Information culture of the mass

The significance of the research is determined by the necessity to improve the quality of information culture of the modern society. In this context, the article refers to the "mass" or "the mass person" that has a certain way of thinking and life style which begin dominating under certain conditions. "The mass person" represents a historically arisen and historically passing phenomenon generated by a certain stage of the development of technology. The research is focused upon a brief outline of philosophical and historical stages which have led to the emergence of the “mass person” who strives only for the benefit and achievement of the personal purposes. He obediently accepts ready-made stamps and stereotypes, without caring for their validity. As a result, despite all the talks of individualization, the original identity is lost and replaced with the average, mass person who is going down the stream, turning into a slave of sociality that once again convinces us that "the mass person" is now a phenomenon which arises quite suddenly, but as a result of those substitutions about which we have spoken above. It is that norm which is characteristic of the society constructed on the ideas of pragmatism and usefulness.peer-reviewe

Syntactic compression in the modern Russian language

Purpose: The aim of this article is on profound systematic analysis of functional syntax theory and exploring the second level syntactic compression in the Russian language. Design/Methodology/Approach: To realize the objectives of this investigation, it seems necessary: first, to reveal the spectrum of syntactic structures; second, to determine the ways of representing the process meaning in minimized predicative structures; third, to describe the multilevel system of the means updating the propositive semantics and functional-semantic categorie in the Russian syntax. Findings: It was proved that the concrete noun as a result of the second level compression can act as a carrier of procedural semantics and secondary predication in a simple sentence. The authors identified the main types of structures with concrete nouns, expressing propositive semantics at second-level compression process, defined methods and means of representing the procedural meaning in the analyzed structures and established a link between second-level syntactic compression and the speaker's cognitions. Practical Implications: The results may be implemented into the practice of teaching the theory of language, general and comparative linguistics. The materials and conclusions of the research contribute to the efficiency of oral and written communication. Originality/Value: The main contribution of this study is to shift the emphasis from the study of the phenomenon of compression at the level of transformation of complex sentences into synonymous simple ones, to the analysis of the second level syntactic compression and accumulation of a noun with a specific semantics of procedural meaning.peer-reviewe

Microbiological Monitoring in the System of Epidemiological Surveillance of Purulent-Septic Infections in a Multidisciplinary Hospital

The purpose of the research was to study epidemiological manifestations and etiological structure of sepsis in a multidisciplinary hospital for children.Materials and methods. An analysis of cases of 85 patients with a diagnosis of sepsis hospitalized in a multidisciplinary hospital at the regional level (Irkutsk) for the period 2013–2018 was carried out.Results and discussion. The most affected age groups are children under one year old (23.5 %) and from one year to two years (29.4 %). During the study period, 572 bacterial and fungal cultures, represented by 19 types of microorganisms, playing a leading role in the formation of the microbial ecology of the hospital, were isolated from patients with GPSI. In the structure of the GPSI microflora, gram-negative microorganisms are found in 49.8 % of cases, grampositive microbiota – in 30.1 %, fungi account for one fifth of all positive findings. A. baumannii and P. aeruginosa were sown more often from blood, sputum and abdominal cavity, and S. aureus and A. baumannii were the most frequent pathogens from wounds. The largest number of enterococci is isolated from urine.Conclusions. The etiological factor in the development of nosocomial GPSI in most cases is gram-negative microorganisms – A. baumanii (39.9 %), P. aeruginosa (20.7 %), K. pneumoniae (23.1 %). At the same time, in recent years, fungi have become increasingly important in the etiology of septic conditions

Ligand Trap of the Activin Receptor Type IIA Inhibits Osteoclast Stimulation of Bone Remodeling in Diabetic Mice with Chronic Kidney Disease

Dysregulation of skeletal remodeling is a component of renal osteodystrophy. Previously, we showed that activin receptor signaling is differentially affected in various tissues in chronic kidney disease (CKD). We tested whether a ligand trap for the activin receptor type 2A (RAP-011) is an effective treatment of the osteodystrophy of the CKD-mineral bone disorder. With a 70% reduction in the glomerular filtration rate, CKD was induced at 14 weeks of age in the ldlr−/− high fat-fed mouse model of atherosclerotic vascular calcification and diabetes. Twenty mice with CKD, hyperphosphatemia, hyperparathyroidism, and elevated activin A were treated with RAP-011, wherease 19 mice were given vehicle twice weekly from week 22 until the mice were killed at 28 weeks of age. The animals were then evaluated by skeletal histomorphometry, micro-computed tomography, mechanical strength testing, and ex vivo bone cell culture. Results in the CKD groups were compared with those of the 16 sham-operated ldlr−/− high fat-fed mice. Sham-operated mice had low-turnover osteodystrophy and skeletal frailty. CKD stimulated bone remodeling with significant increases in osteoclast and osteoblast numbers and bone resorption. Compared with mice with CKD and sham-operated mice, RAP-011 treatment eliminated the CKD-induced increase in these histomorphometric parameters and increased trabecular bone fraction. RAP-011 significantly increased cortical bone area and thickness. Activin A-enhanced osteoclastogenesis was mediated through p-Smad2 association with c-fos and activation of nuclear factor of activated T cells c1 (NFATc1). Thus, an ActRIIA ligand trap reversed CKD-stimulated bone remodeling, likely through inhibition of activin-A induced osteoclastogenesis

Association of specific chromosome alterations with tumour phenotype in posterior uveal melanoma

Posterior uveal melanomas have recurrent alterations of chromosomes 1, 3, 6 and 8. In particular, changes of chromosomes 3 and 8 occur in association, appear to characterize those tumours with a ciliary body component, and have been shown to be of prognostic significance. The relevance of other chromosome alterations is less certain. We have performed cytogenetic analysis on 42 previously untreated primary posterior uveal melanomas. Of interest was the observation that as tumour size increased the involvement of specific chromosome changes, and the amount of chromosome abnormalities likewise increased. Loss, or partial deletions, of the short arm of chromosome 1 were found to associate with larger ciliary body melanomas; typically, loss of the short arm resulted from unbalanced translocations, the partners of which varied. Trisomy of chromosome 21 occurred more often in ciliary body melanomas, whilst rearrangements of chromosomes 6 and 11 were primarily related to choroidal melanomas. Our results imply that alterations of chromosome 1 are important in the progression of some uveal melanomas, and that other chromosome abnormalities, besides those of chromosomes 3 and 8, are associated with ocular tumours of particular locations. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaig

Bioinformatic and statistical analysis of the optic nerve head in a primate model of ocular hypertension

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The nonhuman primate model of glaucomatous optic neuropathy most faithfully reproduces the human disease. We used high-density oligonucleotide arrays to investigate whole genome transcriptional changes occurring at the optic nerve head during primate experimental glaucoma.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Laser scarification of the trabecular meshwork of cynomolgus macaques produced elevated intraocular pressure that was monitored over time and led to varying degrees of damage in different samples. The macaques were examined clinically before enucleation and the myelinated optic nerves were processed post-mortem to determine the degree of neuronal loss. Global gene expression was examined in dissected optic nerve heads with Affymetrix GeneChip microarrays. We validated a subset of differentially expressed genes using qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and immuno-enriched astrocytes from healthy and glaucomatous human donors. These genes have previously defined roles in axonal outgrowth, immune response, cell motility, neuroprotection, and extracellular matrix remodeling.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our findings show that glaucoma is associated with increased expression of genes that mediate axonal outgrowth, immune response, cell motility, neuroprotection, and ECM remodeling. These studies also reveal that, as glaucoma progresses, retinal ganglion cell axons may make a regenerative attempt to restore lost nerve cell contact.</p

СРАВНИТЕЛЬНЫЙ АНАЛИЗ ТРЕХМЕРНОЙ НАНОСТРУКТУРЫ ПОРИСТЫХ БИОДЕГРАДИРУЕМЫХ МАТРИКСОВ ИЗ РЕКОМБИНАНТНОГО СПИДРОИНА И ФИБРОИНА ШЕЛКА ДЛЯ РЕГЕНЕРАТИВНОЙ МЕДИЦИНЫ

Aim. To perform a comparison of three-dimensional nanostructure of porous biocompatible scaffolds made of fibroin Bombix mori and recombinant spidroin rS1/9. Materials and methods. Three-dimensional porous scaffolds were produced by salt leaching technique. The comparison of biological characteristics of the scaffolds shows that adhesion and proliferation of mouse fibroblasts in vitro on these two types of scaffolds do not differ significantly. Comparative experiments in vivo show that regeneration of bone tissue of rats is faster with implantation of recombinant spidroin scaffolds. Three-dimensional nanostructure of scaffolds and interconnectivity of nanopores were studied with scanning probe nanotomography (SPNT) to explain higher regenerative activity of spidroin-based scaffolds. Results. Significant differences were detected in the integral density and volume of pores: the integral density of nanopores detected on 2D AFM images is 46 μm–2    and calculated volume porosity is 24% in rS1/9-based scaffolds; in fibroin-based three-dimensional structures density of nanopores and calculated volume porosity were 2.4 μm–2  and 0.5%, respectively. Three-dimensional reconstruction system of nanopores and clusters of interconnected nanopores in rS1/9-based scaffolds showed that volume fraction of pores interconnected in percolation clusters is 35.3% of the total pore volume or 8.4% of the total scaffold volume. Conclusion. Scanning probe nanotomography method allows obtaining unique information about topology of micro – and nanopore systems of artificial biostructures. High regenerative activity of rS1/9-based scaffolds can be explained by higher nanoporosity of the scaffolds.Цель. Сравнение трехмерной наноструктуры пористых биосовместимых матриксов из фиброина шелка Bombyx mori и рекомбинантного спидроина rS1/9. Материалы и методы. Трехмерные пористые матриксы были получены методом выщелачивания. При сравнении биологических свойств показано, что адгезия и пролиферация мышиных фибробластов на двух видах матриксов различались незначительно. В сравнительных экспериментах in vivo показано, что регенерация костной ткани у крыс происходит быстрее при имплантации матриксов из рекомбинантного спидроина. С целью объяснения более высокой регенеративной активности матриксов из спидроина с помощью сканирующей зондовой нанотомографии была исследована трехмерная наноструктура матриксов, а также сообщаемость нанопор внутри матриксов. Результаты. Были обнаружены существенные отличия в плотности и объеме нанопор: в матриксах из rS1/9 интегральная плотность нанопор, зафиксированная в двухмерном атомно-силовом изображении, составляла 46 мкм–2, а степень пористости – 24%; в трехмерных структурах из фиброина шелка плотность нанопор и степень пористости были 2,4 мкм–2  и 0,5% соответственно. Трехмерная реконструкция системы нанопор и образованных ими кластеров в матриксах из rS1/9 показала, что объемная доля взаимосвязанных пор в перколяционных кластерах равна 35,3% от всего объема пор, что составляет 8,4% от общего объема матрикса. Выводы. Метод сканирующей зондовой нанотомографии позволяет получить уникальную информацию о топологии систем нанопор искусственных биоконструкций. При сравнительном анализе наноструктуры искусственных матриксов из регенерированного шелка и рекомбинантного спидроина, полученных методом выщелачивания, показано, что скэффолды из спидроина имеют более высокую интегральную плотность нанопор, степень пористости и объемную долю взаимосвязанных пор

Gene Expression and Functional Studies of the Optic Nerve Head Astrocyte Transcriptome from Normal African Americans and Caucasian Americans Donors

To determine whether optic nerve head (ONH) astrocytes, a key cellular component of glaucomatous neuropathy, exhibit differential gene expression in primary cultures of astrocytes from normal African American (AA) donors compared to astrocytes from normal Caucasian American (CA) donors.We used oligonucleotide Affymetrix microarray (HG U133A & HG U133A 2.0 chips) to compare gene expression levels in cultured ONH astrocytes from twelve CA and twelve AA normal age matched donor eyes. Chips were normalized with Robust Microarray Analysis (RMA) in R using Bioconductor. Significant differential gene expression levels were detected using mixed effects modeling and Statistical Analysis of Microarray (SAM). Functional analysis and Gene Ontology were used to classify differentially expressed genes. Differential gene expression was validated by quantitative real time RT-PCR. Protein levels were detected by Western blots and ELISA. Cell adhesion and migration assays tested physiological responses. Glutathione (GSH) assay detected levels of intracellular GSH.Multiple analyses selected 87 genes differentially expressed between normal AA and CA (P<0.01). The most relevant genes expressed in AA were categorized by function, including: signal transduction, response to stress, ECM genes, migration and cell adhesion.These data show that normal astrocytes from AA and CA normal donors display distinct expression profiles that impact astrocyte functions in the ONH. Our data suggests that differences in gene expression in ONH astrocytes may be specific to the development and/or progression of glaucoma in AA

Network analysis of human glaucomatous optic nerve head astrocytes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Astrocyte activation is a characteristic response to injury in the central nervous system, and can be either neurotoxic or neuroprotective, while the regulation of both roles remains elusive.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To decipher the regulatory elements controlling astrocyte-mediated neurotoxicity in glaucoma, we conducted a systems-level functional analysis of gene expression, proteomic and genetic data associated with reactive optic nerve head astrocytes (ONHAs).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our reconstruction of the molecular interactions affected by glaucoma revealed multi-domain biological networks controlling activation of ONHAs at the level of intercellular stimuli, intracellular signaling and core effectors. The analysis revealed that synergistic action of the transcription factors AP-1, vitamin D receptor and Nuclear Factor-kappaB in cross-activation of multiple pathways, including inflammatory cytokines, complement, clusterin, ephrins, and multiple metabolic pathways. We found that the products of over two thirds of genes linked to glaucoma by genetic analysis can be functionally interconnected into one epistatic network via experimentally-validated interactions. Finally, we built and analyzed an integrative disease pathology network from a combined set of genes revealed in genetic studies, genes differentially expressed in glaucoma and closely connected genes/proteins in the interactome.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results suggest several key biological network modules that are involved in regulating neurotoxicity of reactive astrocytes in glaucoma, and comprise potential targets for cell-based therapy.</p

Equivalence of Conventionally-Derived and Parthenote-Derived Human Embryonic Stem Cells

As human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines can be derived via multiple means, it is important to determine particular characteristics of individual lines that may dictate the applications to which they are best suited. The objective of this work was to determine points of equivalence and differences between conventionally-derived hESC and parthenote-derived hESC lines (phESC) in the undifferentiated state and during neural differentiation.hESC and phESC were exposed to the same expansion conditions and subsequent neural and retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) differentiation protocols. Growth rates and gross morphology were recorded during expansion. RTPCR for developmentally relevant genes and global DNA methylation profiling were used to compare gene expression and epigenetic characteristics. Parthenote lines proliferated more slowly than conventional hESC lines and yielded lower quantities of less mature differentiated cells in a neural progenitor cell (NPC) differentiation protocol. However, the cell lines performed similarly in a RPE differentiation protocol. The DNA methylation analysis showed similar general profiles, but the two cell types differed in methylation of imprinted genes. There were no major differences in gene expression between the lines before differentiation, but when differentiated into NPCs, the two cell types differed in expression of extracellular matrix (ECM) genes.These data show that hESC and phESC are similar in the undifferentiated state, and both cell types are capable of differentiation along neural lineages. The differences between the cell types, in proliferation and extent of differentiation, may be linked, in part, to the observed differences in ECM synthesis and methylation of imprinted genes