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Introduction. Most electromagnetic compatibility studies carried out in the context of power switch research are generally valid for low frequencies. This frequency restriction appears to be too restrictive for a complete analysis of the electromagnetic interference conducted. The novelty of this work lies in the load-dependent an optimal selection of IGBTs and MOSFETs for least-disturbance power switching in the frequency range from 150 kHz to 30 MHz, based on an optimal experimental selection procedure and show the impact of load value on switch switching and noise generation. Purpose. Analysis of the fundamental possibility of selecting a switching device with a power supply based on an experimental measurement which allows to increase the reliability of the entire mechanism operation and significantly simplify the design. Methods. In this paper, the proposed study is used and compared with experimental results at low and high frequencies. Then, a comparison is made for conducted electromagnetic interference (common-mode and differential-mode) generated by IGBT and MOSFET for different loads, and the proposed methodology is verified on an experiment suitable for predicting terminal overvoltage analysis and conducted electromagnetic interference problems. Practical value. The primary method for establishing a conducted electromagnetic interference source for switching devices is based on IGBT and a MOSFET depending on the resistive load. References 22, figures 17.

Introduction. This paper focuses on a renewable energy system coupled to a dual purpose power grid via a parallel active power filter for injecting photovoltaic energy into the grid and improving the power quality in the presence of the non-linear load. The novelty of the work consists in the combination of two advanced techniques – Fuzzy Logic Controller (FLC) and the optimized Anti-Windup Fractional Order Proportional-Integral Differentiator (AW-FOPID) regulator based on Particle Swarm Optimization with the Spreading Factor (PSO-SF) algorithm, applied to the improved Direct Power Control (DPC) strategy under different conditions related to climate changes and healthy or infected electrical network. Purpose. Its main role is to improve the power quality and reject the perturbations deforming the electrical network under distorted, unbalanced and balanced grid voltage conditions. Besides, the FLC is employed the Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) under any weather conditions. In addition, the optimized AW-FOPID controller leads to keep the DC bus voltage at its reference value with small undershoots and overshoots in the voltage with a short response time in steady or dynamic states. Methods. The rejection of disturbances affecting the grid is offered by the improved DPC. On the other hand, an intelligent method based on fuzzy logic was used MPPT under any weather conditions. Furthermore, an AW-FOPID regulator based on PSO-SF algorithm is used to keep the DC bus voltage at its reference value with small undershoots and overshoots in the voltage, while keeping a fast response time. Results. The proposed system control is evaluated in various states of power source: distorted, unbalanced, and balanced by simulation using MATLAB/Simulink. The simulation results illustrate the effectiveness and performance of the studied control strategies. References 26, tables 8, figures 16.

Purpose: Explore the genesis of the global rocket launcher market, focusing on its history, current trends, and influencing factors. The research delves into the strategies of aerospace companies and their adaptation to changing market conditions, identifying key elements that shape and modify these strategies. Design / Method / Approach: Multifaceted analytical methodology was utilized, including logical, statistical, and graphical techniques to investigate the rocket launcher market thoroughly. A systemic approach facilitated the examination of the interrelationships among technological innovations, economic implications, and political factors. Structural-functional analysis delineated the operational mechanisms of various market segments, and comparative analysis was used to discern global tendencies and regional specificities. Findings: Reveal an analysis of the strategic approaches of entities engaged in the production of rocket launchers, emphasizing their state of development and evolution over time. This analysis also identifies the factors impacting the rocket launcher market, which are critical for the strategic formulation and adaptation processes. Strategies demonstrating significant efficacy amidst rapid market changes were distinctly highlighted. Theoretical implications: Contribute to expanding the knowledge base regarding the strategic perspectives of companies in the field of space economics, offering new data and interpretations. This integration of economics, technology, politics, and international relations showcases the benefits of an interdisciplinary approach in understanding complex industry processes in a changing market environment, specifically regarding strategic management in a changing market environment. Practical implications: As a decision-making guide for industry leaders and professionals, offering data and analytics for strategic planning and informed decision-making. Therefore, the practical value of the research lies in providing useful resources for a wide range of stakeholders, including industry representatives, policymakers, investors, and the academic community. Educational value: The findings of the study can serve as educational material for courses and programs related to the study of high-tech markets and the formation of a system of strategic management in companies. Originality / Value: Comprehensive perspective on the rapidly evolving rocket launcher industry, with a particular focus on the last twenty years and significant attention to the last five years. This period has seen considerable technological innovations and shifts in the global economy and political landscape, providing insights into the key factors shaping the industry and predictions about future changes and trends. Research limitations / Future research: The primary challenge for analyzing the market and company strategies is the limited availability of verified and reliable information, as the rocket launcher market is closely intertwined with state defense programs, which significantly restrict information access. Future research could delve deeper into the impact of technological innovations, government regulations, and the interaction between the rocket launcher market and other aerospace sectors on the strategies of companies from different countries. Given the dynamic nature of the market, regular data updates, at least biennially, are essential for keeping the analysis current. Paper type: Empirical

Introduction Vegetarianism is an eating pattern centred on plant-based food. It encompasses many diets that differ in terms of whether they contain goods originating from animals, like milk and eggs. Nowadays, vegetarianism is increasing in popularity in developed nations, particularly in Europe. Individuals choose vegetarian diets for reasons related to health, ethics, or ecology. The rising popularity of vegetarian diets is not limited to adults but is also increasing among children. Aim of the study Vegetarian diets are generally considered to be beneficial for health. However, there are concerns over the ability to meet the dietary requirements necessary during infancy, youth, and adolescence on a vegetarian diet. Therefore, the primary aim of this systematic review is to answer questions about the efficacy of a plant-based diet in meeting the nutritional requirements of children and how to avoid the risk of nutritional deficiencies among vegetarian children. Material and methods Article provides an overview of the current literature about the vegetarian diet in children. The information has been collected from a comprehensive search of electronic databases, scientific journals, and statement papers published by nutrition and paediatric organisations. Results Following a vegetarian diet can be a beneficial decision for all children, assuming that it is properly organised and well balanced. The majority of paediatric and nutrition organisations do not recommend more strict diets for children, such as a vegan diet, which fully excludes not only meat but all animal products.

Introduction: In the last few years, obesity has become a central issue with more than 2.6 billion people worldwide being overweight or obese. While the risks associated with this condition and its rising significance are widely known, the effect of this attention on screening and treatment remains unsatisfying. This paper explores multiple treatment strategies and evaluates their effectiveness in preventing obesity-related complications. Review methods: We conducted our study as a literature review, with data being gathered via PubMed and Embase. The state of knowledge: Physical activity, behavioral therapy, and proper nutrition remain the foundation for obesity therapy. However, in many cases these approaches are insufficient. Recently, there has been a dynamic development of bariatric surgery, which in comparison to lifestyle modification, results in better long-term effects and improved quality of life. New surgery procedures, such as sleeve gastrectomy and adjustable gastric banding, have shown to be one of the most effective, but they carry a risk of complications. Conclusions: Growing treatment options allow doctors to choose more targeted strategies, based on the patient’s risk factors, overall health status, and compliance. Improvements in surgery, especially laparoscopic techniques have opened new possibilities for patients with morbid obesity.

Introduction Ashwagandha, a traditional Indian plant, is gaining increasive attention from scientists worldwide due to its potential health benefits, especially in the context of its antibacterial and anticancer properties. Aim of the study The aim of this review was to discuss recent findings regarding the impact of Withania Somnifera on antibacterial effect and its potential applications in anticancer therapy. Materials and methods: The paper was created based on the Pubmed and Google Scholar database. The literature was reviewed using the keywards: ,,Ashwagandha”, ,,Withania Somnifera”, ,,antibacterial ”, ,,anticancer”, ,,side effects”, ,,breats cancer”. Results Studies have confirmed Withania Somnifera, exhibits significant anticacterial and anticancer effects. It inhibits the growth of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Futhermore, it demonstrates anticancer activity, especially in breast cancer, by stimulating apoptosis, induction of cytotoxic effects on cancerous cells and increasing cell sensitivity to radiation. Conclusion Despite promising results, futher research on the benefits of Ashwagandha, particulary in the long term, is essential. There is growing need of more research of the potencial benefits of Ashwagandha in the treatment of various disorders including cancer and bacterial infections and to develop more effective therapeutic strategies. The need for large randomized studies comparing long term clinical effectiveness is emphasized

Introduction and purpose: Citrus bergamia, commonly known as bergamot, is a unique plant native to the Calabria region in Italy, prized for its fragrant fruits and versatile applications. Historically utilized for extracting essential oil, bergamot has garnered attention for its therapeutic properties, particularly its Bergamot-derived Polyphenolic Fraction (BPF), which exhibits lipid-lowering, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. This paper aims to provide a comprehensive summary of existing research on the therapeutic potential of BPF in humans. Brief description of the state of knowledge: BPF has shown promise in supporting wound healing, alleviating neuropathic pain, and exhibiting antimicrobial properties. Research highlights BPF's role in modulating lipid metabolism, particularly in reducing LDL cholesterol and triglycerides while increasing HDL cholesterol levels. Additionally, BPF demonstrates anti-inflammatory effects, accelerating the recovery process in conditions such as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and potentially influencing pathways involved in cancer cell proliferation and apoptosis. Further studies explore BPF's impact on bone metabolism, erectile dysfunction, and its potential in dermatological applications, particularly in counteracting photoaging. Conclusions: While existing studies underscore the promising therapeutic effects of BPF in various medical domains, further research is warranted to establish its efficacy and safety for broader clinical use. Continued investigation on a larger scale holds the potential to develop BPF as a valuable physiotherapeutic strategy across diverse medical fields.

Introduction The rising prevalence of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use has prompted concerns regarding its potential health implications. While much attention has focused on respiratory and cardiovascular effects, injuries, oral trauma, and bone fractures linked to e-cigarette use have received less scrutiny. This paper aims to comprehensively review the landscape of injuries, oral trauma, and bone fractures induced by e-cigarettes, shedding light on this underexplored facet of e-cigarette-related harm. Material and Methods This literature review has analyzed 16 papers. Inclusion criteria: researches and case reports published after 2015. PubMed and Google Scholar has been searched to identify the papers. Analysis of the Literature Existing literature suggests a growing incidence of injuries, oral trauma, and bone fractures associated with e-cigarette use, albeit with limited systematic investigation. Mechanisms underlying these injuries range from device malfunctions to inadvertent impacts during use. Case reports highlight a spectrum of injuries, including oral burns, dental trauma, and skeletal fractures, often involving the face and mouth regions. Conclusions Despite the lack of comprehensive epidemiological data emerging evidence underscores the need for heightened awareness and preventive measures to mitigate e-cigarette-related injuries. Enhanced education, regulation of e-cigarette devices, and promotion of safer usage practices are crucial steps towards reducing the burden of e-cigarette-related harm on oral and skeletal health.

Introduction and purpose: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disease in the female reproductive age. As treatment guidelines include lifestyle changes, various diet types are being evaluated in terms of efficacy among them ketogenic diet (KD) which was also assessed in terms of its influence on another ovarian related disease - ovarian cancer. The aim of this paper is an analysis of the available scientific data in respect of the role of the KD as a part of the therapy of ovarian related disorders. The search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholarship databases. Brief description of the state of knowledge: Ketogenic diet demonstrates favorable effects in the hormonal profile of PCOS-affected women. It was also noticed that its administration results in the reduction of BMI and the improvement in glycemic parameters. Most of the research was conducted by linking the ketogenic diet with the caloric restriction. In the matter of ovarian cancer the results are unclear; some of the research states the improvement of the quality of life of the participants, but there is some alarming data of the possible role of KD in enhancing the tumor growth. Conclusions: Ketogenic diet merits further research as a possible factor in the treatment of PCOS as foregoing results are pointing to its efficacy. Nevertheless, still more data is needed to determine its role as studies were conducted within a short period of time with relatively small research groups. There are also other limitations such as the lack of comparison with other dietary patterns with the caloric deficit which makes it difficult to deduce the main profitable factor. When it comes to ovarian cancer the results of the current data are also unclear and unambiguous with the possible negative effects.

Introduction: Bladder cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. There are two forms of bladder cancer: non-muscle invasive bladder cancer and muscle invasive bladder cancer. A common treatment method for non- muscle invasive bladder cancer is intravesical BCG (Mycobaterium bovis) therapy after radical tumor resection. It is estimated that half of patients will have an insufficient response to BCG treatment. Patients using this type of therapy also report side effects more and more often. Aim of the study: The aim of this article is to discuss the latest discoveries in the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer when BCG therapy is insufficient. Material and Methods: The paper was created based on the PubMed and Scholar database. The literature was reviewed using the key words: „bladder cancer”; „BCG”; „treatment”; „side effects”; „novel therapies”. Results: The research shows that novel therapies are effective and safe compared to the use of BCG. In such patients, atezolizumab, metformin or intravesical magnesium sulfate infusions may be used as an alternative. An innovative solution is the use of HIVEC - heated chemotherapy administered intravesically. There are also drugs that potentiate the action of BCG, making the therapy more effective. These include: sasanlimab and rapamycin. Due to the side effects experienced by patients, the use of intravesical BCG is often replaced with intravesical infusions of chemotherapy drugs. Conclusion: The research shows that novel therapies are effective compared to the use of BCG. Unfortunately, more research is needed to standardize the treatment of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer.

Finger flexor pulley injuries are the most common overuse injuries sustained by climbers. These injuries are caused by forceful gripping techniques specific to climbing, making them uncommon in non-climbing activities. With the growing popularity of climbing, there is a rising need for accurate diagnosis and improved treatment methods. This paper explores current diagnostic techniques, including physical examination, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging. It also discusses treatment options, which range from conservative rehabilitation to surgery, depending on the severity of the injury. Finally, it emphasizes the importance of injury prevention through proper warm-up and avoiding excessive strain.

Introduction and purpose: Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT), also known as Osler-Weber-Rendu syndrome, is a rare and complex vascular disorder characterized by abnormal blood vessel formation. It can present significant challenges in diagnosis and management, as it is currently estimated up to 90% of those affected are never diagnosed. Despite its rarity, HHT can carry substantial implications for patients and their families, at times requiring comprehensive medical care and support. This paper aims to provide an in-depth exploration of HHT, encompassing its epidemiology, genetics, clinical manifestations, diagnostic approaches, and current management strategies. Moreover, we hope to point out possible areas in need of future research. Description of the state knowledge: HHT is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder that affects 1 in 5-10,000 people. Its most prominent symptoms include telangiectasia of skin and mucous membranes, recurrent epistaxis, gastrointestinal bleeding and arteriovenous malformations in vital organs. In the vast majority of cases, it is caused by a mutation in one of the following genes: ENG, ACVRL1, SMAD4; however, mutations in other genes have been described to cause a similar or much the same constellation of symptoms. Treatment options are focused on managing symptoms and improving quality of life, but possible new treatment options are being researched that could change the landscape of HHT management. Summary: HHT is a severely underdiagnosed disease that has seen a surge of researchers’ interest in recent years. We firmly believe that, combined with plummeting costs of genetic testing and possible new treatment options, means that HHT will become increasingly important in physicians’ everyday practice.

Medicine is undoubtedly one of the most important domains of specialised translation; its terminology is therefore paramount for translators. A significant niche consists in the language of clinical studies. However, to date there are no extensive terminological resources for translators in this field. The purpose of the present paper is to try and fill this gap by conducting a contrastive terminological analysis in German, English and Italian.

Personalization is one of the keyways to improve the performance of conversational agents. It improves the quality of user interaction with a conversational agent and increases user satisfaction by increasing the consistency and specificity of responses. The dialogue with the agent becomes more consistent, the inconsistency of responses is reduced, and the responses become more specific and interesting. Training and testing personalized conversational agents requires specific datasets containing facts about a persona and texts of persona’s dialogues where replicas use those facts. There are several datasets in English and Chinese containing an average of five facts about a persona where the dialogues are composed by crowdsourcing users who repeatedly imitate different personas. This paper proposes a methodology for collecting an original dataset containing an extended set of facts about a persona and natural dialogues between personas. The new RuPersonaChat dataset is based on three different recording scenarios: an interview, a short conversation, and a long conversation. This is the first dataset for dialogue agent personalization collected which includes both natural dialogues and extended persona’s descriptions. Additionally, in the dataset, the persona’s replicas are annotated with the facts about the persona from which they are generated. The methodology for collecting an original corpus of test data proposed in this paper allows for testing language models for various tasks within the framework of personalized dialogue agent development. The collected dataset includes 139 dialogues and 2608 replicas. This dataset was used to test answer and question generation models and the best results were obtained using the Gpt3-large model (perplexity is equal to 15.7). The dataset can be used to test the personalized dialogue agents’ ability to talk about themselves to the interlocutor, to communicate with the interlocutor utilizing phatic speech and taking into account the extended context when communicating with the user.

A method for stabilizing structural anomaly detection under additive noise conditions as well as an algorithm for formal selection of the parameters of the solver rule in the structural anomaly detector based on the Robust Random Cut Forest (RRCF) method are proposed. In the framework of the developed approach, in order to stabilize the process of structural anomaly detection under the influence of additive noise, it is proposed to feed to the input of the RRCF-detector a data stream which is pre-processed by one of the digital filtering methods. In this case, the decision rule for anomaly detection is strictly formalized and transparently interpreted. The selection of parameters of the RRCF-based anomaly detector stabilized by pre-filtering methods of the input data stream is formalized. The RRCF-detector parameters choice within the proposed scheme guarantees a predetermined upper bound for the false alarm probability when deciding to detect a structural anomaly. This property is rigorously proved and formalized as a theorem. The performance of the stabilized RRCF-detector is investigated numerically. The achieved results confirm the performance of the proposed approach provided that the detection threshold is selected in the way proposed in this paper. An example of practical application of the proposed method is presented. The developed approach is promising for the detection of structural anomalies in conditions of observation additive noise, in a situation where it is important to guarantee an upper bound for the probability of false alarm. In particular, the approach can find application in monitoring technological regimes of liquid pumping in pipeline systems or in systems for detecting pre-failure states of technological equipment.

Modern artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are being used in a variety of fields, from science to everyday life. However, the widespread use of AI-based systems has highlighted a problem with their vulnerability to adversarial attacks. These attacks include methods of fooling or misleading an artificial neural network, disrupting its operations, and causing it to make incorrect predictions. This study focuses on protecting image recognition models against adversarial evasion attacks which have been recognized as the most challenging and dangerous. In these attacks, adversaries create adversarial data that contains minor perturbations compared to the original image, and then send it to a trained model in an attempt to change its response to the desired outcome. These distortions can involve adding noise or even changing a few pixels. In this paper, we consider the most relevant methods for generating adversarial data: the Fast Gradient Sign Method (FGSM), the Square Method (SQ), the predicted gradient descent method (PGD), the Basic Iterative Method (BIM), the Carlini-Wagner method (CW) and Jacobian Saliency Map Attack (JSMA). We also study modern techniques for defending against evasion attacks through model modification, such as adversarial training and pre-processing of incoming data, including spatial smoothing, feature squeezing, jpeg compression, minimizing total variance, and defensive distillation. While these methods are effective against certain types of attacks, to date, there is no single method that can be used as a universal defense. Instead, we propose a new method that combines adversarial learning with image pre-processing. We suggest that adversarial training should be performed on adversarial samples generated from common attack methods which can then be effectively defended against. The image preprocessing aims to counter attacks that were not considered during adversarial training. This allows to protect the system from new types of attacks. It is proposed to use jpeg compression and feature squeezing on the pre-processing stage. This reduces the impact of adversarial perturbations and effectively counteracts all types of considered attacks. The evaluation of image recognition model (based on convolutional neural network) performance metrics based was conducted. The experimental data included original images and adversarial images created using attack FGSM, PGD, BIM, SQ, CW, and JSMA methods. At the same time, adversarial training of the model was performed in experiments on data containing only adversarial examples for the FGSM, PGD, and BIM attack methods. Dataset used in experiments was balanced. The average accuracy of image recognition was estimated with crafted adversarial imaged datasets. It was concluded that adversarial training is effective only in countering attacks that were used during model training, while methods of pre-processing incoming data are effective only against more simple attacks. The average recognition accuracy using the developed method was 0.94, significantly higher than those considered methods for countering attacks. It has been shown that the accuracy without using any counteraction methods is approximately 0.19, while with adversarial learning it is 0.79. Spatial smoothing provides an accuracy of 0.58, and feature squeezing results in an accuracy of 0.88. Jpeg compression provides an accuracy of 0.37, total variance minimization — 0.58 and defensive distillation — 0.44. At the same time, image recognition accuracy provided by developed method for FGSM, PGD, BIM, SQ, CW, and JSMA attacks is 0.99, 0.99, 0.98, 0.98, 0.99 and 0.73, respectively. The developed method is a more universal solution for countering all types of attacks and works quite effectively against complex adversarial attacks such as CW and JSMA. The developed method makes it possible to increase accuracy of image recognition model for adversarial images. Unlike adversarial learning, it also increases recognition accuracy on adversarial data generated using attacks not used on training stage. The results are useful for researchers and practitioners in the field of machine learning.

For continuous wavelet transformation, wavelets based on derivatives of the Gauss function are used, and for multiscale analysis, Daubechies wavelets are used. The development of algorithms for forward and inverse continuous wavelet transform in the frequency domain made it possible in this work to synthesize digital filters with a finite impulse response (FIR) different from existing methods. The quality of the synthesized filters was checked by decomposition and subsequent reconstruction of the signals. To do this, several filters were synthesized that completely cover the frequency range of the signal. Since wavelets are bandpass filters, the authors called the filters wavelets. The more precisely the reconstructed signal repeats the shape of the original signal, the better the wavelet constructed by one method or another. A comparison of the accuracy of signal reconstruction shows that the best conversion result is obtained by using synthesized wavelets. The impulse responses of the FIR filters are synthesized so that their frequency response are similar to the frequency responses of wavelets based on derivatives of the Gaussian function of a large order. The greater the filter order, the closer the frequency response is to a square-wave shape. Algorithms for forward and inverse wavelet transformation of a signal in the frequency domain using wavelets based on derivatives of the Gauss function are proposed. Profiling of the program shows that the time of the wavelet transforms using the fast Fourier transform is 15,000 times less than with the direct numerical integration for sampling the signal of 32,768 samples. These algorithms can be used for wavelets with a square-wave frequency response. At the same time, the numerical calculation time is halved. The accuracy of the reconstruction was compared for wavelets based on second-order derivatives, Daubechies wavelets, and wavelets with a square-wave frequency response. The reconstruction accuracy is highest for the latest wavelets. The use of the wavelet construction method is preferable since this method is relatively simple and it is easy to synthesize multiband filters with any form of frequency response. If, when synthesizing using existing methods, a short transition band can be obtained only for long impulse responses, while the transition band using the method of constructing wavelets is absent even for filters of very small orders. The paper presents the impulse responses of twoband, three-band digital filters and their frequency response. FIR digital filters with a square-wave frequency response have a higher delay-band attenuation coefficient compared to existing filters, do not have transition band, and can be used to process one-dimensional and two-dimensional signals.

In the last decades, area studies have been subject to substantial criticism by the most mainstream social sciences. Area specialists are perceived as lacking the knowledge of modern research methodology and rather following the interests of humanities than social sciences. At the same time, studying individual regions and countries certainly requires the accumulation of specific knowledge, which would most likely be lost without area studies research. This paper discusses the main directions of criticism of area studies and possible suggestions towards modernization of this research tradition. The criticism towards area studies can be linked to three issues: the excessive dominance of the humanities in most area studies communities; insufficient consideration of modern theoretical and empirical approaches; and implicit normativity, i.e., the substitution of scientific analysis with value assertions. The modernization of area studies as an academic field is related to the application of alternative approaches to regional and country studies within three research projects: Comparative Area Studies (CAS), Transregional Studies, and regional specialization within individual disciplines

Considering the literary works by Agatha Christie the author of the paper pays special attention to the writer’s insufficiently researched novels – “Elephants can remember” and “Curtain”, the former of which earned not entirely fair assessment from critics. There is evidence of possible connection between some Christie’s novels and Bram Stoker’s “Dracula”. The article studies the symbolism of Hercule Poirot image, and ideas about certain faces of his character and place in the “universe” of Agatha Christie are deepened. Her detective riddles are a kind of cipher, they are built on the techniques of substitution and repetition. New examples are noted, demonstrating Christie’s attitude to Shakespeare and Arthur Conan Doyle (Sherlock Holmes cycle). The historical element in the books by Agatha Christie is present not only explicitly in the form of historical events, etc., but also in a hidden form, penetrating into the deeper layers of her work.

The paper analyses the issue of application team games when teaching new English vocabulary in a language university. An important issue when teaching words is the process of learning them, whether this process will be boring or entertaining depends on the teacher. The author concludes that it is necessary to alternate traditional exercises with interactive ones when working on vocabulary. For example, it is possible to use team games, the purpose of which may be solving crossword puzzles, working with cards, guessing words while playing charades / the game “Crocodile”, using the cubing technique, conducting quests, etc. Team games make working on vocabulary fun and also help increase team spirit and improve the ambience in a student group.

This article expands upon the author's previous work regarding the Vostok Oil project, initially discussed in the Gubkin University journal. It focuses on the establishment and development of the Zvezda Shipyard project, arguing its critical role in the potential development of the Vostok Oil and Gas province. The paper posits that without the Zvezda Shipyard, it would not be feasible to exploit the Vostok Oil and Gas province or significantly enhance the transportation and logistics capabilities of the Northern Sea Route (NSR). The development of Zvezda's new production facilities is presented as essential for the advancement of the Russian Arctic, facilitating a pivotal eastward shift in the Russian economy. The significance of the Zvezda project and the strategic decisions leading up to it are discussed in detail, demonstrating how they integrate the development of the NSR, the exploitation of Vostok Oil fields, and the establishment of investment and technological foundations for Russia's long-term strategy. This strategy addresses both socio-economic goals and defense and security challenges. Additionally, the paper provides quantitative analyses of the multiplicative effects generated by the Zvezda Shipyard project's realization.

The article delves into the nuanced challenge of crafting a cohesive unionwide patriotic agenda amidst escalating global tensions fueled, in part, by value conflicts. It scrutinizes the emergence of a patriotic discourse intricately woven into the institutional fabric of the Union State, the Russian Federation, and the Republic of Belarus, primarily steered by top political leadership at the domestic level. The overarching aim is to delineate the enduring themes and prevailing narratives within the political elites' patriotic discourse within the Union State, while exploring its potential conceptualization as a coordinating discourse to further integration objectives and as a countermeasure of "anti-soft power" against external value threats emanating from the collective West. Methodologically, the study draws upon discursive neo-institutionalism, employing qualitative content analysis of speeches delivered by the respective presidents of the two countries as its primary analytical approach.In the conclusions, the paper underscores the remarkable alignment between Russian and Belarusian stances on patriotic issues, particularly concerning their ideological underpinnings. Both underscore the imperative of safeguarding and preserving historical memory and traditional values as the cornerstone of their discourse. However, the analysis also sheds light on the conceptual complexities inherent in articulating sovereignty values by both participating countries. The practical implications underscore the necessity of further solidifying a shared socio-cultural space, harmonizing historical policies within both nations and within the Union State framework, and stimulating a "demand for integration" through the practical implementation of the principal directives outlined in the 2021 package of integration decisions.

The article presents the laboratory and field tests results for the effectiveness of the fungicide Protazox SC (suspension concentrate) against anthracnose and other lupin diseases. The tests have been done in Bryansk region in 2020–2022. The study objects were seedlings and vegetative plants of the narrow-leaved lupin Vityaz variety. The effectiveness of protective and curative properties of the fungicide Protazox SC (azoxistrobine + protioconazole + dipheconazole, 200 + 125 + 60 g/l) was tested for 0.5; 1.0 and 1.5 l/ha consumption rates under laboratory conditions. The biological effectiveness was evaluated according to the number of infected seedlings grown in paper-and-plastic rolls compared to the control variant (fungicide free). The maximal rate of the fungicide – 1.5 l/ha – had the highest biological effectiveness of protective and curative properties (98.7 and 97.4 %); this corresponds to the effectiveness of the reference fungicide Kolosal Pro with the using rate of 0.4 l/ha. In a field test the fungicide Protazox at using rate of 1.5 l/ha was applied for lupin crops at the growing stages of “1-2 pairs of true leaves” and “bud formation” of lupin. The fungicide effectiveness was evaluated compared to the control without treatment. Biological effectiveness of the tested fungicide against anthracnose made 95.8 %, it was 4.5 % higher than of the reference fungicide Kolosal Pro. To the stage of “shiny pod” the number of anthracnose infected pods treated with the fungicide Protazox decreased to 1.5 % compared to 26.5 % in the control variant. Fusarium infection of plants decreased from 24.6 % in the control to 12.0 % in the variant with the fungicide. The spread of gray and white rot on beans decreased by 5.0 and 6.7 times, respectively. The viability of productive plants by the harvesting period increased by 41.3 %. Thanks to the application of the fungicide Protazox SC (1.5 l/ha) the significant narrow-leaved lupin seed yield rise of 0.91 t/ha was obtained (LSD05 = 0.04); the cost recovery was 2.56 rubles.

Introduction. The article analyzes the relationship between business cycles and economic growth, and reviews the evolution of this issue from the traditional denial of any connection to an alternative theory known as hysteresis. The main focus is on examining policy solutions efficiently countering structural changes induced by recessions. It is crucial to emphasize that the study of hysteresis remains highly relevant as this mechanism can be a key element in shaping efficient economic policies. These strategies, in their turn, aim at overcoming structural obstacles and promoting sustainable economic growth. Purpose. The study investigates the impact of hysteresis on business cycles, long-term economic growth, and the development of the appropriate macroeconomic policies by the state. Materials and Methods. The article explores the history and interrelation of business cycle and trend definitions, analyzes the main channels of hysteresis manifestation. It also reviews and analyzes studies about the development of DSGE (Dynamic Stochastic General Equilibrium) models with hysteresis and its influence on decision-making in economic policy. In this context, the paper describes DSGE models based on the “insiders – outsiders theory”, learning by doing, and R&D (Research and Development) modeling. Results. A theoretical insider – outsider approach as the main policy measure stabilizes the labor market by wage inflation management. DSGE models also include the models with learning-by-doing mechanism; they show the impact of hysteresis on the net fiscal multiplier and the efficiency of fiscal stimulus. The analysis reveals that hysteresis significantly increases the net fiscal multiplier, thus making fiscal stimulus more efficient during recessions and recoveries in the long-run level of output. The endogenous R&D modeling emphasizes the importance of long-run monetary non-neutrality and the impact of monetary policy on financial and innovation performance and outlines the prospects for welfare improvement with asymmetric policy instruments that take into account economic specialization. Conclusion. Hysteresis presupposes specific monetary, credit, and fiscal policy measures to ensure economic stabilization. The positive welfare multiplier typical for fiscal policy highlights its efficiency in hysteresis conditions. The study also points to the prospects of better welfare with asymmetric policy tools, especially in terms of economic specialization.

Introduction. Stock market volatility simulation and forecast are relevant issues which could contribute into lower risks and higher revenues of the market transactions. These days, AI-based methods, including deep neural networks, are quite promising for volatility simulation. Purpose. The paper verifies a hypothesis concerning a higher accuracy of LSTM neural network compared to the classical autoregressive models (e.g. ARIMA) and long memory models (e.g. ARFIMA). Materials and Methods. To check the hypothesis, the authors conducted simulation experiments with S&P 500 index data generally illustrating the dynamics of the US stock market. Results. The LSTM neural network gave significantly more accurate forecasts compared to the ARIMA- and ARFIMA-based forecasts for learning and test samples; ARFIMA model was more accurate than ARIMA, which supports previous data. Conclusions. The results of the work prove that the LSTM neural network is a promising method to forecast stock market volatility and could be further examined in this area. Machine learning methods, including the neural networks, could be used to define the future dynamics in the revenues of financial asserts and optimize current algorithms of portfolio imbalances, approximation and simulation of risk metrics, approximation of probabilistic characteristics for financial instruments.

Introduction. The article analyzes the interpretations of the concept “megaproject” and proposes the author’s definition of the concept presupposing explicit and implicit beneficiaries and ensuring high-tech products with a high potential for market sales. Purpose. Based on the results of the regression analysis, the paper draws conclusions and describes the behavior strategies of the explicit and implicit beneficiaries in the megaproject when its results are being registered and after it. Materials and Methods. Theoretically and methodologically, the paper refers to the works of scientists examining megaprojects. The regression analysis for thirty constituent entities of the Russian Federation made it possible to determine that the indicators of their budget revenues illustrate that cash flows determined by the investment return from the investments in fixed capital go through the budget system with a minimal tax burden. Results. It has been found that in the analyzed period, the return on investment in fixed assets was determined by the investors’ speculative motives when using financial market instruments under personal guarantees of the heads of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. At the same time, the applied financial market instruments gave the minimum inflow of taxes into the budget system of the Russian Federation. Conclusions. In its model, Russia is closer to the continental civilizational type; the balance in the socio-economic relations determined by megaprojects with their maximum contribution to GDP could be achieved when national self-identification is distinctly shaped; national self-identification could only be developed with due regard to the quantitative and structural composition of population.

Introduction. Regional development is currently aimed at creating conditions for human life, improving the living standard and quality of life, which is reflected in the regulatory and legal regional policy. However, the definitions of the categories “living standard” and “quality of life” are debatable; therefore, choice of tools and mechanism could arise difficulties to achieve these goals in the frame of regional development. This scientific study suggests the category “population’s well-being in the region” as one of the comprehensive goals of the regional policy to resolve these controversial issues. Purpose. The paper identifies the essential characteristics of the population's well-being in the region such as a set of benefits, their relationship and correlation with the concepts of “living standard” and “quality of life”, determines the place of this concept in the regional policy, and describes a new approach to the definition of the concept “population’s well-being in the region” from the perspective of the theory of goods. Materials and Methods. To achieve this purpose, scientific sources were theoretically analyzed, and the obtained data was synthesized to accumulate new knowledge about the category “population’s well-being in the region”. Results. The study revealed that the well–being of the population in the region is a complex and multidimensional category comprising of both the level of life and its quality for the population, as well as represented by economic and non-economic, tangible and intangible goods of a social, economic, environmental, and institutional nature. Conclusion. A region being the object of regional policy is a system of interrelated elements, therefore regional development is the subject of the regional policy with the goal to increase the well-being of the population in the region. The comprehensive nature, versatility of this human-orientated category put it to the global concept of sustainable development with due regard to the regional interests in improving the level and quality of people’s lives.

The paper describes possibilities of increasing the energy efficiency and reducing the takeoff weight of unmanned medium-heavy vertical takeoff and landing aerial vehicles of the airplane type. The authors propose a new hybrid type of unmanned aerial vehicle with a hybrid propulsion system, its aerodynamic design, method of realization of vertical takeoff/landing and cruising mode of flight which make it possible to reduce the takeoff weight of the aircraft, the weight of the basic propulsion system and the mass growth factor in comparison with the existing unmanned aerial vehicle of similar class, made according to the previously known technical solutions. The authors propose a methodology for optimizing the parameters of the configuration of the unmanned aerial vehicle considering the peculiarities of the implementation of vertical takeoff. The paper presents calculations of characteristics of vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial vehicles of existing types and the new hybrid type. The authors give quantitative estimates of improving unmanned aerial vehicle characteristics due to the new proposed technical solutions.

This paper discusses a composite material from chopped thin narrow polymer tapes reinforced with carbon fibers and a polymer binder. The problem is posed to analytically determine the elastic and strength characteristics of the composite with a known minimum set of basic characteristics of the components. A methodology for sequential solving of the problem at the micro- and meso-levels is proposed. The key point in the methodology is the introduction of the “effective fiber volume factor” in the short filament and the way to calculate it using the “load-carrying factor” criterion. The following are presented: the results of calculating Young’s modulus and tensile strength of material samples from parts of tapes with fixed lengths (6, 12, 18 and 24 mm); comparison with the experimental data and evaluation of accuracy and limits of the applicability of this methodology.

The problem of student`s innovative professional formation in the context of the implementation of an individual educational trajectory in a higher educational organization is considered in the paper. The relevance of the study is determined by the transformation of the conditions of functioning of higher education in the knowledge society; an increase in need of employers for graduates with a set of necessary beliefs, knowledge, skills and abilities for the development and implementation of innovations, taking into account existing features and changing trends of the professional environment. The main research methods are the analysis and synthesis of scientific data, research results in the fields of transformation of higher educational institutions and individualization of the learning process; generalization and systematization of scientific facts and statements. As a result of the research, the authors have revealed the concept of student`s innovative professional competence and proposed the structure in the context of the implementation of an individual educational trajectory, integrating value-motivational, instrumental-technological, research, creative-reflective, interactive-communication and academic-entrepreneurial components. The indicators highlighted by the authors in the competence structure will allow assessing the formation of each of the components for their further development.

The paper deals with the organization of linguistic education aimed at developing communicative and speech skills. The research concentrated on its textual component in foreign students as part of a writing course. The study was part of the project on linguistic and didactic potential of online correspondence, which highlighted a problem area in the speech behavior of foreign students who were in correspondence with Russian native speakers. The issue had to deal with the text organization of letters. The research team addressed the speech and thinking activity of the foreign students and, subsequently, turned to the cognitive tools for arranging the written and speech material, i.e., the frame. The frame analysis revealed a linguodidactic genre frame model with the stages of framing and reframing. During the framing stage, the students mastered the actual communicative-speech material to form the content of the subject-situational frame as an integral part of the genre frame. Further development was expansion-oriented. The framing made it possible to acquire textual norms, which led to the text frame, i.e., the second component of the genre frame. The reframing stage was aimed at developing the textual competence based on context complication and stylistic transformations of the original meanings. The article introduces various types of lexical, syntactical, and textual transformations, as well as stylistic transformations that allow non-native speakers to express the same meaning with stylistically diverse linguistic means.

The article introduces attraction marketing methods employed by Russian monthly popular science magazine Diletant. The authors compared the printed version and the website. The paper magazine attracts the reader mainly by the topic name printed on its cover as a unique creolized text. The further semantics of the front media text includes various aspects of the main topic. Color highlights both topical issue and regular features. The comparative analysis with the online version revealed some significant differences. The website has a muted color scheme and minimal animation; it contains neither video nor audio materials. Like in the printed version, the function of attraction belongs mainly to illustrations and subtitles. Online Diletant is interactive in navigation, tests, and surveys, which are, however, the only form of interactivity: the site does not provide comments, forums, “likes”, etc. Such limited use of attention-seeking tools makes the digital version of Diletant uncompetitive and inferior to its paper issue.

The response pragmatics in political Internet discourse is one of the most interesting and understudied aspects of modern virtual communication. This research featured a model of non-professional Internet discourse in the genre of political Internet commentary and its pragmatics. The resulting models correlated with the general model, which was based on the communicative intentions of the authors of political Internet comments. The empirical material involved feedback lines from readers of the RIA Novosti news agency. Determining the textual entity by its sender’s macrointension, the authors established the genre of Internet commentary as reactive. The pragmatic options for response patterns were based on the addressee’s communicative role and the reactive macrointension implemented in non-professional Internet discourse. The paper describes two reactive models of non-professional discourse: 1) reaction to a political event; 2) reaction to a pragmatic context. The method of linguistic and pragmatic discourse analysis revealed that the reactive models contained the following types of reaction: positive, negative, and twofold. However, the Internet comments also included an interpretative component. The reactive intention of the subjects of non-professional Internet discourse was combined with their intention to introduce a fragment of personal experience.

The article discusses the issues of saving articulatory efforts and related cognitive costs. The research relied on Western studies that link some phonetic changes to the desire of communicants to reduce articulatory efforts in the process of voicing speech segments. This desire is connected with the need to optimize the language system. Communicants try to simplify complex articulations and get rid of sounds that require significant muscular efforts of speech organs, thus changing the language system. The paper introduces examples of how some linguistic units are used in everyday speech and how these units are simplified due to the high frequency of their use. The author comes to the conclusion that frequency generates careless articulation while maintaining effective communication. The reasons for simplified articulation should be sought primarily at the deep level of the generation of primary semantic recording, i.e., in cognition, and not in the muscular work of the speech apparatus. If language is a tool that shapes a product of mental activity, the answers to the questions of language transformations should be sought directly in the cognitive sphere.

The paper presents a systematic analysis of key explanatory concepts of different levels of abstraction, being used in the psychological and interdisciplinary concepts for the explanation of the phenomenon of self-sufficiency. The phenomenon of self-sufficiency is defined basing on the understanding of person as the instance which human being as an autonomous agent may oppose to both internal impulses and external pressures, biological and social determinants acting both from within and from outside. The closest construct is that of agency. Agency is viewed as personality variable, reflecting the person’s capacity to initiate and control their actions. Agency appears as the explanatory construct as regards the observable phenomenon of self-sufficiency. However, being holistic and indivisible, it, in its turn, needs a more detailed analysis. Such a brief analysis is provided for the psychological constructs of proactivity, autonomy, personal causation and self-determination as well as for more specific theoretical models of intrinsic / extrinsic motivation, phases of a motivated action, personality potential as the potential of autoregulation, and freedom and responsibility as two sides of personal causation and autodetermination, taking shape during the transition from childhood to adulthood. Freedom is treated as the highest form of activity, a side of personal causation and autodetermination which allows us feeling independent of outer pressures and inner impulses. Responsibility is the second side of personal causation and autodetermination, the highest form of autoregulation, associated with viewing oneself as a cause of some events in the world, it is a controlled capacity of producing goal-directed changes in oneself and in the world. In conclusion the construct of personal life position as an integral person’s attitude to one’s own life is introduced. The constructs analyzed in the paper present the multilevel conceptual frame for treating the phenomenon of self-sufficiency.

The study is devoted to the automatic identification of manifestations of various components and sources of student agency from the texts of reviews of MOOCs, as well as descriptions of internal and external transformation among students in the process of studying MOOCs. To extract descriptions corresponding to individual, relational and contextual sources of students’ agency, a dataset of 3445 English-language comments on the most popular mathematics courses presented on the Udemy platform was generated, and additionally 1787 comments on practice-oriented MOOCs and entrepreneurship MOOCs were extracted to understand the descriptions corresponding manifestation of internal and external transformation in MOOC listeners. The paper proposes a methodological approach based on the use of natural language processing methods such as topic modeling, sentiment analysis and N-gram frequency analysis for extracting keywords and their combinations from MOOCs’ comments texts to describe the manifestation of the components of an individual source of student agency in the form of self-efficacy , increased sense of confidence in solving problems and motivation; components of the relational source in the form of support and accompaniment of the online course by the tutor with the help of quick answers and well-structured educational material; components of the contextual source in the form of the ability to make decisions when choosing alternative online courses, as well as descriptions of the manifestation of internal transformation of students, expressed in the transition from internal struggle - overcoming fears, uncertainty, difficulties in perceiving MOOC content to understanding the purpose of learning and external transformation, expressed in the texts of comments on MOOCs in the form of creating a new or changing the structure of an existing product, startup or business through a change in thinking.

The subject of the research in the paper is academic ethics in the professional relationships of university teachers. The final results are presented on the basis of in-depth interviews with representatives of the academic staff of Russian universities (N=35). The purpose of the paper is to show how academic ethics as a value-normative phenomenon supports the professional relationships of academic staff at the university and forms certain values that ensure the effectiveness of the scientific and educational process. In this interpretation, the emphasis is placed on identifying the creative potential of academic ethics, its impact on the scientific and educational process at the university in terms of professional interaction of its main subjects. An assessment of the structure and content of academic ethics is given. It is established that academic ethics, being an element of academism in the higher education system, influences the formation of value-normative attitudes of respect and recognition. In addition, the importance of this phenomenon for the strategic development of the university and at the same time the preservation of academic traditions is revealed. The article also summarizes the assessments of the state of academic ethics at universities formulated by informants. In such assessments, value-semantic reflection prevails, which makes it possible to identify academic ethics as a factor of effective professional interaction between subjects of the educational process in order to achieve joint goals for the formation of their value world and professional knowledge and skills.

The problem of forming and developing soft skills has not lost its relevance for many years. It is believed that possession of these skills ensures the subject’s competitiveness in the labor market. A special role is played by the formation of flexible skills in entrepreneurs, who allow them to be more adaptive to changes, interact effectively with the internal and external environment, find non-standard solutions in difficult situations, thereby increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of their own business.The purpose of our research is to compile a rating of soft skills in the assessment of existing entrepreneurs and to identify the degree of participation of higher education institutions in their formation. The data are obtained empirically from a study of 360 entrepreneurs. They show the undeniable importance for entrepreneurs of developing soft skills and, in most cases, their underdevelopment at the proper level. The paper presents the results of a survey demonstrating the proportion of entrepreneurs who have developed a particular skill in the process of self-education (19-38%), as well as the proportion of entrepreneurs who received an education at a university (0-22%) or in additional education programs in other organizations ( 1-13%). The study found that between 33 and 73% of entrepreneurs surveyed had not received soft skills training. Entrepreneurs ranked communication management (opinion of 76% of respondents) and decision making (73%) as the most important skills for their activities; the most developed were decision making (30%) and customer focus (28%). The work provides recommendations to universities in terms of increasing their presence in the market of additional education in order to develop soft skills among entrepreneurs as a factor in increasing their competitiveness.

Introduction Small joints replacement is a valid treatment for deforming osteoarthritis and traumatic injuries to the phalangeal joints of the hand to restore motor hand functions. Various types of implants differing in shape, biomechanics and material composition have been developed. The purpose of the study was to evaluate long-term results of the proximal interphalangeal joint arthroplasty of the hand using various implants and identify their advantages. Material and methods We retrospectively reviewed 78 cases of proximal interphalangeal joint replacement in 64 patients. Outcomes were assessed at 6 months and at follow-up stages with preoperative and postoperative measurements of the range of motion in the joint evaluating pain, radiographs and outcomes measures using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. Results The range of motion in the prosthetic joint increased significantly at different follow-up periods with all types of implants. The pain syndrome decreased. Radiographs revealed 10 cases of aseptic instability in the group of constrained prostheses. The DASH assessment showed high subjective satisfaction with the treatment. Discussion We could not find papers reporting PIP joint arthroplasty using SBI D.G.T. implant system. A retrospective study of RM Finger arthroplasty of the PIP joint indicated restored joint stability with AROM improvement and with low pain, although it had a high rate of complications. We recorded no complications with this implant model. Some authors would not recommend the RM Finger implant (Mathys) for PIP joint replacement. Arthroplasty of small joints of the hand with MOJE kermik-implantate showed satisfactory outcomes for 82 % of patients at a long term Conclusion Arthroplasty of the PIP joint of the hand using various implant designs resulted in greater mobility of the upper limbs, a lower pain due to subjective improvement in the functionality at a long term. Although the procedures were effective with all implant designs the reliability of changes in the parameters was more evident with nonconstrained implants.

Introduction An analysis of the medical literature devoted to various aspects of transitional lumbosacral vertebrae shows that there are very few publications covering the course of this disease in the pediatric and adolescent population. Aim To study the issues of epidemiology, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of transitional lumbosacral vertebrae in paediatric and adolescent patients based on the analysis of current medical literature and illustrate the material with our own clinical observations. Material and methods To analyze the literature on the topic, 75 papers published between 1984 and 2023 were selected. Among them, there were 7 (9.3 %) domestic literary sources, 68 (90.7 %) were foreign. In the process of searching for scientific articles, the resources of the electronic databases of current medical information PubMed and CyberLeninka were used. Results and discussion The incidence of transitional vertebrae in children and adolescents is 16.8 % of clinical observations, as reported. In the structure of the transitional vertebrae in children, type II of the disease predominates according to the classification Castellvi et al (1984), 43.2 % of cases. The main clinical symptom of the pathology is pain of lumbosacral location, the intensity of which on the visual analog scale in children corresponds to an average of 3.0 points. In adult patients with similar pathology, the average pain intensity measured with the same scale is 7.5 points. The most informative method for diagnosing the disease is computed tomography, which allows obtaining both 3D images and sections at the level of pseudarthrosis between the enlarged transverse process (or processes) of the suprasacral vertebra and the wing of the sacrum. To relieve pain in children with transitional vertebrae, both conservative and surgical methods are used. The most commonly used procedure is pseudarthrectomy. The study of long-term results one year after the intervention allowed us to record the absence of pain in children who underwent surgery. Prevention measures for transitional lumbosacral vertebrae have not been developed. Conclusion The analysis of the published literature shows that transitional vertebrae are a frequently diagnosed pathology in children and adolescents. Current methods of imaging are able to accurately detect not only the presence of the disease, but also to differentiate its type. The main clinical symptom of transitional vertebrae is pain in the lumbosacral spine which is difficult to relieve with conservative therapy. Pseudarthrectomy is the most frequent surgical method of treatment in children and adolescents that provides stable relief of vertebrogenic pain syndrome. Measures for specific prevention of the disease have not been developed.

Relevance. It is justified by the necessity to confirm the operability of the algorithm of accurate movement of the selected wood sorting to the corresponding storage bunker in the technological process of roundwood sorting at winter warehouses of timber processing companies to solve scientific and engineering problems both at present and in the future. Aim. To investigate the process of moving piece load on the physical model of longitudinal chain or belt conveyor, providing scaled reduction of positioning error. When sorting roundwood on chain longitudinal conveyors of considerable length, there is an error of movement of the selected roundwood sort to the place of discharge into the accumulator, which increases in proportion to the length of the sorting line. At present, conveyors of limited length are used. The accumulators are located on both sides of the conveyor. This reduces the transport error. Sometimes the sorting yard does not allow placing a short conveyor on it or there is a considerable amount of assortments. In this case, it is necessary to use a conveyor of considerable length. The paper proposes a new method of sorting roundwood on longitudinal chain conveyors of considerable length. This reduces the tracking error of the movement of the assortment. Optoelectronic sensors of angular displacements of the leading and driven shafts of the belt conveyor are used as sensors of angular displacements of the shaft. Methods. Physical modelling, information-static processing methods. Results and conclusions. The authors have carried out the analysis of the structure of the physical similarity stand of the longitudinal conveyor; sensors of the technological process, namely, angular frequency of rotation; software and hardware means of processing the obtained information to minimize the error of transporting piece cargo on the conveyor belt. The results of the study confirm the possibility of practical application of the device for operation on longitudinal conveyors.

Relevance. The need to determine a reliable pressure distribution field and fluid filtration velocity vectors inside the perforation hole and the reservoir rock surrounding it. Aim. On the basis of numerical finite element modeling of the fluid flow inside the perforation holes and its filtration in the surrounding reservoir rock, to reveal the patterns of pressure distribution and fluid filtration vectors in the perforation hole, on its walls and in the near-wellbore zone. Objects. Near-wellbore zone of a limestone reservoir of one of the oil fields in the south of the Perm Region, including perforations. Methods. Numerical finite element method for calculating the flow and filtration of liquid in the near-wellbore zone, taking into account the geometry of perforation holes. Results. The paper considers the main relationships used in numerical simulation of fluid flow and filtration in the ANSYS finite element modeling software package. The authors have developed the finite element scheme of the near-wellbore zone, including cumulative perforation holes and taking into account their geometric parameters, as well as the fact that inside the holes the fluid flow is modeled in open space using the Navier–Stokes equations, and in the surrounding reservoir rock based on the filtration equations and Darcy's law. Numerical calculations were carried out, on the basis of which the distribution of pressure, flow velocities and fluid filtration inside the holes and in the near-wellbore zone as a whole was obtained. Calculations were made with varying pressure in the well (or pressure drawdown), as well as for different values of reservoir permeability. The calculation results showed that for the actual drawdown values of 10 MPa and the reservoir permeability of 50 mD, the value of pressure change inside the perforation holes will not exceed 0.01 MPa, i.e. it can be assumed that it practically does not change inside the hole. It is noted that the maximum value of the filtration rate corresponds to the top of the perforation holes and then its value decreases as it approaches the borehole wall. It is concluded that in further modeling of the stress-strain state of the near-wellbore zone, taking into account the holes of cumulative perforation on the surface of the holes, it is permissible to set a constant pressure value equal to the pressure in the well, and not logarithmic or any other distribution of it.

This article presents the information on the valorization of waste generated during the production of tissue paper. The possibility of bioconversion of the polysaccharide part of paper sludge into simple sugars has been evaluated. The options for processing the paper sludge before enzymic hydrolysis to achieve the maximum yield of monosaccharides have been considered. Pretreatment with acids has been found to be a key step before the biocatalytic cleavage of waste polysaccharides. An additional yield of enzymic hydrolysis products after pretreatment with acids has been obtained by pre-extraction of the paper sludge with spirit or acetone. It has been established that the most intense enzymic hydrolysis of readily available fractions of the paper sludge takes place in the first 10–12 hours. Further, the process slows down, probably due to the action of the remaining components of the fillers, as well as an increase in the proportion of the difficult-to-hydrolyze polysaccharide part. In all cases, the proportion of absolutely dry non-hydrolyzed residue has been about 43±2 % of the dry matter of the paper sludge. The main products of enzymic hydrolysis have been glucose and xylose. The resulting sugars have been used for mixotrophic cultivation of the Tetradesmus obliquus and Chlorella vulgaris algae. Yeast strains have been selected for the conversion of monosaccharides from the paper sludge. In a series of experiments on non-sterile yeast cultivation, the Candida utilis PAL D and Debaryomyces hansenii SWING R cultures have turned out to be the most productive (within 2.10±0.14 g of air-dry yeast weight/dm3 per 24 hours). The degree of conversion of hydrolysate sugars has been 70±2 %. Most of the remaining sugars (about 80 %) have been represented by xylose. Complete utilization of the sugars has taken place on the 2nd day when having added an extra nitrogen source to the medium. On the other hand, the spent nutrient medium after yeast separation has been suitable for mixotrophic cultivation of microalgae. It has been revealed that the economic costs of pre-treatment of the paper sludge with nitric acid can be leveled by using the resulting salts as a nitrogen source for cultivating yeast. In doing so, the yield of yeast biomass increases by almost 2 times.

Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) and congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) are rare monogenic hereditary endocrinopathies with a prevalence of 1–9 cases per 100,000 and 9–15 cases per 100,000, respectively. MEN1 is characterized by the development of multiple endocrine and nonendocrine organ tumors, including parathyroid, pituitary, and duodenopancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), which constitute the classical triad of the disease. CAH is associated with genetic defects in enzymes and transport proteins involved in the synthesis of adrenal cortical steroid hormones. Overall, cases of the combination of two hereditary diseases in one patient are extremely rare. In this article, we describe a clinical case of the combination of MEN-1 with all three classical components and CAH, which, taking into account the low prevalence of both diseases, represents scientific interest. To date, only one similar case has been described in the literature. In addition, the paper discusses the pathogenetically determined combination of CAH and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, known as the CAH-X syndrome.

The paper presents an analysis and assessment of risks of complication of epidemiological situation regarding cholera in the Russian Federation and a forecast for 2024. It briefly characterizes the dynamics of the epidemic process around the world during the last decade (2013–2022). The forecast of cholera importation into the Russian Federation, due to activity of the epidemic process in endemic countries, has been confirmed. In 2023, two cases of cholera importation from India were reported. It was established that the toxigenic strains isolated from patients belonged to the currently dominant in the world “post-Haitian” group, including in India and Bangladesh, with the genotype ctxB7 tcpACIRS rtxA4a VSP-IIΔ0495-0512. Furthermore, non-toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O1 strains were isolated from samples of biological material from persons arriving from India, containing preCTX prophage and distinct from the strain (ctxAB– tcpAEТ–) isolated from a patient with acute intestinal infection (Zaporozhye Region, Melitopol). Nontoxigenic NAG vibrios were isolated from 13 patients with acute intestinal infections, which is 1.9 times more than in 2022. Regardless of importations, a strain of V. cholerae O1 (ctxB1+tcpAEТ) of the “pre-Haitian” group was isolated from a water sample of a surface reservoir. 52 non-toxigenic V. сholerae O1 strains were found on the territory of 11 constituent entities of the Russian Federation, which is 18.9 % more than in 2022. In 2024, epidemiological risks of cholera importation from endemic countries to any administrative territory of the Russian Federation remain. The risks of epidemic manifestations of cholera are especially high in the territories of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation which are under ongoing emergency, due to migration processes, and the impact of other risk-forming factors that contribute to an increase in the degree of contact of the population with water bodies contaminated with cholera vibrios. If epidemic foci of cholera are to emerge in a neighboring country, there will be a high probability of spread of this infection in the stated constituent entities of the Russian Federation and in other territories of southern Russia. In the absence of epidemic manifestations of cholera, the possibility of occasional detection of toxigenic O1 serogroup strains in water samples due to unidentified introductions from cholera-affected areas cannot be ruled out.

This paper provides an analysis of the results of joint work of Russian and Congolese infectious disease specialists and epidemiologists to decipher the etiology and causes of the outbreak of intestinal infections in Dolisie (Republic of the Congo) in the summer of 2023. It has been found that the increase in the incidence of intestinal infections was caused mainly by the agents of typhoid fever and dysentery; tropical malaria was a combined pathology. No cases of cholera patient detection were registered. Failure of water supply system, domestic disrepair, and low public awareness about prevention of intestinal infections contributed to the active transmission of pathogens. The combination of epidemic process manifestations testified to the aquatic nature of the outbreak. Also, cases of pathogen transmission through contact household route were recorded, food transmission was not excluded. Patients with severe and complicated forms of typhoid fever and shigellosis accounted for 50 % of those hospitalized. There was delay in seeking medical care. The available regimens of antibacterial therapy were ineffective, since there was no possibility of laboratory confirmation of the diagnosis with determination of sensitivity to drugs. Uncontrolled treatment facilitated the emergence of antibiotic resistance in pathogens, prolonged bacterial release and subsequent spread of infection. Infectious disease specialists and epidemiologists of the Rospotrebnadzor provided consulting and practical assistance to Congolese colleagues, developed and presented recommendations for optimizing anti-epidemic and therapeutic measures, taking into account the results of assessment of the causes for onset and development of the outbreak.

The paper describes the epidemiological situation in the countries of the world in terms of the incidence of Hantavirus diseases. The results of an epidemiological analysis of the incidence of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in the Russian Federation in 2023 by federal districts are presented and a forecast for 2024 is made. In 2023, 5 093 cases of HFRS were registered in the Russian Federation (3.47 per 100 thousand population). The incidence was reported in 7 out of 8 federal districts of the country. The age structure was dominated by people in the 30–59 age category (65.7 %); 247 cases of the disease were noted among children under 17 years of age. The proportion of the male population was 70.3 %. 63.2 % of the total number of cases was registered among the urban residents. The mortality rate was at the level of 0.49 % – 25 lethal outcomes. Analysis of the data has revealed a decrease in the incidence of HFRS in Russia by 27.2 % as compared to the previous year. However, the data from epizootiological monitoring and the results of laboratory research of field material indicate a continuing tense situation in the country as a whole. In a number of regions, a high risk of complications of the epidemiological situation is predicted (mainly, in the constituent entities of the Volga and Central Federal Districts). Moderate risks of developing local complications of the epidemiological situation at the level of long-term average morbidity are expected to be realized in the entities of the Northwestern, Ural and Far Eastern Federal Districts. Sporadic cases of the disease in the territory of the Southern Federal District are not excluded. The aggravation of the situation on HFRS in the territory of the North-Caucasian and Siberian Federal Districts is not anticipated in 2024.