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The results of the analysis and generalization of geological, hydrogeological and hydrochemical data for four cities of Ukraine with a population of 107,000 inhabitants (Nikopol) to 370,000 inhabitants (Vinnytsia), located within the Ukrainian Shield, are presented. The availability of their approved operational groundwater reserves or forecast resources is determined. For local water supply of these cities, it is necessary to attract from 770 to 2600 m³/day of groundwater and surface water. Recommendations are provided for the creation of an extensive system of local (pump-station) water supply in case of extraordinary natural and man-made events in particular the introduction of martial law. The research is funded by the National Academy Sciences of Ukraine. Their implementation is planned for 2023–2025. The reliability of drinking water supply in cities is increased by creating a branched system of pump-station water supply with autonomous power supply of pumps and portable water purification systems where necessary. When assessing and subsequently designing and constructing pump stations, depending on the type of development, we can proceed from estimates that for 2–5 thousand people in a microdistrict, from 10 to 35 m³ of water per day is required, with a reserve of up to 50 m³. The construction of pump stations must be carried out in protected areas. Using groundwater, it is possible to organize a local water supply network in the cities of Vinnytsia, Kropyvnytskyi, Nikopol and Bila Tserkva. Local water supply of the cities of Zaporizhzhia, Kryvyi Rih, Dnipro, Zhytomyr and Kremenchuk should be based on the use of surface water with partial involvement of groundwater. These issues will be considered in the next issue of the journal.

The subject of this article is the concept of a geoinformation platform for landmine detection. Modern warfare and its increasing scale have become a relevant topic today. Undetected explosives threaten business (agriculture, logistics, etc.) and human lives. The problem becomes more acute with the rapid extension of minefield areas, which requires significant time and resources and carries high risks. Remote sensing leverages landmine detection possibilities, providing useful information about landmine displacement with no additional risk during data collection over a large area. This study aims to present a combined approach for revealing hidden landmines using UAVs equipped with different sensor types. The tasks to be solved are to define the overall structure and components of the geoinformation platform, choose the technological solutions for each of them, and implement the system prototype that makes it possible to extend its configuration in the future. The methods used are remote sensing, automated object detection, and centralized data processing in a geographic information system (GIS). Multispectral imagery and magnetometric remote measurements create the background information required to detect landmines and other explosive objects. The results of this study provide a general framework, i.e., a geoinformation platform for landmine detection and mapping. The tasks include UAV-based remote data gathering, UAV mission planning and flight control, data processing and mapping via general GIS, and updating new landmine signatures in the corresponding database. The landmine detection process uses information from the landmine signature database to verify suspicious objects. The results are presented in the form of a probabilistic map, which supports the decision-making process of demining. Conclusion. The proposed approach significantly decreases the time required for landmine detection and mitigates demining risks, which is crucial for dealing with the consequences of war. At present, the concept is being developed in the form of a geoinformation platform research prototype involving an open-source Quantum GIS (QGIS) software system and Python programming language, which is used to create plug-ins for QGIS. The entire landmine remote detection process can be fully automated. Future studies will involve extensive experimental testing and may involve convolutional neural networks (CNN) as a detection mechanism.

According to Rosstat statistics, in recent years there has been a tendency in the Russian Federation to increase the intensity of construction, while both the number of buildings put into operation and their total area are increasing. The assessment of the potential radon hazard of land plots for construction provides the possibility of timely inclusion of the necessary protective (preventive) measures against radon in the design of buildings. This is a legal requirement in cases where the density of radon flux from the ground surface within the building area exceeds the established hygienic standards (action levels). The paper presents a review of Russian and foreign approaches to assessing the potential radon hazard of land plots conducted within the framework of engineering and environmental surveys. The current regulatory requirements to radiation safety indicators of land plots for construction of residential, public and industrial buildings and facilities in the Russian Federation are analyzed. The main drawbacks of the algorithm for determining the potential radon hazard of land plots, used in the current guidelines MU 2.6.1.2398-08 approved at the federal level more than 15 years ago, are described. Critical remarks (the unsuitability of the value of density of radon flux from the ground surface for designing radon protective and mitigation (remedial) measures, lack of consideration of seasonal variations of radon flux density, etc.) accumulated over the years as a result of practical application of these guidelines are presented. Benefits and drawbacks of foreign approaches to assessing the potential radon hazard of the territory based on the results of measurements of radon concentration in soil gas, as well as the very possibility of a transition in Russian regulations from the density of radon flux from the ground surface to the radon concentration in soil gas, are analyzed. Some rational proposals of various Russian research teams on improving the algorithm for determining the potential radon hazard of land plots are considered.

The paper (in two parts) presents an overview of the new guidelines MR 2.6.1.0333-23 (approved on 01 December 2023) that supersede guidelines MU 2.6.1.2838-11, which were used for organizing radiation surveys of residential, public and industrial buildings and facilities and their sanitary assessment in terms of radiation safety indicators over the past 12 years. Due to a large number of critical comments on the document received during this period, a need for significant revision emerged. The scope of the revised document was expanded and now covers all stages of the life cycle of buildings and facilities: commissioning; operation period; overhaul and reconstruction; demolition. In the first part of the paper, the structure and legal status of the new guidelines are considered, as well as the main innovations in terms of measuring the ambient dose equivalent rate of gamma radiation, searching and identifying local radiation anomalies and sites of radioactive contamination, measuring surface contamination levels, and determining the minimum number of premises to be surveyed. The reasons for the introduction of certain changes are outlined. The issues of evaluation of measurement uncertainty, reporting of measurement results and registration of test reports are covered in detail. In the second part of the paper, numerous innovations will be considered in terms of estimating the indoor average annual equilibrium equivalent concentration of radon isotopes.

Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES), two-jet arc plasma atomic emission spectrometry (TJP-AES), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) are among the most informative methods for the quantitative chemical analysis (QCA) of high-purity substances and functional materials, both in the set of analytes and in their limits of detection (LODs). At the same time, the analytical capabilities of QCA methods in their standard version are not always sufficient for determining analytes at a level of 10.sup.-9-10.sup.-7% (ppb and ppt). The use of combined (including the stage of the preconcentration of trace elements) QCA procedures and alternative methods of sample introduction into ICP, which increase the efficiency of using trace element concentrates, makes it possible to reduce the instrumental LODs for analytes by 1-2 orders of magnitude and expand the capabilities of the methods. The presented mini-review examines the results of using the ICP-AES, TJP-AES, and ICP-MS methods for the analysis of high-purity Ge, Cd, Te, Zn with the preconcentration of trace elements by distilling off the matrix of the sample, the use of electrothermal vaporization for introducing samples into plasma sources, and also the use of laser ablation ICP-MS for the analysis of trace element concentrates using the so-called 'thin layer method'., Author(s): N. S. Medvedev [sup.1] , A. I. Saprykin [sup.1] [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.425759.8, 0000 0004 0638 042X, Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy [...]

A comprehensive radiation survey of settlements in six districts of the eastern part of the Orenburg region in terms of exposure to natural sources of ionizing radiation, carried out in 2019, revealed numerous exceedances of the hygienic norm (action level) for indoor radon concentration in residential and public buildings. It was found that among other studied factors, exhalation of radon from the ground under the buildings is the main source of high levels of public exposure. Due to the lack of funding for the continuation of the survey in 2020, specialists of St. Petersburg Research Institute of Radiation Hygiene after Professor P.V. Ramzaev, Directorate of Rospotrebnadzor in the Orenburg region and the Center of Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Orenburg region needed to develop new approaches to survey planning. These new approaches should provide maximum amount of measurement information necessary to ensure radiation safety of the region’s population, with minimal financial investments and labor costs. Indoor radon concentration in residential and public buildings was undoubtedly chosen as the studied factor, and the integrated measurement method using SSNTDs was chosen as the most suitable method for the objectives of the survey due to its scalability and ease of detectors deployment. Since exposure to radon and its progeny is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking, the selection of priority districts of the region for the radon survey was based on average standardized trachea, bronchi, and lung cancer morbidity rates in the districts of the Orenburg region for 2009-2018. The survey conducted in 2020-2023 revealed exceedances of the hygienic norm (action level) for indoor radon concentration in five of seven surveyed districts. By 2025 it is planned to conduct radon surveys in three more districts of the Orenburg region with increased respiratory systems cancer morbidity rates.

The unique redox properties of nanoscale cerium dioxide determine its diverse application in biology and medicine as a regulator of oxidative metabolism. Lipid modifiers of the nanoparticle surface change their biochemical properties and bioavailability. Complexes with lipids can be formed upon contact of the nanoparticles with the membrane. The effects of lipid coating on nanoceria have not been studied yet. Here, we assessed the effect of bare and cardiolipin-coated CeO2 on the expression of oxidative metabolism genes in human embryonic lung fibroblasts. Cell viability, mitochondrial activity, intracellular reactive oxygen species, NOX4, NRF2, and NF-κB expression, oxidative DNA damage/repair, autophagy, and cell proliferation were studied. We used an MTT assay, fluorescence microscopy, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and flow cytometry. At a concentration of 1.5 μM, bare and cardiolipin-coated nanoceria penetrated into cells within 1–3 h. Cell survival, mitochondrial activity, and the proliferative effect were similar for bare and cardiolipin-coated nanoceria. Intracellular ROS, activation of NOX4, NRF2, and NF-kB, DNA oxidative damage, and DNA break/repair were different. Cardiolipin-coated nanoceria induced intracellular oxidative stress and short-term activation of these genes and DNA damage/break/repair. Unlike bare nanoceria, cardiolipin-coated nanoceria induced autophagy. Thus, the effects of cardiolipin-coated nanoceria are determined by both the nanoceria itself and cardiolipin. Presumably, the differences in properties are due to lipid peroxidation of cardiolipin. This effect needs to be taken into account when developing nanoceria-based drugs targeting mitochondria.

This study presents results of radiation-hygienic surveys of the Bryansk Oblast settlements bordering the Republic of Belarus. The data were obtained in the course of implementation of measures of the “Program of joint activities of Russia and Belarus within the framework of the Union State for the protection of the population and rehabilitation of the territories affected by the Chernobyl NPP accident” in 2019–2022. The first part of the study presents a general characteristic of the current state of the problem of returning the residents of radioactively contaminated territories to normal living conditions and provides information on the settlements of the surveyed region. The modern demographic composition of the population is considered; the structure of private subsidiary plots is investigated. The results described in this part of the study indicate the main ways, which are relevant for the formation of the internal exposure dose of the public at the current stage of the radiation accident.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of 225Ac in urine of patients undergoing radionuclide therapy with 225Ac-DOTA-TATE. Activity concentration was determined in the urine samples collected within 72 hours after injection of 225Ac-DOTA-TATE, using the ORTEC semiconductor gamma spectrometer, model TSP-DX-100T-PAC-PKG-1. Calculation of excreted activities was additionally performed based on scintig- raphy scans of patients receiving 225Ac-DOTA-TATE. Scans were conducted 5 times for each patient: immedi- ately after injection, at 4 hours, and on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd days after injection of the radiopharmaceutical. Absolute activity values and fractions of the injected activity were calculated based on the specific activity values. The results of the calculated activity concentration values demonstrate that maximum excretion was observed within the four hours after 225Ac-DOTA-TATE injection. Significant differences between the two methods of determining 225Ac activity were observed only on the third day after radiopharmaceutical injection, which allows for the simplification of future experimental work by using indirect radioactivity measurement methods for activity calculations. There were no significant differences between patient groups with different number of 225Ac-DOTA-TATE injection, which allows for the exclusion of this parameter in the evaluation of experimental results. The results of this study represent the first published experimental data on the determi- nation of actinium excretion in patients.

Author(s): N. S. Medvedev [sup.1] , V. D. Kurbatova [sup.1] [sup.2] , A. I. Saprykin [sup.1] [sup.2] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.425759.8, 0000 0004 0638 042X, Nikolaev Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, [...], A method is proposed for the analysis of trace element concentrates by a thin layer method in combination with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and laser ablation (LA). Trace elements concentrates were evaporated on preliminarily prepared areas of a high-purity silicon substrate, after which an LA-ICP-MS analysis was performed. The influence of the LA parameters and the conditions for recording the spectra on the signal of the analytes and the substrate material was studied. The analytical capabilities of the thin layer method in combination with LA-ICP-MS for the analysis of high-purity substances with the preconcentration of trace elements were evaluated. Using an analysis of high-purity nitric acid as an example, it was shown that the limits of detection for analytes in the LA-ICP-MS analysis of trace element concentrates using the thin layer method are in the range from n x 10.sup.-11 to n x 10.sup.-8 wt %. Thus, the development of combined procedures of analysis, including the preconcentration of trace elements and an analysis of concentrates by LA-ICP-MS, makes it possible to reduce the limits of detection for most analytes by one order of magnitude compared to instrumental ICP-MS analysis.

The results of studies of the formation of operational groundwater reserves in fractured crystalline rocks of the Nemyrivs’ke deposit using mathematical modeling are presented. The choice of this research method is due to the fact that water availability is determined by the nature and degree of rock fracturing. The purpose of the work was to determine the potential opportunities for providing the population of the city of Nemyriv with reliably protected drinking groundwater, including through additional exploration and development of prospective areas identified according to geophysical data. Using the modern hydrogeological model created for the first time, based on the results of solving inverse problems, the hydrogeological parameters of the water exchange system were specified, and the functional correspondence of the created model to natural and anthropogenic conditions was proved. A predictive assessment of operational reserves of drinking groundwater has been carried out and the potential for their possible increase has been shown. The influence of predictive water withdrawal on the environment is assessed and issues related to the quality of drinking groundwaters are considered. The last of the above is very important, based on a certain ecological problem associated with the infiltration of polluted water from ponds on the left bank of the Ustya River, as well as city wastewater discharged into the bypass canal in the area of sanatorium “Avangard”. As a result, the authors recommend conducting groundwater exploration in promising areas upstream of the Ustya River from the city of Nemirov (Nemyrivs’ka and Mukhovets’ka), as well as in the valley of the Pivdennyi Buh River (Buz’ka, Sheludkivs’ka).

The paper presents the estimated doses to the population of six eastern districts of the Orenburg region, Russia, based on the results of a comprehensive radiation survey conducted in 2019 in 34 settlements with previously found elevated levels of activity concentration of natural radionuclides in tap water from groundwater sources of drinking water supply. It is shown that the average individual annual effective dose due to all natural sources of ionizing radiation in 18 of 34 settlements corresponds to ‘elevated level’ of exposure due to natural sources according to established classification (from 5 to 10 mSv/year), and in another 7 settlements to ‘high level’ (over 10 mSv/year) with radon being the main contributor to the dose. Four settlements of Kvarkensky and Adamovsky districts, where the highest indoor radon concentrations had been found, were selected for a detailed survey, which included measurements of density of radon flux from the soil, radon concentration in soil gas, activity concentration of natural radionuclides in samples of building materials and in soil samples, and activity concentration of radon in tap water from groundwater sources of drinking water supply. Results of the detailed survey proved that the main source of radon in the buildings was the soil gas infiltration; compared to it, the contribution of waterborne radon release was insignificant.

The paper presents results of a comprehensive radiation survey conducted in 2019 in six districts of the eastern part of the Orenburg region in 37 settlements with previously found elevated levels of activity concentration of natural radionuclides in tap water from groundwater sources of drinking water supply. The survey included measurements of indoor radon concentrations and EEC in residential and public buildings, as well as measurements of ambient dose equivalent rate of gamma radiation indoors and outdoors. The survey revealed that annual average indoor radon EEC in many residential buildings in 23 settlements and public buildings in 25 settlements exceeded the hygienic norm (action level) of 200 Bq/m3 adopted in Russia for existing buildings. The highest values of annual average indoor radon EEC were obtained in residential buildings in Novovinnitskoe (1242 Bq/m3), Bratslavka (987 Bq/m3) and Anikhovka (942 Bq/m3) in Adamovsky district, and in public buildings in Kvarkeno (2291 Bq/m3) in Kvarkensky district, Karabutak (1114 Bq/m3) and Novovinnitskoe (923 Bq/m3) in Adamovsky district. The established hygienic norms in terms of ambient dose equivalent rate indoors and outdoors were not exceeded in the surveyed settlements. Results of the survey showed that the main reason for high indoor radon concentrations in residential and public buildings in the settlements of the eastern part of the Orenburg region is not related to the usage of tap water from groundwater sources of drinking water supply with elevated levels of activity concentration of natural radionuclides.

This music score was submitted for the Kaleidoscope 2020 Call for Scores, an open access collaboration with the UCLA Music Library.

This music score was submitted for the Kaleidoscope 2020 Call for Scores, an open access collaboration with the UCLA Music Library.

Background. Despite the anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACL-R) is considered to be routine and successful procedure the burden of patients who needs revision surgery is growing worldwide. Purpose to describe the gender and social-demographic characteristics of this cohort of patients, analyze the reasons leading to revision ACL-R (re-ACL-R), estimate survival-ship of primary procedure as well as highlight clinically relative aspects of revision surgery. Methods. The database of Vreden Orthopaedic Center for the period from 01.01.2011 to 31.12.2021 searched for patients admitted for re-ACL-R. 234 patients (257 knees) agreed to take part in the study. Patient records with surgery reports, clinical exams and PROMs were analyzed. Results. There was a tendency to annual increase of re-ACL-R while the time between primary and revision procedures was just 4.0 years in average. Young males dominated among re-ACL-R cohort (75.2%, 31.0 years). The acute trauma prevailed over other reasons of ACL-R failure however, it was absent in 39.1% of cases. Patients who injured performing sports were significantly younger than the rest of the cohort (p = 0.005). Allografts were the most popular choice both for first re-ACL-R (53.0%) and re-revision ACL-R (60.9%). Interestingly that majority of re-ACL-R were performed in one stage while two-staged approach implemented only in 4.3% of cases. Conclusion. The main cause for re-ACL-R is repeated injury but significant percentage of patients develops recurrence of instability without trauma in middle-term period after ACL-R. Therefore to reduce the numbers of re-ACL-R both the proper post-op sport injury prevention program and improvement of surgical technique are of the same importance.

Introduction Reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is one of the most common surgical procedures around the knee. Despite good long-term outcomes in general, thousands of revisions after ACL reconstruction are performed annually in the world due to graft failures, repeated injuries, technical errors, disorders in ligamentization process or inadequate rehabilitation. The aim of the study was to evaluate the current evidence and describe the relevant clinical features of planning and performing revision ACL reconstruction. Materials and methods A search was conducted for English- and Russian-language publications in the electronic databases PubMed and e-LIBRARY for the period from 2000 to 2020 using the keywords: anterior cruciate ligament, ACL, revision, re-reconstruction, re-rupture. Among 572 publications, 107 corresponded to the study topic. Based on the inclusion criteria (more than 50 reported cases; follow-up more than 2 years; homogeneous groups of patients; assessment with knee function scores; application of various imaging options), 31 articles were included in this review. There were no Russian studies that met the above-mentioned criteria. Results and discussion The analysis of the literature identified four clinically relevant features in the treatment of patients with failures of ACL reconstruction: criteria and principles for the implementation of a one- or two-stage approach; additional features of the revision ACL reconstruction; determination of the optimal graft type. Conclusion Most of the revision ACL reconstructions can be performed at one stage, combined with bone grafting if needed. For a successful treatment outcome, in some cases, correction of frontal and sagittal deformity of the lower limb, management of the injury to other knee joint stabilizers, to cartilage or menisci is required. Surgeons’ preferences in the choice of plastic material has shifted to autografts with bone blocks, or allografts, especially if reconstruction of several stabilizers is necessary.

The article deals with the issues of normative and methodological support of radiation survey of buildings and structures to be demolished. It is noted that with the intensive growth of construction of dwellings and public buildings in large cities, former industrial territories with a significant number of facilities to be demolished are being included into the development zone. The radiation monitoring and sorting of industrial waste generated after the demolition of buildings is not feasible in practice. The expediency of radiation survey of buildings and structures to be demolished at the stage preceding their dismantling, as well as the need to develop and approve at the federal level the methodology of its implementation is substantiated. Recommendations for the assessment of radiation safety indicators of buildings and structures to be demolished are given. It is shown that if the value of ambient equivalent gamma dose rate in the buildings and structures to be demolished does not exceed 0.6 μSv/h, industrial waste generated after demolition of buildings and structures and containing only natural radionuclides are not a subject to any restrictions related to the radiation factor, since the value of effective activity concentration of natural radionuclides is guaranteed not to exceed 1500 Bq/kg and therefore the waste is classified as Category I in accordance with the Basic sanitary rules for the provision of radiation safety (OSPORB 99/2010).

The size of iron nanocrystals significantly affects the value of their magnetization. However, an adequate model of the structure of nanocrystalline formations comprising different numbers of iron atoms still does not exist. In this work, spatial models of nanocrystalline iron clusters differing in configuration and the number of their constituent atoms are constructed. Tetrahedrally close-packed cluster assemblies of iron atoms are taken as the basis for the proposed structures of nanocrystals. The spectra of the density of electronic states for the proposed clusters are constructed using the theory of the electron density functional. The calculation was carried out by the method of scattered waves in accordance with the band theory of crystals. The appearance of magnetization in tetrahedral close-packed cluster formations is associated with excited electronic states of atoms located on the surface of the nanocluster. Excited atoms have an increased electron density, that is, electrons are able to transition to states with higher energy, approaching the Fermi energy. In this case, the Stoner criterion necessary for the occurrence of magnetization is fulfilled. The configurations of electrons with spin up and down differ, which is why uncompensated magnetic moments appear. It is shown that the proposed models of iron nanoclusters are in satisfactory agreement with the known experimental data.

A method has been reported for determining of Au and Ag in waters using preliminary sorption concentration of these analytes by microwave exfoliated graphene oxide (GO) and quantitative analysis by two-jet arc plasma atomic emission spectrometry (TJP-AES) and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS). The parameters of sorption of analytes such as duration of sorption and pH were optimized for the preliminary concentration of Au and Ag on various carbon sorbents for subsequent TJP-AES and GFAAS analysis. The sorption properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), multilayer graphene (MLG) and GO such as sorption capacity and surface area were compared. The content of analytes in sorption materials was defined. The results demonstrated that GO provides the best sorption properties and the use of exfoliated GO for preconcentration decreaces the blank signal from nonselective absorption by 10 to 120 times. The limits of detection (LODs) for Au and Ag are 4·10−1 µg L−1 and 8·10−2 µg L−1 by GFAAS and 5 µg L−1 and 2·10−1 µg L−1 by TJP-AES. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unique redox properties of nanoscale cerium dioxide determine its diverse application in biology and medicine as a regulator of oxidative metabolism. Lipid modifiers of the nanoparticle surface change their biochemical properties and bioavailability. Complexes with lipids can be formed upon contact of the nanoparticles with the membrane. The effects of lipid coating on nanoceria have not been studied yet. Here, we assessed the effect of bare and cardiolipin-coated CeO2 on the expression of oxidative metabolism genes in human embryonic lung fibroblasts. Cell viability, mitochondrial activity, intracellular reactive oxygen species, NOX4, NRF2, and NF-κB expression, oxidative DNA damage/repair, autophagy, and cell proliferation were studied. We used an MTT assay, fluorescence microscopy, real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, and flow cytometry. At a concentration of 1.5 μM, bare and cardiolipin-coated nanoceria penetrated into cells within 1–3 h. Cell survival, mitochondrial activity, and the proliferative effect were similar for bare and cardiolipin-coated nanoceria. Intracellular ROS, activation of NOX4, NRF2, and NF-kB, DNA oxidative damage, and DNA break/repair were different. Cardiolipin-coated nanoceria induced intracellular oxidative stress and short-term activation of these genes and DNA damage/break/repair. Unlike bare nanoceria, cardiolipin-coated nanoceria induced autophagy. Thus, the effects of cardiolipin-coated nanoceria are determined by both the nanoceria itself and cardiolipin. Presumably, the differences in properties are due to lipid peroxidation of cardiolipin. This effect needs to be taken into account when developing nanoceria-based drugs targeting mitochondria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]