Effect of hypokinesia on contractile function of cardiac muscle

Rats were subjected to hypokinesia for two months and the contractile function of isolated papillary muscle was studied. Hypokinesia reduced significantly the isotonic contraction rate which depended on the ATPase activity of the myofibrils; it also reduced the rate and index of relaxation which depended on the functional capacity of the Ca(++) pump of the sarcoplasmic reticulum. The maximum force of isometric contraction determined by the quantity of actomyosin bridges in the myofibrils did not change after hypokinesia. This complex of changes is contrary to that observed in adaptation to exercise when the rate of isotonic contraction and relaxation increases while the force of isometric contraction does not change. The possible mechanism of this stability of the contractile force during adaptation and readaptation of the heart is discussed

Effect of hypokinesia on cardiac contractile function and nervous regulation of the heart

Longterm hypokinesia caused cardiac deadaptation in rabbits, which resulted in the diminishing of the left ventricular rate of contraction and relaxation, joined later by decreased vascular resistance. As a results, the ejection rate as well as stroke volume and cardiac output were normal. The decrease of the relaxation speed was more obvious at a high heart rate and results in shortening of the diastolic pause and diminishing of cardiac output. Hearts of the hypokinetic animals were characterized by normal maximal pressure developed by a unit of muccardial mass aorta clamping, decreased adrenoreactivity, and increased cholinoreactivity. This complex of changes is contrary to changes observed in adaptation to exercise, but is similar to changes observed in compensatory hypertrophy of the heart

MORPHOLOGICAL AND BIOLOGICAL TRAITS OF LARGE-FRUITED CHERRY PLUM (<i>PRUNUS </i> x <i> ROSSICA </i> EREMIN) AND THEIR IMPORTANCE FOR EXPERT EXAMINATION OF VARIETIES FOR THEIR DISTINCTNESS, HOMOGENEITY AND STABILITY (DHS)

This work presents the results of long-term research on morphological and biological traits of six hybrid cherry plum varieties (Prunus х rossica Eremin). Such morpho-biological traits are shown to have significance during expert examination of varieties for distinctness, homogeneity and stability. The studied varieties (‘Andromeda’, ‘Desertnaya Rannyaya’, ‘Obil'naya’, ‘Olen'ka’, ‘Rumyanaya Zor'ka’ and ‘Femida’) meet the criteria of distinctness, homogeneity and stability, which has been confirmed by the experts from the State Variety Testing Commission

In-plane optical response of Bi2Sr2CuO6

We report on infrared reflectivity measurements of the $ab$-plane response of superconducting Bi$_2$Sr$_2$CuO$_6$ single crystals. The frequency dependent conductivity has a maximum near 700 cm$^{-1}$ at room temperature, which shifts to lower frequency and merges with a Drude-peak below 100 K. We attribute the unusual behaviour of the mid-infrared conductivity to low frequency transitions between electronic bands of mainly BiO character near the $\overline{M}$ point. The linear temperature dependence of the low-frequency resistivity can be followed down to approximately 40 K where it saturates.Comment: Revtex, 4 pages, 4 postscript figures, Phys. Rev. B, in pres

Эффективность автомобилей в смешанных перевозках большегрузных контейнеров

[For the English abstract and full text of the article please see the attached PDF-File (English version follows Russian version)].ABSTRACT The article is devoted to evaluation of efficiency of functioning of cars in mixed transportation while servicing consignors and consignees of high-capacity containers according to the existing and proposed technology. It is shown that the existing technology has a significant disadvantage: a total of 16 stages is used in the process of cargo delivery. A more rational technology is proposed with the use of a container developed by the authors with folding load-lifting pillars, which makes it possible to reduce the number of stages by almost half. The analysis of the factors determining the efficiency of road transport in the maintenance of containers based on the proposed self-unloading models is carried out. Keywords: car, mixed transportation, transportable container, load-lifting pillars, terminal complexes, cargo delivery, quality of service.Текст аннотации на англ. языке и полный текст статьи на англ. языке находится в прилагаемом файле ПДФ (англ. версия следует после русской версии).Статья посвящена оценке эффективности функционирования автомобилей в смешанных перевозках при обслуживании получателей и отправителей большегрузных контейнеров по существующей и предлагаемой технологиям. Показано, что существующая технология имеет значимый недостаток: в общей сложности 16 этапов в процессе доставки груза. Предложена более рациональная технология с использованием разработанного авторами контейнера со складывающимися грузоподъёмными стойками, позволяющая почти вдвое сократить число этапов. Проведён анализ факторов, определяющих эффективность автомобильного транспорта при обслуживании контейнеров на основе предложенных саморазгружающихся моделей

Смешанные перевозки в саморазгружающихся контейнерах

For the English full text of the article please see the attached PDF-File (English version follows Russian version).ABSTRACT Delivery of goods in 40-foot containers in mixed traffic according to the existing technology can be carried out only through container terminals using specialized equipment (container trucks, gantry cranes, forklifts, etc.), since typical containers themselves cannot be unloaded from and loaded onto rolling stock. The article proposes a new technology that is based on the design of a self-unloading container developed by the authors. It is proved that it reduces the time of delivery of goods by more than 20 % and reduces the operating time of road transport by 7,4 times. This creates a significant economic effect, which allows to quickly recoup the purchase of a self-unloading container in just 14 runs along the calculated route. Keywords: multimodal transportation, self-unloading container, cargo delivery, rolling stock, technology.Полный текст на англ. языке находится в прилагаемом файле ПДФ (англ. версия следует после русской версии).Доставка грузов в 40-футовых контейнерах в смешанном сообщении по существующей технологии может осуществляться только через контейнерные терминалы с использованием специализированной техники (автомобили-контейнеровозы, козловые краны, автопогрузчики и др.), поскольку типовые контейнеры сами не могут разгружаться и погружаться на подвижной состав. В статье предложена новая технология, которая основана на разработанной авторами конструкции саморазгружающегося контейнера. Доказано, что она сокращает сроки доставки груза более чем на 20 % и уменьшает время работы автомобильного транспорта в 7,4 раза. При этом создаётся значимый экономический эффект, позволяющий быстро окупить закупку саморазгружающегося контейнера - всего за 14 ездок по расчётному маршруту

Сравнение качества обслуживания при доставке саморазгружающихся контейнеров

[For the English abstract and full text of the article please see the attached PDF-File (English version follows Russian version)].ABSTRACT Containers offer cost-cutting opportunities in cargo transportation, loading/unloading operations, improving the efficiency of machinery and equipment utilization. This leads to continued growth in the volume of containerized cargo transportation; however, this growth is held back by the limited number of container terminals where containers are transferred to automotive transport that delivers them to the end receiver. To address this problem, the authors have developed a technology to deliver containers without the use of container terminals (cf.: World of Transport and Transportation, Vol. 14, 2016, Iss. 4). This article assesses the quality of transportation services provided by the old conventional technology in comparison with the suggested one that relies on the use of the self-unloading container. Keywords: automotive transport, transportable container, transportation technology, jack posts, container terminals, container yards, service quality assessment.Текст аннотации на англ. языке и полный текст статьи на англ. языке находится в прилагаемом файле ПДФ (англ. версия следует после русской версии).Использование контейнеров даёт возможность сократить затраты на транспортировку грузов, погрузо- разгрузочные работы, повысить эффективность использования техники и оборудования. Это приводит к непрерывному росту контейнерных перевозок, однако темпы их роста сдерживаются недостаточным количеством терминальных комплексов, без которых нельзя осуществить перегрузку контейнеров на автомобильный транспорт, доставляющий их конечному потребителю. Для решения этой проблемы авторами была предложена технология доставки контейнеров без использования терминальных комплексов (см.: Мир транспорта, 2016, № 4). В публикуемой статье даётся оценка качества транспортного обслуживания при прежней привычной технологии и предлагаемой с использованием саморазгружающегося контейнера

Systematics of c-axis Phonons in the Thallium and Bismuth Based Cuprate Superconductors

We present grazing incidence reflectivity measurements in the far infrared region at temperatures above and below Tc for a series of thallium (Tl2Ba2CuO6, Tl2Ba2CaCu2O8) and bismuth (Bi2Sr2CuO6, Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8, and Bi(2-x)Pb(x)Sr2CaCu2O8) based cuprate superconductors. From the spectra, which are dominated by the c-axis phonons, longitudinal frequencies (LO) are directly obtained. The reflectivity curves are well fitted by a series of Lorentz oscillators. In this way the transverse (TO) phonon frequencies were accurately determined. On the basis of the comparative study of the Bi and Tl based cuprates with different number of CuO2 layers per unit cell, we suggest modifications of the assignment of the main oxygen modes. We compare the LO frequencies in Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8 and Tl2Ba2Ca2Cu3O10 obtained from intrinsic Josephson junction characteristics with our measurements, and explain the discrepancy in LO frequencies obtained by the two different methods.Comment: 8 pages Revtex, 6 eps figures, 3 tables, to appear in Phys. Rev.

Scanning tunneling spectroscopy of high-temperature superconductors

Tunneling spectroscopy played a central role in the experimental verification of the microscopic theory of superconductivity in the classical superconductors. Initial attempts to apply the same approach to high-temperature superconductors were hampered by various problems related to the complexity of these materials. The use of scanning tunneling microscopy/spectroscopy (STM/STS) on these compounds allowed to overcome the main difficulties. This success motivated a rapidly growing scientific community to apply this technique to high-temperature superconductors. This paper reviews the experimental highlights obtained over the last decade. We first recall the crucial efforts to gain control over the technique and to obtain reproducible results. We then discuss how the STM/STS technique has contributed to the study of some of the most unusual and remarkable properties of high-temperature superconductors: the unusual large gap values and the absence of scaling with the critical temperature; the pseudogap and its relation to superconductivity; the unprecedented small size of the vortex cores and its influence on vortex matter; the unexpected electronic properties of the vortex cores; the combination of atomic resolution and spectroscopy leading to the observation of periodic local density of states modulations in the superconducting and pseudogap states, and in the vortex cores.Comment: To appear in RMP; 65 pages, 62 figure

Novel role for the innate immune receptor toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) in the regulation of the wnt signaling pathway and photoreceptor apoptosis

Recent evidence has implicated innate immunity in regulating neuronal survival in the brain during stroke and other neurodegenerations. Photoreceptors are specialized light-detecting neurons in the retina that are essential for vision. In this study, we investigated the role of the innate immunity receptor TLR4 in photoreceptors. TLR4 activation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) significantly reduced the survival of cultured mouse photoreceptors exposed to oxidative stress. With respect to mechanism, TLR4 suppressed Wnt signaling, decreased phosphorylation and activation of the Wnt receptor LRP6, and blocked the protective effect of the Wnt3a ligand. Paradoxically, TLR4 activation prior to oxidative injury protected photoreceptors, in a phenomenon known as preconditioning. Expression of TNFα and its receptors TNFR1 and TNFR2 decreased during preconditioning, and preconditioning was mimicked by TNFα antagonists, but was independent of Wnt signaling. Therefore, TLR4 is a novel regulator of photoreceptor survival that acts through the Wnt and TNFα pathways. © 2012 Yi et al