Photon correlations for colloidal nanocrystals and their clusters

Images of semiconductor `dot in rods' and their small clusters are studied by measuring the second-order correlation function with a spatially resolving ICCD camera. This measurement allows one to distinguish between a single dot and a cluster and, to a certain extent, to estimate the number of dots in a cluster. A more advanced measurement is proposed, based on higher-order correlations, enabling more accurate determination of the number of dots in a small cluster. Nonclassical features of the light emitted by such a cluster are analyzed.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

An overview of TI-RADS systems from a point of view of follicular tumors diagnosis

The existing systems for describing thyroid nodules are highly informative and can be applied in routine practice, but suspicious criteria of thyroid nodules are based on the echographic pattern of papillary neoplasia, due to its predominance in the population. Follicular tumors are difficult to be differentiated between adenomas and follicular cancer, both echographically and morphologically. Despite the lower prevalence, this type of tumor has a high risk of aggressive course and relapse of 30–55% and this determines its early detection importance. The analysis of publications from 2009 to 2020 of existing TI‑RADS systems and national guidelines for the diagnosis of thyroid tumors, with an emphasis on the assessment of follicular tumors, was carried out. In Russia, at the beginning of 2021, the national guidelines require the use of EU‑TIRADS 2017, and the introduction of the national RU‑TIRADS is underway. Difficulties remain in the differential diagnosis of follicular tumors of different malignancy potential. It is possible that a combined risk assessment of echography, elastography, cytology, and molecular genetic studies will allow a more reliable stratification of the risks of thyroid nodules at the preoperative stage

Thermal protection insulation in the lining of the rotary kilns

У роботі розглянуто, що основна частина цементного клінкеру в Україні випалюється в печах, теплова ефективність яких не перевищує 55-60%, тому завдання підвищення ефективності використання таких агрегатів є надзвичайно актуальною, оскільки збільшення цих показників навіть на кілька відсотків дає великий економічний ефект. Фрагмент футерівки складається зі сталевого листа, що моделює кожух та формує вогнетриви з периклазу-хроміту з осередками, заповненими мулітно-кремнеземовою ватою. Підставка призначена для імітації режимів роботи футерівки корпусу обертової печі під час роботи.The work considers the main part of cement clinker in Ukraine is fired in furnaces, the thermal efficiency of which does not exceed 55-60%, therefore the task of increasing the efficiency of using such units is extremely urgent, since an increase in these indicators even by several percent gives a great economic effect. A fragment of the lining consists of a steel sheet modeling the casing and shaped periclase-chromite refractories with cells filled with mullite-silica wool. The stand is designed to simulate the operating modes of the lining of the rotary kiln body during operation

Postural disorders of neurological genesis in elderly patients: pathogenesis and features of diagnostics (literature review)

Walking and balance disorders in elderly patients are the most common manifestations of various diseases of the nervous system. Balance imbalance is the leading cause of injuries in the elderly, leading to a limitation of both the patient’s ability to work and communication in the social environment, which in particular cases leads to a loss of independence, reducing the quality of life. Walking disorders are an important, difficult to resolve medical and social problem. The aim of the study was to identify the physiological and clinical aspects of age-related gait disorders with an emphasis on neurological pathogenetic causes. A detailed study of modern foreign medical literature and current international clinical guidelines was carried out with further systematization of the data obtained. Falls in the elderly are a common and major factor that threatens the independence of older people. The frequency of falls increases with age. Treatment for fall injuries does not always include identifying the cause of the fall. In the elderly, loss of balance is most commonly due to multiple causes, including impending threat to the homeostatic mechanisms that maintain postural stability combined with age-related impairments in balance, gait stability, and cardiovascular function. Gait disorders are a major cause of functional impairment and morbidity in the elderly. Most gait disorders in the elderly are multifactorial and have neurological components. In developed countries, there is a trend towards aging of the population: the percentage component of the elderly part of the population is growing. It is violations of balance, stability and walking, to a large extent, that lead to the inability of the patient to provide his quality of life at a satisfactory level on his own, to disability and failure in the workplace. Early diagnosis of gait disorders can prevent premature disability and limit the independence of elderly patients. It is important to note that a history of falls is a predictor of the risk of new falls

Management of Work and Procedure for the Laboratory Diagnostics of Infectious Diseases during the Winter XXII Olympics and XI Paralympics, 2014

Analyzed is the management system for laboratory diagnostics of infectious diseases during the XXII Olympics and XI Paralympics, 2014 in Sochi. Reviewed is piece of work, executed in the pre-Olympic period as regards provision of laboratory facilities deployed for clinical material investigation, development of normative and regulatory documentation which considers peculiarities of the situation, identification of diagnostic capacities of the laboratories, and forecasting of the probable volume of laboratory studies by reference to various groups of infections. Put forward is the procedure for arrangement of work at the different stages of laboratory diagnostics, cooperation and response in case of emergency situation in the sphere of sanitary-epidemiological welfare of the population. Discussed is the role of geo-information system and current means of monitoring over epidemiological situation in the participating states and in the region of the Olympics in laboratory support organization

The European internet-based patient and research database for primary immunodeficiencies: results 2006-2008

Primary immunodeficiencies (PID) are rare diseases; therefore transnational studies are essential to maximize the scientific outcome and to improve diagnosis and therapy. In order to estimate the prevalence of PID in Europe as well as to establish and evaluate harmonized guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of PID, the European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID) has developed an internet-based database for clinical and research data on patients with PID. This database is a platform for epidemiological analyses as well as the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies and the identification of novel disease-associated genes. Within 4 years, 7430 patients from 39 countries have been documented in the ESID database. Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) represents the most common entity, with 1540 patients or 20.7% of all entries, followed by isolated immunoglobulin (Ig)G subclass deficiency (546 patients, 7.4%). Evaluations show that the average life expectancy for PID patients varies from 1 to 49 years (median), depending on the type of PID. The prevalence and incidence of PID remains a key question to be answered. As the registration progress is far from finished we can only calculate minimum values for PID, with e.g. France currently showing a minimum prevalence of 3.72 patients per 100,000 inhabitants. The most frequently documented permanent treatment is immunoglobulin replacement; 2819 patients (42% of all patients alive) currently receive this form of treatment

Management of the Investigation and Detection of Legionellosis Agent in the Environmental Samples during the Preparation and Holding of the XXII Winter Olympics and XI Paralympics in Sochi

Provided are the data on the management and carrying out of the laboratory control over the hot-water supply systems of the sports venues and accommodation areas for the presence of Legionella pneumophila during the XXII Olympics and XI Paralympics in Sochi, 2014. Inspected have been 105 facilities. The samples from 37 of them showed positive. L. pneumophila DNA concentration varies between 2.19·102 and 3.92·107 genome equivalents (g.e.)/l. By means of bacteriological investigation detected have been legionella colonies in the water supply systems of 16 facilities, at one of the items - the loading is over 1·104 colony-forming units/l. Performed has been comparative analysis of the results obtained using PCR assay and bacteriological test. Based on the genotyping of 7 isolated strains serogroup 1 and 2 strains of 2-14 serogroups it is concluded that L. pneumophila strains circulating in the resort town Sochi are genetically heterogeneous

Remote heart rate monitoring - Assessment of the Facereader rPPg by Noldus

Remote photoplethysmography (rPPG) allows contactless monitoring of human cardiac activity through a video camera. In this study, we assessed the accuracy and precision for heart rate measurements of the only consumer product available on the market, namely the Facereader™ rPPG by Noldus, with respect to a gold standard electrocardiograph. Twenty-four healthy participants were asked to sit in front of a computer screen and alternate two periods of rest with two stress tests (i.e. Go/No-Go task), while their heart rate was simultaneously acquired for 20 minutes using the ECG criterion measure and the Facereader™ rPPG. Results show that the Facereader™ rPPG tends to overestimate lower heart rates and underestimate higher heart rates compared to the ECG. The Facereader™ rPPG revealed a mean bias of 9.8 bpm, the 95% limits of agreement (LoA) ranged from almost -30 up to +50 bpm. These results suggest that whilst the rPPG Facereader™ technology has potential for contactless heart rate monitoring, its predictions are inaccurate for higher heart rates, with unacceptable precision across the entire range, rendering its estimates unreliable for monitoring individuals

Evolution of Highly Polymorphic T Cell Populations in Siblings with the Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome

Population level evolutionary processes can occur within a single organism when the germ line contains a mutation that confers a cost at the level of the cell. Here we describe how multiple compensatory mutations arose through a within-individual evolutionary process in two brothers with the immune deficiency Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (WAS). As a result, both brothers have T lymphocyte populations that are highly polymorphic at the locus of the germ line defect, and no single allele achieves fixation. WASP, the gene product affected in this disease, is specific to white blood cells where it is responsible for regulating actin cytoskeleton dynamics in a wide range of cellular responses. The brothers inherited a rare allele predicted to result in truncated WASP lacking the carboxy-terminal VCA domains, the region that directly catalyzes actin filament generation. Although the brothers' T cell populations are highly polymorphic, all share a corrective effect relative to the inherited allele in that they restore the VCA domain. This indicates massive selection against the truncated germ line allele. No single somatic allele becomes fixed in the circulating T cell population of either brother, indicating that a regulated step in maturation of the affected cell lineage is severely compromised by the germ line allele. Based on the finding of multiple somatic mutations, the known maturation pathway for T-lineage cells and the known defects of T cells and precursor thymocytes in mice with truncated WASP, we hypothesize that the presence of truncated WASP (WASPΔVCA) confers an extreme disadvantage in early developing thymocytes, above and beyond the known cost of absence of full-length WASP, and that the disadvantage likely occurs through dominant negative competition of WASPΔVCA with N-WASP, a protein that otherwise partially compensates for WASP absence in developing thymocytes