Tumors and biofilms: too much coincidences to be casual

The existence of the majority of microorganisms in the form of three-dimensional associates on the phase interface proves the significant survivable advantages of such form of life at compare with monocellular planktonic ones. These advantages provided to biofilms a place of the most widely distributed form of life if not the dominative one. There is a strong similarity in properties of biofilms and malignant tumors that promotes considering the latter as some kind of biofilms. Such point of view facilitates understanding some features of carcinogenesis as well as the grounds for perspective directions in the prevention of metastases.Існування більшості мікроорганізмів у формі тривимірних асоціатів на межі розподілу фаз свідчить про її значні переваги такої для виживання, порівняно з дисперсною формою, та дозволяє визначити біоплівки як домінуючу форму життя. Спостерігається виражена подібність багатьох властивостей біоплівок та злоякісних пухлин, що дозволяє провести певну аналогію між ними. Подібний погляд полегшує розуміння окремих рис карциногенеза та створює передумови для обґрунтування перспективних напрямків попередження метастазування.Существование большинства микроорганизмов в форме трехмерных ассоциатов на границе раздела фаз свидетельствует о значительных преимуществах для выживания по сравнению с дисперсным существованием, что позволяет определить биопленки как доминирующую форму жизни. Наблюдается выраженное подобие множества свойств биопленок и злокачественных опухолей, что позволяет провести определенную аналогию между ними. Подобный взгляд облегчает понимание отдельных черт карциногенеза и создает предпосылки для обоснования перспективных направлений предупреждения метастазирования

Combined use of haemostatic system indices for evaluation of upper respiratory tract cancer progression

Aim: To analyze whether comprehensive assessment of haemostatic system components, in particular, indices of coagulation and fibrinolytic systems along with functionally related proteins, could be indicative of upper respiratory tract (URT) cancer progression. Materials and Methods: Indices of coagulation and fibrinolytic systems along with functionally related proteins, in particular, trypsinlike amidolytic activity, trypsin-like proteolytic activity, thrombin-like amidolytic activity, elastase-like amidolytic activity, fibrinolytic activity, potential amidolytic plasmin activity, content of fibrinogen, antithrombin III, α1-proteinase inhibitor, and α₂-macroglobulin, and prothrombin time were evaluated in blood plasma of patients with URT cancer of II (n = 10) and III (n = 25) stages with the use of routine biochemical methods. Results: For both groups of patients with URT cancer there have been shown notable differences for the majority of the studied indices, especially the indexes of proteolytic activities, from these of healthy donors, and in the case of URT cancer of III stage they reached statistical significance. In contrary, the changes in the content of antithrombin III, α₁-proteinase inhibitor, and α₂-macroglobulin were insignificant. In both groups of patients significant increase of fibrinogen content has been registered, while the content of soluble fibrinogen didn’t change. Also, in both groups of patients there a significant increase of potential activity of plasminogen was documented, while clot lysis time was significantly increased only in patients with III stage URT cancer. Multifactorial analysis of haemostatic system indices evidenced for efficacy of their combined use for evaluation of URT cancer progression risk. Conclusion: Combined use of fibrinogen and α₂-macroglobulin content and the level of amidolytic thrombinlike activity could serve as an indicator of URT cancer progression

Bence-Jones protein as the form of nano-scaled β-stacked supramolecular aggregates

Abstract. The formation in β-structured protein aggregates in tissues and fluids of the body is one of the most dangerouse complications of various diseases. The most famous of them are amyloidoses, but they such deposits are observed at other, much more widespread, diseases. The generally accepted approach to amyloids’detectionis based on  high-specific coloring by Congo Red dye. However, the Abbe's diffraction limit excludes the seeing of the objects smaller than 0.61 wavelengths (about 240 nm). Such nanoscale formations are capable to disrup the functioning of surrounding tissues, to causethe complications and recurrences of the disease, and to pass through biological barriers with the following accumulation in body’s fluids. It’s likely that these conditions are the cause of the urinary congophilia, that is associated with preeclampsia at pregnancy and chronic kidney disease. Nor the less suspicious object is the Bens-Jones protein that appears in the urine at multiple myeloma and some other diseases, which are in more or less extent,are related to the disturbance of protein metabolism. The purpose of this study was to clarify the aggregate state of the Bens-Jones protein as a possible β-structured supramolecular associate. Methods.The subject of the study was the freshly received urine from a patient with multiple myeloma. The presence of the Bens-Jones protein was checked by thermopacification of the acidified sample. For control, the urine was used by a healthy person with the addition of certain amounts of human serum albumin ("Reanal", Hungary) with a concentration of 0, 0.01, 0.1 and 1%. Result. The obtained data testify to the appropriateness of such a point of view and create preresquites for the expanding of diagnostic possibilities. Conclusions.The results obtained during the study testify to the peculiarity of the structure of the Bens-Jones protein, which is nano-sized beta-structured supramolecula

Assessing the Maturity Level of Saint Petersburg’s Digital Government

This paper assesses the readiness of Russia’s government authorities and local governments for a digital transformation. The digital economy’s condition in the public sector is analyzed, and the problems and possibilities of developing a digital economy in this area are identified. Based on an analysis of the current methods for assessing countries’ readiness for a digital economy and international models to evaluate the development of an e-government, a methodological approach is developed to enable the assessment of a “digital government’s” maturity level at various governmental levels. St. Petersburg was selected as the object of this paper’s research. Expert procedures, methods for gathering and processing statistical information, and fuzzy logic served as the methodological basis for this paper’s calculations. The maturity level of the city’s digital economy was identified using a fuzzy-set approach. The results of these calculations show that, despite numerous solutions aimed at developing digitalization in the public sectors of Russia and, in particular, St. Petersburg, the maturity level of the city’s digital government remains insufficient to satisfy society and businesses’ modern demands. Based on the conducted research, this paper highlights the reasons for the low maturity level of St. Petersburg’s digital government and develops recommendations on how to increase this maturity level

EPR spectroscopy studies of changes in erythrocyte membranes in patients with laryngeal cancer

Aim: To evaluate microviscosity and sorption capacity of erythrocyte membranes (SCEM) from patients with laryngeal cancer (LC). Materials and Methods: Samples from 35 patients with LC of stages II and III and 20 healthy volunteers were investigated by electron paramagnetic resonance with Bis(1-oxyl-2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidinyl-4)-ester of 5,7-dimethyladamantane-1,3-dicarbonic acid (AdTEMPO) probe. SCEM was evaluated by amount of unabsorbed methylene blue. Results: Microviscosity of erythrocyte membranes was determined by the effective rotational diffusion correlation times (τeff) and a decrease in radical spectrum signal intensity per hour. The most apparent decrease in mobility of the AdTEMPO in erythrocytes was observed prior to washing of erythrocytes with 0.9% NaCl for 5 min after probe insertion. The deceleration after 60 min was observed only in stage II LC. τeff was at control values after washing of erythrocytes of stage II LC 5 min after probe insertion and was significantly reduced in stage III LC in comparison to control. Radical spectrum signal intensity per hour in samples of stage II and III patients prior to and after washing of erythrocytes was on average 1.5-fold higher than that of control. SCEM in samples of stage II and III LC was found in 40 and 33% cases, respectively and was on average significantly reduced in comparison to control. Conclusions: The initial interaction of AdTEMPO with erythrocyte membranes of stage II and III LC patients is accompanied by an increase in τeff, indicating deceleration of probe rotation. τeff of the probe in membranes remains unchanged in 60 min, indicating changes in the structural organization of lipid bilayer and its associated proteins in particular. The similarity of SCEM for both studied groups reflects the pathological changes in function of erythrocyte membranes

Improving the Performance of K-Means for Color Quantization

Color quantization is an important operation with many applications in graphics and image processing. Most quantization methods are essentially based on data clustering algorithms. However, despite its popularity as a general purpose clustering algorithm, k-means has not received much respect in the color quantization literature because of its high computational requirements and sensitivity to initialization. In this paper, we investigate the performance of k-means as a color quantizer. We implement fast and exact variants of k-means with several initialization schemes and then compare the resulting quantizers to some of the most popular quantizers in the literature. Experiments on a diverse set of images demonstrate that an efficient implementation of k-means with an appropriate initialization strategy can in fact serve as a very effective color quantizer.Comment: 26 pages, 4 figures, 13 table

Key performance indicators of high-tech enterprises

In the conditions of the transition to innovative development and digital economy, the unconditional priority is shifted to restoration and transformation of high-tech enterprises. The stability of their strategic developing greatly depends on the efficiency of their business activity and the system of the enterprise strategic management. This article defines the basic performance indicators of high-tech enterprises, the particular features of the system to evaluate the efficiency of strategic management of a high-tech enterprise: innovative, scientific-technological and intellectual potential. On the basis of the analysis of the methods widely used all over the world, we developed a system key performance indicators to evaluate the efficiency of high-tech enterprises, with consideration of particular features of operation and development of high-tech enterprises, to enable evaluating the efficiency of their business activities and management through analyzing the inter-related financial and non-financial performance indicators. The practical implementation of this system will make it possible for high-tech enterprises to form a data base for making strategic solutions to ensure competitive advantage of these enterprises and, as a consequence, facilitate their steady development

COMBINED USE OF HAEMOSTATIC SYSTEM INDICES FOR EVALUATION OF UPPER RESPIRATORY TRACT CANCER PROGRESSION

Aim: To analyze whether comprehensive assessment of haemostatic system components, in particular, indices of coagulation and fibrinolytic systems along with functionally related proteins, could be indicative of upper respiratory tract (URT) cancer progression. Materials and Methods: Indices of coagulation and fibrinolytic systems along with functionally related proteins, in particular, trypsinlike amidolytic activity, trypsin-like proteolytic activity, thrombin-like amidolytic activity, elastase-like amidolytic activity, fibrinolytic activity, potential amidolytic plasmin activity, content of fibrinogen, antithrombin III, α1-proteinase inhibitor, and α₂-macroglobulin, and prothrombin time were evaluated in blood plasma of patients with URT cancer of II (n = 10) and III (n = 25) stages with the use of routine biochemical methods. Results: For both groups of patients with URT cancer there have been shown notable differences for the majority of the studied indices, especially the indexes of proteolytic activities, from these of healthy donors, and in the case of URT cancer of III stage they reached statistical significance. In contrary, the changes in the content of antithrombin III, α₁-proteinase inhibitor, and α₂-macroglobulin were insignificant. In both groups of patients significant increase of fibrinogen content has been registered, while the content of soluble fibrinogen didn’t change. Also, in both groups of patients there a significant increase of potential activity of plasminogen was documented, while clot lysis time was significantly increased only in patients with III stage URT cancer. Multifactorial analysis of haemostatic system indices evidenced for efficacy of their combined use for evaluation of URT cancer progression risk. Conclusion: Combined use of fibrinogen and α₂-macroglobulin content and the level of amidolytic thrombinlike activity could serve as an indicator of URT cancer progression