Role of salicylic acid in acclimation to low temperature

Low temperature is one of the most important limiting factors for plant growth throughout the world. Exposure to low temperature may cause various phenotypic and physiological symptoms, and may result in oxidative stress, leading to loss of membrane integrity and to the impairment of photosynthesis and general metabolic processes. Salicylic acid (SA),phenolic compound produced by a wide range of plant species, a may participate in many physiological and metabolic reactions in plants. It has been shown that exogenous SA may provide protection against low temperature injury in various plant species, while various stress factors may also modify the synthesis and metabolism of SA. In the present review, recent results on the effects of SA and related compounds in processes leading to acclimation to low temperatures will be discussed

Current issues in medically assisted reproduction and genetics in Europe: research, clinical practice, ethics, legal issues and policy. European Society of Human Genetics and European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.

In March 2005, a group of experts from the European Society of Human Genetics and European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology met to discuss the interface between genetics and assisted reproductive technology (ART), and published an extended background paper, recommendations and two Editorials. Seven years later, in March 2012, a follow-up interdisciplinary workshop was held, involving representatives of both professional societies, including experts from the European Union Eurogentest2 Coordination Action Project. The main goal of this meeting was to discuss developments at the interface between clinical genetics and ARTs. As more genetic causes of reproductive failure are now recognised and an increasing number of patients undergo testing of their genome before conception, either in regular health care or in the context of direct-to-consumer testing, the need for genetic counselling and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) may increase. Preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) thus far does not have evidence from randomised clinical trials to substantiate that the technique is both effective and efficient. Whole-genome sequencing may create greater challenges both in the technological and interpretational domains, and requires further reflection about the ethics of genetic testing in ART and PGD/PGS. Diagnostic laboratories should be reporting their results according to internationally accepted accreditation standards (International Standards Organisation - ISO 15189). Further studies are needed in order to address issues related to the impact of ART on epigenetic reprogramming of the early embryo. The legal landscape regarding assisted reproduction is evolving but still remains very heterogeneous and often contradictory. The lack of legal harmonisation and uneven access to infertility treatment and PGD/PGS fosters considerable cross-border reproductive care in Europe and beyond. The aim of this paper is to complement previous publications and provide an update of selected topics that have evolved since 2005

The genetics of blood pressure regulation and its target organs from association studies in 342,415 individuals

To dissect the genetic architecture of blood pressure and assess effects on target-organ damage, we analyzed 128,272 SNPs from targeted and genome-wide arrays in 201,529 individuals of European ancestry and genotypes from an additional 140,886 individuals were used for validation. We identified 66 blood pressure loci, of which 17 were novel and 15 harbored multiple distinct association signals. The 66 index SNPs were enriched for cis-regulatory elements, particularly in vascular endothelial cells, consistent with a primary role in blood pressure control through modulation of vascular tone across multiple tissues. The 66 index SNPs combined in a risk score showed comparable effects in 64,421 individuals of non-European descent. The 66-SNP blood pressure risk score was significantly associated with target-organ damage in multiple tissues, with minor effects in the kidney. Our findings expand current knowledge of blood pressure pathways and highlight tissues beyond the classic renal system in blood pressure regulation

Web Accessibility Analysis of Massive Open Online Courses in Mathematical Disciplines

The paper studies the problem of developing the massive open online courses (MOOCs) that conform to the content accessibility principles for persons with disabilities. Using the browsing of MOOCs platform catalogues, a total of 56 Russian-language free MOOCs in mathematical disciplines hosted on 5 platforms has been received. By automatic testing using Web Accessibility Checker, the accessibility of the functional and informational content of the MOOCs was evaluated. 73% of MOOCs were found to conform to the syllabus subjects “Probability Theory and Mathematical Statistics”, “Discrete Mathematics” and “Algebra and Geometry”; 8 basic disciplines of higher mathematics education are not covered by online education; 96,4% of the courses have accessibility limitations, especially for people with visual impairment. Accessibility problems are related to shortcomings of the platforms and MOOC developers’ errors. The results show a weak coverage by MOOCs of the basic mathematical disciplines included in the higher education curriculum in Russia and indicate the low content accessibility of the mathematical MOOCs for students with disabilities. The results of the work imply the need for: expanding the range of MOOCs to cover all basic mathematical disciplines; troubleshooting the accessibility in existing courses (pursuant to WCAG); prescription to platforms and developers to strictly adhere to WCAG in future courses

Genre characteristics of the 18th century military charters (With Reference to the Mikhailovsky Stanitsa Ataman Archive

Статья поступила в редакцию 15.07.2016.Received on 15 July, 2016.В статье обосновано определение войсковой грамоты — главного управленческого документа Области Войска Донского — как уникального жанра деловой письменности XVIII в. Исследование проведено на материале документов 1735–1755 гг. фонда «Михайловский станичный атаман», хранящегося в Государственном архиве Волгоградской области. Применение комплексного подхода к анализу языковых явлений и учет достижений современной теории текста, осмысленных с позиций документной лингвистики, позволили установить следующие параметры жанра любого документного текста: функция, субъекты коммуникации (адресант и адресат), характер передаваемой информации, структура, доминирующая модальность, пространственно-временная локализация. Показано их многовекторное, разноплановое взаимодействие и соотнесенность с общими текстовыми категориями и свойствами документа. Уточнены представления о жанре, разработанные в лингвистике на материале художественного текста, в частности, концептуальная информация применительно к официально-деловым текстам понимается авторами статьи как культурно-исторический фон, обусловливающий достоверную интерпретацию фактуальной информации. Охарактеризованы особенности экспликации названных параметров в речевой структуре войсковых грамот разноуровневыми средствами языка, особо отмечены случаи, допускающие вариативность выражения. Выявлено, что войсковая грамота, будучи самостоятельным жанром, отражает специфику делопроизводства на определенной территории России, но при этом вписывается в новую для XVIII в. канцелярскую систему, сохраняя в своем речевом воплощении приказные традиции.The military charter is defined in the article as a major type of administration document in the Don Host Province (Rus. Oblast’ Voyska Donskogo) and is claimed to be an exceptional genre of administrative documentation of the 18th century. The study is conducted with reference to documents (dated between 1735 and 1755) from the Mikhailovsky Stanitsa Ataman Archive (State Archive of Volgograd Region). Applying a complex approach to linguistic phenomena analysis and taking into account the achievements of the modern text theory through the prism of documentation linguistics, the authors determine the following characteristics of any genre of a documentary text: functions, subjects of communication (addresser, addressee), specificity of the message delivered, composition structure, prevailing modality, time and space localization. The authors illustrate their multi-vector and heterogeneous interaction and coordination with the specific features and general text categories and properties of the text. The notion of genre that was first introduced in linguistics with reference to fiction is specified for documentation linguistics; conceptual information in official and administrative documents is considered as a cultural and historical background that helps to provide an accurate interpretation of factual information. The authors characterise the peculiarities of the aforementioned parameters in the speech structure of military charters that are expressed by different level means of language, emphasising the cases that allow for variability. The article demonstrates that though it is an isolated textual phenomenon, the military charter reflects the peculiarities of records management typical of a certain area of Russia. Keeping some old instructive traditions, the text, however, demonstrates some features of the new office style of the 18th century.Работа выполнена при финансовой поддержке Российского гуманитарного научного фонда и Администрации Волгоградской области, проект № 16-14-34004 «Динамика текстовой и языковой организации региональных документов XVIII–XIX вв. (по данным архивного фонда “Михайловский станичный атаман” ГАВО)».The work is supported by the Russian Foundation for the Humanities and the Administration of Volgograd Region, project #16-14-34004 “The Dynamics of the Textual and Linguistic Organisation of Regional Documents between the 18th and 19th Centuries (with Reference to the Mikhaylovsky Stanitsa Ataman Archive)”

Physicochemical and photosorption properties of oxygen-containing calcium compounds – components of troposferic aerosol

The Importance of this Paper is Determined by the Research of Conditions of Photosorption Processes Occurance on the Surface of Aerosol Particles Resulting in the Removal of Toxic Substances from the Atmosphere. Acid-Base Properties of Oxygen-Containing Calcium Compounds being Components of Troposphere Aerosol Particles were Studied by Methods of Ph-Metry and Hammet’s Indicators. the Basic Properties of the Investigated Compounds Surfaces are Predominant Ones: рНiis of Calcium Oxide and Hydroxide has a Value of 9.3 – 9.5, and that for Carbonate and Calcite Equals to 12.3-12.4. Indicator Method Distinguishes Three Areas of Spectrum Corresponding to Lewis Base, and Brensted Neutral and Basic Centers. the Intencity of Peaks is much Higher for Ca(OH)2 and CaO. the Interaction Process of Halogen-Containing Organic Compounds (Freons: 134a, 22 and 12) with Calcium Carbonate Surface under Illumination in Conditions close to Tropospheric Conditions was Studied. it is Shown that the Interaction is the Destructive Photosorption of Freons (134a or 22). the Spectral Dependence of Effective Quantum Yield of Destructive Photosorption is Determined. as a Result of the Interaction Calcium Fluoride and Calcium Chloride are Formed at the Surface.</jats:p