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Poultry is poorly adapted to high temperature parameters of the environment, the greater the body weight and density of the poultry, the more pronounced the consequences of heat stress are. It is possible to avoid the negative effect of heat stress on the physiological parameters and health of poultry by using specific and non-specific drugs. The studies presented in the article were carried out according to generally accepted methods. As a result, it was found that under experimental conditions with artificially created heat stress for broiler chickens, the use according to the scheme: NSAIDs with the active ingredient acetylsalicylic acid and PRODACTIV®ACIDSE promotes the preservation of the main productive indicators.

The article is directly related to the subject of common interest — COVID-19 pandemic, which significantly impacts the entire world community. In the paper, we consider the spread of coronavirus infection as one of the consequences of active use of the natural environment and its resources by humans. Psychologically, the current ecological crisis stems from the regularities of the human consciousness formation. The present study empirically examines the impact of the COVID-19 hazard estimation on the nature-human interaction assessment. The study involved 372 participants (42% men and 58% women), the mean age of the subjects was 33.9 years (SD = 11.4 years). The data obtained shows that the perception of COVID-19 as a serious disease is associated with the apprehension of nature as adverse for humans, fear of natural forces (F = 12.307; p < 0.001), — perceptions characterizing the archaic type of environmental consciousness. At the same time, younger people assess the negative impact of nature on humans significantly lower than the older respondents (chi-square = 14.041; p < 0.001), and at the same time, recognizing the danger of the coronavirus, they are concerned about the natural environment preservation, demonstrating an ecocentric type of environmental consciousness.

The article considers the problem of ensuring the sustainable development of industrial enterprises using the example of the Federal State-Owned Enterprise Kazan State Treasury Powder Plant. This issue is relevant for enterprises of all forms of ownership and sectors of the economy. To ensure sustainable development in difficult economic conditions, enterprises require managerial decisions and actions that must be taken ahead of schedule and taking into account all types of risks. In accordance with the concept of sustainable development, each management decision should take into account economic, environmental and social aspects. To ensure this strategy, enterprises currently use various quality management approaches, including the process approach, which is considered one of the most effective tools for improving business efficiency, plays an important role. The essence of this approach is that all the activities of the enterprise are considered as a set of processes, which are a combination of interrelated and interacting activities. Each process, in turn, has inputs that translate into outputs, resources, internal and external customers, suppliers, and other interested parties. Based on the study, the relevance of the application of quality management methods in the formation of the sustainable development strategy of the enterprise is substantiated. The application of the process approach is considered on the example of the production of paints and varnishes FKP "KGKPZ"; the importance of the quality management system for solving the task; demonstrated high achievements of the enterprise in the field of quality. Based on the results of the study, recommendations are made on the appropriateness of applying the process approach to the formation of a sustainable development strategy and achieving the strategic goals of industrial enterprises.

Aspects and features of a process approach aimed at the interaction of departments and officials, removing the barriers between them and combining the efforts of all enterprise structures to achieve strategic goals are considered. The process approach is considered one of the most effective tools for increasing business efficiency. The essence of this approach is that all the activities of the enterprise are considered as a set of processes, which are a combination of interrelated and interacting activities. Each process, in turn, has inputs that translate into outputs, resources, internal and external customers, suppliers, and other interested parties. Based on the study, the relevance and importance of applying the process approach at one of the largest enterprises producing engines for aircraft, gas pumping stations, power plants, for the rocket and space industry and outboard motors for small boats is substantiated. By industry affiliation, it belongs to machine-building enterprises. At this enterprise, significant achievements in the field of quality were noted, obtained through the introduction of a process approach, a process management methodology was recommended for use, which is suitable for enterprises in various fields of activity. This method is necessary for the tactful formation of process management. The systematic implementation of the process approach enables enterprises to increase efficiency, improve the quality of products and significantly increase their competitiveness, which is especially important in the context of the integration of the national economy into the world. The implementation of these measures will allow enterprises to achieve their goals as soon as possible at the lowest possible cost.

Human (h) telomerase (TL; EC 2.7.7.49) plays a key role in sustaining cancer cells by means of elongating telomeric repeats at the 3' ends of chromosomes. Since TL-inhibitor (TI) stand-alone cancer therapy has been proven to be remarkably challenging, a polypharmacological approach represents a valid alternative. Here we consider a series of compounds able to inhibit both hTL and the tumor-associated carbonic anhydrases (CAs; EC 4.2.1.1) IX and XII. Compounds 7 and 9 suppressed hTL activity in both cell lysates and human colon cancer cell lines, and prolonged incubation with either 7 or 9 resulted in telomere shortening, cell cycle arrest, replicative senescence, and apoptosis. Enzyme kinetics showed that 7 and 9 are mixed-type inhibitors of the binding of DNA primers and deoxynucleoside triphosphate (dNTP) to the TL catalytic subunit hTERT, which is in agreement with docking experiments. Compound 9 showed antitumor activity in Colo-205 mouse xenografts and suppressed telomerase activity by telomere reduction.

Normal human CD4+ T-lymphocytes can undergo malignant transformation during prolong cultivation in conditions of high endonuclease G (EndoG) expression or after DNA damage. The aim of this work was to study biochemical and cytogenetic features of transformed ex vivo human malignant CD4+ T- lymphocytes, as well as biochemical and morphological characteristics of tumors that develop in athymic mice after transplantation of these cells. The telomerase activity was higher and telomere length was shorter in tumor cells than in control cells. Transformed malignant cells exhibited a high level of chromosomal aberrations. Expression of genes regulating the cell cycle changed in transformed malignant CD4+ T-lymphocytes and tumor cells. The tumors that developed were classified as multicomponent Т-cell lymphomas and panniculitis-like T-cell lymphomas. Thus, transformed CD4+ T-lymphocytes can generate malignant tumors of various histogenesis.

Apoptotic endonucleases act cooperatively to fragment DNA and ensure the irreversibility of apoptosis. However, very little is known regarding the potential regulatory links between endonucleases. Deoxyribonuclease 1 (DNase I) inactivation is caused by alternative splicing (AS) of DNase I pre-mRNA skipping exon 4, which occurs in response to EndoG overexpression in cells. The current study aimed to determine the role of EndoG in the regulation of DNase I mRNA AS and the modulation of its enzymatic activity. A strong correlation was identified between the EndoG expression levels and DNase I splice variants in human lymphocytes. EndoG overexpression in CD4+ T cells down-regulated the mRNA levels of the active full-length DNase I variant and up-regulated the levels of the non-active spliced variant, which acts in a dominant-negative fashion. DNase I AS was induced by the translocation of EndoG from mitochondria into nuclei during the development of apoptosis. The DNase I spliced variant was induced by recombinant EndoG or by incubation with EndoG-digested cellular RNA in an in vitro system with isolated cell nuclei. Using antisense DNA oligonucleotides, we identified a 72-base segment that spans the adjacent segments of exon 4 and intron 4 and appears to be responsible for the AS. DNase I-positive CD4+ T cells overexpressing EndoG demonstrated decreased progression towards bleomycin-induced apoptosis. Therefore, EndoG is an endonuclease with the unique ability to inactivate another endonuclease, DNase I, and to modulate the development of apoptosis.

The anticancer effect of L-asparaginases (L-ASNases) is attributable to their ability to hydrolyze L-asparagine in the bloodstream and cancer cell microenvironment. Rhodospirillum rubrum (RrA) has dual mechanism of action and plays a role in the suppression of telomerase activity. The aim of this work was to investigate the possible mechanism of RrA penetration into human cancer cells. Labeling of widely used L-ASNases by fluorescein isothiocyanate followed by flow cytometry and fluorescent microscopy demonstrated that only RrA can interact with cell membranes. The screening of inhibitors of receptor-mediated endocytosis demonstrated the involvement of clathrin receptors in RrA penetration into cells. Confocal microscopy confirmed the cytoplasmic and nuclear localization of RrA in human breast cancer SKBR3 cells. Two predicted nuclear localization motifs allow RrA to penetrate into the cell nucleus and inhibit telomerase. Chromatin relaxation promoted by different agents can increase the ability of RrA to suppress the expression of telomerase main catalytic subunit. Our study demonstrated for the first time the ability of RrA to penetrate into human cancer cells and the involvement of clathrin receptors in this process.

Reducing mills in piece-reduction at the moment of capturing the pipe’s front end and on the rear end exit are exposed to increased dynamic loads. However these processes at present time are not fully researched. The relevant problem is to decrease dynamic loads in the clamp engine, to increase reliability and durability of the clamp on the basis of the mill’s production growth on the account of pauses decrease, rise of the production amount, and reducing in pipe costs. In the article the results of the study to define a part lifetime in the reducing mill stand have been presented. A part lifetime was calculated in month for more convenient comparison with the production data. The results have been hand over to JSC “PNTZ” for implantation.

For the leveling machines in conditions of a small batch production which is typical for manufacturing sheets of non-ferrous alloys, in particular, titanium, the rollers heating is very influential. In order to expand the technological possibilities of the main equipment in non-stationary thermal working conditions of rollers that is an actual new scientific problem the experimental study of the loading in the hot leveling of slabs made from hardly-deformed titanium alloys was carried out on the 9-roll leveling machine. To achieve this goal the methodology of the complex experimental study of the actual loading definition of the leveling machine drive was developed. The experimental study was carried out for alloys Ti6Al4V (Vt-6s) and PT-3V with the initial heating temperature of the rolled product from 750 to 850°C. The slab leveling process was logged for slabs with the thickness from 20 to 68 mm, the width from 985 to 1720 mm by the number of passes through the leveling machine from 2 to 8. The treatment and analysis of experimental data was conducted on the basis of which the summary of permissibility of assortment expansion of leveling slabs has been formulated.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) suppress the activity of effector T, B and NK lymphocytes and sustain immunological tolerance, but the proliferative activity of suppressed cells remains unexplored. In the present study, we report that mouse Tregs can induce replicative senescence and the death of responder mouse CD4+CD25- T cells, CD8+ T cells, B cells and NK cells in vitro and in vivo. Contact-independent in vitro co-cultivation with Tregs up-regulated endonuclease G (EndoG) expression and its translocation to the nucleus in responder cells. EndoG localization in the nucleus induced alternative mRNA splicing of the telomerase catalytic subunit Tert and telomerase inhibition. The lack of telomerase activity in proliferating cells led to telomere loss followed by the development of senescence and cell death. Injection of Tregs into mice resulted in EndoG-associated alternative splicing of Tert, telomerase inhibition, telomere loss, senescence development and increased cell death in vivo. The present study describes a novel contact-independent mechanism by which Tregs specify effector cell fate and provides new insights into cellular crosstalk related to immune suppression.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a fundamental role in the maintenance of immunological tolerance by suppressing effector target T, B and NK lymphocytes. Contact-dependent suppression mechanisms have been well-studied, though contact-independent Treg activity is not fully understood. In the present study, we showed that human native Tregs, as well as induced ex vivo Tregs, can cause in vitro telomere-dependent senescence in target T, B and NK cells in a contact-independent manner. The co-cultivation of target cells with Tregs separated through porous membranes induced alternative splicing of the telomerase catalytic subunit hTERT (human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase), which suppressed telomerase activity. Induction of the hTERT splicing variant was associated with increased expression of the apoptotic endonuclease EndoG, a splicing regulator. Inhibited telomerase in target cells co-cultivated with Tregs for a long period of time led to a decrease in their telomere lengths, cell cycle arrest, conversion of the target cells to replicative senescence and apoptotic death. Induced Tregs showed the ability to up-regulate EndoG expression, TERT alternative splicing and telomerase inhibition in mouse T, B and NK cells after in vivo administration. The results of the present study describe a novel mechanism of contact-independent Treg cell suppression that induces telomerase inhibition through the EndoG-provoked alternative splicing of hTERT and converts cells to senescence and apoptosis phenotypes.

Complex heterogeneous systems, such as micelles or blood plasma, represent a particularly challenging environment to measure the catalytic parameters of some enzymes, including l-asparaginase. Existing methods are strongly interfered by the presence of plasma proteins, amino acids, as well as other components of plasma. Here we show that FTIR spectroscopy enables continuous real-time measurement of catalytic activity of l-asparaginase, in native and in PEG-chitosan conjugated form, in aqueous solutions as well as in heterogeneous non-transparent multicomponent systems, including colloidal systems or blood plasma, with minimal or no sample preparation. The approach developed is potentially applicable to other enzymatic reactions where the spectroscopic properties of substrate and product do not allow direct measurement with absorption or fluorescence spectroscopy.

The nuclease activity of deoxyribonuclease 1 (DNase I) is regulated by alternative splicing (AS) of its mRNA. The aim of this study was to define the ability of a splice-switching oligonucleotide (SSO) that base-paired with DNase I pre-mRNA to induce AS and inhibit nuclease activity in human T, B and NK lymphocytes. The SSO for DNase I could significantly downregulate the expression of full-length active DNase I and upregulate a truncated splice variant with a deleted exon 4. Such an induction of AS resulted in inhibition of nuclease activity and slowed apoptosis progression in anti-CD95/FAS stimulated lymphocytes. These results should facilitate further investigations of apoptosis regulation in lymphocytes and demonstrate that SSOs for DNase I are promising cytoprotective agents.

A new approach for the regulation of catalytic properties of the medically significant enzyme L-asparaginase is suggested based on the formation of conjugates with PEG-chitosan (chitoPEGylation). The efficiency of this approach is demonstrated using recombinant L-asparaginase from Rhodospirillum rubrum (RrA). This preparation is immunologically different from the one used in medical practice preparations of L-asparaginase from E. coli, which offers a promising alternative for applications in the case of hypersentsitivity development. The low level of activity of RrA towards L-glutamine, which decreases significantly the chance of side effects developing, is an advantage of RrA. The technique for the synthesis of the RrA conjugates with PEG-chitosan (chitoPEGylation) of a varying modification degree is developed. It is established that conjugation of RrA with PEG-chitosan increased the specific activity of the enzyme in comparison with the native one. The activity changes from 56 IU/mg (for the native enzyme) to 61–72 IU/mg (for the conjugates) depending on the degree of chitosan PEGylation. The secondary structure of the Rhodospirillum rubrum asparaginase conjugates with PEG-chitosan is examined using CD- and IR-spectroscopy. It is found that the enzyme structure changed only slightly as a result of conjugation with PEG-chitosan: the content of α-helices changed from 36% (for the native enzyme) to 30–33% (for the conjugates). The content of β-structures changed from 15% (for the native enzyme) to 18% (for the conjugate). The obtained data open new opportunities for the synthesis of L-asparaginase preparations with improved biocatalytic properties.

The accuracy of determining the LTEC with respect to metals and alloys with an HCP lattice based on inverse pole figures (IPF) is analyzed depending on the number of experimental points on the IPF using three averaging options: (1) taking into account the irregular arrangement of reflections on the stereographic triangle according to Morris; (2) by the multiplicity factor and (3) with the same weight of each orientation. It is shown that when evaluating the LTEC for semi-finished products with a basal texture, 17 reflections on the IPF are sufficient to provide an error of

The article discusses the possibility of using domestic materials in a high-speed electric generator. The features of Japanese electrical steel 20NTN1500 and domestic-made electrical steel grades 2420 and 2421 for the stator magnetic circuit are shown. The features of American steel AISI 455 and structural steel grades Steel 40, Steel 40H, Steel 45 are considered in the case of a rotor. A feature of the use of structural steels in the design of the high-speed electric generator rotor for micro-gas turbine plants is the need for precise observance of the rotor heat treatment mode after its manufacture, control of the dimensions and quality of surface treatment.

The effect of argon ion irradiation with an energy of 40 keV in the dose range of 1016 - 1018 ion/cm2 on the formation of the surface layers composition, changes in the morphology and mechanical properties (microhardness, and wear resistance) of carbon steel AISI 1020 with a deposited ion-plasma coating Ni80Cr20 was studied. It is shown that irradiation with doses greater than 1017 ion/cm2 leads to the formation of a layer consisting of nickel, chromium and iron. The most optimal treatment mode for improving wear resistance is irradiation with a dose of 5.1017 ion/cm2.

Commercial rolled AISI 321 stainless steel samples were irradiated with Al+ ions with an energy of 80 keV and fluence of 1017 ion/cm2. The effect of Al implantation on the chemical and phase composition of the steel surface layer was studied by X-ray electron spectroscopy and grazing beam mode of X-ray diffraction analysis. A thin surface layer down to a depth of 30 nm after Al+ ions implantation consists mainly of metal oxides. In the near-surface layers of 5 nm in depth, a noticeable depletion in chromium and nickel was observed. A surface layer (up to 0.5 µm) of non-irradiated steel, in addition to the f.c.c. austenite γ-phase, consists of up to 20 vol% of the b.c.c. α′-phase, which formed at rolling as a result of mechanical deformation. Al implantation results in the significant increase in the α′-phase amount in the surface layer at a depth up to 2 µm. It is indicated that the observed γ → α′ transformation at ion irradiation proceeds predominantly as a result of the effect of post-cascade shock waves, but not as a result of the surface layer chemical composition changes.

Rhodospirillum rubrum L‐asparaginase mutant E149R, V150P, F151T (RrA) down‐regulates telomerase activity due to its ability to inhibit the expression of telomerase catalytic subunit hTERT. The aim of this study was to define the effect of short‐term and long‐term RrA exposure on proliferation of cancer Jurkat cell line and normal human CD4+ T lymphocytes. RrA could inhibit telomerase activity in dose‐ and time‐dependent manner in both Jurkat and normal CD4+ T cells. Continuous RrA exposure of these cells resulted in shortening of telomeres followed by cell cycle inhibition, replicative senescence, and development of apoptosis. Complete death of Jurkat cells was observed at the day 25 of RrA exposure while normal CD4+ T cells died at the day 50 due to the initial longer length of telomeres. Removal of RrA from senescent cells led to a reactivation of hTERT expression, restoration telomerase activity, re‐elongation of telomeres after 48 h of cultivation, and survival of cells. These findings demonstrate that proliferation of cancer and normal telomerase‐positive cells can be limited by continuous telomerase inhibition with RrA. Longer telomeres of normal CD4+ T lymphocytes make such cells more sustainable to RrA exposure that could give them an advantage during anti‐telomerase therapy. These results should facilitate further investigations of RrA as a potent anti‐telomerase therapeutic protein.

Telomerase activity is regulated by alternative splicing of its catalytic subunit human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA. Induction of a non-active spliced hTERT leads to inhibition of telomerase activity. However, very little is known about the mechanism of hTERT mRNA alternative splicing. The aim of this study was to determine the role of the apoptotic endonuclease EndoG in alternative splicing of hTERT and telomerase activity. A strong correlation was identified between EndoG expression levels and hTERT splice variants in human CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes. Overexpression of EndoG in CD4+ T cells down-regulated the expression of the active full-length hTERT variant and up-regulated expression of the non-active spliced variant. A reduction in full-length hTERT transcripts down-regulated telomerase activity. Long-term in vitro cultivation of EndoG-overexpressing CD4+ T cells led to dramatically shortened telomeres, conversion of cells into a replicative senescence state, and activation of the BCL2/BAX-associated apoptotic pathway finally leading to cell death. These data indicated the participation of EndoG in alternative mRNA splicing of the telomerase catalytic subunit hTERT, regulation of telomerase activity and determination of cell fate.

Telomerase activity is regulated at the mRNA level by alternative splicing (AS) of its catalytic subunit hTERT. The aim of this study was to define the ability of splice-switching oligonucleotides (SSOs) that pair with hTERT pre-mRNA to induce AS and inhibit telomerase activity in human CD4+ T lymphocytes. SSOs that blocked the binding of a single splicing regulatory protein, SRp20 or SRp40, to its site within intron 8 of hTERT pre-mRNA demonstrated rather moderate capacities to induce AS and inhibit telomerase. However, a SSO that blocked the interaction of both SRp20 and SRp40 proteins with pre-mRNA was the most active. Cultivation of lymphocytes with spliced hTERT and inhibited telomerase resulted in the reduction of proliferative activity without significant induction of cell death. These results should facilitate further investigation of telomerase activity regulation, and antitelomerase SSOs could become promising agents for antiproliferative cell therapy.

The paper substantiates a general scheme for solving two-dimensional free spreading problem in terms of open water potential flow below the non-pressure pipe. The first link. Since a uniform flow at its outlet from a rectangular pipe with its free spreading is coupled with a non-uniform flow of a general form, then, using a theorem from the general theory of two-dimensional in terms of turbulent water potential flows, the conclusion is given: since a straight-line characteristic is always the boundary between a uniform and non-uniform flow, then only a simple wave can directly adjoin the uniform flow area. Simple waves serve as a transitional form from the uniform flow to the general non-uniform flow. Therefore, it is not entirely correct to pose the free flow spreading boundary problem, trying to satisfy only the boundary conditions and obtain an analytical solution without taking into account the intermediate flow “simple wave”. The second important link in solving the problem is a general flow choice. And it can be selected from the intermediate flow condition found by the authors in the velocity hodograph plane. Let us call this flow the “type A flow”. “Type A flow” satisfies all the requirements of the flow spreading process function. When increasing, i.e. τ tends to 1, flow depth h tends to 0; velocity V tends to the maximum. The flow depth is greater on the symmetry axis than when moving along the equipotential to the flow free boundary. Using these two links, it is possible to apply a flow coupling scheme and solve the boundary problem of determining the entire spectrum of parameters for the potential flow spreading. The results obtained in this work can be used by the designers of hydraulic structures, which length is relatively short and where the flow resistance forces can be neglected.

Modern hydraulic structures require highly reliable water-supply channels, free-flow pipes and open spillways. Therefore, they must be built with considering dynamic properties of the affecting flow. The theory of one-dimensional open flows cannot answer many questions raised by the hydraulic engineering practice. Hence, this paper considers two-dimensional graphical open flows, with separate particular models following from the general theory, important for designing couplings, curves in more complex constructions (two different channels) required in hydraulic engineering (Hydraulics technical structures) (HTS). And the more such models are obtained, the more opportunities will appear for scientists and designers to synthesize more complex structures required in HTS. This study identifies three elements, and three simplest models of two-dimensional graphic open water flows similar to flat models: a source, a vortex and a vortex source. The number of such individual models will continue to increase and expand the range of possibilities for designing more complex water technical objects (WTO). The models are obtained analytically from solving the system of two-dimensional graphical open potential water flows in the plane of the velocity hodograph. The elementary construction of each model includes an analytical solution for the potential function and the stream function. The paper considers the problem of determining the parameters of a two-dimensional graphical open water flow at any point in the flow: a source, a vortex, a vortex source. The practical significance of the models lies in the possibility to use the results by the designers of hydraulic structures both at the first stage of solving problems and at the subsequent ones, with flow resistance forces taken into account. The study also represents the transition method from the plane of the flow velocity hodograph to the flow diagram by integrating the models in the plane of the velocity hodograph from the condition of the connection between the considered planes.

The results of studying the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of the chemical composition formation of titanium surface layers with a deposited aluminum film after ion-beam mixing are presented. At the selected parameters of ion irradiation, the aluminum films 10 and 20 nm thick are mixed with a titanium substrate. TiAl compounds are formed during mixing.

We report a study of p-Si(100) surface layers modified by plasma immersion ion implantation (PIII) and dry oxidation. This is expected to allow one to engineer near-surface layers with different thicknesses and levels of amorphization. Hydrogen ions were introduced into a shallow near-surface Si region through PIII with energy of 2 keV and doses ranging from 1013 ion/cm2 to 1015 ion/cm2. The implanted Si surface was subjected to oxidation in dry oxygen atmosphere at temperatures ranging from 700 °C to 800 °C. The optical and structural properties of the modified Si layers were studied in detail by spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) in the IR spectral range of 300 – 4000 cm−1. The surface morphology was examined by atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging at different scales and by fractal analysis. Through decomposition of the main Si-O bands into Gaussian peaks, different Si oxidation states were identified, suggesting non-stoichiometric oxide layer composition.

Apoptotic endonucleases act cooperatively to fragment DNA and ensure the irreversibility of apoptosis. However, very little is known regarding the potential regulatory links between endonucleases. Deoxyribonuclease 1 (DNase I) inactivation is caused by alternative splicing (AS) of DNase I pre-mRNA skipping exon 4, which occurs in response to EndoG overexpression in cells. The current study aimed to determine the role of EndoG in the regulation of DNase I mRNA AS and the modulation of its enzymatic activity. A strong correlation was identified between the EndoG expression levels and DNase I splice variants in human lymphocytes. EndoG overexpression in CD4

Rhodospirillum rubrum l -asparaginase mutant RrA E149R, V150P, F151T (RrA) was previously identified to down-regulate telomerase activity along with catalyzing the hydrolysis of l -asparagine. The aim of this study was to define the effect of prolonged RrA exposure on telomerase activity, maintenance of telomeres and proliferation of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo . RrA could inhibit telomerase activity in SCOV-3, SkBr-3 and A549 human cancer cell lines due to its ability to down-regulate the expression of telomerase catalytic subunit hTERT. Telomerase activity in treated cells did not exceeded 29.63 ± 12.3% of control cells. Continuous RrA exposure of these cells resulted in shortening of telomeres followed by cell death in vitro . Using real time PCR we showed that length of telomeres in SCOV-3 cells has been gradually decreasing from 10105 ± 2530 b.p. to 1233 ± 636 b.p. after 35 days of cultivation. RrA treatment of xenograft models in vivo showed slight inhibition of tumor growth accompanied with 49.5–53.3% of decrease in hTERT expression in the all tumors. However down-regulation of hTERT expression, inhibition of telomerase activity and the loss of telomeres was significant in response to RrA administration in xenograft models. These results should facilitate further investigations of RrA as a potent therapeutic protein.

The results of studying the droplet phase during pulsed laser ablation of a conical target are presented. The amounts of droplets in the titanium coating formed under single and dual laser-beam ablation are compared.

Transmission and reflection spectra, mechanical stress and generation of the second optical harmonic are investigated in the films of Ge 35 Sb 5 S 60 chalcogenide glass. It is shown that good correlation between mechanical stress and nonlinear properties can be achieved by introducing to SHG model an inactive layer located at film–air border.

Caspase-2 is a key enzyme thinvolved in induction of apoptosis. The caspase-2 level is regulated by alternative splicing (AS) of its mRNA. The aim of this work was to determine the ability of an oligonucleotide complementary to Casp-2 pre-mRNA to induce AS. This oligonucleotide blocked the binding of splicing-regulating proteins to their sites at the end of exon 9 of Casp-2 pre-mRNA, leading to induction of AS of Casp-2 mRNA. The decrease in expression of full-size active splice-variant (Casp-2L) and the increase the expression of a shortened variant (Casp-2S) was demonstrated in human T-cell lymphoma Jurkat cell line. The expression level of total Casp-2 remained unchanged. Disproportion of splice variants of Casp-2 led to inhibition of enzymatic activity of caspase-2., Каспаза-2 является ферментом, участвующим в индукции апоптоза. Количество активного фермента каспазы-2 регулируется альтернативным сплайсингом (АС) её мРНК. Целью данной работы было определение способности олигонуклеотида, комплементарного пре-мРНК Casp-2, индуцировать АС. Данный олигонуклеотид блокировал связывание регулирующих сплайсинг белков со своими сайтами на конце экзона 9 пре-мРНК Casp-2, что приводило к индукции АС мРНК Casp-2: понижению экспрессии полноразмерного активного сплайс-варианта Casp-2L и повышению экспрессии укороченного варанта Casp-2S в клетках Т-клеточной лимфомы человека линии Jurkat. При этом уровень экспрессии общей Casp-2 не изменялся. Нарушуение пропорции сплайс-вариантов Casp-2 приводил к ингибированию ферментативной активности каспазы-2.

The structure and the optical properties of thin Si layer hydrogenated by shallow plasma ion implantation with different fluences up to 10 15 cm −2 are studied using spectroscopic ellipsometry and simulation of the distributions of the ions and implantation induced defects. The implantation was regarded to proceed into Si through the native SiO 2 . Two-layer optical models are applied for examination of the composition and dielectric function behavior of the formed structures. The native oxide is found to be 3 nm thick. The thickness of the Si modified layer decreased 23 to 14 nm with ion fluence due to increased formation of highly hydrogenated surface region that hinder further H-penetration into the Si bulk, especially at the highest fluence. Shifts of the features in the obtained dielectric functions related with Si interband transitions at about 3.4 and 4.2 eV are found caused by process-induced tensile stress. The modified Si region is related rather to defects created by the ion implantation process than the projected range of hydrogen ions. The overall layer modification can be characterized by a low degree of amorphization (up to 5.8%), creation of structural defects and internal tensile stress.

This study is focused on the possibility of pesticide and DEA elimination by nanofiltration using NF and OPMN-K membranes. Experiments are carried out on laboratory equipment in batch circulation and applied pressures vary between 10 and 25 bars. Three common pesticides (simazine, atrazine, diuron) and a chlorinated metabolite of atrazine: diethylatrazine is used as solutes, either alone or in complex solutions. For all experiments, NF shows better performance compared to OPMN-K. The most retained pesticide is atrazine and the least retained is diuron due to its higher dipole moment (high carbonyl group contribution) coupled to linear form which may also induce a decrease in its steric retention. In the case of pesticide/DEA mixtures, DEA rejection is better (up to 44%) for all pressures due to the formation of macromolecular complexes. It is also noticed that molecular weight and size, expressed by Stokes radius, are not the only parameters influencing rejection: shape of the molecule (molecular length and width) has a strong influence on rejection. The observed rejection increases when length and width increase. The nanofiltration technology seems to be a good way to treat the problem of pesticide pollution in one step process.