New method of measuring µ-focus spots of X-ray tubes

The practice of non-destructive testing shows that despite the whole range of working standards that define the methods of measurement of µ-focus spot sizes, the consistency and spread of the obtained results are considered unsatisfactory. In the meantime, knowing the accurate size of µ-focus spot is the determinant factor in optimization of control parameters, which is often carried out with geometric magnification. A new design of test object is proposed, a new method of differentiated line profiles of test object digital image is developed and tested, the computing chain and allowances are described. The obtained results have formed the basis for elaboration of a Standard to measure µ-focus spot size of an X-ray tube

The use of microarrays for the identification of the origin of genes of avian influenza viruses in wild birds

Forty-two strains of avian influenza viruses were isolated from the wild waterfowls’ feces in the city of Moscow. These viruses, as well as reference strains and some experimental reassortants, were analyzed by microarrays. The microarrays contained 176 probes to the different segments of influenza virus genome. The microarray helps to determine 1) the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase proteins subtype; 2) the primary structure of the C-terminal sequence of the viral NS1 protein, which serves as a ligand for the PDZ domain; 3) the presence of stop codons in the reading frame of PB1-F2 as well as the N66S substitution in the PB1-F2 viral protein; 4) the presence of the polybasic site for hemagglutinin cleavage. The viruses of the H3N1, H3N6, H3N8, H4N6, H1N1, H5N3, and H11N9 subtypes were identified from the group of wild birds’ isolates. All isolates contained the ESEV sequence at the C-terminus of the NS1 protein and the full-length reading frame for the PB1-F2 protein. The replacement of N66S in PB1-F2 was found in six strains. However, the presence of the ESEV sequence (ligand of PDZ domain) in the NS1 virus protein and the N66S substitution in PB1-F2 did not lead to the pathogenicity of these viruses for mice. All isolates demonstrated high yield growth in chicken embryos and were infectious and immunogenic for mice, but did not induce any clinical symptoms.Forty-two strains of avian influenza viruses were isolated from the wild waterfowls’ feces in the city of Moscow. These viruses, as well as reference strains and some experimental reassortants, were analyzed by microarrays. The microarrays contained 176 probes to the different segments of influenza virus genome. The microarray helps to determine 1) the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase proteins subtype; 2) the primary structure of the C-terminal sequence of the viral NS1 protein, which serves as a ligand for the PDZ domain; 3) the presence of stop codons in the reading frame of PB1-F2 as well as the N66S substitution in the PB1-F2 viral protein; 4) the presence of the polybasic site for hemagglutinin cleavage. The viruses of the H3N1, H3N6, H3N8, H4N6, H1N1, H5N3, and H11N9 subtypes were identified from the group of wild birds’ isolates. All isolates contained the ESEV sequence at the C-terminus of the NS1 protein and the full-length reading frame for the PB1-F2 protein. The replacement of N66S in PB1-F2 was found in six strains. However, the presence of the ESEV sequence (ligand of PDZ domain) in the NS1 virus protein and the N66S substitution in PB1-F2 did not lead to the pathogenicity of these viruses for mice. All isolates demonstrated high yield growth in chicken embryos and were infectious and immunogenic for mice, but did not induce any clinical symptoms

Molecular-genetic portrait of virulence of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

Introduction. Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an opportunistic pathogen that is intrinsically resistant to a wide range of antibiotics. The bacterium is associated with a number of serious diseases and makes a significant contribution to the pathogenesis of polymicrobial infections. S. maltophilia has a wide range of virulence factors, information about which is currently presented in the form of scattered and unconsolidated data. Purposes and objectives: critically analyze and summarize current data regarding the molecular-genetic aspects of S. maltophilia virulence for better understanding of the pathogenesis of infections associated with this pathogen. Materials and methods. An analysis of information from 80 modern literary sources devoted to the study of the virulent properties of S. maltophilia at the molecular-genetic level has been carried out. The analysis focuses on the mechanisms of production of virulence factors and their genetic determinants. Results.The molecular mechanisms of virulence that determine the infectious process caused by S. maltophilia have been analyzed and summarized, including the adhesive function of the surface structures of the bacterial cell (lipopolysaccharides, pili/fimbriae, flagella), the production of extracellular enzymes, the ability to form biofilms on abiotic surfaces and on the tissues of the macroorganism, the functioning of efflux pumps, secretion of small molecules into the external environment by the intercellular information exchange system Quorum Sensing, as well as the influence of iron metabolism on the virulence properties of S. maltophilia. Conclusion. The adaptation mechanisms that allow S. maltophilia to adapt to new habitat niches and survive in the human body and unfavorable environmental conditions have been poorly studied. An analytical review summarizing current information on the molecular-genetic aspects of S. maltophilia virulence will be of interest to clinicians and researchers studying the fundamental mechanisms of virulence

How to identify a patient with autoinflammatory syndrome: Clinical and diagnostic algorithms

Autoinflammatory syndromes (AISs) are a group of predominantly hereditary diseases associated with the spontaneous uncontrolled production of proinflammatory cytokines. Most diseases are known to have molecular mechanisms and an inheritance pattern. The paper describes major AISs, such as familial Mediterranean fever; cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (familial cold urticaria, Muckle – Wells syndrome, CINCA/NOMID syndrome); tumor necrosis factor-α receptor-associated periodic syndrome; hyperimmunoglobulinemia D syndrome; periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, cervical adenitis syndrome. An inheritance pattern and molecular defects are characterized for each disease. The principles of diagnosis and therapy are described. The role of interleukin-1 blockers in the therapy of AIS is defined. The most important symptoms that can be used to detect the major forms of AIS are identified. The Gaslini score, a special formula using the clinical symptoms to identify patients at high risk for AIS who need genetic typing and those at low risk for AIS, is described. A clinical diagnostic algorithm is presented, which can be used to detect patients with AIS and to determine indications to and the time of molecular genetic typing, and to choose priority genes

Analysis of the composition of Ti-based thin films deposited on silicon by means of self-ion assisted deposition

The composition of Ti-based thin films deposited on silicon using a self-ion assisted deposition (SIAD) methodwas investigated by utilising the Rutherford backscattering spectrometry technique and RUMP simulation code. Состав тонких пленок на основе Ti, нанесенных на кремний с использованием метода самоионно-ассистированного осаждения (SIAD), был исследован с использованием методики спектрометрии обратного рассеяния Резерфорда и кода моделирования RUMP

Construction of Red Fox Chromosomal Fragments from the Short-Read Genome Assembly

The genome of a red fox (Vulpes vulpes) was recently sequenced and assembled using next-generation sequencing (NGS). The assembly is of high quality, with 94X coverage and a scaffold N50 of 11.8 Mbp, but is split into 676,878 scaffolds, some of which are likely to contain assembly errors. Fragmentation and misassembly hinder accurate gene prediction and downstream analysis such as the identification of loci under selection. Therefore, assembly of the genome into chromosome-scale fragments was an important step towards developing this genomic model. Scaffolds from the assembly were aligned to the dog reference genome and compared to the alignment of an outgroup genome (cat) against the dog to identify syntenic sequences among species. The program Reference-Assisted Chromosome Assembly (RACA) then integrated the comparative alignment with the mapping of the raw sequencing reads generated during assembly against the fox scaffolds. The 128 sequence fragments RACA assembled were compared to the fox meiotic linkage map to guide the construction of 40 chromosomal fragments. This computational approach to assembly was facilitated by prior research in comparative mammalian genomics, and the continued improvement of the red fox genome can in turn offer insight into canid and carnivore chromosome evolution. This assembly is also necessary for advancing genetic research in foxes and other canids

Heat transfer at electrochemical treatment of organic dispersed hydraulic sistems

The proposed model combines electric and temperature fields, when organic dispersed hydraulic systems are subjected to electric-thermochemical treatment. This model has been applied for developing the technologies and equipment for protein production from potato juice, milk whey and for electrolytic activation of yeast productivity. The given model relations are required to establish optimal treatment parameters of media, to impose restriction on technological and design parameters, to define medium flow diagrams in the reactor, electrode and orifice material, ultimate electric field strength and current values, etc

Как распознать пациента с аутовоспалительным синдромом: клинико-диагностические алгоритмы

Autoinflammatory syndromes (AISs) are a group of predominantly hereditary diseases associated with the spontaneous uncontrolled production of proinflammatory cytokines. Most diseases are known to have molecular mechanisms and an inheritance pattern. The paper describes major AISs, such as familial Mediterranean fever; cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (familial cold urticaria, Muckle – Wells syndrome, CINCA/NOMID syndrome); tumor necrosis factor-α receptor-associated periodic syndrome; hyperimmunoglobulinemia D syndrome; periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, cervical adenitis syndrome. An inheritance pattern and molecular defects are characterized for each disease. The principles of diagnosis and therapy are described. The role of interleukin-1 blockers in the therapy of AIS is defined. The most important symptoms that can be used to detect the major forms of AIS are identified. The Gaslini score, a special formula using the clinical symptoms to identify patients at high risk for AIS who need genetic typing and those at low risk for AIS, is described. A clinical diagnostic algorithm is presented, which can be used to detect patients with AIS and to determine indications to and the time of molecular genetic typing, and to choose priority genes.Аутовоспалительные синдромы (АВС) – группа преимущественно наследственных заболеваний, связанных со спонтанной неконтролируемой продукцией провоспалительных цитокинов. Для большинства заболеваний известны молекулярные механизмы и тип наследования. Представлено описание основных АВС, таких как семейная средиземноморская лихорадка, криопирин-ассоциированный периодический синдром (семейная холодовая крапивница, синдром Muckle – Wells, синдром CINCA/NOMID), периодический синдром, связанный с мутацией в гене рецептора фактора некроза опухоли (ФНО) α, синдром гипериммуноглобулинемии D, синдром периодической лихорадки с аденитом, фарингитом и афтозным стоматитом. Для каждого заболевания даны характеристика типа наследования, молекулярный дефект. Описаны принципы диагностики и терапии. Определена роль блокаторов интерлейкина 1 в терапии АВС. Выделены важнейшие симптомы, при помощи которых можно распознать основные формы АВС. Приведена Gaslini score – специальная формула, позволяющая на основании клинических симптомов выделить пациентов с высоко вероятным АВС, которым необходимо генетическое типирование, и пациентов, у которых вероятность АВС невелика. Представлен клинико-диагностический алгоритм, с помощью которого можно распознать пациентов с АВС без отчетливой клинической картины и определить показания и сроки выполнения молекулярно-генетического типирования, выбрать приоритетные гены