Search

See the retraction notice BIO Web of Conferences 84, 00001 (2024), https://doi.org/10.1051/bioconf/20248400001

At the time of writing, humanity’s struggle with coronavirus infection has been going on for almost 1.5 years, but the outcome is still unknown. The SARS-CoV-2 virus significantly affects the life of every person, which underlines the urgency of the problem. To combat COVID-19, the authorities of the region take many decisions to delay and slow down the growth of morbidity. This article is aimed at studying the impact of restrictive measures imposed by the authorities on the development of the situation with a new coronavirus infection. A computer prognostic model will be used to compare the effectiveness of each solution for new virus strains and outbreaks of morbidity. Based on the model, the results of the impact of decisions and methods taken by the authorities during the pandemic on the development of the morbidity situation will be analyzed. In order to obtain statistically important data on territorial parameters, the Kaluga region was chosen, taking into account the location near Moscow, where the disease manifests itself most vividly, due to the large number of residents.

The fourth industrial revolution is changing the technological face of the economy. Digital technologies are especially widespread in it. They affect all areas of the economy. These changes require in-depth research. The purpose of the article is to analyze financial technologies considered as a factor in the development of the financial sector in the digital economy. To achieve this goal, methods of institutional, retrospective and comparative analysis, modeling and forecasting were used. As a result of the research, theoretical approaches to the study of digital financial technologies have been systematized; perspective areas of their application are considered; the prerequisites, factors and risks of their application in the financial sector are determined. The main trend in the considered area is the intensification of competition between banks and IT companies, which makes it necessary for banks to change the traditional banking business model. Banks will transform into IT companies. And IT companies will penetrate deeper into the financial sector using fintech start-ups. It is expected that the convergence of these sectors of the economy will increase, which will lead to the formation of new integral industries based on digital and platform fintech technologies. Comprehensive support for the development of new digital financial technologies is needed. The tools of such support are support for the creation and implementation of digital financial innovations, stimulation of digital start-ups, support for companies in the implementation of digital financial technologies, the formation of a digital market, etc.

The development of the situation around Covid-19 is an urgent problem for the whole world, and it is still not known exactly how the pandemic will develop. However, based on the data of the virus spread to date, it is possible to model the approximate outcome of the activities of humanity in the fight against Covid-19. To develop this model, we used a simulation tool-AnyLogic (Personal Learning Edition) with support for the Java programming language. This software has a large analytical functionality. When creating the Covid-19 infection model, the free version of the program was used. This model is only relevant if the pandemic continues at the same pace. There are many factors that can deviate from the presented model in any direction: early release from restrictive measures, virus mutations, forced vaccination of the population, and other measures that directly affect the main indicators of infection development. In the process of modelling the spread of Covid-19 coronavirus infection in the Kaluga region, results were obtained that reflect the rate of development of the pandemic. Thus, it is possible to identify the weaknesses of the fight against viruses and further minimize the rate of development of the disease.

The development of smart cities is based on the use of new technologies. One of these promising technologies is Blockchain. The use of Blockchain gives great opportunities for solving a complex of problems related to: ensuring energy efficiency in buildings, the introduction of sustainable energy technologies for megacities, the formation of eco-friendly settlements, etc. The article analyzes the possibilities of using Blockchain technology in the social sphere of the city. The analysis is carried out on the example of health and pharmaceuticals. The study was carried out in the framework of the institutional approach and the concept of economic opportunities. The objectives of the study were: to identify specific areas of use of Blockchain technology in the pharmaceutical and health care industries; to evaluate the role of this technology in ensuring compliance with medical standards, transparency and safety of drugs at all stages of their development, promotion and use; to determine the possibilities of technology in identifying more effective and high-quality treatment methods, their implementation in practical health care. The article presents the structure of the areas of pharmaceuticals and health care, where the Blockchain is used. The strategies are offered to reduce labour and energy costs for processing medical information, accelerating the creation of new treatment technologies and the creation of medicines, their implementation in practical health care..

The development of information technology in the modern economy is one of the drivers of economic growth. Digital technologies are developing at an accelerating pace. Digitalization stimulates not only economic, but also social and technological progress. The impact of digital technology in different industries is not the same. The authors of the article consider such promising modern technology as Blockchain. Its advantage is that the information is protected from unauthorized modification. This transforms the system of economic relations. The level of trust increases. Opportunistic behaviour of participants in contractual relations is blocked. As a result, economic efficiency improves. These positive effects are analyzed in the case of the pharmaceutical industry. The introduction of Blockchain technologies into pharmaceuticals allows you to track all stages of production of drugs and guarantee their quality. Blockchain technology allows you to confirm the authenticity of recipes and the drugs with the help of special digital devices. The consequence of this is a reduction in the number of counterfeit drugs on the market, as well as improving the quality of medical care for the population.

The wild soybean Glycine soja Sieb. et Zucc. is an ancestor of the cultivated soybean Glycine max (L.) Merr. and a source of many valuable genes missing in the G. max genome, including genes that determine stress resistance to adverse environmental factors. Biochemical parameters (protein, oil, ascorbic acid, carotene, higher fatty acids, and specific activities and multiple forms of enzymes of the oxidoreductase and hydrolase classes) were studied in five G. soja accessions from the collection of the All-Russian Institute of Soybean (КА-1413, КА-342, КBl-29, КBl-24, and Kеl-72). The accessions provide unique natural gene banks. Wild seeds were collected in three districts (Arkharinskii, Blagoveshchensk, and Belogorskii) of Amur Oblast. Based on superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), ribonuclease (RNase), acid phosphatase, esterase, and amylase (AML) activities and biochemical parameters of seeds, the G. soja accession KA-1413 was found to have higher contents of protein, oleic acid, and linolenic acid; a lower polyphenol oxidase specific activity; and higher activities of SODs, esterases, and RNases. The accession KA-1413 was therefore recommended to use as a source of dominant genes in breeding to increase the adaptive potential of new soybean varieties. A higher heterogeneity of multiple forms was observed for SOD, AML, RNase, and esterase, which can provide markers of adaptation to environmental conditions., (© 2024. Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.)

In recent years, extensive research efforts have been dedicated to the investigation of CdSe/CdS-based quantum-confined nanostructures, driven by their distinctive properties. The morphologies of these nanostructures have been shown to directly affect their properties, an area which has proven to be an important field of study. Herein, we report a new morphology of CdSe/CdS core-shell heterostructures in the form of a 'nanonail' - a modified nanorod-like morphology, in which a distinctive triangular head can be observed at one end of the structure. In-depth studies of this morphology reveal a material with tuneable rod length and width, as well as exceptional photoluminescent properties. Following this, we have demonstrated the ability to induce chiroptical activity via ligand exchange, revealing the important role of the specific morphology, shell thickness and chiral ligand concentration in the effect of ligand induced chirality. In addition, the cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of obtained chiral nanostructures were evaluated on human lung-derived A549 cancer cells, revealing a significant enantioselectivity in biological activity. Finally, analysis on monolayers of the material demonstrate the complete absence of FRET processes. Overall, this CdSe/CdS heterostructure is another tuneable morphology of a very important nanomaterial, one which shows great advantages and a range of potential applications.

In this research, we present a detailed comparative analysis of the bioactive substances of soybean varieties k-11538 (Russia), k-11559 (Russia), k-569 (China), k-5367 (China), k-5373 (China), k-5586 (Sweden), and Primorskaya-86 (Russia) using an LSM 800 confocal laser microscope and an amaZon ion trap SL mass spectrometer. Laser microscopy made it possible to clarify in detail the spatial arrangement of the polyphenolic content of soybeans. Our results revealed that the phenolics of soybean are spatially located mainly in the seed coat and the outer layer of the cotyledon. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used in combination with an amaZon SL BRUKER DALTONIKS ion trap (tandem mass spectrometry) to identify target analytes in soybean extracts. The results of initial studies revealed the presence of 63 compounds, and 45 of the target analytes were identified as polyphenolic compounds.

We compared the effect of Xymedon (100 mg/kg), Mexidol (50 mg/kg), and their combination on spermatogenesis indicators and functional state of spermatozoa in rats with Walker-256 carcinoma treated with doxorubicin (4 mg/kg) and cyclophosphamide (45 mg/kg) (once intraperitoneally on day 11 after tumor cells transplantation). Xymedon and Mexidol were injected intramuscularly for 10 days starting from day 11 of the experiment. The studied parameters were evaluated on experimental days 14 and 21. We have established that gonadoprotective effect of Xymedon developed gradually and persisted longer than that of Mexidol. It manifested in an increase in the number of epithelial spermatogenesis cells (spermatogonia by 3.2 times, early spermatids by 2.2 times, late spermatids by 2.9 times, and Leydig cells by 4 times) in the testes and also the proportion of viable progressively and non-progressively motile epididymal spermatozoa (by 2 times). The combination of Xymedon and Mexidol stimulated spermatogenesis (with restoration of the initial level of spermatocytes, an increase in the number of early spermatids by 65.5 and 99% in comparison with Xymedon alone and Mexidol alone, respectively) and increased the number of viable epididymal spermatozoa more effectively than Xymedon and Mexidol alone by 54 and 60%, respectively., (© 2021. Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Since chirality is one of the phenomena often occurring in nature, optically active chiral compounds are important for applications in the fields of biology, pharmacology, and medicine. With this in mind, chiral carbon dots (CDs), which are eco-friendly and easy-to-obtain light-emissive nanoparticles, offer great potential for sensing, bioimaging, enantioselective synthesis, and development of emitters of circularly polarized light. Herein, chiral CDs have been produced via two synthetic approaches using a chiral amino acid precursor l/d-cysteine: (i) surface modification treatment of achiral CDs at room temperature and (ii) one-pot carbonization in the presence of chiral precursor. The chiral signal in the absorption spectra of synthesized CDs originates not only from the chiral precursor but from the optical transitions attributed to the core and surface states of CDs. The use of chiral amino acid molecules in the CD synthesis through carbonization results in a substantial (up to 8 times) increase in their emission quantum yield. Moreover, the synthesized CDs show two-photon absorption which is an attractive feature for their potential bioimaging and sensing applications.

Chirality is a fundamental phenomenon in biological systems, since most of the biomolecules and biological components and species are chiral and therefore recognize and respond differently depending on the enantiomer present. With increasing research into the use of nanomaterials for biomedical purposes, it is essential to understand the role that chirality of nanoparticles plays at the cellular level. Here, the chiral cysteine functionalization of mesoporous silica nanoparticles has been shown to broadly affect its interaction with U87 MG human glioblastoma cell, healthy human fibroblast (GM08680) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus bacteria. We believe that this research is important to further advancement of nano-biotechnology.

Chronic noninfectious diseases (cardiovascular, bronchopulmonary, oncological diseases and diabetes mellitus) are presently the most common cause of death worldwide, with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) being predominant. For this reason, the key goal of a physician is not only to treat but also to prevent diseases. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is considered one of the most effective drugs for secondary prevention of CVD. However, the use of ASA for primary prevention is still debated. Results of many studies of ASA are inconsistent. Some studies have suggested that using ASA in patients aged 40-70 with a high 10-year risk of CVD and a low risk of bleeding may reduce the incidence of CVD. Administration of ASA to patients with a high or medium risk of CVD is also considered.

Chiroptically active fluorescent semiconductor nanocrystals, quantum dots (QDs), are of high interest from a theoretical and technological point of view, because they are promising candidates for a range of potential applications. Optical activity can be induced in QDs by capping them with chiral molecules, resulting in circular dichroism (CD) signals in the range of the QD ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption. However, the effects of the chiral ligand concentration and binding modes on the chiroptical properties of QDs are still poorly understood. In the present study, we report the strong influence of the concentration of a chiral amino acid (cysteine) on its binding modes upon the surface of CdSe/CdS QDs, resulting in varying QD chiroptical activity and corresponding CD signals. Importantly, we demonstrate that the increase of cysteine concentration is accompanied by the growth of the QD CD intensity, reaching a certain critical point, after which it starts to decrease. The intensity of the CD signal varies by almost an order of magnitude across this range. Nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier transform infrared data, supported by density functional theory calculations, reveal a change in the binding mode of cysteine molecules from tridentate to bidentate when going from low to high concentrations, which results in a change in the CD intensity. Hence, we conclude that the chiroptical properties of QDs are dependent on the concentration and binding modes of the capping chiral ligands. These findings are very important for understanding chiroptical phenomena at the nanoscale and for the design of advanced optically active nanomaterials.

Research on materials with perovskite crystal symmetry for photonics applications represent a rapidly growing area of the photonics development due to their unique optical and electrical properties. Among them are high charge carrier mobility, high photoluminescence quantum yield, and high extinction coefficients, which can be tuned through all visible range by a controllable change in chemical composition. To date, most of such materials contain lead atoms, which is one of the obstacles for their large-scale implementation. This disadvantage can be overcome via the substitution of lead with less toxic chemical elements, such as Sn, Bi, Yb, etc., and their mixtures. Herein, we summarized the scientific works from 2016 related to the lead-free perovskite materials with stress on the lasing and lighting applications. The synthetic approaches, chemical composition, and morphology of materials, together with the optimal device configurations depending on the material parameters are summarized with a focus on future challenges.

Core/shell quantum dots (QDs) are of high scientific and technological importance as these nanomaterials have found a number of valuable applications. In this paper, we have investigated the dependence of optical activity and photoluminescence upon CdS shell thickness in a range of core-shell structured CdSe/CdS QDs capped with chiral ligands. For our study, five samples of CdSe/CdS were synthesized utilizing successive ion layer adsorption and reaction to vary the thickness of the CdS shell from 0.5 to 2 nm, upon a 2.8 nm diameter CdSe core. Following this, a ligand exchange of the original aliphatic ligands with l- and d-cysteine was carried out, inducing a chiroptical response in these nanostructures. The samples were then characterized using circular dichroism, photoluminescent spectroscopy, and fluorescence lifetime spectroscopy. It has been found that the induced chiroptical response was inversely proportional to the CdS shell thickness and showed a distinct evolution in signal, whereas the photoluminescence of our samples showed a direct relationship to shell thickness. In addition, a detailed study of the influence of annealing time on the optical activity and photoluminescence quantum yield was performed. From our work, we have been able to clearly illustrate the approach and strategies that must be used when designing optimal photoluminescent optically active CdSe/CdS core-shell QDs.

Chirality strongly influences many biological properties of materials, such as cell accumulation, enzymatic activity, and toxicity. In the past decade, it has been shown that quantum dots (QDs), fluorescent semiconductor nanoparticles with unique optical properties, can demonstrate optical activity due to chiral ligands bound on their surface. Optically active QDs could find potential applications in biomedical research, therapy, and diagnostics. Consequently, it is very important to investigate the interaction of QDs capped with chiral ligands with living cells. The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of the induced chirality of Mn-doped ZnS QDs on the viability of A549 cells. These QDs were stabilized with D- and L-cysteine using a ligand exchange technique. The optical properties of QDs were studied using UV-Vis, photoluminescence (PL), and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy. The cytotoxicity of QDs was investigated by high content screening analysis. It was found that QDs stabilized by opposite ligand enantiomers, had identical PL and UV-Vis spectra and mirror-imaged CD spectra, but displayed different cytotoxicity: QDs capped with D-cysteine had greater cytotoxicity than L-cysteine capped QDs., (© 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Inhibition of the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) enzyme activity and prevention of advanced glycation end (AGE) products formation represents a reliable approach to achieve control over hyperglycemia and the associated pathogenesis of diabetic vascular complications. In the frames of this research study, several triazolo- and pyrazolotriazines were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of AGE products formation, DPP4, glycogen phosphorylase and α-glucosidase activities, as well as AGE cross-link breakers. From the two considered classes of heterocyclic compounds, the pyrazolotriazines showed the highest potency as antiglycating agents and DPP4 inhibitors. Structure-activity relationships (SAR) for these compounds, which can be considered as potential drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, were evaluated., (© 2017 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.)

The influence of the chirality of semiconductor nanocrystals, CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) capped with L- and D-cysteine, on the efficiency of their uptake by living Ehrlich Ascite carcinoma cells is studied by spectral- and time-resolved fluorescence microspectroscopy. We report an evident enantioselective process where cellular uptake of the L-Cys QDs is almost twice as effective as that of the D-Cys QDs. This finding paves the way for the creation of novel approaches to control the biological properties and behavior of nanomaterials in living cells.

Safety assessment is reported of an orally ingested dihydroquercetin-rich extract (Lavitol) derived from the Dahurian larch tree, used as a food additive and as a dietary supplement ingredient. Dihydroquercetin, a potent antioxidant, is also known as taxifolin. The results of genotoxicity and toxicological tests (Comet assay, micronucleus test in human lymphocytes, chromosomal aberration test, subacute 7-day oral toxicity study, subchronic 90-day toxicology study with histopathologies, and, prenatal and postnatal developmental toxicity studies) on the extract provide further support for the safety of its consumption as a food supplement and food additive., (© The Author(s) 2015.)

Stable water-soluble complexes of Cd-free ZnSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) and chlorin e6 complexes have been prepared. These complexes have shown approximately 50% intracomplex fluorescence resonance energy transfer from QDs to chlorin e6. The photodynamic therapy (PDT) test of the complexes against the Erlich acsite carcinoma cell culture demonstrated a two-fold enhancement of the cancer cell photodynamic destruction as compared to that of free chlorin e6 molecules. It was shown that the PDT effect was significantly increased due to two factors: the efficient QD-chlorin e6 photoexcitation energy transfer and the improvement of cellular uptake of the photosensitizer in the presence of ZnSe/ZnS QDs.

Influence of a new xanthine derivative SUM-55 on microrheological properties erythrocytes in rats with experimental diabetes has been investigated. It is shown that compound SUM-55 significantly reduces aggregation and increases deformability of erythrocytes. Comparative analysis showed that SUM-55 is comparable with pentoxyphylline in the ability to reduce aggregation of erythrocytes and is superior to the reference drug in increasing deformability of red bloodcells.

The paper substantiated the clinical diagnostic significance of lactate tests in various abnormalities. It presents the results of the past 25 years' research and practical studies of blood lactic acid in pregnant women and neonatal infants. More than 1000 pregnant women and 200 neonates were examined. The established peripheral blood lactate standards for pregnant women and the newborn and the values of lactic acid in varying hypoxia are given. It is concluded that lactate tests are of diagnostic value in perinatology.

The adaptation to periodic altitude hypoxia is known to have cardioprotective and antiarrhythmic effects in stress-induced and ischemic lesions. The effects are assumed to be associated with the enhanced activity of the body's stress-limiting systems, including prostaglandins (PG). Wistar rats were adapted in a hypobaric chamber at an altitude of 4000 m for 6 hours during 40 days. The levels of myocardial and plasma PGE, PGE2 alpha, PGI2, thromboxane A2 were measured by radioimmunoassay and those of plasma catecholamines by enzyme radioassay. In the myocardium, the adaptation showed a 2-fold increase in PGE levels, the PGE/PGE2 alpha ratio and PGI2 levels rose by 70 and 73%, respectively, the PGI2/thromboxane A2 ratio remaining unchanged, while thromboxane A2 concentrations also rose. In adaptation, the levels of PGE and PGI2 was 78 and 60% higher, respectively. In restraint stress, myocardial and plasma PG levels proved to be substantially higher in adapted animals than in the controls, but stress-induced plasma catecholamine release, i.e. stress reaction, showed a 2-3-fold decrease that in the controls undergoing the same stress. The findings along with the data on the cytoprotective and vasodilating action of PGE and PGI2 suggest that enhanced activity of the myocardial and blood PG system is the important link in the mechanism responsible for the antistress impact of adaptation.

200 newly-engaged young miners were medically examined in an outpatient department. The routine examination techniques were supplemented with studies of the changes after 2 minute-long inhalations of 0.6% acetylcholine chloride and mine dust (78 mg/m3), hemodynamics and electrocardiography indices, as well as the indices of the immunologic and hormonal state. Established was diversified manifestations of the respiratory tract's response to the aerogenic irritations, combined with deviations in the immunologic state indices. The studies provide basis for further improvements in the preventive examination techniques for workers in coal-mining industries.

The conventional experimental techniques showed that ajmaline derived from Rouwolfia serpentina Benth. biomass grown in tissue culture was effective in arresting canine ventricular arrhythmias induced by coronary occlusion, strophanthin and epinephrine, displaying antiarrhythmic effects in aconitine-induced intoxication of rats and substantially elevating the threshold of ventricular fibrillations in cats. The antiarrhythmic activity of ajmaline produced by the biotechnological technique was identical to that of ajmaline derived from the natural root of Rauwolfia serpentina Benth, which allows one to recommend that the agent in question should be clinically tested as an antiarrhythmic.

A total of 40 full-term newborns, 41 miscarried fetuses and 196 pregnant women were examined. Of these, 85 women had an uncomplicated pregnancy, 70 were with threatened abortion and 41 with miscarriage within the gestation period of 24-27 weeks. Blood was examined for the glycolysis parameters (glucose, lactate, activity of LDH and its isozymes) and hormonal concentrations: ACTH, cortisol, insulin, C-peptide estriol; urine was examined for excretion of estrogens, pregnanediol++, total neutral 17-CS. It has been established that newborn infants assessed by the Apgar score as having 8-10 points and developing in conditions of threatened abortion are born in a state of hypoxia of different degrees, with dysfunction of the endocrine organs.

Activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase, the enzymes participating in the pentose phosphate pathway of glucose oxidation was studied in the blood of 15 normal fetuses and 25 abortuses as well as in 80 females (20 with normally advancing pregnancy, 40 with the signs of discontinuation and 20 patients with spontaneous abortion developed during 24-26 weeks of gestation). The impact of abnormal pentose phosphate pathway of glucose oxidation on the pathogenesis of fetal development arrest in females with incompetent pregnancy was established.

As many as 50 children with the antenatal period complicated by prematurity risk were subjected to clinical and hormonal studies during the first year of life. To estimate adrenal function, excretion of 17-ketosteroids, corticoids and their fractions with urine was investigated. The children born in a satisfactory state with a physiological body weight and length demonstrated the lag in the establishment of motor and static functions as well as mental retardation. It has been discovered that the clinical course of the early neonatal and subsequent periods of the child's development is dependent on adrenal function.