GEOGRAPHICAL RELATIONS OF DARKLING BEETLES (COLEOPTERA: TENEBRIONIDAE) OF THE PALAEARCTIC TETHYS DESERT-STEPPE REGION WITH THE HISTORICAL REVIEW

Aim. The aim of the work is to analyze the geographic relationships of the family Tenebrionidae, which should be the basis of faunogenesis of the Tethys region of Palaearctic. Methods. The work is based on the material collected by the authors in the various regions of the Caucasus, the south of the European part of Russia, Kazakhstan and North Africa during 50 years (from 1961 to 2016), as well as the extensive literature data. We used the cluster analysis based on the Jaccard similarity coefficient which considers the positive coincidences for analysis the Tethys region tenebrionid faunas. Invasive species are not included in the analysis. Results. Extensive review of the history of study of Western Palaearctic Tenebrionidae from the mid-19th Century to the present day is given. The main directions of contemporary research are marked. Four hundred three genera of darkling beetles are distributed in the Tethys region including dendrophilous groups with tropical origin,  transpalaearctic  and  cosmopolitan  species,  that  represent  63%  of  all  known  Palaearctic  tenebrionid  genera (640 genera). Three quarters of them (304 genera or 75%) combining 5674 species include mainly xerophilous genera that are not found outside the region or presented only by very small number of species in the neighboring territories. Evidences of a common historical development of tenebrionid fauna appear in the 24 common widespread Tethys genera, which may be slightly spread beyond the boundaries, but have a very high diversity of species and infrageneric (probably a center of the origin) diversity within the Tethys region. The significant part (61%) of common Tethys genera, the high diversity of large Palaearctic genera of Tenebrionidae in the western and eastern parts of Tethys region, as well as the presence of complex of supralittoral relics of marine paleobassins (Western Tethys and Eastern Paratethys) from the genus Ectromopsis, indicates a single area of faunogenesis of darkling beetles, which is historically related with epicontinental Paleogene Tethys Ocean. Two super-regions (with western Tethys and eastern Tethys complexis of taxa) are allocated. These two regions are divided on several subregions which differ by high level of taxonomic diversity. The division is based on the analyses of species and generic abudance and level of an endemism. Claster analyses of common to the region genera, Tethys genera, common to the region species and the genus Blaps shows similarity of Anatolia and the Balkan region faunas; the Caucasus is similar to Iran. Two early allocated super-regions are more or less clearly revealed on all dendrograms. The Arabian Peninsula and North Africa have ancient relations with both super-regions based on the analyses of Tethys genera, and the Arabian Peninsula and the Middle East have ancient relations with both super-regions using analyses of all tenebrionid species of the Tethys region. Conclusion. The faunogenesis of several subregions of the Tethys region was formed as island type. Analysis of the distribution and taxonomic diversity of darkling indicates a long-time development of the tenebrionid fauna in coastal and island ecosystems of the Tethys Ocean, and later an independent prime of this fauna in different areas of the Tethys desert-steppe region with the retreat of ocean water, aridity and orogeny. At the same time, faunistic elements of relic type of Paleogene origin are preserved and evoluted in the mountain island forests in Anatolia, the Middle East and the Atlas with the Late Tertiary relict flora

HISTORICAL, FAUNISTIC AND ZOOGEOGRAPHICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF MAMMALS OF THE CAUCASUS

Abstract. Subject, theme, aim of the work. Caucasian mountainous country is the original biogeographic region with a large number of endemic species, including mammals. The aim of the work was to conduct a historical analysis of the development of a modern faunal zoogeographical structure of the Caucasus theriofauna.Methods. We used in the work the methods of paleogeographic, historical and faunal analysis of the causes and ways of modelling a modern structure of Caucasus theriofauna and distribution of kinds and faunal species of mammals on its territory. There was a detailed analysis of all the available literature on the history of nature and fauna formation of the Caucasus, habitats of mammals, and their modern zoogeographical structure. Such a methodological approach allows us to explain many features of modern zoogeographic Caucasus theriofauna, not amenable to scientific explanation from the perspective of modern geographical situation.Results. The conducted detailed analytical overview of the formation problem and the nature of the current state of the Caucasus theriofauna lets explain, in terms of genesis, in close connection with the history of the Caucasus nature formation, a way of formation as well as the structure of the current state of the zoogeographical Caucasus theriofauna and the difference between the faunal complexes of its individual parts. As a result, now a there is picture of reconstruction of the most probable path of becoming the mammalian fauna of the Caucasus since ancient times to the present day , influenced by the formation of the structure of high-altitude zone, and then the patterns of glaciation in the region.The area of the results application. The results are of considerable theoretical and practical importance as a basis for assessing the causes of faunal diversity of ecological-faunal systems of mammals and patterns of their genetic relationship to the specific landscape. Of particular importance are the results for the implementation of the objective zoogeographical zoning of the Caucasus, the identification and protection of endemics, rare and endangered species, acclimatization and re-acclimatization of mammals.Summary. It has been conducted the most comprehensive thematic overview of the stages of the Caucasus joint historical landscape development and its flora and fauna, many of which defined zoogeographical characteristics of the region and its relations with the surrounding areas, ways and means of protection, use and reproduction

ASSESSMENT OF BIODIVERSITY OF CARABID BEETLES (COLEOPTERA, CARABIDAE) OF THE TSHETSHEN ISLAND IN THE СASPIAN SEA

Aim, material. Biodiversity of carabid beetles (Coleoptera, Carabidae) is studied for the Tshetshen Island in the Caspean Sea based on examination of 32799 adults belonging to 123 species collected during two seasons.Results. Five collecting sites on the Tshetshen Island were sampled and compared with data from the Nordovyi and Tiulenyi islands as well as from coastal areas of Dagestan. Carabid species composition of the Tshetshen Island differs in having a higher fraction of desert taxa. In this respect, it resembles more that of the Middle Asia and Kalmykia. Some species, common in the mainland, are not found on the island. Rank-abundance distributions, biodiversity indices and effective numbers of species were used to quantitify differences among collecting sites. In most cases, the data obtained fit the best to the Zipf-Mandelbrot distribution. Numbers of carabid species in sites ranged from 45 to 89. Despite of variation, the richness indices are shown to be significantly lower for the Tshetshen Island. This conclusion was confirmed using rarefaction curves. Decomposition of γ-diversity into its α- and β- components in terms of effective numbers of species has shown that α-diversity of carabids in mainland areas exceeds that of the Tshetshen Island only marginally while β-diversity is significantly higher. Cluster analysys of distance matrices has shown that the carabid assemblages of the Tshetshen Island are the most poor and specific, those from the coastal areas – the most species-rich while those of the Tiulenyi and Nordovyi islands are intermediate.Conclusion. Carabid assemblages of each island in the Caspian Sea may be considered as a rather randomly impoverished subset from the regional species pool of the Middle Asia and Caspian lowland

Adenocarcinoma arising at ileostomy sites: Two cases and a review of the literature

Total colectomy with ileostomy placement is a treatment for patients with inflammatory bowel disease or familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). A rare and late complication of this treatment is carcinoma arising at the ileostomy site. We describe two such cases: a 78-year-old male 30 years after subtotal colectomy and ileostomy for FAP, and an 85-year-old male 50 years after colectomy and ileostomy for ulcerative colitis. The long latency period between creation of the ileostomies and development of carcinoma suggests a chronic metaplasia due to an irritating/inflammatory causative factor. Surgical excision of the mass and relocation of the stoma is the mainstay of therapy, with possible benefits from adjuvant chemotherapy. Newly developed lesions at stoma sites should be biopsied to rule out the possibility of this rare ileostomy complication

The Hilbert-Schmidt Theorem Formulation of the R-Matrix Theory

Using the Hilbert-Schmidt theorem, we reformulate the R-matrix theory in terms of a uniformly and absolutely convergent expansion. Term by term differentiation is possible with this expansion in the neighborhood of the surface. Methods for improving the convergence are discussed when the R-function series is truncated for practical applications.Comment: 16 pages, Late

Pulmonary homograft dysfunction after Ross procedure in adults: a single center experience

The Ross procedure was first proposed by Donald Ross in 1967. Numerous studies show excellent long-term outcomes of the Ross operation. One of its disadvantages is the intervention on two valves due to pulmonary homograft dysfunction.Aim.  To study long-term outcomes of pulmonary homograft use after Ross operation (cumulative incidence of pulmonary homograft dysfunction, freedom from reoperation on pulmonary homograft, long-term survival, predictors of pulmonary homograft dysfunction) using data from one Russian center.Material  and  methods. A retrospective study included patients aged 18 years and older with aortic valve disease who underwent Ross procedure from April 2009 to December 2020 by a single surgeon. The age of the patients was 35 (26-44) years (men, 159 (75%)). Infective endocarditis as a cause of aortic valve pathology was diagnosed in 55 (26%) patients. Bicuspid aortic valve was diagnosed in 131 (62%) patients. The median follow-up period was 79 (26,5102,7) months.Results. Combined interventions were performed in 40 cases (18,9%). The modified Ross procedure was used in 54 (25,5%) cases (intra-aortic — 29, using Dacron tube graft — 25). Inhospital mortality was 0,5%. The 5- and 10-year allcause survival rates were 98,5% and 95,4%, while the 10-year cumulative pulmonary valve reoperation rate and pulmonary homograft dysfunction was 4,6% and 35,2%, respectively. The only factor affecting pulmonary homograft dysfunction was patient age ≤30 years (odds ratio =0,2 with 95% confidence interval: 0,06-0,7; p=0,02).Conclusion. Fresh pulmonary homografts have a low incidence of dysfunction and reintervention after Ross procedure. Young age is the only independent risk factor for pulmonary homograft dysfunction

Deuteron and antideuteron production in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV

The production of deuterons and antideuterons in the transverse momentum range 1.1 < p_T < 4.3 GeV/c at mid-rapidity in Au + Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV has been studied by the PHENIX experiment at RHIC. A coalescence analysis comparing the deuteron and antideuteron spectra with those of protons and antiprotons, has been performed. The coalescence probability is equal for both deuterons and antideuterons and increases as a function of p_T, which is consistent with an expanding collision zone. Comparing (anti)proton yields p_bar/p = 0.73 +/- 0.01, with (anti)deuteron yields: d_bar/d = 0.47 +/- 0.03, we estimate that n_bar/n = 0.64 +/- 0.04.Comment: 326 authors, 6 pages text, 5 figures, 1 Table. Submitted to PRL. Plain text data tables for the points plotted in figures for this and previous PHENIX publications are (or will be) publicly available at http://www.phenix.bnl.gov/papers.htm

Long-term results of antiviral therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C with sustained virologic response

Aim of investigation. To estimate frequency of late relapses and clinical outcomes in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) with sustained virologic response (SVO) achievement at antiviral therapy (AVT).Material and methods. Overall 208 patients with CHC, including 12 at the stage of liver cirrhosis (LC), who achieved SVO were investigated. Mean duration of the follow-up was 56,1±35,4 months. Standard clinical and laboratory investigation and evaluation of RNA HCV was carried out. In 114 patients RNA HCV and DNA HBV in blood serum and peripheral mononuclear blood cells were studied by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with fluorescent hybridization detection in «real time» mode (sensitivity of 10 IU/ml for HCV and 5 IU/ml for HBV).Results. In 3 (1,5%) patients late (i.e. over 6 months after AVT) relapses of HCV-infection were observed. Application of ultraresponsive PCR method allowed to reveal relapse half a year prior to its clinical and laboratory manifestation in 2 cases. No data on latent HCVinfection was obtained not in a single case, including patients with relapse of cryoglobulinemia syndrome. A principal cause of elevation of alanine transaminase activity was non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. In one LC patient development of esophageal varicose veins was detected. There were no cases of decompensation of LC, hepatocellular carcinoma and death due to liver disease.Conclusion. At patients who have achieved SVO as a result of AVT, late relapses of HCV-infection are rare and in the majority no disease progression was found. Relapses of cryoglobulinemia syndrome were observed, but data on presence of latent HCV-infection were not received. Highly sensitive PCR methods are rational for assessment of SVO

Biodiversity, analysis of features of the helminth-faunistic complex of the Caucasian goats population and treatment of parasitic diseases

On the territory of the Big Caucasus 60 kinds helminths are revealed at the Caucasian goats . The complex of actions on helminthiasis prevention is offered, including separate pasture of livestock , change of pastures, struggle against predators and application of salt briquettes with panacure