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Systems implementing artificial intelligence technologies have become widespread due to their effectiveness in solving various applied tasks including computer vision. Image processing through neural networks is also used in securitycritical systems. At the same time, the use of artificial intelligence is associated with characteristic threats including disruption of machine learning models. The phenomenon of triggering an incorrect neural network response by introducing perturbations that are visually imperceptible to a person was first described and attracted the attention of researchers in 2013. Methods of attacks on neural networks based on malicious perturbations have been continuously improved, ways of disrupting the operation of neural networks in processing various types of data and tasks of the target model have been proposed. The threat of disrupting the functioning of neural networks through these attacks has become a significant problem for systems implementing artificial intelligence technologies. Thus, research in the field of countering attacks based on malicious perturbations is very relevant. This article describes current attacks, provides an overview and comparative analysis of such attacks on image processing systems based on artificial intelligence. Approaches to the classification of attacks based on malicious perturbations are formulated. Defense methods against such attacks are considered, their shortcomings are revealed. The limitations of the applied defense methods that reduce the effectiveness of counteraction to attacks are shown. Approaches and practical measures to detect and eliminate harmful disturbances are proposed.

This review provides a comprehensive examination of recent developments in both neurofeedback and brain-computer interface (BCI) within the medical field and rehabilitation. By analyzing and comparing results obtained with various tools and techniques, we aim to offer a systematic understanding of BCI applications concerning different modalities of neurofeedback and input data utilized. Our primary objective is to address the existing gap in the area of meta-reviews, which provides a more comprehensive outlook on the field, allowing for the assessment of the current landscape and developments within the scope of BCI. Our main methodologies include meta-analysis, search queries employing relevant keywords, and a network-based approach. We are dedicated to delivering an unbiased evaluation of BCI studies, elucidating the primary vectors of research development in this field. Our review encompasses a diverse range of applications, incorporating the use of brain-computer interfaces for rehabilitation and the treatment of various diagnoses, including those related to affective spectrum disorders. By encompassing a wide variety of use cases, we aim to offer a more comprehensive perspective on the utilization of neurofeedback treatments across different contexts. The structured and organized presentation of information, complemented by accompanying visualizations and diagrams, renders this review a valuable resource for scientists and researchers engaged in the domains of biofeedback and brain-computer interfaces.

Recent experiments on the detection, imaging, characterization and control of multiple 13C nuclear spins, as well as of individual 13C–13C dimers in diamond using a single nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center as a sensor, along with the impressive progress in increasing the spectral resolution of such sensor (up to sub-Hertz), have created a request for detailed knowledge of all possible spin interactions in the studied systems. Here, we focus on the indirect interaction (J-coupling) of 13C nuclear spins in diamond, which was not previously taken into account in studies of NV centers. Using two different levels of the density functional theory (DFT), we simulated the full tensors nJKL (K, L = X, Y,Z), describing n-bond J-coupling of nuclear spins 13C in H-terminated diamond-like clusters C10H16 (adamantane) and C35H36, as well as in the cluster C33[NV−]H36 hosting the negatively charged NV− center. We found that, in addition to the usually considered isotropic scalar nJ-coupling constant, the anisotropic contributions to the nJ-coupling tensor are essential. We also showed that the presence of the NV center affects the J-coupling characteristics, especially in the case of 13C–13C pairs located near the vacancy of the NV center.

The features of the behavior of steel-plate composite walls for static loads are considered. Based on the analysis of modern technical and regulatory documentation, the rationale for the chosen research topic is given. A review of the literature is performed, and the features of development are noted. A detailed description and features of the experimental structures under study and the materials used are presented. The features of the test are considered, and the test equipment is described. Analytical and numerical calculations of structures for eccentric compression have been performed. The description of the calculation complex and the used models of materials is presented; the description of numerical models, the features of their construction and calculation are given, the results of calculations are presented – stress distributions, deformations, features of cracking. The general types of experimental eccentric compression wall models are presented, the nature of the loss of bearing capacity of experimental structures is described, and a picture of destruction is presented. The analysis of the experimental data obtained and their comparison with analytical and numerical calculations are performed.

Abstract The Chadobets alkaline-carbonatite complex (Siberian craton) is a natural laboratory for all varieties of ultramafic lamprophyres, including damtjernites formed by fluid-explosion mechanisms, which contain a large number of pelletal lapilli. Data obtained from comprehensive mineralogical, structural and chemical studies of these pelletal lapilli show strong similarity with the main magmatic mineral assemblage of damtjernites, suggesting a juvenile composition for them. The composition of phlogopite, carbonate and fluorapatite in pelletal lapilli is mostly constrained toward primitive compositions (beginning) of mineral crystallization trends in ultramafic lamprophyres. According to the petrographic and mineralogical features found in pelletal lapilli from damtjernites, these can be divided into three types based on the conditions and depth of formation. Estimated late magmatic temperatures of pelletal lapilli mica and fluorapatite formation vary from 815 to 990 °C.

Abstract In 2020, an experiment testing AI solutions for lung X-ray analysis on a multi-hospital network was conducted. The multi-hospital network linked 178 Moscow state healthcare centers, where all chest X-rays from the network were redirected to a research facility, analyzed with AI, and returned to the centers. The experiment was formulated as a public competition with monetary awards for participating industrial and research teams. The task was to perform the binary detection of abnormalities from chest X-rays. For the objective real-life evaluation, no training X-rays were provided to the participants. This paper presents one of the top-performing AI frameworks from this experiment. First, the framework used two EfficientNets, histograms of gradients, Haar feature ensembles, and local binary patterns to recognize whether an input image represents an acceptable lung X-ray sample, meaning the X-ray is not grayscale inverted, is a frontal chest X-ray, and completely captures both lung fields. Second, the framework extracted the region with lung fields and then passed them to a multi-head DenseNet, where the heads recognized the patient’s gender, age and the potential presence of abnormalities, and generated the heatmap with the abnormality regions highlighted. During one month of the experiment from 11.23.2020 to 12.25.2020, 17,888 cases have been analyzed by the framework with 11,902 cases having radiological reports with the reference diagnoses that were unequivocally parsed by the experiment organizers. The performance measured in terms of the area under receiving operator curve (AUC) was 0.77. The AUC for individual diseases ranged from 0.55 for herniation to 0.90 for pneumothorax.

Using an experimentally selected extractant for balanced extraction of flavonoids, polysaccharides and polyphenols from bur-marigold herb, calendula flowers and hawthorn leaves and flowers, 3 suitable dry extracts and 1 combined extract in the selected ratio of raw materials were obtained. It was concluded that it was reasonable to standardize the combined herbal extract on the content of flavonoids in terms of luteolin-7-glucoside and content of polyphenols in terms of pyrogallol by UV method and the content of terpenoid compounds, in terms of oleanolic acid by densitometric method. The combined extract at a dose of 30 mg/kg in the model of anaphylactic shock has showed antiallergic activity at the level of tesalin and exceeds diazoline; the ability of the combined extract to reduce the permeability of skin capillaries at the level of the tesalin has established on the model of active cutaneous anaphylaxis and it significantly exceeded diazoline; the combined extract did not differ in membrane-stabilizing properties from the effect of desloratadine and was significantly superior to the reference drugs diazolin and tesalin in the test of indirect degranulation of mast cells. As a result, it was concluded that the mechanism of anti-allergic action of the combined extract is probably associated not only with antihistamine properties but also with the ability to stabilize cell membranes.

The microcalorimetric hydrogen titration technique combined with conventional volumetric measurements has been used to reveal peculiarities of the hydrogenation of the single-phase TiZrVNbTa equiatomic high-entropy alloy. The alloy has been produced in the form of microfibers by the pendent drop melt extraction technique. Palladium coating of the fibers has been applied to enable first hydrogenation at room temperature without additional activation. An analysis of the obtained data allows us to evaluate the dependence of hydrogenation enthalpy on the hydrogen concentration in the alloy. Three concentration ranges, presumably related to the formation of the hydrogen solid solution, monohydride and dihydride phases, have been identified, and the corresponding ΔH values of about −100, −80 and −60 kJ/mol H2, respectively, have been determined.

Sensorimotor integration (SI) brain functions that are vital for everyday life tend to decline in advanced age. At the same time, elderly people preserve a moderate level of neuroplasticity, which allows the brain’s functionality to be maintained and slows down the process of neuronal degradation. Hence, it is important to understand which aspects of SI are modifiable in healthy old age. The current study focuses on an auditory-based SI task and explores: (i) if the repetition of such a task can modify neural activity associated with SI, and (ii) if this effect is different in young and healthy old age. A group of healthy older subjects and young controls underwent an assessment of the whole-brain electroencephalography (EEG) while repetitively executing a motor task cued by the auditory signal. Using EEG spectral power and functional connectivity analyses, we observed a differential age-related modulation of theta activity throughout the repetition of the SI task. Growth of the anterior stimulus-related theta oscillations accompanied by enhanced right-lateralized frontotemporal phase-locking was found in elderly adults. Their young counterparts demonstrated a progressive increase in prestimulus occipital theta power. Our results suggest that the short-term repetition of the auditory-based SI task modulates sensory processing in the elderly. Older participants most likely progressively improve perceptual integration rather than attention-driven processing compared to their younger counterparts.

Experiments show activation of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in motor imagery (MI) tasks, but its functional role requires further investigation. Here, we address this issue by applying repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to the left DLPFC and evaluating its effect on brain activity and the latency of MI response. This is a randomized, sham-controlled EEG study. Participants were randomly assigned to receive sham (15 subjects) or real high-frequency rTMS (15 subjects). We performed EEG sensor-level, source-level, and connectivity analyses to evaluate the rTMS effects. We revealed that excitatory stimulation of the left DLPFC increases theta-band power in the right precuneus (PrecuneusR) via the functional connectivity between them. The precuneus theta-band power negatively correlates with the latency of the MI response, so the rTMS speeds up the responses in 50% of participants. We suppose that posterior theta-band power reflects attention modulation of sensory processing; therefore, high power may indicate attentive processing and cause faster responses.

In this study, we investigated the neural and behavioral mechanisms associated with precision visual-motor control during the learning of sport shooting. We developed an experimental paradigm adapted for naïve individuals and a multisensory experimental paradigm. We showed that in the proposed experimental paradigms, subjects trained well and significantly increased their accuracy. We also identified several psycho-physiological parameters that were associated with shooting outcomes, including EEG biomarkers. In particular, we observed an increase in head-averaged delta and right temporal alpha EEG power before missing shots, as well as a negative correlation between theta-band energies in the frontal and central brain regions and shooting success. Our findings suggest that the multimodal analysis approach has the potential to be highly informative in studying the complex processes involved in visual-motor control learning and may be useful for optimizing training processes.

Abstract A repeated presentation of an item facilitates its subsequent detection or identification, a phenomenon of priming. Priming may involve different types of memory and attention and affects neural activity in various brain regions. Here we instructed participants to report on the orientation of repeatedly presented Necker cubes with high (HA) and low (LA) ambiguity. Manipulating the contrast of internal edges, we varied the ambiguity and orientation of the cube. We tested how both the repeated orientation (referred to as a stimulus factor) and the repeated ambiguity (referred to as a top-down factor) modulated neuronal and behavioral response. On the behavioral level, we observed higher speed and correctness of the response to the HA stimulus following the HA stimulus and a faster response to the right-oriented LA stimulus following the right-oriented stimulus. On the neuronal level, the prestimulus theta-band power grew for the repeated HA stimulus, indicating activation of the neural networks related to attention and uncertainty processing. The repeated HA stimulus enhanced hippocampal activation after stimulus onset. The right-oriented LA stimulus following the right-oriented stimulus enhanced activity in the precuneus and the left frontal gyri before the behavioral response. During the repeated HA stimulus processing, enhanced hippocampal activation may evidence retrieving information to disambiguate the stimulus and define its orientation. Increased activation of the precuneus and the left prefrontal cortex before responding to the right-oriented LA stimulus following the right-oriented stimulus may indicate a match between their orientations. Finally, we observed increased hippocampal activation after responding to the stimuli, reflecting the encoding stimulus features in memory. In line with the large body of works relating the hippocampal activity with episodic memory, we suppose that this type of memory may subserve the priming effect during the repeated presentation of ambiguous images.

New experimental data have been obtained on the strength and deformation characteristics of heavy concrete o strength classes B30-B100 (strength from 36.2 to 115.1 MPa), prepared from self-compacting mixtures using crushed stone from various dense rocks as a coarse aggregate - granite, basalt and gabbro-diabase, as well as crushed stone from gravel. It has been established that the values of the compressive strength of concrete "Rbn" (prism strength) are 24% higher than the normalized indicators given in Table 6.7 of the current set of Building Code of the Russian Federation SP 63.13330.2018. For high-strength concrete on crushed granite of strength classes from B70 to B100, the values of the static modulus of elasticity Eb, which largely determines the stiffness of reinforced concrete structures, exceed by 5-14% the values given in Table 6.11 of SP 63.13330.2018. At the same time, the use of gabbro-diabase or basalt crushed stone as a coarse aggregate instead of granite does not affect the strength and Poison’s ratio. However, this allows increasing the static modulus of elasticity of concrete by 9 and 19%, respectively. The values of the dynamic modulus of elasticity of heavy concrete are in the range from 41.1 to 60.4 GPa and exceed the static modulus of elasticity of concrete by 2.2-5.3 GPa depending on the classes of concrete. The paper shows the possibility of using a less time-consuming method for monitoring the values of the static modulus of elasticity of concrete in structures by determining the dynamic modulus using the calibration dependence Eb - Ed. The obtained results indicate that the real potential of high-strength concretes is not fully used in structures designed in accordance with normative characteristics Rbn and Eb provided for by SP 63.13330.2018. The actual values of these characteristics are higher and can be controlled by technological tricks.

High cost and significant power absorption do not allow exploiting modern active control strategies for improving vehicle suspension performance. Meanwhile, the semi-active control policies are not able to overcome a weighted unsprung adverse effect, which represents a cornerstone of the implementation in-wheel motors for a new type of electric vehicle. This paper discusses and analyses the implementation of a proposed energy-harvesting based tuned mass damper (TMD) to be implemented in electric vehicles. In this manner, a full vehicle suspension model embedded with four TMDs was created to simultaneously enhance the car comfort and road-holding responses with a corresponding large-scale energy harvesting. In the proposed 11-DOFs (degrees-of-freedom) vehicle model, the full-vehicle body was suspended using suspension systems, including the compacted back-iron based design of an electromagnetic TMD. The performed simulations indicated the considerable advantage and potentialities of using the TMDs based suspension. In terms of the RMS (root-mean-square), the car body acceleration was reduced by 21.7%, while the road-holding was enhanced by 5.7%. Moreover, the proposed regenerative electromagnetic tuned mass damper (ETMD) allows for harvesting vibration energy up to 58 W for a vehicle driven on a road class D and a speed of 30 m/s.

The weed Solidago canadensis L. poses a global threat to the environment as it spreads uncontrollably on roadsides, in forests, fields, meadows, and farmland. Goldenrod emits toxic substances that suppress other plants on the site, displacing wild ones. Thus, goldenrod conquers huge areas very quickly. The use of herbicides and mechanical methods does not solve the problem of the spontaneous spread of goldenrod. On the other hand, many scientists consider goldenrod as a valuable source of biologically active substances: flavonoids, phenolic compounds, vitamins, etc. In this study, we consider Solidago plants as a promising, free (cheap), and renewable substrate for the production of methane gas. The goal of the study was to identify the main patterns of degradation of the Solidago canadensis L. plant by methane-producing and sulfate-reducing bacteria with methane gas production and simultaneous detoxification of toxic copper. The composition of the gas phase was monitored by gas chromatography. The pH and redox potential parameters were determined potentiometrically; metal concentrations were measured by photometry. The concentration of flavonoids, sugars and phenolic compounds in plant biomass was determined according to well-known protocols. As a result of the study, high efficiencies of methane degradation in the Solidago plant and copper detoxification were obtained. Methane yield has reached the value of 68.2 L kg−1 TS of Solidago canadensis L. biomass. The degradation coefficient (Kd) was also high at 21.4. The Cu(II) was effectively immobilized by methanogens and sulfate reducers during the goldenrod degradation at the initial concentrations of 500 mg L−1. Thus, a new method of beneficial application of invasive plants was presented. The result confirms the possibility of using methanogenic microorganisms to produce methane gas from invasive weeds and detoxification of toxic metals.

In this work, composites based on a hydride-forming fiber of a multi-principal-component (MPC) Ti20Zr20Nb20V20Hf20 alloy, carbosil, dicumylperoxide and nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) matrix were obtained. The composites were prepared in a three-stage process including the mixing of elastomeric compounds via a rubber mixing mill and low-temperature vulcanization by heat pressing. Using dynamical mechanical analysis (DMA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) the effect of the metallic filler on the process of carbonization of the composite elastomeric matrix was studied. The microstructure and gas separation properties of the resulting composites were also studied. The results showed that the filler content increase in the elastomeric matrix leads to a noticeable and gradual decrease in the activation energy of the carbonization process, reduces the temperature of this process, and accelerates the growth of the elastic modulus during carbonization. It was shown that the finely dispersed fiber of the MPC acts as an activation center for the process of thermal-oxidative degradation in the elastomeric matrix accompanying the onset of carbonization. The gas permeability values were found to be relatively low and no visible correlation with the MPC alloy content in the composite membrane was observed.

The control of harmonic machine-induced vibration has been a common task in the engineering scope. The passive tuned mass dampers represent the most reliable and practical approach to reduce such excessive vibration. Additionally, different control strategies can be implemented on TMDs to improve the attenuation performance further. However, most of the proposed control strategies for TMDs represent cost and complex systems with many sensors, which hinders the broad implementation. In this paper, the frequency-based semiactive control (FBC) strategy was proposed for an electromagnetic tuned mass damper (ETMD). The concept of a controllable system with switched transistor was utilized for the proposed control strategy. The proposed control policy's effectiveness was validated by experimental results, where the controlled ETMD was applied on a protected mass test bench. This paper concluded that the proposed control strategy has a significant advantage over the passive TMD. The reduction of 14% of the excessive harmonic vibration for the protected structure was observed.

With this review, we summarize the state-of-the-art of scientific studies in the field of motor imagery (MI) and motor execution (ME). We composed the brain map and description that correlate different brain areas with the type of movements it is responsible for. That gives a more complete and systematic picture of human brain functionality in the case of ME and MI. We systematized the most popular methods for assessing the quality of MI performance and discussed their advantages and disadvantages. We also reviewed the main directions for the use of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) in MI research and considered the principal effects of TMS on MI performance. In addition, we discuss the main applications of MI, emphasizing its use in the diagnostics of various neurodegenerative disorders and psychoses. Finally, we discuss the research gap and possible improvements for further research in the field.

The paper presents the setting of the problem of optimal ordering of conflicting objects related to the Travelling Salesman Problem (TSP). The problem of optimal ordering of conflicting objects appears in sociology, in graph analysis and finding in them optimal paths, in advertising in various media. Solution algorithms are described for this and related problems. The TSP with sparse matrix is also considered. For sparse practice cases of the TSP necessary and sufficient conditions are proved to objective function attained its minimum and the algorithms guaranteeing exact solution are constructed. The practical results of analytical and numerical investigations of algorithm complexity and solution accuracy are presented as well as recommendations for the algorithm applications to the solution of these problems.

In order to solve the problems associated with the express registration of the presence of biologically active substances in callus biomass, we propose the use of cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) with a spiral structure as a material of a sensitive element of optical sensor of flavonoids. Cholesteric liquid crystal BLO62 is proposed to use as a sensitive element. Spectral characteristics of alcohol solutions of flavonoids (20%, 40%, 70% and 90%) were obtained. The interaction of CLC with quercetin was analyzed. The scheme of the primary information signal converter is developed in which the current from the photodetector is transmitted to the developed signal converter. The device is implemented with the common use Atmega 328 microcontroller manufactured by Atmel. Speciality of this structural scheme is its flexibility and versatility, which makes it easy to reconfigure the parameters of the firmware for the registration of various types of investigated mediums.

Neuroinflammation is an integral part of epilepsy pathogenesis and other convulsive conditions, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) present a potent tool for the contemporary search and design of novel anticonvulsants. In the present paper, evaluation of the anticonvulsant activity of the potential NSAID dual COX-2/5-LOX inhibitor darbufelone methanesulfonate using an scPTZ model in mice in dose 100 mg/kg is reported. Darbufelone possesses anticonvulsant properties in the scPTZ model and presents interest for in-depth studies as a possible anticonvulsant multi-target agent with anti-inflammatory activity. The series of 4-thiazolidinone derivatives have been synthesized following the analogue-based drug design and hybrid-pharmacophore approach using a darbufelone matrix. The synthesized derivatives showed a significant protection level for animals in the scPTZ model and are promising compounds for the design of potential anticonvulsants with satisfactory drug-like parameters.

We experimentally and theoretically investigated the effects of ionizing radiation on a stack of graphene sheets separated by polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) slabs. The exceptional absorption ability of such a heterostructure in the THz range makes it promising for use in a graphene-based THz bolometer to be deployed in space. A hydrogen/carbon ion beam was used to simulate the action of protons and secondary ions on the device. We showed that the graphene sheets remain intact after irradiation with an intense 290 keV ion beam at the density of 1.5 × 1012 cm−2. However, the THz absorption ability of the graphene/PMMA multilayer can be substantially suppressed due to heating damage of the topmost PMMA slabs produced by carbon ions. By contrast, protons do not have this negative effect due to their much longer mean free pass in PMMA. Since the particles’ flux at the geostationary orbit is significantly lower than that used in our experiments, we conclude that it cannot cause tangible damage of the graphene/PMMA based THz absorber. Our numerical simulations reveal that, at the geostationary orbit, the damaging of the graphene/PMMA multilayer due to the ions bombardment is sufficiently lower to affect the performance of the graphene/PMMA multilayer, the main working element of the THz bolometer, which remains unchanged for more than ten years.

This is a continuation of the authors’ previous study of the geometric characterizations of the preduals of injective Banach lattices. We seek the properties of the unit ball of a Banach space which make the space isometric or isomorphic to an injective Banach lattice. The study bases on the Boolean valued transfer principle for injective Banach lattices. The latter states that each such lattice serves as an interpretation of an AL-space in an appropriate Boolean valued model of set theory. External identification of the internal Boolean valued properties of the corresponding AL-spaces yields a characterization of injective Banach lattices among Banach spaces and ordered Banach spaces. We also describe the structure of the dual space and present some dual characterization of injective Banach lattices.

An attempt to reveal the mechanisms of scale inhibition with the use of two different fluorescent-tagged antiscalants at once is undertaken. To reach the goal, a novel 1,8-naphthalimide-tagged polyacrylate (PAA-F2) is synthesized and tested separately and jointly with 1,8-naphthalimide-tagged bisphosphonate (HEDP-F) as a gypsum scale inhibitor within the frames of NACE Standard TM0374-2007. Here, it is found that at a dosage of 10 mg·dm−3 it provides a much higher inhibition efficiency (96%) than HEDP-F (32%). A PAA-F2 and HEDP-F blend (1:1 mass) has an intermediate efficacy (66%) and exhibits no synergism relative to its individual components. The visualization of PAA-F2 revealed a paradoxical effect: an antiscalant causes modification of the CaSO4·2H2O crystals habit, but does not interact with them, forming particles of its own solid complex [Ca-PAA-F2]. This paradox is interpreted in terms of the “nano/microdust” concept, prioritizing the bulk heterogeneous nucleation step, while an ability of the scale inhibitor to block the nucleus growth at the next steps is proven to be of secondary importance. At the same time, HEDP-F does not change the gypsum crystals morphology, although this antiscalant is completely located on the surface of the scale phase. The PAA-F2 and HEDP-F blend revealed an accumulation of both antiscalants in their own [Ca-PAA-F2/Ca-HEDP-F] phase with some traces of HEDP-F and PAA-F2 on the CaSO4·2H2O crystals surface. Thus, the visualization of two different antiscalants separately and jointly applied to gypsum deposition demonstrates differences in phosphonic and polymeric inhibitors location, and a lack of causal relationship between antiscalant efficiency and scale particle habit modification. Finally, it is shown that the confocal microscopy of several fluorescent antiscalant blends is capable of providing unique information on their interrelationships during scale deposition.

In the article the author examines the legal framework of economical cooperation between Ukraine and Latvia. Extracts basic and promising areas of economical cooperation between two countries. Analyzes future of economical cooperation. Emphasizes the importance of economic cooperation, which is a promising direction for Ukraine. Experience of Latvia should be used in their own economic transformations to let this process be successful.

A relative ability of industrial samples of four phosphorus-free polymers (polyaspartate (PASP); polyepoxysuccinate (PESA); polyacrylic acid sodium salt (PAAS); copolymer of maleic and acrylic acid (MA-AA)) and of three phosphonates (aminotris(methylenephosphonic acid), ATMP; 1-hydroxyethane-1,1-bis(phosphonic acid), HEDP; phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid, PBTC) to inhibit calcium sulfate precipitation is studied following the NACE Standard along with dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. For the 0.5 mg·dm−3 dosage, the following efficiency ranking was found: MA-AA~ATMP>PESA (400–1500 Da)>PASP (1000–5000 Da) ≫ PAAS (3000–5000 Da)~PBTC~HEDP. The isolated crystals are identified as gypsum. SEM images for PESA, PASP, PAAS, and HEDP and for a blank sample indicated the needle-like crystal morphology. Surprisingly, the least effective reagent PBTC revealed quite a different behavior, changing the morphology of gypsum crystals to an irregular shape. The DLS experiments exhibited a formation of 300 to 700 nm diameter particles with negative ζ-potential around −2 mV for all reagents. Although such ζ-potential values are not capable of providing colloidal stability, all three phosphonates demonstrate significant gypsum particles stabilization relative to a blank experiment.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is able to non-invasively treat and diagnose various cancers and nonmalignant diseases by combining light, oxygen, and photosensitizers (PSs). However, the application of PDT is hindered by poor water solubility and limited light-penetration depth of the currently available photosensitizers (PSs). Water solubility of PSs is crucial for designing pharmaceutical formulation and administration routes. Wavelength of light source at visible range normally has therapeutic depth less than 1 mm. In this review, focus is on the recent research progress of metal-based nanoparticles being applied in PDT. The potential toxicity of these nanoscales and future directions are further discussed.

We test whether the phenotypic variance of symbionts (Symbiodinium) in corals is closely related with the capacity of corals to acclimatize to increasing seawater temperatures. Moreover, we assess whether more specialist symbionts will increase within coral hosts under ocean warming. The present study is only applicable to those corals that naturally have the capacity to support more than one type of Symbiodinium within the lifetime of a colony; for example, Montastraea annularis and Montastraea faveolata.The population dynamics of competing Symbiodinium symbiont populations were projected through time in coral hosts using a novel, discrete time optimal-resource model. Models were run for two Atlantic Ocean localities. Four symbiont populations, with different environmental optima and phenotypic variances, were modeled to grow, divide, and compete in the corals under seasonal fluctuations in solar insolation and seawater temperature. Elevated seawater temperatures were input into the model 1.5 degrees C above the seasonal summer average, and the symbiont population response was observed for each location. The models showed dynamic fluctuations in Symbiodinium populations densities within corals. Population density predictions for Lee Stocking Island, the Bahamas, where temperatures were relatively homogenous throughout the year, showed a dominance of both type 2, with high phenotypic variance, and type 1, a high-temperature and high-insolation specialist. Whereas the densities of Symbiodinium types 3 and 4, a high-temperature, low-insolation specialist, and a high-temperature, low-insolation generalist, remained consistently low. Predictions for Key Largo, Florida, where environmental conditions were more seasonally variable, showed the coexistence of generalists (types 2 and 4) and low densities of specialists (types 1 and 3). When elevated temperatures were input into the model, population densities in corals at Lee Stocking Island showed an emergence of high-temperature specialists. However, even under high temperatures, corals in the Florida Keys were dominated by generalists.Predictions at higher seawater temperatures showed endogenous shuffling and an emergence of the high-temperature Symbiodinium specialists, even though their phenotypic variance was low. The model shows that sustaining these "hidden" specialists becomes advantageous under thermal stress conditions, and shuffling symbionts may increase the corals' capacity to acclimatize but not adapt to climatechange-induced ocean warming.

The European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) provides an ideal framework to establish multi-disciplinary research networks. COST Action BM1203 (EU-ROS) represents a consortium of researchers from different disciplines who are dedicated to providing new insights and tools for better understanding redox biology and medicine and, in the long run, to finding new therapeutic strategies to target dysregulated redox processes in various diseases. This report highlights the major achievements of EU-ROS as well as research updates and new perspectives arising from its members. The EU-ROS consortium comprised more than 140 active members who worked together for four years on the topics briefly described below. The formation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) is an established hallmark of our aerobic environment and metabolism but RONS also act as messengers via redox regulation of essential cellular processes. The fact that many diseases have been found to be associated with oxidative stress established the theory of oxidative stress as a trigger of diseases that can be corrected by antioxidant therapy. However, while experimental studies support this thesis, clinical studies still generate controversial results, due to complex pathophysiology of oxidative stress in humans. For future improvement of antioxidant therapy and better understanding of redox-associated disease progression detailed knowledge on the sources and targets of RONS formation and discrimination of their detrimental or beneficial roles is required. In order to advance this important area of biology and medicine, highly synergistic approaches combining a variety of diverse and contrasting disciplines are needed., (Copyright © 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)