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The paper summarizes the results of radioecological monitoring in the mountainous regions of Armenia in order to identify the distribution of radionuclides (natural Ra-226, Th-232 and artificial Cs-137) and the associated environmental risks in the mountainous environment of Armenia. Soil samples from the surface of eight mountain ridges and massifs were collected along altitude (900–3200 m above sea level). Gamma spectrometry has been used to identify radionuclides and measure activity concentration. A significant correlation was found between Ra-226 and Th-232, no statistically significant correlation was observed between Cs-137 and natural radionuclides. The results of the Kruskal-Wallis test reveal the height-dependent pattern of the studied radionuclides in the soil: the concentration of Cs-137 activity increases with height, the variances of the average values of the Ra-226 and Th-232 activity concentrations do not change in absolute height. An assessment of the ecological risk to non-human biota using the ERICA Tool identified risk factors (RQs) and limiting reference organisms in the mountain environment is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mining industry adversely impacts natural environments and contaminates them with accessory elements, including so-called primordial radionuclides: the 238U, 232Th, and 40K isotopes. The towns of Kapan and Kajaran are the largest mining centers of Armenia, at which Cu, Mo, and other metals were mined and processed starting in the 1950s. Our study was centered on the technologically enhanced natural radioactivity of urban soil and wastes of the mining industry and on the evaluation of the radiation doze and excess lifetime cancer risk induced by naturally occurring radioactive materials. These studies have shown that industrial facilities in the town of Kapan are the main factors of the redistribution of radionuclides in the urban soil, but the health risks mostly do not exceed the global average levels because of the low level of the natural radioactivity of the ore. The natural radioactivity of soil in Kajaran is controlled by the parent rocks of the soil (these are intrusive rocks, mostly monzonite), and the mining facilities only insignificantly affect the radioactivity redistribution. The higher natural radioactivity of the urban soils at Kajaran causes a potential health risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper the combined effect of intense terahertz laser radiation and external homogeneous magnetic field on electron states and magnetization of GaAs quantum ring is investigated theoretically. The effect of laser field is calculated using the dipole approximation and Kramers–Henneberger unitary transformation. The temperature effect on magnetization of the system is also considered. It is shown that with the increase of laser field parameter the unusual Aharonov–Bohm oscillations can be observed in the ring. For constant values of magnetic field, the magnetization can be as increasing, as well as decreasing function of temperature. There are some resonant values of magnetic field, for which the magnetization of the ring remains almost constant with the increase of temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Macrovipera lebetina obtusa (MLO) is a venomous snake endemic to Middle East. Here we describe the therapeutic potential of the MLO snake venom. In S-180 sarcoma-bearing mouse model, we showed that the MLO snake venom inhibits tumour growth by 50%. In human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC-D), treatment with the MLO snake venom lead to an increase of expression levels of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), while the level of the expression of caspase 8 did not change. In HMVEC-D cells MLO snake venom induces necroptosis, rather than apoptosis. In the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay, exposure to MLO snake venom inhibited bFGF-induced angiogenesis by 22%. Taken together, these results indicate that the MLO snake venom has a potent cytotoxic activity. Regulated necroptic cell death pathway, which is engaged by MLO snake venom, may become a promising novel target for antitumor therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review generalizes results of radioecological studies implemented in Armenia in a period from the 1960s till the early 2000s. Specificity of geographical position determines the maximum of global atmospheric radioactive fallout in high mountain regions of the country. Several facilities can potentially influence the radioecological situation of Armenia: the Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, a spent nuclear fuel repository and interim storage facility for radioactive waste. Runoff of many rivers of the basin of Araks and Kura (major water arteries of South Caucasus) originates on the territory of Armenia. The aforesaid peculiarities determine the key role of Armenia in transfer and distribution of radionuclides in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

General expressions for the potential of a point charge in a coaxial semiconductor heterostructure composed by three cylindrical regions with different dielectric constants and for arbitrary location of the charged center in the heterostructure are derived. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Upon their arrival in Europe, migrants and refugees often face multiple and highly complex stressors, which risk to have a lasting impact on their mental health. These may be related to traumatisation experiences before, during and after the migration process. Mental health promotion for vulnerable migrants and refugees (VMRs) has been a neglected area of intervention in transcultural psychiatry. Objectives: MyHealth project (2017-2020) is a European initiative that aims to develop/reinforce models of increased health (and mental health) care access and improved health (and mental health) services for VMRs. Methods: Four study sites (Barcelona, Berlin, Brno and Athens) were included. Through a participatory and social innovative approach and while engaging VMRs, professionals as well as the general public of the host community, an intercultural needs assessment took place followed by a tools' development phase and a pilot testing of specific tools identified. Results: Cross-country observations conclude that the coverage of social needs may primarily determine the mental wellbeing of VMRs, and their mental health state can consequently affect their help-seeking behaviours for any experienced physical condition. The prioritization of needs and barriers as viewed by professionals may differ from how are perceived by VMRs. This gap is conditioned by professionals' bias and the intercultural contact between VMRs and host community. To overcome such barriers, specific interventions were piloted at every site (e.g. cultural competence trainings, empowerment of female refugees). Conclusions: The context-specific results allow to draw outcomes, recommendations and lessons learnt which can inform the agendas of mental health promotion strategies and European mental health policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]