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‘Shlor-Tsiran’ (literally called ‘Plum-Apricot’) is an old black apricot cultivar, which is traditionally cultivated in Armenia. Taxonomically, it belongs to Prunus × dasycarpa Ehrh., which is a spontaneous hybrid of apricot and cherry plum (P. armeniaca L. × P. cerasifera Ehrh.). Currently, ‘Shlor-Tsiran’ is considered to be very rare in Armenia and it occurs as single trees in old home orchards of the Ararat Valley. It is characterised by high frost and disease resistance, late flowering and fruiting compared with other cultivated apricots, and is of interest for the development of apricot cultivars displaying delayed fruit ripening and enhanced frost resistance. This study aims to phenotype the cv. ‘Shlor-Tsiran’ taking into consideration 67 quantitative and qualitative characteristics of vegetative and generative organs, growth and development. Morphological description of the cv. ‘Shlor-Tsiran’, comparing with its parent species, P. armeniaca and P. cerasifera, was performed. Data on fertility and viability of pollen grains, biochemical and nutritional properties of fruits and tree productivity are provided. The data obtained should contribute to a wider use and conservation of the black apricot cv. ‘Shlor-Tsiran’ gene pool, which can be used for breeding purposes as well. The article is illustrated with tables and original photographs.

Abstract This study investigated the time course of gene expression changes during the progression of persistent painful neuropathy caused by paclitaxel (PTX) in male and female mouse hindpaws and dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Bulk RNA-seq was used to examine these gene expression changes at 1, 16, and 31 days post-last PTX. At these time points, differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were predominantly related to the reduction or increase in epithelial, skin, bone, and muscle development and to angiogenesis, myelination, axonogenesis, and neurogenesis. These processes are accompanied by the regulation of DEGs related to the cytoskeleton, extracellular matrix organization, and cellular energy production. This gene plasticity during the progression of persistent painful neuropathy could be interpreted as a biological process linked to tissue regeneration/degeneration. In contrast, gene plasticity related to immune processes was minimal at 1–31 days after PTX. It was also noted that despite similarities in biological processes and pain chronicity between males and females, specific DEGs differed dramatically according to sex. The main conclusions of this study are that gene expression plasticity in hindpaw and DRG during PTX neuropathy progression similar to tissue regeneration and degeneration, minimally affects immune system processes and is heavily sex-dependent at the individual gene level.

Abstract Proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs) represent a new therapeutic modality involving selectively directing disease-causing proteins for degradation through proteolytic systems. Our ability to exploit targeted protein degradation (TPD) for antibiotic development remains nascent due to our limited understanding of which bacterial proteins are amenable to a TPD strategy. Here, we use a genetic system to model chemically-induced proximity and degradation to screen essential proteins in Mycobacterium smegmatis (Msm), a model for the human pathogen M. tuberculosis (Mtb). By integrating experimental screening of 72 protein candidates and machine learning, we find that drug-induced proximity to the bacterial ClpC1P1P2 proteolytic complex leads to the degradation of many endogenous proteins, especially those with disordered termini. Additionally, TPD of essential Msm proteins inhibits bacterial growth and potentiates the effects of existing antimicrobial compounds. Together, our results provide biological principles to select and evaluate attractive targets for future Mtb PROTAC development, as both standalone antibiotics and potentiators of existing antibiotic efficacy.

Functional literacy as a pedagogical category is considered in the context of its development in the system of secondary vocational education. It is known that for the successful development of the personal characteristics of students, the teacher needs a deep understanding of its essence and context. In this article, a description of the process of development and evaluation of functional literacy of students of professional educational organizations is presented, based on a systematic approach, which is considered as a methodological basis for the development and functioning of the process of developing functional literacy among students of vocational schools. The experience of professional development of vocational education teachers for the implementation of a systematic approach is also presented. The emphasis is on the development of general professional competencies, which are based on the key components of functional literacy and are related to the characteristics of the future activities of students of secondary vocational education. The content of the educational community work in the Samara region in the field of functional literacy at the secondary school level, described by the author, reflects the stages of the process, regional specifics, features of the professional development of secondary school teachers and the implementation of the principles of a systematic approach (integrity, hierarchy, planning, dynamism, adaptability and structuring) in the formation and assessment of functional literacy of students of professional educational organizations.

This article delves into the profound impact of postmodernism on the trajectory and evolution of future public administration. The 20th century witnessed radical changes in worldview, marking the transition from modernity to postmodernity. The basic principles of postmodernism, encompassing deconstruction, fragmentation, future shock, and cultural relativism, have instigated a paradigm shift challenging traditional administrative frameworks (M. Foucault, J.-F. Lyotard, A. Toffler, etc.). The article explores how these postmodern tenets influence administrative practices, power structures, and the very nature of governance. Postmodernity is characterized by a unique attitude towards truth, acknowledging its relativity, and by decentration, the absence of a single center, replaced by multipolarity and globalization. “Post-truth” replaces truth, posing new challenges to the future of public administration. The public administration of the future will be shaped by existing trends, including Public-Private Partnerships (PPP), Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), etc. It will also depend on modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, data analysis, and data-driven decision-making, as underscored by the need for digitalization in response to the pandemic (according to EIB). However, alongside advantages, there are also challenges, such as issues of liability in the use of AI for future public administration. These risks can be mitigated through collaborative and participatory governance models, adaptive leadership, an emphasis on inclusivity, diversity, and social equity, addressing environmental concerns, advanced training courses, and other strategic measures.

Proton-conducting electrolytes (PCEs) are extensively researched materials utilized in solid oxide electrochemical cells with various operating principles. The high ionic (protonic) transport of PCEs offers superior performance of such cells at reduced temperatures (400–600 °C). However, chemical-related deformations (strains) caused by the materials' hydration/dehydration pose serious technological challenges for fabricating multilayered (cer-cer, cer-met, and cer-glass) assemblies. Therefore, studying both thermal and chemical expansions of PCEs is crucial. This work presents in-depth high-temperature characterization of Sc-doped BaSnO3 compounds (BaSn1−xScxO3−δ) in terms of their thermochemical expansion behavior. This characterization includes high-temperature X-ray diffraction and dilatometry analyses under various measuring conditions. On one hand, the collected data can serve as technological characteristics for the selection of appropriate functional materials. On the other hand, the thermochemical expansion data can be used to evaluate the thermodynamic parameters (enthalpy and entropy of hydration) and transport parameters (water chemical diffusion coefficient and chemical surface exchange constant) of PCEs. The latter was shown in the present work for the first time. This paves a new way to reveal the relationships between the composition, structure, thermochemical response, and transport properties of complex oxides capable of reversible water uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proton‐conducting ceramic electrolytes offer great potential for the development of low‐ and intermediate‐temperature solid oxide electrochemical devices, e.g., fuel cells and electrolyzers. However, the electrolyte constitutes the main bottleneck in such devices, especially at reduced temperatures, determining their overall performance and efficiency. Herein, for the first time the low‐temperature transport properties of BaSn0.8Y0.2O3−δ as a representative of proton‐conducting materials are investigated. The attention is focussed on grain and grain boundary conductivity of this ceramic material over a wide range of experimental conditions, including temperatures of 400–550 °C, oxygen partial pressures of 10−22–0.21 atm, and water vapor partial pressures of 10−5‐0.03 atm. After analyzing BaSn0.8Y0.2O3−δ with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy under these experimental conditions, the distribution of relaxation times is leveraged to evaluate the resistance, capacitance, and frequency of each electrolytic process. The data show that the BSY ceramic, prepared with CuO as a sintering additive, is characterized by three distinct processes: one is due to grain response, and two others are understood to be related to the responses of the pure and CuO‐covered grain boundaries. Therefore, this work opens a new path for the analysis of ionic, including protonic, transport along grains and grain boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proton‐conducting ceramic electrolytes offer great potential for the development of low‐ and intermediate‐temperature solid oxide electrochemical devices, e.g., fuel cells and electrolyzers. However, the electrolyte constitutes the main bottleneck in such devices, especially at reduced temperatures, determining their overall performance and efficiency. Herein, for the first time the low‐temperature transport properties of BaSn0.8Y0.2O3−δ as a representative of proton‐conducting materials are investigated. The attention is focussed on grain and grain boundary conductivity of this ceramic material over a wide range of experimental conditions, including temperatures of 400–550 °C, oxygen partial pressures of 10−22–0.21 atm, and water vapor partial pressures of 10−5‐0.03 atm. After analyzing BaSn0.8Y0.2O3−δ with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy under these experimental conditions, the distribution of relaxation times is leveraged to evaluate the resistance, capacitance, and frequency of each electrolytic process. The data show that the BSY ceramic, prepared with CuO as a sintering additive, is characterized by three distinct processes: one is due to grain response, and two others are understood to be related to the responses of the pure and CuO‐covered grain boundaries. Therefore, this work opens a new path for the analysis of ionic, including protonic, transport along grains and grain boundaries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]