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Investigation of a scale factor effect on adhesion and viscoelastic properties of adhesive based on epoxy resin curried with polyamine was carried out. By using dynamic mechanical analysis method the viscoelastic behavior of both free epoxy films and adhesive joints in whole was studied. The sickness of adhesive layer and free films as a scale factor was varied in interval of 50-900 mkm. The increase of epoxy adhesive layer thickness was shown to result in the nonmonotonic decrease in an adhesive strength value. The dramatic drop of adhesion strength was observed for adhesive layers having thickness less 200 mkm and more slowly degradation occurred in case of thicker ones. Along with this the correlation between adhesive layer thickness and polymer ability to dissipate mechanic energy took place. It was also shown that layer thickness influenced not only adhesion and viscoelastic behaviors of adhesive but coupled with the effect of substrate (duralumin) surface caused the changes in topology and morphology of epoxy networks. Particularly the appearance of shoulder associated with additional relaxation transition on the rising wing of the maximum at loss module temperature dependence for sample of adhesion joint with adhesive layer of 800 mkm indicated the fluctuation of cross-linking density of epoxy network. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The teplophysical, viscoelastic and mechanical properties of blends based on the amine-polyurethane and carboxyl-containing copolystyrene have been investigated. The experimental results have shoved that all blends properties depends on nature of polymer components, its functional groups, which may to formed intermolecular bonds, of its concentration and of the polymer components correlation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wild-type (WT) plants of potato ( Solanum tuberosum L.) and their transgenic forms carrying agrobacterial genes rolB or rolC under the control of B33 class I patatin promoter were cultured in vitro on MS medium with 2% sucrose in a controlled-climate chamber at 16-h illumination and 22°C. These plants were used as a source of single-node stem cuttings, which were cultured in darkness on the same medium supplemented with 8% sucrose. The tubers formed on them were used for determination of the structure of native starch using the methods of differential scanning microcalorimetry (DSC), X-ray scattering, and scanning electron microscopy. It was found that, in starch from the tubers of rolB-plants, the temperature of crystalline lamella melting was lower and their thickness was less than in WT potato. In tubers of rolC plants, starch differed from starch in WT plants by a higher melting temperature, considerably reduced melting enthalpy, and a greater thickness of crystalline lamellae. Deconvolution of DSC thermogram makes it possible to interpret the melting of starch from the tubers of rolC plants as the melting of two independent crystalline structures with melting temperatures of 65.0 and 69.8°C. Electron microscopic examination confirmed the earlier obtained data indicating that, in the tubers of rolC plants, starch granules are smaller and in the tubers of rolB plants larger than in WT plants. Possible ways of influence of rol transgenes on structural properties of starch in amyloplasts of potato tubers are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viscoelastic properties both traditional and gradient polyurethane-polyacrylate IPNs were studied. Both types of IPNs were shown to be two-phase systems inclusive considerable interphase area. It was found that GIPNs were characterized by anisotropy of viscoelastic properties specified by different structure depending on the direction of concentration gradient of acrylate component and which possessed a broad glass transition interval that defined an ability of material to dissipate the mechanical energy. By using the model imitation method the system of questions describing the GIPN formation kinetic - gradient profile generation was proposed. Property-composition correlation dependences were found that allow one to realize the transfer from concentration gradient profiles to those of distribution of properties, in particular elastic modulus, within GIPN layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis is a powerful approach to map and subsequently identify genes involved in complex traits. Here we describe the basic principles and recent achievements of this method, and its application in physiological research in plants. The rapidly increasing amount of molecular and “omics” data and genetic resources and tools, in model species ( Arabidopsis) and crops, will greatly support and stimulate the use of this approach in the near future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Wannier [1] theory describes the escape of two electrons from a charged core in the threshold domain. Its modification [3] is applied to some features of the double escape processes which were not analyzed previously in due extent. The behaviour of the total cross sections for a small, but finite, energy excess E above the threshold is described incorporating the deviations from the well known Wannier power law. The processes with the escape of electron and positron from the core are also considered. The energy dependence of the spin asymmetry A in ( e, 2 e) collisions is analyzed in connection with the recent experimental data (which seem to manifest some dependence A( E) in the near-threshold domain contrary to the conventional Wannier theory). The theory suggests the requirements for the accuracy of the experiments intended to verify the Wannier threshold laws and detect the deviations from them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) tuberization is a practically important natural process regulated by various factors including phytohormones. This work was aimed at studying characteristics of in vitro cultivated potato plants transformed with the AtGA20-oxidase gene promoting biosynthesis of bioactive gibberellins (GAs) or with the AtGA2-oxidase gene acting oppositely, i.e. deactivating functional GAs. Both transgenes originated from Arabidopsis and were fused to a sugar-sensitive B33 patatin promoter providing their expression predominantly in tubers. Global phytohormone determination in AtGA20ox-transformants revealed active GA1 at high and moderate concentrations in tubers and shoots, respectively. In control plants, GA1 was virtually absent. Together with GAs, contents of some other phytohormones were altered in transgenic plants. This was especially true for the auxin content which increased ~15-fold in tubers and more than 4-fold in shoots. Also the jasmonic acid content exhibited a tuber-specific increase while the content of abscisic acid decreased both in tubers and shoots. The dynamics of tuberization in transformed and non-transformed potato plants was recorded in in vitro parallel assays. The transgene for GA inactivation enhanced tuber formation while the transgene promoting active GA synthesis reduced potato productivity. Hence, the crucial role of gibberellin in potato productivity was corroborated. These results showed that the manipulation of the local GA level by using the foreign GA oxidase genes and organ-specific promoters is useful not only to investigate the molecular mechanisms governing tuberization, but also as a biotechnological tool for the manipulation of tuber formation without marked impairment of other physiological traits of potatoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium silicate and diisocyanate based organic-inorganic systems were synthesized. Their formation, structure, and properties were studied by means of IR-spectroscopy, DMA, TGA, and transmission optical microscopy. During structuring of organic-inorganic composite obtained the isocyanate groups cyclotrimerization was found to take place simultaneously with urea-urethanes formation reaction. It was shown that the formation of isocyanurate cycles in composite structure resulted in emergence of additional relaxation transition in temperature dependences of viscoelastic functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tuber formation is a complex process comprising several stages: stolon formation and growth, induction of tuberization, tuber initiation, and tuber growth. This review considers successive stages of tuber formation and their hormonal regulation. Special attention is paid to the effects on tuber formation of such phytohormones as gibberellins, cytokinins, jasmonic acid, and auxins. Physiological and some molecular-genetic aspects of their action on tuber photoperiodic induction and initiation are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyacrylate copolymers based porous polymer films were synthesized. Qualitative and quantitative analysis of electron microscopy images of the surface of obtained films were carried out. Dodecanol, cyclohexanol, low-molecular PEG, and their mixtures were shown to be effective porogens for porous materials production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The method of synthesis of phenol-selective molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) membranes was developed. The MIP membranes were used as a basis for new analytical test-systems for qualitative and quantitative detection of phenols in aqueous solutions. The developed test-systems work according to the principle of "litmus paper", while colour staining remains stable during several months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the interaction of the day length, cytokinins, and gibberellins in the control of tuberization in potato ( Solanum tuberosum L, cv. Desire) plants and derived transgenic plants with the inserted PHYB gene from Arabidopsis encoding the synthesis of phytochrome B apoprotein and put under the control of the 35S CaMV promoter. Plantlets were cultured in vitro on hormone-free MS medium containing 5% sucrose and kinetin (1 mg/l) or/and GA (0.5 and 1.0 mg/l), at long day (LD, a 16-h photoperiod), short day (SD, a 10-h photoperiod), or continuous darkness conditions. The content of cytokinins (Ck, zeatin, and zeatin riboside) in various plant organs was determined by the immunoenzyme method, and GA activity was measured in bioassay with dwarf pea. Potato plant transformation with the PHYB gene enhanced substantially tuber initiation inhibition by LD. Kinetin addition to culture medium enhanced tuberization and reduced Ck content in aboveground shoots and Ck redistribution in the favor of underground organs. GA addition to the culture medium suppressed tuberization and induced Ck accumulation in aboveground organs. We concluded that Ck role in tuberization depends on their predominant localization in above- or underground potato organs. The involvement of Ck and GA in the competitive relations between growing tubers and shoots is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent results devoted to methods of components compatibilization in polymer blends as well as synthesis and investigation of structure and properties of binary polymer blends was summarized and systematized. Regularities of inter- and intra-molecular physical bonds network formation and the influence on phase structure and properties of heterogeneous systems based on functionalized polymers are thoroughly considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By using the methods of the dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, X-ray scattering and scanning electronic microscopy the microphase structure and properties of water-permeable polymer films based on polyurethane-polyurethaneacrylate semi-IPNs were studied. The parameters of porous (size, form and size distribution) were found to be a function of content of linear component, and the heterogeneity level of structure and size of microareas of heterogeneity to depend in a small extent on composition of researched systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An investigation of the thermal and mechanical characteristics of new full-interpenetrating polymer networks (full-IPNs), prepared by simultaneous and sequential synthesis paths, has been performed in the temperature regions above and below the glass transition. It has been observed that simultaneous full-IPNs exhibit higher values of density than sequential full-IPNs, as a consequence of an enhanced intermolecular packing. This peculiarity leads to an increase of the glass transition temperature and to a larger “γ-suppression” effect for the γ2-relaxation characterizing the polycyanurate phase of simultaneous full-IPNs, which has been ascribed to reduction of the free-volume available for the molecular group rearrangements. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Growing skull fracture (GSF) of the orbital roof is a rare complication of head injury in infancy and early childhood. Analysis of the Medline database between 1983 and 2023 identified 17 articles describing 63 children after surgical treatment of GSF of the orbital roof., Material and Methods: We present a 2-year-old child with moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI) complicated by GSF of the orbital roof. Neuroimaging and literature data are described., Results: Severe ophthalmological symptoms in acute period of TBI subsequently partially regressed with persistent swelling of the upper eyelid and hypophthalmos. CT and MRI revealed a linear fracture of the frontal bone extending to superior orbital wall and intraorbital collection of cerebrospinal fluid (pseudomeningocele) mixed with blood. MR signs of GSF of the orbital roof with pseudomeningocele shrinkage were found in 5 weeks after injury. After 6 months, CT and MRI revealed signs of more severe GSF. Surgical treatment implied craniotomy, excision of scars, arachnoid membrane and abnormal brain matter, resection of deformed fracture edges, dura mater sealing and orbital roof reconstruction with bone autograft. Ophthalmological symptoms regressed after 6 months. The follow-up period was 6 years. There were no signs of fracture recurrence., Conclusion: In this case, acute intraorbital pseudomeningocele led to GSF of the orbital roof in 5 weeks after injury. Incomplete regression of ophthalmological symptoms, their aggravation or delayed appearance in children with orbital roof fracture requires a thorough examination including high-resolution CT and MRI, and orbital roof GSF should be considered in the differential diagnosis.

Capsicum species grown for pepper production suffer severely from thrips damage, urging the identification of natural resistance. Resistance levels are commonly assessed on leaves. However, Capsicum plants are flower-bearing during most of the production season, and thrips also feed on pollen and flower tissues. In order to obtain a comprehensive estimate of elements contributing to thrips resistance, flower tissues should be considered as well. Therefore, we assessed resistance to Frankliniella occidentalis in flowers, leaves, and whole plants of ten Capsicum accessions. Using choice assays, we found that thrips prefer flowers of certain accessions over others. The preference of adult thrips for flowers was positively correlated to trehalose and fructose concentration in anthers as well as to pollen quantity. Resistance measured on leaf discs and thrips population development on whole plants was significantly and positively correlated. Leaf-based resistance thus translates to reduced thrips population development. Results of the flower assays were not significantly correlated with resistance in leaves or on whole plants. This suggests that both leaves and flowers represent a different part of the resistance spectrum and should both be considered for understanding whole plant resistance and the identification of resistant Capsicum varieties.

Background: The basis for the management of transgender patients is the use of various hormonal correction schemes necessary for changing the hormonal sex and, possibly, further preparation for surgical correction. Currently, the choice of the starting dose and the scheme is carried out empirically, which lengthens the period of selection of therapy and increases the risk of its complications. Taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient can help in optimizing therapy., Aim: Investigate Factors Affecting the Daily Demand for Testosterone Ester Blends in Transgender MenMATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is a case-control observational study. Patients included prior to initiation of testosterone replacement therapy. The analysis of factors interrelated with the daily requirement of testosterone preparations was carried out. Among the factors of interest, the body mass index (BMI), the results of blood tests for total testosterone and the functional state of the liver and kidneys are considered. Testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) regimens were evaluated in transgender men. For the calculation, we used the formulas for BMI and the average daily dose of testosterone. Based on the data obtained, conclusions were drawn that allow determining the necessary TRT scheme in different trans-gender men at an early stage of hormonal correction., Results: Our study included 58 transgender FtM patients who were prescribed testosterone preparations with an identical composition. We found a positive correlation between BMI and testosterone dose in patients of group II (p = 0.04)., Conclusion: In the conclusion, the obtained schemes of hormonal sex reassignment with a minimum risk of possible complications are presented. Our results demonstrated a relationship between BMI in overweight and obese patients and the need for TRT. For patients with a BMI of 25 to 29 kg / m2, the interval between injections of a mixture of testosterone esters does not differ significantly from that in the group with a BMI below 25 kg / m2 and averages once every 18 days, and in the group with a BMI ≥ 30 kg / m2 tested testosterone ester preparations should be prescribed once every 2 weeks (14 days).

The purpose of this article is to study the possibilities of discriminant analysis as a statistical decision support tool in medical research, using the example of the problem of choosing a tactics for treating patients with urolithiasis. based on the results of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Discriminant analysis was carried out on an array of clinical and laboratory data of 70 patients with urolithiasis, of which two groups were formed: Group I included 36 patients who underwent conservative therapy; Group II consisted of 34 patients who underwent surgery. In the discriminant model, 11 indicators of general clinical examination of blood and urine, biochemical methods of blood testing and indicators of enzyme immunoassay were selected. The analysis of the constructed discriminant model made it possible to combine indicators of different nature into a single picture and solve the following tasks: find a combination of inflammation predictors and general analysis indicators in order to distinguish a group of patients requiring surgery from a group of conservative treatment; select the most informative indicators. Discriminant analysis showed the statistical significance of using the threshold values for the level of β2-microglobulin and NGAL-lipocalin. According to the discriminant model, a change in the level of β2-microglobulin is associated with changes in ESR parameters and the gender of patients (Wilks' Lambda: 0.51, approx. F (4.65)=15.47, p <0.01), and lipocalin values - with indicators of ESR, interleukin and the patient's age (Wilks' Lambda: 0.5; F (4.65)=15.87; p <0.01). Also, according to the used model, in the early diagnosis of Urolithiasis, the level of β2-microglobulin is a more informative sign than the level of lipocalin. Thus, the combinations of parameters of general, biochemical blood analysis and indicators of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay of urine, found using discriminant analysis, which characterize the work of the body's defense subsystems in an acute state of the urolithiasis, may be useful in making a doctor's decision on the choice of treatment tactics.

In nature plants are usually subjected to a light/temperature regime of warm day and cold night (referred to as +DIF). Compared to growth under +DIF, Arabidopsis plants show compact growth under the same photoperiod, but with an inverse temperature regime (cold day and warm night: -DIF). Here we show that -DIF differentially affects the phase and amplitude of core clock gene expression. Under -DIF the phase of the morning clock gene CIRCADIAN CLOCK ASSOCIATED 1 (CCA1) is delayed, similar to that of plants grown on low sucrose. Indeed, under -DIF carbohydrate (CHO) starvation marker genes are specifically upregulated at the End of the Night (EN) in Arabidopsis rosettes. However, only in inner-rosette tissue (small sink leaves and petioles of older leaves) sucrose levels are lower under -DIF compared to under +DIF, suggesting that sucrose in source leaf blades is not sensed for CHO status and that sucrose transport from source to sink may be impaired at EN. CHO-starvation under -DIF correlated with increased starch breakdown during the night and decreased starch accumulation during the day. Moreover, we demonstrate that different ways of inducing CHO-starvation all link to reduced growth of sink leaves. Practical implications for control of plant growth in horticulture are discussed., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Experimental Biology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Sweetpotato is an important food crop globally, serving as a rich source of carbohydrates, vitamins, fiber, and micronutrients. Sweetpotato yield depends on the modification of adventitious roots into storage roots. The underlying mechanism of this developmental switch is not fully understood. Interestingly, storage-root formation is manifested by formation of starch-accumulating parenchyma cells and bulking of the distal part of the root, while the proximal part does not show bulking. This system, where two parts of the same adventitious root display different developmental fates, was used by us in order to better characterize the anatomical, physiological, and molecular mechanisms involved in sweetpotato storage-root formation. We show that, as early as 1 and 2 weeks after planting, the proximal part of the root exhibited enhanced xylem development together with increased/massive lignin deposition, while, at the same time, the distal root part exhibited significantly elevated starch accumulation. In accordance with these developmental differences, the proximal root part exhibited up-regulated transcript levels of sweetpotato orthologs of Arabidopsis vascular-development regulators and key genes of lignin biosynthesis, while the distal part showed up-regulation of genes encoding enzymes of starch biosynthesis. All these recorded differences between proximal and distal root parts were further enhanced at 5 weeks after planting, when storage roots were formed at the distal part. Our results point to down-regulation of fiber formation and lignification, together with up-regulation of starch biosynthesis, as the main events underlying storage-root formation, marking/highlighting several genes as potential regulators, providing a valuable database of genes for further research., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2021 Singh, Zemach, Shabtai, Aloni, Yang, Zhang, Sergeeva, Ligterink and Firon.)

Drought reduces the availability of soil water and the mobility of nutrients, thereby limiting the growth and productivity of rice. Under drought, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) increase P uptake and sustain rice growth. However, we lack knowledge of how the AMF symbiosis contributes to drought tolerance of rice. In the greenhouse, we investigated mechanisms of AMF symbiosis that confer drought tolerance, such as enhanced nutrient uptake, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll fluorescence, and hormonal balance (abscisic acid (ABA) and indole acetic acid (IAA)). Two greenhouse pot experiments comprised three factors in a full factorial design with two AMF treatments (low- and high-AMF colonization), two water treatments (well-watered and drought), and three rice varieties. Soil water potential was maintained at 0 kPa in the well-watered treatment. In the drought treatment, we reduced soil water potential to - 40 kPa in experiment 1 (Expt 1) and to - 80 kPa in experiment 2 (Expt 2). Drought reduced shoot and root dry biomass and grain yield of rice in both experiments. The reduction of grain yield was less with higher AMF colonization. Plants with higher AMF colonization showed higher leaf P concentrations than plants with lower colonization in Expt 1, but not in Expt 2. Plants with higher AMF colonization exhibited higher stomatal conductance and chlorophyll fluorescence than plants with lower colonization, especially under drought. Drought increased the levels of ABA and IAA, and AMF colonization also resulted in higher levels of IAA. The results suggest both nutrient-driven and plant hormone-driven pathways through which AMF confer drought tolerance to rice.

Sweetpotato yield depends on a change in the developmental fate of adventitious roots into storage-roots. The mechanisms underlying this developmental switch are still unclear. We examined the hypothesis claiming that regulation of root lignification determines storage-root formation. We show that application of the plant hormone gibberellin increased stem elongation and root gibberellin levels, while having inhibitory effects on root system parameters, decreasing lateral root number and length, and significantly reducing storage-root number and diameter. Furthermore, gibberellin enhanced root xylem development, caused increased lignin deposition, and, at the same time, decreased root starch accumulation. In accordance with these developmental effects, gibberellin application upregulated expression levels of sweetpotato orthologues of Arabidopsis vascular development regulators ( IbNA075 , IbVND7 , and IbSND2 ) and of lignin biosynthesis genes ( IbPAL , IbC4H , Ib4CL , IbCCoAOMT , and IbCAD ), while downregulating starch biosynthesis genes ( IbAGPase and IbGBSS ) in the roots. Interestingly, gibberellin downregulated root expression levels of orthologues of the Arabidopsis BREVIPEDICELLUS transcription factor ( IbKN2 and IbKN3 ), regulator of meristem maintenance. The results substantiate our hypothesis and mark gibberellin as an important player in regulation of sweetpotato root development, suggesting that increased fiber formation and lignification inhibit storage-root formation and yield. Taken together, our findings provide insight into the mechanisms underlying sweetpotato storage-root formation and provide a valuable database of genes for further research., (Copyright © 2019 Singh, Sergeeva, Ligterink, Aloni, Zemach, Doron-Faigenboim, Yang, Zhang, Shabtai and Firon.)

Key Message: Tulip vegetative reproduction. Tulips reproduce asexually by the outgrowth of their axillary meristems located in the axil of each bulb scale. The number of axillary meristems in one bulb is low, and not all of them grow out during the yearly growth cycle of the bulb. Since the degree of axillary bud outgrowth in tulip determines the success of their vegetative propagation, this study aimed at understanding the mechanism controlling the differential axillary bud activity. We used a combined physiological and "bottom-up" molecular approach to shed light on this process and found that first two inner located buds do not seem to experience dormancy during the growth cycle, while mid-located buds enter dormancy by the end of the growing season. Dormancy was assessed by weight increase and TgTB1 expression levels, a conserved TCP transcription factor and well-known master integrator of environmental and endogenous signals influencing axillary meristem outgrowth in plants. We showed that TgTB1 expression in tulip bulbs can be modulated by sucrose, cytokinin and strigolactone, just as it has been reported for other species. However, the limited growth of mid-located buds, even when their TgTB1 expression is downregulated, points at other factors, probably physical, inhibiting their growth. We conclude that the time of axillary bud initiation determines the degree of dormancy and the sink strength of the bud. Thus, development, apical dominance, sink strength, hormonal cross-talk, expression of TgTB1 and other possibly physical but unidentified players, all converge to determine the growth capacity of tulip axillary buds.

Flooding negatively affects the growth and even survival of most terrestrial plants. Upon flooding, the excess water quickly decreases the gas exchange between atmosphere and the submerged plant tissues, which leads to oxygen deficiency resulting in a plant cell energy crisis, and eventually plant death. Solanum dulcamara survives flooding by producing aerenchymatous adventitious roots (ARs) from pre-formed primordia on the stem, which replace the original flood-sensitive root system. However, we found that under complete submergence, AR outgrowth was impaired in S. dulcamara. In the present work, we tried to elucidate the mechanisms behind this phenomenon in particular the involvement of the phytohormones auxin, abscisic acid and jasmonic acid. Abscisic acid (ABA) is a negative regulator of AR outgrowth, but surprisingly the ABA content and signaling were decreased to a similar extent under both partial and complete submergence, suggesting that ABA might not be responsible for the difference in AR outgrowth. Auxin, which is necessary for AR outgrowth, was at similar concentrations in either partially or completely submerged primordia, but complete submergence resulted in a decrease of auxin signaling in the primordia. Application of 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) to completely submerged plants restored AR outgrowth, implying that auxin response in the rooting tissues of completely submerged plants was reduced. Furthermore, jasmonic acid (JA) concentrations did not differ between partial and complete submergence. To conclude, a disruption in the auxin signaling within S. dulcamara AR primordia may result in the abortion of AR outgrowth under complete submergence., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.)

Studies on natural variation are an important tool to unravel the genetic basis of quantitative traits in plants. Despite the significant roles of phytohormones in plant development, including root architecture, hardly any studies have been done to investigate natural variation in endogenous hormone levels in plants. Therefore, in the present study a range of hormones were quantified in root extracts of thirteen Arabidopsis thaliana accessions using a ultra performance liquid chromatography triple quadrupole mass spectrometer. Root system architecture of the set of accessions was quantified, using a new parameter (mature root unit) for complex root systems, and correlated with the phytohormone data. Significant variations in phytohormone levels among the accessions were detected, but were remarkably small, namely less than three-fold difference between extremes. For cytokinins, relatively larger variations were found for ribosides and glucosides, as compared to the free bases. For root phenotyping, length-related traits-lateral root length and total root length-showed larger variations than lateral root number-related ones. For root architecture, antagonistic interactions between hormones, for example, indole-3-acetic acid to trans-zeatin were detected in correlation analysis. These findings provide conclusive evidence for the presence of natural variation in phytohormone levels in Arabidopsis roots, suggesting that quantitative genetic analyses are feasible., (© 2017 The Authors. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences.)

To estimate the efficiency of proline dehydrogenase gene suppression towards increasing of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) tolerance level to water deficit and salinity, we employed strain LBA4404 harboring pBi2E with double-stranded RNA-suppressor, which were prepared on basis arabidopsis ProDH1 gene. The techniques of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in vitro and in planta during fertilization sunflower have been proposed. There was shown the genotype-depended integration of T-DNA in sunflower genome. PCR-analysis showed that ProDH1 presents in genome of inbred lines transformed in planta, as well as in T1- and T2-generations. In trans-genic regenerants the essential accumulation of free L-proline during early stages of in vitro cultivation under normal conditions was shown. There was established the essential accumulation of free proline in transgenic regenerants during cultivation under lethal stress pressure (0.4 M mannitol and 2.0% sea water salts) and its decline upon the recovery period. These data are declared about effectiveness of suppression of sunflower ProDH and gene participation in processes connected with osmotolerance.

An easy-to-use colorimetric test-system for the efficient detection of creatinine in aqueous samples was developed. The test-system is based on composite molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) membranes with artificial receptor sites capable of creatinine recognition. A thin MIP layer was created on the surface of microfiltration polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes using method of photo-initiated grafting polymerization. The MIP layer was obtained by co-polymerization of a functional monomer (e.g. 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid, itaconic acid or methacrylic acid) with N, N'-methylenebisacrylamide as a cross-linker. The choice of the functional monomer was based on the results of computational modeling. The creatinine-selective composite MIP membranes were used for measuring creatinine in aqueous samples. Creatinine molecules were selectively adsorbed by the MIP membranes and quantified using color reaction with picrates. The intensity of MIP membranes staining was proportional to creatinine concentration in an analyzed sample. The colorimetric test-system based on the composite MIP membranes was characterized with 0.25 mM detection limit and 0.25-2.5mM linear dynamic range. Storage stability of the MIP membranes was estimated as at least 1 year at room temperature. As compared to the traditional methods of creatinine detection the developed test-system is characterized by simplicity of operation, small size and low cost., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The aim of study was to optimize evaluation and surgery of cranioorbital injuries in different periods after trauma. Material and methods. We analyzed 374 patients with cranioorbital injuries treated in Burdenko Neurosurgery Institute in different periods after trauma from January 1998 till April 2010. 288 (77%) underwent skull and facial skeleton reconstructive surgery within 24 hours - 7 years after trauma. Clinical and CT examination data were used for preoperative planning and assessment of surgery results. Stereolithographic models (STLM) were applied for preoperative planning in 89 cases. The follow-up period ranged from 4 months up to 10 years. Results. In 254 (88%) of 288 patients reconstruction of anterior skull base, upper and/or midface with restoration of different parts of orbit was performed. Anterior skull base CSF leaks repair, calvarial vault reconstruction, maxillar and mandibular osteosynthesis were done in 34 (12%) cases. 242 (84%) of 288 patients underwent one reconstructive operation, while 46 (16%)--two and more (totally 105 operations). The patients with extended frontoorbital and midface fractures commonly needed more than one operation--in 27 (62.8%) cases. Different plastic materials were used for reconstruction in 233 (80.9%) patients, of those in 147 (51%) cases split calvarial bone grafts were preferred. Good functional and cosmetic results were achieved in 261 (90.6%) of 288 patients while acceptable were observed in 27 (9.4%). Conclusion. Active single-stage surgical management for repair of combined cranioorbital injury in acute period with primary reconstruction optimizes functional and cosmetic outcomes and prevents the problems of delayed or secondary reconstruction. Severe extended anterior skull base, upper and midface injuries when intracranial surgery is needed produced the most challenging difficulties for adequate reconstruction. Randomized trial is required to define the extent and optimal timing of reconstructive surgery in patients with severe traumatic brain injury and craniofacial injury in acute period of trauma.

Portable biomimetic sensor devices for the express control of phenols content in water were developed. The synthetic binding sites mimicking active site of the enzyme tyrosinase were formed in the structure of free-standing molecularly imprinted polymer membranes. Molecularly imprinted polymer membranes with the catalytic activity were obtained by co-polymerization of the complex Cu(II)-catechol-urocanic acid ethyl ester with (tri)ethyleneglycoldimethacrylate, and oligourethaneacrylate. Addition of the elastic component oligourethaneacrylate provided formation of the highly cross-linked polymer with the catalytic activity in a form of thin, flexible, and mechanically stable membrane. High accessibility of the artificial catalytic sites for the interaction with the analyzed phenol molecules was achieved due to addition of linear polymer (polyethyleneglycol Mw 20,000) to the initial monomer mixture before the polymerization. As a result, typical semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (semi-IPNs) were formed. The cross-linked component of the semi-IPN was represented by the highly cross-linked catalytic molecularly imprinted polymer, while the linear one was represented by polyethyleneglycol Mw 20,000. Extraction of the linear polymer from the fully formed semi-IPN resulted in formation of large pores in the membranes' structure. Concentration of phenols in the analyzed samples was detected using universal portable device oxymeter with the oxygen electrode in a close contact with the catalytic molecularly imprinted polymer membrane as a transducer. The detection limit of phenols detection using the developed sensor system based on polymers-biomimics with the optimized composition comprised 0.063 mM, while the linear range of the sensor comprised 0.063-1 mM. The working characteristics of the portable sensor devices were investigated. Storage stability of sensor systems at room temperature comprised 12 months (87%). As compared to traditional methods of phenols detection the developed sensor system is characterized by simplicity of operation, compactness, and low cost., (Copyright 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)