Luminescence of colloidal CdSe/ZnS nanoparticles: high sensitivity to solvent phase transitions

We investigate nanosecond photoluminescence processes in colloidal core/shell CdSe/ZnS nanoparticles dissolved in water and found strong sensitivity of luminescence to the solvent state. Several pronounced changes have been observed in the narrow temperature interval near the water melting point. First of all, the luminescence intensity substantially (approximately 50%) increases near the transition. In a large temperature scale, the energy peak of the photoluminescence decreases with temperature due to temperature dependence of the energy gap. Near the melting point, the peak shows N-type dependence with the maximal changes of approximately 30 meV. The line width increases with temperature and also shows N-type dependence near the melting point. The observed effects are associated with the reconstruction of ligands near the ice/water phase transition

Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor a in the endometrium in uterine factor infertility

Aim. To assess the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A for evaluating the functional state of the endometrium in women suffering from infertility and chronic endometritis.Materials and methods. Endometrium biopsy specimens obtained from 41 patients with uterine factor infertility (experimental group) were examined. A comparison group was composed of 39 women diagnosed with the “male factor” infertility exhibiting no infl ammatory processes of the reproductive organs. An endometrial biopsy was performed in both phases of the menstrual cycle: on days 8–10 of the follicular phase and on days 21–24 of the luteal phase. The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors was evaluated on the basis of immunohistochemical staining of the biopsy specimens using monoclonal antibodies. The results of the immunohistochemical reaction were quantifi ed using the ImageJ software. A quantitative criterion — a stained area coeffi cient (per cent) representing the ratio of the immunohistochemical staining area to that of a biopsy specimen — was proposed for assessing the level of VEGF-A expression.Results. In the chronic endometritis group, the intensity of VEGF-A expression was found to be 1.4 times higher than that in the comparison group during the proliferation phase (p < 0.001). Expression values of the secretion phase were 1.9 times higher than those in the comparison group (p < 0.01).Conclusion. Chronic endometritis is characterized by an overexpression of VEGF-A by various endometrium cellular components. Interpretation of immunohistochemical stains using the method of computer morphometry allows quantitative indicators characterizing the intensity of angiogenesis marker expression in the endometrium during the menstrual cycle to be obtained. The level of VEGF-A expression can be used as an additional marker improving the quality of biopsy diagnostics in patients with infertility

The effect of zinc complex of N-isopropenylimidazole on the morphological characteristics of gum tissues in experimental endodontic-periodontal lesions in rats Authors

Introduction: Combined inflammatory and destructive processes affecting the dental pulp and tissues of the periodontal complex are among the most problem diseases of the dental system. Current therapy with use of available pharmacological agents does not always allow achieving the expected positive result. In addition, often the lack of information about morphological processes in the tissues of the dental system, in particular the gums, with endodontic-periodontal lesion (EPL) limits the ability of dentists to carry out targeted pharmacotherapy with both traditional and, in particular, new medications. The aim of the study was to evaluate the morphological characteristics of gum tissues in a therapeutic context of N-isopropenylimidazole zinc complex derivative in experimental endodontic-periodontal lesion in rats. Materials and Methods: A simulation of EPL in rats was performed in two ways: simultaneous induction of acute periodontitis and parodontitis by pulp extraction and natural infection of the pulp cavity, as well as by ligation of the necks of lower incisors. The research protocols included 5 groups of animals: 1st – intact group (control-1); 2nd – animals with simulated EPL (control-2); 3rd – animals with simulated EPL and treated with Metrogyl Denta® gel (M-D); 4th – animals with simulated EPL and treated with N–isopropenylimidazole zinc complex derivative gel under the laboratory code Pilim-1; and 5th – animals with simulated EPL and treated with the combination of M-D + Pilim-1. The gum of the lower incisors was taken for morphological studies. Slides were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. Computer morphometry was performed using the ImageJ software. Results and Discussion: The substances M-D, Pilim-1 and, especially, the combination of M-D+Pilim-1 (against the background of chlorhexidine bigluconate used as oral rinse) for 14 days in rats with simulated EPL cause a significant improvement of the morphological structure of the gum with minimal residual dystrophy and sclerosis. The combination M-D + Pilim-1 led to a 1.3-time increase in epithelial thickness, and a 1.5-time decrease in acanthosis depth in comparison with M-D, while the number of capillaries and their diameter had no significant differences. Compared with Pilim-1, the epithelial thickness increased 1.5 times, and the acanthosis depth and the number of capillaries decreased 1.6 and 1.4 times, respectively, whereas the diameter of the capillaries did not change significantly. The pronounced protective effect of the combination M-D + Pilim-1 on the morphological structure of the gingival mucosa of rats with simulated EPL may be associated with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, regenerating, angioprotective and antioxidant properties of both M-D and Pilim-1 separately, and, possibly to a greater extent, of the combination M-D + Pilim-1. Conclusion: The substances M-D, Pilim-1 and, especially, the combination M-D + Pilim-1 (against the background of chlorhexidine bigluconate used as oral rinse) for 14 days in rats with simulated EPL have a protective effect on the epithelial structure and the connective tissue of the proper mucous plate, manifested in active normalization of pathological changes and significant restoration of their organotypic structure

Automated Testing Environment

Tato práce se zabývá úkolem nastavení prostředí pro testování softwaru. Hlavním cílem je tento proces zjednodušit a zautomatizovat. Zvolený problém je určen k řešení pomocí stávajících nástrojů pro automatizaci workflow. Konkrétně, za pomocí Apache Airflow, platformou pro správu pracovních toků pro datové inženýrské pipeliny. Přínos této práce je ve studiu existujících nástrojů pro automatizaci pracovních postupů a vytvoření frameworku pro automatické nasazování infrastruktury

Effect of heat treatment on the structure and magnetic properties of Sm-Fe alloys obtained by mechanical alloying

The effect of heat treatment on the structure and magnetic properties of Sm-Fe alloys obtained by mechanical alloying was investigated. The crystallization temperature of Sm2Fe17, an amorphous alloy obtained by mechanical alloying, was determined using differential scanning calorimetry. Based on these results, various samples were annealed at different isothermal holding temperatures, and those with the best magnetic properties were found. Experimental studies show that decreasing the isothermal holding temperature from 750 °C to 630 °C increases magnetic characteristics nearly four times. The saturation magnetization, romance and coercivity of the Sm2Fe17 powder were 121 emu/g, 28.5 emu/g and 800 Oe, respectively

Effect of heat treatment on the structure and magnetic properties of Sm-Fe alloys obtained by mechanical alloying

The effect of heat treatment on the structure and magnetic properties of Sm-Fe alloys obtained by mechanical alloying was investigated. The crystallization temperature of Sm2Fe17, an amorphous alloy obtained by mechanical alloying, was determined using differential scanning calorimetry. Based on these results, various samples were annealed at different isothermal holding temperatures, and those with the best magnetic properties were found. Experimental studies show that decreasing the isothermal holding temperature from 750 °C to 630 °C increases magnetic characteristics nearly four times. The saturation magnetization, romance and coercivity of the Sm2Fe17 powder were 121 emu/g, 28.5 emu/g and 800 Oe, respectively

Population-based nutrition study on an urban population with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Aim. The aim of our cross-sectional study was to evaluate the nutrition (or diet) habits of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in the urban population (45–69 years) of Novosibirsk. Materials and methods. We included 1,041 people with DM and 8,095 people without DM in this study. The nutrition data were obtained via a population survey using a questionnaire to assess the frequency of food consumption within the framework of HAPIEE, an international project. Results. The prevalence of DM was 11.4% in this study population. The nutrition intake analysis showed that carbohydrate consumption in both men and women with DM was significantly lower compared with that in those without DM, while fat and protein intake were significantly higher. In men with type 2 DM, the proportions of black bread, vegetables, dairy products and meat in the diet were significantly higher, while the proportions of white bread and sweets in the diet were significantly lower compared with their counterparts without DM. Women with DM also had significantly higher proportions of black bread, vegetables, dairy products, meat and fish in the diet and lower proportions of white bread, potatoes and sweets in the diet than the controls. The proportions of fruit, eggs and alcohol intake did not differ between the groups for both men and women. In men, there was also no difference in the proportions of potatoes, vegetables and fish intake between the groups. Conclusion. The diets of both patients with DM and the general population in Novosibirsk are not well balanced

Analysis of the actual nutrition of the female population of Novosibirsk, depending on the magnitude of the glycemic index of their diet

Background. When choosing foods rich in carbohydrates, it is important to consider not only their chemical composition, but also the ability to influence the level of postprandial blood glucose (glycemic response). A qualitative indicator of this ability is the glycemic index (GI) of a carbohydrate-containing product. Recently, there have been some evidences that control of GI nutrition can be important for prevention and nutrition therapy of metabolic disorders. Aim. To determine of the magnitude of the glycemic index (GI) of actual nutrition in women in Novosibirsk, and the study of the connection with metabolism and obesity. Material and methods. The study was designed as cross-sectional research and was carried out within the framework of the international HAPIEE project on a random representative sample of the unorganized population of Novosibirsk, 4397 women, the average age was 57.7 ± 7.1, without diabetes. For the calculation of GI nutrition, the International Table of Glycemic Index and Glycemic Load (2008) were used. The frequency method was used to evaluate the actual nutrition. Metabolic Syndrome (MS) criteria were used in accordance with the Russian National Recommendations of the GEF (2009), as well as with the international recommendations of NCEP ATP III (2001) and JIS (2009). Statistical processing of data was carried out using the SPSS 13.0 software package (Bonferroni criterion in the GLM procedure). The odds ratio (OR) was estimated using binary logistic regression in quartiles of the glycemic index. Differences were considered statistically significant at p <0.05. Results. The GI of women's nutrition was on average low and amounted to 53.1 units. In the quartiles of the GI OR, the MS for all the criteria used was not significantly different. In the quartiles of the body mass index (BMI) in women with GI in the group with normal body weight (BMI = 23.3 kg/m2) was significantly higher by 0.9 units (p <0.001) compared with the obese group (BMI = 37.3 kg/m2). The diet was unbalanced and did not meet the recommendation in all groups of women studied. It was noted a significant reduction in the group with obesity 1.6 times the value of total caloric intake per 1 kg of body weight. Conclusions. Nutrition of women in Novosibirsk is unbalanced, with increased consumption of fat and inadequate intake of carbohydrates. The GI value is close to the GI nutrition of the population of European countries. The presence of a connection between the GI nutrition of women with a metabolic disorder in the sample of the population was not established

Luminescence of colloidal CdSe/ZnS nanoparticles: high sensitivity to solvent phase transitions

Abstract We investigate nanosecond photoluminescence processes in colloidal core/shell CdSe/ZnS nanoparticles dissolved in water and found strong sensitivity of luminescence to the solvent state. Several pronounced changes have been observed in the narrow temperature interval near the water melting point. First of all, the luminescence intensity substantially (approximately 50%) increases near the transition. In a large temperature scale, the energy peak of the photoluminescence decreases with temperature due to temperature dependence of the energy gap. Near the melting point, the peak shows N-type dependence with the maximal changes of approximately 30 meV. The line width increases with temperature and also shows N-type dependence near the melting point. The observed effects are associated with the reconstruction of ligands near the ice/water phase transition.</p