Диагностическое значение статической периметрии и электрофизиологических исследований при глаукоме и болезни Альцгеймера

PURPOSE: To conduct a comparative analysis of static perimetry and visual evoked potentials (VEP) informative value and to evaluate the significance of electrophysiological methods of investigation of visual functions in glaucoma and Alzheimer's disease. METHODS: The study involved 27 patients with Alzheimer’s disease (mild dementia) and 30 patients with various stages of glaucoma. The control group consisted of 35 patients without neurological and ophthalmic diseases. All patients underwent static perimetry on Humphrey Visual Field Analyzer. 15 patients in each group underwent pattern and multifocal VEP registration. RESULTS: Static perimetry in glaucoma patients revealed typical for this disease visual field defects that highly correlated with glaucoma stage. Visual fields study in the Alzheimer’s disease group had a low reliability and showed a rapid loss of attention. VEP study showed a statistically significant increase of P100 pattern in both study groups compared to the control group, and pattern (pРезюме ЦЕЛЬ. Провести сравнительный анализ информативности статической периметрии и зрительных вызванных потенциалов (ЗВП) и оценить значимость электрофизиологических методов исследования зрительных функций при глаукоме и болезни Альцгеймера. МЕТОДЫ. Обследовано 27 пациентов с диагнозом болезнь Альцгеймера в стадии мягкой деменции и 30 пациентов с верифицированным диагнозом глаукомы в различных стадиях. Контрольную группу составили 35 пациентов без неврологической и офтальмологической патологии. Всем пациентам была выполнена статическая периметрия на анализаторе полей зрения Humphrey. 15 пациентам из каждой группы проводили регистрацию паттерн и мультифокальных зрительных вызванных потенциалов (п-ЗВП и мф-ЗВП). РЕЗУЛЬТАТЫ. При проведении статической периметрии у пациентов с глаукомой выявлялись типичные для этого заболевания изменения полей зрения, высоко коррелирующие со стадией глаукомы. В группе пациентов с болезнью Альцгеймера выявляемые дефекты полей зрения свидетельствовали о быстрой потере внимания, результаты исследования отличались низкой достоверностью. При исследовании ЗВП было выявлено статистически достоверное увеличение латентности положительного пика Р100 на паттерн 0,3° по сравнению с группой контроля в обеих группах, на паттерн 1,0° - только у пациентов с глаукомой (

137 ancient human genomes from across the Eurasian steppes

Descriptive and Comparative Linguistic

Data Descriptor: A global multiproxy database for temperature reconstructions of the Common Era

Reproducible climate reconstructions of the Common Era (1 CE to present) are key to placing industrial-era warming into the context of natural climatic variability. Here we present a community-sourced database of temperature-sensitive proxy records from the PAGES2k initiative. The database gathers 692 records from 648 locations, including all continental regions and major ocean basins. The records are from trees, ice, sediment, corals, speleothems, documentary evidence, and other archives. They range in length from 50 to 2000 years, with a median of 547 years, while temporal resolution ranges from biweekly to centennial. Nearly half of the proxy time series are significantly correlated with HadCRUT4.2 surface temperature over the period 1850-2014. Global temperature composites show a remarkable degree of coherence between high-and low-resolution archives, with broadly similar patterns across archive types, terrestrial versus marine locations, and screening criteria. The database is suited to investigations of global and regional temperature variability over the Common Era, and is shared in the Linked Paleo Data (LiPD) format, including serializations in Matlab, R and Python.(TABLE)Since the pioneering work of D'Arrigo and Jacoby1-3, as well as Mann et al. 4,5, temperature reconstructions of the Common Era have become a key component of climate assessments6-9. Such reconstructions depend strongly on the composition of the underlying network of climate proxies10, and it is therefore critical for the climate community to have access to a community-vetted, quality-controlled database of temperature-sensitive records stored in a self-describing format. The Past Global Changes (PAGES) 2k consortium, a self-organized, international group of experts, recently assembled such a database, and used it to reconstruct surface temperature over continental-scale regions11 (hereafter, ` PAGES2k-2013').This data descriptor presents version 2.0.0 of the PAGES2k proxy temperature database (Data Citation 1). It augments the PAGES2k-2013 collection of terrestrial records with marine records assembled by the Ocean2k working group at centennial12 and annual13 time scales. In addition to these previously published data compilations, this version includes substantially more records, extensive new metadata, and validation. Furthermore, the selection criteria for records included in this version are applied more uniformly and transparently across regions, resulting in a more cohesive data product.This data descriptor describes the contents of the database, the criteria for inclusion, and quantifies the relation of each record with instrumental temperature. In addition, the paleotemperature time series are summarized as composites to highlight the most salient decadal-to centennial-scale behaviour of the dataset and check mutual consistency between paleoclimate archives. We provide extensive Matlab code to probe the database-processing, filtering and aggregating it in various ways to investigate temperature variability over the Common Era. The unique approach to data stewardship and code-sharing employed here is designed to enable an unprecedented scale of investigation of the temperature history of the Common Era, by the scientific community and citizen-scientists alike

Reconstruction of Ob River, Russia, discharge from ring widths of floodplain trees

The Ob is the third largest Eurasian river supplying heat and freshwater to the Arctic Ocean. These inputs influence water salinity, ice coverage, ocean temperatures and ocean circulation, and ultimately the global climate system. Variability of Ob River flow on long time scales is poorly understood, however, because gaged flow records are short. Eleven tree-ring width chronologies of Pinus sibirica and Larix sibirica are developed from the floodplain of the Lower Ob River, analyzed for hydroclimatic signal and applied as predictors in a regression model to reconstruct 8-month average (December-July) discharge of the Ob River at Salekhard over the interval 1705-2012 (308 yrs). Correlation analysis suggests the signal for discharge comes through air temperature: high discharge and floodplain water levels favor cool growing-season air temperature, which limits tree growth for the sampled species at these high latitudes. The reconstruction model (R-2 = 0.31, 1937-2009 calibration period) is strongly supported by cross validation and analysis of residuals. Correlation of observed with reconstructed discharge improves with smoothing. The long-term reconstruction correlates significantly with a previous Ob River reconstruction from ring widths of trees outside the Ob River floodplain and extends that record by another century. Results suggest that large multi-decadal swings in discharge have occurred at irregular intervals, that variations in the 20th and 21st centuries have been within the envelope of natural variability of the past 3 centuries, and that discharge data for 1937-2009 underestimate both the variability and persistence of discharge in the last 3 centuries. The reconstruction gives ecologists, climatologists and water resource planners a long-term context for assessment of climate change impacts.CRDF Global Research Partnerships program [RUC1-7075-EK-12, FSCX-15-61824-0]; Russian Foundation for Basic Research [13-04-01964, 05-04-48298, 00-05-65041]24 month embargo; Available online 13 September 2016This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

DIFFUSION TENSOR TRACTOGRAPHY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF CHANGES IN THE CENTRAL DEPARTMENTS OF THE VISUAL ANALYZER IN PRIMARY GLAUCOMA

Purpose. To investigate the potential of diffusion tensor MRT (DT-MRT) in diagnosing the changes of central departments of the visual analyzer in primary open angle glaucoma.Patients and Methods. 16 patients underwent DT-MRT: 12 patients had a prior diagnosis of different stages of glaucoma and 4 acted as controls. Brain examination included both standard (T1, T2, MPR) and special modes (diffusion-weighted imaging with DT tractographic mapping, grey matter morphometry). The main parameter obtained during this exam is fractional anisotropy, which represents brain structures directional organization and integrity. Results. Two main parameters — fractional anisotropy (FA) and fractional anisotropy variability (ΔFA) — were obtained for left and right lateral geniculate body and optic radiation in 3 cross-sections (15–17). We considered FA decrease and ΔFA increase to be the sign of visual pathways integrity loss due to axonal transport defects. Glaucoma patients showed a statistically significant FA decrease in the lower section (FA 14) compared to the control patients (median values 0,74 and 0,77 correspondingly, р<0,01, Mann-Whitney test). FA longitudinal variability of the left hemisphere in the middle section (ΔFA 13) correlated with glaucoma stage as well as retina and optic nerve head morphometric parameters.Conclusion. FA longitudinal variability parameter, obtained with DT-MRT, showed a statistically significant correlation with morphometric and functional of the retina and optic nerve head evaluated with HRT, OCT and SAP perimetry. A high correlation of ΔFA with glaucoma stage indicates the neurodegenerative process spread to the visual centers in the course of disease progression

Сlimatic Response of Conifer Radial Growth in Forest-Steppes of South Siberia: Comparison of Three Approaches

Текст статьи не публикуется в открытом доступе в соответствии с политикой журнала.We compared three approaches to study climatic signals of Pinus sylvestris and Larix sibirica tree ring width chronologies from the forest-steppe zone of South Siberia, where both temperature and precipitation limit the conifer tree growth: 1—paired correlation of chronologies with monthly climatic variables; 2— paired and partial correlations with monthly and seasonal series of primary and secondary climatic factors, calculated in the Seascorr program; 3—paired correlation with a 15-day moving average series of climatic variables. The comparison showed that simple paired correlation with monthly series as the simplest approach could be used for a wide range of dendroclimatic studies, both as a main procedure and for preliminary analysis. The Seascorr analysis is the most suitable for assessing climate-growth relationship in extreme growth conditions and for reconstructions of extremes, e.g. droughts, and of their impact periods. The application of the 15-day moving average series is limited by availability of daily climatic data, but it describes the seasonal window of climatic response with high precision. Altogether, the combination of three approaches allowed to explore the spatial-temporal pattern of the conifers radial growth climatic response in South Siberia

SPECIFICS OF ELABORATING METHODOLOGY TO TEACH INNOVATIVE COMPETENCE USING EMBEDDABLE MODULE

Introduction: the article is concerned with the development of competence when teaching students innovative activity. The analysis of bachelor’s degree programmes in engineering and technology demonstrates the absence of competencies for innovation training. The curricula of the Russian universities do not contain any academic disciplines for teaching innovation as well as there is no definition of “engineering activities”, and “innovation”. Nethertheless the qualification requirements describe some separate components such as R&D, implementation and use of technical and technological innovations implying management of intellectual activity and its results for all occupations, hence mandatory training of bachelor degree students in innovative activities. Materials and Methods: the authors used: a) theoretical methods: analysis of philosophical, scientific, technical, engineering, psychological and educational literature; analysis and extrapolation of the research results and teaching experience; modeling of pedagogical situations, analysis of educational standards, foreign and domestic programs of technical training, textbooks and manuals; b) scientific methods: generalization, classification, ordering, compare, comparison, modeling; c) methods of special research: a system-element method, system-structural and system-functional analysis of the training content, analysis and generalization of pedagogical experience in teaching courses at universities; d) experimental and psychology diagnostic methods. Results: the authors developed and implemented the method of teaching engineering students innovative activities based on adding flexible module to core curriculum, a case study of the National Research Mordovia State University. Discussion and Conclusions: the results of the research underscore the significance of the innovation competence by including innovative training module into structure of technical disciplines, as well as specify the structure, the core part, invariable and variable parts. The article reveals the potential of such integration in training students in innovative engineering activities within the core teaching methodology

Trends In Elemental Concentrations of Tree Rings From the Siberian Arctic

The biogeochemistry and ecology of the Arctic environment have been heavily impacted by anthropogenic pollution and climate change. We used ICP-MS to measure concentrations of 26 elements in the AD 1300–2000 tree rings of larch from the Taymyr Peninsula in northern Siberia for studying the interaction between environmental change and wood chemistry. We applied a two-stage data reduction technique to identify trends in the noisy measurement data. Statistical assessment of variance of normalized time series reveals pronounced depletion of xylem Ca, Mg, Cl, Bi and Si concentrations and enrichment of P, K, Mn, Rb, Sr and Ba concentrations after ca. AD 1900. The trends are unprecedented in the 700-year records, but multiple mechanisms may be at work and difficult to attribute with certainty. The declining xylem Ca and Mg may be a response to soil acidification from air pollution, whereas increasing P, K, and Mn concentrations may signal changes in root efficiency and excess water-soluble minerals liberated by the permafrost thaw. The changes seem consistent with mounting stress on Arctic vegetation. This study supports the potential of tree rings for monitoring past and ongoing changes in biogeochemistry of Arctic ecosystems related to pollution and permafrost thaw

Tree-Ring Investigation of Holocene Flood-Deposited Wood From the Oneida Lake Watershed, New York State

Glacial deposition and fluvial/lacustrine sedimentation interact over terrains in central New York State to preserve a history of geological and hydrological events as well as hydroclimatic transitions. The lower reach of Fish Creek draining the eastern watershed of Oneida Lake, NY, is an area with prominent wood remains. This study explores a collection of 52 logs encased in organic-rich deposits exposed by bank erosion at three locations along Fish Creek near Sylvan Beach, NY, with respect to radiocarbon ages, species, and the crossdating potential of tree rings. Radiocarbon ages and successful tree-ring crossdating document what we interpret as seven major hydrologic episodes ca. 10 ka (i.e. ca. 10,000 cal yr BP), 7.4 ka, 6.8 ka, 6.4 ka, 5.5 ka, 3.1 ka and 2.2 ka cal BP, during which channel aggradation and tree burial may have been associated with abruptly increased flood frequency and/or high water tables. This pilot study establishes four floating tree-ring records: [1] early Holocene hemlock (Tsuga), mid-Holocene [2] walnut (Juglans sp.) and [3] sycamore (Platanus), and [4] late Holocene elm (Ulmus sp.), with sample sizes of 8-14 series of 55-135 years length. Despite the complexity of distribution of radiocarbon ages at each site, the wealth of well-preserved wood demonstrates great promise for understanding the paleoflood history of the Oneida watershed by documenting the magnitude, location, and timing of floods. Further additional systematic sampling can add and strengthen tree-ring dating and tree-ring based flood records, confirm results, and contribute to the Holocene hydrological history of the region. Copyright © 2015 by The Tree-Ring Society.This item is part of the Tree-Ring Research (formerly Tree-Ring Bulletin) archive. For more information about this peer-reviewed scholarly journal, please email the Editor of Tree-Ring Research at [email protected]

Trends In Elemental Concentrations of Tree Rings From the Siberian Arctic

The biogeochemistry and ecology of the Arctic environment have been heavily impacted by anthropogenic pollution and climate change. We used ICP-MS to measure concentrations of 26 elements in the AD 1300–2000 tree rings of larch from the Taymyr Peninsula in northern Siberia for studying the interaction between environmental change and wood chemistry. We applied a two-stage data reduction technique to identify trends in the noisy measurement data. Statistical assessment of variance of normalized time series reveals pronounced depletion of xylem Ca, Mg, Cl, Bi and Si concentrations and enrichment of P, K, Mn, Rb, Sr and Ba concentrations after ca. AD 1900. The trends are unprecedented in the 700-year records, but multiple mechanisms may be at work and difficult to attribute with certainty. The declining xylem Ca and Mg may be a response to soil acidification from air pollution, whereas increasing P, K, and Mn concentrations may signal changes in root efficiency and excess water-soluble minerals liberated by the permafrost thaw. The changes seem consistent with mounting stress on Arctic vegetation. This study supports the potential of tree rings for monitoring past and ongoing changes in biogeochemistry of Arctic ecosystems related to pollution and permafrost thaw