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Quantitative assessments of the carbon balance of terrestrial landscapes and, specifically the permafrost zone, where the most significant warming trends are observed, require taking into account the export of terrigenous carbon beyond their boundaries with lateral flow. The paper presents the results of long-term monitoring of intraseasonal and interannual fluctuations in the concentrations of dissolved organic (DOC) and inorganic (DIC) carbon in the hydrographic network of the Central Siberian Plateau, carried out on the basis of the Evenkian field station of the V. N. Sukachev Institute of Forest, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (Tura settlement). Research is being carried out on more than 100 streams and rivers of various orders in the middle reaches of the Lower Tunguska River (62–66°N, 96–102°E) based on regular measurements of the concentrations of all forms of carbon, as well as quasi-continuous monitoring of the physical and chemical parameters using specific sensors and automatic loggers. It has been shown that the main limiting factors of lateral carbon flux within the Central Siberian Plateau at present are: 1) stocks of potentially mobilizeable organic carbon in terrestrial landscapes and 2) amount of precipitation in a sharply continental climate. An increase in the DOC flux is predicted both as a result of thawing of C-rich frozen deposits and an increase in the productivity of plant cover, and inorganic carbon – as a result of increased rates of silicate rock weathering and sequestration of atmospheric CO2. Negative predictions of DOC behaviour are associated with an increase in the depth of infiltration of solutes with an increase in the seasonally thawed soil layer, which determines the sorption of DOC in the soil column and its microbiological destruction. An increase in the area and intensity of fires as a result of climate warming determines a significant transformation of the lateral carbon flux. At the same time, the observed reduction in river flow as a result of an increase in the pyrogenic factor will determine the overall decrease in the transport of terrigenous carbon from terrestrial landscapes.

Expanding the project management application scope in different sectors of economy and social life spheres stimulates the search and use of project success new factors. Researchers and practitioners note that the personality of a project manager’s personality is a significant factor affecting the project management effectiveness. At the same time, the scientific literature has not developed a coherent picture explaining the elements and role of a project manager’s personality. In search of an answer to this question, the study, built as a scientific literature systematic analysis, reveals that a project manager’s personality manifests itself as a set of personal competencies. Among the most significant personality competencies, experts include result-orientedness, optimism, honesty, adaptability, creativity, and intuition. Project manager’s personal competencies act as the core of the project management competency model and significantly affect professional technical competencies, primarily leadership, communication, and emotional intelligence. The novelty of the results obtained lies in the streamlining and deepening of theoretical ideas about a project manager’s personality and its role in the project management competencies formation. The study results are recommended to be used in training programs development for project managers and personnel selection.

Introduction. Follicular thyroid cancer is much less common than papillary cancer. Nevertheless, the main difficulties in preoperative diagnosis are associated with this morphological type. A fine needle aspiration biopsy is not able to distinguish a benign follicular adenoma from a follicular carcinoma, which forces surgeons to perform diagnostic resection of the thyroid gland in all patients with a cytological conclusion «follicular tumor».Aim. To search for microRNAs specific to follicular cancer by sequencing a new generation.Materials and methods. The data of patients with a preoperative cytological conclusion «follicular tumor» operated at the Chelyabinsk Center for Endocrine Surgery from 2021 to 2022 were analyzed. Histological preparations were reviewed twice by pathologists. Genome sequencing was performed in 8 histological samples of follicular cancer and 8 samples of follicular adenoma. The expression levels of the selected microRNAs were compared with 198 archived cytological samples of various types of thyroid tumors.Results. The risk of malignancy at the cytological conclusion «follicular tumor» was 25.4 % (error 74.6 %). Follicular cancer was first detected in 36 patients, the incidence was 0.68 new cases per 100 thousand population per year. The diagnosis of «follicular cancer» was confirmed by 3 morphologists in 8 (36.4 %) cases. Sequencing revealed the 5 most distinct microRNAs between follicular cancer and follicular adenoma: miR-625, miR-323a, let-7a, let-7c and miR-574. The level of errors in the differentiation of follicular adenoma and follicular cancer using the microRNAs we selected was 21 % (35 % with cross-validation).Conclusion. Molecular genetic research at the preoperative stage, aimed at differentiating follicular cancer and follicular adenoma, in comparison with cytological research has a greater, but insufficient accuracy for making a final clinical decision.

Project management plays significant role in modern economy and public administration. Project management trends have a great impact on the performance of projects and enterprises, methods and tools of management, training programs for managers. The ≪Pulse of the Profession ≫ survey, regularly published by the Project Management Institute, allows tracking current trends in project management practice. In 2021, the ≪Pulse of the Profession≫ was dedicated to a new concept — the ≪gymnastic≫ enterprise. In this article, the authors analyze the text of ≪Pulse of the Profession≫, 2021 using mixed research methods including qualitative and quantitative content analysis tools. The results show the closeness of the ≪gymnastic≫ enterprise concept to the concept of organizational ambidexterity. A content analysis helped to identify the key organizational practices of ≪gymnastic≫ enterprise, such as the situational use of hybrid project management methodologies and methodological pluralism, the combination of structural coherence and flexibility in project management processes, the active use of entrepreneurial and innovative methods and approaches, as well as tools and techniques for talent management, organizational change and learning. The indicated practices allow ≪gymnastic≫ enterprises to achieve better results in comparison with ≪traditional≫ companies. The results also indicate the ability of the ≪gymnastic≫ enterprise concept to influence project management practice, educational and training programs and consulting services in the field of project management.

When developing methods for standoff detection of explosive traces, an important issue is determination of the limit (minimum) amount of a substance available for detection. This limit depends on the features of the measuring complex realization, on the physicochemical properties of the substance, and on the dynamics of sublimation (evaporation) of the substance from the surface. In this work, we consider the problem of detection limit for a measuring complex based on the method of active spectral imaging. In realization of this method, the distance to the object and the measurement time after the appearance at the surface of a substance imprint are important. How long this trace amount of substance can be detected, taking into account its evaporation? An explosive imprint is a thin layer on a surface (usually considered as a fingerprint with traces of the substance). We theoretically consider the dynamics of the change in the area of this imprint on the basis of a mathematical model of evaporation of a thin layer. Based on mathematical modeling, we can estimate the amount of a specific substance available for detection under the given conditions and the availability time. We identified the main parameters that affect the rate of film evaporation and the range of parameter change and calculated the kinetic parameters of sublimation of thin films of some explosives. The performed calculations allowed us to draw conclusions about the detection limit of substances for the active spectral imaging method depending on the distance to the measurement object and the time after the appearance of a surface trace with an initial surface concentration and area specific to a fingerprint.

The introduction of digital technologies is accompanied by serious organizational changes, leading to a radical transformation of the principles of doing business at the level of individual companies and entire industries. Most of the research on this topic draws attention to the technological aspect of this large-scale phenomenon. The problem of methods and tools for managing the digital transformation of companies remains to a much lesser extent studied. A huge potential for development is contained in the application of methodologies and tools for project management of transformation. This article identifies the specific characteristics of managing the digital transformation of a company and determines which project management tools are best suited for these characteristics. The study is structured as a review of scientific research using qualitative data analysis tools. The results of the study allow us to conclude that digital transformation management is characterized by the need to ensure comprehensive alignment between technological and overall strategy. Another key characteristic is hybridity, aimed at combining flexibility and stability in management, technical and social development of the company and innovative and regular management.

The development of digital production technologies, taking place within the framework of the global fourth industrial revolution, creates conditions for increasing the level of customization of industrial production, i.e. the ability to manufacture products that reflect the preferences of small groups of consumers and even individual customers. Product customization, as one of the most important aspects of the fourth industrial revolution, is of great interest for researchers and has been becoming one of the promising trajectories for the development of new production technologies and methods of organizing production. But at the same time, the economic effect of increasing the customization of products remains not fully understood. This study is aimed at identifying various economic effects arising from customization in industrial enterprises, and their quantitative assessment in relation to the manufacturing industries of the Russian industry. Using a systematic review of available scientific research and analytical reports, the study quantifies the economic effects of customization in various sectors of the Russian economy. The results show the colossal effect of further customization in Russian enterprises. The authors conclude that the annual effect of revenue growth in all industries, even under the most pessimistic scenarios and estimates, is 1.9 trillion rubles, and the effect of cost reduction – 1.4 trillion rubles. The results obtained can form the basis of government measures to stimulate the customization of products of Russian industrial enterprises.

Project management plays an important role in the modern economy and public administration. Trends in project management have a significant impact on the performance of companies, public organizations, and programs for the socio-economic development in Russia. One of the interesting developments in project management is the expansion of hybrid methodologies, which combine tools and approaches of flexible and predictive approaches.This article aims to study the forms, results, and types of hybrid project management methodologies through the lens of the concept of organizational ambidexterity. Methodologically, the research is based on a systematic review of the Russian-language scientific literature on project management hybrid methodologies and organizational ambidexterity, as well as a qualitative content analysis of selected papers.The results of the study indicate that there are significant similarities between key aspects of hybrid methodologies and organizational ambidexterity. The authors conclude that hybrid project management methodologies can be considered as the instruments of organizational ambidexterity. As practical recommendations, the authors propose to expand the use of hybrid methodologies in the management of not only project-based firms, but also in other organizations, as well as in the management of socio-economic programs, especially in conditions of high uncertainty. The potential of hybrid methodologies to improve organizational ambidexterity and thereby simultaneously ensure the stability and flexibility organizations makes them invaluable tools to increase the resistance organizations and strategic programs to technological disruptions, socio-economic crises, and global shocks.

A review of academic research studying the relationship between entrepreneurship and project management at the level of interpenetration of concepts, principles, methods, tools and practices has been made. The following is a description of the research methodology, which reflects different aspects of understanding the term “entrepreneurial project” and a quantitative analysis of the results of thematic coding. The results of the study have been presented. Conclusions have been formulated that include an interpretation of the findings and the maim points on how the term “entrepreneurial project” is currently understood and what trends in the development of the theory and practice of entrepreneurship and project management reflects the current understanding.

Background. Anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC) is one of the most aggressive human tumors. Since median survival of ATC patients is only 4 months, its early diagnosis is very important. Although ATC has specific clinical manifestations, the analysis of expression of different microRNAs can facilitate preoperative diagnostics and help to detect its potential precursors among differentiated cancers and other thyroid malignancies.The study objective is to identify microRNAs specific for ATC that are different from microRNAs in other thyroid cancers.Materials and methods. We analyzed the expression of 14 microRNAs in histological specimens of 67 patients with ATC. The control groups included 25 patients with benign nodules, 36 patients with follicular adenomas, 32 patients with follicular cancer, and 152 patients with papillary thyroid cancer. For 7 out of 67 ATC patients, we compared mi-croRNA levels in histological and cytological specimens.Results. Patients with ATC demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in the expression of miR-145, miR-125b and increase in the expression of miR-155 and miR-21 compared to all control groups. We found two reliable diagnostic markers of ATC: relative miR-21 expression (at a cutoff of 14.9, sensitivity was 0.955 and specificity was 0.837) and the miR-21/miR-145 ratio (at a cutoff of 122, sensitivity was 0.955 and specificity was 0.955). The level of miR-21 expression and miR-21/miR-145 ratio in cytological specimens were accurate in all 7 cases (100 %).Conclusion. the level of expression of specific microRNAs can be used as a reliable biomarker for ATC. The consistency between the results obtained in cytological and histological specimens enables the use of stained cytological samples for this analysis.

The article aims to investigate the negative impact from organizational subcultural dynamics in digital transformation projects on number of conflicts and quality of communications and to elaborate proposals how to improve cross-subcultural communications within the projects. The methodology of the study includes participatory action research and case study. The network model of project culture helped to identify two cultural coalitions and their values. The model of the subcultural coalitions and their values helped to formulate the scope of communicational trainings and changed in the project communication system. The focus of the measures was on the preservation of the existing subcultures and on the improvement on the cross-subcultural communications. Comparing the number of conflicts within project before implementation of the measures based on the research and after it showed significant positive impact of these measures. The main findings show that in multidisciplinary and complex projects, such as digital transformation projects, subcultural dynamics can lead to formation of different coalition that do not share common values. This can be the source of the conflicts and low quality of communications. However, using the knowledge of coalitions’ structure and values the management of companies can enhance cross-subcultural interfaces without decreasing positive effect from subcultural diversity.

Introduction. The main method of preoperative diagnosis of thyroid tumors and the identification of possible metastasis is a cytological examination of smears obtained by fine-needle aspiration biopsy. However, the cytological material of the lymph nodes may not be adequate, and the detection of metastases faces a number of difficulties. In our recent study, we described a variant of the molecular classifier that allows the detection and typing of malignant thyroid tumors by analyzing several molecular markers in cytological preparations.The study objective was to assess the applicability of the developed method for the preoperative detection of metastases of papillary and medullary thyroid cancer in the lymph nodes of the neck lateral cellular tissue.Materials and methods. A total of 86 cytological samples were used, obtained from individual lymph nodes of 62 patients who had a diagnosis – thyroid cancer. Samples were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction regarding the preselected set of molecular markers: the BRAF V600E mutation, the normalized concentration of HMGA2, FN1 and SERPINA1 mRNA, 5 miRNAs and the mitochondrial/nuclear DNA ratio. The decision tree-based classifier was used to discriminate between benign and malignant samples.Results. The previously described classifier, based on the analysis of the BRAF V600E mutation, the content of HMGA2 mRNA, 3 miRNAs and the mitochondrial/nuclear DNA ratio, revealed metastases of thyroid cancer with good specificity (98 %) but less sensitivity (83 %). Therefore, a new classifier was built, including three markers – HMGA2 and FN1 mRNA, and miRNA-375, which, with regard to the detection of metastases, showed good sensitivity – 93 % with a slight decrease in specificity (up to 96 %).Conclusion. Thus, we demonstrated the possibility of preoperative detection of thyroid cancer metastases in the lymph nodes of the neck lateral cellular tissue by analyzing several molecular markers in cytological material.

Introduction. Esophageal adenocarcinoma develops from areas of intestinal metaplasia in Barrett’s esophagus, similar to how intestinal metaplasia transforms into gastric adenocarcinomas in the stomach. Atypia with intraepithelial neoplasia is difficult to distinguish from reactive and regenerative changes, especially in erosive mucosa of the esophagus. Observation of patients with Barrett’s esophagus allows the identification of adenocarcinoma in the earlier, more curable stages in many patients.The aim of our study was to study the prospects of using a classifier based on miRNA profiling in histological samples of Barrett’s esophagus to determine the risk of malignancy and treatment tactics.Material and Methods. In this study, 119 samples of archival histological material in the form of paraffin blocks were used: 89 samples of gastric mucosa with dysplasia and 30 samples of Barrett’s esophagus. The expression level of miRNA-145-5p, -150-5p, -20a-5p, -21-5p,-31-5p,-34a-5p,-375 was determined using real-time RT-PC R. Samples were stratified into different groups using the C-RT decision tree algorithm.Results. 26.7 % of Barrett’s esophagus samples were classified by expression of the proposed miRNAs as cancer, which may indicate a potential development of a malignant tumor in the mucosa of the esophagus when morphological changes have not yet been found.

The purpose of the study is to identify specifics of the organizational culture ofproject-based companies. Based on generalizations of the results of existing research, the definition of a project-based company has been clarified. The main characteristics that distinguish project-based firms from process-based firms have been identified. Based on this characteristics, it has been concluded that such companies differ not only in their organizational structure, content of activities and composition of participants, but also in their organizational culture. Among these features of organizational culture, the authors have included: focus on the final result, team interaction, informal communications, internal motivation of employees, active interaction with the customer. The conclusion has been made about the specifics of the project culture.

Introduction. Post-transcriptional mechanisms play a crucial role in the biological course and clinical manifestations of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Recent studies show that an increased content of oncogenic or reduced content of oncosuppressive microRNAs increases the aggressiveness of the tumor and correlates with an unfavorable prognosis of treatment, which allows them to be used in personalizing the treatment tactics of patients with PTC. The study objective is to compare the level of expression of 12 PTC-specific microRNAs and the frequency of V600E mutation of the BRAF gene in patients with different risk of relapse. Materials and methods. The study included 175 patients with PTC. For quantitative analysis of microRNA expression, a reverse transcription reaction followed by a real-time polymerase chain reaction in formalin-fixed paraffin blocks was used. Correlations between 12 microRNA expression and BRAF mutation with different clinical and anatomical features of PTC the risk of relapse according to the American Thyroid Association Risk Stratification System (2009) were analyzed. Results. We demonstrated that miR-146b, miR-221, miR-144, miR-451a, and miR-7 expression correlated with features such as extrathyroid tumor growth, larger size, multifocus, lymph node metastasis, and the presence of distant metastases of the PTC. Most importantly, miR-221, miR-144, miR-451a, and miR-7 expression correlated with risk levels, suggesting their potential significance in stratifying the risk of relapsing PTC. The dependence of the clinical behavior of PTC on the BRAF mutation has not been established.Conclusion. The result of the study will contribute to the individual choice of preoperative treatment tactics for patients with PTC.

In the work the effect of hydration on the viscosity and internal friction of pectin solutions has been studied. The dynamic viscosity has been measured on a rotational viscometer, and internal friction on a torsion pendulum with a small vibration amplitude. Hydration has been studied using thermogravimetric method and differential scanning calorimetry. It has been revealed that internal friction in pectin solutions and their dynamic viscosity depend on the type of pectin substances and their combinations. The data obtained are explained on the basis of ideas about the movement of the pectin molecule, which is carried out in the form of sequential movement along the totality of potential wells formed by neighboring hydrated molecules. In addition, it has been shown that internal friction in suspensions of citrus dietary fiber in the concentration range of 1.2-2 % is determined mainly by dissipative processes in a dispersion medium, which is a solution of pectin. The presented data on the viscosity and internal friction of solutions of various types and combinations of pectins and their relationship with hydration make it possible to control rheological properties of food systems with the addition of pectin substances.

Aim. To identify novel microRNA markers as survival predictors in patients with supratentorial gliomas.Methods. This study involved the analysis of tumour and normal brain tissue biopsy samples obtained from patients undergoing combination treatment for supratentorial gliomas of different World Health Organization (WHO) grades. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the expression profiles of ten microRNAs, following comparison with clinical treatment results: tumour morphology, WHO grade, patient age, Karnofsky scale, treatment type, postsurgical survival rate and histological diagnosis. The mean age of surgically treated patients [62 (57.9%) males and 45 (42.1%) females] was 48.8 ± 14 years. There were 17 (16%), 30 (28%) and 60 (56%) patients with grade II, III and IV (glioblastoma) gliomas, respectively. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistica version 10.0 and GraphPad Prism version 5.Results. Four microRNAs (miRNA-31, miRNA-21, miRNA-223 and miRNA-221) were strongly correlated with worse survival, when over-expressed, indicating their potential utility as survival predictors in glioma patients. Overexpression of these microRNAs in glioma tissue, lack of adjuvant therapy such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy and age > 48 years were identified as factors for worse prognosis.Funding: This work was supported by the program of fundamental scientific research on the topic 0310-2019-0003.Conflict of interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Purpose of the study - searching of new microRNA markers for differential diagnostics of different grade cerebral gliomas. Material and methods. Surgical material is tumor and externally unchanged brain tissue that was obtained from 41 patients with gliomas of different grade anaplasia. In 6 patients with cerebral glioma, a high-throughput Nanostring platform was used to determine the level of expression of 800 microRNAs. 37 patients with a similar pathology were subjected to real-time PCR, microRNA-128, 143, 144, 182, 183, 199b, 204, 7, 99a. Results and discussion: It has been established with the NanoString technology that the level of expression of miRNA 199b was significantly higher in gliomas of grade III and IV than in gliomas of grade II. In contrast, the expression level of miRNA-144 and miRNA-182 was reduced. There was also a significant 10-fold increase in the level of expression of microRNA-7 in tumors of grade IV in comparison with grade II. These differences in the expression of four microRNAs in these types of gliomas can be additional markers that distinguish rapidly growing malignant gliomas (grade III, IV) from slowly growing tumors (grade II) and timely assign an adequate comprehensive treatment.

Application of a lens multi-element acoustic microscope for the visualization and quantitative characterization of small discontinuities with dimensions of the spatial resolution level is considered. On the basis of the paraxial approximation it was found that the recorded spatio-temporal signal of the microscope ultrasonic array can be treated as an estimation of the scattering function of visualized objects. It was theoretically established that the scattering functions of the observed inhomogeneities can be used for the interpretation of the generated acoustic images. It is shown that the finite size of the array elements constrains the angular resolution of the method due to smoothing of the measured scattering function. Experimental testing of the proposed method was carried out using the developed prototype microscope with a two-dimensional array of square elements and a polystyrene spherical acoustic lens. It was experimentally confirmed that the spatial resolution of the device corresponds to a theoretical estimate obtained by a classical criterion. The generated images of small flat reflectors with different angles of inclination obtained by means of electronic scanning are presented. It is shown that the output array data set is more informative for the quantitative characterization of the discontinuities than their acoustical images. In particular, on the basis of the obtained estimation of the scattering function it was possible to estimate the angle of inclination of the reflectors.

Background. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy is recognized as the “gold standard” in the preoperative diagnosis of thyroid cancer. However, this method does not always allow reliable differentiation between benign and malignant thyroid nodules. Thus, the cytological report of a “follicular neoplasm or suspicious for a follicular neoplasm” suggests surgical lobectomy. However, in most cases, this conclusion does not point to follicular cancer but to benign neoplasm, follicular adenoma, where the surgical intervention is excessive. This implies the great relevance of finding biological markers capable of enhancing the specificity of detecting malignant neoplasms. Such markers may include an increase in the level of expression of oncogenes or a change in the expression of microRNA, since it is known that the content of a number of microRNAs changes significantly during the development of thyroid tumors.Materials and methods. The expression level of the HMGA2 gene, normally active at the embryonic stage, and oncogenic miRNA-221 microRNA was analyzed using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in 713 cytological preparations of the thyroid gland (stained material dried on glasses) obtained by standard fine-needle aspiration biopsy. The sample included preparations corresponding to different cytological diagnoses: benign (n = 375), follicular neoplasm or suspicious for a follicular neoplasm (n = 143), medullary carcinoma (n = 7), papillary carcinoma (n = 186) and anaplastic carcinoma (n = 2).Results. The content of messenger RNA (mRNA) HMGA2 (P = 1.6 × 10–66, area under curve ROC 0.946) and miR-221 (P = 6.3 × 10–61, area under curve ROC 0.927) proved to be significantly elevated in papillary carcinoma compared to benign tumors. Follicular neoplasms showed significant heterogeneity in the quantity of both molecular markers. At the same time, an elevated level of miR-221 (3 times on average) was also characteristic of samples from this group with an increased level of expression of the HMGA2 gene (an average of 85 times). With regard to the quantity of these markers, the group of follicular neoplasms, in which no increase in the HMGA2 mRNA level was detected, did not differ from the group of benign nodules.Conclusions. The obtained results show that assessing the expression of HMGA2 mRNA and oncogenic miR-221 makes it possible to differentiate the papillary thyroid carcinoma from goiter at the preoperative stage, and based on the content of the HMGA2 mRNA, the group of follicular neoplasms can be divided into subgroups presumably differing in the risk of malignancy.

Introduction. Cervical cancer is the 4th most common cancer among women. The main screening method for cervical cancer is cytological examination of the cervical epithelium. This method allows to evaluate the level of cervical dysplasia (malignant potential) but it has several limitations and flaws. Development and implementation of new methods of molecular and genetic analysis in clinical practice can increase informational value of the traditional cytological examination and therefore objectivity in choosing treatment options.Objective is to develop and verify a new method of differential diagnosis of severe intraepithelial dysplasia and invasive cervical cancer.Materials and methods. The method is based on analysis of small non-coding RNA molecules (miRNAs) extracted from the material of traditional Pap smears. Based on literature search, 18 “marker” microRNA molecules were chosen and their expression levels were estimated in 166 samples of Pap smears from cervical canals with different cytological diagnoses. The analysis was performed using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.Results. Estimation of ratios between expression levels of miRNA pairs: 126/375; 20а/375; 126/145 allows to differentiate with high confidence borderline states of severe intraepithelial dysplasia and invasive cervical carcinoma (coefficients of quantitative interpretation of the error curve were 0.8, 0.75, 0.72, respectively).Conclusions. Analysis of miRNAs in Pap smear samples is a promising additional method of cervical cancer diagnosis. The method is objective and can be proposed as a supporting technique in cases when cytological examination doesn’t allow to differentiate between borderline pathological states of the cervical epithelium. Implementation of the method in clinical practice requires methodological optimization and additional validation using more clinical material.

Introduction. In clinical practice, differential diagnosis of nodular thyroid diseases poses a serious problem which can be solved by development of new, safe, and specific thyroid tumor markers. Small regulatory RNAs (microRNA, miRNA) are a class of molecules that control gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. miRNAs, both intracellular and secreted into the extracellular space, can be used as markers of various diseases, including cancer. Stability of extracellular miRNAs is determined by binding to proteins and lipoproteins, or by “packing” into membrane microvesicles – exosomes. It is considered that exosomes with specific miRNA content are a result of active and biologically significant secretion, while release of other forms of miRNA is associated with apoptotic or necrotic cell death. This determines diagnostic value of exosomal fraction of circulating miRNAs, which may reflect presence or clinically significant properties of a tumor.The study objective was to explore a method of exosomal miRNA isolation, identify marker miRNAs, and estimate diagnostic value of their analysis.Methods. We used serum samples from 57 patients with nodular thyroid diseases and 13 healthy donors. Exosomes were isolated from serum by ultracentrifugation and analyzed by atomic force microscopy, laser correlation spectroscopy, and western blotting. Analysis of exosomal miRNAs was carried out by RT-PCR.Results. We have identified a specific correlation between certain miRNAs and status of thyroid nodular disease. Expression profiles of three miRNAs (miRNA-21, miRNA-146a, and miRNA-181a) exhibited specific characteristics for different forms of nodular thyroid disease and their analysis may have diagnostic value.Conclusions. Exosomes isolated by ultracentrifugation from serum are a source of RNA suitable for subsequent analysis of miRNA. The levels of different miRNAs in serum exosomes may differ by 1–2 times. «Marker» exosomal miRNAs have specific profiles in circulating exosomes of patients with different thyroid nodules. Clinical significance of testing exosomal miRNAs in patients with benign and malignant nodules of the thyroid gland can be increased by a parallel assessment of several molecules and analysis of the profile of their representation in exosomes. MiRNA-181a, -146a, and -21 form a diagnostic combination of «marker» molecules present in the circulating exosomes, which can be extended and used for diagnosis (differential diagnosis) of thyroid nodules.

Background. Studies of hybrid zones and animal populations of hybrids in space and time is an actual problem of evolution biology and zoology. Using of molecular markers and bioacoustics in study of hybrid zones and populations helps to reveal not only hybrid origin of individual but also its destiny in population. Goals of work were to study modern distribution and sympatry zone’s state of Speckled and Russet Ground squirrels in Volga Region and to reveal interspecific hybrids in contact colonies basing on complex of molecular markers and parameters of acoustic signals. Materials and methods. On the territory of Ulyanovsk region 72 colonies were surveyed, including 35 colonies of Russet Ground Squirrel, 27 colonies of Speckled Ground Squirrel, 6 combined colonies with specific separation on microstations, 3 mixed colonies without separation and 1 former hybrid colony in Chuvashiya. In a contact colonies (n = 9) 217 samples were collected. Molecular genetic analysis was conducted on 5 markers (D-loop, Hoxb5, р53, ZfX, SmcY) for determination of individuals’ origin. Bioacoustics analysis was based on records of warning signals, processed in *WAV-format with 48 kHz discretization frequency and 16-bit depth. Frequency and interval parameters were obtain with Avisoft-Sonograph software. 148 signals of adult Russet (n = 11, 71 signals) and Speckled Ground squirrels (n = 11, 61 signals) and possible interspecific hybrids (n = 3, 19 signals) were processed. Statistical analysis of obtained data were perform in STATISTICA 10.0. Results. Modern state of Russet and Speckled Ground squirrels’ zone of sympatry quantitatively and structurally differs from previous. Among 72 observed colonies 62 (86 %) are monospecific (S. major – 35, 48,5 %; S. suslicus – 27, 37,5 %) and only 10 are contact (14 %). Genetic structure analysis of 10 modern contact colonies showed that in 6 combined colonies only individuals of contact species were revealed. Unlike of those in 3 mixed colonies hybrids were registered. Stepwise discriminant analysis of acoustic signals’ parameters united in three groups (Russet (n = 11, 69 signals) and Speckled (n = 11, 56 signals) Ground squirrels and their hybrids (n = 3, 18 signals)) revealed intermediate type of inheritance of parental acoustic signs by hybrids. Conclusions. Definite relation between composition and individuals’ number of contact colonies and facts of hybrids foundation in them was revealed. When individuals’ number is depressed or even one of parental species totally absent share of hybrids can reach 75 %. When number of both species is high and there is no separation on microstations hybrids in such colonies were found very rare and probably were result of sporadic hybridization.

In this paper, the acoustic microscope with a linear ultrasonic array and a cylindrical lens has been proposed in order to carry out quantitative characterization of layered regions of the sample under research. The determination method based on recording the microscope array spatio-temporal signal of the layer thickness and velocities of the longitudinal and transverse waves in the layer material has been developed. By using a test sample, it was shown that the error of measurement is about 1 % for both the thickness and the velocity of the longitudinal wave, and it is 3 % for the velocity of the transverse wave.

Relevance. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women. Tumor biopsy, a key diagnostic approach, is required to evaluate the nature of tumor and to determine the therapeutic strategy. In clinical practice methods are being applied: trepan-biopsy and fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB). The latter is less traumatic however is used less often because it provides with less information. Moreover, dependence from quality of biopsy and qualification of morphologist are attributes of both techniques. A possibility to use biopsy material for farther analysis of tumor-markers would open a perspective to obtain more information and to improve objectivity of traditional diagnostic approaches, including FNAB. MicroRNAs (miRNAs), regulatory molecules involved in control of virtually all physiologic and pathologic process, emerged as promising tumor markers. Malignant transformation of mammary gland epithelia is associated with specific alterations of cellular miRNAs profile. Analysis of these alterations is of great diagnostic potency.Objective. Development of method for miRNAs analysis in cytological smears material and evaluation of its practical applicability.Material and methods. Archived cytological material (smears on the glass slides) from patients with benign tumor and breast cancer was used. Analysis of miRNAs expression was performed by reverse transcription followed by quantitative PCR. Results of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction were analyzed with use of relevant cytological and morphological data.Results. Method of miRNAs analysis in material of cytological smears was developed. Expression of 9 miRNAs in 80 samples was evaluated. Statistically significant expression difference between benign and malignant tumor samples was found for 5 miRNAs: miR-21, miR-205, miR-125b, miR-200a, miR-221. MiR-125b exhibited most prominent expression dysregulation: malignant transformation of mammary epithelium is associated with 500 fold decrease of miR-125b expression level. Expression alterations of several miRNAs were revealed to correlate with clinically relevant characteristics of tumors.Conclusions. Results of our study indicated the possibility of miRNAs expression analysis in the FNAB material and the applicability of this method as additive approach to the convention cytological examination. Application of this method will allow to specify diagnosis and to optimize choice of the therapeutic strategy.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a highly aggressive disease with long asymptomatic course. New molecular prognostic markers are urgently needed to identify patients at high risk for developing lymph node metastasis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a recently discovered class of small non-coding RNAs. Based on literature and our data, we have chosen 12 miRNAs (miRNA-21, -221, -222, -155, -205, -20a, -125b, -146b, -181b, -200a, -126, -451), involved in HNSCC carcinogenesis. Using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, we have shown a change in the expression miRNA in tumor tissue compared to unmodified tissue. Significant upregulation of five miRNAs: miRNA-21, -155, -181b, -126, -451 (p

Context. The article proposes a method of analyzing the proposals of team members in order to avoid conflict situations at the stage of team formation. Objective. The object of the study is the method of analyzing the proposals of team members while solving project tasks. The purpose of the work is to analyze the developed method of analysis of proposals of team members to avoid or resolve conflict situations at the stage of team activation Method. The developed method is based on the theory of matrix games. Conflicts between individual team members mainly arise at the stage of team formation. For the project manager, it is important to identify the conflict situation in time and find a way out of it to satisfy both team members and without harming the teamwork as a whole. A team created to implement an IT project is often faced with a situation where two of its members have different visions of approaches to creating the final product. At the same time, each of them has experience in the development of similar software products or services by different teams. To effectively solve this situation, we suggest using approaches typical of bimatrix games, when each of these team members is considered as a player. This takes into account the fact that the bimatrix theory of games is based on a conflict between two players whose interests are opposite – an antagonistic zero-sum game is precisely the basis of the developed approach. Results. The proposed method of analysis of proposals of team members contributes to the avoidance or resolution of conflict situations at the stage of their closer interaction. For efficient solution of the said situation, we propose to use approaches being typical for bimatrix games when each of these team members is treated as a player. At the same time, account is taken of the fact that the bimatrix game theory is based on a conflict of two players whose interests are opposite – an antagonistic game with a zero sum being that very element to constitute the basis of the approach developed. Conclusions. The given calculation of the model example shows that the use of the proposed method allows the project manager to give a reasonable preference to another team member, since the expected average profit of this player is greater than that of the first player. In this case, the manager has an opportunity to simulate situations for the players (for the team) and promptly respond to probable deviations of their behavioral strategies from the optimal ones, establish healthy relationships between team members and choose the best proposals for solving project tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]