Derivation of the Gutenberg-Richter Empirical Formula from the Solution of the Generalized Logistic Equation

We have written a new equation to study the statistics of earthquake distributions. We call this equation "the generalized logistic equation". The Gutenberg-Richter frequency-magnitude formula was derived from the solution of the generalized logistic equation as an asymptotic case in approximation of large magnitudes. To illustrate how the found solution of the generalized logistic equation works, it was used to approximate the observed cumulative distribution of earthquakes in four different geological provinces: the Central Atlantic (40N-25N, 5W-35W), Canary Islands, Magellan Mountains (20N-9S, 148E-170E), and the Sea of Japan. This approximation showed the excellent fit between the theoretical curves and observed data for earthquake magnitudes 1<m<9.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, 1 table, 8 references. Submitted to Natural Science, Earthquakes special issu

High Triglycerides Are Associated with Low Thrombocyte Counts and High VEGF in Nephropathia Epidemica

Nephropathia epidemica (NE) is a mild form of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. Several reports have demonstrated a severe alteration in lipoprotein metabolism. However, little is known about changes in circulating lipids in NE. The objectives of this study were to evaluate changes in serum total cholesterol, high density cholesterol (HDCL), and triglycerides. In addition to evaluation of serum cytokine activation associations, changes in lipid profile and cytokine activation were determined for gender, thrombocyte counts, and VEGF. Elevated levels of triglycerides and decreased HDCL were observed in NE, while total cholesterol did not differ from controls. High triglycerides were associated with both the lowest thrombocyte counts and high serum VEGF, as well as a high severity score. Additionally, there were higher levels of triglycerides in male than female NE patients. Low triglycerides were associated with upregulation of IFN-γ and IL-12, suggesting activation of Th1 helper cells. Furthermore, levels of IFN-γ and IL-12 were increased in patients with lower severity scores, suggesting that a Th1 type immune response is playing protective role in NE. These combined data advance the understanding of NE pathogenesis and indicate a role for high triglycerides in disease severity

The mRubyFT Protein, Genetically Encoded Blue-to-Red Fluorescent Timer.

peer reviewedGenetically encoded monomeric blue-to-red fluorescent timers (mFTs) change their fluorescent color over time. mCherry-derived mFTs were used for the tracking of the protein age, visualization of the protein trafficking, and labeling of engram cells. However, the brightness of the blue and red forms of mFTs are 2-3- and 5-7-fold dimmer compared to the brightness of the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP). To address this limitation, we developed a blue-to-red fluorescent timer, named mRubyFT, derived from the bright mRuby2 red fluorescent protein. The blue form of mRubyFT reached its maximum at 5.7 h and completely transformed into the red form that had a maturation half-time of 15 h. Blue and red forms of purified mRubyFT were 4.1-fold brighter and 1.3-fold dimmer than the respective forms of the mCherry-derived Fast-FT timer in vitro. When expressed in mammalian cells, both forms of mRubyFT were 1.3-fold brighter than the respective forms of Fast-FT. The violet light-induced blue-to-red photoconversion was 4.2-fold less efficient in the case of mRubyFT timer compared to the same photoconversion of the Fast-FT timer. The timer behavior of mRubyFT was confirmed in mammalian cells. The monomeric properties of mRubyFT allowed the labeling and confocal imaging of cytoskeleton proteins in live mammalian cells. The X-ray structure of the red form of mRubyFT at 1.5 Å resolution was obtained and analyzed. The role of the residues from the chromophore surrounding was studied using site-directed mutagenesis

Virulence Factors and Antibiotic Resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae Strains Isolated From Neonates With Sepsis

Introduction:Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the most important infectious agents in neonates. There are “classic” and hypervirulent strains of K. pneumoniae. The “classic” non-virulent strain of K. pneumoniae, producing extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs), is associated with nosocomial infections. Hypervirulent K. pneumoniae strains are associated with invasive infections in previously healthy adult people, and most of them exhibit antimicrobial susceptibility. The role of virulent strains of K. pneumoniae (including hv-KP) in neonatal infections is unknown. The aim of the study was the assessment of the impact of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance of K. pneumoniae strains on clinical features and outcomes of neonatal infection.Materials and Methods: Two groups of infants were enrolled. The first group consisted of 10 neonates with sepsis caused by K. pneumoniae. The second group consisted of 10 neonates with urinary tract infection (UTI) caused by K. pneumoniae. We investigated the susceptibility of K. pneumoniae isolates to antibiotics, the ability of the microorganism to produce ESBL, and virulence factors, including the rmpA gene, aerobactin, and colibactin genes. In neonates with sepsis, we investigated K. pneumoniae isolates, which was taken from the blood, in neonates with UTI—from the urine.Results: In neonates with sepsis testing of K. pneumoniae isolates for ESBL production was positive in 60% of cases, in neonates with UTI—in 40% of cases. All blood and urine ESBL producing K. pneumoniae isolates were resistant to ampicillins, including protected ones, and third-generation cephalosporins. At the same time, these isolates were sensitive to meropenem, amikacin, and ciprofloxacin. The rmpA gene was detected in four blood, and three urine K. pneumoniae isolates. In neonates with sepsis rmpA gene in two cases was detected in ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae isolates. They were infants with meningitis, and both cases were fatal. In the group of infants with UTI, the rmpA gene was detected only in K. pneumoniae isolates not producing ESBL. Aerobactin and colibactin genes were detected in two neonates with sepsis and in three neonates with UTI. In all cases, aerobactin and colibactin genes were detected only in rmpA-positive K. pneumoniae isolates. Out of three fatal outcomes, two cases were caused by hv-KP producing ESBL.Conclusion: The prevalence of virulent strains of K. pneumoniae among neonates with sepsis and other neonatal infection is higher than we think. The most severe forms of neonatal sepsis with an unfavorable outcome in our study were due to virulent strains of K. pneumoniae

D.V.: Project animat brain: Designing the animat control system on the basis of the functional systems theory

Abstract. The paper describes the design of an animat control system (the Animat Brain) that is based of the Petr K. Anokhin&apos;s theory of functional systems. We propose the animat control system that consists of a set of functional systems (FSs) and enables predictive and purposeful behavior. Each FS consists of two neural networks: the Actor and the Model. The Actors are intended to form chains of actions and the Models are intended to predict futures events. There are primary and secondary repertoires of behaviors: the primary repertoire is formed by evolution; the secondary repertoire is formed by means of learning. The paper describes both principles of the Animat Brain operation and the particular model of predictive behavior in cellular landmark environment.

Multicaloric Effect in 0–3-Type MnAs/PMN–PT Composites

The new xMnAs/(1 − x)PMN–PT (x = 0.2, 0.3) multicaloric composites, consisting of the modified PMN–PT-based relaxor-type ferroelectric ceramics and ferromagnetic compound of MnAs were fabricated, and their structure, magnetic, dielectric properties, and caloric effects were studied. Both components of the multicaloric composite have phase transition temperatures around 315 K, and large electrocaloric (~0.27 K at 20 kV/cm) and magnetocaloric (~13 K at 5 T) effects around this temperature were observed. As expected, composite samples exhibit a decrease in magnetocaloric effect (<1.4 K at 4 T) in comparison with an initial MnAs magnetic component (6.7 K at 4 T), but some interesting phenomena associated with magnetoelectric interaction between ferromagnetic and ferroelectric components were observed. Thus, a composite with x = 0.2 exhibits a double maximum in isothermal magnetic entropy changes, while a composite with x = 0.3 demonstrates behavior more similar to MnAs. Based on the results of experiments, the model of the multicaloric effect in an MnAs/PMN–PT composite was developed and different scenario observations of multicaloric response were modeled. In the framework of the proposed model, it was shown that boosting of caloric effect could be achieved by (1) compilation of ferromagnetic and ferroelectric components with large caloric effects in selected mass ratio and phase transition temperature; and (2) choosing of magnetic and electric field coapplying protocol. The 0.3MnAs/0.7PMN–PT composite was concluded to be the optimal multicaloric composite and a phase shift ∆φ = −π/4 between applied manetic fields can provide a synergetic caloric effect at a working point of 316 K

Previously Unidentified Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in HIV/AIDS Cases Associate with Clinical Parameters and Disease Progression

The genetic background of an individual plays an important role in the progression of HIV infection to AIDS. Identifying previously unknown or uncharacterized single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that associate with disease progression may reveal important therapeutic targets and provide a greater understanding of disease pathogenesis. In the present study, we employed ultra-high multiplex PCR on an Ion Torrent next-generation sequencing platform to sequence 23 innate immune genes from 94 individuals with HIV/AIDS. This data was used to identify potential associations of SNPs with clinical parameters and disease progression. SNPs that associated with an increased viral load were identified in the genes for the interleukin 15 receptor (IL15RA), toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7), tripartite motif-containing protein 5 (TRIM5), and two killer-cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR2DL1 and KIR2DL3). Additionally, SNPs that associated with progression from HIV infection to AIDS were identified in two 2?-5?-oligoadenylate synthetase genes (OAS2 and OAS3). In contrast, other SNPs identified in OAS2 and OAS3 genes, as well as in the TRIM5 and KIR2DS4 genes, were associated with a slower progression of disease. Taken together, our data demonstrates the utility of ultra-high multiplex PCR in identifying polymorphisms of potential clinical significance and further,identifies SNPs that may play a role in HIV pathogenesis

High Triglycerides Are Associated with Low Thrombocyte Counts and High VEGF in Nephropathia Epidemica

Nephropathia epidemica (NE) is a mild formof hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome. Several reports have demonstrated a severe alteration in lipoproteinmetabolism. However, little is known about changes in circulating lipids in NE. The objectives of this study were to evaluate changes in serum total cholesterol, high density cholesterol (HDCL), and triglycerides. In addition to evaluation of serum cytokine activation associations, changes in lipid profile and cytokine activation were determined for gender, thrombocyte counts, and VEGF. Elevated levels of triglycerides and decreased HDCL were observed in NE, while total cholesterol did not differ from controls. High triglycerides were associated with both the lowest thrombocyte counts and high serum VEGF, as well as a high severity score. Additionally, there were higher levels of triglycerides in male than female NE patients. Low triglycerides were associated with upregulation of IFN-gamma and IL-12, suggesting activation of Th1 helper cells. Furthermore, levels of IFN-gamma and IL-12 were increased in patients with lower severity scores, suggesting that a Th1 type immune response is playing protective role in NE. These combined data advance the understanding of NE pathogenesis and indicate a role for high triglycerides in disease severity