Snca and Bdnf gene expression in the VTA and raphe nuclei of midbrain in chronically victorious and defeated male mice

The study aimed to analyze the mRNA levels of Snca and Bdnf genes in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and raphe nuclei of the midbrain in male mice that had each won or defeated 20 encounters in daily agonistic interactions. Groups of animals that had the same winning and losing track record followed by a no-fight period for 14 days were also studied. Snca mRNA levels were increased in the raphe nuclei in the losers and in the VTA of the winners. After fighting deprivation Snca mRNA levels were decreased to the control level in both groups. Snca mRNA levels were similar to the control level in the VTA of the losers and in the raphe nuclei of the winners. However Snca gene expression was increased in these areas after no-fight period in the winners and losers in comparison with respective mRNA levels in the undeprived animals. Significant positive correlations were found between the mRNA levels of Snca and Bdnf genes in the raphe nuclei. It was concluded, that social experience affects Snca gene expression depending on brain areas and functional activity of monoaminergic systems in chronically victorious or defeated mice

A novel concept for the manufacture of individual sapphire-metallic hip joint endoprostheses.

At the present time, artificial joints made with metallic, ceramic, metal-polymeric or ceramicpolymeric friction pairs substituting for the natural biomechanic articulations "head of the hip joint-acetabulum" are widely used for endoprosthetic operations on hip joints. Experience gained in the course of more than 2000 operations has shown that along with the advantageous properties of modern endoprosthetic constructions made of metal, ceramics and polymers, they have certain drawbacks. Among them are insufficient biological inertness and susceptibility to excessive wear of the friction pair components. In addition, as a result of wear of the hinge friction pair, toxic and oncologically dangerous products of degradation accumulate in the different organs and tissues. This in turn results in severe complications and demands correspondingly complicated corrective intervention, often leading to worse disability than that which the original operation was designed to cure. The aim of the study reported here was the development and clinical validation of a highly effective and long-lived hip joint endoprosthesis with a sapphire head whose wear capacity is superior to all others. The endoprosthesis consists of a metallic pedicle, a dismountable articulation (metallic necklayer of supramolecular polyethylene-sapphire head) and an acetabular cup. The endoprostheses with the sapphire head proved themselves positively in clinical trials and are considered to be highly promising for future applications

Demagnetization study of pulse-field magnetized bulk superconductors

GdBa2Cu3O7-δ bulk superconductors are a route to higher magnetic fields in rotating machines. Here we examine the resistance of pulse-field magnetized bulks to the demagnetization fields they may experience in such a system. The bulks were magnetized at 77 K, after which several thousand cycles of AC field were applied. Subsequently, the decay of the trapped field was characterized. We found the decay per cycle decreases with frequency and is, normalized to the initial trapped field, largest at the edge of the bulk. At 77 K the reduction in trapped field proved significant (25% in the center for 150 mT (peak) AC field at 6 Hz), however reducing below 1% when lowering the temperature to 60 K. We explain this observation as being due to increased flux pinning strength at low temperatures. When applying an AC field we found a temperature rise that increased with applied field amplitude and frequency. However, when applying an AC field of amplitude 45 mT with a frequency of 48 Hz we found an increase of the bulk temperature of only 100 mK. Therefore, we conclude the temperature rise within the analyzed AC field frequency and amplitude range does not contribute significantly to the decay of trapped field

Genotoxic agents promote the nuclear accumulation of annexin A2: role of annexin A2 in mitigating DNA damage

Annexin A2 is an abundant cellular protein that is mainly localized in the cytoplasm and plasma membrane, however a small population has been found in the nucleus, suggesting a nuclear function for the protein. Annexin A2 possesses a nuclear export sequence (NES) and inhibition of the NES is sufficient to cause nuclear accumulation. Here we show that annexin A2 accumulates in the nucleus in response to genotoxic agents including gamma-radiation, UV radiation, etoposide and chromium VI and that this event is mediated by the nuclear export sequence of annexin A2. Nuclear accumulation of annexin A2 is blocked by the antioxidant agent N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and stimulated by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), suggesting that this is a reactive oxygen species dependent event. In response to genotoxic agents, cells depleted of annexin A2 show enhanced phospho-histone H2AX and p53 levels, increased numbers of p53-binding protein 1 nuclear foci and increased levels of nuclear 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanine, suggesting that annexin A2 plays a role in protecting DNA from damage. This is the first report showing the nuclear translocation of annexin A2 in response to genotoxic agents and its role in mitigating DNA damage.Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC); European Union [PCOFUND-GA-2009-246542]; Foundation for Science and Technology of Portugal; Beatrice Hunter Cancer Research Institute; Terry Fox Foundationinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

No Evidence of a Common DNA Variant Profile Specific to World Class Endurance Athletes

There are strong genetic components to cardiorespiratory fitness and its response to exercise training. It would be useful to understand the differences in the genomic profile of highly trained endurance athletes of world class caliber and sedentary controls. An international consortium (GAMES) was established in order to compare elite endurance athletes and ethnicity-matched controls in a case-control study design. Genome-wide association studies were undertaken on two cohorts of elite endurance athletes and controls (GENATHLETE and Japanese endurance runners), from which a panel of 45 promising markers was identified. These markers were tested for replication in seven additional cohorts of endurance athletes and controls: from Australia, Ethiopia, Japan, Kenya, Poland, Russia and Spain. The study is based on a total of 1520 endurance athletes (835 who took part in endurance events in World Championships and/or Olympic Games) and 2760 controls. We hypothesized that world-class athletes are likely to be characterized by an even higher concentration of endurance performance alleles and we performed separate analyses on this subsample. The meta-analysis of all available studies revealed one statistically significant marker (rs558129 at GALNTL6 locus, p = 0.0002), even after correcting for multiple testing. As shown by the low heterogeneity index (I2 = 0), all eight cohorts showed the same direction of association with rs558129, even though p-values varied across the individual studies. In summary, this study did not identify a panel of genomic variants common to these elite endurance athlete groups. Since GAMES was underpowered to identify alleles with small effect sizes, some of the suggestive leads identified should be explored in expanded comparisons of world-class endurance athletes and sedentary controls and in tightly controlled exercise training studies. Such studies have the potential to illuminate the biology not only of world class endurance performance but also of compromised cardiac functions and cardiometabolic diseases

No evidence of a common DNA variant profile specific to world class endurance athletes

There are strong genetic components to cardiorespiratory fitness and its response to exercise training. It would be useful to understand the differences in the genomic profile of highly trained endurance athletes of world class caliber and sedentary controls. An international consortium (GAMES) was established in order to compare elite endurance athletes and ethnicity-matched controls in a case-control study design. Genome-wide association studies were undertaken on two cohorts of elite endurance athletes and controls (GENATHLETE and Japanese endurance runners), from which a panel of 45 promising markers was identified. These markers were tested for replication in seven additional cohorts of endurance athletes and controls: from Australia, Ethiopia, Japan, Kenya, Poland, Russia and Spain. The study is based on a total of 1520 endurance athletes (835 who took part in endurance events in World Championships and/or Olympic Games) and 2760 controls. We hypothesized that world-class athletes are likely to be characterized by an even higher concentration of endurance performance alleles and we performed separate analyses on this subsample. The meta-analysis of all available studies revealed one statistically significant marker (rs558129 at GALNTL6 locus, p = 0.0002), even after correcting for multiple testing. As shown by the low heterogeneity index (I2 = 0), all eight cohorts showed the same direction of association with rs558129, even though p-values varied across the individual studies. In summary, this study did not identify a panel of genomic variants common to these elite endurance athlete groups. Since GAMES was underpowered to identify alleles with small effect sizes, some of the suggestive leads identified should be explored in expanded comparisons of world-class endurance athletes and sedentary controls and in tightly controlled exercise training studies. Such studies have the potential to illuminate the biology not only of world class endurance performance but also of compromised cardiac functions and cardiometabolic diseases

ЗАСТОСУВАННЯ СПЕЦІАЛЬНИХ ЗНАНЬ ПІД ЧАС ВИЯВЛЕННЯ, ПРОФІЛАКТИКИ Й РОЗСЛІДУВАННЯ ЗЛОЧИНІВ У СФЕРІ КОМП’ЮТЕРНОЇ ІНФОРМАЦІЇ ТА ВИСОКИХ ТЕХНОЛОГІЙ (оглядова стаття)

The article analyzes conceptual foundations, views and ideas on understanding the essence and forms of using special knowledge while detecting and investigating crimes in the field of computer-based information and high technologies, and addresses its concepts. The relationship between similar concepts of forensic expert and third party expert has been traced, since one of the main problems considered in the framework of forensic examination is ambiguity of both scientific understanding and practical application of the corresponding conceptual-categorical apparatus. In our opinion, special knowledge in detecting and investigating crimes in the field of computer-based information and high technologies implies knowledge in various fields of science, including law, technology, arts and crafts, in relation to the field of computer-based information and high technologies, obtained within the framework of professional or special education, professional activity, as well as knowledge of theory, skills and abilities, and used by participants in civil, arbitration, administrative and criminal proceedings in order to establish circumstances to be proven in a particular case, in the manner provided by relevant procedural legislation of Ukraine.В статье проанализированы концептуальные основы, взгляды и идеи относительно понимания сущности и форм использования специальных знаний при выявлении и расследовании преступлений в сфере компьютерной информации и высоких технологий, рассмотрены её понятия. Исследовано соотношение похожих между собой понятий «эксперт» и «знающее лицо», ведь одной из главных проблем, рассматриваемых в рамках криминалистического исследования, является неоднозначность как научного понимания, так и практического применения соответствующего понятийно-категориального аппарата. По нашему мнению, под «специальными знаниями» при выявлении и расследовании преступлений в сфере компьютерной информации и высоких технологий понимают знания в различных областях науки, в том числе техники, искусства и ремесла, применительно к области компьютерной информации и сферы высоких технологий, полученные в рамках профессионального или специального образования, профессиональной деятельности, включающие знания теории, навыки и умения и используемые участниками гражданского, хозяйственного, административного и уголовного судопроизводства для установления обстоятельств, подлежащих доказыванию по конкретному делу, в порядке, предусмотренном соответствующим процессуальным законодательством Украины.У статті проаналізовано концептуальні засади, погляди та ідеї щодо розуміння сутності та форм застосування спеціальних знань під час виявлення й розслідування злочинів у сфері комп’ютерної інформації та високих технологій, розглянуто її поняття. Досліджено співвідношення дотичних між собою понять «експерт» та «обізнана особа», адже однією з головних проблем, яку не можна оминути в межах криміналістичного дослідження, є неоднозначність як наукового розуміння, так і практичного застосування відповідного понятійно-категоріального апарату. На нашу думку, під «спеціальними знаннями» під час виявлення й розслідування злочинів у сфері комп’ютерної інформації та високих технологій розуміються знання в різних галузях науки (зокрема, техніки, мистецтва й ремесла) стосовно комп’ютерної інформації та високих технологій, здобуті в межах професійної або спеціальної освіти, професійної діяльності, які містять знання теорії, навички й уміння і які учасники цивільного, господарського, адміністративного та кримінального судочинства застосовують для з’ясування обставин, що підлягають доведенню з конкретної справи, у порядку, передбаченому відповідним процесуальним законодавством України

БАРБАРИСИ (РІД BERBERIS L.) У ДЕКОРАТИВНОМУ ОЗЕЛЕНЕННІ

The authors have fixed organogenesis and ontogenesis features of 29 Berberis species at culture (Chernivtsi region). Genus Berberis L. of Berberidaceae Juss. family conyains nearly 175 species and has various vital forms such as trees, shrubs and perennial grasses. They are common in Europe, North Africa, North and South America, Middle Asia and Caucasus. The center of its genus area is China-Tibet plant-climate region. There is only one species in Ukraine, Berberis vulgaris L., which grows in Crimean Mountains, the Dnepr and the Dnister valleys. We have discovered the differences in special age periods of development and common ontogenesis durability of this species. We have also distinguished three periods in barbarizes ontogenesis: virgin (from sprout till definitive stage), generative (sexual) and old. Virgin period of B. vulgaris lasts from two to three years of most introduced species. Generative period begins with the first flowering of these plants (B. vulgaris – on the third, introduced species – on the fourth year). Flowering and fruiting intensity depends on the year weather within the limits of 25–30 %. We have analyzed winter resistance and reproductive capabilities of this species. First signs of old could be fixed at 10–12 year of axial shoots; they finished flowering and after 2–4 year died off fully. But in general barbarizes ontogenesis continues for 60–80 years in general. We have distinguished some specific peculiarities of seasonal development depending on geographical origin. The authors have also determined potential possibilities at flowering and fruiting phases of barbarizes in culture, analyzed those nectars and fruiting productions, which would be at household use (beekeeping, foodstuff, treatment). As a result of forged investigations we have defined 3 groups of species, which will be perspective for cultivation in Bukovina climatic conditions. Our recommendations for barbarizes in culture are as follows: these plants are the best for hedges, borders and decorative groups among flowerbeds or lawns, for planting near lakes or glades. They can be used for honeyed, medical and food-producing plantation as well.Визначено особливості органогенезу та онтогенезу 29 видів роду Berberis L. у культурі (Чернівецька обл.), виявлено відмінності у проходженні окремих вікових періодів розвитку та загальну тривалість онтогенезу. На основі фенологічних спостережень виділено специфічні особливості їхнього сезонного розвитку залежно від географічного походження. Вегетаційний період триває з квітня до середини жовтня (190–200 днів), квітування – впродовж травня, достигання плодів – з липня до кінця серпня. Встановлено потенційні можливості культивованих барбарисів у фазах квітування (нектаропродуктивність – до 60–80 кг/га на добу) та плодоношення (з 40–50 до 350–420 плодів/пог.м пагона). Доведено, що високі показники та якість нектару і плодів можна успішно використати в господарських цілях (бджільництво, харчування, лікування тощо): нектаропродуктивність таких культур забезпечить урожай 2,1–2,5 т/га меду з унікальними смаковими та цілющими властивостями, а також до 3,5–4,2 т/га сировини лікарського та харчового призначення. Проаналізовано зимостійкість барбарисів, яка не опускається нижче І-ІІ балів (у B. dasystachhya i B. arthobotrys пагони можуть підмерзати вище від снігового покриву). Вивчено репродуктивну здатність цих видів, які легко розмножуються насінням (краще його висівати восени). За результатами виконаних досліджень виділено 3 групи видів, перспективних для культивування у кліматичних умовах Буковини, та розроблено рекомендації щодо впровадження барбарисів у декоративні посадки

Reliable 4.8 T trapped magnetic fields in Gd-Ba-Cu-O bulk superconductors using pulsed field magnetization

Abstract A robust and reliable in-situ magnetization method is essential for exploiting the outstanding magnetic flux trapping ability of bulk superconductors in practical applications. We report a 4.8 T peak trapped magnetic field, B T, achieved at 30 K in a 36 mm diameter GdBa2Cu3O7-δ –Ag bulk superconductor using pulsed field magnetization (PFM). To realize this, we have developed a reliable two-step multi-pulse PFM process based on understanding and exploiting the avalanche-like flux jump phenomenon observed in these materials. The magnitude of the applied pulsed magnetic field (B a) necessary to trap 4.8 T was merely 5.29 T, corresponding to a remarkable magnetization efficiency (B T/B a) of 90%.This study was supported by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (No. EP/P00962X/1), the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. XDB25000000), the National Key R&D Program (2016YFF0101701) and the project (6140923050202). M D Ainslie would like to acknowledge financial support from an Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Early Career Fellowship, EP/P020313/

Association of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms in the IL-18 Gene with Production of IL-18 Protein by Mononuclear Cells from Healthy Donors

IL-18 has proinflammatory effects and participates in both innate and adaptive cellular and humoral immunity. A number of SNPs that influence IL-18 production are found in the gene promoter region. We investigated the association of SNPs in the IL-18 promoter at −607 and −137 with the level of IL-18 protein production by PBMC from healthy donors from Southwestern Siberia. The genetic distribution of these SNPs in the promoter site was established by PCR. IL-18 protein production was determined by ELISA. Our results showed that PBMC from donors carrying allele 137C have lower levels of both spontaneous and LPS-stimulated IL-18 production. In contrast, PBMC from donors carrying allele 607A showed significant increases in spontaneous and stimulated IL-18 production compared to wild type. Our study suggests that the SNPs −607 and −137 in the promoter region of the IL-18 gene influence the level of IL-18 protein production by PBMC from healthy donors in Southwestern Siberia