New Enhanced Tunneling in Nuclear Processes

The small sub-barrier tunneling probability of nuclear processes can be dramatically enhanced by collision with incident charged particles. Semiclassical methods of theory of complex trajectories have been applied to nuclear tunneling, and conditions for the effects have been obtained. We demonstrate the enhancement of alpha particle decay by incident proton with energy of about 0.25 MeV. We show that the general features of this process are common for other sub-barrier nuclear processes and can be applied to nuclear fission.Comment: RevTex4, 2 figure

Josephson effect in double-barrier superconductor-ferromagnet junctions

We study the Josephson effect in ballistic double-barrier SIFIS planar junctions, consisting of bulk superconductors (S), a clean metallic ferromagnet (F), and insulating interfaces (I). We solve the scattering problem based on the Bogoliubov--de Gennes equations and derive a general expression for the dc Josephson current, valid for arbitrary interfacial transparency and Fermi wave vectors mismatch (FWVM). We consider the coherent regime in which quasiparticle transmission resonances contribute significantly to the Andreev process. The Josephson current is calculated for various parameters of the junction, and the influence of both interfacial transparency and FWVM is analyzed. For thin layers of strong ferromagnet and finite interfacial transparency, we find that coherent (geometrical) oscillations of the maximum Josephson current are superimposed on the oscillations related to the crossover between 0 and $\pi$ states. For the same case we find that the temperature-induced $0-\pi$ transition occurs if the junction is very close to the crossovers at zero temperature.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figure

TLR9 Agonist Protects Mice from Radiation-Induced Gastrointestinal Syndrome

Radiation-induced gastrointestinal syndrome (RIGS) is due to the clonogenic loss of crypt cells and villi depopulation, resulting in disruption of mucosal barrier, bacterial invasion, inflammation and sepsis. Intestinal macrophages could recognize invading bacterial DNA via TLR9 receptors and transmit regenerative signals to the neighboring crypt. We therefore investigated whether systemic administration of designer TLR9 agonist could ameliorate RIGS by activating TLR9.Male C57Bl6 mice were distributed in four experimental cohorts, whole body irradiation (WBI) (8.4-10.4 Gy), TLR9 agonist (1 mg/kg s.c.), 1 h pre- or post-WBI and TLR9 agonist+WBI+iMyd88 (pretreatment with inhibitory peptide against Myd88). Animals were observed for survival and intestine was harvested for histological analysis. BALB/c mice with CT26 colon tumors in abdominal wall were irradiated with 14 Gy single dose of whole abdominal irradiation (AIR) for tumor growth study.Mice receiving pre-WBI TLR9 agonist demonstrated improvement of survival after 10.4 Gy (p<0.03), 9.4 Gy (p<0.008) and 8.4 Gy (p<0.002) of WBI, compared to untreated or iMyd88-treated controls. Post-WBI TLR9 agonist mitigates up to 8.4 Gy WBI (p<0.01). Histological analysis and xylose absorption test demonstrated significant structural and functional restitution of the intestine in WBI+TLR9 agonist cohorts. Although, AIR reduced tumor growth, all animals died within 12 days from RIGS. TLR9 agonist improved the survival of mice beyond 28 days post-AIR (p<0.008) with significant reduction of tumor growth (p<0.0001).TLR9 agonist treatment could serve both as a prophylactic or mitigating agent against acute radiation syndrome and also as an adjuvant therapy to increase the therapeutic ratio of abdominal Radiation Therapy for Gastro Intestinal malignancies

ВОЗМОЖНО ЛИ ВЛИЯНИЕ МИКОПЛАЗМЕННОЙ ИНФЕКЦИИ НА ПАТОГЕНЕЗ РАКА ПРЕДСТАТЕЛЬНОЙ ЖЕЛЕЗЫ?

Objective: to define a possible correlation between Mycoplasma infection persistence and prostate cancer (PC). Subjects and methods. Two hundred and fifty males aged 45 to 83 years (mean age 65.50.71 years) with suspected PC were examined. In all the patients, polyfocal prostate biopsy from 12 points was carried out, by additionally taking 2 tissue columns from the peripheral area of both lobes. The basic material was referred for morphological study; the two additional columns were tested for Mycoplasma DNA by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR. The study was blind. According to the morphological findings, the patients were divided into 2 groups: 1) those with chronic prostatitis, prostate adenoma, low-grade prostatic interstitial neoplasia (PIN); 2) those with high-grade PIN (HG-PIN), PC. There were no age differences between the groups (p = 0.05). Results. The standard procedure for PCR was applied to 127 subjects. Twenty-six (20.5%) of the 127 subjects with suspected PC were found to have Mycoplasma infection, Mycoplasma being detected in 21 (26.2%) of the 81 patients with verified HG-PIN and PC. Mycoplasma hominis was encountered in 19 (15%) patients of the 127 subjects with suspected PC and this infection was present in 16 (20%) of the 81 patients with verified HG-PIN and PC. Comparison of the frequency of HG-PIN and PC in the patients of general group (60%) and in those with Mycoplasma infection (80.8%) revealed significant differences (p = 0.031). HG-PIN and PC were also significantly more frequently seen in the patients with Mycoplasma hominis (84.2%) that in the general patient group (60%) (p = 0.033). There were no significant differences in the frequency of HG-PIN and PC between the patients from the general group (60%) and those with Mycoplasma genitalium (71.4%) (p = 0.05). The patients with verified PC and HG-PIN were more frequently found to have Mycoplasma hominis (20%) than Mycoplasma genitalium (6.2%), which further drew our closer attention to just this pathogen. The real-time PCR was used in 123 subjects to detect Mycoplasma. HG-PIN and prostate adenocarcinoma were revealed in 63 of the 123 patients with suspected PC, Mycoplasma hominis was seen in 46 (37%). The frequency (n=46) was 73.9%. The frequency of HG-PIN and PC was significantly higher in the patients with isolated Mycoplasma hominis DNA that in those without this pathogen (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion. Thus, the investigation showed a significantly higher correlation in the frequency of HG-PIN and PC in the patients with Mycoplasma infection that in the general study patients with suspected PC. This was supported by the use of both the standard procedure for Mycoplasma DNA determination and real-time PCR diagnosis.Objective: to define a possible correlation between Mycoplasma infection persistence and prostate cancer (PC). Subjects and methods. Two hundred and fifty males aged 45 to 83 years (mean age 65.50.71 years) with suspected PC were examined. In all the patients, polyfocal prostate biopsy from 12 points was carried out, by additionally taking 2 tissue columns from the peripheral area of both lobes. The basic material was referred for morphological study; the two additional columns were tested for Mycoplasma DNA by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real-time PCR. The study was blind. According to the morphological findings, the patients were divided into 2 groups: 1) those with chronic prostatitis, prostate adenoma, low-grade prostatic interstitial neoplasia (PIN); 2) those with high-grade PIN (HG-PIN), PC. There were no age differences between the groups (p = 0.05). Results. The standard procedure for PCR was applied to 127 subjects. Twenty-six (20.5%) of the 127 subjects with suspected PC were found to have Mycoplasma infection, Mycoplasma being detected in 21 (26.2%) of the 81 patients with verified HG-PIN and PC. Mycoplasma hominis was encountered in 19 (15%) patients of the 127 subjects with suspected PC and this infection was present in 16 (20%) of the 81 patients with verified HG-PIN and PC. Comparison of the frequency of HG-PIN and PC in the patients of general group (60%) and in those with Mycoplasma infection (80.8%) revealed significant differences (p = 0.031). HG-PIN and PC were also significantly more frequently seen in the patients with Mycoplasma hominis (84.2%) that in the general patient group (60%) (p = 0.033). There were no significant differences in the frequency of HG-PIN and PC between the patients from the general group (60%) and those with Mycoplasma genitalium (71.4%) (p = 0.05). The patients with verified PC and HG-PIN were more frequently found to have Mycoplasma hominis (20%) than Mycoplasma genitalium (6.2%), which further drew our closer attention to just this pathogen. The real-time PCR was used in 123 subjects to detect Mycoplasma. HG-PIN and prostate adenocarcinoma were revealed in 63 of the 123 patients with suspected PC, Mycoplasma hominis was seen in 46 (37%). The frequency (n=46) was 73.9%. The frequency of HG-PIN and PC was significantly higher in the patients with isolated Mycoplasma hominis DNA that in those without this pathogen (p &lt; 0.001). Conclusion. Thus, the investigation showed a significantly higher correlation in the frequency of HG-PIN and PC in the patients with Mycoplasma infection that in the general study patients with suspected PC. This was supported by the use of both the standard procedure for Mycoplasma DNA determination and real-time PCR diagnosis

New Nanostructured Carbon Coating Inhibits Bacterial Growth, but Does Not Influence on Animal Cells

An electrospark technology has been developed for obtaining a colloidal solution containing nanosized amorphous carbon. The advantages of the technology are its low cost and high performance. The colloidal solution of nanosized carbon is highly stable. The coatings on its basis are nanostructured. They are characterized by high adhesion and hydrophobicity. It was found that the propagation of microorganisms on nanosized carbon coatings is significantly hindered. At the same time, eukaryotic animal cells grow and develop on nanosized carbon coatings, as well as on the nitinol medical alloy. The use of a colloidal solution as available, cheap and non-toxic nanomaterial for the creation of antibacterial coatings to prevent biofilm formation seems to be very promising for modern medicine, pharmaceutical and food industries

Small molecule compounds targeting the p53 pathway: are we finally making progress?

Loss of function of p53, either through mutations in the gene or through mutations to other members of the pathway that inactivate wild-type p53, remains a critically important aspect of human cancer development. As such, p53 remains the most commonly mutated gene in human cancer. For these reasons, pharmacologic activation of the p53 pathway has been a highly sought after, yet unachieved goal in developmental therapeutics. Recently progress has been made not only in the discovery of small molecules that target wild-type and mutant p53, but also in the initiation and completion of the first in-human clinical trials for several of these drugs. Here, we review the current literature of drugs that target wild-type and mutant p53 with a focus on small-molecule type compounds. We discuss common means of drug discovery and group them according to their common mechanisms of action. Lastly, we review the current status of the various drugs in the development process and identify newer areas of p53 tumor biology that may prove therapeutically useful

Different Effect of Proteasome Inhibition on Vesicular Stomatitis Virus and Poliovirus Replication

Proteasome activity is an important part of viral replication. In this study, we examined the effect of proteasome inhibitors on the replication of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) and poliovirus. We found that the proteasome inhibitors significantly suppressed VSV protein synthesis, virus accumulation, and protected infected cells from toxic effect of VSV replication. In contrast, poliovirus replication was delayed, but not diminished in the presence of the proteasome inhibitors MG132 and Bortezomib. We also found that inhibition of proteasomes stimulated stress-related processes, such as accumulation of chaperone hsp70, phosphorylation of eIF2α, and overall inhibition of translation. VSV replication was sensitive to this stress with significant decline in replication process. Poliovirus growth was less sensitive with only delay in replication. Inhibition of proteasome activity suppressed cellular and VSV protein synthesis, but did not reduce poliovirus protein synthesis. Protein kinase GCN2 supported the ability of proteasome inhibitors to attenuate general translation and to suppress VSV replication. We propose that different mechanisms of translational initiation by VSV and poliovirus determine their sensitivity to stress induced by the inhibition of proteasomes. To our knowledge, this is the first study that connects the effect of stress induced by proteasome inhibition with the efficiency of viral infection

The neutron and its role in cosmology and particle physics

Experiments with cold and ultracold neutrons have reached a level of precision such that problems far beyond the scale of the present Standard Model of particle physics become accessible to experimental investigation. Due to the close links between particle physics and cosmology, these studies also permit a deep look into the very first instances of our universe. First addressed in this article, both in theory and experiment, is the problem of baryogenesis ... The question how baryogenesis could have happened is open to experimental tests, and it turns out that this problem can be curbed by the very stringent limits on an electric dipole moment of the neutron, a quantity that also has deep implications for particle physics. Then we discuss the recent spectacular observation of neutron quantization in the earth's gravitational field and of resonance transitions between such gravitational energy states. These measurements, together with new evaluations of neutron scattering data, set new constraints on deviations from Newton's gravitational law at the picometer scale. Such deviations are predicted in modern theories with extra-dimensions that propose unification of the Planck scale with the scale of the Standard Model ... Another main topic is the weak-interaction parameters in various fields of physics and astrophysics that must all be derived from measured neutron decay data. Up to now, about 10 different neutron decay observables have been measured, much more than needed in the electroweak Standard Model. This allows various precise tests for new physics beyond the Standard Model, competing with or surpassing similar tests at high-energy. The review ends with a discussion of neutron and nuclear data required in the synthesis of the elements during the "first three minutes" and later on in stellar nucleosynthesis.Comment: 91 pages, 30 figures, accepted by Reviews of Modern Physic

Fundamental Symmetries, Neutrons, and Neutrinos (FSNN): Whitepaper for the 2023 NSAC Long Range Plan

This whitepaper presents the research priorities decided on by attendees of the 2022 Town Meeting for Fundamental Symmetries, Neutrons and Neutrinos, which took place December 13-15, 2022 in Chapel Hill, NC, as part of the Nuclear Science Advisory Committee (NSAC) 2023 Long Range Planning process. A total of 275 scientists registered for the meeting. The whitepaper makes a number of explicit recommendations and justifies them in detail