Composition and Biological Activity of Flavonoid-containing Fractions of an Extract from Gratiola officinalis L.

Introduction: Gratiola officinalis L. (hedge hyssop), a medicinal plant of the Scrophulariaceae family, has diuretic, purgative, and vermifuge properties. It is used as a herbal tea to treat chronic gastroenteritis, renal colic, jaundice, and intestinal worms.

High-throughput cell optoporation system based on Au nanoparticle layers mediated by resonant irradiation for precise and controllable gene delivery.

The development of approaches based on genetically modified cells is accompanied by a constant intensive search for new effective and safe delivery systems and the study of existing ones. Recently, we developed a new plasmonic nanoparticle layers-mediated optoporation system that can be proposed for precisely controlled, high-performance laser transfection compatible with broad types of cells and delivered objects of interest. The main goal of the present study is to demonstrate the broad possibilities and advantages of our system for optoporation of several mammalian cells, classified as "easy-to-transfect" cells, namely HeLa and CHO lines, and "hard-to-transfect" cells, namely A431 and RAW 264.

[The self-rating of life quality by workers of metal-processing industry].

The cross-sectional study of subjective assessment of quality of life of 300 employees of main professions of metalworking industrial production working in harmful labor environment (classes 3.1-3.4) was carried out using validated Russian version of the WHO QOL-BREF questionnaire.

[The medical social measurements of conditions of professional activity of vegetable-growers of protected soil].

The working conditions in hothouse farming, medical social possibilities and limitations of prospects of professional longevity affect quality of life of employees and their family members, influencing development of state policy in health care, occupational safety and employment. The article identifies and describes, on the basis of sociological quantitative and qualitative methodology, medical and social problems of modern greenhouse farming. The quality of medical support in this professional field is assessed.

Synthesis, -Equilibrium in Solution of 3-Hetarylaminomethylidenefuran-2(3)-ones and the Way to Selective Synthesis of the -Enamines.

We describe a method to synthesize a new class of hetarylaminomethylidene derivatives of furan-2(3)-ones. The method uses 5-(4-chlorophenyl)furan-2(3)-one, triethyl orthoformate, and heterocyclic amines with different ring sizes and heteroatoms under refluxing in absolute isopropyl alcohol. The obtained enamines exist in an equilibrium of - and -isomers, whose configurations relative to the double exocyclic C=C bond were confirmed with a set of NMR spectroscopy data.

Modeling the multifractal dynamics of COVID-19 pandemic.

To describe the COVID-19 pandemic, we propose to use a mathematical model of multifractal dynamics, which is alternative to other models and free of their shortcomings. It is based on the fractal properties of pandemics only and allows describing their time behavior using no hypotheses and assumptions about the structure of the disease process. The model is applied to describe the dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic from day 1 to day 699 from the beginning of the pandemic.

Formation, structure, properties of chitosan aspartate and metastable state of its solutions for obtaining nanoparticles.

Chitosan (200 kDa) dissolution in an aqueous solution of L-aspartic acid, physicochemical properties and features of the resulting chitosan salt were studied by conductometry, potentiometry, viscometry, turbidimetry, IR and NMR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffractometry. Chitosan aspartate is a water-soluble hydrated polymorph exhibiting properties of a cationic polyelectrolyte with an effective macromolecular coil radius 60-75 nm. The specific conductivity, dielectric constant, viscosity and pH of the chitosan - L-aspartic acid - water system change over time after preparation due to counterion-polycation association to form ion pairs, multiplet structures, and their subsequent aggregation.

Characterization of Silver Nanowire Layers in the Terahertz Frequency Range.

Thin layers of silver nanowires are commonly studied for transparent electronics. However, reports of their terahertz (THz) properties are scarce. Here, we present the electrical and optical properties of thin silver nanowire layers with increasing densities at THz frequencies.

Structure, = 2 Crystal Packing Features of 3-(2-Chlorobenzylidene)-5-(-tolyl)furan-2(3)-one.

3-(2-Chlorobenzylidene)-5-(-tolyl)furan-2(3)-one (), CHClO, crystallizes with = 8 and = 2, and the structure at 100 K has orthorhombic (2) symmetry. Each kind of molecule takes part in π-π stacking interactions to form infinite chains parallel to the axis. We believe that the existence of two forms can be explained by the probable rotation around a single C-C bond.

[The attitude of the youth to vaccine prevention of influenza in conditions of COVID-19 pandemic].

The article considers the problem of attitude of the youth to vaccine prevention of influenza. The study was organized on the basis of qualitative research methods (focus groups) of students of two universities in the Central and Volga Federal Okrugs. The data about attitudes towards vaccination and refusal motivation was obtained.

The Spectrophotometric Characteristic of Immunoglobulin Conjugates for Diagnostics of Causative Agents of Especially Dangerous Infections.

The possibility of characterizing fluorescent immunoglobulins using spectrophotometric analysis as a testing method is considered. The comparative analysis of optical properties of fluorescent immunoglobulin preparations and their components-immunoglobulins and fluorochrome-is carried out. The obtained results testify that the proposed methodological approach of optical detection of labeled immunoglobulin molecules can be promising for tests on obtaining conjugates used in immunological tests on revealing specific antigens of causative agents of especially dangerous infections.

Crystal structures, packing features, Hirshfeld surface analyses and DFT calculations of hydrogen-bond energy of two homologous 8a-aryl-2,3,4,7,8,8a-hexahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-6(1H)-ones.

The crystal structures and packing features of two homologous Meyer's bicyclic lactams with fused pyrrolidone and medium-sized perhydropyrimidine rings, namely, 8a-phenyl-2,3,4,7,8,8a-hexahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-6(1H)-one, CHNO (1), and 8a-(4-methylphenyl)-2,3,4,7,8,8a-hexahydropyrrolo[1,2-a]pyrimidin-6(1H)-one, CHNO (2), were elucidated, and Hirshfeld surface plots were calculated and drawn for visualization and a deeper analysis of the intermolecular noncovalent interactions. Molecules of 1 and 2 are weakly linked by intermolecular C=O..

[The domestic violence as factor of disorder of social and mental health].

The article considers domestic violence as a factor of derangement of social and mental health of family members. There is no open access to statistical indices of cases of domestic violence. The data of population mental health is rather conditional.

Gap-enhanced Raman tags: fabrication, optical properties, and theranostic applications.

Gap-enhanced Raman tags (GERTs) are emerging probes of surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectroscopy that have found promising analytical, bioimaging, and theranostic applications. Because of their internal location, Raman reporter molecules are protected from unwanted external environments and particle aggregation and demonstrate superior SERS responses owing to the strongly enhanced electromagnetic fields in the gaps between metal core-shell structures. In this review, we discuss recent progress in the synthesis, simulation, and experimental studies of the optical properties and biomedical applications of novel spherically symmetrical and anisotropic GERTs fabricated with common plasmonic metals-gold (Au) and silver (Ag).

Discrete-breather-assisted charge transport along DNA-like molecular wires.

Mobile discrete breathers (MDBs) are here suggested as localized excitations underlying the trapping and transport of charged particles (electron or hole) along a DNA-like molecular wire with anchored ends such as attached to two electrodes. For illustration the Peyrard-Bishop-Dauxois-Holstein (PBDH) model is used. MDBs are excited by imposing appropriate disturbances to velocities or space positions of adjacent nucleotide pairs or lattice units of the wire.

Spiral and target wave chimeras in a 2D lattice of map-based neuron models.

We study the dynamics of a two-dimensional lattice of nonlocally coupled-map-based neuron models represented by Rulkov maps. It is firstly shown that this discrete-time neural network can exhibit spiral and target waves and corresponding chimera states when the control parameters (the coupling strength and the coupling radius) are varied. It is demonstrated that one-core, multicore, and ring-shaped core spiral chimeras can be realized in the network.

Gold nanoparticles in chemo-, immuno-, and combined therapy: review [Invited].

Functionalized gold nanoparticles (GNPs) with controlled geometrical and optical properties have been the subject of intense research and biomedical applications. This review summarizes recent data and topical problems in nanomedicine that are related to the use of variously sized, shaped, and structured GNPs. We focus on three topical fields in current nanomedicine: (1) use of GNP-based nanoplatforms for the targeted delivery of anticancer and antimicrobial drugs and of genes; (2) GNP-based cancer immunotherapy; and (3) combined chemo-, immuno-, and phototherapy.

Solitary states and solitary state chimera in neural networks.

We investigate solitary states and solitary state chimeras in a ring of nonlocally coupled systems represented by FitzHugh-Nagumo neurons in the oscillatory regime. We perform a systematic study of solitary states in this network. In particular, we explore the phase space structure, calculate basins of attraction, analyze the region of existence of solitary states in the system's parameter space, and investigate how the number of solitary nodes in the network depends on the coupling parameters.

[Costanzo Varolio (1543-1575) - a significant personality in the development of neuroanatomy].

The biography of outstanding physician and anatomist Costanzo Varolio (1543-1575) is considered. His contribution to the study of the structure of the nervous system is characterized. The authors have translated fragments of his works concerning a method of brain dissection and pons later named in his honor.

A novel cell transfection platform based on laser optoporation mediated by Au nanostar layers.

The recently developed laser-induced cell transfection mediated by Au nanoparticles is a promising alternative to the well-established lipid-based transfection or to electroporation. Optoporation is based on the laser plasmonic heating of nanoparticles located near the cell membrane. However, the uncontrollable cell damage from intense laser pulses and from random attachment of nanoparticles may be crucial for transfection.

Live-Cell Imaging by Confocal Raman and Fluorescence Microscopy Recognizes the Crystal Structure of Calcium Carbonate Particles in HeLa Cells.

Porous calcium carbonate (CaCO ) vaterite particles are very attractive templates for the encapsulation of pharmaceuticals and for the construction of hollow polyelectrolyte capsules, sensors, and enzyme-catalyzed reactors. Although CaCO is biocompatible and biodegradable, little is known about the intercellular behavior and properties of vaterite particles in the cytoplasm of cells. In this work, the authors combine confocal Raman and fluorescent microscopy for the imaging of porous CaCO vaterite particles in HeLa cells to study the uptake and status of the particles inside the cells in real time.

Synergy Effect of Combining Fluorescence and Mid Infrared Fiber Spectroscopy for Kidney Tumor Diagnostics.

Matching pairs of tumor and non-tumor kidney tissue samples of four patients were investigated ex vivo using a combination of two methods, attenuated total reflection mid infrared spectroscopy and fluorescence spectroscopy, through respectively prepared and adjusted fiber probes. In order to increase the data information content, the measurements on tissue samples in both methods were performed in the same 31 preselected positions. Multivariate data analysis revealed a synergic effect of combining the two methods for the diagnostics of kidney tumor compared to individual techniques.

Surface enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy based on gold nanostars and spherical nanoparticles.

Plasmonic anisotropic nanoparticles possess a number of hot spots on their surface due to the presence of sharp edges, tips or vertices, leading to a high electric field strength surrounding the nanostructures. In this paper, we explore different plasmonic nanostructures, including anisotropic gold nanostars (AuNSts) and spherical gold nanoparticles, in surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS) in an attenuated total reflection (ATR) configuration. In our experiments, we observed up to 10-times enhancement of the infrared (IR) absorption of thioglycolic acid (TGA) and up to 2-times enhancement of signals for bovine serum albumin (BSA) protein on plasmonic nanostructure-based films deposited on a silicon (Si) internal reflection element (IRE) compared to bare Si IRE.

Mueller matrix polarimetry for characterizing microstructural variation of nude mouse skin during tissue optical clearing.

We investigate the polarization features corresponding to changes in the microstructure of nude mouse skin during immersion in a glycerol solution. By comparing the Mueller matrix imaging experiments and Monte Carlo simulations, we examine in detail how the Mueller matrix elements vary with the immersion time. The results indicate that the polarization features represented by Mueller matrix elements m22&m33&m44 and the absolute values of m34&m43 are sensitive to the immersion time.