Realism as a Perpetual Challenge. Review of: Weisman, M., Vdovin, A., Klieger, I., & Ospovat, K. (Eds.). (2020). Russkii realizm XIX veka. Obshchestvo, znanie, povestvovanie [Russian Realism of the 19th Century. Society, Knowledge, Narrative]. Moscow: Novoe literaturnoe obozrenie. 568 p.

This text responds to the conceptualisation of nineteenth-century Russian realism presented in separate chapters of the monograph Russian Realism of the 19th Century. Society, Knowledge, Narrative. The review examines the objectives set in the introductory article of the collection and their development in specific studies. The review evaluates the tendency to actualise the work done so far in understanding the concept of “realism”, to pay attention to it again, and combine the views of Russian researchers with the works of foreign scholars. The authors of individual articles of the collection manage to direct their attention to the chosen aspects of studying not only of specific literary works of realist writers of the nineteenth century, but also to those factors external to their creative activities which in many respects determined the themes, subjects, and value orientation of their works. The review also points out that, while comprehending some specific features and specific literary works, and realism as a universal phenomenon, the authors often pay attention to rather private issues. Assessing the work done and the tendency to compare the works of Russian writers with Western ones, it is stated that the authors of individual chapters are not always able to summarise the results of the research and point out exactly what is universal in realism, and what is typical of the Russian realism of the nineteenth century

Инновация учебных программ докторантуры по славистике / русистике в славянских и неславянских странах с целью повышения их эффективности

The aim of this paper is to provide suggestions for innovating and improving the efficiency of doctoral programs in Slavic/Russian Studies at the Department of Russian Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava (Slovakia), at the Institute of Slavic Studies, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University in Brno (Czech Republic), and at the Department of Slavic Philology, Department of Greek and Slavic Philology, Faculty of Arts, University of Granada (Spain). Despite the heterogeneity of norms and regulations for the implementation of doctoral studies in these Slavic and non-Slavic countries, through thorough and detailed analysis, we identified common and distinctive features, as well as the so-called "blind spots" in doctoral studies at all three universities and provided recommendations for their elimination, quality improvement, and enhancement.The aim of this paper is to provide suggestions for innovating and improving the efficiency of doctoral programs in Slavic/Russian Studies at the Department of Russian Studies, Faculty of Arts, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava (Slovakia), at the Institute of Slavic Studies, Faculty of Arts, Masaryk University in Brno (Czech Republic), and at the Department of Slavic Philology, Department of Greek and Slavic Philology, Faculty of Arts, University of Granada (Spain). Despite the heterogeneity of norms and regulations for the implementation of doctoral studies in these Slavic and non-Slavic countries, through thorough and detailed analysis, we identified common and distinctive features, as well as the so-called "blind spots" in doctoral studies at all three universities and provided recommendations for their elimination, quality improvement, and enhancement.Целью настоящей статьи являются предложения по инновации и повышению эффективности учебных программ докторантуры по славистике/русистике на кафедре русистики философского факультета Университета им. Святых Кирилла и Мефодия в Трнаве (Словакия), в Институте славистики философского факультета Университета им. Масарика в Брно (Чехия) и отделении славянской филологии кафедры греческой и славянской филологии философского факультета Гранадского университета (Испания). Несмотря на гетерогенность норм и правил реализации докторантуры в этих славянских и неславянских странах, на основе тщательно продуманного и детального анализа мы попытались выявить общие и отличительные черты, но главным образом определить так называемые «белые места» в докторантуре всех трех университетов и дать рекомендации по их устранению, улучшению качества и усовершенствованию

Permeation of Indomethacin through Skin Using Nanonized Alaptide

Alaptide, (S)-8-methyl-6,9-diazaspiro[4.5]decan-7,10-dione, is an original Czech compound; in this paper it is used as an excipient. The investigation deals with the affection of the permeation of indomethacin through full-thickness pig ear skin using a Franz diffusion cell from the donor vehicle of propylene glycol/water (1:1) using nanonized alaptide as a potential transdermal permeation enhancer. Alaptide was applied in ratio 1:10 (w/w) related to the amount of indomethacin. Nanonized alaptide showed an excellent rapid onset of enhancement effect, already at the 30th minute after application, when the permeated amount of indomethacin was 5-fold more than in the formulation without alaptide. The enhancement ratio of nanonized alaptide was 5.6, which indicates that alaptide modifies skin structure, which results in significantly enhanced permeation at long-term application

In Vitro

This study is focused on in vitro permeation of the original Czech compound, a skin/mucosa tissue regeneration promoter, known under the international nonproprietary name “alaptide,” in micronized and nanonized forms. Alaptide showed a great potential for local applications for treatment and/or regeneration of the injured skin. The above mentioned technological modifications influence the permeation of alaptide through artificial or biological membranes, such as PAMPA or skin. The permeation of micronized and nanonized form of alaptide formulated to various semisolid pharmaceutical compositions through full-thickness pig ear skin using a Franz cell has been investigated in detail. In general, it can be concluded that the nanonized alaptide permeated through the skin less than the micronized form; different observations were made for permeation through the PAMPA system, where the micronized form showed lower permeation than the nanonized alaptide

The Effect of a Spiral Gradient Magnetic Field on the Ionic Conductivity of Water

We discuss the experimental verification of changes in the structure of a liquid water sample inserted in a special spiral “gradient” magnetic field. The magnetic flux components are characterized by a high degree of inhomogeneity; thus, a gradient is found in the monitored section of space. The relevant measurement of the modified, rearranged water sample pointed to a specific ion conductivity lower than that of the untreated water. The results of the experiment, where a sample of demineralized water was exposed to a spiral “gradient“ magnetic field for the period of 5 min, show decreased ion conductivity in the examined samples

Ring-substituted 4-hydroxy-1H-quinolin-2-ones : preparation and biological activity

In the study, a series of twelve ring-substituted 4-hydroxy-1H-quinolin-2- one derivatives were prepared. The procedures for synthesis of the compounds are presented. The compounds were analyzed using RP-HPLC to determine lipophilicity and tested for their photosynthesis-inhibiting activity using spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) chloroplasts. All the synthesized compounds were also evaluated for antifungal activity using in vitro screening with eight fungal strains. For all the compounds, the relationships between the lipophilicity and the chemical structure of the studied compounds are discussed, as well as their structure-activity relationships (SAR)

Current issues of the Russian language teaching XIV

Collection of papers “Current issues of the Russian language teaching XIV” is devoted to issues of methodology of teaching Russian as a foreign language, to issues of linguistics and literary science and includes papers related to the use of online tools and resources in teaching Russian. This collection of papers is a result of the international scientific conference “Current issues of the Russian language teaching XIV”, which was scheduled for 8–10 May 2020, but due to the pandemic COVID-19 took place remotely

Clinical grade ACE2 as a universal agent to block SARS-CoV-2 variants

The recent emergence of multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants has caused considerable concern due to both reduced vaccine efficacy and escape from neutralizing antibody therapeutics. It is, therefore, paramount to develop therapeutic strategies that inhibit all known and future SARS-CoV-2 variants. Here, we report that all SARS-CoV-2 variants analyzed, including variants of concern (VOC) Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, and Omicron, exhibit enhanced binding affinity to clinical grade and phase 2 tested recombinant human soluble ACE2 (APN01). Importantly, soluble ACE2 neutralized infection of VeroE6 cells and human lung epithelial cells by all current VOC strains with markedly enhanced potency when compared to reference SARS-CoV-2 isolates. Effective inhibition of infections with SARS-CoV-2 variants was validated and confirmed in two independent laboratories. These data show that SARS-CoV-2 variants that have emerged around the world, including current VOC and several variants of interest, can be inhibited by soluble ACE2, providing proof of principle of a pan-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutic

Феномен незавершенного

The monograph «The phenomenon of the incomplete» analyses the issue of the phenomenon of the incomplete. The work’s structure was influenced by no less than two factors, i. e., the laws of the phenomenon in question and the authors’ personal perception of the scope o f issues in the theory and history of literature that are initiated or even provoked by the proposed theme. The first section of the book outlines and clarifies the lexical and semantic field of the research and proposes philological and philosophical theorising of the phenomenon of ‘the incomplete’; it proves that ‘the incomplete’ may not only be a subject, but also an instrument of research. New potentials of the phenomenon are considered, yet from very different aspects, i. e., viewed in terms of narrative specifics and in terms of receptive possibilities. The literary material selected and construed by the authors of the monograph in the second section shows the multi-functionality of «the incomplete» in the literary process. On the one hand, the incompleteness might be a result of various circumstances and vicissitudes of the author’s life and the destiny of his/her oeuvre. On the other hand, he «incompleteness» may signify the creative destiny and creative behaviour, be a phenomenon, a characteristic and a principle of the modem cultural situation. The third section o f the monograph comprises several clusters of important points. The graphic signifier of the incomplete, i. e. the ellipsis, is considered in terms of the genre and generic differences as a marker of peculiarities in certain literary epochs and potential approaches to the literary process and determination of the characteristics of creative individuality. This section of the book has in its centre the examination of the incompleteness and variation of archetypal plots and the poetics of fragment. The section is ended by two subsections both based on a certain paradoxical intrigue: the first one, on the movement from the whole to the infinite receptive incompleteness and the second, on the history of one ‘rescued’ poem. The section which concludes the book is constructed chronologically, being dedicated to the literature of the 20th and 2 1st centuries. It has two distinct directions of research. The first deals with contemplation of the incomplete as one of artistic parameters of the literature of the past and present centuries. The other concerns the investigation o f the incomplete as a characteristic of writer’s individual creative thinking. The conclusion represents the phenomenon of the incomplete viewed in two aspects of the humanities: philosophical and philological.Феномен незавершенного рассматривается не только как предмет, но и как инструмент исследования. Анализируется многофункциональность незавершенного в литературном процессе и творческой биографии писателей. Очерчиваются и уточняются различные аспекты исследования незавершенного: литературоведческий, лингвистический, философский