scholarly journals Novichoks: The Dangerous Fourth Generation of Chemical Weapons

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 1222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanos Franca ◽  
Daniel Kitagawa ◽  
Samir Cavalcante ◽  
Jorge da Silva ◽  
Eugenie Nepovimova ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Former Soviet Union ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Nerve Agents ◽  
Chemical Warfare ◽  
Fourth Generation ◽  
Chemical Weapons ◽  
Russian Government ◽  
Physical Chemical

“Novichoks” is the name given to the controversial chemical weapons supposedly developed in the former Soviet Union between the 1970s and the 1990s. Designed to be undetectable and untreatable, these chemicals became the most toxic of the nerve agents, being very attractive for both terrorist and chemical warfare purposes. However, very little information is available in the literature, and the Russian government did not acknowledge their development. The intent of this review is to provide the IJMS readers with a general overview on what is known about novichoks today. We briefly tell the story of the secret development of these agents, and discuss their synthesis, toxicity, physical-chemical properties, and possible ways of treatment and neutralization. In addition, we also wish to call the attention of the scientific community to the great risks still represented by nerve agents worldwide, and the need to keep constant investments in the development of antidotes and ways to protect against such deadly compounds.

scholarly journals Renal Biopsy Research in the Former Soviet Union: Prevention of a Negligent Custom

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergei V. Jargin
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Renal Biopsy ◽  
Former Soviet Union ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Chronic Alcoholism ◽  
Separate Entity ◽  
International Scientific Community ◽  
New Methods ◽  
Partial Isolation

Insufficient international coordination of medical research and partial isolation from the international scientific community can result in repetition of research already performed in other countries. Renal biopsy was broadly used for research in the former Soviet Union. It was performed, sometimes without sufficient clinical indications, in patients with amyloidosis, renovascular hypertension (from both kidneys: on the side of the renal artery stenosis and the contralateral one), chronic alcoholism, and acute and chronic pyelonephritis (intraoperative wedge and core biopsies). In chronic alcoholism, biopsies were taken from kidneys, pancreas, salivary glands, stomach, lung, skin, and liver, sometimes repeatedly. The classification of glomerulonephritis was different from those used internationally, for example, it did not include IgA nephropathy as a separate entity. Several examples of studies based on renal biopsies are discussed in this paper. A conclusion is however optimistic: the upturn in economy enables today to modernize equipment and introduce new methods, while broadening international cooperation facilitates the flow of foreign experience into the country. The purpose of this paper was to prevent inadequate use of renal biopsy in future.

scholarly journals Asbestos manufacturing plants in Poland

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Wilk ◽  
Małgorzata Krówczyńska ◽  
Bogdan Zagajewski
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Former Soviet Union ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Manufacturing Plants ◽  
Composition Materials ◽  
Current Survey ◽  
Physical And Chemical ◽  
And Chemical Properties

Abstract The unique set of physical and chemical properties of asbestos has led to its many industrial applications, such as roof coverings, textiles, rope, cord and yarn, paper, friction and composition materials, household product, acid-resistant filters, packing, insulation, and certain types of lagging, amongst others. In Poland asbestos-containing products were manufactured from raw materials imported mainly from the former Soviet Union, with production launched at the beginning of 20th century. According to Annex 4 to the Act of 19 June 1997 on the prohibition of the use of asbestos-containing products, there were 28 asbestos manufacturing plants in Poland located in 11 provinces throughout the country. The current survey was undertaken to enable asbestos manufacturing plants to be arranged, described and divided in order to contribute to further surveys.

scholarly journals Glycosylated-Chitosan Derivatives: A Systematic Review

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (7) ◽  
pp. 1534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pasquale Sacco ◽  
Michela Cok ◽  
Francesca Scognamiglio ◽  
Chiara Pizzolitto ◽  
Federica Vecchies ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Drug Delivery ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Chitosan Derivatives ◽  
Physical Chemical ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Physical Limitations ◽  
Biomedical Field

Chitosan derivatives, and more specifically, glycosylated derivatives, are nowadays attracting much attention within the scientific community due to the fact that this set of engineered polysaccharides finds application in different sectors, spanning from food to the biomedical field. Overcoming chitosan (physical) limitations or grafting biological relevant molecules, to mention a few, represent two cardinal strategies to modify parent biopolymer; thereby, synthetizing high added value polysaccharides. The present review is focused on the introduction of oligosaccharide side chains on the backbone of chitosan. The synthetic aspects and the effect on physical-chemical properties of such modifications are discussed. Finally, examples of potential applications in biomaterials design and drug delivery of these novel modified chitosans are disclosed.

scholarly journals Threatened amphibians in the former Soviet Union: the current situation and the main threats

Oryx ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergius L. Kuzmin
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Economic Crisis ◽  
Former Soviet Union ◽  
Scientific Community ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Adoption And Implementation ◽  
The Status ◽  
Similar Survey ◽  
Former Ussr ◽  
Different Parts

Before the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, research and conservation of the region's amphibian fauna was co-ordsinated by a network of scientists. The use of similar survey methods made it possible to obtain comparable estimates of amphibian populations in different parts of the territory. Since 1991 the system of research and conservation has broken down as a result of political changes and economic crisis. The scientific community has become fragmented and there is a scarcity of funds available for essential research and conservation. There is an urgent need for the adoption and implementation of conservation measures, both within the territory of the former USSR and elsewhere, in order to prevent further declines in threatened amphibian populations. This paper presents a summary of the status of amphibians in the former USSR, the threats they face and recommended measures to protect them.

scholarly journals Diversion of Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Weapons Expertise from the Former Soviet Union: Understanding an Evolving Problem

10.7249/db457 ◽  
2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
John Parachini ◽  
David Mosher ◽  
John Baker ◽  
Keith Crane ◽  
Michael Chase ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Former Soviet Union ◽  
Chemical Weapons

Marital Stability Among Jewish and Mixed Couples Following Immigration to Israel From the Former Soviet Union

2012 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 158-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoav Lavee ◽  
Ludmila Krivosh
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Cultural Identity ◽  
Social Adjustment ◽  
Former Soviet Union ◽  
Marital Stability ◽  
Marital Instability ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Mixed Marriages ◽  
Marital Outcomes ◽  
Jewish Immigrants

This research aims to identify factors associated with marital instability among Jewish and mixed (Jewish and non-Jewish) couples following immigration from the former Soviet Union. Based on the Strangeness Theory and the Model of Acculturation, we predicted that non-Jewish immigrants would be less well adjusted personally and socially to Israeli society than Jewish immigrants and that endogamous Jewish couples would have better interpersonal congruence than mixed couples in terms of personal and social adjustment. The sample included 92 Jewish couples and 92 ethnically-mixed couples, of which 82 couples (40 Jewish, 42 mixed) divorced or separated after immigration and 102 couples (52 Jewish, 50 ethnically mixed) remained married. Significant differences were found between Jewish and non-Jewish immigrants in personal adjustment, and between endogamous and ethnically-mixed couples in the congruence between spouses in their personal and social adjustment. Marital instability was best explained by interpersonal disparity in cultural identity and in adjustment to life in Israel. The findings expand the knowledge on marital outcomes of immigration, in general, and immigration of mixed marriages, in particular.

The Contribution of Pavlov's Typology of CNS Properties to Personality Research

1997 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 125-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Strelau
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Former Soviet Union ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Special Significance ◽  
The West ◽  
Personality Dimensions ◽  
Personality Research ◽  
Personality Theories ◽  
Strength Of Excitation ◽  
Point Of Departure

This paper presents Pavlov's contribution to the development of biological-oriented personality theories. Taking a short description of Pavlov's typology of central nervous system (CNS) properties as a point of departure, it shows how, and to what extent, this typology influenced further research in the former Soviet Union as well as in the West. Of special significance for the development of biologically oriented personality dimensions was the conditioned reflex paradigm introduced by Pavlov for studying individual differences in dogs. This paradigm was used by Russian psychologists in research on types of nervous systems conducted in different animal species as well as for assessing temperament in children and adults. Also, personality psychologists in the West, such as Eysenck, Spence, and Gray, incorporated the CR paradigm into their theories. Among the basic properties of excitation and inhibition on which Pavlov's typology was based, strength of excitation and the basic indicator of this property, protective inhibition, gained the highest popularity in arousaloriented personality theories. Many studies have been conducted in which the Pavlovian constructs of CNS properties have been related to different personality dimensions. In current research the behavioral expressions of the Pavlovian constructs of strength of excitation, strength of inhibition, and mobility of nervous processes as measured by the Pavlovian Temperament Survey (PTS) have been related to over a dozen of personality dimensions, mostly referring to temperament.

Transmigration und Kapitalismus

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (140) ◽  
pp. 407-422
Author(s):  
Julia Bernstein
Keyword(s):  
Soviet Union ◽  
Former Soviet Union ◽  
Different Sources

Based on an ethnographical study the article presents the problems of Soviet migrants with capitalistic every day life. The reaction of the migrants and the role of their imagination of capitalism, which was formed by different sources in the former Soviet Union, is investigated.

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