The TGF-beta — SMAD pathway is inactivated in cronic lymphocytic leukemia cells

Aim: To study the status of the tumor growth factor beta (TGFB) pathway in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells and to uncover molecular details underlying CLL cell genesis. Objects and Methods: The study was conducted on peripheral blood samples of patients with CLL using the following methods: RNA isolation, analysis of expression of transcription factors using RT2 profiler assay, bioinformatics analysis of publicly available data bases on expression. Results: We have shown that the TGFB — SMAD canonical pathway is not active in CLL cells. SMAD-responsive genes, such as BCL2L1 (BCL-XL), CCND2 (Cyclin D2), and MYC, are down-regulated in CLL cells compared with peripheral blood B cells of healthy donors. Conclusions: The TGFB-mediated signaling is not active in CLL cells due to low (or absent) expression of SMAD1, -4, -5, -9, and ATF-3. Expression and phosphorylation status of SMAD2 and -3 should be further elucidated in the future studies

The TGF-beta — SMAD pathway is inactivated in cronic lymphocytic leukemia cells

Aim: To study the status of the tumor growth factor beta (TGFB) pathway in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells and to uncover molecular details underlying CLL cell genesis. Objects and Methods: The study was conducted on peripheral blood samples of patients with CLL using the following methods: RNA isolation, analysis of expression of transcription factors using RT2 profiler assay, bioinformatics analysis of publicly available data bases on expression. Results: We have shown that the TGFB — SMAD canonical pathway is not active in CLL cells. SMAD-responsive genes, such as BCL2L1 (BCL-XL), CCND2 (Cyclin D2), and MYC, are down-regulated in CLL cells compared with peripheral blood B cells of healthy donors. Conclusions: The TGFB-mediated signaling is not active in CLL cells due to low (or absent) expression of SMAD1, -4, -5, -9, and ATF-3. Expression and phosphorylation status of SMAD2 and -3 should be further elucidated in the future studies

Monte Carlo modelling of Raman scattering in a multi-layered tissue

The report is concerned to Monte Carlo modelling of Raman scattering. A model of Raman scattering in multi-layered tissues has been built. A number and optical properties of tissue layers, number of photons, geometric size of the model and parameters of the light source may be varied by users. Some of computational results have been compared with other investigators.This research was supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation

Museum as a Social And Cultural Institution

The article views a social and cultural notion, its properties, methods of broadcasting, the role of the modern museum in this process.В статье рассматриваются понятие социокультурной памяти, ее свойства, способы трансляции, роль в этом процессе современного музея

Регуляторы роста и их действие на биологические признаки груши

The research was carried out at the experimental site of the Caspian Agrarian Federal Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 2019-2021. The object of study was the fruit-bearing variety Talgar beauty. Pear trees lived under control without processing. The subject of the tests was preparations of natural origin Amulet and Ovary fruit. The analysis showed that against the background of management, both drugs accelerated fruit ripening, most of all the Ovary drug. Experimental data were processed using the method of dispersion analysis according to B.A. Dospekhov. Records and observations were carried out per the Program and methodology of various fruit, berry and nut crop studies (1999). The soil cover of the site is represented by light chestnut, carbonate, thick and medium-sized soils with a humus content of 0.40 cm 1.02% in the arable layer. The ripening of the fruits in the Ovary variants occurred 7-10 days earlier than the control and seven days earlier than the Amulet variants. Only single leaves were affected by brown spotting in variants using growth regulators. The damage caused by honeydew and aphids did not exceed 12-16%. As a result, the Ovary drug stimulated earlier fruit ripening, and the Amulet increased resistance to critical temperatures. Joint treatment with Amulet and Ovary preparations provided the most significant marketability: the yield of fruits of the highest and first grade, the one-dimensionality of fruits. The marketability of fruits was 74-91%, and in control, only 66.0%.Исследования проводились на опытном участке ФГБНУ «Прикаспийский аграрный федеральный научный центр РАН» в 2019–2021 гг. Объектом изучения был плодоносящий сорт Талгарская красавица. Контролем служили деревья груши без обработки. Предметом испытаний являлись препараты природного происхождения Оберег и Завязь плодовая. Анализ показал, что на фоне контроля оба препарата ускорили созревание плодов, наиболее всего препарат Завязь. Экспериментальные данные обработаны с помощью метода дисперсионного анализа по Б.А. Доспехову. Учёты и наблюдения проводились в соответствии с Программой и методикой сортоизучения плодовых, ягодных и орехоплодных культур (1999). Почвенный покров участка представлен светло-каштановыми, карбонатными, мощными и среднемощными почвами с содержанием гумуса в пахотном слое 0–40 см 1,02 %. Созревание плодов в вариантах с использованием Завязи наступило на 7–10 дней раньше контроля и на 7 дней раньше вариантов с Оберегом. В вариантах с применением регуляторов роста бурой пятнистостью поражены были лишь единичные листья. Повреждение медяницей и тлей не превышало 12–16 %. В итоге препарат Завязь стимулировал более раннее созревание плодов, а Оберег увеличивал устойчивость к критическим температурам. Совместная обработка препаратами Оберег и Завязь обеспечила наибольшую товарность: выход плодов высшего и первого сорта, одномерность плодов. Товарность плодов составила 74–91 %, а в контроле всего 66,0%.

Monte Carlo simulation of Raman light scattering in a human skin

The paper presents an algorithm for simulating Raman light scattering inside a human skin using the Monte Carlo method. The proposed algorithm uses the photon transport algorithm developed by L. Wang and S. Jacques as a basis and permits to model heterogeneities of various sizes and topologies caused by pathological processes. A skin optical model has been built with optical transport parameters compiled from Meglinski et al., Jacques and Raman active components of skin cancer from Xu Feng et al. As the most important model components collagen, elastin, keratin, cell nucleus, triolein, ceramide, melanin and water are chosen. Raman spectra of normal human skin, malignant melanoma and basal cell carcinoma skin cancers have been simulated. The reconstructed Raman spectra reached reasonably good match with the skin spectra measured in vivo. The possibility of using the algorithm to estimate changes in the concentration of skin components with the development of malignant neoplasm by modeling Raman spectra of normal skin and skin with the malignant neoplasm and comparing them with the corresponding experimental Raman spectra is examined.This study was supported by the RFBR Grant № 19-52-18001 Bolg_а and the Russian Federation President grant for state support of young scientists (project MK-1888.2019.2)

Originality of Author’s Position as a Playful Dialogue with Reader in Novel by M. Ende «Der Spiegel im Spiegel»

The article is devoted to the study of the category of the game and its embodiment in the form of specific game techniques in discourse. The research material was the work of M. Ende «Der Spiegel im Spiegel». The novelty of the research is seen in the fact that the combined connections of artistic stories form irrational worlds. The relevance of the study is due to the growing interest of researchers in the surrealist reflection of reality in a literary text. It is shown in the work that play is a process of personality formation and a kind of free human activity. Special attention is paid to the theoretical analysis of fairytale discourse. The principle of semantic and compositional connection of individual works of the cycle of stories is brought into consideration. The article deals with the issues of realization by characters of literary texts of the key parameters of play and non-play in mythological discourse. Attention is paid to the main variants of human behavior. The question is also raised about the physical properties of mirrors, which are implicit markers of various symbols. Special attention is paid to the spherical mirror. It is shown that M. Ende’s work is based on the principle of the panoramic reflection effect

On Students Training in a New Masters Program “Molecular Biology and Plant Agrobiotechnology” at SaintPetersburg State University (SPbSU)

The development of an agro-industrial complex under present-day conditions is impossible to imagine without the development of agro-biotechnology, which in turn requires specialists with profound knowledge of biology, chemistry and related sciences. In this regard, training of personnel is needed to ensure active implementation of modern technologies in agricultural sciences. Until recently, such specialists have not been trained at classical universities, to which St. Petersburg State University belongs. To deal with this challenge, a Masters Program «Molecular Biology and Agrobiotechnology of Plants» has been developed and is being implemented in SPbSU. Teaching staff from eight departments of the Biological Faculty of SPbSU is involved in the creation and implementation of the Program. The Program in question is focused on familiarizing students with the modern problems, achievements, methodology of agro-biotechnology of plants, as well as on practical application of the obtained knowledge. Special attention is paid to the formation of trainees’ perceptions of the possibility and necessity of bringing plant breeding to the level of requirements and possibilities of the «post-genome era» to achieve high productivity and sustainability of agricultural production with minimal environmental risks. The Program seamlessly integrates practical exercises and students’ research work in the SPbSU facilities, as well as that performed at St. Petersburg research institutes. Much attention is paid to the development of students’ skills in conducting scientific discussions and in presenting their scientific data in different formats, for instance in English, which is very important for monitoring current scientific trends and integrating own research into world science. The Program is popular with students and many of its graduates have been employed by the leading biological and agricultural research institutes