Measurements of the composition of aerosol component of Venusian atmosphere with Vega 1 lander, preliminary data

Preliminary investigation of mass spectra of gaseous products of pyrolyzed Venusian cloud particles collected and analyzed by the complex device of mass-spectrometer and collector pyrolyzer on board Vega 1 lander revealed the presence of heavy particles in the upper cloud layer. Based on 64 amu peak (SO2+), an estimate of the lower limit of the sulfuric acid aerosol content at the 62 to 54 km heights of approximately 2.0 mg/cu m is obtained. A chlorine line (35 and 37 amu) is also present in the mass spectrum with a lower limit of the chlorine concentration of approximately 0.3 mg/ cu m

Spatial and Wavenumber Resolution of Doppler Reflectometry

Doppler reflectometry spatial and wavenumber resolution is analyzed within the framework of the linear Born approximation in slab plasma model. Explicit expression for its signal backscattering spectrum is obtained in terms of wavenumber and frequency spectra of turbulence which is assumed to be radially statistically inhomogeneous. Scattering efficiency for both back and forward scattering (in radial direction) is introduced and shown to be inverse proportional to the square of radial wavenumber of the probing wave at the fluctuation location thus making the spatial resolution of diagnostics sensitive to density profile. It is shown that in case of forward scattering additional localization can be provided by the antenna diagram. It is demonstrated that in case of backscattering the spatial resolution can be better if the turbulence spectrum at high radial wavenumbers is suppressed. The improvement of Doppler reflectometry data localization by probing beam focusing onto the cut-off is proposed and described. The possibility of Doppler reflectometry data interpretation based on the obtained expressions is shown.Comment: http://stacks.iop.org/0741-3335/46/114

Evolution and global collapse of trapped Bose condensates under variations of the scattering length

We develop the idea of selectively manipulating the condensate in a trapped Bose-condensed gas, without perturbing the thermal cloud. The idea is based on the possibility to modify the mean field interaction between atoms (scattering length) by nearly resonant incident light or by spatially uniform change of the trapping magnetic field. For the gas in the Thomas-Fermi regime we find analytical scaling solutions for the condensate wavefunction evolving under arbitrary variations of the scattering length $a$. The change of $a$ from positive to negative induces a global collapse of the condensate, and the final stages of the collapse will be governed by intrinsic decay processes.Comment: 4 pages, LaTeX, other comments are at http://WWW.amolf.nl/departments/quantumgassen/TITLE.HTM

Study of electromagnetic emissions associated with seismic activity in Kamchatka region

International audienceA review of data processing of electromagnetic emission observation collected at the Complex Geophysical Observatory Karimshino (Kamchatka peninsula) during the first 5 months (July?November, 2000) of its operation is given. The main goal of this study addresses the detection of the phenomena associated with Kamchatka seismic activity. The following observations have been conducted at CGO: variations of ULF/ELF magnetic field, geoelectric potentials (telluric currents), and VLF signals from navigation radio transmitters. The methods of data processing of these observations are discussed. The examples of the first experimental results are presented

Geophysical Observatory in Kamchatka region for monitoring of phenomena connected with seismic activity

Regular monitoring of some geophysical parameters in association with seismicity has been carried out since last year at the Japan-Russian Complex Geophysical Observatory in the Kamchatka region. This observatory was organized in connection with the ISTC project in Russia and was motivated by the results of the FRONTIER/RIKEN and FRONTIER/NASDA research projects in Japan. The main purpose of the observations is to investigate the electromagnetic and acoustic phenomena induced by the lithosphere processes (especially by seismic activity). The seismicity of the Kamchatka area is analyzed and a description of the observatory equipment is presented. At present, the activity of the observatory includes the seismic (frequency range &#x2206;F = 0.5 – 40 Hz) and meteorological recordings, together with seismo-acoustic (&#x2206;F = 30 – 1000 Hz) and electromagnetic observations: three-component magnetic ULF variations ( &#x2206;F = 0.003 – 30 Hz), three-component electric potential variations ( &#x2206;F <u><</u> 1.0 Hz), and VLF transmitter’s signal perturbations ( &#x2206;F ~ 10 – 40 kHz)

Russia and the Arab Spring: supporting the counter-revolution

Russia’s response to the Arab Spring ranged from apprehension to deep anxiety and diverged significantly from the US and the EU responses. While initially welcoming the popular demands for political reform in North Africa, the Russian reaction rapidly became more critical as a result of Western military intervention into Libya and the threat of the spread of Islamist extremism. It was these twin fears which prompted the Russian leadership to adopt an uncompromizing stance towards Syria. While geopolitical factors certainly played a role in driving Russian strategy, domestic political factors were also more significant. As the Russian leadership felt internally threatened by the growing opposition within the country, conflict in the Middle East highlighted the perceived flaws of the imposition of Western liberal democracy and the virtues of Russia’s own model of state-managed political order. There was, as such, a significant ideational and ideological dimension to the Russian response to the Arab Spring

An 8768-year Yamal Tree-ring Chronology as a Tool for Paleoecological Reconstructions

Abstract—In recent years, the supra-long Yamal tree-ring chronology has been significantly extended and became much more reliable. This article characterizes the sample wood used to build the longest absolutely dated Siberian Larch tree-ring chronology of the Subarctic area, i.e. from 6748 BC to 2019 AD, for a total continuous period of 8768 years. The ecological value of the temporal and spatial distribution of the dated trees are presented, and their potential use for application in various field of natural sciences and humanities are discussed. © 2021, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.This study was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project no. 18-05-00575). P. Fonti thanks the Swiss Science Foundation for the financial support (project “CALDERA” no. CRSII5_183571)

The use of thromboelastography and the functional tests with double local hypoxia of the upper limb to assess the risk of thromboembolism in patients undergoing surgery

Introduction: Prothrombotic is considered a condition that leads to the development of venous or arterial thrombosis and its consequences. There are many factors that cause a violation of the hemostatic potential in patients undergoing surgery with existing risk factors for thromboembolism, a more detailed study of the blood coagulation system, including the study of the compensatory capabilities of the hemocoagulation system, should be conducted. One of these methods is a functional test with double local hypoxia of the upper limb (DLHUL) under the control of thromboelastography (TEG). Goals: The purpose of the study - to identify the degree of thrombotic risk in patients preparing for planned surgical intervention, who belong to the risk group of thrombotic complications, to compare and evaluate the state of the hemostasis system in healthy volunteers and in this cohort of patients using a functional test with double local hypoxia of the upper limb by the method of thromboelastography. Materials and methods: A randomized prospective study was conducted. Patients were divided into two groups depending on the presence of risk factors for thrombosis. Group 1 consisted of healthy volunteers (n = 40) who are not at risk of thrombosis. Group 2 includes patients with existing factors of thrombotic risk (n = 120) who are preparing for scheduled surgical interventions. These patients underwent a functional test of "double local hypoxia of the upper limb" (DLHUL) using thromboelastographic (TEG) methods of studying the hemocoagulation system. The main task of this functional test is to create a trigger component to determine the limits of hemostasis, the origin and duration of adaptive and compensatory reactions of the hemostasis system. Indicators of the hemostasis system are recorded using a thromboelastograph before and after the test. The links of hemostasis are reflected by the following indicators: aggregate state of blood (A0), contact coagulation intensity (CCI), coagulation drive intensity (ICD), maximum clot density - maximum activity (MA), fibrinolytic activity - clot retraction and lysis index (IRCL). The results. Analyzing the data of thromboelastography after performing DLHUL, among the patients of Group 1, two types of reaction of the hemostasis system were found in patients without predictors of thrombotic risk: compensated (n= 20) (characterized by a decrease in the indicators of the vascular-platelet component; subcompensated (n = 20) (characterized by an increase in the indicators of the vascular -platelet component). In subjects of Group 1, TEG indicators indicate an increase in the external mechanism of prothrombinase formation, and the reaction of the procoagulant link of the blood coagulation system in response to the influence of a trigger indicates a change in the directionality of the hemostatic potential towards hypercoagulation. In subjects of group 1 with a compensated type, there is an increase in the components of fibrinolysis and a deviation of the hemostatic potential towards hypocoagulation is observed. The state of the hemostasis system in patients of Group 2 is characterized by pronounced changes in the hemostatic potential in all links. In the vascular-platelet link, a violation of platelet aggregation was noted, with an increase in indicators in response to a stimulus. When conducting the DLHUL test in the subjects of group 2, a decompensated (n = 98) and exhausted (n = 22) type of reaction to the test with local hypoxia of the upper limb was determined. That is, with increased platelet aggregation, hypercoagulation, inhibition of the anticoagulant system and fibrinolysis before the action of the trigger factor, after performing the DLHUL test, these disorders in the hemostasis system progress towards hypercoagulation, which is indicated by the increase in platelet aggregation, the strengthening of the coagulation link of the hemostatic system, the depression of fibrinolysis increases . However, the intensity of these changes is not as high as in patients of group 1 after the DLHUL test. Conclusions: The test with double local hypoxia of the upper limb is effective as a trigger factor to determine the compensatory capabilities of the HS. Depending on the type of reaction of the platelet-vascular, coagulation components of hemostasis and fibrinolysis to the influence of the trigger, two types of reaction of the blood aggregate state regulation system are possible in people who do not have an anamnesis of factors provoking a hypercoagulable state: compensated and subcompensated. Therefore, when planning surgical intervention in this cohort of patients, the risk of thrombotic complications is low. Depending on the type of reaction of the platelet-vascular, coagulation components of hemostasis and fibrinolysis to the influence of the trigger, two types of reaction of the blood aggregate state regulation system are possible in people with an anamnesis of factors provoking a hypercoagulable state: decompensated (more often) and depleted (less often). Patients with a history of factors provoking a hypercoagulable state have a high risk of perioperative thrombotic complications and a possible risk of thrombo-hemorrhagic complications, including the syndrome of disseminated intravascular coagulation. Changes in all links of the hemostasis system in response to the DLHUL test indicate the need to use anticoagulant therapy in patients with an anamnesis of factors provoking a hypercoagulable state as one of the components of preoperative preparation

CD206-Targeted Liposomal Myelin Basic Protein Peptides in Patients with Multiple Sclerosis Resistant to First-Line Disease-Modifying Therapies: A First-in-Human, Proof-of-Concept Dose-Escalation Study

© 2016 The Author(s)Previously, we showed that CD206-targeted liposomal delivery of co-encapsulated immunodominant myelin basic protein (MBP) sequences MBP46–62, MBP124–139 and MBP147–170 (Xemys) suppressed experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in dark Agouti rats. The objective of this study was to assess the safety of Xemys in the treatment of patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) and secondary progressive MS, who failed to achieve a sustained response to first-line disease-modifying therapies. In this phase I, open-label, dose-escalating, proof-of-concept study, 20 patients with relapsing-remitting or secondary progressive MS received weekly subcutaneously injections with ascending doses of Xemys up to a total dose of 2.675 mg. Clinical examinations, including Expanded Disability Status Scale score, magnetic resonance imaging results, and serum cytokine concentrations, were assessed before the first injection and for up to 17 weeks after the final injection. Xemys was safe and well tolerated when administered for 6 weeks to a maximum single dose of 900 μg. Expanded Disability Status Scale scores and numbers of T2-weighted and new gadolinium-enhancing lesions on magnetic resonance imaging were statistically unchanged at study exit compared with baseline; nonetheless, the increase of number of active gadolinium-enhancing lesions on weeks 7 and 10 in comparison with baseline was statistically significant. During treatment, the serum concentrations of the cytokines monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, macrophage inflammatory protein-1β, and interleukin-7 decreased, whereas the level of tumor necrosis factor-α increased. These results provide evidence for the further development of Xemys as an antigen-specific, disease-modifying therapy for patients with MS