Анализ параметров активной фазированной антенной решетки радиотелескопа ГУРТ

Представлены методика расчета и результаты численного анализа параметров активной фазированной антенной решетки (АФАР) Гигантского украинского радиотелескопа (ГУРТ) декаметрового и метрового диапазонов волн, который сооружается в настоящее время вблизи г. Харькова на территории Радиоастрономической обсерватории им. С. Я. Брауде Радиоастрономического института Национальной академии наук Украины. Методика базируется на матричной теории антенных решеток, сочетающей в себе электродинамический подход к анализу решетки излучателей с методами теории многополюсников СВЧ для описания фидерной схемы АФАР. Приведены и проанализированы результаты численного расчета эффективной площади АФАР и коэффициента передачи, который в случае пассивной ФАР ассоциируется с КПД, в широком секторе сканирования луча в диапазоне частот 10- 80 МГц.Надаються методика розрахунку та результати числового аналізу параметрів активної фазованої антенної решітки (АФАР) Гігантського українського радіотелескопу (ГУРТ) декаметрового та метрового діапазонів хвиль, що наразі споруджується поблизу м. Харкова на території Радіоастрономічної обсерваторії ім. С. Я. Брауде Радіоастрономічного інституту Національної академії наук України. Методика базується на матричній теорії антенних решіток, що поєднує електродинамічний підхід до аналізу решітки випромінювачів з методами теорії багатополюсників НВЧ для опису фідерної схеми АФАР. Наведені та проаналізовані результати числового розрахунку ефективної площі АФАР та коефіцієнту передачі, що в разі пасивної ФАР асоціюється з ККД, у широкому секторі сканування променя в діапазоні частот 10 - 80 МГц.The calculation technique results of numerical analysis of parameters of active phased antenna array (APAA) of the Giant Ukrainian Radio Telescope (GURT) of decameter and meter wavelengths which is being built now nearby Kharkiv at the area of S. Ya. Braude Radio Astronomy Observatory of the Institute of Radio Astronomy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine are presented. The technique is based on the matrix theory of antenna arrays which combines an electromagnetic approach to analysis of radiators array with the methods of microwave multiport theory for the APAA feed network description. The results of numerical calculation of the APAA effective area and its gain, which in case of passive array is associated with its efficiency, are given and analyzed for a wide scan range within 10 to 80 MHz

Structure- and interaction-based design of anti-SARS-CoV-2 aptamers

Aptamer selection against novel infections is a complicated and time-consuming approach. Synergy can be achieved by using computational methods together with experimental procedures. This study aims to develop a reliable methodology for a rational aptamer in silico et vitro design. The new approach combines multiple steps: (1) Molecular design, based on screening in a DNA aptamer library and directed mutagenesis to fit the protein tertiary structure; (2) 3D molecular modeling of the target; (3) Molecular docking of an aptamer with the protein; (4) Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of the complexes; (5) Quantum-mechanical (QM) evaluation of the interactions between aptamer and target with further analysis; (6) Experimental verification at each cycle for structure and binding affinity by using small-angle X-ray scattering, cytometry, and fluorescence polarization. By using a new iterative design procedure, structure- and interaction-based drug design (SIBDD), a highly specific aptamer to the receptorbinding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, was developed and validated. The SIBDD approach enhances speed of the high-affinity aptamers development from scratch, using a target protein structure. The method could be used to improve existing aptamers for stronger binding. This approach brings to an advanced level the development of novel affinity probes, functional nucleic acids. It offers a blueprint for the straightforward design of targeting molecules for new pathogen agents and emerging variant

Application of Additive Technologies for the Development of Microfluidic Chip Models of Rocks

В статье представлены результаты работы по апробации возможности применения современных и доступных аддитивных технологий на основе фотополимерного принтера для изготовления прототипов микрофлюидных устройств, пригодных для решения задач нефтегазовой индустрии. Исследовано два способа создания микрофлюидных устройств с помощью аддитивных технологий. Первый – изготовление мастер- формы для последующей отливки в ней ПДМС, второй – изготовление микрофлюидного чипа с полностью трехмерными каналами. Отработана методика создания мастер- формы с каналами необходимой геометрии для заливки ПДМС из фотоотверждаемого полимера методом стереолитографической печати. Данная методика была успешно протестирована на изготовлении микрофлюидного чипа с каналами минимальной ширины 100 мкм. Был спроектирован и изготовлен микрофлюидный чип с трехмерной структурой каналов. Показано, что с помощью печати мастер-формы для последующей отливки в ней ПДМС возможно изготавливать микрофлюидные чипы с шириной канала 100 мкм при высоте 50 мкм. Такие устройства могут найти своё применение при моделировании процессов нефтевытеснения из твёрдых горных породThe article presents the results of work on testing the possibility of using modern and affordable additive technologies based on a photopolymer printer for the manufacture of prototypes of microfluidic devices suitable for solving problems in the oil and gas industry. Two methods for creating microfluidic devices using additive technologies have been studied. The first one is the production of a master mold for subsequent casting of PDMS in it, the second is the production of a microfluidic chip with fully three-dimensional channels. A technique has been developed for creating a master mold with channels of the required geometry for pouring PDMS from a photocurable polymer using stereolithographic printing. This technique was successfully tested for the production of a microfluidic chip with channels with a minimum width of 100 μm. A microfluidic chip with a three-dimensional channel structure was designed and fabricated. It was shown that by printing a master mold for subsequent casting of PDMS in it, it is possible to produce microfluidic chips with a channel width of 100 μm and a height of 50 μm. Such devices can find their application in modeling processes of oil displacement from solid rock

Aptamers Increase Biocompatibility and Reduce the Toxicity of Magnetic Nanoparticles Used in Biomedicine

Aptamer-based approaches are very promising tools in nanomedicine. These small single-stranded DNA or RNA molecules are often used for the effective delivery and increasing biocompatibility of various therapeutic agents. Recently, magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have begun to be successfully applied in various fields of biomedicine. The use of MNPs is limited by their potential toxicity, which depends on their biocompatibility. The functionalization of MNPs by ligands increases biocompatibility by changing the charge and shape of MNPs, preventing opsonization, increasing the circulation time of MNPs in the blood, thus shielding iron ions and leading to the accumulation of MNPs only in the necessary organs. Among various ligands, aptamers, which are synthetic analogs of antibodies, turned out to be the most promising for the functionalization of MNPs. This review describes the factors that determine MNPs’ biocompatibility and affect their circulation time in the bloodstream, biodistribution in organs and tissues, and biodegradation. The work also covers the role of the aptamers in increasing MNPs’ biocompatibility and reducing toxicity

Handheld Enzymatic Luminescent Biosensor for Rapid Detection of Heavy Metals in Water Samples

Enzymatic luminescent systems are a promising tool for rapid detection of heavy metals ions for water quality assessment. Nevertheless, their widespread use is limited by the lack of test procedure automation and available sensitive handheld luminometers. Herein we describe integration of disposable microfluidic chips for bioluminescent enzyme-inhibition based assay with a handheld luminometer, which detection system is based on a thermally stabilized silicon photomultiplier (SiPM). Microfluidic chips were made of poly(methyl methacrylate) by micro-milling method and sealed using a solvent bonding technique. The composition of the bioluminescent system in microfluidic chip was optimized to achieve higher luminescence intensity and storage time. Results indicate that developed device provided comparable sensitivity with bench-scale PMT-based commercial luminometers. Limit of detection for copper (II) sulfate reached 2.5 mg/L for developed biosensor. Hereby we proved the concept of handheld enzymatic optical biosensors with disposable chips for bioassay. The proposed biosensor can be used as an early warning field-deployable system for rapid detection of heavy metals salts and other toxic chemicals, which affect bioluminescent signal of enzymatic reaction

Droplet Reactors with Bioluminescent Enzymes for Real-Time Water Pollution Monitoring

Early detection of pollutants in wastewater, water coming out of treatment facilities, drinking water, and water for agricultural needs is a challenging problem. Effective water quality monitoring requires development of new methods for express detection of pollutants. Enzymes from bioluminescent bacteria can be used for the development of new express enzyme-based bioassay systems. This work demonstrates, for the first time, a microfluidic chip to generate emulsion droplets containing two enzymes of the bacterial bioluminescent system (luciferase and NAD(P)H:FMN-oxidoreductase) with reaction substrates. The developed chip generated “water-in-oil” emulsion droplets with a volume of 0.1 μL and a frequency of up to 12 droplets per second. A portable photomultiplier tube (PMT) was used to measure the bioluminescent signal in each individual droplet; the signal-to-noise ratio was 3000/1. The intensity of luminescence in droplets depended on the concentration of copper ions. The limit of detection (LOD) for copper sulfate was 1 mg/L. We showed that bioluminescent enzymatic reactions can be carried out in droplet reactors that can be applied for online monitoring of water quality. Thus, the suggested method of biological measurements has a good perspective for biosensing in general

The Effects of Commercial Pesticide Formulations on the Function of In Vitro and In Vivo Assay Systems: A Comparative Analysis

Pesticides are commonly used in agriculture and are an important factor of food security for humankind. However, the overuse of pesticides can harm non-target organisms, and, thus, it is vital to comprehensively study their effects on the different metabolic pathways of living organisms. In the present study, enzyme-inhibition-based assays have been used to investigate the effects of commercial pesticide formulations on the key enzymes of the organisms, which catalyze a wide variety of metabolic reactions (protein catabolism, lactic acid fermentation, alcohol metabolism, the conduction of nerve impulses, etc.). Assay conditions have been optimized, and the limitations of the methods used in the study, which are related to the choice of the solvent for commercial pesticide formulations and optical effects occurring when commercial pesticide formulations are mixed with solutions of enzymes and substrates of assay systems, have been revealed. The effects of commercial pesticide formulations on simple chemoenzymatic assay systems (single-enzyme reactions) have been compared to their effects on complex multicomponent molecular systems (multi-enzyme reactions) and organisms (luminescent bacterium). The in vitro assay systems have shown higher sensitivity to pesticide exposure than the in vivo assay system. The sensitivity of the in vitro assay systems increases with the elongation of the chain of conjugated chemoenzymatic reactions. The effects exerted by commercial pesticide formulations with the same active ingredient but produced by different manufacturers on assay system functions have been found to differ from each other

Enzyme Inhibition-Based Assay to Estimate the Contribution of Formulants to the Effect of Commercial Pesticide Formulations

Pesticides can affect the health of individual organisms and the function of the entire ecosystem. Therefore, thorough assessment of the risks associated with the use of pesticides is a high-priority task. An enzyme inhibition-based assay is used in this study as a convenient and quick tool to study the effects of pesticides at the molecular level. The contribution of formulants to toxicological properties of the pesticide formulations has been studied by analyzing effects of 7 active ingredients of pesticides (AIas) and 10 commercial formulations based on them (AIfs) on the function of a wide range of enzyme assay systems differing in complexity (single-, coupled, and three-enzyme assay systems). Results have been compared with the effects of AIas and AIfs on bioluminescence of the luminous bacterium Photobacterium phosphoreum. Mostly, AIfs produce a considerably stronger inhibitory effect on the activity of enzyme assay systems and bioluminescence of the luminous bacterium than AIas, which confirms the contribution of formulants to toxicological properties of the pesticide formulation. Results of the current study demonstrate that “inert” ingredients are not ecotoxicologically safe and can considerably augment the inhibitory effect of pesticide formulations; therefore, their use should be controlled more strictly. Circular dichroism and fluorescence spectra of the enzymes used for assays do not show any changes in the protein structure in the presence of commercial pesticide formulations during the assay procedure. This finding suggests that pesticides produce the inhibitory effect on enzymes through other mechanisms

Enzyme Inhibition-Based Assay to Estimate the Contribution of Formulants to the Effect of Commercial Pesticide Formulations

Pesticides can affect the health of individual organisms and the function of the entire ecosystem. Therefore, thorough assessment of the risks associated with the use of pesticides is a high-priority task. An enzyme inhibition-based assay is used in this study as a convenient and quick tool to study the effects of pesticides at the molecular level. The contribution of formulants to toxicological properties of the pesticide formulations has been studied by analyzing effects of 7 active ingredients of pesticides (AIas) and 10 commercial formulations based on them (AIfs) on the function of a wide range of enzyme assay systems differing in complexity (single-, coupled, and three-enzyme assay systems). Results have been compared with the effects of AIas and AIfs on bioluminescence of the luminous bacterium Photobacterium phosphoreum. Mostly, AIfs produce a considerably stronger inhibitory effect on the activity of enzyme assay systems and bioluminescence of the luminous bacterium than AIas, which confirms the contribution of formulants to toxicological properties of the pesticide formulation. Results of the current study demonstrate that “inert” ingredients are not ecotoxicologically safe and can considerably augment the inhibitory effect of pesticide formulations; therefore, their use should be controlled more strictly. Circular dichroism and fluorescence spectra of the enzymes used for assays do not show any changes in the protein structure in the presence of commercial pesticide formulations during the assay procedure. This finding suggests that pesticides produce the inhibitory effect on enzymes through other mechanisms