Self-organization of conducting pathways explains electrical wave propagation in cardiac tissues with high fraction of nonconducting cells

Cardiac fibrosis occurs in many forms of heart disease and is considered to be one of the main arrhythmogenic factors. Regions with a high density of fibroblasts are likely to cause blocks of wave propagation that give rise to dangerous cardiac arrhythmias. Therefore, studies of the wave propagation through these regions are very important, yet the precise mechanisms leading to arrhythmia formation in fibrotic cardiac tissue remain poorly understood. Particularly, it is not clear how wave propagation is organized at the cellular level, as experiments show that the regions with a high percentage of fibroblasts (65-75%) are still conducting electrical signals, whereas geometric analysis of randomly distributed conducting and non-conducting cells predicts connectivity loss at 40% at the most (percolation threshold). To address this question, we used a joint in vitro-in silico approach, which combined experiments in neonatal rat cardiac monolayers with morphological and electrophysiological computer simulations. We have shown that the main reason for sustainable wave propagation in highly fibrotic samples is the formation of a branching network of cardiomyocytes. We have successfully reproduced the morphology of conductive pathways in computer modelling, assuming that cardiomyocytes align their cytoskeletons to fuse into cardiac syncytium. The electrophysiological properties of the monolayers, such as conduction velocity, conduction blocks and wave fractionation, were reproduced as well. In a virtual cardiac tissue, we have also examined the wave propagation at the subcellular level, detected wavebreaks formation and its relation to the structure of fibrosis and, thus, analysed the processes leading to the onset of arrhythmias. © 2019 Kudryashova et al

КУЛЬТУРНО-РЕЛИГИОЗНЫЕ ЦЕННОСТИ КАК РЕСУРС ОБЩЕСТВЕННО-ПОЛИТИЧЕСКОГО РАЗВИТИЯ

Contrary to the secularist approach, civilizational values including religion still play a significant role in realizing tasks of social and political development. The analysis of such mega-countries as Brazil, India, China and Russia shows why cultural and religious values retain their public value and how they can be applied in the process of modernization and nation-building.Вопреки концепциям сторонников секулярной парадигмы, цивилизационные, в т.ч. религиозные ценности остаются востребованными при решении задач общественно-политического развития. Рассматриваемые казусы сверхкрупных стран (Бразилия, Индия, Китай, Россия) показывают, почему культурно-религиозные ценности сохраняют свое публичное значение и как они могут быть востребованы в ходе модернизации и национального строительства

Review of the problems of additive manufacturing of nanostructured high-energy materials

This article dwells upon the additive manufacturing of high-energy materials (HEM) with regards to the problems of this technology’s development. This work is aimed at identifying and describing the main problems currently arising in the use of AM for nanostructured highenergy materials and gives an idea of the valuable opportunities that it provides in the hope of promoting further development in this area. Original approaches are proposed for solving one of the main problems in the production of nanostructured HEM—safety and viscosity reduction of the polymer-nanopowder system. Studies have shown an almost complete degree of deagglomeration of microencapsulated aluminum powders. Such powders have the potential to create new systems for safe 3D printing using high-energy materials

Use of Sorghum for Enhancing the Biodiversity and Nutritional Value of Semi-Desert Pasture Ecosystems

The article presents the results of studies on the adaptive potential of sorghum used for restoration of degraded pasture ecosystems, increasing their biodiversity and nutritional value. The region chosen for the experiment is a semi-desert arid part of southern Russia. The aridity coefficient is 0.11–0.30 which is typical of the arid zone. The annual volume of precipitation is 125-265 mm. Two varieties of sorghum – Travinka and Caravan – were studied. They were grown with different thickness: 10 thousand, 20 thousand and 40 thousand plants per 1 hectare. During the growing season, there was soil and atmospheric drought. The best indicators of green mass yield were recorded for Travinka for the variant “40 thousand plants per hectare – 7.9 tons per hectare, and for Caravan for the variant “20 thousand plants per hecrate – 3.9 tons per hectare. Compared with natural pasture, sorghum productivity is 18 times higher by green mass yield and 26 times higher by dry mass yield (the best options). The analysis of the chemical composition and nutritional value of sorghum showed that compared to the plants of natural pasture, sorghum is a more nutritious fodder plant. Its nutritional value is more by 0.24 feed units per 1 kg and by 1.9 % by the mass of crude protein. It is better than other plants by the content of sugar content (79 g per 1 kg) and macronutrients

Over-expression of Oct4 and Sox2 transcription factors enhances differentiation of human umbilical cord blood cells in vivo

Gene and cell-based therapies comprise innovative aspects of regenerative medicine. Even though stem cells represent a highly potential therapeutic strategy, their wide-spread exploitation is marred by ethical concerns, potential for malignant transformation and a plethora of other technical issues, largely restricting their use to experimental studies. Utilizing genetically modified human umbilical cord blood mono-nuclear cells (hUCB-MCs), this communication reports enhanced differentiation of transplants in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Over-expressing Oct4 and Sox2 induced production of neural marker PGP9.5, as well as transformation of hUCB-MCs into micro-glial and endothelial lines in ALS spinal cords. In addition to producing new nerve cells, providing degenerated areas with trophic factors and neo-vascularisation might prevent and even reverse progressive loss of moto-neurons and skeletal muscle paralysis. © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Over-expression of Oct4 and Sox2 transcription factors enhances differentiation of human umbilical cord blood cells in vivo

© 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. Gene and cell-based therapies comprise innovative aspects of regenerative medicine. Even though stem cells represent a highly potential therapeutic strategy, their wide-spread exploitation is marred by ethical concerns, potential for malignant transformation and a plethora of other technical issues, largely restricting their use to experimental studies. Utilizing genetically modified human umbilical cord blood mono-nuclear cells (hUCB-MCs), this communication reports enhanced differentiation of transplants in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Over-expressing Oct4 and Sox2 induced production of neural marker PGP9.5, as well as transformation of hUCB-MCs into micro-glial and endothelial lines in ALS spinal cords. In addition to producing new nerve cells, providing degenerated areas with trophic factors and neo-vascularisation might prevent and even reverse progressive loss of moto-neurons and skeletal muscle paralysis

Human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells transfected with dual cassette plasmids (VEGF + neurotrophic factor) for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

To increase the viability of neural cells in neurodegenerative diseases, after neurotraumas and ischemic strokes the most important neurotrophic and neuroprotective factors, which can be used as therapeutic agents were identified in long-term studies in vitro and in vivo. These include brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). One of the promising ways of the delivery of supporting neuron survival factors is considered to be transplantation of genetically modified cells overexpressing recombinant therapeutic genes. This article describes generation of cellular delivery vectors of therapeutic genes - human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells genetically modified by dual cassette plasmids, expressing two therapeutic genes. Efficiency of transgene expression was confirmed in vitro using RT-PCR. Analysis of survival, migration, and phenotype of genetically modified cells was performed 2 weeks after transplantation into transgenic mice with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis phenotype

ROLE OF CYTOXIC T-LYMPHOCYTES IN THE PATHOGENESIS OF PRETERM BIRTH

Currently, the existence of a wide range of subpopulations of CD8+T-lymphocytes has been revealed, among which there are subpopulations of naive and effector cells, as well as memory cells. CD8+T-lymphocytes are thought to be a population of lymphocytes with high cytotoxic activity, which is of extreme importance during pregnancy. Given that each subpopulation is characterized by a set of produced mediators, surface and intracellular markers, we can assume their role in the pathogenesis of preterm birth. This determined the need to investigate the role of naive cells, effector cells, and memory cells in the development of spontaneous preterm birth. Data on the content of naive CD8+-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of women with threatened preterm birth are practically absent. It was found that the infiltration of CD8+-lymphocytes in the area of uteroplacental contact was associated with the development of timely delivery. Chronic chorioamnionitis is the most common condition in idiopathic preterm birth and is characterized by the infiltration of maternal CD8+Tcells into the chorioamniotic membranes. Currently, it is believed that chronic inflammatory lesions of the placenta represent maternal antifetal rejection. This led to the study of the role of these cells in the pathogenesis of preterm birth. Purpose. To establish a possible pathogenetic mechanism of preterm birth in women with threatened preterm birth on the basis of the revealed features of differentiation and functional activity of CD8+- lymphocytes at the systemic levelMaterials and methods. The survey of women was carried out on the basis of the Federal State Budgetary Institution “V. Gorodkov Ivanovo Research Institute of Maternity and Childhood” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. A total of 126 women were examined, which were retrospectively divided into 2 main groups – women with threatened preterm birth(n = 68), which was divided into 2 subgroups – with the outcome of pregnancy preterm birth (n = 30) and timely delivery (n = 38). The control group included 58 women with uncomplicated pregnancy and who gave birth on time. In the CD8+-lymphocyte population, the content of central – Tcm (CD45RACD62L+), preterminally differentiated-Tem (CD45RACD62L- ) and terminally differentiated-Temra (CD45RA+CD62L- ) memory cells was determined. In all memory cell populations, the content of cells producing Granzyme B intracellularly was determined. The studies were performed using monoclonal antibodies (mAT) by flow cytometry on a FACSCanto II cytometer using the FACSDiva software (Becton Dickinson, USA).The analysis of the features of the relative content of CD8+-lymphocytes in the main group of women, depending on the outcome of pregnancy, was carried out. When comparing patients with a clinic of threatened preterm birth, whose pregnancy ended prematurely, a higher content of CD8+-lymphocytes was revealed than in group c of women who gave birth in a timely manner, which indicates a high stimulation of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes in this group of women. With threatening preterm birth, there is an increase in the content of naive CD8+-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. Data on the content of naive CD8+-lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of women with threatened preterm birth are practically absent. The increase in CD8+Tn levels is more pronounced in the subgroup of women with a favorable pregnancy outcome. Given this fact, it can be assumed that in women with preterm birth, a lower CD8+Tn is associated with their increased differentiation into effector T-lymphocytes with their subsequent migration to the placental zone. This process could determine the observed decrease in the level of terminally differentiated granzyme-producing CD8+-lymphocytes in a subgroup of women with a pregnancy outcome of preterm birth, which coincided with the literature data

Scenarios for the development of the Arctic region (2020–2035)

The importance of selecting the development of the Arctic seems to be relevant since rapid and irreversible changes are taking place there. Climate change and globalization are their prominent examples. A complex of factors has both positive and negative impacts on the use of natural resources and the positioning of states located not only within the Arctic but also outside it. The questions arise: what is the significance of these changes for geography, politics, and the management system? How should the comprehension of these processes be built? The relevance of the topic is enhanced by the fact that Russia has the most significant Arctic sector among the states with access to the Arctic Ocean. Therefore, our country has a leading role in working out strategies for the development of the Arctic. The comprehensive approach (considering the economic and political-geographical positions) is central in the article to analyze the directions of development of the Arctic territories. The method reveals the possibilities of sustainable development, which will provide Russia with strategic benefits within the Arctic and globally. The article discusses scenarios for the development of the Arctic, including the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, in the long-term perspective (until 2035). Substantiation of the long-term prospects for the development of the Arctic, despite Russian and foreign research, seems to be unrealistic due to lack of knowledge about the nature and consequences of climatic changes currently observed in this region and affecting global environmental management. The authors concluded that the priority directions of the Arctic development should be the ones based on positive and innovative trends