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As a new sustainable alternative to linear economics, the circular economy (CE) is bound to be accompanied by the requirements of the existing production model, science and technology, as well as the public perception of CE. To expose the potential impact of higher education on CE transition, this study systematically reviewed the relevant literature on the drivers and barriers to CE with a mixed analytical method. CiteSpace was used to perform bibliometric analysis and visual presentation of 367 literature accurately retrieved by search formula from two international influential databases, Web of Science and Scopus, and two significant Chinese databases, CNKI and CQVIP. In the results, we identified the number of publications and citations, the annual distribution of publications, annual citation trends, county distribution of publication contribution, the most-cited articles, and the co-citation networks. Moreover, we clarified the main drivers and barriers to CE in China by conducting qualitative content of the keywords related to driver and barrier factors in the literature. The results suggest that higher education has a positive influence on strengthening the main drivers and eliminating the main barriers, which implies that higher education has bright prospects in speeding up the CE transition. To maximize the effect of higher education for CE, we suggested university leaders and lecturers should adopt effective education and instruction measures in improving the performance of education activities for CE, so that the future leaders of various industries in universities could construct CE values and behavior patterns to achieve the replacement of traditional linear economy.

There are large amounts of reinforced concrete structures that have undergone damage from corrosion at their operational stage. The Eurocodes and national standards do not contain any guidelines for designing primary protection and repair systems for reinforced concrete structures. Our research shows the economic feasibility of designing reinforced concrete structures that can interact with an aggressive environment, taking into account the kinetics of concrete corrosion. Optimal design methods can be used to obtain the most economical solutions. We have developed a quantitative methodology for the design of the primary protection of reinforced concrete structures.

This article deals with religious discourse in modern history school textbooks in Ukraine that cover early modern times in Ukrainian history. It analyzes the place of religious discourse within national discourse, the correlation between local Ukrainian religious and more general discourse, and the representation of the relationships between Christian churches. Further, it defines a methodological approach and assesses the accuracy of facts presented in textbooks as well as the interpretation of religious life, normative language, and denominational labeling. It demonstrates the discrepancy between the achievements of academic historiography and school history, including the isolated and exclusive nature of history discourse in Ukrainian schools today.

The production of transgenic petunia plants with heterologous ZRNase II gene and the evaluation of resistance to Tobacco mosaic virus in the resultant plants was the aim of our research. We have generated transgenic petunia plants with ZRNase gene via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. The presence of ZRNase II gene was confirmed by PCR-analysis. Orcin method revealed that RNase activity in transgenic petunia expressing ZRNase II gene was 1.34-2.10 fold higher compared to wild-type plants. RNase activity varied among different transgenic lines. Both petunia varieties used for production of transgenic lines differed in their natural resistance to Tobacco mosaic virus.The symptoms of the viral infection in the transgenic plants of the susceptible variety inoculated with the virus were less severe. Indirect ELISA confirmed 3.3 -- 4.0 fold lower accumulation of viral antigenes in the infected transformed plants compared to the infected wild type ones. Application of ZRNase II gene in creation of transgenic petunia leads to the generation of plants tolerant to Tobacco mosaic virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of a number of enterprises that carry out foreign economic activity and availability of social problems that need immediate solution resulted in a necessity to attract business to the principles of corporate social responsibility. At the same time, a necessity to control corporate social responsibility in foreign markets, which appeared in recent years, does not have sufficient practice and experience. All these resulted in a necessity to form a new generation of specialists, who would specialise in managing corporate social responsibility in foreign markets. The article analyses the modern state of the corporate social responsibility in domestic and foreign markets. It justifies a necessity to introduce principles of corporate social responsibility in foreign economic activity. It gives recommendations on conducting business of companies in foreign markets on principles of corporate social responsibility.Увеличение количества предприятий, которые осуществляют внешнеэкономическую деятельность и наличие социальных проблем, требующих немедленного решения, привели к необходимости привлечения бизнеса к принципам корпоративной социальной ответственности. Вместе с тем, необходимость в управлении корпоративной социальной ответственностью на внешних рынках, которая возникла в последние годы, не имеет достаточной практики и опыта. Все это обусловило необходимость формирования нового поколения специалистов, которые будут специализироваться на управлении корпоративной социальной ответственностью на внешних рынках. В статье проанализировано современное состояние корпоративной социальной ответственности на внутренних и внешних рынках. Обоснована необходимость внедрения принципов корпоративной социальной ответственности во внешнеэкономической деятельности. Даны рекомендации по ведению бизнеса компаний на внешних рынках на принципах корпоративной социальной ответственности.

The purpose of this study is to substantiate the choice and evaluate the effectiveness of therapeutic tactics aimed at suppressing collagen formation and improving metabolic processes in the kidney parenchyma in young children with pyelonephritis against the background of vesicoureteral reflux associated with undifferentiated tissue dysfunction. 67 children from 2 weeks to 3 years old with pyelonephritis and vesicoureteral reflux were examined. All children during the period of remission of the inflammatory process were examined for the content of oxyproline in the urine. Urine crystallinity and urinary excretion were determined, and markers of the morphofunctional state of the cytomembranes of the renal epithelium were determined: calcification test—the presence of polar lipids in the urine and test for the presence of lipid peroxidation products in the urine. Children with high urinary hydroxyproline excretion prior to protocol treatment of pyelonephritis during the remission of the inflammatory process at the stage of maintenance therapy were recommended to receive metabolic preparations that can inhibit collagen formation and improve parenchyma metabolic processes during the month—vitamin E 10% and l-carnitine in age-related doses. After 6 months, a study was made on the functional state of the renal parenchyma in the dynamics of treatment. After metabolic antihypoxic and membrane-protective therapy, there was a significant positive dynamic of all markers of tissue hypoxia and membrane destruction in the kidney parenchyma, which confirms the inhibition of collagen formation processes and a decrease in tissue hypoxia with vitamin E and l-carnitine in age-related doses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies have advocated that digital technologies (DTs) positively affect the transition of a linear economy model to a circular economy (CE) model and facilitate enterprises in implementing circular strategies. Despite this general statement, the literature still overlooks how enterprises should apply various DTs of Industry 4.0 across the entire product lifecycle to operationalize CE-related strategies. To fill this gap, this paper proposes a conceptual framework exploring DTs in terms of CE operationalization from the perspective of the product lifecycle. Based on insights gained through a systematic literature review, we clarify how DTs can facilitate CE performance objectives through the three stages of the product lifecycle: product design, product use, and product recovery or recycling. Furthermore, we study how various Industry 4.0 DTs, such as the Internet of things, big data, and cloud computing, are utilized to operationalize the transition toward a CE. DTs applied to the service-oriented product-service system contributes innovation into circular business models to make full use of idle resources and provide high-quality personalized services. We have adopted three performance objectives: using fewer materials and resources, extending product lifespan, and closing the loop to evaluate the effects of DTs in promoting CE development. By investigating how DTs affect CE performance objectives, the conceptual framework developed in this paper advances the knowledge regarding the role of DTs as an enabler of CE from the product lifecycle. Our findings provide a practical reference enabling researchers and managers to harness the potential of DTs to support CE transition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As large communities, the efficiency and effectiveness of waste management on university campuses are of concern. This study aims to verify the variable relationship, influence path, and regulating factors of college students' attitudes and behavior toward waste separation. A questionnaire survey was conducted at Henan Institute of Science and Technology, China, with 1300 respondents, among which 1213 questionnaires were valid. The SPSS software v23.0 was used to carry out the statistical analysis of the collected data by applying multiple analyses. The results showed that (i) females outperform males across attitudes and internal and external contextual factors, (ii) freshmen showed more positive waste separation behaviors, while upper-year students' behaviors were more susceptible to contextual factors, (iii) college students' attitudes, especially the knowledge factor, have a significant positive influence on behaviors, and (iv) the external contextual factors, as moderating variables, have a significant difference in the impact amplitude at different levels when attitudes affect behaviors. Our findings supplement the limited information available on the potential implications of applying the ABC model in exploring the factors influencing waste separation behaviors among college students. The provided insights can support college students, university administrators, policymakers, and government departments in more effectively optimizing, designing, and managing waste systems on campuses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cuestiones Políticas is the property of Revista Cuestiones Politicas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The article introduces the concept of mega-essay as an integrated format into literary circulation in the era of postmodernism. Its specificity is outlined in other forms of ensemble association of essay works: mega-essay as an integrated formation is a consolidated format, it differs from other forms of essay compilations (collection, cycle) with greater completeness, more thorough basis of design. It has a closed structure, because all its structural components (sections, subsections, framework elements constituting the whole book) are interconnected. They are closely related to the author's intention, outlined in the preface or introduction, concluded on the basis of causal and associative principles. Based on the analyzed works of Ortega y Gasset, O. Zabuzhko’s «Notre Dame dʼUkraine», N. Zborovska’s «My Lesia Ukrainka», etc. conclusions are made about specific features of the mega-essays, in which the phenomenon chosen for comprehension (culture, epoch, turning point of history) is described in detail by incorporating internal and external contexts, authoritative references, other works, and if necessary, with the dominance of the essayistic method of presentation of opinions, related to the personal views of the author. Emphasis is placed on the affinity of ideas and selected essay formats of Ortega y Gasset and O. Zabuzhko, given their content and structural organization. Conclusions are made about the role and significance of essays of this format in postmodern European literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new sustainable alternative to linear economics, the circular economy (CE) is bound to be accompanied by the requirements of the existing production model, science and technology, as well as the public perception of CE. To expose the potential impact of higher education on CE transition, this study systematically reviewed the relevant literature on the drivers and barriers to CE with a mixed analytical method. CiteSpace was used to perform bibliometric analysis and visual presentation of 367 literature accurately retrieved by search formula from two international influential databases, Web of Science and Scopus, and two significant Chinese databases, CNKI and CQVIP. In the results, we identified the number of publications and citations, the annual distribution of publications, annual citation trends, county distribution of publication contribution, the most-cited articles, and the co-citation networks. Moreover, we clarified the main drivers and barriers to CE in China by conducting qualitative content of the keywords related to driver and barrier factors in the literature. The results suggest that higher education has a positive influence on strengthening the main drivers and eliminating the main barriers, which implies that higher education has bright prospects in speeding up the CE transition. To maximize the effect of higher education for CE, we suggested university leaders and lecturers should adopt effective education and instruction measures in improving the performance of education activities for CE, so that the future leaders of various industries in universities could construct CE values and behavior patterns to achieve the replacement of traditional linear economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article analyzes the peculiarities of the reception of Jose Ortega y Gasset's works in the essays of Oksana Zabuzhko. Emphasis is placed on the commonality of creative origins and ideas of both authors. The intellectual and poetic connections of iconic works are analyzed, particularly "The Revolt of the Masses" and "Notre Dame d'Ukraine. Ukrainian woman in the conflict of mythologies". The uniqueness of the ideas of the Spanish thinker in the construction of the concept of Ukrainian identity by Oksana Zabuzhko is emphasized. It is concluded that the works of Jose Ortega y Gasset are analyzed and intertwined with the work of Oksana Zabuzhko regarding socio-political and poetic aspects. The format of the mega-essay, common for both authors, chosen for the presentation of their reflections, is objectively analyzed. This format is a harmonious, highly artistic formation in which the content and form are balanced: here, all sections (parts) are logically and consistently connected, placed in a cause-and-effect relationship. Both artists chose the method of "philosophizing in the space of literature", aestheticized intellectualism, and enriched rational analysis of art and history, which allowed readers to get closer to the essence of Spanish / Ukrainian civilizations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although wheat streak mosaic virus (WSMV) is a well-known pathogen inducing significant crop losses and endangering wheat production worldwide, the recent discovery of High Plains wheat mosaic virus (HPWMoV) in Ukraine raises questions on the co-existence of these two viruses having a similar host range and the same mite vector. Here we report on the screening of winter wheat industrial plantings in several important regions of Ukraine for WSMV and HPWMoV. WSMV was identified in an extremely high number of symptomatic plants (>85%) as compared to HPWMoV detected in 40% of wheat samples. Importantly, the preferred mode of HPWMoV circulation in Ukraine was mixed infection with WSMV (>30%) as opposed to WSMV, which was typically found in monoinfection (60%). Screening wheat varieties for possible virus resistance indicated that all but one were susceptible to WSMV, whereas over 50% of the same varieties were not naturally infected with HPWMoV. Overall, phylogenetic analysis of the collected WSMV and HPWMoV isolates indicated their high identity and similarity to other known isolates of the respective viruses. Here we first characterize WSMV isolates found in winter wheat plants in mono- or mixed infection with HPWMoV, which was recently reported as a typical wheat pathogen in Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the benefits and barriers associated with the implementation of integrated management systems. The results of a questionnaire survey conducted in Slovak and Ukrainian companies with implemented IMS confirm that Ukrainian and Slovak companies generally perceive the introduction of IMS positively, regardless of the length of the period (number of years) IMS is implemented. The most frequently reported benefits were (1) increased quality of products and services, (2) a competitive, and (3) customer acquisition and retention. With regard to barriers perceived, Ukrainian companies generally perceive the introduction of IMS positively, although slightly larger barriers were overcome by larger companies, the opposite was true for Slovak companies. However, the dependence of the perception of barriers in the IMS implementation on the size of the company was not statistically proven. The most frequently reported barriers were an administrative burden and a lack of tools for IMS auditing and evaluation. The study expands the empirical evidence on perceived benefits and barriers of IMS implementation and can serve managers in their effort to overcome the difficulties and take full advantage of IMS implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transforming the plastic industry toward producing more sustainable alternatives than conventional plastics, as an essential enabler of the bio-based circular economy (CE), requires reinforcing initiatives to drive solutions from the lab to the market. In this regard, startups and ideation and innovation events can potentially play significant roles in consolidating efforts and investments by academia and industry to foster bio-based and biodegradable plastic-related developments. This study aimed to present the current trends and challenges of bioplastics and bio-based materials as sustainable alternatives for plastics. On this basis, having conducted a systematic literature review, the seminal research themes of the bio-based materials and bioplastics literature were unfolded and discussed. Then, the most recent developments of bio-based sustainable products in Ukraine, as alternatives to petroleum-based plastics, that have gained publicity through local startup programs and hackathons were presented. The findings shed light on the potential of the bio-based sector to facilitate the CE transition through (i) rendering innovative solutions most of which have been less noticed in academia before; (ii) enhancing academic debate and bridging the gap between developers, scholars, and practitioners within the plastic industry toward creating circularity across the supply chain; (iii) identifying the main challenges and future perspectives for further investigations in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article is devoted to the analysis of Montaigne's book "The Essays" from the point of view of postmodernist criticism. The work is conceived as an experimental eclectic and mosaic formation, full of paradoxes, which creates the multiplicity of its interpretations in terms of different practices, including postmodernist practices. The features of the author?s self-identification are analysed through the postmodernist paradigm. The originality of the essayistic method of understanding reality through the philosopher 's own beliefs is investigated. The intertextual nature of his essays, based on individual authorial commentary on citation material, reinterpretation, and reevaluation of the past experiences, through which the author creates his image, are analysed. The ironic nature of Montaigne's works, his methods of playing with the reader are analyzed separately. It is generalized that the author's ironic position in the book "The Essays" is an indicator of the freedom of his personal thinking and a catalyst for readers to develop their own attitude to everything he contemplates. The comprehension of the compositional organization of the book "The Essays" from the point of view of rhizomatism is suggested. It is concluded that by combining tradition and experiment, Montaigne demonstrates the limitations of both classical tradition and postmodern aesthetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper studies the main type of conformal reducible conformally flat spaces. We prove that these spaces are subprojective spaces of Kagan, while Riemann tensor is defined by a vector defining the conformal mapping. This allows to carry out the complete classification of these spaces. The obtained results can be effectively applied in further research in mechanics, geometry, and general theory of relativity. Under certain conditions the obtained equations describe the state of an ideal fluid and represent quasi-Einstein spaces. Research is carried out locally in tensor shape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetables represent valuable food source and are cultivated worldwide. Cucurbits are of great importance for farmers, and viruses endanger their profitable production. Monitoring of vegetable viruses in Ukraine showed that cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV), and watermelon mosaic virus (WMV) were the most harmful and common viruses in reference regions. This work was focused on establishing sources of virus introduction and/or maintenance in a population of susceptible crops, as well as on assessing relative changes in virus-infected symptomatic plants during the vegetative season in open field conditions. Samples were collected based on visual symptoms on leaves and fruits. For virus indication, commercial DASELISA kits for CMV, ZYMV, and WMV were used (Loewe, Germany). Following this work, epidemiological patterns for viruses infecting vegetable crops based on their biological properties were discovered. Seed transmission was confirmed as an important way of spreading of ZYMV and CMV, and often neglected source of viruses in the ecosystems requiring special control for pathogens with wide host range (CMV). CMV was the commonest virus found in symptomatic plants (21%) followed by ZYMV (14%) and WMV (8%). A large portion (18%) of mixed virus infection was typically induced in Ukraine by the following virus groups: CMV/ZYMV, CMV/WMV, ZYMV/WMV, and rarely CMV/ZYMV/WMV. Field experiments showed steep decline of healthy plants from the end of May until the end of August, in parallel to an increase of virusinfected cucurbits. CMV was detected starting from the beginning of the experiment. Similarly, WMV was also found during the duration of screening with sharp increase of diseased plants by the end of the season. ZYMV was detected only in July with subsequent decrease in the number of ZYMV-positive samples as opposed to WMV. Artificial ecosystems were demonstrated as important factors maintaining populations of viruses infecting vegetable crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient electronic waste (e-waste) management is one of the vital strategies to save materials, including critical minerals and precious metals with limited global reserves. The e-waste collection issue has gained increasing attention in recent years, especially in developing countries, due to low collection rates. This study aims to search for progressive solutions in the e-waste collection sphere with close-to-zero transport and infrastructure costs and the minimization of consumers' efforts towards an enhanced e-waste management efficiency and collection rate. Along these lines, the present paper develops a smart reverse system of e-waste from end-of-life electronics holders to local recycling infrastructures based on intelligent information technology (IT) tools involving local delivery services to collect e-waste and connecting with interactive online maps of users' requests. This system considers the vehicles of local delivery services as potential mobile collection points that collect and deliver e-waste to a local recycling enterprise with a minimum deviation from the planned routes. Besides e-waste transport and infrastructure costs minimization, the proposed smart e-waste reverse system supports the reduction of CO2 through the optimal deployment of e-waste collection vehicles. The present study also advances a solid rationale for involving local e-waste operators as key stakeholders of the smart e-waste reverse system. Deploying the business model canvas (BMC) toolkit, a business model of the developed system has been built for the case of Sumy city, Ukraine, and discussed in light of recent studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Turning from linear to circular business model, from cradle-to-grave to cradle-to-cradle and from waste to wealth, the concept of circular economy (CE) has become an important tool to promote sustainable development as it combines economic, environmental and social benefits at a local as well as global scale. In the shift towards CE, examining the CE from the perspective of its potential is crucial for its wider and more effective implementation in the practice. The aim of the paper is to clarify a circularity phenomenon in closed-loop economy under the notion of potential in part of (1) the structural elements, (2) underlying categories and (3) basal properties as a follow-up to the previous studies about managing the circularity potential. The study provides the theoretical framework for understanding circularity potential by developing the circularity potential categorization in order to get a comprehensive picture of what has been done in the past and where efforts are most need today to achieve a progress towards circularity in the future. The basal properties of circularity potential such as integrity, dynamism, territorial affiliation and different strategies compatibility were revealed and discussed for managing the circularity potential. The findings of the paper have ambition to contribute to new metrics development to measure the progress towards zero-waste and CE aimed at identification and monitoring all the possible forms of the circularity potential -- opportunities, reserves, available resources, rather than the available resources only that were primarily considered in the past attempts at the operationalisation of circular economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Today, the problem of increasing negative environmental externalities related to waste management, especially electronic waste, which also includes used household batteries and accumulators, is becoming increasingly acute. They cause significant damage not only to the environment but also to public health when released into the environment without control. The purpose of this work is to study the environmental and economic aspects and determine the external effects caused by the consequences of the consumption of autonomous batteries. Correlation-regression analysis showed that there is a link between indicators of domestic market filling of household batteries and the dynamics of mortality related to cancer. The study provides simplified calculations of external effects that arise in Ukraine because of the consumption of household batteries due to the absence of a system for their collection and disposal. The sum of the total external effects is determined, excluding losses due to air pollution, water pollution, and agricultural losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a major health threat compromising the gonorrhoea treatment globally. AMR surveillance including whole genome sequencing (WGS)‐based epidemiology provides ideal resolution to identify and describe AMR gonococcal clones, AMR determinants and populations, which can inform management guidelines and antimicrobial stewardship policies. Our aims were to, for the first time, elucidate the WGS‐based epidemiology and characterize AMR determinants of gonococcal strains spreading in Ukraine, 2013–2018. Gonococcal isolates (n = 150) from Ternopil and Dnipro, Ukraine (2013–2018), were subjected to AMR testing (Etest) for eight antimicrobials and WGS. Overall, 11.3% of isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin, 6.0% to tetracycline, and 0.7% to benzylpenicillin. No isolates were resistant to azithromycin, spectinomycin, ceftriaxone, or cefixime, but one isolate was bordering resistance to both cephalosporins. Twenty‐five MLST STs, 50 NG‐MAST STs, and 34 NG‐STAR types were identified. The phylogenomic analysis revealed six main clusters, mostly associated with the internationally described multidrug‐susceptible gonococcal lineage. Resistance to ciprofloxacin was associated with GyrA S91F and ParC S87R mutations; tetracyclines with rpsJ V57M and tetM; penicillins with mosaic penA‐34.001 and β‐lactamase; mtrR; PorB1b G101D, and PBP1 L421P mutations. One isolate of the multidrug‐resistant NG‐MAST ST1407, MLST ST1901 was found, which was bordering resistance to ceftriaxone and cefixime. The antimicrobial susceptibility of gonococcal strains spreading in Ternopil and Dnipro, Ukraine, in 2013–2018 was surprisingly high. Continued and expanded gonococcal AMR surveillance, ideally including WGS, in Ukraine is essential. This could inform action plans and public health policies to control the spread of AMR gonococcal strains in Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Adalya is the property of Koc University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: A total of 54 samples of Brassicaceae crops showing symptoms of mosaic, mottling, vein banding and/or leaf deformation were collected in Kyiv region (northern central part of Ukraine) in 2014–2015. A half of collected samples was found to be infected with Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV), and TuMV was detected in samples from Brassica oleracea var. capitata (cabbage), Raphanus sativus, Brassica juncea, Raphanus sp., Sinapis alba, Camelina sativa and Bunias orientalis (weed). The full‐length sequence of the genomic RNA of a Ukrainian isolate (UKR9), which was isolated from cabbage, was determined. Recombination analysis of UKR9 isolate showed that this isolate was an interlineage recombinant of world‐Brassica and Asian‐Brassica/Raphanus phylogenetic groups. This study shows for the first time the occurrence of TuMV in Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]