Genetic and Biochemical Characterizations of aLhr1 Helicase in the Thermophilic Crenarchaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius

Homologous recombination (HR) refers to the process of information exchange between homologous DNA duplexes and is composed of four main steps: end resection, strand invasion and formation of a Holliday junction (HJ), branch migration, and resolution of the HJ. Within each step of HR in Archaea, the helicase-promoting branch migration is not fully understood. Previous biochemical studies identified three candidates for archaeal helicase promoting branch migration in vitro: Hjm/Hel308, PINA, and archaeal long helicase related (aLhr) 2. However, there is no direct evidence of their involvement in HR in vivo. Here, we identified a novel helicase encoded by Saci_0814, isolated from the thermophilic crenarchaeon Sulfolobus acidocaldarius; the helicase dissociated a synthetic HJ. Notably, HR frequency in the Saci_0814-deleted strain was lower than that of the parent strain (5-fold decrease), indicating that Saci_0814 may be involved in HR in vivo. Saci_0814 is classified as an aLhr1 under superfamily 2 helicases; its homologs are conserved among Archaea. Purified protein produced in Escherichia coli showed branch migration activity in vitro. Based on both genetic and biochemical evidence, we suggest that aLhr1 is involved in HR and may function as a branch migration helicase in S. acidocaldarius.

Involvement of Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator Receptor in the Formation of a Profibrotic Microenvironment in the Epicardial Region

The study of the mechanisms of development and progression of fibrosis is one of the key directions of modern cardiology. Our work suggests that the urokinase receptor (uPAR) is involved in the regulation of mesothelial cell activity and epicardial fibrosis development, which, when interacting with specific ligands and intermediate proteins, can activate intracellular signaling, trigger the cascade of proteolytic reactions, including local plasmin formation and activation of matrix metalloproteinases, providing matrix remodeling.Objective: to perform a comparative study of fibrogenic activity of the epicardium in the hearts of uPAR-/- and wild-type animals and evaluate the effect of cardiac microenvironment factors on the migration activity of epicardial mesothelial cells.Material and methods. We used histological and immunofluorescent staining, microarray analysis of proinflammatory cytokine levels, and a method for assessing the migratory properties of epicardial cells.Results. Results. We found that compared to wild-type animals, uPAR-/- animals show significant thickening of the epicardial area (2.46+0.77 (uPAR-/- mice) and 1.02+0.17 (Wt mice) relative units, P=0.033) accompanied by accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins. Deficiency of uPAR gene leads to formation of proinflammatory microenvironment in the heart (increased levels of proinflammatory factors such as IL-1, IL-13, IL-17, RANTES and MIP1), increased migratory activity of epicardial mesothelial cells, accumulation of TCF21+fibroblast/myofibroblast precursors (29.8+13.7 (uPAR-/- mouse) and 3.03+0.8 (Wt mouse) cells per visual field,P=0.02), as well as development of subepicardial fibrosis.Conclusion. These findings suggest that uPAR is a promising candidate for the developing targeted agents to prevent the development and progression of cardiac fibrosis.

Economic Development and Growth in Central and Eastern Europe

The study investigates the economic growth in Central and Eastern Europe in the last 25 years. The economy can be regarded as a substantial topic in any country, but it is even more interesting in developing countries. One of the basic ideas of the European Union is the convergence between member states, namely the reduction of development disparities, which can be achieved through faster economic growth in less‑developed countries. Growth theory is one of the main topics in economics. Its significant importance is because the desire for development is one of the main driving forces of mankind. The aim of the study is to reveal the crucial differences and common features between the growth paths of the eleven Central and Eastern European member states of the European Union. After presenting growth theories, the growth performance of the examined Central and Eastern European member states is pinpointed. During the research, GDP per capita, population, migration, activity rate, employment rate, unemployment rate, foreign direct investment and foreign trade openness are considered.

The effects of environmental enrichment on hatchery-performance, smolt migration and capture rates in landlocked Atlantic salmon

Enrichment of rearing environment with natural elements has been suggested to improve the welfare and post-release survival of cultured fish. We studied the combined effects of shelter structures, periodical water flow and water level changes on pre- and post-release performance of critically endangered landlocked Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar m. sebago). Relative to standard (plain) rearing tanks, provision of enrichment improved fish condition factor and survival during the first year of rearing when most mortality was attributable to parasitic and bacterial infections. The consequent higher density in enriched tanks probably induced greater growth variation and more dorsal fin damages than found in fish of standard tanks. Possibly this was partly due to the applied changes in water level. Experimentally determined smolt migration tendency at age 3 did not differ, on average, between the rearing groups, but enriched-reared fish showed clearly less variation in total movement activity than standard-reared fish. Experimental angling in earthen ponds did not suggest divergent vulnerability between the differentially reared fish at age 3, but decreased condition during the preceding growth season increased vulnerability to fishing. Based on long-term post-stocking tag returns in large-lake fisheries, fish length at release but not rearing method affected the capture rates of fish released at age 2. When released at age 3 the fish grown in enriched environment had a higher risk to be captured with stationary gears and earlier by hook and line gears compared to standard-reared conspecifics. Earlier time of maximal smolt migration activity was associated with an increased risk of being captured. We suggest that environmental enrichment may modulate growth- and behavior-related qualities that indirectly increased the vulnerability to fishing in natural conditions but not in experimental setting. The favorable effects of enrichment on early survival encourages adopting enriched rearing practices in supportive breeding of landlocked salmon.

Development of an Information System for Monitoring Attractiveness of Municipalities in the Republic of Bashkortostan

At present, most regions of the Russian Federation are experiencing an increase in migration flows, which has a significant impact on the overall decline in population. At the same time most of them have already developed regional migration policies containing basic guidelines for migration regulation. One of such regions is the Republic of Bashkortostan, where in the recent period the number of active population taking part in both intraregional and external migration has increased significantly. At the same time, the spatial mobility of the population has an impact on the social and economic development of territories. These circumstances lead to increased attention on the part of regional authorities in state regulation improvement. In this connection, the main goal of the paper is to develop an information system for monitoring the attractiveness of municipalities of the Republic of Bashkortostan using geoinformation technologies. The conceptual model “Informational system of attractiveness monitoring of municipalities of the Republic of Bashkortostan” is presented during the research, in which units of visualization, parametric analysis and spatial scaling are described. An algorithm information system was also developed which describes its functionality, such as: assessment of the level of migration attractiveness of the territory, zoning the territory according to the level of migration attractiveness; editing and search of data; scenario prediction of the level of migration activity of the population (number of departures, number of arrivals, migration growth); visual representation of the direction of migration flows; reporting. With the help of this tool, the forecast of the level of attractiveness of the municipalities of the Republic of Bashkortostan is made taking into account the realization of the regional program “Complex development of monocities”. The information system for monitoring the attractiveness of municipalities of the Republic of Bashkortostan can serve as a scientific and methodological basis for state migration policy improvement. The information system for attractiveness monitoring of municipalities of the Republic of Bashkortostan can serve as a scientific and methodological basis for the improvement of state migration policy.

Geodemographic Dynamics of Crimean Population: Main Trends and Factors of Post-Soviet Period

The article examines the geodemographic dynamics of the Crimea in the post-Soviet period: changes in the population of the peninsula, its centers and territories; changeable ratio of natural and migration components, and shifts in the settlement system. In the dynamics of the processes under analysis, four stages are distinguished: three of them relate to the Ukrainian period of the Crimea’s development, and the last one it is the Russian stage which begins in 2014. Until the mid-1990s (the first stage), the population of the peninsula continues to grow, despite the natural decline and increased outflow to Russia. The main reason for this is the large-scale re-emigration of Crimean Tatars to the peninsula, most of whom settle in the interior of the Crimea. The next stage (late 1990s – the middle of the 2000s) is associated with a significant depopulation of the region, primarily due to a high natural population decline. The third stage (the second half of the 2000s – the beginning of the 2010s), at which the depopulation is replaced by a minimal increase in the population of the peninsula, is associated with an improvement of the indicators of its natural reproduction and a certain increase in the migration influx. The features of the Russian development stage are set by two multi-component processes. Migration activity is determined by the consequences of the transition of the Crimea to Russia. Meanwhile in the natural reproduction, a central role is played by a small generation of the 1990s entering into the reproductive age, with such consequences as a rapid decline in the birth rate and an increase in natural loss. The result of these processes is a certain stabilization of the population of the Crimea. The situation in which the natural decline is offset by the migration influx is likely to continue in the nearest future and in the medium term period (until 2030–2035). The main trend in the spatial distribution of the demographic potential of the Crimea in the last 15–20 years is a gradual increase in the proportion of the population settled on the coast and in the coastal zone 15–20 km wide.

Genomic and Phylogenetic Analysis of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum L125, and Evaluation of Its Anti-Proliferative and Cytotoxic Activity in Cancer Cells

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum is a diverse species that includes nomadic strains isolated from a variety of environmental niches. Several L. plantarum strains are being incorporated in fermented foodstuffs as starter cultures, while some of them have also been characterized as probiotics. In this study, we present the draft genome sequence of L. plantarum L125, a potential probiotic strain presenting biotechnological interest, originally isolated from a traditional fermented meat product. Phylogenetic and comparative genomic analysis with other potential probiotic L. plantarum strains were performed to determine its evolutionary relationships. Furthermore, we located genes involved in the probiotic phenotype by whole genome annotation. Indeed, genes coding for proteins mediating host–microbe interactions and bile salt, heat and cold stress tolerance were identified. Concerning the potential health-promoting attributes of the novel strain, we determined that L. plantarum L125 carries an incomplete plantaricin gene cluster, in agreement with previous in vitro findings, where no bacteriocin-like activity was detected. Moreover, we showed that cell-free culture supernatant (CFCS) of L. plantarum L125 exerts anti-proliferative, anti-clonogenic and anti-migration activity against the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line, HT-29. Conclusively, L. plantarum L125 presents desirable probiotic traits. Future studies will elucidate further its biological and health-related properties.

The influence of IONPs core size on their biocompatibility and activity in in vitro cellular models

Although the key factor affecting the biocompatibility of IONPs is the core size, there is a lack of regular investigation concerning the impact of the parameter on the toxicity of these nanomaterials. Therefore, such studies were carried out in this paper. Their purpose was to compare the influence of PEG-coated-magnetite NPs with the core of 5, 10 and 30 nm on six carefully selected cell lines. The proliferation rate, viability, metabolic activity, migration activity, ROS levels and cytoskeleton architecture of cells have been evaluated for specified incubation periods. These were 24 and 72-h long incubations with IONPs administered in two doses: 5 and 25 µg Fe/ml. A decrease in viability was observed after exposure to the tested NPs for all the analyzed cell lines. This effect was not connected with core diameter but depended on the exposure time to the nanomaterials. IONPs increased not only the proliferation rate of macrophages—being phagocytic cells—but also, under certain conditions stimulated tumor cell divisions. Most likely, the increase in proliferation rate of macrophages contributed to the changes in the architecture of their cytoskeleton. The growth in the level of ROS in cells had been induced mainly by the smallest NPs. This effect was observed for HEK293T cells and two cancerous lines: U87MG (at both doses tested) and T98G (only for the higher dose). This requires further study concerning both potential toxicity of such IONPs to the kidneys and assessing their therapeutic potential in the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme.

Analysis of External Risks of Cholera Importation to the Territory of Primorsky Krai by Different Types of Transport

Relevance. The risk of developing complications of an epidemiological nature for especially dangerous infections is determined by the possibility of importing an infection from disadvantaged countries, which depends on many factors, including the migration activity.Aim. To analyze the external risks of cholera importation into Primorsky Krai by various modes of transport.Materials and methods. Data of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Far Eastern territorial department Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing by railway transport was used. The analysis of the incidence of cholera in the world was carried out according to the WHO, the Reference Center for Monitoring Cholera in the Russian Federation, the Internet resource ProMED-mail.Results and discussion. During the analyzed period (2015–2018), 311,435 vehicles (automobile transport – 87.4%, sea transport – 7.7%, air transport – 4.3%, railway transport – 0.6%) and more than 5 million people arrived in Primorsky Krai from abroad. Analysis of passenger flows by all modes of transport showed that Asian destinations dominate.Conclusion. Evaluation of the epidemiological situation of cholera in the Southeast Asian countries does not rule out the risk of cholera importation into Primorsky Krai, given the high intensity of migratory activity. No conflict of interest to declare.

Territorial identity and attitude to their town of the russian provincial youth

The article is based on materials from a study carried out by employees of the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 2017–2019. The study was conducted among young people living in two small towns in Central Russia – Belev, Tula region and Staritsa, Tver region. The issues of local-territorial identity of young residents of the Russian province, their attitude to their native city and the local environment are analyzed. An analysis of the sociological survey data made it possible to conclude that at present, territorial identity and love for their city were characteristic of a considerable part of the provincial youth, but these indicators varied markedly. The prevalence of young people’s orientations towards their city decreased in more developed, urbanized, open cities, with a rolling stock of the local population, wider contacts with the ”outside world”, a higher level of education, etc. In less urbanized cities, local-territorial identity and love for their city were more frequent. At the same time, local residents experienced less satisfaction with living conditions and showed more pronounced migration activity.