The Influence of Meteorological Parameters and Other Factors on Soil Radon Dynamics

The paper presents the results of the research in the degree of the effect of space weather meteorological parameters and factors on the dynamics of soil radon levels and [alpha]- and [beta]-radiation flux densities in a seismically passive region. The cross-correlation analysis showed a significant correlation of [beta]-radiation flux density with temperature in summer, and no correlation in winter. A significant relation between [alpha]- and [beta]-radiation flux densities and pressure within the intra-annual range was not observed. The investigation of the high-intensity precipitation effect on radon volumetric activity and [alpha]- and [beta]-radiation flux densities showed their abnormal increase. The dependence of the anomaly duration on the depth was revealed. The abnormal jumps in [alpha]- and [beta]-radiation flux densities data series occur in the snow-melting periods as well. Low-intensity precipitations significantly violate the standard "diurnal variations" of [alpha]- and [beta]-radiation soil fluxes and radon volumetric activity. Fourier analysis showed the diurnal (24 hours) and semidiurnal (12 hours) harmonics for the observed radiation values at a depth of 0.5 m. The obtained results can be used for interpretation of the data on the soil radon monitoring in order to predict earthquakes, etc

CHANGING SCHOOL-BASED ANXIETY DURING PHYSICAL EDUCATION, TAKING THE INDIVIDUAL TYPOLOGICAL APPROACH INTO ACCOUNT

Purpose of the study: The purpose of the study is to identify changes in school-based anxiety in children aged 12 – 13 during their physical education using a special Program for the individual typological approach implementation. Methodology: Two groups had been formed: reference and experimental (25 people each); three methods were used (Method for studying individual typological peculiarities of middle-school children by A. Belov, Method of Kondash's anxiety scale (1973), and Method of identifying general physical education of students); diagnostic testing of physical fitness was conducted (long jump from the spot; lifting the body in 30 sec. (press); push-up (girls); pulling up on the crossbar (boys); running 30 meters, shuttle running 3x10; bending forward from a sitting position). Main Findings: The results of the study have been statistically processed with Excel 2000 and STATISTICA 8.0, using the Student's t-test for dependent and independent samples. The M average has been found; the differences have been considered significant at p < 0.05. Applications of this study: The Program for the individual typological approach implementation has been compiled with an emphasis on reducing school-based anxiety in children aged 12 – 13; its features, objectives, indicators, criteria, content, and forms of implementation have been substantiated; a set of general physical exercises has been developed for each type of temperament, which includes the exercises for some groups of muscles of the upper shoulder girdle, back muscles, abdomen, and hips. Novelty/Originality of this study: The significant improvement in the physical fitness of students from the experimental group compared to the reference one identified during the term proves the efficiency of the implemented physical education program, taking into account the individual typological approach to the personality of adolescents with an emphasis on reducing their school-based anxiety. The results of the study have allowed formulating recommendations for improving the approaches to conducting physical education classes

Sources of agronomically important traits for breeding of soft spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the forest steppe of Novosibirsk region

The efficiency of donors in plant breeding depends on the degree of knowledge of the physiological and genetic background of agronomic characters. The research is aimed to assess quantitative agronomic traits (1000-grain weight, grain weight, grain number per spike and spikelet number per spike) in soft spring wheat varieties with different maturation timing in order to identify genotypes that show the best adaptation to the regional environment, high yield and resistance to stress. Agronomic traits were studied in 139 soft spring wheat varieties in contrasting years. The cultivars were divided into the following maturation groups: mid-early and early (31 plants), middle (94 plants) and mid-late (14 plants). In the mid-early and early group, Leningradskaya 97 and Rosinka 1 had three measures of maturation (grain weight per spike, grain number per spike, and spikelet number per spike) higher than the group average. In the middle group, Baganskaya 51, Prokhorovka, Omskaya kormovaya, Amir and Lada each had two or more measures significantly higher than the group average. In the midlate group, the winners were Omskaya 24 (grain weight per spike, grain number per spike and spikelet number per spike), Sibirskaya 16 (grain weight per spike and spikelet number per spike) and Ishimskaya 98 (1000-grain weight and spikelet number per spike). Varieties identified and characterized in this way can be used in the selection process as a source of higher 1000-grain weight, grain number per spike, spikelet number per spike and grain weight per spike. A tendency towards increase has been demonstrated for 1000-grain weight, spikelet number per spike and grain weight per spike depending on the length of the growing season. No reduction in vegetation period was observed in epiphytotic years in susceptible varieties as compared to resistant varieties

Interleukin-11 Drives Early Lung Inflammation during Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection in Genetically Susceptible Mice

IL-11 is multifunctional cytokine whose physiological role in the lungs during pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is poorly understood. Here, using in vivo administration of specific antibodies against IL-11, we demonstrate for the first time that blocking IL-11 diminishes histopathology and neutrophilic infiltration of the lung tissue in TB-infected genetically susceptible mice. Antibody treatment decreased the pulmonary levels of IL-11 and other key inflammatory cytokines not belonging to the Th1 axis, and down-regulated IL-11 mRNA expression. This suggests the existence of a positive feedback loop at the transcriptional level, which is further supported by up-regulation of IL-11 mRNA expression in the presence of rIL-11 in in vitro cultures of lung cells. These findings imply a pathogenic role for IL-11 during the early phase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-triggered disease in a genetically susceptible host

Exposure of Nuclear Track Emulsion to a Mixed Beam of Relativistic 12^{12}N, 10^{10}C, and 7^7Be Nuclei

A nuclear track emulsion was exposed to a mixed beam of relativistic $^{12}$N, $^{10}$C, and $^7$Be nuclei having a momentum of 2 GeV/$c$ per nucleon. The beam was formed upon charge exchange processes involving $^{12}$C primary nuclei and their fragmentation. An analysis indicates that $^{10}$C nuclei are dominant in the beam and that $^{12}$N nuclei are present in it. The charge topology of relativistic fragments in the coherent dissociation of these nuclei is presented.Comment: ISSN 1063-7788, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 201

Structural and functional indicators of the heart of patients with ischemic heart disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Rhythmoinotropic response isolated myocardium at different levels of glycated hemoglobin

BACKGROUND: Adequate glycemic control can significantly reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular events. However, until now, glycaemic targets in aged patients remain a subject of discussion, especially in the conditions of the combined development of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and ischemic heart disease (IHD).AIMS: To examine the structural and functional heart parameters in patients with IHD associated with T2DM and the rhythmoinotropic responses of their isolated myocardium depending on glycated hemoglobin level.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 44 patients with a diagnosis of "chronic IHD associated with T2DM", of which 2 groups were formed. Patients with glycated hemoglobin level (HbA1c) <8% were included in the 1st group, and patients with HbA1c ≥8% were included in the 2nd group. The structural and functional heart parameters obtained with ultrasonography, and the rhythmoinotropic responses of myocardium in patients ex vivo were analyzed using the right atrial appendage fragments obtained during elective coronary artery bypass graft. The inotropic response of muscle strips at a basic stimulation frequency of 0,5 Hz to testing influences was assessed. An extrasystolic test and post-rest test were performed.RESULTS: It was found that extrasystolic contractions of isolated myocardial strips in patients of the 2nd group appeared at shorter extrasystolic intervals, which indicates a greater excitability of the myocardium in patients of this group. Postextrasystolic muscle contractions in patients of the 2nd group had significant potentiation. The amplitude of the muscle strips contractions in patients of both groups was potentiative after short rest periods. However, with an increase in the rest duration, potentiation of contractions was observed only in the group with a higher HbA1c level. According to the ultrasonography data, it was found that the values of the endsystolic and diastolic volumes, the interventricular septum thickness and the left ventricular (LV) myocardium mass were significantly lower in the patients of the 1st group compared with the corresponding indicators in the patients of the 2nd group. The early LV filling velocity (peak E) was significantly lower in the patients of the 1st group, which indicates a slower LV relaxation. At the same time, the rapid LV filling velocity did not have a significant intergroup difference, but this indicator exceeded the reference values in both groups.CONCLUSIONS: With a moderately increased glycemic level (9,2 [8,0; 10,3]%), the structural and functional heart parameters are preserved both at the level of the isolated myocardial tissue and at the level of the whole heart

Differential Expression of CHL1 Gene during Development of Major Human Cancers

CHL1 gene (also known as CALL) on 3p26.3 encodes a one-pass trans-membrane cell adhesion molecule (CAM). Previously CAMs of this type, including L1, were shown to be involved in cancer growth and metastasis.We used Clontech Cancer Profiling Arrays (19 different types of cancers, 395 samples) to analyze expression of the CHL1 gene. The results were further validated by RT-qPCR for breast, renal and lung cancer. Cancer Profiling Arrays revealed differential expression of the gene: down-regulation/silencing in a majority of primary tumors and up-regulation associated with invasive/metastatic growth. Frequent down-regulation (>40% of cases) was detected in 11 types of cancer (breast, kidney, rectum, colon, thyroid, stomach, skin, small intestine, bladder, vulva and pancreatic cancer) and frequent up-regulation (>40% of cases)--in 5 types (lung, ovary, uterus, liver and trachea) of cancer. Using real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) we found that CHL1 expression was decreased in 61% of breast, 60% of lung, 87% of clear cell and 89% papillary renal cancer specimens (P<0.03 for all the cases). There was a higher frequency of CHL1 mRNA decrease in lung squamous cell carcinoma compared to adenocarcinoma (81% vs. 38%, P = 0.02) without association with tumor progression.Our results suggested that CHL1 is involved in the development of different human cancers. Initially, during the primary tumor growth CHL1 could act as a putative tumor suppressor and is silenced to facilitate in situ tumor growth for 11 cancer types. We also suggested that re-expression of the gene on the edge of tumor mass might promote local invasive growth and enable further metastatic spread in ovary, colon and breast cancer. Our data also supported the role of CHL1 as a potentially novel specific biomarker in the early pathogenesis of two major histological types of renal cancer