Convergence and stability analysis of kolmogorov system solutions in infinite-dimensional space

© Medwell Journals, 2017.The study studied the issues of convergence and stability of some calculation system solutions for linear differential equations, namely Kolmogorov's calculation systems in infinite-dimensional space on the basis of local integrability, non-negative coefficients and diagonal dominance properties. The conditions for operators were found with which they solve some problems of these system solution convergence and stability. On the basis of the local integrability, non-negative coefficients and diagonal dominance properties the sufficient conditions were obtained which guarantee the stability and the convergence of Kolmogorov's countable system solutions. The results of the study may be applied during the analysis of technical system various models, particularly the telecommunication system models. Besides, the results of Kolmogorov's system analysis can be used for biological system modeling. The study develops the approach to the qualitative research of Kolmogorov's systems based on the distribution of differential equation qualitative theory in infinite-dimensional spaces on Kolmogorov's systems that allowed to obtain a number of new results. Strict substantiations of the statements are presented concerning the qualitative behavior of solutions for some calculation systems of linear differential equations. One may formulate similar statements for infinite reproduction and death systems which are the particular cases of Kolmogorov's systems as the results of obtained statements

Fighting in Cities: Problems of International Legal Protection of Civilians and Civilian Objects

INTRODUCTION. Fighting is increasingly taking place in populated areas, including large cities, which leads to indiscriminate attacks on civilians and civilian objects. This problem is recognized by the UN, by an increasing number of States and requires training of combatants to choose and apply appropriate means and methods of war in populated areas to prevent or minimize accidental harm to the civilian population and civilian objects in such conditions. However, for example, the actions of the US-led coalition in 20162017 to liberate Iraqi Mosul from terrorists, the armed formations of Ukraine in the Donbas since 2014, which caused unjustifiably large civilian casualties and destruction of urban infrastructure, indicate that the Western powers and their satellites ignored these requirements.The purpose of the article is to identify and scientifically analyze problematic issues in the application of international humanitarian law for the protection of civilians and civilian objects in armed conflicts in urbanized areas.MATERIALS AND METHODS. To reveal the theoretical aspects of the problem under consideration, a system-structural approach, generalization, deduction, methods of scientific abstraction, logical and system analysis are applied. Special research methods were also used: historical-legal, comparative-legal and formal-legal.RESEAECH RESULTS. Within the framework of this publication, the authors analyzed the problems of international legal protection of civilians and civilian objects in the context of hostilities in an urbanized area and developed proposals for their solution.DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS. According to the results of the study, it was found that the principles and norms of international law developed by mankind as a whole make it possible to ensure the protection of the civilian population and civilian objects during the conduct of hostilities, including in cities, under the key condition the realization of responsibility for crimes against peace, humanity and war crimes

Cellular internalisation, bioimaging and dark and photodynamic cytotoxicity of silica nanoparticles doped by {Mo₆I₈}⁴⁺ metal clusters

Silica nanoparticles (SNPs) doped by hexanuclear molybdenum cluster complexes [{Mo₆X₈}L₆]n (X = Cl, Br, or I; L = various inorganic or organic ligands) have been recently suggested as materials with a high potential for biomedical applications due to both the outstanding photoluminescent properties and the ability to efficiently generate singlet oxygen upon photoirradiation. However, no studies were undertaken so far to prove this concept. Therefore, here we examined the potential of photoluminescent SNPs doped by {Mo₆I₈}⁴⁺ for such applications as bioimaging and photodynamic therapy using human epidermoid larynx carcinoma (Hep-2) cell line as a model. Our results demonstrated both: (i) significant luminescence from cells with internalised molybdenum cluster doped SNPs combined with the low cytotoxicity of particles in the darkness and (ii) significant cytotoxicity of the particles upon photoirradiation. Thus, this research provides strong experimental evidence for high potential of molybdenum cluster doped materials in such biomedical applications as optical bioimaging, biolabeling and photodynamic therapy

Features of the cellular immune response in men with disorders of reproductive function depending on the type of alcoholic beverages consumed

im. Guided by the lack of clear information about the alcoholic beverages influence on both the subpopulation of lymphocytes in particular and the fertility of the ejaculate as a whole, the purpose of this study was to study the features of the cellular immune response in men with disorders of reproductive function depending on the type and quantity of alcohol consumed. Materials and methods. A total of 74 men aged 20 to 55 years, who were divided into 3 groups, were examined. The control group consisted of 17 fertile, practically healthy men who do not drink any alcoholic drinks and have 1 to 2 children. The 2nd group (comparison) consisted of 17 men without fertility impairment, who consume but don’t abuse of all types of alcoholic beverages (1 – 2 doses of alcohol approximately once every 1 to 3 months). The third group consisted of 40 men with impaired fertilizing ability of ejaculate, who abuse alcoholic beverages (6 or more units of alcohol at a time or 22 or more doses per week). Depending on the type of alcohol, this group was divided into 3 subgroups: the 3a subgroup consisted of 13 patients abusing strong alcoholic beverages; the 3b – 15 patients abusing beer and the 3c ("mixed" group) – 12 patients abusing beer and strong alcoholic beverages. All men underwent a comprehensive examination including: a survey using the AUDIT screening test and the estimation of specific cellular immunity indices. Results. In all the men we examined (either with or without reproductive disorders) secondary T-cell immunodeficiency was identified. Consumption of various types of alcoholic beverages was the factor resulting in more profound immune disorders. Conclusions. Consumption of various types of alcoholic beverages increases the immunogenicity of self proteins and, as a consequence, causes an autoimmune response which is more pronounced in beer drinkers (signs of an autoimmune process development long before the clinical picture) and less pronounced in drinkers of strong alcoholic beverages (vodka) - only an autoimmune component presence

Combination of hypomorphic mutations of the Drosophila homologues of aryl hydrocarbon receptor and nucleosome assembly protein family genes disrupts morphogenesis, memory and detoxification

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor is essential for biological responses to endogenous and exogenous toxins in mammals. Its Drosophila homolog spineless plays an important role in fly morphogenesis. We have previously shown that during morphogenesis spineless genetically interacts with CG5017 gene, which encodes a nucleosome assembly factor and may affect cognitive function of the fly. We now demonstrate synergistic interactions of spineless and CG5017 in pathways controlling oxidative stress response and long-term memory formation in Drosophila melanogaster. Oxidative stress was induced by low doses of X-ray irradiation of flies carrying hypomorphic mutation of spineless, mutation of CG5017, and their combination. To determine the sensitivity of these mutants to pharmacological modifiers of the irradiation effect, we irradiated flies growing on standard medium supplemented by radiosensitizer furazidin and radioprotector serotonin. The effects of irradiation were investigated by analyzing leg and antenna morphological structures and by using real-time PCR to measure mRNA expression levels for spineless, Cyp6g1 and Gst-theta genes. We also examined long-term memory in these mutants using conditioned courtship suppression paradigm. Our results show that the interaction of spineless and CG5017 is important for regulation of morphogenesis, long-term memory formation, and detoxification during oxidative stress. Since spineless and CG5017 are evolutionary conserved, these results must be considered when evaluating the risk of combining similar mutations in other organisms, including humans

Xenobiotic-induced activation of human aryl hydrocarbon receptor target genes in Drosophila is mediated by the epigenetic chromatin modifiers

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is the key transcription factor that controls animal development and various adaptive processes. The AHR\u27s target genes are involved in biodegradation of endogenous and exogenous toxins, regulation of immune response, organogenesis, and neurogenesis. Ligand binding is important for the activation of the AHR signaling pathway. Invertebrate AHR homologs are activated by endogenous ligands whereas vertebrate AHR can be activated by both endogenous and exogenous ligands (xenobiotics). Several studies using mammalian cultured cells have demonstrated that transcription of the AHR target genes can be activated by exogenous AHR ligands, but little is known about the effects of AHR in a living organism. Here, we examined the effects of human AHR and its ligands using transgenic Drosophila lines with an inducible human AhR gene. We found that exogenous AHR ligands can increase as well as decrease the transcription levels of the AHR target genes, including genes that control proliferation, motility, polarization, and programmed cell death. This suggests that AHR activation may affect the expression of gene networks that could be critical for cancer progression and metastasis. Importantly, we found that AHR target genes are also controlled by the enzymes that modify chromatin structure, in particular components of the epigenetic Polycomb Repressive complexes 1 and 2. Since exogenous AHR ligands (alternatively - xenobiotics) and small molecule inhibitors of epigenetic modifiers are often used as pharmaceutical anticancer drugs, our findings may have significant implications in designing new combinations of therapeutic treatments for oncological diseases. © Akishina et al

Effect of antitumor drugs in low concentrations on the biological, immunophenotypic and cytogenetic characteristics of human colon cancer cells in vitro

Objective: To estimate the impact of the low-dose anticancer drugs (ACD) with the different mechanisms of action and human interferon (IFN) alpha 2b on the biological properties, immunophenotypic and cytogenetic characteristics of colon cancer cells in vitro. Materials and Methods: The study was performed on human colon cancer cell lines COLO 205, HT-29 and 3C-P treated with ACD and IFN in subtoxic concentrations. Expression of CD44, N-cadherin, vimentin, β-catenin, ERCC1 and Slug was assessed by immunocytochemical method. Using cytogenetic analysis, the numbers of mitoses, cells with micronuclei, apoptotic cells and cells with nuclear protrusions were studied. Results: The prolonged exposure (up to 30 days) of colon cancer cells to low-dose ACD (0.2–0.5 µg/ml cisplatin and 0.1–0.2 µg/ml irinotecan) in combination with IFN (500–1000 IU/ml) led to 37-fold decreased colony-forming activity of these cell and 10-fold reduction of the number of cells expressing mesenchymal protein markers (N-cadherin, vimentin). Also, in COLO 205 cells treated with ACD and IFN the number of SLUG- and CD44-positive cells decreased by 92 and by 85%, respectively. Long-term cultivation of HT-29 cells in the presence of cisplatin and IFN resulted in 5-fold suppression of ERCC1 expression. The cytogenetic analysis has shown that the ACD, IFN and their combinations in subtoxic concentrations caused significant genotoxic effect, suppression of cell proliferation and accumulation of cells with micronuclei. The sensitivity of colon cancer cells to ACD in standard cytotoxic concentrations did not change after prolonged low-dose exposure. Conclusion: The data showed that the prolonged action of the low doses of ACD on human colon cancer cells resulted in the suppression of cell proliferation, colony-forming activity in soft agar, expression of epithelialmesenchymal transition-associated markers and significant cytogenetic changes

Luminescent silica mesoparticles for protein transduction

Unlike silica nanoparticles, the potential of silica mesoparticles (SMPs) (i.e. particles of submicron size) for biological applications in particular the in vitro (let alone in vivo) cellular delivery of biological cargo has so far not been sufficiently studied. Here we examine the potential of luminescent (namely, octahedral molybdenum cluster doped) SMPs synthesised by a simple one-pot reaction for the labelling of cells and for protein transduction into larynx carcinoma (Hep-2) cells using GFP as a model protein. Our data demonstrates that the SMPs internalise into the cells within half an hour. This results in cells that detectably luminesce via conventional methods. In addition, the particles are non-toxic both in darkness and upon photo-irradiation. The SMPs were modified to allow their functionalisation by a protein, which then delivered the protein (GFP) efficiently into the cells. Thus, the luminescent SMPs offer a cheap and trackable alternative to existing materials for cellular internalisation of proteins, such as the HIV TAT protein and commercial protein delivery agents (e.g. Pierce™)

ОСУЧАСНЕННЯ КОНСУЛЬТАТИВНО-ЛІКАРСЬКОЇ ДОПОМОГИ ДІТЯМ НА ПЕРВИННОМУ РІВНІ

Мета дослідження – оптимізувати лікувально-діагностичну допомогу дітям на первинному рівні за умов перехідного періоду на сучасному етапі медичної реформи. Матеріали та методи. Для оцінки медичної активності батьків у родинах, в яких діти мають хронічну соматичну патологію, проведено анкетування батьків. З метою наближення висококваліфікованої медичної допомоги було створено на основі колективу кафедри дитячих хвороб і дитячої хірургії Тернопільського державного медичного університету імені І. Я. Горбачевського спеціалізовану педіатричну мобільну бригаду. Результати дослідження та їх обговорення. Досвід роботи спеціалізованої педіатричної мобільної бригади показав, що напрямки її діяльності можуть бути різноманітними: співпраця з «Клінікою на колесах» Міжнародного благодійного фонду «Дар життя», виїзди для медоглядів у школи і дитячі садки, медогляди спільно з лікарями ЦРЛ області, завдяки чому діти отримують висококваліфіковану мультидисциплінарну консультативно-лікувальну допомогу. Проведення освітніх бесід та лекцій безпосередньо з батьками хворих дітей підвищує їх відповідальність за здоров’я дитини, зобов’язує виконувати медичні приписи і призначення, гігієнічні рекомендації та проводити лікувальне харчування. Висновки. Високий відсоток уперше виявленої серед оглянутих дітей патології та скерування на стаціонарне лікування є показником ефективності такої роботи. Збільшився відсоток самозвернення батьків в обласну дитячу поліклініку з регіонів, де працювала спеціалізована педіатрична мобільна бригада. Інновацією даної бригади стало поєднання первинної і третинної ланок надання медичних послуг, що підвищує ефективність нагляду за здоров’ям дітей