Current Scenarios for the Demographic Future of the World: The Cases of Russia and Germany

In this article, we explore the demographic future of the world with a focus on scenarios for Russia and Germany. We seek an alternative to the Western standards of scenarios for global demographic development. We consider demographic development both in a positive and negative sense. Our analysis rests on such theoretical structures as the general theory of population, the classical theory of demographic transition, the concepts of the 'second', 'third', and 'fourth' demographic transitions, and scenarios for the 'Eurasian demographic development path'. We employ a range of methods from comparative demography as well as historical analogies, expert evaluations and demographic forecasts. We analyse the patterns of current demographic development in Russia and Germany to explore various demographic scenarios. In the conclusion, we stress the need for Russia and other countries, including Germany, to embark on the 'Eurasian demographic development path' in view of the countries' geographical positions and demographic values, with children being a dominant one. Otherwise, both Germany and Russia may disappear as national states as early as this century. The findings of this study can be used to improve the demographic policies of Russia and Germany

Transplant arteriosclerosis: an enigmatic disease due to a misnomer

Solid organ transplantation across the allogeneic barrier, pioneered by Thomas Starzl, has by now become a common medical procedure. Unfortunately, the number of donor organs lost due to transplant arteriosclerosis (chronic rejection), remains significant and unchanged for decades. We argue that designation of transplant arteriosclerosis as chronic rejection, and its classification as a delayed long-lasting reaction of recipient immune effectors against donor alloantigens have given us a wrong impression that we have identified the necessary cause/pathogenesis of the tissue pathology. However, whatever treatment options we have in the anti-rejection toolbox, despite their success in treating classical rejection, do not work for the transplant arteriosclerosis. Yet, the scientific community has continued to conceptualize and approach the pathology within the alloimmunity model. Due to unproductive research from the alloimmunity and rejection perspective, the number of transplanted hearts lost due to this pathology today is almost the same as it was fifty years ago. We believe that this phenomenon falls under the rubric of linguistic relativity, and that language we chose to name the disease has restricted our cognitive ability to solve the problem. While the initial perception of the transplant arteriosclerosis as chronic rejection was logical and scientific, the subsequent experience revealed that such perception and approach have been fruitless, and likely are incorrect. Considering our tragic failure to prevent and treat the delayed arterial pathology of donor organs using all available knowledge on alloimmunity and rejection, we must finally disassociate the former from the latter. The only way to start this uncomfortable process is to change the words we are using; particularly, the words we chose to name the disease. We have to step out of the alloimmunity rejection box.Comment: 19 pages, 2 figure

Focus Laterality and Interface Between Depression and Anxiety in Patients with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

The aim of the current study was to evaluate an interaction between anxiety and depression in persons with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) in relation to foci lateralization. Ninety-four patients with temporal lobe epilepsy were included in the study (25 cases with left-sided focus activity, 25 cases with right-sided focus activity, and 44 patients with bilateral foci activity). The Hopkins Symptoms Check List (SCL-90) scale was used for psychopathological assessment. Pearson product moment correlations between nine constructs of SCL-90 were calculated separately for left-sided, right-sided, and bilateral foci groups. On the final stage, forward stepwise regression analysis was used for left-sided, right-sided, and bilateral foci groups separately. As dependent variables, the SCL-90 constructs of depression and anxiety were used. The obtained findings have shown the existence of close correlation between constructs of depression and anxiety in the right-sided focus and bilateral foci TLE patients, whereas the correlation was less expressed in the left-sided focus group. Regression analysis revealed the dependence of depression on anxiety and vice versa dependence of anxiety on depression in the right-sided focus group, but not the left-sided focus group. Depression and anxiety seem to represent one more solid syndrome in TLE patients with right-sided focus activity and rather two independent syndromes in TLE patients with the left-sided focus activity

The Problems of “Brain Drain” in Russia and Member States of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)

Among many problems that determine current international migration of population, those that are associated with the phenomenon of “brain drain” are of particular importance and topicality. The authors express a fundamental disagreement with those who try to present this phenomenon as a “mutually beneficial process for all countries”, as well as with those Russian authors who identify “brain drain” with “internal transition of people from scientific sphere to real production, business and social sphere” indicating this transition as “internal brain drain”. Particular attention is paid to two modern features, namely: “brain drain” under conditions of demographic crisis and “brain drain” between member states of the EAEU

Exploring the role of silver nanoparticles and surfactants in gas hydrate formation: a study on structural dynamics

This study explores how silver nanoparticles (5Å in diameter), SDS affect carbon dioxide hydrate formation, particularly their role in speeding up the creation of clathrate hydrates. The research highlights the importance of nanoparticles and surfactants in managing gas hydrates, with potential benefits for natural resource management and reducing greenhouse gases. Data analysis focused on the structural order parameter F4, revealing no significant impact from silver nanoparticles on F4’s behavior in carbon dioxide–water systems with or without SDS (500ppm). However, the presence of SDS surfactant markedly alters F4, underscoring surfactants’ influence on hydrate formation. The dynamic shifts in F4 during the study illustrate the complex interplay between system components in hydrate formation

Prevention of chronic rejection in mouse aortic allografts by combined treatment with CTLA4-Ig and anti-CD40 ligand monoclonal antibody

Background. In this study, using a murine model of aortic allotransplantation, the role of blockade of signaling through CD28/B7 and CD40/CD40 ligand costimulatory pathways in the evolvement of posttransplant vasculopathy was examined. Methods. Aortic allografts were transplanted across C57BL/10J (H2b)→C3H (H2(k)) strain combinations. Transient or more stable blockade of second signaling was achieved by either a single injection or multiple injections of CTLA4-Ig fusion protein (200 μg/dose i.p.) and/or anti-CD40 ligand (CD40L) monoclonal antibody (250 μg i.m.). At day 30 after transplantation, the grafts were harvested for histopathological and immunohistochemical examination. Results. Similar to allografts of untreated animals, aortic allografts obtained from recipients treated with either CTLA4-Ig or anti-CD40L monoclonal antibody alone exhibited marked narrowing of the lumen primarily due to concentric intimal thickening caused by proliferation of α-smooth muscle actin-positive cells. Contemporaneous treatment, however, with either a single injection or multiple injections of CTLA4-Ig and anti-CD40L monoclonal antibody resulted in marked diminution of intimal thickening. Interestingly, concurrent prolonged inhibition of CD28/B7 and CD40/ CD40L pathways resulted in complete abrogation of the development of posttransplant arteriopathy. Conclusion. These data suggest that a more stable disruption of signaling through costimulatory pathways may be required to obviate the development of posttransplant vasculopathy

The Role of Personal and Immune Variables in the Development of Co-Morbid Affective and Related Psychopathological Syndromes in Partial Epilepsies in Relation to Handedness

The current study was performed in order to find the influence of premorbid personality traits and immune variables on psychopathological constructs including affective and related syndromes in patients with epilepsy separately for right-handers and left-handers. Ninety two patients with epilepsy have been included into the study. There were 85 right-handers and 7 left-handers. Assessment of psychopathological status of patients has been performed by using of Symptom Check List −90 (SCL-90) and the Hamilton rating scales for Depression and Anxiety. The Munich Personality test (MPT) was used for the assessment of personality trait. The amounts of different lymphocytes clusters were calculated. The multiple stepwise regression analysis was used to find the relationships between personality, immunity variables and affective and related psychopathological syndromes separately for right-handers and left-handers.In the right-handers significant relationships between the Neuroticism level (MPT) and value of HAM-D, Depression construct (SCL-90), Anxiety (SCL-90), Obsessions (SCL-90) and Phobia construct (SCL-90) have been obtained. In the left-handers stochastically significant correlations between Regulatory Index (CD4/CD8) with Depression construct (SCL-90) and Obsession construct (SCL-90) were revealed. Premorbid personality traits determine the affective, anxiety, obsessive and phobia syndromes strictly in right-handed patients with epilepsy, while immunity variables (CD4/CD) quite the contrary predispose to affective and obsessive syndromes strictly in left-handed patients

A new endosymbiotic bacterium species associated with a nematode species of the genus Xiphinema (Nematoda, Longidoridae)

2021 virtual edition of the Conference Microscopy at the Frontiers of Science, september 29 and October 1st.Nematodes are the third largest group of metazoans; among them, the Family Longidoridae comprises two main genera of plant parasitic nematodes, Xiphinema and Longidorus, which contain several virus-vector species, e.g. the species X. index, the vector of grape fanleaf virus (GFLV), a serious pathogen of grapes. Bacterial endosymbionts of plant-parasitic nematodes represent a field of research that has become active in recent years. In this work we present a detailed characterization of the endosymbiont bacterium found in the nematode X. pachtaicum from the rhizosphere of sour orange trees (Citrus x aurantium L.) from Cordoba, Spain, and, based on morphological, phylogenetic and genomic characteristics propose a novel candidate genus and species for this uncultured bacterium (strain IAST). An intracellular bacterium, strain IAST, was observed to infect several species of the plant-parasitic nematode genus Xiphinema (X. astaregiense, X. incertum, X. madeirense, X. pachtaicum, X. parapachydermum and X. vallense). The bacterium could not be recovered on axenic medium. The localization of the bacterium (via light and fluorescence in situ hybridization microscopy) is in the X. pachtaicum females clustered around the developing oocytes, primarily found embedded inside the epithelial wall cells of the ovaries, from where they are dispersed in the intestine. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations supported the presence of bacteria inside the nematode body, where they occupy ovaries and occur inside the intestinal epithelium. Ultrastructural analysis of the bacterium showed cells that appear as mostly irregular, slightly curved rods with rounded ends, 0.8–1.2 μm wide and 2.5–6.0 μm long, possessing a typical Gram-negative cell wall. The peptidoglycan layer is, however, evident only occasionally and not detectable by TEM in most cells. Another irregularly occurring shell surrounding the endosymbiont cells or the cell clusters was also revealed, probably originating from the host cell membrane. Flagella or spore-like cells do not occur and the nucleoid is diffusely distributed throughout the cell. This endosymbiont is transmitted vertically through nematode generations. These results support the proposal of IAST as a new species, although its obligate intracellular and obligate endosymbiont nature prevented isolation of a definitive type strain. Strain IAST is therefore proposed as representing ‘Candidatus Xiphinematincola pachtaicus’ gen. nov., sp. nov