Signals of positive selection in genomes of palearctic Myotis-bats coexisting with a fungal pathogen.

Disease can act as a driving force in shaping genetic makeup across populations, even species, if the impacts influence a particularly sensitive part of their life cycles. White-nose disease is caused by a fungal pathogen infecting bats during hibernation. The mycosis has caused massive population declines of susceptible species in North America, particularly in the genus Myotis.

[Results of a cohort single-center randomized study of the modulating effect of the drug Mexidol in the rehabilitation of patients who suffered acute cerebral insufficiency].

Objective: Evaluation of the effect of pharmacological modulation of the rehabilitation process with the drug mexidol as an adjuvant component of the rehabilitation treatment of cognitive-emotional disorders in patients who have suffered acute cerebral insufficiency (ACI) due to acute cerebrovascular accident or traumatic brain injury.

Material And Methods: The study was conducted as a randomized interventional prospective study and consisted of 5 visits. Patients were divided into 2 groups: main (=30, standard therapy + Mexidol IV 500 mg per day for 10 days, followed by Mexidol FORTE 250 orally, 1 tablet 3 times a day for 8 weeks) and control (=30, standard therapy for 66 days).

Effects of chronic physical exercise on executive functions and episodic memory in clinical and healthy older adult populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.

Background: Executive functions (EFs) and episodic memory are fundamental components of cognition that deteriorate with age and are crucial for independent living. While numerous reviews have explored the effect of exercise on these components in old age, these reviews screened and analyzed selected older adult populations, or specific exercise modes, thus providing only limited answers to the fundamental question on the effect of exercise on cognition in old age. This article describes the protocol for a systematic review and multilevel meta-analytic study aiming at evaluating the effectiveness of different types of chronic exercise in improving and/or maintaining EFs and long-term episodic memory in older adults.

The traumatic potential of a projectile shot from a sling.

Herein, we analyze the energy parameters of stones of various weights and shapes shot from a sling and based on this data evaluate its traumatic potential. Four police officers proficient in the use of a sling participated in the trials. The following projectile types, shot using an overhead technique at a target 100m away were: round steel balls of different sizes and weights (24mm, 57g; 32mm, 135g; 38mm, 227g); different shaped stones weighing 100-150g and 150-200g and a golf ball (47g).