Documents published in Scipedia

• Structure of Extracellular Polysaccharides (EPS) Produced by Rhizobia and their Functions in Legume–Bacteria Symbiosis: — A Review

  P. Ghosh, T. Maiti

  Collection of Achievements in the Life Sciences (2017).

  
  

  Abstract

  The symbiotic diazotrophs comprise with a very diverse group of Gram negative soil bacteria, collectively called as rhizobia found in nodule of legume plant. Rhizobia adopt themselves in different environment including soil, rhizosphere and grown within legume roots, where they fix nitrogen. The establishment of symbiosis is a very complicated process involving a coordinated exchange of signal between legume plants and the symbionts. The nodule development requires synthesis of signal molecules such as Nod factors that are important for induction of nodule development. There are different types of surface polysaccharides such as lipopolysaccharides, capsular polysaccharides, neutral and acidic polysaccharides found in rhizobia. The production of symbiotically active polysaccharides may allow rhizobial strains to adapt themselves to changing environmental conditions and interact efficiently with legume plants. Despite extensive research, the actual molecular function of the surface polysaccharides of rhizobia in symbiosis remains unclear. This review emphasized on the structural composition of extracellular polysaccharide of different rhizobia isolated from different legume plants. The compositions of extracellular polysaccharides are different in different rhizobia. The various compositions of extracellular polysaccharides produced by the symbionts are considered as the signaling molecules essential for determining host plant specificity. The present status of the biological functions of the exo-polysaccharide in symbiosis such as host specificity, successful invasion, formation of infection thread and induction of nodule formation in legume plants is also summarized here.

  Abstract
  The symbiotic diazotrophs comprise with a very diverse group of Gram negative soil bacteria, collectively called as rhizobia found in nodule of legume plant. Rhizobia adopt [...]

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• Grip Strength and Impact on Cognitive Function in Healthy Kitchen Workers

  A. Choudhary, R. Jiwane, T. Alam, S. Kishanrao

  Collection of Achievements in the Life Sciences (2017).

  
  

  Abstract

  Hand grip strength is often considered may predict cognitive functioning and has been established as associates of cognitive performance with individual differences in some particular cross-sectional studies. However, little is known about hand grip strength and cognitive performance in the elderly individuals, and it is not known whether changes in hand grip strength may be associated with preservation/decline in cognitive functioning. We have studied the impact of hand grip strength on cognition function in healthy kitchen workers. Participants (n = 90, age range: 25–40 years) randomly assigned in to two groups according to their nature of work: Group I-Control group (n = 47) - workers recruited for simple work such as dusting, cleaning dining tables and floor. Group II-Study group (n = 43) - workers recruited for firm work such as cooking large quantity of food, kneading dough, rolling chapattis, cut and sauté the vegetables and dish washing. For the analyses, we used at dominant and non- dominant hand, hand grip strength (HGS), reaction time task, sensory disability test (SDT) and cognitive function test (CFT) among both the groups. We observed that visual reaction time (VRT) and auditory reaction time (ART) were significantly improved in dominant hand of study group, when compare to control group, however it was comparable in non-dominant hand among both the groups. In addition to, among all control and study group female workers there was significant positive correlation between VRT & ART and significant negative correlation between at dominant hand HGS & VRT as well as between at dominant hand HGS & ART. We also observed that dominant hand HGS was a significant predictor of VRT and ART and however there was no any significant variation in body mass index (BMI), sensory disability test (SDT) and cognitive function test (CFT) among both groups. We found that muscle strength (as measured by hand grip strength) was associated with improved reaction time. Hence by using a simple muscle strength test, is one way of obtaining useful information for the development of nerve-muscle coordination. Increased handgrip strength would be associated with preservation of cognitive function.

  Abstract
  Hand grip strength is often considered may predict cognitive functioning and has been established as associates of cognitive performance with individual differences in some [...]

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• Forest Vegetation Dynamics Along an Altitudinal Gradient in Relation to the Climate Change in Southern Transbaikalia, Russia

  I. Kozyr

  Collection of Achievements in the Life Sciences (2017).

  
  

  Abstract

  In this study, we examined the response forest dynamics (since 1982) on Sokhondo Mountain (2500 m a.s.l.) under climate change in Transbaikalia (southeast of Lake Baikal, Russia) over the last 60 years, using geobotanical and climate long-term monitoring as important tools to assess the effect of climate change on forest dynamics. We found that changes in ecosystems along an altitudinal gradient indicated that climate had changed in the direction of warming and aridization (drought). This supposition was also confirmed by analyses of regional climate data over the last 60 years, which showed an increase in air temperature of 1.8 °С and a decrease in atmospheric precipitation of more than 100 mm. Forest vegetation along an altitudinal gradient demonstrates various sensitivities to these effects. We found that the most stable forest vegetation types were the cedar–larch forests of the upper forest belt and the cedar subalpine forests. The least stable were the larch forests and pine forests of the lower forest belt.

  Abstract
  In this study, we examined the response forest dynamics (since 1982) on Sokhondo Mountain (2500 m a.s.l.) under climate change in Transbaikalia (southeast of Lake Baikal, [...]

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• Environmental and Hygiene Health Problems in Primorye

  P. Kiku, M. Yarygina

  Collection of Achievements in the Life Sciences (2017).

  
  

  Abstract

  Using a systemic approach, this study highlights the problems of public health in the Primorsky Territory and demonstrates that the spread of ecology-related diseases depends on climatic, sanitary, and social factors. The indicators of health assessment that were selected include demographics, cancer and disease, and lung and urinary system diseases. Additionally, specific habitat parameters affecting the spread of ecology-related diseases were established. Ecological and hygiene evaluation of the system “environment–health–man” revealed that among the environmental factors, the greatest public health concerns in the Far East are climate, geochemical and biological features of the territories, consequences of human impact on the environment, nutrition, and housing. These results indicate that further studies of the specifics of particular territories are necessary to explain the emergence and development of diseases, to predict the level of public health, and to develop targeted health prevention programmes to level the influence of environmental factors on human rights.

  Abstract
  Using a systemic approach, this study highlights the problems of public health in the Primorsky Territory and demonstrates that the spread of ecology-related diseases depends [...]

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• Hyperthermia: Role and Risk Factor for Cancer Treatment

  S. Jha, P. Sharma, R. Malviya

  Collection of Achievements in the Life Sciences (2017).

  
  

  Abstract

  Over the past decades, cancer is the major cause of incidence of death increasing every day. Different forms of tumor therapy including radiotherapy and chemotherapy are used to treat cancer. However, hyperthermia is the technique that neglects the use of chemicals or harmful radiations. The elevated body temperature can damage the cancerous cells with minimum injury to the normal cells. Successful therapy method in combination with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy is provided to the cancer patient which proved to be beneficial to the patients. In this review, different studies of the clinical trials are reported on the patients with tumor and the therapy associated with it.

  Abstract
  Over the past decades, cancer is the major cause of incidence of death increasing every day. Different forms of tumor therapy including radiotherapy and chemotherapy are used [...]

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• Extracellular/Circulating MicroRNAs: Release Mechanisms, Functions and Challenges

  M. Sohel

  Collection of Achievements in the Life Sciences (2017).

  
  

  Abstract

  MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenously initiated, small non-coding RNAs and typically regulate the expression of mRNAs in post transcriptional level either via translational repression or mRNA degradation. Aberrant expression of miRNAs is observed in diverse disease and altered physiological states. Recently, it has been revealed that miRNAs are not only present in cells but also in extracellular milieu especially in different bio-fluids including blood plasma, follicular fluid and even in cell culture media. Such extracellular miRNAs (ECmiRNAs) are remarkably stable in the extracellular harsh environment with the presence of high RNAse activity. Although the precise mechanisms of release of cellular miRNAs to extracellular environment remain largely unknown, recent studies suggest that the expression of these ECmiRNAs can be associated with patho-physiological condition of an organism. Moreover, these ECmiRNAs may deliver to the recipient cells via certain pathways where they can regulate translational activity of target genes. This review will discuss the nature and stability of ECmiRNAs along with their release mechanisms. Furthermore, based on recent evidences, it also summarizes the possible function of these ECmiRNAs in distant cell-to-cell communication and the difficulties we may face during ECmiRNA research.

  Abstract
  MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenously initiated, small non-coding RNAs and typically regulate the expression of mRNAs in post transcriptional level either via translational [...]

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• A Study on the Coffee Spilling Phenomena in the Low Impulse Regime

  J. Han

  Collection of Achievements in the Life Sciences (2017).

  
  

  Abstract

  When a half-full Bordeaux glass is oscillated sideways at 4 Hz, calm waves of wine gently ripple upon the surface. However, when a cylindrical mug is subject to the same motion, it does not take long for the liquid to splash aggressively against the cup and ultimately spill. This is a manifestation of the same principles that also make us spill coffee when we walk. In this study, we first investigate the physical properties of the fluid-structure interaction of the coffee cup, in particular, the frequency spectrum of each oscillating component is examined methodically. It is revealed that the cups oscillation is not monochromatic: harmonic modes exist, and their proportions are significant. As a result, although the base frequency of the cup is considerably displaced from the resonance region, maximum spillage is initiated by the second harmonic mode of driving force that the cup exerts on its contents. Thus, we spill coffee. As an application of these experimental findings, a number of methods to reduce liquid spillage are investigated. Most notably, an alternative method to hold the cup is suggested, in essence, by altering the mechanical structure of the cup-holding posture, we can effectively suppress the higher frequency components of the driving force and thus stabilize the liquid oscillation. In an attempt to rationalize all we have investigated above, a mechanical model is proposed. Due to practicalities, rather than to construct a dynamical system using Newtons equation of motion, we choose to utilize the Euler-Lagrangian equations. Extensive simulation studies reveal that our model, crude in its form, successfully embodies the essential facets of reality. This liberates us to make two predictions that were beyond our experimental limits: the change in magnitude of the driving force and the temporal stabilization process.

  Abstract
  When a half-full Bordeaux glass is oscillated sideways at 4 Hz, calm waves of wine gently ripple upon the surface. However, when a cylindrical mug is subject to the same motion, [...]

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• Skull-Based Method of Age Determination for the Brown Bear Ursus arctos Linnaeus, 1758

  V. Guskov

  Collection of Achievements in the Life Sciences (2017).

  
  

  Abstract

  Due to the lack of a proper technique for determining the ages of brown bears, a simple and straightforward method that is based on published data and our own observations is proposed. This method is based on the simultaneous use of the following different skull parameters to more accurately determine the ages of brown bears: size and weight parameters, degree of obliteration of the joints, degree of wear of the teeth, and development of the flanges. The proposed method contributes to non-destructive age determination, allows for the discrimination of immature and adult bears and also classifies the skulls of adult animals into one of the five selected age groups.

  Abstract
  Due to the lack of a proper technique for determining the ages of brown bears, a simple and straightforward method that is based on published data and our own observations [...]

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• The Emergence and Existence of Life in the World of Elements and the Physical Vacuum

  S. Golubev

  Collection of Achievements in the Life Sciences (2017).

  
  

  Abstract

  The physical vacuum affects not only the natural processes in deep space but also identifies the key features of the structure of ordinary matter. This sphere of work intersects the fields of chemistry and biology. The condition of the objective existence of elementary particles and the objectivity of quantum measurements require the presence of real physical analogues of clocks and lines that participate directly and literally in particle interactions. The analogue of the clock results from the existence of elementary particles in the form of the alternation of two states with different properties that can be modelled in terms of probabilistic behaviour, the uncertainty principle, and similar concepts. The analogue line appears due to the quasi-crystalline structure of the physical vacuum, thereby generating a real observed mass ratio and other features of the microworld. The emergence of life and sense is regulated by deterministic processes. Biological evolution is a process directed toward a slow and gradual adaptation to the physical vacuum as the real component of the environment. Because of such evolution, the geometric structure of living organisms transforms into a fractal increased in absolute terms by chemical simulation. Therefore, the analogue model defines the key structures of the vacuum. The geometric similarity of the structures allows cells to live in accordance with the laws of the quantum world without requiring the solving of equations.

  Abstract
  The physical vacuum affects not only the natural processes in deep space but also identifies the key features of the structure of ordinary matter. This sphere of work intersects [...]

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• The History of the Settling of the Chinese Penduline Tit Remiz consobrinus (Remizidae, Passeriformes, Aves) in the Primorsky Krai Territory

  Y. Gluschenko, О. Burkovskiy, I. Tiunov

  Collection of Achievements in the Life Sciences (2017).

  
  

  Abstract

  Presently, there are several nesting groups of the Chinese penduline tit in Primorsky Krai. In Russia, the first nest of the Chinese penduline tit was found in 1994 in the Hasansky region of Primorsky Krai near the border with the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. The nest was from the previous year, which indicates that the nesting has already occurred in 1993. From 1998 to 1999, the population in the Hasansky area totalled 20–25 pairs. Further, there was an increase in the number and a northward advancement along the seacoast. Currently, the number is estimated to be between 400 and 450 pairs. On the coast of Lake Khanka, the Chinese penduline tit was noticed for the first time in 2000. In 2002, there were 35 pairs, and the currently estimate is between 100 and 150 pairs. From 2012 to 2014, some pairs began to nest in two sites near Ussuriisk. Wintering and nomadic individuals have been encountered in other regions of Primorsky Krai. It is assumed that the Chinese penduline tit appeared in the territory of Primorye sometime from the end of 1980s to the beginning of the 1990s. It is assumed that this bird nests in the territory of the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

  Abstract
  Presently, there are several nesting groups of the Chinese penduline tit in Primorsky Krai. In Russia, the first nest of the Chinese penduline tit was found in 1994 in the [...]

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