Dependence of the open-closed field line boundary in Saturn's ionosphere on both the IMF and solar wind dynamic pressure:comparison with the UV auroral oval observed by the HST

We model the open magnetic field region in Saturn's southern polar ionosphere during two compression regions observed by the Cassini spacecraft upstream of Saturn in January 2004, and compare these with the auroral ovals observed simultaneously in ultraviolet images obtained by the Hubble Space Telescope. The modelling employs the paraboloid model of Saturn's magnetospheric magnetic field, whose parameters are varied according to the observed values of both the solar wind dynamic pressure and the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) vector. It is shown that the open field area responds strongly to the IMF vector for both expanded and compressed magnetic models, corresponding to low and high dynamic pressure, respectively. It is also shown that the computed open field region agrees with the poleward boundary of the auroras as well as or better than those derived previously from a model in which only the variation of the IMF vector was taken into account. The results again support the hypothesis that the auroral oval at Saturn is associated with the open-closed field line boundary and hence with the solar wind interaction

Commercial organisations head’s innovative competencies model

Digitalisation and the innovative economy have generated many social processes and transformations, and set many tasks. These changes were especially clearly reflected in the professional activities of the commercial sector heads. Today, they can no longer perform their duties effectively, having only general cultural and professional competencies in their portfolio. The formation of different, new type competencies is required. However, we are not talking about disparate, separate skills and abilities, the sporadic description of which is found in professional standards or requirements for vacancies in the positions of top managers. There is a need for the formation and development of competencies among the heads of commercial organisations responsible for the birth of innovations and involvement in the processes of the innovative economy. Sociological researchers are faced with the tasks of defining this concept, detailed description of innovative competences, their distinctive features from competences of other types, systematization and grouping. The article presents the author’s model of innovative competencies obtained as a result of sociological research “The role of innovative competencies in professional activity of managers of commercial organisations”. The model can serve as a basis for further research in this field and development of this direction of sociology

IMF dependence of Saturn's auroras: modelling study of HST and Cassini data from 12–15 February 2008

To gain better understanding of auroral processes in Saturn's magnetosphere, we compare ultraviolet (UV) auroral images obtained by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) with the position of the open-closed field line boundary in the ionosphere calculated using a magnetic field model that employs Cassini measurements of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) as input. Following earlier related studies of pre-orbit insertion data from January 2004 when Cassini was located ~ 1300 Saturn radii away from the planet, here we investigate the interval 12–15 February 2008, when UV images of Saturn's southern dayside aurora were obtained by the HST while the Cassini spacecraft measured the IMF in the solar wind just upstream of the dayside bow shock. This configuration thus provides an opportunity, unique to date, to determine the IMF impinging on Saturn's magnetosphere during imaging observations, without the need to take account of extended and uncertain interplanetary propagation delays. The paraboloid model of Saturn's magnetosphere is then employed to calculate the magnetospheric magnetic field structure and ionospheric open-closed field line boundary for averaged IMF vectors that correspond, with appropriate response delays, to four HST images. We show that the IMF-dependent open field region calculated from the model agrees reasonably well with the area lying poleward of the UV emissions, thus supporting the view that the poleward boundary of Saturn's auroral oval in the dayside ionosphere lies adjacent to the open-closed field line boundary

Discovery of small molecules that activate RNA-methylation through cooperative binding to the METTL3/14/WTAP complex active site

Chemical modifications of RNA provide an additional, epitranscriptomic, level of control over cellular functions. N-6-methylated adenosines (m6As) are found in several types of RNA, and their amounts are regulated by methyltransferases and demethylases. One of the most important enzymes catalyzing generation of m6A on mRNA is the trimer N-6-methyltransferase METTL3-14-WTAP complex. Its activity has been linked to such critical biological processes as cell differentiation, proliferation, and death. We used in silico-based discovery to identify small-molecule ligands that bind to METTL3-14-WTAP and determined experimentally their binding affinity and kinetics, as well as their effect on enzymatic function. We show that these ligands serve as activators of the METTL3-14-WTAP complex

PCSK9 Inhibitors in Clinical Practice: Experience of a Specialized Lipid Center

Aim. To characterize patients receiving PCSK9 inhibitors, and assess the efficiency of their treatment in a specialized lipid center.Material and methods. A retrospective analysis of the medical records of patients who visited the Lipid clinic of the National Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive Medicine (Moscow, Russia), receiving PCSK9 inhibitor and having lipid profile in dynamics, was carried out (n=77). Cardiovascular risk (CVR) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) target levels were evaluated in accordance with the Russian guidelines for the diagnostics and correction of dyslipidemias 2020.Results. Of 77 patients taking PCSK9 inhibitors (44.2% males, the median of age 56 [47; 66] years), the majority (64.0%) had a probable or definite familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). The proportion of other lipid metabolism disorders, pure hypercholesterolemia and combined hyperlipidemia was 21% and 15%. More than half of the patients (68.8%) had a very high CVR, mainly due to the presence of coronary heart disease (84.9%). The proportion of patients receiving PCSK9 inhibitors as monotherapy was 7.8%, in combination with high-intensity statin therapy – 33.8%, as part of triple lipid-lowering therapy (high-intensity statin, ezetimibe, PCSK9 inhibitors) – 50.6%. Addition of PCSK9 inhibitors to combined lipid-lowering therapy enabled to reduce the LDL-C level to 1.02 [0.62; 1.39] mmol/l with its total decrease from the baseline by 87.3%. While taking PCSK9 inhibitors, LDL-C <1.8 mmol/l and <1.4 mmol/l achieved at 78.3% and 57.7% FH patients with high and very high CVR, respectively. Among patients with other hyperlipidemias, 74.1% of patients with very high CVR was achieved the target LDL-C level <1.4 mmol/l.Conclusion: In a specialized lipid center, PCSK9 inhibitors are prescribed to patients with high or very high CVR, most of whom are FH patients. The effectiveness of the use of PCSK9 inhibitors in real-world practice is comparable to the results of clinical trials

Опыт применения ритмической периферической магнитной стимуляции при пояснично-крестцовой радикулопатии

Introduction. Lumbosacral radiculopathy is а leading cause of long-term disability. Taking into a consideration the duration of treatment radiculopathy, the risk of developing adverse reactions when taking analgesics, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the physiotherapeutic method — repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation may become a promising method of therapy.Aim of the study. Assessment of the effectiveness of the complex treatment for patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy using the course of the repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation.Materials and methods. Forty patients with lumbosacral radiculopathy were enrolled in the open non-randomized study, were divided into 2 parallel groups. The patients of the 1st group received a course of traditional treatment and a course of the repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation. The patients of the 2nd group were treated with the traditional treatment without the course of the stimulation. A magnetic stimulator MagPro (Magventure, Denmark) was used for repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation.Results. A significant difference (p <0.001) was registered regarding the reduction of pain syndrome and the improvement of the functional status after treatment in both groups. 14 (70 %) patients of the first group achieved a pain visual analogue scale relief by 50 % after 10 repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation sessions, while 6 (30 %) patients did this after 15 repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation sessions. We did not observed a statistically significant differences (p >0.05) in pain syndrome, functional status, anxiety level at the end of follow-up between the groups.Conclusion. We did not receive the benefits of the repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation course in comparison with a traditional treatment of a lumbosacral radiculopathy. Further placebo-controlled studies to study the effect of repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation on pain and anxiety in patients with back pain and radiculopathy are required.Введение. Пояснично-крестцовая радикулопатия является частой причиной стойкой и длительной утраты трудоспособности. Если принимать во внимание длительность лечения радикулопатии, риск развития нежелательных реакций при приеме анальгетиков и нестероидных противовоспалительных препаратов, перспективным направлением терапии становится применение физиотерапевтического метода — ритмической периферической магнитной стимуляции.Цель исследования – оценить эффективность комплексного лечения с применением курса ритмической периферической магнитной стимуляции у пациентов с пояснично-крестцовой радикулопатией.Материалы и методы. В открытом нерандомизированном исследовании приняли участие 40 пациентов с пояснично-крестцовой радикулопатией, которые были разделены на 2 группы. Пациенты 1-й группы получали курс традиционного лечения и курс ритмической периферической магнитной стимуляции. Больные 2-й группы — курс традиционного лечения без применения курса магнитной стимуляции. Для проведения стимуляции был использован магнитный стимулятор MagPro (Magventure, Дания).Результаты. Было показано достоверное различие (р <0,001) в отношении уменьшения интенсивности болевого синдрома, улучшения функционального статуса по окончании курса терапии в обеих группах. У 14 (70 %) пациентов 1-й группы уровень болевого синдрома уменьшился по визуально-аналоговой шкале на 50 % после 10 сессий ритмической периферической магнитной стимуляции, у 6 (30 %) больных — после 15 сессий. При оценке болевого синдрома, функционального статуса, уровня тревожности не было зарегистрировано статистически значимого различия (р >0,05) параметров между группами на момент завершения лечения.Заключение. Полученные результаты не показали преимущества курса ритмической периферической магнитной стимуляции у пациентов с пояснично-крестцовой радикулопатией в сравнении с курсом традиционной терапии. Требуются дальнейшие плацебо-контролируемые исследования для изучения влияния магнитной стимуляции на болевой синдром и уровень тревожности у пациентов с болью в спине и радикулопатией

A Rapid Synthesis of Oriented Palladium Nanoparticles by UV Irradiation

Palladium nanoparticles of average size around 8 nm have been synthesized rapidly by UV irradiation of mixture of palladium chloride and potassium oxalate solutions. A rod-shaped palladium oxalate complex has been observed as an intermediate. In the absence of potassium oxalate, no Pd nanoparticles have been observed. The synthesized Pd nanoparticles have been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selective area electron diffraction and energy dispersive analysis by X-rays (EDAX) analyses. XRD analysis indicates the preferential orientation of catalytically active {111} planes in Pd nanoparticles. A plausible mechanism has been proposed for the formation of anisotropic Pd nanoparticles