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The gas-phase preparation of naphthalene (C10H8) molecule has been revealed through an isomer selective product detection via the reaction of the resonantly stabilized benzyl and the propargyl radicals.

It is reported that 41 stationary seismic stations, 2 arrays, and 7 temporary seismic stations, located in the area of Novovoronezh and Kursk nuclear stations, monitored seismicity of the Russian territory of the East European Platform (EEP) in 2015. The registration capabilities of the seismic network at the EEP as a whole were estimated based on the average station noise level and the equation for the energy decay of seismic phases. Zones with the best capabilities have been allocated. A feature of seismicity in 2015 is the manifestation of earthquakes of moderate magnitudes (ML=2.7–3.9) in the peripheral regions (in the southwest, west, and northwest) and in zones associated with paleorift structures: in the southwest – with the Dnieper Donetsk and in the northeast – with the Kirov-Kazhim and Soligalich (Central Russian) aulacogenes. The results of the macroseismic survey are given for the earthquake in Poltava on February 2, 2015, with M=3.7; focal mechanisms of two earthquakes (03.02.2015 and 12.06.2015) are constructed. According to the data of the Latvian Center, an earthquake was recorded in the region of Lithuania bordering the Kaliningrad region. Weaker natural seismicity with ML≤2.5 was recorded in Karelia and the regions bordering with Finland, near the Kandalaksha Bay, near the Khibiny, and Lovozersky massifs on the Kola Peninsula, and on the territory of the Voronezh crystalline massif.

The simplest polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) carrying a five-membered ring-9H-fluorene (C

It is reported that 22 stationary seismic stations, 2 arrays and 7 local seismic stations, located in the area of Novovoronezh and Kursk nuclear stations, monitor seismicity of the Russian territory of the East European platform (EEP). A new station Belogornoe with high registration class has been opened, which also belongs to the International Monitoring System for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (IMS CTBTO). The results of the microseismic noise study at the Pulkovo network stations and assessment of maximum distance of earthquake registration in the Voronezh crystalline massif are presented. In 2014, relatively strong earthquakes with М3.0 were not recorded on the Russian territory of the EEP. Weaker natural seismicity with M≤2 was recorded in Karelia and the border areas with Finland, near Kandalaksha Bay, near the Khibiny Massif on the Kola Peninsula and on the territory of the Voronezh Crystalline Massif. Observations of local networks near nuclear stations are aimed at updating the information on seismicity previously considered as an aseismic territory of the EEP. Man-made events were recorded in permanent quarries, the most powerful of them (M=3.1–3.3) were produced in the quarries on the territory of the Kursk magnetic anomaly.

The actions of the nootropes noopept and piracetam on depression of the acetylcholine-induced current in a cellular analog of habituation were studied. Mathematical modeling of experimental curves and their analysis using previously obtained results on the effects of inhibitors of different protein kinases and protein phosphatases on acquisition of depression of the acetylcholine-induced current in a cellular analog of habituation clarified the intracellular processes and targets on which these agents act.

Using electrophysiology, the effect of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) ligands on acetylcholine-induced depolarization in the neurons of Helix lucorum snail was studied. It was found that the α-conotoxin PnIA [R9, L10], a selective antagonist of α7 nAChR, and α-cobratoxin (antagonist of α7 and muscle-type nAChR) suppressed neuronal depolarization. Fluorescence microscopy showed staining of the neurons with fluorescently labeled α-bungarotoxin; this staining was reduced by pretreatment with α-cobratoxin. Induced depolarization was also suppressed by α-conotoxin RgIA, a selective inhibitor of α9 nAChR. In contrast to Lymnaea stagnalis nAChR, which are weakly sensitive to neurotoxin II and α-conotoxin GI, antagonists of muscle-type nAChR, H. lucorum receptors were most effectively inhibited by these antagonists. The results obtained, as well as the previously found sensitivity of the receptors studied in this work to muscarinic receptor ligands, indicate an unusual atypical pharmacological profile of H. lucorum nAChR.

PANDA (anti-proton annihiliation at Darmstadt) is planned to be one of the four main experiments at the future international accelerator complex FAIR (Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research) in Darmstadt, Germany. It is going to address fundamental questions of hadron physics and quantum chromodynamics using cooled antiproton beams with a high intensity and and momenta between 1.5 and 15 GeV/c. PANDA is designed to reach a maximum luminosity of 2 × 1032 cm−2 s. Most of the physics programs require an excellent particle identification (PID). The PID of hadronic states at the forward endcap of the target spectrometer will be done by a fast and compact Cherenkov detector that uses the detection of internally reflected Cherenkov light (DIRC) principle. It is designed to cover the polar angle range from 5° to 22° and to provide a separation power for the separation of charged pions and kaons up to 3 standard deviations (s.d.) for particle momenta up to 4 GeV/c in order to cover the important particle phase space. This document describes the technical design and the expected performance of the novel PANDA disc DIRC detector that has not been used in any other high energy physics experiment before. The performance has been studied with Monte-Carlo simulations and various beam tests at DESY and CERN. The final design meets all PANDA requirements and guarantees sufficient safety margins.

The nootropic agents noopept and piracetam alter the amplitudes of acetylcholine-induced influx currents (ACh currents) in command neurons in the common snail. Both compounds have cholinopositive activity. The dose curve of the actions of noopept is bell-shaped, while the piracetam dose-response curve in the range of physiological concentrations shows a monotonous rise. Noopept increases the ACh current at low concentrations (10–10–10–8 M), while piracetam acts at significantly higher concentrations (starting from 10–4 M). The magnitudes of the maximal cholinopositive effects of noopept and piracetam (in the range of physiological concentrations) were identical, while the concentrations of nootropic drugs at which they were reached differed by seven orders of magnitude. The half-maximal concentration (EC50) of noopept was 10–10 M and that of piracetam was 10–3 M. The mechanisms of the cholinopositive actions of these drugs are discussed.

—Possible causes of the positive modulating effect of noopept (in a concentration range of 0.1 to 10 nM) on the amplitude of the acetylcholine-induced input current are analyzed using a developed mathematical model. The results revealed that the calculated and experimental current curves coincide when the number of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors on the neuron membrane is increased or the efficiency of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors is changed.

Structural identification of biogenic hydroxyapatite (bioHA) was carried out by IR-Raman-XRD spectroscopy, electron microscopy. By the method of dissolution / deposition of bioHA powders, isomorphic substitution of Ca by europium and terbium was carried out and its photoluminescent spectra were studied.

Nature photonics 14(6), 391 - 397 (2020). doi:10.1038/s41566-020-0607-z, The European XFEL is a hard X-ray free-electron laser (FEL) based on a high-electron-energy superconducting linear accelerator. The superconducting technology allows for the acceleration of many electron bunches within one radio-frequency pulse of the accelerating voltage and, in turn, for the generation of a large number of hard X-ray pulses. We report on the performance of the European XFEL accelerator with up to 5,000 electron bunches per second and demonstrating a full energy of 17.5 GeV. Feedback mechanisms enable stabilization of the electron beam delivery at the FEL undulator in space and time. The measured FEL gain curve at 9.3 keV is in good agreement with predictions for saturated FEL radiation. Hard X-ray lasing was achieved between 7 keV and 14 keV with pulse energies of up to 2.0 mJ. Using the high repetition rate, an FEL beam with 6 W average power was created., Published by Nature Publ. Group, London [u.a.]

A microporous structure with controlled thickness of the porous layer and pore sizes has been prepared on the surface of VT1 titanium alloy by laser surface alloying of TiC powders and subsequent selective etching. It has been shown that the use of relatively coarse titanium-carbide powder particles, 80–100 μm, and the increase in the laser-beam speed to 20 mm/s allow us to form the uniform nanoporous substructure on the internal surfaces of pores.

Microtubule motor proteins – kinesins and dyneins – play an important role in intracellular transport. Impairments to axon transport can influence neurotransmitter release and short-term presynaptic plasticity. Impairments to dendritic transport, particularly recycling of synaptic receptors, affect postsynaptic plasticity. This review seeks to follow the link between microtubule motor proteins and the mechanisms of synaptic plasticity from the point of view of their involvement in transporting proteins and organelles, where their role in the mechanisms of synaptic plasticity has been demonstrated.

To develop the presynaptic mechanism of the short-term plasticity of synaptic transmission the influence of the rhythmical orthodromic stimulation of intestinal nerve on the spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) have been analyzed in the command neurons of the defensive behavior of land snail Helix lucorum. It was shown early that the tetanic stimulation induced the short-term potentiation of evoked EPSPs. The rhythmical stimulation did not influence the amplitude of spontaneous EPSPs, but considerably increased their number. Discovered augmentation of the frequency of spontaneous EPSPs makes it possible to assume the participation of presynaptic mechanism in the short-term potentiation of synaptic transmission. The presynaptic mechanism can include reduction in the thresh- old of action potentials (APs) generation in the presynaptic neurons, which will lead to an increase in the fraction of spontaneous active neurons and, correspondingly, it will increase the number of spontaneous presynaptic APs.

The $\overline{{\rm{P}}}\mathrm{ANDA}$ (anti-Proton ANnihiliation at DArmstadt) experiment will be one of the four flagship experiments at the new international accelerator complex FAIR (Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research) in Darmstadt, Germany. $\overline{{\rm{P}}}\mathrm{ANDA}$ will address fundamental questions of hadron physics and quantum chromodynamics using high-intensity cooled antiproton beams with momenta between 1.5 and 15 GeV/c and a design luminosity of up to 2 × 1032 cm−2 s−1. Excellent particle identification (PID) is crucial to the success of the $\overline{{\rm{P}}}\mathrm{ANDA}$ physics program. Hadronic PID in the barrel region of the target spectrometer will be performed by a fast and compact Cherenkov counter using the detection of internally reflected Cherenkov light (DIRC) technology. It is designed to cover the polar angle range from 22° to 140° and will provide at least 3 standard deviations (s.d.) π/K separation up to 3.5 GeV/c, matching the expected upper limit of the final state kaon momentum distribution from simulation. This documents describes the technical design and the expected performance of the $\overline{{\rm{P}}}\mathrm{ANDA}$ Barrel DIRC detector. The design is based on the successful BaBar DIRC with several key improvements. The performance and system cost were optimized in detailed detector simulations and validated with full system prototypes using particle beams at GSI and CERN. The final design meets or exceeds the PID goal of clean π/K separation with at least 3 s.d. over the entire phase space of charged kaons in the Barrel DIRC.

The experimental relationship between the paired-pulse ratio of acetylcholine-induced inward currents in the command neurons of Helix lucorum and the interval between application of a neurotransmitter was analyzed using the method of paired-pulse stimulation. A mathematical model that takes the membrane and intracellular localization of receptors, their lateral diffusion, and endocytosis and exocytosis depending on the intracellular processes into account was used to study this dependence. Our results have shown that membrane receptor endocytosis is the main process that determines the type of this relationship. The effects of exocytosis and lateral diffusion of membrane receptors on this relationship were studied. The parameters of an existing mathematical model were further clarified.

Na+/K+-pump is an electrogenic transmembrane ATPase located in the outer plasma membrane of cells. The Na+/K+-ATPase pumps 3 sodium ions out of cells while pumping 2 potassium ions into cells. Both cations move against their concentration gradients. This enzyme’s electrogenic nature means that it has a chronic role in stabilizing the resting membrane potential of the cell, in regulating the cell volume and in the signal transduction of the cell. This review will mainly consider the role of the Na+/K+-pump in neurons, with an emphasis on its role in modulating neurotransmitter receptor. Most of the literature on the modulation of neurotransmitter receptors refers to the situation in the mammalian nervous system, but the position is likely to be similar in most, if not all, invertebrate nervous systems.

Na+/K+-pump is an electrogenic transmembrane ATPase located in the outer plasma membrane of cells. The Na+/K+-ATPase pumps 3 sodium ions out of cells while pumping 2 potassium ions into cells. Both cations move against their concentration gradients. This enzyme’s electrogenic nature means that it has a chronic role in stabilizing the resting membrane potential of the cell, in regulating the cell volume and in the signal transduction of the cell. This review will mainly consider the role of the Na+/K+-pump in neurons, with an emphasis on its role in modulating neurotransmitter receptor. Most of the literature on the modulation of neurotransmitter receptors refers to the situation in the mammalian nervous system, but the position is likely to be similar in most, if not all, invertebrate nervous systems.

The involvement of cytoskeletal motor proteins, i.e., myosins, in the molecular mechanism of depression of the acetylcholine sensitivity of defensive behavior command neurons was studied in the common snail. Thus, the effects of compounds impairing myosin functioning on ACh-evoked current depression curves in neurons were studied – the myosin light chain kinase blockers ML-7 and MLCK-IP-18, the non-muscle myosin II inhibitor blebbistatin, and the ROCK-I and ROCK-II kinase (which mainly activate non-muscle myosin II) inhibitor Y-27632. ML-7 and MLCK-IP-18 were found to weaken depression of the current, while blebbistatin and Y-27632 had no effect on depression. The experimental results and mathematical models of the effects of these blockers on the number of membrane-bound cholinoreceptors suggest the involvement of myosins (except non-muscle myosin II) in the endo- and exocytosis of cholinoreceptors and the resultant depression of the cholinosensitivity of the somatic membranes of neurons in a cellular analog of habituation.

The effects of inhibitors of a series of serine-threonine phosphatases, i.e., okadaic acid (which suppresses PP1 and PP2A phosphatase activities), endothall (PP2A), cyclosporin A and cypermethrin (PP2B), CCT007093 (PPM1D), and dephostatin (blocks tyrosine phosphatases), on the depression and spontaneous recovery of the ACh-induced influx current in defensive behavior command neurons in the common snail were studied in a cellular analog of habituation. All the inhibitors used here altered the dynamics of depression of the current, while endothall also slowed spontaneous recovery of the ACh current. The results obtained here provide evidence of the relationship between changes in defensive behavior command neuron membrane cholinosensitivity in the common snail in a cellular analog of habituation on the one hand and the activities of all the protein phosphatases studied on the other. Application of a mathematical model addressing the possibility that receptors have different cellular locations suggested that these phosphatases are involved in the mobility (endocytosis and exocytosis) of the membrane cholinoreceptors responsible for changes in the ACh current in the cellular analog of habituation. Comparison of the experimental data and simulation-derived calculated curves of changes in the ACh current showed that the main target of protein phosphatases is the neuron’s transport system, i.e., the cytoskeleton and motor proteins.

The presence of "comet-like" radial transport of acetylcholine receptors by actin microfilaments without the participation of myosin motors in the depression of acetylcholine-induced inward chloric current (ACh-current) in command neurons of defensive behavior of the land snail, Helix lucorum, in a cellular analog of habituation was investigated. For that purpose the effects of CK548, CK-636 (inhibitors of actin-related protein complex Arp2/3, whose activation triggers rapid actin polymerization and the formation of the "comet-like" tail on the actinic filament) and wiskostatin (an N-WASP protein inhibitor, activating Arp2/3) on the depression of ACh-current were studied. The attenuation of ACh-current depression was observed upon the addition of CK548. At the same time, CK-636 and wiskostatin irreversibly strengthened the depression of this current and suppressed its spontaneous recovery. The results of CK-548 action and its mathematical modeling allow suggesting the presence of "comet-like" transport of acetylcholine receptors, initiated by Arp2/3 protein complex in receptor endo and exocytosis in command neurons of Helix lucorum in a cellular analog of habituation. Irreversible inhibition of vital metabolic processes of the neuron by wiskostatin and CK-636, which lead to the decrease in the level of ATP, could have caused irreversible effects of these blockers on current depression.

We have studied how various drugs increasing the rate of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) lateral diffusion affect the depression of ACh-induced current in land snail Helix lucorum neurons responsible for defensive behavior. The acetylcholine (ACh) iontophoretic application protocol imitated the behavioral habituation protocol for the intact animal. We found that the drugs decreasing cholesterol level in cell membranes as methyl-β-cyclodextrin 1 mM and Ro 48-8071 2 µM, and polyclonal antibodies to actin-binding proteins as spectrin 5 µg/ml and merlin 2.5 µg/ml have changed the dynamic of ACh-current depression. The nAChRs lateral diffusion coefficient was obtained by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching. A curve fitting model specially created for analysis of short-term choline sensitivity depression in snail neurons helped us evaluate separately the contribution of nAChRs lateral diffusion, their endocytosis and exocytosis to observed effects during electrophysiological experiments. Taken together, we hypothesize that nAChRs lateral diffusion plays an important role in the cellular correlate of habituation in land snail Helix lucorum neurons.

Toxins impairing the functions of cytoskeletal actin filaments – cytochalasin B (which inhibits actin polymerization and degrades microfilaments) and phalloidin (which prevents depolymerization of microfilaments, stabilizing F-actin) – weakened depression of the acetylcholine-induced influx current in defensive behavior command neurons in the common snail in conditions of rhythmic local applications of acetylcholine to the cell body (a cellular analog of habituation). These results, along with mathematical modeling, provide grounds for suggesting that depression of the cholinosensitivity of the extrasynaptic zones of command neuron membranes in the cellular analog of habituations is associated with the involvement of actin microfilaments in a reduction in the number of membrane cholinoreceptors.

We investigated the involvement of cytoskeleton motor proteins, myosins, in the molecular mechanism of sensitivity depression to acetylcholine in Helix command neurons of defensive behavior in a cellular analog of habituation. There were analyzed the effects of several drugs disturbing myosin function: ML-7 and MLCK-IP-18--blockers of myosin light chain kinase, blebbistatin--an inhibitor of non-muscle myosin II, Y-27632--inhibitor of kinases ROCK-I and ROCK-II (activate mainly non-muscle myosin II) on the depression of acetylcholine-induced inward current. It was found that ML-7 and MLCK-IP- 18 weakened current depression; blebbistatin and Y-27632 did not change the depression. The results of experimental inhibitory analysis and mathematical modeling of the effects of inhibitors on the number of membrane-bound cholinergic receptors allow to suggest the involvement ofmyosins (excluding non-muscle myosin II) in the transports of acetylcholine receptors (endo- and exocytosis) that are responsible for sensitivity changes in neuron somatic membrane to acetylcholine in a cellular analog of habituation.

Effects of some inhibitors of serine/threonine and tyrosine protein phosphatases on the depression and spontaneous recovery of the acetylcholine-induced inward current (ACh-current) in command Helix neurons of defensive behavior at the cellular correlate of habituation were investigated. The following drugs were used: okadaic acid (reduces activity ofphosphatases PP1 and PP2A), endothall (PP2A), cyclosporine A and cypermethrin (PP2B), CCT007093 (PPM1D), dephostatin (blocks tyrosine phosphatases). All used inhibitors modify the depression flow, and endothall reduces spontaneous recovery of ACh-current also. Obtained results indicate that changes in cholinosensitivity of command neurons depend on activity of all investigated protein phosphatases. Mathematical model considers the possibility of different localizations of receptors in a neuron and regularity of transitions between them. This model makes it possible to conclude participation indicated phosphatases in mobility of membrane cholinoreceptors ensuring the ACh-current modification at the cellular correlate of habituations. Comparison of experimental and calculated curves of ACh-current change allows to conclude that the main target of protein phosphatases is the transport system of a neuron--cytoskeleton and motor proteins.

The experiments reported here showed that the adenylate cyclase inhibitor SQ 22,536, inhibitors of serine/threonine protein kinases – protein kinase A (Rp-cAMPS), protein kinase G (H-Arg-Lys-Arg-Ala-Arg-Lys-Glu-OH), calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (KN-93), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (PD 169316) – and an inhibitor of tyrosine protein kinases, including the Src (PP2) family (genistein), weaken depression of the acetylcholine-induced influx current in common snail defensive behavior command neurons in conditions of rhythmic local applications of acetylcholine to the cell body in a cellular model of habituation. The selective protein kinase C inhibitor chelerythrin did not alter depression of the acetylcholine current. Mathematical modeling of the effects of these inhibitors on the number of membrane-bound cholinoreceptors yielded calculated curves consistent with the experimental curves showing depression of the acetylcholine current. The experimental data and calculation results led to the following suggestion. Reversible depression of the cholinosensitivity of the bodies of defensive behavior command neurons in common snails in the cellular analog of habituation is associated with a decrease in the number of membranebound acetylcholine receptors in the test zone due to activation of several serine/threonine protein kinases: protein kinase A, protein kinase G, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, mitogen-activated protein kinases (excluding protein kinase C), as well as tyrosine protein kinases, including members of the Src kinase family. The main action of all these kinases (except protein kinase C) in command neurons is targeted to cellular cytoskeleton proteins (actin microfilaments and microtubules). Phosphorylation of these proteins leads to copolymerization and stabilization of actin filaments, stabilization of tubulin, which is the main microtubule protein, changes in the activity of motor proteins, and, thus, changes in the rates of transport processes, i.e., the rates of receptor endocytosis and exocytosis. The action of protein kinase G is (indirectly) on the interaction of actin with myosin. Protein kinase A, calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II and Src kinase also phosphorylate proteins activating the displacement of receptors into clathrin-coated pits in endocytosis.

Motor proteins of microtubules, kinesin and dynein superfamily proteins play an important role in the intracellular transport. Inside a neuron they are involved in the transport of organelles, proteins and mRNAs along the axons and dendrites to the nerve terminals and back to the cell bodies. Disturbance of axonal transport may affect neurotransmitter release and short-term presynaptic plasticity. Disturbance of dendritic transport, in particular the recycling of synaptic receptors, affects postsynaptic plasticity. The review attempts to trace the connections between the motor proteins of microtubules and mechanisms of synaptic plasticity from the perspective of their involvement in the intracellular transport of proteins and organelles, which play role in the mechanisms of synaptic plasticity.

This paper presents the results of the 4th International Comparison of in vitro electron paramagnetic resonance dosimetry with tooth enamel, where the performance parameters of tooth enamel dosimetry methods were compared among sixteen laboratories from all over the world. The participating laboratories were asked to determine a calibration curve with a set of tooth enamel powder samples provided by the organizers. Nine molar teeth extracted following medical indication from German donors and collected between 1997 and 2007 were prepared and irradiated at the Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen. Five out of six samples were irradiated at 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 Gy air kerma; and one unirradiated sample was kept as control. The doses delivered to the individual samples were unknown to the participants, who were asked to measure each sample nine times, and to report the EPR signal response, the mass of aliquots measured, and the parameters of EPR signal acquisition and signal evaluation. Critical dose and detection limit were calculated by the organizers on the basis of the calibration-curve parameters obtained at every laboratory. For calibration curves obtained by measuring every calibration sample three times, the mean value of the detection limit was 205 mGy, ranging from 56 to 649 mGy. The participants were also invited to provide the signal response and the nominal dose of their current dose calibration curve (wherever available), the critical dose and detection limit of which were also calculated by the organizers.

Blockers of dynamin-dependent endocytosis (dynamin inhibitory peptide and dynasore) and tubulin blockers (colchicine and vinblastine) were found to weaken the depression of acetylcholine-induced influx currents in defensive behavior command neurons in common snails during rhythmic local application of acetylcholine to the bodies and cell membranes during abituation. A mathematical model allowing different cellular locations for cells and receptor movement patterns was used to analyze the relationship between depression of the acetylcholine-evoked influx current and various intracellular processes. It is suggested that the depression of cholinosensitivity in the extrasynaptic zones of the membranes of common snail defensive behavior command neurons in the cellular model of habituation is associated with the dynamin-dependent endocytosis of cholinoreceptors, involving cytoskeletal microtubules.

Short-term heterosynaptic potentiation of cholinergic excitatory postsynaptic currents and potentials in defensive behavior command neurons was found to be evoked by stimulation of the visceral sac in the common snail. It is suggested that a mechanism increasing the choline resistance of the postsynaptic zones of command neuron membranes is involved in potentiating the excitatory postsynaptic responses to sensory stimulation.

The results of integral dose estimations for inhabitants of four settlements near the former Semipalatinsk nuclear test site obtained by EPR dosimetry on tooth enamel in 2004–2005 years are discussed. It was found that the observed dose distributions have a nonstandard bimodal form with a mode at low doses in the range from 0.3–0.5 Gy, and a tail with higher doses, possibly suggesting two subpopulations. Possible reasons for such high doses are discussed.

For intercomparison of methods of dose determination using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy of tooth enamel, the same sets of enamel samples were analyzed in different laboratories using similar recording parameters. The sets of samples included calibration samples irradiated in known doses, test samples irradiated to doses unknown to the participants and accidental dose samples prepared from teeth of humans affected by radioactive fallout from nuclear tests in the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site in Kazakhstan. The test samples were analyzed to determine the differences in the resulting doses using different spectrometers and different spectra processing methods. The accidental dose samples were analyzed in order to test the precision of doses determined by EPR spectroscopy and to obtain more accurate values by averaging the results from different laboratories.

In order to investigate the effects of spectrum processing procedures on the results of dose determination using EPR spectroscopy of human tooth enamel, spectra of the same samples measured in different laboratories in the course of the intercomparison were processed by some of the participants using their own unique procedures. Spectra of samples irradiated to known doses (calibration samples) and of samples irradiated to doses unknown to the participants (test samples) were analyzed. By comparison of the results obtained using different spectrum processing methods, it is shown that the precision of calibration and the accuracy of dose determination may be improved by appropriate choice of spectrum processing procedure.

The effects of protein synthesis inhibitors on short-term sensitization of a defensive reaction in common snails and the potentiation of the cholinosensitivity of command neurons were studied. The protein synthesis inhibitor anisomycin did not prevent behavioral sensitization. Anisomycin and the irreversible protein synthesis inhibitor saporin changed the dynamics of potentiation of command neuron cholinosensitivity. We suggest that the sensitization of the defensive response of the common snail studied here does not require the synthesis of new proteins.

The role of kinesin and dynein microtubule-associated molecular motors in the cellular mechanism of depression of acetylcholine-induced inward chloride current (ACh-current) was examined in command neurons of land snails (Helix lucorum) in response to repeated applications of ACh to neuronal soma. This pharmacological stimulation imitated the protocol of tactile stimulation evoking behavioural habituation of the defensive reaction. In this system, a dynein inhibitor (erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine, 50 µM) decreased the ACh-current depression rate. Kinesin Eg5 inhibitors (Eg5 inhibitor III, 10 µM and Eg5 inhibitor V, trans-24, 15 µM) reduced the degree of current depression, and Eg5 inhibitor V also reduced the initial rate of depression. The results of electrophysiological experiments in combination with mathematical modelling provided evidence of the participation of dyneins and kinesin Eg5 proteins in the radial transport of acetylcholine receptors in command neurons of H. lucorum in the cellular analogue of habituation. Furthermore, these results suggest that the reciprocal interaction between dynein and kinesin proteins located on the same vesicle can lead to reverse their usual direction of transport (dyneins—in exocytosis and kinesin Eg5—in endocytosis).

We studied cholinergic component of visceral sensory input to defensive behavior command neurons in edible snail. Nicotinic receptor antagonist tubocurarine and muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine reversibly decreased the amplitude of the total excitatory postsynaptic potential induced by electrostimulation of the peripheral region in the mechanosensory receptor field of command neurons on the surface of internal organs. Our results indicate that acetylcholine is involved in sensory signal transduction from the visceral sac to command neurons of snail parietal ganglia. The subsynaptic membrane of visceral synaptic input contains nicotinic and muscarinic receptors.

We investigated the involvement of cytoskeleton motor proteins, myosins, in the molecular mechanism of sensitivity depression to acetylcholine in Helix command neurons of defensive behavior in a cellular analog of habituation. There were analyzed the effects of several drugs disturbing myosin function: ML-7 and MLCK-IP-18--blockers of myosin light chain kinase, blebbistatin--an inhibitor of non-muscle myosin II, Y-27632--inhibitor of kinases ROCK-I and ROCK-II (activate mainly non-muscle myosin II) on the depression of acetylcholine-induced inward current. It was found that ML-7 and MLCK-IP- 18 weakened current depression; blebbistatin and Y-27632 did not change the depression. The results of experimental inhibitory analysis and mathematical modeling of the effects of inhibitors on the number of membrane-bound cholinergic receptors allow to suggest the involvement ofmyosins (excluding non-muscle myosin II) in the transports of acetylcholine receptors (endo- and exocytosis) that are responsible for sensitivity changes in neuron somatic membrane to acetylcholine in a cellular analog of habituation.

The effects of the Na,K pump inhibitor ouabain on habituation of the common snail to tactile stimulation were identical to the ouabain-induced modification of the decrease in the cholinosensitivity of defensive behavior command neurons in the common snail in a cellular model of habituation. Studies addressed the effects of intracellularly delivered ligands of two types of Ca2+ depot receptors — inositol triphosphate (IP3) receptors and ryanodine receptors — on the action of ouabain in the cellular analog of habituation. The IP3 receptor antagonist heparin (0.1 mM), the IP3 receptor agonist inositol triphosphate (0.1 mM), and the ryanodine-dependent Ca2+ mobilization inhibitor dantrolene (0.1 mM) prevented ouabain from modifying the depression of the evoked acetylcholine current. The ryanodine agonist/antagonist ryanodine was used at two concentrations (0.1 and 1 mM) and neither had any effect on the action of ouabain. It is concluded that Ca2+ mobilized from intracellular Ca2+ depots via IP3 receptors is involved in the neuronal mechanism of regulation of the habitation of the common snail to tactile stimulation by the Na,K pump.

Studies were conducted on the role of the Na,K pump and intracellular calcium in the previously observed phenomenon of increased cholinosensitivity of the somatic membranes of neurons LPa3 and RPa3 in the common snail, induced by electrical tetanic stimulation (10.5 mA, 0.1 sec, 2 impulses/sec; 2 min) of the afferent input (the intestinal nerve). Recordings were made of integral transmembrane acetylcholine-evoked currents by two-electrode membrane voltage clamping. After intracellular administration of the Na,K pump inhibitor ouabain (70 μM), there was no post-tetanic increase in neuron cholinosensitivity. Intracellular injection of the calcium ion chelator BAPTA suppressed the sensitization of somatic cholinoreceptors after orthodromal tetanization. It was concluded that the Na,K pump is involved in the mechanism of post-tetanic potentiation of cholinosensitivity in the bodies of defensive behavior command neurons in the common snail, this involvement being Ca-dependent.

The effects of the Na, K pump inhibitor ouabain on the depth of depression of cholinosensitivity of defensive behavior command neurons LPa2, LPa3, RPa3, and RPa2 were studied in the common snail using a cellular analog of habituation; the role of intracellular Ca2+ in these effects was analyzed. Integral acetylcholine-evoked transmembrane currents (ACh currents) were recorded by two-electrode membrane voltage clamping. In one group of neurons, extracellular application of ouabain (0.1 mM) by addition to the bathing solution evoked increases in the depression of the ACh current evoked by rhythmic application of mediator (with interstimulus intervals of 1–3 min), while neurons of the other groups responded with decreases in depression. After spontaneous diffusion of the Ca2+ ion chelator BAPTA (1 mM) from the intracellular microelectrode for 60–150 min, ouabain only increased the level of depression of the ACh current. After intracellular injection of CaCl2 (100 mM), ouabain only decreased the level of depression of the ACh current. It was concluded that inhibition of the Na, K pump modifies depression of the cholinosensitivity of neurons in the cellular model of habituation. The direction of the effect depends on the basal concentration of intracellular Ca2+.