Sleep with Open Eyes in Two Species of Deer, the Indian Sambar (Rusa unicolor) and Sika Deer (Cervus nippon).

The relationship between postures, sleep stages and eye state was established in two species of deer, the Indian sambar (Rusa unicolor) and sika deer (Cervus nippon), based on video recording. In both species, the state of rest or behavioral sleep was recorded in the sternal position, holding the head above the ground, and in the lateral position, with the head resting on the croup or on the ground. Rest accounted for at least 80% of the time in these positions. Based on behavior criteria a substantial portion of rest represented slow-wave sleep. Episodes of rapid eye movements (REM sleep) were recorded in the lateral position. They did not exceed 2 min. When the deer were in the sternal posture, they kept their eyes open most of the time: in average 96% of the time in sambars and 82% in sika deer. Episodes of the open eye in this posture lasted up to 8.4 min in sambars and up to 3.3 min in sika deer. In the lateral position, such episodes were 4 and 1.5 times shorter. Sleeping with open eyes in ungulates may be an important mechanism of maintaining vigilance.

Evaluation of an Instrumental Method of Classification of Beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) Behaviors Based on the Parameters of Acceleration.

A noninvasive instrumental method of classification the behavior of the beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) based on the parameters of movement was evaluated. Motor activity was characterized by the mean and standard deviation of the beluga tail fluke acceleration. It was found that, using the "decision tree" algorithm, at least two types of beluga behaviors can be distinguished: resting at the surface and active swimming in the pool. The determination accuracy (depending on the parameter) was, on average, 81-97% for resting at the surface and 54-99% for active swimming behaviors. Differences between the accuracy of classification of resting at the surface based on three axis and overall body acceleration were minimal. In the future, the accuracy may be improved by using other acceleration parameters, shortening the interval of analysis, and optimizing the classification algorithms.

Characteristics of Sleep-Wakefulness Cycle and Circadian Activity in the Lesser Mouse-Deer (Tragulus kanchil).

The pattern of sleep and circadian activity of the lesser mouse-deer (Tragulus kanchil) that is the smallest (body mass between 1.5 and 2.2 kg) representative of the basal group (Tragulidae) of even-toed ungulates which evolved 40-50 Ma were studied. In naturalistic conditions, a total of 30 days of full-day video of the animal behavior and 15 days of 24-h polysomnographic data were collected in 6 animals. The mouse-deer were active less than 20% of 24 h and were quiescent during 60-80% of the remaining time. Slow wave sleep (SWS) accounted for on average 49.7 ± 3.7% of 24 h and paradoxical (rapid eye movement, REM) sleep accounted for 1.7 ± 0.3% of 24 h. During the majority of SWS (87.0 ± 4.4%) the eyes were open. The most of SWS and REM sleep occurred during the daytime hours (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.) and in the first half of the night (8 p.m. to 2 a.m.); the animals were most active during twilight hours (4-6 a.m. and 6-7 p.m.). We suggest that the main features of sleep in the mouse-deer are largely determined by ecological factors, including environmental temperature and predation, as well as the size and physiology of the mouse-deer.

Structure of the O-Specific polysaccharide from Shewanella japonica KMM 3601 containing 5,7-Diacetamido-3,5,7,9-tetradeoxy-D-glycero-D-talo-non-2-ulosonic acid.

Structure of the O-specific polysaccharide chain of the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Shewanella japonica KMM 3601 was elucidated. The initial and O-deacylated LPS as well as a trisaccharide representing the O-deacetylated repeating unit of the O-specific polysaccharide were studied by sugar analysis along with 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The polysaccharide was found to contain a rare higher sugar, 5,7-diacetamido-3,5,7,9-tetradeoxy-D-glycero-D-talo-non-2-ulosonic acid (a derivative of 4-epilegionaminic acid, 4eLeg). The following structure of the trisaccharide repeating unit was established: →4)-α-4eLegp5Ac7Ac-(2→4)-ß-D-GlcpA3Ac-(1→3)-ß-D-GalpNAc-(1→.

Structural characterization of the active form of PerR: insights into the metal-induced activation of PerR and Fur proteins for DNA binding.

In Bacillus subtilis, the transcription factor PerR is an iron dependant sensor of H(2)O(2). The sensing mechanism relies on a selective metal catalysed oxidation of two histidine residues of the regulatory site. Here we present the first crystal structure of the active PerR protein in complex with a Mn(2+) ion. In addition, X-ray absorption spectroscopy experiments were performed to characterize the corresponding iron form of the protein. Both studies reveal a penta-coordinate arrangement of the regulatory site that involves three histidines and two aspartates. One of the histidine ligand belongs to the N-terminal domain. Binding of this residue to the regulatory metal allows the protein to adopt a caliper-like conformation suited to DNA binding. Since this histidine is conserved in all PerR and a vast majority of Fur proteins, it is likely that the allosteric switch induced by the regulatory metal is general for this family of metalloregulators.

[Electroencephalographic indices in concussion of the brain].

In 13 patients (7 men and 6 women) aged 19-44 yrs, 28 yrs at average, suffering symptoms of giddiness, nausea, vomiting, unconsciousness, the functional state of brain, using electroencephalography, was investigated. In 62% patients, according to the background electroencephalography data, the total power of low rhythms (teta + delta) had exceeded the total power of rapid rhythms (alfa + beta) in every 11 (68%) investigated brain dots of total 16. Quantitative diagnostic criterion for the brain commotion diagnosis confirmation was created, basing on the investigation results analysis performed: the total power of a slow rhythms exceeding over total power of rapid rhythms in majority (more than 68%) of the brain investigated region dots.

Resonant x-ray diffraction studies on the charge ordering in magnetite.

Here we show that the low temperature phase of magnetite is associated with an effective, although fractional, ordering of the charge. Evidence and a quantitative evaluation of the atomic charges are achieved by using resonant x-ray diffraction (RXD) experiments whose results are further analyzed with the help of ab initio calculations of the scattering factors involved. By confirming the results obtained from x-ray crystallography we have shown that RXD is able to probe quantitatively the electronic structure in very complex oxides, whose importance covers a wide domain of applications.

Circadian dynamics of monocyte phagocytic activity in women during lactation complicated by iron deficiency.

Biorhythms of phagocytic activity of peripheral blood monocytes were studied during lactation in healthy women and in women with iron deficiency. Circadian organization of monocyte function was characteristic of healthy nursing women. Strain in the system was associated with elevation of the mean circadian values for reserve potential of the absorption and digestive capacity of phagocytes. Circadian rhythms of the phagocytic and digestive capacity of peripheral blood monocytes were leveled during lactation complicated by iron deficiency. Decreased coefficient of the parameters activation is an early manifestation of latent iron deficiency. Decrease in the basic function parameters and reserve potential are directly related to the decrease in serum ferritin concentration.

Diurnal variations in qualitative composition of breast milk in women with iron deficiency.

Biorhythms of iron metabolism in healthy women and patients with iron deficiency were studied during lactation. Healthy nursing women were characterized by circadian variations in the concentrations of iron, alpha-tocopherol, and malonic dialdehyde in breast milk. Diurnal variations in iron concentration, antioxidant potential, and lipid peroxidation in breast milk depended on iron metabolism in nursing women. Iron deficiency was accompanied by a decrease in the concentrations of alpha-tocopherol and iron, increase in malonic dialdehyde content, and suppression of circadian variations in these parameters in breast milk.

[Inhibition of prokaryote and eukaryote cells adhesion by sea proteobacteria Pseudoalteromonas nigrifaciens KMM 156 lipopolysaccharide and its fragments].

The impact of Pseudoalteromonas nigrifaciens KMM 156 lipopolysaccharide and its fragments on adhesion of prokaryote and eukaryote cells was studied. The lipopolysaccharide and O-specific polysaccharide identical by its structure to capsular polysaccharide lowered the number of the Yersinia pseudotuberculosis bacteria attached to sheep erythrocytes and adhesion of mouse neutrophils to plastic. The kora oligosaccharide had no effect on the processes.

Structure of O-specific polysaccharide from Pseudoalteromonas nigrifaciens strain KMM 161.

On mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide of the marine microorganism Pseudoalteromonas nigrifaciens KMM 161 an O-specific polysaccharide containing D-galactose, 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-D-glucose, 3,6-dideoxy-3-(4-hydroxybutyramido)-D-galactose, and 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-L-guluronic acid residues was obtained. From the results of Smith degradation, O-deacetylation of the polysaccharide, and NMR spectroscopy the following structure of the tetrasaccharide repeating unit of the O-specific polysaccharide was established [see reaction]. It should be noted that the same structure occurs in the antigenic polysaccharide of Pseudoalteromonas nigrifaciens KMM 158 described earlier as Alteromonas macleodii 2MM6.

Muscle jerks during behavioral sleep in a beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas L.).

We conducted video recording of the behavior of one captive adult male beluga (or white) whale over eight nights aiming to quantify muscle jerks and to evaluate their relationship to the sleep-waking cycle. Presumably, the whale was asleep during a significant portion of the time it spent lying on the bottom of the pool. Individual sleep episodes lasted between 20 and 492 s and on average occupied 66.7+/-2.6% of the nighttime (n=8). Muscle jerks were quantified in the last three nights, during which an average of 144+/-24 jerks were documented per night. Forty-six percent of all jerks occurred within 10 s of each other. Series of jerks lasted 2-21 s (on average 4.8+/-0.5 s, n=97) and in total occupied 0.3-0.7% of the rest time (0.2-0.5% of total nighttime). Jerks occurred more frequently at the end of rest episodes. A significant portion of rest episodes with jerks (62%) followed each other. These series of episodes with jerks alternated with periods when jerks were not recorded over 8-37 min. We conclude that some jerks meet the behavioral criteria of paradoxical [or rapid eye movement (REM)] sleep (PS). On the other hand, definitive conclusions about the presence and duration of this sleep stage in cetaceans cannot be reached without further combined electropolygraphic studies and visual observations.

[Immunotropic properties of exoglycan obtained from the marine micro-organism Vibrio alginolyticus]. / Immunotropnye svoistva ékzoglikana morskogo mikroorganizma Vibrio alginolyticus.

Immune system modulating activity of exoglycane isolated from culture media of Vibrio alginolyticus (strain 945-80) was investigated. The substance demonstrated stimulating activity on the humoral and cell immune system, potentiated phagocyte activity of macrophage and neutrophils, increased survival index of the animals infected by Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

A novel enzyme biosensor for steroidal glycoalkaloids detection based on pH-sensitive field effect transistors.

For the design of a biosensor sensitive to steroidal glycoalkaloids, pH-Sensitive Field Effect Transistors as transducers and immobilised butyrylcholinesterase as a biorecognition element have been used. The total potato glycoalcaloids can be measured by this biosensor in the concentration range 0.5-100 microM with detection limits of 0.5 microM for alpha-chaconine and of 2.0 microM for alpha-solanine and solanidine, respectively. The responses of the developed biosensors were reproducible with a relative standard deviation of about 1.5% and 5% for intra- and inter-sensor responses (both cases, n=10, for an alkaloid concentration of 5 microM), respectively. Moreover, due to the reversibility of the enzyme inhibition, the same sensor chip with immobilised butyrylcholinesterase can be used several times (for at least 100 measurements) after a simple washing by a buffer solution and can be stored at 4 degrees C for at least 3 months without any significant loss of the enzymatic activity.

Unihemispheric slow wave sleep and the state of the eyes in a white whale.

We recorded electroencephalogram (EEG) and simultaneously documented the state of both eyelids during sleep and wakefulness in a sub-adult male white whale over a 4-day-period. We showed that the white whale was the fifth species of Cetaceans, which exhibits unihemispheric slow wave sleep. We found that the eye contralateral to the sleeping hemisphere in this whale was usually closed (right eye, 52% of the total sleep time in the contralateral hemisphere; left eye, 40%) or in an intermediate state (31 and 46%, respectively) while the ipsilateral eye was typically open (89 and 80%). Episodes of bilateral eye closure in this whale occupied less than 2% of the observation time and were usually recorded during waking (49% of the bilateral eye closure time) or low amplitude sleep (48%) and rarely in high amplitude sleep (3%). In spite of the evident overall relationship between the sleeping hemisphere and eye state, EEG and eye position in this whale could be independent over short time periods (less than 1 min). Therefore, eye state alone may not accurately reflect sleep state in Cetaceans. Our data support the idea that unihemispheric sleep allows Cetaceans to monitor the environment.

Chemical characterization of lipid A from some marine proteobacteria.

Lipids A from type and wild strains of marine Proteobacteria belonging to Alteromonadaceae (Alteromonas (1 species), Idiomarina (1 species), and Pseudoalteromonas (8 species) genera) and Vibrionaceae (Shewanella (1 species) and Vibrio (1 species) genera) families and Marinomonas genus (1 species) were isolated by hydrolysis of their respective lipopolysaccharides with 1% acetic acid. Based on thin-layer chromatography data, the lipids A studied had low heterogeneity and generated family-specific patterns varying in numbers of bands and their chromatographic mobility. Total chemical analysis of the compounds showed that they contained glucosamine, phosphate, and fatty acids with decanoate (I. zobellii KMM 231(T) lipid A) or dodecanoate (lipids A of the other bacteria) and 3-hydroxy alkanoates as the major fatty acid components. Unlike terrestrial bacterial lipids A, lipids A of marine Proteobacteria had basically monophosphoryl (except V. fluvialis AQ 0002B lipid A with its two phosphate groups) and pentaacyl (except S. alga 48055 and V. fluvialis AQ 0002B lipids A which were found to have six residues of fatty acids per molecule of glucosamine disaccharide) structural types, low toxicity, and may be useful as potential endotoxin antagonists.

Structure of a colitose-containing O-specific polysaccharide of the marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas tetraodonis IAM 14160(T).

O-specific polysaccharide was isolated by mild acid degradation of the lipopolysaccharide of Pseudoalteromonas tetraodonis type strain IAM 14160(T) and studied by sugar and methylation analyses along with 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy, including 2D COSY, TOCSY, 1H,(13)C HMQC and HMBC experiments. The polysaccharide was found to consist of hexasaccharide repeating units containing one residue each of D-Gal, D-GlcA, D-GalNAc and D-GlcNAc and two residues of 3,6-dideoxy-L-xylo-hexose (colitose, Col) and having the following structure:In common with the polysaccharides of some other bacteria, the polysaccharide studied contains a tetrasaccharide fragment alpha-Colp-(1-->2)-beta-D-Galp-(1-->3)-[alpha-Colp-(1-->4)]-beta-D-GlcpNAc, which is a colitose ('3-deoxy-L-fucose') analogue of the Lewis(b) blood group antigenic determinant.

[Diversity in the monosaccharide composition of antigenic polysaccharides from proteobacteria Pseudoalteromonas and Marinomonas genera]. / Raznoobrazie monosakharidnogo sostava antigennykh polisakharidov proteobakterii rodov Pseudoalteromonas i Marinomonas.

The sugar analysis of the glycans of the type strains of marine proteobacteria of the genera Pseudoalteromonas and Marinomonas--Pseudoalteromonas atlantica IAM12927T, P. aurantia NCIMB 2033T, P. citrea ATCC 29719T, P. elyakovii KMM 162T, P. espejiana ATCC 29659T, P. piscicida NCIMB 645T, P. tetraodonis IAM 14160T, Marinomonas communis ATCC 27118T, and M. vaga ATCC 27119T--showed that they contain glucose, galactose, galactosamine, glucosamine, fucose, rhamnose, mannose, heptose, 2-keto-3-deoxyoctonate (KDO), uronic acids, colitose (3,6-dideoxyl-L-xylo-hexose), and 6-deoxy-L-talose. The carbohydrate composition of the antigenic polysaccharides (PSs) of P. elyakovii KMM 162T and P. espejiana ATCC 29659T depended on the type and the concentration of carbohydrate substrates in the nutrient media. The molar proportion between rhamnose, glucose, and galactose (ca. 1:0.3:2) in the PS of P. elyakovii KMM 162T was almost the same in the media lacking carbohydrates or containing glucose or galactose at a concentration of 1 g/l. At the same time, the molar proportion between fucose, glucose, galactose, galactosamine, and glucosamine (ca. 1:1:1:2:0.5) in the PS of P. espejiana ATCC 29659T depended on the presence and the concentration of carbohydrate substrates in the medium. A high concentration of glucose in the medium (30 g/l) brought about a rise in the content of glucose in PSs (9-fold for the PS of P. elyakovii KMM 162T and 4.6-fold for the PS of P. espejiana ATCC 29659T) and led to a decrease in the content of other carbohydrates. The cultivation of these two strains at a lactose concentration of 30 g/l resulted in their PSs containing glucose and galactose in about equal proportions (ca. 1:1 in the case of P. espejiana ATCC 29659T and ca. 2.1:1.7 in the case of P. elyakovii KMM 162T).

Isolation and properties of a mannan-binding lectin from the coelomic fluid of the holothurian Cucumaria japonica.

A new 44-kD, C-type mannan-binding lectin (MBL-C) consisting of two identical subunits was isolated from the coelomic fluid of the holothurian Cucumaria japonica. In the direct hemagglutination assay, the lectin was effectively inhibited by highly branched mannans similar in structure to yeast mannans and composed of alpha-(1-->2)- and alpha-(1-->6)-bound D-mannopyranose residues. Hemagglutination was not inhibited by mannosaccharides, common constituents of the hydrocarbon chains of "normal" glycoproteins. The lectin reaction depends on Ca2+ concentration: maximum activity of MBL-C is observed at 10 mM Ca2+. The activity of MBL-C increases in the pH range from 5 to 7 and reaches maximum at pH 7.0. The lectin is sensitive to temperature. Heating of the lectin solution at temperatures above 40 degrees C decreases activity, while incubation at 90 degrees C for 1 h leads to complete irreversible inactivation. Carbohydrate specificity, Ca2+-dependence, and amino acid composition indicate that MBL-C belongs to the C-type mannan-binding lectins. Polyclonal antibodies against MBL-C revealed its immunochemical similarity to a mannan-binding lectin from another holothurian species, Stichopus japonicus; this provides evidence for structural homology between these proteins.

Structure of the O-specific polysaccharide from Pseudoalteromonas elyakovii sp. nov. CMM 162.

The structure of the O-specific polysaccharide from lipopolysaccharide of Pseudoalteromonas elyakovii sp. nov. CMM 162 on the basis of NMR data, Smith degradation and methylation study was elucidated as follows:-->2)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-beta-D-GalpNAc-(1--> 3)-alpha-D-Galp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Galp-NAc-(1-->6)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->.