Cryptic Diversity in Paramecium multimicronucleatum Revealed with a Polyphasic Approach

Paramecium (Ciliophora) systematics is well studied, and about twenty morphological species have been described. The morphological species may include several genetic species. How-ever, molecular phylogenetic analyses revealed that the species diversity within Paramecium could be even higher and has raised a problem of cryptic species whose statuses remain uncertain. In the present study, we provide the morphological and molecular characterization of two novel Paramecium species. While Paramecium lynni n. sp., although morphologically similar to P. multimicronucleatum, is phylogenetically well separated from all other Paramecium species, Paramecium fokini n. sp. appears to be a cryptic sister species to P. multimicronucleatum. The latter two species can be distinguished only by molecular methods. The number and structure of micronuclei, traditionally utilized to discriminate species in Paramecium, vary not only between but also within each of the three studied species and, thus, cannot be considered a reliable feature for species identification. The geographic distribution of the P. multimicronucleatum and P. fokini n. sp. strains do not show defined patterns, still leaving space for a role of the geographic factor in initial speciation in Paramecium. Future findings of new Paramecium species can be predicted from the molecular data, while morphological characteristics appear to be unstable and overlapping at least in some species

Patient with Jaundice, Dyspnea and Hyperferritinemia after COVID-19

The aim: to highlight the importance of considering hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in patients with jaundice of unclear origin and systemic inflammatory manifestations after coronavirus infection.Key points. A 64-y.o. patient was admitted to the hospital with jaundice, pruritus, fatigue, weight loss. The complaints occurred 2 weeks after discharge from the hospital for treatment of patients with coronavirus infection. Laboratory tests revealed signs of hepatic insufficiency, markers of cholestasis and inflammation persisted in time. Upon instrumental examination no signs of hepatosplenomegaly, biliary tree changes, intra- and extrahepatic obstruction were found. S. aureus was identified in blood cultures, CT scan of the facial skull bones showcased the focus of infection in the area of the roots of teeth 2.4 and 2.5. Therefore, antibiotics were prescribed. Subsequently, the patient's condition was complicated by the development of two episodes of acute respiratory distress syndrome, which occurred during the withdrawal of glucocorticosteroid therapy. Liver biopsy was performed, morphological study revealed signs of “vanishing bile duct” syndrome, excessive activation of macrophages and hemosiderosis of sinusoidal cells. Identified lesions can be found in hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), a life-threatening complication of coronavirus infection. Glucocorticosteroids therapy, transfusions of human immunoglobulin, albumin, and parenteral nutrition have led to patient's condition improvement.Conclusion. COVID-19 provokes the development of secondary HLH 10 times more often than other respiratory viral infections. The possibility of hemophagocytic syndrome development should be considered, including cases of overlap syndrome with sepsis, in patients with unresolved jaundice, hyperferritinemia after coronavirus infection. Routinely used scales and criteria for diagnosis of HLH (H-score, HLH 2004) in such cases lacks sensitivity, therefore, careful analysis of clinical picture and exclusion of other causes of jaundice are required

Dibenzo[ f,h]furazano[3,4- b]quinoxalines: Synthesis by Intramolecular Cyclization through Direct Transition Metal-Free C-H Functionalization and Electrochemical, Photophysical, and Charge Mobility Characterization

Herein, we describe the synthesis of unsymmetrically substituted dibenzo[f,h]furazano[3,4-b]quinoxalines by intramolecular cyclization through direct transition metal-free C-H functionalization. The electrochemical and photophysical properties for several polycycles have been measured. In thin films of the dibenzo[f,h]furazano[3,4-b]quinoxalines, hole mobility is in the order of 10-4 cm2 V-1 s-1. The results show that the HOMO and LUMO energy levels are appropriate for using the compounds as hole-transport materials in thin-film devices, in particular, organic and perovskite solar cells. Copyright © 2020 American Chemical Society.Russian Foundation for Basic Research, RFBR: 18-33-00103-mol_aRussian Science Foundation, RSF: 18-13-00409The research was financially supported by the Russian Science Foundation (project no. 18-13-00409). Y.A.K would like to acknowledge the financial support for the part of the synthetic section from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (research project no. 18-33-00103-mol_a). The authors are grateful to Grigory A. Kim for carrying out the DFT calculations, which were performed by using “Uran” supercomputer of the Institute of Mathematics and Mechanics of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. NMR experiments were carried out by using equipment of the Center for Joint Use “Spectroscopy and Analysis of Organic Compounds” at the Postovsky Institute of Organic Synthesis of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Benzo[ b]selenophene/thieno[3,2- b]indole-Based N,S,Se-Heteroacenes for Hole-Transporting Layers

Two series of new N,S,Se-heteroacenes, namely, 6H-benzo[4′,5′]selenopheno[2′,3′:4,5]thieno[3,2-b]indoles and 12H-benzo[4″,5″]selenopheno[2″,3″:4′,5′]thieno[2′,3′4,5]thieno[3,2-b]indoles, were successfully obtained using an effective strategy based on Fiesselmann thiophene and Fischer indole synthesis. The new molecules exhibit a large optical band gap (2.82 eV < Egopt < 3.23 eV) and their highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) energy formed by the plane π-core ranges between -5.2 and -5.6 eV, with the narrower optical band gap and lower HOMO level corresponding to selenated heteroacenes. In thin solid films of the heteroacenes, hole mobility measured using the conventional CELIV technique ranges between 10-5 and 10-4 cm2·V-1·s-1. All these make the proposed condensed-ring compounds a promising platform for the development of hole-transporting materials applicable in organic electronics. Copyright © 2020 American Chemical Society.The research (synthesis of new heteroacenes and investigation of their semiconductor properties) was financially supported by the Russian Science Foundation (project no. 18-13-00409). N.S.D. and N.A.R. would like to acknowledge the financial support for the analytical studies of synthesized compounds from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation within the framework of the State Assignment for Research (project no. AAAA-A19-119012490006-1). The authors are grateful to Grigory A. Kim for carrying out the DFT calculations which were performed using ⟨⟨Uran⟩⟩ supercomputer of the Institute of Mathematic and Mechanics of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The XRD measurements were performed using the equipment of CKP FMI IPCE RAS

The Palomar Testbed Interferometer Calibrator Catalog

The Palomar Testbed Interferometer (PTI) archive of observations between 1998 and 2005 is examined for objects appropriate for calibration of optical long-baseline interferometer observations - stars that are predictably point-like and single. Approximately 1,400 nights of data on 1,800 objects were examined for this investigation. We compare those observations to an intensively studied object that is a suitable calibrator, HD217014, and statistically compare each candidate calibrator to that object by computing both a Mahalanobis distance and a Principal Component Analysis. Our hypothesis is that the frequency distribution of visibility data associated with calibrator stars differs from non-calibrator stars such as binary stars. Spectroscopic binaries resolved by PTI, objects known to be unsuitable for calibrator use, are similarly tested to establish detection limits of this approach. From this investigation, we find more than 350 observed stars suitable for use as calibrators (with an additional $\approx 140$ being rejected), corresponding to $\gtrsim 95$ sky coverage for PTI. This approach is noteworthy in that it rigorously establishes calibration sources through a traceable, empirical methodology, leveraging the predictions of spectral energy distribution modeling but also verifying it with the rich body of PTI's on-sky observations.Comment: 100 pages, 7 figures, 7 tables; to appear in the May 2008ApJS, v176n

Sweet Sorghum Genotypes Testing in the High Latitude Rainfed Steppes of the Northern Kazakhstan (for Feed and Biofuel)

Twenty-eight sweet sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) genotypes of the different ecological and geographic origins: Kazakhstan, Russia, India, Uzbekistan, and China were tested in the high latitude rainfed conditions of northern Kazakhstan. The genotypes demonstrated high biomass production (up to 100 t·ha-1 and more). The genotypes ripening to full reproductive seeds were selected for seed production and introduction in the northern Kazakhstan. Lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus plantarum S-1, Streptococcus thermophilus F-1 and Lactococcus lactis F-4 essentially enhance the fermentation process, suppressing undesirable microbiological processes, reducing the loss of nutrient compounds, accelerating in 2 times maturation ensilage process and providing higher quality of the feed product

Carnosine:can understanding its actions on energy metabolism and protein homeostasis inform its therapeutic potential?

The dipeptide carnosine (β-alanyl-L-histidine) has contrasting but beneficial effects on cellular activity. It delays cellular senescence and rejuvenates cultured senescent mammalian cells. However, it also inhibits the growth of cultured tumour cells. Based on studies in several organisms, we speculate that carnosine exerts these apparently opposing actions by affecting energy metabolism and/or protein homeostasis (proteostasis). Specific effects on energy metabolism include the dipeptide's influence on cellular ATP concentrations. Carnosine's ability to reduce the formation of altered proteins (typically adducts of methylglyoxal) and enhance proteolysis of aberrant polypeptides is indicative of its influence on proteostasis. Furthermore these dual actions might provide a rationale for the use of carnosine in the treatment or prevention of diverse age-related conditions where energy metabolism or proteostasis are compromised. These include cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and the complications of type-2 diabetes (nephropathy, cataracts, stroke and pain), which might all benefit from knowledge of carnosine's mode of action on human cells. © 2013 Hipkiss et al.; licensee Chemistry Central Ltd

High genetic diversity of measles virus, World Health Organization European region, 2005-2006

During 2005-2006, nine measles virus (MV) genotypes were identified throughout the World Health Organization European Region. All major epidemics were associated with genotypes D4, D6, and B3. Other genotypes (B2, D5, D8, D9, G2, and H1) were only found in limited numbers of cases after importation from other continents. The genetic diversity of endemic D6 strains was low; genotypes C2 and D7, circulating in Europe until recent years, were no longer identified. The transmission chains of several indigenous MV strains may thus have been interrupted by enhanced vaccination. However, multiple importations from Africa and Asia and virus introduction into highly mobile and unvaccinated communities caused a massive spread of D4 and B3 strains throughout much of the region. Thus, despite the reduction of endemic MV circulation, importation of MV from other continents caused prolonged circulation and large outbreaks after their introduction into unvaccinated and highly mobile communities

Plakophilin-3 Is Required for Late Embryonic Amphibian Development, Exhibiting Roles in Ectodermal and Neural Tissues

The p120-catenin family has undergone a significant expansion during the evolution of vertebrates, resulting in varied functions that have yet to be discerned or fully characterized. Likewise, members of the plakophilins, a related catenin subfamily, are found throughout the cell with little known about their functions outside the desmosomal plaque. While the plakophilin-3 (Pkp3) knockout mouse resulted in skin defects, we find larger, including lethal effects following its depletion in Xenopus. Pkp3, unlike some other characterized catenins in amphibians, does not have significant maternal deposits of mRNA. However, during embryogenesis, two Pkp3 protein products whose temporal expression is partially complimentary become expressed. Only the smaller of these products is found in adult Xenopus tissues, with an expression pattern exhibiting distinctions as well as overlaps with those observed in mammalian studies. We determined that Xenopus Pkp3 depletion causes a skin fragility phenotype in keeping with the mouse knockout, but more novel, Xenopus tailbud embryos are hyposensitive to touch even in embryos lacking outward discernable phenotypes, and we additionally resolved disruptions in certain peripheral neural structures, altered establishment and migration of neural crest, and defects in ectodermal multiciliated cells. The use of two distinct morpholinos, as well as rescue approaches, indicated the specificity of these effects. Our results point to the requirement of Pkp3 in amphibian embryogenesis, with functional roles in a number of tissue types