Mn-Doped BaTiOCeramics: Thermal and Electrical Properties for Multicaloric Applications.

Multiferroic materialsare widely used in microelectronics because they are sensitive to elastic, magnetic, and electric fields and there is an intrinsic coupling between them. In particular, transition metal-doped BaTiO is consideredas a viable multiferroic because of the simultaneous presence of ferroelectricity and magnetism.In this work, we study the electrical and thermal properties of Mn-doped BaTiO ceramics that can be used for multicaloric applications.

Glycosides from edible sea cucumbers stimulate macrophages via purinergic receptors.

Since ancient times, edible sea cucumbers have been considered a jewel of the seabed and used in Asian folk medicine for stimulation of resistance against different diseases. However, the power of this sea food has not been established on a molecular level. A particular group of triterpene glycosides was found to be characteristic metabolites of the animals, responsible for this biological action.

Urupocidin A: a new, inducing iNOS expression bicyclic guanidine alkaloid from the marine sponge Monanchora pulchra.

Urupocidins A and B (1 and 2), bisguanidine alkaloids with an unprecedented skeleton system, derived from polyketide precursors and containing an unusual N-alkyl-N-hydroxyguanidine moiety, have been isolated from the sponge Monanhora pulchra. The structures of 1 and 2, including absolute configuration, were established using the detailed analysis of 1D and 2D NMR, CD, and mass spectra as well as chemical transformations. Compound 1 increases nitric oxide production in murine macrophages via inducing iNOS expression.

[Epiphytic communities of arboreal formations in Southern Vietnam: an analysis of species composition and synusias structure in dependence on the extent of anthropogenic impact].

Species composition of epiphytic communities within different formations of Phú Quôc Island (Southern Vietnam) is studied. The dependence of species composition and structural complexity of epiphytic communities on formation quality is demonstrated. Representatives of different families differ notably in their sensitivity to disturbances.

[Rapid experimental rationale for a waste hazard class by cytotoxicity].

The paper presents the results of experimental and analytical studies substantiating a classification of waste hazard by the cytotoxicity indices. The authors have established a significant correlation between the substance toxicity values obtained in vivo and in vitro and show it possible to make an approximate forecast of the average lethal concentration of substances by the estimates made on cell cultures. The criteria for toxicological waste hazard, which are adequate to those for the hazards of chemicals by DL50, are given.

[A serine protease inhibitor from the anemone Radianthus macrodactylus: isolation and physicochemical characteristics].

A serine protease inhibitor with a molecular mass of 6106 +/- 2Da (designated as InhVJ) was isolated from the tropical anemone Radianthus macrodactylus by a combination of liquid chromatography methods. The molecule of InhVJ consists of 57 amino acid residues, has three disulfide bonds, and contains no Met or Trp residues. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the inhibitor (19 aa residues) was established.

Proteinase inhibitors from the tropical sea anemone Radianthus macrodactylus: isolation and characteristic.

Two new serine proteinase inhibitors (RmIn I and RmIn II) from the tropical sea anemone Radianthus macrodactylus have been isolated and characterized. The purification procedure includes polychrome-1 hydrophobic chromatography, Superdex Peptide 10/30 FPLC, and Nucleosil C(18) reverse-phase HPLC. The molecular masses of RmIn I, RmIn II, and the complexes RmIn II/trypsin and RmIn I,II/alpha-chymotrypsin have been determined.

[The specificity of interaction between the complement and the lipopolysaccharide with a low activity of the complement (hypothesis)].

Interactions between the complement with a low activity and the lipopolysacharide (LPS) with an extensive concentration range were experimentally investigated in vitro. A model was suggested that provides an explanation to the concentration-related dependence. The complement and LPS were shown, under certain conditions, to form the membrane-attacking complexes, which are not bound with the bacterium membrane and which can lyse any cells.

[Evaluation and prognosis of patients' health status in postop period].

An estimation of the patient's state and the prognosis can be made at the postoperative period on the basis of results of the assessment of complement activity, blood cell hemolysate activity, filtration of serum and urine. Of the greatest clinical significance for the estimation of the patient's state is complement activity and toxicity of urine.

[Toxicological screening of biological fluids].

Analysis of the results of evaluation of the complement activity, toxicity of the urine, low molecular weight fraction of the blood, and blood cell hemolysis confirmed the suggested simplified model of endotoxicosis and showed that evaluation of the complement activity and urine toxicity is sufficient for tentative laboratory diagnosis of endotoxicosis. Proceeding from these data it is possible to evaluate the patient's status and predict the disease outcome. Laboratory diagnosis is made using a biological test system and toxicity analyzer.

[A new method for total complement activity analysis and its clinical significance].

A test system consisting of a short-term suspension culture of mobile cells (bovine semen) is suggested for evaluating the complement activity. A simple and effective rapid method for evaluating the complement activity is based on the use of this system. Clinical application of this method helps evaluate the disease severity and predict the patient's condition in various diseases.

[Spermatic index of intoxication, a method of the assessment of blood toxicity].

The article deals with a new method for determining the degree of intoxication in patients with peritonitis of various etiology. Bull sperm cells were used as the test-object. The degree of intoxication is judged according to the ratio of the mean life time of the spermatozoa in the studied filtrate, obtained from the blood serum of patients with peritonitis by filtration through polysulfone membranes with a pass band of up to 70,000 daltons, to the life time in a control glucose-nitrate solution.

[An experimental biotechnical system for determining an index of toxicity].

The system of bioengineering for determination of toxicity index with bovine spermatozoal suspension as a primary transducer was developed. The toxicity index is determined according to a change in spermatozoal suspension mobility defined with the help of an optoelectronic device. The system of bioengineering is used for determination of toxicity index of polymers for medical applications.

[Toxicologic evaluation of individual chemical compounds and complex mixtures using a motile cell test object].

The possibility of quantitative prognosis of chemical compounds and complex mixtures toxicity by means of a biotechnical system with suspension of bull spermatozoa sensor was investigated. The concentration of some chemical compounds, inhibiting by half spermatozoa motility has been experimentally determined. A correlation between the values determined and acute toxicity of the compounds tested has been established.

[Method of determining the activity of cell suspensions as determined by their natural motility].

A new method and setup for determination of motile cell suspension activity are offered. A possibility of measuring the activity with regard to the quota of motile cells and their mean velocity has been shown. Bovine sperm in two diluents was applied as a test object.

[Study of the kinetics of antigen-antibody reaction by light scattering].

Laser light scattering in conjunction with measurement of the spectral width and integral intensity of light scattering was applied to studying the process of complex formation of antigens and antibodies. The system of polysaccharide group A streptococcus and antibody against it was examined under varying polysaccharide concentrations. The measurements were performed every 10 s for 70 min after combining polysaccharide and antibody solutions.

[Technic of optical mixing spectroscopy in the diagnosis of blood microcirculations].

Optical mixing spectroscopy was used to measure the correlation function of helium-neon laser light (wavelength 0.633 micron) scattered in the finger skin. The mean blood flow velocity was evaluated from the data obtained.

[Influenza virus hemagglutinin: hydrodynamic properties and molecular weight].

Hydrodynamic properties of hemagglutinin isolated with bromelain from influenza virus were studied. The sedimentation constant determined by the method of analytical ultracentrifugation was 9.17 +/- 0.