Yield and Chemical Composition of Spring Wheat Harvest on Oil-contaminated Grey Forest Soil

The study was carried out in the Republic of Tatarstan (Povolzhsky Federal District of the Russian Federation) in the conditions of grey forest medium loamy soil with weakly acidic reaction of the environment, low humus content, increased and average content of mobile forms of phosphorus and potassium respectively. The soil was intentionally polluted with oil at the rate of 10, 20 and 40 l/m2. Close negative correlation of spring wheat yield from oil dose (R2=0,945...0,997) and positive dependence on the statute of limitations of single soil contamination (R2=0,713...0,993) was established. The possibility of gradual, though slow, natural elimination of phytotoxicity of oil-contaminated grey forest soil without special methods of recultivation is noted. The content of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in spring wheat plants under the influence of oil pollution has not changed significantly, but accumulation of carcinogenic substances in them was found. It is indicated that for the objective assessment of detoxification of oil-contaminated soils it is necessary to take into account not only the productivity of plants, but also to study in depth the chemical composition of the crop

Сучасні тенденції формування інституту політичного лідерства і їх прояв в Україні

Осипова С. А. Сучасні тенденції формування інституту політичного лідерства і їх прояв в Україні : автореф. дис. ... канд. політ. наук : 23.00.02 / С. А. Осипова; кер. роботи С. М. Наумкіна; Нац. ун.-т "Одеська юридична академія". – Одеса, 2006. – 16 с.Дисертація на здобуття наукового ступеня кандидата політичних наук за фахом 23.00.02 - політичні інститути та процеси. Одеська національна юридична академія. Одеса, 2006. В роботі представлене системне описання тенденцій формування інституту політичного лідерства, а також аналіз їх прояву в Україні. Розуміння тенденцій політичного лідерства сприятиме виробленню методології ефективного політичного лідерства, а також знайде практичне застосування в діяльності сучасних і майбутніх політиків. В роботи доказано, що роль політичних лідерів завжди була і є вельми значущою, але найбільш чітко це виявляється під час радикальних перетворень. Тому така пильна увага до проблеми лідерства в сучасному українському суспільстві, що здійснює процеси системного переходу у сфері соціальних відносин. В такій ситуації лідери знаходять особливе значення як чинники стабільності, інтеграції різних груп інтересів, виступають ініціаторами самих перетворень. В цих умовах лідери персонально втілюють політичний курс, оскільки, як правило, саме вони формують стратегію розвитку суспільства, визначають засоби її реалізації.Диссертация на соискание научной степени кандидата политических наук по специальности 23.00.02 – политические институты и процессы. Одесская национальная юридическая академия. Одесса, 2006. В диссертации осуществлено комплексное исследование современных тенденций формирования института политического лидерства, а также их проявления в современном политическом поле Украины в условиях трансформационных процессов, происходящих в украинском обществе. Проанализированы современные теоретико-методологические подходы к проблеме политического лидерства. По мнению автора, для глубокого понимания природы политического лидерства необходимо познание механизмов формирования данного института, а также внутренних ресурсов феномена, позволяющих проявиться лидерству в наиболее эффективных формах. Поэтому в исследовании применен комплексный подход к анализу избранного объекта исследования, в рамках которого раскрыты такие составляющие института политического лидерства как тенденции развития, проявляющиеся в современном политическом поле. При анализе современной отечественной политической практики четко просматриваются такие тенденции развития политического лидерства как институционализация, профессионализация, возрождение харизмы, складывание рынка политических лидеров и омолаживание политики как деятельности. В диссертационном исследовании приводятся аргументы, свидетельствующие о проявлении названных тенденций в политической жизни Украины. Процесс институционализации политического лидерства автор рассматривает в рамках структурного анализа украинского парламента. В работе нашел конкретное подтверждение вывод о том, что в современной политике достичь успеха может, прежде всего, институционализированный политический лидер. В результате исследования также определено, что одновременно с усилением институционализации политического лидерства в Украине сложились условия и возникла настоятельная потребность для возникновения харизматического типа лидерства, наиболее характерного для периодов нестабильного социально-политического и экономического развития и радикальной трансформации всех сфер жизнедеятельности общества. Такого рода нестабильность усилила историко-культурную предрасположенность украинского народа к сильной государственной власти. Однако реанимирование харизматического лидерства в современной политике не означает широкого возрождения данного типа политического лидерства в классическом его понимании в силу связи данной тенденции с институционализацией политического лидерства. В работе приведены доказательства, что харизма как социально-политическая категория в Украине в настоящем не утратила свою актуальность и не противоречит тенденциям к институционализации и рационализации политической жизни общества. Изменение харизматических представлений о лидерстве связано со следующей тенденцией – профессионализацией политики в том смысле, что возрождение харизмы возможно лишь с выходом на политическую сцену новой генерации политических лидеров, которые должны проходить специальную подготовку и отбор. А политическая деятельность должна стать их профессией. В исследовании проанализирован профессиональный состав Верховной Рады и профессиональная компетентность депутатов двух созывов, что позволило сделать вывод о проявлении в украинском политическом поле такой тенденции как профессионализация политического лидерства. При рассмотрении социально-экономических условий формирования политической элиты и выдвижения из ее среды лидеров, способных вывести общество из политического тупика, в работе отмечено, что данный социальный слой заметно “помолодел”. Наличие в современном политическом поле примеров известных в политике людей, которым чуть более тридцати лет, свидетельствует о проявлении в Украине такой тенденции становления института политического лидерства как его “омоложение”. При обобщении результатов исследования установлено, что перечисленные тенденции формирования института политического лидерства, проявившиеся в политическом поле современной Украины, в своей взаимосвязи стали предпосылками для складывания политического рынка и заложили основы политического маркетинга. Политический маркетинг и складывание политического рынка, в свою очередь, также превратились в своеобразную, активно проявляющуюся тенденцию формирования политического лидерства. В результате исследования диссертант пришел к выводу, что развитие политического лидерства в украинском политическом поле идет в рамках мировых тенденций развития данного института. Исследование имеет прикладное значение, т.к. учет закономерностей проявления обозначенных тенденций может способствовать складыванию эффективного лидерства и, в конечном счете, стабильности политики государства в целом.The thesis on competition for political sciences master's degree, speciality 23.00.02 - political institutes and processes. The Odessa National Academy of Law. Odessa, 2006. The thesis presents a system description of the tendencies of political leadership institute formation and also an analysis of their display in Ukraine. Comprehension of the tendencies of political leadership will promote development of effective political leadership methodology and also will be applied practically in the activity of present day and future politicians. The author came to a conclusion, that the role of political leaders always was and is rather significant, but it is manifested most evidently during radical transformations. That is why the attention to the problem of leadership in the modern Ukrainian society conducting a system transition in the sphere of social relations is great. In such a situation leaders acquire a special sense as factors of stability and integration of various groups of interests; they act as initiators of transformations. In these conditions leaders themselves are considered to be an embodiment of a political course; as, as a rule, they form a strategy of a society development and determine means of its realization

Penetration of PLGA nanoparticles into the intracranial rat C6 Glioma: Influence of surfactant coating

As shown by our previous studies, the PLGA nanoparticles (NP) coated with poloxamer 188 (P188) enable brain delivery of doxorubicin and its high anti-tumour effect against the intracranial glioblastoma in rats [1]. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the uptake of the P188-coated PLGA NP in the intracranial C6 glioma in rats. For visualization using scanning laser confocal microscopy (SLCM) and an intravital fluorescence imaging system IvisÒSpectrum CT (Perkin-Elmer), the NP were labeled with DiI (DiI-PLGA NP). The DiI-PLGA NP were administered i.v. into rats with intracranial C6 glioma on day 15 after tumour implantation. The presence of mass lesion was verified by previous MRI. Two hours after administration of the NP, the rats were perfused transcardially with paraformaldehyde, organs were recovered, and the fluorescence intensity was assessed using an IvisÒSpectrum CT system. The fluorescence intensity of the hemisphere with the implanted glioma was \u3e 4-fold higher for the P188-coated NP (DiI-PLGA/P188 NP), as compared to the uncoated NP (45.1×106 vs 9.5×106 photons/sec/cm2, respectively (Figure). The quantitative fluorescence analysis on the tumor sections using SLCM also showed a significantly higher accumulation of the DiI-PLGA/P188 NP, as compared to the uncoated DiI-PLGA NP (Fig. 2). Mean fluorescence intensity values in the tumor were 1698.9±536.6 and 558.9±181.0 CU for the P188-coated and uncoated NP, respectively. The intensity values in the contralateral hemispheres for the same preparations were 293.4 ± 32.3 and 203.2 ± 22.9 CU, respectively. Thus, according to the SLCM data, the penetration of the DiI-PLGA/P188 NP into the tumor was 3 times more effective than that of the uncoated NP. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Mentoring as a Form of Assistance to a Transport University Student in the “University-Enterprise“ Networking Cooperation

The paper deals with mentor’s role and the requirements for improving the practical and professional skills of a transport university graduate. Effectiveness was estimated by increasing the formation level of their professional competence in accordance with the requirements of the Federal Educational Standard and the qualification profile of a graduate, the extended and established normative acts of networking cooperation parties through the implementation of practices while assisting mentors. The developed program for training mentors, and criteria for diagnosing the levels of skill formation, are quite universal and can be used at different universities

Correction: Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the human ATP7B gene modify the properties of the ATP7B protein

Correction for 'Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the human ATP7B gene modify the properties of the ATP7B protein' by Courtney J. McCann et al., Metallomics, 2019, 11, 1128-1139

Residue Network Involved in the Allosteric Regulation of Cystathionine β-Synthase Domain-Containing Pyrophosphatase by Adenine Nucleotides

Inorganic pyrophosphatase containing regulatory cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) domains (CBS-PPase) is inhibited by adenosine monophosphate (AMP) and adenosine diphosphate and activated by adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and diadenosine polyphosphates; mononucleotide binding to CBS domains and substrate binding to catalytic domains are characterized by positive cooperativity. This behavior implies three pathways for regulatory signal transduction — between regulatory and active sites, between two active sites, and between two regulatory sites. Bioinformatics analysis pinpointed six charged or polar amino acid residues of Desulfitobacterium hafniense CBS-PPase as potentially important for enzyme regulation. Twelve mutant enzyme forms were produced, and their kinetics of pyrophosphate hydrolysis was measured in wide concentration ranges of the substrate and various adenine nucleotides. The parameters derived from this analysis included catalytic activity, Michaelis constants for two active sites, AMP-, ATP-, and diadenosine tetraphosphate-binding constants for two regulatory sites, and the degree of activation/inhibition for each nucleotide. Replacements of arginine 295 and asparagine 312 by alanine converted ATP from an activator to an inhibitor and markedly affected practically all the above parameters, indicating involvement of these residues in all the three regulatory signaling pathways. Replacements of asparagine 312 and arginine 334 abolished or reversed kinetic cooperativity in the absence of nucleotides but conferred it in the presence of diadenosine tetraphosphate, without effects on nucleotide-binding parameters. Modeling and molecular dynamics simulations revealed destabilization of the subunit interface as a result of asparagine 312 and arginine 334 replacements by alanine, explaining abolishment of kinetic cooperativity. These findings identify residues 295, 312, and 334 as crucial for CBS-PPase regulation via CBS domains.</p

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to &lt;90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], &gt;300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of &lt;15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P&lt;0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P&lt;0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years

Omecamtiv mecarbil in chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, GALACTIC‐HF: baseline characteristics and comparison with contemporary clinical trials

Aims: The safety and efficacy of the novel selective cardiac myosin activator, omecamtiv mecarbil, in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is tested in the Global Approach to Lowering Adverse Cardiac outcomes Through Improving Contractility in Heart Failure (GALACTIC‐HF) trial. Here we describe the baseline characteristics of participants in GALACTIC‐HF and how these compare with other contemporary trials. Methods and Results: Adults with established HFrEF, New York Heart Association functional class (NYHA) ≥ II, EF ≤35%, elevated natriuretic peptides and either current hospitalization for HF or history of hospitalization/ emergency department visit for HF within a year were randomized to either placebo or omecamtiv mecarbil (pharmacokinetic‐guided dosing: 25, 37.5 or 50 mg bid). 8256 patients [male (79%), non‐white (22%), mean age 65 years] were enrolled with a mean EF 27%, ischemic etiology in 54%, NYHA II 53% and III/IV 47%, and median NT‐proBNP 1971 pg/mL. HF therapies at baseline were among the most effectively employed in contemporary HF trials. GALACTIC‐HF randomized patients representative of recent HF registries and trials with substantial numbers of patients also having characteristics understudied in previous trials including more from North America (n = 1386), enrolled as inpatients (n = 2084), systolic blood pressure &lt; 100 mmHg (n = 1127), estimated glomerular filtration rate &lt; 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (n = 528), and treated with sacubitril‐valsartan at baseline (n = 1594). Conclusions: GALACTIC‐HF enrolled a well‐treated, high‐risk population from both inpatient and outpatient settings, which will provide a definitive evaluation of the efficacy and safety of this novel therapy, as well as informing its potential future implementation

The Normative Power of the EU in neighbourhood democratization within the framework of the ENP : A case study on Armenia

Through the effective democratization process during the 2004 enlargement the European Union has exercised what many scholars have regarded as ‘normative power’. The biggest enlargement in the history of the EU has extended the borders of the Union towards new neighbourhood of democratically and economically unstable states. Less willing to accept new members and yet willing to export its norms and values in order to secure a stable neighbourhood, the EU launched its European Neighbourhood Policy with the ambition to create well governed ‘ring of friends’. Following the success of the use of positive conditionality during the enlargement, the ENP was created based on the same logic, however, unlike the enlargement policies, the ENP lacks the membership carrot. This thesis analyzes the ability of the EU to promote and diffuse its democratic norms and values through the ENP and to have a ‘normative impact’ beyond its borders. The results of the case study on Armenia show that though the ENP has a strong rhetoric and ambition in promoting normative values, and in spite of the fact it has succeeded in norm and rule transfer, it did not succeed in norm-adoption and implementation by the target states