Neuroanatomical Correlates of Social Intelligence Measured by the Guilford Test.

Social interactions are a crucial aspect of human behaviour. Numerous neurophysiological studies have focused on socio-cognitive processes associated with the so-called theory of mind-the ability to attribute mental states to oneself and others. Theory of mind is closely related to social intelligence defined as a set of abilities that facilitate effective social interactions. Social intelligence encompasses multiple theory of mind components and can be measured by the Four Factor Test of Social Intelligence (the Guilford-Sullivan test). However, it is unclear whether the differences in social intelligence are reflected in structural brain differences. During the experiment, 48 healthy right-handed individuals completed the Guilford-Sullivan test. T1-weighted structural MRI images were obtained for all participants. Voxel-based morphometry analysis was performed to reveal grey matter volume differences between the two groups (24 subjects in each)-with high social intelligence scores and with low social intelligence scores, respectively. Participants with high social intelligence scores had larger grey matter volumes of the bilateral caudate. The obtained results suggest the caudate nucleus involvement in the neural system of socio-cognitive processes, reflected by its structural characteristics.

Removing leakage-induced correlated errors in superconducting quantum error correction.

Quantum computing can become scalable through error correction, but logical error rates only decrease with system size when physical errors are sufficiently uncorrelated. During computation, unused high energy levels of the qubits can become excited, creating leakage states that are long-lived and mobile. Particularly for superconducting transmon qubits, this leakage opens a path to errors that are correlated in space and time. Here, we report a reset protocol that returns a qubit to the ground state from all relevant higher level states. We test its performance with the bit-flip stabilizer code, a simplified version of the surface code for quantum error correction. We investigate the accumulation and dynamics of leakage during error correction. Using this protocol, we find lower rates of logical errors and an improved scaling and stability of error suppression with increasing qubit number. This demonstration provides a key step on the path towards scalable quantum computing.

Demonstrating a Continuous Set of Two-Qubit Gates for Near-Term Quantum Algorithms.

Quantum algorithms offer a dramatic speedup for computational problems in material science and chemistry. However, any near-term realizations of these algorithms will need to be optimized to fit within the finite resources offered by existing noisy hardware. Here, taking advantage of the adjustable coupling of gmon qubits, we demonstrate a continuous two-qubit gate set that can provide a threefold reduction in circuit depth as compared to a standard decomposition. We implement two gate families: an imaginary swap-like (iSWAP-like) gate to attain an arbitrary swap angle, θ, and a controlled-phase gate that generates an arbitrary conditional phase, ϕ. Using one of each of these gates, we can perform an arbitrary two-qubit gate within the excitation-preserving subspace allowing for a complete implementation of the so-called Fermionic simulation (fSim) gate set. We benchmark the fidelity of the iSWAP-like and controlled-phase gate families as well as 525 other fSim gates spread evenly across the entire fSim(θ,ϕ) parameter space, achieving a purity-limited average two-qubit Pauli error of 3.8×10^{-3} per fSim gate.

210Po in Сrimean salt lakes.

This paper presents the results of radioecological monitoring study of natural radionuclide 210Po in 11 lakes located in different regions of the Crimean peninsula. These investigations of the Crimean salt lakes were conducted for the first time in the history. The main objectives of this work were: to determine the features of the 210Ро behavior in the salt lakes ecosystems, as well as calculation of the doses received by the lakes hydrobionts from α-radiation of absorbed 210Po. Concentrations of 210Po in the water, suspended matter, the bottom sediments and biota were determined by radiochemical processing and α-spectroscopy measurements. The concentrations of dissolved 210Po in the water of investigated lakes were in 0.9-327.1 times higher than in the Black Sea closest regions. The highest concentrations of 210Po in water were determined in the lakes of the Kerchenskaya group. These lakes are located on the territory of Crimea where oil is produced. The 210Ро activity concentrations in the bottom sediments from Crimean salt lakes were comparable with those of the Black Sea coastal zone. Concentration ratio (CR) of polonium in suspended matter ranged from 10 to 104 for different lakes. A significant trend in a decrease of CR values of 210Ро for suspended matter with increasing water salinity was revealed. High levels of 210Po accumulation were noted for adult crustacean Artemia spp. (typical inhabitant of the Crimean saline lakes). The CR of 210Po for adult Artemia spp. reached 105 while the CR of this radionuclide by their cysts was significantly lower. The absorbed doses from 210Po α-radiation calculated for adult Artemia spp. were more than 60 times lower than the permissible dose rate for biota (IAEA, 1992).The obtained results will be used to identify the biogeochemical peculiarities in behavior of the main dose-formative radionuclide 210Po, in the water ecosystems with different salinity, including water reservoirs poorly studied in the radioecological aspect and having extreme condition for the existence of lots of species of hydrobionts, such as hypersaline Crimean lakes.

Chronic activation of anti-oxidant pathways and iron accumulation in epileptogenic malformations.

AIMS: Oxidative stress is evident in resected epileptogenic brain tissue of patients with developmental brain malformations related to mammalian target of rapamycin activation: tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) and focal cortical dysplasia type IIb (FCD IIb). Whether chronic activation of anti-oxidant pathways is beneficial or contributes to pathology is not clear. METHODS: We investigated oxidative stress markers, including haem oxygenase 1, ferritin and the inflammation associated microRNA-155 in surgically resected epileptogenic brain tissue of TSC (n = 10) and FCD IIb (n = 8) patients and in a TSC model (Tsc1GFAP-/- mice) using immunohistochemistry, in situ hybridization, real-time quantitative PCR and immunoblotting. Using human foetal astrocytes we performed an in vitro characterization of the anti-oxidant response to acute and chronic oxidative stress and evaluated overexpression of the disease-relevant pro-inflammatory microRNA-155. RESULTS: Resected TSC or FCD IIb tissue displayed higher expression of oxidative stress markers and microRNA-155. Tsc1GFAP-/- mice expressed more microRNA-155 and haem oxygenase 1 in the brain compared to wild-type, preceding the typical development of spontaneous seizures in these animals. In vitro, chronic microRNA-155 overexpression induced haem oxygenase 1, iron regulatory elements and increased susceptibility to oxidative stress. Overexpression of iron regulatory genes was also detected in patients with TSC, FCD IIb and Tsc1GFAP-/- mice. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that early and sustained activation of anti-oxidant signalling and dysregulation of iron metabolism are a pathological hallmark of FCD IIb and TSC. Our findings suggest novel therapeutic strategies aimed at controlling the pathological link between both processes.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of differentially expressed miRNAs in experimental and human temporal lobe epilepsy.

Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is a common chronic neurological disease in humans. A number of studies have demonstrated differential expression of miRNAs in the hippocampus of humans with TLE and in animal models of experimental epilepsy. However, the dissimilarities in experimental design have led to largely discordant results across these studies. Thus, a comprehensive comparison is required in order to better characterize miRNA profiles obtained in various post-status epilepticus (SE) models. We therefore created a database and performed a meta-analysis of differentially expressed miRNAs across 3 post-SE models of epileptogenesis (electrical stimulation, pilocarpine and kainic acid) and human TLE with hippocampal sclerosis (TLE-HS). The database includes data from 11 animal post-SE studies and 3 human TLE-HS studies. A total of 378 differentially expressed miRNAs were collected (274 up-regulated and 198 down-regulated) and analyzed with respect to the post-SE model, time point and animal species. We applied the novel robust rank aggregation method to identify consistently differentially expressed miRNAs across the profiles. It highlighted common and unique miRNAs at different stages of epileptogenesis. The pathway analysis revealed involvement of these miRNAs in key pathogenic pathways underlying epileptogenesis, including inflammation, gliosis and deregulation of the extracellular matrix.

3D-map modelling for the melting points prediction of intumescent flame-retardant coatings.

The applicability of 3D map modelling for melting point prediction was studied. The melting points in the ammonium polyphosphate-pentaerythritol-melamine chemical system of intumescent flame-retardant coatings over a wide range of concentrations were collected. The ternary diagram (triangle) of the melting points was plotted and an approximated 3D map was built for the range 205-345°C. The present work contains the thermal data for the observed ternary system and provides a new graphic system for making predictions for intumescent flame-retardant coatings. The applicability of the calculated 3D map for obtaining experimental samples of fire-retardant paints with a low melting point for thin steel constructions was shown.

[A role of antioxidants in the complex treatment of epilepsy]. / Rol' antioksidantov v kompleksnom lechenii epilepsii.

The article covers the pathogenesis of epilepsy and goals of modern pharmacotherapy. The features of the development of epilepsy of vascular origin are presented as well. The authors describe the ways to increase the efficacy and decrease side-effects of anticonvulsants (a combination with antioxidant and antihypoxant drugs that was confirmed by the data on an important role of free-radical processes in the pathogenesis of epilepsy). Mechanisms of action and efficacy of antioxidant treatment (on the example of 2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine succinate - mexidol) in the complex treatment of various forms of epilepsy are analyzed. The main advantages of mexidol as an add-on drug in the treatment of various types of epileptic syndrome in adults, taking into account its neuroprotective and antihypoxant action, are considered. Literature results have shown the positive effect of mexidol on the course of disease and its safety in the treatment of epilepsy.

A Fusion Protein Based on the Second Subunit of Hemagglutinin of Influenza A/H2N2 Viruses Provides Cross Immunity.

Conserved fragments of the second subunit of hemagglutinin (HA2) are of great interest for the design of vaccine constructs that can provide protective immunity against influenza A viruses of different subtypes. A recombinant fusion protein, FlgMH, was constructed on the basis of flagellin and a highly conserved HA2 fragment (35-107) of influenza viruses of the subtype A/H2N2, containing B cell, CD4+ T cell, and CD8+ T cell epitopes. The native conformation of the HA2 fragment was partially preserved upon its attachment to the C-terminus of flagellin within the recombinant fusion protein FlgMH. FlgMH was shown to stimulate a mixed Th1/Th2 response of cross-reactive antibodies, which bind to influenza viruses of the first phylogenetic group (H1, H2, H5), to the target sequence as well as the induction of specific cytotoxic T cells (CD3+CD8+IFNγ+). Immunization with the recombinant protein protected animals from a lethal influenza infection. The developed FlgMH protein is a promising agent that may be included in an influenza vaccine with a wide spectrum of action which will be able to stimulate the T and B cell immune responses.

Measuring and Suppressing Quantum State Leakage in a Superconducting Qubit.

Leakage errors occur when a quantum system leaves the two-level qubit subspace. Reducing these errors is critically important for quantum error correction to be viable. To quantify leakage errors, we use randomized benchmarking in conjunction with measurement of the leakage population. We characterize single qubit gates in a superconducting qubit, and by refining our use of derivative reduction by adiabatic gate pulse shaping along with detuning of the pulses, we obtain gate errors consistently below 10^{-3} and leakage rates at the 10^{-5} level. With the control optimized, we find that a significant portion of the remaining leakage is due to incoherent heating of the qubit.

[Oxygen-dependent energy deficit as related to the problems of ontogenetic development disorders and human sociobiological adaptation (theoretical and applied aspects)].

The review states and argues theoretical propositions on the pathogenetic role of pre- and perinatal hypoxic-ischemic brain damage in the formation of sustained oxygen-dependent energy deficit underlying in further ontogenesis the following neurobiological abnormalities: a) a decline in the level of health and compensatory-adaptive capacities of the organism, b) disorders of the psycho-speech development and adaptive behavior in children, c) early development of neuropsychic diseases, g) addition of other types of brain energy metabolism (including glucose metabolism) disorders in chronic polyetiologic diseases young and middle-aged individuals. We highlight and theoretically substantiate the integrated physiological parameters of the oxygen-dependent energy deficit types. We address the features of abnormalities in neuroreflectory and neurohumora regulatory mechanisms of the wakefulness level and its vegetative and hemodynamic provision in different types of energy deficit in children with DSMD, ADHD and school maladjustment. The use of the state-of-the-art neuroimaging techniques significantly increased the possibility of the disintegration of regulatory processes and cognitive functions in children with psycho-speech delays and in a wide range of chronic polyetiologic diseases.

[Functional interactions between caudate nuclei and inferior frontal gyrus in deliberate deception processing].

The present paper dedicated to the research of the functional interactions between brain structures while executing deliberate deceptive actions. Based on our own and literature data, we formulated the hypothesis that the functional interaction between brain areas responsible for the executive control, localized in the prefrontal cortex (inferior frontal gyrus), and the elements of error detection brain system, underlies deception. To test this hypothesis, we applied an analysis of the psychophysiological interaction (PPI), which revealed that the false actions (in comparison with true honestones) associated with increased functional connectivity between the left caudate nucleus and the left inferior frontal gyrus. Obtained experimental data support our hypothesis that the interaction of neural brain systems, which are responsible for executive control and error detection, underpins the brain maintenance of the execution of deceptive actions.

[MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF ERK1/2 KINASES REGULATION IN THE GLUTAMATE- AND GABA-ERGIC NEURONS DURING SEIZURE EXPRESSION IN KRUSHINSKY-MOLODKINA RATS].

The aim of the present study was to analyze a role of the ERK1/2 signaling pathway in the regulation of excitation and inhibitory neurons in the hippocampus and the temporal cortex of Krushinsky-Molodkina rats during seizure development finalizing with ataxia. Analysis was done by Western bloting as well as by immunohistochemistry. The results demonstrated significant up-regulation of ERK1/2 activity in the hippocampus in several seconds after sound stimulation. At the same time increased ERK1/2 activity was correlated with enhanced level of SNARE protein SNAP-25 and activation of synapsin I, the proteins which regulate exocytosis machinery. Decreased level of VGLUT2 associated with activation of ERK1/2 and exocytosis proteins supposed activation of glutamate release in the hippocampus, while in the temporal cortex diminished activity of ERK1/2 and synapsin I associated with VGLUT2 up-regulation assumed inhibition of glutamatergic transmission. Our data let us supposed that decreasing of glutamate release in th& temporal cortex could be a trigger for the inhibition of hippocampal glutamatergic system and the beginning of further ataxia stage. Our data demonstrated correlation between expression and activity of exocytosis proteins and ERK1/2 mainly in the glutamategic neurons of the hippocampus and the temporal cortex that let us proposed significant role of ERK1/2 kinases as a positive regulator of glutamate release and as a result initiation of seizure expression.

Observation of measurement-induced entanglement and quantum trajectories of remote superconducting qubits.

The creation of a quantum network requires the distribution of coherent information across macroscopic distances. We demonstrate the entanglement of two superconducting qubits, separated by more than a meter of coaxial cable, by designing a joint measurement that probabilistically projects onto an entangled state. By using a continuous measurement scheme, we are further able to observe single quantum trajectories of the joint two-qubit state, confirming the validity of the quantum Bayesian formalism for a cascaded system. Our results allow us to resolve the dynamics of continuous projection onto the entangled manifold, in quantitative agreement with theory.

Superconducting quantum circuits at the surface code threshold for fault tolerance.

A quantum computer can solve hard problems, such as prime factoring, database searching and quantum simulation, at the cost of needing to protect fragile quantum states from error. Quantum error correction provides this protection by distributing a logical state among many physical quantum bits (qubits) by means of quantum entanglement. Superconductivity is a useful phenomenon in this regard, because it allows the construction of large quantum circuits and is compatible with microfabrication. For superconducting qubits, the surface code approach to quantum computing is a natural choice for error correction, because it uses only nearest-neighbour coupling and rapidly cycled entangling gates. The gate fidelity requirements are modest: the per-step fidelity threshold is only about 99 per cent. Here we demonstrate a universal set of logic gates in a superconducting multi-qubit processor, achieving an average single-qubit gate fidelity of 99.92 per cent and a two-qubit gate fidelity of up to 99.4 per cent. This places Josephson quantum computing at the fault-tolerance threshold for surface code error correction. Our quantum processor is a first step towards the surface code, using five qubits arranged in a linear array with nearest-neighbour coupling. As a further demonstration, we construct a five-qubit Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger state using the complete circuit and full set of gates. The results demonstrate that Josephson quantum computing is a high-fidelity technology, with a clear path to scaling up to large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum circuits.

Reducing the impact of intrinsic dissipation in a superconducting circuit by quantum error detection.

A fundamental challenge for quantum information processing is reducing the impact of environmentally induced errors. Here we demonstrate a quantum error detection and rejection protocol based on the idea of quantum uncollapsing, using this protocol to reduce the impact of energy relaxation owing to the environment in a three-qubit superconducting circuit. We encode quantum information in a target qubit, and use the other two qubits to detect and reject errors caused by energy relaxation. This protocol improves the storage time of a quantum state by a factor of roughly three, at the cost of a reduced probability of success. This constitutes the first experimental demonstration of the algorithm-based improvement in the lifetime of a quantum state stored in a qubit.

Role of the ERK signaling pathway in regulating vasopressin secretion in dehydrated rats.

Dehydration activates the vasopressinergic system of the hypothalamus. We analyzed the effects of dehydration induced by water deprivation for 3 days on the activities of ERK1/2 and transcription factors, Elk1 and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) in vasopressinergic neurons, as well as the distribution and level of the motor protein, kinesin, in the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system. We showed that dehydration resulted in enhanced vasopressin (VP) expression and activation of CREB, and increased the activity of the MEK/ERK/Elk1 pathway in magnocellular neurons of the supraoptic nucleus. The activation of VP secretion was associated also with accumulation of phospho-ERK1/2 in the VP-ergic terminals of the posterior lobe of the pituitary. Analysis of the amount and distribution of kinesin and SNAP25, the proteins associated with transport and secretion, demonstrated that dehydration enhanced kinesin content in the perikarya of magnocellular neurons in the supraoptic nucleus and decreased kinesin and SNAP25 levels in the posterior pituitary. ERK1/2 and ERK1/2-dependent transcription factors, Elk1 and CREB, participate in the regulation of dehydration-evoked VP expression. We propose that ERK1/2 and kinesin participate in regulation of anterograde transport of VP dense core vesicles.

[Immunogenicity of recombinant proteins including ectodomain of M2 influenza virus A].

Two recombinant proteins with three copies of the ectodomain of the conserved influenza protein M2 (M2e) of influenza viruses were developed: A (H1N1)pdm09, A/Kurgan/05/05 (H5N1), and M2e consensus sequence of the human influenza A virus (H1N1, H2N2, H3N2) based on flagellin and core antigen of hepatitis B (HBc). The first recombinant protein comprised flagellin fused to three tandem copies of M2e, the second preparation was based on non-covalent interaction between M2e peptides and HBc. The immunogenicity of two preparations was comparatively tested. A covalent linkage of flagellin with M2e significant increased the immunogenicity of the target antigen compared with non-covalent interaction M2e and HBc. Flagellin as a protein carrier of M2e induced mainly IgG1 subclass, whereas HBc stimulated more balanced Th1/Th2 response. Our study showed a decrease in the viral titers in lung tissues of immunized mice after lethal challenge of A/PR/8/34 (H1N1). The study revealed a possibility to obtain a vaccine preparation with equal immunogenicity both against human influenza viruses and highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses.

[Polyfunctionality of neurons: blocking of the extreme pathological afferentation leads to an improvement of the higher functions of the brain (on the example of patients in a vegetative state)].

In this paper possible mechanism of improvement of the functional state of the brain areas, maintaining movement, visual, auditory, and higher functions of the brain during correction of generalized spastic syndrome (botulinotherapy with Xeomin) in patients in a vegetative state (VS) is discussed. If to consider the vegetative state as stable pathological condition (SPC) of the brain, then from the perspective of the theory of structural and functional organization of the brain with systems with rigid and flexible elements (N.P. Behtereva), the therapy led to an unbalance of SPC, "functional release" of neurons and redistribution of their functions to provide other activities, the formation of new interneuronal connections. Taking into account the functional variability of neurons (S.V. Medvedev), blocking neuromuscular transmission in spastic muscles leads to a reduction of abnormal afferent and efferent hyperactivity of motor and sensory neuronal circuits, which releases the brain for other activities. This allows to consider botulinotherapy of pharmacoresistant muscle spasticity in patients in VS and minimal consciousness, not only as a symptomatic treatment, but also as a "indirect neuroprotection".

[Factor structure of regional CBF and CMRglu values as a tool for the study of default mode of the brain].

In the present article it was shown that the functional connectivity of brain structures, revealed by factor analysis of resting PET CBF and rCMRglu data, is an adequate tool to study the default mode of the human brain. The identification of neuroanatomic systems of default mode (default mode network) during routine clinical PET investigations is important for further studying the functional organization of the normal brain and its reorganizations in pathological conditions.