Comparison of semen characteristics and histological structure of the testis from transgenic and non-transgenic rabbits

[EN] The aim of this study was to compare semen characteristics including sperm quantity, quality, and abnormalities, as well as histological structure of the testis of three-year old transgenic (human clotting factor, hFVIII, gene) and nontransgenic rabbits. For the experiment, 10 transgenic rabbits of F2 and F3 generations and 10 randomly selected non-transgenic males of the same breed and age were used as controls. All males were housed in individual cages, under a the same environmental conditions: photoperiod (14L:10D), temperature (18-20°C), and humidity (65-70%). Semen samples, collected once a week for 20 wk from each control and transgenic male, were analyzed by computer assited semen analysis within a few minutes following natural ejaculation into an artificial vagina. Concentration of spermatozoa was higher in the transgenic than in the non-transgenic group (P<0.001; 316.6±148.8 and 126.7±64.4¿106/ mL, respectively). Significant differences (P<0.1) between transgenic and non-transgenic males were observed also in spermatozoa motility (63.08 vs. 32.60%). Significantly higher (P<0.05) relative volume (8.08±2.89%) and diameter of testicular lumen (36.89±23.11 ¿m) were found in the transgenic animals compared to control animals (16.69±4.70%, 53.89±25.42 ¿m). Our results show that spermatozoa parameters and histological structure of the testis can be used for the characterization of male reproductive traits of older transgenic rabbits.This work was supported by the grant No: 2003 SP51/028 09 00/028 09 03 coordinated by the Slovak Academy of Science and by the grant of Ministry of Agriculture Slovak Republic (RÚVV 07-012). All experiments were approved according to ethical permission No. SK P 28004. We are grateful to Dr. Shoubadeep Roychoudhury for the English correction.Lukac, N.; Massanyi, P.; Flesarova, S.; Danko, J.; Makarevich, A.; Chrenek, P. (2009). Comparison of semen characteristics and histological structure of the testis from transgenic and non-transgenic rabbits. World Rabbit Science. 17(4):221-226. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2009.64722122617

Predictors of subgroups based on maximum drinks per occasion over six years for 833 adolescents and young adults in COGA.

ObjectiveA person's pattern of heavier drinking often changes over time, especially during the early drinking years, and reflects complex relationships among a wide range of characteristics. Optimal understanding of the predictors of drinking during times of change might come from studies of trajectories of alcohol intake rather than cross-sectional evaluations.MethodThe patterns of maximum drinks per occasion were evaluated every 2 years between the average ages of 18 and 24 years for 833 subjects from the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism. Latent class growth analysis identified latent classes for the trajectories of maximum drinks, and then logistic regression analyses highlighted variables that best predicted class membership.ResultsFour latent classes were found, including Class 1 (69%), with about 5 maximum drinks per occasion across time; Class 2 (15%), with about 9 drinks at baseline that increased to 18 across time; Class 3 (10%), who began with a maximum of 18 drinks per occasion but decreased to 9 over time; and Class 4 (6%), with a maximum of about 22 drinks across time. The most consistent predictors of higher drinking classes were female sex, a low baseline level of response to alcohol, externalizing characteristics, prior alcohol and tobacco use, and heavier drinking peers.ConclusionsFour trajectory classes were observed and were best predicted by a combination of items that reflected demography, substance use, level of response and externalizing phenotypes, and baseline environment and attitudes

Sensitivity of entanglement measures in bipartite pure quantum states

Entanglement measures quantify the amount of quantum entanglement that is contained in quantum states. Typically, different entanglement measures do not have to be partially ordered. The presence of a definite partial order between two entanglement measures for all quantum states, however, allows for meaningful conceptualization of sensitivity to entanglement, which will be greater for the entanglement measure that produces the larger numerical values. Here, we have investigated the partial order between the normalized versions of four entanglement measures based on Schmidt decomposition of bipartite pure quantum states, namely, concurrence, tangle, entanglement robustness and Schmidt number. We have shown that among those four measures, the concurrence and the Schmidt number have the highest and the lowest sensitivity to quantum entanglement, respectively. Further, we have demonstrated how these measures could be used to track the dynamics of quantum entanglement in a simple quantum toy model composed of two qutrits. Lastly, we have employed state-dependent entanglement statistics to compute measurable correlations between the outcomes of quantum observables in agreement with the uncertainty principle. The presented results could be helpful in quantum applications that require monitoring of the available quantum resources for sharp identification of temporal points of maximal entanglement or system separability

Соціальна відповідальність закладів вищої освіти в умовах кризи та військових дій: міжнародний досвід та уроки для України

Стаття присвячена дослідженню соціальної відповідальності закладів вищої освіти в умовах кризи та військових дій. У зв'язку зі зростанням геополітичних конфліктів та загроз безпеці, соціальна відповідальність стає ключовим аспектом роботи вищих навчальних закладів. У сучасних умовах, коли країна зазнає кризових випробувань та військових дій, соціальна відповідальність закладів вищої освіти стає надзвичайно важливою і актуальною темою. Гіпотеза статті полягає в тому, що на основі міжнародного досвіду можна здобути уроки, які допоможуть у формуванні ефективної соціальної відповідальності в українських закладах вищої освіти в умовах кризових ситуацій. Метою статті є проаналізувати міжнародний досвід щодо соціальної відповідальності закладів вищої освіти в умовах кризи та військових дій та виділити ключові уроки, які можна застосувати в українському контексті. У дослідженні використовувалися методи системного аналізу, порівняльного аналізу та синтезу наукової літератури, а також аналізу міжнародних практик у сфері соціальної відповідальності. В результаті дослідження були виявлені ключові аспекти соціальної відповідальності закладів вищої освіти в умовах кризи та військових дій на міжнародному рівні. Зокрема, було висвітлено практики реагування на кризові ситуації, залучення студентів до громадських та благодійних акцій, сприяння вирішенню соціальних проблем та впливу на розвиток громади. На основі аналізу міжнародного досвіду було зроблено висновок про необхідність активного впровадження соціальної відповідальності в українських закладах вищої освіти в умовах кризи та військових дій. Ключові уроки з міжнародного досвіду можуть служити основою для розроблення ефективних стратегій та програм впровадження соціальної відповідальності в українській системі вищої освіти.The article is devoted to the study of the social responsibility of higher education institutions in times of crisis and armed conflict. Due to the increasing geopolitical conflicts and security threats, social responsibility becomes a key aspect of the work of higher education institutions. In modern times, when the country is facing crisis challenges and military actions, the social responsibility of higher education institutions becomes exceptionally important and relevant. The hypothesis of the article is that based on international experience, valuable lessons can be learned to facilitate the development of effective social responsibility in Ukrainian higher education institutions in crisis situations. The objective of the article is to analyze international experience regarding the social responsibility of higher education institutions in times of crisis and armed conflict and identify key lessons that can be applied in the Ukrainian context. The research employs methods of systemic analysis, comparative analysis, synthesis of scientific literature, and analysis of international practices in the field of social responsibility. The study identified key aspects of social responsibility of higher education institutions in times of crisis and armed conflict at the international level. Specifically, it highlights practices for responding to crisis situations, involving students in community and charity initiatives, addressing social issues, and contributing to community development. Based on the analysis of international experience, it is concluded that active implementation of social responsibility is essential in Ukrainian higher education institutions during times of crisis and armed conflict. The valuable lessons from international experience can serve as a foundation for developing effective strategies and programs for implementing social responsibility in the Ukrainian higher education system

The country's economic growth models and the potential for budgetary, monetary and private financing of gross domestic product growth

This article examines the financing of GDP growth within the framework of catch-up, evolutionary and dynamic models of economic development. Methods/statistical analysis: using the principles of the Solow model and the Cobb-Douglas function, an analysis of the nature of the models has been carried out, considering the processes of capital accumulation, the rate of growth of the workforce, and various aggregate factor productivities. With the help of historical logic and statistical evaluation, examples of countries relating to each of the models examined are reviewed. Based on the analysis, the main ways of financing economic growth are noted: both the state ones, due to budgetary and monetary policy measures, and private ones. It has been proven that with the transition from catch-up to an evolutionary or dynamic model, the role of the state as a centralizing force is diminishing. At the same time, the specificity of a dynamic model is due to the country's objective ability to be among the technological leaders, which is predetermined by the high values of current GDP, per capita GDP, and population size. Countries with an evolutionary model of development are constrained in their ability to maintain a comparable pace of development only within separate "growth points". The main result of the work is the assessment of Russia's potential from the viewpoint of one of the models considered, based on a comparative analysis of several capital indicators, as well as a logical analysis of data on the level of GDP and population with other countries. This makes it possible to make recommendations for financing the country's GDP growth in the medium to long term. Scope/Improvements: The findings can be used in the development of Russia's financial and economic strategy up to 2030.peer-reviewe

Model for integrating monetary and fiscal policies to stimulate economic growth and sustainable debt dynamics

This article examines the main integration trends of the state's monetary and fiscal policy in influencing economic growth and maintaining the sustainability of public debt. It is argued that the relationship between these trends of macroeconomic regulation is predetermined, on the one hand, by the potentially negative impact of fiscal expansion from the point of view of inflation, and by the negative impact of a likely state default in failing to refinance the debt from the Ministry of Finance, on the other hand. The paper studies the selected array of statistical data using the fiscal policy multipliers concept, the relationship between the effect of increase/decrease in budget expenditures, the slowdown in economic activity and the efforts by the Central Bank to offset fiscal measures, on the one hand, and the ratio of an increase/decrease in budget revenues and debt expenditures used to finance the budget investments, on the other hand. It is revealed that the investments are effective if implementing budget expenditures in the presence of the GDP gap and unrealized expectations of economic agents, while reducing spending in such a situation will intensify the recession. The GDP growth determined by these investments should provide the tax effect sufficient to cover the expenses. Otherwise, there can be negative effects of debt that establishes the need for measures to refinance public debt by the Central Bank. The conclusions of the paper can be used to assess the possible integration of monetary and fiscal policy based on various states.peer-reviewe

Identification of Molecular Fluorophore as a Component of Carbon Dots able to Induce Gelation in a Fluorescent Multivalent-Metal-Ion-Free Alginate Hydrogel

We introduce a simple approach to fabricate fluorescent multivalent metal ion-free alginate hydrogels, which can be produced using carbon dots accessible from natural sources (citric acid and L-cysteine). Molecular fluorophore 5-oxo-2,3-dihydro-5H-[1,3]-thiazolo[3,2-a] pyridine-3,7-dicarboxylic acid (TPDCA), which is formed during the synthesis of carbon dots, is identified as a key segment for the crosslinking of hydrogels. The crosslinking happens through dynamic complexation of carboxylic acid groups of TPDCA and alginate cages along with sodium ions. The TPDCA derived hydrogels are investigated regarding to their thermal, rheological and optical properties, and found to exhibit characteristic fluorescence of this aggregated molecular fluorophore. Moreover, gradient hydrogels with tunable mechanical and optical properties and controlled release are obtained upon immersion of the hydrogel reactors in solutions of divalent metal ions (Ca2+, Cu2+, and Ni2+) with a higher affinity to alginate. - 2019, The Author(s).This contribution was made possible by the NPRP award [8–878–1–172] from Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar foundation), Qatar University grant QUCG-CAM-19/20-2 and by a grant from the Germany/ Hong Kong Joint Research Scheme sponsored by the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong and the Germany Academic Exchange Service of Germany (Reference No.: G-CityU103/16). M.D. thanks the VEGA Scientific Grant Agency for support through project no. 2/0158/17.Scopu

New Results From CLEO and BES

Latest experimental results from BES in the charmonium mass region, and those from CLEO in the bottomonium and charmonium spectroscopy are reviewed.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figures, Presented at First Meeting of the APS Topical Group on Hadron Physics, Fermilab, Batavia, Illinois, Oct 24-26, 200

КЛІНІКО-ЕПІДЕМІОЛОГІЧНІ ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ПАРАЗИТАРНОЇ ІНВАЗІЇ BLASTOCYSTIS SPP.

The aim of the work is to generalize modern views on epidemiological and clinical features of parasitic invasion of Blastocystis spp. The analysis of modern ideas and data of own researches on prevalence and role of Blastocystis spp. in pathology of the gastrointestinal tract, in particular irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) was performed. The state of studying mechanisms of influence of intestinal microbiota on the pathogenesis of IBS and participation in this blastocyst invasion is covered. The issue of the prevalence of Blastocystis spp. in persons with immunodeficiency is reviewed. Based on literature data and own research, the low prevalence of Blastocystis spp. in HIV-positive patients is noted. Significant differences in the frequency of detection of different intestinal protozoa in HIV-positive patients may confirm the higher pathogenicity of Cryptosporidium spp in comparison with Blastocystis spp. Given the ambiguity of literary data on the pathogenic potential of the parasite blastocyst invasion was considered from the standpoint of the parasitic system as the biological basis of the epidemic process. The generalization of the existing of epidemiological and clinical data suggested that further evolutionary changes in biological properties of Blastocystis spp. will occur in the direction of reducing the virulence of the parasite, which will contribute to the long-term persistence of the pathogen in the host organism. Conclusion. The data obtained to date may indicate insignificant epidemiological significance of blastocyst invasion against the background of a significant prevalence of the parasite in the human population. Lack of consensus on the clinical significance of Blastocystis spp. in the formation and development of chronic pathology of the gastrointestinal tract confirms the need for in-depth study of the subtle mechanisms of interaction between the parasite and the host, taking into account the intensity of invasion, intestinal microbiota and immunological resistance of the organism.Мета роботи – узагальнити сучасні погляди на епідеміологічні та клінічні особливості паразитарної інвазії Blastocystis spp. Проведено аналіз сучасних уявлень і даних власних досліджень про поширеність і роль Blastocystis spp. у патології травного каналу, зокрема синдрому подразненого кишечнику (СПК). Висвітлюється стан вивчення механізмів впливу мікробіоти кишечнику на патогенез СПК та участі в цьому бластоцистної інвазії. Розглянуте питання про поширеність Blastocystis spр. в осіб з імунодефіцитними станами. Ґрунтуючись на даних літератури та власних досліджень, вказується на низьку поширеність Blastocystis spр. у ВІЛ-позитивних пацієнтів. Суттєві відмінності у частоті виявлення різних кишкових найпростіших у ВІЛ-позитивних пацієнтів може підтверджувати вищу патогенність Cryptosporidium spp порівняно з Blastocystis spр. Враховуючи неоднозначність літературних даних про патогенний потенціал паразита, бластноцистна інвазія була розглянута з позицій паразитарної системи як біологічної основи епідемічного процесу. Узагальнення існуючих епідеміологічних і клінічних даних дало змогу припустити, що подальші еволюційні зміни біологічних властивостей Blastocystis spр. відбуватимуться у напрямку зниження вірулентності паразита, що сприятиме тривалій персистенції збудника в організмі хазяїна. Висновок. Отримані на теперішній час дані можуть свідчити про несуттєве епідеміологічне значення бластоцистної інвазії на тлі значної поширеності паразита у людській популяції. Відсутність єдиної думки про клінічне значенні Blastocystis spр. у формуванні та розвитку хронічної патології травного каналу підтверджує необхідність поглибленого вивчення тонких механізмів взаємодії паразита і хазяїна з урахуванням інтенсивності інвазії, стану мікробіоти кишечнику та імунної резистентності організму