Synthesis and properties of the composite sorbents on the basis of alumosilicates separated from the clay-salt slimes

The composite sorbent, including an active inorganic component (alumosilicates derived from claysalt slimes) in the quantity of more than 80 wt % and the polymer binder (polyacrylamide) was obtained. The influence of various factors on its sorption and mechanical properties were studied. It is established that the content of polyacrylamide in the composite sorbent should be in the range of 10–15 wt %. It is shown that quasi-equilibrium of 137Cs in the system “sorbent – solution” is reached within 80 min. The distribution coefficient (Kd) is 2.4 ? 104 cm3/g. The obtained data of kinetic parameters (diffusion coefficient and during sorption half-time) show that the received sorbent can be referred to sorbents with high rate of 137Cs sorption

On the way to the ideal state: Internet against corruption

© 2017 Serials Publications. The article is devoted to the research of discursive practices in the Internet environment on anticorruption issues. The research objective is to analyze the online-communications of the Russian authorities and citizens on the issues of anticorruption policy implementation. The methodological basis of the research is systemic-communicative approach; its theoretical basis is the conception of an Open society by K. Popper. Basing on the analysis of international rankings and all-Russia opinion polls on corruption issues, Internet freedom and quality of state administration, the authors come to the conclusion that the social-information anomie on anticorruption issues is strengthening. This type of anomie reflects the contradiction between the prescriptive, official information and the descriptive one, which ascertains the actual state of affairs in the society. The information gap leads to the reduction of level of trust to the existing power institutions, to the growth of social-political entropy, to social-network mobilization of the citizens. The analysis of the causes and conditions, which maintain the information misbalance, revealed the incongruence between the technological preparedness of the Russian state for its functions' implementation via the Internet and the level of thestates' social-political preparedness for the open anticorruption dialog

Глины Республики Беларусь в качестве инженерных барьеров при захоронении радиоактивных отходов

Тhe criteria for compliance with which the properties and characteristics of clays from industrially exploited deposits of the Republic of Belarus were assessed in order to determine the possibility of their further use as part of the underlying screen of the radioactive waste disposal facility (RWDF) of the Belarusian NPP are defined. The performed experimental analysis of clay samples from 12 deposits of the Republic of Belarus showed that clays from the “Gorodnoye” deposits of the Brest region and the “Markovskoye” deposits of the Gomel region have optimal quality indicators for use as part of the RWDF engineering barrier (underlying screen). It has been established that these clay samples have high sorption properties for 137Cs and 85Sr radionuclides. The values of the degree of sorption of 137Cs and 85Sr radionuclides from an aqueous solution for the above clay samples are about 99 %, and the values of the quantitative indicator of sorption the coefficient of distribution of radionuclides – are about 104 l/kg. Over time, the fixation of 137Cs on the studied clay samples increases; as part of the underlying RWDF screen, these clays will be an effective anti-migration barrier to prevent the migration of radionuclides into the environment in the event of depressurization of radioactive waste packages.Определены критерии, на соответствие которым проведена оценка свойств и характеристик глин из промышленно эксплуатируемых месторождений Республики Беларусь с целью определения возможности их дальнейшего использования в составе подстилающего экрана пункта захоронения радиоактивных отходов (ПЗРО) Белорусской АЭС. Выполненный экспериментальный анализ образцов глин 12 месторождений Республики Беларусь показал, что оптимальными показателями по качеству для использования в составе инженерного барьера ПЗРО (подстилающий экран) обладают глины месторождений «Городное» Брестской области и «Марковское» Гомельской области. Установлено, что данные образцы глин обладают высокими сорбционными свойствами в отношении радионуклидов 137Cs и 85Sr. Значения степени сорбции радионуклидов 137Cs и 85Sr из водного раствора для перечисленных образцов глин составляют около 99 %, а значения коэффициента распределения радионуклидов (количественный показатель сорбции) – порядка 104 л/кг. С течением времени фиксация 137Cs на исследованных образцах глин увеличивается, то есть в составе подстилающего экрана ПЗРО данные глины будут являться эффективным барьером для предотвращения миграции радионуклидов в окружающую среду в случае разгерметизации упаковок с радиоактивными отходами

Modeling of genetic processes underlying the development of resistance to fipronil in the Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say)

The main method of pest control is by applying chemical insecticides. The efficacy of insecticides is reduced due to the development of resistance by pest populations. This is an especially important problem with the Colorado potato beetle. There are different strategies for the use of insecticides to slow the development of resistance. Based on long lasing research, we propose a hypothesis about delaying the development of resistance by applying insecticides at low doses. To test this hypothesis, we have built predictive discrete genetic models of resistance in Colorado potato beetle populations. The model based on the classical equations of population genetics has been supplemented by various factors. Calculations of the survival rates of Colorado potato beetle individuals were carried out taking into account the statistical regularities of the distribution of the toxic substance after treatment by insecticides. We have calculated the survival rates of different genotypes using a lognormal distribution after changing the insecticide dose two-fold or more. The factor of differentiated mortality during the winter was additionally introduced into the model. The use of phenetic markers of nonspecific resistance to environmental factors allowed us to compute the model with mediated intergenic interactions. Various hypotheses about strategies in overcoming resistance have been tested using this model. Calculations demonstrated that the use of insecticides at minimum effective doses (low dose) leads to a slower increase in the proportion of resistant individuals in populations of the Colorado potato beetle for two seasons. Resistance develops much more slowly following alternate treatment with insecticides from different chemical classes. The best strategy is through off-season treatment with insecticides of different chemical classes at lower doses

Evaluation of probiotic lactobacillus as adjuvants for nasal immunization with chimeric pneumococcal vaccine

Vaccine protection against photogenic gram-positive bacteria including different species ofstreptococci is an important problem of contemporary molecular biology. Streptococcal infections are mostcommon bacterial infections surpassing by the economic losses all the infections excluding influenza. The gatesof streptococcal infection, oral cavity or vagina, are covered with immune and non-immune mucosal cells thatare the first line of defenses. Subcutaneous immunization not always stimulate the local immunity on mucosalsurfaces. On the other hand, mucosal vaccination can provide an appropriate local immune response togetherwith systemic protection. However, mucosal immunization often requires usage of special and effectiveadjuvants especially in case of vaccines based on recombinant proteins.For protection against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection, two chimeric recombinant proteins (PSPF andPSP) have been tested as vaccines. Recombinant proteins PSPF and PSP carry immunogenic epitopes fromthe respiratory pathogen including PspA, Spr1875 and PsaA. PSPF structure also carries a fraction of flagellin-FliC molecule in comparison with PSP, which does not have this fragment. This portion of PSPF was includedas internal adjuvant intended for the stimulation of Toll-like receptor 5.In this work, the adjuvant capacity of two probiotic strains, Lactobacillus rhamnosus CRL1505 andL. rhamnosus L32 was evaluated. It was demonstrated that both lactic acid bacteria strains were able to provideadjuvant effects by enhancing the mucosal and systemic immune responses after their co-administration withthe recombinant chimeric protein PSPF. The adjuvant effect of both Lactobacillus strains was significantlydecreased after their thermal inactivation. However, the cell walls of bacteria showed a marked adjuvant activity.An improved protection against several S. pneumoniae serotypes after mucosal immunization of infant micewith PSPF vaccine with probiotic strains or their cell walls was also demonstrated here.The recombinant chimeric protein PSPF administered with immunomodulatory probiotic strains or theirbacterial components would be a promising vaccine for immunization of humans against S. pneumoniae,particularly in children.Одной из наиболее актуальных задач медико-биологической науки является создание вакцинных препаратов против патогенных стрептококков – самых распространенных бактериаль-ных возбудителей заболеваний человека, экономический ущерб от которых уступает лишь потерям от гриппозной инфекции. Входными воротами стрептококковой инфекции являются слизистые обо-лочки респираторного и мочеполового тракта. Парентеральный способ введения вакцин не всегда позволяет добиваться одинаково эффектив-ной стимуляции местного иммунитета на слизистых оболочках, а вакцины, вводимые через слизи-стые оболочки, способны эффективно стимулировать иммунную защиту в области введения, а также обеспечить развитие системного иммунного ответа. Введение через слизистые оболочки вакцинных препаратов белковой природы требует исполь-зования специальных эффективных и безопасных адъювантов, поскольку рекомбинантные белки обычно проявляют недостаточную ммуногенность при таком способе введения. В работе в качестве вакцинных адъювантов при мукозальной иммунизации лабораторных животных пневмококковыми химерными рекомбинантными белками PSPF и PSP были апробированы два штамма пробиотиков – Lactobacillus rhamnosus CRL1505 и L32. Рекомбинантные химерные белки PSPF и PSP несут в своей структуре несколько иммуногенных эпитопов PspA, Spr1875, PsaA и предназначены для вакцинации против инфекции Streptococcus pneumoniae. Белки, отличие которых связано с присутствием в струк-туре PSPF участка молекулы флагеллина – FliC, по-разному стимулировали иммунный ответ при совместном введении с двумя штаммами пробиотиков. Установлено, что оба исследованных штам-ма L. rhamnosus были способны оказывать адъювантный эффект при интраназальном введении вак-цинных белков, проявлявшийся в усилении секреторного и гуморального иммунного ответа на со-вместно введенный рекомбинантный химерный белок PSPF. Выраженной стимуляции продукции специфических IgA носовых смывов и IgG сыворотки крови на PSP под влиянием L. rhamnosus L32 не происходило. Адъювантный эффект от вводимых лактобациллярных препаратов существенно сни-жался после температурной инактивации бактерий, однако препарат клеточных стенок L. rhamnosus CRL1505 проявлял выраженную активность. Стимуляция иммунного ответа адъювантами приводила к усилению протективного эффекта вакцины в экспериментах на лабораторных животных, инфици-рованных S. pneumoniae. Установлено, что некоторые штаммы лактобацилл, в частности Lactobacillus rhamnosus CRL1505 и L32, могут быть использованы в качестве адъювантов в составе мукозальных вакцин, однако эта способность зависит от свойств вакцинного препарата и формы введения пробиотиков.Fil: Leontieva, G. F.. Institute of Experimental Medicine; RusiaFil: Kramskaya, T. A.. Institute of Experimental Medicine; RusiaFil: Grabovskaya, K. B.. Institute of Experimental Medicine; Rusia; RusiaFil: Filimonova, V. Yu.. Institute of Experimental Medicine; Rusia; RusiaFil: Laiño, Jonathan Emiliano. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Villena, Julio Cesar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Alvarez, Gladis Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Danilenko, V. N.. Academy of Sciences. Institute of General Genetics. Head, Division of Fundamental Genetic Studies in Biotechnology; RusiaFil: Suvorov, A. N.. St. Peterburg State University; Rusia. Institute of Experimental Medicine. Head, Division of Molecular Microbiology; Rusi

INFLUENCE OF PROBIOTICS ON CYTOKINE PRODUCTION IN THE IN VITRO AND IN VIVO SYSTEMS

Modulatory effects of three probiotic bacterial strains (Lactobacillus rhamnosus K32 (L), Bifidobacterium longum GT15 (B, Enterococcus faecium L-3 (E) on expression level and contents of key cytokines were studied using PCR techniques with reverse transcription, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Both cell cultures and an experimental model of intestinal dysbiosis were used in this study.The genes encoding bacteriocins, surface membrane component, pili and exopolysaccharides involved in host immune system modulation were previously identified in the B and Ebacterial strains.Investigation of probiotic strains and effects of their supernatants expression of cytokines in cell cultures of promonocyte origin (HTP-1) showed increased expression of TNFα, due to E and L supernatants. Moreover, the Bl culture induced IL-8 and IL-10 expression.In a model of Wistar rats with ampicillinand metronidazole-induced intestinal dysbiosis corrected with probiotics we have shown that the dysbiosis was accompanied by sufficient alterations in microbiota composition (Klebsiella spp. overgrowth and low contents of Faecalobacterium prausnitzii) that were observed only in the animals untreated with probiotics (control), or after administration of L.In contrast to these results, the animals treated with E and B, the following changes were revealed: 1) low expression of proinflammatory cytokines IL-8, TNFα, MCP-1 inmesenteric lymph nodes and appropriate changes of their serum contents, 2) increased serum content of the anti-inflammatory TGFβ cytokine. Hence, the present study, having used two complementary models, has detected some individual features of immune modulation produced by the probiotictic strains of L. rhamnosus K32, B. longum GT15 и E. faecium L-3 which exert differential effects upon the intestinal microbiota

РАДОН В ВОЗДУХЕ ЗДАНИЙ НАСЕЛЕННЫХ ПУНКТОВ ВИТЕБСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

Radon from natural and anthropogenic radiation sources contributes significantly to the public exposure. For that reason, systematic radon monitoring is carried out in Belarus. The main source of radon in the air of premises is its emanation from the geological space under the buildings. The results of radon monitoring in 665 premises in 21 settlements of Vitebsk region are presented. The parameters investigated were: radon volumetric activity in the air of home accommodations and industrial premises (ОАRn), radon equivalent equilibrium volumetric activity and annual effective dose of public exposure due to radon-222 and its progenies (ERn). The excess values of radon volumetric activity in relation to the statutory criteria (200 Bq/m3 ) have been detected for 18 premises (2.7 %). Among them 16 are living accommodation and 2 are industrial premises. The weighted average annual effective dose of public exposure due to radon and its progenies in Vitebsk region is 4.5 mSv per year. Its value for Polatsk district is 2 mSv per year and 7.6 mSv per year – for Glubokae district. Maximum of the weighted average annual effective dose is reported for Garadok dictrict and it makes 32.4 mSv per year. The population exposure to radon and its progenies is the main dose forming factor in comparison with other natural and anthropogenic radiation sources, including exposure from Chernobyl radionuclides.Проведение систематических радонометрических исследований на территории Беларуси обусловлено значительным вкладом радона в облучение населения от природных и техногенных источников ионизирующего излучения. При этом основным источником поступления радона в воздух зданий является геологическое пространство под зданиями. Представлены данные, полученные при проведении мониторинга на территории 21 административного района Витебской области: объемная активность радона в воздухе жилых и административных зданий (ОАRn), эквивалентная равновесная объемная активность радона и годовая эффективная доза облучения населения (ERn), обусловленная радоном и дочерними продуктами его распада (ДПР). Общее количество обследованных помещений составило 665. Превышение нормируемого законодательством Республики Беларусь значения ЭРОАRn (200 Бк/м3 ) наблюдалось в 18 помещениях (2,7%), среди которых 16 – жилые дома, 2 – административные здания. Средневзвешенная годовая эффективная доза облучения населения Витебской области, обусловленная радоном и его ДПР, составляет 4,5 мЗв/год, при вариации в отдельных районах от 2 (Полоцкий район) до 7,6 мЗв/год (Глубокский район). Наибольшее значение ЕRn, равное 32,4 мЗв/год, наблюдается в административном помещении Городокского района. Показано, что облучение населения Витебской области радоном и его ДПР является основным дозообразующим фактором по сравнению со всеми остальными компонентами природного и техногенного радиоактивных излучений, включая облучение от чернобыльских радионуклидов.

Comparing individual-based approaches to modelling the self-organization of multicellular tissues.

The coordinated behaviour of populations of cells plays a central role in tissue growth and renewal. Cells react to their microenvironment by modulating processes such as movement, growth and proliferation, and signalling. Alongside experimental studies, computational models offer a useful means by which to investigate these processes. To this end a variety of cell-based modelling approaches have been developed, ranging from lattice-based cellular automata to lattice-free models that treat cells as point-like particles or extended shapes. However, it remains unclear how these approaches compare when applied to the same biological problem, and what differences in behaviour are due to different model assumptions and abstractions. Here, we exploit the availability of an implementation of five popular cell-based modelling approaches within a consistent computational framework, Chaste (http://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/chaste). This framework allows one to easily change constitutive assumptions within these models. In each case we provide full details of all technical aspects of our model implementations. We compare model implementations using four case studies, chosen to reflect the key cellular processes of proliferation, adhesion, and short- and long-range signalling. These case studies demonstrate the applicability of each model and provide a guide for model usage

Androgen Receptor Drives Cellular Senescence

The accepted androgen receptor (AR) role is to promote proliferation and survival of prostate epithelium and thus prostate cancer progression. While growth-inhibitory, tumor-suppressive AR effects have also been documented, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we for the first time link AR anti-cancer action with cell senescence in vitro and in vivo. First, AR-driven senescence was p53-independent. Instead, AR induced p21, which subsequently reduced ΔN isoform of p63. Second, AR activation increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) and thereby suppressed Rb phosphorylation. Both pathways were critical for senescence as was proven by p21 and Rb knock-down and by quenching ROS with N-Acetyl cysteine and p63 silencing also mimicked AR-induced senescence. The two pathways engaged in a cross-talk, likely via PML tumor suppressor, whose localization to senescence-associated chromatin foci was increased by AR activation. All these pathways contributed to growth arrest, which resolved in senescence due to concomitant lack of p53 and high mTOR activity. This is the first demonstration of senescence response caused by a nuclear hormone receptor

Концентрация радона в воздухе помещений Витебской, Могилевской и Гомельской областей Беларуси и оценка дозы облучения населения радоном

The summarized data on indoor radon concentrations and estimated effective radon doses in the Vitebsk, Mogilev and Gomel regions of Belarus are presented. The passive track detector method was used to carry out the indoor radon monitoring. The measurement results are summarized in the geoinformation database. The map of the annual radon equivalent equilibrium concentrations distribution in administrative districts was created. The analysis of the results revealed that in 2.3, 1.3 and 0.4 % of dwelling of the Vitebsk, Mogilev and Gomel region correspondingly, the indoor radon equivalent equilibrium concentration exceeded the regulatory established limit of 200 Bq/m3. For effective planning of further radon monitoring, maps of absolute and relative number of measurements per administrative district were built. The calculated effective radon doses for the population and comparison to those from the “Chernobyl” radionuclides showed that radon is the main contributor to the public exposure.В работе представлены систематизированные данные о концентрации радона в воздухе помещений на территории Витебской, Могилевской и Гомельской областей Беларуси и проведена оценка вклада радона в годовую эффективную дозу облучения населения данных областей. Исследования проводились с использованием интегрального метода пассивной трековой радиометрии c применением твердотельных трековых детекторов альфа-частиц. По результатам измерений объемной активности радона актуализирована геоинформационная база данных и построена карта распределения значений среднегодовой эквивалентной равновесной объемной активности радона в воздухе помещений на территории Витебской, Могилевской и Гомельской областей. Анализ полученных результатов выявил 2,3, 1,3 и 0,4 % зданий соответственно в Витебской, Могилевской и Гомельской областях, в которых превышен нормируемый в Республике Беларусь уровень среднегодовой эквивалентной равновесной объемной активности радона в 200 Бк/м3. Для эффективного планирования дальнейших исследований построены карты распределения количества измерений по административным районам исследуемых областей. Анализ значений средних эффективных доз облучения населения «чернобыльскими» радионуклидами и радоном показал, что основной вклад в облучение населения Витебской, Могилевской и Гомельской областей вносит радон