Optical polarization observations with the MASTER robotic net

We present results of optical polarization observations performed with the MASTER robotic net for three types of objects: gamma-ray bursts, supernovae, and blazars. For the Swift gamma-ray bursts GRB100906A, GRB110422A, GRB121011A, polarization observations were obtained during very early stages of optical emission. For GRB100906A it was the first prompt optical polarization observation in the world. Photometry in polarizers is presented for Type Ia Supernova 2012bh during 20 days, starting on March 27, 2012. We find that the linear polarization of SN 2012bh at the early stage of the envelope expansion was less than 3%. Polarization measurements for the blazars OC 457, 3C 454.3, QSO B1215+303, 87GB 165943.2+395846 at single nights are presented. We infer the degree of the linear polarization and polarization angle. The blazars OC 457 and 3C 454.3 were observed during their periods of activity. The results show that MASTER is able to measure substantially polarized light; at the same time it is not suitable for determining weak polarization (less than 5%) of dim objects (fainter than 16$^m$). Polarimetric observations of the optical emission from gamma-ray bursts and supernovae are necessary to investigate the nature of these transient objects.Comment: 31 pages, 12 figures, 4 tables; Exposure times in Table 2 have been correcte

Microwave Assisted Synthesis of Py-Im Polyamides

Microwave synthesis was utilized to rapidly build Py-Im polyamides in high yields and purity using Boc-protection chemistry on Kaiser oxime resin. A representative polyamide targeting the 5′-WGWWCW-3′ (W = A or T) subset of the consensus Androgen and Glucocorticoid Response Elements was synthesized in 56% yield after 20 linear steps and HPLC purification. It was confirmed by Mosher amide derivatization of the polyamide that a chiral α-amino acid does not racemize after several additional coupling steps

The optical identifcation of events with poorly defined locations: The case of the Fermi GBM GRB140801A

We report the early discovery of the optical afterglow of gamma-ray burst (GRB) 140801A in the 137 deg$^2$ 3-$\sigma$ error-box of the Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GBM). MASTER is the only observatory that automatically react to all Fermi alerts. GRB 140801A is one of the few GRBs whose optical counterpart was discovered solely from its GBM localization. The optical afterglow of GRB 140801A was found by MASTER Global Robotic Net 53 sec after receiving the alert, making it the fastest optical detection of a GRB from a GBM error-box. Spectroscopy obtained with the 10.4-m Gran Telescopio Canarias and the 6-m BTA of SAO RAS reveals a redshift of $z=1.32$. We performed optical and near-infrared photometry of GRB 140801A using different telescopes with apertures ranging from 0.4-m to 10.4-m. GRB 140801A is a typical burst in many ways. The rest-frame bolometric isotropic energy release and peak energy of the burst is $E_\mathrm{iso} = 5.54_{-0.24}^{+0.26} \times 10^{52}$ erg and $E_\mathrm{p, rest}\simeq280$ keV, respectively, which is consistent with the Amati relation. The absence of a jet break in the optical light curve provides a lower limit on the half-opening angle of the jet $\theta=6.1$ deg. The observed $E_\mathrm{peak}$ is consistent with the limit derived from the Ghirlanda relation. The joint Fermi GBM and Konus-Wind analysis shows that GRB 140801A could belong to the class of intermediate duration. The rapid detection of the optical counterpart of GRB 140801A is especially important regarding the upcoming experiments with large coordinate error-box areas.Comment: in press MNRAS, 201

Ассоциативные паразитозы желудочно-кишечного тракта лошадей и оценка эффективности противопаразитарных препаратов

Invasive diseases of horses are an urgent problem in the horse breeding industry of the Republic of Belarus, as well as in the near and far abroad countries. The main role among the parasitic pathology is occupied by helminths of the small and large intestine, as well as larvae of gasterophilus. In associative course, they are the cause of significant economic losses associated with the growth and development of sick young animals, reduced performance, endurance of animals, increased susceptibility to other diseases, and even the death of animals. Planned therapeutic and preventive measures using broad-spectrum anthelmintics is a priority measure to reduce economic damage in development of the horse breeding industry. The paper provides data on spread of parasitoses of gastrointestinal tract in horses in the Republic of Belarus during period of 2004-2020. The paper presents the species composition of horse parasites localized in the stomach, small and large intestines. Data on extensiveness and intensity of invasions of horses by parasitocenosis of digestive tract in terms of age are presented. Therapeutic efficiency of antiparasitic drugs of various pharmacological groups in mono- and polyinfestations of gastrointestinal tract of horses are studied. High extensibility of Avermectin series preparations (Avermectin paste 1 %, Rivertin 1 %) has been determined for nematodes of gastrointestinal tract of horses and gastrointestinal disease. High efficiency has been obtained from a new complex antiparasitic preparation for horses “Prazimax” in mono- and polyinfestations caused by parasites of gastrointestinal tract, including nematodes of the small and large intestines, larvae of gasterophilus and Anoplocephala perfoliata cestodes. Data on spread of associative course of parasitocenoses of the digestive tract of horses, age and seasonal dynamics will allow veterinary specialists to make timely diagnosis, conduct differential diagnostics, determine the optimal timing of diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive treatments, taking into account the specifics of parasitocenosis.Инвазионные болезни лошадей являются актуальной проблемой в коневодческий отрасли Республики Беларусь, а также стран ближнего и дальнего зарубежья. Основную роль среди паразитарной патологии занимают гельминты тонкого и толстого отделов кишечника, а также личинки гастерофилюсов. При ассоциативном течении они являются причиной значительных экономических потерь, связанных с ростом и развитием переболевшего молодняка, снижением работоспособности, выносливости животных, повышением восприимчивости к другим болезням и даже гибели животных. Проведение плановых лечебно-профилактических мероприятий с применением антигельминтиков широкого спектра действия является приоритетной мерой снижения экономического ущерба в развитии отрасли коневодства. В статье приводятся сведения по распространению паразитозов желудочно-кишечного тракта лошадей на территории Республики Беларусь в период 2004–2020 гг. Представлен видовой состав паразитов лошадей, локализующихся в желудке, тонком и толстом кишечнике. Изучены данные по экстенсивности и интенсивности инвазий лошадей паразитоценозами пищеварительного тракта в возрастном аспекте. Исследована терапевтическая эффективность противопаразитарных препаратов различных фармакологических групп при моно- и полиинвазиях желудочно-кишечного тракта лошадей. Показана высокая экстенсэффективность препаратов авермектинового ряда (авермектиновая паста 1 %, ривертин 1 %, универм) при нематодозах желудочно-кишечного тракта лошадей и гастерофилезе. Установлена высокая эффективность от применения нового комплексного противопаразитарного препарата для лошадей «Празимакс» при моно- и полиинвазиях, вызванных паразитами желудочно-кишечного тракта, среди которых нематоды тонкого и толстого кишечника, личинки гастерофилюсов и цестоды вида Anoplocephala perfoliata. Данные о распространении ассоциативного течения паразитоценозов пищеварительного тракта лошадей, возрастной и сезонной динамики позволят ветеринарным специалистам своевременно поставить диагноз, провести дифференциальную диагностику, определить оптимальные сроки диагностических, лечебных и профилактических обработок с учетом специфики паразитоценоза

The MASTER-II network of robotic optical telescopes. First results

The main stages in the creation of the Russian segment of the MASTER network of robotic telescopes is described. This network is designed for studies of the prompt optical emission of gammaray bursts (GRBs; optical emission synchronous with the gamma-ray radiation) and surveys of the sky aimed at discovering uncataloged objects and photometric studies for various programs. The first results obtained by the network, during its construction and immediately after its completion in December 2010, are presented. Eighty-nine alert pointings at GRBs (in most cases, being the first ground telescopes to point at the GRBs) were made from September 2006 through July 2011. The MASTER network holds first place in the world in terms of the total number of first pointings, and currently more than half of first pointings at GRBs by ground telescopes are made by the MASTER network. Photometric light curves of GRB 091020, GRB 091127, GRB 100901A, GRB 100906A, GRB 10925A, GRB 110106A, GRB 110422A, and GRB 110530A are presented. It is especially important that prompt emission was observed for GRB 100901A and GRB 100906A, and thar GRB 091127, GRB 110422A, and GRB 110106A were observed from the first seconds in two polarizations. Very-wide-field cameras carried out synchronous observations of the prompt emission of GRB 081102, GRB 081130B, GRB 090305B, GRB 090320B, GRB 090328, and GRB 090424. Discoveries of Type Ia supernovae are ongoing (among them the brightest supernova in 2009): 2008gy, 2009nr, 2010V, and others. In all, photometry of 387 supernovae has been carried out, 43 of which were either discovered or first observed with MASTER telescopes; more than half of these are Type Ia supernovae. Photometric studies of the open clusters NGC 7129 and NGC 7142 have been conducted, leading to the discovery of 38 variable stars. Sixty-nine optical transients have been discovered. © 2013 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd

Prevention of ulcer disease in goldfish by means of vaccination

A vaccine comprising cells of Aeromonas bestiarum grown in tryptic soy broth and atypical A. salmonicida cells produced in iron-limited and iron-supplemented media protected goldfish Carassius auratus when administered by immersion (dosage ≈ 5 × 107 cells/mL for 60 s) followed after 28 d by an oral booster (dosage = 5 × 107 cells/g of feed), which was fed for 7 d so that each fish received about 1 g of vaccine-containing feed. After challenge by intramuscular injection of a virulent culture of atypical A. salmonicida, the relative percent survival (RPS) was more than 90%. The approach was more successful than using a commercial furunculosis vaccine with or without supplementation with A. bestiarum or atypical A. salmonicida cells. Moreover, a smooth derivative of the virulent rough culture of atypical A. salmonicida was less effective as a vaccine candidate, yielding an RPS of only 65%. Low antibody titers of 1:39–1:396 were found in the vaccinated fish. The vaccinated fish had a significantly higher proportion of dead head kidney macrophages (10.9 ± 3.5%; P = 0.0149) than did the controls (6.8 ± 3.1%). However, differences in the number of erythrocytes and leukocytes, the level of phagocytic and lysozyme activities, and the proportion of lymphocytes, monocytes, and polymorphonuclear cells were not statistically significant between the two groups

Otogenic Sinus Thrombosis and Hemophilia: A Clinical Case

Background. Patients with hemophilia are protected from thrombosis by a deficiency of one of coagulation factors, therefore thrombotic complications are rare in them. Currently, few descriptions of spontaneous venous thrombosis in adult hemophiliacs can be found in the literature. Even fewer data of thromboembolic complications are reported in pediatric practice. At present, no clear recommendations are given for the management of thrombotic complications in children with hemophilia, which requires further study of this issue to develop prevention and treatment regimens, including otogenic sinus thrombosis in this category of patients.Case description. A 7-year-old boy was transferred from the Somatic Hospital to the Intensive Care Unit of Regional Clinical Hospital No. 2 in Tyumen (Russia) with an Otorhinolaryngology Unit. He was diagnosed with non-perforative form of acute right-sided suppurative otitis media, acute right-sided mastoiditis, thrombosis of the right sigmoid sinus. The anamnesis shows that the child is diagnosed with hemophilia A, of moderate severity (factor VIII level — 5%), for which he has been receiving factor VIII replacement therapy for the last year. Upon admission, a general blood test revealed no abnormalities, with a slight increase in acute-phase parameters: C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, signs of hypocoagulation. Due to negative dynamics, the child underwent anthromastoidotomy against the background of intensive replacement therapy. Surgery revealed the presence of granulation tissue with hemorrhagic thrombi in the antrum and aditus. In the postoperative period, replacement therapy was accompanied with antibacterial and anticoagulant therapy.Conclusion. The management of patients with otogenic sinus thrombosis against the background of hereditary factor VIII deficiency is a difficult task. On the one hand, it requires surgical intervention and anticoagulant therapy in order to prevent further thrombosis, on the other hand — intensive replacement therapy in order to reduce the risks of hemorrhagic complications. The described case demonstrates the need for an interdisciplinary approach to the diagnosis and treatment of a patient with otogenic thrombosis of lateral sinus against the background of hemophilia A. The approach is to minimize the risks of intraoperative complications and insure a favorable outcome

Development of DNA-Biochip for Identification of Influenza A Virus Subtypes

Developed was the DNA-biochip to identify subtypes of influenza A virus, pathogenic for humans. Microchip was capable of detecting H1, H3, H5-subtypes of hemagglutinin (including H1-subtype of pandemic A/H1N1(2009) influenza virus ) and neuraminidase subtypes N1,N2 of influenza virus. This microchip was successfully tested on the strains of A/H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus, A/H1N1(2009) pandemic influenza virus, A/H1N1 and A/H3N2 seasonal influenza viruses

Universal Oligonucleotide Microarray for Sub-Typing of Influenza A Virus

A universal microchip was developed for genotyping Influenza A viruses. It contains two sets of oligonucleotide probes allowing viruses to be classified by the subtypes of hemagglutinin (H1–H13, H15, H16) and neuraminidase (N1–N9). Additional sets of probes are used to detect H1N1 swine influenza viruses. Selection of probes was done in two steps. Initially, amino acid sequences specific to each subtype were identified, and then the most specific and representative oligonucleotide probes were selected. Overall, between 19 and 24 probes were used to identify each subtype of hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Genotyping included preparation of fluorescently labeled PCR amplicons of influenza virus cDNA and their hybridization to microarrays of specific oligonucleotide probes. Out of 40 samples tested, 36 unambiguously identified HA and NA subtypes of Influenza A virus