Disposable potentiometric sensory system for skin antioxidant activity evaluation

The skin is a natural barrier between the external and internal environment. Its protective functions and the relationship of its state with the state of health of the organism as a whole are very important. It is known that oxidant stress (OS) is a common indicator of health status. This paper describes a new sensory system for monitoring OS of the skin using antioxidant activity (AOA) as its criteria. The contact hybrid potentiometric method (CHPM) and new electrochemical measuring scheme were used. A new sensory system, including disposable modified screen-printed carbon and silver electrodes covered by membrane impregnated by mediator, was developed. Its informative ability was demonstrated in the evaluation of the impact of fasting, consumption of food and food enriched by vitamins (antioxidants) on skin AOA. This device consisting of a sensory system and potentiometric analyzer can be used in on-site and in situ formats. © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

The effect of the antioxidant activity of plant extracts on the properties of gold nanoparticles

Synthesis of gold nanoparticles (phyto-AuNPs) with the use of leaf extracts (phytosynthesis) is based on the concept of Green Chemistry. The present study is conducted to discuss how antioxidant activity (AOA) of extracts from plant leaves impacts on the kinetics of phytosynthesis, the size of the formed nanoparticles, and the stability of their nanosuspensions. Results show that the formation rate of phyto-AuNPs suspensions accelerate due to the increase in the AOA of the extracts. Accompanying the use of transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-Vis-spectrophotometry and dynamic light scattering (DLS), it also has been found that higher AOA of the extracts leads to a decrease in the size of phyto-AuNPs, an increase in the fraction of small (d ≤ 5 nm), and a decrease in the fraction of large (d ≥ 31–50 nm) phyto-AuNPs, as well as an increase in the zeta potential in absolute value. Phyto-AuNPs suspensions synthesized with the use of extracts are more resistant to destabilizing electrolytes and ultrasound, as compared to suspensions synthesized using sodium citrate. Thus, the AOA of the extract is an important parameter for controlling phytosynthesis and predicting the properties of phyto-AuNPs. The proposed approach can be applied to the targeted selection of plant extract that will be used for synthesizing nanoparticles with desired properties. © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.Russian Foundation for Basic Research, RFBR: 17-03-00679_АFunding: This research was funded by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research, grant number 17-03-00679_А

Antioxidant Activity of Plants as an Indicator of the Environmental State

В статье рассматриваются природные и антропогенные факторы, влияющие на содержание антиоксидантов в растениях. Показана корреляция между содержанием антиоксидантов в растениях и состоянием окружающей среды. Проведена оценка антиоксидантной активности местных уральских растений, растущих в разных экологических условиях.The article examines natural and anthropogenic factors affecting the content of antioxidants in plants. A correlation has been shown between the content of antioxidants in plants and the state of the environment. An assessment of the antioxidant activity of local Ural plants growing in different environmental conditions has been carried out

Eco-Friendly Materials for Electrochemical Sensors

В статье рассматривается применение принципов «зеленой химии» в электрохимической сенсорике. Обсуждаются экологически чистые методы получения модифицирующих материалов для электрохимических сенсоров.The article discusses the application of "green chemistry" principles in electrochemical sensors. Environmentally friendly methods for obtaining modifying materials for electrochemical sensors are discussed

Developing a new medical school at a new university in Kazakhstan

Nazarbayev University (NU) was dedicated in June 2010 by Kazakhstan President Nursultan Nazarbayev, with the mission of making the republic's 15-year-old capital, Astana, Eurasia's leading research and educational center. Each NU academic unit is paired with an international partner; instruction is in English. The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (UPSOM) was selected as NU's partner to develop the NU School of Medicine (NUSOM) based on a U.S. model. Combined with the six hospitals of National Medical Holding (NMH), also part of NU, and NU's Center for Life Sciences, NU plans to create Kazakhstan's first integrated academic health system

Преимущества специализации судов по социальным и трудовым спорам

There are no comparative studies of judicial specialization concerning Kazakhstani practice, and the methodology for assessing its specific advantages and disadvantages has not been developed. After a few remarks on the advantages and disadvantages of judicial specialization, this manuscript takes a detailed look at the state of the problem in Kazakhstan, where the announced reforms indicate a new trend in favor of the creation of new specialized courts. It is concluded that specialization indicates the development and functionality of the judicial system of the state. Specialization is both the basis for building the country’s judicial system and an important means of its dynamic progressive development. At the same time, judicial specialization should be approached with extreme caution, always evaluating its implementation from different angles and in the light of all the possible side effects that it may have on the proper administration of justice, as well as on the core purposes and values of the judiciary. The paper highlights the factors that make up the argument for the creation of social and labor courts in Kazakhstan. We also argue that the basis for the creation of specialized social and labor courts in Kazakhstan might be something more than just increasing the competence and efficiency of the court; this signals a step towards making decisions focused on the qualitative resolution of social and labor conflicts that have the potential danger of influencing the stability of statehoodОтсутствуют сравнительные исследования судебной специализации в практике Казахстана, методология оценки ее преимуществ и недостатков также не была разработана. В статье подробно рассмотрена данная проблема в стране, где объявленные реформы предполагают создание новых специализированных судов. Сделан вывод, что специализация влияет на развитие и функциональность судебной системы государства, будучи ее основой и важным средством динамичного поступательного развития. В то же время введение судебной специализации требует осторожности и оценки с разных точек зрения. В статье приведены аргументы в пользу создания социальных и трудовых судов в Казахстане. Мы также утверждаем, что такое решение может дать больше, чем просто повышение компетентности и эффективности суда. Это шаг на пути к качественному разрешению социальных и трудовых конфликтов, которые могут быть потенциально опасны для государственной стабильност

Food Colorings: Benefit and Harms

В статье рассматриваются сферы применения натуральных и синтетических красителей. Обсуждается отрицательное влияние красителей и продуктов их распада на экосистему и здоровье человека. Обсуждаются существующие аналитические методы обнаружения красителей.The article discusses the scope of natural and synthetic dyes. The negative impact of dyes and their decay products on the ecosystem and human health is discussed. The existing analytical methods for the detection of dyes are discussed