Canthaxanthin Biofabrication, Loading in Green Phospholipid Vesicles and Evaluation of In Vitro Protection of Cells and Promotion of Their Monolayer Regeneration

In the present study, canthaxanthin was produced by biofermentation from Dietzia natronolimnaea HS-1 (D. natronolimnaea) and was loaded in phospholipid vesicles prepared with natural component using an easy and low dissipative method. Indeed, glycerosomes, hyalurosomes, and glycerohyalurosomes were prepared by direct hydration of both phosphatidylcholine and the biotechnological canthaxanthin, avoiding the use of organic solvents. Vesicles were sized from 63 nm to 87 nm and highly negatively charged. They entrapped a high number of the biomolecules and were stable on storage. Canthaxanthin-loaded vesicles incubated with fibroblasts did not affect their viability, proving to be highly biocompatible and capable of inhibiting the death of fibroblasts stressed with hydrogen peroxide. They reduced the nitric oxide expression in macrophages treated with lipopolysaccharides. Moreover, they favoured the cell migration in an in vitro lesion model. Results confirmed the health-promoting potential of canthaxanthin in skin cells, which is potentiated by its suitable loading in phospholipid vesicles, thus suggesting the possible use of these natural bioformulations in both skin protection and regeneration, thanks to the potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiageing effects of canthaxanthin.

Effect of Chitosan Deacetylation on Its Affinity to Type III Collagen: A Molecular Dynamics Study

The ability to form strong intermolecular interactions by linear glucosamine polysaccharides with collagen is strictly related to their nonlinear dynamic behavior and hence bio-lubricating features. Type III collagen plays a crucial role in tissue regeneration, and its presence in the articular cartilage affects its bio-technical features. In this study, the molecular dynamics methodology was applied to evaluate the effect of deacetylation degree on the chitosan affinity to type III collagen. The computational procedure employed docking and geometry optimizations of different chitosan structures characterized by randomly distributed deacetylated groups. The eight different degrees of deacetylation from 12.5% to 100% were taken into account. We found an increasing linear trend (R2 = 0.97) between deacetylation degree and the collagen–chitosan interaction energy. This can be explained by replacing weak hydrophobic contacts with more stable hydrogen bonds involving amino groups in N-deacetylated chitosan moieties. In this study, the properties of chitosan were compared with hyaluronic acid, which is a natural component of synovial fluid and cartilage. As we found, when the degree of deacetylation of chitosan was greater than 0.4, it exhibited a higher affinity for collagen than in the case of hyaluronic acid.

Consideration of the contribution of the natural background component during individual control of radiation doses to personnel

When ensuring radiation safety in the Russian Federation, there is a principle of separate independent assessment of doses from natural, medical, emergency and technogenic exposure. In practice, it is not always possible to comply with this principled approach. The established dose limits are related only to man-made radiation during normal operation of sources of ionizing radiation. However, during the formation of regional and federal databases on individual doses of personnel exposure, information is entered not on technogenic exposure, but on industrial exposure, that is, without subtracting the natural radiation background. The natural component of the individual dose at low radiation doses is quite significant. Failure to its subtraction leads to an overestimation of the individual dose of external exposure of personnel. Difficulties arise in the implementation of the subtraction of the natural radiation background: 1) in what cases it is necessary to subtract the background, 2) what value to choose for the subtracted background, 3) what method to measure the background, 4) at what stage of processing the measurement information to subtract the background. This article proposes a method for solving the problem of subtracting the natural background radiation from the values of individual doses of external exposure to personnel based on results of individual dosimetric control. Using the example of the city of St. Petersburg, the natural background radiation was measured by the thermoluminescent method of individual dosimetry at 50 control points for three consecutive years (2018-2020). To measure the natural background, we used individual thermoluminescent dosimeters of the same type as those used to measure individual equivalents of external radiation doses to personnel. The choice of using the thermoluminescent method as a predominant one for adjusting the average doses of external radiation from technogenic sources of ionizing radiation when subtracting the natural component of the dose has been substantiated. Comparison of official data on personnel exposure doses with the data obtained as a result of our own measurements is made. Recommendations are given on the use of the obtained values of the average natural radiation background in the formation of regional and federal databases on individual doses of personnel exposure.

TRANSFORMATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE YAUZA RIVER

In the context of current problems of sustainable development of the modern city, the issues of present and future of coastal areas occupy a key place. In large cities there is a shortage of the natural component of the coastal zone environment, while the priority is given to transport infrastructure, which leads to environmental degradation and deprives the coastal strip recreational use. For many coastal territories the main problems remain: expansion of transport infrastructure; intensive process of urbanization and building up of coastal territories; loss of natural components and landscape identity of coastal strips and water areas. In Moscow, these problems are complemented by the monotony and typical character of the architectural design of coastal areas. Integrated development of the environment of coastal zones can be realized by various methods, created on the principles of a balanced infrastructure. The formation of urban and landscape directions and their relationship.

Assessment of Seismogeodynamic Activity of Mining Areas on the Basis of 3D Geoinformation Modeling

The article deals with the creation of an information and analytical platform for assessing external causes of technogenic (man-made) accidents and for improving methods of their predication and prevention on the territories of long-term geological, mining, and engineering activities on the Southeastern (SE) Transbaikal region example — one of the key areas for mining and extraction of the strategic raw minerals in Russia. 3D modeling of active geological structures and hazardous seismogeodynamic processes on GIS-based technologies is a key instrument for forecasting dangerous natural and technogenic events and risk reduction of their occurrence. A matter of minimizing consequences of natural and technogenic disasters for such facilities of increased technological and environmental hazards as minefields, radiochemical facilities, sites for spent nuclear material disposal, dams, gas and oil pipelines, etc. has become essential. It is necessary to assess modern geodynamic territory’s activity on a unified geoinformation platform applying the newest integrated geological-geophysical researches’ methods for these objects, to select seismically active fault-fracture zones, to determine the rate and direction of surface displacement, to establish patterns of subsoil stressed-strained state natural component influence on behavior of local technogenic processes. Taking into account the specificities of geotectonic structure of mining territories, the structure of monitoring seismogeodynamic processes network on multifunctional geodynamic test sites should be developed. Observations made on test sites form the information basis for forecasting of lithosphere condition, taking decisions on rational subsurface management and providing ecological safety of the territory.

Visfatin and Resveratrol Differentially Regulate the Expression of Thymidylate Synthase to Control the Sensitivity of Human Colorectal Cancer Cells to Capecitabine Cytotoxicity

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a highly lethal malignant cancer. Capecitabine, a 5-fluororacil (5-FU) derivate, is its first-line drug, but the resistance of CRC to capecitabine is still the most challenging factor for curing patients. It has been suggested that thymidylate synthase (TYMS) level might affect the capecitabine efficacy in CRC patients, but the mechanism still needs more elucidation. Obesity is a risk factor for CRC. Recently, a correlation between serum visfatin, an obesity-elicited adipokine, and CRC development has been found. Thus, the aim of present study is to examine the visfatin capacity in TYMS expression and in the development of capecitabine resistance of CRC. Moreover, an attractive natural component, i.e., resveratrol, has been proposed in anticancer therapy and has hence been examined in the present study to see its potential capacity in the alleviation of CRC resistance. Our results found that visfatin significantly reduces the CRC sensitivity to capecitabine by controlling the TYMS expression via p38 signaling and Sp1 transcription factor. Moreover, resveratrol could significantly alleviate the visfatin effect on capecitabine-treated CRC cells. These results provided new insights to understand the capecitabine susceptibility of CRC under a visfatin-containing environment and a possible therapeutic application of resveratrol in CRC patients with obesity.

Principles of organization of the water ecological framework of the city

This paper examines the problems of organizing coastal areas from the point of view of their most important role of the ecological framework in the structure of the city. Taking into account the needs of the population in health security, comfortable stay near the water space, possible ways to ensure the functionality of the environment and the integration of coastal territories into the planning structure of the area are proposed. Using the example of Moscow, changes in the natural component of river valleys as a result of anthropogenic impact are shown, the most significant criteria for organizing the coastal space are given, and the main design principles are identified.

Improving Social Capital, A Solution to Manage Water Conflicts

Water systems are categorized as coupled human-natural systems. It is argued that extreme events are primarily associated with the natural component of the system, while conflicts are considered as part of the human component of the water systems. Since the system is coupled, both human and natural components interact with each other. For instance, extreme events such as droughts can trigger conflict among societies. What needs to be noted here is that such disturbances in both systems are, to some extent, inevitable. However, by using the proper mechanisms and leverages, they can be alleviated. Enhancing social capital among stakeholders is one of those leverages to reduce the conflicts' likelihood or at least intensity. Social capital reflects people’s collective level of awareness on the issues, their reciprocal relationships, and public participation. In other words, social capital captures three concepts of “Public Justice,” “Public Cohesion,” and “Public Participation.” This paper aims to descriptively analyze the effect of social capital in social conflicts in the context of water systems. The results of this study indicated that social capital is effective in alleviating water conflicts, but requires large and long-term investments. Therefore, it can be used to alleviate conflicts to reduce vulnerability, and achieve development. Keywords: Social capital, Water systems, Conflict, Vulnerability

Methodological aspects of regional metallogenic analysis

Relevance and purpose of the work are due to the need to formulate the conceptual base and essence that determine the methodology of regional metallogenic analysis. Results. The fundamental provisions that make up the methodological and conceptual-semantic basis of the regional metallogenic analysis have been determined and concretized. The conceptual basis of regional metallogenic analysis is the provision that the ore (deposit) is included as a natural component in certain structural-material associations (or complexes), i.e., in certain formations of igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks. They are objectively existing and actually mapped geological bodies, which are expressed both in the form of stratified (series, formations, strata, packs, horizons) and intrusive (massifs) formations. On their basis, structural-formation (structuralmetallogenic) zoning is carried out. An important feature of magmatic, sedimentary and ore formations is their recurrence in the geological history of mobile belts, which confirms the concept of the conservatism of metallogenic processes in the geological history of the Earth. At the same time, along with repetitive ones, there are magmatic, sedimentary and ore formations formed in the geological history of the Earth only once. Lateral and vertical rows of rock and ore paragenetic associations are characterized. Examples of Caledonian and Hercynian lateral ore-formation series of the Urals are given. The main provisions of the quantitative assessment of the predicted resources of the predicted types of minerals are formulated. Conclusions. The regional metallogenic analysis consists of the following components: petro-lithoformational analysis, structural-formational zoning which is adequate to structural-metallogenic zoning, paragenetic analysis of mineral associations and geological-industrial typification of various-scale occurrences of a mineral, and quantitative assessment of expected mineralization predicted resources.

Characteristic and use of spilanthol in cosmetology

Acmella oleracea is an interesting plant with a high spilanthol content, which due to its specific activity is considered as a valuable bioactive substance. Spilanthol displays a broad spectrum of biological activity, including analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-cancer and bacteriostatic effects. In addition, it inhibits contractions of the facial muscles, and thanks to it was called a natural herbal botox. The interest in spilanthol by the cosmetics industry, leads that effective methods of its isolation from plant material are still being sought. The aim of the study was to present the possibility of using spilanthol in cosmetology and aesthetic dermatology. In this work, application studies presented, confirm the possibility of its use as a natural component of anti-wrinkle cosmetics.