The innovative vector of the Nordic countries’ competitiveness: case of Sweden

Innovation and competitiveness are among key research topics in the social, economic and humanitarian fields. This article describes specific aspects of innovation policy in Sweden, one of the dynamically developing Northern European countries. This development is confirmed by the position of the country in the global innovation and competitiveness rankings. It is shown that high position of Sweden arises from the successful use of its geographic location, the “welfare state” model put into practice, the effective interactions of the state, science, and business, the implementation of research policy, according to which universities and research, and educational centers, involved in technology clusters formation, play an important role. The existing Arctic strategy developed in Sweden adds relevance to the research. The Arctic strategy states that “growth and competitiveness based on overcoming trade barriers, research and education system, as well as on international cooperation within the Arctic Council, the EU and the UN” will have crucial significance for the sustainable social and economic development of the state. From a practical point of view, the Swedish experience in the formation of an innovation economy, which includes northern regions as well, is of interest for the Russian subarctic areas. The article can be used for the educational process at universities. It is relevant for civil servants and researchers, economists and geographers involved in forecasting and territorial development of the northern regions

The Effects of Text Message Reminder on Blood Donor Show Rate

Introduction: Declining blood collection endangers the blood supply at a time when the health care system is requiring an increasingly greater amount of blood products. Blood donation centers are challenged to recruit and develop first-time donors into reliable repeat donors, thereby ensuring a sufficient blood supply. Communication strategies such as e-mail reminders have been shown to be an effective communications tool to promote blood collection. Alternatively, Text Messaging has been shown effective in primary care and preventative medicine. Text messaging improved patient compliance with a schedule of vaccine dosing, as well as improving patient attendance at outpatient clinics. Additionally, text messaging reminders have been shown to be as effective as phone reminders in increasing patient attendance at outpatient appointments. Finally, text messaging has been shown to be useful for managing self-care such as smoking cessation, monitoring asthmatic symptoms, and diabetes control. We investigated whether offering the use a text message reminder to donors would increase attendance at donation events, demonstrating that text messaging can be an effective tool in maintaining a pool of blood donors.https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/comphp_gallery/1008/thumbnail.jp

6-gene promoter methylation assay is potentially applicable for prostate cancer clinical staging based on urine collection following prostatic massage

The detection of prostate cancer (PCa) biomarkers in bodily fluids, a process known as liquid biopsy, is a promising approach and particularly beneficial when performed in urine samples due to their maximal non‑invasiveness requirement of collection. A number of gene panels proposed for this purpose have allowed discrimination between disease‑free prostate and PCa; however, they bear no significant prognostic value. With the purpose to develop a gene panel for PCa diagnosis and prognosis, the methylation status of 17 cancer-associated genes were analyzed in urine cell‑free DNA obtained from 31 patients with PCa and 33 control individuals using methylation‑specific polymerase chain reaction (MSP). Among these, 13 genes indicated the increase in methylation frequency in patients with PCa compared with controls. No prior association has been reported between adenomatosis polyposis coli 2 (APC2), homeobox A9, Wnt family member 7A (WNT7A) and N‑Myc downstream‑regulated gene 4 protein genes with PCa. The 6‑gene panel consisting of APC2, cadherin 1, forkhead box P1, leucine rich repeat containing 3B, WNT7A and zinc family protein of the cerebellum 4 was subsequently developed providing PCa detection with 78% sensitivity and 100% specificity. The number of genes methylated (NGM) value introduced for this panel was indicated to rise monotonically from 0.27 in control individuals to 4.6 and 4.25 in patients with highly developed and metastatic T2/T3 stage cancer, respectively. Therefore, the approach of defining the NGM value may not only allow for the detection of PCa, but also provide a rough evaluation of tumor malignancy and metastatic potential by non‑invasive MSP analysis of urine samples

Експериментальне дослідження впливу часткового діелектричного заповнення на електродинамічні характеристики та розміри прямокутного хвилеводу:

The results of an experimental study of the effect of partial dielectric filling (PDF) on the electrodynamic characteristics and dimensions of a rectangular waveguide are presented. The results of the experimental study are compared with the calculated ones obtained using an approximate method for determining the effective permittivity and propagation constant of a partially filled waveguide (PWF) presented in [1]. The approximate method differs from the existing ones in that it is not necessary to solve transcendental dispersion equations to determine the propagation constant in a rectangular waveguide with a PDF. In particular, the results of a theoretical calculation of the dependences of the size of the wide wall of the PWF with cross-sectional dimensions of 23 × 10 mm on the change in the fill factor along the wide wall of the waveguide at a frequency of 10 GHz, the wavelength, the wave impedance of the PWF, and the propagation constant on the change in the fill factor along the wide wall, waveguide in the frequency band 6–14 GHz for modification 2–1–2 (thin dielectric plates near the side walls) and 1–2 (thin dielectric plate near one side wall) for the H10 type wave are presented. Experimental studies were carried out using a laboratory setup consisting of a signal generator, a voltage ratio meter, a measuring line based on a rectangular waveguide, to the output of which a short circuit was connected. Dielectric plates (PTFE Ф4) 10 mm wide, 2 mm and 4 mm thick, and 253 mm long were installed inside the rectangular waveguide of the measuring line. The maximum relative error of the results of experimental studies for modifications 2-1-2, 1-2 does not exceed 15%, in particular, for modification 2-1-2 it is less than for 1-2. The presented results confirm the feasibility and high accuracy of calculating the electrodynamic characteristics of the PWF by the approximate method [1]. The reliability and validity of the results obtained is ensured by a sufficiently high convergence of the calculation results with the experimental ones, under boundary conditions with known results, the convergence of the obtained formulas in units of measurement.Представлены результаты экспериментального исследования влияния частичного диэлектрического заполнения (ЧДЗ) на электродинамические характеристики и размеры прямоугольного волновода. Результаты экспериментального исследования сравниваются с расчетными, полученными с помощью приближенного метода определения эффективной диэлектрической проницаемости и постоянной распространения частично заполненного волновода (ЧЗВ), представленного в [1]. Приближенный метод отличается от существующих тем, что для определения постоянной распространения в прямоугольном волноводе с ЧДЗ не нужно решать трансцендентные дисперсионные уравнения. В частности, приводятся результаты теоретического расчета зависимостей размера широкой стенки ЧЗВ с размерами поперечного сечения 23×10 мм от изменения коэффициента заполнения вдоль широкой стенки волновода на частоте 10 ГГц, длины волны, поперечного волнового сопротивления ЧЗВ и постоянной распространения от изменения коэффициента заполнения вдоль широкой стенки волновода в полосе частот 6 – 14 ГГц для модификации 2–1–2 (тонкие диэлектрические пластины возле боковых стенок) и 1–2 (тонкая диэлектрическая пластина возле одной боковой стенки) для волны типа Н10. Экспериментальные исследования проведены с помощью лабораторной установки, состоящей из генератора сигналов, измеретителя отношений напряжений, измерительной линии на базе прямоугольного волновода, к выходу которой присоединялся короткозамыкатель. Внутрь прямоугольного волновода измерительной линии устанавливались диэлектрические пластины (фторопласт Ф4) шириной 10 мм, толщиной 2 мм и 4 мм, длиной 253 мм. Максимальная относительная погрешность результатов экспериментальных исследований для модификаций 2-1-2, 1-2 не превышает 15 %, в частности для модификации 2-1-2 она меньше, чем для 1-2. Представленные результаты подтверждают целесообразность и высокую точность расчетов электродинамических характеристик ЧЗВ приближенным методом [1]. Достоверность и обоснованность полученных результатов обеспечивается достаточно высокой сходимостью результатов расчета с экспериментальными, при граничных условиях с известными результатами, сходимостью полученных формул по единицам измерения.Представлено результати експериментального дослідження впливу часткового діелектричного заповнення (ЧДЗ) на електродинамічні характеристики та розміри прямокутного хвилеводу. Результати експериментального дослідження порівнюються із розрахунковими, отриманими за допомогою наближеного методу визначення ефективної діелектричної проникності та сталої поширення частково заповненого хвилеводу (ЧЗХ), представленого в [1]. Зокрема наводяться результати теоретичного розрахунку залежностей розміру широкої стінки ЧЗХ із розмірами поперечного перерізу 23×10 мм від коефіцієнта заповнення уздовж широкої стінки хвилеводу на частоті 10 ГГц, довжини хвилі, хвильового опору ЧЗХ та сталої поширення від коефіцієнта заповнення вздовж широкої стінки хвилеводу у смузі частот 6 – 14 ГГц для модифікацій ЧЗХ 2–1–2 (тонкі діелектричні пластини біля бокових стінок) та 1–2 (тонка діелектрична пластина біля однієї бокової стінки) для хвилі типу Н10. Експериментальні дослідження проведено за допомогою лабораторної установки, яка складалась з генератора НВЧ сигналів, вимірювальної лінії (на базі прямокутного хвилеводу), металевого короткозамикача та вимірювача відношення напруг. Всередину прямокутного хвилеводу вимірювальної лінії встановлювались діелектричні пластини з фторопласту Ф4 шириною 10 мм, товщиною 2 мм та 4 мм, довжиною 25,3 см. Максимальна відносна похибка результатів експериментальних досліджень для модифікацій 2–1–2, 1–2 не перевищує 15 %, зокрема для модифікації 2–1–2 вона менша ніж для 1–2. Отримані експериментальні результати підтвердили достатньо високу точність наближеного методу розрахунку ЧЗХ, наведеного у роботі [1]

Potassium channel gene mutations rarely cause atrial fibrillation

BACKGROUND: Mutations in several potassium channel subunits have been associated with rare forms of atrial fibrillation. In order to explore the role of potassium channels in inherited typical forms of the arrhythmia, we have screened a cohort of patients from a referral clinic for mutations in the channel subunit genes implicated in the arrhythmia. We sought to determine if mutations in KCNJ2 and KCNE1-5 are a common cause of atrial fibrillation. METHODS: Serial patients with lone atrial fibrillation or atrial fibrillation with hypertension were enrolled between June 1, 2001 and January 6, 2005. Each patient underwent a standardized interview and physical examination. An electrocardiogram, echocardiogram and blood sample for genetic analysis were also obtained. Patients with a family history of AF were screened for mutations in KCNJ2 and KCNE1-5 using automated sequencing. RESULTS: 96 patients with familial atrial fibrillation were enrolled. Eighty-three patients had lone atrial fibrillation and 13 had atrial fibrillation and hypertension. Patients had a mean age of 56 years at enrollment and 46 years at onset of atrial fibrillation. Eighty-one percent of patients had paroxysmal atrial fibrillation at enrollment. Unlike patients with an activating mutation in KCNQ1, the patients had a normal QT(c )interval with a mean of 412 ± 42 ms. Echocardiography revealed a normal mean ejection fraction of 62.0 ± 7.2 % and mean left atrial dimension of 39.9 ± 7.0 mm. A number of common polymorphisms in KCNJ2 and KCNE1-5 were identified, but no mutations were detected. CONCLUSION: Mutations in KCNJ2 and KCNE1-5 rarely cause typical atrial fibrillation in a referral clinic population

Circadian clock proteins regulate neuronal redox homeostasis and neurodegeneration

Brain aging is associated with diminished circadian clock output and decreased expression of the core clock proteins, which regulate many aspects of cellular biochemistry and metabolism. The genes encoding clock proteins are expressed throughout the brain, though it is unknown whether these proteins modulate brain homeostasis. We observed that deletion of circadian clock transcriptional activators aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator–like (Bmal1) alone, or circadian locomotor output cycles kaput (Clock) in combination with neuronal PAS domain protein 2 (Npas2), induced severe age-dependent astrogliosis in the cortex and hippocampus. Mice lacking the clock gene repressors period circadian clock 1 (Per1) and period circadian clock 2 (Per2) had no observed astrogliosis. Bmal1 deletion caused the degeneration of synaptic terminals and impaired cortical functional connectivity, as well as neuronal oxidative damage and impaired expression of several redox defense genes. Targeted deletion of Bmal1 in neurons and glia caused similar neuropathology, despite the retention of intact circadian behavioral and sleep-wake rhythms. Reduction of Bmal1 expression promoted neuronal death in primary cultures and in mice treated with a chemical inducer of oxidative injury and striatal neurodegeneration. Our findings indicate that BMAL1 in a complex with CLOCK or NPAS2 regulates cerebral redox homeostasis and connects impaired clock gene function to neurodegeneration

New Approaches to the Modeling of Dissolution of Medicinal Drugs and their Exemption from Tablets

Розроблено модель з використанням бутстреп-методу для оцінки функції розподілу вивільнення лікарського препарату в людському організмі. Розглянуто застосування методу для препарату Трізіпін-Лонг. Для описання розчинності силденафіла цитрату у системі пропіленгліколь–ПЕГ-400 запропоновано модифіковане рівняння Жуйбана-Акрі. З використанням моделі підібрані умови достатнього розчинення препарату.A model is developed using the bootstrap method to evaluate the distribution function of the drug release into the human body. The application of the method for Trizipine-Long is considered. To describe the solubility of sildenafil citrate in the propylene glycol–PEG-400 system, a modified Jouban-Akree equation is proposed. Using the model, the conditions for sufficient dissolution of the preparation are chosen.Разработана модель с использованием бутстреп-метода для оценки функции распределения высвобождения лекарственного препарата в человеческом организме. Рассмотрено применение метода для препарата Тризипин-Лонг. Для описания растворимости силденафила цитрата в системе пропиленгликоль–ПЭГ-400 предложено модифицированное уравнение Жуйбана-Акри. С использованием модели подобраны условия достаточного растворения препарата

Core Proteome of the Minimal Cell: Comparative Proteomics of Three Mollicute Species

Mollicutes (mycoplasmas) have been recognized as highly evolved prokaryotes with an extremely small genome size and very limited coding capacity. Thus, they may serve as a model of a ‘minimal cell’: a cell with the lowest possible number of genes yet capable of autonomous self-replication. We present the results of a comparative analysis of proteomes of three mycoplasma species: A. laidlawii, M. gallisepticum, and M. mobile. The core proteome components found in the three mycoplasma species are involved in fundamental cellular processes which are necessary for the free living of cells. They include replication, transcription, translation, and minimal metabolism. The members of the proteome core seem to be tightly interconnected with a number of interactions forming core interactome whether or not additional species-specific proteins are located on the periphery. We also obtained a genome core of the respective organisms and compared it with the proteome core. It was found that the genome core encodes 73 more proteins than the proteome core. Apart of proteins which may not be identified due to technical limitations, there are 24 proteins that seem to not be expressed under the optimal conditions

Circadian Clock Genes Contribute to the Regulation of Hair Follicle Cycling

Hair follicles undergo recurrent cycling of controlled growth (anagen), regression (catagen), and relative quiescence (telogen) with a defined periodicity. Taking a genomics approach to study gene expression during synchronized mouse hair follicle cycling, we discovered that, in addition to circadian fluctuation, CLOCK–regulated genes are also modulated in phase with the hair growth cycle. During telogen and early anagen, circadian clock genes are prominently expressed in the secondary hair germ, which contains precursor cells for the growing follicle. Analysis of Clock and Bmal1 mutant mice reveals a delay in anagen progression, and the secondary hair germ cells show decreased levels of phosphorylated Rb and lack mitotic cells, suggesting that circadian clock genes regulate anagen progression via their effect on the cell cycle. Consistent with a block at the G1 phase of the cell cycle, we show a significant upregulation of p21 in Bmal1 mutant skin. While circadian clock mechanisms have been implicated in a variety of diurnal biological processes, our findings indicate that circadian clock genes may be utilized to modulate the progression of non-diurnal cyclic processes

A Large Scale shRNA Barcode Screen Identifies the Circadian Clock Component ARNTL as Putative Regulator of the p53 Tumor Suppressor Pathway

BACKGROUND: The p53 tumor suppressor gene is mutated in about half of human cancers, but the p53 pathway is thought to be functionally inactivated in the vast majority of cancer. Understanding how tumor cells can become insensitive to p53 activation is therefore of major importance. Using an RNAi-based genetic screen, we have identified three novel genes that regulate p53 function. RESULTS: We have screened the NKI shRNA library targeting 8,000 human genes to identify modulators of p53 function. Using the shRNA barcode technique we were able to quickly identify active shRNA vectors from a complex mixture. Validation of the screening results indicates that the shRNA barcode technique can reliable identify active shRNA vectors from a complex pool. Using this approach we have identified three genes, ARNTL, RBCK1 and TNIP1, previously unknown to regulate p53 function. Importantly, ARNTL (BMAL1) is an established component of the circadian regulatory network. The latter finding adds to recent observations that link circadian rhythm to the cell cycle and cancer. We show that cells having suppressed ARNTL are unable to arrest upon p53 activation associated with an inability to activate the p53 target gene p21(CIP1). CONCLUSIONS: We identified three new regulators of the p53 pathway through a functional genetic screen. The identification of the circadian core component ARNTL strengthens the link between circadian rhythm and cancer