Signatures of the slow solar wind streams from active regions in the inner corona

Some of local sources of the slow solar wind can be associated with spectroscopically detected plasma outflows at edges of active regions accompanied with specific signatures in the inner corona. The EUV telescopes (e.g. SPIRIT/CORONAS-F, TESIS/CORONAS-Photon and SWAP/PROBA2) sometimes observed extended ray-like structures seen at the limb above active regions in 1MK iron emission lines and described as "coronal rays". To verify the relationship between coronal rays and plasma outflows, we analyze an isolated active region (AR) adjacent to small coronal hole (CH) observed by different EUV instruments in the end of July - beginning of August 2009. On August 1 EIS revealed in the AR two compact outflows with the Doppler velocities V =10-30 km/s accompanied with fan loops diverging from their regions. At the limb the ARCH interface region produced coronal rays observed by EUVI/STEREO-A on July 31 as well as by TESIS on August 7. The rays were co-aligned with open magnetic field lines expanded to the streamer stalks. Using the DEM analysis, it was found that the fan loops diverged from the outflow regions had the dominant temperature of ~1 MK, which is similar to that of the outgoing plasma streams. Parameters of the solar wind measured by STEREO-B, ACE, WIND, STEREO-A were conformed with identification of the ARCH as a source region at the Wang-Sheeley-Arge map of derived coronal holes for CR 2086. The results of the study support the suggestion that coronal rays can represent signatures of outflows from ARs propagating in the inner corona along open field lines into the heliosphere.Comment: Accepted for publication in Solar Physics; 31 Pages; 13 Figure

Structure and Functional Role of Bacterial CRISPR System

Presented is the review of literature data on the recently discovered system of Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR), which takes part in the defense against penetration of alien genetic information in prokaryotes. CRISPR structural peculiarities and functions, and putative mechanism of action are described. Also presented are data on the availability of this system in particularly dangerous infections agents and on the possibility of its application for molecular typing

Modeling the capacity of a section of the road network, taking into account the formation of groups of vehicles

The transport systems of modern cities largely determine the quality of life of the urban population. Increasing the role of urban public passenger transport, increasing the volume of traffic carried out by this type of transport, is traditionally considered as one of the ways to reduce the severity of urban transport problems. In this regard, a study aimed at improving the productivity of urban passenger transport, including by increasing the capacity of urban transport infrastructure, is relevant. Based on the relevance of the topic under consideration and approaches that ensure an increase in the productivity of passenger transport systems with a minimum amount of investment, the purpose of the study is formulated: improving the efficiency of public urban passenger transport through the implementation of measures to increase the capacity of the most critical sections of the road network. To develop measures that form the conditions for organizing the movement of passenger vehicles, a mathematical model of the capacity of a section of the street and road network has been developed, which allows to identify a combination of transport infrastructure parameters ensuring its maximum value. The developed model differs from the known analogues by taking into account the process of spontaneous formation of groups of passenger vehicles and the realization of the possibility of their synchronous interaction with the platforms of the stopping point. Based on the simulation results, the dependences of the capacity of a section of the street and road network with a dedicated lane for passenger vehicles on the parameters of traffic light regulation and the number of landing sites at the stop point were determined. The integrated application of the data obtained allows us to determine the balanced parameters of stopping points and traffic lights that ensure maximum throughput of the site under consideration. The developed mathematical model and the dependencies obtained with its help constitute the points of scientific novelty of the performed research. The developed theoretical provisions, the mathematical model formed on their basis and the obtained dependencies together can be considered as a tool for determining the optimal parameters of urban transport infrastructure, which is the practical significance of the results obtained. One of the promising directions for the development of the proposed approach is to expand the scope of its application by developing an add-on that ensures its implementation for the case of passenger vehicles moving in the general flow outside the allocated lane

Construction of the PCR Test-System for the Detection of <i>Vibrio cholerae</i> O1 Toxigenic Strains, for Indication of Their Biovar and for Differentiation between Typical and Altered El Tor-Vibrio Strains

Worked out is the multilocus PCR test-system which makes it possible to identify Vibrio cholerae O1 strains on the basis of rfb gene detection, to determine their biovar - either Classical or El Tor by testing cas3 or rtxC genes respectively, and at the same time to differentiate them into typical (which carry ctxBEltor gene) and genetically altered (which carry ctxBClass gene) variants. Efficacy and specificity of the test-system is demonstrated by the analysis of 64 natural V. cholerae strains of various serogroups and biovars, and 13 strains of enterobacteria and other species of Vibrio genus. Relation of the studied V. cholerae El Tor isolates to the typical or altered vibrio variants is proved out by ctxB gene sequencing

Assessment of Residual Virulence of Francisella tularensis 15 NIIEG Vaccine Strain Based on Long-term Observations

Objective of the study is to assess and analyze the long-term data on annual control of residual virulence of Francisella tularensis 15 NIIEG vaccine strain for clarifying the value of the parameter and amending the regulatory documentation. Materials and methods. Utilized were 8 vials containing lyophilized cultures of vaccine strain F. tularensis 15 NIIEG dated 1953, 1966, 1969, 1987, 1990, 2003, 2012, and 2013, manufactured at different industrial sites. To gather additional information on residual virulence of F. tularensis 15 NIIEG strain, evaluation of quality control files of 76 lyophilized cultures in vials was performed, out of which 48 strains manufactured at the premises of Odessa Bacterial Products Enterprise in 1980, 1987, and 1990, and 28 – at Joint Stock Company Scientific Production Association on Medical Immunobiological Preparations “Microgen”, Omsk Bacterial Products Enterprise, in 2003–2013. Results and discussion. Assessment of the parameter has revealed that out of 8 tested cultures of F. tularensis 15 NIIEG strain of various date of lyophilization 7 cultures have virulence rate ranging within 1·102 – 2.5·102 mc, LD50 of the strain dated 1966 is 7.3·105 mc (the standard range 1·102 – 2·106 mc). Obtained in the course of analysis of quality control files on F. tularensis 15 NIIEG strain, stored in lyophilized form at (19±1) °C, data demonstrate that residual virulence stays within the specified limits. Amendments regarding the value of “Residual virulence” parameter have been introduced into the regulatory documentation, the level ranging within 1·102 – 5·103 mc

Origin and ion charge state evolution of solar wind transients during 4 - 7 August 2011

This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No. 647214). The computational work for this article was carried out on the joint STFC and SFC (SRIF) funded clusters at the University of St Andrews (Scotland, UK). The work is partially supported by RFBR grants 17-02-00787, 14-02-00945 and the P7 Program of the Russian Academy of Sciences.We present a study of the complex event consisting of several solar wind transients detected by the Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) on 4 - 7 August 2011, which caused a geomagnetic storm with Dst=-110 nT. The supposed coronal sources, three flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), occurred on 2 - 4 August 2011 in active region (AR) 11261. To investigate the solar origin and formation of these transients, we study the kinematic and thermodynamic properties of the expanding coronal structures using the Solar Dynamics Observatory/Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (SDO/AIA) EUV images and differential emission measure (DEM) diagnostics. The Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) magnetic field maps were used as the input data for the 3D magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model to describe the flux rope ejection (Pagano, Mackay, and Poedts, 2013b). We characterize the early phase of the flux rope ejection in the corona, where the usual three-component CME structure formed. The fluxrope was ejected with a speed of about 200 km s-1 to the height of 0.25 R⊙. The kinematics of the modeled CME front agrees well with the Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) EUV measurements. Using the results of the plasma diagnostics and MHD modeling, we calculate the ion charge ratios of carbon and oxygen as well as the mean charge state of iron ions of the 2 August 2011 CME, taking into account the processes of heating, cooling, expansion, ionization, and recombination of the moving plasma in the corona up to the frozen-in region. We estimate a probable heating rate of the CME plasma in the low corona by matching the calculated ion composition parameters of the CME with those measured in situ for the solar wind transients. We also consider the similarities and discrepancies between the results of the MHD simulation and the observations.Peer reviewe

Nucleotide Sequence and Phylogenetic Analysis of Glycoprotein-G of the Russian Fixed Rabies Virus Strain “Moscow 3253”

Fully sequenced have been glycoprotein-G, sha-psi region, as well as H-end site of the L-gene in the rabies virus strain “Moscow 3253”. Compared are amino acid sequences of proteins of “Moscow 3253” strain and other fixed strains of the virus. Established is 98 % DNA homology with RV-97, and 91% homology with PV (Pasteur virus) strain. Constructed has been phylogenetic tree of the strain under study alongside with various groups of fixed rabies virus. It is revealed that “Moscow 3253” strain has closer genetic relations with Japanese group of strains, than with PV strain. Put forward is an assumption that PV strain does not derive from the virus isolated by Pasteur, but relates to the American group of strains

Эффективность и безопасность вакцин для профилактики холеры

Cholera is an acute diarrheal disease caused by toxigenic strains of Vibrio cholerae O1 and O139 serogroups. It still remains a major  global healthcare problem. According to WHO, about 100,000 people die from cholera every year, despite the modern methods of  treatment, improvement in the quality of drinking water, sanitation and hygiene. In recent years, oral cholera vaccines have proved an  effective tool for preventing and curbing cholera epidemics.  According to the WHO Ending Cholera — A Global Roadmap, mass  vaccination should help reduce the mortality resulting from cholera  by 90 % worldwide by 2030 and eliminate the disease in 20  countries. The review outlines the main historical stages in the  development of cholera vaccines: parenteral, chemical, inactivated and live oral vaccines. The paper compares active  ingredients and excipients used in Dukoral®, mORC-VAX®, Shanchol®, Euvichol®, Vaxchora®, Oravacs® and the cholera bivalent chemical vaccine. The results of international multicenter clinical trials of oral inactivated, live and  chemical cholera vaccines are analysed. Issues related to efficacy and safety studies of cholera vaccines are considered.Холера — острое диарейное заболевание, вызываемое токсигенными штаммами Vibrio cholerae О1 и О139 серогрупп, по-прежнему остается одной из основных проблем мирового  здравоохранения. Несмотря на существующие методы лечения и улучшение качества  питьевой воды, санитарии и гигиены, ежегодно от холеры, по оценкам ВОЗ, умирают около  100000 человек. В последние годы одним из эффективных способов предупреждения и  ликвидации эпидемий холеры является применение оральных холерных вакцин. Согласно  Глобальной дорожной карте ВОЗ, массовая вакцинация должна помочь к 2030 г. добиться  снижения смертности от холеры на 90 % в мире и элиминирования заболевания в 20  странах. В обзоре изложены основные исторические этапы создания холерных вакцин:  парентеральных, химических, инактивированных и живых оральных вакцин. Представлено  сравнительное описание состава действующих и вспомогательных веществ вакцин  Dukoral®, mORC-VAX®, Shanchol®, Euvichol®, Vaxchora®, Oravacs® и вакцины холерной  бивалентной химической. Проанализированы результаты международных многоцентровых клинических исследований оральных инактивированных, живой и химической холерных  вакцин. Рассмотрены вопросы, касающиеся изучения эффективности и безопасности вакцин, используемых для профилактики холеры

Differential Emission Measures from the Regularized Inversion of Hinode and SDO data

We develop and apply an enhanced regularization algorithm, used in RHESSI X-ray spectral analysis, to constrain the ill-posed inverse problem that is determining the DEM from solar observations. We demonstrate this computationally fast technique applied to a range of DEM models simulating broadband imaging data from SDO/AIA and high resolution line spectra from Hinode/EIS, as well as actual active region observations with Hinode/EIS and XRT. As this regularization method naturally provides both vertical and horizontal (temperature resolution) error bars we are able to test the role of uncertainties in the data and response functions. The regularization method is able to successfully recover the DEM from simulated data of a variety of model DEMs (single Gaussian, multiple Gaussians and CHIANTI DEM models). It is able to do this, at best, to over four orders of magnitude in DEM space but typically over two orders of magnitude from peak emission. The combination of horizontal and vertical error bars and the regularized solution matrix allows us to easily determine the accuracy and robustness of the regularized DEM. We find that the typical range for the horizontal errors is $\Delta$log$T\approx 0.1 -0.5$ and this is dependent on the observed signal to noise, uncertainty in the response functions as well as the source model and temperature. With Hinode/EIS an uncertainty of 20% greatly broadens the regularized DEMs for both Gaussian and CHIANTI models although information about the underlying DEMs is still recoverable. When applied to real active region observations with Hinode/EIS and XRT the regularization method is able to recover a DEM similar to that found via a MCMC method but in considerably less computational time.Comment: 15 pages, 17 figures, accepted for publication in A&

ДНК- и РНК-вакцины: современное состояние, требования к качеству и особенности проведения доклинических исследований

This review focuses on DNA and RNA vaccines whose potential use was first considered at the end of the 20th century. However, not a single bacterial plasmid-based or mRNA vaccine has been used since that time in public healthcare for the prevention of infectious diseases. Nevertheless, vaccines containing recombinant nucleic acids as the active ingredient still attract interest due to the possibility of rapid development, low-cost production, safety of the technology and the potential to activate cellular and humoral immunity. Recent technological advances have largely overcome the problems of low immunogenicity, instability, and difficulties with the delivery of DNA and RNA vaccines in humans. The aim of this review was to present the main strategies of development of DNA and RNA vaccines designed to prevent infectious diseases, and to summarise requirements for the quality control and preclinical studies. The article examines the general principles of creation of plasmid vectors encoding protective antigens. It describes new technologies used in the creation of DNA vaccines with plasmids encoding an attenuated virus genome (iDNA and PPLAV), and RNA vaccines based on mRNA and self-amplifying RNAs. The article presents current regulatory requirements for the choice of quality parameters to be tested and the general principles of preclinical studies of DNA and RNA vaccines.Обзор посвящен ДНК- и РНК-вакцинам, возможность использования которых была показана еще в конце XX века. При этом до сих пор ни одна вакцина, основанная на использовании бактериальных плазмид и мРНК, не нашла применения в практике здравоохранения для профилактики инфекционных заболеваний. Но, несмотря на это, интерес к вакцинам, действующим веществом которых являются рекомбинантные нуклеиновые кислоты, сохраняется из-за возможности их быстрой разработки, малозатратного производства, безопасности технологии и возможности активации клеточного и гуморального иммунитета. Последние технологические достижения в значительной степени преодолели проблемы низкой иммуногенности, нестабильности и трудности доставки при применении ДНК- и РНК-вакцин у человека. Цель работы — изложение основных стратегий создания ДНК- и РНК-вакцин, предназначенных для профилактики инфекционных заболеваний, обобщение требований к оценке их качества и проведению доклинических исследований. Представлены общие принципы создания плазмидных векторов, кодирующих протективные антигены. Описаны новые технологии создания ДНК-вакцин, плазмиды которых кодируют геном аттенуированного вируса (iDNA и PPLAV). Приведены стратегии создания РНК-вакцин на основе мРНК и самоамплифицирующихся РНК. Представлены современные регуляторные требования к выбору необходимых показателей качества и общим принципам проведения доклинических исследований ДНК- и РНК-вакцин