Influence of the photon - neutrino processes on magnetar cooling

The photon-neutrino processes $\gamma e^{\pm} \to e^{\pm} \nu \bar \nu$, $\gamma \to \nu \bar \nu$ and $\gamma \gamma \to \nu \bar \nu$ are investigated in the presence of a strongly magnetized and dense electron-positron plasma. The amplitudes of the reactions $\gamma e^{\pm} \to e^{\pm} \nu \bar \nu$ and $\gamma \gamma \to \nu \bar \nu$ are obtained. In the case of a cold degenerate plasma contributions of the considering processes to neutrino emissivity are calculated. It is shown that contribution of the process $\gamma \gamma \to \nu \bar \nu$ to neutrino emissivity is supressed in comparision with the contributions of the processes $\gamma e^{\pm} \to e^{\pm} \nu \bar \nu$ and $\gamma \to \nu \bar \nu$. The constraint on the magnetic field strength in the magnetar outer crust is obtained.Comment: 8 pages, LaTeX, 2 PS figures, based on the talk presented by D.A. Rumyantsev at the XV International Seminar Quarks'2008, Sergiev Posad, Moscow Region, May 23-29, 2008, to appear in the Proceeding

Results of a search for 2β\beta-decay of 136^{136}Xe with high-pressure copper proportional counters in Baksan Neutrino Observatory

The experiment for the 2$\beta$-decay of $^{136}$Xe search with two high-pressure copper proportional counters has been held in Baksan neutrino observatory. The search for the process is based on comparison of spectra measured with natural and enriched xenon. No evidence has been found for 2$\beta$(2$\nu$)- and 2$\beta$(0$\nu$)-decay. The decay half lifetime limit based on data measured during 8000 h is T$_{1/2}$$\geq8.5\cdot10^{21}$yr for 2$\nu$-mode and T$_{1/2}$$\geq3.1\cdot10^{23}$yr for 0$\nu$-mode (90%C.L.).Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures; talk at the NANP'05 Conference; submitted to Phys. At. Nuc

Induced resistance to the greenbug aphid Schizaphis graminum Rond. in species of the genus Triticum

The greenbug aphid Schizaphis graminum Rond. causes a significant loss of the grain harvest. Therefore, to improve plant resistance to aphids is one of the topical tasks. The problem of creating varieties resistant to phloem-feeding insects is quite urgent, since the mechanisms procuring the resistance of plants to insects are not fully understood. Nevertheless, modern literature describes some mechanisms associated with changes in the redox state of colonized plants. Besides, attention is being increasingly focused on the study of mechanisms that underlie inducible resistance to aphids in wheat and are regulated by hormonal signaling systems. To detect connections among the redox status, indicators of resistance (antibiosis and endurance) of wheat plants to the pest, and induction of the jasmonate (JA) and salicylate (SA) signaling pathways, we studied accessions of three species of wheat plants – Triticum aestivum L., T. monococcum., and T. timopheevii Zhuk.– infested with S. graminum greenbugs by physiological, biochemical, and molecular methods. Analysis of antibiosis and endurance showed that T. timopheevii k-58666 and T. monococcum k-39471 were resistant to S. graminum, the latter accession being the most enduring. High hydrogen peroxide contents and high peroxidase activities were detected in the resistant plants. We investigated the expression of genes encoding PR proteins, including markers and regulators of the salicylate (TaRboh, TaPAL, Tapr1, TaPrx) and jasmonate (TaPI, TaLOX, TaPrx) signaling pathways. At the early stage of infestation in the susceptible T. aestivum variety Salavat Yulaev, the expression of only jasmonate-dependent genes was activated in response to plant damage. In the resistant T. timopheevii accession k-58666, expression of only salicylate-dependent genes was activated, while the aphid reproduction was practically absent. In the resistant T. monococcum accession k-39471, expression was activated in both the salicylate-dependent and jasmonate-dependent gene groups. We assume that the oxidative burst in the resistant forms of wheat was induced via the activation of the SA signaling pathway, which was of crucial importance in the further cascade of chemical reactions leading to the development of resistance

Detection of hidden explosives and drugs

Technical discussions of advanced mass spectrometry methods for explosives and drug detection are presented. The discussions are part of an effort to develop fast neutron alternative technologies and optimal synergistic detection systems. Topics covered include: (1) general assessment of detection applications of neutronic techniques, (2) the US Argonne National Laboratory inelastic scattering approach; (3) the Russian Kurchatov Institute elastic scattering approach, and (4) benefits of combining the Argonne and Kurchatov approaches. Specific areas for modeling and analysis are noted. 11 refs., 8 figs

Effect of the host-specific toxin SnTOX3 from Stagonospora nodorum on ethylene signaling pathway regulation and redox-state in common wheat

The fungus Stagonospora nodorum Berk. is the causative agent of Septoria nodorum blotch (SNB) of wheat. The most important factors of Stagonospora nodorum virulence include numerous fungal necrotrophic effectors (NEs) encoded by SnTox genes. They interact with the matching products of host susceptibility genes (Snn). SnTox-Snn interactions are mirror images of classical gene-for-gene interactions and lead to the development of disease. We have studied the SnTox3-Snn3 interaction, resulting in the development of infection on leaves and formation of extensive lesions. The mechanism of SnTox3 action is likely to be linked to the regulation of redox metabolism and the influence on ethylene synthesis in the wheat plants, although the molecular mechanisms are not fully unveiled. To characterize the SnTox3-Snn3 interaction, we used S. nodorum isolates differing in the expression of the NEs genes SnTox3 (SnB (Tox3+), Sn4VD (Tox3–)) and two soft spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars, contrasting in resistance to the SNB agent and differing in the allelic composition of the susceptibility locus Snn3-B1: Kazakhstanskaya 10 (susceptible) and Omskaya 35 (resistant). We carried out a comparative assessment of the transcriptional activity patterns of genes responsible for ethylene biosynthesis (TaACS1, TaACО) and signaling pathway (TaEIL1, TaERF1) by real-time PCR and estimated the redox state of wheat plants infected with different isolates of S. nodorum by spectrometry. The induction of ethylene biosynthesis and signaling has been shown to result from gene-for-gene interaction between Snn3-B1 and SnTox3. The results of plant redox status estimation showed that ethylene inhibited accumulation of hydrogen peroxide in SnTox3-sensitive genotypes by regulating the operation of various pro-/antioxidant enzymes at the transcriptional and posttranslational levels. Our results suggest that NE SnTox3 influences ethylene biosynthesis and signaling, thereby regulating redox metabolism in infected wheat plants as necessary for successful host colonization at the initial phases of infection, which ultimately leads to extensive lesions due to fast pathogen reproduction

DDAO Controlled Synthesis of Organo-Modified Silica Nanoparticles with Encapsulated Fluorescent Boron Dipyrrins and Study of Their Uptake by Cancerous Cells

The design of cargo carriers with high biocompatibility, unique morphological characteristics, and capability of strong bonding of fluorescent dye is highly important for the development of a platform for smart imaging and diagnostics. In this paper, BODIPY-doped silica nanoparticles were prepared through a "one-pot" soft-template method using a sol-gel process. Several sol-gel precursors have been used in sol-gel synthesis in the presence of soft-template to obtain the silica-based materials with the most appropriate morphological features for the immobilization of BODIPY molecules. Obtained silica particles have been shown to be non-cytotoxic and can be effectively internalized into the cervical cancer cell line (HeLa). The described method of synthesis allows us to obtain silica-based carriers with an immobilized fluorescent dye that provide the possibility for real-time imaging and detection of these carriers