Optimisations of the cost and structure of created investment resources of an entity based on financial leverage elements

The article demonstrates the author's method for cost and structure optimisation of created investment resources of an entity based on financial leverage tools for effective financing of real investments in case of development of an investment strategy for an entity development, namely: - Criteria of investments financing from line items of conservative, compromise, and aggressive approaches are determined using in the scheme of financing owner's capital, and also short-term and long-term loan fund capital; - Step-by-step creation of the financial performances considering industry specifics, scale of functioning of economic agents' activities is offered. Effective activities of the entities in long terms, ensuring high rates of their development and competitiveness increase in the conditions of market economy, are substantially determined by the level of their investment activity and the range of investing activities. One of the main tasks of forming the investment resources is the optimisation of their structure taking into account the profitability level and the investment risk. The optimisation of a capital structure by criterion of financial profitability level maximisation (profitability of the owner's capital) is reached by means of financial leverage mechanism. Profitability level maximisation for the capital considering the set level of financial risk is performed through the financial leverage, showing the use of borrowed funds by the entity. Carrying out complex calculations within the investment analysis with use of mechanisms of financial leverage allows determining the optimum structure of the created investment resources providing maximisation of the profitability level. © 2015, Mediterranean Center of Social and Educational Research. All rights reserved

Plant thionins: structure, biological functions and potential use in biotechnology

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are important components of defense system in both plants and animals. They represent an ancient mechanism of innate immunity providing rapid first line of defense against pathogens. Plant AMPs are classified into several families: thionins, defensins, nonspecific lipid-transfer proteins, hevein- and knottin-type peptides, hairpinins and macrocyclic peptides (cyclotides). The review focuses on the thionin family. Thionins comprise a plant-specific AMP family that consists of short (~5 kDA) cysteine-rich peptides containing 6 or 8 cysteine residues with antimicrobial and toxic properties. Based on similarity in amino acid sequences and the arrangement of disulphide bonds, five structural classes of thionins are discriminated. The three-dimensional structures of a number of thionins were determined. The amphipathic thionin molecule resembles the Greek letter Г, in which the long arm is formed by two antiparallel α-helices, while the short one, by two parallel β-strands. The residues responsible for the antimicrobial activity of thionins were identified. Thionins are synthesized as precursor proteins consisting of a signal peptide, the mature peptide region and the C-terminal prodomain. Thionins protect plants from pathogenic bacteria and fungi acting directly on the membranes of microorganisms at micromolar concentrations, although their precise mode of action remains unclear. In addition to plant pathogens, thionins inhibit growth of a number of human pathogens and opportunistic microorganisms, such as Candida spp., Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Fusarium solani, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Thionins are toxic to different types of cells including mammalian cancer cell lines. Transgenic plants expressing thionin genes display enhanced resistance to pathogens. A wide range of biological activities makes thionins promising candidates for practical application in agriculture and medicine

Synthesis and Luminescent Properties of Bismuth Titanates Bi1.6HoxTi2O7 – δ and Bi1.6Mg0.1HoxTi2O7 – δ

Abstract: Pyrochlores Bi1.6HoxTi2O7 – δ and Bi1.6Mg0.1Ho xTi2O7 – δ, where x = 0, 0.01, 0.05, and 0.1, and Bi1.5HoxTi2O7 – δ, where x = 0.25 and 0.5, have been synthesized and their structural, optical, and luminescence properties have been studied. As a result of analyzing the data obtained experimentally and the available theoretical data, it is shown that the intrinsic luminescence of the samples is due to the O2p ↔ Bi6p and Bi6s ↔ Bi6p electron transitions and the impurity luminescence is due to the f–f transitions in Ho3+ and the O2p → Ho3+ charge transfer. © 2019, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.Russian Foundation for Basic Research, RFBR: 19-03-00642The reported study was funded by RFBR according to the research project 19-03-00642

Classification of Municipalities in the Republic of Buryatia by the Level of Tick-Borne Viral Encephalitis Incidence

Tick-borne viral encephalitis (TBVE) is one of the most significant natural-focal infections in the Russian Federation.The aim of the study was to analyze the current epidemiological situation on TBVE in the Buryat Republic in 2010–2020 with a subsequent differentiation of municipalities by epidemiological risk groups in order to elaborate proposals for optimization of preventive measures.Materials and methods. A retrospective analysis of the epidemiological situation on TBVE in the Buryat Republic was carried out using forms of federal statistical surveillance No. 2 “Information on infectious and parasitic diseases” over 2010–2020 and the data from the Reference Center of the Irkutsk Research Anti-Plague Institute of Siberia and Far East of the Rospotrebnadzor on the epidemiological situation and preventive measures in the municipalities of the constituent entity. Statistical processing was performed applying conventional methods of variation statistics. Based on calculated 95 % parametric confidence interval for the data on variability of the long-term average TBVE incidence in the municipalities of the Republic of Buryatia over a 10-year period, the entities were differentiated by epidemiological risk groups. QGis 2.18.28 and a set of open geodata OpenStreetMap were used for mapping.Results and discussion. All municipalities have been classified into five groups by the level of epidemiological risk: with zero TBVE incidence – 2 districts, with a low level – 4, medium – 8, high – 5, very high – 2. In addition, the administrative center has been placed into a separate group. Each individual group of municipalities is characterized by the number of TBVE cases, the level of morbidity, the frequency of seeking medical aid because of tick bites, the scope of specific and non-specific prevention measures. Recommendations for optimizing the tactics of TBVE prevention in certain municipal districts have been provided

Melt pond fraction and spectral sea ice albedo retrieval from MERIS data – Part 1: Validation against in situ, aerial, and ship cruise data

The presence of melt ponds on the Arctic sea ice strongly affects the energy balance of the Arctic Ocean in summer. It affects albedo as well as transmittance through the sea ice, which has consequences for the heat balance and mass balance of sea ice. An algorithm to retrieve melt pond fraction and sea ice albedo from Medium Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MERIS) data is validated against aerial, shipborne and in situ campaign data. The results show the best correlation for landfast and multiyear ice of high ice concentrations. For broadband albedo, R2 is equal to 0.85, with the RMS (root mean square) being equal to 0.068; for the melt pond fraction, R2 is equal to 0.36, with the RMS being equal to 0.065. The correlation for lower ice concentrations, subpixel ice floes, blue ice and wet ice is lower due to ice drift and challenging for the retrieval surface conditions. Combining all aerial observations gives a mean albedo RMS of 0.089 and a mean melt pond fraction RMS of 0.22. The in situ melt pond fraction correlation is R2 = 0.52 with an RMS = 0.14. Ship cruise data might be affected by documentation of varying accuracy within the Antarctic Sea Ice Processes and Climate (ASPeCt) protocol, which may contribute to the discrepancy between the satellite value and the observed value: mean R2 = 0.044, mean RMS = 0.16. An additional dynamic spatial cloud filter for MERIS over snow and ice has been developed to assist with the validation on swath data

EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF SINUS RHYTHM RESTORATION WITH AMIODARONE AND PROPAFENONE IN OUTPATIENTS, ECONOMIC ASPECTS (BASED ON DATA OF N.A. SEMASHKO NORTHERN MEDICAL CLINICAL CENTER)

Aim. To study efficacy and safey of sinus rhythm restoration with amiodarone and propafenone in outpatients with recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF), and to estimate pharmacoeconomic efficiency of such cardioversion in comparison with hospital treatment.Material and methods. Patients (n=199; aged 59.2±1.36) with paroxysmal (73.9%) or persistent (26.1%) AF were included into the multicenter prospective study. Follow-up period was 13.14 months (min 1 month, max 36 months). Patients with arrhythmia relapse <48 h received outpatient cardioversion with amiodarone or propafenone orally. Daily outpatient examination, including ECG and blood pressure monitoring every 30-60 min, was carried out to evaluate efficacy of cardioversion and hemodynamics. Phone contact with patients was available. Patients with unstable hemodynamics received cardioversion in hospital. Patients received propafenone in cumulative dose of 600 mg (150-300 mg every hour), and amiodarone 600-800 mg daily. The cost/effectiveness ratio (CER) was estimated. This ratio shows the cost of one unit of effect.Results. Outpatient cardioversion with amiodarone was started 24 h earlier (p=0.029) and with propafenone — 4.5 h earlier (p=0.002) than that in hospital. The average dose of amiodarone in ambulatory cardioversion was 1.3 times less (713.7±84,62 mg, p=0.345) than that in hospital cardioversion. Outpatient treatment with amiodarone restored sinus rhythm 8.7 h earlier, and with propafenone - 3.5 h earlier than the same treatments in hospital. Efficiency of hospital cardioversion with amiodarone was 70%, with propafenone - 80%, and efficiency of outpatient cardioversion — 96,1% and 98,4%, respectively. Outpatient treatment did not cause any severe side effects. Expenses for outpatient cardioversion made up 143 724.25 rubles, and for hospital cardioversion — 92 870.47 rubles. Average treatment costs for one patient in hospital was 6 times greater than for an outpatient. Outpatient cardioversion had the lowest CER (~1300 rubles%).Conclusion. Outpatient cardioversion with amiodarone or propafenone is not only effective and safe, but also economically feasible

ONTOGENESIS OF CHRIST’S-THORN (PALIURUS SPINA-CHRISTI MILL.)

Background. Christ’s-thorn (Paliurus spina-christi Mill.) is a typical representative of the shibliak vegetation of the Mediterranean floristic region. This species often inhabits disturbed areas forming Paliurus-type shibliak (according to L. Adamovich) and participates in the formation of initial phytocenoses where it plays the role of an assectator. Paliurus shibliak together with Carpinus orientalis communities are considered to be one of the last and most stable stages in digression series of tree and shrub vegetation of the Mediterranean where they reinforce and protect soils from erosion. The study of P. spina-christi biology and the peculiarities of its ontogeny in natural and disturbed communities is an important task for developing a strategy for the conservation of phytocoenoses and biodiversity of the Mediterranean floristic region. Materials and methods. The research was carried out on the southern coast of Crimea, on the Black Sea coast of the Caucasus, on the coast of the Bay of Kotor (Adriatic Sea) in Montenegro. The seeds were germinated in the laboratory for study of initial stages of ontogeny; the remaining stages of ontogeny were studied from field research materials. 435 species of P. spina-christi have been analyzed. Results. Ontogenetic states and different levels of vitality have been identified and characterized; features of shoot morphogenesis have been described; the results are illustrated by figures and tables. Conclusions. P. spina-christi can be attributed to the geoxilic shrubs according to the results of the study. This species reproduces only by seeds. The following stages were identified in the morphogenesis of P. spina-christi: primary shoot, main sympodium, small tree, primary shrub, loose shrub. Signs that are significant for the determination of ontogenetic stages have been determined: the presence of cotyledons, the beginning of branching, the formation of silleptic shoots, the presence of fruiting, the intensity of fruiting, the fissuring of trunk cortex, and the death of xylopodium. Morphological multiplicity of P. spina-christi is manifested in the formation of species of different vitality and different life forms – bushlike and monocormic

Ontogenesis of Corydalis intermedia (l.) Merat in the “Bitsevsky forest” natural and historical park

The authors conducted a study of a cenopopulation Corydalis intermediate related to rare species included in the Red data book of Moscow. For the first time in Bitsevsky Park revealed extensive cenopopulations locus of this type, age range which is polnotsennym with a shift towards young individuals, indicating a promising population status of this species in this habitat

Population structure of Sanicula europaea l. in the “Bitsevsky forest” natural and historical park

The authors of the article studied the structure of populations of Sanicula europaea L. related to rare species included in the Red book of Moscow and Moscow region. For the first time in Bitza forest Park described the age structure of the identified loci in population of this species, it is shown that left-sided tendency of the age spectra of this type indicates experience-tolerant nature of this species population of Sanicula europaea L. sustainable, and the species can be classified as “recovering”

Ontogenic spectrum of coenopopulations as indicator of species strategy under anthropogenic stress (on the example rare and protected plants of the natural and historical park “Bitsevsky forest”)

The authors investigated the structure of populations of rare and protected species included in the Red book of Moscow and Moscow region, in connection with the influence of increasing anthropogenic loads in the forest zone of the city of Moscow. For the first time in the Bitsa forest Park based on the features of ontomorphogenesis of species such as the Sanicula europaea L., Convallaria majalis L., Polygonatum multiflorum (L.) All., Coridalis intermedia (L.) Merat . described and analyzed the age structure of their populations. Comparing the structure of populations of protected species, the authors showed the existence of different strategies of these species under conditions of anthropogenic stress