Project Studies in Specific Business, Legal and Economic Topics: video conference presentations

Based on a first video conference: small and middle sized companies in Russia and Germany: A comparative view organized by University "Interregional Institute of Economics and Law", Saint Petersburg/Russia and the University of Applied Sciences – Faculty of Business, Fulda/Germany held on 20th May 2010. Both institutes decided to organize a follow-up conference on January 27th 2011. Again the focus was to compare both markets for international operating companies in reasons for going abroad. The following papers are the outcome of this conference and were presented on the one hand by Fulda master students and on the other hand by Master Students from Saint Petersburg. The overall focus was again a comparative work from a company point of view. Hereby the main research question was to present different case studies based on a heterogeneous group of German-based companies in terms of size and branches. Success and failure in international management activities are discussed on an empirical and statistical basis. Furthermore the students from both institutes learnt also some practical matters like for example how can a foreign company establish its legal presence in Russia

Effects of Critical Storage Temperatures on Microbiological, Physico-chemical and Sensory Indicators of Sweetened Condensed Milk

Background and Objective: Principles of osmo and thermoanabiosis are used to produce sweetened condensed milks. Regarding their extended shelf lives, there are demands for their export to countries with various climates. However, high-positive and low-negative ambient temperatures during sweetened condensed milks transportation can affect their quality. Hence, it is important to study effects of critical storage temperatures on microbiological, physicochemical and sensory indicators of sweetened condensed milks. Material and Methods: This investigation included a comprehensive study of the physicochemical, microbiological and sensory characteristics of sweetened condensed milks after storage under conditions involving multiple-stage and single-stage temperature changes within various ranges (from 5 to 50 °C; from 5 to -50 °C, from 50 to -50 °C and reverse cycles.). Results and Conclusion: Analysis of samples subjected to cyclic changes, including multiple-stage heating for 9 d followed by multiple-stage cooling for 11 d, revealed that only viscosity changed relative to the control samples. In the reverse similar cycle (cooling to heating), formation of destabilized fat was observed. Moreover, changes of cycles and subsequent storage of the samples for 6 m led to increased viscosity, compared to control samples. It was established that single-stage freezing with a 14-d storage did not critically affect its quality. In contrast, rapid heating of the sweetened condensed milk up to 50 °C and storage under such critical conditions outside a cooled storage area were unacceptable. Further storage of samples subjected to cycles of single-stage freezing and heating for 6 m demonstrated a complete non-compliance with control samples for all parameters. Thus, sweetened condensed milk can be subjected to single-stage freezing to -50 °C and storage for 14 d, as well as multiple-stage cooling/freezing to -50 °C and multiple-stage heating to 50 °C following by cooling to 5 °C without loss of quality and safety during 6 m. Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest

Risk stratification of symptomatic patients suspected of colorectal cancer using faecal and urinary markers

Aim Faecal markers, such as the faecal immunochemical test for haemoglobin (FIT) and faecal calprotectin (FCP), have been increasingly used to exclude colorectal cancer (CRC) and colonic inflammation. However, in those with lower gastrointestinal symptoms there are considerable numbers who have cancer but have a negative FIT test (i.e. false negative), which has impeded its use in clinical practice. We undertook a study of diagnostic accuracy CRC using FIT, FCP and urinary volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in patients with lower gastrointestinal symptoms. Method One thousand and sixteen symptomatic patients with suspected CRC referred by family physicians were recruited prospectively in accordance with national referring protocol. A total of 562 patients who completed colonic investigations, in addition to providing stool for FIT and FCP as well as urine samples for urinary VOC measurements, were included in the final outcome measures. Results The sensitivity and specificity for CRC using FIT was 0.80 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.66–0.93] and 0.93 (CI 0.91–0.95), respectively. For urinary VOCs, the sensitivity and specificity for CRC was 0.63 (CI 0.46–0.79) and 0.63 (CI 0.59–0.67), respectively. However, for those who were FIT‐negative CRC (i.e. false negatives), the addition of urinary VOCs resulted in a sensitivity of 0.97 (CI 0.90–1.0) and specificity of 0.72 (CI 0.68–0.76). Conclusions When applied to the FIT‐negative group, urinary VOCs improve CRC detection (sensitivity rises from 0.80 to 0.97), thus showing promise as a second‐stage test to complement FIT in the detection of CRC

A crucial role for HVEM and BTLA in preventing intestinal inflammation

The interaction between the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family member LIGHT and the TNF family receptor herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM) co-stimulates T cells and promotes inflammation. However, HVEM also triggers inhibitory signals by acting as a ligand that binds to B and T lymphocyte attenuator (BTLA), an immunoglobulin super family member. The contribution of HVEM interacting with these two binding partners in inflammatory processes remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of HVEM in the development of colitis induced by the transfer of CD4(+)CD45RB(high) T cells into recombination activating gene (Rag)(-/-) mice. Although the absence of HVEM on the donor T cells led to a slight decrease in pathogenesis, surprisingly, the absence of HVEM in the Rag(-/-) recipients led to the opposite effect, a dramatic acceleration of intestinal inflammation. Furthermore, the critical role of HVEM in preventing colitis acceleration mainly involved HVEM expression by radioresistant cells in the Rag(-/-) recipients interacting with BTLA. Our experiments emphasize the antiinflammatory role of HVEM and the importance of HVEM expression by innate immune cells in preventing runaway inflammation in the intestine

Identification of novel mutations controlling cerebral cortex malformations caused by ENU-induced mutagenesis in the mouse

peer reviewe

Interleukin-10 restores glutamate receptor-mediated Ca(2+)-signaling in brain circuits under loss of Sip1 transcription factor.

peer reviewedOBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the connection between the mutation of the Sip1 transcription factor and impaired Ca(2+)-signaling, which reflects changes in neurotransmission in the cerebral cortex in vitro. METHODS: We used mixed neuroglial cortical cell cultures derived from Sip1 mutant mice. The cells were loaded with a fluorescent ratiometric calcium-sensitive probe Fura-2 AM and epileptiform activity was modeled by excluding magnesium ions from the external media or adding a GABA(A) receptor antagonist, bicuculline. Intracellular calcium dynamics were recorded using fluorescence microscopy. To identify the level of gene expression, the Real-Time PCR method was used. RESULTS: It was found that cortical neurons isolated from homozygous (Sip1(fl/fl)) mice with the Sip1 mutation demonstrate suppressed Ca(2+) signals in models of epileptiform activity in vitro. Wild-type cortical neurons are characterized by synchronous high-frequency and high-amplitude Ca(2+) oscillations occurring in all neurons of the network in response to Mg(2+)-free medium and bicuculline. But cortical Sip1(fl/fl) neurons only single Ca(2+) pulses or attenuated Ca(2+) oscillations are recorded and only in single neurons, while most of the cell network does not respond to these stimuli. This signal deficiency of Sip1(fl/fl) neurons correlates with a suppressed expression level of the genes encoding the subunits of NMDA, AMPA, and KA receptors; protein kinases PKA, JNK, CaMKII; and also the transcription factor Hif1α. These negative effects were partially abolished when Sip1(fl/fl) neurons are grown in media with anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. IL-10 increases the expression of the above-mentioned genes but not to the level of expression in wild-type. At the same time, the amplitudes of Ca(2+) signals increase in response to the selective agonists of NMDA, AMPA and KA receptors, and the proportion of neurons responding with Ca(2+) oscillations to a Mg(2+)-free medium and bicuculline increases. CONCLUSION: IL-10 restores neurotransmission in neuronal networks with the Sip1 mutation by regulating the expression of genes encoding signaling proteins

Sip-1 mutations cause disturbances in the activity of NMDA- and AMPA-, but not kainate receptors of neurons in the cerebral cortex

peer reviewe

Water Microelement Composition Influence on the Efficiency of the Milk Powder Dissolution Process

Drinking water is important in food production. Its indicators have a direct impact on the quality and safety of finished products, the technological equipment efficiency, etc. In most food technologies, involving the use of milk powder, a priori use the process of its preliminary hydration, that is, dissolution or recovery. In this connection, there is a need to generalize the existing theoretical and practical foundations of this process and find ways to further improve them. Analysis of scientific and technical material in this area showed, that a number of scientists proposed various descriptions not only of individual stages, but also of the dissolution process as a whole, and its determining factors were identified, mathematical models were built, making it possible to determine critical areas depending on from the properties of the raw materials and the process, data were obtained on the parameters of the system during the dissolution of dry dairy products.In the article presents the sanitary and hygienic, physicochemical and organoleptic require-ments for drinking water by Russian legislation, international organizations and national standards of a number of countries.Presented a review of widely used and promising water treatment methods.Analyzed data, describing the effect of the microelement water composition on the efficiency of milk powder dissolving process. It is shown, that decrease of water total hardness and dry substances of mass fraction adjustment in the reconstituted milk have a positive effect on the dissolution process efficiency.Was noted the relevance of further researches on the directional formation of water trace ele-ment composition for increasing the efficiency of milk powder dissolving and to obtain re-constituted dairy systems, used in the production of various food products of predicted quality and safety.Drinking water is important in food production. Its indicators have a direct impact on the quality and safety of finished products, the technological equipment efficiency, etc. In most food technologies, involving the use of milk powder, a priori use the process of its preliminary hydration, that is, dissolution or recovery. In this connection, there is a need to generalize the existing theoretical and practical foundations of this process and find ways to further improve them. Analysis of scientific and technical material in this area showed, that a number of scientists proposed various descriptions not only of individual stages, but also of the dissolution process as a whole, and its determining factors were identified, mathematical models were built, making it possible to determine critical areas depending on from the properties of the raw materials and the process, data were obtained on the parameters of the system during the dissolution of dry dairy products.In the article presents the sanitary and hygienic, physicochemical and organoleptic require-ments for drinking water by Russian legislation, international organizations and national standards of a number of countries.Presented a review of widely used and promising water treatment methods.Analyzed data, describing the effect of the microelement water composition on the efficiency of milk powder dissolving process. It is shown, that decrease of water total hardness and dry substances of mass fraction adjustment in the reconstituted milk have a positive effect on the dissolution process efficiency.Was noted the relevance of further researches on the directional formation of water trace ele-ment composition for increasing the efficiency of milk powder dissolving and to obtain re-constituted dairy systems, used in the production of various food products of predicted quality and safety

NIK-dependent RelB Activation Defines a Unique Signaling Pathway for the Development of Vα14i NKT Cells

A defect in RelB, a member of the Rel/nuclear factor (NF)-κB family of transcription factors, affects antigen presenting cells and the formation of lymphoid organs, but its role in T lymphocyte differentiation is not well characterized. Here, we show that RelB deficiency in mice leads to a selective decrease of NKT cells. RelB must be expressed in an irradiation-resistant host cell that can be CD1d negative, indicating that the RelB expressing cell does not contribute directly to the positive selection of CD1d-dependent NKT cells. Like RelB-deficient mice, aly/aly mice with a mutation for the NF-κB–inducing kinase (NIK), have reduced NKT cell numbers. An analysis of NK1.1 and CD44 expression on NKT cells in the thymus of aly/aly mice reveals a late block in development. In vitro, we show that NIK is necessary for RelB activation upon triggering of surface receptors. This link between NIK and RelB was further demonstrated in vivo by analyzing RelB+/− × aly/+ compound heterozygous mice. After stimulation with α-GalCer, an antigen recognized by NKT cells, these compound heterozygotes had reduced responses compared with either RelB+/− or aly/+ mice. These data illustrate the complex interplay between hemopoietic and nonhemopoietic cell types for the development of NKT cells, and they demonstrate the unique requirement of NKT cells for a signaling pathway mediated by NIK activation of RelB in a thymic stromal cell

Mutation in the Sip1 transcription factor leads to a disturbance of the preconditioning of AMPA receptors by episodes of hypoxia in neurons of the cerebral cortex due to changes in their activity and subunit composition. The protective effects of interleukin-10.

peer reviewedThe Sip1 mutation plays the main role in pathogenesis of the Mowat-Wilson syndrome, which is characterized by the pronounced epileptic symptoms. Cortical neurons of homozygous mice with Sip1 mutation are resistant to AMPA receptor activators. Disturbances of the excitatory signaling components are also observed on such a phenomenon of neuroplasticity as hypoxic preconditioning. In this work, the mechanisms of loss of the AMPA receptor's ability to precondition by episodes of short-term hypoxia were investigated on cortical neurons derived from the Sip1 homozygous mice. The preconditioning effect was estimated by the level of suppression of the AMPA receptors activity with hypoxia episodes. Using fluorescence microscopy, we have shown that cortical neurons from the Sip1(fl/fl) mice are characterized by the absence of hypoxic preconditioning effect, whereas the amplitude of Ca(2+)-responses to the application of the AMPA receptor agonist, 5-Fluorowillardiine, in neurons from the Sip1 mice brainstem is suppressed by brief episodes of hypoxia. The mechanism responsible for this process is hypoxia-induced desensitization of the AMPA receptors, which is absent in the cortex neurons possessing the Sip1 mutation. However, the appearance of preconditioning in these neurons can be induced by phosphoinositide-3-kinase activation with a selective activator or an anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10