A simple and cost-efficient route to prepare sulfonated dihalo-monomers for synthesizing sulfonated aromatic PEMs.

We present a simple and cost-efficient route for the preparation of sulfonated dihalo-monomers for the synthesis of hydrocarbon ionomers. After conventional monomer sulfonation, excess sulfuric acid is quantitatively removed by neutralization with BaCO. This leads to the precipitation of excess HSO as insoluble BaSO, which is easily separated from the sulfonated monomers in their soluble Ba-forms by filtration.

Evaluation of the synergistic potential and mechanisms of action for designed cationic antimicrobial peptides.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as promising candidates in combating antimicrobial resistance - a growing issue in healthcare. However, to develop AMPs into effective therapeutics, a thorough analysis and extensive investigations are essential. In this study, we employed an approach to design cationic AMPs , followed by their experimental testing.

The Effect of Metabolic Control on Diabetes Complication Rates and the Need for Medical Care During COVID-19 Social Isolation in Adjara, Georgia.

Introduction: Social isolation or distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with poor metabolic control in patients with diabetes mellitus. It might have contributed to the high mortality rate of those with diabetes who became infected. This study aims to determine the degree or level of metabolic control in patients with diabetes mellitus, the progression of its complications, and the need for emergency care during social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Evaluation of barriers to cervical cancer screening in Georgia.

Objectives: The Cervical Cancer (CC) Screening Programme in Georgia provides insufficient coverage of the target population. The aim of the study is to identify the barriers to cervical cancer screening for women in Georgia in order to plan and implement adequate measures to increase the screening effectiveness.

Methods: The study is based on the results of a survey of 582 women aged 25-60 years (mean age 42.

The Relationship between Insulin Resistance and Thyroid Volume in Georgia.

Unlabelled: Patients with insulin resistance (IR) have a higher thyroid volume therefore the aim of our study is to examine the correlation between IR and thyroid volume in the residents of Georgia.

Methods: 413 patients with a mean age of 37.3 ± and 11.

Reduction, proliferation, and differentiation defects of stem cells over time: a consequence of selective accumulation of old centrioles in the stem cells?

Background: All molecules, structures, cells in organisms are subjected to destruction during the process of vital activities. In the organisms of most multicellular animals and humans, the regeneration process always takes place: destruction of old cells and their replacement with the new. The replacement of cells happens even if the cells are in perfect condition.

Composition of Transcription Machinery and Its Crosstalk with Nucleoid-Associated Proteins and Global Transcription Factors.

The coordination of bacterial genomic transcription involves an intricate network of interdependent genes encoding nucleoid-associated proteins (NAPs), DNA topoisomerases, RNA polymerase subunits and modulators of transcription machinery. The central element of this homeostatic regulatory system, integrating the information on cellular physiological state and producing a corresponding transcriptional response, is the multi-subunit RNA polymerase (RNAP) holoenzyme. In this review article, we argue that recent observations revealing DNA topoisomerases and metabolic enzymes associated with RNAP supramolecular complex support the notion of structural coupling between transcription machinery, DNA topology and cellular metabolism as a fundamental device coordinating the spatiotemporal genomic transcription.

Enhancement of laccase production by Cerrena unicolor through fungal interspecies interaction and optimum conditions determination.

The present study aimed to identify a pair of fungal strains that promote laccase production in the co-cultivation of white-rot basidiomycetes and to determine the optimum conditions to enhance enzyme synthesis under co-fermentation of mandarin peels. Co-cultivation of Cerrena unicolor with Trametes versicolor, Lenzites betulina, and Panus lecomtei led to up-regulation of laccase activity. Moreover, interspecific interaction of Cerrena unicolor and Trametes versicolor induced the production of two new laccase isoenzymes.

PARP inhibition suppresses topoisomerase 1 poisoning induced Caspase-3 dependent cell death in zebrafish embryos.

In the present study the role of poly(ADP)ribosylation on rubitecan induced caspase dependent cell death was evaluated. We show that Top1 poisoning by rubitecan induces caspase mediated apoptosis which was reduced by PARP inhibitor olaparib in zebrafish embryo. Collectively our data introduces zebrafish as a valuable model for PARP related biomedical research.

How does positive mood modulate time-based event expectancy?

In the present study, we investigated how positive mood affects the formation of time-based event expectancies. After positive or neutral mood inductions, participants performed a binary choice response task in which two target stimuli (circle and square) and two pre-target intervals (800 and 1600 ms) appeared equally often. One of the targets was paired with the short interval and the other target with the long interval in 90% of the trials.

A Preliminary Evaluation of the Pro-Chondrogenic Potential of 3D-Bioprinted Poly(ester Urea) Scaffolds.

Degeneration of articular cartilage (AC) is a common healthcare issue that can result in significantly impaired function and mobility for affected patients. The avascular nature of the tissue strongly burdens its regenerative capacity contributing to the development of more serious conditions such as osteoarthritis. Recent advances in bioprinting have prompted the development of alternative tissue engineering therapies for the generation of AC.

Artificial Polymers made of α-amino Acids - Poly(Amino Acid)s, Pseudo-Poly(Amino Acid)s, Poly(Depsipeptide)s, and Pseudo-Proteins.

Degradable polymers (DPs) - "green materials" of the future, have an innumerable use in biomedicine, particularly in the fields of tissue engineering and drug delivery. Among these kind of materials naturally occurring polymers - proteins which constituted one of the most important "bricks of life" - α-amino acids (AAs) are highly suitable. A wide biomedical applicability of proteins is due to special properties such as a high affinity with tissues and releasing AAs upon biodegradation that means a nutritive potential for cells.

Associations between genetic variations and global motion perception.

The cholinergic system is known to strongly modulate perceptual and cognitive processes, and the alpha7 subunit of the cholinergic nicotinic receptor (CHRNA7) is broadly expressed within the visual system. Here, we assessed whether genetic variations of CHRNA7 affect coherent motion perception. Motion perception has been shown to decline with age, and it has previously been suggested that the effects of genetic variations are magnified by age.

Dates and rates in grape's plastomes: evolution in slow motion.

The family Vitaceae includes the domesticated grapevine (Vitis vinifera), one of the most economically important crops in the world. Despite the importance of Vitaceae, there is still considerable controversy surrounding their phylogenetic relationships and evolutionary timescales. Moreover, variation in rates of molecular evolution among Vitaceae remains mostly unexplored.

De Novo Design and In Vitro Testing of Antimicrobial Peptides against Gram-Negative Bacteria.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been identified as a potentially new class of antibiotics to combat bacterial resistance to conventional drugs. The design of de novo AMPs with high therapeutic indexes, low cost of synthesis, high resistance to proteases and high bioavailability remains a challenge. Such design requires computational modeling of antimicrobial properties.

ASTHMA CONTROL STATUS AND LUNG FUNCTION IN RELATION TO VITAMIN D LEVEL IN CHILDREN WITH BRONCHIAL ASTHMA.

The aim of the study - low circulating vitamin D level maybe related to poor asthma control status and decreased lung function. The aim of our research is to establish correlation between serum vitamin D level, asthma control status and lung function. The study was performed in children aged 6-15 years old, including patients with asthma (n=50), who referred to Sachkhere medical center for a visit.

Chromosomal organization of transcription: in a nutshell.

Early studies of transcriptional regulation focused on individual gene promoters defined specific transcription factors as central agents of genetic control. However, recent genome-wide data propelled a different view by linking spatially organized gene expression patterns to chromosomal dynamics. Therefore, the major problem in contemporary molecular genetics concerned with transcriptional gene regulation is to establish a unifying model that reconciles these two views.

Whole genome comparative analysis of four Georgian grape cultivars.

Grapevine is the one of the most important fruit species in the world. Comparative genome sequencing of grape cultivars is very important for the interpretation of the grape genome and understanding its evolution. The genomes of four Georgian grape cultivars-Chkhaveri, Saperavi, Meskhetian green, and Rkatsiteli, belonging to different haplogroups, were resequenced.

Time-based event expectancies in children with Autism spectrum disorder.

Here, we studied the time-based event expectancies in children with Autism spectrum disorder. Nine children with Autism spectrum disorders and ten (6-11 years) typically developing children participated. In a choice-response task with two different pre-target intervals, participants had to indicate the left or right direction of a target stimulus.

COMPLEX EVALUATION OF THE HEALTH STATUS OF PRIMARY-SCHOOL AGED CHILDREN (ADJARA REGION).

Goal of the research was complex evaluation of the health status of the primary-school aged children residing in various regions (urban, rural) of Adjaria. Cross-section, one-stage research was conducted in the City of Batumi and village Tsikhisdziri. In the process of survey health status of children of 4 public schools, from 6 to 9 years old was studied.

Panonychus from Georgia: survey, taxonomical status and redescription of P. hadzhibejliae (Reck, 1947) (Acari, Tetranychidae).

A survey of Panonychus species was undertaken across Georgia from 2005 to 2014 on various host plants, revealing three species: Panonychus citri (McGregor, 1916), Panonychus hadzhibejliae (Reck, 1947) and Panonychus ulmi (Koch, 1836). New hosts for P. ulmi and P.

Effects of alcohol intake on time-based event expectations.

Previous evidence suggests that alcohol affects various forms of temporal cognition. However, there are presently no studies investigating whether and how alcohol affects on time-based event expectations. Here, we investigated the effects of alcohol on time-based event expectations.