Neural Correlates of the Results-of-Action Acceptor in a Functional Biotechnical Complex

This report presents data illustrating the neurophysiological features of efferent-afferent convergence on cortical neurons. During combination of stimulus of pyramidal tract axons with electrocutaneous reinforcement, some of the study neurons were found to change the parameters of their activity evoked by stimulation of this tract: evoked responses started to reproduce the structure of responses to the reinforcement. The most dynamic rearrangements of pyramidal tract responses were obtained in experiments in which the study neurons were included in a biotechnical complex with feedback, the complex consisting of neuron-computer-stimulator-animal and actually being an analog of a natural functional system. The role of efferent-afferent convergence on CNS neurons in the development of the results-of-action acceptor of a functional system for a voluntary behavioral act is discussed.     

Functional asymmetry of the brain and bone marrow in hemopoiesis in (CBAxC57Bl/6)F(1) mice

The role of functional asymmetry of the brain and bone marrow in the formation of exogenous 8-day splenic CFU was studied in (CBA×C57Bl/6)F1 mice. The intensity of hemopoiesis depended on the motor asymmetry of donors and recipients of bone marrow cells and differed for bone marrow transplantations from the right and left femoral bones.     

Structural study of compounds modelling elementary polymer units, 6. X-ray structural and quantum-chemical investigation of the cis- and trans-isomeric models of the polynaphthoylenebenzimidazole elementary units

The X-ray structural investigation of the naphthoylenebis-(benzimidazole) ( 1 ) cis- and trans-isomers as models for the cis and trans elementary units of the corresponding poly(naphthoylene-benzimidazoles) (PNBI) was carried out. The correctness of the previous identification of the isomers was confirmed, and exact geometrical parameters of the PNBI elementary units (required, in particular, for the calculation of the Kuhn segment of PNBI) were determined. Quantum-chemical semi-empirical calculations of the ground and excited electronic states of the isomers were carried out. Both experimental and theoretical data confirm a larger stability of the planar π-conjugated structure of the trans-isomer in comparison with the cis-isomer in the ground as well as in the excited electronic state. Crystals of the cis- and trans-isomers obtained from trifluoroacetic acid solutions are the solvates of bis(trifluoroacetates) of diprotonated 1 with an extremely high content of the solvating trifluoroacetic acid. This peculiarity is favourable for modelling the main characteristics of the interaction between PNBI and protonic polar solvent molecules, viz. preferred types of H-bonding and a possibility of interaction of the electronic lone pairs of the solvent molecules with the π-electronic systems of the elementary units of PNBI by charge transfer complexes.     

Telemedicine in north-west Russia

During the last few years, telemedicine based on simple, low-cost technology has increased significantly in the Arkhangelsk region of north-west Russia. Specialists at the regional hospital of Arkhangelsk are diagnosing patients from local hospitals 600-700 km from the capital. A still-image system is used for emergency cases. The same technology, along with telephones with loudspeakers, is also used to provide distance learning at the regional hospitals of Arkhangelsk and Troms?. This article describes the results from the telemedicine collaboration between the University Hospital of Troms? and health-care institutions in Arkhangelsk, and discusses the experience gained.     

State of microcirculation channel in the area of laser "welded" anastomosis of the small intestine]

Experiments were conducted with CO2 and AIG laser on neodymium to study the condition of microcirculation and the degree of its disturbance in the wall of the small intestine in formation of a laser "welded" entero-enteral and termino-terminal anastomosis. The microcirculatory disorders and their extent were found to be directly dependent on the degree of the thermal effect and the width of the coagulation zone in the region of the suture. The results of the experiment confirmed that the suggested powers of the laser effect on the intestinal wall were optimal.