A New High Energy Photon Tagger for the H1 - Detector at HERA

The H1 detector at HERA has been upgraded by the addition of a new electromagnetic calorimeter. This is installed in the HERA tunnel close to the electron beam line at a position 8m from the interaction point in the electron beam direction. The new calorimeter extends the acceptance for tagged photoproduction events to the high y range, 0.85 < y < 0.95, and thus significantly improves the capability of H1 to study high energy gamma-p processes. The calorimeter design, performance and first results obtained during the 1996-1999 HERA running are described.Comment: 17 pages, 16 figure

Topology of the spaces of Morse functions on surfaces

Let $M$ be a smooth closed orientable surface, and let $F$ be the space of Morse functions on $M$ such that at least $\chi(M)+1$ critical points of each function of $F$ are labeled by different labels (enumerated). Endow the space $F$ with $C^\infty$-topology. We prove the homotopy equivalence $F\sim R\times{\widetilde{\cal M}}$ where $R$ is one of the manifolds ${\mathbb R}P^3$, $S^1\times S^1$ and the point in dependence on the sign of $\chi(M)$, and ${\widetilde{\cal M}}$ is the universal moduli space of framed Morse functions, which is a smooth stratified manifold. Morse inequalities for the Betti numbers of the space $F$ are obtained.Comment: 15 pages, in Russia

Convention Mechanism of International Cooperation on Preventing and Combating Drug Trafficking

The article presents the author's analysis of the international legal regulation of combating drug crime. It is considered the role of cooperation between the international organizations and law enforcement bodies in this field on the basis of two basic conventions: it is substantiated the need for transnational approaches in preventing and combating drug crim

Long-Term Results of Medical and Surgical Methods for Elimination of the Internal Anal Sphincter Spasm in Chronic Anal Fissure (NCT03855046)

Aim: evaluation of long-term results of injection of botulinum toxin type A into the internal anal sphincter and performing lateral internal sphincterotomy in combination with excision of chronic anal fissure.Materials and methods. The study included 176 patients (73 (41.5 %) men and 103 (58.5 %) women) older than 18 years; randomization into the compared groups was carried out by random number generation in a computer program. Patients, researchers and surgeons were not blinded. Patients of the main group underwent fissure excision in combination with relaxation of the internal anal sphincter by botulinum toxin type A (BTA) at a dosage of 40 units, patients of the control group underwent lateral internal sphincterotomy (LIS) with excision of chronic anal fissure. Long-term results of complex treatment were studied in 126 patients (54 (43 %) men and 72 (57 %) women), the median follow-up was 12.3 (12.2; 15.7) months. Statistical analysis was carried out in the program Statistica 13.3 (TIBCO Software Inc., USA).Results. In the long-term postoperative period, the indicators of mean resting anal pressure were lower in the LIS group (p = 0.04). The compared groups were comparable in terms of the level mean squeeze anal pressure (p = 0.69); however, in patients of the BTA group, the level of this indicator increased over time (p = 0.001). None of the patients of the compared groups had anal incontinence and relapse of the disease.Discussion. In the framework of the performed study, in some patients from the compared groups, spasm of the internal anal sphincter persisted throughout the observation period, and in some patients it occurred again, while no signs of relapse fissure were detected. The functional and clinical results of treatment obtained by us cast doubt on the exclusivity of the increased tone of the internal anal sphincter as the main link in the pathogenesis of chronic anal fissure in some patients and indicates the presence of other factors in combination with which the course of the disease is determined. The above facts do not exclude the possibility of recurrence of anal fissure in a more distant period of observation.Conclusion. Medical relaxation with botulinum toxin type A at a dosage of 40 units can serve as an alternative to lateral internal sphincterotomy as a method of eliminating spasm of the internal anal sphincte

Оценка антиоксидантной активности экстрактов из морских водорослей Японского моря in vitro и in vivo

Морские водоросли являются источником важных биологически активных соединений — липидов, аминокислот, фенолов, полисахаридов и др. Перспективную группу веществ морского происхождения составляют полифенольные соединения, обладающие высокой антиоксидантной активностью, которые играют ключевую роль в жизнедеятельности морских макрофитов, что позволяет им быстро реагировать на внешний стресс и выполнять защитные функции. В то же время многокомпонентный состав фенольной фракции экстракта из водорослей обусловливает широкий спектр её фармакологической активности, включающей регулирующее влияние на многочисленные нарушения гомеостаза при патологических процессах в организме животных и человека. При этом имеющиеся возможности практического использования экстрактов из водорослей ещё не исчерпаны, что представляет несомненный интерес для современной науки. Цель работы — выполнить сравнительную оценку антиоксидантной активности водно-спиртовых экстрактов, выделенных из талломов представителей трёх классов водорослей [бурых (Sargassum pallidum), зелёных (Ulva lactuca) и красных (Ahnfeltia fastigiata var. tobuchiensis)], а также проанализировать их влияние на показатели антиоксидантной защиты печени и плазмы крови мышей при экспериментальном стрессе. Водоросли собирали в летние месяцы в прибрежных водах залива Петра Великого Японского моря, затем сушили при температуре около +50 °C, измельчали на лабораторной мельнице до частиц размером 0,5–1 мм и экстрагировали 70%-ным этиловым спиртом методом реперколяции. Наибольшее количество полифенолов отмечено в экстракте бурой водоросли S. pallidum — (218,2 ± 20,3) мг-экв ГК·г−1 сухого веса. В экстракте зелёной водоросли U. lactuca значение этого показателя составляло (16,2 ± 1,8) мг-экв ГК·г−1 сухого веса, в экстракте красной водоросли A. fastigiata var. tobuchiensis — (9,1 ± 1,6) мг-экв ГК·г−1 сухого веса. Соответственно, антирадикальная активность экстракта S. pallidum по отношению к катион-радикалу 2,2’-азино-бис(3-этилбензотиазолин-6-сульфоновой кислоты) (ABTS+) и алкилпероксильному радикалу была существенно выше, чем таковая экстрактов U. lactuca и A. fastigiata var. tobuchiensis. Проведена экспериментальная проверка с целью определить влияние исследуемых экстрактов водорослей на показатели антиоксидантной защиты печени и плазмы мышей в условиях острого стресса. В задачи эксперимента входило установление весовых показателей (вес животных, индекс массы внутренних органов) и биохимических параметров (уровень антирадикальной активности, содержание малонового диальдегида и восстановленного глутатиона, активность антиоксидантных ферментов). Эксперимент по стрессовому воздействию проводили на белых беспородных мышах-самцах массой 20–30 г. Острый стресс моделировали путём вертикальной фиксации животных за дорсальную шейную складку на 24 ч. Освобождённые от спирта экстракты водорослей вводили в виде водной взвеси в дозе 100 мг общих полифенолов на кг массы тела в желудок мышам через зонд дважды — непосредственно перед вертикальной фиксацией и спустя 6 ч. Животным контрольной группы и группы «стресс» вводили дистиллированную воду в объёме, равном объёму вводимых препаратов. В данной модели проявились все атрибуты стресса: гипертрофия надпочечников, инволюция тимуса и селезёнки, изъязвления слизистой желудка и кишечника. Также были отмечены нарушения системы антиоксидантной защиты, которые выражались в снижении активности антиоксидантных ферментов в плазме крови, уменьшении содержания восстановленного глутатиона в печени и увеличении уровня малонового диальдегида. Под действием экстрактов во всех группах животных на фоне стресса прослежена тенденция к стабилизации исследуемых показателей антиоксидантной защиты. При этом показатели у мышей, получавших экстракты из U. lactuca и A. fastigiata var. tobuchiensis, уступали аналогичным параметрам в группе животных, получавших экстракт S. pallidum. В группе животных, получавших экстракт S. pallidum, в показателях антиоксидантной защиты не было выявлено достоверных отличий от контрольных значений. Данный факт обусловлен тем, что основными компонентами полифенольных фракций зелёных и красных водорослей являются мономерные флавоноиды, тогда как в бурых водорослях присутствуют высокомолекулярные флоротаннины, которые проявляют более высокую антиоксидантную активность, чем низкомолекулярные полифенольные фракции зелёных и красных водорослей

Connected components of spaces of Morse functions with fixed critical points

Let $M$ be a smooth closed orientable surface and $F=F_{p,q,r}$ be the space of Morse functions on $M$ having exactly $p$ critical points of local minima, $q\ge1$ saddle critical points, and $r$ critical points of local maxima, moreover all the points are fixed. Let $F_f$ be the connected component of a function $f\in F$ in $F$. By means of the winding number introduced by Reinhart (1960), a surjection $\pi_0(F)\to{\mathbb Z}^{p+r-1}$ is constructed. In particular, $|\pi_0(F)|=\infty$, and the Dehn twist about the boundary of any disk containing exactly two critical points, exactly one of which is a saddle point, does not preserve $F_f$. Let $\mathscr D$ be the group of orientation preserving diffeomorphisms of $M$ leaving fixed the critical points, ${\mathscr D}^0$ be the connected component of ${\rm id}_M$ in $\mathscr D$, and ${\mathscr D}_f\subset{\mathscr D}$ the set of diffeomorphisms preserving $F_f$. Let ${\mathscr H}_f$ be the subgroup of ${\mathscr D}_f$ generated by ${\mathscr D}^0$ and all diffeomorphisms $h\in{\mathscr D}$ which preserve some functions $f_1\in F_f$, and let ${\mathscr H}_f^{\rm abs}$ be its subgroup generated ${\mathscr D}^0$ and the Dehn twists about the components of level curves of functions $f_1\in F_f$. We prove that ${\mathscr H}_f^{\rm abs}\subsetneq{\mathscr D}_f$ if $q\ge2$, and construct an epimorphism ${\mathscr D}_f/{\mathscr H}_f^{\rm abs}\to{\mathbb Z}_2^{q-1}$, by means of the winding number. A finite polyhedral complex $K=K_{p,q,r}$ associated to the space $F$ is defined. An epimorphism $\mu:\pi_1(K)\to{\mathscr D}_f/{\mathscr H}_f$ and finite generating sets for the groups ${\mathscr D}_f/{\mathscr D}^0$ and ${\mathscr D}_f/{\mathscr H}_f$ in terms of the 2-skeleton of the complex $K$ are constructed.Comment: 12 pages with 2 figures, in Russian, to be published in Vestnik Moskov. Univ., a typo in theorem 1 is correcte

Results of experimental infection of vaccinated and non-vaccinated ducklings with duck hepatitis virus

Duck virus hepatitis, a highly contagious disease occurring in ducklings, is currently reported in all countries with duck breeding industry. This infection is included in the list of notifiable diseases of the World Organization for Animal Health, restrictive measures are established and the regionalization of the country’s territory is carried out in case of its occurrence. Timely vaccination of parent flocks in order to obtain immune offspring takes a priority place in the system of anti-epidemic measures. Due to active development of duck breeding industry and increasing number of backyard farms, the need for high-quality and effective prevention tools for this infectious disease is growing. To date, one domestic native vaccine produced by FGBI «ARRIAH» and registered in the Russian Federation is available in native form and is intended for parenteral use. In order to extend the vaccine’s shelf life and for storage and transportation convenience, a live freeze-dried vaccine against duck virus hepatitis is being developed. The paper presents results of studying the pathogenesis of duck virus hepatitis and evaluating the efficacy and safety of the vaccine under development. Pathomorphological studies carried out post experimental infection indicate that duck hepatitis virus induces pathogenic effect not only in birds’ digestive organs (the liver, in particular) but also causes degenerative changes in central and peripheral immune organs: in cloacal bursa, thymus and third eyelid gland, that may be manifested as deficiency of B- and T-cell immunity and requires further studies. It has been shown that in case of immunization of 3-day-old ducklings, the experimental vaccine induces antibody-mediated immune response, no harmful effect is produced on poultry if a tenfold dose is admin­istered which indicates its safety, and the vaccine ensures protection against infection with a control virulent strain of hepatitis virus

The Opportunity of Using Diode Laser with the Length of 1940 nm in the Treatment of Hemorrhoids

Aim: to improve the results of treatment of patients with hemorrhoidal disease of the 2nd and 3rd stages by using a diode laser with a wavelength of 1940 nm.Materials and methods. The study included 28 patients with hemorrhoids of the second or third stage. A new treatment method based on the use of a diode laser with a wavelength of 1940 nm was applied to all patients. This technique (laser hemorrhoidoplasty) provides for the thermal effect of laser radiation on the cavernous tissue of the internal hemorrhoid node and the terminal branches of the upper rectal artery. The intensity of postoperative pain syndrome was assessed and the clinical symptoms of hemorrhoidal disease manifestations were studied before and after surgery. To study the effectiveness of the proposed method and to assess the depth of thermal exposure to laser radiation, transrectal ultrasound with Dopplerography and pathomorphological examination were performed. The functional state of the rectal locking apparatus before surgery and in the postoperative period was assessed using sphincterometry. The quality of life of patients who underwent laser hemorrhoidoplasty was studied according to the SF 36 questionnaire.Results. Surgical intervention was performed under both local and spinal anesthesia. Intraoperative complications in the form of hemorrhoidal node bleeding were noted in 3 patients. In the early postoperative period, inflammatory edema of external hemorrhoids was diagnosed in 4 patients. The intensity of the pain syndrome was assessed on the VAS scale and by day 7 in 93 % of patients it did not exceed 1 point. All 28 patients were followed up within 1 to 6 months after the operation. All had no complaints characteristic of hemorrhoidal disease, no relapse of the disease was detected in any observation. Transrectal ultrasound with Dopplerography was performed, which made it possible to diagnose a 2–3-fold decrease in blood flow along the terminal branches of the upper rectal artery, and internal hemorrhoids determined earlier, before surgery, were not visualized already 1 month after surgery. According to sphincterometry, no violations of anal retention function were detected in all 28 patients.Conclusion. Surgical treatment of hemorrhoids of the 2nd and 3rd stages with the use of a diode laser with a wavelength of 1940 nm. with proper technical performance and the choice of optimal energy, it allows to achieve a good clinical effect. The proposed method of intervention ensures the absence of a pronounced pain syndrome, which does not lead to a significant decrease in the quality of life already in the early postoperative period and allows to shorten the period of labor rehabilitation. Laser hemorrhoidoplasty is a highly effective method of treating hemorrhoids at stages 2 and 3 of the disease and opens up the possibility of treatment on an outpatient basis

К механизму активации восстановительных процессов в печени при использовании общей РНК клеток костного мозга

Objective: to study the cellular mechanisms of activation of regenerative processes in the liver when using total RNA (tRNA) of bone marrow cells (BMCs) based on an extended liver resection (ELR) model. Materials and methods. Male Wistar rats (n = 80) with ELR model (70%) were divided into 2 groups: group 1 (control group) had a single saline injection, while group 2 (experimental group) received a single tRNA injection at a 30 μg/100 g dose of animal weight. The biochemical parameters of liver function and weight were monitored over time. Also monitored were microstructural changes in hepatocytes 48 hours after ELR by examining mitotic activity, caspase-9 expression and morphometric parameters. Results. It was found that in group 2, in comparison to group 1, there was faster normalization of biochemical parameters (by 10–14 days), a higher mitotic index of hepatocytes (23.45‰ versus 5.37‰), and initially sharper decrease and then faster recovery of liver mass (by 10–12 days versus 18–20 days). Both groups showed almost total expression of caspase-9, including in mitotically splitting hepatocytes. Group 1 demonstrated decreased values of morphometric parameters of single and binuclear cells, decreased number of binucleated hepatocytes and increased total density of hepatocytes as compared to the intact liver. Intraperitoneal administration of tRNA increased morphometric parameters of mononuclear hepatocytes, did not affect their number, but increased the area of the nuclei of binuclear hepatocytes as compared to the control group. Conclusion. The proven capability of cell-bone marrow total RNA to simultaneously support apoptosis in liver cells after ELR and induce mitotic activity indicates that tRNA can switch activated apoptosis to cell proliferation at the early phase of the regenerative process. This effect may be due to the presence of regulatory RNA molecules in tRNA, including numerous non-coding RNAs.Цель – на модели обширной резекции печени (ОРП) изучить клеточные механизмы активации восстановительных процессов в печени при использовании общей РНК (оРНК) клеток костного мозга (ККМ). Материалы и методы. Крыс-самцов породы Вистар (n = 80) с моделью ОРП (70%) разделили на 2 группы: группа 1 – контроль с однократным введением физиологического раствора и группа 2 – опытная с однократным введением оРНК в дозе 30 мкг/100 г веса животного. Контролировали в динамике биохимические показатели функции и массу печени, а также микроструктурные изменения гепатоцитов через 48 часов после ОРП, исследуя митотическую активность, экспрессию каспазы 9 и морфометрические показатели. Результаты. Установлено, что в группе 2 по сравнению с группой 1 имеет место: более быстрая нормализация биохимических показателей (к 10–14-м суткам), более высокий митотический индекс гепатоцитов (23,45‰ против 5,37‰), первоначально более резкое снижение, а затем более быстрое восстановление массы печени (к 10–12-м суткам против 18–20-х суток). В группах 1 и 2 выявлена практически тотальная экспрессия каспазы 9, в том числе в митотически делящихся гепатоцитах. В группе 1 выявлено уменьшение значений морфометрических показателей одно- и двухъядерных клеток, уменьшение количества двухъядерных гепатоцитов и увеличение общей плотности гепатоцитов по сравнению с интактной печенью. Внутрибрюшинное введение оРНК приводило к увеличению значений морфометрических показателей одноядерных гепатоцитов, не влияло на их количество, но увеличивало площадь ядер двухъядерных гепатоцитов по сравнению с контролем. Заключение. Доказанное свойство оРНК из ККМ одновременно поддерживать в клетках печени после ОРП процессы апоптоза и индуцировать митотическую активность свидетельствует о том, что оРНК способна на ранней фазе регенерационного процесса переключать активировавшийся апоптоз на пролиферацию клеток. Обнаруженный эффект может быть обусловлен наличием в составе оРНК регуляторных молекул РНК, в том числе многочисленных белок-некодирующих РНК

New experimental limits on the Pauli forbidden transitions in 12^{12}C nuclei obtained with 485 days Borexino data

The Pauli exclusion principle (PEP) has been tested for nucleons ($n,p$) in $^{12}C$ with the Borexino detector.The approach consists of a search for $\gamma$, $n$, $p$ and $\beta^\pm$ emitted in a non-Paulian transition of 1$P_{3/2}$- shell nucleons to the filled 1$S_{1/2}$ shell in nuclei. Due to the extremely low background and the large mass (278 t) of the Borexino detector, the following most stringent up-to-date experimental bounds on PEP violating transitions of nucleons have been established: $\tau({^{12}\rm{C}}\to{^{12}\widetilde{\rm{C}}}+\gamma) \geq 5.0\cdot10^{31}$ y, $\tau({^{12}\rm{C}}\to{^{11}\widetilde{\rm{B}}}+ p) \geq 8.9\cdot10^{29}$ y, $\tau({^{12}\rm{C}}\to{^{11}\widetilde{\rm{C}}}+ n) \geq 3.4 \cdot 10^{30}$ y, $\tau({^{12}\rm{C}}\to{^{12}\widetilde{\rm{N}}}+ e^- + \widetilde{\nu_e}) \geq 3.1\cdot 10^{30}$ y and $\tau({^{12}\rm{C}}\to{^{12}\widetilde{\rm{B}}}+ e^+ + \nu_e) \geq 2.1 \cdot 10^{30}$ y, all at 90% C.L. The corresponding upper limits on the relative strengths for the searched non-Paulian electromagnetic, strong and weak transitions have been estimated: $\delta^2_{\gamma} \leq 2.2\cdot10^{-57}$, $\delta^2_{N} \leq 4.1\cdot10^{-60}$ and $\delta^2_{\beta} \leq 2.1\cdot10^{-35}$.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure