A complex morphological description of two modern indigenous ethnic groups of Indonesia —
Minahasans (N = 93) and Sangirese (N = 76) is presented. The results are based on a wide range
of somatic features (30 characteristics). These groups were not yet extensively described in scientific publications in terms of physical anthropology. Data for the research were collected by the authors during an anthropological expedition to the islands of Indonesia, Sulawesi and Sangir. The examination program included measurements of body and limbs, assessment of skin and iris pigmentation, estimation of hair shape and color. It was shown that by most of morphological characteristics and typological features Minahasans are of more sturdy build than Sangirese. The body proportions of two examined groups were analyzed and compared with available data on other Mongoloid and Equatorial populations of Asia, Oceania and Australia, using multidimensional statistical methods. Comparing to other Mongoloid populations Sangirese are closer to the Equatorial type by body characteristics.

The stem anatomy of the vine Fallopia convolvulus (L.) A. Love and self-supporting Polygonum
patulum M. Bieb. is described. There are two groups of tracheary elements (few wide and many narrow) in the herbaceous vine xylem, and maximum vessel diameters are far greater in Fallopia convolvulus than in Polygonum patulum. Such traits are typical for woody vines and related self-supporting forms. The cambium can give rise wide vessels on the inside of the separate phloem strands in Fallopia convolvulus. The new vessels may replace injured ones, so they help xylem to recover from drought-induced embolism.

The article describes open access information system (http://botany-collection.bio.msu.ru)
combining digital data inferred from three collections (palynological, carpological and wood anatomy) that were accumulated during the last 70 years at the School of Biology of Lomonosov Moscow State University. Database includes both digital images and short morphological descriptions. The system has an interactive check-list of all samples that allows searching with the
names of species, genus, family and life form. Besides, each collection has a separate catalogue
with different search possibilities. Full checklists of all collections are presented as Excel files.

Recently, virions and virus-like particles (VLP) of plant viruses are considered as a basis for the development of new biotechnologies for human and veterinary medicine, including preparation
of modern and safe vaccines, novel targeted delivery systems and means of diagnostics, and for production of therapeutic proteins in plants. Despite the fact that plant viruses can not replicate in vertebrates, there is data demonstrating their ability to reproduce a particular stage of infectious
cycle in mammalian cells. Moreover, plant viruses may constantly present in organisms of animals and humans and can use them as vectors. This review discusses data on biocompatibility, toxicity, teratogenicity and biodistribution of plant viruses. The obtained data indicates that plant viruses are safe for animals and human. Virions are biodegradable and easily eliminated by organism of laboratory animals. At the same time virions and VLP of plant viruses are high immunogenic and presentation of antigenic determinants of human and animal pathogens on their surface allow to simulate a safe viral particle that can replace live attenuated vaccines.

The species composition and phytoplankton biomass, concentrations of chlorophyll “a” (Chl) and nutrients in the surface water layer, and concurrent hydrophysical conditions were studied in the Onega Bay of the White Sea during June, 2015. The temperature and salinity of surface water layer and the water column stability varied significantly in the bay. The nutrients concentrations exceeded the threshold limiting of phytoplankton development. The phytoplankton abundance was relatively low, mean values were: total phytoplankton biomass — 13,46±9,00 mg C/m3, concentration of chlorophyll “a” — 0,78±0,43 mg/m3, picophytoplankton biomass — 0,18±0,27 mg C/m3. The highest phytoplankton biomass was found near frontal zones. Structural analysis has revealed three phytoplankton communities that significantly have differed in structure.

In this paper we consider the effects of relaxation of the nucleosome local structure after DNA unwrapping from the histone octamer. We study the role of the charge distribution in histones
during DNA rewrapping. We employ molecular dynamics simulations to show that ionic environment rapidly stabilizes during the relaxation of the system. In the case of simulations with preliminary relaxation of solvent and non-backbone atoms for a short period of time, a rapid irreversible restoration of the structure similar to crystal was observed. Rewrapping of DNA did not occur in case when the solvent was allowed to relax for a longer time period, despite no apparent differences in the ionic environment of DNA. The change of the quadrupole moment during relaxation of the system was shown.

The problem to find the optimal EEG reference is the actual topic for discussion for over 60 years. In this work we studied topographical distinctions of averaged spectral amplitudes in alpha domain in 10-20%-system destinations at “closed eyes” test for 13 references: top and bottom of chin (P1, P2), tip of nose (N), top and bottom behind of neck (Sh1, Sh2), top of back (C), united front and back of neck (2Sh), united, ipsilateral and separate ears (A12, Sym, A1, A2), vertex (Cz), averaged reference (AR). Six experiments have been performed for 10 examineers with grounded and ungrounded conditions of three distant basic references P2, C, 2Sh. Pairwise estimates of topographic consistency 13 references were carried out using the proposed complex of three independent indicators and assessment criterion followed by K-means classification of reference schemes and its discriminant verification. The main results are: 1) the highly coherent topography is provided by references: А12, P1, P2, Sym; 2) A1, Sh2, A2, Sh1, AR, Cz references are characterized by considerably less coordinated and various topography that can lead to contradictory conclusions obtained by their use; 3) we didn’t find significant reasons to prefer the grounded (neutral) or ungrounded condition of basic references, that reduces the relevance of problem to search or calculate an infinitely far neutral reference. So the problem to search or mathematical construct an infinitely remote neutral reference may be no really actual.

The success of cellular therapy is directly related to the viability of transplanted cells. In some cases the cells may be injected as suspension. However, the optimal conditions for maintain of the cell viability during graft preparation and cell suspension storage have not yet been established. Purpose of this study is to investigate the optimal conditions for storage of suspensions of human submandibular salivary gland cells, differentiated submandibular salivary gland cells and dermal fibroblasts in a physiologically compatible solutions. Standard methods for cell isolation and cultivation were used. Counting was performed on an automatic cell counter BioRad, cell viability was assessed by staining with 4% Trypan blue. As biocompatible solutions we tested phosphate-buffered saline, saline solution for injection and a 2% solution of human albumin in phosphate-buffered saline. It was found that the tested human cells retain viability in suspension in all solutions for at least 24 hours at +4°C and +25°C. Highest salivary gland cells viability (more 50%) was observed in phosphate buffered saline at both storage temperatures. However, the salivary gland cells better maintain adhesive and proliferative properties after 24 hours of incubation at +4°C. The study of fibroblasts shows that in saline solution these cells are preserved as a single cell suspension and hardly lose viability during 30 hours storage at +4°C. Addition of 2% albumin reduces the viability of fibroblasts. Based on our studies we recommend to store and transport the human submandibular salivary gland cells in phosphate buffered saline at +4°C; human fibroblasts — in saline solution at +4°C.

Cell wall ornamentation of 66 species of the genus Euastrum Ralfs was studied by scanning electron microscopy. Particular for desmids depressions of cell wall (scrobicules) were described. Scrobicules were divided in four groups on the basis of morphology, size and distribution: large with two layers and some pores, grouped around a pore, small without pore and round with a pore. It was shown that first three types of scrobicules were specific only for Euastrum and were proposed as addition criterion for this genus.

For the first time R- and M-dissociants were isolated from the population of purple phototrophic bacterium Rhodobacter capsulatus, their growth under different luminance and aeration conditions was studied. Earlier, similar experiments were conducted with R- and M-dissociants of Rhodobacter sphaeroides. The physiological-biochemical differences of connatural bacterial species correlate with the distinctions of their inhabitation: Rhb.spheroides isolated from the soil is characterized by low speed of growth along with the ability to grow in dark and aerobiotic places demonstrated only by M-dissociant, which offers this specie an advantage in adaptation for limited and heterogeneity space. Being extracted from the water, rapidly growing Rhb. capsulatus is better adapted for habitation at a free space.

Histone chaperones are required for formation of the nucleosome — the basic unit of chromatin that consists of DNA and histones. In this review, participation of histone chaperones CAF-1, ASF1, NAP1 and FACT in key cellular processes is discussed. Being multifunctional factors, histone chaperones take part in replication, transcription and reparation. During replication, histone chaperones are required to form chromatin structure on both mother and daughter DNA. They are involved in different stages of genome packing, from histone transport into the nucleus to nucleosome formation. During transcription, histone chaperones reduce a nucleosome barrier for RNA polymerases accelerating the rate of RNA synthesis and promote nucleosome reassembly. During DNA repair, histone chaperones provide access to the damaged genome region for the repair enzymes, and participate in the chromatin assembly after DNA repair. Mutations in histone chaperones typically result in multiple defects in the cell, underlying the functional importance of these proteins.

Here we present a brief review of current data on immobilization of oxygenic phototrophic microorganisms — cyanobacteria and eukaryotic microalgae — in natural and artificial experimental systems. We emphasize that immobilization, e.g. in biofilms, is a basic, widespread in nature strategy ensuring the survival of microorganisms. Accordingly, the artificially immobilized
microalgal cells might be considered as a special group of biomimetic (bioinspired) materials. Special attention is paid to the effect(s) of different immobilization methods on the physiology of microalgal cells and their stress tolerance as well as productivity of microalgal cultures. A comparison of the advantages and drawbacks of different immobilization techniques and cell carriers is presented. The review concludes with outlook on the possibilities of using of the immobilized phototrophic cells in biotechnology. Specific areas include (but not limited to) the biomass and metabolites production and harvesting, removal of heavy metals, biocapture of nutrients from wastewater and destroying of organic pollutants are explored.

The article presents the results of ecological, chemical and bioindication assessment of urban
ecosystem of industrial city of the South of Ukraine. The dynamics of physical and chemical
parameters of soil, surface water and air in various functional areas of the city was analyzed. The complex index of pollution of environment components was determined. Bioindicative assess ment of the ecological state of the territory of urban ecosystem in terms of vitality of epiphytic lichen flora, soil mesofauna and freshwater mollusk fauna was fulfilled. Based on vital bioindicators, zones with different ecological state of the territory were differentiated. The toxic effects of various pollutants on living organisms and the tolerance of some species-bioindicators under anthropogenic load were analyzed. It was found that on anthropogenically transformed areas the amount of zoophages increases and homogenization of anamorphoscope composition of major groups of mesopotamians with the dominance of individual species is observed. In alkaline soils of the functional areas of urban ecosystem prevalence of calcicole — millipedes, pill bugs, gastropods was noted, which allows to use them to indicate the level of alkalization of soils. The degree of correlation between the viability of bio-indicators groups and complex pollution index of basic components of the environment of the city was defined. So, an inverse correlation between the vitality of epiphytic lichen flora (G,%) and the complex index (Pa) of environmental contamination (–0,80, p < 0,05), and direct correlation between the decline in the vitality of the soil mesofauna (G̅, %) and complex index (Zc) of soil contamination (0,84, p < 0, 05) was indicated. Thus, biomorphs of epiphytic lichen flora and separate groups of mesopotamians should be used as indicators of pollution of urban environment. Based on the fulfilled study the algorithm of complex ecological, chemical and bioindication assessment of ecological state of urban ecosystem of industrial city was proposed.