Subthreshold and near-threshold kaon and antikaon production in proton-nucleus reactions

The differential production cross sections of K^+ and K^- mesons have been measured at the ITEP proton synchrotron in p+Be, p+Cu collisions under lab angle of 10.5^0, respectively, at 1.7 and 2.25, 2.4 GeV beam energies. A detailed comparison of these data with the results of calculations within an appropriate folding model for incoherent primary proton-nucleon, secondary pion-nucleon kaon and antikaon production processes and processes associated with the creation of antikaons via the decay of intermediate phi mesons is given. We show that the strangeness exchange process YN->NNK^- gives a small contribution to the antikaon yield in the kinematics of the performed experiment. We argue that in the case when antikaon production processes are dominated by the channels with KK^- in the final state, the cross sections of the corresponding reactions are weakly influenced by the in-medium kaon and antikaon mean fields.Comment: 24 pages. accepted for publication at J.Phys.

Психологические особенности обучения старшеклассников иностранным языкам с использованием мобильных приложений

Целью данной статьи является обозначение психологических трудностей в обучении старшеклассников иностранному языку с использованием мобильных приложений и выявление способов решения данных проблем. Рекомендации могут быть использованы школьными учителями в образовательном процессе.The aim of this article is to identify psychological difficulties in teaching high school students a foreign language using mobile applications and solve these problems. Recommendations can be applied by school teachers in the educational process

Emission spectra of terahertz quantum cascade laser

We calculated energy levels, wave functions, and energies of radiative transitions in terahertz quantum cascade lasers based on GaAs/Al0.15Ga0.85As heterostructures. Current-voltage characteristics and current dependences of laser radiation intensity were measured, and the maximum operating temperatures reaching 85 K were determined. Radiation spectra of quantum cascade lasers were measured for different temperatures, and the effect of intensity “pumping” from lowfrequency modes to high-frequency modes was found to happen in the case of an increase in the current and time delay of the signal capture, which is explained by heating of the sample during a pulse of the current. Application of the lasers for registration of impurity photoconductivity signals in semiconductor heterostructures was demonstrated

IN GLUTATHIONE-DEFICIENT STRAIN ESCHERICHIA COLI UNDER ANTIBIOTICS TREATMENT

The results of the present study indicate that cell treatment with antibiotics leads to Eh shift and change of oxygen pressure level in glutathione-deficient strain.Работа выполнена при поддержке грантом Президиума УрО РАН для молодых ученых 14-4-НП-126, а также грантом РФФИ-Урал №14-04-96031

Association of IL-17A levels with immuneinflammatory profile and structural MRI data in patients with schizophrenia

IL-17A is a proinflammatory cytokine involved in pathogenesis of some neuroinflammatory diseases of the brain. However, its role in schizophrenia is poorly understood. Currently, noninvasive neuroimaging techniques are widely used to assess abnormalities in brain morphology and interactions of neuronal networks in schizophrenia. The aim of this work was to study associations between IL-17A level and brain morphometric parameters in schizophrenia, in order to clarify immune factors of pathogenesis and search for biomarkers of unfavorable disease course. 45 patients with schizophrenia and 30 healthy volunteers were included into the study. The levels of cytokines (IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17A) and inflammatory markers were determined by ELISA or multiplex analysis. MRI scans were performed with a Siemens Magnetom Verio 3T MRI scanner. We used Kruskal–Wallis test to assess significant differences in immunological parameters followed by Mann–Whitney paired comparison; Student test to assess the significance of differences in morphometric parameters of the brain; Fisher exact test to assess the differences in discrete variables, with the differences considered statistically significant at p < 0.05. IL-17A levels were found to be increased in schizophrenia. Its elevated content was associated with increased levels of C-reactive protein, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and the presence of morphometric changes of frontal and temporal cortex in the patients. So far, the relationships between IL-17A levels, immunoinflammatory parameters and structural brain changes have not been studied in schizophrenia. In the present work, we found an association of elevated IL-17A levels with decreased cortical thickness in several brain regions, systemic inflammation and activation of Th2-link of adaptive immunity in the patients with schizophrenia. According to the literature, a number of brain areas, where cortical thickness was associated with IL-17A levels may be relevant to pathogenesis of the disease and, in particular, to the development of negative symptoms, including impoverishment of interests, speech, and emotions. The results are important for understanding the role of immune disorders in pathogenesis of schizophrenia, including structural changes of the brain, and suggest that IL-17A may be a biomarker of these disorders. Confirmation of associations between structural neuroimaging findings, laboratory markers of inflammation and immune disorders may provide the basis for new multidisciplinary approaches to the diagnosis and prognosis of schizophrenia

Associations of IL17A G-197A single nucleotide polymorphism with immunological parameters and structural changes of the brain in schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder that is caused by a complex palette of genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors. Some of the important components of its pathogenesis are systemic inflammation and the dysfunction of immunity, which lead to neuroinflammation, contributing to development of structural brain changes. Earlier we have shown that increase in interleukin-17A levels is associated with morphometric changes and immune dysregulation in schizophrenia. IL17A G-197A (rs2275913) genetic polymorphism is involved in determining interleukin-17A secretion. The goal of this work was to investigate the associations between rs2275913 polymorphism, immune disorders and structural neurovisualization findings in schizophrenia to provide new insights into the immunopathogenesis of this disease. 60 patients aged 18 to 42 years diagnosed with schizophrenia were enrolled. 85 healthy volunteers were included into the control group. Multiplex assay was used to determine cytokine and chemokine serum levels. Rs2275913 polymorphism was assessed by polymerase chain reaction with electrophoretic detection of amplification products. A number of relationships between rs2275913 polymorphism and the immune parameters in schizophrenia were revealed. Carriers of G allele showed significant increase in IFNY, a key cytokine of Th1-link of adaptive immunity, and IL-8, an inflammatory chemokine. Also, increased levels of CXCL16 were observed in patients carrying the G allele. CXCL16 activates secretion of other proinflammatory chemokines and is involved in activation of Th1 adaptive immunity. Associations of heterozygous GA genotype with reduced cortical thickness in a number of areas of the frontal cortex in schizophrenia were found. Changes in cortical thickness in some of these areas, including middle frontal gyrus and orbitofrontal cortex, can be relevant to the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. The results highlight the importance of immunogenetic factors in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia and indicate that the rs2275913 polymorphism requires further studies as a potential biomarker of immune dysregulation and morphometric brain changes in schizophrenia

Tunka Advanced Instrument for cosmic rays and Gamma Astronomy

The paper is a script of a lecture given at the ISAPP-Baikal summer school in 2018. The lecture gives an overview of the Tunka Advanced Instrument for cosmic rays and Gamma Astronomy (TAIGA) facility including historical introduction, description of existing and future setups, and outreach and open data activities.Comment: Lectures given at the ISAPP-Baikal Summer School 2018: Exploring the Universe through multiple messengers, 12-21 July 2018, Bol'shie Koty, Russi