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Abstract Auxiliary bioartificial liver (BAL) is a promising direction for supporting liver functions in acute liver failure. However, clinical trials of BAL have not shown convincing results so far. We present a prototype of a hybrid biocomposite plasma filter containing living immortalized hepatocytes. This filter is designed to integrate into the biological circuit of the extracorporeal blood purification system with the aim of mimicking some functions of the liver. Due to the presence of hepatocytes in the filter, adequate metabolism of plasma substrates is ensured when blood contacts with special perforated membranes. We used HepG2 cell line as working cells. For evaluating the performance of the filter, we applied plasma from patients with liver failure who had abnormalities in biochemical indicators of blood. We analyzed concentrations of albumin, total and direct bilirubin and urea as criteria for effectiveness. Our results indicate normalization of these parameters after passing plasma through 7 filters and improvement after passing through 1 filter. This confirms the effectiveness of our prototype and creates a basis for developing a new extracorporeal BAL.

Ferrocene‐modified natural compounds are of interest for the development of new pharmaceuticals due to improved bioavailability, increased bioactivity, and also as redox markers or vectors. Betulin is a natural plant‐derived product with a wide range of pharmacological properties. However, it is limited in its bioavailability and efficacy. In order to enhance its pharmacological profile, the ferrocene modification of betulin was used in this study. A hybrid of the betulin core (up to 30 % betulin in birch bark) with a ferrocene moiety combined through a piperazine linker (compound 12) was prepared in good yield from readily available ferrocene carboxylic acid and betulonic acid, a natural betulin derivative, via coupling reactions. Spectroscopic techniques, including 1H and 13C NMR, IR and UV‐vis spectroscopy, as well as circular dichroism (CD), were applied to characterize the physicochemical and chiroptical properties. The cytotoxicity of the synthesized hybrid 12 and its ferrocene precursor 13 on MCF‐7 human cancer cell lines were in vitro evaluated by the MTT assay. The IC50 cytotoxicity index of 12 was found to be 26 μM. The theoretically calculated energies of the HOMO‐LUMO orbitals and electronic characteristics of betulin 10, betulonic acid 11, hybrid 12 and ferrocenyl piperazine 13 were determined by the DFT method with hybrid functionals ωB97XD, LC‐ωPBE and B3LYP‐D3 and pure M06 L functionals, with a 6‐311+G(d), 6‐31G(d) or TZV basis set. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of the study: The relevance of the research problem is conditioned by the intensification of innovative processes in modern economy and in the banking sector, in particular, as one of the most sensitive areas for innovation and innovative types of services and information and communication innovations today is one of the major conditions for ensuring the required level of competitiveness of banks. The purpose of the study: the Aim of this research is to develop methodical approaches to assess the impact of electronic banking service on the economic parameters of the Bank activity. Research methods: The main methods of research are methods of factor analysis, pair correlation, multiple correlation analysis, matrix models, and mathematical modeling. The results of the study: The paper proposes a synthesized variant of the method for assessing of the impact of electronic banking services on the basis of the Internet technologies on the parameters of economic development of banking structure, which is based on a mathematical model of the technology of remote banking services. Practical significance: The paper is intended for researchers studying the problems of assessing of electronic banking services' impact, in particular the development of remote banking services, as well as professionals of the banking sector, dealing with investments and project implementation in its development.

The relevance of research: The relevance of the problem studied is caused by the acceleration of transition of the Russian economy on an innovative way of development, which depends on the vector of innovative sphere of services and, to a large extent, information and communication services, as well as it is caused by the poor drafting of methodical approaches to the effectiveness's evaluation of the processes of information and communication services' commercialization. Purpose of the study: The purpose of the study is to develop a methodic to assess the relationship of basic indicators of projects of information and communication services' development. Methods of the study: The basic methods of research are methods of stochastic factor analysis, method of pair correlation, multiple correlation analysis, matrix models and mathematical modeling. Results of the study: Based on the analysis of traditional methodic for assessing of the cost-effectiveness of projects of information and communication systems' development the paper offers combined method to estimate the dependencies of financial indicators' basic parameters of projects on long-term development of mobile operators in providing of information and communication services. Practical significance: The paper is intended for researchers, teachers and undergraduates studying the problems to assess the effectiveness of the projects' commercialization in the service sector, particularly, in the development of information and communication services, as well as for specialists--mobile operators, engaged in the problems of development projects' investment and implementation.

The interaction between natural amino acids and hydrogen peroxide is of paramount importance due to the widespread use of hydrogen peroxide in biological and environmentally significant processes. Given that both amino acids and hydrogen peroxide occur in nature in two enantiomeric forms, it is crucial to investigate the formation of complexes between them, considering the role of molecular chirality. In this work, we report a theoretical study on the hydrogen peroxide enantiomers and their interactions with L- and S-serine and their clusters. We aimed to evaluate the non-covalent interactions between each hydrogen peroxide enantiomer and the L- and D-enantiomers of the non-essential amino acid serine and their clusters. First, the potential energy surfaces (PES) of transitions between enantiomers of the simplest chiral molecule, hydrogen peroxide, in the gas phase and in aqueous solution were studied using the Møller–Plesset theory method MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ. The activation energies of such transitions were calculated. The interactions of both hydrogen peroxide enantiomers (P and M) with L- and D-serine enantiomers were analyzed by density functional theory (DFT) with ωb97xd/6-311+G**, B3Lyp/6-311+G**, B3P86/6-311+G**, and M06/6-311+G** functionals. We found that both enantiomers of hydrogen peroxide bind more strongly to L-serine and its clusters than to D-serine, especially highlighting that the L form is the predominant natural form of this and other chiral amino acids. The optimized geometric parameters, interaction energies, and HOMO-LUMO energies for various complexes were estimated. Furthermore, circular dichroism (CD) spectra, which are optical chirality characteristics, were simulated for all the complexes under study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Given the rising interest in complementary therapeutic strategies for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), this research aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of the impact of animal-assisted activities and therapies (AAAT) on various ASD symptoms. Methods: A meticulous search of databases, including Scopus and PubMed, was conducted to gather relevant research on AAAT for ASD. This process led to the selection of 45 studies encompassing 1,212 participants. The chosen studies were then subjected to a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of AAAT in alleviating core ASD symptoms. Results: The meta-analysis revealed significant improvements in several core ASD symptoms due to AAAT. Notably, there were improvements in social communication (MD  = −4.96, 95% CI [−7.49, −2.44]), irritability (MD  = −2.38, 95% CI [−4.06, −0.71]), hyperactivity (MD  = −4.03, 95% CI [−6.17, −1.89]), and different word usage skills (MD  =  20.48, 95% CI [7.41, 33.55]). However, social awareness (MD  = −1.63, 95% CI [−4.07, 0.81]), social cognition (MD  = −3.60, 95% CI [−9.36, 2.17]), social mannerisms (MD  = −0.73, 95% CI [−2.55, 1.09]), social motivation (MD  = −1.21, 95% CI [−2.56, 0.13]), lethargy (MD  = −1.12, 95% CI [−3.92, 1.68]), and stereotypical behaviors (MD  = −0.23, 95% CI [−1.27, 0.80]) did not significantly improve. Conclusion: The study demonstrates the potential of AAAT in improving certain core symptoms of ASD, such as social communication, irritability, hyperactivity, and word usage skills. However, the effectiveness of AAAT in other ASD symptom domains remains uncertain. The research is limited by the absence of long-term follow-up data and a high risk of bias in existing studies. Therefore, while the findings indicate the promise of AAAT in specific areas, caution is advised in generalizing its efficacy across all ASD symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective: This article examines he potential and resources available within the pension framework, highlighting the key financial mechanisms supporting individuals during times of job cessation or facing significant life risks. Methods: The study employs a social-dynamic approach, analyzing the components and financial strategies of the pension system through extensive forecasting and systemic analysis. Results: The study advocates for the adoption of a social-dynamic approach to evaluate and enhance the financial capabilities integral to the pension infrastructure. The concept and categorization of the resources and services within the pension scheme are introduced by the author. The analysis reveals that discrepancies and inconsistencies in understanding the pension framework's composition and fiscal strategies lead to operational flaws, conflicts, and instability. Conclusion: The study concludes that a revised pension framework must be adopted, emphasizing a hybrid model that incorporates both contributory and capital-funded schemes. This model should enhance the resilience of the pension system, ensuring its capability to meet the demands of current and future retirees and stabilize the financial foundation of the pension provision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inborn Errors of Immunity (IEI) are characterized by a heightened susceptibility to infections, allergies, and various other health complications. Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) in patients with IEI is a critical area of research that demands attention due to the impact of IEI on patients' lives. This study utilized bibliometric methods, aiming to comprehensively explore the research content and hotspots in the field of HRQOL in patients with IEI. Methods: This bibliometric analysis utilized data from the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) and Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) within the Web of Science core datasets up to January 1, 2024. The study focused on literature that addressed HRQOL in IEI patients, involving a total of 1,807 authors and 309 articles published across 112 journals. The analysis included publication volume and growth trends, country and institutional contributions, authorship, and journal analysis. Results: The research found that despite the importance of HRQOL in IEI, the volume of publications in this field remains consistently low, with no significant increase in trend. The USA leads in publication and citation volumes, reflecting a geographical imbalance in research contributions. Key journals in this field include the Journal of Clinical Immunology, Frontiers in Immunology, and the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The study highlights that while treatments like hematopoietic stem cell transplants and gene therapy have improved patient IEI survival rates, they still often come with significant side effects impacting HRQOL. The analysis underlines the need for comprehensive HRQOL assessments in IEI, considering the physical and psychological impacts of treatments. Conclusions: This study represents a bibliometric analysis focusing on HRQOL in patients with. It underscores the need for more extensive and systematic research in this area, emphasizing the importance of a multidisciplinary approach. Despite advancements in medical treatments for IEI, there is a crucial need to focus on HRQOL to enhance patient satisfaction and overall wellbeing. The findings advocate for more personalized treatment plans and a better understanding of the psychosocial needs of patients with IEI to improve their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]