On the Biological Regulators of Bloodsucking Blackflies (Diptear:Simuliidae) of Mixed Forests of Belorussian and Ukrainian Woodlands

This article considers the natural regulators of blood-sucking Simuliidae subzone of mixed forests on the territory of Belarus and Ukraine. In the mixed forests, the major regulators of preimaginal phases of bloodsucking blackflies are microsporidia (Polidyspirenia simulii,Polidyspirenia sp., Thelohania fibrata, Amblyospora bracteata, A. varians), fungi and mermithides (Gastromermis boophthorae). Caddisfly larvae (Hydropsyche angustipennis, Neureclipsis bimaculata, Polycentropus flavomaculatus,Cyrnus flavidus, Oligostomis reticulata, Brachycentrus subnubilus and Rhyacophila nubila) and fishes (Scardinius erythrophthalmus, Rutilus rutilus, Carassius carassius, Gobio gobio) significantly reduce the number of blackflies larvae and pupae. Adult blackflies are eaten by spiders (Araneus diadematus) dragonflies, robberflies, wasps,frogs (Rana temporaria and Rana terrestris), and insectivorous birds (Delichon urbicum, Hirundo rustica, Apus apus). Bactolarvicid and BLP-2477 are among the most effective biological products

Mutation in the Sip1 transcription factor leads to a disturbance of the preconditioning of AMPA receptors by episodes of hypoxia in neurons of the cerebral cortex due to changes in their activity and subunit composition. The protective effects of interleukin-10.

peer reviewedThe Sip1 mutation plays the main role in pathogenesis of the Mowat-Wilson syndrome, which is characterized by the pronounced epileptic symptoms. Cortical neurons of homozygous mice with Sip1 mutation are resistant to AMPA receptor activators. Disturbances of the excitatory signaling components are also observed on such a phenomenon of neuroplasticity as hypoxic preconditioning. In this work, the mechanisms of loss of the AMPA receptor's ability to precondition by episodes of short-term hypoxia were investigated on cortical neurons derived from the Sip1 homozygous mice. The preconditioning effect was estimated by the level of suppression of the AMPA receptors activity with hypoxia episodes. Using fluorescence microscopy, we have shown that cortical neurons from the Sip1(fl/fl) mice are characterized by the absence of hypoxic preconditioning effect, whereas the amplitude of Ca(2+)-responses to the application of the AMPA receptor agonist, 5-Fluorowillardiine, in neurons from the Sip1 mice brainstem is suppressed by brief episodes of hypoxia. The mechanism responsible for this process is hypoxia-induced desensitization of the AMPA receptors, which is absent in the cortex neurons possessing the Sip1 mutation. However, the appearance of preconditioning in these neurons can be induced by phosphoinositide-3-kinase activation with a selective activator or an anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10

Pilot study of transcranial photobiomodulation of lymphatic clearance of beta-amyloid from the mouse brain: breakthrough strategies for non-pharmacologic therapy of Alzheimer's disease

In this pilot study, we analyzed effects of transcranial photobiomodulation (tPBM, 1267 nm, 32 J/cm2) on clearance of beta-amyloid (Aβ) from the mouse brain. The immunohistochemical and confocal data clearly demonstrate the significant reduction of deposition of Aβ plaques in mice after tPBM vs. untreated animals. The behavior tests showed that tPBM improved the cognitive, memory and neurological status of mice with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Using of our original method based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) analysis of clearance of gold nanorods (GNRs) from the brain, we proposed possible mechanism underlying tPBM-stimulating effects on clearance of Aβ via the lymphatic system of the brain and the neck. These results open breakthrough strategies for a non-pharmacological therapy of Alzheimer’s disease and clearly demonstrate that tPBM might be a promising therapeutic target for preventing or delaying Alzheimer’s disease

Challenges in QCD matter physics - The Compressed Baryonic Matter experiment at FAIR

Substantial experimental and theoretical efforts worldwide are devoted to explore the phase diagram of strongly interacting matter. At LHC and top RHIC energies, QCD matter is studied at very high temperatures and nearly vanishing net-baryon densities. There is evidence that a Quark-Gluon-Plasma (QGP) was created at experiments at RHIC and LHC. The transition from the QGP back to the hadron gas is found to be a smooth cross over. For larger net-baryon densities and lower temperatures, it is expected that the QCD phase diagram exhibits a rich structure, such as a first-order phase transition between hadronic and partonic matter which terminates in a critical point, or exotic phases like quarkyonic matter. The discovery of these landmarks would be a breakthrough in our understanding of the strong interaction and is therefore in the focus of various high-energy heavy-ion research programs. The Compressed Baryonic Matter (CBM) experiment at FAIR will play a unique role in the exploration of the QCD phase diagram in the region of high net-baryon densities, because it is designed to run at unprecedented interaction rates. High-rate operation is the key prerequisite for high-precision measurements of multi-differential observables and of rare diagnostic probes which are sensitive to the dense phase of the nuclear fireball. The goal of the CBM experiment at SIS100 (sqrt(s_NN) = 2.7 - 4.9 GeV) is to discover fundamental properties of QCD matter: the phase structure at large baryon-chemical potentials (mu_B > 500 MeV), effects of chiral symmetry, and the equation-of-state at high density as it is expected to occur in the core of neutron stars. In this article, we review the motivation for and the physics programme of CBM, including activities before the start of data taking in 2022, in the context of the worldwide efforts to explore high-density QCD matter.Comment: 15 pages, 11 figures. Published in European Physical Journal

Molecular and Cellular Interactions in Pathogenesis of Sporadic Parkinson Disease

An increasing number of the population all around the world suffer from age-associated neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s disease (PD). This disorder presents different signs of genetic, epigenetic and environmental origin, and molecular, cellular and intracellular dysfunction. At the molecular level, α-synuclein (αSyn) was identified as the principal molecule constituting the Lewy bodies (LB). The gut microbiota participates in the pathogenesis of PD and may contribute to the loss of dopaminergic neurons through mitochondrial dysfunction. The most important pathogenetic link is an imbalance of Ca2+ ions, which is associated with redox imbalance in the cells and increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this review, genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors that cause these disorders and their cause-and-effect relationships are considered. As a constituent of environmental factors, the example of organophosphates (OPs) is also reviewed. The role of endothelial damage in the pathogenesis of PD is discussed, and a ‘triple hit hypothesis’ is proposed as a modification of Braak’s dual hit one. In the absence of effective therapies for neurodegenerative diseases, more and more evidence is emerging about the positive impact of nutritional structure and healthy lifestyle on the state of blood vessels and the risk of developing these diseases

Stress reaction to cooling: entropic and chaotic estimation

The local limb cooling provides the special psychophysiology reaction as alteration of tremor parameters. Shannon’s entropy after limb cooling is researched. The efficacy of such approaches for quantity estimation according to Eskov-Zinchenko effect at biomechanics is presented. Entropy E value and quasi-attractor parameters for one person with multi repetition of tremor registration (N=225 repetition) is shown. All these 15 samples with 15 series (registration of tremorogramm of one person) present the stable value of E and quasi-attractor sequence for 225 repetitions. When the Lorenz attractors demonstrate mixing property the invariant means correspond the determined chaos. But the stress perturbation (5 min. cooling of limb in water t = 5 ºС) does not change the E value. Three groups of subjects do not present the distinction between groups without stress and after cooling of limb. So it is necessary to construct the new theory for cooling stress (not stochastic approach) in psychophysiology. The new approaches is realized according to the new theory of self-organization chaos. As a result, E entropy parameters are not obtained while the quasi-attractor (S) parameter for termograms differ significantly. This proves the uniqueness of self-organization chaos theory, and opens up new opportunities to use this new theory in psychology and psychophysiology. Objective evaluation of stress – the human response to external agents – is a very difficult task for the quantitative description and simulation. As part of chaos theory self-organizing it now becomes possible. In this case, Eskov-Zinchenko effect will be recorded only regarding quasi-attractors and matrix of pairwise comparison of samples with the calculation of k matches

The effect of N.A. Bernstein in the evaluation of tremor parameters for different acoustic effects

The reaction of the regulatory systems of the neuromuscular system of the human to the various acoustic effects (white noise, rhythmic music, classical music, hard rock) using special methods (e.g. chaos theory, self-organization) and methods of conventional statistics was studied. The state of hearing with or without acoustic impact is studied. However, the approach used is based on the analysis of the quasi-attractors parameters of the neuromuscular system (postural tremor) with simultaneous registration of left and right hand tremorogramm (in terms of sound effects). Acoustic effects played a role of a disturbing factor for tremor regulation (and muscle activity); it changes the psychophysiological state of the subject (N.A. Bernstein C and D regulation system). The designed matrix method of analysis enables the identification of systems with chaotic organization that was shown in this work by comparing left and right hand tremorogramm of subjects at different acoustic effects. The acoustic effects are regarded as disturbing influences affecting the mental state of homeostasis. In this case the main task is a quantitative assessment of mental status test calculations by tremorogramm parameters. Quasi-attractor parameters calculation method demonstrates the differences in tremorogramm of left and right hands and tremor responses to acoustic feedback. This employs a new approach in the evaluation of motor asymmetry and the method of recording the parameters of mental homeostasis by tremorogramm of chaotic dynamics. The problem of registering human mental status in cognitive psychology is resolved with a high degree of uncertainty (Bernstein). The acoustic effects are considered as disturbance affecting the mental state of homeostasis. In this case the main task is to hold a quantitative assessment of the mental state by means of calculating tremorogramm parameters. A method for calculating quasi-attractor parameters, which shows differences in left and right hand tremorogramms and tremor responses to acoustic feedback. In fact, a new approach in evaluating motor asymmetry and the method of recording the parameters of mental homeostasis by chaotic dynamics tremorogramm are proposed

Acetylcholine Promotes Ca²⁺and NO-Oscillations in Adipocytes Implicating Ca²⁺→NO→cGMP→cADP-ribose→Ca²⁺ Positive Feedback Loop - Modulatory Effects of Norepinephrine and Atrial Natriuretic Peptide

<div><p>Purpose</p><p>This study investigated possible mechanisms of autoregulation of Ca²⁺ signalling pathways in adipocytes responsible for Ca²⁺ and NO oscillations and switching phenomena promoted by acetylcholine (ACh), norepinephrine (NE) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP).</p><p>Methods</p><p>Fluorescent microscopy was used to detect changes in Ca²⁺ and NO in cultures of rodent white adipocytes. Agonists and inhibitors were applied to characterize the involvement of various enzymes and Ca²⁺-channels in Ca²⁺ signalling pathways.</p><p>Results</p><p>ACh activating M₃-muscarinic receptors and G_βγ protein dependent phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase induces Ca²⁺ and NO oscillations in adipocytes. At low concentrations of ACh which are insufficient to induce oscillations, NE or α1, α2-adrenergic agonists act by amplifying the effect of ACh to promote Ca²⁺ oscillations or switching phenomena. SNAP, 8-Br-cAMP, NAD and ANP may also produce similar set of dynamic regimes. These regimes arise from activation of the ryanodine receptor (RyR) with the implication of a long positive feedback loop (PFL): Ca²⁺→ NO→cGMP→cADPR→Ca²⁺, which determines periodic or steady operation of a short PFL based on Ca²⁺-induced Ca²⁺ release via RyR by generating cADPR, a coagonist of Ca²⁺ at the RyR. Interplay between these two loops may be responsible for the observed effects. Several other PFLs, based on activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase or of protein kinase B by Ca²⁺-dependent kinases, may reinforce functioning of main PFL and enhance reliability. All observed regimes are independent of operation of the phospholipase C/Ca²⁺-signalling axis, which may be switched off due to negative feedback arising from phosphorylation of the inositol-3-phosphate receptor by protein kinase G.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>This study presents a kinetic model of Ca²⁺-signalling system operating in adipocytes and integrating signals from various agonists, which describes it as multivariable multi feedback network with a family of nested positive feedback.</p></div