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Trees’ growth and areal responses to changing climate are primarily expected within the edges of the species range. Here, we compared the responses of Siberian pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour), a moisture-sensitive species, and drought-resistant larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) at the southern part of their ranges in the Siberian Mountains (the Tannu-Ola Ridge). We study the species’ growth and proportion in the forests from forest-steppe to treeline ecotone along the elevation gradient. These studies are based on radial growth index (GI) analysis and GI dependence on the climate variables. We used satellite time series to detect the land cover changes (areas of larch and Siberian pine, as well as shrubs and birch). We compared trees’ GI before and after warming “restart” in the late 1990s. Generally, GI dependence on the air temperature was negative at elevations below c. 1600 m a.s.l., whereas GI dependence on the moisture variables (precipitation, vapor pressure deficit, and soil moisture) was positive for both species. Above 1600 m, increasing air temperatures stimulated species growth, whereas the influence of moisture variables was negative (for larch) or neutral (for Siberian pine). After the warming restart, the GI of both conifers increased in moisture-sufficient high elevations and treeline ecotone, whereas within low elevations (2000 m) ones. The upper boundary of the forests and shrubs is migrating uphill at rates of about 0.8 and 0.3 m/y, respectively. We observed a decrease in Siberian pine proportion in the forests, whereas areas of larch and birch strongly increased (by 150% and 100%, respectively), which indicates the retreat of Siberian pine from its southern habitat. We suggested afforestation of the areas of Siberian pine mortality by the drought-tolerant larch species.

Poor metabolic health and obesity have significant impacts on the outcomes of patients suffering from chronic liver disease, particularly those with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease. Patients with such comorbidities who require liver transplant evaluation for advancing liver disease or liver failure require special consideration due to increased risk of cardiovascular disease, renal dysfunction, sarcopenic obesity, and cancer. Those who have had a history of prior bariatric surgery pose specific anatomical constraints and may also be at increased risk of alcohol use disorder. Pre-operative risk assessment as well as strict control of metabolic risk factors are essential to reduce intra-operative and post-liver transplant complications. As immunosuppressive therapy exacerbates metabolic dysfunction and risk for cancer, post-liver transplant care must focus on balancing the need to prevent rejection and the impact of progressive metabolic dysfunction in this unique, but growing, patient population.

The pathogenicity of many bacteria, including Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus, depends on pore-forming toxins (PFTs), which cause the lysis of host cells by forming pores in the membranes of eukaryotic cells. Bioinformatic analysis revealed a region homologous to the Lys171-Gly250 sequence in hemolysin II (HlyII) from B. cereus in over 600 PFTs, which we designated as a “homologous peptide”. Three β-barrel PFTs were used for a detailed comparative analysis. Two of them—HlyII and cytotoxin K2 (CytK2)—are synthesized in Bacillus cereus sensu lato; the third, S. aureus α-toxin (Hla), is the most investigated representative of the family. Protein modeling showed certain amino acids of the homologous peptide to be located on the surface of the monomeric forms of these β-barrel PFTs. We obtained monoclonal antibodies against both a cloned homologous peptide and a 14-membered synthetic peptide, DSFNTFYGNQLFMK, as part of the homologous peptide. The HlyII, CytK2, and Hla regions recognized by the obtained antibodies, as well as an antibody capable of suppressing the hemolytic activity of CytK2, were identified in the course of this work. Antibodies capable of recognizing PFTs of various origins can be useful tools for both identification and suppression of the cytolytic activity of PFTs.

1H-Pyrrole-2,3-diones, fused at [e]-side with a heterocycle, are suitable platforms for the synthesis of various angular polycyclic alkaloid-like spiroheterocycles. Recently discovered sulfur-containing [e]-fused 1H-pyrrole-2,3-diones (aroylpyrrolobenzothiazinetriones) tend to exhibit unusual reactivity. Based on these peculiar representatives of [e]-fused 1H-pyrrole-2,3-diones, we have developed an approach to an unprecedented 6/5/5/5-tetracyclic alkaloid-like spiroheterocyclic system of benzo[d]pyrrolo[3′,4′:2,3]pyrrolo[2,1-b]thiazole via their reaction with Schiff bases and carbodiimides. The experimental results have been supplemented with DFT computational studies. The synthesized alkaloid-like 6/5/5/5-tetracyclic compounds have been tested for their biotechnological potential as growth stimulants in the green algae Chlorella vulgaris.

In the case where an interstitial atom is located in a close-packed atomic row of the crystal lattice, it is called a crowdion. Crowdions play an important role in the processes of mass and energy transfer resulting from irradiation, severe plastic deformation, ion implantation, plasma and laser processing, etc. In this work, supersonic N-crowdions (N=1, 2) in fcc lattices of lead and nickel are studied by the method of molecular dynamics. Modeling shows that the propagation distance of a supersonic 2-crowdion in lead at a high initial velocity is less than that of a supersonic 1-crowdion. In other fcc metals studied, including nickel, supersonic 2-crowdions have a longer propagation distance than 1-crowdions. The relatively short propagation distance of supersonic 2-crowdions in lead is due to their instability and rapid transformation into supersonic 1-crowdions. This feature of the dynamics of supersonic N-crowdions in lead explains its high radiation-shielding properties.

The experimental data from VENUS, TOPAS, OPAL, DELPHI, ALEPH and L3 Collaborations collected from 1989 to 2003 are applied to study the quantum electrodynamics (QED) framework through the direct contact interaction term approach, using the annihilation reaction e+e−→γγ(γ). The analysis involves performing a χ2-test to detect the presence of an excited electron e*, and and evidence of non-point like behavior in the e+e− annihilation zone. The analysis yields compelling results, showing a significant signal at a confidence level of approximately 5 standard deviations. These findings suggest the existence of an excited electron with a mass of 308 ± 14 GeV and indicate the presence of a contact interaction characterized by a cutoff scale of 1253.53 ± 226 GeV. Furthermore, the interpretation of the cutoff scale result in terms of a radius of (1.57 ± 0.07) × 10−17 cm raises an intriguing possibility regarding the electron’s non-pointness.

In2O3 : Er films have been synthesized on silicon substrates by RF magnetron sputter deposition. The currents through the synthesized metal/oxide/semiconductor (MOS) structures (Si/In2O3 : Er/In-contact) have been measured for n and p type conductivity silicon substrates and described within the model of majority carrier thermoemission through the barrier, with bias voltage correction to the silicon potential drop. The electron and hole injection barriers between the silicon substrate and the film have been found to be 0.14 and 0.3 eV, respectively, by measuring the temperature dependence of the forward current at a low sub-barrier bias. The resulting low hole injection barrier is accounted for by the presence of defect state density spreading from the valence band edge into the In2O3 : Er band gap to form a hole conduction channel. The presence of defect state density in the In2O3 : Er band gap is confirmed by photoluminescence data in the respective energy range 1.55–3.0 eV. The band structure of the Si/In2O3 : Er heterojunction has been analyzed. The energy gap between the In2O3 : Er conduction band electrons and the band gap conduction channel holes has been estimated to be 1.56 eV.

Abstract The family Cervidae is the second most diverse in the infraorder Pecora and is characterized by variability in the diploid chromosome numbers among species. X chromosomes in Cervidae evolved through complex chromosomal rearrangements of conserved segments within the chromosome, changes in centromere position, heterochromatic variation, and X-autosomal translocations. The family Cervidae consists of two subfamilies: Cervinae and Capreolinae. Here we build a detailed X chromosome map with 29 cattle bacterial artificial chromosomes of representatives of both subfamilies: reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), gray brocket deer (Mazama gouazoubira), Chinese water deer (Hydropotes inermis) (Capreolinae); black muntjac (Muntiacus crinifrons), tufted deer (Elaphodus cephalophus), sika deer (Cervus nippon) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) (Cervinae). To track chromosomal rearrangements during Cervidae evolution, we summarized new data, and compared them with available X chromosomal maps and chromosome level assemblies of other species. We demonstrate the types of rearrangements that may have underlined the variability of Cervidae X chromosomes. We detected two types of cervine X chromosome—acrocentric and submetacentric. The acrocentric type is found in three independent deer lineages (subfamily Cervinae and in two Capreolinae tribes—Odocoileini and Capreolini). We show that chromosomal rearrangements on the X-chromosome in Cervidae occur at a higher frequency than in the entire Ruminantia lineage: the rate of rearrangements is 2 per 10 million years.

Abstract European windstorms cause socioeconomic losses due to wind damage. Projections of future losses from such storms are subject to uncertainties from the frequency and tracks of the storms, their intensities and definitions thereof, and socio-economic scenarios. We use two storm severity indices applied to objectively identified extratropical cyclone footprints from a multi-model ensemble of state-of-the-art climate models under different future socio-economic scenarios. Here we show storm frequency increases across northern and central Europe, where the meteorological storm severity index more than doubles. The population-weighted storm severity index more than triples, due to projected population increases. Adapting to the increasing wind speeds using future damage thresholds, the population weighted storm severity index increases are only partially offset, despite a reduction in the meteorological storm severity through adaptation. Through following lower emissions scenarios, the future increase in risk is reduced, with the population-weighted storm severity index increase more than halved.

Abstract The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a critical determinant of tumor fate that reflects the output from myriad cell types in the tumor. Collagens constitute the principal components of the tumor ECM. The changing collagen composition in tumors along with their impact on patient outcomes and possible biomarkers remains largely unknown. The RNA expression of the 43 collagen genes from solid tumors in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was clustered to classify tumors. PanCancer analysis revealed how collagens by themselves can identify the tissue of origin. Clustering by collagens in each cancer type demonstrated strong associations with survival, specific immunoenvironments, somatic gene mutations, copy number variations, and aneuploidy. We developed a machine learning classifier that predicts aneuploidy, and chromosome arm copy number alteration (CNA) status based on collagen expression alone with high accuracy in many cancer types with somatic mutations, suggesting a strong relationship between the collagen ECM context and specific molecular alterations. These findings have broad implications in defining the relationship between cancer-related genetic defects and the tumor microenvironment to improve prognosis and therapeutic targeting for patient care, opening new avenues of investigation to define tumor ecosystems.

The article contains a historical excursion into esophageal surgery, describes the history of the origin of transchiatic access to the mediastinum, which was the key to operations on the distal esophagus, and provides an overview of surgical procedures for the hernia of the esophageal orifice of the diaphragm. The methods were divided into two groups: one of them imagines methods that are performed for a long time, these are fundoplications according to Nissen, Dor, Toupet, Chernousov, who have proven themselves as effective and time-tested, the second group included relatively recently developed and implemented operations in clinical practice, such as Operation Stretta, transoral endoscopic fundoplication cardioteresplasty, installation of a LINX system. The article provides historical facts, a brief description of each method, advantages and disadvantages. The analysis showed that some non-classical methods can be used, but each method must be applied selectively and individually. Given that one hundred percent effectiveness of methods has not yet been achieved, the search for new methods remains relevant.

Abstract Collectively, the MYC family of oncoprotein transcription factors is overexpressed in more than half of all malignancies. The ability of MYC proteins to access chromatin is fundamental to their role in promoting oncogenic gene expression programs in cancer and this function depends on MYC–cofactor interactions. One such cofactor is the chromatin regulator WDR5, which in models of Burkitt lymphoma facilitates recruitment of the c-MYC protein to chromatin at genes associated with protein synthesis, allowing for tumor progression and maintenance. However, beyond Burkitt lymphoma, it is unknown whether these observations extend to other cancers or MYC family members, and whether WDR5 can be deemed as a “universal” MYC recruiter. Here, we focus on N-MYC amplified neuroblastoma to determine the extent of colocalization between N-MYC and WDR5 on chromatin while also demonstrating that like c-MYC, WDR5 can facilitate the recruitment of N-MYC to conserved WDR5-bound genes. We conclude based on this analysis that N-MYC and WDR5 colocalize invariantly across cell lines at predicted sites of facilitated recruitment associated with protein synthesis genes. Surprisingly, we also identify N-MYC-WDR5 cobound genes that are associated with DNA repair and cell cycle processes. Dissection of chromatin binding characteristics for N-MYC and WDR5 at all cobound genes reveals that sites of facilitated recruitment are inherently different than most N-MYC-WDR5 cobound sites. Our data reveals that WDR5 acts as a universal MYC recruiter at a small cohort of previously identified genes and highlights novel biological functions that may be coregulated by N-MYC and WDR5 to sustain the neuroblastoma state.

ABSTRACT: Introduction. The unique combination of rheotechnological properties and mechanical performance opens up prospects for the application of self-compacting and high-strength concretes in the manufacturing of base elements for machines and industrial equipment. The processes of adsorption of modern plasticizers on various mineral and polymeric modifiers of concrete mixtures were investigated. The compatibility of nano- and micro-scale mineral additives in composite cementitious binders was determined using calorimetry with an improved semi-adiabatic setup. Materials and methods. The cementitious binders used were CEM 52.5N Portland cement (Asia Cement LLC, Russia) and Nanodur (Germany, Dyckerhoff GmbH); hyperplasticizers included Melflux 1641F, 2651F, 5581F (Germany), PCE TR-6088 (China), Sika ViscoCrete 240 HE Plus and 226-P (Russia); superabsorbent polymer; nano- and micro-scale mineral additives included microsilica MK-85, metacaolin VMK-45, microcalcite MM-315, marshalite Silverbond 15 EW, and ground silica-containing rocks. Selective dissolution, differential thermal analysis, laser granulometry, and semi-adiabatic calorimetry were employed. Results and discussion. The quality of ultrafine mineral additives determines their ability to chemically bind portlandite through pozzolanic activity. Among the investigated additives, microsilica and gaize demonstrated the highest pozzolanic activity. Thermal activation was effective for components consisting of crystalline silica (marshalite, ground quartz sand), resulting in a 25% increase in performance. There was no selective adsorption of hyper plasticizer molecules by superabsorbent modifiers based on sodium polyacrylate compositions. Metakaolin and tremolite exhibited high adsorption to hyper plasticizers among the mineral additives. The rapid evaluation of the influence of formulation factors on the setting of cementitious composites was tested on an improved version of the semi-adiabatic calorimeter. Conclusions. The presence of micro-scale mineral additives based on microsilica in composite cementitious binders enables the development of high-performance concretes adapted for machine building. The study of pozzolanic activity, adsorption capacity, and cumulative heat release curves has indicated the feasibility of replacing microsilica with metacaolin and the potential for its partial blending with finely ground natural gaize. Analysis of the thermal effects accompanying the hydration processes of the "cement-additive-water" system with calorimeters allows us to provide more efficient research on the compatibility of additives in high-performance concrete compositions

The VVER-1000 thermal neutron reactor can operate on mixed uranium-plutonium fuel with a content of reactor-grade plutonium up to 5% with a 100% loaded core. In this case, plutonium burns up to 56% of odd isotopes. The energy potential of such plutonium is very low, and its further use in thermal reactors is impractical. However, such plutonium can be used in fast neutron reactors. The paper presents the results of investigating the possibility for such isotopic plutonium composition to be used in the BN-1200 thermal neutron reactor and its value be increased for the plutonium recycle in the reactor. For this purpose, a precision model of the BN-1200 reactor has been developed using the Serpent Monte Carlo code. The model has been verified against the reference values of the nuclear fuel burnup and breeding ratios. The study has shown that such plutonium can be used in the BN-1200 reactor MOX fuel. Maintaining the operating cycle length requires the plutonium fraction in the MOX fuel to be increased up to 2%. In the BN-1200 reactor, the isotopic composition has been found to improve for the further recycle of plutonium in the thermal reactor, i.e. odd plutonium isotopes increase. The fewer odd plutonium isotopes at the beginning of the BN-1200 operating cycle, the greater their increase. It can be seen as the result of the calculation that plutonium from VVER-1000 spent mixed fuel must be loaded into the BN-1200 reactor at least twice to increase the fraction of odd isotopes to the level of reactor-grade plutonium.

Abstract Paint particles are a highly-important but as-yet overlooked type of microplastic commonly found in coastal sediment, although research interest is growing. There is a need for paint particles as laboratory standards for spiking experiments, however, given paint is generally only available for purchase in liquid form, a new method is needed to reliable produce laboratory-grade paint particles. The main distinguishing issue with paint particle production (as opposed to other microplastic production) is the paint must be applied to a surface in layers before then being decoupled to be processed into particles. Since paints, and especially primers, are designed specifically to strongly adhere to surfaces, using the right application material is highly important. This study tests the time and material efficiency of 2 different application materials; laboratory wax film (i.e. Parafilm®) and silicone rubber sheets (i.e. silicone baking sheets). Silicone rubber was on average 36 × more time-efficient than laboratory wax and was also 8 × more material-efficient (8 × more paint particles were produce per liquid paint used). Indeed, silicone rubber provided an essentially-perfect decoupling process, as the paint could be easily peeled away in a solid and complete layer. As such, for the future production of paint particles for laboratory purposes, silicone rubber is highly recommended as an application material.

Accurate radiation therapy (RT) targeting is crucial for glioblastoma treatment but may be challenging using clinical imaging alone due to the infiltrative nature of glioblastomas. Precise targeting by whole-brain spectroscopic MRI, which maps tumor metabolites including choline (Cho) and N-acetylaspartate (NAA), can quantify early treatment-induced molecular changes that other traditional modalities cannot measure. We developed a pipeline to determine how spectroscopic MRI changes during early RT are associated with patient outcomes to provide insight into the utility of adaptive RT planning. Data were obtained from a study (NCT03137888) where glioblastoma patients received high-dose RT guided by the pre-RT Cho/NAA twice normal (Cho/NAA ≥ 2x) volume, and received spectroscopic MRI scans pre- and mid-RT. Overlap statistics between pre- and mid-RT scans were used to quantify metabolic activity changes after two weeks of RT. Log-rank tests were used to quantify the relationship between imaging metrics and patient overall and progression-free survival (OS/PFS). Patients with lower Jaccard/Dice coefficients had longer PFS (p = 0.045 for both), and patients with lower Jaccard/Dice coefficients had higher OS trending towards significance (p = 0.060 for both). Cho/NAA ≥ 2x volumes changed significantly during early RT, putting healthy tissue at risk of irradiation, and warranting further study into using adaptive RT planning.

An increase in the yield of the main cereal crops in the context of global climate changes requires additional impacts on plants. Natural and synthetic plant growth regulators (PGRs) are used to increase plant productivity and reduce the injury level caused by abiotic stressors. There is a growing need for novel highly effective plant growth stimulants to exhibit their effects at low doses and to not pose an environmental threat or injury to the crop quality. The derivatives of sydnone imine (SI), a mesoionic heterocycle possessing a 1,2,3-oxadiazole core, have been used as medicines until now but have not been used for agricultural applications. Some SI derivatives have recently been found to exhibit PGR properties. Herein, we report on the study of the PGR potential of nine SI derivatives bearing variable substituents at N(3), C(4), and N6 positions of the heterocycle designed to disclose the “molecular structure-PGR activity” relationship in this family. The SI derivatives were used in a wide concentration range (10−9–10−4 mol/L) for a pre-sowing treatment of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L., two cultivars) and maize (Zea mays L., two hybrids) seeds in germinating experiments. All compounds were found to affect the growth of the axial organs of germinants, with the growth-stimulating or -inhibitory effect as well as its rate being considerably different for wheat and maize and, in many cases, also for roots and shoots. In addition, a pronounced concentration dependence of the effect was disclosed for many cases. The features of the molecular structure of SIs affecting their growth-regulating properties were elucidated. Compounds 4, 6, 7, and 8, which had exhibited a growth-promoting effect in germinating experiments, were used at appropriate concentrations for pot experiments on the same crops. For all compounds, the experiments showed a stimulating effect on the growth of roots (up to 80%), shoots (up to 112%), leaf area (up to 113%), fresh weights of roots (up to 83%), and aerial parts of the plants (up to 87%) or only on some of these parameters. The obtained results show a healthy outlook for the use of SI derivatives as promoting agents for improving the growth of cereal crop plants.

Background. Lymphadenectomy in patients with malignant female genital neoplasms is a necessary step of surgical treatment, the implementation of which allows assessing the the metastatic involvement of the removed lymph nodes and determining indications for postoperative treatment. Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy with ultrastaging method appears to be a good alternative to standard regional lymph node removal with similar long-term oncologic outcomes and significantly lower rates of postoperative complications. Aim. To present the possibility of using a domestic radiopharmaceutical labeled with technetium-99m (Sentiscan) in patients with gynecological cancer. Materials and methods. A series of clinical cases of the use of Sentiscan during SLN biopsy in three patients suffering from cancer of the uterus and vulva is presented. Results. 1824 hours before the operation, 0.4 ml of the prepared solution of radiopharmaceutical 99mTc-Sentiscan with a total activity of 150 MBq was injected into the cervix of the uterus with tumors of the uterine body and into the vulva. After 2 hours, SPECT/CT was performed on the Discovery 670 DR (GE) of the abdomen and pelvis, followed by 3D reconstruction of images for better intraoperative navigation. Intraoperatively, a portable gamma detector Rad Pointer Gamma (Medikor Pharma Ural) was used to identify sentinel lymph nodes. Sentinel lymph nodes were removed in all patients, followed by a control assessment of the gamma radiation level, histological and immunohistochemical studies using panCK, CK18 markers. Conclusion. Presented clinical cases demonstrated high efficacy of sentinel lymph node mapping using radiopharmaceutical Sentiscan. Further studies are necessary for wide implementation of this technology in clinical practice.

Abstract Background Several models and algorithms have been proposed to build pangenomes from multiple input assemblies, but their impact on variant representation, and consequently downstream analyses, is largely unknown. Results We create multi-species super-pangenomes using pggb, cactus, and minigraph with the Bos taurus taurus reference sequence and eleven haplotype-resolved assemblies from taurine and indicine cattle, bison, yak, and gaur. We recover 221 k nonredundant structural variations (SVs) from the pangenomes, of which 135 k (61%) are common to all three. SVs derived from assembly-based calling show high agreement with the consensus calls from the pangenomes (96%), but validate only a small proportion of variations private to each graph. Pggb and cactus, which also incorporate base-level variation, have approximately 95% exact matches with assembly-derived small variant calls, which significantly improves the edit rate when realigning assemblies compared to minigraph. We use the three pangenomes to investigate 9566 variable number tandem repeats (VNTRs), finding 63% have identical predicted repeat counts in the three graphs, while minigraph can over or underestimate the count given its approximate coordinate system. We examine a highly variable VNTR locus and show that repeat unit copy number impacts the expression of proximal genes and non-coding RNA. Conclusions Our findings indicate good consensus between the three pangenome methods but also show their individual strengths and weaknesses that need to be considered when analysing different types of variants from multiple input assemblies.

Abstract Background Despite the increasing use of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), the methodology used to evaluate clinically significant postoperative outcomes after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is variable. The review aimed to survey studies with identified PROM-based metrics of clinical efficacy and the assessment procedures after TKA. Methods The MEDLINE database was queried from 2008–2020. Inclusion criteria were: full texts, English language, primary TKA with minimum one-year follow-up, use of metrics for assessing clinical outcomes with PROMs, and primary derivations of metrics. The following PROM-based metrics were identified: minimal clinically important difference (MCID), minimum detectable change (MDC), patient acceptable symptom state (PASS), and substantial clinical benefit (SCB). Study design, PROM value data, and methods of derivation for metrics were recorded. Results We identified 18 studies (including 46,173 patients) that met the inclusion criteria. Across these studies, 10 different PROMs were employed, and MCID was derived in 15 studies (83%). The MCID was calculated using anchor-based techniques in nine studies (50%) and distribution techniques in eight studies (44%). PASS values were presented in two studies (11%) and SCB in one study (6%) using an anchor-based method; MDC was derived in four studies (22%) using the distribution method. Conclusion There is variability in the TKA literature with respect to the definition and derivation of measurements of clinically significant outcomes. Standardization of these values may have implications for optimal case selection and PROM-based quality measurement, ultimately improving patient satisfaction and outcomes.

Abstract Background Low-pass sequencing followed by sequence variant genotype imputation is an alternative to the routine microarray-based genotyping in cattle. However, the impact of haplotype reference panels and their interplay with the coverage of low-pass whole-genome sequencing data have not been sufficiently explored in typical livestock settings where only a small number of reference samples is available. Methods Sequence variant genotyping accuracy was compared between two variant callers, GATK and DeepVariant, in 50 Brown Swiss cattle with sequencing coverages ranging from 4- to 63-fold. Haplotype reference panels of varying sizes and composition were built with DeepVariant based on 501 individuals from nine breeds. High-coverage sequence data for 24 Brown Swiss cattle were downsampled to between 0.01- and 4-fold to mimic low-pass sequencing. GLIMPSE was used to infer sequence variant genotypes from the low-pass sequencing data using different haplotype reference panels. The accuracy of the sequence variant genotypes that were inferred from low-pass sequencing data was compared with sequence variant genotypes called from high-coverage data. Results DeepVariant was used to establish bovine haplotype reference panels because it outperformed GATK in all evaluations. Within-breed haplotype reference panels were more accurate and efficient to impute sequence variant genotypes from low-pass sequencing than equally-sized multibreed haplotype reference panels for all target sample coverages and allele frequencies. F1 scores greater than 0.9, which indicate high harmonic means of recall and precision of called genotypes, were achieved with 0.25-fold sequencing coverage when large breed-specific haplotype reference panels (n = 150) were used. In absence of such large within-breed haplotype panels, variant genotyping accuracy from low-pass sequencing could be increased either by adding non-related samples to the haplotype reference panel or by increasing the coverage of the low-pass sequencing data. Sequence variant genotyping from low-pass sequencing was substantially less accurate when the reference panel lacked individuals from the target breed. Conclusions Variant genotyping is more accurate with DeepVariant than GATK. DeepVariant is therefore suitable to establish bovine haplotype reference panels. Medium-sized breed-specific haplotype reference panels and large multibreed haplotype reference panels enable accurate imputation of low-pass sequencing data in a typical cattle breed.

Abstract Endocannabinoids (eCBs) are endogenous ligands of the cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1), a G protein-coupled receptor that regulates a number of therapeutically relevant physiological responses. Hence, understanding the structural and functional consequences of eCB-CB1 interactions has important implications for designing effective drugs targeting this receptor. To characterize the molecular details of eCB interaction with CB1, we utilized AMG315, an analog of the eCB anandamide to determine the structure of the AMG315-bound CB1 signaling complex. Compared to previous structures, the ligand binding pocket shows some differences. Using docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and signaling assays we investigated the functional consequences of ligand interactions with the “toggle switch” residues F2003.36 and W3566.48. Further, we show that ligand-TM2 interactions drive changes to residues on the intracellular side of TM2 and are a determinant of efficacy in activating G protein. These intracellular TM2 rearrangements are unique to CB1 and are exploited by a CB1-specific allosteric modulator.

BackgroundDigital twins are computerized patient replicas that allow clinical interventions testing in silico to minimize preventable patient harm. Our group has developed a novel application software utilizing a digital twin patient model based on electronic health record (EHR) variables to simulate clinical trajectories during the initial 6 h of critical illness. This study aimed to assess the usability, workload, and acceptance of the digital twin application as an educational tool in critical care.MethodsA mixed methods study was conducted during seven user testing sessions of the digital twin application with thirty-five first-year internal medicine residents. Qualitative data were collected using a think-aloud and semi-structured interview format, while quantitative measurements included the System Usability Scale (SUS), NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX), and a short survey.ResultsMedian SUS scores and NASA-TLX were 70 (IQR 62.5–82.5) and 29.2 (IQR 22.5–34.2), consistent with good software usability and low to moderate workload, respectively. Residents expressed interest in using the digital twin application for ICU rotations and identified five themes for software improvement: clinical fidelity, interface organization, learning experience, serious gaming, and implementation strategies.ConclusionA digital twin application based on EHR clinical variables showed good usability and high acceptance for critical care education.

We report observations of the optical counterpart of the long gamma-ray burst (GRB) GRB 230812B and its associated supernova (SN) SN 2023pel. The proximity ( z = 0.36) and high energy ( E _γ _,iso ∼ 10 ^53 erg) make it an important event to study as a probe of the connection between massive star core collapse and relativistic jet formation. With a phenomenological power-law model for the optical afterglow, we find a late-time flattening consistent with the presence of an associated SN. SN 2023pel has an absolute peak r -band magnitude of M _r = −19.46 ± 0.18 mag (about as bright as SN 1998bw) and evolves on quicker timescales. Using a radioactive heating model, we derive a nickel mass powering the SN of M _Ni = 0.38 ± 0.01 M _⊙ and a peak bolometric luminosity of L _bol ∼ 1.3 × 10 ^43 erg s ^−1 . We confirm SN 2023pel’s classification as a broad-line Type Ic SN with a spectrum taken 15.5 days after its peak in the r band and derive a photospheric expansion velocity of v _ph = 11,300 ± 1600 km s ^−1 at that phase. Extrapolating this velocity to the time of maximum light, we derive the ejecta mass M _ej = 1.0 ± 0.6 M _⊙ and kinetic energy ${E}_{\mathrm{KE}}={1.3}_{-1.2}^{+3.3}\times {10}^{51}\,\mathrm{erg}$ . We find that GRB 230812B/SN 2023pel has SN properties that are mostly consistent with the overall GRB-SN population. The lack of correlations found in the GRB-SN population between SN brightness and E _γ _,iso for their associated GRBs across a broad range of 7 orders of magnitude provides further evidence that the central engine powering the relativistic ejecta is not coupled to the SN powering mechanism in GRB-SN systems.

Relevance. The stock of oil wells in the Russian Federation, where production is carried out with the help of electric centrifugal pumps or electric-driven vane pumps, is expanding every year. This trend will continue for at least a couple of decades. In its turn, the number of wells with readily available oil products in the commissioned stock is decreasing. This leads to the need to improve production quality and reduce energy consumption to maintain profitability and production volumes. This can be achieved by implementing vector energy-efficient control systems for submersible motors based on observers of induction motor state variables. In this case one should take into account transients in the supply cable of considerable length, which transmits energy from a frequency converter to a motor. The observers are based on adjustable mathematical models that describe electrical, electromechanical and mechanical processes in electric drive and related process automation systems as reliably as possible. Using complex and cumbersome adjustable mathematical models in digital signal processors due to limited performance and memory causes objective difficulties in obtaining solutions of increased accuracy in real time. On this basis, the development of an analytical model of the dynamic system "long cable – submersible induction motor with fixed rotor" in the polar coordinate system is an urgent task. Aim. Development of analytical description of the mathematical model of the induction motor with a fixed rotor in the polar coordinate system taking into account the influence of a long cable. Methods. Electric drive theory, electric machine theory, mathematical models of submersible induction motors and reduced long cable model, Vandermonde's determinant, analytical methods for solving differential equations. Result and conclusions. The authors have developed an analytical model of the regulated induction motor with a fixed rotor in the polar coordinate system taking into account the supply cable of considerable length. The developed analytical model is recommended for use in vector energy-efficient electric drive with application of phase discrimination principles taking into account the influence of processes in the supply cable line. Such electric drive has a potential for increasing the profitability of oil production from low- and medium-debt wells.

Relevance. The need to develop new methods for metal waste disposal. This direction, with the participation of various intensifying influences, refers to resource-saving, technological, minimizing the volume of capital costs for raw materials, production and subsequent sale. Aim. To obtain copper ferrite from iron and copper waste of microelectronics. Copper ferrite is a useful and highly demanded product in this branch of domestic industry, especially now, when many sanctions have been imposed on our country, including in terms of microelectronics. To study its magnetic properties and draw a conclusion about the possibility of its application. Objects. Samples of iron and copper waste in the form of plates, wire and shavings. Methods. Volumetric analysis, electron microscopy, X-ray phase analysis, study of magnetic susceptibility. Results. The authors have produced finely dispersed iron (III) oxide from iron-containing microelectronics waste. This oxide is used in electrical engineering as part of high-voltage resistors for grounding the neutral of networks, lithium-ion batteries, as a carrier of analog and digital information. In the radio engineering industry it is used as part of low-voltage resistors, high-frequency chokes, small-sized pulse transformers. The authors produced finely dispersed copper (II) oxide from copper-containing waste. This oxide is used in production of phosphors and dry batteries – in batteries with liquid cells as a cathode, with lithium as an anode and dioxalane mixed with lithium perchlorate as an electrolyte. In addition, it finds application as a p-type semiconductor, since it has a narrow bandgap of 1.2 eV, and manufacturing photovoltaic cells in solar panels. Copper ferrite was synthesized from the obtained oxides by sintering. Rings made of such alloy serve as a core in transformers. The part increases the magnetic field strength by several thousand times, making the devices transmit more power than they could with a non-ferrite core. Ferrite ring cores are found not only in transformers, but also in other electronics (e.g. magnetic memory).

Category: Midfoot/Forefoot; Diabetes Introduction/Purpose: Charcot arthropathy is a neurotraumatic foot disorder seen in patients with peripheral neuropathy. Surgical reconstruction via medial column arthrodesis with beams can restore plantigrade foot anatomy with decreased soft tissue dissection and improved bony compression. Methods: We identified 12 patients with midfoot (n=7) or hindfoot (n=5) Charcot who underwent medial column beaming arthrodesis between 2015 and 2021 b y one of two fellowship-trained foot and ankle surgeons at an academic medical center. Data collected from patient charts included demographics, medical history, complications, and reoperation rate. Meary’s angle was measured on lateral weightbearing radiographs preoperatively and up to two years postoperatively. Mean follow-up time was 2.50 (range, 1.04-6.98) years. Statistical analysis included correlation, two-tailed Student t-test, and Chi-squared test. Results: Meary’s angle was recorded preoperatively for 12 patients (19.3° ± 6.7°) and postoperatively at three months for 12 patients (4.0° ± 6.7°), at six months for 12 patients (7.1° ± 9.7°), at one year for 11 patients (6.1° ± 9.4°), and at two years for five patients (10.2° ± 6.4°). However, two (16.7%) patients showed a loss of deformity correction, which was demonstrated by a Meary’s angle that was greater at final follow-up than preoperatively. Overall complication, infection, reoperation rates were 50.0%, 41.7%, and 58.3%, respectively. Finally, dependent on preoperative ulceration, those with and without an ulcer did not differ in Meary’s angle at any time point, overall complication, infection, nor reoperation rate. Conclusion: Although the results showed a relatively high complication rate, the use of beaming arthrodesis was generally able to maintain a plantigrade foot and overall alignment, while decreasing the recurrence of plantar ulceration.

Longitarsus leonardicarloi (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini), new species belonging to Longitarsus anchusae species group is described from Turkmenistan. The new species is illustrated with images of male and female genitalia; dorsal, lateral, and frontal habiti; and protarsomeres of both sexes. It is compared with L. anchusae (Paykull), L. anatolicus Weise and L. hittita Biondi, which are illustrated with images of the median lobe of the aedeagi, dorsal and frontal habiti. A key to all species currently included in L. anchusae group is provided.

The elderly were a member of the vulnerable group which the government supported and assisted in every way possible. To contribute to the support and assistance needed by the elderly who are called senior citizens, this study was conducted. This aims to develop and design a usable, performance-efficient, and functional suitable to the operation and service of the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs (OSCA), Cabanatuan City office. The System Application Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs Information Management System with Analytics (OSCA-IMSA) was developed using the Agile System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Model. The agile model has different phases and sub-phases that guarantee the quality and efficient development of the system. Every phase and sub-phases lead to a well-organized, and systematic process of system development. The proponents adopted the ISO/IEC 25010 criteria as an evaluation tool to assess the system's usability, reliability, performance efficiency, functional suitability, security, portability, maintainability, and compatibility. The self-made survey questionnaire was used as the main tool to collect the data from the respondents. Purposive sampling was used to determine the right respondents for the study. The study was composed of two different sets of respondents, the first set was the System Users and the second set was composed of IT Experts. The Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs Information Management System with Analytics (OSCA-IMSA) was evaluated and assessed by the respondents with a result of being highly functional, highly efficient, highly portable, highly maintainable, highly compatible, highly secured, highly reliable, and highly usable. This result indicates that the system passed and conformed to the ISO/IEC 25010 Software Product Quality Standard, hence, is recommended to be deployed at the research locale.

In regions close to the continental shelf edge, the transfer of particulate organic carbon (POC) within the food web and with downward fluxes contributes to the long-term storage of carbon in deep basins. The degradation of POC by heterotrophic prokaryotes is one of the key indices of biological productivity and ecosystem functioning. Here we present data on the spatial and vertical distribution of the total bacterial abundance, fraction of high DNA-content and particle-associated bacteria, and POC concentration. Additionally we determined environmental parameters (temperature, salinity, turbidity, fluorescence and dissolved oxygen concentration). The data were collected in the Vilkitsky Strait and along two transects from the outer shelf of the Laptev Sea to the adjacent continental slope region of the Arctic Ocean in August−September 2018. Principal component analysis was used to reveal relationships between environmental factors and bacterial characteristics. Total bacterial abundance (BA) was positively correlated with seawater fluorescence, dissolved oxygen concentration and POC, but negatively linked to depth and salinity. The percentage of both particle-associated bacteria (%PAB) and bacteria with high DNA concentration (%HDNA) were positively linked to depth and salinity. The data obtained may be useful for a comprehensive assessment of the state of ecosystems in the vicinity of the Arctic continental slope under changing environmental conditions, as well as for studying microbial input in the carbon cycle.

ABSTRACTMicrobiota-derived short-chain fatty acids, including butyrate (BA), have multiple beneficial health effects. In the colon, BA concentrations range from 10 to 20 mM and up to 95% is utilized as energy by the mucosa. BA plays a key role in epithelial-barrier regulation and anti-inflammation, and regulates cell growth and differentiation, at least in part, due to its direct influence on stabilization of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF). It remains unclear whether BA is the optimal metabolite for such a response. In this study, we explored metabolite mimicry as an attractive strategy for the biological response to HIF. We discovered that 4-mercapto butyrate (MBA) stabilizes HIF more potently and has a longer biological half-life than BA in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). We validated the MBA-mediated HIF transcriptional activity through the induction of classic HIF gene targets in IECs and enhanced epithelial barrier formation in vitro. In-vivo studies with MBA revealed systemic HIF stabilization in mice, which was more potent than its parent BA metabolite. Mechanistically, we found that MBA enhances oxygen consumption and that the sulfhydryl group is essential for HIF stabilization, but exclusively as a four-carbon SCFA. These findings reveal a combined biochemical mechanism for HIF stabilization and provide a foundation for the discovery of potent metabolite-like scaffolds.

Stakeholders need data on health and drivers of health parsed to the boundaries of essential policy-relevant geographies. US Congressional Districts are an example of a policy-relevant geography which generally lack health data. One strategy to generate Congressional District heath data metric estimates is to aggregate estimates from other geographies, for example, from counties or census tracts to Congressional Districts. Doing so requires several methodological decisions. We refine a method to aggregate health metric estimates from one geography to another, using a population weighted approach. The method's accuracy is evaluated by comparing three aggregated metric estimates to metric estimates from the US Census American Community Survey for the same years: Broadband Access, High School Completion, and Unemployment. We then conducted four sensitivity analyses testing: the effect of aggregating counts vs. percentages; impacts of component geography size and data missingness; and extent of population overlap between component and target geographies. Aggregated estimates were very similar to estimates for identical metrics drawn directly from the data source. Sensitivity analyses suggest the following best practices for Congressional district-based metrics: utilizing smaller, more plentiful geographies like census tracts as opposed to larger, less plentiful geographies like counties, despite potential for less stable estimates in smaller geographies; favoring geographies with higher percentage population overlap.

Abstract The principal cause of death in cancer patients is metastasis, which remains an unresolved problem. Conventionally, metastatic dissemination is linked to actomyosin‐driven cell locomotion. However, the locomotion of cancer cells often does not strictly line up with the measured actomyosin forces. Here, a complementary mechanism of metastatic locomotion powered by dynein‐generated forces is identified. These forces arise within a non‐stretchable microtubule network and drive persistent contact guidance of migrating cancer cells along the biomimetic collagen fibers. It is also shown that the dynein‐powered locomotion becomes indispensable during invasive 3D migration within a tissue‐like luminal network formed by spatially confining granular hydrogel scaffolds (GHS) made up of microscale hydrogel particles (microgels). These results indicate that the complementary motricity mediated by dynein is always necessary and, in certain instances, sufficient for disseminating metastatic breast cancer cells. These findings advance the fundamental understanding of cell locomotion mechanisms and expand the spectrum of clinical targets against metastasis.

Relevance. Today, there are many methodologies for predicting power consumption of various objects. However, there is no a general methodology that is suitable for all types of energy systems, including the sectoral characteristics of small northern settlements and other objects with the stochastic nature of electricity consumption schedules. At the same time, during the development of problem-oriented forecasting methods, it is necessary to take into account computational and statistical features of forecasted time series to the maximum and apply them adequately. The mentioned circumstance prompts the creation of criteria-indicators that allow evaluating the quality of the applied model for solving the forecasting problem, correctness of its construction and correctness of applying a priori information about the object and its physical properties.Aim. Develop and apply the criteria-indicators, which allow evaluating the quality of the forecast regression model and the influence of the dimensionality of such model base on a forecasting error. Methods. The choice of rational dimensionality of the regression model basis for the adaptive forecasting problem is based on the known and developed criteria-indicators. The main provisions of such criteria-indicators were formulated, which provide an assessment of the quality of conditioning of an equivalent square matrix, the presence of uninformative elements of the matrix, and linear dependence of the columns. Results. Based on the analysis of criteria-indicators, the authors selected a rational dimension of the regression model basis for the problem of adaptive short-term forecasting of the state of discrete non-stationary dynamic systems. Conclusions. The authors have previously selected the most promising criteria-indicators and developed a normalized difference factor of diagonal predominance. This allows us to evaluate the influence of the basis size change on the regression model quality when building an approach of adaptive short-term forecasting of electricity consumption by autonomous power systems of small northern settlements on the basis of regression analysis methods. Based on the analysis of criteria-indicators the authors obtained information about the influence of the regression model basis dimension on the forecasting problem solution error. The authors stated the further stages of research to reduce this error. The paper introduces and describes one of the ways to improve the forecasting model quality. The dependence of the forecasting error on the size of the regression model basis were revealed; the criteria-indicators considered in the article were successfully applied. It is confirmed that the pre-selected and developed criteria-indicators make it possible, at the stage of compiling an equivalent square matrix and performing preliminary actions on it, to track changes within the matrix. The changes will lead to improvement in the solution of the problem of adaptive short-term forecasting.

Rationale & Objective: Heart failure (HF) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality among individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). A large body of evidence from preclinical and clinical studies implicates excess levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) in HF pathogenesis in CKD. It remains unclear whether the relationship between elevated FGF23 levels and HF risk among individuals with CKD varies by HF subtype. Study Design: Prospective cohort study. Settings & Participants: A total of 3,502 participants were selected in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort study. Exposure: Baseline plasma FGF23. Outcomes: Incident HF by subtype and total rate of HF hospitalization. HF was categorized as HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF, ejection fraction [EF] ≥ 50%), HF with reduced EF (HFrEF, EF

Objective: This study was performed to determine the effect of fasting on reproducibility of the glucose tolerance test. Due to individual variation in animal feeding behaviors, fasting animals prior to metabolic and behavioral experiments is widely held to reduce inter-subject variation in glucose and metabolic parameters of preclinical rodent models. Reducing variability is especially important for studies where initial metabolite levels can influence the magnitude of experimental interventions, but fasting also imposes stress that may distort the variables of interest. One such intervention is the glucose tolerance test (GTT) which measures the maximum response and recovery following a bolus of exogenous glucose. We sought to investigate how fasting affects the response of individual mice to a GTT. Methods: Using simultaneous continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and indirect calorimetry, we quantified blood glucose, physical activity, body temperature, metabolic rates, and food consumption levels on a minute-to-minute basis in adult male mice for 4 weeks. We tested the effects of a 4-h or 18-h fast on the GTT to examine the effect of food withdrawal in light or dark photoperiods. Studies were also performed with 4-h fasting in additional mice without implanted CGM probes. Results: Contrary to our expectations, a 4-h fast during the light photoperiod promotes a paradoxical increase in inter-animal variation in metabolic rate, physical activity, body temperature, glycemia, and glucose tolerance. This hyperglycemic and hyper-metabolic phenotype promotes increased corticosterone levels and is consistent with a behavioral stress response to food deprivation, even in well-fed mice. We find that mice undergoing an 18-h fast entered torpor, a hibernation-like state. In addition to low body temperature and metabolic rate, torpor is also associated with glucose levels 56 mg/dl lower than those seen in mice with ad libitum access to food. Moreover, the time spent in torpor affects the response to a GTT. Conclusion: Our results suggest fasting mice before glucose tolerance testing, and perhaps other experiments, can have the opposite of the intended effect where fasting can increase, rather than decrease, experimental variability.

The relevance. The construction of a problem-oriented tool for forecasting electricity consumption in small northern settlements is of paramount importance for the implementation of development plans for Arctic and Far North regions. At present, a large number of varieties of electricity consumption forecasting methods are used, including expert, statistical, artificial intelligence methods, hybrid methods, and others. As a rule, there is no universal method, equally effective (by the criterion "counting time - counting accuracy" for the main types of problems of electricity consumption forecasting. The noted circumstance requires research in the direction of creating a computational complex: identification of computational properties of electricity consumption model - construction of an adequate method of information extraction. The purpose: Development of an approach based on a retrospective regression analysis, which allows to make adaptive short-term forecasting of electricity consumption of regional isolated electrical complexes (RIEC). Methods: The approach to obtain short-term forecasts of electricity consumption of regional isolated electrical complexes is based on a retrospective regression analysis. The predictive model based on the QRETC responses is presented in the form of a linear regression with an internal set of functions forming an orthogonal and orthonormalized basis. At the same time the preliminary information received from the object - RIEC's responses, is written in the form of a system of linear algebraic equations presented in matrix form. Finding of coefficients at basis functions is carried out taking into account the method of least squares, and the solution of the received equations on the basis of Kaczmarz method. Verification of performance of the developed approach was carried out by means of the analysis of regression residuals of forecasting. Results. With the help of аdaptive short-term forecasting of electric power consumption by autonomous power systems of small northern settlements based on the methods of retrospective regression analysis the short-term forecast for the prediction interval of 30 minutes was obtained. Conclusions. The approach of adaptive short-term forecasting of power consumption by autonomous power systems of small northern settlements on the basis of regression analysis methods, which allows obtaining a short-term forecast of power consumption for the preemptive interval of 30 minutes, has been developed. Substantial advantage of the developed approach is demonstrated by the fact that when building a procedure of adaptive short-term forecasting of energy consumption on the basis of retrospective regression analysis it is rational to combine the processes of identification of coefficients at basic functions and tunability of mathematical model of non-stationary discrete stochastic process at each step. The analysis of regression residuals of ROETC response forecasting has been carried out and the performance of the developed algorithm of electricity forecasting and the adequacy of the accepted provisions in forming a priori information when implementing the approach to short-term forecasting of a stochastic process based on retrospective regression analysis has been confirmed.

The relevance of the study is caused by the need to develop new methods for the disposal of metal waste. This direction, with the participation of various intensifying influences, refers to resource-saving, technological, minimizing the volume of capital costs for raw materials, production and subsequent sales. Purpose: to study physical and chemical methods for alkaline and acid processing of aluminum waste in the field of ultrasound, consider the mechanisms of these processes, compare kinetic characteristics, identify the pros and cons of the methods, and, based on a comparative analysis, conclude which of the methods is the most effective. Objects: samples of aluminum waste in the form of plates and shavings. Methods: volumetry, sonochemical synthesis, evaluation and analysis of the kinetic curves of the process at different temperatures, X-ray phase analysis. Results. The analysis of kinetic curves, rate constants of processes at different temperatures, and orders of chemical reactions has been carried out. The values ​​of the activation energies of the target chemical reactions and the characteristics of the kinetic regions of the processes were compared with each other. Despite the long induction period, the kinetic potential of acid processing of aluminum waste turned out to be 2 times higher than that of alkaline processing at temperatures of 313–323 K. Ultrasonic radiation did not significantly affect this characteristic, although it reduced the induction effect by 2 times. The mechanisms of the ongoing sonochemical processes in these methods turned out to be very similar to each other, no fundamental differences were observed. The products obtained during chemical processing in the form of hydrogen, hydroxide, chloride and aluminum orthophosphate are currently in high demand in the energy, chemical and silicate industries, as well as in medicine.

Background. Today in our country, the follow-up of patients after arthroplasty is carried out in accordance with clinical guidelines, the wording of which is based on monographs from 2006, 2008, and 2014, in addition, clinical guidelines for follow-up do not take into account the results of treatment assessed by the patient himself. The purpose of this study was to examine existing systems and develop a proprietary follow-up system for patients after hip and knee arthroplasty. Results. A review of the literature revealed that follow-up of patients after arthroplasty is an unsolved problem, within which there is low coverage, reluctance or forgetfulness of the asymptomatic patient, the problem of accessibility of medical examinations, and an excessive financial burden on the health care system. Since 2022, fixed recommendations for follow-up after arthroplasty have been used in the clinical practice of our center in discharge epicrisis. Recommendations for the frequency of follow-up were formulated by experts based on a comprehensive review of the literature and their own experience. In the first three months, 221 hip and 235 knee evaluation questionnaires were collected through the proposed mechanism, with a progressive increase in the number of questionnaires based on weekly monitoring data. Conclusion. Unfortunately, the outpatient clinic system is not always able to provide qualitative monitoring of patients after arthroplasty due to various reasons, therefore, in our opinion, the implementation of the mechanism of remote monitoring of patients will allow detecting various complications at the stage of early diagnosis, which will contribute to prompt solution of these problems. The remote monitoring system is also an important source of scientific data.

Radiation therapy (RT) is a critical part of definitive therapy for pediatric high-grade glioma (pHGG). RT is designed to treat residual tumor defined on conventional MRI (cMRI), though pHGG lesions may be ill-characterized on standard imaging. Spectroscopic MRI (sMRI) measures endogenous metabolite concentrations in the brain, and Choline (Cho)/N-acetylaspartate (NAA) ratio is a highly sensitive biomarker for metabolically active tumor. We provide a preliminary report of our study introducing a novel treatment approach of whole brain sMRI-guided proton therapy for pHGG. An observational cohort (c1 = 10 patients) receives standard of care RT; a therapeutic cohort (c2 = 15 patients) receives sMRI-guided proton RT. All patients undergo cMRI and sMRI, a high-resolution 3D whole-brain echo-planar spectroscopic imaging (EPSI) sequence (interpolated resolution of 12 µL) prior to RT and at several follow-up timepoints integrated into diagnostic scans. Treatment volumes are defined by cMRI for c1 and by cMRI and Cho/NAA ≥ 2x for c2. A longitudinal imaging database is used to quantify changes in lesion and metabolite volumes. Four subjects have been enrolled (c1 = 1/c2 = 3) with sMRI imaging follow-up of 4–18 months. Preliminary data suggest sMRI improves identification of pHGG infiltration based on abnormal metabolic activity, and using proton therapy to target sMRI-defined high-risk regions is safe and feasible.

Abstract Van der Waals (vdW) epitaxial growth of large-area and stable two-dimensional (2D) materials of high structural quality on crystalline substrates is crucial for the development of novel device technologies. 2D gallium monochalcogenides with low in-plane symmetry stand out among the layered semiconductor materials family for next-generation optoelectronic and energy conversion applications. Here, we demonstrate the formation of large-area, single crystal and optically active 2D monoclinic gallium telluride (m-GaTe) on silicon substrate via rapid thermal annealing induced phase transformation of vdW epitaxial metastable hexagonal gallium telluride (h-GaTe). Stabilization of multilayer h-GaTe on Si occurs due to the role of the first layer symmetry together with efficient GaTe surface passivation. Moreover, we show that the phase transformation of h-GaTe to m-GaTe is accompanied by the strain relaxation between Si substrate and GaTe. This work opens the way to the fabrication of single-crystal 2D anisotropic semiconductors on standard crystalline wafers that are difficult to be obtained by epitaxial methods.

Abstract Background Loss of autonomy in day-to-day functioning is one of the feared outcomes of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and relatives may have been worried by subtle behavioral changes in ordinary life situations long before these changes are given medical attention. In the present study, we ask if such subtle changes should be given weight as an early predictor of a future AD diagnosis. Methods Longitudinal data from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) were used to define a group of adults with a mild cognitive impairment (MCI) diagnosis remaining stable across several visits (sMCI, n=360; 55-91 years at baseline), and a group of adults who over time converted from having an MCI diagnosis to an AD diagnosis (cAD, n=320; 55-88 years at baseline). Eleven features were used as input in a Random Forest (RF) binary classifier (sMCI vs. cAD) model. This model was tested on an unseen holdout part of the dataset, and further explored by three different permutation-driven importance estimates and a comprehensive post hoc machine learning exploration. Results The results consistently showed that measures of daily life functioning, verbal memory function, and a volume measure of hippocampus were the most important predictors of conversion from an MCI to an AD diagnosis. Results from the RF classification model showed a prediction accuracy of around 70% in the test set. Importantly, the post hoc analyses showed that even subtle changes in everyday functioning noticed by a close informant put MCI patients at increased risk for being on a path toward the major cognitive impairment of an AD diagnosis. Conclusion The results showed that even subtle changes in everyday functioning should be noticed when reported by relatives in a clinical evaluation of patients with MCI. Information of these changes should also be included in future longitudinal studies to investigate different pathways from normal cognitive aging to the cognitive decline characterizing different stages of AD and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Fine powders of brushite CaHPO4·2H2O, ardealite Ca(HPO4)x(SO4)1−x·2H2O (Ca(HPO4)0.5(SO4)0.5·2H2O), and calcium sulfate dihydrate CaSO4·2H2O—all containing sodium chloride NaCl as a reaction by-product—were synthesized from 0.5 M aqueous solution of calcium chloride CaCl2, sodium hydrophosphate Na2HPO4 and/or sodium sulfate Na2SO4. Powder of ardealite Ca(HPO4)x(SO4)1−x·2H2O (Ca(HPO4)0.5(SO4)0.5·2H2O) was synthesized by precipitation from aqueous solution of calcium chloride CaCl2 and mixed-anionic solution simultaneously containing the hydrogen phosphate anion HPO42− (Na2HPO4) and sulfate anion SO42− (Na2SO4). Sodium chloride NaCl, presenting in compacts based on synthesized powders of brushite CaHPO4·2H2O, ardealite Ca(HPO4)x(SO4)1−x·2H2O (Ca(HPO4)0.5(SO4)0.5·2H2O) and calcium sulfate dihydrate CaSO4·2H2O, was responsible for both low-temperature melt formation and the creation of phase composition of ceramics. Heterophase interaction of components led to the resulting phase composition of the ceramic samples during heating, including the formation of chlorapatite Ca5(PO4)3Cl in powders of brushite and ardealite. The phase composition of the ceramics based on the powder of brushite CaHPO4·2H2O containing NaCl as a by-product after firing at 800–1000 °C included β-Ca2P2O7, and Ca5(PO4)3Cl. The phase composition of ceramics based on the powder of ardealite Ca(HPO4)x(SO4)1−x·2H2O (Ca(HPO4)0.5(SO4)0.5·2H2O) containing NaCl as a by-product after firing at 800 and 900 °C included β-Ca2P2O7, CaSO4, and Ca5(PO4)3Cl; after firing at 1000 °C, it includedCaSO4, Ca5(PO4)3Cl and Ca3(PO4)2/Ca10Na(PO4)7, and after firing at 1100 °C, it included CaSO4 and Ca5(PO4)3Cl. The phase composition of ceramics based on powder of calcium sulfate dihydrate CaSO4·2H2O containing NaCl as a by-product after firing at 800–1100 °C included CaSO4 as the predominant phase. The phase composition of all ceramic samples under investigation consisted of biocompatible crystalline phases with different abilities to biodegrade. For this reason, the created ceramics can be recommended for testing as materials for treatment of bone defects using regenerative medicine methods.

The relevance of the study is confirmed by the low degree of recovery of oil reserves concentrated in fractured-pore type carbonate reservoirs. Despite significant levels of compensation for liquid extraction by injection, the energy state of the deposits presented is in an unsatisfactory state. One of the most common methods of increasing oil recovery in the fields is flooding of reservoirs. The existing methods of flooding allow reaching the level of the oil recovery coefficient of no more than 0,3. It is relevant and important to increase the efficiency of the development of such assets in the conditions of an inefficient flooding system, high geological and stratigraphic heterogeneity and low filtration and capacitance properties. The use of mathematical statistics methods regarding the evaluation of the effectiveness of the flooding system has found a response in the works of many scientists today and is a convincing alternative for their implementation in the overall process of improving the quality of work and decisions made. The main aim of the research is to determine the response time of the liquid extraction reaction to the injection of the agent; based on the calculated values, establish the nature of the hydrodynamic coupling and evaluate the interference between the elements of the flooding system. Objects: fractured carbonate reservoirs. Methods: interpretation and isolation of field-geophysical and hydrodynamic studies; computer modeling using the Saphir module of application software (Kappa); mathematical modeling by means of Spearman and Kendall rank correlation. Results. The use of mathematical statistics methods made it possible to establish the nature of the downhole interference between the elements of the flooding system. The calculated values of the response time of the liquid extraction reaction to the injection of the agent made it possible to increase the convergence of the results. To improve the quality of decision-making on optimization activities for deposits, it was proposed to impose indicators of borehole interference on the map of seismic facies zones. The presented set of methods makes it possible to comprehensively assess the effectiveness of the flooding system when analyzing it on a carbonate type of reservoir.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a fatal disease, with poor prognosis exacerbated by difficulty in assessing tumor extent with imaging. Spectroscopic MRI (sMRI) is a non-contrast imaging technique measuring endogenous metabolite levels of the brain that can serve as biomarkers for tumor extension. We completed a three-site study to assess survival benefits of GBM patients when treated with escalated radiation dose guided by metabolic abnormalities in sMRI. Escalated radiation led to complex post-treatment imaging, requiring unique approaches to discern tumor progression from radiation-related treatment effect through our quantitative imaging platform. The purpose of this study is to determine true tumor recurrence timepoints for patients in our dose-escalation multisite study using novel methodology and to report on median progression-free survival (PFS). Follow-up imaging for all 30 trial patients were collected, lesion volumes segmented and graphed, and imaging uploaded to our platform for visual interpretation. Eighteen months post-enrollment, the median PFS was 16.6 months with a median time to follow-up of 20.3 months. With this new treatment paradigm, incidence rate of tumor recurrence one year from treatment is 30% compared to 60–70% failure under standard care. Based on the delayed tumor progression and improved survival, a randomized phase II trial is under development (EAF211).

This article outlines the relevance of building online telemetry systems for online monitoring of the technical conditions of rolling mill equipment. Electromechanical systems of the horizontal stand of the plate Mill 5000 are described, when operating in harsh conditions caused by the shock loading when workpieces enter the stand. It is noted that dynamic torque overloads, exceeding the rated motor torque by many-fold, cause the fatigue failure of spindle joints and breakage of rolls. In this regard, the development and implementation of systems for monitoring the elastic torque on spindles are extremely urgent. This issue has long been studied, but the references provide no information on the building principles and hardware composition of such systems. The use of strain gauges connected according to a balanced bridge circuit to measure the elastic torque is justified. This paper’s contribution is the proposed modular principle for building a telemetry monitoring system based on the analysis of known techniques for measuring and transmitting diagnostic data. The developed system structure is provided and the concept of data transfer and processing are explained. This article suggests the inductive power supply of a measuring unit mounted on a shaft without the use of batteries. A hardware structure was developed to be applied in a system for measuring, transmitting, and visualizing signals proportional to the elastic torque, manufactured on the basis of data measuring instruments by leading companies. The specifics of placement and connection of strain gauges are considered. The hardware providing a wireless power supply to the signal encoder and digital data transfer between the transmitter and receiver is described. The results of implementing the system on Mill 5000 are provided. The installation of a telemetry ring and a receiving head for the inductive power supply and data reception is shown. An experimental assessment of the elastic torques occurring when workpieces enter the cage was obtained by implementing a drive control algorithm which provided biting in the drive acceleration mode. The reliability of measuring the elastic torque with an error not exceeding ±5% and the reduction of dynamic loads on the spindle by 1.3–1.5 times due to the elimination of impacts from closing angular gaps in spindle joints was confirmed. This increases the service life of mechanical equipment and reduces the cost of eliminating the accident aftermath. The prospect of modifying the developed system into a cyber-physical system for monitoring the rolling mill’s mechatronic equipment conditions is shown.

When cultivating on wheat bran or deactivated fungal mycelium as a model of “natural growth”, the ability of Trichoderma to synthesize extracellular L-lysine-α-oxidase (LysO) simultaneously with cell-wall-degrading enzymes (proteases, xylanase, glucanases, chitinases, etc.), responsible for mycoparasitism, was shown. LysO, in turn, causes the formation of H2O2 and pipecolic acid. These compounds are known to be signaling molecules and play an important role in the induction and development of systemic acquired resistance in plants. Antagonistic effects of LysO have been demonstrated against phytopathogenic fungi and Gram-positive or Gram-negative bacteria with dose-dependent cell death. The antimicrobial effect of LysO decreased in the presence of catalase. The generating intracellular ROS in the presence of LysO was also shown in both bacteria and fungi, which led to a decrease in viable cells. These results suggest that the antimicrobial activity of LysO is due to two factors: the formation of exogenous hydrogen peroxide as a product of the enzymatic oxidative deamination of L-lysine and the direct interaction of LysO with the cell wall of the micro-organisms. Thus, LysO on its own enhances the potential of the producer in the environment; namely, the enzyme complements the strategy of the fungus in biocontrol and indirectly participates in inducing SAR and regulating the relationship between pathogens and plants.

To reduce the environmental impact of concrete, recycled aggregates are of significant interest. Recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) presents a significant resource opportunity, although its performance as an aggregate in concrete is variable. This study presents a meta-analysis of the published literature to refine the understanding of how the moisture content of RCA, as well as other parameters, affects the compressive strength of concrete. Seven machine learning models were used to predict the compressive strength of concrete with RCA, including linear regression, support vector regression (SVR), and k-nearest neighbors (KNN) as single models, and decision tree, random forest, XGBoost, and LightGBM as ensemble models. The results of this study demonstrate that ensemble models, particularly the LightGBM model, exhibited superior prediction accuracy compared to single models. The LightGBM model yielded the highest prediction accuracy with R2 = 0.94, RMSE = 4.16 MPa, MAE = 3.03 MPa, and Delta RMSE = 1.4 MPa, making it the selected final model. The study, employing feature importance with LightGBM as the final model, identified age, water/cement ratio, and fine RCA aggregate content as key factors influencing compressive strength in concrete with RCA. In an interaction plot analysis using the final model, lowering the water–cement ratio consistently improved compressive strength, especially between 0.3 and 0.4, while increasing the fine RCA ratio decreased compressive strength, particularly in the range of 0.4 to 0.6. Additionally, it was found that maintaining moisture conditions of RCA typically between 0.0 and 0.8 was crucial for maximizing strength, whereas extreme moisture conditions, like fully saturated surface dry (SSD) state, negatively impacted strength.