The lichens of Bolshoy Tuters Island (Tytärsaari), Leningrad Region, Russia

The updated checklist of Tuters Island (Leningrad Region, Russia) is presented. Of 331 species of recognized biota, 314 species of lichens, 16 lichenicolous fungi and one non-lichenized saprobic fungus are reported from Tuters Island. Of them, 202 species are new to the study area. Aspicilia epiglypta, Fuscidea praeruptorum, Micarea byssacea and Sarcogyne hypophaeoides are reported for the first time for Russia, Roselliniella stereocaulorum – for European Russia, Aspicilia polychroma, Carbonea vorticosa, Cercidospora stereocaulorum, Cladonia ciliata f. flavicans, C. rangiformis, Parmelia ernstiae, Plectocarpon cf. encausticum and Roselliniella cladoniae – for North-Western European Russia; Bachmanniomyces uncialicola, Bacidina sulphurella, Micarea botryoides, Miriquidica griseoatra and Stereocaulon nanodes are new to the Leningrad Region.Peer reviewe

Transforming Growth Factor-β3 Regulates Adipocyte Number in Subcutaneous White Adipose Tissue.

White adipose tissue (WAT) mass is determined by adipocyte size and number. While adipocytes are continuously turned over, the mechanisms controlling fat cell number in WAT upon weight changes are unclear. Herein, prospective studies of human subcutaneous WAT demonstrate that weight gain increases both adipocyte size and number, but the latter remains unaltered after weight loss. Transcriptome analyses associate changes in adipocyte number with the expression of 79 genes. This gene set is enriched for growth factors, out of which one, transforming growth factor-β3 (TGFβ3), stimulates adipocyte progenitor proliferation, resulting in a higher number of cells undergoing differentiation in vitro. The relevance of these observations was corroborated in vivo where Tgfb3+/- mice, in comparison with wild-type littermates, display lower subcutaneous adipocyte progenitor proliferation, WAT hypertrophy, and glucose intolerance. TGFβ3 is therefore a regulator of subcutaneous adipocyte number and may link WAT morphology to glucose metabolism

Role of Receptor-Interacting Protein 140 in human fat cells

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Mice lacking <it>Receptor-interacting protein 140 (RIP140) </it>have reduced body fat which at least partly is mediated through increased lipid and glucose metabolism in adipose tissue. In humans, <it>RIP140 </it>is lower expressed in visceral white adipose tissue (WAT) of obese versus lean subjects. We investigated the role of <it>RIP140 </it>in human subcutaneous WAT, which is the major fat depot of the body.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Messenger RNA levels of <it>RIP140 </it>were measured in samples of subcutaneous WAT from women with a wide variation in BMI and in different human WAT preparations. <it>RIP140 </it>mRNA was knocked down with siRNA in <it>in vitro </it>differentiated adipocytes and the impact on glucose transport and mRNA levels of target genes determined.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>RIP140 </it>mRNA levels in subcutaneous WAT were decreased among obese compared to lean women and increased by weight-loss, but did not associate with mitochondrial DNA copy number. <it>RIP140 </it>expression increased during adipocyte differentiation <it>in vitro </it>and was higher in isolated adipocytes compared to corresponding pieces of WAT. Knock down of <it>RIP140 </it>increased basal glucose transport and mRNA levels of <it>glucose transporter 4 </it>and <it>uncoupling protein-1</it>.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Human <it>RIP140 </it>inhibits glucose uptake and the expression of genes promoting energy expenditure in the same fashion as the murine orthologue. Increased levels of human <it>RIP140 </it>in subcutaneous WAT of lean subjects may contribute to economize on energy stores. By contrast, the function and expression pattern does not support that <it>RIP140 </it>regulate human obesity.</p

Evaluation of the performance of elastomeric pumps in practice : are we under delivering on chemotherapy treatments?

Background and aims: Elastomeric pumps are widely used to facilitate ambulatory chemotherapy, and studies have shown that they are safe and well received by patients. Despite these advantages, their end of infusion time can fluctuate significantly. The aim of this research was to observe the performance of these pumps in real practice and to evaluate patients' satisfaction. Methods: This was a two-phase study conducted at three cancer units over 6 months. Phase-1 was an observational study recording the status of pumps at the scheduled disconnection time and noting remaining volume of infusion. Phase-2 was a survey of patients and their perception/satisfaction. Ethical approval was granted. Results: A total of 92 cases were observed covering 50 cases disconnected at hospital and 42 disconnected at home. The infusion in 40% of hospital disconnection cases was slow, with patients arriving at hospital with unfinished pumps; 58% of these had an estimated remaining volume which exceeded 10 mL with 35% exceeded 20 mL. In 73% of these cases, and regardless of the remaining volume, the patient was disconnected and the pump was discarded. Conclusions: The performance of pumps varied, which affected nurse workload and patients' waiting-times. A smart system is an option to monitor the performance of pumps and to predict their accuracy

Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles (MISEV2023): From basic to advanced approaches

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), through their complex cargo, can reflect the state of their cell of origin and change the functions and phenotypes of other cells. These features indicate strong biomarker and therapeutic potential and have generated broad interest, as evidenced by the steady year-on-year increase in the numbers of scientific publications about EVs. Important advances have been made in EV metrology and in understanding and applying EV biology. However, hurdles remain to realising the potential of EVs in domains ranging from basic biology to clinical applications due to challenges in EV nomenclature, separation from non-vesicular extracellular particles, characterisation and functional studies. To address the challenges and opportunities in this rapidly evolving field, the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) updates its 'Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles', which was first published in 2014 and then in 2018 as MISEV2014 and MISEV2018, respectively. The goal of the current document, MISEV2023, is to provide researchers with an updated snapshot of available approaches and their advantages and limitations for production, separation and characterisation of EVs from multiple sources, including cell culture, body fluids and solid tissues. In addition to presenting the latest state of the art in basic principles of EV research, this document also covers advanced techniques and approaches that are currently expanding the boundaries of the field. MISEV2023 also includes new sections on EV release and uptake and a brief discussion of in vivo approaches to study EVs. Compiling feedback from ISEV expert task forces and more than 1000 researchers, this document conveys the current state of EV research to facilitate robust scientific discoveries and move the field forward even more rapidly

Molecular Dynamics of Tert-butyl Chloride Confined to CPG (7.4, 15.6 nm)

The paper complements our earlier NMR investigation of molecular dynamics of tert-butyl chloride restricted by geometries of the type MCM-41 and CPG by the new sizes of CPG and by differential scanning calorimetry method. We report proton and deuteron NMR lineshapes and the spin-lattice relaxation results of tert-butyl chloride in CPG of the 15.6 nm and 7.4 nm pore diameter in the temperature range 70 K≤ T≤ 292 K. The bulk-like component of the confined tert-butyl chloride, in temperatures corresponding to phase III, is interpreted as a composition of two dynamically different subphases. The parameters of motions of both subphases are derived. The tert-butyl group motion in both subphases is more restricted than in the bulk tert-butyl chloride, although the activation energies are lower. Differential scanning calorimetry was used to determine temperatures of the phase transitions (140 K≤T≤292 K). The results show that the depression of the phase transition temperature is pore size dependent and that the confinement has less influence on transition to the plastic phase than on the freezing and on the solid II - solid III transition

Microwave Absorption Study on (Bi,Pb)-Sr-Ca-Cu-O Granular Superconductors

(Bi,Pb)-Sr-Ca-Cu-O is considered as a system of 2201, 2212 and 2223 superconductors embedded in the insulating matrix. The size of the grains depends on the time of recrystallization. These types of ceramics exhibit a two-step transition to superconducting state. Because electrical properties depend among other on the Josephson coupling between grains, the magnetically modulated microwave absorption study was undertaken. Magnetically modulated microwave absorption signal was observed to arise just as temperature had been lowered below T₁. The shape of this signal was studied to recognize the second temperature T₂. Some strong oscillations appear on magnetically modulated microwave absorption at lower temperatures, which might be related to local percolation breakdown in superconducting network

Combined reactive/non-reactive DC magnetron sputtering of high temperature composite AlN–TiB2–TiSi2

High temperature composite target AlN–TiB2–TiSi2 with heterogeneous distribution of compounds (AlN—50 wt.%; TiB2—35 wt.%; TiSi2—15 wt.%) is used for sputtering via combined reactive/non-reactive DC magnetron sputtering onto substrate materials either cylindrical polished steel (Fe, 18%—Ni, 12%—Cr, 10%—Ti) 3 mm diameter or monocrystalline silicon. The gradient coating has been produced by sequential non-reactive and reactive sputtering of the target. The structural and morphological properties of the deposited films are analyzed by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The tribo-mechanical properties are studied by means of nanoindentation and nanowear tests. The gradient film is composed of two layers with different microstructure and elemental composition. The first layer with thickness ~200 nm is mainly based on light B, C and N as well metal elements Al, Si and Ti. The presence of very well distributed nanocrystals embedded in an amorphous matrix, with crystal sizes ranging from 5 to 40 nm is observed in the second layer ~700 nm thickness and composed of Al, Ti, Si, B, and N. Films show very flat surfaces, with roughness around 0.35 nm. The hardness, elastic modulus, elastic recovery (We), H/E⁎ ratio and H3 /E⁎2 ratio are determined as 17.55 GPa, 216.7 GPa, 60%, 0.08 and 0.12 GPa, respectively. Nanowear tests demonstrate relatively high wear resistance of the coatings. Samples show promising characteristics for hard protective adaptive coatings and diffusion barriers due to short propagation of dislocations in the amorphous matrix and the elastic and hard nature of the nanocomposite structure

Amphiphilic paramagnetic neutral gold dithiolene complexes

The sulfiding of benzils with P4S10 in 1,3-dimethyl 2-imidazolidinone (DMI) as solvent allows for a direct synthesis of neutral radical, gold dithiolene complexes based on 1,2-bis-(4-alkoxyphenyl) ethylene-1,2-dithiolate ligands with n-butyl, n-octyl and n-dodecyl chains. The three neutral and soluble complexes Au-OC4, Au-OC8 and Au-OC12 exhibit a near infrared (NIR) absorption band around 1.5 mm and EPR characteristics which confirm a strong delocalization of the spin density on the electron-rich dithiolene ligands. X-Ray crystal structures of Au-OC4 and Au-OC12 are compared with those of the corresponding nickel complexes. They are characterised by segregation of the alkyl chains into layered structures with a stacking of the radical complexes into alternated spin chains, confirmed by the temperature dependence of the magnetic susceptibility which attests for antiferromagnetic interactions and a singlet ground state. Observations under polarising microscope and DSC experiments do not reveal a thermotropic behaviour for Au-OC1