Lignans from Linum species of sections Syllinum and Linum

The aryltetralin lignans 6-methoxypodophyllotoxin, 5'-demethoxy-6-methoxypodophyllotoxin as well as the corresponding 8'-epimers 6-methoxypicropodophyllin, and 5'-demethoxy-6-methoxypicropodophyllin were isolated from suspension cultures of Linum cariense, and 4'-demethyl-6-methoxypodophyllotoxin together with 6-methoxypodophyllotoxin from plants of L. tauricum, which both belong to section Syllinum of the genus Linum. Cell cultures of L. altaicum, L. austriacum ssp. euxinum and L. lewisii belonging to section Linum accumulate the naphthalene lignans justicidin B and isojusticidin B. The different lignans were identified by HPLC and spectroscopic methods.     

Reactive epoxy-functionalized thin films by a pulsed plasma polymerization process

A novel plasma functionalization process based on the pulsed plasma polymerization of allyl glycidyl ether is reported for the generation of robust and highly reactive epoxy-functionalized surfaces with well-defined chemical properties. Using a multitechnique approach including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and ellipsometry, the effect of the plasma deposition parameters on the creation and retention of epoxy surface functionalities was characterized systematically. Under optimal plasma polymerization conditions (duty cycle: 1 ms/20 ms and 1 ms/200 ms), reactive uniform films with a high level of reproducibility were prepared and successfully used to covalently immobilize the model protein lysozyme. Surface derivatization was also carried out with ethanolamine to probe for epoxy groups. The ethanolamine blocked surface resisted nonspecific adsorption of lysozyme. Lysozyme immobilization was also done via microcontact printing. These results show that allyl glycidyl ether plasma polymer layers are an attractive strategy to produce a reactive epoxy functionalized surface on a wide range of substrate materials for biochip and other biotechnology applications.     

The peculiarities of physical network formation in carboxyl-containing poly(dimethylcarbosiloxane)

An unusual effect of physical network formation during heating or at room temperature alter previous heating was found for originally liquid poly(dimethylcarbosiloxane) containing 0.5 – 2.5 mol% of side carboxyl groups by means of the measurement of its Theological properties. The reason for this behaviour is supposed to be the predominance of intramolecular hydrogen bonding of COOH groups in original polymer and the intra– to Intermolecular bonds rearrangement during heating. The alternative reason can be the microphase separation with domains of COOH groups. The reversibility of the network is confirmed by the decrease in the elasticity modulus, development of irreversible deformation on further heating and by break-up of Junctions on the addition of small amounts of polar liquids.     

Study of the Gilding Technology of the “Idol” from the 10th Century Mound “Chernaya Mogila” (“Black Grave”)

Crystallography Reports - A unique artifact—the “idol” from the 10th century mound “Chernaya Mogila” (“Black Grave”), a famous Old Rus’ site, has...     

Design principles for bacteria-responsive antimicrobial nanomaterials

Despite advancements in biomedical sciences and medicine, bacterial infection remains a leading cause of death globally. The conventional treatment of bacterial infections through general administration of antibiotics has been challenged by the emergence of antibiotics resistance. An exciting direction to solve current challenges that attracted enormous interest in the last decade is focused on designing stimuli-responsive systems incorporating a wide range of antimicrobial nanomaterials. The aim of this review is to highlight fundamental principles involved in the design of bacteria-responsive nanosystems that release their antibacterial load in response only to the specific environment and factors produced endogenously by bacteria. Such specific changes to the micro-environment include changes in pH, reactive oxygen species, and production of enzymes specific to bacteria. We provide examples and a critical review of such systems and finish with the authors’ perspective for the future of the field.     

Current Status and Planned Upgrades of the VEPP-5 Injection Complex

Physics of Particles and Nuclei Letters - The VEPP-5 injection complex, consisting of two linacs and a damping storage ring, delivers electron and positron beams to the VEPP-4M and VEPP-2000...     

A Pulsed Electron Beam Accelerator

Russian Physics Journal - The paper describes a pulsed electron beam accelerator with release of electrons accelerated in a vacuum diode into the atmosphere. The electron energy in the beam is 1...     

Development of a system for monitoring the shape,position, and intensity of the extracted relativistic ion beam at the Nuclotron-M accelerator complex at JINR

Test samples of detectors and electronics for them constructed for the purpose of monitoring the “intense” relativistic ion beams extracted from the accelerator of the Nuclotron-M accelerator complex in real time are described. The system was tested in a series of acceleration runs with deuteron beams with an intensity of up to 10¹⁰ 1/s and beams of carbon nuclei. The system allows one to perform multiple measurements of the two-dimensional distribution of the beam intensity in the plane perpendicular to it and the beam position in this plane during the beam dump and measure the two-dimensional distribution of the target irradiation dose after each beam dump.