Toward an investigation of diversity and cultivation of rye (Secale cereale ssp. cereale L.) in Germany: methodological insights and first results from early modern plant material

Rye (Secale cerealessp.cerealeL.) is a secondary domesticate, considered to have originated asa weed in wheat fields and to have developed traits of domestication by evolving similar physiologicaland morphological characteristics to those of wheat. Although it migrated into Europe as a weedpossessing domestication traits, it became one of the most significant crops grown in large parts ofEurope from the medieval period onward. Within the modern borders of Germany, rye was grownusing at least two divergent cultivation practices: eternal rye monoculture and three-field rotation.The straw of rye was used to produce Wellerhölzer, which are construction components in traditionalhalf-timbered houses that have enabled a desiccated preservation of the plant remains. In order toassess the impact of cultivation practices, local environmental conditions and genetic variation onthe genetic diversification of rye, we seek to integrate well-established archaeobotanical methodswith aDNA sequencing of desiccated plant remains obtained from Wellerhölzer from Germany. Inthe current contribution, we present a proof of concept, based on the analysis of plant remains froma Wellerholz from the Old Town Hall of Göttingen. We use arable weed ecology to reconstructcultivation practices and local environmental conditions and present a phylogenetic analysis basedon targeted loci of the chloroplast and nuclear genome. Our results emphasise that the study ofdesiccated remains of plants from Wellerhölzer offer a unique opportunity for an integration ofarchaeobotanical reconstructions of cultivation practices and local environment and the sequencingof aDNA

Effect of Fe content on atomic and electronic structure of complex oxides Sr Ti,Fe O3 delta

Two series of SrTi1 xFexO3 amp; 948; STFO powders with different Fe content produced by two different methods, solid state reaction or modified Pechini synthesis, have been investigated by soft X ray absorption spectroscopy. The O1s K , Fe2p L2,3 and Ti2p L2,3 absorption spectra of STFO powders were analyzed. Partial substitution of Ti by Fe atoms in SrTiO3 were found to cause asymmetric distortion of TiO6 octahedrons which may violate the cubic symmetry of STFO. It was established that the distortion of TiO6 octahedrons increases with increasing Fe content. The joint analysis of the STFO spectra along with the reference compounds points to the presence mainly of Fe3 states in octahedral environment at small concentration of Fe atoms along with essentially smaller content of Fe4 states in octahedral environment where the latter contribution increases with increasing Fe content. Also a presence of Fe3 states in tetrahedral environment with Fe content higher than 50 is traced. A certain amount of Fe2 ions in an octahedral environment was also found in the STFO compound prepared by spray pyrolysis with Fe content higher than 75 . The O1s K absorption spectra point to increase in oxygen vacancy concentration with increasing Fe content. The lowest degree of structure distortions was traced in STFO35. Hence, the STFO35 compound seems to be mostly appropriate for technical application

Migraine and neck pain: Mechanisms of comorbidity

Neck pain and migraine are common diseases. Neck pain seldom occurs in a patient with migraine. However, the relationship between migraine and neck pain has been inadequately investigated.Objective: to analyze neck pain in patients with migraine to determine possible comorbidity mechanisms of these diseases.Patients and methods. The investigation enrolled 63 patients with chronic migraine (CM) and 40 with episodic migraine (EM) diagnosed in accordance with the International Classification of Headache Disorders, 3rd edition (ICHD-3). Winking reflex (WR) and nociceptive flexion reflex (NFR) were examined to evaluate the function of antinociceptive systems.Results. In the patients with CM, neck pain was more common than in those with EM (53.03% versus 14.02%); and panful tenderness, sensitivity, and tension of neck muscles were more marked. There was also a significant reduction in WR and NFR thresholds. Neck pain was noted to be an integral component of the pathogenesis of CM in a large number of patients with this condition. The authors proposed several pathophysiological mechanisms of a relationship between migraine and neck pain. Neck muscles and craniovertebral junction areas serve as a source for the arrival of nociceptive pain pulses in the central nervous system (peripheral sensitization), promoting pain chronization. Muscle dysfunction in this area may be, in turn, a reflection of central sensitization and impaired descending pain control

Depression is not the only cause of cognitive impairment in chronic migraine

Background. Patients with the chronic migraine frequently present with memory and attention complaints. However, the prevalence and phenotype of such impairment in chronic migraine have not been studied.Objective – to evaluate the prevalence of the objective cognitive deficit in patients with chronic migraine and factors underlying its etiology. Materials and methods. We recruited 62 subjects with chronic migraine and 36 genderand age-matched controls with low-frequency episodic migraine (not more, then 4 headache days per month) aged 18–59. All patients filled in the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Sheehan Disability Scale. Cognitive function was assessed with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Digital Symbol Substitution Test (DSST), Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), and the Perceived Deficits Questionnaire (PDQ-20).Results. In this study 58 % of patients with chronic migraine complained of memory loss. Cognitive impairment was also found with PDQ-20. Objectively, we found a significant decrease in 90-second DSST results and RAVLT total recall and learning rate. In 40 % of subjects with chronic migraine scored lower than 26 points on MoCA. Patients with chronic migraine more frequently had lower DSST rates as compared to episodic migraine (odds ratio 5.07 (95 % confidence interval – 1.59–16.17); p = 0.003). Depression and anxiety did not correlate with performance on cognitive tests. Chronic migraine (frequent headache) and longer headache history, but not depression, anxiety or medication overuse were independent predictors of cognitive impairment.Conclusion. Subjective and objective cognitive deficits are prevalent in the chronic migraine population. Most often memory and attention are impaired. Longer headache history and presence of chronic migraine are independent risk factors for cognitive impairment in patients with chronic migraine

Dispersion force for materials relevant for micro and nanodevices fabrication

The dispersion (van der Waals and Casimir) force between two semi-spaces are calculated using the Lifshitz theory for different materials relevant for micro and nanodevices fabrication, namely, gold, silicon, gallium arsenide, diamond and two types of diamond-like carbon (DLC), silicon carbide, silicon nitride and silicon dioxide. The calculations were performed using recent experimental optical data available in the literature, usually ranging from the far infrared up to the extreme ultraviolet bands of the electromagnetic spectrum. The results are presented in the form of a correction factor to the Casimir force predicted between perfect conductors, for the separation between the semi-spaces varying from 1 nanometre up to 1 micrometre. The relative importance of the contributions to the dispersion force of the optical properties in different spectral ranges is analyzed. The role of the temperature for semiconductors and insulators is also addressed. The results are meant to be useful for the estimation of the impact of the Casimir and van der Waals forces on the operational parameters of micro and nanodevices

Physical constraints of cultural evolution of dialects in killer whales

Data collection was supported by a variety of organizations, including the Russian Fund for the Fundamental Research (Grant No. 15-04-05540), the Rufford Small Grants Fund, Whale and Dolphin Conservation, the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Grant No. SFRH/BD/30303/2006), Russell Trust Award of the University of St. Andrews, the Office of Naval Research, the Icelandic Research Fund (i. Rannsóknasjóður), the National Geographic Society Science and Exploration Europe (Grant No. GEFNE65-12), Vancouver Aquarium Marine Science Centre, the Canadian Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans, and the North Gulf Oceanic Society.Odontocete sounds are produced by two pairs of phonic lips situated in soft nares below the blowhole; the right pair is larger and is more likely to produce clicks, while the left pair is more likely to produce whistles. This has important implications for the cultural evolution of delphinid sounds: the greater the physical constraints, the greater the probability of random convergence. In this paper the authors examine the call structure of eight killer whale populations to identify structural constraints and to determine if they are consistent among all populations. Constraints were especially pronounced in two-voiced calls. In the calls of all eight populations, the lower component of two-voiced (biphonic) calls was typically centered below 4 kHz, while the upper component was typically above that value. The lower component of two-voiced calls had a narrower frequency range than single-voiced calls in all populations. This may be because some single-voiced calls are homologous to the lower component, while others are homologous to the higher component of two-voiced calls. Physical constraints on the call structure reduce the possible variation and increase the probability of random convergence, producing similar calls in different populations.PostprintPeer reviewe

Возрастные аспекты эпидемиологии бронхиальной астмы у детей Новосибирска

An epidemiological survey on the ISAAC protocol involved 7,168 schoolchildren, 3,584 aged 13— 14 and 3,584 aged 7—8. Medical histories reported wheeze and rale in 25.6% of cases, and 10.4% in the 12 months preceding the survey. 2% had wheezes more than 4 times a year. The junior group revealed a spectacularly higher occurrence of nocturnal wheezes. Exercise-induced wheezes were much more frequent in the 13— 14 age group. Bronchial asthma had been diagnosed prior to the survey in 1.6% and 3.3% of cases in the 7—8 and 13— 14 age groups, respectively, to reveal BA morbidity drastically understated by the health service, especially with junior children.По данным эпидемиологического обследования по программе “ISAAC” 7168 детей (3584 учащихся в возрасте 13— 14 лет и 3584 школьников в возрасте 7—8 лет) распространенность затрудненного хрипящего дыхания, хрипов в грудной клетке составляет в анамнезе 25,6%, в течение 12 месяцев, предшествующих обследованию, — 10,4%. Частые рецидивы (более 4 раз в год) отмечены у 2% обследованных. У младших школьников ночные симптомы встречались достоверно чаще. Бронхоспазм физической нагрузки с большей частотой зафиксирован у восьмиклассников. До обследования диагноз бронхиальной астмы стоял у 1,6% первоклассников, 3,3% — восьмиклассников, что свидетельствуете гиподиагностике бронхиальной астмы, особенно у младших школьников

Local cytokine levels as prognostic factors for early relapse of non-muscle-invasive bladder carcinoma

The aim of our study is to assess the local cytokine levels as prognostic factors for early relapse in NMIBC patients. 75 patients with NMIBC were enrolled in the study: 51 with primary NMIBC and 24 with initially recurrent NMIBC, LG and HG tumors were diagnosed in each group. Patients with primary NMIBC were monitored during 9 months after treatment: TURB and chemotherapy (No. 6). During TURB samples of tumors were taken, supernatants were obtained and tissue cytokine levels were measured (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IL-18, TNFα, IFNγ, IL-8) by ELISA test. The results showed that in patients with primary NMIBC early relapses were diagnosed in 15 (46.8%) of LG tumors and in 11 (45%) of HG tumors matching that there was no difference depending upon tumor grade. In initially recurrent tumors of both LG and HG NMIBC the amounts of cytokines were maximal: in LG tumors they exceeded the primary ones from 7.1 (IFNγ) to 300 (IL-6) while in HG - from 2.0 (IL-10) to 9.7 (IL-6). The amounts of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, IFNγ, IL-8 were higher in those LG primary tumors which relapsed in 6-9 months compared to the ones which didn't, though their levels were much lower than in initially manifested relapse (from 2.6 times for IFNy to 150 times for IL-6). A similar trend, though not for all the same cytokines, was observed in HG tumors: tissue levels of IL-6, IL-10, IL-18 and TNFα were higher in tumors which relapsed in 6-9 months after treatment. The increase of 2 cytokines' levels were common for both LG and HG tumors (IL-6 and IL-10). This finding might be considered as a new prognostic factor of the early relapse. We conclude that relapse of LG and HG NMIBC is related to some immune mechanisms, namely to local hyperproduction of cytokines, especially IL-6 and IL-10, though IL-1β, IL-8, IFNγ could have an impact on LG and IL-18, TNFα — on HG tumors. Taking into account common signaling pathways of IL-6 and IL-10 like JAK/STAT, these transcription factors might be potential targets for new effective approaches to treatment