Identification of duplicate accessions in the sweet maize collection by means of zein electrophoresis

Of all the subspecies of Zea mays L. cultivated in the world, sweet maize is the most important for the global economy. The leading seed-growing companies and research institutions around the world are engaged in breeding this crop. To meet the increasing demands of the industry to grain quality, it is important to select appropriate local varieties and lines for hybridization. Local (usually heterogeneous) varieties are a valuable source material for creating self-pollinated lines that contribute to a significant broadening of the genetic base of parental forms used in breeding. The advantages of sweet maize varieties and the interest of the food industry in them make it possible to consider accessions from the maize collection of the N.I. Vavilov Institute (VIR) as a potentially valuable source material for breeding. The present research concentrated on 19 local sweet maize varieties with different grain colors from the VIR collection, that is, 9 varieties with the blue color of ripe grain, 4 with white (colorless) grain, 3 with yellow, and 3 with red. The research included an analysis of zein electrophoretic patterns (protein markers); a study of their biotype composition and the nature of genetic polymorphism, as well as the creation of a protein pattern database for each accession. For a series of accessions with the same varietal name, but different catalog numbers, the degree of their identity was determined from their biotype composition in order to exclude duplication. Zein electrophoresis was carried out in vertical plates of 10 % polyacrylamide gel according to the standard ISTA technique developed with the participation of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department of VIR. Zein patterns were used for the first time to electrophoretically study sweet maize varieties with different grain colors. Unique zein patterns were established for all the accessions studied, which makes possible their identification by specific marker components. The results of this work characterize zein electrophoresis as a useful tool for the identification and registration of duplicate accessions in the VIR collection of sweet maize varieties

Zein patterns as effective markers of valuable agronomic traits in maize

The effective use of maize (Zea mays L.) in agriculture depends entirely on the knowledge of its gene pool, which, in turn, needs to undergo registration and certification as new data become available. Maize is one of the model objects for applying the marker methodology. This article summarizes the results of a long-term study of the maize gene pool at N. I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) in two main areas: identification of the world genetic diversity of maize (including the most important wild relatives for breeding use), and search for reliable protein (zein) markers of traits valuable for breeding in order to use them in improvement, seed production, and seed control of this crop. Specific examples show the effectiveness of using zein markers in the development of new inbred lines and improvement of the existing ones. On the examples of such agronomic traits as early maturity, explosiveness, and waxiness of maize grain, the possibility of controlling the “inclusion” of these traits in the breeding material with the help of zein markers has been demonstrated. Evidence of the effectiveness of applying zein markers in the selection of parental pairs to obtain highly heterotic hybrids is presented. The nomenclature of zein adopted at VIR after its separation by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) in an acidic buffer was compared with the nomenclature of zein after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS-PAGE) adopted among the foreign scientific community. The studies were performed on a large volume of accessions from the VIR collection as well as on breeding material provided by the country’s leading breeders

THE ASSESSMENT OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND WATERSHED EFFECT ON THE HETEROTROPHIC METABOLISM IN THE LAKE ONEGO ECOSYSTEM

Lake Onego, as one of the largest water bodies in a humid zone, is the recipient of terrestrial carbon and plays an important role in the global balance of this element. Due to heterotrophic metabolism in the Lake Onego ecosystem, substantial emissions of carbon dioxide from this lake into the atmosphere can be assumed. However, the extent of this phenomenon is still poorly known. As a climate change has led to an increase in water and organic matter flow into the northern water bodies, the carbon balance study of aquatic ecosystems is of particular relevance. The elements of the water balance for the Lake Onego catchment area in the current climate conditions are assessed. Based on satellite images the model of Lake Onego watershed terrestrial ecosystems is used to simulate the flow of organic matter into the lake with different types of vegetation and topography consideration. The assessment of the benthic communities habitat is carried out taking into account the accumulation of organic matter in various parts of Lake Onego

Liver fibrosis and markers of endothelial function at metabolic syndrome and early disorders of carbohydrate metabolism

Aim of investigation. Complex estimation of endothelial function at non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in association with early disorders of carbohydrate metabolism, in relation to liver fibrosis severity.Material and methods. Overall 67 patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) in combination to early carbohydrate metabolism disorders (71,6% women), mean age was 47,5 (42–49 years), body mass index — 34,6 kg/m2 (32,4–38,4 kg/m2) were investigated. In 72% of patients presence of NAFLD at steatosis stage and in 18% —at non-alcoholic steatohepatitis stage was found.Results. In patients with MS in association to early disorders of carbohydrate metabolism liver fibrosis at F1 METAVIR stage was revealed in 25%, at F2 — in 16%, at F3 — in 13% and at F4 — in 1,5% of all cases. Along with increase of fibrosis stage progressive elevation of TNF-α (p=0,0265), IL-6 (p=0,0012) and endothelin-1 (p=0,0137) contents on background of decrease of adiponectin concentration (p=0,0026) and gain of humeral artery diameter after compression (p=0,005) was marked.Conclusions. Presence and severity of liver fibrosis at MS in combination to early disorders of carbohydrate metabolism are related to increase of proinflammatory cytokines, endothelin-1 concentration on a background of reduction of adiponectin contents and decrease of endothelium vasodilation capacity

Cardiac arrhythmias in patients with bronchial asthma

Introduction. According to modern data, bronchial asthma (BA) is an independent risk factor for the development of cardiac arrhythmias (CA), and the use of long-acting β2-agonists (LABA) in basic therapy may further increase the risks of CA.Aim. To study the structure and risk factors of cardiac arrhythmias in patients with bronchial asthma. Materials and methods. A retrospective study included 181 patients aged 69.4 ± 0.8 years, hospitalized for asthma, with the presence a CA in medical documentation.Results. Among BA patients with CA, supraventricular CA were found in 71.3% (129) patients, ventricular CA in 16.6% (30), combined CA in 12.2% (22). In 52.5% (95) patients, supraventricular extrasystole was detected, in 35.9% (65) – atrial fibrillation, in 28.7% (52) – ventricular extrasystole, in 1.1% (2) – paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia, in 0.6% (1) – paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia. It was found that supraventricular CA was significantly more frequent among women (χ2 = 5.974, p = 0.05). The severity of BA and the level of control are not related to the type of observed CA (χ2 = 0.755, p = 0.685 and χ2 = 3.003, p = 0.557, respectively).Discussion. The use of a combination of ICS and LABA in basic BA therapy versus the use of ICS alone does not have a significant effect on the frequency and structure of cardiac arrhythmias (χ2 = 1.172, p = 0.556).Conclusion. In hospitalized BA patients, supraventricular cardiac arrhythmias are most often detected, among which supraventricular extrasystole and atrial fibrillation take the main place

Time of vitreal surgery for active retinopathy of prematurity

Background. The anatomical and functional results of surgery for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) are determined not only by the stage of the pathological process, but also depend on the timing of its implementation.The aim: to estimate the effectiveness of vitrectomy for severe active retinopathy of prematurity, depending on the timing of surgical treatment.Methods. Vitreoretinal surgery was performed in 138 children (198 eyes) with severe stages of ROP. All patients were divided into three groups depending on the timing of surgical treatment: group 1 – 42–48 weeks of postconceptual age (PCA), with the progression of ROP after laser coagulation of the retina (LCS), group 2 – 39–41 weeks of PCA, with the progression of ROP after LCS, group 3 – 36–39 weeks of PCA, without previous LCS. A 3-port transscleral 27-G vitrectomy was performed by all patients. At the postoperative period, the results of vitrectomy were estimated by the anatomical attachment of the retina. The follow-up period was 12 months. Results. In group 1, in 31 cases (73.8 %), the surgical intervention was completed with silicone tamponade. By the end of the follow-up period, anatomical retinal attachment was achieved in 17 eyes (40.5 %).In group 2, surgical intervention was completed with silicone tamponade in 29 eyes (42 %). By the end of the follow-up period, anatomical retinal attachment was achieved in 52 eyes (75 %).In group 3, surgical intervention was completed with silicone tamponade in 11 of 87 eyes (12.6 %). Anatomical retinal attachment was achieved in 80 eyes (92 %).Conclusion. Untimely vitrectomy (42–48 weeks of PCA) in cases of ROP progression after LCR led to a worse result. If progress of ROP after laser treatment happens, early vitrectomy (39–41 weeks of PCA) should be performed. Primary vitrectomy should be performed in case of the optimal timing of laser treatment has been missed (after 36 weeks of PCV)

Экстрактивная ректификация смеси ацетон - метанол с водой в комплексе с частично связанными тепловыми и материальными потоками

Two different flow sheets of extractive distillation for separation of acetone - methanol various composition mixture with water as the extractive agent in the traditional two-column complex and in the partially thermally coupled columns is compared. It is shown, that the complex column provides economy of heat on 11.2-19.6%.Рассмотрена экстрактивная ректификация смеси ацетон - метанол различного исходного состава с использованием воды в качестве разделяющего агента в традиционной двухколонной схеме и в комплексе с частично связанными тепловыми и материальными потоками. По критерию минимума энергетических затрат в кипятильниках колонн определены оптимальные параметры обеих схем. Показано, что для всех рассмотренных составов питания проведение экстрактивной ректификации в комплексе с частично связанными тепловыми и материальными потоками позволяет снизить энергозатраты на разделение по сравнению с традиционной схемой на 11.2-19.6% в зависимости от состава питания

Моделирование случайных процессов, обусловленных профилем опорной поверхности транспортно-технологических средств

The research article demonstrates that agricultural transport and technological systems are susceptible to external random influences during their operation. By accurately describing and modeling these effects, the performance of the tool can be enhanced during the research and design stages. (Research purpose) The objective of this research is to generate random processes with predefined correlation functions that simulate the profile of the supporting surface under the wheels of agricultural transport and technological systems during operations. Additionally, the study aims to visually represent the resulting random implementations of the support surface profile height. (Materials and methods) The proposed approach considers the variation in support surface profile height along the trajectory of agricultural transport and technological systems, while maintaining a constant speed, as a stationary random process. The selection of the correlation function type and its parameters is dependent on the specific characteristics of the support surface. Subsequently, using the Matlab environment, the model for the support surface profile height under the wheels is developed. (Results and discussion) Successful implementations of support surface profile height have been achieved for two distinct scenarios: asphalt and wheat stubble. A comparative analysis is conducted between the correlation function of the simulated implementation of the random process and the original correlation function. (Conclusions) The proposed algorithm has demonstrated its capability to generate a random process with specified correlation function properties, accurately describing the height fluctuations of the support surface profile under the wheels of agricultural transport and technological systems. The adequacy of the algorithm has been confirmed through a comprehensive analysis of at least 50 implementations, highlighting its effectiveness and reliability.Показали, что сельскохозяйственные транспортно-технологические средства в процессе выполнения работ подвергаются внешним случайным воздействиям. Описание и моделирование этих воздействий позволит улучшить эксплуатационные показатели средства на этапах исследования и проектирования. (Цель исследования) Формирование случайных процессов с заданными корреляционными функциями, обусловленных профилем опорной поверхности под колесами транспортно-технологического средства при выполнении операций; визуализация полученных случайных реализаций высоты профиля опорной поверхности. (Материалы и методы) Изменение высоты профиля опорной поверхности вдоль траектории движения транспортно-технологического средства при постоянной скорости предложено рассматривать как стационарный случайный процесс. В зависимости от типа опорной поверхности выбираются вид и параметры корреляционной функции. Далее в среде Matlab осуществляется моделирование высоты профиля опорной поверхности под колесами. (Результаты и обсуждение) Получены реализации высоты профиля опорной поверхности в виде асфальта и стерни пшеницы. Проведено сравнение корреляционной функции смоделированной реализации случайного процесса с исходной корреляционной функцией. (Выводы) Установили, что предложенный алгоритм позволяет получить случайный процесс с заданными свойствами корреляционной функции для описания колебаний высоты профиля опорной поверхности под колесами транспортно-технологического средства с достаточно высокой степенью адекватности, используя массив реализаций в количестве не менее 50