[Clinical features of asthenic disorders in chronic heart failure]. / Klinicheskie osobennosti astenicheskikh rasstroistv pri khronicheskoi serdechnoi nedostatochnosti.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to study the clinical features of asthenic disorders in chronic heart failure (CHF) considering the reaction to the disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 62 inpatients with CHF II-IV functional class (FC) according to NYHA were examined. Research methods included somatic, psychopathological and pathopsychological examination using psychometric scales. RESULTS: According to a pathopsychological study using the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20), asthenic disorders were discovered in all examined patients, realized mainly by «general fatigue¼ (75.8%) and «physical fatigue¼ (72.6%), more rarely «mental fatigue¼ was observed (32.2%). Correlations of «general fatigue¼ with the age of patients were revealed (p=0.018). There was a relationship between the severity of asthenic disorders and the severity of CHF, as evidenced by the correlation between «general fatigue¼ and reduced ejection fraction (EF) of the left ventricle (p=0.005), as well as «physical fatigue¼ and FC according to NYHA (p=0.022). The negative impact of all components of the dimensions of asthenic disorders on the quality of life was determined (p<0.05). According to the concept of the formation of different perceptions of the manifestations of a somatic disease, two types of reactions to asthenic disorders were identified: 1. Dissociative reactions, manifested by a discrepancy between the severity of CHF and a subjective assessment of the condition with an underestimation of the asthenic symptoms denial of its influence on the usual lifestyle and associated with an unfavorable course of CHF and 2. Adaptive reactions, realized by a harmonious perception of asthenia, awareness of the need to change lifestyle considering the presence of CHF symptoms. CONCLUSION: In accordance with the results, the described clinical features of asthenic disorders allow to distinguish asthenia in CHF and other pathology, and the identified types of reactions can contribute to the timely verification of asthenia, prevention of further progression of CHF, and the development of appropriate treatment approaches.

[Impact of anxiety disorders on adherence to anticoagulant therapy in patients with atrial fibrillation].

AIM: To evaluate the impact of anxiety disorders on adherence to anticoagulant therapy (ACT) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: 179 outpatients (131 women, 48 men, mean age 69.96.2 years) with AF were examined. The research methods included a physical examination according to the standards of medical care in an outpatient facility, clinical and psychopathological examination using psychometric scales. RESULTS: Based on the assessment of adherence to ACT using the MoriskyGreen test, 2 groups of patients were identified: Group 1 patients with high adherence to ACT, Group 2 patients with partial/low adherence to ACT. In group 1, anxiety disorders were verified in 51.7% of cases, in group 2 54.3%. There were no statistically significant differences in the prevalence and severity of anxiety in the study groups. In accordance with the binary logistic regression model, the probability of high adherence to therapy is determined by higher (compared with the group of patients with partial/low adherence to therapy) scores in terms of mental health (p0.001), vital activity (p=0.02) and the total score of the SF-36 scale (p=0.08), as well as the extraversion parameter (p=0.02) of the NEO-FFI scale. CONCLUSION: In the present study, no significant association was found between anxiety symptoms and a decrease in adherence to ACT in patients with AF. However, the results obtained suggest a contribution to the adherence to therapy of personality characteristics.

[Clinical and psychopathological aspects of nosogenic reactions in chronic heart failure]. / Kliniko-psikhopatologicheskie aspekty nozogennykh reaktsii pri khronicheskoi serdechnoi nedostatochnosti.

OBJECTIVE: To study the typology of nosogenic reactions in chronic heart failure (CHF) with the determination of the contribution of cardiological and personality factors in their formation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: One hundred and twenty-one patients with nosogenic reactions associated with CHF were examined. Somatic, clinical-psychopathological and psychometric examinations were used. RESULTS: Three types of nosogenic reactions in CHF have been identifiedSignificantly more frequent were dissociative reactions (76 (62.8%) patients, 40 men, 36 women, mean age 64.4±12.7) with an underestimation of the severity of the somatic condition, which formed in CHF with a short (3.2±3.8 years, p<0.05), but the most severe course. They were associated with hyperthymic, hysterical and schizoid personality radical. Hypochondriacal reactions (28 (23.1%) patients, 18 men, 20 women, mean age 63.4±15.2), due to anxiety about health and excessive fixation on the functioning of the heart, were characteristic of CHF, regardless of the severity of cardiological conditions, with an average duration of the course (4.1±4.2 years). They were observed in patients with anxious and hysterical radicals. Depressive reactions (17 (14%) patients, 8 men, 9 women, mean age 64.3±13.5), had the most protracted character (6.1±3.2 years), formed in patients with anankastic and schizoid radicals, and were noted in chronic heart failure with a long course and moderate severity. Heterogeneous nosogenic reactions in CHF were associated with low adherence to treatment due to maladaptive behavior of the patient, determined by the characteristics of the psychopathological structure. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrates the influence of the characteristics of a cardiac disease and personality on the clinical and psychopathological features of nosogenic reactions associated with maladaptive behavior of the patient.

Thermal Balance of the Brain and Markers of Inflammatory Response in Patients with Schizophrenia.

In patients with schizophrenia, the thermal balance of the cerebral cortex was studied by means of microwave radiothermometry method and compared with the markers of systemic inflammation and clinical features of the disease course during therapy. Low temperature heterogeneity of the cerebral cortex was associated with an increase in the activity of inflammatory markers in the blood and, in most cases, with a positive response to therapy. High temperature heterogeneity of the cerebral cortex was typical of patients with insufficient activity of the inflammatory proteolytic system, high levels of antibodies to brain antigens, a more severe course of the disease and, in most cases, with resistance to therapy. A conclusion was made about the diagnostic value of the study of the thermal balance of the brain in patients with schizophrenia.

[Clinical features of schizotypal disorder in childhood and adolescence]. / Klinicheskie osobennosti shizotipicheskogo rasstroistva v detsko-podrostkovom vozraste.

OBJECTIVE: To identify psychopathological features, patterns of formation and course of schizotypal disorder (STD) in childhood and adolescence, to develop criteria for differential diagnosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 151 patients, aged 7 to 16 years (mean age 12.3 years), with a diagnosis of schizotypal disorder were included in the study. Of these, 48 (31.8%) were women and 103 (68.2%) were men. Psychopathological, pathopsychological, psychometric and statistical methods were used. The Schizotypal Personality Questionnaire (SPQ) was used as a formalized tool for assessing the clinical symptoms of STD. RESULTS: Based on the prevailing symptoms, the clinical sample of patients was divided into 3 groups. The 1st group consisted of 56 (32.5%) patients with a predominance of neurosis-like disorders, the 2nd group - 50 (37.7%) patients with a predominance of behavioral disorders, the 3rd group included 45 (29.8%) patients with the dominance of stable personality anomalies. Significant differences between the groups were found in the frequency and severity of psychopathological symptoms, the structure of deficient (negative disorders), the age of onset of disorders, the characteristics of social activity and adaptation. According to the SPQ scale, positive disorders prevailed in group 1 compared to group 3: ideas of attitude (3.3 and 2.7 points respectively), unusual sensations and perceptions (3, 1 and 1.7 points respectively). CONCLUSION: STD is a spectrum of disorders, on one end of which there are variants with a predominance of positive disorders, on the other negative ones. The predominance of certain psychopathological symptoms is due to the age of onset of psychopathological disorders, age at the time of the current exacerbation, and the duration of persistence of the disease. The predominance of neurosis-like, psychopathic-like disorders and persistent personality anomalies makes it possible to classify STD as one of the identified types, which allows us to substantiate differentiated therapy and prognosis.

Synthesis of CuO nanoparticles stabilized with gelatin for potential use in food packaging applications.

In the present study, a method for the synthesis of gelatin-stabilized copper oxide nanoparticles was developed. Synthesis was carried out by direct chemical precipitation. Copper sulfate, chloride, and acetate were used as precursors for the copper oxide synthesis. Gelatin was used as a stabilizer. It was found that the formation of monophase copper oxide II only occurred when copper acetate was used as a precursor. Our results showed that particles of the smallest diameter are formed in an aqueous medium (18 ± 6 nm), and those of th largest diameter-in an isobutanol medium (370 ± 131 nm). According to the photon correlation spectroscopy data, copper oxide nanoparticles synthesized in an aqueous medium were highly stable and had a monomodal size distribution with an average hydrodynamic radius of 61 nm. The study of the pH effect on the colloidal stability of copper oxide nanoparticles showed that the sample was stable in the pH range of 6.8 to 11.98. A possible mechanism for the pH influence on the stability of copper oxide nanoparticles is described. The effect of the ionic strength of the solution on the stability of the CuO nanoparticles sol was also studied, and the results showed that Ca2+ ions had the greatest effect on the sample stability. IR spectroscopy showed that the interaction of CuO nanoparticles with gelatin occurred through the hydroxyl group. It was found that CuO nanoparticles stabilized with gelatin have a fungicidal activity at concentration equivalent 2.5 · 10-3 mol/L and as a material for food nanopackaging can provide an increase in the shelf life of products on the example of strawberries and tomatoes. We investigated the possibility of using methylcellulose films modified with CuO nanoparticles for packaging and storage of hard cheese "Holland". The distribution of CuO nanoparticles in the methylcellulose film was uniform. We found that methylcellulose films modified with CuO nanoparticles inhibited the growth and development of QMAFAM, coliforms, yeast and mold in experimental cheese sa mples. Our research has shown that during the cheese storage in thermostat at 35 ± 1 °C for 7 days, CuO nanoparticles migrated to the product from the film. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that the maximum change in the concentration of copper in the experimental samples was only 0.12 µg/mg, which is not a toxic concentration. In general, the small value of migration of CuO nanoparticles confirms the high stability of the developed preparation. Our results indicated that the CuO nanoparticles stabilized with gelatin have a high potential for use in food packaging - both as an independent nanofilm and as part of other packaging materials.

Neurotropic peptide HLDF-6-amide reduces age-related decline in sexual activity in old male rats.

Aging is associated with a decline in the erectile capacity and sexual motivation. Emerging new therapy for the treatment of these age-related pathologies in men is the use of the regulatory peptides. We validated the use of HLDF-6-amide (Thr-Gly-Glu-Hse-His-Arg-NH2) as a potential modulator of sexual performance in aged male rats. Behavioral tests, including the standard parameters of sexual behavior, were performed longitudinally at 20 and 26 months of age. The effects of HLDF-6-amide administered daily at 300 µg/kg for 3 week on the levels of sex hormones and the activity of antioxidant enzymes and indicators of inflammation were evaluated. HLDF-6-amide administration increased the copulative activity of the 20-month-old male rats. This effect of HLDF-6-amide was more pronounced in the 26-month-old rats. Although HLDF-6-amide did not have the effect on the levels of circulating testosterone and estradiol, it reduced the activity of leukocyte elastase and glutathione-S-peroxidase, suggesting that the peptide has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Therefore, this study shows that HLDF-6-amide has the positive impact on sexual activity in this rodent model, representing a new therapeutic approach for improving sexual performance in older men.

[Some inflammation factors and immunophenotypes of depression in elderly patients]. / Nekotorye faktory vospaleniia i immunofenotipy pri depressii u pozhilykh bol'nykh.

AIM: To search for the immunological features of depressions in elderly patients, select certain immunophenotypes and analyze their possible connection with clinical and psychopathological features of depression of old age. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 55 inpatients of old age (median 68 years) with a depressive episode of mild or moderate severity. The control group consisted of 41 elderly people (median 67 years) without depressive disorders. Clinical, psychometric, immunological and statistical methods were used. The rating scales were HAMD-17 and MMSE. The activity of inflammatory and autoimmune markers, including enzymatic activity of leukocyte elastase (LE), α1-proteinase inhibitor (α1-PI), level of autoantibodies to neurospecific antigens S-100B and myelin basic protein, in the serum of patients and control subjects was determined. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The scatter in the immunological parameters both in the direction of exceeding the average values and their decrease was shown in the group of depressed elderly patients compared to the controls. Cluster analysis revealed two immunophenotypes of elderly patients with depression. Immunophenotype A is a group of patients with increased PE activity and immunophenotype B is a group of patients with decreased LE activity (p<0.0000). Immunophenotype A includes patients with complex depressions, comorbid with anxiety and senesto-hypochondriac disorders. In immunophenotype B, patients with prolonged apatic/adynamic depressions (p<0.05), with an earlier onset and longer duration of the disease, with incomplete remissions and more burdened with cardiovascular diseases were more common (p<0.05).

[Immunological predictors of acute post-stroke period]. / Immunologicheskie prediktory techeniia ostrogo perioda insul'ta.

INTRODUCTION: At the present time, there is an increased interest in the search for biological predictors of the course and outcome of ischemic stroke (IS). Numerous studies have shown the relationship between neuroinflammation (in the brain) and systemic inflammatory response (in the blood). AIM: To study the relationship of inflammatory and autoimmune markers in blood serum of patients with acute ischemic stroke (on the 1st day) with the dynamics of the severity of neurological deficit (on the 1st and 10th day) and to assess the predictive ability of these indicators. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients in the acute period of IS (mean age 60±15.5 years) were examined. The severity of neurological deficit was assessed by ESS and NIHSS. The enzymatic activity of leukocyte elastase (LE), α1-proteinase inhibitor (α1-PI), level of autoantibodies to S-100B and MBP in serum was determined. The control group consisted of 33 healthy subjects. Blood samples were carried out on the 1st day of the post-stroke period, the clinical examination was performed on the 1st and 10th day of observation. RESULTS: Depending on the dynamics of neurological symptoms by the 10th day of observation, two subgroups of patients were identified. The1st subgroup was characterized by the normalization of neurological deficit (n=10). In the 2nd group, the negative dynamics of neurological deficit/lack of any positive changes was observed (n=12). Both subgroups demonstrated the increase in the LE and α1-PI activity as compared to the control (p=0.0019, p=0.00079; p=0.038, p=0.00041, respectively). The highest LE activity was detected in the 1st subgroup (p=0.035). The high level of autoantibodies to MBP was also observed in the 1st subgroup as compared to the control and the 2nd group (p=0.047, p=0.03, respectively). The 2nd subgroup was characterized by a higher functional activity of acute phase protein α1-PI (p=0.04). Using regression analysis, a model for predicting the course of the early post-stroke period depending on the determined immunological parameters was developed. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the studied inflammatory and autoimmune markers may be possible predictors of the course of the early post-stroke period.

Ferroic multipolar order and disorder in cyanoelpasolite molecular perovskites.

We use a combination of variable-temperature high-resolution synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction measurements and Monte Carlo simulations to characterize the evolution of two different types of ferroic multipolar order in a series of cyanoelpasolite molecular perovskites. We show that ferroquadrupolar order in [C3N2H5]2Rb[Co(CN)6] is a first-order process that is well described by a four-state Potts model on the simple cubic lattice. Likewise, ferrooctupolar order in [NMe4]2B[Co(CN)6] (B = K, Rb, Cs) also emerges via a first-order transition that now corresponds to a six-state Potts model. Hence, for these particular cases, the dominant symmetry breaking mechanisms are well understood in terms of simple statistical mechanical models. By varying composition, we find that the effective coupling between multipolar degrees of freedom-and hence the temperature at which ferromultipolar order emerges-can be tuned in a chemically sensible manner. This article is part of the theme issue 'Mineralomimesis: natural and synthetic frameworks in science and technology'.

[Cluster analysis of inflammatory markers in disorders of adaptation]. / Klasternyi analiz vospalitel'nykh markerov pri rasstroistvakh adaptatsii.

AIM: To determine immunophenotypes of patients with adaptation disorders using cluster analysis. The level of inflammatory markers such as leukocyte elastase (LE) enzyme activity and functional activity of α1-protease inhibitor (α1-PI) were used as a classifying attribute (characteristic). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The results of evaluation of enzymatic activity of LE and functional activity of α1-PI in 40 patients with adaptation disorders (ICD-10 F43.2) were subjected to cluster analysis. The control group included 23 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. RESULTS: Several algorithms of cluster analysis allow to identify three immunophenotypes in the group of patients with adaptation disorders. Immunophenotypes differed significantly by ratios of LE and α1-PI activity, which were mostly driven by different LE activity. Cluster 1 with the relatively low LE activity and high background α1-PI, is of particular interest because it may reflect the disturbed interaction between the various links of immune response. CONCLUSION: The obtained results of cluster analysis confirm the hypothesis about the existence of three immunophenotypes in the patients with adaptation disorders, which indicates that a phenotypically similar pattern can be determined by different spectra of immune indices.

[Quantification of the relationship between inflammatory markers and Alzheimer's disease]. / Kolichestvennaia otsenka sviazi vospalitel'nykh markerov s bolezn'iu Al'tsgeimera.

AIM: To quantify the relationship of Alzheimer's disease with the inflammatory markers: enzymatic activity of leukocyte elastase (LE) and functional activity of α1-proteinase inhibitor (α1-PI) on the basis of the logistic regression model and to build a model to predict the probability of AD in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The object of the mathematical analysis was the database, which included the results of assays of LE activity and functional α1-PI activity in blood plasma of 91 patients with a verified diagnosis of AD in inpatient or outpatient treatment and 37 age-matched healthy people. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The logistic regression model connecting LE and α1-PI with the probability of AD is built. The model has good statistical properties and high predictive efficiency. The results allow to obtain the quantitative estimate of the probability of AD by individual values of LE and α1-PI in patients with MCI.

[The use of cluster analysis and logistic regression for assessing the risk of Alzheimer's disease in patients with mild cognitive impairment, amnestic type]. / Ispol'zovanie klasternogo analiza i logisticheskoi regressii dlia otsenki riska bolezni Al'tsgeimera u patsientov s sindromom miagkogo kognitivnogo snizheniia amnesticheskogo tipa.

AIM: The evaluation of the risk of Alzheimer disease (AD) in patients with cognitive impairment, amnestic type (aMCI) on the basis of cluster analysis and logistic regression with the use of such markers of inflammation as enzymatic activity of leukocyte elastase (LE) and the functional activity of α1-proteinase inhibitor (α1-PI). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study object of statistical analysis was the database, including the results of LE activity and functional α1-PI activity in blood plasma of 78 outpatients with aMCI (25 men and 53 women, aged 44 to 89 years (69.1±9.95). RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Clustering by k-means and classification by logistic regression indicate a high probability of AD in patients with aMCI depending on the activity of LE and α1-PI in blood plasma. The total coincidence of objects included in the clusters and in the AD risk group was 94%. The high coincidence of two different methods of grouping confirms the previously stated notion of the possibility of identifying patients with the high risk of AD among patients with aMCI by the activity of LE and α1-PI in the blood.

[The quality of research publications in psychiatry]. / Kachestvo issledovatel'skikh publikatsii v psikhiatrii.

AIM: To evaluate the quality of research articles in psychiatry and addiction medicine published in 2015. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Five experts analyzed 51 research publications from 13 psychiatric and addiction medicine journals using a standardized questionnaire, which contains 4 general questions (type or results of the study) and 21 questions on the quality of the study. RESULTS: Only 2 articles (4%) met all criteria, 64% of the articles refer to the methodologically least demonstrative (uncontrolled/one-time, series of cases, non-randomized). The most vulnerable were the characteristics which were the most important for evidence: a description of the methods, statistical analysis, accounting for systematic errors and/or side effects, the distribution of patients by group. CONCLUSION: Research publications in psychiatry and addiction medicine have a low level of evidence.

[A retrospective historical study evaluating the safe use of current antidepressants in cardiology practice]. / Retrospektivnoe arkhivnoe issledovanie po otsenke bezo-pasnosti primeneniia sovremennykh antidepressantov v kardiologicheskoi praktike.

AIM: To confirm the data available in the literature on the cardiac safety of antidepressants. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The archival data of 146 case histories were retrospectively analyzed. A study sample consisted of 96 cardiac inpatients regularly taking an antidepressant for more than 3 days during treatment for the underlying cardiovascular disease. The safe use of antidepressants was evaluated in terms of initial electrocardiogram (ECG) QTc interval changes, systolic and diastolic blood pressures (BP) (SBP and DBP), heart rate (HR), and hemorrhagic complications. The data obtained over periods of 3- and 6-8 days were analyzed. RESULTS: The sample showed no clinically significant ECG QTc interval changes when taking regularly antidepressants within 8 days. Analysis of the dynamics of BP and HR in patients receiving antidepressants revealed no statistically significant differences in these indicators before and 3 and 6-8 days after drug administration. No case of hemorrhagic complications was seen in the study group taking antidepressants. CONCLUSION: The investigation generally confirms the high cardiac safety of new-generation antidepressants within at least the first week of therapy. Noteworthy are the low daily drug dosages (relatively specified in the instructions) that are sufficient for most cardiac patients with depressive disorders and an additional factor for minimizing adverse reactions.

Oscillations in a neurite growth model with extracellular feedback.

We consider the influence of extracellular signalling on neurite elongation in a model of neurite growth mediated by building proteins (e.g., tubulin). The tubulin production dynamics were supplied by a function describing the influence of extracellular signalling, which can promote or depress neurite elongation. We found that this extracellular feedback could generate neurite length oscillations consisting of a periodic sequence of elongations and retractions. The oscillations prevent further outgrowth of the neurite, which becomes trapped in the non-uniform extracellular field. We analysed the characteristics of the elongation process for different distributions of attracting and repelling sources of the extracellular signalling molecules. The model predicts three different scenarios of neurite development in the extracellular field, including monotonic and oscillatory outgrowth, localised limit cycle oscillations and complete growth depression.

[Chromosomal localization of the speltoidy gene, introgressed into bread wheat from Aegilops speltoides Tausch., and its interaction with the Q gene of Triticum spelta L].

The differences between bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and spelt (Triticum spelta L.) in the shape of the spike and threshing character are determined by the allelic status of one major Q gene, mapped to the long arm of chromosome 5A. This gene is a member of the APETALA2 family of transcription factors and plays an important role in domestication of wheat. In the present study, using monosomic analysis, we determined the chromosomal localization of the Q(S)gene, introgressed into bread wheat from Aegilops speltoides Tausch. and homoallelic to the Q gene. It was demonstrated that the Q(S) gene was located in chromosome 5A of the bread wheat line from the Arsenal collection. This gene conferred spike speltoidy in the line itself, as well as in its hybrids with bread wheat cultivars. The Q(S) gene dominated over the bread wheat Q gene and was equally effective in the homo-, hemi-, and heterozygous states. In hybrids between the introgression line and a number of spring spelt accessions, interaction between the Q and Q(S) genes was observed, manifested as the formation of superspeltoid spike.

[Cluster associative memory formation in a three-layer network of phase oscillators].

A three-layer network model of oscillatory associative mermory is proposed. The network is capable to store binary images that can be retrieved if an appropriate stimulus has been applied. Binary images are encoded in the form of the spatial distribution of oscillatory phase clusters in-phase (+1) and anti-phase relative to the base periodic signal. The information is loaded into the network using a set of interlayer connection weights. A condition for error-free pattern retrieval has been obtained, which imposes a certain limitation on the maximal number of patterns to be stored in the memory (storage capacity). It has been shown that the capacity can be significantly increased by the generation of optimal pattern alphabet (basic pattern set). The number of stored patterns can reach values of the network size (the number of oscillators in the layer), which is significantly higher than the capacity of traditional oscillatory memory models. The dynamical and information characteristics of the retrieval process based on the optimal alphabet including the estimations of attraction basins and the admissible input pattern discrepancy for error-free retrieval have been investigated.

[Genetic analysis of the traits introgressed from Aegilops speltoides Tausch. to common wheat and determined by chromosome 5A genes].

A winter common wheat accession from the Arsenal collection was genetically examined to study the results of introgression, which substantially changed the physiological and morphological traits of the original spring cultivar Rodina. Apart from its winter habit, the accession was characterized by awned speltoid spikes, suggesting introgression into chromosome 5A, which carried marker genes in the order Vrn-Al-Q-Bl. Genetic analysis showed that the chromosome fragment introgressed from Aegilops speltoides recombined well with the homeologous region of common wheat chromosome 5A in the region between the Vrn-Al and Q genes. Recombination between the Vrn-Al and Bl genes was not detected, and it was assumed that the order of the marker genes of chromosome 5A was inverted to produce Q-Vrn-Al-Bl. When the winter introgression line was crossed with Triticum spelta, an interaction of two dominant genes determining the spike character was for the first time detected in F1, increasing the spike length and the number of spikelets, and was transmitted to F2. It was assumed that Ae. speltoides had a homeoallelic speltoid gene, which was designated as Q(S).

Light scanner based on a viscoelastic stretchable grating.

We present a new technique for light scanning by use of viscoelastic-based deformable phase diffraction gratings. Mechanical stretching of the grating permits control of its spatial period, and thus the orders of diffraction can be spatially deflected. In the experiments the viscoelastic gratings with triangular and rectangular profiles have been characterized at lambda = 633 nm. It is demonstrated that the reversible elongation can exceed 20% of the initial length. For the triangular profile grating, the diffraction angle of the first order changed from 6.6 degrees to 5.4 degrees while the diffraction efficiency remained almost constant at approximately 17%. Dynamic scanning of a laser beam at frequencies of approximately 1 kHz is demonstrated by use of electromechanically driven viscoelastic gratings.