Designing of rational structure of range of insulating protective clothing on the basis of the principles of transformation

The aim of this work is to develop a range structure of insulating change of clothes with predictable characteristics for the employees of nuclear power plants (NPP). It was applied a systematic approach to solve the assigned tasks, which made it possible to use the principles of transformation through the gradual changes in design and complete of protective clothing. The implementation of the assigned tasks was carried out using the method of structural optimization of construction of insulating protective clothing. The rational structure of range of insulating change of clothes with predictable coefficient of protection, weight and cost was formed on the basis of the principles of transformation by the method of structural optimization. It was obtained the formula for calculation of protection coefficient under constraints on weight, cost, number of material layers (taking into consideration the non-linearity of the objective function), under constraints and discretization of initial information for the packages of protective clothing. Structural and logical matrix for insulating change of protective clothing was formed. There were proposed a structure of insulating change of clothing for NPP employees, structural and technological solutions for the products from the product range. Task-oriented selection of modules and methods of their transformation within the designed object was carried out

The Using Interactive Technologies in Teaching Russian at a Technical University

В статье рассматриваются актуальные вопросы уровневого обучения русскому языку как иностранному, в соответствии с которым организуется образовательный процесс. Авторы предлагают методы, приемы и технологии интерактивного обучения, нестандартные подходы к решению образовательных задач, изменение привычного учебного пространства при формировании коммуникативных компетенций.The article deals with the current issues of level-based teaching of Russian as a foreign language, in accordance with which the educational process is organized. The authors offer methods, techniques and technologies of interactive learning, non-standard approaches to solving educational problems, changing the usual learning space in the formation of communicative competencies

Fashion design in a multicultural space

The collective monograph contains the results of the synthesis of theoretical materials, as well as the authors` applied research developments on the design of the clothes of different assortment and purpose, made from different materials considering the modern scientific methods

Downstream signalling and specific inhibition of c-MET/HGF pathway in small cell lung cancer: implications for tumour invasion

The c-MET receptor can be overexpressed, amplified, or mutated in solid tumours including small cell lung cancer (SCLC). In c-MET-overexpressing SCLC cell line NCI-H69, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) dramatically induced c-MET phosphorylation at phosphoepitopes pY1230/1234/1235 (catalytic tyrosine kinase), pY1003 (juxtamembrane), and also of paxillin at pY31 (CRKL-binding site). We utilised a global proteomics phosphoantibody array approach to identify further c-MET/HGF signal transduction intermediates in SCLC. Strong HGF induction of specific phosphorylation sites in phosphoproteins involved in c-MET/HGF signal transduction was detected, namely adducin-α [S724], adducin-γ [S662], CREB [S133], ERK1 [T185/Y187], ERK1/2 [T202/Y204], ERK2 [T185/Y187], MAPKK (MEK) 1/2 [S221/S225], MAPKK (MEK) 3/6 [S189/S207], RB [S612], RB1 [S780], JNK [T183/Y185], STAT3 [S727], focal adhesion kinase (FAK) [Y576/S722/S910], p38α-MAPK [T180/Y182], and AKT1[S473] and [T308]. Conversely, inhibition of phosphorylation by HGF in protein kinase C (PKC), protein kinase R (PKR), and also CDK1 was identified. Phosphoantibody-based immunohistochemical analysis of SCLC tumour tissue and microarray established the role of c-MET in SCLC biology. This supports a role of c-MET activation in tumour invasive front in the tumour progression and invasion involving FAK and AKT downstream. The c-MET serves as an attractive therapeutic target in SCLC, as shown through small interfering RNA (siRNA) and selective prototype c-MET inhibitor SU11274, inhibiting the phosphorylation of c-MET itself and its downstream molecules such as AKT, S6 kinase, and ERK1/2. Investigation of mechanisms of invasion and, ultimately, metastasis in SCLC would be very useful with these signal transduction molecules

Lactic acid fermentation as a tool to enhance the antioxidant properties of Myrtus communis berries

Background: Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) is a medicinal and aromatic plant belonging to Myrtaceae family, which is largely diffused in the Mediterranean areas and mainly cultivated in Tunisia and Italy. To the best of our knowledge, no studies have already considered the use of the lactic acid fermentation to enhance the functional features of M. communis. This study aimed at using a selected lactic acid bacterium for increasing the antioxidant features of myrtle berries, with the perspective of producing a functional ingredient, dietary supplement or pharmaceutical preparation. The antioxidant activity was preliminarily evaluated through in vitro assays, further confirmed through ex vivo analysis on murine fibroblasts, and the profile of phenol compounds was characterized. Results: Myrtle berries homogenate, containing yeast extract (0.4%, wt/vol), was fermented with Lactobacillus plantarum C2, previously selected from plant matrix. Chemically acidified homogenate, without bacterial inoculum and incubated under the same conditions, was used as the control. Compared to the control, fermented myrtle homogenate exhibited a marked antioxidant activity in vitro. The radical scavenging activity towards DPPH increased by 30%, and the inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation was twice. The increased antioxidant activity was confirmed using Balb 3 T3 mouse fibroblasts, after inducing oxidative stress, and determining cell viability and radical scavenging activity through MTT and DCFH-DA assays, respectively. The lactic acid fermentation allowed increased concentrations of total phenols, flavonoids and anthocyanins, which were 5–10 times higher than those found for the non-fermented and chemically acidified control. As shown by HPLC analysis, the main increases were found for gallic and ellagic acids, and flavonols (myricetin and quercetin). The release of these antioxidant compounds would be strictly related to the esterase activities of L. plantarum. Conclusions: The lactic acid fermentation of myrtle berries is a suitable tool for novel applications as functional food dietary supplements or pharmaceutical preparations

Cancer Biomarker Discovery: The Entropic Hallmark

Background: It is a commonly accepted belief that cancer cells modify their transcriptional state during the progression of the disease. We propose that the progression of cancer cells towards malignant phenotypes can be efficiently tracked using high-throughput technologies that follow the gradual changes observed in the gene expression profiles by employing Shannon's mathematical theory of communication. Methods based on Information Theory can then quantify the divergence of cancer cells' transcriptional profiles from those of normally appearing cells of the originating tissues. The relevance of the proposed methods can be evaluated using microarray datasets available in the public domain but the method is in principle applicable to other high-throughput methods. Methodology/Principal Findings: Using melanoma and prostate cancer datasets we illustrate how it is possible to employ Shannon Entropy and the Jensen-Shannon divergence to trace the transcriptional changes progression of the disease. We establish how the variations of these two measures correlate with established biomarkers of cancer progression. The Information Theory measures allow us to identify novel biomarkers for both progressive and relatively more sudden transcriptional changes leading to malignant phenotypes. At the same time, the methodology was able to validate a large number of genes and processes that seem to be implicated in the progression of melanoma and prostate cancer. Conclusions/Significance: We thus present a quantitative guiding rule, a new unifying hallmark of cancer: the cancer cell's transcriptome changes lead to measurable observed transitions of Normalized Shannon Entropy values (as measured by high-throughput technologies). At the same time, tumor cells increment their divergence from the normal tissue profile increasing their disorder via creation of states that we might not directly measure. This unifying hallmark allows, via the the Jensen-Shannon divergence, to identify the arrow of time of the processes from the gene expression profiles, and helps to map the phenotypical and molecular hallmarks of specific cancer subtypes. The deep mathematical basis of the approach allows us to suggest that this principle is, hopefully, of general applicability for other diseases

The glial growth factors deficiency and synaptic destabilization hypothesis of schizophrenia

BACKGROUND: A systems approach to understanding the etiology of schizophrenia requires a theory which is able to integrate genetic as well as neurodevelopmental factors. PRESENTATION OF THE HYPOTHESIS: Based on a co-localization of loci approach and a large amount of circumstantial evidence, we here propose that a functional deficiency of glial growth factors and of growth factors produced by glial cells are among the distal causes in the genotype-to-phenotype chain leading to the development of schizophrenia. These factors include neuregulin, insulin-like growth factor I, insulin, epidermal growth factor, neurotrophic growth factors, erbB receptors, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase, growth arrest specific genes, neuritin, tumor necrosis factor alpha, glutamate, NMDA and cholinergic receptors. A genetically and epigenetically determined low baseline of glial growth factor signaling and synaptic strength is expected to increase the vulnerability for additional reductions (e.g., by viruses such as HHV-6 and JC virus infecting glial cells). This should lead to a weakening of the positive feedback loop between the presynaptic neuron and its targets, and below a certain threshold to synaptic destabilization and schizophrenia. TESTING THE HYPOTHESIS: Supported by informed conjectures and empirical facts, the hypothesis makes an attractive case for a large number of further investigations. IMPLICATIONS OF THE HYPOTHESIS: The hypothesis suggests glial cells as the locus of the genes-environment interactions in schizophrenia, with glial asthenia as an important factor for the genetic liability to the disorder, and an increase of prolactin and/or insulin as possible working mechanisms of traditional and atypical neuroleptic treatments

Statistical Measures of the Competition in the Banking System

The article describes the main statistical measures characterizing the key indicators of the competition level of the Russian banking system subjects countrywide and in the regional context. Utilizing common statistical tools of economic significance assessment of financial institutions, a dynamic analysis of banking competition level concentration was held. Dynamics of the main indicators, characterizing the saturation with financial and banking services of the Russian Federation regions, was assessed with regard to a long downward trend of the number of credit institutions. In order to analyze the availability of banking services in Russian regions, indices of total provision and relative attractiveness were evaluated. Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of level and dynamics of banking concentration were considered in depth, geographically and countrywide, with application of Herfindahl-Hirsehman index. Also, an analysis of concentration level of banking system assets was conducted. For this purpose, clusters of credit organizations distribution were considered depending on the value of their assets and their regional allocation

The problem of contamination of aquatic ecosystems with antibiotics (a review)

Purpose: To analyze and summarize information on the problem of contamination of aquatic ecosystems with antibiotics. Findings: The presented work describes global risks associated with the presence of antibiotics in the aquatic environment and aquatic organisms, and demonstrates quantitative and qualitative assessment of contamination with antibiotic residues in ocean aquatic resources using bivalves. Practical value. The review can be useful for the public engaged in ecology, agriculture, veterinary medicine, and fisheries; for experts in the field of pharmacology and microbiology. This paper can also be interesting for teachers and students of field-oriented universities