Modelling the QCD Phase Transition with an Effective Lagrangian of Light and Massive Hadrons

The temperature dependence of quark and gluon condensates in QCD as precursor of the chiral and deconfining phase transition is modelled with a conformally extended non-linear sigma-model including broken chiral and scale invariance. The model is further enlarged by including (free) heavier hadrons. Within this frame we then study the interplay of QCD scale breaking effects and heavier hadrons in chiral symmetry restoration.Comment: 23 pages, LaTeX, 5 figures, uses epsfig.st

Iron-Doped Mesoporous Powders of Hydroxyapatite as Molybdenum-Impregnated Catalysts for Deep Oxidative Desulfurization of Model Fuel: Synthesis and Experimental and Theoretical Studies

Mesoporous iron-doped hydroxyapatite (HA) powders with a surface area up to 141 m2/g were synthesized and characterized by a variety of analytical and computational approaches, including X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (AES-ICP), Fourier transform infrared absorption (FTIR), nitrogen adsorption-desorption (BET), scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and density functional theory (DFT). Based on the data of TEM with mapping, the homogeneous distribution of Fe was evidenced. Fe3+ ions were detected by EPR, and according to DFT, Fe3+ occupied the Ca(2) position. The second part of the manuscript was dedicated to evaluating the catalytic properties of the developed HA powders for oxidative desulfurization, which is a promising alternative to hydrotreating for fuel purification. For this purpose, the molybdenum was impregnated on the HA, and iron-HA powders and the influence of its amount and the iron content were investigated. The optimal process parameters such as rotation speed, amount of H2O2, reaction time, temperature, and quantity of the catalyst were established and for the first time, to the authors' best knowledge, complete conversion of dibenzothiophene in the presence of an HA-based catalyst was achieved due to a combination of active sites of iron cations and molybdate anions

The frequency and spectrum of PIK3CA mutations in patients with estrogen receptor-positive HER2-negative advanced breast cancer residing in various regions of Russia

Relevance. PIK3CA belongs to the top three most frequently mutated genes in breast cancer (BC), especially in estrogen recep-tor (ER) positive, HER2 negative BC subtype. With an approval of selective PI3K-alpha inhibitor, alpelisib, this alteration has beco-me actionable in ER tumors. The frequency and spectrum of PIK3CA alterations in various cohorts is affected by a number of factors, including the distribution of BC expression subtypes, histological types, patient age, and even ethnicity. Aim. Aim of the current study was to characterize the frequency and spectrum of PIK3CA alterations in Russian BC patients. Materials and methods. The analysis of PIK3CA exon 7, 9 and 20 mutations was performed in a cohort of Russian ER BC patients by a combination of high-resolution melting analysis, allele-specific PCR, and digital droplet PCR. Results. PIK3CA lesions were identified in 62/206 (30%) patients. Noteworthy, 59/62 (95%) of the identified variants were repre-sented by the three most common p.E542K, p.E545K, and p.H1047R substitutions. The analysis of clinical and morphological cha-racteristics revealed the trends towards association of PIK3CA mutations with older age and more frequent metastatic lung in-volvement. Conclusion. The obtained data on the frequency and spectrum of PIK3CA somatic aberrations can be helpful when organizing molecular genetic testing of breast cancer patients and using PI3K inhibitors in Russian population

The frequency and spectrum of PIK3CA mutations in patients with estrogen receptor-positive HER2-negative advanced breast cancer residing in various regions of Russia

Relevance. PIK3CA belongs to the top three most frequently mutated genes in breast cancer (BC), especially in estrogen receptor (ER) positive, HER2 negative BC subtype. With an approval of selective PI3K-alpha inhibitor, alpelisib, this alteration has become actionable in ER+HER2- tumors. The frequency and spectrum of PIK3CA alterations in various cohorts is affected by a number of factors, including the distribution of BC expression subtypes, histological types, patient age, and even ethnicity. Aim. Aim of the current study was to characterize the frequency and spectrum of PIK3CA alterations in Russian BC patients. Materials and methods. The analysis of PIK3CA exon 7, 9 and 20 mutations was performed in a cohort of Russian ER+HER2- BC patients by a combination of high-resolution melting analysis, allele-specific PCR, and digital droplet PCR. Results. PIK3CA lesions were identified in 62/206 (30%) patients. Noteworthy, 59/62 (95%) of the identified variants were represented by the three most common p.E542K, p.E545K, and p.H1047R substitutions. The analysis of clinical and morphological characteristics revealed the trends towards association of PIK3CA mutations with older age and more frequent metastatic lung involvement. Conclusion. The obtained data on the frequency and spectrum of PIK3CA somatic aberrations can be helpful when organizing molecular genetic testing of breast cancer patients and using PI3K inhibitors in Russian population

Identification of a Novel Type of cGMP Phosphodiesterase That Is Defective in the Chemotactic stmF Mutants

StmF mutants are chemotactic mutants that are defective in a cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity. We identified a novel gene, PdeD, that harbors two cyclic nucleotide–binding domains and a metallo-β-lactamase homology domain. Similar to stmF mutants, pdeD-null mutants displayed extensively streaming aggregates, prolonged elevation of cGMP levels after chemotactic stimulation, and reduced cGMP-PDE activity. PdeD transcripts were lacking in stmF mutant NP377, indicating that this mutant carries a PdeD lesion. Expression of a PdeD-YFP fusion protein in pdeD-null cells restored the normal cGMP response and showed that PdeD resides in the cytosol. When purified by immunoprecipitation, the PdeD-YFP fusion protein displayed cGMP-PDE activity, which was retained in a truncated construct that contained only the metallo-β-lactamase domain

Extracellular matrix and its role in spermatogenesis

In adult mammalian testes, such as rats, Sertoli and germ cells at different stages of their development in the seminiferous epithelium are in close contact with the basement membrane, a modified form of extracellular matrix (ECM). In essence, Sertoli and germ cells in particular spermatogonia are “resting” on the basement membrane at different stages of the seminiferous epithelial cycle, relying on its structural and hormonal supports. Thus, it is not entirely unexpected that ECM plays a significant role in regulating spermatogenesis, particularly spermatogonia and Sertoli cells, and the blood-testis barrier (BTB) constituted by Sertoli cells since these cells are in physical contact with the basement membrane. Additionally, the basement membrane is also in close contact with the underlying collagen network and the myoid cell layers, which together with the lymphatic network, constitute the tunica propria. The seminiferous epithelium and the tunica propria, in turn, constitute the seminiferous tubule, which is the functional unit that produces spermatozoa via its interaction with Leydig cells in the interstitium. In short, the basement membrane and the underlying collagen network that create the acellular zone of the tunica propria may even facilitate cross-talk between the seminiferous epithelium, the myoid cells and cells in the interstitium. Recent studies in the field have illustrated the crucial role of ECM in supporting Sertoli and germ cell function in the seminiferous epithelium, including the BTB dynamics. In this chapter, we summarize some of the latest findings in the field regarding the functional role of ECM in spermatogenesis using the adult rat testis as a model. We also high light specific areas of research that deserve attention for investigators in the field