The COVID-19 Pandemic: New Knowledge on the Impact of Air Quality on the Spread of Coronavirus Infection in Cities.

Suspended substances in the air form clusters with coronavirus particles and spread up to 10 m from the source of infection. The importance of taking air pollution into account when simulating the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic is due to the similarity in the health impacts made by the coronavirus and the respirable fraction of suspended solids. In Europe, up to 6.6% of deaths and in China up to 11% of deaths from COVID-19 are due to ambient air pollution. In epidemiological models, this factor must be considered along with other reasons for the development of coronavirus infection. In Russian cities, increased air pollution can be one of the risk factors for the development of an epidemic.

[INDIVIDUAL FEATURES VIEWING EMOTIONALLY MEANINGFUL IMAGES].

The data on the individual features of eye movements during viewing affective images from IAPS have been presented. The results suggest that the nature of the viewing of the trajectories for each subject (n = 20) is saved at a presentation of images with different emotional content. All examinees showed a significant correlation between the number of tests in which detected a region of interest, in three combinations: between negative and positive images, negative and neutral, neutral and positive (r = 0.84; 0.78 and 0.77 respectively). A similar correlation was found for the fixation duration (r = 0.90; 0.82; 0.90). It is shown that the number of points of fixation in the areas of interest, the area of the field viewing and the fixation duration significantly different between the two groups examinees (with a predominance of focal or scanning inspection trajectories). The possibility of using emotionally meaningful images to evaluate the dominaте type of visual attention on the parameters of eye movements of a particular person is discussed.

[Changes in the Spectral Characteristics of EEG during Neurofeedback Training].

We used the ratio of spectral characteristics of the EEG alpha and beta frequencies recorded in 10 apparently healthy subjects (university students) to control a computer cursor in the graphic interface in three scenarios with the use of neurofeedback. Our results showed that the scenario which uses the power of alpha- and beta-2-frequencies provided the highest accuracy and the best speed control. The parameters of beta-1-frequency were found to be less effective since an increase or a decrease of their power could result from an increase or a decrease of the power of alpha- and beta-2-frequencies. However, the subjects got the skill of cursor control with efficiency of 81%, gradually growing during learning, after a relatively short period of time (5 trainings per 2 weeks).

[Hazard assessment of the impact of high temperature and air pollution on public health in Moscow].

In the article there are considered the main problems of assessing public health risks of the combined effects of high temperatures and air pollution with the account taken of the consequences of abnormally hot weather observed in summer 2010 in Moscow and without equals in the history of meteorological measurements in the city. The daily average concentrations of fine suspended particles matter (PM10) in the city during peatland fires from 4 to 9 August are emphasized to be within the range of 431-906 µ/m3, being 7.2-15.1 times the Russian maximum permissible concentration (MPCs) (60 µ/m3). The anomalous heat and high levels of air pollution in this period were shown to cause a significant increase in excess mortality among the population of Moscow. There was established the relative gain in mortality from all natural causes per 10 µg/m3 increase in daily average concentrations of PM10 and ozone, which was respectively: 0.47% (95%; CI: 0.31-0.63) and 0.41% (95%; CI: 0.31-1.13). On the base of the statistical analysis of daily mortality rates, meteorological indices, the concentrations of PM10 and ozone there was developed marking scale for the risk assessment of these indices accordingly to 4 gradings--low (permissible), warning, alert, and a hazard level. There has been substantiated the importance of the introduction of the system for the early alert for hazard weather events and the unified rating scale for the hazard of high air temperatures and high levels of air pollution with PM10 and ozone, which allows to take timely measures for the protection of the public health.

[DYNAMICS OF GAZE FIXATION DURATION AND EVENT RELATED POTENTIALS WHILE PRESENTATION FADING-IN IMAGES AND DISTRACTORS].

A method for studying the dynamics of human visual attention at various stages of image viewing and recognition has been described. The method is based on the presentation of fading-in images and distractors into the foveal part of visual field. Experimental data demonstrate the effect of habituation to the distractor and bimodal distribution of fixation duration in trials with distractor. It is shown that the effect of distractor is dependent on the complexity of the target images. Significant decrease of the latency of component P350 of fixation related potentials while the simultaneous presentation of target images and distractors is detected in the most of EEG recordings except the occipital ones. On the base of the results obtained the development of tests for evaluation of the current state of visual attention of human-operators, whose main current activities must not be disturbed, has been considered.

[Climate conditions and ambient air quality as risk factors for mortality in Moscow].

Analysis of time rows (daily values of mortality, temperature and pollution of ambient air) proved that present climate warming in Moscow, more subnormally hot and cold days influences level of mortality with all causes except external - with cardiovascular diseases (IHD, angina pectoris, cerebrovascular diseases including cerebrovascular accidents), chronic diseases of lower respiratory tract including bronchial asthma - especially in older age group. Heat waves are associated with significantly increased mortality. Zone of temperature comfort for Moscow, associated with minimal mortality values, is within -20 to +20 C interval.

Excess mortality during heat waves and cold spells in Moscow, Russia.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate excess mortality during heat waves and cold spells, and to identify vulnerable population groups by age and cause of death. METHODS: Daily mortality in Moscow, Russia from all non-accidental, cardiovascular and respiratory causes between January 2000 and February 2006 was analysed. Mortality and displaced mortality during cold spells and heat waves were estimated using independent samples t tests. RESULTS: Cumulative excess non-accidental mortality during the 2001 heat wave was 33% (95% CI 20% to 46%), or approximately 1200 additional deaths, with short-term displaced mortality contributing about 10% of these. Mortality from coronary heart disease increased by 32% (95% CI 16% to 48%), cerebrovascular mortality by 51% (95% CI 29% to 73%) and respiratory mortality by 80% (95% CI 57% to 101%). In the 75+ age group, corresponding mortality increments were consistently higher except respiratory deaths. An estimated 560 extra deaths were observed during the three heat waves of 2002, when non-accidental mortality increased by 8.5%, 7.8% and 6.1%, respectively. About 40% of these deaths were brought forward by only a few days, bringing net mortality change down to 3.2% (95% CI 0.8% to 5.5%). The cumulative effects of the two cold spells in 2006 on mortality were significant only in the 75+ age group, for which average daily mortality from all non-accidental causes increased by 9.9% (95% CI 8.0% to 12%) and 8.9% (95% CI 6.7% to 11%), resulting in 370 extra deaths; there were also significant increases in coronary disease mortality and cerebrovascular mortality. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that daily mortality in Moscow increases during heat waves and cold spells. A considerable proportion of excess deaths during heat waves occur a short time earlier than they would otherwise have done. Harvesting, or short-term mortality displacement, may be less significant for longer periods of sustained heat stress.