bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Proliferative activity of bone marrow cells of rats under the influence of biologically active substances of a medical leech
Authors: Aminov R. F. , Frolov A. K. 
Published: February 2018

Hirudotherapy has been used in medicine since time immemorial. The advantage of this type of treatment is that the bite of a leech has a restorative effect on the entire body. The leech bites the skin and injects into the patient’s blood biologically active substances that activate blood microcirculation and promote immunity. The saliva of the leech contains more than 100 substances that contribute to the spectrum of therapeutic effects. But there are no studies on the effect of hirudotherapy on the proliferation of bone marrow cells, which is ontogenetically primary in the development of myeloid and lymphoid tissues. Therefore, it is important to study the mitotic activity of bone marrow of rats at the early stages of postembryonic development against the background of influence by the leech. Female nonlinear rats, two weeks before and two weeks after mating with males, were presented each week to one hungry medical leech weighing 400 mg. The females were examined after feeding their offspring and their offspring were likewise examined on day 1, 15, 30, 45, 60 of the experiment. The animals were kept in vivarium conditions on a standard diet in individual cages. All animals were decapitated under ether anesthesia and the number of leukocytes, the leukocyte blood count, the number of erythrocytes, hemoglobin, and the color index were examined. After that, the femurs were quickly removed and the adjacent muscles separated with a sterile gauze. We cut the epiphyses and cut along the bone. Bone marrow from the femur was flushed with a warm (37 °C) hypotonic 0.9% sodium citrate solution into a sterile centrifuge tube using a Pasteur pipette. The resulting cell suspension was incubated in a hypotonic solution for 10 minutes at 37 °C. The resulting suspension was centrifuged for 5 minutes at 1000 rpm leaving only a small residue of sediment in the test tube. The cells were fixed in methyl alcohol with glacial acetic acid (three parts methyl alcohol and one part acetic acid). 3,000 cells were analyzed, among which we determined those that are in mitosis, and expressed their share. As a result of our studies, the immunomodulating effect of the saliva of the medical leech was revealed, which manifested itself in an increase in the proliferative activity of bone marrow cells, which led to an increase in the number of red blood cells, increased hemoglobin and increase in the number of leukocytes. The color index and the leukocyte blood count were within the normal limits.
Resistance of nosocomial strains to antibacterial drugs and its link to biofilm formation
Authors: Sklyar T. V. , Lavrentievа K. V. , Alyonkina Y. A. , Kolomoets A. M. , Vinnikov А. І. 
Published: February 2018

The problem of nosocomial infections is considered in connection with more frequent formation and wide distribution in clinical practice of new strains of hospital bacteria that have a cross-resistence to antibacterial drugs. The nosocomial agents were isolated from wounds and identified as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. 72.0% of S. aureus strains and 61.5% of P. aeruginosa clinical isolates had the capability of forming biofilms. The sensitivity to antibiotics of all isolated strains was investigated with tne agar diffusion test. This method showed that all strains of S. aureus with the capability to form biofilms had resistence to erythromycin, gentamycin, ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin. The had the greatest sensitivity to klindamycin (90.3%), vancomycin (80.6%) and gatifloxacin (80.6% cultures). The strains of S. aureus with the capability to form biofilms were more resistent to antibiotics than strains of S. aureus without such properties. Only cefotaxim suppressed the growth of 75.0% of strains of staphylococci. All isolated strains of S. aureus without the capability to form biofilms were sensitive to doxycyclin, gentamycin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin and klindamycin. All clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa with capability to form biofilms had resistence to ampicillin, gentamycin, imipenem, cefotaxime and ceftriaxone. They were most sensitive (75.0%) to piperacillin and cefoperazone/sulbactam. The strains of P. aeruginosa without the capability to form biofilms kept the resistence to gentamycin, imipenem and ceftriaxone. They showed the greatest sensitivity (75.0%) to ciprofloxacin (80.0% isolates) and also to amikacin, ampicillin, meropenem, norfloxacin and cefotaxime (60.0% cultures). We investigated the minimum inhibitory concentrations of gentamycin and ciprofloxacin, which appeared higher for P. aeruginosa than for S. aureus. The most effective disinfectant against all isolated nosocomial agents without the capacity for biofilm formation was “Desactin” in a concentration 0.1% or 0.2%. For strains of staphylococci with this capability, the efficiency of “Desactin” went down by 9.7%. The best biocide effect against the strains of P. aeruginosa with the capability of forming biofilms was shown by 0.1% solution of “Neochlorine tabs”, which suppressed the growth of 75.0% of tested cultures. As a result, we detected a direct relationship between resistance to antibiotics and disinfectants and the capacities for biofilm formation among the nosocomial agents S. aureus and P. aeruginosa.
The thyroid status of a conditionally healthy adult population of Prydniprovia
Authors: Arzhanov I. Y. , Buniatov M. R. , Ushakovа G. A. 
Published: February 2018

Pathologies of the thyroid gland are one of the most common diseases in endocrinology today. Hormones of the thyroid gland carry out hormonal regulation of the cell cycle, the physiological and post-traumatic repair of cells. The hormones of the thyroid gland secrete and enhance the oxidative processes and control the heat production, which can affect the mental state and the ability of the body to adapt to adverse environmental factors. In the case of a lack or almost complete absence of thyroid hormones, normal development and function of any functional system in the body is not possible. In the context of an increase in the incidence of thyroid gland pathology inUkraine, this article presents an analysis of the thyroid status of the conditionally healthy population of Prydniprovia, related to age and gender. For the study, 120 patients of both sexes aged between 20 to 70 were selected. All patients were divided into 3 age groups of 40 people. Each age group was divided into 2 subgroups – male and female, with 20 people in each subgroup. Patients who, in the past and during the experiment, had no cases of thyroid gland disease were selected for accurate and reliable results. The study of thyroid status of the population showed that most of the adult and healthy population of Prydniprovia was not severely affected. All indicators were included in the age and gender limits of the norm, which are established by the preanalytical requirements of the independent laboratory Invitro (Dnipro,Ukraine). In women aged 50–70 years, there is an increased risk of hypothyroidism, which is confirmed by low levels of free thyroxine and triiodothyronine in the blood against the background of increased thyroid stimulating hormone and thyroglobulin levels. In the adult, conditionally healthy population of the Dnipro region aged between 20–70 years, the following correlation relations were observed between thyroid stimulating and thyroid hormones: at a younger age for men, the relationship between TSH and fT4 was –0.97, for TSH and fT3 –0.96, women also had a negative interdependence between these hormones (–0.95 and -0.98 respectively). The age of the men who underwent the test did not change this dependence but in women after 50 years, the Pearson correlation coefficient decreased between the studied hormones TTG and fT4 and fТ3 to –0.94 and –0.93, respectively. Indicators of total thyroxine and total triiodothyronine in the blood serum are not indicative for determining the risk of hypothyroidism.
Biochemical markers of safety of nano-particles of metals on the model of isolated subcultural fractions of eukaryotes
Authors: Roman’ko M. Y. 
Published: February 2018

Unique sizes and a high level of bioavailability allow nanoparticles of metals (NPMe) to come into direct contact with biological systems, with infectious agents, toxins, as well as with different chemical compounds and separate cell structures (proteins, lipids, nucleic acids). Other biological effects, including less toxicity than in microscopic substances, require attention to be paid to the study of the potential risk of using nanoparticles of each type in a particular way, therefore scientific support is absolutely necessary in this direction. It is believed that the cytotoxicity of nanomaterials is due to genomic and mutagenic effects, but the mechanical forces of interaction of NPMе with cells, obviously, will change not only cytological but also their metabolic reactions. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to determine the biochemical markers of safety (potential toxicity) of NPMe (Au, Ag, Cu, Fe, Co, GFCo, Zn, MnO2) on the model of isolated membrane and cytosolic fractions of eukaryotic test cells of CHO-K1 and U937 lines. Under conditions of preincubation of experimental samples of NPMe at a final concentration of 1 μg/cm3 by the metal with preparations of subcellular fractions of CHO-K1 and U937 (in the final amount of protein 150–200 μg/cm3) for 3 minutes at 37 ± 1 ºС, there was determined the magnitude of membrane ATP-ase and cytosolic LDH-ase activity compared to intact cells ("control"). According to the results of the research, colloidal dispersions of NPAg average size ~30 nm, NPFe ~100 nm, NPCu ~70 nm, and NPMnO2 ~50 nm are safe and biocompatible by their membranotropic effect on subcellular fractions of eukaryotic test cells, as evidenced by an increase in the level of membrane ATPase and cytosolic LDHase of test-cells CHO-K1, and the experimental samples NPCo, NPGFCo and NPZn average size of ~100 nm are membrane-toxic, that is, dangerous. By the nature of the changes in the enzymatic activity of the test cells U937, the discrete dimensions of the membranotropic action of NPAu have been demonstrated: nanoparticles of size ~10 nm caused the inhibition of the membrane Na+,K+-ATPase, and the size of ~30 nm and ~45 nm – its induction; nanoparticles of size ~10, ~20 and ~30 nm induced cytosolic LDHase and the size of ~45 nm – its inhibition relative to the control level of enzymes, so NPAu ~10 and ~45 nm can be considered membrane toxic, and size ~30 nm – safe and biocompatible for eukaryotic cells. Based on the hypothesis about the involvement of metabolism-dependent mechanisms of contact interaction of colloidal dispersions of experimental samples of NPMe with cells through membranotropic properties, the study of their potential danger or biocompatibility in further research can be carried out by determining the intensity of oxidation of the main structural components of biomembranes of cells – lipids and proteins and indicators of their AO-regulation.
Hysto-ultrastructure of the facial nerve and mimic muscles in the norm and in the conditions of eхperimental neuropathy
Authors: Myhailiuk V. , Mykhailiuk I. , Hembarovskyi M. , Lebid O. , Duda K. , Patskan L. , Shovkova N. 
Published: February 2018

We studied the structural components of the facial nerve in the norm and with cold neuropathy, indicating morphological changes in neuromuscular endings and muscle fibers at 10, 15, 30 and 60 days from the beginning of the simulation of experimental neuropathy, which was caused by local supercooling of the projection portions of the extracranial parts of the facial nerve on the background of the preliminary introduction of Freud’s complete adjuvant. We established that the pathomorphological changes in the endonevral microcirculatory bed have a phase character: the initial spasm (up to 10 days) changes in paralytic vasodilation, and its residual effects remain until the end of the experiment (60 days). Changes in hemomicrocirculation conditions lead to marked disturbances in the structure of myelinic nerve fibers, which have the character of segmental demyelination with signs of delay in axonal transport and reactive restructuring of neuromuscular endings. The change in the metric composition of myelinated nerve fibers is due to an increase in the number of nerve fibers of medium and large diameters (up to 30 days) and small diameter (after 30 days). In different periods of the experiment, a decrease in the branching area of the terminal branches of the motor axon is observed in the nerve cells, local edema of the endonevria, degenerative changes in a part of the nerve fibers develop. Due to the fine-grained decay of the final nerve branches, degeneration of the motor endings took place two weeks after the start of the experiment. Neuropathy for 30 days caused a pronounced inhibition of spotting in the peripheral parts of the motor nerve fibers. After 60 days of experiment, a large number of muscle fibers underwent destructive changes. The size of a significant part of the neuromuscular endings was reduced. In all terms of cold neuropathy, neurolematocytes reacted in the same way: cytoplasm was swollen, argyrophilic grains appeared in the nuclei, fine-grained decay of individual nuclei occurred.
Post-pyrogenic changes in vegetation cover and biological soil crust in steppe ecosystems
Authors: Shcherbyna V. V. , Maltseva I. A. , Maltsev Y. I. , Solonenko A. N. 
Published: February 2018

The study of the processes of restoration of species richness and productivity of steppe ecosystems after fires is an urgent problem that affects not only the conservation of biodiversity but also the maintenance of pasture resources. This article presents the results of a study of post-pyrogenic effects in steppe ecosystems, taking into account changes in the species composition of cyanoprokaryotes and algae that are art of the biological soil crust, which performs ecologically important functions in xerophytic ecosystems. The investigations were carried out in virgin and post-pyrogenic steppe ecosystems of the “Troitsk Clough” reserve (Zaporizhia region, Ukraine). For three years, the dynamics of the projective cover and the height of the vegetation cover in virgin areas of herbs-fescue-feather-grass and fescue-feather-grass steppes was studied as well as within two ecosystems of post-pyrogenic development after fires that occurred in the spring and winter periods. We discovered that restoration of the herbs-fescue-feather-grass and fescue-feather-grass steppes after fires occurs at different rates. The cause of the slow restoration of vegetation cover can be its severe damage by fire at the beginning of the vegetation season and the development of erosion processes. The number of species of cyanoprokaryotes and algae in the biological soil crust of virgin and post-pyrogenic ecosystems is not significantly different. It varies from 35 to 49 species. The greatest diversity is noted for Cyanoprokaryota. Chlorophyta is in the second place. Among the dominants, the filamentous forms of Cyanoprokaryota prevail. Nostoc edaphicum was noted as a nitrogen fixing representative. The similarity of the species lists of cyanoprokaryotes and algae of post-pyrogenic and virgin ecosystems, according to the calculated Jaccard coefficient, varies from 49.1% to 55.3%. This indicates a strong specificity of the composition of cyanoprokaryotes and algae in post-pyrogenic biological soil crusts. Changes in their composition reflect different stages of post-pyrogenic succession. In the first year after a fire, there is a slight increase in species richness, which is a consequence of the favorable effect of increasing the amount of mineral substances in the soil after the organic matter has burned out. The “pioneer” group includes: Phormidium autumnale, Ph. dimorphum, Ph. retzii, Ph. (Leptolyngbya) henningsii, Luticola mutica, Hantzschia amphioxys. Gradually this effect is leveled and the species richness of cyanoprokaryotes and algae is stabilized at a level peculiar for this type of ecosystem.
Tumor necrosis factor: An inflammatory microenvironment marker in primary breast cancer patients
Authors: Thriveni Karuvaje , Raju Anisha , Ramaswamy Girija , Krishnamurthy S. , Kumar Rekha V. 
Published: February 2018

<strong>Aim: </strong>The present study was planned to analyze plasma levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in invasive ductal primary breast cancer (BC) patients in a South Indian population. TNF alpha (TNF α) and TNF beta (TNF β) are produced during inflammation as proinflammatory cytokine markers. The plasma levels of TNF α and TNF β (lymphotoxin α) were correlated with clinicopathological features of BC. <strong>Materials and Methods: </strong>Blood samples were collected from patients before treatment. We analyzed plasma levels of TNF α, and TNF β in 70 female BC cases and 35 age-matched healthy controls using Millipore magnetic bead kits. <strong>Results: </strong>Plasma TNF α levels in BC cases were significantly elevated (median 10.1 pg/ml) when compared to the control groups. Plasma values of TNF α and TNF β both were significantly elevated in BC patients with hormone receptor negative cases. Plasma TNF α level was elevated in lymph node metastasis and triple negative BC. Plasma values of TNF α inversely correlated with estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor positivity. <strong>Conclusion: </strong>The plasma levels of TNF α were more significantly overexpressed than TNF β in BC patients. Further, the patients with aggressive cancer had higher levels of inflammation markers. The present study shows that TNF levels were elevated in hormone receptor negative and triple-negative cases.<p> </p>
THE APPLICATION OF DIFFERENTIAL PERSON FUNCTIONING ON THE SCIENCE LITERACY OF TAIWAN PISA 2015
Authors: Chiang Pei-Ming , Tzou Huey-Ing 
Published: February 2018

Purpose of Study: This study is an application of differential person functioning (DPF) on the data of Taiwan PISA 2015 science literacy. We use this method to understand the strength and weakness of Taiwan students in science literacy. It is also hoped that the results could be helpful in improving the content of curriculum and the remedial instruction.
Methodology: We transpose the person-item data matrix into an item-person matrix, and use Mantel-Haenszel method to analyze this matrix. The focal and reference groups change from persons to item clusters, that is, cognitive domains in the PISA science assessment.
Main Findings: Results show the proportions of DPF are very few. This implies most Taiwan students have a comprehensive science literacy. Up to 5.9% students perform differentially in three science competencies. Most DPF students perform better in the explain phenomena scientifically (EP) competency than the others no matter what proficiency level they are belong to. This may reflect the current situation of science education in Taiwan. The experts and teachers should develop more curriculums to reinforce the students’ competencies about evaluate and design scientific enquiry (ED) and interpret data and evidence scientifically (ID).
Limitations: The effect sizes of DPF are not provided, the degree of DPF is unidentified. DPF analyses only test the relative difference in two cognitive scales. Future studies can incorporate other cognitive diagnostic model to obtain more information in detail.
Importance of Study: The PISA assessments provide a favorable framework to examine students’ literacy. The results of international reports show that Taiwan students performed well in science. The application of differential person functioning can find out the weaknesses of Taiwan students in science literacy. Furthermore, we applied the DPF procedure to explore the characteristics of students in the different level of performance.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WORKPLACE SPIRITUALITY AND JOB PERFORMANCE AMONG STAFF OF AZAD ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY, IRAN
Authors: Tayebiniya Narjes Khatun , Khorasgani Narges Saeidian 
Published: February 2018

Purpose: This study aims at specifying the relationship between workplace spirituality and job performance among Isfahan Azad Islamic university's staff.
Methodology: This study is descriptive correlational one conducted in 2015. Research population were all Isfahan Azad University staff, 375 individuals among the 189 ones were accidently and based on the mass of their department, and Cochran sample mass selected. Instruments used in this study were Ashmos (2000)'s 22-item questionnaire of workplace spirituality and Paterson's (1970) 15-item questionnaire of job performance. The stability of these questionnaires in Cronbach's Alpha was computed as 0.88 and 0.83 for workplace spirituality and job performance, respectively. Data extracted in this study was analyzed through multi-regression tests, Pierson correlation coefficient and SPSS software of variance analytical tests.
Main Findings: The results of this study show that there exists a meaningful relation between workplace spirituality (r=0.330), meaningful work (r=0.287), a sense of connection and positive social relations with coworkers (r=0. 298), individual's alignment with the organization's values (r=0.326) and job performance. (P=0.001) in the first step, from among these workplace spirituality dimensions, meaningful work is the best indicator of staff's job performance.
Implications: This study and results can throw light on strategies to be adopted to enhance job performance in University staff.
Originality: This type of study is done first time in University.
Mekan Tasarımında Değişen Ölçek Anlayışı ve Yok-Yerler İle İlişkisi
Authors: Kandemir Özge , Levent Kasap Tuğba 
Published: February 2018

Ölçek, temelde insan ile dünya arasındaki ilişkinin belirlenmesine yönelik bir kavram
olarak açığa çıkmıştır. Kavram özünde Lahoud (2012)’un ifadesiyle “niteliksel olarak belirleyici olan şey’ler arasında, ilişki kurma kapasitesi olan bir tür çerçeve oluşturmaktadır”. Buna karşın , tarihi süreçte algılanma biçiminde değişim gösteren ölçek, birey ve
endüstri arasındaki ilişkilerin belirlenmesinde kullanılır hale gelmiştir. Bu çerçevede ele
alınan çalışma, ölçek kavramına ilişkin değişen yaklaşım biçiminin ve sonuçlarının ortaya konulmasını amaçlamaktadır. Burada “Yok-Yerler” ölçek kavramının algılanış biçiminde yaşanan değişimin en görünür sonuçlarından biri olarak değerlendirilmektedir.
Temel hedef, tasarım eğitiminde çoğunlukla teorik sorgulamalarının ihmal edildiği ölçek
kavramının gerçekte ne olduğunun ve de ne olmaması gerektiğinin ortaya konulmasıdır.&nbsp;
Current status of reclaimed water in China: an overview
Authors: Zhu Zhongfan , Dou Jie 
Published: February 2018

Abstract
This paper presents the objectives of reclaimed water use in China and the current quantities used at the national and provincial levels. Using 2015 statistical data as an example, this paper studies the influences of water resources quantity, gross domestic product and policy promotion hierarchy on reclaimed water use in all provincial administrative regions in China. Reclaimed water use in Beijing and Jiangsu are presented as two representative examples. China's reclaimed water experience can provide some guidance for other countries facing similar water resource situations.