Advantages of Ferroelectrics as a Component of Heterostructures for Electronic Purposes: A DFT Insight.

The main advantage of using ferroelectric materials as a component of complex heterostructures is the ability to tune various properties of the whole system by means of an external electric field. In particular, the electric field may change the polarization direction within the ferroelectric material and consequently affect the structural properties, which in turn affects the electronic and magnetic properties of the neighboring material. In addition, ferroelectrics allow the electrostriction phenomenon to proceed, which is promising and can be used to affect the magnetic states of the interface state in the heterostructure through a magnetic component.

Molecular Dynamics Modeling for the Determination of Elastic Moduli of Polymer-Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Composites.

The use of carbon nanotubes to improve the mechanical properties of polymers is one of the promising directions in materials science. The addition of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) to a polymer results in significant improvements in its mechanical, electrical, optical, and structural properties. However, the addition of SWCNTs does not always improve the polymer properties.

[Stroke risk stratification in elderly patients with comorbid sarcopenia and atherosclerosis].

Objective: The study was to investigate the features of carotid arteries atherosclerosis as the leading risk factor for atherothrombotic stroke in elderly patients depending on the presence of sarcopenia.

Material And Methods: 2 groups of patients above the working age were examined: 110 patients with normal muscle mass and 24 suffering sarcopenia. Ultrasound examination of carotid and vertebral arteries extracranial segments was performed with an assessment of atherosclerotic changes severity, atherosclerotic plaques instability, 10-year risk of stroke (according to Framingham risk score) and a 10-year risk of fatal cardiovascular disease (SCORE risk scale).

Novel prognostic determinants of COVID-19-related mortality: A pilot study on severely-ill patients in Russia.

COVID-19 pandemic has posed a severe healthcare challenge calling for an integrated approach in determining the clues for early non-invasive diagnostics of the potentially severe cases and efficient patient stratification. Here we analyze the clinical, laboratory and CT scan characteristics associated with high risk of COVID-19-related death outcome in the cohort of severely-ill patients in Russia. The data obtained reveal that elevated dead lymphocyte counts, decreased early apoptotic lymphocytes, decreased CD14+/HLA-Dr+ monocytes, increased expression of JNK in PBMCs, elevated IL-17 and decreased PAI-1 serum levels are associated with a high risk of COVID-19-related mortality thus suggesting them to be new prognostic factors.

[Paradoxical air embolism of intracerebral arteries as a complication of tooth extraction].

The article describes the rare clinical case, demonstrating sudden onset of neurological manifestations (seizures and consequent formation of ischemic stroke foci) in a 29 year-old female patient during tooth extraction (right lower third molar) using the high-speed dental drill. Air injection through damaged tissues caused subcutaneous emphysema in the buccal area that caused air embolism. Presence of asymptomatic congenital heart defect in the patient (atrial septal defect) allowed the bubbles of air to move paradoxically from right to left with consequent embolization of small cerebral arteries.