Effect of Glycosaminoglycans on Pathogenic Properties Far-Eastern Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus.

We studied the effect of sulfated glycosaminoglycan on the infection properties of high-virulence Dal'negorsk strain and low-virulence Primorye-437 of tick-borne encephalitis virus. Differences in reproductive activity of these strains and their tropism to the target cells were revealed. Glycosaminoglycan reduced pathogenetic activity of high-virulence strain in vitro, but had no effect on low-virulence strain. The interaction of imperfect virus particles of non-pathogen strain with the glycosaminoglycan led to their accumulation in cell, but in the culture medium of SPEV cells infected with experimental and control samples, accumulation of virus particles did not differ. The results on activity of glycosaminoglycan binding with strains differing by their biological and molecular genetic characteristics can be used to assess their pathogenic potential.

Beam Energy and Centrality Dependence of Direct-Photon Emission from Ultrarelativistic Heavy-Ion Collisions.

The PHENIX collaboration presents first measurements of low-momentum (0.41 GeV/c) direct-photon yield dN_{γ}^{dir}/dη is a smooth function of dN_{ch}/dη and can be well described as proportional to (dN_{ch}/dη)^{α} with α≈1.25. This scaling behavior holds for a wide range of beam energies at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider and the Large Hadron Collider, for centrality selected samples, as well as for different A+A collision systems. At a given beam energy, the scaling also holds for high p_{T} (>5 GeV/c), but when results from different collision energies are compared, an additional sqrt[s_{NN}]-dependent multiplicative factor is needed to describe the integrated-direct-photon yield.

The Adhesion of Human Dermal Fibroblasts on Anodized Nanotube-layered Titanium, Modified for Implantology Application.

Anodization of titanium implants is accompanied by the formation of titanium oxide nanotubes improving osseointegration. An excessive fibroblast adhesion on the surface might lead to the formation of fibrous capsule resulting in implant rejection. In our research, we demonstrated that the adhesion activity of human dermal fibroblasts on anodized surface was not elevated, which is promising for the use of titanium with nanotube-layered surface for implantology.

[Phylogenetic analysis and distribution of far eastern tick-borne encephalitis virus subtype (Flaviridae, Flavirus, TBEV-FE) from Asia.]

To date, a lot of data on molecular genetic characteristics of different tick-borne encephalitis virus strains has appeared. Only on the basis of the E protein genome, sequences of about 1,500 TBEV strains were registered in GenBank. PURPOSE: The purpose of the work - revision and comparative analysis of data on complete genomes sequences of the Far Eastern subtype of TBE virus strains distributed in the Asian part of Eurasian continent. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The data on the complete genomes of 84 strains of TBEV isolated in Asia were used; phylogenetic analysis was performed. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: it was shown that variants of the TBEV of the Far Eastern subtype are circulating here and form three separate clusters (Sofjin, Senzhang- и Shkotovo-like strains). Sofjin strain (Sofjin-1953, Sofjin-Chumakov, Sofjin-KSY) was considered to be the reference for Far Eastern TBE virus subtype strains and a cluster of Sofjin-like strains. Sofjin-like strains were not found in China and Japan, but widely distributed throughout the area of Primorsky and Khabarovsk krai. The group of Senzhang-like strains was distributed in China, Eastern Siberia, Khabarovsk krai and northern Primorsky krai, but was not found in Japan (Hokkaido). According to molecular genetic characteristics the youngest and more genetically homogeneous group was the Shkotovo-like strains, isolated in the southern part of Primorsky krai, however not found on Hokkaido Island (Japan). CONCLUSION: revision of the complete genome characteristics of TBEV strains revealed the features of micro-evolutionary process of viral populations in the Asian part of Eurasia, show the individual affection of strains to certain territories, as well as detect random finds of such strains in the territories of other natural foci.

Isolation of primary osteoblast cell lines from adult rat and rat embryos and their use as models for in vitro biocompatibility tests of nanostructured titanium-based implants.

Methods for obtaining osteoblast cultures from the calvaria of adult Wistar rats and 12-day-old embryos of these rats have been adapted for studying the biocompatibility and ossointegration of titanium-based implants. The osteoblast morphology and their differentiation into osteocytes on a titanium matrix with specially treated surface have been studied. It has been confirmed that two cultures of diploid rat cells obtained in the study can serve as efficient models for preclinical in vitro testing of nanostructured titanium implants for biocompatibility and osseointegration.

Centrality-Dependent Modification of Jet-Production Rates in Deuteron-Gold Collisions at √[s(NN)]=200 GeV.

Jet production rates are measured in p+p and d+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV recorded in 2008 with the PHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. Jets are reconstructed using the R=0.3 anti-k_{t} algorithm from energy deposits in the electromagnetic calorimeter and charged tracks in multiwire proportional chambers, and the jet transverse momentum (p_{T}) spectra are corrected for the detector response. Spectra are reported for jets with 12

Measurements of Elliptic and Triangular Flow in High-Multiplicity 3He+Au Collisions at √(s(NN))=200 GeV.

We present the first measurement of elliptic (v(2)) and triangular (v(3)) flow in high-multiplicity (3)He+Au collisions at √(s(NN))=200 GeV. Two-particle correlations, where the particles have a large separation in pseudorapidity, are compared in (3)He+Au and in p+p collisions and indicate that collective effects dominate the second and third Fourier components for the correlations observed in the (3)He+Au system. The collective behavior is quantified in terms of elliptic v(2) and triangular v(3) anisotropy coefficients measured with respect to their corresponding event planes. The v(2) values are comparable to those previously measured in d+Au collisions at the same nucleon-nucleon center-of-mass energy. Comparisons with various theoretical predictions are made, including to models where the hot spots created by the impact of the three (3)He nucleons on the Au nucleus expand hydrodynamically to generate the triangular flow. The agreement of these models with data may indicate the formation of low-viscosity quark-gluon plasma even in these small collision systems.

[Genetic diversity of cyanophages of the Myoviridae family as a constituent of the associated community of the Baikal sponge Lubomirskia baicalensis].

Molecular-genetic analysis of cyanophages of the family Myoviridae from the associated community of the endemic Baikal sponge Lubomirskia baicalensis was carried out based on the g20 gene fragment. A large cyanophage diversity according to the g20 marker gene was found in the sponge. The Baikal sponge cyanophages were shown to be similar to those inhabiting plankton. Moreover, specific cyanophage groups that are significantly different from all of the known groups inhabiting the Lake Baikal were revealed.

Measurement of Long-Range Angular Correlation and Quadrupole Anisotropy of Pions and (Anti)Protons in Central d+Au Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV.

We present azimuthal angular correlations between charged hadrons and energy deposited in calorimeter towers in central d+Au and minimum bias p+p collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV. The charged hadron is measured at midrapidity |η|<0.35, and the energy is measured at large rapidity (-3.7<η<-3.1, Au-going direction). An enhanced near-side angular correlation across |Δη|>2.75 is observed in d+Au collisions. Using the event plane method applied to the Au-going energy distribution, we extract the anisotropy strength v_{2} for inclusive charged hadrons at midrapidity up to p_{T}=4.5 GeV/c. We also present the measurement of v_{2} for identified π^{±} and (anti)protons in central d+Au collisions, and observe a mass-ordering pattern similar to that seen in heavy-ion collisions. These results are compared with viscous hydrodynamic calculations and measurements from p+Pb at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV. The magnitude of the mass ordering in d+Au is found to be smaller than that in p+Pb collisions, which may indicate smaller radial flow in lower energy d+Au collisions.

Cold-nuclear-matter effects on heavy-quark production at forward and backward rapidity in d + Au collisions at √sNN = 200 GeV.

The PHENIX experiment has measured open heavy-flavor production via semileptonic decay over the transverse momentum range 1 < p(T) < 6 GeV/c at forward and backward rapidity (1.4 < |y| < 2.0) in d+Au and p + p collisions at √sNN = 200 GeV. In central d+Au collisions, relative to the yield in p + p collisions scaled by the number of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions, a suppression is observed at forward rapidity (in the d-going direction) and an enhancement at backward rapidity (in the Au-going direction). Predictions using nuclear-modified-parton-distribution functions, even with additional nuclear-p(T) broadening, cannot simultaneously reproduce the data at both rapidity ranges, which implies that these models are incomplete and suggests the possible importance of final-state interactions in the asymmetric d + Au collision system. These results can be used to probe cold-nuclear-matter effects, which may significantly affect heavy-quark production, in addition to helping constrain the magnitude of charmonia-breakup effects in nuclear matter.

Azimuthal-angle dependence of charged-pion-interferometry measurements with respect to second- and third-order event planes in Au+Au collisions at √[S(NN)]=200 GeV.

Charged-pion-interferometry measurements were made with respect to the second- and third-order event plane for Au+Au collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=200 GeV. A strong azimuthal-angle dependence of the extracted Gaussian-source radii was observed with respect to both the second- and third-order event planes. The results for the second-order dependence indicate that the initial eccentricity is reduced during the medium evolution, which is consistent with previous results. In contrast, the results for the third-order dependence indicate that the initial triangular shape is significantly reduced and potentially reversed by the end of the medium evolution, and that the third-order oscillations are largely dominated by the dynamical effects from triangular flow.

Nuclear modification of ψ', χc, and J/ψ production in d+Au collisions at sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV.

We present results for three charmonia states (ψ', χc, and J/ψ) in d+Au collisions at |y|<0.35 and sqrt[s(NN)]=200 GeV. We find that the modification of the ψ' yield relative to that of the J/ψ scales approximately with charged particle multiplicity at midrapidity across p+A, d+Au, and A+A results from the Super Proton Synchrotron and the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider. In large-impact-parameter collisions we observe a similar suppression for the ψ' and J/ψ, while in small-impact-parameter collisions the more weakly bound ψ' is more strongly suppressed. Owing to the short time spent traversing the Au nucleus, the larger ψ' suppression in central events is not explained by an increase of the nuclear absorption owing to meson formation time effects.

Quadrupole anisotropy in dihadron azimuthal correlations in central d+Au collisions at √(s(NN))=200 GeV.

The PHENIX collaboration at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) reports measurements of azimuthal dihadron correlations near midrapidity in d+Au collisions at √(s(NN))=200 GeV. These measurements complement recent analyses by experiments at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) involving central p+Pb collisions at √(s(NN))=5.02 TeV, which have indicated strong anisotropic long-range correlations in angular distributions of hadron pairs. The origin of these anisotropies is currently unknown. Various competing explanations include parton saturation and hydrodynamic flow. We observe qualitatively similar, but larger, anisotropies in d+Au collisions at RHIC compared to those seen in p+Pb collisions at the LHC. The larger extracted v2 values in d+Au are consistent with expectations from hydrodynamic calculations owing to the larger expected initial-state eccentricity compared with that from p+Pb collisions. When both are divided by an estimate of the initial-state eccentricity the scaled anisotropies follow a common trend with multiplicity that may extend to heavy ion data at RHIC and the LHC, where the anisotropies are widely thought to arise from hydrodynamic flow.

Medium modification of jet fragmentation in Au+Au collisions at √[s(NN)]=200 GeV measured in direct photon-hadron correlations.

The jet fragmentation function is measured with direct photon-hadron correlations in p+p and Au+Au collisions at √[s(NN)]=200 GeV. The p(T) of the photon is an excellent approximation to the initial p(T) of the jet and the ratio z(T)=p(T)(h)/p(T)(γ) is used as a proxy for the jet fragmentation function. A statistical subtraction is used to extract the direct photon-hadron yields in Au+Au collisions while a photon isolation cut is applied in p+p. I(AA), the ratio of hadron yield opposite the photon in Au+Au to that in p+p, indicates modification of the jet fragmentation function. Suppression, most likely due to energy loss in the medium, is seen at high z(T). The associated hadron yield at low z(T) is enhanced at large angles. Such a trend is expected from redistribution of the lost energy into increased production of low-momentum particles.

FoxA1 corrupts the antiandrogenic effect of bicalutamide but only weakly attenuates the effect of MDV3100 (Enzalutamide™).

Prostate cancer growth depends on androgens. Synthetic antiandrogens are used in the cancer treatment. However, antiandrogens, such as bicalutamide (BIC), have a mixed agonist/antagonist activity. Here we compare the antiandrogenic capacity of BIC to a new antiandrogen, MDV3100 (MDV) or Enzalutamide™. By reconstitution of a hormone-regulated enhancer in Xenopus oocytes we show that both antagonists trigger the androgen receptor (AR) translocation to the nucleus, albeit with a reduced efficiency for MDV. Once in the nucleus, both AR-antagonist complexes can bind sequence specifically to DNA in vivo. The forkhead box transcription factor A (FoxA1) is a negative prognostic indicator for prostate cancer disease. FoxA1 expression presets the enhancer chromatin and makes the DNA more accessible for AR binding. In this context the BIC-AR antiandrogenic effect is seriously compromised as demonstrated by a significant chromatin remodeling and induction of a robust MMTV transcription whereas the MDV-AR complex displays a more persistent antagonistic character.

[Investigation of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA polymorphism in closely related species of endemic Baikal sponges].

In order to investigate the phylogenetic relationships among endemic Baikal sponges of the Lubomirskiidae family and to clarify their taxonomy, the sequence variation at the silicatein-encoding gene and the mtDNA intergenic region was examined. Phylogenetic analysis of the silicatein α1 gene exonic regions in six freshwater sponge species revealed considerable interspecific variability of this region. The analysis performed did not support the monophyly of the Lubomirskia and Baikalospongia genera. The mDNA region between the COX2 and ATP6 genes was examined in five species from the Lubomirskiidae family, including multiple samples for analyzing intraspecific variations. According to the data obtained, the Baikalospongia genus was monophyletic with respect to Lubomirskia, while B. bacilifera and B. recta did not form monophyletic groups. Molecular data indicate that taxonomy of Lubomirskiidae should be revised. It was demonstrated that, in endemic Baikal sponges, the accelerated evolution was accompanied by an increase in the length of the noncoding regions in both mitochondrial and nuclear genes.

Measurement of direct photons in Au+Au collisions at √(s(NN))=200 GeV.

We report the measurement of direct photons at midrapidity in Au+Au collisions at √(s(NN))=200 GeV. The direct photon signal was extracted for the transverse momentum range of 4 GeV/c

Observation of direct-photon collective flow in Au + Au collisions at √s(NN)] = 200 GeV.

The second Fourier component v(2) of the azimuthal anisotropy with respect to the reaction plane is measured for direct photons at midrapidity and transverse momentum (p(T)) of 1-12 GeV/c in Au + Au collisions at √s(NN)] = 200 GeV. Previous measurements of this quantity for hadrons with p(T) < 6 GeV/c indicate that the medium behaves like a nearly perfect fluid, while for p(T) > 6 GeV/c a reduced anisotropy is interpreted in terms of a path-length dependence for parton energy loss. In this measurement with the PHENIX detector at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider we find that for p(T) > 4 GeV/c the anisotropy for direct photons is consistent with zero, which is as expected if the dominant source of direct photons is initial hard scattering. However, in the p(T) < 4 GeV/c region dominated by thermal photons, we find a substantial direct-photon v(2) comparable to that of hadrons, whereas model calculations for thermal photons in this kinematic region underpredict the observed v(2).