Communication of COVID-19 consequences in the Baltic States inforsphere

This article seeks to describe the dynamics of COVID-19 in the Baltic States and to analyse the ways of communicating the threat and its consequences. Particular attention is paid to the media strategies pursued in the study area. The research is based on Russian and English texts from the Baltic media, WHO official documents and datasets, as well as initiatives of the Baltic Sea region organisations (2020) counteracting COVID-19. A combination of these sources builds up an objective view of the situation and demonstrates how the pandemic and its consequences are represented in public consciousness given a certain pragmatic goal. The pandemic is a new type of threat; its consequences demonstrate a tendency towards negative synergy and a category shift from soft threats to hard ones. The research shows that several key strategies - counter-active, projective, conservative, mobilising, resilient, and reflective - are used to communicate the threat and its consequences in the media

Formation of a tourism brand of Rostov region for foreign tourists

The authors of the article focus both on aspects of Linguocultural training of professionals to work with foreign tourists and on the problem of the choice of the tourism brand of Rostov Region, its historical stages, as well as the issue of the lack of a systematic approach to its formatio

Methodological Approach to Application of GIS-Technologies for Epidemiological Surveillance by the Example of Leptospirosis

In order to optimize application of GIS-technologies for studies of leptospirosis, utilized have been the data on epidemiological and epizootiological investigations of leptospirosis cases in Europe, Ukraine, and Crimea. Described has been a methodological approach to the issue, comprising 4 phases and aimed at enhancement of epidemiological surveillance over leptospirosis. The first stage consists in learning the lessons of previously conducted leptospirosis mapping and specification of peculiarities of the territory. The second one is application of GIS-technologies for epidemiological analysis with a view to outlining the criteria for enzootic territory zoning, to assess dynamic qualitative and quantitative changes of epidemiological process, and estimate the impact of socio-ecological factors on the epidemic and epizootic processes. The third phase is databases creation, (attributive charts) compiled with information on geographically referenced phenomena under discussion (natural leptospirosis foci, sites of host-animal allocation, potentially hazardous areas, morbidity rates, etc.). The fourth one - complex analysis of the software designed maps. Implementation of this methodology makes it possible not only to evaluate epidemiological significance of the foci, to investigate integrated impact of socio-ecological factors on the occasion of population exposure to the infection, but also to carry out zoning of the territory taking into consideration epidemically significant factors. Therewith, it forms scientifically substantiated premises for the development and implementation of prophylactic and anti-epidemic measures

INTRATUMORAL AMPLIFICATION HETEROGENEITY IN HER2/neu-POSITIVE BREAST CANCER MOLECULAR-GENETIC SUBTYPES

The defining feature of HER2/neu-positive Luminal B and HER2/neu-positive (non-luminal) subtype breast cancer is HER2/neu gene amplification and protein overexpression on cancer cell membrane. The HER2-targeted therapy is nowadays available for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer However, a significant fraction of HER2+ tumors acquire or possess intrinsic mechanisms of resistance, based on multiple factors, and genetic heterogeneity among them. The aim of our study was to quantify the heterogeneity of HER2/neu amplification in HER2/neu-positive Luminal B and HER2/neu-positive (non-luminal) subtypes of breast cancer. Material and methods. A retrospective analysis of 210 cases referred for dual probe fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) confirmation of an immunohistochemical equivocal 2+ result was performed. Results. Our results demonstrated a heterogeneous amplification pattern of HER2/neu gene, whose expression is a substantial cause of HER2/neu-positive Luminal B and HER2/neu-positive (non-luminal) subtypes of breast cancer, in 31 % of invasive breast cancer cases. As heterogeneous, we interpreted tumors containing cells with HER2/CEP17 ratio < 2 and gene copies 4 ≤ HER2/neu < 6, that is, those without HER2/neu amplification. The amount of heterogeneous tumors between HER2/neu-positive Luminal B and HER2/neu-positive (non-luminal) subtypes was not statistically significant. ROC analyses identified optimal cutoff point for HER2/CEP17 ratio as 2.6 for distinguishing heterogeneous tumors. Conclusion. The heterogeneity of HER2/neu amplification is determined by FISH in 31 % of cases and is independent of molecular breast cancer subtype. If a HER2/neu-positive breast cancer has HER2/CEP17 ratio ≤ 2,6, it contains minor subclones without HER2/neu amplification with a probability of 95 %. Our results demonstrated that HER2/neu amplification heterogeneity may be important for prognosis of survival and treatment decisions

Proton Wires in an Electric Field: the Impact of Grotthuss Mechanism on Charge Translocation

We present the results of the modeling of proton translocation in finite H-bonded chains in the framework of two-stage proton transport model. We explore the influence of reorientation motion of protons, as well as the effect of electric field and proton correlations on system dynamics. An increase of the reorientation energy results in the transition of proton charge from the surrounding to the inner water molecules in the chain. Proton migration along the chain in an external electric field has a step-like character, proceeding with the occurrence of electric field threshold-type effects and drastic redistribution of proton charge. Electric field applied to correlated chains induces first a formation of ordered dipole structures for lower field strength, and than, with a further field strength increase, a stabilization of states with Bjerrum D-defects. We analyze the main factors responsible for the formation/annihilation of Bjerrum defects showing the strong influence of the complex interplay between reorientation energy, electric field and temperature in the dynamics of proton wire.Comment: 28 pages, 9 figure

Correlated X-ray and Optical Variability in V404 Cyg in Quiescence

We report simultaneous X-ray and optical observations of V404 Cyg in quiescence. The X-ray flux varied dramatically by a factor of >20 during a 60ks observation. X-ray variations were well correlated with those in Halpha, although the latter include an approximately constant component as well. Correlations can also be seen with the optical continuum, although these are less clear. We see no large lag between X-ray and optical line variations; this implies they are causally connected on short timescales. As in previous observations, Halpha flares exhibit a double-peaked profile suggesting emission distributed across the accretion disk. The peak separation is consistent with material extending outwards to at least the circularization radius. The prompt response in the entire Halpha line confirms that the variability is powered by X-ray (and/or EUV) irradiation.Comment: 5 pages; Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letter