A nonperturbative model for the strong running coupling within potential approach

A nonperturbative model for the QCD invariant charge, which contains no low-energy unphysical singularities and possesses an elevated higher loop corrections stability, is developed in the framework of potential approach. The static quark-antiquark potential is constructed by making use of the proposed model for the strong running coupling. The obtained result coincides with the perturbative potential at small distances and agrees with relevant lattice simulation data in the nonperturbative physically-relevant region. The developed model yields a reasonable value of the QCD scale parameter, which is consistent with its previous estimations obtained within potential approach.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure

The Analog of Arginine-Vasopressin (6-9) Fragment, Ac-D-SPRG, Exhibits Antidepressant Action in Rats in Case of Intranasal Injection

The antidepressant properties of newly synthesized analog of arginine-vasopressin fragment analog, Ac-D-SPRG, were tested using Porsolt’s swimming test on white rats. It was demonstrated that this substance when injected intranasally decreases the depression in comparison with the control group

Chemistry for Sustainable Development 15 (2007) 109116 Organic Polysulphides in Bottom Sediments of the Gulf of Finland

Abstract In the samples of bottom sediments of the Gulf of Finland in its eastern part, 43 organic compounds containing sulphur were identified and estimated quantitatively by means of gas chromatography mass spectrometry. It is shown that polysulphides are widespread in the bottom sediments of the investigated part of the Gulf of Finland. An increase in the concentrations of sulphur-containing compounds with an increase in the salt content of water and with an increase in the depth of the gulf from the east to the west was detected. The high concentration of sulphur-containing organic compounds in bottom sediments in the region from the west edge of the island of Kotlin to 28 degrees of eastern longitude provides evidence that there exist the conditions for the formation of hydrogen sulphide zones stable in this region

Risks for development of metabolic disorders in alimentary constitutional obesity

BACKGROUND: alimentary-constitutional obesity due to it’s high prevalence, is the key problem of modern healthcare system. However, obesity is not always accompanied with metabolic disorders, leading to early invalidization and mortality. That’s why it is important to study risks of metabolical nonhealth in obesity.AIM: to detect factors, increasing risks of development of metabolic disbalance in alimentary-constitutional obesity.MATERIALS AND METHODS: In patients with alimentary-constitutional obesity there was performed an examination including anthropometry (body mass index, Waist Circumference, Hip Circumference,waist to hip ratio), blood pressure measurement, laboratory tests – metabolic indexes: glucose, insulin, insulin resistance indexes, leptin, cholesterol, cholesterol of lipoproteins, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, gamma-glutamiltransferase), body composition measurement by bioelectrical impedance analysis; patients were also interviewed on their behavior (food habits) and physical activity.RESULTS: There were formed two groups depending on metabolic health indexes: main group – metabolically non-healthy obesity (MNHO) - 241 persons (aged 41±12,09, duration of obesity 12,5±9,51 years) with alimentary-constitutional obesity and two or more signs of MS, a comparison group – of metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) – 120 persons (aged 35,5±10,03; p<0,05, duration of obesity 8,0±7,39 years; p<0,05) with alimentary-constitutional obesity and one sign of MS or without it. Data analysis of studied risk factors for development of metabolically non-healthy alimentary-constitutional obesity confirmed that most relevant factor in development of MNHO is abdominal fat mass distribution (increasing of Waist Circumference over 88 sm in females and over 102 sm in mails). At the same time MNHO had correlation not only with classical signs of MS, but also with blood insulin level, insulin resistance indexes, fat metabolism disbalance and liver disfunction. More severed risk for appearance of metabolic disorders have patients over 45 years old with decreased active cell mass (less than 45%), duration of obesity above 10 years and obesity-burdened heredity. In food habits risk of development of metabolically non-healthy obesity was increased in taking of fat milk food, and, on the contrary, - frequent snacks, alcohol free sweet drinks didn’t affect it.CONCLUSION: Development of MNHO is associated not only with the age of patient, duration of obesity, carbohydrate and fat metabolism indexes, but also with decreased percentage of metabolically active tissues and some food habits

DIFFERENTIATION OF NK CELLS. A LOOK THROUGH THE PRISM OF TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS AND INTRACELLULAR MESSENGERS

All lymphoid cells are referred to as an innate or adaptive immunity unit in terms of the mechanisms of performing immune reactions. The functional activity of natural killer (NK) cells is not associated with pre-activation processes resulting from contact with antigen, rearrangement of antigen-recognition receptor genes, and clonal proliferation. In this regard, NK cells are traditionally referred to as cells of innate immunity. Previously, it was believed that NK cells represent the only population of innate immunity lymphoid cells, but, more recently, there has been increasing evidence in the literature concerning existence of different populations of these cells, thus serving a basis for isolating a common cluster called Innate Lymphoid Cells (ILC). According to the ILC classification, NK cells are classified as the first group of innate lymphoid cells according to their overall functional characteristics, as well as contribution of the T-bet transcription factor to their differentiation. Complexity, multistage and partially nonlinear character of NK cell differentiation are associated with influence of the cellular microenvironment, consistent expression of transcription factors and activation of various intracellular signaling pathways in NK cells. The review considers positioning of NK cells in the ILC classification, the main transcription factors involved in NK cell differentiation. The authors are seeking for generalization of the major routes of intracellular signal transmission in NK cells depending on their activation by cytokines located in the cellular microenvironment and affecting NK cells. The decidual NK cells during pregnancy represent a special object of NK cell differentiation. Stromal cells, trophoblast cells and macrophages are present in the decidua, in addition to NK cells. The review concerns a special case of microenvironmental effects upon expression of transcription factors and activation of NK intracellular messengers, while considering trophoblast cells an example of such influences. The recently discovered variety of NK cells, induced by the microenvironment in the course of their differentiation, requires further study

Analysis of failings of walking paths design by the example of Academicheskiy district in Ekaterinburg

В статье исследуется состояние пешеходных связей строящегося райо на, выявлены ошибки проектировщиков в разработке пешеходной сети. В ходе исследования использованы методы фотовыявления, картографирования и автоэтнографии, которые помогли выявить причины нарушения газонных покрытий. Поднят вопрос несоответствия проектных решений текущим потребностям жителей района.The research of a condition of footpaths in the new district area is describing in the article. Designer’s failings in development of pedestrian network were described. During the research methods of photoidentification, mapping and auto-ethnography which have helped to establish causes of infringement of lawn coverings have been used. The question of discrepancy of design decisions to the current needs of residents of the area is brought up

Immunomodulating and Revascularizing Activity of Kalanchoe pinnata Synergize with Fungicide Activity of Biogenic Peptide Cecropin P1

© 2017 N. S. Zakharchenko et al. Previously transgenic Kalanchoe pinnata plants producing an antimicrobial peptide cecropin P1 (CecP1) have been reported. Now we report biological testing K. pinnata extracts containing CecP1 as a candidate drug for treatment of wounds infected with Candida albicans. The drug constitutes the whole juice from K. pinnata leaves (not ethanol extract) sterilized with nanofiltration. A microbicide activity of CecP1 against an animal fungal pathogen in vivo was demonstrated for the first time. However, a favorable therapeutic effect of the transgenic K. pinnata extract was attributed to a synergism between the fungicide activity of CecP1 and wound healing (antiscar), revascularizing, and immunomodulating effect of natural biologically active components of K. pinnata. A commercial fungicide preparation clotrimazole eliminated C. albicans cells within infected wounds in rats with efficiency comparable to CecP1-enriched K. pinnata extract. But in contrast to K. pinnata extract, clotrimazole did not exhibit neither wound healing activity nor remodeling of the scar matrix. Taken together, our results allow assumption that CecP1-enriched K. pinnata extracts should be considered as a candidate drug for treatment of dermatomycoses, wounds infected with fungi, and bedsores

Graduated return to play guidance following COVID-19 infection

The COVID­19 pandemic has affected all inhabitants of the planet, of all ages and professions, including professional athletes. In connection with the resumption of various sports events, it became necessary to create criteria for admitting an athlete to the training and competitive process. In the British Journal of Sports Medicine (BJSM) on February 08, 2021 the authors Niall Elliott, Rhodri Martin, Neil Heron, Jonathan Elliott, Dan Grimstead and Anita Biswas published an infographic of the stages of returning to sports activity after suffering COVID­19. An adapted translation was made by a team of authors and provided in the form of a short message for publication

Selection of a SARS-CoV-2 antibody quantification method and development of an antibody reference standard for ELISA to test immunoglobulin preparations

The development of COVID-globulin, a COVID-19-specific human immunoglobulin preparation, involved choosing a method to quantify antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. Antibody titre determination by virus neutralisation (VN) is labour-intensive and unsuitable for large-scale application. To enable routine testing, it was necessary to develop a less demanding method; the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was the most appropriate of solutions. The lack of international and industry reference standards (RS) prompted the preparation and certification of an RS for COVID-globulin potency control.The aim of the study was to examine the possibility of substituting ELISA for VN and to develop an RS for SARS-CoV-2 antibody quantification in immunoglobulin preparations.Materials and methods: the authors used commercial ELISA kits by several manufacturers, COVID-globulin by Microgen (48 batches), and human plasma samples from multiple sources (1499 samples). The tests were performed by VN, ELISA, and chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay.Results: the authors validated an ELISA method for SARS-CoV-2 antibody quantification with the selected reagent kits by the National Medical Research Center for Hematology (NMRC for Hematology) and Euroimmun AG. The authors demonstrated the possibility of using ELISA instead of VN (with a correlation coefficient of more than 0.9). They developed and characterised an in-house RS for SARS-CoV-2 antibody content in human immunoglobulin preparations. The RS was certified in newly introduced anti-COVID units (ACU) and in international binding antibody units (BAU) using the World Health Organisation (WHO) international reference panel (NIBSC code: 20/268). The RS's potency was measured in terms of its neutralising activity in ACU (320 ACU/mL) and BAU (2234.8 BAU/mL). The authors established the relationship between ACU and BAU units. For the selected ELISA reagent kits, the conversion factors were 6.4 (NMRC for Hematology) and 7.0 (Euroimmun AG).Conclusions: the ELISA method for SARS-CoV-2 antibody quantification and the RS for SARS-CoV-2 antibody content can be applied to determine the potency of human anti-COVID-19 immunoglobulins