GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE AND BRONCHIAL ASTHMA: MECHANISMS OF COMORBID FORMATION AND COURSE.

The aim of the study: To estimate the level of Galectin-3 with the parallel tracing of the content of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Interleukin-4 (IL-4) for patients with GERD and BA both in case of separate nosologies, and in case of their combined course during the period of exacerbation of the diseases. Methods. The study was conducted in three groups of patients, homogeneous by gender and age. The first group included 18 patients with GERD. The second group included 19 patients with intermittent or persistent-mild bronchial asthma. The third group included 22 patients suffering from GERD with concomitant BA intermittent or persistent-mild severity. Determination of the level of galectin-3 and interleukins (IL-4 and IL-6) in the blood serum was carried out by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results. Analyzing the results of the study, we found that the level of galectin - 3 was increased on average in both groups of patients with isolated GERD (and in patients with BA). In patients of the third group with comorbid pathology, the level of galectin-3 was statistically significantly higher than not only the norm, but also the average of patients with isolated BA and GERD. At the same time, we found the rise in the level of pro-inflammatory (IL-6) and anti-inflammatory (IL-4) cytokines. Moreover, in patients with GERD, the level of IL-6 was increased with a higher degree of reliability, and the level of IL-4 was increased with a lower degree of reliability. In patients with BA, on the contrary, the level of IL-4 was determined more often and higher, and the level of IL-6 was lower. Conclusions. Analyzing result of the study, a clear correlation and features of changes in the level of galectin-3, IL-4, IL-6 in patients with isolated GERD, BA, as well as with the comorbidity of these diseases, were revealed. In patients with BA, the level of galectin-3 increases with the same degree of certainty as in the group of patients with GERD. In the cytokine system, on the contrary, the level of anti-inflammatory (IL-4) cytokines increases with a greater degree of certainty than the level of pro-inflammatory (IL-6) cytokines. In patients with GERD with concomitant BA, the level of galectin-3 increases with a greater degree of certainty. It is observed also a higher rising of pro-inflammatory (IL-6) cytokines and a slightly pronounced increasing of the level of anti-inflammatory (IL-4) cytokines in comparison with the group of patients with isolated GERD

Investigation of the Dynamics of the Seismic Regime in the Kamchatka Region Based on the Combination of Methods of Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics and the Axiomatic Method of Kolmogorov A.N.

In the presented chapter, the preparation of an earthquake on the example of the Kronotsky event that occurred on 1997-12-05 with a magnitude Mc = 7.7 is considered from the standpoint of nonequilibrium thermodynamics, in which the evolution of systems is due to self-organization processes. With this approach, the lithosphere is an open nonlinear system in which, due to internal dissipation and the coordinated interaction of its elements, a self-organization process can occur, leading the system to a critical state. In this case, the scales of the connection between different parts of the nonlinear structure change, that is, the scales of temporal and spatial correlation change. However, the methods of seismological monitoring of the stress-strain geoenvironment can be expanded if, for its study, the method of calculating the probability distribution of earthquakes for various random events is used, based on the axiomatic approach of Kolmogorov A.N., applied to the catalog of Kamchatka earthquakes. This makes it possible to follow the dynamics of correlated spatial and temporal changes in the probability distribution of random variables for weak earthquakes preceding a strong event using probabilistic methods

High-temperature oxidation resistance of Ti-implanted E110 alloy

This paper describes the effect of surface modification by high-intensity Ti-ion implantation on the high-temperature oxidation resistance of E110 zirconium alloy. The oxidation tests were performed in air at 873 K for 10 h and in water steam at 1373 K for 10 min. The microstructure, phase composition and depth distribution of elements were analysed using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and glow-discharge optical emission spectroscopy, respectively

Phenological shifts of abiotic events, producers and consumers across a continent

Ongoing climate change can shift organism phenology in ways that vary depending on species, habitats and climate factors studied. To probe for large-scale patterns in associated phenological change, we use 70,709 observations from six decades of systematic monitoring across the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Among 110 phenological events related to plants, birds, insects, amphibians and fungi, we find a mosaic of change, defying simple predictions of earlier springs, later autumns and stronger changes at higher latitudes and elevations. Site mean temperature emerged as a strong predictor of local phenology, but the magnitude and direction of change varied with trophic level and the relative timing of an event. Beyond temperature-associated variation, we uncover high variation among both sites and years, with some sites being characterized by disproportionately long seasons and others by short ones. Our findings emphasize concerns regarding ecosystem integrity and highlight the difficulty of predicting climate change outcomes. The authors use systematic monitoring across the former USSR to investigate phenological changes across taxa. The long-term mean temperature of a site emerged as a strong predictor of phenological change, with further imprints of trophic level, event timing, site, year and biotic interactions.Peer reviewe

Chronicles of nature calendar, a long-term and large-scale multitaxon database on phenology

We present an extensive, large-scale, long-term and multitaxon database on phenological and climatic variation, involving 506,186 observation dates acquired in 471 localities in Russian Federation, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan. The data cover the period 1890-2018, with 96% of the data being from 1960 onwards. The database is rich in plants, birds and climatic events, but also includes insects, amphibians, reptiles and fungi. The database includes multiple events per species, such as the onset days of leaf unfolding and leaf fall for plants, and the days for first spring and last autumn occurrences for birds. The data were acquired using standardized methods by permanent staff of national parks and nature reserves (87% of the data) and members of a phenological observation network (13% of the data). The database is valuable for exploring how species respond in their phenology to climate change. Large-scale analyses of spatial variation in phenological response can help to better predict the consequences of species and community responses to climate change.Peer reviewe

The Search for Charged Massive Supersymmetric Particles at the LHC

Charged Massive Particles (CHAMPs) are predicted in the Supersymmetry (SUSY) extension of the Standard Model though they have never been ob- served. We look for CHAMPs in the ALICE Detector at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN. While the main purpose of ALICE is to study Quark- Gluon Plasma, we take advantage of the tracking and time of flight capabilities of several sub-detectors in ALICE to look for signs of CHAMPs. These elusive particles are characterized by their slow velocity, high transverse momentum and therefore heavy mass. Our research found a small handful of candidates among a large sample size but more work is required to confirm their identity and exclude the possibility that they have been misidentified

Improvement of Electromagnetic Railgun Barrel Performance and Lifetime by Method of Interfaces and Augmented Projectiles

Several methods of increasing railgun barrel performance and lifetime are investigated. These include two different barrel-projectile interface coatings: a solid graphite coating and a liquid eutectic indium-gallium alloy coating. These coatings are characterized and their usability in a railgun application is evaluated. A new type of projectile, in which the electrical conductivity varies as a function of position in order to condition current flow, is proposed and simulated with FEA software. The graphite coating was found to measurably reduce the forces of friction inside the bore but was so thin that it did not improve contact. The added contact resistance of the graphite was measured and gauged to not be problematic on larger scale railguns. The liquid metal was found to greatly improve contact and not introduce extra resistance but its hazardous nature and tremendous cost detracted from its usability. The simulated resistivity augmented projectiles were able to mitigate harmful current build-up on the back of a projectile using different conductivity gradients. Within the range of conductivity of aluminum alloys no simulated gradient was able to fully level the current density, however, once the range was expanded to include the lower conductivity of titanium, nearly uniform current density was achieved

ALMA MATER IN THE YEAR OF ITS 70TH ANNIVERSARY

In 2014 Yaroslavl State Medical Academy celebrates the 70th anniversary. Academywas found in 1944 in the days of II World War and since that time plays an important role in the system of higher medical education in our country and in educational, scientific and social life of Yaroslavl region. Today Yaroslavl State Medical Academy is the large educational andscientific center with adeveloped imageof reliable business andsocial partner. The article describes main features of educational system, including practical training on the different education levels, employment assistance system, clinical research and scientific school development, innovative pedagogical technologies, student extracurricular cultural activities, management system and development potential