Ecological and habitat ranges of orchids in the northernmost regions of their distribution areas: A case study from Ural Mountains, Russia.

The Orchidaceae, which is one of the most interesting families of angiosperms, contains a large number of rare species. Despite their acknowledged importance, little attention has been paid to the study of orchids distributed in northern territories. In this study, we determined the syntaxonomical diversity and ecological parameters of orchid habitats in two of Europe's largest protected areas, the Pechoro-Ilychsky Reserve and the Yugyd Va National Park (northeastern European Russia), and then compared our findings to those in other parts of orchid distribution ranges.

Occurrences of Threatened Species included in the Third Edition of the Red Data Book of the Komi Republic (Russia).

Background: The purpose of the data paper was to introduce into scientific literature the results of scientific work carried out for the third edition of the 'Red Data Book of the Komi Republic'. The article reflects methodological approaches to the formation of a list of rare and in need of protection species and describes the corresponding datasets published in GBIF.

New Information: Information about 7,187 occurrences of 438 rare species and infraspecies included in the third edition of the 'Red Data Book of the Komi Republic' have been published.

Ancient and modern genomes unravel the evolutionary history of the rhinoceros family.

Only five species of the once-diverse Rhinocerotidae remain, making the reconstruction of their evolutionary history a challenge to biologists since Darwin. We sequenced genomes from five rhinoceros species (three extinct and two living), which we compared to existing data from the remaining three living species and a range of outgroups. We identify an early divergence between extant African and Eurasian lineages, resolving a key debate regarding the phylogeny of extant rhinoceroses.

Ancient horse genomes reveal the timing and extent of dispersals across the Bering Land Bridge.

The Bering Land Bridge (BLB) last connected Eurasia and North America during the Late Pleistocene. Although the BLB would have enabled transfers of terrestrial biota in both directions, it also acted as an ecological filter whose permeability varied considerably over time. Here we explore the possible impacts of this ecological corridor on genetic diversity within, and connectivity among, populations of a once wide-ranging group, the caballine horses (Equus spp.

Origins and genetic legacy of prehistoric dogs.

Dogs were the first domestic animal, but little is known about their population history and to what extent it was linked to humans. We sequenced 27 ancient dog genomes and found that all dogs share a common ancestry distinct from present-day wolves, with limited gene flow from wolves since domestication but substantial dog-to-wolf gene flow. By 11,000 years ago, at least five major ancestry lineages had diversified, demonstrating a deep genetic history of dogs during the Paleolithic.

Pre-extinction Demographic Stability and Genomic Signatures of Adaptation in the Woolly Rhinoceros.

Ancient DNA has significantly improved our understanding of the evolution and population history of extinct megafauna. However, few studies have used complete ancient genomes to examine species responses to climate change prior to extinction. The woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis) was a cold-adapted megaherbivore widely distributed across northern Eurasia during the Late Pleistocene and became extinct approximately 14 thousand years before present (ka BP).

Early Pleistocene enamel proteome from Dmanisi resolves Stephanorhinus phylogeny.

The sequencing of ancient DNA has enabled the reconstruction of speciation, migration and admixture events for extinct taxa. However, the irreversible post-mortem degradation of ancient DNA has so far limited its recovery-outside permafrost areas-to specimens that are not older than approximately 0.5 million years (Myr).

Dynamics of body mass index and visceral adiposity index in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with tofacitinib.

The increase in cardiovascular risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) compared with the general population is due to the combined effect of traditional risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, systemic inflammation, and side effects of antirheumatic drugs. Tofacitinib (TOFA) is an oral reversible inhibitor of janus kinases for the treatment of RA with proven efficacy and good tolerability, but its effects on body weight and metabolic profile need to be clarified. We investigated the effects of TOFA on body mass index (BMI) and visceral adiposity index (VAI) in RA patients.

Metapodials of ancient bison (Bison priscus) of northeast Russia: "stress markers," sex and withers height.

A total of 175 metapodials (MP) of Pleistocene and early Holocene bison (Bison priscus Boj.) from the vast area of northeast Russia were studied. MP were attributed to males and females both visually and statistically.

Dynamic of changes in coronary artery calcification in early rheumatoid arthritis patients over 18 months.

The coronary artery calcification (CAC) progression may be useful noninvasive predictor of future cardiovascular events (CVE). The progression rate of CAC in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is poorly understood. To assess the dynamic of CAC scores in early RA patients for 18 months, 74 RA adult patients (ACR/EULAR criteria, 2010, duration ≤ 12 months, with moderate/high RA activity, without prior administration of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs or glucocorticoids) were enrolled within the framework of the observational study: women 73%, median age 56 years, median RA duration 6 months, median DAS28[ESR] 5.

Calcification of coronary arteries in early rheumatoid arthritis prior to anti-rheumatic therapy.

Accelerated coronary atherosclerosis is common in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To examine coronary artery calcification (CAC) frequency and severity, its correlation with traditional risk factors (TRF) of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and inflammatory markers in patients with early RA prior to anti-rheumatic therapy. RA adult patients (ACR/EULAR criteria, 2010, duration ≤ 12 months, without prior administration of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, glucocorticoids) underwent 32-row scanning for CAC scoring.

Biomechanical rationale of coronary artery bypass grafting of multivessel disease.

The biomechanical model of human coronary arteries was modified for improving the quality of diagnosis and surgical treatment for coronary heart disease. The problem of hemodynamics in the left coronary artery with multivessel bed disease - 45% stenosis of the anterior descending branch and 75% stenosis of the circumflex branch - was particularly considered. Numerical simulation of the coronary arterial bypass of the main trunk was carried out to estimate the functional condition of the coronary arteries after restoring myocardial blood supply by surgery.

The PUFA-enriched fatty acid profiles of some frozen bison from the early Holocene found in the Siberian permafrost.

Knowledge concerning the availability of n-3 fatty acids for humans in prehistoric times is highly relevant in order to draw useful conclusions on the healthy dietary habits for present-day humans. To this end, we have analysed fat from several frozen bison found in the permafrost of Siberia (Russia). A total of 3 bison were included in this study, all them very close to the early Holocene (8,000; 8,200; and 9,300 years BP).

Hybrid coarse-grained/atomistic model of "chitosan + carbon nanostructures" composites.

We present a new hybrid molecular dynamics model of chitosan oligomers which is constructed specifically for studying chitosan + carbon nanostructures composites, their structure and mechanical properties. The model is derived for application within the modified molecular mechanics force field AMBER. Method of virtual sites mapping allowed to retain hexagonal rings of chitosan backbone.

Extraocular muscle satellite cells are high performance myo-engines retaining efficient regenerative capacity in dystrophin deficiency.

Extraocular muscles (EOMs) are highly specialized skeletal muscles that originate from the head mesoderm and control eye movements. EOMs are uniquely spared in Duchenne muscular dystrophy and animal models of dystrophin deficiency. Specific traits of myogenic progenitors may be determinants of this preferential sparing, but very little is known about the myogenic cells in this muscle group.

Effect of local and intravenous lidocaine on ongoing activity in injured afferent nerve fibers.

Lidocaine applied systemically or locally attenuates neuropathic pain in patients. Here we tested the hypothesis that ectopic activity in injured afferent A- or C-fibers is suppressed by lidocaine. In rats the sural nerve (skin nerve) or lateral gastrocnemius-soleus nerve (muscle nerve) was crushed.

Mechano- and thermosensitivity of injured muscle afferents.

Injury of limb nerves leading to neuropathic pain mostly affects deep somatic nerves including muscle nerves. Here, we investigated the functional properties of injured afferent fibers innervating the lateral gastrocnemius-soleus muscle 4-13 h [time period (TP) I] and 4-7 days (TP II) after nerve crush in anesthetized rats using neurophysiological recordings from either the sciatic nerve (165 A-, 137 C-fibers) or the dorsal root L(5) (43 A-, 28 C-fibers). Ongoing activity and responses to mechanical or thermal stimulation of the injury site of the nerve were studied quantitatively.

Meiosis errors in over 20,000 oocytes studied in the practice of preimplantation aneuploidy testing.

This study presents the world’s largest series of over 20,000 oocytes tested for aneuploidies, involving chromosomes 13,16, 18, 21 and 22, providing the data on the rates and types of aneuploidies and their origin. Almost every second oocyte (46.8%) is abnormal, with predominance of extra chromatid errors predicting predominance of trisomies (53%) over monosomies (26%) in the resulting embryos (2:1), which is opposite to monosomy predominance observed in embryo testing.

Stable isotope ((13)C/(12)C and (15)N/(14)N) composition of the woolly rhinoceros Coelodonta antiquitatis horn suggests seasonal changes in the diet.

The extinct woolly rhinoceros Coelodonta antiquitatis is a prominent member of the Mammuthus-Coelodonta faunal complex, but its biology is poorly known, partly because very few specimens with well-preserved soft tissues have been discovered to date. However, the permafrost-preserved horns of the woolly rhinoceros are recording structures which contain isotopic records of the diet, environmental conditions and physiological status of the animal during most of its life. In this study we report the first data on the pattern of carbon ((13)C/(12)C) and nitrogen ((15)N/(14)N) isotopic composition along the nasal horn of woolly rhinoceros.

Conversion and non-conversion approach to preimplantation diagnosis for chromosomal rearrangements in 475 cycles.

Due to the limitations of preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for chromosomal rearrangements by interphase fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH) analysis, a method for obtaining chromosomes from single blastomeres was introduced by their fusion with enucleated or intact mouse zygotes, followed by FISH analysis of the resulting heterokaryons. Although this allowed a significant improvement in the accuracy of testing of both maternally and paternally derived translocations, it is still labour intensive and requires the availability of fertilized mouse oocytes, also creating ethical issues related to the formation of interspecies heterokaryons. This method was modified with a chemical conversion procedure that has now been clinically applied for the first time on 877 embryos from PGD cycles for chromosomal rearrangements and has become the method of choice for performing PGD for structural rearrangements.

Finite element model of the patched human carotid.

Introduction: The hemodynamic effects of carotid artery patching are not well known. Our objective was to develop a fluid-solid finite element model of the endarterectomized and patched carotid artery.

Methods: Hyperelastic materials parameters were determined from studies of 8 cadaveric carotids.

FGFR4 and its novel splice form in myogenic cells: Interplay of glycosylation and tyrosine phosphorylation.

The family of fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) is encoded by four distinct genes. FGFR1 and FGFR4 are both expressed during myogenesis, but whereas the function of FGFR1 in myoblast proliferation has been documented, the role of FGFR4 remains unknown. Here, we report on a new splice form of FGFR4 cloned from primary cultures of mouse satellite cells.

Myogenic reprogramming of retina-derived cells following their spontaneous fusion with myotubes.

Satellite cells are recognized as the main source for myoblasts in postnatal muscle. The possible participation of other cell types in myofiber maintenance remains a subject of debate. Here, we investigated the potential of vascular preparations from mouse retina to undergo myogenesis when cultured alone or with differentiated primary myogenic cultures.