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Wildfires and agricultural burning generate seemingly increasing smoke aerosol emissions, impacting societal and natural ecosystems. To understand smoke's effects on climate and public health, we analyzed the spatiotemporal distribution of smoke aerosols, focusing on two major light-absorbing components, black carbon (BC) and brown carbon (BrC) aerosols. Using NASA's Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) instrument aboard the NOAA's Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) spacecraft, we inferred BC and BrC volume fractions and particle mass concentrations based on spectral absorption provided by the Multi-Angle Implementation of Atmospheric Correction (MAIAC) algorithm with 1-2 hours temporal resolution and ~10 km spatial resolution over North America and Central Africa. Our analyses of regional smoke properties reveal distinct characteristics for aerosol optical depth (AOD) at 443 nm, spectral single scattering albedo (SSA), aerosol layer height (ALH), and BC and BrC amounts. Smoke cases in North America show extremely high AOD up to 6, with elevated ALH (6-7 km) and significant BrC components up to 250 mg/m2 along the transport paths, whereas the smoke aerosols in Central Africa exhibited stronger light absorption (i.e., lower SSA) and lower AOD, resulting in higher BC mass concentrations and similar BrC mass concentrations than the cases in North America. Seasonal burning source locations in Central Africa following the seasonal shift of Inter Tropical Convergence Zone and diurnal variations in smoke amounts were also captured. Comparison of retrieved AOD443, SSA443, SSA680, and ALH with collocated AERONET and CALIOP measurements shows agreement with rmse of 0.2, 0.03-0.04, 0.02-0.04, and 0.8-1.3 km, respectively. Analysis of spatiotemporally average reveals distinct geographical characteristics in smoke properties closely linked to burning types and meteorological conditions. Forest wildfires over western North America generated smoke with small BC volume fraction of 0.011 and high ALH with large variability (2.2 ± 1.2 km), whereas smoke from wildfires and agricultural burning over Mexico region shows more absorption and low ALH. Smoke from savanna fires over Central Africa has the most absorption with high BC volume fraction (0.015) and low ALH with small variation (1.8 ± 0.6 km) among the analyzed regions. Tropical forest smoke was less absorbing and had a high variance in ALH. We also quantify the estimation uncertainties related to the assumptions of BC and BrC refractive indices. The MAIAC EPIC smoke properties with BC and BrC volume and mass fractions and assessment of layer height provide observational constraints for radiative forcing modeling and air quality and health studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is intended for decision-makers in the field of water resources use (irrigation and hydropower) and for emergency prevention authorities. Another problem remains intensive technogenic pollution of the environment, including water bodies, and one of the main tasks in the conditions of technogenesis is the development of predictive models for the migration of polluting chemical elements and substances in the environment. To calculate the runoff of the river the HBV3-ETH9 hydrological model and the CMIP5 RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 climate projections were used, according to which the air temperature is expected to increase by 2.3 and 4.3 °C, respectively, in annual precipitation - by 10% of the norm. In the period 2023-2080, a gradual increase in annual runoff is expected by 9-23%, and according to the extreme scenario, by 9-36% of the norm, which is associated with intensive glacier water loss, seasonal snowmelt and rainfall. In the future, the passage of two flood peaks (in June and July) is possible. The increase in water content in April and May will contribute to increased mudflow and flood activity.

Cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) are mediators of aerosol–cloud interactions (ACIs), contributing to the largest uncertainties in the understandings of global climate change. We present a novel remote-sensing-based algorithm that quantifies the vertically resolved CCN number concentrations (NCCN) using aerosol optical properties measured by a multiwavelength lidar. The algorithm considers five distinct aerosol subtypes with bimodal size distributions. The inversion used the lookup tables developed in this study, based on the observations from the Aerosol Robotic Network, to efficiently retrieve optimal particle size distributions from lidar measurements. The method derives dry aerosol optical properties by implementing hygroscopic enhancement factors in lidar measurements. The retrieved optically equivalent particle size distributions and aerosol-type-dependent particle composition are utilized to calculate critical diameters using κ -Köhler theory and NCCN at six supersaturations ranging from 0.07 % to 1.0 %. Sensitivity analyses indicate that uncertainties in extinction coefficients and relative humidity greatly influence the retrieval error in NCCN. The potential of this algorithm is further evaluated by retrieving NCCN using airborne lidar from the NASA ObseRvations of Aerosols above CLouds and their intEractionS (ORACLES) campaign and is validated against simultaneous measurements from the CCN counter. The independent validation with robust correlation demonstrates promising results. Furthermore, the NCCN has been retrieved for the first time using a proposed algorithm from spaceborne lidar – Cloud-Aerosol Lidar with Orthogonal Polarization (CALIOP) – measurements. The application of this new capability demonstrates the potential for constructing a 3D CCN climatology at a global scale, which helps to better quantify ACI effects and thus reduce the uncertainty in aerosol climate forcing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hemophagocytic syndrome is a key point in the pathogenesis of severe forms of multisystem inflammatory syndrome associated with COVID-19 in children (MIS-C). The factors associated with hemophagocytosis in patients with MIS-C were assessed in the present study of 94 boys and 64 girls ranging in age from 4 months to 17 years, each of whose HScore was calculated. In accordance with a previous analysis, patients with HScore ≤ 91 (n = 79) and HScore > 91 (n = 79) were compared. Patients with HScore > 91 had a higher frequency of symptoms such as cervical lymphadenopathy, dry cracked lips, bright mucous, erythema/swelling of hands and feet, peeling of fingers, edematous syndrome, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and hypotension/shock. They also had a higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and D-dimer levels, and a tendency to anemia, thrombocytopenia, and hypofibrinogenemia. They more often needed acetylsalicylic acid and biological treatment and were admitted to ICU in 70.9% of cases. Conclusion: The following signs of severe MIS-C were associated with HScore > 91: myocardial involvement, pericarditis, hypotension/shock, and ICU admission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Isotopic composition of precipitation in the mountains of four Central Asian countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan) was measured using 908 event-based precipitation samples collected at eight sites in 2019–2021, and 7 monthly samples from Dushanbe (Tajikistan) thereby filling a gap in stable isotope data for the region. Regional and seasonal patterns of δ18O, δD and D-excess were investigated. Local Meteoric Water Lines (LMWL) derived using seven regression methods using both non-weighted and weighted precipitation. It is recommended that the non-weighted Ordinary Least Squares Regression (OLSR) and Reduced Major Axis Regression (RMA) methods can be applied across the region except in summer, when the Precipitation-Weighted Least Squares Regression (PWLSR) method is recommended. An atmospheric back trajectory analysis and a mixing model were applied in combination for the first time, using the δ18O, δD and D-excess data, to identify the atmospheric moisture source regions and quantify the relative importance. The main distant sources were the Black and Caspian Seas region, Iran – eastern Mediterranean, and northern Kazakhstan – Siberia. The recycled moisture from the irrigated lower reaches of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers, and from the study catchments, accounted for 29–71 % of the atmospheric moisture reaching the observation points. In spring, summer and winter, in the Chon-Kyzyl-Suu catchment, up to 85 % of the precipitation was estimated to be derived from local re-evaporation, most likely from Lake Issyk Kul. These findings highlight the importance of moisture from terrestrial sources, especially irrigated land, in precipitation formation in Central Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome associated with COVID-19 in children (MIS-C) is a life-threatening condition that often requires intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The aim of this study was to determine risk factors for severe/life-threatening course of MIS-C. The study included 166 patients (99 boys, 67 girls) aged 4 months–17 years (median 8.2 years). The criterion of severity was the fact of ICU admission. To conduct a comparative analysis, MIS-C patients were divided into two groups: patients hospitalized in the ICU (n = 84, 50.6%) and those who did not need ICU admission (n = 82, 49.4%). Patients with a more severe course of MIS-C were significantly older. They had a higher frequency of signs such as rash, swelling, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and neurological and respiratory symptoms. Hypotension/shock and myocardial involvement were much more common in patients with severe MIS-C. These patients had a more significant increase in CRP, creatinine, troponin, and D-dimer levels. Additionally, the presence of macrophage activation syndrome was higher in patients admitted to the ICU. Conclusion: Nineteen predictors of severe course of MIS-C were found, out of which hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, D-dimer > 2568 ng/mL, troponin > 10 pg/mL were mainly associated with the probability of being classified as early predictors of severe MIS-C requiring ICU admission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electronic educational environment is now being actively implemented in the field of vocational education all over the world. The concept of digital competence and the readiness of a university teacher to use the Moodle distance learning management system are considered. The study involved 45 respondents - teachers of the humanities at a technical university, 23 - with an academic degree, 21 - higher education without an academic degree. The described study based on the analysis of questionnaire answers reveals significant differences in the components of digital competence of teachers of different generations.

Background: Pediatric lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most serious manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in children, determining the outcomes of the disease. There are no standardized treatment protocols for pediatric LN, and the role of biologics has not yet been conclusively defined. Objectives: analyze the safety and efficacy of rituximab biosimilar BCD020 in pediatric patients with lupus nephritis. Methods: in a retrospective cohort study, the data from the case histories of 25 patients with LN (10 boys and 15 girls) with an onset age of 13 (9–16) years, who failed conventional non-biologic treatment or developed corticosteroid dependence/toxicity, were included. The diagnosis was made using Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) classification criteria. Rituximab biosimilar BCD020 was prescribed in a dosage of 375 mg/m2 every week (2–4 infusions) with repeated courses every 6–12 months (2–4 infusions) according to disease activity, B-cell depletion, and IgG levels. The dynamics of clinical and laboratory data, the activity of the disease by SLEDAI, and corticosteroid doses were assessed at the onset and during the rituximab trial. Results: The main patient's characteristics were: Pre-rituximab non-biologic conventional treatment included: cyclophosphamide 15 (60%), MMF 8 (32%), azathioprine 3 (12%), hydroxychloroquine 12 (48%), and pulse therapy of methylprednisolone followed by oral methylprednisolone 25 (100%). The time before rituximab was 7.0 (3.0–24.0) months, and the whole observation period was 7.0 (0; 24) months. The initial pre-rituximab treatment slightly reduced SLEDAI levels and the proportion of patients with LN. A significant reduction of SLEDAI, the anti-dsDNA level, proteinuria, hematuria, C4 complement, ESR, and the median corticosteroid dose by 80% from the initial value, as well as the proportion of patients without corticosteroids, was observed after rituximab administration. Two deaths were observed due to catastrophic SLE with macrophage activation syndrome, accompanied by a severe infection (invasive aspergillosis, n = 2). Three patients developed serious adverse events: pneumonia (n = 2), transient agranulocytosis (n = 1) after the third rituximab infusion, and meningitis, caused by Listeria monocytosis, after the first rituximab infusion. Eight patients received antibacterial treatment for different respiratory infections without hospital admissions. Conclusions: Rituximab biosimilar BCD020 showed effectiveness in LN, whereas previous non-biologic treatment was insufficiently effective. Randomized controlled trials are required to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab and evaluate the benefits when compared with conventional SLE treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]