Contradictions in the Development of the Welfare Non-Profit Sector in Russia

Received 28 April 2023. Accepted 8 August 2023. Published online 6 October 2023.The article focuses on the core contradictions within the development of the social non-profit sector in Russia. The empirical basis of the study comprises statistical data, legal documents regulating the social services’ sphere, research data from previous studies conducted in Russia, as well as qualitative data collected for this study. The introduction provides background information on the stages of reforming the social service system in Russia. The first part is devoted to the contradictions between international trends and Russian patterns. In line with a neoliberal approach, non-profit NGOs play a significant role as key actors in social work providing social services for different client groups. At the same time, they are not independent and Russian civil society is not yet strong enough to realize social rights of citizens. In the next section, some of the key issues of interaction between the government and NGOs are discussed. An analysis of the current situation demonstrates that while a social partnership between the state and NGOs is affirmed by authorities on official level, in practice, the state still dominates the social sector. The article then focuses on how Russian NGOs have reoriented their efforts toward financial sustainability through government support.This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation (RSF) under the project No. 19–18–00246-P, titled “Challenges of the transformation of welfare state in Russia: institutional changes, social investment, digitalization of social services”, implemented at St. Petersburg State University

An analytical expression for ion velocities at the wall including the sheath electric field and surface biasing for erosion modeling at JET ILW

For simulation of plasma-facing component erosion in fusion experiments, an analytical expression for the ion velocity just before the surface impact including the local electric field and an optional surface biasing effect is suggested. Energy and angular impact distributions and the resulting effective sputtering yields were produced for several experimental scenarios at JET ILW mostly involving PFCs exposed to an oblique magnetic field. The analytic solution has been applied as an improvement to earlier ERO mod- elling of localized, Be outer limiter, RF-enhanced erosion, modulated by toggling of a remote, however magnetically connected ICRH antenna. The effective W sputtering yields due to D and Be ion impact in Type-I and Type-III ELMs and inter-ELM conditions were also estimated using the analytical approach and benchmarked by spectroscopy. The intra-ELM W sputtering flux increases almost 10 times in comparison to the inter-ELM flux.EURATOM 63305

Social investment: Problems and development strategies

We present the findings of a survey aimed at identifying expert opinions about social investment policies. Our sample includes respondents from Russian regions (n = 160) involved in the production of social services – specialists and heads of state social institutions, non-profit organizations, social entrepreneurs, and authorities. Research findings suggest key factors that might contribute to the development of non-profit sector of social services and social entrepreneurship. The state and local governments are considered by experts as the main investors, while financial investments in the form of budget subsidies and grants are the most anticipated forms for solving regional social issues. Investing in infrastructure and personnel is among the most popular areas for social investment related to the development of new suppliers. According to the respondents, the priority spheres for social entrepreneurship are investments to children, youth, health, and active longevity. The survey participants view social investment as a strategy for the social development of regions based on the achievement of social goals combined with economic results. The professional community considers the lack of interest in the new type of entrepreneurship among residents of the regions, including private investors, and the weak interest of local governments as risks for social investment policy and social entrepreneurship © 2022. Terra Economicus.All Rights Reserved.Russian Science Foundation, RSF: 19-18-00246Funding: The research is prepared with the financial support of the Russian Science Foundation, project № 19-18-00246 “Challenges of transformation of the welfare state in Russia: Institutional changes, social investment, digitalization of social services”, implemented at St. Petersburg State University

Inflammation of adipose tissue. Is there a place for statins to correct adiposopathy?

This review is devoted to the analysis of data on the effect of inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzymate-reductase on the endocrine function of adipose tissue in obesity. Violation of metabolism of adipose tissue, as well as the amount of fat, are a a key factor in the pathophysiology of obesity and the development of concomitant diseases. Statins are competitive inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-kofermenta reductase (HMG-COA reductase) that catalyze the initial stage of cholesterol biosynthesis in the liver. Therefore, traditionally, the liver is considered as the main target organ for statins. The results of studies of molecular mechanisms of action of statins on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, adipokine and inflammatory balance in adipose tissue on the example of isolated adipocytes (in vivo) and in living organism (in vitro) are presented. Effect of statins on the action of insulin, as well as the possibility of developing pathological conditions associated with insulin resistance and the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM 2). The proven clinical effects of cholesterol-lowering action of statins, allow new insights and to further explore their possible impact on other links in the development of obesity, and potentially to use them as therapeutic agents for pharmacological correction of obesity and the fight against cardiovascular diseases

Effect of metformin on transcriptome and adipokinome of adipocytes of local fat deposts of patients with ischemic heart disease

BACKGROUND: The information available to date on the effect of metformin on the transcriptome and secretory capacity of adipocytes in human adipose tissue (AT) is scarce and contradictory. The study analyzed whether metformin in vitro modulates gene expression and secretion of adiponectin and leptin in the AT of subcutaneous (SAT), epicardial (EAT) and perivascular (PVAT) localization of patients with ischemic artery disease (IHD).AIM: To assess the effect of metformin at various concentrations (1 and 10 mmol / L) on the level of expression of adiponectin and leptin genes and their content in adipocytes of subcutaneous, epicardial and perivascular AT of patients with IHD.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 134 patients with IHD and indications for direct myocardial revascularization by coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). During the operation, biopsies of SAT, EAT and PVAT were obtained for 3–5 gram, which served as a source of adipocytes. Isolated adipocytes were cultured for 24 hours with and without metformin (1 and 10 mmol / L). After a day of incubation, the expression of the ADIPOQ and LEP genes and the level of secretion of adiponectin and leptin in the culture medium of adipocytes were determined. Statistical processing was performed using the GraphPad Prism 6 software package (GraphPad Software, La Jolla, CA, USA) and Statistica software, 6.1 (Dell Software, Inc., Round Rock, TX, USA).RESULTS: The adipocytes of the EAT and PVAT of patients with IHD were characterized by an imbalance in the adipokine system, manifested by a low level of ADIPOQ expression and a high LEP expression in comparison with adipocytes of the SAT. Metformin increased the level of ADIPOQ expression and its secretion by adipocytes regardless of their location, while a low concentration (1 mmol / L) in adipocytes of EAT had a stronger effect compared to 10 mmol / L. Metformin had a multidirectional effect on the level of leptin in adipocytes, which depended on their localization: both in low (1 mmol / L) and high concentrations (10 mmol / L), the drug reduced the level of LEP expression and protein secretion in the culture medium of adipocytes of the SAT. EAT had no significant effect on adipocytes. In PVAT, metformin increased the expression and secretion of leptin regardless of concentration.CONCLUSION: Metformin has a direct effect on adipocytes in SAT, EAT, and PVAT and is able to modulate their activity, which is a promising strategy for maintaining the balance of adipokines in AT, especially epicardial and perivascular localization

CYTOKINE PROFILE IN VISCERAL OBESITY AND ADVERSE CARDIOVASCULAR PROGNOSIS OF MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Presence of myocardial infarction in patients with obesity can lead to an uncontrolled increase in proinflammatory cytokines and unfavorable course of the pathological process. Objective: to study the relationship of key inflammatory factors and the development of complications at different terms after myocardial infarction in patients with visceral obesity. The study involved 94 men with myocardial infarction. Visceral obesity was diagnosed by multi-slice computed tomography (LightspeedVCT 64 ,General Electric,USA). On the 1st and 12th day of hospitalization, we determined serum concentrations of interleukins (TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8 IL-10 and IL-12), and C-reactive protein. Adverse cardiovascular events were documented during the next year. The most informative indicators were identified by a stepwise logistic regression analysis. In patients with myocardial infarction an imbalance of cytokine profile revealed, i.e., an increase in proinflammatory markers (TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, CRP), along with decrease in IL-10, being more pronounced in cases of visceral obesity. Among the studied markers, closest relationship was observed between visceral obesity and serum concentrations of IL-6 and CRP. Over the year, adverse cardiovascular events proved to be more frequent in patients with visceral obesity. Post-infarction complication risk was associated with higher concentrations of IL-6, IL-12 and IL-10 deficiency. Hence, development of adverse cardiovascular events within a year after myocardial infarction is more typical to the patients with visceral obesity, and is accompanied by activation of proinflammatory cytokines and IL-10 deficiency

Modelling of the effect of ELMs on fuel retention at the bulk W divertor of JET

Effect of ELMs on fuel retention at the bulk W target of JET ITER-Like Wall was studied with multi-scale calculations. Plasma input parameters were taken from ELMy H-mode plasma experiment. The energetic intra-ELM fuel particles get implanted and create near-surface defects up to depths of few tens of nm, which act as the main fuel trapping sites during ELMs. Clustering of implantation-induced vacancies were found to take place. The incoming flux of inter-ELM plasma particles increases the different filling levels of trapped fuel in defects. The temperature increase of the W target during the pulse increases the fuel detrapping rate. The inter-ELM fuel particle flux refills the partially emptied trapping sites and fills new sites. This leads to a competing effect on the retention and release rates of the implanted particles. At high temperatures the main retention appeared in larger vacancy clusters due to increased clustering rate

Determination of tungsten sources in the JET-ILW divertor by spectroscopic imaging in the presence of a strong plasma continuum

The identification of the sources of atomic tungsten and the measurement of their radiation distribution in front of all plasma-facing components has been performed in JET with the help of two digital cameras with the same two-dimensional view, equipped with interference filters of different bandwidths centred on theW I (400.88 nm) emission line. A new algorithm for the subtraction of the continuum radiation was successfully developed and is now used to evaluate the W erosion even in the inner divertor region where the strong recombination emission is dominating over the tungsten emission. Analysis of W sputtering and W redistribution in the divertor by video imaging spectroscopy with high spatial resolution for three different magnetic configurations was performed. A strong variation of the emission of the neutral tungsten in toroidal direction and corresponding W erosion has been observed. It correlates strongly with the wetted area with a maximal W erosion at the edge of the divertor tile

The effect of beryllium oxide on retention in JET ITER-like wall tiles

Preliminary results investigating the microstructure, bonding and effect of beryllium oxide formation on retention in the JET ITER-like wall beryllium tiles, are presented. The tiles have been investigated by several techniques: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) equipped with Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Transmission Electron microscopy (TEM) equipped with EDX and Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS), Raman Spectroscopy and Thermal Desorption Spectroscopy (TDS). This paper focuses on results from melted materials of the dump plate tiles in JET. From our results and the literature, it is concluded, beryllium can form micron deep oxide islands contrary to the nanometric oxides predicted under vacuum conditions. The deepest oxides analyzed were up to 2-micron thicknesses. The beryllium Deuteroxide (BeOxDy) bond was found with Raman Spectroscopy. Application of EELS confirmed the oxide presence and stoichiometry. Literature suggests these oxides form at temperatures greater than 700 °C where self-diffusion of beryllium ions through the surface oxide layer can occur. Further oxidation is made possible between oxygen plasma impurities and the beryllium ions now present at the wall surface. Under Ultra High Vacuum (UHV) nanometric Beryllium oxide layers are formed and passivate at room temperature. After continual cyclic heating (to the point of melt formation) in the presence of oxygen impurities from the plasma, oxide growth to the levels seen experimentally (approximately two microns) is proposed. This retention mechanism is not considered to contribute dramatically to overall retention in JET, due to low levels of melt formation. However, this mechanism, thought the result of operation environment and melt formation, could be of wider concern to ITER, dependent on wall temperatures