Biological resources of the Fabaceae family in the Cretaceous south of Russia as a source of starting material for drought-resistance selection

The aim of this work is the study of biological resources of the genera Medicago and Trifolium species in Cretaceous South of the Central Russian Upland as the most valuable in genetic and economic term

Characterization of resistance of winter wheat varieties to Fusarium head blight

In this study, naturally and artificially inoculated winter wheat varieties were studied with respect to their productivity and resistance to Fusarium head blight (FHB). We used the following set of disease assessment parameters: the percentage of visually and latent Fusarium-damaged grains (FDG); the DNA content of Fusarium fungi; the productivity of inoculated plants compared with non-inoculated plants; and the amount of mycotoxins in the grain. In case of naturally infected grains, the average FDG was found to be about 6.1 % (range of 0–15 %). The amount of DNA of Fusarium graminearum was found to be in the range of (1.1–42.7) × 10–5 ng/ng wheat DNA. The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) was detected in 15 samples of grain from plants that were grown under natural infection. The maximum DON amount was found to be 420 μg/kg. Fumonisin B1 (FB1) was not be detected in naturally infected grain. In case of artificially inoculated plants, the average FDG was found to be 25.8 % (2–54 %). The amount of F. graminearum DNA was found to be significantly higher (4.24– 49.8) × 10–3 ng/ng than it was detected in grain of non-inoculated plants. The wheat varieties inoculated with F. graminearum contained DON in high amounts from 20255 to 79245 μg/kg. Furthermore, a significant amount of FB1 was detected in all wheat varieties in the range of 980–20326 μg/kg. Among the analysed wheat varieties, Adel was characterized to be the most resistant to fungal infection as well as to the contamination by mycotoxins. Antonina, Lebed and Pamyat varieties were classified more relatively resistant than that of other varieties, and Utrish variety was found to be the most susceptible to FHB. The similar resistance of wheat varieties against F. graminearum and F. verticillioides infection was recorded, and the interactions between the fungi during the colonization of grain were shown

The importance of pathogenicity factors of some Streptococcus spp. and Klebsiella spp. in determining their etiological role in the inflammatory processes of the respiratory tract

Together with the known pathogens of inflammatory processes of the respiratory tract in clinical practice are often found representatives of Streptococcus and Klebsiella, previously considered commensals of the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. The exchange of genetic information facilitates the transfer of virulence factors between strains not only within the species but also within the genus. In such cases, the acquisition of virulence genes by nonpathogenic species from representatives of pathogenic species contributes to the manifestation of previously not typical properties. Therefore, the aim of the research was to study the virulence of opportunistic Streptococcus spp. and Klebsiella spp. in inflammatory processes of the respiratory tract and substantiate their etiological role in the development of the disease. We studied 220 strains of Streptococcus spp. and 97 strains of Klebsiella spp., isolated from patients with inflammatory processes in the respiratory tract and from healthy individuals. Strains of Streptococcus spp. were investigated for the presence of virulence genes: sagA, lmb, fapl, ply, lytA. Strains of Klebsiella spp. were examined for the presence of virulence genes: MrkD, magA, kfu. The phenotypic marker of lmb gene expression in Streptococcus and MrkD gene in Klebsiella was the indicator of adhesion of isolated strains to buccal epithelial cells. Expression of the fapl gene was evaluated in a phenotypic biofilm formation test. In individuals with upper respiratory tract inflammation, the most common types of strepto -cocci were: S. mitis, S. anginosus, and S. oralis. Strains of these species isolated from inflammatory processes in the upper respiratory tract had 2—4 times greater adhesiveness than strains isolated from healthy individuals. Phenotypic determination of the ability to biofilm formation showed that strains of Streptococcus containing the fapl gene formed a dense biofilm in contrast to strains without the fapl gene. K. oxytoca strains isolated from people with sinusitis had mrkd, magA, and kfu virulence genes that are characteristic of K. pneumoniae strains. In phenotypic tests, it was found that the value of the adhesion index in K. oxytoca strains isolated from patients is 4 times higher than in strains of this species isolated from healthy individuals. Thus, to confirm the etiological role of an opportunistic microorganism in the development of the infectious process, it is necessary to be guided by data on the genetic and phenotypic markers of virulence of the isolated strain

Riistaeläinten populaatioiden dynamiikka Pohjois-Euroopassa: tiivistelmä : 7. kansainvälinen symposium. 24. – 28. Syyskuuta

We have studied Black Grouse population abundance and its dynamics in large regions of North-Europe and Urals’ taiga (Finland, Russian Karelia, Murmansk, Arhangel, Kirov and Komi regions and). The data is based on Winter Track Counts (WTC, Priklonski, 1973), where all grouse sightings are recorded. We also studied the longterm Black Grouse abundance changes in Russian and Belarus Natural Reserves (by “Chronical of Natural” Programme, including summer counts of forest grouses): Pinezhsky, Pechoro-Ilychskiy, National Park "Mechera", Nature Reserve "Kivach", "Bryansk Forest", Kostomuksha Nature Reserve Volzhsko-Kamsky National Nature Biosphere Reserve and Visimskiy State Nature Reserves. The highest and most stable abundances of Black Grouse were recorded from East Fennoscandia (Karelia – 3.6 birds per 10 km; Finland – 4.4, coefficient of variation – 12% and 27%, respectively), whereas in the Murmansk and Arkhangelsk Regions and Komi republic, e.g. the species abundance indices were 0.5, 2.5 and 1.1 birds per 10 km, respectively. The “Peak” and minimal abundance years do not concur in different regions of north-European taiga. In Komi in the period from 2001 to 2013, the number of the black grouse declined twice, in Arhangel in the period 30 years – decreased fivefold. In Tatarstan Republic (Volzhsko-Kamsky National Nature Biosphere Reserve) after 1980 abundance decreased rapidly and at last 10 tears – disappeared. In Central Siberia BG are small in numbers and rare. The data suggest Black Grouse abundance varies significantly across Northern Eurasia and among years. One may presume there are some factors acting in different directions: towards convergence and towards divergence of the trends.Peer reviewe

Phenotypic effects of the dwarfing gene Rht-17 in spring durum wheat under two climatic conditions

Alleles of the genes, conferring a dwarfing phenotype, play a crucial role in wheat breeding, as they not only reduce plant height, ensuring their resistance to lodging, but also have a number of positive and negative pleiotropic effects on plant productivity. Durum wheat carries only two subgenomes (A and B), which limits the use of the D-subgenome genes and requires the expansion of the arsenal of dwarfing alleles and the study of their effects on height and agronomically important traits. We studied the effect of the gibberellin-insensitive allele Rht-B1p in the B2F2:3 families, developed by crossing Chris Mutant /#517//LD222 in a field experiment in Moscow and Krasnodar. In our experiments, plants homozygous for Rht-B1p were shorter than those homozygous for the wild-type allele Rht-B1a by 36.3 cm (40 %) in Moscow and 49.5 cm (48 %) in Krasnodar. In the field experiment in Krasnodar, each plant with Rht-B1p had one less internode than any plant with Rht-B1a, which additionally contributed to the decrease in plant height. Grain weight per main spike was lower in plants with Rht-B1p than in plants with Rht-B1a by 12 % in Moscow and by 23 % in Krasnodar due to a decrease in 1000 grain weight in both regions of the field experiment. The number of grains per main spike in plants with Rht-B1p was higher in comparison to that with Rht-B1a by 6.5 % in Moscow due to an increase in spikelet number per main spike and by 11 % in Krasnodar due to an increase in grain number per spikelet. The onset of heading in plants with Rht-B1p in comparison with the plants with the wild-type allele Rht-B1a was 7 days later in Krasnodar. The possibility and prospects for the use of Rht-B1p in the breeding of durum wheat are discussed

Allelic variants for Waxy genes in common wheat lines bred at the Lukyanenko National Grain Center

This article presents the results of a molecular marker-assisted study of allelic variants of Wx genes in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) lines. The study was carried out as part of the work on the transfer of null alleles of the genes Wx-A1, Wx-B1, and Wx-D1 to the varieties of soft wheat and creation of breeding material with modified activities of the main enzymes involved in amylose biosynthesis. The lines were obtained at the Department of Breeding and Seed Production of Wheat and Triticale, National Center of Grain named after P.P. Lukyanenko, by crossing mutant forms carrying inactive (null) alleles of genes Wx-A1, Wx-B1, and Wx-D1 with bread wheat cultivars. The molecular markers selected for the study allowed identification of valuable breeding material carrying both single null alleles of Wx genes and their combinations in its genome. A combination of two null alleles (Wx-A1b + Wx-D1b) was detected in 30 lines. The presence of three null alleles (Wx-A1b + Wx-B1b + Wx-D1b), which corresponded to fully Wx wheat, was found in one line. We selected 37 lines that combined the presence of the Wx-B1e allele with the Wx-A1b and Wx-D1b null alleles. The Wx-A1b + Wx-B1e combination was identified in 26 lines, and 24 lines carried the combination of alleles Wx-B1e + Wx-D1b. The mutant forms PI619381, PI619384, and PI619386 were identified as carriers of the functional Wx-B1e allele. The Wx-A1b and Wx-B1e alleles could have been transferred to the studied lines from the donors used or from the Starshina and Korotyshka varieties, respectively. The mutant forms used in the crosses are donors of the Wx-B1b and Wx-D1b alleles. The use of molecular markers chosen by us for identification of the allelic state of the Wx-A1, Wx-B1, and Wx-D1 genes can provide grounds for marker-assisted selection for this trait. Selected lines found to possess null alleles of the Wx genes are applicable in breeding programs aimed at the improvement of technological qualities of grain and raise of bread wheat varieties with modified starch properties

An experimental investigation into resonance dry grinding of hardened steel and nickel alloys with element of MQL

Current policies on environmental issues put extra pressures on manufacturing processes to be resource efficient and eco-friendly. However, in grinding processes, large amounts of cutting fluids are used. These fluids are not environmental friendly thus require proper management before disposal with associated cost. Hence, this work sets to explore low-frequency vibration in grinding in order to improve coolant application in conventional grinding at the first stage with the aim to introduce this into high efficiency deep grinding (HEDG) at latter stage. An attempt is made to grind nickel alloys with minimum quantity lubricant (MQL) as oppose to flood cooling. To achieve this with minimum alterations to the machine tool, a piezo-driven workpiece holder was developed for surface grinding. This simple innovative workpiece holder allowed oscillating during actual grinding process. However, this paper presents the results of low-frequency oscillatory grinding in dry and near-dry conditions. The response of the machine tool spindle unit is presented alongside with the workpiece holder response. In this investigation, hardened steels and nickel alloys were ground with vibration assistance. The grinding forces are illustrated together with the surface finish. The wheel performance is given in terms of grinding ratio

Defining language impairments in a subgroup of children with autism spectrum disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is diagnosed on the basis of core impairments in pragmatic language skills, which are found across all ages and subtypes. In contrast, there is significant heterogeneity in language phenotypes, ranging from nonverbal to superior linguistic abilities, as defined on standardized tests of vocabulary and grammatical knowledge. The majority of children are verbal but impaired in language, relative to age-matched peers. One hypothesis is that this subgroup has ASD and co-morbid specific language impairment (SLI). An experiment was conducted comparing children with ASD to children with SLI and typically developing controls on aspects of language processing that have been shown to be impaired in children with SLI: repetition of nonsense words. Patterns of performance among the children with ASD and language impairment were similar to those with SLI, and contrasted with the children with ASD and no language impairment and typical controls, providing further evidence for the hypothesis that a subgroup of children with ASD has co-morbid SLI. The findings are discussed in the context of brain imaging studies that have explored the neural bases of language impairment in ASD and SLI, and overlap in the genes associated with elevated risk for these disorders.M01 RR00533 - NCRR NIH HHS; R01 DC10290 - NIDCD NIH HHS; U19 DC03610 - NIDCD NIH HH

Гендерные аспекты развития уролитиаза у пациентов с метаболическим синдромом

The review summarizes and analyzes the results of domestic and major foreign studies of recent years concerning gender characteristics of the epidemiology and development mechanisms of metabolic syndrome and urolithiasis as an associated disease. A deep understanding of gender aspects in the pathogenesis of these pathologies can form the basis for development of high-quality diagnostic algorithms and pathogenetically grounded approaches to treatment. В обзоре обобщены и проанализированы результаты отечественных и крупных зарубежных исследований последних лет, касающиеся гендерных особенностей эпидемиологии и механизмов развития метаболического синдрома и мочекаменной болезни как ассоциированного с ним заболевания. Глубокое понимание гендерных аспектов в патогенезе данных патологических процессов может лечь в основу разработки качественных диагностических алгоритмов и патогенетически обоснованных подходов к лечению.