Structural and magnetic dimers in the spin-gapped system CuTe2O5

We investigated the magnetic properties of the system CuTe2O5 by susceptibility and electron spin resonance measurements. The anisotropy of the effective g-factors and the ESR linewidth indicates that the anticipated structural dimer does not correspond to the singlet-forming magnetic dimer. Moreover, the spin susceptibility of CuTe2O5 can only be described by taking into account interdimer interactions of the same order of magnitude than the intradimer coupling. Analyzing the exchange couplings in the system we identify the strongest magnetic coupling between two Cu ions to be mediated by super-super exchange interaction via a bridging Te ligand, while the superexchange coupling between the Cu ions of the structural dimer only results in the second strongest coupling

The influence of brood chickens by-products processing with probiotic culture starter on change of their functional and technological parameters.

By-products are the potential source of animal protein obtained from brood chickens and egg-laying hens. Certain by-products like gizzards and combs are quite tough and possess low nutritional and biological value due to their high content of connective tissue. Biotechnological processing improves the quality parameters of collagen-containing by-products. In this article a probiotic starter culture of propionic acid bacteria, which have high proteolytic activity, was used to treat the gizzards and combs of brood chickens. Before processing of by-products with starter culture, physical and chemical parameters and the yield of by-products in relation to poultry live weight were analyzed and recorded. 5%, 10% and 15% starter culture were added to the tested samples of chopped by-products, the samples were kept at a temperature of 30 °C, and every 4 hours the following functional and technological parameters were monitored: moisture binding capacity, water holding capacity (MBC and WHC) and yield of the product after heat treatment. The results proved that increase of starter culture amount and longer exposure of by-products to hydrolysis led to decrease of functional and technological parameters values, but for the combs those parameters remained at a sufficiently high level compared to the gizzards, as the gizzards were exposed to more intense hydrolysis than combs. The decrease in the pH value correlated with the dynamics of MBC and WHC changes; and dynamics of the product yield after the heat treatment. Also the stained histological preparations were studied in order to assess the influence of biotechnological processing on by-products microstructure, where significant differences were found in the morphological structure of muscle and collagen fibers of hydrolysates of combs and gizzards exposed to action of bacterial concentrate. The results of rheological studies showed that hydrolyzed chicken combs differed from gizzards; the combs were denser and featured more elastic structure due to a lower degree of hydrolysis by bacterial enzymes. In general, the properties of collagen-containing by-products (muscular gizzards and combs) change significantly after being exposed to enzymes of propionic acid bacteria

Esophageal variceal ligation in the primary and secondary prevention of variceal bleeding

This article is devoted to experience of endoscopic ligation of varices in N.A. Semashko Republic Clinical Hospital. We analyzed the results of ligation in 28 patients treated since February 2013 to March 2016. Selected patients had diagnoses of liver cirrhosis, syndrome of portal hypertension of different origin, 10 (35.5 %) had the history of one or more episodes of bleeding from varicose veins of the esophagus. Endoscopic ligation was performed for patients with varices of grade 3-4 according to J. Paquet classification, grade 3 according to N. Soehendra, K. Binmoeller classification improving primary and secondary prevention of bleeding. The effectiveness of endoscopic ligation as a method of primary and secondary prevention of bleeding from the varices, with subsequent transfer to oral administration of non-selective β-adrenoblockers was evaluated. In the result of the study throughout the entire period of observation we indicated no episodes of esophageal bleeding and established a low rate of recurrence of varices. Those patients who, after the first endoscopic ligation session, followed the recommendations for taking beta-blockers, have a better prognosis and the outcome in relation to patients who have neglected the recommendations. During the first year of follow-up there was one fatal outcome - a man with VHC died as a result of hepatocellular insufficiency

The Role of the Danish Church in the Fight against the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Significance of This Experience for the Russian Federation

The social responsibility of religious organizations in modern conditions is reflected in a variety of activities carried out by religious institutions and differ depending on both the confessional affiliation of these institutions and the specific structural territorial unit where they take place. The presented work is devoted to a detailed analysis of the peculiarities of the manifestation of one of the directions of social responsibility of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Denmark (ELCD), associated with minimizing the consequences of COVID-19 on the example of its individual dioceses. The dioceses characterized by the highest proportion of adherents in the population structure (Diocese of Viborg, Ribe, Aalborg and Lolland-Faster) were selected to clearly reflect the trends taking place. The subject of the study is the social activities of the ELCD to mitigate the consequences of COVID-19 for parishioners, the features of the implementation of which are considered on the example of structural units at the regional level. The article substantiates the increased importance of the ELCD in the development of the region, since the designated institution largely assumes the social obligations of the state (duplicates several functions) in connection with the risks of the spread of coronavirus infection. To achieve the goal, methods of analysis of factual and economic-statistical information, comparative comparison were used. The experience of a religious organization in dealing with the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic is of interest to the public, government bodies and authorities, as well as religious organizations in other countries. The results of the study can be useful in developing a strategy for the development of state-religious relations in Russia, where there are trends of strengthening the social and economic role of religious organizations

Understanding the Educational Event of the Workshop Format as An Innovative Form of Organization of Educational Activities of Students

В статье рассмотрен метод «Workshop», представлены его структура и отличительные особенности, а также проанализирован опыт участия в мероприятии «Научный Workshop», формат и организационные принципы которого могут быть использованы в процессе обучения, что будет способствовать увеличению учебно-познавательной активности студентов.The article is considered the «Workshop» method, presented its structure and distinctive features, and analyzed the experience of participating in the "Scientific Workshop" event. The format and organizational principles of this method can be used in the learning process, which will increase the educational and cognitive activity of students

Cold-induced changes in gene expression in brown adipose tissue, white adipose tissue and liver

Cold exposure imposes a metabolic challenge to mammals that is met by a coordinated response in different tissues to prevent hypothermia. This study reports a transcriptomic analysis in brown adipose tissue (BAT), white adipose (WAT) and liver of mice in response to 24 h cold exposure at 8°C. Expression of 1895 genes were significantly (P<0.05) up- or down-regulated more than two fold by cold exposure in all tissues but only 5 of these genes were shared by all three tissues, and only 19, 14 and 134 genes were common between WAT and BAT, WAT and liver, and BAT and liver, respectively. We confirmed using qRT-PCR, the increased expression of a number of characteristic BAT genes during cold exposure. In both BAT and the liver, the most common direction of change in gene expression was suppression (496 genes in BAT and 590 genes in liver). Gene ontology analysis revealed for the first time significant (P<0.05) down regulation in response to cold, of genes involved in oxidoreductase activity, lipid metabolic processes and protease inhibitor activity, in both BAT and liver, but not WAT. The results reveal an unexpected importance of down regulation of cytochrome P450 gene expression and apolipoprotein, in both BAT and liver, but not WAT, in response to cold exposure. Pathway analysis suggests a model in which down regulation of the nuclear transcription factors HNF4α and PPARα in both BAT and liver may orchestrate the down regulation of genes involved in lipoprotein and steroid metabolism as well as Phase I enzymes belonging to the cytochrome P450 group in response to cold stress in mice. We propose that the response to cold stress involves decreased gene expression in a range of cellular processes in order to maximise pathways involved in heat production

FIRST EXPERIENCE OF USING ENDOSCOPIC VACUUM-ASSISTED AND ASPIRATION THERAPY IN THE TREATMENT OF SPONTANEOUS RUPTURE OF THE ESOPHAGUS (BOERHAAVE SYNDROME)

The aim of the article is to demonstrate the possibilities of minimally invasive surgery in the treatment of spontaneous rupture of the esophagus (Boerhaave syndrome). Within the last 10 years endoscopic treatment has changed the approach to the esophageal rupture treatment. Implantation of fully-covered self-expanding metal or plastic stents is the most extensively studied endoscopic method, and it has proven to be effective in 67-100 % of cases. The successful closure of esophageal rupture by endoscopic placement of a vacuum sponge (endoscopic vacuum assisted closure (E-VAC)) has recently been reported. Vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) is an established treatment modality for extensive cutaneous infected wounds. This principle has been adapted to the treatment of endoscopically accessible upper gastrointestinal leakages by endoscopic placing of sponges connected with a drainage tube in the necrotic cavities (E-VAC)

Transcription factors MhyFIL1 and MhyFIL3 <i>(Monotropa hypopitys)</i> determine the asymmetric development of above-ground lateral organs in plants

It is believed that the complete mycoheterotroph pinesap Monotropa hypopitys adaptively evolved from a photosynthetic mycorrhizal ancestor, which had lost its photosynthetic apparatus and vegetative organs (stem and leaves). The aerial part of the plant is a reproductive axis with sterile bracts and inflorescence with a flower type canonical for higher plants. The origin of leaves and leaf-like lateral organs is associated, among other factors, with the evolution of the YABBY genes, which are divided into“vegetative” and evolutionarily recent“reproductive” genes, with regard to their expression profiles. The study of the vegetative YABBY genes in pinesap will determine whether their functions (identification of cell identity on the abaxial surface of the lateral organs) are preserved in the leafless plant. In this study, the structural and phylogenetic analysis of the pinesap vegetative genes MhyFIL1 and MhyFIL3 is performed, the main conserved domains and motifs of the encoded proteins are characterized, and it is confirmed that the genes belong to the vegetative clade YABBY3/FIL. The effect of heterologous ectopic expression of the MhyFIL1 and MhyFIL3 genes on the phenotype of transgenic tobacco Nicotiana tabacum is evaluated. The leaves formed by both types of plants, 35S::MhyFIL1 and 35S::MhyFIL3, were narrower than in control plants and were twisted due to the changed identity of adaxial surface cells. Also, changes in the architecture of the aerial part and the root system of transgenic plants, including aberrant phyllotaxis and arrest of the shoot and root apical meristem development, were noted. Some of the 35S::MhyFIL1 and 35S::MhyFIL3 plants died as early as the stage of the formation of the first leaves, others did not bloom, and still others had a greatly prolonged vegetation period and formed fewer flowers than normal ones. The flowers had no visible differences from the control except for fragile pedicles. Thus, the absence of structural changes from the M. hypopitys flower in comparison to autotrophic species and the effect of MhyFIL1/3 heterologous expression on the development of tobacco plants indicate the preservation of the functions of the vegetative YABBY genes by the MhyFIL1/3 genes in pinesap. Moreover, the activity of YABBY transcription factors of the FIL clade in M. hypopitys is not directly related to the loss of the ability of pinesap to form leaves during the evolutionary transition from autotrophic nutrition to heterotrophy

Synthesis of New Phosphorylated 1,2,4-Triazole-3-thiones. N,S-Functionalization Methods

© 2018, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd. New phosphorylated 1,2,4-triazole-3-thiones have been synthesized, and the possibility of their N,Sfunctionalization has been demonstrated. The direction of alkylation of 1,2,4-triazole-3-thiones with ethyl acrylate has been shown to depend on the substituent on the N4 atom

Development of an in-house reference standard for anti-rabies immunoglobulin potency, to be used in the virus neutralisation test in a Vero cell culture

The development and use of new methods of quality control of medicines involve the use of a lot of reference materials in quality control testing. Specialists of the Russian Research Antiplague Institute “Microbe” have proposed an alternative methodological approach to determination of potency of anti-rabies immunoglobulin in cell culture, which requires the development of an in-house reference standard (RS) certified against the biological reference preparation (BRP) of the European Pharmacopoeia human rabies immunoglobulin. The aim of the study was to develop and evaluate the metrological characteristics of an in-house RS for anti-rabies immunoglobulin potency, to be used in the virus neutralisation test in a Vero cell culture. Materials and methods: The following materials were used in the study: equine rabies immunoglobulin, Vero continuous cell culture, fixed rabies virus (Moscow 3253Vero strain), human rabies immunoglobulin BRP of the European Pharmacopoeia. The potencies of the candidate in-house RS and rabies immunoglobulin samples were determined in the neutralisation test in cell culture. The results were recorded using a fluorescent microscope. Statistical processing was carried out in accordance with general chapter 1.1.0014.15 of the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation, 14th edition. Results: the certified value of the in-house RS potency was 180.8±18.8 IU/mL. The confidence limits were determined at the 0.95 probability level. The shelf life of the in-house RS is 1.5 years (when stored according to the sanitary regulation SanPiN 3.3686-21). The certified in-house RS was assigned with the number 41-01-20. A set of technical and operational documentation was developed and approved for the in-house RS. The developed in-house RS can be used for in vitro determination of anti-rabies immunoglobulin potency, expressed in international units, to confirm its compliance with the product specification file. Conclusions: the authors developed an in-house RS for anti-rabies immunoglobulin potency, to be used in the virus neutralisation test in cell culture, certified against the human rabies immunoglobulin BRP of the European Pharmacopoeia