Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain in Heavy Metal-Induced Neurotoxicity: Effects of Cadmium, Mercury, and Copper

To clarify the role of mitochondrial electron transport chain (mtETC) in heavy-metal-induced neurotoxicity, we studied action of Cd2+, Hg2+, and Cu2+ on cell viability, intracellular reactive oxygen species formation, respiratory function, and mitochondrial membrane potential of rat cell line PC12. As found, the metals produced, although in a different way, dose- and time-dependent changes of all these parameters. Importantly, Cd2+ beginning from 10 [mu]M and already at short incubation time (3 h) significantly inhibited the FCCP-uncoupled cell respiration; besides, practically the complete inhibition of the respiration was reached after 3 h incubation with 50 [mu]M Hg2+ or 500 [mu]M Cd2+, whereas even after 48 h exposure with 500 [mu]M Cu2+, only a 50% inhibition of the respiration occurred. Against the Cd2+-induced cell injury, not only different antioxidants and mitochondrial permeability transition pore inhibitors were protective but also such mtETC effectors as FCCP and stigmatellin (complex III inhibitor). However, all mtETC effectors used did not protect against the Hg2+- or Cu2+-induced cell damage. Notably, stigmatellin was shown to be one of the strongest protectors against the Cd2+-induced cell damage, producing a 15–20% increase in the cell viability. The mechanisms of the mtETC involvement in the heavy-metal-induced mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and cell death are discussed

Research on the Effectiveness of Students’ Communicative Competence Formation

The formation of communicative competence among university students is becoming especially relevant in the uncertain and changeable world. In the study, competencies of a general nature are called invariant by the theory of the structure of the content of education, developed by Academician V. S. Lednev. The paper focuses on the effectiveness of the formation of students’ invariant communicative competence in a nontraditional form of education - joint training of Russian and international students. The results of the study show that co-education of Russian and foreign students contributes to the development of their invariant communicative competencies better than traditional education. The novelty of the research is the formation of students’ invariant communicative competence occurs in conditions different from traditional teaching. Namely, it occurs in the process of joint training of Russian students with foreign citizens. Research materials can be used in the work of higher educational institutions

THE IMPROVEMENT OF BETULIN-3, 28-DIPHOSPHATE WATER-SOLUBILITY BY COMPLEXATION WITH AMINES–MEGLUMINE AND XYMEDON

Objective: To study betulin-3,28-diphosphate (BDP) water solubility improved by forming salt complexes with hydrophilic amino alcohols: meglumine as acidosis corrector and xymedon as the water-soluble antioxidant. Methods: We used 13C-, 31P-NMR, UV-spectroscopy and potentiometric titration to study the BDP-amine salt complexes formation and their solubility using HPLC-analysis. Results: The participation of xymedon in the proton transfer reaction with BDP in aqueous solutions was confirmed by the bathochromic shift of the carbonyl band from 299.1 nm to 304.2 nm, and by a hyperchromic effect (molar extinction ε from 8508 to 10 441 l·mol-1·cm-1) in UV-spectra. BDP complexation with meglumine was estimated by UV-spectral molar ratio method at 256 nm. Molar ratio of BDP-amine complexes (1:4) was proved by 31P-NMR. The chemical shift of phosphorus at C-3 atom of BDP (δ =-0.58 ppm) changed to+3.39 ppm, and at C-28 atom (δ =+0.28 ppm)–to+4.60 ppm. BDP solubility increased 100-600 fold according to HPLC-analysis. Conclusion: BDP interaction with amine in an aqueous solution was shown to proceed via a proton transfer due to relatively weak forces such as London forces, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. In general, the formation of BDP salt complexes with amines in solution determines BDP water solubility. Water-soluble BDP enables to develop hydrophilic dosage forms

New Format of the Final State Examination at Bachelor Graduates in the Field of «Pedagogical Education»

The purpose of this study is to build a model of fund tasks aimed at assessing general professional and universal competencies of bachelor's graduates studying in the field of training «Pedagogical education» at the stage of preparation and conduct of the final state exam. Systemic, action-oriented, competency-based and contextual approaches were used as methodological guidelines in the development of fundraising tasks. The authors defined the notions of "fund task", "key actions" and highlighted the types of fund tasks, justified the need to change the form and content of evaluation tools used in the preparation and conduct of the final state exam

A new endemic species of Sesuvium (Aizoaceae: Sesuvioideae) from the Caribbean Basin, with further notes on the genus composition in the West Indies

A distinctive new species, Sesuvium curassavicum Sukhor. (Aizoaceae: Sesuvioideae), restricted to the Caribbean Basin (Kingdom of the Netherlands: Curacao and Bonaire Islands, North Colombia: La Guajira Department, and North Venezuela: Falcon State), is described and illustrated. It differs from all other perennial species growing in the West Indies by its papillate stems and wrinkled seeds. Based on the molecular phylogenetic analysis of nrDNA (ITS) and three plastid regions (rps16 gene intron, atpB-rbcL and trnL-trnF intergenic spacers), S. curassavicum is included in the 'American' clade, but its relationships are not fully resolved. The samples of the plants known as S. microphyllum fall within the 'Sesuvium portulacastrum' clade, and for that reason this species is considered here as a synonym of S. portulacastrum being an ecological form of the latter species. Sesuvium revolutifolium, S. ortegae and S. revolutum, described from cultivated plants are established as earlier synonyms of S. verrucosum, for which S. revolutifolium has priority and is proposed here as the correct name. These three species names seem to share the same provenance which cannot be Cuba, as stated in the protologue for S. revolutifolium, but rather Mexico. The name Sesuvium sessile is discussed and merged with S. portulacastrum. A new diagnostic key to the Sesuvium species in the West Indies is provided. In total, we accept for the West Indies the following species: S. curassavicum, S. humifusum, S. maritimum, S. portulacastrum and S. rubriflorum. The origins of collections of the neotype of Radiana petiolata and the holotypes of Sesuvium microphyllum and S. spathulatum are clarified.Peer reviewe

International practices to improve economic security

The article analyzes international practices in ensuring economic security, considering the experiences of the European Union and the United States in this area, as well as suggests recommendations for improving economic security in Russia.peer-reviewe

Chapter Plant Name Resources

Plant names are the key to communicating and managing information about plants. This paper considers how providers of high quality technical plant name information can better meet the requirements non-botanical audiences who also rely on plant names for elements of their work. The International Plant Name Index, World Checklist of Selected Plant Families and The Plant List are used as examples to illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of plant name resources from a non-expert user’s perspective. The above resources can be thought of as botanists pushing data at audiences. Without closer engagement with users, however, there is a limit to their relevance and impact. The need to cover common names is a frequent criticism of existing resources. The Medicinal Plant Names Services (MPNS, www.kew.org/mpns) is an example of how plant name resources can be adapted to better address the needs of a non-botanical audience. Some of the major challenges are outlined and solutions suggested

Paucity and preferential suppression of transgenes in late replication domains of the D. melanogaster genome

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Eukaryotic genomes are organized in extended domains with distinct features intimately linking genome structure, replication pattern and chromatin state. Recently we identified a set of long late replicating euchromatic regions that are underreplicated in salivary gland polytene chromosomes of <it>D. melanogaster</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here we demonstrate that these underreplicated regions (URs) have a low density of <it>P</it>-<it>element </it>and <it>piggyBac </it>insertions compared to the genome average or neighboring regions. In contrast, <it>Minos</it>-based transposons show no paucity in URs but have a strong bias to testis-specific genes. We estimated the suppression level in 2,852 stocks carrying a single <it>P</it>-<it>element </it>by analysis of eye color determined by the mini-<it>white </it>marker gene and demonstrate that the proportion of suppressed transgenes in URs is more than three times higher than in the flanking regions or the genomic average. The suppressed transgenes reside in intergenic, genic or promoter regions of the annotated genes. We speculate that the low insertion frequency of <it>P-elemen</it>ts and <it>piggyBac</it>s in URs partially results from suppression of transgenes that potentially could prevent identification of transgenes due to complete suppression of the marker gene. In a similar manner, the proportion of suppressed transgenes is higher in loci replicating late or very late in Kc cells and these loci have a lower density of <it>P-elements </it>and <it>piggyBac </it>insertions. In transgenes with two marker genes suppression of mini-<it>white </it>gene in eye coincides with suppression of <it>yellow </it>gene in bristles.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results suggest that the late replication domains have a high inactivation potential apparently linked to the silenced or closed chromatin state in these regions, and that such inactivation potential is largely maintained in different tissues.</p

Острые респираторные инфекции у детей, перенесших в неонатальном периоде критические состояния с разной тяжестью органных дисфункций: ретроспективное когортное исследование

Background: It is assumed that the severity of the multiple organ dysfunctions syndrome (MODS) in children who have experienced critical conditions in the neonatal period is a risk factor for the development of acute respiratory infections (ARI). Objective.The Aim was to study the relationship between the severities of  organ dysfunctions in children who had undergone critical conditions  in the neonatal period, with an ARI frequency at preschool age.Methods: The study included children with MODS, the severity of which was assessed on the NEOMOD scale (moderate dysfunction 4  points, severe 5 points). An infectious index (II) was calculated since the discharge from the hospital till the age of 7: the ratio of  the number of cases ARI during the past year to the age of the child  that year, and the proportion of often ill children (OIC) — the  number of ARI 4, 6 and 5 cases per year at the age of 1, 1–3 and 4– 5 years respectively. Data on cases of ARI are obtained from the history of child development (form № 112/y).Results: The study included 198 children, 100 of them with severe  manifestations of MODS and 98 with moderate manifestations of  MODS. The groups were comparable by sex, age, social factors (age  and level of education of parents), place of residence (city / village).  II (median and 95% confidence interval) in children with severe and  moderate manifestations of MODS under 1 year were 2 (2; 3) and  1.5 (1; 2) respectively (p=0.006); 1–2 years — 1.5 (1–2) and 1 (1– 1.5) (p=0.008); 2–3 years — 1 (0.7–1.2) and 0.7 (0.5–1)  (p=0.006); 3–4 years old — 1,1 (0,8–1,3) and 0,8 (0,6–0,8)  (р=0.003); 4–5 years — 0,6 (0.6–0,7) and 0,4 (0.4–0,5) (р=0.001); 5–6 years — 0.5 (0.3–0.5) and 0.3 (0.2–0.3) (p=0.001); 6–7 years  — 0.3 (0.3–0.3) and 0.1 (0.1–0.3) (p=0.025). The OIC in the groups for the entire follow-up period was 60 (60%) and 42 (43%) respectively (p=0.011).Сonclusion: Severe manifestations of MODS in the neonatal period are associated with a higher susceptibility of children to ARI.Предполагается, что тяжесть синдрома полиорганной недостаточности (СПОН) у детей, перенесших критические состояния в неонатальном периоде, является фактором высокого  риска развития острых респираторных инфекций (ОРИ).Цель исследования — изучить связь тяжести органных дисфункций у детей, перенесших в неонатальном периоде критические состояния, с частотой ОРИ в грудном, раннем и  дошкольном возрасте.Методы. В исследование включали детей со СПОН, тяжесть которого оценивали по шкале NEOMOD (умеренная дисфункция — 4 баллов, тяжелая — 5 баллов). Для периода после  выписки из стационара и до семилетнего возраста рассчитывали инфекционный индекс —  отношение числа случаев ОРИ за прошедший год к возрасту ребенка в этот год, а также  определяли долю часто болеющих детей (ЧБД) — число ОРИ 4, 6 и 5 случаев в год в  возрасте до 1, 1–3 и 4–5 лет соответственно. Данные о случаях ОРИ получены из истории  развития ребенка (форма № 112/у).Результаты. В исследование включено 198 детей, из них 100 с тяжелыми, 98 — с умеренными проявлениями СПОН. Группы были сопоставимы по полу, возрасту, социальным факторам (возраст и уровень образования родителей), месту проживания (город/село).  Инфекционный индекс (медиана и 95% доверительный интервал) у детей с тяжелыми и  умеренными проявлениями СПОН в возрасте до 1 года составил соответственно 2 (2; 3) и  1,5 (1; 2) (р=0,006); 1–2 лет — 1,5 (1–2) и 1 (1–1,5) (р=0,008); 2–3 лет — 1 (0,7–1,2) и 0,7  (0,5–1) (р=0,006); 3–4 лет — 1,1 (0,8–1,3) и 0,8 (0,6–0,8) (р=0,003); 4–5 лет — 0,6 (0,6– 0,7) и 0,4 (0,4–0,5) (р=0,001); 5–6 лет — 0,5 (0,3–0,5) и 0,3 (0,2–0,3) (р=0,001); 6–7 лет —  0,3 (0,3–0,3) и 0,1 (0,1–0,3) (р=0,025). ЧБД в группах за весь период наблюдения было соответственно 60 (60%) и 42 (43%) (р=0,011).Заключение. Тяжелые проявления СПОН в неонатальном периоде ассоциируются с более  высокой восприимчивостью детей грудного, раннего и дошкольного возраста к ОРИ.Конфликт интересов.И.А. Беляева — чтение лекций для компании «Пфайзер Инновации