Radiative Decay Width of Neutral non-Strange Baryons from PWA

An overview of the GW SAID and ITEP groups effort to analyze pion photoproduction on the neutron-target will be given. The disentanglement the isoscalar and isovector EM couplings of N* and Delta* resonances does require compatible data on both proton and neutron targets. The final-state interaction plays a critical role in the state-of-the-art analysis in extraction of the gamma n --> pi N data from the deuteron target experiments. It is important component of the current JLab, MAMI-C, SPring-8, ELSA, and ELPH programsComment: 7 pages, 7 figures, 1 table; Proceedings of International Conference Dark Matter, Hadron Physics and Fusion Physics, Messina, Italy, Sept. 2014; will be published in EPJ Web of Conference

Effect of Temperature on Physical and Mechanical Properties of Monolithic Polycarbonate

The study of the physical and mechanical properties of polycarbonate under various temperature conditions, taking into account its widespread use as a base material of monolithic polycarbonate systems in various climatic regions, will ensure a high degree of reliability of structures during operation in a wide temperature range. The authors of the article conducted a series of tensile tests of monolithic polycarbonate in the temperature range from -60 to +80 °C. The influence of temperature on the following characteristics of monolithic polycarbonate was evaluated: elongation at break, tensile yield strength, tensile stress at break, strains at the end of the elastic stage of the material. As a result of the conducted experimental studies, the relationship between the strength properties of monolithic polycarbonate and the operating temperature was revealed. The values of elongation at break at temperatures exceeding 15 °C for various samples generally correspond to the values obtained during tests conducted under standard conditions

Time trends in smoking in Russia in the light of recent tobacco control measures: synthesis of evidence from multiple sources

Background - The study aims at identifying long-term trends and patterns of current smoking by age, gender, and education in Russia, including the most recent period from 2008 during which tobacco control policies were implemented, and to estimate the impact on mortality of any reductions in prevalence. We present an in-depth analysis based on an unprecedentedly large array of survey data. Methods - We examined pooled micro-data on smoking from 17 rounds of the Russian Longitudinal Monitoring Study of 1996–2016, 11 other surveys conducted in Russia in 1975–2017, and two comparator surveys from England and the USA. Standardization by age and education, regression and meta-analysis were used to estimate trends in the prevalence of current smoking by gender, age, and educational patterns. Results - From the mid-1970s to the mid-2000s smoking prevalence among men was relatively stable at around 60%, after which time prevalence declined in every age and educational group. Among women, trends in smoking were more heterogeneous. Prevalence more than doubled above the age of 55 years from very low levels ( Conclusions - The implementation of an effective tobacco control strategy in Russia starting in 2008 coincided with a decline in smoking prevalence among men from what had been stable, high levels over many decades regardless of age and education. Among women, the declines have been more uneven, with young women showing recent downturns, while the smoking prevalence in middle age has increased, particularly among those with minimal education. Among men, these positive changes will have made a small contribution to the reduction in mortality seen in Russia since 2005

Long-term trends in blood pressure and hypertension in Russia: an analysis of data from 14 health surveys conducted in 1975-2017

Background Hypertension is recognized as an important contributor to high cardiovascular mortality in Russia. A comprehensive analysis of data from Russian studies that measured blood pressure in population-based samples has not been previously undertaken. This study aims to identify trends and patterns in mean blood pressure and the prevalence of hypertension in Russia over the most recent 40 years. Methods We obtained anonymized individual records of blood pressure measurements from 14 surveys conducted in Russia in 1975-2017 relating to a total of 137,687 individuals. For comparative purposes we obtained equivalent data from 4 surveys in the USA and England for 23,864 individuals. A meta-regression on aggregated data adjusted for education was undertaken to estimate time trends in mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure, the prevalence of elevated blood pressure (> 140/90 mmHg), and hypertension (defined as elevated blood pressure and/or the use of blood pressure-lowering) medication. A meta-analysis of pooled individual-level data was used to assess male-female differences in blood pressure and hypertension. Results During the period 1975-2017 mean blood pressure, the prevalence of elevated blood pressure and hypertension remained stable among Russian men. Among Russian women, mean systolic blood pressure decreased at an annual rate of 0.25 mmHg (p < 0.1) at age 35-54 years and by 0.8 mmHg (p < 0.01) at ages 55 and over. The prevalence of elevated blood pressure also decreased by 0.8% per year (p < 0.01), but the prevalence of hypertension remained stable. Mean blood pressure and prevalence of hypertension were higher in Russia compared to the USA and England at all ages and for both sexes. Conclusions In contrast to the generally observed downward trend in elevated blood pressure in many other countries, levels in Russia have changed little over the past 40 years, although there are some positive trends among women. Improved strategies to bring down the high levels of mean blood pressure and hypertension in Russia compared to countries such as England and the USA are important to further reduce the high burden of CVD in Russia

Snake venom phospholipase A2s exhibit strong virucidal activity against SARS-CoV-2 and inhibit the viral spike glycoprotein interaction with ACE2.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 requires new treatments both to alleviate the symptoms and to prevent the spread of this disease. Previous studies demonstrated good antiviral and virucidal activity of phospholipase A2s (PLA2s) from snake venoms against viruses from different families but there was no data for coronaviruses. Here we show that PLA2s from snake venoms protect Vero E6 cells against SARS-CoV-2 cytopathic effects. PLA2s showed low cytotoxicity to Vero E6 cells with some activity at micromolar concentrations, but strong antiviral activity at nanomolar concentrations. Dimeric PLA2 from the viper Vipera nikolskii and its subunits manifested especially potent virucidal effects, which were related to their phospholipolytic activity, and inhibited cell-cell fusion mediated by the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein. Moreover, PLA2s interfered with binding both of an antibody against ACE2 and of the receptor-binding domain of the glycoprotein S to 293T/ACE2 cells. This is the first demonstration of a detrimental effect of PLA2s on β-coronaviruses. Thus, snake PLA2s are promising for the development of antiviral drugs that target the viral envelope, and could also prove to be useful tools to study the interaction of viruses with host cells

Исследование влияния краткосрочных силовых тренировок на соревновательные результаты элитных дзюдоистов

Sports performance of elite judo athletes is dependent on the high level of technical skills and physical fitness, including strength capacities: power, muscular strength, muscular endurance and other. This study investigated the effects of short-term (4-/6- or 8-week) specific strength interventions on sports performance in male elite judokas. Thirty six elite male judokas (aged 18–22 years) practiced in short-term (4-/6- or 8-week) strength training intervention added to the regular judo training. To determine sports performance, all athletes were evaluated with regards to their performance during the five judo tournaments within three months in post-intervention. The judokas’ individual sport performance was evaluated in accordance with guidelines of the German potential analysis system (PotAS). There were significant (p≤0.05) differences in sports performance points among the groups in the first judo tournament in favor of judokas, who practiced 4-week strength training intervention. All judokas demonstrated similar mean sports performance points during the second and third judo tournaments. There were significant (p≤0.05) differences in sports performance points in favor of judokas, who practiced 6- or 8-week strength training intervention during the fourth and fifth judo tournaments. The short-term (4-/6- or 8-week) strength training interventions are not equally effective to increase sports performance of elite male judokas within three months in post- strength intervention. The final decision for the specific duration (4-/6- or 8-week) of strength training intervention can be decided according to an judoka’s medal challenges during the competition season: high sports performance in near future (during the month) or an increase in sports performance after one-two monthsСпортивные результаты элитных дзюдоистов зависят от высокого уровня технических навыков и физической подготовки, включая силовые показатели: мощность, мышечную силу, выносливость и др. В данном исследовании изучалось влияние краткосрочных (4-6 или 8 недель) специальных силовых тренировок на спортивные результаты у мужчин-дзюдоистов. Тридцать шесть элитных дзюдоистов-мужчин (в возрасте 18–22 лет) использовали краткосрочные (4-6 или 8 недель) силовые тренировки дополнительно к регулярным тренировкам по дзюдо. Для определения влияния на спортивные результаты все спортсмены были оценены в отношении их выступления во время пяти турниров по дзюдо в течение трех месяцев после окончания силовых тренировок. Индивидуальные спортивные результаты дзюдоистов оценивались в соответствии с руководящими принципами немецкой системы анализа потенциала (PotAS). На первом турнире по дзюдо были выявлены достоверные (р < 0,05) различия в спортивных результатах в пользу дзюдоистов, которые использовали 4-недельные силовые тренировки. Все исследуемые спортсмены продемонстрировали одинаковые спортивные результаты во время второго и третьего турниров. Выявлены достоверные (р < 0,05) различия в спортивных результатах в пользу дзюдоистов, которые практиковали 6- или 8-недельные силовые тренировки во время четвертого и пятого турниров по дзюдо. Установлено, что краткосрочные (4-6 или 8 недель) силовые тренировки не будут одинаково эффективными для повышения уровня спортивных результатов элитных дзюдоистов-мужчин в течение трех месяцев после их применения. Окончательное решение на использование определенной (4-6 или 8 недель) силовой тренировки может быть принято в соответствии с медальными задачами дзюдоиста в течение соревновательного сезона: высокие спортивные результаты в ближайшем будущем (в течение месяца) или увеличение уровня спортивных результатов через один-два месяц

Effective Chiral Lagrangian from Dual Resonance Models

Parameters of the effective chiral lagrangian (EChL) of orders $O(p^4)$ and $O(p^6)$ are extracted from low--energy behaviour of dual resonance models for $\pi\pi$ and $\pi K$ scattering amplitudes. Dual resonance models are considered to be good candidates for the resonance spectrum and for hadronic scattering amplitudes in the large $N_c$ limit of QCD. We discuss dual resonance models in the presence of spontaneous and explicit chiral symmetry breaking. Obtained parameters of the EChL are used to estimate chiral corrections up to the sixth order to various low--energy characteristics of $\pi\pi$ and $\pi K$ scattering amplitudes.Comment: 32 pages, the references list is updated, comparison with chiral quark model is done in more detail