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Introduction. Morbidity and mortality of COVID-19 actualizes the identification of groups with the greatest risk of primary and re-infection, persons in need of priority vaccination or revaccination.Objective. To study the factors affecting the content of IgG antibodies to the S-protein SARS-CoV-2 in convalescents after suffering COVID-19 for 6 months.Materials and methods. The study of the Military Medical Academy and the Helix Laboratory Service was carried out from 06/01/2020 to 08/01/2021 on the basis of the Military Medical Academy and the Helix centers. The study included 1421 people – both sexes from 18 to 70 years old. 1205 with asymptomatic and mild disease (outpatient group). 216 with moderate or severe form (inpatient group). The outpatient group underwent a quantitative determination of IgG to the spike (S) protein SARS-CoV-2 by immunochemiluminescence analysis at 30, 45, 60, 90, 180 days from diagnosis. The diagnosis was verified by a positive RT-PCR result. The inpatient group underwent an identical study on the 1st, 14th, 45th, 60th, 90th and 180th days from the moment of admission to the hospital. The diagnosis was verified in the same way.Results. In convalescents, post-infectious immunity is formed from 30 days. Older age was associated with a more pronounced production of IgG to the S-protein SARS-CoV-2, mainly in older women. Moderate and severe course is characterized by higher concentrations of IgG to the SARS-CoV-2 S protein. A high level of IgG to the S-protein SARS-CoV-2 persists for up to 90 days, with a subsequent decrease by 180 days. Body weight, days of oxygen therapy, hyperthermia, the volume of lung tissue lesions and the level of C-reactive protein correlate with the concentration of IgG to the S-protein SARS-CoV-2. The use of glucocorticoids (GCS) is characterized by the presence of a higher concentration of IgG to the S-protein SARS-CoV-2 up to 6 months. There is a dose-dependent effect of using GCS.Conclusion. The formation and maintenance of the level of neutralizing antibodies for 6 months depends on the severity of the disease, the gender and age of the patients, and the fact of using GCS. This must be taken into account when carrying out therapeutic and preventive measures, planning vaccination. ; Введение. Заболеваемость и летальность COVID-19 актуализируют выявление групп с наибольшим риском первичного и повторного инфицирования, лиц, нуждающихся в первоочередной вакцинации либо ревакцинации.Цель – изучить факторы, влияющие на содержание IgG-антител к S-белку SARS-CoV-2 у реконвалесцентов после перенесенного COVID-19 в течение полугода.Материалы и методы. Исследование Военно-медицинской академии имени С.М. Кирова и лабораторной службы «Хеликс» проводилось с 01.06.2020 по 01.08.2021 на базе Военно-медицинской академии и центров «Хеликс». В исследование включен 1421 чел. обоих полов в возрасте от 18 до 70 лет: 1205 с бессимптомной и легкой формой заболевания (амбулаторная группа), 216 со среднетяжелой или тяжелой формой (стационарная группа). Амбулаторной группе выполнялось количественное определение IgG к спайковому (S) белку SARS-CoV-2 методом иммунохемилюминесцентного анализа на 30, 45, 60, 90, 180-е сутки от установления диагноза. Диагноз верифицировался положительным результатом ОТ-ПЦР. Стационарной группе производилось идентичное исследование на 1, 14, 45, 60, 90 и 180-е сутки от момента поступления в стационар. Диагноз верифицировался аналогично.Результаты. У реконвалесцентов формируется постинфекционный иммунитет с 30-х суток. Пожилой возраст ассоциировался с более выраженной продукцией IgG к S-белку SARS-CoV-2, преимущественно это отмечено у пожилых женщин. Среднетяжелое и тяжелое течение характеризуется более высокими концентрациями IgG к S-белку SARS-CoV-2. Высокий уровень IgG к S-белку SARS-CoV-2 сохраняется на протяжении до 90 суток с последующим снижением к 180-м суткам. Масса тела, дни оксигенотерапии, гипертермии, объем поражения легочной ткани и уровень С-реактивного белка коррелируют с концентрацией IgG к S-белку SARS-CoV-2. Применение глюкокортикоидов (ГКС) характеризуется наличием более высокой концентрации IgG к S-белку SARS-CoV-2 до 6 мес. Имеется дозозависимый эффект применения ГКС.Выводы. Формирование и сохранение уровня нейтрализующих антител на протяжении 6 мес. зависят от тяжести заболевания, пола и возраста пациентов, факта применения ГКС. Это необходимо учитывать при проведении лечебных и профилактических мероприятий, планировании вакцинации.

During the past few decades, the science of toxicology has been undergoing a transformation from observational to predictive science. New approach methodologies (NAMs), including in vitro assays, in silico models, read-across, and in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE), are being developed to reduce, refine, or replace whole animal testing, encouraging the judicious use of time and resources. Some of these methods have advanced past the exploratory research stage and are beginning to gain acceptance for the risk assessment of chemicals. A review of the recent literature reveals a burst of IVIVE publications over the past decade. In this review, we propose operational definitions for IVIVE, present literature examples for several common toxicity endpoints, and highlight their implications in decision-making processes across various federal agencies, as well as international organizations, including those in the European Union (EU). The current challenges and future needs are also summarized for IVIVE. In addition to refining and reducing the number of animals in traditional toxicity testing protocols and being used for prioritizing chemical testing, the goal to use IVIVE to facilitate the replacement of animal models can be achieved through their continued evolution and development, including a strategic plan to qualify IVIVE methods for regulatory acceptance.

BACKGROUND: Private entities play a major role in health globally. However, their contribution has not been fully optimized to strengthen delivery of public health services. The COVID-19 pandemic has overwhelmed health systems and precipitated coalitions between public and private sectors to address critical gaps in the response. We conducted a study to document the public and private sector partnerships and engagements to inform current and future responses to public health emergencies. METHODS: This was a multi-country cross-sectional study conducted in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Senegal and Uganda between November 2020 and March 2021 to assess responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted a scoping literature review and key informant interviews (KIIs) with private and public health sector stakeholders. The literature reviewed included COVID-19 country guidelines and response plans, program reports and peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed publications. KIIs elicited information on country approaches and response strategies specifically the engagement of the private sector in any of the strategic response operations. RESULTS: Across the 4 countries, private sector strengthened laboratory systems, COVID-19 case management, risk communication and health service continuity. In the DRC and Nigeria, private entities supported contact tracing and surveillance activities. Across the 4 countries, the private sector supported expansion of access to COVID-19 testing services through establishing partnerships with the public health sector albeit at unregulated fees. In Senegal and Uganda, governments established partnerships with private sector to manufacture COVID-19 rapid diagnostic tests. The private sector also contributed to treatment and management of COVID-19 cases. In addition, private entities provided personal protective equipment, conducted risk communication to promote adherence to safety procedures and health promotion for health service continuity. However, there were concerns related to ...

CONTEXT: COVID-19 came suddenly, bringing to the fore the challenges inherent in the health system. In a developing country, such as Nigeria, which already had myriad problems with funds and equipment in the health sector. AIMS: This study aims to examine the challenges encountered by the staff in Radiology facilities and how they combated the challenges. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: A descriptive cross-sectional study of radiology facilities in Nigeria. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Radiologists from nine government and four private facilities who attended to COVID-19 patients were asked to fill questionnaires on challenges faced and their coping strategies. Responses were sent through E-mail. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Data from the responses were analyzed using Microsoft excel for Mac 2011 and presented as figures and tables. RESULTS: Majority of the government 7 (77.8%) and private facilities 4 (100%) had no equipment dedicated only to COVID-19 patients. Seven (77.8%) government facilities complained of inadequate staff, poor availability of personal protective equipment (PPEs) 8 (88.9%), and lack of technology for remote viewing 7 (77.8%). Fear of cross-infection was a challenge in one of the facilities 1 (11.1%). Coping strategies adopted include ensuring less traffic in the department by discouraging walk-in patients and canceling non-emergent cases, booking suspected/confirmed cases for lighter times, using old film for face shields and cloth for facemasks, staff education on COVID-19 and preventive measures, and sending reports to physicians through E-mail. CONCLUSIONS: There were a lot of challenges during the COVID-19 crisis, with government hospitals experiencing more challenges than private facilities. The challenges included among others inadequate staff strength and lack of technology for remote viewing. Some were overcome using education and by production of facemasks/shields production using recycled materials.

Importance The COVID-19 pandemic is the greatest global test of health leadership of our generation. There is an urgent need to provide guidance for leaders at all levels during the unprecedented preresolution recovery stage. Objective To create an evidence- and expertise-informed framework of leadership imperatives to serve as a resource to guide health and public health leaders during the postemergency stage of the pandemic. Evidence Review A literature search in PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase revealed 10 910 articles published between 2000 and 2021 that included the terms leadership and variations of emergency, crisis, disaster, pandemic, COVID-19, or public health. Using the Standards for Quality Improvement Reporting Excellence reporting guideline for consensus statement development, this assessment adopted a 6-round modified Delphi approach involving 32 expert coauthors from 17 countries who participated in creating and validating a framework outlining essential leadership imperatives. Findings The 10 imperatives in the framework are: (1) acknowledge staff and celebrate successes; (2) provide support for staff well-being; (3) develop a clear understanding of the current local and global context, along with informed projections; (4) prepare for future emergencies (personnel, resources, protocols, contingency plans, coalitions, and training); (5) reassess priorities explicitly and regularly and provide purpose, meaning, and direction; (6) maximize team, organizational, and system performance and discuss enhancements; (7) manage the backlog of paused services and consider improvements while avoiding burnout and moral distress; (8) sustain learning, innovations, and collaborations, and imagine future possibilities; (9) provide regular communication and engender trust; and (10) in consultation with public health and fellow leaders, provide safety information and recommendations to government, other organizations, staff, and the community to improve equitable and integrated care and emergency preparedness ...

During the past few decades, the science of toxicology has been undergoing a transformation from observational to predictive science. New approach methodologies (NAMs), including in vitro assays, in silico models, read-across, and in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE), are being developed to reduce, refine, or replace whole animal testing, encouraging the judicious use of time and resources. Some of these methods have advanced past the exploratory research stage and are beginning to gain acceptance for the risk assessment of chemicals. A review of the recent literature reveals a burst of IVIVE publications over the past decade. In this review, we propose operational definitions for IVIVE, present literature examples for several common toxicity endpoints, and highlight their implications in decision-making processes across various federal agencies, as well as international organizations, including those in the European Union (EU). The current challenges and future needs are also summarized for IVIVE. In addition to refining and reducing the number of animals in traditional toxicity testing protocols and being used for prioritizing chemical testing, the goal to use IVIVE to facilitate the replacement of animal models can be achieved through their continued evolution and development, including a strategic plan to qualify IVIVE methods for regulatory acceptance.

This article reviews the current status of nanotechnology with emphasis on application and related environmental considerations as well as legislation. Application and analysis of nanomaterials in infrastructure (construction, building coatings, and water treatment) is discussed, and in particular nanomaterial release during the lifecycle of these applications. Moreover, possible grouping approaches with regard to ecotoxicological and toxicological properties, and the fate of nanomaterials in the environment are evaluated. In terms of potential exposure, the opportunities that arise from leveraging advances in several key areas, such as water treatment and construction are addressed. Additionally, this review describes challenges with regard to the European Commission's definition of 'nanomaterial'. The revised REACH information requirements, intended to enable a comprehensive risk assessment of nanomaterials, are outlined.

Scientific collaborations among nations to address common problems and to build international partnerships as part of science diplomacy is a well-established notion. The international flow of people and ideas has played an important role in the advancement of the 'Sciences' and the current pandemic scenario has drawn attention towards the genuine need for a stronger role of science diplomacy, science advice and science communication. In dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, visible interactions across science, policy, science communication to the public and diplomacy worldwide have promptly emerged. These interactions have benefited primarily the disciplines of knowledge that are directly informing the pandemic response, while other scientific fields have been relegated. The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on scientists of all disciplines and from all world regions are discussed here, with a focus on early-career researchers (ECRs), as a vulnerable population in the research system. Young academies and ECR-driven organisations could suggest ECR-powered solutions and actions that could have the potential to mitigate these effects on ECRs working on disciplines not related to the pandemic response. In relation with governments and other scientific organisations, they can have an impact on strengthening and creating fairer scientific systems for ECRs at the national, regional, and global level.

Societal Impact Statement Globally, cities are planning for resilience through urban greening initiatives as governments understand the importance of urban forests in improving quality of life and mitigating climate change. However, the persistence of urban forests and the ecosystem benefits they provide are threatened by climate change, and systematic assessments of causes of tree dieback and mortality in urban environments are rare. Long-term monitoring studies and adaptive management are needed to identify and prevent climate change-driven failures and mortality. Research and monitoring when coupled with systematic forecasting will enable governments to incorporate climate change resilience into urban forestry planning. Future scenarios in which urban forests are resilient or in decline will depend on the management and planning actions we make today. A nivel mundial, las ciudades estan expandiendo las areas verdes a medida que los gobiernos comprenden la importancia de los bosques urbanos para mitigar el cambio climatico y mejorar la calidad de vida de los ciudadanos. Sin embargo, la supervivencia de los bosques urbanos y los servicios ecosistemicos que brindan se ven amenazados por el cambio climatico y actualmente, son muy raros los estudios sistematicos sobre las causas de la muerte de los arboles urbanos. Se necesitan estudios de monitoreo a largo plazo y de gestion adaptativa para identificar y prevenir la mortalidad en bosques urbanos provocada por el cambio climatico. Dicha investigacion y monitoreo, combinados con predicciones de clima, permitiran a los gobiernos mitigar los efectos adversos del cambio climatico a traves de la planificacion forestal urbana. Los escenarios futuros en los que los bosques urbanos sean resilientes o esten en declive dependeran de las acciones de gestion y planificacion que realicemos hoy. The management of urban forests is a key element of resilience planning in cities across the globe. Urban forests provide ecosystem services as well as other nature-based solutions to 4.2 billion people living in cities. However, to continue to do so effectively, urban forests need to be able to thrive in an increasingly changing climate. Trees in cities are vulnerable to extreme heat and drought events, which are predicted to increase in frequency and severity under climate change. Knowledge of species' vulnerability to climate change, therefore, is crucial to ensure provision of desired ecosystem benefits, improve species selection, maintain tree growth and reduce tree mortality, dieback and stress in urban forests. Yet, systematic assessments of causes of tree dieback and mortality in urban environments are rare. We reviewed the state of knowledge of tree mortality in urban forests globally, finding very few frameworks that enable detection of climate change impacts on urban forests and no long-term studies assessing climate change as a direct driver of urban tree dieback and mortality. The effects of climate change on urban forests remain poorly understood and quantified, constraining the ability of governments to incorporate climate change resilience into urban forestry planning.

Funding: Open Access funding provided by University of Helsinki including Helsinki University Central Hospital. This research was supported by the EU Seventh Framework Programme (FP7; 2007– 2013) (grant no. 312057); National Health and Medical Research Council (EU Collaborative Grant AUS 8, ID 1067711); Glycemic Diabetologia Index Foundation Australia through royalties to the University of Sydney; Health Research Council of New Zealand (grant no. 14/191) and University of Auckland Faculty Research Development Fund; Cambridge Weight Plan, which donated all products for the 8 week weight loss period; Danish Agriculture & Food Council; Danish Meat Research Institute; National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre (NIHR BRC) (UK); Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) (UK); Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) (UK); Nutritics (Dublin), which donated all dietary analysis software used by the University of Nottingham; Juho Vainio Foundation (Finland); Academy of Finland (grant nos 272376, 314383, 266286 and 314135); Finnish Medical Foundation; Gyllenberg Foundation (Finland); Novo Nordisk Foundation; Finnish Diabetes Research Foundation; University of Helsinki; Government Research Funds for Helsinki University Hospital; Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation (Finland); Emil Aaltonen Foundation (Finland); and China Scholarship Council. The funders were not involved in the design of the study, the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data or writing of the report and did not impose any restrictions regarding the publication of the report. ; AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Lifestyle interventions are the first-line treatment option for body weight and cardiometabolic health management. However, whether age groups or women and men respond differently to lifestyle interventions is under debate. We aimed to examine age- and sex-specific effects of a low-energy diet (LED) followed by a long-term lifestyle intervention on body weight, body composition and ...

The management of urban forests is a key element of resilience planning in cities across the globe. Urban forests provide ecosystem services as well as other nature-based solutions to 4.2 billion people living in cities. However, to continue to do so effectively, urban forests need to be able to thrive in an increasingly changing climate. Trees in cities are vulnerable to extreme heat and drought events, which are predicted to increase in frequency and severity under climate change. Knowledge of species' vulnerability to climate change, therefore, is crucial to ensure provision of desired ecosystem benefits, improve species selection, maintain tree growth and reduce tree mortality, dieback and stress in urban forests. Yet, systematic assessments of causes of tree dieback and mortality in urban environments are rare. We reviewed the state of knowledge of tree mortality in urban forests globally, finding very few frameworks that enable detection of climate change impacts on urban forests and no long-term studies assessing climate change as a direct driver of urban tree dieback and mortality. The effects of climate change on urban forests remain poorly understood and quantified, constraining the ability of governments to incorporate climate change resilience into urban forestry planning.

The article is devoted to the study of the psychosemantics of implicit ideas about a gifted personality among modern students of humanities and technical specialties. The purpose of the study is a psychosemantic analysis of the image of a gifted personality based on implicit representations of students of various specialties and uni-versities. The sample consisted of 229 respondents: 88 people of humanitarian specialties, 141 technical ones. The age of the sample participants ranged from 17 to 22 years. The sample was equal in gender composi-tion.The methodological basis was the concept of the study of the hierarchical structure of the image of a per-son in the consciousness of an individual and a group, proposed by V.L. Sitnikov. The study showed that stu-dents ideas about a gifted personality are similar and lack scientificity. The basis of the structure and content of the image of a gifted personality among students of humanities and technical fields of various universities of St. Petersburg are the characteristics of the intellectual sphere of the individual. The most unpopular were the acquisitive characteristics describing the peculiarities of the attitude to material values. Social characteristics were in second place in terms of frequency of occurrence. Comparative analysis has shown that social charac-teristics are more important for humanities students. They also use bodily, physical and emotional characteris-tics more often. For this group of students, it is characteristic to indicate the negative qualities of a gifted per-son. In the group of students of the technical direction, when describing a gifted personality, names and quali-ties of activity are more often used. Psychosemantic analysis of the implicit concept of a gifted personality of modern students has shown that the image of a gifted person is associated with the profile of professional train-ing of students. Students of technical specialties tend to describe a gifted personality to a large extent through its implementation in activities and through specific categories. Humanities students, perhaps due to their pro-fessional preferences, distinguish social characteristics. In general, among the most common words describing a gifted personality, students of different fields of study did not reveal fundamental differences in the hierarchy of definitions of a gifted personality.

"Understanding of underlying physics related to the Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy (PMA) in magnetic heterostructures represents a major issue for its exploit in random-access memory (MRAM) devices. Using ab-initio analysis, we reveal some basic aspects related to the anatomy of PMA and its variation with electric field in various X/Fe/MgO(001) multilayer configurations (X=Cr, Au, V, Ag, Pt, Pd,…) compatible with standard experimental architectures of magnetic tunnel junction devices. Our study quantifies and underlines the significant role of the Rashba interfacial field on PMA. We explain and correlate the sign, the magnitude, and the electric field dependence of the PMA, the Rashba coefficient R and the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya (DMI) asymmetric exchange interaction parameter. Moreover, when varying the Fe thickness in X/Fe/MgO(001) systems, we observe oscillations of PMA with the number of Fe monolayers, explained within the framework of quantum wells of the 1 Bloch symmetry electrons in Fe. Further atomistic micromagnetic simulations including different Fe layer thicknesses and the corresponding PMA predict macroscopic magnetization characteristics in realistic experimental systems. Keywords: perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, electric field control of PMA, magnetic tunnel junctions, magnetic multilayer heterostructures, atomistic magnetic simulations. "