Ecological optimum of ectothermic organisms: static-dynamical approach

During 20th century the majority of researchers interpreted ecological optimum as a certain combination of ambient factors which is optimal for growth, existence and reproduction of an organism. However, it was revealed in many species, that the maximum rates of various processes in an organism are achieved at various combinations of values of different factors, and under variable regimes as opposite to constant regimes. One may state that there is no well defined general concept which takes into account a bulk of data that do not conform the traditional definition of ecological optimum. Here, we show that it is necessary to make distinction between concepts of "static" and "dynamic" optima. It is needed for definition of real ecological optimum and creation of optimum conditions for given factor. We show also that it is necessary to take into account so-called delayed effects of factors. Basing on the analysis of responses of zooplankton to various temperatures and phosphoric load, we show that an optimum has "dynamic" characteristics besides previously known "static" ones, like a range of factor values on tolerance curve or a doze of factor. These "dynamic" characteristics are cyclic and stepwise changes of a factor, a directionality of factor's dynamics in case of stepwise changes and additionally, we reveal stimulating and inhibiting delayed effects of factors. Our results allow for a more detailed concept of ecological optimum, and also may stimulate investigations of quantitative contribution of various parameters of environmental factors to an ecological optimum of an organism or population

The model of education for developing the culture of tolerance in future specialists in the university environment

The model for forming the culture of tolerance in future specialists in the university environment was developed and implemented after receiving the data of the ascertaining experiment, confirming the necessity of development of the culture of tolerance in educational activities. This model suggests a focused and systematic work on formation of the culture of tolerance in higher schoo

Simulation study of signal formation in position sensitive planar p-on-n silicon detectors after short range charge injection

Segmented silicon detectors (micropixel and microstrip) are the main type of detectors used in the inner trackers of Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiments at CERN. Due to the high luminosity and eventual high fluence of energetic particles, detectors with fast response to fit the short shaping time of 20-25 ns and sufficient radiation hardness are required. Charge collection measurements carried out at the Ioffe Institute have shown a reversal of the pulse polarity in the detector response to short-range charge injection. Since the measured negative signal is about 30-60% of the peak positive signal, the effect strongly reduces the CCE even in non-irradiated detectors. For further investigation of the phenomenon the measurements have been reproduced by TCAD simulations. As for the measurements, the simulation study was applied for the p-on-n strip detectors similar in geometry to those developed for the ATLAS experiment and for the Ioffe Institute designed p-on-n strip detectors with each strip having a window in the metallization covering the p(+) implant, allowing the generation of electron-hole pairs under the strip implant. Red laser scans across the strips and the interstrip gap with varying laser diameters and Si-SiO2 interface charge densities (Q(f)) were carried out. The results verify the experimentally observed negative response along the scan in the interstrip gap. When the laser spot is positioned on the strip p(+) implant the negative response vanishes and the collected charge at the active strip increases respectively. The simulation results offer a further insight and understanding of the influence of the oxide charge density in the signal formation. The main result of the study is that a threshold value of Q(f), that enables negligible losses of collected charges, is defined. The observed effects and details of the detector response for different charge injection positions are discussed in the context of Ramo's theorem.Peer reviewe

Willingness to Communicate and International Students\u27 Use of L2

Willingness to Communicate (WTC) in the second language (L2) is the readiness to enter into discourse which is considered to be the direct precursor of students\u27 communication in L2 (MacIntyre et al., 1998). Oral language is thought to precede written language which creates an assumption that ongoing refining of oral skills may impact writing fluency. In respect to WTC model, there have been several versions that describe the construct (MacIntyre et al., 1998; Wen & Clement, 2003; Matsuoka, 2006). This study references self-efficacy, a cognitive variable in Matsuoka\u27s (2006) proposed model, when analyzing writing as a phenomenon in relation to WTC. Two sequential writing samples collected from 12 international students are closely examined for key themes, which are informed by the responses to the WTC and Language History questionnaire. The results show a moderate correlation (rs=.646) between self-efficacy and willingness to communicate among the surveyed participants as well as a moderate correlation between the error frequencies and WTC scores (rs=.536)

Management of patients with post-stroke dementia

Dementia occurs in 10-20% of cases and substantially hampers the rehabilitation of patients who have had stroke. Management of patients with post-stroke dementia is based on the prevention of recurrent stroke, cognitive stimulation, and the use of drugs improving cognitive functions. The paper gives the data available in the literature on the results of randomized placebo-controlled trials evaluating the efficacy of central acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and the NMDA receptor antagonist akatinol memantine in vascular dementia, as well as the author’s positive experience with akatinol memantine used in 20 patients

Political and legal means to ensure mechanisms of interaction between state organs and local cities' authorities as tools to achieve public relations effectiveness

The actuality of examined issue is predetermined by necessity of aligning state policy with the actual status of cities as active actors in policy making process on domestic and international level. The main objective of this study is to review contemporary peculiarities of the role of local governments within cities in policy making process in order to underscore the relevance of actual status of citites and its legal framework by political tools. The work relies on the use of teleological analysis (in order to understand the importance of implementing complex of political and legal tools within urban state policy to elaborate mechanism of building due public relations in the state), a comparative method (as part of a comparative study of the legal and actual statuses of cities as actors of domestic and external political relations), and functional analysis (when identifying city competence). The general discourse on the local government in cities allows to determine the need for a combination of political and legal tools in building relations between the state power institutions and local authorities in cities. Due urban politics presums developing the good image of city abroad, based on its identity to gain despite the competition worldwide benefits such as being elected as location of important international event. This paper examines both the inherent contradictions between the legal foundation and domestic and external actorness of cities

Properties of a radiation-induced charge multiplication region in epitaxial silicon diodes

Charge multiplication (CM) in p$^+$n epitaxial silicon pad diodes of 75, 100 and 150 \upmum thickness at high voltages after proton irradiation with 1 MeV neutron equivalent fluences in the order of $10^{16}$ cm$^{-2}$ was studied as an option to overcome the strong trapping of charge carriers in the innermost tracking region of future Super-LHC detectors. Charge collection efficiency (CCE) measurements using the Transient Current Technique (TCT) with radiation of different penetration (670, 830, 1060 nm laser light and $\alpha$-particles with optional absorbers) were used to locate the CM region close to the p$^+$-implantation. The dependence of CM on material, thickness of the epitaxial layer, annealing and temperature was studied. The collected charge in the CM regime was found to be proportional to the deposited charge, uniform over the diode area and stable over a period of several days. Randomly occurring micro discharges at high voltages turned out to be the largest challenge for operation of the diodes in the CM regime. Although at high voltages an increase of the TCT baseline noise was observed, the signal-to-noise ratio was found to improve due to CM for laser light. Possible effects on the charge spectra measured with laser light due to statistical fluctuations in the CM process were not observed. In contrast, the relative width of the spectra increased in the case of $\alpha$-particles, probably due to varying charge deposited in the CM region.Comment: 11 pages, accepted by NIM

Identification of new DNA markers of endometrial cancer in patients from the Ukrainian population

Aim: To identify clinically significant molecular markers of endometrial cancer. Materials and Methods: Cancer and normal endometrial tissue samples from 20 patients of the Gynecology Clinic of Odessa State Medical University (Odessa, Ukraine) with confirmed endometrial cancer were compared for SSR and ISSR polymorphisms. Identified polymorphic fragments from anonymous genome regions situated between microsatellite repeats underwent direct DNA sequencing; analysis of their homology to sequences from human genome database has been performed. Results: No significant variability for the microsatellite loci adjacent to the E2F1, BAX, TCF7L2, C-MYC, WNT1, FES, DCC, P27, THRA, APC, CYP19 and P53 genes was detected. Search for new molecular markers of endometrial cancer within anonymous DNA sequences located between microsatellite repeats revealed 100 bp and 174 bp polymorphic fragments. These fragments were detected correspondingly in 60% and 35% of patients. 100 bp fragment appeared to be homologous to a region within the NFKB gene, 174 bp fragment – to a sequence within the DDR1 gene. Conclusions: NFKB1 and DDR1 genes may be regarded as potential markers for some types of endometrial cancer. This is a first report about possible association of these genes with endometrial cancer.Цель: идентификация клинически значимых маркеров рака эндометрия. Материалы и Методы: проведен анализ SSR- и ISSR-полиморфизма в образцах опухолей и непораженной ткани эндометрия двадцати пациентов, получавших лечение в клинике гинекологии Одесского государственного медицинского университета (Одесса, Украина). Выполнено секвенирование выявленных полиморфных фрагментов ДНК, локализованных в анонимных участках генома между микросателлитными повторами (ISSR-полиморфизм), осуществлен анализ их гомологии с известными участками ДНК из базы данных генома человека. Результаты: не установлено значительной вариабельности микросателлитных повторов, соседствующих с генами E2F1, BAX, TCF7L2, C-MYC, WNT1, FES, DCC, P27, THRA, APC, CYP19 и P53. В процессе поиска новых маркеров рака эндометрия среди анонимных последовательностей ДНК, локализующихся между микросателлитными повторами, выявлены полиморфные фрагменты длиной 100 и 174 пн. Эти фрагменты присутствовали соответственно у 60 и 35% пациентов . Фрагмент длиной 100 пн оказался гомологичным участку гена NFKB1, а фрагмент длиной 174 пн – участку гена DDR1. Выводы: гены NFKB1 и DDR1 могут рассматриваться в качестве потенциальных маркеров некоторых типов рака эндометрия. Это первое сообщение о возможной ассоциации данных генов с опухолями эндометрия

CUBE ONLINE ANALYTICAL MODEL (COLAM) IN THE RIVER SHIPPING LOGISTIC FORECASTING

In this paper authors developed Cube Online Analytical Model (COLAM) which should anticipate various restrictions and hazards in river transport system. The aim is to construct a theoretical model which will predict certain delays in transport time caused by topographic and hydrographic constraints, natural hazards (such as ice, floods and droughts), economic and political constraints (tariff barriers between the countries, operating costs, terminal costs and sanctions, the threat of war, etc.) and different technical accidents. COLAM integrates hydroinformatic and hydrologic base of knowledge with real time and gives possibility to provide information for economic queries with different hierarchy of time. COLAM is methodological and practical instrument for this challenge. It integrates hydroinformatic and hydrologic base of knowledge with real time. The model in each concrete case is created to receive information about possible changing of navigation periods on the base of multi-dimension all of three groups of risks (natural hazards, social and technical hazards) as also their combinations