Arrival time distribution for a driven system containing quenched dichotomous disorder

We study the arrival time distribution of overdamped particles driven by a constant force in a piecewise linear random potential which generates the dichotomous random force. Our approach is based on the path integral representation of the probability density of the arrival time. We explicitly calculate the path integral for a special case of dichotomous disorder and use the corresponding characteristic function to derive prominent properties of the arrival time probability density. Specifically, we establish the scaling properties of the central moments, analyze the behavior of the probability density for short, long, and intermediate distances. In order to quantify the deviation of the arrival time distribution from a Gaussian shape, we evaluate the skewness and the kurtosis.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figure

Analytically solvable model of a driven system with quenched dichotomous disorder

We perform a time-dependent study of the driven dynamics of overdamped particles which are placed in a one-dimensional, piecewise linear random potential. This set-up of spatially quenched disorder then exerts a dichotomous varying random force on the particles. We derive the path integral representation of the resulting probability density function for the position of the particles and transform this quantity of interest into the form of a Fourier integral. In doing so, the evolution of the probability density can be investigated analytically for finite times. It is demonstrated that the probability density contains both a $\delta$-singular contribution and a regular part. While the former part plays a dominant role at short times, the latter rules the behavior at large evolution times. The slow approach of the probability density to a limiting Gaussian form as time tends to infinity is elucidated in detail.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figure

Influence of leptin administration to pregnant female mice on obesity development, taste preferences, and gene expression in the liver and muscles of their male and female offspring

The consumption of food rich in sugar and fat provokes obesity. Prenatal conditions have an impact on taste preferences and metabolism in the adult offspring, and this impact may manifest differently in different sexes. An increase in blood leptin level in pregnant females reduces the risk of obesity and insulin resistance in the offspring, although the mechanisms mediating this effect are unknown. Neither is it known whether maternal leptin affects taste preferences. In this study, we investigated the effect of leptin administration to pregnant mice on the development of diet-induced obesity, food choice, and gene expression in the liver and muscles of the offspring with regard to sex. Leptin was administered to female mice on days 11, 12, and 13 of pregnancy. In male and female offspring, growth rate and intake of standard chow after weaning, obesity development, gene expression in the liver and muscles, and food choice when kept on a high-calorie diet (standard chow, lard, sweet cookies) were recorded. Leptin administration to pregnant females reduced body weight in the female offspring fed on the standard diet. When the offspring were given a high-calorie diet, leptin administration inhibited obesity development and reduced the consumption of cookies only in males. It also increased the consumption of standard chow and the mRNA levels of genes for the insulin receptor and glucose transporter type 4 in the muscles of both male and female offspring. The results demonstrate that an increase in blood leptin levels in pregnant females has a sex-specific effect on the metabolism of the offspring increasing resistance to obesity only in male offspring. The mechanism underlying this effect includes a shift in food preference in favor of a balanced diet and maintenance of insulin sensitivity in muscle tissues

On a possibility of inelasticity partial coefficient K sub gamma determination in pi C and pi Pb interactions at 10 to the 14th power eV (experiment PAMIR 1)

The investigation of hadron-nuclear interactions in Pamir experiment is carried out by means of X-ray emulsion chambers of two types: carbon (C) and lead (Pb). While comparing the results from the chambers of both types it was found a discrepancy in n sub h and E sub h(1)R values. The observed discrepancy in C and Pb chambers is connected with the difference in values of effective coefficients of energy transfer to the soft component K sub eff for C and Pb chambers

THE RAT’S GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT DOSE DUE TO INNER IRRADIATION BY “HOT” PARTICLES

The main regularities analysis of the “hot” radioactive particles transfer in the digestive tract of laboratory animals (rats), which serve as reference organisms in the tasks of evaluation the radiation risk of environmental contamination with radionuclides for biota and humans, is presented.The reported study was funded by RFBR, project number 19-316-90014

Heterogeneity of population of microorganisms grown in presence of iron oxide maghemite nanoparticles

In this work γ-Fe2O3 MNPs were obtained by laser target evaporation and water based suspensions were prepared. Maximum permissive dose of iron in water (MPD) is 0.3 mg/L. It was found that 100 MPD dose of iron induces formation of non-typical colonies after 72 or 96 hours exposition: against a background of small black colonies large white colonies appeared due to a disruption in tyrosine synthesis. Multiple re-cloning of the white colonies grown with MNPs showed that they retained their properties both under standard conditions (temperature of 24 °C) and at the temperatures up to 37o C. E.nigrum grown with MNPs demonstrated very scant extension of small colonies at the cultivation temperature of 24o C, their growth was completely blocked at 37°C. Significant changes in the structure of the population were noted. First of all, large cells with pronounced aggregation were observed among the black colonies. These aggregates consisted of large cells connected to each other by matrix. In the white colonies the appearance of very long threadlike cells connecting different groups of the cells establishing an intercellular communication was evident. Fe2O3 MNPs induce an increase in the heterogeneity of the population, expressed as a change in morpho-physiological states. © 2018 The Authors, published by EDP Sciences.The work was supported by the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation (project No. 3.6121.210 )7 and R FFI №16-34-015 92 grant s. e tW hank R ndrA ade, Iu. Novoselova and I.V. Beketov for special support. Selected measurements were made at ISG KER services UPV/EHU

Analysis of the football players’ actual nutrition

Objective: to assess the actual nutrition of football players according to their personal daily energy expenditures.Materials and methods: the study of the actual nutrition of the athletes of the division II football team was carried out at the training camp. A total of 23 athletes participated in this study, including 3 goalkeepers, 3 attackers, 7 defenders, and 10 midfielders. The average age of the team is 24.2 ± 0.3 years. The collection of information on actual nutrition was carried out in two ways: using a 24­-hour dietary recall method for at least 2 days and frequency meal analysis method. The amount of food consumed was determined using lists that include information on portions and meals. The chemical composition and energy value of the diets were evaluated using two databases of Russian food composition tables. Energy expenditures were calculated using the heart rate monitoring.Results: study results show that the energy value of football players’daily ration averaged 2560.6 ± 150.6 kcal, while the average energy expenditure was 4100.0 ± 51.3 kcal/day. The study revealed high levels of fat (42 %) and EFA (14,8 %) consumption in terms of dietary intake, while the proportion of energy from carbohydrates was insufficient, only 43.1 %. Moreover, the athletes obtain 17.5 % of their energy intake from added sugar. In addition, the study revealed insufficient intake of vitamins A and B1 among 86 % of athletes, B2 — 79 %, niacin — 65 % and vitamin C — 72 %. Analysis of the daily intake of minerals revealed an insufficient calcium content in the 38 % of football players’ diets, magnesium — in 62 %, and low calcium to phosphorus ratio — in 44 % of diets.Conclusion: the data obtained showed a nutritional imbalance of the football players, both in intake of calories and in the nutrient consumption. 50 % of the athletes surveyed have insufficient protein intake, 80 % of those surveyed had high levels of fat and EFA consumption. The study revealed a high prevalence of genetic polymorphism associated with impaired bone mineralization. Considering that high performance sport requires a special approach to each athlete, taking into account his individual needs, the functional state of the body, genetic characteristics, the training phases, each athlete needs a personal diet, which will include certain products, vitamin and mineral supplements, and will definitely be adjusted in the future

Characterizing Complex Polysera Produced by Antigen-Specific Immunization through the Use of Affinity-Selected Mimotopes

BACKGROUND: Antigen-based (as opposed to whole organism) vaccines are actively being pursued for numerous indications. Even though different formulations may produce similar levels of total antigen-specific antibody, the composition of the antibody response can be quite distinct resulting in different levels of therapeutic activity. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using plasmid-based immunization against the proto-oncogene HER-2 as a model, we have demonstrated that affinity-selected epitope mimetics (mimotopes) can provide a defined signature of a polyclonal antibody response. Further, using novel computer algorithms that we have developed, these mimotopes can be used to predict epitope targets. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: By combining our novel strategy with existing methods of epitope prediction based on physical properties of an individual protein, we believe that this method offers a robust method for characterizing the breadth of epitope-specificity within a specific polyserum. This strategy is useful as a tool for monitoring immunity following vaccination and can also be used to define relevant epitopes for the creation of novel vaccines

Changes in indicators of the prooxidant-antioxidant system in patients with drug addiction during the rehabilitation

Background: Despite the positive dynamics in this scientific area, the prevalence of drug pathology in Russia and other countries of the world remains unfavorable. Determination of laboratory markers of pathobiochemical processes which are characteristic to the patients with substance use disorder is promising from the standpoint of monitoring the course of the disease and evaluating the effectiveness of therapy.Objective: To determine the characteristic changes in oxidative homeostasis of patients with addiction to psychostimulants and opioids at the rehabilitation and anti‑relapse stage.Material and methods: The study was performed with the participation of 20 relatively healthy male volunteers and 18 male patients with addiction to opioids or psychostimulants who then became participants of the rehabilitation and anti‑relapse course of treatment. Changes in oxidative stress markers during rehabilitation and anti‑relapse treatment were studied.Results: In comparison to the control values at the initial stage of the study, patients of the main group demonstrated decreased values of the iron‑reducing ability of blood plasma – by 25%, as well as those of the sorption radical ability of blood plasma – by 30%; the content of thiol groups of blood plasma proteins decreased by 24% while the concentration of glutathione in erythrocyte suspension lowered by 26%. The level of TBA‑reactive products in erythrocyte suspension corresponded to the control level. The performed rehabilitation manipulations contributed to the partial normalization of oxidative homeostasis, which was confirmed by a statistically significant increase in the ability of radical sorption of blood plasma by 20% and the concentration of reduced glutathione in erythrocyte suspension by 28% in comparison to the initial values of the corresponding parameters in patients of the 2nd group. The TBA‑reactive products remained within the control values.Conclusion: The studied markers are suitable for monitoring the state of oxidative homeostasis in patients with opioid or psychostimulant addiction, the imbalance of which at the end of the rehabilitation and anti‑relapse stage also indicates the prospects for strengthening the antioxidant component as part of drug or nutritional correction

Comparative Evaluation of the Effect of Hepatoprotectors on Oxidative Homeostasis in the Blood of Patients with Alcoholic Hepatitis: A Randomized Experimental Study

Background. An analysis of published results on the chemical structure, pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of hepatoprotective agents, as well as their practical application, shows that a holistic view on the pharmacology of hepatoprotective agents is yet to be developed. Thus, the relationship between antioxidant activity and the effectiveness of reducing hepatocyte cytolysis remains unclear. Another difficult question concerns indications for the application of hepatoprotectors, selection of a particular drug and treatment duration.Objectives. To investigate the effects of hepatoprotective agents with different mechanisms of action on the indicators of oxidative metabolism in the blood of patients with alcoholic hepatitis.Methods. Four groups of patients were involved in the study. The 1st group consisted of relatively healthy male patients (n = 15). The remaining groups (10 individuals in each) were represented by patients with moderate alcoholic hepatitis. Patients of the 2nd group received remaxol; patients of the 3rd group received ademetionine; patients of the 4th group received ursodeoxycholic acid. Prior to and following treatment, the indicators of cytolysis and oxidative stress in blood were determined. Statistical data processing was carried out using the StatPlus v 7 (AnalystSoft Inc.) software package.Results. According to the observed changes in the cytolytic syndrome marker enzymes, all three hepatoprotectors under study expressed comparable efficacy. After treatment according to any of the applied schemes, the ALT and AST activity in the blood plasma decreased by 56–68% and 75–81%, respectively, compared to their initial values. In comparison with the control group, the total antioxidant activity of the blood plasma decreased by 20–27%; the content of TBA-reactive products in the erythrocyte suspension increased by 61–87%. The remaxol, ademethionine or ursodeoxycholic acid therapy led to a partial normalization of the abovementioned parameters without significant differences between the experimental groups. The concentration of reduced glutathione in the erythrocyte suspension and the content of thiol groups in the blood plasma of patients were reduced in comparison with the control group by 16% and 26%, respectively. After therapy, these indicators also increased by 12–15%, although no predominant effect of either of the studied hepatoprotectors was revealed.Conclusion. The conducted comparative study indicated the absence of a specific antioxidant effect among the pharmacological mechanisms of action of remaxol, ademethionine and ursodeoxycholic acid. In this regard, further research should be carried out to investigate the effect of hepatoprotective drugs on pathobiochemical changes and to analyse a relationship between the antioxidant effect and the efficacy of reducing the level of hepatocyte cytolysis