Fatalism, Social Support and Mental Health in Four Former Soviet Cultures

Research on social support has identified differences in levels of support between cultures, but has provided only a limited explanation of the role of values or beliefs in accounting for such variations. In this paper we examine the relationship between fatalism and perceived support amongst 2672 respondents in four former Soviet States (Russia, Georgia, Ukraine and Belorussia), with participants drawn from groups of manual workers, managers, civil servants, students and the retired in these four countries. We also examine the consequences of such social support for mental health across these nations. Findings indicate a small but significant moderator effect for fatalism on the relationship between social support and mental health. These results are discussed in the context of the continuing economic and social challenges facing the citizens of these nations

DIAGNOSTIC VALUE OF CERULOPLASMIN IN SYSTEMIC SCLERODERMA

Objective of study: refining immune diagnostics of systemic scleroderma through determining ceruloplasmin antibodies, its amount and enzymatic activity, as well as control of effectiveness of therapy with ceruloplasmin-based immobilized magnetocontrollable immunosorbents.Materials and methods. 30 apparently healthy individuals and 68 patients with systemic scleroderma were examined. The study included patients with referral diagnosis of systemic scleroderma who signed an informed consent. The study was performed in accordance with the principles of World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki rev. 2013 (ACR/EULAR). All participants had their blood tested with the method of immunoenzymatic determination of antibodies to ceruloplasmin upon admission to hospital and prior to discharge.Results. It was established that patients with systemic scleroderma show reduced oxidase activity of ceruloplasmin, increased ceruloplasmin levels, as well as elevated antibodies to ceruloplasmin compared with the control group. A link between the amount of antibodies to the studied enzyme, and the activity, nature, course and stage of the disease was established. It was found that there is a reliable negative correlation between the level of ceruloplasmin antibodies, and the amount of RBCs, the hemoglobin level. For the first time a complex assessment of three parameters was employed, the parameters being the enzymatic activity, ceruloplasmin amount, and antibodies to ceruloplasmin. It was established that autoantibodies to ceruloplasmin are more often found in systemic scleroderma patients who show a high disease activity, subacute course with involvement of the liver, lungs, and with anemia. It was found that antibodies to ceruloplasmin are detected at early stages of systemic scleroderma development and can be used in timely diagnosis of the condition. It was shown that the change of parameters under study over time can serve as a basis on which to evaluate the effectiveness of administered therapy.Conclusion. Decreased enzymatic activity of ceruloplasmin, its elevated amount and increased antibodies to ceruloplasmin can be taken as additional diagnostic tools in evaluation of systemic scleroderma activity. These parameters promote a more accurate assessment of the disease activity and of the nature of the pathologic process; they can serve as an indication of a variety of clinical forms of the disease. Employing these parameters for monitoring of administered therapy in hospital settings permits a more accurate assessment of its effectiveness and making adjustments. Studying ceruloplasmin antibody formation, amount of ceruloplasmin and its biochemical activity extends the existing concept of rheumatic disease pathogeny, outlines a way forward for further research and reflects the involvement of antioxidant system in immune disorders

Сatalase antibodies in patients with systemic scleroderma as a diagnostic and prognostic marker of the disease

The study covered 30 apparently healthy individuals and 38 patients with systemic scleroderma. The patients gave their consent to participate in the study in accordance with the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki in the current (2013) version (ACR/EULAR). The donors and patients had their blood tested for catalase antibodies with immunoenzyme assay and using magnetic sorbents upon hospital admission and before discharge. It was found that the patients with systemic scleroderma had a reduced oxidase activity of catalase as well as elevated catalase antibodies, compared with the controls. We revealed a statistically significant regularity that the concentration of catalase immunoglobulins is associated with activity and course of the disease. To assess the activity of systemic scleroderma we performed a complex evaluation of two parameters: enzymatic activity and catalase antibody levels. It was established that catalase autoantibodies are mostly revealed in patients with high-activity scleroderma, subacute and acute course of the disease, and when the lungs, skin, kidneys, joints and nervous system were involved, which was conclusively confirmed by a correlation analysis. It is especially important that catalase antibodies should be revealed at early stage of the disease development; they are of especial diagnostic importance, and their changes over time may form the basis for assessing efficiency of administered therapy. The changes in biochemical activity of catalase, elevated antibody titers provide additional criteria of diagnosis in systemic scleroderma. Monitoring of these parameters in hospital settings helps to evaluate the effectiveness of administered therapy and adjust its correction, which is confirmed by inclusion of such extracorporal techniques as plasma separation into the combined treatment schedules. Studying biochemical activity of catalase and formation of catalase antibodies expands our understanding of scleroderma development and opens new avenues for research

An analysis of methods for assessing information security risks of financial institutions

The paper presents an analysis of the existing methods for assessing information security risks, their features, advantages and disadvantages, as well as determines the possibility of using such techniques for assessing information security risks in financial institutions. Criteria for comparing information security risk assessment methods have been formed, the advantages and disadvantages of the methods are described. It is shown that, despite the requirements of regulators for assessing information security risks, most of the regulatory documents deal with operational risks. The evaluation of information security risks of credit and financial institutions does not have sufficient regulation and formalization. The authors substantiate the necessity of developing a method for assessing information security risks for credit and financial organizations, taking into account the features of risk assessment inherent to the mentioned organizations. The paper considers the need to create lists of existing threats to the credit and financial sector and their linking to existing vulnerabilities to optimize the process of assessing information security risks. The development of a methodology for assessing information security risks will increase the degree of compliance of credit and financial institutions with the requirements of international, state and industry standards through an optimal set of protection measures and models for evaluating information security risks

Materials based on BIFEVOX and bismuth or iron simple oxides nanopowders

Received: 22.09.2017; accepted: 17.10.2017; published: 20.10.2017.Compositions of composite materials based on BIFEVOX and nanopowders of bismuth and iron oxides have been obtained. The absence of chemical interaction between the components has been proved, the total electrical conductivity of materials in the average temperature region has been determined. It has been shown that under the selected formation conditions, it has not yet been possible to achieve significant improvement of the functional characteristics of heterogeneous compositions in comparison with individual phases. However positive results on chemical and structural stability give way to further investigations.The work was partially supported by the Scholarship of the President (SP-3376.2016.1) and Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project No 17-53-04098)

Magnetic resonances in EuSn2_2As2_2 single crystal

In this work, we report the broad-band ferromagnetic resonance spectroscopy of EuSn$_2$As$_2$ single crystals at different temperatures in combination with magnetization measurements and structural characterization. We observe conventional collective acoustic resonance mode of the A-type antiferromagnetic spin-flop phase in the Eu sub-lattice, and its transition to the paramagnetic resonance above the ordering temperature. Furthermore, we observe reproducibly additional well-defined spectral line. The origin of the additional line remains unclear. However, its temperature dependence attributes it to magnetism in the Eu sub-lattice.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, 34 reference

Influence of povidone-yodine on the sensitivity of clinical isolates of <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> to antibiotics

Introduction. Cross-resistance of microorganisms to antibiotics against the background of the use of biocides in subinhibitory concentrations is an urgent problem of modern health care. The aim of the work is to study the effect of povidone-iodine on the sensitivity of clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae to antibiotics. Materials and methods. The work analyzed the effect of povidone-iodine at subinhibitory concentrations on changes in the sensitivity of clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae (n = 9) to antibacterial agents (n = 15). Adaptation of bacteria to povidone-iodine was carried out using periodic cultivation of microorganisms, which was carried out in 96-well culture plates for suspension cultures (non-treated) without stirring. The sensitivity of bacteria to antibiotics was assessed using an automatic analyzer Vitek2Compact (BioMerieux) using AST-204 charts. Results. During the adaptation of clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae to povidone-iodine, an increase in the sensitivity of bacteria to antibiotics was shown. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of 11 antibacterial agents in relation to the studied cultures decreased by an average of 2.3523.2 times compared with the control values. Under the experimental conditions, the sensitivity of the studied cultures increased to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid by 2 8 times, piperacillin/tazobactam by 2 32 times, ceftazidime by 4 16 times, ami-kacin 2 16 times, ertapenem 2.08.0 times, meropinem 28 times, cefepim 4 64 times, ciprofloxacin 4 16 times, gentamicin 2 8 times, norfloxacin 28 times, nitrofurantoin 24 times. An increase in the level of sensitivity to antibiotics was found in 50100% of the studied clinical bacterial isolates. A similar effect has not been established for ampicillin, cefotaxime, imipenem, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. It should be noted that under the conditions of the experiment, intraspecific heterogeneity of clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae was revealed in terms of the level of acquired sensitivity to antibacterial agents. Discussion. Our results are not described in the scientific literature and require further study and explanation

THERMOCYCLIC BORONOVANII AS A METHOD OF SURFACE HARDENING OF DIE STEELS TOOL

Исследовано влияние термоциклической обработки на структуру и свойства боридного слоя. Установлено значительное повышение микротвёрдости и износостойкости. Металлографическими методами определена глубина боридного слоя, его структура.The influence of thermocyclic treatment on the structure and properties of boride layer. A significant increase in microhardness and wear resistance. Metallographic methods defined by the depth of the boride layer