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The purpose of our study was to formulate provisions for obtaining an integral assessment characterizing the rating of forest areas in terms of fire hazard. We obtained this estimate based on the aggregation of many parameters characterizing climatic conditions and factors that take into account anthropogenic influence in a given area of the forest. Considering the heterogeneity of such parameters, we used the methods of fuzzy inference and the theory of fuzzy sets to aggregate them. The complex for determining the assessment of the forest area is implemented in the form of a hierarchical fuzzy inference system. We investigated the process of functioning of the formed complex and found that its output pattern is predominantly stepwise. This result makes it possible to classify the analyzed forest areas into states groups. Further studies of the classes of states formed by us by the methods of cluster analysis make it possible to identify areas with similar characteristics. The use of the classification results makes it possible to rank forest areas according to the order of preventive or preparatory measures to reduce fire hazard or increase responsiveness in case of a fire. The results obtained by us are aimed at using in decision support systems for the management of forests and other types of adjacent territories.

The purpose of the present research was to comprehensively assess the language abilities of Russian primary-school-aged children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), varying in non-verbal IQ, at all linguistic levels (phonology, lexicon, morphosyntax, and discourse) in production and comprehension. Yet, the influence of such non-language factors as children's age, the severity of autistic traits, and non-verbal IQ on language functioning was studied. Our results indicate a high variability of language skills in children with ASD (from normal to impaired) which is in line with the previous studies. Interestingly, the number of children with normal language abilities was related to the linguistic levels: according to more complex morphosyntax and discourse tests, fewer children with ASD were within the normal range unlike the results in simpler phonological and lexical tests. Importantly, we found that language abilities were best predicted by non-verbal IQ but were independent from age and the severity of autistic traits. The findings support the claim that formal language assessment of children with ASD needs to include all linguistic levels, from phonology to discourse, for helping speech-language therapists to choose an appropriate therapy target.

BACKGROUND. Cellular cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) is a better predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events than HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) but is not suitable as a routine clinical assay. METHODS. We developed an HDL-specific phospholipid efflux (HDL-SPE) assay to assess HDL functionality based on wholeplasma HDL apolipoprotein-mediated solubilization of fluorescent phosphatidylethanolamine from artificial lipid donor particles. We first assessed the association of HDL-SPE with prevalent coronary artery disease (CAD): study I included NIH severe-CAD (n = 50) and non-CAD (n = 50) participants, who were frequency matched for sex, BMI, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and smoking; study II included Japanese CAD (n = 70) and non-CAD (n = 154) participants. We also examined the association of HDL-SPE with incident CVD events in the Prevention of Renal and Vascular End-stage Disease (PREVEND) study comparing 340 patients with 340 controls individually matched for age, sex, smoking, and HDL-C levels. RESULTS. Receiver operating characteristic curves revealed stronger associations of HDL-SPE with prevalent CAD. The AUCs in study I were as follows: HDL-SPE, 0.68; apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I), 0.62; HDL-C, 0.63; and CEC, 0.52. The AUCs in study II were as follows: HDL-SPE, 0.83; apoA-I, 0.64; and HDL-C, 0.53. Also longitudinally, HDL-SPE was significantly associated with incident CVD events independent of traditional risk factors with ORs below 0.2 per SD increment in the PREVEND study (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION. HDL-SPE could serve as a routine clinical assay for improving CVD risk assessment and drug discovery. TRIAL REGISTRATION. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01621594. FUNDING. NHLBI Intramural Research Program, NIH (HL006095-06)., Introduction Coronary artery disease (CAD) risk assessment is a critical step for determining the need for lipid-lowering therapy (1). HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C) and total cholesterol are the 2 lipid tests currently [...]

The purpose of the present research was to comprehensively assess the language abilities of Russian primary-school-aged children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), varying in non-verbal IQ, at all linguistic levels (phonology, lexicon, morphosyntax, and discourse) in production and comprehension. Yet, the influence of such non-language factors as children's age, the severity of autistic traits, and non-verbal IQ on language functioning was studied. Our results indicate a high variability of language skills in children with ASD (from normal to impaired) which is in line with the previous studies. Interestingly, the number of children with normal language abilities was related to the linguistic levels: according to more complex morphosyntax and discourse tests, fewer children with ASD were within the normal range unlike the results in simpler phonological and lexical tests. Importantly, we found that language abilities were best predicted by non-verbal IQ but were independent from age and the severity of autistic traits. The findings support the claim that formal language assessment of children with ASD needs to include all linguistic levels, from phonology to discourse, for helping speech-language therapists to choose an appropriate therapy target., Author(s): Vardan Arutiunian [sup.1] , Anastasiya Lopukhina [sup.1] [sup.2] , Alina Minnigulova [sup.1] , Anastasia Shlyakhova [sup.1] , Elizaveta Davydova [sup.3] , Darya Pereverzeva [sup.3] , Alexander Sorokin [sup.3] [sup.5] [...]

Simple Summary: Radical pancreatectomies with superior mesenteric vein (SMV) resection without portal-to-superior mesenteric vein (PV/SMV) reconstruction are scarcely discussed in the literature. The existing data contain around 15 cases published with unclear oncological results and algorithms of patients' selection. In the present report, we analyzed the short- and long-term results of 19 consecutive pancreatectomies with SMV resection without PV/SMV reconstruction for locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and discussed the role of CT-based preoperative reconstructions and selection criteria for radical and safe surgery in this highly specific group of patients. The "vein definition" for locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (LA PDAC) assumes portal-to-superior mesenteric vein (PV/SMV) unreconstructability due to tumor involvement or occlusion. Radical pancreatectomies with SMV resection without PV/SMV reconstruction are scarcely discussed in the literature. Retrospective analysis of 19 radical pancreatectomies for "low" LA PDAC with SMV and all its tributaries resection without PV/SMV reconstruction has shown zero mortality; overall morbidity—56%; Dindo–Clavien—3–10.5%; R0—rate—82%; mean operative procedure time—355 ± 154 min; mean blood loss—330 ± 170 mL; delayed gastric emptying—25%; and clinically relevant postoperative pancreatic fistula—8%. In three cases, surgery was associated with superior mesenteric (n2) and common hepatic artery (n1) resection. Surgery was completed without vein reconstruction (n13) and with inferior mesenteric-to-splenic anastomosis (n6). There were no cases of liver, gastric, or intestinal ischemia. A specific complication of the SMV resection without reconstruction was 2–3 days-long intestinal edema (48%). Median overall survival was 25 months, and median progression-free survival was 18 months. All the relapses, except two, were distant. The possibility of successful SMV resection without PV/SMV reconstruction can be predicted before surgery by CT-based reconstructions. The mandatory anatomical conditions for the procedure were as follows: (1) preserved SMV-SV confluence; (2) occluded SMV for any reason (tumor or thrombus); (3) well-developed inferior mesenteric vein collaterals with dilated intestinal veins; (4) no right-sided vein collaterals; and (5) no varices in the upper abdomen. Conclusion: "Low" LA PDACs involving SMV with all its tributaries can be radically and safely resected in highly and specifically selected cases without PV/SMV reconstruction with an acceptable survival rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiation hardening is studied for stainless austenitic and ferritic-martensitic chromium steels after ion and neutron irradiation at various temperatures. Austenitic and ferritic-martensitic steels irradiated up to 30 dpa in various nuclear reactors and ion accelerators are studied at various temperatures. A change in Vickers microhardness is used as the radiation hardening parameter. A methodology is developed that allows one to determine the ion irradiation parameters, which ensure the radiation hardening of ferritic-martensitic and austenitic steels, as close as possible to the radiation hardening of the same steels under neutron irradiation. A transferability function is introduced to connect the irradiation temperatures for ion and neutron irradiation that provides the same radiation hardening. On the basis of the obtained experimental data, after ion and neutron irradiation the transferability functions are determined for the investigated austenitic and ferritic-martensitic steels, which connect the temperatures for ion and neutron irradiation and provide the same radiation hardening at a given damage dose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Assessment of diastolic function of the left ventricle (LVDF) makes it possible to detect chronic heart failure (CHF) at the preclinical stage of development, when its progression can still be prevented. Doppler echocardiography (echo) is the most accurate non-invasive diagnostic method for left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD), requiring expensive equipment and trained professionals. The development of an accessible screening method for the diagnosis of LVDD is an urgent and practically significant task. Purpose of the study was to evaluate the diagnostic value, sensitivity and specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the method of spectral analysis of a single-channel electrocardiogram (S-ch ECG) proposed by us for the diagnosis of LVDD in comparison with Doppler echo as a reference. Methods: The study involved 60 people (35 patients on program hemodialysis with arterial hypertension and 25 healthy individuals). Among the patients there were 19 men and 16 women aged 29 to 65 (45.9 (12.8)) years. Among the healthy were 15 men and 10 women aged 25 to 63 (43.2(11.8)). Doppler echo was performed on the SonoSite Micro Maxx Belse X2 apparatus. LVDF was determined according to the generally accepted method. S-ch ECG was taken with portable recorder DuoEK 118 from Lepu Medical. LVDD was determined by S-ch ECG spectral analysis as the ratio of the sum of harmonic power in the period of early diastolic filling to the sum of harmonic power during the period of atrial contraction. Results: The sensitivity of the method developed by us was 0.74, and the specificity was 0.84. Positive predictive value was 0.87 and negative predictive value was 0.70. Chi-square: 15.043, p<0.0001 - the presence of a relationship is statistically highly significant; Phi=0.514, p<0.0001 - the presence of a connection is highly significant. Area Under the Curve is 0.791 (0.061) with a confidence interval of 0.672 to 0.911. The obtained values indicate that S-ch ECG scores are fairly good predictors of LVDD. Conclusion: Spectral analysis of S-ch ECG has a high sensitivity and sufficient specificity for the diagnosis of LVDD. This method can be used for remote mass screening studies for the purpose of preclinical diagnosis of CHF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]