Crystal and Electronic Structures of Alluaudite-Type Double Molybdates of Scandium and Indium

Double molybdates of indium and scandium with alluaudite structure are prepared by the solid-phase synthesis method. The crystal structure of the indium containing compound is refined and optical characteristics of Na5R(Mo04)4(R = Sc, In) are determined. Electronic structures of Na5R(Mo04)4(R = Sc, In) molybdates are studied within the ab initio method taking account of Na/Sc(In) positional disordering. Calculations of the imaginary part of dielectric function predict the optical gap of ~3.8 eV, in accordance with absorption spectroscopy data. It is established that formation energy of sodium vacancies strongly depends on sodium position and Sc(In) concentration. As a result, various diffusion mechanisms may be activated in alluaudite-type compounds with high and low contents of metal R. © 2019, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd

Genetic risk factors for Parkinson’s disease in Ukraine

The paper focuses on the genetic risk factors for Parkinson’s disease (PD) such as polymorphisms in genes CYP1A1, GSTM1 and APOE. A total number of 516 people were examined. 300 persons were in the control group (mean age 67,0 ± 0,4 years; 200 males and 100 females) and 216 persons were patients with PD (mean age 65,0 ± 0,7 years, 116 males and 100 females). Whole blood samples collected from each person were genotyped using PCR-RFLP. Amplification and restriction results were assessed by conducting vertical agarose gel electrophoresis. The study analyzed marker с.2452C>A in the CYP1A1 gene. In the control group, allele C frequency was 0.79, and allele A frequency – 0.21. Genotype frequencies were: CC – 0.61, AC – 0.36, AA – 0.03. In the group of patients alleles C and A frequencies were 0.64 and 0.36 correspondingly. Genotype frequencies were: CC – 0.35, AC – 0.58, AA – 0.07. There was a significant difference between both groups in allele A frequency. It is considered that 0/0 genotype for the GSTM1 gene is a risk factor for PD. In the controls, +/+ and 0/0 genotypes frequencies were 0.67 and 0.33 correspondingly. In the group of patients +/+ genotype frequency was 0.55 and 0/0 genotype frequency – 0.45. The difference was statistically significant. In the control group genotype frequencies for the АРОЕ gene were 0.715 (Е3/Е3), 0.077 (Е3/Е4), 0.009 (Е4/Е4), 0.167 (Е2/Е3), 0.031 (Е2/Е4) and 0.000 (Е2/Е2). In the group of patients with PD they were 0.634 (Е3/Е3), 0.148 (Е3/Е4), 0.032 (Е4/Е4), 0.157 (Е2/Е3), 0.023 (Е2/Е4) and 0.000 (Е2/Е2). Е3/Е4 genotype frequency was significantly higher in the group of patients with PD than in the control group. Pathogenic allele с.2452C>A of the CYP1A1 gene is associated with increased risk of PD (OR = 1.72). 0/0 genotype carriers have higher risk to develop PD (OR = 1.72). Allele έ4 of the АРОЕ gene may be associated with increased risk of PD. Risk of the disease is higher in έ2 allele carriers (OR = 2.35) and έ4 allele carriers (OR=1.97). People with genotype Е4/Е4 have chances to be affected by PD 3.48 times higher (OR = 3.48). Associations revealed in the different human populations between genetic factors and PD may vary that is associated with the genetic heterogeneity and proportion of environmental factors which affect people. Despite the results are sometimes controversial, they can be helpful in developing DNA-tests for early diagnosis of PD

MEDICAL AND SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS OF WOMEN OF YOUNG REPRODUCTIVE AGE AFTER HYSTERECTOMY

Background. In many countries, hysterectomy is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures.The objective of our analysis was to assess the social and medical characteristics of young reproductive-age patients who underwent hysterectomy.Materials and methods. A retrospective study involved 140 women aged 18–35 years (median age 29.4 ± 4.7 years) who underwent emergency or elective hysterectomy in the hospitals of Zabaykalsky Krai for a period of 5 years (January 1, 2013, to December 31, 2017).Results. 51.4 % of patients were housewives; 52.9 % were single; 55.7 % had bad habits (smoking, alcohol consumption). These women had a high incidence of socially significant infections: HIV – 3.6 %, active forms of tuberculosis – 1.5 %. 89.3 % of hysterectomies were emergent and 10.7 % were elective (p = 0.0001; OR = 69.4; 95% CI 32.6–148.1). The indications for the emergency hysterectomy were uterine myoma (80 %) and cervical or ovarian cancer (20 %). The obstetrical complications were the main indications for the emergency surgery: placenta abruption – 24.0 %; placenta previa – 20.8 % (placenta increta and/or percreta – 16.8 %; massive antenatal bleeding – 4.0 %); postpartum hemorrhage after vaginal delivery and caesarean section 19.2 %; septic and/or hemorrhagic shock in early miscarriages (from 8 to 19 weeks of gestation) 15.2 %. Mortality was registered in case of emergency hysterectomy only (4.3 %). Half of the deaths (50 %) occurred in cases of complicated miscarriages.Conclusion. To preserve the reproductive potential of young women of reproductive age, it is necessary to increase their social and cultural level, and responsibility for their own health and gender behavior

Protein docking prediction using predicted protein-protein interface

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Many important cellular processes are carried out by protein complexes. To provide physical pictures of interacting proteins, many computational protein-protein prediction methods have been developed in the past. However, it is still difficult to identify the correct docking complex structure within top ranks among alternative conformations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We present a novel protein docking algorithm that utilizes imperfect protein-protein binding interface prediction for guiding protein docking. Since the accuracy of protein binding site prediction varies depending on cases, the challenge is to develop a method which does not deteriorate but improves docking results by using a binding site prediction which may not be 100% accurate. The algorithm, named PI-LZerD (using Predicted Interface with Local 3D Zernike descriptor-based Docking algorithm), is based on a pair wise protein docking prediction algorithm, LZerD, which we have developed earlier. PI-LZerD starts from performing docking prediction using the provided protein-protein binding interface prediction as constraints, which is followed by the second round of docking with updated docking interface information to further improve docking conformation. Benchmark results on bound and unbound cases show that PI-LZerD consistently improves the docking prediction accuracy as compared with docking without using binding site prediction or using the binding site prediction as post-filtering.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We have developed PI-LZerD, a pairwise docking algorithm, which uses imperfect protein-protein binding interface prediction to improve docking accuracy. PI-LZerD consistently showed better prediction accuracy over alternative methods in the series of benchmark experiments including docking using actual docking interface site predictions as well as unbound docking cases.</p

Experimental detection of short regulatory motifs in eukaryotic proteins: tips for good practice as well as for bad

It has become clear in outline though not yet in detail how cellular regulatory and signalling systems are constructed. The essential machines are protein complexes that effect regulatory decisions by undergoing internal changes of state. Subcomponents of these cellular complexes are assembled into molecular switches. Many of these switches employ one or more short peptide motifs as toggles that can move between one or more sites within the switch system, the simplest being on-off switches. Paradoxically, these motif modules (termed short linear motifs or SLiMs) are both hugely abundant but difficult to research. So despite the many successes in identifying short regulatory protein motifs, it is thought that only the “tip of the iceberg” has been exposed. Experimental and bioinformatic motif discovery remain challenging and error prone. The advice presented in this article is aimed at helping researchers to uncover genuine protein motifs, whilst avoiding the pitfalls that lead to reports of false discovery. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12964-015-0121-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Mobilise-D insights to estimate real-world walking speed in multiple conditions with a wearable device

This study aimed to validate a wearable device’s walking speed estimation pipeline, considering complexity, speed, and walking bout duration. The goal was to provide recommendations on the use of wearable devices for real-world mobility analysis. Participants with Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Proximal Femoral Fracture, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Congestive Heart Failure, and healthy older adults (n = 97) were monitored in the laboratory and the real-world (2.5 h), using a lower back wearable device. Two walking speed estimation pipelines were validated across 4408/1298 (2.5 h/laboratory) detected walking bouts, compared to 4620/1365 bouts detected by a multi-sensor reference system. In the laboratory, the mean absolute error (MAE) and mean relative error (MRE) for walking speed estimation ranged from 0.06 to 0.12 m/s and − 2.1 to 14.4%, with ICCs (Intraclass correlation coefficients) between good (0.79) and excellent (0.91). Real-world MAE ranged from 0.09 to 0.13, MARE from 1.3 to 22.7%, with ICCs indicating moderate (0.57) to good (0.88) agreement. Lower errors were observed for cohorts without major gait impairments, less complex tasks, and longer walking bouts. The analytical pipelines demonstrated moderate to good accuracy in estimating walking speed. Accuracy depended on confounding factors, emphasizing the need for robust technical validation before clinical application. Trial registration: ISRCTN – 12246987

Superior Fluorescent Probe for Detection of Cardiolipin

Cardiolipin (CL) is a unique phospholipid found in mitochondrial inner membrane. It is a key component for mitochondrial function in both respiration and apoptosis. The level of CL is an important parameter for investigating these intracellular events and is a critical indicator of a number of diseases associated with mitochondrial respiratory functions. 10-Nonyl acridine orange (NAO) is the only fluorescent dye currently available for CL detection. However, the performance of NAO is far from satisfactory in terms of selectivity and sensitivity. In this work, we report an aggregation-induced emission-active fluorogen, TTAPE-Me, for CL detection and quantification. With improved sensitivity and excellent selectivity to CL over other major mitochondrial membrane lipids, TTAPE-Me could serve as a valuable fluorescent sensor for CL quantification. The use of TTAPE-Me for the quantification of isolated mitochondria is also demonstrated

Реконструкция школ в плотной городской застройке

The paper presents several projects of schools in Ekaterinburg with description and analysis of emerging problems in dense urban areas. This topic was presented in the framework of the international forum "100+ Technobuild" in the section "Schools of modern cities". Presently, Russia is implementing a large-scale program for the construction of new schools and the reconstruction of existing ones. In recent years, not just school buildings have been built, but a rethinking of the educational space is taking place, which is flexible. Such trends lead to the fact that a school building should become capable of changes and transformations, comfortable and multifunctional.В данной статье представлены проекты школ Екатеринбурга с описанием и анализом возникающих проблем в плотной городской застройке. Доклад в рамках секции «Школы современных городов» был представлен на международном строительном форуме "100+ Technobuild". В настоящее время в России реализуется масштабная программа по строительству новых школ и реконструкции существующих. В последние годы строятся уже не просто школьные здания, а происходит переосмысление образовательного пространства, которое отличается гибкостью и индивидуальным подходом к каждому ученику. Подобные тенденции подводят к тому, что школьное здание должно стать способным к изменениям и трансформациям, комфортным и многофункциональным