Thermodynamic aspects of materials' hardness: prediction of novel superhard high-pressure phases

In the present work we have proposed the method that allows one to easily estimate hardness and bulk modulus of known or hypothetical solid phases from the data on Gibbs energy of atomization of the elements and corresponding covalent radii. It has been shown that hardness and bulk moduli of compounds strongly correlate with their thermodynamic and structural properties. The proposed method may be used for a large number of compounds with various types of chemical bonding and structures; moreover, the temperature dependence of hardness may be calculated, that has been performed for diamond and cubic boron nitride. The correctness of this approach has been shown for the recently synthesized superhard diamond-like BC5. It has been predicted that the hypothetical forms of B2O3, diamond-like boron, BCx and COx, which could be synthesized at high pressures and temperatures, should have extreme hardness

A Multi-Model Paradigm in Application to the Analysis of the Factors Defining the Epizootic Situation in the Communities of Non-Synanthropic Small Mammals in Ekaterinburg

The aim of the work was to rank statistical models for assessing the contribution of a number of factors that determine the epizootic situation on natural-focal infectious diseases in the communities of non-synanthropic small mammals (SM) in the forests of Ekaterinburg.Materials and methods. The SM survey was carried out for three years in the summer-autumn period. The animals were caught with snap tpaps on a standard bread bait, 9705 trap-nights were worked out. To identify infections (hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome, tularemia, leptospirosis, yersiniosis, pseudotuberculosis), 333 SM specimens (rodents and shrews of six species) were used, randomly taken from the general sample. To determine the pathogens, the methods of enzyme immunoassay and polymerase chain reaction were used. The cumulative infection rate of small mammals with all studied natural-focal infections was evaluated. Statistical data processing was carried out from the standpoint of a multi-model approach. The selection of models was performed using the Akaike information criterion with the calculation of the sum of the weights of the models based on their full spectrum (SW).Results and discussion. Carriers of all of the mentioned above infections, except for pseudotuberculosis, have been identified in the forest parks of Ekaterinburg. According to the ranking, the model with three predictors received the highest weight: species, year, and the abundance of SM of the previous year in a particular habitat. The most significant predictors for the full spectrum of models are the year (SW=1), species (SW=0.6), abundance of animals in the current and previous year (SW=0.48). The distribution of positive samples by species of small mammals corresponded to their ranking by abundance in the community. The influence of the factors “season” (summer or autumn) and “area” (place of capture of animals) turned out to be insignificant on the scale of the studies (SW = 0.3 and 0.16, respectively). The percentage of infected samples in total for all infections varied significantly by location and year (0–60%). The possible significance of unaccounted factors is discussed: landscape features and the mode of using forest parks, dispersal of small mammals. The conclusion is made about the usefulness of the multi-model approach in the analysis of the data from epizootiological studies

Synthis and Phisical And Chemical; Properties of SiO[2]-B[2]O[3] and SiO[2]-P[2]O[5] Thin Film Systems and Powders

The SiO[2]-B[2]O[3] and SiO[2]-P[2]O[5] films were synthesized by using film forming solutions having a P[2]O[5] content of up to 30% and B[2]O[3] up to 40%. Properties of the filmforming solutions and binary oxides were examined. The physical and chemical processes occurring in the solution during the heat treatment of films were examined. The conditions for producing films of different thicknesses were determined. The kinetic parameters were calculated

INFLUENCE EXERTED BY SOMATIC PATHOLOGY ON RISKS OF OCCUPATIONAL LUNG FIBROSIS IN WORKERS EMPLOYED AT REFRACTORY PRODUCTION

Occupational lungs and bronchial pathology occurs not only under exposure to dusts, their aerosol structure and aggression, but also depends on individual properties of a body. The latter can determine either increased body resistance or susceptibility to occupational pathology occurrence. Our research goal was to determine influence exerted by somatic pathology on occupational lung fibrosis occurrence as well as to estimate prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular and metabolic pathology occurrence in workers employed at refractory production. At the first stage 449 workers employed at refractory production were examined at a periodical medical examination (PME). Patients' average age was 41.59 ± 0.45 and average work experience was 14.47 ± 0.39 years. At the second stage 172 workers were examined at an occupational pathology center; 75 out of them were workers who had silicosis and were included into the test group and the remaining 97 workers didn't have any occupational pathology and were included into the reference group. Both groups were comparable as per sex (p = 0.0052) and work experience under exposure to dusts (p = 0.862). Workers examined at a PME most frequently had overweight and obesity (68 %). Arterial hypertension (AH) prevalence amounted to 19.5%; carbohydrate metabolism disorders, 19.8 %; 48.1 % workers had hypercholesterolemia. Patients with silicosis had certain disorders significantly more frequently than workers with long work experience but without any occupational pathologies; those disorders were AH, cardiac muscle hypertrophy in the left ventricle, ischemic heart disease, heart rate disorders, as well as mixed (obstructive and restrictive) breath mechanics disorders. We determined some factors that authentically produced certain effects on occupational lung fibrosis occurrence in workers employed at refractory production. Median time of silicosis occurrence was significantly shorter (by 11.5 years) among workers with severe AH, arrhythmia (by 13 years), lower hemoglobin in blood (by 11.5 years). Besides, silicosis occurred significantly earlier (by 10.8) among women than among men. © 2020 Obukhova T.Yu., Budkar' L.N., Gurvich V.B., Solodushkin S.I., Shmonina O.G., Karpova E.A.,. All Rights Reserved

Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disorders Associated with Occupational Lung Fibrosis in Employees Exposed to the Dust at the Workplace

Introduction. The attribution of certain medical conditions in industrial workers to hazardous exposures at the workplace remains a challenging issue of occupational health. Material and methods. In order to identify cardiovascular conditions associated with occupational lung diseases in workers exposed to fibrogenic dust, we conducted a medical check-up examination of individuals employed in refractory production and asbestos industry. The main group consisted of the patients with a confirmed diagnosis of lung fibrosis (asbestosis, silicosis); the reference group was age- and tenure-matched workers without occupational fibrosis. Results. We e stablished a significantly h igher prevalence of arterial hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, s inus tachycardia, obesity, hypertriglyceridemia and impaired fasting glycemia in workers with silicosis and asbestosis if compared to those without work-related diseases. Based on the relative risk and attributable fraction estimates, we assume there is moderate occupational causation for arterial hypertension and a strong one for left ventricular hypertrophy, sinus tachycardia, and obesity. Very strong causation was found between occupational exposure to fibrogenic dust and carbohydrate metabolism disorders. High-stage hypertension, dyslipidemia and left ventricular hypertrophy were found to have a statistically significant impact on the timing of silicosis. Whereas high-stage hypertension, coronary artery disease, left ventricular hypertrophy and obesity were found to impact the timing of asbestosis. Conclusion. Cardiovascular and metabolic disorders are statistically more occurrent in workers with silicosis or asbestosis. Therefore, the disease can be regarded as work-related. We established cardiovascular and metabolic disorders to have a statistically significant impact on the timing of silicosis and asbestosis. Therefore, a timely CVD prophylaxis could reduce the risk of occupational lung fibrosis in workers exposed to fibrogenic dust. © 2020 Izdatel'stvo Meditsina. All rights reserved.The work of Solodushkin was supported by Act 211 Government of the Russian Federation, contract No 02.A03.21.0006

Cardiovascular Toxicity in Copper Production Workers Exposed to Heavy Metals

Introduction. Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. The role of occupational hazards in the CVD prevalence remains to be clarified. Material and methods. Here we report the results of the study of risk factors and CVD prevalence in 590 workers at the largest copper production plants in the Sverdlovsk region, exposed to heavy metals in the workplace. The workers' health information was obtained during a regular medical examination in 2018. The lead concentration increase to 1.3-1.8 occupational exposure limits was registered in the working areas of the concentrating mill (for bunkerman) and copper smelting workshops (transporter, smelter, converter, non-ferrous metal spreader, repairman, electrician). Results. We studied the exposure indices (Pb level in blood), the response markers (reticulocyte count, erythrocytes basophilic stippling, coproporphyrin, and aminolevulinic acid in the urine), and their correlation to a working tenure. Based on this analysis, we attributed CVD risk factors and cardiovascular diseases to the occupation, in order to potentially modify some of those risk factors and ultimately inform the risk management. Hypertension occurred in 57% of the examined workers, which is higher than in the general population. We calculated relative risk, confidence intervals and attributable fraction. We developed a predictive mathematical model (stepwise logistic regression) to predict high-stage hypertension and identified the risk factors associated with its development. Conclusions. Correlation analysis revealed direct correlations between stages 2 and 3 hypertension and a working tenure over 20 years. We think it's reasonable to consider the documented CVDs as related to the toxic effects of heavy metals (lead and cadmium). © 2020 Izdatel'stvo Meditsina. All rights reserved.The work of Solodushkin was supported by Act 211 Government of the Russian Federation, contract No 02.A03.21.0006

Toxic effects of low-level long-term inhalation exposures of rats to nickel oxide nanoparticles

Rats were exposed to nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO-NP) inhalation at 0.23 ± 0.01 mg/m3 for 4 h a day 5 times a week for up to 10 months. The rat organism responded to this impact with changes in cytological and some biochemical characteristics of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid along with a paradoxically little pronounced pulmonary pathology associated with a rather low chronic retention of nanoparticles in the lungs. There were various manifestations of systemic toxicity, including damage to the liver and kidneys; a likely allergic syndrome as indicated by some cytological signs; transient stimulation of erythropoiesis; and penetration of nickel into the brain from the nasal mucous membrane along the olfactory pathway. Against a picture of mild to moderate chronic toxicity of nickel, its in vivo genotoxic effect assessed by the degree of DNA fragmentation in nucleated blood cells (the RAPD test) was pronounced, tending to increasing with the length of the exposure period. When rats were given orally, in parallel with the toxic exposure, a set of innocuous substances with differing mechanisms of expected bioprotective action, the genotoxic effect of NiO-NPs was found to be substantially attenuated. © 2019 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.For modeling chronic intoxication development under low-level but long-term inhalation exposures to NiO nanoparticles, the experiments were carried out on outbred white female rats from our own breeding colony with an initial body weight of 150–220 g, with a minimum of 12 animals in exposed and control groups. Rats were housed in conventional conditions, breathed unfiltered air, and were fed standard balanced food. The experiments were planned and implemented in accordance with the “International guiding principles for biomedical research involving animals” developed by the Council for International Organizations of Medical Sciences (1985) and were approved by the Ethics Committee of the Ekaterinburg Medical Research Center Medical for Prophylaxis and Health Protection in Industrial Workers

Oil and gas:a blessing for the few. Hydrocarbons and inequality within regions in Russia

Building on earlier work on regional inequality in Russia the article seeks to demonstrate that the regional oil and gas abundance is associated with high within-region inequality. It provides empirical evidence that hydrocarbons represent one of the leading determinants of an increased gap between rich and poor in the producing regions. The discussion focuses on a possible cluster of geographic, economic and political factors underlying the phenomenon

Prediction of Occupational Fluorosis in Aluminum Production Workers in View of Comorbidities

Introduction: Modern research on occupational medicine has shown that general diseases contribute the most to health deterioration in workers of hazardous industries and significantly affect the timing of the onset of occupational diseases. Objective: To assess the impact of comorbid disorders on the probability of occupational fluoride toxicity in aluminum production workers. Materials and methods: The paper describes existing international scales used to assess comorbid disorders and emphasizes the relevance of publications on the comorbidity of workers of hazardous and harmful industries. The comorbidity index was calculated for each of 201 aluminum production workers. Comorbidity index calculations, health indicators, and parameters of working conditions were entered in the electronic database. The article presents a method for determining the probability of occupational disease development using a logistic regression. Results: A prognostic model was built using a logistic regression and comorbidity indices to determine the influence of human body systems on the probability of developing occupational fluoride poisoning (fluorosis). Conclusion: Using the logistic regression, we have determined combinations of comorbidity indices having a strongest effect on the probability of fluoride poisoning for prediction and implementation of appropriate preventive measures. To reduce the likelihood of occupational diseases, it is necessary to treat comorbid disorders in workers of harmful industries. © 2023, Federal Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology. All rights reserved