The development of new diagnostic tools allows for faster detection of both tuberculosis (TB) and multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB and should lead to reduced transmission by earlier initiation of anti TB ...therapy. The research conducted in the Arkhangelsk region of the Russian Federation in 2012-14 included economic evaluation of Line Probe Assay (LPA) implementation in MDR-TB diagnostics compared to existing culture-based diagnostics of Löwenstein Jensen (LJ) and BacTAlert. Clinical superiority of LPA was demonstrated and results were reported elsewhere.
The PROVE-IT Russia study aimed to report the outcomes of the cost minimization analysis.
Costs of LPA-based diagnostic algorithm (smear positive (SSm+) and for smear negative (SSm-) culture confirmed TB patients by Bactec MGIT or LJ were compared with conventional culture-based algorithm (LJ-for SSm- and SSm+ patients and BacTAlert-for SSm+ patients). Cost minimization analysis was conducted from the healthcare system, patient and societal perspectives and included the direct and indirect costs to the healthcare system (microscopy and drug susceptibility test (DST), hospitalization, medications obtained from electronic medical records) and non-hospital direct costs (patient's travel cost, additional expenses associated with hospitalization, supplementary medicine and food) collected at the baseline and two subsequent interviews using the WHO-approved questionnaire.
Over the period of treatment the LPA-based diagnostic corresponded to lesser direct and indirect costs comparing to the alternative algorithms. For SSm+ LPA-based diagnostics resulted in the costs 4.5 times less (808.21 US$) than LJ (3593.81 US$) and 2.5 times less than BacTAlert liquid culture (2009.61 US$). For SSm- LPA in combination with Bactec MGIT (1480.75 US$) vs LJ (1785.83 US$) showed the highest cost minimization compared to LJ (2566.09 US$). One-way sensitivity analyses of the key parameters and threshold analyses were conducted and demonstrated that the results were robust to variations in the cost of hospitalization, medications and length of stay.
From the perspective of Russian Federation healthcare system, TB diagnostic algorithms incorporating LPA method proved to be both more clinically effective and less expensive due to reduction in the number of hospital days to the correct MDR-TB diagnosis and treatment initiation. LPA diagnostics comparing conventional culture diagnostic algorithm MDR-TB was a cost minimizing strategy for both patients and healthcare system.
We have observed the magnetoelectric (ME) response at room temperature and above in high-resistive ceramics made of multiferroic Pb(Fe₁/₂Nb₁/₂)O₃ (PFN) and PFN-based solid solution 0.91PFN-0.09PbTiO₃ ...(PFN-PT). The value of the paramagnetoelectric (PME) coefficient shows a pronounced maximum near the ferroelectric-to-paraelectric phase transition temperature, T C, and then decreases sharply to zero for T > T C. The maximal PME coefficient in PFN is about 4 × 10⁻¹⁸ s/A. The theoretical description of the PME effect, within the framework of a Landau theory of phase transitions allowing for realistic temperature dependences of spontaneous polarization, dielectric and magnetic susceptibilities, qualitatively reproduces well the temperature dependence of the PME coefficient. In particular, the Landau theory predicts the significant increase of the PME effect at low temperatures and near the temperature of the paraelectric-to-ferroelectric phase transition, since the PME coefficient is equal to the product of the spontaneous polarization, dielectric permittivity, square of magnetic susceptibility, and the coefficient quantifying the strength of the biquadratic ME coupling. An atomistic technique is further developed and used to further demonstrate that the PME effect can also be sensitive to the frequency of the applied magnetic field (when this frequency is of the order of GHz).
Abstract
Tandem repeat proteins have composite structure and unique properties, which allow them to be used in multiple fields, such as soft photonics, drug delivery and textile industry. The recent ...discovery of squid ring teeth (SRT) proteins have expanded the existing repertoire of repetitive polypeptides. We chose previously unexplored squid
B. magister
for our research, isolated and analyzed a new protein forming its ring teeth and hooks, and amplified the corresponding gene. Finally, we used this new isolated SRT protein to fabricate transparent thin films and microspheres.
The structure of specimens at different stages of thin strip fabrication (from ingot to cold-rolled strip) is investigated. Alloy 97NL-VI strip specimen properties are studied, including ...determination of the level of strength properties, and specific electrical resistance. Strip microstructure is studied by X-ray structural analysis after various heat treatment versions. The effect of various heat treatment regimes on the level of physicomechanical properties is studied.
Quadrupole Lens for DTL Linac Antokhin, E. I.; Derbysheva, T. R.; Eliseev, V. S. ...
Physics of atomic nuclei,
12/2023, Letnik:
86, Številka:
10
Journal Article
Recenzirano
This article considers the possibility of using a hybrid permanent magnet quadrupole lens with correcting coil for a linear accelerator. The design of the lens was developed and its optimization was ...carried out to obtain a magnetic field gradient of sufficient magnitude in the aperture. Calculations were carried out in a specialized software package to determine whether the characteristics of the lens meet the requirements. The influence of variation of permanent magnet magnetization on the field quality was investigated.
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The concepts’ glossary, criteria, and parameters for compiling the list of climatically vulnerable objects in Russia are substantiated. The original methodology for assessing possible damage to ...these facilities from climate change and its impact is presented, including key limitations, stages, and calculation technique. The methodolog’s specificity involves an integrated approach that takes into account regional characteristics of climate impact precipitating the degrees of exposure and sensitivity of the facilities above that determine the amount the of climate risk. The experts’ assessment based on scaling the existing and expected value of risk as well as the level of adaptation capacity of the facilities provides for calculating the degree of their vulnerability to climate impact. Finally, using the variable of total (book and replacement) value of assets the amount of possible damage could be obtained.
The effect of chitosan on the survival of bees treated with the chemical acaricide amitraz at a 50% lethal dose (LD50) of 10 μg per bee was studied. It was found that the addition of chitosan ...succinate and low molecular weight chitosan during the first 8 days prior to treatment with amitraz in a ratio of 1 : 5 at a dose of 0.144 g per 1 L of 60% sugar syrup at a rate of 1 L of sugar syrup per 10 000 bees (II experimental group) led to a 1.45-fold increase in bee survival by the end of the observation period (30 days) as compared with the control group, which received only sugar syrup, and a 4.45-fold increase as compared with experimental group I, which received sugar syrup and was treated with amitraz on the ninth day. At the same time, the life expectancy of bees increased by at least 5 days as compared with experimental group I, with an average life expectancy of bees of each generation in the summer period of 35–40 days.
Currently biostimulants based on chitosan and its derivatives are increasingly used in veterinary medicine. Chitosan and its modifications have many properties that allow them to be used in ...beekeeping: natural origin and lack of toxicity, immunomodulatory properties, antimicrobial activity, and the ability to increase resistance and remove heavy metals and toxins from bees. Chitosan is a chitin derivative that is a natural component of the skeleton of bees. The composition BiHit was developed and tested for biologically active feeding bees containing various modifications of chitosan, on the basis of private apiaries of the Moscow oblast and the Republic of Crimea, which showed its positive effect on economically useful signs of bees.
The well-known effect of the local interaction between graphene and photoresist (LIGF) during the creation of biosensors is shown to lead to non-uniform distribution of compressive stresses, which ...deteriorates the adsorption properties of graphene, parameter reproducibility, and detecting ability of influenza B and SARS-Cov-2 biosensors. It is also shown that controlling the occurrence of LIGF areas on a graphene surface by atomic force microscopy or introducing a protective layer between graphene and photoresist can minimize the non-persistent effect of LIGF. The results of influenza B and SARS-CoV-2 imaging on the graphene surface in biosensor chips in a scanning electron microscope are presented.
Bacterial infections caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens pose an extremely serious and elusive problem in healthcare. The discovery and targeted creation of new antibiotics are today among the ...most important public health issues. Antibiotics based on antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are of particular interest due to their genetically encoded nature. A distinct advantage of most AMPs is their direct mechanism of action that is mediated by their membranolytic properties. The low rate of emergence of antibiotic resistance associated with the killing mechanism of action of AMPs attracts heightened attention to this field. Recombinant technologies enable the creation of genetically programmable AMP producers for large-scale generation of recombinant AMPs (rAMPs) or the creation of rAMP-producing biocontrol agents. The methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris was genetically modified for the secreted production of rAMP. Constitutive expression of the sequence encoding the mature AMP protegrin-1 provided the yeast strain that effectively inhibits the growth of target gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. An antimicrobial effect was also observed in the microculture when a yeast rAMP producer and a reporter bacterium were co-encapsulated in droplets of microfluidic double emulsion. The heterologous production of rAMPs opens up new avenues for creating effective biocontrol agents and screening antimicrobial activity using ultrahigh-throughput technologies.
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