Islamic Banks in the Global Economy with Special Reference to in CIS Countries

The subject of the article is Islamic banks – a special form of banking business, in which services are provided to customers on an interest-free basis. The article discusses the reasons why Islamic banks emerged and spread, and considers the dynamics and geographical distribution of their assets in the world economy. Particular attention is paid to the theory and practice of Islamic banks performance, their main differences from conventional banks, as well as basic mechanisms of Islamic financing. Problems that make it difficult for Islamic banks to expand in non-Muslim countries have been revealed. The experience of Islamic banks in the post-Soviet space has been analyzed, and the practical experience and success of these financial institutions have been considered

Нематериальные активы как объект независимой оценки качества работы и условие развития библиотеки

The role of non-material assets in increasing library’s competitiveness and relevance is examined. The specific character of modern concepts of staff management making the basis for the philosophy of organizational non-material assets management is emphasized. The examples of associative coupling of librarian’s professional individualization with his/her personal brand as one of the library’s non-material assets are given. Tools for libraries’ self-assessment and evaluation of their non-material assets for systematic development (both of individual libraries and the country’s libraries on the whole) are proposed.Рассмотрена роль нематериальных активов библиотеки в повышении её конкурентоспособности и востребованности. Представлена специфика современных концепций кадрового менеджмента, лежащих в основе философии управления нематериальными активами организации. Приведены примеры ассоциативной связи результата индивидуализации в профессии творческого специалиста библиотеки с его персональным брендом как одной из важнейших составляющих нематериальных активов организации. Предложен методический инструментарий самообследования библиотек и оценки их нематериальных активов для создания системы развития как отдельной библиотеки, так и сети библиотек страны в целом

Профессиональная переподготовка как условие развития кадрового потенциала библиотек и востребованности специалистов на рынке труда

The experience of further training of top managers and other professionals of Belarus libraries in the area of “Software support of automated library and information systems” and awarding the qualification of software engineer is discussed. The academic disciplines within this new qualification are listed; links to official documents, namely, The Educational Standard and Sample Academic Plan for retraining in this area is given.Представлен опыт организации профессиональной переподготовки руководителей и специалистов библиотек Республики Беларусь по специальности «Программное обеспечение автоматизированных библиотечно-информационных систем» с присвоением квалификации «инженер-программист». Перечислены учебные дисциплины по новой специальности; даны ссылки на официально опубликованные документы - Образовательный стандарт и Типовой учебный план переподготовки по этой специальности

Na,K-ATPase Acts as a Beta-Amyloid Receptor Triggering Src Kinase Activation

Beta-amyloid (Aβ) has a dual role, both as an important factor in the pathology of Alzheimer’s disease and as a regulator in brain physiology. The inhibitory effect of Aβ42 oligomers on Na,K-ATPase contributes to neuronal dysfunction in Alzheimer’s disease. Still, the physiological role of the monomeric form of Aβ42 interaction with Na,K-ATPase remains unclear. We report that Na,K-ATPase serves as a receptor for Aβ42 monomer, triggering Src kinase activation. The co-localization of Aβ42 with α1- and β1-subunits of Na,K-ATPase, and Na,K-ATPase with Src kinase in SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, was observed. Treatment of cells with 100 nM Aβ42 causes Src kinase activation, but does not alter Na,K-ATPase transport activity. The interaction of Aβ42 with α1β1 Na,K-ATPase isozyme leads to activation of Src kinase associated with the enzyme. Notably, prevention of Na,K-ATPase:Src kinase interaction by a specific inhibitor pNaKtide disrupts the Aβ-induced Src kinase activation. Stimulatory effect of Aβ42 on Src kinase was lost under hypoxic conditions, which was similar to the effect of specific Na,K-ATPase ligands, the cardiotonic steroids. Our findings identify Na,K-ATPase as a Aβ42 receptor, thus opening a prospect on exploring the physiological and pathological Src kinase activation caused by Aβ42 in the nervous system

Solid state synthesis of carbon-encapsulated iron carbide nanoparticles and their interaction with living cells †

Superparamagnetic carbon-encapsulated iron carbide nanoparticles (NPs), Fe 7 C 3 @C, with unique properties, were produced from pure ferrocene by high pressure-high temperature synthesis. These NPs combine the merits of nanodiamonds and SPIONs but lack their shortcomings which limit their use for biomedical applications. Investigation of these NPs by X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy techniques, X-ray spectroscopic and magnetic measurement methods has demonstrated that this method of synthesis yields NPs with perfectly controllable physical properties. Using magnetic and subsequent fractional separation of magnetic NPs from residual carbon, the aqueous suspensions of Fe 7 C 3 @C NPs with an average particle size of $25 nm were prepared. The suspensions were used for in vitro studies of the interaction of Fe 7 C 3 @C NPs with cultured mammalian cells. The dynamics of interaction of the living cells with Fe 7 C 3 @C was studied by optical microscopy using time-lapse video recording and also by transmission electron microscopy. Using novel highly sensitive cytotoxicity tests based on the cell proliferation assay and long-term live cell observations it was shown that the internalization of Fe 7 C 3 @C NPs has no cytotoxic effect on cultured cells and does not interfere with the process of their mitotic division, a fundamental property that ensures the existence of living organisms. The influence of NPs on the proliferative activity of cultured cells was not detected as well. These results indicate that the carbon capsules of Fe 7 C 3 @C NPs are air-tight which could offer great opportunities for future use of these superparamagnetic NPs in biology and medicine

Toktrapport fra det norsk/russiske økotoktet i Barentshavet og nærliggende områder

The aim of the joint Norwegian/Russian ecosystem survey in the Barents Sea and adjacent waters, August-October (BESS) is to monitor the status and changes in the Barents Sea ecosystem and provide data to support stock advice and research. The survey has since 2004 been conducted annually in the autumn, as a collaboration between the Institute of Marine Research (IMR) in Norway and the Polar branch of the VNIRO (PINRO) in Russia. The general survey plan and tasks were agreed upon at the annual IMR-PINRO Meeting in March 2022. Ship routes and other technical details are agreed on by correspondence between the survey coordinators. BESS aims at covering the entire Barents Sea. Ecosystem stations are distributed in a 35×35 nautical mile regular grid, and the ship tracks follow this design. Exceptions are the area around Svalbard (Spitsbergen), some additional bottom trawl hauls for demersal fish survey indices estimation, and additional acoustic transects for the capelin stock size estimation. Survey start for the Russian vessel was significantly delayed, resulting in REEZ being covered two-three months later than NEEZ. This resulted in reduced area coverage, decrease in the numbers of trawl hauls, and lack of standard pelagic trawl sampling. In NEEZ, RV “Kronprins Haakon” was cancelled due to difficult economic situation, making it necessary to allocate one of the two remaining vessels to the area west and north of Svalbard (Spitsbergen). This resulted in low coverage in this area, and problems with synoptic coverage in north-east of Svalbard (Spitsbergen) and thus increased uncertainty in assessment of demersal fish (e.g. Greenland halibut) and capelin. The 19-th joint Barents Sea autumn Ecosystem Survey (BESS) was carried out in two periods. The Norwegian research vessels “G.O. Sars” and “Johan Hjort” covered NEEZ in the period 16-th August to 03-th October, providing data to stock assessment, 0-group fish abundance indices, and state and changes descriptions which is comparable with earlier survey years in NEEZ. The Russian research vessel “Vilnyus” covered REEZ in the periods 20-th to 30-th September and 22-th October to 3-rd December. Survey coordinators in 2022 were Dmitry Prozorkevich (PINRO) and Geir Odd Johansen (IMR). Exchange of Russian and Norwegian experts between each country’s respective vessels did not take place in 2022. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all the crew and scientific personnel onboard RVs “Vilnyus”, “G.O. Sars” and “Johan Hjort” for their dedicated work, as well as all the people involved in planning and reporting of BESS 2022. This report is a summary of observations and status assessment based on the survey data. Even though the survey was not well completed, the data obtained are the main source of knowledge about the ecosystem of the Barents Sea.Survey report from the joint Norwegian/Russian Ecosystem Survey in the Barents Sea and the adjacent waters August- December 2022publishedVersio

The influence of inulin on the structural and mechanical properties of dough for the gluten-free biscuit

For the production of the low-caloric gluten-free cookies, the fat content was reduced by 50, 60 and 70% in the cookie formula. As the fat level decreased, the hardness of the gluten-free dough increased, and the ejection time of the gluten-free dough rose. The texture analysis showed an increase of the dough hardness. The fat replacing with an equal amount of inulin to some extent reduced the consistency of the dough and its hardness, and its cohesive, elastic and adhesive properties increased. The effect of fat reduction negatively affected the texture of gluten-free cookies. The research showed that the texture of gluten-free cookies is highly dependent on the texture of the gluten-free dough. In addition to the fact that fat is responsible for the dough softness and the cookies crisp texture, it also gives an aroma, taste, mouthfeel and general impression to the finished product. The texture of the cookies improved significantly when the fat was replaced by inulin. Accordingly, the quality indexes of the gluten-free cookies could be significantly improved by the fat replacing with inulin

The effect of dietary fibers on the viscoelastic properties of the gluten-free cookie dough

The significance of inclusion of associated dietary fibres in various amounts to the formulations of gluten-free rice test mixtures based on rheological profile of hydrated fibrous-flour composite mixtures was investigated. To assess the viscoelasticity of fiber-enriched rice-based test matrices, dual fundamental (dynamic oscillatory and creep recovery tests) and empirical (consistency and viscometric profile) rheological approaches were adopted. The obtained functional variables were analyzed for the dependence on the hydration of the dough and dietary fibres, as well as for the correlations within the parameters of both small and large deformation tests. The aqueous competition of fiber macromolecules, exhibiting different water binding and gelling capacities, led to additive, synergistic and/or antagonistic effects on the basic rheological properties

Smart city technologies as an innovative factor in the development of the sustainable cities

The article deals with the problem of sustainability of modern cities in the context of the implementation of the concept of a “smart city”, the combination of the technologies of which acts as an innovative factor in the development of modern urban infrastructure. The characteristics of the main elements of the “smart city”, digital technologies used in its creation are given. The methodology and results of a comparative analysis of the urban digital infrastructure of the world’s megacities in the context of COVID-19 are presented. The assessment of the global and Russian market of smart city technologies is given, trends and prospects of digital development of a modern city are identified as the most important factor in ensuring its sustainability. Recommendations are formulated for the development of solutions in the field of digitalization of urban space, taking into account the opinions of scientists and specialists in the field of management, socio-economic and humanitarian sciences. It is noted that efficiency and safety should become a priority in the implementation of smart city projects

Interaction Interface of Aβ₄₂ with Human Na,K-ATPase Studied by MD and ITC and Inhibitor Screening by MD

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease accompanied by progressive cognitive and memory dysfunction due to disruption of normal electrotonic properties of neurons and neuronal loss. The Na,K-ATPase interaction with beta amyloid (Aβ) plays an important role in AD pathogenesis. It has been shown that Na,K-ATPase activity in the AD brain was significantly lower than those in age-matched control brain. The interaction of Aβ42 with Na,K-ATPase and subsequent oligomerization leads to inhibition of the enzyme activity. In this study interaction interfaces between three common Aβ42 isoforms, and different conformations of human Na,K-ATPase (α1β1) have been obtained using molecular modeling, including docking and molecular dynamics (MD). Interaction sites of Na,K-ATPase with Aβ42 are localized between extracellular parts of α- and β- subunits and are practically identical for Na,K-ATPase at different conformations. Thermodynamic parameters for the formation of Na,K-ATPase:Aβ42 complex at different conformations acquired by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) are similar, which is in line with the data of molecular modeling. Similarity of Na,K-ATPase interaction interfaces with Aβ in all conformations allowed us to cross-screen potential inhibitors for this interaction and find pharmaceutical compounds that could block it