Assessment of Technological Capabilities for Forming Al-C-B System Coatings on Steel Surfaces by Electrospark Alloying Method

In this paper, the possibility of applying the electrospark alloying (ESA) method to obtain boron-containing coatings characterised by increased hardness and wear resistance is considered. A new method for producing such coatings is proposed. The method consists in applying grease containing aluminium powder and amorphous boron to the surface to be treated and subsequently processing the obtained surface using the ESA method by a graphite electrode. The microstructural analysis of the Al-C-B coatings on steel C40 showed that the surface layer consists of several zones, the number and parameters of which are determined by the energy conditions of the ESA process. Durametric studies showed that with an increase in the discharge energy influence, the microhardness values of both the upper strengthened layer and the diffusion zone increased to W_p = 0.13 J, Hµ = 6487 MPa, and W_p = 4.9 J, Hµ = 12350 MPa, respectively. The results of X-ray diffraction analysis indicate that at the discharge energies of 0.13 and 0.55 J, the phase composition of the coating is represented by solid solutions of body-centred cubic lattice (BCC) and face-centred cubic lattice (FCC). The coatings obtained at W_p = 4.9 J were characterised by the presence of intermetallics Fe₄Al₁₃ and borocementite Fe₃ (CB) in addition to the solid solutions. The X-ray spectral analysis of the obtained coatings indicated that during the electrospark alloying process, the surface layers were saturated with aluminium, boron, and carbon. With increasing discharge energy, the diffusion zone increases; during the ESA process with the use of the discharge energy of 0.13 J for steel C40, the diffusion zone is 10–15 μm. When replacing a substrate made of steel C40 with the same one material but of steel C22, an increase in the thickness of the surface layer accompanied by a slight decrease in microhardness is observed as a result of processing with the use of the ESA method. There were simulated phase portraits of the Al-C-B coatings. It is shown that near the stationary points in the phase portraits, one can see either a slowing down of the evolution or a spiral twisting of the diffusion-process particle.     

Method for analyzing signaling networks in complex cellular systems

Now that the human genome has been sequenced, the challenge of assigning function to human genes has become acute. Existing approaches using microarrays or proteomics frequently generate very large volumes of data not directly related to biological function, making interpretation difficult. Here, we describe a technique for integrative systems biology in which: (i) primary cells are cultured under biologically meaningful conditions; (ii) a limited number of biologically meaningful readouts are measured; and (iii) the results obtained under several different conditions are combined for analysis. Studies of human endothelial cells overexpressing different signaling molecules under multiple inflammatory conditions show that this system can capture a remarkable range of functions by a relatively small number of simple measurements. In particular, measurement of seven different protein levels by ELISA under four different conditions is capable of reconstructing pathway associations of 25 different proteins representing four known signaling pathways, implicating additional participants in the NF-kappaBorRAS/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways and defining additional interactions between these pathways.     

Molecular epidemiology of hepatitis A outbreaks and sporadic cases,Latvia, 2017 to 2019

BackgroundHepatitis A is an acute infection of the liver caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV). Molecular detection and typing of the HAV VP1/P2A genomic region is used for genotyping and outbreak investigations. After a large hepatitis A outbreak in Latvia in 2007–08, only sporadic cases were registered until 2017 when a rise in cases occurred. During 2017–19, 179 laboratory-confirmed hepatitis A cases were notified in Latvia.AimTo investigate the observed increase in hepatitis A cases during 2017 and to determine whether these cases were linked to one another, to risk groups, or to other outbreaks. The majority of HAV samples (69.8%) were typed.MethodsThe VP1/P2A genomic region of HAV was amplified and sequenced for 125 case serum samples. Information about hepatitis-related symptoms, hospitalisation, vaccination, a possible source of infection and suspected countries of origin of the virus were analysed for sequenced cases.ResultsMost HAV strains were subgenotype IA (n = 77), of which 41 were strains circulating among men who have sex with men (MSM) populations in Europe (VRD_521_2016 (n = 32), RIVM-HAV16–090 (n = 7) or V16–25801 (n = 2)). Forty-four cases were subgenotype IB and four cases subgenotype IIIA. However, other clusters and sporadic cases were detected with or without identifying the epidemiological link.ConclusionThis work represents molecular epidemiological data of hepatitis A cases in Latvia from 2017 to 2019. Molecular typing methods allow identification of clusters for public health needs and establishing links with other outbreaks, and to compare Latvian strains with reported strains from other countries.     

Mannose-binding lectin gene polymorphism, vulvovaginal candidiasis, and bacterial vaginosis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate associations between polymorphisms in the gene coding for mannose-binding lectin (MBL) and the diagnosis of acute or recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis METHODS: Women at two outpatient clinics in Brazil filled out a questionnaire and were examined for the presence of vulvovaginal candidiasis or bacterial vaginosis. A buccal swab was blindly tested for codons 54 and 57 MBL2 gene polymorphisms by polymerase chain reaction and endonuclease digestion. RESULTS: A total of 177 women were enrolled. Vulvovaginal candidiasis was identified in 78 (44.1%) women, 33 (18.6%) had bacterial vaginosis, and 66 (37.3%) were normal controls. Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis was present in 50 (64.1%) of the women with vulvovaginal candidiasis; 20 (60.6%) of the bacterial vaginosis patients had recurrent disease. Vulvovaginal candidiasis was associated with white race (P=.007), bacterial vaginosis was associated with nonwhite race (P=.05), and both were associated with a history of allergy (P< or =.02) and having sexual intercourse at least three times a week (P<.001). Carriage of the variant MBL2 codon 54 allele B was more frequent in women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (25.0%) than in the women with acute vulvovaginal candidiasis (17.9%) or controls (10.6%) (P=.004). Allele B was also more prevalent in women with recurrent bacterial vaginosis (22.5%) than in those with acute bacterial vaginosis (0%) (P=.009). The MBL2 codon 57 polymorphism was infrequent and not associated with vulvovaginal candidiasis or bacterial vaginosis. CONCLUSION: The incidence of vulvovaginal candidiasis and bacterial vaginosis differs by ethnicity in Brazilian women. The MBL2 codon 54 gene polymorphism is associated with both recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis and recurrent bacterial vaginosis.     

FIVE YEARS AFTER DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATIONAL DISABILITY,HEALTH AND REHABILITATION PLAN FOR UKRAINE: ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES

In 2015, technical consultation to support development of the National Disability, Health and Rehabilitation Plan in Ukraine was carried out by the Rehabilitation Advisory Team of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. Recommendations for actions and projects to improve rehabilitation services within the healthcare system in Ukraine were developed, proposed and implemented. The achievements in the subsequent 5 years include establishing, training and enabling employment at healthcare facilities for new rehabilitation professionals (physical and rehabilitation medicine physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists), commencing implementation of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), and increasing rehabilitation knowledge among Ukrainian communities and decision-makers. The main challenges include inappropriate healthcare legislation for developing modern rehabilitation services, gaps in the clinical environment and quality control for training rehabilitation professionals, and the slow pace of implementation of the ICF. A general facilitator is the ongoing healthcare reform in Ukraine, especially its continuation to secondary and tertiary healthcare levels. Future high-priority activities will include amendments to basic healthcare legislation, and introducing a bio-psycho-social approach for the provision of rehabilitation services at all healthcare levels and all rehabilitation treatment phases, starting with the most debilitating health conditions. It will be important to continue the collaboration with European and international partners. LAY ABSTRACTUkraine developed a National Disability, Health and Rehabilitation Plan (NDHRP) in 2015. Since then, the recommended actions and projects have been implemented in the country. Some achievements can be seen, including the establishment of new rehabilitation professions (i.e. physical and rehabilitation medicine (PRM) physician and ergotherapist (the Ukrainian terminology for occupational therapist); implementation of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF); and commencement of implementation of rehabilitation at different levels of healthcare. However, some challenges still need to be addressed, including the introduction of legislation to enable the delivery of effective and safe rehabilitation services, continuing education for rehabilitation professionals, and raising awareness of the ICF implementation, which is based on introducing a biopsycho-social model into the entire clinical process of rehabilitation. With the support of international partners, including European PRM bodies and other international organizations, the outlook for improvement in the field of rehabilitation in Ukraine is very positive. Key words: rehabilitation system, rehabilitation service, rehabilitation profession, rehabilitation service situation analysis, Ukraine, National Disability, Health and Rehabilitation Plan

Since Soviet times Ukraine’s healthcare system has retained a healthcare model with centralized funding, financing “for beds at hospitals”, paper medical records, and wide practice of out-of-pocket payments (1). A further problem is the systemic mistranslation and misuse of the term “healthcare” as “medical care”, starting from the level of legislation, and resulting in misunderstanding of healthcare by many generations of healthcare workers and the general public. At the same time, Ukraine had an inherited rehabilitation system, which was based predominantly on a bio-medical model of disability. Existing rehabilitation legislation in Ukraine still only covers populations with a certified disability (the Ukrainian term “invalidity” is assigned after special assessment by the Medical and Social Examination Commissions (MSECs)). The majority of rehabilitation measures focus on compensation of functional deficits and different kinds of social support provided through so-called invalidity groups. Since 2014 the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine has resulted in numerous injuries among military service personnel and civilians, and thus has greatly increased demands for rehabilitation services. For these reasons, the existing system of “medical rehabilitation” has collapsed, and the need for development of the National Disability, Health and Rehabilitation Plan (NDHRP) for Ukraine has become undeniable. The Ukrainian government (in particular the Ministry of Health of Ukraine; MoH) decided to implement the principles of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Disability Action Plan 2014–2021 (GDAP; 2) by initiating a technical consultation to support development of the NDHRP in Ukraine. This was carried out by the Rehabilitation Advisory Team (RAT) of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ISPRM) in 2015 (3). The mission was based on the principles of the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (4) and the World Report on Disability (WRD; 5). The goalsetting was derived from the WHO GDAP’s “Better Health for All People with Disabilities” (2), and the mission used the specially developed Rehabilitation Service Assessment Tool (RSAT; 6).The main findings from this mission included the absence of essential rehabilitation professionals in the country, a bio-medical approach to rehabilitation delivery, a complete discrepancy in meanings/translations and application of international rehabilitation-related terminology, and a lack of intersectoral coordination between the governing bodies responsible for the provision of rehabilitation services.     

Adrenalectomy improves diabetes in A-ZIP/F-1 lipoatrophic mice by increasing both liver and muscle insulin sensitivity

The virtually fatless A-ZIP/F-1 mouse is profoundly insulin resistant, diabetic, and a good model for humans with severe generalized lipoatrophy. Like a number of other mouse models of diabetes, the A-ZIP/F-1 mouse has elevated serum corticosterone levels. Leptin infusion lowers the corticosterone levels, suggesting that leptin deficiency contributes to the hypercorticosteronemic state. To test the hypothesis that the increased glucocorticoids contribute to the diabetes and insulin resistance, we examined the effect of adrenalectomy on A-ZIP/F-1 mice. Adrenalectomy significantly decreased the blood glucose, serum insulin, and glycated hemoglobin levels. Hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamps were performed to characterize the changes in whole-body and tissue insulin sensitivity. The adrenalectomized A-ZIP/F-1 mice displayed a marked improvement in insulin-induced suppression of endogenous glucose production, indicating increased hepatic insulin sensitivity. Adrenalectomy also increased muscle glucose uptake and glycogen synthesis. These results suggest that the chronically increased serum corticosterone levels contribute to the diabetes of the A-ZIP/F-1 mice and that removal of the glucocorticoid excess improves the insulin sensitivity in both muscle and liver.