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Abstract Background and objectives :The hypothesis of the study was the assumption that the serum levels of soluble ST2 (sST2) and growth differentiation factor (GDF-15) can be predictors of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence in long-term period after primary radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA). Methods Of the 165 patients included in the prospective follow-up, the final analysis included 131 patients whose follow-up duration reached 18 months after the end of the blanking period (3 months after RFA). The median age of patients was 59.0 (50.0; 64.0) years, and 80 (61%) were men. Paroxysmal AF was present in 103 (79%) and persistent AF in 28 (21%) patients. All patients underwent transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, and electroanatomic mapping was used to assess the area of low-voltage zones (LVZ). sST2 and GDF-15 levels were determined by ELISA using GDF-15/MIC-1 analytical kits (BioVender, Czech Republic) and Presage ST2 (Critical Diagnostics, USA) before RFA. After RFA, patients had regular follow-up visits at 3-6-9-12-18 months with 12-lead ECG or Holter ECG monitoring and with clinical evaluation. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of the first symptomatic AF recurrence (AFr) lasting > 30 s, recorded on an ECG or during daily ECG monitoring, after a blanking period. Results At the 18-month follow-up, 47 patients (35.9%) had AFr. The groups with and without AFr didn`t differ in the LVZ area. The medians of NT-proBNP, GDF-15 and sST2 also didn`t differ significantly between the groups, but in patients with AFr, the proportion of those with sST2 ≥ 36 ng/ml (the border of the lower and middle terziles) was higher (p = 0.03). According to the one-factor Cox regression analysis, AFr were associated with four factors: AF history ≥ 1 year, early AFr (during the blanking period), left atrial appendage flow velocity (LAAFV)

A case study was initiated from the perspective of three research questions: (1) CLIL teachers' practices at secondary schools of Aktobe during COVID-19 pandemic; (2) challenges for the teachers; (3) support provided for the teachers. The research methodology combined face-to-face personal interviews, and non-participant observation. Data analysis was conducted in line with Mayring's (2020) approach to content analysis and by means of categorization into specific themes that emerge from teachers' conceptualization of their CLIL practices. The analysis of teachers' reflections on their experiences and challenges of using the CLIL approach during the pandemic, support provided to them and teachers' attitudes towards the approach is presented in the paper. Research data on the secondary schools Science teachers' CLIL practices in a remote learning setting was categorized related preparation to teaching, resources used by the teachers, students' interaction during the lessons, and stakeholders' attitudes and perceptions of the approach. The obtained data enables to understand Science teachers' practices in terms of using the CLIL approach in Kazakhstani secondary schools in the period of COVID-19 pandemic, and will contribute to teacher development and preparation for successful CLIL realization in a nontraditional classroom.

The research aimsto explore the cognitive-semantic structure of the above child rights phenomenon through the language analysis, and compare the perceptions of different stakeholders as target audiences with regard to diverse formats of the Convention contents and its essence representation. The research data combines academic literature on the topic, the text of the Convention on the rights of the child, its child friendly version as the background material for empirical study, and the data from the open-ended questionnaire. The research sample includes social workers, teachers, and lawyers who deal with children's rights issues. The research methods integrate theoretical analysis of relevant literature, textual analysis of the Convention text (including content analysis, manual and automated coding, distributional analysis), and open-ended questionnaire of the experts in the field under study. SPSS was used for statistical data processing. The research findings show that the linear enumeration of rights through the Convention articles leads just to the same linear perception of the above. Meanwhile, schematic verbal-visual representation of the Convention as a cognitive-semantic macrostructure provides grounds for synergetic interpretation where not just the rights, but the stakeholders, the scope and specifics of their duties and obligations, societal contexts of their activities and measures to ensure child's rights can be explicitly introduced. The findings lead to the conclusion that the interpretation of the Convention text through its cognitive-semantic structure can contribute to enhancing public awareness and education on the child's rights within social care, legal, secondary and higher education settings. The research results cast new light on the potential of discourse analysis for the Convention interpretation within legal, educational and academic contexts.

The paper explores the current state of affairs in the language service providers' attitude and practice regarding the digital tools potential for language and culture mediation with refugees. The issue is considered from the angle of interpreters' awareness of and competency in using up-to-date electronic tools to support refugees' language rights in emergency settings in general and at the border crossing points and temporary settlements, in particular. The current importance of the research rests on the global migration tendencies that map a lot of challenges for cross cultural communication with forced migrants and refugees. The paper aims to explore the language service providers' competence and their aptitude to use digital tools for interpreting in diverse settings, including those related to migration contexts, oral human interaction and language mediation at the border crossing points, in particular. The study integrates desk and field research, includes the analysis of relevant literature and professional sources and further moves to a pilot survey. It involves interpreters with working experience in emergency situations against global migration background. The empirical analysis aims to explore specific preferences and benefits that various tools provide for an interpreter. 111 interpreters from 7 countries were engaged in the survey. The survey strived to identify interpreters' professional background regarding the skills interpreters' awareness of digital tools for interpreting process support and interpreters' attitude to the use of the relevant tools in their professional activities in the settings related to mediation activities for refugees at the stage of their crossing the host country border. The research findings reveal that neither Industry nor Academia fully responds to the society needs in terms of interpreters' awareness of and competency in using up-to-date electronic tools to foster the quality of their professional activities in the socially significant areas, related to emergency contexts in general, and to communication with refugees at the border crossing areas, in particular. The research results lead to the list of recommendations to both Academia and Language Service Providers to enhance the timeliness, scope, adequacy and quality of their activities with a view to fostering the cross cultural communication efficiency in emergency settings.

The work is devoted to method and algorithm for calculating lung ventilation and perfusion based on electrical impedance tomography, which consists in isolating the ventilation or perfusion component of the voltage change on the surface of the chest cavity by filtering, followed by calculating a impedance integral parameter and average value of the voltage change, the law of change of which has a high correlation with lung ventilation. Main approaches to filtering discrete signals, which are measurement data in the calculation of ventilation and lung perfusion based on EIT during mechanical ventilation, namely polynomial filters, a simple Fourier filter and a filter based on discrete wavelet transformation, have been identified and investigated. A block diagram of an algorithm for implementing a simple Fourier filter has been developed.

Pathological resorption is diagnosed quite often in the treatment of periodontitis and is considered a prognostic adverse symptom. Increasing the effectiveness of the therapeutic treatment of destructive periodontitis is associated with the development of methods of instrumental and drug effects on root canals and depends on the correct selection of endo-sealant to achieve the predicted result. The combined pathology of root resorption is no exception in the case of a correctly chosen treatment strategy. The article reports on the successful therapeutic treatment of a tooth with destructive periodontitis and combined root resorption. Radiographically proven that there is a complete recovery of periapical tissues. Long-term results indicate the effectiveness of the treatment.

Aim. To study morphology of external resorption of apical root area of teeth with destructive forms of apical periodontitis in the acute stage.Materials and methods. Microrelief of 10 previously untreated teeth with destructive forms of apical periodontitis in the acute stage was investigated. The material was taken at the moment of dental manipulation of tooth extraction after injecting anesthesia with 2% lidocaine solution or Septanest if indicated with the information consent of the patient.Results. Damaged cement of heterogeneous structure with areas of resorption alternating with areas of undamaged cement in the area of the root tips was found. The resorbed cement looks like large lacunae with clearly outlined ribs, filled with rounded cell clusters – cementocytes.Conclusions. Resorbed tooth root cement of heterogeneous structure with different area and degree of destruction depth was found in the places of periodontal absence. In some cases the resorption of the root cement partially affected the inner area of the apical orifice.

Plankton survey was conducted in the Chukchi Sea in August-September 2019 by two research vessels: RV Professor Levanidov in the western part of the sea and RV Ocean Starr in its eastern part. Parasagitta elegans dominated everywhere in zooplankton. Beside these arrowworms, species of the arctic and arctic-boreal complex were abundant in the northwestern Chukchi Sea, as Calanus glacialis and other species typical for the adjacent East-Siberian Sea. C. glacialis was numerous in the northeastern Chukchi Sea, too, together with species of the Arctic waters and the Beaufort Sea. The southern Chukchi Sea was occupied by the waters invaded from the Bering Sea, so species of the Bering Sea complex were abundant there, as Eucalanus bungii and Neocalanus plumchrus/flemingeri, at Alaska coast together with neritic species typical for the Alaska coastal water mass. The zooplankton community structure corresponded to the spring phase of seasonal succession in the northern area, whereas to the summer phase in the southern area. Total density of zooplankton was estimated as 65 t/km2 for the northwestern part of the sea, presented mostly by large-sized fraction (56 t/km2) including arrowworms (35 t/km2) and copepods (13 t/km2), and as 48 t/km2 for the southwestern part of the sea, also mostly large-sized fraction (40 t/km2). So high zooplankton density in the western Chukchi Sea is considered as result of the Bering Sea waters advection (previously such abundance was observed in 2008 — 40 and 36 t/km2, when the advection was also active). In the eastern Chukchi Sea, the total density of zooplankton was 44 t/km2 in the northeastern area (including 29 t/km2 of large-sized fraction) and 43 t/km2 in the southeastern area, that was higher than in 2017 (15 t/km2) but lower than in 2007 (49 t/km2). However, different phases of seasonal succession should be noted: summer season in 2019, spring season in 2017, and late-summer season in 2007.

The management of alopecia areata (AA) in pediatric patients poses unique challenges, particularly regarding treatment discussions and decision making involving both patients and their families. This commentary presents findings from unpublished research on treatment‐discontinuation discussions between AA patients and their treating providers, shedding light on the hopes, expectations, and disappointments of individuals with severe AA. The study explored patient and guardian satisfaction with these discussions, emphasizing the importance of addressing psychosocial concerns, facilitating contact with support groups, and demonstrating empathy. The role of dermatologists in conversations about treatment, prognosis, and quality of life is examined, emphasizing the need for honesty, empathy, and realistic expectations. The authors propose a patient‐centered approach to initiating and guiding discussions, focusing on understanding the impact of AA on patients and their families and collaboratively deciding on treatment options. The mantra: 'I need to understand how this is affecting all of you, so we can decide together what to do next' is central to this proposed approach. Special considerations for different scenarios are discussed, highlighting the importance of individualized care and effective communication. Overall, the commentary emphasizes the significance of actively listening, acknowledging emotions, and prioritizing patient and family goals to optimize care for pediatric AA patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the deformation behavior of porous ceramics ZrO2–5.5 wt.% Y2O3 with different morphology of the pore space under axial quasi-static compression is studied by the digital image correlation (DIC) method. Two stages of the deformation behavior of the ceramics have been identified, namely, the controlled accumulation of microcracks and the formation of block structures. It has been found that an increase in the average pore size leads to a decrease in the tensile strength, a decrease in the effective elasticity modulus, and an increase in the ultimate deformation, while the nature of the deformation macrolocalization changes from ordered to chaotic one. It is shown that the rate of accumulation of local deformations in the central part of the deformable sample with a pore size of 68 μm is several times higher than in the sample with a pore size of 29 μm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores the ways in which non-formal content and language integrated learning within university studies can affect students' academic progress. The research has included theoretical and empirical studies. The article focuses on the observation of students' learning process, draws attention to challenges and benefits students experienced through non-formal Law and Language integrated learning. Emphasis is laid on those non-formal learning activities that may be viewed as part of the university students' training for their future professional activities. The paper provides the results of students' interviews and questionnaires revealing the issues that students consider important regarding non-formal content and language learning. The research findings aim to contribute to a better understanding of the overall interdependence of formal and non-formal learning within the university academic environment.

The paper focuses on the university academic excellence projects worldwide and tries to explore the higher education institutions experience and trends regarding their language policies within the international landscape and increasing globalisation. The article agrees that English goes as a major medium of instruction at universities that strive for reaching higher positions in world university rankings and takes into account the UNESCO traditions related to language diversity and multilingual education development, as well. The research focuses on language policy issues as language has always been a tool to create, deliver and process knowledge within, across and beyond local and national communities toward the global scale. The study took into account the experience of national academic excellence projects across the world, tried to identify those language challenges that the Russian universities as members of the Russian national academic excellence project are currently facing. The research goal was to map those changes and shifts in the language policies of Russian higher education institutions that could help them boost their academic visibility internationally. The methodology rested on the qualitative analysis of national education programmes, universities' action plans, data on Russian universities strategies and tactics regarding language issues.

Aim. To study the frequency of prescribing antithrombotic agents in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF) in real clinical practice, to evaluate changes of prescriptions from 2012 till 2020.Material and methods. The medical records of inpatients (Form 003/y) with the diagnosis AF, hospitalized in the cardiological department were analyzed. According to the inclusion criteria, the patients were over 18 years of age, established diagnosis of non-valvular AF. There were two exclusion criteria: congenital and acquired valvular heart disease and prosthetic heart valves. In retrospective analysis we have included 263 case histories in 2012, 502 ones in 2016 and 524 in 2020. CHA2DS2-VASc score was used for individual stroke risk assessment in AF. The rational use of the antithrombotic therapy was evaluated according with current clinical practice guidelines at analyzing moment.Results. During period of observation the frequency of antiplatelet therapy significantly decreased from 25,5% to 5,5% (р

The aim of the study was to determine the effectiveness of autologous bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) intraosseous injection in the treatment of patients with knee OA stages II-III. Methods: The multicenter randomized study involved 40 patients (27 women, 13 men, average age 67.07.8 years, BMI 32.74.8, duration of disease 17.33.7 months) with knee OA of stages II-III according to the Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) classification. Patients of the main (BMAC group) group (n=19) underwent a single intraosseous injection of BMAC, in the comparison group (n = 21) a PRP injection (PRP group). The results were evaluated after 1, 3, 6, 12 months with the verbal rating scale (VRS), VAS, Leken and WOMAC scales. Results: Comparison of the results in the groups on the VRS showed that at an earlier time (3 and 6 months), the preferences of patients were in favor of the treatment of BMAC (65% and 55% positive reviews) before PRP (55% and 45% positive reviews), whereas after 12 months the differences were insignificant. Analysis of VAS indicators in patients of both groups indicated a more pronounced decrease in the severity of pain syndrome after BMAC intraosseous injection. The analysis of the Leken scale indicators showed in favor of BMAC throughout the entire observation period, the differences were most pronounced in the first 3 months of observation. The ratio of the values of the WOMAC index in both patients groups indicated statistically significant differences that persisted in all periods of follow-up, the increase in indicators occurred to a lesser extent after the introduction of BMAC compared with PRP. Conclusions: A single intraosseous BMAC injection has an advantage over a similar PRP injection in terms of pain, knee function and physical activity of patients at all follow-up periods. Both methods of treatment are equally safe.

Infectious process is an important cause of morbidity and mortality among patients with chronic kidney disease. Prescription of antibacterial drugs should take into account the pharmacokinetic parameters of the medicine and the individual characteristics of the patient. Adequate antibiotic dosing is crucial for positive treatment outcome and minimisation of side effects. The aim of the study was to analyse scientific literature on factors affecting the dosing of antibacterials in patients with chronic kidney disease. Since most antibacterial medicines are eliminated by the kidneys, a decrease in glomerular filtration rate or kidney function should be followed by the dose adjustment in order to prevent the medicine accumulation and reduce the risk of side effects. Antibiotic dosing in such patients should be accompanied by kidney function assessment and be adjusted to ensure effective and safe treatment, as well as prevention of bacterial resistance. The review provides data on the dosing of some antibiotic groups (beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones) at different creatinine clearance rates. Extrarenal excretion of medicines does not usually require the dose adjustment in patients with chronic kidney disease.

To compare trophic characteristics for pelagic and benthic communities of zooplankton and zoobenthos in the Chukchi Sea, isotopic composition of carbon and nitrogen (δ15N and δ13С) was measured in two different water masses: i) the Bering Sea water with relatively high δ13С and low δ15N values that occupied the southern part of the sea (south of 71о N), and ii) the cold Arctic water prevailed in its northern part were δ13С value was considerably lower and δ15N value was higher in 1–3 %. Stable difference in the isotopic composition of carbon is found between zooplankton and benthic invertebrates in the southern Chukchi Sea that means that benthic organisms base mainly on the benthic trophic chain and role of organic matter from the upper layer is not significant. About 90 % of the studied species of benthic fish are locked into the benthic trophic web there. In the northern Chukchi Sea, the benthic community consumes mainly the suspended organic matter produced in the water column, with prevalence of ice algae. All samples of benthic fish collected in this area have minimum content of heavy carbon δ13С with the values comparable to pelagic fish that indicates the main role of pelagic objects (60–80 %) in their feeding. The δ15N value reflects predatory habits of the animals. These values vary over a wide range both in the southern and northern areas that corresponds to the diet of the first, second or third order consumers.

Data on feeding of fish are presented collected in the western Chukchi Sea aboard RV «Professor Levanidov» and in the eastern Chukchi Sea aboard RV «Ocean Starr» in August-September, 2019. The feeding was different by areas of the sea and reflected regional features of food base. Copepods and euphausiids were the main components of the diet, though their ratio varied. In the western Chukchi Sea, arctic cod and walleye pollock (40–70 cm) were the main consumers of food resources and consumed on average 3.85 and 8.38 t/km2 per day, respectively. The diet of walleye pollock included fish (4.05 t/km2 . day) and zooplankton (3.01 t/km2 . day, mostly euphausiids — 2.60 t/km2 . day). Arctic cod consumed predominantly zooplankton (3.00 t/km2 . day, mostly copepods — 1.27 t/km2 . day, but also small- and medium-sized species). The total stock of net zooplankton (55.2 t/km2 ) exceeded in 7 times daily consumption of zooplankton. Coelenterates, arrowworms, other plankton species, benthic species, and small-sized nekton were consumed by fish poorly. Daily food ration of arctic cod and walleye pollock was estimated as 7.4–9.4 % and 3.4–4.7 % of their body weight, respectively, so the food supply of these species in the western Chukchi Sea was quite sufficient in 2019. In the eastern Chukchi Sea, the diet of juveniles of walleye pollock, sand lance and arctic cod included mainly copepods (50.5 %), euphausiids (12.0 %) and oikopleura (17.0 %). Ratio of zooplankton stock to daily consumption was twice higher in the southern part of the eastern Chukchi Sea than in its northern part. The consumption was also higher in the southern area where the index of stomach fullness reached 114.8 ‱ for pollock juveniles and 262.0 ‱ for sand lance juveniles, whereas it was 87 ‱ for juvenile arctic cod and 47 ‱ for juvenile sand lance in the northern area.

Zooplankton was sampled from the epipelagic layer (0–200 m) in the Bering Sea using Jedae net (mouth 0.1 m2, mesh size 0.168 mm) in 1986–2018. Arrowworms were the most numerous predators, represented with 3 species: Parasagitta elegans, Eukrohnia hamata, and Pseudosagitta maxima. Their summary biomass was 215.7 mg/m3, on average (26.3 % of the total zooplankton biomass), and varied seasonally from 105.9 mg/m3 in winter to 311.8 mg/m3 in autumn. Parasagitta elegans dominated absolutely (> 99 % WW). Mean stock of this species was 64.36. 106 t; its seasonal yield was estimated as 22.1. 106 t in winter, 78.5. 106 t in spring, 191.9. 106 t in summer, and 130.3. 106 t in autumn, so its mean production was 422.8. 106 t WW per year.

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is severe and fatal complication of anticoagulant therapy with an incidence 0.3-0.7% per year. For patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) anticoagulants are administered for decreasing risk of stroke and systemic embolism. In this case the occurrence of intracranial bleeding is hard task for doctor. From the one side it is necessary to reverse the action of the drug for preventing the growth of hematoma. At the same time the discontinuation of therapy increases the risk of systemic embolism for patients with AF significantly. Clinical guidelines and studies have been reviewed about ICH during anticoagulant therapy. Nowadays there is no quality evidence about reversal of anticoagulant effects after ICH and optimal time of resumption of anticoagulant therapy. Firstly, we do not have large randomized controlled trials on this issue. The majority of clinical guidelines were based on retrospective studies and opinions of experts. Soon several randomized controlled trials will be finished and new data will be presented.

The development of a "cytokine storm", characteristic of severe COVID-19 forms, can be defined as a state of uncontrolled release of a large number of inflammatory mediators.The attachment of SARS-CoV-2 S-glycoprotein to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 is considered a process that triggers complex molecular interactions that lead to hyperinflammation. In its turn, it is realized through several systems: renin-angiotensin-aldosterone, kallikrein-kinin and a complement system. Knowledge of these mechanisms suggests potential therapeutic interventions that can be targeted by existing therapeutic agents to counter the cytokine storm and treat the acute respiratory distress syndrome associated with COVID-19.The aim of the review article is to summarize the currently known data on the molecular processes underlying the uncontrolled "cytokine storm" in the patients with severe COVID-19, and possible options for their pharmacological correction.Materials and methods. The data base was represented by such systems as Medline, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, Web of Science Core Collection, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov, Elibrary, Google-Academy. A search was carried out for the following keywords and combinations: COVID-19, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, bradykinin, complement system, hyaluronic acid, pharmacotherapy.Results. The development of a "cytokine storm" in COVID-19 is mediated by pathogenetic changes in the body in response to the penetration of SARS-CoV-2 into the cell. In the RAAS, suppression of ACE2 leads to a decrease in its ability to degrade ATII, which, on the one hand, leads to a decrease in the amount of AT1-7, and, on the other hand, to the effect of ATII on AT1R with the subsequent development of vasoconstriction and lung damage. The disturbances in the kallikrein-kinin system are associated, on the one hand, with the increased expression of kallikrein and an increase in the formation of bradykinin and its metabolite des-Arg 9-bradykinin. On the other hand, the disturbances are associated with the suppression of the expression of the C1-esterase inhibitor which prevents the formation of kallikrein, and impaired inactivation of des-Arg 9-bradykinin under the action of ACE 2. The nucleocapsid protein SARS-CoV-2 triggers the activation of the complement system through the lectin pathway. It leads to the production of anaphylatoxins C3a and C5a, which stimulate the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Proinflammatory cytokines are potent inducers of the HAS 2 gene in the endothelium, which encodes the membrane enzymes of hyaluronate synthase. The sweating of the fluid into the alveoli caused by the "bradykinin storm" in combination with the overproduction of hyaluronic acid, which accumulates water 1000 times its own mass, can lead to the formation of a dense jelly-like substance that prevents gas exchange.Conclusion. Promising areas of pharmacotherapy for "cytokine storm" are associated with its impact on the dysfunction of the listed above systems. However, the efficacy and safety of most drugs for the treatment of COVID-19, is to be studied through carefully designed clinical trials.

Given the global trend of population aging, it is natural to see an increase in the number of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) performed in patients of older age groups.The aim of this study was to compare the results of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in different age groups and find a predictors of hospital mortality. Methods. Data were collected from 1649 patients with STEMI who were admitted to the coronary care unit and underwent PCIs from2006 to 2017. Patients were divided into 3 age groups according to World Heals Organization classification. The first group consisted of 850 patients aged from 18 to 59 years, the second group consisted 620 patients aged from 60 to 74 years, and third group consisted of 179 patients aged from 75 years and older. Results. The rate of in-hospital death was statistically significant lower in younger groups (groups 1-2: 2.2 % vs 5.8 %, р180 minutes (OR=4.39; 95 % CI 1.78-10.8, р=0.001). Conclusions. PCIs for STEMI in older age groups were associated with worse in-hospital outcomes. Age, anterior myocardial infarction, Syntax score, ventricular arrhythmias, blood glucose level at admission, PCI failure, Killip class III-IV, total ischemia time >180 minutes were the independent predictor of death.

Aim of the research. Тo evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the contrast-enhanced ultrasound examination of kidneys in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus with a dose of 0.5 ml of contrast agent administered.Materials and methods. We examined 12 patients with a verified diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. The age of the examined patients was 31–59 years, the mean age was 49 ± 1.3 years. All patients underwent complex diagnostics, including ultrasound examination of the kidneys in B-mode with further renal vessels color Doppler imaging to assess vessels hemodynamics. A contrast-enhanced ultrasound examination of the kidneys was carried out using Sonovue contrast agent at the doses of 2.5 ml (according to the European Good Clinical Practice Recommendations for Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound) and 0.5 ml (an improved technique of contrast agent intravenous bolus administration).Results. The improved technique (0.5 ml of contrast agent intravenous bolus administration) in comparison with the European Recommendations technique (2.5 ml of contrast agent intravenous bolus administration) used in patients with type 2 diabetes showed no or minor differences in the qualitative and quantitative indicators of contrast-enhanced ultrasound examination which did not affect the interpretation of the results.Conclusion. The improved contrast-enhanced ultrasound examination technique using 0.5 ml of a contrast agent showed its possibilities in diagnosing diabetic nephropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes, and also revealed the potential of an economically beneficial distribution of a contrast agent without losing the quality and information content of the study.

New representations concerning plasticity physics in crystals are discussed. The model of plastic flow is suggested, which can describe its main regularities. With the use of the experimental investigation, it is shown that the plastic flow localization plays the role in the evolution of plastic deformation. Obtained data are explained with the application of the principles of nonequilibrium-systems’ theory. The quasi-particle is introduced for the description of plasticity phenomenon. It is established the relation between plasticity characteristics of metals and their position in Periodic table of the elements. A new model is elaborated to address localized plastic-flow evolution in solids. The basic assumption of the proposed model is that the elementary plasticity acts evolving in the deforming of medium would generate acoustic emission pulses, which interact with the plasticity carriers and initiate new elementary shears. As found experimentally, the macrolocalization of plastic flow involves a variety of autowave processes. To address the phenomenon of localized plastic-flow autowaves, a new quasi-particle called ‘autolocalizon’ is introduced; the criterion of validity of the concept is assessed.