Site-fidelity and spatial movements of western North Pacific gray whales on their summer range off Sakhalin, Russia

The Western North-Pacific (WNP) gray whale feeding grounds are off the northeastern coast of Sakhalin Island, Russia and is comprised of a nearshore and offshore component that can be distinguished by both depth and location. Spatial movements of gray whales within their foraging grounds were examined based on 13 years of opportunistic vessel and shore-based photo-identification surveys. Site fidelity was assessed by examining annual return and resighting rates. Lagged Identification Rates (LIR) analyses were conducted to estimate the residency and transitional movement patterns within the two components of their feeding grounds. In total 243 individuals were identified from 2002-2014, among these were 94 calves. The annual return rate over the period 2002-2014 was 72%, excluding 35 calves only seen one year. Approximately 20% of the individuals identified from 2002-2010 were seen every year after their initial sighting (including eight individuals that returned for 13 consecutive years). The majority (239) of the WNP whales were observed in the nearshore area while only half (122) were found in the deeper offshore area. Within a foraging season, there was a significantly higher probability of gray whales moving from the nearshore to the offshore area. No mother-calf pairs, calves or yearlings were observed in the offshore area, which was increasingly used by mature animals. The annual return rates, and population growth rates that are primarily a result of calf production with little evidence of immigration, suggest that this population is demographically self-contained and that both the nearshore and offshore Sakhalin feeding grounds are critically important areas for their summer annual foraging activities. The nearshore habitat is also important for mother-calf pairs, younger individuals, and recently weaned calves. Nearshore feeding could also be energetically less costly compared to foraging in the deeper offshore habitat and provide more protection from predators, such as killer whales

Трансанальна гемороїдальна деартеріалізація з лазерною абляцією зовнішніх гемороїдальних вузлів – малотравматичний спосіб вирішення проблеми комбінованого геморою в амбулаторних умовах

The presence combined with enlarged hemorrhoids external hemorrhoids limits the performance of minimally invasivetechniques, most focused on internal hemorrhoids. The open hemorrhoidectomy does not satisfy the duration with postoperativerehabilitation. Ultrasound reсtodopleromety made possible to fi nd the most controlled and effi cient surgical solutions in thetreatment of internal hemorrhoids II-III stages. Laser vaporization external hemorrhoids proves effectiveness in the combinedtreatment of hemorrhoids. In our study, we combined two aforementioned surgical techniques for the treatment of chroniccombined hemorrhoids. We analyzed the results of treatment of 52 patients with chronic combined hemorrhoids in 2-3 stages.All patients left the hospital in the fi rst days after surgery. Smaller duration of the operation, minimal postoperative painreaction, a rapid return to normal life, permit to recommend a combination of hemorrhoids dearterializationНаявність комбінованого геморою зі збільшеними зовнішніми гемороїдальними вузлами обмежує виконаннямалоінвазивних методик, які в більшості спрямовані на внутрішній геморой. Відкрита гемороїдектомія не задовольняєтривалістю післяопераційної реконвалесценції. Ультразвукова ректодоплерометрія дозволила знайти найбільш контро-льоване та ефективне хірургічне рішення в лікуванні внутрішнього геморою ІI–ІII стадій. У лікуванні комбінованого ге-морою підтверджує свою ефективність лазерна вапоризація зовнішніх гемороїдальних вузлів. У нашому дослідженні мипоєднали дві вищевказані хірургічні методики для лікування хронічного комбінованого геморою. Проаналізовано резуль-тати лікування 52 пацієнтів із хронічним комбінованим гемороєм 2–3 стадій. Всі пацієнти залишили стаціонар у першу добупісля операції. Менша тривалість операції, мінімальна післяопераційна больова реакція, швидке повернення до звичай-ного способу життя дозволяють рекомендувати поєднання гемороїдальної деартеріалізації під контролем ультразвуковоїдоплерометрії з лазерною вапоризацією в лікуванні хронічного комбінованого геморою в амбулаторних умовах

A Tailward Moving Current Sheet Normal Magnetic Field Front Followed by an Earthward Moving Dipolarization Front

A case study is presented using measurements from the Cluster spacecraft and ground-based magnetometers that show a substorm onset propagating from the inner to outer plasma sheet. On 3 October 2005, Cluster, traversing an ion-scale current sheet at the near-Earth plasma sheet, detected a sudden enhancement of Bz, which was immediately followed by a series of flux rope structures. Both the local Bz enhancement and flux ropes propagated tailward. Approximately 5 min later, another Bz enhancement, followed by a large density decrease, was observed to rapidly propagate earthward. Between the two Bz enhancements, a significant removal of magnetic flux occurred, possibly resulting from the tailward moving Bz enhancement and flux ropes. In our scenario, this flux removal caused the magnetotail to be globally stretched so that the thinnest sheet formed tailward of Cluster. The thinned current sheet facilitated magnetic reconnection that quickly evolved from plasma sheet to lobe and generated the later earthward moving dipolarization front (DF) followed by a reduction in density and entropy. Ground magnetograms located near the meridian of Cluster's magnetic foot points show two-step bay enhancements. The positive bay associated with the first Bz enhancement indicates that the substorm onset signatures propagated from the inner to the outer plasma sheet, consistent with the Cluster observation. The more intense bay features associated with the later DF are consistent with the earthward motion of the front. The event suggests that current disruption signatures that originated in the near-Earth current sheet propagated tailward, triggering or facilitating midtail reconnection, thereby preconditioning the magnetosphere for a later strong substorm enhancement

Promising opportunities to improve polio vaccines

Polioviruses belong to Enterovirus C species and cause severe lesions of the nervous system. In the post-polio eradication era, the World Health Organisation recommends inactivated polio vaccines for effective long-term protection of the population. In order to meet the needs of global health, it is planned to increase the use of traditional and optimised inactivated polio vaccines and introduce new types of vaccines that are being developed based on the current understanding of RNA-containing viruses. The aim of the study was to analyse ways of improving vaccine preparations and to review promising areas for polio immunoprophylaxis development. The authors considered innovations across all stages of the technological process, aimed at obtaining optimised vaccines, as well as vaccine delivery systems. The article presents information on new vaccine strains and cell lines for vaccine production. The authors summarised the results of clinical studies of inactivated vaccines, new vaccines based on genetically stable vaccine strains of poliovirus, and vaccines containing virus-like particles. The most likely candidates for introduction are the vaccines based on virus-like particles obtained from genetically modified strains of poliovirus. At the moment, many issues related to current trends in improving the immunoprophylaxis of poliomyelitis are debatable and need to be addressed in the near future

Classical swine fever: retrospective analysis of epidemic situation in Russian Federation (1996-2015)

Progress trends in classical swine fever (CSF) epidemic situation in the Russian Federation in 1996-2015 are discussed in the paper. Spatial shift of CSF outbreaks from the central regions of the country (2007-2012) to the western and eastern border regions of the Russian Federation (2013-2015) has been confirmed. Based on the analysis, a short-term prognosis for 2016 has been made as well as recommendations on DIVA-based measures for CSF eradication in domestic pigs and wild boars in the RF have been provided

Number of Confirmation Blocks for Bitcoin and GHOST Consensus Protocols on Networks with Delayed Message Delivery

A specific number of transaction confirmation blocks determines average time of receiving and accepting payments at cryptocurrencies, and the shortest confirmation time for the same level of blockchain security provides the best user properties. Existing papers on transaction confirmation blocks for Bitcoin use implicit assumption of prompt spreading of Bitcoin blocks over the network (that is not always the case for the real world conditions). The newer publications with rigorous analysis and proofs of Bitcoin blockchain properties that take into account network delays provide asymptotic estimates, with no specific numbers for transaction confirmation blocks. We propose three methods for determination of required number of confirmation blocks for Bitcoin and GHOST on networks with delayed message delivery with different models that take into account the possibility of faster adversarial node syncronization. For the GHOST we propose the first (to our knowledge) strict theoretical method that allows to get required number of confirmation blocks for a given attacker’s hashrate and attack success probability

Potential of Magnetic Hyperthermia to Stimulate Localized Immune Activation

Magnetic hyperthermia (MH) harnesses the heat-releasing properties of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) and has potential to stimulate immune activation in the tumor microenvironment whilst sparing surrounding normal tissues. To assess feasibility of localized MH in vivo, SPIONs are injected intratumorally and their fate tracked by Zirconium-89-positron emission tomography, histological analysis, and electron microscopy. Experiments show that an average of 49% (21-87%, n = 9) of SPIONs are retained within the tumor or immediately surrounding tissue. In situ heating is subsequently generated by exposure to an externally applied alternating magnetic field and monitored by thermal imaging. Tissue response to hyperthermia, measured by immunohistochemical image analysis, reveals specific and localized heat-shock protein expression following treatment. Tumor growth inhibition is also observed. To evaluate the potential effects of MH on the immune landscape, flow cytometry is used to characterize immune cells from excised tumors and draining lymph nodes. Results show an influx of activated cytotoxic T cells, alongside an increase in proliferating regulatory T cells, following treatment. Complementary changes are found in draining lymph nodes. In conclusion, results indicate that biologically reactive MH is achievable in vivo and can generate localized changes consistent with an anti-tumor immune response

Targeted natural killer cell–based adoptive immunotherapy for the treatment of patients with NSCLC after radiochemotherapy: a randomized phase II clinical trial

Purpose: Non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a fatal disease with poor prognosis. A membrane-bound form of Hsp70 (mHsp70) which is selectively expressed on high-risk tumors serves as a target for mHsp70-targeting natural killer (NK) cells. Patients with advanced mHsp70-positive NSCLC may therefore benefit from a therapeutic intervention involving mHsp70-targeting NK cells. The randomized phase II clinical trial (EudraCT2008-002130-30) explores tolerability and efficacy of ex vivo–activated NK cells in patients with NSCLC after radiochemotherapy (RCT). Patients and Methods: Patients with unresectable, mHsp70-positive NSCLC (stage IIIa/b) received 4 cycles of autologous NK cells activated ex vivo with TKD/IL2 [interventional arm (INT)] after RCT (60–70 Gy, platinum-based chemotherapy) or RCT alone [control arm (CTRL)]. The primary objective was progression-free survival (PFS), and secondary objectives were the assessment of quality of life (QoL, QLQ-LC13), toxicity, and immunobiological responses. Results: The NK-cell therapy after RCT was well tolerated, and no differences in QoL parameters between the two study arms were detected. Estimated 1-year probabilities for PFS were 67% [95% confidence interval (CI), 19%–90%] for the INT arm and 33% (95% CI, 5%–68%) for the CTRL arm (P = 0.36, 1-sided log-rank test). Clinical responses in the INT group were associated with an increase in the prevalence of activated NK cells in their peripheral blood

Анализ эффективности и безопасности вакцин для профилактики клещевого энцефалита

This article provides a review on efficacy and safety of tick-borne encephalitis vaccines licensed in the Russian Federation. It highlights  that both Russian and imported tick-borne encephalitis vaccines  demonstrate high immunogenicity, safety and epidemiological  effectiveness in regions with high vaccine coverage. All licensed tick- borne encephalitis vaccines meet interchangeability criteria in terms of  indications for use (with due regard to age limits), medical  contraindications, vaccination schedules, vaccine composition, as well as safety, immunological activity and efficacy parameters. Timely and  specific prophylaxis help reduce the incidence of tick-borne encephalitis  in endemic regions.В статье приведен анализ эффективности и безопасности вакцин для профилактики клещевого энцефалита (КЭ), разрешенных для применения на территории Российской  Федерации. Показано, что используемые в настоящее время вакцины КЭ отечественного и  зарубежного производства обеспечивают высокую иммуногенность, безопасность и  эпидемиологическую эффективность в регионах с массовым охватом вакцинацией. Все зарегистрированные вакцины соответствуют основным принципам взаимозаменяемости по показаниям к применению с учетом возрастных ограничений, перечню медицинских противопоказаний, схемам вакцинации, составу вакцин, а также показателям безопасности, иммунологической активности и  эффективности. Своевременные меры специфической профилактики приводят к снижению заболеваемости КЭ в эндемичных регионах