Genetic changes induced by space flight factors in barley seeds on Soyuz-5 and Soyuz-9 craft

Air-dry seeds of the barley Zimujuschij moscowskyi of the 1969 harvest were taken into space onboard the spaceships Soyuz-5 and Soyuz-9. A cytological study of the mitoses in meristemic cells in rootlet terminals revealed that space flight factors (SFF) in nonirradiated seeds induced about 3% of aberrant cells. After irradiation the effect of SFF increased over two-fold. Although the radio protectors ensured the seeds against from the SFF-induced damage either in irradiated or nonirradiated seed cells which is inconsistent with the previously obtained data

Optical properties of ZnO and Al2O3 implanted with silver ions

ZnO and Al2O3 samples implanted with 30-keV silver ions with fluences in the interval (0.25-1.00) × 1017 ions/cm2 are studied by the method of optical photometry in the visible part of the spectrum. The optical transmission spectra of the implanted samples exhibit a selective band associated with surface plasmon resonance absorption of silver nanoparticles. The intensity of this band nonmonotonically depends on the implantation fluence. The silver ion depth distribution in the samples is calculated. It is shown that the non-monotonicity observed in experiments is due to an increase in the substrate sputtering ratio with increasing implantation fluence. It is found that vacuum thermal annealing of the implanted Al2O3 layers up to 700°C causes a considerable narrowing of the plasmon absorption bandwidth without a tangible change in its intensity. At higher annealing temperatures, the plasmon absorption band broadens and its intensity drops. Annealing of the ZnO films under such conditions causes their complete vaporization. © 2014 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd

Effects of nickel ions implantation and subsequent thermal annealing on structural and magnetic properties of titanium dioxide

© Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd. Wide bandgap semiconducting rutile (TiO2) doped with 3d-elements is a promising material for spintronic applications. In our work a composite material of TiO2:Ni has been formed by using implantation of Ni+ ions into single-crystalline (100)- and (001)- plates of TiO2. Sub-micron magnetic layers of TiO2 containing nickel dopant have been obtained at high implantation fluence of 1×1017 ion/cm2. A part of the implanted samples was then annealed in vacuum at different temperatures T ann 450-1200 K for 30 min. The influence of the implantation fluence, crystalline orientation, as well as subsequent annealing on the structural and magnetic properties of the nickel-implanted TiO2 have been investigated by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and coil magnetometry techniques

Optical and electrical studies of ZnO thin films heavily implanted with silver ions

© Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd. Thin films of zinc oxide (ZnO) with the thickness of 200 nm have been deposited on quartz substrates by using ion-beam sputtering technique. Then Ag+ ions with the energy of 30 keV have been implanted into as-deposited ZnO films to the fluences in the range of (0.25-1.00)×1017 ions/cm2 to form ZnO:Ag composite layers with different concentrations of the silver impurity. The analysis of the microstructure has shown that the thickness of the ZnO film decreases, and the Ag dopant concentration tends to the saturation with increasing Ag implantation fluence. The ZnO:Ag composite layers reveal the optical selective absorption at the wavelength of the surface plasmon resonance that is typical for silver nanoparticles dispersed in the ZnO matrix. The red shift of the plasmon resonance peak from 480 to 500 nm is observed with the increase in the implantation fluence to 0.75×1017 Ag ions/cm2. Then the absorption peak position starts the backward motion, and the absorption intensity decreases with the subsequent increase in the implantation fluence. The non-monotonic dependence of the absorption peak position on the implantation fluence has been analyzed within of Maxwell Garnet theory and taking into account the strong sputtering of ZnO films during implantation. The ZnO:Ag composite layers exhibit the p-type conductivity indicating that a part of Ag+ ions is in the form of acceptor impurities implanted into the ZnO lattice

Introduction to geographic information systems (GIS)

The presentation reviews the development and application of geographic information systems (GIS) in terms of its capacity to store information about the world as a collection of thematic layers that can be linked together by geography. The real world consists of many geographies which in GIS can be represented with a number of related data layers such as: hydrology, topography, land use, soil, streets, utilities, districts etc. GIS analytical capabilities provide access to raw data, which can then be aggregated or reclassified

Effect of implantation regimes of silver ions on the structure and optical properties of zinc-oxide nanocrystalline films

© 2016, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.Thin (about 270 nm) nanocrystalline films of zinc oxide (ZnO) are obtained on quartz substrates using ion sputtering and irradiated with Ag+ ions at an energy of 30 keV and relatively high fluences at ion current densities of 4, 8, and 12 µA/cm2. The X-ray analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and optical spectroscopy are used to study the effect of irradiation dose and ion current density on the structural modification and optical properties of the ZnO films. Nontrivial dependences of the structural and optical parameters of the films on the ion irradiation regimes are due to radiation heating and film sputtering under the action of the ion beam, diffusion of impurity, formation of silver nanoparticles in the irradiated layer at high implantation fluences, and the diffusion of implanted impurity at relatively high ion current densities

Structure and optical properties of ZnO with silver nanoparticles

© 2016, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd. Textured nanocrystalline ZnO thin films are synthesized by ion beam assisted deposition. According to X-ray diffraction data, the crystallite size is ~25 nm. Thin (~15 nm) ZnO layers containing Ag nanoparticles are formed in a thin surface region of the films by the implantation of Ag ions with an energy of 30 keV and a dose in the range (0.25–1) × 1017 ion/cm2. The structure and optical properties of the layers are studied. Histograms of the size distribution of Ag nanoparticles are obtained. The average size of the Ag nanoparticles varies from 0.5 to 1.5–2 nm depending on the Ag-ion implantation dose. The optical transmittance of the samples in the visible and ultraviolet regions increases, as the implantation dose is increased. The spectra of the absorption coefficient of the implanted films are calculated in the context of the (absorbing film)/(transparent substrate) model. It is found that the main changes in the optical-density spectra occur in the region of ~380 nm, in which the major contribution to absorption is made by Ag nanoparticles smaller than 0.75 nm in diameter. In this spectral region, absorption gradually decreases, as the Ag-ion irradiation dose is increased. This is attributed to an increase in the average size of the Ag nanoparticles. It is established that the broad surface-plasmon-resonance absorption bands typical of nanocomposite ZnO films with Ag nanoparticles synthesized by ion implantation are defined by the fact that the size of the nanoparticles formed does not exceed 1.5–2 nm

The markers of autoimmune inflammation in applied cardiovascular surgery

The negative influence of the autoimmune inflammation on vascular pathomorphology hasn t studied enough. There isn’t algorithm using markers of significant autoimmune inflammation of vascular wall in cardiovascular surgery. The study comprises 94 consecutive patients who were operated on for coronary revascularization. We divided the study into 2 groups (basic and control). Including criteria for basic group was hs-CRP (C-reactive protein) level in serum higher than 6 mg/l. as marker of vascular autoimmune inflammation. Control group included patients without vascular inflammation and with hs-CRP ievel in serum below 6 mg/l. Groups were compared on 28 clinical, laboratory and instrumental criteria. We found significant (p<0,005) clinical markers of intravascular inflammation in 26 (55%) patients from basic group, this fact made us to appoint immunotherapy in this patient before coronary revascularization. The use of immunotherapy in patient with intravascular inflammation before operation reduced the number of postoperative tromboembolic complications on 33% and mortality — on 23,8% (p<0,005). We suggest that our markers of autoimmune vascular inflammation are effective in clinical practice. Preoperative immunotherapy can prevent postoperative tromboembolic complications in patients undergoing coronary revascularization.Отрицательное влияние аутоиммунного воспалительного компонента на течение сосудистого патоморфоза в настоящее время мало изучено. До настоящего времени не разработан алгоритм с использованием маркеров аутоиммунного клинически значимого воспаления сосудистой стенки в сердечно-сосудистой хирургии. Проведено углубленное обследование 94 больных с ишемической болезнью сердца, направленных на хирургическую реваскуляризацию миокарда. Из всех пациентов было сформировано 2 равные группы (основная и контрольная). Критерием включения в основную группу был уровень С-реактивного белка (СРВ) в плазме крови выше 6 мг/л, как маркера сосудистого аутоиммунного воспаления. Контрольная группа включала пациентов без признаков воспаления сосудистого русла, с уровнем СРБ<6 мг/л. Сравнение полученных групп производилось по 28 клинико-лабораторным и инструментальным критериям. Во время исследования у пациентов из основной группы были выявлены статистически значимые (р<0,05) клинические маркеры внутрисосудистого воспаления, что потребовало проведение предоперационной иммуннокоррегирующей терапии у 26 (55%) пациентов основной группы. Проведенная иммунокоррекция позволила снизить процент послеоперационных тромботических осложнений на 33%, а смертность на 23,8% (р<0,05). Полученные результаты свидетельствуют об эффективности использованных нами маркеров внутрисосудистого воспаления в клинической практике, а проведение иммуннокоррекции позволило избежать послеоперационных тромботических осложнений

Fine-Scale Mapping of Natural Variation in Fly Fecundity Identifies Neuronal Domain of Expression and Function of an Aquaporin

To gain insight into the molecular genetic basis of standing variation in fitness related traits, we identify a novel factor that regulates the molecular and physiological basis of natural variation in female Drosophila melanogaster fecundity. Genetic variation in female fecundity in flies derived from a wild orchard population is heritable and largely independent of other measured life history traits. We map a portion of this variation to a single QTL and then use deficiency mapping to further refine this QTL to 5 candidate genes. Ubiquitous expression of RNAi against only one of these genes, an aquaporin encoded by Drip, reduces fecundity. Within our mapping population Drip mRNA level in the head, but not other tissues, is positively correlated with fecundity. We localize Drip expression to a small population of corazonin producing neurons located in the dorsolateral posterior compartments of the protocerebrum. Expression of Drip–RNAi using both the pan-neuronal ELAV-Gal4 and the Crz-Gal4 drivers reduces fecundity. Low-fecundity RILs have decreased Crz expression and increased expression of pale, the enzyme encoding the rate-limiting step in the production of dopamine, a modulator of insect life histories. Taken together these data suggest that natural variation in Drip expression in the corazonin producing neurons contributes to standing variation in fitness by altering the concentration of two neurohormones