Role of immersive experience technology for autonomy in older adults transitioned into assisted living: A user-centered design approach

The purpose of this study was to explore how immersive experience technology may impact older adults in transition into assisted living; through the perspective of older adults within those assisted living facilities. By creating a preliminary/exploratory study for future applied research, the goal of this study was to gather information on understanding and then specifying the resident's experiences in their transitions and their perspectives on the barriers and benefits in the use of immersive experience technologies prior to transitions. Understanding and specifying user needs are the first two steps in user-centered design, which helped guide this research, and will inform future research in production and evaluation of an immersive experience intervention design. This study was broken up into three phases, Phases 1 and 2 were two focus groups to gather qualitative data and Phase 3 was an online survey questionnaire to gather quantitative responses. The Phase 3 data is only included in the Appendix due to low response rates. Findings of this study revealed that loss of autonomy occurs prior to the transition, following two types of transitions; independent and dependent. The two types of transitions were found to have two different intervention paths, independent transitions leading to limited to no intervention and the dependent transitions having the children as the primary intervention. It was suggested that the virtual walkthrough would help improve autonomy in the independently transitioned older adults, through easing concern during the transition, as well as improving navigation and control within the new assisted living apartment once the transition is complete

Experimental Observation of the Temperature at the Liquid/Gas Interface

Experimental studies on measurements of the temperature profile in the vicinity of the evaporating distilled water layer were carried out. The temperature was measured with a chromel-alumel thermocouple, when it moves under the action of the precision actuator directed perpendicular to the evaporating layer. According to the experimental results the fluctuation in temperature of the air and liquid was found in the immediate vicinity of the liquid/gas interface. However, temperature jumps near the interface was not observed

The relationship of the carriership of allelic variations in rs2228145 (A > C) of the<i>IL6R</i> gene with the levels of <i>VCAM1</i> and <i>ICAM1</i> gene transcripts in patients with essential hypertension

The levels of plasma interleukin 6 and its soluble receptors were found to be elevated in subjects with cardiovascular diseases, which points to amplification of the IL-6-mediated trans-signaling pathway in cells and the development of chronic inflammation. The allelic variation in the rs2228145 IL6R gene is associated with a change in the contents of the soluble and membrane-bound receptor forms mediating the biological activity of IL-6. Cytokine IL-6 is involved in the development of endothelial dysfunction by regulating the expression of the VCAM1 and ICAM1 genes, encoding intercellular adhesion molecules. Prior to this work, no data on the association of essential arterial hypertension (EAH) with rs2228145 allelic variations of the IL6R gene have been reported. The aim of our work was to study the relationship of the carriership of rs2228145 (A &gt; C) allelic variations with the development of EAH and the VCAM1 and ICAM1 transcript levels. We analyzed samples of DNA isolated from the whole blood of 148 healthy donors and 152 patients with EAH (stages I-II). The genotyp-ing was performed by PCR-RFLP. The level of transcripts in peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) was assessed by real-time PCR. Differences in the frequency distributions of rs2228145 (A &gt; C) genotypes between the control group and the group of patients with EAH (χ2 = 9.303) were found. The frequency of the CC genotype in EAH patients was higher than in healthy people (0.191 and 0.095, respectively). The risk of EAH (I-II stages) development was shown to be 2.3 times higher in CC genotype carriers as compared to individuals with other genotypes (OR = 2.257, 95 % confidence interval 1.100-4.468). The levels of VCAM1 and ICAM1 gene transcripts in PBL of patients with EAH were significantly higher than in healthy people. The level of ICAM1 gene transcripts was almost 4 times higher in patients with CC genotype. The Kruskal-Wallis analysis of variance revealed an effect of rs2228145 (A &gt; C) genotype on the transcriptional activity of ICAM1, which argues for its role in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction and essential hypertension

FOXP3, IL2R, CD8A and RORγ gene expression in peripheral blood leukocytes of healthy people and patients with arterial hypertension

Impaired balance of T regulatory and T effector lymphocytes has recently been considered as an important pathogenetic link in arterial hypertension (AH). There are, however, contradictory literature data about contents of these cells in the patients with hypertension, or obtained in experimental animal models of induced hypertension. Most results about changed patterns of immune cells in cardiovascular diseases were obtained by means of flow cytometry. There are also some works on expression of genes encoding surface and cytoplasmic differentiation antigens of immune cells in the patients with cardiovascular pathologies. These results coincide with the data obtained with flow cytometric techniques. Purpose of the present study was to analyze of the levels of gene transcripts encoding differentiation markers of regulatory (FOXP3, IL2R) T cells, effector T subpopulations (T helpers 17 (RORγ), and CD8 lymphocytes (CD8A) in healthy subjects and the patients with arterial hypertension (stages I-II). We examined healthy individuals (40 people, 20 men and 20 women), 27 patients with hypertension who did not receive antihypertensive therapy (14 men and 13 women), 26 hypertensive patients taking β-adrenergic receptor blockers (metoprolol or bisoprolol), including 12 men and 14 women. The relative levels of transcripts in peripheral blood leukocytes were assessed by real-time RT-PCR. It was shown that the transcriptional activity of FOXP3, IL2R, RORγ, and CD8A genes in peripheral blood leukocytes of the diseased people was significantly higher than in healthy individuals (p &lt; 0.01). This finding may indicate an increased number of circulating T regulatory lymphocytes, CD8+ cells and T helpers 17 in hypertensive patients, and activation of T cell immunity in these patients. There were no statistically significant gender differences in FOXP3, IL2R, RORγ and CD8A gene expression in leukocytes, both in the group of healthy people and in hypertensive patients. The patients receiving cardioselective β-adrenergic receptor blockers (metoprolol and bisoprolol) exhibited lower expression of these genes, thus, probably, indicating antiinflammatory and immunomodulatory properties of these drugs

Features of Spiritual and Moral Education of Students of Educational Organizations of Secondary Vocational Education

В статье рассматриваются особенности духовно-нравственного воспитания студентов образовательных организаций среднего профессионального образования и основные проблемы и пути их решения.The article discusses the features of spiritual and moral education of students of educational institutions of secondary vocational education and the main problems and ways to solve them

Immunological predictors of type 1 diabetes mellitus (literature review)

Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by insulin deficiency due β-cell destruction and following hyperglycaemia. Specific markers of T1DM are pancreatic islet-targeting autoantibodies that are found months to years before symptom onset, and can be used to identify individuals who are at risk of developing T1DM.Aim: The study is aimed at the review of current knowledge of diabetes-related autoantibodies as biomarkers of T1DM.Materials and methods: Foreign and national clinical studies on this topic were included. PubMed, Medline and ­eLibrary were searched.Results: Modern ideas about known diabetes-specific autoantibodies as markers of autoimmune inflammation of β-cells of the pancreas were discussed. The analysis of their independent diagnostic value in predicting the occurrence of T1DM were carried out.Conclusion: There is no unified concept in the literature on this issue. Current data on autoantibodies in T1DM show a ­significant individual variability in the timing, dynamic changes and autoantibody composition in T1DM progression

Tensiometric estimation of material properties of tissue spheroids

Tissue spheroids have been proposed to use as building blocks in biofabrication and as bioinks in 3D bioprinting technologies. Tissue fusion is an ubiqious phenomenon during embryonic development. Biomimetic tissue spheroid fusion is a fundamental constructional principle of emerging organ printing technology because closely placed tissue spheroids could fuse into tissue and organ-like constructs in fusion permissive bioprintable hydrogel. From physical point of view tissue spheroids could be considered as a visco-elastic-plastic soft matter or complex fluid. We hypothesize that quantitative estimation of material properties of tissue spheroids using tensiometry could predict their tissue spreading and tissue fusion behavior as well as provide a powerful insight about possible speed of post-printed tissue and organ-like constructs compaction and maturation. Tissue spheroids from human fibroblasts, ovine and human chondrocytes and immortalised human keratinocytes have been biofabricated using non-adhesive cell culture plates (Corning, USA). For estimation of material properties of tissue spheroids commercial tensiometer Microsquisher have been emploied (CellScale, Toronto, Canada). Modulus of elasticity of tissue spheroids have been calculated based on peformed tissue compression tests. In order to identify structural determinants of material properties of tissue spheroids standard perturbants of cytoskeleton such as Cytochalasin D (Sigma, USA) for disruption of microfilaments and Nocodazole (Sigma, USA) for disruption of microtubules have been used. Viability of tissue spheroids have been also estimated and their morphology have been analysed using light microscopy, histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, semithin sections stained wih toluidine blue and transmission and scanning electron microscopy. Kinetics of tissue spheroids spreading on electrospun polyurethane matrices have been analysed. Kinetics of two closely placed tissue spheroids fusion have been analysed in hanging drop. Additionally toxic effect of water solution of paramagnetic gadolinium salt (Omniscan®, GE Health Care, USA) on material properties of tissue spheroids have been investigated. It have been demonstrated that material properties of tissue spheroids biofabricated from different cell types have different modulus of elasticity. Even tissue spheroids biofabricated the same cell types but from different species have different material properties. Incubation with Cytochlasin D dramatically reduces estimated material properties of tissue spheroids. Incubation with Nocodazole does not significantly change material properties of tissue spheroids. Material properties of tissue spheroids from chondrocytes (chondrospheres) correlates very well with increasing deposition and accumulation of extracellular matrix (confirmed by expression of collagen type II and glycosoaminoglycans). The incubation with toxic concentration of gadolinium solution dramatically reduces material properties of chondrospheres. There is no any significant correlation between material properties of tissue spheriods and their spreading kinetics. However, there is a certain correction between material properties of tissue spheroids and their tissue fusion kinetics. Our data demonstrate that beside already well established role of cell adhesion receptors such as cadherin and integrins in the realisation of cell cohesion inside tissue spheroids the structural determinants of material properties of tissue spheroids also include components of cytoskeleton such as actin micofilaments and accumulated extracellular matrix. It is possible to predict post-printing tissue fusion behaviour of tissue spheroids based on preliminary estimation of their material properties. Finally, it have been also shown that material properties of tissue spheroids correlate with their viability. Thus, tensiometry is a valuable method for systematic characterization of material properties of tissue spheroids and for prediction of tissue spheroids post-printed tissue fusion behaviour

Influence of physical loads of different orientation on indicators of physical working capacity and level of the maximum oxygen consumption at the qualified athletes depending on the period of training process

Objective: to assess the impact of physical activity of different orientation and intensity on the physical performance and maximum oxygen consumption (MOC) in qualified athletes, depending on the period of the training process. Materials and methods: 136 male athletes were examined, 116 of them were qualified athletes (age 22.1±4.1 years). I group – wrestling (n=30), II – cross-country skiing, biathlon (n=27), III – powerlifting (n=33), IV – volleyball (n=26). V – control (n=20), sports training less than 3 years. Bicycle ergometry (VEM) with the assessment of physical performance on the PWC170 test in the preparatory and competitive periods of training was conducted. STATISTICA 10.0 program was used for statistical processing. Data were presented as: median (Me), lower and upper quartiles (25% and 75%). Results: the highest rates of PWC170 – 1508.0 KGM/min and IPC – 65.37 ml/min/kg in the preparatory period and, respectively, PWC170 – 1560.0 KGM/min and IPC – 68.00 ml/min/kg in the competitive period were achieved by athletes in group II. Athletes in group III had the lowest rates of PWC170 – 1100.0 KGM/min and IPC – 40.60 ml/min/kg in both the preparatory and competitive periods – 1120.0 KGM/min and 42.04 ml/min/kg. Conclusions: high level of physical performance and MOC indicated the effectiveness of the cardiovascular system in athletes of highly dynamic sports, training for endurance (crosscountry skiing, biathlon). In powerlifters with high intensity of static loads, physical performance and MOC remained at a low level. The results can be used to make timely adjustments to the training and competitive process of athletes

SYNOPSIS AND PROSPECTS OF AUTOIMMUNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT WORLDWIDE (AFTER THE MATERIALS OF THE 11th INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS IN LISBON, MAY 16-20, 2018). PROCEEDING I: FIRST ACADEMY OF AUTOIMMUNITY

A review article is an aftermath of the 11th International Congress on Autoimmunity and First Academy of Autoimmunity, happened 14th to 20th May, 2018 in Lisbon. The first part of paper discusses the formation, main problems and prospects for the development of Autoimmunology as a new integral branch of fundamental and clinical Medicine engaged in the research, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of autoimmune diseases of various organs and systems, totally circa 90 of them. A summary of all lectures conducted during the Academy of Autoimmunity is given, including a discussion of the newest and controversial aspects of the development of the modern concepts of the immune system, autoimmunity and autoimmune pathology. Article reviews data on the current problems of Immunology associated with the use of large databases of clinical and laboratory findings and extrapolation of animal experimentation data to humans. The newest ideas about congenital immunity, including the populations of innate lymphoid cells, on the role of various groups of receptors of the innate immunity system, on the participation of the mechanisms of innate immunity in pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders are highlighted. Modern concepts of antigen presentation are offered, including classification of dendritic cells, alternative pathways of macrophage activation, as well as on costimulatory and inhibitory interactions of ligands and receptors of lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells. The latest data about the subpopulations of T lymphocytes and their role, including the functions of Tfh cells and the relationships of these subpopulations with various immune responses are highlighted. Influence of microbiota on T cell subpopulations is discussed. The main regularities of the phenomenon of immunological memory are formulated. The questions of antibody production and B lymphocyte functions are considered taking into account recently discovered mechanisms of intracellular penetration of immunoglobulins and details of affinity maturation of lymphoid clones. The new therapeutic approaches in the treatment of autoimmune diseases associated with influences on B and T lymphocytes are described. Mechanisms of central and peripheral autotolerance have been highlighted, taking into account data on the function of the AIRE gene and T regulators. The role of T regulators in placentation is considered. The role of interleukin-2 and its recombinant analogues in immune interactions is interpreted in a new way, taking into account not only their immunostimulating, but, under certain conditions, immunosuppressive potential also. Considerable attention has been paid to the inhibitory receptors of T lymphocytes and to immuno-biotherapeutic effects on them. The history and current status of Oncoimmunology and the use of blockers of inhibitory T lymphocyte receptors in Oncology, including the side effects of treatment with check-point inhibitors, are briefly discussed. Information was given on the held on 21-23 September 2018 2nd Academy of Autoimmunity in St. Petersburg