Armenian diaspora in Russia: contemporary approaches to studying

The purpose of the review is to characterize general theoretical approaches to the study of diasporas in contemporary science and to present a historiographic analysis of the study of the Armenian diaspora in Russia. The research is based on a complex of historiographic sources: monographs, collective works, scientific articles, theses, that are devoted to the phenomenon of diasporas in the modern world. The authors emphasize the relevance of the study of diasporas in the context of globalization, mass migration, formation of new ethnic communities and polemics around the policy of multiculturalism. At present, the study of diasporas is conducted within the frameworks of history and philosophy, sociology and political science, ethnology and cultural studies, demography and economics, which explains the variety of methodological approaches to the phenomenon of the diaspora. Representatives of different humanities distinguish such defining features of the diaspora as stable ethnic (nostalgic) identity and collective memory, the presence of self-organization and a developed network of intragroup communications, a special style of life behavior and strategies for survival in the host society. These theoretical approaches find application in the study of the Armenian diaspora in Russia, which is a part of the world Armenian diaspora and at the same time has unique socio-cultural characteristics. Currently, the Armenian diaspora in Russia is widely studied both on a national scale and at the regional level, however, most studies cover only the southern regions and the capital of the Russian Federation. The creation of a comprehensive history of the Armenian diaspora in the Middle Volga region is an urgent scientific task. In the final part of the review, the authors outline possible prospects for further study of the Armenian diaspora in Russia and individual regions; this task can be solved using an interdisciplinary approach

The Middle Volga and Trans-Volga Region in the context of development of the Russian state system: a modern concept

The article was submitted on 11.04.2015.Until the mid-19th century, the Middle Volga and Trans-Volga region could be considered as a frontier of the Russian state. It was a specific border between Europe and Asia, an imperial periphery facing the southeast, the nomadic steppe world. Until the mid-18th century, the administrative system in the Middle Volga had primarily fulfilled military and fortification tasks. The permanent process of mass colonization was the most important feature of the region’s history between the mid-17th century and the early 20th century; it was facilitated owing to a large amount of vacant land and favorable market conditions. Mass migration caused establishment of Russian farms and landownership in the region and a gradual replacement of nomadic pastoralism. By the mid-19th century, the policies of the Russian Empire in the Trans-Volga region had lost their military and foreign-policy functions, and the administrative system had been brought into line with the all-imperial standards. The region began to turn into an “inner periphery” of Russia which combined some features of the border region and those of the inlands of the Empire. After the abolition of serfdom in 1861, the Trans-Volga region acquired the status of the “Russian breadbasket”, one of the main centers of grain production and supply of bread to the national and international markets. Construction of railways and the development of the Volga river shipping lines contributed to the intensive influx of people to the region, and to the plowing and cultivation of the virgin steppe lands. The main feature of the region’s population was its ethnic and religious diversity, as well as historically conditioned interaction of the peoples of “forests and steppes”. By the beginning of the 20th century, the “inner periphery” had acquired its recognizable historical and cultural image and become motherland for its diverse population.Авторский коллектив исходит из концепции, согласно которой вплоть до середины XIX в. средневолжский регион может быть охарактеризован как один из фронтиров Российского государства – специфическое пограничье Европы и Азии, окраинная территория, обращенная на юго-восток, к кочевому степному миру. До середины XVIII в. система управления в Среднем Поволжье выполняла прежде всего военные и фортификационные задачи. Важнейшей особенностью региона был процесс его массовой колонизации, осуществлявшейся с середины XVII и до самого начала ХХ в., чему способствовали наличие здесь значительного фонда свободных земель и благоприятная рыночная конъюнктура. Результатом переселенческого движения стало укоренение на основной территории региона русского крестьянского хозяйства и помещичьего землевладения, постепенное вытеснение кочевого скотоводства. К середине XIX в., когда имперская политика в Заволжье утратила военные и внешнеполитические функции, а система управления была унифицирована по общероссийскому образцу, средневолжский регион из фронтира вдоль юго-восточной границы начал превращаться в своеобразную «внутреннюю окраину» России, обладавшую чертами пограничья и одновременно внутренних территорий империи. В пореформенный период Заволжье обрело статус «российской житницы», одного из основных центров товарного зернового производства, поставщиков хлеба на внутренний и внешний рынки. Строительство железных дорог, развитие волжского пароходства способствовали интенсивному притоку населения, стремительной распашке степных земель. На рубеже XIX–ХХ вв. регион стал транзитным узлом, через который шло массовое переселение крестьян из центральных губерний России и Украины в Сибирь. Особенностью сельского населения региона, его отличием от других «внутренних районов» России являлась этноконфессиональная неоднородность и активное взаимовлияние народов «леса и степи», что имело глубокие исторические корни. К началу ХХ в. «внутренняя окраина» превратилась в особое историко-культурное пространство со своим узнаваемым обликом, в «общую родину» для своего многоликого населения

Interactions between Aquatic Plants and Cyanobacterial Blooms in Freshwater Reservoir Ecosystems

Climate change and nutrient pollution are echoed by worldwide increasing trends in the frequency, duration, and toxicity of cyanobacterial (blue-green algal) blooms. Therefore, searching for the best options to mitigate blooms is relevant and timely. Aquatic vascular plants offer a promising solution through biological control. In this study, we use reservoirs regularly affected by intensive blooms (the Kyiv and Kaniv Reservoirs of the Dnipro River, Ukraine) to investigate whether macrophytes may inhibit or reduce the massive development of cyanobacteria. Special attention was paid to plants with floating leaves and free-floating plants since data on their effects on cyanobacteria are controversial. On the basis of field and satellite observations, the spatial distribution of cyanobacterial blooms and aquatic macrophyte patches was assessed. Multispectral images captured by satellites Sentinel-2a (S2A) and Sentinel-2b (S2B) were used. In addition, based on data from field observations, a comparative analysis of phytoplankton and physical and chemical parameters between areas of the reservoirs overgrown and not overgrown by macrophytes was carried out. The obtained results indicate that in macrophyte patches phytoplankton structure differed from that observed in open waters. However, in areas of reservoirs dominated by floating-leaf plants or free-floating plants, a significant decrease in phytoplanktic or cyanobacterial biomass was not observed. This is most likely due to the fact that these macrophytes did not reduce the concentration of biogenic substances to a level that would limit cyanobacterial growth. On the contrary, intensive overgrowth of floating-leaf plants (in particular, Trapa natans) along the river sections of the reservoirs, as well as other factors, contributed to nitrogen and phosphorus enrichment. Therefore, in the face of relevant nutrient supply, these ecological groups of macrophytes (floating-leaf plants and free-floating plants) have not shown statistically significant effectiveness in controlling the process of cyanobacterial blooms in reservoir ecosystems

Tetra­methyl N,N′-(2,2,3,3,4,4-hexa­fluoro-1,5-dioxopentane-1,5-di­yl)bis­(phospho­ramidate)

The mol­ecule of the title compound, C9H14F6N2O8P2, lies on a twofold rotation axis that passes through the middle C atom of the three-atom fluoro­methyl­ene unit. The carbonyl and phosphoryl groups are in an antiperiplanar conformation. In the crystal, N—H⋯O=P hydrogen bonds link the mol­ecules into polymeric chains parallel to the c axis

Studying of the history of the Samara Region from the XVI to the early XX century: a historiographical review

The purpose of the article is to summarize the intermediate historiographic results of the study of the history of the Samara Region (pre-revolutionary period). The study is based on the historiographic sources, i.e. monographs, collective works, scholarly articles, conference materials, as well as textbooks and popular science publications on the history of the Samara region. On the base of the historiographic analysis of these works, the authors distinguish several stages of studying the history of the Samara region, characterize the main trends in the development of regional history studies, and identify the changes in thematic priorities and methodological approaches to studying regional history at each of these stages. The history of studying the Samara Region is reviewed in the context of formation of historical education system and research institutions in Samara, the development of the local history movement, the appearance of periodicals on local history, and the organization of scholarly conferences on regional history. The authors prove that, at present, the development of new research methodology has allowed regional science to reach a qualitatively new level, to proceed with the creation of generalizing works and encyclopedic publications on the history of the region; a significant role in coordinating this work belongs to the historians of Samara University. Studying the history of the Samara Region has become interdisciplinary in its character; the cooperation of representatives of various humanitarian specialties, historians, and local history experts is an important condition for inspiring the readers with interest and love for the history of their homeland. In the final part of the article the authors outline possible prospects for the further development of regional history

Psychoemotional problems of participants in the educational process under martial law: from emergence to overcoming

The aim: To study the peculiarities of psycho-emotional problems and needs of the subjects of the educational process and to determine the priority areas of their psychological and pedagogical support in the conditions of martial law. Materials and methods: To update the aspects of the problem, we used the methods of analysis of normative and scientific sources, system analysis and generalizations, the results of our own empirical studies, materials of the questionnaire, to study the specifics of psycho-emotional problems and needs of the subjects of the educational process. Results: The problem of socio-psychological protection and support of all participants in the educational process in the conditions of martial law, especially children, is extremely important. Challenge for schools in Kyiv is the organization of the educational process for children who are abroad but continue to obtain general secondary education according to Ukrainian educational standards and programs. This ensures the realization of their constitutional right to education and demonstrates certain support for our citizens who do not yet have the opportunity to return to Ukraine. Conclusions: Considering the massive nature of traumatization of the population during military operations, there is a need to involve social institutions in the maintenance of public health, for which assistance to the population is not the main function, but which they can perform in these extraordinary circumstances. This can form the basis for establishing psychological and pedagogical support for war-traumatized children and adults

Revealing weak A and B antigens in patients with knee and hip joint arthroplasty

АНТИГЕНЫКРОВЬАНТИТЕЛА АНТИИДИОТИПИЧЕСКИЕАНТИ-АНТИТЕЛААНТИГАММА-ГЛОБУЛИНОВЫЕ АНТИТЕЛААНТИГЛОБУЛИНЫАНТИИДИОТИПНЫЕ АНТИТЕЛАКОМПЛЕМЕНТКОМПЛЕМЕНТБЕЛКИ КОМПЛЕМЕНТАРНЫЕКОМПЛЕМЕНТА БЕЛКИЭРИТРОЦИТЫЦель. Провести анализ методов выявления слабых А и В антигенов на эритроцитах в системе АВ0. Материал и методы. Проведено обследование пациентов с эндопротезированием коленного и тазобедренного суставов с целью определения группоспецифической принадлежности с выявлением слабых А и В антигенов на эритроцитах. Использованы методы абсорбции, реакция агглютинации, агглютинация в присутствии комплемента и антиглобулиновый тест. Результаты. Антиглобулиновый тест с использованием как поликлональной сыворотки, так и сыворотки, содержащей только IgG антитела, позволил выявить слабые A и B подгруппы на эритроцитах при 37{o}С. В реакции абсорбции с анти-А, анти-В поликлональными сыворотками у некоторых пациентов на эритроцитах выявлены А и В антигены, также проявившиеся в реакции агглютинации при 37{o}С, но не обнаруженные при инкубации при комнатной температуре. Агглютинационный тест с использованием комплемента и сыворотки с IgG антителами также способствовал проявлению слабых антигенов. Присутствие IgG антител было определено после обработки сыворотки унитиолом в антиглобулиновом тесте. Наличие в сыворотке только IgG антител, соответствующих антигенам, при участии комплемента приводило к более выраженным изменениям эритроцитов по сравнению с присутствием обоих классов антител – IgM и IgG. Появление гемолиза ассоциировалось с увеличением размеров эритроцитов и гипохромией. Присутствие слабых подгрупп в большинстве случаев было ассоциировано с гемолизирующими, а не агглютинирующими свойствами сыворотки пациента, а также наличием комплементсвязывающих IgG антител. Заключение. Применение абсорбции, агглютинация при 37{o}С, антиглобулиновый тест при 37{o}С с сывороткой, как подвергшейся, так и не подвергшейся обработке унитиолом, а также реакция агглютинации с использованием комплемента способствовали определению слабых антигенов в системе АВ0.Objective. To analyze the methods of revealing weak A and B antigens on the erythrocytes in AB0 system. Methods. Patients after knee and joint arthroplasty were examined on group-specific characteristics with revealing weak A and B antigens on the erythrocytes. Methods of absorption, agglutination, agglutination with complement and antiglobulin test were used. Results. Antiglobulin test with the use of polyclonal serum as well as serum containing the only IgG allowed revealing weak A and B subgroups on erythrocytes at 37{o}С. In some patients A and B antigens on erythrocytes were found while absorption with anti-A, anti-B polyclonal sera and also revealed in agglutination at 37{o}С, but were not revealed while incubation at the room temperature. Agglutination test with the use of complement and IgG was also helpful in determining the weak antigens. Presence of IgG antibodies was revealed by the treatment of the serum with unithiol in antiglobulin test. Presence of complement and only IgG antibodies corresponding to the antigens led to the more expressed changes of erythrocytes as compared to the presence of both types of antibodies – IgM and IgG. Appearance of hemolysis was associated with the increased sizes of erythrocytes and hypochromia. Presence of weak subgroups was mostly associated with hemolytic rather than agglutinating abilities of the patient’s serum, as well as with the presence of complement binding IgG antibodies. Conclusions. Absorption, agglutination at 37{o}С, antiglobulin test at 37{o}C with serum both treated and non-treated with unithiol and agglutination with use of the complement helped to define weak antigens in AB0 system

INFLUENCE OF PROBIOTICS ON CYTOKINE PRODUCTION IN THE IN VITRO AND IN VIVO SYSTEMS

Modulatory effects of three probiotic bacterial strains (Lactobacillus rhamnosus K32 (L), Bifidobacterium longum GT15 (B, Enterococcus faecium L-3 (E) on expression level and contents of key cytokines were studied using PCR techniques with reverse transcription, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Both cell cultures and an experimental model of intestinal dysbiosis were used in this study.The genes encoding bacteriocins, surface membrane component, pili and exopolysaccharides involved in host immune system modulation were previously identified in the B and Ebacterial strains.Investigation of probiotic strains and effects of their supernatants expression of cytokines in cell cultures of promonocyte origin (HTP-1) showed increased expression of TNFα, due to E and L supernatants. Moreover, the Bl culture induced IL-8 and IL-10 expression.In a model of Wistar rats with ampicillinand metronidazole-induced intestinal dysbiosis corrected with probiotics we have shown that the dysbiosis was accompanied by sufficient alterations in microbiota composition (Klebsiella spp. overgrowth and low contents of Faecalobacterium prausnitzii) that were observed only in the animals untreated with probiotics (control), or after administration of L.In contrast to these results, the animals treated with E and B, the following changes were revealed: 1) low expression of proinflammatory cytokines IL-8, TNFα, MCP-1 inmesenteric lymph nodes and appropriate changes of their serum contents, 2) increased serum content of the anti-inflammatory TGFβ cytokine. Hence, the present study, having used two complementary models, has detected some individual features of immune modulation produced by the probiotictic strains of L. rhamnosus K32, B. longum GT15 и E. faecium L-3 which exert differential effects upon the intestinal microbiota

Поглотительная и ферментативная активность фагоцитирующих клеток при хроническом обструктивном бронхите

We studied the phagocytic activity of alveolar macrophages and neutrophils in the peripheric blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in 37 patients affected with chronic obstructive bronchitis (COB) and healthy persons to determine the activity of elastase and collagenase in BALF cells and their supernate.The peripheric blood of COB patients revealed normal neutrophilic and monocytic phagocytosis, while the monocytes of complementary pulmonary emphysematous patients revealed an increased absorbing activity.BALF demonstrated an acute depression of alveolar macrophagal phagocytosis, which a remission of the inflammatory process raised close to normal only with persons not affected with pulmonary emphysema. COB patients revealed increased activities of elastase and collagenase both in an acute inflammatory process and during remissions. COB patients not affected with pulmonary emphysema displayed the greatest activity increase of elastase.Исследовалась фагоцитарная активность альвеолярных макрофагов и нейтрофилов периферической крови и жидкости бронхоальвеолярного лаважа (ЖБАЛ) у 37 больных хроническим обструктивным бронхитом (ХОБ) и здоровых лиц. Определялась активность эластазы и коллагеназы как в клетках ЖБАЛ, так и в супернатанте клеток ЖБАЛ.Показано, что у больных ХОБ в периферической крови фагоцитоз нейтрофилов и моноцитов был в норме, однако у больных со вторичной эмфиземой легких отмечалось повышение поглотительной активности моноцитов.В ЖБАЛ наблюдалось резкое угнетение фагоцитоза альвеолярных макрофагов, который повышался почти до нормы в ремиссии воспалительного процесса только у лиц без эмфиземы легких. У больных ХОБ как в обострении, так и ремиссии воспалительного процесса усилена активность эластазы и коллагеназы. Наиболее выраженное увеличение активности эластазы наблюдалось у больных ХОБ без эмфиземы легких

Combined changes in Wnt signalling response and contact inhibition induce altered proliferation in radiation treated intestinal crypts

Curative intervention is possible if colorectal cancer is identified early, underscoring the need to detect the earliest stages of malignant transformation. A candidate biomarker is the expanded proliferative zone observed in crypts before adenoma formation, also found in irradiated crypts. However, the underlying driving mechanism for this is not known. Wnt signaling is a key regulator of proliferation, and elevated Wnt signaling is implicated in cancer. Nonetheless, how cells differentiate Wnt signals of varying strengths is not understood. We use computational modeling to compare alternative hypotheses about how Wnt signaling and contact inhibition affect proliferation. Direct comparison of simulations with published experimental data revealed that the model that best reproduces proliferation patterns in normal crypts stipulates that proliferative fate and cell cycle duration are set by the Wnt stimulus experienced at birth. The model also showed that the broadened proliferation zone induced by tumorigenic radiation can be attributed to cells responding to lower Wnt concentrations and dividing at smaller volumes. Application of the model to data from irradiated crypts after an extended recovery period permitted deductions about the extent of the initial insult. Application of computational modeling to experimental data revealed how mechanisms that control cell dynamics are altered at the earliest stages of carcinogenesis