virus detected in 79,8% of ILI cases. Influenza A(H3) was detected in 20,2%. Influenza B viruses were not detected this season. All (4) of the A(H1)pdm09 viruses genetically characterized, belonged to the subgroup 6B.1 (represented by A/Michigan/45/2015). The main characteristics of viruses in the 6B.1 group are that the viruses carry the amino acid substitutions S84N, S162N (introducing a new potential glycosylation site) and I216T in HA1. Detected influenza A/ H3 viruses belonged to subclades 3C.2a1b and 3C.2a2. In the case of currently circulating H3N2 virus’s antigenic characterization continues to be difficult by HI assay due to variable agglutination of red blood cells from guinea pig, turkey and humans. The level of influenza morbidity increased 2,2 times compared to 2017/2018 season. The level of ARI morbidity in this season increased 1,07 times and the SARI recorded increased 1,17 times compared to the previous season. Since week 40/2018 other respiratory viruses were detected in 37,7% (130/345) of samples in sentinel surveillance. Rhinovirus, adenovirus and respiratory syncytial virus was detected in higher level during this season.Сезон гриппа 2018/2019 начался раньше, чем в предыдущие сезоны. Эпидемический период начался на неделе 03/2019, достигнув максимума на неделе 06/2019, и завершился на неделе 11/2019. Вирус гриппа A(H1)pdm09 был доминирующим и выявлен в 79,8% случаев гриппа. Вирус гриппа A(H3) был обнаружен в 20,2% случаев. Вирусы гриппа B не были выявлены в этом сезоне. Все (4) вирусы гриппа A(H1)pdm09б охарактеризованные генетически, относятся к подгруппе 6B.1 (представленную вирусом A/Michigan/45/2015). Основные характеристики вирусов из подгруппы 6B.1 – это наличие аминокислотных замен S84N, S162N (с появлением нового потенциального места гликозилирования) и I216T в HA1. Выявленные вирусы гриппа A/H3 относятся к подклассам 3C.2a1b и 3C.2a2. В случае циркулирующих в настоящее время H3N2, их антигенная характеристика с помощью реакции торможения гемаглютинации по-прежнему затруднена из за нестабильной агглютинации эритроцитов морской свинки, индейки и человека. Уровень заболеваемости гриппом повысился в 2,2 раза по сравнению с сезоном 2017/2018. Заболеваемость ОРВИ в сезоне 2018/2019 увеличилась в 1,07 раз по сравнению с предыдущим сезоном, а количество случаев ТОРИ увеличилось в 1,17 раз. Начиная с недели 40/2018 другие респираторные вирусы были выявлены в 37,7% (130/345) образцов, собранных во время дозорного надзора. Риновирусы, аденовирусы и респираторно-синцитиальные вирусы выявлялись в большом количестве в течении этого сезона

ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКА МИКРОБИОТЫ КИШЕЧНИКА ДЕТЕЙ ПЕРВОГО ГОДА ЖИЗНИ ПО ДАННЫМ СЕКВЕНИРОВАНИя ГЕНА 16S РИБОСОМАЛЬНОЙ РНК

The article presents the results of a single study the intestinal microbiota of healthy infants. Study was performed 11 fecal samples, followed by targeted sequencing the amplified sites on the 16S rRNA gene Miseq platform (Illumina, USA), according to standard protocols. Total 600 unique OTU (operation taxonomic units), grouped into 7 bacterial phyla (Phylum) have been identified. Each sample had an average of 190±80 OTU at the species level. Established predominance of gram-positive anaerobic bacteria (71±23%). Quantitative phylum distribution was as follows: phylum Firmicutes – 43±15% (represented by Clostridium spp., Blautia spp., Lactobacillus spp., Enterococcus spp. and Veillonella spp.), The phylum Actinobacteria – 38±10% (of which more than 90% the OTU were represented Bifidobacterium spp.) and the phylum Proteobacteria – 15±8% (represented by the family Enterobacteriaceae). Representatives of phylum Bacteroidetes been identified (7–15%) in only three of eleven samples. All samples characterized by low species diversity, Shannon index and criterion α-diversity were in the range of 1,5–4,2, and 3–20, respectively. Children who are breastfed, observed a higher number of representatives of Proteobacteria, compared with children on artificial feeding. Noted the influence of adverse factors of pregnancy mothers (antibiotics, respiratory infection) on the composition of the intestinal microbiota of children, which reflected in the dominance of Klebsiella pneumoniae in one case, and the dominance of Enterococcus durans otherwise.В работе представлены результаты однократного исследования микробиоты кишечника у здоровых детей первого года жизни. Проведено исследование 11 образцов фекалий, с последующим таргетным секвенированием амплифицированных участков гена 16S рРНК на платформе Miseq (Illumina, США), согласно стандартным протоколам. Суммарно было идентифицировано 600 уникальных OTU (operation taxonomic units), сгруппированных в 7 бактериальных фил (Phylum). На каждый образец приходилось в среднем 190±80 OTU на уровне видов и родов. Установлено доминирование грамположительных анаэробных бактерий (71±23%). Количественное распределение фил было следующим: фила Firmicutes – 43±15% (представлены Clostridium spp., Blautia spp., Lactobacillus spp., Enterococcus spp. и Veillonella spp.), фила Actinobacteria – 38±10% (из кото- рой более 90% OTU были представлены Bifidobacterium spp.) и фила Proteobacteria – 15±8% (представленные семейством Enterobacteriaceae). Представители филы Bacteroidetes были идентифицированы (7–15%) только в трех из одиннадцати образцов. Все образцы характеризовались низким видовым разнообразием, индекс Шеннона и критерий α-разнообразия были в диапазонах 1,5–4,2 и 3–20 соответственно. У детей, находящихся на грудном вскармливании, отмечено более высокое количество представителей Proteobacteria по сравнению с детьми на искусственном вскармливании. Отмечено влияние неблагоприятных факторов течения беременности матерей (прием антибиотиков, респираторная инфекция) на состав микробиоты кишечника детей, что отражалось в доминировании Klebsiella pneumoniae в одном случае и доминировании Enterococcus durans в другом

Blogging the Virtual: New Geographies of Domination and Resistance In and Beyond Russia

Russia’s accelerating authoritarian turn has not ignored the internet, and in recent years, the Russian state has clamped down on internet activities that diverge from the statist line, employing a variety of strategies to dominate online spaces. Nevertheless, oppositional voices flourish on the Russian internet, taking shape in independent blogs and videos. This paper explores three political bloggers through surveillant and resistance assemblages, making sense of this contestation through an interpretation of the Deleuzian virtual that underscores the emancipatory potential of online activities for producing more egalitarian configurations, but also taking stock of the ways that these technologies have increased domination. Encompassing the blurriness between digital and corporeal spaces, the paper contributes by revealing new geographies of contestation against state strategies to dominate the Russian internet. Overlapping with but not corresponding to Russian territorial boundaries, these dynamics highlight shifting spaces of power and resistance in the increasingly illiberal world

Molecular typing of ST239-MRSA-III from diverse geographic locations and the evolution of the SCCmec III element during its intercontinental spread

ST239-MRSA-III is probably the oldest truly pandemic MRSA strain, circulating in many countries since the 1970s. It is still frequently isolated in some parts of the world although it has been replaced by other MRSA strains in, e.g., most of Europe. Previous genotyping work (Harris et al., 2010; Castillo-Ramírez et al., 2012) suggested a split in geographically defined clades. In the present study, a collection of 184 ST239-MRSA-III isolates, mainly from countries not covered by the previous studies were characterized using two DNA microarrays (i) targeting an extensive range of typing markers, virulence and resistance genes and (ii) a SCCmec subtyping array. Thirty additional isolates underwent whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and, together with published WGS data for 215 ST239-MRSA-III isolates, were analyzed using in-silico analysis for comparison with the microarray data and with special regard to variation within SCCmec elements. This permitted the assignment of isolates and sequences to 39 different SCCmec III subtypes, and to three major and several minor clades. One clade, characterized by the integration of a transposon into nsaB and by the loss of fnbB and splE was detected among isolates from Turkey, Romania and other Eastern European countries, Russia, Pakistan, and (mainly Northern) China. Another clade, harboring sasX/sesI is widespread in South-East Asia including China/Hong Kong, and surprisingly also in Trinidad & Tobago. A third, related, but sasX/sesI-negative clade occurs not only in Latin America but also in Russia and in the Middle East from where it apparently originated and from where it also was transferred to Ireland. Minor clades exist or existed in Western Europe and Greece, in Portugal, in Australia and New Zealand as well as in the Middle East. Isolates from countries where this strain is not epidemic (such as Germany) frequently are associated with foreign travel and/or hospitalization abroad. The wide dissemination of this strain and the fact that it was able to cause a hospital-borne pandemic that lasted nearly 50 years emphasizes the need for stringent infection prevention and control and admission screening