Carbon Balance in Forest Ecosystems and Biotic Regulation of Carbon Cycle under Global Warming: Landscape-ecological Predictive Modeling

Abstract It is outlined the concept of biotic regulation of carbon cycle in biosphere with the help of a study of local mechanis ms in the s mall bio logical cycle. The prognosis of changes of b iological cycle and b iotic regulation o f the carbon cycle according to the Had CM3 scenario of global warming are presented. Two mutually antithetical phenomena of carbon cycle biotic regulation will be developing on the Russian Plain. The extreme south of the forest zone will be the field of significant additional accumu lation of carbon in at mosphere. The main positive biotic regulation of carbon cycle, according to the Les Chatellier's principle, will be performed by broadleaf-coniferous forests of high plains in the nemoral-forest sub-zone and in the southern belt of sub-taiga zone. Local and reg ional maps of carbon balance are presented as well

EEG revealed improved vigilance regulation after stress exposure under Nx4: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over trial

ObjectivesVigilance is characterized by alertness and sustained attention. The hyper-vigilance states are indicators of stress experience in the resting brain. Neurexan (Nx4) has been shown to modulate the neuroendocrine stress response. Here, we hypothesized that the intake of Nx4 would alter brain vigilance states at rest.MethodIn this post-hoc analysis of the NEURIM study, EEG recordings of three, 12 min resting-state conditions in 39 healthy male volunteers were examined in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over clinical trial. EEG was recorded at three resting-state sessions: at baseline (RS0), after single-dose treatment with Nx4 or placebo (RS1), and subsequently after a psychosocial stress task (RS2). During each resting-state session, each 2-s segment of the consecutive EEG epochs was classified into one of seven different brain states along a wake-sleep continuum using the VIGALL 2.1 algorithm.ResultsIn the post-stress resting-state, subjects exhibited a hyper-stable vigilance regulation characterized by an increase in the mean vigilance level and by more rigidity in the higher vigilance states for a longer period of time. Importantly, Nx4-treated participants exhibited significantly lower mean vigilance level compared to placebo-treated ones. Also, Nx4- compared to placebo-treated participants spent comparably less time in higher vigilance states and more time in lower vigilance states in the post-stress resting-state.ConclusionStudy participants showed a significantly lower mean vigilance level in the post-stress resting-state condition and tended to stay longer in lower vigilance states after treatment with Nx4. These findings support the known stress attenuation effect of Nx4

Knock-Down of Core Proteins Regulating MicroRNA Biogenesis Has No Effect on Sensitivity of Lung Cancer Cells to Ionizing Radiation

Recent studies underline the important role of microRNAs (miRNA) in the development of lung cancer. The main regulators of miRNA biogenesis are the ribonucleases Drosha, Dicer and Ago2. Here the role of core proteins of miRNA biogenesis machinery in the response of human non-small and small cell lung carcinoma cell lines to treatment with ionizing radiation was assessed. We found that Drosha and Dicer were expressed at higher levels in radioresistant but not in sensitive cell lines. However, down-regulation of either Dicer or Drosha had no effect on the sensitivity of cells to irradiation. Elimination of components of the RNA-induced silencing complex Ago2 and Tudor staphylococcal nuclease also did not sensitize cells to the same treatment. Thus, modulation of miRNA biogenesis machinery is not sufficient to increase the radiosensitivity of lung tumors and other strategies are required to combat lung cancer

Molecular mechanisms of cell death: recommendations of the Nomenclature Committee on Cell Death 2018.

Over the past decade, the Nomenclature Committee on Cell Death (NCCD) has formulated guidelines for the definition and interpretation of cell death from morphological, biochemical, and functional perspectives. Since the field continues to expand and novel mechanisms that orchestrate multiple cell death pathways are unveiled, we propose an updated classification of cell death subroutines focusing on mechanistic and essential (as opposed to correlative and dispensable) aspects of the process. As we provide molecularly oriented definitions of terms including intrinsic apoptosis, extrinsic apoptosis, mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT)-driven necrosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis, pyroptosis, parthanatos, entotic cell death, NETotic cell death, lysosome-dependent cell death, autophagy-dependent cell death, immunogenic cell death, cellular senescence, and mitotic catastrophe, we discuss the utility of neologisms that refer to highly specialized instances of these processes. The mission of the NCCD is to provide a widely accepted nomenclature on cell death in support of the continued development of the field

Influence of Neurexan® on brain activity in responses to deviant stimuli during an auditory oddball task

Background: Neurexan®, a medicinal product sold over the counter (OTC), contains four ingredients; Passiflora incarnata (passionflower), Avena sativa (oats), Coffea arabica (coffee) and Zincum isovalerianicum (zinc valerianate). Neurexan® has been investigated in patients with symptoms related to acute stress, nervousness/restlessness, and insomnia. The previous research suggested an attenuated neuroendocrine stress response in healthy volunteers induced by Neurexan® (Doering et al. 2016). This study further explores the effects of Neurexan® on cognitive performance and attention that can be assessed by the oddball paradigm. It is generally recognized that stress is associated with cognitive impairments. Expecting that Neurexan® reduces the stress level, we hypothesized that the subjects in the placebo group would be more susceptible to distraction compared to treatment group. Methods: In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, two-period crossover trial, brain responses to the unattended auditory oddball task of 39 healthy, moderately stressed males were measured with 64-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) after intake of a single dose of Neurexan® or placebo. The paradigm consisted of 80 standard tones and two types of deviant tones (10 frequency deviant; 10 duration deviant), presented in a pseudo-randomized order. The standard tone was composed of eight equally loud sinusoidal tones (fundamental frequency 330 Hz and seven harmonic partials) and had the duration of 100 ms. The deviants were either 40 ms shorter (duration deviant) or 1.25 semitones higher (frequency deviant). Results: Significant effect of Neurexan® on the latency of mismatch negativity (MMN) (decreased latency under treatment) was observed with repeated-measures ANOVA. The main effect of the treatment (F(1,37)=4.297, p=0.045, η2= 0.104) and significant treatment x deviant-type interaction (F(1,37)=8.828, p=0.005, η2=0.193) were found. Further Wilcoxon-test for paired samples showed that this reductione of latency was present for the frequency deviant stimuli (z(37)=-2.85, p=0.004). Conclusion: Significant reduction of MMN latency in the Neurexan treatment group suggests that Neurexan® induces subtle primary processing changes in term of reaction time

Effects of Neurexan® on brain responses to deviant stimuli during an auditory oddball task

Introduction: Neurexan®, a medicinal product sold over the counter (OTC), is composed of four plant and mineral ingredients; passionflower, oats, coffee and zinc valerianate. Neurexan® has been investigated in patients with symptoms related to acute stress, nervousness/restlessness, and insomnia. The previous research suggested an attenuated neuroendocrine stress response in healthy volunteers induced by Neurexan® (Doering et al. 2016). This study further explores the effects of Neurexan® on cognitive performance and attention. It is generally recognized that stress is associated with cognitive impairments. Expecting that Neurexan® reduces the stress level, we hypothesized that the subjects in the placebo group would be more susceptible to distraction compared to treatment group. Material and Methods: In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, two-period crossover trial, brain responses of 39 healthy, moderate stressed males were measured during an unattended auditory oddball paradigm via 64-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) after intake of Neurexan® and placebo. The paradigm consisted of 80 standard tones and two types of deviant tones (10 frequency deviant; 10 duration deviant), presented in a pseudo-randomized order. The standard tone was composed of eight equally loud sinusoidal tones (fundamental frequency 330 Hz and seven harmonic partials) and had a duration of 100 ms. The deviants were either 40 ms shorter (duration deviant) or 1.25 semitones higher (frequency deviant). Results: Here we present the results about the effect of Neurexan treatment on both mismatch negativity (MMN) and latency of the peaks when assessing EEG responses (ERPs) to deviant tones (frequency and duration deviant) compared to placebo. Discussion: Our findings suggest that Neurexan® also leads to subtle primary processing changes additionally to its postulated top down effects

Effects of natural medicinal on brain responses to deviant stimuli during an auditory oddball task

Objective: Neurexan®, a natural pharmaceutical product sold over the counter (OTC), contains diluted plant and mineral components: passionflower, oats, coffee and zinc valerianate. Neurexan® has been investigated in patients with symptoms related to acute stress and nervousness. It was shown that stress is associated with cognitive impairments, as for example during the oddball paradigm. Previous research suggested an standard tones and two types of deviant tones (10 frequency deviant; 10 duration deviant), presented in a pseudo-randomized order. Results: RmANOVA with within-subject factors treatment (drug/-placebo) and deviant-type (frequency/duration) showed significant treatment by deviant-type interaction (F(1, 37) = 8.828, p = 0.005, η2 = 0.193) on the latency of the mismatch negativity. The Wilcoxontest confirmed that Neurexan® significantly reduced latency of the frequency deviant (z(37) = −2.85, p = 0.004). Conclusion: We observed a difference between the placebo and Neurexan® for the latency of mismatch negativity to deviant tones (frequency deviant). Our findings suggest that Neurexan® induces subtle primary processing changes additionally to its postulated topdown effects. Attenuated euroendocrine stress response in healthy volunteers induced by Neurexan®. This study further explores the effects of Neurexan® on cognitive performance. Expecting that Neurexan® reduces the stress level, we hypothesized that the subjects in the placebo group would be more susceptible to distraction compared to treatment group during an oddball paradigm coupled with an EEG measurement. Methods: In a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, twoperiod crossover trial, brain responses of 39 healthy, moderately stressed males were measured during an unattended auditory oddball paradigm via 64-channel electroencephalogram (EEG) after intake of a single dose Neurexan® or placebo. The paradigm consisted of 80 standard tones and two types of deviant tones (10 frequency deviant; 10 duration deviant), presented in a pseudo-randomized order. Results: RmANOVA with within-subject factors treatment (drug/-placebo) and deviant-type (frequency/duration) showed significant treatment by deviant-type interaction (F(1, 37) = 8.828, p = 0.005, η2 = 0.193) on the latency of the mismatch negativity. The Wilcoxontest confirmed that Neurexan® significantly reduced latency of the frequency deviant (z(37) = −2.85, p = 0.004). Conclusion: We observed a difference between the placebo and Neurexan® for the latency of mismatch negativity to deviant tones (frequency deviant). Our findings suggest that Neurexan® induces subtle primary processing changes additionally to its postulated topdown effects