Hackathon: Definition, Practice and Perspectives of Use in Higher Education

In the article there are represented results of generalization and systematization of scientific and practical information about hackathons as an educational technology that is used in higher education and is of great interest to researchers and practitioners. The review has been made on the basis of Russian and foreign scientific publications considering the features of the organization and application of hackathons in the practice of higher education. The authors selected 494 articles issued in the period from 2011 to 2022 in publishings of the RSCI and SCOPUS databases by keywords “hachathon” and “education”, and 83 articles of them were analyzed in this review. It was found that publications about personal experience of participation and organization of hackathons and analytical articles revealing the author’s position on the issues considered in them dominate in the scientific literature on various aspects of hackathons use in the practice of higher education. Empirical studies and scientific reviews are presented to lesser extent. The analysis of publications made it possible to clarify the definition of the term “hackathon”, to identify the types of hackathons most often mentioned in the educational context (pedagogical, educational), and to define the term “educational hackathon”. A content analysis of publications has shown that various aspects of organizing and conducting hackathons in an educational context, their potential and impact on the educational process and its results are the subject of pedagogical discourse. Hackathons as educational intensives have found their application in university educational practice, providing new opportunities for improving the educational process in higher education, as they allow to implement project-, practice- and business-oriented approaches in training specialists. The main prospects of the hackathons use in education are identified and summarized. Introducing educational hackathons in the event plan of an educational organization make it possible to solve educational and career-oriented tasks, activate heuristic and creative cognitive activity of students. The analysis and evaluation of the hackathons impact on professionalization, academic motivation and educational achievements of students are promising areas of research on the problem of using hackathons in the educational process of higher education

Renormalization of Poincare Transformations in Hamiltonian Semiclassical Field Theory

Semiclassical Hamiltonian field theory is investigated from the axiomatic point of view. A notion of a semiclassical state is introduced. An "elementary" semiclassical state is specified by a set of classical field configuration and quantum state in this external field. "Composed" semiclassical states viewed as formal superpositions of "elementary" states are nontrivial only if the Maslov isotropic condition is satisfied; the inner product of "composed" semiclassical states is degenerate. The mathematical proof of Poincare invariance of semiclassical field theory is obtained for "elementary" and "composed" semiclassical states. The notion of semiclassical field is introduced; its Poincare invariance is also mathematically proved.Comment: LaTeX, 40 pages; short version of hep-th/010307

Lipoprotein(a) concentration and the blood content of INFγ-producing T-helpers 17 (Th17/1) in males with premature coronary artery disease

Aim. To analyze the relationship of blood lipid profile parameters, including the level of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), and the content of circulating CD4+ T-lymphocytes with premature coronary artery disease (CAD).Material and methods. This retrospective cross-sectional study included 76 men aged 40 to 79 years. Patients were divided into following groups: main group — patients with CAD (58 [54;64] years, n=56) onset before the age of 55; control group — patients (62 [57;66] years, n=20) without CAD and obstructive CAD and peripheral arterial disease. Statins were taken by 51 (91%) and 9 (45%) patients in the main and control groups, respectively. In serum and plasma samples, lipid spectrum parameters and Lp(a) concentration were determined. Cellular phenotyping was performed by direct immunofluorescence in a culture of mononuclear leukocytes isolated from blood. To determine cytokines, cells were in vitro activated with inhibitor of intracellular transport of secretory proteins. Cell fluorescence was determined using flow cytometry.Results. Patients of both groups were comparable in age, body mass index, prevalence of hypertension and diabetes. Blood Lp(a) concentrations were higher in the CAD group than in the control group (49 [10;102] mg/dL vs 12 [4,3;32] mg/ dL, p<0,05). The content of INFγ-producing T-helpers 17 (Th17/1) was also higher in the CAD group (19 [15;24] vs 13 [11;22], % of Th17, p=0,05). Logistic regression revealed that elevated Lp(a) levels (≥30 mg/dL) and relative amounts of Th17/1 (>14% of Th17) independently of each other, atherogenic lipoprotein cholesterol levels, classical risk factors, and statin use were associated with premature CAD in the general group of patients with odds ratio (OR) of 4,6 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1,1-20,2) and 10,9 (2,1-56,7), p<0,05, respectively. The combination of Lp(a) >30 mg/dl and Th17/1 over 14% significantly increased the risk of premature CAD (OR, 28,0, 95% CI, 4,31-181,75, p=0,0005).Conclusion. We have shown for the first time that an increased Lp(a) concentration with an increased Th17/1 content is associated with the premature CAD in men

A Newly Identified Monoterpenoid-Based Small Molecule Able to Support the Survival of Primary Cultured Dopamine Neurons and Alleviate MPTP-Induced Toxicity In Vivo

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the most common age-related movement disorder characterized by the progressive loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons. To date, PD treatment strategies are mostly based on dopamine replacement medicines, which can alleviate motor symptoms but do not slow down the progression of neurodegeneration. Thus, there is a need for disease-modifying PD therapies. The aim of this work was to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of the novel compound PA96 on dopamine neurons in vivo and in vitro, assess its ability to alleviate motor deficits in MPTP- and haloperidol-based PD models, as well as PK profile and BBB penetration. PA96 was synthesized from (1R,2R,6S)-3-methyl-6-(prop-1-en-2-yl) cyclohex-3-ene-1,2-diol (Prottremin) using the original three-step stereoselective procedure. We found that PA96: (1) supported the survival of cultured näive dopamine neurons; (2) supported the survival of MPP+-challenged dopamine neurons in vitro and in vivo; (3) had chemically appropriate properties (synthesis, solubility, etc.); (4) alleviated motor deficits in MPTP- and haloperidol-based models of PD; (5) penetrated the blood–brain barrier in vivo; and (6) was eliminated from the bloodstream relative rapidly. In conclusion, the present article demonstrates the identification of PA96 as a lead compound for the future development of this compound into a clinically used drug

Myeloid Heme Oxygenase-1 Haploinsufficiency Reduces High Fat Diet-Induced Insulin Resistance by Affecting Adipose Macrophage Infiltration in Mice

Increased adipose tissue macrophages contribute to obesity-induced metabolic syndrome. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a stress-inducible enzyme with potent anti-inflammatory and proangiogenic activities in macrophages. However, the role of macrophage HO-1 on obesity-induced adipose inflammation and metabolic syndrome remains unclear. Here we show that high-fat diet (HFD) feeding in C57BL/6J mice induced HO-1 expression in the visceral adipose tissue, particularly the stromal vascular fraction. When the irradiated C57BL/6J mice reconstituted with wild-type or HO-1+/− bone marrow were fed with HFD for over 24 weeks, the HO-1+/− chimeras were protected from HFD-induced insulin resistance and this was associated with reduced adipose macrophage infiltration and angiogenesis, suggesting that HO-1 affects myeloid cell migration toward adipose tissue during obesity. In vivo and in vitro migration assays revealed that HO-1+/− macrophages exhibited an impaired migration response. Chemoattractant-induced phosphorylation of p38 and focal adhesion kinase (FAK) declined faster in HO-1+/− macrophages. Further experiments demonstrated that carbon monoxide and bilirubin, the byproducts derived from heme degradation by HO-1, enhanced macrophage migration by increasing phosphorylation of p38 and FAK, respectively. These data disclose a novel role of hematopoietic cell HO-1 in promoting adipose macrophage infiltration and the development of insulin resistance during obesity

Ocrelizumab versus Interferon Beta-1a in Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis

Supported by F. Hoffmann–La Roche

ENSURING PRIORITY FOR PUBLIC URBAN PASSENGER TRANSPORT ON URBAN STREETS AND ROAD NETWORK

Introduction. Recently, in large and medium-sized cities, the increase in traffic has been exacerbated by the growth of motorization and the lack of development of the road network. Increasing vehicle traffic to a critical level leads to overcapacity of the arteries and, as a consequence, increases the level of delay. Public urban mass passenger transport is one of the most vulnerable groups in this regard. In order to unload the city’s street network, it is necessary to reduce the level of road traffic. One of the effective measures to deal with this problem is to increase the attractiveness of urban mass passenger transport, i.e. to ensure an adequate level of service for passengers including high speed, which can be increased by giving priority to bus traffic. One of the prospects for prioritizing public urban transport is the development of individual lanes or streets for urban rolling stock only. Due to the lack of criteria for the allocation of separate lanes for urban rolling stock, they have begun to appear in the vast majority on the main streets of the city. There are a large number of urban highways used for the operation of only one public transport route with dedicated lanes on them. The need for such arrangements is questionable. It is therefore necessary to formulate the criteria that justify the need for a separate urban passenger lane on a given stretch of the city network. Thus, the purpose of this work is to identify patterns between traffic parameters and the parameters of the urban public passenger transport programme, which will determine the criteria for the need for a separate lane for urban land transport on each individual stretch of the network.Materials and methods. This article deals with the method of determining the need for a separate lane for public urban passenger transport on a given stretch of the road network. In order to improve the quality of the transport of passengers, a mathematical model has been developed, based on such indicators as the level of traffic delay and the share of passenger traffic in the total flow of participants. Results. The necessary conditions have been laid down the strict implementation of which determines the need to ensure the priority of urban mass public passenger transport on the section of the city’s street network under consideration.Discussion and conclusion. The dependencies obtained make it possible to identify the need to ensure the priority of urban transport

Effect of atorvastatin and rosuvastatin on the PCSK9 blood concentration in statin-naive patients with atherosclerosis

Statins are currently the main group of lipid-lowering drugs used in clinical practice. However not all patients manage to achieve ‘target’ levels of LDL. A possible cause is statin-induced increase of expression of hepatocyte PCSK9 which regulates LDL uptake.Aim. The aim of the study was to determine whether the changes of parameters of lipid spectrum depend on the changes of PCSK9 concentration in blood during treatment with rosuvastatin or atorvastatin.Material and methods. 20 patients (9 men), median age 63 (57;72) years referred for the examination at NMRCC with coronary and carotid atherosclerosis and with the indications for statin therapy were included. In 9 patients the therapy with atorvastatin (40-80 mg/day) was initiated. 11 patients started taking rosuvastatin (10-40 mg/day). The parameters of lipid spectrum, Lp(a) and PCSK9 blood levels were determined at baseline and after 1 month after the initiation of statin therapy.Results. Atorvastatin and rosuvastatin intake were accompanied by the decrease in the levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL. The level of Lp(a) did not change. In patients receiving rosuvastatin a significant increase in the PCSK9 serum concentration was achieved while atorvastatin therapy was associated with much less pronounced and not statistically significant increase in PCSK9 levels.Conclusion. We suggest that the lipid-lowering activity of statins does not depend on their effect on PCSK9 expression. The limitation of this study is the small sample size and short observation time

Impact of mine waters on chemical composition of soil in the Partizansk Coal Basin, Russia

Partizansk Coal Basin, located in the south of the Russian Far Eastern Region, was intensively mined from 1918 until 1998. Although it was mostly explored by underground excavation, the natural landscapes were transformed into anthropogenic ones. After the mines closed, ground subsidence occurred widely, especially in areas near the waste dumps. This caused water tables to rise to the surface and pollute the soil. Analysis of the hydrochemical composition of the mine waters were conducted in 2011–2013, and showed low alkalinity and average level of mineralization. This can be explained by the fact that while going up through soil mass, the mine waters lost their much of their pollutants due to soil buffering. All mine water samples contain thermo-tolerant coliform bacteria E. coli that indicates a source of fresh fecal pollution. Our research indicates increased hydrocarbon ion concentrations in mine waters, especially in autumn, that resulted in accumulation of chromium and copper compounds, which can cause soil pollution. A strong relationship between the chemical composition of the mine waters and soil extracts was found within areas of unregulated groundwater discharge on the surface. Significant negative correlation between pH and content of metal compounds including chromium and copper was found at the “Avangard” mine (r = − 0.95); and between alkalinity and chromium content at the “Glubokaya” mine (r = − 0.94). Keywords: Mine waters, Soil solution, Chemical composition, Abandoned coal mines, Bacteriological contamination of wate

Age-Related Alterations in the Level and Metabolism of Serotonin in the Brain of Males and Females of Annual Turquoise Killifish (<i>Nothobranchius furzeri</i>)

The annual turquoise killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri) is a laboratory model organism for neuroscience of aging. In the present study, we investigated for the first time the levels of serotonin and its main metabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, as well as the activities of the key enzymes of its synthesis, tryptophan hydroxylases, and degradation, monoamine oxidase, in the brains of 2-, 4- and 7-month-old male and female N. furzeri. The marked effect of age on the body mass and the level of serotonin, as well as the activities of tryptophan hydroxylases and monoamine oxidase in the brain of killifish were revealed. The level of serotonin decreased in the brain of 7-month-old males and females compared with 2-month-old ones. A significant decrease in the tryptophan hydroxylase activity and an increase in the monoamine oxidase activity in the brain of 7-month-old females compared to 2-month-old females was shown. These findings agree with the age-related alterations in expression of the genes encoding tryptophan hydroxylases and monoamine oxidase. N. furzeri is a suitable model with which to study the fundamental problems of age-related changes of the serotonin system in the brain