'Round the Clock Observations of the Q0957+561 A,B Gravitationally Lensed Quasar

An observing campaign with 10 participating observatories has undertaken to monitor the optical brightness of the Q0957 gravitationally lensed quasar for 10 consecutive nights in January 2000. The resulting A image brightness curve has significant brightness fluctuations and makes a photometric prediction for the B image light curve for a second campaign planned for 12-21 March 2001. The ultimate purpose is to determine the gravitational lens time delay to a fraction of an hour, and to seek evidence for rapid microlensing.Comment: 8 pages, AASTeX 4.0, accepted by the Astrophysical Journa

Around the Clock Observations of the Q0957+561 A,B Gravitationally Lensed Quasar II: Results for the second observing season

We report on an observing campaign in March 2001 to monitor the brightness of the later arriving Q0957+561 B image in order to compare with the previously published brightness observations of the (first arriving) A image. The 12 participating observatories provided 3543 image frames which we have analyzed for brightness fluctuations. From our classical methods for time delay determination, we find a 417.09 +/- 0.07 day time delay which should be free of effects due to incomplete sampling. During the campaign period, the quasar brightness was relatively constant and only small fluctuations were found; we compare the structure function for the new data with structure function estimates for the 1995--6 epoch, and show that the structure function is statistically non-stationary. We also examine the data for any evidence of correlated fluctuations at zero lag. We discuss the limits to our ability to measure the cosmological time delay if the quasar's emitting surface is time resolved, as seems likely.Comment: AAS LaTeX, 5 PostScript figure

The Human Serum Metabolome

Continuing improvements in analytical technology along with an increased interest in performing comprehensive, quantitative metabolic profiling, is leading to increased interest pressures within the metabolomics community to develop centralized metabolite reference resources for certain clinically important biofluids, such as cerebrospinal fluid, urine and blood. As part of an ongoing effort to systematically characterize the human metabolome through the Human Metabolome Project, we have undertaken the task of characterizing the human serum metabolome. In doing so, we have combined targeted and non-targeted NMR, GC-MS and LC-MS methods with computer-aided literature mining to identify and quantify a comprehensive, if not absolutely complete, set of metabolites commonly detected and quantified (with today's technology) in the human serum metabolome. Our use of multiple metabolomics platforms and technologies allowed us to substantially enhance the level of metabolome coverage while critically assessing the relative strengths and weaknesses of these platforms or technologies. Tables containing the complete set of 4229 confirmed and highly probable human serum compounds, their concentrations, related literature references and links to their known disease associations are freely available at http://www.serummetabolome.ca

Screening for Melanoma and Other Skin Cancer Shows a Higher Early Melanoma Incidence: Social Educational Program “Life Fear-Free”

Background: The screening program Life Fear-Free (LFF) aimed at early diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma (CM) was introduced in Samara, Chelyabinsk, Yekaterinburg, and Krasnodar (Russia) in 2019. Objectives: To analyze the impact of the program on early CM and non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) detection. Methods: According to the social educational campaign, people were informed about CM risk factors and symptoms and were invited for skin examination. The program planned to involve 3200 participants in total. Participants with suspicious lesions were invited for excisional biopsy. Results: 3143 participants, including 75.4% women, were examined for skin lesions. The average age of the participants was 43.7 years. Mostly skin phototypes II and III were registered (48.2% and 41.0%, respectively); 3 patients had CM, 15 had basal cell carcinoma, and 1 had Bowen’s disease, which were confirmed histologically. All detected melanomas had Breslow’s thickness of 1 mm. Conclusion: The participants showed high interest in early skin cancer detection programs. The incidence rate of CM and NMSCs among the program participants was higher than in general public. The early disease grade was proven for the detected CMs and NMSCs. The study has shown that it is important to continue such programs

ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ ТЕМПЕРАТУРНИХ ЕФЕКТІВ ПРИ РЕЄСТРАЦІЇ СПЕКТРІВ ФОТОЕЛЕКТРИЧНИМИ ДЕТЕКТОРАМИ

The paper presents the results of the experimental research on the dark current characteristics of CCD detectors linear structure which are widely used on registration of optical spectra in devices of atomic emission analysis. These characteristics indicate the possibility of determination of the photosensor temperature using software methods based on the output data of element analysis without transformation of electrotechnical part of measurement system. The suggested technique of the temperature measurements is grounded on an extensive experimental material and provides a required for the practical spectral analysis accuracy. As a result of the photosensor dark current investigation, the acceptable range of working temperatures and exposures was identified during spectral photometric measurements. This allows us to specify requirements for operating conditions of the equipment within a laboratory and an industrial environment.В статье представлены результаты исследования некоторых характеристик темнового тока фотодетекторных линеек спектрометров в зависимости от температуры. Они свидетельствуют о возможности определения температуры фотодетекторов программными методами на основе получаемых при элементном анализе данных без переделки электротехнической части измерительной системы. Это позволяет компенсировать влияние  мешающих факторов  и повысить точность анализов в лабораторных и заводских условиях.В статті представлені результати дослідження деяких характеристик темнового струму фотодекторних лінійок спектрометрів в залежності від температури. Вони підтверджують можливість визначення температури фотодетекторів програмними методами на основі одержаних при елементному аналізі даних без змін та переробки електротехнічної частини вимірювальної системи. Це дозволить компенсувати вплив деяких зовнішніх факторів та покращити точність аналізів в лабораторних та заводських умовах

Isolation of thermophilic enzyme-producing Parageobacillus bacteria from chipped woody waste

The morphological and biochemical properties were investigated for 18 types of thermophilic bacteria isolated from a woody-chip pile at a wood processing plant in Northern Russia. Genetic fingerprinting and 16S rRNA identification were used to divide the investigated microorganisms into groups according to their genetic affiliation. It was found that the isolated bacteria belonged to a minimally studied genus of Parageobacillus and exhibited optimum temperature and pH in the ranges of 57 to 60 °С and 7.0 to 8.5, respectively. The amylase activity was determined for all of the 18 isolated strains. Catalytic properties of the bacteria-produced xylanases were evaluated with respect to their activity towards xylan and xylan-containing carbon substrates. Biotechnological potential of the two most promising bacterial strains (Parageobacillus caldoxylosilyticus and Parageobacillus thermoglucosidasius) and their possible use in xylanase production was evaluated. The results showed that bacteria present in the chipped woody waste is an important source of thermoalkalophilic enzymes