Forests in the East Ural Radioactive Trace: structure, spatial distribution, and the Sr inventory 63 years after the Kyshtym accident.

On 29 September 1957, the so-called Kyshtym accident occurred at the USSR's first nuclear weapons plutonium production facility. The East Ural State Reserve (EUSR) was established in the most contaminated part of the radioactive trace, where a substantial part of the forests died in the first years after the accident. The purpose of our study was to evaluate the natural restoration of forests and to verify and update the taxonomic parameters that characterize the current state of forest stands in the EUSR.

Space Medicine: Scientific Foundations, Achievements, and Challenges.

This article, based on a report presented at the Scientific Session of the Russian Academy of Sciences, highlights the history of the formation of space medicine, its theoretical foundations, and the role of scientists of the Academy of Sciences in the preparation and implementation of the first manned flight into space. The achievements of domestic specialists in space physiology, biology, and medicine promoting the development of manned cosmonautics are considered. Examples are given of the implementation of the results of space research, as well as instruments and devices for medical support of space crews, into practical health care.

Chondrogeneic Potential of MSC from Different Sources in Spheroid Culture.

We performed a comparative study of the proliferative potential of human mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) from three sources (tooth pulp, adipose tissue, and Wharton's jelly) in spheroid culture; human chondroblasts served as the positive control. Histological examination revealed signs of chondrogenic differentiation in all studied cell cultures and the differences in the volume and composition of the extracellular matrix. Spheroids formed by MSC from the tooth pulp and Wharton's jelly were characterized by low content of extracellular matrix and glycosaminoglycans.

Formation of Tissue-Engineered Construct of Human Cartilage Tissue in a Flow-Through Bioreactor.

We performed culturing of a cell-engineered construct of human cartilage tissue consisting of biopolymer microstructured collagen-containing hydrogel, human adipose tissue mesenchymal stromal cells, and induction chondrogenic culture medium in a specially designed flow-through bioreactor. On day 16 of the experiment, human adipose tissue mesenchymal stromal cells acquired flattened shape typical for chondroblasts, demonstrated high proliferative activity, and formed extracellular matrix. The observed histological changes in the cultured system attested to the beginning of the formation of a tissue-engineered construct of human cartilage tissue.

2-Acyl-1,1,3,3-tetracyanopropenides (ATCN): structure characterization and luminescence properties of ammonia and alkali metal ATCN salts.

Herein, syntheses, crystal structures, and photoluminescence properties of 24 new ammonia and alkali metal ATCN salts characterized via single-crystal X-ray diffraction are reported. Moreover, ten structure types of these salts have been described, three of which are predominant. Some ATCNs were obtained as two crystalline polymorphs.