The lion's share of bacteria in various environments cannot be cloned in the laboratory and thus cannot be sequenced using existing technologies. A major goal of single-cell genomics is to complement ...gene-centric metagenomic data with whole-genome assemblies of uncultivated organisms. Assembly of single-cell data is challenging because of highly non-uniform read coverage as well as elevated levels of sequencing errors and chimeric reads. We describe SPAdes, a new assembler for both single-cell and standard (multicell) assembly, and demonstrate that it improves on the recently released E+V-SC assembler (specialized for single-cell data) and on popular assemblers Velvet and SoapDeNovo (for multicell data). SPAdes generates single-cell assemblies, providing information about genomes of uncultivatable bacteria that vastly exceeds what may be obtained via traditional metagenomics studies. SPAdes is available online ( http://bioinf.spbau.ru/spades ). It is distributed as open source software.
The preparation of multipurpose high-energy materials for space technologies remains a challenging task and such materials usually require special precautions and fine tunability of their functional ...properties. To unveil new opportunities
en route
to high-performance energetic materials, novel potential melt-castable explosives and energetic plasticizers incorporating a (1,2,3-triazolyl)furazan scaffold enriched with nitro and nitratomethyl explosophoric functionalities were synthesized. The successful implementation of the regiodivergent approach enabled the preparation of regioisomeric (nitratomethyltriazolyl)furazans that possessed significantly different physicochemical properties classifying the target materials as melt-castable substances or energetic plasticizers. Hirshfeld surface calculations supported by energy framework plots were also performed to better understand the relationship between the molecular structure and sensitivity. All the prepared (1,2,3-triazolyl)furazans show high nitrogen-oxygen contents (76-77%), good experimental densities (up to 1.72 g cm
−3
) and high positive enthalpies of formation (180-318 kJ mol
−1
) resulting in good detonation performances (
D
= 7.1-8.0 km s
−1
;
P
= 21-29 GPa). Overall, this work unveils novel strategies for the construction of balanced energetic melt-castable substances or plasticizers for various applications.
Regiodivergent assembly of novel high-performance energetic melt-castable substances or plasticizers incorporating a (1,2,3-triazolyl)furazan scaffold was performed.
A series of novel energetic materials comprising of azo‐bridged furoxanylazoles enriched with energetic functionalities was designed and synthesized. These high‐energy materials were thoroughly ...characterized by IR and multinuclear NMR (1H, 13C, 14N) spectroscopy, high‐resolution mass spectrometry, elemental analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The molecular structures of representative amino and azo oxadiazole assemblies were additionally confirmed by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction and X‐ray powder diffraction. A comparison of contributions of explosophoric moieties into the density of energetic materials revealed that furoxan and 1,2,4‐oxadiazole rings are the densest motifs while the substitution of the azide and amino fragments on the nitro and azo ones leads to an increase of the density. Azo bridged energetic materials have high nitrogen‐oxygen contents (68.8–76.9 %) and high thermal stability. The synthesized compounds exhibit good experimental densities (1.62–1.88 g cm−3), very high enthalpies of formation (846–1720 kJ mol−1), and, as a result, excellent detonation performance (detonation velocities 7.66–9.09 km s−1 and detonation pressures 25.0–37.7 GPa). From the application perspective, the detonation parameters of azo oxadiazole assemblies exceed those of the benchmark explosive RDX, while a combination of high detonation performance and acceptable friction sensitivity of azo(1,2,4‐triazolylfuroxan) make it a promising potential alternative to PETN.
Handle with care: A series of polyazole structures incorporating azo‐bridged heterocyclic backbones was synthesized by simple and efficient chemical routes. Structural features of the newly prepared energetic materials enabled modulation of their functional properties. Due to high densities and exceptionally high enthalpies of formation, these energetic materials showed excellent detonation performance exceeding that of benchmark explosives RDX and PETN.
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with chlorin E6 in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR).
This single-center, retrospective cohort study. All patients ...received standard PDT with 6 mg of chlorin E6 (Fotoran E6) for each m2 of body surface area with 50 J/cm2 fluence and a treatment time of 83 seconds. The changes in central retinal thickness (CRT), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCT), and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were evaluated at the end of the follow-up. Main outcome measure was the presence of subretinal fluid (SRF) at three months after PDT.
Thirty-nine eyes (32 males and 7 females, 43.7 ± 10.0 years) were included. In total, 50 PDT sessions were performed. At three months of follow-up, 31 out of 39 (79.5%) study eyes showed complete resolution of SRF. Mean follow-up period after PDT was 15.3 ± 7.8 months. At the end of follow-up, a complete resolution of SRF was observed in 32 out of 39 (82.7%) eyes. Mean change in CRT, SCT, and BCVA at the end of the follow-up was -139.7 ± 136.4 µm, -66.8 ± 36.2 µm, and -0.05 ± 0.08 LogMAR, respectively (p < 0.001). Neither systemic nor ocular adverse events were observed, nor were local reactions seen.
Standard PDT with chlorin E6 is an effective and safe option in the management of chronic CSCR and may be considered as an alternative to the standard PDT with Visudyne.
We prove that unless the Exponential Time Hypothesis (ETH) fails, deciding if there is a homomorphism from graph
G
to graph
H
cannot be done in time |
V
(
H
)|
o
(|
V
(
G
)|)
. We also show an ...exponential-time reduction from Graph Homomorphism to Subgraph Isomorphism. This rules out (subject to ETH) a possibility of |
V
(
H
)|
o
(|
V
(
H
)|)
-time algorithm deciding if graph
G
is a subgraph of
H
. For both problems our lower bounds asymptotically match the running time of brute-force algorithms trying all possible mappings of one graph into another. Thus, our work closes the gap in the known complexity of these fundamental problems.
Moreover, as a consequence of our reductions, conditional lower bounds follow for other related problems such as Locally Injective Homomorphism, Graph Minors, Topological Graph Minors, Minimum Distortion Embedding and Quadratic Assignment Problem.
We report novel synthetic routes for facile preparation of highly functionalized fullerene derivatives C60(OR)5X (X = H, Cl, Br), C60(OR)4O and C60(OR)2 from chlorofullerene C60Cl6. The first ...water-soluble fullerene compound bearing residues of 3-oxypropanoic acid demonstrated a potent anti-HIV activity.
The novelty of the work lies in the creation and study of the physical and biological properties of biodegradable polymer coatings for stents based on poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). Polymer ...coatings are capable of prolonged and directed release of molecules with a high molecular weight, in particular, protein molecules of prourokinase (m.w. 54 kDa). A technology has been developed to create coatings having a relative elongation of 40% to 165% and a tensile strength of 25-65 MPa. Coatings are biodegradable; the rate of degradation of the polymer in an isotonic solution varies in the range of 0.05%-1.0% per day. The created coatings are capable of controlled release of the protein of prourokinase, while about 90% of the molecules of prourokinase retain their enzymatic activity. The rate of release of prourokinase can vary from 0.01 to 0.08 mg/day/cm
2
. Coatings do not have a short-term toxic effect on mammalian cells. The mitotic index of cells growing on coatings is approximately 1.5%. When implanting the developed polymers in animals in the postoperative period, there are no complications. Histological examination did not reveal pathological processes. When implanting individual polymers 60 days after surgery, only traces of PLGA are detected. Thus, a biodegradable composite mechanically resistant polymer capable of prolonged release of the high molecular weight prourokinase enzyme has been developed.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
BFBNIB, DOBA, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
A general, highly effective two-step approach for direct synthesis of (1H-tetrazol-5-yl)furoxan ammonium salts with various functional substituents based on initial effective synthesis of ...cyanofuroxans by dehydration of furoxancarboxylic acid amides by the action of (CF3CO)2O/Py followed by 3+2-cycloaddition of cyanofuroxans to ammonium azide, generated in situ from TMSN3 and NH4F, has been developed.
Display omitted
Purpose:
To study the status of retinal pigment epithelium in nonexudative and active choroidal neovascularization (CNV) in neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
Methods:
Only treatment-naïve ...neovascular age-related macular degeneration patients were enrolled in this prospective case-control study, including 17 eyes with nonexudative CNV (6 males and 11 females, 74.9 ± 10.0 years) and 28 eyes with active CNV (8 males and 20 females, 69.3 ± 6.8 years). All patients received a comprehensive ophthalmic examination, optical coherence tomography, dark-field scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, and fundus autofluorescence. The status of the retinal pigment epithelium was assessed with ImageJ software as the brightness of the CNV region on transillumination optical coherence tomography, dark-field scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, and fundus autofluorescence images. Choroidal neovascularization vessel density was measured based on optical coherence tomography angiography.
Results:
The brightness of CNV region in nonexudative CNV was statistically significantly lower than in active CNV with both optical coherence tomography transillumination (
P
= 0.004) and dark-field scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (
P
= 0.0015). No difference in brightness of the CNV region between nonexudative and active CNV was found based on fundus autofluorescence (
P
= 0.44). The vessel density of nonexudative CNV was statistically significantly higher than that of active CNV with a median value of 64.5% (95% confidential interval CI 53.4–79.0%) and 55.3% (95% CI 52.2–60.0%), respectively (
P
= 0.05).
Conclusion:
Multimodal imaging revealed substantial alteration of the retinal pigment epithelium in active CNV but not in nonexudative CNV which correlates with the higher vessel density of nonexudative CNV.
This is a proof-of-concept study showing the possibility of pharmacological control for choroidal thickness using pilocarpine as an agent that causes 2 to 5% choroidal thinning in healthy eyes after ...the instillation.
The purpose of this article was to study the effect of instillation of 1% pilocarpine on choroidal thickness in healthy subjects.
Sixteen healthy individuals (seven males and nine females; mean ± standard deviation age, 25.8 ± 3.3 years) were included. All participants received optical coherence tomography to evaluate subfoveal choroidal thickness (SCT) and choroidal area on cross-sectional scan within 4-mm central area. Axial length was measured using optical biometry. Optical coherence tomography was performed before and after pilocarpine was instilled six times for a 75-minute period in one eye; the fellow eye was used as the control. Subfoveal choroidal thickness and choroidal area were measured by two masked graders in random fashion and averaged for analysis.
After instillation of 1% pilocarpine, percentage SCT change in study and control eye was -3.3 ± 3.8% and 0.4 ± 3.2%, respectively (P = .03). Percentage change choroidal area in study and control eye was -2.3 ± 2.5% and 0.8 ± 3.3%, respectively (P < .001). There was a correlation between percentage SCT change and axial length (r = -0.56, P < .001), as well as between percentage SCT change and baseline SCT (r = 0.72, P < .001).
Instillation of 1% pilocarpine causes a decrease of choroidal thickness, which is more substantial in eyes with short axial length and thick choroid.
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