Distribution of Larvae and Pupae of Blackflies (Diptera, Simuliidae) is Dependency upon Speed of Stream

У межах Волинського Полісся преімагінальні фази мошок населяють водойми зі швидкістю течії від 0,20 м/с. Залежно від швидкості течії при якій розвиваються личинки та лялечки, виділено три групи. Установлено, що оптимальною для розвитку преімагінальних фаз Simuliidae є швидкість течії 0,60–0,79 м/с. Within the limits of Volyn Polissya the immature stages of blackflies are inhabited by reservoirs at a speed of stream from a 0,20 meter/second. Depending on speed of stream at which larvae and pupae develop 3 groups are selected. It is set that optimum for development of immature stages of Simuliidae is speed of stream 0,60–0,79 meter/second.Роботу виконано на кафедрі зоології ВНУ ім. Лесі Українк

Observation of time quasicrystal and its transition to superfluid time crystal

We report experimental realization of a quantum time quasicrystal, and its transformation to a quantum time crystal. We study Bose-Einstein condensation of magnons, associated with coherent spin precession, created in a flexible trap in superfluid $^3$He-B. Under a periodic drive with an oscillating magnetic field, the coherent spin precession is stabilized at a frequency smaller than that of the drive, demonstrating spontaneous breaking of discrete time translation symmetry. The induced precession frequency is incommensurate with the drive, and hence the obtained state is a time quasicrystal. When the drive is turned off, the self-sustained coherent precession lives a macroscopically-long time, now representing a time crystal with broken symmetry with respect to continuous time translations. Additionally, the magnon condensate manifests spin superfluidity, justifying calling the obtained state a time supersolid or a time super-crystal

Converse Magnetoelectric Composite Resonator for Sensing Small Magnetic Fields

Magnetoelectric (ME) thin film composites consisting of sputtered piezoelectric (PE) and magnetostrictive (MS) layers enable for measurements of magnetic fields passively, i.e. an AC magnetic field directly generates an ME voltage by mechanical coupling of the MS deformation to the PE phase. In order to achieve high field sensitivities a magnetic bias field is necessary to operate at the maximum piezomagnetic coefficient of the MS phase, harnessing mechanical resonances further enhances this direct ME effect size. Despite being able to detect very small AC field amplitudes, exploiting mechanical resonances directly, implies a limitation to available signal bandwidth along with the inherent inability to detect DC or very low frequency magnetic fields. The presented work demonstrates converse ME modulation of thin film Si cantilever composites of mesoscopic dimensions (25 mm × 2.45 mm × 0.35 mm), employing piezoelectric AlN and magnetostrictive FeCoSiB films of 2 µm thickness each. A high frequency mechanical resonance at about 515 kHz leads to strong induced voltages in a surrounding pickup coil with matched self-resonance, leading to field sensitivities up to 64 kV/T. A DC limit of detection of 210 pT/Hz1/2 as well as about 70 pT/Hz1/2 at 10 Hz, without the need for a magnetic bias field, pave the way towards biomagnetic applications

The clinician's view on the advantages and contradictions of the new nomenclature of steatotic liver disease: A review

In September 2023, the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) updated the disease nomenclature for non-alcoholic (metabolically associated) fatty liver disease. The goals of the revision were to increase awareness among health care professionals, civil society and patients about the disease, its course, treatment and outcomes; combating stigma; focusing on the initial etiological factor, including the main (cardiometabolic) risk of disease progression; improved diagnosis based on disease biomarkers; positive impact on the potency to search for new drugs; the ability to provide personalized medical care. The terms “non-alcoholic” and “fatty” were considered stigmatizing, and therefore, it was proposed to use the term steatotic liver disease (SLD) as the name of this nosology. The terms non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) have been replaced by the term metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). In the case of being combined with an alcohol factor, a diagnosis in which metabolic dysfunction is combined with alcoholic liver disease is referred to as MetALD. The fundamental principle in the diagnosis of MASLD is the presence of at least one of the cardiometabolic risk factors. Alcohol consumption interacts with cardiometabolic risk factors and increases the risk of SLD decompensation. The term nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), according to the new nomenclature, has been replaced by the term metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). The adoption of the new nomenclature should help to increase awareness about the disease, its course and outcomes, as well as improve the quality of diagnosis and treatment

Follicular Occlusion Syndrome — a Possible Option of Follicular-Retension Origin of Pilonidal Sinus

Аim: to analyze and evaluate the clinical and morphological manifestations of pilonidal sinus disease (PSD) as a part of follicular occlusion syndrome (FOS).Materials and methods. In the Clinic of Coloproctology and Minimally Invasive Surgery, 80 patients with PSD underwent surgeries from November 2018 to December 2019: 62 (77.5 %) patients — with primary PSD, 18 (22.5 %) — with recurrence of the disease.Results. There were 80 patients, 6 patients (9.7 %) with primary and one (5.6 %) patient with recurrent cyst had concomitant manifestations of follicular occlusion syndrome. Thus, the frequency of combination of PSD with other variants of FOS course amounted to 8.8 %. Hidradenitis suppurativa of axillary and inguinal areas was found in 5 out of 7 patients. Acne conglobata, as one of the components of FOS, was noted in three patients. Dissecting cellulitis of the scalp was diagnosed in one patient. Follicular occlusion triad was observed in two patients. Follicular occlusion tetrad was not noted in any observation. All patients were treated with excision of the pilonidal sinus disease with local tissue-plasty of the defect. At present, no recurrences have been noted in any of the cases, and the mean follow-up time was 14 ± 5.6 months (6–27 months). PSD as a manifestation of follicular occlusion syndrome is characterized by a more cranial and more superficial location of the cavity in the sacrococcygeal region. According to the data of histologic examination of patients with FOS, the morphologic picture is identical with patients with isolated PSD. All patients with confirmed FOS have received pathogenetic local and conservative therapy. After the therapy remission of combined diseases is noted.Conclusion. Deroofing of the lining of the cavity, often used in dermatologic practice, along with complex treatment within the framework of multidisciplinary (together with a dermatologist) management of patients with FOS, looks promising

Osteoinduction of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells by Bioactive Composite Scaffolds without Supplemental Osteogenic Growth Factors

The development of a new family of implantable bioinspired materials is a focal point of bone tissue engineering. Implant surfaces that better mimic the natural bone extracellular matrix, a naturally nano-composite tissue, can stimulate stem cell differentiation towards osteogenic lineages in the absence of specific chemical treatments. Herein we describe a bioactive composite nanofibrous scaffold, composed of poly-caprolactone (PCL) and nano-sized hydroxyapatite (HA) or beta-tricalcium phosphate (TCP), which was able to support the growth of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and guide their osteogenic differentiation at the same time. Morphological and physical/chemical investigations were carried out by scanning, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, mechanical and wettability analysis. Upon culturing hMSCs on composite nanofibers, we found that the incorporation of either HA or TCP into the PCL nanofibers did not affect cell viability, meanwhile the presence of the mineral phase increases the activity of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), an early marker of bone formation, and mRNA expression levels of osteoblast-related genes, such as the Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx-2) and bone sialoprotein (BSP), in total absence of osteogenic supplements. These results suggest that both the nanofibrous structure and the chemical composition of the scaffolds play a role in regulating the osteogenic differentiation of hMSCs

Remote field monitoring results feasibility assessment for energy crops yield management

Most vegetation indices for UAV data analysis are developed for low-resolution satellite platforms, which requires the use of other monitoring methods and agrochemical measures to accurately determine the state of plantations, considering different stages of vegetation and spectral characteristics. The research aims to develop a methodology for assessing the suitability of remote sensing spectral data for energy crop nutrition management. The study was conducted using winter crops, including wheat and rapeseed. The results for winter wheat for the period from 2017 to 2020 were analysed. Stresses associated with nutrient deficiencies were studied in the fields of long-term stationary experiments at the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine. The results obtained from the Slantrange sensor and Slantview software were used. The studies confirmed that the pixel distribution in images of plantations (wheat and winter rape) can be described by a Gaussian distribution. The coefficient of determination for wheat was higher than for rape due to the peculiarities of the plant leaf structure. For rapeseed, a higher coefficient of determination was found for the lognormal distribution, which is not convenient for automating fertilisation processes in precision farming technologies. The analysis of the distribution by spectral channels, in particular the presence of several maxima, may indicate the presence of foreign inclusions or transitional stages of vegetation, which makes such data unsuitable for crop management. It has been established that if, after soil filtration, the maximum amplitude of the distribution exceeds the nearest one by more than 3 times, the growing season can be considered stable for a particular area, and the results of spectral monitoring are reliable for further analysis It has been confirmed that the vegetation indices GNDVI and RNDVI are not effective for assessing the reliability of data based on the standard deviation of the distribution. Reference values of the standard deviation of the distribution can be established at research stations with controlled stress factors, which will help in crop managemen

Radar determination of moving ground objects in the millimeter wavelength range

The problem of radar determination of moving surface targets in the millimeter wavelength range has been studied using the analysis in the frequency-time domain of the short-term power spectrum of nonstationary signal. A procedure was proposed for generating the informative attributes on the basis of separate processing of the envelope and phase of signal reflected from a surface object. In addition, the presented results of experimental studies corroborated the efficiency of the identification algorithm discussed

THE USE OF CONFOCAL LASER SCANNING MICROSCOPY IN THE DIAGNOSTICS OF BULLOUS PEMPHIGOID OF LEVER

Diagnostics of autoimmune bullous dermatoses, including bullous pemphigoid of Lever that is characterized by a large variety of clinical manifestations and in many cases by severe course and high mortality, remains one of the most complicated problems in dermatology. High diagnostic error rates are to be explained not only by variability of the forms of bullous pemphigoid of Lever, but also by insufficient accuracy of existing diagnostic methods, as well as by the complexity of their implementation. Non-invasive diagnostic methods have an undoubted advantage because they allow for prompt results of the assessment and therefore to fasten the initiation of therapy and to avoid damage to the skin, which is extremely important for patients with an autoimmune bullous dermatosis. The most accurate among non-invasive methods is a confocal laser scanning microscopy. The article describes the main features of the method and its potential application for the diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid of Lever with two clinical cases

Laboratory Tests in Diagnosis of Mastocytosis: Literature Review and Case Report

Мastocytosis is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by abnormal growth and accumulation of mast cells (MCs) in the skin and/or other organ systems. Mastocytosis is a rare disease. The annual incidence is 5-10 cases per 1 million people. However, the majority of cases stay undiagnosed due to the lack of specific tests and a wide variety of clinical features of the disease. In mastocytosis, somatic mutations of KIT gene lead to autocrine dysregulation and constitutive c-KIT activation in the absence of its ligand SCF. Clinical symptoms of the disease are determined by MC mediator release and/or infiltration of tissues by MCs. According to the World Health Organisation classification updated in 2016 mastocytosis is divided to cutaneous mastocytosis (CM), indolent systemic mastocytosis (ISM), smoldering systemic mastocytosis (SSM), SM with an associated hematologic (non-MC-lineage) neoplasm (SMAHN), aggressive SM (ASM), MC leukemia (MCL) and MC sarcoma (MCS). The CM and ISM prognosis is excellent with (almost) normal life expectancy, unlike aggressive forms (ASM and MCL) with poor prognosis. In this paper the key aspects of clinical features and diagnostic criteria of mastocytosis are discussed. We present a case report of a patient with mastocytosis in the skin following psoralen plus ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy with good response