In the northern periphery of Russia abroad. The Norwegian destiny of Anatol Ye. Heintz (1898–1975), palaeontologist and native of St Petersburg

This article provides an exposé of the life and work of Anatoliy Yevgenyevich Geynts, in Norway known as Anatol Heintz. Heintz was born and raised in St Petersburg, became a Russian refugee after the revolutionary events in Russia in 1917–1918, and ended up in Norway with his family. Later Heintz became renowned in the world of science as a Professor, Academician, and one of the founding fathers of Norwegian palaeontology, as well as a wellknown promoter of scientific knowledge among the common people in Norway. At the same time, he was an active participant in and organizer of scientific expeditions to Spitsbergen (Svalbard) in search of fish fossils, but he also became one of the pioneers in the protection of wild animals and establishment of natural parks on this Arctic archipelago. Heintz’s life is examined against the background of social and cultural processes that Russian emigrants faced in this so-called “first wave” of emigration in the twentieth century, processes of socio-cultural adaptation and integration into their new country of residence. The conditions for finding oneself and ways of preserving one’s Russianness in the large colonies of the Russian diaspora, which appeared in Berlin, Prague, and Paris, are compared with the conditions in the northern periphery of Europe and a small country like Norway. The paper focuses on what Anatol Heintz did to preserve his Russian identity, and how he simultaneously struggled to become fully recognized as a Norwegian citizen

ChIP-exo analysis highlights Fkh1 and Fkh2 transcription factors as hubs that integrate multi-scale networks in budding yeast

The understanding of the multi-scale nature of molecular networks represents a major challenge. For example, regulation of a timely cell cycle must be coordinated with growth, during which changes in metabolism occur, and integrate information from the extracellular environment, e.g. signal transduction. Forkhead transcription factors are evolutionarily conserved among eukaryotes, and coordinate a timely cell cycle progression in budding yeast. Specifically, Fkh1 and Fkh2 are expressed during a lengthy window of the cell cycle, thus are potentially able to function as hubs in the multi-scale cellular environment that interlocks various biochemical networks. Here we report on a novel ChIP-exo dataset for Fkh1 and Fkh2 in both logarithmic and stationary phases, which is analyzed by novel and existing software tools. Our analysis confirms known Forkhead targets from available ChIP-chip studies and highlights novel ones involved in the cell cycle, metabolism and signal transduction. Target genes are analyzed with respect to their function, temporal expression during the cell cycle, correlation with Fkh1 and Fkh2 as well as signaling and metabolic pathways they occur in. Furthermore, differences in targets between Fkh1 and Fkh2 are presented. Our work highlights Forkhead transcription factors as hubs that integrate multi-scale networks to achieve proper timing of cell division in budding yeast

Predictive models of eukaryotic transcriptional regulation reveals changes in transcription factor roles and promoter usage between metabolic conditions

Transcription factors (TF) are central to transcriptional regulation, but they are often studied in relative isolation and without close control of the metabolic state of the cell. Here, we describe genome-wide binding (by ChIP-exo) of 15 yeast TFs in four chemostat conditions that cover a range of metabolic states. We integrate this data with transcriptomics and six additional recently mapped TFs to identify predictive models describing how TFs control gene expression in different metabolic conditions. Contributions by TFs to gene regulation are predicted to be mostly activating, additive and well approximated by assuming linear effects from TF binding signal. Notably, using TF binding peaks from peak finding algorithms gave distinctly worse predictions than simply summing the low-noise and high-resolution TF ChIP-exo reads on promoters. Finally, we discover indications of a novel functional role for three TFs; Gcn4, Ert1 and Sut1 during nitrogen limited aerobic fermentation. In only this condition, the three TFs have correlated binding to a large number of genes (enriched for glycolytic and translation processes) and a negative correlation to target gene transcript levels

Percutaneous coronary angioplasty versus coronary artery bypass grafting in treatment of unprotected left main stenosis (NOBLE) : a prospective, randomised, open-label, non-inferiority trial

Background Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is the standard treatment for revascularisation in patients with left main coronary artery disease, but use of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for this indication is increasing. We aimed to compare PCI and CABG for treatment of left main coronary artery disease. Methods In this prospective, randomised, open-label, non-inferiority trial, patients with left main coronary artery disease were enrolled in 36 centres in northern Europe and randomised 1: 1 to treatment with PCI or CABG. Eligible patients had stable angina pectoris, unstable angina pectoris, or non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction. Exclusion criteria were ST-elevation myocardial infarction within 24 h, being considered too high risk for CABG or PCI, or expected survival of less than 1 year. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac or cerebrovascular events (MACCE), a composite of all-cause mortality, non-procedural myocardial infarction, any repeat coronary revascularisation, and stroke. Non-inferiority of PCI to CABG required the lower end of the 95% CI not to exceed a hazard ratio (HR) of 1 . 35 after up to 5 years of follow-up. The intention-to-treat principle was used in the analysis if not specified otherwise. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, number NCT01496651. Findings Between Dec 9, 2008, and Jan 21, 2015, 1201 patients were randomly assigned, 598 to PCI and 603 to CABG, and 592 in each group entered analysis by intention to treat. Kaplan-Meier 5 year estimates of MACCE were 29% for PCI (121 events) and 19% for CABG (81 events), HR 1 . 48 (95% CI 1 . 11-1 . 96), exceeding the limit for non-inferiority, and CABG was significantly better than PCI (p=0 . 0066). As-treated estimates were 28% versus 19% (1 . 55, 1 . 18-2 . 04, p= 0 . 0015). Comparing PCI with CABG, 5 year estimates were 12% versus 9% (1 . 07, 0 . 67-1 . 72, p= 0 . 77) for all-cause mortality, 7% versus 2% (2 . 88, 1 . 40-5 . 90, p= 0 . 0040) for non-procedural myocardial infarction, 16% versus 10% (1 . 50, 1 . 04-2 . 17, p= 0 . 032) for any revascularisation, and 5% versus 2% (2 . 25, 0 . 93-5 . 48, p= 0 . 073) for stroke. Interpretation The findings of this study suggest that CABG might be better than PCI for treatment of left main stem coronary artery disease.Peer reviewe

Finding intersections between electronic excited state potential energy surfaces with simultaneous ultrafast X-ray scattering and spectroscopy

Light-driven molecular reactions are dictated by the excited state potential energy landscape, depending critically on the location of conical intersections and intersystem crossing points between potential surfaces where non-adiabatic effects govern transition probabilities between distinct electronic states. While ultrafast studies have provided significant insight into electronic excited state reaction dynamics, experimental approaches for identifying and characterizing intersections and seams between electronic states remain highly system dependent. Here we show that for 3d transition metal systems simultaneously recorded X-ray diffuse scattering and X-ray emission spectroscopy at sub-70 femtosecond time-resolution provide a solid experimental foundation for determining the mechanistic details of excited state reactions. In modeling the mechanistic information retrieved from such experiments, it becomes possible to identify the dominant trajectory followed during the excited state cascade and to determine the relevant loci of intersections between states. We illustrate our approach by explicitly mapping parts of the potential energy landscape dictating the light driven low-to-high spin-state transition (spin crossover) of [Fe(2,2′-bipyridine)3]2+, where the strongly coupled nuclear and electronic dynamics have been a source of interest and controversy. We anticipate that simultaneous X-ray diffuse scattering and X-ray emission spectroscopy will provide a valuable approach for mapping the reactive trajectories of light-triggered molecular systems involving 3d transition metals

"Å skape mening i konsolideringens navn". Den russiske revolusjonens hundreårsjubileum

The centenary of the Russian Revolution is to be commemorated in 2017. This article concerns the Putin administration’s approach to history regarding the event. Generally speaking, Putin’s approach to history aims to use historical knowledge as a vehicle for the promotion of national unity, following the long period of disruption and decline after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. It is no secret that Putin and his closest staff are not overly enthusiastic about the 1917 Revolution, and there is even a certain fear in the Kremlin that Russia could be hit by a new revolution, a so-called ‘colour revolution’. A commemoration of the Russian Revolution will nonetheless take place under the aegis of the Russian Ministry of Culture, most likely with an emphasis on the negative consequences. This may provide an opportunity to encourage reconciliation between the adherents and adversaries of the Revolution – and of the Soviet epoch that it introduced. Heroes from both sides of the barricades will be honoured, and those guilty of terrorism and mass murder condemned. Apart from this, however, there will be little focus on the historical and ethical bases on which this reconciliation will take place

Maksim Starostin’s War Diary. 1941–1945

Source at http://hdl.handle.net/11701/38815.This article seeks to shed light on the diary of Maksim Ivanovich Starostin (1902–1948), First Secretary of the Murmansk Provisional Committee of the Communist Party and Chairman of the Murmansk Defense Committee, and written during the Great Patriotic War (1941–1945). As a colonel and later major-general, Starostin was a member of the Military Council of the Soviet Northern Fleet and the Military Council of the 14th Army, which conducted the defense of the Kola Peninsula. He travelled during both summer and winter to inspect the conditions of the soldiers at the front, at the same time working intensively to provide the city of Murmansk with building materials and food supplies. Starostin also played an important role organizing the fishing industry. A particular challenge that demanded much of his attention was the unloading of Allied vessels delivering equipment and goods of critical importance for the Soviet Union’s struggle against Nazi Germany. A significant problem in this regard was a lack of available manpower. Effective supervision of personnel was regarded by Starostin as a key to success. In many respects he was an ideal party leader, loyal to the political leadership of the country, but at the same time independent and not afraid to criticize decisions made at higher levels. Despite this, however, on the 14th of April 1945 the Party Central Committee elected to transfer Starostin to Moscow, only weeks before victory. As a consequence, Starostin was prevented from celebrating Victory Day in Murmansk, a city to which he had given all his strength during the Great Patriotic War. Perhaps Starostin, in the eyes the Stalinist leadership, had become too powerful and independent to be left alone in the High North