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Chronic venous insufficiency is a common and treatable medical condition which has a high morbidity if left untreated, progressing to lower extremity edema, skin changes of lipodermatosclerosis, and venous ulceration. Treatment options have significantly expanded over the last several decades, shifting away from the traditional surgical approach to more minimally invasive procedures such as endoluminal venous laser ablation or radiofrequency ablation. Even more recently, several techniques using nonthermal methods to ablate varicose veins have been developed, which offer the advantage of not requiring labor-intensive and painful tumescent anesthesia to protect the surrounding tissues. These techniques include mechanochemical ablation, cyanoacrylate closure, or polidocanol microfoam injection and can be offered to a wider range of patients without the need for sedation while offering similar closure rates and improved postprocedure symptom profile. Furthermore, certain patient characteristics which might preclude or complicate the use of thermal ablation methods might not pose a problem with nonthermal nontumescent methods.

Heteroleptic cadmium(ii) carboxylates with anions of pentafluorobenzoic (pfb), benzoic (bz), and 2-furancarboxylic (fur) acids were prepared by the crystallization from aqueous solutions. The cadmium(ii) pentafluorobenzoate-benzoate complex is structurally similar to the starting compound [Cd(pfb)(H2O)4]n • n(pfb): bz anions are involved in the cationic 1D polymer {[Cd(bz)(H2O)3]n}n+, whereas pfb anions are outer-sphere. The pentafluorobenzoate-2-furan-carboxylate compound [Cd(fur)(pfb)(H2O)2]n•n(H2O) is a 1D coordination polymer. The heteroleptic TbIII complex [Tb2(bz)2(pfb)4(H2O)2(EtOH)2]•2Hbz has a molecular structure. The supramolecular crystal structures of the new compounds are stabilized by non-covalent interactions.

Peridotites of an unusual orbicular structure, attributed to the impregnated type of rocks, were found in ophiolites of the Voikar massif (Polar Urals). Orbicules in these rocks are composed of a secondary clinochlore–diopside aggregate containing grains of primary clinopyroxene and pargasite. The morphology and composition of orbicules make it possible to attribute them to segregations (globules) of the melt in the olivine matrix of peridotites that have experienced partial crystallization in situ. According to geochemical modeling results, these melts had characteristics transitional to boninites, corresponding to the suprasubduction conditions. The formation of orbicular peridotites was associated with blocking intergranular channels of the percolating basaltic melts.

The reaction of Cr(NO3)3·9H2O with potassium cyclobutane-1,1-dicarboxylate (K2(Cbdc)) in 1 : 3 ratio was studied. It was shown that, depending on the reaction conditions and the solvents used for synthesis and crystallization, compounds of various compositions and structures can be isolated from the reaction system. Conducting the reaction in water followed by recrystallization from ethanol and methanol results in isolation of 2D polymeric complexes [KCr(Cbdc)2(H2O)2]n (I) and {[K4Cr2(OMe)2(Cbdc)4(MeOH)6]· MeOH}n (II), respectively. The addition of excess KOH to the same reaction mixture and recrystallization from alcohols gives rise to the crystals of 3D polymeric compound [K3Cr(Cbdc)3(H2O)2]n (III). Conducting the reaction in methanol followed by slow diffusion of diethyl ether affords complex [K3Cr(Cbdc)3(MeOH)2(H2O)2]n (IV) with a 2D polymeric structure. The crystal structures of compounds I–IV were determined by X-ray diffraction (CIF files CCDC nos. 2006090 (I), 2006109 (II), 2006116 (III), and 2 006 117 (IV)).

In this article, the model including cathode spot process and deuterium desorption process on zirconium deuterium cathode is developed. Five kinds of particle fluxes on cathode surface and three mechanisms affecting deuterium diffusion in cathode are considered. The model not only describes the deformation of cathode metal, but also describes the variation of deuterium concentration with time. On pure zirconium cathode, the mean charge state is larger but on zirconium deuterium cathode, the total ion number density is larger since there are additional deuterium ions, and simulation results show the discharge currents are very close on the two cathodes, the energy flux density on ZrD0.66 cathode is larger so cathode spot crater develops faster on ZrD0.66 cathode. Ablation rates caused by different mechanisms are calculated and the results show in cathode spot development process, mass loss caused by evaporation is ignored, most of the liquid metal will resolidify on cathode surface, and droplets are the main reason for cathode ablation. The ablation rates due to the ejection of droplets are close to experimental results. The ratios of deuterium ion from different mechanisms in this process are also calculated and it is 93.5% in simulation. Simulation results are in agreement with the other researchers’ works.

YVO4:Yb,Er upconversion nanoparticles (UCNPs) are synthesized to study the possibility of using them as nanoprobes to solve biological problems. Aqueous colloidal solutions of UCNPs are injected into the bodies of grape snails. When preparations from animal organs are irradiated with a continuous wave (CW) laser at a wavelength of 980 nm, luminescence is observed in the region of 520–560 nm, due to radiative transitions in Er3+ ions. A comparative analysis of the behavioral activity of animals with injected nanoparticles and control animals with no nanoparticles reveals no signs of toxicity. The nanoparticles are promising as luminescence nanoprobes in biological problems.

Nanoparticles of YVO4 doped with Yb3+ and Er3+ ions, which exhibit upconversion luminescence upon cw laser excitation at 980 nm, are synthesized according to the familiar hydrothermal procedure. Physical and structural features of intermediate products obtained at different technological stages of creating upconversion nanoparticles are established via electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and luminescence microscopy.

As part of the creation of a unique T-15MD tokamak with a magnetic field of 2 T and an aspect ratio of 2.2, the first one of a series (8 pieces) of microwave setups of a megawatt power level for electron–cyclotron plasma heating and current drive was developed and successfully tested. The setup includes a gyrotron, power supplies, a microwave radiation transmission line, and a fast (response time is no more than 10 μs) gyrotron emergency protection system. The generation regime was experimentally demonstrated with the parameters 1 MW/30 s/82.6 GHz for an efficiency of 57%.

We study the possibility of using the technology of 3D photopolymer printing with subsequent metallization of working surfaces for developing electrodynamic components of microwave devices. The technology applicability is considered by examples of mockups of a profiled helical waveguide for a microwave undulator of a Compton free-electron laser and a periodic slow-wave system of a backward-wave oscillator with a ribbon electron beam. The results of “cold” measurements of the parameters of these electrodynamic systems are presented and good agreement with the simulation results is obtained, which confirms the prospects of using additive technologies for developing components of the vacuum microwave electronic devices.

The preparation of 2D stacked layers combining flakes of different nature gives rise to countless numbers of heterostructures where new band alignments, defined at the interfaces, control the electronic properties of the system. Among the large family of 2D/2D heterostructures, the one formed by the combination of the most common semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides, WS2 /MoS2 , has awakened great interest owing to its photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical properties. Solution as well as dry physical methods have been developed to optimize the synthesis of these heterostructures. Here, a suspension of negatively charged MoS2 flakes is mixed with a methanolic solution of a cationic W3 S4 -core cluster, giving rise to a homogeneous distribution of the clusters over the layers. In a second step, a calcination of this molecular/2D heterostructure under N2 leads to the formation of clean WS2 /MoS2 heterostructures, where the photoluminescence of both counterparts is quenched, proving an efficient interlayer coupling. Thus, this chemical method combines the advantages of a solution approach (simple, scalable, and low-cost) with the good quality interfaces reached by using more complicated traditional physical methods.

Using amplified femtosecond pulses at a wavelength of 1028 nm, the second harmonic is generated at a wavelength of 514 nm by composite polymer films containing D-π-A (push–pull) chromophores with quadratic optical nonlinearity. It is shown that these films are photostable with respect to laser pulses having peak intensities of up to 11.6 GW/cm2. The effective generation of the second harmonic is observed in a wide range of pump beam incidence angles (20°–80°) with a maximum in the vicinity of 60°.

When formulating economic development strategies, the environment and society must be considered to preserve well-being. This paper proposes a comparative sustainability assessment method using environmentally extended input-output analysis and multi-criteria decision aid. Using symmetric input-output tables and sectoral CO2 emissions and employment data for six countries, linkage coefficients are calculated for 163 sectors in each country. Multi-criteria decision aid tool, ELECTRE III, is used to derive outranking relationships among each country’s sectors using these coefficients as criteria, resulting in a hierarchy of sectors ordered by sustainability. Sectors that frequently appear at the top of the six hierarchies included education, health care, construction, and financial intermediation. China’s results differ significantly because of its concentration of economic activity on the primary/secondary sectors. The results can enable identification of key intervention pathways along which sustainable development could be stimulated. Country-specific recommendations and reflections on economic and sustainability policy initiatives are discussed.

The simulation of the influence of an external axial magnetic field on the fluxes of ionized and neutral deuterium against the background of a plasma zirconium jet from a group cathode spot is carried out. It is shown that a significant part of deuterium ions leaves the dense plasma jet and do not reach the anode. Application of an external longitudinal magnetic field in the range of 0.5–2 kG increases the final flux of deuterium ions to the anode relatively weakly.

An experimental and theoretical study of the content of deuterium ions in the arc discharge plasma was performed for deuterated zirconium cathodes. It was found experimentally that in a high-current arc mode with a current pulse duration of several microseconds and an arc current amplitude of more than 600 A, the content of deuterium ions in the plasma can reach more than 80%, which is twice that in the cathode material. An increase in the deuterium ion content in the plasma is accompanied by an increase in the average charge of zirconium ions. Models are proposed to describe the deuterium desorption from the cathode surface and the ionization processes in the plasma of a deuterated cathode arc. The models are based on the idea that the cathode spot of a vacuum arc has a cellular (ecton) structure. The calculations performed using these models have shown that the best conditions for increasing the deuterium ion content in the arc plasma occur in the initial stage of the arc discharge. In this case, the cells of the cathode spot are located in close proximity to each other and the deuterium desorbed not only directly from the zone of operation of the spot cells but also from the hot regions of the cathode adjacent to this zone.

A two-dimensional kinetic simulation of the expansion of the current-carrying plasma of the cathode spot of a vacuum arc is carried out. The modeling was performed by Particle-in-Cell and Direct Simulation Monte Carlo methods. The processes of ionization and recombination and Coulomb scattering are considered. Two fundamentally different solutions are demonstrated for an expanding plasma in an external electric field. The first solution is a "quiet" expansion of the plasma at a relatively low current. In which only ion-acoustic current instabilities arise, which do not lead to catastrophic consequences. In this mode, the plasma expands at a speed of ~ 106 cm/s, the electron temperature of the plasma reaches 3 eV, and the average charge state of ions (Cu) is ~ 2. In the second case, the current is large enough to excite the Buneman instability, after which the plasma plume decays and ions with relatively high energies scatter towards the anode and cathode.

For electrodes exposed to radio frequency electromagnetic fields, it is shown that an increase in electrode temperature on the nanosecond time scale increases the time required for an electrode surface microprotrusion to be heated to the critical temperature nearly by half. This may reduce the dielectric strength of the accelerating structure of a linear electron-positron collider when it is heated by accelerating electromagnetic pulses increasing in number.

YVO4:Yb,Er luminescent nanoparticles (NPs) with sizes of 10–700 nm are produced. The use of laser excitation wavelengths of 980 and 257 nm results in the emission of Er3+ ions in the spectral region of 527 and 555 nm. No spectral line of Er3+ ions is recorded at 660 nm, which is indirect evidence of the low efficiency of nonradiative multiphonon intra-ion transitions and the insensitivity of NPs to luminescence quenchers in an aqueous solution.

Structure vibration under the influence of unsteady hydrodynamic forces caused by the flow around their surfaces can adversely affect durability and rupture life. Reducing the adverse effects of hydrodynamic forces is currently possible with the help of linked CFD and vibration calculations. However, for an adequate description of the associated processes one should use calculation models and approaches specific to the hydro-vibration problem. To justify and validate such approaches, an experimental model was developed and a series of structure excitation tests in water flow was carried out.The model comprises two cylinders installed sequentially in water crossflow. Vibration levels, pressure and velocity fluctuations were measured in the tests as a functions of the flow velocity. The application of different non-intrusive measurement techniques was possible due to relatively simple test model construction which may be used for cross-validation and experimental uncertainty quantification.Flow-structure interaction, caused by synchronization effect of the flow separation frequency (or it’s spectral components) and eigenfrequency of cylinder, was analyzed based on simultaneously measured data. The tests performed gave the information about dynamical characteristics of the flow and vibration parameters of cantilevered cylinders. The experimental results are used for identification of required accuracy of hydrodynamic forces calculation by CFD and validation of oneand two-way linked methods for flow excitation frequency calculation.

This paper is devoted to the further development of a numerical model for the simulation of high-current vacuum arcs (HCVA) with cathode attachment in the form of multiple cathode spots. The model allows one to simulate different modes of HCVA and the transition between them. It is shown that the secondary plasma, arising from the anodic sputtering and nonadherence of the incident ions, affects the constriction of the plasma and the transition between the HCVA modes.

The free-piston generator has more merits than the traditional reciprocating engines, and has been under extensive investigation. This study focuses on the development two novel perspective ideas unlike already advanced the linear free piston generator. These are: (1) to make both piston and cylinder free that provides ideally balancing of the system; (2) to turn from the linear scheme of a generator to rotary design because of simplicity and compactness. The mathematical simulation of operation of the linear two-stroke cycle alternator with both free piston and cylinder was conducted with using the model of zero-dimensional dynamics. Combustion of methane-air mixture with excess air ratio of 1.2 was considered. Both heat and friction losses were taken into account. Operation particularities of such system were analyzed. It was found that oscillation amplitude of moving parts did not exceed of 70 mm at frequency of ∼50 Hz for alternator with following basic parameters: cylinder bore of 80 mm, length of 400 mm, piston length of 120 mm. Mass of both piston and cylinder was chosen identical and equal of 3 kg. It was shown that the efficiency of the chemical energy conversion reached of 46%, and specific power was high as 40 kW/l at compression ratio of 40. The lab scale pneumatic alternator in rotor variant with both free rotor and cylindrical body was assembled for experimental demonstration of rotary design capability. The alternator was fed with compressed air of low pressure below of 6 atm. The electrical power in the load reached of 10 W at input power with intake compressed air about 100 W. The results indicate that alternators with both free piston and cylinder in linear and rotary designs have the potential to achieve high efficiency and provide the vibration – free operation. Keywords: ICE, Alternator, Free piston, Hybrid engines

The analysis of necessary conditions for autobalancing stability of rotor, which performs spatial oscillations, was carried out in this paper taking into account the influence of unbalance and autobalancer masses. It was found that the using of traditional models, where unbalance and autobalancer masses are assumed small, could lead to significant errors in the dynamics analysis of spatially moving rotor. The influence of this factor leads to the doubling of the critical rotational speeds spectrum. Moreover, the system motion between the split critical frequencies is unstable. There may be one or two onset areas of autobalancing mode motion depending on the dynamic rotor type, its location relative to the supports, the unbalance mass and other system parameters. It was found that rotors, that are long type or close to the spherical type, are the most sensitive to this factor. On the other hand, rotors of the short type are weakly sensitive. It is shown that the most preferred case is when the unbalance and autobalancer location plane passes through the common mass center of the composite rotor. The quantitative criterion is formulated for the necessity of taking into account (or not taking into account) the influence of this factor when analyzing the system dynamics

The signal of the ultrafast optical Kerr effect (OKE) in liquids, including toluene C7H8, nitrobenzene C6H5NO2, and acetonitrile C2H3N is analyzed. It is shown that considering the correlation between the orientational and librational responses allows us to determine the rise time of the orientational response associated with the inertial nature of molecular rotations over a time interval of 300–500 fs after the impact of a laser pulse, and to increase the accuracy of determining the form of the Raman spectral density function.

Experiments on recording the ultrafast optical Kerr effect (OKE) in solution of europium(III) β‑diketonate complexes in toluene at a concentration of 10–2 mol/L showed that the total OKE signal is not a superposition of two contributions, one of which is related to the vibrational–rotational dynamics of toluene molecules, while the other is due to the vibrational–rotational dynamics of the europium(III) complexes. This immediately indicates that the europium(III) complexes essentially change the structure of liquid toluene, which is reflected in the character of an orientational response in picosecond range.

This paper discusses the issues of a possible change of the type of cathode attachment of high-current vacuum arcs (HCVA) with an average cathode current density of more than 105 A/cm2. This type of HCVA is used as pumping plasma gun in experiments with plasma puff z-pinches. These experiments showed that the measured linear mass of the HCVA plasma jet is much higher (by a factor of 10 or more) than the expected mass, which can be obtained from the assumption that cathode attachment occurs only through a multitude of cathode spots emitting supersonic plasma jets. It is shown that in HCVA of the type under consideration, at some time instant there are two types of cathode attachments - cathode spots and thermionic erosion attachment (TEA). It can be said that HCVA of this type have a hybrid cathodic attachment. Unlike cathode spots, TEA produces a subsonic plasma flow, which contributes to an increase in the linear mass of the HCVA plasma jet.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety of benralizumab, an interleukin-5 receptor alpha-directed cytolytic monoclonal antibody, for the prevention of exacerbations in patients with moderate to very severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are not known.METHODS: In the GALATHEA and TERRANOVA trials, we enrolled patients with COPD (at a ratio of approximately 2:1 on the basis of eosinophil count [≥220 per cubic millimeter vs. RESULTS: In GALATHEA, the estimates of the annualized exacerbation rate were 1.19 per year (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04 to 1.36) in the 30-mg benralizumab group, 1.03 per year (95% CI, 0.90 to 1.19) in the 100-mg benralizumab group, and 1.24 per year (95% CI, 1.08 to 1.42) in the placebo group; the rate ratio as compared with placebo was 0.96 for 30 mg of benralizumab (P = 0.65) and 0.83 for 100 mg of benralizumab (P = 0.05). In TERRANOVA, the estimates of the annualized exacerbation rate for 10 mg, 30 mg, and 100 mg of benralizumab and for placebo were 0.99 per year (95% CI, 0.87 to 1.13), 1.21 per year (95% CI, 1.08 to 1.37), 1.09 per year (95% CI, 0.96 to 1.23), and 1.17 per year (95% CI, 1.04 to 1.32), respectively; the corresponding rate ratios were 0.85 (P = 0.06), 1.04 (P = 0.66), and 0.93 (P = 0.40). At 56 weeks, none of the annualized COPD exacerbation rate ratios for any dose of benralizumab as compared with placebo reached significance in either trial. Types and frequencies of adverse events were similar with benralizumab and placebo.CONCLUSIONS: Add-on benralizumab was not associated with a lower annualized rate of COPD exacerbations than placebo among patients with moderate to very severe COPD, a history of frequent moderate or severe exacerbations, and blood eosinophil counts of 220 per cubic millimeter or greater (Funded by AstraZeneca [GALATHEA and TERRANOVA] and Kyowa Hakko Kirin [GALATHEA]; GALATHEA and TERRANOVA ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT02138916 and NCT02155660.).

A model is proposed for investigation of the ionization processes in a plasma jet emitted by a cathode spot cell of W-fuzz cathodes. It was shown that the introduction of helium atoms and the associated change in the morphology of the surface of the tungsten cathode leads to a significant change in the parameters of the arc plasma: a sharp decrease in the electron temperature and the mean charge state of tungsten ions.

This work presents the results of theoretical modeling of high current vacuum arc (HCVA) with cathode average current density (arc current divided by the cathode area) in the order of 10 5 A/cm 2 . This type of HCVA is used as pumping plasma gun in experiments with plasma puff Z-pinches [4], [5]. During the simulation of the arc burning we calculated the cathode heating and the following cathode evaporation under the action of heat fluxes from the arc plasma. The vaporized substance supplied the arc plasma in parallel with cathode spots. It was shown that the evaporation of the cathode due to plasma heating can explain the sharp increase in the mass of the plasma liner observed in the experiments.

The preparation of 2D stacked layers that combine flakes of different nature, gives rise to countless number of heterostructures where new band alignments, defined at the interfaces, control the electronic properties of the system. Among the large family of 2D/2D heterostructures, the one formed by the combination of the most common semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides WS2/MoS2, has awaken great interest due to its photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical properties. Solution as well as dry physical methods have been developed to optimize the synthesis of these heterostructures. Here a suspension of negatively charged MoS2 flakes is mixed with a methanolic solution of a cationic W3S4-core cluster, giving rise to a homogeneous distribution of the clusters over the layers. In a second step, a calcination under N2 of this molecular/2D heterostructure leads to the formation of clean WS2/MoS2 heterostructures where the photoluminescence of both counterparts is quenched, proving an efficient interlayer coupling. Thus, this chemical method combines the advantages of a solution approach (simple, scalable and low-cost) with the good quality interfaces reached by using more complicated traditional physical methods.

A 45-GHz gyrotron-based microwave oscillator setup has been purposefully developed for powering of a superconducting electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) ion source. The setup provides a smoothly regulated output power in the 0.1–20-kW range (up to 26 kW in manual mode) with an efficiency of up to 50% and collector depression in both continuous wave (CW) and pulse modes. Pulse mode specifications: duration 5–200 ms, leading edge less than ${2}~\mu \text{s}$ , trailing edge less than ${1}~\mu \text{s}$ , repetition rate 1–10 Hz, and triggered operation using an external reference oscillator. The set of high-voltage power supplies (HVPSs) is equipped with a fast electronic protective system to ensure trouble-free operation of the gyrotron. The functional structure of the setup corresponds to the general design method for feedback-controlled microwave sources. The feedback loop consists of a power meter (or a detector unit, to the user’s choice), a control system, and an anode HVPS, the regulated voltage of which controls the output power of the gyrotron. The feedback characteristic time is less than 1 s. Feedback control is provided for both CW and pulse modes. The setup includes a unique quasi-optical line that transmits the microwave beam through a 2-m air gap, as well as a synthesized mode converter from the Gaussian beam to the TE01 or TE11 mode (to the user’s choice) installed on a 300-kV platform. During the tests, the developed setup proved to be a reliable and user-friendly tool applicable for long-term powering of the fourth-generation ECR ion sources.

The characteristic durations of energy exchange for Ce3+ impurity centers with lattices in a LiLuF4 crystal and the characteristic lifetime of free photoexcited charge carriers are determined in time-resolved experiments using a pump–probe scheme. The absorption saturation parameters of femtosecond laser pulses with a wavelength of 263 nm are characteristic of a slow absorber that participates in absorption from the excited state.

The decomposition of the recorded signal of the ultrafast optical Kerr effect (OKE) in benzonitrile into its components corresponding to different molecular contributions is considered. An optical scheme based on two-pulse nonresonant pumping with the registration of a test laser pulse is devised for this purpose.

Zaurbek Aisanov,1 Sergey Avdeev,2 Vladimir Arkhipov,3 Andrey Belevskiy,1 Alexander Chuchalin,1 Igor Leshchenko,4 Svetlana Ovcharenko,5 Evgeny Shmelev,6 Marc Miravitlles7 1Department of Pulmonology, N.I. Pirogov Russian State National Research Medical University, Healthcare Ministry of Russia, 2Clinical Department, Federal Pulmonology Research Institute, Federal Medical and Biological Agency of Russia, 3Clinical Pharmacology Department, RUDN University, 4Department of Phthisiology, Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery, Ural State Medical University, Healthcare Ministry of Russia, Ekaterinburg, 5Internal Medicine Department No.1, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Healthcare Ministry of Russia, 6Department of Differential Diagnostics, Federal Central Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Moscow, Russia; 7Pneumology Department, University Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Ciber de Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES), Barcelona, Spain Abstract: The high prevalence of COPD together with its high level of misdiagnosis and late diagnosis dictate the necessity for the development and implementation of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) in order to improve the management of this disease. High-quality, evidence-based international CPGs need to be adapted to the particular situation of each country or region. A new version of the Russian Respiratory Society guidelines released at the end of 2016 was based on the proposal by Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease but adapted to the characteristics of the Russian health system and included an algorithm of pharmacologic treatment of COPD. The proposed algorithm had to comply with the requirements of the Russian Ministry of Health to be included into the unified electronic rubricator, which required a balance between the level of information and the simplicity of the graphic design. This was achieved by: exclusion of the initial diagnostic process, grouping together the common pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic measures for all patients, and the decision not to use the letters A–D for simplicity and clarity. At all stages of the treatment algorithm, efficacy and safety have to be carefully assessed. Escalation and de-escalation is possible in the case of lack of or insufficient efficacy or safety issues. Bronchodilators should not be discontinued except in the case of significant side effects. At the same time, inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) withdrawal is not represented in the algorithm, because it was agreed that there is insufficient evidence to establish clear criteria for ICSs discontinuation. Finally, based on the Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease statement, the proposed algorithm reflects and summarizes different approaches to the pharmacological treatment of COPD taking into account the reality of health care in the Russian Federation. Keywords: COPD, clinical guidelines, Russia, treatment algorithm

Achieving better energy efficiency and quality of electrical power supply in distribution networks is a multipronged problem, which should be solved with reference to unbiased criteria. Data obtained from load flow analysis of the network under study serve as the main criterion in estimating the efficiency of technical solutions and administrative measures aimed at decreasing technical and commercial losses and improving the key electric energy quality indicators. At the same time, achieving better accuracy of a numerical analysis of electrical networks with loads unevenly distributed among the phases, including, in particular, distribution networks, still remains a significant problem in the electric power industry. The single-line equivalent circuits, which are conventionally used in engineering applications, do not allow the steady-state operating conditions of a three-phase electric network containing multiple sources of imbalance to be analyzed with sufficient accuracy. Under such conditions, it is reasonable to make a shift for using a three-phase representation of the network under study. This approach involves the need to construct three-phase equivalent circuits of electrical equipment, determine their parameters and use them for analysis. The article describes a conceptual approach for constructing the three-phase model of a three-phase two-winding transformer with a wye - grounded wye winding connection circuit, which is widely used in distribution networks. The following experiments were carried out on the test bench: open-circuit test, short-circuit test, load operation tests, open-circuit test under zero sequence supply voltage, and open-circuit test and load operation tests with one phase disconnected. Part of the experimental data was used to calculate the parameters of the three-phase equivalent circuit and to model a three-phase transformer in the MATLAB environment based on the described method.A comparison between the simulated and the experimental data testifies that the performed simulation of various transformer operating conditions yields highly reliable and accurate results. In the balanced mode, the maximum and minimum errors of simulating the main parameters were found to be 4.78 and 2.13%, respectively. In the unbalanced mode, the maximum and minimum errors of simulating the main parameters were found to be 6.6 and 0.78%, respectively. The obtained results allow a conclusion to be drawn that the proposed model of a three-phase two-winding transformer with the wye - grounded wye winding connection circuit adequately reflects the properties of a real transformer. The proposed technique allows the key properties of a three-phase transformer to be revealed, namely, the redistribution of magnetic fluxes among the magnetic core legs and the presence of voltage across the secondary winding when one of the primary winding phases is open. It can also be inferred that a three-phase transformer has a balancing effect.

Burnable neutron absorbers such as gadolinium and erbium are used for compensating excess reactivity in nuclear reactors. Their daughter nuclides resulting from neutron absorption by erbium and gadolinium do not play important role from the viewpoint of neutronics processes occurring in the reactor core. Selection of such burnable neutron absorber, daughter nuclides of which would favorably impact fission chain reaction, is of significant interest. The aim of the present study is to investigate neutronics properties of 231Pa – the new burnable neutron absorber – and possibilities of its producing in significant quantities. The chain of isotopic transformations starting from 237Np is the analogue of the chain of isotopic transformations started from 231Pa. However, improvement of neutron-multiplication properties in the 237Np-chain can only be achieved in fast neutron spectra while in the case of 231Pa-chain positive neutron balance can be achieved both in fast and thermal neutron spectra. From this viewpoint the chain starting from 231Pa is unique. In addition, 237Np can be produced in nuclear reactors as the result of neutron radiative capture by 235U while significant amounts of 231Pa can only be produced through the threshold (n,2n) and (n,3n)-reactions on 232Th under its irradiation with super high-energy neutrons. Such neutrons with super high energies are practically absent even in fast spectrum reactors, but, however, these neutrons are available in fusion reactors. Breeding of 231Pa in fusion reactors and further use of 231Pa in nuclear power reactors can make it possible to realize potential capabilities of fusion facilities for radical increase of nuclear reactor fuel burn-up. Thus, 231Pa isotope is the new and unique burnable neutron absorber never suggested for the purpose before. Evaluated nuclear data libraries JENDL-4.0 and ENDF/B-V, as well as computer software system SCALE-4.3 were used in the implementation of the present study. The following results were obtained. (1) In contrast to conventional burnable neutron absorbers on the basis of gadolinium and erbium, the protactinium isotope suggested in this paper appears to be more attractive because it allows us not only compensating initial excess reactivity, but, also, ensuring high fuel burn-up due to good multiplication properties of its daughter nuclides. (2) Significant quantities of protactinium could be produced in hybrid fusion–fission reactors acting as sources of neutrons (not sources of energy) with parameters already achieved by the present moment by experimental facilities in USA, Japan, UK.

Kinetic numerical simulation of plasma near the cathode spot (CS) was performed. Two types of possible solutions for the self-sustained CS on copper cathode were found. The firs type of solutions is valid for quasi-stationary spot with radius of about $100~\mu \text{m}$ . Stationary solution in this case is possible with cathode temperature 4.2–4.5 kK, current density $\sim 10^{6}$ A/cm2, and applied voltage 20–25 V. The second type of solution is obtained for the spot with radius of $1~\mu \text{m}$ and spherical geometry of plasma expansion. Possible solutions were obtained for the cathode temperature of above 6.2 kK, current density of about $10^{8}$ A/cm2 and applied voltage of 15–25 V. Transient simulations of the near-cathode plasma expansion have shown that if current density remains less than $10^{9}$ A/cm2 then the plasma expansion has a “quiet” self-similar character. At higher current density the plasma expansion has an essentially nonstationary character. The high-density current leads first to the development of Buneman instability and second to the plasma rupture with the creation of conditions for collective acceleration of ions toward the cathode and toward the anode. The accelerated ions create an additional powerful heat flux to the cathode, which should facilitate the reproduction of the CSs in the spark stage of vacuum discharge.

We have studied the mass and charge composition of an ion beam extracted from the plasma of a vacuum arc with a zirconium deuteride cathode for various durations of the arc current pulse (half width at half amplitude) of 2, 4, 7, and 17 μs. It has been established that the fraction of deuterium ions in the vacuum arc plasma increases with the current and the dependence achieve saturation for current of about 1 kA. For the fraction of deuterium atoms in the cathode at a level of 40%, the fraction of deuterium ions in the vacuum arc plasma can exceed 80%. The experimental results have been interpreted theoretically. It has been shown that the main sources of deuterium ions in a microsecond arc discharge are cathode spots. We have developed a model of deuterium desorption during the operation of cathode spots for quantitatively estimating the concentration of deuterium ions in the arc plasma.

Results from the nonresonance spectroscopy of CdS/CdSe quantum dots (composites of CdSe–CdS nanoparticles (core–shell)) are presented. The nonlinear optical properties of CdS/CdSe QDs in PMMA are studied with fs pulses at 1053 nm using the transient lens technique. QDs generate rapidly oscillating signals with amplitude rise times of around 200 fs and decay times of around 500 fs, while pure PMMA polymer only generates an oscillating signal whose envelope coincides with its autocorrelation function.

An approach to numerical analysis of thermo-hydraulic processes proceeding in a fast-neutron reactor is described in the given article. The description covers physical models, numerical schemes and geometry simplifications accepted in the computational model. Steady-state and dynamic regimes of reactor operation are considered. The steady-state regimes simulate the reactor operation at nominal power. The dynamic regimes simulate the shutdown reactor cooling by means of the heat-removal system. Simulation of thermo-hydraulic processes is carried out in the FlowVision CFD software. A mathematical model describing the coolant flow in the first loop of the fast-neutron reactor was developed on the basis of the available geometrical model. The flow of the working fluid in the reactor simulator is calculated under the assumption that the fluid density does not depend on pressure, with use a $k-\varepsilon$ turbulence model, with use of a model of dispersed medium, and with account of conjugate heat exchange. The model of dispersed medium implemented in the FlowVision software allowed taking into account heat exchange between the heat-exchanger lops. Due to geometric complexity of the core region, the zones occupied by the two heat exchangers were modeled by hydraulic resistances and heat sources. Numerical simulation of the coolant flow in the FlowVision software enabled obtaining the distributions of temperature, velocity and pressure in the entire computational domain. Using the model of dispersed medium allowed calculation of the temperature distributions in the second loops of the heat exchangers. Besides that, the variation of the coolant temperature along the two thermal probes is determined. The probes were located in the cool and hot chambers of the fast-neutron reactor simulator. Comparative analysis of the numerical and experimental data has shown that the developed mathematical model is correct and, therefore, it can be used for simulation of thermo-hydraulic processes proceeding in fast-neutron reactors with sodium coolant.

The results devoted to the development of a method for creating an RF transistor, in which a T-shaped gate is formed by nanoimprint lithography, are presented. The characteristics of GaAs p-HEMT transistors have been studied. The developed transistor has a gate “foot” length of the order of 250 nm and a maximum transconductance of more than 350 mS/mm. The maximum frequency of current amplification f t is 40 GHz at the drain-source voltage V DS = 1.4 V and the maximum frequency of the power gain f max is 50 GHz at V DS = 3 V.

The model of cathode spot including internal physical process is improved on pure zirconium (Zr) cathode, mass equation, momentum equation, heat transfer equation, potential equation are considered in current model. The mean charge state is 2.6 instead of an integer, so the Mackeown equation is shown. In simulation result, the discharge current can reach 7A, the potential can reach 0.23V, the maximum temperature is about 4300K and the maximum electron field is about 5×109V/m. Ablation rate in cathode spot crater development stage is calculated by different ways, simulation result shows that mass loss caused by evaporation can be ignored, most of metal corresponding to cathode spot crater leaves on cathode, droplets are the main reason for cathode ablation, and the ablation rates calculated by droplets are on the same order of magnitude with experiment results. In addition, when liquid metal rings break into droplets, the radius of droplets should be a little larger than the width of the liquid metal rings.

At the time of stable industrial growth the operating efficiency of railways in Russia is becoming more and more important nowadays. The main expenses of Russian Railways are related to the heavy wear of wheels contact surfaces when interacting with the rails. Russian railways use many ways to deal with this problem, such as the reduction of the coefficient of friction – lubrication, the use of optimal ratio of wheels and rails hardness, the use of plasma hardening and others. The authors of this article analyzed various optical circuit configurations that can be used with fiber lasers to provide thermal treatment of railway wheels.At the time of stable industrial growth the operating efficiency of railways in Russia is becoming more and more important nowadays. The main expenses of Russian Railways are related to the heavy wear of wheels contact surfaces when interacting with the rails. Russian railways use many ways to deal with this problem, such as the reduction of the coefficient of friction – lubrication, the use of optimal ratio of wheels and rails hardness, the use of plasma hardening and others. The authors of this article analyzed various optical circuit configurations that can be used with fiber lasers to provide thermal treatment of railway wheels.

Varying the temperature of the reaction of [{Cd(pfb)(H2O)4}+n·n(pfb)−], [Ln2(pfb)6(H2O)8]·H2O (Hpfb = pentafluorobenzoic acid), and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) in MeCN followed by crystallization resulted in the isolation of two type of products: 1D-polymers [LnCd(pfb)5(phen)]n·1.5nMeCN (Ln = Eu (I), Gd (II), Tb (III), Dy (IV)) which were isolated at 25 °C, and molecular compounds [Tb2Cd2(pfb)10(phen)2] (V) formed at 75 °C. The transition from a molecular to a polymer structure becomes possible because of intra- and intermolecular interactions between the aromatic cycles of phen and pfb from neighboring tetranuclear Ln2Cd2 fragments. Replacement of cadmium with zinc in the reaction resulted in molecular compounds Ln2Zn2 [Ln2Zn2(pfb)10(phen)2]·4MeCN (Ln = Eu (VI), Tb (VIII), Dy (IX)) and [Gd2Zn2(pfb)10(H2O)2(phen)2]·4MeCN (VII). A new molecular EuCd complex [Eu2Cd2(pfb)10(phen)4]·4MeCN (X)] was isolated from a mixture of cadmium, zinc, and europium pentafluorobenzoates (Cd: Zn:Ln = 1:1: 2). Complexes II-IV, VII and IX exhibit magnetic relaxation at liquid helium temperatures in nonzero magnetic fields. Luminescent studies revealed a bright luminescence of complexes with europium(III) and terbium(III) ions.

This paper presents the results of experiments on the breakup dynamics of droplets and jets moving in a gas medium after their shock-wave ejection from the surface of a liquid and molten metal. Velocities of jets, droplet clouds, and the free surface and the deceleration parameters of droplets and jets in the gas were measured using a heterodyne laser interferometer (photon Doppler velocimetry). The induction period and the droplet sizes after breakup were determined.

The possible role of existing thorium reserves in the Russian Federation on engaging thorium in being currently closed (U-Pu)—fuel cycle of nuclear power of the country is considered. The application efficiency of thermonuclear neutron sources with thorium blanket for the economical use of existing thorium reserves is demonstrated. The aim of the work is to find solutions of such major tasks as the reduction of both front-end and back-end of nuclear fuel cycle and an enhancing its protection against the uncontrolled proliferation of fissile materials by means of the smallest changes in the fuel cycle. During implementation of the work we analyzed the results obtained earlier by the authors, brought new information on the number of thorium available in the Russian Federation and made further assessments. On the basis of proposal on the inclusion of hybrid reactors with Th-blanket into the future nuclear power for the production of light uranium fraction 232 + 233+234U, and 231Pa, we obtained the following results: 1 The fuel cycle will shift from fissile 235U to 233U which is more attractive for thermal power reactors. 2 The light uranium fraction is the most "protected" in the uranium component of fuel and mixed with regenerated uranium will in addition become a low enriched uranium fuel, that will weaken the problem of uncontrolled proliferation of fissile materials. 3 231Pa doping into the fuel stabilizes its multiplying properties that will allow us to implement long-term fuel residence time and eventually to increase the export potential of all nuclear power technologies. 4 The thorium reserves being near city Krasnoufimsk are large enough for operation of large-scale nuclear power of the Russian Federation of 70 GW (e.) capacity during more than a quarter century. The general conclusion: the inclusion of a small number of hybrid reactors with Th-blanket into the future nuclear power will allow us substantially to solve its problems, as well as to increase its export potential.

The features of the integrated diagnostics of the discs of gas turbines of gas-compressor units using eddy-current and dye-penetrant testing are considered. The effectiveness of the detection of the crack-type defects in HPT and LPT discs under the first tooth of the fir-tree slots of the discs along the contact line of the teeth of the comb and blade butt are demonstrated. The calculations of the stress–strain state allowed the estimation of the occurrence of cracks in the fir-tree slots of discs, as well as the service life of discs up to crack formation at extraordinary operating temperatures. Integrated quality control by eddy-current and color capillary nondestructive testing provides reliable crack detection in details without serious costs for mechanical preparation of items for inspection along with a substantial reduction of the labor-intensiveness and depth of the inspection.

Recent trends of mass character and individualization of education impose new requirements on technology-enhanced learning environments. One of the main problems in maintaining high-quality education in knowledge-intensive areas such as Computational Science is rapid obsolescence of learning materials due to the accelerating rate of an appearance of novel research and technological achievements. In this paper, we propose an approach to a fast design of hybrid learning resources which combine different forms of representations of novel scientific results (including hypertext and software) with out-of-the-box support of learning objects’ execution in cloud computing platforms. The experimental part of the study considers the preparation of hybrid learning resources for Master students in High-Performance Computing Department of ITMO University, Russia. We show how the implementation of proposed approach on the basis of CLAVIRE platform speeds up the translation of scientific results into reusable learning materials and thus contributes to the improvement of the quality of training professionals in Computational Science.