Remote Outcomes with Poly-ε-Caprolactone Aortic Grafts in Rats.

Poly-ε-caprolactone ((1,7)-polyoxepan-2-one; PCL) is a biodegradable polymer widely used in various fields of bioengineering, but its behavior in long-term studies appears to depend on many conditions, such as application specificity, chemical structure, in vivo test systems, and even environmental conditions in which the construction is exploited in. In this study, we offer an observation of the remote outcomes of PCL tubular grafts for abdominal aorta replacement in an in vivo experiment on a rat model. Adult Wistar rats were implanted with PCL vascular matrices and observed for 180 days. The results of ultrasound diagnostics and X-ray tomography (CBCT) show that the grafts maintained patency for the entire follow-up period without thrombosis, leakage, or interruptions, but different types of tissue reactions were found at this time point. By the day of examination, all the implants revealed a confluent endothelial monolayer covering layers of hyperplastic neointima formed on the luminal surface of the grafts. Foreign body reactions were found in several explants including those without signs of stenosis. Most of the scaffolds showed a pronounced infiltration with fibroblastic cells. All the samples revealed subintimal calcium phosphate deposits. A correlation between chondroid metaplasia in profound cells of neointima and the process of mineralization was supported by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining for S100 proteins and EDS mapping. Microscopy showed that the scaffolds with an intensive inflammatory response or formed fibrotic capsules retain their fibrillar structure even on day 180 after implantation, but matrices infiltrated with viable cells partially save the original fibrillary network. This research highlights the advantages of PCL vascular scaffolds, such as graft permeability, revitalization, and good surgical outcomes. The disadvantages are low biodegradation rates and exceptionally high risks of mineralization and intimal hyperplasia.

Epoxy- versus Glutaraldehyde-Treated Bovine Jugular Vein Conduit for Pulmonary Valve Replacement: A Comparison of Morphological Changes in a Pig Model.

Valved conduits are often required to replace pulmonary arteries (PA). A widely used Contegra device is made of bovine jugular vein (BJV), preserved with glutaraldehyde (GA) and iso-propanol. However, it has several drawbacks that may be attributed to its chemical treatment. We hypothesized that the use of an alternative preservation compound may significantly improve BJV conduit performance. This study aimed to compare the macroscopic and microscopic properties of the BJV treated with diepoxide (DE) and GA in a porcine model. Twelve DE-BJVs and four Contegra conduits were used for PA replacement in minipigs. To assess the isolated influence of GA, we included an additional control group-BJV treated with 0.625% GA (n = 4). The animals were withdrawn after 6 months of follow-up and the conduits were examined. Explanted DE-BJV had a soft elastic wall with no signs of thrombosis or calcification and good conduit integration, including myofibroblast germination, an ingrowth of soft connective tissue formations and remarkable neoangiogenesis. The inner surface of DE-BJVs was covered by a thin neointimal layer with a solid endothelium. Contegra grafts had a stiffer wall with thrombosis on the leaflets. Calcified foci, chondroid metaplasia, and hyalinosis were observed within the wall. The distal anastomotic sites had hyperplastic neointima, partially covered with the endothelium. The wall of GA-BJV was stiff and rigid with degenerative changes, a substantial amount of calcium deposits and dense fibrotic formations in adventitia. An irregular neointimal layer was presented in the anastomotic sites without endothelial cover in the GA BJV wall. These results demonstrate that DE treatment improves conduit integration and the endothelialization of the inner surface while preventing the mineralization of the BJV, which may reduce the risk of early conduit dysfunction.

Preservation of Mechanical and Morphological Properties of Porcine Cardiac Outflow Vessels after Decellularization and Wet Storage.

Widely used storage methods, including freezing or chemical modification, preserve the sterility of biological tissues but degrade the mechanical properties of materials used to make heart valve prostheses. Therefore, wet storage remains the most optimal option for biomaterials. Three biocidal solutions (an antibiotic mixture, an octanediol-phenoxyethanol complex solution, and a glycerol-ethanol mixture) were studied for the storage of native and decellularized porcine aorta and pulmonary trunk. Subsequent mechanical testing and microstructural analysis showed a slight increase in the tensile strength of native and decellularized aorta in the longitudinal direction. Pulmonary trunk elongation increased 1.3-1.6 times in the longitudinal direction after decellularization only. The microstructures of the tested specimens showed no differences before and after wet storage. Thus, two months of wet storage of native and decellularized porcine aorta and pulmonary trunks does not significantly affect the strength and elastic properties of the material. The wet storage protocol using alcohol solutions of glycerol or octanediol-phenoxyethanol mixture may be intended for further fabrication of extracellular matrix for tissue-engineered biological heart valve prostheses.

Live Birth of a Healthy Child in a Couple with Identical mtDNA Carrying a Pathogenic c.471_477delTTTAAAAinsG Variant in the MOCS2 Gene.

Molybdenum cofactor deficiency type B (MOCODB; #252160) is an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder that has only been described in 37 affected patients. In this report, we describe the presence of an in-frame homozygous variant (c.471_477delTTTAAAAinsG) in the MOCS2 gene in an affected child, diagnosed with Ohtahara syndrome according to the clinical manifestations. The analysis of the three-dimensional structure of the protein and the amino acid substitutions suggested the pathogenicity of this mutation. To prevent transmitting this mutation to the next generation, we used preimplantation genetic testing for the monogenic disorders (PGT-M) protocol to select MOCS2 gene mutant-free embryos for transfer in an in vitro fertilization (IVF) program. As a result, a healthy child was born. Interestingly, both parents of the proband shared an identical mitochondrial (mt) DNA control region, assuming their close relationship and thus suggesting that both copies of the nuclear rare variant c.471_477delTTTAAAAinsG may have been transmitted from the same female ancestor. Our estimation of the a priori probability of meeting individuals with the same mtDNA haplotype confirms the assumption of a possible distant maternal relationship among the proband's direct relatives.

Solid Electrolyte Membranes Based on Li2O-Al2O3-GeO2-SiO2-P2O5 Glasses for All-Solid State Batteries.

Rechargeable Li-metal/Li-ion all-solid-state batteries due to their high safety levels and high energy densities are in great demand for different applications ranging from portable electronic devices to energy storage systems, especially for the production of electric vehicles. The Li1.5Al0.5Ge1.5(PO4)3 (LAGP) solid electrolyte remains highly attractive because of its high ionic conductivity at room temperature, and thermal stability and chemical compatibility with electrode materials. The possibility of LAGP production by the glass-ceramic method makes it possible to achieve higher total lithium-ion conductivity and a compact microstructure of the electrolyte membrane compared to the ceramic one. Therefore, the crystallization kinetics investigations of the initial glass are of great practical importance. The present study is devoted to the parent glasses for the production of Li1.5+xAl0.5Ge1.5SixP3-xO12 glass-ceramics. The glass transition temperature Tg is determined by DSC and dilatometry. It is found that Tg decreases from 523.4 (x = 0) to 460 °C (x = 0.5). The thermal stability of glasses increases from 111.1 (x = 0) to 188.9 °C (x = 0.3). The crystallization activation energy of Si-doped glasses calculated by the Kissinger model is lower compared to that of Si-free glasses, so glass-ceramics can be produced at lower temperatures. The conductivity of the glasses increases with the growth of x content.

Synthesis of Titanium Nitride Nanoparticles by Pulsed Laser Ablation in Different Aqueous and Organic Solutions.

Owing to a strong photothermal response in the near-IR spectral range and very low toxicity, titanium nitride (TiN) nanoparticles (NPs) synthesized by pulsed laser ablation in liquids (PLAL) present a novel appealing object for photo-induced therapy of cancer, but the properties of these NPs still require detailed investigation. Here, we have elaborated methods of femtosecond laser ablation from the TiN target in a variety of liquid solutions, including acetonitrile, dimethylformamide, acetone, water, and H2O2, to synthesize TiN NPs and clarify the effect of liquid type on the composition and properties of the formed NPs. The ablation in all solvents led to the formation of spherical NPs with a mean size depending on the liquid type, while the composition of the NPs ranged from partly oxidized TiN to almost pure TiO2, which conditioned variations of plasmonic peak in the region of relative tissue transparency (670-700 nm). The degree of NP oxidation depended on the solvent, with much stronger oxidation for NPs prepared in aqueous solutions (especially in H2O2), while the ablation in organic solvents resulted in a partial formation of titanium carbides as by-products. The obtained results contribute to better understanding of the processes in reactive PLAL and can be used to design TiN NPs with desired properties for biomedical applications.

Antiradical Potential of Food Products as a Comprehensive Measure of Their Quality.

Antiradical potential (ARP) is an important measure of food safety. In addition, it directly or indirectly affects the rate of occurrence of a number of human pathologies. Using a photocolorimetric analysis of DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) solutions, we estimated the antiradical potential of food raw materials, food concentrates, biologically active substances, and wild plants. We conducted approximately 1500 analyses of almost 100 food products selected from 11 food groups: vegetables, milk, meat, fish, cereals and bread, drinks (including tea and coffee), etc. With a confidence interval (CI) of 95%, the average values for animal products range from 15.87 to 18.70 ascorbic acid equivalents per gram of dry matter. For plant materials, the range is 474.54-501.50 equivalents when wild herbs are included and 385.02-408.83 equivalents without taking herbs into account. The antiradical potential of the biologically active substances we studied ranged from 706.84 to 847.77 equivalents per gram of dry matter, which makes it possible to use some of the components to repair products with low ARP values, for example, bread and baked goods, confectionery, milk and dairy products, carbonated drinks, and juice. In this study, a low ARP value is associated with a reduction in the shelf life of products and a deterioration in their organoleptic properties; therefore, we propose using ARP as an important reference for describing the quality of food products and raw food materials.

Bovine jugular vein conduit: What affects its elastomechanical properties and thermostability?

The aim of this study was to compare the mechanical properties and thermal stability of the venous wall depending on the treatment method used, and, accordingly, on those structural changes in the tissue that this treatment causes. Bovine jugular vein walls (BJVWs) cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (GA), ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (DE), and Contegra commercial conduit were evaluated using uniaxial stretching [with and without pre-conditioning (PreC)], differential scanning calorimetry, amino acid analysis, and attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy. Fresh BJVW was used as a control. It was shown that failure stress in non-PreC GA-treated and DE-treated materials was lower than that in fresh and Contegra counterparts. Contegra samples were the stiffest among the tested materials. Cyclic preloading leads to distortion of the mechanical behavior of this material, which is heterogeneous in composition and structure. The denaturation temperatures (Td ) of all cross-linked BJVWs were higher than the Td of the fresh vein. The microstructures of the tested BJVWs did not exhibit any differences, but the cross-linking density and hydration of the DE-vein were the highest. GA-cross-linking or DE-cross-linking and isopropanol exposure (Contegra) changed the protein secondary structures of the tested materials in different ways. We hypothesized that the protein secondary structure and hydration degree are the main causes of differences in the mechanical properties and thermal stability of BJVW.

Preclinical and Clinical Antioxidant Effects of Natural Compounds against Oxidative Stress-Induced Epigenetic Instability in Tumor Cells.

ROS (reactive oxygen species) are produced via the noncomplete reduction in molecular oxygen in the mitochondria of higher organisms. The produced ROS are placed in various cell compartments, such as the mitochondria, cytoplasm, and endoplasmic reticulum. In general, there is an equilibrium between the synthesis of ROS and their reduction by the natural antioxidant defense system, called the redox system. Therefore, when this balance is upset, the excess ROS production can affect different macromolecules, such as proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and sugars, which can lead to an electronic imbalance than oxidation of these macromolecules. Recently, it has also been shown that ROS produced at the cellular level can affect different signaling pathways that participate in the stimulation of transcription factors linked to cell proliferation and, consequently, to the carcinogenesis process. Indeed, ROS can activate the pathway of tyrosine kinase, MAP kinase, IKK, NF-KB, phosphoinositol 3 phosphate, and hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF). The activation of these signaling pathways directly contributes to the accelerated proliferation process and, as a result, the appearance of cancer. In addition, the use of antioxidants, especially natural ones, is now a major issue in the approach to cancer prevention. Some natural molecules, especially phytochemicals isolated from medicinal plants, have now shown interesting preclinical and clinical results.

The hCOMET project: International database comparison of results with the comet assay in human biomonitoring. Baseline frequency of DNA damage and effect of main confounders.

The alkaline comet assay, or single cell gel electrophoresis, is one of the most popular methods for assessing DNA damage in human population. One of the open issues concerning this assay is the identification of those factors that can explain the large inter-individual and inter-laboratory variation. International collaborative initiatives such as the hCOMET project - a COST Action launched in 2016 - represent a valuable tool to meet this challenge. The aims of hCOMET were to establish reference values for the level of DNA damage in humans, to investigate the effect of host factors, lifestyle and exposure to genotoxic agents, and to compare different sources of assay variability. A database of 19,320 subjects was generated, pooling data from 105 studies run by 44 laboratories in 26 countries between 1999 and 2019. A mixed random effect log-linear model, in parallel with a classic meta-analysis, was applied to take into account the extensive heterogeneity of data, due to descriptor, specimen and protocol variability. As a result of this analysis interquartile intervals of DNA strand breaks (which includes alkali-labile sites) were reported for tail intensity, tail length, and tail moment (comet assay descriptors). A small variation by age was reported in some datasets, suggesting higher DNA damage in oldest age-classes, while no effect could be shown for sex or smoking habit, although the lack of data on heavy smokers has still to be considered. Finally, highly significant differences in DNA damage were found for most exposures investigated in specific studies. In conclusion, these data, which confirm that DNA damage measured by the comet assay is an excellent biomarker of exposure in several conditions, may contribute to improving the quality of study design and to the standardization of results of the comet assay in human populations.

Laser-synthesized TiN nanoparticles for biomedical applications: Evaluation of safety, biodistribution and pharmacokinetics.

Having plasmonic absorption within the biological transparency window, titanium nitride (TiN) nanoparticles (NPs) can potentially outperform gold counterparts in phototheranostic applications, but characteristics of available TiN NPs are still far from required parameters. Recently emerged laser-ablative synthesis opens up opportunities to match these parameters as it makes possible the production of ultrapure low size-dispersed spherical TiN NPs, capable of generating a strong phototherapy effect under 750-800 nm excitation. This study presents the first assessment of toxicity, biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of laser-synthesized TiN NPs. Tests in vitro using 8 cell lines from different tissues evidenced safety of both as-synthesized and PEG-coated NPs (TiN-PEG NPs). After systemic administration in mice, they mainly accumulated in liver and spleen, but did not cause any sign of toxicity or organ damage up to concentration of 6 mg kg-1, which was confirmed by the invariability of blood biochemical parameters, weight and hemotoxicity examination. The NPs demonstrated efficient passive accumulation in EMT6/P mammary tumor, while concentration of TiN-PEG NPs was 2.2-fold higher due to "stealth" effect yielding 7-times longer circulation in blood. The obtained results evidence high safety of laser-synthesized TiN NPs for biological systems, which promises a major advancement of phototheranostic modalities on their basis.

Heating and convection associated with alkaline electrophoresis.

Alkaline version of the single-cell gel electrophoresis (Comet assay) is widely used in toxicological, environmental, and monitoring studies to assess the DNA damage levels in individual cells. The change in the temperature of the electrophoretic solution is one of the reasons leading to interlaboratory variation of Comet assay results. In this work, changes of surface temperature of the solution during electrophoresis were studied using technique of real-time thermal imaging. It has been found that the electrophoresis is accompanied by nonuniform temperature rise in different areas of the electrophoretic chamber. The maximum of heating was observed in the central region of the chamber, where temperature increased by an average of 7°C. The minimum temperature rise in other parts of the chamber was about 5°C. After removing the solution, the temperature on the surface of slides was higher than that on the surface of the solution. We believe that (1) nonuniform heating of the electrophoretic solution and convection could be the reasons responsible for the variability of results both in inter- and intralaboratory studies; (2) the spatial distribution of heating of the solution depends on the size and configuration of the electrophoretic chambers used.

Cross-linking method using pentaepoxide for improving bovine and porcine bioprosthetic pericardia: A multiparametric assessment study.

Bioprosthetic heart valves made from bovine pericardium (BP) and porcine pericardium (PP) preserved with glutaraldehyde (GA) are commonly used in valve surgeries but prone to calcification in many patients. In this study, we compared BP and PP preserved with GA, ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (DE), and 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-{1-[2-(glycidyloxy)ethoxy]ethyl}-d-glucopyranose (PE). We studied the stabilities of DE and PE in preservation media along with the amino acid (AA) compositions, Fourier-transform infrared spectra, mechanical properties, surface morphologies, thermal stability, calcification, and the cytocompatibility of BP and PP treated with 0.625% GA, 5% DE, 2% PE, and alternating 5% DE and 2% PE for 3 + 11 d and 10 + 10 d, respectively. Both epoxides were stable in the water-buffer solutions (pH 7.4). DE provided high linkage densities in BP and PP owing to reactions with Hyl, Lys, His, Arg, Ser, and Tyr. PE reacted weakly with these AAs but strongly with Met. High cross-linking density obtained using the 10 d + 10 d method provided satisfactory thermal stability of biomaterials. The epoxy preservations improved cytocompatibility and resistance to calcification. PE enhanced the stress/strain properties of the xenogeneic pericardia, perhaps by forming nanostructures that were clearly visualised in BP using scanning electron microscopy. The DE + PE combination, in an alternating cross-linking manner, thus constitutes a promising option for developing bioprosthetic pericardia.

DNA damage in blood leukocytes from mice irradiated with accelerated carbon ions with an energy of 450 MeV/nucleon.

PURPOSE: The objective of the study was to estimate the DNA damage in blood leukocytes at long terms after irradiation of mice with carbon ions (450 MeV/nucleon) both before and in the Bragg peak. MATERIALS AND METHODS: White outbred SHK male mice were exposed to whole-body irradiation with carbon ions at doses of 0.1-2 Gy in the spread-out Bragg peak and at a dose of 6 Gy before and in the Bragg peak. At different times after irradiation (1-75 days), whole blood was collected from the tail of each mouse and analyzed by the comet assay. Mice X-irradiated in the same dose range served as a positive control. The level of the expression of mRNA of CDKN1A, APEX1, BBC3, TXN2, and ß-ACT genes in bone marrow cells was determined in animals irradiated with carbon ions at doses of 0.1-2 Gy using the real-time PCR. RESULTS: It was found that, 24 h after 12C-irradiation, a dose-dependent (0.1-2 Gy) increase in the DNA damage of leukocytes occurred, which was accompanied by a decrease in their concentration and an increase in the expression of the CDKN1A and BBC3 genes in bone marrow cells. The expression of the APEX1 and TXN2 genes did not change. In mice 12C-irradiated at a dose of 6 Gy before and in the Bragg peak, the level of DNA damage changed as follows: by day 3, it increased; by day 23 it returned to the control level; by day 30, it increased again; and by day 75, it fell to the control level on irradiation before the Bragg peak and was significantly higher (p < .05) than in the control after irradiation in the Bragg peak. CONCLUSIONS: The dynamics of changes in the level of DNA damage in leucocytes of 12C-irradiated mice within 30 days is similar to that in mice exposed to sublethal doses of X-radiation. The retention of the high level of DNA damage by day 75 after 12C-irradiation in the Bragg peak indicates a significant injury of cells from different cell pools of the blood system. The high level of DNA damage may be related not only to complex DNA injuries but also to chronic oxidative stress.

A complex morphofunctional approach for zinc toxicity evaluation in rats.

Anthropogenic activity causes the introduction of zinc compounds into the biological cycle in mining and processing sites and its accumulation in organs and tissues, causing systemic toxicity. A cumulative effect of zinc is predominantly neurotoxic and it also affects the respiratory, cardiovascular and digestive systems. This study evaluates the effects of single-dose intragastric administration of 100 mg/kg zinc succinate on the structure and function of organs and tissues in male Wistar rats 1 month after treatment. The presented morphofunctional approach for the toxicity evaluation included the study of behavioral responses using the automated Laboras® complex, fluorescent spectral analysis of the NADH and FAD activity and histological evaluation of animal organs and tissues. The results of the behavioral activity assessment showed a significant decrease in animals' motor activity, whereas the fluorescence spectra analysis demonstrated a decrease in coenzyme NADH without the reduction of FAD levels. We detected toxic and dystrophic changes in the cerebral cortex, heart, lungs and liver tissues. Our original multiparametric approach enables a comprehensive assessment of the long-term toxic effects of the metal salts such as zinc succinate, especially in the cerebral cortex at the doses much lower than the acute LD50 reported for the common zinc salts.

Treatment with bisphosphonates to mitigate calcification of elastin-containing bioprosthetic materials.

This study evaluated the ability of bisphosphonates (BPAs) of different molecular structures to mitigate the calcification of porcine aortic wall (PAW) and bovine jugular vein wall (BJVW). Tissues cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (GA) or diepoxide (DE) were modified with pamidronic acid (PAM), alendronic acid (ALE), neridronic acid (NER) (type 1 BPAs); 2-(2'-carboxyethylamino)ethylidene-1,1-bisphosphonic acid (CEABA), 2-(5-carboxypentylamino)ethylidene-1,1-bisphosphonic acid (CPABA) (type 2); and zoledronic acid (ZOL) (type 3). After implanting the tissue samples subcutaneously in 100 rats, calcification was examined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry (60-day explants) and light microscopy after von Kossa staining (10- and 30-day explants). The calcium contents in GA-BJVW and GA- and DE-PAW increased up to 100-120 mg/g after 60 days, while being 3 times lower in DE-BJVW. In modified and nonmodified PAW samples, calcium phosphates appeared by day 10 and were associated with elastic fibers and devitalized cellular elements. In all groups of BJVW samples, mineralization began in elastic fibers near the subendothelial layer. In addition, calcified collagen was found in the GA-BJVW samples. Minimal calcification was found in GA-PAW treated with type 1 BPAs and CEABA. For DE-PAW and GA-BJVW, the calcium level significantly decreased with PAM and CEABA. Meanwhile, ALE and NER were effective for DE-BJVW.

Laser-Ablative Synthesis of Isotope-Enriched Samarium Oxide Nanoparticles for Nuclear Nanomedicine.

Nuclear nanomedicine is an emerging field, which utilizes nanoformulations of nuclear agents to increase their local concentration at targeted sites for a more effective nuclear therapy at a considerably reduced radiation dosage. This field needs the development of methods for controlled fabrication of nuclear agents carrying nanoparticles with low polydispersity and with high colloidal stability in aqueous dispersions. In this paper, we apply methods of femtosecond (fs) laser ablation in deionized water to fabricate stable aqueous dispersion of 152Sm-enriched samarium oxide nanoparticles (NPs), which can capture neutrons to become 153Sm beta-emitters for nuclear therapy. We show that direct ablation of a 152Sm-enriched samarium oxide target leads to widely size- and shape-dispersed populations of NPs with low colloidal stability. However, by applying a second fs laser fragmentation step to the dispersion of initially formed colloids, we achieve full homogenization of NPs size characteristics, while keeping the same composition. We also demonstrate the possibility for wide-range tuning of the mean size of Sm-based NPs by varying laser energy during the ablation or fragmentation step. The final product presents dispersed solutions of samarium oxide NPs with relatively narrow size distribution, having spherical shape, a controlled mean size between 7 and 70 nm and high colloidal stability. The formed NPs can also be of importance for catalytic and biomedical applications.

New Approaches to the Integration of Navigation Systems for Autonomous Unmanned Vehicles (UAV).

The article presents an overview of the theoretical and experimental work related to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) motion parameters estimation based on the integration of video measurements obtained by the on-board optoelectronic camera and data from the UAV's own inertial navigation system (INS). The use of various approaches described in the literature which show good characteristics in computer simulations or in fairly simple conditions close to laboratory ones demonstrates the sufficient complexity of the problems associated with adaption of camera parameters to the changing conditions of a real flight. In our experiments, we used computer simulation methods applying them to the real images and processing methods of videos obtained during real flights. For example, it was noted that the use of images that are very different in scale and in the aspect angle from the observed images in flight makes it very difficult to use the methodology of singular points. At the same time, the matching of the observed and reference images using rectilinear segments, such as images of road sections and the walls of the buildings look quite promising. In addition, in our experiments we used the projective transformation matrix computation from frame to frame, which together with the filtering estimates for the coordinate and angular velocities provides additional possibilities for estimating the UAV position. Data on the UAV position determining based on the methods of video navigation obtained during real flights are presented. New approaches to video navigation obtained using the methods of conjugation rectilinear segments, characteristic curvilinear elements and segmentation of textured and colored regions are demonstrated. Also the application of the method of calculating projective transformations from frame-to-frame is shown which gives estimates of the displacements and rotations of the apparatus and thereby serves to the UAV position estimation by filtering. Thus, the aim of the work was to analyze various approaches to UAV navigation using video data as an additional source of information about the position and velocity of the vehicle.

The level of DNA damage in mouse hematopoietic cells and in frog and human blood cells, as induced by the action of reactive oxygen species in vitro.

Comparative studies of the level of DNA damage induced in vitro by X-rays (0-8 Gy) or hydrogen peroxide (0-300 µM) in cells of blood, spleen, and bone marrow of mice and in blood cells of frogs and humans were performed using the alkaline comet assay. For both agents, the levels of induced DNA damage in leucocytes/splenocytes of mice were higher than those in blood cells of frogs and humans, while in human leucocytes, they were comparable with those in frog blood cells. The rate of DNA repair in frog blood cells was very slow. The results suggest that the levels of radiation-induced DNA damage are not in accordance with species radiosensitivity (according to LD50/30) but rather with the intrinsic peculiarities of cells.

Magnetism of coupled spin tetrahedra in ilinskite-type KCu5O2(SeO3)2Cl3.

Synthesis, thermodynamic properties, and microscopic magnetic model of ilinskite-type KCu5O2(SeO3)2Cl3 built by corner-sharing Cu4 tetrahedra are reported, and relevant magnetostructural correlations are discussed. Quasi-one-dimensional magnetic behavior with the short-range order around 50 K is rationalized in terms of weakly coupled spin ladders (tubes) having a complex topology formed upon fragmentation of the tetrahedral network. This fragmentation is rooted in the non-trivial effect of the SeO3 groups that render the Cu-O-Cu superexchange strongly ferromagnetic even at bridging angles exceeding 110°.