2D/3D Metallic Nano-objects Self-Organized in an Organic Molecular Thin Film

We present the fabrication and investigation of the properties of nanocomposite structures consisting of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) metallic nano-objects self-organized on the surface and inside of organic molecular thin-film copper tetrafluorophthalocyanine (CuPcF4). Metallic atoms, deposited under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions onto the organic ultrathin film, diffuse along the surface and self-assemble into a system of 2D metallic overlayers. At the same time, the majority of the metal atoms diffuse into the organic matrix and self-organize into 3D nanoparticles (NPs) in a well-defined manner. The evolution of the morphology and electronic properties of such structures as a function of nominal metal content is studied under UHV conditions using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) techniques. Using HR-TEM, we have observed the periodicity of atomic planes of individual silver NPs. The steady formation of agglomerates from individual single nanocrystallites with intercrystallite boundaries is observed as well. PES reveals generally weak chemical interactions between silver and the organic matrix and n-doping of CuPcF4 at the initial stages of silver deposition, which is associated with charge transfer from the 2D wetting layer on the basis of core-level spectra shift analysis. Copyright © 2020 American Chemical Society

North Pacific versus North Atlantic: a case with species of the amphiboreal littoral mite genus Thalassogamasus gen. nov. (Parasitifomes, Mesostigmata Parasitidae)

Makarova, Olga L. (2019): North Pacific versus North Atlantic: a case with species of the amphiboreal littoral mite genus Thalassogamasus gen. nov. (Parasitifomes, Mesostigmata Parasitidae). Zootaxa 4647 (1): 457-485, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.4647.1.2

Description of Oromurcia magadanensis sp. nov. (Acari, Oribatida, Ceratozetidae) from Russia, with remarks on biogeography of the genus Oromurcia Thor, 1930

Ermilov, Sergey G., Makarova, Olga L., Behan-Pelletier, Valerie M. (2022): Description of Oromurcia magadanensis sp. nov. (Acari, Oribatida, Ceratozetidae) from Russia, with remarks on biogeography of the genus Oromurcia Thor, 1930. Zootaxa 5187 (1): 30-52, DOI: https://doi.org/10.11646/zootaxa.5187.1.

Human U4/U6.U5 and U4atac/U6atac.U5 Tri-snRNPs Exhibit Similar Protein Compositions

In the U12-dependent spliceosome, the U4atac/U6atac snRNP represents the functional analogue of the major U4/U6 snRNP. Little information is available presently regarding the protein composition of the former snRNP and its association with other snRNPs. In this report we show that human U4atac/U6atac di-snRNPs associate with U5 snRNPs to form a 25S U4atac/U6atac.U5 trimeric particle. Comparative analysis of minor and major tri-snRNPs by using immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that their protein compositions are very similar, if not identical. Not only U5-specific proteins but, surprisingly, all tested U4/U6- and major tri-snRNP-specific proteins were detected in the minor tri-snRNP complex. Significantly, the major tri-snRNP-specific proteins 65K and 110K, which are required for integration of the major tri-snRNP into the U2-dependent spliceosome, were among those proteins detected in the minor tri-snRNP, raising an interesting question as to how the specificity of addition of tri-snRNP to the corresponding spliceosome is maintained. Moreover, immunodepletion studies demonstrated that the U4/U6-specific 61K protein, which is involved in the formation of major tri-snRNPs, is essential for the association of the U4atac/U6atac di-snRNP with U5 to form the U4atac/U6atac.U5 tri-snRNP. Subsequent immunoprecipitation studies demonstrated that those proteins detected in the minor tri-snRNP complex are also incorporated into U12-dependent spliceosomes. This remarkable conservation of polypeptides between minor and major spliceosomes, coupled with the absence of significant sequence similarity between the functionally analogous snRNAs, supports an evolutionary model in which most major and minor spliceosomal proteins, but not snRNAs, are derived from a common ancestor

Rol' disgemoglobinemiy v patogeneze sosudistykh narusheniy u zhenshchin s sakharnym diabetom 2 tipa v period perimenopauzy

Цель. Оценка особенностей функционирования гемического компонента кисло- родтранспортной системы у женщин с СД 2 типа в период перименопаузы. Материалы и методы. В исследовании принимали участие 45 женщин в возрасте 42- 50 лет. 1-ю группу составили 24 женщины с СД 2 типа в фазе перименопаузы в возрасте 45-50 лет. Во 2?ю группу вошла 21 женщина без СД в возрасте 44-49 лет. Больные к моменту исследований находились в состоянии субкомпенсации СД. Всем обследуемым (п=45) проводилось определение газового и кислотно-основного состава капиллярной крови с одновременной СО-оксиметрией, определение HbAlc. Результаты. Уровень HbAlc у женщин, больных СД 2, типа оказался в 1.4 раза выше в сравнении с их здоровыми сверстницами. Оксигемоглобин (O2Hb) в группе женщин с СД 2 типа оказался несколько ниже, чем в группе контроля. При этом содержание фракции деоксигемоглобина (НHb) оказалось одинаковым в обеих группах. Процентное содержание фракции СОHb у женщин, больных СД 2 типа, оказалось в 2 раза выше, чем в группе контроля. Процент MetHb в обеих группах не превышал физиологические нормы (до 2%). Однако у женщин с СД 2 типа данный показатель оказался в 1.4 раза выше, чем в группе сравнения, а пул функционального гемоглобина у больных СД 2 типа был меньше, чем у женщин без СД. Выводы. Увеличение процентного содержания основных фракций гемоглобина (HbAlc, СОНЬ, MetHb) приводит к снижению кислородтранспортной функции гемоглобина. Дисгемоглобинемия с последующей тканевой гипоксией является одним из звеньев в патогенезе сосудистых нарушений у женщин с СД 2 типа в период перименопаузы

Enrichment and Molecular Analysis of Breast Cancer Disseminated Tumor Cells from Bone Marrow Using Microfiltration.

PURPOSE:Molecular characterization of disseminated tumor cells (DTCs) in the bone marrow (BM) of breast cancer (BC) patients has been hindered by their rarity. To enrich for these cells using an antigen-independent methodology, we have evaluated a size-based microfiltration device in combination with several downstream biomarker assays. METHODS:BM aspirates were collected from healthy volunteers or BC patients. Healthy BM was mixed with a specified number of BC cells to calculate recovery and fold enrichment by microfiltration. Specimens were pre-filtered using a 70 μm mesh sieve and the effluent filtered through CellSieve microfilters. Captured cells were analyzed by immunocytochemistry (ICC), FISH for HER-2/neu gene amplification status, and RNA in situ hybridization (RISH). Cells eluted from the filter were used for RNA isolation and subsequent qRT-PCR analysis for DTC biomarker gene expression. RESULTS:Filtering an average of 14×106 nucleated BM cells yielded approximately 17-21×103 residual BM cells. In the BC cell spiking experiments, an average of 87% (range 84-92%) of tumor cells were recovered with approximately 170- to 400-fold enrichment. Captured BC cells from patients co-stained for cytokeratin and EpCAM, but not CD45 by ICC. RNA yields from 4 ml of patient BM after filtration averaged 135ng per 10 million BM cells filtered with an average RNA Integrity Number (RIN) of 5.3. DTC-associated gene expression was detected by both qRT-PCR and RISH in filtered spiked or BC patient specimens but, not in control filtered normal BM. CONCLUSIONS:We have tested a microfiltration technique for enrichment of BM DTCs. DTC capture efficiency was shown to range from 84.3% to 92.1% with up to 400-fold enrichment using model BC cell lines. In patients, recovered DTCs can be identified and distinguished from normal BM cells using multiple antibody-, DNA-, and RNA-based biomarker assays

2D/3D Metallic Nano-objects Self-Organized in an Organic Molecular Thin Film

We present the fabrication and investigation of the properties of nanocomposite structures consisting of two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) metallic nano-objects self-organized on the surface and inside of organic molecular thin-film copper tetrafluorophthalocyanine (CuPcF$_4$). Metallic atoms, deposited under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions onto the organic ultrathin film, diffuse along the surface and self-assemble into a system of 2D metallic overlayers. At the same time, the majority of the metal atoms diffuse into the organic matrix and self-organize into 3D nanoparticles (NPs) in a well-defined manner. The evolution of the morphology and electronic properties of such structures as a function of nominal metal content is studied under UHV conditions using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM), and photoelectron spectroscopy (PES) techniques. Using HR-TEM, we have observed the periodicity of atomic planes of individual silver NPs. The steady formation of agglomerates from individual single nanocrystallites with intercrystallite boundaries is observed as well. PES reveals generally weak chemical interactions between silver and the organic matrix and n-doping of CuPcF$_4$ at the initial stages of silver deposition, which is associated with charge transfer from the 2D wetting layer on the basis of core-level spectra shift analysis

Biodiversity revision of a large arctic region as a basis for its monitoring and protection under conditions of active economic development (Nenetsky Autonomous Okrug, Russia)

In the scope of implementing a UNDP / GEF / Ministry of Nature project, a database and a GIS to consider the biodiversity of the Nenetsky Autonomous Okrug were developed. They include information on 2035 animal and 1640 plant species, belonging to 15 model groups. Data were obtained using publications and unpublished sources, the results of studying collections / herbaria of four institutes of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and data of fieldwork (2015) conducted in three coastal areas of Bolshezemelskaya Tundra. The taxonomic richness of the Nenetsky Autonomous Okrug biota is not lower (even higher in some animal groups) than in other large Arctic regions (e.g. Taymyr and Greenland). Some new vegetation syntaxa have been described. And some phytogeographic boundaries have been established. Several animal taxa have been described for the first time for science. Some of species were neither previously recorded in the Nenetsky Autonomous Okrug nor formerly known from Europe («Siberian» species), nor from Russia. Concerning types of ranges, the proportion of species having predominantly Siberian / East Palaearctic / Siberian-Nearctic ranges varied in different model groups from 0% to 30%. The fraction of arctic (in a wide sense) species ranged from 0% to 29%. We considered the status of the natural environment of the Nenetsky Autonomous Okrug to be satisfactory so far as its destruction is particularly local. We strongly confirm the need to create new Protected Areas. The material obtained during the project processing has been applied to the organisation of sanctuaries in the Khaipudyrskaya Bay and Pakhancheskaya Bay, Barents Sea