Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base-Artinskian Stage (Lower Permian)

The base-Artinskian Stage GSSP is defined at 0.6 m above the base of bed 4b at the Dal’ny Tulkas section in the southern Urals of Russia (53.88847N and 056.51615E). This point corresponds to the First Appearance Datum of the conodont Sweetognathus asymmetricus, which is part of a well-defined and widely distributed lineage. Additional markers for correlation include a radioisotopic age interpolated between 290.1 and 290.5 Ma, a strontium isotopic ratio of .70767, and many additional fossils groups, particularly ammonoids and fusulines, but also including small foraminiferans, radiolarians, and palynomorphs. Finally, the boundary occurs within a transgressive succession, near, or at a maximum flooding surface in many sections, thereby forming a distinctive sequence stratigraphic signature in the field. The Artinskian Stage is the third stage of the Lower Permian or Cisuralian Series

Intraocular cytokines in retinal vein occlusion and its relation to the efficiency of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy

Purpose: To analyze the change in the concentration of intraocular cytokines (ICs) in patients with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) before and after intravitreal ranibizumab therapy (IVR), and to find the correlations of IC with clinical activity of RVO and efficiency of treatment. Materials and Methods: Forty-four patients aged 46–79 years old (mean age: 60.7 ± 7.5 years old) with RVO and macular edema (18 patients – with central RVO, 26 – with branch RVO) treated with IVR were included into the study. The concentrations of 27 cytokines were simultaneously measured in aqueous humor by flow fluorometry using Bio-Plex Pro Human Cytokine Panel, 27-Plex (Bio-Rad Laboratories, USA) at baseline and after the first IVR. Control group consisted of 20 age-matched patients. Results: The levels of 11 cytokines (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF], receptor antagonist interleukin-1, interleukin-6 [IL-6], IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12r70, IL-13, IL-15, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 [MCP-1], regulated on activation, normal T expressed and secreted) were significantly (P < 0.05) different compared to control and significantly (P < 0.05) changed after IVR both in central and branch RVO. The patients were divided into two groups: the first -"effective" and the second - "partially effective" therapy. The second group characterized by the higher concentrations of VEGF, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17, and MCP-1 at baseline compared to the first group. Conclusion: The patients with RVO were characterized by the increased levels of VEGF and other pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Aqueous concentration of cytokines were different in patients with central and branch RVO and significantly changed after IVR. Insufficient response to IVR was associated with activation of immune-inflammatory processes

One-step immobilization of cesium and strontium from alkaline solutions via a facile hydrothermal route

Текст статьи не публикуется в открытом доступе в соответствии с политикой журнала.Hydrothermal treatment of coal fly ash cenospheres (Si/Al = 2.7) as a glassy source of Si and Al was carried out in 1.5 M NaOH at 150°C in the presence of Cs+ and Sr2+ to study the possibility of Cs+ and Sr2+ immobilization in mineral-like compounds. Systems Na2O–H2O– (SiO2–Al2O3) glass, Na2O–Cs2O–H2O– (SiO2–Al2O3) glass with Cs+/Na+ ratios of 0.05 and 0.5, and Na2O–SrO–H2O– (SiO2–Al2O3) glass with Sr2+/Na+ ratios of 0.25 and 0.025 were under study. Structure, composition and morphology of solid products were characterized by PXRD, SEM-EDS and STA methods. In the Cs+/Sr2+ free systems the deep crystallization of cenosphere glass takes place resulting in hollow polycrystalline analcime microspheres. Microsphere solids including phases of ANA topology (analcime, pollucite or analcime-pollucite solid solutions) and Cs+/Sr2+ silicates are produced as Cs+ and Sr2+ immobilized forms in the Cs+/Sr2+ bearing systems. The degree of Cs+ and Sr2+ recovery from alkaline solutions was 90–99%

Magnetic Composite Sorbents for Trapping Heavy Metals from Liquid Waste and Their Immobilization in a Mineral-Like Matrix

Магнитные сорбенты получали смешиванием ферросфер с цирконосиликагелем с последующей термической обработкой композиций при 500 °C. В качестве магнитного компонента использовали узкую фракцию ферросфер E -0,063+0,050 мм, выделенную из летучей золы от сжигания экибастузского угля. Дополнительно поверхность полученных магнитных композиций активировали путем нанесения функциональных групп –POONa и –NH2. В равновесных условиях измерены сорбционные емкости сорбентов в отношении катионов Се3+ как имитатора U4+/Th4+и Pb2+ путем построения изотерм сорбции, которые были аппроксимированы моделью Ленгмюра. Установлено, что извлечение катионов Се3+ и Pb2+ из водных сред протекает с коэффициентами распределения 104–106 мл/г. Определены условия твердофазной кристаллизации сорбентов с формированием полифазной системы, в которой содержание фазы циркона достигает 50 мас. %Magnetic sorbents were prepared by addition of ferrospheres to zirconia-silica gel followed by thermal treatment at 500 °C. The ferrosphere narrow fraction E -0.063+0.050 mm from fly ash resulted from combustion of Ekibastuz coal was used as a magnetic component. The surface of magnetic composites was additionally functionalized by grafting of – POONa and – NH2 groups. Under equilibrium conditions sorption capacities of the sorbents with respect to Се3+ used as a U4+/Th4+ simulator and Pb2+ were measured by means of determination of sorption isotherms which were fitted by the Langmuir model. It was established that extraction of Се3+ and Pb2+ from aqueous solutions is characterized by distribution coefficients of 104–106 ml/g. Temperature conditions for solid-phase crystallization of the sorbents resulting in polyphase systems with the content of zircon phase of 50 wt. % were foun

Impacts of environmental change on biodiversity and vegetation dynamics in Siberia

Biological diversity is the basis for, and an indicator of biosphere integrity. Together with climate change, its loss is one of the two most important planetary boundaries. A halt in biodiversity loss is one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Current changes in biodiversity in the vast landmass of Siberia are at an initial stage of inventory, even though the Siberian environment is experiencing rapid climate change, weather extremes and transformation of land use and management. Biodiversity changes affect traditional land use by Indigenous People and multiple ecosystem services with implications for local and national economies. Here we review and analyse a large number of scientific publications, which are little known outside Russia, and we provide insights into Siberian biodiversity issues for the wider international research community. Case studies are presented on biodiversity changes for insect pests, fish, amphibians and reptiles, birds, mammals and steppe vegetation, and we discuss their causes and consequence