Delivery of Experimental mRNA Vaccine Encoding the RBD of SARS-CoV-2 by Jet Injection.

We studied a needle-free jet injection delivery of an experimental mRNA vaccine encoding the receptor-binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein (mRNA-RBD). Immunization of BALB/c mice with mRNA-RBD by a needle-free jet injector induced high levels of antibodies with virus-neutralizing activity and a virus-specific T-cell response. The immune response was low in the group of mice that received intramuscular injection of mRNA-RBD. The effectiveness of this simple and safe method of mRNA delivering has been demonstrated. Thus, jet injection of mRNA vaccine can be a good alternative to lipid nanoparticles.

Quantum Induced Coherence Light Detection and Ranging.

Quantum illumination has been proposed and demonstrated to improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in light detection and ranging (LiDAR). When relying on coincidence detection alone, such a quantum LiDAR is limited by the timing jitter of the detector and suffers from jamming noise. Inspired by the Zou-Wang-Mandel experiment, we design, construct, and validate a quantum induced coherence (QuIC) LiDAR which is inherently immune to ambient and jamming noises. In traditional LiDAR the direct detection of the reflected probe photons suffers from deteriorating SNR for increasing background noise. In QuIC LiDAR we circumvent this obstacle by only detecting the entangled reference photons, whose single-photon interference fringes are used to obtain the distance of the object, while the reflected probe photons are used to erase path information of the reference photons. In consequence, the noise accompanying the reflected probe light has no effect on the detected signal. We demonstrate such noise resilience with both LED and laser light to mimic the background and jamming noise. The proposed method paves a new way of battling noise in precise quantum electromagnetic sensing and ranging.

DNA Vaccine Encoding the Artificial T-Cell Polyepitope Immunogen of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus.

A promising approach to the development of new means for preventing infection caused by tick-borne encephalitis virus can be DNA vaccines encoding polyepitope T-cell immunogens. A DNA vaccine pVAX-AG4-ub encoding an artificial polyepitope immunogen that includes cytotoxic and T-helper epitopes from the NS1, NS3, NS5, and E proteins of the tick-borne encephalitis virus has been obtained. The developed construct ensured the synthesis of the corresponding mRNAs in transfected eukaryotic cells. Immunization of mice with pVAX-AG4-ub induced the formation of a virus-specific T-cell response providing 50% protection from lethal infection with the virus.

Attosecond nonlinear polarization and light-matter energy transfer in solids.

Electric-field-induced charge separation (polarization) is the most fundamental manifestation of the interaction of light with matter and a phenomenon of great technological relevance. Nonlinear optical polarization produces coherent radiation in spectral ranges inaccessible by lasers and constitutes the key to ultimate-speed signal manipulation. Terahertz techniques have provided experimental access to this important observable up to frequencies of several terahertz. Here we demonstrate that attosecond metrology extends the resolution to petahertz frequencies of visible light. Attosecond polarization spectroscopy allows measurement of the response of the electronic system of silica to strong (more than one volt per ångström) few-cycle optical (about 750 nanometres) fields. Our proof-of-concept study provides time-resolved insight into the attosecond nonlinear polarization and the light-matter energy transfer dynamics behind the optical Kerr effect and multi-photon absorption. Timing the nonlinear polarization relative to the driving laser electric field with sub-30-attosecond accuracy yields direct quantitative access to both the reversible and irreversible energy exchange between visible-infrared light and electrons. Quantitative determination of dissipation within a signal manipulation cycle of only a few femtoseconds duration (by measurement and ab initio calculation) reveals the feasibility of dielectric optical switching at clock rates above 100 terahertz. The observed sub-femtosecond rise of energy transfer from the field to the material (for a peak electric field strength exceeding 2.5 volts per ångström) in turn indicates the viability of petahertz-bandwidth metrology with a solid-state device.

Recent advances in one-stage conversion of lipid-based biomass-derived oils into fuel components - aromatics and isomerized alkanes.

Nowadays, production of biofuels is a rather hot topic due to depleting of conventional fossil fuel feedstocks and a number of other factors. Plant lipid-based feedstocks are very important for production of diesel-, kerosene-, and gasoline-like hydrocarbons. Usually, (hydro)deoxygenation processes are aimed at obtaining of linear hydrocarbons known to have poor fuel characteristics compared to the branched ones. Thus, further hydroisomerization is required to improve their properties as motor fuel components. This review article is focused on conversion of lipid-based feedstocks and model compounds into high-quality fuel components for a single step - direct cracking into aromatics and merged hydrodeoxygenation-hydroisomerization to obtain isoparaffins. The second process is quite novel and a number of the research articles presented in the literature is relatively low. As auxiliary subsections, hydroisomerization of straight hydrocarbons and techno-economic analysis of renewable diesel-like fuel production are briefly reviewed as well.

[Optimization of the invasive strategy for acute coronary syndrome in patients of the older age group.]

A study is presented on the effectiveness and safety of various anticoagulants used in patients of an older age group with acute coronary syndrome during percutaneous coronary interventions. Bivalirudin was shown to be highly effective in comparison with unfractionated heparin and monafram in relation to the amount of bleeding that occurs in the postoperative period and adverse cardiovascular complications.

[Sarcopenia as the reason of hypodiagnostics of chronic kidney disease in patients with chronic heart failure.]

The purpose of the research is comparison of glomerular filtration rate calculated on the basis of serum concentrations of creatinine and cystatin C in patients with chronic heart failure and sarcopenia. In this research 86 patients with chronic heart failure and sarcopenia aged 60 to 92 years (mean age 75±7 years) were examined. GFR calculation was determined using formulas based on creatinine (CKD-EPIC), cystatin C (CKD-EPICys) in blood and both markers (CKD-EPICr-Cys). The concentration of cystatin C in blood serum was determined by the immunoturbidimetric method, and creatinine by the Jaffe kinetic method. Composite body composition was studied in all patients using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry with calculation of the sarcopenia index (according to FNIH criteria, 2014) and measurement of total fat mass. A test with a 6-minute walk, an assessment according to the SHOKS scale (clinical condition assessment scale for CHF), transthoracic echocardiography with the measurement of EDD, ESD, LVEF, LVМ, LVIM, indicators of LV diastolic function was performed. Depending on the diagnostic criteria for sarcopenia, patients were divided into 2 groups: the first - a combination of heart failure and sarcopenia; the second - CHF without sarcopenia. In patients with CHF and sarcopenia, GFR was reassessed as calculated by the creatinine level by 23% (the absolute difference is more than 18 ml/min/1,73 m2) compared with GFR estimated by the level of cystatin C. In patients with heart failure and sarcopenia, when using a serum concentration of creatinine, there is a hypodiagnostics of the severity of chronic kidney disease. In this regard, if there are signs of sarcopenia, it is recommended to use the formula CKD-EPICys to calculate GFR.

[Comparative evaluation of scales for the assessment of senile asthenia syndrome in patients with acute coronary syndrome.]

The syndrome of senile asthenia (frailty) in patients with acute coronary syndrome is recognized as one of the risk factors for the development of adverse outcomes after undergoing cardiosurgical interventions, and the search for an optimal method for assessing this syndrome could be a screening to identify patients at increased risk. This study compares two methods for assessing senile asthenia syndrome in patients with acute coronary syndrome, its prevalence in this category of patients, its relationship with clinical characteristics and 1-year mortality after hospitalization. According to the results of the study, senile asthenia syndrome was observed more often in the group of patients older than 75 years. Patients with senile asthenia assessment using the Green scale had a higher risk on the GRACE scale and the presence of this syndrome was an independent 1-year mortality predictor after hospitalization.

Quantum photonic transistor controlled by an atom in a Floquet cavity-QED system.

The photon transmission of a Floquet cavity quantum electrodynamic (QED) system containing three periodically modulated cavities interacting with a two-level atom is investigated. The input-output relations and the second-order correlation functions of the output fields are calculated. The system demonstrates the feature of a quantum photonic transistor, i.e., the photon transmission is controlled by the quantum states of the atom. This device can be used as a building block for various quantum information processing.

Increased Blood Concentration of IgG Degradation Products in Prostate Cancer.

For elucidation of the mechanisms of IgG binding with human plasminogen in prostate cancer patients, we propose an original ELISA on polystyrene plates with immobilized heavy and light plasminogen chains. The level of IgG bound to plasminogen heavy chain in the serum of prostate cancer patients significantly exceeded that in healthy volunteers. IgG treated with plasmin more actively (by more than 2 times) bound plasminogen heavy chain than intact IgG. These findings indicate the involvement of lysine-binding sites of plasminogen heavy chain in the interaction with the C-terminal lysine of IgG and their fragments. ROC analysis of ELISA data showed significant differences between serum samples from patients with prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia. It is hypothesized that IgG in the tumor region undergo proteolysis and their products appear in the circulation.

[Features of changes in volume-impedance hemodynamic indicators during the tilt test in young males with a history of vasovagal syncopes].

BACKGROUND: The direction of changes in hemodynamic parameters during the tilt test (TT) nin individuals with history of vasovagal syncope (VVS) is a subject of discussion. OBJECTIVE: to study changes of volume-impedance hemodynamic indicators in the process of tilt test in somatically healthy young men with history of VVS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 102 men aged 18-30 years were divided into 4 groups, taking into account the specific features of fainting history and response to TT. Persons of group 1 (n=14) had history of VVS and positive response to TT (syncope). Subjects of group 2 (n=14) had history of VVS and a pattern of postural tachycardia without fainting during TT. Persons of group 3 (n=42) had history of VVS and negative response to TT. Subjects of group 4 (n=32) had no history of VVS and negative response to TT. During TT, we studied dynamics of some indicators, including cardiac output (CO) and total peripheral vascular resistance (TPVR). RESULTS: In individuals of all groups in the initial horizontal phase of TT values of CO and TPVR corresponded to the norm. Subjects of group 1 had significantly lower CO compared with subjects of groups 2, 3, 4 (p<0.05, p<0.01, p<0.05, respectively). Values of TPVR in subjects of group 1 were significantly higher than in subjects of groups 2, 3, 4 (p<0.05; p<0.05; p<0.05, respectively). In response to orthostasis CO values increased in groups 1, 2, 4 (by 18%, 10%, 5%, respectively) and did not change in group 3; TPVR values decreased in groups 1, 2 (by 8%, 0.5%, respectively), and increased in groups 3, 4 (by 8%, 4% respectively). In the final horizontal phase of TT, CO values in group 1 were significantly lower than in groups 3, 4 (p<0.05), while TPVR values did not significantly differ between all groups (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In tilt-positive and tilt-negative subjects with history of VVS, standardized postural stress leads to unidirectional changes in cardiac output, but to multidirectional changes in total peripheral vascular resistance.

[Etiopathogenetic treatment of professional singers with vocal nodules]. / Étiopatogeneticheskoe lechenie uzelkov golosovykh skladok u professional'nykh vokalistov.

The article deals with optimization of treatment policy for professional singers. The survey sample is 67 singers with vocal nodules of the age from 24 to 42 and the length of time worked from 3 to 28 years. The following methods are used: questionnaire survey (professional anamnesis, voice evaluation according to Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Spielberg-Hanin test), microlaryngoscopy, video endolaringostroboscopy, voice acoustic analysis (MDVP Kay Pentax system). The algorithm and evaluation criteria of vocal nodules treatment efficiency for the singers taking into account the specific character of their professional activity are proposed.

[The development of chronic heart failure in elderly patients with low ejection fraction at baseline in the acute phase of myocardial infarction].

There was performed analysis according to 5-year follow incidence of heart failure in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with low ejection fraction in A; the characteristics of chronic heart failure (CHF) in elderly and senile were determined; the value of a number of clinical and morphological parameters for prediction of CHF were studied. The study included 135 patients of Intensive Care Unit with a diagnosis AMI showing according to the initial echocardiography reduced ejection fraction in the first 24-48 hours. In the course of monitoring patients, routine methods of clinical examination were used, the main quantitative technique was echocardiography, qualitative indicators were assessed including by collecting anamnesis and filling out questionnaires for heart failure, and then standard statistical methods were used. In the process of observation it was found that patients with acute myocardial infarction in acute elderly age worsens the prognosis of heart failure and mortality forecast, low ejection fraction in the acute period is a negative predictor of heart failure in all age groups, but more pronounced in the elderly. Development and growth of CHF after AMI occurs, despite the growth of ejection fraction (EF) in both age groups. CHF dynamics depends on the systolic and diastolic dysfunction. In the older age group plays a decisive role systolic dysfunction.

Determination of dominant sources of nitrate contamination in transboundary (Russian Federation/Ukraine) catchment with heterogeneous land use.

Nitrate contamination of surface water and shallow groundwater was studied in transboundary (Russia/Ukraine) catchment with heterogeneous land use. Dominant sources of nitrate contamination were determined by applying a dual δ 15N-NO3 and δ 18O-NO3 isotope approach, multivariate statistics, and land use analysis. Nitrate concentration was highly variable from 0.25 to 22 mg L-1 in surface water and from 0.5 to 100 mg L-1 in groundwater. The applied method indicated that sewage to surface water and sewage and manure to groundwater were dominant sources of nitrate contamination. Nitrate/chloride molar ratio was added to support the dual isotope signature and indicated the contribution of fertilizers to the nitrate content in groundwater. Groundwater temperature was found to be an additional indicator of manure and sewerage leaks in the shallow aquifer which has limited protection and is vulnerable to groundwater pollution.

[The comparative assessment of the vocal function in the professional voice users and non-occupational voice users in the late adulthood]. / Sravnitel'naia otsenka golosovoi funktsii u professionalov golosa pozhilogo vozrasta i lits negolosovykh professii.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the clinical and functional condition of the voice apparatus in the elderly patients and to elaborate recommendations for the prevention of disturbances of the vocal function in the professional voice users. This comprehensive study involved 95 patients including the active professional voice users (n=48) and 45 non-occupational voice users at the age from 61 to 82 years with the employment history varying from 32 to 51 years. The study was designed to obtain the voice characteristics by means of the subjective auditory assessment, microlaryngoscopy, video laryngostroboscopy, determination of maximum phonation time (MPT), and computer-assisted acoustic analysis of the voice with the use of the MDVP Kay Pentaxy system. The level of anxiety of the patients was estimated based on the results of the HADS questionnaire study. It is concluded that the majority of the disturbances of the vocal function in the professional voice users have the functional nature. It is concluded that the method of neuro-muscular electrophonopedic stimulation (NMEPS) of laryngeal muscles is the method of choice for the diagnostics of the vocal function of the voice users in the late adulthood. It is recommended that the professional vocal load for such subjects should not exceed 12-14 hours per week. Rational psychotherapy must constitute an important component of the system of measures intended to support the working capacity of the voice users belonging to this age group.

Effect of Liver Damage and Hyperbaric Oxygenation on Glutamine Synthetase of Hepatocytes.

Activity of glutamine synthetase in the hepatocytes of healthy animals and animals with chronic CCl4-induced hepatitis was studied on white mature female rats after liver resection (15-20% of organ weight) and hyperbaric oxygenation (3 atm, 50 min, 3 times). Surgically operated left and non-operated middle lobes of the liver were analyzed on day 3 after liver resection and exposure to hyperbaric oxygenation. On day 65 of CCl4 poisoning, activity of glutamine synthetase decreased in both lobes and did not recover on day 3 after toxin cessation. Liver resection under conditions of CCl4-induced hepatitis restored reduced activity of glutamine synthetase in both liver lobes to the normal level. In healthy rats, the increase in glutamine synthetase activity after liver resection was found only in the middle lobe of the liver. Hyperbaric oxygenation enhanced the stimulatory effect of liver resection on glutamine synthetase activity in hepatocytes during chronic CCl4-induced hepatitis. In healthy animals with liver resection, activity of glutamine synthetase did not change after hyperbaric oxygenation, while normally oxygenation inhibited glutamine synthetase activity.

Geographic variation of life-history traits in the sand lizard, Lacerta agilis: testing Darwin's fecundity-advantage hypothesis.

The fecundity-advantage hypothesis (FAH) explains larger female size relative to male size as a correlated response to fecundity selection. We explored FAH by investigating geographic variation in female reproductive output and its relation to sexual size dimorphism (SSD) in Lacerta agilis, an oviparous lizard occupying a major part of temperate Eurasia. We analysed how sex-specific body size and SSD are associated with two putative indicators of fecundity selection intensity (clutch size and the slope of the clutch size-female size relationship) and with two climatic variables throughout the species range and across two widespread evolutionary lineages. Variation within the lineages provides no support for FAH. In contrast, the divergence between the lineages is in line with FAH: the lineage with consistently female-biased SSD (L. a. agilis) exhibits higher clutch size and steeper fecundity slope than the lineage with an inconsistent and variable SSD (L. a. exigua). L. a. agilis shows lower offspring size (egg mass, hatchling mass) and higher clutch mass relative to female mass than L. a. exigua, that is both possible ways to enhance offspring number are exerted. As the SSD difference is due to male size (smaller males in L. a. agilis), fecundity selection favouring larger females, together with viability selection for smaller size in both sexes, would explain the female-biased SSD and reproductive characteristics of L. a. agilis. The pattern of intraspecific life-history divergence in L. agilis is strikingly similar to that between oviparous and viviparous populations of a related species Zootoca vivipara. Evolutionary implications of this parallelism are discussed.

Autoantibodies to plasminogen and their role in tumor diseases.

Plasma level of IgG autoantibodies to plasminogen was measured by ELISA in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (n=25), prostatic cancer (n=17), lung cancer (n=15), and healthy volunteers (n=44). High levels of IgG to plasminogen were found in 2 (12%) of 17 healthy women, in 1 (3.6%) of 27 specimens in a healthy man, in 17 (68%) of 25 specimens in prostatic cancer, in 10 (59%) of 17 specimens in lung cancer, and in 5 (30%) of 15 specimens in benign prostatic hyperplasia. Comparison of plasma levels of anti-plasminogen IgG by affinity chromatography showed 3-fold higher levels in patients with prostatic cancer vs. healthy men.

Cavity-enhanced high-harmonic generation with spatially tailored driving fields.

We theoretically and experimentally investigate high-harmonic generation in a 78-MHz enhancement cavity with a transverse mode having on-axis intensity maxima at the focus and minima at an opening in the following mirror. We find that the conversion efficiency is comparable to that achievable with a Gaussian mode, whereas the output coupling efficiency can be significantly improved over any other demonstrated technique. This approach offers additional power scaling advantages and additional degrees of freedom in shaping the harmonic emission, paving the way to high-power extreme-ultraviolet frequency combs and the generation of multi-MHz repetition-rate-isolated attosecond pulses.

Melting temperature of metal polycrystalline nanowires electrochemically deposited into the pores of anodic aluminum oxide.

The arrays of metallic nanowires are considered as promising precursors for 1D semiconductor nanostructures after appropriate treatment at temperatures close to the melting point. Therefore the melting behaviour of the metallic structures in oxide templates is a key parameter for the subsequent conversion process. The present paper focuses on understanding of the effect of mechanical stress generated during heating on the melting point of the metal nanowires deposited into the pores of anodic alumina. Extremely high local compressive stress appears due to the difference in the thermal coefficients of the oxide template and nanowires inside the pores. The effect of the composite structural parameter that may be related to the concentration of nanowires on the melting temperature has been investigated. A numerical model predicting the melting point has been developed for composites with indium, tin, and zinc nanowires. The simulation results obtained using the suggested model were compared with the experimental data.