Electrical properties and local domain structure of LiNbO3 thin film grown by ion beam sputtering method

The nanocrystalline ferroelectric LiNbO3 films on (001) Si substrates with the random orientation of polycrystalline grains and the predominance of the grains with lateral orientation of the polar axis were grown using the ion beam sputtering method. The remanent polarization and the coercive field are 12 μC/cm2 and 29 kV/cm, respectively. The thermal annealing leads to the coarsening of the grains. The appearance of the "local texture," which gives rise to the unipolarity of the heterostructures caused by the predominance of the one direction in the vertical component of the spontaneous polarization, is investigated. © The Chinese Society for Metals and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

Effects of α-amylase, endo-xylanase and exoprotease combination on dough properties and bread quality

Received: January 31st, 2021 ; Accepted: May 2nd, 2021 ; Published: May 6th, 2021 ; Correspondence: [email protected] enzymes composition is an actual alternative to chemicals to improve functional properties of flours and to generate changes in the structure of the dough and bread quality. The objective of this study was to analyze the individual and synergistic effects of enzymes preparation (α-amylase, endo-xylanase and exoprotease), newly produced in Russia, on dough properties and bread quality made from wheat flour with different amylolytic activity. Reofermentometric results revealed decreases in gas-forming capacity of dough by 10.0–13.9% when single α-amylase preparates were used. The α-amylase addition had significant effect on gas retention coefficient in flour possessed low amylolytic activity. The effect of endo-xylanase and exoprotease on hydration and amount of wheat gluten was established. The fractional composition of gluten proteins in the dough made with combination of endo-xylanase and exoprotease was established using Lowry method immediately after kneading and after fermentation. It was found that mainly water-soluble, alcohol-soluble and alkaline-soluble proteins were undergone by transformation. The bread with enzymes had a higher specific volume, porosity and aldehyde content and lower shape stability indicator than the control bread made without enzymes. Bread with enzymes was characterized by tenderer and not crumbly crumb with developed thin-walled uniform porosity compared to the control. The crusts were more brightly colored. The combined usage of α-amylase and endo-xylanase and exoprotease retarded bread staling during 5-day storage period. New enzyme composition may be a potentially strong candidate for future applications in the bread-making industry

Innovative technologies in the treatment of short bowel syndrome

Introdiction. In recent years, many new technologies for the management of patients with short bowel syndrom (SBS), including SBS-IF (short bowel syndrom with intestinal failor), have appeared. The implemented surgical techniques are aimed at slowing down the progress of intestinal contents (antiperistaltic inserts, the creation of artificial valves in the small intestine, loops or pockets from the small intestine, etc.); surgical elongation of the small intestine (the most common STEP, Bianchy technique); intestinal transplantation. At the same time, when the intestine is shortened to 1.5–2,0 m, the adaptive rearrangements are still able to provide (albeit suppressed), but partially preserved absorption processes (in 80% of cases, the surface of the intestine is sufficient for slow transport of nutrients from the intestine to the blood). Therefore, it is important to increase the efficiency of adaptive rearrangements in any conservative way shown.Аim. Тo evaluate the role of hormonal stimulation of adaptive rearrangements in the residual bowel stump.Materials and methods. Рarameters of the well-known alimentary-volemic diagnosis, assessment of adaptive changes in the gastrointestinal tract (performed by determining citruline and GLP-2, as well as by morphological method). To stimulate the regulation of adaptive processes, a hormone preparation GLP-2 (teduglutide) was used in the nutritional support program.Results. It was shown that the length of the intestinal stump up to 1.5–2.0 m allows for digestive and transport processes due to adaptive rearrangements of the intestinal epithelium. With a super-short intestine, it is advisable to choose surgical methods of correction.Conclusion. For conservative correction of adaptive processes in the intestine, it is advisable to use a GLP-2 hormone preparation, in particular, teduglutide

Functional properties of the Su(Hw) complex are determined by its regulatory environment and multiple interactions on the Su(Hw) protein platform

The Su(Hw) protein was first identified as a DNA-binding component of an insulator complex in Drosophila. Insulators are regulatory elements that can block the enhancer-promoter communication and exhibit boundary activity. Some insulator complexes contribute to the higher-order organization of chromatin in topologically associated domains that are fundamental elements of the eukaryotic genomic structure. The Su(Hw)-dependent protein complex is a unique model for studying the insulator, since its basic structural components affecting its activity are already known. However, the mechanisms involving this complex in various regulatory processes and the precise interaction between the components of the Su(Hw) insulators remain poorly understood. Our recent studies reveal the fine mechanism of formation and function of the Su(Hw) insulator. Our results provide, for the first time, an example of a high complexity of interactions between the insulator proteins that are required to form the (Su(Hw)/Mod(mdg4)-67.2/CP190) complex. All interactions between the proteins are to a greater or lesser extent redundant, which increases the reliability of the complex formation. We conclude that both association with CP190 and Mod(mdg4)-67.2 partners and the proper organization of the DNA binding site are essential for the efficient recruitment of the Su(Hw) complex to chromatin insulators. In this review, we demonstrate the role of multiple interactions between the major components of the Su(Hw) insulator complex (Su(Hw)/Mod(mdg4)-67.2/CP190) in its activity. It was shown that Su(Hw) may regulate the enhancer–promoter communication via the newly described insulator neutralization mechanism. Moreover, Su(Hw) participates in direct regulation of activity of vicinity promoters. Finally, we demonstrate the mechanism of organization of “insulator bodies” and suggest a model describing their role in proper binding of the Su(Hw) complex to chromatin

Creativity, Readiness for Changes and Tolerance for Ambiguity

Under the conditions of precarious situation, caused by the global pandemic and unprecedented restrictions, aimed at countering it, productivity of specialists in various fields of work is reducing significantly. This is particularly true of activities, conducted through direct communication between concerned parties. In order to counter instability, workers have to develop creativity, readiness for changes and tolerance for ambiguity. The goal of research is to establish correlations between the type of professional activity and creativity, readiness for changes and tolerance for ambiguity. The respondents of the study were 260 people of working age –the staff of event, tourism, restaurant business, trade, IT spheres. The research procedure included organizational, target-oriented, empirical, final stages. Time limits of the study – April – July 2020. For psychodiagnostics the article uses the Torrance test of creative thinking, diagnostics of personal creativity by Tunik, the methodology “personal readiness for changes”, the scale of individual’s tolerance for ambiguity by McLain. The study found clear correlations between the indicators of creativity, readiness for changes and tolerance for ambiguity. The original model of a creative specialist (endowed with originality, adaptability, optimism and common sense) in the conditions of changes and uncertainty was formed in the research.The results of psychodiagnostics showed the highest indicators of creativity among IT workers, readiness for changes–among the staff of IT and event spheres, tolerance for ambiguity–among retail workers. In the conditions of pandemic destruction, the workers of the tourism industry were the least creative, while the workers of the event sphere turned out to be unprepared for changes and the workers of the event and tourism industries –intolerant for ambiguity. The results of the study can be used to develop correctional programs to increase the staff’s creativity, readiness for changes, tolerance for ambiguity. It is the development and implementation of effective psycho-correctional programs for the use of real communication and digital tools that are the prospect of further scientific research on the ways to solve the problem. </p

Exact propagators for SUSY partners

Pairs of SUSY partner Hamiltonians are studied which are interrelated by usual (linear) or polynomial supersymmetry. Assuming the model of one of the Hamiltonians as exactly solvable with known propagator, expressions for propagators of partner models are derived. The corresponding general results are applied to "a particle in a box", the Harmonic oscillator and a free particle (i.e. to transparent potentials).Comment: 31 page

STUDYING DEVELOPMENT OF POST-VACCINAL CELLULAR IMMUNITY AGAINST BRUCELLOSIS BY MEANS OF LYMPHOCYTE <i>IN VITRO</i> TESTS USING AN EXPERIMENTAL ANTIGENIC COMPLEX

Regulatory framework and methodological approaches to evaluation of immunological effects of vaccination against brucellosis are not established, and the degree of immunological post-vaccinal rearrangement is not yet developed. Due to leading role of cellular immunity in formation of immune protection against brucellosis, evaluation the cellular response in response to antigenic stimulation may be considered the most informative and objective approach to analysis of immune changes in the body during vaccination. In order to develop the most diagnostically informative methods for design of antigen-stimulation cell tests in vitro, a careful selection of a stimulating agent (antigen) is required, which should have a sufficient activating potential, thus providing specificity of reaction under in vitro conditions. The aim of the present study is to study the in vitro specific activity of a protein-polysaccharide antigenic complex from the Brucella abortus 19 BA strain (BrAg), and an opportunity of its application in order to assess the formation of post-vaccinal cellular immunity against brucellosis.The study was performed with white laboratory mice (n = 50) immunized with the Brucella abortus 19 BA strain. The control group (n = 50) consisted of laboratory mice that received a sterile saline solution in a volume of 0.5 ml. Blood samples were taken from immunized and control animals before vaccination, and 7, 14, 21, and 30 days after immunization. By means of flow cytometry, the activation molecules CD25, CD69, MHC II and CD95, expressed on T lymphocytes (CD3+CD69+, CD3+CD25+, CD3+CD95+, CD3+MHC+) were determined. To observe the development of immunity, the intensity of expression of T lymphocyte activation markers was calculated using the stimulation quotient. BrAg was used for specific in vitro stimulation of T lymphocytes. The liquid brucellosis allergen (brucellin) was used as an antigen for comparison, when studying opportunity of BrAg usage for assessing the postvaccinal immunity development.The following results were obtained: BrAg has pronounced specific activity, it did not cause non-specific in vitro reactions (activation) of T lymphocytes, thus enabling its application as a test antigen when evaluating development of adaptive vaccine immunity against brucella.Experimental testing of brucellosis antigen for carrying out the in vitro antigen-stimulated cellular reactions, aiming for evaluation of post-vaccinal immunity development against brucellosis, showed that the usage of BrAg promotes increase in diagnostic sensitivity of cellular reactions under in vitro experimental conditions. The applied experimental antigen is a quite promising tool for development of laboratory algorithms for brucellosis diagnostics, and assessment of actual vaccination efficiency in cohorts previously vaccinated against brucellosis