RUDN University Main Publications

RUDN University scientists publish results of their scientific researches in highly-recognized in whole world and indexed in international databases journals (Web of Science, Scopus ect.). That, of course, corresponds to the high status of the University and its international recognition. Publications of January-March 2018 ( In Journals of categories Q1-Q3)

1. Aaseth, J., O. P. Ajsuvakova, A. V. Skalny, M. G. Skalnaya and A. A. Tinkov. “Chelator combination as therapeutic strategy in mercury and lead poisonings”

(Q1) Coordination Chemistry Reviews 358: 1-12.

The chelating thiols dimercaptosuccinate (DMSA) and dimercaptopropane sulfonate (DMPS) are effective in enhancing urinary excretion of mercury and lead. However, strategies for mobilization of toxic metals from aged brain deposits may require combined use of a water soluble agent, removing circulating metal into urine, as well as lipophilic chelator, being used to facilitate the brain-to-blood mobilization. Pb(II) and Hg(II) ions are coordinated with DMSA through one -COOH and one SH group. However Pb(II) can bind with racemic DMSA through two SH groups in non-aqueous solvents (when -COOH groups are esterified). Generally, such Pb(II) and Hg(II) complexes have a composition of 1:1 and 1:2. However, binuclear and polynuclear species with DMSA like 2:1, 2:2, 2:3, 3:3 have been identified for Hg(II) ions. Both Pb(II) and Hg(II) ions are formed with BAL 1:1 and 1:2 complexes with coordination through two mercapto groups. Early experiments showed promising results with the SH-dextran-Briti sh anti-lewisite (BAL) combination. Later insight indicates that the DMPS-BAL could be preferred in cases of long-term Hg exposure. In cases of lead poisoning DMSA has been the recommended antidote due to its low toxicity. However, DMSA is distributed extracellularly, and its efficacy might be improved when combined with a brain-to-blood shuttling agent. Thus it has been found that the ionophore Monensin can improve its effect by increasing the egress of intracellularly deposited Pb. Previously, BAL was combined with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) in severe cases. Today, it is reasonable that low-dosed BAL can facilitate mobilization of Pb from brain to blood during DMSA-treatment. © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

2. Absalan, Y., E. A. Fortalnova, N. N. Lobanov, E. V. Dobrokhotova and O. V. Kovalchukova. “Ti (IV) complexes with some diphenols as precursors for TiO2 nano-sized catalysts.”

(Q1) Journal of Organometallic Chemistry 859: 80-91.

In this paper, synthesis of 4 phenol-titanium (IV) complexes (phenol: Salicylate, 3,4-Dihydroxy-3-cyclobutene-1,2-dione, Pyridine-2,3-diol and Catechol) were studied, then synthesizing TiO2 by the controlling thermal decomposition of the obtained complexes was studied at low temperature. The pure TiO2 nanoparticles were obtained when the complexes were heat-treated at different temperatures based on their ligands. Characterization of the complexes was carried out by FT-IR spectroscopy within 400-4000 cm(-1), UV-Vis spectroscopy in 200-800 nm range, the method of atomic emission with inductively coupled plasma and the micro-method for analyzing a metal and CHN analysis, respectively. Quantum-chemical model of the titanium — phenol complexes was also studied to determine the structure and spectral properties of the isolated titanium complexes. Furthermore, thermal analysing was used to obtain DTA curves of TiO2 nanoparticle, X-ray diffraction (XRD) was analyzed to specify phase and size of TiO2, energy band gap of the nanoparticles were obtained by UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectrometer, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) image accompanied EDAX analyzing were used to investigate morphology and types of the elements and their amount, respectively. According to the result, obtained TiO2 nanoparticles are beneficial to be used as catalysts to degrade harmful organic substances under UV light.

3. Alsaedi, A., M. Al-Yami, M. Kirane and F. Momenkhan. “A triangular nonlinear reaction-fractional diffusion system with a balance law” 

(Q1) Mathematical Methods in the Applied Sciences 41(5): 1825-1830

The aim of this paper is to establish a global existence result for a nonlinear reaction diffusion system with fractional Laplacians of different orders and a balance law. Our method of proof is based on a duality argument and a recent maximal regularity result due to Zhang.

4. 52(3): Semiconductors Bannaya, V. F. and E. V. Nikitina (2018). “Electrical Breakdown in Pure n- and p-Si” (Q3) 273-277.

The results of calculations of the dependences of the kinetic coefficients of impact ionization and thermal recombination on an electric field in pure silicon are presented. By analogy with germanium, the dependences of the breakdown field D center dot (br) on the material compensation ratio K are calculated. The validity of such calculation is justified in detail. The D center dot (br)(K) curves are presented and compared with experimental data in the weak-compensation region. Matching with experimental results at which satisfactory agreement between theory and experiment is observed is performed.

5. Berdnikova, D. V., Y. V. Fedorov, O. A. Fedorova and G. Jonusauskas “Supramolecular tuning of energy transfer efficiency and direction in a bis(styryl) dye-crown ether conjugate” 

(Q1) Dyes and Pigments 151: 227-232.

The control of the energy transfer (FRET) in a novel bischromophoric styryl(pyridinium) dye bearing two different crown ether residues is presented. Complexation of the dye with metal cations allows to tune the FRET efficiency without changing the transfer direction or to switch the FRET off, whereas protonation launches the FRET process in the opposite direction relative to the molecular structure.

6. 29(5): Synlett (Q2). “Facile Synthesis of -Keto Sulfones Employing Fenton’s Reagent in DMSO” Chalikidi, P. N., M. G. Uchuskin, I. V. Trushkov, V. T. Abaev and O. V. Serdyuk571-575.

A new facile method for the synthesis of -keto sulfones employing xanthates, DMSO, and Fenton’s reagent is described. The reaction proceeds under very mild conditions providing a cost-effective straightforward approach to various -keto sulfones in high yields.

7. Chernysheva, N. B., A. S. Maksimenko, F. A. Andreyanov, V. P. Kislyi, Y. A. Strelenko, V. N. Khrustalev, M. N. Semenova and V. V. Semenov. “Regioselective synthesis of 3,4-diaryl-5-unsubstituted isoxazoles, analogues of natural cytostatic combretastatin A4”

(Q1) European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 146: 511-518.

4,5-Diarylisoxazoles are potent antiproliferative tubulin-targeting agents. Their isomeric 3,4-diary1-5-unsubstituted isoxazoles are hardly accessible. The synthesis of 3,4-diaryl-5-unsubstituted isoxazoles 13 was designed based on a condensation of arylbenzaldehydes, arylnitromethanes, and ethoxycarbonylmethylpyridinium bromide followed by a selective one-step transformation of intermediate 3,4-diaryl-5-ethoxycarbonyl-4,5-dihydroisoxazole 2-oxides 8. The orientation of aryl rings in relation to isoxazole heterocycle was confirmed by X-ray crystallography. Targeted compounds were evaluated for antimitotic microtubule destabilizing activity using a phenotypic sea urchin embryo assay. 3-(4-(Methoxyphenyl)-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)isoxazole 13e and 13h with a single methoxy substituent were the most potent. Compound 13e showed strong cytotoxicity in NCI60 screen with Glso for NCI-H522 human lung cancer cell line of 0.023 mu M. © 2018 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.

8. Chesnokov, G. A., M. A. Topchiy, A. F. Asachenko, N. V. Muravyev, L. I. Grishin, A. S. Nikiforova, V. V. Utochnikova, V. B. Rybakov, V. N. Khrustalev and M. S. Nechaev “Rare-Earth Complexes with the 5,5-Bitetrazolate Ligand — Synthesis, Structure, Luminescence Properties, and Combustion Catalysis”

(Q1) European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, Vol 6: 805-815.

A complete series of complexes of the lanthanides and yttrium (except radioactive Pm) with the 5,5-bitetrazolate (BT2-) ligand were synthesized from sodium 5,5-bitetrazolate and available rare-earth (RE) salts. Eight new complexes were structurally characterized by single-crystal XRD. The [M(BT)(H2O)(7)](2)[BT]<bold></bold>6H(2)O [M = Pr (1), Gd (2)] complexes are isomorphous and consist of [M(BT)(H2O)(7)](+) ions in which only one BT2- ligand acts as a chelate for each metal center. The complexes [M(H2O)(8)](2)[BT](3)<bold></bold>4H(2)O [M = Y (3), Dy (4), Ho (5), Tm (6), Yb (7), Lu (8)] are saltlike compounds that do not exhibit any significant metal-nitrogen contacts. Luminescence was very informative for the determination of the number of inner-sphere coordinated water molecules in the solid samples. Despite its low luminescence intensity owing to its high hydrate composition, the deuterated europium complex exhibited an internal quantum yield of 44%. The catalytic activities of the 5,5-bitetrazolate salts for the decomposition and combustion reactions of energetic materials were tested. Although no effect was found for nitramine (HMX) explosive, the impact of the salts on the thermolysis of ammonium perchlorate (AP) was established. The addition of 5% [Dy(H2O)(8)](2)[BT](3)<bold></bold>4H(2)O decreases the temperature at the maximum reaction rate by 100 degrees C. The catalytic effect during combustion is apparently masked by the inhibitory influence of water; however, for [Pr(BT)(H2O)(7)](2)[BT]<bold></bold>6H(2)O, a 20% increase in the AP burning rate was observed.

9. Davydov, E. (2018). “Comparing metric and Palatini approaches to vector Horndeski theory”

(Q1) International Journal of Modern Physics D 27(4).

We compare cosmologic and spherically symmetric solutions to metric and Palatini versions of vector Horndeski theory. It appears that Palatini formulation of the theory admits more degrees of freedom. Specifically, homogeneous isotropic configuration is effectively bimetric, and static spherically symmetric configuration contains nonmetric connection. In general, the exact solution in metric case coincides with the approximative solution in Palatini case. The Palatini version of the theory appears to be more complicated, but the resulting nonlinearity may be useful: we demonstrate that it allows the specific cosmological solution to pass through singularity, which is not possible in metric approach.

10. Deringoz, F., V. S. Guliyev and S. G. Hasanov “Commutators of fractional maximal operator on generalized Orlicz-Morrey spaces”

(Q2) Positivity 22(1): 141-158.

n the present paper, we shall give necessary and sufficient conditions for the Spanne and Adams type boundedness of the commutators of fractional maximal operator on generalized Orlicz-Morrey spaces, respectively. The main advance in comparison with the existing results is that we manage to obtain conditions for the boundedness not in integral terms but in less restrictive terms of supremal operators.

11. Elchaninov, A., T. Fatkhudinov, N. Usman, I. Arutyunyan, A. Makarov, A. Lokhonina, I. Eremina, V. Surovtsev, D. Goldshtein, G. Bolshakova, V. Glinkina and G. Sukhikh “Multipotent stromal cells stimulate liver regeneration by influencing the macrophage polarization in rat”

(Q2) World Journal of Hepatology 10(2): 287-296.

AIM To investigate the influence of the umbilical cord-derived multipotent stromal cells (MSCs) on recovery of the liver after the subtotal resection, that is, removal of 80% of the organ mass, a renowned model of the small-for-size liver remnant syndrome. METHODS The MSCs were obtained from the intervascular tissue of umbilical cords, dissected from rat fetuses, by the explant culture technique. The vital labeling of MSCs with PKH26 was carried out on the 3rd passage. The subtotal resection was performed on male Sprague-Dawley rats. The experimental group animals received a transplant 106 MSCs infused into the spleen. Hepatocyte proliferation was assessed by counting of either mitotic figures or Ki67-positive cells in microscopic images. MSC differentiation was assessed with antibodies to hepatocyte-specific marker cytokeratin 18 (CK18), cholangiocyte-specific protein CK19, smooth muscle cell-specific protein alpha-SMA, the endothelial cell marker CD31, or the active fibroblast marker FAP alpha. Total macrophages of the liver were selectively stained in cryosections incubated with anti-CD68 antibodies (1:100, Abcam), while the M2a and M2c macrophage populations were selectively stained with anti-CD206 antibodies. Expression of interleukin and growth factor genes was evaluated with PCR-RT. RESULTS Intrasplenic allogeneic transplantation of the umbilical cord-derived multipotent stromal cells stimulates reparative processes within the residual liver tissue after subtotal resection (removal of 80% of the organ mass), as indicated by increased rates of hepatocyte proliferation and accelerated organ mass recovery. These effects may result from paracrine influence of the transplanted cells on the resident macrophage population of the liver. The transplantation favors polarization of macrophages to M2 phenotype (the M2-polarized macrophages specifically express CD206; they are known to suppress inflammation and support tissue repair). No differentiation of the transplanted cells into any of the liver cell types have been observed in the study. CONCLUSION We found no direct evidence for the paracrine effect of MSCs on liver regeneration after the subtotal liver resection in rats. However, the paracrine mechanism of the therapeutic activity of transplanted MSC is indirectly indicated by a decrease in the total number of CD68 + macrophages and an increase in the proportion of M2 pro-repair macrophages in the regenerating liver as compared to animals in which the transplantation was only mimicked.

12. Fischer, A., M. Herrich, A. F. Izmailov, W. Scheck and M. V. Solodov “A globally convergent LP-Newton method for piecewise smooth constrained equations: escaping nonstationary accumulation points”

(Q1) Computational Optimization and Applications 69(2): 325-349.

The LP-Newton method for constrained equations, introduced some years ago, has powerful properties of local superlinear convergence, covering both possibly nonisolated solutions and possibly nonsmooth equation mappings. A related globally convergent algorithm, based on the LP-Newton subproblems and linesearch for the equation’s infinity norm residual, has recently been developed. In the case of smooth equations, global convergence of this algorithm to B-stationary points of the residual over the constraint set has been shown, which is a natural result: nothing better should generally be expected in variational settings. However, for the piecewise smooth case only a property weaker than B-stationarity could be guaranteed. In this paper, we develop a procedure for piecewise smooth equations that avoids undesirable accumulation points, thus achieving the intended property of B-stationarity.

13. Gurbanov, A. V., G. Mahmoudi, M. da Silva, F. I. Zubkov, K. T. Mahmudov and A. J. L. Pombeiro “Cyanosilylation of aldehydes catalyzed by mixed ligand copper(II) complexes”

(Q2) Inorganica Chimica Acta 471: 130-136.

The new mixed ligand copper(II) complexes [Cu(HL)(H2O)(A)]center dot 2H(2)O (1, NaH2L = sodium (Z)-2-(2-(1,3-dioxo-1-(phenylamino)butan-2-ylidene)hydrazinyl)benzenesulfonate, A = dimethylsulfoxide, [Cu(HL)(H2O)(B)] (2, B = 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-amine), [Cu(HL)(H2O)(Y)]center dot 1/2CH(3)OH (3, C = hexamethylenetetramine) and [Cu(HR)(2)(H2O)(2)](H2L)(2) (4, HR = methyl picolinimidate derived from 2-cyanopyridine) were synthesized and characterized by IR and ESI-MS spectroscopies, elemental and X-ray crystal structural analyses. These compounds act as homogenous catalysts for the cyanosilylation reaction of a variety of both aromatic and aliphatic aldehydes with trimethylsilyl cyanide affording the corresponding cyanohydrin trimethylsilyl ethers in high yields (up to 85-99 %) in methanol and at room temperature. © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

14. He, A., W. Wang, N. T. Prakash, A. A. Tinkov, A. V. Skalny, Y. Wen, J. Hao, X. Guo and F. Zhang “Integrating genome-wide association study summaries and element-gene interaction datasets identified multiple associations between elements and complex diseases”

(Q1) Genetic Epidemiology 42(2): 168-173.

Chemical elements are closely related to human health. Extensive genomic profile data of complex diseases offer us a good opportunity to systemically investigate the relationships between elements and complex diseases/traits. In this study, we applied gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) approach to detect the associations between elements and complex diseases/traits though integrating element-gene interaction datasets and genome-wide association study (GWAS) data of complex diseases/traits. To illustrate the performance of GSEA, the element-gene interaction datasets of 24 elements were extracted from the comparative toxicogenomics database (CTD). GWAS summary datasets of 24 complex diseases or traits were downloaded from the dbGaP or GEFOS websites. We observed significant associations between 7 elements and 13 complex diseases or traits (all false discovery rate (FDR)<0.05), including reported relationships such as aluminum vs. Alzheimer’s disease (FDR=0.042), calcium vs. bone mineral density (FDR=0.031), magnesium vs. systemic lupus erythematosus (FDR=0.012) as well as novel associations, such as nickel vs. hypertriglyceridemia (FDR=0.002) and bipolar disorder (FDR=0.027). Our study results are consistent with previous biological studies, supporting the good performance of GSEA. Our analyzing results based on GSEA framework provide novel clues for discovering causal relationships between elements and complex diseases.

15. Honkonen, J., T. Lučivjanský and V. Škultéty “Influence of turbulent mixing on critical behavior of directed percolation process: Effect of compressibility”

(Q1) Physical Review E 97(2).

Universal behavior is a typical emergent feature of critical systems. A paramount model of the nonequilibrium critical behavior is the directed bond percolation process that exhibits an active-to-absorbing state phase transition in the vicinity of a percolation threshold. Fluctuations of the ambient environment might affect or destroy the universality properties completely. In this work, we assume that the random environment can be described by means of compressible velocity fluctuations. Using field-theoretic models and renormalization group methods, we investigate large-scale and long-time behavior. Altogether, 11 universality classes are found, out of which 4 are stable in the infrared limit and thus macroscopically accessible. In contrast to the model without velocity fluctuations, a possible candidate for a realistic three-dimensional case, a regime with relevant short-range noise, is identified. Depending on the dimensionality of space and the structure of the turbulent flow, we calculate critical exponents of the directed percolation process. In the limit of the purely transversal random force, critical exponents comply with the incompressible results obtained by previous authors. We have found intriguing nonuniversal behavior related to the mutual effect of compressibility and advection.

16. Ivashchuk, V. D. and A. A. Kobtsev (2018). “Stable exponential cosmological solutions with 3-and l-dimensional factor spaces in the Einstein-Gauss-Bonnet model with a Lambda-term”

(Q1) European Physical Journal C 78(2).

A D-dimensional gravitational model with a Gauss-Bonnet term and the cosmological term Lambda is studied. We assume the metrics to be diagonal cosmological ones. For certain fine-tuned Lambda, we find a class of solutions with exponential time dependence of two scale factors, governed by two Hubble-like parameters H > 0 and h, corresponding to factor spaces of dimensions 3 and l > 2, respectively and D = 1 + 3 + l. The fine-tuned Lambda = Lambda (x, l, alpha) depends upon the ratio h/H = x, l and the ratio alpha = alpha(2)/alpha(1) of two constants (alpha(2) and alpha(1)) of the model. For fixed Lambda, alpha and l > 2 the equation Lambda (x, l, alpha) = Lambda is equivalent to a polynomial equation of either fourth or third order and may be solved in radicals (the example l = 3 is presented). For certain restrictions on x we prove the stability of the solutions in a class of cosmological solutions with diagonal metrics. A subclass of solutions with small enough variation of the effective gravitational constant G is considered. It is shown that all solutions from this subclass are stable.

17. Izmailov, A. F., A. S. Kurennoy and M. V. Solodov “Critical solutions of nonlinear equations: stability issues”

(Q1) Mathematical Programming 168(1-2): 475-507.

It is known that when the set of Lagrange multipliers associated with a stationary point of a constrained optimization problem is not a singleton, this set may contain so-called critical multipliers. This special subset of Lagrange multipliers defines, to a great extent, stability pattern of the solution in question subject to parametric perturbations. Criticality of a Lagrange multiplier can be equivalently characterized by the absence of the local Lipschitzian error bound in terms of the natural residual of the optimality system. In this work, taking the view of criticality as that associated to the error bound, we extend the concept to general nonlinear equations (not necessarily with primal-dual optimality structure). Among other things, we show that while singular noncritical solutions of nonlinear equations can be expected to be stable only subject to some poor “asymptotically thin” classes of perturbations, critical solutions can be stable under rich classes of perturbations. This fact is quite remarkable, considering that in the case of nonisolated solutions, critical solutions usually form a thin subset within all the solutions. We also note that the results for general equations lead to some new insights into the properties of critical Lagrange multipliers (i.e., solutions of equations with primal-dual structure).

18. Jlassi, R., A. P. C. Ribeiro, E. Alegria, H. Naili, G. A. O. Tiago, T. Ruffer, H. Lang, F. I. Zubkov, A. J. L. Pombeiro and W. Rekik “Copper(II) complexes with an arylhydrazone of methyl 2-cyanoacetate as effective catalysts in the microwave-assisted oxidation of cyclohexane”

(Q2) Inorganica Chimica Acta 471: 658-663.

Reaction of sodium (E/Z)-2-(2-(1-cyano-2-methoxy-2-oxoethylidene) hydrazinyl) benzene-sulfonate (NaHL) with copper(II) nitrate hydrate in the presence of imidazole (im) in methanol affords [CuL(im)(H2O)] (1). Complex 1 is characterized by IR spectroscopy and ESI-MS spectrometry, elemental and single crystal X-ray crystal structural analyses. The coordination environment of the central copper(II) is nearly intermediate between ideal square-based pyramidal and trigonal bipyramidal geometry, three sites being occupied by the L2- ligand, which chelates in the O, N, O fashion, while two other sites are filled with the water and imidazole molecules. Extensive intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the L2-, water and imidazole ligands lead to a 3D supramolecular network. 1 and known Cu(II) complexes [Cu(H2O)(2)L]center dot H2O (2), [Cu(H2O)(py)L]center dot H2O (3) and [Cu-3(mu(3)-OH)(NO3)(CH3OH)(mu(2)-X)(3)(mu(2)-HL)] (4) act as effective catalysts in the oxidation of cyclohexane to cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone, using low power microwave (MW) irradiation, under mild conditions. Without a promoter, the activity of the catalyst reached a turnover number of 1.44×10(3) and a turnover frequency of 1.98×10(3) h(-1), after 2 h, at 50 degrees C. © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

19. Khmara, V. M., et al. (2018). “Quasicrossings of potential curves in the two-Coulomb-center problem”

(Q1) European Physical Journal D 72(2).

The quasiclassical expression for the exchange interaction Delta E of potential curves at the points of their quasicrossing is found by means of the combined approach for solving the quantum mechanical two-Coulomb-center Z (1) eZ (2) problem. It can be used further for the calculation of cross sections of charge exchange processes between hydrogen or hydrogen-like atoms and bare nuclei.

20. Ahmed, M. A., M. Sanaullah, E. Blagodatskaya, K. Mason-Jones, H. Jawad, Y. Kuzyakov and M. A. Dippold “Soil microorganisms exhibit enzymatic and priming response to root mucilage under drought”

(Q1) Soil Biology and Biochemistry 116: 410-418.

Although root mucilage plays a prominent role in soil-plant-water relations, especially under drought, its persistence in soil and its microbial decomposition remain unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate: 1) the effect of soil moisture on mucilage decomposition, 2) the effect of mucilage on enzyme activities, and 3) the effect of mucilage on soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition. We hypothesized that mucilage benefits soil microorganisms by compensating for the detrimental effects of drought. Consequently, low water content was expected to reduce SOM mineralization and enzyme activities only in soil without mucilage. High moisture was predicted to support high microbial activities and therefore rapid decomposition of the mucilage. Two doses of maize root mucilage (40 and 200 μg C g—1 soil; C4 plant derived) were added to a C3 soil at optimum moisture (80% WHC) and under drought (30% WHC) to test these hypotheses. Under optimum moisture conditions, CO2 efflux from soil increased in proportion to mucilage addition. In contrast, there was no effect of mucilage on CO2 efflux under drought. At 80% WHC, mucilage was nearly completely decomposed (98% and 88% for low and high dose, respectively) after 15 days. Drought significantly suppressed mucilage mineralization. Microbial uptake of mucilage C was independent of soil moisture, suggesting that its bioavailability is regulated not by the water content of the whole soil, but by the water within the swollen mucilage. The high mucilage dose increased microbial biomass at both moisture levels compared to the soil without mucilage. Positive priming of soil organic matter decomposition was induced by mucilage at 80% WHC, whereas at 30% WHC, mucilage caused slightly negative priming. Mucilage addition counteracted the decrease of enzyme activities at 30% WHC, and so, stabilized the catalytic activity irrespective of soil moisture content. We conclude that mucilage provides biofilm-like properties that maintain microbial and exoenzymatic activities, even under drought. The slow decomposition of mucilage in drying soils suggests that mucilage maintains moist conditions around the roots for a long period, supporting beneficial root-microbial interactions at low water availability. This would result in a positive ecological feedback for microbial life in the rhizosphere and enhance nutrient release for roots under water scarcity.

21. Aisanov, Z., S. Avdeev, V. Arkhipov, A. Belevskiy, A. Chuchalin, I. Leshchenko, S. Ovcharenko, E. Shmelev and M. Miravitlles “Russian guidelines for the management of COPD: Algorithm of pharmacologic treatment”

(Q1) International Journal of COPD 13: 183-187.

The high prevalence of COPD together with its high level of misdiagnosis and late diagnosis dictate the necessity for the development and implementation of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) in order to improve the management of this disease. High-quality, evidence-based international CPGs need to be adapted to the particular situation of each country or region. A new version of the Russian Respiratory Society guidelines released at the end of 2016 was based on the proposal by Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease but adapted to the characteristics of the Russian health system and included an algorithm of pharmacologic treatment of COPD. The proposed algorithm had to comply with the requirements of the Russian Ministry of Health to be included into the unified electronic rubricator, which required a balance between the level of information and the simplicity of the graphic design. This was achieved by: exclusion of the initial diagnostic process, grouping together the common pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic measures for all patients, and the decision not to use the letters A—D for simplicity and clarity. At all stages of the treatment algorithm, efficacy and safety have to be carefully assessed. Escalation and de-escalation is possible in the case of lack of or insufficient efficacy or safety issues. Bronchodilators should not be discontinued except in the case of significant side effects. At the same time, inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) withdrawal is not represented in the algorithm, because it was agreed that there is insufficient evidence to establish clear criteria for ICSs discontinuation. Finally, based on the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease statement, the proposed algorithm reflects and summarizes different approaches to the pharmacological treatment of COPD taking into account the reality of health care in the Russian Federation. © 2018 Aisanov et al.

22. Alekseeva, L. L., E. A. Sorokoumova, L. N. Vakhrusheva, A. V. Litvinov, N. V. Popovitskaya and O. G. Filipenkova “Pedagogical opportunities of student communicative culture development”

(Q1) XLinguae 11(1): 203-217.

The article relevance is determined by the need to search for forms and means for a communication culture development among students. Its purpose is to develop and approbate a model for student communicative culture development. In the paper the concept “communicative culture” is clarified, the possibilities of the socio-cultural and educational environment are shown; the main characteristics and properties of communicative culture are presented (universality, standard in the social norms transfer, the “feedback” effect) in the paper. The specifics of the communication culture are considered, the content of the various levels (elementary, ideal, etc.) is disclosed; criteria for assessing the dynamics of communicative culture development (stability, creativity, etc.) are defined. © 2018, Slovenska Vzdelavacia Obstaravacia. All rights reserved.

23. Al-Kaisi, A. N., A. L. Arkhangelskaya, M. A. Bragina, B. A. Bulgarova and O. I. Rudenko-Morgun “Teaching the russian language in polyconfessional classes with the use of integrating tools”

(Q2) European Journal of Science and Theology 14(1): 47-59.

This article is a summary of the theoretical and practical results of a large-scale scientific study of the problem of joint education of foreign students with non-native Russian language and Russian native speakers in comprehensive Russian schools. The study highlights the main stages in overcoming the difficulties of assimilation of migrant children among Russian schoolchildren in Russian schools. The paper analyses the effectiveness of attempts made by methodologists and teachers to overcome coeducational shortcomings. Traditionally these problems are solved within a differentiating methodology. By contrast, our research proposes an integrative way to solve the above-mentioned problems. An integrative approach is a dominant innovative feature of the work. The authors of the study singled out a set of principles for teaching the Russian language. Extensive research has shown that these principles unite a multilevel and multilingual team of schoolchildren in the general educational process and create a generalizing concept for teaching Russian to multinational and polyconfessional classes, including the use of specially-developed original multimedia tools, whose educational functions and structure are described in detail in the study. The article offers the results of approbation of the proposed concept and teaching tools in Russian comprehensive general education schools. © 2018, Ecozone, OAIMDD. All rights reserved.

24. Alsaedi, A., M. Al-Yami, M. Kirane and F. Momenkhan “A triangular nonlinear reaction-fractional diffusion system with a balance law”

(Q1) Mathematical Methods in the Applied Sciences 41(5): 1825-1830.

The aim of this paper is to establish a global existence result for a nonlinear reaction diffusion system with fractional Laplacians of different orders and a balance law. Our method of proof is based on a duality argument and a recent maximal regularity result due to Zhang. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

25. Arsenov, M. A., V. B. Kharitonov, E. R. Sovdagarova, A. F. Smol’yakov and D. A. Loginov “(Indenyl)rhodacarboranes. Electronic versus steric effects on the conformation of cyclic ligands”

(Q1) Journal of Organometallic Chemistry.

(Indenyl)rhodacarboranes 1,2-R2-3-(η5-indenyl)-3,1,2-RhC2B9H9 (2a: R = H; 2b: R = Me) and 3-(η5-indenyl)-4-SMe-3,1,2-RhC2B9H10 (3) were synthesized by reactions of the iodide complex [(η5-indenyl)RhI2]n (1b) with Tl[Tl(η-7,8-R2-7,8-C2B9H9)] or Tl[9-SMe2-7,8-C2B9H10]. The formation of 3 is accompanied by monodemethylation of the SMe2 substituent. The structures of rhodacarboranes 2b, 3 and the half-sandwich complex (η5-indenyl)RhBr2(dmso) were determined by X-ray diffraction. Rhodacarborane 2b has the sterically unfavorable eclipsed cisoid conformation, in which the bridgehead carbon atoms of the indenyl ligand are arranged close to the carborane cage carbon atoms. The thermal stability of conformers for 2b was analyzed by the DFT calculations. © 2018 Elsevier B.V.

26. Asadov, Z. H., G. A. Ahmadova, R. A. Rahimov, A. Z. Abilova, S. H. Zargarova and F. I. Zubkov “Synthesis and Properties of Quaternary Ammonium Surfactants Based on Alkylamine, Propylene Oxide, and 2-Chloroethanol”

(Q2) Journal of Surfactants and Detergents.

New quaternary ammonium salts are synthesized by octylamine, nonylamine, dodecylamine, and hexadecylamine reacting with propylene oxide at a mole ratio of 1:2, followed by reaction with 2-chloroethanol. By tensiometric measurements of aqueous solutions, their surface activity has been determined. Using the results of these measurements and electroconductometric studies, important parameters such as critical micelle concentration (CMC), efficiency of surfactant adsorption, surface pressure at the CMC, changes of Gibbs free energies for micelle formation, and adsorption were estimated. By application of the Gibbs adsorption isotherm, indices such as maximum surface excess concentration and minimum surface area/molecule at the air-water interface were also calculated. Petroleum-collecting properties of these surfactants were investigated. Among these quaternary ammonium surfactants, the surfactant based on dodecylamine, propylene oxide, and 2-chloroethanol exhibits the highest petroleum-collecting capacity.

27. Asadov, Z. H., G. A. Ahmadova, F. I. Zubkov and R. A. Rahimov “Properties of propoxy-derivatives based on the acidic fraction of coconut oil”

(Q2) Journal of Dispersion Science and Technology 39(2): 214-219.

Hydrolysis of coconut oil was carried out with alkali, and acid fraction was separated. The obtained acid fraction was propoxylated with propylene oxide at 1:1, 1:3, 1:5, and 1:7 molar ratios and 140—150°C. Physico-chemical as well as surface activity parameters of these propoxylates have been determined. Petroleum-collecting and petroleum-dispersing properties of the propoxylateshave been studied on thin oil slick on the surface of water with varying degrees of mineralization. The influence of various factors (petroleum layer thickness, the water salinity, and the nature of petroleum) on petroleum-collecting and petroleum-dispersing properties was studied.

28. Atabekova, A. A., R. G. Gorbatenko, T. V. Shoustikova and C. V. Garces “Academia´s thoughts and graduates’ opinions of education at university degree for translators and interpreters: Is there a need for revisiting both concept and practice?”

(Q1) XLinguae 11(1): 269-283.

The reason for the present study topic is rooted in a thorny situation. On the one hand, there are centuries-long traditions and prolific research in the area of Translator and Interpreter education, both practice and research lay grounds for the stable training of the mentioned specialists. On the other hand, the third millennium has brought to smart life societies, intensive collaborations, harsh contradictions and ideological tensions into the multilingual and multicultural world. The changing and emerging contexts of interpreter and translator’s professional activities challenge the current vision of the mentioned specialists’ training background and skills, put on the agenda new requirements for those who are expected to act properly to respond to newly diversified societal needs. The research goal is to explore the aspects that might be subject matter for the anticipated revision of T/Is university-based education. The research methodology integrates qualitative and quantitate analysis and rests on theoretical and empirical activities. Materials for theoretical analysis involve publications on the issues under study. The research includes cluster and factor types of analysis to identify gaps between Academia, Industry, and Research regarding the quality of translating and interpreting in socially-focused settings. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences was used to process data. The research findings allow for drafting preliminary recommendations regarding revisiting T&Is’ training in the era of globalization. © 2018, Slovenska Vzdelavacia Obstaravacia. All rights reserved.

29. Bakre, P. V. and S. G. Tilve (2018). “Direct access to highly crystalline mesoporous nano TiO2 using sterically bulky organic acid templates.”

(Q2) Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids 116: 234-240.

Sterically bulky monocarboxylic acid templates pivalic acid and phenoxyacetic acid are reported for the first time as organic templates in the sol-gel synthesis of TiO2. Mesoporous nanoparticulates of pure anatase phase and of well defined size were synthesized. The characterization of the materials prepared was done by various methods such as XRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR, UV-DRS, BET, etc. The prepared TiO2 samples were evaluated for the day light photodegradation of methylene blue by comparing with Degussa P25 and templates free synthesized TiO2 and were found to be more efficient. © 2018

30. Belenkova, N. M., I. I. Kruse, V. V. Davtyan and D. Wydra “Language for students without interest in languages: Challenges of foreign language grammar.”

(Q1) XLinguae 11(1): 284-293.

The importance of the paper is provided by the fact that multilingualism being one of the most important characteristics of the contemporary society envisages the study of two and more foreign languages at non-language higher education institutions. The present research aims to examine and reveal grammatical difficulties the students face while learning English as the first foreign language and Spanish and German as the second ones. The difficulties learners experience are mostly connected with interlanguage interference, in particular, Russian students’ grammar interference. The methods used to achieve the goal focus on the analytical review of the contemporary research of the issue under study, the survey of the participants of the teaching experiment, and the method of mathematical statistics. The paper presents the findings of the experiment held by the Department of Foreign Languages at Law Institute of RUDN University (Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia). The findings of the research can be used in teaching foreign languages for specific purposes in higher education institutions and as a ground for further development of the issue. © 2018, Slovenska Vzdelavacia Obstaravacia. All rights reserved.

31. Belozerova, O. A., V. I. Deigin, A. Y. Khrushchev, M. A. Dubinnyi and V. S. Kublitski “The total synthesis of sevanol, a novel lignan isolated from the thyme plant (Thymus armeniacus).”

(Q2) Tetrahedron.

Recently, a novel lignan sevanol was isolated from the thyme plant Thymus armeniacus. During structure-functional elucidation it showed significant biological activity on ASIC3 acid sensing channels. Herein we describe the first synthesis of sevanol with a 3% overall yield. The construction of a dihydronaphthalene ring by oxidative dimerization of a protected dihydroxycinnamic acid ester in the presence of ferric chloride (III) is a key step in this first total synthesis of sevanol. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd.

32. Belyaev, A. V., J. L. Dunster, J. M. Gibbins, M. A. Panteleev and V. Volpert “Modeling thrombosis in silico: Frontiers, challenges, unresolved problems and milestones.” (Q1)Physics of Life Reviews.

Hemostasis is a complex physiological mechanism that functions to maintain vascular integrity under any conditions. Its primary components are blood platelets and a coagulation network that interact to form the hemostatic plug, a combination of cell aggregate and gelatinous fibrin clot that stops bleeding upon vascular injury. Disorders of hemostasis result in bleeding or thrombosis, and are the major immediate cause of mortality and morbidity in the world. Regulation of hemostasis and thrombosis is immensely complex, as it depends on blood cell adhesion and mechanics, hydrodynamics and mass transport of various species, huge signal transduction networks in platelets, as well as spatiotemporal regulation of the blood coagulation network. Mathematical and computational modeling has been increasingly used to gain insight into this complexity over the last 30 years, but the limitations of the existing models remain profound. Here we review state-of-the-art-methods for computational modeling of thrombosis with the specific focus on the analysis of unresolved challenges. They include: a) fundamental issues related to physics of platelet aggregates and fibrin gels; b) computational challenges and limitations for solution of the models that combine cell adhesion, hydrodynamics and chemistry; c) biological mysteries and unknown parameters of processes; d) biophysical complexities of the spatiotemporal networks’ regulation. Both relatively classical approaches and innovative computational techniques for their solution are considered; the subjects discussed with relation to thrombosis modeling include coarse-graining, continuum versus particle-based modeling, multiscale models, hybrid models, parameter estimation and others. Fundamental understanding gained from theoretical models are highlighted and a description of future prospects in the field and the nearest possible aims are given. © 2018 Elsevier B.V.

33. Bezrodnykh, S. I. (2018). “Analytic continuation of the Lauricella function with arbitrary number of variables.”

(Q2) Integral Transforms and Special Functions 29(1): 21-42.

The Lauricella function F(N)D, which is a generalized hypergeometric function of N variables, and a corresponding system of partial differential equations are considered. For an arbitrary N, we give a complete collection of analytic continuation formulas of F(N)D. This formulas give representation of the Lauricella function outside the polydisk in the form of a linear combination of other generalized hypergeometric series that are solutions of the same system of partial differential equations, which is also satisfied by the function F(N)D. The obtained hypergeometric series are N-dimensional analogues of the Kummer solutions well known in the theory of the classical hypergeometric Gauss equation. The obtained analytic continuation formulas provide an effective algorithm for computation of the Lauricella function F(N)D. © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

34. Bilyachenko, A. N., V. N. Khrustalev, Y. V. Zubavichus, L. S. Shul’Pina, A. N. Kulakova, X. Bantreil, F. Lamaty, M. M. Levitsky, E. I. Gutsul, E. S. Shubina and G. B. Shul’Pin “Heptanuclear Fe5Cu2-Phenylgermsesquioxane containing 2,2′-Bipyridine: Synthesis, Structure, and Catalytic Activity in Oxidation of C-H Compounds.”

(Q1) Inorganic Chemistry 57(1): 528-534.

A new representative of an unusual family of metallagermaniumsesquioxanes, namely the heterometallic cagelike phenylgermsesquioxane (PhGeO2)12Cu2Fe5(O)OH(PhGe)2O5(bipy)2 (2), was synthesized and structurally characterized. Fe(III) ions of the complex are coordinated by oxa ligands: (i) cyclic (PhGeO2)12 and acyclic (Ph2Ge2O5) germoxanolates and (ii) O2- and (iii) HO- moieties. In turn, Cu(II) ions are coordinated by both oxa (germoxanolates) and aza ligands (2,2′-bipyridines). This “hetero-type” of ligation gives in sum an attractive pagoda-like molecular architecture of the complex 2. Product 2 showed a high catalytic activity in the oxidation of alkanes to the corresponding alkyl hydroperoxides (in yields up to 30%) and alcohols (in yields up to 100%) and in the oxidative formation of benzamides from alcohols (catalyst loading down to 0.4 mol % in Cu/Fe). © 2017 American Chemical Society.

35. Bilyachenko, A. N., M. M. Levitsky, V. N. Khrustalev, Y. V. Zubavichus, L. S. Shul’Pina, E. S. Shubina and G. B. Shul’Pin “Mild and Regioselective Hydroxylation of Methyl Group in Neocuproine: Approach to an N,O-Ligated Cu6 Cage Phenylsilsesquioxane.”

(Q1) Organometallics 37(2): 168-171.

The self-Assembly synthesis of Cu(II)-silsesquioxane involving 2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline (neocuproine) as an additional N ligand at copper atoms was performed. The reaction revealed an unprecedented aerobic hydroxylation of only one of the two methyl groups in neocuproine to afford the corresponding geminal diol. The produced derivative of oxidized neocuproine acts as a two-centered N,O ligand in the assembly of the hexacopper cage product [Cu6(Ph5Si5O10)2·(C14H11N2O2)2] (1), coordinating two of the six copper centers in the product. Two siloxanolate ligands [PhSi(O)O]5 in the cis configuration coordinate to the rest of the copper(II) ions. Compound 1 is a highly efficient homogeneous precatalyst in the oxidation of alkanes and alcohols with peroxides. © 2018 American Chemical Society.

36. Borikhanov, M., M. Kirane and B. T. Torebek “Maximum principle and its application for the nonlinear time-fractional diffusion equations with Cauchy-Dirichlet conditions.”

(Q1) Applied Mathematics Letters 81: 14-20.

In this paper, a maximum principle for the one-dimensional sub-diffusion equation with Atangana—Baleanu fractional derivative is formulated and proved. The proof of the maximum principle is based on an extremum principle for the Atangana—Baleanu fractional derivative that is given in the paper, too. The maximum principle is then applied to show that the initial—boundary-value problem for the linear and nonlinear time-fractional diffusion equations possesses at most one classical solution and this solution continuously depends on the initial and boundary conditions. © 2018 Elsevier Ltd

37. Bronnikov, K. A. (2018). “Nonlinear electrodynamics, regular black holes and wormholes.” (Q1) International Journal of Modern Physics D.

We consider spherically symmetric configurations in general relativity (GR), supported by nonlinear electromagnetic fields with gauge-invariant Lagrangians depending on the single invariant (Formula presented.). Static black hole (BH) and solitonic solutions are briefly described, both with only an electric or magnetic charge and with both nonzero charges (the dyonic ones). It is stressed that only pure magnetic solutions can be completely nonsingular. For dyonic systems, apart from a general scheme of obtaining solutions in quadratures for an arbitrary Lagrangian function (Formula presented.), an analytic solution is found for the truncated Born—Infeld theory (depending on the invariant (Formula presented.) only). Furthermore, considering spherically symmetric metrics with two independent functions of time, we find a natural generalization of the class of wormholes found previously by Arellano and Lobo with a time-dependent conformal factor. Such wormholes are shown to be only possible for some particular choices of the function (Formula presented.), having no Maxwell weak-field limit. © 2018 World Scientific Publishing Company

38. Chausov, D. N., A. D. Kurilov, V. V. Belyaev and S. Kumar “Parameters of LC molecules’ movement measured by dielectric spectroscopy in wide temperature range.”

(Q2) Opto-electronics Review 26(1): 44-49.

Dielectric properties of a nematic liquid crystal (NLC) mixture ZhK-1282 were investigated in the frequency range of 102-106Hz and a temperature range of-20 to 80 °C. On the basis of the Debye’s relaxation polarization model dielectric spectra of temperature dependence of the orientational relaxation time τ and the dielectric strength δe were numerically approximated at the parallel orientation of a molecular director relative to alternating electric field. Influence of ester components in the mixture plays crucial role in relaxation processes at low temperature and external field frequency. The activation energy of the relaxation process of a rotation of molecules around their short axis was measured in a temperature interval of-20 to +15 °C in which the dispersion of a longitudinal component of the dielectric constant takes place. The energy of potential barrier for polar molecules rotation in the mesophase was calculated. The value of the transition entropy from the nematic to isotropic phase was obtained from this calculation. The values of the coefficient of molecular friction and rotational diffusion were obtained by different methods. The experimental data obtained are in a satisfactory agreement with the existing theoretical models. © 2018 Association of Polish Electrical Engineers (SEP). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

39. Chen, L., R. Luque and Y. Li “Encapsulation of metal nanostructures into metal-organic frameworks.”

(Q1) Dalton Transactions 47(11): 3663-3668.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been demonstrated to be excellent hosts for metal nanostructures. Herein, a perspective of recent development achieved to control the location, composition, shape, and structure of the encapsulated metal nanostructures is provided. The interesting properties and potential applications of the designed metal@MOF composites as well as future challenges and opportunities in this field are also discussed. © 2018 The Royal Society of Chemistry.

40. Cheplakova, A. M., K. A. Kovalenko, D. G. Samsonenko, V. A. Lazarenko, V. N. Khrustalev, A. S. Vinogradov, V. M. Karpov, V. E. Platonov and V. P. Fedin “Metal-organic frameworks based on octafluorobiphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylate: Synthesis, crystal structure, and surface functionality.”

(Q1) Dalton Transactions 47(10): 3283-3297.

In contrast to aromatic carboxylates, the coordination polymers based on their perfluorinated analogues are not numerous. Here we present a series of six Zn(ii) coordination polymers of different dimensionalities (1D, 2D, and 3D) and porosities based on octafluorobiphenyl-4,4′-dicarboxylate (oFBPDC2-) and N-containing co-ligands (ur, dabco, and bpy). These complexes are characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, PXRD, FT-IR, elemental analysis, and TGA. The metal-organic frameworks [Zn2(CH3CONH2)2(oFBPDC)2] (1) and [Zn2(oFBPDC)2(dabco)] (4) are shown to be porous with BET surface areas of 470 m2 g-1 and 441 m2 g-1, respectively. In addition, compound 4 shows selectivity factors of 11.3, 4.9 and more than 6 for the binary gas mixtures CO2/N2, CO2/CH4 and benzene/cyclohexane, respectively. The measurements for pressed powders and water droplet give water contact angles of 136° for 4 and 133° for (H2bpy)[Zn2(bpy)(oFBPDC)3] (5). Low water uptake indicates that both 4 and 5 belong to highly hydrophobic solids. © The Royal Society of Chemistry.

41. Chepurnova, N. M., V. V. Grebennikov, Y. V. Sukhostavska, T. E. Zulfugarzade and S. I. Buslaev “Philosophical aspect of understanding addictive behavior determinants.”

(Q1) XLinguae 11(1): 61-69.

The present situation in Russia is characterized by the fact that the number of young people particularly susceptible to developing addictions like alcoholism and drug addiction is continuously growing, and this cannot but adversely affect their socialization, the way they learn and follow the norms and beliefs of society, and increases the risk of further development of this tendency in the country. The purpose of this study was to examine and elucidate the addictive behavior determinants from the standpoint of social philosophy and social psychology. The major approach to explore the problem is a systemic-activity based approach that allowed us to consider determination problem and causality of addictive behavior on the basis of people’s involvement into certain types of activities that contribute to the formation of addictive behavior. The paper discusses the main challenges that human civilization faces, changes in the industrial and information age, as well as the challenges that people face in the rapidly changing conditions and forms of their own lives and activit