Circulation of Venusian Atmosphere at 90-110 km Based on Apparent Motions of the O2 1.27 μm Nightglow From VIRTIS-M (Venus Express) Data

The paper is devoted to the investigation of Venus mesosphere circulation at 90-110 km altitudes, where tracking of the O2(a1∆g) 1.27 μm nightglow is practically the only method of studying the circulation. The images of the nightglow were obtained by VIRTIS-M on Venus Express over the course of more than 2 years. The resulting global mean velocity vector field covers the nightside between latitudes 75°S-20°N and local time 19-5 h. The main observed mode of circulation is two opposite flows from terminators to midnight; however, the wind speed in the eastward direction from the morning side exceeds the westward (evening) by 20-30 m/s, and the streams "meet" at 22.5 ± 0.5 h. The influence of underlying topography was suggested in some cases: Above mountain regions, flows behave as if they encounter an "obstacle" and "wrap around" highlands. Instances of circular motion were discovered, encompassing areas of 1,500-4,000 km

Discursive and Narrative Practices of the Scottish Authorities in the Framework of the Implementation of the Agenda of National and Territorial Self-Determination of Scotland

The article analyzes the narrative and discursive practices of political forces aimed at achieving national-territorial sovereignty on the example of Scotland. The authors emphasize the relevance of the task of analyzing the reasons that allow some regions and peoples to be ficult to achieve sovereignty. According to the authors, it is precisely this context that suggests the need for a scientific understanding of the narrative and discursive practices of those political forces that implement the agenda of national-territorial self-determination in the real political process. The purpose of the study is to analyze the narrative and discursive practices of the Scottish Government and the Scottish National Party, the strategy and tactics of which are determined by the peculiarities of Scottish nationalism and the specifics of the identity of the Scots. Research methodology: to achieve this goal, the authors used a set of methods, among which the socio-cultural approach should be particularly noted, which makes it possible in the process of political analysis to consider the socio-political space through the prism of modern world and local civilizational processes, where the political sphere is influenced by socio-cultural factors. As a result of the analysis, the authors came to the conclusion that the discursive and narrative practices of Scottish nationalists contribute to the awareness of indigenous Scots of their own national specifics, which does not conflict with the identities of ethno-confessional minorities living in Scotland

The VITAH Trial Vitamin D supplementation and cardiac autonomic tone in hemodialysis: a blinded, randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) have a high rate of mortality and specifically an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Impaired cardiac autonomic tone is associated with elevated risk of SCD. Moreover, patients with ESKD are often vitamin D deficient, which we have shown may be linked to autonomic dysfunction in humans. To date, it is not known whether vitamin D supplementation normalizes cardiac autonomic function in the high-risk ESKD population. The VITamin D supplementation and cardiac Autonomic tone in Hemodialysis (VITAH) randomized trial will determine whether intensive vitamin D supplementation therapies improve cardiac autonomic tone to a greater extent than conventional vitamin D supplementation regimens in ESKD patients requiring chronic hemodialysis. METHODS/DESIGN: A total of 60 subjects with ESKD requiring thrice weekly chronic hemodialysis will be enrolled in this 2x2 crossover, blinded, randomized controlled trial. Following a 4-week washout period from any prior vitamin D therapy, subjects are randomized 1:1 to intensive versus standard vitamin D therapy for 6 weeks, followed by a 12-week washout period, and finally the remaining treatment arm for 6 weeks. Intensive vitamin D treatment includes alfacalcidiol (activated vitamin D) 0.25mcg orally with each dialysis session combined with ergocalciferol (nutritional vitamin D) 50 000 IU orally once per week and placebo the remaining two dialysis days for 6 weeks. The standard vitamin D treatment includes alfacalcidiol 0.25mcg orally combined with placebo each dialysis session per week for 6 weeks. Cardiac autonomic tone is measured via 24 h Holter monitor assessments on the first dialysis day of the week every 6 weeks throughout the study period. The primary outcome is change in the low frequency: high frequency heart rate variability (HRV) ratio during the first 12 h of the Holter recording at 6 weeks versus baseline. Secondary outcomes include additional measures of HRV. The safety of intensive versus conventional vitamin D supplementation is also assessed. DISCUSSION: VITAH will determine whether an intensive vitamin D supplementation regimen will improve cardiac autonomic tone compared to conventional vitamin D supplementation and will assess the safety of these two supplementation regimens in ESKD patients receiving chronic hemodialysis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT0177481

TECHNOLOGICAL POSSIBILITIES OF PIPELINE-FREE GASIFICATION OF SETTLEMENTS USING LNG

The analysis of technological possibilities of pipeline-free gasification of settlements with natural gas using the resource base of low-tonnage LNG production at GDS and regasification complexes is performed.Выполнен анализ технологических возможностей беструбопроводной газификации поселений природным газом с использованием ресурсной базы малотоннажного производства сжиженного природного газа (СПГ) на газораспределительных станциях (ГРС) и регазификационных комплексах

Quantum physics meets biology

Quantum physics and biology have long been regarded as unrelated disciplines, describing nature at the inanimate microlevel on the one hand and living species on the other hand. Over the last decades the life sciences have succeeded in providing ever more and refined explanations of macroscopic phenomena that were based on an improved understanding of molecular structures and mechanisms. Simultaneously, quantum physics, originally rooted in a world view of quantum coherences, entanglement and other non-classical effects, has been heading towards systems of increasing complexity. The present perspective article shall serve as a pedestrian guide to the growing interconnections between the two fields. We recapitulate the generic and sometimes unintuitive characteristics of quantum physics and point to a number of applications in the life sciences. We discuss our criteria for a future quantum biology, its current status, recent experimental progress and also the restrictions that nature imposes on bold extrapolations of quantum theory to macroscopic phenomena.Comment: 26 pages, 4 figures, Perspective article for the HFSP Journa

Faraday Rotation as a diagnostic of Galactic foreground contamination of CMB maps

The contribution from the residuals of the foreground can have a significant impact on the temperature maps of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB). Mostly, the focus has been on the galactic plane, when foreground cleaning has taken place. However, in this paper, we will investigate the possible foreground contamination, from sources outside the galactic plane in the CMB maps. We will analyze the correlation between the Faraday rotation map and the CMB temperature map. The Faraday rotation map is dependent on the galactic magnetic field, as well as the thermal electron density, and both may contribute to the CMB temperature. We find that the standard deviation for the mean cross correlation deviate from that of simulations at the 99.9% level. Additionally, a comparison between the CMB temperature extrema and the extremum points of the Faraday rotation is also performed, showing a general overlap between the two. Also we find that the CMB Cold Spot is located at an area of strong negative cross correlation, meaning that it may be explained by a galactic origin. Further, we investigate nearby supernova remnants in the galaxy, traced by the galactic radio loops. These super nova remnants are located at high and low galactic latitude, and thus well outside the galactic plane. We find some correlation between the Faraday Rotation and the CMB temperature, at select radio loops. This indicate, that the galactic foregrounds may affect the CMB, at high galactic latitudesComment: 13 pages, 22 figures, 6 table

Прогностическое значение генетического полиморфизма промоторной области AQP5 при сепсисе с различными очагами

Aquaporins represent proteins contributed to water transport through cell membrane. They are involved in formation and resolution of edema, cell migration and inflammatory reaction. There are only few studies linking the genetic polymorphism of aquaporin 5 (rs3759129 AQP5) and sepsis. At the same time, the apparent heterogeneity of patients along the foci of infection may limit finding the most significant association of AQP5 genotypes with the course of infectious complications of critical conditions and restrict further development of rs3759129 AQP5 as a potentially strong marker of sepsis outcome.The purpose of the study was to determine whether the preferential localization of the infection affects the prognostic value of the genetic marker AQP5 (1364A/C, rs3759129) in outcome prediction in sepsis (SEPSIS-3, 2016) patients.Materials and methods. Study groups (n=339) included ICU patients with abdominal sepsis (AS, including pancreatitits, peritonitis, cholecystitis, appendicitis; n=94) sepsis patients with other sources of infections  (n=65) and ICU patients without sepsis (n=180). AQP5 polymorphism was studied by analyzing PCR products in a 2% agarose gel using a AQP5 1364A/C specific tetra primer set.Result. Distribution of alleles (A and C) and genotypes (AA, AC and CC) AQP5 1364A/C in patients with  sepsis or sepsis subgroups (sepsis with no septic shock and sepsis shock patients) versus control group (healthy  volunteers) did not differ. Although there was a trend to preferential survival of sepsis patients with genotype C AQP5 despite the source of infection, only patients with AQP5 CC or AC genotype and abdominal sepsis (Sepsis-3), or a subgroup of the same AQP5 genotype experiencing septic shock, demonstrated increased 30day survival versus AA homozygotic patients (P=0.002).Conclusion. The informative value of detecting the AQP5 CC or AC genotype for prognosis of 30-day survival versus AA homozygotic patients is most significant only in abdominal sepsis patients.Аквапорины — мембранные белки, играющие роль в транспорте молекул воды через клеточную мембрану и участвующие в формировании и разрешении отеков, миграции клеток, воспалительных реакциях. Имеются единичные исследования, свидетельствующие о связи генетического полиморфизма аквапорина 5 (rs3759129 AQP5) с течением сепсиса. Вместе с тем, очевидная гетерогенность пациентов по очагам инфекции может затруднить поиск наиболее выраженной ассоциации генотипов AQP5 с течением инфекционных осложнений критических состояний и дальнейшую разработку rs3759129 AQP5 как потенциально сильного маркера исхода сепсиса.Цель исследования: выяснить связь аллельных вариантов сайта однонуклеотидного полиморфизма гена AQP5 (1364A/C, rs3759129) с исходами сепсиса (СЕПСИС-3, 2016) в зависимости от вероятного первичного очага инфекции.Материалы и методы. С помощью тетрапраймерной полимеразной цепной реакции с последующей электрофоретической визуализацией продуктов проведено аллель-специфическое генотипирование ДНК, выделенной из образцов крови 339 пациентов отделений реанимации и интенсивной терапии двух лечебных учреждений.Результаты. Выявлена тенденция к преимущественному выживанию пациентов с сепсисом с генотипами AQP5 «С+» (AС и CC) вне зависимости от источника инфекции (p>0,050). Однако только в группе пациентов с генотипами AQP5 AC или CC и абдоминальным сепсисом (Sepsis-3, 2016) было выявлено значительное увеличение 30-дневной выживаемости по сравнению с гомозиготными пациентами генотипа AQP5 АА (p=0,002).Заключение. Информативная ценность выявления генотипов CC или AC AQP5 для прогноза 30дневной выживаемости по сравнению с гомозиготными пациентами с генотипом AA может быть выше у пациентов с абдоминальным сепсисом

The FIELDS Instrument Suite for Solar Probe Plus: Measuring the Coronal Plasma and Magnetic Field, Plasma Waves and Turbulence, and Radio Signatures of Solar Transients.

NASA's Solar Probe Plus (SPP) mission will make the first in situ measurements of the solar corona and the birthplace of the solar wind. The FIELDS instrument suite on SPP will make direct measurements of electric and magnetic fields, the properties of in situ plasma waves, electron density and temperature profiles, and interplanetary radio emissions, amongst other things. Here, we describe the scientific objectives targeted by the SPP/FIELDS instrument, the instrument design itself, and the instrument concept of operations and planned data products

On the influence of the cosmological constant on gravitational lensing in small systems

The cosmological constant Lambda affects gravitational lensing phenomena. The contribution of Lambda to the observable angular positions of multiple images and to their amplification and time delay is here computed through a study in the weak deflection limit of the equations of motion in the Schwarzschild-de Sitter metric. Due to Lambda the unresolved images are slightly demagnified, the radius of the Einstein ring decreases and the time delay increases. The effect is however negligible for near lenses. In the case of null cosmological constant, we provide some updated results on lensing by a Schwarzschild black hole.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure; v2: extended discussion on the lens equation, references added, results unchanged, in press on PR