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Features of change of immune status indicators in individuals with active and latent forms of herpes-virus infections
No full textObjective. The aim of the study is to investigate the peculiarities of changes in the immune status of individuals with active and latent forms of herpesvirus infections. Herpesvirus infections are an urgent problem of modern health care. Materials and methods. The prospective longitudinal cohort study included 92 permanent blood donors who were examined twice at 6-month intervals for the presence of specific IgM and IgG antibodies and antigens of herpes simplex viruses 1, 2, Epstein-Barr, cytomegalovirus, human herpesvirus type 6, as well as humoral immunity indicators. Results. In the period from October to April, 68.5 % of blood and its components donors were found to have markers of active herpesvirus infection caused by HSV 1, 2, EBV, CMV, and HHV6. The combination of the detected markers in the absence of clinical manifestations and changes in General and biochemical blood tests indicated asymptomatic reactivation of latent infection. The frequency of reactivations in the autumn and spring months is the same. The absence of IgG production after asymptomatic reactivation of HSV-2 and HHV-6 infections and an increase in IgG concentrations to HSV-1, EBV, and CMV were revealed. EBV infection is the most common among the studied nosologies (98.91 %) and is characterized by statistically significantly higher levels of specific IgG. The effect of asymptomatic reactivation of herpesvirus infections on the levels of total IDA, IgM, IgG, IDE, and CEC was not established. Conclusions. Asymptomatic reactivation of herpesvirus infections does not significantly affect the changes in immune status indicators, and the absence of clinical manifestations, and significant changes in General and biochemical blood tests cause epidemiological risks associated with difficulties in identifying the sources of infection
Probability of infectious disease in humans during epidemic
No full textPopular SIR models and their modifications used to generate predictions about epidemics and, specifically, the COVID-19 pandemic, are inadequate. The aim of this study was to find the laws describing the probability of infection in a biological object. Using theoretical methods of research based on the probability theory, we constructed the laws describing the probability of infection in a human depending on the infective dose and considering the temporal characteristics of a given infection. The so-called generalized time-factor law, which factors in the time of onset and the duration of an infectious disease, was found to be the most general. Among its special cases are the law describing the probability of infection developing by some point in time t, depending on the infective dose, and the law that does not factor in the time of onset. The study produced a full list of quantitative characteristics of pathogen virulence. The laws described in the study help to solve practical tasks and should lie at the core of mathematical epidemiological modeling
Did COVID-19 Impact the Connectedness Between Green Bonds and Other Financial Markets? Evidence From Time-Frequency Domain With Portfolio Implications
No full textCOVID-19 has morphed from a health crisis to an economic crisis that affected the global economy through several channels. This paper aims to study the impact of COVID-19 on the time-frequency connectedness between Green Bonds and other financial assets. Our sample includes the global stock market, bond market, oil, USD index, and two popular hedging alternatives, namely Gold and Bitcoin, from May 2013 to August 2020. First, we apply the methodologies of Diebold and Yilmaz (International Journal of Forecasting, 2012, 28(1), 57–66) and Baruník and Křehlík (Journal of Financial Econometrics, 2018, 16(2), 271–296). Then, we estimate hedge ratios and hedge effectiveness of green bonds for other financial assets. Green bonds are found to have a great weight in the overall network, particularly strongly connected with the USD index and bond index. While the bi-directional relationship with USD persists during COVID, the connectedness with conventional bonds is also strengthened. Notably, we find a weak relationship between Green bonds and Bitcoin, both in the short and long run. As portfolio implications, Gold and USD have the highest hedge ratio, which is confirmed by the hedging effectiveness. In contrast, oil and stocks exhibit the lowest hedging effectiveness. Our findings imply that financial assets might have a heterogeneous relationship with green bonds. Furthermore, despite its infancy, it seems that the role of green bond during a crisis should not be ignored, as it can be a hedger for some assets, while a contagion amplifier during crisis times
The present and the future of Russian renewable energy in the green economy transition
No full textIn the recent years, renewable energy is the most actively developing area in the energy industry. The energy decarbonization and the desire to meet the Paris Climate Agreement criteria are the dominant motives of this development. Climate and energy policies, new technologies, changing prices for gas, coal and carbon, the growth of renewable energy sources continue to challenge operators, developers and utility company in energy system. Our article is devoted to these problematic issues. They are related to the renewable energy development. It is a promising direction of “green” growth around the world, including Russia. We discuss the latest trends and developments in the field of renewable energy in Russia in the conditions of global challenges. In addition, we extrapolate possible directions for the renewable energy growth in the future. Our results can be interesting and useful for researchers and experts in the strategic management field, spatial development, innovation economy and some stakeholders involved in the environment and energy system
YIELDCO AS A PERSPECTIVE INVESTMENT VEHICLE
No full textPurpose – the purpose of the article is to assess the investment potential of YieldСos as an innovative pension vehicle and determine the risks that may arise in connection with them. Methods used: empirical analyses, comparisons, statistical analyses.Research methodology – empirical research, comparative analysis, statistical analyses. Findings – in the paper we compared the new investment vehicle YieldCos (green) and a traditional investment vehicle – energy companies (non-green). It was found that the correlation of YieldCos with the market indices is similar to non-green companies. But YieldCos are more exposed to risks than energy companies. That may offset their attractiveness as long term investment vehicle. It is necessary to continue research for this investment vehicle during the period of global financial volatility and crash of crude oil price. Research limitations – the authors study the raise of the new investment vehicle – YieldCos, during the period from 2013 to 2018 (pre Covid-19 Era). Practical implications – YieldCos focus on investors interests, raising money in an environmental projects (namely re-newable energy), and provide combination of high yield and high income growth. Aforesaid characteristics are attractive for institutional investors that are currently experiencing a lack of resources to meet their obligations. Originality/Value – new investment vehicle is becoming a part of the overall socially responsible investment universe. We have taken the first step in the comparative evaluation of traditional and innovative types of investment instruments. Showed the prospects of a new environmentally oriented tool. It is necessary to continue research of this investment vehicle during the period of global financial volatility, changing landscape of energy resources and stakeholders rising influence. https://doi.org/10.3846/cibmee.2021.638
Infodemia: Concept, Social and Political Consequences, Methods of Managing
No full textThe article is devoted to the consideration of the “infodemia” phenomenon as a result of massive fakes injections associated with the 2019-nCoV pandemic. Author analyzes the global social and political consequences of disinformation in social networks and messengers on the topic of health, official health statistics and government methods to combat the spread of the virus. There is a decrease in trust to government authorities and official information sources and also an increase in the popularity of conspiracy narratives. Author identifies methods to deal with infodemia and analyzes their effectiveness
Political Problems and Angles of View on Security: Present State and Prospects
No full textThe article considers political problems and current angles of views on the state and prospects of security. Human security is highlighted as a global problem. Its importance was confirmed by the COVID-19 pandemic that broke out in the world. The author pointed out the growing world’s complexity and the human lag in its understanding. It has led to the inclusion in the global agenda of the question how to bridge this “human gap”. Attention is drawn to the fact that the current paradigm of safety assurance, is not able to cope with the emerging threats to the existence of the contemporary civilization. It is suggested that the task of ensuring human security should be considered as an integral part of the global development agenda. The author analyzes Eurasian vector of development in the context of the global security problem. It is proposed to direct the efforts of scientists to the scientific discussion of this problem, including the scientific events held in this regard in Russia in cooperation with UNESCO, the World Academy of Art and Science and the Club of Rome
Professional Training Scheme in USUE: COVID-19 Pandemic Impact
No full textOver the past decades, the Russian tertiary sector has undergone profound changes caused by economic and social factors. The paper focuses on the challenges that modern universities are facing nowadays. One of the challenges is pedagogical and methodological professional development of academic staff, which has been affected by the COVID-19 crisis. However, a rapid shift to online teaching and learning has offered new opportunities to capacity building of staff and faculty who have learned and tested new tools and systems to enable distance teaching and learning. USUE case is considered
Seroconversion and dynamics of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody response related to a hospital COVID-19 outbreak among pediatric oncology patients.
No full textStructure and dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein monomer
No full textCoronaviruses, especially SARS-CoV-2, present an ongoing threat for human wellbeing. Consequently, elucidation of molecular determinants of their function and interaction with host is an important task. Whereas some of the coronaviral proteins are extensively characterized, others remain understudied. Here, we use molecular dynamics simulations to analyze the structure and dynamics of the SARS-CoV-2 envelope protein (E protein, a viroporin) in the monomeric form. The protein consists of three parts: hydrophobic α-helical transmembrane domain (TMD) and amphiphilic α-helices H2 and H3, which are connected by flexible linkers. We show that TMD is tilted in the membrane, with phenylalanines Phe20, Phe23 and Phe26 facing the lumen. H2 and H3 reside at the membrane surface. Orientation of H2 is not affected by glycosylation, but strongly influenced by palmitoylation pattern of cysteines Cys40, Cys43 and Cys44. On the other hand, glycosylation affects the orientation of H3 and prevents its stacking with H2. We also find that the E protein both generates and senses the membrane curvature, preferably localizing with the cytoplasmic part at the convex regions of the membrane. Curvature sensing may be favorable for assembly of the E protein oligomers, whereas induction of curvature may facilitate budding of the viral particles. The presented results may be helpful for better understanding of the function of coronaviral E protein and viroporins in general, and for overcoming the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic