‘Tais’: a new pear cultivar for the Middle Urals

Expanding the assortment through the development of new highly adaptable cultivars is the main task of pear breeding in the Middle Urals. The most significant agronomic traits are winter hardiness, high fruit yield, and good fruit quality. The zoned pear assortment for the Middle Urals includes six cultivars. Six more cultivars now undergo the State Variety Trials. One of them is the new pear cultivar ‘Tais’ (breeding number DL-33-104), the result of crossing Dyuymovochka × Zhanna d’Ark. Cv. ‘Tais’ has been in variety studies at Sverdlovsk Horticultural Breeding Station (Yekaterinburg) since 2006. The new cultivar is characterized by good winter hardiness and productivity. The average yield at the age of 10–14 years is 9.42 tons per hectare, while the maximum yield is 19.81 t/ha. Fruits are yellow, with a good sweet taste, weighing 94 g. The content of dry matter is 11.9%, sugars 9.0%, and titratable acids 0.4%. According to the results of long-term research, the new pear cultivar ‘Tais’ was submitted to the State Variety Trials in 2017

Sverdlovchanin: a new apple cultivar for the Middle Urals

The Middle Urals is a region of risky agriculture. Apple cultivars of more southern origin are usually unpromising due to insufficient level of hardiness, so there is a need to develop and deploy local apple-tree cultivars. The staff of Sverdlovsk Horticultural Breeding Station released a new apple cultivar, ‘Sverdlovchanin’. This cultivar is notable for high winter hardiness, productivity (average yield is ca. 18.0 t/ha), and low fruit shedding rate at harvest maturity. Its fruits are beautiful, uniform, yellow, roundish, weighing 110 g (maximum 205 g), with a very good sweet and sour dessert flavor. The ripening time under the conditions of the Middle Urals is usually late September, and fruits can be stored until the end of February. The author of this cultivar is L. A. Kotov The apple cultivar ‘Sverdlovchanin’ was included in the State Register of Breeding Achievements of the Russian Federation in 2018

Прогнозування ефективності катетерної радіочастотної абляції аритмогенних зон серця за оцінкою контакту між електродом та тканиною міокарда

Purpose. This work is devoted to method developing for quantify assessment of the electrodes contact with myocardial tissue during catheter radiofrequency ablation. It will allow to perform forecasting destruction efficiency by visualizing them in three-dimensional internal surface of the heart in the color spectrum. Methodology. Original automated system is developed in the programming environment Matlab that can work with application of all types of catheters and digital map data of individual anatomy of the heart and destruction points derived from the electro-anatomical mapping system Ensite Velosity NavX (St. Jude medical, USA). The construction of three-dimensional model of the heart is performed and the radiofrequency destruction points are superimposed on it in a color spectrum corresponding to different distances electrode to myocardial tissue during ablation. Results and practical value. The assessing method of electrodes contact with myocardial tissue during catheter radiofrequency ablation is confirmed its accuracy and efficiency in clinical practice. It is introduced in State Institution "M.M. Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery at NAMS of Ukraine" for control and predicting of tissue destruction effectiveness in the left atrium around pulmonary veins and isthmus between the veins and valves to block the spread of potential that lead to fibrillation and atrial flutter.Целью работы стала разработка метода количественной оценки контакта электрода с тканью миокарда при катетерной радиочастотной абляции, который позволит выполнять прогнозирование эффективности деструкции путем визуализации их на трехмерной внутренней поверхности сердца в цветовом спектре. Предложен оригинальный автоматизированный комплекс, построенный в программной среде Matlab, который может работать с использованием всех типов катетеров и цифровых данных карт индивидуальной анатомии сердца и точек деструкции, полученных из системы электро-анатомического картирования Ensite Velosity NavX (St. Jude medical, США), подтвердил свою точность и эффективность при апробации в клинической практике.Метою роботи стала розробка методу кількісної оцінки контакту електроду з тканиною міокарда при катетерній радіочастотній абляції, який дозволятиме виконувати прогнозування ефективності деструкцій шляхом візуалізації їх на тривимірній внутрішній поверхні серця в кольоровому спектрі. Запропоновано оригінальний автоматизований комплекс на основі програмного середовища MATLAB, який може працювати при застосуванні всіх типів катетерів та цифрових даних карт індивідуальної анатомії серця та точок деструкції, що отримуються з системи електро-анатомічного картування Ensite Velosity NavX (St. Jude medical, США). Запропонований комплекс підтвердив свою точність та ефективність під час апробації в клінічній практиці

Alterations in the nigrostriatal system following conditional inactivation of α-synuclein in neurons of adult and aging mice

The aetiology and pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD) are tightly linked to he gain-offunction of α-synuclein. However, gradual accumulation of α-synuclein aggregates in dopaminergic neurons of substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) leads to the depletion of the functional pool of soluble α-synuclein and therefore, creates a loss-of-function conditions, particularly in presynaptic terminals of these neurons. Studies of if and how this late-onset depletion of a protein involved in many important steps of neurotransmission contributes to PD progression and particularly, to worsening the nigrostriatal pathology at late stages of the disease are limited and obtained data are controversial. Recently we produced a mouse line for conditional knockout of the gene encoding α-synuclein and here we used its tamoxifen-inducible pan-neuronal inactivation to study consequences of the adult-onset (from the age of 6 months) and late-onset (from the age of 12 months) α-synuclein depletion to the nigrostriatal system. No significant changes of animal balance/coordination, the number of dopaminergic neurons in the SNpc and the content of dopamine and its metabolites in the striatum were observed after adult-onset α synuclein depletion but in ageing (18-month old) late-onset depleted mice we found significant reduction of major dopamine metabolites without changes to the content of dopamine itself. Our data suggest that this might be caused, at least partially, by reduced expression of aldehyde dehydrogenase ALDH1a1 and could lead to accumulation of toxic intermediates of dopamine catabolism. By extrapolating our findings to a potential clinical situation, we suggest that therapeutic downregulation of α-synuclein expression in PD patients is a generally safe option as it should not cause adverse side effects on the functionality of their nigrostriatal system. However, if started in aged patients, this type of therapy might trigger slight functional changes of the nigrostriatal system with potentially unwanted additive effect to already existing pathology

Formation of a disk-structure and jets in the symbiotic prototype Z And during its 2006-2010 active phase

We present an analysis of spectrophotometric observations of the latest cycle of activity of the symbiotic binary Z And from 2006 to 2010. We estimate the temperature of the hot component of Z And to be \approx 150000 - 170000 K at minimum brightness, decreasing to \approx 90000 K at the brightness maximum. Our estimate of the electron density in the gaseous nebula is N_{e}=10^{10}-10^{12} cm^{-3} in the region of formation of lines of neutral helium and 10^6-10^7 cm^{-3} in the region of formation of the [OIII] and [NeIII] nebular lines. A trend for the gas density derived from helium lines to increase and the gas density derived from [OIII] and [NeIII] lines to simultaneously decrease with increasing brightness of the system was observed. Our estimates show that the ratios of the theoretical and observed fluxes in the [OIII] and [NeIII] lines agree best when the O/Ne ratio is similar to its value for planetary nebulae. The model spectral energy distribution showed that, in addition to a cool component and gaseous nebula, a relatively cool pseudophotosphere (5250-11 500 K) is present in the system. The simultaneous presence of a relatively cool pseudophotosphere and high-ionization spectral lines is probably related to a disk-like structure of the pseudophotosphere. The pseudophotosphere formed very rapidly, over several weeks, during a period of increasing brightness of Z And. We infer that in 2009, as in 2006, the activity of the system was accompanied by a collimated bipolar ejection of matter. In contrast to the situation in 2006, the jets were detected even before the system reached its maximum brightness. Moreover, components with velocities close to 1200 km/s disappeared at the maximum, while those with velocities close to 1800 km/s appeared.Comment: 18 pages, 19 figures, Accepted for publication in Astronomy Report

Awareness and utilization of HIV testing and prevention services among female sex workers in Dnipro, Ukraine: implications for prevention program strengthening from the dynamics study

INTRODUCTION: Approximately 240,000 people live with HIV in Ukraine, concentrated among key populations, including sex workers. Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) play an important role in the funding and delivery of HIV testing and prevention services in Ukraine. These services are set within the context of national healthcare reforms as well as ongoing armed conflict. This study seeks to describe and understand the usage of HIV testing and prevention services among sex workers in the eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro. METHODS: A cross-sectional bio-behavioral survey was administered in September 2017-March 2018 among 560 sex workers working in Dnipro. Descriptive analyses of survey data are presented alongside multivariable logistic regression models identifying factors associated with NGO awareness and HIV testing in the past 12 months; adjusted odds ratios (AOR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) are reported. RESULTS: Sixty-two percent of respondents were aware of NGOs offering HIV services. Sixty-eight percent had tested for HIV in the past 12 months, and 51% of those who reported the location of their most recent test were tested at an NGO. Those with 5-9 years in sex work had greater odds of being aware of NGOs (AOR = 5.5, 95%CI: 3.2-9.7) and testing for HIV (AOR = 3.4, 95%CI: 2.0-6.0) compared to those new to the profession. Contact with outreach workers was strongly associated with increased odds of testing (AOR = 13.0, 95%CI: 7.0-24.0). Sex workers in "offices" (brothel-like venues) reported higher odds of testing than all other workplaces, while those in entertainment venues (AOR = 0.3, 95%CI: 0.2-0.5) and public places (AOR = 0.2, 95%CI: 0.1-0.3) reported lower rates. Receiving prevention services, such as free condoms, was associated with increased testing (AOR = 16.9, 95%CI: 9.7-29.3). DISCUSSION: NGOs in Dnipro, Ukraine play an important role in HIV testing and prevention for women involved in sex work. However, focused efforts should be placed on supporting access to these services for women that are newer to sex work, and those working in entertainment venues or public places. Outreach workers appear to support access to HIV prevention information and supplies and facilitate linkages to HIV testing for sex workers

Impact of preoperative mild cognitive impairment on cerebrovascular events and cognitive status in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting: data from 5-year follow-up

Aim. To assess the incidence of cerebrovascular events and cognitive status in the long-term period after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) in patients with and without preoperative mild cognitive impairment (MCI).Material and methods. This prospective study involved 115 patients aged 45 to 69 years, who were admitted to the hospital for elective on-pump CABG. All patients underwent clinical, laboratory, ultrasound, neuroimaging and neuropsychological examination 3-5 days before and 5-7 years after CABG. Cognitive functioning was assessed using screening neuropsychological scales and neuropsychological testing with an assessment of neurodynamics, attention and short-term memory. Pre-CABG MCI was diagnosed based on the criteria by R. Petersen et al. Therefore, the patients were divided into two groups: with (n=51) and without MCI (n=64).Results. It was found that strokes and dementia during the long-term postoperative period of CABG were observed only in the group of patients with preoperative MCI (7,84%). Five-seven years after CABG, a decrease in cognitive status according to neuropsychological scales was found in all patients (p≤0,05). A decrease in neurodynamics, attention and short-term memory compared to the preoperative level was found in 47,92% of patients with preoperative MCI, without MCI — in 40,63%. Neurodynamic disorders occurred equally frequently in both groups (63,8% and 57,8% of patients, respectively). Memory impairments were more often observed in patients with MCI (55,3%) compared to those without MCI (34,4%) (OR=2,36, 95% CI, 1,09-5,12, p=0,03). According to brain multislice computed tomography in the group with preoperative MCI, the number of patients with cysts and leukoaraiosis 5-7 years after CABG was higher than in those without MCI (p≤0,05).Conclusion. In the long-term (5-7 years) postoperative period of CABG, more than 40% of patients demonstrate a decrease in cognitive status, regardless of preoperative data. At the same time, preoperative MCI is associated with adverse cerebrovascular events and dementia, accompanied by morphological brain abnormalities. Due to the revealed facts, it is necessary to optimize approaches to drug treatment and secondary prevention of cognitive decline after cardiac surgery

Calibration and Characterization of the IceCube Photomultiplier Tube

Over 5,000 PMTs are being deployed at the South Pole to compose the IceCube neutrino observatory. Many are placed deep in the ice to detect Cherenkov light emitted by the products of high-energy neutrino interactions, and others are frozen into tanks on the surface to detect particles from atmospheric cosmic ray showers. IceCube is using the 10-inch diameter R7081-02 made by Hamamatsu Photonics. This paper describes the laboratory characterization and calibration of these PMTs before deployment. PMTs were illuminated with pulses ranging from single photons to saturation level. Parameterizations are given for the single photoelectron charge spectrum and the saturation behavior. Time resolution, late pulses and afterpulses are characterized. Because the PMTs are relatively large, the cathode sensitivity uniformity was measured. The absolute photon detection efficiency was calibrated using Rayleigh-scattered photons from a nitrogen laser. Measured characteristics are discussed in the context of their relevance to IceCube event reconstruction and simulation efforts.Comment: 40 pages, 12 figure

Detection of Atmospheric Muon Neutrinos with the IceCube 9-String Detector

The IceCube neutrino detector is a cubic kilometer TeV to PeV neutrino detector under construction at the geographic South Pole. The dominant population of neutrinos detected in IceCube is due to meson decay in cosmic-ray air showers. These atmospheric neutrinos are relatively well-understood and serve as a calibration and verification tool for the new detector. In 2006, the detector was approximately 10% completed, and we report on data acquired from the detector in this configuration. We observe an atmospheric neutrino signal consistent with expectations, demonstrating that the IceCube detector is capable of identifying neutrino events. In the first 137.4 days of livetime, 234 neutrino candidates were selected with an expectation of 211 +/- 76.1(syst.) +/- 14.5(stat.) events from atmospheric neutrinos