Results of investigation of muon fluxes of superhigh energy cosmic rays with X-ray emulsion chambers

The overall data from the investigation of the cosmic ray muon flux in the range of zenith angles (0-90) deg within the energy range (3.5 to 5.0) TeV is presented. The exposure of large X-ray emulsion chambers underground was 1200 tons. year. The data were processe using the method which was applied in the experiment Pamir and differred from the earlier applied one. The obtained value of a slope power index of the differential energy spectrum of the global muon flux is =3.7 that corresponds to the slope of the pion generation differential spectrum, gamma sub PI = 2.75 + or - .04. The analysis of the muon zenith-angular distribution showed that the contribution of rapid generation muons in the total muon flux agree the best with the value .2% and less with .7% at a 90% reliability level

Lenticular galaxies with UV-rings

By using the public UV imaging data obtained by the GALEX (Galaxy Ultraviolet Explorer) for nearby galaxies, we have compiled a list of lenticular galaxies possessing ultraviolet rings - starforming regions tightly confined to particular radial distances from galactic centers. We have studied large-scale structure of these galaxies in the optical bands by using the data of the SDSS (Sloan Digital Sky Survey): we have decomposed the galactic images into large-scale disks and bulges, have measured the ring optical colours from the residual images after subtracting model disks and bulges, and have compared the sizes of the rings in the optical light and in the UV-band. The probable origin of the outer starforming ring appearances in unbarred galaxies demonstrating otherwise the regular structure and homogeneously old stellar population beyond the rings is discussed.Comment: 9 pages plus one big colour figure in the Appendix; the slightly expanded version of the paper accepted to Astronomy Letter

Дослідження хімічного складу та імуномодулюючої активності полісахаридних комплексів Вероніки широколистої (Veronica teucrium L

Aim. To determine and study the qualitative composition and the quantitative content of polysaccharide complexes (PsC of V. teucrium flowers, leaves and rhizomes, as well as their effect on the transformation and functional activity of macrophages and their hematogenic precursors.Materials and methods. The PsC of V. teucrium flowers, leaves and rhizomes were obtained by multiple extraction of the plant raw material with water when heating and with the subsequent concentration of combined extracts and their precipitation. Monosaccharides of PsC hydrolyzates were studied by the methods of paper chromatography and spectrophotometry. The immunomodulatory activity of PsC of V. teucrium flowers, leaves and rhizomes was studied in vitro in the reaction of macrophage transformation of mononuclear cells of the peripheral blood.Results and discussion. The yield of the complexes is as follows: in flowers – 8.40 %, in leaves – 5.30 %, in rhizomes – 1.95 %. The qualitative composition and the quantitative content of monosaccharides in the complexes have been determined, and the hydrolysis kinetics of the components has been studied. The results of the in vitro study of the effect of PsC of V. teucrium flowers, leaves and rhizomes on transformation and the functional activity of immune competent cells of the peripheral blood are presented.Conclusions. The yield of polysaccharide complexes of V. teucrium is as follows: in flowers – 8.40 %, in leaves – 5.30 %, in rhizomes – 1.95 %. Monosaccharides of PsC in flowers are presented by galactose, glucose, fructose, arabinose and xylose; in leaves – by glucose and arabinose, there is galactose, fructose, xylose in a minor amount; in rhizomes there is mainly glucose. It has been found that the optimal time for hydrolysis for PsC in flowers and leaves is 60 min; in rhizomes – 150 min. It has been determined that the PsC studied in the dose of 50 μg/ml maximally stimulate the functional activity of immune competent cells; the PsC of V. teucrium flowers in the dose range from 5 to 100 μg/ml possesses the more expressed immunomodulatory activity.Цель работы – получение, исследование качественного состава и количественного содержания полисахаридных комплексов (ПК цветков, листьев и корневищ Вероники широколистой и изучение их влияния на трансформационную и функциональную активность макрофагов и их гематогенных предшественников.Материалы и методы. ПК цветков, листьев и корневищ Вероники широколистой, полученные путем многократной экстракции растительного сырья водой при нагревании с последующим концентрированием объединенных вытяжек и их осаждением. Моносахара гидролизатов ПК исследовали методом бумажной хроматографии и методом спектрофотометрии. Иммуномодулирующую активность ПК цветков, листьев и корневищ Вероники широколистой изучали in vitro с помощью реакции макрофагальной трансформации мононуклеаров периферической крови.Результаты и их обсуждение. Выход комплексов составляет: из цветков – 8,40 %, из листьев – 5,30 %, из корневищ – 1,95 %. Установлен качественный состав и определено количественное содержание моносахаров в комплексах, исследована кинетика гидролиза компонентов. Приведенные результаты изучения in vitro влияния полисахаридных комплексов цветков, листьев и корневищ Вероники широколистой на трансформационную и функциональную активность иммунокомпетентных клеток периферической крови.Выводы. Выход полисахаридных комплексов из Вероники широколистой составляет: из цветков – 8,40 %, из листьев – 5,30 %, из корневищ – 1,95 %. Моносахара ПК цветков представлены галактозой, глюкозой, фруктозой, арабинозой и ксилозой; листьев – глюкозой и арабинозой, в минорном количестве присутствуют галактоза, фруктоза, ксилоза; корневищ – преимущественно глюкозой. Определено оптимальное время гидролиза для ПК цветков и листьев – 60 мин; для ПК корневищ –- 150 мин. Установлено, что полученные комплексы в дозе 50 мкг/мл максимально стимулируют функциональную активность иммунокомпетентных клеток; полисахаридный комплекс цветков Вероники широколистой проявляет более выраженное иммуномодулирующее действие в дозах от 5 до 100 мкг/мл.Мета роботи – одержання, дослідження якісного складу та кількісного вмісту полісахаридних комплексів (ПК квіток, листя та кореневищ Вероніки широколистої і вивчення їх впливу на трансформаційну і функціональну активність макрофагів та їх гематогенних попередників.Матеріали та методи. ПК квіток, листя та кореневищ Вероніки широколистої, отримані шляхом багаторазової екстракції рослинної сировини водою при нагріванні з наступним концентруванням об’єднаних витяжок та їх осадженням. Моноцукри гідролізату ПК досліджували методом паперової хроматографії та методом спектрофотометрії. Імуномодулюючу активність ПК квіток, листя та кореневищ Вероніки широколистої вивчали in vitro за реакцією макрофагальної трансформації мононуклеарів периферичної крові.Результати та їх обговорення. Вихід комплексів становить: з квіток – 8,40 %, з листя – 5,30 %, з кореневищ – 1,95 %. Встановлено якісний склад та визначено кількісний вміст моноцукрів у комплексах, досліджено кінетику гідролізу компонентів. Наведені результати вивчення in vitro впливу полісахаридних комплексів квіток, листя та кореневищ Вероніки широколистої на трансформаційну та функціональну активність імунокомпетентних клітин периферичної крові.Висновки. Вихід полісахаридних комплексів з Вероніки широколистої становить: з квіток – 8,40 %, з листя – 5,30 %, з кореневищ – 1,95 %. Моноцукри ПК квіток представлені галактозою, глюкозою, фруктозою, арабінозою та ксилозою; листя – глюкозою та арабінозою, в мінорній кількості присутні: галактоза, фруктоза, ксилоза; кореневищ – переважно глюкозою. Визначено оптимальний термін гідролізу для ПК квіток та листя – 60 хв; для ПК кореневищ – 150 хв. Встановлено, що досліджувані комплекси у дозі 50 мкг/мл максимально стимулюють функціональну активність імунокомпетентних клітин; полісахаридний комплекс квіток Вероніки широколистої проявляє більш виражену імуномодулюючу дію у дозі від 5 до 100 мкг/мл

Prediction of clinical course in patients with diffuse coronary artery disease after coronary bypass surgery

Aim. To determine the incidence, predictors and develop a model for long-term risk stratification of ischemic events in patients with coronary artery disease after coronary bypass surgery.Material and methods. This retrospective study of the clinical course in patients with diffuse coronary artery disease (CAD) after coronary endarterectomy and bypass grafting surgery. A total of 232 patients were included, while long-term outcomes were assessed in 202 patients. Among them, complete data on clinical status were obtained from survivors (n=191). The median follow-up was 60 (interquartile range, 42; 74) months, while the minimum follow-up — 12 months, the maximum was 96 months. The primary composite endpoint reflecting the unfavorable course of CAD included coronary ischemic events (recurrent angina, myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization), while secondary endpoint — allcause mortality. The factors influencing the development of primary and secondary endpoints were studied.Results. An unfavorable CAD course was diagnosed in 39 patients (20,4%), while 11 deaths were recorded (5,4%). Univariate analysis demonstrated a significant role of prior myocardial infarction in the increase in mortality rate (p=0,029). Among the factors influencing the CAD course, no significant differences were obtained for any of them. A multivariate analysis was performed to identify a high-risk group for an unfavorable course of diffuse CAD. Independent predictors were identified, the most significant contribution of which was made by multifocal atherosclerosis (odds ratio (OR)=1,99, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0,93-4,21, p=0,072), low adherence to secondary prevention measures (OR=2,21, 95% CI, 0,86-6,89, p=0,128) and diabetes (OR=1,73, 95% CI, 0,79-3,72, p=0,162). Using the results obtained, a prognostic model with high specificity (64%) and moderate sensitivity (53%) was created.Conclusion. The highest probability of an unfavorable long-term course of diffuse CAD was noted in patients with diabetes, multifocal atherosclerosis, and low adherence to secondary prevention measures. The obtained results make it possible to identify a high-risk group in this cohort of patients, determine the reserve of secondary prevention measures and a direction of actions to improve outcomes

Recent variability of the global ocean carbon sink

We present a new observation-based estimate of the global oceanic carbon dioxide (CO2) sink and its temporal variation on a monthly basis from 1998 through 2011 and at a spatial resolution of 1×1. This sink estimate rests upon a neural network-based mapping of global surface ocean observations of the partial pressure of CO2 (pCO2) from the Surface Ocean CO2 Atlas database. The resulting pCO2 has small biases when evaluated against independent observations in the different ocean basins, but larger randomly distributed differences exist particularly in high latitudes. The seasonal climatology of our neural network-based product agrees overall well with the Takahashi et al. (2009) climatology, although our product produces a stronger seasonal cycle at high latitudes. From our global pCO2 product, we compute a mean net global ocean (excluding the Arctic Ocean and coastal regions) CO2 uptake flux of −1.42 ± 0.53 Pg C yr−1, which is in good agreement with ocean inversion-based estimates. Our data indicate a moderate level of interannual variability in the ocean carbon sink (±0.12 Pg C yr−1, 1𝜎) from 1998 through 2011, mostly originating from the equatorial Pacific Ocean, and associated with the El Nino–Southern Oscillation. Accounting for steady state riverine and Arctic Ocean carbon fluxes our estimate further implies a mean anthropogenic CO2 uptake of −1.99 ± 0.59 Pg C yr−1 over the analysis period. From this estimate plus the most recent estimates for fossil fuel emissions and atmospheric CO2 accumulation, we infer a mean global land sink of −2.82 ± 0.85 Pg C yr−1 over the 1998 through 2011 period with strong interannual variation

Assessment of the course of the gestational process using survey method and depending on the laboratory confirmed prenatal alcohol use (cross-section study)

Background. Studying the problem of alcohol consumption by pregnant women using modern laboratory research methods has valuable theoretical and practical significance. The aim of the study. To determine the characteristics of the pregnancy course in women consuming alcohol in the prenatal period confirmed by survey and laboratory tests, depending on the phosphatidylethanol levels. Materials and methods. We examined 863 women under observation at the Irkutsk Regional Perinatal Center for the period from 2014 to 2021. To confirm the fact of alcohol consumption in the prenatal period, 545 women were surveyed, 318  women were examined using laboratory analysis. The diagnostic biomarker for  alcohol was  PEth:16:0/18:1. To assign pregnant women to  the control group, a PEth concentration of ≤ 8 ng/ml was taken. If the PEth concentration was > 8 ng/ml, pregnant women were classified as heavy drinkers. Clinical and laboratory indicators of the course of pregnancy and childbirth were carried out in comparative groups. Results. It has been established that every second woman of reproductive age took alcohol before pregnancy. 24.2 % of women did not stop consuming alcohol in  the  prenatal period. At the same time, the risk of congenital malformations was high, since 20.4 % of women consumed alcohol in the first trimester of pregnancy. Based on the results of the survey, it was revealed that in women who consumed alcohol in the prenatal period, the following pathological conditions are statistically significantly more common: anemia, congenital heart defects in fetuses, prematurity of gestational age, labor anomalies, uterus subinvolution. Based on the results of laboratory confirmation of alcohol consumption, it was established that parity of birth, intrauterine growth retardation, and  premature birth were statistically significantly more often in pregnant women who drink. Conclusion. Thus, in order to obtain the most meaningful and high-quality results, it is necessary to  conduct larger studies. In addition, maternal blood biomarkers should be used to confirm levels of alcohol consumption throughout all trimesters of pregnancy

Global carbon budget 2019

Accurate assessment of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and their redistribution among the atmosphere, ocean, and terrestrial biosphere-the "global carbon budget"-is important to better understand the global carbon cycle, support the development of climate policies, and project future climate change. Here we describe data sets and methodology to quantify the five major components of the global carbon budget and their uncertainties. Fossil CO2 emissions (EFF) are based on energy statistics and cement production data, while emissions from land use change (ELUC), mainly deforestation, are based on land use and land use change data and bookkeeping models. Atmospheric CO2 concentration is measured directly and its growth rate (GATM) is computed from the annual changes in concentration. The ocean CO2 sink (SOCEAN) and terrestrial CO2 sink (SLAND) are estimated with global process models constrained by observations. The resulting carbon budget imbalance (BIM), the difference between the estimated total emissions and the estimated changes in the atmosphere, ocean, and terrestrial biosphere, is a measure of imperfect data and understanding of the contemporary carbon cycle. All uncertainties are reported as ±1σ. For the last decade available (2009-2018), EFF was 9:5±0:5 GtC yr-1, ELUC 1:5±0:7 GtC yr-1, GATM 4:9±0:02 GtC yr-1 (2:3±0:01 ppm yr-1), SOCEAN 2:5±0:6 GtC yr-1, and SLAND 3:2±0:6 GtC yr-1, with a budget imbalance BIM of 0.4 GtC yr-1 indicating overestimated emissions and/or underestimated sinks. For the year 2018 alone, the growth in EFF was about 2.1% and fossil emissions increased to 10:0±0:5 GtC yr-1, reaching 10 GtC yr-1 for the first time in history, ELUC was 1:5±0:7 GtC yr-1, for total anthropogenic CO2 emissions of 11:5±0:9 GtC yr-1 (42:5±3:3 GtCO2). Also for 2018, GATM was 5:1±0:2 GtC yr-1 (2:4±0:1 ppm yr-1), SOCEAN was 2:6±0:6 GtC yr-1, and SLAND was 3:5±0:7 GtC yr-1, with a BIM of 0.3 GtC. The global atmospheric CO2 concentration reached 407:38±0:1 ppm averaged over 2018. For 2019, preliminary data for the first 6-10 months indicate a reduced growth in EFF of C0:6% (range of.0:2% to 1.5 %) based on national emissions projections for China, the USA, the EU, and India and projections of gross domestic product corrected for recent changes in the carbon intensity of the economy for the rest of the world. Overall, the mean and trend in the five components of the global carbon budget are consistently estimated over the period 1959-2018, but discrepancies of up to 1 GtC yr-1 persist for the representation of semi-decadal variability in CO2 fluxes. A detailed comparison among individual estimates and the introduction of a broad range of observations shows (1) no consensus in the mean and trend in land use change emissions over the last decade, (2) a persistent low agreement between the different methods on the magnitude of the land CO2 flux in the northern extra-tropics, and (3) an apparent underestimation of the CO2 variability by ocean models outside the tropics. This living data update documents changes in the methods and data sets used in this new global carbon budget and the progress in understanding of the global carbon cycle compared with previous publications of this data set (Le Quéré et al., 2018a, b, 2016, 2015a, b, 2014, 2013). The data generated by this work are available at https://doi.org/10.18160/gcp-2019 (Friedlingstein et al., 2019). © 2019 by the authors

Global Carbon Budget 2020

Accurate assessment of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO$_{2}$) emissions and their redistribution among the atmosphere, ocean, and terrestrial biosphere in a changing climate – the “global carbon budget” – is important to better understand the global carbon cycle, support the development of climate policies, and project future climate change. Here we describe and synthesize data sets and methodology to quantify the five major components of the global carbon budget and their uncertainties. Fossil CO$_{2}$ emissions (E$_{FOS}$) are based on energy statistics and cement production data, while emissions from land-use change (E$_{LUC}$), mainly deforestation, are based on land use and land-use change data and bookkeeping models. Atmospheric CO$_{2}$ concentration is measured directly and its growth rate (G$_{ATM}$) is computed from the annual changes in concentration. The ocean CO$_{2}$ sink (S$_{OCEAN}$) and terrestrial CO$_{2}$ sink (S$_{LAND}$) are estimated with global process models constrained by observations. The resulting carbon budget imbalance (B$_{IM}$), the difference between the estimated total emissions and the estimated changes in the atmosphere, ocean, and terrestrial biosphere, is a measure of imperfect data and understanding of the contemporary carbon cycle. All uncertainties are reported as ±1σ. For the last decade available (2010–2019), E$_{FOS}$ was 9.6 ± 0.5 GtC yr$^{-1}$ excluding the cement carbonation sink (9.4 ± 0.5 GtC yr−1 when the cement carbonation sink is included), and E$_{LUC}$ was 1.6 ± 0.7 GtC yr$^{-1}$. For the same decade, G$_{ATM}$ was 5.1 ± 0.02 GtC yr$^{-1}$ (2.4 ± 0.01 ppm yr$_{-1}$), S$_{OCEAN}$ 2.5 ±  0.6 GtC yr$^{-1}$, and S$_{LAND}$ 3.4 ± 0.9 GtC yr$^{-1}$, with a budget imbalance B$_{IM}$ of −0.1 GtC yr$^{-1}$ indicating a near balance between estimated sources and sinks over the last decade. For the year 2019 alone, the growth in E$_{FOS}$ was only about 0.1 % with fossil emissions increasing to 9.9 ± 0.5 GtC yr$^{-1}$ excluding the cement carbonation sink (9.7 ± 0.5 GtC yr$^{-1}$ when cement carbonation sink is included), and E$_{LUC}$ was 1.8 ± 0.7 GtC yr$^{-1}$, for total anthropogenic CO$_{2}$ emissions of 11.5 ± 0.9 GtC yr$^{-1}$ (42.2 ± 3.3 GtCO$_{2}$). Also for 2019, G$_{ATM}$ was 5.4 ± 0.2 GtC yr$^{-1}$ (2.5 ± 0.1 ppm yr$^{-1}$), S$_{OCEAN}$ was 2.6 ± 0.6 GtC yr$^{-1}$, and S$_{LAND}$ was 3.1 ± 1.2 GtC yr$^{-1}$, with a B$_{IM}$ of 0.3 GtC. The global atmospheric CO$_{2}$ concentration reached 409.85 ± 0.1 ppm averaged over 2019. Preliminary data for 2020, accounting for the COVID-19-induced changes in emissions, suggest a decrease in E$_{FOS}$ relative to 2019 of about −7 % (median estimate) based on individual estimates from four studies of −6 %, −7 %, −7 % (−3 % to −11 %), and −13 %. Overall, the mean and trend in the components of the global carbon budget are consistently estimated over the period 1959–2019, but discrepancies of up to 1 GtC yr$^{-1}$ persist for the representation of semi-decadal variability in CO$_{2}$ fluxes. Comparison of estimates from diverse approaches and observations shows (1) no consensus in the mean and trend in land-use change emissions over the last decade, (2) a persistent low agreement between the different methods on the magnitude of the land CO$_{2}$ flux in the northern extra-tropics, and (3) an apparent discrepancy between the different methods for the ocean sink outside the tropics, particularly in the Southern Ocean. This living data update documents changes in the methods and data sets used in this new global carbon budget and the progress in understanding of the global carbon cycle compared with previous publications of this data set (Friedlingstein et al., 2019; Le Quéré et al., 2018b, a, 2016, 2015b, a, 2014, 2013). The data presented in this work are available at https://doi.org/10.18160/gcp-2020 (Friedlingstein et al., 2020)

Global Carbon Budget 2018

Accurate assessment of anthropogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and their redistribution among the atmosphere, ocean, and terrestrial biosphere – the “global carbon budget” – is important to better understand the global carbon cycle, support the development of climate policies, and project future climate change. Here we describe data sets and methodology to quantify the five major components of the global carbon budget and their uncertainties. Fossil CO2 emissions (EFF) are based on energy statistics and cement production data, while emissions from land use and land-use change (ELUC), mainly deforestation, are based on land use and land-use change data and bookkeeping models. Atmospheric CO2 concentration is measured directly and its growth rate (GATM) is computed from the annual changes in concentration. The ocean CO2 sink (SOCEAN) and terrestrial CO2 sink (SLAND) are estimated with global process models constrained by observations. The resulting carbon budget imbalance (BIM), the difference between the estimated total emissions and the estimated changes in the atmosphere, ocean, and terrestrial biosphere, is a measure of imperfect data and understanding of the contemporary carbon cycle. All uncertainties are reported as ±1σ. For the last decade available (2008–2017), EFF was 9.4±0.5 GtC yr−1, ELUC 1.5±0.7 GtC yr−1, GATM 4.7±0.02 GtC yr−1, SOCEAN 2.4±0.5 GtC yr−1, and SLAND 3.2±0.8 GtC yr−1, with a budget imbalance BIM of 0.5 GtC yr−1 indicating overestimated emissions and/or underestimated sinks. For the year 2017 alone, the growth in EFF was about 1.6 % and emissions increased to 9.9±0.5 GtC yr−1. Also for 2017, ELUC was 1.4±0.7 GtC yr−1, GATM was 4.6±0.2 GtC yr−1, SOCEAN was 2.5±0.5 GtC yr−1, and SLAND was 3.8±0.8 GtC yr−1, with a BIM of 0.3 GtC. The global atmospheric CO2 concentration reached 405.0±0.1 ppm averaged over 2017. For 2018, preliminary data for the first 6–9 months indicate a renewed growth in EFF of +2.7 % (range of 1.8 % to 3.7 %) based on national emission projections for China, the US, the EU, and India and projections of gross domestic product corrected for recent changes in the carbon intensity of the economy for the rest of the world. The analysis presented here shows that the mean and trend in the five components of the global carbon budget are consistently estimated over the period of 1959–2017, but discrepancies of up to 1 GtC yr−1 persist for the representation of semi-decadal variability in CO2 fluxes. A detailed comparison among individual estimates and the introduction of a broad range of observations show (1) no consensus in the mean and trend in land-use change emissions, (2) a persistent low agreement among the different methods on the magnitude of the land CO2 flux in the northern extra-tropics, and (3) an apparent underestimation of the CO2 variability by ocean models, originating outside the tropics. This living data update documents changes in the methods and data sets used in this new global carbon budget and the progress in understanding the global carbon cycle compared with previous publications of this data set (Le Quéré et al., 2018, 2016, 2015a, b, 2014, 2013). All results presented here can be downloaded from https://doi.org/10.18160/GCP-2018