Preparation and antibacterial properties of composite nanostructures from titanium and copper oxides

Composite nanostructures of titanium and copper oxides have been produced on the surface of copper grids by thermal oxidation in combination with sol–gel method. The influence of the oxidation temperature and duration on the structural characteristics of the nanostructured copper oxides thus produced, in the form of CuO nanowire arrays, has been analyzed. X-ray diffraction characterization indicated the presence of crystalline titania in the form of anatase in the composite structures. The CuO/TiO2 structures have been shown to exhibit antibacterial activity under illumination with scattered light and visible light from an artificial light source, ensuring 100% cell death in Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus cultures in 30 and 90 min, respectively

Clinical and morphological features of salmonellosis in cows and calves affected by heat stress

Exposure to abnormally high temperatures in the Middle Urals has ledtochronic heat stress in cattle. Despitethe measures taken toprotect thedairy herdfrom overheating (fans, irrigationwith coolwater, livestocksunshades), the heatstressunderminedtheimmunityofanimals, thus, leadingtoan excessiverisein Salmonella population in the gastrointestinal tract, increasedin test in alpermeability, and could also bethecause of increasedvirulence of such serotypes as – Salmonella choleraesuis, that are not typical for cattle. The simultaneous presenceof twopathogensof Salmonella entericasubsp. entericaspecies: i.e. Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella choleraesuis – causeda number of clinical and morphological changesin adultcows. In cows, the infection manifested itself by persistent diarrhea with mucus, reduced milkproduction and intoxication. In calves, the disease was accompanied by septic signs, severein toxication, hyperthermia (40.5–41.0 °C), severed ehydration (morethan 7%) and death. Histopathological examination of bovineparenchymal organs revealed changes typical for salmonellos is pathological process: specific salmonella granulomas were foundin parenchymalorgans (liver, spleen). Some pathological processestypical for sepsiswere foundin other parenchymalorgans (kidneys, heart). The nature of pathological changes in dicates that there is as epticprocess that spreads both hematogenically and lymphogenically, and the structure of granulomas most likely indicates that such apathogen as Salmonelacholeraesuis circulates in cattle

Modern trends of Salmonella epidemic process

Modifications in the technology of foodstuff producing, storage and realization, the change of eating behavior along with the endless globalization process are followed by the intensive growth of salmonellosis, thus the permanent epidemiologic monitoring of this group of infections is necessary. The manifestations of the epidemic process of salmonellosis have been studied by an epidemic retrospective analysis and a random retrospective survey of “case – control” type. This article illustrates the analyzed data from Kemerovo region: 41820 cases of salmonellosis disease (1992-2012 г.г.), 1759 cards of the epidemiological study from the disease center (2011-2012 г.г.), the results of bacteriological monitoring (94790 samples of materials of animal origin and objects of the environment). Two periods of salmonellosis morbidity have been identified, which had significant differences in the intensity of epidemic process (the first one – from 1995 to 2004, the second one – from 2005 to 2012). During the first period the morbidity sharply decreased (Тпр. = 9.24%), in the second period, on the contrary, it raised (Тпр. = 9.60%). The growth of the number of the disease cases provoked by salmonella of serogroup D (Salmonella enteritidis) has been discovered. The maximum rate of the salmonellosis morbidity in the annual dynamics has been detected in August, the minimum one – in December. The special group of high risk is babies from 0 to 2 years old. It has been discovered that the majority of morbidities have been caused by a nutritional factor. There is a high rate of correlation between salmonella diseases and eating eggs and poultry products (OR = 4.27). It is obvious that the preventive measures for salmonellosis should be improved

Estimation of the integral toxicity of photocatalysts based on graphitic carbon nitride in a luminescent test

A ternary heterosystem consisting of crystalline graphitic carbon nitride, zinc oxide, and zinc sulfide (g-C3N4/ZnO/ZnS) was obtained by the one-stage decomposition of a mixture of thiourea and zinc acetate. The integral toxicity index of the resulting material was estimated in a luminescent test with a genetically modified Escherichia coli strain as a test object. The effect of quenching the luminescence of E. coli was noted both under exposure to UV radiation due to photocatalytic reactions on the surface of g-C3N4/ZnO/ZnS leading to the formation of highly oxidative radical ions interacting with cell membranes and without irradiation due to mechanical interactions with bacterial cells. At a 0.3 g/L concentration of g-C3N4/ZnO/ZnS in aqueous solution, the toxicity index T reached 75.6% under UV irradiation. In this case, an increase in the toxicity index T of the ternary heterosystem in a test concentration range from 0.1 to 0.3 g/L was 6 or 10–11% under UV radiation or without illumination, respectively, as compared with that of the pure graphite-like carbon nitride obtained under identical conditions

Global analysis of data on the spin-orbit coupled A1Σu+A^{1}\Sigma_{u}^{+} and b3Πub^{3}\Pi_{u} states of Cs2

We present experimentally derived potential curves and spin-orbit interaction functions for the strongly perturbed $A^{1}\Sigma_{u}^{+}$ and $b^{3}\Pi_{u}$ states of the cesium dimer. The results are based on data from several sources. Laser-induced fluorescence Fourier transform spectroscopy (LIF FTS) was used some time ago in the Laboratoire Aim\'{e} Cotton primarily to study the $X ^{1}\Sigma_{g}^{+}$ state. More recent work at Tsinghua University provides information from moderate resolution spectroscopy on the lowest levels of the $b^{3}\Pi_{0u}^{\pm}$ states as well as additional high resolution data. From Innsbruck University, we have precision data obtained with cold Cs$_{2}$ molecules. Recent data from Temple University was obtained using the optical-optical double resonance polarization spectroscopy technique, and finally, a group at the University of Latvia has added additional LIF FTS data. In the Hamiltonian matrix, we have used analytic potentials (the Expanded Morse Oscillator form) with both finite-difference (FD) coupled-channels and discrete variable representation (DVR) calculations of the term values. Fitted diagonal and off-diagonal spin-orbit functions are obtained and compared with {\it ab initio} results from Temple and Moscow State universities

Варианты выбора и эффективность медикаментозных препаратов при травматической внутриглазной гипертензии и глаукоме

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical efficacy of antihypertensive drugs in the treatment of posttraumatic hypertension and glaucoma.Methods: The retrospective study was carried out in Regional Clinical Hospital N 3 in Chelyabinsk. Posttraumatic eye hypertension was detected in 76 patients: 65 (85.5%) men and 11 (14.5%) women, the average age was 49±12.7 years. Blunt trauma of the eye globe occurred in 55 (72.3%) patients, open globe injuries were registered in 21 (27.7%). Рatients were prescribed with eye drops: timolol 0.5%, brin-zolamide 1%, fixed combination: brinzolamide 1% + timolol 0.5% and systemic acetazolamide 250 mg orally 2-3 times daily for the course of 3-5 days. The changes of intraocular pressure (IOP) and visual functions were evaluated in assessing the effectiveness of treatment.Results: Baseline IOP level was 25-43 mm Hg. Medical reduction of IOP was achieved in 56% of patients, mostly after the administration of a brinzolamide 1% + timolol 0.5% fixed combination, or when combined with acetazolamide orally (68%).The IOP decreased in 6.07% patients after brinzolamide 1% administration, in 7.67% patients after a fixed combination of brinzolamide 1% with thymolol 0.5% and 16.78% patients after brinzolamide in combination with beta-blockers and systemic carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. In case of insufficient effectiveness of conservative therapy - 39 (51%) patients underwent various surgical procedures.Conclusion: IOP increase after an eye globe injury may have a transient nature and may be controlled by conservative therapy or its combination with various types of eye surgery. The most statistically significant decrease of IOP in post-traumatic hypertension and glaucoma can be achieved using a brinzolamide 1% + timolol 0.5% fixed combination simultaneously with systemic carbonic anhydrase inhibitors.Цель. Оценить клиническую эффективность применения антигипертензивных препаратов в лечении посттравматической внутриглазной гипертензии и глаукомы.Методы. Ретроспективное исследование выполнено в ОКБ № 3 г. Челябинска. Посттравматическая внутриглазная гипертензия выявлена у 76 пациентов: 65 (85,5%) мужчин и 11 (14,5%) женщин, средний возраст пациентов составил 49±12,7 года. Контузия глазного яблока тяжелой степени имела место у 55 (72,3%) пациентов, прободное ранение роговицы и корнеосклеральной области - у 21 (27,7%). Из гипотензивных препаратов назначались: тимолол 0,5%, бринзоламид 1%, фиксированная комбинация: бринзоламид 1% + тимолол 0,5%, ацетазоламид системно 250 мг внутрь 2-3 раза в день курсом 3-5 дней. При оценке эффективности лечения оценивалась динамика внутриглазного давления (ВГД) и зрительных функций.Результаты. Исходный уровень ВГД составил 25-43 мм рт.ст. Медикаментозное снижение ВГД было достигнуто у 56% пациентов, при этом в большем проценте случаев при назначении фиксированной комбинации бринзоламид 1% + тимолол 0,5%, либо при сочетании её с системным приемом ацетазоламида внутрь (68%). При применении бринзоламида 1% ВГД снизилось на 6,07%, фиксированной комбинации бринзолами-да 1% с тимололом 0,5% - на 7,67%. При комбинации бринзоламида с бета-блокаторами и системными ингибиторами карбоангидразы - на 16,78%. При недостаточной эффективности консервативной терапии 39 (51%) пациентам выполнены различные хирургические вмешательства.Заключение. Повышение ВГД в результате травмы глазного яблока может иметь транзиторный характер и купироваться назначением консервативной терапии либо её комбинации с различными видами хирургического вмешательства.Наиболее значимое снижение ВГД при посттравматической гипертензии и глаукоме достигается при использовании фиксированной комбинации бринзоламид 1% + тимолол 0,5% в сочетании с системными ингибиторами карбоангидразы

Theoretical Aspects of Charge Ordering in Molecular Conductors

Theoretical studies on charge ordering phenomena in quarter-filled molecular (organic) conductors are reviewed. Extended Hubbard models including not only the on-site but also the inter-site Coulomb repulsion are constructed in a straightforward way from the crystal structures, which serve for individual study on each material as well as for their systematic understandings. In general the inter-site Coulomb interaction stabilizes Wigner crystal-type charge ordered states, where the charge localizes in an arranged manner avoiding each other, and can drive the system insulating. The variety in the lattice structures, represented by anisotropic networks in not only the electron hopping but also in the inter-site Coulomb repulsion, brings about diverse problems in low-dimensional strongly correlated systems. Competitions and/or co-existences between the charge ordered state and other states are discussed, such as metal, superconductor, and the dimer-type Mott insulating state which is another typical insulating state in molecular conductors. Interplay with magnetism, e.g., antiferromagnetic state and spin gapped state for example due to the spin-Peierls transition, is considered as well. Distinct situations are pointed out: influences of the coupling to the lattice degree of freedom and effects of geometrical frustration which exists in many molecular crystals. Some related topics, such as charge order in transition metal oxides and its role in new molecular conductors, are briefly remarked.Comment: 21 pages, 19 figures, to be published in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. special issue on "Organic Conductors"; figs. 4 and 11 replaced with smaller sized fil

Междисциплинарная коммуникативная компетенция: концептуализация и практическое применение

Introduction. Communication complexities which often occur in interdisciplinary work gave rise to the studies on teaching interdisciplinary communication. A growing need to provide pedagogical solutions to facilitate teaching interdisciplinary communication stimulated the research into language as a social practice to better understand communication process for interdisciplinary purposes. Aim. This exploratory study investigates the concept of interdisciplinary communicative competence and proposes a framework of interdisciplinary communicative competence with the focus on three underlying components: knowledge, skills, and personal attributes of interdisciplinary team members. Methodology and research methods. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used. The data obtained from 24 in-depth semi-structured interviews with five groups of higher education stakeholders (employers, academic directors of the programmes, professors, students, and alumni) revealed the existing interdisciplinary practices in the university and cross-functional practices in the companies. The proposed framework was empirically tested using an online survey with 139 responses from professors, students, and employers. The data processing techniques included the use of Kendall’s concordance coefficient, Cronbach’s alpha, and the principal component analysis. Results. The study presents the authors’ conceptualisation of interdisciplinary communicative competence and its framework as the result of the literature analysis and the empirical research. The findings provided evidence on the importance of language skills for effective interdisciplinary communication as perceived by 5 groups of respondents. The choice of language skills as a basic component of interdisciplinary communicative competence is justified. Scientific novelty. The study contributes to the conceptualisation of a framework of interdisciplinary communicative competence. The elements of the framework are identified and their relevance is empirically tested. Practical significance. The results of the empirical part of the study can be applied in the design of interdisciplinary learning process in higher education, for example, in the design of interdisciplinary courses, and teaching materials.Введение. Междисциплинарная академическая деятельность сопряжена с рядом сложностей, которые возникают в процессе коммуникации у участников взаимодействия. В настоящее время возрастает интерес исследователей к изучению данной темы в связи с необходимостью обеспечить процесс междисциплинарного обучения дидактическими средствами и методическими материалами. Не менее актуальным становится изучение вопроса использования языка участниками междисциплинарного общения. Цель работы – на основе теоретических и практических исследований сформулировать концепт «междисциплинарная коммуникативная компетенция» и разработать модель данной компетенции. Методология, методы и методики. В ходе работы были использованы количественные и качественные методы исследования. Полученные данные в результате проведения 24 полуструктурированных интервью среди представителей пяти групп респондентов, заинтересованных в образовательном процессе в вузе (работодателей, академических директоров программ, преподавателей, студентов и выпускников), позволили выявить их отношение к междисциплинарному подходу в обучении и преподавании в университете, а также понять особенности кросс-функционального общения в компаниях. Разработанная авторами статьи модель междисциплинарной коммуникативной компетенции была апробирована путем проведения онлайн-опроса среди преподавателей, студентов и работодателей. Обработка данных (139 ответов) проводилась с использованием современных количественных методов. Результаты. В результате исследования был сформулирован концепт междисциплинарной коммуникативной компетенции и разработана модель данной компетенции, которая включает три компонента: (1) знание функционального использования языка и когнитивные навыки осуществления междисциплинарной деятельности, (2) речевые умения и навыки, (3) личностные качества участников междисциплинарной команды. Анализ данных, полученных в ходе 24 глубинных интервью и опроса 134 респондентов, выявил необходимость и целесообразность формирования междисциплинарной коммуникативной компетенции у всех участников образовательного процесса для осуществления эффективной коммуникации. В структуре модели междисциплинарной коммуникативной компетенции все группы респондентов отметили приоритет формирования речевых умений и навыков участников междисциплинарной команды, что подтверждает обоснованность выбора данных элементов в качестве ведущего компонента в структуре модели междисциплинарной коммуникативной компетенции. Научная новизна. Настоящая работа вносит вклад в разработку концепта «междисциплинарная коммуникативная компетенция» и предлагает модель междисциплинарной коммуникативной компетенции с опорой на эмпирические данные, полученные в ходе интервью и опроса. Практическая значимость. Результаты исследования могут найти практическое применение в разработке программ междисциплинарных курсов и учебных материалов для обучения в вузе.Исследование выполнено при поддержке гранта Санкт-Петербургского государственного университета (проект № 60419425).The research was supported by St. Petersburg State University, Russia (Grant Agreement No. 60419425)

Status of ART-XC/SRG Instrument

Spectrum Roentgen Gamma (SRG) is an X-ray astrophysical observatory, developed by Russia in collaboration with Germany. The mission will be launched in March 2016 from Baikonur, by a Zenit rocket with a Fregat booster and placed in a 6-month-period halo orbit around L2. The scientific payload consists of two independent telescopes - a soft-x-ray survey instrument, eROSITA, being provided by Germany and a medium-x-ray-energy survey instrument ART-XC being developed by Russia. ART-XC will consist of seven independent, but co-aligned, telescope modules. The NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is fabricating the flight mirror modules for the ART-XC/SRG. Each mirror module will be aligned with a focal plane CdTe double-sided strip detectors which will operate over the energy range of 6-30 keV, with an angular resolution of less than 1, a field of view of approximately 34 and an expected energy resolution of about 10 percent at 14 keV