Modulation of alpha power at encoding and retrieval tracks the precision of visual short-term memory.

Our ability to hold information in mind is strictly limited. We sought to understand the relationship between oscillatory brain activity and the allocation of resources within visual short-term memory (VSTM). Participants attempted to remember target arrows embedded among distracters and used a continuous method of responding to report their memory for a cued target item. Trial-to-trial variability in the absolute circular accuracy with which participants could report the target was predicted by event-related alpha synchronization during initial processing of the memoranda and by alpha desynchronization during the retrieval of those items from VSTM. Using a model-based approach, we were also able to explore further which parameters of VSTM-guided behavior were most influenced by alpha band changes. Alpha synchronization during item processing enhanced the precision with which an item could be retained without affecting the likelihood of an item being represented per se (as indexed by the guessing rate). Importantly, our data outline a neural mechanism that mirrors the precision with which items are retained; the greater the alpha power enhancement during encoding, the greater the precision with which that item can be retained.

[Determination of the bactericidal activity of blood serum by recombinant luminescence strains of Escherichia coli].

It has been experimentally proven as possible to use recombinant strains of Escherichia coli carrying the genes of luminescence of natural fluorescent bacteria in evaluating the bactericidal activity of blood serum (BABS). The shaping fluorescence inhibition was shown to be in proportion to the developing bactericidal effect in respect to the luminescent strains of Escherichia coli, which depended on a used concentration of blood serum and time of contact. The list of E. coli recombinant strains, which fit in most of all with the evaluation of BABS, was drawn. The values of the bactericidal activity of blood serum determined by the routine bacteriological and nephelometric methods were demonstrated to coincide with those determined by the worked-out bio-luminescent method.

[Immunological precursors of influenza epidemics]. / Immunologicheskie predvestniki épidemii grippa.

The authors studied the immuno-epidemiological manifestations of ciculation and variability of the influenza virus during the periods preceding the officiallly recorded rise of the incidence of this disease. The following epidemic precursors were revealed: a) an increase of the number of persons who fell sick with subclinical form of the disease, accompanied by a rise in the population of the antibody level to the type of influenza virus whose latest variant later caused an epidemic morbidity elevation; b) a progressive predominance of the causative agent of the developing epidemic in the etiology of influenza; c) a growth of the collective immunity indices from the "minimal" to the "critical" levels; d) an increase of the sero-conversion multiplicity and of the antibody level in those who sustained the disease during the epidemic development. These precursors could be revealed at the period of from 1 1/2 to 6 months before the beginning of the morbidity growth caused by viruses of endogenous or of exogenous origin.

[Treatment of chronic alcoholism with droplets of alcohol accompanied by rational psychotherapy involving suggestion while alert]. / Lechenie khronicheskuiu alkogolizma kapliami alkogolia na fone ratsional'noi psikhoterapii, vnusheniia naiavu.

For mitigating the toxic effects of alcohol on the brain cortex and promoting the formation of aversion to alcohol in chronic alcoholics in the course of the reflex therapy the alcohol was given in drops making 1/20 of a gulp. This method is technically simple, causes no complications, and enables one to attain deeper and more stable remissions. Of 400 patients observed remissions of under 3 months were obtained in 12%; of 3 to 6 months, in 9%; of 6 to 9 months, in 10%; of 9 to 12 months, in 7%; and of over a year in 62% of the patients.

[Relations between hypothalamic autostimulation and current strength]. / Gipotalamicheskaia avtostimuliatsiia v zavisimosti ot sily toka

In order to examine effects of current intensity of the self-stimulation rate and to study evoked behavioural, somatic, and visceral responses, 105 electrodes were implanted in 35 cats in the lateral hypothalamus. Electrical stimulation produced all kinds of behavioural patterns depending upon both the electrode location and the current intensity. Three types of self-stimulation curves were differentiated on the basis of curve shapes and the maximum rate of self-stimulation.

[Physiological effects of bombesin]. / Fiziologicheskie éffekty bombezina.

Central or peripheral administration of bombesin--tetradecapeptide obtained from amphibian skin, acted upon the nervous system, behaviour, thermoregulation and gastro-intestinal tract. New experimental data on synthesis, immunohistochemistry and physiological effects of bombesin and related peptides are presented.

[Space-time water monitoring system at the Iriklinsk hydroelectric power station]. / Sistema prostranstvenno-vremennogo monitoringa biotoksichnosti vody na Iriklinskoi GRES.

The Microbiosensor B 17677 F test system was applied to make a space-time monitoring of the biotoxicity of water used for production and everyday purposes at the Iriklinsk hydroelectric power station (IHEPS) and to identify the leading causes determining the biotoxicity of tested samples. There were seasonal variations in the biotoxicity with the maximum in spring and with minimum in winter and spring and a relationship of the spring rise in the biotoxicity to water pH changes. There was also an association of the certain values of the biotoxicity of industrial water with the concentration of petroleum products that are major pollutants at the IHEPS. The datum points that characterize the maximum level of technogenic exposure were identified.