Development, production and characterization of SARS-CoV-2 virus-like particles (Coronaviridae: <i>Orthocoronavirinae: Betacoronavirus: Sarbecovirus</i>)

Introduction. The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has created serious health problems worldwide. The most effective way to prevent the occurrence of new epidemic outbreaks is vaccination. One of the modern and effective approaches to vaccine development is the use of virus-like particles (VLPs). The aim of the study is to develop a technology for production of VLP based on recombinant SARS-CoV-2 proteins (E, M, N and S) in insect cells. Materials and methods. Synthetic genes encoding coronavirus proteins E, M, N and S were used. VLP with various surface proteins of strains similar to the Wuhan virus, Delta, Alpha and Omicron were developed and cloned into the pFastBac plasmid. The proteins were synthesized in the baculovirus expression system and assembled into VLP in the portable Trichoplusia ni cell. The presence of insertion in the baculovirus genome was determined by PCR. ELISA and immunoblotting were used to study the antigenic activity of VLP. VLP purification was performed by ultracentrifugation using 20% sucrose. Morphology was assessed using electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Results. VLPs consisting of recombinant SARS-CoV-2 proteins (S, M, E and N) were obtained and characterized. The specific binding of antigenic determinants in synthesized VLPs with antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 proteins has been demonstrated. The immunogenic properties of VLPs have been studied. Conclusion. The production and purification of recombinant VLPs consisting of full-length SARS-CoV-2 proteins with a universal set of surface antigens have been developed and optimized. Self-assembling particles that mimic the coronavirus virion induce a specific immune response against SARS-CoV-2

Psychological adaptation of Russians in post-Soviet countries: the role of context

The purpose of this paper was to study psychological adaptation of ethnic Russians in various contexts of post-Soviet countries. To achieve this goal, a survey was conducted in the following seven post-Soviet republics: Estonia (N=314), Kazakhstan (N=179), Kyrgyzstan (N=300), Armenia (N=109), Tajikistan (N=284), Latvia (N=334), Georgia (N=312). The total sample size equaled to 1832 people. The study showed that in different contexts of post-Soviet republics, psychological adaptation of Russians differs. The authors have identified two contextual conditions that are important for successful adaptation in post-Soviet countries: the policy towards ethnic Russians, which can be either inclusive or restrictive, as well as subjective cultural distance. Accordingly, four contexts of the adaptation of Russians have been identified. With a combination of inclusive policies and a short subjective cultural distance (Kazakhstan), the conditions for psychological adaptation are favourable, ethnic boundaries are permeable, bridging (interethnic) social capital is formed. However, there is a downside to such a favourable context – there are assimilation tendencies out there. With a combination of inclusive policies and a long subjective cultural distance (Kyrgyzstan, Armenia), Russians have the opportunity to fully preserve their ethnic identity and integrate into the host society. Such a context shows the highest scores of self-esteem as one of the indicators of psychological adaptation. In the case of a combination of restrictive policies and a short subjective cultural distance (Estonia, Latvia), Russians make kind of a "request" for integration, that is, the preservation of their own culture along with inclusion in the culture of host societies. A context combining restrictive policies and a large subjective cultural distance (Georgia, Tajikistan) is the most unfavourable for the psychological adaptation of Russians. It is characteristic that in this context, Russians are forced to reduce, "conceal" their ethnic identity, since the degree of their ethnic identity is negatively associated with life satisfaction, that is, with successful adaptation

Increasing intercultural competence and tolerance in multicultural schools: A training program and its effectiveness

This study reports the implementation of a Training of Intercultural Competence and Tolerance (TICT) for upper-secondary school students and the empirical evaluation of its effectiveness. The TICT program was developed to counteract increasing interethnic conflicts in the North Caucasus Federal District of Russia. It is based on the theoretical and empirical framework of social psychology and cross-cultural psychology. The training effectiveness was assessed by conducting pre- and post-surveys among the train- ing participants. The results indicate that TICT contributes to the development of a positive ethnic identity and the formation of a civic identity among the participating youth. It also increases their optimism regarding the future of interethnic relations in Russia and the subjective level of intercultural competence of majority group youth towards minority cultures. Thus, the evaluation of the training effectiveness of the TICT has shown that the aims of the training have been achieved to a large extent and that the Training of Intercultural Competence and Tolerance can be effectively used to prevent interethnic conflicts and promote interethnic relations in multicultural schools. Suggestions for the practical implementation of the TICT as well as for future research on the training's effectiveness are discussed

THE SCIENTIST’S ACTIVITY HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER BY HIS FOLLOWERS

The article is dedicated to the memory of Professor O.V. Inshakov – a talented scientist, a great teacher, an authoritative leader and a great public figure. His books, publications continue to live. His ideas had been ahead of time, and they are still urgent now. The scientific research by О.V. Inshakov in the field of fundamental and applied problems of economic development shaped the academic interests of young researchers and prominent scientists for many years ahead and provided an opportunity to look at many scientific problems in a new way. In the present article, students, followers, colleagues and associates of O.V. Inshakov share their memories of joint work and scientific research carried out under his leadership

Effect of Hydroxyl-Containing Fragments on the Structure and Properties of Membrane-Forming Polyamide-Imides

The structural features and thermophysical and transport properties of dense nonporous membranes of the casting type from (co)polyamide-imides synthesized by the polycondensation of the diacid chloride of 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-1,3-dioxoisoindoline-5-carboxylic acid and diamines 5,5′-methylene-bis (2-aminophenol) (DADHyDPhM) and 4,4′-methylenebis(benzeneamine) (DADPhM), taken in molar ratios of 7:3, 1:1, and 3:7, have been studied. The effect of hydroxyl-containing modifying fragments of dihydroxy diphenylmethane introduced in various amounts into the main polymer chain on the pervaporation properties of the formed films is discussed. It has been shown that the presence of the residual solvent N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone in the films not only has a plasticizing effect on the characteristics of film membranes but also promotes the preferential transmembrane transport of polar liquids, primarily methanol (permeation rate over 2 kg for a copolymer with a ratio of DADHyDPhM:DADPhM = 7:3). The removal of the residual solvent from the polymer film, both thermally (heating to 200 °C) and by displacement with another solvent as a result of sequential pervaporation, led to a significant decrease in the rate of transfer of polar liquids and a decrease in the selectivity of the membrane. However, the dehydrocyclization reaction resulted in more brittle films with low permeability to penetrants of different polarities. The results of our comprehensive study made it possible to assume the decisive influence of structural changes in membranes occurring in connection with the competitive formation of intra- and intermolecular hydrogen bonds

Conservatives Are More Reluctant to Give and Receive Apologies Than Liberals

This article examines the proposition that conservatives will be less willing than liberals to apologize and less likely to forgive after receiving an apology. In Study 1, we found evidence for both relationships in a nine-nation survey. In Study 2, participants wrote an open-ended response to a victim of a hypothetical transgression they had committed. More conservative participants were less likely to include apologetic elements in their response. We also tested two underlying mechanisms for the associations: social dominance orientation (SDO) and entity beliefs about human nature. SDO emerged as a stronger and more consistent mediator than entity beliefs. Apologies are theorized to be a rhetorical vehicle for removing power inequities in relationships posttransgression. Consistent with this theorizing, it was those who are relatively high in commitment to equality (i.e., those high in liberal ideology and low in SDO) who are most likely to provide and reward apologies