Formation of cultural identity in the conditions of modernization of Russian society

The article considers the problems of intercultural communication and forming the cultural identity of the Russians in the conditions of the integrated process of the primary and secondary modernization in Russia in general, and in some regions.Рассматриваются проблемы межкультурной коммуникации и формирования культурной идентичности россиян в условиях интегрированного процесса первичной и вторичной модернизации России в целом и её отдельных регионов

Experience in Developing Early Warning System for Financial Crises and the Forecast of Russian Banking Sector Dynamic in 2012

The article summarizes the key results of researches in the field of early warning systems for financial crises, conducted by the Center for Macroeconomic Analysis and Short-Term Forecasting (CMASF) since 2005. The proposed early warning system consists of three major blocks: the leading indicators of certain types of risks and the composite leading indicator of a systemic banking crisis; the medium-term scenario forecasting of key macroeconomic and financial indicators; stress testing of credit and liquidity risks of banks. On the basis of this early warning system we estimate the risks of financial crisis and some kinds of systemic risks in the different scenarios for the Russian economy in 2012. The analysis, in particular, revealed a sensitivity threshold of the domestic financial sector to changes in the world oil prices. Furthermore, it was found that the greatest destabilizing effect on the Russian financial sector may be caused by systemic credit risk.systemic financial crises, credit risks, liquidity risks, currency risks, early warning system, leading indicators, stress testing

Common conformational changes induced in type 2 picornavirus IRESs by cognate trans-acting factors

Type 2 internal ribosomal entry sites (IRESs) of encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) and other picornaviruses comprise five major domains H-L. Initiation of translation on these IRESs begins with specific binding of the central domain of initiation factor, eIF4G to the J-K domains, which is stimulated by eIF4A. eIF4G/eIF4A then restructure the region of ribosomal attachment on the IRES and promote recruitment of ribosomal 43S pre-initiation complexes. In addition to canonical translation factors, type 2 IRESs also require IRES trans-acting factors (ITAFs) that are hypothesized to stabilize the optimal IRES conformation that supports efficient ribosomal recruitment: the EMCV IRES is stimulated by pyrimidine tract binding protein (PTB), whereas the FMDV IRES requires PTB and ITAF45. To test this hypothesis, we assessed the effect of ITAFs on the conformations of EMCV and FMDV IRESs by comparing their influence on hydroxyl radical cleavage of these IRESs from the central domain of eIF4G. The observed changes in cleavage patterns suggest that cognate ITAFs promote similar conformational changes that are consistent with adoption by the IRESs of comparable, more compact structures, in which domain J undergoes local conformational changes and is brought into closer proximity to the base of domain I

Lymphoid tissue pattern in the walls of small and large intestines in American mink (Neovison vison)

When breeding minks, a lot of problems are associated with disturbances of reproduction, birth of weak offspring, metabolic disorders, weakening of immunity. Poor knowledge of the morphology of mink and lack of detailed information about their immune system is among appropriate reasons. The largest variety of antigens enter the body with food and water, through the wall of gastrointestinal tract. The first barrier to their penetration is lymphoid tissue associated with mucous membranes, thus causing changes in immune structures. Our purpose was to study the syntopia, morphology and quantitative characteristics of intestine-associated lymphoid tissue in American mink (Neovison vison). A biomaterial for the study was organocomplex of the small and large intestines from 11 American Minks at the age of 8 months, obtained from the fur farm “Vyatka” (Zonikha, Slobodsky district, Kirov region). In the walls of small and large intestines, both single and grouped lymphoid nodules are found. Single lymphoid nodules are detected in lamina propria of the mucous membrane and in the submucosa, along the entire length of the intestines, except of the ileum. Lymphoid nodules are round or oval, distributed diffusely, their density per 1 cm2 is in duodenum – 0.62±0.08; in jejunum – 1.88±0.32; in colon – 9.21±0.28; in rectum – 24.2±0.42. At the border of pyloric part between the stomach and duodenum, single lymphoid nodules form an intestinal-pyloric lymphoid ring; at the site of transition from rectum to the anal sphincter, the rectal lymphoid ring is observed. Abundance of lymphoid nodules in rectal area is associated with semi-voluntary management of animals, and retention of fecal mass in this part of intestine. By two lymphoid plaques are found in the duodenum; 6 to13, in the jejunum; one large striped (lingual) lymphoid plaque is found in the ileal wall; 1 to 3 plaques are found in the colonic wall. Presence of lymphoid plaques in colonic wall of American mink should be considered a protective/adaptive phenomenon, due to absence of coecum in the animals from Mustelid family. The revealed patterns of lymphoid tissue syntopia in American mink are associated with antigenicity of food substances and terms of their presence in the ileum, colon and rectum

Quantitative analysis of ribosome–mRNA complexes at different translation stages

Inhibition of primer extension by ribosome–mRNA complexes (toeprinting) is a proven and powerful technique for studying mechanisms of mRNA translation. Here we have assayed an advanced toeprinting approach that employs fluorescently labeled DNA primers, followed by capillary electrophoresis utilizing standard instruments for sequencing and fragment analysis. We demonstrate that this improved technique is not merely fast and cost-effective, but also brings the primer extension inhibition method up to the next level. The electrophoretic pattern of the primer extension reaction can be characterized with a precision unattainable by the common toeprint analysis utilizing radioactive isotopes. This method allows us to detect and quantify stable ribosomal complexes at all stages of translation, including initiation, elongation and termination, generated during the complete translation process in both the in vitro reconstituted translation system and the cell lysate. We also point out the unique advantages of this new methodology, including the ability to assay sites of the ribosomal complex assembly on several mRNA species in the same reaction mixture

Inhibition of translation by IFIT family members is determined by their ability to interact selectively with the 5'-terminal regions of cap0-, cap1- and 5'ppp- mRNAs.

Ribosomal recruitment of cellular mRNAs depends on binding of eIF4F to the mRNA's 5'-terminal 'cap'. The minimal 'cap0' consists of N7-methylguanosine linked to the first nucleotide via a 5'-5' triphosphate (ppp) bridge. Cap0 is further modified by 2'-O-methylation of the next two riboses, yielding 'cap1' (m7GpppNmN) and 'cap2' (m7GpppNmNm). However, some viral RNAs lack 2'-O-methylation, whereas others contain only ppp- at their 5'-end. Interferon-induced proteins with tetratricopeptide repeats (IFITs) are highly expressed effectors of innate immunity that inhibit viral replication by incompletely understood mechanisms. Here, we investigated the ability of IFIT family members to interact with cap1-, cap0- and 5'ppp- mRNAs and inhibit their translation. IFIT1 and IFIT1B showed very high affinity to cap-proximal regions of cap0-mRNAs (K1/2,app ∼9 to 23 nM). The 2'-O-methylation abrogated IFIT1/mRNA interaction, whereas IFIT1B retained the ability to bind cap1-mRNA, albeit with reduced affinity (K1/2,app ∼450 nM). The 5'-terminal regions of 5'ppp-mRNAs were recognized by IFIT5 (K1/2,app ∼400 nM). The activity of individual IFITs in inhibiting initiation on a specific mRNA was determined by their ability to interact with its 5'-terminal region: IFIT1 and IFIT1B efficiently outcompeted eIF4F and abrogated initiation on cap0-mRNAs, whereas inhibition on cap1- and 5'ppp- mRNAs by IFIT1B and IFIT5 was weaker and required higher protein concentrations

Rationale for the post-harvest processing of leaf mass of agricultural crops using microwave radiation

Post-harvest processing of the leaf mass of various agricultural crops has general patterns. The peculiarity of the structure of the leaves is that the amount of water contained in the leaf blade and in the midrib is approximately the same, but the area of the evaporating surface of the midrib is 10–15 times less than the area of the evaporating surface of the leaf plate. Therefore, the difference in drying modes for these parts of the leaves justifies the need for different physical methods of influencing them. The aim of the research was to substantiate experimentally the general principles of moisture removal from the leaf mass of various agricultural crops using microwave radiation. Processing in the microwave field was carried out for 1,0; 1,5; 2,0; 2,5 minutes. The treated leaf layers were dried naturally. Leaves dried by convection under natural and artificial conditions, only without microwave treatment, served as a control sample. For the post-harvest processing of plantain leaves, a combined drying method is recommended, where in the first phase the leaves are treated with microwave radiation for 2,0–2,5 minutes, depending on the thickness of the leaf layer, and then in the second phase under natural conditions for 8 hours. Microwave – processing followed by convective drying in natural conditions is considered the most compromise method for drying beet tops leaves both in terms of drying time and in terms of the energy intensity of the process. On the basis on the results of the research, the application of the most rational processes of post-harvest processing of leaf mass of agricultural crops was substantiated, which consists in their processing by microwave radiation, followed by convective drying in a natural way

Ribosome formation from subunits studied by stopped-flow and Rayleigh light scattering

Light scattering and standard stopped-flow techniques were used to monitor rapid association of ribosomal subunits during initiation of eubacterial protein synthesis. The effects of the initiation factors IF1, IF2, IF3 and buffer conditions on subunit association were studied along with the role of GTP in this process. The part of light scattering theory that is essential for kinetic measurements is high-lighted in the main text and a more general treatment of Rayleigh scattering from macromolecules is given in an appendix