Auditory Cortex Responses to Clicks and Sensory Modulation Difficulties in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Auditory sensory modulation difficulties are common in autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and may stem from a faulty arousal system that compromises the ability to regulate an optimal response. To study neurophysiological correlates of the sensory modulation difficulties, we recorded magnetic field responses to clicks in 14 ASD and 15 typically developing (TD) children. We further analyzed the P100m, which is the most prominent component of the auditory magnetic field response in children and may reflect preattentive arousal processes. The P100m was rightward lateralized in the TD, but not in the ASD children, who showed a tendency toward P100m reduction in the right hemisphere (RH). The atypical P100m lateralization in the ASD subjects was associated with greater severity of sensory abnormalities assessed by Short Sensory Profile, as well as with auditory hypersensitivity during the first two years of life. The absence of right-hemispheric predominance of the P100m and a tendency for its right-hemispheric reduction in the ASD children suggests disturbance of the RH ascending reticular brainstem pathways and/or their thalamic and cortical projections, which in turn may contribute to abnormal arousal and attention. The correlation of sensory abnormalities with atypical, more leftward, P100m lateralization suggests that reduced preattentive processing in the right hemisphere and/or its shift to the left hemisphere may contribute to abnormal sensory behavior in ASD

Hierarchically Porous Carbon Cloth–Polyaniline (CC–PANI) Composite Supercapacitor Electrodes with Enhanced Stability

In this work, hierarchically porous composites were prepared in the form of activated carbon cloth (CC) Busofit T–1–055 filled with an electrically conductive polymer, polyaniline (PANI), for use as pseudocapacitive electrodes of electrochemical supercapacitors (SCs). CC fibers have high nanoporosity and specific surface area, so it was possible to deposit (via the chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline) a significant amount of PANI on them in the form of a thin layer mainly located on the inner surface of the pores. Such morphology of the composite made allowed the combining of the high capacitive characteristics of PANI with the reversibility of electrochemical processes, high columbic efficiency and cyclic stability rather typical for carbon materials of double-layer SCs. The highest capacitance of composite electrodes of about 4.54 F/cm2 with high cyclic stability (no more than 8% of capacity loss after 2000 charge–discharge cycles with a current density of 10 A/cm2) and columbic efficiency (up to 98%) was achieved in 3 M H2SO4 electrolyte solution when PANI was synthesized from an aniline hydrochloride solution with a concentration of 0.25 M. Trasatti analysis revealed that 27% of specific capacitance corresponded to pseudocapacitance, and 73% to the double-layer capacitance

Using E-Learning Tools to Enhance Students- Mathematicians’ Competences in the Context of International Academic Mobility Programmes

Introduction. The article is concerned with the use of special electronic teaching tools to increase the students’ understanding of the subject and adaptation to the professional language environment of the host country, taking into account the mathematical education. Our purpose is to develop a methodology of multilingual support of mathematical courses in the host country to improve the effectiveness of students’ academic mobility using e-learning tools. Materials and Methods. The basis of the research was methods of system analysis and descriptive and analytical methods, primarily experimental. To identify advantages of the proposed approach the methods of empirical research were used (observation and comparison). To prove the efficiency, classical methods of measurement were used. Results. We analyzed the existing electronic learning environments and defined an e-learning environment Math-Bridge that allows for creating mathematical courses in several languages in parallel. For example, the e-training course “Optimization Methods” was developed in three languages for training Russian-speaking Master programme students. The comparative analysis of the target and control student’s groups showed that 100 % of the students in the target group achieved an excellent level of mastering competencies, while the control group has only 75 %. For the control group, the degree of motivation to mathematical studying has not virtually changed (increase by 0,86 %). In the target group the level of student interest to the mathematics increased from 0,9 % to 8,9 % (mean 2.21 %). Discussion and Conclusion. The results described in the article will be useful for the staff of international departments, administrations and deans, as well as teachers of those universities that participate in the students’ international academic mobility programmes

Arc/Arg3.1 expression in the brain tissues during the learning process in Alzheimer's disease animal models

Introduction. Arc/Arg3.1 is a common marker of neuronal activation for learning and memorizing. Some experimental data show the Arc/Arg3.1 expression in the post-mitotic neurons of the neurogenic niches. At the same time, we still have to understand the importance of such an expression for neurogenesis induced by the learning or memorizing processes, in health and in disease. Objective: to evaluate the changes in Arc/Arg3.1 expression in the post-mitotic neurons and to assess the proliferative activity of the neurogenic niche cells in Alzheimer's disease animal models. Materials and methods. We divided the C57Bl/6В mice into 2 groups: experimental (n = 15) and control (n = 15). The experimental group were injected with the amyloid- oligomers 2535 in their CA1 hippocampal region while the control mice received normal saline injections in the same region. Passive Avoidance Test (PAT) was used to assess the cognitive functions from the day 9 after the intervention. One hour after each test session we collected the samples of brain tissues to immunohistochemically assess them for the Arc/Arg3.1 expression and PCNA cell proliferation marker. Results. At day 11 the count of Arc/Arg3.1+NeuN+ cells in the subgranular zone had significantly increased. In animal neurodegeneration models the 1st and 2nd PAT sessions were associated with a significant increase in Arc/Arg3.1+NeuN+ cells, although by the day 11 their count significantly decreased. The count of Arc/Arg3.1+ cells in the subventricular and subgranular zones had increased after the 3rd PAT session in the control group while in Alzheimer's disease animal models this was observed only after the 2nd PAT session. Preserved Arc/Arg3.1 expression in the subventricular zone is associated with the increased PCNA cell prolifera- tion marker expression. At the same time, the toxic effect of the amyloid- oligomers suppressed the cells' proliferative activity in the subgranular zone at day 9. Conclusions. Despite the toxic effect of the amyloid- oligomers 2535, the post-mitotic neurons of the neurogenic niches retained the ability to express Arc/Arg3.1 in vivo. The obtained results show a transient increase in sensitivity of the post-mitotic neurons of the neurogenic niches for the learning stimuli in the early stages of the Alzheimer-type neurodegeneration

Properties of Xylan-Alginate Composites Reinforced with Ultrasound-Activated Birch Cellulose

Впервые для получения полимерных композиционных материалов (пленок) предложено использовать полисахариды: целлюлозу и ксилан, выделенные из древесины березы методом пероксидной делигнификации в среде «уксусная кислота – вода» в присутствии катализатора (NH4)6Mo7O24. Исходные компоненты: целлюлоза, ксилан, альгинат натрия охарактеризованы с использованием методов ИКС, ГХ, ГПХ, лазерной дифракции и химического анализа. Показано, что введение целлюлозы березы, активированной ультразвуком в состав ксилан-альгинатных композитов, приводит к увеличению прочности пленок, увеличению их барьерных свойств относительно паров воды, а также к уменьшению растворимости пленок в водеFor the first time, polysaccharides: cellulose and xylan, isolated from birch wood by peroxide delignification in “acetic acid-water” medium in the presence of catalyst (NH4)6Mo7O24, were proposed to be used to obtain polymer composites (films). The initial components: cellulose, xylan, sodium alginate were characterized using the methods of FTIR, GC, GPC, laser diffraction and chemical analysis.It is shown that the introduction of ultrasound-activated birch bark cellulose into the composition of xylan-alginate composites leads to an increase in the strength of the films, an increase in their barrier properties with respect to water vapor, and also reduces the solubility of the films in wate

Chronicles of nature calendar, a long-term and large-scale multitaxon database on phenology

We present an extensive, large-scale, long-term and multitaxon database on phenological and climatic variation, involving 506,186 observation dates acquired in 471 localities in Russian Federation, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan. The data cover the period 1890-2018, with 96% of the data being from 1960 onwards. The database is rich in plants, birds and climatic events, but also includes insects, amphibians, reptiles and fungi. The database includes multiple events per species, such as the onset days of leaf unfolding and leaf fall for plants, and the days for first spring and last autumn occurrences for birds. The data were acquired using standardized methods by permanent staff of national parks and nature reserves (87% of the data) and members of a phenological observation network (13% of the data). The database is valuable for exploring how species respond in their phenology to climate change. Large-scale analyses of spatial variation in phenological response can help to better predict the consequences of species and community responses to climate change.Peer reviewe

Phenological shifts of abiotic events, producers and consumers across a continent

Ongoing climate change can shift organism phenology in ways that vary depending on species, habitats and climate factors studied. To probe for large-scale patterns in associated phenological change, we use 70,709 observations from six decades of systematic monitoring across the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Among 110 phenological events related to plants, birds, insects, amphibians and fungi, we find a mosaic of change, defying simple predictions of earlier springs, later autumns and stronger changes at higher latitudes and elevations. Site mean temperature emerged as a strong predictor of local phenology, but the magnitude and direction of change varied with trophic level and the relative timing of an event. Beyond temperature-associated variation, we uncover high variation among both sites and years, with some sites being characterized by disproportionately long seasons and others by short ones. Our findings emphasize concerns regarding ecosystem integrity and highlight the difficulty of predicting climate change outcomes. The authors use systematic monitoring across the former USSR to investigate phenological changes across taxa. The long-term mean temperature of a site emerged as a strong predictor of phenological change, with further imprints of trophic level, event timing, site, year and biotic interactions.Peer reviewe

Effect of aliskiren on post-discharge outcomes among diabetic and non-diabetic patients hospitalized for heart failure: insights from the ASTRONAUT trial

Aims The objective of the Aliskiren Trial on Acute Heart Failure Outcomes (ASTRONAUT) was to determine whether aliskiren, a direct renin inhibitor, would improve post-discharge outcomes in patients with hospitalization for heart failure (HHF) with reduced ejection fraction. Pre-specified subgroup analyses suggested potential heterogeneity in post-discharge outcomes with aliskiren in patients with and without baseline diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods and results ASTRONAUT included 953 patients without DM (aliskiren 489; placebo 464) and 662 patients with DM (aliskiren 319; placebo 343) (as reported by study investigators). Study endpoints included the first occurrence of cardiovascular death or HHF within 6 and 12 months, all-cause death within 6 and 12 months, and change from baseline in N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) at 1, 6, and 12 months. Data regarding risk of hyperkalaemia, renal impairment, and hypotension, and changes in additional serum biomarkers were collected. The effect of aliskiren on cardiovascular death or HHF within 6 months (primary endpoint) did not significantly differ by baseline DM status (P = 0.08 for interaction), but reached statistical significance at 12 months (non-DM: HR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.64-0.99; DM: HR: 1.16, 95% CI: 0.91-1.47; P = 0.03 for interaction). Risk of 12-month all-cause death with aliskiren significantly differed by the presence of baseline DM (non-DM: HR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.50-0.94; DM: HR: 1.64, 95% CI: 1.15-2.33; P < 0.01 for interaction). Among non-diabetics, aliskiren significantly reduced NT-proBNP through 6 months and plasma troponin I and aldosterone through 12 months, as compared to placebo. Among diabetic patients, aliskiren reduced plasma troponin I and aldosterone relative to placebo through 1 month only. There was a trend towards differing risk of post-baseline potassium ≥6 mmol/L with aliskiren by underlying DM status (non-DM: HR: 1.17, 95% CI: 0.71-1.93; DM: HR: 2.39, 95% CI: 1.30-4.42; P = 0.07 for interaction). Conclusion This pre-specified subgroup analysis from the ASTRONAUT trial generates the hypothesis that the addition of aliskiren to standard HHF therapy in non-diabetic patients is generally well-tolerated and improves post-discharge outcomes and biomarker profiles. In contrast, diabetic patients receiving aliskiren appear to have worse post-discharge outcomes. Future prospective investigations are needed to confirm potential benefits of renin inhibition in a large cohort of HHF patients without D

From atomic to mesoscale: the role of quantum coherence in systems of various complexities

This volume presents the latest advancements and future developments of atomic, molecular and optical (AMO) physics and its vital role in modern sciences and technologies. The chapters are devoted to studies of a wide range of quantum systems, with an emphasis on understanding of quantum coherence and other quantum phenomena originated from light-matter interactions. The book intends to survey the current research landscape and to highlight major scientific trends in AMO physics as well as those interfacing with interdisciplinary sciences. The volume may be particularly useful for young researchers working on establishing their scientific interests and goals