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Background: Benign unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia, also known as Gilbert's syndrome, is a common in the population moderate increase in total and unconjugated bilirubin concentrations in individuals without liver disease or hemolysis. Aim: To identify associations of rs3755319, rs4148325 of the UGT1A1 gene, rs2328136 of the NUP153-AS gene, and rs16928809 of the SLC22A18 gene with benign unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. Methods: This case-control study included a group of individuals with benign unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia (n = 414, mean age 36.7 ± 15.9 years, 49.8% men) and a control group (n = 381, mean age 39.1 ± 15.9 years, 52.5% men). The sample was randomly selected from the participants of the MONICA project, screening of young people aged 25–44 years and a cross-sectional study of schoolchildren in Novosibirsk. DNA was isolated from venous blood by phenol-chloroform extraction or an express assay (PROBA-RAPID-GENETICS, DNA-Technology, Russia). Genotyping of the groups by rs3755319, rs4148325 of the UGT1A1 gene, rs2328136 of the NUP153-AS gene, and rs16928809 of the SLC22A18 gene was performed by polymerase chain reaction followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. Results: No significant differences were found between the individuals with benign unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia and the control group by the genotypes and alleles of the nucleotide sequence variants of rs16928809 of the SLC22A18 gene (p 0.05). The CC genotype and the C allele of rs3755319 of the UGT1A1 gene were more common in the individuals with benign unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia, than in the control group (CC vs AC + AA: odds ratio (OR) = 21.1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 14.7–30.4, p 0.001; C vs A: OR = 12.4, 95% CI 9.4–16.4, p 0.001). The concentrations of total and unconjugated bilirubin were higher in the carriers of the CC genotype of rs3755319, compared to the carriers of the other two genotypes (p 0.05). rs4148325 of the UGT1A1 gene was in the linkage disequilibrium with the rs3064744 UGT1A1 variant. The GG genotype and the G allele rs2328136 of the NUP153-AS gene were more common in the individuals with benign unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia than in the control group (GG vs AG + AA: OR = 1.361, 95% CI 1.002–1.848, p = 0.048; G vs A: OR = 1.33, 95% CI 1.02–1.73, p = 0.034). Conclusion: The CC genotype and the C allele of rs3755319 of the UGT1A1 gene, the GG genotype and the G allele of rs2328136 of the NUP153-AS gene are the genotypes and alleles of risk for benign unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia. The rs16928809 of the SLC22A18 gene is not associated with benign unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia.

Since the discovery of the Shor quantum algorithm, capable of solving factorization and discrete logarithm problems in polynomial time, post-quantum cryptographic algorithms have been actively developed. Although some of the post-quantum algorithms have already been standardized by NIST, an important problem remains their lower efficiency compared to the classical cryptographic algorithms. The purpose of this work is to accelerate operations on polynomials in lattice-based post-quantum signature schemes. The research is carried out by analyzing fast multiplucation and reduction algorithms. The paper considers the Number Theoretic Transform (NTT), K-RED and Montgomery reduction algorithms. The effectiveness of the K-RED algorithm in comparison with the algorithm Montgomery is substantiated. The question of the applicability of the NTT and fast reduction algorithms in the Russian signature scheme «Kryzhovnik» and NIST algorithms Falcon and CRYSTALS-Dilithium is considered. As a result of the research, recommendations for embedding the K-RED algorithm in the reference implementations of the Falcon and CRYSTALS-Dilithium signature schemes are given, as well as the implementation in C of accelerated multiplication using the NTT and the K-RED algorithm. The results of this research can be embedded in the NIST standards FIPS 204 and FIPS 206, as well as adapted for use in other lattice-based signature schemes.

Introduction: Persons of Roma origin often face serious inequities concerning their state of health and their access to good quality health services. The purpose of the study is to analyze the health services consumption and barriers in the health care of persons of Roma origin in Bulgaria. Material/Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted, and a semi-structured face to face interview were applied in 2018. Adult citizens of Roma origin were covered as follows: residents of Knezha - a total of 59 people and households from the towns of Kneja and Kotel - 18 families (50 persons). The cities are representative of settlements of medium size with separate neighborhoods of Roma origin. Data processing was performed by SPSS v.24. Results: Over two-thirds of the covered persons of Roma origin do not have health insurance. Due to a lack of health insurance, 14% of the households were reported a refusal to provide health care by general practitioners (GPs) and specialists in out-hospital care. 82.1% of Roma women have never had a mammography, and 71.4% a smear test. 83.3% of the households required direct payment for the provision of health services, which corresponds to the high share of informal payments in health care in Bulgaria (34 % in 2023), but among the Roma population, this share is significantly higher. Conclusion: The Roma population in Bulgaria is characterized by an unfavourable health profile, and the health services provided to the persons of Roma origin are inadequate to their needs.

Accurate modeling of wind conditions is vital for the efficient operation and management of wind farms. This study investigates the enhancement of weather simulations by assimilating local offshore light detection and ranging (lidar) and/or supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) data into a numerical weather prediction model while considering the presence of neighboring wind farms through wind farm parameterization. We focus on improving model output during storms impacting the Belgian–Dutch wind farm cluster located in the Southern Bight of the North Sea via the four-dimensional data assimilation (nudging) technique in the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. Our findings indicate that assimilating wind observations significantly reduces the relative root-mean-square error for wind speed at a wind farm located 47 km downwind from the offshore lidar platform. This leads to more accurate power production outputs. Specifically, at wind turbines experiencing wake effects, the wind speed error decreased from 10.5 % to 5.2 %, and the wind direction error was reduced by a factor of 2.4. A proposed artificial configuration, leveraging the upwind lidar measurements, showcases the potential for improving hour-ahead wind and power predictions. Moreover, we perform a thorough study to investigate the sensitivity to nudging parameters during versatile atmospheric conditions, which helps to identify the best assimilation practices for this offshore setting. These insights are expected to refine wind resource mapping and reanalysis of weather events, as well as motivate more measurement campaigns offshore.

Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) is an aromatic medicinal plant associated with rich phytochemical composition and significant pharmacological potential. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the chemical profile of eight samples containing essential oil (EO) from biocultivated Rosmarinus officinalis L. from different locations and various harvesting periods. Another key point of this study was the evaluation of the chemical profile of commercial products containing EO isolated from bio Salvia rosmarinus Spenn. It was observed that the harvest period may not have a significant effect on some of the bioactive components that are present but may affect their percentage content. Furthermore, not only the time of harvesting the plant material influences essential oil component composition, but also its location may have an effect.

In 2023, comprehensive studies of shallow-water methane gas emissions were conducted during expeditionary work in the coastal area of Laspi Bay (southwestern coast of Crimea). The research included determining the component and isotopic composition of bubble gas, measuring methane concentration in the gas emission area, estimating bubble flux rates, and measuring hydrophysical parameters above the seep site. The obtained results of the carbon isotopic composition of methane and ethane in the studied samples corresponded to (δ13Cmean = –36.0 ± 0.8‰, δ13Cmean = –37.5 ± 0.2‰, respectively) and indicate the presence of thermocatalytic methane migration along fault systems. It was found that the methane seeps of the Crimean coast are relatively low-flow, with a specific flux ranging from 5 to 10 m3 year-1 from an individual seep. The presented temporal dynamics of dissolved СН4 concentration above the seep and changes in the isotopic ratio of δ13C-СН4 in bubble gas indicate the constancy of the process over time and the absence of connection with external hydrological changes in the water area. The obtained ratios of the carbon isotopic composition of methane and ethane demonstrate that the gas mixture was most likely generated from source organic matter of marine origin, and one of the main sources of hydrocarbon fluids is the Upper Eocene and Oligocene deposits in the Western Black Sea basin.

The studied Upper Jurassic and Lower Cretaceous bituminous shales of the Kashpirskoe field contain organic matter (OM) terrestrial in carbon isotopic composition (δ13C > –24‰) and marine in pyrolytic characteristics (HI > 500 mg HC/g TOC). Shales contain autochthonous bitumens that are marine (Pr/Ph ≤ 0.5, Ph/nC18> 1, distribution of biosteranes with C29/C27 ≤ 1.5, presence of long-chain alkyl naphthalenes – indicator of marine algae Gloeocapsomorpha prisca, “V-shaped” distribution of methyldibenzothiophenes). At the same time, a number of parameters correspond to the terrestrial OM (in n-alkanes nC27/nC17 >>1, Pwax (0.6–0.7) > Paq(0.4–0.5), the indicator of coniferous plants reten is marked in the aromatic fraction), which indicates the proximity of land. Isorenieratene derivatives, biomarkers of specific Chlorobiaceae bacteria, were found in the samples; therefore, despite the probable proximity of land, anoxia occurred in the photic layer of the sedimentation basin. The presence of diasterenes indicates diagenetic transformations also under conditions of anoxic sediment. According to the results of pyrolysis, the OM is catagenetically weakly mature (very low Tmax), which is confirmed by the composition of the bitumen (CPI ≥ 1.7 in n-alkanes, high Pr/nC17 and Ph/nC18 ratios, absence of isoand diasteranes, presence of biosteranes and sterenes, low concentrations or absence of typical terpanes, presence of biohopanes and hopenes, low the ratio of homohopanes C3122S/(22S+22R) << 0.5, low ratios of MDR (0.5–1.0) and MPI-1 (0.4–0.8), mostly absent (not yet formed) monoand triaromatic steroids).The Lower Cretaceous shales from the boundary interval between the Volgian and Ryazan stages, not characterized by fauna, are more enriched in terrestrial components compared to the Upper Jurassic oil shales from the Dorsoplanites panderi ammonite zone. The peculiarities in the characteristics of the studied shales are associated with the genetic specificity of the OM, with anoxia in water and sediment with the accumulation of OM, and with its weak catagenetic maturity at fairly high concentrations.

Since ancient times, essential oils (EOs) have been used, thoroughly explored, and regarded as products of great importance for humanity. Currently, EOs represent not only an important part of the contemporary pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry but are also considered as sources for novel drug candidates. The article discusses the applications of EOs in historical terms, the current applications, and the future perspectives. Although there are many studies that involve EOs, the therapeutic potential of EOs is not fully investigated. In the next decades it is highly likely that some compounds, isolated from EOs, could be included in the composition of novel drug candidates with targets in neurology, cardiology, or oncology. Moreover, EOs represent important key points in the development of novel environmentally friendly preservatives and pesticides.

Abstract Bipolar disorder (BD) involves altered reward processing and decision-making, with inconsistencies across studies. Here, we integrated hierarchical Bayesian modelling with magnetoencephalography (MEG) to characterise maladaptive belief updating in this condition. First, we determined if previously reported increased learning rates in BD stem from a heightened expectation of environmental changes. Additionally, we examined if this increased expectation speeds up belief updating in decision-making, associated with modulation of rhythmic neural activity within the prefrontal, orbitofrontal, and anterior cingulate cortex (PFC, OFC, ACC). Twenty-two euthymic BD and 27 healthy control (HC) participants completed a reward-based motor decision-making task in a volatile setting. Hierarchical Bayesian modelling revealed BD participants anticipated greater environmental volatility, resulting in a more stochastic mapping from beliefs to actions and paralleled by lower win rates and a reduced tendency to repeat rewarded actions than HC. Despite this, BD individuals adjusted their expectations of action-outcome contingencies more slowly, but both groups invigorated their actions similarly. On a neural level, while healthy individuals exhibited an alpha-beta suppression and gamma increase during belief updating, BD participants showed dampened effects, extending across the PFC, OFC, and ACC regions. This was accompanied by an abnormally increased beta-band directed information flow in BD. Overall, the results suggest euthymic BD individuals anticipate environmental change without adequately learning from it, contributing to maladaptive belief updating. Alterations in frequency-domain amplitude and functional connectivity within the PFC, OFC, and ACC during belief updating underlie the computational effects and could serve as potential indicators for predicting relapse in future research.

Synchrotron sourced Fourier transform infrared (SS FTIR) microspectroscopy was employed to investigate the biological effects on the neuron-like pheochromocytoma (PC 12) cells after exposure to synchrotron sourced terahertz (SS THz) radiation. Over 10 min of exposure, the PC 12 cells received a total energy of 600 J m2, with a total incident power density of ∼1.0 W m−2 (0.10 mW cm−2) at the beam extraction port (BEP) of the THz beamline at the Australian Synchrotron. To investigate the metabolic response of PC 12 cells after synchrotron THz radiation exposure, we utilized the FTIR microscope at the Infrared Microspectroscopy IRM beamline, which offers high photon flux and diffraction-limited spatial resolution enabling the detection of functional group variations in biological molecules at a single-cell level. Principal component analysis (PCA) based on the SS FTIR spectral data revealed a distinct separation of SS THz-exposed and control (non-exposed) cells. According to the PCA loadings, the key changes in the exposed cells involved lipid and protein compositions as indicated by the stretching vibrations of CH2/CH3 groups and amide I/II bands, respectively. An increase in lipids, such as cholesterol, or notable changes in their compositions and in some protein secondary structures were observed in the SS THz-exposed cells. The PCA analysis further suggests that PC 12 cells might maintain cell membrane stability after SS THz irradiation through higher volumes of cholesterol and cell morphology via regulation of the synthesis of cytoskeleton proteins such as actin-related proteins. The outcome of this study re-emphasized the exceptional SS FTIR capability to perform single-cell analysis directly, providing (i) unique biological information on cell variability within the population as well as between different groups, and (ii) evidence of molecular changes in the exposed cells that could lead to a deeper understanding of the effect of THz exposure at a single-cell level.

In this work, we determined the content of antibodies to low-density lipoproteins modified by malondialdehyde, the concentration of circulating immune complexes cholesterol and oxidized low-density lipoproteins in the blood of healthy individuals and patients with various manifestations of atherosclerosis. In addition, the effect of antibodies to low-density lipoproteins modified with malondialdehyde on the interaction of such lipoproteins with macrophages was studied. 253 persons were examined: healthy individuals (59 people), patients with preclinical atherosclerosis (25 people) and patients with coronary artery disease (169 people). It was found that the concentration of circulating immune complexes cholesterol in plasma was increased in patients with coronary artery disease compared with healthy individuals and patients with preclinical atherosclerosis, while oxidized low-density lipoproteins content did not differ between patients groups. At the same time, a positive correlation oxidized low-density lipoproteins plasma concentration with circulating immune complexes cholesterol content was found in patients with atherosclerosis. The plasma level of IgG antibodies to malondialdehyde-modified lipoproteins was significantly reduced in patients with coronary artery disease compared with healthy people and patients with preclinical atherosclerosis. While the level of IgM antibodies to malondialdehyde low-density lipoproteins practically did not change in patients with atherosclerosis independently of disease severity. It was shown that specific antibodies vastly reduced malondialdehyde low density lipoproteins cytotoxicity and ability to induce cholesterol esters accumulation in macrophages derived from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Thus, the data obtained indicate that anti-lipoprotein antibodies may have a protective effect by preventing cell death and reducing the accumulation of cholesterol esters in macrophages when they interact with modified low-density lipoproteins, i.e. prevent the foam cells formation.

Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) is a perennial crop propagated vegetatively. There are a number of problems associated with preserving the gene pool, obtaining certified planting material, and replenishing the collection of hop varieties. To solve these problems, it is promising to use biotechnological methods and attract genetic resources from natural flora. The article presents the results of an experimental research on introducing into tissue culture and studying the effect of cytokinin growth regulators on in vitro reproduction of wild hop genotypes from the Altai Krai. A comparison with the in vitro morphogenesis of varieties bred in Russia is provided. Wild hop samples have been shown to be successfully introduced into tissue culture at a level not lower than that of national varieties and are characterized by intensive growth of shoots and root systems in hormone-free Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. The ANOVA results confirmed that the genetic characteristics of the samples had the greatest impact on the reproduction rate and height of hop plants in vitro culture. The second most important factor was the type of plant growth regulator. The maximum height of the shoots of the ‘Flagman’ variety and the wild sample AK-3 was in the MS nutrient medium containing 5 μM kinetin, and for the ‘Civil'skij’ variety – 1 μM 6-benzylaminopurine. For the AK-1 genotype, the best results were obtained in hormone-free MS medium. The reproduction rate, calculated as the ratio of the the height of shoots, including the lateral ones, to the number of internodes, ranged from 3.9 to 9.1. For wild samples, it was possible to achieve reproduction rates of 8–9 in one passage lasting 8 weeks. The results confirmed the high morphogenetic potential of wild hop samples AK-1 and AK-3 from the south of Western Siberia, as well as the national variety ‘Flagman’ for the use of clonal micropropagation technology to preserve genotypes in the in vitro collection, breeding, and production of planting material.

The escalating interest of European countries in Africa and the Middle East in recent years has emerged as a significant response to overarching global geopolitical transformations. These shifts have compelled both the United Kingdom and countries of the European Union to critically reassess their political and economic strategies within the contexts of the Global South. The global academic community is actively engaged in dissecting the multifaceted activities governing the interactions between European stakeholders and their counterparts in Africa and the Middle East. Both foreign and Russian scholars are particularly focused on the concept of raw materials sovereignty within the EU framework. As international economic and technological competition intensifies, there is an urgent imperative to innovate analytical framework that can enhance predictive capabilities concerning the implications of actions taken by state entities, non-governmental organizations, multinational corporations, and other interest groups operating in these regions. This article proposes the utilization of three key parameters – Interests, Sources, and Activities (ISA) – as determinants for evaluating the significance of research domains. By applying the ISA framework, the authors elucidate emerging trends and focal areas pertaining to the activities of these actors, thereby highlighting aspects that necessitate heightened scrutiny in regional analysis.

This article examines the phenomenon of “cancel culture” through the lens of Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of symbolic space. This approach allows us to go beyond traditional ethical and political frameworks, connecting cancel culture to the processes of building collective identity through social exclusion and ostracism. In order to establish its boundaries, a community needs to define specific symbolic capital, which is reflected in both unifying symbols and the ways it distinguishes itself from others. This opposition is primarily expressed through negative symbols that help create a distinct identity. Cancel culture functions as a tool in the struggle for symbolic capital, leading to a restructuring of roles within the social landscape. This results in the emergence of four distinct groups: the “canceled,” the “cancelers–initiators,” the “cancelers–executors,” and the “authorities.” The interactions among these groups foster the development of new identities. It is concluded that in today’s public space, where virtualization accelerates the creation and dissemination of identifying symbols, various forms of identity are being formed. The process of canceling initiates a dual dynamic: it not only defines the identity of the canceling community but also encourages the communities of those canceled to fight for a positive redefinition of their own symbolic capital.

The issues of human impact on the environment are evident and pose a threat to the health and well-being of future generations. Technogenic disturbances in coal mining sites, such as open pits, excavations, and industrial waste, pose risks to both human health and the environment. Open-pit coal mines not only frequently cause the destruction of natural ecosystems, including landscapes, vegetation, and biodiversity, but they also significantly contribute to greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Addressing the carbon footprint necessitates not only the use of renewable energy but also the restoration of disturbed landscapes and vegetation, including trees and shrubs. All of this is achieved by implementing biological remediation within technogenically disturbed territories. This process fosters a return of biological balance and establishes favorable conditions for plant and animal life, while at the same time reducing carbon footprint indicators. The biological remediation of areas affected by the mining activities of coal mines can create new economic opportunities. The reclaimed land can be utilized for various purposes such as agriculture, forestry, park development, and tourism, thereby contributing to local economic growth and job creation. When planning measures for land bioremediation, it is essential to analyze all quality indicators of the land. In this case, the selection of technologies such as plants, fertilizers, and microorganisms can effectively restore territories.

Abstract. Modern tools and technologies are increasingly used to monitor the main parameters of the microclimate in greenhouses. In this article, an overview and comparative analysis of modern sensor devices applicable in the measurement of physical parameters in greenhouses is made. The various technologies and components for automation of microclimate monitoring are considered. The possibilities offered by management software solutions are considered. The possibilities of IoT technologies for automating processes in greenhouses are described.

The hidden depleting degradation of the effective fertility of previously cultivated agrarian sod-podzolic soils is one of the most significant risks for the development of agriculture in the Non-Chernozem region and its food security. In a stationary long-term experiment, established in the Leningrad region in 2006, a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of accelerated cultivation of degraded sandy loam agrarian sod-podzolic soil to a good and high level of cultivation was performed. The objects of the research were three types of soil (medium-, well- and highly cultivated) and crops of cereal and row six-field crop rotations, cultivated in a three-variant scheme of a complete mineral fertilizer system. During the study in the second rotation of crop rotations (2012–2016), it has been established that the responsiveness of crops to accelerated soil cultivation and complete mineral fertilizer is determined by a combination of their biological and varietal characteristics with weather, climatic and phytosanitary conditions. The average annual productivity level of studied crop rotations on medium-cultivated soil amounted to 3.9 and 3.8 thousand grain units per ha. On well–cultivated and highly cultivated soil the productivity increased by 34 and 67, 50 and 86 %, respectively, and from the use of a complete mineral fertilizer system – by 28 and 18 %, respectively. The level of profitability of soil cultivation varied from 51–97 % in the crop rotation with cereals, and to 234–301 % in the row crop rotation with an average annual net yield of 12.1–13.1 and 97.1–110.4 thousand rubles/ha. The payback period for accelerated cultivation to a good and high level was 3.3 and 5.1 years in the crop rotation with cereals and 0.6 and 1.2 years in the row crop rotation, respectively.

Background. Viral respiratory tract infections treatment, especially during epidemic outbreak, is a main priority for pediatricians and physicians of other specialties. After the COVID-19 pandemic, a need to assess the efficacy and safety of the interferon inductor drug arose due to the changes of respiratory viruses circulation.Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of drug within the complex therapy of viral respiratory tract infections in children aged 3 to 18 years, in comparison with standard therapy in routine outpatient practice.Materials and Methods. The study included 534 children aged 3 to 18 years diagnosed with mild to moderate viral respiratory tract infections with a disease duration of no more than 3 days at the time of enrollment in the observational program. Standard therapy was prescribed by the attending physician in accordance with current Clinical Guidelines and Treatment Standards. Additionally, Кagocel® tablets, 12 mg, were administered at the physician’s discretion, in doses of 6 or 10 tablets over a period of 4 days. Symptom dynamics, disease duration, incidence of complications, antibiotic prescriptions, recurrent viral respiratory tract infections, and viral pathogen elimination based on PCR diagnostics were assessed. Safety assessment included adverse event recording.Results. Incorporating of interferon inductor into standard therapy reduced the duration of the primary disease and accelerated symptom resolution, decreased the frequency of complications, antibiotic prescriptions, and recurrent viral respiratory tract infections. Complex therapy with an Кagocel® provided twice the effectiveness in terms of viral elimination rates compared to standard therapy without antiviral agents on days 5-8 from the start of treatment. Кagocel® demonstrated a good adverse event profile, with no AEs recorded.Conclusion. The significant efficacy of interferon inductor in the complex treatment of viral respiratory tract infections compared to standard therapy without antiviral agents in real-world practice has been demonstrated. The therapy demonstrated an excellent adverse event profile in children aged 3 to 18 years.

Malignant melanoma is among the leading forms of cancer on a global scale, accounting for 1 in 5 skin cancers. Over the past decades, the treatment of melanoma has significantly improved following the development of therapies such as MAPK molecular therapy targeted at BRAF and MEK signaling pathways. We present real-world evidence from clinical practice in Bulgaria on the treatment of malignant melanoma with dabrafenib and trametinib from 2018 to 2022. Treatment outcomes from the real-world data are compared against the pivotal clinical trials, namely COMBI-d and COMBI-v. Outcomes are compared on the basis of metrics, including overall survival, progression-free survival, and clinical benefit. Further, iterational proportional fitting is performed to control for differences in characteristics across the patient cohorts. Results show that real-world overall survival and progression-free survival outperform results from the clinical trials, particularly with respect to COMBI-d.

The purpose of the review was to analyze the literature data on the effect of glucosominylmuramyldipeptide on factors of innate and adaptive immunity in the treatment and prevention of various infectious diseases. The purpose of the review was to examine studies conducted over the past 20 years concerning the use of GMDP for the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases of various etiologies. The literature was searched using databases such as RSCI, eLibrary, MedLine. The following search words were used: muramyldipeptide, muramyldipeptide mechanism of action, glucosominylmuramyldipeptide for the treatment of infectious diseases, glucosominylmuramyldipeptide for the prevention of infectious diseases, glucosominylmuramyldipeptide as an adjuvant. GMDP is an activator of innate and acquired immunity, strengthens the body's protection against viral, bacterial and fungal infections, and also has an adjuvant effect in the development of a post-vaccination immune response, which determines the prospects for its further use to improve treatment regimens and specific prevention of various infectious diseases.

Developmental coordination disorder (DCD/Dyspraxia) is a commonly misunderstood and under-recognized specific learning difficulty (SpLD) in educational settings. This lifelong condition affects fine and gross motor coordination and significantly interferes with many activities of daily living, academic achievement, and employment opportunities. However, most Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are unaware of its prevalence within their context, even though 5% of the general population have DCD and the enrolment of students in UK Higher Education with a known disability has increased by 42.4% between 2018 and 2023. Thus, understanding the lived experiences of students with DCD within Higher Education in the UK remains a considerable gap in knowledge. Through the use of focus groups, the lived experiences of 10 students with DCD at two UK HEIs were investigated. The thematic analysis identified four main themes: ‘Awareness of DCD’, ‘Participation in Higher Education for individuals with DCD’, ‘Wellbeing’, and ‘Everyday living’. Students shared that HEIs appeared to lack awareness of DCD and felt they had an inability to specify the correct support at university. Importantly, whilst the students in the study were not always confident in identifying the specific support they needed, they shared the strategies they used to aid their university experience. The students described the physical toll that many everyday living tasks can take, which subsequently negatively impact academic participation and wellbeing. On a positive note, many of the students discussed positive experiences at university, such as enjoying their own autonomy (and flexibility) to be independent and inform strategies for their own learning. Importantly, the findings from this work highlight the complexity and heterogeneity of DCD and the need for a tailored approach to supporting individuals with this condition. Given the importance of educational qualifications to enter the workplace, and the contribution of employment to quality of life, these findings help signpost areas where HEIs can improve the experiences of students with DCD that may also enhance academic success.

Introduction of dopants is a classic method for modifying the properties of materials, in particular, complex oxides of the perovskite family with the general formula ABO3. Ions located in positions A and/or B are substituted. In this case, their valence can coincide with the valence of the basic ion (isovalent substitution) or differ (heterovalent substitution). Sodium niobate (NaNbO3) is a convenient basis for producing ferroelectric solid solutions. Doping changes the properties of sodium niobate in a wide range, allowing the production of functional materials for various applications. In this paper, the effect of Bi3+ doping upon substitution of niobium ion Nb5+ on the structure and electrophysical properties of sodium niobate is studied. It has been shown that such compositions are characterized by a significant increase in electrical conductivity with increasing the doping concentration, a decrease in the Curie temperature, and a change in the grain structure. The dopant concentration is more than 10 mol. % leads to the formation of some secondary phases.

The obtained results of the epidemiological, epizootiological, and phylogenetic data analysis suggest that the territory of the East African plateau is a one natural mega-focus of Yersinia pestis belonging to antique biovar 1.ANT of the main subspecies. The circulation of various genovariants (1.ANT1, 1.ANT2, 1.ANT3) of Y. pestis, antique biovar of the main subspecies, occurs in populations of various species of wild-living and semi-synanthropic rats and their specific ectoparasites. Within the boundaries of the established areal of antique biovar 1.ANT of the main subspecies of Y. pestis epizootic manifestations are confined to densely populated areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Malawi. Potentially plague enzootic regions should include the territories of Rwanda and Burundi, as well as the northern regions of Mozambique. In 2000–2024, more than 15.5 thousand cases of plague infection were registered in East African countries (DRC, Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda), which is 54 % of the total number of cases on the African continent. The maximum epidemic activity (on average 1,326 people per year) of the East African megafocus was noted in 2000–2009. In 2010–2019, the incidence rates in the DRC, Uganda, and Tanzania decreased significantly (to an average of 103 people per year), and no cases of plague infection were detected in Zambia and Malawi. In 2020–2024, epidemic complications of plague continued to be recorded only in the territory of the DRC. The persistence of constant risks of infection is determined by the high population density and intensity of contacts between the rural population and the natural-focal complexes of the East African plateau. The high incidence of plague is also due to the development of outbreaks of anthroponotic bubonic plague associated with the abundance of Pulex irritans fleas in rural areas.

The aim of the work was to study the composition of vesicle preparations (OMV) in Vibrio cholerae strains O1 El Tor (ctxAB– tcpA– ; ctxAB– tcpA+ ) and O139 (ctxAB– tcpA– ) isolated from various sources. Materials and methods. V. cholerae strains O1 and O139 serogroups were used in the work, from which OMV preparations were obtained. The structure of OMV preparations was studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Genome-wide DNA sequencing was performed on the MiSeq platform. The nucleotide and corresponding amino acid sequences of the genes were studied using bioinformatics analysis. Protein profiling was conducted using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Enzymatic activities were detected using appropriate media and substrates. Determination of (surface determinants) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and outer membrane proteins in the composition of OMV was carried out by enzyme immunoassay (ELISA). The analysis of the spectrum of fatty acids was performed by gas-liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Results and discussion. OMV preparations have been obtained from non-toxigenic strains of cholera vibrios. TEM has revealed that OMVs are represented by spherical structures of about 40–200 nm. Genome-wide sequencing has shown that fragments of chromosomes containing genes of V. cholerae strains, O1 and O139 serogroups, from which they were isolated are present in the OMV. The bioinformatic analysis revealed differences in the structure of the ompT gene in the initial strains and in OMV obtained from V. cholerae strains O1 and O139 serogroups. The ΔompT gene of the OMV preparation from V. cholerae O139 serogroup was trunked and formed a peptide of 17 amino acid residues (-LENHHQKNREPDKEFPY-). Analysis of the OMV composition has revealed the presence of enzymes (N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase and DNAazes), proteins of outer membranes (ompT and OmpU), LPS, saturated, сis/trans isomers of unsaturated fatty acids and branched fatty acids. Differences in the composition of OMV obtained from non-toxigenic strains of V. cholerae O1 and O139 serogroups have been identified.

The current stage of transformation of the global healthcare architecture dictates the need to unite international efforts to create conditions for cooperation and building up the capacity to respond to various biological threats between all participants in the international arena. The paper demonstrates the advantages of Russian approaches to organizing the sanitary and epidemiological service to counteract biological threats. The most striking examples of the country’s participation in the emerging architecture of global healthcare are shown, which include the participation of the Russian Federation in the implementation of interstate programs aimed at eliminating dangerous infectious diseases. The strategy for countering modern biological threats implemented by the Russian Federation in the international arena is outlined, focused primarily on strengthening the methodological, technological, and human resources potential, enhan cing national capabilities for epidemiological surveillance and response to emergencies in the field of sanitary-epidemiological well-being of the population of partner countries. The main areas of cooperation with partner countries are considered. The key results of joint international projects both in the near and far abroad are presented, reflecting significant successes in strengthening the national potential of the partner countries of the Russian Federation in the field of rapid response to emerging threats in the field of biological safety and ensuring sanitary and epidemiological well-being. The achieved results of interstate cooperation in the field of ensuring global biological security and the active participation of the Russian Federation in the development and implementation of global instruments in the field of monitoring and responding to public health emergencies constitute the significant contribution of the Russian Federation to the current formation of the global healthcare architecture.

Population immunity is a determining factor in relation to the spread of various variants of the influenza virus, and therefore is of great importance for predicting epidemics, characterizing the epidemic process and assessing the effectiveness of vaccination campaigns. The aim of the work was to monitor markers of seasonal influenza viruses and avian influenza viruses in the blood serum of residents of the Russian Federation in 2023–2024. Materials and methods. Blood serum samples from healthy donors were collected in the Siberian Federal District of the Russian Federation in October-November 2023. In addition, blood sera from people who had had contact with sick and/or dead birds and from residents of regions located on migration routes of wild waterfowl were studied in HI-test (hemagglutination inhibition) and virus neutralization. Results and discussion. It is shown that ahead of the epidemic season of 2023/2024, population immunity to influenza in the Siberian Federal District was at the level recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) – at least 50 % of the immune population. However, among individuals who had had contact with sick and/or dead birds, humoral immunity to seasonal influenza was significantly lower – from 5 % to 30 % seropositive, depending on the region. HI-test on avian influenza viruses A/H5Nx and A/H9N2 has revealed 0 and 3.7 % of positive samples, respectively. The risk of a pandemic influenza virus emergence can be reduced by 75–100 % vaccination against seasonal influenza and monitoring antibody levels in poultry farm workers and employees of other organizations directly involved in poultry breeding and processing.

The paper presents the results of an experimental study of the dielectric and switching characteristics of some initial and annealed alanine-doped crystals of the triglycine sulfate group at room temperature. The results of measurements and calculations of the effective permittivity, switchable polarization, coercive and bias fields, unipolarity coefficient and dielectric loss tangent are presented. It was found that for most samples before and after annealing, the dielectric hysteresis loops are unipolar and shifted along the abscissa axis. This indicates a preferential orientation of domains and the presence of bias fields. As a result of annealing, the values of the coercive field and the unipolarity coefficient of the crystals decrease, and the switchable polarization increases. It is shown that the field dependences of the effective permittivity of the crystals before annealing have extrema lying in the field range of (5-7,5) ∙ 104 V∙m-1 and in the range (5-12) ∙ 104 V∙m-1 after their annealing.

This article presents the results of studying non-conducting biological, crystalline objects, powders, and glass composite samples using an ionic liquid by scanning electron microscopy. Ionic liquids based on alkylpyridinium dicyanamides studied in the work were obtained by a metathesis reaction. A solution of ionic liquid in acetone was used as a conductive coating for dielectrics. It was found that the use of ionic liquid is an alternative to the methods of metal and carbon sputtering on dielectric samples. Scanning electron microscopy images of samples obtained by such microscopy methods as low vacuum mode, the use of metal sputtering (Pt) on samples, and a study of samples without a conductive coating are presented. A comparative analysis of the results obtained by traditional methods and the method of applying ionic liquid to samples is carried out. It is shown that the use of electrically conductive ionic liquids with the thermal and chemical stability makes it possible to obtain high-resolution electron microscopic images and also allows visualization of the topographic and compositional contrast of the studied dielectric samples.

The article continues a series of studies of permanent magnets with different magnetization reversal mechanisms (nucleation, domain boundary displacement). In this work, a correlation is established between magnetic characteristics of permanent magnets (Y25 and AlNiCo) and the fractal dimension of magneto-optical images of their stray fields. Bismuth-containing ferrite-garnet films were used as an indicator. It is shown that the limiting values of the fractal dimension: 1,76 for a ferrite magnet and 1,85 for an AlNiCo magnet, are consistent with the results obtained for NdFeB (grade N35) and SmCo (grade KC37) magnets, as is the behavior of the field dependence of the fractal dimension. The behavior of the field dependence of magnetization Mmo(Hrev) has similar features to a similar dependence recorded for a permanent magnet NdFeB (grade N35), but the values of the demagnetizing fields for the Y25 sample are much smaller. The paper discusses the relationship between the mechanisms of magnetization reversal of permanent magnets and the behavior of the Mmo(Hrev) dependence.

In our work, we used the finely dispersed polystyrene to produce porous samples of the piezoelectric ceramics. Samples of the sodium potassium niobate ceramics with pore concentrations of the 10, 20, 25, 30 and 40 volume percent were produced. The structure was analyzed and the temperature and frequency dependences of the dielectric constant of the obtained samples were investigated. It has been established that the presence of polystyrene in the process of sintering piezoceramic samples plays the role of a binder, which evaporates during high-temperature processing. At the same time, the binder contributes to stabilization of the dielectric properties of the ceramics. In the porous samples, there are no fluctuations of the permittivity in the low-frequency region, and the frequency range in which the permittivity values are independent of the frequency increases. It was found that already 34 volume percent of the pores worsen the mechanical strength of the sample. It is shown that the use of a simple problem of percolation theory does not allow assessing the mechanical strength of porous samples depending on the pore concentration.

Relevance. Histology, which studies the microscopic structure of tissues, is the basis for many biomedical sciences. The study of the histology history helps to understand better how modern research and diagnostic methods were formed. With the rapid development of technologies such as artificial intelligence and genomic research, the understanding of the histology history can help in evaluating new approaches and integrating them into traditional methods. The history of the histology development may be interesting to specialists and students who want to understand the evolution of scientific ideas.Results. Histology originated long before the invention of the microscope, but its formation as a science is associated with the microscope creation. Therefore, there are three stages in the development of histology: before microscopic, microscopic and modern. Knowledge of the history of histological studies allows us to fully and deeply understand the processes occurring in the body at the cellular level. The article describes the main important achievements and scientific discoveries of scientists who have contributed to the development of histology, as well as to the improvement of microscopy. Histology creates a theoretical basis for the study of many clinical disciplines. It is a fundamental discipline. It has a great practical importance. Microscopy is necessary not only for making diagnoses, but also in the treatment process. Microscopes are used in surgery for operations requiring delicate intervention, in ophthalmology, neurosurgery, vascular surgery and many other areas of medicine.Conclusion. This article presents a brief summary of the history of the formation and development of histology as a science, important discoveries and achievements that influenced the development of medicine and biology. The article is intended for a wide range of readers, especially for students and teachers of medical universities, as well as for clinical residents, graduate students and doctors of various specialties.

The article provides information about the life and scientific activities of Mikhail Konstantinovich Vasiltsov, MD, Professor, Head of the Department of Histology, Embryology, Cytology (1974-1996) of the Irkutsk State Medical Institute. During 22 years of leadership of the Department of Histology, Embryology, Cytology of IGMI, Mikhail Konstantinovich has educated dozens of highly professional scientific and pedagogical staff. His contribution to the development of microscopic technology is significant. He improved and introduced the method of manufacturing tooth grinds, developed a method for semi-quantitative determination of collagen content using micro-preparations, which was approved by the scientific community and subsequently widely introduced into histological practice. А cytophotometer was designed and manually assembled under his leadership. It made possible to determine the content of substances in cells of various organs and tissues with high accuracy. For many years, Professor Vasiltsov M. K. was a member of the Dissertation Council on Histology, Cytology, and embryology. For two decades, Mikhail Konstantinovich was the permanent head of the Bureau of Rationalization and Invention of the Medical Institute. M. K. Vasiltsov headed the Irkutsk branch of the Russian Society of Anatomists, Histologists and Embryologists for many years. Mikhail Konstantinovich remembered as a prominent morphologist, professor, teacher, lecturer, methodologist of the highest class, a man of high moral human principles. Vasiltsov is the author of more than 100 scientific and methodological works, many of which are fundamental in nature. Three doctoral and six PhD dissertations were completed and defended under his leadership, three copyright certificates for inventions obtained. Numerous diplomas from the Irkutsk State Medical Institute and the Ministry of Health of Russia worthily marked the long-term fruitful work of Professor M. K. Vasiltsov. M. K. Vasiltsov awarded medals, honorary titles: "Excellent Health Worker" and "Veteran of Labor".

The lack of a unified approach to the assessment of professional risks in fuel and energy companies (FEC) in the national regulatory environment and a high degree of subjectivity of the results of hazard identification and risk assessment makes mathematically sound recruitment of an expert group urgent and necessary. The article presents the results of a comprehensive study on hazard identification and risk assessment at 6,105 workplaces in 24 branches of a FEC company based on the application of the expert assessment method and a scientifically sound qualitative and quantitative selection of experts. The priority vectors of factors are determined, global priorities are calculated, the size of the expert group (15 persons) is determined and mathematically substantiated for carrying out hazard identification and risk assessment at workplaces with sufficient reliability of results. For the first time, a set of factors characterizing the FEC companies that influence the determination of professional competence of experts is proposed. The formed expert group presented more precise, objective and consistent results of risk assessment. Standards for free distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) and wash-off agents to 7,234 company employees for implementation and trial use were developed. A fragment of the results obtained for a driller's workplace is presented. This approach allows a significant increase in objectivity and efficiency of the professional risk management system and provision of the PPE to employees in the concept of a risk-oriented approach helping to prevent industrial injuries and improve the level of occupational safety culture in fuel and energy companies taking into account global practice.

The article is devoted to the problems of implementation of the WHO Global Polio Eradication Initiative. The influence of the features of poliovirus infection and poliovirus vaccines on the course of the program, its successes and difficulties is considered, the issue of possibility of eradication this infection is discussed.

Abstract Background Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health challenge, with 1.3 million deaths in 2022. Ten countries in the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA) accounted for 88.3% of TB cases, of which 23.8% were from Romania. Evidence shows that mental health issues, decreased quality of life and negative socio-economic impact are common among TB patients; however, there is limited evidence available in Romania. The main aim of this study is to longitudinally assess the quality of life, mental health, and socio-economic status of patients with drug-resistant TB (DR TB) in Romania. Methods A prospective cohort study was conducted at the Marius Nasta Institute of Pneumology in Bucharest, Romania, enrolling 50 participants with DR TB. Demographic data, clinical examinations, laboratory test and medical history were recorded at study start. At baseline (week two), month 10, and month 20 we also administered the Short-Form-36 and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale to assess health-related quality of life and mental health status, and socio-economic questionnaires to 46 participants. Results Of the 46 participants with median age of 48.9 years, 71.7% were males. Majority of the participants were employed at the baseline but due to the rigorous treatment and hospitalization had to take sick leave, thereby affecting the individual and household income. 26.1% and 39.3% of participants reported psychological distress at baseline and at the end of month 20, respectively. The quality-of-life scores improved during treatment: PCS with a mean of 67.0 (SD-33.9) at baseline, 63.3 (SD-31.9) at month 10 and 70.3 (SD-30.3) at month 20, and MCS with 62.8 (SD-30.6), 67.8 (SD-29) and 70.8 (SD-27.3), accordingly, but differences were not significant. Conclusions We examined the socio-economic impact, quality of life, and psychological distress among patients affected by DR TB in Romania. The results of this study suggest that social and psychological support will ensure a better standard of living during and following TB treatment.

Abstract Background Despite recent improvements in the overall health status of Nepal’s population, newborn morbidities and mortalities have remained a challenge. This study explores the situation and care strategies for newborn health problems in the Gandaki Province of Nepal. Methods This is a retrospective hospital records analysis. A structured questionnaire was employed to collect data on socio-demographic, clinical, and outcome variables in 1,355 newborns admitted to the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) between May 1, 2021, and April 30, 2022, in five hospitals within the Gandaki Province. Results Among all newborns, 60% were male, and 40% belonged to Janajati indigenous families. The mean age of mothers at the time of delivery was 24.4 years; the average birth weight of babies was 2.8 kg; and the gestational week was 38 weeks. Around 96% of births occurred in healthcare facilities. The average inpatient hospital stay was 4.7 days. The reasons for SNCU admission were newborn sepsis (51%), neonatal hyperbilirubinemia (23%), respiratory distress syndrome (18%), and low birth weight (11%). Approximately 7% of the newborns were found to have died due to various causes, including sepsis, asphyxia, and indirect medical reasons. Female newborns had a 0.45-times (CI: 0.23–0.84) lower risk of mortality compared to male newborns. Underweight newborns had 8.8 times (CI: 4.5–17.2) higher risk of death than newborns with a normal birth weight, even after adjusting for other factors like sex, delivery site, mode of delivery, mother’s age, respiratory distress syndrome, neonatal hyperbilirubinemia, neonatal sepsis, and age at admission to SNCU. The most common treatments included injectable antibiotics (73%), intravenous fluids (53%), oxygen delivery (39%), and phototherapy (36%), while 3% received “Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC)”. Conclusions The study showed that newborns suffered from multiple health complications such as sepsis, hyperbilirubinemia, or asphyxia, and many newborns received essential medical services from hospitals. Birth weight, sex of the newborn, and respiratory distress syndrome were significantly associated with neonatal mortality. Hospitals should focus on reinforcing KMC, neonatal resuscitation, and early infection control measures.

Reducing the must acidity is a critical task in fruit winemaking due to the need to create favorable conditions for the yeast development and the fermentation of sugars. Acid reduction methods used in traditional winemaking are not suitable for fruit must, since they do not effectively eliminate malic acid which is the main contributor to the fruit wines acidity. The study has examined the possibility of using the adsorption method to reduce the acidity of must obtained from Ussuri pear fruits (titratable acidity of 15.5–18.7 g/dm3) using specially prepared pine nut shells as a sorbent. The must was treated with pine nut shells in a static mode and with stirring; the treatment duration varied from 2 h to 10 days. The pine nut shells have good adsorption capacity for acids contained in pear must and can reduce their amount by 27 %. It has been experimentally established that the pine nut shells have low selectivity for technologically important components of the must and also sorb fermentable sugars and polyphenolic compounds, which may result in an undesirable decrease in the sugar-acid index (SAI) of the must. An increase in the degree of grinding the nut shells helps to increase its adsorption activity. Changing the must processing mode allows you to select conditions under which it is possible to achieve the recommended SAI values.

Controlling cholesterol levels and reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease requires the development of effective therapeutic strategies. In recent decades, dietary supplements (DSs) have gained attention as potential additions to conventional cholesterol management therapies, but their efficacy and safety are questionable. Accurate methods are required to evaluate the efficacy and safety of DSs. In the current study gas chromatography mass spectrometry was performed to analyze ten cholesterol-reducing DSs. The results showed that monacolin K/lovastatin was present in four samples. Moreover, using effective doses generally has minimal risks and lower incidence of adverse reactions and drug interactions. However, it must be taken into account the potential interaction of statins to induce myopathy and rhabdomyolizis. In order to prevent adverse effects, it is necessary to thoroughly evaluate and be careful when using DSs containing monacolin K.

Lepidium meyenii Walp. (Brassicaceae) is a plant native to the Andean region. It is also known as Maca and Peruvian ginseng and is considered to have been used in traditional medicine for more than 2000 years. Lepidium meyenii is regarded as a plant adaptogen. Nowadays, Maca root is used worldwide as a food, tonic, antioxidant, enhancer of fertility, etc. The main compounds in the underground part of the plant are glucosinolates, thiohydantoins, isothiocyanates, macamides, macaene, fatty acids, polysaccharides, alkaloids, fiber, lipids and proteins, which are responsible for various biological activities including antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities. The purpose of this review is to summarize the data of some in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies on the biological activity of Maca and to analyze the future perspectives for the inclusion of Maca into novel herbal medicines

The Banff classification is useful for diagnosing renal transplant rejection. However, it has limitations due to subjectivity and varying concordance in physicians' assessments. Artificial intelligence (AI) can help standardize research, increase objectivity and accurately quantify morphological characteristics, improving reproducibility in clinical practice. This study aims to develop an AI-based solutions for diagnosing acute kidney transplant rejection by introducing automated evaluation of prognostic morphological patterns. The proposed approach aims to help accurately distinguish borderline changes from rejection. We trained a deep-learning model utilizing a fine-tuned Mask R-CNN architecture which achieved a mean Average Precision value of 0.74 for the segmentation of renal tissue structures. A strong positive nonlinear correlation was found between the measured infiltration areas and fibrosis, indicating the model's potential for assessing these parameters in kidney biopsies. The ROC analysis showed a high predictive ability for distinguishing between ci and i scores based on infiltration area and fibrosis area measurements. The AI model demonstrated high precision in predicting clinical scores which makes it a promising AI assisting tool for pathologists. The application of AI in nephropathology has a potential for advancements, including automated morphometric evaluation, 3D histological models and faster processing to enhance diagnostic accuracy and efficiency.

Earthworms are one of the most important components of temperate ecosystems and groups of soil animals globally, but data on their distribution around the world are still incomplete and uneven. Northern Eurasia is a region for which available data on earthworm distribution is extremely poor. At the same time, generations of Soviet and Russian researchers have performed extensive research and accumulated a large amount of data on the distribution of earthworms in this vast region. Most of this information was published in Russian, not digitised and, therefore, hardly accessible to researchers. Our dataset fills this gap and provides occurrence data extracted from 159 literature sources in Russian published between 1868 and 2022. The dataset contains 5,304 occurrences of 109 species and 14 subspecies. The collected data cover the territory of 27 countries.The dataset extends the data available through GBIF.org on earthworm distribution in Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. For Transcaucasia and Central Asia countries, our resource has become the main GBIF source on earthworm diversity distribution. On a global scale, our dataset contributes to filling gaps in biodiversity, which facilitates more accurate estimates of the response of biodiversity to global climate change as well as the spreading of invasive species.

Objective: To develop and implement an effective method of placing and maintaining perineural catheters during an extended brachial plexus block (BPB) via a supraclavicular approach. This method was based on patient and medical personnel feedback and focused on comfort, efficiency, and convenience. Methods: : The research involved patients who had undergone surgery for fractures of the humerus and forearm bones and had received extended BPB via the supraclavicular approach. The patients were categorized into three groups based on the method of catheter fixation. The first group consisted of patients with catheter fixation in the supraclavicular region using an adhesive patch (n=31), the second group had catheter fixation using a Perifix® (B. Braun Melsungen AG, Germany), a catheter securement device (n=33), and the third group had the catheter fixed with a subcutaneous tunnel and loop (n=34). The study aimed to determine the most comfortable, effective, and convenient method of catheter fixation for extended BPB. Two questionnaires were used to assess this, one for the patients and the other for medical personnel. The scores from both questionnaires were combined, and a comparative analysis of the three fixation methods was conducted. Results: In the first group of patients, the level of comfort, efficiency, and convenience was evaluated as unsatisfactory (7.0 [7.0; 10.0]); in the second group, the assessment was deemed satisfactory (12.0 [11.0; 13.0]). However, in the third group of patients, the level of comfort, efficiency, and convenience was rated as optimal (16.0 [15.0; 17.0], p

Word stress is frequently afforded secondary importance in English teaching as stress placement rules are complex and because stress can be learnt along with each new word. However, training learners to pay more attention to word stress cues can support them in predicting the stress patterns of new vocabulary. Also, for speakers of fixed stress languages, perceiving and producing word stress can be more challenging, as they are accustomed to fixed stress patterns and weak acoustic stress cues. Moreover, even though L1 English speakers largely cue stress segmentally through vowel quality, speakers of languages which do not feature vowel reduction find it difficult to use this cue in stress perception and production. New methods such as High-Variability Phonetic Training (HVPT) and certain mobile learning tools have been found to benefit foreign language acquisition. These approaches have the potential to help learners master English word stress, yet most available tools focus on vowels and consonants rather than stress perception and production. This article, therefore, reviews methods for word stress teaching, both with and without technology, and presents a mock-up of a HVPT tool that focuses on both segmentals and suprasegmentals.

The relevance of the work is determined by the neccessity in: 1) studying the interaction of lexical and grammatical semantics in characterizing situations that have a common conceptual basis of movement (chronological and spatial); 2) studying non-central grammatical phenomena, their semantics largely depending on the linguistic environment; 3) creating a system of subcategorization of non-standard taxis situations. The aim of the work is to identify the range of simultaneity situations expressed with finite verbs and adverbial participles with the semantics of movement contrasted in non-causativeness / causativeness. The material was literary texts of the XX-XXI centuries from the main subcorpus of the Russian National Corpus. Utterances with noncausative verbs of movement and causative adverbial participles of movement were analyzed. The material under study is peculiar due to the fact that the meaning of simultaneity is determined by the interaction of the lexical meanings of non-causative verbs of movement and causative adverbial participles of movement and extralinguistic factors. The main research method is functional analysis based on the theory of categorical situations by A.V. Bondarko. As a result of the study, two main types of aspectual-taxis situations were identified: the simultaneity of movement processes and the simultaneity of integral facts of movement. The simultaneity of movement processes includes 3 situations: 1) simultaneity of movement processes in the middle fixed periods; 2) prospective simultaneity of movement processes; 3) retrospective simultaneity of movement processes. The simultaneity of integral facts of movement includes 2 situations: 1) simultaneity of the results of integral movement facts; 2) simultaneity of integral movement facts when the result of causative movement is not actualized. The prospects for the work are to continue studying the role of lexical semantics in Russian taxis constructions and to compare utterances with adverbial participles.

Introduction: Primary tumor resection can prevent future tumor-related complications in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer. This may influence the quality of life and prevent colostomies associated with the emergency surgery. Laparoscopic approach plays an important role in attempts to reduce perioperative complications in this specific group of patients. Purpose: The aim is to assess early perioperative results in a group of 17 patients with stage IV colorectal cancer—multiple incurable liver metastases and/or pulmonary/peritoneal metastases of the disease. On the other hand, postoperative complications may delay administration of chemotherapy and influence survival. Materials and methods: We analyze retrospectively the perioperative results in a group of 17 patients with laparoscopic palliative colorectal resections for stage IV colorectal cancer. Assessment includes perioperative complications, median hospital stay, perioperative blood loss, need for blood transfusion, operative time, and type of surgical procedure. Results: We performed totally laparoscopic 10 sigmoid resections, five left colectomies, and two right colectomies. Fourteen simultaneous liver biopsies were performed during laparoscopy. No perioperative deaths were registered. Perioperative mortality rate is 0%. Perioperative morbidity rate is 0%. No perioperative complications. The median perioperative stay is 5.3 days. Median blood loss is 47.9 mL. Overall, three units of blood were transfused. The median transfusion rate is 0.17 units per patient. The median operative time is 130.2 minutes. Conclusion: The laparoscopic approach is associated with very good perioperative results in patients with stage IV colorectal cancer and palliative resection of the primary tumor. Early hospital discharge and minimal operative trauma may not influence early administration of chemotherapy.

Abstract Cyanobacteria are most abundant in aquatic systems and can grow in freshwater, saline or brackish water, and cold/hot springs. Cyanobacteria have attracted considerable research attention in the last decade as a potential source of numerous biological products in large quantities, such as biofuels, pigments, polyunsaturated fatty acids, nutraceuticals, enzymes, and polysaccharides. Unlike most plant and fungal polysaccharides, the chemical composition, immunomodulatory activity, and molecular mechanisms of action of Cyanobacterium sp. Rippka B-1200 polysaccharides have been studied much less. The complexity of their primary structure due to the high variability of monosaccharides, their diverse bonds, the presence of substituents and high viscosity made detailed structural studies of cyanobacterial polysaccharides rare, which determines the need for analysis of cyanobacteria biomass components to identify active metabolites with promising biological activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory properties of polysaccharides from Cyanobacterium sp. Rippka B-1200. Pharmacological and nutraceutical value of Cyanobacterium sp. Rippka B-1200 has been set, defining our study’s scientific novelty. As a result, the molecular weight of immunoactive polysaccharide (6.0–8.0 kDa) was determined. The analysis shows that endopolysaccharide samples at a concentration of 300 mg/kg showed no significant immunomodulatory effect (1.60 ± 0.15 mg/g), and the thymus mass index of animals in the experimental group was comparable to that of the control group in which animals were immunosuppressed with cyclophosphamide (1.15 ± 0.24 mg/g). When exopolysaccharide samples were used at a concentration of 600 mg/kg, the thymus mass index of animals in the experimental group (3.60 ± 0.32 mg/g) was statistically comparable to that of the control group (without polysaccharide) in which immunosuppression was not induced (thymus index was 3.70 ± 0.25 mg/g). It was found that endopolysaccharide samples at a concentration of 600 mg/kg also exhibited high immunomodulatory activity. When Cyanobacterium sp. Rippka B-1200 endopolysaccharide samples were used, no internal organ changes were observed in experimental animals after immunosuppression. The empirical results presented in the study may find application in the development of both pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.

Abstract Background Demographic changes in Germany are increasing the number of outpatient care recipients, who often resort to emergency care due to difficulties accessing timely outpatient medical care. Previous studies suggest that early detection and telemedical interventions could reduce unnecessary hospitalizations. The new form of healthcare aims to provide continuous, flexible healthcare for outpatient care recipients using digital technologies to detect health deteriorations and facilitate interventions at home. The goal of our study is to evaluate, whether the number of emergency situations and hospital stays will be reduced, and health outcomes will be improved compared to standard care. Methods In this prospective non-randomized complex intervention study with a pragmatic approach, we aim to evaluate a new form of healthcare focused on establishing an interdisciplinary network for outpatient care in the homes of care-dependent individuals. Utilizing a digital interactive health diary, health data will be gathered from participants, caregivers, and healthcare providers, covering both stable primary care and acute situations. A telemedical network will coordinate measures, including non-medical aid, nursing care, and medical assistance. A total of 1,500 participants will be recruited for the intervention group, matched with a control group from health insurance data. A second control group with n=300 will provide self-reported measures. The study is planned to span eight quarters, with data collected from the digital interactive health diary and health insurance records. Evaluation perspectives include health insurance, patients, and healthcare providers, assessing utilization and costs compared to standard care, health status, health-related quality of life, care dependency, interdisciplinary cooperation, and usability of the new technology. Discussion Demographic change results in a larger older people population, exacerbating mobility issues and care dependency, worsened by the shortage of medical personnel. Stay@Home – Treat@Home aims to enable home health monitoring and care, reducing hospitalizations. The digital interactive health diary supports direct communication, allows remote monitoring, and empowers patients and caregivers to manage health changes. Nursing aid personnel and physicians can access entries for informed interventions. The development of the digital interactive health diary aims to improve the situation of care-dependent individuals. Evaluating its effectiveness and efficiency is crucial for the development and implementation of new technologies. Trial registration German Clinical Trials Register, ID: DRKS00034260, registered on May 14, 2024 (retrospectively registered): https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00034260 and https://who.int/clinical-trials-registry-platform/network/who-data-set .

Relevance. Mushroom farming has the potential to be a very profitable agribusiness venture that addresses several contemporary issues such as resource utilization, circular economy. Increasing mushroom production will increase its availability across the country, which will further help reduce food insecurity and also increase the income of small and marginal producers.Results. Mushrooms have enormous potential for medicinal and nutraceutical purposes. Over the past 20 years, global mushroom production has grown at a CAGR of 8.26%. This average annual growth rate is the highest for the Asian continent. Mainly six species of mushrooms dominate the global production and market, namely shiitake (26%), oyster mushroom (21%), black ear mushroom (21%), button mushroom (11%), flammulina (7%), straw mushroom (1%) and other types (13%). In the Russian Federation, industrial mushroom growing is actively developing. In recent years, 85 enterprises have been opened. The average annual growth rate of fresh mushroom production was 11.7%. Champignons and oyster mushrooms are mainly grown in Russia. Many obstacles faced by mushroom producers, including lack of technical knowledge, inadequate infrastructure, unorganized market, expensive inputs, etc., still need to be addressed through sufficient research and additional legislative solutions tailored to the requirements of Russian mushroom producers. Growing investments in smart automation to improve the efficiency and productivity of cultivated mushroom production involve advanced technologies such as robotics, artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT).

Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is associated with an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, pancreatitis developing, and all-cause mortality. The risk escalates with rising triglyceride levels and is most significant in extreme HTG (triglycerides above 10 mmol/L). According to epidemiological studies in the Russian Federation, the extreme HTG prevalence varies between 0.1-0.2% (affecting 146,000 to 292,000 Russians). Extreme HTG can be monogenic or polygenic (multifactorial), this determines the clinical course of the disease. Registries are among the most effective models for studying disease development, as they can compile information on clinical, laboratory, instrumental, and molecular data from patients with specific pathologies, and enable analysis of this data and the subsequent development and integration of improved diagnostic and treatment models into clinical practice. The establishment of a registry for extreme HTG will deepen our understanding of the hyperlipidemia nature, regional characteristics of its prevalence, and the phenotypic manifestation of the disease in our country. It will also facilitate the organized and standardized collection of patient information. Data obtained through registry monitoring will enhance diagnostic and monitoring approaches for patients with extreme HTG in practical healthcare settings. The purpose is to present current information on the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of patients with extreme HTG, and to announce the creation of the Russian Extreme hypertriGlyceridemia reGIstry (REGGI).