Stable multiple-charged localized optical vortices in cubic-quintic nonlinear media

The stability of two-dimensional bright vortex solitons in a media with focusing cubic and defocusing quintic nonlinearities is investigated analytically and numerically. It is proved that above some critical beam powers not only one- and two-charged but also multiple-charged stable vortex solitons do exist. A vortex soliton occurs robust with respect to symmetry-breaking modulational instability in the self-defocusing regime provided that its radial profile becomes flattened, so that a self-trapped wave beam gets a pronounced surface. It is demonstrated that the dynamics of a slightly perturbed stable vortex soliton resembles an oscillation of a liquid stream having a surface tension. Using the idea of sustaining effective surface tension for spatial vortex soliton in a media with competing nonlinearities the explanation of a suppression of the modulational instability is proposed.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures. Submitted to Journal of Optics A. The proceedings of the workshop NATO ARW, Kiev 2003 Singular Optics 200

Cadmium telluride for high-efficiency solar cells

Problems of the synthesis of cadmium telluride powders having required purity and grain size distribution for high-efficiency solar cells have been analyzed. A test batch of powders has been synthesized and used for the manufacture and study of thin-film solar cell specimens exhibiting parameters compliant with the best worldwide standards. The phase composition of the powders has been studied using X-ray diffraction. Structural analysis and elemental composition measurements have been carried out using electron microscopy. The effect of free tellurium phase in the powders on the endurance of devices manufactured from the powder has been described. We show that excess tellurium in the film specimens whose atoms are predominantly localized along grain boundaries may cause temporal degradation of the electrical properties of the manufactured solar cells due to changes in the parameters of the crystalline structure of the cadmium telluride phase which are caused in turn by changes in the stoichiometric composition of the material. Structural studies of the film specimens have not revealed differences in the film structure before and after endurance tests. A new cadmium telluride powder process route has been developed, proven and tested taking into account the advantages and drawbacks of the previously used process and experiments confirming the correctness of the technical solutions chosen have been conducted

The association study of polymorphic variants of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system genes (AVPR1B, OXTR) and aggressive behavior manifestation: a focus on social environment

Considering a multifactorial nature of developing aggression, the present study is aimed to estimate both the genetic- and haplotype-based effects of the OXTR and AVPR1B genes and gene-by-environment interactions in developing A

Observation of attraction between dark solitons

We demonstrate a dramatic change in the interaction forces between dark solitons in nonlocal nonlinear media. We present what we believe is the first experimental evidence of attraction of dark solitons. Our results indicate that attraction should be observable in other nonlocal systems, such as Bose-Einstein condensates with repulsive long-range interparticle interaction

Genetic basis of depressive disorders

Depression is a common mental disorder being one of the main causes of disability and mortality worldwide. Despite an intensive research during the past decades, the etiology of depressive disorders (DDs) remains incompletely understood; however, genetic factors are significantly involved in the liability to depression. The present review is focused on the studies based on a candidate gene approach, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and whole exome sequencing (WES), which previously demonstrated associations between gene polymorphisms and DDs. According to the first approach, DD development is affected by serotonergic (TPH1, TPH2, HTR1A, HTR2A, and SLC6A4), dopaminergic (DRD4, SLC6A3) and noradrenergic (SLC6A2) system genes, and genes of enzymatic degradation (MAOA, COMT). In addition, there is evidence of the involvement of HPA-axis genes (OXTR, AVPR1A, and AVPR1B), sex hormone receptors genes (ESR1, ESR2, and AR), neurotrophin (BDNF) and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) genes, neuronal apoptosis (CASP3, BCL-XL, BAX, NPY, APP, and GRIN1) and inflammatory system (TNF, CRP, IL6, IL1B, PSMB4, PSMD9, and STAT3) genes in DD development. The results of the second approach (GWAS and WES) revealed that the PCLO, SIRT1, GNL3, GLT8D1, ITIH3, MTNR1A, BMP5, FHIT, KSR2, PCDH9, and AUTS2 genes predominantly responsible for neurogenesis and cell adhesion are involved in liability to depression. Therefore, the findings discussed suggest that genetic liability to DD is a complex process, which assumes simultaneous functioning of multiple genes including those reported previously, and requires future research in this field

Теллурид кадмия для высокоэффективных солнечных элементов

Problems of the synthesis of cadmium telluride powders having required purity and grain size distribution for high-efficiency solar cells have been analyzed. A test batch of powders has been synthesized and used for the manufacture and study of thin-film solar cell specimens exhibiting parameters compliant with the best worldwide standards. The phase composition of the powders has been studied using X-ray diffraction. Structural analysis and elemental composition measurements have been carried out using electron microscopy. The effect of free tellurium phase in the powders on the endurance of devices manufactured from the powder has been described. We show that excess tellurium in the film specimens whose atoms are predominantly localized along grain boundaries may cause temporal degradation of the electrical properties of the manufactured solar cells due to changes in the parameters of the crystalline structure of the cadmium telluride phase which are caused in turn by changes in the stoichiometric composition of the material. Structural studies of the film specimens have not revealed differences in the film structure before and after endurance tests. A new cadmium telluride powder process route has been developed, proven and tested taking into account the advantages and drawbacks of the previously used process and experiments confirming the correctness of the technical solutions chosen have been conducted.Рассмотрены проблемы производства порошков теллурида кадмия заданных чистоты и гранулометрического состава, предназначенных для изготовления высокоэффективных солнечных элементов. Получена опытная партия порошков, на основе которых изготовлены и исследованы образцы пленочных солнечных элементов с параметрами на уровне ведущих мировых стандартов. Методом рентгеновской дифрактометрии определен фазовый состав образцов порошков и пленок, методом растровой электронной микроскопии — структурный анализ и измерение элементного состава. Описано влияние наличия фазы свободного теллура в порошках на ресурсные характеристики полученных приборов. Показано, что в пленках избыток теллура, который расположен преимущественно по границам зерен, может приводить со временем к ухудшению электрофизических характеристик солнечных элементов из-за изменения параметров кристаллической структуры фазы теллурида кадмия, вызванного изменением стехиометрического состава. Структурные исследования пленок не выявили в них отличий до и после ресурсных испытаний. Разработана, обоснована и опробована новая технологическая схема получения порошков теллурида кадмия с учетом преимуществ и недостатков используемой ранее технологии, проведены эксперименты, подтверждающие правильность выбранных решений.

The role of inflammatory system genes in individual differences in nonverbal intelligence

Nonverbal intelligence represents one of the components of brain cognitive functions, which uses visual images and nonverbal approaches for solving required tasks. Interaction between the nervous and immune systems plays a specif ic role in individual differences in brain cognitive functions. Therefore, the genes encoding pro- and antiinf lammatory cytokines are prospective candidate genes in the study of nonverbal intelligence. Within the framework of the present study, we conducted the association analysis of six SNPs in the genes that encode proteins involved in inf lammatory response regulation in the central nervous system (CRP rs3093077, IL1А rs1800587, IL1B rs16944, TNF/ LTA rs1041981, rs1800629, and P2RX7 rs2230912), with nonverbal intelligence in mentally healthy young adults aged 18– 25 years without cognitive decline with inclusion of sex, ethnicity and the presence of the “risky” APOE ε4 allele as covariates. Considering an important role of environmental factors in the development of brain cognitive functions in general and nonverbal intelligence in particular, we conducted an analysis of gene-by-environment (G × E) interactions. As a result of a statistical analysis, rs1041981 and rs1800629 in the tumor necrosis factor gene (TNF) were shown to be associated with a phenotypic variance in nonverbal intelligence at the haplotype level (for АА-haplotype: βST = 1.19; p = 0.033; pperm = 0.047) in carriers of the “risky” APOE ε4 allele. Gene-by-environment interaction models, which determined interindividual differences in nonverbal intelligence, have been constructed: sibship size (number of children in a family) and smoking demonstrated a modulating effect on association of the TNF/LTA (rs1041981) (β = 2.08; βST = 0.16; p = 0.001) and P2RX7 (rs2230912) (β = –1.70; βST = –0.10; p = 0.022) gene polymorphisms with nonverbal intelligence. The data obtained indicate that the effect of TNF/LTA on the development of cognitive functions is evident only in the presence of the “unfavorable” APOE ε4 variant and/or certain environmental conditions

Синтез пуриновых аналогов 2'-дезоксинуклеозидов: 2',3'-дидезоксиаденозина и 2',3'-дидезоксигуанозина с использованием тиогликозидов

Synthesis of purine 2'-deoxynucleoside analogues derivatives, named by using thioglycosides: 2',3'-dideoxyguanosine (3) and 2',3'-dideoxyguanosine (4) is described. This approach is based on condensation of S-glycoside (5) with silylated heterocyclic based (6,7) using N-bromosuccinimide as promoter. It is know that in the process of glycosylation reaction a mixture of three isomers, namely aN9, aN7 and bN7 is formed besides the desired bN9. In order to prevent undered formation of N7 isomers 2-aminogroup of adenine and 6-oxogroupvof guanine were modified by bulky protective gpoupsСинтез пуриновых аналогов 2'-дезоксинуклеозидов: 2',3'-дидезоксиаденозина и 2',3'-дидезоксигуанозина с использованием тиогликозидо

Phenotypic Profile of Peripheral Blood NK Cells under Culturing with Trophoblast Cells and IL-15 and IL-18 Cytokines

Natural killer cells (NK cells) are innate immunity lymphocytes. NK cell differentiation is controlled by the cellular microenvironment and locally produced cytokines, including IL-2, IL-15 and IL-18. NK cells are present in various tissues, forming pools of tissue-resident NK cells, e.g., decidual NK cell pool. Peripheral blood NK cells (pNK cells) are considered a supposed source of cells for decidual NK cell differentiation. In the uterus, NK cells contact with trophoblast cells, which can affect their phenotype. Contribution of trophoblast cells and IL-2, IL-15 and IL-18 cytokines to the pNK cell phenotype regulation is scarcely studied. In this regard, the aim of our research was to evaluate the effect of trophoblast cells on the phenotype of pNK cells when cultured in medium with IL-2, IL-15, and IL-18. We used mononuclear cells obtained from peripheral blood of healthy non-pregnant women at their reproductive age, with regular menstrual cycle (n = 21). Mononuclear cells were cultured in presence of IL-2, and either of cytokines regulating NK cell differentiation (IL-15, or IL-18). JEG-3 cells were used as trophoblast cells. We evaluated expression of CD45, CD3, CD56, CD14, KIR3DL1, KIR2DL3, KIR2DL4, KIR2DS4, NKp44, CD215, CD122, CD127, NKG2D, KIR2DL1, NKG2C receptors by pNK cells. It was found that pNK cells cultured in presence of trophoblast cells (JEG-3 cell line) were characterized by lower intensity of CD56 receptor expression, compared to pNK cells cultured without trophoblast cells. These changes were detected upon culturing both in medium supplied by IL-15, and with IL-18. A reduced number of NKG2C+ pNK cells was detected in presence of JEG-3 trophoblast cells, compared to NK cells cultured without trophoblast cells in medium with IL-15. The detected changes in the CD56 and NKG2C expression by pNK cells in presence of trophoblast cells proved to be opposite to those previously detected for NK cells derived from NK-92 cell line. Along with trophoblast cells, the monocytes isolated among mononuclear cells and being affected by cytokines, can apparently influence the phenotype of pNK cells in the model system used. Since monocytes/macrophages are present in decidua, further research is required to study the effect of cytokines and cellular microenvironment, including monocytes, on pNK cells

Impact of graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis on immune reconstitution in patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

The graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is among the most common complications after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). The main tools for GVHD prevention remain calcineurin inhibitors (cyclosporin A, tacrolimus), methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil. Upon implementation of reduced-intensity conditioning regimens, antithymocyte globulin was widely introduced. However, negative effects upon reconstitution of T-cell immunity have been noted, thus increasing risk of severe infectious complications and disease relapse. With extended practice of HSCT from alternative (partially matched or haploidentical) donors, cyclophosphamide was increasingly used. Our aim was to study reconstitution of immune cell subpopulations in the patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation (BMT), when using different GVHD prophylaxis regimens, including the schedules with post-transplant CP usage. The study concerned 44 cases classified into 2 groups. The first one included patients with standard immunosuppressive therapy, antithymocyte therapy, cyclosporine A, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil. The second group included the patients who received CP as immunosuppressive drug combined with other treatments (cyclosporine A, methotrexate, mycophenolate mofetil). At specified control terms, (D+14, +30, +60, +90) the blood leukocyte subpopulations were assayed by means of multicolor flow cytometry. Absolute counts of CD4+ cells in HSCT recipients treated with CP post-BMT proved to be sufficiently lower at D+14 and +30, than in those treated with classical immunosuppressive therapy. However, at later terms, (D+60, +90), these differences were not observed. Moreover, in CP-treated bone marrow recipients, absolute numbers of CD8+ cells was significantly higher, compared to the patients who received conventional GVHD prophylaxis. Reconstitution of the studied lymphocyte populations in hematopoietic cell recipients did not depend on the GVHD prophylaxis regimen. Usage of CP combined with bone marrow as a source of stem cells, brings about sufficient decrease of some cell populations (CD4+; CD8+; NK cells) at early terms post-transplant. Administration of CP combined with hematopoietic stem cells as the source of hematopoietic graft seems to be more reasonable