70 research outputs found

    Algorithmic statistics revisited

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    The mission of statistics is to provide adequate statistical hypotheses (models) for observed data. But what is an "adequate" model? To answer this question, one needs to use the notions of algorithmic information theory. It turns out that for every data string xx one can naturally define "stochasticity profile", a curve that represents a trade-off between complexity of a model and its adequacy. This curve has four different equivalent definitions in terms of (1)~randomness deficiency, (2)~minimal description length, (3)~position in the lists of simple strings and (4)~Kolmogorov complexity with decompression time bounded by busy beaver function. We present a survey of the corresponding definitions and results relating them to each other

    Ethnicity-specific distribution of <em>TRPM8</em> gene variants in Eurasian populations: signs of selection

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    The TRPM8 gene encodes the ion channel, which is a cold receptor in afferent neurons of the mammalian somatosensory system. We studied the frequency of haplotype distribution from six SNPs in the TRPM8 gene in Eurasian human populations, including Russians, Kazakhs and Chukchi. Four of the six SNPs are located in exon 7 (rs13004520, rs28901637, rs11562975, rs17868387), rs7593557 is in exon 11. These exons encode parts of the N-terminus, which is necessary for channel functioning in the plasma membrane of neurons. The rs11563071 is in exon 23 encoding part of the C-terminus. The primary difference in population distribution of haplotypes determines the SNP from exon 11 which leads to Ser419Asn substitution in protein. The most pronounced dif­ferences in the patterns of diversity and frequencies of haplotypes were observed between Chukchi and Russians. The frequency of major H1 haplotype encompassing the 419Ser gene variant differs in examined populations; 0.738 (Russians), 0.507 (Kazakhs) and 0.337 (Chukchi), p &lt; 0.001. The TRPM8 gene variants encoding 419Asn and carrying the minor alleles of rs28901637 (P249P) and rs11562975 (L250L) in exon 7 are characteristic of Asian populations. The frequency of all 419Asn variants in Chukchi is comparable to that in Africans, however, the minor allele frequencies of rs28901637, rs11562975 in Africans is low. Apparently in the process of human colonization of Eurasia, minor alleles of these SNPs diverged depending on rs7593557 structure in exon 11. We analyzed sequences of five TRPM8 mRNA isoforms extracted by researchers from different tissues. Sequence analysis demonstrates that they are transcribed from major H1 variant of the TRPM8 gene but contain different translation start codons, which are generated by alternative splicing from pro-mRNA

    Olfactory transport efficiency of the manganese oxide nanoparticles (II) after their single or multiple intranasal administrations

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    In experiments with reusable inhalation of nano-sized metal oxide particles, it has been shown that there is no significant relationship between the number of presentations and the metal concentration in the olfactory bulb. This fact raises the question of a possible decrease in the efficiency of particulate capturing by the olfactory epithelium after their repeated application into the nasal cavity. In this study, we compared the effectiveness of nasal transport of paramagnetic nanoparticles after their single and multiple intranasal administration and evaluated their effects on the morphological and functional characteristics of the olfactory system. Based on the data, the accumulation of MnO-NPs in the olfactory bulb of mice was reduced after repeated intranasal application. In addition, the decrease in the efficiency of olfactory transport observed after repeated administration of MnO-NPs was partially restored by intranasal application of mucolytic (0.01 M N-acetyl-L-cysteine). In this case, the concentration of particles in the olfactory bulb was proportional to the volume of the structure, which in particular depends on the number of synaptic contacts between the mitral cell of the olfactory bulb (OB) and olfactory epithelium (OE). It should be noted that multiple intranasal injections of MnO-NPs reduce mouse OE thickness. Thus, repeated intranasal introduction of MnO-NPs reduces the efficiency of nanoparticle olfactory transport from the nasal cavity to the brain, which is combined with the increase in the viscosity of the mucosal layer and the reduction in the number of synaptic contacts between OB and OE. These results indicate the presence of the natural mechanisms of protection against the penetration of pathogens and xenobiotics into the olfactory epithelium; they also allow us to formulate practical recommendations on intranasal drugs delivery

    DEVELOPMENT OF A METHODOLOGY FOR THE IMPACT OF ELECTROMAGNETIC INTERFERENCE ON THE FUNCTIONING OF ELECTRONIC DEVICES

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    The article describes a methodology for assessing the influence of electromagnetic inter-ference on the functioning of electronic devices. A block diagram of an algorithm for testing and processing the obtained experimental data is presented

    Between-strain differences in hypothermic response in mice after intranasal administration of PtO nanoparticles

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    Air pollution by particulate matter (PM) has been associated with cardiopulmonary morbidity and mortality in many recent epidemiological studies. It has been shown that transition metal compounds, well- known toxic components of PM, are able to induce hypothermia following whole-body inhalation exposure. Low temperature appears to protect tissue against toxic effects of PM metal compounds in vivo and in vitro. To study the role of soluble and insoluble irritants in the induction of the hypothermic response, we analyz­ed the decrease in mouse body temperature (Δtbody) after intranasal administration of PtO nanoparticles or a K2[PtCl 4] solution. Between-strain differences in Δtbody after intranasal administration of the irritants were evaluated using 6 inbred (BALB/cJ, C57BL/6J, AKR/OlaHsd, DBA/2JRccHsd, C3H/HeNHsd, and SJL/J) and 2 outbred mouse strains (SCID and CD1). BALB/cJ and SCID mice showed the most pronounced effect of intranasal admini­stration of the xenobiotic on tbody. Thus, tbody was signi­ficantly lower after nasal administration the PtO nano­particles than after administration of the K2[PtCl 4] solution. To study the mechanism of this decrease, we compar­ed the respective values for Δtbody following intra­nasal, intravenous and peroral administration of PtO nanoparticles in Balb/c mice. Neither intravenous nor peroral administration had any effect on mouse body temperature. This fact together with data on the dynamics of the decrease in mouse body temperature following intranasal administration of PtO nanoparticles (max Δtbody ~ 80–100 min) allowed us to assume that this process is under nervous regulation. The correlation found between our data and some well-known phenotypic characteristics (phenome.jax.org) of the mouse strains used confirms this hypothesis

    Learning-induced sensory plasticity of mouse olfactory epithelium

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    Traditionally, studies of the neurobiology of learning and memory focus on the circuitry that interfaces between sensory inputs and behavioral outputs, such as the amygdala and cerebellum. However, evidence is accumulating that some forms of learning can in fact drive stimulus­specifc changes very early in sensory systems, including not only primary sensory cortices but also precortical structures and even the peripheral sensory organs themselves. In this study, we investigated the effect of olfactory associative training on the functional activity of olfactory epithelium neurons in response to an indifferent stimulus (orange oil). It was found that such a peripheral structure of the olfactory system of adult mice as the olfactory epithelium (OE) demonstrates experience­dependent plasticity. In our experiment, associative learning led to changes in the patterns of OE cell activation in response to orange oil in comparison with the control group and animals that were given odor without reinforcement. To interpret the results obtained, we compared the distribution of MRI contrast across the zones of OE in response to a conditioned odor in trained animals and in control animals that were given orange oil at three concentrations: original (used for conditioning), 4­fold higher and 4­fold lower. Since the OE activation patterns obtained coincided in the group of trained animals and controls, which were stimulated with orange oil at the 4­fold higher concentration, it can be concluded that associative conditioning increased the sensitivity of the OE to the conditioned stimulus. The observed increase in OE response to orange oil may be the result of neurogenesis, i. e. the maturation of new olfactory neurons responsive to this stimulus, or the consequence of an increase in individual sensitivity of each OE neuron. Based on data of MRI contrast accumulation in mouse OE, the sensory plasticity way in learning­induced increase in sensitivity of OE to conditioned stimulus is more possible. Thus, the sensory plasticity of the OE plays a signifcant role in the formation of the neuronal response to the provision of an initially indifferent odor and is part of the adaptive responses to the environmental changing

    OPTIMIZATION OF ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT CONSIDERING ELECTROMAGNETIC COMPATIBILITY

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    The article discusses the main questions and the criteria for the optimization of electronic equipment considering electromagnetic compatibility

    ДОСЛІДЖЕННЯ ОРТОПОЛІФОСФАТНОГО ПРЕПАРАТУ “SEA QUEST LIQUID” ДЛЯ АНТИКОРОЗІЙНОЇ ТА СТАБІЛІЗАЦІЙНОЇ ОБРОБКИ ВОДИ

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    Most water supply systems operating in Ukraine are made of steel or cast iron, which are subject to corrosion. The Institute of Water Problems and Land Reclamation of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine carried out the experimental studies on the effect of an orthophosphate corrosion inhibitor on the quality of drinking water and the rate of corrosion as a result of its appliance in various doses in the water supply network. The water supply system of Obolon district of the city of Kiev was selected as the object of research. A characteristic feature of this water supply system is the use of various sources of water supply - groundwater and surface waters of the Desna and Dnieper rivers. The results of the calculation of water corrosivity carried out at the Institute based on the chemical analysis of the quality of water taken from 29 wells at the research object showed that the Langelier indices obtained using the calculation formulas for all sampling points are in the range from 0,89 to 1,77, which indicates the continuous and significant corrosive activity of water at all sampling point. The Risner index in all samples was in the range from 7.8 to 8.8, which indicates the significant pipeline corrosion. That is especially typical for the water from the well № 232, the Rizner index of which is 9.58, which indicates very intensive corrosion of the pipeline. Indicators rH2, for all samples, calculated both by F.U. Clarke and by the formula of A.I. Trufanov, indicate that the studied aquatic environment is very favorable for the vital activity of iron bacteria in general, and the pH - Eh zone of water samples indicates that there is an active vital activity of various strains: Leptothrix, Gallionella , Thiobacillus thiooxcidans or their combined activity. All the studied factors indicate that the most likely there is a complex genesis of corrosion processes in water supply networks, which combines both physicochemical and biological processes. This combination usually contributes to the processes of active secondary water pollution by the products of pipeline corrosion. Indicators rH2, for all samples, calculated by the formulas of F.U. Clark and of A.I. Trufanov, indicate that the studied aquatic environment is very favorable for the activity of iron bacteria in general, and the pH - Eh zone of water samples indicates that there is a rather high activity of different strains: Leptothrix, Gallionella, Thiobacillus thiooxcidans or their combined activity. The results of the research showed that for all ways to use of "SeaQuest Liquid" spicemen in the water of all sampling points there were no deviations from the standards of basic physicochemical parameters: the average pH of water was 7,67 ± 0.01, total water hardness was 4,3 ± 0,03, total alkalinity - 4,4 ± 0,05 mmol/dm,3 calcium content - 58,6 ± 0,7 mg/dm3, magnesium - 16,1 ± 0.2 mg/dm3, hydrocarbons - 261,4 ± 4,8 mg/dm3, manganese &lt;0,01 mg/dm3, sulfates - 21,9 ± 1,2 mg/dm3, chlorides - 44,3 ± 1,4 mg/dm3, sodium and potassium - 44,0 ± 2,0 mg/dm3, residual chlorine - 0,35 ± 0,02 mg/dm3, ammonium - 0,2 ± 0.01 mg/dm3, permanganate oxidation - 2,3 ± 0,1 mgО2/dm3, nitrites - 0,09 ± 0,01 mg/dm3, nitrates - 1,53 ± 0,14 mg/dm3, total mineralization - 459,9 ± 15,1 mg/dm3. In some samples of water treated with “SeaQuest Liquid”, the iron content exceeded the hygienic standard (0,2 mg/dm3) and exceeded the maximum allowable level (1,0 mg/dm3). In drinking water samples, the levels of substances that are the part of "SeaQuest Liquid" specimen (polyphosphates, orthophosphates), varied at different sampling points but were within the normative values. The anticipated biological component of corrosion according to the calculated Rh2 index, was confirmed. In the presence of sulfate-reducing and thiobacteria in water, "SeaQuest Liquid" specimen increases the corrosion rate of steel by 2,9-7,2 times; subject to additional disinfection of water when treating with sodium hypochlorite, it reduces this indicator by 1,4-2,7 times. Under the action of "SeaQuest Liquid" in water treated with sodium hypochlorite, there was a decrease in the Langelier index: from -2,23 to -2,08 and from -1,79 to -1,70, indicating a decrease in its corrosive activity. In water untreated with sodium hypochlorite under the action of "SeaQuest Liquid" there was some increase in the Langelier index: from -1.80 to -1,95 and from -1,85 to -2,78; from -2,01 to -2,13, which indicates an increase in its corrosive aggressiveness. &nbsp;Зазначено, що переважна більшість водопроводів діючих в Україні систем водопостачання виконані із сталі, або чавуну, які схильні до корозії. Встановлено, що одним із напрямків зниження корозійної агресивності питної води є застосування орто- поліфосфатного препарату "SeaQuest Liquid" (ТУ У 20.5-У 0502222-001:2017). Наведено результати досліджень впливу препарату “SeaQuest Liquid” на органолептичі та фізико-хімічні показники питної води. Визначено, що обробка водопровідної питної води препаратом “SeaQuest Liquid” не впливає на органолептичні показники, середні рівні яких упродовж 5-ти місяців спостережень практично не зазнавали суттєвих змін та знаходились в межах гігієнічних нормативів. У зразках води рівні речовин, що входять до складу препарату “SeaQuest Liquid” (поліфосфати, ортофосфати), перебували у межах нормативних значень. Якість води, обробленої ортополіфосфатним препаратом “SeaQuest Liquid”, за основними санітарно-хімічними показниками, окрім заліза, відповідає вимогам гігієнічних нормативів ДСанПіН 2.2.4.171-10. В окремих пробах води вміст заліза перевищував гігієнічний норматив (0,2 мг/дм3) та виходив за максимально допустимий рівень (1,0 мг/дм3). Під дією препарату “SeaQuest Liquid” у воді, яка оброблена гіпохлоритом натрію, спостерігалось зменшення індексу Ланжельє: з -2,23 до -2,08 і з -1,79 до -1,70, що свідчить про зниження її корозійної активності. У воді, не обробленій гіпохлоритом натрію, під впливом препарату&nbsp; “SeaQuest Liquid” спостерігалось деяке зростання індексу Ланжельє: з -1,80 до -1,95&nbsp; та з -1,85 до - 2,78;&nbsp; з -2,01 до -2,13, що свідчить про зростання її корозійної агресивності. В умовах наявності у воді сульфатредукуючих &nbsp;тіобактерій &nbsp;препарат “SeaQuest Liquid” збільшує швидкість корозії сталі в 2,9-7,2 рази; за умови додаткового знезараження води гіпохлоритом натрію останній знижує цей показник в&nbsp; 1,4-2,7 рази

    Study of the neuronal response to olfactory stimuli in control and LPS-stimulated mice by functional magnetic resonance imaging

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    Olfactory perception plays the key role in the inter­action of animals with biotic factors of the species-specific econiche. Identification of odorants informs nocturnal animals about social environment, presence of predators, or infected food. Olfactory efficiency depends on physiological conditions; in particular, odor sensitivity can be changed by infection. This work considers use of fMRI in the study of the influence of innate immunity activation on neuronal response during perception and differentiation of socially significant (2.5-dimethylpyrazine, 2-heptanon) and socially insignificant (1-hexanol and isoprene) olfactory stimuli by CD-1 mice. We stimulated innate immunity by intraperitoneal injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at the dose 500 µg/kg three hours before tomography. Urethane anesthesia was used during MRI trail. Odor stimulation was done with a lab-made metering unit for supplying standard doses of volatile organic compounds. The supply of olfactory stimuli induced activation of neurons in the primary perceptual center and the centers of secondary processing of olfactory information. Olfactory stimulus type affected neuronal response rate in an olfactory bulb but did not affect response parameters in other brain regions studied. This increase in neuronal activity is likely to be of adaptive significance as a mechanism supporting olfactory sensitivity increase, which plays the key role in the identification of potential sources of infection

    Body composition as an indicator of metabolic changes in mice obtained by <i>in vitro</i> fertilization

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    To identify body systems subject to epigenetic transformation during in vitro fertilization (IVF), comparative morphological and functional studies were performed on sexually mature offspring of outbred CD1 mice, specific-pathogen-free (SPF), obtained by IVF (experiment) and natural conception (control). The studies included assessment of age-related changes in body weight and composition, energy intake and expenditure, and glucose homeostasis. To level the effects caused by the different number of newborns in the control and in the experiment, the size of the fed litters was halved in the control females. Males obtained using the IVF procedure were superior in body weight compared to control males in all age groups. As was shown by analysis of variance with experiment/control factors, gender, age (7, 10 and 20 weeks), the IVF procedure had a statistically significant and unidirectional effect on body composition. At the same time, IVF offspring outperformed control individuals in relative fat content, but were behind in terms of lean mass. The effect of the interaction of factors was not statistically significant. IVF offspring of both sexes had higher fat to lean mass ratios (FLR). Since adipose tissue contributes significantly less to total energy intake compared to muscle, the main component of lean mass, it is not surprising that at the same level of IVF locomotor activity offspring consumed less food than controls. When converted to one gram of body weight, this difference reached 19 %. One of the consequences of reduced utilization of IVF energy substrates by offspring is a decrease in their tolerance to glucose loading. The integral criterion for the effectiveness of restoring the initial glucose level is the area under the curve (AUC), the value of which was 2.5 (males) and 3.2 (females) times higher in IVF offspring compared to the corresponding control. Thus, the totality of our original and literature data shows an increase in the risk of metabolic disorders in IVF offspring, which is confirmed by epidemiological studies of a relatively young cohort of people born using assisted reproductive technologies
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