Factor analysis of dynamics of forest productivity as a strategy tool of forest growing

Forest Fund of the Republic of Belarus has undeniable national value. Basis for the formation of a rational age structure of plantations should be an analysis of the dynamics of forest productivity – one of the steps of determining the effectiveness of forest management. The article presents the factor analysis of average stock forested area, and the results indicate that the main factor influencing the productivity of species composition, is the productivity of individual species and the redistribution of specific gravity of areas with tree species according to age classes (structural changes)

Prolonged antimicrobial activity of PMMA bone cement with embedded gentamicin-releasing silica nanocarriers

Antibiotic laden bone cements are regularly employed to prevent infections after joint replacement surgeries. We have developed silica nanocarriers loaded with gentamicin as a drug delivery system to be dispersed in poly methyl-methacrylate (PMMA) bone cement for controlling and extending the release of the antibiotic from bone cements, thus proving a prolonged antimicrobial activity. Layer-by-layer self-assembly was used to deposit gentamicin between alginate layers and two different poly β-amino esters on the silica nanoparticles. The release of gentamicin from PMMA bone cement containing silica nanocarriers continued for about 30 days compared to 6 days when the same amount of antibiotic was added as a pure powder (as in commercial formulations); moreover, the medium containing the released antimicrobial drug was capable of preventing the growth of numerous bacteria species responsible for prosthetic joint infections (both catalogue strains and clinical isolates) for longer periods of time than in the case of commercial formulations, thus confirming the extended antimicrobial properties of the drug once released from the carrier. No detrimental effects toward human osteoblasts were also observed; moreover, bone cement material characteristics such as curing time, water uptake, and mechanical properties were unaffected when the silica nanocarriers were added

The Place of the EAEU in the World-System

The relevance of international integration issues stems from the tendency of similar economic systems to unite in order to achieve mutually beneficial effects against the background of deglobalisation processes that have become an integral part of the capitalist world in recent decades. The tense geopolitical situation affecting the whole world against the backdrop of the international trade crisis calls into question the further hegemony of the Western world in the context of non-equivalent capital exchange. One of the approaches to analyse the effectiveness of the established global way of doing business is the worldsystem. This study examines the Eurasian Economic Union through the prism of the worldsystem approach. The aim of the research is to identify problems and possible prospects for the development of integration in the context of the world-system. In addition, research considers the issues of mutual investment and labour migration in the EAEU member states, reveals the specifics of the economy of the Union, points out the existing problems facing it and the possible ways to solve these problems in order to further develop integration processes between the member states

A galvanic-chemical method for preparing diamond containing coatings

The formation of a diamonds containing coating on the surface of tools is a way of increasing hardness and wearability of the working surfaces. We have developed a new process to prepare these composite coating. The surface is initially wetted with copper sulphate solution and then diamonds powder is sprayed onto the surface. Upon subsequent exposure to gaseous phosphine, a surface layer of solid copper phosphide, firmly holding the diamond particles, is formed. Copper phosphide has sufficient electrical conductivity, allowing conventional metal electro-plating. The effect of process parameters such as duration of the exposure to phosphine gas, concentration of the CuSO4 solution and thickness of the electro-deposited copper layer have been investigated and the surface roughness of the prepared samples increased about 50 BHN (Brinell hardness number)

Clinical and immunophenotypic aspects of common variable immunodeficiency in adults

Features of expression of differentiation markers of peripheral blood lymphocytes were studied by flow cytofluorimetry in combination with clinical manifestations in 30 adult patients (12 men and 18 women, mean age 37.5±12.3 years) with the established diagnosis of сommon variable immunodeficiency (CVID). The examination of patients was carried out in the period of obvious absence of infectious and inflammatory diseases. It was found that the dominant immunophenotype in adult patients with СVID is an increase in the blood content of T cytotoxic lymphocytes (CD3+CD8+) with high expression of activation markers HLA- DR+ and CD38+ and a decrease in isotype-switched B lymphocytes IgD-27+ (in almost 100% of the examined individuals). The maximum degree of increase in the number of T killers was observed in patients with a low level of B lymphocytes (CD19+ less than 6%, p = 0.005) and a minimum concentration of IgG in the blood serum (less than 2 g/l, p = 0.02). The content of isotype-switched B cells correlated with the level of IgG, as well as the total concentration of serum immunoglobulins A, M and G (p = 0.02; p = 0.003). In adult СVID patients with the combined clinical phenotype “infectious syndrome + autoimmune disease”, the content of isotype-switched B lymphocytes, IgG and the total concentration of Ig in the blood is significantly lower (p = 0.04; p = 0.03 and p = 0.02), and activated T killers with HLA-DR+ and CD38+ expression are higher (p% = 0.01; rabs = 0.02 and p% = 0.004; rabs = 0.001, respectively) compared to patients with isolated infectious – inflammatory syndrome. We also found that among patients with the lowest number of isotype-switched IgD- 27+ B cells (less than 5%) and serum IgG concentration (less than 2 g/l), the incidence of lymphoproliferative syndrome is higher (p = 0.04 and p = 0.01, respectively). Thus, the low content of isotype-switched memory B lymphocytes in peripheral blood is most characteristic of patients with a more severe clinical phenotype of СVID

A cylindrical silicon-on-insulator microdosimeter: charge collection characteristics

A novel silicon-on-insulator microdosimeter for estimating the radiobiolgical effectiveness (RBE) of a mixed radiation field is presented. An ion beam induced charge collection study has confirmed the microdosimeter possesses well defined micron sized 3D cylindrical sensitive volumes. An array of these SVs has the capabilitiy of studying the track structure of high energy heavy ions typical of a deep space environment

Experience of the psychiatric and psychotherapy services of an infectious hospital in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

The article reflects the results of the work of the psychiatric and psychotherapy services of the Hospital for war veterans converted into an infectious hospital in the context of the new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) pandemic. The aim of our study was to determine the frequency and nature of mental disorders in patients treated in hospital for a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) between April and June 2020. The case histories of patients who received psychotherapy or psychiatric care in addition to the treatment of the underlying disease were studied retrospectively. The study included 557 patients, 266 men, 291 women, the average age was 62.36+18.65 years. The work used clinical and psychological methods using the international classification of diseases 10 revision (ICD-10), the diagnosis of a new coronavirus infection (COVID — 19) was carried out in accordance with the Temporary guidelines of the Ministry of health of the Russian Federation. As a result of data evaluation, it was revealed that the proportion of patients requiring consultation or treatment by a psychiatrist or psychotherapist was 557 (7,10%) patients of the total number of hospital admissions, of which emergency psychiatric care was indicated in 58 (10,41%) of cases. The transition of the hospital to an infectious diseases hospital mode has set new challenges for the psychiatric and psychotherapy service, which required organizational measures, therapeutic issues and confirmed the need for participation of mental health specialists in providing full-fledged medical care in the treatment of somatic disorders

Features of cognitive functioning in older people with COVID 19

The results of studies on elderly patients with COVID-19 indicate presence of serious comorbidities, including cerebrovascular disease, infection of the central nervous system, and cognitive deficits. Impaired cognitive functioning may be due to neurological damage, combined and potentially reversible effects of depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances.The purpose of the study: to identify characteristics of cognitive impairment of elderly patients hospitalized for COVID-19.Material and methods: the study involved 35 patients: 15 men and 20 women (median age 61.0 years, interquartile range (IQR, 25.0-75.0 percentiles) — 50.0-69.0 years, established clinical diagnosis: “New coronavirus infection COVID-19 (PCR+)”. Inclusion criteria were: 1) confirmation of the diagnosis of COVID-19 by clinical and PCR methods, 2) absence of mental disorders, incl. cognitive impairment prior to COVID-19. The exclusion criterion was age under 40 and over 90 years. The severity of COVID-19 was assessed in accordance with the criteria of the Interim Guidelines of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation. Clinical and psychopathological method, psychometric testing using the MMSE scale were used. Monitoring of current physical condition was carried out using The National Early Warning Score (NEWS2) for COVID-19. MMSE testing and monitoring of NEWS2 were carried out twice: upon presentation of cognitive complaints in the first days of hospitalization (1st measurement) and at discharge (2nd time point) Statistical processing was carried out using the STATISTICA 12 package. When comparing features, two-tailed Fisher’s test and Wilcoxon’s test were used. Correlation analysis was carried out using Kendall’s test. The level of statistical significance was p<0.05.Results: Comparative analysis between the first and second measurements revealed an improvement in the cognitive performance of elderly patients with COVID-19 by the end of the hospital stay. A significant predominance of median indicators was revealed: orientation (Med 9.0, IQR 8.0-10.0 vs Med 7.0 IQR 6.0-8.0; p=.0000), immediate memory (Med 3.0 IQR 3.0-3.0 vs Med 2.0 IQR 2.0-3.0; p= .0006), attention and counting (Med 2.0 IQR 2.0-4.0 vs Med 2.0 IQR 1.0-3.0; p=.0000). word reproduction (Med 2.0 IQR 2.0-3.0 vs Med 1.0 IQR 1.0-2.0; p=.0000); speech (Med 6.0 IQR 6.0-8.0 vs Med 5.0 IQR 4.0-5.0; p=.0000). final score (Med 24.0 IQR 23.0-27.0 vs Med 17.0 IQR 15.0-20.0; p=.0000). Correlations between the MMSE scores and anamnestic data were analyzed. Significant negative correlations were found with age, disease severity (only at the 2nd time point), diseases of the nervous, cardiovascular and digestive systems. Statistically significant relationships with gender, disease severity at the first measurement, tumors, diseases of the endocrine, respiratory and genitourinary systems were not obtained.Conclusion. Objective neurocognitive measurements can provide important information for neuropsychiatric sorting and should be included as endpoints in clinical trials