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.

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.

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.

Attosecond intra-valence band dynamics and resonant-photoemission delays in W(110).

Time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy with attosecond precision provides new insights into the photoelectric effect and gives information about the timing of photoemission from different electronic states within the electronic band structure of solids. Electron transport, scattering phenomena and electron-electron correlation effects can be observed on attosecond time scales by timing photoemission from valence band states against that from core states. However, accessing intraband effects was so far particularly challenging due to the simultaneous requirements on energy, momentum and time resolution. Here we report on an experiment utilizing intracavity generated attosecond pulse trains to meet these demands at high flux and high photon energies to measure intraband delays between sp- and d-band states in the valence band photoemission from tungsten and investigate final-state effects in resonant photoemission.

Combustion of sewage sludge in a fluidized bed of catalyst: ASPEN PLUS model.

This paper presents the results of the simulation of a sewage sludge combustion plant with a productivity of 6 tons per hour using the ASPEN Plus. It is shown that catalytic combustion technology can be used for the efficient utilization of mechanically dehydrated sludge with the moisture of ~75% in autothermal mode (without the use of additional fuel). At the same time, the plant for utilization of 6.0 tons of sludge per hour enables us to obtain 3.07 MW of heat energy. It is shown that the sludge moisture and its calorific value significantly affect the combustion process. Thus, at the moisture of less than 72%, additional water supply is necessary to avoid overheating of the catalyst bed. In the case of an increase in sludge moisture of more than 76%, an additional supply of fuel (for example, brown coal) is required. Also, the article discusses the emissions of harmful substances generated during sewage sludge combustion and methods for their utilization.

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.

[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.

Multi-tracing of recharge seasonality and contamination in groundwater: A tool for urban water resource management.

In this study, sources of recharge and contamination in urban groundwater and in groundwater underneath a forest in the same aquifer were determined and compared. Data on hydro-chemical parameters and stable isotopes of water were collected in urban and forest springs in the Kharkiv region, Ukraine, over a period of 12 months. Groundwater transit time and precipitation contribution were calculated using hydrogeological data and stable isotopes of water to delineate groundwater recharge conditions. Hydro-chemical data, stable isotopes and emerging contaminants were used to trace anthropogenic groundwater recharge and approximate sewage and tap water contributions to the aquifer. The results indicated that each spring had unique isotopic signatures that could be explained by recharge conditions, groundwater residence time, and specific mixing patterns with sewage and water leaks. Elevated nitrate content, stable isotopes of nitrate, and the presence of emerging pollutants (mainly illicit drugs) in most of the urban springs confirmed mixing of urban groundwater with sewage leaks. These leaks amounted to up to 25% of total recharge and exhibited seasonal variations in some springs. Overall, the results show that urban groundwater receives variable seasonal contributions of anthropogenic components that increase the risk to the environment and human health, and reduce its usability for drinking water production. The multi-tracing approach presented can be useful for other cities worldwide that have similar problems of poor water management and inadequate sewage and water supply infrastructure.

[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.

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.

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.

Time-resolved Assessment of Drying Plants by Brillouin and Raman Spectroscopies.

Raman and Brillouin spectroscopy enable non-invasive assessment of chemical and elastic properties of biomaterials, respectively. In this report, Brillouin micro-spectroscopy was used for the time-resolved analysis of elastic properties of Populus and Geranium leaves, while Raman micro-spectroscopy was employed for the assessment of their chemical variation during drying. Spectroscopic assessment of elastic and chemical properties can improve our understanding of mechano-chemical changes of plants in response to environmental stress and pathogens at the microscopic cellular level. This report demonstrates the potential of multimodal optical sensing and imaging of plants as an emerging technique for the quantitative assessment of agricultural crops.

[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.

Amplitude concentration in a phase-modulated spectrum due to femtosecond filamentation.

We present a method by which the spectral intensity of an ultrafast laser pulse can be accumulated at selected frequencies by a controllable amount. Using a 4-f pulse shaper we modulate the phase of the frequency components of a femtosecond laser. By inducing femtosecond filamentation with the modulated pulse, we can concentrate the spectral amplitude of the pulse at various frequencies. The phase mask applied by the pulse shaper determines the frequencies for which accumulation occurs, as well as the intensity of the spectral concentration. This technique provides a way to obtain pulses with adjustable amplitude using only phase modulation and the nonlinear response of a medium. This provides a means whereby information which is encoded into spectral phase jumps may be decoded into measurable spectral intensity spikes.

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.