Monitoring distributed object and component communication

This thesis presents our work in the area of monitoring distributed software applications (DSAs). We produce three main results: (1) a design approach for building monitoring systems, (2) a design of a system for MOnitoring Distributed Object and Component Communication (MODOCC) behavior in middleware-based applications, and (3) a proof-of-concept implementation of this system

Modeling of the Radial Heat Flow and Cooling Processes in a Deep Ultraviolet Cu

An improved theoretical model of the gas temperature profile in the cross-section of an ultraviolet copper ion excited copper bromide laser is developed. The model is based on the solution of the one-dimensional heat conduction equation subject to special nonlinear boundary conditions, describing the heat interaction between the laser tube and its surroundings. It takes into account the nonuniform distribution of the volume power density along with the radius of the laser tube. The problem is reduced to the boundary value problem of the first kind. An explicit solution of this model is obtained. The model is applied for the evaluation of the gas temperature profiles of the laser in the conditions of free and forced air-cooling. Comparison with other simple models assumed constant volume power density is made. In particular, a simple expression for calculating the average gas temperature is found

Favipiravir vs. Deferiprone: Tautomeric, photophysical, in vitro biological studies, and binding interactions with SARS-Cov-2-MPro/ACE2

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) still remains the most disastrous infection continuously affecting millions of people worldwide. Herein, we performed a comparative study between the anti-influenza drug favipiravir (FAV) and the anti-thalassemia drug deferiprone (DFP) in order to examine their potential as basic scaffolds for the generation of most effective and structurally novel antivirals. To conduct the initial molecular modelling and virtual screening steps, our recently proposed single crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD)/HYdrogen DEssolvation (HYDE) technology platform has been used. This platform allows molecular design, interactive prioritization and virtual evaluation of newly designed molecules, simultaneously affecting two COVID-related targets, including angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as a host-cellular receptor (host-based approach) and the main protease (Mpro) enzyme of the spike glycoprotein of SARS-Cov-2 (virus-based approach). Based on the molecular docking results, DFP has shown higher binding affinity (Ki HYDE values) over FAV towards both biological targets. The tautomeric, physicochemical, and biological properties of FAV and DFP have been studied both experimentally and theoretically using molecular spectroscopy (UV–VIS absorption), parallel artificial membrane permeability assay, and cell biology (PAMPA and MTT assay), as well as DFT quantum chemical calculations. According to the obtained results, the enol tautomers of both compounds are considerably more stable in different organic solvents. However, the keto tautomer of FAV was estimated to be most preferable under physiological conditions, which is in good agreement with the molecular docking studies. The isolated crystal structure of DFP is in an excellent agreement with the computation in respect of the most stable tautomer. Combined single X-ray/molecular modeling studies including HYDE analyses provided not only insights into the protein–ligand interactions within the binding site of SARS-Cov-2-ACE2 and SARS-Cov-2-Mpro, but also a valuable information regarding the most stable enol tautomeric form of DFP that contributes to its estimated higher potency against these targets

Lycopene: total-scale literature landscape analysis of a valuable nutraceutical with numerous potential applications in the promotion of human and animal health

Lycopene intake from tomatoes and other food sources has multiple potential health benefits. This report aimed to evaluate the current research literature on lycopene concerning human and animal health. The electronic Web of Science Core Collection database was searched with (lycopene*) AND (health* OR illness* OR disease* OR medic* OR pharma* OR drug* OR therap*). The resulted 3972 papers were analyzed with the aid of bibliometric software. Besides the United States, the lycopene papers received global contributions, particularly from China, Italy, India, and Spain. Examples of frequently mentioned chemicals/chemical classes were carotenoid, beta carotene, alpha carotene, beta cryptoxanthin, and alpha tocopherol. Examples of frequently mentioned medical conditions were prostate cancer, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. Published scientific articles reveal the diverse potential of lycopene in prompting human and animal health, and the knowledge on the bioactivities of this phytoche(undefined)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Dysbacteriosis and the Dysregulation of the Brain-Gut Axis as Pathophysiological Mechanisms of Neuropsychiatric Disorders

The central nervous system (CNS) and the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) form numerous connections that are often referred to in the scientific literature as the brain-gut axis. It includes structures from the enteric nervous system, the sympathetic nervous system and the spinal nerves, the vagus nerve and the endocrine system. A number of neurotransmitters and hormones take part in the formation of the nexuses of the brain-gut axis, one of them being serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT). 5-HT is a neurotransmitter synthesized from tryptophan in the serotonergic neurons of the CNS (10%) and the enterochromaffin cells of the GIT (90%). A number of publications point to the contribution of the intestinal microflora—in particular anaerobic bacteria, such as Turicibacter sanguinis, Akkermansia muciniphila, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus Rhamnosus, and other bacteria of the normal gut microbiome, in the regulation of the levels of 5-HT in the GIT and the brain-gut axis. The colonization of the GIT with pathogenic bacteria and dysbacteriosis can cause dysregulation in the brain gut-axis, which in turn can affect the function of the CNS. Research shows that such dysregulations take part in the pathogenesis of a number of gastrointestinal diseases (inflammatory bowel disease) and neuropsychiatric disorders (depression, anxiety and panic disorders, autism and multiple sclerosis). The aim of our research is to review the existing scientific literature on this topic and to clarify the role of dysbacteriosis as a pathophysiological mechanism in neuropsychiatric disorders. The constant increase in the cases of people with depression, anxiety, and panic disorders predetermines the need of researching the connections between the intestinal microbiome and the 5-HT levels in the CNS in hopes of finding new ways to prevent and treat these disorders

Characterization of enterococci isolated from homemade Bulgarian cheeses and katuk

International audienceA collection of 107 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolates was obtained from traditional Bulgarian dairy products--homemade cheeses and katuk samples, produced from heat-treated cow, goat, ewe and buffalo milk without the addition of any bacterial starter culture. The samples were collected from mountain region of Rhodope (south part of Bulgaria), Tracian valley and mountain region of Stara Planina (west part of Bulgaria). These LAB produced bacteriocin-like inhibitory substances (BLIS) and proteinases. Preliminary strain determination was performed according to their fermentation ability using API 50CHL and API 20 Strep. Most of the characterized strains (58) belong to genus Enterococcus; 21, 20 and 11 strains were identified as Lactobacillus sp., Streptococcus sp. and Lactococcus sp., respectively. Isolated enterococcal strains were characterized using phenotypic features as well as by DNA typing. The strains were identified as Enterococcus faecium (34), Enterococcus durans (22) and Enterococcus faecalis (2). The proteolytic activity varied from 0.094 to 0.455 mM/L Gly into the group of E. faecium and from 0.109 to 0.487 mM/L Gly into the group of E. durans strains, while both E. faecalis strains showed relatively high proteolytic activity. The samples obtained after 3 h of hydrolysis of b-casein by E. faecalis B1 strain were further used for mass spectrometry analysis, and 31 peptides were identified