Study of the Oxolin antiviral drug effect for the improvement of potato seed material during in vitro cultivation

The article presents an analysis of the potato breeding problems in Russia which are associated with the low phytosanitary state of potato seed material infected with viral and bacterial diseases, as a result, it is necessary to carry out its improvement and the use of Russian varieties. Experiments were conducted in the laboratory of plant microclonal propagation according to the methodological recommendations for improvement and accelerated propagation of seed potatoes. The results of research on refining the technology of seed potato improvement by adding the Oxolin antiviral drug to the standard nutrient medium MS; its optimal concentrations for obtaining the largest number of uninfected plants of the studied varieties were identified. For potato varieties Liga, Hussar, and Real, the optimal concentration was 20 mg/l of Oxolin, while in the varieties Aurora, Real, and Sirenevy tuman, the concentration was 30 mg/l. Therefore, it is necessary to search for antiviral drugs with an alternative mechanism of action which remains very relevant and practically significant. The research results obtained in this work can be applied both to optimize the cultivation regime of potato microclones in vitro and to enhance the productive process of the uninfected microplants

The Use of Social Networks to Train the Intercultural Dimension of Foreign Languages at Higher Educational Institutions

The paper aims to identify how social networks contribute to training the intercultural dimension of foreign languages at higher educational institutions. We attempted to answer the questions of what effect the use of social networks has on foreign language training, fostering intercultural and occupational skills, and how both students and teachers perceive the intervention. To achieve research goals, we used quantitative tools, such as (1) checklists, (2) assessment records on English for Specific Purposes, (3) the cultural intelligence scale, (4) the multidimensional emotional empathy scale, and (5) the questionnaire for reflective thinking. Qualitative data were drawn from the observations and interviews. The research findings confirmed that the use of social networks provided students with a true-to-life (authentic) environment and context to gain cultural experience and train a foreign language. This strategy boosts English for Specific Purposes learning and teaching experiences using a distance-learning component. A longitudinal research design enhances transformations in students in terms of emotional empathy and reflective thinking

Phytochemicals Target Multiple Metabolic Pathways in Cancer.

Cancer metabolic reprogramming is a complex process that provides malignant cells with selective advantages to grow and propagate in the hostile environment created by the immune surveillance of the human organism. This process underpins cancer proliferation, invasion, antioxidant defense, and resistance to anticancer immunity and therapeutics. Perhaps not surprisingly, metabolic rewiring is considered to be one of the "Hallmarks of cancer". Notably, this process often comprises various complementary and overlapping pathways. Today, it is well known that highly selective inhibition of only one of the pathways in a tumor cell often leads to a limited response and, subsequently, to the emergence of resistance. Therefore, to increase the overall effectiveness of antitumor drugs, it is advisable to use multitarget agents that can simultaneously suppress several key processes in the tumor cell. This review is focused on a group of plant-derived natural compounds that simultaneously target different pathways of cancer-associated metabolism, including aerobic glycolysis, respiration, glutaminolysis, one-carbon metabolism, de novo lipogenesis, and β-oxidation of fatty acids. We discuss only those compounds that display inhibitory activity against several metabolic pathways as well as a number of important signaling pathways in cancer. Information about their pharmacokinetics in animals and humans is also presented. Taken together, a number of known plant-derived compounds may target multiple metabolic and signaling pathways in various malignancies, something that bears great potential for the further improvement of antineoplastic therapy

Opisthorchis felineus infection, risks, and morbidity in rural Western Siberia, Russian Federation

The liver fluke, Opisthorchis felineus, is widely distributed throughout Europe and large parts of the Russian Federation. In Western Siberia, information about opisthorchiasis is lacking although infection may lead to severe liver and bile duct diseases. We aimed to assess the current prevalence of O. felineus infection along with associated risk factors and morbidity in rural Western Siberia.; We conducted a community-based, cross-sectional study in the rural Shegarskiy district, Tomsk Oblast, Russian Federation. All household members (≥ 7 years) present on the survey day were enrolled (n = 600). Two stool samples per person were examined for helminth eggs, using PARASEP (DiaSys Ltd, UK). The number of eggs per gram (EPG) of feces was recorded. Each study participant was interviewed to determine risk factors, using a pre-tested questionnaire. An abdominal ultrasonography examination of liver and bile ducts was performed with a mobile, high resolution ultrasound device. In total, 488 persons completed assessments (two stool samples, completed questionnaires); of those, 436 individuals had an ultrasonography (US) examination.; We observed a prevalence of O. felineus infection of 60.2%. Significant risk factors for infection were the consumption of river fish (odds ratio from adjusted analysis [aOR] 2.4, 95% CI 1.52-3.95, p<0.001), particularly stock fish (OR from multivariable analysis [mOR] 3.2, 95% CI 2.63-3.80, p<0.001), smoked fish (mOR 1.5, 95% CI 1.24-1.72, p<0.001), frozen fish (mOR 1.6, 95% CI 1.29-2.02, p<0.001), and raw fish (mOR 1.4, 95% CI 1.05-1.84, p = 0.02); and fishing activities (mOR 1.2, 95% CI 1.03-1.43, p = 0.019). Women had a higher risk of infection than men. Infection was associated positively with age and negatively with socio-economic status. The respondents' general awareness of opisthorchiasis was quite high (93.2%), but their knowledge about infection transmission and prevention was insufficient. Children aged 7-18 years old had a lower level of awareness compared to adults. The abdominal ultrasonography results demonstrated a strong association between O. felineus infection and gallbladder stones (mOR 2.8, 95% CI 1.33-6.04, p = 0.007) and periductal fibrosis of intrahepatic bile ducts (mOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.08-3.46, p = 0.026).; O. felineus infection is highly prevalent in rural regions of Western Siberia, and associated with severe hepatobiliary pathology. Identified risk factors will be used to develop a comprehensive targeted O. felineus infection control program

Influence of the complex of vitamins Pikovit in culture in vitro on the growth and development of potato microplants

In the conditions of the North-West zone of Russia, studies of Pikovit vitamin complex preparation were carried out. Since the main way to obtain a healthy seed is clonal micropropagation. Therefore, in the course of the work, the process and method of clonal micropropagation of Russian potato varieties using new preparations were improved, the selection of nutrient media at all stages of cultivation was carried out with the Pikovit preparation at the concentration of 0.5 to 1.5 mg/l. As a result, it was found that use of the Pikovit vitamin complex has a positive effect on the ontogenesis of potato microplants. To obtain well-developed microplants of the early variety Liga, the most optimal concentration is 1.5 mg/l. For other studied varieties of the mid-ripening group Aurora and Gusar, the nutrient medium with the addition of vitamins at the concentration of 1.0 mg/l was optimal

Study of the effect of foliar dressing on horseradish yield in the conditions of the North-Western part of Russia in Pskov region

The article presents an analysis of the problems in growing horseradish in the Russian Federation which are associated with an insufficient amount of planting material, as well as with the lack of cultivation technologies and not fully studied biological features of this crop. The results of the study contain material on the study of the effect of foliar dressing with Basfoliar complex mineral fertilizer in concentrations of 1.5 and 2.5 ml/l, 2.5 and 3.5 ml/l and 3.5 and 4.5 ml/l on horseradish yield in Pskov region. The experiments were conducted in the State Agricultural Academy of Velikie Luki and at the experimental plot in Pskov region, Pustoshkinskiy district in Orekhovo village. The paper presents data on improving the technology of growing horseradish of the Uvarovsky variety. The optimal concentrations of the applied Basfoliar fertilizer on the morphological parameters of the Uvarovsky variety in concentrations of 2.5 and 3.5 ml/l were established, thus, the maximum length of the leaf blade was 60.6 cm, the length of the rhizome — 37.8 cm. The highest commercial yield — 14.5 mt/ha and annual rhizomes — 10.0 mt/ha was obtained using Basfoliar 2.5 and 3.5 ml/l. To obtain a consistently high horseradish yield, it is necessary to provide plants with a balanced mineral nutrition throughout the vegetation period. Therefore, it is necessary to study in detail when choosing specific drugs and their effect on both morphological parameters and the structure of the crop. The results obtained during this work can be used for cultivation in order to increase the crop productivity in all horseradish farms

Study of the Oxolin antiviral drug effect for the improvement of potato seed material during

The article presents an analysis of the potato breeding problems in Russia which are associated with the low phytosanitary state of potato seed material infected with viral and bacterial diseases, as a result, it is necessary to carry out its improvement and the use of Russian varieties. Experiments were conducted in the laboratory of plant microclonal propagation according to the methodological recommendations for improvement and accelerated propagation of seed potatoes. The results of research on refining the technology of seed potato improvement by adding the Oxolin antiviral drug to the standard nutrient medium MS; its optimal concentrations for obtaining the largest number of uninfected plants of the studied varieties were identified. For potato varieties Liga, Hussar, and Real, the optimal concentration was 20 mg/l of Oxolin, while in the varieties Aurora, Real, and Sirenevy tuman, the concentration was 30 mg/l. Therefore, it is necessary to search for antiviral drugs with an alternative mechanism of action which remains very relevant and practically significant. The research results obtained in this work can be applied both to optimize the cultivation regime of potato microclones in vitro and to enhance the productive process of the uninfected microplants