Insights on long-term ecosystem changes from stable isotopes in historical squid beaks.

Background: Assessing the historical dynamics of key food web components is crucial to understand how climate change impacts the structure of Arctic marine ecosystems. Most retrospective stable isotopic studies to date assessed potential ecosystem shifts in the Arctic using vertebrate top predators and filter-feeding invertebrates as proxies. However, due to long life histories and specific ecologies, ecosystem shifts are not always detectable when using these taxa.

A Novel Two-Domain Laccase with Middle Redox Potential: Physicochemical and Structural Properties.

The gene for a previously unexplored two-domain laccase was identified in the genome of actinobacterium Streptomyces carpinensis VKM Ac-1300. The two-domain laccase, named ScaSL, was produced in a heterologous expression system (Escherichia coli strain M15 [pREP4]). The enzyme was purified to homogeneity using affinity chromatography.

Life History of the Arctic Squid (Cephalopoda: Oegopsida) Reconstructed by Analysis of Individual Ontogenetic Stable Isotopic Trajectories.

Cephalopods are important in Arctic marine ecosystems as predators and prey, but knowledge of their life cycles is poor. Consequently, they are under-represented in the Arctic ecosystems assessment models. One important parameter is the change in ecological role (habitat and diet) associated with individual ontogenies.

Expression of thermophilic two-domain laccase from in and its activity against triarylmethane and azo dyes.

Background: Two-domain laccases are copper-containing oxidases found in bacteria in the beginning of 2000ths. Two-domain laccases are known for their thermal stability, wide substrate specificity and, the most important of all, their resistance to so-called «strong inhibitors» of classical fungal laccases (azides, fluorides). Low redox potential was found to be specific for all the two-domain laccases, due to which these enzymes lost the researchers' interest as potentially applicable for various biotechnological purposes, such as bioremediation.

The effect of S53P4-based borosilicate glasses and glass dissolution products on the osteogenic commitment of human adipose stem cells.

Despite the good performance of silicate bioactive glasses in bone regeneration, there is considerable potential to enhance their properties by chemical modifications. In this study, S53P4-based borosilicate glasses were synthesized and their dissolution profile was studied in simulated body fluid by assessing pH change, ion release and conversion to hydroxyapatite. The viability, proliferation, attachment, osteogenesis and endothelial marker expression of human adipose stem cells (hASCs) was evaluated upon direct culture on glass discs and in the extract medium.

A novel MFSD8 mutation in a Russian patient with neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 7: a case report.

Background: Neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs) are the most common autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorders in children. Clinical manifestations include progressive cognitive decline, motor impairment, ataxia, visual loss, seizures and early death. To date more than 440 NCL-causing mutations in 13 genes are known.

Composition and metabolism of fecal microbiota from normal and overweight children are differentially affected by melibiose, raffinose and raffinose-derived fructans.

The aim of the study was to investigate the metabolism of non-digestible oligo- and polysaccharides by fecal microbiota, using isothermal microcalorimetry. The five tested substrates were raffinose, melibiose, a mixture of oligo- and polysaccharides produced from raffinose by levansucrase, levan synthesized from raffinose, and levan from timothy grass. Two inocula were comprised of pooled fecal samples from overweight or normal-weight children, from healthy adult volunteers and a pure culture of Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron as a reference bacterium for colon microbiota.

[Genetic diversity and differentiation of Siberian spruce populations at nuclear microsatellite loci].

The results of the study of 21 populations of Siberian spruce (Picea obovata Ledeb.) from different parts of the species natural range by microsatellite (SSR) analysis of nuclear DNA are presented. Using nine loci developed for Picea abies (L.

[Variability of Allozyme and cpSSR Markers in the Populations of Siberian Spruce].

The variability of 21 allozyme and three microsatellite loci of chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) was studied in the populations of Siberian spruce (Picea obovata Ledeb.) from Irkutsk oblast, Magadan oblast, Buryatia, and Mongolia. It was demonstrated that the highest level of genetic diversity among the examined populations at both allozyme and microsatellite loci was observed in the Tulyushka population from Irkutsk oblast.

Differences in Gut Microbiota Between Atopic and Healthy Children.

Although gut microbiota has been studied relatively extensively in the context of allergic diseases, there have been several contradictions between these studies. By applying high-throughput sequencing, we aimed to analyze the differences in gut microbiota between atopic and healthy children at 5 and 12 years of age. 51 stool samples were collected from 14 atopic and 15 healthy children and analyzed with 454 pyrosequencing of the 16S rRNA gene.

[Prevalence of ulcer disease complications].

The epidemiology of complications of a peptic ulcer is studied: bleedings, perforations and pylorodudenal stenoses. 1799 patients are included in research that were on hospitalisation in 1995-2009. A frequency of all the complications has declined.

[Genetic polymorphism of Siberian spruce (Picea obovata Ledeb) in middle Siberia].

Based on the analysis of 22 loci controlling allozyme variation of MDH, SKDH, 6-PGD, IDH, PEPCA, GOT, FDH, LAP, PGI, PGM, SOD, and GDH, the data on within- and among-population variation for nine cenopopulations of Siberian spruce (Picea obovata Ledeb.) located along the Yenisei meridian, from 65 degrees 50' NL to 52degrees 14' NL, were obtained. It was demonstrated that 86.

[Evaluating psychoemotional state of surgeons].

The article presents results concerning self-assessment of psychoemotional state and psychologic testing among surgeons. Findings are that most examinees demonstrate subjective and objective signs of psychologic disadaptation.

[Genetic diversity and differentiation of Gmelin larch Larix gmelinii populations from Evenkia (Central Siberia)].

Within- and among-population diversity of Gmelin larch Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr. from Evenkia was inferred from data on 17 genes determining allozyme diversity of ten enzymes.

[On the reactions of the human nervous system to complex-frequency optical stimulation].

A computerized system for precise stimulation and analysis of electroencephalographic (EEG) reactions to two simultaneously presented frequencies of sine-wave light (one constant, 13 Hz, and the other varying from 1 to 6 Hz and vice versa) was used to study the mechanisms of human brain reactivity to complex rhythmical stimulation. The frequencies were generated by computer and presented to the subjects by three different ways: as a result of their simple summation (additively), as a product of their multiplication (multiplicatively, amplitude modulation of constant frequency by the varying frequency), or by separate presentation to different eyes. The dynamics of electroencephalograms for different types of stimulation were compared.

[Genetic variability in Scotch pine in the southeastern part of its range].

The main parameters of genetic variability have been determined in an isolated natural Scotch pine population from Chita oblast' (Tsasuchei Forest) by analysis of 19 genes coding for nine enzymes: GDH, IDH, LAP, PGM, AAT, ADH, MDH, 6-PGD, and DIA. Polymorphic genes constituted 63.2% of all structural genes studied in the population at the 99% polymorphism criterion.