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The efficiency of outreach diagnostics was assessed in 273 patients suffering from various forms glaucoma aged from 27 to 80 years. Following the developed algorithm, a set of instrumental and diagnostic tests was carried out to select 153 patients for surgical treatment and 64 patients for laser treatment. Necessary adjustments were made to the regimens of antihypertensive treatment for most patients, and recommendations were given. All glaucoma patients selected for surgical and laser treatment received timely and qualified assistance from specialists of the Khabarovsk branch of S. Fyodorov Eye Microsurgery Federal State Institution, which allowed the course of the disease to be stabilized and visual functions to be preserved. As a result, outreach consultations for patients with various forms of glaucoma showed their high efficiency. More than 60% of the examined patients were referred for surgical and laser treatment, 20% of patients were offered a corrected hypotensive regimen. Along with examining patients, outreach consultations provide methodological assistance for local ophthalmologists concerning the development of professional competencies in managing such patients. Due to a lack of ophthalmological services in regional polyclinical departments, the organization of outreach consultations for glaucoma patients is justified in terms of reducing cases of glaucoma progression and loss of visual functions.

PURPOSE. To assess the prognostic significance of the LAF coefficient (Lens thickness/Axial length factor) as a risk factor for acute glaucoma attack in anatomically short eyes of Europeans.METHODS. Group 1 consisted of 24 patients (48 eyes) with axial hyperopia. Group 2 included 24 patients (48 eyes) with primary closure of the anterior chamber angle. Group 3 — 17 patients (34 eyes) with initial stage of primary angleclosure glaucoma. Group 4 — 35 patients (35 eyes) with an acute attack of glaucoma. The studied groups did not differ in age (p=0.97) and gender (p=0.28). Lens thickness and axial length (AL) were measured by A-scan with calculation of the LAF coefficient.RESULTS. The LAF coefficient in group 4 (acute attack) was statistically significantly higher than in the other three groups. The best separation of groups 1 and 4 was seen in LAF coefficient compared to lens thickness and AL with sensitivity, specificity and the area under the curve (AUC) of 89%, 83% and 0.9, respectively. LAF coefficient values greater than 2.332 in patients with short AL are objectively associated with high risk of acute attack of glaucoma. The average value of the LAF coefficient (2.528) observed in group 4 (acute attack of glaucoma) significantly exceeds these parameters in works of other authors, which may be associated with morphometric structural features of the eyes of Europeans compared to the eyes of Asians.CONCLUSION. The LAF coefficient provides better separation of group 1 and 4 in comparison with lens thickness and, especially, axial length. LAF coefficient values greater than 2.332 in eyes with short AL objectively indicate high risk of acute attack of glaucoma, as evidenced by high sensitivity, specificity, and AUC.

The article presents the results of the introduction study of Tall Bearded group of the Iris x hybrida hort. cultivars collection of Cheboksary branch of the MBG RAS for the purpose of determining the most promising for complex of biological features and adaptive capabilities during introduction in the soil and climatic conditions of the Middle Volga region. The potential possibilities of cultivars as an object for landscaping has been investigated. The determination of decorative qualities made it possible to divide the cultivars of iris into groups by color and size of the flower, to establish the number of flowers in an inflorescence, the height of the peduncle, the length of the leaf. As a result of the study of economic and biological characteristics, cultivars with a high, medium, low coefficient of vegetative reproduction, high, medium, low winter hardiness, moderately resistant very and moderately susceptible to heterosporous were identified. The study of the rhythm of seasonal development made it possible to determine the timing and duration of flowering of the studied cultivars of Iris x hybrida hort. in the conditions of the region. The main directions of further work with the collection are outlined.

The efficiency of systems for converting wind energy into electricity to a large extent depends on the ratio of the speed of rotation of the shaft of the wind turbine to the speed of the wind driving the wind turbine. In this paper, the dependence of the efficiency of a wind energy conversion system on wind speed is determined when using the mode of maintaining the maximum power point tracking, which allows maximum power to be extracted from wind energy. The provision of the optimal turbine rotation speed calculated using the maximum power mode is carried out using the vector control system of the permanent magnet synchronous generator. The mechanical losses in the gearbox and in the synchronous machine are determined, the losses in the steel of the synchronous machine and the switching losses in an autonomous voltage inverter are taken into account.

With alcohol and cannabis remaining the most commonly detected drugs in seriously and fatally injured drivers, there is a need to understand their combined effects on driving. The present study examined the effects of combinations of smoked cannabis (12.5% THC) and alcohol (target BrAC 0.08%) on simulated driving performance, subjective drug effects, cardiovascular measures, and self-reported perception of driving ability. In this within-subjects, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial, cannabis users (1–7 days/week) aged 19–29 years attended four drug administration sessions in which simulated driving, subjective effects, cardiovascular measures, and whole blood THC and metabolite concentrations were assessed following placebo alcohol and placebo cannabis (

International audience; The results of recent theoretical studies of features of superconducting states in hybrid structures whose properties are significantly determined by the spin–orbit effects have been reported. The two main phenomena appearing in such systems in the presence of additional spin splitting caused either by the Zeeman effect in a magnetic field or by the exchange field: (i) the generation of spontaneous currents and (ii) the appearance of topologically nontrivial superconducting phases. It has been shown that the spin–orbit coupling can be a key mechanism that allows implementing new inhomogeneous phase structures, in particular, the so-called “phase batteries.” The effect of geometric factors on the properties of topologically nontrivial superconducting states has been analyzed. New types of topological transitions in vortex states of Majorana wires have been proposed.

Recent theoretical ideas concerning the mechanism of the electromagnetic proximity effect in hybrid superconducting structures with ferromagnetic layers, as well as the problem of Fulde–Ferrell–Larkin–Ovchinnikov (FFLO) instability with the modulation of the superconducting order parameter in the plane of the layers forming the structure, are reviewed. It is shown that, near the transition to the FFLO phase, the electromagnetic proximity effect can be enhanced: the corresponding spontaneous current flowing along the superconducting layer of the hybrid superconductor–ferromagnet structure increases drastically when approaching the FFLO transition line on the phase diagram of the structure. The transition to the FFLO phase can thus be observed using experimental techniques involving the diagnostics of the arising spontaneous currents.

The paper presents the results of research to assess the quality of the urban environment in the areas we have identified by the functional and economic significance of Cheboksary using a method of fluctuating asymmetry of Betula pendula Roth leaves and a scale of gas resistance of tree and shrub plants. The studies have showed that the integral indices of fluctuating asymmetry of Betula pendula leaf plates of all surveyed green planting objects vary from 0,038 to 0,054. The highest levels of asymmetry were found in the eastern and southern parts of the city, where the values of leaf asymmetry fluctuations range from 0,050 to 0,054. Based on an assessment of the quality of the urban environment the authors have developed recommendations to improve and expand the range of resistant woody plants to anthropogenic stress of Cheboksary. Depending on the nature of the urban environment and the degree of woody plants resistance to anthropogenic pollution, we offer a range of woody and shrub plants for landscaping, it contains 73 species. The recommended range of trees and shrubs for landscaping in the Central zone of Cheboksary is 68 species (asymmetry coefficient 0,040 to 0,044), in the Coastal and Suburban areas 62 species (asymmetry coefficient 0,046 to 0,049), in the Industrial zone 29 species (asymmetry coefficient 0,050 to 0,053).

The computation methods of the thermodynamic properties are used for theoretical studies of multicomponent refrigerant blends (MRBs) for low-temperature throttling refrigeration units, providing cryostatting modes for cooled objects in the temperature range of –90 – –160 °С. The article presents the comparative analysis of the state equations for calculating thermodynamic properties of multicomponent refrigerant mixtures. Quantitative and qualitative differences in the results of calculations in the lowtemperature region are determined.

New options of the design of a vapor-compressor refrigerator with cold thermal energy storage are proposed. A comparative analysis of the performance of the considered systems is carried out. Results on the effectiveness of using various methods of cold thermal energy storage in the vapor-compression refrigerator circuit have been obtained. Recommendations regarding the field of application of these systems and the volume of cold thermal energy storages are given.

LNG gas-turbine engines have several advantages over diesel engines: capacity to develop higher power with smaller weight and size, lower fuel price, environment friendliness, etc. At the same time, this type of engines is characterized by low efficiency at insufficient load and high idle-run fuel consumption. A part of the energy losses under these conditions occurs in the cryogenic unit of the LNG gas-turbine engine fuel system. Schematic diagrams and characteristic features of the cryogenic unit of the LNG gas-turbine engine are presented. Schemes of LNG delivery with vapor-pressurization, sparging of the tank with an external noncondensing gas, and use of pumps are described. The impact on the fuel system performance of such factors as fuel delivery mode, LNG flow return, restraining temperature of the delivered LNG, variation of LNG composition, etc. are investigated. The criteria of efficiency of the system in start, main, and idle modes are calculated by mathematical modeling method.

Results of experimental studies of the optical and geometric characteristics of high-level clouds over Tomsk combined with actinometric measurements of solar radiation are presented. The diurnal and three-year variations of the characteristics of clouds including those with anomalous backscattering are presented. In contrast to previous studies, the data presented here have been obtained using the parallel accumulation of one-electron pulses during registration of lidar returns.

Information on the characteristics of the growth and development of plants of large snapdragon, hybrid petunia, sparkling sage, elegant zinnia, depending on the depth of planting is provided. Characteristics of the main morphological signs are given, data on the height of plants, the number of lateral axes, buds, flowers, fruits, leaves, weight and number of roots of deeply planted and control plants are presented; provides information on vegetation periods; ways to improve the agricultural technology of transplants of indicated plants are identified. It is shown that deep planting is an economically viable rational agricultural method that helps to increase the decorativeness of plants, their earlier, long and plentiful flowering, and to improve the aesthetic expressiveness of flower beds without additional labor and material costs.

Short oligonucleotides are widely used for the construction of aptamer-based sensors and logical bioelements to modulate aptamer–ligand binding. However, relationships between the parameters (length, location of the complementary region) of oligonucleotides and their influence on aptamer–ligand interactions remain unclear. Here, we addressed this task by comparing the effects of short complementary oligonucleotides (ssDNAs) on the structure and ligand-binding ability of an aptamer and identifying ssDNAs’ features that determine these effects. Within this, the interactions between the OTA-specific G-quadruplex aptamer 1.12.2 (5′-GATCGGGTGTGGGTGGCGTAAAGGGA GCATCGGACA-3′) and 21 single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) oligonucleotides complementary to different regions of the aptamer were studied. Two sets of aptamer–ssDNA dissociation constants were obtained in the absence and in the presence of OTA by isothermal calorimetry and fluorescence anisotropy, respectively. In both sets, the binding constants depend on the number of hydrogen bonds formed in the aptamer–ssDNA complex. The ssDNAs’ having more than 23 hydrogen bonds with the aptamer have a lower aptamer dissociation constant than for aptamer–OTA interactions. The ssDNAs’ having less than 18 hydrogen bonds did not affect the aptamer–OTA affinity. The location of ssDNA’s complementary site in the aptamer affeced the kinetics of the interaction and retention of OTA-binding in aptamer–ssDNA complexes. The location of the ssDNA site in the aptamer G-quadruplex led to its unfolding. In the presence of OTA, the unfolding process was longer and takes from 20 to 70 min. The refolding in the presence of OTA was possible and depends on the length and location of the ssDNA’s complementary site. The location of the ssDNA site in the tail region led to its rapid displacement and wasn’t affecting the G-qaudruplex’s integrity. It makes the tail region more perspective for the development of ssDNA-based tools using this aptamer.

We examine energy relaxation of non-equilibrium quasiparticles in different vortex configurations in ``dirty'' $s$-wave superconductors. The heat flow from the electronic subsystem to phonons in a mesoscopic superconducting disk with a radius of the order of several coherence lengths is calculated both in the Meissner and giant vortex states using the Usadel approach. The recombination process is shown to be strongly affected by interplay of the subgap states, located in the vortex core and in the region at the sample edge where the spectral gap $E_{\rm g}$ is reduced by the Meissner currents. In order to uncover physical origin of the results, we develop a semiquantitative analytical approximation based on the combination of homogeneous solutions of Usadel equations in Meissner and vortex states of a mesoscopic superconducting disc and analytically calculate the corresponding spatially resolved electron-phonon heat rates. Our approach provides an important information about non-equilibrium quasiparticles cooling by the magnetic-field induced traps in various mesoscopic superconducting devices., 9 pages, 8 figures, 80 references + 4 pages of Appendices and references. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1901.01263

The concept of merging the roles of producers of online courses is considered. It is relevant if it is necessary to quickly develop online training courses on electric drive or when converting a full-time training course into a hybrid format. The economic and technological aspects of the proposed approach are considered. Authors' capture of all the roles required to produce online courses can reduce costs and, in some cases, even improve product quality. To capture all the functions necessary for production, authors must master the technologies of capturing video from a computer screen, editing video, recording sound, editing audio tracks. To study modern electromechanical systems and electric drive control systems, knowledge of electrical machines, power electronics and control theory is required. When preparing online courses on electric drive, it is imperative to include practical exercises that are implemented using the Simulink or SimInTech visual modeling environments.

The use of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) as carriers for the decrease in the detection limit of a fluorescence polarization (FP) aptamer assay is proposed. The common FP assay is based on the use of polarized exciting light and changes in the polarization of emitted light by the fluorophore–analyte conjugate before and after its binding with a receptor of the target analyte. Aptamers’ application as receptors in such an assay is limited due to their low molecular weight and, consequently, insufficient influence on polarization of emitted light. This limitation can be overcome by the inclusion of aptamers in larger intermolecular complexes. In the present work, the advantages of GNPs as unified, stable, and simply modified carriers for aptamers are demonstrated. The FP aptamer assay is realized with the use of GNPs with average diameter of 8.7 nm and ochratoxin A (OTA) as the target analyte. Finally, the assay is tested for OTA control in spiked white wine. The reached limit of detection is 2.3 µg/kg, which is 25-fold lower as compared to native aptamer. The time of the assay is 15 min. The universality of the proposed approach makes it possible to use aptamers for FP assays of various low-molecular-weight substances.

The technique and results of the study of optical and microphysical characteristics of contrails with the use of the unique high-altitude polarization lidar of the National Research Tomsk State University are described. The microstructure parameters of ensembles of crystalline particles were estimated by comparing elements of light backscattering matrices calculated theoretically and obtained experimentally. It is shown that the condensation trail appearing in the atmosphere behind the plane 30–40 min after the emission of fuel combustion products from the engines consists of small chaotically oriented ice particles, mostly of the column shape.

Various technologies and equipment complexes for associated petroleum gas (APG) stripping are analyzed and modeled to develop a universal technology and mobile modular complexes for getting liquid products from APG. The selection of a schematic design of an APG stripping plant that includes a refrigerating machine operating with a multicomponent mixed refrigerant and a fractionating column is validated.

mathematical model of a wind turbine is investigated, which includes mathematical descriptions of a horizontal axis small- scale power wind turbine with permanent magnet synchronous generator with vector control and a three-phase rectifier connected to a stand-alone voltage source inverter. The maximum power point tracking of the wind turbine, which calculates the optimal rotation turbine speed for each wind speed is used. Vector control system provides the calculated optimal rotation turbine speed. The mechanical losses in the gearbox and in the synchronous machine are determined, as the iron losses and copper losses in the permanent magnet synchronous machine and commutation losses (switching and conduction losses) in stand- alone voltage source inverter are taken into account.

Analysis of the interaction of the electromagnetic field and matter is a topical area of research in modern physics. The goal of this paper is to move from mathematical postulates and formalisms of quantum mechanics to equations that include macroscopic variables. In this case, the macroscopic observables are determined by the mean values of the operator corresponding to the observable value, and the mean value is deter-mined by the density matrix. Then the equations are written only through the mean values, by substituting equivalent expressions for the density matrix. As a result, we come to a system of equations expressed in terms of such macroscopic variables as polarization and electromagnetic field. In the semi-classical approach, when the electromagnetic field is not quantized, it is necessary to add the Maxwell's equations of the electromagnetic field to the equations for the mean values. This forms a self-consistent system of equations.

Vector control of an induction motor with torque control function eliminates the need for a torque sensor, which reduces the cost of the system and simplifies the design of the electromechanical part of the load stand. This approach is applicable to study the characteristics of a BLDC machine operating in both motor and generator modes. A mathematical model of a BLDC machine, loaded by an induction motor fed by frequency converter is built in the SimInTech dynamic modeling environment. Speed-torque curve of BLDC machine is obtained. Comparison of the values of the characteristic points with the motor specification data proves the correctness of the mathematical model and the adequacy of the results.

Results of the joint lidar-actinometric experiment on the study of optical properties of high-level clouds and their effect on the solar radiation fluxes measured at the Earth's surface are described. Conclusions about the effect of specular clouds on a decrease in radiation fluxes compared to non-specular ones depending on the Sun’s zenith position are drawn.

Results of the complex lidar and actinometric studies of the characteristics of cirrus containing crystalline ice particles are discussed. The greatest attention is paid to clouds consisting of horizontally oriented ensembles of ice crystals. Orientation of the crystalline particles in clouds is estimated from the backscattering phase matrix, which is determined based on the data obtained with the polarization lidar directed vertically to the zenith. Solar radiation fluxes are measured using the standard methods with an actinometer and a pyranometer. It is shown that under certain weather conditions ice crystals at altitudes of cirrus formation can be oriented horizontally, which significantly affects the transmission of solar radiation.

Results of the experiments on laser polarization sensing of high-level clouds with anomalous backscattering (specular clouds) performed with the high-altitude polarization lidar developed at National Research Tomsk State University (NR TSU) with a short lidar return accumulation time (about 3 minutes) are described. It has been shown that the preferred horizontal orientation of ice crystals in clouds is manifested even at such a short signal accumulation time intervals. Interpretation of the results of the experiment with longer accumulation leads to the identification of a cloud as a specular one despite the presence of not only a specular, but also non-specular local areas in it.

Aptamers are nucleic acid analogues of antibodies with high affinity to different targets, such as cells, viruses, proteins, inorganic materials, and coenzymes. Empirical approaches allow the design of in vitro aptamers that bind particularly to a target molecule with high affinity and selectivity. Theoretical methods allow significant expansion of the possibilities of aptamer design. In this study, we review theoretical and joint theoretical-experimental studies dedicated to aptamer design and modeling. We consider aptamers with different targets, such as proteins, antibiotics, organophosphates, nucleobases, amino acids, and drugs. During nucleic acid modeling and in silico design, a full set of in silico methods can be applied, such as docking, molecular dynamics (MD), and statistical analysis. The typical modeling workflow starts with structure prediction. Then, docking of target and aptamer is performed. Next, MD simulations are performed, which allows for an evaluation of the stability of aptamer/ligand complexes and determination of the binding energies with higher accuracy. Then, aptamer/ligand interactions are analyzed, and mutations of studied aptamers made. Subsequently, the whole procedure of molecular modeling can be reiterated. Thus, the interactions between aptamers and their ligands are complex and difficult to understand using only experimental approaches. Docking and MD are irreplaceable when aptamers are studied in silico.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Parallels between the persistent overconsumption of food and addictive drugs have given rise to the notion of food addiction. In a large community sample of Canadian adults, the current study examined the prevalence of food addiction and its relationship with obesity, quality of life and multiple indicators of impulsivity. A secondary goal was to analyze differences between obese and non-obese individuals with and without food addiction. DESIGN Cross-sectional in-person assessment. SETTING Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. PARTICIPANTS A total of 1432 community adults (age = mean ± standard deviation = 38.93 ± 13.7; 42% male) recruited from the general community using print, bus and internet advertisements. MEASUREMENTS Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0, anthropometrics (including body mass index), body composition (e.g. body fat, muscle mass, body water), World Health Organization Quality of Life scale and impulsivity measures, including impulsive personality traits, delay discounting and behavioral inhibition. FINDINGS The prevalence of food addiction was 9.3% and substantially below that of obesity (32.7%), although food addiction was significantly more common among obese individuals (18.5%, P

With alcohol and cannabis remaining the most commonly detected drugs in seriously and fatally injured drivers, there is a need to understand their combined effects on driving.The present study examined the effects of combinations of smoked cannabis (12.5% THC) and alcohol (target BrAC 0.08%) on simulated driving performance, subjective drug effects, cardiovascular measures, and self-reported perception of driving ability.In this within-subjects, double-blind, double-dummy, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial, cannabis users (1-7 days/week) aged 19-29 years attended four drug administration sessions in which simulated driving, subjective effects, cardiovascular measures, and whole blood THC and metabolite concentrations were assessed following placebo alcohol and placebo cannabis (0.1% THC), alcohol and placebo cannabis, placebo alcohol and active cannabis, and alcohol and active cannabis.Standard deviation of lateral position in the combined condition was significantly different from the placebo condition (p0.001). Standard deviation of lateral position was also significantly different from alcohol and cannabis alone conditions in the single task overall drive (p = 0.029 and p = 0.032, respectively), from the alcohol alone condition in the dual task overall drive (p = 0.022) and the cannabis alone condition in the dual task straightaway drive (p = 0.002). Compared to the placebo condition, the combined and alcohol conditions significantly increased reaction time. Subjective effects in the combined condition were significantly greater than with either of the drugs alone at some time points, particularly later in the session. A driving ability questionnaire showed that participants seemed unaware of their level of impairment.Combinations of alcohol and cannabis increased weaving and reaction time, and tended to produce greater subjective effects compared to placebo and the single drug conditions suggesting a potential additive effect. The fact that participants were unaware of this increased effect has important implications for driving safety.

The article analyses the essence of Smart technologies in the context of educational mobility and mobile education. Examples of elements implementation of Smart-cities concepts in China, England, Czech Republic, Finland, Great Britain and Denmark are presented. Smart-technology structure components are revealed. The research has practical value - it allows using the revealed essence and separate elements of Smart-technology structure for realization of particular models in open education system of new generation.

Background Medications for smoking cessation are currently only effective in helping a minority of smokers quit. Drug development is slow and expensive; as such, there is much interest in optimizing the effectiveness of existing treatments and medications. Current standard doses of nicotine replacement therapy are not effective for many smokers, and in many cases, the amount of nicotine provided is much less than when a smoker is smoking their usual number of cigarettes. The proposed study will test if titrating the dose of the nicotine patch (up to 84 mg) will improve quitting success compared to those receiving a 21-mg nicotine patch with increasing doses of placebo patch. Methods This is a multicenter, pragmatic, two-arm, placebo-controlled, block randomized controlled trial. We will recruit participants who smoke at least 10 cigarettes daily and are interested in making a quit attempt. After 2 weeks of usual treatment with a 21-mg patch, participants who fail to quit smoking (target n = 400) will be randomized to receive escalating doses of a nicotine patch vs matching placebo patches for an additional 10 weeks or up to a maximum dose of 84 mg per day. Those who stop smoking during the first 2 weeks of usual treatment will continue with 21 mg patch treatment for 10 weeks and will form an additional comparison arm. In addition to the medication, participants will receive brief behavioral counseling at each study visit. The primary outcome will be biochemically confirmed continuous abstinence from smoking during the last 4 weeks of treatment (weeks 9 to 12). Discussion Research evidence supporting the effectiveness of personalized doses of nicotine replacement therapy could change current practice in a variety of healthcare settings. Given the evidence that quitting smoking at any age diminishes the risk of tobacco-related morbidity and mortality, even small increases in absolute quit rates can have a substantial population-level impact on reducing smoking-related disease, mortality rates, and associated healthcare costs. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03000387. Registered on 22 December 2016.

The development of measures to preserve the population of Atlantic salmon has been carried out on the basis of the results of studying the state of its habitat and the conditions of reproduction. During the survey of the habitat conditions of this species in the River Ura (the Murmansk region, Russia), the area of spawning and nursery fund has been determined, the qualitative and quantitative distribution of salmon in the river basin has been established, and the migration barrier (waterfall) and the bypass for this obstacle have been described. The data obtained during the calibration of spawning and nursery plots and juveniles fishing have indicated that Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. is widely distributed in the River Ura and runs along the main watercourse, three tributaries of the 1st order and one inflow of the 2nd order. The waterfall located on the River Ura at the distance of 28 km from its mouth does not limit the distribution of salmon which has the ability to make spawning migration along the creek bending the waterfall. The total area of the spawning and nursery fund is 69.4 ha, 83 % of which are located in watercourses below the waterfall. Spawning and nursery habitat of the Atlantic salmon is represented by a variety of habitat conditions with various longitudinal relief of the lake - river system, and the fractional composition of the bottom substrate. During the studies it has been noted a relatively high content of gravel and cobble fractions forming the most important types of spawning and nursery grounds, most suitable for Atlantic salmon spawning. "Spawning-nursery" grounds (42 %), as well as "spawning-nursery grounds with spawning grounds predominance" (35 %) constitute the bulk of spawning and nursery fund of the Atlantic salmon in the River Ura basin. Nursery grounds play a smaller role in its formation. The role of the latter is more noticeable in the river reaches above the waterfall where their share reaches 50 %.

Objectives The efficacy of brief interventions for cannabis use was assessed in a systematic review and meta-analyses. Methods Systematic searches in academic databases were conducted, and reference lists of included studies were reviewed. Randomized trials were included that compared brief interventions with minimal control interventions for improving cannabis-specific outcomes among participants recruited from healthcare settings. Mean differences (MDs) based on change-from-baseline measurements were pooled using random-effects meta-analyses, with stratification by short term (≤3 months) and long term (>3 months). Results Ten reports from 9 studies were included. Most studies were conducted in the United States, including participants who were adults and were recruited from primary care or emergency departments. There were no significant effects of brief interventions on cannabis-specific Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) scores in the short term (MD -1.27 points; 95% confidence interval [CI] -3.75, 1.21; I 84.40%). The null pattern of findings was also observed for number of days of cannabis use in the past 30 days in the short term (MD -0.22 days; 95% CI -2.27, 1.82; I 60.30%) and long term (MD -0.28 days; 95% CI -2.42, 1.86; I 60.50%). The evidence base for other outcomes not subjected to meta-analyses was limited and mixed. Conclusions Brief interventions did not result in reductions in cannabis-specific ASSIST scores or number of days of cannabis use, whereas the evidence base for other outcomes was limited and mixed. As such, brief interventions in healthcare settings may not be efficacious for cannabis use.

Aptamers are single-stranded nucleic acids, typically 20-80 nucleobases (nb) in length, which can bind different compounds with high affinity and selectively. Their ligand-binding properties can be attenuated by adding short complementary strands. These interactions open new opportunities for aptamer-based assays. Strong dependence between the length and electrophoretic mobility of short nucleic acids makes polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis a powerful tool for studying their complexes. The interactions between the 36 nb DNA G-quadruplex aptamer (5’-GAT-CGG-GTG-TGG-GTG-GCG-TAA-AGG-GAG-CAT-CGG-ACA-3’) specific to ochratoxin A and 9 complementary single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) were studied. The length of ssDNA varied from 5 to 9 nb. To maintain ligand-binding conformation of the aptamer, a high ionic strength buffer was used. The best resolution between the aptamer and its complex was provided for the gel with 15% monomer and a monomer/cross-linker ratio of 15:1. Bands of free aptamer and ssDNA were observed for all studied variants. If the ssDNA length was less than 9 nb, the position of the aptamer’s band remained unchanged, independent of the aptamer/ssDNA ratios, and additional bands did not appear. The longest ssDNA (5’-CGC-CAC-CCA-3’) did not lead to the appearance of a new band, but it slowed the aptamer’s migration depending on the ssDNA concentration. Under a 27-fold excess of the given ssDNA, the relative mobility of the aptamer band changed from 0.566 to 0.468. Thus, electrophoresis visualizes aptamer-ssDNA interactions and can be used in the development of aptamer-based analytical systems.

The fluorescent properties of ligands can change when they bind to specific receptors. Modulated by the transition of the ligand from the free to the bound state, fluorescence makes it possible both to detect this ligand and quantitatively register its binding. We characterized the interaction of ochratoxin A (OTA) with the specific G-quadruplex aptamer through excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy. It was shown that the formation of the complex changes the OTA fluorescence spectrum both in the region of the main peak at λex/λem 380/430 nm and in the region of peak at λex/λem 265/425 nm. At pH 8.5 and OTA concentration of 30 nM, this peak is smaller in intensity than the main peak of fluorescence. The formation of the complex with the aptamer leads to an increase of the fluorescence at λex/λem 265/425 nm up to 6.5 times, which makes it up to 4.9 times more intense than fluorescence at 380/430 nm. Fluorescence of the G-quadruplex aptamer (donor) takes part in increasing of the OTA (acceptor) emission at λex/λem 265/425 nm due to the resonance energy transfer. The concentration regularities of the modulated fluorescence of OTA at λex/λem 265/425 nm have been studied. Their correspondence to the calculations of complexation conducted on the basis of the dissociation constant is shown.