Fashion design in a multicultural space

The collective monograph contains the results of the synthesis of theoretical materials, as well as the authors` applied research developments on the design of the clothes of different assortment and purpose, made from different materials considering the modern scientific methods

Analysis of the dynamics and structure of the incidence of hiv infection

The article reflects the dynamics of the main indicators of HIV infection in the Sverdlovsk oblast. The epidemiological situation is compared with a similar one in the Russian Federation. A detailed analysis of the structure of the incidence of HIV infection has been doneВ статье отражена динамика основных показателей заболеваемости ВИЧ-инфекцией в Свердловской области. Проведено сравнениеэпидемиологической ситуации с аналогичной по Российской Федерации.Подробно разобрана структура заболеваемости ВИЧ-инфекци

The glial growth factors deficiency and synaptic destabilization hypothesis of schizophrenia

BACKGROUND: A systems approach to understanding the etiology of schizophrenia requires a theory which is able to integrate genetic as well as neurodevelopmental factors. PRESENTATION OF THE HYPOTHESIS: Based on a co-localization of loci approach and a large amount of circumstantial evidence, we here propose that a functional deficiency of glial growth factors and of growth factors produced by glial cells are among the distal causes in the genotype-to-phenotype chain leading to the development of schizophrenia. These factors include neuregulin, insulin-like growth factor I, insulin, epidermal growth factor, neurotrophic growth factors, erbB receptors, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase, growth arrest specific genes, neuritin, tumor necrosis factor alpha, glutamate, NMDA and cholinergic receptors. A genetically and epigenetically determined low baseline of glial growth factor signaling and synaptic strength is expected to increase the vulnerability for additional reductions (e.g., by viruses such as HHV-6 and JC virus infecting glial cells). This should lead to a weakening of the positive feedback loop between the presynaptic neuron and its targets, and below a certain threshold to synaptic destabilization and schizophrenia. TESTING THE HYPOTHESIS: Supported by informed conjectures and empirical facts, the hypothesis makes an attractive case for a large number of further investigations. IMPLICATIONS OF THE HYPOTHESIS: The hypothesis suggests glial cells as the locus of the genes-environment interactions in schizophrenia, with glial asthenia as an important factor for the genetic liability to the disorder, and an increase of prolactin and/or insulin as possible working mechanisms of traditional and atypical neuroleptic treatments

Cancer Biomarker Discovery: The Entropic Hallmark

Background: It is a commonly accepted belief that cancer cells modify their transcriptional state during the progression of the disease. We propose that the progression of cancer cells towards malignant phenotypes can be efficiently tracked using high-throughput technologies that follow the gradual changes observed in the gene expression profiles by employing Shannon's mathematical theory of communication. Methods based on Information Theory can then quantify the divergence of cancer cells' transcriptional profiles from those of normally appearing cells of the originating tissues. The relevance of the proposed methods can be evaluated using microarray datasets available in the public domain but the method is in principle applicable to other high-throughput methods. Methodology/Principal Findings: Using melanoma and prostate cancer datasets we illustrate how it is possible to employ Shannon Entropy and the Jensen-Shannon divergence to trace the transcriptional changes progression of the disease. We establish how the variations of these two measures correlate with established biomarkers of cancer progression. The Information Theory measures allow us to identify novel biomarkers for both progressive and relatively more sudden transcriptional changes leading to malignant phenotypes. At the same time, the methodology was able to validate a large number of genes and processes that seem to be implicated in the progression of melanoma and prostate cancer. Conclusions/Significance: We thus present a quantitative guiding rule, a new unifying hallmark of cancer: the cancer cell's transcriptome changes lead to measurable observed transitions of Normalized Shannon Entropy values (as measured by high-throughput technologies). At the same time, tumor cells increment their divergence from the normal tissue profile increasing their disorder via creation of states that we might not directly measure. This unifying hallmark allows, via the the Jensen-Shannon divergence, to identify the arrow of time of the processes from the gene expression profiles, and helps to map the phenotypical and molecular hallmarks of specific cancer subtypes. The deep mathematical basis of the approach allows us to suggest that this principle is, hopefully, of general applicability for other diseases

Statistical Measures of the Competition in the Banking System

The article describes the main statistical measures characterizing the key indicators of the competition level of the Russian banking system subjects countrywide and in the regional context. Utilizing common statistical tools of economic significance assessment of financial institutions, a dynamic analysis of banking competition level concentration was held. Dynamics of the main indicators, characterizing the saturation with financial and banking services of the Russian Federation regions, was assessed with regard to a long downward trend of the number of credit institutions. In order to analyze the availability of banking services in Russian regions, indices of total provision and relative attractiveness were evaluated. Quantitative and qualitative characteristics of level and dynamics of banking concentration were considered in depth, geographically and countrywide, with application of Herfindahl-Hirsehman index. Also, an analysis of concentration level of banking system assets was conducted. For this purpose, clusters of credit organizations distribution were considered depending on the value of their assets and their regional allocation

Development of nuclear technologies in the Institute for Nuclear Research, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

Results obtained in the Institute for Nuclear Research of NAS of Ukraine on the development and use of nu-clear technologies implemented in the course of the fulfillment of budget themes, scientific-technical and techno-logical projects as well as innovative programs were outlined

Challenges in pathologic staging of renal cell carcinoma: an interobserver variability study of urologic pathologists

Background: Staging criteria for renal sinus, perinephric fat, and sinus vein invasion were defined more precisely at the ISUP Consensus Conference in 2012 (Am J Surg Pathol 2013;37:1505-17). However, renal cell carcinoma differs from many other cancers, in that tumors are often spherical with subtle tongue-like extensions into veins, renal sinus, or perinephric tissue, in contrast to infiltrative and desmoplastic growth prototypical of cancer. We sought to study whether urologic pathologists have uniform criteria for assigning pathologic stage categories in this setting. Design: An online survey was constructed and circulated to urologic pathologists with interest in kidney tumors, aiming to evaluate interobserver agreement, emphasizing challenging or borderline cases for renal staging. Response rate was 86% (30/35) of the invited pathologists with broad geographic distribution. Most questions included 1-4 images, divided into categories of: vascular and renal sinus invasion (n=24), perinephric tissue invasion (n=9), and gross pathology/specimen handling (n=17). Responses were collapsed for analysis into positive and negative for upstaging. Equivocal responses were included in the latter. Consensus was regarded as 67% (2/3) of participants. Results: Consensus was reached in 16/24 (67%) questions for sinus and vascular invasion (13 positive and 3 negative for pT3a, with 80% or greater consensus in 12), and 4/9 (44%, with 3 at 80% or greater consensus) for perinephric invasion. Lack of agreement was especially encountered regarding small tumor protrusions into possible vascular lumina, close to the tumor leading edge or within the tumor. For gross photographs, the most common response was that findings were “suspicious for venous invasion,” but required histologic confirmation. Most participants (60%) rarely used special stains to evaluate vascular invasion, usually endothelial markers (80%). Most agreed that a spherical mass bulging well beyond the kidney parenchyma into the renal sinus (70%) or perinephric fat (90%) did not necessarily indicate invasion. Criteria for assessment of biopsy site artifact were also incompletely agreed upon. Conclusions: Interobserver agreement in pathologic staging of renal cancer is relatively good among urologic pathologists interested in kidney tumors, even when selecting cases that test the earliest thresholds for extrarenal extension. Disagreements however remain, particularly for tumors with small, finger-like protrusions, closely juxtaposed to the main mass