Interpretation of contradictory images by means of systems of linear inequalities

We consider the problem of interpretation of three-dimensional images from their flat projections up to the set of visible faces. For projections of convex polyhedra, we present an interpretation algorithm based on maximal feasible subsystems of a certain infeasible system of linear inequalities modeling the visibility requirement for faces. A number of model examples are given; in particular, the algorithm is applied to the interpretation of the Necker cube. © 2013 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd

Structural-chemical features and morphology of glauconites in sedimentary iron ore of Bakchar prospect (Western Siberia)

The research embraces the investigation results of glauconites in Bakchar iron ore occurrences to evaluate the potential diversified commercial application of this mineral. The following lab methods were used to analyze the morphology, chemical composition and structure of glauconites: granulometric analysis, optical microscopy, electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence analysis, atomic arc-emission analysis and infrared spectroscopy. Glauconite was classified according to morphology and grain color and chemical composition and some specific characteristics were also determined (relative content of absorbed water, random distribution of smectite flakes within the grain structures). The research results showed that pistacho-green glauconite grains are less subjected to alteration than greenish-yellow grains due to the content of potassium, iron, absorbed water and organic impurities

Finite groups isospectral to simple groups

The spectrum of a finite group is the set of element orders of this group. The main goal of this paper is to survey results concerning recognition of finite simple groups by spectrum, in particular, to list all finite simple groups for which the recognition problem is solved

Higher Environmental Education in Japan: Social Mission and National Peculiarities

The fact of the Japanese economic miracle is rarely associated with the environmental crisis. Getting out of this crisis might be considered as another Japanese miracle – the ecological one, which turned the country into an area of a harmony between man and nature. This unique  phenomenon is usually associated with traditions of Shinto, but this is only  one part of the national realities. Another part is connected with the  beneficial effects of the eco-cultural revolution of recent decades. Development of environmental education was the most important component. This article presents the results of a study of higher environmental education in Japan, which has acquired a nationwide scale and has become an important link in the state environmental policy. This is precisely the mission of environmental education – to be the most important tool for ensuring the ecological culture of environmental professionals and the entire population of the country in a whole. The empirical basis of the study is provided by thematic publications in Japanese, English and Russian, materials from targeted surveys and interviews of Japanese universities’  teachers within the framework of the project of the Russian Geographical  Society, as well as a diverse authors’ experience of communication with employees and students of Japanese universities over the past 10 years. The aim of the study is to identify the features of the development of higher environmental education in Japan and the specifics of its current stage. The  most important of these features are the development of universal environmental education in the country; systematic “greening” of higher education; a synthesis of national cultural traditions and scientifically based innovations; creation of an attractive image of environmental specialties; using environmental education as a platform for the paradigm  of an education for sustainable development. The revealed features convince that Japanese society is aware of the high price of environmental costs, while considering environmental education as a decisive factor in its optimization.  In this regard, the original Japanese practice of higher environmental education is of undoubted interest for other countries of the world including  Russia

ОБОРОТ ТРОМБОЦИТОВ И АТЕРОТРОМБОЗ

Platelets play an important role in initiating atherothrombosis, i.e. the formation of blood clots inside a blood vessel at areas of atherosclerotic vascular injury. The functional (prothrombotic) activity of platelets significantly varies both in healthy individuals and in patients with cardiovascular diseases. The increased platelet production and turnover may be one of the reasons for promoting platelet activity. Stimulating thrombocytopoiesis results in large and reticular (with an increased amount of RNA) "young" platelets in the bloodstream. These platelets contain more adhesive receptors, more secretory granules and have an increased aggregation capacity. The review provides data indicating that large and reticular platelets are not only markers, but also predictors of atherothrombotic events, and primarily of acute coronary syndrome. An increase in such platelet count in patients receiving antiplatelet drugs is associated with a decrease in effectiveness of their antiplatelet action. It is assumed that the appearance of large and reticular platelets in the blood of patients with atherosclerosis and atherothrombosis may be a consequence of an increase in the thrombopoietic activity of megakaryocytes in these pathological conditions.Тромбоциты играют ведущую роль в инициации атеротромбоза – образования внутрисосудистых тромбов в участках атеросклеротическом повреждении сосудов. Функциональная (протромботическая) активность тромбоцитов существенным образом варьирует как у здоровых лиц, так и у пациентов с сердечно-сосудистыми заболеваниями. Одной из причин повышения активности тромбоцитов может быть ускорение их продукции и оборота. При стимуляции тромбоцитопоэза в кровотоке появляются крупные и ретикулярные (с повышенным количеством РНК) «молодые» тромбоциты. Эти тромбоциты содержат больше адгезивных рецепторов, больше секреторных гранул и обладают повышенной способностью к агрегации. В обзоре приводятся данные, указывающие на то, что крупные и ретикулярные тромбоциты являются не только маркерами, но и предикторами атеротромботических событий, и в первую очередь острого коронарного синдрома. Увеличение количества таких тромбоцитов у больных, получающих антитромбоцитарные препараты, ассоциировано со снижением эффективности их антиагрегантного действия. Предполагается, что появление крупных и ретикулярных тромбоцитов в крови больных с атеросклерозом и атеротромбозом может быть следствием повышения тромбопоэтической активности мегакариоцитов при этих патологических состояниях

Geometric estimation of volcanic eruption column height from GOES-R near-limb imagery-Part 2: Case studies

In a companion paper (Horváth et al., 2021), we introduced a new technique to estimate volcanic eruption column height from extremely oblique near-limb geostationary views. The current paper demonstrates and validates the technique in a number of recent eruptions, ranging from ones with weak columnar plumes to subplinian events with massive umbrella clouds and overshooting tops that penetrate the stratosphere. Due to its purely geometric nature, the new method is shown to be unaffected by the limitations of the traditional brightness temperature method, such as height underestimation in subpixel and semitransparent plumes, ambiguous solutions near the tropopause temperature inversion, or the lack of solutions in undercooled plumes. The side view height estimates were in good agreement with plume heights derived from ground-based video and satellite stereo observations, suggesting they can be a useful complement to established techniques

Estimation Method for Vector Field Divergence of Earth Crust Deformations in the Process of Mineral Deposits Development

An essential requirement for effective and safe deposit development is good geomechanical software. Nowadays software packages based on finite element method are used extensively to estimate stress-strain state of the rock mass. Their quality use can only be assured if boundary conditions and integral mechanical properties of the rock mass are known. In mining engineering this objective has always been achieved by means of experimental observations. The main source of information on initial and man-induced stress-strain state of the rock mass is natural measurement of displacement characteristics. Measurement of geodetic data (coordinates, heights, directions) in the period between alteration cycles allows to plot a field of displacement vectors for the points in question. Taken together, displacement vectors provide information on the objective stress-strain state of the Earth crust. Basing on it, strain tensors, displacement components, directions and rates of compression and tension can be calculated in the examined area. However, differential characteristics of any physical vector field – namely, curl and divergence – need to be taken into account. Divergence is a single value (scalar) associated with a single point. Vector field as a whole can be described with divergence scalar field. Divergence indicates the sign (positive or negative) of volume changes in the infinitesimal region of space and characterizes vector flux in the nearest proximity and in all directions from a given point. In the paper authors propose a method to estimate divergence using discrete geodetic observations of displacement occurring on the surface of examined territory. It requires construction of formulas that model vector field for any point of the area. It is proposed to use power polynomials that describe displacement in three directions (x, y, z). These formulas allow to estimate field vectors in any given point, i.e. to form vector tubes. Then areas of input and output cross-section, as well as divergence values are calculated. This increases the quality of geodetic observation and provides opportunities for more precise modeling of the rock mass disrupted by mining operations, using modern software packages

Diagnostics of thrombocytopenias

Laboratory methods used for the diagnostics of thrombocytopenias are reviewed. Differential diagnosis is usually carried out between immune and hypoproductive forms of thrombocytopenia. Immune thrombocytopenias are caused by appearance in blood of antiplatelet abtibodies and accelerated destruction of platelets sensibilized by those antibodies, and hypoproductive thrombocytopenias - by impaired platelet production in the bone marrow. Main directions of the laboratory diagnostics of thrombocytopenias - analysis of auto - and alloautoantibodies and evaluation of platelet production and turnover in the blood stream. The following methods are used for the investigation of antiplatelet antibodies: 1) measurement of platelet associated immunoglobulins; 2) determination of circulating antibodies reacting with platelets; 3) determination of antibodies using antigen specific methods - by their reactivity with isolated platelet antigens (glycoproteins). Efficacy of platelet production could be assessed by measuring in blood the amount of “young” (reticulated) platelets. One more method for the evaluation of platelet production as well as the rate of platelet turnover - measurement of plasma soluble glycocalicin, glycoprotein Ib fragment shed from the surface of platelets upon their destruction in spleen and liver. In patients with immune thrombocytopenia autoantibodies are evaluated in all cases, the percentage of reticulated platelets is significantly increased and the amount of plasma glycocalicin is within the normal range or increased. In patients with hypoproductive thrombocytopenia autoantibodies are not detected or detected at low level, the percentage of reticulated platelets is within the normal range or slightly increased and the amount of plasma glycocalicin is lowered. Diagnostics of hapten forms of immune thromocytopenias (heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and others) and of alloimmune thrombocytopenias (neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia in particular) are considered in the separate sections of this review

АПТАМЕРЫ — НОВЫЕ ФАРМАКОЛОГИЧЕСКИЕ СУБСТАНЦИИ ДЛЯ АНТИКОАГУЛЯНТОВ

A ptamers are a new class of oligonucleotide compounds capable of specific binding to various molecular targets and inhibiting their activity. Aptamers are selected from a library of randomly syn-thesized oligonucleotides (from 20 to 60 nucleotides long) based on their ability to bind to the target molecule. In the future, such primary aptamers can be chemically modified to optimize their structure and increase stability. Aptamers are considered to be chemical (oligonucleotide) analogues of monoclonal antibodies: their specificity is similar to that of antibodies, and they have high affinity to their targets. Aptamers are widely used to create pharmacological medicines. As pharmacological substances, they have a number of benefits over antibodies and other protein molecules. Aptamers are practically non-immunogenic, chemically synthesized without the use of biological producers, and their antidotes can easily be created using complementary sequences. The review highlights reports devoted to the development of new anticoagulant aptamer-based medications. The most detailed studies, both preclinical and clinical (various phases of clinical trials), were performed in relation to the study of aptamers against vWF, factor IX and thrombin.  Аптамеры представляют собой новый класс олигонуклеотидных соединений, способных специфически взаимодействовать с различными молекулярными мишенями и ингибировать их активность. Аптамеры получают путем отбора из библиотеки случайно синтезированных олигонуклеотидов (длина от 20 до 60 нуклеотидов) по их способности к связыванию с молекулой-мишенью. В дальнейшем такие первичные аптамеры могут быть химически модифицированы с целью оптимизации их структуры и повышения стабильности. Аптамеры принято считать химическими (олигонуклеотидными) аналогами моноклональных антител, т. к. они обладают близкими к антителам показателями специфичности и сродства (аффинности) по отношению к своим мишеням. Аптамеры активно используются для создания фармакологических препаратов. Как фармакологические субстанции они обладают рядом преимуществ перед антителами и другими белковыми молекулами. Аптамеры практически неиммуногенны, они синтезируются химическим путем без использования биологических продуцентов, и для них могут быть легко созданы антидоты на основе комплементарных последовательностей. В обзоре рассматриваются работы, направленные на создание новых антикоагулянтных препаратов аптамерной природы. Наиболее подробные исследования, как доклинические, так и клинические (в рамках различных фаз клинических испытаний), были выполнены при изучении аптамеров против фактора Виллебранда, фактора IX и тромбина.