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This article discusses the specifics of managing a service-related company. It shows how the preparation of input data and their transformation takes place. Peculiarities of model preparation for training and testing are demonstrated. The general scheme of interaction between customer end-users and project and third-party technical support taking into account the conditions of service maintenance is given. The scheme of logic of processing incoming incidents between support lines is shown. The logic diagram of the prediction module for determining the support team is given. After the work has received the trained model that allows to carry out prediction of a support team on the basis of methods of logistic regression, by means of language Python it can be saved as a special file, it can then be connected as an independent module. Purpose. Determination of methods and techniques of analysis used in the analysis of export operations. Methodology the article used systems analysis and enterprise management methods. Results: an example of resolved incident data for a specific support team with engineers is considered, as well as an example of numerical feature calculations to adjust the support team engineer’s baseline prediction. A logic diagram of the improved software solution model is shown. Practical implications can be used with the improvement of IT service management in terms of incident coordinator activities.

The analysis shows that the real information flows are characterized by: arbitrary distribution function; the presence of both quantitative and qualitative indicators; the absence of part of the meaningful data fragments; unreliability of data associated with errors in registration and their entry; parametric redundancy. Not all of the existing tools included in most of the instrumental systems, make it possible to solve a number of these problems. The article deals with the problem related to information filtering. The illustration of an algorithm scheme, which allows to conduct information filtering, is presented. The stages used in the construction of the algorithm are specified in detail. The geometric approach is applied. It gives an opportunity to lead consideration of information messages in the form of “constellations” which are connected with the i-dimensional feature hyperspace. An algorithm that allows to implement gap filling is proposed. The results presented in the paper can be useful when considering different information flows in modern information systems.

The task of a transportation system is to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of goods and transportation of passengers. Effective management of transport systems is aimed not only at ensuring the optimal passage of all processes within such systems. The main task in this case is to create conditions capable of ensuring the mobility of the population and the volume of cargo transportation which will meet the objectives of economic development. Thus, the degree of efficiency of the transport system can be determined on the basis of its ability to ensure a balance between economic requirements and social demands, which often contradict each other. Features of transport system management organization: spatial location of system elements on a large territory, the need to strictly observe technological functions affecting the safety of transportation, one-man management, dispatching and discipline in the organization of transport processes, close interaction and mutual dependence of all elements of the transport system. The paper considers the task of interaction between the control center and the objects in the transport system. The mechanisms of rating evaluations are applied. The illustration of the structural scheme, on the basis of which the mechanisms of rating management are implemented, is given. The results have demonstrated the efficiency of the approaches used. They can be used in evaluating the performance of a wide range of transportation systems.

Optimization of transport work is necessary in case of uncontrollable growth of the described costs. The process of optimizing transport costs at the enterprise begins with an analysis of the current logistics strategy and collection of recommendations for its correction. The following aspects of the transport system of the company are subject to analysis: the method of movement of goods; the choice of vehicle type and its specific model; the selection of the carrier company and other logistics intermediaries; the layout of the company’s storage terminals. An optimized transport system can reduce the cost of production and sales of products and increase staff efficiency. There are three main directions in which innovations will ensure the reduction of costs for cargo and passenger transportation: the choice of optimal vehicles, the selection of optimally located unloading and loading points, the analysis of the feasibility of own fleet of vehicles. The paper considers the possibilities of transport system management under the condition of external influences. An illustration of the algorithm scheme of solving the optimization problem related to the choice of initial actions is given. The possibility of using prognostic models is shown. The approaches proposed in the work can be useful in improving the performance of various transportation systems.

Abstract It was found earlier that the synthetic fragment corresponding to the 60–76 sequence of the extracellular domain of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) had a protective effect on animal and cellular models of Alzheimer’s disease. It was proposed that this effect was mediated via the interaction of the peptide with beta-amyloid (Aβ), which was one of the RAGE ligands, by inhibiting the formation of toxic Aβ oligomers. The aim of this study was an application of physicochemical methods to an investigation of the ability of the 60–76 peptide to prevent the Aβ40 oligomerization in solution in comparison with the nonprotective 65–76 truncated peptide. The dynamics of the formation of the Aβ40 fibrils in the presence of the peptides was evaluated using thioflavin T. The relative sizes of oligomers were determined by dynamic light scattering. The peptide binding to Aβ40 was examined by fluorescence titration. We demonstrated by the two methods that the peptide corresponding to the 60–76 sequence of RAGE considerably inhibited (by more than 90%) the formation of oligomers and fibrils of Aβ40 distinct from the 65–76 peptide. In addition, we found that the protective effect of the peptides and their ability to inhibit the Aβ40 oligomerization did not correlate with their binding to the monomeric/tetrameric Aβ40. We confirmed in vitro the hypothesis that the protective activity of the synthetic 60–76 fragment of RAGE was associated with its ability to inhibit the Aβ oligomerization.

We consider the problem of the construction of a time-suboptimal control modes of the motion of a flat twolink manipulator with arbitrary geometric and inertial characteristics. It is required to transfer the manipulator from a given initial configuration to a given final configuration under the conditions that at the beginning and at the end of the process the system is at rest, and the moduli of the generalized control forces do not exceed fixed values. The controls are sought in the class of relay modes with a minimum (equal to three) total number of switches, sufficient to satisfy the boundary conditions. A computational algorithm is proposed that allows, from the initial and final positions, to determine the number of control switching points, the order of alternation of their signs, the switching moments and the time for bringing the manipulator to the required rest position.

Recently, there has been a revival of interest in the use of natural pigments in various industries. It is of great interest to obtain melanins from plant raw materials. An effective method has been developed for cleaning grape squeezes from impurities before the alkaline extraction of melanin. A schematic flow diagram of the isolation and purification of water-soluble melanin from grape squeezes is presented. The obtained pigment was identified by spectroscopic methods. It has been established by thermal treatment that the amorphous precipitate of melanin is stable at temperatures up to 120 °C, and the acid resistance of the obtained melanin solution is in the pH range of > 4.0. Gel filtration, electrophoresis and HPLC showed that the pigment preparation contained four fractions that differed by their molecular weights. The quantitative distribution and the molecular weights of the obtained melanin fractions were determined. Qualitative reactions and spectroscopic methods have shown that these fractions are typical melanins. The elemental composition of the obtained melanin and its antioxidant properties, the amino acid composition of the melanin protein, and its solubility were determined. The yield of melanin from the feedstock was 17.3%. Based on the physicochemical properties of the resulting melanin, it can be used as an effective natural food coloring and powerful antioxidant substance.

The effect of microelement manganese top-dressing on resistance of soft wheat to powdery mildew № pathogen was studied. То study the effect of the element manganese on the development of the pathogen, wheat seedlings were fed with а 0,2% solution of КМn04. Infected plants not fed with the test solution served as control.Observations on the intensity of germination of conidia of the powdery mildew pathogen on wheat leaves showed that the spomlation of conidia in the variant with feeding with 0,2% КМn04 solution was lower than in the control variant. We found that in the control variant without the use of а КМn04 solution, the colonies of powdery mildew fungus were characterized Ьу abundant spomlation, the formation of а halo was observed. In the experimental variant the growth and reproduction of conidia proceeded more slowly and halos were not noticeaЫe. In this study in the control variant ofthe experiment, the predominance of conidial chains in the colonies ofthe powdery mildew pathogen was noted in comparison with the variant with feeding.Thus, it was found that feed solution of0,2% КМn04 leads to а decrease in the formation of appressoria and the number of visiЫe colonies of the powdery mildew pathogen on wheat leaves. The presented results confIГm that top-dressing with microelement manganese enhances resistance ofwheat against powdery mildew.

We consider a time-optimal control problem for the motion of a point gripper of a plane two-link manipulator with linear links of equal length, the second link being statically balanced. Domains of attainable configurations are constructed on the plane of generalized manipulator coordinates. These domains permit one to determine which of the two final point configurations corresponding to a given gripper terminal position, together with the manipulator control method, ensures the gripper motion from the initial rest position to a given final rest position in minimum time. It is established by numerical calculations that the optimal choice of the final configuration can significantly improve the response speed.

Aim. The purpose of the work is to study the effect of a biological product based on the melaninogenic strain of Bacillus thuringiensis on germination and morphological parameters of highly decorative species of the flora of Belarus, promising for landscaping in the urban environment. Methods. Seed germination in laboratory conditions used with soaking in solutions of bacterial melanin in concentrations of 0.04, 0.025, 0.01%. Water and Terrasil at a concentration of 0.01 was used for a comparative evaluation of the effectiveness. Results. Morphological parameters were estimated during germination of the seeds of Verbascum thapsus L., Verbascum nigrum L., Centaurea scabiosa L., Betonica officinalis L., Viscaria vulgaris Bernh. treated with various concentrations of the stimulant. Conclusions. The effect of the bacterial melanin on the morphological parameters of plants was species- and dospecific. The optimal concentration for use on the studied plants should include concentrations up to 0.025%. The most pronounced effect of the use of the drug was revealed in the first days of seed germination, which allows the use of bacterial melanin to increase the germination of seedlings. Keywords: bacterial melanin, stimulant, seed germination, highly decorative species of flora.

We consider the optimal control problem for the spatial motion of a dynamic object in order to search for a moving object that performs simple motion in a rectangular region on a plane. As the optimality criterion, we consider a functional that takes into account the energy consumption of a light source located on the searching object. The object in question is considered to be detected when it reaches the light square with a given illumination. We propose a method for controlling the movement of a searching object, as well as the corresponding law of variation of the electric current in the light source circuit, which ensure the detection of the desired object under a guaranteed search time with minimal light energy consumption.

The solid-phase synthesis and purification of the 1-40 sequence of the human beta-amyloid were optimized, resulting in a preparation of a product with a high yield and homogeneity more than 95%. The synthetic peptide is capable of forming oligomers. This fact was confirmed by electrophoresis in the polyacrylamide gel with a subsequent immunoblotting and fluorescence spectrophotometry using the thioflavin T dye. An available method for a production of the highly specific anti-beta-amyloid antibodies with a high titer was developed. These antibodies recognized both monomeric and oligomeric forms of the 1-40 peptide of beta-amyloid under the immunoblotting conditions.

A simple and efficient one-pot synthesis of benzophenone Schiff bases from benzene, CCl4 and aromatic amines was developed based on the the reaction of benzene with CCl4·AlCl3 complex. This method affords Ph2CCl2 as well as the products of its subsequent reaction with aromatic amines, benzophenone Schiff bases, selectively and in good yields.

The influence of a reaction channel on the isomeric cross-section ratio (ICR) of the production of 184m,gRe was investigated. The excitation functions for the 184m,gRe isomeric pair produced through the 184W(p,n), 186W(p,3n), 184W(d,2n), 186W(d,4n), 181Ta(α,n) and 185Re(γ,n) reactions were calculated by different models of the TALYS 1.9 and EMPIRE 3.2 codes. The ICR calculations for the above-mentioned isomeric pair through the various reaction channels (proton, deuteron, alpha and gamma induced reactions) was determined for incident energy ranges from the threshold up to 50 MeV. The comparison of theoretical calculations and available experimental data was done.

Halos are circular or ring-shaped cell wall appositions surrounding pathogen entry sites on host leaves. The diameter of halos on infected Blumeria graminis wheat leaves varied between 10 and 100 μm, which reflected specificity of local host plant responses. Using cryoscanning electron microscopy (cryoSEM) without metal sputtering we observed halos as light circles or ring-shaped patterns on the leaves of cereals infected with B. graminis, and on the leaves of several dicotyledonous plants infected with specialized powdery mildews. Hydrogen peroxide treatment of wheat leaves increased the number of cryoSEM detected halos. They were more distinct than in the control without treatment and showed better contrast with surrounding epidermis. The presented cryoSEM method allows simultaneous monitoring of halos and fungal structures and, possibly, visualizes penetration sites with elevated production of reactive oxygen species.

The one-pot, regioselective synthesis of branched diacid derivatives – diesters, dithioesters, diamides [YC(O)O(CH2)mC(Me)2OC(O)Y] and diketones of aromatic and heteroaromatic series, [ArCO(CH2)mC(Me)2C(O)Ar,) from available linear acyl halides, CnH2 n+1COCl (n = 7–9), CO (1 at) and various nucleophiles (YH = EtOH, CF3CH2OH, H(CF2)2CH2OH, thiophene, anisole, Et2NH, aniline, and morpholine) in the presence of the superelectrophilic complex, CBr4·2AlBr3 has been performed for the first time. This method provides access to new and promising groups of dicarboxylic acid derivatives and diketones containing quaternary carbon atom and remote functional groups.

Early stage interactions between the powdery mildew pathogen and a host plant are studied. Treatment of wheat leaves with various concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole resulted in the formation of morphological anomalies of germ tubes and nonviable colonies on host plant leaves. The observed effect of oxidative stress on germination anomalies of powdery mildew is similar to previously reported interactions between the pathogen and mildew resistant plants. We conclude that abnormal infectious structure formation of wheat powdery mildew may be associated with increased presence of reactive oxygen species during plant defense responses.

Two new types of C sp 3 –H functionalization reactions of alcohols C n H 2 n +1 OH ( n = 7–9) with the superelectrophilic complex CBr 4 ·2AlBr 3 and CO have been developed. In the presence of various nucleophiles (EtOH, i PrOH, CF 3 CH 2 OH, HCF 2 CF 2 CH 2 OH, furan, pyrrole, thiophene, morpholine, and anisole), the reaction furnishes new neo-alcohols with remote functional groups. In the absence of external nucleophiles, macrocyclic lactides are produced.

The development of control algorithms, including optimal control ones, in the collision avoidance problem for a system of two pendulums with a controllable common base is considered. Two problems are solved. The first one searches for the law of variation of the bounded control force that makes the system move from its initial state of rest to the given final state of rest during a finite time and ensures the pendulums do not collide in the process of oscillatory motions. The second problem searches for the performance-optimal law of variation of acceleration of the base and the bounded force that generates the acceleration. The algorithms for constructing the sought controls that use Kalman controllability conditions and Pontryagin's maximum principle method are presented. The dynamics of the system involved is simulated for the constructed control laws. The numerical results of both problems are compared to find that implementation of the developed performance-optimal control algorithm can help significantly decrease the releasing time of the pendulums while preventing a possible collision.

The MTT assay based on the reduction of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium in the cell cytoplasm to a strongly light absorbing formazan is among the most commonly used methods for determination of cell viability and activity of NAD-dependent oxidoreductases. In the present study, the effects of MTT (0.1 mg/ml) on mitochondrial potential (ΔΨm), intracellular NADH, and respiration of cultured rat cerebellum neurons and isolated rat liver mitochondria were investigated. MTT caused rapid quenching of NADH autofluorescence, fluorescence of MitoTracker Green (MTG) and ΔΨm-sensitive probes Rh123 (rhodamine 123) and TMRM (tetramethylrhodamine methyl ester). The Rh123 signal, unlike that of NADH, MTG, and TMRM, increased in the nucleoplasm after 5-10 min, and this was accompanied by the formation of opaque aggregates of formazan in the cytoplasm and neurites. Increase in the Rh123 signal indicated diffusion of the probe from mitochondria to cytosol and nucleus due to ΔΨm decrease. Inhibition of complex I of the respiratory chain decreased the rate of formazan formation, while inhibition of complex IV increased it. Inhibition of complex III and ATP-synthase affected only insignificantly the rate of formazan formation. Inhibition of glycolysis by 2-deoxy-D-glucose blocked the MTT reduction, whereas pyruvate increased the rate of formazan formation in a concentration-dependent manner. MTT reduced the rate of oxygen consumption by cultured neurons to the value observed when respiratory chain complexes I and III were simultaneously blocked, and it suppressed respiration of isolated mitochondria if substrates oxidized by NAD-dependent dehydrogenases were used. These results demonstrate that formazan formation in cultured rat cerebellum neurons occurs primarily in mitochondria. The initial rate of formazan formation may serve as an indicator of complex I activity and pyruvate transport rate.

One-pot functionalization of sp3 C–H bond in 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-(trifluoromethyl)decan-2-ol with CO and nucleophiles under the action of superelectrophilic complex CBr4·2 AlBr3 affords products of neo-structure and remote functionalities.

The one-pot, regioselective, remote functionalization of amides of octanoic acid [R 2 NCOC 7 H 15 , NR 2 = NH 2 , NEt 2 , NC 4 H 8 O, (morpholinyl)] via Csp 3 –H bond cleavage with CO and various nucleophiles (EtOH, i PrOH, CF 3 CH 2 OH, H(CF 2 ) 2 CH 2 OH, C 8 H 17 SH, Et 2 NH, morpholine, furan, thiophene, and anisole) in the presence of the superelectrophilic complex, CBr 4 ·2AlBr 3 has been performed for the first time. This methodology provides access to new synthetically challenging and promising derivatives of amides with remote functional groups of neo -structure. The oxidative cyclization of octanamide into a six-membered cyclic amide with the C(Me)Et group adjacent to the heteroatom using CBr 4 ·2AlBr 3 has been demonstrated.

A new approach to a simple one-pot functionalization of adamantane and 1,3-dimethyladamantane with CO and various nucleophiles in the presence of the superelectrophilic complex, CBr4·2AlBr3 provides access to important 1,3-dicarbonyl adamantanes with two new functional groups at the bridge-head positions.

Mitochondria-targeted antioxidants of the SkQ family that accumulate in energized mitochondria protect cells from oxidative stress by increasing the level of reduced glutathione and decreasing cell damage induced by hydrogen peroxide. The exposure of various human transformed cell lines to SkQR1, a fluorescent member of the SkQ family, showed that SkQR1 was pumped out of the chemotherapy resistant cells by P-glycoprotein, one of the main transport proteins that determines multidrug resistance typical for many neoplastic cells. It was also shown that SkQR1 pumping is neutralized by P-glycoprotein inhibitors (verapamil and pluronic L61). In experiments on K-562 cells, it was found that the subline sensitive to chemotherapy is protected by SkQR1 from apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide. The protection of resistant subline cells is only evident after the inhibition of P-glycoprotein.

A convenient method for synthesis of novel 1-[pyrimidinyl], 1-[1,3,5-triazin-2-carbonyl], and 1-[thiazol-5-carbonyl] derivatives of 3-thioxo-diaziridine , , , and from corresponding hydrazides, CS2, and KOH is elaborated. The highest reaction yield was observed when these initial reagents were taken in molar ratio of 1:1.7:2.0, respectively. By alkylation of compounds , , , and that proceeds exclusively at sulfur atom, the 3-sulfanyl derivatives of 1-[pyrimidinyl]-, 1-[1,3,5-triazin-2-carbonyl]-, and 1-[thiazol-5-carbonyl]-diazirines , , , and were formed. The structures of synthesized compounds were confirmed by proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), mass spectra (MS), and elemental analysis. The fungicidal activities of S-substituted derivatives were studied. Data of preliminary biological tests testify that these compounds can be of interest in search for new fungicides. J. Heterocyclic Chem., (2010).

A novel ‘alkane-like’ methodology for the direct and very simple one-pot functionalization of amides and an ester of 1-adamantanecarboxylic acid provides access to new and synthetically challenging 1,3-dicarbonyl-containing adamantanoid compounds with the same or different functional groups.

A conjugate of plastoquinone with decylrhodamine 19 (SkQR1) selectively accumulates in mitochondria of normal and tumor cells. SkQR1 protected the cellular pool of reduced glutathione under oxidative stress. Overexpression of P-glycoprotein (Pgp 170) multidrug resistance pump strongly suppresses accumulation of SkQR1. The inhibitors of Pgp 170 stimulate accumulation of SkQR1 in various cell lines indicating that SkQR1 is a substrate of Pgp 170. The protective effect of SkQR1 against oxidative stress is diminished in the cells overexpressing Pgp 170. It is suggested that mitochondria-targeted antioxidants could selectively protect normal (Pgp 170-negative) cells against the toxic effect of anti-cancer treatments related to oxidative stress.

Scanning electronic microscopy was used to investigate the regularities of growth direction of infectious structures and colonies of the agent of powdery mildew of wheat Erysiphe graminis f. sp. tritici. The growth of appressoria with normal morphology in wheat leaves occurs predominantly along the long axis of the cell. Most anomalous appressoria grow perpendicularly. Treatment with zeatin changes the ratio of the directions of growth of normal appressoria and hyphae of the colonies. The dependence of these parameters and of the surficial density of colonies on the concentration of phytohormone is multiphasic. The hypothesis is suggested that the strategy of selection of the direction of growth of infectious structures on leaves with an anisotropic surface depends on the most probable position of the receptor cell and the action of cytokinins on their participation in redistribution of nutrients between the infected and noninfected cells of the host plant.

The infectious structures for the development and differentiation of Erysiphe graminis DC. f. sp. tritici March., the pathogen of wheat powdery mildew, under the effects of exogenous zeatin was studied by methods of light and electron scanning microscopy. It was shown for the first time that physiologically active substances, specifically phytohormones of the cytokinin type, can affect dimensions of the halo revealed in the pathogen penetration site at cytochemical staining. Treatment with zeatin affected conidia germination and pathogen growth in the ectophytic stage. The concentration curve of the action of zeatin for the number of mature pathogen colonies (6 days after infection) was represented by a multiphase curve with two maxima (1 and 3 μM) and one minimum (1.5 μM). Similar curves have been obtained for the number of normal appressoria and for large halo diameters, which possibly indicates the existence of the factors affecting these both parameters, as well as the final number of pathogen colonies. The obtained data indicate that the origin of the multiphase dose response curve for effect of cytokinins on the development of powdery mildew pathogen is connected with factors that are active at the early stages of pathogenesis.

Alkanes (or cycloalkanes) and CO in the presence of superelectrophilic systems CX4·2AlBr3 (X = Cl, Br) have been applied for the first time as equivalents of acylium salts in one-pot selective syntheses of amides from amines.

Two similar methods for controlling a manipulator robot with the aim to search and capture an immobile target object placed on the two-dimensional bottom of the three-dimensional operation zone of the manipulator are considered. In contrast to [1, 2], where a search is carried out with fixed diameter of a circle of detection, in this work, the stage of the controlled search for a target object is carried out with varying diameters of the circle of detection; i.e., at this stage, the manipulator gripper approaches the target object simultaneously. Using diagrams constructed in the plane of the geometric parameters of the operation zone of the manipulator, the problem of selecting a control (from two constructed ones), under which a guaranteed search with a subsequent capture of the target object is carried out in a minimum time, is solved. By numerical computations, it is found that the obtained control makes it possible to decrease significantly the guaranteed time of steering the gripper of the manipulator to an immobile object compared with the corresponding characteristics under the controls constructed in [1, 2].

The effects of specific inhibitors of respiratory chain, F(o)F(1)ATP synthase and uncouplers of oxidative phosphorylation on survival of carcinoma HeLa cells and on the structure of mitochondria in the cells were studied. The inhibitors of respiration (piericidin, antimycin, myxothiazol), the F(1)-component of ATP synthase (aurovertin) and uncouplers (DNP, FCCP) did not affect viability of HeLa cells, apoptosis induced by TNF or staurosporin and the anti-apoptotic action of Bcl-2. Apoptosis was induced by combined action of respiratory inhibitors and uncouplers indicating possible pro-apoptotic action of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by mitochondria. Short-term incubation of HeLa cells with the mitochondrial inhibitors and 2-deoxyglucose followed by 24-48 h recovery resulted in massive apoptosis. Apoptosis correlated to transient (3-4 h) and limited (60-70%) depletion of ATP. More prolonged or more complete transient ATP depletion induced pronounced necrosis. The inhibitors of respiration and uncouplers caused fragmentation of tubular mitochondria and formation of small round bodies followed by swelling. These transitions were not accompanied with release of cytochrome c into the cytosol and were fully reversible. The combined effect of respiratory inhibitors and uncouplers developed more rapidly indicating possible involvement of ROS generated by mitochondria. More prolonged (48-72 h) incubation with this combination of inhibitors caused clustering and degradation of mitochondria.

The release of cytochrome c from the intermembrane space of mitochondria into the cytosol is one of the critical events in apoptotic cell death. In the present study, it is shown that release of cytochrome c and apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) in HeLa cells can be inhibited by (i) overexpression of an oncoprotein Bcl-2, (ii) Cyclosporin A, an inhibitor of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP) or (iii) oligomycin, an inhibitor of H+- ATP-synthase. Staurosporine-induced apoptosis is sensitive to Bcl-2 but insensitive to Cyclosporin A and oligomycin. The effect of oligomycin is not due to changes in mitochondrial membrane potential or to inhibition of ATP synthesis/hydrolysis since (a) uncouplers (CCCP, DNP) which discharge the membrane potential fail to abolish the protective action of oligomycin and (b) aurovertin B (another inhibitor of H+-ATP-synthase, affecting its F1 component) do not affect apoptosis. A role of oligomycin-sensitive F0 component of H+-ATP-synthase in the TNF-induced PTP opening and apoptosis is suggested.

Carbonylation of n -octyl acetate in the presence of CBr 4 ·2AlBr 3 followed by treatment with nucleophiles such as alcohols, amines or (het)arenes affords 7-acetoxy-2,2-dimethylheptanoyl-containing products.

Treatment of 1-bromoadamantane and 1-bromo-3,5-dimethyladamantane with CBr 4 ·2AlBr 3 under carbon monoxide atmosphere followed by quenching with nucleophiles affords 1,3-dicarbonyl adamantanes.

The activities of the complement classical, alternative, and lectin pathways are determined under conditions of X-ray irradiation in the blood of rats treated and not treated with synthetic Schiff base aromatic amino acid derivatives, nicotinyl-L-tyrosinate or nicotinyl-L-tryptophanate, before irradiation. In the case of the activities of the alternative and lectin pathways, no significant changes between irradiated animals and non-irradiated control animals are detected. However, the data obtained demonstrate significantly elevated activity of the classical complement cascade in the blood of irradiated animals (one day after irradiation), as compared to those not irradiated. This effect is less pronounced in rats treated with nicotinyl-L-tyrosinate or nicotinyl-L-tryptophanate one hour before irradiation. Based on the results obtained, we conclude that nicotinyl-L-tyrosinate and nicotinyl-L-tryptophanate are able to act as cytoprotectors.

Oxygen is a highly toxic molecule that accumulated massively some 2,400000000 years ago as a byproduct of photosynthesis. It nearly extinguished life on Earth. Surviving organisms had to learn to deal with high atmospheric oxygen. Aerobic cells use it as the final electron acceptor of their respiratory chains, coupling the highly exergonic reduction of oxygen to the synthesis of ATP. Still, the toxicity problem had to be dealt with and a large number of strategies evolved. Active oxygen consumption in the absence of ATP synthesis that is, physiological uncoupling of oxidative phosphorylation, was achieved through different mechanisms that may be classified in proton sinks and non-productive redox proteins. Proton sinks: Proton gradients may be dissipated by opening of the permeability transition pore or activating uncoupling proteins. Non-productive redox enzymes are not proton pumps: The branched respiratory chains of plants, yeast and bacteria express varying amounts of alternative redox enzymes that do not pump protons. Expression varies with aging when subjected to different types of stress. Physiological uncoupling mechanisms are needed to cope with oxygen.

A cytophysiological study was carried out of the functional status of a halo as a response of the host plant to contact with a powdery mildew pathogen. Interactions of the powdery mildew causative agents with barley, wheat, wheat–wheat-grass hybrids, wheat-aegilops lines, and aegilops with different genotypic resistance lead to the expression of haloes during pathogens, which are induced by infection pegs of the primary growth tubes, appressoria, and hyphal lobes. Haloes are visualized using cytochemical reactions to proteins and scanning electron microscopy. The observed differences in the size of haloes and intensity of their staining (uniform or zonal) are related, to a great extent, to individual reactions of the plant cell at the penetration site and, to a lesser extent, to the level of genotypic resistance. An analysis of electron microscopy and cytochemistry studies suggests that the halo as a physiologically active zone is localized at the level of the plant cell plasmalemma. Active taxis of the cell organelles to the site of infection during the formation of a halo suggests that some kind of informational signals to changes in the cell metabolism are spread from the halo zone, which lead to compatible or incompatible interactions.

The first one-pot N-acylations and N-alkylations of o -nitroaniline with saturated hydrocarbons were performed in the presence of superelectrophiles; the role of CO in the alkylation with n-pentane is discussed.

Aseries of new N-chloracetyl derivatives have been synthesized proceeding from 4-spirocyclopentane-substituted 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolines, 1-phenyl-1-cyclopentylmethylamine, and chloroanhydrides of bromoacetic and α-bromopropionic acids. Reactions of these bromoamides with amines (piperidine, morpholine) yield the title N-acylamino derivatives. The antiarrhythmic properties of the synthesized compounds have been studied.

Selective one-pot tetrahydrofuran ring opening by saturated hydrocarbons and CO in the presence of CX4·2AlBr3 superelectrophilic complex leading to esters RCOO(CH2)4Br has been performed for the first time.

Carbonylation of n -octyl acetate in the presence of CBr 4 ·2AlBr 3 followed by treatment with nucleophiles such as alcohols, amines or (het)arenes affords 7-acetoxy-2,2-dimethylheptanoyl-containing products.