VZV in biopsy-positive and -negative giant cell arteritis: Analysis of 100+ temporal arteries

Objective: Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection may trigger the inflammatory cascade that characterizes giant cell arteritis (GCA). Methods: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded GCA-positive temporal artery (TA) biopsies (50 sections/TA) including adjacent skeletal muscle and normal TAs obtained postmortem from subjects >50 years of age were examined by immunohistochemistry for presence and distribution of VZV antigen and by ultrastructural examination for virions. Adjacent regions were examined by hematoxylin & eosin staining. VZV antigen–positive slides were analyzed by PCR for VZV DNA. Results: VZV antigen was found in 61/82 (74%) GCA-positive TAs compared with 1/13 (8%) normal TAs (p < 0.0001, relative risk 9.67, 95% confidence interval 1.46, 63.69). Most GCA-positive TAs contained viral antigen in skip areas. VZV antigen was present mostly in adventitia, followed by media and intima. VZV antigen was found in 12/32 (38%) skeletal muscles adjacent to VZV antigen–positive TAs. Despite formalin fixation, VZV DNA was detected in 18/45 (40%) GCA-positive VZV antigen–positive TAs, in 6/10 (60%) VZV antigen–positive skeletal muscles, and in one VZV antigen–positive normal TA. Varicella-zoster virions were found in a GCA-positive TA. In sections adjacent to those containing VZV, GCA pathology was seen in 89% of GCA-positive TAs but in none of 18 adjacent sections from normal TAs. Conclusions: Most GCA-positive TAs contained VZV in skip areas that correlated with adjacent GCA pathology, supporting the hypothesis that VZV triggers GCA immunopathology. Antiviral treatment may confer additional benefit to patients with GCA treated with corticosteroids, although the optimal antiviral regimen remains to be determined

Evolutionary algorithms for scheduling operations

While business process automation is proliferating through industries and processes, operations such as job and crew scheduling are still performed manually in the majority of workplaces. The linear programming techniques are not capable of automated production of a job or crew schedule within a reasonable computation time due to the massive sizes of real-life scheduling problems. For this reason, AI solutions are becoming increasingly popular, specifically Evolutionary Algorithms (EAs). However, there are three key limitations of previous studies researching application of EAs for the solution of the scheduling problems. First of all, there is no justification for the selection of a particular genetic operator and conclusion about their effectiveness. Secondly, the practical efficiency of such algorithms is unknown due to the lack of comparison with manually produced schedules. Finally, the implications of real-life implementation of the algorithm are rarely considered. This research aims at addressing all three limitations. Collaborations with DBSchenker,the rail freight carrier, and Garnett-Dickinson, the printing company,have been established. Multi-disciplinary research methods including document analysis, focus group evaluations, and interviews with managers from different levels have been carried out. A standard EA has been enhanced with developed within research intelligent operators to efficiently solve the problems. Assessment of the developed algorithm in the context of real life crew scheduling problem showed that the automated schedule outperformed the manual one by 3.7% in terms of its operating efficiency. In addition, the automatically produced schedule required less staff to complete all the jobs and might provide an additional revenue opportunity of £500 000. The research has also revealed a positive attitude expressed by the operational and IT managers towards the developed system. Investment analysis demonstrated a 41% return rate on investment in the automated scheduling system, while the strategic analysis suggests that this system can enable attainment of strategic priorities. The end users of the system, on the other hand, expressed some degree of scepticism and would prefer manual methods

Methodological approach to assessing the competitiveness of the region's manufacturing sector

The relevance of the article lies in the need to increase the level of global competitiveness of Russian regions. Russia is facing the challenge of advanced development in order to move from import substitution to the expansion of non-resource non-energy exports. This means that it is necessary to move away from understanding competitiveness as a competition between regions. In modern conditions, the competitive economy of the region means the ability to provide domestic and foreign markets with products from manufacturing industries. This aspect requires a revision of the usual methods of assessing the competitiveness of the regional economy towards shifting the focus to understanding changes in the localization of manufacturing industries and the export specialization of the region. The objective of the study is to develop a methodological approach to assessing the competitiveness of manufacturing sector from the perspective of regional trade opportunities in global markets. The main hypothesis of the study is the assumption that the level of competitiveness and the use of competitive advantages of the region is characterized by the degree of localization, comparative advantages and export specialization. To achieve the objective of the study, the paper presents a methodological approach that includes three stages: an assessment of the localization index by types of economic activity in the manufacturing industry, an assessment of the comparative advantages and export specialization of the region for certain types of products, and the development of a typology based on changes in localization and export of products. The peculiarity and novelty of the proposed methodological approach is to take into account not only changes in the localization of industry, but also the export of certain types of products manufactured by enterprises localized in the region. This approach can be extended to other types of economic activity. In addition, the degree of detail can be increased according to the commodity nomenclature of foreign economic activity. The results of the study made it possible to confirm the decrease in the level of technological dependence in the regions, since, compared to others, the geography of specializations in the production of electronic equipment and mechanical engineering is expanding at the fastest pace. The pattern is confirmed that regions with a higher level of specialization are more successful in exports than the national average. It has been revealed that regions with relatively small production and export scales can still be more competitive in foreign markets and less dependent on imports than regions with large production facilities, since they use the existing industrial potential more fully and effectively. The proposed methodological approach allowed us to offer recommendations on strengthening competitiveness for each of the four types of regions. The advantages and novelty of the proposed methodological approach lie in the most complete assessment of the region's use of competitive advantages in the global market. The theoretical value lies in identifying the actualization of the methodological apparatus for assessing regional competitiveness. The practical value lies in the possibility of using the results obtained for management decisions on the development of specialization in the regions and the development of support measures to ensure technological sovereignty. The directions of further research are related to detailing the product groups in which regions can increase the level of competitiveness and to expanding the geography of exports

Оценка коллатеральной активности CRISPR/Cas13a-рибонуклеазы на биоанализаторе Agilent 2100

The paper describes an original technique for detecting the collateral activity of CRISPR/Cas 13a ribonuclease based on the assessment of ribosomal RNA degradation. The Agilent 2100 bioanalyzer is used as an analyzing device. This approach is an alternative to existing detection methods and has a number of advantages over them in the case when a quantitative assessment of activity is not required. On the example of the test sample, the optimal concentrations and ratios of the components of the reaction mixture, which are necessary to obtain the most indicative result, were determined. The proposed technique can be used for qualitative assessment of the activity of recombinant ribonuclease Cas13a preparations obtained under different conditions of heterologous protein expression and purification, as well as for testing guide RNAs.В работе описывается оригинальная методика детекции коллатеральной активности CRISPR/Cas13a-рибонуклеазы, основанная на оценке деградации рибосомальной РНК. В качестве анализирующего прибора используется биоанализатор Agilent 2100. Данный подход является альтернативой существующим методам детекции и имеет ряд преимуществ по сравнению с ними в том случае, когда не требуется количественная оценка активности. На примере тестового образца определены оптимальные концентрации и соотношения компонентов реакционной смеси, необходимые для получения наиболее показательного результата. Предлагаемая методика может быть использована для качественной оценки активности препаратов рекомбинантной рибонуклеазы Cas13а, полученных при разных условиях гетерологической экспрессии белка и его очистки, а также для тестирования направляющих РНК

Structure and deformation characteristics in magnesium alloy ZK51A reinforced with AlN nanoparticles

The aim of this work was to study the influence of nanoparticles of aluminum nitride on the structure and mechanical properties of magnesium alloy. We examine the resulting magnesium alloys. The experiment consisted in the introduction into the melt of magnesium aluminum nitride powder in an amount of 0.75 and 1.5%. Introduction of nanoparticles into the molten metal was carried out by external vibration exposure. Studies were carried out of aluminum nitride powder, comprising X-ray diffraction analysis to study the morphology using electron microscopy. Introduction of nanoparticles in the alloy increases the pore volume space from 5 to 15% and increased average pore size from 8 to 30 µm. It was shown that the presence of the nanoparticles in an amount of 1.5% increases the alloy properties by more than 30% compared with the reference (non-particulate) alloy. We were obtained diagrams such as stress - strain. It was also carried out studies of the structure and X-ray analysis of the alloys obtained

Export of Medical Devices and Industry Integration of Russian Regions in the Context of Covid-19

The sudden and severe outbreak of Covid-19 has both challenged the world economy and created new opportunities to address the problem of domestic production, integration and export growth in Russia. The study aims to identify the characteristics of medical exports and assess the integration of individual Russian regions in the context of a pandemic. To this end, we analyse the volume and geography of medical devices exports in 40 Russian regions exporting  to prevent the spread of new coronavirus infections. Characteristics of medical exports and sectoral integration in conditions of pandemic risks were identified. Exports of Covid-19 medical devices are highly concentrated in a small number of Russian regions. The development of export-oriented medical devices accelerated due to the intensification of existing production capacities as well as the involvement of related sectors in the value chain. Additionally, non-economic factors (threats to life and health of nations) are becoming increasingly important in international trade in the short term.  The research highlights the high adaptation of Russian local producers to the needs of the world and domestic economy. Moreover, an increase in exports simultaneously allowed Russia to satisfy the domestic demand for medical devices for preventing and controlling the spread of coronavirus. The sector development requires the strengthening of export support institutions both in the major regions exporting Covid-19 medical devices and in the regions where this industry is still in its infancy but has already shown steady growth. Future research can focus on studying export trends of medical devices in the face of viral risks, as well as expanding the context to include strategies for the integration of Russian regions into global economic relations, considering sectoral specificities and the geostrategic situation

Regularities in the structure and properties formation of aluminum-based composites during hot pressing

The purpose of this study is to investigate the phase composition, parameters of fine crystalline structure and mechanical properties of aluminum-based composites, produced by hot pressing with different synthesis temperatures and isothermal times. For synthesis of composites we used powder mixture of aluminum (particles size 700 nm) and carbon powder in a form of nanodiamonds (size 4 nm). It has been shown that after hot press processing a nanophase (crystallites size 25 nm) of aluminum carbide was formed. Regardless of the synthesis temperature for the maximum holding time of powder mixtures, the density of hot-pressed compacts is about 2.2-2.37 g/cm3. In particular, the value of bending strength of composite samples with a density of 2.37 g/cm3 ranges from 350 to 480 MPa. In the nonporous state, the bending strength of the composites may reach 920 MPa