Evaluation of Hormone-Induced Stress Responses Using Endogenous Cortisol in Carp (Cyprinus carpio)

With stress studies in fish it is often difficult to determine the degree of response to various stressors, and the interpretation of this influence is usually based on an increase in endogenous cortisol levels. Simulation of stress with synthetic corticosteroids is widely used in ichthyological practice, which raises the question of whether endogenous cortisol is the most appropriate parameter for measuring stress levels in such studies. This work presents the dynamics of the plasma cortisol level in simulating acute and chronic stress in 24 carps by a single injection of dexamethasone in the first experimental group and betamethasone in the second experimental group, in comparison with the control group (without injection) for 21 days. The analysis was performed before injection, as well as after 7, 14 and 21 days of treatment. The hormonal response was compared with that of fish stressed by natural factors (hypoxia). It was found that betamethasone inactivates the production of endogenous cortisol during all subsequent days of the experiment after injection from 353.68±66.39 ng/ml to 7.28±1.27 ng/ml by day 21, while the effect of dexamethasone caused multidirectional fluctuations in its level: from 346.25±43.16 ng/ml to 242.25±58.49 ng/ml on the 7th day, 388.25±37.51 ng/ml on the 14th day and 264.25±21.21 ng/ml on day 21 compared with smooth dynamics in control fish: 376.25±44.04 ng/ml, 366.75±42.82 ng/ml, 335.33±8.57 ng/ml and 366.00±89.22 ng/ml, respectively. It was concluded that measuring the level of endogenous cortisol is not recommended when assessing the degree of stress imitation by these hormones, and in studies of this type it is necessary to search for other indicators. Keywords: carp, cortisol, stress, dexamethasone, betamethasone, hormon

ПОЛНОТА ЭТНИЧЕСКИХ ПРЕДСТАВЛЕНИЙ В ПОДРОСТКОВОМ ВОЗРАСТЕ

Material of article represents the analysis of features of completeness of content of ethnic representations at teenagers. The author’s typology of components which make system of ethnic representations is given. Key parameters on which this system changes are allocated. Results of the research directed to an assessment of completeness of content of ethnic representations of teenagers are analyzed. Research was conducted with use of author’s techniques.Материал статьи посвящен анализу особенностей полноты содержания этнических представлений у подростков. Приводится авторская типология компонентов, которые составляют систему этнических представлений. Также выделяются основные параметры, по которым изменяется данная система. Анализируются результаты исследования, проведенного с использованием авторских методик и направленного на оценку полноты содержания этнических представлений подростков

<i>In situ</i> and <i>ex situ</i> variability of phenological and morphological features in <i>Caltha palustris</i> L. under the conditions of the West Siberian forest steppe

Background. Caltha palustris L. is known as a medicinal, food, and ornamental plant. It is a circumboreal species, and hygrohelophyte. Due to its ecological specificity, this plant can be used to study the response to an abrupt change in environments. The goal was to assess the variance in phenological and morphological features of C. palustris in the forest steppe of Western Siberia.Materials and methods. Phenotypic characters of the native population and the accessions introduced from Kemerovo Province and Altai Territory were studied. Phenological observations followed a well-known technique for herbaceous perennials. Morphometric data were processed in the PAST program using statistical indicators: the arithmetic mean with an error (M ± mM), minimum and maximum values of the trait (lim), and coefficient of variation (Cv). Significance of differences was assessed using Student’s t-test (Pt) at a 5% significance level. For traits deviating from the normal distribution, the significance of differences was assessed using the Mann–Whitney criterion (PMW) by median values of the trait (Me) at the same 5% level.Results and conclusions. The accessions varied significantly in the timing and duration of phenophases. Plants in the native population grew later and bloomed for a long time because of the variation in microconditions. Ex situ plants produced the second generation of rosette shoots and were capable of long vegetating, but the Altai accession differed in later growth and shorter phenophases. All accessions significantly differed in morphological characteristics of the shoot, except for flower size. The introduced accessions were inferior to the native ones in shoot height, leaf size, and number of flowers due to non-optimal cultivation environments. Since C. palustris demonstrated high individual and interpopulation variability, it is promising to study this species in different natural populations and select the most ornamental and sustainable accessions

X-Ray Fluorescence Determination of Trace Gold in an Ion-Exchange Resin

The use of portable X ray optics with a secondary radiator in the determination of trace gold in an ion exchange resin within the mass fraction range of 1–50 ppm is described. It is shown that the secondary radiator design with primary radiation filtering allows one to determine trace gold in an ion exchange resin when the mass fraction of gold is lower than 1 ppm

Cognitive and regulatory characteristics and mathematical performance in high school students.

The study examined the links of cognitive and regulatory characteristics with mathematical outcomes in high school students. Participants were 318 14-16 year old students from 7 state schools in Russia. A computerized test battery was used to measure aspects of number sense, spatial ability, spatial memory and processing speed. The battery also included two measures of mathematical performance. Academic grades and final school test scores in mathematics were also collected. In addition, the students completed the Self-Regulation Profile of Learning Activity Questionnaire – SRPLAQ, which measures different aspects of self-regulation related to achieving learning goals, such as goal planning, results evaluation, and responsibility. The results suggest that cognitive and regulatory features are independently associated with mathematical performance, and that the links differ depending on the specific aspect of mathematical performance used

Clustering as an integration pattern of business activity

The article deals with the analysis of business activity of companies and suggests the clustering as a key integration pattern of the central and peripheral region areas. Prerequisites of clustering formation and development are considered in the article. Moreover, the authors stressed that clustering increases the investment prospects of both the industry and the region.peer-reviewe

В ПОИСКАХ СОВЕРШЕНСТВА В УПРАВЛЕНИИ СОЦИАЛЬНО-ПРЕДПРИНИМАТЕЛЬСКИМИ ПРОЕКТАМИ: ОПЫТ И СТАНДАРТЫ ЕВРОПЕЙСКОГО CОЮЗА

The development of social entrepreneurship has required new effective management approaches and tools. The authors refer to European experience and standards in the field of project management in order to develop a methodological approach to organizing project management for achieving the outstanding results in social entrepreneurship projects.The article presents the results of the quasi-experiment aimed to identify differences in the achieved results among projects using the European PM2 methodology and projects carried out within the PMI methodology. The assessment technique developed by the authors is based on EFQM model.No significant difference among the project results in the experimental and control groups has been found, which indicates the importance of applying the project management methodology, regardless of its origin. By clustering project results, it was found that projects adapted the European methodology were more focused on strategic development and integration into the ecosystem on the principles of long-term cooperation, while the projects of the control group paid more attention to the effective organization and coordination of processes, resources and activities.Развитие социального предпринимательства потребовало новых эффективных управленческих подходов и инструментов. Авторы обращаются к европейскому опыту и стандартам в области управления проектами с целью разработки методологического подхода к организации управления проектами для достижения выдающихся результатов в проектах социального предпринимательства.В статье представлены результаты квазиэксперимента, цель которого – выявление различий в достигаемых результатах проектов, применяющих европейскую методологию PM2, и проектов, выполненных в рамках методологии PMI. Для оценки результатов проектов использовалась авторская методика, разработанная на основе европейской модели EFQM.Значимого различия в интегральной оценке результатов проектов в экспериментальной и контрольной группах не обнаружено, что свидетельствует о важности применения методологии управления проектами вне зависимости от ее происхождения. При помощи кластеризации результатов проектов было установлено, что проекты, адаптировавшие европейскую методологию, в большей степени сосредоточены на стратегическом развитии и интеграции в экосистему на принципах долгосрочного сотрудничества, в то время как проекты контрольной группы больше внимания уделяли эффективной организации и координации процессов, ресурсов и взаимодействия

DAILY CHANGES OF CENTRAL HEMODYNAMICS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC HEART FAILURE WITH NIGHT-TIME DYSPNOEA ATTACK

Aim. To study daily changes of central hemodynamics (CHD) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and the effects of therapy. Materials and methods. 22 patients with ischemic heart disease and CHF of III-IV functional class (FC) by NYHA, age 60,5±10,5 were observed. Patients were suffering from night-time dyspnoea attacks and had pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) 15-20 mm Hg. CHD was monitored invasively before the treatment and after 4 weeks of CHF treatment. Results. According to the cardiac index (CI) at admission patients were split into two groups. 9 patients of group-I had CI ≤2,15 l\min\m2, and 13 patients of group-II had CI &gt;2,15 l\min\m2. In patients of group-I CI increased in 4 weeks of treatment. The treatment caused considerable clinical improvement in all patients. The CHD indexes also improved. Initially evening-night-time peaks of PAOP (р≤0,002), systolic (SBP) (р≤0,003), diastolic (DBP) (р=0,002) and average (BPa) (р=0,0007) blood pressure (BP) as well as double multiplication (DM) (р≤0,008) were registered in patients of group-I. At the end of treatment only evening-night increase in DBP (р=0,002) and BPa (р≤0,006) were noted. In patients of group-II after 4 weeks of treatment CI decreased or didn’t change. Towards 28-th day of treatment 10 patients had clinical improvements. Only one patient’s FC NYHA increased. At the end of treatment the normalization of CHD was registered totally in group. Initially evening-night-time peaks of PAOP (р≤0,002), SBP (р≤0, 0001), CI (р=0,057) and DM (р=0,084) were registered in patients of group-II. At the end of treatment evening-night-time peaks of PAOP (р≤0,015), SBP (р≤0,044), CI (р≤0,005) and DM (р≤0,044) still remained. Besides, evening-night-time peaks of cardiac output (р≤0,01) and systolic index (р≤0, 06) have added. Conclusion. In patients with CHF with initial CI ≤2,15 l\min\m2 treatment results in the normalization of CHD and its daily rhythm. In patients with CHF with initial CI &gt;2,15 l\min\m2 the treatment leads to the normalization of CHD, though it doesn’t correct daily rhythm disturbances of circulation