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It is our real pain to write this article, remembering years of friendship and scientific collaboration with Stefan Sokołowski, who passed away on the 24th of June 2024. He was a strong man in his faith and convictions, a kind and helpful friend, attentive and open-minded in discussions, creative, profound and sophisticated in understanding the flow of life and science. He left an unforgettable mark on our hearts and personal memories. His way of thinking left an imprint on students, young scientists and co-workers. We accompany all that with warm farewell applause as an appreciation of Stefan’s way and effects throughout his life.

The main purpose of the article is to develop a multifactorial model for rapid assessment of the efficiency of biological wastewater treatment reactors. A mathematical model of the process of biological wastewater treatment has been developed based on: changes in the concentration of organic contaminants in the bioreactor over time, taking into account the uneven flow of wastewater to the treatment plant, the process of substrate entering the bioreactor (different amounts may enter at different times). The software implementation of the proposed algorithm for solving the corresponding model problem in Python is carried out. The results of computer experiments on the study of the efficiency of wastewater treatment in biological treatment reactors for different operating conditions of facilities are presented. In particular, such processes were considered with taking into account the unevenness of the load, because the maximum cleaning loads are in the morning and in the evening. The task was solved to simulate a real situation and show how cleaning takes place at the maximum load at a certain time of the day. The results obtained will be useful for calculations in the design of biological treatment facilities or in the reconstruction of existing bioreactors for their prospective operation under new operating conditions.

Background. Viral infections trigger transcription factors, including Nrf2, which regulate the expression of genes related to cytokines, chemokines, and more. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) participates in complex regulatory networks controlling the expression of cytoprotective genes and immune responses. Recently, new roles have been attributed to Nrf2, including the regulation of antiviral responses. Objective. The aim of the study was to analyze Nrf2 activation in influenza virus infection in vivo and in transmissible gastroenteritis coronavirus (TGEV) infection in vitro, as well as the effects of the flavonoid compositions Proteflazidum® and Protoil on the Nrf2 expression in these two experimental models of viral infection. Methods. Outbred white mice were infected with influenza A virus (A/FM/1/47/H1N1 strain). Jurkat cells were infected with TGEV, previously adapted to these cells. Flavonoid compositions Proteflazidum® and Protoil (Ecopharm, Ukraine), containing the mixture of tricin, luteolin, apigenin, quercetin, and rhamnosin, were used in corresponding dilutions. Real-Time PCR was employed to analyze Nrf2 RNA expression in the lungs of mice and in both uninfected and virus-infected cells. Additionally, ELISA was used to assess the expression of Nrf2 peptide. Results. The Nrf2 expression in the lungs of influenza virus-infected mice showed a tendency to increase within a 100-fold range. In virus-infected mice treated with Proteflazidum® or Protoil, the level of Nrf2 expression in the lungs decreased about 10-fold compared to infected untreated mice. TGEV infection resulted in 100-fold increase in Nrf2 expression in Jurkat cells. Both Proteflazidum® and Protoil decreased Nrf2 expression in TGEV-infected cells, while their effects on Nrf2 expression in the intact cells on Day 1 were not detected. Conclusions. Flavonoid compositions have only a slight effect on Nrf2 expression in intact cells. However, in case of virus infection, both in vivo and in vitro, they counteract the extensive up-regulation of Nrf2 expression due to viral infection.

To date, the treatment of patients with COVID-19, which caused an unprecedented pandemic in 2019–2023, remains difficult. Military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine during conscription, when returning from business trips and vacations (especially those who are in the incubation period or are asymptomatic) can bring COVID-19 into the unit and cause an outbreak of the disease. The purpose of the work was to conduct an analysis of the existing models of the functioning of insurance medicine in some countries in the world and in Ukraine for their further possible application in the system of medical support of the Armed Forces; factors and conditions affecting the course of the disease on COVID-19 were additionally studied. The main preventive measures against the spread of COVID-19 among military personnel are compliance with sanitary standards, control of disease symptoms and timely vaccination or revaccination. In the treatment of patients with COVID-19, depending on the conditions of stay and the severity of the disease, the following groups of drugs are used: analgesics and antipyretics, rehydration, antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal, low molecular weight heparins, systemic corticosteroids and vitamins, which military personnel receive free of charge. The creation of an effective system of insurance medicine in Ukraine should provide for the possibility for servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to receive medical care in any health care facility, regardless of departmental subordination, by creating an electronic medical card of a serviceman, which will be included in the electronic health care system of Ukraine. The conducted studies make it possible to draw a conclusion about the need for improvement and further development of the scientific and practical foundations of systematic research in the military medical service of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, improving the quality and efficiency of medical support for servicemen, introducing modern approaches and methods of making sound management decisions on issues of protection and prevention of proliferation COVID-19.

The formation of waviness on the working surfaces of bearing parts is associated with fluctuations in the size of the cut layer of metal and changes in the components of the cutting force. Laplace operators were used to model the centerless grinding system based on the construction of the transfer function and the characteristic equation. It was found that the formation of waviness depends on the position of the hodograph of the movement of the vector of the center of the part in the complex plane, which in turn depends on the geometric parameters of the rigid supports of the centerless grinder machine. This makes it possible, based on hodographs and the angular orientation of their asymptotes, to determine the geometric stability of the process depending on the angles of adjustment of the rigid supports of the grinder machine. Two methodological approaches were used to confirm the correctness of the hypotheses. The first one is a multiplication of wave’s hodographs. The second one is regeneration displacement and the coincidence of the combined hodograph of regeneration and waviness displacement mechanisms with the hodograph of infinitely rigid machine displacement. The diagrams which allow choosing geometry of adjustment of rigid support that allows to increase or decrease parameters of certain harmonics are developed. The 3D diagram allows setting the local minima, characterized by acceptable geometric adjustment conditions, providing regulated waviness of the working surfaces of bearing parts.

Despite the fact that specific prophylaxis agents have already been widely introduced into medical practice in all countries of the world, and antiviral drugs are being developed and are undergoing the first stages of clinical trials, SARS-CoV-2 continues to spread in the human population. In this regard, an urgent medical problem today is the expansion of the arsenal of effective disinfectants and antiseptics, the action of which would be aimed at the rapid and complete inactivation of extracellular coronavirus, which is a very important element in controlling the spread of COVID-19. The aim of the study was to evaluate the ability of decamethoxin to have a virucidal effect against SARS-COV-2 and other human coronaviruses on the model of respiratory coronavirus IBV (infectious bronchitis virus) with an exposure time of 30, 60 and 120 seconds. Classical and modern virological research methods were used in the work: determination of the cytotoxic effect of decamethoxin in cell culture by the effect on their viability, cultivation, accumulation and determination of the infectious titer of IBV by cytopathic action in cell culture; assessment of the virucidal effect of decamethoxin by the suspension method to determine the residual infectious titer of the virus in cell culture by the method of limiting dilutions. The effectiveness of the antiseptic decamethoxin from the group of quaternary ammonium compounds was studied in relation to the prototype strain of the IBV (infection bronchitis virus) coronavirus family in vitro. It has been established that an isotonic solution of decamethoxin at a concentration of 100 μg/ml completely inactivates 3.0 lg(TCD50/0.1 ml) of the prototype respiratory coronavirus strain with a clinically significant contact time of 30–120 seconds at room temperature(18–24 оС). Decamethoxine has been shown to be an effective, fast-acting antiseptic capable of completely inactivating a prototype coronavirus strain. The revealed virucidal properties of decamethoxine in pharmacopoeially significant concentrations in relation to coronavirus allow to recommend it as an antiseptic in the development of methods for non-specific prevention of coronavirus infection in humans.

This brief essay commemorates Karl Heinzinger, one of the pioneers in the field of computer modelling of fluid systems, particularly of water and aqueous electrolyte solutions in the bulk phase and near interfaces. Karl Heinzinger died peacefully on January 14, 2023, after a short illness. We express our deepest condolences to his family, colleagues, and friends.

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The research reveals the main reasons that prevent the extension of commercial apricot plantations in Ukraine and worldwide. This brief description includes eight cultivars from Ukrainian and foreign breeding programmes. The trials conducted in the Right-Bank subzone of the Western Forest Steppe of Ukraine. The plants from Ukrainian breeding programme 'Melitopolskyi Ranni?', 'Botsadivskyi', 'Siaivo', 'Kumir', 'Osoblyvyi Denysiuka', as well as the foreign one - 'Robada', 'Harogem', 'HJA-19', were distinguished by high adaptability to the complex of adverse overwintering factors in the above-mentioned region. These samples did not lose the acquired level of frost resistance under the influence of provoking thaws. A comprehensive assessment of drought resistance, based on water-holding capacity, turgor recovery degree, water deficiency, and leaves' hydration of the presented varieties, established that all variants of the experiment were not inferior to the best popular cultivars. According to the the biological feature of buds' formation at an early age, the cultivars 'Robada' and 'HJA-19' were characterized as early-fruiting. The yield and quality indicators for the 2021-2022 years of research were evaluated. Average fruit weight was noted in all samples, with the cultivar 'Siaivo' exceeding the average. To improve the assortment and enrich the apricot gene pool collections with the best samples suitable for cultivation in the Forest-Steppe Zone of Ukraine, according to the results of the study, the following researched cultivars were included in the collection of valuable samples of the common apricot gene pool of the Institute of Horticulture of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine: 'Melitopolskyi Ranni?,' 'Botsadivskyi,' 'Siaivo,' and 'Osoblyvyi Denysiuka'. These cultivars are sources of productivity and adaptability to abiotic factors of cultivation (winter and frost resistance, drought resistance). They are certified by the National Center of Plant Genetic Resources of Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of the article is to develop a multifactorial model for rapid assessment of the efficiency of biological wastewater treatment reactors. A mathematical model of the process of biological wastewater treatment has been developed based on: changes in the concentration of organic contaminants in the bioreactor over time, taking into account the uneven flow of wastewater to the treatment plant, the process of substrate entering the bioreactor (different amounts may enter at different times). The software implementation of the proposed algorithm for solving the corresponding model problem in Python is carried out. The results of computer experiments on the study of the efficiency of wastewater treatment in biological treatment reactors for different operating conditions of facilities are presented. In particular, such processes were considered with taking into account the unevenness of the load, because the maximum cleaning loads are in the morning and in the evening. The task was solved to simulate a real situation and show how cleaning takes place at the maximum load at a certain time of the day. The results obtained will be useful for calculations in the design of biological treatment facilities or in the reconstruction of existing bioreactors for their prospective operation under new operating conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The present study reports the first isolation and whole-genome sequencing of a Trueperella abortisuis bacterium from a goat., Animals and Sample: The T. abortisuis was isolated from the uterus of a goat following an abortion., Procedure: The T. abortisuis was identified by pure culture phenotype and MALDI-TOF analysis and further characterized by whole-genome sequencing., Results: This isolate was reliably identified as T. abortisuis and showed similar properties to type strain T. abortisuis DSM 19515 T , which was recovered from a sow following an abortion. The assembled genome of this isolate was 2 564 866 bp long with a GC content of 63.9%. A total of 30 virulence-related genes were determined, suggesting the pathogenic potential of this organism., Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: This study details the first isolation of T. abortisuis from goats. The genotypic findings of this isolate will serve as a baseline description for any similar future studies., (Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.)

This study compared changes in prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Mannheimia haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida , and Histophilus somni in feedlot calves derived from the auction market (AUCT; n = 299) and from a single-ranch source (RANCH; n = 300). In the AUCT calves, the prevalence of Mannheimia haemolytica decreased, whereas Histophilus somni increased over the feeding period. The AUCT calves showed an increase in isolates not susceptible to tulathromycin for all bovine respiratory disease (BRD) pathogens, an increase in Pasteurella multocida and Histophilus somni isolates not susceptible to oxytetracycline, and an increase in Pasteurella multocida isolates not susceptible to florfenicol. In the RANCH calves, the prevalence of all 3 BRD pathogens was high at feedlot entry and decreased significantly during the study period. In RANCH calves, there was a significant increase in Pasteurella multocida isolates not susceptible to oxytetracycline, tulathromycin, and florfenicol. Surprisingly, there was a significant decrease in Mannheimia haemolytica isolates that were not susceptible to oxytetracycline, tilmicosin, and tulathromycin., (Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.)