Slowing of World Economy Growth: Analysis of Key Reasons

The article is devoted to the analysis of the key reasons for the slowdown in the global economy. According to the analysis, the slowdown in the global economy is caused by the following seven key reasons: trade wars and the aggravation of trade relations in the international economic market; global instability and technological uncertainty; risks of increased financial uncertainty; the impossibility on the part of some countries to overcome the consequences of the global crisis and the sanctions policy of the West; reformatting of economic activity in a political manner; wave of debt accumulation in developing countries; slowdown in labor productivity growth. The authors conclude that the global economic slowdown trend has a long-term perspective

Socio–pedagogical alternatives of modernization of the university educational process: The real and virtual space

© 2016 Sosnovskaya et al.The research urgency is caused by the contradictions that exist in the approaches to modernization of the University educational process. In recent years the main part of specialists’ attention is focused on the implementation of the priorities of the global information space in the University educational practice, among which are recognized: information, networks, security of the person. These priorities are directed on the intensification of the advantages of virtual space in front of the actually existing educational space of the University by limiting the sphere of direct interpersonal contacts of students in the process of creative educational, professional and sociocultural activities. The current tendencies determine the need for an objective, scientifically based analysis of social – pedagogical alternatives of modernization of University educational process and correction of approaches, due to the natural identification of the real educational process of the University with the virtual space. In this regard, the focus in this article is devoted to substantiation of the structure and content of socio – pedagogical alternatives of modernization of the University educational process taking into account the priorities of real and virtual space. A leading research method is the method of pedagogical monitoring allowing in the process of continuous observation of the development of the University real educational process to determine the socio - pedagogical alternatives for its modernization, taking into account integration of priorities of real and virtual space. The paper presents the content of the notion "socio – pedagogical alternatives of modernization of the University educational process"; defines the essence of the priorities of the virtual space in the educational process of the University; reveals the features of integration of real and virtual space in the educational process of the University; develops the educational – methodical recommendations "use of the priorities of the virtual space in the real educational process of the University." Also it proves the effectiveness of the recommendations using cognitive, informative, motivational, communicative, axiological criteria. The paper can be useful to teachers, methodologists, managers of the universities

Invisibility in billiards

The question of invisibility for bodies with mirror surface is studied in the framework of geometrical optics. We construct bodies that are invisible/have zero resistance in two mutually orthogonal directions, and prove that there do not exist bodies which are invisible/have zero resistance in all possible directions of incidence

A new design for a green calcium indicator with a smaller size and a reduced number of calcium-binding sites

Genetically encoded calcium indicators (GECIs) are mainly represented by two- or one-fluorophore-based sensors. One type of two-fluorophore-based sensor, carrying Opsanus troponin C (TnC) as the Ca2+-binding moiety, has two binding sites for calcium ions, providing a linear response to calcium ions. One-fluorophore-based sensors have four Ca2+-binding sites but are better suited for in vivo experiments. Herein, we describe a novel design for a one-fluorophore-based GECI with two Ca2+-binding sites. The engineered sensor, called NTnC, uses TnC as the Ca2+-binding moiety, inserted in the mNeonGreen fluorescent protein. Monomeric NTnC has higher brightness and pH-stability in vitro compared with the standard GECI GCaMP6s. In addition, NTnC shows an inverted fluorescence response to Ca2+. Using NTnC, we have visualized Ca2+ dynamics during spontaneous activity of neuronal cultures as confirmed by control NTnC and its mutant, in which the affinity to Ca2+ is eliminated. Using whole-cell patch clamp, we have demonstrated that NTnC dynamics in neurons are similar to those of GCaMP6s and allow robust detection of single action potentials. Finally, we have used NTnC to visualize Ca2+ neuronal activity in vivo in the V1 cortical area in awake and freely moving mice using two-photon microscopy or an nVista miniaturized microscope

Окислительная деструкция ибупрофена в присутствии Фентон-катализатора на основе наночастиц MgFe2O4

Catalytic properties of MgFe2O4 nanoparticles during oxidative destruction of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug ibuprofen were studied. The influence of the conditions of the catalytic process on the efficiency of ibuprofen decomposition was established. It was shown that at the catalyst content of 0.5 g/L, H2O2 concentration of 20.0 mmol/L and pH of 6.0 for 40 min, a decrease in the ibuprofen concentration from 10.0 mg/L to less than detected limit is achieved. It was found that in the process of catalytic destruction the degree of ibuprofen mineralization reached 100 %. The conducted research shows the prospects of practical application of the developed Fenton-like heterogeneous catalyst for wastewater treatment from pharmaceutically active compounds.Изучены каталитические свойства наночастиц MgFe2O4 в процессе окислительной деструкции нестероидного противовоспалительного препарата ибупрофена. Установлено влияние условий проведения каталитического процесса на эффективность разложения ибупрофена. Показано, что при содержании катализатора 0,5 г/л, концентрации H2O2 20,0 ммоль/л и рН 6,0 в течение 40 мин достигается снижение концентрации ибупрофена с 10,0 мг/л до концентрации ниже предела обнаружения. Выявлено, что в процессе каталитической деструкции степень минерализации ибупрофена достигает 100 %. Проведенные исследования свидетельствуют о перспективности практического применения разработанного Фентон-подобного гетерогенного катализатора для очистки сточных вод от фармацевтически активных соединений

Особенности мозговой активности при алкогольной зависимости в задаче на ингибиторный контроль

Objective. To study neurophysiological correlates of inhibitory control to determine the features of inhibitionprocesses in alcohol dependence.Materials and methods. 77 patients with alcohol dependence were examined (42 men and 35 women) (F10.2 according to ICD-10). Patients were examined using a test to assess inhibitory control – Go/No – go. According to the task performance, patients were divided into two groups: group 1 – without inhibitory control impairments, group 2 – with impaired inhibitory control. During execution of test, electroencephalogram recordings were made according to the 10–20 system. The values of spectral power and coherence of θ-, α- and β-rhythms were analyzed. Statistical processing was carried out using nonparametric Mann–Whitney U-test and Wilcoxon W-test.Results. In patients with impaired inhibitory control, there was a decrease in the spectral power of the α-rhythm in the frontal cortex (p = 0.003), whereas in patients without inhibitory control disorders – in the Central cortex (p = 0.036). Patients with impaired inhibitory control responded by increasing β-power to cognitive stimulus in the occipital (p = 0.014), left temporal (p = 0.009) and right temporal (p = 0.008) cortex, while patients without inhibitory control disorders showed an increase in β-power only in the occipital (p = 0.007) and left temporal (p = 0.002) cortex. According to coherence data, patients with impaired inhibitory control have greater involvement of brain structures during the “Go/No – go” test in all frequency ranges.Conclusions. Patients with and without impaired inhibitory control have regional differences in changes in brain bioelectric activity during the “Go/No – go” test.Цель. Изучить нейрофизиологические корреляты ингибиторного контроля для определения особенностей процессов торможения при алкогольной зависимости.Материалы и методы. Обследованы 77 пациентов (42 мужчины и 35 женщин) с  алкогольной зависимостью (F10.2 по МКБ-10). Пациенты обследованы с помощью теста  для оценки ингибиторного контроля – Go/No – go. По результатам этого теста пациенты были разделены на две группы: группа 1 – без нарушения ингибиторного контроля, группа 2 – с нарушением ингибиторного контроля. Во время выполнения теста проводилась запись электроэнцефалограммы по системе «10–20». Анализировались значения спектральной мощности и когерентности θ-, α- и β-ритмов.  Статистическая обработка проводилась с применением непараметрического U-критерия Манна – Уитни и W-критерия Вилкоксона.Результаты. У пациентов с нарушенным ингибиторным контролем происходило снижение спектральной мощности α-ритма во фронтальной коре головного мозга (р = 0,003), тогда как у пациентов без нарушений ингибиторного контроля – в центральной  коре (р = 0,036). Пациенты с нарушенным ингибиторным контролем реагировали повышением β-мощности на когнитивный стимул в затылочной (р = 0,014), левой височной (р = 0,009) и правой височной (р = 0,008) коре, при этом у пациентов без нарушений ингибиторного контроля наблюдалось повышение β-мощности только в  затылочной (р = 0,007) и левой височной (р = 0,002) коре. По данным когерентности, у пациентов с нарушением ингибиторного контроля наблюдается большая вовлеченность  мозговых структур во время выполнения теста Go/No – go во всех частотных диапазонах.Заключение. Пациенты с нарушением и без нарушения ингибиторного контроля имеют региональные различия в изменениях биоэлектрической активности головного мозга в процессе выполнения теста Go/No – go

Клиническое значение коморбидности аффективных расстройств и алкогольной зависимости

The aim was to study the clinical-psychopathological, clinical-follow-up, clinical-dynamic features of mood disorders (MD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) with their comorbidity combinations.Materials and methods. The study included 88 people with AUD and MD: 33 women (37.5%) and 55 (62.5%) men. The first group was 31 patients (35,0%) with AUD without comorbid affective symptoms, the second was 29 patients (33.0%) with MD without alcohol dependence, and the third was 28 patients (32.0%) with comorbid AUD and MD. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups by age and sex composition, by the level of statistical significance of differences (p = 0.115 – by sex, ð = 0.248 – by age). The study used clinical, psychopathological, clinical and follow-up, clinical, dynamic and statistical methods. Statistical processing was performed using Pearson’s χ2, Mann – Whitney U-test for comparing independent samples and Spearman’s correlation analysis (r).Results. Patients of the second and third groups were diagnosed with dysthymia more rarely in statistically significant values by the level of statistical significance of differences (10.4% and 32.1% respectively, p = 0.023) and this testifies to MD taking chronic course in patients with AUD. The average duration of bout of heavy-drinking in the first group was longer than in the third group – 7 (4; 17) and 5,5 (3.5; 9.5) days accordingly (p = 0.043). Duration of the disease in the first and third groups was 10 (6; 18.5) and 14 (10; 19.75) years, respectively (p = 0.036). It confirms the negative impact of comorbidity on the clinicaldynamic features in the case of co-existing of AUD and MD.Conclusion. The coexistence of alcohol dependence and affective pathology enhances the suicidal risk of certain diseases. A tendency to the early appearance of symptoms of AUD and their rapid dynamics, a shorter duration of light intervals of MD and AUC, a relatively low tolerance to alcohol and pronounced depressogenic effect of alcohol in the case of comorbidity were found. Цель исследования – изучение клинико-психопатологических, клинико-катамнестических, клинико-динамических особенностей аффективных расстройств (АР) и алкогольной зависимости (АЗ) приих коморбидных сочетаниях.Материалы и методы. Обследованы 88 человек с АР и АЗ – 33 женщины (37,5%) и 55 (62,5%)мужчин. Первая группа – 31 пациент (35,0%) с АЗ без коморбидной аффективной симптоматики,вторая – 29 больных (33,0%) с расстройством настроения без зависимости от алкоголя, третья – 28пациентов (32,0%) с коморбидным течением АЗ и АР. Между группами по половозрастному составупо уровню статистической значимости различий не выявлено (p = 0,115 – по половому составу, р= 0,248 – по возрастному составу). В исследовании использовался клинико-психопатологический,клинико-катамнестический, клинико-динамический и статистические методы. Статистическую обработку проводили с использованием χ2 Пирсона, U-критерия Манна – Уитни для сравнения независимых выборок и корреляционного анализа Спирмена (r).Результаты. У пациентов второй и третьей групп по уровню статистической значимости различийреже диагностировалась дистимия (10,4 и 32,1% соответственно, p = 0,023), что свидетельствует охроническом варианте течения аффективной патологии в группе пациентов, страдающих АЗ. Средняя продолжительность псевдозапоев в первой группе пациентов была выше – 7 (4; 17) сут, чем втретьей группе – 5,5 (3,5; 9,5) (p = 0,043). Давность заболевания в первой и третьей группах составила 10 (6; 18,5) и 14 (10; 19,75) лет соответственно (p = 0,036), что подтверждает негативное влияниекоморбидности на клинико-динамические особенности при сочетании АЗ и АР.Заключение. Сосуществование АЗ и аффективной патологии усиливает суицидальный риск отдельных заболеваний; в случае коморбидного течения АЗ и аффективной патологии отмечена тенденцияк раннему появлению симптомов АЗ и быстрой их динамике, меньшая продолжительность светлыхпромежутков АР и АЗ, относительно низкая толерантность к спиртному, более выражен депрессогенный эффект этилового спирта

Клиническая характеристика и эффективность антидепрессивной терапии аффективных расстройств при коморбидности с алкогольной зависимостью

 Aim. To determine the nosological and clinical features of mood disorders (MD) with comorbid alcohol use disorder (AUD) and efficiency of antidepressant therapy.Materials and methods. We examined 88 patients with MD and comorbid AUD – 33 females (37.5%) and 55 males (62.5%). The first group included 31 patients with AUD without comorbid affective symptoms, the second group contained 29 patients with MD without AUD, the third group included 28 patients with AUD and MD. In the study, we applied clinical-psychopathologic, clinical-dynamic, and statistical methods with Pearson’s χ2 test, Mann – Whitney U-test (for comparison of independent samples), Kruskal – Wallis test (for more than two independent samples), and Wilcoxon test (for comparison of dependent samples). At the level of statistical  significance, no differences between the groups according to the gender – age composition were revealed (p = 0.115 – according to gender composition, р = 0.248 – according to age composition, Pearson’s χ2 test).Results. The patients with the diagnosis of AUD with comorbid MD showed worse dynamics of the reduction of depressive [from 24.0 (18.3; 33.0) to 9.0 (4.3; 12.0) points according to the Structured Interview Guide for the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale – Seasonal Affective Disorder (SIGH-SAD)  (р = 0.001, Wilcoxon test)] and anxiety [from 20.5 (12.5; 25.0) to 5.5 (3.3; 8.0) points according to the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HARS) (р = 0.001, Wilcoxon test)] symptoms against the background of the therapy with initially lower indices compared to the group with MD alone [from 27.0 (21.0; 36.0) to 6.0 (5.0; 11.0) points according to SIGH-SAD (р = 0.001, Wilcoxon test) (intergroup differences upon admission р = 0.046; upon  discharge р = 0.683, Mann – Whitney U-test) and from 21.0 (14.0; 29.0) to 5.0 (3; 10.5) points according to HARS (р = 0.001, Wilcoxon test) (intergroup differences upon admission р = 0.082; upon discharge р = 0.825, Mann –  Whitney U-test)]. The course of AUD is characterized by a larger extent of malignancy in the group with a comorbidity: decrease in pathological  alcohol craving from 31.5 (16.3; 43.5) points to 8 (2.3; 14.8) (р = 0.001, Wilcoxon test) in the group with a comorbidity and from 29.5 (21.8; 37.0) to 7 (3.0; 11.3) points with AUD alone (р = 0.001, Wilcoxon test) (intergroup  differences upon admission р = 0.058; upon discharge р = 0.04, Mann – Whitney U-test on the Obsessive Compulsive Drinking Scale (OCDS).Conclusion. Clinical-dynamic characteristics of MD with comorbid AUD  result in therapeutic difficulties associated with comparatively worse dynamics of reduction of the symptoms of both diseases.   Цель исследования – определение нозологической структуры, клинических особенностей аффективных расстройств (АР) при коморбидности с алкогольной  зависимостью (АЗ) и эффективности антидепрессивной  терапии.Материалы и методы. Обследованы 88 человек с АР и АЗ – 33 женщины (37,5%) и 55 (62,5%) мужчин. Первая группа – 31 пациент с АЗ без коморбидной аффективной  симптоматики, вторая – 29 больных с расстройством настроения без зависимости от алкоголя, третья – 28  пациентов с коморбидным течением АЗ и АР. В исследовании применялись клинико-психопатологический,  клинико-динамический и статистический методы с  использованием критериев χ2 Пирсона, Манна – Уитни (для  сравнения независимых выборок), Краскела – Уоллиса (для более двух независимых выборок), Вилкоксона (для  сравнения зависимых выборок). По уровню статистической значимости различий между группами по половозрастному составу не выявлено (p = 0,115 – по половому составу, р = 0,248 – по возрастному составу, критерий χ2).Результаты. Пациенты с коморбидным диагнозом АЗ и АР демонстрируют худшую динамику редукции депрессивной (с 24,0 (18,3; 33,0) до 9,0 (4,3; 12,0) баллов по шкале SIGH-SAD (р = 0,001, критерий Вилкоксона)) и тревожной (с 20,5 (12,5; 25,0) до 5,5 (3,3; 8,0) баллов по шкале HARS (р = 0,001, критерий Вилкоксона)) симптоматики на фоне лечения, при изначально более низких показателях, в сравнении с группой с «чистыми» АР (с 27,0 (21,0; 36,0) до 6,0 (5,0; 11,0) баллов по SIGH-SAD (р = 0,001, критерий Вилкоксона) (межгрупповые различия при поступлении р = 0,046; при  выписке р = 0,683, критерий Манна – Уитни) и с 21,0 (14,0; 29,0) до 5,0 (3; 10,5) баллов по HARS (р = 0,001, критерий  Вилкоксона) (межгрупповые различия при поступлении р =  0,082; при выписке р = 0,825, критерий Манна – Уитни)).  Течение АЗ отличается большей злокачественностью в группе с коморбидностью: снижение патологического влечения к алкоголю с 31,5 (16,3; 43,5) балла до 8 (2,3; 14,8) (р = 0,001, критерий Вилкоксона) в группе с коморбидностью и с 29,5 (21,8; 37,0) до 7 (3,0; 11,3) баллов  при «чистой» АЗ (р = 0,001, критерий Вилкоксона) (межгрупповые различия при поступлении р = 0,058; при  выписке р = 0,04, критерий Манна – Уитни по обсессивно-компульсивной шкале употребления алкоголя). Заключение. Клинико-динамические характеристики  коморбидного сочетания АР и АЗ ведут к терапевтическим  затруднениям, сопряженным со сравнительно худшей  динамикой редуцирования симптомов каждого из заболеваний.

Web Based Postgraduate Thesis/Dessertation System - A Prototype

With the advancement of information communication technology in Malaysia, education field should take advantage to upgrade their learning and management techniques. Students should be allowed to learn anytime, anywhere and at their own place. However administration and lecture should be able to manage their work more effective and flexible. The web-based system is effective way to learning and managing education works. This report outlines the development of a web-based postgraduate thesis/dissertation management system (WPTS), which aimed to assist thesis/dissertation administration, supervisor and students in the better integration during students doing the thesis/dissertation works. This prototype system base on case study with a group of MSC(IT), administration, lecturer and students who participate in thesis/dissertation management activities. This report also presenting the tests conducted with users, it also contributed some perspective regarding benefits that gain by administration, supervisor and students, and recommends future application of the approach

Identifying human diamine sensors for death related putrescine and cadaverine molecules

Pungent chemical compounds originating from decaying tissue are strong drivers of animal behavior. Two of the best-characterized death smell components are putrescine (PUT) and cadaverine (CAD), foul-smelling molecules produced by decarboxylation of amino acids during decomposition. These volatile polyamines act as 'necromones', triggering avoidance or attractive responses, which are fundamental for the survival of a wide range of species. The few studies that have attempted to identify the cognate receptors for these molecules have suggested the involvement of the seven-helix trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs), localized in the olfactory epithelium. However, very little is known about the precise chemosensory receptors that sense these compounds in the majority of organisms and the molecular basis of their interactions. In this work, we have used computational strategies to characterize the binding between PUT and CAD with the TAAR6 and TAAR8 human receptors. Sequence analysis, homology modeling, docking and molecular dynamics studies suggest a tandem of negatively charged aspartates in the binding pocket of these receptors which are likely to be involved in the recognition of these small biogenic diamines