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The article is devoted to the specifics of the forms and methods of trade on the Far Eastern frontier in the second half of the 19th – early 20th centuries. At the initial stage of colonization of the region, trade was distinguished by a number of features characteristic of frontier zones: the predominance of import trade, distribution trade carried out along the rivers from barges, fairs and mixed stationary trade. One of the main features of trade on the Far Eastern frontier was significant foreign influence. The competitive advantages of entrepreneurs from the USA and European countries were formed at the first stage of colonization from the delivery of goods by sea, the presence of established connections with suppliers of goods in the homeland, the possibility of obtaining a loan or the availability of working capital, the attraction of qualified compatriot employees, high quality of service and a comfortable environment in stores, and at the beginning of the 20th century – due to the export of technical innovations, further improvement of the quality of service, and the introduction of new standards of retail premises. We can speak of the perception of some of these practices by Russian merchants and positive changes in the organization of their trade business only in relation to the end of the 19th – beginning of the 20th century. It is difficult to judge, given the lack of memoirs of regional entrepreneurs, whether this occurred under the influence of European entrepreneurs or it was a consequence of business development and the increased level of education of local merchants. The main reasons for the success of the Chinese traders were solidarity, the ability to please the customer, mutual lending, minimizing expenses on advertising, insurance, furnishings of retail premises, heating, lighting and wages of employees, as well as the use of illegal and legal, but morally dubious methods of enrichment - the sale of low-quality or spoiled goods, non-payment of taxes, smuggling, fraud. Russian and European entrepreneurs estimated the methods and practices of Chinese entrepreneurs negatively, and perceived them as dangerous competitors. The Asian influence on Russian entrepreneurial culture was complicated not only by the existence of a religious and cultural boundary between the Chinese and Russians, but also by the European idea of civilizational superiority and the civilizing mission of Europe, which was accepted by the educated society of the Russian Empire and formed the basis for the attitude not only towards aborigine, but also towards Chinese migrants.

Purpose: The paper provides an overview of the current state of school social science education in Ukraine, whose development is considered in the context of its internal and external challenges. Design/methodology/approach: The analysis of the regulatory documents, school social science curriculum and course syllabi as well as publications and interviews with the stakeholders are the methods applied to identify the mission, content and current challenges of social science education. Findings: The underlying concept is based on universal human, European and national values, respect for Ukrainian traditions and the traditions of other cultures and ethnic groups, principles of democracy, human rights and freedoms. Being a dynamic area of education, school social science is undergoing a transformation under the New Ukrainian School reform focusing on competency based integrative approach to education. The Russian military aggression against the country is another transformation factor that is currently being addressed.

The design of optimal seismic protection systems on bearings with hysteresis behavior leads to a conditional multidimensional global optimization problem with a nonlinear and non-differentiable objective function. In this paper, bearings with bilinear characteristic with hysteresis are considered, i.e. for each nonlinear bearing there are four parameters to optimize: ultimate elastic displacement and stiffness for the elastic mode and ultimate displacement and stiff-ness for the inelastic mode. We study the seismic response of an elastic beam on four nonlinear bearings under vertical seismic ground motion. The perturbation functional as an integral of the quadratic form of the state vector with a weight matrix formed from the stiffness and inertia matrices of the system on equivalent elastic supports is considered as the objective function. Minimization of the functional means the minimum of the total energy of the system on equivalent elastic bearings. Genetic algorithm is used to solve the optimization problem.

Studies of beekeeping products reveal the presence of a significant complex of biologically active substances in them, which arouses great interest among scientists and specialists in the field of medicine and nutrition. One of the little-studied products – perga, is characterized by a unique composition of complex compounds, characterized by their natural harmony, bioavailability and synergistic interaction. This research substance, which is the result of the active activity of bees, includes a balanced spectrum of biologically active components that can affect various aspects of human health. In particular, its potential is considered in the context of strengthening immunity, increasing energy reserves and general support of physiological processes. Such a well-known product can become an important addition to the diet and an approach to maintaining optimal health. The physico-chemical and organoleptic characteristics of buckwheat perga from different regions were studied in order to establish possible differences in their composition and quality. The analysis of perga samples from the Boryspil and Pereyaslav-Khmelnytsky districts showed that the mass fraction of mechanical impurities in both cases is 0 %, confirming their high quality and purity. It was determined that the moisture content of the perga from Boryspil district is 8.7 %, and from Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyi – 7.6 %, which may be due to differences in the conditions of collection and storage. The pH level in perga from Boryspil district is 5, and from Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyi – 3.9, which indicates possible differences in chemical conditions. The study also revealed a difference in the mass content of flavonoid compounds: in perga from Boryspil district, this indicator is 3.7 %, and from Pereyaslav-Khmelnytskyi – 2.5 %. The organoleptic analysis showed a high index of color (5 points) for both areas, indicating stability and intensity of color. Taste and smell received 4.8 and 4.5 points, respectively, confirming the presence of high-quality aroma and taste. Appearance and consistency were also highly rated (4.4 and 4.8 points), indicating the variety and naturalness of the lumps and their crumbly structure. The general analysis confirms the presence of differences in the composition and characteristics of buckwheat perga from different regions. These differences may be related to environmental factors, but they correspond to DSTU 7074:2009.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disorder characterized by the presence of various serum autoantibodies and multi-system effects, predominantly affecting young female patients. The pathogenesis of SLE involves a combination of genetic factors, environmental triggers, and pathogen invasions that disrupt immune cell activation, leading to the release of autoantibodies and chronic inflammation. Mitochondria, as the primary cellular powerhouses, play a crucial role in SLE development through their control of energy generation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and cellular apoptotic pathways. Dysregulation of mitochondrial structure and function can contribute to the immune dysregulation, oxidative stress, and inflammation seen in SLE. Recent research has highlighted the impact of mitochondrial dysfunction on various immune cells involved in SLE pathogenesis, such as T-lymphocytes, B-lymphocytes, neutrophils, and plasmacytoid dendritic cells. Mitochondrial dysfunction in these immune cells leads to increased ROS production, disrupted mitophagy, and alterations in energy metabolism, contributing to immune dysregulation and inflammation. Moreover, genetic variations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and abnormalities in mitochondrial dynamics have been linked to the pathogenesis of SLE, exacerbating oxidative stress and immune abnormalities. Targeting mitochondrial function has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for SLE. Drugs such as sirolimus, N-acetylcysteine, coenzyme Q10, and metformin have shown potential in restoring mitochondrial homeostasis, reducing oxidative stress, and modulating immune responses in SLE. These agents have demonstrated efficacy in preclinical models and clinical studies by improving disease activity, reducing autoantibody titers, and ameliorating organ damage in SLE patients. In conclusion, this review underscores the critical role of mitochondria in the pathogenesis of SLE and the potential of targeting mitochondrial dysfunction as a novel therapeutic strategy for improving outcomes in SLE patients. Further investigation into the mechanisms underlying mitochondrial involvement in SLE and the development of targeted mitochondrial therapies hold promise for advancing SLE treatment and enhancing patient care.