IR Thermographic System Supplied with an Ordered Fiber Bundle for Investigation of Power Engineering Equipment and Units

In this article, the authors propose an IR imaging system, supplied with an IR bundle of ordered silver halide fibers, for the acquisition of 2D temperature field distribution in hard-to-reach places. We assessed crosstalk between neighboring individual fibers of the bundle, carried out calibration of the IR imaging system, and determined modelled defects using this system. The results showed the applicability of the system for the inspection and investigation of power engineering units. Keywords: IR fiber bundles, IR thermography, internal defects detectio

Optical Fibers Based on Modified Silver Halide Crystals for Nuclear Power

We investigated the possibility of the deployment of AgBr – TlBr0.46I0.54MIR fibers in high ionizing radiation environment. For this purpose, we exposed plate samples made of AgBr – TlBr0.46I0.54crystals to β-ionizing radiation at a dose of 100 kGy. We revealed the radiation-induced translucence effect for these materials and assumed its nature. As the investigation showed the suitability of the fibers for the application in high ionizing radiation environment, the authors propose to use these fibers jointly with FTIR spectrometers for the online monitoring of various chemical processes at the nuclear power plants. Keywords: modified silver halides, MIR fibers, FTIR spectroscopy, ionizing radiation resistanc

Loss of MECP2 Leads to Activation of P53 and Neuronal Senescence.

To determine the role for mutations of MECP2 in Rett syndrome, we generated isogenic lines of human induced pluripotent stem cells, neural progenitor cells, and neurons from patient fibroblasts with and without MECP2 expression in an attempt to recapitulate disease phenotypes in vitro. Molecular profiling uncovered neuronal-specific gene expression changes, including induction of a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) program. Patient-derived neurons made without MECP2 showed signs of stress, including induction of P53, and senescence. The induction of P53 appeared to affect dendritic branching in Rett neurons, as P53 inhibition restored dendritic complexity. The induction of P53 targets was also detectable in analyses of human Rett patient brain, suggesting that this disease-in-a-dish model can provide relevant insights into the human disorder

Draft Genome Sequences of Strains \u3ci\u3eSalinicola socius\u3c/i\u3e SMB35\u3csup\u3eT\u3c/sup\u3e, \u3ci\u3eSalinicola\u3c/i\u3e sp. MH3R3-1 and \u3ci\u3eChromohalobacter\u3c/i\u3e sp. SMB17 From the Verkhnekamsk Potash Mining Region of Russia

Halomonads are moderately halophilic bacteria that are studied as models of prokaryotic osmoadaptation and sources of enzymes and chemicals for biotechnological applications. Despite the progress in understanding the diversity of these organisms, our ability to explain ecological, metabolic, and biochemical traits of halomonads at the genomic sequence level remains limited. This study addresses this gap by presenting draft genomes of Salinicola socius SMB35T, Salinicola sp. MH3R3–1 and Chromohalobacter sp. SMB17, which were isolated from potash mine tailings in the Verkhnekamsk salt deposit area of Russia. The analysis of these genomes confirmed the importance of ectoines and quaternary amines to the capacity of halomonads to tolerate osmotic stress and adapt to hypersaline environments. The study also revealed that Chromohalobacter and Salinicola share 75–90% of the predicted proteome, but also harbor a set of genus-specific genes, which in Salinicola amounted to approximately 0.5 Mbp. These genus-specific genome segments may contribute to the phenotypic diversity of the Halomonadaceae and the ability of these organisms to adapt to changing environmental conditions and colonize new ecological niches

Spectral oil analyzer

We worked out a spectral oil analyzer, implemented the method of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, which allow simultaneous detecting characteristic peaks of water absorption and sulfur-containing substances in oil within the wavelength range from 0.2 to 25.0 μm. The usage of fiber-optic delivering channels makes it possible to produce online industrial probes for the control of chemical composition and concentration, what is demanded at oil producing platforms and oil refinery plants. As identifiers, we used the most intense absorption peaks of water (λ - 1.45 μm, 1.95 μm, 3.00 μm, 6.00 μm), oil (λ - 1.72 μm, 2.31 μm, 3.41 μm) and sulfur-containing heterocycles (λ - 8.00 μm). The spectral analyzer consists of a broadband-light source, a flow-cell, a fiber-optic assembly, narrow-band optical filters and photodetectors. For delivering a broadband optical signal, a fiber-optic assembly was developed. It comprises silica fibers and polycrystalline fibers derived from solid solutions of silver and thallium (I) halides. It was calculated the effective area and diameter of each fiber type in the assembly, taking into account attenuation coefficients and overall optical losses of the system. Using eight channels for the probe at the same time, we were able to measure the content of water and sulfur-containing substances in oil in concentrations from 0.1 to 100.0 wt %. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.Russian Science Foundation, RSF: 18-73-10063This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation under grant No. 18-73-10063

Возможности скрининга высокого риска поражения осевого скелета при псориатическом артрите

Objective: to determine a set of signs that are prognostically significant for identifying a high-risk axial skeletal lesion in early psoriatic arthritis (ePsA).Patients and methods. Examinations were made in 95 patients (47 men and 48 women) with peripheral arthritis lasting for ≤2 years, who met the 2006 Classification Criteria for Psoriatic Arthritis (CASPAR). The clinical characteristics of the patients were presented in our previously published work. In all the patients, a standard examination was made and the signs of inflammatory back pain (IBP) were identified according to the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) criteria, the presence of human leukocyte antigen B27 (HLA-B27) was determined, and pelvic bone X-ray was done; regardless of whether they had IBP, 79 patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the sacroiliac joints using a low-field Signa Ovation 0.35 T. Sacroiliitis (SI) diagnosed based on radiography (rSI) was considered reliable if there were bilateral changes corresponding to at least Stage II or unilateral changes corresponding to at least Stage III according to the Kellgren system. SI diagnosed based on MRI (MRI-SI) was regarded as active when osteitis was detected in the STIR mode in the bones adjacent to the joint on at least two slices or in the presence of two signals in a slice. X-ray and MRI results were assessed by an independent radiologist. The extent of a skin lesion was determined from the body surface area (BSA): the extent was regarded insignificant, moderate, and significant with involvements of <3%, 3–10%, and >10%, respectively.The patients were divided into two groups. Group 1 included 65 (68.4%) patients with the manifestations of axial PsA (axPSA): IBP, and/or rSI, and/or MRI-SI; Group 2 consisted of 30 (31.6%) patients without axial manifestations, only with peripheral PsA (pPsA). Multivariate stepwise discriminant analysis was used to identify a group of signs that were most characteristic of axPsA.Results and discussion. Comparative analysis of the two groups showed that there were more males among patients with axPsA than among those with pPsA (39 (60%) and 8 (26.7%), respectively) (p=0.003). HLA-B27 positivity was also more often detected in patients with axPSA than in those with pPsA (30 (46.6%) and 7 (23.3%) patients, respectively) (p=0.02). In the axPSA group, there were significantly more individuals with moderate and high DAS, high CRP levels, and a more severe skin lesion (BSA >3%).The investigators obtained the following discriminant classification rule associated with axPSA: 1.566 (if CRP is >5 mg/L) + 0.957 (if HLA-B27 is positive) + 0.986 (if BSA is >3%) + 1.845 (if DAS is moderate or high) + 0.6 (if the sex is male) >3.751 (p=0.0025). The sensitivity and specificity of the model were 68% and 73%, respectively.Conclusion. The combination of signs, such as male sex, HLA-B27 positivity, high or moderate DAS, CRP >5 mg/L, the extent of skin lesions according to BSA >3%, is prognostically significant for identifying high-risk axial skeletal lesion in ePSA. The proposed mathematical model can be used to screen patients for the early diagnosis of an axial lesion in ePSA.Цель исследования – определение совокупности признаков, прогностически значимых для выявления высокого риска поражения осевого скелета при раннем псориатическом артрите (рПсА).Пациенты и методы. Обследовано 95 больных (47 мужчин и 48 женщин) с длительностью периферического артрита ≤2 лет, соответствовавших критериям ПсА CASPAR (2006). Клиническая характеристика пациентов была представлена в ранее опубликованной работе. Всем пациентам проводили стандартное обследование, определение признаков воспалительной боли в спине (ВБС) по критериям ASAS, а также наличия HLA-B27, рентгенографию костей таза; 79 пациентам, независимо от наличия у них ВБС, выполняли магнитно-резонансную томографию (МРТ) крестцово-подвздошных суставов на низкопольном аппарате Signa Ovation 0,35 Т. Сакроилиит (СИ) по данным рентгенографии (рСИ) считался достоверным при наличии двусторонних изменений, соответствующих как минимум II стадии, или односторонних изменений как минимум III стадии по Kellgren. СИ по данным МРТ (МРТ-СИ) расценивался как активный при выявлении в режиме STIR остеита в прилежащих к суставу костях как минимум на двух срезах или при наличии двух сигналов на одном срезе. Результаты рентгенографии и МРТ оценивались независимым рентгенологом. Площадь поражения кожи определилась по BSA: при вовлечении <3% она считалась незначительной, 3–10% – умеренной и >10% распространенной.Пациенты были разделены на две группы. В 1-ю группу вошли 65 (68,4%) больных с аксиальными проявлениями ПсА (аксПсА): ВБС, и/или рСИ, и/или МРТ-СИ; во 2-ю – 30 (31,6%) пациентов без аксиальных проявлений, только с периферическим ПсА (пПсА). Для выделения группы признаков, наиболее характерных для аксПсА, был использован многомерный пошаговый дискриминантный анализ. Результаты и обсуждение. Сравнительный анализ двух групп показал, что среди больных с аксПсА было значимо больше лиц мужского пола, чем при пПсА: 39 (60%) и 8 (26,7%) соответственно (р=0,003). Позитивность по HLA-В27 также чаще выявлялась при аксПсА, чем при пПсА: у 30 (46,6%) и у 7 (23,3%) пациентов соответственно (р=0,02). В группе аксПсА было достоверно больше лиц с умеренной и высокой активностью заболевания по DAS, высоким уровнем СРБ и более тяжелым поражением кожи (BSA >3%). Получено следующее дискриминантное классификационное правило, ассоциированное с аксПсА: 1,566 (если СРБ >5 мг/л) + 0,957 (если HLA B-27+) + 0,986 (если BSA >3%) + 1,845 (если активность по DAS умеренная или высокая) + 0,6 (если пол мужской) >3,751 (p=0,0025). Чувствительность модели составила 68%, специфичность – 73%.Заключение. Совокупность таких признаков, как мужской пол, позитивность по HLA-B27, высокая или умеренная активность по индексу DAS, СРБ >5 мг/л, BSA >3%, прогностически значима для выявления высокого риска поражения осевого скелета при рПсА. Предложенная математическая модель может использоваться для скрининга пациентов с целью ранней диагностики аксиального поражения при рПсА

THE ONSET OF ANCA-ASSOCIATED SYSTEMIC VASCULITIS MASKING RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

The paper describes a case of microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), the first clinical manifestation of which has been joint damage characterized chiefly by arthralgias. The overproduction of rheumatoid factor and anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies served as the basis for assuming rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Two years after disease onset, there were the first signs of glomerulonephritis (GN) that further progressed to severe kidney failure. MPA was diagnosed by a renal biopsy that revealed the morphological pattern of immunonegative GN with glomerular crescents. The diagnosis was verified by the presence of serum antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA). There were no X-ray bone changes typical for RA at a 10-year follow-up. The paper discusses whether it is important to incorporate ANCA-associated systemic vasculitis into a diagnostic search in patients with early arthritis, particularly when the latter is concurrent with involvement of the kidney or other organs

Bayesian Model Selection for LISA Pathfinder

The main goal of the LISA Pathfinder (LPF) mission is to fully characterize the acceleration noise models and to test key technologies for future space-based gravitational-wave observatories similar to the eLISA concept. The data analysis team has developed complex three-dimensional models of the LISA Technology Package (LTP) experiment on-board LPF. These models are used for simulations, but more importantly, they will be used for parameter estimation purposes during flight operations. One of the tasks of the data analysis team is to identify the physical effects that contribute significantly to the properties of the instrument noise. A way of approaching this problem is to recover the essential parameters of a LTP model fitting the data. Thus, we want to define the simplest model that efficiently explains the observations. To do so, adopting a Bayesian framework, one has to estimate the so-called Bayes Factor between two competing models. In our analysis, we use three main different methods to estimate it: The Reversible Jump Markov Chain Monte Carlo method, the Schwarz criterion, and the Laplace approximation. They are applied to simulated LPF experiments where the most probable LTP model that explains the observations is recovered. The same type of analysis presented in this paper is expected to be followed during flight operations. Moreover, the correlation of the output of the aforementioned methods with the design of the experiment is explored