Background. The prevalence of obesity among children is increasing, which is a serious healthcare problem. In healthcare, the problem of motivation affects an important area that reflects its effectiveness – patient motivation for treatment. A decrease in treatment motivation reduces therapeutic effect, increases the complication rate of the underlying disease, reduces the quality of life of patients and increases treatment costs.The aim of the work. To identify the differences in treatment motivation in adolescent girls with obesity.Materials and methods. The pilot study was carried out at the clinic of the Scientific Centre for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems. The study included 40 girls aged 14–16 years suffering from grade 1 obesity. To study treatment motivation, we used the following methods: J. Nuttin’s, D. McClelland’s, S.R. Panteleev’s, J.K. Collins’, method of the self-conception research, the “Type of Attitude Towards the Disease” method; attitude towards the disease.Results. The study showed that the adolescents who were admitted into hospital for the first time had higher treatment motivation during the study than the adolescents who were readmitted into hospital. The adolescents who were readmitted into hospital felt guilty remorse, anxious suspiciousness, and fear of failure. The dominant type of treatment motivation in both groups consisted of the following attitudes: achieving symptomatic improvement; receiving a “secondary gain” from the disease; other motivation (passive position).Conclusion. The obtained data from the study of treatment motivation in adolescent girls with obesity can be used to optimize the process of therapy of such patients in a hospital setting.

Background. In Russia, of all detected cases of COVID-19, 18 % were in the pediatric population. According to a number of studies, adolescents develop long-term clinical and psychological consequences after an illness. Therefore, at present, the most relevant is a thorough study of the structure and severity of consequences of COVID-19 in adolescents.The aim of the research was to assess the severity of consequences of COVID-19 in adolescents depending on the time period after diseases.Methods. The sample included 96 people aged 11–16 years: 48 adolescents who have undergone COVID-19 (main group); 48 adolescents who did not have COVID-19 (control group). The main group was divided into six subgroups, depending on the period after COVID-19. The following research methods were used: clinical history using a standardized interview method; “Correction test” method by B. Bourdon; Beck’s Depression Inventory (BDI-1A); Adolescent’s Form of Manifest Anxiety Scale by A.M. Prikhozhan.Results. Clinical symptoms of COVID-19 during the acute phase of the disease were considered in adolescents. It has been established that the most common symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, sore throat, severe fatigue, impaired sense of smell, impaired taste, headache (most often localized in the frontal region). Clinical and psychological symptoms characteristic of post-COVID syndrome were considered as consequences of COVID-19 in adolescents. The majority of the examined adolescents showed the following clinical symptoms of COVID-19 after discharge: asthenia, disturbances of smell and taste; lasting from 2 to 64 weeks. As psychological symptoms, adolescents were characterized by reduced attention span, reduced speed of information processing and concentration, as well as the presence of symptoms of severe depression and high anxiety. During the second month after COVID-19, the most unfavorable emotional state was revealed in adolescents.Conclusions. The data obtained made it possible to determine that post-COVID syndrome in adolescents is characterized by the presence of an asthenic condition, impaired attention, high anxiety, severe depressive symptoms.

Background. Smell disorder is a recognized clinical symptom of COVID-19 infection. The problem of the loss of sense of smell in the structure of COVID-19 pathogenesis during pregnancy remains unresolved. The aim of the study. To determine the sense of smell and taste in pregnant women with COVID-19, as well as to evaluate the relationship between the sense of smell and the number of SARS-CoV-2 genome equivalents in the nasopharyngeal secretion. Material and methods. In the case-control study, 121 pregnant women participated: 40 of them were infected with COVID-19; 81 were not infected with COVID-19 earlier and at the time of the study. The survey was conducted in July 2021. Sense of smell was assessed using the Connecticut Chemosensory Clinical Research Center (CCCRC) olfactory test, which includes olfactory threshold determination and odor identification assessment. Taste was measured according to the O. Massarelli method. Viral load was calculated using a standardized method for determining the numberof SARS-CoV-2 RNA copies in 1 ml of nasopharyngeal secretion. Results. The incidence of olfactory disorders (moderate / severe and anosmia) in pregnant women with COVID-19 is 62.5 % compared to 22.23 % among pregnant women who have never had COVID-19 (p = 0.002). No significant taste disorders were identified. The threshold value for the manifestation of olfactory disorders was 17794 RNA copies of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which corresponds to the 37th threshold cycle (Ct). Conclusion. During pregnancy in the acute phase of COVID-19, sense of smell is significantly impaired, but not sense of taste. Decreased sense of smell is associated with SARS-CoV-2 viral load.

This article is devoted to the study of the features of the dynamics of speech function (using associative activity as an example) in the circadian cycle of children and adolescents with hypertension (HTN). The research aims to distinguish between various approaches to teaching them. All participants were divided into the following two groups: the main group comprising 62 patients with HTN; the control group of 62 mostly healthy children. Both groups were matched for gender and age and then investigated by daily monitoring of blood pressure (BP) and multiple (threefold) neuropsychological testing following A.R. Luria’s method in accordance with the conditional biorhythmological division of the day into three periods. Speech skills were assessed using C.G. Jung’s associative experiment. In the participants with HTN, a comparative analysis of the dynamics of speech function in the circadian rhythm was carried out, and its results revealed a clear relationship between arterial pressure rhythm disturbances and speech activity. It was demonstrated that either an insufficient or significant decrease in blood pressure is commonly accompanied by a disruption of the circadian rhythm of speech activity. The observed daily fluctuations in the speech activity of the participants with HTN indicated desynchronosis and the formation of an altered biorhythm type, which is inverted with respect to the normal circadian rhythm of speech. In the participants with HTN, there was a change in the daily profiles of speech activity (associative processes), with the formation of a pathological circadian rhythm and the deterioration of speech activity.

Background. Currently, there are two main areas of study of the impact of a new coronavirus infection on mental processes: the first is in connection with the regime of self-isolation and restrictions in a pandemic; the second – with the impact of the pathological process itself and the post-covid syndrome on the central nervous system. The results of the studies indicate the relationship of this infection with local lesions of the brain and the corresponding disturbances in the functioning of mental processes.The aim of the research. To systematize and analyze the results of studies on the main routes of penetration of the SARS-CoV-2 virus into the central nervous system, cognitive and emotional disorders in people who have recovered from COVID-19, and to discuss the areas of psychological rehabilitation for this group of patients.Materials and methods. Information search was carried out using Internet resources (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, bmj.com, eLibrary.ru, frontiersin.org, sciencedirect. com, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), literature sources were analyzed for the period from May of 2020 to November of 2021 for the following keywords: COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, cognitive functions, cognitions, cognitive impairments, emotional dysfunction, affective dysfunction.Results. According to the analysis of the literature, most researchers identify the neurogenic pathway of SARS-CoV-2 penetration into the CNS, as well as penetration through the bloodstream or through cerebral lymphatic drainage, which are a possible cause of mental disorders of a neurological nature. Correction of these violations involves the creation of a comprehensive system of rehabilitation with the inclusion of psychotherapeutic methods.Conclusions. Despite the lack of a single picture describing the specifics of cognitive and affective symptoms in COVID-19, in the most general terms, there is a certain consensus. So, quite often, post-COVID cognitive symptoms are characterized by impaired memory and attention, and post-COVID affective symptoms are characterized by increased levels of anxiety, depression, and fatigue. The issues of diagnosis and correction of disorders in post-COVID syndrome and the admissibility of the existence of this diagnosis are still relevant.

Background. The neuropsychological approach suggests that differences in cognitive processes are associated with the variability of combinations of signs of partial dominance of certain brain structures, manifested in the form of individual laterality profiles. However, the problem of identifying and studying the relationship between interhemispheric asymmetry and cognitive functions in adolescents with a high level of intelligence remains not fully resolved, which determines the relevance of this study. The aim of the research was to describe the relationship between the type of profile of interhemispheric asymmetry with the characteristics of cognitive functions in adolescents with average and high levels of intelligence. Materials and methods. The sample included 52 people aged 12–15 years: 26 adolescents with high level intelligence (main group), 26 adolescents with an average level of intelligence (control group). The following research methods were used: Wechsler test (WISC-IV), method for studying the profile of interhemispheric asymmetry (Khomskaya E.D., Efimova I.V.); method “Correction test” by B. Bourdon; method ”Story on a given topic”. Results. The majority of adolescents with a high level of intelligence revealed the severity of right-lateral features, which were traced in the manual, auditory and visual spheres of sensorimotor asymmetry. At the same time, the severity of right-lateral and ambilateral features is accompanied by more pronounced indicators of the development of cognitive functions. Adolescents with the type of profile of interhemispheric asymmetry “Left-handed” were characterized by an insufficient level of attention stability and a reduced ability for detailed speech utterance, regardless of the level of intelligence. Conclusions. The data obtained show that the peculiarity of individual profiles of interhemispheric asymmetry determines the uneven development of a number of mental functions in adolescence and the different readiness of brain mechanisms to support various cognitive processes. We assume that the results of the work will expand the understanding of the role of interhemispheric asymmetry of the brain in the organization of cognitive functions in adolescents with a high level of intelligence.

Background. Obesity and its complications continue to be a serious problem in children and adolescents in the 21st century. Clinical and psychological studies show that obesity may lead to changes in emotional status of adolescents. Today exposure to sociodemographic parameters is known to be a risk factor for the development of obesity in children. Thus, our research focuses on the relationship between sociodemographic and psychological factors and obesity in adolescents, as this link has not been sufficiently studied.Aim. To determine sociodemographic and psychological factors associated with adolescent obesity.Materials and methods. Our cross-sectional study included 111 obese adolescents and 39 normal weight adolescents, aged 11–17 years. We used anthropometry and questionnaire methods to examine emotional state, eating habits and socio-demographic characteristics of teenagers.Results. It is shown that adolescents with obesity are more likely than adolescents with normal weight to have a stepparent (p = 0.002). All adolescents with normal weight were involved in extracurricular activities and attended different courses (studying with tutors, going to language schools, exam preparation courses), compared to adolescents with obesity (75 %) (p < 0.001). We did not find any differences between the groups in the domains of sports activities and screen time. When examining the emotional state of adolescents, we found that more people from the group with obesity suffered from lower self-esteem than from the control group (p = 0.041). Adolescents with obesity tend to have (15.3 %) severe depression, while no controls reported this issue.Conclusions. We found that adolescents with obesity more often live in a step-family. They are less likely to be engaged in additional educational activities. We succeeded to describe the emotional status and eating habits of obese adolescents.

The current aperture vertical electron transistor (CAVET) combines the high carrier mobility of the AlGaN/GaN heterostructure with the better electric field distribution of the vertical topology, allowing for higher power densities if compared with lateral high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). The formation of a current blocking layer (CBL), without degenerating the aperture region and the subsequently overgrown AlGaN/GaN heterostructure is the key building block of such devices. Herein, a comparison of GaN:Mg nonplanar selective area growth (SAG) and Mg‐ion implantation is carried out primarily focusing on structural evolution, Mg distribution, and 2D electron gas (2DEG) performance. The epitaxial growth process in SAG is correlated to local growth increase and ridge development, and then optimized regarding mesa filling. AlGaN/GaN regrowth is analyzed regarding structural evolution after overgrowth and Mg distribution into the GaN channel. Considerably lower Mg‐distribution into subsequently grown layers is detected for implanted samples in agreement with the electrical performance of the overgrown AlGaN/GaN heterostructures. A GaN‐on‐Si quasivertical CAVET structure with an Mg‐implanted CBL and 250 nm channel thickness is fabricated. High surface quality and proper 2DEG performance demonstrate the potential use of GaN‐on‐Si CAVET's using Mg implantation for CBL fabrication.

Background. In modern society, the growth of the overweight and obese population increase every year. This confirms the status assigned to the problem under consideration as a non-infectious epidemic of the 21st century. At the same time, the amount of scientific information about the influence of excess weight on various aspects of human life is actively increasing. This undoubtedly requires a systematic generalization of the available data.Aims. The presented literature review is devoted to the analysis of modern scientific research on the specificity of cognitive impairment in overweight and obese people.Materials and methods. Information search was carried out using Internet resources (PubMed, Web of Science, eLibrary.ru, frontiersin.org, sciencedirect. com, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), literature sources were analyzed for the period from 2001 to 2020 for the following keywords: obesity, overweight, cognitive functions, cognitions, cognitive impairments.Results. As a result of the literature review, the main directions of research on the relationship between cognitive impairment and overweight, as well as the relationship between cognitive dysfunction and obesity, were identified. The specificity of diametrically opposed opinions within the framework of each consecrated trend is presented. According to the results of the analysis of the identified areas, in the scientific community the most common point of view is the presence of a connection between obesity and cognitive impairment. In this connection, the authors identified the main cognitive impairments associated with excess weight and their mediating mechanisms. And also the age specificity of the problem under study is indicated.Conclusions. Despite the fact that the problem of the relationship between obesity, overweight and cognitive functions is comprehensively studied, there is a shortage of data on the state of thinking, attention, praxis, gnosis, and speech in overweight people.

In2O3 is an n-type transparent semiconducting oxide possessing a surface electron accumulation layer (SEAL) like several other relevant semiconductors, such as InAs, InN, SnO2, and ZnO. Even though the SEAL is within the core of the application of In2O3 in conductometric gas sensors, a consistent set of transport properties of this two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) is missing in the present literature. To this end, we investigate high quality single-crystalline as well as textured doped and undoped In2O3(111) films grown by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy to extract transport properties of the SEAL by means of Hall effect measurements at room temperature while controlling the oxygen adsorbate coverage via illumination. The resulting sheet electron concentration and mobility of the SEAL are 1.5E13 cm^-2 and 150 cm^2/Vs, respectively, both of which get strongly reduced by oxygen-related surface adsorbates from the ambient air. Our transport measurements further demonstrate a systematic reduction of the SEAL by doping In2O3 with the deep compensating bulk acceptors Ni or Mg. This finding is supported by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements of the surface band bending and SEAL electron emission. Quantitative analyses of these XPS results using self-consistent, coupled Schroedinger-Poisson calculations indicate the simultaneous formation of compensating bulk donor defects (likely oxygen vacancies) which almost completely compensate the bulk acceptors. Finally, an enhancement of the thermopower by reduced dimensionality is demonstrated in In2O3: Seebeck coefficient measurements of the surface 2DEG with partially reduced sheet electron concentrations between 3E12 and 7E12 cm^-2 (corresponding average volume electron concentration between 1E19 and 2E19 cm^-3 indicate a value enhanced by 80% compared to that of bulk Sn-doped In2O3 with comparable volume electron concentration.

A systematic investigation of the effect of temperature and electric field on the degradation of 100 nm AlGaN/GaN HEMTs stressed under on- and off-state conditions has been carried out. The shape of the degradation behavior is analyzed and compared between stress conditions. The shape parameter of an Avrami-model was found to be reduced at higher temperatures. Failure analysis was performed by delayering with subsequent SEM and AFM investigation of the semiconductor surface. All devices showed surface damage in the vicinity of the drain-sided gate-edge. Devices stressed at high voltage and high temperature exhibited more and deeper pits than devices stressed at low drain-bias and low temperature, even though all devices have been stressed to the same electrical degradation of 10 % decrease in I <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">DSS</sub> .

Heterostructures made of GaN and epsilon-Ga2O3 epitaxial layers may be very interesting because they could exploit the high electron mobility of GaN combined with the ferroelectric character of epsilon-Ga2O3. We have explored the possibility of using epsilon-Ga2O3 templates, deposited by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition on sapphire substrates, in order to reduce the lattice mismatch of GaN with sapphire. Considering that epsilon-Ga2O3 is metastable and undergoes a first phase transition at around 700 degrees C, the GaN layers were deposited at two different temperatures (690 degrees C, 1050 degrees C). Preliminary electrical and SIMS investigations have evidenced the diffusion of oxygen from the epsilon-Ga2O3 to the GaN epitaxial layer, which results in an n-type conductivity and a sheet resistance as low as 70 Ohm/sq in a 1 mu m thick GaN layer. The rocking curve of the GaN layers grown epsilon-Ga2O3 /sapphire at standard high temperature (1050 degrees C) indicates a crystal quality worse than for GaN deposited directly on sapphire. In parallel, we studied the nucleation of epsilon-Ga2O3 on GaN templates. We evidenced that epsilon-Ga2O3 nucleates in 3D islands on the surface of GaN grown on on-axis sapphire, with coalescence taking place as the layer grows thicker. The use of off-cut sapphire substrates, instead, permits to inhibit islands formation, resulting in a smoother layer. The possibility of obtaining uniform and very thin epsilon-Ga2O3 layers on GaN layers opens interesting possibilities for the development of novel high electron mobility transistors (HEMT).

We present prognostic risk models for structural and functional cardiovascular disorders in Caucasian adolescents (Russians) with essential hypertension aged 14-17 years (15.92±1.12) taking into account biochemical (catecholamines and cortisol) and genetic parameters (carriage of polymorphic variants of α2A-adrenergic receptor gene ARA2A ( -1291С>G ), norepinephrine transporter NET ( -1287G>A ), and D2-dopamine receptor DRD2 ( -141C Ins/Del ) and the data of psychological testing. Prognostically significant risk factors for increased specific peripheral vascular resistance and variability of daytime systolic BP were a combination of [ CC+AA ] genotypes of ADRA2A -1291C>G and NET -1287G>A polymorphisms, cortisol level, anxiety, and proneness to conflict. The combination of genotypes [ CC+GG+II ] of polymorphisms -1291C>G ADRA2A , -1287G>A NET and -141C Ins/Del DRD is prognostically significant, with the GG genotype NET being epistatic.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the ability of L-tryptophan used in complex therapy of delayed psycho-speech development in children to influence the dynamics of cognitive performance.Materials and methods. The study included 80 children aged 3–7 years with delayed psycho-speech development (DPSD). The main group consisted of 37 children (25 male and 12 female), a control group – 43 patients (30 male and 13 female). Both groups of children were comparable in age, sex, degree of speech and cognitive impairment, and IQ level. Patients in the main group have taken standard therapy with L-tryptophan (25–50 mg per day depending on the age) supplement for 14 days. Control patients have taken standard therapy only. Psychodiagnostic tests at the entrance and exit of patients from this study was carried out for evaluation the dynamics of cognitive functions. All differences were considered significant at p < 0.05.Results. The study suggests that oral L-tryptophan intake selectively affects the dynamics of cognitive performance in children with DPSD. So, we studied pre- and post-treatment cognitive performance in both group patients and noted a significant improvement in the visual memory (p < 0.001) and an increase in thinking productivity (p < 0.001) in the tryptophan group versus similar indicators in the control group. Intergroup differences (p < 0.001 and p = 0.026, respectively, for the main and control groups) also found.Conclusion. Two-week L-tryptophan intake in complex therapy of DPSD in children can significantly improve the cognitive activity, and greatly increase both the effectiveness and sustainability of treatment outcomes, which will significantly reduce the time and frequency of hospitalization and financial costs for the rehabilitation of this patients.

Background. The relevance of the search for genetic markers of essential hypertension (EH), is beyond doubt. The importance of research of dopaminergic system genes consists primarily of pleiotropic effects of dopamine on different systems and functions of the body. The aim of this study was to identify the association of polymorphism -141C 1/D D2-dopaminergic receptor (DRD2) with parameters of psycho-vegetative status and cardiovascular system indicators in adolescents with EH. Methods. We carried out an investigation of 14-17-year old (15.92 ± 1.12) Caucasian male patients with EH (n = 110) in clinic of Scientific Centre for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems. Psychological testing, clinoorthostatic test, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), and genotyping have been carried. Results. 11-genotype is associated with higher «hypomania» personality traits (scale 9 of Mini-SMIL was 4.2 (4-5) in carriers of the 11-genotype and 4.0 (3-4) in 1D and DD-genotype carriers, p = 0.024), asthenosympathicotonic variant of autonomic support and pressure load (ejection fraction in carriers of the 11-genotype was 71.47 ± 5.98 % and 68.44 ± 6.01 % in 1D and DD-genotype carriers, p = 0.044, time of systolic blood pressure hypertension in carriers of the 11-genotype - 35.50 (20.5-51.5) and 18.30 (6.5-32) - in 1D and DD-genotype carriers, p = 0.010, the time of diastolic blood pressure hypertension in 11-genotype carriers was 13 (7.85-26.5) and 2 (0.9-11) - in 1D and DD-genotype carriers, p = 0,002). Conclusion. -141C I/D DRD2 polymorphism is associated with disorders of important indicators of psycho-vegetative status and cardiovascular system, including circadian organization of blood pressure, which allows considering it as a marker of early development of EH in adolescents.

Background. The inconsistency of data about psychological profile of adolescents with essential arterial hypertension (EH), as one of the most important factor in the pathogenesis of this disease, causes the relevance of searching the relationship between psychological traits and features of the circadian blood pressure (BP).organization. The aim of this study was to study the association between personality characteristics and parameters of 24-hour blood pressure monitoring in adolescents with EH. Materials and methods. We carried out an investigation of 14-17 year old (15.92 ± 1.12) Caucasian male patients with EAH (n = 110) in clinic Scientific Centre for Family Health and Human Reproduction Problems. Psychological testing and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) have been carried. Results. In our study were determined some most significant psychological features which associated with different ABPM parameters and EH stabilization. Increased hypertension, manifested in excessive activity, irritability, anger and intractability, is associated with the stabilization of EH in adolescents. The ability to express emotions verbally or physically (including a constructive way) protects the cardiovascular system from excessive fluctuations of night blood pressure. Psychological profile with the leading pattern of anxiety-aggressive affect suppression (irritation, touchiness, anxiety, introversion) mainly influence to the time of hypertension and average daily level of blood pressure. Conclusion. Adolescents with EH with certain emotional and personal characteristics need to be treated by the differentiated psychotherapeutic interventions. These conditions are necessary for early prevention of complications of cardiovascular circadian organization disorders.

Binary AlN/GaN high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) were grown by plasma‐assisted molecular beam epitaxy (PA‐MBE) as well as metal‐organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) and compared with regard to their structural and electrical properties. The investigated structures differ in Al distribution and composition of the AlN barrier due to characteristic differences of the two growth methods such as growth temperature and interface sharpness. While we observe a nearly pure AlN layer and an abrupt interface for MBE growth, a graded “AlN” barrier with a significant amount of Ga is found for the MOCVD grown structures which is reflected by the electrical properties of the HEMT structures. Si‐implanted ohmic contacts were formed on MBE as well as MOCVD grown structures. The activation anneal step subsequent to implantation at temperatures ∼1100 °C changes the observed Al profiles of MBE structures and damages the active region, whereas MOCVD samples react insensitively and thus were able to be further processed. A maximum drain current of ∼1.46 A mm−1 at a gate source voltage of +3 V is observed for the processed devices. A current‐gain cut‐off frequency of 89 GHz and maximum oscillation frequency of 208 GHz were measured, which demonstrate an excellent small‐signal performance of AlN/GaN devices with 100 nm gate length.