The aspectual distribution and modal licensing in Russian infinitival constructions

The puzzle to be explored here is why Russian Modal Dative Infinitival Constructions (DMCs) are restricted in their aspectual choice. Specifically, in declarative environments, only imperfective is grammatical. Perfective requires non-veridical environments. This paper offers a unified account for the aspectual distribution in DMCs in terms of licensing conditions on a covert future modal. Extending Todorović and Wurmbrand’s (2016) analysis of future infinitives to Russian DMCs, I propose that the difference between perfective and imperfective structures is attributed to the absence/presence of the present tense. The main claim is that similar to English and BCS future tense constructions, DMCs involve a covert future modal (e.g, need), which needs to be licensed by non-veridical operators when the infinitival DMC lacks the tense components. The licensing conditions on covert future modals lay the foundation to understanding the aspectual distribution in infinitival structures across languages

Aspect as an indicator of a clausal size in Involuntary State Constructions in BCS

Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (BCS) has a productive ‘involuntary state construction (ISC) with a modal interpretation. There is an ongoing debate concerning the syntactic complexity of this construction. According to one account – the “mono-clausal analysis”, ISCs have only one (overt) lexical verb, and the modal interpretation stems from the imperfective operator (Rivero and Milojević-Sheppard 2003,Rivero 2009, Tsedryk 2016). There is also a “bi-clausal account” which argues in favor of a covert matrix verb of involuntary disposition feel-like, which takes a clausal ModP complement, giving the modal interpretation (Marušič & Žaucer 2005 [henceforth M&Ž]). In this paper, I provide additional evidence in favor of the bi-clausal approach and in so doing, account for a previously unresolved aspectual restriction on the construction, namely that it is ungrammatical with a perfective lexical verb. The main claim is that the unavailability of perfective in the ISC is due to selectional properties of covert feel-like, which results in the violation of requirements on perfective

The Orchestration Course in a Higher Conservatory: An Exploratory Study on Learning Processes

El alumnado de composición tiene que realizar ejercicios de orquestación de diferente índole, apoyándose en las descripciones de los instrumentos y las combinaciones instrumentales proporcionadas en los manuales Nuestro objetivo es detectar y definir posibles lagunas formativas en este proceso. Para ello, reclutamos estudiantes de composición. Se les encomendó la tarea de orquestar un fragmento y comentar por escrito sus decisiones. Se analizaron los productos musicales y escritos con base en categorías establecidas previamente a partir de la información de los manuales. Resultados: detectamos que el proceder del alumnado consistía en reconocer patrones y aplicarles fórmulas de instrumentación aprendidas.When performing orchestration tasks, students must rely on descriptions of instruments and instrumental combinations provided in handbooks. We aimed to detect and delimit possible formative voids in this training process. Composition students, whom we recruited, we asked to orchestrate a fragment transcribed for piano and write down their decisions regarding the task. We analyzed the obtained musical and written products in the frame of categories we established backing on information retrieved from orchestration handbooks. Results: our group of participants proceeded by recognizing familiar patterns and applying learned instrumentation combinations associated with these patterns.Universidad de Jaé

Colorimetry and Dichromatic Vision

Normal trichromats have three types of cone photoreceptors: L, M, and S cones (most sensitive to long, medium, or short wavelengths, respectively). Therefore, standard colorimetry is based on three variables (X, Y, Z). Dichromats only have two types of functional cones due to genetic factors. The main consequences are that dichromats (1) confuse colors that can only be discriminated by the response of the type of cone they lack and (2) make errors when naming colors. Chromaticity diagrams can be used to specify dichromats’ color confusions. Confusion points represent imaginary stimuli that only activate L, M, or S cones. Confusion lines radiate from confusion points and represent pseudoisochromatic stimuli (i.e., colors confused by the corresponding type of dichromat if presented at an appropriate intensity). Dichromat’s color appearance models have been developed to simulate the colors supposedly seen by dichromats, and there exist color simulation tools that implement some of those models

ANTIOXIDANT, METABOLIC AND ANTITUMOR ACTIVITY OF TRITERPENOIDS COMBINATION WITH CYTOSTATICS

Objective: To study the effect of betulin derivatives combination with 5-fluorouracil or hydrazine sulfate on the ROS generation, the SOD and LDH activity using rat blood, as well as the effect of combination drugs on Ehrlich carcinoma in experiments on mice. Methods: We used a chemiluminescence technique to study the ROS generation, and spectrophotometry to determine the MDA level and the SOD and LDH activity. The model of transplanted Ehrlich ascites carcinoma was investigated on mice using a cytological analysis of ascitic fluid cells according to Pappenheim`s method. Results: In vitro experiments on rat blood at the doses of 2, 5 and 10 μg per ml revealed the dose-dependent effect of combination drugs on the antioxidant properties. In plasma, the ROS generation and the MDA level increased by 10-300% in comparison with control at the doses of 5 and 10 μg per ml only. Still, the SOD and LDH activity in general increased by 10-130% in comparison with control under the action of the studied combination drugs. The study on mice showed the effectiveness of a combination of triterpenoids and cytostatics in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma therapy. The state and behavior of the animals improved, the volume of ascites fluid decreased by 40-50% after treatment for 10 d. Conclusion: The combination of betulin derivatives with cytostatics can be used as antitumor drugs in Ehrlich ascites carcinoma therapy that is due to metabolic plasticity, increased ROS generation in enhanced antioxidant enzyme protection

THE IMPROVEMENT OF BETULIN-3, 28-DIPHOSPHATE WATER-SOLUBILITY BY COMPLEXATION WITH AMINES–MEGLUMINE AND XYMEDON

Objective: To study betulin-3,28-diphosphate (BDP) water solubility improved by forming salt complexes with hydrophilic amino alcohols: meglumine as acidosis corrector and xymedon as the water-soluble antioxidant. Methods: We used 13C-, 31P-NMR, UV-spectroscopy and potentiometric titration to study the BDP-amine salt complexes formation and their solubility using HPLC-analysis. Results: The participation of xymedon in the proton transfer reaction with BDP in aqueous solutions was confirmed by the bathochromic shift of the carbonyl band from 299.1 nm to 304.2 nm, and by a hyperchromic effect (molar extinction ε from 8508 to 10 441 l·mol-1·cm-1) in UV-spectra. BDP complexation with meglumine was estimated by UV-spectral molar ratio method at 256 nm. Molar ratio of BDP-amine complexes (1:4) was proved by 31P-NMR. The chemical shift of phosphorus at C-3 atom of BDP (δ =-0.58 ppm) changed to+3.39 ppm, and at C-28 atom (δ =+0.28 ppm)–to+4.60 ppm. BDP solubility increased 100-600 fold according to HPLC-analysis. Conclusion: BDP interaction with amine in an aqueous solution was shown to proceed via a proton transfer due to relatively weak forces such as London forces, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. In general, the formation of BDP salt complexes with amines in solution determines BDP water solubility. Water-soluble BDP enables to develop hydrophilic dosage forms

DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL CAPITAL IN EDUCATIONAL PROCESS

The article is devoted to educational opportunities for the formation of social capital. Social capital is manifested in the ability of people to communicate and work together. Analysis of the concept of social capital allows understanding the foundations of social interaction, the need for trust, and the relationship between the formation and distribution of the social trust, norms, and social capital itself. Social capital does not exist outside people. Social capital cannot be characterized as an attribute of a separate individual. Social capital belongs to the group, the community. Learning is a situation of joint activity. In modern pedagogy, the problem is how to teach, organizing effective joint forms of educational activity. In distance learning (e-learning), it is important to organize the educational environment to have properties that make up for the lack of live communication. Today, the subjective nature of the educational process, focused on the formation of a creative personality, is being affirmed. Educational priorities are aimed at comfortable, conflict-free cooperation between the student at all levels of the educational process and the teacher, perhaps even partnership. The teacher and the student jointly develop goals, objectives, problem search field of research, working "cocreatively," a mini-team. This anthropocentric pedagogical technology relates to project and problem technologies in the educational process

Secoisolariciresinol Diglucoside of Flaxseed and Its Metabolites: Biosynthesis and Potential for Nutraceuticals

Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), found mainly in flaxseed, is one of the essential lignans. SDG, as well as the beneficial fatty acid composition and high fiber content, has made flaxseed an important source of functional food or nutraceutical ingredients. Various studies have shown that SDG offers several health benefits, including protective effects against cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and mental stress. These health benefits have been attributed to the antioxidant properties of SDG. Additionally, SDG metabolites, namely mammalian lignans, enterodiol and enterolactone, have shown promising effects against cancer. Therefore, understanding the biosynthetic pathway of SDG and its molecular mechanisms is a key to enable the production of new flaxseed cultivars rich in nutraceutical content. The present review highlights studies on the different health benefits of SDG, as well as lignan biosynthesis in flaxseed and genes involved in the biosynthetic pathway. Since SDG, the predominant lignan in flaxseed, is a glycosylated lignan, we also focus on studies investigating the genes involved in secoisolariciresinol glycosylation. These genes can be used to produce new cultivars with a novel level of glycosylation or lignan composition to maximize the yields of lignans with a therapeutic or protective potential

Hemoglobin is an oxygen-dependent glutathione buffer adapting the intracellular reduced glutathione levels to oxygen availability

Fast changes in environmental oxygen availability translate into shifts in mitochondrial free radical production. An increase in intraerythrocytic reduced glutathione (GSH) during deoxygenation would support the detoxification of exogenous oxidants released into the circulation from hypoxic peripheral tissues. Although reported, the mechanism behind this acute oxygen-dependent regulation of GSH in red blood cells remains unknown. This study explores the role of hemoglobin (Hb) in the oxygen-dependent modulation of GSH levels in red blood cells. We have demonstrated that a decrease in Hb O2 saturation to 50% or less observed in healthy humans while at high altitude, or in red blood cell suspensions results in rising of the intraerythrocytic GSH level that is proportional to the reduction in Hb O2 saturation. This effect was not caused by the stimulation of GSH de novo synthesis or its release during deglutathionylation of Hb's cysteines. Using isothermal titration calorimetry and in silico modeling, we observed the non-covalent binding of four molecules of GSH to oxy-Hb and the release of two of them upon deoxygenation. Localization of the GSH binding sites within the Hb molecule was identified. Oxygen-dependent binding of GSH to oxy-Hb and its release upon deoxygenation occurred reciprocally to the binding and release of 2,3-bisphosphoglycerate. Furthermore, noncovalent binding of GSH to Hb moderately increased Hb oxygen affinity. Taken together, our findings have identified an adaptive mechanism by which red blood cells may provide an advanced antioxidant defense to respond to oxidative challenges immediately upon deoxygenation