Search

All agricultural facilities in Russia are currently going through digital transformation. However, the process needs a unified approach for the entire agricultural sector. Neural network methods have already proved extremely effective in various areas of IT. The authors used neural networks to analyze statistic data and assess the performance of agricultural infrastructure. This study involved technical data from the production cycle of agro-industrial enterprises, namely packaging and greenhouses. The data obtained were analyzed using artificial neural networks. The procedure included identifying a set of factors that described an agro-industrial complex or some of its properties that corresponded to a specific task. These data were used in planning and making managerial decisions. The program identified five factors that described the state of an agricultural enterprise. These factors were used to build a model while its elements served as output data for the neural network. The model calculated the future state of the object. Trials were run on a limited data set on a multilayer perceptron. The neural network showed reliable results for a small data set. The root mean square error of was 0.1216; the mean modulus deviation was 0.0911. In this research, modern neural network technologies demonstrated good prospects for the domestic agro-industrial complex as a method of control, management, and dispatching. However, specific operational patterns require further studies.

SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related CoronaVirus 2) activates the immune system, causing thrombin dysregulation and tissue damage and reduces endothelium anticoagulant function, leading to excessive thrombin formation. Hypercoagulability, which causes multiple organ failure in critically ill COVID-19 (COronaVIrus Disease 2019) patients, can be detected by viscoelastic tests like thromboelastography and rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM). We aimed to assess the coagulation system status and fibrinolytic activity using ROTEM thromboelastometry in patients with COVID-19 and convalescents. The observational prospective study included 141 patients with COVID-19: Group 1—patients with mild (n = 39), Group 2—patients with moderate (n = 65), and Group 3—patients with severe (n = 37) COVID-19. The coagulation status was assessed twice—during the disease and in convalescence. The male gender, age > 56 years, overweight, and obesity were risk factors for developing severe COVID-19. During the disease in patients with moderate and severe COVID-19, the hemostatic system was characterized by a procoagulant status, which persists during the period of convalescence. Fibrinolysis shutdown was detected in both moderate and severe patients with COVID-19. The procoagulant status of the coagulation system and the shutdown of fibrinolysis are typical for patients with moderate to severe COVID-19. In convalescents, activation of coagulation remains, which indicates the need to monitor the hemostatic system after Illness.

Abstract The Search for Hidden Particles (SHiP) Collaboration has proposed a general-purpose experimental facility operating in beam-dump mode at the CERN SPS accelerator to search for light, feebly interacting particles. In the baseline configuration, the SHiP experiment incorporates two complementary detectors. The upstream detector is designed for recoil signatures of light dark matter (LDM) scattering and for neutrino physics, in particular with tau neutrinos. It consists of a spectrometer magnet housing a layered detector system with high-density LDM/neutrino target plates, emulsion-film technology and electronic high-precision tracking. The total detector target mass amounts to about eight tonnes. The downstream detector system aims at measuring visible decays of feebly interacting particles to both fully reconstructed final states and to partially reconstructed final states with neutrinos, in a nearly background-free environment. The detector consists of a 50 $$\mathrm { \,m}$$ m long decay volume under vacuum followed by a spectrometer and particle identification system with a rectangular acceptance of 5 m in width and 10 m in height. Using the high-intensity beam of 400 $$\,\mathrm {GeV}$$ GeV protons, the experiment aims at profiting from the $$4\times 10^{19}$$ 4 × 10 19 protons per year that are currently unexploited at the SPS, over a period of 5–10 years. This allows probing dark photons, dark scalars and pseudo-scalars, and heavy neutral leptons with GeV-scale masses in the direct searches at sensitivities that largely exceed those of existing and projected experiments. The sensitivity to light dark matter through scattering reaches well below the dark matter relic density limits in the range from a few $${\mathrm {\,MeV\!/}c^2}$$ MeV / c 2 up to 100 MeV-scale masses, and it will be possible to study tau neutrino interactions with unprecedented statistics. This paper describes the SHiP experiment baseline setup and the detector systems, together with performance results from prototypes in test beams, as it was prepared for the 2020 Update of the European Strategy for Particle Physics. The expected detector performance from simulation is summarised at the end.

The investigation of common inflammation mechanisms caused by exogenic compounds of microbial origin and allergens is one of the most important tasks in current biomedical science. The main manifestations of immune cell activation caused by pro-inflammatory agents are changes in receptor quantity on the surface of immune cells and the production of cytokines and chemokines by blood cells. The levels of expression of TLR4, CD14, and CD11b in the monocytes and neutrophils of human whole blood in response to LPS E. coli, Der p 2 allergen, or their combination reflect different functional activities in these cells, while the composition and amount of produced cytokines reflect the biological activity of the studied agonists. The activity of Der p 2 allergen in ex vivo experiments on whole blood samples is significantly lower compared with its activity in vitro in isolated PBMC cells, which should be taken into account when transferring the results obtained for isolated cells to whole blood cells. LPS R. capsulatus PG significantly decreases the synthesis of MyD88-dependent NF-κB-regulated cytokines activated by LPS E. coli, Der p 2, or their combination. This indirectly indicates the general mechanisms of cell activation caused by these structures and the unified mechanism of the protective action of LPS R. capsulatus PG against both endotoxin and a combination of endotoxin and the allergen.

Abstract Dark photons are hypothetical massive vector particles that could mix with ordinary photons. The simplest theoretical model is fully characterised by only two parameters: the mass of the dark photon m $$_{\gamma ^{\mathrm {D}}}$$ γ D and its mixing parameter with the photon, $$\varepsilon $$ ε . The sensitivity of the SHiP detector is reviewed for dark photons in the mass range between 0.002 and 10 GeV. Different production mechanisms are simulated, with the dark photons decaying to pairs of visible fermions, including both leptons and quarks. Exclusion contours are presented and compared with those of past experiments. The SHiP detector is expected to have a unique sensitivity for m $$_{\gamma ^{\mathrm {D}}}$$ γ D ranging between 0.8 and 3.3 $$^{+0.2}_{-0.5}$$ - 0.5 + 0.2 GeV, and $$\varepsilon ^2$$ ε 2 ranging between $$10^{-11}$$ 10 - 11 and $$10^{-17}$$ 10 - 17 .

Abstract Dark matter is a well-established theoretical addition to the Standard Model supported by many observations in modern astrophysics and cosmology. In this context, the existence of weakly interacting massive particles represents an appealing solution to the observed thermal relic in the Universe. Indeed, a large experimental campaign is ongoing for the detection of such particles in the sub-GeV mass range. Adopting the benchmark scenario for light dark matter particles produced in the decay of a dark photon, with α D = 0.1 and m A′ = 3m χ , we study the potential of the SHiP experiment to detect such elusive particles through its Scattering and Neutrino detector (SND). In its 5-years run, corresponding to 2 · 1020 protons on target from the CERN SPS, we find that SHiP will improve the current limits in the mass range for the dark matter from about 1 MeV to 300 MeV. In particular, we show that SHiP will probe the thermal target for Majorana candidates in most of this mass window and even reach the Pseudo-Dirac thermal relic.

Abstract The SHiP experiment is proposed to search for very weakly interacting particles beyond the Standard Model which are produced in a 400 GeV/c proton beam dump at the CERN SPS. About $$10^{11}$$ 1011 muons per spill will be produced in the dump. To design the experiment such that the muon-induced background is minimized, a precise knowledge of the muon spectrum is required. To validate the muon flux generated by our Pythia and GEANT4 based Monte Carlo simulation (FairShip), we have measured the muon flux emanating from a SHiP-like target at the SPS. This target, consisting of 13 interaction lengths of slabs of molybdenum and tungsten, followed by a 2.4 m iron hadron absorber was placed in the H4 400 GeV/c proton beam line. To identify muons and to measure the momentum spectrum, a spectrometer instrumented with drift tubes and a muon tagger were used. During a 3-week period a dataset for analysis corresponding to $$(3.27\pm 0.07)~\times ~10^{11}$$ (3.27±0.07)×1011 protons on target was recorded. This amounts to approximatively 1% of a SHiP spill.

Abstract Time-resolved terahertz spectroscopy has become a common method both for fundamental and applied studies focused on improving the quality of human life. However, the issue of finding materials applicable in these systems is still relevant. One of the appropriate solution is 2D materials. Here, we demonstrate the transmission properties of unique graphene-based structures with iron trichloride FeCl3 dopant on glass, sapphire and Kapton polyimide film substrates that previously were not investigated in the framework of the above-described problems in near infrared and THz ranges. We also show properties of a thin tungsten disulfide WS2 film fabricated from liquid crystal solutions transferred to a polyimide and polyethylene terephthalate substrates. The introduction of impurities, the selection of structural dimensions and the use of an appropriate substrate for modified 2D layered materials allow to control the transmission of samples for both the terahertz and infrared ranges, which can be used for creation of effective modulators and components for THz spectroscopy systems.

Abstract Heavy Neutral Leptons (HNLs) are hypothetical particles predicted by many extensions of the Standard Model. These particles can, among other things, explain the origin of neutrino masses, generate the observed matter-antimatter asymmetry in the Universe and provide a dark matter candidate. The SHiP experiment will be able to search for HNLs produced in decays of heavy mesons and travelling distances ranging between O $$ \mathcal{O} $$ (50 m) and tens of kilometers before decaying. We present the sensitivity of the SHiP experiment to a number of HNL’s benchmark models and provide a way to calculate the SHiP’s sensitivity to HNLs for arbitrary patterns of flavour mixings. The corresponding tools and data files are also made publicly available.

We proposed a simple and cost-effective method to manipulate the temporal and spectral properties of pulsed terahertz waves. A deep modulation of a pulse spectrum was both numerically and experimentally verified using Fresnel apertures with a radius ranging from several to several tens of the central wavelength of the broadband terahertz radiation. N-fold frequency minima were formed in the spectrum at a specific axial position behind the filter. Non-paraxial properties of this filter were also analyzed. A significant value (35%) of the ratio of the longitudinal to the transverse field component at the filter frequency was obtained. The measured results agree well with the simulation and theoretical predictions. The property of such a diffractive Fresnel notch filter can benefit the generation of longitudinal terahertz fields and relevant applications.

Background. The article is devoted to technologies and virtual reality systems as comprehensive solutions for immersion of the user into virtual reality using specialized devices and interfaces. Technologies for wire/wireless transfer of audio-visual and parametric information in virtual reality systems are discussed. The purpose of the article is to analyze and summarize advantages and disadvantages of modern facilities for multimedia and parametric information transmission used in virtual reality systems. Materials and methods. The research materials used the search method of scientific publications in Russian and international journals of scientific citation databases. Results. The paper analyzes the features (advantages and disadvantages) of using virtual reality in conditions of optical information transfer, wireless protocols (WiFi, Bluetooth, Wireless USB, LIDAR, ZigBee), and wire interfaces (Display Port, HDMI, USB) that provide user communication with virtual reality system. Virtual reality forms a new artificial real world transferred to the user via various wire/wireless (WiGig (802.11ad), WiFi 6 (802.11ax), WiHD (802.15.3c), and Display Port 2.0) interfaces, taking into account physiological, physical and psychometric indicators. Conclusions. Modern technical solutions should give impetus to the creation of adaptive virtual reality with a total immersion effect, when the user cannot distinguish a virtual world from real events.

A case report of type 2 diabetic patient with critical limb ischemia (CLI) after successful endovascular revascularization is reported. The diagnosis of CLI was established according to clinical data and results of lower limb ischemia assessment by non-invasive methods. The unique feature of this case is presentation of results of the new method of lower limb ischemia assessment – fluorescent angiography in near infrared range using indocyanine green (ICG). Following parameters of fluorescent angiography in near infrared range are analyzed in different regions of interest: Tstart(sec) – the time of fluorescence occurrence (Istart, unit) in the analyzed area after intravenous administration of ICG; Tmax (sec) – time to achieve maximum fluorescence (Imax, unit) after intravenous injection of ICG; Tmax – Tstart (sec) – the time difference between Imax and Istart. In this clinical case, the time of achievement Istart, Imax, Tmax – Tstart in different regions of interest decreased after successful endovascular revascularization of lower limb arteries.

Laser hyperthermia is one of the promising methods for treatment of oncological diseases. For routine clinical use of hyperthermia, it is necessary to control the uniformity and localization of heat within the tumor. Local heating can be achieved by using special thermal agents, such as nanoparticles doped with rare-earth ions. Measurement of the temperature of the thermal agents will allow timely regulation of the applied laser radiation excitation power and optimization of the hyperthermia process.The paper presents the results of a study on the non-invasive determination of the YPO4 nanoparticles doped with Nd3+ temperature with sensitivity of 0.2% °С-1 in 30-60°С temperature range. The temperature of the nanoparticles was calculated from the Nd3+ luminescence spectra in the 800-1000 nm range under excitation into 4F5/2 energy state by 805 nm laser. A calibration procedure for recalculating the ratio of the luminescence intensities from the Stark sublevels of the 4F3/2 Nd3+ state into the values of the real NP temperature in accordance with the Boltzmann distribution is given. An algorithm for calculating luminescence intensities for individual Stark components is proposed. After calculating the intensities corresponding to each individual Stark component, all the intensities related to the transition from the upper and lower Stark sublevels of the 4F3/2 state are summed, and then their ratio is calculated. The resulting ratio is normalized to the value of the ratio at room temperature and, in accordance with the calibration dependence, is recalculated into the NP heating temperature. It was demonstrated that the investigated 1%Nd3+:YPO4 nanoparticles can be used as "primary” thermometers that do not require additional recalibration to evaluate the temperature in the range used for hyperthermia.

The abilities of the optical probe for fluorescence-guided stereotactic biopsy were investigated by means of a multifiber probe under 532 or 632.8 nm excitation. The set of multilayered phantoms representing a border between normal brain-tissue and a tumor with photosensitizer and gold nanoparticles (spheres or stars) in different concentrations were made to investigate the macroscopic parameters observed during the neurosurgical biopsy sample collection by means of the optical probe. These investigantions will allow to define the border of a brain tumor and control the type of tissue being collected by a stereotactic cannula during surgery. The impact of gold nanospheres and gold nanostars added in different concentrations to the bottom-layer of phantom was analyzed by fluorescence quenching or enhancement due to energy transfer between nanoparticles and fluorescent molecules. The results allow determining the tumor border and to make the biopsy uptake more efficient by observing the character of signal change while penetrating a tumor and while going out of it.

Recent developments in the field of biophotonics facilitate the raise of interest to inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) doped with Nd3+ ions, because of their near-infrared (NIR) absorption. These NPs are interesting bioimaging probes for deep tissue visualization, while they can also act as local thermometers in biological tissues. Despite the good possibilities for visualization of NPs with Nd3+ ions in NIR spectral range, difficulties arise when studying the cellular uptake of these NPs using commercially available fluorescence microscopy systems, since the selection of suitable luminescence detectors is limited. However, Nd3+ ions are able to convert NIR radiation into visible light, showing upconversion properties. In this paper we found optimal parameters to excite upconversion luminescence of Nd3++:LaF NPs in living cells and to compare the distribution of the NPs inside the cell culture of human macrophages THP-1 obtained by two methods. Firstly, by detecting the upconversion luminescence of the NPs inVIS under NIR multiphoton excitation using laser scanning confocal microscopy and secondly, using transmission electron microscopy.

The present article contains scientific data on the assessment of specific activity of therapeutic humanized monoclonal antibodies against IL-17 in rabbit model of antigen-induced arthritis. Pharmacokinetics and immunogenicity of anti-IL-17A preparation have been studied. The severity of rheumatoid arthritis progression has been assessed by the levels of joint damage, the levels of inflammatory markers and according to Menkin histological grade.

Test system for determining the presence of binding antibodies to interferon beta-1a (BAB to IFN beta-1a) in serum using ELISA has been developed. The validation included sensitivity, selectivity, specificity, precision and accuracy, robustness, stability, suitability of the test system studies. The applicability of the mentioned test system has been approved for the use in clinical studies for the evaluation of interferon beta-1a immunogenicity (pegylated and non-pegylated forms).

Hydrophobic derivatives of polysaccharides possess an amphiphilic behavior and are widely used as rheological modifiers, selective sorbents, and stabilizers for compositions intended for various applications. In this work, we studied the mechanochemical reactions of chitosan alkylation when interacting with docosylglycidyl and hexadecylglycidyl ethers in the absence of solvents at shear deformation in a pilot twin-screw extruder. The chemical structure and physical properties of the obtained derivatives were characterized by elemental analysis, FT-IR spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and mechanical tests. According to calculations for products soluble in aqueous media, it was possible to introduce about 5–12 hydrophobic fragments per chitosan macromolecule with a degree of polymerization of 500–2000. The length of the carbon chain of the alkyl substituent significantly affects its reactivity under the chosen conditions of mechanochemical synthesis. It was shown that modification disturbs the packing ability of the macromolecules, resulting in an increase of plasticity and drop in the elastic modulus of the film made from the hydrophobically modified chitosan samples.

The results of evaluation of the soft tissue perfusion of the foot in patients with diabetes and critical lower limb ischemia (CLI) via fluorescence angiography (FAG) in the near-infrared range are represented in the article. The study included 4 diabetic patients with CLI. All patients underwent lower-limb balloon percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. To evaluate the soft tissue perfusion of the foot via FAG the following parameters have been used: T0m - time to reach maximum for fluorescence intensity after intravenous administration of Indocyanine green; TIm- time of onset of maximum fluorescence intensity after its appearance in the area of interest; Im - the level of the maximum fluorescence intensity. The region of interest was the skin around the wound of the foot. The median FAG parameters in the region of interest on the foot were as follows: prior to surgery T0m = 164 sec (148–181), TIm = 48 sec (38–56); after surgery: T0m = 80 sec (69–92); TIm = 27 sec (20–39); (p

Aim. To study the influence of L-carnitine on reactive oxygen species production by phagocytes in blood of patients with postinfarction cardiosclerosis.Material and methods. Peroxide species formation was registered via lucigenine-dependent chemiluminescence by luminometer “Biotox-7” (Russia) in 15 patients with postinfarction cardiosclerosis. We studied the baseline and stimulated by forbole ether (PMA) chemiluminescence, and inhibitory activity of L-carnitine.Results. In whole blood samples of the patients after myocardial infarction there was spontaneous chemiluminescence registered, that witness on the pre-activated (primed) phagocytes presence in blood. The response to addition of PMA (1mcM), after latent time period (96±15 s), was as the significant increase of active oxygen species formation. L-carnitine (3 mM), added after PMA, decreased the amplitude of maximum response to PMA by 18±3%. L-carnitine (30 mM) seriously suppressed the spontaneous formation of oxygen species formation. At the background of L-carnitine action (30 mM) with addition of PMA (1 mcM) there was increase of latent time by 1,9 times, and decrease of oxygen reactive species generation with the decrease of amplitude of maximum response on this agent, by 2,3 times.Conclusion. L-carnitine does decrease spontaneous and induced by PMA reactive oxygen species production by pre-activated (primed) phagocytes of blood of post infarction cardiosclerosis patients. This data points on antioxidant activity of higher L-carnitine concentrations and on its ability to decrease systemic oxydative stress in dose-dependent manner for the studied kind of patients.

In given article influence of own means of payment on a financial condition of the enterprise is considered. The analysis is developed, allowing to establish the size of these means for accounting dates and for the period as their lack leads to deterioration of solvency of the enterprise. Distinctive feature of the given analysis is revealing of disproportions and equation achievement between material and monetary streams, structure of actives and capital structure, and also various budgets. By means of offered system of indicators the analyst has an opportunity objectively to estimate a current situation and operatively to make administrative decisions.

The method for determining the intermediate node in networkswith different topologies for the routing problem and the estimation method of the used communication channel are proposedin article. Uses a variety of criteria covering the parametersdescribing the network in a limited presence administrator, as well as a history of using node (segment).

The method for estimating an intermediate node in networks with different topologies for routing problem and the method of estimation used communication channel are proposed in the article. The solution is based on the use of methods to assess the conditions of non-standard network protocols. Applies a number of criteria, covering the parameters describing the network in a limited presence of the administrator, as well as the history of use segment. In a decentralized network management estimation problem is to separate the control node in real time, and, ultimately, in the sequencing work network segment. This allows you to create a stable adapted route, taking into account the characteristics of each of its constituent units. Properties nodes may be adapted in numerical terms, responsible for load assembly, stability, bandwidth. This applies both to computer networks, and for managing networks. The results of the method are comprehensive assessment, which results in the treatment of accumulated statistics for making assessment of the route based on the task at hand. The concept of «problem» takes into account the type of data, and the conditions needed to make the best use of the channel for the problem of transmission of each data type.

Improving the performance of the developers of hardware and software systems and IT systems it is inextricably linked with quality incentives. People are motivated to work and are able to achieve good results, focusing on decent remuneration. Non-rational approaches to remuneration are able to generate social problems and greatly reduce the overall efficiency of the organizational systems. Motivation mobile teams of IT developers and individuals engaged in the operational management of the project implementation is of paramount importance. The article examines the mechanisms for stimulating the synthesis development of IT systems based on the principle of coordinated control that allows you to bring together the interests of the customers and performers. It is expected that customers and performers interested in creating all the necessary conditions (investment, social, technological) to obtain high-quality final product. The customer agrees with the developer on the approximate number of design iterations, each iteration of the composition, timing and budgets required to achieve the desired result. By means of evaluating the effectiveness of business results are metric tests, including functional and modular (unit tests), created in direct contact representatives of the customer and the developer. This mechanism should be used in mobile teams, in which the development is relatively short iterations with stepwise refinement of business requirements.

Background. According to World Health Organization thyroid cancer (TC) is the most common endocrine malignancy. The frequency of regional lymph node (LN) lesions in this disease may be up to 80%, which requires advanced operations. In cases when metastasis develop in the II-V group cervical LN, should be perfomed thyroidectomy with functional neck dissection. Life expectancy and life quality of this severe category of patients depends on perfomed intervention. Extent and operation technique tend to move to functionally sparing methods, which aimed to preserve oncological principles with anatomical structures damage prevention and to promote better cosmetic effects. However, existing nowadays interventions do not always combine these requirements. The foregoing calls for further improvement of the operation - thyroidectomy with lateral modified radical neck dissection with the achievement of the maximum radicalism, optimal safety and the desired cosmetic result of intervention. Aim. Improving the results of surgical treatment of patients with TC with metastases in the LN group II-V operation areas by improving methodology, with a decrease in the number of complications and achieving the desired cosmetic effect without prejudice radical intervention. Materials and methods. Study based on results of treatment of 46 patients with different forms of cancer which were examined and operated in department of endocrine surgery of S.P.Botkin City Clinical Hospital of the Department of Health of Moscow. Patients were divided on 2 groups. In first group were included 22 (47.8%) patients operated in the period from 2008 to 2011 and in second group 24 (52.2%) patients who received treatment with 2012 by 2015. Here with cancer forms in first group were distributed as follows: papillary cancer - 18 (81.8%) cases, follicular - 3 (13.6%) and medullary - 1 (4.5%) follow up. In second group papillary cancer has been identified in 18 (75.0%) patients, follicular in 3 (12.5%) and medullary - in 2 (8.3%). Extent of process was assessed and in first group: T1bN1bM0 - in 2 (9.1%) cases, and in second group - in 3 (12.5%) cases, T2N1bM0 - in 7 (31.8%) and 9 (37.5%), a T3N1bM0 - in 13 (59.1%) and 12 (50.0%) surveillances respectively. Age ratio ranged from 35 to 65 years. Mean age in first group was 50 years for men and 52 for women, while in the second group - 45 years for men and 48 years. Sex ratio in both groups - 1:9; 21 (95.5%) and 22 (91.7%) patients with differentiated cancer forms underwent radioiodine therapy. Conclusion. Proposed improved method of thyroidectomy with functional neck dissection using in patients with TC allows to perform a radical operation achieving required safety of intervention and preserve patients life quality.

Functioning of spectrum analyzer based on optical chirp-transform is observed. Optical elements with frequency dispersion are used to perform spectrum analysis. Scheme and attainable characteristics are presented.

The article outlines five intervals of the wells drilled in Western Siberia, and covering the major part of the section (from lower Jurassic to lower Cretaceous). A detailed study of individual core samples permit to elaborate the common notions about the conditions of deposits formation. Implemented the holographic principle, recommended for use in a visual-practical purposes. For two intervals defined speed sedimentation, as 3.5-5 mm/year.

Aim. To study the influence of biogenic stimulators Actovegine and Zifodine (deproteinized hemodrivates of calf blood) on reactive oxygen species formation by blood phagocytes in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).Material and methods. Reactive oxygen species formation was registered by lucigenine-dependent chemiluminiscence on the luminomenter “Biotox-7” (Russia) in 20 patients with CHF of II-III functional classes by NYHA. The hemiluminiscences basal and stimulated by farbolic ether (RMA) were measured, as also inhibitory activity of Actovegine and Zifodine.Results. In CHF patients’ blood there was “spontaneous” secretion superoxide anion radicals, that is showing presence of preactivated phagocytes. In addition, a significant increase of oxygen radicals is shown as a response to RMA (1 mcM). Actovegine and Zifodine dose-dependently suppressed prominence of the response. While concomitantly applied Actovegine and Zifodine at the RMA background there was additive inhibitory effect found, which was not depended on consequence of additives.Conclusion. Actovegine and Zifodine decrease reactive oxygen species secretion by phagocytes, which are extracted from the blood of CHF patients. Addictiveness of such inhibitory effects of Actovegine and Zifodine shows absence of their identity by structure and of improper translation of this data into conclusions on effectiveness and safety, found in clinical practice while prescribing Actovegine and Zifodine.

Influence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) composition upon activation of human blood mononuclears was investigated, by measuring levels of pro-inflammatory TNFα and IL-6 cytokines released by the cells. It is shown that LPS from Rhodobacter capsulatus PG, in contrast to E. coli LPS, did not activate the target cells for synthesis of the cytokines.

Abstract. TLR4 is a key player in signaling system of host cells. Possible role of TLR4 is actively discussed, e.g. its significance for phagocytosis. A capacity of neutrophils to engulf FITC-labeled E. coli bacteria upon activation with LPS of different origin was studied in presence of anti-TLR4 Mab’s (HTA125 clone). It was shown that, in whole blood, TLR4 does not play any essential role in engulfment of bacteria by the neutrophils. Phagocytic activity of neutrophils in blood increases increased after their priming with E. coli endotoxins. LPS from Rb. сapsulatus did not affect phagocytosis. In presence of endotoxins, the degree of TLR4 involvement in neutrophil phagocytosis depends on LPS structure.

Isabella R Prokhorenko1, Svetlana V Zubova1, Alexandr Yu Ivanov2, Sergey V Grachev31Laboratory of Molecular Biomedicine, Institute of Basic Biological Problems; 2Institute of Cell Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia; 3I.M. Sechenov’s Moscow Medical Academy, Moscow, Russia Abstract: Gram-negative bacteria can enter the bloodstream and interact with serum cationic proteins. The character of interaction will depend on the surface characteristics of bacterial cells, which are determined by bacterial chemotype and density of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) packing in the cell wall. It was shown that the lysozyme treatment resulted in the increase sensitivity to hypotonic shock. Signifi cant differences to this effect were found between Escherichia coli strain D21 and D21f2 under treatment with physiological protein concentration. On the basis of electrokinetic measurements and studies of the interaction of cells with lysozyme, the hypothesis was formed that the cell wall of the E. coli strain D21f2 contains more LPS and has a higher density of their packing than the cell wall of the E. coli D21 cells. The effect of lysozyme and lactoferrin on the viability of E. coli cells of two different strains was examined. Lysozyme was found to more effectively inhibit the growth of the E. coli D21 bacteria, and lactoferrin suppressed mainly the growth of the E. coli D21f2 bacteria. These results indicate that the differences in LPS core structure of bacterial R-chemotype, which determines surface charge and density of LPS packing, plays an essential role in the mechanisms of interaction of the cationic proteins with the cell wall.Keywords: lipopolysaccharide, Escherichia coli, chemotype, lysozyme, lactoferrin, colony-forming units

Aim. To investigate how trimetazidine (TMZ) directly affects oxidative phosphorylation in intact mitochondria (MCH), isolated from the animals not undergoing ischemia-reperfusion process.Material and methods. Rat liver MCH were isolated by standard methods. Oxidative and phosphorylating MCH functions were studied by polarigraphic methods. TMZ was used in the concentrations of 10-4 М and 10-5 М.Results. TMZ in concentrations of 10-4 М and 10-5 М decreased the time of added adenosine diphosphate (ADPH) phosphorylation, reduced the amount of oxygen (O2) necessary for this phosphorylation, and increased ADPH/O2 coefficient. Therefore, phosphorylation velocity and effectiveness increased, i.e. O2 use became more economical, and ATPH synthesis increased. TMZ also increased breath control, which pointed to oxidation and phosphorylation association. TMZ per se did not separate these two processes.Conclusion. MCH energetic function improvement is one of the key factors in TMZ cytoprotective effects.

Aim. To investigate the effects of an anti-ischemic medication trimetazidine on Са2+ ion metabolism in human leukocyte and monocyte precursors – HL-60 promyelocytes.Material and methods. HL-60 cells were cultivated in vitro. Changes in intracellular free Са2+ ion concentration were registered with fluorescent Са2+ probes Fura-2. Results. For the first time it was demonstrated for differentiated and non-differentiated HL-60 cells that an antianginal agent trimetazidine suppressed the activity of plasmatic membrane store operated Са2+ channels (SOC channels). Importantly, trimetazidine did not cause Са2+ ion release from the stores and did not open SOC channels, in contrast to other SOC channel inhibitors, e.g., miconazole. In open SOC channels, trimetazidine and miconazole targeted the same binding areas.Conclusion. The results obtained demonstrate additional trimetazidine effects, linked to selective SOC channel blockade. It provides new potential explanations for trimetazidine effects on electro-inert cells (e.g. blood phagocytes) and its effects in myocardial ischemia.

Chitosan-g-oligolactide copolymers with relatively long oligolactide grafted chains of various stereochemical compositions have been synthetized via a solvent-free mechanochemical technique and tailored to fabricate three-dimensional hydrogels using two-photon induced microstereolithography. An effect of the characteristics of chitosan and oligolactide used for the synthesis on the grafting yield and copolymer’s behavior were evaluated using fractional analysis, FTIR-spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and UV-spectrophotometry. The lowest copolymer yield was found for the system based on chitosan with higher molecular weight, while the samples consisting of low-molecular weight chitosan showed higher grafting degrees, which were comparable in both the cases of l,l- or l,d-oligolactide grafting. The copolymer processability in the course of two-photon stereolithography was evaluated as a function of the copolymer’s characteristics and stereolithography conditions. The structure and mechanical properties of the model film samples and fabricated 3D hydrogels were studied using optical and scanning electron microscopy, as well as by using tensile and nanoindenter devices. The application of copolymer with oligo(l,d-lactide) side chains led to higher processability during two-photon stereolithography in terms of the response to the laser beam, reproduction of the digital model, and the mechanical properties of the fabricated hydrogels.

Appropriate analysis of biological tissue deep regions is important for tumor targeting. This paper is concentrated on photons’ paths analysis in such biotissue as brain, because optical probing depth of fluorescent and excitation radiation differs. A method for photon track reconstruction was developed. Images were captured focusing on the transparent wall close and parallel to the source fibres, placed in brain tissue phantoms. The images were processed to reconstruct the photons most probable paths between two fibres. Results were compared with Monte Carlo simulations and diffusion approximation of the radiative transfer equation. It was shown that the excitation radiation optical probing depth is twice more than for the fluorescent photons. The way of fluorescent radiation spreading was discussed. Because of fluorescent and excitation radiation spreads in different ways, and the effective anisotropy factor, geff, was proposed for fluorescent radiation. For the brain tissue phantoms it were found to be 0.62±0.05 and 0.66±0.05 for the irradiation wavelengths 532 nm and 632.8 nm, respectively. These calculations give more accurate information about the tumor location in biotissue. Reconstruction of photon paths allows fluorescent and excitation probing depths determination. The geff can be used as simplified parameter for calculations of fluorescence probing depth.