Recent advances in electrophoretic deposition of thin-film electrolytes for intermediate-temperature solid oxide fuel cells

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have been attracting considerable attention as ecologically friendly and highly efficient power sources with a variety of applications. Modern directions in the SOFCs technology are related to lowering the SOFC operating temperature that require both advanced materials design and development of versatile technologies to fabricate SOFC with thin-film electrolyte membrane to decrease ohmic losses at decreased temperatures. Electrophoretic deposition (EDP) is one of the most technologically flexible and cost-effective methods for the thin film formation currently available. This review highlights challenges and approaches presented in literature to the formation dense thin films based on oxygen-conducting and proton conducting electrolytes, as well as multilayer and composite electrolyte membranes

Synthesis of tetrazole containing 1,2,3-thiadiazole derivatives via U-4CR and their anti-TMV activity

A series of novel tetrazole containing 1,2,3-thiadiazole derivatives were designed and synthesized via Ugi reaction. Their structures were confirmed by melting points, IR, 1H NMR, and HRMS (ESI). Preliminary bioassay indicated that most target compounds exhibited very good direct anti-TMV activity at 100 μg/mL, which was equal to or higher than that of ribavirin. Among them, compounds 4b, 4c and 4i also showed equivalent protection effect to ribavirin in vivo at 100 μg/mL. © 2013 Zhi-Jin Fan. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society. All rights reserved

Tissue-specific effects of benzo[a]pyrene and DDT on microRNA expression profile in female rats

Many xenobiotics in the human environment, such as benzo[a]pyrene (B(a)P) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), may act as non-genotoxic carcinogens through epigenetic mechanisms, including changes in microRNA expression profile. In part, such disorders can be mediated by the activation of nuclear receptors, resulting in the activation of protein coding gene expression and microRNAs involved in malignant transformation of cells. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the chain of events “xenobiotic administration – receptor activation – up-regulating microRNA expression – down-regulation target genes expression” as one of the key factors in the chemically-induced carcinogenesis. Using in silico methods, an analysis of the rat genome was carried out to find microRNAs putatively regulated by AhR (aryl hydrocarbon receptor) and CAR (constitutive androstane receptor), activated by BP and DDT, respectively. In particular, miR-3577 and -193b were selected as potentially regulated CAR, miR-207 was selected as a candidate for miR under AhR regulation. The results of the study showed that the treatment of female rats with DDT and B(a)P caused a tissue-specific changes in the expression of microRNAs and host genes in both acute and chronic administration of xenobiotics. To confirm the effects of xenobiotics on the microRNA expression, we also estimated the mRNA level of PTPN6, EIF3F, Cbx7, and Dicer1 genes potentially targeting miR-193b, -207, and -3577. The study has shown a high correlation between the expression of target genes and microRNAs; however these changes depended on the tissue types, the dose and time after xenobiotic treatment

Comparative analysis of the results using direct lateral interbody spondilodesis and transforaminal lumbar interbody spondilodesis in patients with degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine

Introduction Various spondylodesis techniques are used in patients with degenerative diseases of the lumbar spine, but the benefits of these techniques have not been proven.Objective of the study was to assess the effect of the type of fusion on the incidence of implant instability and related revision surgeries.Material and Methods This monocentric prospective study included 133 patients with degenerative stenosis of the lumbar spine and confirmed instability of spinal motion segments. Patients underwent transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) with a single cage or direct lateral interbody fusion (DLIF) using standard-sized cages. The conventional open technique was used to supplement TLIF with pedicle screws while percutaneous screw placement was applied in patients treated with DLIF. The duration of follow-up was 18 months. Fisher's exact test was used to assess differences in the incidence of fixator instability based on MSCT and revision interventions. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between potential risk factors and complication rates.Results The use of DLIF detected by MSCT (32.9 vs 3.6%, p < 0.0001) resulted in a significant reduction in the incidence of screw instability and associated revision interventions (11.8 vs 0%, p = 0.0122). The results of logistic regression, taking into account factors such as bone density and the number of levels at which spondylodesis was performed, confirm the relationship between the reduced incidence of complications and the use of DLIF technology. Conclusion Using DLIF instead of TLIF in patients with degenerative stenosis at the lumbar spine level can lead to a significant reduction in the frequency of screw instability and associated revision surgeries

Observation of core electron temperature rise in response to an edge cooling in toroidal helical plasmas

The first observation of a significant rise of core electron temperature in response to edge cooling in a helical plasma has been made on the Large Helical Device [O. Motojima et al., Phys. Plasmas 6, 1843 (1999)]. When the phenomenon occurs, the electron heat diffusivity in the core region is reduced abruptly without changing local parameters in the region of interest. Therefore the phenomenon can be regarded as a so-called "nonlocal" electron temperature rise observed so far only in many tokamaks

Органолептичні показники та харчова цінність арахісу смаженого із мережі готельно-рестораних комплексів Київщини

Foods must contain all the nutrients necessary to maintain human health, development and life. These components include protein, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and other biologically active substances, which must be in sufficient quantity and ensure the proper functioning of the body. One such food that contains significant amounts of nutrients is peanuts. Peanuts are a source of protein, carbohydrates, fats, fiber, trace elements and vitamins. The nutrients of the product are easily absorbed. The article presents the results of a study of the nutritional value of roasted salted peanuts of various manufacturers, which are used for consumption in hotel and restaurant complexes in the Kiev region. The studies were carried out in the laboratory of the State Research Control Institute of Veterinary Drugs and Feed Additives (Lviv). Nutritional value was determined according to different methods, which are intended for each indicator, and also used statistical methods. According to the research results, it was revealed that the content of moisture, protein, fat and fiber in peanuts Big Bo, Felix Peanuts and Cossack Slava ranges, respectively, in the range from 0.73 to 1.37 %, from 26.3 to 26.9, from 46.01 to 48.6 g/100 g of product and 3.56 to 3.92 %. According to organoleptic parameters, prototypes of peanuts from different manufacturers meet the standard requirements. Promising research is the study of trace elements in roasted salted peanuts from various manufacturers.Харчові продукти мають містити усі поживні речовини, необхідні для підтримання здоров’я, розвитку та життєдіяльності людини. До таких компонентів належать протеїн, жири, вуглеводи, вітаміни, мінеральні речовини та інші біологічно активні речовини, які повинні бути в достатній кількість та забезпечувати належне функціонування організму. Одним із таких харчових продуктів, який містить значну кількість поживних речовин є арахіс. Арахіс є джерелом білка, вуглеводів, жирів, клітковини, мікроелементів та вітамінів. Поживні речовини продукту легко засвоюються. У статті представлені результати дослідження поживної цінності арахісу смаженого солоного різних виробників, які використовують для вживання в готельно-рестораних комплексах Київщини. Дослідження проводили в умовах лабораторії Державного науково-дослідного контрольного інституту ветпрепаратів та кормових добавок (м. Львів). Поживну цінність визначали за різними методиками, які призначені для кожного показника, а також використовували статистичні методики. За результатами досліджень виявлено, що вміст вологи, білка, жиру та клітковини у арахісах Big Boв, Felix Peanuts та Козацька Слава коливається, відповідно, в межах від 0,73 до 1,37 %, від 26,3 до 26,9, від 46,01 до 48,6 г/100 г продукту та від 3,56 до 3,92 %. За органолептичними показниками дослідні зразки арахісу різних виробників відповідають стандартним вимогам. Перспективними дослідженнями є вивчення мікроелементів в арахісі жареному солоному різних виробників

Ten-year monitoring of the regional incidence of HIV infection (for example, Orenburg region)

The article presents the results of a study of the major indicators of HIV incidence population in the Orenburg region. Found that primary HIV infections over a ten-year period had a tendency to increase from 75,5 per 100 000 population in 2004 to 84,1 in 2013. The prevalence of HIV-infection in the Orenburg region has increased in 1,8 times with 560,2 to 1033,5 per 100 000 population over the same period. HIV-infection in the Orenburg region affects mainly the young population equally in groups of up to either 30 and 40 years old (according to the 36,1 and 39,9%, respectively). An increasing number of children born to HIV-infected mothers; an increasing number of AIDS patients and deaths from AIDS.В статье представлены результаты изучения основных показателей заболеваемости ВИЧ-инфекцией населения в Оренбургской области. Установлено, что первичная заболеваемость ВИЧ-инфекцией имела тенденцию к росту: от 75,5 на 100 ООО населения в 2004 году до 84,1 на 100 000 в 2013 году. При этом уровень пораженное™ населения ВИЧ-инфекцией вырос в 1,8 раза (с 560,2 до 1033,5 на 100 000 населения). ВИЧ-инфекция поражает молодое население: доля лиц в возрасте до 30 лет составляет 36,1%, и в возрасте до 40 лет - 39,9%. В регионе увеличилось число детей, рожденных ВИЧ-инфицированными матерями, отмечается рост больных СПИДом и случаев смерти от СПИДа