A New Ant Genus (Hymenoptera, Formicidae) from the Late Eocene Rovno Amber

Based on workers from the Late Eocene Rovno amber (Ukraine), Damzenomyrmex gen. n. (Dlichoderinae) is established to include Damzenomyrmex ribbeckei sp. n., which is described here. I consider Damzenomyrmex to be a relative of Dolichoderus s. l. and assign it to the tribe Dolichoderini. Damzenomyrmex differs well from representatives of the previously established subgenera (genera) of Dolichoderus s. l., such as Dolichoderus s. str., Karawajewella, Acanthoclinea, Monoceratoclinea and Diceratoclinea by the nature of the mesosomal armature. It differs from the species of Hypoclinea in the presence of horn-like projections on the anterolateral corners of the pronotum. Regarding the last character, Damzenomyrmex reminds the species of Monacis, but readily differs from them by the non-concave posterior propodeal margin, a different shape of the petiolar scale, a not laterally marginated mesonotum, and some other characters. Furthermore, Damzenomyrmex differs from all Dolichoderus s. l. species in the cuticular structure and in the serration pattern of the mandibles, with the masticatory margin having 6–7 minor sharp teeth and a much longer apical one, the basal angle distinct and the basal margin lacking teeth or denticles. The comparative composition of Dolichoderinae and representatives of other ant subfamilies in late Eocene European ambers is considered

Strain- and Adsorption-Dependent Electronic States and Transport or Localization in Graphene

The chapter generalizes results on influence of uniaxial strain and adsorption on the electron states and charge transport or localization in graphene with different configurations of imperfections (point defects): resonant (neutral) adsorbed atoms either oxygen- or hydrogen-containing molecules or functional groups, vacancies or substitutional atoms, charged impurity atoms or molecules, and distortions. To observe electronic properties of graphene-admolecules system, we applied electron paramagnetic resonance technique in a broad temperature range for graphene oxides as a good basis for understanding the electrotransport properties of other active carbons. Applied technique allowed observation of possible metal-insulator transition and sorption pumping effect as well as discussion of results in relation to the granular metal model. The electronic and transport properties are calculated within the framework of the tight-binding model along with the Kubo-Greenwood quantum-mechanical formalism. Depending on electron density and type of the sites, the conductivity for correlated and ordered adsorbates is found to be enhanced in dozens of times as compared to the cases of their random distribution. In case of the uniaxially strained graphene, the presence of point defects counteracts against or contributes to the band-gap opening according to their configurations. The band-gap behaviour is found to be nonmonotonic with strain in case of a simultaneous action of defect ordering and zigzag deformation. The amount of localized charge carriers (spins) is found to be correlated with the content of adsorbed centres responsible for the formation of potential barriers and, in turn, for the localization effects. Physical and chemical states of graphene edges, especially at a uniaxial strain along one of them, play a crucial role in electrical transport phenomena in graphene-based materials.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figure

Straintronics in Phosphorene: Tensile vs Shear Strains and Their Combinations for Manipulating the Band Gap

We study the effects of the uniaxial tensile strain and shear deformation as well as their combinations on the electronic properties of single-layer black phosphorene. The evolutions of the strain-dependent band gap are obtained using the numerical calculations within the tight-binding (TB) model as well as the first-principles (DFT) simulations and compared with previous findings. The TB-model-based findings show that the band gap of the strain-free phosphorene agrees with the experimental value and linearly depends on both stretching and shearing: increases (decreases) as the stretching increases (decreases), whereas gradually decreases with increasing the shear. A linear dependence is less or more similar as compared to that obtained from the ab initio simulations for shear strain, however disagrees with a non-monotonic behaviour from the DFT-based calculations for tensile strain. Possible reasons for the discrepancy are discussed. In case of a combined deformation, when both strain types (tensile/compression + shear) are loaded simultaneously, their mutual influence extends the realizable band gap range: from zero up to the values respective to the wide-band-gap semiconductors. At a switched-on combined strain, the semiconductor-semimetal phase transition in the phosphorene is reachable at a weaker (strictly non-destructive) strain, which contributes to progress in fundamental and breakthroughs.Comment: 16 pages,5 figures, 1 tabl

Osteosynthesis in surgical treatment of metastatic lesions of long tubular bones

ДЛИННЫЕ ТРУБЧАТЫЕ КОСТИ /ХИРНОВООБРАЗОВАНИЯНОВООБРАЗОВАНИЙ МЕТАСТАЗЫОСТЕОСИНТЕЗХИРУРГИЧЕСКОЕ ЛЕЧЕНИЕОРТОПЕДИЧЕСКИЕ ФИКСИРУЮЩИЕ ПРИСПОСОБЛЕНИЯ /ИСПСМЕРТНОСТЬЦель. Изучить причины и факторы риска развития осложнений, требующих выполнения ревизионных операций после интрамедуллярного и накостного остеосинтеза длинных трубчатых костей, поражен- ных метастазами. Материал и методы. Ретроспективно были проанализированы результаты хирургического лечения 44 пациентов по поводу метастазов в длинных трубчатых костях. У 12 пациентов имело место солитарное поражение костей скелета, у 11 – множественное, у 21 – костные метастазы сочетались с метастатическим поражением внутренних органов. У 35 пациентов был установлен патологический перелом, у 9 – угроза патологического перелома. Интрамедуллярный остеосинтез был выполнен в 34 случаях, на- костный остеосинтез – в 3 случаях, интрамедуллярный остеосинтез в комбинации с аллопластикой – в 12 случаях. Результаты. Применение ОС при лечении метастазов злокачественных опухолей в длинных трубчатых костях позволило сохранить функцию конечности в 75,0% случаев, еще в 14,6% наблюдений была выполнена ревизионная органосохраняющая операция, не удалось восстановить функцию конечности в 10,4% случаев. 13 осложнений потребовали выполнения ревизионной операции. Медиана времени до развития этих осложнений составила 6 месяцев (диапазон 1-12 месяцев). Причинами осложнений стали местное прогрессирование опухоли, отсутствие консолидации и нарушение целостности конструкции. Факто- ры риска развития осложнений, требующих выполнения ревизионной операции: патологический перелом (р=0,046), продолженный рост рака почки (р=0,013) и лучевая терапия, проводимая перед хирургическим лечением (р=0,029). У пациентов с лучшим прогнозом для жизни осложнения, связанные с нарушением целостности металлоконструкции или фиксации кости, развиваются при более длительной и активной нагрузке на конечность. Заключение. Остеосинтез является оптимальным методом хирургического лечения костных метастазов в определенных клинических ситуациях. При одиночных метастазах радиорезистентных опухолей и контролируемом опухолевом процессе более обоснованным является радикальное хирургическое удаление метастаза с устранением дефекта кости аллотрансплантатом или эндопротезом.Objectives. This study was designed to investigate the causes and risk factors of complications requiring revision surgeries after intramedullary and plate osteosynthesis of the long tubular bones affected by metastases. Methods. Surgical treatment outcomes of patients with long tubular bones metastases (n=44) were analyzed retrospectively. Twelve patients had solitary skeletal metastasis, eleven – multiple, twenty one – bone metastases combined with visceral metastases. The pathological fracture was diagnosed in 35 patients and the threat of the pathological fracture – in 9. Intramedullary osteosynthesis was carried out in 34 cases, plate osteosynthesis – in 3 cases, intramedullary osteosynthesis with alloplasty – in 12 cases. Results. Application of OS in the metastatic treatment of malignant tumors in long tubular bones have allowed saving the extremity function in 75% cases; the revision organ-saving surgery was carried out in 14,6% observations; restoration of the extremity function was failed in 10,4% cases. Thirteen complications caused by bone metastases required the revision surgery. Median time was 6 months (range of 1-12 months). The causes of complications included local tumor progression, the absence of osseous consolidation and violation of the structural integrity. Risk factors of complications development which require the revision surgeries were the following: pathologic fracture (p=0,046), progressive renal cell carcinoma (p=0,013) and radiation therapy before surgery (p=0,029). In patients with the best life prognosis the complications related with violation of the metal construction integrity or bone fixation failure have developed in longer and active load on the extremity. Conclusion. Osteosynthesis appears to be an efficient method in the treatment of metastatic bone disease in the specific clinical cases. Radical surgical removal of the metastases with the elimination of the bone defect by allograft or endoprosthesis is more reasonable in case of solitary metastases of radio-resistant tumors and controlled tumor process

Extrapolation of Multiplicity distribution in p+p(\bar(p)) collisions to LHC energies

The multiplicity (N_ch) and pseudorapidity distribution (dN_ch/d\eta) of primary charged particles in p+p collisions at Large Hadron Collider (LHC) energies of \sqrt(s) = 10 and 14 TeV are obtained from extrapolation of existing measurements at lower \sqrt(s). These distributions are then compared to calculations from PYTHIA and PHOJET models. The existing \sqrt(s) measurements are unable to distinguish between a logarithmic and power law dependence of the average charged particle multiplicity () on \sqrt(s), and their extrapolation to energies accessible at LHC give very different values. Assuming a reasonably good description of inclusive charged particle multiplicity distributions by Negative Binomial Distributions (NBD) at lower \sqrt(s) to hold for LHC energies, we observe that the logarithmic \sqrt(s) dependence of are favored by the models at midrapidity. The dN_ch/d\eta versus \eta for the existing measurements are found to be reasonably well described by a function with three parameters which accounts for the basic features of the distribution, height at midrapidity, central rapidity plateau and the higher rapidity fall-off. Extrapolation of these parameters as a function of \sqrt(s) is used to predict the pseudorapidity distributions of charged particles at LHC energies. dN_ch/d\eta calculations from PYTHIA and PHOJET models are found to be lower compared to those obtained from the extrapolated dN_ch/d\eta versus \eta distributions for a broad \eta range.Comment: 11 pages and 13 figures. Substantially revised and accepted for publication in Journal of Physics

GREENBUG RESISTANCE IN OAT ACCESSIONS FROM DAGESTAN AND CAUCASIAN COUNTRIES

Background. The breeding of resistant varieties is an effective way to control greenbug Schizaphis graminum Rondani, an economically important pest of oat and other cereals in southern Russia. The insect-host differential interaction necessitates a constant search for new resistance donors.Materials and methods. One hundred and ninety one accessions (mostly landraces) from the Caucasian countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia) as well as from the North Caucasus of the Russian Federation (Dagestan) were assessed for greenbug resistance. The Krasnodar (Gulkevichi District) insect population was used in the experiments. The intact plants were uniformly infested with differentaged aphids in the phase of two leaves by shaking insects onto them. When the susceptible control (cv. Borrus) died, the plant damage score was determined using the scale from 0 (no damage) to 10 (91–100% of the leaf surface damaged, plant’s death). The plants with the score of 1–4 points were classified as resistant, 5–8 moderately resistant, and 9–10 susceptible.Results and conclusions. A local oat accession from Georgia (k-4308) was noted for its high insect resistance. Also, heterogeneity of the studied trait was demonstrated by 38 oats forms, most of which were differentiated into two phenotypic classes, and a wide range of plant damage variation was characteristic of 16 accessions. The specific occurrence of resistant forms was the highest among oat landraces from Azerbaijan: two out of five studied accessions (40%) carry resistance genes with a distinct phenotypic manifestation. They are followed by accessions from Georgia (25%), Armenia (17.3%) and Dagestan (13.8%). After selection for resistance, the identified forms can be used in plant breeding

Assessment of psychodynamic functions in students of Gomel state medical university with different type of operability

The aim of the study – to evaluate the parameters of attention in students of Gomel State Medical University (GomSMU) with different types of working capacity.Цель исследования – оценка параметров внимания у студентов Гомельского государственного медицинского университета (ГомГМУ) с разными типами работоспособности

Phytosanitary monitoring of the narrow-leaved lupine collection of VIR in the northwest of Russia

Background. Narrow-leaved lupine (Lupinus angustifolius L.) is an important high-protein forage and green manure crop, also promising for food use. This is a plastic species produced under various ecogeographic conditions and the only cultivated species of lupine adapted to high northern latitudes – up to 60° NL. Gradual expansion of lupine production areas led to the accumulation of pathogens, damage to lupine crops by harmful organisms, and significant harvest losses. Breeding and cultivating resistant varieties is the most profitable and environmentally sound way to control diseases and pests. Studying the species composition of pathogens and searching for source material are the necessary stages of plant breeding for immunity.Materials and methods. A set of 101 accessions of L. angustifolius from the VIR collection were studied in the northwest of the Russian Federation (Pushkin, St. Petersburg) in 2019, and 62 accessions from the same set in 2020. Mycological examination of the affected leaves was carried out on potato sucrose agar medium under laboratory conditions. The degree of damage to plants by diseases and infestation by pests was assessed during the period of flowering, fruit formation and ripening using point scales.Results and conclusions. A wide range of harmful organisms were identified for their negative impact on the growth and development of narrow-leaved lupine plants. The dominant pest was the lupine aphid (Macrosiphum albifrons Essig), discovered in Russia for the first time. A whole set of fungal pathogens was identified, among which the most common and harmful were the causative agents of Fusarium, brown leaf spot, powdery mildew, gray mold, and Sclerotinia stem rot. Narrow-leaved lupine accessions with weak degrees of pathogenic damage were selected

Charged-Particle Multiplicity in Proton-Proton Collisions

This article summarizes and critically reviews measurements of charged-particle multiplicity distributions and pseudorapidity densities in p+p(pbar) collisions between sqrt(s) = 23.6 GeV and sqrt(s) = 1.8 TeV. Related theoretical concepts are briefly introduced. Moments of multiplicity distributions are presented as a function of sqrt(s). Feynman scaling, KNO scaling, as well as the description of multiplicity distributions with a single negative binomial distribution and with combinations of two or more negative binomial distributions are discussed. Moreover, similarities between the energy dependence of charged-particle multiplicities in p+p(pbar) and e+e- collisions are studied. Finally, various predictions for pseudorapidity densities, average multiplicities in full phase space, and multiplicity distributions of charged particles in p+p(pbar) collisions at the LHC energies of sqrt(s) = 7 TeV, 10 TeV, and 14 TeV are summarized and compared.Comment: Invited review for Journal of Physics G -- version 2: version after referee's comment

Viability of black currant pollen before and after cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen, and its morphological features

Background. Learning about morphological and biological features of pollen is very important to make correct estimations of plant productivity and breeding efficiency.Materials and methods. The viability of black currant pollen was analyzed in 2019 at the Laboratory for Long-Term Storage of Plant Genetic Resources, N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR). Eleven black currant cultivars of various ecogeographic and genetic origin maintained at Pushkin and Pavlovsk Laboratories of VIR served as the material for the research. Pollen viability was tested on an artificial medium with 10% sucrose and 0.8% agar. Morphological studies were carried out using light and confocal laser scanning microscopy at the Palynology Laboratory and the Core Centrum of Cell and Molecular Technologies in Plant Science housed by the Komarov Botanical Institute (BIN).Results and conclusion. The prevailing adverse weather conditions in 2019 produced a negative impact on the process of male generative structure formation. The level of pollen viability, depending on the cultivar, ranged from 17.98 to 58.60%. After exposure to liquid nitrogen (–196°C) for 6 months, the number of germinated pollen grains increased 1.1 to 3.2 times in all the studied cultivars, except one (‘Pozdnyaya poslevoennaya’, k-7652). A palynomorphological study revealed that reduced pollen viability in some cultivars (‘Krasnoyarskaya 1018’, k-7607; ‘Tsema’, k-25900; ‘Pozdnyaya poslevoennaya’, k-7652) was associated with morphological deviations in the sporoderm structure (small pollen grains, exine thickening and formation of verrucate mesoporium surfaces). A low positive correlation was observed between the level of pollen viability and the diameters of the pore (r = 0.43) and pollen grain (r = 0.27). An insignificant negative correlation was apparent between the level of viability and the exine thickness (r = –0.33)