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Relevance. Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestrisis a widespread bacterial pathogen that causes a black rot disease of Brassicaceae plants. It is distributed across all territories with cultivated brassica crops and has high economic significance. One of the known Xanthomonas pathogenicity factor is TAL-effectors. These proteins penetrate in plant nucleus and change expression of some host genes in order to promote infection. For some Xanthomonas species TAL-effectors are a key of bacteria success, however for Xcc their role is still remain obscure as well as TALE occurrence among Xcc belonged to different races and originated from different regions. The goal of our study was examination of TALE distribution among Xcc isolates collected in Russia.Methods. Sample of the Xcc isolates mainly collected in Moscow region and Krasnodar krai was used for TALE search. Bacterial total DNA was isolated using CTAB method. Four primer pairs were used for TALE genes detection by amplification conservative regions.Results. Among 50 isolates only 4 isolates possessed TALE were revealed. Low-frequency occurrence of TALE among Russian isolates can reflect Xcc population features in Moscow region and Krasnodar krai as well as genotype features of cultivated plant hosts.

Banking risk management systems are sets of work methods for responsible bank departments, facilitating a positive financial result under conditions of uncertainty. The object of the study is the credit risk of corporate borrowers of commercial banks in the Russian Federation. The subject of the study is credit risk management based on internal ratings of corporate borrowers. The purpose of the work is to analyze the risk management system of commercial banks and develop an internal credit risk management model for corporate borrowers. Research methods: content analysis, analytical and statistical processing of information; methods for assessing cause-and-effect relationships and expert assessments. The relevance of the presented model is due to the regulatory need for commercial banks to switch to internal ratings to assess the risk of lending. The advantages of the model include optimized costs for establishing factor indicators, as well as the valence of selected explanatory variables.

The paper presents the results of surgical treatment of 14 patients with renal masses undergone partial nephrectomy on the Da Vinci Si and Da Vinci Xi robotic systems using ‘drug & cold’ ischemia. The advantages of the original technique, such as long-term safe renal ischemia, nephron sparing, minimal blood loss with no hemotransfusions and short length of hospital stay were presented.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is an age-related neurodegenerative pathology of the central nervous system. The well-known abnormalities characteristic of PD are dysfunctions in the nigrostriatal system including the substantia nigra of the midbrain and the striatum. Moreover, in PD persons, alpha-synucleinopathy is associated with abnormalities in the dopaminergic brain system. To study the mechanisms of this pathology, genetic models in mice have been designed. Transgenic mice of the B6.Cg-Tg(Prnp-SNCA*A53T)23Mkle/J strain (referred to as B6.Cg-Tg further in the text) possess the A53T mutation in the human alpha-synuclein SNCA gene. The density of neurons in the prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, substantia nigra and striatum in B6.Cg-Tg mice was assessed in our previous work, but the dopaminergic system was not studied there, although it plays a key role in the development of PD. The aim of the current study was to investigate motor coordination and body balance, as well as dopaminergic neuronal density and alpha-synuclein accumulation in the substantia nigra in male B6.Cg-Tg mice at the age of six months. Wild-type mice of the same sex and age, siblings of the B6.Cg-Tg mice from the same litters, lacking the SNCA gene with the A53T mutation, but expressing murine alpha-synuclein, were used as controls (referred to as the wild type further in the text). Motor coordination and body balance were assessed with the rota-rod test; the density of dopaminergic neurons and accumulation of alpha-synuclein in the substantia nigra were evaluated by the immunohistochemical method. There was no difference between B6.Cg-Tg mice and WT siblings in motor coordination and body balance. However, accumulation of alpha-synuclein and a decrease in the number of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra were found in the B6.Cg-Tg mouse strain. Thus, the mice of the B6.Cg-Tg strain at the age of six months have some symptoms of the onset of PD, such as the accumulation of mutant alpha-synuclein and a decrease in the number of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. Taken together, the results obtained in our work qualify the B6.Cg-Tg strain as a pertinent model for studying the early stage of human PD already at the age of six months.

In the context of global challenges and changing geopolitical situations around the world, Russian organizations are increasingly facing the necessity of active cooperation with countries in the Far East, especially China. The purpose of this exploratory study was to identify how Russian business representatives perceive and manage this process, with special attention to expectations and perceptions of communication effectiveness. The study focused on two key aspects: firstly, the analysis of expectations of Russian representatives, which shape their approaches to negotiations, and secondly, the assessment of their perception of the dynamics and effectiveness of these negotiations. The study sample included 13 Russian employees of Russian companies who had experience in negotiations with Chinese partners. The study used semi-structured qualitative interviews. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyze the data. Further coding and analysis of the text were carried out in the Atlas.ti. As a result of the analysis of the interview, the main topics were identified that describe the perception of the negotiation process: expectations regarding the negotiation process, strategies for preparing for negotiations, behavior strategies in negotiations, perception of behavior strategies of partners in interaction, emotions in the negotiation process, perception of a communicative situation (characteristics), perception of oneself in the process of negotiations, the perception of a negotiating partner, the perception of the effectiveness of negotiations. The study showed that successful intercultural business communication requires a combination of professional and culturally oriented approaches. Attention to cultural features and specifics and consideration of their influence on communication contributes to more effective interaction. However, difficulties arise due to the indirect style of communication and differences in the manifestation of emotions, which can make negotiations difficult. In addition, situations that are threatening to the negotiator’s "face" may have an impact on professional and ethnic/ civil identity. As a result of the study, the features of Russian managers’perception of intercultural business communication with Chinese partners were identified, and recommendations were formulated regarding the preparation of Russian managers for international negotiations.

INTRODUCTION. In clinical practice, stress tests are carried out to draw up an individual patient rehabilitation plan, assess tolerance and optimize the load, and evaluate its clinical effectiveness. The Six-minute walk test (6MWT), in the presence of contraindications to the bicycle ergometer test or the impossibility of performing it, is a tool for assessing the response of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems to the load being performed. There is no description in the literature of the relationship between the distance traveled during 6MWT and the peak metabolic equivalent (MET) assessed during the bicycle ergometer test. AIM. Study the relationship between 6MWT indicators and the results of bicycle ergometer test in patients who have suffered a myocardial infarction. MATERIALS AND METHODS. During the examination, 56 patients underwent a symptom limited bicycle ergometer test and 6MWT, the peak MET and the distance traveled during 6MWT, as well as changes in the ECG during both tests were assessed. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION. The average values of maximum heart rate during the bicycle ergometer test and ECG-controlled 6MWT did not differ significantly. The distance in meters during 6MWT and the power of the exercise performed during bicycle ergometer test in MET have a significant relationship, which indicates the comparability of the data from these tests as a criterion of exercise tolerance. CONCLUSION. The use of 6MWT and bicycle ergometer test allows us to assess various aspects of cardiorespiratory function and physical fitness in patients undergoing a cardiac rehabilitation program. Further study of the possibility of using ECG-controlled 6MWT in the early stages of rehabilitation is necessary to create the most effective and safe physical training for patients who have suffered a myocardial infarction.

Introduction/purpose: Studying the dynamics of the mutual influence of supply and demand is relevant in connection with the financial losses that arise due to uncertainty in demand and forecast errors. The work aims to build a mathematical model of the dynamics of this interaction for the market of one product. Methods: The paper proposes a mathematical model of the states of the supply-demand system, within the framework of which the processes occurring in this system are considered from the perspective of the methodology of economic synergetics. The mathematical model of dynamics has the form of a system of two differential equations with quadratic nonlinearity. Results: The use of the proposed model to reproduce various dynamic states of market self-regulation processes made it possible to identify the hierarchy of transition from stable dynamic regimes to unstable ones with the appearance of corresponding bifurcations. The main attention was paid to studying the behavior of the system at the boundaries of the stability region. Conclusion: The existence of a saddle-node bifurcation of limit cycles has been revealed, which suggests the appearance of stable self-oscillations in the case of a "soft" cycle and unstable ones in the case of a "hard" cycle. When studying a bifurcation of codimension two - "double zero" - special dynamic structures were discovered, determined by the properties of global bifurcations. This type of behavior is characterized by self-oscillations with a low frequency, which gives rise to the so-called "ultra-long waves" of the economic state.

The work is aimed at studying the performance of emotion recognition of people of different sex and age, expressed without specified criteria, in association with «emotional families». The materials of an empirical online research obtained with the help of the crowdsourcing service «Yandex. Toloka», in which 3,590 testers took part. The subjects guessed one of 14 emotions from the presented photographs (pride, anger, joy, irritation, fun, disgust, pleasure, sadness, relief, despair, interest, fear, surprise, anxiety). Photographs of five representatives of different age groups were presented: 7-9 years old («junior school student», 44 photos), 13-16 years old («teenager», 46 photos), 18-25 years old («young woman», 90 photos), 35 -50 years old («woman», 44 photos), 60 years and older («older woman», 70 photos). Subsequently, the experimenters compared the responses of the subjects with the criterion of matching the guessed emotion and its «emotional family» (according to P. Ekman). The main result is that the emotions were distributed by the subjects according to their orientation (valency) rather than according to the “family”. It remains debatable what could be the basis of such choices - the features of the stimulus material, or variability in the expression of emotions by models and their recognition by respondents.

Abstract Analysis of serial liquid biopsy (LB) samples has been found to be a promising approach for the monitoring of tumor dynamics in the course of therapy for patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Currently, somatic mutations are used for tracing the dynamics of the tumor via LB. However, the analysis of the dynamic changes in the molecular signatures such as microsatellite instability (MSI) is not currently used. We hypothesized that changes in blood MSI burden (bMSI) could be registered using serial LB sampling in the course of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI), and that its changes could potentially correlate with treatment outcomes. We report the preliminary findings of the observational trial launched to study (NCT06414304) the dynamics of bMSI in 9 MSI-positive CRC patients receiving ICI. NGS-based MSI testing was performed on both pre-treatment FFPE and serial LB samples. For patients who had detectable bMSI burden in any of the LB samples (n = 8, 89%), median bMSI was 1.4% (range, 0.01-40%). Among patients with detectable MSI in available FFPE samples, median MSI burden was 29.3% (range, 10–40%). bMSI detected in baseline LB and FFPE samples were positively correlated (Pearson’s R 0.47). Maximal variant allele frequencies of driver mutations observed in LB were also positively correlated with bMSI burden (Pearson’s R 0.7). Patients who had clinical benefit had undetectable bMSI burden at follow-up. Our results provide the rationale for further validation of bMSI as a predictive biomarker of ICI in MSI-positive patients.

Aim – to develop an applied prognostic calculator for the rate of progression of CKD in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes, which makes it possible to identify a group of high rate of GFR reduction in conditions of routine outpatient admission. Material and methods. 69 clinical indicators were studied, the interrelationships and significance of differences in parameters in the groups identified according to the original diagnostic parameter, the glomerular filtration rate reduction index with a threshold value of 3.83 ml/min/1.73 m2 per year, above which the rate of progression of CKD was considered high. Results. By using regression analysis, significant factors for the prognostic calculator were identified: the duration of diabetes and insulin therapy, concomitant diagnosis of obesity, pulse in the ankle artery, severe stage of polyneuropathy, risk group IV of hypertension, treatment with sulfonylureas, the number of antihypertensive drugs taken. When evaluating the information capacity and predictive ability of the calculator, the area under the AUC ROC curve was 0.89 (0.80; 0.99) p 0.001, which characterizes the quality of the diagnostic technique as high. Conclusion. The presented calculator gives the doctor the opportunity to identify a group of patients with the risk of rapid progression of CKD directly on an outpatient basis.

Background. Assessing nutritional status at the start of treatment for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma allows us to plan adequate accompanying treatment for patients in whom early nutritional support can improve the results of antitumor treatment.Aim. To assess the prevalence of nutritional deficiency, features of usual diet energy and protein composition in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who are starting antitumor treatment.Materials and methods. The study included 96 adult patients (m = 61), average age 38.9 ± 16.8 years, with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of various localization and prevalence. Additional laboratory screening (total protein, albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), total cholesterol, triglycerides, daily urea excretion), anthropometric measurements (height, body weight (BW), weight loss over 6 months, body mass index), questionnaire (considering the intake of nutrients during the previous 3 days, calculating the intake of protein and energy, nitrogen balance) were performed in all patients before the first course of antitumor treatment. GLIM (Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition) criteria were used to diagnose protein-energy malnutrition (PEM).Results. In studied patients, energy intake was 27.92 ± 6.47 kcal/kg BW per day, protein 0.91 ± 0.18 g/kg BW per day, and nitrogen balance was –3.57 ± 2.94 g/day. Moderate PEM was diagnosed in 37 (38.5 %) patients. Differences in some laboratory parameters were revealed in patients with PEM and without nutritional disorders: CRP level (20.38 ± 14.69 mg/L versus 12.52 ± 5.66 mg/L; p = 0.0004), glucose (5.07 ± 1.09 mmol/L versus 4.57 ± 0.62 mmol/L; p = 0.005), total cholesterol (4.35 ± 1.27 mmol/L versus 5.36 ± 1.45 mmol/L), triglycerides (1.22 ± 0.51 mmol/L versus 2.02 ± 0.78 mmol/L; p = 0.001).Conclusion. Moderate PEM is detected in more than a third of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who begin antitumor treatment. The leading symptom in this case is unintentional weight loss over the past 6 months. An increased CRP level, moderate hyperglycemia, and lower concentrations of total cholesterol and blood triglycerides also characterize PEM in this cohort of patients. With sufficient energy supply, the amount of protein in the natural diet of patients with PEM turned out to be low, and the nitrogen balance was negative, which in the future can lead to the development of sarcopenia and requires nutritional support.

The article analyzes the evolution of international mediation from the middle of the 20th century to the present day. How do changes in international environment influence mediation and research on it? The paper’s hypothesis is that the transformation of international order and political organization of the world, the dynamics of (de)globalization and changes in the nature of international conflict determine the specifics of international mediation and shape the relevant research. Over the last 80 years international mediation evolved through three stages. During the first stage, shaped by the cold war, conflicts were mostly of interstate nature and were settled by states and international organizations. Meanwhile, the growing activity of non-state actors led to the emergence of mediation via “track II diplomacy”. At this stage, the study of international mediation becomes an established research area. The second stage, since the end of 1980s to the beginning of the 21st century, witnessed a rapid progress in the settlement of many protracted regional conflicts, aided by the mediation efforts of the USSR and the United States. In Russia, research on international mediation, previously fragmentary and legalistic, developed into a separate subfield of international studies. During the third stage, in the 21st century, the political organization of the world has been undergoing a turbulent transformation at all the three levels: Westphalian system, the system of interstate relations, and political systems of individual states. The all-encompassing nature of this change increases conflict potential and changes the nature of international conflicts, which become multidimensional and involve a variety of actors. Responding to the demand for managing complex conflicts, new trends in mediation emerge, such as the growth in mediation attempts by developing nations, engagement of peacekeeping missions in mediation, the use of digital technologies for mediation purposes. At the same time, the erosion of the old political organization of the world triggers the rise in identity-based conflicts that involve disagreement over values. As parties to such conflicts are less likely to seek interestbased compromises, the likelihood of successful mediation decreases.

Background. Body dissatisfaction is widely spread among the population. It negatively affects human health, contributing to the development of eating disorders, anxiety and depressive disorders, and the formation of unhealthy eating patterns and lifestyle. Determining the factors associated with body dissatisfaction in adolescents may be important for the prevention of the above mentioned disorders.The aim of the work. To describe the prevalence, characteristics and factors associated with body dissatisfaction among urban school students.Materials and methods. Tenth-grade school students (n = 440) underwent anthropometry and also filled out questionnaires including socio-demographic factors and lifestyle factors. Collins scales were used to assess body dissatisfaction, and the Russian version of the Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL 4.0; Lyon, France) was used to assess health-related quality of life.Results. 60.2 % of school students reported a desire to have body figures different from the actual one. 42.7 % of adolescents experienced mild body dissatisfaction, 17.5 % experienced moderate and severe body dissatisfaction. The frequency of body dissatisfaction was comparable among both male and female adolescents, but it was more pronounced among girls compared to boys (Z = 2.2; p = 0.029). Boys were significantly more likely than girls to strive for larger body figures than what they felt they had (38.8 % vs. 8.1 %). In contrast, girls were significantly more likely than boys to want to lose weight (55.4 % vs. 12.3 %). Statistically significant associations with moderate/severe body dissatisfaction are shown for overweight/ obesity and for the time spent by schoolchildren watching TV, on social networks, and in the Internet. Sports activities demonstrated a protective role in relation to body dissatisfaction. The presence of body dissatisfaction significantly reduced all aspects of adolescents’ quality of life.Conclusions. The results of the study justify the approach to body dissatisfaction as an independent problem that requires active diagnostics and targeted exporure, and determine possible directions for preventive measures among adolescents.

This article explores the informal public participation in the development of small and medium-sized cities in the European North of Russia. It focuses on two main aspects: the impact of nonprofit organizations (NGOs) and the activity of residents on social networks, particularly in discussions and solutions to local socio-economic issues. The study reveals that NGO activities create significant opportunities for addressing local concerns raised by residents to municipal authorities. An analysis of the official pages of local governments on the VKontakte social network shows that, compared to larger cities, residents of these smaller cities are more engaged in dialogue with local authorities, demonstrate higher loyalty to published content, and actively share information of interest. The research also finds that while residents of small and medium-sized cities actively discuss urban problems in informal online communities and participate in various kinds of socially beneficial events, their participation is generally prompted by external organizers. The level of self-organization to address broader citywide problems remains relatively low. However, when dealing with personal household matters, citizens actively communicate through urban online communities. The study also highlights a high level of trust among residents, as evidenced by their strong response to calls for help in the comments. The scientific novelty of this research lies in its first-time analysis of public participation and the assessment of resident involvement in the management and development processes of small and medium-sized cities, through mechanisms such as NGOs and urban Internet communities.

Background. Breast cysts are a relatively common benign condition, accounting for 26.4% of all benign mammary dysplasias (BMD). Due to scientific and technological progress, in many cases, it is possible to achieve improvement from non-surgical and complex therapy, including minimally invasive technologies such as image-guided air injections with non-surgical treatment. Aim. To determine the optimal approach for the management of benign breast cysts and to provide a rationale for the combined use of air injections with phytotherapy. Materials and methods. The study included women aged 25 to 45 years (mean age was 37.7±5.6 years) taking combined oral contraceptives (COCs) for at least 3 years with benign breast cysts. Patients were randomized into two groups: Group 1 (n=26) included patients with a cystic form of BMD who received a fine-needle puncture followed by air mixture injections into the cyst cavity in combination with non-surgical therapy with the herbal medicinal product Mastopol®; Group 2 (n=19) included patients with a cystic form of BMD who received only air injections into the cyst cavity. The dosing regimen of Mastopol® in patients of Group 1: 1 tablet sublingually 3 times a day 20 minutes before meals. The non-surgical therapy was initiated on the day of the air injection. The duration of treatment with Mastopol® was 3 months. Results. A pain decrease was reported in 18 patients (69.2%) of Group 1; in Group 2, only 2 (10.5%) patients reported a pain decrease. Almost all patients of Group 2 (n=17; 89.5%) required repeated air injections for complete cyst reduction, while in Group 1, only 31% (n=8) of patients received repeated air injections. Comparative analysis showed a significant difference between the groups: φ*=1.7; p≤0.04. One month after treatment and air injections, mastalgia of varying intensity in Group 1 persisted in 31% (n=8) of patients and 89.5% (n=17) of patients in Group 2. Conclusion. While taking COCs, women may experience pain and tension in the breast, as well as an increase in the echo density of the breast and thickening of the glandular tissue and the wall of the cysts. These adverse effects of COCs must be reduced. The results of the study demonstrated the effectiveness of the antiproliferative herbal drug Mastopol®, prescribed in combination with an adequate, effective, and safe method such as air injection into the cyst cavity.

Abstract The WHO recently published a Tobacco Knowledge Summary (TKS) synthesizing current evidence on tobacco and COPD, aiming to raise awareness among a broad audience of health care professionals. Furthermore, it can be used as an advocacy tool in the fight for tobacco control and prevention of tobacco-related disease. This article builds on the evidence presented in the TKS, with a greater level of detail intended for a lung-specialist audience. Pulmonologists have a vital role to play in advocating for the health of their patients and the wider population by sharing five key messages: (1) Smoking is the leading cause of COPD in high-income countries, contributing to approximately 70% of cases. Quitting tobacco is an essential step toward better lung health. (2) People with COPD face a significantly higher risk of developing lung cancer. Smoking cessation is a powerful measure to reduce cancer risk. (3) Cardiovascular disease, lung cancer and type-2 diabetes are common comorbidities in people with COPD. Quitting smoking not only improves COPD management, but also reduces the risk of developing these coexisting conditions. (4) Tobacco smoke also significantly impacts children’s lung growth and development, increasing the risk of respiratory infections, asthma and up to ten other conditions, and COPD later in life. Governments should implement effective tobacco control measures to protect vulnerable populations. (5) The tobacco industry’s aggressive strategies in the marketing of nicotine delivery systems and all tobacco products specifically target children, adolescents, and young adults. Protecting our youth from these harmful tactics is a top priority.

Academic publications on Chinese semiotics are less numerous than those on Indo-European semiotics. This article shows the mantic practices in ancient China from the perspective of the semiotic weakening law. The evolution of hieroglyphic signs cannot be studied separately from that of mantic practices. The basic mental categories of Chinese mentality originated in mantic practices and were fixed in hieroglyphic writing. This study is an attempt to unravel the evolutionary peculiarities of Chinese mentality, i.e., how mantic practices evolved into philosophy which, in its turn, crystallized as the ancient canonical text of The Book of Changes. As the current scientific interest to linguo-cultural codes continues to grow, this research provides an insight into the nature of human mind and hieroglyphic signs, as well as promotes effective intercultural communication. The study relied on the principles developed by C. S. Peirce, C. W. Morris, S. G. Proskurin, V. P. Vasiliev, L. S. Vygotsky, Yu. K. Shchutskii, D. N. Keightley, etc. Hieroglyphs associated with fortune-telling practices were subjected to the methods of grapheme and etymological analyses, as well as the methods of description and comparison, to study the connection of mantic and hieroglyphic systems. The mantic system revealed a ternary structure and three stages of weakening, i.e., identity, similarity, and convention. The main links of the process included cracking (primary), interpretation (secondary), and fixation (tertiary). The hieroglyphic system reflected the transformations of mantic practices, which gradually turned into a philosophical tradition of reading trigrams and hexagrams. The correlation between the two systems made it possible to understand how primitive mantic practices had evolved into philosophy.

Background. Among the key trends influencing education today, the following stand out: “massification” and internationalization of education, turbulence of the world economy, “digital revolution”, technological innovation. Gamification has become a popular tool for solving various problems of varying degrees of complexity and today is confidently used in areas including business, personnel management, healthcare, and education. The purpose is to examine the application of gamification in teaching economics to medical students. Materials and methods. When working on the article, we used an analysis of sources containing experience in the use of gamification by domestic and foreign scientists, generalization and systematization of the results obtained, modeling of the educational process, a pedagogical experiment on modifying existing economic games and using them in practical classes in economics, observation of behavior students in classes using gaming technologies, analyzing the results of using games. Results. The characteristics of generations differ in different countries depending on the economic, social, political and other conditions of the development of society. Taking these characteristics into account, educational standards and teaching technologies are changing. Educational technologies used in the process of teaching economics to students of generation “Y” required significant improvements for teaching to students of generation “Z”. The idea of using gaming technologies, which is actively used in our time, cannot be called completely new. The classics of pedagogy K.D. Ushinsky and Sukhomlinsky V.A. spoke about the need for games in learning. The authors conducted a pedagogical experiment on introducing gamification into the teaching of economics to medical university students. At a medical university, students study economics in their junior years, when they themselves are still dependent and, with rare exceptions, have no experience of earning money on their own. The use of games, common in teaching economics at specialized economic universities, presupposes a well-developed economic thinking and knowledge base. For medical students, gamification tools require significant adaptation and refinement. Also, when introducing games into the learning process, it is necessary to take into account the different perceptions of students of generations “Y” and “Z”. Generation Z is closer to computer games and, accordingly, there are opportunities for their use in education. However, as the experiment showed, these students willingly take part and show interest in classes using the classical principles of board games. As a result, approaches to introducing gamification into teaching economics to medical university students have been developed. An analysis of gamification as a tool for developing interest and motivation of students was carried out, taking into account the theory of generations. As part of gamification, board games were modified and tested, which allowed students to develop skills in applying economic knowledge in future professional activities, including the commercialization of scientific developments.

Introduction. Digital economy has generated a completely new model of human-machine interaction based on the active use of digital technologies in almost all spheres of human activity. Most information systems used by organizations are integrated with big data analytics, which requires higher qualified staff. The job responsibilities of employees change according to industry and corporate needs. The requirements for staff qualification are increasing, urging the company HR service to find, attract and retain specialists of the required qualifications, and organize staff development in the organization. Innovations in decision-making algorithms make artificial intelligence the most useful tool for implementing a human resource management strategy in an organization. Materials and methods. The article uses general scientific research methods, such as qualitative analysis, observation method, synthesis, logical induction method and others. The information basis of the article consists of scientific research works, official documents, and information posted in the media. A secondary analysis of the research on the topic under study was carried out. Results. Despite the fact that the processes related to personnel management have always been a human cognitive ability, artificial intelligence technologies can currently provide technical solutions in the field of recruitment and further staff development. Artificial intelligence plays an important role in collecting candidate data from various sources, and is able to evaluate the required candidates based on a job description more effectively and objectively than a HR officer. Artificial intelligence can more accurately describe a job that corresponds to the business process in skills. Artificial intelligence technologies can play an important role in the process of organizing professional development and retraining of staff. The use of artificial intelligence provides for obtaining more personalized and understandable results excluding the "human factor". In this article, special attention is paid to artificial intelligence technologies, which can be effectively used in staff management. The opportunities to increase the HR employees’ productivity are considered, main risks of artificial intelligence introduction are highlighted and recommendations for its efficient application are given. The research novelty is in identification of the scope of the use of artificial intelligence in the organizational personnel policy, making it possible to realize the opportunities for revealing the creative potential of the organization’s employees and increase competitiveness. Discussion. It is absolutely clear that AI is becoming an integral part of business ecosystems, and necessary to maintain and increase the level of competitiveness of economic agents. Nevertheless, AI is constantly evolving, which allows companies to expand the functionality of its use. However, it is important to define the boundaries of AI use, including how human-machine interaction will be ensured, which functions can be given to AI, and which can be abandoned.

Abstract Background The positive changes in hygienic living conditions are commonly believed to explain secular changes in body height and the age of maturity. However, it is difficult to estimate the separate impacts of these factors due to the lack of social and economic data and variations in the sources of information. We hypothesized that final male body height could be associated with various socioeconomic indicators, such as the development of the medical care system, the quality of nutrition, and the level of sanitary and hygienic conditions. Moreover, we hypothesized that male body height could be associated with the level of morbidity in the region during the time of conscript childhood (from 1 to 7 years old). Materials and methods We used two main sources of information in the analyses. The first is the data from the Statistical Reference Book published by the Central Statistical Committee in 1929. The second is the annual data from the Statistical Reference Book published in the Russian Empire. Since the conscripts were born between 1906 and 1909, we used datasets from 1910 to 1913. To analyze the data, we used a method of analyzing interacting variables called St. Nicolas House Analysis (SNHA). Results Our analyses revealed direct associations between the morbidity of some diseases and male body height and other anthropometric parameters. Conclusions There are associations between conscript final body height and the morbidity of influenza, dysentery and some venereal diseases, such as chancroid and syphilis. There were no associations between conscript final body height and the level of morbidity during childhood. However, other final parameters, such as BMI, weight, and chest circumference, could be associated with the morbidity of malaria, scabies, scurvy, and scarlet fever during childhood. The prevalence of these diseases could be strongly connected with unfavorable living conditions. The results are similar for both urban and rural areas.

Cognitive impairment is a common stroke-induced complication that aggravates the outcome of the disease. Post-stroke cognitive processes are an important research issue: unlike motor disorders, cognitive impairments prevent patients from adapting to their new state, which leads to social and professional maladjustment, as well as complicates the rehabilitation. This article describes the functioning of cognitive processes in post-stroke patients. The methods involved Schulte Table Test, Pictogram Method, Wartegg Test ("Circles"), Masselon Test, Gordon’s questionnaire, Benton Visual Retention Test (BVRT), McNair and Kahn’s Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), and Addenbrooke’s Cognitive Examination Revised (ACE-R). Most participants demonstrated cognitive impairments. Moderate cognitive impairments of multifunctional amnestic type predominated; severe cognitive impairments were less numerous; mild cognitive impairments were scarce. Subjective cognitive disorders occurred very often and correlated with anxiety and depression. To test the age-dependance hypothesis, the participants were divided into two groups, i.e., those under 65 y.o. and those over 65 y.o. The 65-plusers were more prone to disorders of memory, attention, speech, thinking, imagination, gnosis, and praxis. The younger participants initially demonstrated subjective cognitive impairments, which were not confirmed by further neuropsychological tests.

Relevance. The development of antimicrobial drugs and alternative methods, technologies and means of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of human infectious diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant microorganisms is one of the priorities of ensuring the biological safety of the country. Aims. To evaluate the bactericidal activity of tetrapyrrole macroheterocycles (porphyrins) at different light irradiation durations in relation to staphylococci, in vitro. Materials and methods. Studied strains of microorganisms: museum strains of microorganisms – S. aureus ATCC 29213, S. epidermidis ATCC 14990 and antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus (n=18) isolated from clinical biomaterial and from environmental objects in a medical organization. The studied chemical compounds are three different compounds of water-soluble asymmetrically substituted porphyrins containing heterocyclic fragments on the periphery of the porphyrin cycle (residues of benzoxazole, N-methylbenzimidazole and benzothiazole). Results. The activity of all three porphyrin compounds in relation to museum strains of staphylococcus and 77.8% of clinical antibiotic-resistant strains (n=14; 95% CI 20.1-97.5) turned out to be maximal (complete lysis) after 10 minutes of irradiation. Conclusions. The tested tetrapyrrole macroheterocycles (porphyrins) exhibit bactericidal activity against museum and clinical strains of staphylococcus, with different levels of antibiotic resistance, which determines Keywords: antibiotic resistance, water-soluble porphyrin, photodynamic inactivation, photosensitizer, photochemistry, staphylococci No conflict of interest to declare.

The purpose of the work was to study the dynamics of mountain stone glaciers and streams flowing down from them for an understanding their hydrological significance. Two glaciers: Morenny and Gorodetsky, were analyzed, both located in the river Ulken Almaty (Big Almatinka) basin, Northern Tien Shan. On the average, the rate of surface displacement of the Morennoye glacier is higher than that of the Gorodetsky, which is associated with increased ice content of the last one. The increase in rates of surface displacement of both stone glaciers revealed in 2021–2022 when compared to previous years turned out to be consistent with the widely discussed idea of intensification of such glaciers dynamics under the present-day climate changes and glacier retreats. It was found that the stone glaciers have a pronounced influence on the water regime, temperature and chemical composition of watercourses formed by water running out from them. They are distinguished by the almost complete absence of intraday fluctuations in the level, temperature, and specific electrical conductivity of water, which are more pronounced in rivers and streams with glacial alimentation during the summer time. Some waterflows from the Gorodetsky glacier do not freeze in winter, which is indicative of significant groundwater reserves in its body. The waters of each of the above stone glaciers differ in their characteristic mineralization, temperature, and the ratio of the major ions. The stable water flow from such glaciers can play an important role in maintaining a river runoff during periods of the low stream discharge.

The article presents a review of a number of modern foreign studies of implicit false beliefs in young children with typical development, hearing impairments, autism spectrum disorders, and primates. The results of studies performed using different methodological paradigms for assessing early development of mental models: violation of expectations and anticipatory looking are analyzed. The results of research on the search for the biological basis of the origins of social cognition using functional near-infrared spectroscopy are presented, as well as the results of research on the relationship between possible predictors of theory of mind (understanding the purpose of another's actions, joint attention, implicit false beliefs) and the success of social cognition in preschool age under typical development. Theoretical conceptualizations of two theory of mind systems are described: the minimal one and the theory of mind. Immediate prospects for future research to resolve existing replication crises and prevent new ones are outlined.

Aim. Development and external validation of a risk prediction model for acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) in patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction.Material and methods. The model development group was represented by patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) included in a registry observational study from 2015 to 2019, a total of 260 patients, age 59 (53; 66) years, 214 (82.3%) — men. External validation of the model was carried out in a cohort of independent prospective observation of 94 patients with HFrEF from the same registry for the period from 2020 to 2021, median age 66 (52;73) years, of which 73 (77.6%) were men. The prospective follow-up period was 4.6 (2.3; 4.9) years in the internal validation group, 2.5 (1.7; 2.9) years in the external validation group. Data were obtained on the status of patients, causes of death, and the frequency of hospitalizations for ADHF. The actual and predicted incidence of ADHF using the evaluated prognostic model was compared.Results. During the observation period in the internal validation group, ADHF developed in 69 (26.5%) patients, and 47 (18.1%) died due to ADHF. The prognostic regression model included LA enlargement of more than 45 mm, male gender, left ventricular ejection fraction less than 35%, absence of renin-angiotensin system blocker and amiodarone. When performing ROC analysis, the area under the ROC curve (AUC) of the created model was 0.8, sensitivity model — 69.2%, specificity — 80%, accuracy — 75.3%. In the external validation group, 34 (36.2%) cases of ADHF were registered; mortality from ADHF in the external validation group was 15.9%, which is comparable to the development group (p > 0.05). The diagnostic value of the developed model during external validation showed to be high and was comparable to the results obtained in the development group: the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was 0.8, sensitivity — 73.3%, specificity — 82.5%, accuracy 76.1%, (p=0.102, McNeil test).Conclusion. The developed regression model has sufficient statistical power to predict the risk of ADHF in patients with low left ventricular ejection fraction in the long term, which is confirmed by external validation.

Aim. To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of Extimia® (empegfilgrastim, JSC "BIOCAD") in reducing the frequency, duration of neutropenia, the incidence of febrile neutropenia (FN) and infections caused by FN in patients with solid tumors receiving myelosuppressive therapy. Materials and methods. The paper presents the final results of a multicenter prospective observational post-marketing study of the safety and effectiveness of Extimia® (empegfilgrastim) in patients with solid tumors receiving cytotoxic therapy. For the primary prevention of FN, all patients received empegfilgrastim at 7.5 mg subcutaneously once per course of chemotherapy (CT) 24 hours after the end of CT administration. The primary endpoint included an assessment of the relative dose-intensity (RDI) of the CT courses administered. The endpoints of interest included the assessment of the RDI of CT courses by nosology and CT regimen, the frequency of dose-limiting neutropenia, and the incidence of all adverse events (AEs) in patients who received at least one dose of the study medication, including serious AEs. Results. From February 2021 to December 2022, 3218 patients with various malignancies were included in 41 study centers of the Russian Fede- ration. Of these, 3217 (99.97%) patients received at least one dose of the study drug, and 2663 (82.8%) patients were included in the RDI evaluation population according to the study protocol. The mean age in this group was 56.9 (18–84) years. RDI ≥85% was achieved in 2,415 (90.7%) patients. The mean RDI was 96.2%, with a median of 100%. FN risk factors were present in 1216 (45.7%) patients, with age ≥65 years being the most common risk factor at 761/2663 (28.6%). It should be noted that in patients younger than 65 years, the RDI was 91.5%, and in elderly patients (≥65 years) 88.7%. Dose-limiting neutropenia was reported in 19 (0.7%) patients. There were 74 cases of grade 3–4 AEs (according to CTCAE v.5) in 59 (1.8%) patients. The most common were neutropenia, anemia, and diarrhea in 19 (0.7%), 7 (0.2%), and 6 (0.2%) patients, respectively. Serious AEs were reported in 17 patients (0.5%). Conclusion. Primary prophylaxis of FN with long-acting granulocyte colony-stimulating factor empegfilgrastim effectively maintains RDI in various nosological and therapeutic groups of patients with different CT regimens in real-world clinical practice.

Food allergy is a matter of global concern, proteins being a popular allergen worldwide. Enzymatic protein hydrolysates serve as hypoallergenic components in functional foods. This article describes enzymatic hydrolysates of egg and soy proteins as potential antigens, sensitizers, and antioxidants. The research featured soy protein isolate and egg albumin. The protein hydrolysates were obtained in a two-step process with pepsin and trypsin to measure hydrolysis, total antioxidant activity, and residual antigenicity. The sensitizing ability of native proteins and their hydrolysates was studied using a delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) skin test of paw swelling in mice. The egg albumin and soy protein were hydrolyzed by sequentially adding the proteases, i.e., pepsin and trypsin. The degree of protein hydrolysis was calculated against total nitrogen and its contents in non-hydrolyzed raw materials and hydrolysate. It was 82.6% for the egg hydrolysate and 88.3% for the soy hydrolysate, the total antioxidant activity being 114.3 and 91.4 mg/100 mL, respectively. The residual antigenicity of the hydrolysates determined by ELISA in a sandwich version was 1.55×10–4 and 3.30×10–4 RU, respectively. The native egg and soy proteins demonstrated good allergenic properties, and the DTH response index increased fivefold. The hydrolysates reduced the DTH response indices by an average of 3.5 for egg hydrolysate and 2.6 times for soy hydrolysate. The resulting enzymatic hydrolysates of egg albumin and soy protein demonstrated a high degree of hydrolysis and antioxidant activity. They had low residual antigenicity (10–4) and low sensitizing ability. The resulting enzymatic hydrolysates could be used as hypoallergenic components and antioxidants in new functional foods.

We present a novel spin-valve THz emitter composed of FeCo/TbCo2/FeCo tri-layers separated by a copper spacer, designed to provide amplitude modulation of THz radiation. The distinct coercivities of the magnetic layers enable magnetic field control of the THz emission, with the final amplitude formed by the interference of THz waves from the individual tri-layers. Experimental studies using time-domain spectroscopy reveal that the spin-valve structure, optimized for in-plane magnetic anisotropy, effectively modulates the THz signal and maintains constant polarization. Although the current optical-to-THz conversion efficiency is insufficient for commercial use, the findings offer crucial insights for enhancing efficiency through structural optimization, highlighting the potential for advanced THz emitters and modulators.

The assessment of a country's food security level is a crucial task due to the need to ensure a stable supply of food during periods of economic and social upheaval, particularly during military conflicts or other emergencies. For Ukraine, amid ongoing hostilities, issues of food security and mitigating the negative effects of disruptions in agricultural production are of particular importance. As of today, there is no universally accepted scientific approach to assessing the level of food resilience that takes into account the specifics of each region and the country as a whole, allowing for analytical comparisons and providing scientifically grounded data for the formation of effective policies in this area. The aim of this study is to justify methodological recommendations for determining the level of food resilience using Ukraine as a case study. Accordingly, the proposed methodological recommendations include a set of indicators based on the selection of those that most comprehensively characterize the country’s food security in structural and cyclical aspects. It has been determined that the level of a country's food resilience is the degree of stability, adaptation, and recovery from external and internal shocks that affect the food system's ability to provide the population with sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. The results of the assessment of Ukraine's food resilience level using the Integrated Food Resilience Index in 2022 indicate an adequate level. The country has favourable conditions for food supply, although there are some issues in certain cyclical and structural aspects. The food system is developed despite the war, but there are opportunities for improvement.

Turkmenistan is considered to be the habitat of termites of the genus Amitermes Silvestri, 1901 in the CIS countries. In Uzbekistan, as it turned out, they are very rare and were found for the first time for the fauna of the republic in 2024 in the south of the republic. A single species Amitermes rhizophagus Belyaeva, 1974 is registered within the genus Amitermes. Morphological features of nymphs, soldiers and workers with corresponding illustrations are described. A map of the place where the species was found is presented.

The Patient Health Questionnaire-4 (PHQ-4) is one of the most well-known and widely used instruments for assessing anxiety and depressive symptoms.Objective. The aim of this study was to adapt the Russian-language version of the PHQ-4 in the general population.Material and Methods. Data collection was carried out with the help of the service «Anketolog». The participants were 2,000 Russians (1,000 men and 1,000 women) aged 18 to 60 years (M = 38.78; SD = 9.25).Results. The psychometric analysis confirmed the internal reliability and discriminative validity of the adapted questionnaire. The proof of the factor validity of the Russian version of the PHQ-4 was the identification of a two-factor structure describing the symptoms of anxiety and depression, and factor invariance by age, level of education, marital status, parental status, financial status and place of residence. Among the Russians, 44.9% had clinically significant anxiety symptoms and 42.9% had clinically significant depressive symptoms. Russians with anxiety and depressive symptoms more often sought counseling from a psychologist, coach, psychiatrist and neurologist, underwent psychopharmacological treatment in connection with psychological requests, contacted support groups and a psychological help hotline, used online products of automated or semi-automated psychological support, read psychological literature and used psychoactive substances.Conclusion. The psychometric properties of the Russian-language version of the PHQ-4 turned out to be similar to the psychometric characteristics of the original version of the questionnaire, and therefore the adapted questionnaire can be recommended for screening anxiety and depression in the general Russianspeaking population.

Objective. To determine the influence of the urgency of performing surgical decompression of the spinal cord (SC) on the course of acute and early periods of complicated injury of the lower cervical spine. Material and Methods. The results of treatment of 75 patients with acute complicated injury of the lower cervical spine with ASIA A and ASIA B severity of spinal cord injuries were retrospectively analyzed. Two groups were formed, depending on the timing of surgical decompression of the spinal cord after injury. Group I included 33 patients in whom the SC decompression was performed within the first eight hours after the injury, and Group II included 42 patients in whom the SC decompression was performed in more than eight hours after the injury. Results. The mean age of patients in Group I was 29 [25; 39] years, in Group II – 35 [30; 42] years (p = 0.129). There were 31 (94.0 %) male patients in Group I and 38 (90.5 %; p > 0.999) in Group II. The time from the moment of injury to decompression of the spinal cord was 6.1 [5.0; 7.5] hours in Group I and 16.9 [11.8; 39.6] hours in Group II (p < 0.001). Pneumonia developed in 55 % [38 %; 70 %] of patients in Group I and in 86 % [72 %; 93 %] of patients in Group II (p = 0.004). The duration of pneumonia in Group I was 18 [8; 20] days, and in Group II – 28 [20; 39] days (p < 0.001). It was shown that the risk ratio for developing pneumonia in patients with delayed decompression of the spinal cord was 2.08 [1.17; 3.67] times higher (p = 0.01). The duration of mechanical ventilation in Group I was 12 [7; 17] days versus 19 [11; 26] days in Group II (p = 0.001). Maintaining the target blood pressure levels ≥ 85 mm Hg was required in 73 (97.3 %) patients with a duration of hemodynamic support of 6 [3; 10] days in Group I versus 10 [5; 15] days in Group II (p = 0.019). It was shown that SC decompression within the first eight hours after injury reduced the proportion of patients with a SOFA score of 4 points or more by 20 % in the acute period and by 42 % by the fifth day of the early period of injury. Positive dynamic in neurological status was recorded in 30.0 % [17.0 %; 47.0 %] of patients in Group I and only in 2.0 % [0.0 %; 12.0 %] of patients in Group II (p < 0.001). The duration of treatment in the ICU was 20 [16; 25] days in Group I and 29 [23.5; 41.75] days in Group II (p = 0.001). The total length of hospital stay was 38 [27; 46] days in Group I versus 57 [45.75; 67.50] days in Group II (p < 0.001). Mortality was recorded only in Group II and amounted to 5.3 %. Conclusion. Decompression and stabilization surgery within the first eight hours after the injury, together with a complex of intensive care measures for acute complicated injury of the lower cervical spine have a significant positive effect on the course of the acute and early periods of traumatic SC disease.

The emergence and active development of digital ecosystems defines a new object of management study, integrating knowledge management, innovation management, operations management, supply chain management and organizational change. In conditions of competition and market barriers, economic entities actively use digital ecosystems as a key success factor. Digital ecosystems themselves are a special, complex management object whose properties change as they go through various stages of their life cycle. At the same time, the life cycles of digital ecosystems are influenced by the objects and subjects functioning in their contour and the economic systems associated with them. Based on the observation of economic systems and the influence of various factors on them, the authors determined the stages of the life cycle of digital ecosystems. Based on the study of the specifics of the behavior of digital ecosystems at the stages of their life cycles, the authors made conclusions about the most significant features of their management.

Enhancing energy efficiency within the building sector is imperative to curbing energy losses, given that this sector alone contributes to over 34% of global energy consumption. Employing a building management system, along with its regular updates, presents a strategic avenue to decrease energy usage, enhance building energy efficiency, and more. Tailored control strategies, aligned with the unique characteristics and usage patterns of each building, are essential for achieving energy savings. This article presents an evaluation of HVAC system efficiency in office buildings, utilizing a data-driven approach coupled with simulations conducted in building performance simulation software. The research explores the control strategy of an office building equipped with a constant air volume HVAC system, featuring a regularly controlled air handling unit. The objective is to boost energy efficiency while striking a balance between occupant comfort and energy consumption. The findings indicate that by analyzing measured data and adjusting the configurable parameters, the energy consumption of buildings can be significantly reduced. The close monitoring of indoor parameters by building operators and making corresponding adjustments to the HVAC system can yield energy savings of up to 16%. Leveraging these insights, this paper suggests integrating data-driven and dynamic simulation methods into building management system models to optimize HVAC systems, enhance energy efficiency, and advance ambitious carbon neutrality objectives.

Abstract Ovarian cancer often develops resistance to conventional therapies, hampering their effectiveness. Here, using ex vivo paired ovarian cancer ascites obtained before and after chemotherapy and in vitro therapy-induced secretomes, we show that molecules secreted by ovarian cancer cells upon therapy promote cisplatin resistance and enhance DNA damage repair in recipient cancer cells. Even a short-term incubation of chemonaive ovarian cancer cells with therapy-induced secretomes induces changes resembling those that are observed in chemoresistant patient-derived tumor cells after long-term therapy. Using integrative omics techniques, we find that both ex vivo and in vitro therapy-induced secretomes are enriched with spliceosomal components, which relocalize from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and subsequently into the extracellular vesicles upon treatment. We demonstrate that these molecules substantially contribute to the phenotypic effects of therapy-induced secretomes. Thus, SNU13 and SYNCRIP spliceosomal proteins promote therapy resistance, while the exogenous U12 and U6atac snRNAs stimulate tumor growth. These findings demonstrate the significance of spliceosomal network perturbation during therapy and further highlight that extracellular signaling might be a key factor contributing to the emergence of ovarian cancer therapy resistance.

Introduction. Modern concepts of education are based on the principles of anticipation, determination of the present by the future (advanced education, Life Long Learning). The same pattern applies to the personality of both the subject of life in general and professional life in particular. Aim. Based on the theoretical and methodological analysis, identification and empirical research of the psychological characteristics of the future, the present research aims to consider the future as a personal construct in the structure of the subjective image of professional life. Methodology and research methods. The key methodological approaches are the subjective approach and the theoretical and methodological foundations for using the synergetic approach to study the psyche, mental phenomena and processes. The study employs survey methods; the methods of mathematical and statistical data processing: comparative analysis and factor analysis were carried out using the IBM SPSS Statistics v.20 program. Results. Based on theoretical ideas about time modes, time perspective, psychological characteristics of organisation and perception of time, as well as the results of an analysis of the works of foreign and Russian authors, a structural-functional model of the subjective image of professional life is proposed, including four blocks: a block of retrospection, a block of regulation of actual activity, a prognostic block, and a transspective block. Scientific novelty. The use of a subjective and synergetic approach to modelling the image of the professional future is justified. A structural-functional model of the image of the professional future is proposed, including invariants that represent a formal and meaningful representation of the temporal modes of the past, present and future and a mechanism for comparing the current state with the desired (“needed future”). Practical significance. The presented structural-functional model of the subjective image of professional life can serve as the basis for the development of a subject-oriented approach to professional guidance and support of professional development at the stage of choosing a profession and professional training with practical means of constructing a professional future.

Introduction. The COVID-19 pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has created serious health problems worldwide. The most effective way to prevent the occurrence of new epidemic outbreaks is vaccination. One of the modern and effective approaches to vaccine development is the use of virus-like particles (VLPs). The aim of the study is to develop a technology for production of VLP based on recombinant SARS-CoV-2 proteins (E, M, N and S) in insect cells. Materials and methods. Synthetic genes encoding coronavirus proteins E, M, N and S were used. VLP with various surface proteins of strains similar to the Wuhan virus, Delta, Alpha and Omicron were developed and cloned into the pFastBac plasmid. The proteins were synthesized in the baculovirus expression system and assembled into VLP in the portable Trichoplusia ni cell. The presence of insertion in the baculovirus genome was determined by PCR. ELISA and immunoblotting were used to study the antigenic activity of VLP. VLP purification was performed by ultracentrifugation using 20% sucrose. Morphology was assessed using electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Results. VLPs consisting of recombinant SARS-CoV-2 proteins (S, M, E and N) were obtained and characterized. The specific binding of antigenic determinants in synthesized VLPs with antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 proteins has been demonstrated. The immunogenic properties of VLPs have been studied. Conclusion. The production and purification of recombinant VLPs consisting of full-length SARS-CoV-2 proteins with a universal set of surface antigens have been developed and optimized. Self-assembling particles that mimic the coronavirus virion induce a specific immune response against SARS-CoV-2.

The paper presents the results of a study aimed to investigate the correlations between oculomotor reading behavior and self-report data of Russian high school students on their practice of using metacognitive strategies. It was found that high school students tended to use problem-solving reading strategies, while seldom using supportive reading strategies. Differences in the use of metacognitive strategies were found between schools that emphasized differently the development of reading competence in middle school. The findings suggested that there were differences in oculomotor measures across groups with varying levels of metacognitive strategy use. The paper outlines possible directions for further research on this topic.

In the article, the authors answered the following questions: How often do anxious patients occur in clinical practice? Why do most patients with anxiety see primary care physicians rather than a psychiatrist? What complaints and manifestations help to suspect anxiety in the patient? How can a non-psychiatrist identify and diagnose anxiety? How to manage a patient with diagnosed anxiety? Short-term and long-term outcomes/prognosis.

The summarized data on the content of organic carbon (Corg) in the subtypes of gray forest soils occurring on the territory of Russia was presented. It was shown that the humus horizons of virgin light-gray, typical-gray, and dark-gray forest soils contain, on average, 2.16 ± 0.67, 2.42 ± 0.61, and 3.58 ± 0.95% Сorg, respectively, while the plowing layers of arable soils contain 1.36 ± 0.40, 1.71 ± 0.40, and 2.84 ± 0.86%, respectively. Structural (particulate organic matter 0.05–2 mm in size, CPOM, and mineral-associated organic matter

Arginine metabolism plays an important role in regulating the functions of immune cells in mammals. Pathogenic microbes use the mechanism of arginine depletion to suppress the immune response during infection. Arginine deiminase is a microbial arginine-hydrolyzing enzyme important for survival at low pH in the focus of infection, or in phagolysosomes, as well as under low-glucose conditions. The effect of bacterial arginine deiminase on the functions of adaptive immune cells remains poorly understood. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of streptococcal arginine deiminase on the proliferation and autophagy of CD4+ and CD8+ human peripheral blood T lymphocytes.The enzyme effects were studied with supernates of ultrasonic lysates from parental Streptococcus pyogenes M49-16, and its isogenic mutant with inactivated arcA gene (Streptococcus pyogenes M49-16delarcA). The study was performed with blood samples of healthy donors. The fraction of mononuclear leukocytes was isolated by centrifugation in a Ficoll density gradient. To evaluate proliferation levels, a method based on the staining of intracellular proteins with vital fluorescent dye carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE) was used. The level of autophagy was studied using the fluorescent Lysotracker Green DND-26 dye. To analyze the proliferation and autophagy of T helper cells (CD3+CD4+) and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CD3+CD4-), the obtained cell suspensions were stained with antibodies against CD4, CD45RA, and CD3. The proportion of necrotic cells was determined by staining with a fluorescent DNA-binding DAPI dye. The normality of the distribution was assessed by Shapiro–Wilk test. The data were analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis criterion, followed by Mann–Whitney criterion for pairwise comparisons and expressed as median and interquartile ranges (Q0.25-Q0.75).When comparing the effects of supernatants from the parental and mutant streptococcal strains, which differed in expression of arginine deiminase gene, we have shown that the bacterial enzyme had no effect on the functions of inactive lymphocytes. However, streptococcal arginine deiminase completely suppressed proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+T lymphocytes stimulated with anti-CD2/CD3/CD28 antibodies. These effects were accompanied by a decrease in the autophagy levels. At the same time, arginine deiminase did not exert cytotoxic effects upon lymphocytes. L-arginine applied at the doses exceeding physiological levels caused restoration of the cellular functions. There were no differences between the studied parameters of CD4+ and CD8+T lymphocyte subsets.The obtained data show that the antiproliferative effect of arginine demimnase may be associated with ability of the enzyme to inhibit autophagy and confirm an opportunity of the bacterial enzyme to suppress host adaptive immune responses.

At present, a large number of scientific works devoted to the study of the features of the geological structure and the development of oil deposits in complex carbonate reservoirs are based on the use of any one research method. This article shows the advantages of the integrated use of modern methods of core research, including X-ray microtomography and electron microscopy, as well as data from hydrodynamic and field studies of wells. The advantage of the approach used is the ability to study the deposit at three levels: core-well-development object, it is reasonable to transfer micro-survey data to the regularities of the implementation of technological processes of oil production. The objects of research in this article are the Famennian oil deposits of two neighboring fields, which, at first glance, are analogues in terms of the similarity of the enlarged geological and physical characteristics. Comprehensive studies of core samples from these deposits made it possible to establish differences both in the mineral composition of rocks and in the structure of their void space, especially in the size and distribution of pore channels. So, with approximately equal porosity for one of the deposits, the presence of two types of voids and a twofold prevalence of the size of the largest of them were established. According to the complex of laboratory methods for studying the core, the reservoir is classified as a porous type (no cracks were found). The performed interpretation of the hydrodynamic studies confirmed this fact, made it possible to establish the presence of a dependence of the reservoir permeability on the formation pressure (deformation of the void space of the reservoir), and also to build the corresponding individual dependence for each well. Comparison of the equations approximating the dependence data showed a more pronounced deformation of the reservoir, which is characterized by the presence of large pores and caverns. That is, a complex of laboratory and hydrodynamic studies made it possible to establish the probability of deformation of the void space of a carbonate reservoir even in the absence of cracks in it. In turn, the reservoir deformation is singled out as the most probable cause explaining the different rates of decline in well flow rates of the fields under consideration.

The study is aimed at developing methodological tools for assessing the innovation potential of transport and logistics complex (TLC), which is the basis for forming strategic decisions regarding innovative development and increasing the competitiveness of transport and logistics structures of the country. Based on the analysis of the effects from the introduction of innovations in the structure of technologically advanced TLCs, the criteria of innovativeness and types of TLCs have been identified, which makes it possible to assess the level of object’s lagging behind the leaders and the scale of the required innovative transformations. Because of a comparative analysis of existing methods and methodologies for assessing the objects’ potential, some solutions applicable to the TLC assessment were identified, taking into account the specifics of its functioning and its difference from such objects as an enterprise or a region. At the same time, at least three aggregated approaches to the assessment of innovation potential were compared: resource, internal and resultant, which allowed to achieve a higher reliability of the developed methodology. Based on the integrated approach, a multilevel decomposition of the TLC innovation potential was made on four components: resource, management, performance, infrastructure. The authors also identified components and determined the assessment indicators of each of the components, which are assessed in the framework of the methodology developed by the authors, representing the synthesis of the elements of the studied methods. According to the methodology for assessing the TLC innovation potential by means of graphic visualization, analogy method and multidimensional scaling, the provision of the complex with resources for innovative development and infrastructure capabilities for the introduction of innovative technologies are displayed. Unlike the existing universal tools for assessing the objects’ potential, the methodology takes into account the specifics of transport and logistics structures and the significance of the evaluation elements, as well as the need to assess the infrastructural component of the complex potential. The results of approbation of the methodology on the example of the Multipurpose Sea Cargo Complex Bronka (MSСC Bronka, St. Petersburg, Russia) with the use of systematization, interviewing, economic-mathematical and expert methods have not revealed any limitations in the use of the methodology. The tools presented in the work can be used to develop the strategy and policy of innovative development of TLCs of different types, scale and specialization.

Accurate tracking of the same neurons across multiple days is crucial for studying changes in neuronal activity during learning and adaptation. Advances in high-density extracellular electrophysiology recording probes, such as Neuropixels, provide a promising avenue to accomplish this goal. Identifying the same neurons in multiple recordings is, however, complicated by non-rigid movement of the tissue relative to the recording sites (drift) and loss of signal from some neurons. Here, we propose a neuron tracking method that can identify the same cells independent of firing statistics, that are used by most existing methods. Our method is based on between-day non-rigid alignment of spike-sorted clusters. We verified the same cell identity in mice using measured visual receptive fields. This method succeeds on datasets separated from 1 to 47 days, with an 84% average recovery rate.

Co-precipitation of biopolymers into calcium carbonate crystals changes their physicochemical and biological properties. This work studies hybrid microcrystals of vaterite obtained in the presence of natural polysaccharides, as carriers for the delivery of proteins and enzymes. Hybrid microcrystals with dextran sulfate, chondroitin sulfate, heparin, fucoidan, and pectin were obtained and compared. The impact of polysaccharides on the morphology (particle diameter, surface area, nanocrystallite and pore size), polysaccharide content and surface charge of hybrid microcrystals was studied. Only microcrystals with fucoidan and heparin exhibited antioxidant activity against •ОН radical. The surface charge and pore size of the hybrid microcrystals affected the sorption of albumin, catalase, chymotrypsin, mucin. A decrease in the catalytic constant and Michaelis constant was observed for catalase sorbed on the hybrid crystals. The biocompatibility of microcrystals depended on the nature of the included polysaccharide: crystals with sulfated polysaccharides increased blood plasma coagulation but not platelet aggregation, and crystals with dextran sulfate had the greatest cytotoxicity against HT-29 cells but not erythrocytes. Hybrid microcrystals with all polysaccharides except chondroitin sulfate reduced erythrocyte lysis in vitro compared with vaterite crystals. The obtained results enable to create novel carriers based on hybrid vaterite crystals with polysaccharides, beneficial for the delivery of protein drugs.

Background. Prior to the introduction of new agents — immune checkpoint inhibitors — for inoperable and/or metastatic melanoma (IMM), chemotherapy outcomes were generally poor. The median (Me) overall survival (OS) in IMM was no more than 6-9 months, and the Me of progression-free survival (PFS) was about 2 months. The introduction of immune checkpoint inhibitors and targeted therapy changed the prognosis for the life of IMM patients dramatically. The development, studies, and approval of a new original PD-1 inhibitor, prolgolimab, in Russia in 2020 prompted the professional community to conduct a prospective observational study in the Russian Federation to assess its real-world efficacy and safety. Aim To evaluate the real-world efficacy and safety of prolgolimab in patients with IMM. Materials and methods. From October 2020 to October 2022, 700 patients with IMM receiving prolgolimab in real clinical settings in oncological institutions of various levels in the Russian Federation were included in the study. The main inclusion criteria were: pathology-confirmed diagnosis of melanoma; metastatic and/or inoperable type; use of prolgolimab outside of clinical trials; and signed informed consent. Objective response rate in the general population and the Intention-to-treat and Per Protocol populations was considered the main criterion for evaluating the efficacy of therapy, and the safety criterion was the incidence of grade 3-4 adverse events (AEs). PFS and OS rates were also assessed. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS 25.0 software package. Results. The objective response rate for the Per Protocol population (with radiographic assessment available) was 42% (n=235/559). Disease progression was reported in 26.7% (n=149) of patients, stabilization in 31.3% (n=175), and disease control in 73.3% of patients with IMM, regardless of the line of therapy. At the follow-up Me of 12 months (0-36), PFS for all patients regardless of the line of therapy was 8 months (95% confidence interval [Cl] 6.537-9.463), 6-month PFS was 55%, and 12-month PFS was 41%. OS Me for all included patients was 32 months, 6-month OS was 82%, and 12-month OS was 69%. Depending on the line of therapy, the OS Me was: line 1 - not reached, line 2-30 months (95% Cl 16.007-43.993), line 3 and subsequent- 22 months (95% Cl 14.264-29.736); p=0.736. According to the CTCAE 5.0 general terminology criteria for AEs, a total of 136/693 (19.6%) AEs of varying degrees were reported, in particular: grade 1-2 - 105/693 (15.2%), grade 3-4 - 25/693 (3.6%), unknown grade - 5/693 (0.7%), as well as one fatal case (0.1%) due to thromboembolism in the vascular center with an unclear (according to the investigator's assessment) relation with prolgolimab. Conclusion The results obtained at 12 months of follow-up confirm the high efficacy and satisfactory tolerability of prolgolimab in patients with IMM in real-world practice, regardless of the line of therapy and other characteristics.

Background. Acculturation strategy choice and success of adaptation to new cultural environment depend both on individual characteristics of participants of intercultural interaction and on characteristics of the context. In this regard, it is important to apply an integrated approach to study the mutual contribution of contextual and individual-personal predictors of acculturation. Objective. The study aims at identifying complex contextual and individual-personal predictors of adaptation of Russians in Estonia and Kyrgyzstan, and revealing relationship between these complex predictors, acculturation strategies, and psychological well-being of Russians in these republics. Study Participants. The sample consisted of 302 Russians in Estonia (Mage = 37.51; SD = 16.55; 52% females) and 300 Russians in Kyrgyzstan (Mage = 35.56; SD = 17.40; 64,8% females). Methods. We used scales from the MIRIPS questionnaire, instruments for measuring identities and intercultural attitudes developed in CSCR of HSE, and local identity scale by O. Droseltis and V.L. Vignoles. Results. The study revealed three complex predictors of adaptation in each country: perceived inclusiveness of context, ethnocultural identity and closeness to host country. These three complex factors in both countries were positively associated with life satisfaction, and in Estonia with self-esteem as well. Perceived inclusiveness of the context and closeness to host country negatively related to separation and positively related to integration, ethno-cultural identity positively related to separation. In Kyrgyzstan we also revealed culture-specific positive links between ethno-cultural identity and integration and between closeness to host society and assimilation. Conclusion. The study of the mutual contribution of personal and contextual characteristics to success in adaptation to new cultural environment contributes to a deeper understanding of acculturation as a complex dynamic process, the components of which are in constant interaction with each other.

Background. The problem of precise and reliable evaluation of the emotional state of operators in spaceflight conditions still remains unresolved, and therefore relevant. This evaluation is especially important for predicting operators` professional activity effectiveness considering the current emotional state which significantly determines the accuracy and rapidity of professional tasks performance. Objectives. Our study is carried out to empirically test the new method and technology for evaluating changes in the emotional state of the 7-day experiment participants measuring facial expression changes in their DPC-video interview recordings. Study Participants. The study involved 10 men aged 25 to 35 years. Volunteers were selected by the Institute of Biomedical Problems of the Russian Academy of Sciences as participants in the research. Methods. DPC video interviews were conducted daily in the morning and in the evening. Facial expression changes evaluation was conducted with the EmoRadar software which detects FACS action units (AUs), seven basic emotions and other patterns of facial activity. Results. The description of facial expression changes in the experiment are given based on the data from two participants. These changes were compared with the emotional experience of the participants and experimental conditions. The necessity of differentiated evaluation of the positive emotion of happiness is shown since its assessments may include not only happiness as a basic emotion, but also two expressions of smiles (social smile or coy smile) similar to it. The effectiveness of the software used and the author's approach to computer analysis of facial activity is clearly shown. Conclusions. With the help of the developed technology based on the implementation of a comprehensive approach to measurement and interpretation of facial expressions, it is possible to provide objective information about characteristic changes in facial expressions as reliable behavioral indicators of a person's emotional state. The data are independent of respondents' self-assessments or expert’s experience. This opens up new methodological possibilities for aerospace psychology to solve the problem of automatic monitoring of the emotional state of operators.

Objective. To determine incidence rate and risk factors for the development of venous thromboembolism in complicated cervical spine injury. Material and Methods. The study included 34 patients with acute complicated cervical spine injury. Inclusion criteria were newly diagnosed venous thromboembolic complications, and application of low-frequency piezothromboelastography to study the hemostasis system. All patients received standard drug thromboprophylaxis. Patients were divided into two study groups: Group I included 21 patients with venous thromboembolic complications, and Group II – 13 patients without thromboembolic complications. Results. The incidence of venous thromboembolism in the total sample was 61.8 %. Pulmonary artery embolism developed in 4.7 % of cases. In 91,0 % of cases, thrombosis was asymptomatic. The state of the hemostatic system in Group I before the start of thromboprophylaxis was characterized by chronometric hypocoagulation, and structural hypercoagulation with a 2.6-fold increase in the intensity of clot retraction and lysis. In Group II, there was chronometric and structural hypercoagulation with a 14.4-fold increase in the intensity of clot retraction and lysis. The main significant predictors of the development of venous thromboembolism were identified as intestinal paresis (p = 0.004), absence of changes in neurological status (p = 0.012), length of stay in the ICU (p = 0.025), and length of hospital stay (p = 0.039). The building of a multivariate logistic regression model revealed multiplicative significant predictors of the development of thromboembolism. It has been shown that the presence of intestinal paresis is associated with a 25.07-fold increase in the chances of developing DVT of lower extremities. Conclusion. Considering the high incidence of venous thromboembolic complications in patients with complicated cervical spine injury, further research is required to study the effectiveness and safety of correction of drug thromboprophylaxis regimens in the form of increasing doses of anticoagulants or the frequency of their administration.

The article attempts to identify the time when the category “fantastic” appeared in the aesthetic thought of the Pushkin era. Common and fixed in the poetics of this time was another, close in meaning, term “chudesnoe” (“miraculous”). It denoted the “supernatural” (a concept that has become crucial in literary fantastic) but did not fundamentally differ from similar phenomena, such as rare, unexpected, and extraordinary. According to the National Corpus of the Russian Language, the word “fantastic” finds frequent use only after 1830, which chronologically coincides with the period of active perception of foreign romantic prose in Russia, in particular the genre of the fantastic story. In most cases, the new lexeme appears in fiction, keeping “etymological” meaning (related to fantasy, dream, imagination). Many original statements and translations, however, reflect another trend: the “fantastic” in them describes a particular kind of composition or type of narrative, as well as the features of poetics inherent in these works. As such, the word acquires a wide range of meanings and evaluative characteristics, some of which reveal similarities with the semantic content of the concept of “fantastic literature” in contemporary studies. The publication in which a conceptual interpretation of the “fantastic mode of writing” was first proposed in Russian was the translation of Walter Scott’s article “On the Supernatural in Fictitious Composition, and particularly in the works of E.T.W. Hoffmann” (in Russian translation: “O chudesnom v romane” (“About the wonderful in the novel”)) (1829).