Detailed Analysis of Dorsal-Ventral Gradients of Gene Expression in the Hippocampus of Adult Rats

We performed RNA sequencing of the dorsal and ventral parts of the hippocampus and compared it with previously published data to determine the differences in the dorsoventral gradients of gene expression that may result from biological or technical variability. Our data suggest that the dorsal and ventral parts of the hippocampus differ in the expression of genes related to signaling pathways mediated by classical neurotransmitters (glutamate, GABA, monoamines, etc.) as well as peptide and Wnt ligands. These hippocampal parts also diverge in the expression of axon-guiding molecules (both receptors and ligands) and splice isoforms of genes associated with intercellular signaling and cell adhesion. Furthermore, analysis of differential expressions of genes specific for astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes, and vascular cells suggests that non-neuronal cells may also differ in the characteristics between hippocampal parts. Analysis of expression of transposable elements showed that depletion of ribosomal RNA strongly increased the representation of transposable elements in the RNA libraries and helped to detect a weak predominance of expression of these elements in the ventral hippocampus. Our data revealed new molecular dimensions of functional differences between the dorsal and ventral hippocampus and points to possible cascades that may be involved in the longitudinal organization of the hippocampus.     

A Single Episode of Cortical Spreading Depolarization Increases mRNA Levels of Proinflammatory Cytokines,Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide and Pannexin-1 Channels in the Cerebral Cortex

Cortical spreading depolarization (CSD) is the neuronal correlate of migraine aura and the reliable consequence of acute brain injury. The role of CSD in triggering headaches that follow migraine aura and brain injury remains to be uncertain. We examined whether a single CSD occurring in awake animals modified the expression of proinflammatory cytokines (Il1b, TNF, and Il6) and endogenous mediators of nociception/neuroinflammation-pannexin 1 (Panx1) channel and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), transforming growth factor beta (TGFb) in the cortex. Unilateral microinjury of the somatosensory cortex triggering a single CSD was produced in awake Wistar rats. Three hours later, tissue samples from the lesioned cortex, intact ipsilesional cortex invaded by CSD, and homologous areas of the contralateral sham-treated cortex were harvested and analyzed using qPCR. Three hours post-injury, intact CSD-exposed cortexes increased TNF, Il1b, Panx1, and CGRP mRNA levels. The strongest upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines was observed at the injury site, while CGRP and Panx1 were upregulated more strongly in the intact cortexes invaded by CSD. A single CSD is sufficient to produce low-grade parenchymal neuroinflammation with simultaneous overexpression of Panx1 and CGRP. The CSD-induced molecular changes may contribute to pathogenic mechanisms of migraine pain and post-injury headache.     

Effect of lubricating oils on friction of steel over ceramics + monocrystal carbon composite coating

The effect of mineral and synthetic lubricating oils on the antifriction behavior of specially synthesized ceramics + monocrystal carbon (m-carbon) nanocomposite coatings has been revealed. It was previously found that the use of m-carbon coatings ensured the formation of highly ordered boundary film, which had a high thermal stability and good antifriction characteristics, under boundary lubrication.     

Possible scenarios of accidents in reservoirs and pipelines at low operating temperature

Oil and gas facilities—reservoirs, gas pipelines, oil pipelines—belong to industrial facilities of high risk. Uncontrolled development of accident scenarios at oil and gas facilities associated with explosions and fire may lead to significant damages and human casualties. This article presents possible scenarios of occurrence, development, and probability of realization of accidents at oil and gas facilities operated in extreme natural and climatic conditions of the North. Measures aimed at reducing the hazards are suggested.     

Lateral growth and shape of semiconductor nanowires

The lateral growth of semiconductor nanowires and its influence on the nanowire shape in the case of nanocrystal formation according to the diffusion mechanism is theoretically studied. Possible types of the dependence of the adatom concentration at the lateral faces of the nanowires on the vertical coordinate are found. A self-consistent model is developed within the linear approximation in the adatom concentration, which makes it possible to describe simultaneously both vertical and lateral nanowire growth. The possible shapes of the nanowires, depending on the growth conditions, are described within this model and compared with the experimental data on different III–V systems.     

Microlens-Enhanced Substrate Patterning and MBE Growth of GaP Nanowires

Semiconductors - In this paper we demonstrate the results on selective area growth of GaP nanowires via self-catalyzed growth method using molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) technique on patterned...     

Self-Catalyzed MBE-Grown GaP Nanowires on Si(111): V/III Ratio Effects on the Morphology and Crystal Phase Switching

Semiconductors - Self-catalyzed GaP nanowire and GaP/GaPAs nanowire heterostructures have been grown on Si(111) by solid-source molecular beam epitaxy. Formation of wurtzite polytype segments with...