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β-Site APP-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1) is required for the penultimate cleavage of the amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) leading to the generation of amyloid-β peptides that is central to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. In addition to its role in endoproteolysis of APP, BACE1 participates in the proteolytic processing of neuregulin 1 (NRG1) and influences the myelination of central and peripheral axons. Although NRG1 has been genetically linked to schizophrenia and NRG1⁺/⁻ mice exhibit a number of schizophrenia-like behavioral traits, it is not known whether altered BACE1-dependent NRG1 signaling can cause similar behavioral abnormalities. To test this hypothesis, we analyze the behaviors considered to be rodent analogs of clinical features of schizophrenia in BACE1⁻/⁻ mice with impaired processing of NRG1. We demonstrate that BACE1⁻/⁻ mice exhibit deficits in prepulse inhibition, novelty-induced hyperactivity, hypersensitivity to a glutamatergic psychostimulant (MK-801), cognitive impairments, and deficits in social recognition. Importantly, some of these manifestations were responsive to treatment with clozapine, an atypical antipsychotic drug. Moreover, although the total amount of ErbB4, a receptor for NRG1 was not changed, binding of ErbB4 with postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD95) was significantly reduced in the brains of BACE1⁻/⁻ mice. Consistent with the role of ErbB4 in spine morphology and synaptic function, BACE1⁻/⁻ mice displayed reduced spine density in hippocampal pyramidal neurons. Collectively, our findings suggest that alterations in BACE1-dependent NRG1/ErbB4 signaling may participate in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and related psychiatric disorders.

The epoxy polymers are characterized by low thermal stability and high flammability. Nanoparticles are considered to be effective fillers of polymer composites for improving their thermal and functional properties. In this work, the epoxy composites were prepared using epoxy resin ED-20, polyethylene polyamine as a hardener, aluminum nanopowder and boric acid fine powder as flame-retardant filler. The thermal characteristics of the obtained samples were studied using thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The mechanical characteristics of epoxy composites were also studied. It was found that an addition of all fillers enhances the thermal stability and mechanical characteristics of the epoxy composites. The best thermal stability showed the epoxy composite filled with boric acid. The highest flexural properties showed the epoxy composite based on the combination of boric acid and aluminum nanopowder.

The paper deals with the problems of building structures with certain values of stability parameters based on the corresponding values of material parameters. For modeling, a passive experiment is used based on archival information for building structures. An algorithm using forecast models is built. Its main stages are given, they are indicated in the diagram. The algorithm is based on statistical approaches. The constructed forecast models for stone natural building materials, for binding materials, for forest materials are presented. During the construction of the regression model the authors proceeded from the independence of the experiments, as well as the fact that the nature of various random components remained unchanged in all experiments. The built models may be used to forecast changes in design parameters when the selected characteristics change.

The article presents the modern concept of an unmanned vehicle according to the SAE classification. The features of use of unmanned transport, including its influence on traffic safety, efficiency of the organization of transportations and decrease in fuel consumption are considered. A brief overview of existing Russian developments in the field of unmanned road transport is given. The scheme of movement of an unmanned vehicle through the ice crossing using V2X technology is presented. The authors list the reasons of using unmanned vehicles on public roads.

The polymeric materials are characterized by high flammability. The use of flame retardants in order to reduce the flammability of polymers can lead to the formation of toxic gaseous products under fire conditions. In this work we studied the effect of boric acid on the volatile products of thermooxidative degradation of epoxy polymers. The comparative investigations were carried out on the samples of the unfilled epoxy resin and epoxy resin filled with a boric acid at percentage 10 wt. %. The analysis of the volatile decomposition products and thermal stability of the samples under heating in an oxidizing medium was performed using a thermal mass-spectrometric analysis. It is found that the incorporation of boric acid into the polymer matrix increases the thermal stability of epoxy composites and leads to a reduction in the 2-2.7 times of toxic gaseous products

The global environmental problems of mankind are analyzed in the article The analysis of major factors and consequences of an adverse effect of human activity on the environment is carried out. Some possible measures which could reduce the consequences of adverse anthropogenic effect of person on the environment are offered.

Modern technologies shape new mechanisms for accumulation and redistribution of capital, increasing the importance of an individual as an economic agent in the processes of integration. Moreover, they create conditions for moving beyond the “centre-periphery” system in the differentiation of the integration processes. Considering the stated assumptions, I propose a new structure of the model of the Russian regions’ economic integration and develop its performance criteria. The article is based on the methodology of the new theory of economic systems, empirical and statistical research methods. For testing, I used the data of the Central Bank of Russian Federation, the SPARK Information Resource, Federal State Statistics Service, and portals of social media analytics. The proposed model includes object, spatial, process and project economic integrations. The key objects of the economic integration are the individual and the community. Economic integration is impossible without the spatial integration that includes urban and virtual space. Project economic integration is based on assessing the dynamics of the resources’ accumulation by the population and communities. The target level of the region’s participation in the economic integration is efficient, if each of the performance criteria does not exceed 20%. The model’s testing allowed structuring the Russian regions by the level of the economic integration’s performance. Spatial economic integration was identified as one of the least problematic subsystems for all regions. Most of the Russian regions are characterised by the underperformance of the process economic integration, manifested either in the low efficiency of the internal federal labour migration, or in the local population’s integration inactivity. One third of the regions is influenced by inter-federal integration processes. The results of the project economic integration indicate two large groups of the Russian regions. One group achieved the performance criterion, while the other is characterised by the prevalence of the population’s capital accumulation over the organizations’ accumulation.

The thermal properties of epoxy composites filled with boric acid fine powder at different percentage were studied. Epoxy composites were prepared using epoxy resin ED-20, boric acid as flame-retardant filler, hexamethylenediamine as a curing agent. The prepared samples and starting materials were examined using methods of thermal analysis, scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. It was found that the incorporation of boric acid fine powder enhances the thermal stability of epoxy composites.

Electron beam impact on the radiation resistance of organochlorine hydrocarbon is considered for two forms of pesticide - a pure chemical compound and a component of active substance of a pesticide product to be disposed of. State standard reference samples (SRS) of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) - lindane and hexachlorane dust - are used. The fullness of decomposition are determined for lindane and organochlorine compounds as part of the active substance, depending on the aggregate state of the preparation and the absorbed dose of electronic radiation. In all samples, a reduction in the radiation resistance of HCH and its isomers is detected within the range of the radiation dose (D) from 10 to 200 kGy. The maximum decomposition is observed in the suspension of the preparation. The dependence of a degree of decomposition on the amount of radiation dose is not linear.

This study investigates the thermal and mechanical properties of epoxy polymer after exposure to different doses of electron beam irradiation. The epoxy polymer was prepared using epoxy-diane resin ED-20 cured by polyethylenepolyamine. The irradiation of the samples was carried out with doses of 30, 100 and 300 kGy. The effects of doses on thermal and mechanical properties of the epoxy polymer were investigated by the methods of thermal gravimetric analysis, tensile test, and dynamic mechanical analysis. The thermal properties of the epoxy polymer slightly increased after irradiation at the heating in air. The tensile strength and Young's modulus of the epoxy polymer increased by the action of electron beam up to dose of 100 kGy and then decreased. The elongation at break decreased with increasing the irradiation dose.