bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chronic fatigue syndrome – one of the problems of physical education of transport higher school students
Authors:   Ural state university of railway transport (USURT), Linkova-Daniels Natalia
Published: October 2020

Young age is the best period of human life but it has its peculiarities and hardships. The up-to-date academic process is carrying great physical, psychophysical and emotional loads. A student faces different hardships not only during the academic process, but in everyday, social life. Such a situation may result in fatigue in chronic form - chronic fatigue syndrome, often being reflected on professional training of students. The article deals with the main risk factors of chronic fatigue in students. The sleep and diet regimens of students are examined for this purpose. Besides, dependence of chronic fatigue on motion activity and possible stress in young people’s lives is noted.
About off-season inspection of deformation joints of bridges
Authors:   Ural state university of railway transport (USURT), Orlov Viktor V.
Published: October 2020

The article deals with issues of off-season inspection of urban bridges. Inspections of deformation joints are focused on. It is suggested that inspections should be conducted during off-season, with apparent outdoor temperature changes, this enabling to find more precisely the spots requiring a more detailed inspection.
Physical activity and consolidation of proximal hip fractures among seniors
Authors: EMELYANOV Sergey A. , PETRUKHIN Anton N. , MORDOVIN Sergey A.
Published: October 2020

We analyzed the results of treatment of 23 patients of old age with proximal hip fractures. We carried out the work on the basis of the trauma department of Kotovsk City Clinical Hospital in the period from 2017 to 2019. After the surgical treatment, patients underwent monthly control examinations, as well as control radiographs after three, six, ten and twelve months. As a result of the study we highlighted three groups. The first group is 8 patients with normal fracture consolidation in accordance with the postoperative treatment term; the second group – 10 patients whose period of consolidation of fracture y exceeded the planned ones; the third group - patients with a non-growing fracture of the femur neck, revealed at control examinations. It is worth noting that all patients, regardless of belonging to one of the groups, performed movement independently or with additional support in the form of walkers, while walking slightly relying on the operated lower limb. Among all patients, we were able to achieve positive results through surgical treatment and subsequent early activation of patients. There were no fatalities.
Physiotherapeutic support of patients with dysplastic coxarthrosis after total hip prosthetics
Authors: YAMSHCHIKOV Oleg N. , VORONIN Nikita I. , MARKOV Dmitry A. , ZVEREVA Ksenia P.
Published: October 2020

Today, the main method of surgical treatment of dysplastic coxarthrosis among adults is total hip prosthetics. Distant positive results according to foreign authors are 76–89%. One method of rehabilitation is physiotherapeutic treatment. The absence of standardized physiotherapeutic treatment protocols leads to a sharp reduction in the prescription of this type of rehabilitation measures. The aim of the study is to assess the long-term results of hip joint endoprosthetics among patients with dysplastic coxarthrosis using the developed physiotherapeutic treatment technique. Research materials and methods. For the period from 2010 to 2014, 205 patients were performed an operation with dysplastic coxarthrosis 1, 2, 3 degrees of Crowe. In the pre- and postoperative periods, patients of the main group were prescribed physiotherapeutic treatment according to the developed methodology. Evaluation of the results was carried out 12 months after surgical treatment using clinical and radiological methods, questionnaires using the Harris scale, SF-36. The obtained data were processed using statistical methods: Student coefficient, Pearson coefficient, correlation method. Results. When analyzing distant results, the average Harris score in the main group 85.82 (84.93–86.71) was significantly higher than in the comparison group 83.01 (82.02–84.00). The average score of the SF-36 questionnaire in the main group was significantly higher than in the comparison group (p < 0.001). Mental health indicators of patients were not significantly different from those of the postoperative period and were at a high level. Conclusions. Prescription of physiotherapeutic treatment promotes rapid healing of postoperative wounds and improves results of surgical treatment.
On the regularization of classical optimality conditions in a convex optimal control problem with state constraints
Authors: Kuterin Fedor A.
Published: October 2020

We consider the regularization of classical optimality conditions in a convex optimal control problem for a linear system of ordinary differential equations with pointwise state constraints such as equality and inequality, understood as constraints in the Hilbert space of square-integrable functions. The set of admissible task controls is traditionally embedded in the space of square-integrable functions. However, the target functional of the optimization problem is not, generally speaking, strongly convex. Obtaining regularized classical optimality conditions is based on a technique involving the use of two regularization parameters. One of them is used for the regularization of the dual problem, while the other is contained in a strongly convex regularizing addition to the target functional of the original problem. The main purpose of the obtained regularized Lagrange principle and the Pontryagin maximum principle is the stable generation of minimizing approximate solutions in the sense of J. Varga for the purpose of practical solving the considered optimal control problem with pointwise state constraints.
On adjoint operators for fractional differentiation operators
Authors: Petrosyan Garik G.
Published: October 2020

On a linear manifold of the space of square summable functions on a finite segment vanishing at its ends, we consider the operator of left-sided Caputo fractional differentiation. We prove that the adjoint for it is the operator of right-sided Caputo fractional differentiation. Similar results are established for the Riemann–Liouville fractional differentiation operators. We also demonstrate that the operator, which is represented as the sum of the left-sided and the right-sided fractional differentiation operators is self adjoint. The known properties of the Caputo and Riemann–Liouville fractional derivatives are used to substantiate the results.
On the stability of a system of two linear hybrid functional differential systems with aftereffect
Authors: Simonov Pyotr M.
Published: October 2020

We consider a system of two hybrid vector equations containing linear difference (defined on a discrete set) and functional differential (defined on a half-axis) parts. To study it, a model system of two vector equations is chosen, one of which is linear difference with aftereffect (LDEA), and the other is a linear functional differential with aftereffect (LFDEA). Two equivalent representations of this system are shown: the first representation in the form of LFDEA, the second — in the form of LDEA. This allows us to study the stability issues of the system under consideration using the well-known results on the stability of LFDEA and LDEA. Using the results of the article [Gusarenko S. A. On the stability of a system of two linear differential equations with delayed argument // Boundary value problems. Interuniversity collection of scientific papers. Perm: PPI, 1989. P. 3–9], two examples are shown when a joint system of four equations will be stable with respect to the right side. In the first example, we use the LFDEA for which sufficient conditions for the sign-definiteness of the elements of the 2 Ч 2 Cauchy matrix function are known (in terms of the LFDEA coefficients). In the second example, LFDEA is given such that LFDEA is a system of linear ordinary differential equations (LODE) of the second order. In both cases, estimates of the components of the Cauchy matrix function are known. An exponential estimate with a negative exponent is given for the components of the Cauchy matrix function of LDEA.
Robotic pancreaticoduodenectomy and splenopancreatectomy: technical aspects and review of literature
Authors: Tschuor Christoph , Nagarkatti Sushruta S. , Salibi Patrick N. , Vrochides Dionisios , Martinie John B.
Published: October 2020

Robotic pancreatic surgery provides several advantages. Since the first report of a robotic-assisted distal pancreatectomy in 2001, total pancreatectomies, pancreatic tumor enucleations, pancreaticoduodenectomy, central pancreatectomy and Appleby procedures have been performed, indicating a promising future. The aim of this article is to describe our experience of robotic pancreatic surgery including technical aspects for pancreaticoduodenectomy and distal pancreatectomy. The current literature on feasibility, safety and early postoperative outcomes will be discussed.
One-Stop Method to Measure Multiple Cardiac Performance Endpoints in Daphnia and Zebrafish by Kymograph
Authors: Kurnia Kevin Adi , Saputra Ferry , Roldan Marri Jmelou M. , Castillo Agnes L. , Huang Jong-Chin , Chen Kelvin H.-C. , Lai Hong-Thih , Hsiao Chung-Der
Published: October 2020

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the number one cause of death worldwide. This condition resulted in huge research on CVD increasing the need for animal models suitable for the in vivo research. Daphnia and Zebrafish are good animal models for cardiovascular research due to their relative body transparency and easy culture property. Several methods have been developed to conduct cardiac performance measurement in Daphnia and Zebrafish. However, most of the methods only able to obtain heartbeat rate. The other important cardiac endpoints like stroke volume, ejection fraction, fraction shortening, cardiac output and heartbeat regularity must use other programs for measurement. To overcome this limitation, in this study, we successfully developed a one-stop ImageJ-based method using kymograph macros language that able to obtain multiple cardiac performance endpoints simultaneously for the first time. To validate its utility, we incubate Daphnia magna at different ambient temperatures and exposed zebrafish with astemizole to detect the corresponding cardiac performance alterations. In summary, the kymograph method reported in this study provides a new, easy to use, and inexpensive one-stop method on obtaining multiple cardiac performance endpoints with high accuracy and convenience.
A Theoretical Model to Study the Interactions of Xanthene-1,2, 3-Triazolyl-N-Riboside and Xanthene-Piperidinyl-Benzisoxazole Based Conjugates With the Insulin: Design, Docking and ADME Studies
Authors: Nand Bhaskara , Kumari Kamlesh , SINGH PRASHANT
Published: October 2020

Literature reported the insulin is an important for the humans and it is secreted in the pancreas and controls, regulates the glucose level. It also controls the mechanism and growth. On decreasing the amount of insulin can caused diabetes, several cancers and other disease. Therefore, there is a need to find promising candidates can binds with insulin and stabilize them. Organic compounds containing hetero atoms have lots of biological potency in different area, therefore, researchers are designing new biological potent compounds. Further, insilico studies attracted the researchers in last one decade mainly to get the drug in less time with a clear strategy. In the present work, authors have designed two types of conjugates, xanthenes with trizole as well benzisoxazole and study their interaction with the insulin using computational methods. The library of compounds was screened through molecules docking in terms of binding energy between the designed compound and the active site of the receptor. Further, their ADME properties are investigated. CMPD19 showed best binding affinity with the insulin and may be considered as oral drug based on the bioactive scores.
Controller-free Hand Tracking for Grab-and-place Tasks in Immersive Virtual Reality: Design Elements and their Empirical Study
Authors: Masurovsky Alexander , Chojecki Paul , Runde Detlef , Lafci Mustafa , Przewozny David , Gaebler Michael
Published: October 2020

Hand tracking enables controller-free interaction with virtual environments, which can, compared to traditional handheld controllers, make virtual reality (VR) experiences more natural and immersive. As naturalness hinges on both technological and user-based features, fine-tuning the former while assessing the latter can be used to increase usability. For a grab-and-place use case in immersive VR, we compared a prototype of a camera-based hand tracking interface (Leap Motion) with customized design elements to the standard Leap Motion application programming interface (API) and a traditional controller solution (Oculus Touch). Usability was tested in 32 young healthy participants, whose performance was analyzed in terms of accuracy, speed and errors as well as subjective experience. We found higher performance and overall usability as well as overall preference for the handheld controller compared to both controller-free solutions. While most measures did not differ between the two controller-free solutions, the modifications made to the Leap API to form our prototype led to a significant decrease in accidental drops. Our results do not support the assumption of higher naturalness for hand tracking but suggest design elements to improve the robustness of controller-free object interaction in a grab-and-place scenario.
COVID-19 Pandemic and Tourism: The Impact of Health Risk Perception and Intolerance of Uncertainty on Travel Intentions
Authors: Golets Anastasiya , Farias Jéssica , Pilati Ronaldo , Costa Helena
Published: October 2020

Understanding tourist behaviour during and after major tourism crises is essential to help destinations recover. The COVID-19 pandemic, a period of uncertainty and risk, makes it relevant to assess factors that influence travel intentions. There has been little research on tourist behaviour during health crises and, in particular, on perceived health risk and uncertainty effects on travel intentions. This study was carried out during the first months of the pandemic in Brazil and aims to investigate the role of health risk perception and intolerance of uncertainty on travel intentions for 2020 and 2021. We applied an online survey to 1,150 Brazilian participants from March to May of 2020. Our findings indicate that perceived COVID-19 severity, perceived probability of contracting it, and expected pandemic duration are significant predictors of travel intentions for both years. This paper sheds new light on tourist behaviour in the context of global health crises.
Compressed Sensing Imaging for Staggered SAR with Low Oversampling Rate
Authors: Liao Xingxing , Jin Changlin , Liu Zhe
Published: October 2020

This paper focuses on processing low oversampling echo data of staggered synthetic aperture radar (SAR). In staggered mode, the non-uniformly sampling and irregular loss of echo data cause azimuth ambiguity which severely degrades the imaging quality. To solve this problem, we propose a compressed sensing (CS) method in which the non-uniform fast Fourier transform (NUFFT) technique is adopted to obtain uniform azimuth spectrum, and the fast iterative shrinkage thresholding algorithm (FISTA) is utilized to efficiently reconstruct the ambiguity-free image from in-complete echo data. Simulation results demonstrate the proposed method can effectively suppress the azimuth ambiguity in the vicinity of targets.
Comparative Genomics Reveals Novel Target Genes Towards Specific Control of Plant-Parasitic Nematodes
Authors: Grynberg Priscila , Coiti Togawa Roberto , Dias de Freitas Leticia , Antonino Jose Dijair , Rancurel Corinne , Mota do Carmo Costa Marcos , Grossi-de-Sa Maria Fátima , Miller Robert Neil Gerard , Brasileiro Ana Cristina Miranda , Messenberg Guimaraes Patricia , Danchin Etienne G. J.
Published: October 2020

Plant-parasitic nematodes cause expressive annual yield losses to worldwide agricultural production. Most cultivated plants have no known resistance against nematodes and the few bearing a resistance gene can be overcome by certain species. The chemical methods that have been deployed to control nematodes were largely banned from use due to their poor specificity and high toxicity. Hence, there is an urgent need for the development of cleaner and more specific control methods. Recent advances in nematode genomics, including in phytoparasitic species, provide an unprecedented opportunity to identify genes and functions specific to these pests. Using phylogenomics, we compared 61 nematode genomes, including 16 for plant-parasitic species and identified more than 24,000 protein families specific to these parasites. In the genome of Meloidogyne incognita, one of the most devastating plant parasites, we found ca. 10,000 proteins with orthologs restricted only to phytoparasitic species and no further homology in protein databases. Among these phytoparasites-specific proteins, ca. 1,000 shared the same properties as known secreted effectors involved in essential parasitic functions. Of those, 68 were novel and showed strong expression during the endophytic phase of the nematode life cycle, based on both RNA-seq and RT-qPCR analyses. Besides effector candidates, transcription-related and neuro-perception functions were enriched in phytoparasites-specific proteins, revealing interesting targets for nematode control methods. This phylogenomics analysis, constitutes an unprecedented resource for the further understanding of the genetic basis of nematode adaptation to phytoparasitism and for the development of more efficient control methods.
О граничных условиях на твердых стенках в задачах вязкого обтекания
Authors: Дубень Алексей Петрович , Duben Aleksei Petrovich , Абалакин Илья Владимирович , Abalakin Ilya Vladimirivich , Цветкова Валерия Олеговна , Tsvetkova Valeriya Olegovna
Published: October 2020

Представлена методика задания граничных условий на твердых поверхностях, основанная на методе пристеночных функций. Методика основана на решении осредненных по Рейнольдсу уравнений Навье-Стокса с моделью замыкания СпалартаАллмараса в приближении пограничного слоя. Полученное решение используется для постановки потоковых граничных условий, компенсирующих недостаточное сеточное разрешение пограничных слоев. Для упрощенной системы уравнений выполнена дискретизация и построен алгоритм решения. Произведена параллельная программная реализация методики в рамках конечно-объемного расчетного кода. На основе тестовых случаев, представляющих собой канонические турбулентные течения, проведена серия расчетов, демонстрирующих возможности разработанной методики. Выработаны рекомендации и ограничения, связанные с практическим применением предложенной методики.
Herd Immunity to SARS-CoV-2 among the Population in Saint-Petersburg during the COVID-19 Epidemic
Authors: Popova A. Yu. , Ezhlova E. B. , Mel’nikova A. A. , Bashketova N. S. , Fridman R. K. , Lyalina L. V. , Smirnov V. S. , Chkhindzheriya I. G. , Grechaninova T. A. , Agapov K. A. , Arsent’eva N. A. , Bazhenova N. A. , Batsunov O. K. , Danilova E. M. , Zueva E. V. , Komkova D. V. , Kuznetsova R. N. , Lyubimova N. E. , Markova A. N. , Khamitova I. V. , Lomonosova V. I. , Vetrov V. V. , Milichkina A. M. , Dedkov V. G. , Totolyan A. A.
Published: October 2020

The first case of COVID-19 was diagnosed in St. Petersburg on March 2, 2020; the period of increase in the incidence lasted for 10 weeks, the maximum rates were recorded in mid-May, and subsequently there was a statistically significant decrease in the incidence.

Objective: to determine the level and structure of community immunity to SARS-CoV-2 among the population of St. Petersburg during the period of intensive spread of COVID-19.

Materials and methods. Selection of volunteers for the study was carried out through interviewing and randomization. The exclusion criterion was active COVID-19 infection at the time of the survey. 2713 people aged 1 to 70 years and above were  examined for the presence of specific antibodies to SARS-CoV-2. Antibodies were detected by enzyme immunoassay.

Results and discussion. Studies have shown that in St. Petersburg, in the active phase of COVID-19 epidemic, there was a moderate seroprevalence to SARS-CoV-2, which amounted to 26 %, against the background of a high frequency (84.5 %) of asymptomatic infection in seropositive individuals who did not have a history of COVID-19 disease, positive PCR result and ARI symptoms on the day of examination. The maximum indicators of herd immunity were established in children 1–6 years old (31.1 %), 7–13 years old (37.7 %) and people over 70 years old (30.4 %). Differences in the level of seroprevalence in the age groups of 18–49 years are statistically significant. The highest level of seroprevalence was found among the unemployed (29.7 %), healthcare workers (27.1 %), education sector (26.4 %) and business sector personnel (25 %). In convalescents, COVID-19 antibodies are produced in 75 % of cases. In individuals with positive result of PCR analysis carried out earlier, antibodies are detected in 70 % of the cases. The results of the study of herd immunity to SARS-CoV-2 are essential to forecast the development of the epidemiological situation, as well as to plan measures for specific and non-specific prevention of COVID-19.
Epidemiological Situation on Tick-Borne Borreliosis in the Russian Federation in 2019 Compared to the Period of 2002–2018
Authors: Rudakova S. A. , Pen’evskaya N. A. , Blokh A. I. , Savel’ev D. A. , Teslova O. E. , Kaneshova N. E. , Rudakov N. V. , Trankvilevsky D. V.
Published: October 2020

Objective: to analyze the epidemiological situation on Ixodidae tick-borne borreliosis in the Russian Federation in 2019 in comparison with the period of 2002–2018.

Materials and methods. The paper uses the data contained in Form No. 2 of the state statistical reporting for 2002–2019 and information obtained by the Reference Center for Monitoring Borreliosis of the Omsk Research Institute of Natural Focal Infections from 74 constituent entities of Russia in 2019. The main research method is epidemiological one with the use of modern information technologies.

Results and discussion. In Russia, 8048 cases of tick-borne borreliosis (Lyme disease – LD) were recorded (5.48 0/0000) in 2019. The actual indicators of the LD incidence for the whole country and federal districts (FD) in 2019 were within the confidence limits predicted with linear regression based on the study of the dynamics of the epidemic process in 2002–2018 in the vast majority of cases. A steady upward trend in the LD incidence was observed during 2002–2019 in the Central Federal District due to 10 out of 18 entities (Moscow, Belgorod, Lipetsk, Moscow, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk, Ryazan, Tambov, Tula regions); in the Southern Federal District because of the Krasnodar Territory and the Volgograd Region; in the North Caucasus Federal District – because of the Stavropol Territory. Despite the fact that a downward trend in the incidence of LD has been established over the past 18 years in the North-West, Volga and Ural Federal Districts, in some subjects of these regions a trend towards an aggravation of the epidemiological situation is observed (the Komi Republic and Chuvashia, Penza Region). In the absence of a pronounced tendency to change in the incidence rate of LD in the Siberian and Far Eastern Federal Districts, Kemerovo Region-Kuzbass, the Republic of Tuva and the Trans-Baikal Territory where a growing trend has been identified require special attention. In the Ural and Siberian Federal Districts, the share of non-erythema forms among laboratory-confirmed cases of LD was higher than in other regions, which merits further study of the genome-specific features of borrelia populations and their carriers. Effective control of the LD epidemiological situation in Russia is possible provided that the control is improved and maintained, and the capacity of preventive measures and zoological-entomological monitoring of the activity and structure of the natural foci of LD is enhanced in the entities with the long-term tendency towards increase in the incidence of the disease.
Endemic Cholera in India and Imported Cholera in Russia: What is Common?
Authors: Monakhova E. V. , Ghosh A. , Mutreja A. , Weill F.-X. , Ramamurthy T.
Published: October 2020

The endemicity of cholera in India has been well researched. Among the other endemic areas, Indian subcontinent appears to be the cradle of Vibrio cholerae genovariants, which subsequently spread worldwide. In contrast, all the cholera cases recorded in Russia are of imported origin. In the past century, such importations might result in epidemics, which, however, ended with elimination of toxigenic V. cholerae (TVC) from the affected areas. Currently, the incidence of TVC in water reservoirs or infected returnees from Asian countries are rare events, mostly due to constant surveillance activities. Furthermore, the climatic conditions in the majority of Russian regions are unfavorable for longterm environmental survival of the pathogen. On the other hand, global shifts in climate accompanied by unexpected anomalies in previously stable climatic zones may promote dissemination of imported TVC and emergence of cholera. In some regions of Russia, seasonal weather patterns are pretty similar to Indian. Molecular studies of isolates from diverse territories show that TVC have been introduced into new areas and acquired additional traits, absent in their ancestors.This article describes genomic characteristics of TVC isolates from Russia, India and some other countries. The review is complemented by bioinformatics analysis of important genetic markers to discriminate between clones that emerged in endemic regions and were imported into cholera-free locations. We have found more evidence in support of primary Indian origin of recent genovariants and their ongoing transformation, including the emergence of a new rtxA gene allele with a 60 bp deletion in addition to the previously known null mutation. In certain conditions, TVC could pose a potential threat of spreading epidemic cholera into Russia and other territories. Cholera control requires joint efforts of researchers to learn more about the pathogen at the molecular level for developing effective strategies to protect the humankind throughout the world.
Gender-Age Distribution of Patients with COVID-19 at Different Stages of Epidemic in Moscow
Authors: Akimkin V. G. , Kuzin S. N. , Semenenko T. A. , Ploskireva A. A. , Dubodelov D. V. , Tivanova E. V. , Pshenichnaya N. Yu. , Kalenskaya A. V. , Yatsyshina S. B. , Shipulina O. Yu. , Rodionova E. N. , Petrova N. S. , Solov’eva I. V. , Kvasova O. A. , Vershinina M. A. , Mamoshina M. V. , Klushkina V. V. , Churilova N. S. , Panasyuk Ya. V. , Vlasenko N. V. , Ostroushko A. A. , Balmasov E. S. , Mosunov A. V.
Published: October 2020

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic around the world and in Russia remains a major event of 2020. All over the world, research is being conducted to comprehensively study the patterns and manifestations of the epidemic  process. The main quantitative characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics among the population, based on the data of official monitoring over the current situation, play an important role in the development of  the epidemiological surveillance system.

The aim of this studyis to explore the peculiarities of age-gender distribution of COVID-19 patients in Moscow.

Material and methods. The data related to the epidemiological characteristics of age-gender structure of COVID-19 patients in Moscow between March 19, 2020 and April 15, 2020, at different stages of the  epidemic were retrospectively analyzed.

Results and discussion.The mean age of COVID-19 patients in Moscow was 46,41±20,58 years. The gender ratio (male/female) among the patients was 52.7/47.3 %, wherein the indicators varied depending upon the  age. Male/female ratio in the age group “under 39” stood at 53.7/46.3 %, and “over 40 years of age” – at  39.3/60.7 %. The predominant age range among male cases was 19 to 39 years old – 35.4 %, while among female patients – 40–59 years (36.5 %). The age distribution of patients in Moscow is indicative of the fact that COVID-19 is a disease that primarily affects older age groups. The age structure of all COVID-19 cases during the observation period is characterized by predominance of adult patients over 19 years of age – 92,7 % (92,6–92,8 %), the share of patients aged 40–59 years is 35,7% (35,5–35,9 %). The differences in the age distribution in males and females are as follows: in the male cohort, the age groups 19–39 years old and 40–59 years old prevail – 35.4 % (35.1–35.7 %) and 34.9 % (34.6–35.2 %), respectively. The age group 40–59 years old – 36.5 % (36.3–36.8%) dominates in the female cohort.
Epidemic Potential of COVID-19 in Omsk Region during Anti-Epidemic Measures
Authors: Blokh A. I. , Pen’evskaya N. A. , Rudakov N. V. , Lazarev I. I. , Mikhailova O. A. , Fedorov A. S. , Pnevsky Y. A.
Published: October 2020

Aim. To study the spread of COVID-19 among the population of the Omsk Region during 24 weeks of the epidemic on the background of anti-epidemic measures.

Materials and methods. A descriptive epidemiological study was carried out based on publically available data и data from the Center for Hygiene and Epidemiology in the Omsk Region on the official registration and epidemiological investigation of detected COVID-19 cases in the Omsk Region for the period from March 27 to September 10, 2020. To assess the potential of COVID-19 to spread, the following indicators were calculated: exponential growth rate (r), basic reproduction number (R0), effective reproduction number (Rt), expected natural epidemic size and herd immunity threshold. Data processing was performed using MS Excel 2010. The cartogram was built using the QGIS 3.12-Bukuresti application in the EPSG: 3576 coordinate system.

Results and discussion. For the period from March 27 to September 10, 2020, a total of 9779 cases of COVID-19 were registered in the Omsk Region, the cumulative incidence was 507,6 per 100000 (95 % CI 497,5÷517,6), the case-fatality rate for completed cases was 2.9 %, for identified cases – 2.4 %. The most active spread of COVID-19 was noted in Omsk and 4 out of 32 districts of the region (Moskalensky, Azov German National, Mariyanovsky, Novovarshavsky). During the ongoing anti-epidemic measures, the exponential growth rate of the cumulative number of COVID-19 cases was 4.5 % per day, R0 – 1.4–1.5, Rt – 1.10, herd immunity threshold – 28.6 %. The expected size of the epidemic in case of sustained anti-epidemic measures can reach 58.0 % of the recovered population. A decrease in the number of detected virus carriers, incomplete detection of COVID-19 among patients with community-acquired pneumonia introduced additional risks for the latent spread of infection and complications of the epidemic situation. Maintaining restrictive  measures and increasing the proportion of the immune population (over 28.6 %) may significantly reduce the risks of increasing the spread of COVID-19 in the Omsk Region.
Genomic Diversity Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 and Epidemiological Features of Adaptation of COVID-19 Agent to Human Population (Communication 1)
Authors: Krasnov Ya. M. , Popova A. Yu. , Safronov V. A. , Fedorov A. V. , Badanin D. V. , Shcherbakova S. A. , Kutyrev V. V.
Published: October 2020

Objective: to study the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 virus in the process of adapting to human organism duringthe current pandemic.

Materials and methods. Database (GISAID) on nucleotide sequences of SARS-CoV-2 virus genome, obtained from clinical samples during the period of late December, 2019–July, 2020. Phylogenetic tree diagram construction was carried out applying BioNumerics v.7.6 software using Maximum parsimony algorithm.

Results and discussion.The most substantial change in the genomes of SARS-CoV-2 virus are associated one-time mutations in ORF1b (P314L) and S (D614G) genes, as a result of which the overwhelming majority of identified isolates of this virus have the stated pair of substitutions to date. Many researches link the substitution in S (D614G) gene to the decreased pathogenicity in the strains that contain it, which may be also explained by enhanced methodology of patient treatment in the course of pandemic. The effect of the mutation in ORF1b (P314L) gene has not yet been investigated. P314L and D614G mutations are closely related and only their combined presence in the genome favored the dissemination of the genovariants of SARS-CoV-2 virus. Analysis of congregated epidemiological data testifies to the fact that the spread of new genovariants may be associated with biological properties facilitating human-to-human transmission. Thereat, associated decrease in lethality may reflect not only advancements in methods of treatment, but possible attenuation of virulent properties. Thus, observed growth in dissemination potential against the background of decrease in virulence is, probably, one of the forms of adaptation of new coronavirus to human population and, apparently, will remain in the future as the integration of SARS-CoV-2 virus into the structure of seasonal ARVI agents.
Pheno- and Genotypical Features of Non-Toxigenic Strains of Cholera Vibrios of Different Origins, Isolated in the Territory of Russia
Authors: Levchenkо D. A. , Kruglikov V. D. , Gaevskaya N. E. , Vodop’yanov A. S. , Nepomnyashchaya N. V.
Published: October 2020

Aim. Analysis of the phenotypic characteristics and identification of peculiarities of the genotypic organization in non-toxigenic strains of cholera vibrios having different origin, isolated in Russia.

Materials and methods. A sample of 548 non-toxigenic strains obtained using the author’s updated GIS “Cholera 1989–2014” was used. PCR genotyping was carried out in accordance with the patented “Method for the identification of non-toxigenic strains of cholera vibrio O1 serogroup using PCR to isolate genetic determinants.” Cluster analysis was performed applying the UPGMA method. The dendrogram was constructed using MEGA 5 software package.

Results and discussion. Representative cultural-morphological, serological and biochemical properties of V. cholerae strains have been specified. The variability of the studied strains on the basis of phagolizability has been revealed. Unique phage-types not previously encountered in Russia have been identified. The population of non-toxigenic strains of cholera vibrio O139 serogroup is genetically homogeneous in contrast to V. cholerae O1 El Tor isolates and has identical PCR genotypes. The universality of the PCR genotyping by 14 target genes has been shown to differentiate the studied strains of V. cholerae O1 and O139, as well as to identify disparities among O139 strains isolated in different geographical regions of the country.
Primary HCV Drug Resistance Mutations in Patients with Newly Diagnosed HIV Infection
Authors: Ostankova Yu. V. , Valutite D. E. , Zueva E. B. , Serikova E. N. , Shchemelev A. N. , Boumbaly S. , Balde T. A.L. , Semenov A. V.
Published: October 2020

Objective of our work was to assess prevalence of the primary HCV drug resistance mutations in the NS5b gene in patients with newly diagnosed HIV infection.

Materials and methods. The study material was 196 blood plasma samples from patients living in the North-Western Federal District with newly diagnosed HIV. Samples were examined for the anti-HCV antibodies and HCV RNA presence. If HCV RNA was detected, amplification was performed using three primers pairs that co-flanked the NS5b gene. After sequencing the indicated gene nucleotide sequence, the virus subtype was determined and drug resistance mutations were detected.

Results and discussion. Antibodies to HCV were detected in 18.87 % of HIV-infected individuals. HCV RNA was detected in 18.36 % of the patients, including 89.18 % anti-HCV-positive and 1.88 % anti-HCV-negative. It was shown that co-infection is more common in men (77.8 %) compared to women (22.2 %) – χ2 = 3.996 at p = 0.0456, df = 2. The difference in the HIV viral load between the groups with HIV monoinfection and with HIV + HCV coinfection was demonstrated (χ2 = 6.284 at p = 0.0432, df = 2). A significant difference between the groups by the CD4 + lyphocytes number was shown. In the phylogenetic analysis, the HCV subtypes are distributed as follows: HCV 1b – 47.2 %, HCV 3a – 30.6 %, HCV 1a – 13.9 %, HCV 2a – 5.5 % and only one sample was defined as HCV 2k – 2.8 %, respectively. Nine samples (25 %) presented NS5b mutations in  the positions related to the development of drug resistance of HCV, including two samples among HCV genotypes 1a and 3a (i.e., 5.6 % of the total HIV + HCV group), as well as five samples among HCV 1b (13.9 % of the total group). Mutations among HCV 1a were C316Y and N444D substitutions. Among HCV 1b, C316N, C451S, S556N/G substitutions were identified. Among patients with HCV 3a, 2 samples (5.6 %) with a D310N mutation associated with an unfavorable disease prognosis were found. The introduction of direct sequencing of HCV nucleotide sequences into the routine laboratory diagnostics will allow us to estimate the primary drug resistance mutations prevalence in risk groups to predict the HCV life-threatening complications development – fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as the outcome of antiviral therapy prognosis. The data obtained can be rationally used to assess the dynamics of the HCV primary pharmacoresistance prevalence among HIV-infected individuals.
Distal Tibial Guided Growth for Anterolateral Bowing of the Tibia: Fracture May Be Prevented
Authors: Laine Jennifer C. , Novotny Susan A. , Weber Elizabeth W. , Georgiadis Andrew G. , Dahl Mark T.
Published: October 2020

Background:

Congenital pseudarthrosis of the tibia is a rare and challenging pediatric condition. The pre-fracture state, called congenital tibial dysplasia or anterolateral bowing of the tibia, presents a high fracture risk due to underlying bowing and dysplasia. After fracture, there is a substantial risk of nonunion. Any union achieved may be complicated by refracture, deformity, leg-length discrepancy, stiffness, pain, and dysfunction. We present the results of using distal tibial growth modulation to improve tibial alignment and to decrease fracture risk in this condition. To our knowledge, this is the first report of isolated distal tibial growth modulation as the primary surgical treatment for this condition.

Methods:

This is a retrospective study of 10 patients with congenital tibial dysplasia who presented prior to pseudarthrosis and underwent distal tibial growth modulation as a primary treatment. The medical records and radiographs were reviewed for age at the times of diagnosis and treatment, fracture, secondary procedures, complications, residual deformity, cystic changes, and leg-length discrepancy.

Results:

Ten patients had a mean follow-up (and standard deviation) of 5.1 ± 1.9 years. No patient sustained a tibial fracture, and no patient developed a tibial pseudarthrosis after guided growth was initiated. The mean age at the initiation of growth modulation was 2.6 ± 1.3 years. Six patients required a plate exchange. The mean residual tibial diaphyseal angular deformity at the most recent follow-up was 4.3° ± 3.2° of varus and 8.4° ± 5.8° in the sagittal plane. Only 1 patient had a clinically important leg-length discrepancy, with the affected leg being longer.

Conclusions:

In this series of 10 patients with congenital tibial dysplasia, distal tibial growth modulation delayed or possibly prevented fracture, decreased tibial malalignment, improved radiographic appearance of bone quality, and preserved leg length. No patient developed tibial fracture or pseudarthrosis after the initiation of guided growth treatment. Although early results are promising, follow-up to maturity is required to define the exact role of this simple outpatient procedure in congenital tibial dysplasia.

Level of Evidence:

Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Architecture of a river-dominated, wave- and tide-influenced, pre-vegetation braid delta: Cambrian middle member of the Wood Canyon Formation, southern Marble Mountains, California, U.S.A.
Authors: Muhlbauer Jason G. , Fedo Christopher M.
Published: October 2020

Across the Mojave Desert of southeastern California, outcrops of the Cambrian middle member of the Wood Canyon Formation preserve the deposits of pre-vegetation braided-fluvial and braid-delta environments. One 78-meter-thick section in the southern Marble Mountains, documented here through detailed stratigraphic logging, facies analysis, architectural panels based on “Structure-from-Motion” models, and a suite of paleocurrent and accretion-surface measurements, provides insight into the development of a river-dominated, wave- and tide-influenced braid delta at the distal end of a continent-scale braidplain. In contrast to other pre-Devonian braid-delta strata, in which mudrock is largely absent, the greater part of the middle member system contains over 5% mudstone. Four facies associations, FA4–7, constitute the middle member section and represent (in order of stratigraphic height) a braidplain-to-delta transition (FA4), proximal braid delta (FA5), distal braid delta (FA6), and upper braid-delta front (FA7). The 20 meters of braidplain-to-delta transition strata are largely similar to those of fluvial middle member sections, containing approximately 2% mudstone, unimodal north-northwest paleoflow, and vertical, downstream, and downstream-lateral accretion elements representing compound barforms and channel fills. Above, each braid-delta facies association (FA5–7) preserves high-sinuosity paleocurrent indicators, 6–12% mudstone, and symmetrical, wave-formed sand waves. Decimeter-thick fluid-mud deposits found chiefly in FA6 and less commonly in FA7 indicate the presence of a turbidity-maximum zone that records brackish-water conditions in the distal braid delta. Trace fossils concentrated in FA7 suggest that metazoans were confined to the upper braid-delta front and could not tolerate the variable salinity of the braid delta. Increased marine influence with stratigraphic height requires gradual transgression during deposition of the middle member of the Wood Canyon Formation, possibly as part of a lowstand systems tract.
Effectiveness of HPV vaccination against the development of high grade cervical lesions in young Japanese women
Authors: Shiko Yuki , Konno Ryo , Konishi Hiroshi , Sauvaget Catherine , Ohashi Yasuo , Kakizoe Tadao
Published: October 2020

Background: Although more than 10 years have passed since HPV vaccination was implemented first, as an interim programme (Emergent vaccine promotion programme) in November 2010, followed by incorporating into the National Immunization Programme in April, 2013 and suspended in June 2013, limited studies have investigated the HPV vaccine effectiveness against high-grade cervical lesions in Japan.Methods: We collected the matched data of the results of cervical biopsy and history of vaccination from the Japan Cancer Society database. The subjects were women aged 20 to 29 years screened for cervical cancer between April, 2015 and March, 2017, and with information on HPV vaccination status. We estimated the relative risk of developing high-grade cervical lesions in vaccinated subjects using Poisson regression as compared to unvaccinated subjects.Results: Among the 34,281 women screened, 3,770 (11.0%) were vaccinated. The prevalence of CIN2+ was significant lower in the vaccinated women as compared to the unvaccinated women (Vaccine Effectiveness (VE) =76%; RR=0.24, 95% CI:0.10-0.60). High VE against CIN3+ was also observed (91%; RR=0.09, 95% CI:0.00-0.42).Conclusion: Women aged 20–29 years who received at least one dose of HPV vaccine had a significantly lower risk of high-grade cervical lesions than those not vaccinated. In Japan, HPV vaccination should be resumed in order to reduce the incidence of cervical cancer.
Geospatial and Explanatory Models for Heart Failure Admissions, 2016 through 2018
Authors: Kruse Clemens Scott , Beauvais Bradley M. , Brooks Matthew S. , Mileski Michael , Fulton Lawrence
Published: October 2020

Background. About 5.7 million individuals in the United States have heart failure, and the disease was estimated to cost about $42.9 billion in 2020. This research provides geographical incidence models of this disease in the U.S. and explanatory models to account for hospitals’ number of heart failure DRGs using technical, workload, financial, geographical, and time-related variables. The research also provides updated financial and demand estimates based on inflationary pressures and disease rate increases. Understanding patterns is important to both policymakers and health administrators for cost control and planning. Methods. The number of diagnoses is forecast using regression (constrained and unconstrained) and ensemble (random forests, extra trees regressor, gradient boosting, and bagging) techniques at the hospital unit of analysis. Descriptive maps of heart failure diagnosis-related groups (DRGs) depict areas of high incidence. State and county level spatial and non-spatial regression models of heart failure admission rates are performed. Expenditure forecasts were calculated for 2016 through 2018. Results: The incidence of heart failure has increased over time with highest intensities in the East and center of the country; however, several Northern states (e.g., Minnesota) have seen large increases since 2016. The best predictive model for forecasting the number of diagnoses at the hospital unit of analysis was an extremely randomized tree ensemble (predictive R2 = 0.86 applied to a 20% unobserved test set.) The important variables in this model included workload metrics and hospital type. State level spatial lag models using 1st order Queen’s criteria were best at estimating heart failure admission rates (R2 =.816). At the county level, OLS was preferred over any GIS model based on a statistically insignificant Moran’s I and resultant R2; however, none of the traditional models performed well (R2=.169 for the OLS). Gradient boosted tree models were able to predict 36% of the total Sum of Squares; however, and the most important factors were facility workload, mean cash-on-hand of the hospitals in the county, and mean equity of those hospitals.. Online interactive maps at the state and county levels are provided. Conclusions. Heart failure and associated expenditures are increasing. Overall, the total cost of the three DRGs in the study has increased approximately $61 billion from 2016 through 2018 (average of two estimates). The increase in the more expensive DRG (DRG 291) has outpaced others with an associated increase of $92 billion in expenditures. With the increase in demand (linked to obesity and other factors) as well as the relatively steady-state supply of cardiologists over time, the costs are likely to balloon over the next decade. Models like the ones presented here that reliably forecast demand are needed to inform healthcare leaders.