Two closely linked tomato HKT coding genes are positional candidates for the major tomato QTL involved in Na+/K+ homeostasis

The location of major quantitative trait loci (QTL) contributing to stem and leaf [Na⁺] and [K⁺] was previously reported in chromosome 7 using two connected populations of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of tomato. HKT1;1 and HKT1;2, two tomato Na⁺‐selective class I‐HKT transporters, were found to be closely linked, where the maximum logarithm of odds (LOD) score for these QTLs located. When a chromosome 7 linkage map based on 278 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was used, the maximum LOD score position was only 35 kb from HKT1;1 and HKT1;2. Their expression patterns and phenotypic effects were further investigated in two near‐isogenic lines (NILs): 157‐14 (double homozygote for the cheesmaniae alleles) and 157‐17 (double homozygote for the lycopersicum alleles). The expression pattern for the HKT1;1 and HKT1;2 alleles was complex, possibly because of differences in their promoter sequences. High salinity had very little effect on root dry and fresh weight and consequently on the plant dry weight of NIL 157‐14 in comparison with 157‐17. A significant difference between NILs was also found for [K⁺] and the [Na⁺]/[K⁺] ratio in leaf and stem but not for [Na⁺] arising a disagreement with the corresponding RIL population. Their association with leaf [Na⁺] and salt tolerance in tomato is also discussed.     

New data about distribution of lower Amur grayling <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thymallus tugarinae</Emphasis> and Baikal-Lena grayling <Emphasis Type="Italic">Thymallus</Emphasis> sp. (Thymallidae) in the basins of the upper Amur River and Zeya River

New findings of lower Amur grayling (Lower Amur grayling) Thymallus tugarinae and Baikal-Lena grayling Th. sp. (Th. baicalolenensis) in the basins of the upper Amur River and Zeya River are reported for 2010?2014. Lower Amur grayling has been registered in the tributaries of Argun River and in the middle stream of Ingoda River. Baikal-Lena grayling has been found for the first time in the headstream of Ingoda River. New data about the distribution of this species in the basin of upper stream of Zeya River are reported; particularly, Baikal-Lena grayling has been found in Okonon Lake; this is the first finding of a representative of Thymallidae family in the alpine lakes of the watershed area of Amur River. In the basins of upper Amur River and Zeya River, the summer ranges of upper Amur grayling Th. grubii grubii and lower Amur grayling overlap to some extent; on the other hand, the ranges of Baikal-Lena grayling and lower Amur grayling are disjoint. During the summer period, upper Amur grayling and Baikal-Lena grayling together inhabit the basin of upper stream of Zeya River, but only Baikal-Lena grayling has been found in the headstream of Zeya River. In the basin of upper Amur River (the headstream of Ingoda River), the joint range of these species is still unknown; the sympatric zone is located in Dzhermoltai River (the basin of Onon River).     

Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the ant genus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Formica</Emphasis> L. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) from Palearctic region

Sixty-five sequences of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene fragment (759 bp) and 23 sequences of the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 6 gene fragment (224 bp) were compared in ants of the genus Formica L. from different regions of the Palearctic and in Polyergus rufescens Latr. as outgroup. In total, 28 species of the genus Formica were examined. As a result, dated trees with a molecular clock were constructed showing the phylogenetic relationships of Formica ants. The topology of the obtained tree based on the Cyt-b sequences was found to be not consistent with the generally accepted opinion on the Formica rufa and F. rufibarbis groups. New data on the formation history of the present-day fauna of Formica ants of the Palearctic were obtained. It was demonstrated that a considerable fraction of the examined species (about a third) were formed in the Quaternary Period.     

Production of endothelial progenitor cells obtained from human Wharton's jelly using different culture conditions

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) participate in revascularization and angiogenesis. EPC can be cultured in vitro from mononuclear cells of peripheral blood, umbilical cord blood or bone marrow; they also can be transdifferentiated from mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). We isolated EPCs from Wharton's jelly (WJ) using two methods. The first method was by obtaining MSC from WJ and characterizing them by flow cytometry and their adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation, then applying endothelial growth differentiating media. The second method was by direct culture of cells derived from WJ into endothelial differentiating media. EPCs were characterized by morphology, Dil-LDL uptake/UEA-1 immunostaining and testing the expression of endothelial markers by flow cytometry and RT-PCR. We found that MSC derived from WJ differentiated into endothelial-like cells using simple culture conditions with endothelium induction agents in the medium.     

Exponential distribution of interimpulse current intervals in lipid bilayer membrane at phase transition temperature

The statistical analysis of current fluctuations in unmodified bilayer lipid membranes at the phase transition temperature was made. An exponential distribution of current fluctuations was revealed.     

Interfacial tension of aqueous biopolymer mixtures close to the critical point

Proteins and polysaccharides, being the main constructional materials in many biological structures, have a limited compatibility in aqueous media. At sufficiently high concentrations, they form water-in-water emulsions. Interfacial tension is an important parameter in such systems since it is a controlling factor in the morphology development during processing. In this work a rheo-optical methodology, based on the analysis of small angle light scattering (SALS) patterns during fibril break-up, is used to study the interfacial tension of water-sodium caseinate-sodium alginate systems located close to and relatively far from the binodal. The interfacial tension close to the critical point was approximately 10(-8) N/m, and it increased considerably, to a value of up to 5.2 x 10(-6) N/m farther from the critical point. For the scaling of the interfacial tension with the density difference between the phases, a scaling exponent of 3.1 +/- 0.3 was found, in agreement with the critical mean-field scaling exponent of 3.     

Analysis of superfamily specific profile-profile recognition accuracy

Background  

Annotation of sequences that share little similarity to sequences of known function remains a major obstacle in genome annotation. Some of the best methods of detecting remote relationships between protein sequences are based on matching sequence profiles. We analyse the superfamily specific performance of sequence profile-profile matching. Our benchmark consists of a set of 16 protein superfamilies that are highly diverse at the sequence level. We relate the performance to the number of sequences in the profiles, the profile diversity and the extent of structural conservation in the superfamily.     

Spectral Analysis of Long Electroencephalographic Records

Spectral analysis of a 10-min electroencephalogram (EEG) record has made it possible to describe the behavior of EEG rhythms as a dynamic spectrum and find a distinct periodic pattern in this behavior. The data on the dynamic spectra of long EEGs offer a new insight into the estimation of the stability of EEG electrical processes in healthy subjects, inter- and intrahemispheric relationships between the electrical activities of different cortical regions, and estimation of phase relations, which were previously performed on the basis of comparison between single EEG spectral patterns.     

Characteristics of EEG signs of anxiety in human

Influence of anxiety (tested by Luscher) on the spatial organization of brain electrical activity was studied using multichannel EEG recording. In subjects with a high-level of anxiety, the level of coherence and spectral power of some high-frequency EEG components was higher in the parieto-temporal regions of both hemispheres than that in the opposite group. Solving the inverse problem (classification of individuals with one of the groups) made it possible to work out the criteria of automated evaluation of the anxiety level at the preclinic state of neuropsychic disorders. The EEG signs of the influence of increased anxiety on psychophysiological and cognitive processes and autonomic functions were analyzed. The EEG signs of increased anxiety in animals (rats) and humans were compared and some similarity of the spatial-frequency organization was revealed. The main difference consists in a greater activation of the left parieto-temporal area in humans, which is interpreted as a morphofunctional basis of verbalization of anxiogenic stimuli.     

Diagnostic criteria for diabetes revisited: making use of combined criteria

Background  

Existing cut-offs for fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and post-load glucose (2hPG) criteria are not equivalent in the diagnosis of diabetes and glucose intolerance. Adjusting cut-offs of single measurements have not helped so we undertook this project to see if they could be complementary.