Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in permafrost peatlands

The concentrations of 15 individual PAHs in 93 peat cores have been determined by using high-performance liquid chromatography methods. In the profile the qualitative and quantitative composition of PAHs was non-uniform estimated in a wide range: from 112 to 3673 ng/g with mean 1214 ± 794 ng/g. Among 15 identified individual PAHs, the main contribution to their total amount was made by heavy highly condensed PAHs in the Eastern European peat plateaus, in particular, 6-nuclear benzo[ghi]perylene (1021 ± 707 ng/g), whereas in West Siberian permafrost peatlands, light PAHs were dominating, mostly naphthalene and phenanthrene (211 ± 87 and 64 ± 25 ng/g, respectively). The grass-equisetum peat contained the maximum of heavy PAHs and the dwarf shrub-grass—the minimum. In grass-dwarf shrub, grass-moss and moss peat, the share of 2-nuclear PAHs was most significant: naphthalene and fluorene, as well as 6-nuclear benzo[ghi]perylene. The presence of benzo[ghi]perylene in the entire peat strata, including its permafrost layer, was a marker of the anaerobic conditions that persisted throughout the Holocene and they were necessary for the synthesis of this compound

Monoclonal antibodies differentially affect the interaction between the hemagglutinin of H9 influenza virus escape mutants and sialic receptors

AbstractTo determine the receptor binding properties of various H9 influenza virus escape mutants in the presence and absence of antibody, sialyloligosaccharides conjugated with biotinylated polyacrylamide were used. A mutant virus with a L226Q substitution showed an increased affinity for the Neu5Acα2-3Galβ1-4Glc. Several escape mutants viruses carrying the mutation N193D bound to Neu5Acα2-6Galβ1-4GlcNAc considerably stronger than to Neu5Acα2-6Galβ1-4Glc. Several monoclonal antibodies unable to neutralize the escape mutants preserved the ability to bind to the hemagglutinin as revealed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In each case, the bound monoclonal antibodies did not prevent the binding of the mutant HA to high affinity substrates and did not displace them from the virus binding sites. Together, these data suggest that amino acid changes selected by antibody pressure may be involved in the specificity of host-cell recognition by H9 hemagglutinin and in the ability of viruses with these mutations to escape the neutralizing effect of antibodies in a differential way, depending on the specificity of the host cell receptor. It may be important in the natural evolution of the H9 subtype, a plausible candidate for the agent likely to cause a future pandemic

Апаратно-програмний комплекс дослідження терморезистивних властивостей тонких плівок

Науковий керівник - Проценко Сергій ІвановичМетою нашої роботи було створення автоматизованої системи управління науковим експериментом для дослідження терморизестивних властивостей плівкових матеріалів. При цитуванні документа, використовуйте посилання http://essuir.sumdu.edu.ua/handle/123456789/398

Influence of the phase and elemental compositions and defect structure on the physicomechanical properties and tribotechnical characteristics of nanostructural Ti-Hf-Si-N coatings

A new approach to preparing superhard nanostructural Ti–Hf–Si–N coatings with high physico mechanical performance is developed and tested. Samples with Ti–Hf–Si–N nanocoatings obtained under different deposition conditions were investigated using nuclear physical analysis methods, namely, Ruther- ford backscattering, energy dispersive X ray analysis, secondary ion mass spectrometry, and the slow positron beam method, as well as by conducting X ray diffraction analysis and microhardness measurements and testing the tribotechnical performance of the films. It is found that the grain size varies from 3.9 to 10.0 nm depending on the bias applied to the substrate and the residual pressure in the chamber during nanocoating deposition. It is shown that the microhardness varies considerably (from 37.4 to 48.6 ± 1.2 GPa) according to the percentage and number of phases, grain size, and material transfer along nanograin boundaries and interfaces. In tribological tests of the Ti–Hf–Si–N nanocoatings, the mechanism of cohesive and adhesive fracture changes and the friction coefficient may vary from 0.46 to 0.15

Sources of nitrous oxide and fate of mineral nitrogen in sub-Arctic permafrost peat soils

Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from permafrost-affected terrestrial ecosystems have received little attention, largely because they have been thought to be negligible. Recent studies, however, have shown that there are habitats in the subarctic tundra emitting N2O at high rates, such as bare peat (BP) surfaces on permafrost peatlands. Nevertheless, the processes behind N2O production in these high-emission habitats are poorly understood. In this study, we established an in situ 15N-labeling experiment with two main objectives: (1) to partition the microbial sources of N2O emitted from BP surfaces on permafrost peatlands and (2) to study the fate of ammonium and nitrate in these soils and in adjacent vegetated peat (VP) surfaces showing low N2O emissions. Our results confirm the hypothesis that denitrification is mostly responsible for the high N2O emissions from BP. During the study period, denitrification contributed ∼ 79 % of the total N2O emissions from BP, whereas the contribution from ammonia oxidation was less (about 19 %). Both gross N mineralization and gross nitrification rates were higher in BP than in VP, with high C/N ratios and a low water content likely limiting N transformation processes and, consequently, N2O production in the latter soil type. Our results show that multiple factors contribute to high N2O production in BP surfaces on permafrost peatlands, with the most important factors being the absence of plants, an intermediate to high water content and a low C/N ratio, which all affect the mineral-N availability for soil microbes, including those producing N2O. The process understanding produced here is important for the development of process models that can be used to evaluate future permafrost–N feedbacks to the climate system.peerReviewe

Properties of superhard nanostructured coatings Ti-Hf-Si-N

New superhard coatings based on Ti-Hf-Si-N featuring high physical and mechanical properties were fabricated. We employed a vacuum-arc source with HF stimulation and a cathode sintered from Ti-Hf-Si. Nitrides were fabricated using atomic nitrogen (N) or a mixture of Ar/N, which were leaked-in a chamber at various pressures and applied to a substrate potentials. RBS, SIMS, GT-MS, SEM with EDXS, XRD, and nanoindentation were employed as analyzing methods of chemical and phase composition of thin films. We also tested tribological and corrosion properties. The resulting coating was a two-phase, nanostructured nc-(Ti, Hf)N and α-Si3N4. Sizes of substitution solid solution nanograins changed from 3.8 to 6.5 nm, and an interface thickness surrounding α-Si3N4 varied from 1.2 to 1.8 nm. Coatings hardness, which was measured by nanoindentation was from 42.7 GPa to 48.6 GPa, and an elastic modulus was E = (450 to 515) GPa. The films stoichiometry was defined for various deposition conditions. It was found that in samples with superhard coatings of 42.7 to 48.6GPa hardness and lower roughness in comparison with other series of samples, friction coefficient was equal to 0.2, and its value did not change over all depth (thickness) of coatings. A film adhesion to a substrate was essentially high and reached 25MPa. В работе получены новые сверхтвердые покрытия на основе Ti-Hf-Si-N с высокими физико-механическими свойствами. В процессе синтеза методом вакуумно-дугового осаждения с применением ВЧ напряжения распылялся цельнолитой катод Ti-Hf-Si. Нитриды формировались в среде атомарного азота (N) или в смеси Ar/N, которые напускались в камеру при различных давлениях. Химический и фазовый составы тонких пленок анализировался методами RBS, SIMS, GT-MS, SEM с EDXS, РСА, а твердость определялась наноиндентированием. Исследовались трибологические и коррозионные свойства покрытий. Полученные покрытия являются двухфазными наноструктурированными nс-(Ti, Hf)N и α-Si3N4. Размеры нанозерен твердого раствора варьировались от 3,8 до 6,5 нм, а толщина окружающей оболочки α-Si3N4 менялась от 1,2 до 1,8 нм. Твердость покрытий H составляла 42,7 48,6 ГПа, а модуль упругости Е принимал значения от 450 ГПа до 515 ГПа. Определена стехиометрия пленок при различных условиях осаждения. Установлено, что в образцах сверхтвердых покрытий с твердостью 42,7 48.6 ГПа наблюдалась более низкая шероховатость по сравнению с другими образцами, коэффициент трения составлял 0,2, и его значение не изменялось по всей глубине (толщине) покрытия. Адгезия пленки к подложке достигла 25 МПа. У роботі отримані нові надтверді покриття на основі Ti-Hf-Sі-N з високими фізико-механічними властивостями. У процесі синтезу методом вакуумно-дугового осадження із застосуванням ВЧ напруги розпорошувався суцільнолитий катод Tі-Hf-Sі. Нітриди формувалися у середовищі атомарного азоту (N) або у суміші Ar/N, які напускалися у камеру при різних тисках. Хімічний і фазовий склади тонких плівок аналізувалися методами RBS, SІMS, GT-MS, SEM з EDXS, РСА, а твердість визначалася наноіндентуванням. Досліджувалися трибологічні та корозійні властивості покриттів. Отримані покриття є двофазними наноструктурованими nс-(Tі, Hf)N і -Sі3N4. Розміри нанозерен твердого розчину варіювалися від 3,8 до 6,5 нм, а товщина навколишньої оболонки -Sі3N4 змінювалася від 1,2 до 1,8 нм. Твердість покриттів H становила 42,7 48,6 ГПа, а модуль пружності Е приймав значення від 450 ГПа до 515 ГПа. Визначено стехіометрію плівок при різних умовах осадження. Встановлено, що у зразках надтвердих покриттів із твердістю 42,7 48.6 ГПа спостерігалася нижча шорсткість у порівнянні з іншими зразками, коефіцієнт тертя становив 0,2, і його значення не змінювалося за глибиною (товщиною) покриття. Адгезія плівки до підкладки досягла 25 МПа

Novel Swine Influenza Virus Subtype H3N1, United States

A new subtype H3N1 may have arisen from reassortment of a H3N2 turkey isolate, a human H1N1 isolate, and currently circulating swine viruses

Influenza AH1N2 Viruses, United Kingdom, 2001–02 Influenza Season

During the winter of 2001–02, influenza AH1N2 viruses were detected for the first time in humans in the U.K. The H1N2 viruses co-circulated with H3N2 viruses and a very small number of H1N1 viruses and were isolated in the community and hospitalized patients, predominantly from children <15 years of age. Characterization of H1N2 viruses indicated that they were antigenically and genetically homogeneous, deriving the hemagglutinin (HA) gene from recently circulating A/New Caledonia/20/99-like H1N1 viruses, whereas the other seven genes originated from recently circulating H3N2 viruses. Retrospective reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis of influenza A H1 viruses isolated in the U.K. during the previous winter identified a single H1N2 virus, isolated in March 2001, indicating that H1N2 viruses did not widely circulate in the U.K. before September 2001. The reassortment event is estimated to have occurred between 1999 and early 2001, and the emergence of H1N2 viruses in humans reinforces the need for frequent surveillance of circulating viruses

Rescue of a H3N2 Influenza Virus Containing a Deficient Neuraminidase Protein by a Hemagglutinin with a Low Receptor-Binding Affinity

Influenza viruses possess at their surface two glycoproteins, the hemagglutinin and the neuraminidase, of which the antagonistic functions have to be well balanced for the virus to grow efficiently. Ferraris et al. isolated in 2003–2004 viruses lacking both a NA gene and protein (H3NA- viruses) (Ferraris O., 2006, Vaccine, 24(44–46):6656-9). In this study we showed that the hemagglutinins of two of the H3NA- viruses have reduced affinity for SAα2.6Gal receptors, between 49 and 128 times lower than that of the A/Moscow/10/99 (H3N2) virus and no detectable affinity for SAα2.3Gal receptors. We also showed that the low hemagglutinin affinity of the H3NA- viruses compensates for the lack of NA activity and allows the restoration of the growth of an A/Moscow/10/99 virus deficient in neuraminidase. These observations increase our understanding of H3NA- viruses in relation to the balance between the functional activities of the neuraminidase and hemagglutinin

Cross-Protective Potential of a Novel Monoclonal Antibody Directed against Antigenic Site B of the Hemagglutinin of Influenza A Viruses

The hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza A viruses has been classified into sixteen distinct subtypes (H1–H16) to date. The HA subtypes of influenza A viruses are principally defined as serotypes determined by neutralization or hemagglutination inhibition tests using polyclonal antisera to the respective HA subtypes, which have little cross-reactivity to the other HA subtypes. Thus, it is generally believed that the neutralizing antibodies are not broadly cross-reactive among HA subtypes. In this study, we generated a novel monoclonal antibody (MAb) specific to HA, designated MAb S139/1, which showed heterosubtypic cross-reactive neutralization and hemagglutination inhibition of influenza A viruses. This MAb was found to have broad reactivity to many other viruses (H1, H2, H3, H5, H9, and H13 subtypes) in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. We further found that MAb S139/1 showed neutralization and hemagglutination-inhibition activities against particular strains of H1, H2, H3, and H13 subtypes of influenza A viruses. Mutant viruses that escaped neutralization by MAb S139/1 were selected from the A/Aichi/2/68 (H3N2), A/Adachi/2/57 (H2N2), and A/WSN/33 (H1N1) strains, and sequence analysis of the HA genes of these escape mutants revealed amino acid substitutions at positions 156, 158, and 193 (H3 numbering). A molecular modeling study showed that these amino acids were located on the globular head of the HA and formed a novel conformational epitope adjacent to the receptor-binding domain of HA. Furthermore, passive immunization of mice with MAb S139/1 provided heterosubtypic protection. These results demonstrate that MAb S139/1 binds to a common antigenic site shared among a variety of HA subtypes and neutralizes viral infectivity in vitro and in vivo by affecting viral attachment to cells. The present study supports the notion that cross-reactive antibodies play some roles in heterosubtypic immunity against influenza A virus infection, and underscores the potential therapeutic utility of cross-reactive antibodies against influenza