Search Results (48,117)

This study investigates the trace-element geochemistry of rare-metal pegmatites from the Kalba–Narym Batholith, Eastern Kazakhstan, to establish geochemical indicators of zonation and subtype differentiation within pegmatite fields. Detailed ICP-MS analyses of muscovite and K-feldspar reveal systematic variations in Li, Cs, Rb, Ta, Nb, P, and Ga contents that reflect progressive melt fractionation during the evolution of granitic magmas. These data allow the identification of four main pegmatite subtypes, including barren, beryl, albite–spodumene, and albite, representing successive stages of LCT (Li-Cs-Ta) pegmatite evolution. Both vertical and lateral geochemical zonation are recognized across the Kalba–Narym Batholith, controlled by magmatic differentiation and volatile enrichment. The results highlight the diagnostic value of trace-element systematics in rock-forming minerals as reliable indicators of fractionation and ore potential, and they provide quantitative criteria for the classification and exploration of rare-metal pegmatites within the Kalba–Narym Batholith. Full article

Visible-light photocatalysis enables the integration of classical electrophile/nucleophile chemistry with radical species (free radicals, radical cations, and radical anions) and metallocomplexes, significantly expanding the scope of organic transformations. Substrates capable of generating radicals via single-electron transfer (SET) are therefore of high value in this field. Among conventional radical precursors, organic peroxides occupy a distinctive position due to their unique reactivity. They can generate both oxygen-centered and carbon-centered radicals through either oxidative or reductive SET pathways. Furthermore, organic peroxides can act as radical precursors, nucleophiles, and oxidants. The review emphasizes the advancements of visible-light-mediated reactions utilizing the broad potential of organic peroxides for constructing various chemical bonds. Full article

The formation of a unified innovation space is a key challenge for deepening Eurasian integration. This study aims to develop the concept of asymmetric complementarity by investigating how the structural asymmetry between the NIS of Russia and Kazakhstan can be transformed from a source of imbalance into a basis for strategic synergy. Based on a mixed methodology that includes quantitative analysis of data from the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025, SWOT analysis, and scenario modeling, two divergent models were identified. Russia’s NIS is defined as “compensatory disbalanced” (strong human capital with weak institutions), while Kazakhstan’s NIS is defined as “institutionally focused with knowledge deficit” (relatively developed institutions with critically low R&D investment). The theoretical contribution of this work lies in developing the concept of asymmetric complementarity, which demonstrates that the identified structural differences create a foundation for synergistic cooperation. The practical conclusions are aimed at transitioning from rule harmonization to network capability integration, including the creation of distributed excellence centers, the development of “soft” type supranational infrastructure, and the implementation of the “innovative accounting” principle. Full article

Background/Objectives: Reduced serotonin transporter (SERT) function is associated with increased vulnerability to emotional and metabolic dysregulation, particularly in elderly women. Most preclinical studies relied on young male rodents with complete Sert deficiency; the Western diet (WD) acerbates these abnormalities. However, complete Sert loss does not fully reflect the human condition of partial SERT dysfunction. Here, we examined the effects of WD in aged female Sert^+/− mice on metabolic, biochemical, molecular, and behavioral outcomes. Methods: Wild-type (WT) and Sert^+/− mice were fed WD or a control diet. Emotionality, cognition, glucose tolerance (GT), plasma ¹HNMR spectroscopy metabolome and biochemical parameters were studied. Gene expression analyses of nitric oxide (NO)-related markers were performed in the hypothalamus, dorsal raphe, and liver. Results: WD-exposed WT mice showed impaired GT and reduced plasma lactate and branched-chain amino acid levels; metabolome changes were more pronounced in mutants, while GT was unchanged. Naïve Sert^+/− mice exhibited lower lactate and alanine levels compared with WT controls. WD increased leptin and cholesterol levels in both genotypes, whereas triglyceride concentrations were reduced in Sert^+/− mice. Both WD and Sert deficiency increased Nos expression, while arginase expression was differentially regulated by genotype and diet. Malondialdehyde levels were elevated in the prefrontal cortex of Sert^+/− mice regardless diet. WD also impaired object recognition memory and induced anxiety- and depression-like behaviors, with more pronounced effects in Sert^+/− mice, except marble test behavior. Conclusions: Partial Sert deficiency aggravates some but not all WD-induced metabolic alterations, enhances oxidative stress, dysregulates arginine–NO signaling, and modifies behavior, highlighting the translational relevance of Sert^+/− mice for modeling SERT dysfunction. Full article

The article discusses the development and design of intelligent mine ventilation systems, which are an important part of the construction and modernization of modern mines, as well as key technical support for the implementation of intelligent mining technologies. A high-fidelity simulation environment is constructed using neural networks based on field data. In the process of mine ventilation control, due to the complexity of the tunnel environment, it is difficult to investigate the implicit relationship between the ventilation system outlet control parameters and the concentration of gas and dust, oxygen, and carbon dioxide in the tunnel. Hence, it is difficult to obtain an overall control strategy based on experience. This article explores the possibility of applying reinforcement learning to intelligent shaft ventilation systems, a dynamic process in which model parameters, such as strategies and value functions, are updated through continuous interaction with the environment. Full article

Being first applied for the treatment of infectious diseases of the gut at the start of the 20th century, bacteriophages are again now considered as alternative antimicrobial tools for targeting antibiotic-resistant enterobacteria. Here, we report the new bacteriophage Escherichia phage KEC4 isolated from the Kukshum River (Chuvash Republic, Russia), lysing Escherichia coli and belonging to the Septuagintavirus genus. The genome consists of 145,125 bp with a GC content of 41.3% and contains 6 tRNA and 303 protein-coding sequences. Among them, only 72 encode proteins with known functions, while no proteins potentially associated with lysogeny can be identified. The bacteriophage forms round and pure plaques 0.3–1 mm in diameter and is capable of lysing 14 of 31 E. coli clinical isolates with multiple resistance patterns. Furthermore, in the presence of KEC4, the MICs of meropenem and kanamycin decreased 16-fold in the reference strain. In clinical multidrug-resistant isolates, a 16-fold decrease in the MIC was observed for aminoglycosides (amikacin and gentamicin) for the isolate NKC1, and an eight-fold drop in the MIC of ceftriaxone was observed for isolate 167, with no increase in the efficiency of aminoglycosides. Finally, a four-fold increase in the efficiency of both azithromycin and gentamicin was detected in isolate 5767. Taken together, these data characterize the new Escherichia phage KEC4 as a promising tool for the treatment of infections associated with Escherichia coli, while a preliminary assessment of both the isolate specificity of the phage and an antimicrobial susceptibility test would be required for successful elimination of the pathogen. Full article

The emergence of advanced low-dimensional materials of the graphene family opens up unique opportunities for energy-efficient and fast processing of electrical and optical signals in a wide spectral range from ultraviolet to infrared. Non-volatile resistive states in memristors based on two-dimensional (2D) crystals, 1D nanoribbons, and 0D quantum dots are accessible for control by light and an electric field due to polarization and rearrangement of sp²-sp³ hybridization of carbon atoms, as well as due to photoinduced phase transitions. Two-dimensional materials possess unique structural and electronic properties required for the development of highly efficient nanoenergy memristor devices for low-energy information technology. This article discusses memristors and photomemristors based on graphene, graphene oxide, diamane, and chalcogenide semiconductors such as MoS₂, WSe₂, MoS_2−xO_x, which are structurally similar to graphene and have a 2D layered structure. Memristors based on graphene and graphene oxide, bigraphene, and diamane, fabricated using localized electron irradiation, exhibit nonlinear behavior and well-controlled memristive states associated with sp²-sp³ transitions of carbon atoms under low-power conditions. The review highlights the dual role of graphene as an active material and electrode, as well as the redox control mechanism. Due to a well-controlled redox process, graphene-based devices exhibit the dynamic behavior required for neuromorphic computing directly in the sensor, reducing the energy and time costs associated with data processing. Neuromorphic computing in a photomemristor-based sensor enables the creation of a compact nano-energy system for real-time information recognition in a wide spectral range, similar to biological vision, for use in self-driving cars, personalized medicine, and other applications. Full article

Background: Pheochromocytomas (PCCs) and paragangliomas (PGLs), collectively known as PPGLs, are rare neuroendocrine tumors that produce catecholamines. The majority of PPGL cases are caused by germline and/or somatic mutations in over 20 different genes. A study of post-surgical PCC patients revealed a high risk of new tumor recurrence in both hereditary and apparently sporadic cases, suggesting that some germline mutations remain undetected. Since transcript levels can indicate gene dysfunction, our study focuses on the transcriptional profiling of PCC-associated genes in post-surgical patients. Methods: RT-PCR was performed on blood samples from patients and a control group. The t-SNE algorithm was applied to the transcriptional data. Sanger sequencing was used to identify mutations in the coding sequences of the VHL, SDHB, RET, and NF1 genes. Results: We obtained transcriptional profiles for 11 genes involved in the Krebs cycle and for 21 genes involved in the hypoxia, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, and RAS/RAF/ERK signaling pathways. We identified a minimal set of 16 genes with stable transcription levels that can be used to differentiate PCC patients from controls. Germline mutations in the VHL, SDHB, RET and NF1 genes, which correlated with an altered transcriptional profile, were detected in three patients. Conclusions: Our pilot data suggest that transcript levels of the genes involved in Krebs cycle, hypoxia, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, and RAS/RAF/ERK signaling pathways indicate their potential suitability as a candidate diagnostic marker. The results from this pilot study form the basis for a larger project to investigate gene transcription in an expanded cohort of patients who have undergone surgery for PCC. Full article

This article analyzes the historical relationship between Orthodox Christianity and nation formation. In past centuries, most adherents to the faith lived in the Ottoman and Russian Empires, under the Moscow and the Ecumenical Patriarchates. These two empires followed different historical trajectories as they entered the modern world of nations, and their ecclesiastical institutions evolved very differently. This article uses historical experience, and the model developed in 19th century Southeastern Europe (SEE) to interpret the relationship between faith and nation in post-Soviet Europe. In SEE, the authority of the Ecumenical Patriarchate (EP) fragmented because of rising national movements. Over the 19th century, as Greece, Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria became independent or autonomous states, they adopted a new blueprint for the relationship between church and nation. In contrast, the USSR superseded Holy Russia. Abolished in 1721, the Moscow Patriarchate was revived in 1917 but faced Soviet persecution for decades. Within the post-Soviet nations that emerged after the USSR’s 1991 dissolution, ecclesiastical institutions duplicated the model originally developed in 19th century SEE. National and religious conflicts became intertwined, and national antagonisms were disguised as ecclesiastical disputes. This article offers a guide for understanding post-1991 religious conflicts in Estonia, Moldova, and Ukraine, as well as the 2018 schism between the Moscow Patriarchate and the EP. Full article

The accurate upscaling of peatland carbon stocks is fundamentally limited by fine-scale microrelief (hummocks/depressions), which has not yet been resolved by conventional satellite or field methods. We demonstrate the critical advantage of using Uncrewed Aerial System LiDAR (UAS-LiDAR) for mapping the hierarchical microrelief of a Western Siberian ombrotrophic bog to enhance ground-layer phytomass estimation. The rule-based classification of a normalized digital terrain model generated a high-resolution microform map (overall accuracy = 79%, Kappa = 0.72). This map was used to upscale field-measured phytomass and compared against estimates generated through satellite imagery (SuperView-2) and traditional field-visual extrapolation. While total landscape-level phytomass stocks were similar across methods (~93–97 t ha⁻¹), their spatial allocation differed fundamentally. The satellite-based method exhibited a predictable, landscape-dependent systematic bias (overestimation by 7–25% in some units) and a substantially lower microtopography accuracy (OA = 77%, Kappa = 0.53) compared to the aggregated LiDAR map (OA = 95%, Kappa = 0.89). Crucially, only the LiDAR-based approach accurately resolved the biomasses of key microforms (e.g., hummocks within hollows contributing up to 6.2 ± 1.4 tonnes per unit), which were missed or misaggregated when using traditional techniques. We conclude that objective, high-resolution microrelief mapping via UAS-LiDAR is essential for spatially explicit and ecologically coherent phytomass upscaling, providing an indispensable structural template for credible carbon accounting in heterogeneous peatlands. Full article

Understanding the spatial variability of soil organic carbon (SOC) content and its functional pools under current farming practices is crucial for developing targeted C management. This study quantified and predicted the farm-scale variability of SOC pools across conventional tillage (CT) and no-tillage (NT; 8–14 years) practices at two sites (Rostov and Krasnodar) in Russia. The soil types at Rostov and Krasnodar farms were Calcic Chernozem (sunflower–wheat rotation) and Stagnic Chernozem (maize–wheat rotation), respectively. The average SOC content at the Rostov site was higher than the Krasnodar site by 41% and 28% in 0–10 and 10–30 cm, respectively. For both sites, there was no clear trend in SOC variability between NT and CT practices. However, topsoil microbial-available C pool (mineralized for 180 days) was most sensitive to tillage systems, unlike unchanged particle-size C pools. Specifically, it increased from CT to NT at the Rostov site (by 7–16%), but it showed a decreased trend at the Krasnodar site (by 11–29%). Gradient boosting machines statistical models with remote sensing data based explanatory variables (spectral, topography) accurately predicted the spatial distributions of topsoil C content (R² = 0.99) and its microbial-available pool (R² = 0.78%) across the farmland areas. The main explanatory variables included topography, vegetation distribution, moisture and thermal regimes. For both sites, DNDC modeling showed that applying NT versus CT for 30 years could potentially increase SOC in the topsoil by 27–28% and decrease it in the subsoil by 6–9% (sunflower–wheat–maize–wheat rotation; annual N and P rates of 41–80 and 0–52 kg ha^–1). This study provides insights into current agricultural challenges and the developing site-specific strategies for managing soil C accrual in the Chernozem region. Full article

Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks remain the most pervasive and operationally disruptive cyber threat and are routinely weaponized in interstate conflict (e.g., Russia–Ukraine and Stuxnet). Although attack-chain models are standard for Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) analysis, they have seldom been applied to DDoS, which is often framed as a single-step volumetric assault. However, ubiquitous intelligence and ambient connectivity increasingly enable DDoS campaigns to unfold as multi-stage operations rather than isolated floods. In parallel, large language models (LLMs) create new opportunities to strengthen traditional DDoS defenses through richer contextual understanding. Reviewing incidents from 2019 to 2024, we propose a three-phase DDoS attack chain—preparation, development, and execution—that captures contemporary tactics and their dependencies on novel hardware, network architectures, and application protocols. We classify these patterns, contrast them with conventional DDoS, survey current defenses (anycast and scrubbing, BGP Flowspec, programmable data planes, adaptive ML detection, API hardening), and outline research directions in cross-layer telemetry, adversarially robust learning, automated mitigation orchestration, and cooperative takedown. Full article

Objective: To evaluate parental attitudes towards vaccination in children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), assess the level of adherence to immunization schedules, and identify key barriers hindering vaccination. Materials and Methods: A comparative survey was conducted involving 215 respondents, divided into an IBD group (109 parents of children with IBD) and a control group (106 parents of healthy children). The majority of respondents were mothers (96%) with higher education (81% and 79%, respectively) residing in a major metropolitan area. We assessed demographic data, vaccination history of both children and parents, sources of medical information, and reasons for vaccine refusal. Results: Routine vaccination coverage in children under 6 years of age was high and comparable in both groups (>93%). The majority of parents in the IBD group (n = 68; 62%) expressed a positive attitude towards vaccination. However, following the onset of IBD, only 24 (22%) continued vaccination, while 85 (78%) reported a categorical refusal to continue immunization. It was found that parents tend to misinterpret normal post-vaccination reactions as vaccine complications. A significant factor contributing to refusal is the lack of information from attending physicians and reliance on the Internet as a primary information source. Additionally, low rates of adult revaccination were noted, with over 30% of parents in both groups not being vaccinated in adulthood. Conclusions: The low vaccination rate in children with IBD after disease onset is driven not by initial anti-vaccination sentiment, but by acquired fears and a lack of professional communication from primary care providers and specialists. Improving immunization coverage requires the active implementation of educational programs for parents regarding vaccine safety during immunosuppressive therapy, as well as the development of specific guidelines for attending physicians. Full article

This paper presents a physics-consistent hybrid surrogate framework for simulating the mechanical behavior of reinforced concrete beams that utilize waste fired clay (WFC) as a partial substitute for cement. The main contribution is the integration of empirically observed deformation behavior with physics-informed learning to produce an interpretable, mechanically valid surrogate model. Full-field surface deformation fields were measured using Digital Image Correlation (DIC) under monotonic loading and processed through a convolutional neural network (CNN) to extract deformation- and crack-sensitive features. These features were integrated with experimentally measured stress–strain data within a Physics-Informed Neural Network (PINN) in which equilibrium and conditional constitutive monotonicity constraints were enforced through the loss function. A Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II) was utilized as a downstream parametric exploration tool to examine trade-offs among maximum load capacity, material cost, and embodied CO₂ inside a constrained mixture-design space. Model interpretability was assessed by SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP), indicating that deformation-driven kinematic factors predominantly influence stress prediction, whereas WFC content and reinforcement parameters have a secondary, mixture-level impact. The resulting framework achieves enhanced predictive accuracy (R² = 0.969) relative to its individual components and operates as an offline, physics-calibrated surrogate rather than a real-time digital twin, providing a reliable and interpretable basis for structural assessment and sustainability-oriented design evaluation of WFC-modified reinforced concrete beams. Full article

Obtaining water-soluble palladium complexes capable of interacting with DNA is an important synthetic task in medicinal chemistry. The interaction of [Pd(phen)(OAc)₂] (phen = 1,10-phenanthroline) with pivalic acid (ᵗBuCOOH) and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (HOTf) leads to the formation of the molecular complex [Pd(phen)(OOCᵗBu)₂] (1) and the ionic complex [Pd(phen)(H₂O)₂]Otf₂ (2), respectively. Complex 1 is highly soluble in water and stable in solution for 48 h. When complex 2 is boiled in water, it undergoes hydrolysis to form the binuclear hydroxo-bridged complex [Pd₂(phen)₂(μ-OH)₂]Otf₂ (3). According to X-ray diffraction data, the crystal lattices of 1–3 are stabilized by numerous intermolecular hydrogen bonds and π-π stacking interactions. The interaction of 1 and 2 with DNA in vitro (in 0.005 M NaCl solution) was studied using UV spectroscopy, low-gradient viscometry, and DNA melting analysis. It was shown that both compounds interact with DNA, and the binding is accompanied by the intercalation of the phenanthroline ligand at low concentrations in the DNA solution. An increase in their concentration leads to an alternative binding mode—palladium–DNA interaction causes a decrease in the DNA molecular coil size due to electrostatic interaction and/or palladium coordination to DNA bases. The difference between the binding of compounds 1 and 2 to DNA is that 2 can coordinate to N-bases, unlike complex 1. The antibacterial properties of the complexes have been studied in vitro against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus. Full article