The Structural Arrangement and Relative Abundance of Aliphatic Units May Effect Long-Wave Absorbance of Natural Organic Matter as Revealed by 1H NMR Spectroscopy

The objective of this study was to shed light on structural features which underlay intensity of long wave absorbance of natural organic matter (NOM) using ¹H NMR spectroscopy. For this purpose, a set of the NOM samples was assembled from arctic and nonarctic sampling sites (the Kolyma river basin and Moscow region, respectively). It was to ensure a substantial difference in the humification degree of the isolated organic matter-the biogeochemical proxy of the long-wave absorbance of NOM. The assembled NOM set was analyzed using solution-state ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The distribution of both backbone and exchangeable protons was determined using acquisition of spectra in three different solvents. The substantially higher contribution of nonfunctionalized aliphatic moieties CHn (e.g., materials derived from linear terpenoids, MDLT) in the arctic NOM samples was revealed as compared to the nonarctic ones. The latter were characterized with the higher content of CHα protons adjacent to electron-withdrawing groups which belong to carboxyl rich alicyclic moieties (CRAMs) or to aromatic constituents of NOM. We have calculated a ratio of CHn to CHα protons as a structural descriptor which showed significant inverse correlation to intensity of long wave absorbance assessed with a use of E₄/ E₆ ratio and the slope of absorption spectrum. The steric hindrance of aromatic chromophoric groups of the NOM ensemble by bulky nonfunctionalized aliphatic moieties (e.g., MDLT) was set as a hypothesis for explanation of this phenomenon. The bulky aliphatics might increase a distance between the interacting groups resulting in inhibition of electronic (e.g., charge-transfer) interactions in the NOM ensemble. The obtained relationships were further explored using Fourier transform mass spectrometry as complementary technique to ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The data obtained on correlation of molecular composition of NOM with ¹H NMR data and optical properties were very supportive of our hypothesis that capabilities of NOM ensemble of charge transfer interactions can be dependent on structural arrangement and relative abundance of nonabsorbing aliphatic moieties.

[THE SPECIFITY OF MOTOR SYSTEMS ORGANISATION AND IT''S INFLUENCES ON RESULTNESS OF ACTIVITY IN HEALTHY PEOPLE AND PATIENTS WITH EPILEPSY]

The specificity of motor systems and its influences on effectiveness of modeling purposeful activity in 46 healthy people and 110 patients with epilepsy was studied. Using cluster analysis the patients with epilepsy were divided in 2 groups: high- and low efficient. The differences of physiological parameters, which characterize the activity of central level of motor systems and visual-motor reaction, were determined. The high level of activation of cortical mechanisms of decision-making and preparedness to motor reaction in the group of healthy people and low effectiveness associated with insufficient activation of these mechanisms in the group of patients with epilepsy was described.

[Transformation of humic substances of highly oxidized brown coal by the basidiomycetes fungi Trametes hirsuta and Trametes maxima]

The ability of the white rot basidiomycetes Trametes hirsuta and Trametes maxima to transform coal humic substances (HS's) under the conditions of solid phase cultivation in the presence or absence of an easily available source of corbon (glucose) has been studied. It was shown that during the growth of the fungal strains used in media, containing HS's, destructive and condensation processes of HS transformation proceeded simultaneously. Based on a comparative physicochemical analysis of the initial HS's and HS's transformed by the fungi, it was established that, despite the introduction of glucose may favor a deeper transformation of HS's by basidiomycetes, the general direction of their modification is dominant reduction or oxidation and is determined by the physiological biochemical peculiarities of the strain used.

[Effect of Coriolus hirsutus laccase on atrazine adsorption and desorption by different types of soil ]

Study of adsorption-desorption behavior of herbicide atrazine in soils of different geographical zones in the presence of Coriolus hirsutus laccase was performed. Laccase was shown to significantly increase adsorption coefficient and to facilitate irreversible adsorption of atrazine to soil. Supposably, laccase catalyzes oxidative binding of atrazine to soil.

[A comparative characterization of fungal melanin and the humin-like substances synthesized by Cerrena maxima 0275]

Comparative studies of fungal melanin and two preparations of the high-molecular-weight humin-like substances formed during a solid-phase cultivation of the basidiomycete Cerrena maxima 0275 for 45 and 70 days were performed. The fungal melanin from Aspergillus niger and the humin-like substances synthesized by the basidiomycete C. maxima 0275 are similar in their physicochemical properties (elemental composition and behavior in acids and alkalis) and auxin-like activities. However, these biopolymers differ, essentially, at the structural level. According to IR spectroscopy data, the obtained humin-like substances display a higher similarity to natural humic acids and are more diverse in their functional groups compared with fungal melanins. Presumably, this is connected with the fact that laccase is involved in formation of humin-like substances; moreover, this enzyme is involved not only in the synthesis of these polymers, but also in their modification and degradation.

[Ganglion block in cardiopulmonary bypass surgery]

Ganglion blockers increase the antinociceptive defense in anesthesiological support of cardiopulmonary bypass operations for mitral and aortic valve failure. Benzohexonium decreased total peripheral vascular resistance, increased cardiac and stroke indexes, and increased systolic potency of the heart. Ganglionar blocking was associated with an increase of systemic oxygen transport, arrhythmias developed rarely, blood concentrations of epinephrine, norepinephrine, ACTH, vasopressin, and leukinferon were lower.

[The effect of an invasion by Trichinella spiralis and Trichinella pseudospiralis on the ultrastructure of skeletal muscle tissue in the white mouse]

The ultrastructure of striated muscular tissue was studied in experiments with three groups of white mice: those infected with T. spiralis, T. pseudospiralis, and in those uninfected (controls). There was a heterogeneity of changes in the striated muscular tissue during 35-day infection. Deep damages to the contractile, trophic, energetic, supporting, and membranous apparatuses of muscle fibers are responsible for subcellular structural changes. At the same time compensatory and adaptative processes that reflect the hyperfunction of musculoskeletal tissue develop. Generally, T. spiralis causes focal ultrastructural changes while T. pseudospiralis induces diffuse ones.

[Changes in the blood oxygen capacity under the action of a permanent magnetic field]

The level of oxygen the blood was tested in 2 series of experiment on 20 dogs where the of apneic hypoxia is used. In addition in stand investigations (35 cases) with donor blood the content of oxygen in the blood was checked during and after combined influence to the blood the constant magnetic field (CMF) and oxygen. Peculiarity of alterations of oxygen blood capacity on conditions of influence CMF was the fact, that in 3 min. after CMF action only comparatively little surplus rise the part of oxygen connected with haemoglobin was seen; meanwhile the oxygen tension increased more than 1.5 times. It is reasonable to consider that under the conditions of CMF influence very short, unstable and upper than calculative level of connection oxygen and haemoglobin took place and after stopping the influence of CMF this oxygen translocated to the instant (soluble) part. It stimulated the growth of oxygen tension in the blood and ensured required level of the total oxygen balance of the body during hypoxia.

[Effect of prolonging the periods of endurance of mortal hypoxia during extracorporeal exposure to a magnetic field on the blood]

The influence of constant magnetic field to organism (through blood) during mortal hypoxia, combined with apnoea, was studied in 2 series of experiments in 38 dogs. It has been established that extracorporal influence of magnetic field to blood promotes 1.5 fold prolongation of animal's clinical death coming on the average after the cutting-off their breathing. Effect of prolongation of the mortal hypoxia sustaining periods was reached by complex influence of constant magnetic field (induction 0.1-0.5 TL) to circulated blood in extracorporal circuit with volume speed 20-25 ml/min/kg combined with short (2 min) inhalation of oxygen to lungs before apnoea.

[Placentitis induced by hepatitis viruses]

The results of morphological studies of 66 placentas from women suffering from various forms of viral hepatitis and HBs antigen carriers as well as results of a pathomorphological study of a late abortion, 3 stillborns and 2 newborns are presented. 33 placentas showed lymphocytic infiltration of varying degree and vasculitis. Of most importance were cellular changes, particularly in the decidua, with the appearance in the nuclei of inclusions similar to those found in the liver affected with viral hepatitis. A correlation is observed in some cases between liver changes in the mother, placental alterations and changes in the child.

[Trichinelliasis in western Podolia]

Situation with trichinosis in the Ternopol Province (Ukraine) in the period from 1962 to 1987 was studied. Muscle samples taken from 6695 animals of 20 species were investigated by the compressor method and by the method of digestion in artificial gastric juice. Trichinosis was detected in wolves, foxes, martens, ferrets, domestic dogs, cats and gray rats. In 1954--1979 39 trichinosis cases were registered in humans with 4 lethal cases. Domestic pigs proved to be the source of invasion. Since 1980 up to the end of investigation trichinosis cases have not been registered in people or in domestic pigs. Trichinosis invasion of wild, domestic and synanthropic mammals has decreased. Large work is being carried out to realize antitrichinosis measures.

[Noradrenaline content of the brain of rats of various ages following adaptation to a new situation and to the development of a passive avoidance conditioned reflex]

Noradrenaline (NA) levels in cortico-striatal (including cerebral cortex, hippocamp, striatum) and hypothalamo-brainstem (including hypothalamus, thalamus, tectum + tegmentum) regions were determined by fluorometry in I- and 2-month-old male rats after 7-day adaptation to experimental conditions and passive avoidance learning by single electric foot shock. Neither the new environment nor a week's adaptation to it resulted in any significant alteration of NA content in both brain regions of 1- and 2-month-old rats. No considerable differences in NA levels were found in rats of both age groups with and without passive avoidance responses. But 24 hours after the exposure to foot shock NA basal levels markedly decreased in both brain regions of 1-month-old rats, while in 2-month-old ones NA basal levels markedly increased in hypothalamo-brainstem region.

[Function of the adrenal cortex during elaboration of the passive avoidance conditioned reflex in immature rats]

Plasma 11-hydroxycorticosteroid (11-OHCS) levels were measured in 30-day-old rats by fluorometry during passive avoidance (PA) learning by means of a single electric footshock. In contrast to the data obtained in adult animals, pre-exposure of young rats for 7 days to the experimental environment (over 3 min daily) resulted in elevation of the basal 11-OHCS levels and in the lack of distinct changes in the hormonal background after placing the young rats into a chamber. As in previous experiments on adult rats, one day after PA learning the 11-OHCS levels were significantly lower in young rats displaying PA than in the animals which did not exhibit PA behavior. Five days after PA training these differences in adrenocortical reactivity disappeared, as was the case in adult animals.

[Adrenal cortical function in elaborating a passive avoidance conditioned reflex in rats adapted to experimental conditions]

Fluorometry was used to determine the content of 11-hydroxycorticosteroids (11-HCS) in the blood plasma of 2-month-old male rats in the course of passive avoidance learning by means of single electrocutaneous irritation (ECI) of the limbs. Pre-exposure of the animals for 7 days to experimental environment (over 3 min daily) led to a distinct reduction of the basal content of 11-HCS which returned to the initial level after adaptation discontinuance. One day after ECI the content of 11-HCS in rats which learned passive avoidance, was appreciably lower as compared to that in the animals which failed to learn the behavioral task. Five days after ECI the differences in the content of the corticosteroids in the animals of the two groups were little pronounced. It appears that while using passive avoidance as a long-term memory model, account should be taken of both the behavioral and emotional responses.

[Adrenal cortical function in rats with traumatic shock following removal and deafferentation of the hypothalamus]

The 11-oxycorticosteroid (11-OCS) content was studied in the blood plasma of sham-operated rats, rats with intact, ablated and deafferentated medial-basal hypothalamus (MBH) in traumatic shock. There were no reliable differences in the 11-OCS basal level in various groups of rats. MBH ablation led to the reduction in the weight of adrenal and pituitary glands and MBH deafferentation -- to increase in the weight of the former. The 11-OCS level was reliably higher in traumatic shock of rats with complete MBH deafferentation than in sham-operated animals.