High-coherence electron and ion bunches from laser-cooled atoms

XXVIII ICPEACCold atom electron and ion sources produce electron bunches and ion beams by photoionisation of laser cooled atoms. They offer high coherence and the potential for high brightness, with applications including ultrafast electron diffractive imaging of dynamic processes at the nanoscale. Here we present our cold atom electron/ion source, with an electron temperature of less than 10 K and a transverse coherence length of 10 nm. We also discuss experiments investigating space-charge effects with ions and the production of ultra-fast electron bunches using a femto-second laser. In the latter experiment we show that it is possible to produce both cold and fast electron bunches with our source.A. J. McCulloch, D. V. Sheludko, C. T. Putkunz, S. D. Saliba, D. J. Thompson, R. W. Speirs, D. Murphy, J. Torrance, B. M. Sparkes, and R. E. Scholte

Bank lending in the micro, small and medium business financing strategy

Метою статті є визначення та аналіз ролі банківського кредитування в стратегії фінансування мікро-, малого та середнього бізнесу. Використано низку загальнонаукових і спеціальних методів: узагальнення, системний, графічний методи, аналіз динаміки та структури. Визначено, що місце банківського кредитування загалом визначає стратегію фінансування МСБ і дозволяє встановити її характер. Доведено, що сегмент МСБ наразі є провідним з точки зору корпоративного кредитування для українських банків. Встановлено наявність у сегменті «знеохочених позичальників», подано визначення цього явища та його причини. Практична значимість отриманих результатів полягає в необхідності врахування банками виявлених тенденцій при формуванні власної кредитної стратегії та взаємовідносин із клієнтами-МСБ.The aim of the paper is to define and analyze the role of bank lending in the micro, small and medium business financing strategy. A number of general and special methods were used: generalization – to identify key features of SMEs as borrowers; systemic, graphic methods – to present the results of establishing determinants of SME's financing strategy; analysis of dynamics and structure – in estimation the state and trends of bank corporate lending in Ukraine. It is determined, that a place of bank lending in general determines the SME financing strategy and allows establishing its nature. It is proposed to divide strategies into aggressive, conservative and moderate - depending on the state of the main determinants of its implementation: net working capital, current liquidity ratio and the degree of financing of fixed assets from equity. It is proved that the SME segment is currently the leader in terms of corporate lending of Ukrainian banks. A feature of the domestic market of bank corporate lending is the dominance of the SME segment, and within this segment - a significant position of the smallest micro-business (with an annual income of up to 50'000 euros). It has been established that there are “discouraged borrowers” in the SME segment who are high- or low-risk businesses which need additional capital but do not apply for a loan because of a fear of rejection by the bank. Among the main reasons: complex banking procedures; too high interest rate; excessive requirements for collateral; unclear way to provide loans. The existence of such a phenomenon significantly contributes to the slowdown not only in the banking system, but also in the economy as a whole. The practical significance of the obtained results lies in the necessity for banks to consider the identified trends in the formation of their own lending strategy and relationships with SME customers

Pulmonary embolism and atrial fibrillation: analysis of data from the SIRENA Russian registry

Aim. To present the clinical characteristics and in-hospital prognosis in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) and atrial fibrillation (AF).Material and methods. On the initiative of a working group of physicians, the basic principles of an observational prospective study (SIRENA registry) have been developed.Results. Among the 660 patients included in the registry, AF was diagnosed in almost every fourth patient — in 22,9% of cases (n=151), which reflects its high incidence in relation to PE. The prevalence of AF corresponded to such conditions as heart failure (HF) (23,2%; n=153), diabetes (15,6%; n=103), and hypertension (HTN) (65,7% n=400). The diagnosis of AF in most patients is based on the history data (n=144; 95,4%), while the first registered AF episode was verified in 7 patients (4,6%). Patients with AF were characterized by older age, significantly higher prevalence of HF (51,2%), HTN (80,8%), chronic kidney disease (18,5%), stroke or transient ischemic attack (23,2%). It is important to note the low prevalence of anticoagulant therapy (15,3%) in the group of patients with previously diagnosed AF (n=144). The prevalence of thrombolytic therapy in patients with AF was significantly lower than among patients without AF (13,9 vs 25,8% (p=0,026)), which is due to contraindications and underdiagnosis of PE. Given the predominantly senile age, high comorbidity rate in patients with AF, as well as the absence of outpatient anticoagulant therapy, in-hospital mortality in patients with PE and AF was 31,1%, and significantly differed from that in those without AF 12,6% (p=0,001). In the general group, post-mortem diagnosis of PE was noted in 7,7% of cases (n=51), of which the proportion of patients with AF was 54,9% (n=28). A possible explanation for the underestimation of PE in AF patients was an erroneous explanation of its manifestations (tachypnea, tachycardia, lower limb edema) due to concomitant HF.Conclusion. Suspicion for PE in elderly patients with AF and manifestations of HF decompensation, as well as the timely administration of anticoagulant therapy, will prevent both arterial and venous embolism

E-education in the Context of Universal Digitalization

Данная статья посвящена вопросу дистанционного образования в современном цифровом обществе с развитыми IT-технологиями. Будут рассмотрены возможности системы электронного обучения, а также его преимущества.This article is devoted to the issue of distance education in a modern digital society with developed IT technologies. The e-learning system's capabilities and advantages will be discussed

Rapid in vivo analysis of synthetic promoters for plant pathogen phytosensing

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We aimed to engineer transgenic plants for the purpose of early detection of plant pathogen infection, which was accomplished by employing synthetic pathogen inducible promoters fused to reporter genes for altered phenotypes in response to the pathogen infection. Toward this end, a number of synthetic promoters consisting of inducible regulatory elements fused to a red fluorescent protein (RFP) reporter were constructed for use in phytosensing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>For rapid analysis, an <it>Agrobacterium</it>-mediated transient expression assay was evaluated, then utilized to assess the inducibility of each synthetic promoter construct <it>in vivo</it>. Tobacco (<it>Nicotiana tabacum </it>cv. Xanthi) leaves were infiltrated with <it>Agrobacterium </it>harboring the individual synthetic promoter-reporter constructs. The infiltrated tobacco leaves were re-infiltrated with biotic (bacterial pathogens) or abiotic (plant defense signal molecules salicylic acid, ethylene and methyl jasmonate) agents 24 and 48 hours after initial agroinfiltration, followed by RFP measurements at relevant time points after treatment. These analyses indicated that the synthetic promoter constructs were capable of conferring the inducibility of the RFP reporter in response to appropriate phytohormones and bacterial pathogens, accordingly.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These observations demonstrate that the <it>Agrobacterium</it>-mediated transient expression is an efficient method for <it>in vivo </it>assays of promoter constructs in less than one week. Our results provide the opportunity to gain further insights into the versatility of the expression system as a potential tool for high-throughput <it>in planta </it>expression screening prior to generating stably transgenic plants for pathogen phytosensing. This system could also be utilized for temporary phytosensing; e.g., not requiring stably transgenic plants.</p

Phase Behavior of Aqueous Na-K-Mg-Ca-CI-NO3 Mixtures: Isopiestic Measurements and Thermodynamic Modeling

A comprehensive model has been established for calculating thermodynamic properties of multicomponent aqueous systems containing the Na{sup +}, K{sup +}, Mg{sup 2+}, Ca{sup 2+}, Cl{sup -}, and NO{sub 3}{sup -} ions. The thermodynamic framework is based on a previously developed model for mixed-solvent electrolyte solutions. The framework has been designed to reproduce the properties of salt solutions at temperatures ranging from the freezing point to 300 C and concentrations ranging from infinite dilution to the fused salt limit. The model has been parameterized using a combination of an extensive literature database and new isopiestic measurements for thirteen salt mixtures at 140 C. The measurements have been performed using Oak Ridge National Laboratory's (ORNL) previously designed gravimetric isopiestic apparatus, which makes it possible to detect solid phase precipitation. Water activities are reported for mixtures with a fixed ratio of salts as a function of the total apparent salt mole fraction. The isopiestic measurements reported here simultaneously reflect two fundamental properties of the system, i.e., the activity of water as a function of solution concentration and the occurrence of solid-liquid transitions. The thermodynamic model accurately reproduces the new isopiestic data as well as literature data for binary, ternary and higher-order subsystems. Because of its high accuracy in calculating vapor-liquid and solid-liquid equilibria, the model is suitable for studying deliquescence behavior of multicomponent salt systems

Ensuring the level of interaction of stakeholders of construction enterprises with financial and economic security

The tailing dump operation periodically leads to the failurThe article proves that modern economic conditions, which are characterized by instability of the socio-economic state, require improved approaches to the management of construction enterprises. The value of the factors, which determine the functioning of construction enterprises is increasing. The problem of ensuring financial and economic security in the system of interaction with stakeholders characterizes the modern aspects of their development. The importance of directions and peculiarities of stakeholder activity for the development of enterprises is determined. As a result of systematization of theoretical provisions, legal support and revealed features of functioning of construction enterprises, the types of stakeholders and indicators of the level of their interaction are determined. The ambiguity of changes in the formation and use of equity, cash and fulfillment of contractual obligations has been established. There is growth and focus on the quality of their implementation. The level of interaction of the studied construction enterprises with various groups of stakeholders is determined by the focus of considerable attention on ensuring relationships with customers. The measures affecting corporate relations to ensure financial and economic security of construction enterprises in the context of increasing the effectiveness of interaction with stakeholders are proposed