Finding flies in the mushroom soup : Host specificity of fungus-associated communities revisited with a novel molecular method

Fruiting bodies of fungi constitute an important resource for thousands of other taxa. The structure of these diverse assemblages has traditionally been studied with labour-intensive methods involving cultivation and morphology-based species identification, to which molecular information might offer convenient complements. To overcome challenges in DNA extraction and PCR associated with the complex chemical properties of fruiting bodies, we developed a pipeline applicable for extracting amplifiable total DNA from soft fungal samples of any size. Our protocol purifies DNA in two sequential steps: (a) initial salt-isopropanol extraction of all nucleic acids in the sample is followed by (b) an extra clean-up step using solid-phase reversible immobilization (SPRI) magnetic beads. The protocol proved highly efficient, with practically all of our samples-regardless of biomass or other properties-being successfully PCR-amplified using metabarcoding primers and subsequently sequenced. As a proof of concept, we apply our methods to address a topical ecological question: is host specificity a major characteristic of fungus-associated communities, that is, do different fungus species harbour different communities of associated organisms? Based on an analysis of 312 fungal fruiting bodies representing 10 species in five genera from three orders, we show that molecular methods are suitable for studying this rich natural microcosm. Comparing to previous knowledge based on rearing and morphology-based identifications, we find a species-rich assemblage characterized by a low degree of host specialization. Our method opens up new horizons for molecular analyses of fungus-associated interaction webs and communities.Peer reviewe

Система автоматизированного учета мазута в вертикальных цилиндрических резервуарах

The paper proposes an automatic system of fuel oil metering in vertical cylindrical tanks. The system makes it possible to execute continuous control over weight and temperature of fuel oil in a tank and metering of dead residue and initiates a signal system when fuel oil reaches an appropriate level in the case of filling. Nowadays the automatic weight control system of fuel oil has passed through metrological certification and is in operation at the Polotsk thermal power station. Предложена автоматизированная система учета мазута в вертикальных цилиндрических резервуарах, позволяющая вести непрерывный контроль его массы и температуры в резервуаре, обеспечивающая учет мертвого остатка и сигнализацию при достижении определенных высот налива. В настоящее время автоматизированная система учета массы мазута прошла метрологическую аттестацию и эксплуатируется на Полоцкой ТЭЦ

Challenges in QCD matter physics - The Compressed Baryonic Matter experiment at FAIR

Substantial experimental and theoretical efforts worldwide are devoted to explore the phase diagram of strongly interacting matter. At LHC and top RHIC energies, QCD matter is studied at very high temperatures and nearly vanishing net-baryon densities. There is evidence that a Quark-Gluon-Plasma (QGP) was created at experiments at RHIC and LHC. The transition from the QGP back to the hadron gas is found to be a smooth cross over. For larger net-baryon densities and lower temperatures, it is expected that the QCD phase diagram exhibits a rich structure, such as a first-order phase transition between hadronic and partonic matter which terminates in a critical point, or exotic phases like quarkyonic matter. The discovery of these landmarks would be a breakthrough in our understanding of the strong interaction and is therefore in the focus of various high-energy heavy-ion research programs. The Compressed Baryonic Matter (CBM) experiment at FAIR will play a unique role in the exploration of the QCD phase diagram in the region of high net-baryon densities, because it is designed to run at unprecedented interaction rates. High-rate operation is the key prerequisite for high-precision measurements of multi-differential observables and of rare diagnostic probes which are sensitive to the dense phase of the nuclear fireball. The goal of the CBM experiment at SIS100 (sqrt(s_NN) = 2.7 - 4.9 GeV) is to discover fundamental properties of QCD matter: the phase structure at large baryon-chemical potentials (mu_B > 500 MeV), effects of chiral symmetry, and the equation-of-state at high density as it is expected to occur in the core of neutron stars. In this article, we review the motivation for and the physics programme of CBM, including activities before the start of data taking in 2022, in the context of the worldwide efforts to explore high-density QCD matter.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures. Published in European Physical Journal

Improved functionalization of oleic acid-coated iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedical applications

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles can providemultiple benefits for biomedical applications in aqueous environments such asmagnetic separation or magnetic resonance imaging. To increase the colloidal stability and allow subsequent reactions, the introduction of hydrophilic functional groups onto the particles’ surface is essential. During this process, the original coating is exchanged by preferably covalently bonded ligands such as trialkoxysilanes. The duration of the silane exchange reaction, which commonly takes more than 24 h, is an important drawback for this approach. In this paper, we present a novel method, which introduces ultrasonication as an energy source to dramatically accelerate this process, resulting in high-quality waterdispersible nanoparticles around 10 nmin size. To prove the generic character, different functional groups were introduced on the surface including polyethylene glycol chains, carboxylic acid, amine, and thiol groups. Their colloidal stability in various aqueous buffer solutions as well as human plasma and serum was investigated to allow implementation in biomedical and sensing applications.status: publishe

СРЕДНИЕ ГОДОВЫЕ ЭФФЕКТИВНЫЕ ДОЗЫ ОБЛУЧЕНИЯ В 2014 ГОДУ ЖИТЕЛЕЙ НАСЕЛЕННЫХ ПУНКТОВ РОССИЙСКОЙ ФЕДЕРАЦИИ, ОТНЕСЕННЫХ К ЗОНАМ РАДИОАКТИВНОГО ЗАГРЯЗНЕНИЯ ВСЛЕДСТВИЕ КАТАСТРОФЫ НА ЧЕРНОБЫЛЬСКОЙ АЭС (ДЛЯ ЦЕЛЕЙ ЗОНИРОВАНИЯ НАСЕЛЕННЫХ ПУНКТОВ)

The Chernobyl accident in 1986 is one of the most large-scale radiation accidents in the world. It led to radioactive contamination of large areas in the European part of the Russian Federation and at the neighboring countries. Now, there are more than 4000 settlements with the total population of 1.5 million in the radioactively contaminated areas of the Russian Federation. The Bryansk region is the most intensely contaminated region. For example, the Krasnogorskiy district still has settlements with the level of soil contamination by cesium-137 exceeding 40 Cu/km2. The regions of Tula, Kaluga and Orel are also significantly affected. In addition to these four regions, there are 10 more regions with the radioactively contaminated settlements. After the Chernobyl accident, the affected areas were divided into zones of radioactive contamination. The attribution of the settlements to a particular zone is determined by the level of soil contamination with 137Cs and by a value of the average annual effective dose that could be formed in the absence of: 1) active measures for radiation protection, and 2) self-limitation in consumption of the local food products. The main regulatory document on this issue is the Federal law № 1244-1 (dated May, 15,1991) «On the social protection of the citizens who have been exposed to radiation as a result of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant». The law extends to the territories, where, since 1991: – The average annual effective dose for the population exceeds 1 mSv (the value of effective dose that could be formed in the absence of active radiation protection measures and self-limitation in consumption of the local food products); – Soil surface contamination with cesium-137 exceeds 1 Cu/km2. The paper presents results of calculations of the average effective doses in 2014. The purpose was to use the dose values (SGED90) in zonation of contaminated territories. Therefore, the calculations have been done under the assumption that the doses were formed in the absence of active radiation protection measures and self-limitation in consumption of the local food products. The dose to population, rather than the density of radioactive contamination of soil by 137Cs, is the most objective characteristic of the actual radiation exposure to the residents of the contaminated areas.Одна из самых масштабных радиационных катастроф в мире – авария на Чернобыльской АЭС (ЧАЭС) в 1986 г. – привела к радиоактивному загрязнению значительных территорий европейской части Российской Федерации и сопредельных государств. В настоящее время в зонах радиоактивного загрязнения Российской Федерации находится более 4 тыс. населенных пунктов, где проживают более1,5 млн человек. Наиболее интенсивно загрязнена Брянская область: так, в Красногорском районе до сих пор есть населенные пункты с радиоактивным загрязнением почвы цезием-137 выше 40 Ки/км2. Значительно пострадали также Тульская, Калужская и Орловская области. Кроме этих четырех областей, еще в 10 регионах страны имеются населенные пункты, расположенные в зонах радиоактивного загрязнения. После аварии на ЧАЭС пострадавшие территории были разбиты на зоны радиоактивного загрязнения. Отнесение НП к той или иной зоне определяется уровнем загрязнения почвы 137Cs и величиной средней годовой эффективной дозы облучения, которую могли бы получить жители в условиях отсутствия активных мер радиационной защиты и самоограничений в потреблении местных пищевых продуктов. Основным нормативным документом по данному вопросу является Федеральный закон от 15 мая 1991 г. № 1244-1 «О социальной защите граждан, подвергшихся воздействию радиации вследствие катастрофы на Чернобыльской АЭС», распространяющийся на территории, на которых, начиная с 1991 г.: – средняя годовая эффективная доза облучения населения превышает 1 мЗв/год – доза, которую могли бы получить жители в условиях отсутствия активных мер радиационной защиты и самоограничений в потреблении местных пищевых продуктов; – плотность радиоактивного загрязнения почвы цезием-137 превышает 1 Ки/км2. В статье приведены результаты расчетов средних годовых эффективных доз облучения населения в предполагаемых условиях отсутствия активных мер радиационной защиты, предназначенные для целей зонирования населенных пунктов (СГЭД90). Как известно, наиболее объективным качественным и количественным показателем оценки реального радиационного воздействия на жителей загрязненных территорий является доза облучения населения, а не плотность радиоактивного загрязнения почвы