The Sustainable Development of Competitive Enterprises through the Implementation of Innovative Development Strategy

The purpose of this article is to develop methodological approaches to the production effectiveness's evaluating and products competitiveness's level estimation to identify risk groups according to the products and producers, to propose targeted measures manufacturers' support, to activate innovative development and minimize potential social impacts. The leading method to study this problem is the method of constructing the matrix of the producers' efficiency and the commodities' competitiveness which allows implement a differentiated approach to the strategies' development of production's innovative development and social risks' minimization. The article proposes a methodological approach to the products competitiveness's level assessment based on the efficiency of production and external conditional factors and identifies the respective groups of competitive and non-competitive commodities and producers, as well as it defines the resource and innovation potential, with further strategy development. The study materials can be used in the management of manufacturing development, both at the level of the industrial enterprises' services and government agencies, to assess the level of products' competitiveness, to create strategies of innovation development, to develop targeted actions for the exports' development. Keywords: commodities' competitiveness, production efficiency, export potential, innovation development JEL Classifications: O31, O34, Q0

DLC-Coated Ferroelectric Membranes as Vascular Patches: Physico-Chemical Properties and Biocompatibility

In this paper, the results on the fabrication of ferroelectric membranes as vascular patches with modified surfaces are presented. For the modification of a membrane surface contacting blood, DLC coating was deposited using the pulsed vacuum arc deposition technique. The physico-chemical properties and cytotoxicity of the membranes modified under various conditions were studied. It was found that DLC coatings do not affect membrane microstructure, preserving its crystal structure as well as its high strength and elongation. It was revealed that an increase in the capacitor storage voltage results in the rise in sp2- and sp-hybridized carbon concentration, which makes it possible to control the chemical structure and surface energy of the modified surface. The experiments with 3T3L1 fibroblasts showed no toxic effects of the materials extracts

Plasma-chemical modification of polymer materials for cardiovascular surgery in order to change their wettability

Polymeric materials are characterized by low values of the surface energy; they are poorly wetted by solvents, and have low adhesion to different materials and other disadvantages. The relevance of the work stems from the need to develop specific surface properties of the polymer prostheses used in cardiovascular surgery, to increase the biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. One of the most promising and modern methods of surface modification of polymers is the impact of low-temperature plasma. Modern plasma-chemical methods have some advantages in comparison with chemical modification, where aggressive reagents and their compounds are used. The main aim of the research is to change surface properties of polymer materials for cardiovascular surgery by the plasma chemical modification methods. The research methods: The authors have applied the modern technology of polymer compositions manufacture. This is electrospinning method, which allows obtaining porous structures, adding cells and active substances. The authors selected environmentally and chemically safe impact method to the surface of the obtained products. This is plasma chemical modification, which doesn't influence the physical properties of the final product. Modification was carried out on the electrode system with preionizers, which was developed by the laboratory № 1 of the Institute of Physics High Technologies at Tomsk Polytechnic University (head of the development is Remnev G.E.). The results: The authors proposed the method of handling the surface properties of polymer products, which are responsible for wettability and surface free energy. It was shown that plasma-chemical methods of gas discharge influence on polymeric material surface allow regulating their contact properties. The main changes in wettability degree occur within a short exposure time of pulsed plasma at atmospheric pressure on polymeric material surface (from one to sixty seconds). The values of wettability contact angle for the modified polymers depend on gaseous medium nature and handling conditions in plasma. Changing pulse power and repetition rate and the processing time it is possible to control surface free energy, which allows adjusting wettability, making the surface more hydrophobic or hydrophilic

Plasma-chemical modification of polymer materials for cardiovascular surgery in order to change their wettability

Polymeric materials are characterized by low values of the surface energy; they are poorly wetted by solvents, and have low adhesion to different materials and other disadvantages. The relevance of the work stems from the need to develop specific surface properties of the polymer prostheses used in cardiovascular surgery, to increase the biocompatibility and hemocompatibility. One of the most promising and modern methods of surface modification of polymers is the impact of low-temperature plasma. Modern plasma-chemical methods have some advantages in comparison with chemical modification, where aggressive reagents and their compounds are used. The main aim of the research is to change surface properties of polymer materials for cardiovascular surgery by the plasma chemical modification methods. The research methods: The authors have applied the modern technology of polymer compositions manufacture. This is electrospinning method, which allows obtaining porous structures, adding cells and active substances. The authors selected environmentally and chemically safe impact method to the surface of the obtained products. This is plasma chemical modification, which doesn't influence the physical properties of the final product. Modification was carried out on the electrode system with preionizers, which was developed by the laboratory № 1 of the Institute of Physics High Technologies at Tomsk Polytechnic University (head of the development is Remnev G.E.). The results: The authors proposed the method of handling the surface properties of polymer products, which are responsible for wettability and surface free energy. It was shown that plasma-chemical methods of gas discharge influence on polymeric material surface allow regulating their contact properties. The main changes in wettability degree occur within a short exposure time of pulsed plasma at atmospheric pressure on polymeric material surface (from one to sixty seconds). The values of wettability contact angle for the modified polymers depend on gaseous medium nature and handling conditions in plasma. Changing pulse power and repetition rate and the processing time it is possible to control surface free energy, which allows adjusting wettability, making the surface more hydrophobic or hydrophilic

Specifics of Gender Manifestation of Prosocial and Antisocial Features in Human Behavior

The paper presents an analysis of the gender factors in the formation of prosociality – asociality in humans. A set of indicators reflecting the quantitative and qualitative terms motivational prerequisites of social behavior is presented. The estimation actualization needs are characterized as the beginning of the centripetal and focused on the involvement of the individual in society. Comparative analysis and accentuation of personality traits identified predominance of cycles, emotive and exaltation on the background of male domination of reactive aggression and masculinity. Assessment of the severity of empathy revealed the advantage of emotional and intuitive channels in the group of women relative to men. Undertaken study allowed to determine the presence of specific features of the formation of prosocial behavior of women, where the key element is the dominance of emotional factors initiation of social behavior, and situational mode, reactive response

Long-Term Multilocal Monitoring of Leaf Rust Resistance in the Spring Bread Wheat Genetic Resources from Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR)

Triticum aestivum L. (bread wheat) is the most important cereal crop in world grain production, including in the territory of the Russian Federation. One of the most important factors influencing the yield and quality of wheat grain is the affection of plants with leaf rust (Puccinia triticina Erikss.). To broaden the set of sources for effective rust resistance, spring bread wheat samples from N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) were monitored for adult resistance to the disease under natural infections for many decades at three distant locations of the Russian Federation: the Dagestan Experimental Station (DES) of VIR (10,549 accessions), Yekaterinino Experimental Station (YES) (4384 accessions), and Pushkin Experimental Field (PEF) (7704 accessions). Information on the disease development at these three stations is presented at least for 51 last years. As a result of disease development evaluation under natural epiphytotic conditions for not less than 3 years, 293 (15 landraces, 127 breeding lines, and 151 commercial varieties), 118 (1 landrace, 38 breeding lines, and 79 commercial varieties), and 127 (10 landraces, 48 breeding lines, and 69 commercial varieties) samples were classified as resistant to leaf rust at DES, YES, and PEF, respectively. Among samples from the State Register of Breeding Achievements in Russia, 15, 13, and 8 spring wheat varieties were resistant to leaf rust at DES, YES, and PEF, respectively. Juvenile resistance was estimated under laboratory conditions after seedling inoculation with a complex population of P. triticina: 73 highly resistant varieties and breeding lines were identified; all landraces, including those classified as resistant in the fields, were susceptible to disease at the seedling stage. A total of 26 wheat accessions were identified to be resistant to leaf rust at two to three locations; 14 of them possess adult resistance, and 12 samples have seedling resistance. According to results of PCR amplification with primers specific to markers of effective genes for leaf rust resistance, 6 accessions have gene Lr9, 1 sample is protected by Lr19, and 1 sample possesses gene Lr24. Wheat samples identified as possessing effective seedling or adult resistance could be of interest for breeding in some regions of the Russian Federation and other countries

Long-Term Multilocal Monitoring of Leaf Rust Resistance in the Spring Bread Wheat Genetic Resources from Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR)

Triticum aestivum L. (bread wheat) is the most important cereal crop in world grain production, including in the territory of the Russian Federation. One of the most important factors influencing the yield and quality of wheat grain is the affection of plants with leaf rust (Puccinia triticina Erikss.). To broaden the set of sources for effective rust resistance, spring bread wheat samples from N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) were monitored for adult resistance to the disease under natural infections for many decades at three distant locations of the Russian Federation: the Dagestan Experimental Station (DES) of VIR (10,549 accessions), Yekaterinino Experimental Station (YES) (4384 accessions), and Pushkin Experimental Field (PEF) (7704 accessions). Information on the disease development at these three stations is presented at least for 51 last years. As a result of disease development evaluation under natural epiphytotic conditions for not less than 3 years, 293 (15 landraces, 127 breeding lines, and 151 commercial varieties), 118 (1 landrace, 38 breeding lines, and 79 commercial varieties), and 127 (10 landraces, 48 breeding lines, and 69 commercial varieties) samples were classified as resistant to leaf rust at DES, YES, and PEF, respectively. Among samples from the State Register of Breeding Achievements in Russia, 15, 13, and 8 spring wheat varieties were resistant to leaf rust at DES, YES, and PEF, respectively. Juvenile resistance was estimated under laboratory conditions after seedling inoculation with a complex population of P. triticina: 73 highly resistant varieties and breeding lines were identified; all landraces, including those classified as resistant in the fields, were susceptible to disease at the seedling stage. A total of 26 wheat accessions were identified to be resistant to leaf rust at two to three locations; 14 of them possess adult resistance, and 12 samples have seedling resistance. According to results of PCR amplification with primers specific to markers of effective genes for leaf rust resistance, 6 accessions have gene Lr9, 1 sample is protected by Lr19, and 1 sample possesses gene Lr24. Wheat samples identified as possessing effective seedling or adult resistance could be of interest for breeding in some regions of the Russian Federation and other countries

Vascular endothelial growth factor improves physico-mechanical properties and enhances endothelialization of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate)/poly(ε-caprolactone) small-diameter vascular grafts in vivo

The combination of a natural hydrophilic polymer poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and a synthetic hydrophobic polymer poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) is promising for the preparation of biodegradable and biocompatible small-diameter vascular grafts for bypass surgery. However, physico-mechanical properties and endothelialization rate of PHBV/PCL grafts are poor. We suggested that incorporation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) into PHBV/PCL grafts may improve their physico-mechanical properties and enhance endothelialization. Here we compared morphology, physico-mechanical properties, and in vivo performance of electrospun small-diameter vascular grafts prepared from PHBV/PCL with and without VEGF. Structure of the graft surface and physico-mechanical properties were examined by scanning electron microscopy and universal testing machine, respectively. Grafts were implanted into rat abdominal aorta for 1, 3, and 6 months with the further histological, immunohistochemical, and immunofluorescence examination. PHBV/PCL grafts with and without VEGF were highly porous and consisted mostly of nanoscale and microscale fibers, respectively. Mean pore diameter and mean pore area were significantly lower in PHBV/PCL/VEGF compared to PHBV/PCL grafts (1.47 µm and 10.05 µm2; 2.63 µm and 47.13 µm2, respectively). Durability, elasticity, and stiffness of PHBV/PCL grafts with VEGF were more similar to internal mammary artery compared to those without, particularly 6 months postimplantation. Both qualitative examination and quantitative image analysis showed that three-fourths of PHBV/PCL grafts with VEGF were patent and had many CD31-, CD34-, and vWF-positive cells at their inner surface. However, all PHBV/PCL grafts without VEGF were occluded and had no or a few CD31-positive cells at the inner surface. Therefore, VEGF enhanced endothelialization and improved graft patency at all the time points in a rat abdominal aorta replacement model. In conclusion, PHBV/PCL grafts with VEGF have better biocompatibility and physico-mechanical properties compared to those without. Incorporation of VEGF improves graft patency and accelerates formation of endothelial cell monolayer

Conjugation with RGD Peptides and Incorporation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Are Equally Efficient for Biofunctionalization of Tissue-Engineered Vascular Grafts

The blend of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) has recently been considered promising for vascular tissue engineering. However, it was shown that PHBV/PCL grafts require biofunctionalization to achieve high primary patency rate. Here we compared immobilization of arginine–glycine–aspartic acid (RGD)-containing peptides and the incorporation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as two widely established biofunctionalization approaches. Electrospun PHBV/PCL small-diameter grafts with either RGD peptides or VEGF, as well as unmodified grafts were implanted into rat abdominal aortas for 1, 3, 6, and 12 months following histological and immunofluorescence assessment. We detected CD31+/CD34+/vWF+ cells 1 and 3 months postimplantation at the luminal surface of PHBV/PCL/RGD and PHBV/PCL/VEGF, but not in unmodified grafts, with the further observation of CD31+CD34−vWF+ phenotype. These cells were considered as endothelial and produced a collagen-positive layer resembling a basement membrane. Detection of CD31+/CD34+ cells at the early stages with subsequent loss of CD34 indicated cell adhesion from the bloodstream. Therefore, either conjugation with RGD peptides or the incorporation of VEGF promoted the formation of a functional endothelial cell layer. Furthermore, both modifications increased primary patency rate three-fold. In conclusion, both of these biofunctionalization approaches can be considered as equally efficient for the modification of tissue-engineered vascular grafts