New records and update on the geographic distribution of Clitocybula lignicola (Lj.N. Vassiljeva) E.F. Malysheva & O.V. Morozova (Basidiomycota: Agaricales) in Russia

Clitocybula lignicola is predominantly distributed in the Asian part of Russia. In Europe it was found only in the Urals (Komi Republic, Russia). Two new localities are situated in the northwestern part of Vologda Region (Russia). These are the first records of this species from the East European Plain, as well as the most western ones known in Europe. New records extend the geographic distribution of C. lignicola 1,204 km west of the closest site in the Urals. An updated distribution map for the species is presented and a detailed species description with illustrations based on studied collections is provided

Exact solutions for equilibrium configurations of charged conducting liquid jets

A wide class of exact solutions is obtained for the problem of finding the equilibrium configurations of charged jets of a conducting liquid; these configurations correspond to the finite-amplitude azimuthal deformations of the surface of a round jet. A critical value of the linear electric charge density is determined, for which the jet surface becomes self-intersecting, and the jet splits into two. It exceeds the density value required for the excitation of the linear azimuthal instability of the round jet. Hence, there exists a range of linear charge density values, where our solutions may be stable with respect to small azimuthal perturbations.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, to appear in Physical Review

Psychological conditions for improving the subjective quality of life in an extreme region

The article presents summarized results of theoretical and empirical research on the problem of achieving and improving the subjective quality of life in an extreme region. One of the crucial factors influencing the assessments of the quality of life in various groups of respondents is found to be the principle of personal activity; the internal and external factors contributing to the “subject-environment” harmony are identified and a targeted model for achieving a high level of quality of life involving a combination of lifestyle parameters, personal resources, and external opportunities is proposed; the strategies of interaction within the “subject-environment” system in an extreme region at different levels of quality of life are described. The obtained results can give a start to new theoretical and empirical research on the specifics of the quality of life in different social groups and allow specifying the goals, objectives, directions, and the main ways of helping and assisting different segments of the population to ensure a high quality of life depending on both the nature of external influences and the subjective assessment of the environment.

Comparison of the accuracy of resting metabolic rate in children with simple obesity using calculation formulas and indirect respiratory calorimetry

BACKGROUND: A prerequisite for planning a diet for weight loss in obese children is to determine the level of resting metabolic rate (RMR). The gold standard for estimating the daily energy consumption of rest is indirect respiratory calorimetry. However, given its high cost and labor intensity, various calculation formulas are widely used in clinical practice. AIMS: to determine the accuracy of resting metabolic rate estimated by calculation formulas and indirect respiratory calorimetry in children with simple obesity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 100 children aged 9 to 18 years, with a «simple» constitutional-exogenous obesity, which assessed the resting metabolic rate estimated by calculation formulas and indirect respiratory calorimetry. RESULTS: The Molnar formula most accurately estimates resting metabolic rate, comparable to the results of indirect respiratory calorimetry in 64% of cases. The Harris-Benedict and IOM formulas yield an accurate result in 53 and 51% of the cases, respectively. The least accurate result is shown by WHO formula (22%). The minimum mean difference between the calculated and actual basal metabolic rate in obese boys for the Molnar formula is 18 kcal (CI: -53 to 90, 95% LOA from -490 to 527), in girls: -0.7 kcal (CI) : -65 - 63, 95% LOA from -435 to 434). Attention is drawn to the large mean difference and wide spread of the boundaries of the agreement of the studied indicators in obese children. In the evaluation, depending on the degree of obesity, it is shown that the formula Molnar has the highest accuracy, however, in children with morbid obesity, the accuracy of the evaluation is significantly reduced. CONCLUSIONS: Indirect respiratory calorimetry is the preferred method of assessing resting metabolic rate in children with simple obesity

Respiratory symptoms, lung function, and occupational exposure among seafood industry workers. A study among employees at Norwegian salmon factories and Russian North-West trawl fleet (Arkhangelsk)

The papers of this thesis are not available in Munin: 1. Shiryaeva O, Aasmoe L, Straume B & Bang BE.: 'Respiratory impairment in Norwegian salmon industry workers: a cross-sectional study', Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (2010), vol. 52(12):1167–1172. Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0b013e3181fc5e35 2. Shiryaeva O, Lisbeth Aasmoe, Bjørn Straume, Ann-Helen Olsen, Arild Øvrum, Eva Kramvik, Merethe Larsen, Anne Renstrøm, Anne-Sophie Merritt, Kari Kulvik Heldal & Berit Elisabeth Bang: 'Respiratory effects of bioaerosols: exposure-response study among salmon-processing workers' (submitted manucsript). 3. Shiryaeva O, Aasmoe L, Straume B & Bang BE.: 'An analysis of the respiratory health status among seafarers in the Russian trawler and merchant fleets', American Journal of Industrial Medicine (2011), vol. 54(12):971–979. Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajim.20978 4. Shiryaeva O, Aasmoe L, Straume B & Bang BE.: 'Respiratory symptoms, lung functions and exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) in two types of fish processing workers: Russian trawler fishermen and Norwegian salmon industry workers' (submitted manuscript)

Thermodynamic method of calculating the contact units of HVAC systems based on the humidity potential theory

A considerable part of the used in the air conditioning systems energy is connected with heat- and moisture processing of air. Higher efficiency in the work of contact units is related to some features of heat and moisture processes in their working space. In the given article a new thermodynamic approach to the analysis and calculation of heat and moisture exchange in the air conditioning systems contact units is suggested. It is based on the theory of humidity potential. The proposed solutions enabled to reveal new ways of more effective air treatment for contact units and to optimize their regime performance and constructing elements

Bilingual Textbook as Driver of Knowledge Transfer in Modern Educational Environment

Realities of modern education actualize the need to change the approach to developing textbooks for higher education. Bilingual textbooks are becoming more highly-demanded as they provide for achieving a dual purpose – teaching both a foreign language and a professional discipline. Despite the spread of CLIL approach in elementary and secondary levels, it has not been introduced in higher education as widely as traditional teaching methods. It is mostly employed in Master’s programmes, whereas bachelor-level programmes are completely uninvolved in this regard. Scarcity of appropriate teaching materials alongside with the lack of reliable materials in the Russian language accounts for the limited scope of CLIL implementation in our country. The textbook developed by the authors is an attempt to introduce CLIL techniques into the curriculum of the second year of study in the Legal Department of Pyatigorsk State University in teaching a professional discipline – Financial Law by means of a foreign language, namely English. The textbook is innovative in its nature as it promotes meta-knowledge, problem solving and critical thinking, collaboration and communication thus serving as the driver of knowledge transfer in modern Russian educational environment

What are they returning to? Psychosocial work environment as a predictor of returning to work among employees in treatment for common mental disorders: A prospective observational pre-post study.

IntroductionLong-term sick leave and disabilities due to common mental disorders are challenging for society, employers, and individuals. Hence, we wanted to investigate whether psychosocial work environments experienced by employees undergoing treatment for such disorders was associated with return to work.MethodsAt the start of treatment, 164 patients responded to questionnaires concerning their psychosocial work environment (the Job Demand-Control-Support model and the Effort-Reward Imbalance model), symptoms (The Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation Outcome Measure) and ability to work (Work Ability Index). In addition, the respondents reported whether they were working or on sick leave at the start and end of their courses of treatment. Their therapists provided information about diagnoses.ResultsReturn to work was associated with control of decisions, support from colleagues, esteem, and job promotion opportunities as measured at the start of treatment. In multivariate analyses, control over decisions and job promotion opportunities continued to predict return to work when adjusted for symptoms, current work ability, and expected future work ability.DiscussionThe working conditions that predicted return to work are considered to facilitate work performance and to be sources of motivation, job satisfaction, and job commitment. Consequently, it is important to examine whether this patient group has a favorable working environment and consider changes in the workplace if the environment is not favorable

Evaluation of the Nasal Surgical Questionnaire for Monitoring Results of Septoplasty

Monitoring the results of surgery is important. The otorhinolaryngology department of our hospital currently uses preoperative and postoperative versions of the Nasal Surgical Questionnaire (NSQ) for continuous evaluation of nasal septoplasty. In this study, 55 patients undergoing septoplasty answered the preoperative version twice to assess the NSQ’s test-retest precision, and 75 patients answered the preoperative questionnaire before and the postoperative one 6 months after surgery to evaluate the NSQ’s ability to detect change in symptoms following surgery. Both the pre- and postoperative versions of the NSQ use separate visual analogue scales (VAS) to assess nasal obstruction during the day, at night, and during exercise. Other nasal symptoms are graded as secondary outcomes using 4-point Likert scales. The mean VAS scores for the two preoperative obstruction ratings were not significantly different. The scores were significantly higher than in a normal population. There were also significant differences between preoperative and postoperative ratings. The mean pre- and postoperative scores at night for those who reported complete improvement were 66.1 and 8.4, substantial improvement 74.5 and 24.2, and no improvement 83.3 and 76.4. The NSQ reliably assesses nasal symptoms in patients and may be useful for both short and long term prospective studies of septoplasty

Preoperative Signs and Symptoms as Prognostic Markers in Nasal Septoplasty

Identification of preoperative signs and symptoms that may predict the outcome of surgery is important, for both patient selection and the development of interventions for improving outcomes. The purpose of this study was to assess the value of some selected preoperative signs and symptoms for predicting outcomes of nasal septoplasty. Patients undergoing septoplasty with or without turbinoplasty responded to the Nasal Surgical Questionnaire (NSQ) preoperatively and six months postoperatively. The questionnaire contains visual analogue scales (VAS) for nasal obstruction during the day and at night. We compared preoperative and postoperative VAS scores in patients with unilateral versus bilateral septal deviation and patients with low versus high preoperative scores. Of 446 patients undergoing septoplasty from September 2014 to December 2015 who had responded to the preoperative NSQ, 286 (64.1%) also returned the postoperative version. There was greater improvement in obstruction in patients with preoperative unilateral compared to bilateral septal deviation (day scores, p = 0.04). The grade of deviation and the presence of concomitant bony conchal hypertrophy did not influence results. Patients with lower preoperative VAS scores obtained better end results than those with higher scores (p = 0.04). Type of septal deviation and preoperative VAS scores may aid in predicting outcome of nasal surgery