Comunidade de pesquisa global: ¿o que os padrões internacionais de coautoria dizem sobre sua estrutura?

Global research community represents a noteworthy object for sociological studies. In this paper we regards it as an entity with network structure and try to analyze the current state of this structure and its recent dynamics. Among the many various approaches to studying the network links that bring together the researchers all over the world, we choose to look at the structure of international co-authorship of research papers published in journals indexed by Scopus Elsevier database. We try to provide a general outline of the network structure, to reveal distinct regional clusters existing at the various levels of this structure, and to discover whatever significant changes took place in the network structure over the last 25 years.La comunidad de investigación global representa un objeto notable para los estudios sociológicos. En este documento, lo consideramos como una entidad con estructura de red e intentamos analizar el estado actual de esta estructura y su dinámica reciente. Entre los diversos enfoques para estudiar los enlaces de red que reúnen a los investigadores de todo el mundo, elegimos observar la estructura de la coautoría internacional de los trabajos de investigación publicados en revistas indexadas por la base de datos Scopus Elsevier. Intentamos proporcionar una descripción general de la estructura de la red, revelar los distintos grupos regionales que existen en los distintos niveles de esta estructura y descubrir los cambios significativos que tuvieron lugar en la estructura de la red durante los últimos 25 años.A comunidade global de pesquisa representa um objeto notável para os estudos sociológicos. Neste trabalho nós o consideramos como uma entidade com estrutura de rede e tentamos analisar o estado atual dessa estrutura e sua dinâmica recente. Entre as várias abordagens para o estudo dos links de rede que reúnem pesquisadores de todo o mundo, optamos por analisar a estrutura de coautoria internacional de trabalhos de pesquisa publicados em periódicos indexados pela base de dados Scopus Elsevier. Tentamos fornecer um esboço geral da estrutura da rede, revelar clusters regionais distintos existentes nos vários níveis dessa estrutura e descobrir as mudanças significativas ocorridas na estrutura da rede nos últimos 25 anos

Some implications of the changes in the world population distribution: How globalized will the world remain?

For the first-world citizens, globalization seems to be an all-pervasive phenomenon; however, the global connectivity rates differ dramatically for various countries. What will the situation be in, let say, fifty years? The article aims to show how the future demographic changes can influence absolute numbers and relative proportions of societies with different levels of global connectivity. To estimate the national rates of global connectivity the authors rely on the countries’ participation in global networks, such as trade in goods, trade in services, foreign direct investment (FDI), and international migration. As the scenario of the demographic future, the authors use medium population projections of 2017 calculated by the United Nations Population Division. The authors applied a two-stage method: first, they constructed network models and analyzed the structure of networks to reveal the positions of countries in order to estimate their rates of global connectivity and identify six groups of countries according to their global connectivity rates. Second, the authors combined the results of network analysis with demographic projections to find out how many people are expected to live in the countries with different connectivity rates in the nearest decades (let say, up to 2050) and in the more distant future (2100). The results show that nearly a half of the world population (3.46 billion) lives in highly-connected countries but the situation will dramatically change in the coming decades. The proportion of population in the highly- and highly-medium-connected countries will decline by 2050 and further by 2100, while the proportion of residents of medium- and low-connected (and to some extent of lowest-low-connected) countries will significantly grow

Human Blood Pressure Measurement Using Machine Learning Strategy

A technique based on a machine learning approach is suggested and studied for blood pressure measurements. The proposed technique uses a noninvasive cuffless approach for blood pressure evaluation. In order to extract blood pressure data using this noninvasive cuffless method, pulse wave velocity or pulse wave travel time (PTT) are estimated by both signal processing of electrocardiogram (ECG) and photoplethysmogram (PPG) data records. For study performed by computer simulations, the ECG and PPG records were taken from an open database. Errors arising both for systolic and diastolic arterial pressure evaluation were estimated. Computer simulation results indicate that using machine learning strategy and using only PTT parameters provide a considerable decrease in root mean square errors both for systolic and diastolic human blood pressure data.acceptedVersionPeer reviewe

The first experience of long ureteral strictures intestinal plastics

The complex objective of reconstructive plastic urology is reconstruction of natural urinary passage in extended ureteral strictures. In the article the first experience of ureteral intestinoplasty in the Department of Urology of Chelyabinsk Regional Clinical Hospital №3 is given. Clinical observations of successful operative treatment of 4 patients with extended ureteral strictures which developed due to iatrogenic lesions are presented.Сложной задачей реконструктивно-пластической урологии является восстановление естественного пассажа мочи при протяженных стриктурах мочеточников. В статье приводится первый опыт использования кишечной пластики мочеточников в урологическом отделении Областной клинической больницы №3 г. Челябинска. Представлены клинические наблюдения успешного оперативного лечения четырех пациентов с протяженными стриктурами мочеточников, развившихся на почве ятрогенных повреждений

Efficacy of focused shock-wave therapy in the treatment of chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome in men

Introduction. Chronic prostatitis / Chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP / CPPS) is an extremely common condition for which no effective treatment has been found yet. Focused shockwave therapy (fSWT) is a safe method of physical intervention that could potentially be effective in CP / CPPS treating.Objective. To evaluate the efficacy and quality of life of patients after treatment of CP / CPPS with fSWT.Materials and methods. A prospective cohort study included 48 patients diagnosed with CP / CPPS. The patients attended the clinic three times a week for 4 weeks (12 sessions). Each time, patients received fSWT therapy sessions by “Chronic pelvic pain” protocol. One month after the last therapy session, the men completed the validated NIH-CPSI, IPSS, and QoL questionnaires.Results. The mean age of the patients was 40 ± 9 years. After the course of therapy, the score of Domain I “Pain” from 10.0 ± 4.7 to 6.3 ± 1.9 (p < 0.001). At the same time, no statistically significant decrease was obtained in Domain II 'Urination' scores ((5,88 ± 2,40 vs 5,42 ± 1,64; p = 0,11). By the end of therapy for Domains III and IV, the scores had changed from 4.42 ± 0.90 and 4.04 ± 1.27 to 4.48 ± 1.01 and 3.08 ± 1.22, respectively (p < 0,001). It is noted that the mean IPSS questionnaire score showed no statistically significant change over the treatment period (17,2 ± 4,8 vs 17,8 ± 4,8; p = 0,074)). QoL changed from 4.48 ± 0.99 to 2.46 ± 1.03 (p < 0.001).Conclusion. The study demonstrated the efficacy of fSWT as a standalone method in the treatment of CP / CPPS

Radioluminescence properties of nanocomposite scintillators with BaF 2 fillers

In this paper, studies of the luminescence properties of nanocrystalline BaF 2 samples synthesized by laser ablation and pulse electron beam evaporation method are presented. The measurements of X-ray excited luminescence (XEL) showed the dependence between luminescence intensity and the shape of the spectrum on the morphology and particle size. Also, studies of X-ray excited luminescence, decay curves and optical transmittance for nanocomposite materials containing BaF 2 nanopowder are presented. Barium fluoride nanopowder, obtained by pulsed electron beam evaporation method is characterized by a lower intensity than the initial microcrystalline powder, but at the same time, XEL spectrum of the nanocomposite material with this nanocrystalline filler is more intense, then that for nanocomposite material with initial powder. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd

Possibilities of peripheral magnetic neuromodulation in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms in men

Introduction. Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are common in men and are associated with a significant decrease in quality of life. To date, there is no universal approach to the treatment of LUTS, which determines the need to search for new methods for influencing the lower urinary tract.Purpose of the study. To test the hypothesis that the use of peripheral magnetic neuromodulation (PMN) in male patients with LUTS will reduce the severity of LUTS.Materials and methods. Sixty-eight men with LUTS were enrolled in a prospective, randomized study. Patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio for PMN or drug therapy with an alpha-1-blocker (tamsulosin). The primary endpoint was a reduction the LUTS severity such as urinary frequency during the day, nocturia and urgency as assessed using the IPSS questionnaire and urination diary. Improvements in urodynamic parameters such as maximum urine flow rate (Q max), mean urine flow rate (Q ave), and residual urine volume (PVR) were the secondary endpoint of the study. The results were evaluated on equal terms (10 days and 1 month) in both groups.Results. Sixty-seven (98.5%) subjects were included in the final base. Ten days after the start of therapy in the magnetic stimulation group, symptom relief was noted by 21 people (61.7%), the mean IPSS score showed a decrease from 18.1 ± 2.1 to 16.9 ± 3.2 points (p = 0.037). The number of urinations per day decreased from 14 (6 - 20) to 10 (6 - 14) times (p < 0.001). Objective indicators of urodynamics did not change in both groups. At a period of 1 month, PMN occurred in 22 (64.7%) patients, the IPSS score was 16.6 ± 3.7 points (p = 0.032), the number of urinations 9 (6 - 14) times (p < 0.001). Objective indicators have not changed. In the tamsulosin group, IPSS score changed from 19.27 ± 5.08 to 15.4 ± 4.85 (p < 0.001), Q max 14.36 ± 2.82 ml/s increased to 15.94 ± 2.71 ml/s (p = 0.032), while the Q ave did not change (p = 0.17). The number of urinations decreased from 13 (6 - 19) times to 10 (6 - 14) times (p <0.001).Conclusion. The study demonstrated the promise of PMN in men with LUTS in terms of improving the quality of life. The proposed method may be preferable for patients dissatisfied with drug therapy. Further placebo-controlled studies are required to help determine the role of PMN in the management of patients with LUTS

Сomparison of biomechanical properties of non-absorbable and partially absorbable mesh implants used in surgery for urinary incontinence and genital prolapse: experimental study

Introduction. The amount of non-absorbable synthetic material used in the surgical treatment of pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence has been shown to directly correlate with the risks of mesh-associated complications. Previously, we developed a partially absorbable implant. Currently, there are insufficient data on the use of partially absorbable implants in female pelvic floor reconstruction, which requires comparative biomechanical and pathomorphological studies.Objective. To compare the biomechanical properties of a new generation partially absorbable implants and nonabsorbable polypropylene mesh implants during animal model.Materials & methods. Thirty-nine rabbits weighing 3200 ± 250 g were randomised into three groups depending on the implanted endoprosthesis: group 1 (n = 15) — “Axilen” implant (polydioxanone 98%, polypropylene 2%), group 2 (n = 15) — “Axilen Rapid” implant (polyglycapron 98%, polypropylene 2%), group 3 (n = 9) — “Urosling 1” implant. After implantation, rabbits of all 3 groups were divided into 3 subgroups according to the withdrawal period from the experiment: 14 days, 60 days, and 180 days. The biomaterial obtained was subjected to two studies: evaluation of the macroscopic view of the explanted mesh endoprosthesis with the formed capsule and the surrounding tissues, study of the biomechanical properties of the formed connective tissue capsule with the implant.Results. According to macroscopic evaluation, there was a less significant tissue reaction to partially absorbed implants. A comparative analysis of biomechanical indices revealed no statistically significant difference in rupture elongation at all follow-up periods among the presented groups. Tensile strength, at 60 and 180 days, was not statistically different between the groups described. At 14 days, there was a statistically significant difference in tensile strength between groups 1 and 3 (p = 0.003).Conclusion. During biomechanical animal experiments, the connective tissue capsule formed on the partially absorbable implant was not inferior to the similar parameter of the non-absorbable sample in its tensile strength, which explains a great potential for the use of partially absorbable implants in reconstructive surgery of pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence