Relationship of the mobile forms of calcium and strontium in soils with their accumulation in meadow plants in the area of Kashin-Beck endemia.

This study was aimed at assessment of strontium and calcium mobility in soils and their accumulation with plants in the areas endemic for Kashin-Beck disease in Eastern Transbaikalia. The strontium and calcium mobility levels were determined using the method of sequential chemical extraction for 7 samples of meadow soils collected from the endemic region and 7 soil samples taken from conditionally control sites. To measure the Ca and Sr levels in the soil and plant samples, XRF analysis and AAS were used. The increased strontium level in the meadow soils of the endemic areas is accompanied by the element's higher mobility. The highest strontium yield was observed in the course of soil extraction using 1 M ammonium acetate, while the soils taken from the control sites gave lower amounts of the trace element. Furthermore, there is a positive correlation between the amount of the strontium extracted and its content in plants (r = + 0.86 - 0.98). At the sequential chemical extraction of calcium from the soils using the above method, the calcium yield was maximal in the ammonium acetate fraction (background sites) and in ammonium acetate and 6 M HCl fractions (endemic areas). The correlation between the amount of the calcium extracted in 1 M ammonium acetate and the macroelement levels found in plants was + 0.968. In addition, a peculiarly high accumulation of strontium in various willow species as compared to other meadow plants was revealed for the first time ever. Thus, the work introduces new data into the trace element biogeochemistry and environmental monitoring.

Biogeochemical assessment of the urban area in Moscow.

The biogeochemical and ecological assessment of the industrial city territory including urban soils and trees was carried out. Chemical (macroelement and microelement) composition of the city soils, morphological and biochemical properties of the linden leaves, possible impact of de-icing salts on soil and tree state, the correlation between the content of trace elements, and the S-containing plant compounds (phytochelatins) were included in the assessment. It was found that concentrations of trace elements in the soils near road with intensive traffic are changed from the soils, located at a distance of 40-50 m from the road. They have higher concentrations of As, Fe, Mn, Se, and Sr and lower concentration of Zn. The linden leaves from the roadside were characterized by the increase in As, Cu, Fe, Zn, and Cr and sharp decrease in the Mn and Sr concentrations. The analysis of soil water extracts showed a slight decrease of pH and low content of Ca, Mg, K, and Na for the distant sites. The phytochelatin test of linden leaves was weakly effective as well as asymmetry degree study of leaf lamina. The main differences were observed in the damage symptoms of leaves (chlorosis and necrosis) and the content of pigments (chlorophyll and carotenoids). The biochemical and ecological assessment of soils and trees showed relatively satisfactory ecological state of the investigated area in Moscow. The data obtained shows the weak local impact of the application of de-icing salts and automobile emissions.

Comparison of LPO-AOS Indices and Biochemical Composition of Animal Blood in Biogeochemical Provinces with Different Levels of Selenium.

The paper aims to compare parameters of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense system, as well as blood biochemical composition in infertile cows from groups that differ in terms of selenium content in agrocoenosis. Forty-five black-motley and red-motley breeds in each region were selected for the experiment; the groups were formed on the basis of the pathology, 15 animals each. The level of microelements in the blood of animals from all groups in the selenium-deficient biogeochemical province is significantly reduced by 38.4-41.7% (P < 0.05). In these cows, the concentration of malondialdehyde increased significantly, by 1.5-2.1 times (P < 0.05), against the background of decrease in the activity of glutathione antioxidant defense: glutathione peroxidase by 9.4-32.1% (P < 0.05), glutathione reductase by 2.4-2.6 times (P < 0.05), also superoxide dismutase and catalase in some groups. In the groups of infertile animals with lowered selenium content in blood, the author found an increase in enzymes' activity (P < 0.05): alanine aminotransferase by 25.6-52.6%, aspartate aminotransferase by 17.8% in cysts and by 44.3% in ovarian hypofunction, gamma-glutamyltransferase by 18.3% in ovarian hypofunction. In addition, the calcium content in the blood of cows was reduced by 8.1-14.0% (P < 0.05) when selenium levels were lowered. In combination with elevated levels of urea and urea/creatinine ratio, the above may be evidence of pathological processes in muscle, liver, and kidney tissues. Thus, the author traced the dependence of the balance of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense system on the microelement level, as well as the effect of low selenium provision of animals in biogeochemical provinces on the biochemical composition of their blood.

Nanomechanical and Nanotribological Properties of Nanostructured Coatings of Tantalum and Its Compounds on Steel Substrates.

The present paper addresses the problem of identification of microstructural, nanomechanical, and tribological properties of thin films of tantalum (Ta) and its compounds deposited on stainless steel substrates by direct current magnetron sputtering. The compositions of the obtained nanostructured films were determined by energy dispersive spectroscopy. Surface morphology was investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The coatings were found to be homogeneous and have low roughness values (<10 nm). The values of microhardness and elastic modulus were obtained by means of nanoindentation. Elastic modulus values for all the coatings remained unchanged with different atomic percentage of tantalum in the films. The values of microhardness of the tantalum films were increased after incorporation of the oxygen and nitrogen atoms into the crystal lattice of the coatings. The coefficient of friction, CoF, was determined by the AFM method in the "sliding" and "plowing" modes. Deposition of the coatings on the substrates led to a decrease of CoF for the coating-substrate system compared to the substrates; thus, the final product utilizing such a coating will presumably have a longer service life. The tantalum nitride films were characterized by the smallest values of CoF and specific volumetric wear.

CAR T cells in solid tumors: challenges and opportunities.

BACKGROUND: CARs are simulated receptors containing an extracellular single-chain variable fragment (scFv), a transmembrane domain, as well as an intracellular region of immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs (ITAMs) in association with a co-stimulatory signal. MAIN BODY: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells are genetically engineered T cells to express a receptor for the recognition of the particular surface marker that has given rise to advances in the treatment of blood disorders. The CAR T cells obtain supra-physiological properties and conduct as "living drugs" presenting both immediate and steady effects after expression in T cells surface. But, their efficacy in solid tumor treatment has not yet been supported. The pivotal challenges in the field of solid tumor CAR T cell therapy can be summarized in three major parts: recognition, trafficking, and surviving in the tumor. On the other hand, the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME) interferes with T cell activity in terms of differentiation and exhaustion, and as a result of the combined use of CARs and checkpoint blockade, as well as the suppression of other inhibitor factors in the microenvironment, very promising results were obtained from the reduction of T cell exhaustion. CONCLUSION: Nowadays, identifying and defeating the mechanisms associated with CAR T cell dysfunction is crucial to establish CAR T cells that can proliferate and lyse tumor cells severely. In this review, we discuss the CAR signaling and efficacy T in solid tumors and evaluate the most significant barriers in this process and describe the most novel therapeutic methods aiming to the acquirement of the promising therapeutic outcome in non-hematologic malignancies.

Incidence risk of bronchopneumonia in newborn calves associated with intrauterine diselementosis.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Macro- and micro-elements are required to ensure the normal course of biochemical processes in the development of an animal's body. Any excess, deficiency, or imbalance in chemical elements in an animal's body can cause the development of various latent or clinically expressed pathological conditions. Diselementosis in pregnant cows may lead to impaired embryo and fetal development, as well as reduced neonatal viability. The aim of this study was to analyze the content of macroelements and microelements in the blood serum of both calving cows and their calves to evaluate the relationship between indicators of mineral metabolism in the mother and newborn and to establish what role separate chemical elements play in making newborn calves more prone to bronchopneumonia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The content of potassium (K), sodium (Na), iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Strontium (Sr), arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), molybdenum (Mo), and selenium (Se) in the blood serum of 33 pregnant cows between 239 and 262 days of gestation and their 33 1-day old calves was determined using the Shimadzu AA6300 (Japan) atomic adsorption spectrophotometer. Calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) content was determined using ion-selective electrodes from the Olympus-400 analyzer (Beckman Coulter, USA). During the 1st month of life, all calves in the sample set had some sort of respiratory diseases and seven of the calves had bronchopneumonia. Retrospectively, the samples of adult and newborn animals were divided into two groups each: Dams I - cows whose calves had uncomplicated bronchitis (n=26); Dams II - cows whose calves got bronchopneumonia (n=7); and Newborns I - calves with uncomplicated bronchitis (n=26); Newborns II - calves with bronchopneumonia (n=7). RESULTS: The content of Ca, Mg, K, Na, Mo, and Se in dams in both groups of cows was within the reference range; the concentrations of Fe and Ni were higher than the reference range; and the concentrations of Cu, Zn, As, Co, and Cr were lower than the reference range. There were no significant differences in elemental status between the Dams I and Dams II groups. In newborn calves, the concentration of Ca and Mo corresponded to the reference range; the concentrations of Mg, Fe, Co, and Ni in both groups exceeded the reference range; and the concentrations of Cu, Zn, As, Cr, and Se were lower than the reference range. Results highlighted that there was a tendency to decrease concentration of Fe, Mo, and Se and a significant increase in the Ni concentration in calves of the Newborns II group compared with calves of the Newborns I group. It was also found that Zn, Co, Cr, and Mo actively accumulated in the body of newborn animals while the transplacental transfer of Cu, As, and Sr was limited; and transfer of Se and Ni was regulated by concentration ratios in the blood of the mother and the fetus. The excessive concentrations of Ni and Fe in the blood serum of cows and calves and the imbalance in the ratio of elements Fe-Cu-Zn, Fe-Cu-Co negatively affected erythropoiesis, formation of the immune system, and antioxidant status of the fetus and newborn. These changes were considered to be risk factors for the development of bronchopneumonia in calves. CONCLUSION: An excess of serum Fe and Ni and deficiency of Cu, Zn, As, Co, and Cr in cows during the gestation period can lead to similar impairments of the mineral status in newborn calves. At the systemic level, dyslementosis in combination with the influence of other adverse factors, can lead to an increased load on the respiratory and hematopoietic systems of calves during postnatal adaptation and can subsequently cause a decrease in the natural resistance of calves and development of bronchopneumonia.

Broadband multi-magnon relaxometry using a quantum spin sensor for high frequency ferromagnetic dynamics sensing.

Development of sensitive local probes of magnon dynamics is essential to further understand the physical processes that govern magnon generation, propagation, scattering, and relaxation. Quantum spin sensors like the NV center in diamond have long spin lifetimes and their relaxation can be used to sense magnetic field noise at gigahertz frequencies. Thus far, NV sensing of ferromagnetic dynamics has been constrained to the case where the NV spin is resonant with a magnon mode in the sample meaning that the NV frequency provides an upper bound to detection. In this work we demonstrate ensemble NV detection of spinwaves generated via a nonlinear instability process where spinwaves of nonzero wavevector are parametrically driven by a high amplitude microwave field. NV relaxation caused by these driven spinwaves can be divided into two regimes; one- and multi-magnon NV relaxometry. In the one-magnon NV relaxometry regime the driven spinwave frequency is below the NV frequencies. The driven spinwave undergoes four-magnon scattering resulting in an increase in the population of magnons which are frequency matched to the NVs. The dipole magnetic fields of the NV-resonant magnons couple to and relax nearby NV spins. The amplitude of the NV relaxation increases with the wavevector of the driven spinwave mode which we are able to vary up to 3 × 106 m-1, well into the part of the spinwave spectrum dominated by the exchange interaction. Increasing the strength of the applied magnetic field brings all spinwave modes to higher frequencies than the NV frequencies. We find that the NVs are relaxed by the driven spinwave instability despite the absence of any individual NV-resonant magnons, suggesting that multiple magnons participate in creating magnetic field noise below the ferromagnetic gap frequency which causes NV spin relaxation.

Simple Hamiltonian approach to describe large-amplitude and higher-order parametric resonances.

Parametric resonance is a complex phenomenon that touches many aspects of scientific and technical society, but is still not well understood because of the intensive calculations required to describe the behavior. Thus the importance of developing simple mathematical approaches to describe parametric resonance cannot be overstated. Here a consistent theory of the parametric resonance of a harmonic oscillator under any periodic frequency modulation is constructed. Using a Hamiltonian approach and resonance approximation, simple equations were derived and critical amplitudes for all parametric resonance orders were obtained for any periodic modulation function. The theory agrees with the well-known result for the main resonance and gives correct power dependence on damping. In addition, the theory qualitatively predicts behavior at large modulations. This simplified approach revealed unique features-"safety windows" at large modulation amplitudes where parametric resonance does not occur which were then qualitatively confirmed with numerical simulations. The Hamiltonian approach should serve as a framework that a greater understanding of parametric resonance at large amplitudes and higher orders can be built upon.

Protein metabolic changes and nucleolus organizer regions activity in the lymphocytes of neonatal calves during the development of respiratory diseases.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Calfhood disease is an important problem in dairy farming that could cause significant effects on heifer survival and productivity and has economic and welfare effects. Total protein concentration in the blood serum could be one of the predictors of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) in newborn calves. The number of active nucleolus organizers could be used to assess the viability of the protein synthesis system in cells and tissues. We aimed for a comparative assessment of the dynamics of the main indicators of protein metabolism and nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) activity in the lymphocytes of healthy calves (Group I) and calves with BRD (Group II) during the 1st month after birth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study included 30 calves of the red-motley Holstein breed. Venous blood samples were taken from all calves on the 1st, 7th, 14th, and 28th days after birth. Quantitative analysis of total protein (Serum total protein [STP]), immune globulin (Serum immune globulin [SIg]), urea, and creatinine in serum and transcriptionally active chromosome NORs in the interphase nuclei of lymphocytes was conducted using receiver operating characteristic analysis and factor analysis. RESULTS: In Group I, the STP levels decreased during the 1st month of life, and in Group II, the STP levels were variable. The STP levels in both groups remained within the reference intervals. During the first 2 weeks after birth, the calves' SIg fluctuated within the statistical error limits and did not significantly differ between the groups. On the 28th day, SIg increased in both the groups (by 42.8% for Group I and 33.7% for Group II). The creatinine concentration showed a decrease but did not go beyond the range of reference values. Urea concentration in Group I markedly decreased and remained below the reference values; it did not change in Group II over the entire observation period. The number of NORs in 1-day-old calves did not significantly differ between the groups and amounted to 2.43 in Group I and 2.59 in Group II. A significant increase in the number of active NORs was found in calves in both groups at the ages of 14 and 28 days. Early BRD predictors (at 1-14 days) could not be identified among the studied indicators. The urea and creatinine concentrations and the NOR activity on day 28 after birth could be late BRD predictors. Protein metabolism in the newborn calves' organisms is regulated by three types of factors: Maintenance of a constant protein concentration in the plasma, protein decomposition, and de novo synthesis. CONCLUSION: There were no observed significant differences in the protein metabolism values and dynamics of indicators between healthy calves and calves with developed BRD. Alterations in the studied characteristics are the result, but not the cause of BRD. The increase in active NORs under BRD could be a favorable forecasting indicator. Protection against foreign protein and genetic material is a more important task for the organism than ensuring growth processes during the neonatal period.

Supplementation with hydrogen-producing composition confers beneficial effects on physiology and life span in Drosophila.

Recently, molecular hydrogen (H2) has become known as a new class of antioxidants and redox-modulating interventions. Effects of H2 have been documented for many acute and chronic pathological conditions. The present study was aimed at determining the effect of hydrogen on the physiology and longevity of Drosophila. The flies were given a patented food supplement consisting of a mixture of inert salts with metallic magnesium, which reacted with acidic aqueous solutions, thereby releasing hydrogen gas. The supplementation with hydrogen-rich food prolonged the life span of the wild-type strain. To gain insights into the effect of hydrogen, we used previously generated mutant under-expressing redox-regulating enzymes, peroxiredoxins, in mitochondria. The hydrogen-releasing material lessened the severe shortening of life span of the mutant. Hydrogen also delayed the development of intestinal dysfunction caused by under-expression of peroxiredoxins in the intestinal epithelium. Hydrogen also averted a significant decrease in the mobility of mutant flies that under-expressed peroxiredoxins globally or in specific tissues. Together, the results showed that the introduction of hydrogen to aging or short-lived flies could increase their survival, delay the development of the intestinal barrier dysfunction and significantly improve physical activity.

Formation of Solution-derived Hydroxyapatite Coatings on Titanium Alloy in the Presence of Magnetron-sputtered Alumina Bond Coats.

Hydroxyapatite Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 (HAp) and calcium phosphate ceramic materials and coatings are widely used in medicine and dentistry because of their ability to enhance the tissue response to implant surfaces and promote bone ingrowth and osseoconduction processes. The deposition conditions have a great influence on the structure and biofunctionality of calcium phosphate coatings. Corrosion processes and poor adhesion to substrate material reduce the lifetime of implants with calcium phosphate coatings. The research has focused on the development of advanced methods to deposit double-layered ceramic oxide/calcium phosphate coatings by a hybrid technique of magnetron sputtering and thermal methods. The thermal method can promote the crystallization and the formation of HAp coatings on titanium alloy Ti6Al4V substrates at low temperature, based on the principle that the solubility of HAp in aqueous solutions decreases with increasing substrate temperature. By this method, hydroxyapatite directly coated the substrate without precipitation in the initial solution. Using a thermal substrate method, calcium phosphate coatings were prepared at substrate temperatures of 100-105 (o)C. The coated metallic implant surfaces with ceramic bond coats and calcium phosphate layers combine the excellent mechanical properties of metals with the chemical stability of ceramic materials. The corrosion test results show that the ceramic oxide (alumina) coatings and the double-layered alumina-calcium phosphate coatings improve the corrosion resistance compared with uncoated Ti6Al4V and single-layered Ti6Al4V/calcium phosphate substrates. In addition, the double-layered alumina/hydroxyapatite coatings demonstrate the best biocompatibility during in vitro tests.