Sedimentation of bentonite suspensions under the influence of low molecular weight polymers based on amino ester salts

Among the available technologies for treating natural and wastewater from clay materials, coagulation/flocculation is the most common method due to its high efficiency, simplicity, and cost-effectiveness. Inorganic coagulants such as aluminum sulfate and ferric chloride, widely used as destabilizing agents for colloidal particles, have several significant drawbacks: low efficiency and toxicity. Organic reagents of both natural and synthetic origin are a good alternative. This work is devoted to the evaluation of the flocculation action of new reagents, which are low molecular weight polymers based on amino ester salts on clay suspensions, as well as the selection of their optimal concentration, providing the maximum sedimentation rate. Studies have shown that amino ester salts can be effectively used for the treatment of water-clay suspensions. An important factor is the nature of the anion used, which has a significant influence on the oagulation ability of esters. Thus, 40–50 % (wt.) aqueous solutions of amino ester chlorides added to clay suspensions in an amount not exceeding 0.1% (vol.) can be used to thicken clay suspensions. At the same time, aqueous solutions of amino ester bromides regardless of the concentration, introduced into bentonite suspensions of 0.1–0.4 % (vol.), contribute to improved sedimentation, reducing viscosity, and increasing filtration capacity. These results allow us to recommend the use of amino ester chlorides as a thickener in the preparation of drilling muds for strengthening the walls of wells during drilling, and bromides – for flocculation of bentonite suspensions in oil productio

The Structural Complexity of the Human BORIS Gene in Gametogenesis and Cancer

BORIS/CTCFL is a paralogue of CTCF, the major epigenetic regulator of vertebrate genomes. BORIS is normally expressed only in germ cells but is aberrantly activated in numerous cancers. While recent studies demonstrated that BORIS is a transcriptional activator of testis-specific genes, little is generally known about its biological and molecular functions.Here we show that BORIS is expressed as 23 isoforms in germline and cancer cells. The isoforms are comprised of alternative N- and C-termini combined with varying numbers of zinc fingers (ZF) in the DNA binding domain. The patterns of BORIS isoform expression are distinct in germ and cancer cells. Isoform expression is activated by downregulation of CTCF, upregulated by reduction in CpG methylation caused by inactivation of DNMT1 or DNMT3b, and repressed by activation of p53. Studies of ectopically expressed isoforms showed that all are translated and localized to the nucleus. Using the testis-specific cerebroside sulfotransferase (CST) promoter and the IGF2/H19 imprinting control region (ICR), it was shown that binding of BORIS isoforms to DNA targets in vitro is methylation-sensitive and depends on the number and specific composition of ZF. The ability to bind target DNA and the presence of a specific long amino terminus (N258) in different isoforms are necessary and sufficient to activate CST transcription. Comparative sequence analyses revealed an evolutionary burst in mammals with strong conservation of BORIS isoproteins among primates.The extensive repertoire of spliced BORIS variants in humans that confer distinct DNA binding and transcriptional activation properties, and their differential patterns of expression among germ cells and neoplastic cells suggest that the gene is involved in a range of functionally important aspects of both normal gametogenesis and cancer development. In addition, a burst in isoform diversification may be evolutionarily tied to unique aspects of primate speciation

Dynamic Chromatin Localization of Sirt6 Shapes Stress- and Aging-Related Transcriptional Networks

The sirtuin Sirt6 is a NAD-dependent histone deacetylase that is implicated in gene regulation and lifespan control. Sirt6 can interact with the stress-responsive transcription factor NF-κB and regulate some NF-κB target genes, but the full scope of Sirt6 target genes as well as dynamics of Sirt6 occupancy on chromatin are not known. Here we map Sirt6 occupancy on mouse promoters genome-wide and show that Sirt6 occupancy is highly dynamic in response to TNF-α. More than half of Sirt6 target genes are only revealed upon stress-signaling. The majority of genes bound by NF-κB subunit RelA recruit Sirt6, and dynamic Sirt6 relocalization is largely driven in a RelA-dependent manner. Integrative analysis with global gene expression patterns in wild-type, Sirt6−/−, and double Sirt6−/− RelA−/− cells reveals the epistatic relationships between Sirt6 and RelA in shaping diverse temporal patterns of gene expression. Genes under the direct joint control of Sirt6 and RelA include several with prominent roles in cell senescence and organismal aging. These data suggest dynamic chromatin relocalization of Sirt6 as a key output of NF-κB signaling in stress response and aging

Cancer: evolutionary, genetic and epigenetic aspects

There exist two paradigms about the nature of cancer. According to the generally accepted one, cancer is a by-product of design limitations of a multi-cellular organism (Greaves, Nat Rev Cancer 7:213–221, 2007). The essence of the second resides in the question “Does cancer kill the individual and save the species?” (Sommer, Hum Mutat 3:166–169, 1994). Recent data on genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of cell transformation summarized in this review support the latter point of view, namely that carcinogenesis is an evolutionary conserved phenomenon—a programmed death of an organism. It is assumed that cancer possesses an important function of altruistic nature: as a mediator of negative selection, it serves to preserve integrity of species gene pool and to mediate its evolutionary adjustment. Cancer fulfills its task due apparently to specific killer function, understanding mechanism of which may suggest new therapeutic strategy

The Architecture of Project-Based Learning in the Supplementary Vocational Education System in a Higher Education

The article deals with the organization of project-based education applied in the supplementary higher vocational education system and considers the needs of modern society in the context of creating a Priority Development Area. (PDA). In the article, the authors present the architecture of the integrated model of traditional and project-based learning in the supplementary vocational education system, offer practical recommendations on the organization and implementation of project activities in the staff training demanded in PDA. The article reflects the results of introducing the integrated model of traditional and project-based learning in the supplementary vocational education system

Molecular detection of human rhinoviruses in respiratory samples : a comparison of Taqman probe-, SYBR green I- and BOXTO-based real-time PCR assays

Background: Human Rhinoviruses (HRV) are major causative agents of acute respiratory tract infections in all age group and important contributing factors of childhood morbidity and mortality. Clinical presentation is poorly specific and the great antigenic and genetic variability of HRVs renders the biological diagnosis complex. Here, we have evaluated several molecular diagnostic protocols, including Taqman probe-based and intercalating agent-based RT-PCR assays. Methods: 5,627 respiratory samples sent to the laboratory of Virology of the University Hospitals of Marseille, France, from March 2011 to February 2012, were tested using a real-time RT-PCR assay in the 5'NCR of the rhinoviral genome that associated a Taqman probe and the detection of DNA-BOXTO-dye complexes. A sample of 500 BOXTO-positive samples were further tested using the same probe assay (without BOXTO), and a SYBR Green assay (using the same amplification primers). The specific amplification of HRV sequences was assessed by NGS amplicon sequencing. Results: The Taqman probe RT-PCR assay identified 696/5,627 samples (12,4%) as HRV-positive. BOXTO-positive samples included all probe-positive samples and 1,913 additional samples, of which only 24.3% were confirmed by sequencing. The SYBR Green assay was more specific (16/550 samples were probe-negative/SYBR Green-positive, all confirmed by 5'NCR sequencing), but 3/500 samples were probe-positive/SYBR Green-negative. Conclusions: Our results highlight the difficulty in detecting HRVs in clinical samples using a single molecular detection system. Amongst the 3 systems tested, the best compromise was obtained with the SYBR Green assay, which, by comparison with our probe-based assay provided an improved sensitivity without altering the detection specificity. Interestingly, a majority of probe-negative/BOXTO- or SYBR Green-positive samples were not associated with mutations in the sequence targeted by the probe. Sequence-based modifications of the secondary structure of the HRV 5'NCR may be associated with a limited access to the probe hybridisation region. Further investigations may identify a test combining a probe based-and an intercalating agent-based detection, which will significantly improve the diagnosis of HRV infections

Prise en charge du sida en hospitalisations traditionnelle et de jour à Recife (Brésil)

D'août à novembre 1995, 50 malades atteints de sida ont été admis dans le Service des maladies infectieuses de l'hôpital universitaire de Recife en hospitalisation traditionnelle (25 cas) et en hospitalisation de jour (25 cas). Cette répartition n'a pu être réalisée uniquement en fonction de données cliniques, mais a du prendre en compte les caractéristiques sociales des patients. Les éléments les plus onéreux ont été les frais d'hébergement et de matériel consommable. La comparaison des coûts n'aurait pas de sens, les différences de pathologies et de soins étant importantes. Il apparaît que, jusqu'à aujourd'hui, l'hospitalisation traditionnelle est parfois une forme de prise en charge des plus démunis et que la rationalisation des soins demande encore de gros efforts. (Résumé d'auteur

Canine testicular tumors: An 11-year retrospective study of 358 cases in Moscow Region, Russia

Background and Aim: Canine testicular tumors are among the most common reproductive tract tumors in male dogs and have been studied in many countries. However, to the best of our knowledge, studies with a large sample size have not been conducted in Russia. This study aimed to provide the latest information on the prevalence of canine testicular tumors in the Veterinary Oncology Scientific Center for Small Animals "Biocontrol" in Moscow, Russia, in 2010-2020 and the characteristics of the affected canine population. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of patients and histological reports was collected and analyzed from 358 dogs with 447 testicular tumors within 11 years. Results: The mean age of the affected dogs was 10.4 years, whereas that of dogs with Sertoli cell tumors was 9.4 years p=0.009. This study includes mixed-breed dogs (18.4%), Yorkshire Terriers (8.8%), Labrador Retrievers (7.9%), Golden Retrievers (5.0%), and Fox Terriers (3.4%). The most common tumors were interstitial cell tumors (n=227, 50.8%). In contrast, 107 (23.9%) seminomas, 80 (17.9%) Sertoli cell tumors, 19 (7.4%) mixed germ cell-sex cord-stromal tumors, and 26 (7.6%) testicular tumors developed from cryptorchid testes, which included 16 (61.5%) Sertoli cell tumors, 10 (38.5%) seminomas, and no interstitial cell tumors. Conclusion: This study provides baseline information on the prevalence of canine testicular tumors in the described population, including the median age of each tumor type and overrepresented dog breeds. We further found that the most common scrotal testicular tumor was interstitial cell tumor, whereas Sertoli cell tumor was the most common in cryptorchid testicles. © 2022 Veterinary World. All rights reserved