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Modern conditions of development of the construction industry are characterized by tightening requirements for the duration and timing of the construction of residential and commercial projects. The formation of a portfolio of construction projects implemented within certain time intervals is one of the most important tasks solved within specialized (construction) organizations to ensure the effectiveness of the implementation of both the relevant technological processes and the processes of developing the infrastructure of large settlements, which has a significant impact on the economic indicators of individual territorial regions. The purpose of the research is to develop tools for solving the problem of justifying the characteristics of a portfolio of construction projects, implemented by a specialized organization over a certain time period. The subject of the research is the characteristics of the above-mentioned project portfolio in terms of indicators of the feasibility of implementing (inclusion in the portfolio) individual projects, the duration and cost of implementing the project portfolio. During the research process the methods of system analysis and statistical processing of information were used, as well as integer linear optimization considering the requirements of binarity for the values of unknown variables. A review and analysis of scientific developments in the field of substantiating the characteristics of a portfolio of construction projects implemented by specialized organizations was carried out, during which shortcomings in existing methods were identified: the lack of a formalized description of tools and the presence of low practical significance due to the lack of consideration of features characteristic of the construction industry. During the research process an optimization model has been developed to determine the characteristics of a portfolio of construction projects implemented by a specialized organization over a certain time period; the model has a linear structure, contains binary constraints for the values of unknown variables, and therefore can be implemented with the use of the branch-and-bound method available in modern optimization modeling software environments. The developed optimization model was implemented using a practical example; based on the results obtained, a conclusion has been made about the high practical significance of the developed tool.

Визначено, що складність та багатогранність «публічного інтересу» спричиняє різноманітне його вираження та характеристику, зокрема: за­доволення публічного інтересу закладено в осно­ву діяльності публічної влади, або навіть є метою реалізації завдань (функцій) виконавчої влади; метою, яку повинна досягти публічна адміні­страція; невід'ємним складником адміністратив­но-правових відносин; відносини, що складають­ся у сфері публічного адміністрування, спрямовані на забезпечення публічного інтересу. Такий стан підкреслює нерозривний взаємозв'язок виконан­ня покладених законодавством завдань на орга­ни публічного адміністрування (у т. ч. Державну прикордонну службу України), діяльність яких спрямована на задоволення публічних інтересів. Підкреслено, що у нормативно-правових ак­тах та у правовій доктрині поняття «публічний інтерес» не достатньо сформовано. Зокрема в Законі України «Про адміністративну процедуру» дефініція «публічний інтерес» розкриває суб'єк­тний склад, разом з тим залишається не зрозумі­лим його змістовний та кількісний аспект. З урахуванням предмета дослідження підтри­мана позиція науковців, котрі не зосереджують увагу на кількісному складі осіб (значної чи ве­ликої кількості), чиї інтереси потрібно задовіль­ними суб'єктам публічного адміністрування, та наголошено, що посадові особи Державної при­кордонної служби України як суб'єкта публічного адміністрування повинні задовольняти будь-які інтереси фізичних чи юридичних осіб, не залеж­но від їх кількості, якщо вони (інтереси) за зміс­том та характером знаходяться у площині реалі­зації їх публічних повноважень. Установлено, що публічний інтерес у сфері охорони державного кордону, реалізацію якого забезпечує Державна прикордонна служба Укра­їни, становить не лише безпека, непорушність лінії державного кордону та пов'язана із цим іншу моніторингова, профілактична, запобіжна діяльність, але й окремі інтереси приватних осіб, зокрема щодо перетину державного кордону та надання інформаційних послуг (запит на публіч­ну інформацію, звернення громадян, надання дозволу на перебування у прикордонній смузі тощо), діяльність щодо забезпечення яких можемо визначено як сервісну.

The main purpose of the article is a theoretical and methodological substantiation of the choice of the optimal form of re-engineering for machine-building enterprises in modern conditions of a changing external environment. The object of the study is the business processes, commercial activities and financial potential of machine-building enterprises. The scientific task is to present a modern methodological approach to choosing the form of re-engineering that is better for a mechanical engineering company in the context of its current state. For this purpose, methods of financial analysis, matrix analysis and ranking were used. In addition, such auxiliary methods as graphical and abstract-logical were used. As a result of the research and calculations, a ranking of key indicators of the financial potential of machine-building enterprises was determined and carried out. An approach to determining the level of efficiency of business processes is presented. The author's vision of the matrix for choosing the optimal form of re-engineering is proposed. The practical value of the results obtained is revealed in the possibility of applying the proposed approach in the activities of machine-building enterprises in Ukraine. The study is limited by taking into account the specifics of the activities of machine-building enterprises exclusively when selecting indicators and ranking them. Prospects for further research are considered through the prism of applying the developed methodological approach to other industrial enterprises in Ukraine.

A combination of solid-phase extraction on a magnetic sorbent based on hypercrosslinked polystyrene and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry is proposed for the determination of chlorophenols in freshwater fish. I2-Chlorophenol, 3-chlorophenol, 4-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, and pentachlorophenol were identified in samples of roach (Rutilus rutilus) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix). The accumulation of chlorophenols in various organs and tissues of fish (muscles, liver, milk, caviar, body fat) living in the Voronezh reservoir was studied. Methods for sample preparation were developed and the interfering influences of various factors on the determination results were found. Oil products and fatty acids make the greatest contribution to matrix effects. The limits of the determination of chlorophenols by the developed method are 7-18 ng/kg in muscle tissue and liver and 30-60 ng/kg in fat-containing tissues. The maximum amounts of chlorophenols were found in the fat deposits of silver carp and amounted to 100, 82, 434, 1529, 383 and 411 ng/kg for 2-chlorophenol, 3-chlorophenol, 4-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, and pentachlorophenol, respectively., Author(s): A. S. Gubin [sup.1] , P. T. Sukhanov [sup.1] , A. A. Kushnir [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.445084.9, 0000 0004 4658 6764, Voronezh State University of Engineering Technologies, , [...]

The paper deals with assessing the effects of the ENDF/B-VI.8, ENDF/B-VII.0, JEFF 3.1 and JEFF 3.1.1 nuclear data libraries on the results of calculating a number of functionals for a system based on a VVER reactor with fuel with a large fraction of minor actinides (up to 10%). Key estimates have been obtained for the errors introduced by libraries in calculations of systems with minor actinides (MA) based on a VVER-1200 reactor: – for reactivity, σρ = 0.3 βeff; – for isotopic compositions with minor actinides, ≤ 5% (the error for each particular isotope is different); – for the total mass of accumulated MAs, εm = 0.8%. Conclusions have been made with respect to the need for the further refinement of the library MA data proceeding from the nature of the calculation tasks that dictate the requirements for the accuracy of nuclear constants. It has been shown that systems based on VVER-1000/1200/1300 reactors with MAs need to be calculated using several libraries of evaluated nuclear data created at different organizations and based on the largest possible number of non-recurrent sets of experimental data.

Abstract Numerous cell states are known to comprise the pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tumor microenvironment (TME). However, the developmental stemness and co-occurrence of these cell states remain poorly defined. Here, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) on a cohort of treatment-naive PDAC time-of-diagnosis endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) samples (n = 25). We then combined these samples with surgical resection (n = 6) and publicly available samples to increase statistical power (n = 80). Following annotation into 25 distinct cell states, cells were scored for developmental stemness, and a customized version of the Ecotyper tool was used to identify communities of co-occurring cell states in bulk RNA-seq samples (n = 268). We discovered a tumor microenvironmental community comprised of aggressive basal-like malignant cells, tumor-promoting SPP1+ macrophages, and myofibroblastic cancer-associated fibroblasts associated with especially poor prognosis. We also found a developmental stemness continuum with implications for survival that is present in both malignant cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). We further demonstrated that high-dimensional analyses predictive of survival are feasible using standard-of-care, time-of-diagnosis EUS-FNB specimens. In summary, we identified tumor microenvironmental and developmental stemness characteristics from a high-dimensional gene expression analysis of PDAC using human tissue specimens, including time-of-diagnosis EUS-FNB samples. These reveal new connections between tumor microenvironmental composition, CAF and malignant cell stemness, and patient survival that could lead to better upfront risk stratification and more personalized upfront clinical decision-making.

The work aimed to investigate the effect of the “Metisevit” feed additive on the activity of the enzymes of the antioxidant system of the blood of piglets under conditions of nitrate-nitrite load. The research was carried out on 60-day-old piglets of the large white breed. For the experiment, 10 clinically healthy piglets were selected, from which 2 groups of five animals were formed. Piglets of the control group were fed sodium nitrate at a dose of 0.3 g NO3-/kg body weight for three months. Piglets of the research group were also fed sodium nitrate at a dose of 0.3 g NO3-/kg of body weight, together with Metisevit at a dose of 0.36 g/kg of feed for three months. The “Metisevit” feed additive was developed at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology of the Stepan Gzhytskyi National University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnology Lviv, which contains vitamin E, selenium, and methiphene (methionine, phenarone, zeolite). Under the conditions of feeding piglets with sodium nitrate feed at a dose of 0.3 g of NO3ˉ/kg, a decrease in the activity of enzymes of the antioxidant defense system was established: superoxide dismutase by 14.8 %, catalase by 20%, glutathione peroxidase by 15.1 %. Metisevit in piglets increased the activity of the enzyme link of the antioxidant protection system, preventing the development of oxidative stress that occurs in nitrate-nitrite toxicosis. During our experiments, it was found that the introduction of Metisevit into the diet of piglets with excessive consumption of nitrates prevented the development of chronic nitrate-nitrite toxicosis. It was established that Metisevit increases the activity of enzymes – superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. These enzymes reduce the high level of lipid peroxidation products in the body of piglets under conditions of nitrate-nitrite load.

Talma Kushnir,1,2,* Yoram Sandhaus,1,* Hana Castel,1,* Ahuva Golik,1,* Moshe Salai,1,* Avinoam Tzabari,1,* Yakov Yahav,1,* Zachi Grossman,1,* Hana Mazuz,3,* Shai Ashkenazi1,* 1Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel; 2Department of Psychology, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel; 3Simulation Center, Ariel University, Ariel, Israel*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Talma Kushnir, Adelson School of Medicine, Ariel University, 65 Ramat-HaGolan Street, Ariel, 40700, Israel, Tel +972528651294, Email talmak@ariel.ac.ilPurpose: The curriculum of the Adelson School of Medicine at Ariel University, the newly established sixth medical school in Israel, includes a simulation center-based extended course on physician-patient communication, aiming to help students master the core competency of interpersonal and communication skills. For more than a year following the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the school suspended most face-to-face (F2F) encounters, transforming most teaching activities to remote platforms. The paper outlines the ways we adapted teaching of this course to these circumstances, the reactions of students and mentors to the changes and results of 1st year students’ survey.Methods: During the lockdown in the first year 48 of 70 first-year students participated in a voluntary anonymous online evaluation of the course assessing motivation to become a physician; perceptions, feelings and attitudes towards the communication course, and advantages and disadvantages of online and F2F medical interviews.Results: 46.1% of the responding students reported that the pandemic strengthened their desire to become physicians. 56.3% claimed that they were able to a relatively large extent to empathize with COVID-19 patients who were exposed to the virus; 79.1% viewed their mentors as positive role models of communication skills. The students were able to receive and offer social support to their peers. They evaluated very highly the short instructional videos produced by the faculty.Conclusion: During the lockdown, the respondents generally indicated positive attitudes towards the communication course, the mentors and the inclusion of physician-patient communication as a topic in medical education. The students and mentors reported many disadvantages and few advantages of remote learning. Yet inevitably remote learning including online-based simulations is a step towards preparations for future practice within virtual medical care and telemedicine. The limitations of this study include the cross-sectional design, small sample size and self-reporting.Keywords: Medical education, COVID-19, communication skills, face-to-face, distance teaching, simulations, 1st year students

An important design component of space antenna reflectors is a reflecting surface. At present, metallic knitted mesh fabric is most often used as a reflective surface; it fully meets the requirements for such surfaces in terms of physical and mechanical properties. Particularly important characteristics for large-sized reflectors are low specific gravity and high light transmission coefficient, which a mesh with coarse cells provides. However, the structural features of this mesh fabric impose additional requirements on its use as a reflective surface for large-sized transformable reflectors. The article deals with a special approach to designing patterns for a reflective surface made of mesh with coarse cells. The developed pattern cutting option allows to obtain a reflective surface with the least distortion (error), in accordance formulated criteria. The authors have suggested the option of obtaining cutting patterns of metallic mesh fabric, described the advantages of the proposed option over the classical one. The cutting pattern of the parabolic surface for the offset reflector was obtained. The proposed cutting pattern option was analyzed. Furthermore, optimization was carried out, which made it possible to maintain the integrity of the cellular structure of patterns along one loop row. The compared results show that the developed cutting pattern option completely complies with the requirements and it can be used to form a reflective surface from the metallic knitted mesh with coarse cells.

The purpose of the paper is to investigate the development of pottery in the Lower Bug region and its role in urbanization processes on the basis of historiographical, archaeological and paleogeographical data at the 6th century BCE. Scientific novelty. For the first time the ceramic production are comprehensively considered into account the raw material base of the pottery of the ancient settlement on the example of Borysthenes. The relationship between social and natural factors in the development of pottery has been established. The role of this craft in the context of urbanization processes in the North-Western Black Sea region is determined. The early production of ceramics in Lower Bug is considered, covering different categories of sources. A method of studying the local pottery making in the ancient centres of the region is proposed. Methodology. The study was based on a comprehensive analysis of historiographical and archaeological data and paleogeographical methods. The field stage of the research included the survey of sites with unsoddy deposits of various geological periods as potential pottery raw materials. A stratigraphic dissection of deposits, their macromorphological description and samples were taken from each sites for further laboratory research. The laboratory research included a micromorphological analysis of ceramic products to compare its characteristics with potential raw materials, as well as a granulometric analysis of the selected samples to determine their physicochemical properties. Conclusions. Pottery as an independent type of craft was distinguished in Hellenic culture quite early and came to the centres of the Northern Black Sea region as an already formed occupation. Spatially, workshops were situated at the large cities, where the manufactured products not only satisfied local demand, but also served as goods for sale. As archaeological materials showed, the earliest evidence of local pottery production was discovered on Berezan island and date from the middle of the 6th century BCE. The active development of the settlement, i.e. the intensification of the urbanization of the space, belongs around the same period. Therefore, the development of crafts, in particular pottery, is a component of this multifaceted process. Paleopedological studies, micromorphological and granulometric analyzes of potential pottery raw materials with the micromorphological features of ceramics allow us to talk about local production. It was found that craftsmen could use local raw materials to create the moulding mass, which was obviously multi-component. The materials mainly of the first half of the 6th century BCE from site “T” of Berezan settlement confirmed the assumption about the predominance of grey ceramics (“greyware”) in the local pottery making at that time. Probably, the tradition of its production existed for a long time.

Pretend play is a ubiquitous learning tool in early childhood, enabling children to explore possibilities outside of their current reality. Here we demonstrate how pretend play can be leveraged to empower girls in scientific domains. Four- to seven-year-old children (N = 240) played a challenging science activity in one of three conditions. Children in the Exposure condition heard about a successful gender-matched scientist; children in the Roleplay condition pretended to be that scientist; children in the Baseline condition did not receive information about the scientist. Girls in the Roleplay condition, but not in the Exposure condition, persisted longer in the science activity than girls in the Baseline condition. Furthermore, pretending to be the scientist equated girls’ persistence to that of boys. These findings suggest that pretend play of role models is an effective strategy to motivate young girls in science and may help reduce gender gaps from their roots.

BackgroundHigh quality bowel preparation prior to colonoscopy can be difficult to achieve in the inpatient setting. Hospitalized patients are at risk for extended hospital stays and low diagnostic yield due to inadequate bowel preparation. The Pure-Vu System is a novel device intended to fit over existing colonoscopes to improve intra-colonoscopy bowel preparation. The objective of the REDUCE study was to conduct the first inpatient study to evaluate optimization of bowel preparation quality following overnight preparation when using the Pure-Vu System during colonoscopy.MethodsThis multicenter, prospective feasibility study enrolled hospitalized subjects undergoing colonoscopy. Subjects recorded the clarity of their last bowel movement using a 5-point scale prior to colonoscopy. After one night of preparation, all enrolled subjects underwent colonoscopy utilizing the Pure-Vu System. The primary endpoint was improvement of colon cleanliness from baseline to post-cleansing with the Pure-Vu System as assessed by the improvement in Boston Bowel Preparation Scale (BBPS). An exploratory analysis was conducted to assess whether the clarity of the last bowel movement could predict inadequate bowel preparation.ResultsNinety-four subjects were included. BBPS analyses showed significant improvements in bowel preparation quality across all evaluable colon segments after cleansing with Pure-Vu, including left colon (1.74 vs 2.89; p

The article provides data on the comparative assessment of the study of acute and subacute dermal toxicity of powder for wounds made based on iodoform by various methods. The research was conducted using the classic method and according to the methodology of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD No. 410). When studying acute skin toxicity using the traditional method, it was established that the drug under study belongs to the IV toxicity class (low-toxic substances) and, when determined by the way according to the UGS (GHS) – to category 5. During long-term dermal application of powder for wounds, no significant changes in hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit value, the average concentration of hemoglobin in erythrocytes (MCHC), the average volume of erythrocytes (MCV), the average content of hemoglobin in erythrocytes (MCH) and several platelets were established by the classical method. In addition, a slight increase in creatinine, urea, and the activity of ALT and AST was established against a slight decrease in the total protein content. When studying the acute toxicity of powder for wounds following the OECD method No. 410, it was confirmed that long-term dermal application of the investigated agent caused a slight increase in the weight coefficients of the liver, heart, and spleen and a probable increase in the weight coefficients of the kidneys against the background of a decrease in the body weight of animals. Also, in animals of all experimental groups, the number of erythrocytes increased by 0.6 %, 5.1 %, and 10.5 % (Р < 0.05), respectively, and the number of leukocytes decreased by 15.9 % (Р < 0.05), 21.8 % (Р < 0.05), 23.4 % (Р < 0.05), mean erythrocyte volume (MCV) by 2.4 %, 4.2 %, 9.2 % (Р < 0,05). When determining the biochemical indicators of blood serum, it was established that using the research product for 28 days caused a slight decrease in the total protein content in animals of the I, II, and III research groups. In addition, the animals of all experimental groups showed an increase in the level of creatinine, respectively, by – 10.6 % (Р < 0.05), 13.3 % (Р < 0.05), 15.4 % (Р < 0.05), urea at – 3.3 %, 7.3 % (Р < 0.05), 12.6 % (Р < 0.05).

Syphilis and congenital syphilis (CS) cases have been rising in the U.S. and internationally since the 2000s. Social factors have been shown to increase the risk of CS transmission. The COVID-19 pandemic may have contributed to increased syphilis transmission. We aimed to quantify the rise in congenital syphilis (CS) rates at a large urban hospital and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CS rates. We completed a retrospective chart review of 61 pregnant women with a positive test or previous diagnosis of syphilis at an urban academic hospital between 1 January 2016 and 1 June 2022. Maternal syphilis and CS rates increased over the 5 years (p < 0.001), particularly pre- and post-COVID-19 (p < 0.001). Of the mothers studied, 34.6% received adequate prenatal care, 62.7% received adequate screening, and 81.3% received adequate treatment. Stillbirth was noted in 6.6% of pregnancies. Of liveborn infants, 97.6% received appropriate treatment, and 45.1% received adequate follow-up. CS development was significantly associated with homelessness (p = 0.028) and past opioid use (p = 0.031). We concluded that maternal syphilis and CS rates have increased at our hospital, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Access to prenatal care and timely maternal treatment are target areas for improvement.

We formulate and solve a problem of reconstruction of the unknown time-dependent temperature distribution on one boundary surface of a functionally graded hollow sphere according to the temperature and radial displacements on the other boundary surface. We suggest a procedure reducing the formulated problem to the inverse thermoelasticity problem. By applying the finite-difference method, we construct a numerical algorithm aimed at solving the obtained inverse problem. By using the solution of the direct thermoelasticity problem, we analyze the stability of the obtained solution of the inverse problem and the distributions of displacements and stresses obtained on the basis of this solution against the errors of the input data. Keywords: functionally graded sphere, inverse thermoelasticity problem, direct integration method, finite-difference method, stability of solutions. UDC 539.3, Introduction The investigations of the thermal and thermal stressed states of the thermally loaded parts of operating power-generated equipment can be complicated by the absence of complete information about thermal [...]