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The development of adaptation strategies for crops under ever-changing climate conditions is a critically important food security issue. Studies of barley responses to ionising radiation showed that this evolutionarily ancient stress factor can be successfully used to identify molecular pathways involved in adaptation to a range of abiotic stressors. In order to identify potential molecular contributors to abiotic stress resilience, we examined the transcriptomic profiles of barley seedlings after exposure to γ-rays, electrons, and protons. A total of 553 unique differentially expressed genes with increased expression and 124 with decreased expression were detected. Among all types of radiation, the highest number of differentially expressed genes was observed in electron-irradiated samples (428 upregulated and 56 downregulated genes). Significant upregulation after exposure to the three types of radiation was shown by a set of ROS-responsive genes, genes involved in DNA repair, cell wall metabolism, auxin biosynthesis and signalling, as well as photosynthesis-related genes. Most of these genes are known to be involved in plant ROS-mediated responses to other abiotic stressors, especially with genotoxic components, such as heavy metals and drought. Ultimately, the modulation of molecular pathways of plant responses to ionising radiation may be a prospective tool for stress tolerance programmes.

Vaginal wall prolapse is the most common type of pelvic organ prolapse and is mainly associated with collagen bundle changes in the lamina propria. Neodymium (Nd:YAG) laser treatment was used as an innovative, minimally invasive and non-ablative procedure for the treatment of early-stage vaginal wall prolapse. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess connective tissue changes in the vaginal wall under prolapse without treatment and after Nd:YAG laser treatment using cross-polarization optical coherence tomography (CP OCT) with depth-resolved attenuation mapping. A total of 26 freshly excised samples of vaginal wall from 26 patients with age norm (n = 8), stage I–II prolapses without treatment (n = 8) and stage I–II prolapse 1–2 months after Nd:YAG laser treatment (n = 10) were assessed. As a result, for the first time, depth-resolved attenuation maps of the vaginal wall in the B-scan projection in the co- and cross-polarization channels were constructed. Two parameters within the lamina propria were target calculated: the median value and the percentages of high (≥4 mm−1) and low (−1) attenuation coefficient values. A significant (p < 0.0001) decrease in the parameters in the case of vaginal wall prolapse compared to the age norm was identified. After laser treatment, a significant (p < 0.0001) increase in the parameters compared to the normal level was also observed. Notably, in the cross-channel, both parameters showed a greater difference between the groups than in the co-channel. Therefore, using the cross-channel achieved more reliable differentiation between the groups. To conclude, attenuation coefficient maps allow visualization and quantification of changes in the condition of the connective tissue of the vaginal wall. In the future, CP OCT could be used for in vivo detection of early-stage vaginal wall prolapse and for monitoring the effectiveness of treatment.

Tumor microvascular responses may provide a sensitive readout indicative of radiation therapy efficacy, its time course and dose dependencies. However, direct high-resolution observation and longitudinal monitoring of large-scale microvascular remodeling in deep tissues remained challenging with the conventional microscopy approaches.We report on a non-invasive longitudinal study of morphological and functional neovascular responses by means of scanning optoacoustic (ОА) microangiography. In vivo imaging of CT26 tumor response to a single irradiation at varying dose (6, 12, and 18 Gy) has been performed over ten days following treatment. Tumor oxygenation levels were further estimated using diffuse optical spectroscopy (DOS) with a contact fiber probe.OA revealed the formation of extended vascular structures on the whole tumor scale during its proliferation, whereas only short fragmented vascular regions were identified following irradiation. On the first day post treatment, a decrease in the density of small (capillary-sized) and medium-sized vessels was revealed, accompanied by an increase in their fragmentation. Larger vessels exhibited an increase in their density accompanied by a decline in the number of vascular segments. Short-lasting response has been observed after 6 and 12 Gy irradiations, whereas 18 Gy treatment resulted in prolonged responses, up to the tenth day after irradiation. DOS measurements further revealed a delayed increase of tumor oxygenation levels for 18 Gy irradiations, commencing on the sixth day post treatment. The ameliorated oxygenation is attributed to diminished oxygen consumption by inhibited tumor cells but not to the elevation of oxygen supply.This work is the first to demonstrate the differential (size-dependent) nature of vascular responses to radiation treatments at varying doses in vivo. The OA approach thus facilitates the study of radiation-induced vascular changes in an unperturbed in vivo environment while enabling deep tissue high-resolution observations at the whole tumor scale.

(1) Introduction. The problem that limits the intraoperative use of OCTA for the intestinal circulation diagnostics is the low informative value of OCTA images containing too many motion artifacts. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficiency and safety of the developed unit for the prevention of the appearance of motion artifacts in the OCTA images of the intestine in both open and laparoscopic surgery in the experiment; (2) Methods. A high-speed spectral-domain multimodal optical coherence tomograph (IAP RAS, Russia) operating at a wavelength of 1310 nm with a spectral width of 100 μm and a power of 2 mW was used. The developed unit was tested in two groups of experimental animals—on minipigs (group I, n = 10, open abdomen) and on rabbits (group II, n = 10, laparoscopy). Acute mesenteric ischemia was modeled and then 1 h later the small intestine underwent OCTA evaluation. A total of 400 OCTA images of the intact and ischemic small intestine were obtained and analyzed. The quality of the obtained OCTA images was evaluated based on the score proposed in 2020 by the group of Magnin M. (3) Results. Without stabilization, OCTA images of the intestine tissues were informative only in 32–44% of cases in open surgery and in 14–22% of cases in laparoscopic surgery. A vacuum bowel stabilizer with a pressure deficit of 22–25 mm Hg significantly reduced the number of motion artifacts. As a result, the proportion of informative OCTA images in open surgery increased up to 86.5% (Χ2 = 200.2, p = 0.001), and in laparoscopy up to 60% (Χ2 = 148.3, p = 0.001). (4) Conclusions. The used vacuum tissue stabilizer enabled a significant increase in the proportion of informative OCTA images by significantly reducing the motion artifacts.

In the paper, a queueing system with an unlimited number of servers and two phases of service with degradation in the service rate is studied. The problem of service rate degradation emerges in cloud nodes, where there is contention for hardware resources including computational resources such as CPU cores. In a node, we have a limited number of CPU cores that should execute potentially an unlimited number of processes (requests) in parallel. In our model, the term “server” means a process allocated in the node for execution. So, the number of “servers” is unlimited but their individual performances decrease because CPUs should switch between them during the execution. We consider processes executed in the node with two phases of life cycle that reflects periods with different activity of a process; e.g., in the first phase, the process may require intensive usage of CPU cores but low usage in the second one. Our model distinguishes the phases using different service parameters for them as well as different influence on the service rate degradation in the node. In the paper, two analytical methods are proposed: exact solving of the system of the local balance equation and the asymptotic analysis of the global balance equations. Formulas for the stationary probability distribution of the number of customers in the phases are obtained for both cases. Several numerical examples are provided that illustrate some properties and applicability of the obtained results.

An infinite-server queueing model with state-dependent arrival process and exponential distribution of service time is analyzed. It is assumed that the difference between the value of the arrival rate and total service rate becomes positive starting from a certain value of the number of customers in the system. In this paper, time until reaching this value by the number of customers in the system is called the pseudo steady-state period (PSSP). Distribution of duration of PSSP, its raw moments and its simple approximation under a certain scaling of the number of customers in the system are analyzed. Novelty of the considered problem consists of an arbitrary dependence of the rate of customer arrival on the current number of customers in the system and analysis of time until reaching from below a certain level by the number of customers in the system. The relevant existing papers focus on the analysis of time interval since exceeding a certain level until the number of customers goes down to this level (congestion period). Our main contribution consists of the derivation of a simple approximation of the considered time distribution by the exponential distribution. Numerical examples are presented, which confirm good quality of the proposed approximation.

Naturalistic stimuli such as watching a movie while in the scanner provide an ecologically valid paradigm that has the potential of extracting valuable information on how the brain processes complex stimuli in realistic visual and auditory contexts. Naturalistic viewing is also easier to conduct with challenging participant groups including patients and children. Given the high temporal resolution of MEG, in the present study, we demonstrate how a short movie clip can be used to map distinguishable activation and connectivity dynamics underlying the processing of specific classes of visual stimuli such as face and hand manipulations, as well as contrasting activation dynamics for auditory words and non-words.MEG data were collected from 22 healthy volunteers (6 females, 3 left handed, mean age – 27.7 ​± ​5.28 years) during the presentation of naturalistic audiovisual stimuli. The MEG data were split into trials with the onset of the stimuli belonging to classes of interest (words, non-words, faces, hand manipulations). Based on the components of the averaged sensor ERFs time-locked to the visual and auditory stimulus onset, four and three time-windows, respectively, were defined to explore brain activation dynamics. Pseudo-Z, defined as the ratio of the source-projected time-locked power to the projected noise power for each vertex, was computed and used as a proxy of time-locked brain activation. Statistical testing using the mean-centered Partial Least Squares analysis indicated periods where a given visual or auditory stimuli had higher activation. Based on peak pseudo-Z differences between the visual conditions, time-frequency resolved analyses were performed to assess beta band desynchronization in motor-related areas, and inter-trial phase synchronization between face processing areas. Our results provide the first evidence that activation and connectivity dynamics in canonical brain regions associated with the processing of particular classes of visual and auditory stimuli can be reliably mapped using MEG during presentation of naturalistic stimuli. Given the strength of MEG for brain mapping in temporal and frequency domains, the use of naturalistic stimuli may open new techniques in analyzing brain dynamics during ecologically valid sensation and perception.

Functional brain connectivity is increasingly being seen as critical for cognition, perception and motor control. Magnetoencephalography and electroencephalography are modalities that offer noninvasive mapping of electrophysiological interactions among brain regions, yet suffer from signal leakage and signal cancellation when estimating brain activity. This leads to biased connectivity values which complicate interpretation. In this study, we test the hypothesis that a Multiple Constrained Minimum Variance beamformer (MCMV) outperforms the more traditional Linearly Constrained Minimum Variance beamformer (LCMV) for estimation of electrophysiological connectivity. To this end, MCMV and LCMV performance is compared in task related analyses with both simulated data and human MEG recordings of visual steady state signals, and in resting state analyses with simulated data and human MEG data of 89 subjects. In task related scenarios connectivity was estimated using coherence and phase locking values, whereas envelope correlations were used for the resting state data. We also introduce a novel Augmented Pairwise MCMV (APW-MCMV) approach for signal leakage suppression in resting state analyses and assess its performance against LCMV and more conventional MCMV approaches. We demonstrate that with MCMV effects of signal mixing and coherent source cancellation are greatly reduced in both task related and resting state conditions, while in contrast to other approaches 0- and short time lag interactions are preserved. In addition, we demonstrate that in resting state analyses, APW-MCMV strongly reduces spurious connections while better controlling for false negatives compared to more conservative measures such as symmetrical orthogonalization.

We present in this study optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and OCT attenuation imaging (OCTAI) for in vivo non-destructive visualization of intramural blood and lymphatic vessels of the intestine wall. Rabbit small intestine in the norm and after thoracolumbar sympathectomy served as the object of the intraoperative study. Compared to OCTA real-time imaging, OCTAI takes several minutes and can be termed as “nearly real time”. OCTAI signal processing was modified to take into account the signal-to-noise ratio and the final thickness of the intestine wall. The results showed that, after sympathectomy, changes in functioning of intramural blood and lymphatic vessels were observed with a high statistical significance. The occurrence of trauma-induced constriction of the blood and lymphatic vessels led to an especially pronounced decrease in the length of small-caliber (p < 10−5), as well as in the volumetric density of lymphatic vessels (on average by ~50%) compared to their initial state. Remarkably, OCTA/OCTAI modalities provide the unique ability for “nearly-instant detection” of changes in functional status of the tissues, long before they become visible on histology. The proposed approach can be used in further experiments to clarify the mechanisms of changes in intestinal blood and lymph flows in response to trauma of the nervous system. Furthermore, potentially it can be used intraoperatively in patients requiring express diagnosis of the state of intramural blood and lymph circulation.

We consistently describe the theoretical basis of a new geometric method of analysis and recognition of three-dimensional (3D) images. The description of a scanning technique for forming a hypertrace transform and its mathematical model are given. This method, unlike the existing ones, enables 3D images to be analyzed directly from their 3D shape, without first simplifying them or constructing plane projections. We substantiate the selection of a particular scanning tool and the need to construct a reference spherical grid to address the problem of the rotational invariance of the 3D image recognition. A mathematical apparatus of the stochastic realization of the scanning technique based on stochastic geometry and functional analysis is developed. We introduce a new mathematical tool for 3D image analysis – a hypertrex matrix that allows spatial objects of complex shape and structure to be recognized by constructing a single mathematical model of the 3D image. We describe a new type of 3D image features that have an analytic structure -- hypertryplet features, whose analytical structure makes possible an automatic generation of a large number of features with predetermined properties. Results of the experimental verification are presented, demonstrating the accurate calculation of features for 3D image recognition and proving the adequacy of the developed mathematical apparatus.

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has been recently suggested as a promising method to obtain in vivo and real-time high-resolution images of tissue structure in brain tumor surgery. This review focuses on the basics of OCT imaging, types of OCT images and currently suggested OCT scanner devices and the results of their application in neurosurgery. OCT can assist in achieving intraoperative precision identification of tumor infiltration within surrounding brain parenchyma by using qualitative or quantitative OCT image analysis of scanned tissue. OCT is able to identify tumorous tissue and blood vessels detection during stereotactic biopsy procedures. The combination of OCT with traditional imaging such as MRI, ultrasound and 5-ALA fluorescence has the potential to increase the safety and accuracy of the resection. OCT can improve the extent of resection by offering the direct visualization of tumor with cellular resolution when using microscopic OCT contact probes. The theranostic implementation of OCT as a part of intelligent optical diagnosis and automated lesion localization and ablation could achieve high precision, automation and intelligence in brain tumor surgery. We present this review for the increase of knowledge and formation of critical opinion in the field of OCT implementation in brain tumor surgery.

The paper considers the model of a call center in the form of a multi-server queueing system with Poisson arrivals and an unlimited waiting area. In the model under consideration, incoming calls do not differ in terms of service conditions, requested service, and interarrival periods. It is assumed that an incoming call can use any free server and they are all identical in terms of capabilities and quality. The goal problem is to find the stationary distribution of the number of calls in the system for an arbitrary recurrent service. This will allow us to evaluate the performance measures of such systems and solve various optimization problems for them. Considering models with non-exponential service times provides solutions for a wide class of mathematical models, making the results more adequate for real call centers. The solution is based on the approximation of the given distribution function of the service time by the hyperexponential distribution function. Therefore, first, the problem of studying a system with hyperexponential service is solved using the matrix-geometric method. Further, on the basis of this result, an approximation of the stationary distribution of the number of calls in a multi-server system with an arbitrary distribution function of the service time is constructed. Various issues in the application of this approximation are considered, and its accuracy is analyzed based on comparison with the known analytical result for a particular case, as well as with the results of the simulation.

Queueing networks models are one of the most popular tools of mathematical modeling of various physical systems: telecommunication networks, distributed data processing systems, transportation networks, network models of cash flows, etc. Unfortunately, analytical results of the study of such models can be obtained only in some rather special cases. Therefore, the objectives of the analysis of queueing networks with complex configurations are usually resolved through mechanism of the simulation. However, the main difference of the queueing networks from simple queueing models is that each network can contain many service nodes and these nodes interact with each other. Thus, the simulation of the queueing networks increases the dimension of the tasks executed on one computing device. So, desktop computers cannot perform the required simulation in adequate time. Hence, we have the urgent task of applying the mechanisms of parallel computing and performing simulations using supercomputer clusters. The main aim of the study is to develop and implement the object model of the simulation system of the queueing networks and implement as well the capabilities of parallel computing and statistical processing in order to perform simulation of queueing networks on supercomputer clusters The methods used in the study: simulation based on the discrete/event approach; mathematical models of the event flows, such as Poisson, renewal, Markovian Arrival Process, and semi-Markov processes; statistics data processing; object-oriented methods of analysis, software design and programming, MPI technology. The results. The paper introduces the object model of the software for simulating queueing networks. The application developed on its basis allows simulating queueing networks with rather arbitrary configuration. The parallel computing was implemented and the data were processed. The authors have carried out the real numerical experiments of application execution on the supercomputer cluster of TPU for different dimensions of the task which demonstrated high efficiency of applying parallel computing for simulation of the queueing networks.

Introduction: Despite the introduction of increasingly multifaceted diagnostic techniques and the general advances in emergency abdominal and vascular surgery, the outcome of treatment of patients with acute impaired intestinal circulation remains unsatisfactory. The non-invasive and high-resolution technique of optical coherence tomography (OCT) can be used intraoperatively to assess intestine viability and associated conditions that frequently emerge under conditions of impaired blood circulation. This study aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of multimodal (MM) OCT for intraoperative diagnostics of both the microstructure (cross—polarization OCT mode) and microcirculation (OCT angiography mode) of the small intestine wall in patients with acute mesenteric ischemia (AMI). Methods and Participants: A total of 18 patients were enrolled in the study. Nine of them suffered from AMI in segments II-III of the superior mesenteric artery (AMI group), whereby the ischemic segments of the intestine were examined. Nine others were operated on for adenocarcinoma of the colon (control group), thus allowing areas of their normal small intestine to be examined for comparison. Data on the microstructure and microcirculation in the walls of the small intestine were obtained intraoperatively from the side of the serous membrane using the MM OCT system (IAP RAS, Russia) before bowel resection. The MM OCT data were compared with the results of histological examination. Results: The study finds that MM OCT visualized the damage to serosa, muscularis externa, and blood vessels localized in these layers in 100% of AMI cases. It also visualized the submucosa in 33.3% of AMI cases. The MM OCT images of non-ischemic (control group), viable ischemic, and necrotic small intestines (AMI group) differed significantly across stratification of the distinguishable layers, the severity of intermuscular fluid accumulations, and the type and density of the vasculature. Conclusion: The MM OCT diagnostic procedure optimally meets the requirements of emergency surgery. Data on the microstructure and microcirculation of the intestinal wall can be obtained simultaneously in real time without requiring contrast agent injections. The depth of visualization of the intestinal wall from the side of the serous membrane is sufficient to assess the volume of the affected tissues. However, the methodology for obtaining MM OCT data needs to be improved to minimize the motion artefacts generated in actual clinical conditions.

In the paper, we consider a multi-server retrial queueing system with setup time which is motivated by applications in power-saving data centers with the ON-OFF policy, where an idle server is immediately turned off and an off server is set up upon arrival of a customer. Customers that find all the servers busy join the orbit and retry for service after an exponentially distributed time. For this model, we derive the stability condition which depends on the setup time and turns out to be more strict than that of the corresponding model with an infinite buffer which is independent of the setup time. We propose asymptotic methods to analyze the system under the condition that the delay in the orbit is extremely long. We show that the scaled-number of customers in the orbit converges to a diffusion process. Using this diffusion limit, we obtain approximations for the steady-state probability distribution of the number of busy servers and that of the number of customers in the orbit. We verify the accuracy of the approximations by simulations and numerical analysis. Numerical results show that the retrial system under the limiting condition consumes more energy than that with an infinite buffer in front of the servers.

A multi-server retrial queue with a hyper-exponential service time is considered in this paper. The study is performed by the method of asymptotic diffusion analysis under the condition of long delay in orbit. On the basis of the constructed diffusion process, we obtain approximations of stationary probability distributions of the number of customers in orbit and the number of busy servers. Using simulations and numerical analysis, we estimate the accuracy and applicability area of the obtained approximations.