Abelian monopoles in finite temperature lattice SU(2) gluodynamics: first study with improved action

The properties of the thermal Abelian color-magnetic monopoles in the maximally Abelian gauge are studied in the deconfinement phase of the lattice SU(2) gluodynamics. To check universality of the monopole properties we employ the tadpole improved Symanzik action. The simulated annealing algorithm combined with multiple gauge copies is applied for fixing the maximally Abelian gauge to avoid effects of Gribov copies. We compute the density, interaction parameters, thermal mass and chemical potential of the thermal Abelian monopoles in the temperature range between Tc and 3Tc. In comparison with earlier findings our results for these quantities are improved either with respect to effects of Gribov copies or with respect to lattice artifacts.Comment: 11 pages, 14 figures, 5 tables; substantially changed version, title change

Surface acoustic wave propagation in graphene film

Surface acoustic wave (SAW) propagation in a graphene film on the surface of piezoelectric crystals was studied at the BESSY II synchrotron radiation source. Talbot effect enabled the visualization of the SAW propagation on the crystal surface with the graphene film in a real time mode, and high-resolution x-ray diffraction permitted the determination of the SAW amplitude in the graphene/piezoelectric crystal system. The influence of the SAW on the electrical properties of the graphene film was examined. It was shown that the changing of the SAW amplitude enables controlling the magnitude and direction of current in graphene film on the surface of piezoelectric crystals

Measuring and alleviating drought stress in pea and lentil

Received: January 31st, 2023 ; Accepted: April 17th, 2023 ; Published: April 22nd, 2023 ; Correspondence: [email protected] deficit in the soil can cause drought stress in plants and drastically affect plant growth and crop yield. Therefore, early detection of drought stress in plants followed by the timely application of agronomic measures to alleviate plant conditions is crucial. This research aimed to study the agronomic practices that could reduce the sensitivity of pea and lentil to drought stress. The practices included (i) soil amendment with moisture retainer (hydrogel), (ii) seed treatment with a growth regulator to promote root formation, (iii) application of a biological formulation to boost soil mycorrhizal biota, and (iv) foliar application of micro fertilisers. The research was carried out in Ukraine in 2015−2020. Drought stress in plants was detected by measuring chlorophyll fluorescence with a portable fluorometer Floratest and calculating the ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence Fv/Fm of the photosystem. The content of proline, high values of which in vegetative organs point out to stress in plants, was determined by colorimetric analysis using ninhydrin. In pea, the incorporation of hydrogel (Aquasorb) and growth regulator (Mycofriend) combined with seed treatment (Kelpak SC) and foliar application of micro fertiliser (Biovit or Freya-Aqua Legumes) at BBCH 14 led to obtaining Fv/Fm values from 0.81 to 0.82. Similarly in lentil, the maximum value of Fv/Fm (0.67) was obtained with the application of all studied agronomic practices, with the correlation coefficient between yield and Fv/Fm at the flowering stage (BBCH 61) r = 0.97. In pea, the correlation between yield and Fv/Fm at the budding stage (BBCH 51) was r = 0.99. The content of proline in photosynthetic plant organs was species-specific; however, in the control treatment, where plants were exposed to drought, its maximum value was 1.10 μmol g-1 in pea and 1.40 μmol g-1 in lentil, while with the application of the proposed agronomic practices proline content was only 0.56 μmol g-1 in pea and 0.36 μmol g-1 in lentil. Obtained strong correlation between proline content in plant vegetative organs and the ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence Fv/Fm of the plant photosystem indicates that measurement of Fv/Fm with portable fluorometer might be an effective method of early identification of drought stress in pea and lentil

Accreditation features for estimation of measurement instruments accordance

Повышение доверия потребителей и обеспечение качества измерений, проводимых метрологической службой достигается путем успешного прохождения аккредитацииThe improvement of consumer confidence and the quality of measurements provided by the metrological service is achieving through a successful accreditatio

Kharkiv incoherent scatter facility

The structure, parameters and operating modes of the incoherent scatter radar of the Institute of Ionosphere, Kharkiv are presented. Some results of the ionosphere research obtained by this facility are shown.Наведено структуру, параметри і режими роботи радара некогерентного розсіяння Інституту іоносфери (м. Харків). Показано деякі результати спостережень іоносфери за допомогою цього обладнання

GTP-dependent structural rearrangement of the eRF1:eRF3 complex and eRF3 sequence motifs essential for PABP binding

Translation termination in eukaryotes is governed by the concerted action of eRF1 and eRF3 factors. eRF1 recognizes the stop codon in the A site of the ribosome and promotes nascent peptide chain release, and the GTPase eRF3 facilitates this peptide release via its interaction with eRF1. In addition to its role in termination, eRF3 is involved in normal and nonsense-mediated mRNA decay through its association with cytoplasmic poly(A)-binding protein (PABP) via PAM2-1 and PAM2-2 motifs in the N-terminal domain of eRF3. We have studied complex formation between full-length eRF3 and its ligands (GDP, GTP, eRF1 and PABP) using isothermal titration calorimetry, demonstrating formation of the eRF1:eRF3:PABP:GTP complex. Analysis of the temperature dependence of eRF3 interactions with G nucleotides reveals major structural rearrangements accompanying formation of the eRF1:eRF3:GTP complex. This is in contrast to eRF1:eRF3:GDP complex formation, where no such rearrangements were detected. Thus, our results agree with the established active role of GTP in promoting translation termination. Through point mutagenesis of PAM2-1 and PAM2-2 motifs in eRF3, we demonstrate that PAM2-2, but not PAM2-1 is indispensible for eRF3:PABP complex formation

Fast neurotransmitter release regulated by the endocytic scaffold intersectin.

Sustained fast neurotransmission requires the rapid replenishment of release-ready synaptic vesicles (SVs) at presynaptic active zones. Although the machineries for exocytic fusion and for subsequent endocytic membrane retrieval have been well characterized, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the rapid recruitment of SVs to release sites. Here we show that the Down syndrome-associated endocytic scaffold protein intersectin 1 is a crucial factor for the recruitment of release-ready SVs. Genetic deletion of intersectin 1 expression or acute interference with intersectin function inhibited the replenishment of release-ready vesicles, resulting in short-term depression, without significantly affecting the rate of endocytic membrane retrieval. Acute perturbation experiments suggest that intersectin-mediated vesicle replenishment involves the association of intersectin with the fissioning enzyme dynamin and with the actin regulatory GTPase CDC42. Our data indicate a role for the endocytic scaffold intersectin in fast neurotransmitter release, which may be of prime importance for information processing in the brain

Development issue of antiprotozoal agents to treat and prevent protozoal infections of fish, and theoretical and practical approaches to its solution

The purpose of the research is to determine safe parameters for the use of certain fatty acid amides against protozoal diseases of fish.Materials and methods. The synthesis and biological activity determination of new compounds were studied in laboratory conditions of the chemical synthesis creative team of the North Caucasus Zonal Research Veterinary Institute. The protistocidal activity of the new substances was determined in a liquid nutritional medium by serial dilution according to our technique. The ciliate Colpoda steinii was used as a test culture. The solution toxicity was determined on aquarium Guppy (Poecilia reticulata). The efficacy was assessed according to an alternative form of the response: the minimum concentration that all protozoan species died in was considered as protistocidal; the maximum concentration that all fish remained alive in was recognized as safe for the fish, i.e., the first concentration after the absolute lethal concentrations. Compliance with these conditions required the prepared solutions having minimal concentration ranges from 1 to 0.1 µg/mL, as well as continuous monitoring with recording the results. Two compounds were tested, namely, myristic acid amide and oleic acid amide.Results and discussion. The fish remained viable in the aqueous myristic acid amide solution concentration of 0.2 μg/mL for 3 days (monitoring period), and the fish remained alive for 3.5 hours or more (up to 20 hours) in the solution concentration of 0.5 μg/mL. At the same time, a concentration of 0.14 μg/mL had a protistocidal effect on the protozoan C. steinii if exposed for 40 minutes. The maximum tolerated oleic acid amide concentration for fish was 1 µg/mL if exposed for 2 or more days and 2 µg/mL if exposed for 4 h. The minimum protistocidal activity level of oleic acid amide was 0.58 µg/mL at an 18 h exposure