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The karyosphere (karyosome) is a structure that forms in the oocyte nucleus—germinal vesicle (GV)—at the diplotene stage of meiotic prophase due to the assembly of all chromosomes in a limited portion of the GV. In some organisms, the karyosphere has an extrachromosomal external capsule, the marker protein of which is nuclear F-actin. Despite many years of theories about the formation of the karyosphere capsule (KC) in the GV of the common frog Rana temporaria, we present data that cast doubt on its existence, at least in this species. Specific extrachromosomal strands, which had been considered the main elements of the frog’s KC, do not form a continuous layer around the karyosphere and, according to immunogold labeling, do not contain structural proteins, such as actin and lamin B. At the same time, F-actin is indeed noticeably concentrated around the karyosphere, creating the illusion of a capsule at the light microscopy/fluorescence level. The barrier-to-autointegration factor (BAF) and one of its functional partners—LEMD2, an inner nuclear membrane protein—are not localized in the strands, suggesting that the strands are not functional counterparts of the nuclear envelope. The presence of characteristic strands in the GV of R. temporaria late oocytes may reflect an excess of SMC1 involved in the structural maintenance of diplotene oocyte chromosomes at the karyosphere stage, since SMC1 has been shown to be the most abundant protein in the strands. Other characteristic microstructures—the so-called annuli, very similar in ultrastructure to the nuclear pore complexes—do not contain nucleoporins Nup35 and Nup93, and, therefore, they cannot be considered autonomous pore complexes, as previously thought. Taken together, our data indicate that traditional ideas about the existence of the R. temporaria KC as a special structural compartment of the GV are to be revisited.

The chromatin-remodeling protein ATRX, which is currently recognized as one of the key genome caretakers, plays an important role in oogenesis and early embryogenesis in mammals. ATRX distribution in the nuclei of mouse embryos developing in vivo and in vitro, including when the embryos are arrested at the two-cell stage—the so-called two-cell block in vitro—was studied using immunofluorescent labeling and FISH. In normally developing two- and four-cell embryos, ATRX was found to be closely colocalized with pericentromeric DNA sequences detected with a probe to the mouse major satellite DNA. The association of ATRX with pericentromeric heterochromatin is mediated by nuclear actin and reduced after the treatment of embryos with latrunculin B. When culturing embryos in vitro, the distribution pattern of ATRX changes, leading to a decrease in the association of this protein with major satellite DNA especially under the two-cell block in vitro. Taken together, our data suggest that the intranuclear distribution of ATRX reflects the viability of mouse embryos and their probability of successful preimplantation development.

The escalating environmental problems need scientific understanding, which is facilitated by the theoretical and educational works of Professor I.A. Ignatieva. They analyze the concept, objects, sources, and development of legal institutions of modern environmental law and legislation, considering previously published monographs of well-known scholars. Of great interest are her reflections concerning the initial formation of natural resources law, fundamental for environmental relations, as well as growing importance and development of environmental law. Among other issues the author emphasizes the place of a person in the environment, which is protected for the benefit of his life and health. The traditional for Russian and foreign law issue of the relationship between “environmental protection” and “ensuring environmental safety”, provided for in the Constitution of the Russian Federation, and in strategic planning documents is also in the focus.

This article discusses the methods and results of assessing the angular resolution and sounding depth of enhanced-power ground penetration radars obtained during archaeological and geographical expeditionary works in various natural areas. Elongated local objects were used as test objects to evaluate the horizontal radiation pattern of the Loza–V georadar in the upper- and lower-half spaces. The depth of operation of the Loza–N low-frequency radar was estimated during a geophysical study of a unique natural object in the Siberian taiga. The variability of the GPR antenna radiation patterns in different materials (air, dry, or wet soils) confirms the necessity of quantitative measurements with controlled electrophysical parameters.

Purpose: This paper aims to provide an overview of the history, the present and the future or the learning organization as a concept and a practical approach, from the perspective of Professor John Burgoyne. Design/methodology/approach: This conversation piece follows the development of the concept from its early days into the current debates and the possible directions for future development. Findings: The interview highlights an interesting path the learning organization took in the UK, stemming from a drive for more and better management education, and evolving into a systemic view on various aspects of organizational capabilities, concerned primarily with organizational longevity and adaptability. The thinking behind Pedler, Burgoyne and Boydell's model of a learning company is discussed. Several "hot" topics are identified, either overlooked in the past, or becoming more relevant in the modern world, precipitated by technological and societal changes. Originality/value: The interview provides an insight into the thinking of one of the best known authors in the field. Understanding of the concept's evolution path, as well as the influences from other fields such as innovation and CSR, could be useful for practitioners and academics working in the subject area, wishing to identify promising future directions for research and practice.

The article examines public organizations that functioned and performed state functions in the field of physical culture and sports. Special attention is paid to previously little-studied issues of interaction of the Union of Sports Societies and Organizations of the USSR with state bodies. The source base of the article is the normative legal acts regulating the activities of this organization, as well as documents of the Kaliningrad regional Union of Sports Societies and Organizations that were not previously introduced into scientific circulation. The liberalization of public life during the Thaw period had a significant impact on the position of public organizations in the Soviet political system. The scientific literature of that time actively discussed the issues of involving citizens and public organizations in solving the problems facing the country. One form of such involvement was the transfer of state functions to public organizations. As a result, public organizations were able to make important decisions in a certain segment of the public sphere. The Union of Sports Societies and Organizations of the USSR became a unique organization that completely replaced the state body in the field of physical culture and sports. Based on the material studied, the author comes to the conclusion that the liquidation of the Union of Sports Societies and Organizations of the USSR in 1968 coincided with other processes aimed at curtailing liberal principles in the USSR. Almost 10 years of activity of this organization have shown that the transfer of state functions into the hands of the public is indeed possible.

A study of the reaction of inelastic scattering of 14.1 MeV neutrons by 23 Na nuclei was carried out at the TANGRA facility using the tagged neutron method. In this work, the energies of visible . transitions are determined, the yields of . -quanta are obtained, the angular distributions of . -quanta for 23 Na are measured. The results obtained are in good agreement with the data of other published experimental works.

The search for simple morphological predictors of oocyte quality is an important task for assisted reproduction technologies (ARTs). One such predictor may be the morphology of the oocyte nucleus, called the germinal vesicle (GV), including the level of chromatin aggregation around the atypical nucleolus (ANu)—a peculiar nuclear organelle, formerly referred to as the nucleolus-like body. A prospective cohort study allowed distinguishing three classes of GV oocytes among 135 oocytes retrieved from 64 patients: with a non-surrounded ANu and rare chromatin blocks in the nucleoplasm (Class A), with a complete peri-ANu heterochromatic rim assembling all chromatin (Class C), and intermediate variants (Class B). Comparison of the chromatin state and the ability of oocytes to complete meiosis allowed us to conclude that Class B and C oocytes are more capable of resuming meiosis in vitro and completing the first meiotic division, while Class A oocytes can resume maturation but often stop their development either at metaphase I (MI arrest) or before the onset of GV breakdown (GVBD arrest). In addition, oocytes with a low chromatin condensation demonstrated a high level of aneuploidy during the resumption of meiosis. Considering that the degree of chromatin condensation/compaction can be determined in vivo under a light microscope, this characteristic of the GV can be considered a promising criterion for selecting the best-quality GV oocytes in IVM rescue programs.

In the oocyte nucleus, called the germinal vesicle (GV) at the prolonged diplotene stage of the meiotic prophase, chromatin undergoes a global rearrangement, which is often accompanied by the cessation of its transcriptional activity. In many mammals, including mice and humans, chromatin condenses around a special nuclear organelle called the atypical nucleolus or formerly nucleolus-like body. Chromatin configuration is an important indicator of the quality of GV oocytes and largely predicts their ability to resume meiosis and successful embryonic development. In mice, GV oocytes are traditionally divided into the NSN (non-surrounded nucleolus) and SN (surrounded nucleolus) based on the specific chromatin configuration. The NSN–SN transition is a key event in mouse oogenesis and the main prerequisite for the normal development of the embryo. As for humans, there is no single nomenclature for the chromatin configuration at the GV stage. This often leads to discrepancies and misunderstandings, the overcoming of which should expand the scope of the application of mouse oocytes as a model for developing new methods for assessing and improving the quality of human oocytes. As a first approximation and with a certain proviso, the mouse NSN/SN classification can be used for the primary characterization of human GV oocytes. The task of this review is to analyze and discuss the existing classifications of chromatin configuration in mouse and human GV oocytes with an emphasis on transcriptional activity extinction at the end of oocyte growth.

Objectives. Determination of target products and byproducts is necessary for the quality control of phthalonitrile monomer synthesis as well as production scaling and performing related kinetic studies. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is a simple and affordable method for quantitative chemical analysis, which also verifies the quality of raw materials. The objective of this study was to develop an HPLC technique for determining the composition of the reaction mixture in the synthesis of 1,3-bis(3,4-dicyanophenoxy)benzene (DPB).Methods. Reversed-phase HPLC was used to quantitatively analyze the reaction mixture.Results. A simple and rapid method for the quantitative HPLC analysis of phthalonitrile monomers and their mixtures with reagents was developed. Reaction times and the accumulation of byproducts were also studied.Conclusions. The successful performance of the developed technique allows us to recommend it for practical applications. The results obtained for reactors of different sizes have good convergence, and DPB synthesis was successfully scaled up to intermediate scale equipment.

Introduction. In recent years, the effects of obesity on male fertility have been extensively investigated. The results of existing studies are extremely contradictory.The study objective was to determine the effect of obesity on the male reproductive system using the biological model of laboratory rats as an example.Materials and methods. In vivo modeling of diet-induced obesity. The study was conducted on 22 laboratory sexually mature white rats weighing 140–160 g. The animals were divided into two groups: 1 control (10 animals) and 2 rats with diet-induced obesity (12 animals). After 12 weeks, the animals were removed from the experiment. All rats underwent: calculation of the Lee index (body mass index in rats), determination of the concentration and viability of spermatozoa in a suspension of sperm from the epididymis, determination of glucose level of total cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood, study of sperm DNA fragmentation, histological examination testis: calculating the crosssectional area of the seminiferous tubule; determination of the number of non-functioning tubules and tubules with desquamated spermiogenic epithelium; determination of the average spermatogenesis index.Results. In the study groups there were no differences in glucose and total cholesterol levels. However, a statistically significant, significant difference in the level of triglycerides in the blood was revealed. The concentration of sperm and their viability in the studied groups did not differ. The level of sperm DNA fragmentation in the experimental group is significantly higher than in the control group (31.5 ± 10.1 and ± 1.4 %, respectively, p

We investigate the atom-field system in the framework of harmonic oscillators based on deformed Heisenberg algebras. We explore the dynamic characteristics of the considered system under the effect of a nonlinear field. In particular, we consider the atomic population, atomic coherence, and atom-field entanglement for a system that comprises a single five-level atom interacting with a single-mode nonlinear field when the deformation effect is taken into account. We examine the time evolution of the quantum quantifiers in the presence of deformation when the initial state of the quantized field is defined to be a nonlinear coherent state (CS) or a superposition state.

The study objective is to determine the connection between meiosis abnormalities and changes in the basement membrane (BM) ultrastructure of the seminiferous tubules in patients with spermatogenesis disorders: azoospermia or severe oligospermia.Materials and methods. Electron microscopy of BMstructure of the seminiferous tubules of 31 patients with azoospermia or severe oligospermia and normal male karyotype (46, XY) without microdeletions of the Y chromosome or structural changes in chromosomes was performed. The group 1 included 18 patients with preserved spermatogenesis including germinal cell differentiation into mature spermatids; the group 2 consisted of13 patients with either Sertoli cells and spermatogonia or only Sertoli cells.Results. Six main types of ultrastructural changes in BM were observed. The most prominent were BM invaginations in the form of basket weaves that were observed in 8 of 13patients in the group 2. In the group 1, individual basket weaves were observed in 2 of 18patients. Im-munocytochemical examination of I order spermatocyte spread nuclei in 14 patients was performed. In patients of the group 2, spermatocytes weren’t discovered. In 10 patients of the group 1, meiosis arrest at the zygotene and pachytene stages was observed in 18—50 % of spermatocytes. In 6patients, 30 to 50 % of spermatocytes with impaired formation of the structure of the sex body were revealed.Conclusion. The morphological changes of the BM of the seminiferous tubules (“basket weaves” and duplications of the BM) are associated with marked disorders of meiosis and spermatogenesis. It is suggested about the possibility of mutations of the genes encoding the proteins of BM.

The nucleus of pre-implantation mammalian embryos is characterized by peculiar structural organization. At the initial stages of cleavage, the nucleus of the embryo contains the so-called nucleolus precursor bodies (NPBs) or pronucleoli rather than functionally active nucleoli. The NPBs are fibrillar electron-dense structures inactive in RNA synthesis. The vast majority of NPBs are surrounded by a ring-shaped zone of transcriptionally inactive heterochromatin. Intriguingly, these zones contain not only tri-methylated histone Н3K9me3 as an epigenetic mark of repressed chromatin but also acetylated histone H4K5ac, a well-known marker of active chromatin. Immunocytochemical data suggest that the molecular composition of this ‘ring heterochromatin’ in mouse embryos changes during the realization of embryonic genome activation events, as well as during artificial suppression of transcription. In zygotes, some factors of mRNA biogenesis including splicing factor SC35 (SRSF2) and basal transcription factor TFIID are detectable in the ring chromatin. At later stages of development, other nuclear proteins such as Y14, a core component of the exon-exon junction complex (EJC), as well as the proteins involved in chromatin remodeling (ATRX, Daxx) are also detectable in this area. A typical component of the ‘ring heterochromatin’ is actin. Anti-actin immunocytochemical labeling is most expressed at the two-cell cleavage stage after activation of the embryonic genome. Indicatively, the molecular composition of the ‘ring heterochromatin’ associated with different NPBs may differ significantly even in the same nucleus. This seems to reflect the functional heterogeneity of morphologically similar NPBs according to their competence to the process of nucleologenesis. Here, we discuss briefly some peculiarities of the molecular composition and possible functions of the NPB-associated heterochromatin in mouse early embryos.

The main function of any ideology is to legitimize the established order of things as true, universal and unshakable. The ideological form is aimed at the formation of the addressee's specific stereotypes of behavior corresponding to the trajectory of officially recognized ideas, values, axioms, principles, norms of law. Legal ideology is a conceptualized expression of normative, political and universal methods of legal understanding. As the methods of ideological influence can be identified scientific-doctrinal and official-legal nomination, legal propaganda, legal education, legal education, etc. Legal propaganda is the systematic and purposeful dissemination in society of certain legal ideas, values, norms and programs of behavior in order to control the addressee and control his thinking and behavior, has a coercive nature in order to prevent deviation from the absolute standards of behavior. Propaganda is often one of the main means of political manipulation. At present," legal propaganda" as the most radical concept has given way to softer methods of ideological influence - "legal education" and " legal upbringing". Legal literacy and legal awareness of citizens in modern Russia is an important area of public policy, the implementation of which is entrusted to the Federal and regional public authorities, local governments, professional legal communities and public associations of lawyers, in close collaboration with civil society structures in the form of social partnerships. The involvement of public organizations for legal education of the population through legal propaganda in order to implement the state policy was actively developed in the Soviet period. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to analyze the phenomenon of the Soviet legal ideology in the context of legal propaganda by public organizations. The study was conducted within the framework of socio-cultural approach. That approach allowed expanding the idea of the place and role of legal propaganda in the Soviet society as a product of the state ideology focused on the identification of Soviet cultural values, its reglamentation and practical realisation.

The objective is to study the occurrence of common genetic factors of male infertility in men with reproductive problems, their combinations and spermatological characteristics.Materials and methods. 393 men with infertility in marriage were examined. According to the results of the cytogenetic study, the sample is divided into 3 groups: 135 men with numerical sex chromosome abnormalities; 58 male patients with a balanced structural rearrangement; 200 men with normal karyotype. Y chromosome microdeletions, CFTR gene mutations and CAG-repeats polymorphism of AR gene were analyzed.Results. The Y-chromosome microdeletions partially AZFc deletions were detected in 13 % male patients with sex chromosome abnormalities. A combination of chromosomal abnormalities with AZF deletions and/or CFTR gene mutations and long CAG repeats of AR gene was found in 19 % infertile men with balanced chromosome rearrangements. Infertile men with normal male karyotype presented the frequency of common genetic factors of male infertility was almost 2 times higher than the combined frequency of these factors in groups of patients with chromosomes abnormalities. Azoospermia in men with normal karyotype and patients with chromosome abnormalities was diagnosed with the same frequency (58 %). In all men who have identified the presence of two or more genetic factors of male infertility, severe forms of pathozoospermia (azoospermia and severe oligozoospermia) were found.Conclusion. The combination of genetic factors of male infertility is accompanied by severe forms of pathozoospermia that indicates a possible additive effect of negative effect on spermatogenesis and male fertility.

Introduction. Infertility is diagnosed in 10–15 % of couples wishing to have children. In about half cases, the cause is a disorders of male fertility. Defects of spermatogenesis are often caused by the damages of key events of prophase I meiosis – synapsis, repair, recombination and desynapsis of homologous chromosomes. All these events are connected with the unique structure of the meiotic nucleus – the synaptonemal complex. Behavior of the lateral elements of the synaptonemal complex serve as a paradigm of chromosome behavior in the meiosis prophase and an indicator of disorders of the chromosome synapsis.Objective is the evaluation of the possibilities analysis of the spread spermatocyte nuclei for establishing the causes and mechanisms of spermatogenesis disturbance and identification of the genetic and reproductive risks of using testicular spermatozoa for in vitro fertilization programs using intracytoplasmic sperm injection.Materials and methods. The material of the study were the biopsies of testes obtained from infertile patients by method of open multifocal testicular biopsy.The suspensions of testicular cells were examined by light microscopy. The structure of the synaptonemal complexes in spread nuclei of primary spermatocytes was studied by electron microscopy. The target meiotic proteins in such nuclei (SCP3, RAD51, MLH1, γH2AX) were localized by the fluorescence microscopy.Results. There were described possibilities of light microscopic analysis of the testicular cells suspensions for the evaluation of spermatogenesis. The features of the structural organization of the sex (XY) bivalent were presented which underlie the determination of the stages of meiotic prophase in human spermatocytes. The signs of the meiotic arrest, the disturbance of the architectonics of meiotic nuclei, synapsis, recombination and chromatin silencing in human spermatocytes at the meiotic prophase I are described in details.Сonclusion. The presented results demonstrate the expediency of introducing methods of electron microscopy and immunocytochemical analysis of the spread spermatocytes nuclei in the practice of the reproductive centers. The using of these methods makes it possible for understanding the mechanisms of infertility genesis, revealing genetic and reproductive risks of using testicular spermatozoa in the fertilization program.

Sports communications hold a firm place in system of the modern international relations. Many states consider sport, sporting achievements and sports contacts as the effective tool of soft force. Cooperation in sport is among priorities of foreign cultural policy of the Russian Federation and is considered by the government of our country as one of ways of formation of positive foreign policy image. In the article sports communications on space of the Commonwealth of Independent States as one of integration bases are analyzed. Work of the International Fund of humanitarian cooperation is especially noted, his contribution to strengthening of sports communications in the former Soviet Union is defined. The detailed review of the sporting events prepared with the assistance of Fund is presented in article. Many programs of regional cooperation of Russia and the CIS countries in the field of physical culture and sport have found reflection in work. Authors place particular emphasis on the actions which were taking place within Year of sport and a healthy lifestyle in the CIS (2012). The concept of Year of sport and a healthy lifestyle reflects humanitarian nature of this large-scale and multi-purpose action in which all states of the CIS have taken part. In the article also other forms of cooperation are considered: the international forums, conferences and symposiums devoted to a sports perspective. Sports cooperation is considered as a basis for development of dialogue in political and economic spheres. Authors draw a conclusion that cooperation of Russia with the CIS countries in sport promotes the solution of many social, humanitarian problems, popularizes a healthy lifestyle, influences formation of ecological thinking, makes a contribution to education of children, youths, youth, intensify cross-cultural dialogue in the former Soviet Union.

Abstract Background The oocyte chromosomes of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, are gathered into a knot, forming a karyosphere at the diplotene stage of meiotic prophase. Chromatin rearrangement, which is a characteristic feature of oocyte maturation, is well documented. The T. castaneum karyosphere is surrounded by a complex extrachromosomal structure termed the karyosphere capsule. The capsule contains the vast majority of oocyte RNA. We have previously shown using a BrUTP assay that oocyte chromosomes in T. castaneum maintain residual transcription up to the very end of oocyte maturation. Karyosphere transcription requires evidently not only transcription factors but also mRNA processing factors, including the components of the exon junction complex with its core component, the splicing factor Y14. We employed a gene engineering approach with injection of mRNA derived from the Myc-tagged Y14 plasmid-based construct in order to monitor the newly synthesized fusion protein in the oocyte nuclei. Results Our preliminary data have been presented as a brief correspondence elsewhere. Here, we provide a full-length article including immunoelectron-microscopy localization data on Y14–Myc distribution in the nucleus of previtellogenic and vitellogenic oocytes. The injections of the fusion protein Y14–Myc mRNA into the oocytes showed a dynamic pattern of the protein distribution. At the previtellogenic stage, there are two main locations for the protein: SC35 domains (the analogues of interchromatin granule clusters or nuclear speckles) and the karyosphere capsule. At the vitellogenic stage, SC35 domains were devoid of labels, and Y14–Myc was found in the perichromatin region of the karyosphere, presumably at the places of residual transcription. We show that karyosphere formation is accompanied by the movement of a nuclear protein while the residual transcription occurs during genome inactivation. Conclusions Our data indicate that the karyosphere capsule, being a destination site for a protein involved in mRNA splicing and export, is not only a specializes part of nuclear matrix separating the karyosphere from the products of chromosome activity, as believed previously, but represents a special nuclear compartment involved in the processes of gene expression in the case the karyosphere retains residual transcription activity.

The Death-domain associated protein 6 (DAXX) is an evolutionarily conserved and ubiquitously expressed multifunctional protein that is implicated in many cellular processes, including transcription, cellular proliferation, cell cycle regulation, Fas-induced apoptosis, and many other events. In the nucleus, DAXX interacts with transcription factors, epigenetic modifiers, and chromatin-remodeling proteins such as the transcription regulator ATRX—the α-thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome X-linked ATP-dependent helicase II. Accordingly, DAXX is considered one of the main players involved in chromatin silencing and one of the most important factors that maintain integrity of the genome. In this brief review, we summarize available data regarding the general and specific functions of DAXX in mammalian early development, with special emphasis on the function of DAXX as a chaperone of the histone variant H3.3. Since H3.3 plays a key role in the developmental processes, especially in the pronounced rearrangements of heterochromatin compartment during oogenesis and embryogenesis, DAXX can be considered as an important factor supporting proper development. Specifically, loss of DAXX affects the recruitment of ATRX, transcription of tandem repeats and telomere functions, which results in a decrease in the viability of early embryos.