Dynamics of Vortex Pair in Radial Flow

The problem of vortex pair motion in two-dimensional plane radial flow is solved. Under certain conditions for flow parameters, the vortex pair can reverse its motion within a bounded region. The vortex-pair translational velocity decreases or increases after passing through the source/sink region, depending on whether the flow is diverging or converging, respectively. The rotational motion of two corotating vortexes in a quiescent environment transforms into motion along a logarithmic spiral in the presence of radial flow. The problem may have applications in astrophysics and geophysics.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figure

A Dipole Vortex Model of Obscuring Tori in Active Galaxy Nuclei

The torus concept as an essential structural component of active galactic nuclei (AGN) is generally accepted. Here, the situation is discussed when the torus "twisting" by the radiation or wind transforms it into a dipole toroidal vortex which in turn can be a source of matter replenishing the accretion disk. Thus emerging instability which can be responsible for quasar radiation flares accompanied by matter outbursts is also discussed. The "Matreshka" scheme for an obscuring vortex torus structure capable of explaining the AGN variability and evolution is proposed. The model parameters estimated numerically for the luminosity close to the Eddington limit agree well with the observations.Comment: 17 pages, 11 figures, version of this paper is published in Astronomy Report

Gravitational potential of a homogeneous circular torus: new approach

The integral expression for gravitational potential of a homogeneous circular torus composed of infinitely thin rings is obtained. Approximate expressions for torus potential in the outer and inner regions are found. In the outer region a torus potential is shown to be approximately equal to that of an infinitely thin ring of the same mass; it is valid up to the surface of the torus. It is shown in a first approximation, that the inner potential of the torus (inside a torus body) is a quadratic function of coordinates. The method of sewing together the inner and outer potentials is proposed. This method provided a continuous approximate solution for the potential and its derivatives, working throughout the region.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures, 1 table; some misprints in formulae were correcte

KiDS-SQuaD: The KiDS Strongly lensed Quasar Detection project

New methods have been recently developed to search for strong gravitational lenses, in particular lensed quasars, in wide-field imaging surveys. Here, we compare the performance of three different, morphology- and photometry- based methods to find lens candidates over the Kilo-Degree Survey (KiDS) DR3 footprint (440 deg$^2$). The three methods are: i) a multiplet detection in KiDS-DR3 and/or Gaia-DR1, ii) direct modeling of KiDS cutouts and iii) positional offsets between different surveys (KiDS-vs-Gaia, Gaia-vs-2MASS), with purpose-built astrometric recalibrations. The first benchmark for the methods has been set by the recovery of known lenses. We are able to recover seven out of ten known lenses and pairs of quasars observed in the KiDS DR3 footprint, or eight out of ten with improved selection criteria and looser colour pre-selection. This success rate reflects the combination of all methods together, which, taken individually, performed significantly worse (four lenses each). One movelty of our analysis is that the comparison of the performances of the different methods has revealed the pros and cons of the approaches and, most of all, the complementarities. We finally provide a list of high-grade candidates found by one or more methods, awaiting spectroscopic follow-up for confirmation. Of these, KiDS 1042+0023 is to our knowledge the first confirmed lensed quasar from KiDS, exhibiting two quasar spectra at the same source redshift at either sides of a red galaxy, with uniform flux-ratio $f\approx1.25$ over the wavelength range $0.45\mu\mathrm{m}<\lambda<0.75\mu\mathrm{m}.$Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures, 4 tables, accepted for publication in MNRA

VEGAS: VST Early-type GAlaxy Survey. V. IC 1459 group: Mass assembly history in low density environments

This paper is based on the multi-band VST Early-type GAlaxy Survey (VEGAS) with the VLT Survey Telescope (VST). We present new deep photometry of the IC1459 group in g and r band. The main goal of this work is to investigate the photometric properties of the IC1459 group, and to compare our results with those obtained for other galaxy groups studied in VEGAS, in order to provide a first view of the variation of their properties as a function of the evolution of the system. For all galaxies in the IC1459 group, we fit isophotes and extract the azimuthally-averaged surface-brightness profiles, the position angle and ellipticity profiles as a function of the semi-major axis, as well as the average colour profile. In each band, we estimate the total magnitudes, effective radii, mean colour, and total stellar mass for each galaxies in the group. Then we look at the structure of the brightest galaxies and faint features in their outskirts, considering also the intragroup component. The wide field of view, long integration time, high angular resolution, and arcsec-level seeing of OmegaCAM@VST allow us to map the light distribution of IC1459 down to a surface brightness level of 29.26 mag arcsec^{-2} in g band and 28.85 mag arcsec^{-2} in r band, and out to 7-10 Re, and to detect the optical counterpart of HI gas around IC1459. We also explore in depth three low density environments and provide information to understand how galaxies and groups properties change with the group evolution stage. There is a good agreement of our results with predictions of numerical simulations regarding the structural properties of the brightest galaxies of the groups. We suggest that the structure of the outer envelope of the BCGs, the intra-group light and the HI amount and distribution may be used as indicators of the different evolutionary stage and mass assembly in galaxy groups.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic

Risks of non-cancer diseases in the cohort of personnel involved in the disposal of nuclear munitions

The aim was to estimate the risk of non-tumor disease incidence in the cohort of workers involved in the disposal of nuclear munitions as a function of non-radiational and radiological factors.Цель работы – оценить риск заболеваемости неопухолевыми заболеваниями в когорте работников, участвующих в утилизации ядерных боеприпасов, в зависимости от нерадиационных и радиационных факторов

Phylogeny and Taxonomy of the Round-Eared Sengis or Elephant-Shrews, Genus Macroscelides (Mammalia, Afrotheria, Macroscelidea)

The round-eared sengis or elephant-shrews (genus Macroscelides) exhibit striking pelage variation throughout their ranges. Over ten taxonomic names have been proposed to describe this variation, but currently only two taxa are recognized (M. proboscideus proboscideus and M. p. flavicaudatus). Here, we review the taxonomic history of Macroscelides, and we use data on the geographic distribution, morphology, and mitochondrial DNA sequence to evaluate the current taxonomy. Our data support only two taxa that correspond to the currently recognized subspecies M. p. proboscideus and M. p. flavicaudatus. Mitochondrial haplotypes of these two taxa are reciprocally monophyletic with over 13% uncorrected sequence divergence between them. PCA analysis of 14 morphological characters (mostly cranial) grouped the two taxa into non-overlapping clusters, and body mass alone is a relatively reliable distinguishing character throughout much of Macroscelides range. Although fieldworkers were unable to find sympatric populations, the two taxa were found within 50 km of each other, and genetic analysis showed no evidence of gene flow. Based upon corroborating genetic data, morphological data, near sympatry with no evidence of gene flow, and differences in habitat use, we elevate these two forms to full species

Ревматоидный артрит в реальной клинической практике. Результаты проекта «Компьютерные терминалы самооценки для пациентов с ревматическими заболеваниями» («ТЕРМИНАЛ-I»)

Objective: to describe the portrait of a patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in real clinical practice, to assess disease activity from the point of view of a physician and a patient, functional status, quality of life (QOL), and the efficiency of the therapy performed.Patients and methods. The investigation enrolled 976 RA patients from a cohort of patients in the TERMINAL-I multicenter study, who, when visiting a rheumatologist, independently assessed the disease activity and QOL using a computer system (the «Computer Terminals of SelfAssessment for Patients with Rheumatic Diseases» project). The mean age of the patients was 52.30±13.3 years; women accounted for 85%; the median disease duration 8.0 [4.0; 14.0] years. Baseline clinical parameters and pharmacotherapy were evaluated for 6 months. The disease activity was determined by the DAS28 and RAPID-3 indices; functional status and quality of life were evaluated by the HAQ and the EQ-5D, respectively.Results. 83% of the RA patients were positive for rheumatoid factor and 60% were for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies. There was a preponderance of patients with high (40.5%) and moderate (46.8%) RA activity; 6.9% were observed to have a low activity; 5.8% had clinical remission. The mean values of DAS28 and RAPID-3 were 4.7±1.3 and 13.7±3.6, respectively. Only 14.3% of patients had a good functional status that was comparable with the population-based control (HAQ≤0.5). The remaining patients were found to have a substantial decrease in joint functional parameters (median HAQ 1.88 [1.0; 2.5]) and EQ-5D QOL (0.60 [0.60; 0.74). Prosthetic joints were present in 7.4% of patients. At visit 1 to a rheumatologist, the therapy was changed in 15% of patients. During 6-month follow-up, conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs were taken by almost all (91.2%) patients. Of them, 70.9% of the patients were treated with methotrexate (MTX): 77.0% received the latter at a dose of 15 mg/week and 23.0% had it at a dose of &gt;15 mg (17.5 to 40 mg/week). Glucocorticoids could be stopped in 20.5% of the patients within six months. Tumor necrosis factor-α inhibitors and anti-B-cell therapy were used in 6.6 and 16.2% of patients, respectively. At 6-month follow-up (Visit 2), 54% of patients achieved a 20% clinical improvement in the ACR criteria. At the same time, the DAS28 scores decreased substantially from 4.5±1.2 to 3.8±1.1 (p = 0.0001). There was a minimal functional improvement in the HAQ index in 64% of patients and a better EQ-D QOL scores in 16%.Conclusion. The majority of RA patients who came to the rheumatologists showed high to moderate disease activity. This was due to long disease duration, inadequate MTX dose, and insufficient patient monitoring in real clinical practice. Introduction of a computer system for selfassessment of their health status by RA patients in an outpatient setting could improve the interaction of physicians, nurses, and patients, better monitor disease activity, and enhance therapeutic efficiency. Цель исследования – описание «портрета» пациента с ревматоидным артритом (РА) в реальной клинической практике, оценка активности заболевания с точки зрения врача и пациента, функционального состояния, качества жизни (КЖ) и эффективности проводимой терапии.Пациенты и методы. В исследование включено 976 пациентов с РА из когорты больных, входящих в многоцентровое исследование «ТЕРМИНАЛ-I», которые при обращении к ревматологу самостоятельно оценивали активность заболевания и КЖ с помощью компьютерной системы (проект «Компьютерные терминалы самооценки для пациентов с ревматическими заболеваниями»). Средний возраст пациентов составил 52,30±13,3 года, 85% – женщины, медиана длительности заболевания – 8,0 [4,0; 14,0] лет. Проводилась оценка базовых клинических параметров и фармакотерапии в течение 6 мес. Активность заболевания определялась по индексам DAS28 и RAPID-3, функциональный статус – по индексу HAQ, качество жизни – по EQ-5D.Результаты. 83% больных РА были позитивными по ревматоидному фактору и 60% – по антителам к циклическому цитруллинированному пептиду. Преобладали пациенты с высокой (40,5%) и умеренной (46,8%) активностью РА, у 6,9% отмечалась низкая активность, у 5,8% –клиническая ремиссия. Среднее значение индекса DAS28 составило 4,7±1,3, RAPID-3 – 13,7±3,6. Только 14,3% пациентов имели хорошее функциональное состояние, сравнимое с популяционным контролем (HAQ ≤0,5). У остальных больных отмечалось значительное снижение показателей функции суставов (медиана HAQ 1,88 [1,0; 2,5]) и КЖ по индексу EQ-5D (0,60 [0,60; 0,74]). Протезированные суставы имели 7,4% больных. При 1-м визите к ревматологу терапия была изменена у 15% пациентов. В течение 6 мес наблюдения практически все пациенты (91,2%) получали стандартные базисные противовоспалительные препараты. Из них 70,9% пациентов находились на терапии метотрексатом (МТ): 77,0% получали его в дозе 15 мг/нед и 23,0% – &gt;15 мг (от 17,5 до 40 мг/нед). 20,5% пациентам в течение полугода удалось отменить глюкокортикоиды. Ингибиторы фактора некроза опухоли α использовали 6,6% больных, анти-В-клеточную терапию – 16,2%. После 6 мес наблюдения (2-й визит к врачу) 20% клиническое улучшение по критериям ACR достигнуто у 54% больных. При этом отмечалось значительное снижение индекса DAS28 (с 4,5±1,2 до 3,8±1,1 балла; p=0,0001). Минимальное функциональное улучшение по индексу HAQ зафиксировано у 64% пациентов, улучшение КЖ по EQ-5D – у 16%.Выводы. Высокая и умеренная активность заболевания, снижение показателей КЖ были характерны для большинства пациентов с РА, обратившихся к ревматологу. Это было связано с большой длительностью заболевания, неадекватной дозой МТ и недостаточным мониторингом пациентов в реальной клинической практике. Введение компьютерной системы самооценки состояния здоровья пациентов с РА на поликлиническом уровне позволило улучшить взаимодействие врачей, медицинских сестер и пациентов, более качественно контролировать активность заболевания и повысить эффективность терапии.

The recombinant fusion protein CFP10–ESAT6–dIFN has protective effect against tuberculosis in guinea pigs

Development of effective vaccine candidates against tuberculosis (TB) is currently the most important challenge in the prevention of this disease since the BCG vaccine fails to guarantee a lifelong protection, while any other approved vaccine with better efficiency is still absent. The protective effect of the recombinant fusion protein CFP10–ESAT6–dIFN produced in a prokaryotic expression system (Escherichia coli) has been assessed in a guinea pig model of acute TB. The tested antigen comprises the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) proteins ESAT6 and CFP10 as well as modified human γ-interferon (dIFN) for boosting the immune response. Double intradermal immunization of guinea pigs with the tested fusion protein (2 × 0.5 µg) induces a protective effect against subsequent Mtb infection. The immunized guinea pigs do not develop the symptoms of acute TB and their body weight gain was five times more as compared with the non-immunized infected guinea pigs. The animal group immunized with this dose of antigen displays the minimum morphological changes in the internal organs and insignificant inflammatory lesions in the liver tissue, which complies with a decrease in the bacterial load in the spleen and average Mtb counts in macrophages