Репозиторий Университета

© 2018 Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands. It is intended in this study to present initial reliability and validity data for the Russian adaptation of the Multidimensional Inventory of Religious/Spiritual Well-being (MI-RSWB-R), as being related to personality factors and psychopathology. Therefore, the first version of the MI-RSWB-R was applied to a sample of 192 (147 females) non-clinical subjects, together with the NEO Five Factor Inventory and the Symptom-Check-List (SCL-90-R). The original six-factor structure of the scale could be replicated for the MI-RSWB-R, which also provides satisfying psychometric properties. In accordance with previous research the RSWB total score was linked to more favorable personality traits such as Extraversion (r =.45), Openness to Experience (r =.39), and Agreeableness (r =.38), which was paralleled by substantial negative correlations with increased psychopathology. Our findings support the reliability and structural validity of the MI-RSWB-R as a standardized instrument for addressing the spiritual dimension in Russian populations. Further research in clinical surroundings is now recommended.

© 2018 by the Serbian Biological Society. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of DL-homocysteine (DL-Hcy) and DL-homocysteine thiolactone (DL-Hcy TLHC) on selected serum biochemical parameters, markers of oxidative stress and the activities of antioxidant enzymes (catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD)) in the plasma, as well as on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the cardiac tissue homogenate in the rat. Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups as follows: control group (1 mL 0.9% NaCl, intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection), DL-Hcy group (8 mmol/kg body mass (b.m.), i.p.) or DL-Hcy TLHC group (8 mmol/kg b.m., i.p.). One hour after administration, the rats were euthanized, whole blood was collected for biochemical analysis, and the heart was excised. Following the i.p. administration of DL-Hcy and DL-Hcy TLHC, the activities of antioxidant enzymes were mostly significantly increased, while plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) was decreased. Administration of DL-Hcy and DL-Hcy TLHC significantly inhibited AChE activity in rat cardiac tissue. Our findings suggest that DL-Hcy and DL-Hcy TLHC exerted prooxidant effects; however, the decrease in MDA points to an inverse response to the increase in antioxidant enzyme activities. While both substances inhibited AChE activity in rat cardiac tissue, DL-Hcy TLHC induced stronger effects than DL-Hcy.

© 2018 T. I. Eliseeva et al. Allergic rhinitis (AR) and allergic rhinosinusitis (ARS) are typical upper airway pathologies (UAP) in children with bronchial asthma (BA) frequently accompanied with nasal obstructive diseases (NOD). In order to establish the effect of NOD on correlations between nasal and synonasal symptoms with clinical assessments of asthma control, 82 children, 9.8 [8.9; 10.7] years old, with atopic BA were assessed using ACQ-5 for the BA control level, TNSS for nasal symptoms, and SNOT-20 for synonasal quality of life in combination with rhinovideoendoscopy for NOD. All patients had AR/ARS; in 76.3% (63/82) of children, UAP had a multimorbid character with the presence of NOD. Significant correlations were found between ACQ-5 and TNSS (R=0.40, p<0.0001) and ACQ-5 and SNOT-20 (R=0.42, p<0.0001). Correlations between TNSS/ACQ-5 and SNOT-20/ACQ-5 were higher in patients who do not have a combination of AR/ARS with NOD (R=0.67, p=0.0012; R=0.50, p=0.022, resp.) than in patients who have AR/ARS combined with NOD (R=0.30, p=0.015; R=0.26, p=0.04, resp.). Thus, the association of BA control level with the expression of nasal and synonasal symptoms is higher in children who do not have multimorbid UAP.

© COPYRIGHT SPIE. The paper considers physical processes and mechanisms of laser reparation of spine cartilage, presents results of investigations aimed to optimize laser settings and to develop feedback control system for laser reconstruction of spine discs. Possible mechanisms of laser-induced regeneration include: (1) Space and temporary modulated laser beam induces non-homogeneous and pulse repetitive thermal expansion and stress in the irradiated zone of cartilage. Mechanical effect due to controllable thermal expansion of the tissue and micro and nano gas bubbles formation in the course of the moderate (up to 50 °C) heating of the NP activate biological cells (chondrocytes) and promote cartilage regeneration. (2) Non-destructive laser radiation leads to the formation of nano and micro-pores in cartilage matrix in the in the immediate vicinity of chondrocytes. That promotes water permeability and increases the feeding of biological cells. Results provide the scientific and engineering basis for the novel low-invasive laser procedures to be used in neurosurgery and orthopedics for the treatment cartilages of spine. The technology and equipment for laser reconstruction of spine discs have been tested first on animals, and then in a clinical trial. Since 2001 the laser reconstruction of intervertebral discs have been performed (i) for more than 3,200 patients with chronic symptoms of low back or neck pain who failed to improve with non-operative care; and (ii) for 1100 patients underwent hernia removal surgery. Substantial relief of back pain was obtained in 92.5% of patients treated who returned to their daily activities. LRD allowed also to decrease secondary surgeries more than three times. Optical fiber technique based on light scattering measurements have been used to promote safety and efficacy of the laser procedures.

© 2018, Slovenska Vzdelavacia Obstaravacia. All rights reserved. The topicality of the research lies in the fact that the challenges of the last decades, especially the last few years, caused the growth of crime, violence, extremist and terrorist sentiments, and extensively involved youth in these processes. For these reasons, there is an acute need to study aggression and social aggression, especially the aggressive behavior of youth. An interpretive comprehension of these phenomena by social philosophers is important because aggression, in any form, is a social construct, is formed and manifested in social interaction; and the use of philosophical methods allows studying all the factors that influence its formation: political, economic, social, psychological and others. In this paper, we present a review and analysis of various approaches to understand human and social aggression, their generalization, and develop a general and comprehensive point of view relate to their nature and determinacy. The methodology of the research is based on the universal laws governing the development of nature, human society, and thought: dialectical synthesis, the transformation of quantity into quality, and the identity of opposites; the philosophical theory of determinism; and system-activity approach. The leading theoretical methods to study this issue are concerned with the content analysis of scientific papers relevant to the research problem, and, hence, consider the factors associated with the formation and manifestation of aggressiveness in general and social aggression in particular. The paper provides a definition of the phenomenon of social aggression considering it as a system of aggressor's attitudes and behaviors in the interaction, his intention of inflicting damage or other unpleasantness upon another individual, the aim to create more efficient (dominant) terms of interaction and activity, and/or cause damage to the target victims. Using system-activity approach to characterize the phenomenon the following features have been distinguished: a specific way of organizing activities, rationality, a temporal duration, purposefulness, practicality, introductory nature, a possibility of control and self-control, invertibility and duality caused by human consciousness as the only factor. The authors hope that the materials of the article might be of theoretical and practical value for developing programs aimed at the prevention of aggression, especially social youth aggression, and bring the process of social adaptation and socialization of young people back to the normal state, thus reducing the risk of destructive tendencies.

© 2018 Stavropol State Medical University. All rights reserved. The review presents data on the relationship of intestinal dysbiosis with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and the possibility of modulation of the intestinal microbiota (MB) in IBS therapy. It is shown that imbalance of MB caused by the influence of diet, antibiotics or other exogenous factors leads to gastrointestinal disorders, in particular, to the development of IBS. The data are presented that the modulation of MB with the help of prebiotics, antibiotics, probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation has a positive therapeutic effect in patients with IBS.

© 2018 Media Sphera Publishing Group. All rights reserved. The objective of the present work was to develop the method for the visualization of the shape of the bone surface in the region of its traumatic damage based on the results of the analysis of a single X-ray image for the solution of the problems facing forensic medical expertise and traumatology. The three-dimensional models of the fractures of the long tubular bones constructed with the use of the visualization technique were shown to adequately reproduce the morphological picture of the injury. It allowed to enhance the potential of the forensic medical analysis and the accuracy of the diagnostic methods employed for the purposes of forensic medical expertise.

© 2018 Media Sphera Publishing Group. All rights reserved. The objective of the present study was the comprehensive investigation of morphogenesis of the surface relief of the major local ruptures of the liver in the case of a blunt injury and the obtaining of an additional information on the possibility to use these data for the purposes of forensic medical expertise. We explored the reliefs of the major local ruptures of the liver in the cases of a single fatal blunt injury inflicted in a traffic accident, by kicking or a powerful stroke with the fist. In addition, the threshold hepatic lesions depending on their severity were determined experimentally. The model allowing to describe the qualitative relief alterations of the rupture surface associated with a blunt injury has been developed. The main elements of the surface relief of the major ruptures include avulsion and shear ridges, folds as well as «extension zones». Three types of possible rupture surface reliefs have been identified, viz. relatively uniform, stratified and fragmented non-uniform ones. Such reliefs are formed in the case of a threshold injury, powerful stroke with the leg or the fist, and road traffic accident, respectively. The location of the shear ridges at the ruptured surface makes it possible to determine the direction of growth of the local major rupture and of the stroke vector. The presence of multiple «extension zones» at the surface of the local major rupture may serve as an indicator either of the influence of the unlimited traumatic surface or of the very strong stroke. The above features of the relief of the rupture surface provide the conditions for the application of the statistical approach to the elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the deformation and the destruction of the parenchymatous organs suffering a blunt injury.

© 2018 The Author(s) Despite the fact that environmental pollution due to motorcycle exhaust gases reports a great increase, motorcycle production exhibits a great increase through the last years. Countries of Asia and Africa are reported to be the major regions where two-wheeled vehicles are a major transportation mode, with tens of millions of units sold per year. Motorcycle exhaust particles are considered to be the major contributor to environmental pollution due to their airborne dispersion, containing great amount of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). This study aims at reporting an objective analysis of the main sources of the ambient air pollution as also particle size distribution and chemical composition analysis of particulate matter originated from the exhausts of two-wheeled vehicles used in the territory of Vladivostok, Russia. Various types of two-wheeled vehicles were examined (motorcycles, ATVs, scooters and wet bikes) using different types of engine and fuel system. Experimental results showed that there was no clear relation to the particle size distribution with the engine displacement of motorcycle and the number of strokes and the fuel system. Instead, there were reported two clear assumptions. The first one is that regarding to the motorcycle brand, a few samples did not exhibit a great percentage of PM10 fraction. The second one is that more modern vehicles, that have a harmful gas afterburning system, are usually the source of an increased percentage of PM10 emitted particles. At last, it should be mentioned that the laser particle size analysis method is capable of determining the particle sizes after their agglomeration whereas the optical morphometry method allows to determine the real particle size of emissions. In conclusion, it can be pointed out that the agglomeration of particles can lead to the reduction in the toxicity of particles emissions originated from two wheeled-vehicles.

© Authors. The information society reveals the social impact of the dissemination of information technologies. The purpose of this article is to study the negative social, psychological, and pedagogical implications of the Internet on young people. The authors analyzed the internet addiction problem among students (14-19 years) from the standpoint of the social health of the individuals and society as a whole. In a pilot study, which involved more than 600 adolescent participants aged 14-19 years (secondary school, college and university students), the authors have defined internet addiction as a complex phenomenon. The prerequisites of its development identify and highlights its formation in stages among students (mild fascination, passion, addiction, attachment). At the ascertaining stage of the experiment, a screening study was carried out to examine the state of internet addiction in young students in social networks. The results showed the necessity to design and implement internet addiction prevention programs for young students, which include three main blocks (motivational and cognitive, practice-oriented, reflexive), and a systematic plan for its implementation in the educational space framework. The stages of the experiment provided evidence of the authors' proposed effectiveness of methodologies for young people aged 14-19 years. This article may be useful to pedagogues, psychologists, and parents of students, social workers, and researchers working in the field of addiction prevention among young people.

© 2018 Kostyuk et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Background Hypermethylation is observed in the promoter regions of suppressor genes in the tumor cancer cells. Reactivation of these genes by demethylation of their promoters is a prospective strategy of the anticancer therapy. Previous experiments have shown that symmetric dimeric bisbenzimidazoles DBP(n) are able to block DNA methyltransferase activities. It was also found that DBP(n) produces a moderate effect on the activation of total gene expression in HeLa-TI population containing epigenetically repressed avian sarcoma genome. Principal findings It is shown that DBP(n) are able to penetrate the cellular membranes and accumulate in breast carcinoma cell MCF-7, mainly in the mitochondria and in the nucleus, excluding the nucleolus. The DBP(n) are non-toxic to the cells and have a weak overall demethylation effect on genomic DNA. DBP(n) demethylate the promoter regions of the tumor suppressor genes PTEN and RARB. DBP(n) promotes expression of the genes RARB, PTEN, CDKN2A, RUNX3, Apaf-1 and APC "silent" in the MCF-7 because of the hypermethylation of their promoter regions. Simultaneously with the demethylation of the DNA in the nucleus a significant increase in the methylation level of rRNA genes in the nucleolus was detected. Increased rDNA methylation correlated with a reduction of the rRNA amount in the cells by 20–30%. It is assumed that during DNA methyltransferase activity inhibition by the DBP(n) in the nucleus, the enzyme is sequestered in the nucleolus and provides additional methylation of the rDNA that are not shielded by DBP(n). Conclusions/Significance It is concluded that DBP (n) are able to accumulate in the nucleus (excluding the nucleolus area) and in the mitochondria of cancer cells, reducing mitochondrial potential. The DBP (n) induce the demethylation of a cancer cell’s genome, including the demethylation of the promoters of tumor suppressor genes. DBP (n) significantly increase the methylation of ribosomal RNA genes in the nucleoli. Therefore the further study of these compounds is needed; it could lead to the creation of new anticancer agents.

© 2017 Elsevier B.V. The use of polymeric carriers to deliver hydrophobic photosensitizers has been widely discussed as a way to improve both fluorescence diagnostic and photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancers; however, the photophysical and pharmacokinetic parameters, as well as the PDT activity, of such modifications have, until now, only been poorly investigated. The purpose of the present study was to explore the efficacy of PDT with the formulation of the photosensitizer chlorin e6 (Ce6) in combination with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in comparison with Ce6 alone and with the clinical drug, Photodithazine in a mouse tumor model. We also investigated the photoactivity of the Ce6-PVA in a model reaction of tryptophan oxidation, analyzed the polymer–Ce6 interaction using fluorescence spectroscopy and atomic-force microscopy, and tested the phototoxicity in vitro. Using fluorescence imaging in vivo we found that injection to mice of Ce6 in a formulation with PVA resulted in a higher tumor-to-normal ratio and greater photobleaching when compared with either the use of Ce6 alone, or with the effects of Photodithazine. Tumor growth study and histological examination of CT26 tumors revealed fast, reproducible tumor regression and more advanced necrosis after PDT with Ce6-PVA. The higher photoactivity of the Ce6-PVA complex was confirmed in a model reaction of tryptophan oxidation and in cultured cells. Therefore, encapsulation of Ce6 in PVA represents a promising strategy for further increasing the selectivity and efficacy of PDT.

Copyright © 2017 by the Research Society on Alcoholism Background: Animal studies showed that alcoholic myopathy is characterized by the reduction in myofiber cross-sectional area (CSA) and by impaired anabolic signaling. The goal of this study was to compare changes in CSA and fiber type composition with modifications in anabolic and catabolic signaling pathways at the early stages of alcohol misuse in humans. Methods: Skeletal muscle samples from 7 male patients with chronic alcohol abuse (AL; 47.7 ± 2.0 years old; alcohol misuse duration 7.7 ± 0.6 years) were compared with muscle from a control group of 7 healthy men (C; 39.7 ± 5.0 years old). Biopsies from vastus lateralis muscles were taken and analyzed for the changes in fiber type composition, fiber CSA, and for the alterations in anabolic and catabolic signaling pathways. Results: AL patients did not have detectable clinical myopathy symptoms or muscle fiber atrophy, but the relative proportion of fast fibers was increased. There was a significant decrease in IGF-1 in plasma and IRS-1 protein content in muscle of AL group. Levels of total and phosphorylated p70S6K1, GSK3β, and p90RSK1 were not different between AL and C groups. Muscle of AL patients had increased mRNA expression of HSP70 and HSP90. A marker of anabolic pathway p-4E-BP1 was decreased, while catabolic markers (MuRF-1, MAFbx, ubiquitinated proteins) were increased in AL patients when compared with C group. Conclusions: At the early stages of alcohol misuse in humans, changes in the regulation of anabolic and catabolic signaling pathways precede the development of skeletal muscle atrophy and manifestation of clinical symptoms of alcoholic myopathy.

© The Author 2018. An in silico approach was adopted to identify potential cyclooxygenase inhibitors through molecular docking studies. Four potentially active molecules were generated by fusion of dopamine with ibuprofen or ketorolac derivatives. The binding mode of the considered ligands to cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2 isoforms was described using Autodock Vina. Preliminary docking to full cyclooxygenase isoforms structures was used to determine possible binding sites for the described dopamine-derived ligands. The following more accurate docking iteration to the described binding sites was used to achieve better conformational sampling. Among the studied molecules, IBU-GABA-DA showed preferable binding to cyclooxygenase active site of cyclooxygenase-1, while IBU-DA bound to peroxidase site of cyclooxygenase-1, making these ibuprofen-comprising ligands a base for further research and design of selective cyclooxygenase- 1 inhibitors. Keterolac-derived ligands KET-DA and KET-GABA-DA demonstrated binding to both cyclooxygenase isoforms at a side pocket, which does not relate to any known functional site of cyclooxygenases and needs to be further investigated.

© 2018 Stavropol State Medical University. All Rights Reserved. Myocardial micro-alternation index (IMM) is one of the characteristics of the ECG dispersion mapping (DM) which is widely used for screening of the population. We studied the relationship between IMM, age and gender. We also investigated the prevalence of different IMM ranges: normal (<15 %, 15-21 % - boundary, >21 % - pathological) in visitors of the health centers (HC). Data of 537 820 visitors of the HC from 25 regions of Russia were analyzed. The visitors underwent ECG DM recording, anthropometry, measurement of blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol in capillary blood. The results have shown that IMM dependence on age and sex is very weak, so the special criteria are not required. The prevalence of IMM ranges («normal», «borderline values» and «pathology») is found to be age-dependent: the prevalence of pathological and borderline IMM values increased from 55 years and 35 years respectively. From the same age there is a decrease in the proportion of visitors with normal IMM values. The share of visitors with risk factors for non-communicable diseases is maximal among those whose values are in the IMM range considered as «pathology» and minimal in the range of «normal».

© 2018 Limited Liability Company KlinMed Consulting. All Rights Reserved. This review includes main positions of the revision of diagnostic criteria of “J-wave syndromes in the J-Wave Syndromes Expert Consensus Conference Report: Emerging Concepts and Gaps in Knowledge” (2016). The article, systematized according to the sections of the above-mentioned document, outlines the questions of terminology, new criteria for diagnosis of the Brugada syndrome (BrS) and early repolarization syndrome (ERS). The section devoted to ERS on the issues of new terminology and standardization of measurements, is supplemented with material from the Consensus Paper - The Early Repolarization Pattern (2015). The article also presents the issues of differential diagnosis in BrS, presents modulating factors, defines acquired Brugada-pattern and Brugada phenocopies. The similarities and differences between BrS and ERS are presented in a comparative aspect.

© 2018 Izdatel'stvo Meditsina. All rights reserved. The purpose of the study was to investigate gender features of abnormalities of blood serum lipid composition and their relationship with clinical and functional manifestations in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The study covered patients with CKD at pre-dialysis stage of disease, aged 17-71 years (average age 37.3±13.0 years). All patients underwent complex clinical and laboratory examination. Depending on gender, the sample (n = 417) was divided into 2 groups: group I - males (n = 277) and group II-females (n = 140). Blood sampling was implemented using venipuncture of ulnar vein after 12-14 hours of fasting in morning time. The lipid analysis of blood serum was performed using the auto-analyzer "Respons 920" (Germany), including detection of total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglycerides (TG). The atherogenic index (AI) was calculated according formula: AI = (TC - HDL-C)/HDL-C. At analysis of the results of lipidogram, the levels of TC (hypercholesterolemia), LDL-C (hyper-beta-cholesterolemia) and TG (hypertriglyceridemia) were considered as increased when their values were ≥5.0 mmol/L, ≥3.0 mmol/L and > 1.7 mmol/L respectively. The level of HDL cholesterol (hypo-alpha-cholesterolemia) was considered as decreased when its concentration was ≤1.0 mmol/L in males and ≤1.2 mmol/L in females. In the group of male patients, hypo-alpha-cholesterolemia was detected in 135 patients (48.7%), hypertriglyceridemia - in 162 (58.4%), and average value of atherogenic index was significantly higher - 3.49 (2.43-5.08) as compared with 3.12 (2.12-3.74) in female patients (p=0.001). The laboratory signs of anemia were significantly more frequent in group of females - 53 (37.8%) as compared with 63 (22.7%) than in males (p = 0.001). In males, average values of HDL cholesterol and total serum protein were significantly lower (1.07 ± 0.44 mmol/L vs. 1.23 ± 0.42, p = 0.000 and 53.3 ± 14.6 g/L vs. 57.4 ± 11.9 g/L. p = 0.007, respectively. The levels of TG - 1.92 (1.23-2.74) mmol/L vs. 1.85 (1.04-2.37);p = 0.034], sodium (140.3 ± 6.20 mmol/L vs. 138.3 ± 6.01 mmol/L, p = 0.010) and uric acid in blood serum were significantly higher (0.38 ± 0,09 mmol/L vs. 0.34 ± 0.01 mmol/L, p = 0.003) as compared with females. In the group II (females), a noticeable slowing of the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) - 68,4 (43,6-98,1) ml/min vs. 87,6 (55,0-117,6) ml/min; (p = 0.001) was detected as compared with group I (males). Among male patients, a reliably significant positive relationship was established between TC and BMI, level of diastolic blood pressure and proteinuria; LDL cholesterol level and proteinuria; concentration of TG - and BMI, level of diastolic blood pressure and level of proteinuria. No correlation was established between the concentration of HDL-cholesterol and aforementioned laboratory markers of CKD. In contrast with males, in females, TC demonstrated an inverse relationship with the concentration of Hb, values of GFR and proteinuria, and level of HDL cholesterol - with indices of BMI, thrombocytes and uric acid of blood serum. In females a positive relationship was established between LDL cholesterol and level of diastolic blood pressure, GFR and daily proteinuria, and also between concentration of serum TG and volume of daily proteinuria and BMI. In general group, a reliable positive relationship was detected between TC and BMI and proteinuria, between LDL-C level and proteinuria, and between TG concentration and BMI, level of diastolic blood pressure, sodium content and proteinuria. The negative relationship was established between concentration of HDL cholesterol and BMI and uric acid in blood plasma, and TG level with Hb concentration. In male patients with CKD at pre-dialysis stage of disease, decreasing of level of HDL cholesterol was established as an increased concentration of TG and increasing atherogenic index. The content of triglyceride of blood serum is closely related to body mass index, level of diastolic blood pressure and proteinuria. In females, slowing of glomerular filtration rate is accompanied by development of anemia and atherogenic dyslipidemia.

© 2018 Bentham Science Publishers. Patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) are looking forward to new therapeutic strategies that may gradually decelerate the rate of neurodegenerative decline, associated with mobility restrictions and related morbidity. Its continuous neurodegenerative process, exacerbated by genetic mutations or environmental toxins, involves a progressive reduction in the dopamine neurotransmission levels, synaptic uptake density, oxidative glucose intake, deficient striatal lactate accumulation and chronic inflammation. Over the last decade, novel bioproducts have received considerable interest due to their unique potential of unifying nutritional, safety and therapeutic natural effects. Some nutraceuticals play a crucial role in the control of the signaling transduction pathways in neurotransmission and inflammation affected in PD, and some natural compounds can beneficially interact with each one of these biological mechanisms to slow down disease progression. Atremorine, a novel plant-derived nutraceutical, probably with a neuroprotective effect in the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra (pars compacta), is a prototype of this new category of bioproducts with potential effects in PD. The major focus of this review will be on the current knowledge and biomedical investigation strategies through a plant-derived neuroprotective approach to improve life quality in PD patients, being of paramount importance for health providers, caregivers and the patients themselves.

© The Author(s) 2018. Objective: Chondrospheres represent a variant of tissue spheroids biofabricated from chondrocytes. They are already being used in clinical trials for cartilage repair; however, their biomechanical properties have not been systematically investigated yet. The aim of our study was to characterize chondrospheres in long-term in vitro culture conditions for morphometric changes, biomechanical integrity, and their fusion and spreading kinetics. Results: It has been demonstrated that the increase in chondrospheres secant modulus of elasticity is strongly associated with the synthesis and accumulation of extracellular matrix. Additionally, significant interplay has been found between biomechanical properties of tissue spheroids and their fusion kinetics in contrast to their spreading kinetics. Conclusions: Extracellular matrix is one of the main structural determinants of chondrospheres biomechanical properties during chondrogenic maturation in vitro. The estimation of tissue spheroids’ physical behavior in vitro prior to operative treatment can be used to predict and potentially control fusogenic self-assembly process after implantation in vivo.

© 2018 SPIE.  We have investigated the influence of indium content (x) increase on spectral characteristics of In x Ga 1-x As photoconductor. To avoid the mismatch between crystalline parameters of In x Ga 1-x As and GaAs wafer we proposed to incorporate a step-graded metamorphic buffer layer. We showed that x increase strongly enhances THz emission and broadens THz spectrum of In x Ga 1-x As. Since no polarity rehearsal of the THz waveform occurs and electron diffusion mobility increases up to 90% with x increase we attribute the increase of THz intensity to photo-Dember effect contribution. The maximum efficiency of optical-to-THz conversion was obtained for In 0.72 Ga 0.28 As at optical fluence ∼0.01 μJ=cm 2 . The fabricated photoconductors can be used as promising photo-Dember or lateral photo-Dember THz emitters in pulsed THz spectroscopy and imaging, in particular, operating with long wave optical pump.