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Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) significantly exacerbate the severity and mortality of COVID-19. We aimed to investigate whether GWAS-significant SNPs correlate with CVDs in severe COVID-19 patients. DNA samples from 199 patients with severe COVID-19 hospitalized in intensive care units were genotyped using probe-based PCR for 10 GWAS SNPs previously implicated in severe COVID-19 outcomes. SNPs rs17713054 SLC6A20-LZTFL1 (risk allele A, OR = 2.14, 95% CI 1.06–4.36, p = 0.03), rs12610495 DPP9 (risk allele G, OR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.02–2.81, p = 0.04), and rs7949972 ELF5 (risk allele T, OR = 2.57, 95% CI 1.43–4.61, p = 0.0009) were associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). SNPs rs7949972 ELF5 (OR = 2.67, 95% CI 1.38–5.19, p = 0.003) and rs61882275 ELF5 (risk allele A, OR = 1.98, 95% CI 1.14–3.45, p = 0.01) were linked to a higher risk of cerebral stroke (CS). No associations were observed with AH. Bioinformatics analysis revealed the involvement of GWAS-significant loci in atherosclerosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, angiogenesis, and apoptosis, which provides evidence of their role in the molecular mechanisms of CVDs. This study provides novel insights into the associations between GWAS-identified SNPs and the risk of CAD and CS.

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to replicate associations of GWAS-significant loci with severe COVID-19 in the population of Central Russia, to investigate associations of the SNPs with thromboinflammation parameters, to analyze gene-gene and gene-environmental interactions.Materials and MethodsDNA samples from 798 unrelated Caucasian subjects from Central Russia (199 hospitalized COVID-19 patients and 599 controls with a mild or asymptomatic course of COVID-19) were genotyped using probe-based polymerase chain reaction for 10 GWAS-significant SNPs: rs143334143 CCHCR1, rs111837807 CCHCR1, rs17078346 SLC6A20-LLZTFL1, rs17713054 SLC6A20-LLZTFL1, rs7949972 ELF5, rs61882275 ELF5, rs12585036 ATP11A, rs67579710 THBS3, THBS3-AS1, rs12610495 DPP9, rs9636867 IFNAR2.ResultsSNP rs17713054 SLC6A20-LZTFL1 was associated with increased risk of severe COVID-19 in the entire group (risk allele A, OR = 1.78, 95% CI = 1.22–2.6, p = 0.003), obese individuals (OR = 2.31, 95% CI = 1.52–3.5, p = 0.0002, (pbonf = 0.0004)), patients with low fruit and vegetable intake (OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.15–2.58, p = 0.01, (pbonf = 0.02)), low physical activity (OR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.26–2.94, p = 0.0035, (pbonf = 0.007)), and nonsmokers (OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.11–2.46, p = 0.02). This SNP correlated with increased BMI (p = 0.006) and worsened thrombodynamic parameters (maximum optical density of the formed clot, D (p = 0.02), delayed appearance of spontaneous clots, Tsp (p = 0.02), clot size 30 min after coagulation activation, CS (p = 0.036)). SNP rs17078346 SLC6A20-LZTFL1 was linked with increased BMI (p = 0.01) and severe COVID-19 in obese individuals (risk allele C, OR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.15–2.58, p = 0.01, (pbonf = 0.02)). SNP rs12610495 DPP9 was associated with increased BMI (p = 0.01), severe COVID-19 in obese patients (risk allele G, OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.09–2.01, p = 0.01, (pbonf = 0.02)), and worsened thrombodynamic parameters (time to the start of clot growth, Tlag (p = 0.01)). For rs7949972 ELF5, a protective effect against severe COVID-19 was observed in non-obese patients (effect allele T, OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.47–0.95, p = 0.02, (pbonf = 0.04)), improving thrombodynamic parameters (CS (p = 0.02), stationary spatial clot growth rates, Vst (p = 0.02)). Finally, rs12585036 ATP11A exhibited a protective effect against severe COVID-19 in males (protective allele A, OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.32–0.83, p = 0.004). SNPs rs67579710 THBS3, THBS3-AS1, rs17713054 SLC6A20-LZTFL1, rs7949972 ELF5, rs9636867 IFNAR2—were involved in two or more of the most significant G×G interactions (pperm ≤ 0.01). The pairwise combination rs67579710 THBS3, THBS3-AS1 × rs17713054 SLC6A20-LZTFL1 was a priority in determining susceptibility to severe COVID-19 (it was included in four of the top five most significant SNP-SNP interaction models).ConclusionOverall, this study represents a comprehensive molecular-genetic and bioinformatics analysis of the involvement of GWAS-significant loci in the molecular mechanisms of severe COVID-19, gene-gene and gene-environmental interactions, and provides evidence of their relationship with thromboinflammation parameters in patients hospitalized in intensive care units.

Background: Comorbidities such as obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have emerged as critical risk factors exacerbating the severity and mortality of COVID-19. Meanwhile, numerous genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with increased susceptibility to severe COVID-19. Aim: This study investigated whether SNPs previously identified by GWAS as risk factors for severe COVID-19 also correlate with common comorbidities—obesity and T2DM—in hospitalized patients with severe COVID-19. Methods: DNA samples from 199 hospitalized COVID-19 patients were genotyped using probe-based PCR for 10 GWAS SNPs previously implicated in severe COVID-19 outcomes (rs143334143 CCHCR1, rs111837807 CCHCR1, rs17078346 SLC6A20–LZTFL1, rs17713054 SLC6A20–LZTFL1, rs7949972 ELF5, rs61882275 ELF5, rs12585036 ATP11A, rs67579710 THBS3, THBS3-AS1, rs12610495 DPP9, rs9636867 IFNAR2). Results: The analysis revealed significant associations between certain SNPs and the increased risk of obesity and T2DM in severe COVID-19 patients. Specifically, rs17713054 SLC6A20–LZTFL1 (risk allele A; odds ratio (OR) = 2.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.24–4.4, p = 0.007) and rs7949972 ELF5 SNP (risk allele T; OR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.11–2.91, p = 0.015) were associated with increased risk of obesity. SNP rs9636867 IFNAR2 was associated with a higher risk of T2DM (risk allele G, OR = 8.28, 95% CI = 1.69–40.64, p = 0.027). Using the model-based multifactor dimensionality reduction (MB-MDR) approach, the six most significant gene–gene interaction patterns associated with obesity in severe COVID-19 patients were identified and included five polymorphic loci: rs7949972, rs17713054, rs61882275, rs12585036, and rs143334143, participating in two or more of the most significant G–G interactions (pperm < 0.05). In total, the best models of G–G interactions associated with T2DM in patients with severe COVID-19 included eight polymorphic loci, six of which, rs7949972, rs61882275, rs12585036, rs143334143, rs67579710, and rs12610495, were involved in two or more of the most significant G–G interactions. Conclusions: Our study provides novel insights into the genetic associations between GWAS-identified SNPs and the risk of obesity and T2DM in patients with severe COVID-19.

Renewable energy systems design using average year weather data is a standard approach that works well for grid-tied systems, but for stand-alone ones, it leads to dramatic mistakes. We considered the effect of meteorological data temporal resolution (5, 10, 15, 20, 30 min; 1, 2, 3, 4 h) on a stand-alone hybrid system’s layout in terms of equipment cost, power supply reliability and maximum duration of interruption for monitoring equipment in the Alps. We have shown that lifecycle costs could be strongly (order of magnitude) underestimated for off-grid systems, as well as their reliability overestimated. Lower temporal resolution data lead to the underestimation of energy storage charge–discharge cycles (considering depth of discharge too)—real batteries are to be replaced more often, which matches our practical experience as well. Even a 5 to 10 min decrease in weather data temporal resolution leads to the estimated annual expenses being halved. In general, we recommend using 30 min resolution.

Relevance. The 20s of the XXI century are becoming a period of revision by society of many familiar foundations. The crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the introduction of international sanctions that determined the restructuring of global economic chains, against the background of accumulated environmental and socio-economic problems (inequality, unemployment, unfair working conditions, crisis of trust in institutions) caused the transformation of views on modern capitalism. Russian companies take responsibility for creating social value at the expense of economic benefits. Various institutions and value-oriented practices are being formed and developed, but their widespread use and implementation in management practice is still difficult. The purpose of the study is to identify and analyze the dominant theories as part of the transforming scientific approaches to the interpretation of modern value-oriented capitalism. The main method of research is the analysis of Russian and foreign publications and materials, the comparison and critical analysis of scientific theories. The results of the study are a critical analysis of the content of popular theories of modern capitalism: socially responsible sustainable capitalism, stakeholder capitalism, ESG capitalism, value creation capitalism, blockchain economy. The main proposed value-oriented practices and institutions of these theories, ways of creating subjective value for an individual through these institutions and practices are considered, and criticism of the theories is also given. The conclusions are that modern value-oriented theories cover various aspects of capitalism, but none of them offers a comprehensive solution to global problems through their practices and institutions. Nevertheless, the origin and development of each of the theories contributes to the transformation of capitalism in order to orient economic actors to the processes of value creation.

The gradual capacity decrease of vanadium redox flow battery (VRFB) over long‐term charge‐discharge cycling is determined by electrolyte degradation. While it was initially believed that this degradation was solely caused by crossover, recent research suggests that oxidative imbalance induced by hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) also plays a significant role. In this work by using vanadium pentoxides with different impurities content, we prepared three grades of vanadium electrolyte. By measuring electrochemical properties on carbon felt electrode in three‐electrode cell and VRFB membrane‐electrode assembly we evaluate the influence of impurity content on battery polarization and rate of side reactions which is indicated by the increase of average oxidation state (AOS) during charge‐discharge tests and varies from 0.061 to 0.027 day−1 for electrolytes made from 99.1 and 99.9 wt % V2O5. We found that increase of AOS correlates with the increase of open‐circuit voltage of VRFB in the discharged state ranging from 9.6 to 14.9 mV day−1 for highest and lowest electrolyte purity levels, respectively. While AOS increase is significant, it does not solely determine capacity fade. It is demonstrated that the presence of vanadium crossover decreases capacity fade, i. e. levels the contribution of side reactions on capacity drop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agrivoltaics (Agri-PV, AV)—the joint use of land for the generation of agricultural products and energy—has recently been rapidly gaining popularity, as it can significantly increase income per unit of land area. In a broad sense, AV systems can include converters of solar energy, and also energy from any other local renewable source, including bioenergy. Current approaches to AV represent the evolutionary development of agroecology and integrated PV power supply to the grid, and can result in nearly doubled income per unit area. AV could provide a basis for a revolution in large-scale unmanned precision agriculture and smart farming which will be impossible without on-site power supply, reduction of chemical fertiliser and pesticides, and yield processing on site. These approaches could dramatically change the logistics and the added value production chain in agriculture, and so reduce its carbon footprint. Utilisation of decommissioned solar panels in AV could halve the cost of the technology and postpone the need for bulk PV recycling. Unlike the mainstream discourse on the topic, this review feature focuses on the possibilities for AV to become more strongly integrated into agriculture, which could also help in resolution of relevant legal disputes (considered as neither rather than both components).

The article provides the analysis of current finance mechanisms of developing power systems in the context of acute necessity to start a new investment cycle. It draws a conclusion that state policy in the field of power engineering cannot foster the development of such mechanisms of its financing as state subsidies on purchase and installation of equipment, contracts on buying electricity and power-service contracts. The analysis of extra opportunities of raising investment showed expediency of developing green mechanisms of financing power engineering in Russia and motivating power companies to conduct IPO. The authors put forward recommendations aimed at attaining the acute objective to develop and implement key initiatives promoting the start of a new investment cycle in order to raise funds for modernizing the existing power projects and opening new ones in accordance with higher ecological requirements. For example, to stimulate the growth of Russian companies' IPO and realize the investment potential of the Russian stock market the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Economic Development study the possibility to introduce new tax preferences for investors and companies entering the market, which could ensure institutional support for investors and issuers.

Deuteragenia leleji sp. nov. is described and illustrated, based on a female from Sumatra, Indonesia. This extraordinary species possesses a peculiar character, cleft tarsal claws, recorded for the first time in the genus Deuteragenia Šustera, 1912 and the tribe Deuterageniini Šustera, 1912. The genus Deuteragenia is newly reported from the island of Sumatra.

The capacity of electric air conditioning and heating systems is growing rapidly, as is the nameplate capacity of PV power plants. While the demand for cooling has a positive correlation with solar irradiance, the demand for heating has an opposite relation. In this study, different approaches to design (aggregation; thermal, battery, and implicit storage) and control (frequency conversion; variable and adaptive load) and their effects on the efficiency of an off-grid active thermal stabilisation system based on a solar-powered heat pump are analysed. The case considered is a permafrost thermal stabilisation system in Norway. It is shown that proper layout and control of the system with an adaptive load can reduce capital expenditures and the total cost of ownership by 30–40%. Increases in the capacity factor and cooling stability of the systems with aggregated and variable loads are studied. The downside is that there is an increase in the compressor’s operation time by 50% with a variable load and by 25% per unit with aggregation, which means more frequent replacement in terms of motor hours. The approaches considered are applicable in a wide range of solar-powered facilities with a positive correlation between solar irradiation and energy demand, but the results are quite case-sensitive. The prospects of using excess refrigerant and soil for thermal energy storage instead of traditional electrochemical batteries are considered.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) significantly exacerbate the severity and mortality of COVID-19. We aimed to investigate whether GWAS-significant SNPs correlate with CVDs in severe COVID-19 patients. DNA samples from 199 patients with severe COVID-19 hospitalized in intensive care units were genotyped using probe-based PCR for 10 GWAS SNPs previously implicated in severe COVID-19 outcomes. SNPs rs17713054 SLC6A20-LZTFL1 (risk allele A, OR = 2.14, 95% CI 1.06–4.36, p = 0.03), rs12610495 DPP9 (risk allele G, OR = 1.69, 95% CI 1.02–2.81, p = 0.04), and rs7949972 ELF5 (risk allele T, OR = 2.57, 95% CI 1.43–4.61, p = 0.0009) were associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease (CAD). SNPs rs7949972 ELF5 (OR = 2.67, 95% CI 1.38–5.19, p = 0.003) and rs61882275 ELF5 (risk allele A, OR = 1.98, 95% CI 1.14–3.45, p = 0.01) were linked to a higher risk of cerebral stroke (CS). No associations were observed with AH. Bioinformatics analysis revealed the involvement of GWAS-significant loci in atherosclerosis, inflammation, oxidative stress, angiogenesis, and apoptosis, which provides evidence of their role in the molecular mechanisms of CVDs. This study provides novel insights into the associations between GWAS-identified SNPs and the risk of CAD and CS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A global priority of electrification expansion in all areas is also stated in the Energy Strategy of the Russian Federation. The study aims to forecast electricity demand in Russia taking into account possible electrification options in economic sectors. The article presents a multi-stage procedure and a concise review of methodological approaches to the long-term assessment of electricity demand, which considers the impact of complex interrelationships in social, economic and technological policies. In particular, this approach focuses on the regional level, where the interests of energy producers and consumers are reconciled. The current and promising directions of electricity use in Russian regions and economic sectors were analysed based on various statistics and forecasts. The conducted analysis demonstrated the stability of sectoral and territorial energy consumption patterns, as well as a decrease and convergence of values of gross regional product (GRP) energy intensity. Energy consumption of regions varies due to significant differences in industrial specialisation and living standards of the population. The highest energy consumption is observed in developed regions (Central Federal District) or regions with a large share of energy-intensive industries (Siberian Federal District). According to the accepted economic development and electrification expansion strategies for the period 2025–2040, on average, electricity demand in Russian regions is expected to increase by 1.4–1.8 % annually. It is anticipated that the Siberian and Far Eastern Federal Districts will show the highest growth rates of energy consumption due to the accelerated development of these territories. Predicted dynamics of the gross domestic product (GDP) energy intensity in Russia confirms its compliance with global trends. The research findings may prove useful in creating programmes and development strategies for the country and its regions.

Introduction: The investigation was aimed at assessment of immunoreactivity in the experimental groups of animals and evaluation of effectiveness of different combinations of pharmacological drugs used in the surgical models for the treatment of acute pancreatitis (AP) of various degrees of severity. Materials and methods: As an object of research, sexually mature male individuals of mongrel white rats were used. Acute pancreatitis of various degrees of severity was caused by either a separate or simultaneous ligation of the pancreas ducts and an intraductal injection of the 50% bile solution in a dose of 0.2 mg/kg. Correction of immunoreactivity indices in the experimental animals was performed with the use of drug combinations producing immunomodulating, antioxidant and membrane protecting effects. Evaluation of the dynamics of immune parameters in rats was carried out using test systems from various manufacturers for laboratory analysis. The obtained findings were statistically processed with descriptive and variation techniques. Results and discussion: The rats developed AP of various degrees of severity, and differently expressed shifts in immunoreactivity indices were observed. Assessment of immune and oxidant indices in experimentally induced acute pancreatitis of moderate and severe states revealed metabolic and immune disorders with anti-inflammatory effects which had various degrees of expression. Combination of immunomodulators, antioxidants and membranoprotectors exerted positive effects on the immunoreactivity state, but insignificantly decreased the mortality rate in the groups of experimental animals. Conclusion: The combination of ferrovir, mexidol, phosphogliv, and its use for moderate and severe degrees of experimentally induced pancreatitis in rats decreases their mortality up to 12.9% and 19.8%. The combination of polyoxidonium, emoxipin and essentiale N exhibits positive clinico-laboratory effectiveness and lowers the mortality indices to statistically significant parameters – 11.8% и 19.6%, correspondingly, with p < 0.05.

In this study, the influence of climatic factors on overhead transmission lines reliability in Russia was discussed. A review of the possible impacts of climate change is provided. Using the example of an electric grid company providing electricity in the Republic of Bashkortostan some reliability targets associated with the impacts of weather events were calculated: the number of power outages, the failure rate of 1 km of overhead transmission lines and the outage time. From the calculations it was determined that these targets are at a quite high level, in particular for 6-10 kV overhead transmission lines. The main contribution is made by climatic factors wind and lighting storm. A correlation analysis of the overhead transmission lines outages as a function of the number of wind cases with a certain speed has shown a strong relationship between these characteristics. According to predictive information, the number of power outages in the territory under consideration in 2025 will increase by 1.5 times.

Headstarting is a conservation approach that suggests offering an advantage to a population by improving egg production, survival of embryos and/or juveniles. In this article, we are providing the quantitative data obtained during 10 years for different stages of headstarting (production of eggs per pair, hatching and fledging rates) and the resulting impact (survival to maturity, philopatry rate, sex ratio, apparent survival, growth/decline rate) on the local population of the critically endangered spoon-billed sandpiper. We have shown that headstarting gains are reduced over time from fledging to long-term recruitment to the local breeding population. The possible reasons for this reduction are suggested and discussed. The unexpected finding was a drastic difference in sex ratios of the new recruits, which was about even for headstarting, but strongly male-biased for wild-reared birds. We suggest this happens due to increased mortality of female chicks in nature. We have also shown only headstarting could stop the global decline of the species, particularly once the suggested improvements are implemented and the number of pairs involved is scaled up. Headstarting also had a significant social effect due to the involvement of increasing numbers of people both in the local communities in Chukotka and from many countries on the flyway into searching for marked birds and learning about waders, raising awareness about ecological problems on the East Asian–Australasian Flyway. Thus, it has made the need for conservation actions on the flyway more obvious and sensible.