Significance of functional interactions for understanding of cerebral mechanisms of speech disturbances in children

The problems are considered of cerebral mechanisms of the main types of speech pathology developed in children in disturbances of interzonal interactions.Translated from Zhurnal Evolyutsionnoi Biokhimii i Fiziologii, Vol. 40, No. 5, 2004, pp. 407–410.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Vizel.To the 100-Anniversary of N. N. Traugott     

Peculiarities of individually oriented hearing prosthetics in rehabilitation at limited auditory possibilities

A new method is proposed for evaluation of correction of impairments of hearing with the help of hearing aids allowing detection of the dependence of speech formation on limitations of auditory possibilities, particularly of the labyrinth origin. The method permits revealing inadequacy of hearing prosthetics, considering its possible causes, and proposing ways of elimination.Translated from Zhurnal Evolyutsionnoi Biokhimii i Fiziologii, Vol. 40, No. 5, 2004, pp. 476–480.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Tsirulnikov, Vartanyan, Boitsova.To the 100-Anniversary of N. N. Traugott     

Formation of interzonal interaction of cortical fields during verbal-mental activity

Verbal activity as the higher psychic brain function is performed as a result of systemic interactions of many cerebral structures and processes at various levels of organization. It is shown in this work that based on analysis of spatial-temporal relations of EEG waves during performance by adult examinees of such verbal-mnestic tasks as mental count, listening of a rhyme and its recalling, tests for verbal fluency, and search for homonyms there is revealed an enhancement of diagonal connections between activities of posterior parts of the left hemisphere cortex and anterior parts of the right hemisphere cortex. During performance by the examinees of recognition of grammatical or semantic errors in sentences the interhemispheric interactions on the whole are also enhanced statistically significantly, but without domination of diagonal interactions. These data show that during performance by examinees of verbal tasks of analytical character there also are simultaneously actualized intercentral interactions related to the functional system responsible for recognition not only of verbal, but also of any other stimuli. In children with motor alalia and dysarthria, disturbances of distant EEG connections were revealed either in the left or in the right hemisphere with a simultaneous enhancement of ipsilateral interactions in symmetrical parts of the contralateral hemisphere. A special attention is paid to significance of the degree of formation of neurophysiological systems of the general cerebral integration for realization of the verbal function.Translated from Zhurnal Evolyutsionnoi Biokhimii i Fiziologii, Vol. 40, No. 5, 2004, pp. 411–422.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Shepovalnikov, Tsitseroshin.To the 100-Anniversary of N. N. Traugott     

On methods of neurorehabilitation of patients with focal brain lesions

Direction of restoration of speech and other higher psychic functions in neurorehabilitation of patients with focal brain lesions is considered. The proposed approach is illustrated by procedures of recovery of speech, writing, count, and visual gnosis. A clinical case is presented to show how the rehabilitative work is performed. The originality of this approach consists in use of systemic properties of the recovered function. The fundamental principle is based on consideration of structural regularities of lingual or any other restoration functions, which are sufficiently established in the adults experience. It is proposed to perform the rehabilitative work as if bypassing the central defect, which represents a gentler and less tedious process for patients. Efficiency of the rehabilitation is discussed with involvement of studies in the field of structure of disturbances and mechanisms of compensation of psychic functions during local brain lesionsTranslated from Zhurnal Evolyutsionnoi Biokhimii i Fiziologii, Vol. 40, No. 5, 2004, pp. 469–475.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Khrakovskaya.To the 100-Anniversary of N. N. Traugott     

Human perception of acoustic models of spatial sound translocation on the background of hearing and production of verbal signals (ontogenetic aspect)

Studied in the work was human perception of acoustic signals changing in amplitude on the background of production and hearing of syllables composed, from the ontogenetic viewpoint, of the earliest and the latest consonants and vowels —[pa] and [ly], as well as on the background of noise. It was shown that on the background of the syllable pronunciation their recognition occurred at the same rate; however, the number of mistakes with the syllable [ly] was statistically significantly greater than with the syllable [pa]. According to the data of paired comparison and dispersion analysis the differences at recognition of external stimuli on the background of: hearing [pa] — pronunciation [ly]; hearing [ly] — pronunciation [pa]; hearing [ly] — pronunciation [ly] are statistically significant. The most difficult task turned out to be the task of signal recognition on the background of isolated articulation, i.e., reproduction without voice. When evaluating sound stimuli on the background of noise, the correctness of signal recognition was more affected by masking as compared to the time of reaction. The results of signal perception on the background of the wideband noise differ qualitatively and quantitatively from the data of recognition both at intensive verbal activity and at passive hearing of speech.Translated from Zhurnal Evolyutsionnoi Biokhimii i Fiziologii, Vol. 40, No. 5, 2004, pp. 423–426.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Vartanyan, Tokareva, Lange.To the 100-Anniversary of N. N. Traugott     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Homo loquens</Emphasis>: Evolution of cerebral functions and language

The paper reviews the state of the problem of evolution of language and brain. Various points of view are considered: nativism and connectionism, principle of modular organization of the higher psychic functions including language, and that of organization of all functions on the basis of the network and associative principle. There is also considered the justifiability of the idea of macromutation that has resulted in the appearance of language and a series of micromutations that have led to the same. Also considered are specific verbal disturbances including genetic ones.Translated from Zhurnal Evolyutsionnoi Biokhimii i Fiziologii, Vol. 40, No. 5, 2004, pp. 400–406.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Chernigovskaya.To the 100-Anniversary of N. N. Traugott     

Peculiarities of formation of the cognitive functions in junior school children with different maturity of regulatory brain systems

To reveal the specific role of maturation of modulating, regulatory brain systems in formation of cognitive processes at the junior school age, was performed a complex electroencephalographic and neuropsychological examination of the 7–8-year-old children with different degrees of functional maturity of the regulatory systems. It has been shown that an essential factor determining formation of the higher psychic functions (HPF) at the junior school age is maturation of the fronto-thalamic system. Immaturity of this system in the 7–8-year-old children leads to a deficiency of functions of programming, regulation, and control of the activity. The most substantial changes were revealed for the components of the voluntary organization of the activity, which are connected with its selectivity both in realization of current tasks and in creation of the activity strategy. The deficiency of processes of voluntary regulation in the 7–8-year-old children with immaturity of the fronto-thalamic system is combined with a delay of development of the meaning-forming speech function. Comparison of data of the neuropsychological and electroencephalographic examination has permitted suggesting that the basis of the revealed changes in the HPF formation in the 7–8-year-old children is immaturity of the main neurophysiological mechanisms that provide a selective involvement of different cortical regions in providing their activity both in the course of its realization and during preparation to it as well as an under-development of differentiated intracortical connections in the left hemisphere.Translated from Zhurnal Evolyutsionnoi Biokhimii i Fiziologii, Vol. 40, No. 5, 2004, pp. 427–435.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Machinskaya, Semenova.To the 100-Anniversary of N. N. Traugott     

Dynamics of formation of internal lexicon in junior school children

Study of lexicon has shown that the verbal-thinking activity did not yet acquired the automatic character in school-children of 1–2 grades; predominant are nouns that reflect the graphic-sensory world picture. Such world picture represents the near space of the child with emphasis of interior of the class and apartment. This period is suggested to be due to predominance of activity of the right hemisphere. In the 9–10-year-old children, as compared with the 7–8-year-old children, the lexicon is distinguished by automatic character of the speech flow, an increase of the number of verbs, adjectives, and proper nouns, by the appearance of the wide circle of associations, by the presence of conceptual lexicon, and by the appearance of the word-substituting and word-forming associates and dual oppositions indicating development of abstract thinking. This is suggested to be the beginning of the ontogenetically late stage of the verbal-thinking activity associated with an increase of activity of the left hemisphere.Translated from Zhurnal Evolyutsionnoi Biokhimii i Fiziologii, Vol. 40, No. 5, 2004, pp. 436–440.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Nikolaenko.To the 100-Anniversary of N. N. Traugott     

Peculiarities of interrelations of activation levels of frontal,temporal, and parietal cortex by parameters of ultraslow biopotentials in the 4–5-year-old children with the age norm and delayed speech development

Possibilities were considered of the integrative approach with use of parameters of the ultraslow informational-control brain and organism system in studying physiological grounds of the rest state, which determine structure and quality of the adaptive behavior. By using the proposal approach there were analyzed results of comparative studies of peculiarities of the wakefulness level, of its autonomous, hemodynamic, and oxygen-depended energy maintenance, and of activation levels and their interrelations in neocortical outputs of the brain systems of the frontal, temporal-parietal, and parietal cortex participating in organization of the higher integrative functions and speech in the 4–7-year-old children with the age norm of the general psychic and verbal development and with delay of the neuropsychic development, including development of speech.Translated from Zhurnal Evolyutsionnoi Biokhimii i Fiziologii, Vol. 40, No. 5, 2004, pp. 455–468.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Ilyukhina, Krivoshchapova, Matveev, Ponomareva, Shaptilei.To the 100-Anniversary of N. N. Traugott     

Ivan Mikhailovich Sechenov—the outstanding russian neurophysiologist and psychophysiologist

Contribution of the outstanding russian physiologist Ivan Mikhailovich Sechenov to establishment and development of neurophysiology and psychophysiology is considered. Analysis is presented of I.M. Sechenovs fundamental discoveries that laid foundation of the modern neurophysiology. Logic of formation of his objective physiological approach to analysis of psychic phenomena is followed. It is shown that I.M. Sechenov was the first psychophysiologist to approach analysis of human from systemic positions by considering reflex as a morpho-functional system that operates with signals from environment for the purpose of achievement of an expedient result.Translated from Zhurnal Evolyutsionnoi Biokhimii i Fiziologii, Vol. 40, No. 5, 2004, pp. 481–485.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Kanunikov.To the 175-Anniversary of I.M. Sechenov     

Aphasia and Alalia from the Perspective of Natal’ya N. Traugott’s Studies on Higher Cognitive Processes

The paper describes one of the central areas of research of Professor Natal’ya N. Traugott, a famous Russian neurophysiologist. In particular, Prof. Traugott identified the general neurophysiological mechanisms responsible for speech disorders in children with alalia and in adults with aphasia caused by focal brain lesions. Physiological experiments showed that both sensory alalia in children and sensory aphasia in adults are associated with the deficiency of auditory analyzer; such deficiency leads to disorders in the formation of conditional reactions to sounds and sound complexes. Moreover, a general development pattern was identified in the ontogeny of interaction of signal systems and in the degradation of such interaction caused by the lesions of particular analyzers. This finding of Prof. Traugott is very important in both theory of cerebral speech mechanisms and speech therapy practices aimed at speech system development and rehabilitation following cerebral dysfunctions.     

Antibodies as specific chaperones

Protein folding is often accompanied by formation of non-native conformations leading to protein aggregation. A number of reports indicate that antibodies can facilitate folding and prevent aggregation of protein antigens. The influence of antibodies on folding is strictly antigen specific. Chaperone-like antibody activity may be due to the stabilization of native antigen conformations or folding transition states, or screening of aggregating hydrophobic surfaces. Taking advantage of chaperone-like activity of antibodies for immunotherapy may prove to be a promising approach to the treatment of Alzheimers and prion-related diseases. Antibody-assisted folding may enhance renaturation of recombinant proteins from inclusion bodies.Translated from Biokhimiya, Vol. 69, No. 11, 2004, pp. 1515–1521.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Ermolenko, Zherdev, Dzantiev.     

Evidence for N feedback regulation of N2 fixation in Alnus glutinosa L.

Treatments were applied to vary C and N availability in Alnusglutinosa L. and plant growth, nodule activity (including acetylenereduction) and amino acid composition of the xylem sap weremeasured. Removing the buds, a sink for N, caused a decreasein nodule activity. Flushing root systems daily with 100% O₂destroyed nitrogenase activity and substantially decreased theamount of citrulline in the xylem sap. The amino acid compositionof xylem saps also altered according to the mode of N nutrition.In plants fed , xylem sap composition was similar to N₂-fixing plants, however, when plants were fed, citrulline content increased. The assimilation and subsequent distribution of nitrate wasfollowed in an experiment in which labelled ¹⁵ was added to the base of plant pots. After 12 h7% of root N was from applied ¹⁵ and this increased to 75% at 7 d; substantial enrichment ofN from ¹⁵ also occurred in stems, buds and leaves. After 7 d, 3.5% of nodule N was from¹⁵, consistent with some N being supplied by recycling of shoot N. Xylem saps were alsocollected and after 12 h, glutamate and aspartate were enrichedwith ¹⁵N to 53% and 37% increasing after 7 d to 80% and 49%,respectively. Citrulline content of the xylem sap increasedfrom 3 to 9 µmol cm^–3 following addition of ¹⁵ and at 7 d 80% of the N in the citrullinehad been derived from ¹⁵N. It is hypothesized that the growthand activity of A. glutinosa root nodules is sensitive to theN status of the plant and that the level of citrulline (or otheramino acids) returning to the nodules may feed back to regulatenodule growth and activity. Key words: Alnus glutinosa, citrulline, nitrate, feedback mechanism, N₂-fixation.     

Profiles of brain functional asymmetry in patients with alcoholism and drug addiction

Profiles of motor, sensory, and cognitive asymmetries in patients with drug addiction and alcoholism and in people of relevant control group were studied. To reveal the profiles of interhemispheric asymmetry, a set of tests for determination of lateralization of motor (the dominant hand and leg), sensory (eye and ear) and cognitive (right- and left-hemispheric mode of solution of verbal and/or spatial tasks) was used. In patients with drug addiction and alcoholism as compared with the control group, a statistically significant domination of the left-sided lateralization of motor and sensory indexes was found. The right-hemispheric mode was essentially prevailing in solving the verbal and spatial tasks. No differences in motor asymmetry were observed in narcotic addicts and alcoholics. The dominant left eye and ear were statistically significantly more frequent in patients with alcoholism than in patients with drug addiction. The right-hemispheric mode in solution of cognitive tasks was used more often statistically significantly by narcotic addicts than by alcoholics. The obtained data indicate an essential impairment of profiles of the motor, sensory, and cognitive asymmetries in patients with the chemical addiction.Translated from Zhurnal Evolyutsionnoi Biokhimii i Fiziologii, Vol. 40, No. 5, 2004, pp. 450–454.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Egorov, Tikhomirov.To the 100-Anniversary of N. N. Traugott     

Regulation of mineral nitrogen uptake in plants

In the biosphere plants are exposed to different forms of N, which comprise mineral and organic N forms in soils as well as gaseous NH3, NOx, and molecular N2 in the atmosphere. The form of N uptake is mainly determined by its abundance and accessibility, which make and the most important N forms for plant nutrition under agricultural conditions. With minor importance, the form of N uptake is also subject to plant preferences, by which plants maintain their cation/anion balance during uptake. However, some species seem to have an obligatory preference which even prevents their growth on certain other N sources. In general, uptake of a certain N form closely matches the growth-related demand of the plant, at least when N transport to the root surface is not limiting. In addition, many plants accumulate large pools of N during vegetative growth which are remobilized in the generative stage. As a consequence, systems responsible for N transport need to be tightly regulated in their expression and activity upon sensing N availability and plant demand. Employing the tools of molecular genetics, the first plant genes encoding transporters for inorganic N have recently been isolated and characterized. These data can now complete the wealth of physiological and nutritional studies on N uptake. The present article will focus on the uptake of and into root cells and tries to link data derived from physiological, genetic and molecular studies.     

Bacteriorhodopsin. Correspondence of the photocycle and electrogenesis with sites of the molecule

Correspondence of phases of electrogenesis, photocycle transitions, and proton transfer with the proton transporting groups of bacteriorhodopsin was studied. The structure of bacteriorhodopsin was considered by the file 1c3w and projections of sites of the proton movement pathway onto the normal to the purple membrane were measured. The dielectric permeability of the terminal site of the semichannel Schiff base external surface of the purple membrane was noticeably higher than in the center of the membrane.Translated from Biokhimiya, Vol. 69, No. 12, 2004, pp. 1725–1728.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Khitrina, Ksenofontov.     

The First Russian Fisheries Research Expedition: Centenary of the Expedition for Fisheries Research along the Coast of Murman

This paper revives one of the brilliant pages in the history of Russian science—fisheries research and the exploitation of the biological resources of the Far North's seas. The expedition to the Barents Sea with the first Russian fisheries research vessel Andrey Pervozvanny under the leadership of N.M. Knipovich in 1898–1899 is described and the scientific results of the expedition are discussed.     

Prediction of the non-fertilizer N supply of mineral grassland soils

Different methods for estimating the non-fertilizer N supply (NFNS) of mineral grassland soils were compared. NFNS was defined as the N uptake on unfertilized plots. The potential mineralization rate (0–12 weeks), macroorganic matter and active microbial biomass (determined by the substrate-induced respiration method; SIR) were correlated positively with NFNS. The difference between the actual soil organic N or microbial N content (determined by the fumigation incubation method) and their contents under equilibrium conditions ( org. N and MB-N), however, gave the best estimations of NFNS. For field conditions the best estimation for NFNS was: NFNS (kg N ha^–1 yr^–1)=132.3+42.1× org. N (g kg^–1 soil; r=0.80). This method is based on the observation that, under old grassland swards, close relationships exist between soil texture and the amounts of soil organic N and microbial N. These relationships are assumed to represent equilibrium conditions as under old swards under constant management, the gain in soil organic N and microbial N equals the losses. Soils under young grassland and recently reclaimed soils contained less soil organic N and microbial N. In such soils the amounts of organic N and microbial N increase with time, which is reflected in a lower NFNS. The annual accumulation of organic and microbial N gradually becomes smaller until organic N, microbial N and NFNS reach equilibrium. The main advantage of the difference method in comparison with the other methods is its speed and simplicity.FAX no: +31 50337291     

Individual particularities of examinees at lateralization of stationary and moving sound images (virtual reality: specific manifestations)

Characteristics of subjective auditory space at lateralization of stationary and moving fused sound images (FSI) were studied in 15 examinees. The method of dichotic stimulation with a series of binaurally presented click trains was used, at varying of interaural intensity differences (I) within the limits of ±13 dB. Duration of the click series amounted to 2 s. To establish perception of moving FSI, the value of interaural differences in stimulation time (T ) varied from ±630 µs to zero throughout the time of the sound signal action. Under conditions of stationary and moving FSI we estimated expansion of the subjective auditory space (as the distance between the extreme left and extreme right points of FSI position, %), the site of FSI position in it (% related to the head midline), the rate of FSI moving (deg/s), and variability measured by value of examinees estimates of position of both stationary and moving FSI at the initial and final moments of moving. It was established that under conditions of stationary FSI, at the under border I values (from –13 to 13 dB), expansion of auditory space varied from 50 to 149 degrees. Variability of estimations of the stationary FSI position at I = ±13 dB also differed in various examinees, at values from 3–4 to 17–20 deg. Under conditions of moving FSI, expansion of the subjective auditory space increased to amount to from 107 to 185 deg within the borders of I = ±13 dB, whereas value was even somewhat decreased and amounted to from 2–3 to 12–16 deg. The rate of FSI moving at the same I varied in different examinees from 13 to 43 deg/s. The diversity of quantitative characteristics of the subjective auditory space among the examinees is considered from the point of view of individual differences in structure of the auditory space and of the level of physiological noises in the brain centers responsible for making a particular decision. It is suggested that the presented limits of individual examinees differences might be of essential importance for preparation of operators to corresponding kinds of work.Translated from Zhurnal Evolyutsionnoi Biokhimii i Fiziologii, Vol. 40, No. 5, 2004, pp. 441–449.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Variaguina, Radionova.To the 100-Anniversary of N. N. Traugott     

Regulation of isopenicillin N synthetase and deacetoxycephalosporin C synthetase by carbon source during the fermentation of Cephalosporium acremonium

Summary In a chemically defined medium with glucose and sucrose as major carbon sources (standard medium), Cephalosporium acremonium excretes the intermediate of the -lactam biosynthetic pathway, penicillin N, into the medium during growth; production of cephalosporins is delayed until glucose is completely utilized. Deacetoxycephalosporin C synthetase, the ring-expansion enzyme (expandase), does not appear as long as glucose is present. Afterwards, initiation of its formation is accompanied by the production of cephalosporins. Feeding additional glucose during the fermentation turns off expandase synthesis without affecting formation of isopenicillin N synthetase, the ring-cyclization enzyme (cyclase). The above results point to a strong glucose catabolite repression of the expandase as one of the main regulatory mechanisms in -lactam biosynthesis by Cephalosporium acremonium and the reason for accumulation of penicillin N during the fermentation. Cyclase shows a biphasic pattern in activity, the first very high peak not being correlated with the excretion of any -lactam antibiotic into the medium.