Best Practices for Teaching Chemistry Disciplines to Graduates Majoring in Pharmacy During the COVID-19 Restrictions: A Systematic Review

The purpose of the study was to identify the - interventions that can be adopted for teaching chemistry disciplines to the graduates majoring in Pharmacy (Mpharm) in Ukraine. The study employed a systematic review methodology and a qualitative approach to synthesising the sources. The triangular assessment method was used to rate the short-listed instructional interventions for feasibility, transferability, and duplicability in the settings of teaching chemistry disciplines to pharmacy graduates in Ukraine. The review found seven eligible publications for the analysis. It was identified that the shortlisted instructional models were technology-mediated and positively affected students’ skills and occupational knowledge. Three out of seven instructional models used chatbots and AI to automate the process of management of students learning activity which suggested that automation of the process of educational content delivery was becoming an emerging trend in instructional design. Having performed the triangular assessment method (TAM) analysis, three instructional models were given preference in terms of their use in medical education settings in Ukraine. These models were as follows: a) PhET simulations-based model, b) the model based on automated delivery of the course using the Smart Sender platform and c) the model based on automation of the Moodle-driven e-course using Dialogflow chatbot

A Tri-Oceanic Perspective: DNA Barcoding Reveals Geographic Structure and Cryptic Diversity in Canadian Polychaetes

Although polychaetes are one of the dominant taxa in marine communities, their distributions and taxonomic diversity are poorly understood. Recent studies have shown that many species thought to have broad distributions are actually a complex of allied species. In Canada, 12% of polychaete species are thought to occur in Atlantic, Arctic, and Pacific Oceans, but the extent of gene flow among their populations has not been tested.Sequence variation in a segment of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene was employed to compare morphological versus molecular diversity estimates, to examine gene flow among populations of widespread species, and to explore connectivity patterns among Canada's three oceans. Analysis of 1876 specimens, representing 333 provisional species, revealed 40 times more sequence divergence between than within species (16.5% versus 0.38%). Genetic data suggest that one quarter of previously recognized species actually include two or more divergent lineages, indicating that richness in this region is currently underestimated. Few species with a tri-oceanic distribution showed genetic cohesion. Instead, large genetic breaks occur between Pacific and Atlantic-Arctic lineages, suggesting their long-term separation. High connectivity among Arctic and Atlantic regions and low connectivity with the Pacific further supports the conclusion that Canadian polychaetes are partitioned into two distinct faunas.Results of this study confirm that COI sequences are an effective tool for species identification in polychaetes, and suggest that DNA barcoding will aid the recognition of species overlooked by the current taxonomic system. The consistent geographic structuring within presumed widespread species suggests that historical range fragmentation during the Pleistocene ultimately increased Canadian polychaete diversity and that the coastal British Columbia fauna played a minor role in Arctic recolonization following deglaciation. This study highlights the value of DNA barcoding for providing rapid insights into species distributions and biogeographic patterns in understudied groups

Сравнительный анализ применения тоцилизумаба при тяжелых COVID-19-ассоциированных пневмониях у пациентов разных возрастных групп

According to accumulated clinical data, one of the causes of severe damage to lung epithelial cells associated with SARS-CoV-2 (2019-nCoV) is an acute, timely underestimated "cytokine storm" (cytokine cascade, hypercytokinaemia) with characteristic signs of an expressed hyper-inflammatory syndrome with subsequent polyorganic failure. The study presents the results of the analysis of the effectiveness of tocilizumab therapy (TCZ) in patients (n = 181) of different age groups with developed pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of TCZ therapy in patients of different age groups with developed pneumonia in the frame of COVID-19. Methods. Patients (n = 181) with community-acquired pneumonia caused by coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 are included in a one-center, non-randomized, prospective study to evaluate the effectiveness of TCZ therapy conducted at the State Public Health Institution "City Clinical Hospital No.52" of the Moscow City Health Department. Patients were divided into 3 age subgroups – up to 50 years, 50–70 years and over 70 years. Patients with community-acquired SARS-CoV-2-induced pneumonia receiving non-invasive oxygen support and patients who had artificial lung ventilation (ALV) were given a single dose of 400 mg of TCZ in addition to basic therapy. Results. There are no significant differences between age groups in the severity of pneumonia according to the data of the computed tomography (CT), however, a more severe condition and a higher mortality rate (p < 0.001) were reliably observed in patients over 70 age compared to the other age groups. After TCZ treatment in patients of each age group, the severity of the condition assessed on the National Early Warning Score (NEWS2) has been significantly reduced compared to the baseline. Conclusion. According to the data of the pilot study the efficacy and safety of TCZ in patients of all presented age groups with COVID-associated pulmonary tissue lesion and signs of "cytokine storm" was demonstrated. At the same time, patients up to 50 years after the therapy of TCZ managed to achieve greater clinical efficiency compared to patients in other groups. According to the severity of the state and laboratory criteria, the lowest clinical efficacy of TCZ therapy was observed in patients over 70 years of age; as a consequence, the highest mortality rate was observed in the same group. At the same time, the TCZ therapy has not had a positive impact on the change of laboratory values and the severity of the disease in case of unfavorable outcome. Согласно накопленным клиническим данным, одной из причин тяжелых повреждений клеток эпителия легких, ассоциированных с SARS-CoV-2 (2019-nCoV), является острый, вовремя недооцененный синдром «цитокинового шторма» (цитокиновый каскад, гиперцитокинемия) с характерными признаками выраженного гипервоспалительного синдрома с последующей полиорганной недоста - точностью. В работе представлены результаты анализа эффективности терапии тоцилизумабом (ТЦЗ) у пациентов (n = 181) разных возрастных групп с развившейся пневмонией в рамках COVID-19. Целью исследования явилась оценка эффективности терапии ТЦЗ у пациентов разных возрастных групп с развившейся пневмонией, вызванной SARS-CoV-2. Материалы и методы. В одноцентровом нерандомизированном проспективном исследовании оценки эффективности терапии ТЦЗ, проведенном на базе Государственного бюд жетного учреждения здравоохранения «Городская клиническая больница № 52» Департамента здравоохранения города Мос - квы, приняли участие пациенты (n = 181) с внебольничной пневмонией, вызванной коронавирусом SARS-CoV-2. Больные были распределены в 3 возрастные подгруппы: до 50 лет, 50–70 лет, старше 70 лет. Пациентам с внебольничной пневмонией, вызванной SARS-CoV-2, получающим неинвазивную кислородную поддержку, и больным, у которых проводилась искусственная вентиляция легких (ИВЛ), в до полнение к основной терапии назначен ТЦЗ однократно в дозе 400 мг. Результаты. Достоверных различий между возрастными группами по тяжести пневмонии по данным компьютерной томографии (КТ) не выявлено, однако отмечено достоверно более тяжелое состояние и более высокий уровень смертности (p < 0,001) у больных старше 70 лет по сравнению с остальными возрастными группами. После терапии ТЦЗ у больных каждой из возрастных групп тяжесть состояния, оцененная по шкале National Early Warning Score (NEWS2), достоверно снизилась по сравнению с исходными показателями. Заключение. По данным пилотного исследования продемонстрирована эффективность и безопасность применения ТЦЗ у пациентов всех представленных возрастных групп с COVID-ассоциированным повреждением легочной ткани и признаками «цитокинового шторма». При этом у пациентов до 50 лет после терапии ТЦЗ удалось добиться бόльшей клинической эффективности по сравнению с больными остальных групп. По степени тяжести состояния и лабораторным критериям самая низкая клиническая эффективность терапии ТЦЗ отмечена у пациентов старше 70 лет; как следствие, в этой же группе отмечен самый высокий уровень смертности. При этом в случае неблагоприятного исхода терапия ТЦЗ не оказывала положительного влияния на изменение лабораторных показателей и степень тяжести заболевания.

Model of gravitational effects in Saturn’s rings

In this work, we consider one possi-ble gravitational interaction in a system consisting ofSaturn, its satellites and rings. The structure of ringscan be changed because of such interactions leading tosome sculpting of rings. In consequence of not triv-ial gravitational effects, various perturbations are ob-served on the edges of rings. We use methods of ce-lestial mechanics to describe a system containing theplanet, two satellites and the ring placed between them.In such a system, gravitational forces lead to runningwaves that deform the ring. These effects are peculiarto Saturn’s F ring. The description of these perturba-tions needs more difficult physical model. In particu-lar, to find the change in the ring’s edge it’s necessaryto go to the non-inertial reference frame. To describesome effects we expect to employ methods of nonlinearphysics to build the model