Liver cirrhosis: New concepts

The term `cirrhosis` is used for two centuries to define the end-stage of chronic liver diseases with different etiologies. Clinical manifestations of cirrhosis are related to portal hypertension, hepatic dysfunction progressing to liver failure and development of hepatocellular carcinoma, conditions with unfavorable prognosis. However, recent advances in the diagnosis and treatment of chronic liver diseases have changed the natural history of cirrhosis significantly. According to current concept, liver cirrhosis is heterogeneous, multi-stage condition with variable prognosis. Cirrhosis is considered as a dynamic, biphasic process, based on numerous clinical reports indicating the reversal of advanced fibrosis and cirrhosis after cessation of perpetual injury. This review was focused on current pathology and clinical staging of cirrhosis. The potential mechanism and proves of concept for reversibility of cirrhosis were also discussed

Photocatalytic water splitting in sodium tantalate suspensions

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Chemical tools to probe carbohydrate recognition and glycoconjugate biosynthesis

In eukaryotes the assembly of complex glycoconjugate structures takes place in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi apparatus, where a number of specific membrane-bound glycosyltransferases transfer sugar moiety from soluble or lipid linked activated sugar nucleotides to variety of acceptors with correct stereo and regioselectivity. Many glycoconjugates structures have been elucidated; however, most glycosyltransferases involved in their biosynthesis have not been identified and characterised. Currently, cell-free radiolabelled assays are widely used to detect their activities. These types of assays are sensitive and broadly applicable, but can be complicated by well-known factors related to the application of radioactive substances. The purpose of this study was the development of simple and sensitive fluorescence-based methodology to detect membrane-bound glycosyltransferases activities, which could replace traditional radiolabelled methods used in the field. Fluorescent acceptors, such as 4-(1-(7-hydroxy-coumarin-3-yl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)-)propyl α-D-mannopyranoside (α-Man-HTC) (2.12) and 4-(1-(7-hydroxy-coumarin-3-yl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)-)propyl α-D-mannopyranosyl-(1→6)-α-D-mannopyranoside (α-Man-1,6-α-Man-HTC) (2.13) were designed to have linkages that mimic the authentic acceptors. The fluorescence-based assays were benchmarked against established radiolabelled assays to detect mannosyltransferase activities involved in the biosynthesis of lipoarabinomannan in Mycobacterium smegmatis and galactosyltransferase activities involved in the decoration of GPI anchor in Trypanosoma brucei. Further application of this methodology allowed detection and characterisation of mannosyltransferase activities responsible for biosynthesis of N-glycans in Euglena gracilis, along with detection of N-acetylglucosamine-1-phosphate transferase activity. In a separate study, a series of linear and cyclic 1,4/1,5-triazole-linked-pseudo-galctooligomers were synthesised from 2-(2-(2-azidoethoxy)ethoxy)ethyl 6-O-(prop-2-ynyl)-β-D-galactopyranoside (4.07) utilising Cu(I)-catalysed click reactions. These compounds were used to mimic authentic substrates for Trypanosoma cruzi trans-sialidases in order to block Trypanosoma cruzi macrophage invasion

Assessing and Modelling the Structural Build-up of Concrete in the Context of Digital Fabrication

Nowadays, construction industry is rapidly moving towards digitalization and automation that should enable increased rates and efficiency of construction processes, as well as higher possibilities for customization and architectural freedom. Among all technologies under development, digital fabrication with concrete by means of layered extrusion appears to be one of the most promising for purposes of fast mass housing construction. It enables formwork-free production of structures via layer-by-layer concrete printing. Freedom from formwork potentially makes the construction process more cost- and time-saving, but poses multiple challenges to mix design and test methods, especially in terms of concrete rheology. A special focus must be put on the structural build-up of concrete at rest, which is related to its buildability, i.e. capacity of the material to retain the shape of the extruded layers under their own weight and the weight of the subsequently placed layers. This research investigates into the structural build-up of cementitious materials, i.e. evolution of their strength and deformation properties over time at rest, and includes development and refinement of methodology to assess the structural build-up, as well as its modelling and prediction. With respect to methodology, major attention was directed to the constant rotational velocity (CRV) test used for evaluation of the static yield stress development, and rationalization of its application under field conditions. Based on a large amount of experiments performed with two rheometers of different design, characteristic curves and points describing patterns in behaviour of cementitious materials during a CRV test were established. The experimental study also dealt with assessing the effects of alterations in main elements of the CRV test protocol, such as test approach (single- versus multi-batch), pre-shear regime, applied CRV, on the test results. Possible errors in CRV tests were addressed and methods to improve the procedures of testing and data evaluation were suggested. In particular, the single-batch approach was enhanced by implementation of the developed breaking criterion, a concept of zero measurement for non-pre-sheared samples was introduced, and a method for simplified evaluation of elasticity by a single-head rheometer was proposed. General methodological recommendations on the design of a CRV test protocol were formulated. The results are applicable for various cementitious materials and not limited to concretes for layered extrusion. Furthermore, test methods for assessing the structural build-up of printable concretes were studied in terms of their applicability under field conditions, potential for automation, descriptiveness of obtained data and efficiency in predicting the buildability of printed concrete structures. The methods under investigation included CRV test, unconfined uniaxial compression test (UUCT), fast penetration test and newly proposed confined uniaxial compression test (CUCT); all tests were performed on extruded samples of eight printable concrete mixtures with various compositions and rheological properties. The corresponding results were juxtaposed in order to establish correlations between the data and compared to the results of buildability tests, in which hollow cylindrical structures were produced using a laboratory-scale 3D printer. The developed methodology was further used to conduct an in-depth investigation into the influence of aggregates on the structural build-up of ordinary concrete. In the experimental program, the binder composition was kept constant while the aggregate was varied in terms of the volume fraction and the surface area (per unit volume of concrete); the main focus was put on compositions with elevated aggregate content (45−55 % by volume). A mechanism lying behind the effects of the aggregate properties on the structural build-up of concrete was discovered by studying the structure of constitutive paste in concrete. Aggregate-induced inhomogeneity of constitutive paste allowed to introduce a three-component model of fresh concrete. Furthermore, to find models capable of predicting the parameters of structural build-up of concrete, i.e. static yield stress and structuration rate, concrete was viewed as a suspension of aggregate particles in suspending medium. Three approaches were employed to define the correspondent components. Suspending medium was represented by plain cement paste, screened cement paste and fine mortar considered as a part of concrete comprising particles below 0.5 mm; a substantiation for such a definition was provided. Applicability and limitations of the models based on all three approaches were compared. The modelling approach was further extended to printable concretes with nearly identical aggregate compositions, but different properties of paste. Opportunities and challenges in modelling the structural build-up of printable concrete, including the problem of material dependency of the models and the relevancy of fitting coefficients, were discussed. A modified Chateau-Ovarlez-Trung model based on the definition of suspending medium as fine mortar was acknowledged as best suited to describe the structural build-up of both ordinary and printable concrete

Scientific Representations about Self-development of Personality: History and Modernity

The article is the result of theoretical generalizations on the problems of a retrospective analysis of the essence of self- development and the definition on this basis of a methodological approach in pedagogy which today can be considered as a key one in the context of the general direction of development of modern education Self-development of the personality appears as an interdisciplinary category the formation of which has a long history and is based on the views of philosophers The reference to the works of domestic and foreign authors philosophers psychologists teachers The main difference between the concepts and theories of self-development lies in their methodological foundations while the positions of domestic and foreign authors are brought together by the characteristic of the individual as an instance initiating their own development by considering self-development as the highest value and the main need of the individual As a methodological approach in pedagogy that meets the challenges of modern education an existential approach is determined based on the ideas of individualization and orientation on the upbringing of a free person responsible for his actions and choices Research based on the methodology of existential pedagogy proposed by M I Rozhkov and O S Grebenyuk is a promising direction in the development of modern scientific pedagogical thought The pedagogical support of students self-development based on the methodology of the existential approach can be considered in the educational system as a promising personified educational process that creates the conditions for personal self-developmen

Phenotyping of Dairy Cattle in Breeding Programs

This article examines the phenotypic features of cattle and their use in breeding to improve the characteristics of milk productivity. As part of the research, 483 black-andwhite pedigree cows in the breeding enterprises of the Omsk region were evaluated by a set of characteristics. It was found that the average age of calving cows was 2.5 years. 42.7% in the total cow population were full-grown cows. The maximum level of milk productivity was observed in second lactation cows. The milk yield for 305 days of the second lactation was 6.720 kg, which was 621 kg or 9.24% higher than that in first-calf heifers. The phenotypic characterization of breeding stock allowed us to identify all the necessary reserves for obtaining high-yielding offspring, in order to increase the level of milk production in the black-and-white cattle population of the region. This research was conducted with the use of the technical base and laboratory areas of the Department of Animal Science (Faculty of Animal Science, Commodity Science and Standardization), as well as the Center for the Collective Use of Scientific Equipment of the Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education “Omsk State Agrarian University named after P.A. Stolypin”. The analytical data and the results of the research presented in this publication may be of interest for students of specialized educational institutions, as well as for specialists in dairy cattle farming, and can be implemented at breeding enterprises. Keywords: Phenotyping, breeding, milk productivity, cattl

Markers of inflammation in patients with psoriasis vulgaris and psoriatic arthritis

Introduction: The pathogenesis of psoriasis is complex. Genetic factors have a basic role, followed by immunological disturbances, which have been found to provoke a chronic inflammatory process affecting the skin and joints. The study aimed to establish and analyze the relationship between the inflammatory manifestations and vitamin D status in the patients with psoriasis.Patients and methods: We investigated 113 patients with moderate or severe psoriasis, divided in two groups for analysis: presence of psoriasis without psoriatic arthritis (n=73) and with psoriatic arthritis (n=40). Clinical data for inflammation were assessed by Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). At hospital admission samples were collected for C-reactive protein (CRP) and blood count, as well as for 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 25(OH)D. The serum levels of 25(OH)D were tested with immune fluorescent method in 92 patients.Results: The patients with psoriatic arthritis compared to psoriatic patients without arthritis had higher C-reactive protein (31.77 30.61 mg/l vs. 4.13 4.19 mg/l, p<0.0001) and PASI (35.20 11.31 vs. 28.82 12.51, p=0.012) but lower 25(OH)D (10.66 8.73 ng/ml vs. 12.98 6.23 ng/ml, p=0.004). The significant correlation was found between the level of CRP and 25(OH)D, r= -0.2631 (p=0.012) and CRP and PASI, r=0.1993 (p=0.036).Conclusion: The serum level of CRP and 25(OH)D, the vitamin D deficiency respectively, could be accepted as markers for worse health condition according to the clinical manifestations of psoriasis, as well as the comorbid diseases

COMPETENCE AS A FACTOR OF EMOTIONAL CAPITAL

Use of modern knowledge and technologies determines market development which grows with high rates. Today's business environment cause changes that affect the formation of the modern technologies, including business models, which generates changes not only the competencies, but I soft skills, including emotional capital, as a factor influencing the development of modern companies. Article investigates configuration during company growth process. Researching relevance and justification, the purpose of work is conception of factors, which positively influenced development of the entity, organization developments influencing on the productive direction. The aim of the article is to provide the competence concept and its components to identify interrelationship with knowledge and skills which is related to emotional intelligence as a part of emotional capital . And as the result, the emotional equity as element of competence, acting as the regulator, carries out a role of positive feedback within strategic management

Vitamin D status in patients with psoriasis

Introduction: Vitamin D may act as immune modulator in psoriasis and be related with disease characteristics. Our study aimed to evaluate the vitamin D status in patients admitted for diagnostics or exacerbation of psoriasis.Material and methods: 92 patients (50 male, 42 female, mean age 55 years) were included in analysis. Disease severity was assessed by Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI). Type of disease was classified according to age at presentation as early (up to 40 years) and late (above 40 years). Serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D, 25(OH)D, were tested with immune fluorescent method (ADVIA Centaur Vitamin D Total, Siemens).Results: The mean level of 25(OH)D in psoriatic patients was 12.07 ng/ml (30.18 nmol/l), found at low limit of insufficiency; related 95% CI range was 10.55 - 13.60 ng/ml (26.38 - 33.99 nmol/l). A total of 45 of 92 patients (48.9%) had vitamin D insufficiency (defined as 25 (OH) D level of 10 to 30 ng/ml), 44 patients (47.82%) had deficiency (< 10 ng/ml) and only in 3 patients 25(OH)D was assessed at level of sufficiency. Vitamin D level correlate with PASI (r=-0.508), but does not correlate with C-reactive protein. No significant difference in vitamin D status was observed in patients with obesity and early type 1 psoriasis.Conclusion: High prevalence (47.83%) of vitamin D deficiency in patients with moderate and severe psoriasis suspects the role of vitamin D in pathogenesis of disease exacerbation. Vitamin D therapeutic supplementation needs to be clarified by further studies

Corporate social responsibility : specificity, formation mechanism, estimation of management efficiency

The analysis of ways and methods for increase of efficiency of role of the business in economy stabilization, environment protection, improvement of population's life quality, and therefore social responsibility of business is a topical problem which solving has both theoretical and practical value. Research objective is development of theoretical propositions and methodical and practical recommendations for estimation of efficiency of enterprise restructuring on the basis of holistic marketing and degree of its social responsibility. Research tasks: clarification of definition and specificity of “business social responsibility” concept, development of the methodical approach to estimation of its condition, modelling of integral indicator of its development, clusterization of industrial enterprises on its basis. Methodology: The method of hierarchies’ analysis is a proved tool for solving of multi-criteria problems with hierarchical structures including complex system of factors affecting selection of solution for improvement of image of domestic enterprises. Results: Theoretical analysis of evolution of researches of corporate social responsibility was carried out; the essence of social responsibility concept of the Russian enterprise, its restructuring on the basis of holistic marketing, specificity of formation proceeding from analysis of its essence in foreign and domestic economic science were specified; - internal and external factors influencing development of corporate social responsibility of the organisations were determined, algorithm of multi-criteria estimation on the basis of hierarchies' analysis method taking into account most the representative indicators characterising efficiency of efforts was developed and tested. Conclusion / importance. The authors draw the conclusion that propositions developed in the work and received results can serve as a basis for development of enterprise management strategy focused on a long-term stable development taking into account interests of various interested parties of the company.peer-reviewe