Androgenic Alopecia: Cross-Talk Between Cell Signal Transduction Pathways

Signaling pathways that control coordination of hair follicle cells genetic program are the convenient model for explaining the hierarchy of intercellular interactions governing cyclic growth of hair. This chapter describes models of molecular signaling pathways specific to dermal papilla cells from balding human scalp in hair follicle cycle. These models include already published data, as well as information inferred from pathway analysis of microarray data and protein-protein interaction database. Interplay of androgenic-alopecia-related signaling pathways FGF, TGFB, BMP, and WNT, as well as cyclin-dependent kinases signaling, is shown

The main characteristics of the aquasoils of the Ussuri Bay of the Sea of Japan

The manuscript presents the main characteristics of aquasoils (granulometric composition, organic carbon, acid-base properties, total nitrogen) of the shelf zone of the Ussuri Bay of the Sea of Japan. A clear relationship between the content of organic carbon and fractions of granulometric composition in the studied samples was revealed. The excess of the maximum permissible concentrations values for lead was detected for only one point. The rest of the aquasoils are not contaminated with lead

The technology of augmented reality as a motivational factor for EFL future soil scientists in learning foreign language terminology of chemical elements

Currently augmented reality technology, as one of innovative tools, is rapidly penetrating the process of mastering a foreign language, helping to diversify and optimize the learning process for a new generation of students. The use of augmented reality technology in the foreign language educational process helps to increase motivation of students to study a foreign language at a university. The purpose of the study is to examine and analyze the impact of augmented reality technology on future soil specialists’ motivation in the process of learning English as a foreign language. To achieve the goal of the study, a comprehensive research methodology was chosen: theoretical analysis of scientific, pedagogical and methodological literature on the topic of research, pedagogical observation, survey, interview, analysis of the research results. Along with traditional methods, the elements of augmented reality were introduced in the process of teaching a foreign language to first-year students of non-linguistic specialties in order to identify the effectiveness of the influence of the technology on students’ motivation in learning English as a foreign language. The authors conclude that the technology of augmented reality has a didactic potential in the study of a foreign language in general and in the study of foreign language terminology of chemical elements in particular

Positive experience in the application of soil- and carbon-saving agricultural technologies with the introduction of biochar in the conditions of the Russian Far East

Based on the positive results of a long-term field experiment on the introduction of bio-coal for vegetable crops in the Primorsky Territory on soils of heavy chemical composition, its sequestration effect and positive effect on the water-physical properties of soils were proved. After the first year of application of biochar, a significant decrease in CO2 flux in the field without a drainage system was shown by 4.5% at a dose of 1 kg/m2 of biochar and by 36.6% at a dose of 3 kg/m2 of biochar compared with a site without biochar. The decrease in CO2 flux indicates the reclamation effect of biochar due to its high sorption properties affecting the sequestration capacity of the soil. After the second year of application of biochar, the greatest decrease in CO2 flux was observed when 1 kg/m2 was applied. The greatest difference between the values of the CO2 flux at the control site and the sites with the introduction of biochar was noted in September after the abnormal amount of precipitation recorded in August (521 mm). So, at the control site in September, the CO2 flux was 2,276 mg CO2 m-2 h-1, at the site with the addition of 1 kg/m2 of biochar, the CO2 flux was 560 mg CO2 m-2 h-1, at the site with the addition of 3 kg/m2 – 975 mg CO2 m-2 h-1

Variability of Sequence Surrounding the Xist Gene in Rodents Suggests Taxon-Specific Regulation of X Chromosome Inactivation

One of the two X chromosomes in female mammalian cells is subject to inactivation (XCI) initiated by the Xist gene. In this study, we examined in rodents (voles and rat) the conservation of the microsatellite region DXPas34, the Tsix gene (antisense counterpart of Xist), and enhancer Xite that have been shown to flank Xist and regulate XCI in mouse. We have found that mouse regions of the Tsix gene major promoter and minisatellite repeat DXPas34 are conserved among rodents. We have also shown that in voles and rat the region homologous to the mouse Tsix major promoter, initiates antisense to Xist transcription and terminates around the Xist gene start site as is observed with mouse Tsix. A conservation of Tsix expression pattern in voles, rat and mice suggests a crucial role of the antisense transcription in regulation of Xist and XIC in rodents. Most surprisingly, we have found that voles lack the regions homologous to the regulatory element Xite, which is instead replaced with the Slc7a3 gene that is unassociated with the X-inactivation centre in any other eutherians studied. Furthermore, we have not identified any transcription that could have the same functions as murine Xite in voles. Overall, our data show that not all the functional elements surrounding Xist in mice are well conserved even within rodents, thereby suggesting that the regulation of XCI may be at least partially taxon-specific

COVID19 Disease Map, a computational knowledge repository of virus-host interaction mechanisms.

Funder: Bundesministerium für Bildung und ForschungFunder: Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (BMBF)We need to effectively combine the knowledge from surging literature with complex datasets to propose mechanistic models of SARS-CoV-2 infection, improving data interpretation and predicting key targets of intervention. Here, we describe a large-scale community effort to build an open access, interoperable and computable repository of COVID-19 molecular mechanisms. The COVID-19 Disease Map (C19DMap) is a graphical, interactive representation of disease-relevant molecular mechanisms linking many knowledge sources. Notably, it is a computational resource for graph-based analyses and disease modelling. To this end, we established a framework of tools, platforms and guidelines necessary for a multifaceted community of biocurators, domain experts, bioinformaticians and computational biologists. The diagrams of the C19DMap, curated from the literature, are integrated with relevant interaction and text mining databases. We demonstrate the application of network analysis and modelling approaches by concrete examples to highlight new testable hypotheses. This framework helps to find signatures of SARS-CoV-2 predisposition, treatment response or prioritisation of drug candidates. Such an approach may help deal with new waves of COVID-19 or similar pandemics in the long-term perspective

Phenological shifts of abiotic events, producers and consumers across a continent

Ongoing climate change can shift organism phenology in ways that vary depending on species, habitats and climate factors studied. To probe for large-scale patterns in associated phenological change, we use 70,709 observations from six decades of systematic monitoring across the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Among 110 phenological events related to plants, birds, insects, amphibians and fungi, we find a mosaic of change, defying simple predictions of earlier springs, later autumns and stronger changes at higher latitudes and elevations. Site mean temperature emerged as a strong predictor of local phenology, but the magnitude and direction of change varied with trophic level and the relative timing of an event. Beyond temperature-associated variation, we uncover high variation among both sites and years, with some sites being characterized by disproportionately long seasons and others by short ones. Our findings emphasize concerns regarding ecosystem integrity and highlight the difficulty of predicting climate change outcomes. The authors use systematic monitoring across the former USSR to investigate phenological changes across taxa. The long-term mean temperature of a site emerged as a strong predictor of phenological change, with further imprints of trophic level, event timing, site, year and biotic interactions.Peer reviewe

Chronicles of nature calendar, a long-term and large-scale multitaxon database on phenology

We present an extensive, large-scale, long-term and multitaxon database on phenological and climatic variation, involving 506,186 observation dates acquired in 471 localities in Russian Federation, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan. The data cover the period 1890-2018, with 96% of the data being from 1960 onwards. The database is rich in plants, birds and climatic events, but also includes insects, amphibians, reptiles and fungi. The database includes multiple events per species, such as the onset days of leaf unfolding and leaf fall for plants, and the days for first spring and last autumn occurrences for birds. The data were acquired using standardized methods by permanent staff of national parks and nature reserves (87% of the data) and members of a phenological observation network (13% of the data). The database is valuable for exploring how species respond in their phenology to climate change. Large-scale analyses of spatial variation in phenological response can help to better predict the consequences of species and community responses to climate change.Peer reviewe

Speech behaviour in talk-shows on the basis of critical analysis of Oprah Winfrey's speech portrait

The success of a TV personality, both in the social and professional sphere, depends on the speed and effectiveness of his thinking, creative behavior in unexpected and unpredictable situations. The ability to quickly navigate various communication situations, find a successful path contributes to success. Knowledge about speech behaviour, speech impact, as well as the ability to use speech strategies and tactics can help achieve definite goals and increase communication efficiency. The study of speech behaviour of Oprah Winfrey has been carried out within the framework of hidden pragmalinguistics. The conducted research contributes to the development of a methodology for diagnosing the personality qualities of a speaker by his speech, to the theory of studying stereotypical speech behavior of professional groups