Influence of the heterointerface sharpness on exciton recombination dynamics in an ensemble of (In,Al)As/AlAs quantum dots with indirect band-gap

The dynamics of exciton recombination in an ensemble of indirect band-gap (In,Al)As/AlAs quantum dots with type-I band alignment is studied. The lifetime of confined excitons which are indirect in momentum-space is mainly influenced by the sharpness of the heterointerface between the (In,Al)As quantum dot and the AlAs barrier matrix. Time-resolved photoluminescence experiments and theoretical model calculations reveal a strong dependence of the exciton lifetime on the thickness of the interface diffusion layer. The lifetime of excitons with a particular optical transition energy varies because this energy is obtained for quantum dots differing in size, shape and composition. The different exciton lifetimes, which result in photoluminescence with non-exponential decay obeying a power-law function, can be described by a phenomenological distribution function, which allows one to explain the photoluminescence decay with one fitting parameter only.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figure

Non-conventional trans-platinum complexes functionalized with RDG peptides: chemical and cytototoxicity studies

In order to target platinum complexes to cancer cells, trans-Pt(II) or trans-Pt(IV) complexes were bioconjugated to the cyclic peptide cRGDfK (cRGD), with affinity for αvβ3 integrin receptors, through their 4-picolinic acid spectator ligands. To tackle this goal, the Pt(II) and Pt(IV) precursors were activated at their carboxylic acid function and futher reacted with the cRGDfK peptide, to afford the bioconjugates Pt(II)-cRGD and Pt(IV)-cRGD, respectively. Pt(II)-cRGD was studied by 195Pt-NMR that confirmed the presence of the Pt(II) center. In contrast, the characterization of Pt(IV)-cRGD was not possible due to the tendency of this complex to undergo reduction to Pt(II) in solution. Thus, only the Pt(II)-cRGD complex was used for further biological studies, and it exhibited some cytotoxic activity against the HUVEC cell line, with the highest levels of αvβ3 expression. However, no improved effects were observed with respect to the Pt(II)-pic precursor. Studies by ICP-MS showed enhanced intracellular accumulation for Pt(II)-cRGD with respect to Pt(II)-pic in cancer cells. Overall, these results show that while Pt(II) bioconjugation enhances compound's uptake, it did not translate into an increase in cytotoxicity

Synthesis and characterization of novel oxaliplatin analogs

In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden unterschiedliche Derivate des Oxaliplatins entwickelt. Im ersten Projekt wurden sowohl das axiale, als auch das equatoriale Isomere des methylsubstituiertes Cyclohexandiaminligandens synthetisiert, und die entsprechenden Oxaliplatinanaloga hergestellt und mittels NMR, Elementaranalyse und Massenspektrometrie eindeutig charakterisiert. Das Isomer mit der axial orientierten Methylgruppe zeigte bessere Ergebnisse bezüglich der IC50 Werte. Der Effekt in der in vivo Untersuchung (Mausmodell, L1210) war jedoch entgegengesetzt, das equatorial substituierte Oxaliplatin zeigte eine bessere Aktivität. Im zweiten Projekt wurden zur Effizienzsteigerung des zellulären Transportes, neuartige Konjugate bestehend aus Oxaliplatin und dem TAT Peptid (Trans-Acting Activator of Transcription) synthetisiert. Das Peptid wurde durch Festphasensynthese hergestellt, wobei der Platinkomplex nach der letzten Aminosäure angefügt wurde. Die isolierten Mono- und Biskonjugate wurden mit NMR, ESI und MALDI MS bzw. Flüssigkeitschromatografie charakterisiert. Die beiden Substanzen zeigten eine bessere Zytotoxizität im Vergleich zum Ausgangskomplex bzw. zu einem Amidanalogon, das keine Gruppe im Sinne des Drug Targetings aufwies.In the first project the cyclohexanediamine ligands with axial and equatorial methyl group were synthesized and corresponding oxaliplatin derivatives were obtained. They were characterized with NMR, elemental analysis and mass spectrometry. In cytotoxicity tests, the one with axial orientation of the methyl group showed better results, the IC50 values were generally lower compared to oxaliplatin. The isomer with an equatorial orientation of the methyl group showed comparable or slightly higher values. In tests on leukemia mouse models better activity was shown by the equatorially substituted oxaliplatin. In the second project, conjugates of oxaliplatin featuring the TAT peptide (Trans-Acting Activator of Transcription) were prepared making the cellular transport more efficient. The peptide was synthesized on solid phase, the Pt complex was appended after the last amino acid. The obtained mono- and bisconjugates were characterized by NMR, ESI and MALDI MS and liquid chromatography. Both substances showed better cytotoxicity than the Pt precursor or the analogous amide without biologically relevant group

Convergence of financial politics and regulation on the financial markets to the stimulation of the economy

© 2015, Asian Social Science. All rights reserved. The development of economic processes in the contemporary peace requires symmetrical efforts for guaranteeing the stability of markets as a whole and financial markets in particular. The development of financial markets is located under the effect of the development of economic systems and vice versa. In this connection questions of the adequate evolution of financial supervision become very urgent. In the article problems and questions of the activity of mega-regulator in Russia in the context of the world experience of active financial policy and regulation of financial markets are illuminated. Are examined prospects, problems and marks of possible versions. The conceptual vision of nature of the development of the mega-regulation of financial markets as immanent institute in the social-economic system, is stated

Structural properties and energy spectrum of novel GaSb/AlP self-assembled quantum dots

In this work, the formation, structural properties, and energy spectrum of novel self-assembled GaSb/AlP quantum dots (SAQDs) were studied by experimental methods. The growth conditions for the SAQDs’ formation by molecular beam epitaxy on both matched GaP and artificial GaP/Si substrates were determined. An almost complete plastic relaxation of the elastic strain in SAQDs was reached. The strain relaxation in the SAQDs on the GaP/Si substrates does not lead to a reduction in the SAQDs luminescence efficiency, while the introduction of dislocations into SAQDs on the GaP substrates induced a strong quenching of SAQDs luminescence. Probably, this difference is caused by the introduction of Lomer 90°-dislocations without uncompensated atomic bonds in GaP/Si-based SAQDs, while threading 60°-dislocations are introduced into GaP-based SAQDs. It was shown that GaP/Si-based SAQDs have an energy spectrum of type II with an indirect bandgap and the ground electronic state belonging to the X-valley of the AlP conduction band. The hole localization energy in these SAQDs was estimated equal to 1.65–1.70 eV. This fact allows us to predict the charge storage time in the SAQDs to be as long as >>10 years, and it makes GaSb/AlP SAQDs promising objects for creating universal memory cells

Psychological characteristics of patients with rheumatoid arthritis with severe anxiety and depression

The negative impact of chronic disease on the psychological well-being and adaptation of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) remains a common problem despite advances in its comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation. In this context, it is important to investigate the psychological factors that determine the extent of anxiety and depression in patients with RA.Objective: to analyze the perception of the disease, mindfulness and self-compassion as psychological characteristics of patients with RA and marked anxiety-depressive manifestations.Material and methods. A total of 180 patients (149 women and 31 men) with a confirmed diagnosis of RA were examined. Their mean age was 43.41±11.18 years, and the mean duration of the disease was 10.03±8.98 years. A package of psychodiagnostic methods was used to assess the level of anxiety and depression, characteristics of the disease perception, development of mindfulness skills, and components of self-compassion.Results and discussion. Based on the study data, two patient groups were identified: patients with clinically significant anxiety and depressive manifestations and patients without them. The perception of the disease in patients with marked anxiety-depressive manifestations was characterized by the expectation of a threat from the disease, emotional apprehension and a decrease in the sense of personal control over the disease. In addition, in this group general and structural indicators of awareness and self-compassion were reduced.Conclusion. The specificity of disease perception, diminished awareness and capacity for self-compassion can be considered as psychological characteristics of patients with RA who have marked anxiety and depressive manifestations. The study allowed us to gain new, more differentiated ideas about the goals of psychodiagnostics and psychological correction in RA

Efficacy of olokizumab against comorbid depressive disorder in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: Preliminary results of the study

Background. Interleukin (IL) 6 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of comorbid rheumatoid arthritis (RA) depression, and IL-6 inhibitors (i) used to treat RA patients may have an antidepressant effect.Objective – to evaluate the effectiveness of Russian iIL-6 olokizumab (OKZ) in reducing symptoms of depression in patients with moderate/high RA activity.Material and methods. To date, 49 RA patients have been included, of which 43 (87.7%) are women, with an average age of 47.8±12.8 years; with a predominant high activity of RA according to DAS28 (CRP) indices (89.8%), SDAI (79.6%) and CDAI (75.5%) and inefficacy of stable 12-week therapy of сDMARDs. In all patients, a psychiatrist, in accordance with ICD-10, diagnosed depression (chronic or recurrent) of varying severity during a semi-structured interview. At week 0, all patients were randomized by the method of sequential numbers in a ratio of 1:1:1 to one of the 3 study groups: group 1 – cDMARDs+OKZ 64 mg subcutaneously once every 4 weeks (n=18); group 2 – cDMARDs+OKZ 64 mg subcutaneously once every 4 weeks + psychopharmacotherapy (PPT) (n=26); group 3 – cDMARDs+PPT (n=5). The duration of the study is 24 weeks. The dynamics of depression severity was assessed on the PHQ-9, MADRS scales; anxiety – HAM-A; experimental psychological projective techniques were also used.Results. After 12 and 24 weeks of therapy, there was a significant decrease in the severity of depression and anxiety in all groups of patients. However, the difference between the final and initial values of all scales was statistically significantly greater (p<0.05) in the groups of patients receiving PPT: cDMARDs+OKZ+PPT (ΔPHQ-9 24–0 =–6.75±3.91; ΔMADRS 24–0 =–22.5±4.83; ΔHAM-A 24-0 =–14.6±5.37) and cDMARDs+PPT (ΔPHQ-9 24–0 =–15.5±3.53; ΔMADRS 24–0 =–25.0±1.41; ΔHAM-A 24-0 =–18.5±3.53), compared with the cDMARDs+OKZ group (ΔPHQ-9 24–0 =–4.00±3.89; ΔMADRS 24-0 =–5.75±8.29; ΔHAM-A 24–0 =–8.50±8.21). According to a semi-structured interview with a psychiatrist and design experimental psychological techniques, the proportion of patients without depression after 24 weeks of therapy was significantly higher in the groups of patients receiving PPT: 90% in the group of cDMARDs+OKZ+PPT and 100% – cDMARDs+PPT, as opposed to 25% in the group of cDMARDs+OKZ. OKZ therapy contributed to the normalization of night sleep but did not lead to a decrease in the frequency and severity of cognitive disorders (CD).Conclusions. OKZ has an antidepressant effect in RA patients, leads to a decrease in the frequency of sleep disorders, but a com[1]plete regression of depression symptoms is possible because of the appointment of OKZ without PPT only in 25% of RA patients, mainly in patients with mild depression. Optimal for the complete regression of depression, anxiety and a decrease in the frequency and severity of CD is a combination of OKZ and PPT

ХЛОРИДЫ ПОЛИОРГАНОСИЛОКСАНОВ С 1-МЕТИЛДИАЗОЛИЛ-МЕТИЛЕНОВЫМИ ГРУППАМИ. СИНТЕЗ И СВОЙСТВА

Chlorides of polyorganosiloxanes with 1-methyldiazolylmethylene groups were synthesized using the reaction of quaternization of poly(chloromethyl)organosiloxanes with 1-methylimidazole. The degree of completeness of this reaction was determined, and the products were characterized by the data of elemental analysis, NMR spectroscopy (1H and 29Si), TGA and DTA. The possibility in principle of obtaining statistical polyorganosiloxanes with the [1-(methyl)imidazolyl]methyl substituent in the frame of the siloxane macromolecule by quaternization of the corresponding chloromethyl-substituted organosilicon polymers with 1-methylimidazole is shown. By the method of TGA and DTA, it was found that the destruction of the obtained ionic liquids occurs when heating them in air above 265 °C. The possibility of fixing the formation of an imidazolium salt by the appearance of a chemical shift in the region ~10 ppm in the 1Н-NMR spectrum has been established.Реакцией кватернизации поли(хлорметил)органосилоксанов с 1-метилимидазолом синтезированы хлориды полиорганосилоксанов с 1-метилдиазолилметиленовыми группами. Определена степень завершенности данной реакции и продукты охарактеризованы данными элементного анализа, ЯМР-спектроскопии (1H и 29Si), ТГА и ДТА. Показана принципиальная возможность получения статистических полиорганосилоксанов с [1-(метил)-имидазолил]-метильным заместителем в обрамлении силоксановой макромолекулы реакцией кватернизации соответствующих хлорметилзамещенных кремнийорганических полимеров 1-метилимидазолом. Методом ТГА и ДТА обнаружено, что деструкция полученных ионных жидкостей наступает при нагревании на воздухе выше 265 °С. Установлена возможность фиксировать образование соли имидазолия по появлению химсдвига в области ~10 м.д. в 1Н-ЯМР-спектре

Comparative analysis of anxiety-depressive spectrum disorders in patients with rheumatic diseases

Research objective - comparative analysis of incidence and structure of anxiety-depressive spectrum disorders (ADD) in patients with various rheumatic diseases (RD). Materials and methods. 613 patients with RD were enrolled in the study: 180 with a reliable diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 128 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 110 with systemic sclerosis (SSc), 115 with Behcet's disease (BD), 80 with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). Female prevailed in all groups (95% of patients with pSS, 88,2% - SSc, 87,2% - RA, 85,5% of SLE) except BD patients (70% male). The mean age was 42.3±1.54 years and was lower in patients with BD (33.3±0.98 years) and SLE (34.6±0.93 years) compared to patients with SSc (49.9±2.47 years), RA (47.4±0.99 years) and pSS (46.2±2.3 years). The mean RD duration was 130,0±8,65 months and was more at BD - 148,5±10,4 months, pSS - 141,6±8,92 months, RA - 138,4±10,1months, and less at SLE - 134,9±8,8 months and SSc - 87,0±5,04 months. The mean SLE activity index SLEDAI was 9,13±0,63 points (high), RA (DAS28) - 5,26±0,17 points (high), BD (BDCAF) - 3,79±0,2 points (moderate) and SSc by G. Valentini - 1,1±0,20 points (moderate). Glucocorticoids took 100% of patients with pSS, 91,1% - SLE, 90% - SSc, 87% - BD and 67,2% - RA patients; conventional disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (cDMARDs) took 90% of patients with SSc, 84% - BD, 79,6% - RA, 68% - pSS, 40,6% - SLE. Biologic DMARDs took 32% of patients with RA, 17,4% - BD, 7,3% - SSc and 7,2% - SLE. Mental disorders were diagnosed by psychiatrist as a result of screening by the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS) and in semi-structured interview in accordance with the ICD-10/ DSM-IV. The severity of depression was evaluated by Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) and anxiety - by Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A). Projective psychological methods were used for cognitive impairment detection. Results. Screening of depressive disorders (HADS-D≥8) was positive in 180 (29,4%) patients with RD, including 74 (41%) patients with SLE, 38 (35%) - SSc, 29 (23%) - RA, 23 (20%) - BD and 16 (20%) - pSS; anxiety disorders (HADS-A≥8) - in 272 (44,4%) patients, including 66 (52%) patients with RA, 40 (50%) - pSS, 77 (43%) - SLE, 45 (41%) - SSc and 44 (38%) - BD. In accordance with the ICD-10/ DSM-IV depressive disorders have been identified in 389 (63%) patients, including 94 (73%) patients with RA, 71 (64,5%) - SSc, 69 (60%) - BD, 90 (50%) - SLE and 39 (49%) - pSS; anxiety disorders - in 377 (61,5%) patients, including 20 (25%) patients with pSS, 44 (24,5%) - SLE, 29 (23%) - RA, 20 (17%) - BD and 7 (6,4%) - SSc. Conclusion. Anxiety-depressive spectrum disorders are typical for most patients with RA, SLE, SSc, pSS and BD. ADDs diagnosis in RD patients with the use of the HADS did not reveal a significant proportion. To obtain objective data on the frequency and structure of ADDs, psychopathological and clinical psychological diagnosis is necessary

Damage as a sign of corpus delicti in the procurement of goods, works and services ensuring state or municipal needs

The article deals with the concept and features of damage as a qualifying sign of abuse (corpus delicti) in the procurement of goods, works and services ensuring state or municipal needs. The subjective and objective criteria necessary to define the concept of «major damage» are revealed. The problem of qualification of acts containing signs of abuse in the field under consideration and delimitation of Art. 2004 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation from related offenses are touched upon. The issue of the validity of establishing the amounts of major and especially major damage for the qualification of the crime in question is analyzed. Based on statistical data, the average cost of one procurement item to ensure state or municipal needs is calculated. The most common methods of determining the supplier (contractor, performer) are identified. Various approaches and points of view of scientists concerning the issues of determining the amounts of major and especially major damage caused when committing abuses in the procurement of goods, works and services for state or municipal needs are analyzed. &#x0D; The author formulates his position on the problems arising in connection with the unreasonableness of the established amounts of major and especially major damage caused by committing abuses in the field studied.</jats:p