Discovery of metastable tetragonal disordered phase upon phase transitions in the equiatomic nanostructured FePd alloy

Specific features of the phase transformation 1 → L10 (space groups Fm3m and P4/mmm, respectively) in single crystals of the equiatomic alloy FePd subjected to annealings both in the absence and in the presence of external uniaxial load, as well as in polycrystalline samples that had undergone severe plastic deformation via high-pressure torsion and subsequent annealing, have been studied. An investigation of the single crystals in a nanostructured state formed at different stages of ordering annealing was performed using optical polarization, thermomagnetic and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) methods. The nanostructured state of the polycrystalline samples FePd after deformation of both disordered and ordered FePd alloys and subsequent annealing was examined with the help of TEM and X-ray techniques. The results obtained were analyzed based on the known concepts of the symmetry theory of phase transitions. It was concluded that the atomic ordering in the FePd alloys is preceded by the formation of a ferroelastic disordered body-centered tetragonal phase with the structural type 6 and the space group I4/mmm. Experimental data that evidence the existence of a tetragonal disordered phase both in the single crystals and in the polycrystalline samples of FePd after severe plastic deformation and subsequent annealing are reported. Thus, the A1 ↔ A6 ↔ L10 phase transformation represents a combination of different types of phase transitions such as cooperative displacement A1 ↔ 6 and ordering A6 ↔ L10 of atoms

Relationship between serologic profile (ANCA type) and clinical features of renal involvement in ANCA-associated vasculitides

Objective. To compare the frequency, clinical features and outcomes of renal involvement in ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV) in patients with antibodies against proteinase-3 (pr3-ANCA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO-ANCA). Materials and methods. In our retrospective study we enrolled 264 patients, 94 males and 170 females, median age 53 [36; 62] years. Among them 157 were pr3-ANCA positive and 107 were MPO-ANCA positive. AAV was diagnosed according to ACR criteria and Chapel Hill consensus conference definition (2012). Median follow up was 44 [18; 93] months. We assessed baseline BVAS and VDI by the end of the follow up. Serum creatinine (sCr), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), hematuria and daily proteinuria were estimated. Diagnosis and stage of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and acute kidney injury (AKI) were established according to KDIGO guidelines (2012) and Scientific Society of Russian Nephrologists (2016). Results. Renal involvement was present in 181 (68.6%) patients, and its frequency was similar in pr3-ANCA and MPO-ANCA subgroups. Patients with MPO-ANCA developed rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and hypertension significantly more often than patients with pr3-ANCA: 50.7% vs 35.6% (p=0.049) and 46.1% vs 29.8% (p=0.029) respectively. At disease onset, median sCr was significantly higher and eGFR was significantly lower in patients with MPO-ANCA (

Морфофункциональная характеристика слизистой оболочки желудка у больных с бронхиальной астмой разной степени тяжести

Summary. Morphological characteristics of gastric mucosa in patients with asthma of different severity with regard to corticosteroid therapy were described in this article. The aim of this study was to substantiate optimized standards of asthma treatment. Clinical and morphological investigations were conducted at the city clinical hospital № 31. We investigated all structural components of the gastric mucosa in biopsy specimens with light binocular microscopy and performed morphometric study of inflammatory infiltrates. As a result, several signs of protective effect of inhaled corticosteroids on gastric mucosa were found. We did not obtain any results that could confirm the key role of glucocorticosteroids in occurrence of gastrointestinal erosions in asthma patients. Therefore, prevention of erosive gastritis and other inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases in asthma patients should consider other risk factors besides glucocorticosteroid therapy and cover all stages of asthma.Резюме. Статья посвящена оценке и анализу морфологических характеристик слизистой оболочки желудка у больных с бронхиальной астмой разной степени тяжести в зависимости от вида проводимой глюкокортикостероидной терапии с целью выявления научных обоснований для оптимизации стандартов ведения этой категории пациентов. Клинико-морфологическое исследование было проведено на базе Городской клинической больницы № 31 Департамента здравоохранения г. Москвы. Морфологически и морфометрически изучена слизистая оболочка желудка. В результате выявлены признаки гастропротективного эффекта от применения ингаляционных глюкокортикостероидов. Мнение о ключевой роли глюкокортикостероидов в развитии эрозивных процессов желудочно-кишечного тракта при бронхиальной астме не было подтверждено. Профилактика эрозивного гастрита и других воспалительных заболеваний желудка при бронхиальной астме должна ассоциироваться не только с приемом глюкокортикостероидов, ее следует учитывать на всех стадиях бронхиальной астмы

EXPRESS METHOD OF BARCODE GENERATION FROM FACIAL IMAGES

In the paper a method of generating of standard type linear barcodes from facial images is proposed. The method is based on use of the histogram of facial image brightness, averaging the histogram on a limited number of intervals, quantization of results in a range of decimal numbers from 0 to 9 and table conversion into the final barcode. The proposed solution is computationally low-cost and not requires the use of specialized software on image processing that allows generating of facial barcodes in mobile systems, and thus the proposed method can be interpreted as an express method. Results of tests on the Face94 and CUHK Face Sketch FERET Databases showed that the proposed method is a new solution for use in the real-world practice and ensures the stability of generated barcodes in changes of scale, pose and mirroring of a facial image, and also changes of a facial expression and shadows on faces from local lighting. The proposed method is based on generating of a standard barcode directly from the facial image, and thus contains the subjective information about a person's face

PEOPLE RETRIEVAL BY MEANS OF COMPOSITE PICTURES: PROBLEM STATE-OF-THE-ART AND TECHNOLOGIES

We discuss the problem of people retrieval by means of composite pictures constructed according to descriptive portrait. An overview of the problem state-of-the-art is provided beginning from the basic concepts and terminology to a modern technology for composite picture creation, real-world scenarios and search results. The development history of systems for forming composite portraits (photo robots and sketches) and the ideas implemented in these systems are provided. The problem of automatic comparison of composite pictures with the original ones is discussed, and the reasons for unattainability of stable retrieval of originals by a composite picture in real-world scenarios are revealed. Requirements to composite pictures databases in addition to the existing benchmark databases of facial images and also methods for implementation of such databases are formulated. Approaches for generation of sketches population from an initial one that increase effectiveness of identikit-based photo image retrieval systems are proposed. The method of similarity index increasing in the couple identikit-photograph based on computation of an average identikit from the created population is provided. It is shown that such composite pictures are more similar to original portraits and their use in the discussed search problem can lead to good results. Thus the created identikits meet the requirements of the truthful scenario as take into account the possibility of incomplete information in descriptions. Results of experiments on CUHK Face Sketch and CUHK Face Sketch FERET databases and also open access identikits and corresponding photos are discussed