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The object of research is the created bioactive sorbent based on biochar from corn waste for the purification of oil-contaminated natural environments. The expediency of using biochar from corn cobs as a matrix – a carrier of microorganisms-destructors of petroleum hydrocarbons in the production of biosorbent – has been substantiated. Biochar meets the requirements for oil sorbents – environmental friendliness, oil resistance (6–8g of oil per 1g of sorbent), manufacturability and biocompatibility. The porous structure and chemical nature of the surface partly determines the absorbency of the material, but the dominant factor is the interaction of the hydrophobic surface with petroleum hydrocarbons. A universal oil oxidizer – a microbial complex isolated from oil-polluted natural objects, in combination with a carbon carrier, is capable of neutralizing oil pollution of various types and concentrations. It has been established that microorganisms – oil-destructors, immobilized on the surface of the sorbent, are capable of decomposing almost all oil hydrocarbons. Microorganisms immobilized on a carbon material have a great potential for destructive action. During immobilization, the viability of microbial cells is maintained, and the effect of their use is significantly increased. The use of a bioactive carbon sorbent based on biochar and immobilized natural oil-oxidizing microorganisms of a wide spectrum of action allows one to localize oil pollution and neutralize it through biodegradation. The optimal parameters for obtaining an oleophilic sorption matrix based on biochar from corn waste and for growing microbial biomass with a high destructive activity for oil hydrocarbons have been established.The optimum pyrolysis temperature is 300–350°С, the pyrolysis time is 25–30minutes. In this case, the sorption of oil obtained biochar reaches maximum values (6–8goil/gsorbent).Sufficient number of immobilized microorganisms – oil destructors 120–200·104cells for active decomposition of oil localized on the sorbent surface. The operational characteristics of the obtained bioactive sorbents, technological features and methods of their use in cleaning the environment from oil pollution have been studied. The biosorbent does not require removal from the places of use and disposal. Cleaning of soils contaminated with oil and oil products has specific features and requires the use of agricultural techniques (loosening, moistening). The studies carried out have shown a change in the concentration of oil pollution in the soil from 40% to 1–5% of oil in the process of biodegradation after 3months at positive temperatures.

Background. Severe forms of COVID-19 are associated with the development of a cytokine storm that is characterized by an increased secretion of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Thus, one of the leading strategies of treatment for patients with severe forms of COVID-19 is a decrease in the concentration of anti-inflammatory cytokines and inhibition of their effect on the organism.Objective: to perform a comparative analysis of clinical and economic constituents of the application of an IL-6 inhibitor tocilizumab and systemic glucocorticosteroid dexamethasone for the therapy of severe conditions in patients with COVID-19 based on the published data review.Material and methods. The authors analyzed the data obtained from PubMed/MEDLINE databases on the study dedicated to the application of tocilizumab and dexamethasone for the therapy of severe conditions in patients with COVID-19. A statistical evaluation of the influence of these drugs on the 28-day survival rate of patients with a severe form of COVID-19 was performed. The statistical tools included methods of the attribute-based statistic (attribute-based efficiency, relative efficiency (RE), populational attributive efficiency (PAE)). For the visualization of the clinical efficiency of the compared drugs, the authors applied beta-distribution. Markov’s model was used for modeling of the mortality rate. The modeling included the study of a hypothetical cohort of patients (1,000 patients with COVID-19). Besides, the authors evaluated the economic constitutive of the therapy with tocilizumab and dexamethasone. The cost-effectiveness analysis was performed.Results. The indication of dexamethasone statistically significantly increases the survival rate by 3.1% and tocilizumab – by 22.5%. RE was 1.04 (95% CI 0.040–2.042) for dexamethasone and 1.66 (95% CI 0.400–2.917) for tocilizumab. The lower border of 95% CI for both drugs was within the range of values Conclusion. Despite relatively comparable clinical efficiency of dexamethasone and tocilizumab and a significantly higher cost the later, it is not impossible to replace tocilizumab with dexamethasone because of a great number of side effects and potential inter-drug interactions during the treatment of severe forms of COVID-19. In particular, dexamethasone therapy should be performed with caution in patients with diabetes mellitus. Procurement planning should be made taking account the reserves of tocilizumab for the stabilization of patients with cytokine storm when dexamethasone application is not safe.

Severe and critical forms of COVID-19 are beset by the development of “a cytokine storm”, which is characterized by an increased secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. Therefore, one of the leading strategies for treating patients with severe forms of COVID-19 is the reduction of concentration of proinflammatory cytokines and leveling out their effect on the patient. Among the drugs aimed at reducing the concentration of proinflammatory cytokines, IL-6 inhibitors, IL-1 inhibitors, JAK inhibitors and systemic glucocorticosteroids have been found useful in COVID-19. All of these drugs are currently prescribed off-label.The aimof the work is a comparative analysis of the data from the literature sources in the PubMed system, devoted to the clinical efficacy and safety of IL-6, IL-1, JAK inhibitors and systemic glucocorticosteroids in the treatment for severe forms of COVID-19.Materials and methods. In the treatment for severe forms of COVID-19, materials for the comparative analysis were the data from the literature sources in the PubMed system, on the studies devoted to the use of the systemic glucocorticosteroid dexamethasone, IL-6 inhibitor tocilizumab, IL-1 inhibitor anakinra, and JAK inhibitor ruxolitinib. The analysis was performed by statistical evaluation of the drugs effect within the 28-day survival rate among the patients with severe COVID-19. Attributive statistics was used as a statistical tool. The safety of the drug use was assessed by analyzing potential drug interactions. The information about potential drug interactions, was obtained from a specialized website – Drugs.com. Knowmore. Besure (https://www.drugs.com/interaction/list/).Results. As a result of the analysis, it has been established that tocilizumab has the highest efficacy rates. In this respect, it is followed by dexamethasone. The attributive efficacy rates and 95% confidence interval values for the both drugs were statistically significant. The indices of relative and population attributive kinds of efficacy, were also higher for tocilizumab, but a 95% confidence interval of these indices, get into the range of statistically insignificant values, requiring additional evidence of their efficacy. According to the data obtained, tocilizumab efficacy is higher than that of the other drugs compared: NNT (dexamethasone) – 32; NNT (tocilizumab) – 4, NNT (ruxolitinib) – 7; NNT (anakinra) – 35.Conclusion. The choice of a drug should be based on the patient’s condition, comorbidities, and medications used in therapy to minimize the risk of undesirable drug interactions. Against the background of the lowest efficacy among the compared drugs, a high efficacy for the patients with concomitant hepatobiliary disorders and DIC syndrome, has been established for the inhibitor IL-1 anakinra, which makes it the drug of choice among the patients with these diseases and under these conditions in the development of “a cytokine storm”.

An analysis of the I–V characteristics makes it possible to determine the mechanisms of conduction corresponding to different states of the flow channels upon resistive switching in porphyrazine films. A variation in the temperature, the structure of the dielectric matrix, and the type of majority charge carriers makes it possible to estimate the applicability of the model of conducting filaments for describing transport and determining the mechanisms of conduction for each state of the system.

Hybrid quantum dot solar cell (HQDSC) based on solution-processed blends of poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) with PbS quantum dots (QDs) is a potential candidate toward practical use for its low material cost and simple fabrication process. However, P3HT is highly incompatible with oleic acid (OA)-capped PbS QDs (OA-PbS QDs) due to strong phase separation, giving poor quality in the desired bi-continuous networks morphology and thus leading to inefficient charge collection. Here, for the first time, a block copolymer of P3HT with polystyrene (P3HT-b-PS) was confirmed to improve the miscibility between the polymers and OA-PbS QDs, leading to the formation of a desirable bi-continuous network morphology, as predicted by us via dissipative dynamic simulations previously. The bi-continuous network morphology for charge transport is an ideal morphology in bulk heterojunction solar cells. For the active layer, using the block copolymer P3HT-b-PS as the donor and PbS QDs as the acceptor at the weight ratio of 1 : 20, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of HQDSC was found to be 4.18%, which is higher than P3HT and PbS QDs (3.66%) having the same weight ratio even though the content of the P3HT component in P3HT-b-PS was 28% less than that of homo-polymer of P3HT. The formation of the desired morphology for electron and hole collections of the device with the block copolymer was confirmed via scanning electron microscopy. Further, the addition of P3HT into the blend of the block copolymer with OA-PbS QDs still retains the desired morphology. Therefore, further improvement of PCE was made by taking the blend of P3HT and P3HT-b-PS at the weight ratio of 0.7 : 0.3 as the donor, thus achieving the PCE of 4.91%, which is better than that of P3HT alone by 1.25% and P3HT-b-PS alone by 0.73%. Thus, this methodology could be applicable for hybrid solar cells with a low bandgap molecular or polymeric material as the donor.

A series of new random terpolymers was synthesized by copolymerization of one electron-donor alkyl-substituted benzodithiophene unit and two electron-acceptor units, diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) and bis(4,5-dodecylthiophen-2-yl)-[1,2,5]thiadiazol[3,4-i]dithieno[3,2-a:2',3'-c]phenazine (DF). The influence of the DPP/DF ratio on the thermal, optoelectronic, and electrochemical properties of the terpolymers was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. The optical properties of the synthesized terpolymers were controlled by varying the DPP/DF ratio. An increase in the DF mole fraction in the polymer chain caused an increase in absorption intensity in the 300‒600 and 600‒1100 nm ranges, while increasing mole fraction of DPP resulted in stronger absorption in the 600‒900 nm range and lower absorption intensity in the 350‒600 nm range. The terpolymers exhibited broad and intense absorption over the spectral range from 300 to 1100 nm. The results demonstrate that random terpolymers with complementary absorption spectra have a great potential for increasing the photocurrent and efficiency of polymer solar cells.

The phase transitions of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) in water–methanol mixed solutions were studied in detail by high-sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry. From this study, the de...

One of the most justified and applied approaches to isolating pools of soil organic matter is fractionation in heavy liquids. The main problem with this approach is rather large losses in the separation of fractions at the stage of washing fractions from heavy liquids. The paper presents a densimetric fractionation protocol that can significantly reduce these losses. It is suggested to use 0.001 M HCl for washing. This approach, in comparison with distilled water, allows reducing losses of weight from 15 to 5% and of carbon from 7.5 to 2.5%. The paper provides a detailed protocol, used by the Laboratory of Soil Biochemistry of V.V. Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute, to isolate four densimetric fractions using sodium polytungstate solutions: free and occluded SOM with a density of 3, occluded SOM – of 1.6–2.0 g/cm3, and a mineral residue with a density >2.0 g/cm3. In the work we used samples of typical chernozems of different land use types. It was shown that the processes of soil restoration and degradation significantly affect the content of light occluded soil organic matter.

The synthesis of magnetite (Fe3O4) nanorods using reverse co-precipitation of Fe3+ and Fe2+ ions in the presence of a static magnetic field is reported in this work. The phase composition and crystal structure of the synthesized material were investigated using electron diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. It was shown that the morphology of the reaction product strongly depends on the amount of OH− ions in the reaction mixture, varying from Fe3O4 nanorods to spherical Fe3O4 nanoparticles. Fe3O4 nanorods were examined using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy proving that they are single-crystalline and do not have any preferred crystallographic orientation along the axis of the rods. According to the data obtained a growth mechanism was proposed for the rods that consists of the dipole–dipole interaction between their building blocks (small hexagonal faceted magnetite nanocrystals), which are formed during the first step of the reaction. The study suggests a facile, green and controllable method for synthesizing anisotropic magnetic nanoparticles in the absence of stabilizers, which is important for further modification of their surfaces and/or incorporation of the nanoparticles into different media.

A new oligomeric fluorophore, which combines the advantage of polycyclic aromatic compounds and fluorene structures has been synthesized. The new compound shows necessary film-forming properties, is readily soluble in the majority of organic solvents and emits in the blue range of solar light with maximum at 465 nm. The compound has a rather high quantum yield and can serve as both the electroluminescent dopant and the conducting light-emitting matrix for designing completely soluble blue and white OLEDs by both inkjet printing and spin coating. The new oligomeric fluorophore is a promising example of highly fluorescent oligomer, rarely used class of materials, in contrast to polymers and small molecules. Such oligomers can be useful for future completely soluble OLEDs.

The design of biologically active dosage forms based on chitosan is significantly limited by its insolubility at pH values above 6.0–6.5 and worsening of its gastrointestinal absorption capacity upon transition to neutral and alkaline environmental conditions. The partial acylation of short-chain chitosans with the use of betaine in the presence of a coupling reagent (betaination) allows one to synthesize noncytotoxic derivatives soluble in an alkaline medium and preserving a high antibacterial activity in weakly alkaline physiological media, which makes them promising for application in pharmaceutical compositions. This study addresses the formation of polyelectrolyte complexes of partially betainated short-chain chitosans with different chain length and degree of betaination with a weak polyacid in acidic and weakly alkaline media. As a polyanion, a regularly alternating copolymer of maleic acid and N-vinylpyrrolidone is used, one of the advantages of which is its ability to be involved in chemical modification with various ligands, including biologically active ones. It is shown that soluble polyelectrolyte complexes can be formed by the direct mixing of components in a weakly alkaline medium (pH 7.4). The range of solubility of the complexes ([polycation] : [polyanion]) in a weakly alkaline medium is wider than that in an acidic one. Nonstoichiometric soluble polyelectrolyte complexes are also prepared using partially betainated chitosans as lyophilizing polyelectrolytes. The structure of soluble polyelectrolyte complexes of various compositions is investigated by static and dynamic light scattering as well as electrophoretic light scattering. The data obtained suggest that, both in the acidic and weakly alkaline medium, the polyelectrolyte complexes occur as polymolecular particles with either negative or positive surface charge. The results of this study can be used for designing new biocompatible and biodegradable delivery systems for biologically active compounds and genetic material.

The purpose of our study is to study the functional morphology of the Corpus Luteum (CL) of the ovaries of pregnant and infertile cows in normal and pathological conditions. For that purpose, the ovaries of cows were examined after slaughter, histological and histochemical examination of the CL was carried out. For the antemortem examination of the ovary, the biopsy method developed by us was used. The effect of the synthetic analogy of prostaglandin F2α - Klatiram was studied experimentally. It was established that the CL and luteal formations of the ovaries of those animals had significant changes in structure, which allowed us to develop morphological markers for diagnosing their morphofunctional state. It was found that the mass and size of the CL increases by two months, decreases by three months and then remain relatively stable. There is a growth of antral follicles that reach a size of more than 1 cm and then they undergo atresia of the obliteration type. The CL of the ovary cycle reaches its maximum development in the first ten or twelve days. Later, against the background of venous hyperemia and atrophic changes, it decreases, the lobulation of the parenchyma disappears and the vessels sclerose (the stage of involution). A method of biopsy of the bovine ovaries has been developed. The use of this method, with the experimental introduction of a synthetic analog of prostaglandin F2a, has proved that luteolytic processes in the CL of the ovary cycle develop due to violations of the microcirculatory bloodstream, development of necrobiotic processes in the parenchyma and stromal vascular dystrophy of the mesenchyma of the gland.

The ionic compositions of lithium metaniobate and metatantalate nanopowders are modified in calcium-containing chloride melts. The reaction products are studied by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and elemental chemical analysis. The results of the studies show that the surface layer of the modified small-size particles of the lithium niobate or lithium tantalate powders is enriched in calcium metaniobate or metatantalate (CaNb2O6 or CaTa2O6) formed due to the isomorphic heterovalent substitution of calcium ions for lithium ions in molten LiCl–CaCl2 and KCl–CaCl2 mixtures at 700 and 750°C.

The monomer 1H,1H-perfluoro-4-methyl-3,6-dioxaoctyl methacrylate (PFMOM) has been synthesized for the first time. PFMOM–vinyl pivalate (VP) copolymers and PFMOM–VP–hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) terpolymers have been synthesized by radical polymerization in supercritical carbon dioxide, and the phase behavior of the resulting polymers in CO2 has been studied. The morphology and hydrophobic properties of copolymer coatings applied to textile substrates from solutions in supercritical CO2 have been examined.

Two new binary polymers (P16, P20) and three random terpolymers (P17, P18, P19) with different ratios of the A1 (DPP) and A2 (BTTQ) acceptors in the polymer chains were developed and synthesized. Their optical and electrochemical properties were studied. The random terpolymers (P17, P18, P19) possess wider absorption spectra than the binary D–A copolymers (P16, P20). It was shown that the position of absorption bands and energy levels can be easily tuned by varying the molar ratios of the two different acceptor units in the terpolymer backbone. The synthesized random terpolymers can be used as efficient donor materials for fullerene and non-fullerene polymer solar cells.

Since in non-exchange sorption the development along the column is accompanied by a significantblurring due to molecular diffusion and leads to a significant decrease in the efficiency of separation in comparison with ion exchange, the aim of the work is establish rational conditions for the separation of amino acid-containing mixtures by ion exchangers at non-exchange absorption conditions.The work is devoted to the study of the influence of the sorbent layer height, diameter, the densityof its packaging, the characteristics of hydrodynamic regimes, as well as the concentration and ratio of thesolution components on the appearance of output curves in sorption-desorption processes.Since the main condition of reagentless separation amino acids’s mixtures is what use of ion exchangersin salt form, which eliminates overcharging and securing zwitterion ion exchange, demineralizationof amino acid solutions was studied on the mixture of tryptophan and calcium chloride with different contentof highly basic components at high based anion exchanger AV-17-2P in Cl-form.It was found that the separation of amino acid-containing mixtures should be carried out under thefollow conditions: the low and wide layer of fine sorbent in salt form in the absence of free volume in the upper and lower parts of the column; low rates of solution supply; alternating stages of sorption and desorption.The process is repeated several cycles to completely separate the components with using of water fordesorption.For studying system tryptophan passes into the sorbent and the solution is depleted in amino acid thesalt concentration remains unchanged at the sorption stage. Thus, at the first stage of desorption, a pure solution of this amino acid is obtained. Desorption of the absorbed component is effectively carried out by water using quantities comparable to the volume of the solution with the separated mixture

The complexity of therapy of lipid metabolism disorders is not only in comorbidity and polypragmasia, but also in predicting a genetically determined response to the treatment. The aim of our work was to study the pharmacogenetics features of pharmacotherapy of patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, with various forms of IHD, and patients taking statins. We investigated 4 study groups: I — 60 patients with 2 type of diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (APOE polymorphism); II — 187 patients with IHD (eNOS, AGTR2, CYP2D6 polymorphisms); III — 111 people with AH and CHF (polymorphisms: AGT: 704 (Met235Thr), AGT:521 (Thr174Met), AGTR1: 1166, AGTR2: 1675, CYP11B2: -344, GNB3: 825, ADD1: 1378 (Gly460Trp), NOS3: -786); IV — 62 patients taking atorvastatin (SLCO1B1*5 polymorphism). Patients with E2, E4 alleles of the APOE gene, taking essential phospholipids, improved parameters of total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, CA, AP; patients with E3 alleles had a positive dynamics of cholesterol, HDL, TG, LDL, VLDL, CA, urea. Patients having “slow” allelic variants of the gene CYP2D6*10, CYP2D6*4 had received metoprolol, had greater decrease in heart rate: 1.6 times for CYP2D6*10, 1.7 — for CYP2D6*4. Earlier debut of IHD is noted in patients with TT variants of the eNOS gene comparing the patients with GG and GT variants. Dosages of perindopril depend on AGTR2 gene polymorphisms. The prevalence of polymorphisms AGTR2: 1675, CYP11B2: -344, NOS3: -786, AGT: 704, GNB3: 825 increases with the increase in the stage of CHF. The parameters of intracardiac hemodynamics in patients with CHF are associated with AGT: 704, NOS3:-786, GNB3: 825, ADD1: 1378, AGT: 521 polymorphisms. Allele C of the SLCO1B1*5 gene is associated with an additional risk of statin-induced myopathy. So the treatment of diseases associated with atherosclerosis, needs using of a personalized approach for more effective and safe therapy.

Novel imidazopyrazine-based dyes of the D–A type, possessing (hetero)aryl electron-donating groups in the imidazole moiety, have been synthesized. Their photophysical properties have been investigated using absorption and emission spectral analyses, both in solution and in solid-state. All dyes exhibit strong emission solvatochromism (Δλem = 146–201 nm) and possess quantum yields up to 0.28, depending on their molecular structure and solvent polarity. Meanwhile, fluorescence studies have shown that emission of all fluorophores is sensitive towards different nitroaromatic compounds, either in solutions or in a vapor phase. Thus, these compounds can be regarded as promising multifunctional chemosensors.

The adhesive properties of pressure-sensitive adhesives based on interpolymer complexes of poly(vinyl caprolactam) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) with oligo(ethylene glycol) are studied. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) and poly(vinyl caprolactam) in such hydrogen-bonded complexes retain phase-separation ability in the presence of water at elevated temperatures which makes it possible to obtain adhesives that reversibly lose stickiness when heated. Analysis of the wettability of the surface of poly(vinyl caprolactam)–oligo(ethylene glycol) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)–oligo(ethylene glycol) films proves that tackiness is lost due to the hydrophobization of their surface during the phase transition. The switching temperature of the adhesives depends on their content of water. However, for dry compositions adhesion considerably decreases near the lower critical solution temperature.

A novel 6,6,7,7,8,8,8-Heptafluoro-5,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)octyl methacrylate monomer is synthesized. Corresponding homopolymers and copolymers with hydroxyethyl methacrylate are obtained by means of radical polymerization in supercritical carbon dioxide using azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator. The resulting homopolymers are highly soluble in supercritical carbon dioxide. Solubility of copolymers is decreased with increase in hydroxyethyl methacrylate content. Simultaneous deposition of copolymers with diisocyanate crosslinking agents from supercritical carbon dioxide solutions allows one to obtain uniform coating of individual fibers of cotton/polyester fabrics. Such coatings show higher water contact angles and delayed transition from Cassie-Baxter to Wenzel state during droplet evaporation than 6,6,7,7,8,8,8-Heptafluoro-5,5-bis(trifluoromethyl)octyl methacrylate or perfluorohexylethyl methacrylate homopolymer coatings.

Partial uncoupling of the processes of oxidative phosphorylation and energy storage in the form of ATP (“mild” uncoupling) helps reduce the production of reactive oxygen species and can also mimic the effect of calorie restriction. A number of studies have shown that uncouplers, such as 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP), affect the lifespan of Drosophila, yeast, mice, and rats as well as the manifestation of “age-related” changes in cultures of mammalian and human cells undergoing replicative senescence. This paper is devoted to studying the effect of DNP on the growth and subsequent dying out of “stationary phase aging” Chinese hamster cells. Using the method for evaluating the colony-forming efficiency of cells, the maximum permissible concentration was selected, 5 ×10–5 M, in which the substance presumably induces “mild” uncoupling and does not inhibit cell proliferation. At higher concentrations, DNP has a cytotoxic effect on the studied cell culture. Under the influence of DNP in the potentially “mild” uncoupling concentration (5.6 × 10–7 M), the kinetics of cell growth and dying out does not change, and the lifespan of the cell culture does not increase. This effect may be due to the type of cells studied. In addition, there is a probability that the optimal concentration lies in the range from 5 ×10–7 to 5 × 10–5 M or even lower than 5 × 10–7 M.

Aim. Russian multicenter register of familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) was transformed into Register of patients with FH and very high cardiovascular risk with insufficient effect of hypolipidemic therapy (RENESSANS Registry) in 2017 The aim of RENESSANS was maximal inclusion of patients not only with FH, but also those with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (CVD), who did not achieve targeted level of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) using hypolipidemic drug therapy. Material and methods. The RENESSANS Registry is an open, national, observing study that includes patients with definite and probable (according to Dutch lipid clinic network and Simon Broome Registry criteria) heterozygous and homozygous FH, as well as patients of very high cardiovascular risk. There were designed two register forms: for patients with FH and for very high cardiovascular risk patients. Doctors filled out forms in paper and electronic variants. They took into consideration the risk factors of atherosclerosis and anamnesis of CVD, adherence to diet and hypolipidemic therapy. Concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured in blood serum in all centers. LDL-C level was defined according to Friedewald formula: LDL-C=TC-HDL-C-TG/2,2 (mmol/l). Results. The Registry consisted of 1208 FH patients and 497 patients with very high risk (average age 54±13 and 61±8, respectively, 37% men). Baseline levels of lipids were 9,4±2,3 and 6,9±1,5 mmol/l for TC, 6,6±2,1 and 4,5±1,3 mmol/l for LDL-C, respectively. The frequency of hypolipidemic therapy in both groups is 70%, while targeted level of LDL-C was achieved extremely rarely. Conclusion. The results show insufficient adherence and low effectiveness of standard hypolipidemic therapy both in patients with FH and very high cardiovascular risk. PCSK9 inhibitors are recommended for resistant hypercholesterolemia treatment. The RENESSANS Registry allows to improve FH diagnostics, to assess treatment effectiveness and choose patients who need treatment with PCSK9 inhibitors.

A new 4,5-diaza-9,9'-spirobifluorene derivative 8 containing two electron-withdrawing perylenediimide moieties has been synthesized. The compound has been characterized by NMR, elemental analysis, UV spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. The HOMO/LUMO energies of compound 8 are –5.81 eV/–3.89 eV; the $$E_{{\text{g}}}^{{{\text{opt}}}}$$ = 1.75 eV, and $$E_{{\text{g}}}^{{{\text{ec}}}}$$ = 1.92 eV. Low HOMO/LUMO energies and strong absorption in the visible range of the UV spectrum point to the possibility to use compound 8 as a promising electron acceptor for nonfullerene polymer solar cells.

Electrochemically active nanocrystalline tungsten oxide was synthesized in supercritical carbon dioxide from tungsten hexacarbonyl at 150 °C and 400 bar in the presence of oxygen (partial pressure of 15 bar). The supercritical fluid is a solvent for the precursor (i.e., this is a sc solvothermal synthesis route), whereas the admixed gaseous oxygen serves as an oxidizer, promoting thermal decomposition of the precursor. During the substrate-free synthesis, 200–500 nm aggregates are formed. They consist of smaller grains having the size of about 100 nm. Therefore, a certain structural hierarchy is detected. The electrochemical activity of the as-synthesized particulate material is pronouncedly increasing during both potential cycling and exposure in an aqueous aerated electrolyte. After such a hydration/oxidation process, the electrochemical response of the material shows rather fast and reversible recharging of the entire tungsten-containing phase. This is an indication of facilitated proton transport in bulk of the tungsten oxide phase synthesized in the supercritical carbon dioxide with subsequent hydration/oxidation. Quite differently, the material synthesized at the same temperature only in compressed oxygen (partial pressure of 15 bar) without any presence of supercritical carbon dioxide is highly crystalline one. It does not demonstrate any significant electrochemical rechargeability; neither is the response improving with hydration/oxidation.

Background: Atrial fibrillation is associated with increased risks of death, stroke/systemic embolism, and bleeding (incurred by antithrombotic therapy), which may occur early after diagnosis. Methods: We assessed the risk of early events (death, stroke/systemic embolism, and major bleeding) over 12 months and their relation to the time after diagnosis of atrial fibrillation in 52 014 patients prospectively enrolled in the GARFIELD-AF registry (Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD–Atrial Fibrillation) between March 2010 and August 2016. Results: Over 12 months, 2140 patients died (mortality rate, 4.3; 95% CI, 4.2–4.5 per 100 person-years), of whom 288 (13.5%) died in the first month (6.8; 95% CI, 6.1–7.6). Over 12 months, 657 patients had a stroke/systemic embolism (1.3; 95% CI, 1.2–1.4) and 411 had a major bleeding (0.8; 95% CI, 0.8–0.9). During the first month, the rates (per 100 person-years) of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleed were 2.3 (95% CI, 1.9–2.8) and 1.5 (95% CI, 1.2–1.9), respectively. The elevated 1-month mortality rate was mostly attributable to cardiovascular mortality (3.5; 95% CI, 3.0–4.1), in particular, heart failure, sudden death, and acute coronary syndromes (1.0 [95% CI, 0.8–1.4], 0.6 [95% CI, 0.4–0.8], and 0.5 [95% CI, 0.3–0.8], respectively). Age, heart failure, prior stroke, history of cirrhosis, vascular disease, moderate-to-severe kidney disease, diabetes mellitus, and living in North or Latin America were independent predictors of a higher risk of early death, whereas anticoagulation and living in Europe or Asia were independent predictors of a lower risk of early death. A predictive model developed for the 1-month risk of death had a C-statistic of 0.81 (95% CI, 0.78–0.83). Conclusions: The increased hazard of early events, in particular, cardiovascular mortality, in newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation points to the importance of comprehensive care for such patients and should alert clinicians to detect warning signs of possible early mortality. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT01090362.

A new method for synthesizing lithium niobate and lithium tantalate is proposed and tested. It is based on the interaction between lithium, niobium, and tantalum oxides, which are formed during in situ reactions of atmospheric oxygen with homogeneous mixtures of molten lithium, niobium(V), and tantalum(V) chlorides. This method allows us to form single-phase lithium niobate and lithium tantalate powders (LiNbO3, LiTaO3) of a homogeneous morphological composition with an average particle size from 200 to 300 nm. The replacement of salt precursors (NbCl5, TaCl5) by oxide ones (Nb2O5, Ta2O5) under the same experimental conditions is shown to increase the average particle size of the synthesized powders and the heterogeneity of their morphological composition and to promote the appearance of by-products.

Amphiphilic diblock copolymers (DC) of 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorostyrene and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate were prepared for the first time by two-step reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The morphology of films of diblock copolymers that have a composition close to equimolar was studied by transmission electron microscopy. The observed microphase separation and formation of spherical nanodomains is not typical for equimolar diblock copolymers and seems to result from hydrogen bonding between the hydroxyl and carbonyl groups (OH···OH and C=O···HO) in poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) blocks. Obviously, it is the ability of diblock copolymers to self-organization is the cause of formation of fabric coatings with low surface energy (γ = 11.9 mJ/m2) and relatively large water contact angles ( $${{\theta }^{{{{{\text{H}}}_{{\text{2}}}}{\text{O}}}}}$$ = 120° ± 6°) and diiodomethane ( $${{\theta }^{{{\text{C}}{{{\text{H}}}_{2}}{{{\text{I}}}_{{\text{2}}}}}}}$$ = 93° ± 2°).

Formation of laminated composite materials of titanium-aluminum and titanium-foam aluminum are the most promising. The adhesive strength of layers of composite material is determined by conditions for formation of an adhesive bond between them, and wetting and spreading of liquid aluminum over titanium. Aluminum-silicon alloys are used most extensively as cast aluminum alloys. Research is conducted for wetting and spreading of aluminum alloyed with silicon over titanium under conditions for forming laminated aluminum-titanium composite materials with surface activation of titanium with fluoride fluxes based on the KF–AlF3 system of eutectic concentration (Nocoloc flux), K2TiF6, and K2ZrF6. The effect is established for flux composition, melt temperature and silicon content in the aluminum melt on the spreading area of aluminum over titanium, wetting strength, and adhesive strength of aluminum and titanium.

Conformation-dependent design of polymer sequences can be considered as a tool to control macromolecular self-assembly. We consider the monomer unit sequences created via the modification of polymers in a homogeneous melt in accordance with the spatial positions of the monomer units. The geometrical patterns of lamellae, hexagonally packed cylinders, and balls arranged in a body-centered cubic lattice are considered as typical microphase-separated morphologies of block copolymers. Random trajectories of polymer chains are described by the diffusion-type equations and, in parallel, simulated in the computer modeling. The probability distributions of block length $k$, which are analogous to the first-passage probabilities, are calculated analytically and determined from the computer simulations. In any domain, the probability distribution can be described by the asymptote $~k^{-3/2}$ at moderate values of $k$ if the spatial size of the block is less than the smallest characteristic size of the domain. For large blocks, the exponential asymptote $exp(-const \, k a^2/d_{as}^2)$ is valid, $d_{as}$ being the asymptotic domain length (a is the monomer unit size). The number average block lengths and their dispersities change linearly with the block length for lamellae, cylinders, and balls, when the domain is characterized by a single characteristic size. If the domain is described by more than one size, the number average block length can grow nonlinearly with the domain sizes and the length das can depend on all of them., Comment: Submitted to Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and Theoretical, 30 pages, 13 figures

The article considers laser alloying technologies of surface layers of samples made of structural steel using powder filler add-on materials based on tungsten carbide and chromium. Structural transformations, concentration changes of chemical elements, grain and subgrain structures, dislocation density, size and volume fraction of phase precipitates, causes of crack formation in treated surface layers under various alloying regimes have been studied by the methods of optical, analytical scanning, and transmission electron microscopy. It was found that the tendency to crack formation of samples after laser alloying is due to structural (crystallite size, shape factor) and concentration changes associated with redistribution of elements, in particular, chromium. Noticeable changes in the structural-phase state of the treated surfaces are observed for an optimal mode of laser alloying. This laser alloying regime is characterized by a uniform distribution of dislocations with a general decrease in their density. The sizes of phase precipitates in the surface layers are more dispersed and evenly distributed in the internal volumes of grains. These are nanoparticles with a size of 40…100 nm and larger phase precipitates (up to 1 $\mu$m).

Introduction: The general requirements for assessing bioequivalence of endogenous drugs are described in the relevant guidelines, but they do not provide a complete picture of how to adequately develop a design of such a study. The aim of this article is to offer recommendations on the development of a design for bioequivalence studies of endogenous drugs, using cholecalciferol as an example. Materials and methods: A systematic review of our database on the results of bioequivalence studies of generic drugs revealed one study of cholecalciferol drugs, which was performed using a simple cross-over design. The study involved 24 healthy adult subjects. The data of 24 volunteers were retrospectively analyzed to identify endogenous cholecalciferol concentrations and intraindividual variability (CVintra) for Cmax and AUC0-t. As part of a retrospective analysis, we also assessed gender differences of pharmacokinetics. Results and discussion: Assessment of the bioequivalence of cholecalciferol drugs was complicated by the presence of endogenous concentrations of cholecalciferol for the tested drug – 1.27 (±0.55) ng/ml and for the reference drug – 0.98 (±0.55) ng/ml. The results of the analysis of the intraindividual variability of Cmax and AUC0-72 of the tested and reference drugs showed the following CVintra values – 22.80% and 21.58%, respectively. A comparative analysis of pharmacokinetic parameters did not reveal statistically significant gender differences. The article presents approaches to the planning of future bioequivalence studies of cholecalciferol drugs. Conclusion: Cholecalciferol is not a highly variable drug; however, it relates to drugs – analogues of endogenous compounds, which requires determining the endogenous concentrations.

Oligochitosan, a low molecular weight derivative of the cationic biopolymer, chitosan, currently shows a great potential of application as a biodegradable non-toxic stimuli-sensitive drug carrier. This paper aimed to elucidate the thermoresponsive potential of oligochitosan and the temperature-controlled drug binding and release to shed light on oligochitosan potential in stimuli-responsive drug delivery. Mechanisms of thermoresponsive behavior of oligochitosan induced by β-glycerophosphate (GP) were investigated using ITC, DSC, and DLS. Upon heating, the aqueous oligochitosan solution underwent a cooperative transition of the microphase separation type resulting in the formation of stable nano-sized particles. Energetics of the GP-oligochitosan interaction (evaluated by ITC) revealed a positive enthalpy of the GP binding to oligochitosan, which pointed to a notable contribution of dehydration and the related rearrangement of the polysaccharide hydration shell. Energetics of the thermal phase transition of oligochitosan was investigated by DSC upon variation of the solvent dielectric constant and GP concentration. The dependences of the transition parameters on these variables were determined and used for the analysis of the oligochitosan thermoresponsivity mechanism. The binding of ibuprofen to the thermotropic oligochitosan nanogel particles and its release from them were evaluated under near-physiological conditions. Relevantly, the oligochitosan nanoparticles surpassed some reference macromolecular adsorbers by the affinity for the drug and by the delayed release kinetics.

High-quality and aesthetic wound healing, as well as effective medical support of this process, continue to be relevant. This study aims to evaluate the medical efficacy of a novel smart polymeric nanodrug (SPN) on the rate and mechanism of wound healing in experimental animals. The study was carried out in male Wistar rats (aged 8&ndash, 9 months). In these animals, identical square wounds down to the fascia were made in non-sterile conditions on the back on both sides of the vertebra. SPN was used for the treatment of one wound, and the other wound was left without treatment (control group). Biocompatible citrate-stabilized cerium oxide nanoparticles integrated into a polysaccharide hydrogel matrix containing natural and synthetic polysaccharide polymers (pectin, alginate, chitosan, agar-agar, water-soluble cellulose derivatives) were used as the therapeutic agent. Changes in the wound sizes (area, volume) over time and wound temperature were assessed on Days 0, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 14. Histological examination of the wounds was performed on Days 3, 7, and 14. The study showed that the use of SPN accelerated wound healing in comparison with control wounds by inhibiting the inflammatory response, which was measured by a decreased number of white blood cells in SPN-treated wounds. It also accelerated the development of fibroblasts, with an early onset of new collagen synthesis, which eventually led to the formation of more tender postoperative scars. Thus, the study demonstrated that the use of SPN for the treatment of wounds was effective and promising.

For monoclinic $$\hbox {Ag}_2$$S nanocrystals (quantum dots, $$\hbox {Ag}_2$$S/TGA QDs), the correlation between their luminescence properties and aspects of their passivation by thioglycolic acid (TGA) molecules is considered. The features of quantum confinement effect in the QDs absorption and photoluminescence spectra are analyzed for $$\hbox {Ag}_2$$S QDs with an average size of 1.7–3.1 nm. We show that, in various conditions of passivation of QDs interfaces, the luminescence mechanism of $$\hbox {Ag}_2$$S/TGA QDs is switched from recombination luminescence in the 870–1000 nm region to exciton luminescence with a band maximum at 620 nm. By means of FTIR spectra, two major types of interactions between TGA molecules and $$\hbox {Ag}_2$$S QDs, arising due to changing the [$$\hbox {Ag}^+$$]:[$$\hbox {S}^{2-}$$] ratio from 1:0.9 to 1:1.43, are determined. Exciton luminescence (620 nm) occurs in case of using TGA as the sulfur source in $$\hbox {Ag}_2$$S crystallization and the interface passivation agent, with [$$\hbox {Ag}^+$$]:[$$\hbox {S}^{2-}$$] = 1:1. The analysis of the FTIR spectra indicates bonding of TGA with the $$\hbox {Ag}_2$$S surface by both thiol and carboxylic groups in this case. With increasing the sulfur concentration in the synthesis of $$\hbox {Ag}_2$$S/TGA QDs, the exciton luminescence is suppressed. The employment of $$\hbox {Na}_2$$S as the sulfur source in $$\hbox {Ag}_2$$S crystallization with TGA acting as the surface passivation agent promotes the formation of recombination centers for IR luminescence. In this case, analysis of the FTIR spectra indicates passivation of $$\hbox {Ag}_2$$S QDs by TGA molecules due to adsorption of thiol groups. It is found that the photodegradation or IR luminescence of $$\hbox {Ag}_2$$S/TGA QDs upon exposure to exciting radiation is due to the photolysis of $$\hbox {Ag}_2$$S nanocrystals with formation of luminescence quenching centers as well as due to photodestruction of TGA molecules.

Poly(ethylaminophosphazene) (PEAP) in salt-free aqueous solution does not reveal thermoresponsive properties but acquires thermoresponsivity upon addition of various poly(protic acid)s. Energetics of the salt-induced phase separation transition of the PEAP solutions upon heating was investigated by high-sensitivity differential scanning calorimetry at pH 3.5. At low concentrations of poly(carboxylic acid)s (10–100 mM), the transition temperature and enthalpy vary from 90 to 25 °C and from 1.5 to 35 J g–1, respectively, depending on the pKa1 and the apparent hydrophobicity of the acids. Dependences of the transition parameters (Tt, Δth, and Δtcp) on the citrate buffer concentration were obtained. The binding curve of citrate anions to PEAP was derived. High concentrations of sulfate anions (0.1–0.8 M) induced a marginal phase transition at high temperatures. A mechanism of the PEAP thermoresponsivity is proposed. The Okado–Tanaka model for cooperative hydration of macromolecules is used to quantitatively d...

Orientational structure transitions due to a photoinduced surface anchoring modulation were achieved and investigated in the case of NLC microdroplets placed between glycerol and solid surface. The boundary conditions at NLC-glycerol varied under the light action on the dendromer dopant containing azobenzene terminal fragments. At the same time, the NLC had a strong planar anchoring with the polyimide treated substrate. Numerical simulation of the observed orientational structures in NLC microdroplets were carried out.

A new carbazole-containing naphthodithiophene derivative—heteroaromatic compound 5,6- bis[9-(2-decyltetradecyl)-9H-carbazol-3-yl]naphtho[2,1-b:3,4-b']dithiophene (M1)—has been synthesized. The compound will be used by us as a weak donor structural block for fabricating narrow-bandgap D–A conjugated polymers. The composition and structure of M1 have been confirmed by elemental analysis data, IR spectroscopy, and 1H and 13C NMR. The synthesized compound has a low HOMO energy (–5.4 eV), which is favorable for a high open-circuit voltage. Monomer M1 can be used as a promising weak donor moiety in D–A conjugated polymers for solar photovoltaics.

Two new fused quinoxaline-containing monomers—2,3-bis(9-(2-decyltetradecyl)-9H-carbazol-3-yl)dithieno[3,2-f:2'3'-h]quinoxaline (М1) and 2,5-di(nonadecan-3-yl)bis[1,3]thiazolo[4,5-a:5',4'-c]bisthieno[3,2-h:2',3'-j]phenazine (М2)—have been synthesized in high yields of 88 and 83% as promising building blocks of D-A polymers for photovoltaic applications. The optical bandgaps, found from the absorption edge, are 2.79 and 2.88 eV, respectively. The HOMO/LUMO energies of М1 and М2 are–5.83/–2.96 and–5.83/–2.98 eV, respectively. Both monomers have low-lying HOMO levels, which is favorable for a high open-circuit voltage and a high stability in air in the development of PSCs. The E g ec values of monomers М1 and М2 are 2.87 and 2.85 eV and are consistent well with the optical bandgap (2.79 and 2.88 eV, respectively).

New derivatives of bis[1,3]thiazolo[4,5-f:5',4'-h]thieno[3,4-b]quinoxaline containing the fused thiadiazoloquinoxaline moiety have been prepared. Monomer M1 shows strong light absorption within 600–800 nm due to intramolecular charge transfer. The optical bandgap E g opt determined from the absorption edge in a film is 1.44 eV. The HOMO and LUMO levels are–5.44 and–3.12 eV, respectively. The new structural fragment has a rather low frontier molecular orbital energies and a small bandgap; therefore, it is a promising building block for the synthesis of polymers for organic electronics.

The approaches to bioanalytical method development for determination of substances which contain unstable functional groups in the structure are described. The oxidation and the hydrolysis are main causes of the decomposition of substances in biological fluids. Phenolic hydroxyls contain drugs were selected as examples of oxidable compounds, glucuronides of drugs were selected as examples of hydrolysable compounds. Determination of mycophenolic acid, which contains one phenolic hydroxyl and metabolized by formation of glucuronides, in plasma was performed using high performance liquid chromatography with mass-spectrometry and tandem mass-spectrometry detection. Methyldopa, which contains two phenolic hydroxyls, in stabilized plasma was assayed by high performance liquid chromatography – tandem mass-spectrometry in the range of 0.02–3.00 μg/ml. Concentrations of desmethyl mebeverine acid, which contains in the structure one phenolic hydroxyl and metabolized by formation of phenolic glucuronide, was measured simultaneously with mebeverine acid in the range of 10–2000 ng/ml. The influence of the ion source conversion of glucuronides on the quantitative determination of the substances was studied in the initial part of methods development. The next, selection of anticoagulants based on the study of short-term stability and freeze/thaw stability of the analytes and back conversion of their glucuronides was performed. The combination of anticoagulant K3EDTA and the antioxidant solution containing a mixture of ascorbic acid, sodium sulfite and sodium hydrogen carbonate in the concentrations of 5.0 %, 0.2 % and 2.4 %, respectively, was used to prevent degradation of methyldopa.

Comb-shaped copolymers of perfluorohexylethyl methacrylate and methacryloxypropyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane are synthesized by radical polymerization in supercritical carbon dioxide, solubility of the copolymers in supercritical carbon dioxide is studied, and hydrophobic properties of thin films obtained via precipitation of the copolymers from trifluorotrichloroethane and supercritical carbon dioxide solutions on substrates are examined. On the basis of water and dimethyl sulfoxide contact angle measurements, the specific free surface energy of the formed films is calculated. It is shown that the thin films of the copolymers have a lower surface energy and are characterized by a smaller water contact angle hysteresis than the films based on homopolymer poly(perfluorohexylethyl methacrylate). A comparative testing of coatings based on the homopolymer and copolymer deposited from solutions in supercritical carbon dioxide on the surface of nylon fabrics is performed. It is found that copolymer-coated fabrics have on average higher water contact angles.

A sequence of microwave-assisted Suzuki cross-coupling reaction and bromination with N-bromosuccinimide was used for the synthesis of 3,3'-(5,5'-{5-[5-(9-ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-3-hexylthiophen-2-yl]pyrimidine-4,6-diyl}bis(thiophene-5,2-diyl))bis(9-ethyl-9H-carbazole). The obtained compound was characterized with regard to its optical properties, as well as possible applications in sensors for nitroaromatic compounds in acetonitrile solutions and in vapor phase.

5-(9-Ethyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-substituted 6-(het)aryl[1,2,5]oxadiazolo[3,4-b]pyrazines were synthesized by direct transition metal-free C—H functionalization in the pyrazine ring. Their photophysical and sensory properties with respect to nitrobenzene and 2,4-dinitrotoluene vapors were studied using a Nitroscan portable detector of nitro-explosive substances (Ekaterinburg, Russia).

At theabsence in the sorption system of the main operating force, for example, of Coulomb interaction between the functional group and the counter ion in the ion exchanger, sorption of substances proceeds through of the specific forces of various nature comparable in size. The existence of features in a structure of sorbate can lead to the appearance of various effects strengthening or weakening interactions in system. Such effects should be expected in sorption systems involving amino acids. Existence in each bipolar of amino-acid group defines identity of their fixing in a sorbent and the difference in a structure of the radical will determine features of the sorption of each amino acid. Intermolecular interactions between glycine, phenylalanine and tryptophane from water solutions anda AV-17-2P anion exchanger (Cl- form) is investigated. The presence in solution of bipolar ions of amino acids and impossibility of their recharge in the sorbent phase to anion with the subsequent fixing about functional groups as a result of Coulomb interaction leads to implementation of non exchange sorption of amino acids. The purpose of work is establishing of interactions acting in system at non exchange sorption of amino acids by the anion exchanger and to reveal of lateral radical’s natureat forming ion-molecular structures in an ion exchanger phase. Computer modeling of structures and calculation of energies using the Gaussian 03 program implementing the B3LYP hybrid densityfunctional with the 6-31G++(d,p)basis set. Starting fragments of the hydrated amino acids and the anion exchanger placed variously from each other and optimized considered structure with the smallest energyare made. The main acting forces in the sorbent phase at non exchange sorption of amino acids are an ion - ion and an ion - dipole interactions of the functional group of the sorbent, chlorine counterion, a bipolar ion with each other and water molecules. At complication of the structure of the amino acid’slateral radical in the sorption systems with the mineral counterion of AV-17 (Cl) + АК±, structural characteristics and energy gain are slightly changes