Violations of Islamic Law in Male–Female Relations: The Shifting of Nyubuk Tradition of the Customary Peoples of Lampung

Advances in media and communication technology have wrought significant shifts in the nyubuk tradition of the customary peoples of Lampung Pepadun. Male–female relations, once clearly regulated by customary doctrine through nyubuk, are now mediated by social media technology that facilitates the violation of customary and Islamic laws. This article examines how nyubuk, a cultural medium for communication that has traditionally been used in spouse selection, has shifted as social media has become widely available. More specifically, it seeks to understand how the nyubuk tradition has come to disappear without any significant resistance. In doing so, it applies a qualitative descriptive approach, with data having been collected through interviews. This study finds that despite generations of practice, shifting social and cultural practices have threatened nyubuk with extinction, and the practice has increasingly been replaced by social media. As a result, behaviors that violate social and religious norms have become increasingly common in society. Male–female relations, traditionally regulated under Islamic norms through nyubuk, have become increasingly open as cultural spaces have been replaced by social media. This has facilitated transgressions and other violations of Islamic law by young men and women. Obeisance of religious law depends significantly on local cultural authorities, and where these authorities are ignored, once dominant laws and practices may become extinct. Received: 28 September 2021 / Accepted: 16 November 2021 / Published: 3 January 2022

“A Part of Speech” by Joseph Brodsky: Bilingualism as a Creative Method in Poetry

This article is an attempt of textological conceptualization of an interlingual transfer (doubling) of a literary text. This transfer, in case it has been done by the author him/herself, is traditionally called self-translation, yet it can also by qualified as an adaptation of the “old” text to the perceptive abilities of the “new” recipient, i.e. a collective reader representing a different national and cultural medium and bearing its values as a prevalent aesthetic waymark. Special importance in the above process is attached to such a significant feature of any literary text of high quality as its elasticity. The textological approach to the scientific understanding of the differentlanguage text binary is often complemented by the bilinguological categorization of the subject, i.e. a text of poetry and, at the same time, a poetic cycle. From this standpoint, the mode of primary/secondary character of the two interconnected texts might lose its substantial preciseness. Further on, the article scrutinizes a landmark (for the Russian culture) literary text and its self-translation: the poetic cycle “A Part of Speech” by Joseph Brodsky. Four conceptual dominants of the cycle, with regard to their axiological hierarchy, are distinguished: 1) space/distance – location – oblivion; 2) time (epoch) – history – event – oblivion; 3) love – breakup – oblivion; 4) speech – art – extension – immortality. Further, a comparative analysis of their different-language verbalization is carried out. It is stated that Brodsky’s creation of this bilingual cycle reflects his striving for a cultural adaptation of each version to the background knowledge, historical experience, principles, traditions, aesthetic attitudes and, generally, sentiments of different groups of readers. In some cases this is done by means of the national language only, in other cases by the general complication of the poems’ figurative fabric.

Evaluating the affect of dimethyl sulfoxide on the viablity of H9C2 cardiomyocytes

Objective: The study was conducted to evaluate the affect of Dimethyl Sulfoxide (DMSO) concentration on the viability of H9C2 cells under the different cultural conditions. Methods: H9C2 cells were cultured under normal conditions and subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation model. DMSOat the doses of 0,001÷10% (v/v) was added to the cultural medium during normal culture period and reoxygenation period. Cellular viability of the experimental groups was assessed by using CCK-8 kit. Results: The results indicated that the viability of H9C2 cardiomyocytes was stable in the different culture media supplied with DMSO at the doses of0,001÷0,5% (v/v). Meanwhile, supplementation of DMSO at the doses of1% and 2% significantly decreased the survival rate of H9C2 cells (v/v,p<0,05). Conclusion: The affect of DMSO on H9C2 cardiomyocytes is dose-dependant maner.

The effect of culture medium of Interfillum terricola (J.B.Petersen) Mikhailyuk et al. (Charophyta) on allelopathic, microbiological, agrophysical and agrochemical characteristics of soil

The influence of the cultural medium of the charophyte Interfillum terricola on the allelopathic, microbiological, agrophysical and agrochemical properties of the soil have been studied in model pot experiments. Allelopathic soil regime was assessed by biological testing methods for water-soluble compounds and direct biotesting, as well as by vital indicators of plants-phytometers of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L., variety "Smuglyanka") and fodder corn (Zea mays L., variety "Kadr 267 MB"). The seeds were sown immediately after the introduction of the culture fluid. The number of germinated seeds was recorded from the 2nd to the 8th day after sowing. The vital condition of phytometer plants was evaluated at the end of the experiments by morphometric indicators of growth (leaf surface area, dry matter biomass of aboveground parts and roots) and the content of photosynthetic pigments in the leaves. When the experiment was completed, soil samples were taken to determine the cytostatic effect of water-soluble compounds and to carry out microbiological and biochemical analyzes. Phenolic compounds were isolated from the soil by ion exchange (desorption) using an ion exchanger KU-2-8 (Н+). In parallel, the electrical conductivity, redox potential, pH and content of nutrients in the soil were determined. The stimulating effect of cultural medium on seed germination, growth and development of assimilation organs of wheat and corn plants has been revealed. The strength of the effect did not depend on the concentration of growing medium, which is characteristic of signal allelopathically active substances. Allelopathic and cytostatic activity of the soil decreased with the use of Interfillum terricola growing medium. The introduction of the cultural fluid significantly affected the number of microorganisms of different ecological and trophic groups. The lowest number of microorganisms was observed at the minimum rate of introduction of microalga medium, and its increase contributed to the growth of the number of almost all studied groups of microorganisms, indicators of transformation and mineralization of organic matter. Under the influence of the cultural medium, the content of phenolic compounds in the soil decreased by 1.1–1.6 times, especially at the norm of 10 mL. The soil treated with cultural fluid had higher rates of transformation and mineralization of organic matter than untreated. The concentration of phenolic compounds in the soil decreased, apparently, due to the activation of the microbiota resulting in the intensification of the destruction processes. An increase in the electrical conductivity of the soil with the introduction of microalgae inoculum was recorded, which may indicate the release of metal ions into the substrate. This confirms the increase in Ca and Mg.

Chaenomeles speciosa fruit endophytic fungi isolation and characterization of their antimicrobial activity and the secondary metabolites composition

Background Endophytes promote the survival of the host plants affected by unfavorable environment. To confirm the endophytes role in Chaenomeles speciosa pathogenic resistance, fungal isolates were derived from both fruit peel and pulp, and presumptively identified using macroscopic and microscopic techniques. Antifungal potential of the isolates was assayed by dual culture method and agar disc method against Alternaria alternata, Fusarium culmorum, and Fusarium oxysporum strains. Two most active fungal isolates were cultured in Czapek's liquid medium to obtain metabolites. The crude ethyl acetate extracts of metabolites were characterized for antibacterial activity against Basillus subtilis and Erwinia dissolvens, and for component composition by GC–MS technique. Results Nine fungal endophytic isolates were derived from the peel and pulp of C. speciosa fruits and tentatively attributed to Penicillium spp. (seven isolates), Aspergillus spp. (one isolate), Mucor spp. (one isolate). Two fungal isolates, one each of the fruit peel and pulp, were designated as Penicillium sp. I and Penicillium sp. II respectively, and selected for further research. Both isolates showed similar activity against A. alternata; however, Penicillium sp. I activity against F. culmorum and F. oxysporum exceeded the activity of Penicillium sp. II. Cultural medium ethyl acetate extracts of both endophytes exhibited higher antibacterial activity against Gram-positive B. subtilis, while mycelium extracts were more active against Gram-negative E. dissolvens. In general, Penicillium sp. I antibacterial activity was higher in cultural medium extracts, while activity of Penicillium sp. II dominated in mycelium extracts. GC–MS analysis of the fungal metabolites component composition revealed the identity of 27 and 17 compounds, respectively in the ethyl acetate extracts of Penicillium sp. I and Penicillium sp. II cultural medium. Basic compounds produced by the first isolate, were represented by 3-Furanacetic acid, 4-hexyl-2,5-dihydro-2,5-dioxo, Diisooctyl phthalate, 11-Hexadecyn-1-ol, and Propanedioic acid, dihydroxy. At the same time, Phthalic acid diisooctyl ester and other phthalates constituted the main part of the second isolate metabolites, followed by Hexadecanoic acid, Eicosyl isopropyl ether, and 4-Butoxy-2-butanone at a lower content. Conclusions The findings showed that the antimicrobial potential of Chaenomeles fruits endophytic fungi is promising and deserves further investigation.

Cell responses to simulated microgravity and hydrodynamic stress can be distinguished by using comparative transcriptomic analysis

The human immune system is compromised in microgravity (MG) conditions during an orbital flight and upon return to Earth. T cells are critical for the immune response and execute their functions via actin mediated immune cell-cell interactions that could be disturbed by MG conditions. Here, we have applied two rotational platforms to simulate MG conditions: fast rotating clinostat (CL) and random positioning machine (RPM) followed by global T cell transcriptome analysis using RNA sequencing. We demonstrate that the T cell transcriptome profile in response to simulated MG treatment was clearly distinguishable from the T cell transcriptome response to hydrodynamic stress (HS) induced by shear forces upon cell movement in cultural medium. Gene expression profiling of genes related to or involved in actin cytoskeleton networks using RT-qPCR confirmed two sets of differentially regulated genes in the T cell response to MG or to HS. Several key genes potentially involved in T cell gravisensing (Fam163b, Dnph1, Trim34, Upk-1b) were identified. A number of candidate biomarker genes of the response to MG (VAV1, VAV2, VAV3, and NFATC2) and of the response to HS (ITGAL, ITGB1, ITGB2, RAC1 and RAC2) could be used to distinguish between these processes on the gene transcription level. Together, MG induces changes in the overall transcriptome of T cells leading to specific shifts in expression of cytoskeletal network genes.

Regularities of vortex motion in gas-vortex bioreactor

Regularities of the vortex motion in an industrial glass bioreactor with a volume of 12 liters with a reactor vessel diameter D = 190 mm and with a filling of 50% was studied. A 65% water solution of glycerin was used as a model culture medium (density ρ g = 1150 kg/m3 and kinematic viscosity Vg = 15 mm2/s). Methods of particle image velocimetry and adaptive track visualization were used to observe the vortex pattern. The regularities of the vortex motion of the cultural medium were determined. It was found that, similar to the case of two rotating immiscible liquids, a strongly swirling jet was formed near the axis, and the entire flow took on the structure of a miniature gas-liquid tornado. The aerating gas interacted with the liquid only through the free surface, without mixing with it. As a result, the intensification of interphase mass transfer was provided due to the high speed of motion of the aerating gas.

Fermentation Profile and Probiotic-Related Characteristics of Bifidobacterium longum MC-42

This article presents new data on Bifidobacterium longum MC-42—a strain that has been actively used for the preparation of commercial dairy products in Russia for almost 40 years. It was demonstrated that this strain possesses high activities of β-galactosidase, α-glucosidase, and leucine arylaminidase; inhibits the growth of pathogens such as Salmonella typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli; and can efficiently remove cholesterol from the cultural medium. The resistance of B. longum MC-42 determined for 15 commonly used antibiotics was in agreement with those previously reported for Bifidobacterium spp. The absence of frequently transmittable antibiotic resistance genes in the genome and the lack of undesirable activity of β-glucuronidase proved the safe use of B. longum MC-42 as a probiotic and starter culture. Additionally, the impact of two growth-promoting additives—yeast extract or milk protein hydrolysate containing supplementation—on the B. longum MC-42 fermentation profile was assessed. The introduction of these additives increases the maximum attainable viable cell count by orders of magnitude, significantly changed the profile of aminopeptidase activities in extracellular extracts, and influenced the antioxidant and antihypertensive properties of the obtained fermented products.

Abstract P-16: Cryo-Electron Microscopy Study of Vesicles from Various Species

Background: Plant-derived extracellular vesicles (PEVs) are studied as a natural carrier of functional biomolecules and as a potential system of targeted delivery of therapeutic agents. One of the urgent tasks in this direction is the selection of the carrier with optimal physicochemical parameters and morphology from a variety of plant sources. To date, vesicles from only a few plants were visualized using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM). Here we investigated the morphology and physical parameters of extracellular vesicles from plant sources not previously studied utilizing this method. Methods: PEVs derived by ultracentrifugation from juice and cultural medium of 11 plants and mushrooms were studied using methods of cryo-EM. Samples were plunge frozen in liquid ethane with Vitrobot Mark IV and examined under cryogenic transmission electron microscope Titan Krios 60-300 (ThermoFisher Scientific, USA) in low dose mode using EPU software. Results: Most of the observed particles in each sample were classified as extracellular vesicles due to the presence of the lipid bilayer. Morphology and size characteristics of PEVs were determined and compared with each other. A variety of morphological configurations of PEVs were found: with single and multiple membranes, with different conformations and integrity state. Most of the isolated PEVs were single, round-shaped, and in a size range from 30 to 150 nm. Conclusion: Cryo-EM allowed us to obtain high-quality images of PEVs isolated from 11 plants and mushrooms (blueberry, chanterelle, cowberry, fly agaric, garlic, redcurrant, chlamydomonas, cucumber, shadberry, viburnum, gooseberry) which have been characterized by their size and morphology. From the data obtained, the most promising sources of vesicles were proposed. The approbation of the selected vesicles as effective delivery systems requires further research.

Salivary KLK5 and uPA are potential biomarkers for malignant transformation of OLK and OLP

BACKGROUND: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) usually originates from oral potentially malignant disorders (OPMD), such as oral leukoplakia (OLK) and oral lichen planus (OLP). Identifying biomarkers for the early diagnosis and evaluation of malignant transformation in OPMD could improve the survival rate of OSCC patients. OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to screen for potential salivary biomarkers for evaluating the malignant transformation of OPMD. METHODS: Salivary proteases from OLK and OSCC patients or healthy donors and proteases in cultural medium from DOK and Cal-27 cells were detected with a human protease array kit. The concentrations of the salivary Kallikrein 5 (KLK5) and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) proteases were measured by ELISA. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) to determine the potential value of these proteases in clinical diagnosis were calculated using SPSS software. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the KLK5 and uPA expression in the oral organizations. RESULTS: The salivary protease spectrum was different among patients with OLK and OSCC and healthy donors. KLK5 and uPA levels in saliva tended to increase as the disease progressed (healthy < OPMD [OLK and OLP] <OSCC). ROC curves showed the optimum diagnostic cutoffs for KLK5 as a biomarker for OLK, OLP, and OSCC were 5.97, 6.03, and 9.45 pg/mL, respectively, while the cutoffs for uPA were 17.19, 17.26, and 20.96 pg/mL. Their combined analysis showed a higher sensitivity for the differential diagnosis of disease. Furthermore, higher levels of KLK5 and uPA were observed in OSCC tissues than in OLK and OLP. CONCLUSIONS: Salivary KLK5 and uPA are potential biomarkers for evaluating OLK and OLP malignant transformation and early diagnosis of OSCC.