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OBJECTIVE: Internally displaced persons (IDPs) can have limited access to HIV and hepatitis C Virus (HCV) treatment and prevention. IDPs comprise > 7% of Georgian population but prevalence and levels of HIV and HCV knowledge in this population remain unknown. We tested 100 IDPs in Georgia for HIV and HCV, many of whom had drug injecting experience, and interviewed them about their migration experience, sexual and drug injecting practices, and HIV/HCV transmission knowledge. RESULTS: The average age of participants was 37.5 years (range 18-63); 31% were women. Almost half (N = 48) of participants reported ever injecting drugs; 17% of those (N = 8) started injecting drugs within the last year. Anti-HCV and HIV prevalence was 11% and 0%, respectively. Fewer people without drug use experience compared to people who inject drugs correctly answered all questions on the HIV knowledge test (13% vs. 35%, p = 0.015) or knew where to get tested for HIV (67% vs 98%, p

The regional aspect of language education plays a significant role in the development of sociocultural students’ competence. The implementation of the regional component in university education is rarely considered, the issues of determining its content and role in the development of student competencies are not sufficiently developed. The way linguistic disciplines are currently taught in universities is undergoing a qualitative change, helping it meet the requirements of educational modernization, while the content and teaching methods are updated, and a competency-based approach to professional training is developed. The sociocultural competence occupies an important position together with the development of linguistic competence of students. The article presents the project results “Teaching the German language with the regional material” for the students of “45.03.01 Philology: Foreign philology (German language and literature)”. A preliminary survey showed that 76 % of students from 52 respondents were interested in studying regional material in the foreign language. The results discovered that our pedagogical approach increased the level of regional sociocultural competence of students, which contributed to the development of students' competency in the dialogue of cultures.

The problem of finding H∞-regulators in the output control problem is considered. Two approaches for approximate synthesis of the closed loop systems are proposed. The paper considers the problem of finding the H-infinity control of a nonlinear continuous dynamical system output. The system is linear in control and perturbation, with a finite time of the system operation. Methods for finding H-infinity control are used to solve problems of synthesis of controllers, particularly for solving the problem of synthesis of controllers in conditions of incomplete state information. In such problems, it is difficult to find the structure of the regulator and its parameters. Sufficient H∞-control conditions are formulated and proved. Two approximate methods for finding the H-infinity controller of closed loop nonlinear continuous systems were proposed. To illustrate the application of the methods, the problem of stabilization of the ZD559-Lynx helicopter, whose flight takes place during the imposed time period of the system operation, was considered.

How seemingly natural public space generated by the TV, is really natural? The author states that the real public space is almost entirely supplanted by a virtual public space – in particular, television: with extras instead of society and professional speakers. It seems that these are the «new frontiers», which, having replaced the old ones, replaced the model of public space with quasimodel, being translated now by Russian TV channels of the extremely involving media. Насколько, казалось бы, естественное публичное пространство, порождаемое ТВ, на самом деле естественно? Автор констатирует, что реальное публичное пространство практически вытеснено виртуальным публичным пространством – в частности, телевизионным: со статистами вместо общества, с профессиональными выступающими. Представляется, что это такие «новые границы», которые, заменив старые, подменили модель публичного пространства на квазимодель, которая и транслируется теперь с экранов российского ТВ – чрезвычайно вовлекающего СМИ.

This IRB-approved qualitative case study was grounded in Vygotsky's (1978; 1987) socio-cultural constructivism theory and New London Group (1996) postulates of multiliteracies. The participants in this project were 12 domestic and international polylingual English as an Additional Language students at a public university in one of the north-eastern states in the United States of America. The data was collected via site and participant observations, analytical notes and memos, surveys, audio-recorded and transcribed interviews, and artifacts in the forms of the reading comprehension tests to two different texts. One of the texts was supported by an audio recording, another one had a video support with the sound track. All the data was coded using Saldaña's (2012) thematic and value coding and triangulated in the process of analysis. The findings of this study indicated that all 12 research participants strongly relied on the means of multimodality while reading the texts and working with the comprehension test questions. All participants in this study found video mode as most helpful to them, followed by the auditory one in the process of their meaning making of the text, which they found complex. Major implication of this study is that multimodality needs to be embedded in the higher education curriculums in order to assist students, including but not limited to the polylingual EAL leaners with reading and meaning making.

Abstract Tongue cancer at a young age demonstrates an increase in incidence, aggressiveness, and poor response to therapy. Classic etiological factors for head and neck tumors such as tobacco, alcohol, and human papillomavirus are not related to early-onset tongue cancer. Mechanisms of development and progression of this cancer remain unclear. In this study, we performed spatial whole-transcriptome profiling of tongue cancer in young adults compared with older patients. Nine patients with tongue squamous cell carcinoma (T2-3N0-1M0) were included and divided into two groups: younger (n = 5) and older than 45 years (n = 4). Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) and fresh frozen (FF) samples of tumor tissue from 4 young and 5 older patients, respectively, were used for spatial transcriptomic profiling using the 10 × Genomics Visium. The findings were validated using SeekGene single cell full-length RNA sequencing (1 young vs 1 older patient) and TCGA data (15 young vs 70 older patients). As a result, we performed the first successful integration of spatial transcriptomics data from FF and FFPE samples and revealed distinctive features of tongue cancer in young adults. Oxidative stress, vascular mimicry, and MAPK and JAK-STAT pathways were enriched in early-onset tongue cancer. Tumor microenvironment demonstrated increased gene signatures corresponding to myeloid-derived suppressor cells, tumor-associated macrophages, and plasma cells. The invasive front was accompanied by vascular mimicry with arrangement of tumor-associated macrophages and aggregations of plasma cells and lymphocytes organized into tertiary lymphoid structures. Taken together, these results indicate that early-onset tongue cancer has distinct transcriptomic features and molecular mechanisms compared to older patients.

Background. The acne is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that affects all age groups of the population and has a serious impact on the quality of life of patients. Various endogenous and exogenous factors are involved in the pathogenesis of dermatosis. The increasing of usage of digital media and the Internet has an impact on people's sleep habits and, with changes in sleep quality, symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress may increase, which leads to a more severe course of chronic dermatoses, including acne. Aim. To evaluate the relationship between somnological disorders (SLD) and the frequency of smartphone use before bedtime in patients with mild to moderate acne (MMA). Materials and methods. A single-center observational prospective study was conducted from 2023 to 2024: 130 patients aged 18 to 30 years (average age 23.32±2.75 years) diagnosed with MMA were observed. The data on the severity of acne were assessed using the Global Acne Grading System (GAGS), the degree of sleep disturbance was determined using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and the quality of life of patients was determined according to the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI). Taking into account indicators on the use of a smartphone with the iOS or Android operating system included calculating average screen time, assessing addiction and the fact of using a smartphone 1 hour before bedtime. The statistical processing was carried out using the Jamovi version 2.3.21 program. Results. The SLD were identified in 85 (65.38%) patients with MMA. The dermatosis had a strong impact on quality of life (DLQI20) in 82.31% (n=107). In group I of patients "poor sleeping" there was a direct correlation between SLD (PSQI) and the severity of dermatosis (ρ=0.533; p0.001) and the duration of screen time (ρ=0.628; p0.001) spent on a smartphone per day. The patients of group I had a greater dependence on a smartphone compared to group II of patients "well sleeping": 15.94±1.89 points versus 7.71±1.96 points (p0.001). Conclusion. It has been established that the level of SLD has a high incidence in the group of patients with MMA. There is a pronounced correlation between dyssomnia and the severity of dermatosis; in patients with disturbed sleep, a high dependence on the phone and a correlation with the duration of screen time spent on a smartphone per day were revealed. This study demonstrates the need to pay attention to the presence of disturbances in the quality of sleep in people suffering from skin diseases, in particular acne.

Abstract Objective Internally displaced persons (IDPs) can have limited access to HIV and hepatitis C Virus (HCV) treatment and prevention. IDPs comprise > 7% of Georgian population but prevalence and levels of HIV and HCV knowledge in this population remain unknown. We tested 100 IDPs in Georgia for HIV and HCV, many of whom had drug injecting experience, and interviewed them about their migration experience, sexual and drug injecting practices, and HIV/HCV transmission knowledge. Results The average age of participants was 37.5 years (range 18–63); 31% were women. Almost half (N = 48) of participants reported ever injecting drugs; 17% of those (N = 8) started injecting drugs within the last year. Anti-HCV and HIV prevalence was 11% and 0%, respectively. Fewer people without drug use experience compared to people who inject drugs correctly answered all questions on the HIV knowledge test (13% vs. 35%, p = 0.015) or knew where to get tested for HIV (67% vs 98%, p

The authors considered a methodology for the automated design of cylindrical broach structures consisting of the following stages: forming a 3D-parametric geometrical broach image, assessing a broach structure stress-strain state during operation. The paper presents the results of software implementation of the algorithm for forming a broach structure parametric model from 3D-geometrical prototypes in the system Solidworks. To assess a stress-strain state of tools with the numerical method of finite elements in Solidworks Simulation, the authors formed an analytical design model taking into account strain of geometric prototypes. A series of numerical experiments was aimed at researching a stress-strain state of broach teeth under cutting forces action. According to the results of numerical experiments, by means of the least square method the authors obtained analytical expressions to estimate the influence of geometrical and design parameters of the broach teeth structure on elastic displacements of cutting edges vertice and equivalent stresses of the most loaded teeth components. The authors developed recommendations on the change of the teeth section parameters allowing for the extension of the broach structure operation life and reducing the tool life consumption for the batch of parts.

The paper analyses the value mindsets of pre-service teachers in terms of the digital learning environment (DLE). DLE is considered to be both a system of new tools and methods for teaching activity and a prospective educational eco-system for learning. The DLE value model is based on a psychodidactic approach, which concerns three main constructs--digital content values, communication values, and management values. The research involved 200 pre-service teachers who were asked to complete a questionnaire, evaluating 27 DLE values and opportunities. The results show that pre-service teachers value digital learning content but are not sufficiently ready for its creation; they develop tolerance in communication yet do not have enough skills to show empathy; they appreciate independence in learning management and still need training in professional digital self-presentation. Consequently, professional training and especially internships for pre-service teachers should include a synthesis of traditional (face-to-face) and virtual communication and interaction with children to facilitate mastering an expanded set of competencies for successful professional self-realisation. The findings can be beneficial in terms of e-learning practices, DLE design, and the organisation of internships.

The paper reports on the materials of the settlement of Tal I located on the Endyr River, left tributary of the Ob River. Remains of two medieval dwellings, which appeared at different times, have been discovered at the settlement, and also data have been obtained on episodical visits to this place in the Early Iron Age. The burnedout dwellings overlapped each other but they had common features: they were lit and heated by open hearths, whilst the bases of the walls were strengthened with split blocks, of which the grooves have preserved along the perimeter of the pits. The main collection of finds is associated with the early dwelling, which dates to the Kintus stage of the Middle Ages (late 11th — 12th c.). To this time belongs the pottery of the Kintus period (Rachyevo type), cult ceramic piece of plastic arts, crucibles and smelting ladles for working with non-ferrous metals, some items made of iron and non-ferrous metals, animal bones, and other artefacts. To the Medieval period also belong iron slags and clay coating of bloomery furnaces, indicating work of loop-blacksmiths. Therefore, there is no basis for classifying the studied settlement as one of seasonal hunting-fishing sites. The settlement of Tal I was incorporated in a medieval principality (chiefdom) with the centre in the town of Emder (Western Siberia, Lower Ob River basin). From the written sources, it is known that it lost its independence by the end of the 16th century, before the territory was annexed by the Muscovite state, becoming part of the Koda principality as the tributary Emdyrskaya Volost.

The development of an organization operating in the field of high technologies must take into account modern approaches and methods for the formation and development of management personnel. This is true for both small businesses and large companies, especially those that produce complex products or operate in high-tech businesses. In such conditions, where there is high competition and strict requirements for management and organization of activities, the desire for continuous development and technological improvement is especially important. This article defines the main methods for managing the formation and development of IT management personnel in companies.

At the 15th Congress of Anthropologists and Ethnologists of Russia, held in St. Petersburg at the end of June 2023, special attention was paid to the discussion of topical theoretical and practical problems related to scientific reflections and social practices of the institute of mentoring in the cultures of the Rus-sian North. The report presented by the authors of this article at the Congress outlined the scientific results of research on the traditional institution of mentoring in the Old Believer societies of Karelians, Komi, Russian Ust-Tsilems, the “institute of grandmothers” in Kenozerye and Onega Pomorie, the ritual “mentoring” functions of Nenets shamans and Zyryan sorcerers, public practices of the spiritual guidance of the laity in the parochial community of the North Russian mir-zemstvo. The central place in the article is given to the presentation of the scientific results of the analysis of the forms, methods and directions of the mentoring activities of the Kenozerskiy National Park, which, relying on the ethno-cultural heritage of the traditional societies of the Ozernyy district, acts as a reference methodological school-laboratory, implementing a wide range of mentoring research and educational practices aimed at transformation of local territories into a socio-cultural space of creative dialogue and cooperation between the Park and local communities, training of leaders and activists of territorial public self-government (TPS), elaboration of regional strategy and local programs of spatial development of the Northern macro-region.

Introduction. An increasing number of patients of reproductive age get cancer and are highly interested in preserving fertility. Survival rates for cancer patients are improving. Methods of reproductive technologies are being improved to preserve the ability to bear children. Rehabilitation aimed to ensure a satisfactory quality of life takes on a new meaning, and with the development of new technologies, the level of possible assistance also changes. Today, rehabilitation measures for cancer patients of reproductive age should undoubtedly include all possible ways to preserve and restore fertility. Aim: preservation of fertility in patients with ovarian tumors. Material and Methods. After ovariectomy, the ovaries were transported to the embryology laboratory, where oocyte-cumulus complexes were extracted and subsequently matured using the OTO-IVM (ovarian tissue oocyte in vitro maturation) method. The resulting mature oocytes (Metaphase II) were cryopreserved by vitrification or, if a partner was available, fertilized by ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection), the embryos were cultured to the blastocyst stage and also cryopreserved by vitrification. Cryopreserved oocytes and embryos can be used by patients after cancer treatment in assisted reproductive technology programs. Results. A total of 218 OCCs were recovered, 29.8 % were degraded oocytes (n=65). The proportion of OCC suitable for ripening was 153 (70.2 %). After 36 or 48 hours, 65 oocytes matured in 13 patients, which amounted to 42.5 % of oocytes without signs of degradation. In 11 patients the OCC was removed from the tumor-affected ovary. 149 oocytes were obtained, of which 50 (33.6 %) were oocytes with signs of degradation. The remaining 99 (66.4 %) of OCCs had satisfactory quality; after maturation, the Metaphase II stage reached in 49 (49.5 %) of oocytes. As a result, biological material was cryopreserved in 13 of 15 patients: 5 embryos and 60 oocytes.

Increasing evidence suggests that the gut microbiota, through the “microbiota–gut–brain axis”, can regulate anxiety, mood, and cognitive abilities such as memory and learning processes. Consistently with this, treatments altering the gut microbiota, such as antibiotics and probiotics, may influence brain function and impact behavior. The mechanisms that underlie the interplay between the intestinal microbiota and the brain have been intensively studied. We aimed to investigate the effects of two probiotic lactobacilli strains, Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus 12L and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 8PA3, on behavioral disorders in mice induced by a two-week parenteral treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics. On completion of the treatment, the mice were subjected to behavioral tests, including the open field test (OFT), novel object recognition test (ORT), and T-maze test. Antibiotic-treated mice demonstrated anxiety-related behavior, decreased cognition, and retarded exploratory activity that were ameliorated by the administration of probiotics. As was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), both tested strains produced serotonin and its metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), as well as dopamine, which was further metabolized into norepinephrine by L. plantarum 8PA3 and epinephrine by L. rhamnosus 12L. Moreover, these lactobacilli were found to harbor catecholamines and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in their biomass when grown on MRS broth. Additionally, L. plantarum 8PA3 and L. rhamnosus 12L were able to impact oxidative stress via H2O2 production and antioxidant activity, as determined in this study by the ferrous oxidation–xylenol orange (FOX) assay and the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay, respectively. The results obtained in this study support the role of probiotics as a promising therapeutic for neurological disorders. However, more investigations are required to confirm the clinical significance of this finding.

The diversity of clinical forms of amyloidosis is related to differences in amyloidogenic precursor proteins. Cardiac involvement is characteristic of AL- and ATTR-amyloidosis, with cardiac involvement developing in the vast majority of patients with AL-amyloidosis and in 50-60 % of patients with ATTR-amyloidosis. ATTR- (transthyretin) amyloidosis is one of the types of systemic amyloidosis, the precursor protein of which is transthyretin in the presence of mutations in its molecule (familial forms) or age-related disorders of its tetrameric secretion. Until recently, it was believed that transthyretin amyloidosis did not occur in Russia. However, the introduction of molecular genetic diagnostic methods for transthyretin mutations has demonstrated the occurrence of ATTR amyloidosis in Russia with a frequency close to the European average for non-endemic areas. The article presents the case report of systemic amyloidosis in a middle-aged woman. The disease presented at the age of 54 years with carpal tunnel syndrome. Subsequently, chronic heart failure refractory to treatment became the dominant manifestation of the disease. Heterogeneity of structure and significant myocardial thickening with preserved ejection fraction detected in dynamics in combination with new symptoms (diarrhea, orthostatic arterial hypotension, periorbital purpura, proteinuria) were considered as an infiltrative heart lesion within the framework of systemic amyloidosis. The result was a fatal asystole. Autopsy findings confirmed the diagnosis of systemic amyloidosis. The article discusses the issues of differential diagnosis of AL- and ATTR- amyloidosis based on the analysis of anamnestic and clinical data. The onset of the disease with carpal tunnel syndrome, the progressive distal neuropathy combined with autonomic dysfunction, the dominant cardiac involvement, the absence of renal amyloidosis according to autopsy data, and the duration of the disease from the time of clinical manifestation to death of 43 months are more indicative of ATTR amyloidosis. The article also discusses modern approaches to diagnostics of amyloid heart lesion in clinical practice, points out the difficulties arising in this case, emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis, which allows to realize the possibilities of modern methods of amyloidosis treatment.

Cognitive studies in linguistics have gained a significant role for understanding the interconnection between language and thinking. Cognitive modeling has proved to be an effective means for analyzing different discourse types. The analysis of English educational discourse presents an important field of research due to the status of the English language as a global international means of communication. Material of the study includes mini-format texts from English textbooks of A1–A2 levels «English Unlimited». The aim of the article is to reveal the language means for «Setting and Scene» component representation in the linguo-cognitive models of educational mini-format texts for reading. The method applied is the Hymes model when the author represents a situation with the help of a full set of situation model components. «Setting and Scene» component comprises spatial and temporal background of the situational linguo-cognitive models. The study has revealed that the most frequented language means of «Setting and Scene» component representation are toponyms, nouns with locative meaning, attributive phrases. The study found that toponyms convey extra-linguistic information significant for expressing the international role of the English language. The temporal background of linguo-cognitive models is expressed with temporal adverbs, numerals indicating exact time, and prepositional phrases denoting parts of the day. The analysis of linguistic means leads to the conclusion that the authors of the textbooks focus students’ attention on this constituent due to the importance of spatial and temporal aspects of mini-format text linguo-cognitive models. The results of the study can be applied to further investigation of English educational discourse, can be used in the development of English educational and methodological materials for students of English.

Monoclonal antibodies are widely used in all fields of biology and medicine. The emergence and development of the technology for their production revolutionized immunology and allowed the creation of not only new diagnostic methods, but also many effective drugs. The purpose of our review is to analyze and summarize relevant data concerning the technology of obtaining monoclonal antibodies. We have analyzed information from 70 modern literary sources devoted to various methods of obtaining them. In this review, we tried to cover the entire range of methods used to obtain monoclonal antibodies today.

An important virulence factor in the pathogenesis of infections caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa is flagellin: it serves as the main structural component of the bacterial flagellum and an acceptor for the TLR5 receptor of the innate immune system. Toll-like receptor 5 is able to bind bacterial flagellin and activate the anti-inflammatory transcription factor NF-kB through the adapter protein MyD88, which induces the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. The inclusion of flagellin in recombinant proteins increased the ability to stimulate the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines and activate antigen-presenting cells. A number of experiments have shown that the use of flagellin as a molecular adjuvant in vaccines increases the expression of CD80, CD83, CD86 and MHC II molecules on the surface of dendritic cells, and also leads to an increase in the secretion of IFNγ and α-defensins by dendritic and NK cells; T cell proliferation and activation of antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes, as well as increased induction of antigen-specific IgG and IgA antibodies. Due to the natural and acquired resistance of P. aeruginosa to antibiotics, the available choice of antipseudomonas drugs is decreasing, and therefore the problem of developing effective therapeutic drugs to protect against this infection is of high medical and social importance. For this purpose, it seems promising to study the immunobiological properties of P. aeruginosa flagellin as a possible vaccine component. Based on this, in the Laboratory of Protective Antigens of the I. Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera, recombinant flagellin C (FliC) of P. aeruginosa was obtained, and its immunogenicity and protective properties were proven. However, the question of standardizing methods for screening and monitoring the resulting recombinant FliC protein remains open. To solve this issue, hybridomas producing monoclonal antibodies (mAb) of a given specificity were obtained, the basic immunochemical properties of mAbs were studied, and the possibility of using them as reagents in constructing a test system for identifying and standardizing the recombinant FliC protein upon its production was assessed. Purpose of the work: to obtain monoclonal antibodies to the recombinant flagellin C protein of P. aeruginosa; to study their basic immunochemical properties and to evaluate the possibility of using the recombinant FliC protein for screening and control.

Aim. Evaluation in real clinical practice of the effectiveness and safety of levilimab therapy in patients with highly and moderately active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Materials and methods. A prospective observational study (6 months) involving 35 patients with RA (29 women and 6 men, mean age 53.17±13.2 years) who were treated at the Ochapovsky Regional Clinic Hospital of Krasnodar Region. All patients included in the study were prescribed the drug levilimab (Ilsira). Results. After 1 month of observation, there was a decrease in the clinical and laboratory activity of the process in the form of a decrease in the number of painful joints – 17.0 (14.0; 20.0) vs 8.0 (6.0; 10.0); p=0.000001, number of swollen joints – 3.0 (2.0; 4.0) vs 0.0 (0.0; 0.0); p=0.000002, reduction in pain intensity according to visual analog scale – 60.0 (60.0; 70.0) mm vs 30.0 (20.0; 40.0) mm (p=0.000001). Also, by the end of the first month of therapy, there was a decrease in clinical activity indices DAS28-ESR by 43%, SDAI by 60%, CDAI by 55%. Positive dynamics of laboratory parameters were noted – a decrease in erythrocyte sedimentation rate by 76%, a decrease in C-reactive protein level by 98%. By the 6th month of therapy, a decrease in RF by 36% and ACCP by 11% was recorded, but the dynamics of these indicators did not reach statistical significance. By the end of 4 weeks of treatment, 24 (68.6%) patients showed an increase in the level of total blood cholesterol – 5.1 (3.91; 6.0) mmol/L vs 6.1 (4.99; 7.07) mmol/L (p=0.000006), while 11 (45.8%) patients from this group had initially elevated cholesterol levels (6.4±0.6 mmol/L). In 5 (14.3%) patients, an increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was recorded in the 4th week – 17.0 (11.0; 25.0) U/L vs 32.0 (22.0; 43.0) U/L (p=0.000062) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) – 19.0 (14.0; 24.0) U/L vs 25.0 (18.0; 36.0) U/L (p=0.000171), in 1 (2.85%) of the patient, an increase in ALT and AST above normal was noted (ALT 144 U/L, AST 52 U/L), which required discontinuation of levilimab. In 2 (5.7%) patients, by the end of the 4th week a decrease in the absolute number of neutrophils was registered – 3.2 (2.6; 4.0)×10E9/L vs 2.3 (2.0; 2.5)×10E9/L (p=0.002), which did not require discontinuation of treatment, since the number of cells remained more than 1×10E9/L. During treatment with levilimab 162 mg subcutaneously once a week, the proportion of patients taking prednisolone decreased from 46% at the start of therapy to 11% at the end of 6 months of therapy. Conclusion. Levilimab is a highly effective drug for the treatment of patients with highly and moderately active RA and has a favorable tolerability and safety profile.

Drying is one of the most popular ways to preserve plant materials by reducing humidity and preventing microbiological contamination and it is a promising direction in the food industry. The article presents the results of the research in the development of effective technologies for preparing zucchini for drying, ensuring acceleration of the drying process, as well as maintaining or improving organoleptic characteristics (for example, to prevent excessive darkening). The article describes the results of the influence of pre-treatment of zucchini before drying on quality indicators – organoleptic indicators (appearance, consistency, taste, smell, color, shape, size) and physicochemical indicators (weight of fresh raw materials and dried product, moisture content of the finished product) and microbiological safety (MAFAnM, coliform bacteria, mold, yeast). The types of pre-treatment of zucchini before drying were microwave treatment, C6 H8 O7 solution (citric acid), NaCl solution (saline solution), microwave treatment + C6 H8 O7 solution, microwave treatment + NaCl solution. During the organoleptic assessment, it was found that the best organoleptic indicators are provided by treatment with 5% NaCl solution (4.8 points) and 1% C6 H8 O7 solution (4.7 points). Microwave pre-treatment in various parameters led to the appearance of characteristic bitterness and an unpleasant aftertaste. Treatment with a solution of citric acid in various dosages imparts a sour taste and prevented darkening during drying. It was found that various types of pre-treatment do not affect the duration of drying of zucchini, which was, on average, 7 hours. Microwave treatment reduced humidity to 3.4%, citric acid – to 3.6%, saline solution – to 4.6%, while complex treatment did not affect the reduction in moisture content of the dry product and, in general, the duration of drying. As a result of the microbiological assessment, it was noted that the amount of MaFAnM and mold fungi were within acceptable imits, and the growth of coliform bacteria was absent, which corresponded to the indicators of regulatory documents.

Internally displaced persons are often excluded from HIV molecular epidemiology surveillance due to structural, behavioral, and social barriers in access to treatment. We test a field-based molecular epidemiology framework to study HIV transmission dynamics in a hard-to-reach and highly stigmatized group, internally displaced people who inject drugs (IDPWIDs). We inform the framework by Nanopore generated HIV pol sequences and IDPWID migration history. In June-September 2020, we recruited 164 IDPWID in Odesa, Ukraine, and obtained 34 HIV sequences from HIV-infected participants. We aligned them to publicly available sequences (N = 359) from Odesa and IDPWID regions of origin and identified 7 phylogenetic clusters with at least 1 IDPWID. Using times to the most recent common ancestors of the identified clusters and times of IDPWID relocation to Odesa, we infer potential post-displacement transmission window when infections likely to happen to be between 10 and 21 months, not exceeding 4 years. Phylogeographic analysis of the sequence data shows that local people in Odesa disproportionally transmit HIV to the IDPWID community. Rapid transmissions post-displacement in the IDPWID community might be associated with slow progression along the HIV continuum of care: only 63% of IDPWID were aware of their status, 40% of those were in antiviral treatment, and 43% of those were virally suppressed. Such HIV molecular epidemiology investigations are feasible in transient and hard-to-reach communities and can help indicate best times for HIV preventive interventions. Our findings highlight the need to rapidly integrate Ukrainian IDPWID into prevention and treatment services following the dramatic escalation of the war in 2022.

BackgroundDue to practical challenges associated with genetic sequencing in low-resource environments, the burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in forcibly displaced people is understudied. We examined the use of field applicable HCV sequencing methods and phylogenetic analysis to determine HCV transmission dynamics in internally displaced people who inject drugs (IDPWID) in Ukraine.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, we used modified respondent-driven sampling to recruit IDPWID who were displaced to Odesa, Ukraine, before 2020. We generated partial and near full length genome (NFLG) HCV sequences using Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) MinION in a simulated field environment. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods were used to establish phylodynamic relationships.ResultsBetween June and September 2020, we collected epidemiological data and whole blood samples from 164 IDPWID (PNAS Nexus.2023;2(3):pgad008). Rapid testing (Wondfo® One Step HCV; Wondfo® One Step HIV1/2) identified an anti-HCV seroprevalence of 67.7%, and 31.1% of participants tested positive for both anti-HCV and HIV. We generated 57 partial or NFLG HCV sequences and identified eight transmission clusters, of which at least two originated within a year and a half post-displacement.ConclusionsLocally generated genomic data and phylogenetic analysis in rapidly changing low-resource environments, such as those faced by forcibly displaced people, can help inform effective public health strategies. For example, evidence of HCV transmission clusters originating soon after displacement highlights the importance of implementing urgent preventive interventions in ongoing situations of forced displacement.

This paper is devoted to the application of the Bayesian approach to the forecasting of aggregate taxes on the example of the Republic of Armenia. Typically, this approach is used in large-scale BVARs to forecast macroeconomic variables. The objective of this study is to estimate the efficiency of the Bayesian approach to constricting relatively low-scale fiscal VARs. Another objective is to build a specific BVAR model for forecasting tax revenues in the context of actual forecasting rounds. The study is based on seasonally adjusted quarterly aggregate tax data and the corresponding proxy bases. A hierarchical approach to the selection of BVAR’s priors is implemented. It assumes the random nature of variances in the prior values of the coefficients. The hierarchical approach is also characterized by a high level of variability of hyperparameters. To determine the optimal structure of the BVAR model in terms of out-of-sample prediction accuracy, a special algorithm was developed. This algorithm involves a specific procedure for the selection of priors and model parameters, which allows to significantly minimize the prediction error. The Geweke and Gelman-Rubin tests were used/considered to check the convergence of the parameters, and the acceptance rate of the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm was taken into account. It Additional priors, such as the sum-of-coefficients prior and the dummy-initialobservation prior (single-unit-root), are shown to improve the quality of out-of-sample forecasts. These priors allow for the possibility of the existence of a single root and cointegration between variables. The main finding of this study is that the proposed algorithm for selecting parameters in BVAR significantly improves out-of-sample performance compared to traditional frequency VAR.

Background. There is a contradiction in the results of acting research: empathy plays an important role in the process of artistic transformation, but some anti-empathic traits, such as narcissism and machiavellianism, may also be useful for stage performance. The identification of gender specificity is particularly interesting when examining these personal features in the context of student actors' professional growth. Objectives. The focus is on exploring gender differences in the relationships of empathy and Dark Triad traits with personality traits in student actors. Study Participants. The study involved 43 second-year students of the Acting major, aged 19 to 29 years (21 men, 22 women). Methods. Short Portrait Big Five Questionnaire by M.S. Egorova and O.V. Parshikova, Short questionnaire of the Dark Triad adapted by M.S. Egorova, M.A. Sitnikova, O.V. Parshikova Empathy Questionnaire by A.A. Mehrabian adapted by E.F. Zeer and O.N. Shakhmatova Results. Openness to experience among student actors is associated with narcissism, and neuroticism is associated with emotional empathy, which describes the ability to understand other people's emotions. At the same time, gender differences were found in the specific relationships between empathic tendencies and personality traits. In boys, behavioral empathy, aimed at showing support and help, is associated with extraversion, while in girls, neuroticism is associated with machiavellianism. Conclusions. Several interpretations of the results are presented. Actors who are open to new experiences and experiments in creating images can be narcissistic, since they do not yet have a formed “sense of truth”, and therefore are forced to focus more on external assessment. Also, student actors may feel somewhat exceptional compared to their peers due to the experience gained through their professional activities. The connection between the emotional level of empathy in student actors of both sexes and neuroticism is explained by the fact that good social insight is accompanied by increased anxiety. Gender specific correlations (Machiavellianism with neuroticism in girls and behavioral empathy with extraversion in boys) may reflect the chosen strategies in developing the emotional component of the image, as well as in building relationships in a team.

Flotation beneficiation plays a leading role in the processing most ores. The efficiency of this process is ensured by the correct selection of operating modes, which involves choosing the most selective reagents and determining their optimal consumption. Despite the significance of this issue, the classic approach to determining beneficiation parameters involves testing followed by the processing of the results obtained and the determination of the reagent consumption. However, such studies do not reveal the essence of the physicochemical processes occurring within the pulp, and the results of testing one sample may not correspond to the optimum when the properties of the sample change. The purpose of this work is to develop and implement a methodological approach to the study of ore flotation beneficiation using ionometry methods. The data obtained from ion-selective sensors significantly deepen our insight into the transformations occurring during the flotation process and allow for consideration of possible adverse factors that hinder effective process progression.To achieve this goal, a comparative analysis of two approaches to flotation beneficiation testing was performed using complex sulfide ores as examples. In the first stage, a flotation beneficiation study was conducted through D-optimal factor testing, which included 20 individual tests to determine the optimal consumption of modifying reagents, yielding qualitative indicators. In the second stage, flotation tests were conducted using electrochemical monitoring with pH, Ag2S, Pt, and membrane electrodes. A universal flowchart for flotation studies with ion-selective sensors has been developed, facilitating the application of this approach to various ores. The implementation of the results from this comparative analysis has led to a 7.8% increase in beneficiation efficiency while reducing reagent consumption. Additionally, the insights gained into the electrochemical processes occurring allowed for assumptions about the adverse factors affecting flotation outcomes. In conclusion, a model for the potential application of this approach at existing enterprises was proposed, including the implementation of an “intelligent assistant” for flotation operators based on the developed electrochemical models.

Background. The aim of the study: to investigate additional factors that affect the adherence to antihypertensive therapy in patients with hypertension in conditions of war in Ukraine. Materials and methods. The study included 1,299 hypertensive patients with an average age of 65.4 ± 14.8 years, who are residents of different regions of Ukraine. The observation period lasted 3 months, from October 1 to December 12, 2023. All patients were divided into four groups: I — a fixed three-component combination of olmesartan medoxomil/amlodipine/hydrochlorothiazide, II — a fixed two-component combination of olmesartan/hydrochlorothiazide, III — a fixed two-component therapy with olmesartan/amlodipine, IV — any other non-fixed two- or three-component antihypertensive therapy. Adherence to therapy was assessed after 1, 2, and 3 months and statistical analysis of the obtained data was performed. Results. During the first month of observation, 50 (3.8 %) patients stopped or did not even start taking antihypertensive therapy, during the second — 71 (5.5 %), during the third — 127 (9.8 %). Adherence to antihypertensive therapy is higher in younger people (up to 55 years) compared to patients aged over 65, in people with higher education, in patients taking fixed combinations, especially olmesartan/amlodipine, or olmesartan/amlodi-pine/hydrochlorothiazide, while gender had no effect on adherence. Additional factors related to adherence to antihypertensive therapy during the war were as follows: the level of danger in the region of residence, the internally displaced status of the patient or doctor. The lowest adherence to antihypertensive therapy after 3 months was registered in the internally displaced persons who suffered morally or physically and is only 34.5 % compared to patients who stayed in the place of permanent residence — 82.6 % (р = 0.0001), or to those who moved preventively — 74.3 % (р = 0.0001). Adherence to therapy also depends on the status of the doctor. Among doctors with the status of an internally displaced person, patients’ adherence to therapy is lower: 68.3 against 82 % (р = 0.0008). Conclusions. Adherence to antihypertensive therapy in Ukraine during the war depends on known factors influencing the completeness of the doctor’s recommendations, including age, educational level, concomitant diseases, the number of tablets, and specific factors caused by the war, such as activity of hostilities in the region, as well as the status of an internally displaced person, both in patients and doctors.

In the title compound, C24H21NO3S, the cyclopentene ring adopts an envelope conformation. In the crystal, molecules are linked by C—H...π interactions, forming ribbons along the a axis. Intermolecular C—H...O hydrogen bonds connect these ribbons to each other, forming layers parallel to the (0\overline{1}1) plane. The molecular packing is strengthened by van der Waals interactions between the layers. The intermolecular contacts were quantified using Hirshfeld surface analysis and two-dimensional fingerprint plots, revealing the relative contributions of the contacts to the crystal packing to be H...H 46.0%, C...H/H...C 21.1%, O...H/H...O 20.6% and S...H/H...S 9.0%.

The article is devoted to the topical issue of optimizing programs related to the training of an education manager in order to increase his communicative competence, as well as a “plot” explanation of the importance of the genre studies course in this process. Having analyzed the textbooks and educational management course programs existing in modern pedagogical science with a view to developing the communicative competence of managers, the authors noted that the analysis of their speech behavior remains unexamined. Thus, there is a certain imbalance between the increasing needs for qualified personnel and the lack of innovative approaches in training managers capable of managing tasks, resources, people, information, quality, projects and organizational changes in this area. In terms of speech development of a manager, at best, such disciplines as «speech culture», «pedagogical rhetoric», or training in certain types of speech genres in pedagogical discourse are offered. It is concluded that from a methodology perspective, the mandatory inclusion in management education programs of a genre studies course related to improving the manager’s speech activity and increasing the status of his linguistic personality as the main tool of his information, analytical and practical activities should help correct the current situation.

Aim of study To evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous transhepatic cholangiostomy (PTC) as a first-line intervention in the treatment of patients with acute cholangitis (AC) Grade II–III (TG 13/18).Material and methods The results of treatment of 42 patients with AC Grade II–III, who underwent PTC, were analyzed. The criteria for non-inclusion were the presence in patients of destructive cholecystitis and (or) acute pancreatitis, AC due to proximal block of the bile ducts, regardless of etiology, as well as the presence of cholangiogenic liver abscesses. Literature data were used as reference results of the use of endoscopic techniques. AC was diagnosed and its severity was determined in accordance with the diagnostic criteria TG 13/18. The control points of the study were the frequency of post-manipulation complications associated with PTC, as well as the immediate efficacy of cholangiostomy, assessed by the dynamics of Grade-status within 24 and 48 hours.Results In all 42 patients, PTC was technically successful. Major complications that might require a change in treatment tactics (significant hemobilia, bile peritonitis, bleeding into the abdominal cavity) were not observed. Two complications occurred: subcapsular hematoma (2.4%) and right-sided pleurisy (2.4%). When assessing the dynamics of Grade status, its significant decrease was found in the group of patients with initial Grade III after 24 hours (from 16 to 9 hours) and 48 hours (from 9 to 4 hours). In patients with initial Grade II status, in three cases it worsened to Grade III, which still persisted in one patient even in 48 hours. There was no in-hospital mortality in the examined patients.Conclusion Antegrade endobiliary intervention for acute cholangitis involves performing real-time monitored biliary decompression. Experience with the use of percutaneous interventions does not confirm the high risk and frequency of post-manipulation complications in comparison with endoscopic retrogradeprocedures. It seems obvious that there is a need for and the possibility of choosing both retrograde and antegrade methods of emergency biliary decompression in the arsenal of treatment for patients with acute cholangitis.

The digital learning environment comprises various resources - didactically transformed and untransformed information, and mediated communication. Students' information behaviour combines both actions characteristic of the traditional educational process and specific for the digital environment, based on digital tools and user interactions. Students' information behaviour in the digital environment is considered as an indicator of their engagement in various educational activities that contribute to the personalisation of learning. The results of a survey on students' preferences of information resources in the digital environment show that learners use a variety of information sources, but they mainly apply the methods of work in the "traditional" learning paradigm. They insufficiently use the digital environment potential of collaboration, knowledge exchange, and knowledge extraction from authentic sources. Obtained data indicates problems in students' information culture and shortcomings in the methodological support of students' autonomous work. Based on the results, recommendations on creating conditions for developing students' prospective strategies of interaction with digital resources are proposed. These recommendations include a gradual increase of the authentic digital learning resources, an account of students' information preferences, and a particular attention to the management issues in the digital learning environment.

BackgroundMonitoring the emergence and spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants is an important public health objective. We investigated how the Gamma variant was established in New York City (NYC) in early 2021 in the presence of travel restrictions that aimed to prevent viral spread from Brazil, the country where the variant was first identified.MethodsWe performed phylogeographic analysis on 15 967 Gamma sequences sampled between 10 March and 1 May 2021, to identify geographic sources of Gamma lineages introduced into NYC. We identified locally circulating Gamma transmission clusters and inferred the timing of their establishment in NYC.ResultsWe identified 16 phylogenetically distinct Gamma clusters established in NYC (cluster sizes ranged 2-108 genomes); most of them were introduced from Florida and Illinois and only 1 directly from Brazil. By the time the first Gamma case was reported by genomic surveillance in NYC on 10 March, the majority (57%) of circulating Gamma lineages had already been established in the city for at least 2 weeks.ConclusionsAlthough travel from Brazil to the United States was restricted from May 2020 through the end of the study period, this restriction did not prevent Gamma from becoming established in NYC as most introductions occurred from domestic locations.

The article is devoted to the problem of self-directed learning of students of Language University. Self-organization is an integral characteristic of personality development. The authors studied the components of self-organization: self-assessment, some personal qualities, etc. Some peculiarities of self-organization of Language University students were revealed with the standardized questionnaires and questionnaires based on self-assessment. It turned out that students with high cognitive capacity have insufficient level of self-organization, low cognitive activity. Self-organization is formed in the process of independent work and autonomous learning. The authors consider the problem of educational autonomy development of students while learning foreign languages as an interdisciplinary problem, as a subject area of linguopedagogics. The research also studied methodological strategies for learning new vocabulary. The development of learning style activity depends on certain personal qualities related to native traits. The research about self-directed leaning of students is the basis for the development of pedagogical activities with the aim of developing the optimal style of educational methods. The content of this research is both theoretical and practical; we are creating conditions for effective cognitive activity.

Snail Helix lucorum Linnaeus, 1758, was first found on the territory of Kazakhstan in 2020. This species is invasive for the country. A stable population of the snail has been discovered in parklands in Kentau and Shymkent cities in the Turkistan oblast, in the city of Taraz in the Jambyl oblast, South Kazakhstan, and in the Almaty city in the South-East Kazakhstan. The nearest point where H. lucorum lives is the city of Tashkent (Uzbekistan), where this species was found in 2012. According to the local residents, tree seedlings were brought from Tashkent for landscaping the cities of Kentau and Shymkent. Thus, Tashkent was the most probavle source of the invasion. Further dispersal of H. lucorum in the South and South-East Kazakhstan, on the territory of Turkestan, Jambyl and Almaty oblasts is expected.