Introduction
There is no consensus about whether late-onset schizophrenia(LOS) is a type of schizophrenia or a secondary psychotic disorder. One of the theories of the occurrence of late-onset ...psychoses is neurodegeneration caused by the imbalance of proteostasis.
Objectives
To study the concentration and expression of alpha-synuclein in patients with LOS compared with controls.
Methods
The study involved 42 patients with the ICD-10 criteria of schizophrenia with the onset of the disease after 45 years and 104 controls with no dementia and severe somatic pathology, comparable in age and gender. The alpha-synuclein level was estimated in a lymphocytic cell fraction from patients with LOS N=42 and controls N=104 using the Human alpha-synuclein ELISA kit. The expression of the SNCA gene was studied in 22 LOS patients and 22 controls and determined by PCR using the SYBR Green Supermix kit and the CFX96 instrument in comparison with the referent genes using previously developed primers. LOS group underwent psychopathological examination including scales. Statistics: SPSS 12.0; the Mann–Whitney test; exponential regression analysis; data is given as median (min–max). The level of significance was set at p<0.05.
Results
The alpha-synuclein level is higher in patients with LOS (9.21 (0.78-29.52)) compared to control (6,355 (0.46-35.44)), p=0.024. The mRNA level of the SNCA gene is higher in the LOS group (0.533 (0.089-1.406)) compared to controls (0.087 (0.016-0.266) , p<0.001.
Conclusions
Our study shows the relationship of alpha-synuclein with the manifestations of LOS. Obtained novel data can open up new targets for therapy and bring it closer to understanding the phenomenon.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
The review examines the microbiological aspects of the biological phosphorus removal from wastewater. The history of the development of biotechnology and the discovery of the physiological group of ...phosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs), which biologically remove phosphorus via the phosphate uptake and storage in the form of intracellular polyphosphates, is briefly described. PAOs are characterized by a cyclic type of metabolism that occurs when the anaerobic/aerobic conditions cyclically change. Under anaerobic conditions, PAOs uptake and store organic compounds through the energy of degradation of intracellular polyphosphates. When anaerobic conditions change to aerobic or an alternative electron acceptor appears, PAOs uptake phosphates and synthesize intracellular polyphosphates using the intracellular polymeric sources of carbon and energy accumulated under anaerobic conditions. The main representatives of the PAOs, their metabolic models, and physiological characteristics are described. The basic principles of the implementation of biotechnology used in the practice of wastewater treatment for phosphorus and other nutrients are considered.
In the present work, for the first time, a generalized Guggenheim equation for a system of hard spheres has been obtained based on the use of Euler’s accelerated convergence method. This equation ...allows for the consideration of an arbitrary number of known virial coefficients. For the metastable region, this equation is generalized to account for the asymptotic behaviour of free energy at high densities. The obtained expression for the compressibility of the homogeneous phase of a hard sphere system describes the data of the numerical experiment within the limits of its accuracy.
Direct comparison of high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) data acquired with different instrumentation or parameters remains problematic as the derived lists of molecular species via HRMS, even ...for the same sample, appear distinct. This inconsistency is caused by inherent inaccuracies associated with instrumental limitations and sample conditions. Hence, experimental data may not reflect a corresponding sample. We propose a method that classifies HRMS data based on the differences in the number of elements between each pair of molecular formulae within the formulae list to preserve the essence of the given sample. The novel metric, formulae difference chains expected length (FDCEL), allowed for comparing and classifying samples measured by different instruments. We also demonstrate a web application and a prototype for a uniform database for HRMS data serving as a benchmark for future biogeochemical and environmental applications. FDCEL metric was successfully employed for both spectrum quality control and examination of samples of various nature.
genus of Asteraceae family is a source of medicinal plants known worldwide and used as ethnopharmacological remedies for the treatment of diabetes in Northern Asia (Siberia). The aim of this study ...was to determine the phenolic profile of 12 Siberian
species (
) and to test the efficacy of plant extracts and pure compounds for antidiabetic potential. Finally, by HPLC-DAD-ESI-TQ-MS/MS technique, 112 individual phenolic compounds were detected in
extracts in a wide range of concentrations. Some species accumulated rare plant phenolics, such as coumarin-hemiterpene ethers (lacarol derivatives) from
and
; melilotoside from
; dihydrochalcones (davidigenin analogs) from
; chrysoeriol glucosides from
, and
; eriodictyol glycosides from
; and some uncommon flavones and flavonols. The predominant phenolic group from
species herb was caffeoylquinic acid (CQAs), and in all species, the major CQAs were 5-
-CQA (20.28-127.99 μg/g) and 3,5-di-
-CQA (7.35-243.61 μg/g). In a series of
bioassays, all studied
extracts showed inhibitory activity against principal enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism, such as α-amylase (IC
= 150.24-384.14 μg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC
= 214.42-754.12 μg/mL). Although many phenolic compounds can be inhibitors, experimental evidence suggests that the CQAs were key to the biological response of
extracts. Mono-, di- and tri-substituted CQAs were assayed and showed inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase, with IC
values of 40.57-172.47 μM and 61.08-1240.35 μM, respectively, and they were more effective than acarbose, a well-known enzyme inhibitor. The results obtained in this study reveal that Siberian
species and CQAs possess a pronounced inhibitory activity against α-amylase and α-glucosidase and could become a complement to synthetic antidiabetic drugs for controlling blood glucose level.
The article describes a method for producing semi-finished products from a copper alloy of the Cu–Ni–Cr–Si system for electrical purposes through the radial-shear rolling (RSR). From the Cu–Ni–Cr–Si ...alloy by hot deformation, rods with a diameter of 20 mm were obtained, which were then heat treated with quenching and aging. A detailed analysis of the microstructure and properties (mechanical and electrical) of the obtained samples was carried out after RSR and after heat treatment (HT). After RSR, material hardening occurs due to shear deformations forming a gradient structure with grain sizes varying from 8.22 μm to 15.95 μm between the surface and the center of the rod. The microstructure and mechanical property analysis showed that after heat treatment, the alloy is thermally hardened due to the precipitation of Ni2Si and Cr3Si particles uniformly distributed in the sample volume in the form of fine inclusions with an average size of 0.56–0.65 μm. After heat treatment, the alloy enhanced its mechanical properties (ultimate tensile strength (UTS) ~ 700–750 MPa, yield strength (YS) ~ 557–606 MPa, and elongation between 17 and 22%) and its electrical conductivity of 45.17% IACS from the 30.52% IACS of the RSR material. The improved mechanical properties of the heat-treated material are due to the different strength contributions mainly coming from dislocations and precipitates. The electrical conductivity improvement after the heat treatment is related to the dislocation density reduction and the increase in grain boundary misorientation due to the recrystallization phenomenon giving rise to a lower number of boundaries but with a twinning character. Thus, the RSR method offers a new industrial alternative for the production of semi-finished products from a Cu–Ni–Cr–Si alloy in the form of rods with diameters ranging from 10 to 55 mm.
•Radial shear rolling can produce copper rods of different diameters at an industrial scale.•The thermomechanical process using radial shear rolling gives rise to a heterogeneous material.•Aging treatment after radial shear rolling produces a remarkable combination of strength, ductility, and electrical conductivity.•Dislocations annihilation and grain boundaries misorientation change help to improve the material electrical conductivity.
NMDA receptors play critical roles in numerous physiological and pathological processes in CNS that requires development of modulating ligands. In particular, photoswitchable compounds that ...selectively target NMDA receptors would be particularly useful for analysis of receptor contributions to various processes. Recently, we identified a light-dependent anti-NMDA activity of the azobenzene-containing quaternary ammonium compounds DENAQ (diethylamine-azobenzene-quaternary ammonium) and DMNAQ (dimethylamine-azobenzene-quaternary ammonium). Here, we developed a series of light-sensitive compounds based on the DENAQ structure, and studied their action on glutamate receptors in rat brain neurons using patch-clamp method. We found that the activities of the compounds and the influence of illumination strongly depended on the structural details, as even minor structural modifications greatly altered the activity and sensitivity to illumination. The compound PyrAQ (pyrrolidine-azobenzene-quaternary ammonium) was the most active and produced fast and fully reversible inhibition of NMDA receptors. The IC50 values under ambient and monochromic light conditions were 2 and 14 μM, respectively. The anti-AMPA activity was much weaker. The action of PyrAQ did not depend on NMDA receptor activity, agonist concentration, or membrane voltage, making it a useful tool for photopharmacological studies.
Current status of tokamak T-15MD Khvostenko, P.P.; Anashkin, I.O.; Bondarchuk, E.N. ...
Fusion engineering and design,
March 2021, 2021-03-00, 20210301, Letnik:
164
Journal Article
Recenzirano
•T-15MD project is aimed at obtaining a database for creating a thermonuclear neutron source for atomic energy needs.•Magnet system of T-15MD will confine the hot plasma in the divertor ...configuration.•Toroidal magnetic field at the plasma axis is 2 T, plasma current is 2 MA.•Preparation to physical start-up of tokamak T-15MD is completed.•T-15MD should begin operation in 2021.
At the present time, the preparation to physical start-up of tokamak T-15MD is completed in the National Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”. The main parameters of T-15MD are: R = 1.48 m, a = 0.67 m, B = 2.0 T, Ipl = 2.0 MA. The magnet system is capable to maintain without overheating (more 60 °C) the plasma current of 2 MA for 4 s, 1 MA for 20 s, 700 kA for 40 s, 500 kA for 80 s, 300 kA for 160 s and 250 kA for 400 s. Plasma current drive can be maintained either by injection of fast neutrals or by electron cyclotron (EC)-, ion cyclotron (IC)- and low hybrid (LH) - waves. In August 2019 the electromagnetic system, consisting of TF and PF coils, together with vacuum vessel have been assembled in experimental hall. Power supply system of Tokamak T-15MD includes: two substations 110/10 kV, two substations 10/0.83 kV, thyristor convertors and different equipment. Total power consumption during the pulse with plasma current 2 MA and additional plasma heating of 20 MW will consist of 300 MVA. Power supply system is in the commissioning. Tokamak T-15MD will be operate using the information and control system. All the information and control system equipment, required for the implementation of physical start-up of tokamak T-15MD, is available. For plasma control the 250 different electromagnetic probes are installed inside vacuum vessel. The gyrotron with frequency 82.6 GHz and power of 1 MW will be used for pre-ionization.
A typical feature of proteins from the rhodopsin family is the sensitivity of their absorption band maximum to protein amino acid composition. For this reason, studies of these proteins often require ...methodologies that determine spectral shift caused by amino acid substitutions. Generally, quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics models allow for the calculation of a substitution-induced spectral shift with high accuracy, but their application is not always easy and requires special knowledge. In the present study, we propose simple models that allow us to estimate the direct effect of a charged or polar residue substitution without extensive calculations using only rhodopsin three-dimensional structure and plots or tables that are provided in this article. The models are based on absorption maximum values calculated at the SORCI+Q level of theory for cis- and trans-forms of retinal protonated Schiff base in an external electrostatic field of charges and dipoles. Each value corresponds to a certain position of a charged or polar residue relative to the retinal chromophore. The proposed approach was evaluated against an example set consisting of twelve bovine rhodopsin and sodium pumping rhodopsin mutants. The limits of the applicability of the models are also discussed. The results of our study can be useful for the interpretation of experimental data and for the rational design of rhodopsins with required spectral properties.
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