bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improvement to electricity generation systems by using a refrigeration machine and solar concentrator for air cooling
Authors: Osintsev K V , Perekopnaya Y A , Korabelnikova D P
Published: November 2020

A process scheme of using the absorption refrigeration machine in electricity generation systems in case of application of air cooling system of the steam turbine electric generators has been developed. The proposed scheme increases thermal power plant efficiency by 0.1-0.2% according to preliminary estimates, primarily by reducing power consumption on pumps and fans drive, as well as by reducing temperature of cooling heat carrier in the period with high ambient temperatures. A feature of the proposed technology is the combination of the most efficient air-cooling scheme and the absorption plant cycle in a single power technology complex. In this refrigeration machine, the working fluid is a binary mixture, one of the components of which is called a refrigerant, and the other one is an absorbent, where the liquid absorbent can absorb the refrigerant vapor. For the first time it is proposed to use an absorption refrigerating machine as the cooling system element of steam turbine electric generators. Currently, there are advanced air-cooling systems using multi-jet cooling for turbo-generators with a capacity of 3 to 180 MW. Finally, it can be used to increase the unit capacity of power units on the thermal power plants that use air-cooled power generators.
Concept and role of environmental expert review during the construction of real estate
Authors: Baskakova E A , Bliznukova T V , Giliazitdinova E M , Konokotin N G , Vedmanova O O
Published: November 2020

In Russia an investment construction project is considered a time-limited investment enterprise, which is aimed at the creation of a new, unique real estate property. The availability and use of such a property is necessary to achieve investment objectives. However, it is necessary to take into account all the necessary research at the stage of business planning. It is necessary to carry out environmental research during the construction of real estate in order to maintain safety and improve the comfort of people’s lives, as well as to use rationally natural resources of our planet. At the business planning stage, such aspects as pollution of the air basin, soil and water bodies, reduction of biological diversity, use and disposal of hazardous and toxic waste, salinization and bogging of lands and the impact of noise exposure from the sources of the facility on the state of the air environment are considered.
Some aspects of the provision of land in the implementation of housing in order to fulfill the agreement on integrated development of the territory
Authors: Borodina O B , Rasskazova A A , Kuznecova S G
Published: November 2020

The article assesses some of the problems that arise in the practical application of the norms of civil, land and other Russian legislation when concluding and fulfilling an agreement on the integrated development of territories for housing construction. The authors pay special attention to the issue of the content ratio of such concepts as type of permitted use of a land plot and integrated development of the territory. There is a need to introduce such permitted type of land use as integrated development of territories for the period of construction. The authors draw attention to the totality of obligations under the agreement on the integrated development of the participants’ territory and note that their violation by state authorities and local authorities can lead to improper fulfillment of obligations by the developer, which will lead to termination of land lease agreement and additional costs for land lease. The authors propose developing a mechanism to protect the interests of the developer when concluding an agreement on leasing a land plot, in order to implement an agreement on the integrated development of the territory.
Ecological and geographical studies of agricultural nature management
Authors: Dontsov A V , Semochkin V N , Sorokina O A , Geraskin M M , Fedorinov A V
Published: November 2020

The article describes the concept of rational environmental management, existing approaches to identification of its main types, criteria for classifying natural resources in modern environmental science. The priority direction and means of preventing the environmentally crisis is recognized as a landscape-ecological approach. The role of an ecological-geographical analysis of agricultural nature management and environmental protection was described, the main goal of geographical research of its components was identified. An analysis of natural and social laws, and their interaction was carried out. The role of regional laws and features of interconnections in the development of nature, economy and population aimed at ensuring environment and resource-reproducing functions was described.
Introduction into the circulation of unused defense and security lands of the Far Eastern Federal District
Authors: Khlystun V N , Murasheva A A , Vdovenko A V , Lepekhin P P , Ivanova N A
Published: November 2020

The article sets forth material that relates to the current state and prospects of introducing into circulation unused defense and security lands in the Far Eastern Federal District of Russia. The article shows which factors are constraining and which are stimulating such development, as well as the degree of influence of each group of factors on the identification, assessment and formation of a land plot, as well as recommendations for their civilian use in the Russian Far East. In the process, a number of major problems were identified related to the management of land owned by the Russian Ministry of Defense, in particular in the subjects of the Far Eastern Federal District. The practical significance is that the results of the study can be useful when working with unused defense and security lands not only in the Far Eastern region, but throughout the Russian Federation.
Thirty years of land transformation in Russia
Authors: Khlystun V N , Stolyarov V M
Published: November 2020

The transformation of the Soviet planned economic model into a modern Russian market economy would not have been possible without large-scale privatization of the means of production, a large share of which is agricultural land. In contrast to the privatization of industry, which was carried out and completed in a relatively short time by historical standards, formation of private ownership of land continues to this day, having exceeded thirty years. In accordance with the goal of the land reform initiated in the early 1990s, over 115 million hectares of agricultural land were to be transferred to private ownership of more than 12 million people. The main tool for the implementation of land reform became the so-called “Land shares”. Nevertheless, a number of issues have not yet been resolved; a certain tension remains in land relations and the formation of a civilized land market. The content of the article presents the author’s position on the assessment of the causes, content and consequences of land transformations in Russia and proposals on the formation of a set of measures for their successful completion.
Implementation of the Far Eastern Hectare program as a tool to improve land management in the Khabarovsk Territory
Authors: Murasheva A A , Khlystun V N , Stolyarov V M , Ivanova N A , Chepurin E M
Published: November 2020

By the end of the first decade of the 21st century, an extremely serious migration situation had developed in the Far Eastern region of the Russian Federation, which was characterized by the alarming rate of population outflow from this already sparsely populated region of the country. Between 1991 and 2010, according to various estimates, the population of the Far East decreased by 1.8 million people or by 22%. Of all the constituent entities of the Russian Federation that are part of the Far Eastern Federal District, not one is characterized by positive population growth rates. In this regard, the Government has developed a number of measures aimed at breaking the tense migration situation. The so-called “Far Eastern hectare” has become the main instrument for the implementation of the new migration and economic policies in this region. The article sets forth material related to the development of proposals to ensure the sustainable development of rural territories of the Far Eastern Federal District of the Russian Federation through the implementation of the Far Eastern Hectare program. The practical significance lies in the fact that the results of the study can be useful in identifying and forming land for the Far Eastern Hectare program.
Cadastral land valuation in the system of organizational and economic measures regulating land and property relations
Authors: Pylaeva A V
Published: November 2020

The article deals with the practice of calculating the cadastral value of land plots based on the land surveying and property registration costs in the Russian Federation in 2018–2019. The empirical research base is 29 reports on the results of the state cadastral valuation provided by the State Cadastral Valuation Data Fund. The study revealed a lack of uniformity in calculating land surveying and property registration costs. It is necessary to make a federal decision on the minimum cost of land plots which can be used in regulating land and property relations.
Present-day situation and potential of agricultural land use in Omsk region
Authors: Rogatnev Yu M , Veselova M N , Garafutdinova L V , Medanova K V
Published: November 2020

The article discusses the main characteristics of agricultural land use in the Omsk region: the size of land use by regions and agricultural organizations, their legal status; the state of their main production parameters - fertility, technological properties, location relative to economic centers and centers of economic influence on land use. These parameters mainly determine the production potential of agricultural land use. The land use was grouped by the size of the land used, which made it possible to calculate the share of land used in agricultural organizations on the basis of ownership and lease. The current disadvantages of land lease and their economic consequences are indicated. A significant variety of the basic dimensions and legal status of lands has been established both in the region as a whole and in the natural and agricultural zones. Based on the quality of land, their production potential has been determined. It is shown that their zonal differences form a heterogeneous production basis for agricultural production. To confirm this, an analysis was made of the influence of the production potential of the land on the efficiency of crop production, both for the basic farms of all natural and agricultural zones, and for the region as a whole. The conditions of the realization of the potential of the land are analyzed taking into account labor supply, fund provision and land qualities and their influence on the results and efficiency of agricultural production. Based on this, economic and organizational measures are recommended to reduce differences in the agricultural land use system of the region, as well as increase its production potential.
Land use parameters ensuring sustainable development of agricultural producers taking into account characteristics of climatic zones and land quality
Authors: Rogatnev Yu M , Puminova K A , Garafutdinova L V , Medanova K V
Published: November 2020

Land use parameters determine to a large extent not only the scale, but also the efficiency of agricultural production. The article gives a description of the size and other qualitative characteristics of land use resulting from the agrarian transformations. The area of arable land used, including rented and owned by agricultural organizations, is shown by natural agricultural zones and the region as a whole. Based on the analysis of the influence of the size of arable land on the farm, the bonitet score, the technological properties of arable plots and their remoteness from production centers on the productivity and efficiency of crop production, the parameters providing effective and sustainable development of the industry were substantiated. In general, the trend of greater efficiency of crop production with a large land use is confirmed. As a result of the analysis, the marginal parameters of land quality were determined (bonitet score, index of estimated costs of the distance from economic centers to arable land), ensuring efficient crop production. These data were obtained for all natural and agricultural zones of the region. The validity of the parameters is determined by the state of agricultural production and is recommended for the next 5 years. In the future, such an analysis should be repeated periodically. The parameters obtained as a result of the study are recommended for use in the management of agricultural production and land use. They allow one to determine the main priorities in the agricultural policy of the region, including objects of state and regional support for agricultural production.
Integrated modeling for assessing the rational use of agricultural land
Authors: Svetlakov V I , Sevostiyanov A V , Konokotin N G , Vedmanova O O
Published: November 2020

The article discusses the possibility of using integrated modeling to determine the rational use of agricultural land. Models for agricultural land, agricultural production buildings and settlements were developed. The principles of social and economic assessment of the use of territories by the level of their capitalization were described. The models reflect the state of territories and their individual components when making decisions on investment to ensure sustainable development of the territory. Scientific and technological progress and innovations are changing the ratio in the resource provision of the constituent territories, creating an imbalance in the resources of its elements, which develops the system. Violation of the “reference” distribution of resources of the model’s layers causes instability, excessive or insufficient resources determining the control subject of the area. The materials make it possible to supplement the theoretical provisions on land management, including the introduction of an indicator of socio-economic development of the territory; capitalization ratios of the individual components of the territory, reflecting the essence of the territory as a land resource with improvements, taking into account the share of each participant in the reconstruction of the territory, which integrates the harmonious state of the territory as a spatial-territorial system.
Comprehensive cadastral work as a tool for effective land management through the example of Khabarovsk
Authors: Vdovenko A V , Murasheva A A , Stolyarov V M , Lepekhin P P , Jukova N V
Published: November 2020

Over the five-year period from 2015 to the present, land surveying, cadastral and appraisal activities in the field of land and property relations have undergone significant changes associated with the merger of two main data bases – the real estate cadastre and the rights register – into a single state real estate register. The so-called "comprehensive cadastral works" gained wide distribution. The article sets forth material that relates to the current state and prospects for the development of integrated cadastral works for updating the database data of the Unified State Register of Real Estate for use in the field of managing territories and real estate objects. The article shows which factors are constraining and which are stimulating, as well as the degree of influence of some factors on the conduct of complex cadastral works in order to identify unused or inefficiently used land plots of real estate to form investment-attractive plots for the effective development of territories. The practical significance lies in the fact that the results of the study can be useful when performing integrated cadastral works.
Ecotourism in the Chechen Republic: resource potential
Authors: Zaburaeva Kh Sh , Abumuslimov A A , Daukaev A A , Abumuslimova I A
Published: November 2020

The article analyzes the natural resource potential of the Chechen Republic in the context of the ecologically oriented tourism. It examines the functions and possibilities of ecological tourism as well as the versatility of approaches to its definition in domestic and foreign publications as well. Weaknesses in the region’s recreational opportunities like underdeveloped infrastructure, poor promotion of ecological tourism product, shortage of highly qualified personnel in tourism and others have been identified along with the favorable prerequisites being high landscape diversity, significant recreational resources, rich cultural and historical heritage, special mentality of the population, etc. In the future, the solution of these problems and the development of eco-tourism in the Chechen Republic will allow engaging remote areas (settlements) in the economic activity, thus contributing to the development of small business as well as engaging the local population in the tourism industry for preserving landscape and biological diversity.
Urban land planning for public spaces according to established zoning of cities and towns
Authors: Akhmedova E A , Leonova V A
Published: November 2020

The article analyses and explores the regularities of formation of city-planning structure of historically formed suburban areas of localities. The examples of suburbs and districts having immediate connection with the historic downtown as exemplified by modern highly-urbanized districts of European countries and the USA are dealt with. The aim and tasks of the research are to view and analyse the set systems of public spaces in the historically formed zones of megalopolises so that to predict brand travel itineraries, new unique objects of different typology on the degenerating territories of rural-type settlements on their basis. In the course of research the main criteria of urban carcass of a city and place’s suburban areas formation were distinguished, that allows to create abstract model of branding of place and comfortable city environment on the basis of the research.
Assessment of ecological state of the Chogray reservoir using remote sensing of the Earth (Stavropol Territory, Russia)
Authors: Trautvain S A , Iliukh M P , Drup V D , Zelenskaya T G , Stukalo V A , Stepanenko E E
Published: November 2020

The article presents the assessment of the quality of the waters of the Chogray reservoir. The authors describe the hydrochemistry, the dynamics of changes in the salinity of the water and the water regime of the reservoir. The main sources of water pollution are identified. The quality of the waters of the Chogray reservoir is assessed.
Environmental monitoring of North-West Pre-Caspian liman lands using GIS technologies
Authors: Dedova E B , Shabanov R M , Vershinin V V , Dedov A A
Published: November 2020

Liman irrigation is an effective irrigation method in arid conditions of the Russian Pre-Caspian, which includes the territory of the Republic of Kalmykia ensuring the rational use of local surface runoff and other types of water resources and serving a reliable source of cheap and quality fodder. Based on the existing experience and experimental data, the paper states methodological bases and regulations of the regional monitoring system of ecological-reclamation state of lands and phytocenoses within limans, which ensure effective control of such indicators as fertility level (content of humus, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and heavy metals in soil); degree of salinization and alkalinization (using a zonal scale that takes into account the level of resistance of phytocenoses within limans to these negative processes); water-physical and structural properties (particle-size distribution, density, field moisture capacity, etc.), as well as species composition of vegetation (using the developed zonal classification scale) and productivity level and quality composition of fodder. The system of local environmental monitoring of Small Captain – the key section of liman irrigation system – is considered as an example. Based on the results of satellite image processing, the areas of liman zones with different NDVI levels in the time interval from 1985 to 2019 are calculated. The dynamics of the NDVI change of the Small Captain liman plant cover is shown, reflecting the true degradation picture of liman irrigation land during the considered period of study.
Innovative approaches to the formation of an intellectual system of support of decision making during the solution of tasks of management of land resources
Authors: Galchenko S A , Antropov D V , Komarov S I , Zhdanova R V , Kirillov R A
Published: November 2020

The article discusses innovative approaches to the formation of an intelligent decision support system for solving problems of land management, land use, cadastral and market valuation of lands, management of specially protected natural territories and objects. The research results can be used in the formation of intelligent management systems for the subsequent creation of an information resource digital platform for land use, the development of an information resource digital platform for intelligent management of agriculture and land use systems at the level of an economic entity and a region for the transition to a highly productive agricultural sector of a new technological structure, as well as for the adoption of effective managerial decisions, which will also increase the rationality and the possibility of involving land uses, subject to special protection, including those included in the territory of historical settlements and related to the territories of small towns. From the point of view of assessing agricultural land plots, or territories of cultural and historical interest, a complex of language and software tools designed to create, maintain and share a database by one or many users is one of the most promising methods of storage, processing and using data.
Monitoring of the Gissar Valley’s irrigated lands in the Republic of Tajikistan based on the use of GIS technologies
Authors: Lepekhin P P , Aliev N N , Lebedev P P , Kamov L P , Ivanova N A
Published: November 2020

Land use in the Republic of Tajikistan is characterized by very difficult conditions for conducting useful economic activities. The crop industry is experiencing a shortage of suitable arable irrigated land (total arable land, according to various estimates, makes up about 5% of the total area of the country), which is clearly expressed in the decline in gross agricultural production. Scientists and practitioners have noted negative trends, indicating a decrease in specific indicators of per capita provision of agricultural land. All this necessitates the development of mechanisms and methods for a qualitative study of the current state of land use and the development of recommendations to prevent its further degradation. The article sets forth material that relates to the current state and prospects of obtaining and processing updated data on irrigated lands of the Republic of Tajikistan using modern information and communication technologies and GIS. It is shown which factors are constraining and which factors are stimulating in the republic. The practical significance lies in the fact that the results of the study can be useful in the study of the condition and use of irrigated lands, as well as in the effective management of these lands.
Regions at the All-Russian Agricultural and Handicraft Industrial Exhibition, 1923: Geography, Ethnology, and Art
Authors: Elina O Yu
Published: November 2020

This paper examines regional expositions at the All-Russian Agricultural and Handicraft Industrial Exhibition, which took place in Moscow in 1923. The study aims to reconstruct the geographical, historical, ethnological, and art contexts of these expositions. The objective of the study includes identifying the ambitions of the Bolshevik leaders to publicly demonstrate their national discourse at the exhibition. The focus of the study is on republican pavilions and local departments of the “Village” section of the exhibition. It is shown that one of the goals of the exhibition was to convince the public in the advantages of unification of the “Sovietised” national republics and autonomous regions into the USSR. The other goal was to articulate, along with “global”, “local” context of the show: to display identity and peculiarity of a particular region. The paper argues that the exhibition became a tool for promoting modernisation (both agricultural and social) for the whole territory of the USSR, including its geographically distant parts.
V.I. Vernadsky and others on the profession of ‘historian of science’
Authors: Ilizarov S S
Published: November 2020

The emergence of the profession of ‘historian of science’ in Russia in the 20th century is examined based on the works of the eminent Russian scientists: Academicians V.I. Vernadsky and A.S. Lappo-Danilevskii, and others. The paper describes the interplay of the processes of professionalisation and disciplinary development of the history of science as well as creation of the first specialised research centres: the “Russian Science” Subcommission, the History of Knowledge Commission, and the Institute for the History of Science and Technology. However, normal development of the profession of historian of science and formation of the historico-scientific community whose leader, Academician Bukharin, fell victim to intraparty strife of the late 1930s led to the institutional destruction of the history of science in the USSR and distortion of its image as a separate profession.
The origin of the state system of land surveying in the times of Kievan and Moscow Rus in the X–XV century
Authors: Ilyushina T V
Published: November 2020

As early as during the reign of Yaroslav the Wise (1019-1054), the main legislative source Russkaya Pravda (1054) was compiled, indicating the types of land ownership, borders and areas of land plots for taxation. This was the first step towards creating the simplest system of accounting and evaluation of land and other natural resources in the state on a legislative basis. Methods of land division depended on the structure of ancient Slavic settlements. The first artificial borders appeared for economic needs. Appearance of the first industries-hunting, fishing, cattle breeding, poultry farming and others, was the reason for the appearance of the first signs indicating places of private use. Drawings of land were made based on the results of inspections, inventories and simple measurements, the length of lines was measured with a measuring rope, and the area of agricultural land and forests was determined.By the beginning of the 15th century, there was a need for state land surveying (determining the location, describing borders, calculating areas, issuing legal documents for ownership, resolving disputes over land), as well as collecting information about state borders and natural resources. In X–XV centuries, not only the first important concepts of surveying were developed, but also the beginnings of the cadastre system of land accounting and division of 16–17 centuries were formed.
The reaction of Soviet palaeontologists to the August 1948 Session of VASKhNIL (journal discussion in 1952/1953)
Authors: Lyubina G I , Klavdieva M M
Published: November 2020

Unlike the phenomenon of Lysenkoism that has been extensively covered in the history of science, the palaeontological discussion on the state of Soviet palaeontology in the wake of the notorious August 1948 Session of VASKhNIL that demolished Soviet genetics has remained overlooked so far. This paper describes the situation in Soviet palaeontology before this discussion and the role of Academician Borisyak in the development of palaeontology in the Soviet Union, and names the initiators, participants, and goals of the palaeontological discussion. The role of Davitashvili in the attempt to tarnish the name and scientific legacy of Borisyak is discussed in detail. However, despite overall atmosphere of despondency that reigned in Soviet biology at the time, the palaeontologists, overall, managed to assert both the priority and the value of their works and avoid administrative and physical repressions. This paper suggests the reasons why they succeeded.
Landscape and historical research of ancient natural resource management on the Taman Peninsula
Authors: Nizovtsev V A , Erman N M
Published: November 2020

Taman Peninsula was selected as a key area for detailed landscape and nature studies. In the antique period, it was a part of the Bosporus state. Over a long period of uninterrupted economic use the landscape structure has changed significantly – the majority of local landscape complexes have been anthropogenically transformed. According to paleo-geographic reconstructions, the Taman Peninsula was a group of islands that were split by the river arms of the Kuban-Antikit. The elements of the antique settlement system were city-states (Phanagoria, Hermonassa, Kepoi, Patrei), rural settlements, roads, as well as plots of land. Rural district (khora) filled natural geographical boundaries – territorial and economic local microzones and occupied the whole islands: Cimmerida, Phanagoria and Sindika with one dominant city each. Around the settlements, along with vineyards, crops and vegetables occupied the main area of plains characterized with the steppe and dry-steppe landscape complexes. The most developed ones were landscape complexes of low-sloped plains and valleys of synclinal origin. Boundary fences of land plots fit into the terrain, which contributed to snow and water retention and prevented rain flows. At that time, a developed reclamation system existed. Perhaps this was the first experience of managing land plots in the territory of our country. As a result of the research conducted, a common set of anthropogenically transformed landscape complexes of the Taman Peninsula was identified, and a fundamental diagram of the landscape-economic system of the Khora of Phanagoria was made. Detailed landscape and historical studies with historical reconstructions of landscapes and nature and economic systems have allowed to trace distinct dependance of the development of cities, villages and farm lands of antique period on the landscape structure of the territory.
The genesis of ideas about ice phenomena: from the first fixations to the beginning of the XVIII century
Authors: Savenkova V M
Published: November 2020

The study of ice events on rivers is of great importance, especially in our country where some rivers are covered by ice for months. The needs of shipping, the construction and operation of hydraulic structures, the study of channel deformations caused by ice phenomena and other purposes require knowledge of the ice regime of the rivers. The article explores the beginning of visual observations of ice phenomena and their consequences on the rivers of Russia in the XI-XVII centuries. The study is based on numerous annalistic sources describing the passage of high water, floods, and also indicate the dates of opening and freezing of rivers. It also analyzes notes of foreigners travelling throughout Russia in the 15th - early 18th centuries. The authors separately examined the observation of the passage of spring floods on the Moscow River in the second half of the 17th century.
Central Geographical Museum: To the 150th anniversary of V.P. Semenov-Tian-Shansky
Authors: Shleeva M V , Savenkova V M
Published: November 2020

The paper is dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the outstanding Russian scientist V.P. Semenov-Tian-Shansky and the 100th anniversary of the Central Geographical Museum that he organized in Leningrad and that existed from 1919 to 1941. The authors, basing on analysis of publications concerned both with the museum itself and those people who were involved in its arrangement, made an attempt to outline historical and cultural conditions that hastened the emergence of the museum, to reveal its specificity as compared with similar museums, and to briefly describe its founders. The paper deals with such issues as the environment which gave birth to the idea of a “museum in nature”; Semenov-Tian-Shansky’s activities preceding his museum practice; the influence of V.I. Lamansky’s ideas on principles of the museum building; earlier museums of similar character; the role of the Russian Geographical Society and its members in the establishment of the museum; the beginning of the museum’s exposition activity. Despite the fact that this absolutely original, unparalleled project of the geographical park-museum was not realized in full it belongs to national cultural heritage and its practical experience remains demanded and relevant.
Theoretical model and experimental investigation optically triggered hollow-cathode discharge formation
Authors: HUO Weijie , HU Jing , CAO Xiaotong , QIN Ling , ZHAO Wansheng
Published: November 2020

In order to investigate the process of optically triggered discharge formation, a model of ion space-charge formation based on classical plane electrodes and revised for a characteristic hollow-cathode discharge (HCD) configuration is proposed in this paper. The primary modified factor in our model is the penetrating electric-field parameter, which influences the ionization of trigger electrons and is calculated via particle simulation. Optical-trigger experiments are carried out using different voltages and under different seed-electron conditions, provided by two different photocathodes, Cu and Mg. The ion-accumulation rates calculated by our model are compared to the discharge-formation time, which is deduced from optical-trigger experiments. The results demonstrate that the process of positive space-charge formation is dominant in the HCD formation process or trigger delay, which is highly dependent on the seeding-electron density and applied voltage, and can therefore be quantitatively described by our model. Additionally, electron-beam generation is investigated by optically triggered HCD experiments on Mg- and Cu-photocathode-based devices. The results show that a more efficient trigger device is capable of generating an electron beam with higher amplitude and density.
“Indeterminate” UroVysion Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization Results
Authors: Xu Jing , Westfall Danielle E , Lopategui Jean R
Published: November 2020

Objectives

UroVysion cases with one to three abnormal cells that do not meet the threshold for positivity may be better classified as “indeterminate.” The aim of this study is to determine the incidence and clinical significance of these indeterminate UroVysion results.

Methods

The UroVysion fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) results over a 4-year period in our institution were retrospectively analyzed. Follow-up of the initial UroVysion cases, including urine cytology or bladder biopsy performed within 12 months of the initial diagnosis of the result, was obtained from pathology reports.

Results

A significant fraction (178 of 1,907, 9.3%) of the UroVysion cases had indeterminate results. Overall, the subsequent malignancy rate of the group with indeterminate UroVysion results (14 of 59, 23.7%) was higher than the group with normal results (48 of 319, 15.0%), although the difference was not significant (P = .124). For patients without a history of urinary tract neoplasm, the subsequent malignancy rate in the group with indeterminate results (7 of 18, 38.9%) was significantly higher than the group with normal results (16 of 103, 15.5%) (P = .044).

Conclusions

Our results support that indeterminate UroVysion FISH result may warrant closer clinical follow-up in patients without a history of urinary tract neoplasm. We suggest reporting these cases as “aneusomy of undetermined significance.”
Effectiveness of a decontamination procedure in a pharmacy buffer room contaminated by 5 antineoplastic agents
Authors: Arpino Paul , Yeomelakis Jason , Oommen Anisha
Published: November 2020

Purpose

Healthcare facilities are obligated to implement strategies to protect healthcare workers from exposure to hazardous drugs, including any real or potential risk from contaminated surfaces. Guidelines are broad and lack sufficient detail for healthcare facilities to establish clear effectiveness targets for their decontamination procedures. Our goal in this analysis was to measure the effectiveness of a decontamination procedure in a pharmacy buffer room contaminated with 5 antineoplastic drugs.

Methods

Six rounds of contamination, decontamination, and wipe sampling were performed in a pharmacy buffer room designated for hazardous drug (HD) compounding. Ten locations in the buffer room were contaminated with 5-fluorouracil, carboplatin, cyclophosphamide, paclitaxel, and doxorubicin. Pharmacy staff were blinded to contamination sites. After contamination, 3 pharmacy technicians following the same decontamination procedure decontaminated the buffer room. To assess the impact of decontamination, residual hazardous drug levels were assessed after contamination and after decontamination using a commercially available wipe sampling product.

Results

The mean (SD) residual contamination levels for the 239 wipe samples taken before and after decontamination were 63 (60) ng and 3.9 (8.2) ng, respectively, representing a 94% reduction in residual HD contamination. Residual contamination was not detectable (<5 ng) in 221 (~93%) of the samples after decontamination.

Conclusion

The employed decontamination procedures effectively reduced residual HD surface contamination.
Novel ChIP-seq simulating program with superior versatility: isChIP
Authors: Subkhankulova Tatiana , Naumenko Fedor , Tolmachov Oleg E , Orlov Yuriy L
Published: November 2020

Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by next-generation sequencing (ChIP-seq) is recognized as an extremely powerful tool to study the interaction of numerous transcription factors and other chromatin-associated proteins with DNA. The core problem in the optimization of ChIP-seq protocol and the following computational data analysis is that a ‘true’ pattern of binding events for a given protein factor is unknown. Computer simulation of the ChIP-seq process based on ‘a-priory known binding template’ can contribute to a drastically reduce the number of wet lab experiments and finally help achieve radical optimization of the entire processing pipeline. We present a newly developed ChIP-sequencing simulation algorithm implemented in the novel software, in silico ChIP-seq (isChIP). We demonstrate that isChIP closely approximates real ChIP-seq protocols and is able to model data similar to those obtained from experimental sequencing. We validated isChIP using publicly available datasets generated for well-characterized transcription factors Oct4 and Sox2. Although the novel software is compatible with the Illumina protocols by default, it can also successfully perform simulations with a number of alternative sequencing platforms such as Roche454, Ion Torrent and SOLiD as well as model ChIP -Exo. The versatility of isChIP was demonstrated through modelling a wide range of binding events, including those of transcription factors and chromatin modifiers. We also performed a comparative analysis against a few existing ChIP-seq simulators and showed the fundamental superiority of our model. Due to its ability to utilize known binding templates, isChIP can potentially be employed to help investigators choose the most appropriate analytical software through benchmarking of available ChIP-seq programs and optimize the experimental parameters of ChIP-seq protocol. isChIP software is freely available at https://github.com/fnaumenko/isChIP.
Topological network measures for drug repositioning
Authors: Badkas Apurva , De Landtsheer Sébastien , Sauter Thomas
Published: November 2020

Drug repositioning has received increased attention since the past decade as several blockbuster drugs have come out of repositioning. Computational approaches are significantly contributing to these efforts, of which, network-based methods play a key role. Various structural (topological) network measures have thereby contributed to uncovering unintuitive functional relationships and repositioning candidates in drug-disease and other networks. This review gives a broad overview of the topic, and offers perspectives on the application of topological measures for network analysis. It also discusses unexplored measures, and draws attention to a wider scope of application efforts, especially in drug repositioning.
Pathways for Contextual Memory: The Primate Hippocampal Pathway to Anterior Cingulate Cortex
Authors: Wang Jingyi , John Yohan , Barbas Helen
Published: November 2020

The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) is one of the few prefrontal areas that receives robust direct hippocampal terminations. This pathway may enable current context and past experience to influence goal-directed actions and emotional regulation by prefrontal cortices. We investigated the still ill-understood organization of the pathway from anterior hippocampus to ACC (A24a, A25, A32) to identify laminar termination patterns and their postsynaptic excitatory and inhibitory targets from system to synapse in rhesus monkeys. The densest hippocampal terminations targeted posterior A25, a region that is involved in affective and autonomic regulation. Hippocampal terminations innervated mostly excitatory neurons (~90%), suggesting strong excitatory effects. Among the smaller fraction of inhibitory targets, hippocampal terminations in A25 preferentially innervated calretinin neurons, a pattern that differs markedly from rodents. Further, hippocampal terminations innervated spines with D1 receptors, particularly in the deep layers of A25, where D1 receptors are enriched in comparison with the upper layers. The proximity of hippocampal terminations to D1 receptors may enable dopamine to enhance information transfer from the hippocampus to A25 and contribute to dopaminergic influence downstream on goal-directed action and emotional control by prefrontal cortices, in processes that may be disrupted by excessive dopamine release during uncontrollable stress.
Joining forces to build up knowledge in health promotion: lessons from a French coalition initiative
Authors: Porcherie M , Laurent A , Ferron C ,   National committee to promote EKHP, Berry P , Soudier B , Georgelin B , Gaspard S , Berdougo F , Lombrail P
Published: November 2020

Issue

French public health authorities increasingly rationalize access to public funding, favoring evidence-based programs. Health Promotion (HP) interventions are especially urged to prove their efficiency in this context. To tackle this issue, HP practitioners hold experiential knowledge (EK) that proves useful to assess both the complexity and efficiency of HP interventions. United by this conviction in a multidisciplinary coalition, HP experts from various backgrounds came together five years ago to promote Experiential Knowledge in HP (EKHP) in France.

A national committee to promote EKHP

670 HP practitioners were surveyed in 2016. Results reported vast amounts of under-documented and often untapped field expertise in HP and numerous obstacles regarding access to scientific literature or systematic reviews. Consequently, the coalition launched a National Committee for EKHP, meeting 5 times a year since 2016. Members of 6 national HP organizations, of 4 regional HP institutes, national and local public health administrators, researchers, consultants and field workers participate. Steered by the French Society for Public Health and the National Federation for Health Education and Promotion, the committee devised a threefold action plan: 1/ advocate EKHP in all relevant institutional spaces, 2/ develop tools for EKHP, 3/ mobilize for EKHP at the local level.

Results

The committee designed a method for capitalizing, collecting and circulating EK and published in 2020 a guidebook and a toolkit. French Public Health authorities agreed to share EK nationwide on their online portal. Dissemination within the French HP community has started, through the committee members' networks, and will be amplified with a training program launched in 2021 at the National School of Public Health.

Lessons

Attention must be brought to HP practitioners’ experiential knowledge, both to recognize HP practitioners' expertise and to help improve the understanding of how HP interventions work.

Key messages

Experiential knowledge in HP remains undervalued and untapped in France. Dedicated practitioners, policymakers and researchers formed a multidisciplinary committee to promote and disseminate EKHP. A multilevel strategy combining advocacy and tool building can be effective at promoting experiential knowledge. A multidisciplinary coalition provided the necessary context-specific levers in France.
Divergent: Age, Frailty, and Atypical Presentations of COVID-19 in Hospitalized Patients
Authors: Poco Paula Cristina Eiras , Aliberti Márlon Juliano Romero , Dias Murilo Bacchini , Takahashi Silvia de Fatima , Leonel Fabio Campos , Altona Marcelo , Venys Amanda Lagreca , Shin-Ike Isabela Akie , Garcia Bianca Aparecida , Sumita Leticia Harumi , Lima Lara Mune de Oliveira , Garcez Flavia Barreto , Avelino-Silva Thiago Junqueira
Published: November 2020

Background

Although frailty has been associated with atypical manifestations of infections, little is known about COVID-19 presentations in hospitalized frail patients. We aimed to investigate the association between age, frailty, and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in hospitalized middle-aged and older adults.

Method

Longitudinal observational study comprising 711 patients aged ≥50 years consecutively admitted to a university hospital dedicated to COVID-19 severe cases, between March and May 2020. We reviewed electronic medical records to collect data on demographics, comorbidities, COVID-19 signs/symptoms, and laboratory findings on admission. We defined frailty using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS = 1–9; frail ≥5). We also documented in-hospital mortality. We used logistic regressions to explore associations between age, frailty, and COVID-19 signs/symptoms; and between typical symptoms (fever, cough, dyspnea) and mortality.

Results

Participants had a mean age of 66 ± 11 years, and 43% were female. Overall, 25% were frail, and 37% died. The most common COVID-19 presentations were dyspnea (79%), cough (74%), and fever (62%), but patients aged ≥65 years were less likely to have a co-occurrence of typical symptoms, both in the absence (OR = 0.56; 95% CI = 0.39–0.79) and in the presence of frailty (OR = 0.52; 95% CI = 0.34–0.81). In contrast, older age and frailty were associated with unspecific presentations, including functional decline, acute mental change, and hypotension. After adjusting for age, sex, and frailty, reporting fever was associated with lower odds of mortality (OR = 0.70; 95% CI = 0.50–0.97).

Conclusions

Atypical COVID-19 presentations are common in frail and older hospitalized patients. Providers should be aware of unspecific disease manifestations during the management and follow-up of this population.