Vol. 50 No. 1 (239) (2016)

The kinetics of atmospheric oxidation of ascorbic acid and nicotinic acid in aqueous solutions of surfactants has been studied. It has been shown that the kinetics of vitamins’ oxidation process was described by first-order reaction equation. The conditions in which oxidation occurs have great importance: in the pre-micellar region the rate of vitamins’ oxidation increases, while in the postmicellar region it decreases.

Interaction of well-known DNA minor groove binder Hoechst 33258 and Calf Thymus DNA without and in the presence of increasing amount of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was studied using UV-vis spectroscopy methods. Thermal melting results show that the melting temperature of Hoechst–DNA complex decreases while increasing of DMSO content. It was shown that DNA is more stable at low DMSO content (5% v/v) rather, than at high concentrations (10–20%).

The liquid–vapor phase equilibrium in the dimethyl sulfoxide–acetonitrile binary system was studied using a static method. The total saturated vapor pressure at the temperature range 293.15–323.15 K is measured. Partial pressures of dimethyl sulfoxide and acetonitrile were calculated by integrating the Gibbs–Duhem equation. Molar excess Gibbs energies were described by the Redlich–Kister equation, and correlation parameters were calculated. It was found that molar excess Gibbs energies are negative, and the deviation from ideality increases as temperature increases.

Migration and distribution of lead in the water–bottom sediment system of the Hrazdan River has been investigated. In order to evaluate migration magnitude of metals and the influence of different parameters on it, liner dependence between partition coefficient of metals and different parameters of environment for 2012–2013 period has been studied.

The subject of the study is the variability of cardiac rhythm parameters, when carrying out a creative assignment, in patients differing in degrees of extroversion. Decreases in the stress index, indicating an increase in the influence of the parasympathetic part of the autonomic nervous system, were identified in introvert subjects. In contrast with introverts, a parasympathetic effect was not observed in extroverted subjects.

Seasonal investigations of quantitative and qualitative parameters of phytoplankton symbiosis of the Akhpara reservoir was carried out in 2015. It was revealed that more than 45% of recorded algae were indicator species of organic pollution. According to surface waters classifications by trophic and saprobic (eco-sanitary) indices, the water of the Akhpara reservoir was changed from β-oligosaprob level (spring) to β-mesosaprob level (summer, autumn), which indicated that in summer and autumn the level of organic pollution increased. As a result of the study, has been revealed that the number of large single-celled and colonial species in phytoplankton community in 2015 increased compared with previous years.

The aim of the present study was assessing the heavy metal pollution of soils around Agarak copper-molybdenum mine complex and related environmental risks. The study was implemented in 2013. The level of soil contamination by heavy metals was assessed by Contamination factors, Degree of contamination, Pollution load index and Geoaccumulation index. The study revealed that almost in all studied sites Cu, Mo, Pb and Cd were the main polluting heavy metals and this was conditioned by Agarak copper-molybdenum mine complex activity.

In the study principal component analysis and gene set enrichment analysis was carried out to evaluate genome wide expression and identify functional gene sets affected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder and animal models of the disease. The results obtained indicate the significance of the genetic component in the pathogenesis of post-traumatic stress disorder, and provide strong evidence for the involvement of chronic inflammation, neuronal and cytokine/growth factor signaling pathways, in disease development and progression. In addition, the results obtained demonstrated that combination of principal component analysis with gene set enrichment analysis is an efficient strategy for discrimination of phenotype related gene expression variability from other factors.

Studies of interaction of flavonoids: morin, quercetin and rutin, with DNA at 0.002 M ionic strength solution have been carried out by square wave voltammetry (SWV) method. SWV curves of the mentioned flavonoids and their complexes with DNA were obtained. Based on titration curves coordinates of r and C_f (Scatchard’s coordinates) were obtained and the curves of r/C_f dependence on r were constructed. Nonlinear binding curves were obtained, which were interpreted from the point of view of existing at least two modes of binding the mentioned flavonoids with DNA. From the curves for two modes of interaction, values of the binding constant (K) and the number of DNA base pairs (n) per one binding molecule of flavonoid were determined.

The main goal of this study was to establish genetic heterogeneity of virulence genes of Salmonella enterica serovar, which causes salmonellosis with different clinical presentation. With the use of PCR screening the prevalence of virulence genes located on pathogenicity islands and plasmid-encoded virulence factors were revealed. The results indicate about genetic heterogeneity of spv-operon genes of S. Enteritidis clinical isolates.

Editorial board of “Proceedings of the YSU” joins to the congratulations and wishes years of fruitful collaboration.