Communicative Competencies of Students in Yekaterinburg as Social Value (on the Example of the Ural Federal University Club of Foreign Languages)

Целью статьи является поиск методов повышения доступности иностранных языков для студентов Екатеринбурга. Изучаются возможности дополнительного образования в области иностранных языков студентами вузов. Исследуется специфика клуба иностранных языков УрФУ, который решает проблему доступности в изучении иностранных языков, предоставляя возможность изучения сразу нескольких иностранных языков. Результатом является сравнительный анализ языковых центров города и клуба иностранных языков УрФУ.The aim of the article is to find methods to increase the availability of foreign languages for students of Yekaterinburg. The possibilities of additional education in the field of foreign languages by university students are being studied. We study the specifics of the Ural Federal University foreign language club, which solves the problem of accessibility in the study of foreign languages, providing the opportunity to study several foreign languages at once. The result is a comparative analysis of the language centers of the city and the club of foreign languages of Ural Federal University

The mass transfer of chemical elements and of their compounds in agrocenoses

The analysis of publications on the mass transfer of chemical elements in agrocenosis in the soil – plant system was carried out. Methods for estimating the content of mobile forms of chemical compounds coming from the soil into plants are considered. The phenomena of antagonism and synergism are characterized, and the necessity to consider them while planning fertilizer application is indicated. It is shown that the phenomena of synergism and antagonism of elements can be used in agriculture to regulate the flow of heavy metals or radionuclides into agricultural products. A balance model for mass transfer of chemical elements in agrocenosis is analyzed. It is shown that the introduction of organic fertilizers in soil mostly leads to a positive balance of microelements in the agrosystem. To characterize the efficiency of fertilizer use an assessment of the balance of nutrients in the agrosystem is required. The removal of trace elements by agricultural crops increases with the use of mineral fertilizers in doses that are optimal for the cultivation of crops in the region. In some cases, the input of heavy metals with technogenic fallout may exceed the removal of metals by plants from the soil. It may cause the accumulation of metals in the system. In uncontaminated background areas, the levels of microelement intake from fertilizers and atmospheric fallout in agrocenoses are comparable

Floating marine macro litter in the Black Sea: Toward baselines for large scale assessment

The Black Sea is a semi-enclosed basin subject to major anthropogenic pressures, including marine litter and plastic pollution. Due to numerous large rivers draining into the basin and a population settled along the coast, the region could accumulate significant amounts of floating litter over time. Until now, only limited field data were available, and litter quantities and distribution remained unknown. In this study, floating marine macro litter (FMML) was assessed at the regional Black Sea scale for the first time, showing relatively high litter densities across the basin that reached a weighted mean of 81.5 items/km(2). Monitoring data revealed an accumulation of floating items offshore in the eastern part of the basin, resembling on a small scale a "garbage patch', where litter items were trapped, showing elevated densities in comparison to their surrounding areas. Most of these items were made of plastic materials (ca. 96%) and included large numbers of plastic and poly-styrene fragments of small size ranges (2.5-10 cm). Harmonised field data collection through consistent and regular monitoring programmes across the region is essential to establish baselines and thresholds for large scale assessment at international level

Efficiency of Magnetostatic Protection Using Nanostructured Permalloy Shielding Coatings Depending on Their Microstructure

The effect of microstructure on the efficiency of shielding or shunting of the magnetic fluxby permalloy shields was investigated in the present work. For this purpose, the FeNi shieldingcoatings with different grain structures were obtained using stationary and pulsed electrodeposition.The coatings’ composition, crystal structure, surface microstructure, magnetic domain structure, andshielding efficiency were studied. It has been shown that coatings with 0.2–0.6μm grains have adisordered domain structure. Consequently, a higher value of the shielding efficiency was achieved,but the working range was too limited. The reason for this is probably the hindered movement of thedomain boundaries. Samples with nanosized grains have an ordered two-domain magnetic structurewith a permissible partial transition to a superparamagnetic state in regions with a grain size of lessthan 100 nm. The ordered magnetic structure, the small size of the domain, and the coexistenceof ferromagnetic and superparamagnetic regions, although they reduce the maximum value ofthe shielding efficiency, significantly expand the working range in the nanostructured permalloyshielding coatings. As a result, a dependence between the grain and domain structure and theefficiency of magnetostatic shielding was found

Чувствительность барорецепторов и состояние автономной нервной системы у пациентов с хроническими нарушениями сознания

Purpose of the study: to examine sensibility of baroreceptors and the autonomic nervous in the passive orthostatic test in patients with chronic impairment of consciousness due to severe brain damage and determine their role in the rehabilitation process.Materials and methods. The study included 30 patients with long-term impairment of consciousness due to severe brain damage (group 1), 10 of them being in the vegetative state (VS) and 20 being in the minimally conscious state (MCS). Craniocerebral trauma was the main cause of severe damage in that group (53% of patients). The comparison group included 24 patients with focal neurological symptoms caused predominantly — 79.2% of cases — by cerebrovascular disorders (group 2). The control group (group 3) consisted of 22 healthy volunteers of a comparable age. All measurements were done with the help of a Task Force Monitor 1030i (CNSystem, Austria) in the course of passive orthostatic test at 0°–30°–60°–0°. Changes in the power of low-frequency (LFS) and highfrequency spectrum (HFS) of heart rate variability and baroreceptors sensibility (BRS) were analyzed. Statistical analysis was carried out using Statistica-10 software. Significance of inter-group differences on unrelated samples was determined by the Mann–Whitney U-test. Differences between groups were considered significant at P 0.05.Results. Maximal background values of BRS were found in the control group. In group 1 and 2 patients, considerable decrease of that index was noted, which was proportional to the brain damage severity. Similar dynamics was observed for the indices of autonomic nervous system sensibility (LFS and HFS). The main trend of orthostatic changes of BRS, LFS, and HFS was characterized by progressive decrease of the indices with increase of the patients’ angle of tilting and their return to the baseline level after the patients were put back into the horizontal position. 4 patients of group 1 (14%) displayed signs of orthostatic disorders upon tilting to 30°: in 3 cases, orthostatic hypotension was observed, and in one case the postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) was diagnosed. Those patients differed by lower BRS and higher sympathetic system activity (LFS) vs. the same indices of other patients in that group.Conclusion. Patients with chronic impairment of consciousness during the post-comatose period after a severe brain damage display a significant decrease of baroreceptors sensibility and autonomic nervous system disorders manifesting in significantly lower activity of the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The prominence of such disorders is associated with brain damage severity. Their risk of developing orthostatic hypotension during tilting towards a vertical position is higher in patients who have lower baroreceptors sensibility, and this should be taken into account beginning the process of their verticalization.Цель исследования: изучить чувствительность барорецепторов и автономной нервной системы при пассивной ортостатической пробе у пациентов с хроническими нарушениями сознания вследствие тяжелых повреждений головного мозга и определить их роль в реабилитационном процессе.Материалы и методы. В исследование включили 30 пациентов с длительными нарушениями сознания, вызванными тяжелыми повреждениями головного мозга (группа 1), 10 из которых были в вегетативном состоянии (ВС) и 20 — с синдромом малого сознания (СМС). Основной причиной тяжелых повреждений была черепно-мозговая травма (53% пациентов этой группы). В группу сравнения вошли 24 пациента с очаговой неврологической симптоматикой, основной причиной которой в 79,2% случаев были нарушения мозгового кровообращения (группа 2). Контрольную группу (группа 3) составили 22 здоровых добровольца сопоставимого возраста. Все измерения проводили с помощью монитора Task Force Monitor 1030i (CNSystem, Австрия) в процессе пассивной ортостатической пробы 0°–30°–60°–0°. Провели анализ изменений показателей мощности низкочастотного (НЧС) и высокочастотного спектров (ВЧС) вариабельности сердечного ритма и чувствительности барорецепторов (ЧБР). Статистический анализ провели с помощью пакета статистических программ «Statistica-10». Значимость межгрупповых различий несвязанных выборок определяли расчетом критерия Манна Уитни (Mann–Whitney U-test). Достоверными считали различия при достижении уровня статистической значимости p 0,05.Результаты. Максимальные фоновые значения ЧБР выявили в контрольной группе. У пациентов 1 и 2 групп отмечали значительное снижение этого показателя, пропорциональное тяжести повреждений головного мозга. Аналогичную динамику имели показатели чувствительности автономной нервной системы (НЧС и ВЧС). Основной тренд ортостатических изменений ЧБР, НЧС, ВЧС характеризовался прогрессивным снижением этих показателей при увеличивающемся угле наклона пациентов и с восстановлением их до исходного уровня после возврата пациентов в горизонтальное положение. У 4 пациентов группы 1 (14%) при выполнении наклона на 30° появились признаки ортостатических нарушений: в 3 случаях наблюдали ортостатическую гипотензию и в одном — синдром постуральной ортостатической тахикардии (СПОТ). Отличием этих пациентов были более низкая ЧБР и более высокие показатели активности симпатической системы (НЧС) по сравнению с показателями других пациентов данной группы.Заключение. У пациентов с хроническими нарушениями сознания в посткоматозном периоде после тяжелых повреждений головного мозга наблюдаются значительное снижение чувствительности барорецепторов и нарушения автономной нервной системы, выражающиеся в значительном снижении активности симпатической и парасимпатической систем. Степень этих нарушений ассоциирована с тяжестью повреждений головного мозга. Риск развития ортостатической гипотензии при вертикализации выше у пациентов с более низкой чувствительностью барорецепторов, что необходимо учитывать в начале процесса их вертикализации

Evidence of the Generation of Isosaccharinic Acids and Their Subsequent Degradation by Local Microbial Consortia within Hyper-Alkaline Contaminated Soils, with Relevance to Intermediate Level Radioactive Waste Disposal

The contamination of surface environments with hydroxide rich wastes leads to the formation of high pH (>11.0) soil profiles. One such site is a legacy lime works at Harpur Hill, Derbyshire where soil profile indicated in-situ pH values up to pH 12. Soil and porewater profiles around the site indicated clear evidence of the presence of the α and β stereoisomers of isosaccharinic acid (ISA) resulting from the anoxic, alkaline degradation of cellulosic material. ISAs are of particular interest with regards to the disposal of cellulosic materials contained within the intermediate level waste (ILW) inventory of the United Kingdom, where they may influence radionuclide mobility via complexation events occurring within a geological disposal facility (GDF) concept. The mixing of uncontaminated soils with the alkaline leachate of the site resulted in ISA generation, where the rate of generation in-situ is likely to be dependent upon the prevailing temperature of the soil. Microbial consortia present in the uncontaminated soil were capable of surviving conditions imposed by the alkaline leachate and demonstrated the ability to utilise ISAs as a carbon source. Leachate-contaminated soil was sub-cultured in a cellulose degradation product driven microcosm operating at pH 11, the consortia present were capable of the degradation of ISAs and the generation of methane from the resultant H2/CO2 produced from fermentation processes. Following microbial community analysis, fermentation processes appear to be predominated by Clostridia from the genus Alkaliphilus sp, with methanogenesis being attributed to Methanobacterium and Methanomassiliicoccus sp. The study is the first to identify the generation of ISA within an anthropogenic environment and advocates the notion that microbial activity within an ILW-GDF is likely to influence the impact of ISAs upon radionuclide migration

Comparative genomics and evolution of bacterial regulatory systems

Abstract: Recent advances in genome sequencing and development of comparative genomics techniques allow one to study evolution of regulation in prokaryotes at several different levels: microevolution of orthologous regulatory sites, changes in regulon content, evolution of interacting regulatory systems, and co-evolution of transcription factors and their binding signals. Regulatory interactions appear to be very dynamic in some cases and surprisingly stable in others. The review presents several examples where comparative analysis uncovered plausible scenarios of evolution of regulatory systems

Влияние габаритных параметров цилиндрического экрана на эффективность экранирования

Study of dimensional parametersʼ influence on shielding properties of cylindrical shields will allow to optimise the fusion process, as well as to reduce production costs by reducing the material used. The purpose of this work was to compare results of theoretical calculation of shielding effectiveness of an infinite cylindrical shield with the data obtained in real conditions.A cylindrical Ni-Fe shield was synthesised by electrochemical deposition with length of 32 cm, diameter of 4.5 cm and shielding thickness of ≈ 100 µm. The cylinder length was then reduced from 32 cm to 6 cm in 4 cm increments and for each cylinder length shielding effectiveness was measured using three-coordinate Helmholtz field-forming system.The measurement results show that the calculation of shielding effectiveness of infinite cylindrical shield is valid for cylinder lengths l ≥ 18–20 cm. Shielding effectiveness is markedly reduced at values of l ˂ 15 cm.Analysis of data obtained allowed to conclude that it is necessary to determine the correction factor when calculating a cylindrical screen shielding efficiencyИзучение влияния габаритных параметров на экранирующие свойства цилиндрических экранов позволит оптимизировать процесс синтеза, а также снизить затраты на производство, за счёт уменьшения используемого материала. Целью данной работы было сравнение результатов теоретического расчёта эффективности экранирования бесконечного цилиндрического экрана и данных, полученных в реальных условиях.Методом электрохимического осаждения был синтезирован цилиндрический экран Ni-Fe, длина которого составила 32 см, диаметр 4,5 см, толщина экранирующего покрытия составила≈ 100 мкм. Затем длина цилиндра уменьшалась от 30 до 6 см с шагом в 4 см, для каждой длины цилиндра была измерена эффективность экранирования с помощью полеобразующей системы трёхкоординатных катушек Гельмгольца.Результаты измерений показали, что расчёт эффективности экранирования бесконечного цилиндрического экрана справедлив при длине цилиндра l ≥ 18–20 см. При значениях l ˂ 15 см эффективность экранирования заметно снижается.Анализ полученных данных позволил сделать вывод о необходимости определения поправочного коэффициента при расчётах эффективности экранирования цилиндрического экрана

Сравнительная оценка эффективности и безопасности внутрисуставного введения препаратов гиалуроновой кислоты и глюкокортикоидов в комплексной терапии остеоартрита

Improving the treatment of knee (KN) osteoarthritis (OA) remains an urgent problem.Objective: to compare the efficacy and tolerability of intra-articular (i/a) administration of long-acting glucocorticoids (GCs) and Armaviscon®Forte and Armaviscon®Platinum hyaluronates in patients with knee OA.Material and methods. From November 2019 to April 2022, we examined and treated 60 patients (26 men and 34 women, mean age 41.32±3.71 years) suffering from primary KN OA. Study participants were randomly divided into three groups of 20 patients each. In the 1st group, a longacting GCs in combination with a local anesthetic was administered once i/a into the KN, in the 2nd – Armaviscon®Forte 2.3%, and in the 3rd – Armaviscon®Platinum 3%.Patients were examined at baseline, on the 14th and 60th day after a single injection of the drug. The intensity of pain was assessed on a visual analog scale (VAS), the Lequesne index, the KOOS, WOMAC, and EQ-5D questionnaires were used. When studying tolerability, the number of adverse reactions (ARs) was taken into account.Results. By the end of the observation period in the study groups, there was a decrease in the severity of pain and an increase in functionality with positive dynamics of the Lequesne and WOMAC indices. Both hyaluronic acid drugs had a positive effect on the functional state of the joints according to KOOS, improved the quality of life according to EQ-5D. The need for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in patients of the 2nd and 3rd groups decreased down to their complete cancellation. No adverse events requiring discontinuation of therapy have been reported. The advantage of i/a administration of hyaluronates in comparison with long-acting GCs was shown.Conclusion. In real clinical practice, in patients with symptomatic OA, i/a administration of hyaluronates allows obtaining more favorable results than the use of long-acting HA.Совершенствование терапии остеоартрита (ОА) коленных суставов (КС) остается актуальной проблемой.Цель исследования – сравнительная оценка эффективности и переносимости внутрисуставного (в/с) введения глюкокортикоидов (ГК) пролонгированного действия и гиалуронатов Армавискона®Форте и Армавискона®Platinum у пациентов с ОА КС.Материал и методы. С ноября 2019 г. по апрель 2022 г. проведено обследование и лечение 60 пациентов (26 мужчин и 34 женщин, средний возраст – 41,32±3,71 года), страдающих первичным ОА КС. Участники исследования были случайным образом разделены на три группы по 20 больных. В 1-й группе в КС однократно вводился ГК пролонгированного действия в сочетании с местным анестетиком, во 2-й – Армавискон®Форте 2,3%, а в 3-й – Армавискон®Platinum 3%. Пациентов обследовали исходно, на 14-й и 60-й дни после однократного введения препарата. Оценивалась интенсивность боли по визуальной аналоговой шкале, использовался индекс Лекена, опросники KOOS, WOMAC и EQ-5D. При изучении переносимости учитывали число неблагоприятных реакций (НР).Результаты и обсуждение. К моменту завершения наблюдения в исследуемых группах отмечались уменьшение выраженности боли и расширение функциональных возможностей с положительной динамикой индексов Лекена и WOMAC. Оба препарата гиалуроновой кислоты оказывали положительное влияние на функциональное состояние суставов по KOOS, улучшали качество жизни по EQ-5D. Потребность в нестероидных противовоспалительных препаратах у пациентов 2-й и 3-й групп уменьшалась вплоть до полной их отмены. НР, требующие прекращения терапии, не зарегистрированы. Показано преимущество в/с введения гиалуронатов по сравнению с ГК пролонгированного действия.Заключение. В реальной клинической практике у пациентов с симптоматическим ОА в/с введение гиалуронатов позволяет получать более благоприятные результаты, чем использование ГК пролонгированного действия

Atlas of Signaling for Interpretation of Microarray Experiments

Microarray-based expression profiling of living systems is a quick and inexpensive method to obtain insights into the nature of various diseases and phenotypes. A typical microarray profile can yield hundreds or even thousands of differentially expressed genes and finding biologically plausible themes or regulatory mechanisms underlying these changes is a non-trivial and daunting task. We describe a novel approach for systems-level interpretation of microarray expression data using a manually constructed “overview” pathway depicting the main cellular signaling channels (Atlas of Signaling). Currently, the developed pathway focuses on signal transduction from surface receptors to transcription factors and further transcriptional regulation of cellular “workhorse” proteins. We show how the constructed Atlas of Signaling in combination with an enrichment analysis algorithm allows quick identification and visualization of the main signaling cascades and cellular processes affected in a gene expression profiling experiment. We validate our approach using several publicly available gene expression datasets