Regional climate modeling activities in relation to the CLAVIER project

Observational records show that the global climate is changing and these changes are visible in the Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC). Certainly negative impacts of climate change will involve significant economic losses in several regions of Europe, while others may bring health or welfare problems somewhere else. Within the EU funded project CLAVIER (Climate ChAnge and Variability: Impact on Central and Eastern EURope) three representative CEEC are Studied in detail: Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria. Researchers from 6 countries and different disciplines identify linkages between climate change and its impact on weather patterns with consequences oil air Pollution, extreme events, and water resources. Furthermore, an evaluation of the economic impact on agriculture, tourism, energy supply, and public sector will be conducted, CLAVIER focuses oil ongoing and future climate changes in CEEC using measurements and existing regional scenarios to determine possible developments of the climate and to address related uncertainties. Three regional climate models are used to simulate the climate evolution in CEEC for the period 1951 to 2050, the future regional climate projection being the first half of the 21st century. The issue of climate change uncertainties is addressed through the multi-model and multi-scenario ensemble approach. As a result, CLAVIER establishes a large data base, tools, and methodologies, which contribute to reasonable planning for a successful development of society and economy in CEEC under climate change conditions. Current regional climate projections show a strong warming and drying during the summer months, which seems partly due to a systematic error in model simulations. Detailed validation of the CLAVIER simulations, which goes much beyond this paper, is needed, and the results have to be related to possible climate changes projected for the region in future simulations

Phase Filters for 3D Localization of Point Light Sources

The work relates to the engineering and research of phase filters for three-dimensional localization of point light emitters. These phase filters form a light field having two clearly visible maxima in their intensity distribution (i.e. two-lobe fields). By means of numerical simulation, the influence of the amplitude and phase distortions of the wave front of the illuminating beam on the two-lobe field formation has been studied in the work. Keywords: spiral light beams, amplitude distortions, phase distortions, threedimensional localization, two-lobe field

Clinical observation pseudoobstruction syndrome of the stomach's output part and small intestine of a patient with systematic lupus erythematosis

Stomach's output part and small intestine, combining with damaging of the urinary tract is a rare systemic lupus eritematosus (SLE) manifestation. The patient is 32 years old, suffering from SLE with damaged join, blood system, secondary antiphospholipid syndrome with pulmonary embolism in the history and formation of high postembolic pulmonary hypertension on therapy with hydroxychloroquine and low doses of corticosteroids, was hospitalized because of persistent nausea, vomiting, loss of more than 10 kg body weight 1.5 months. The research have shown the obstruction's formation of the stomach's output part, small bowel obstruction at several levels, as well as thickening of the bladder wall and the unilateral expansion of the ureter. Against the backdrop of strengthening of immunosuppressive therapy these lesions completely regressed

Heart myxoma under the mask of interstitial lung lesion: a difficult case from practice

The aim of the investigation was to describe a clinical case of the development of interstitial lung lesions in a 57-year-old man with a large left atrial myxoma, which had a reverse development after myxomectomy.Materials and methods. Patient V., 57 years old, was hospitalized in the therapeutic department of the City Clinical Hospital No. 1 named after N. I. Pirogov in connection with bilateral polysegmental pneumonia. A month before hospitalization, he underwent an outpatient examination for progressive dyspnea. Myxoma of the heart was diagnosed. Due to the progression of respiratory failure and the appearance of fever, he was hospitalized. Amidst the multistage antibiotic therapy, there was a torpid course of lung pathology with syndromes of bilateral dissemination and “ground glass”, bilateral lymphadenopathy of the mediastinum, high pulmonary hypertension, and systemic inflammatory reaction syndrome. Thromboembolism of the branches of the pulmonary artery, tuberculosis, sepsis, infective endocarditis, neoplastic processes of pulmonary and other localization were excluded.Results. The clinical picture corresponded to interstitial lung lesions within the framework of paraneoplastic syndrome in heart myxoma. It was decided to urgently carry out myxomectomy.Conclusion. The clinical case demonstrates the development of a rare variant of paraneoplastic syndrome in left atrial myxoma, which was suspected during the patient’s treatment for bilateral polysegmental pneumonia. The progression of the pulmonary lesion was explained by active interstitial inflammation and was supported by the immunological activity of the heart tumor.The performed myxomectomy, despite the persisting syndrome of systemic inflammatory reaction and infiltration of the lung tissue, led in 2 weeks to complete resolution of interstitial lung lesions and pulmonary hypertension, which confirmed the causal relationship between myxoma of the heart and involvement in the pathological process of the lungs

Effect of Antibiotic Therapy on the Sensitivity of Etiological Diagnostic Methods in Patients with Infective Endocarditis after Surgery

Aim. Assessment of impact  of the duration  of preoperative  antimicrobial  therapy  (AMT) on the sensitivity  of microbiological examination and polymerase  chain reaction (PCR) of blood/tissues of resected valves in operated patients with infective endocarditis  (IE).Materials and methods. 52 operated patients with active IE were included prospectively (Duke criteria, 2015). All patients underwent microbiological examination of blood  before  admission  to the cardiac  surgery  hospital,  as well as parallel  simultaneous microbiological examination and  PCR  of blood/tissues of excised  valves,  followed  by Sanger  sequencing. The duration  of preoperative  treatment  was  calculated  from the first day of AMT according to IE diagnosis to the day of surgery.Results. The causative agent of IE was established in 84.6% (n=44) patients by means of complex etiological diagnosis. A significant  decrease in the sensitivity of microbiological examination of venous blood was revealed when performed  in the period before and after hospitalization to a surgical hospital (up 44.2% to 17.3%, p<0.05). When comparing microbiological examination of blood/tissues of resected valves and PCR of blood/tissues of resected valves, molecular biological  methods demonstrated the greatest sensitivity, with a great advantage when examining the tissues of resected valves (17.3% and 19.2% vs. 38.5% and 75.0%, respectively;  p<0.001). The microbiological examination of venous blood performed  at an early date before admission  to the cardiac  surgery  hospital was comparable in sensitivity to the PCR blood test performed  at a later date after prolonged AMT,  and significantly less sensitive in relation to the PCR of resected valve tissues [44.2% and 38.5% (p>0.05) vs. 75.0% (p<0.05)]. In course of AMT 1-28 days,  there were comparable results of microbiological examination with PCR blood examination and significantly better results of PCR of resected valve tissues [31.0% and 34.5% and 41.4% (p>0.05) vs 72.4% (p<0.001), respectively], and with AMT ≥ 29 days, microbiological examination of any biological  material was negative  in all patients,  and PCR of blood/tissues of resected valves retained high sensitivity (0% and 0% vs. 34.8% and 78.3%, respectively; p<0.01).Conclusion. Long-term preoperative AMT significantly reduced the sensitivity of microbiological examination of resected valve blood/tissue in operated patients with IE, whereas PCR of resected valve blood/tissue was highly sensitive even with preoperative AMT for more than 29 days

Poly(ADP-Ribose) Polymerase 1 (PARP-1) Regulates Ribosomal Biogenesis in Drosophila Nucleoli

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1), a nuclear protein, utilizes NAD to synthesize poly(AD-Pribose) (pADPr), resulting in both automodification and the modification of acceptor proteins. Substantial amounts of PARP1 and pADPr (up to 50%) are localized to the nucleolus, a subnuclear organelle known as a region for ribosome biogenesis and maturation. At present, the functional significance of PARP1 protein inside the nucleolus remains unclear. Using PARP1 mutants, we investigated the function of PARP1, pADPr, and PARP1-interacting proteins in the maintenance of nucleolus structure and functions. Our analysis shows that disruption of PARP1 enzymatic activity caused nucleolar disintegration and aberrant localization of nucleolar-specific proteins. Additionally, PARP1 mutants have increased accumulation of rRNA intermediates and a decrease in ribosome levels. Together, our data suggests that PARP1 enzymatic activity is required for targeting nucleolar proteins to the proximity of precursor rRNA; hence, PARP1 controls precursor rRNA processing, post-transcriptional modification, and pre-ribosome assembly. Based on these findings, we propose a model that explains how PARP1 activity impacts nucleolar functions and, consequently, ribosomal biogenesis

Uniparental Genetic Heritage of Belarusians: Encounter of Rare Middle Eastern Matrilineages with a Central European Mitochondrial DNA Pool

Ethnic Belarusians make up more than 80% of the nine and half million people inhabiting the Republic of Belarus. Belarusians together with Ukrainians and Russians represent the East Slavic linguistic group, largest both in numbers and territory, inhabiting East Europe alongside Baltic-, Finno-Permic- and Turkic-speaking people. Till date, only a limited number of low resolution genetic studies have been performed on this population. Therefore, with the phylogeographic analysis of 565 Y-chromosomes and 267 mitochondrial DNAs from six well covered geographic sub-regions of Belarus we strove to complement the existing genetic profile of eastern Europeans. Our results reveal that around 80% of the paternal Belarusian gene pool is composed of R1a, I2a and N1c Y-chromosome haplogroups – a profile which is very similar to the two other eastern European populations – Ukrainians and Russians. The maternal Belarusian gene pool encompasses a full range of West Eurasian haplogroups and agrees well with the genetic structure of central-east European populations. Our data attest that latitudinal gradients characterize the variation of the uniparentally transmitted gene pools of modern Belarusians. In particular, the Y-chromosome reflects movements of people in central-east Europe, starting probably as early as the beginning of the Holocene. Furthermore, the matrilineal legacy of Belarusians retains two rare mitochondrial DNA haplogroups, N1a3 and N3, whose phylogeographies were explored in detail after de novo sequencing of 20 and 13 complete mitogenomes, respectively, from all over Eurasia. Our phylogeographic analyses reveal that two mitochondrial DNA lineages, N3 and N1a3, both of Middle Eastern origin, might mark distinct events of matrilineal gene flow to Europe: during the mid-Holocene period and around the Pleistocene-Holocene transition, respectively

Climateurope festival: an innovative way of linking science and society

The Climateurope Festivals were designed to create synergies between different European, national and international initiatives in the fields of Earth-system modelling & Climate Services and enhance the transfer of information between suppliers and users. It gave an opportunity to display best in class outcomes and engage in world class networking in a less rigid environment than a scientific conference. A number of formats were adopted in the Festival, from traditional impulse talks to innovative interactive sessions, and the thought-provoking discussions allowed the participants to share their experiences and knowledge around the advantages and challenges that Climate Services face within different sectors. Three Climateurope Festivals were originally planned to be held across Europe. Two Festivals were successfully organised, the first in Valencia in 2017, and the second in Belgrade in 2018. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated lockdowns and travel restrictions, the third and final Festival was held online as a series of virtual web-based Festivals in 2020/2021. The Festivals were highly valued by participants. There was a strong desire by the Climateurope network to continue a science-stakeholder dialogue and make the Climateurope Festivals a regular event

Spatial and Temporal Evolution of Different‐Scale Ionospheric Irregularities in Central and East Siberia During the 27–28 May 2017 Geomagnetic Storm

We present a multi-instrumental study of ionospheric irregularities of different scales (from tens of centimeters to few kilometers) observed over the Central and East Siberia, Russia, during a moderate-to-strong geomagnetic storm on 27–28 May 2017. From high-frequency (HF) and ultrahigh-frequency (UHF) radar data, we observed an intense auroral backscatter developed right after the initial phase of the geomagnetic storm. Additionally, we examined variations of Global Positioning System (GPS)-based ROT (rate of TEC changes, where TEC is total electron content) for available GPS receivers in the region. Ionosondes, HF, and UHF radar data exhibited a presence of intense multi-scale ionospheric irregularities. We revealed a correlation between different-scale Auroral/Farley-Buneman ionospheric irregularities of the E layer during the geomagnetic storm. The combined analysis showed that an area of intense irregularities is well connected and located slightly equatorward to field-aligned currents (FACs) and auroral oval at different stages of the geomagnetic storm. An increase and equatorward displacement of Region 1 (R1)/Region 2 (R2) FACs leads to appearance and equatorward expansion of ionospheric irregularities. During downward (upward) R1 FAC and upward (downward) R2 FAC, the eastward and upward (westward and downward) E × B drift of ionospheric irregularities occurred. Simultaneous disappearance of UHF/HF auroral backscatter and GPS ROT decrease occurred during a prolonged near noon reversal of R1 and R2 FAC directions that accompanied by R1/R2 FAC degradation and disappearance of high-energy auroral precipitation