Essential Distinctions Research Articles

Gender-age features of cardiac electrophysiological changes IN patients with arterial hypertension.

Aim. The research addresses gender-age features of cardiac electrophysiological changes in patients with arterial hypertension based on a standard electrocardiogram, high-frequency electrocardiogram and cardiointervalography data. Materials and methods. 171 patients with arterial hypertension (97 men and 74 women) aged between 30 -73 years were included. Standard 12- lead electrocardiogram, high-frequency electrocardiogram with the analysis of late potentials of atria (LPA) and ventricles (LPV), and cardiointervalography with an estimation of heart rate variability were performed in all patients. Results. It is stated, that in patients with arterial hypertension, processes of cardiac electrophysiological changes are gender-and-age dependent. In our study women showed a longer QT interval as compared to men, but QT interval prolongation did not depend on the stage of the disease. No essential sexual distinctions were found in QT interval dispersion. LPA were registered more often in male patients, while there was no significant difference in LPV registration. It is worth noting that discussed changes are observed in patients with arterial hypertension, while no significant difference was found in patients without cardiac pathology. Therefore, men show a higher sympathetic activity influencing heart rate in comparison with women. Increased QT interval duration and dispersion was found in older patients with arterial hypertension, while no distinctions in LPA and LPV registration were observed.

On the Applicability of the Most Similar Systems Design and the Most Different Systems Design in Comparative Research

In comparative political research we distinguish between the ‘Most Similar Systems Design’ (MSSD) and the ‘Most Different Systems Design’ (MDSD). In the present work, I argue that the applicability of the two research strategies is determined by the features of the research task. Three essential distinctions are important when assessing the applicability of the MSSD and the MDSD: (1) whether or not variable interactions are studied at a systemic level or at a sub‐systemic level; (2) whether we use a deductive or inductive research strategy and (3) whether or not we operate with a constant or varying dependent variable. The article argues that the combination of these dimensions is essential for how the MSSD and the MDSD can and should be used in comparative research.

Сообщества класса Trifolio—Geranietea sanguinei Th. Müller 1961 на территории города Брянска и его пригородной зоны

Grass communities of the class Trifolio—Geranietea sanguinei in territory of the city of Bryansk and his residential suburb are described. According to the Braun-Blanquet approach 5 new associations (Picrido hieraceoidis—Trlfolietum alpestris, Astero amellis—Anemonetum sylvestris, Salvio pratensis—Astragaletum ciceris, Vincetoxico hirundinario—Salvietum verticillatae, Polygalo comosae—Hieracietum bauhinia) have been established. The synecological amplitudes on gradients of soil acidity, moisture and provision by mineral nitrogen are determined. The communities occur on the dry, weakly acidic or weakly alkaline soils, with lack of mineral nitrogen. The new associations are differentiated by groups of species as well as by the Sorensen index at the range between 0.51 and 0.73. The coenofloras of syntaxa basically consist of the affine species of 3 classes: Trifolio—Geranietea sanguinei, Molinio-Arrhenatheretea and Festuco-Brometea. Besides, due to the anthropogenous influence, the affine species of classes Agropyretea repentis and Artemisietea vulgaris are constant and numerous. The essential floristic distinctions between new and associations described earlier in Western and Central Europe are revealed. The East-European associations are related to suballiance Trifolio—Geranenion sanguinei Gils et Gillissen 1976 within the alliance Geranion sanguineilb Müller 1961.

Comparative paleofloristics of the Albian-early Paleocene in the Anadyr-Koryak and North Alaska subregions, Part 3: Comparison of floras and floristic changes across the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary

Floras characterizing comparable evolutionary stages in the Anadyr-Koryak and North Alaska subregions of the North Pacific show some essential distinctions despite their similarity in general. Factors responsible for appearance of their distinctive features were most likely the paleoclimatic difference between the subregions and the constrained or even interrupted trans-Beringia migration of plants in particular intervals of geological history. Floras of both subregions survived the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary crisis without essential consequences for their evolution, and amplitude of floristic changes across the boundary was not greater than by evolutionary changes in the crisis-free Late Cretaceous. Evolution of the North Pacific floras near this boundary has been likely controlled by the long-term paleogeographic and paleoclimatic changes and by plants evolution and migration.

Connection of Forbush effects to the X-ray flares

Statistical analysis of data over a long period (1975–2005) shows that the magnitude and other characteristics of Forbush effects (for cosmic rays of 10 GV) are correlated with the power and longitude of the associated solar flares. These relations were obtained by using long-term observations of X-ray flares onboard GOES satellites, solar wind parameters and cosmic ray data. The averaged variations of galactic cosmic ray density were derived by the superposed epoch method for powerful flares that occurred within three different longitudinal intervals on the Sun. Their time profiles showed essential distinctions in both magnitude and shape. A magnitude distribution of the effects in cosmic rays and in Ap indices was obtained as a function of longitudes of solar flares associated with the interplanetary disturbances responsible for these effects. The East–West asymmetry was found for both the Forbush effects and magnetic storms: the large effects in cosmic rays are associated with the solar flares observed in the eastern or central regions of the solar disk, whereas the flares that occurred in the western portion of disk are more effective for the magnetic storms. The relation between solar wind maximum speed in the disturbance and mean transit speed of this disturbance was obtained with higher accuracy than before.

Maps of <I>fo</I>F2, <I>hm</I>F2, and plasma frequency above F2-layer peak in the night-time low-latitude ionosphere derived from Intercosmos-19 satellite topside sounding data

Abstract. Maps of foF2, hmF2, and plasma frequency, fp, in the topside ionosphere at low latitudes, derived from Intercosmos-19 satellite topside sounding data, obtained from March 1979 to January 1981 and covering all longitudes, are presented for quiet geomagnetic conditions in June and December solstices at solar maximum for several local time intervals during the night. Based on these maps, features of the equatorial anomaly (EA) at different longitudes and their change during the night are considered. The maps show that averaged foF2, hmF2, and fp longitudinal variations are rather complicated, their structure looks wave-like with quasi-periods in longitude of about 75–100°, similar to that on individual days revealed previously at low latitudes using Intercosmos-19 data. Positions of the structure extrema in certain longitude intervals are stable enough so that they are clearly seen in the maps after averaging over a large number of measurements made on different days and even in different years. Such structure seems to need at least five harmonics for its description. The maps derived from Intercosmos-19 data were compared with the maps given by the IRI model. Along with general resemblance, essential distinctions between them were found. Intercosmos-19 maps show more complicated and pronounced longitudinal structure than IRI maps. They also show that at solar maximum, in general, at night, EA is stronger and persists for a longer time (on average, until 04:00 LT) than that presented in IRI model. Besides, much stronger asymmetry between the characteristics of the EA northern and southern crests in certain longitude intervals was revealed, most evident in hmF2 maps.

Price Models and the Value Relevance of Accounting Information

Recent research in empirical accounting has raised questions about the usefulness of price models, and how this tool can be used properly given its economic and econometric problems. This paper first identifies the essential distinctions between the price and return models, and the situations in which a price model is advantageous. An alternative method of estimating price models is then developed through minimizing the symmetrized relative pricing error (LRPE); Compared to the conventional methods of deflating by BVE, Shares, lagged price, or the price itself, the LRPE regression has several advantages: (1) The estimates are economically more meaningful and substantially more accurate. Comparisons using real data show that conventional methods waste 75% of the sample relative to LRPE; (2) the predicted price from the proposed method better captures the intrinsic value of a firm. I find that a hedge portfolio based on LRPE regression gives higher returns; (3) the relative pricing error, as a measure of the value relevance of accounting information, produces intuitive conclusions, while R2 doesn't. These results suggest that LRPE regression can contribute significant refinements to empirical research utilizing the price models.

Understanding and Using Mediators and Moderators

Mediation and moderation are two theories for refining and understanding a causal relationship. Empirical investigation of mediators and moderators requires an integrated research design rather than the data analyses driven approach often seen in the literature. This paper described the conceptual foundation, research design, data analysis, as well as inferences involved in a mediation and/or moderation investigation in both experimental and non-experimental (i.e., correlational) contexts. The essential distinctions between the investigation of mediators and moderators were summarized and juxtaposed in an example of a causal relationship between test difficulty and test anxiety. In addition, the more elaborate models, moderated mediation and mediated moderation, the use of structural equation models, and the problems with model misspecification were discussed conceptually.

Modeling and calculation of bed score around large-diameter vertical cylinder under wave action

The results of studying the scour of bed composed of fine and coarse sand around models of large-diameter vertical cylinder under the effect of regular waves are presented. Comparison of the results of experiments with fine and coarse sand showed essential qualitative and quantitative distinctions between the two cases. The results of experiments with coarse sand were used to derive, for the first time, a formula for the estimation of the score depth, including two similarity criteria—the sediment motion factor (SM-factor), and Keulegan-Carpenter number. This formula is applicable to both the engineering analysis of the scour depth of gravel bed or protective riprap by crashed rock or fine stone and the approximate prediction of the scour depth of sand bed around structures under real storm conditions. The conditions for correct modeling of wave scour around structures with large horizontal dimensions are considered and the irrelevance of modeling such scour with the use of fine-sand models is demonstrated.

The Frequency of Occurrence of Koxakie-Viruses at the Patients with Hematological Malignancies and Pulmonary Infections.

Aim: To determine frequency of occurrence of Koxakie-viruses at the patients with hematological malignancies and pulmonary infections.Methods: A total 53 patients with hematological malignancies and pulmonary infections, admitted of the Novosibirsk Regional Clinical Hospital were examined. The analysis of serum in first three days was carried out at occurrence of attributes of pulmonary infection (1-st serum) and in dynamics - in 3 weeks from a beginning of an infection (2-nd serum). Definition of antibodies to a virus Koxakie-B3 (strain “Nancy”) was made in reaction of neutralization in 3-daily cultures Hep-2. Results took into account after approach of cytopathogenic effect in cultures Hep-2, containing 100 dozes of a virus in control titration. Limiting cultivation of serum, neutralizing of 100 cytopathogenic dozes of a virus, was considered as its titer.Results: At 43 of 53 examined patients on admission or in a debut of an infection (at the patients with the developed infectious complication) the neutralized antibodies to a virus Koxakie-B3 were found out in serum. Thus the titer of antibodies from 1:4 up to 1:8 was revealed at 28 patients, at 14 it has made 1:16 – 1:32 and only at one patient on admission the titer of antibodies to a virus Koxakie B3 was 1:64. The total titer of virusneutrolized antibodies on admission or in a debut of an infection was accordingly 2,03 log2 and 2,84 log2. At research of serum taken after three weeks of stay in hospital of the patients, at which the infection was not developed (after a beginning of an infection at the patients with the developed infectious complication), in both groups the increase of a titer of antibodies in 1,97 and 1,5 times was marked, accordingly, and the total titer of antibodies in log2 has made 4,0 and 4,3. It is necessary to take into account, however, that at an estimation of serologic status at virus infections the absolute parameters of antibodies titers, how many their growth in pair serums matter not so much. Thus, authentic confirmation of the current virus infection is the increase of a titer of antibodies in dynamics in 4 times and more. The essential distinctions between two chosen groups were here again revealed. And, in group with hematological malignancies without infectious complications the four-multiple increase of a antibodies titer was marked only at 4 of 26 patients, and in group with infectious complications the authentic growth of a level of antibodies to a virus Koxakie-B3 was marked more than at half of surveyed patients (15 of 27), OR=6,88; 95%CI=1,61–31,87.Conclusions: On the basis of the received results it is possible to conclude, that Koxakie B3 - virus infection is the factor enough frequently accompanying clinical current of pulmonary infections in patients with hematological malignancies.

On the well-posedness of diffraction problems for angular domains

The paper is devoted to the proof of the fact that the problem on the incidence of the plane wave on a wedge is well posed (the problem is scalar and the wave numbers inside the wedge and outside it are different). The method of the proof is similar to that used in the book by J.-P. Croisille and G. Lebeau. The most essential distinctions are related to the isomorphism theorem. Bibliography: 7 titles.

Comparative morphological, ecological, and molecular studies of Aspergillus versicolor (Vuill.) tiraboschi strains isolated from different ecotopes

Cultural, morphological, ecological, and trophic properties (growth at different temperatures and on various organic substrates), as well as molecular and genetic peculiarities of Aspergillus versicolor (Vuill) Tiraboschi strains of different origins, were determined. The strains were isolated from different ecotopes (upper horizons of modern soils of several geographic regions, ancient soils and peat, and permafrost). No essential distinctions in cultural and morphological properties were revealed between the strains. Strains obtained from peat of the Aleutian Islands were characterized by the highest radial rates of colony growth. Some variations in the ITS loci of rDNA were observed in strains isolated from different ecotopes; the distinctions were most pronounced (1.7%) in the strain isolated from 100 000-year-old permafrost.

Study of morphological and symbiotic traits during the ontogeny of supernodular and hypernodular pea mutants

Morphological (plant height and vegetative biomass amount) and symbiotic (number of nodules and nitrogenase activity) traits of six symbiotic pea mutants and the original cultivar Rondo were studied at different vegetation periods. Of the mutants studied, one (K10a) was supemodular and the remaining five (K1a, K2a, K5a, K7a, and K27a) were hypemodular. Essential distinctions in the absolute values and time course of the changes in individual morphological and symbiotic traits of different pea mutants were demonstrated. The supemodular type is inferior to the original cultivar in plant height and production of vegetative biomass, but exceeds it in nodulation and nitrogen fixation. The hypemodular mutants either surpass the original cultivar with respect to the production capacity or display similar results. The symbiotic traits-number of nodules and nitrogen fixation activity--of these mutants are higher compared with the Rondo cultivar. The mutants K1a, K2a, and K27a were demonstrated to be useful in breeding pea for an increase in nitrogen fixation.

La Justice de Dieu: 'Les Tragiques' d'Agrippa d'Aubigné et la Réforme protestante en France au XVIe siècle by Elliott Forsyth

MLR, 10I .4, 2oo6 IIII le lieu pacifique n'exclut pas la presence d'une nature menaSante et des cataclysmes de l'Histoire' (p. I I3). Also included in this edition are, first, the text of five sonnets (I572-76), belonging to the tradition of 'eloges des femmes illustres' but linking up with the general philosophical tendencies of the two major collections, and, second, in appendices but fully annotated, the remainder of Pibrac's poetry in French. Petris provides a chronological overview, an exhaustive list of editions, each with one local ization, and a full list of significant variants in those printed during Pibrac's lifetime. A glossary, index, table of incipits and full bibliography complete this model edition. UNIVERSITYOFWALES, LAMPETER TREVORPEACH La 7ustice de Dieu: 'Les Tragiques' d'Agrippa d'Aubigne et laReforme protestante en France au xvie siecle. By ELLIOTT FORSYTH. (Etudes et Essais sur laRenais sance, 57) Paris: Champion. 2005. 567 pp. ?IO5. ISBN 2-7453-I I28-X. Having amply treated the notion of vengeance in the French tragedies of the Renais sance and the baroque period (La TragMdiefranraise deyodelle a Corneille I553-I640 (Paris: Champion, I994)), Elliott Forsyth continues to approach the additional ques tion of divine justice in thework by Agrippa d'Aubigne entitled Les Tragiques. These two themes aremore closely related than one might suppose since the justice present inAubigne's work takes on an essentially vindictive form. The crucial problem with which the Protestants who experienced the religious wars were faced is the following: how to reconcile divine grace and justice with the contemporary events which showed the oppressors triumphing with impunity and the just being persecuted without any apparent reaction from God? Forsyth traces a three-phased evolution of the idea of justice during the Renaissance. In Calvinist thought, the notion of Providence em phasizes the value of salvation in divine justice, which in turn authorizes tribulations as away of testing and correcting the faithful. Yet the reality of the wars rather dis credits this point of view and pushes Calvin's successors to emphasize a punitive aspect of justice which would promise the due punishment of the oppressors for their crimes. After theMassacre of Saint Bartholomew, when there isno apparent evidence of an act of punishment from God, consideration of justice moves to an apocalyptic structure with the Final Judgement carrying the banner of hope, hope that is founded on the immediate judgement of the perverted. The first part (Chapters I and 2) provides a conceptual framework for the analysis of the notion of justice through research in the biblical texts and in the writings of the primary Reformers. Three essential distinctions can be displayed. First there is the difference between two types of justice, which correspond to two different words inHebrew (tsedeq and mishpat): the justice of salvation (iustitia Dei) and the justice of punishment or judgement (iudicium), the first corresponding to providential will designed for the good of the faithful in the scope of the Alliance, the second aimed at the application of the principles of uprightness and equity. Then there is the defini tion of three phases of punitive action: chastisement (of the sinners in order to reform them), vengeance (against the enemies of God, instruments of the punishment of the population), and judgement (which inaugurates the definitive reign of God). Finally there is the distinction between prophecy (which seeks to influence present actions and believes in the possibility of redemption) and apocalypse (which is aimed at the End and insists not on pardon but on the interruption of the cycle of justice). In the second part (Chapters 3 to 7) Forsyth analyses the theme of justice in Les Tragiques. He applies the three-part scheme to the structure of the poem by making Books Iand II the punishment phase, Books iii, Iv, and v he describes as an interme diary moment (God's 'patience', which awaits the 'height of sin' before intervening), I I I2 Reviews Book vi as vengeance, and Book vii as judgement. This part is by far themost fastidi ous. It iscertainly useful for its collection of references to the Bible and toCalvinism as well as for itsmeticulous display of apocalyptic themes and...

Crystal structure and characterization of l-arginine chlorate and l-arginine bromate

The salts l-arginine.HClO 3 and l-arginine.HBrO 3, were synthesized. The crystals obtained were characterized by IR and NQR spectroscopy, thermal analysis, Nd:YAG laser radiation second harmonic generation , dielectric, piezoelectric and pyroelectric measurements and their crystal structures were determined. l-arginine.HClO 3 and l-arginine.HBrO 3 are crystallized in orthorhombic (space group P2 12 12 1) and triclinic (space group P1) systems, respectively. Their structures consist of the protonated arginine cation [ +(H 2N) 2CNH(CH 2) 3CH(NH 3 +)COO −] and respective ClO 3 − or BrO 3 − anions. Hydrogen bonds (stronger in the bromate) connect anions with cations and the latter with each other. However, these salts have essential distinctions in crystal packing.

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF EFFICIENCY OF DESTANDAU ENDOSCOPIC DISCECTOMY AND OPEN MICROSURGICAL DISCECTOMY FOR LUMBAR DISC HERNIATION

Objectives. To estimate efficiency, safety and traumatizing impact of endoscopic discectomy in comparison with traditional microsurgical discectomy. Material and methods. A total of 330 patients underwent Destandau endoscopic discectomy and 964 – open microsurgical discectomy. The operative times, terms of patient postoperative bed and hospital stays, postoperative dynamics of neurologic deficiency, surgical complications and frequency of herniation recurrences were estimated in both groups. Pain intensity was assessed with the 10-score Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and functional activity – with the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Results of surgical treatment were estimated in 8–10 days, 6 and 12 months after operation. Results. VAS and ODI data have not revealed essential distinctions in pain regression dynamics after endoscopic and open surgeries. Surgical complications after endoscopic intervention were not more often, than after microsurgical discectomy. Damage of dura mater occurred in 2.4 % of cases, and increase in neurologic deficiency (hypoesthesia) – in 0.6 %. Herniation recurrences have evolved in 3.0 % of cases after endoscopic discectomy and in 4.7 % – after open microsurgical one. Conclusion. Destandau endoscopic surgery is a low invasive method of effective treatment for lumbar disc herniations, which by its technical opportunities and results is competitive with classical open microsurgical discectomy.

Ferrofluids: flexibility of magnetic particle chains

Conformational properties of dipolar chains, and spatial and orientational intra-chaincorrelations in zero and infinitely strong external fields are investigated theoretically. Astriking similarity and essential distinctions between the chains and polymer molecules arerevealed and discussed. The main attention is given to the chain flexibility. The coil–globulephase transition in dipolar chains is predicted.

Energy-flow patterns and bifurcations of two-dimensional cavity solitons

An analysis of two-dimensional spatial optical solitons in a large-aperture class A laser with a saturable absorber is developed. New types of rotating asymmetric solitons are found by computing the governing equation. The existence of weakly and strongly coupled solitons is demonstrated. Essential distinctions between them manifest themselves in the pattern of energy flows. A strongly coupled state evolves with time from an initial superposition of the fields of two solitons via successive bifurcations (topological changes in the energy-flow pattern).

Numerical simulation of the fine structure of domain walls in rare-earth orthoferrites

The structure of a solitary domain wall (DW) with a Bloch line in rare-earth orthoferrites is determined using numerical methods for the values of the material parameters lying beyond the range in which the can be found analytically solution. The law of rotation of the DW magnetization vector, the effective DW width, and the energy per unit length of the Bloch line are determined. It is shown that a more accurate treatment of the two-dimensional DW using numerical methods makes it possible to reveal essential distinctions in the fine structure of the DW in comparison to the approximate analytical solutions.

Single-ion fluorescence spectroscopy of a Y 2SiO 5:Pr 3+ nanocluster

Confocal fluorescence microscopy has been used to study the fluorescence spectrum and fluorescence decay of a single Pr 3+ ion incorporated into a Y 2SiO 5 nanocluster prepared by sol–gel method. Two emission spectra of Y 2SiO 5:Pr 3+ nanoclusters characterized by different size (20 and 5 nm) has been observed. Depending on the annealing time, persistent transition between two emission spectra was not established. It has been found that the cluster exhibits essential distinctions from the corresponding bulk crystal regarding the splitting of Pr 3+ terms and a suppression of phonon relaxation between crystal-field components of the 1 D 2 term.