Demes:A standard format for demographic models

Understanding the demographic history of populations is a key goal in population genetics, and with improving methods and data, ever more complex models are being proposed and tested. Demographic models of current interest typically consist of a set of discrete populations, their sizes and growth rates, and continuous and pulse migrations between those populations over a number of epochs, which can require dozens of parameters to fully describe. There is currently no standard format to define such models, significantly hampering progress in the field. In particular, the important task of translating the model descriptions in published work into input suitable for population genetic simulators is labor intensive and error prone. We propose the Demes data model and file format, built on widely used technologies, to alleviate these issues. Demes provide a well-defined and unambiguous model of populations and their properties that is straightforward to implement in software, and a text file format that is designed for simplicity and clarity. We provide thoroughly tested implementations of Demes parsers in multiple languages including Python and C, and showcase initial support in several simulators and inference methods. An introduction to the file format and a detailed specification are available at https://popsim-consortium.github.io/demes-spec-docs/

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF C‑REACTIVE PROTEIN IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

It is believed that the concentration of C‑reactive protein (CRP) significantly increases in acute forms of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A moderate increase of CRP levels in patients with stable disease progression reflects the low‑grade chronic inflammation in the vascular wall and the development of subclinical atherosclerosis. The article presents data showing that increased CRP levels in SLE patients is not statistically related with disease activity and cardiovascular risk as well as the level of interleykin‑6. Patients with lupus nephritis have lower CRP concentration compared to patients without renal disease and CRP concentration depends on proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia.</p

Digitalization of the Educational Environment: Risk Assessment of Distance Education by Russian and Vietnamese Students

The digitalization of higher education is a long-term trend that gained a new impetus for further development because of the forced transition to distance learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the article is to analyze the impact of digital transformation on the educational process in universities and to describe the risks through the students’ eyes. The analysis is based on the results of a survey conducted by the authors in 2020 among students of two universities - Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) and the Institute of the Trade Union Movement of the General Confederation of Labor of Vietnam (IPLV).The article describes the methodology of the online survey. The attitude towards distance learning is interpreted as a three-level attitude with emotional, cognitive and behavioral aspects. It is suggested that students’ readiness to switch to distance learning is determined by a set of macro and micro factors. Among the macro factors are the national specifics of the educational system, traditions in the field of higher education, infrastructure, the national educational policy, and the mobilization potential of the population. Among the micro factors are the cognitive and other psychological characteristics of the students, the socio-psychological openness to innovation.According to the survey results, there is certain similarity in the way Russian and Vietnamese students assess their experience of distance learning. At the same time, significant differences in the perception of the outcome of the digital transformation of education have been revealed. For MGIMO students, major risks are associated with dehumanization, the severing of social ties, and the possible loss of student status. For Vietnamese students the most significant risks are mainly associated with the fears of the decreasing quality of education. It is therefore concluded that distance learning is both the field of opportunities and possible source of individual and institutional risks

Report of the Implementation of Work Package 6 "Implementation of Methodology" in the Framework of the IRNet Project

This article, prepared by an international team of researchers from different scientific areas connected with ICT, e-learning, pedagogy, and other related disciplines, focuses on the objectives and some results of the international project IRNet (www.irnet.us.edu.pl). In particular, the article describes research tools, methods, and a procedure of the Work Package 6 “Implementation of Methodology,” that is, objectives, tasks, deliverables, publications, and implementation of research trips in the context of the next stages and Work Packages of IRNet project – International Research Network

Psychological and educational prevention of conflict behavior in preschool children

In this article describes features of child behavior in conflict situations in preschool age. The results can be used to create programs to improve the emotional background of the group and reducing overall aggressiveness.В данной статье рассмотрены особенности детского поведения в конфликтных ситуациях в дошкольном возрасте. Полученные результаты могут быть использованы для создания программ по улучшению эмоционального фона в группе и снижения общей агрессивности

Система менеджмента качества на педиатрическом факультете: мониторинг достижений

В статье рассматриваются результаты мониторинга достижений в системе менеджмента качества на педиатрическом факультете, представлены основные направления деятельности и перспективные задачи

Application of Dot-Immunoassay for Detection of Plague Agent Antigens in the Field Samples

CFU/ml) and soluble antigens (FI) − ≥ 4.8 ng/ml and high specificity, confirmed by the absence of false-positive reactions with five heterologous microorganisms. The test-systems were used for Y. pestis antigen detection in field material from the territory of the Altai mountain natural plague focus by dot-immunoassay with comparison of the received results in passive hemagglutination reaction. Test-systems possessed a number of advantages as compared to routine serological reactions and could be applied with success by practical public health services both in stationary and field conditions

Clinical-epidemiological features and improvement of botulism laboratory diagnos-102 tics in Irkutsk region

Irkutsk Region is one of the Russian Regions where botulism cases are registered yearly. Botulism morbidity in Irkutsk Region is analysed for the ten-year period (since 2002); its clinical-epidemiological features are revealed at the present stage. Sporadic cases of botulism, are dominated. (81,9 %). From. 2006 in Irkutsk Region botulism share makes 100 % in food poisoning number. A considerable role in the infection transmission plays consumption of fish, mainly smoked or salty Baikal omul (90,9 %). In 30 % of cases injured people purchased fish at private persons in unascertained trade places, 60 % of patients ate own salting fish. In Irkutsk Region botulism is registered more often from July till November with peaks in July (58,3 %) and. September (20,8 %) that is connected, with activation of unprofitable fabricated fish selling in combination, with adverse conditions of this foodstuff storage. Botulism affects various age groups of population with, prevalence of the age category 30-49 years old. (47,8 %). Socially active able-bodied population. (72,3 %) is most often affected that increases the social importance of the disease. Mainly, moderate severe (56, 5 %) and. severe (34,8 %) disease forms were registered. Primary symptoms include two variants - dyspeptically-paralytic and. ophthalmologic-neurological forms. Analysis of botulism etiological structure showed, that the leading part in the disease occurrence in Irkutsk Region belonged to botulinum. type Е (73, 9 %). Clinical material and. foodstuff testing to botulinum toxin presence was conducted in parallel by the standard reaction of biological toxin neutralisation in white mice and dot-immunoanalysis with application of the test system that we have developed. Possibility of dot-immunoassay application in laboratory diagnostics of botulism is estimated as the express method with high specificity, sensitivity and. simplicity

Mutations in the Gene DNAJC5 Cause Autosomal Dominant Kufs Disease in a Proportion of Cases: Study of the Parry Family and 8 Other Families

Background: The Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses (NCL) comprise at least nine progressive neurodegenerative genetic disorders. Kufs disease, an adult-onset form of NCL may be recessively or dominantly inherited. Our study aimed to identify genetic mutations associated with autosomal dominant Kufs disease (ADKD). Methodology and Principal Findings We have studied the family first reported with this phenotype in the 1970s, the Parry family. The proband had progressive psychiatric manifestations, seizures and cognitive decline starting in her mid 20s. Similarly affected relatives were observed in seven generations. Several of the affected individuals had post-mortem neuropathological brain study confirmatory for NCL disease. We conducted whole exome sequencing of three affected family members and identified a pLeu116del mutation in the gene DNAJC5, which segregated with the disease phenotype. An additional eight unrelated affected individuals with documented autosomal dominant or sporadic inheritance were studied. All had diagnostic confirmation with neuropathological studies of brain tissue. Among them we identified an additional individual with a p.Leu115Arg mutation in DNAJC5. In addition, a pAsn477Ser change in the neighboring gene PRPF6, a gene previously found to be associated with retinitis pigmentosa, segregated with the ADKD phenotype. Interestingly, two individuals of the Parry family did report visual impairment. Conclusions: Our study confirmed the recently reported association of DNAJC5 mutations with ADKD in two out of nine well-defined families. Sequence changes in PRPF6 have not been identified in other unrelated cases. The association of vision impairment with the expected PRPF6 dysfunction remains possible but would need further clinical studies in order to confirm the co-segregation of the visual impairment with this sequence change

Comparative characteristics and evaluation of the quality of cosmetic creams and ointments

The purpose of the study is to study the quality and comparative characteristics of cosmetic creams and ointments based on physical and chemical studies and determination of fat-soluble vitamins.Цель исследования – исследование качества и сравнительная характеристика косметических кремов и мазей на основе проведенных физико-химических исследований и определении жирорастворимых витаминов