The size effect of BiFeO3 nanocrystals on the spatial spin modulated structure.

The spatial spin modulated structure (SSMS) of the cycloid type present in bulk BiFeO3 prevents the linear magnetoelectric effect. One way to influence this structure is to reduce the crystal size to the nanoscale. Various opinions are circulating in the literature about the effect of nanocrystal size on SSMS, and to investigate this issue, we used a number of methods, with zero-field NMR (ZF NMR) spectroscopy at the forefront. ZF NMR spectroscopy enables the direct observation of the distribution profile of local fields on iron atoms and defines the SSMS presence and its properties. We also examined the synthesized samples using XRD, TEM, and magnetometry. We conclude that SSMS persists as the nanocrystal size decreases to the cycloid period and less, becoming more harmonic. This is accompanied by the change of the anisotropy type from an "easy axis" to an "easy plane". Magnetic measurements show a significant increase in the saturation magnetization, remanent magnetization, coercivity, and exchange bias of nanocrystals with sizes close to the cycloid period, which is probably associated with incomplete spin compensation in the case of an incomplete cycloid period. Despite the fact that SSMS is retained in the samples with decreased size, the magnetic properties experience a sharp increase up to applicable values.

COMPARISON OF THE CYTOTOXIC EFFECTS OF ZEARALENON AND T-2 TOXIN ON THE HORSES AND OXEN GERM CELL IN VITRO BEFORE AND AFTER CRYOPRESERVATION.

The article presents the results of the studies of cytotoxic effect of zearalenone and T-2 toxin on sperm of horses and bulls during incubation and after thawing according to the technology of sperm obtaining and cryopreservation in Kharkov. We first have shown in vitro toxic effects of different concentrations of zearalenone and T-2 toxin (from 0.5 to 0.01 mM) on the membrane stability, as well as quantitative and qualitative indicators of semen in stallions and bulls before and after freezing and thawing. It has been found that the biological activity of the native sperm in 1 h after addition of 0.5 mM zearalenone is not changed, and after thawing is reduced by 19.4 %, or 0.69 ball (P < 0.01) compared to control without toxin. T-2 toxin at a concentration of 0.5 mM reduced the activity of the native sperm after an hour of incubation by 0.59 ball (P < 0.01) and decreased it after thawing decreased by 60.28 %, or 2.14 ball (P < 0.001). 1 h of incubation with zearalenone at concentration of 0.25 mM did not affect the activity of the native sperm, but the activity after freeze­thaw deteriorated by 12.2 %, or 0.41 ball (P < 0.05). T-2 toxin at a concentration of 0.25 mM reduced activity of native sperm after 1 h exposure by 0.46 ball (P < 0.05), and after thawing spermatozoa degrade it by 1.77 ball (P < 0.001) compared to control without toxins. In our study, the lowest concentration giving a significant decrease in sperm parameters was 0.01 mM. The negative impact of zearalenone in such a dose on the native sperm was absent, and sperm after thawing only slightly reduced activity and perezhivayemost by 0.09 points and 0.27 hours, respectively. The simultaneous addition of zearalenone and T-2 toxin at the same dose of 0.01 mM resulted in a decrease in biological perezhivayemost and absolute indicator of native sperm perezhivayemost by 0.36 points and 0.64 hours (P < 0.05), respectively.

Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubules Induce Pathological Changes in the Digestive Organs of Mice.

We studied the effects of regular long-term exposure to industrial nanomaterial based on multiwalled carbon nanotubules on the digestive system of mice. Nanomaterial in a concentration of 30 mg/kg was administered with drinking water over 30 days. Tissue specimens from the small intestine and liver were studied by light and electron microscopy. Multiwalled carbon nanotubules caused multiple necrotic foci in the small intestine and mixed parenchymatous degeneration in the liver. These findings suggested that multiwalled carbon nanotubules entering the digestive tract damaged intestinal villi, presumably via mechanical damage to enterocytes. It seems that multiwalled carbon nanotubules could cause degeneration indirectly, by triggering inflammatory reactions and ROS generation.

[Prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in outpatients in Rostov-on-Don: Regional results of the DIREG-2 study]. / Rasprostranennost' nealkogol'noi zhirovoi bolezni pecheni u patsientov ambulatorno-poliklinicheskoi praktiki v Rostove-na-Donu: regional'nye rezul'taty issledovaniya DIREG-2.

AIM: to analyze and summarize the data of the DIREG-2 study of the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) register in Rostov-on-Don versus those in Russia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The prospective disease registry study encompasses an epidemiologic, observational, cross-sectional, multicenter study estimating the prevalence of NAFLD in outpatients in Rostov-on-Don. A total of 3200 patients participated in this study. The investigators were 65 outpatient physicians. Epidemiological data were obtained during two patient visits to the research centers. RESULTS: The key result obtained from this study was the significantly higher prevalence of NAFLD in Rostov-on-Don than that in the general population (40.4 and 37.3%). In addition to the higher prevalence of NAFLD, there was also a higher spread of risk factors (RFs), such as abdominal obesity, female age of 45-55 years, and hyperlipidemia. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of NAFLD in the outpatients of Rostov-on-Don was 3.1% greater than that in Russia; this might be due to the significantly higher spread of some RFs (abdominal obesity, female age of 45-55 years, hyperlipidemia). The findings are undoubtedly necessary for the elaboration of measures for the primary and secondary prevention of NAFLD in Rostov-on-Don.

[Biomarkers in Heart Failure: Apelin Level Is not Associated With Presence and Severity of the Disease].

We tested possibility of the use of apelin-12 as a biomarker of chronic heart failure (CHF). The study comprised 108 patients with I-IV functional class CHF of various etiology (ischemic heart disease, dilation cardiomyopathy) and 40 healthy volunteers. Blood samples were taken at hospital admission before prescription of pharmacological therapy. In all patients we carried out echocardiography with calculation of end-diastolic and end-systolic volumes (EDV, ESV) and ejection fraction (EF). Blood plasma apelin-12 concentration was compared with CHF market NT-proBNP. Mean apelin-12 concentrations were 0.86+/-0.22 hg/ml in healthy volunteers and 0.8+/-0.35, 0.81+/-0.29, 0.68+/-0.38, 0.82+/-0.35 hg/ml in patients with CHF classes I, II, III, IV, respectively. There was no significant differences between appelin-12 concentrations in various classes of CHF. No correlations were found between apelin-12 and EF, EDV, ESV, sex, age, smoking, body mass index, and NT-proBNP level. Concentration of NT pro-BNP level correlated with CHF severity. Thus apelin-12 did not show itself as reliable biomarker of CHF.

Observation of Haldane magnetism in organically templated vanadium phosphate (enH2)0.5VPO4OH.

We prepared an organically templated magnet, (enH2)0.5VPO4OH (enH2 = diprotonated ethylenediamine), hydrothermally and characterized its crystal structure by powder X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and its physical properties by magnetization, specific heat and nuclear magnetic resonance measurements and density functional theory calculations. (enH2)0.5VPO4OH consists of uniform chains of V3+ (d2, S = 1) ions and exhibits Haldane magnetism with spin gap Δ = 59.3 K from the magnetic susceptibility χ(T) at µ0H = 0.1 T, which is reduced to 48.4 K at µ0H = 9 T according to the 31P shift. The NMR data evidence the formation of a spin-glass state of unpaired S = 1/2 spins at TS-G ≈ 3 K and indicate that the Haldane S = 1 spin chain segments are much longer in the organically templated magnet (enH2)0.5VPO4OH than in the ammonium counterpart NH4VPO4OH. The single-ion anisotropy D and the interchain exchange J' in (enH2)0.5VPO4OH and NH4VPO4OH were estimated in density functional calculations to find them very weak compared to the intrachain exchange J.

Wire calorimeter for direct neutral beam power measurements on C-2W.

The C-2W experiment produces advanced beam-driven field reversed configuration (FRC) plasmas, which are sustained in steady state utilizing variable energy neutral beams (15-40 keV, total power up to 21 MW), advanced divertors, end bias electrodes, and an active plasma control system. Since heating, current drive, and refueling from neutral beam injection are essential to FRC sustainment, it is crucial to have accurate measurements of the beam power being injected into the plasma. A new tungsten wire calorimeter has been designed, built, calibrated on a test stand, and implemented to make the first direct measurements of the time-average injected beam power into C-2W. This paper outlines the design of the diagnostic, along with calibration methods and experimental results.

Data on the synergistic effect of a hybrid filler based on graphene nanoplates and multiwalled nanotubes for increasing the thermal conductivity of an epoxy composite.

The dataset contains raw files related to the manuscript "The synergistic effect of a hybrid filler based on graphene nanoplates and multiwalled nanotubes for increasing the thermal conductivity of an epoxy composite" (Shalygina T.A. et al., 2021). The study presents the values of the heat capacity used to calculate the coefficients of thermal conductivity of epoxy composites by combining one-dimensional multiwalled nanotubes (MWCNTs) and two-dimensional graphene nanoplates (GNPs) in the role of a heat-conducting filler. To determine the heat capacity of materials with different concentrations of hybrid filler (GNP/MWCNT), the method of differential scanning calorimetry in the mode of the heat flux modulation was used. The analysis of the heat flux modulation samples is presented in raw and processed form. The materials scientists may apply the dataset to an in-depth study of the thermal conductivity formation mechanisms in composites doped with carbon-containing substances.

Spatial and temporal changes of chlorinated pesticides, PCBs, dioxins (PCDDs/PCDFs) and brominated flame retardants in human breast milk from Northern Russia.

This study presents for the first time temporal changes of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Russian human breast milk samples. Concentrations of OCPs and PCBs in samples from three locations in the North West of Russia in 2000-2002 (n=42), were compared to corresponding levels measured in 1993-1996 (n=58). In addition brominated flame retardants (BFRs), consisting of polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) (including BDE-209) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) were analysed in samples from 2000-2002 (n=37). The present levels of SigmaDDTs and SigmaHCHs were 5 and 10 times higher than corresponding levels in the neighbouring country Norway. Median concentrations of SigmaHCHs (196 microg/kg lw), SigmaCHBs (19.7 microg/kg lw) and SigmaPCBs(16) (316 microg/kg lw) were highest in Murmansk. The percentage of p,p'-DDT to SigmaDDTs and ratio DDE/DDT suggest possible ongoing use of DDT in Russia. Levels of PBDE were low and dominated by the congeners BDE-47 and BDE-153. The deca brominated BDE-209 was detected in all analysed samples (median concentration 0.19 microg/kg lipid). Levels of SigmaOCPs and SigmaPCBs decreased 56 and 30% in Murmansk and 36 and 43% in Arkhangelsk during the study period. The decline of SigmaOCPs was significant at both locations (p<0.05-p<0.0001). For SigmaPCBs, the decreasing trend was only significant in Arkhangelsk (p<0.0001). In addition, a decline of Sigmatotal TEQs (SigmaTEQs of PCDDs/PCDFs, non-ortho- and mono-ortho PCBs) was observed in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk during the study period. The exposure of infants by PCDDs/PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs is still exceeding the daily tolerable intake (TDI) in North West Russia. However, the concentrations of PCDDs/PCDFs and dioxin-like PCBs seem to decline very rapidly.

[Application of nootropic agents in complex treatment of patients with concussion of the brain].

65 patients with a mild craniocereberal trauma have been observed. Medical examination included among general clinical methods the following methods: KT (MRT) of the brain, oculist examination including the observation of eye fundus. For objectification of a patient' complaints the authors used orientation and Galvestona's amnesia tests, feeling scale (psychological test), the table to determine the level of memory. Tests have been carried out on the first, tenth and thirty day of the treatment. Patients of the first group received in a complex treatment -pramistar, patients of the second group - piracetam. Patients of both groups noted considerable improvement during a complex treatment (disappearance of headache, dizziness and nausea) and at the same time patients receiving pramistar had better restoration of orientation and feeling. Pramistar was also more effective in patients with amnesia.

Stereoselectivity of formation of monoterpene - Amino acids hybrid molecules in the reaction of monoterpene nitroso chlorides with α-amino acid derivatives.

Reaction of nitrosochlorides of natural monoterpene hydrocarbons (+)-3-carene and (-)-α-pinene with L-amino acids and their methyl esters results in stereoselective formation of terpene-amino acids hybrids, which belong to the series of α-substituted amino oximes. The reaction with an excess of racemic DL-amino acids and their derivatives induces partial resolution of the amino acid components and formation of the diastereomeric mixtures of the terpene-amino acids hybrids, with diastereomeric excess varying from 0 to 100%.

[PHYSIOLOGICAL RELATIONSHIP OF ERYTHROCYNE ANTIGENS WITH INDICATORS OF HORSE SPERMOGRAM].

The possible presence of the physiological relationship of erythrocyte antigens of the A, C, D, K alleles of the blood group systems in the examined horses of the Ukrainian selection with the spermogram major parameters has been demonstrated. It has been found that when investigating ad/bcm and dg/cgm alleles of the blood group system D in the stallions, there was the physiological tendency of the decrease in the semen activity on average less than 5 points; at the presence of ad/cgm, ad/d, ad/ de, ad/dk, bcm/d, bcm/de, bcm/dg bcm/dk cegm/cgm, cegm/d, cegm/dg, cegm/dk cgm/ceg, cgm/cgm, cgm/dg, cgm/dk de/ cgm, de/dk dg/di, dk/d, dk/de, dk/dk alleles the spermogram of the average quality with the activity of the semen on average from 5 to 7 points was obtained; at the presence of bcm/cgm, dg/dk, de/d, egm/d, cgm/de alleles high parameters of semen activity, more than 7 points, were received. The tendency of the increase in the semen concentration was revealed in the examined stallions having a/- allele of the blood group C. The possible decrease in the semen concentration in the stallions having a/-allele of the blood group K was shown. The alleles of the blood group system D had the highest statistical impact on the volume of the ejaculate, the activity, concentration and the number of pathological forms of semen, the correlation coefficient was 0,36; 0,31; 0, 43 and 0,27, respectively. At the same time it has been found out that the alleles of the blood group systems A,C and K had the coefficient of correlation with the examined parameters of the semen at the level of not more than 0,07.

Optical Properties and Aggregation of Graphene Nanoplatelets.

In the present paper, the optical density of dispersions of randomly oriented multilayer graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) was estimated. Calculated and experimental data were compared for aqueous GNP dispersions stabilized with various surfactants. It was shown that the sonication of an expanded graphite compound (EGC) in aqueous surfactant solutions leads to the transformation of EGC worm-like particles into weak GNP aggregates which are able to pass into solution upon dilution and agitation of the system. They may be filtered and washed out of surfactants. The concentrated GNP dispersions containing these weak aggregates can be used to synthesize different graphene-based nanostructures and obtain novel composite materials.

Assessment of Airborn Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes in a Manufactoring Environment.

This study was carried out in a factory producing multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) by the catalytic chemical vapor deposition method in a pyrolysis reactor. Air samples of the personal breathing areas were collected simultaneously on mixed cellulose ester filters, for analysis by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and on high-purity quartz filters for thermal-optical analysis of elemental carbon (EC). It is found that the production of MWCNTs is accompanied by the release of the MWCNT structures in the air of different working zones. The concentration of respirable aerosol in the personal breathing areas, averaged over an 8-hour period, ranges from 0.54 to 6.11 µg/m3 based on EC. Airborne MWCNTs were found in the form of agglomerates that range in size from about 1 to 10 µm. These data are consistent with measurements in different plants by two other international groups (from the United States and Sweden) using similar methodology (TEM in combination with EC analysis). In the absence of convincing data on the potential health risks of MWCNTs, and following the principle of reasonable precautions, preventive measures should be taken to minimize exposure to these materials.

Geographic variation of chlorinated pesticides, toxaphenes and PCBs in human milk from sub-arctic and arctic locations in Russia.

The concentrations of HCB, alpha-, beta- and gamma-HCH, 3 chlordanes (CHLs), p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDT, and 30 PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) were determined in 140 human milk samples from Kargopol (n=19), Severodvinsk (n=50), Arkhangelsk (n=51) and Naryan-Mar (n=20). Pooled samples were used for determination of three toxaphenes (chlorobornanes, CHBs). The concentrations of HCB, beta-HCH and p,p'-DDE in Russian human milk were 2, 10 and 3 times higher than corresponding levels in Norway, respectively, while concentrations of sum-PCBs and sum-TEQs (toxic equivalent quantities) of the mono-ortho substituted PCBs were in the same range as corresponding levels in Norway. The PCB-156 contributed most to the sum-TEQs. Highest mean concentrations of HCB (129 microg/kg milk fat) and sum-PCBs (458 microg/kg milk fat) were detected in Naryan-Mar, while highest mean concentrations of sum-HCHs (408 microg/kg milk fat), sum-CHLs (48 microg/kg milk fat), sum-DDTs (1392 microg/kg milk fat) and sum-toxaphenes (13 microg/kg milk fat) were detected in Arkhangelsk. An eastward geographic trend of increasing ratios of alpha/beta-HCH, gamma/beta-HCH, p,p'-DDT/p,p'-DDE and PCB-180/28 was observed. In all areas the levels of sum-HCHs decreased with parity (number of children born). Considerable variation in levels of the analysed organochlorines (OCs) was found in all the studied areas. Breast milk from mothers nursing their second or third child (multiparas) in Naryan-Mar showed a significant different PCB profile compared to mothers giving birth to their first child (primiparas) from the same area and to primi- and multiparas in the other areas. Both p,p'-DDE and p,p'-DDT showed a significant, but weak, negative correlation with the infants birth weight.

[Status of the hypophyseo-adrenal system and functional morphology of the adrenal glands in residents of Northern European areas of the USSR]. / Sostoianie gipofizarno-adrenalovoi sistemy i funktsional'naia morfologiia nadpochchechnikov u zhitelei evropeiskogo severa.

Serum corticotropin and cortisol levels were measured in 20-40-year old healthy residents (144 males and 361 females) in the North. A functional Synacthen Depot test was performed in 5 volunteers. The adrenal glands from 56 males and 8 females of the same age who had died from accidents were pathohistologically and stereometrically examined. The signs of functional tension were established in the pituitary-adrenal cortex system. The Synacthen Depot test determined sufficient potentials of the organ to show responses to specific stimulation. Morphologically, a number of changes were found, which might be regarded as a prerequisite to the development of functional and pathological disturbances in the above-mentioned link of the endocrine system.

[Borderline mental disorders in workers in chemical industry plants]. / Pogranichnye psiknicheskie rasstroistva u rabochikh predpriiatii khimicheskoi promyshlennosti.

A total of 550 workers at a chemical plant have been examined for symptoms of borderline neuromental disturbances. The ratio was as follows: 26.8%, normal subjects; 33.7%, predisease state; 10.3%, neurotic reactions; 1.8%, neuroses; 22.7%, neurosis-like states; 4.7%, chronic alcoholism. A normal person presents 2.7 symptoms, a neurotic one, 29.3. The rate of somatic diseases per subject is 1.6 and 3.6 respectively. Depressive and neurotic reactions in the form of neurocirculatory asthenia are quite frequent, being predominant in individuals with a shorter length of service, and are associated with financial and household difficulties and dissatisfaction with the present job.

[Various indicators of the hormonal profile in patients with neuroses after psychopharmacotherapy and functional test with sinacten]. / Nekotorye pokazateli gormonal'nogo profilia u bol'nykh nevrozami na fone psikhofarmakoterapii i funktsional'noi nagruzki sinaktenom.

Studies of adenohypophyseal hormones, cortisol, T3, T4, thyroxine-binding globulin, testosterone, progesterone and estradiol in 90 neurotic men, treated or not with amitriptyline and benzodiazepines, allowed a conclusion that in the majority of them, endocrine functions were activated. 11 healthy men and 11 male patients underwent the three-day test with sinacten-depot (1 mg intramuscularly). The functional test data were compared over time by the methods of nonparametric statistics. The patients manifested a decrease of reserve potentialities of the pituitary-adrenal system, redistribution of the fractions of thyroid hormones, gonadotropins, the progesterone/estradiol ratio, a rise of prolactin and testosterone secretion. The drugs were found to improve the functioning of the pituitary-adrenal system. However, they did not contribute much to the positive changes in the pituitary-thyroid and other systems.

[The therapeutic efficacy and the effect of gidazepam and fenazepam on the psychophysiological status and on the performance of operators with mental disorders at a neurotic level]. / Terapevticheskaia éffektivnost' i vliianie gidazepama i fenazepama na psikhofiziologicheskoe sostoianie i rezul'tativnost' deiatel'nosti operatorov s psikhicheskimi narusheniiami nevroticheskogo urovnia.

The effect of placebo and gidazepam on the state, psychophysiological predictors of the quality of the operator's performance and its results in individuals with neurotic reactions was studied (test dose 20 mg 7-day course, 40 mg daily, 24 individuals), as well as the effect of gidazepam and phenazepam (42 individuals with neurotic and neurosis-like states; gidazepam test doses 20 and 50 mg, 14-day course, 40 and 100 mg daily; phenazepam test doses 0.5 and 1 mg, 14-day course, daily dose 2 mg). The generally accepted methods of clinical and psychophysiological examination were applied. Gidazepam in the doses under study did not yield to phenazepam in therapeutic activity. A single and a course administration of gidazepam improved the parameters of the psychophysiological state and the efficacy of the operator performance in patients with neurotic reactions and in those with neurotic and neurosis-like states. This makes it possible, whenever necessary, to recommend this drug for the treatment of the indicated disorders in the working operators.

[Sucralfate: the agent of choice in the treatment of peptic ulcer?]. / Sukral'fat: sredstvo vybora v lechenii iazvennoi bolezni?

As many as 72 patients with erosive and ulcerous injuries to the stomach and duodenum were examined for the clinical efficacy of antepsin (sucralfate). Of these patients, 42 were with duodenal ulcer, 10 with gastric ulcer and 20 with erosive gastroduodenitis). Antepsin exerted a beneficial effect on the painful syndrome and on ulcer and erosion healing. The coefficient of the therapeutic efficacy of antepsin in duodenal ulcer patients turned out to be equal to 2.67 that of gastric ulcer to 2.1 and that in patients with gastroduodenitis was 2.6. The drug did not produce any well-defined side effects. In some cases (8.3%), it caused the appearance or enhancement of constipation. Antepsin is indicated not only in ulcer disease but also in duodenogastric reflux, reflux gastritis and reflux esophagitis.