β2-agonists in sports: prevalence and impact on athletic performance

Respiratory disorders caused by exercise are expressed in the development of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction (EIB) and exercise-induced asthma (EIA), which are observed in athletes, especially in cyclic sports, much more often than in the population. Ventilation impairments are exacerbated by inhaled allergens, industrial pollutants and adverse environmental conditions, which increase the risk of EIB and asthma symptoms in athletes. The use of β2-agonists can prevent or eliminate ventilation disorders, however, it requires taking into account current anti-doping rules, which allow the use of certain substances in sports without a request for therapeutic use. The studies of the influence of β2-agonists on functional indicators of athletes and sports performance do not allow to make an unambiguous conclusion about its results. Medications with β2-agonists, approved for use in sports in the form of inhalation, do not have a significant effect on the performance of athletes at major sports competitions. At the same time, the systemic use of these substances and the use of any form of terbutaline caused a positive dynamics in functional indicators, which could lead to an illegal increase in the effectiveness of sports performance. Most of the conclusions about the effect of β2-agonists on outcome are based on a small number of studies, their heterogeneity, and an insignificant number of observations. It is necessary to continue studying the effects of β2-agonists in the course of randomized clinical trials in order to individualize therapy and prevent bronchial obstruction in athletes

Limitations and opportunities of cancer treatment in the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all medical fields and brought up a lot of serious problems. The features of the COVID-19 infection in patients with cancer are important to understand. According to many articles, patients with cancer are more vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. Patients undergoing anticancer treatment have 1-4% morbidity rate. Patients with hematological diseases and lung cancer are at higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and also have more severe symptoms and complications. In this article we discuss the effect of the tumors on the immune system and comprehend the pathogenesis of the coronavirus disease according to its impact on the immunity. Moreover, in the review we analyze available data about the influence of the different types of cancer therapy (chemotherapy, target therapy, radiotherapy and immunotherapy) on the severity of the COVID-19 infection. Evidence on the effect of chemotherapy on severity and mortality from COVID-19 is contradictory. Whereas there are some authors concluding that chemotherapy treatment is not affecting the severity of COVID-19 disease, there are also some works where the connection between these facts was established. At the same time target therapy, radio- and immunotherapy most likely do not worsen the SARS-CoV-2 infection and are not associated with the development of complications. But it’s important to say that the amount of data available for today is insufficient to make a unambiguous conclusion.

PHENOMENON OF DEMIKHOV. In the Sklifosovsky Institute (1960–1986). Approaches to solving the problem of organ and tissue transplantation in the USSR and abroad (1967)

Analysis of the materials of the 2nd All-Union conference on the problem of tissue incompatibility, conservation and transplantation of tissues and organs (Odessa, 1967) showed that Soviet and foreign scientists had similar approaches to solving the problem of organ and tissue transplantation. Soviet scientists spoke about overcoming tissue incompatibility by hybridization of plants and chimerization of animals, about the effect of drug sleep on transplant immunity, about neurohumoral immunological shifts and the role of the central and peripheral nervous systems in the engraftment of grafts, about the influence of external factors on immunity. They also discussed the characterization of the antigenic structure of grafts, the role of DNA in immunity, the genetic transformation of homomaterial, the use of pharmacological agents to suppress immunogenesis, the cryopreservation of auto- and homo-organs and tissues with perfusion of their vascular bed, and the study of immunogenesis at the molecular level. A year earlier, the Americans discussed immunological paralysis, the effect on the recipient's immunity of the donor's blood transfused to him and its components, and biochemical studies of immunity. At the same time, without any ethical doubts, American scientists conducted experiments, including clinical ones, with multiple passages of homosexual skin, with exchange transfusion of blood to newborns and subsequent transplantation of homosexual donors to them, with irradiation of recipients with powerful doses of X-rays. It is shown that most of the trends that had been developed by V.P. Demikhov, were approved by the 2nd All-Union Conference. But what he lacked was close and comprehensive integration with morphologists, physiologists, immunologists, biochemists, pharmacologists and, sadly, with clinical surgeons. Based on the research conducted, an unambiguous conclusion can be drawn: Soviet scientists should not have criticized V.P. Demikhov for his "misunderstanding" of immunology, and to help him in every possible way, directing his energy in the right direction.

THE RESULTS OF THE FUNCTIONAL STATE OF THE MEIOBENTHIC FAUNA RESEARCH IN HIGH-SULFIDE BIOTOPES OF COASTAL LAKES-LAGOONS OF THE KANDALAKSHA BAY (WHITE SEA)

The article presents the results of the studies of physiological state of meiofauna taken from the bottom sediments of two meromictic lakes which had different stages of geological isolation from the White Sea. It was concluded that active living benthic organisms of these high-sulfide biotopes could penetrate no deeper than the upper boundary of the hemocline. Organisms living at the depth of the upper redox-chemocline boundary (nematodes, chironomids and oligochaetes) in the lakes-lagoons of the Kandalaksha Bay (White sea) have high locomotor activity characteristics. Nematodes and rotifers were found on the lower edge of the chemocline, but they were motionless and did not show signs of active life. Therefore, they, with a high degree of probability, could be attributed to the dead component of the community. No meiobenthos was found in the anoxic zone at the bottom of the sulfide lake at a depth of 7.5 m. Finding abundant motionless benthic ciliates, belonging to the family Tintinnidae at the upper edge of the chemocline of Lake Trekhtsvetnoe does not allow researchers to make unambiguous conclusion about their physiological state. The main factor limiting the penetration of zoobenthic oxybionts into the redox zone of the studied meromictic White Sea lagoons is obviously the combined effect of deficiency of dissolved oxygen with simultaneous contamination of the aquatic environment and benthal with hydrogen sulfide. On the contrary, the positive properties of this habitat can be attributed to the high content of potential food resources (biomass of photo-and chemolithotrophic microorganisms), and, probably, the previously observed layer of the chemocline with an increased temperature. It is noteworthy that the latter phenomenon, which is observed in most of the stratified lakes-lagoons of the polar region, is most developed in the winter period.

Prince Hall: the origins of the Back-to-Africa Movement and black Freemasonry

This work examines in detail the biography and ideological and political views of Prince Hall, one of the most authoritative and at the same time one of the most mysterious representatives of the black rights movement in the United States. In the course of the analysis, the author dwells in detail on the circumstances of the formation of his socio-political philosophy. He comes to an unambiguous conclusion that it is impossible to attribute the theoretical views of this public figure either to black nationalism or to Pan-Africanism. At the same time, the author acknowledges that the views of the Grand Master of the African Lodge have a number of similarities with both of these ideologies. In particular, Prince Hall adhered to the concept of Ethiopianism and was among the first to put forward the idea of compensating African Americans for the years of slavery and return to the Black Continent. This certainly makes him related to such well-known ideologists of black nationalism as Martin Robison Delany, Henry McNeal Turner, Marcus Garvey, and Malcolm X. But unlike those listed above, Hall remained a staunch egalitarian, a patriot, and an opponent of violent methods of struggle until the very end of his life, which contradicts this doctrine. In addition, this personage was at the origins of the repatriation movement and black Freemasonry, which earned him his great fame. The great contribution of Prince Hall to the cause of struggle against slavery as well as his place among the first and foremost abolitionists has never been questioned by researchers. At the same time, it had to be pointed out the significant degree of mythologization of the image of the Great Master and his biography which still causes a lot of controversy not only in the academic but also in the political and public community. That is why the work provides a number of versions and interpretations of the “well-known facts” of Hall’s biography. The author exposes them to a detailed critical analysis. In Russian historical science, this study is the first work to offer a critical scholarly interpretation of the biography of Prince Hall, the founder of black Freemasonry and the Back-to-Africa Movement. A number of sources are introduced into scientific circulation for the first time.

The realized niche is Agropyron dasyanthum Ledeb. in the dune landscape of the Crimea

The realized niche of the community, which is part of the association Astragalo borysthenici-Ephedsretum Korzh. et Klyukin 1990 (union Verbascion pinnatifidi Korzh. et Klukin 1990, order Festucetalia vaginatae Soo 1957, class Festucetea vaginatae Soo 1968 em Vicherek 1972) described on a leaning dune, is discussed. Its composition is dominated by polycarpic grasses, represented by ephemerals and ephemeroids with a semi-rosette type of vegetation and a deep taproot system. An attempt has been made to predict the survival of the species found in Agropyron dasyanthum Ledeb., known as the endemic of the Lower Dnieper sands. To assess the ecological structure of the realized niche of the phytocenosis and the correspondence to it of the potential niche of fluffy flowering wheatgrass, an original program for calculating the packing density of community species on the gradients of factor-conditions and factor-resources was used: acidity of the substrate, salt regime (anionic composition), carbonate content, nitrogen content, granulometric (mechanical) composition (porosity) of the substrate). The result of the analysis was an unambiguous conclusion that Agropyron dasyanthum Ledeb. in the new conditions of the shell-detritus substrate, it ideally fit into the conditions of the climatope and, more or less, into the structure of the edaphotope. The real threat to the community is theanthropogenic impact and loss of productivity in the Sea of Azov.

SOCIAL TRANSFORMATIONS IMPLEMENTATION INTELLIGENT PRODUCTS: IDEAS VS IDEOLOGIES

Реалии современной общественной жизни, формирующиеся под влиянием множества самых различных вызовов и вдобавок ко всему пребывающие в состоянии турбулентности ввиду нелинейности мира, требуют нетривиальных и своевременных ответов. Предназначение современных общественных наук видится в необходимости реализации не только лишь теоретического, но и прикладного потенциала. Сети интеллектуалов призваны создавать конкурентоспособные продукты, отражающие результаты их мыслительной деятельности, которые бы при этом обеспечивали эволюционное развитие того или иного общества. Статья посвящена рассмотрению давнего спора о том, какой из интеллектуальных продуктов, идеи или идеологии, наиболее эффективен с позиции осуществления социальных преобразований. Теоретико-методологическую базу исследования составили компаративистский метод и разработанная автором интегральная концепция изучения социальных преобразований, учитывающая положения акторно-сетевой теории, неоинституционализма, мир-системного анализа, нарративного подхода, теории фреймов и ряда других исследовательских установок. Рассмотрена сущность идей и идеологий. Показаны механизмы создания данных интеллектуальных продуктов. На основе анализа исторических фактов, связанных с идейной детерминацией процессов социальных преобразований, автор приходит к однозначному выводу о большей эффективности идей перед идеологиями. The realities of contemporary social life, which are formed under the influence of many different challenges and, in addition, are in a state of turbulence due to the nonlinearity of the world, require non-trivial and timely responses. The purpose of contemporary social sciences is seen in the need to realize not only theoretical, but also applied potential. Intellectuals' networks are called upon to create competitive products reflecting the results of their mental activity, which would at the same time ensure the evolutionary development of a society. The article is devoted to consideration of a long-standing dispute about which of the intellectual products, ideas or ideology, is the most effective from the standpoint of implementing social transformations. The theoretical and methodological basis of the research was formed by the comparative method and the integral concept of the study of social transformations developed by the author, taking into account the provisions of the actor-network theory, neoinstitutionalism, world-systems analysis, the narrative approach, the theory of frames, and a number of other research attitudes. The essence of ideas and ideologies is considered. Mechanisms for creating data for intellectual products are shown. Based on the analysis of historical facts related to the ideological determination of the processes of social transformations, the author comes to an unambiguous conclusion about the greater efficiency of ideas over ideologies.

JUSTIFICATION FOR THE EXPEDIENCY OF SHIP RECYCLING

The decision of a ship recycling is usually made only on the basis of economic considerations – the possibility of selling materials and equipment for reuse. But the actual damage to the environment is not estimated, as from a disposition (emissions from cutting and storage of waste which is not a subject to further use and processing) and the ship storage on the certain territory which is either a coastline or a section of backwater, and which in most cases is not designed for this. The article considers the approach allowing to estimate the environmental effect of cutting up a ship, in comparison with its storage in a conditionally unlimited time interval. An unambiguous conclusion was obtained about the effectiveness of this type of treatment of the ship as waste. The method for determining a certain conditional time for making a decision on the method and place of recycling, applicable to a ship that is in an unsuitable technical condition is proposed.

collapse of the Bronze Age Aegean

Around 1200 bce, the Mycenaean palace centres of mainland Greece and Crete were destroyed along with, presumably, the states they governed; key aspects of palatial culture that had developed over the preceding two centuries, such as writing and administration, were lost or rejected. Although there was rebuilding at some sites, such as Tiryns, the style was different from the preceding age, which suggests an ideological shift and likely a weakening of central authority. Elsewhere, in Messenia, there was no rebuilding at Pylos palace, and the landscape appears depopulated. Many explanations for the collapse have been proposed, from migration and climate change to plague and shifts in trade; the continued disagreement over what happened and why demonstrates the difficulty of arriving at an unambiguous conclusion from the available evidence. Mycenaean culture continued for more than a century after the collapse, but the features associated with palaces and kings disappeared.

Analysis of philosophy and humanization art relationship in the first decade of the XX century

When writing the article, the authors pursued one goal: to understand why extreme subjectivity in art, the abandonment for centuries of setting traditions, laws and techniques in art led to the loss of aesthetic criteria by the modernism art, and what philosophical trends influenced this process. The methodological basis of the article is the principles of integrity, objectivity and historicism. The following methods were applied: historical and philosophical analysis, focused on the objective completeness of the study; cultural and comparative approaches aimed at establishing spiritual ties between artists of different historical eras. The article analyzes the works of philosophers and artists, such as: Bergson, Schopenhauer Nietzsche, Chirico, Apollinaire, Lenin, Bru, Kandinsky. Various directions of bourgeois art are considered. The authors believe that abstract art, fully antisocial and dehumanized, fully meets the aesthetic ideals of the modernism art, which opposed itself to human from its very birth. The authors argue that if you take the artists’ position of that time, you can make an unambiguous conclusion, the dehumanization of art could not be avoided. According to the authors, abstract art, fully antisocial and extremely dehumanized, is fully consistent with the goals of bourgeois ideologists and fully meets the aesthetic ideals of the art of modernism, which has opposed itself to man since its inception.