The complexity of gene expression dynamics revealed by permutation entropy

Background: High complexity is considered a hallmark of living systems. Here we investigate the complexity of temporal gene expression patterns using the concept of Permutation Entropy (PE) first introduced in dynamical systems theory. The analysis of gene expression data has so far focused primarily on the identification of differentially expressed genes, or on the elucidation of pathway and regulatory relationships. We aim to study gene expression time series data from the viewpoint of complexity.Results: Applying the PE complexity metric to abiotic stress response time series data in Arabidopsis thaliana, genes involved in stress response and signaling were found to be associated with the highest complexity not only under stress, but surprisingly, also under reference, non-stress conditions. Genes with house-keeping functions exhibited lower PE complexity. Compared to reference conditions, the PE of temporal gene expression patterns generally increased upon stress exposure. High-complexity genes were found to have longer upstream intergenic regions and more cis-regulatory motifs in their promoter regions indicative of a more complex regulatory apparatus needed to orchestrate their expression, and to be associated with higher correlation network connectivity degree. Arabidopsis genes also present in other plant species were observed to exhibit decreased PE complexity compared to Arabidopsis specific genes.Conclusions: We show that Permutation Entropy is a simple yet robust and powerful approach to identify temporal gene expression profiles of varying complexity that is equally applicable to other types of molecular profile data

Applications of principal component analysis to breath air absorption spectra profiles classification

The results of numerical simulation of application principal component analysis to absorption spectra of breath air of patients with pulmonary diseases are presented. Various methods of experimental data preprocessing are analyzed

PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF INVOLVEMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN EXTREMIST GROUPS IN THE INTERNET ENVIRONMENT

Abstract. The aim of the article is to consider the psychological characteristics of involvement of youth in extremist community through the Internet. Methods. The theoretical analysis and modeling were used as the main methods.Results. The Internet is described as a means and space of psychological influence on young people, which can be both positive and negative. Absorption of teenagers, boys and young men, in a virtual space essentially converts their activity and, as a result, transform the leading activity, which in turn leads to different mental tumors. Three main effects from the exposure of the Internet are found out: «the effect of the goals of drift», mythology and «the effect of excitement»; their impact on the individual in each age periods is noted. Consideration of the main motivational reasons, taking into account the specifics of building human interaction with the environment made it possible to identify and describe the main types of behavioural patterns exhibited by young people on the Internet. The degree of activity of young people in the network is described from the perspective of integrated strategies of behaviour: information blocking, changes in the distance, control, transformations. Risk groups of users, the most susceptible to extremist manipulations are designated. «Vulnerability areas» of representatives of each group are summarized and described; a step-by-step algorithm of victims’ involvement in extremist communities by recruiters is described.Scientific novelty of the present study consists in discussion of one of the most acute problems of the present – the changed conditions of a growing and socialization of younger generation; constant stay in network virtual space is an integral part of today’s existence, wherein unformed and immature person is very vulnerable to the influence of extremist content. To prevent the increased potential threat of involvement of young people in destructive, asocial and criminal activity, the authors suggest to draw close attention and to subject to the purposeful attacks of extremist communities. Detailed studying of social and psychological features of network behaviour of youth being affected by the dangerous content will help to provide well-timed prophylaxis of extremist moods among young people.Practical significance. The materials of the research can be used to identify and effectively prevent the influence of extremist groups on young Internet users.Исследование выполнено при финансовой поддержке РФФИ в рамках научно- исследовательского проекта «Интернет как инструмент формирования психологической готовности молодежи к экстремистскому поведению», проект № 16-29-09512Исследование выполнено при финансовой поддержке РФФИ в рамках научно- исследовательского проекта «Интернет как инструмент формирования психологической готовности молодежи к экстремистскому поведению», проект № 16-29-0951

Non-biological complex drugs and their analogues in the pathogenetic therapy of multiple sclerosis: Issues of efficacy and safety in clinical use

The paper generalizes the experience with one of the main original drugs for the treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) – glatiramer acetate (GA, Copaxone®, Teva) in large Russian MS centers. The performed analysis of clinical trials suggests the high efficacy and favorable safety profile of the drug. The fact that patents for a number of effective and widely used original drugs, including those for agents from a group of immunomodulators, used to treat MS expire is one of the features of the current development of medicine. Due to the fact that most of them belong to interferons-β, i.e. biologicals, or structurally close to nonbiological complex drugs, the authors discuss the need to conduct comparative clinical trials of the original drug and follow-on glatiramoids with measured endpoints that can be used to establish their efficacy, safety, and evidence for therapeutic equivalence in order to examine their potential interchangeability

Proton Conductivity of La2 (Hf2−x Lax )O7−x/2 “Stuffed” Pyrochlores

The design of new oxygen-and proton-conducting materials is of paramount importance for their possible utilization in solid oxide fuel cells. In the present work, La2 (Hf2–x Lax )O7–x/2 (x = 0, 0.1) ceramics were prepared using ball milling of oxide mixtures (La2 O3 and HfO2 ) followed by high-temperature annealing at 1600◦ C for 10 h in air. La2 Hf2 O7 ceramics exhibit an ordered pyrochlore-type structure, whereas La2 (Hf1.9 La0.1)O6.95 has a defect pyrochlore structure type with oxygen vacancies at the 48f positions. The oxygen ion and proton conductivity of La2 (Hf1.9 La0.1 )O6.95 “stuffed” pyrochlore ceramics was investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (two-probe AC) and four-probe DC measurements in a dry and a wet atmosphere (air and nitrogen). The use of two distinct conductivity measurement techniques ensured, for the first time, the collection of reliable data on the proton conductivity of the La2 (Hf1.9 La0.1)O6.95 “stuffed” hafnate pyrochlore. La2 Hf2 O7 was found to be a dielectric in the range 400–900◦ C, whereas the La2 (Hf1.9 La0.1 )O6.95 “stuffed” pyrochlore had both oxygen ion and proton conductivities in this temperature range. The proton conductivity level was found to be equal to ~8 × 10−5 S/cm at 700◦ C. Clearly, the proton conductivity of the La2 (Hf1.9 La0.1 )O6.95 “stuffed” hafnate pyrochlore is mainly due to the hydration of oxygen vacancies at 48f positions. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Особенности системного воспалительного ответа при черепно-мозговой травме

Objective: to study the specific features of a systemic inflammatory response in critical ill patients with brain injury.Subjects and methods. A hundred and nine patients were examined. Of them, there were 60 apparently healthy donors who formed a control group (whose obtained values were taken as normal) and 49 patients with isolated severe brain injury in the acute period. The magnitude of a systemic inflammatory response was evaluated from the blood levels of acute-phase response agents, such as C-reactive protein, haptoglobin, a^-antitrypsin, ceruloplasmin, transferrin, proteins of complement C3, C4, albumin.Results. Analysis of the findings revealed that the systemic inflammatory response developed in severe brain injury, but it had its own features. Thus, there was a less increase in the level of C-reactive protein and a decrease in the blood concentrations of the positive acute-phase response agent haptoglobin. The change in the content of the other study acute-phase proteins was the same as described for a classical systemic inflammatory response in septic states and during surgical intervention.Conclusion. The revealed changes in the levels of C-reactive protein and haptoglobin support the view of limitation of a brain lesion focus by the functioning blood-brain barrier, by determining the course of a systemic inflammatory response in patients with severe brain injury. Цель исследования . Изучение особенностей системного воспалительного ответа у пациентов в критическом состоянии при черепно-мозговой травме.Материалы и методы. Обследовано 109 человек. Из них 60 практически здоровых доноров составили контрольную группу (полученные данные были приняты за норму) и 49 пациентов с изолированной тяжёлой черепно-мозговой травмой в острый период. Степень выраженности системного воспалительного ответа оценивали по содержанию в крови реактантов острофазного ответа: С-реактивный белок, гаптоглобин, о^-ан-титрипсин, церулоплазмин, трансферрин, белки комплемента С3, С4, альбумин.Результаты. При оценке материала было выявлено, что при тяжёлой черепно-мозговой травме развивался системный воспалительный ответ, но он имел свои особенности. Так, имела место меньшая степень повышения уровня С-реактивного белка, плюс, имело место снижение в крови концентрации позитивного реактанта острофазного ответа — гаптоглобина. Изменение же количественного содержания остальных исследуемых острофазовых белков было таким же, как описано для классического СВО при септических состояниях и при хирургической агрессии.Заключение. Выявленные особенности изменения уровня С-РБ и ГГ подтверждают мнение об ограничении очага повреждения головного мозга функционирующим ге-матоэнцефалическим барьером, определяя особенность течения системного воспалительного ответа у пациентов с тяжёлой черепно-мозговой травмой.

Thermal properties and structure of cast carbon-containing invar and superinvar alloys after two-stage annealing

The effect of carbon content on thermal properties of cast superinvar alloys subjected to two-stage annealing is studied. It is shown that carbon improves the casting properties of the alloys but raises the temperature coefficient of linear expansion (CTLE). Two-stage high-temperature annealing makes it possible to remove carbon from the solid solution and to transfer it into graphite, which is accompanied by decrease in the CTLE. © 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York

THE SYNTHESIS, STUDY OF PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES, AND EVALUATION OF CATALYTIC ACTIVITY OF A THREE-WAY CATALYST MODIFIER CONTAINING EUROPIUM (III) OXIDE

Modification of the applied Pt-containing catalysts with rare-earth metals is one of effective ways to increase their activity and resistance to thermal deactivation, which is associated with both an increase in thermal stability of the texture and structure of the carrier material and an increase in the degree of dispersion and resistance to sintering of the applied platinum metals (PM) when exposed to high tempera-tures. Conflicting data make it difficult to select a suitable modifier for the use as part of a three-way catalyst in the exhaust treatment system of gasoline-powered cars, whose function is to simultaneously convert CO, CxHy and NOx. In this work, the effect of europium-modified Pt-containing γ-Al2O3-based catalyst on its physicochemical properties and activity in the oxidation of CO, CxHy, and NOx reduction processes was evaluated. The catalytic activity was evaluated by passing a gas mixture simulating the exhaust of a gasoline-powered car through the catalyst applied onto the surface of a cylindrical honey-comb block with simultaneous measurement of the degree of conversion of toxic components into rela-tively non-toxic CO2, N2 and H2O in the temperature range from 100°C to 400°C. The modification of the Pt/γ-Al2O3 catalytic system with europium was shown to enhance the activity in all three reactions studied, indicating a great potential for the use as a modifier of a three-way catalyst. © 2023, Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved

Лиганды сигнальных белков Ерас как инструменты для изучения их биологической активности и создания новых оригинальных лекарственных средств

The review discusses modern views about the structure and functions of Epac proteins (exchange proteins directly activated by cyclic adenosine monophosphate). The involvement of Epac proteins both in the regulation of the physiological functions of the body and in the initiation of various pathological processes allows to consider them as a fundamentally new biological target for creating original, highly effective drugs. Information on existing Epac protein agonists and antagonists was collected, and the influence of Epac ligands structure on the values of their affinity and selectivity was analyzed. Presumptive mechanisms of the interaction of ligands with Epac proteins are presented.В обзоре рассмотрены современные представления о строении и функциях белков Ерас (exchange proteins directly activated by cAMP, обменные белки, напрямую активируемые циклическим аденозинмонофосфатом). Вовлечённость белков Ерас как в регуляцию физиологических функций организма, так и в инициации различных патологических процессов позволяет рассматривать их как принципиально новую биомишень для создания оригинальных, высокоэффективных лекарственных средств. Собраны сведения о существующих агонистах и антагонистах белков Ерас, проанализировано влияние строения лигандов Ерас на значения их аффинности и селективности. Представлены предполагаемые механизмы взаимодействия лигандов с белками Ерас