Structure Features of Bismuth Films Doped with Tellurium

The influence of doping degree on the structural characteristics of bismuth films doped with tellurium in the concentration range 0.005-0.150 at. % Te and the thickness range 0.3-0.7 µm is studied at present article. Authors have established that an increase of the doping degree with tellurium in bismuth films leads to a significant decreasing of the growth figures. The weak influence of annealing on the crystallite size of bismuth films doped with tellurium indicates their high temporal stability of the structure

Baikal-GVD

We present the status of the Gigaton Volume Detector in Lake Baikal (Baikal-GVD) designed for the detection of high energy neutrinos of astrophysical origin. The telescope consists of functionally independent clusters, sub-arrays of optical modules (OMs), which are connected to shore by individual electro-optical cables. During 2015 the GVD demonstration cluster, comprising 192 OMs, has been successfully operated in Lake Baikal. In 2016 this array was upgraded to baseline configuration of GVD cluster with 288 OMs arranged on eight vertical strings. Thus the instrumented water volume has been increased up to about 5.9 Mtons. The array was commissioned in early April 2016 and takes data since then. We describe the configuration and design of the 2016 array. Preliminary results obtained with data recorded in 2015 are also discussed

Эффективность уретральной эндосфинктеропластики у детей с недержанием мочи при миелодисплазии и эписпадии

BACKGROUND: Periurethral injections of various materials in the treatment of stress urinary incontinence have been known since 1938. In the literature, we could not find reports of endosurgical correction of urinary incontinence as the main method of treatment in children with myelodysplasia and epispadias and a pathogenetically based examination algorithm to predict the result of the injection, taking into account the endoscopic technique and volume of the injected drug. AIM: To present an assessment of long-term results, i.e., correction of stress urinary incontinence in children with myelodysplasia and epispadias, after endoimplantation of a stable synthetic volume-forming polymer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study analyzed 38 patients (517 years old) with urinary incontinence with myelodysplasia and epispadias: boys and girls with epispadias (n = 9 and n = 3, respectively) and with myelodysplasia (n = 10 and n = 16), respectively. For diagnostic purposes, clinical and instrumental (excretory urography, cystography, cystoscopy, uroflowmetry, electrophysiological, and urodynamic) examination methods were used. To correct incontinence, intra- and paraurethral endoinjections of a stable polyacrylamide mesh polymer with silver ions were performed. RESULTS: According to the literature, the effectiveness of the intraurethral administration of stable implants with urinary incontinence in catamnesis for up to 12 months reached 50%; with longer follow-up, positive results did not exceed 40% of observations. In this study, complete retention of urine was achieved in 25 (66%) children. Satisfactory result (incontinence in the afternoon up to 40 mL) was observed in 8 (21%) children, and unsatisfactory in 5 (13%) children. DISCUSSION: Indications for endosphincteroplasty in children with stress incontinence having myelodysplasia and epispadias with a stable implant should be determined considering urodynamics, blood circulation, innervation, and functional (urethral profilometry) parameters in the detrusor-sphincters-pelvic floor system. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with myelodysplasia and epispadias with isolated insufficiency of urethral sphincters, surgical treatments can be performed independently, and their effectiveness can reach 70%.Актуальность. Периуретральные инъекции различных материалов в лечении пациентов со стрессовым недержанием мочи известны с 1938 г. В литературных источниках нам не удалось встретить сообщений об эндохирургической коррекции недержания мочи при миелодисплазии и эписпадии у детей как основного метода лечения, патогенетически обоснованного алгоритма обследования для прогнозирования результата инъекции с учетом эндоскопической техники и объема введенного препарата. Цель оценить отдаленные результаты коррекции стрессового недержания мочи у детей с миелодисплазией и эписпадией после эндоимплантации стабильного синтетического объемообразующего полимера. Материалы и методы. Объектом исследования были 38 пациентов (517 лет) с недержанием мочи с миелодисплазией и эписпадией: мальчиков с эписпадией 9, девочек 3; с миелодисплазией мальчиков 10, девочек 16. С диагностической целью использовали клинические, инструментальные (экскреторную урографию, цистографию, цистоскопию, урофлоуметрию, электрофизиологические и уродинамические) методы обследования. Для коррекции инконтиненции выполняли внутри- и парауретральную эндоинъекцию стабильного полиакриламидного сетчатого полимера с ионами серебра. Результаты. По данным литературы, эффективность внутриуретрального введения стабильных имплантов при недержании мочи в катамнезе до 12 мес. достигала 50 %, при более длительном наблюдении положительные результаты не превышали 40 % наблюдений. В представленной работе полное удержание мочи достигнуто у 25 детей (66 %). Удовлетворительный результат (инконтиненция днем до 40 мл) зарегистрирован в 8 наблюдениях (21 %). Неудовлетворительный результат у 5 детей (13 %). Обсуждение. Показания к эндосфинктеропластике у детей со стрессовой инконтиненцией при миелодисплазии и эписпадии стабильным имплантом должны определяться с учетом уродинамики, кровообращения, иннервации и функциональных (уретральная профилометрия) параметров в системе детрузор сфинктеры тазовое дно. Заключение. Операции данного типа у пациентов с миелодисплазией и эписпадией с изолированной недостаточностью уретральных сфинктеров могут проводиться как самостоятельный метод, а их эффективность достигать 70 %

Interactive effects of age and gender on levels of toxic and potentially toxic metals in children hair in different urban environments

Children growth and development may be affected by metal exposure. The objective of the present study was to investigate the interactive effects of age and gender on children hair toxic metal levels in urban environment of two Russian cities. A total of 2021 children living in Moscow and Novosibirsk aged 1–18 years old were examined. Hair Al, As, Cd, Hg, Ni, Pb and Sn levels were assessed using inductively-coupled plasma mass-spectrometry in dynamic reaction cell mode. Children from Novosibirsk were characterised by higher hair Al (37%), As (385%), Cd (127%), Hg (11%), Ni (23%), Pb (72%) and Sn (25%) in comparison to Moscow values. In the general cohort, boys had higher Al (13%), As (51%), Cd (65%), Pb (63%) and Sn (18%) levels, whereas hair Ni was higher in girls (17%). Further analysis demonstrated age-specific gender differences. In particular, only hair Ni and Cd levels were higher in male toddlers and pre-schoolers from Novosibirsk as compared to females. No gender difference was detected in Moscow. Maximal gender differences in hair metal levels were detected in adolescents for both locations. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) reference values for all groups were also calculated. The overall reference limits for the studied children population were Al (1.335–3.340 µg/g), As (0.021–0.384 µg/g), Cd (0.000–1.389 µg/g), Hg (0.024–0.722 µg/g), Ni (0.076–0.701 µg/g), Pb (0.050–1.490 µg/g) and Sn (0.070–1.026 µg/g). Two-way ANOVA demonstrated significant effects of age, gender and age*gender interaction on hair metals in both cities. At the same time, the age-specific changes in hair metal content were more expressed in children from Novosibirsk, being exposed to higher metal pollution. The obtained data demonstrate that age, gender as well as the particular rate of pollution in each location should be taken into account during interpretation of hair test results. © 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

Interactive effects of age and gender on levels of toxic and potentially toxic metals in children hair in different urban environments

Children growth and development may be affected by metal exposure. The objective of the present study was to investigate the interactive effects of age and gender on children hair toxic metal levels in urban environment of two Russian cities. A total of 2021 children living in Moscow and Novosibirsk aged 1–18 years old were examined. Hair Al, As, Cd, Hg, Ni, Pb and Sn levels were assessed using inductively-coupled plasma mass-spectrometry in dynamic reaction cell mode. Children from Novosibirsk were characterised by higher hair Al (37%), As (385%), Cd (127%), Hg (11%), Ni (23%), Pb (72%) and Sn (25%) in comparison to Moscow values. In the general cohort, boys had higher Al (13%), As (51%), Cd (65%), Pb (63%) and Sn (18%) levels, whereas hair Ni was higher in girls (17%). Further analysis demonstrated age-specific gender differences. In particular, only hair Ni and Cd levels were higher in male toddlers and pre-schoolers from Novosibirsk as compared to females. No gender difference was detected in Moscow. Maximal gender differences in hair metal levels were detected in adolescents for both locations. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) reference values for all groups were also calculated. The overall reference limits for the studied children population were Al (1.335–3.340 µg/g), As (0.021–0.384 µg/g), Cd (0.000–1.389 µg/g), Hg (0.024–0.722 µg/g), Ni (0.076–0.701 µg/g), Pb (0.050–1.490 µg/g) and Sn (0.070–1.026 µg/g). Two-way ANOVA demonstrated significant effects of age, gender and age*gender interaction on hair metals in both cities. At the same time, the age-specific changes in hair metal content were more expressed in children from Novosibirsk, being exposed to higher metal pollution. The obtained data demonstrate that age, gender as well as the particular rate of pollution in each location should be taken into account during interpretation of hair test results. © 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group