Orbital forcings of the Earth?s climate in wavelet domain

International audienceWe examine two paleoclimate proxy records ? the temperature differences from the Antarctic Vostok ice core and the composite ?18O record from three sites (V19-30, ODP 677, and ODP 846) ? in order to search for indications of orbital forcings. We demonstrate that the non-decimated wavelet transform is an appropriate tool for investigating temporarily changing spectral properties of records. Our results indicate that abrupt climate warmings with cyclicity of ~100 kiloyears during the last 400 kiloyears were caused by the combined unidirectional influences of three orbital parameters and the eccentricity can be considered as a modulator defining transitions from the Ice Ages to the periods of comparative warmings. Non-decimated wavelet transform avails discovering the possible part played in climate change by the eccentricity-forced variations. Up to approximately 1.7 million years BP, the influence of this variations of eccentricity appears in increasing for almost all local maxima of ?18O. Since the ~1.7 million years BP, minor and significant maxima alternated and this not affected as much the variations of ?18O

Sol-Gel Synthesis, X-Ray Diffraction Studies and Electric Conductivity of Sodium Europium Silicate

Sodium europium silicate, NaEu9(SiO4)6O2, with apatite structure has been obtained and studied using X-ray diffraction and SEM. It has been shown that sodium sublimation does not take place upon synthesis by the sol-gel method. Rietveld refinement has revealed that sodium atoms are ordered and occupy the 4f position. O(4) atoms not related to silicate ions are placed at the centers of Eu(2) triangles. DC and AC electric conductivity and activation energy have been determined for the compound studied

Sol-Gel Synthesis, X-Ray Diffraction Studies and Electric Conductivity of Sodium Europium Silicate

Sodium europium silicate, NaEu9(SiO4)6O2, with apatite structure has been obtained and studied using X-ray diffraction and SEM. It has been shown that sodium sublimation does not take place upon synthesis by the sol-gel method. Rietveld refinement has revealed that sodium atoms are ordered and occupy the 4f position. O(4) atoms not related to silicate ions are placed at the centers of Eu(2) triangles. DC and AC electric conductivity and activation energy have been determined for the compound studied

Вплив нового комбінованого крему на білково-синтетичну активність клітин на моделі термічних пошкоджень шкіри у щурів

Aim. To study the mechanisms of the reparative action of a new combined cream on the model of thermal burn injury in rats.Materials and methods. On the model of thermal burn in rats the reparative properties of the new combined cream under the conditional name “Dermalipoin” containing α-lipoic acid, urea, olive oil, tea tree oil, PEG-400 were studied. To determine the level of the protein synthetic activity of cells (epitheliocytes of the stratified squamous epithelium in the epidermis and cells of the fibroblast cell in the edges of healing of thermal damage) the content of ribonucleoproteins (RNP) in the cytoplasm and deoxyribonucleoproteins (DNP) in the nuclei of the cells was assessed by the cytometric method.Results and discussion. On the model of thermal burn in rats “Dermalipoin” cream showed a more active effect on reparative processes compared to the reference drugs – methyluracil ointment and “Titriol” gel. It indicates a significant increase in the protein synthetic function of epitheliocytes of the stratified squamous epithelium in the epidermis and cells of the fibroblastic series at the healing edges. The reparative activity of the cream was, first of all, provided by the presence of thiol (sulfhydryl) groups in the molecule of lipoic acid, giving it the properties of an antioxidant. The antioxidant effect of lipoic acid promotes more efficient DNA molecule reparation after damage as a result of the oxidative stress.Conclusions. “Dermalipoin” cream shows a marked reparative effect due to the increase of the protein synthetic activity and acceleration of reparation of DNA molecules of epithelial cells after damage; as a result, the process of healing burns accelerates.Цель – исследование механизмов репаративного действия нового комбинированного крема на модели термической ожоговой травмы у крыс.Материалы и методы. На модели термического ожога у крыс изучены репаративные свойства нового комбинированного крема, условно названного «Дермалипоин», в состав которого вошли: α-липоевая кислота, мочевина, оливкове масло, масло чайного дерева, ПЭГ-400. Для определения уровня белково-синтетической активности клеток (эпителиоцитов многослойного плоского эпителия в зоне эпидермизации и клеток фибробластического ряда в краях заживления термического повреждения) проводили оценку содержания рибонуклеопротеидов в цитоплазме и дезоксирибонуклеопротеидов в ядрах клеток методом цитофотометрии.Результаты и их обсуждение. На модели термического ожога у крыс крем Дермалипоин по сравнению с препаратами сравнения мазью метилурациловой и гелем Титриол проявил более активное воздействие на репаративные процессы, о чем свидетельствовало достоверное увеличение белково-синтетической функции эпителиоцитов многослойного плоского эпителия в зоне эпидермизации и клеток фибробластического ряда в краях заживления. Репаративную активность крема прежде всего обеспечило наличие тиоловых (сульфгидрильных) групп в молекуле липоевой кислоты, что обеспечивает ей свойства антиоксиданта. Антиоксидантный эффект липоевой кислоты способствует более эффективной репарации молекул ДНК после повреждения в результате «окислительного стресса».Выводы. Крем Дермалипоин проявляет выраженное репаративное действие за счет увеличения белково-синтетической активности и ускорения репарации молекул ДНК эпителиоцитов после повреждения, что проявляется ускорением процесса заживления ожогов.Мета – дослідження механізмів репаративної дії нового комбінованого крему на моделі термічної опікової травми у щурів. Матеріали та методи. На моделі термічного опіку у щурів досліджені репаративні властивості нового комбінованого крему, умовно названого «Дермаліпоїн», до складу якого увійшли: α-ліпоєва кислота, сечовина, оливкова олія, олія чайного дерева, ПЕГ-400. Для визначення рівня білково-синтетичної активності клітин (епітеліоцитів багатошарового плоского епітелію в зоні епідермізації і клітин фібробластичного ряду в краях загоєння термічного пошкодження) проводили оцінку вмісту рибонуклеопротеїдів у цитоплазмі і дезоксирибонуклеопротеїдів у ядрах клітин методом цитофотометрії.Результати та їх обговорення. На моделі термічного опіку у щурів крем Дермаліпоїн порівняно з препаратами порівняння – маззю метилурациловою та гелем Тітріол виявив більш активний вплив на репаративні процеси, про що свідчило вірогідне збільшення  білково-синтетичної функції епітеліоцитів багатошарового плоского епітелію в зоні епідермізації і клітин фібробластичного ряду в краях загоєння. Репаративну активність крему, насамперед, забезпечила наявність тіолових (сульфгідрильних) груп у молекулі ліпоєвої кислоти, що надає їй властивості антиоксиданта. Антиоксидантний ефект ліпоєвої кислоти сприяє більш ефективній репарації молекул ДНК після пошкодження в результаті «окисного стресу». Висновки. Крем Дермаліпоїн чинить виразну репаративну дію за рахунок збільшення білково-синтетичної активності та прискорення репарації молекул ДНК епітеліоцитів після пошкодження, що проявляється прискоренням процесу загоєння опіків

Northern Eurasia Future Initiative (NEFI): facing the challenges and pathways of global change in the twenty-first century

© 2017, The Author(s). During the past several decades, the Earth system has changed significantly, especially across Northern Eurasia. Changes in the socio-economic conditions of the larger countries in the region have also resulted in a variety of regional environmental changes that can have global consequences. The Northern Eurasia Future Initiative (NEFI) has been designed as an essential continuation of the Northern Eurasia Earth Science Partnership Initiative (NEESPI), which was launched in 2004. NEESPI sought to elucidate all aspects of ongoing environmental change, to inform societies and, thus, to better prepare societies for future developments. A key principle of NEFI is that these developments must now be secured through science-based strategies co-designed with regional decision-makers to lead their societies to prosperity in the face of environmental and institutional challenges. NEESPI scientific research, data, and models have created a solid knowledge base to support the NEFI program. This paper presents the NEFI research vision consensus based on that knowledge. It provides the reader with samples of recent accomplishments in regional studies and formulates new NEFI science questions. To address these questions, nine research foci are identified and their selections are briefly justified. These foci include warming of the Arctic; changing frequency, pattern, and intensity of extreme and inclement environmental conditions; retreat of the cryosphere; changes in terrestrial water cycles; changes in the biosphere; pressures on land use; changes in infrastructure; societal actions in response to environmental change; and quantification of Northern Eurasia’s role in the global Earth system. Powerful feedbacks between the Earth and human systems in Northern Eurasia (e.g., mega-fires, droughts, depletion of the cryosphere essential for water supply, retreat of sea ice) result from past and current human activities (e.g., large-scale water withdrawals, land use, and governance change) and potentially restrict or provide new opportunities for future human activities. Therefore, we propose that integrated assessment models are needed as the final stage of global change assessment. The overarching goal of this NEFI modeling effort will enable evaluation of economic decisions in response to changing environmental conditions and justification of mitigation and adaptation efforts

Differential Impact of EGFR-Targeted Therapies on Hypoxia Responses: Implications for Treatment Sensitivity in Triple-Negative Metastatic Breast Cancer

In solid tumors, such as breast cancer, cells are exposed to hypoxia. Cancer cells adapt their metabolism by activating hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) that promote the transcription of genes involved in processes such as cell survival, drug resistance and metastasis. HIF-1 is also induced in an oxygen-independent manner through the activation of epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase (EGFR-TK). Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a subtype of invasive breast cancer characterized by negative expression of hormonal and HER2 receptors, and this subtype generally overexpresses EGFR. Sensitivity to three EGFR inhibitors (cetuximab, gefitinib and lapatinib, an HER2/EGFR-TK inhibitor) was evaluated in a metastatic TNBC cell model (MDA-MB-231), and the impact of these drugs on the activity and stability of HIF was assessed.MDA-MB-231 cells were genetically modified to stably express an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) induced by hypoxia; the Ca9-GFP cell model reports HIF activity, whereas GFP-P564 reports HIF stability. The reporter signal was monitored by flow cytometry. HIF-1 DNA-binding activity, cell migration and viability were also evaluated in response to EGFR inhibitors. Cell fluorescence signals strongly increased under hypoxic conditions (> 30-fold). Cetuximab and lapatinib did not affect the signal induced by hypoxia, whereas gefitinib sharply reduced its intensity in both cell models and also diminished HIF-1 alpha levels and HIF-1 DNA-binding activity in MDA-MB-231 cells. This gefitinib feature was associated with its ability to inhibit MDA-MB-231 cell migration and to induce cell mortality in a dose-dependent manner. Cetuximab and lapatinib had no effect on cell migration or cell viability.Resistance to cetuximab and lapatinib and sensitivity to gefitinib were associated with their ability to modulate HIF activity and stability. In conclusion, downregulation of HIF-1 through EGFR signaling seems to be required for the induction of a positive response to EGFR-targeted therapies in TNBC

Psychological self-regulation in patients after abdominal surgery

The article considers the features of psychological self-regulation in patients who have undergone abdominal surgery as planned. A total of 25 patients were examined (average age 48.7 to 11.6 years), 13 men and 12 women with surgical diseases. Self-regulation is represented on three levels - semantic, emotional and somatic.В статье рассмотрены особенности психологической саморегуляции у пациентов, перенесших абдоминальное оперативное вмешательство в плановом порядке. Всего обследовано 25 пациентов (средний возраст 48,7±11,9 лет), 13 мужчин и 12 женщин, с хирургическими заболеваниями. Представлена саморегуляция на трех уровнях – смысловом, эмоциональном и соматическо

Anti-angiogenic effects of pterogynidine alkaloid isolated from Alchornea glandulosa

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Angiogenesis, a complex multistep process that comprehends proliferation, migration and anastomosis of endothelial cells (EC), has a major role in the development of pathologic conditions such as inflammatory diseases, tumor growth and metastasis. Brazilian flora, the most diverse in the world, is an interesting spot to prospect for new chemical leads, being an important source of new anticancer drugs. Plant-derived alkaloids have traditionally been of interest due to their pronounced physiological activities. We investigated the anti-angiogenic potential of the naturally occurring guanidine alkaloid pterogynidine (Pt) isolated from the Brazilian plant <it>Alchornea glandulosa</it>. The purpose of this study was to examine which features of the angiogenic process could be disturbed by Pt.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were incubated with 8 μM Pt and cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, invasion and capillary-like structures formation were addressed. Nuclear factor κB (NFκB), a transcription factor implicated in these processes, was also evaluated in HUVEC incubated with Pt. Quantifications were expressed as mean ± SD of five independent experiments and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by the Dunnet test was used.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A significant decrease in proliferation and invasion capacity and an effective increase in apoptosis as assessed by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), double-chamber and terminal transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, respectively, have been found. Pt also led to a drastic reduction in the number of capillary-like structures formation when HUVEC were cultured on growth factor reduced-Matrigel (GFR-Matrigel) coated plates. In addition, incubation of HUVEC with Pt resulted in reduced NFκB activity.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings emphasize the potential use of Pt against pathological situations where angiogenesis is stimulated as tumor development.</p

Adverse Fetal and Neonatal Outcomes Associated with a Life-Long High Fat Diet: Role of Altered Development of the Placental Vasculature

Maternal obesity results in a number of obstetrical and fetal complications with both immediate and long-term consequences. The increased prevalence of obesity has resulted in increasing numbers of women of reproductive age in this high-risk group. Since many of these obese women have been subjected to hypercaloric diets from early childhood we have developed a rodent model of life-long maternal obesity to more clearly understand the mechanisms that contribute to adverse pregnancy outcomes in obese women. Female Sprague Dawley rats were fed a control diet (CON - 16% of calories from fat) or high fat diet (HF - 45% of calories from fat) from 3 to 19 weeks of age. Prior to pregnancy HF-fed dams exhibited significant increases in body fat, serum leptin and triglycerides. A subset of dams was sacrificed at gestational day 15 to evaluate fetal and placental development. The remaining animals were allowed to deliver normally. HF-fed dams exhibited a more than 3-fold increase in fetal death and decreased neonatal survival. These outcomes were associated with altered vascular development in the placenta, as well as increased hypoxia in the labyrinth. We propose that the altered placental vasculature may result in reduced oxygenation of the fetal tissues contributing to premature demise and poor neonatal survival