Constant Circulation Research Articles

Epidemiological characteristics of measles in the Ryazan region in 2000–2023: current trends and unresolved problems

The aim of the work was to analyze and identify the features of the epidemic process of measles in the Ryazan region in 2000–2023. Based on the study of materials from state reports «On the state of sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population.» It was found that there was no constant circulation of the measles virus in the Ryazan region in 2000–2023. There have been periodic increases in morbidity due to the importation of the pathogen with its subsequent spread among unvaccinated individuals. The main reasons for the deterioration of the epidemic situation were errors in the immunoprophylaxis of the population, mainly associated with refusals of preventive vaccinations and violation of immunization schemes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Taking into account the identified features, a set of measures aimed at achieving the elimination of measles in the studied region is proposed.

Atmospheric Influences on Li6PS5Cl Separators and the Resulting Ionic Conductivity for All-Solid-State Batteries

All-solid-state batteries (ASSBs), defined through a solid electrolyte, are emerging as a promising solution to address current challenges in energy and power density demands for electromobility. Within the various possible types of solid electrolytes, sulfide-based materials exhibit advantageous high ionic conductivities. However, due to the strong reactivity of sulfides, atmospheric exposure can lead to the formation of toxic hydrogen sulfide and additionally negatively impact the resulting battery performance. Both factors present key challenges for ASSB production, as they necessitate the development of a material-adapted, economically viable and safe process atmosphere. In the present study, the influence of different production atmospheres on sulfide-based solid electrolytes is experimentally investigated. For this purpose, sulfide sheets are exposed to defined atmospheres with dynamic air fluctuations at dew points ranging from −60 °C to 0 °C. The resulting ionic conductivities indicate a dependency on the prevailing dew point and exposure time with a discernible impact on performance even at dew points of −60 °C within atmospheres with constant air circulation. With the acquired results, a detailed and knowledge-based selection and design of dry room production atmospheres for ASSB cell assembly is possible, which is a necessary step for further industrialization.

The Underwater Berlin Research Turbine: A Wind Turbine Model for Wake Investigations in a Water Towing Tank

The design of a three-bladed horizontal axis research wind turbine for wake investigations is described. The turbine has a rotor diameter of 1.3 m and will be operated in a large water towing tank at a submergence depth of 2.5 m, yielding 3.3 % blockage. The test rig is configured to allow for underwater-stereo-particle-image-velocimetry measurements of the near and the far wake at chordwise Reynolds numbers approaching 700 000. The low-Reynolds number airfoil SG6040 is selected to constitute the rotor blades. Cavitation-free operation is assured by assigning a rated angle of attack of 1°. The blades are designed to maintain a constant circulation along the blade span and to minimize tip deflections. The blade pitch angles are adjustable. Various blade designs, with and without passive flow control devices, can be tested by replacing individual blade sections. This eliminates the need for multiple sets of blades. Sensors for acquiring the turbine’s thrust, torque, rotational speed, the azimuthal positions of the blades, and the imposed blade root bending moments are incorporated into the design. The wind turbine simulation suite QBlade is utilized to simulate the turbine characteristics. A model of the entire test rig is derived, representing its structural properties. Results from the analytical verification of the structural model are provided. QBlade is utilized to analyze the test rig design by imposing design loads and calculating the modal properties.

World Intellectual Capital Circulation: Brain Drain, High-Tech Products and Export of Technologies

The purpose of the present research is to reveal the global structure of intellectual capital flows, in which upstream emigration of scientists and researchers from donor countries enriches the intellectual capital and potential of the recipient countries, while intellectual products and technologies from recipient countries go downstream to donor countries. The research uses expert judgement to collect data. Institutional and comparative analyses are used to explain the structure of intellectual capital flows and to identify the reasons for the upstream emigration of intellectual capital and the downstream export of intellectual products. Econometric methods are used to explain the relationships between indices and scores. We reveal that all countries can be conditionally divided into two categories, namely donors and recipients of human intellectual capital. Donors supply scientists and researchers to recipient countries, and recipient countries supply high-tech products to donors. This situation is not only justified from the perspective of the international division of labor, but is also beneficial for both donor and recipient countries, as donors receive the necessary technology from recipients, and recipients replenish their need for scientists to create high-tech products. This constant circulation leads to the further impoverishment of developing countries, while at the same time becoming the basis for the enrichment of highly developed countries. According to the results of the study, we can conclude that three main characteristics act as factors to describe the global flows of intellectual capital: 1. As recipient countries offer better living and working conditions, higher wages and more secure human rights, the outflow of scientists from donor countries seems to be a natural phenomenon. 2. Research shows that donor countries lack the demand for scientists and their development, as these countries receive high technologies and products from recipient countries, which means that donor countries' policy is aimed at reducing their funding for science. 3. On the contrary, the demand for scientists in recipient countries is growing as high-tech products become the main export commodity. Recipient countries of intellectual human capital have no other export opportunities – they are poor in minerals and the high-tech sector is the only way to balance the country's payments.

Dynamic Simulation Platform Aids Deep Transient Tests, Well-Control Safety

_ This article, written by JPT Technology Editor Chris Carpenter, contains highlights of paper SPE 215454, “Enhancing Well-Control Safety With Dynamic Well-Control Cloud Solutions: Case Studies of Successful Deep Transient Tests in Southeast Asia,” by M. Ashraf Abu Talib, SPE, M. Shahril Ahmad Kassim, and Izral Izarruddin Marzuki, SPE, Petronas, et al. The paper has not been peer reviewed. _ The complete paper addresses challenges related to well control and highlights the successful implementation of deep transient tests (DTT) in an offshore well performed with the help of a dynamic well-control simulation platform. The paper aims to provide insights into the prejob simulation process, which ensured a safer operation from a well-control perspective. Additionally, a comparison between simulated and actual sensor measurements during the DTT operation is presented. DTT DTT is a formation-testing (FT) method that allows pressure transient tests that reach deeper into the formation compared with conventional interval pressure transient tests (IPTT). DTT enables the testing of formations with higher permeability, greater thickness, and lower viscosity and real-time measurement of crucial parameters. During a DTT, formation fluid is pumped from the reservoir; upon stopping the pump, the formation pressure begins to recover as fluid further from the wellbore replaces the extracted fluid. By analyzing the resulting pressure transient, properties such as formation permeability, permeability anisotropy, and other characteristics can be determined. DTT allows for a better understanding of reservoir characteristics and rock heterogeneity. When properly designed and executed, DTT can reveal potential baffles and boundaries within the radius of investigation. A further advantage of DTT over drillstem tests (DST) is its minimal fluid flow, which allows for the attainment of objectives while contributing to the United Nations sustainable development goals. In DTT operations, the FT tool is connected to the drillpipe through a circulating sub and a slip joint. The circulating sub plays a critical role in DTT operations because it enables the continuous mixing of pumped formation fluid with circulated mud and facilitates its transportation to the surface (Fig. 1). Typically, a constant circulation rate ranging from 100 to 250 gal/min is maintained. During circulation, the annular preventer is closed and the mud/hydrocarbon mixture is directed through the choke line to the mud/gas separator (MGS) once it reaches the surface. No formation fluids are flared during DTT operations. Instead, the circulated oil is retained in the mud and only small amounts of gas are vented. By use of a slip joint, the FT remains anchored to the borehole wall. A high-resolution pressure gauge is used to capture and interpret even minor pressure fluctuations during the pressure transient buildup.

Abstract LB_B15: The antiproliferative activity of metformin in glioblastoma stem cells is mediated by the direct binding and functional inhibition of the membrane configuration of CLIC1 protein

Abstract Glioblastoma (GBM) is the deadliest brain tumor and represents a major clinical challenge. Even with the current standard of care and cutting-edge strategies, patients’ life expectancy remains invariably poor. Tumor heterogeneity and its extensive invasiveness make GBM difficult to be radically resected by neurosurgery and recurrence is common. There is scientific consensus that tumor relapse originates from progenitor/stem-like cells known as glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs). GSCs are endowed with distinct tumorigenic potential, with properties of self-renewal and multi-lineage differentiation that contribute to tumor mass heterogeneity. Thus, GSCs represent an appealing target for new therapies. In recent years, metformin's anti-cancer properties have been highlighted. Metformin administration to patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been positively linked to a decrease in the risk of developing several cancers and in cancer-related mortality, including glioblastoma. Additionally, numerous studies on glioblastoma demonstrate that metformin’s anti-cancer properties are directed against GSCs. Despite this evidence, metformin’s mechanism of action on cancer cells has not been clarified, although it has been proposed to target the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) pathway. GSCs are able to shuttle between glycolysis and OXPHOS energetic pathways, and this metabolic plasticity could be the major reason for metformin’s low effectiveness in clinical trials so far. Chloride Intracellular Channel 1 (CLIC1) is a metamorphic protein that is predominantly cytoplasmic under physiological conditions. In response to persistent stress, it translocates to the plasma membrane, inducing chloride conductance. When GSCs are treated with metformin and agents that impair the activity of the transmembrane form of CLIC1 (tmCLIC1), they show a parallel and non-additive inhibition of proliferation. Our previous studies comprehensively demonstrated that tmCLIC1 contributes to the progression of GBM both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, its specific localization and enrichment at the GSC plasma membrane position tmCLIC1 as a prime pharmacological target for GBM treatment. Our investigation found that in vitro, metformin’s antiproliferative effect is exerted at a millimolar concentration range. However, in vivo, with metformin administered through drinking water, mice exhibit an increase in survival with brain levels of metformin quantified in the nanomolar range. It is possible that the constant fresh drug circulation, continuously reaching the brain during prolonged administration in vivo (up to 100 days) creates a drug steady state with persistent saturation and inhibition of all the active tmCLIC1 expressed by GBM cells. The need for lower concentrations in vivo than in vitro is also important to translate these studies into the clinic; the already-available extended-release formulation may provide the same sustained activity on GBM cells as the drug in mouse drinking water. Citation Format: Michele M Mazzanti, Francesca M Cianci. The antiproliferative activity of metformin in glioblastoma stem cells is mediated by the direct binding and functional inhibition of the membrane configuration of CLIC1 protein [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC Virtual International Conference on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2023 Oct 11-15; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2023;22(12 Suppl):Abstract nr LB_B15.

Epidemiological effectiveness of domestic influenza vaccines in cases with vaccination against a new coronavirus infection in 2022–2023

The study presents the results of an epidemiological prospective field cohort study on a comparative assessment of the epidemiological effectiveness of domestic inactivated influenza vaccines and vaccines against new coronavirus infection during immunization of adults aged 18 years. Statistically significant differences were found in the incidence of influenza, acute upper respiratory infections, and new coronavirus infection between the vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. The etiologies of cases of acute upper respiratory infections registered in the study participants during the epidemic season of influenza in 2022–2023 were verified. The clinical symptoms of influenza in the vaccinated group were significantly less severe than those in the unvaccinated group. No significant differences were found in the clinical picture of acute upper respiratory infections between the compared groups. Influenza immunoprophylaxis is an urgent problem, which consists of the ability of viruses to change their antigenic structure and avoid immunity, remaining in constant circulation. Thus, the antigenic composition of influenza vaccines must be systematically updated to ensure the formation of effective population immunity. More studies on the etiological spectrum of respiratory pathogens and assessment of the epidemiological effectiveness of vaccination against vaccine-controlled infections in the analyzed groups are needed. Therefore, to assess immunological protection, including the assessment of the epidemiological effectiveness of seasonal vaccines used against influenza and new coronavirus infection, the priority age group includes individuals aged 18–25 years (especially those belonging to organized collectives) and adults with an unfavorable premorbid background. The use of domestic vaccines against influenza and the new coronavirus infection for specific immunoprophylaxis is generally recognized as the most effective sanitary and anti-epidemic (preventive) measure in the morbidity management of several infectious diseases.

ОСОБЕННОСТИ ЭПИДЕМИЧЕСКОГО ПРОЦЕССА КОРИ, ПАРОТИТА И КРАСНУХИ НА СОВРЕМЕННОМ ЭТАПЕ

The article describes the epidemic process of measles, rubella and mumps. The analysis showed that the incidence of these infections after the introduction of immunoprophylaxis decreased by 6,1 times for measles, 47,0 times for rubella and 9,0 times for mumps. Nevertheless, despite the planned immunization, there are periodic epidemic rises in the incidence of measles and mumps infections. So in the period from 2018-2020yy. 4114 cases of measles were registered, involving mainly children under one year old (44,6%) and 1-4 years old (34,9%) with a high prevalence in Bishkek (46,0 0/0000), in Jalal-Abad (37, 6 0/0000) and Chui regions (26,6 0/0000). The introduction of revaccination against EP in the immunization schedule in 2015 led to a decrease in the level of 4,7 times (20,8 versus 97,9). Thus, in the republic, despite 99,7% vaccination coverage of the decreed age, endemic transmission of the measles virus continues with the development of outbreaks every 2-3 years and with sequential coverage of various regions; the epidemic process of mumps infection is characterized by the constant circulation of the mumps virus and is currently recorded with an average intensive rate of 5,6 0/0000.

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AS MEANS OF FORMING AN EMOTIONALLY POSITIVE CONTEXT IN BUFFER ZONES OF CULTURAL HERITAGE OBJECTS

The article presents the results of the author's research on the formation of an emotionally positive context in the buffer zones of cultural heritage objects by means of landscape architecture; considered scientific and theoretical base of world research. 
 Buffer zones (according to I. Korotun) are divided into 3 categories: I direct use of the territory; II multifunctional; III combined. The most difficult is the II category of buffer zones "non-direct multifunctional usage". In Ukraine, 4 out of 8 World Heritage sites have buffer zones of non-direct multifunctional use ("Kyiv: St. Sophia Cathedral and nearby monastery buildings, Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, Church of the Savior on Berestov" (1990); "Ensemble of the historical center of Lviv" (1998); "Residence of the Metropolitans of Bukovina and Dalmatia" (2011) and "Historical Center of Odesa" (2023)). The historical city center belongs to the II category of buffer zones, and it is the core of the urbanized environment, where the administrative, transport or combined functions of the city can be concentrated. Multifunctionality makes the city center the place of the greatest activity of people, which in turn forms a prerequisite for the formation of an emotionally positive context. 
 Landscape organization of buffer zones as places of constant circulation of people is a prerequisite for the creation of high-quality space. So, we determined that the formation of an emotionally positive context in the buffer zones of cultural heritage objects can be carried out through the method of "green corridors," which will be connections between activity points or will be multifunctional zones. 
 The formation of an emotionally positive context is a universal method for the landscape organization of urban space within the buffer zones of cultural heritage objects under various urban conditions.

Circular movements: Migratory citizenships in anticolonial Athens

This essay remaps geographies of belonging in Athens. It thinks the city in circles and circulations, writing an anticolonial Athens made out of nonlinear geographies and histories, anti-border struggles, anticolonial pasts and futures, migrations and mobilisations. The essay writes three circular movements: narrating how Athens is part of a Mediterranean feedback loop in which struggles are in constant circulation; thinking a circular square in the middle of the city as a polis not dictated by ideas of ethnos; and following the ways that people make new choreographies of belonging in the dance circle, finding footwork out of step with the restrictive rhythms of the nation. These movements are forms of spatial resistance, and the essay closes by sharing some methods of movement writing. Through these circular movements, the essay seeks to map ways out of the linear geographies and histories of empire, and the ongoing colonialities of citizenship.

Multistage coupling water-enabled electric generator with customizable energy output

Constant water circulation between land, ocean and atmosphere contains great and sustainable energy, which has been successfully employed to generate electricity by the burgeoning water-enabled electric generator. However, water in various forms (e.g. liquid, moisture) is inevitably discharged after one-time use in current single-stage water-enabled electric generators, resulting in the huge waste of inherent energy within water circulation. Herein, a multistage coupling water-enabled electric generator is proposed, which utilizes the internal liquid flow and subsequently generated moisture to produce electricity synchronously, achieving a maximum output power density of ~92 mW m−2 (~11 W m−3). Furthermore, a distributary design for internal water in different forms enables the integration of water-flow-enabled and moisture-diffusion-enabled electricity generation layers into mc-WEG by a “flexible building blocks” strategy. Through a three-stage adjustment process encompassing size control, space optimization, and large-scale integration, the multistage coupling water-enabled electric generator realizes the customized electricity output for diverse electronics. Twenty-two units connected in series can deliver ~10 V and ~280 μA, which can directly lighten a table lamp for 30 min without aforehand capacitor charging. In addition, multistage coupling water-enabled electric generators exhibit excellent flexibility and environmental adaptability, providing a way for the development of water-enabled electric generators.

Analysis of water consumption in technological processes of grain processing for alcohol

The article deals with the issues of water consumption in the production of ethyl alcohol from grain raw materials. The data on its demand for technological needs (for preparing a batch), as a refrigerant, for steam generation, for household needs are given. It is shown that water in specific terms is the most voluminous raw material resource (up to 1600 m3/1000 decaliters), but at the same time it is practically not consumed as a reagent for technological purposes. The analysis of options for the reuse of water was carried out and the possibility of reducing its consumption to 200 m3/1000 decaliters was shown, due to the repeated use of cooling water, by introducing a circulating water supply system, constant circulation of water through the cooling towers, where it is cooled. It is also noted the possibility of complete exclusion of water in the cooling processes through the use of "dry" cooling towers. In this case, the circulation of the refrigerant (for example, ethylene glycol) is carried out in a closed cycle. The relevance of using a single water flow for sequential cooling of semi-products is also shown: fermenting and saccharified wort, boiled mass using efficient heat exchangers of a spiral, plate type. An example is given of reducing water consumption for steam generation by reusing "conditionally clean" steam condensate formed in systems of "dull" heating of semi-finished products. An analysis was made of reducing the consumption of water for the preparation of the mixture due to the processing of raw materials in conditions of high concentrations and the reuse of the stillage filtrate. In addition to saving heat and energy resources, this reduces the volumes of formed stillage and industrial effluents. As a result, the costs of their processing and purification are reduced. A list of measures has been proposed that will reduce water consumption by 10 or more times and increase the profitability of alcohol production by 2–2.5%.

Fixed Choke Constant Outflow Circulation Method for Riser Gas Handling: Full-Scale Tests in Water- and Synthetic-Based Mud with Gauges and Distributed Fiber-Optic Sensors

Summary Conventional methods of managing gas-in-riser events are not optimal when the drilling riser is isolated from the formation by a closed subsea blowout preventer (BOP) on rigs equipped with mud gas separator (MGS), managed pressure drilling (MPD), or riser gas-handling equipment. The industry is concerned about exceeding the pressure limit of the riser and the flow capacity of the MGS and hence has not been able to reach a consensus on a circulation method for riser gas. This work is an analysis of the first-ever demonstration of the fixed-choke constant-outflow (FCCO) circulation method in synthetic-based mud (SBM) carried out in June 2022. The first-ever demonstration of the FCCO circulation method in water was performed in March 2021. The results from the water tests were discussed in IADC Gas-in-Riser/Riser Gas-Handling Subcommittee meetings, and the new fixed-choke method was named FCCO in November of 2021. The reason for using the acronym FCCO for the new method is that it allows the use of a fixed-choke opening percentage throughout the circulation period by managing the outflow and backpressure by varying only the pump rate. This work includes the comparison of the actual test results from the March 2021 FCCO tests in water with results estimated using a new model. This is followed by a discussion of the results from the June 2022 FCCO test in SBM. Nitrogen gas was injected into the bottom of an annulus 5,200-ft deep, vertical test well (9 5/8×2 7/8 in. casing/tubing) initially filled with water and instrumented with four downhole pressue and temperature gauges, and distributed fiber-optic sensors [distributed temperature sensing (DTS) and distributed acoustic sensing (DAS)] for water tests, and later filled with SBM. We started direct circulation to produce flow out of the annulus through a choke kept at a fixed open position (%) required for a preplanned applied surface backpressure (ASBP). We reduced pump rate if/as necessary to maintain this ASBP to ensure outflow rate within MGS flow capacity. We performed tests at different fixed-choke positions, different average ASBPs, and initial pump rates. We tested constant bottomhole pressure (CBHP) circulation and fixed pump rate methods also for comparison with the FCCO circulation method. The results from the FCCO tests demonstrated better control of outflow compared with the other methods. There is no need to use high ASBP. The use of a high ASBP suppressed the value of peak pressure. Installation of more than one gauge inside the riser enhances safety by allowing real-time influx detection capability, estimation of gas position, gas velocity, and gas void fraction. The FCCO method can be preplanned and easily substituted as the preferred circulation method for staying within the handling capacity of the existing MGS on the rig during gas-in-riser situations.

Intermittent circulation of simplified deep flow technique hydroponic system increases yield efficiency and allows application of systems without electricity in Haiti

BackgroundMany Haitians face severe food insecurity driven in part by a lack of adequate land for agriculture. Hydroponic systems can produce food without the requirement of arable land but are often prohibitively expensive and require electricity and water inputs that are impractical in most of Haiti.ResultsA deep flow technique (DFT) system named the Levo International, Inc. Victory Garden was tested with lettuce under constant and intermittent circulation. The average per-system yield of BSS from both treatments was 3631.75, 5013.75 and 2836.25 g in three experimental replicates. In replicates one and two, there were no significant differences in yield per circulation regiment. For the third replicate, we found a greater yield in constantly circulating systems. Each constantly and intermittently circulated system used 2.3814 kWh of energy for an estimated cost of $0.45 and 0.1386 kWh of energy for an estimated cost of $0.03, respectively. There was a significantly greater yield of BSS per energy input (g/kWh) in intermittently circulating systems compared to constantly circulating systems. There were no significant differences in water usage according to circulation. Electrical conductivity (E.C.) and pH were not significantly different between circulation treatment groups, except for pH in our third replicate which was significantly higher in constantly circulating systems. E.C. decreased and pH increased between the first week and last reading. The Victory Garden was tested with bell peppers under constant circulation and systems yielded an average of 3592.94 g of fruit. An adapted version of the Victory Garden was tested in Pignon, Haiti with bell peppers under manual twice-daily circulation and yielded an average of 2574.13 g and 3308.35 g in two experimental replicates.ConclusionsSimplified DFT systems can produce both lettuce and peppers on par with field production. In this system type, we did not see a benefit to constantly circulating the nutrient solution.

Comparison of microbiological profile of enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF) isolates from subjects with colorectal cancer (CRC) or intestinal pre-cancerous lesions versus healthy individuals and evaluation of environmental factors involved in intestinal dysbiosis

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to analyze enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF) isolates from colorectal biopsies of subjects with a histological analysis positive for colorectal cancer (CRC), pre-cancerous lesions (pre-CRC) or with a healthy intestinal tissue and to evaluate the environmental factors that may not only concur to CRC development but may also affect gut microbiota composition. MethodsETBF isolates were typed using the ERIC-PCR method, while PCR assays were performed to investigate the bft alleles, the B. fragilis pathogenicity island (BFPAI) region and the cepA, cfiA and cfxA genes. Susceptibility to antibiotics was tested using the agar dilution method. Environmental factors that could play a role in promoting intestinal dysbiosis were evaluated throughout a questionnaire administered to the subjects enrolled. ResultsSix different ERIC-PCR types were identified. The type denominated C in this study was the most prevalent, in particular among the biopsies of subjects with pre-CRC, while an isolate belonging to a different type, denominated F, was detected in a biopsy from a subject with CRC. All the ETBF isolates from pre-CRC or CRC subjects had a B. fragilis pathogenicity island (BFPAI) region pattern I, while those from healthy individuals showed also different patterns. Furthermore, 71% of isolates from subjects with pre-CRC or CRC were resistant to two or more classes of antibiotics vs 43% of isolates from healthy individuals. The B. fragilis toxin BFT1 was the most frequently detected in this study, confirming the constant circulation of this isoform strains in Italy. Interestingly, BFT1 was found in 86% of the ETBF isolates from patients with CRC or pre-CRC, while the BFT2 was prevalent among the ETBF isolates from healthy subjects. No substantial differences based on sex, age, tobacco and alcohol consumption were observed between healthy and non-healthy individuals included in this study, while most of the subjects with CRC or pre-CRC lesions were subjected to pharmacological therapy (71%) and showed a body mass index (BMI) that falls within the overweight range (86%). ConclusionsOur data suggest that some types of ETBF seem to better adapt and colonize the human gut and that the selective pressure exerted by factors related to lifestyle, such as pharmacological therapy and weight, could facilitate their persistence in the gut and their possible involvement in CRC development.

Generalized analytical body force model for actuator disc computations of wind turbines

Abstract. A new generalized analytical model for representing body forces in numerical actuator disc models of wind turbines is proposed and compared to results from a blade element momentum (BEM) model. The model is an extension of a previously developed load model, which was based on the rotor disc being subject to a constant circulation, modified for tip and root effects, corresponding to an optimum design case. By adding a parabolic circulation distribution, corresponding to a solid-body approach of the flow in the near wake, it is possible to take into account losses associated with off-design cases, corresponding to pitch regulation at high wind speeds. The advantage of the model is that it does not depend on any detailed knowledge concerning the actual wind turbine being analysed but only requires information about the thrust coefficient and tip-speed ratio. The model is validated for different wind turbines operating under a wide range of operating conditions. The comparisons show generally an excellent agreement with the BEM model even at very small thrust coefficients and tip-speed ratios.

RISK ASSESSMENT OF HOSPITAL STRAINS FORMATION AND OCCURRENCE OF HEALTH CARE-ASSOCIATED INFECTIONS AMONG PATIENTS OF A MULTIDISCIPLINARY MEDICAL ORGANIZATION

Aim. Risk assessment of the introduction of resistant strains of microorganisms and the formation of their hospital forms in the Clinics of the Irkutsk State Medical University (Clinics of the ISMU) Materials and methods. To analyze how the level of resistance of microbial strains isolated from patients effect the form of the disease the case histories of patients of the Clinic of the State Medical University for 2022 (n=123) were used. Bacteriological study of microbial contamination of air and environmental objects in the Clinics of the State Medical University in 2022 using swabs and aspiration method (n = 4523). Result. When comparing acute and chronic forms of diseases among groups of patients with highly resistant and low resistant strains of microorganisms, a statistically significant difference was found χ2 = 6.2 p<0.012. In 2022, in the structural subdivisions of the ISMU Clinics, positive results of washings from environmental objects were recorded in only 0.3% (95% CI 0.14 - 0.46) of studies. In the treatment room of the ENT department of the Clinic of the State Medical University in November 2022, during routine microbiological monitoring, S. aureus, which is resistant to benzylpenicillin, was isolated once. Microbiological study of biomaterial from patients of the ENT department who were hospitalized in the same period showed the presence of S. aureus which has identical resistance to antibiotics in one patient. The maximum level of resistance was registered in S. epidermidis, isolated from the biomaterial from the patient of the otorhinolaryngological department, and amounted to 88.9%. Conclusion. Chronic forms of diseases are associated with the presence of highly resistant strains of microorganisms in a patient. Given the constant circulation of resistant pathogens among patients, there is a risk of introduction and formation of hospital clones of microorganisms in medical organizations.

Reassembling digital intimacy

ASMR, an online phenomenon comprising videos in which a performer employs technologically processed sounds to evoke a pleasurable, tingling sensation in the viewer and foster a sense of intimacy has been rapidly gaining popularity in recent years, with its aesthetic increasingly adopted in popular music. The paper investigates one example of such imbrication, Zaumne’s album, Emo Dub (2018), which samples voices from ASMR videos, transforming them into disembodied intensities, detached from their original context. As such, Zaumne’s music goes beyond either merely incorporating aspects of ASMR, or deconstructing it in a critical fashion; instead, it modulates its affective potential for affording mediated intimacy. Consequently, drawing on the concepts of networked affect and assemblages, the paper argues that Zaumne’s music exhibits a form of posthuman intimacy that does not pertain to relations between subjects, but rather to attunement with the impersonal dynamic of digital networks: the constant circulation of content, and the random and contingent affective encounters that produce transpersonal identities and subjectivities.

Selection of conditions for effective inactivation of Pseudopestis avium virus (Paramyxoviridae: Orthoavulovirus: Avian orthoavulovirus 1) for the production of a Newcastle disease vaccine

Newcastle disease (ND) is classified as especially dangerous pathogen. Its primary source is an infected or recovered bird. The virus shedding begins just in a day after infection, and virus remains in the body for another 2-4 months after the recovery. The complexity of the final elimination of the causative agent of the disease lies in its ability for long-term preservation in the external environment and the possibility of constant circulation in one complex between groups of birds of different sex and age. Therefore, the main element of protecting birds from ND is immunoprophylaxis that is based on vaccines containing an inactivated ND virus (NDV). The aim of the work ‒ is to optimize the parameters of inactivation of the NDV actual strain H with formaldehyde at final concentrations of 0.01, 0.025, 0.05, and 0.1% under temperature conditions of 20 2 and 37 0.5 C. We used a virus-containing suspension of the NDV strain H with an initial biological activity of 10.75 lg EID50/cm3 grown by cultivation in 10-day-old developing chick embryos. On the 16th day after the administration of the tested suspensions of NDV inactivated at different temperatures and concentrations of the inactivant , the geometric mean titers of antibodies to NDV in sera of vaccinated birds were at least 1 : 63 in the hemagglutination inhibition reaction, indicating that the studied inactivated suspensions were antigenically active. The optimal parameters of the inactivation mode (final concentration, temperature and time of inactivation) of the NDV strain H were established. The inactivation process at 37 0.5 C with inactivant concentrations of 0.01, 0.025, 0.05, and 0.1% lasts up to 72, 22, 18, and 12 hours, respectively. The inactivation process at 20 2 C with inactivant concentrations of 0.05 and 0.1% lasts up to 22 and 18 hours, respectively.

Circulation of 137Cs in Various Forest Plants in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone during the Year

This study investigated the content of 137Cs (a long-lived radioactive isotope of caesium) in various parts of Pinus sylvestris L. (Scotch pine) and Dicranum polysetum Sw. (rugose fork-moss) at three different sites within the exclusion zone of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant over two years. The Leliv site is located within the 10 km zone, while the Paryshiv and Dytiatky sampling sites are within the 30 km zone. Samples of different P. sylvestris organs were collected, including 1- and 2-year-old branches and needles and wood and outer bark, and the entire D. polysetum. Sampling was conducted every two weeks throughout the year during 2014 and 2015. The specific activity levels of 137Cs in the samples were measured using gamma spectrometry with a CANBERRA gamma spectrometer unit and a coaxial high-purity HPGe semiconductor detector. The study found that at the Leliv and Paryshiv sites, the highest content of 137Cs in living organs of P. sylvestris was found in the wood. At the Dytiatky site, the needles and branches of the first and second years had anomalously high concentrations of radiocaesium (137Cs). This could be due to a thin layer of forest litter (1.5 cm) at that site. The study also found significant changes in the specific activity levels of 137Cs in living pine organs throughout the year. The highest concentration was observed in pine branches and needles in summer, and the maximum values in wood were observed in winter. The study suggests that a constant circulation of 137Cs in the soil–plant system can cause seasonal changes in the content of 137Cs in living pine organs. Symbiotic mycorrhizal fungi can play an important role in the circulation of radiocaesium in forest ecosystems. The outer bark of P. sylvestris did not show any seasonal changes in the content of 137Cs. It may not be involved in radiocaesium redistribution inside the plant but can serve as a long-term source of this radionuclide entering the forest litter. The study found no seasonal changes in the accumulation of 137Cs by D. polysetum, which might be due to the physiological characteristics of this plant species. Based on the analysis of the conducted studies, the recommendation is to consider the seasonal changes in the content of 137Cs during monitoring activities and when using Scots pine in areas potentially contaminated with this radionuclide.