The formation of electrical excitability in cultured frog embryonic myocytes

Quantitative changes of sodium and potassium ionic currents were studied in the frog embryonic skeletal myocytes cultures under conditions preventing cell fusion and division. During 7 days of culturing the mean values of the sodium and potassium currents densities were 7- and 1.8-fold increased, resp. In currents clamp records the APs were observed only after 5 days of culturing, and in cells with proportion of sodium and potassium conductances above the critical level.     

Survival, developmental and morphogenic deficiencies of Parasarcophaga argyrostoma (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) induced by the biosynthesis inhibitor, chlorfluazuron (IKI-7899)

To evaluate the activity of benzoylphenyl urea chitin biosynthesis inhibitor chlorfluazuron (IKI-7899) against Parasarcophaga argyrostoma, seven doses were topically applied (once) onto early third (last) instar larvae, puparia, or newly formed pupa: 150, 100, 50, 10, 1.0, 0.5, and 0.25 microgram/insect. After topical treatment of last instar larvae, the highest mortality was caused by both higher doses and the lowest mortality was caused by the lowest dose. The lethal activity of IKI-7899 as pronouncedly decreased as the treatment was lately carried out (at the puparial time). IKI-7899 failed to cause cumulative mortality because no pupal or adult mortalities were observed, irrespective of the time of treatment. Treated larvae suffered the action of IKI-7899 because they had decreased weight gain. Except the lowest dose, the weight gain of larvae inversely correlated with the dose-levels. IKI-7899 prolonged not only the larval duration but also the pupal duration after topical treatment of last instar larvae with doses 50-0.25 micrograms/larva. With no exception, all doses topically applied onto puparia or newly formed pupae enhanced pupae to live longer. Topical application onto last instar larvae resulted in different degrees of reduction of pupation rate, but IKI-7899 could not affect the pupal morphogenesis after larval treatment except by its highest dose which led to 8.33% pupal deformities and 7.69% larval-pupal intermediates. The dose 100 micrograms/larva topically applied onto last instar larvae detained 7.69% of what known as "permanent larvae" which suffered the action of the compound along 16 days and eventually perished without any external feature of puparium formation. A metamorphic effect of IKI-7899 pronouncedly appeared in the adult stage. Three higher doses completely arrested the adult flies. Topical application of the compound onto prepupae did not greatly reduce the pupation rate especially at the doses 50, 10 and 1.0 micrograms/puparium. The dose 50 micrograms/puparium was only the dose halting the pupal moulting program because 7.14% of permanent prepupae remained about 12 days and then died. In respect to adult emergence, the highest dose led to zero rate and the lowest dose allowed to all pupae to emerge without malformation.     

Factors affecting privacy disclosure on social network sites: an integrated model

The self-disclosure of personal information by users on social network sites (SNSs) play a vital role in the self-sustainability of online social networking service provider platforms. However, people’s levels of privacy concern increases as a direct result of unauthorized procurement and exploitation of personal information from the use of social networks which in turn discourages users from disclosing their information or encourages users to submit fake information online. After a review of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and the privacy calculus model, an integrated model is proposed to explain privacy disclosure behaviors on social network sites. Thus, the aim of this paper is to find the key factors affecting users’ self-disclosure of personal information. Using privacy calculus, the perceived benefit was combined into the Theory of Planned Behavior, and after some modifications, an integrated model was prescribed specifically for the context of social network sites. The constructs of information sensitivity and perceived benefit were redefined after reviewing the literature. Through a study on the constructs of privacy concern and self-disclosure, this article aims at reducing the levels of privacy concern, while sustaining online transactions and further stimulating the development of social network sites.     

Effect of synthesis conditions and surrounding medium on luminescence properties of YVO4:Eu3+nanopowders

Nanocrystalline yttrium vanadate doped with europium ions powders were synthesized via sol-gel method based on decomposition of metal-polymer complex. X-ray diffraction analysis showed that samples had pure tetragonal phase without any impurities. Scanning electron microscopy and static light scattering technique were used to study morphology and size of prepared nanoparticles. Average diameter of the nanoparticles was about 40 nm. The changes in structural and luminescence properties were observed as a function of the first and second calcination temperature. The optimal conditions for synthesis of nanoparticles were determined as Т1=500 °С, t1=1 h; Т2=950 °С, t2=1.5 h. The effect of different media surrounding the nanoparticles on their luminescence properties and lifetime was investigated and discussed in terms of effective refractive index. It was found that the observed lifetime of YVO4:Eu3+ 5 at.% nanophosphor was decreased from 0.64 ms in air(nmed=1) to 0.45 ms in chalcogenide glass As39S61(nmed=2.39).     

Quantitative method of assessing the effectiveness of radiotherapy of malignant neoplasms based on computerized tomography data

Computed tomography assesses the linear coefficient of X-ray radiation decrease in the tissue and hence determines changes in its density thus allowing one to control the destruction of tumor cells and tissues during treatment. The paper proposes a procedure for determining the sizes and density of a tumor along the chosen linear direction crossing the image of a pathological focus. The whole procedure is performed by the special computer programme "Diaglmag". The equations that characterize the dynamics of using the parameters used before, during, and after treatment are presented. Baseline information on the optic image densities on a computer tomogram is obtained with a graphic scanner. The examples presented in the paper show it feasible to solve a difficult task to determine the effect of treatment. This enables a treatment regimen to be corrected in time or modified.     

On Pack Formation in Winding of Mineral Fibres

The conditions of pack formation in units for production of mineral fibres in which removal of finished packs is difficult are examined. Graphic dependences were obtained which can be used in a first approximation to select the maximum winding radius at which finished packs can be easily removed. A bobbin-carrier design is proposed that can be used to evaluate the radial deformation of the thread carrier during pack formation. __________ Translated from Khimicheskie Volokna, No. 4, pp. 55–57, July–August, 2005.     

Peroxynitrite increases the degradation of aconitase and other cellular proteins by proteasome

We report that exposure of aconitase to moderate concentrations of peroxynitrite, 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1; a superoxide- and nitric oxide-liberating substance), or hydrogen peroxide, inhibits the enzyme and enhances susceptibility to proteolytic digestion by the isolated 20 S proteasome. Exposure to more severe levels of oxidative stress, from these same agents, causes further inhibition of the enzymatic activity of aconitase but actually decreases its proteolytic breakdown by proteasome. It should be noted that the superoxide and nitric oxide liberated by SIN-1 decomposition react to form a steady flux of peroxynitrite. S-Nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine, a compound that liberates nitric oxide alone, causes only a small loss of aconitase activity (25% or less) and has no effect on the proteolytic susceptibility of the enzyme. Proteasome also seems to be the main protease in cell lysates that can degrade aconitase after it has been oxidatively modified by exposure to peroxynitrite, SIN-1, or hydrogen peroxide. Using cell lysates isolated from K562 cells treated for several days with an antisense oligodeoxynucleotide to the initiation codon region of the C2 subunit of proteasome (a treatment which diminishes proteasome activity by 50-60%), the enhanced degradation of moderately damaged aconitase was essentially abolished. Other model proteins as well as complex mixtures of proteins, such as cell lysates, also exhibit enhanced proteolytic susceptibility after moderate SIN-1 treatment. Therefore we conclude that peroxynitrite reacts readily with proteins and that mild modification by peroxynitrite results in selective recognition and degradation by proteasome.     

The prognostic significance of tissue-specific antibodies in the extraction of cataracts of different etiologies

The authors demonstrate a high informative value of preoperative lacrimal fluid examinations to predict postoperative uveitis in patients with complicated cataracts. Detection of antituberculin antibodies in titers 1:128 or higher is a factor of risk of development of a postoperative inflammatory reaction. The risk of postoperative uveitis is increased to 100% if antibodies to tuberculin, tissue-specific retinal S antigen, and lenticular proteins are simultaneously detected in the lacrimal fluid.