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The role of interspecific competition in biotic communities remains understudied. This paper examines transformations in the Korean field mouse/stripped field mouse taxocene, including the expansion of the stripped field mouse distribution range amid global environmental change. The main goal of this study was to perform a comparative assessment of the length of main intestinal segments in the Korean field mouse and the stripped field mouse with respect to the competitive asymmetry of these species and analyze the role of this asymmetry in the dynamics of their taxocene. Korean field mouse intestine significantly more efficiently assimilates the carbohydrates prevailing in plant tissues when compared to stripped field mouse intestine, while there is not much difference between them in protein and lipid assimilation. We conclude that, the Korean field mouse is a stronger trophic competitor in the taxocene, and competition plays an important role in its transformation. However, the expansion of the stripped field mouse range cannot be solely attributed to competition or global environmental change. This paper discusses the mechanism determining the interaction between these factors resulting in transformations in the Korean field mouse/stripped field mouse taxocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Families and genera of bacteria that predominate in chernozems of the forest-steppe zone have been identified. Microbiological profiling of samples of plowed and unplowed chernozems is performed, using the 16S rRNA gene sequencing, at different phases of the growing period: in June and August. Changes in the proportion of individual bacterial families, depending on land use and time, are shown. Correlations between the occurrence of bacterial families and chemical parameters of soil have been revealed. The predominant role of nitrates in the formation of the community structure and the important contribution of the organic carbon content, soil moisture, and pH in this process are shown. Despite the revealed differences in the proportions of the studied families, depending on land use and the sampling period, the set of dominant bacterial families in the studied samples remains stable. The first six dominant families comprise about 1/4 of the entire community, and the first 20 ones make up about 40%. The obtained results create prerequisites for further study of the variability of the taxonomic composition of the bacterial community in chernozems under various biotic and agrochemical conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semi-fossorial Sorex unguiculatus is a common shrew species in the central part of Northeast Asia, and this paper is devoted to elucidating its status in shrew taxocenes within the entire specified range. The configuration of the modern range of the long-clawed shrew differs from the generally accepted one, and its formation occurred through distribution from two Late Pleistocene refugiums—mainland and island. According to the status of the long-clawed shrew in the taxocenes, three areas were distinguished: this species is a dominant in low-species insular taxocenes, a subdominant in multispecies taxocenes of coniferous–broad-leaved forests of the Ussuri Territory, and a minor one in the zone of interpenetration of nemoral and taiga vegetation of the left-bank part of the Lower Amur Region. The further northwestern expansion of the long-clawed shrew is unlikely due to the specific requirements of this species for the type and structure of soils, which change significantly under the conditions of the appearance of permafrost, and coexistence with an ecologically similar species—the flat-skulled shrew. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dipole electric (E1) and magnetic (M1) strengths in strongly deformed 156 Gd are investigated within a fully self-consistent Quasiparticle Random Phase Approximation (QRPA) with Skyrme forces SVbas, SLy6 and SG2. We inspect, on the same theoretical footing, low-lying dipole states and the isovector giant dipole resonance in E1 channel and the orbital scissors resonance as well as the spin-flip giant resonance (SFGR) in M1 channel. Besides, E1 toroidal mode and low-energy spin-flip M1 excitations are considered. The deformation splitting and dipole-octupole coupling of electric excitations are analyzed. The origin of SFGR gross structure, impact of the residual interaction and interference of orbital and spin contributions to SFGR are discussed. The effect of the central exchange J 2 -term from the Skyrme functional is demonstrated. The calculations show a satisfactory agreement with available experimental data, except for the recent NRF measurements of M. Tamkas et al for M1 strength at 4–6 MeV, where, in contradiction with our calculations and previous (p , p ′) data, almost no M1 strength was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The introduction of alien species to marine islands leads to the destabilization of the unique ecosystems characterized by a high level of ecological vulnerability. A review of alien mammal species in the insular theriocomplexes of the Northwestern Pacific was made, and the results of a massive invasion that occurred in the last 150 years were analyzed. Currently, the islands of the Northwestern Pacific are inhabited by 43 alien species belonging to 19 families of 7 mammal orders, 9 of which are included in the list of the the world's 14 most dangerous invasive species, and the islands of the Russian segment of this region are inhabited by 8 of the 10 most dangerous introduced mammals of the Russian Federation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One day after intraperitoneal injection of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) to recipient CBA and CBA/N mice, the count of multipotent stromal cells (MSC) in the 4-month-old splenic transplants was minimum in CBA/N→CBA/N group in comparison with the transplants of intact recipients (0.6 from the control level), but increased by 2.3, 3.2, and 3.7 times in CBA/N→CBA, CBA→CBA, and CBA→CBA/N groups, respectively. In the blood serum of recipient CBA/N mice with 4-month splenic transplants of CBA donors, the levels of some cytokines (IL-5, TNFα, and IL-2) was significantly increased 1 and 24 h after PVP injection in contrast to mice with bone marrow transplants, which attests to activation of the innate immunity mechanisms in this (splenic) transplantation variant. Probably, this phenomenon can be explained by the fact that the splenic transplants contain a sufficient number of CD+B-1a lymphocytes that can restore the response of recipient CBA/N mice to PVP. Thus, similar to bone marrow transplants [5], MSC count in splenic transplants increased only in groups, where the recipients were capable of responding to PVP. In other words, after injection of PVP to recipient mice, MSC counts in the spleen and bone marrow at this moment are determined by availability of activated immunocompetent cells. Overall, the novel data attest to close relationships between the stromal tissue of hematopoietic and lymphoid organs, on the one hand, and immune system, on the other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The low-energy 1 states in deformed Dy and spherical Ni are explored in the framework of fully self-consistent Quasiparticle Random-Phase Approximation (QRPA) with various Skyrme forces. The main attention is paid to orbital and spin 1 excitations. The obtained results are compared with the prediction of the low-energy spin-scissors 1 resonance suggested within Wigner Function Moments (WFM) approach. A possible relation of this resonance to low-energy spin-flip excitations is analyzed. In connection with recent WFM studies, we consider evolution of the low-energy spin-flip states in Dy with deformation (from the equilibrium value to the spherical limit). The effect of tensor forces is briefly discussed. It is shown that two groups of states observed at 2.4–4 MeV in Dy are rather explained by fragmentation of the orbital 1 strength than by the occurrence of the collective spin-scissors resonance. In general, our calculations do not confirm the existence of this resonance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the physical level of rigour it is shown that there are no substantial theoretical arguments in favour of using either plasma mode permittivity or Drude model permittivity in the Lifshitz formula. The decision in this question rests with the comparison of theoretical calculations with the experiment. In the course of the study the derivation of the fluctuation–dissipation theorem is proposed where it is displayed clear at which reasoning stage and in what way the dissipation is taken into account. In particular it is shown how this theorem works in the case of the system with reversible dynamics, that is when dissipation is absent. Thereby it is proved that explicit assertion according to which this theorem is inapplicable to systems without dissipation is erroneous. The research is based on making use of the rigorous formalism of equilibrium two-time Green functions in statistical physics at finite temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 3-month bone marrow transplants of CBA mice from bone marrow donors receiving single injections of TLR-4 ligand (LPS) or NOD-2 ligand (muramyl dipeptide, MDP) 24 h before transplantation, an increase in the total number of MSCs (by 2.6 and 1.9 times, respectively), as well as a slight increase in the number of nuclear cells and the mass of bone capsules (by 1.3 and 1.2 times) were observed. After combined administration of MDР and LPS to donors, the total content of MSCs in the grafts was higher by 1.6 times in comparison with the total result of their isolated administration (and by 7.2 times in comparison with the control). At the same time, the concentration of osteogenic MSCs in the grafts of all groups was almost the same and corresponded to the control level. The number of nuclear cells and the mass of bone capsules of the grafts after combined administration of LPS and MDP were close (~80%) to the sum of the results of their isolated administration. These findings suggest that activation of the stromal tissue and the success of bone marrow transplantation depend on the intensity of innate immune responses. These data can be useful for the development of optimal methods of tissue transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An autonomous system of remote audio and video surveillance of marine mammal activity has been designed and installed in the Far Eastern Marine Biosphere Nature Reserve (Peter the Great Bay, Sea of Japan) for monitoring the condition of the spotted seal (Phoca largha Pallas, 1811) population in the reproductive zone. This system makes it possible to collect information on animals without affecting their natural behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of the acidity of oxide structures formed on the contact surfaces of hard-alloy cutting tools of the P cutting application group [1] on the wear resistance of the latter used to machine the materials that cause intense diffusive wear has been investigated. It has been established that the wear resistance of the cutting tools tends to increase with decreasing acidity of the surface oxide film formed on the contact surfaces of the cutting edge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1 and 24 h after combined administration of TLR4 (LPS) and TLR3 (Poly I:C) ligands to CBA mice, the content of MSC in bone marrow increased to intermediate value between the levels attained by their individual injections. The content of osteogenic MSC assessed in 24 h postinjection corresponded to the control level in Poly I:C group, decreased in LPS group by 2.5 times relatively to the control, and increased by 1.6 times (relatively to control) after combined administration of the ligands. In 3 h after combined addition of LPS and Poly I:C in vitro to 12-day-old primary culture of mouse bone marrow stromal cells, the concentration of TNFα in culture medium was intermediate between the levels attained by their individual application. The data revealed dependence of activation of stromal tissue on intensity of innate immunity reactions; they also attested to marked elevation of osteogenicity of MSC pool after costimulation with Poly I:C and LPS, which can underlie augmented calcification of the tissues during combined viral and bacterial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the pattern of shore use by seals in relationship with the location of haulout sites, their geomorphological parameters, and the influence of oceanographic conditions. Spotted seals in the southern Sea of Japan, which are known to breed on shore, for pupping and nursing are found to only use spit beaches, barrier spits between two basement massifs, and attached beaches in the pocket-shaped abrasive coves of small and very small islands that provide a sufficient level of sheltering during the breeding season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During serial transplantation of bone marrow derived from young and aged donor CBA mice to 5-month-old recipients, the counts of multipotent stromal cells (MSC) in transplants from young donors assessed at each passage surpassed those of aged donors by 3.2, 7.8, 3.0, and 2.2 times attesting to the age-related decrease of active pool of bone marrow MSC. The medullary curettage in mouse femur increased the total number of MSC and the number of osteogenic MSC both in the contralateral femur and in the bone marrow transplants attesting to spread of the effects of osteogenic factors after bone injury onto the bone tissue of the body even if this tissue if not topographically related to the skeleton. Combined and simultaneous administration of antigenic complex of S. typhimurium (or LPS) with BMP-2 markedly increased the count of osteogenic medullary MSC by 3.6 or 4.6 times in comparison with intact control or by 2.1 and 2.7 times in comparison with administration of BMP-2 alone, which probably resulted from enlargement of the pool of osteogenesis-inducible MSC due to inflammation. Addition of BMP-2 to the culture of splenic stromal cells where osteogenesis does not occur under normal conditions provoked appearance of MSC colonies with alkaline phosphatase activity attesting to involvement of inducible osteogenic MSC in vascular calcification. It can be hypothesized that the reaction to the age-related changes in the bone tissue and osteoporosis is similar to the reaction to bone marrow injury and includes initiation of systemic inflammation and elevation of blood BMP-2, both of which are prerequisite for vascular calcification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyze the relation between isoscalar toroidal modes and so-called pygmy dipole resonance (PDR), which both appear in the same region of low-energy dipole excitations. To this end, we use a theoretical description within the fully self-consistent Skyrme quasiparticle random-phase approximation (QRPA). Test cases are spherical nuclei 40, 48Ca, 58, 72Ni, 90, 100Zr, and 100, 120, 132Sn which cover four different elements and for each element at least two isotopes with different neutron excess, one small and another large. The structure of the modes is investigated in terms of strength functions, transition densities (TD) and transition currents (TC). For all considered nuclei, we see that, independently on whether PDR strength exists or not, the flow pattern in the lower part of the "PDR energy region" is basically an isoscalar vortical toroidal motion with a minor irrotational fraction. A one-to-one correspondence between calculated TD and TC is established. The toroidal flow appears already in the uncoupled two-quasiparticle (2qp) excitations and becomes definitively strong for the QRPA modes. Altogether, we find that low-lying dipole strength often denoted as isoscalar PDR is actually an oversimplified imitation of the basically toroidal motion in nuclei with sufficient neutron excess. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The patterns of structural transformation in forest rodent communities of Sakhalin have been considered using data from long-term comparative studies of two communities of a somewhat similar species composition. An analysis of species abundance dynamics and dominance structure show that the monodominant community structure in northern Sakhalin is characterized by the absence of interannual rearrangements and high stability, with the overall animal number in rodent communities dependent only on the abundance of the northern red-backed vole (M. rutilus). The community in the southern part of the island could assume one of the two structural types: the monodominant structure with M. rutilus or the gray red-backed vole (M. rufocanus) prevailing or a bidominant structure with both species acting as codominants. The numbers of secondary species vary independently of the numbers of dominant species. Changes in the abundance of M. rutilus and M. rufocanus within the same community are synchronized, whereas the population cycles of these species in the southern and northern communities are not conjugated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 24 h after combined administration of ligands of NOD2 (muramyl dipeptide) and TLR4 (LPS) receptors to CBA mice, a synergistic increase (by 10 times compared to the intact control) in cloning efficiency and content of multipotent stromal cells was observed in the bone marrow in comparison with the total effects of their individual administration (by 2.1 and 4.1 times, respectively). A similar effect was also observed in the peritoneal exudate. When ligands were administered simultaneously, the concentration of osteogenic multipotent stromal cells in the bone marrow decreased to a greater extent than in case of individual injections of the ligands, but did not drop below 7% of the control, which is apparently indicative of a decline threshold. In 3 h after simultaneous addition of the ligands in vitro to 12-day primary cultures of mouse bone marrow stromal cells, a synergistic increase in TNFα concentration was observed (32-fold increase from the level of intact control), while IL-10 concentration did not differ from the control, which is indicative of the proinflammatory nature of the process and the absence of immunosuppressive effect. These results suggest that activation of the stromal tissue depends on the intensity of innate immunity reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One hour after polyvinylpyrrolidone administration, the content of multipotent stromal cells in the spleen of CBA and CBA/N mice increased almost equally (by 2.5 and 2.9 times, respectively), but in 24 h, the effectiveness of multipotent stromal cell cloning in the spleen of CBA/N mice decreased almost to the control level, whereas in CBA mice, the number of multipotent stromal cells continued to increase. Serum concentration of IL-5, TNFα, and IL-2 in both lines was elevated in 1 h after polyvinylpyrrolidone administration, which is likely to reflect activation of the innate immunity. One day after polyvinylpyrrolidone administration, the number of multipotent stromal cells in bone marrow transplants in the CBA/N→CBA/N and CBA→CBA/N groups remained practically unchanged, while in groups CBA→CBA and CBA/N→CBA it was equally increased (by 3.6 and 3.4 times, respectively). Thus, the number of multipotent stromal cells in bone marrow transplants after 1 day was increased only in groups where recipients (CBA mice) were capable of responding to polyvinylpyrrolidone administration, i.e. the number of stromal cells by this term, was apparently determined by the presence of activated immunocompetent cells. These findings also indicate that activation of the stromal tissue dur ing immune response can have a two-phasic pattern: the first phase (1 h after antigen adminis tration) can be determined by activation of innate immunity receptors (in multipotent stromal cells or other cells) observed in CBA and CBA/N mice, and the second phase occurs during further development of the immune response (that was observed in CBA mice, but not in CBA/N mice due to absence of CD+B-1a lymphocytes). The findings attest to close interactions between the stromal tissue and the immune system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate effects of pairing and of quadrupole deformation on two sorts of nuclear excitations, $\gamma$ -vibrational $K^{\pi}=2^{+}$ states and dipole resonances (isovector dipole, pygmy, compression, toroidal). The analysis is performed within the quasiparticle random phase approximation (QRPA) based on the Skyrme energy functional using the Skyrme parametrization SLy6. Particular attention is paid to i) the role of the particle-particle (pp) channel in the residual interaction of QRPA, ii) comparison of volume pairing (VP) and surface pairing (SP), iii) peculiarities of deformation splitting in the various resonances. We find that the impact of the pp-channel on the considered excitations is negligible. This conclusion applies also to any other excitation except for the $K^{\pi}=0^{+}$ states. Furthermore, the difference between VP and SP is found small (with exception of peak height in the toroidal mode). In the low-energy isovector dipole (pygmy) and isoscalar toroidal modes, the branch $K^{\pi}=1^{-}$ is shown to dominate over the $ K^{\pi}=0^{-}$ one in the range of excitation energy $ E < $ 8-10 MeV. The effect becomes impressive for the toroidal resonance whose low-energy part is concentrated in a high peak of almost pure $ K^{\pi}=1^{-}$ nature. This peculiarity may be used as a fingerprint of the toroidal mode in future experiments. The interplay between pygmy, toroidal and compression resonances is discussed, the interpretation of the observed isoscalar giant dipole resonance is partly revised. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The features of transformation of the structure of two model shrew taxocenes in Sakhalin have been discussed, and the general parameters in the dominance hierarchy have been revealed. It has been established that the long-clawed shrew is the basic element that maintains the taxocene symmetry on the southern part of Sakhalin, while on the northern part of the island, this role is played by Laxmann's shrew. However, the quantitative dynamics of different taxocenes is subject to similar patterns and integrally varies on the basis of the synchronization of fluctuation of the abundance of all species. It is shown that the leading position of the organizing species within the framework of the two structural schemes revealed (the mono- and bidominant schemes) is annually determined according to the phases of the population dynamics of common species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ligands NLR2 (muramyldipeptide) and TLR (bacterial LPS, flagellin, CpG-dinucleotide, and Poly I:C) and S. typhimurium antigenic complex by 1.5-3-fold increase the efficiency of cloning and content of multipotent stromal cells (MSC) in the bone marrow of CBA mice as soon as 1 h postinjection. The counts of large colonies (150-500 cells) increased by 2.5-3.3 times in comparison with intact bone marrow cultures at the expense of a decrease in the number of smaller colonies, which attests to enhanced proliferation of stromal cells in the colonies. The efficiency of cloning and hence, MSC content in the femoral bone decreased by 1.2-1.9 times after 3 h and increased again after 24 h to the level 1.3-1.5 times higher than the level 1 h postinjection (LPS, Poly I:C, and S. typhimurium antigenic complex). The dynamics of bone marrow MSC cloning efficiency after 1-3 h corresponded to the dynamics of serum cytokine concentrations during the same period. However, the levels of serum cytokines after 24 h in general were similar to those in intact mice or were lower. The concentrations of osteogenic multipotent stromal cells in the bone marrow decreased 2-3-fold after 3 h and thus persisted by 24 h postinjection. Twofold (at 24-h interval) and a single injection of S. typhimurium antigenic complex to mice led to a significant increase of cloning efficiency, observed as early as just 1 h postinjection (1.9 and 1.5 times, respectively). The same picture was observed for serum cytokines. On the whole, injections of TLR and NLR ligands and of S. typhimurium antigenic complex led to stromal tissue activation within 1 h postinjection, this activation consisting in a significant increase of the efficiency of cloning and of MSC count in the bone marrow, and also in an increase in their proliferative activity and a decrease (after 3 h) of osteogenic MSC concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency of cloning and the content of multipotent stromal cells (MSC) in the femoral bone marrow of intact CBA mice was 1.5 times less in old mice (24-36 months) than in young ones (2-3 months). The concentration of osteogenic MSC was higher in old vs. young mice (42±3 vs. 22±2%, respectively). Changes in the total counts of MSC and concentrations of osteogenic MSC in response to osteogenic (curettage, BMP-2) and immunogenic stimuli ( S. typhimurium antigenic complex) were similar in young and old mice in comparison with intact controls of respective age. The counts of the total pool of bone marrow MSC and pool of osteogenic MSC in response to osteogenic stimuli were 1.5-2 times less in old vs. young mice. This difference seemed to be a result of age-specific decrease of their bone marrow count but not of age-specific decrease of the MSC functional activity, this leading to a decrease in the transplantability of bone marrow stromal tissue of old mice. Comparison of transplantations 'old donor - young recipient' vs. 'young donor - young recipient' demonstrated a decrease in the count of nuclear cells (1.8 times), size of bone capsule (2-fold), efficiency of MSC cloning (1.6 times), count of MSC per transplant (2.9 times), and count of osteogenic MSC per transplant (3.3 times). The concentrations of osteogenic MSC in transplants from young and old donors leveled in young recipients, that is, seemed to be regulated by the host. Serum concentrations of IL-10 and TNF-α in intact old mice were at least 2.9 and 2 times higher than in young animals, while the concentrations of almost all the rest studied cytokines (IL-2, IL-5, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-12) were lower. Presumably, the decrease in the content of bone marrow MSC and in transplantability of bone marrow stromal tissue in old mice were caused by exhaustion of the MSC pool as a result of age-specific chronic inflammation. These data indicated a close relationship between age-specific changes in the stromal tissue and immune system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the early stages of development (3 months), transplants from bone marrow donors subjected to single in vivo stimulation (curettage, administration of BMP-2 or antigenic complex of S. typhimurium) 1 day before transplantation were characterized by significantly elevated content of nucleated cells (by 1.4, 1.9 and 2.9 times, respectively), efficiency of cloning of multipotent stromal cells (by 3.8, 3.8 and 7.2 times), and total number of multipotent stromal cells (by 5, 7 and 21 times) and osteogenic multipotent stromal cells (by 5, 9 and 15 times) in comparison with the control (intact donors); more rapid increase in the weight of bone capsules was also noted. At later terms, the difference by these parameters between the control and experimental groups became less pronounced, but even in 4.5 months, the total number of multipotent stromal cells in the transplant in experimental groups exceeded the control values by 1.4-1.7 times and osteogenic multipotent stromal cells by 2 times. In donors exposed to the specified stimulations, the content of multipotent stromal cells in the femoral bone marrow in 1 day increased by 2.1 times (curettage), 2.6 times (administration of S. typhimurium antigens), and 3.3 times (LPS); administration of BMP-2 reduced this value by 50%. The content of osteogenic bone marrow multipotent stromal cells at this term increased by 1.7 times (BMP-2) and 5.5 times (curettage), after administration of S. typhimurium antigens, this parameter corresponded to the control. The concentration of osteogenic multipotent stromal cells in the bone marrow of intact donors was 22%; the maximum values were observed after curettage (57%) and BMP-2 administration (74%) and minimum after treatment with S. typhimurium antigens (8%). However, this parameter in all groups of transplants little differed and leveled as soon as by 3-4 months, which can be due to regulatory influences of the recipient body. The initial advantage in the content of bone marrow multipotent stromal cells in donors exposed to osteogenic stimuli and administration of antigens ensured considerably more rapid growth of the transplants in comparison with the control. These results can be useful for the development of optimal protocols of tissue grafting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Activity of cathepsin D and phagocytosis of macrophages from vaginal lavage fluid, peritoneal exudation, and spleen were studied in mice of sensitive (DBA/2) and resistant (BALB/c) lines after intravaginal infection with type 2 herpes simplex virus and vaccination. Activity of cathepsin D and intensity of phagocytosis (irrespective of the macrophage source) and their ratio in BALB/c mice in early terms after infection were close to the control levels taken as a unit. In DBA/2 mice, these parameters and their balance were shifted and changes in cathepsin D activity depended on the time after challenge. Activities of cellular and extracellular cathepsin D increased sharply on day 1 postinfection under conditions of local virus interaction with the vaginal mucosa and activation of the pathological process. Later, after generalization of the infection, activity of cathepsin D decreased, while phagocytosis increased in all the studied macrophage populations. Vaccination corrected the cathepsin D/phagocytosis imbalance and created conditions for rapid elimination of the virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We review a recent progress in investigation of the isoscalar toroidal dipole resonance (TDR). A possible relation of the TDR and low-energy dipole excitations (also called a pygmy resonance) is analyzed. It is shown that the dipole strength in the pygmy region can be understood as a local manifestation of the collective vortical toroidalmotion at the nuclear surface. Application of the TDR as a measure of the nuclear dipole vorticity is discussed. An anomalous splitting of the TDR in deformed nuclei is inspected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intraoperative blood loss during total knee arthroplasty in patients with hemophilia varies over a wide range (from 300 to 3000 ml). The reasons have not been clarified yet. We studied the dependence of intraoperative blood loss during total knee arthroplasty in patients with hemophilia A on hematocrit and mean erythrocyte density. Intraoperational blood loss ≥1000 ml was observed in patients with hematocrit <38.5%. In patients with hematocrit >38.5% this parameter depended on the mean erythrocyte density: in patients with increased erythrocyte density, the risk of intraoperational blood loss ≥1000 ml was higher. The increase in erythrocyte density can serve as an indicator of pathological processes, including the processes modulating hemostasis. It can also be assumed that erythrocytes with higher density change blood flow, which affects platelet adhesion to the damaged endothelium. Hematocrit below the threshold level and mean density of erythrocytes above the normal level can be regarded as risk factor for increased intraoperational blood loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complete cycle of the structure transformation of shrew model taxocene in southern Sakhalin was revealed by investigations of 2008-2014. It was shown that in the communities of these animals facultative and obligate dominants are absent and a dominant group is formed every year of common species. There are two main patterns of the taxocene structure: the monodominant type, predominating by the long-clawed shrew at low number of other species, and the polydominant type, in which one of the background species plays a role of codominant at a lower number of long-clawed shrews. It is found out that the dominance structure in shrew taxocene is not closely related to the phase of its quantitative dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Administration of bacterial antigens to CBA mice induced an increase in serum concentration of virtually all cytokines with a peak in 4 h after administration of S. typhimurium antigens and in 7 h after administration of streptococcus antigens. In 20 h, cytokine concentrations returned to the control level or were slightly below it. In 4 h after administration of S. typhimurium antigens preceded 3 h before by administration of streptococcus antigens, we observed a significant decrease in serum concentrations of IFN-γ, IL-10, GM-CSF, IL-12, and TNF-α, in comparison with injection S. typhimurium antigens alone and IL-5, IL-10, GM-CSF, and TNF-α in comparison with injection of streptococcus antigens alone; the concentrations of IL-2 and IFN-γ, in contrast, increased by 1.5 times in this case. In 20 h after administration of S. typhimurium antigens, the number of multipotential stromal cells (MSC) in the bone marrow and their cloning efficiency (ECF-MSC) increased by 4.8 and 4.4 times, respectively, in comparison with the control, while after administration of streptococcus antigens by 2.6 and 2.4 times, respectively. In 20 h after administration of S. typhimurium antigens preceded 3 h before by administration of streptococcus antigens, these parameters increased by 3.2 and 2.9 times, respectively, in comparison with the control, i.e. the observed increase in the level of MSC count and ECF-MSC is more consistent with the response of the stromal tissue to streptococcus antigens. Thus, successive administration of two bacterial antigens corrected both serum cytokine profiles and MSC response to administration of each antigen separately, which indicates changeability of the stromal tissue in response to changes in the immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The efficiency of cloning of bone marrow multipotent stromal cells (ECF-MSC) from CBA mice and the MSC counts in the femoral bone increased 24 h after a single in vivo (but not in vitro) injection of kagocel (active substance of antiviral drug Kagocel) 1.4 times (in response to 50-80 μg) and 4.6 times (in response to 250 μg). The maximum increase of ECF-MSC in response to 50 μg per mouse was detected just 1 h after Kagocel injection to intact mice and to mice previously receiving the drug for 3 days (2 and 1.7 times, respectively). The increase of ECF-MSC was 3-fold less intense in response to oral Kagocel in a dose of 250 μg/mouse vs. intraperitoneal Kagocel, ECF-MSC corresponding to its level in response to oral Poly (I:C). In vivo Kagocel led to emergence of proinflammatory cytokine IFN-γ, IL-1β, and IL-8 mRNA in primary cultures of bone marrow stromal cells. Serum concentrations of IL-2, IL-5, IL-10, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, and IL-12 increased 1.5 and 2 times just 1 h after Kagocel injection in doses of 30-50 and 250 μg, respectively, to intact mice and to animals previously treated with the drug for 3 days. The cytokine concentrations normalized after 3 h and increased again after 24 h, though did not reach the levels recorded 1 h after the drug injection. These data indicated that the therapeutic and preventive effects of Kagocel, together with its previously demonstrated stimulation of α- and β-interferon production during several days, could be due to the capacity of this drug to increase the bone marrow ECF-MSC, serum cytokine concentrations, and induce the expression of proinflammatory cytokine genes in the bone marrow stromal cells 1 h after its injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We examined HCV+ and HCV- hemophilia A patients with knee arthropathy and hematocrit above 38.5%. The mean density of erythrocytes was studied by the phthalate method, intraoperative blood loss was assessed gravimetrically. The volume of blood loss in HCV+ patients with manifest adhesive process and chronic synovitis varied from 300 to 1900 ml, in patients with moderate adhesive process from 400 to 1500 ml. The volume of blood loss in HCV- patients was 300-800 ml. A positive correlation between the blood loss volume and mean density of erythrocytes was detected. Blood loss >1000 ml during total knee arthroplasty can be expected in patients with hemophilia A with HCV and high mean density of erythrocytes. Blood loss >1000 ml is unlikely in HCV- and HCV+ patients with the mean density of erythrocytes not surpassing the normal values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The content of multipotent stromal cells (MSC) in the bone marrow and efficiency of their cloning (ECF-MSC) increased by 3 times 1 day after administration of complex S. typhimurium antigens to CBA mice, while the relative content of alkaline phosphatase-positive MSC colonies (marker of osteogenesis; P colonies) decreased from 14% (control) to 3%. After administration of the complex S. typhimurium antigens to CBA mice 3 h after (or 3 h before) curettage or treatment with morphogenetic protein (BMP-2), the content of MSC and ECF-MSC decreased on the next day by ~3 times in comparison with animals receiving antigens alone and approached the control level. The relative content of P colonies increased to 20 and 35%, respectively, in comparison with animals receiving antigens (3%), but was signifi cantly lower than after curettage (34%) or BMP-2 (42%) administration. Expression of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, TNF-α, and IFN-γ genes in the primary cultures of stromal bone marrow cells induced by antigen administration was suppressed, while the concentrations of IL-12 and TNF-α in the culture medium sharply decreased after antigen treatment in combination with curettage or BMP-2 administration. Administration of complex S. typhimurium antigens after pretreatment with BMP-2 (3 h before) was associated with a decrease in serum levels of IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-12, and TNF-α in mice receiving BMP-2+ S. typhimurium group 4 h after treatment in comparison with the animals receiving only S. typhimurium antigens alone by 1.9, 4.4, 1.5, and 6 times, respectively, i.e. to normal level or below it, while the concentration of IL-10 increased by almost 2 times, which probably reflected anti-inflammatory properties of BMP-2. These data probably attest to competitive relations between osteogenesis and immune response at the level of MSC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The general formula is derived for the vacuum friction force between two parallel perfectly flat planes bounding two material media separated by a vacuum gap and moving relative to each other with a constant velocity v. The material media are described in the framework of macroscopic electrodynamics whereas the nonzero temperature and dissipation are taken into account by making use of the Kubo formulas from non-equilibrium statistical thermodynamics. The formula obtained provides a rigorous basis for calculation of the vacuum friction force within the quantum field theory methods in the condensed matter physics. The revealed v dependence of the vacuum friction force proves to be the following: for zero temperature ( T = 0) it is proportional to (v/ c) and for T > 0 this force is linear in v/ c. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the effect of BMP-2 added to the culture medium on osteogenic and proliferative properties of multipotent stromal cells (MSC) and on the expression of cytokine genes induced by immunization of experimental animals with bacterial antigens. It is shown that the presence of BMP-2 in the culture medium stimulates proliferation of bone marrow MSC and especially spleen MSC (which was seen from enlargement of MSC colonies); improves the efficiency of MSC cloning; increases osteogenic activity of mouse bone marrow MSC; induces osteogenic differentiation of splenic MSC (osteogenesis is normally not observed in the spleen); reduces the number of macrophages in cultures; inhibits synthesis of mRNA for proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α) that typically occurs in cultures of the bone marrow and spleen from animals immunized with S. typhimurium or group A streptococcus antigens. Bearing in mind that proinflammatory cytokines negatively affect osteogenic activity of the bone marrow, we can hypothesize that BMP-2 not only stimulates osteogenesis, but also provides optimal conditions for its realization by suppressing the expression of genes encoding these cytokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current approaches to determining wavy weld profile formation conditions in explosion welding of metals are discussed. The hydrodynamic model limitations are indicated, which are associated with the fact that the description of the process, including shear strain localization at the contact boundary, does not account for the individual properties of welded bodies. The new approach to wave generation in explosion welding within the elastoplastic model is proposed. It is based on the condition of realizing such glancing collision conditions, which, with the account of the dynamic viscosity of welded metals with different static strengths, should ensure the equality of their form change resistances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Injection of polyvinylpyrrolidone (synthetic type 2 T-independent antigen) stimulated the efficiency of clone-forming efficiency and the content of stromal precursor cells in CBA mice in the femoral bone marrow (almost 3-fold) and in the spleen (by 1.7 times) with the peak within 24 h and normalization by day 3 after immunization. The expression of IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α genes in bone marrow and spleen cultures from immunized animals appeared on day 1 and disappeared on day 3. Hence, stimulation of stromal tissue in response to polyvinylpyrrolidone immunization was significantly less pronounced in comparison with immunization with S. typhimurium antigens. The counts of stromal precursor cells in these organs did not increase in CBA/N mice not responding to polyvinylpyrrolidone because they had no xidmutation in Brutton's tyrosine kinase (Btk) gene, and the proinflammatory cytokine genes expression in primary cultures derived from these animals did not increase either. These data indicated that the degree of stromal tissue stimulation in immunized mice correlated with the immune response intensity. This indicated a close relationship between the stromal tissue and immune system. Stromal tissue seemed to be stimulated not only and not so much through the stromal cell Toll-like receptors, but mainly through interactions of immunocompetent and stromal cells, the former presumably playing the leading role in this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunization of CBA mice with killed group A streptococcus (type 5) vaccine changed the counts of stromal precursor cells (CFC-F) in bone marrow transplants at different donorrecipient combinations (normal, N, or immune, I). CFC-F counts in bone marrow transplants from normal mice transplanted to immunized animals decreased 4-6-fold depending on the transplant age in comparison with similar transplants in normal recipients. The percentage of CFC-F colonies with alkaline phosphatase (osteogenesis marker) activity decreased more than 2-fold. Similarly, the count of CFC-F in the transplants was 2-fold lower during delayed (7 months) period after bone marrow transplantation from immunized donors (8-12 days after the end of immunization) to intact recipients, while 2 months after transplantation it was 3-fold lower. The mean optical density of the bone capsule in preparations stained for glycogen and alkaline phosphatase was 1.5-3 times lower in the N → I and I → N experiments in comparison with the control (N → N). On the other hand, CFC-F count in the femoral bone marrow of immunized animals was significantly (3.5-2.5 times) higher during the period from 8 days to 8 months after the end of immunization compared to CFC-F count in the femoral bone marrow of intact mice. These results attest to a significant prolonged effect of streptococcal antigens on the bone marrow stromal tissue. These data also indicate that not all CFC-F, the counts of which increased in response to antigens, are responsible for transplantability of the stromal tissue in heterotopic transplantation. Immunization by streptococcal antigens seemed to suppress transplantability and osteogenic activity of stromal stem cells. The efficiency of CFC-F cloning in mouse bone marrow cultures increased significantly (2-3-fold) in the presence of sera from immune mice. The levels of TNF-α and IFN-γ were low in this serum (2.7 and 6 times lower, respectively) in comparison with normal serum. Presumably, the effects of streptococcal antigens on stromal tissue were mediated through serum cytokines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Injection of S. typhimurium antigens signifi cantly (9-fold) increased cloning effi ciency and, hence, the content of stromal precursor cells in the spleen as soon as after 24 h. These parameters returned to normal by days 6-15 after immunization. Cultured splenocytes collected from immune (but not intact) animals expressed the genes of proinfl ammatory cytokines IL-1β (on days 1, 6, 15) and IL-6 (on days 1 and 6), TNF-α (on days 6 and 15), and of IFN-α and IL-18 (on days 6 and 15). The expression of IL-4 gene was suppressed on day 6 after immunization, of IL-10 gene on days 1 and 6, of IL-6 gene on day 15. Hence, no signs of immune response suppression by stromal cells were found in this system. The spectrum and dynamics of the expression of pro- and anti-infl ammatory cytokine genes in stromal cell cultures from the spleen of immunized mice seemed to correspond to those needed for support of the immune response to S. typhimurium antigens, observed in immunized animals. The results indicate possible involvement of stromal cells in the realization of immune response in vivo. The increase of stromal precursor cells cloning effi ciency in response to antigen injection could not be reproduced in vitro: the presence of S. typhimurium antigens in primary cultures of intact mouse bone marrow and spleen throughout the entire period of culturing ~20-fold reduced cloning effi ciency in cultures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was carried out on CBA mice using the method of heterotopic transplantation. A fragment of the femoral bone marrow (/) or spleen (/ of the organ) was transplanted under the renal capsule of a recipient. The following donor-recipient cross-transplantation variants were studied: young → young (Y → Y), young → old (Y → O), old → old (O → O), and old → young (O → Y). Cell suspensions were prepared from 2-month transplants inoculated in monolayer cultures and the cloning effi ciency (ECF-F) of stromal precursor cells (CFC-F) was evaluated. The bone marrow transplant ECF-F and the count of CFC-F in the O → O group were 8-fold lower than in the Y → Y group. In the O → Y group, ECF-F was 3-fold higher than in the O → O group, but by 2.5 times lower than in the Y → Y group. ECF-F in Y → O group was 2-fold lower than in Y → Y group. The ECF-F and CFC-F count in spleen transplants in the O → O group were 4- and 6-fold lower, respectively, than in Y → Y group. However, in O → Y group ECF-F was 7-fold higher than in O → O group and higher than even in Y → Y group. The weight of induced ectopic bone tissue after transplantation of the osteoinductor (fragments of the allogenic urinary bladder mucosa) was 2-fold lower in the O → O vs. Y → Y group. However, comparison of the ectopic bone tissue weights in different experimental groups showed that osteoinductor activity of the bladder epithelium did not decrease, but increased 3-fold with age (O → Y:Y → Y). A 5-fold reduction of this proportion in groups where the osteoinductor was transplanted from old donors to old and young recipients (O → Y:O → O) could be attributed to age-specifi c reduction of the count of inducible osteogenic precursor cells (IOPC). The data in general suggest that age-specifi c reduction of the stromal precursor count and functional activity could be caused by the true reduction (exhaustion) of cell pool (bone marrow CFC-F; presumably, IOPC) and by the regulatory effects of the organism (bone marrow and splenic CFC-F, IOPC). These data seem to be signifi cant for understanding of the role of osteogenic stromal precursor cells in the development of age-associated bone tissue defects, for example, senile osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is focused on the effect of the antifungal drug clotrimazole (CLT), also possessing anti-malarial and anticancer activities, on hemin-induced hemolysis and changes in ion permeability and filter-ability of human erythrocytes. In the presence of 10 μM clotrimazole, the hemolytic response of erythrocytes to exogenous hemin at concentrations as low as 2-8 μM was considerably potentiated and their filterability, as measured by passing them through a 5-μm nuclepore filter, dropped sharply. Flavonoids quercetin (Q) and taxifolin (DHQ), unlike the standard antioxidant Trolox, abolished the effects of clotrimazole, suggesting that protection of hemin-treated erythrocytes by flavonoids is not related to their antioxidant properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For topological spaces X and Y and a metric space Z, we introduce a new class $ \mathcal{N}\left( {X \times Y,\,Z} \right) $ of mappings f: X × Y → Z containing all horizontally quasicontinuous mappings continuous with respect to the second variable. It is shown that, for each mapping f from this class and any countable-type set B in Y, the set C( f) of all points x from X such that f is jointly continuous at any point of the set { x} × B is residual in X: We also prove that if X is a Baire space, Y is a metrizable compact set, Z is a metric space, and $ f \in \mathcal{N}\left( {X \times Y,\,Z} \right) $, then, for any ε > 0, the projection of the set D( f) of all points p ∈ X × Y at which the oscillation ω( p) ≥ ε onto X is a closed set nowhere dense in X. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a systematic analysis of the description of odd nuclei by the Skyrme-Hartree-Fock approach augmented with pairing in BCS approximation and blocking of the odd nucleon. Current and spin densities in the Skyrme functional produce time-odd mean fields (TOMF) for odd nuclei. Their effect on basic properties (binding energies, odd-even staggering, separation energies and spectra) is investigated for the three Skyrme parameterizations SkI3, SLy6, and SV-bas. About 1300 spherical and axially deformed odd nuclei with 16 $ \le$ Z $ \le$92 are considered. The calculations demonstrate that the TOMF effect is generally small, although not fully negligible. The influence of the Skyrme parameterization and the consistency of the calculations are much more important. With a proper choice of the parameterization, a good description of binding energies and their differences is obtained, comparable to that for even nuclei. The description of low-energy excitation spectra of odd nuclei is of varying quality depending on the nucleus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Filterability of erythrocytes through small (3 μ) pores decreases with decreasing osmolarity of suspension medium because of hypo-osmotic swelling of cells. After appearance of lytic pores, erythrocyte filterability increases for some time, while after recovery of membrane integrity it decreases again. We suggest filtration method for studies of the kinetics of hypoosmotic lytic pores closure. The dynamics of changes in erythrocyte filterability was studied in 2 patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria and 6 donors (Ht 0.01%, Na phosphate buffer 5 mM, pH 7.4, 35 mOsm, 24°C). The method can be used for studies of erythrocyte membrane characteristics in various diseases and for evaluation of the membranotropic effects of drugs, infusion media, hemolysins, ethanol, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spotted seal Phoca largha is considered typically pagophilic species, but in the Peter the Great Bay of the Sea of Japan it is closely associated with specific coastal sites all the year round. Four types of largha inshore associations (preliminary, breeding, molting, and rehabilitative) invariably connected with certain types of haulout sites are cyclically formed on the islands of the bay. Principles of formation and features of functioning, as well as structure, specificity of dynamics, the degree of aggregation and behavior features of each type of inshore associations are considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Peter the Great Bay, the spotted Seal ( Phoca largha) is closely connected with island haulout sites sites all year round and forms four types of onshore associations, preliminary, reproductive, molting, and rehabilitative. It has been found over long term studies that changes in these associations make up an annual cycle. The specific redistribution pattern of seals in the bay appears to be a result of consecutive transformation processes, viz., the break up of previous types of associations and the simultaneous formation of the following ones. The mechanisms underlying every type of onshore associations of spotted seals and the peculiarities of their functioning are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One-dimensional nonlinear phononic crystals have been assembled from periodic diatomic chains of stainless steel cylinders alternated with Polytetrafluoroethylene spheres. This system allows dramatic changes of behavior (from linear to strongly nonlinear) by application of compressive forces practically without changes of geometry of the system. The relevance of classical acoustic band-gap, characteristic for chain with linear interaction forces and derived from the dispersion relation of the linearized system, on the transformation of single and multiple pulses in linear, nonlinear and strongly nonlinear regimes are investigated with numerical calculations and experiments. The limiting frequencies of the acoustic band-gap for investigated system with given precompression force are within the audible frequency range (20–20,000 Hz) and can be tuned by varying the particle’s material properties, mass and initial compression. In the linear elastic chain the presence of the acoustic band-gap was apparent through fast transformation of incoming pulses within very short distances from the chain entrance. It is interesting that pulses with relatively large amplitude (nonlinear elastic chain) exhibit qualitatively similar behavior indicating relevance of the acoustic band gap also for transformation of nonlinear signals. The effects of an in situ band-gap created by a mean dynamic compression are observed in the strongly nonlinear wave regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]