Locally adaptive Bayesian birth-death model successfully detects slow and rapid rate shifts

Birth-death processes have given biologists a model-based framework to answer questions about changes in the birth and death rates of lineages in a phylogenetic tree. Therefore birth-death models are central to macroevolutionary as well as phylodynamic analyses. Early approaches to studying temporal variation in birth and death rates using birth-death models faced difficulties due to the restrictive choices of birth and death rate curves through time. Sufficiently flexible time-varying birth-death models are still lacking. We use a piecewise-constant birth-death model, combined with both Gaussian Markov random field (GMRF) and horseshoe Markov random field (HSMRF) prior distributions, to approximate arbitrary changes in birth rate through time. We implement these models in the widely used statistical phylogenetic software platform RevBayes, allowing us to jointly estimate birth-death process parameters, phylogeny, and nuisance parameters in a Bayesian framework. We test both GMRF-based and HSMRF-based models on a variety of simulated diversification scenarios, and then apply them to both a macroevolutionary and an epidemiological dataset. We find that both models are capable of inferring variable birth rates and correctly rejecting variable models in favor of effectively constant models. In general the HSMRF-based model has higher precision than its GMRF counterpart, with little to no loss of accuracy. Applied to a macroevolutionary dataset of the Australian gecko family Pygopodidae (where birth rates are interpretable as speciation rates), the GMRF-based model detects a slow decrease whereas the HSMRF-based model detects a rapid speciation-rate decrease in the last 12 million years. Applied to an infectious disease phylodynamic dataset of sequences from HIV subtype A in Russia and Ukraine (where birth rates are interpretable as the rate of accumulation of new infections), our models detect a strongly elevated rate of infection in the 1990s. Author summary Both the growth of groups of species and the spread of infectious diseases through populations can be modeled as birth-death processes. Birth events correspond either to speciation or infection, and death events to extinction or becoming noninfectious. The rates of birth and death may vary over time, and by examining this variation researchers can pinpoint important events in the history of life on Earth or in the course of an outbreak. Time-calibrated phylogenies track the relationships between a set of species (or infections) and the times of all speciation (or infection) events, and can thus be used to infer birth and death rates. We develop two phylogenetic birth-death models with the goal of discerning signal of rate variation from noise due to the stochastic nature of birth-death models. Using a variety of simulated datasets, we show that one of these models can accurately infer slow and rapid rate shifts without sacrificing precision. Using real data, we demonstrate that our new methodology can be used for simultaneous inference of phylogeny and rates through time

Complex 99mTc-PDA-DTPA for myocardial imaging

The 123I-labeled fatty acids such as 123I-Iodophenylpentadecanoic acid and 123I-Beta-methyliodophenylpentadecanoic acid are the agents used clinically for myocardial imaging. Fatty acids are the major source of energy for the normal myocardium. However, under ischemic conditions the myocardial cells switch to glucose metabolism for their energy needs. Fatty acids undergo prolonged metabolic stunning in patients with reversible ischemia, thereby helping in early diagnosis of coronary artery disease in highrisk patients. High cost andlimited availability of cyclotron-produced 123I, makes 99mTc-labeled fatty acids more desirable for the purpose. In diagnosis the dominant radionuclide is 99mTc. It is estimated that it is involved in about 85% of all imaging procedures in nuclear medicine. The method for preparation of new 99mTc-fatty chemical systems based on modified diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) molecule has been elaborated in this work . The main advantage using DTPA as chelate agent for radioactive label, is the molecule or it's derivative ability to form sufficiently stable complexes with different radioactive metals including technetium-99. Moiety of pentadecanoic acid addition gave the ability to prepare modified complex of DTPA. In a labeling procedure, freshly eluted Na99mTcO4 (20mCi) was added to a mixture of cysteine, stannous chloride, PDK-DTPA and ethanol in a vial. On keeping the reaction mixture at 90 0C for 30 min, [99mTc-PDK-DTPA] radiopharmaceutical was formed. Thereafter, the reaction mixture was cooled over ice and characterized by HPLC. The result of dynamic scintigraphic research showed, that after being injected, the substance is actively acumulated into myocardium. Eventually one can say that modified DTPA-moleculs are functionally suitable for myocardial imaging

Bispyrenylalkane Chemosensor for the Naked-eye Detection of Nitro-explosives

Pyrene-based compounds have a great potential as fluorescent chemosensors for various analytes including common nitro-explosives, such as 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). Compounds having two pyrene units in one molecule, such as bispyrenylalkanes, are able to form stable, bright emissive in a visual wavelength region excimers both in non-polar and polar environments. In this work we wish to report that in non-polar solvents the excimer has poor chemosensing properties while in aqueous solutions it provides significant “turn-off” fluorescence response to TNT in the sub-nanomolar concentrations

The role of cardiac biomarkers and epicardial fat in the diagnosis of heart failure in patients with various types of atrial fibrillation

Aim. To assess the level of various cardiac biomarkers and the volume of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) in patients with heart failure (HF) depending on the type of atrial fibrillation (AF).Material and methods. This prospective observational study included 69 patients with symptomatic AF, as well as with manifestations of New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II-III HF. All patients were examined before catheter ablation for AF. The following investigations were performed: echocardiography, computed tomography, myocardial perfusion scintigraphy, immunochemical analysis of cardiac biomarkers (brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), high-sensitivity troponin I (hs-TnI)), as well as biochemical analysis of high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP). Patients were divided into 2 groups, depending on the AF type, into paroxysmal and non-paroxysmal (persistent and long-standing persistent).Results. The analysis included 69 patients with various AF types and symptomatic HF. There were significantly more patients with HF confirmed by an elevated BNP level in the group with non-paroxysmal type (27 (71%) vs 5 (16%), p<0,00001). Comparison analysis showed that in group 2 the mean BNP level was significantly higher than in group 1 (135,5 pg/ml [75,2;303,2] vs 40 pg/ml [20,7;56,9], respectively, p<0,00001). The hs-TnI level was higher in group 2 (2,5 [1,7;5,1] vs 1,9 [0,8;3,9], respectively, p=0,19), but there was no significant difference between the groups. The level of hsCRP did not differ in both groups. In group 1, the EAT volume was 139 [117,5;171] vs 169 [130;209,5] in group 2 (p=0,03).Conclusion. The type of AF plays a role in the interpretation of cardiac specific enzymes, and BNP levels and EAT volume are higher in patients with the non-paroxysmal form

Modifying the surface of cerium oxide nanopowders produced by physical method

Cerium oxide nanoparticles present an interesting material for different industrial applications in biotechnology and medicine. The CeO2 nanopowder was produced by the method of pulsed electron evaporation of ceramic oxide targets with condensation of the vapors in a low pressure gas. The modification of nanoparticle surface was made with sodium citrate and N-phosphonomethylaminodiacetic acid. The stable aqueous suspensions of CeO2 nanoparticles could not be obtained in the work. This is probably due to the high hydrophobic properties of the nanoparticle surface. The cerium oxide nanoparticles with different stabilizers exhibit luminescence properties. © 2019 Author(s)

Pyrene-based lipophilic/biphilic chemosensors for the fluorescence "turn-off" detection of nitroanalytes in aqueous media

Two approaches towards "turn off"fluorescence detection of nitroanalytes (dinitro-ortho-cresol (DNOC), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and Riamilovir (Triazavirin ®) are reported such as by tuning the chemosensors structure or by changing the environment. In both cases the great response was achieved with Stern-Volmer quenching constants (KSV) as high as 2.28-3.14 × 104 M-1 (for structure modification approach) and 4.67 × 105 M-1 (for changing of environment approach). © 2021 Author(s).Russian Foundation for Basic Research, РФФИ, (19-33-90155)This work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (Project # 19-33-90155)

New TEMPO–Appended 2,2′-Bipyridine-Based Eu(III), Tb(III), Gd(III) and Sm(III) Complexes: Synthesis, Photophysical Studies and Testing Photoluminescence-Based Bioimaging Abilities

Linked to Alzheimer’s disease (AD), amyloids and tau-protein are known to contain a large number of cysteine (Cys) residues. In addition, certain levels of some common biogenic thiols (cysteine (Cys), homocysteine (Hcy), glutathione (GSH), etc.) in biological fluids are closely related to AD as well as other diseases. Therefore, probes with a selective interaction with the above-mentioned thiols can be used for the monitoring and visualizing changes of (bio)thiols in the biological fluids as well as in the brain of animal models of Alzheimer’s disease. In this study, new Eu(III), Tb(III), Gd(III) and Sm(III) complexes of 2,2′-bipyridine ligands containing TEMPO fragments as receptor units for (bio)thiols are reported. The presence of free radical fragments of the ligand in the complexes was proved by using the electronic paramagnetic resonance (EPR) method. Among all the complexes, the Eu(III) complex turned out to be the most promising one as luminescence- and spin-probe for the detection of biogenic thiols. The EPR and fluorescent titration methods showed the interaction of the resulting complex with free Cys and GSH in solution. To study the practical applicability of the probes for the monitoring of AD in-vivo, by using the above-mentioned Eu(III)-based probe, the staining of the brain of mice with amyloidosis and Vero cell cultures supplemented with the cysteine-enriched medium was studied as well as the fluorescence titration of Bovine Serum Albumin, BSA (as the model for the thiol moieties containing protein), was carried out. Based on the results of fluorescence titration, the formation of a non-covalent inclusion complex between the above-mentioned Eu(III) complex and BSA was suggested. © 2022 by the authors.Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Minobrnauka, (075-15-2020-777)This work was supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (Grant no.: 075-15-2020-777)

Assessment of carcinogenic risk levels to the health of population of some cities of Bashkortostan

The results of individual and population cancer risk assessment to the health of population of some cities in the Republic of Bashkortostan under the influence of air chemical pollutants and drinking water are given. Research has shown that in the examined cities, the risk to public health from air chemical contamination is higher than from drinking water contamination.Приведены результаты оценки индивидуального и популяционного канцерогенного риска для здоровья населения некоторых городов Республики Башкортостан от воздействия химических веществ, загрязняющих атмосферный воздух и питьевую воду. Исследования показали, что в настоящее время в изученных городах риск для здоровья населения от химического загрязнения атмосферного воздуха выше, чем от загрязнения питьевой воды

Analysis of critical incidents during the intrahospital transport of patients and prevention

The article deals with changes in the gas and biochemical composition of blood in patients during intrahospital transport. Changes registered in patients who were on artificial lung ventilation revealed violations of the homeostasis of the blood gas composition, in particular, a decrease in the partial oxygen tension in arterial blood during manual Ambu ventilation, which can lead to negative electrolyte shifts and clinical consequences in the form of critical incidents. Invasive monitoring of blood gas composition should reduce the risk of critical incidents during medical evacuation.В статье рассмотрены изменения газового и биохимического состава крови у пациентов при внутригоспитальной транспортировке. Изменения, зарегистрированные у пациентов, находившихся на искусственной вентиляции легких, выявили нарушения гомеостаза газового состава крови, в частности, снижение парциального напряжения кислорода в артериальной крови при ручной вентиляции мешком Амбу, что может приводить к негативным электролитным сдвигам и клиническим последствиям в виде развития критических инцидентов. Инвазивный мониторинг газового состава крови должен снизить риски развития критических инцидентов в процессе медицинской эвакуации