Numerical Simulation of Multicomponent Ion Beam from Ion Sources

A program library for numerical simulation of a multicomponent charged particle beam from ion sources is presented. The library is aimed for simulation of high current, low energy multicomponent ion beam from ion source through beamline and realized under the Windows user interface for the IBM PC. It is used for simulation and optimization of beam dynamics and based on successive and consistent application of two methods: the momentum method of distribution function (RMS technique) and particle in cell method. The library has been used to simulate and optimize the transportation of tantalum ion beam from the laser ion source (CERN) and calcium ion beam from the ECR ion source (JINR, Dubna)

SRSF1 modulates the organization of splicing factors in nuclear speckles and regulates transcription

The mammalian cell nucleus is compartmentalized into non-membranous subnuclear domains that regulate key nuclear functions. Nuclear speckles are subnuclear domains that contain pre-mRNA processing factors and non-coding RNAs. Many of the nuclear speckle constituents work in concert to coordinate multiple steps of gene expression, including transcription, pre-mRNA processing and mRNA transport. The mechanism that regulates the formation and maintenance of nuclear speckles in the interphase nucleus is poorly understood. In the present study, we provide evidence for the involvement of nuclear speckle resident proteins and RNA components in the organization of nuclear speckles. SR-family splicing factors and their binding partner, long non-coding MALAT1 RNA, can nucleate the assembly of nuclear speckles in the interphase nucleus. Depletion of SRSF1 in human cells compromises the association of splicing factors to nuclear speckles and influences the levels and activity of other SR proteins. Furthermore, on a stably integrated reporter gene locus, we demonstrate the role for SRSF1 in RNA polymerase II-mediated transcription. Our results suggest that SR proteins mediate the assembly of nuclear speckles and regulate gene expression by influencing both transcriptional and posttranscriptional activities within the cell nucleus

Improving the contact gas of steam-turbine installations of objects of marine infrastructure

Борцов, О. С. Вдосконалення контактних газопаротурбінних установок об’єктів морської інфраструктури = Improving the contact gas of steam-turbine installations of objects of marine infrastructure / О. С. Борцов, А. П. Шевцов // Shipbuilding & Marine Infrastructure. – 2019. – № 1 (11). – С. 66–73.Анотація. У статті досліджено напрями поліпшення техніко-економічних, масогабаритних та екологічних показників за тепловими викидами контактних газопаротурбінних установок під час виробництва механічної, теплової та електричної енергії на об’єктах морської інфраструктури. Визначення техніко-економічних характеристик контактних газопаротурбінних установок виконано для установок потужністю від 4 до 40 МВт. Масогабаритні показники в контактних газопаротурбінних установок показано з урахуванням схемних рішень систем охолодження та теплових викидів у повітря та море. Надходження води в контактний конденсатор як елемент енергетичної установки об’єкта морської інфраструктури за температур охолоджуючої морської води досягається завдяки інтенсифікації тепломасообмінних процесів зі збільшенням швидкості газопарової суміші. Обґрунтування використання запропонованого рішення виконано методами математичного моделювання та аналізу теплотехнічних процесів за сукупної дії контактного конденсатора та охолоджувача.Abstract. In the article, the directions of improvement of technical-economic, weight-size and ecological indicators of heat releases of gas-steam turbine contact installations in the production of mechanical, thermal and electric energy at the facilities of the marine infrastructure are investigated. Determination of technical and economic characteristics of contact gas steam turbine installations is made for installations with capacity from 4 to 40 MW. The weight and dimensions in the contact gas-steam-turbine installations are made with regard to the circuit design of the cooling systems and heat releases into the surrounding air and the sea. The product of water in a direct-contact condenser, as an element of the power plant of a marine infrastructure facility, at cooling temperatures of sea water is achieved due to the intensification of heat and mass transfer processes with an increase in the gas-vapor mixture rate. The substantiation of the use of the proposed solution was made by the methods of mathematical modeling and analysis of thermal processes with the cumulative action of a direct-contact condenser and cooler. It has been proved that when using condenser cooling water with a temperature of 10–25 0C in contact gas-steam-turbine installations, it results in a positive water production at constant rates of steam and gas stream up to 4.5 m/s. Under these conditions, there is a decrease in the flue gas temperature and an increase in the pressure drop of the exhaust gas-vapor mixture, which does not significantly affect the change in power of the power plant. The results of reducing the weight and size indicators of the elements of power plants were obtained for water-cooled cooling systems of steam and gas stream and features of their use during the year in the northern regions of the Black Sea, taking into account the temperature distribution of sea water depending on the depth

Поліпшення масогабаритних показників контактних конденсаторів газопаротурбінних установок для об’єктів морської інфраструктури

Борцов, О. С. Поліпшення масогабаритних показників контактних конденсаторів газопаротурбінних установок для об’єктів морської інфраструктури = Improving weight and overall dimensions of contact condenser of gas steam power plants for marine infrastructure facilities / О. С. Борцов, А. П. Шевцов // Зб. наук. пр. НУК. – Миколаїв : НУК, 2016. – № 3 (465). – С. 37–42.Розглянуто поліпшення контактних конденсаторів газопаротурбінних установок за рахунок збільшення швидкості газопарової суміші.The aim of the article is to decrease the weight and size of the contact condensers of gas-steam turbine plants. The increase of the gas-vapor flow speed is a way to achieve the aim. The results of the research are: heat, gas-dynamic, mass and overall indexes of the contact condenser for the gas-vapor flow speed from 3 to 6 m/s. At the conclusion of research are determined the values of efficiency and specific power of gas-steam turbine plants with contact condensers which have less weight and size.Рассмотрено совершенствование контактных конденсаторов газопаротурбинных установок за счет увеличения скорости газопаровой смеси

Potential of Magnetic Hyperthermia to Stimulate Localized Immune Activation

Magnetic hyperthermia (MH) harnesses the heat-releasing properties of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and has potential to stimulate immune activation in the tumor microenvironment whilst sparing surrounding normal tissues. To assess feasibility of localized MH in vivo, SPIONs are injected intratumorally and their fate tracked by Zirconium-89-positron emission tomography, histological analysis, and electron microscopy. Experiments show that an average of 49% (21-87%, n = 9) of SPIONs are retained within the tumor or immediately surrounding tissue. In situ heating is subsequently generated by exposure to an externally applied alternating magnetic field and monitored by thermal imaging. Tissue response to hyperthermia, measured by immunohistochemical image analysis, reveals specific and localized heat-shock protein expression following treatment. Tumor growth inhibition is also observed. To evaluate the potential effects of MH on the immune landscape, flow cytometry is used to characterize immune cells from excised tumors and draining lymph nodes. Results show an influx of activated cytotoxic T cells, alongside an increase in proliferating regulatory T cells, following treatment. Complementary changes are found in draining lymph nodes. In conclusion, results indicate that biologically reactive MH is achievable in vivo and can generate localized changes consistent with an anti-tumor immune response

Control Strategies for Self-Adaptive Software Systems

The pervasiveness and growing complexity of software systems are challenging software engineering to design systems that can adapt their behavior to withstand unpredictable, uncertain, and continuously changing execution environments. Control theoretical adaptation mechanisms have received growing interest from the software engineering community in the last few years for their mathematical grounding, allowing formal guarantees on the behavior of the controlled systems. However, most of these mechanisms are tailored to specific applications and can hardly be generalized into broadly applicable software design and development processes. This article discusses a reference control design process, from goal identification to the verification and validation of the controlled system. A taxonomy of the main control strategies is introduced, analyzing their applicability to software adaptation for both functional and nonfunctional goals. A brief extract on how to deal with uncertainty complements the discussion. Finally, the article highlights a set of open challenges, both for the software engineering and the control theory research communities

Familial hypercholesterolemia in St.-Petersburg: the known and novel mutations found in the low density lipoprotein receptor gene in Russia

BACKGROUND: Familial hypercholesterolemia is a human monogenic disease caused by population-specific mutations in the low density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor gene. Despite thirteen different mutations of the LDL receptor gene were reported from Russia prior to 2003, the whole spectrum of disease-causing gene alterations in this country is poorly known and requires further investigation provided by the current study. METHODS: Forty-five patients with clinical diagnosis of FH were tested for the apolipoprotein B (apoB) mutation R3500Q by restriction fragment length analysis. After exclusion of R3500Q mutation high-sensitive fluorescent single-strand conformation polymorphism (SSCP) analysis and automatic DNA sequencing were used to search for mutations in the LDL receptor gene. RESULTS: We found twenty one rare sequence variations of the LDL receptor gene. Nineteen were probably pathogenic mutations, and two (P518P, T705I) were considered as neutral ones. Among the mutations likely to be pathogenic, eight were novel (c.670-671insG, C249X, c.936-940del5, c.1291-1331del41, W422X, c.1855-1856insA, D601N, C646S), and eleven (Q12X, IVS3+1G>A, c.651-653del3, E207X, c.925-931del7, C308Y, L380H, c.1302delG, IVS9+1G>A, V776M, V806I) have already been described in other populations. None of the patients had the R3500Q mutation in the apoB gene. CONCLUSIONS: Nineteen pathogenic mutations in the LDL receptor gene in 23 probands were identified. Two mutations c.925-931del7 and L380H are shared by St.-Petersburg population with neighbouring Finland and several other mutations with Norway, Sweden or Denmark, i.e. countries from the Baltic Sea region. Only four mutations (c.313+1G>A, c.651-653del3, C308Y and W422X) were recurrent as all those were found in two unrelated families. By this study the number of known mutations in the LDL receptor gene in St.-Petersburg area was increased nearly threefold. Analysis of all 34 low density lipoprotein receptor gene mutations found in St.-Petersburg argues against strong founder effect in Russian familial hypercholesterolemia

Anthrax in the East Kazakhstan Region

Almost every year in Kazakhstan, cases of diseases of animals and people with anthrax are recorded. The incidence rate of people with anthrax in the period from 2000 to 2018 ranged from 0.01 to 0.24 per 100 thousand people. In the territory of the East Kazakhstan region, the incidence rate is higher than in the republic.Objective: a retrospective analysis of anthrax outbreaks in the East Kazakhstan region from 2000 to 2018.Methods: a retrospective analysis using statistical, cadastral data, archival funds, the results of participation in the investigation of outbreaks of infection.Results. Since 1938, cases of animal and human disease of anthrax have been recorded in East Kazakhstan. Infection of humans occurs during the slaughter of animals. In Zharma, Urjar, and Ayagozskiy areas most of all are anthrax foci of soil. In 67 % of cases, outbreaks of anthrax were recorded in these areas.Conclusion. The relative incidence rate of anthrax in people in East Kazakhstan is from 0.07 to 0.27, since 2001 it is higher than the republican indicator.In the East Kazakhstan region from 1997 to 2018, 37 people fell ill with anthrax. The form of the disease is skin, in 8.1 % secondary sepsis. In the remaining patients, the diseases were mild (70.3 %), ended in recovery. The source of human infection is mainly cattle. The isolated strains of B. anthracis have typical properties, they are included in cluster A1a, A3b (MLVA-8). The strains isolated in 2016 are similar to the strains isolated in the Almaty region (MLVA-25). Grouped with a number of European, Asian and African strains from France, Germany, Italy, Tajikistan, Pakistan, Korea and Namibia. The presence of a significant number of soil foci of anthrax in the territory of the East Kazakhstan region, not fully the implementation of veterinary and sanitary preventive measures leads to an exacerbation of the situation for anthrax

Detection of Apoptosis in Cancer Cells Using Heat Shock Protein 70 and p53 Antibody Conjugated Quantum Dot Nanoparticles

Clinical experience indicates that enhanced level of heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) and p53 correlates with poor prognosis due to malignant cell overexpression of these proteins in tumor progression. Cadmium selenide quantum dots (QDs) were synthesized in aqueous solution using mercaptopropionic acid and L-cysteine (L-Cys) as ligands. They were conjugated with a monoclonal antibody (Ab) to p53 and cmHp70.1 to Hsp70 for detection of cancer cell apoptosis that was demonstrated in the experiment by fluorescent confocal microscopy both for breast carcinoma cells and for thyroid tissue. It is shown that in comparison with organic dyes, quantum dots have superior photostability of tracking apoptosis in cancer cells for longer time

Studies of Anti-Viral Activity of Chemically Synthesized Compounds against Orthopoxviruses <I>in vitro</I>

for ST-246 and NIOC-14 is within the range of 0,001-0,004 µg/ml, and IS for both of them is > 100000. In addition, ST-246 and NIOC-14 chemical compound efficacy, concentrated up to 0,0125; 0,025 and 0,05 µg/ml, in accordance with prophylactic charts describing an impact on ectromelia virus (EV) infectivity in vitro, is consequently 0,6; 3 and 1 lg higher than in case of compound application after an hour of Vero cells infection with EV