Thin silica films on Ru(0001): monolayer, bilayer and three-dimensional networks of [SiO₄] tetrahedra

The atomic structure of thin silica films grown over a Ru(0001) substrate was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy, low energy electron diffraction, helium ion scattering spectroscopy, CO temperature programmed desorption, and scanning tunneling microscopy in combination with density functional theory calculations. The films were prepared by Si vapor deposition and subsequent oxidation at high temperatures. The silica film first grows as a monolayer of corner-sharing [SiO4] tetrahedra strongly bonded to the Ru(0001) surface through the Si–O–Ru linkages. At increasing amounts of Si, the film forms a bilayer of corner-sharing [SiO4] tetrahedra which is weakly bonded to Ru(0001). The bilayer film can be grown in either the crystalline or vitreous state, or both coexisting. Further increasing the film thickness leads to the formation of vitreous silica exhibiting a three-dimensional network of [SiO4]. The principal structure of the films can be monitored by infrared spectroscopy, as each structure shows a characteristic vibrational band, i.e., [similar]1135 cm-1 for a monolayer film, [similar]1300 cm⁻-1 for the bilayer structures, and [similar]1250 cm⁻-1 for the bulk-like vitreous silica

Non-hematopoietic erythropoietin-derived peptides for atheroprotection and treatment of cardiovascular diseases

Research in recent decades has shown that erythropoietin has a high cytoprotective activity, which is mainly associated with exposure to the mitochondrial link and has been confirmed in various experimental models. There is also a short-chain derivative, the 11-amino acid pyroglutamate helix B surface peptide (PHBSP), which selectively binds to the erythropoietin heterodymic receptor and reproduces its cytoprotective properties. This indicates the promising use of short-chain derivatives of erythropoietin for the treatment and prevention of atherosclerotic vascular injur

КЛЕТОЧНАЯ ЧУВСТВИТЕЛЬНОСТЬ ЛЕЙКОЦИТОВ КРОВИ IN VITRO К ИНТЕРФЕРОНУ-α2 В ДИНАМИКЕ ЭПШТЕЙНА - БАРР ВИРУСНОЙ ИНФЕКЦИИ У ДЕТЕЙ

In this study, the cellular sensitivity of white blood cells in vitro to interferon-α2 in children with EBV-infection in the acute period of the disease in terms of the 1, 6, 12 months after a previous infection. Found that children in the dynamics of the EBV-infection, preservation of cell sensitivity at the same level at 1 month after the disease is seen in 40,5% children, 6 months – 27,8% patients. Lack of cell sensitivity to interferon-α2 blood leukocytes in 12 months after undergoing a EBV-infection observed in 88,9% of children. During repeated courses interferon-therapy to study cellular sensitivity of blood leukocytes for individual selection of the drug.В статье приведены результаты изучения клеточной чувствительности лейкоцитов крови in vitro к интерферону-α2 в остром периоде Эпштейна – Барр вирусной инфекции и в сроки через 1, 6, 12 месяцев после перенесенного заболевания. Установлено, что изменение клеточной чувствительности лейкоцитов крови in vitro к интерферону-α2 в динамике заболевания носит индивидуальный характер. Это обусловливает необходимость повторного исследования клеточной чувствительности лейкоцитов крови in vitro к интерферону-α2 в указанные сроки при назначении повторных курсов интерферонотерапии

Роль индексов компьютерной периметрии в оценке стадий глаукомного процесса

Purpose: To study the role of Octopus computer visual field indices in assessing the stages of the glaucomatous process. Successful treatment of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) largely depends on the possibility of reliable control of its effectiveness. The system of POAG early detection and monitoring has significant problems: insufficient clinical coverage of the population, poor quality of patients’ examination at the outpatient level. Standard automated perimetry (SAP) is the golden standard in glaucoma diagnosis and is suitable for a life-long clinical examination of POAG patients. Currently, ophthalmologists do not fully use all the features of this method to determine the stages of POAG.Methods: The study included 150 patients with POAG (284 eyes). According to the results of the study in 102 patients with POAG (193 eyes), exclusion criteria that affect the reliability of SAP indicators were identified The results were evaluated in 48 patients (91 eyes) with POAG diagnosed at least 2 years prior. This group included 27 women (56.3%) and 21 men (43.7%), the average age of patients was 64±10.2 (σ=0.036). The control group consisted of 26 people (52 eyes) — 16 women (61.5%) and 10 men (38.5%). The average age of these subjects was 61±9.0 years. (σ=0.030). All patients underwent a study of the central visual field on the Octopus-101 perimeter (Switzerland), G2 program (glaucomatous test).Results: The corrected loss variance index (СLV) of the Octopus computer visual field analyzer is the most important for determining of the stage of glaucoma. The СLV index less than 8 dB is found in patients without glaucoma. The CLV index interval from 8.1 dB to 19.0 dB corresponds to stage I of POAG, from 19.1 dB to 36.0 dB — to stage II of POAG and the CLV index value of more than 36.1 dB corresponds to stage III of POAG.Conclusion: Glaucoma stage of can be determined not only by the location and depth of the central visual field loss but also based on the evaluation of statistical indicators available in a number of models of automated perimeters. Based on that, we propose a screening method for glaucoma stage assessment in outpatient clinic conditions.Цель. Изучить роль индексов компьютерного анализатора поля зрения «Octopus» в оценке стадий глаукомного процесса. Успешное лечение первичной открытоугольной глаукомы (ПОУГ) во многом зависит от возможности надежного контроля его эффективности. Система раннего выявления и мониторинга ПОУГ имеет существенные проблемы: недостаточный охват населения диспансеризацией, низкое качество осмотра больных с ПОУГ на уровне амбулаторно-поликлинического звена. Стандартная автоматизированная периметрия (SAP) является «золотым» стандартом в диагностике глаукомы и целесообразна при пожизненной диспансеризации больных ПОУГ. До настоящего времени практикующие офтальмологи не в полной степени используют все возможности этого метода для определения стадий ПОУГ.Методы. В исследование принимали участие 150 больных ПОУГ (284 глаза). По результатам исследования у 102 пациентов (193 глаза) были определены критерии исключения, влияющие на достоверность показателей SAP. Полученные результаты оценивались у 48 больных (27 (56,3%) женщин, 21 (43,7%) мужчина; средний возраст 64±10,2 года (σ=0,036); 91 глаз) с ПОУГ сроком не менее 2-х лет. В контрольную группу вошли 26 человек (52 глаза) — 16 (61,5%) женщин; 10 (38,5%) мужчин; средний возраст 61±9,0 лет (σ=0,030). Всем больным проводилось исследование центрального поля зрения на периметре Octopus-101 (Швейцария) по программе G2 (глаукомный тест).Результаты. Наиболее значимым для определения стадии глаукомы является индекс корректированной вариабельности дефектов (СLV) компьютерного анализатора поля зрения Octopus. Значение показателя СLV менее 8 дБ определяет больных, не страдающих глаукомой. Интервал СLV от 8,1 дБ до 19,0 дБ соответствует I стадии ПОУГ, от 19,1 дБ до 36,0 дБ — II стадии ПОУГ и показатель СLV более 36,1 дБ — соответствует III стадии ПОУГ.Заключение. Определение стадии глаукомы можно проводить не только по локализации и глубине скотом в центральном поле зрения, но и на основе оценки статистических индексов, имеющихся в ряде моделей автоматизированных периметров. На этой основе предложен скрининговый метод определения стадии глаукомы, актуальный в условиях амбулаторно-поликлинического звена офтальмологической службы

Detection of symptom-related coronary arteries in patients with coronary artery disease using real-time three-dimensional stress echocardiography with adenosine triphosphate

Aim 1) To develop normative values of global and regional left ventricular longitudinal deformation (LVLD) during real time three-dimensional stress echocardiography with adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and utilization of automated function imaging technology (4D Stress-Echo + LVLD with ATP); 2) to compare the effectiveness of detection of symptom-related coronary arteries during 4D Stress-Echo with ATP using: a) traditional visual assessment of regional myocardial contractility and b) step-by-step analysis of segmental LVLD.Material and Methods 15 healthy subjects and 32 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) were examined after coronary angiography. All individuals underwent 4D Stress-Echo + LVLD with ATP (Vivid E95, General Electric).Results The normative values of global LVLD at three stages of the pharmacological stress-test (before, during and after ATP infusion) were –19.5 (95% CI: -20.4 – -19.0), –21.6 (95% CI: -22.8 – -20.4) and –19.5 (95% CI: -20.3 – -18.6), respectively; the values of LVLD in each of the 17 segments of left ventricular myocardium in healthy subjects were also determined. In patients with CAD visual control of contractility during stress test revealed dynamic decrease in local thickening of the myocardium, appearance of new zones of contractility disorders and expansion of previously noted in 31.2% of cases, while analysis of deformation detected the appearance of new zones of deformation disturbances and expansion of previously found – in 68.7% (р = 0.0055). Stress-induced worsening of myocardial deformation during ATP infusion in the zones of blood supply of left anterior descending coronary artery, circumflex artery and right coronary artery (with presence of hemodynamically significant stenoses and occlusions detected during coronary angiography) were found in 28.0, 77.7 and 65.2% respectively (р1-3 = 0.0194; р1-2 = 0.0019; р2-3 = 0.2864).Conclusion The normal values of global and segmental LVLD for each stage of 4D Stress-Echo + LVLD with ATP were determined. 4D Stress-Echo + LVLD with ATP can significantly increase the effectiveness of symptom-related coronary arteries identification in patients with CAD in comparison with traditional Stress-Echo with visual assessment of local myocardial contractility

Mergers and Acquisitions in Latin America: Industrial Productivity and Corporate Governance

This paper examines the impact of industrial productivity on transnationals M&As from OECD countries towards Latin American countries in the period 1996 to 2010. It also analyzes the relationship between external mechanism of corporate governance and transnational M&As. For this purpose we use a gravitational model at the industry level. We find that industry productivity and higher standards of corporate governance in the country of origin promote transnational M&As activity. However, it is also found that higher levels of capital and technological productivity decreases transnational M&As activity

Family involvement and firms’ establishment mode choice in foreign markets

Extant literature on foreign entry increasingly recognizes firms’ heterogeneity as a potential reason for inconsistency in results on the establishment mode choice, i.e. whether and under which conditions firms should choose to enter a new country through a greenfield investment or an acquisition. Our study contributes to this debate by identifying family ownership and family involvement in management as potential powerful sources of such heterogeneity. Integrating international business studies with both corporate finance literature on family firms and recent contributions from the Socio Emotional Wealth perspective on family ownership, we claim that, due to greater risk aversion and lower access to information, the family involvement either in the firm ownership and management leads to a higher propensity towards greenfield initiatives (vs. acquisitions). However, we also find that such a propensity decreases with international experience especially in family-owned firms given the greater ability of professionalized management to overcome family-related concerns on making acquisitions. Our analysis on 1,045 foreign initiatives undertaken by 311 Italian family and non-family firms between 2003 and 2013 confirms our expectations – indicating family ownership as a significant driver of international business choices

Foreign ownership, bank information environments, and the international mobility of corporate governance

This paper investigates how foreign ownership shapes bank information environments. Using a sample of listed banks from 60 countries over 1997–2012, we show that foreign ownership is significantly associated with greater (lower) informativeness (synchronicity) in bank stock prices. We also find that stock returns of foreign-owned banks reflect more information about future earnings. In addition, the positive association between price informativeness and foreign ownership is stronger for foreign-owned banks in countries with stronger governance, stronger banking supervision, and lower monitoring costs. Overall, our evidence suggests that foreign ownership reduces bank opacity by exporting governance, yielding important implications for regulators and governments