Rapidly inducible, genetically targeted inactivation of neural and synaptic activity in vivo

Inducible and reversible perturbation of the activity of selected neurons in vivo is critical to understanding the dynamics of brain circuits. Several genetically encoded systems for rapid inducible neuronal silencing have been developed in the past few years offering an arsenal of tools for in vivo experiments. Some systems are based on ion-channels or pumps, others on G protein coupled receptors, and yet others on modified presynaptic proteins. Inducers range from light to small molecules to peptides. This diversity results in differences in the various parameters that may determine the applicability of each tool to a particular biological question. Although further development would be beneficial, the current silencing tool kit already provides the ability to make specific perturbations of circuit function in behaving animals

Germination of pine seed in weightlessness (investigation in Kosmos 782)

An investigation was made of the orientation of aboveground and underground organs of pine plants grown from seed in weightlessness. Orientation was found to be caused by the position of the seeds relative to the substrate surface. Normal growth was manifest only for the plants grown from seed oriented with embryo toward the substrate. Differences were noted between experiment and control as to the quantitative content of nucleoli in the meristematic cells of the rootlets and the shape of cells in the cotyledonous leaflets. No complete agreement was found between data obtained in weightlessness and when gravity was compensated (clinostat treatment with horizontal rotation)

Pine seed germination under weightlessness (a study of the Kosmos 782 satellite)

Orientation of the above and underground organs of pine plants, grown from seeds under weightlessness, was found to be determined by seed position on the substrate. Normal plant growth was observed only if the seed embryos were oriented toward the substrate. Some differences were noted between the experimental and control plants concerning the amount of nucleoli in the root meristematic cells and the cell shape in cotyledonous leaves. No complete similarity was found in experimental results obtained with plants under weightlessness and under compensated gravity. The seeds were obtained from Pinus silvestris, considered to be particularly suitable for this experiment

Organizational model of the congress and exhibition cluster in the field of business travel

The relevance of the analyzed issue is caused by the growth of the international trade in the intensity of business travel services, including in the field of the congress and exhibition business, which necessitates the formation of the effective management model of business travel services at the destination level. The purpose of the article is to substantiate the formation algorithm of the cluster development strategy of tourism and the development of organizational functioning models of the congress and exhibition cluster in the destination. The leading approach to the study of this issue is the method of modeling, which allowed considering the practice of clusters functioning as a sequence of stages of its formation and development, taking into account the resource potential of destinations. Results: the article presents a stepwise algorithm for creating the congress and exhibition cluster in the destination and proves the fundamental organizational model for its functioning in the business tourism market; isolates and systematized criteria and indicators for assessing the contribution of participants of the tourism cluster in the destination development. The contents of this article may be useful for researchers, interested in the use of the cluster approach in the services sector, as well as to regional authorities, responsible for the development of tourism. © 2016 Karpova et al

Craft training in Russia: Theory and practice of development

The relevance of the research topic is substantiated by the social commitment to the establishment of a system of craft training focused on training personnel for craft enterprises. The purpose of the article is to provide theoretical and methodological substantiation of the necessity to provide organizational and pedagogical foundations for the development of craft training in Russia. The main method of research on this problem is the method of studying and generalizing the pedagogic experience to identify the main tendencies and contradictions of formation of a new kind of vocational education in Russia. The outcome of the research is the theoretical and methodological justification of the development of craft training as a special kind of vocational education, revealing its role and place in the social economic sphere and in the system of vocational education; the identification of the value and target base and organizational pedagogical foundations of the development of vocational education in crafts as a set of interrelated managerial and organizational, informative and technological ideas, principles and conditions taking into account the patterns and contradictions of development of this kind of education. The material of the article may be useful for practitioners and researchers in the field of vocational education, for lecturers and graduate students who are interested in the development of the system of vocational education and training. © 2016. Romantsev et al

The influenza epidemic in Russia during the 2014–2015 season

The goal of this study was to compare the data on the intensity of the influenza A(H3N2) and B epidemic (especially the death toll) in the 2014–2015 season with the previous epidemic of the 2013-2014 season. The data on weekly morbidity, hospitalization, deaths from influenza, and acute respiratory diseases in different age groups of inhabitants of 59 cities located in 7 Federal districts of the Russian Federation were collected using the database of the Research Institute of Influenza.Analysis of this data showed that the influenza epidemic in 2014-2015 began earlier (in December) compared to the epidemic of 2013-2014, and spread mainly from Europe through Russia to the East. The intensity of the epidemic of 2014-2015 was higher compared to the previous one. The epidemic was more prevalent by regions and cities and a wider engagement of different age groups (except children up to 2 years of age) was observed. At the peak of the epidemic, the morbidity level was higher, the average duration of the epidemic was longer, and the number of patients among cities’ inhabitants (especially among children 7-14 years of age and adults) was higher than in the previous season. The rates of hospitalization with influenza and acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) among patients older than 65 years were also higher (1.4 times) as well as the frequency of hospitalization with a diagnosis of “influenza” (2.7 times) and the number of deaths from laboratory confirmed influenza (1.8 times).Although the influenza pandemic virus strain A(H1N1)pdm09 was not the main causative agent of the 2015 epidemic and was distributed sporadically it still remained the leading cause of deaths from influenza in the course of this epidemic (45.5% of all cases). The deaths associated with this strain were recorded only in the European part of Russian Federation.The goal of this study was to compare the data on the intensity of the influenza A(H3N2) and B epidemic (especially the death toll) in the 2014–2015 season with the previous epidemic of the 2013-2014 season. The data on weekly morbidity, hospitalization, deaths from influenza, and acute respiratory diseases in different age groups of inhabitants of 59 cities located in 7 Federal districts of the Russian Federation were collected using the database of the Research Institute of Influenza. Analysis of this data showed that the influenza epidemic in 2014-2015 began earlier (in December) compared to the epidemic of 2013-2014, and spread mainly from Europe through Russia to the East. The intensity of the epidemic of 2014-2015 was higher compared to the previous one. The epidemic was more prevalent by regions and cities and a wider engagement of different age groups (except children up to 2 years of age) was observed. At the peak of the epidemic, the morbidity level was higher, the average duration of the epidemic was longer, and the number of patients among cities’ inhabitants (especially among children 7-14 years of age and adults) was higher than in the previous season. The rates of hospitalization with influenza and acute respiratory viral infections (ARVI) among patients older than 65 years were also higher (1.4 times) as well as the frequency of hospitalization with a diagnosis of “influenza” (2.7 times) and the number of deaths from laboratory confirmed influenza (1.8 times). Although the influenza pandemic virus strain A(H1N1)pdm09 was not the main causative agent of the 2015 epidemic and was distributed sporadically it still remained the leading cause of deaths from influenza in the course of this epidemic (45.5% of all cases). The deaths associated with this strain were recorded only in the European part of Russian Federation

Стан біохімічних систем крові білих щурів в умовах алкогольного ураження печінки та профілактичної дії метадоксину

It was developed model of alcoholic hepatitis by intragastric administration of 40 % ethanol at a dose of 7 ml/kg body weight of male Wistar rats for 7 days. As a biochemical marker of alcoholic hepatitis were used indicators of cytolytic syndrome (activity of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, catalase), cholestatic syndromes (alkaline phosphatase, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase) and lipid exchange (levels of cholesterol, triglycerides). It was shown that metadoxine (ionic salt of pyridoxine and pyroglutamic acid), which was administered preventively intragastrically at a dose of 90 mg/kg 30 min prior to the administration of alcohol, normalized activity of aspartate aminotransferase and catalase; gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase; triglycerides. The lack of a positive influence of metadoxine on the other studied biochemical blood parameters indicatives that mechanisms of development of alcoholic hepatitis and course of its are different. It is assumed that the hepatoprotective effect of the drug is realized through antioxidant mechanism.Воспроизведена модель алкогольного гепатита путем внутрижелудочного введения 40% раствора этанола в дозе 7 мл/кг массы тела крыс самцов линии Вистар в течение 7 дней. В качестве биохимических маркеров алкогольного гепатита использованы показатели цитолитического синдрома (активность аланинаминотрансферазы, аспартатаминотрансферазы, каталазы), холестатического синдрома (активность щелочной фосфатазы, гамма-глутамилтранспептидазы) и липидного обмена (содержание холестерина, триглицеридов). Показано, что метадоксин (ионная соль пиридоксина и пироглутаминовой кислоты) при профилактическом введении внутрижелудочного в дозе 90 мг/кг за 30 минут до введения алкоголя нормализовал активность аспартатаминотрансферазы и каталазы; гамма-глутамилтранспептидазы; содержание триглицеридов. Отсутствие положительного влияния метадоксина на другие исследуемые биохимические показатели крови свидетельствует о различных механизмах возникновения алкогольного гепатита и его течения. Предполагается, что гепатопротекторное действие препарата опосредовано антиоксидантным механизмом.Відтворено модель алкогольного гепатиту шляхом внутрішньошлункового введення 40 % розчину етанолу в дозі 7 мл/кг маси тіла щурів-самців лінії Вістар протягом 7 днів. В якості біохімічних маркерів алкогольного гепатиту використані показники цитолітичного синдрому (активність аланінамінотрансферази, аспартатамінотрансферази, каталази), холестатичного синдрому (активність лужної фосфатази, гамма-глутамілтранспептидази) та ліпідного обміну (вміст холестерину, тригліцеридів). Показано, що метадоксин (іонна сіль піридоксину та піроглутамінової кислоти) при профілактичному введенні внутрішньошлунково в дозі 90 мг/кг за 30 хвилин до введення алкоголю нормалізував активність аспартатамінотрансферази та каталази; гамма-глутамілтранспептидази; вміст тригліцеридів. Відсутність позитивного впливу метадоксину на інші досліджувані біохімічні показники крові свідчить про різні механізми виникнення алкогольного гепатиту та його перебігу. Передбачається, що гепатозахисна дія препарату опосередкована антиоксидантним механізмом