Iron-sulfur centers in the Staphylococcus aureus respiratory chain]

Using low temperature EPR spectroscopy, signals of iron-sulfur centers with g-factors of 2.02 and 1.94 were detected in the respiratory chain of St. aureus membranes. According to their relaxation parameters and redox properties, these iron-sulfur centers are similar to iron-sulfur centers S-1 and S-3 corresponding to succinate dehydrogenases of mitochondria and bacterial membranes.     

The structure and seasonal dynamics of myriapods (Chilopoda and Diplopoda) in the southern taiga of the Perm Cis-Urals Region

The spatial and temporal dynamics of myriapod assemblages in the Preduralye protected area (Kishertskii District, Perm Territory) is studied. There are 10 species found, which have been assigned to three landscape groups (floodplain, terrace, and forest species) and four phenological groups (spring-summer, summer, latesummerautumn, and autumn species). Seasonally stable differences are found between myriapod assemblages of riverine biotopes (floodplain and fluvial terraces) and those of drainage divides (hillsides and uplands). The structure of the myriapod assemblage changes thrice in the course of the growing season. The spring-early-summer pattern develops without drastic transformations into the summer one, which is characterized by maximum diversity. The establishment of the autumn pattern is marked ubiquitously by stronger dominance of two eurybiont species, a lithobiomorph centipede Lithobius curtipes (C.L. Koch, 1847) and a millipede Altajosoma golovatchi (Shear, 1990), which is accompanied by the simplification of the species structure and the reduction of diversity of taxocenes. The horizons of the application of the landscape-phenological classification of species are briefly discussed, as well as the consideration of phenological patterns during invertebrate surveys.     

The effect of Cu2+, Zn2+ cations and biogenic amines on the nuclear poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase activity in the rat brain

Study of the effects of Cu2+, Zn2+ cations and polyamines, spermine and spermidine, on the nuclear poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase activity of rat brain was carried out. It was shown that low concentrations of Cu2+ stimulate the activity of purified poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase. The poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase activity was increased 1.4-fold at 5 microM Cu2+. A further increase of Cu2+ concentration inhibited the enzymatic activity; at 50 microM Cu2+ the polymerase activity appeared to be fully inhibited. It was shown that Zn2+ inhibited only the poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase activity. Zn2+ at a concentration of 125 microM fully inhibited the enzymatic activity. Spermine and spermidine stimulated the poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase activity of brain nuclei of newborn and old rats.     

Functional characteristics of yeast cells in nutrient aqueous solution enriched with ortho-H2O isomers

It has been experimentally established that cultivation of yeast cells in depleted, dietary or normal nutrient aqueous solutions enriched with ortho-H₂O spin isomers is accompanied by an increase in the amount of carbon dioxide produced by the cells and an increase in their biomass. It has been revealed that the rate of metabolic processes and biological activity depends on the quality of nutrition and enhances in time in both nutrient solutions. In contrast, the reproductive function and the rate of cell division are insusceptible to the components of nutrition, but intensified in a solution enriched with ortho-H₂O similar to retardation of aging. The observed effects are discussed in assumption that an increase of a portion of ortho-H₂O molecules occurs in the neighborhood of water channels in the cell membrane that let through only monomers of H₂O and determine the rate vicinity of metabolic processes.     

Allotransplantation of cultured fibroblasts on non-healing wounds after autodermatoplasty

An allograft from man cultured fibroblasts has been received. Results of its transplantation on long not-healing donor wounds in 13 patients after autodermatoplastic operations have been studied. Expressed stimulating influence of cultured fibroblasts on donor wound epithelialization processes has been stated. In spite of allograft applications there has been no tearing away reactions. It has been connected with elimination of superficial cell antigens during cultivation. Microbe contamination of more than 10(2) is the contraindication for grafting.     

Effects of low intensity infra-red laser irradiation on ultrastructure and proliferation of liver cells in experimental hepatitis and cirrhosis]

With the aid of light, electron transmission and scanning electron microscopy and radioautography and stereometry, the influence of low-intensive laser irradiation (LILI) (infrared) was studied in normal rat liver and in experimental cirrhosis and hepatitis. It was revealed that arsenide-gallium laser irradiation causes the change of intracellular structure. These changes show the intensification on their specific function manifest in an increase of relative volume of intracellular structures. The changes of microvessels show the activation of microcirculation. The elevation of the index of the labelled nuclei testify to increased proliferation. The similar influences of LILI on the liver ultrastructure and proliferation in hepatitis and cirrhosis are accompanied by the reduction of the pathological changes of the liver--the hepatocytes oedema, granular, vacuolar and fatty dystrophy.     

Near-Field Effect of Ag@SnO2 Core-Shell on Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell Performance

Plasmonics - Noble metal-metal oxide core-shells have been widely investigated as plasmonic antennas to enhance light harvesting efficiency (LHE) in dye-sensitized solar cells. In this study,...     

Adaptive changes in the myocardium of patients with ischemic heart disease

Changes in the human heart muscle resulting from chronic coronary insufficiency have been analyzed using biopsies taken during surgery from nine patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and six patients with the WPW syndrome (without IHD). Histochemical analysis have shown that the atrial myocardium in IHD patients is characterized by an increased density of the microvascular network, increased phosphorylase activity, and decreased succinate dehydrogenase activity. Virtually the same changes have proved to occur in the myocardium of rats adapted to hypoxia by means of repeated exposure in a low-pressure chamber. According to the results of two-dimensional electrophoresis and immunoblotting, acid (but not alkaline) isoforms of inducible HSP70 proteins appear in the myocardium of IHD patients. It is concluded that the myocardium of IHD patients undergoes adaptive changes at the tissue level in response to repeated exposure to ischemia in the course of development of this disease. It is proposed that activation of the synthesis of alkaline HSP70 isoforms in the myocardium of cardiological patients may provide the possibility of improving its resistance to the impact of ischemia and reperfusion (this possibility is not realized under conditions of IHD).