Decoding variant for dilatometric measurements of metal samples heating and cooling

Dilatometric measurements in the form of sample sizes registration with temperature changes are widely used in the practice of physical materials science. In recent decades, the hardware component of these measurements has substantially changed with a practically unchanged version of their use as applied to the characteristics of various phase transformations. The basic point, in this case, is the identification of the critical points temperature for the 'start/finish' transformations based on the analysis of dilatograms deviations from a tangents carried out in the temperature intervals near the break observed on the obtained experimental curves. However, in most cases, this information has a framework character due to the presence of deficiencies in the critical points temperatures determining. In some cases, to compensate for these shortcomings, results of the changes analysis in the first derivative of dilatometric curves are additionally used. A series of works carried out by the authors is studying the features at changing the temperature coefficient of linear expansion true values. An algorithm for obtaining this spectrum is prescribed. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd

Taxonomic Position of Entomoparasitic Nematodes Isolated from Fleas in Gorno-Altai High-Mountain Natural Plague Focus

Objective of the study was to investigate entomoparasitic nematodes from rodent fleas, collected in Gorno-Altai high-mountain natural plague focus in 2016–2017, with identification of their taxonomic status. Materials and methods. Given are the results of morphological and genetic analysis of entomoparasitic nematodes – parasites of fleas Amphipsylla primaris primaris living on flat-headed high-mountain voles Alticola strelzovi, fleas Rhadinopsylla li transbaicalica of Daurian pika Ochotona dauurica, fleas Rhadinopsylla dahurica, collected at the burrows of the rodents. Results and conclusions. Identified have been nucleotide sequences of ITS2 spacer region of ribosomal operon in entomoparasitic nematodes of three flea species: Amphipsylla primaris primaris, Rhadinopsylla li transbaicalica, and Rhadinopsylla dahurica. Based on comparative phylogenetic analysis and identified high percentage of homology of the stated nucleotide sequences (92–99 %), appurtenance to Rubzovinema spp. species and close relation to earlier proposed by us multi-host species Rubzovinema polyxenica from C. tesquorum, A. rossica, and C. secundus fleas from Volga-Ural steppe plague focus has been established. For the first time ever separate branch of evolution of entomoparasitic nematodes – flea parasites, represented by Rubzovinema ssp., has been identified. Determined has been wide spread of Rubzovinema ssp. nematodes in biocenoses of steppe zone of Russia across Precaspian territory and Altai Mountains

The role of olfactory transport in the penetration of manganese oxide nanoparticles from blood into the brain

There is no doubt that various nanoparticles (NPs) can enter the brain from the nasal cavity. It is assumed that NPs can penetrate from blood into the central nervous system (CNS) only by breaking the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The accumulation of NPs in CNS can provoke many neurological diseases; therefore, the understanding of its mechanisms is of both academic and practical interest. Although hitting from the surface of the lungs into the bloodstream, NPs can accumulate in various mucous membranes, including the nasal mucosa. Thus, we cannot rule out the ability of NPs to be transported from the bloodstream to the brain through the olfactory uptake. To test this hypothesis, we used paramagnetic NPs of manganese oxide (Mn3O4-NPs), whose accumulation patterns in the mouse brain were recorded using T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. The effect of intranasal application of endocytosis and axonal transport inhibitors on the brain accumulation patterns of intranasally or intravenously injected Mn3O4-NPs was evaluated. A comparative analysis of the results showed that the transport of Mn3O4-NPs from the nasal cavity to the brain is more efficient than their local permeation through BBB into CNS from the bloodstream, for example with the accumulation of Mn3O4NPs in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, and through the capture and transport of NPs from the blood by olfactory epithelium cells. Also, experiments with the administration of chlorpromazine, a specific inhibitor of clathrin-dependent endocytosis, and methyl-β-cyclodextrin, inhibitor of the lipid rafts involved in the capture of substances by endothelium cells, showed differences in the mechanisms of NP uptake from the nasal cavity and from the bloodstream. In this study, we show a significant contribution of axonal transport to NP accumulation patterns in the brain, both from the nasal cavity and from the vascular bed. This explains the accumulation of different sorts of submicron particles (neurotropic viruses, insoluble xenobiotics, etc.), unable to pass BBB, in the brain. The results will add to the understanding of the pathogenesis of various neurodegenerative diseases and help studying the side effects of therapeutics administered intravenously

Effect of <i>Yersinia pestis</i> on the Soil Nematodes <i>Panagrolaimus</i> sp. from the Gorno-Altai High-Mountain Focus of Plague

The aim of the work was to study interaction of Yersinia pestis with soil nematodes isolated on the territory of the Gorno-Altai high-mountain plague focus. Materials and methods. We used the fluorescent Y. pestis strain KM2083, a derivative of the natural strain of the 4.ANT phylogenetic line, the antique biovar of the main subspecies, and a nematode culture isolated in the same area of the Gorno-Altai plague focus. The taxonomy of nematodes was determined by the region of the 18S rRNA gene; phylogenetic analysis was performed using the Maximum Likelihood method based on the Tamura-Nei model in the Mega 7.0 software. The interaction of the Y. pestis KM2083 strain and the nematodes was studied during cultivation on a solid NGM agar medium. Nematodes were observed using microscopes Stemi-2000C (Carl Zeiss, Germany) and Axio Imager Z2 (Carl Zeiss, Germany). Results and discussion. It has been established that the nematodes from the Gorno-Altai high-mountain plague focus used in the work belong to the genus Panagrolaimus. Cultivation of nematodes on the lawn of the Y. pestis strain of the main subspecies of antique biovar, the 4.ANT phylogenetic line for 24 hours did not lead to a reduction in the lifespan of nematodes compared to the control sample, which indicates the absence of toxicity of the used strain towards Panagrolaimus nematodes. On the cuticle of nematodes, the formation of a biofilm in the genital area and tail has been noted, and accumulations of fluorescent cells of the plague pathogen observed in the digestive tract. The data obtained can indicate the ability of nematodes to carry the plague pathogen in the soil biocoenosis

Efficacy and safety of diacerein in patients with knee osteoarthritis

Diacerein (D) belongs to a class of symptomatic slow-acting agents, has an original mechanism of action, and is widely used as a diseasemodifying antirheumatic drug to treat osteoarthritis (OA) in Russia and many countries of the world. The ability of the drug to affect the main symptoms and progression of OA has been shown in a number of well-organized clinical trials.Objective: to evaluate the efficacy and safety of D in patients with knee OA.Patients and methods. An open-label trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of D (diaflex) in patients with knee OA was conducted in accordance with the multicenter program «Osteoarthrosis: Assessment of Progression in Real Clinical Practice». The trial included 80 patients of both sexes with Stage II–III knee OA; mean age, 60.8±6.8 years (47–75 years); mean body mass index, 31.8±5.9 kg/m2; disease duration, 10.3±5.7 years (2–30 years). The duration of the trial was 9 months (6 months of therapy and 3 months of follow-up).Results. There was a statistically significant reduction in visual analog scale pain on walking just 1 month after therapy initiation (57.1±9.7 and 44.7±13.9 mm; p&lt;0.0001) and a further significant improvement throughout the 6-month therapy. Pain did not increase after the drug was discontinued (the follow-up period was 3 months). The same pattern was observed in the assessment of the WOMAC index (pain during early therapy, 243.8±73.9; pain at the end of therapy, 137.5±78.9; stiffness, 97.8±41.1 and 57.7±38.6; functional failure, 875.8±250.4 and 525±305.7 respectively; p&lt;0.0001). Statistically significantly improved quality of life indicators measured by EQ-5D were noted throughout the follow-up period: 0.43±0.23 at the beginning of therapy, 0.61±0.14 at its end, and 0.63±0.11 at 3 months following treatment completion (p&lt;0.0001). By the time of therapy completion, 71.3% of the patients completely refused to take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Both the patient and the physician evaluated the efficiency of treatment identically. By the end of therapy, 87.5% of the patients were observed to have improvement. Adverse reactions (ARs) were recorded in 10 (12.5%) patients and mainly associated with more frequent stools; ARs were not a cause of treatment interruptions or protocol deviations.Conclusion. Diaflex has a good symptomatic and anti-inflammatory effect: the therapy statistically significantly reduces pain, stiffness, and the need for NSAIDs and improves quality of life and joint function. The drug has a good safety profile and after-effects, which is seen at least 3 months after therapy discontinuation

Long-Term Persistence of <i>Yersinia pestis</i> in Association with Acanthamoeba castellanii in Experiment

The aim of the study was to test the feasibility of long-term survival and preservation of the properties of Yersinia pestis in association with soil amoeba Acanthamoeba castellanii. Materials and methods. Y. pestis strains and acanthamoeba isolated in the common area of the Gorno-Altai high-mountain plague focus were used for the study. The systematic affiliation of protozoa was determined through analyzing the 18S rRNA gene fragment sequencing data, followed by alignment with amoeba sequences from the NCBI GenBank database. A fluorescent Y. pestis strain was obtained by electroporation using the pTurboGFP-B plasmid. Co-cultivation was carried out in saline buffer in the absence of nutrients for the cells of plague pathogen. The influence of co-culturing with protozoa on Y. pestis properties was determined using microbiological, biological, and molecular-genetic methods. Results and discussion. The cell viability preservation for 22 months of the experiment in Y. pestis strain belonging to the main subspecies of the antique biovar, the 4.ANT phylogenetic line in co-culture with amoeba cells in the absence of additional nutrients has been established. Co-cultivation with amoebae did not lead to a change in the cultural, morphological, genetic and virulent properties of the plague pathogen strain. The data obtained confirm the possibility of using Acanthamoeba castellanii by the plague microbe to persist in soil biocenoses and open up the prospect of studying the mechanisms of plague pathogen surviving during extended inter-epizootic periods

Extensive Studies of Legionella Strains Isolated from the Environmental Objects during Preparation and Holding of Mass Events in the Russian Federation in 2013-2014

Objective of the work was to conduct an extended study of Legionella strains isolated from epidemiologically significant environmental objects during the preparation and conduct of mass events in the territory of the Russian Federation in 2013-2014 . Materials and methods. Studied were 53 strains of Legionella pneumophila, isolated from epidemiologically significant objects during the preparation and conduct of a number of mass events (ME): XXVII World Summer Universiade, XXII Olympic Winter Games and XI Paralympic Winter Games, Sochi; Summer Health Promotion Campaign in 2014, Republic of Crimea; IV Caspian Summit, Astrakhan, 2014. Strains were analyzed using multilocus sequencing, time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF-MS) and atomic force microscopy. Legionella strains were typed by multilocus sequencing in accordance with the algorithm of the European Legionellosis Research Group “Sequence-Based Typing protocol for epidemiological typing of L. pneumophila". Results and discussion. Strains of L. pneumophila, legionellosis agent, were isolated in the territory of the Republic of Crimea, Moscow, Kazan, Sochi, Astrakhan and characterized. According to the results of slide agglutination, 17 L. pneumophila strains were assigned to 1 serogroup , 37 - to 2-14 serogroups. Based on the data obtained by multilocus sequencing, in accordance with the algorithm of the European Working Group on Legionellosis Surveillance, allelic profiles of all the studied L. pneumophila strains were identified; their belonging to 7 sequence types was established. Using the method of time-of-flight mass spectrometry, legionella strains were characterized, their protein profiles were studied, and a database was formed. Using the method of scanning probe microscopy, information was obtained on the morphology of the cells of 18 legionella strains and the features of their surface structures. Using the methods of multilocus sequencing, time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and atomic force microscopy, molecular-genetic, proteomic, and morphometric features of Legionellosis pathogen strains that circulate in epidemiologically significant sites in the Russian Federation were determined

ISOLATION OF GLICOPROTEID FROM THE FIXED RABIES VIRUS, STRAIN «MOSCOW 3253», AND CONSTRUCTING OF DOT-IMMUNOASSAY DIAGNOSTICUM ON ITS BASIS

Described here are the results of glicoproteid isolation from the fixed rabies virus, strain «Moscow 3253», using non-ionic detergent with subsequent chromatographic purification. The obtained antigen was demonstrated to be applicable as immunoreagent for construction of diagnosticum, by means of conjugation with colloid gold nanoparticles. The diagnosticum is meant for detection of specific antibodies in immune sera of horsesproducers, and in the preparation of anti-rabies immunoglobulin, in dot-immunoassay

Olfactory transport efficiency of the amorphous and crystalline manganese oxide nanoparticles

The ability to deliver particulated xenobiotics and therapeutic drugs directly from the nasal cavity to the central nervous system, bypassing the hemato-encephalic barrier, determines a high importance of investigation of factors influencing this process. It was shown that the bioavailability of solid particles is influenced by their size and surface charge. At the same time, the impact of a crystal structure (crystalline/amorphous) has been poorly investigated. In this study, using sexually mature male C57BL/6J mice, we analyzed the efficiency of the nose-to-brain transport of crystalline and amorphous manganese oxide nanoparticles. T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was used to evaluate the accumulation of manganese nanoparticles in olfactory bulb (OB) and olfactory epithelium (OE). So, it has been established that amorphous particles have higher accumulation rate in OE and OB in comparison with crystalline particles after their intranasal administration. The unequal ability of amorphous and crystalline particles to overcome the mucosal layer covering the OE may be one of the possible reasons for the different nose-to-brain transport efficiency of particulated matter. Indeed, the introduction of mucolytic (dithiothreitol) 20 minutes prior to intranasal particle application did not influence the accumulation of amorphous particles in OE and OB, but enhanced the efficiency of crystalline nanoparticle entry. Data on the different intake of amorphous and crystalline nanoparticles from the nasal cavity to the brain, as well as the evidence for the key role of the mucosal layer in differentiating the penetrating power of these particles will be useful in developing approaches to assessing air pollution and optimizing the methods of inhalation therapy

OPTIMIZATION OF PRESENTATION AND CONSUMER CONTAINER OF ANTI-RABIES IMMUNOGLOBULIN OBTAINED FROM HORSE SERUM

We presented the data concerning optimization of presentation and consumer container of anti-rabies immunoglobulin obtained, from horse serum.. During the experiments, ampoules and. flasks were used for primary packaging. They were filled within 5 ml of the preparation of freeze-drying. Comparative analysis of physical, chemical and. biological properties and. molecular parameters of freeze-dried and initial forms of the immunoglobulin. was carried out. Freeze-drying was demonstrated to promote stabilization of its properties and. prevent emergence of fragments and. aggregates during anti-rabies immunoglobulin storage