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The State Atomic Energy Corporation ‘Rosatom’, a diversified holding company combining assets in power engineering, mechanical engineering, and construction, is chosen as the research object in this paper. The subject area chosen is the seamless adaptation of technical university graduates during their employment at the enterprises of Rosatom State Corporation. It is the supraprofessional competences of university graduates that are becoming more and more demanded by employers in the current realities, in the environment of constant changes and tougher requirements from the external macro-environment, in the conditions of continuous education. The aim of the study is to develop a theoretical and methodological basis of the supraprofessional competencies formation, which play a key role in creating a personnel reserve for such high-tech industries as nuclear power engineering. The main methods used in writing the article are analysis, synthesis, as well as theoretical analysis of scientific literature on the research problem and local documentation of Rosatom State Corporation and VETI MEPhI in terms of their interaction on the graduate employment issues. The main result of the study is the conclusion that it is necessary to introduce modern approaches to student education in technical universities and personnel development which will create a powerful pool of qualified specialists capable of solving complex problems in a dynamically changing technological landscape. These competencies go beyond specific subject knowledge and encompass a set of skills, abilities and qualities that are essential for success in further activities as trained specialists, allowing individuals who have mastered supraprofessional competencies to compete in the labor market.

The article examines the manifestation of racist views and beliefs in various discursive practices. Words, texts and speech can play a key role in the formation of the modern racism. The study provides a brief overview of the concepts of “race” and “racism” adopted in Western science, describes the main approaches to the discursive analysis of racism. The focus is on discursive aspects of racism in Germany and New Zealand. Terms “prejudice” as a negative attitude towards a social group and “stereotype” as expression of a belief about a group or a representative of a group are explored. Strategies for rationalizing prejudices about minorities are listed; themes of racist discourse are described. The semantics of racist discourse manifested in the social, cultural, political, information, business and everyday spheres of life is examined. The authors summarize the broad meaning of the term racism applied in the Western science. The conclusion is made about the unifying and divisive functions of racist discourse and its differentiation into levels: “domestic racism”, “elitist racism”.

Background. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune demyelinating disease, which is characterized by the inevitable disability of patients in the long term, which determines the relevance of this problem. Currently, active improvements are being made in the methods of diagnosing multiple sclerosis, which include the use of the central vein sign in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a neuroimaging biomarker of MS with high sensitivity and specificity.Aim of study. Determination of the possibility of assessing the central vein sign (CVS) according to MRI data as a potential diagnostic biomarker of MS.Object and methods. An open single-center prospective study of brain MR data was conducted in 55 patients with a verified diagnosis of MS (EDSS 1.0-6.5) aged 19 to 72 years. MR-images were obtained on a tomograph with a magnetic field induction force of 3.0 T. Patients underwent MRI of the brain according to the standard protocol: T2-VI, FLAIR, T1-VI (before and after administration of contrast agent), SWI. A comprehensive statistical analysis and evaluation of the obtained MRI data was performed using the Statistica 12 program.Result. During the evaluation of MR-tomograms, all patients with a verified diagnosis in the foci of MS were found to have CVS. In 14.5 % of patients, CVS was detected in 10-30 % of foci, in 61.8 % of patients in 30-60 %, in 23.6 % of patients, from 60 to 95 % was detected. Accordingly, 52.7 % of patients overcame the threshold value of 45 % required for the differential diagnosis of MS from other conditions.Conclusion. The use of CVS in MRI helps to solve the problem of differential diagnosis of MS from other demyelinating diseases when using its threshold criterion – the percentage of foci containing central veins.

The introducing of economic sanctions against Russia led to a massive exit of Western companies from the Russian market, which created favorable opportunities for expanding the activities of Chinese automobile companies. The aim of the paper is to identify the features of the activities of Chinese automakers, both those that have been present in the Russian market for a long time, and those entering it for the first time. According to the authors’ estimates, 38 Chinese companies (at the end of 2022) were present in the Russian market, which accounted to about 60 % of all operating Chinese automakers. As a result of the study, the authors proposed a classification of Chinese companies in the Russian market according to the method of market entering, which includes: “grey” exports, indirect exports through dealers and distributors, sales branches, foreign direct investment, portfolio investment. The authors come to the conclusion that indirect export, along with sales branches, is the most common way for Chinese automobile companies to enter the Russian market. At the same time, foreign direct investment is the most important method for strengthening Chinese companies’ position in the Russian automobile market. Companies such as Chery, Great Wall, and Geely are leaders among Chinese companies in sales in Russia: their total share is about 93 %, which means a high concentration of sales. A key feature of the activities of Chinese companies with foreign direct investment is the availability of powerful dealers’ network as well as the production of Chinese cars in joint ventures (brownfield investments), where the Russian company Avtotor plays a key role. The only exception is the Great Wall Motor company, which built the Haval plant in Tula “from scratch” (greenfield investment). The authors suggest that the small volumes of Chinese investment in the Russian automotive industry can be explained, among other things, by the predominance of brownfield investment over greenfield investment. Based on the study, the authors expect that the most important factors in the expansion of Chinese automobile companies in Russia will be the unfolding processes of digitalization, as well as the growing demand for electric vehicles. At the same time, Chinese automakers will have to face serious competition from both Russian and Korean companies.

Over a long period of archaeological study of Novgorod, a rich collection of medieval antiquities was accumulated, which reflects all areas of activity of its inhabitants in the Middle Ages. In particular, household items are widely represented, among which a small group of agricultural implements stands out, which makes it possible to trace the history of the development of agricultural technology for the territory of Novgorod. The article provides a detailed description of the collection of agricultural implements, and the necessary research has been carried out to systematize them based on classifications developed by domestic archaeologists. The chronological framework of the work covers the period from the mid-10th to the 15th centuries, which is due to the peculiarities of the preservation of the cultural layer on the territory of Novgorod. Written, visual and ethnographic materials were also analyzed as part of this study.

Aim. To study the serum level of retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4), visfatin, omentin-1 and vaspin in gout patients with different obesity phenotypes, as well as to assess the dynamics of studied parameters against the background of weight loss using an analog of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) liraglutide.Material and methods. A total of 117 men with gout during the attack-free interval were examined. The patients were divided into 2 following groups: the 1st group consisted of 43 patients with a metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) and body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2; the second group consisted of 74 people with an metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) (carbohydrate metabolism disorders, hypertension (HTN) and BMI ≥30 kg/m2). The control group was represented by 38 respondents with a class 1 MHO. The blood concentrations of RBP4, omentin-1, visfatin, vaspin, serum uric acid, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), HOMA-IR, anthropometric parameters were studied at the enrollment and 12 weeks later on the background of liraglutide therapy.Results. In gout patients with obesity, an increase in RBP4 and visfatin levels was revealed with a simultaneous decrease in omentin-1 and vaspin compared with patients in the control group and patients with gout with no metabolic disorders. The interrelationships of RBP4 and omentin-1 with the following metabolic syndrome components were established: BMI, increased triglycerides (TGs), increased total cholesterol, hsCRP, HOMA-IR and hyperinsulinemia, and reduced vaspin levels showed only a positive relationship with the HDL-C concentration (p

Background. Alport syndrome is a systemic, hereditary, progressive disease characterized by ultrastructural changes in the glomerular basement membrane caused by pathogenic variants of type IV collagen genes. The use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) for nephroprotection is effective at the microhematuria and/or albuminuria stage. Treatment tactics in case of nephrotic syndrome development in such patients remains the subject of discussion. Clinical case description. The patient was diagnosed with proteinuria at the neonatal period and hematuria at the age of one month. The hereditary nephritis was diagnosed at the age of 6 years; the ACEI was administered, however, the proteinuria continued to increase. The diagnosis was confirmed at the age of 8.5 years via the puncture nephrobiopsy: collagenopathy, type IV, focal segmental glomerular sclerosis. Moreover, chronic bilateral sensorineural hearing loss and bilateral myopic astigmatism were diagnosed. Ciclosporin A (125 mg/day) was additionally prescribed. The increase in the cystatin C, urea, uric acid, cholesterol levels in blood was mentioned after 14 months of treatment. These parameters decreased after reducing cyclosporine A dose to 100 mg/day, however, proteinuria has increased. Angiotensin II receptor blocker (candesartan 8 mg/day) was prescribed to enhance nephroprotective therapy at the age of 10 years 2 months. Another increase of the immunodepressant dose was performed at the age of 11, it led to decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate and increase of creatinine, cystatin C, urea, cholesterol, uric acid, and potassium levels in the blood. These changes were considered as cyclosporine-dependent. The dose of cyclosporine A was reduced to 125 mg/day, and to 100 mg/day from the age of 14. There was no progression of chronic kidney disease at the follow-up at the age of 15.5 years. Conclusion. Nephroprotective treatment of a child with Alport syndrome initiated after the development of nephrotic syndrome did not stop the chronic kidney disease progression. Whereas relatively high doses of ciclosporin A have reduced proteinuria but led to nephrotoxicity and cyclosporin dependence.

Cross-border pharmaceutical value chains are expanding their presence in international production, including in the highly profitable RD link. Leading pharmaceutical companies, known as Big Pharma, are establishing contract relationships with research organizations in many countries around the world, including emerging economies where China plays a very significant role. The purpose of this study is to assess the placement and location of Chinese contract research organizations in the RD links of the international pharmaceutical chain. As a result of the study, the authors came to the following conclusions. The development of the Chinese market can be dated to the beginning of the 2000s, when outsourcing firms for large international pharmaceutical companies began to be created. The Chinese market for contract research organizations has developed at a faster rate compared to the world market. As the key explanations for the rapid development of the Chinese market, the authors highlight the strong state support of the Chinese government, the improvement in the quality of research services provided by Chinese companies, as well as the lower price of these services compared to competitors. Market development relies primarily on the close ties of Chinese contract research organizations with Big Pharma companies. Demand from local Chinese pharmaceutical companies and from foreign affiliates of small and medium-sized of pharmaceutical companies located in China plays an increasing role in stimulating the market for contract research organizations. The rapid development of the Chinese market for contract research organizations has been accompanied by its consolidation and concentration, as well as monopolization in some market subsectors. Market consolidation was also supported by the accelerated pace of MA in pharmaceutical RD amid the pandemic.

In the paper, the studies of electret properties of polypropylene with different percentages of montmorillonite have been carried out by methods of thermally stimulated potential relaxation and thermally stimulated currents. A significant effect of filler concentration on the electret state stability was revealed. The parameters of electrically active defects and the storage time of the electret state were determined. It was established that polypropylene with a 4% mass content of montmorillonite exhibited the best electret properties.

Introduction. Obesity is a global problem of the XXI century. The most important aspect of metabolic disorders that develop with obesity is a change in the level of serum uric acid (UA) in the blood and the development of gout. Currently, the dynamics of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with obesity on the background of drug therapy is being widely studied.The aim of our study is to study the level of UA, vaspin (VsP), visfatin (VF), omentin (ITLN1), retinol-binding protein-4 (RBP4) in patients with gout and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MNHO) during diet therapy and 3 months of treatment with the drug from the group of human glucagon-like peptide-1 analog (aGLP-1) Liraglutide.Materials and methods: 25 men with gout were examined, the average age was 43.6±7.3 years. Gout was diagnosed according to the classification criteria ACR/EULAR, 2015, Wallace S.L., 1977. Metabolic syndrome was established according to the criteria of GNCA (2013): abdominal obesity - waist circumference ≥ 94 cm in combination with any 2 from the following criteria - an increase in triglycerides (TG) ≥ 1.7 mmol / l; a decrease in high-density lipoproteins (HDL) < 1.0 mmol / l, an increase in low-density lipoproteins (LDL) ≥3.0 mmol / l, blood pressure (BP) ≥ 140/90 mm Hg; increase in plasma glucose ≥ 6.1 mmol / l. At the time of inclusion in the study, all patients had an interictal period of gout. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using the Quetelet formula: body weight (kg)/height (m²). To assess the type of distribution of adipose tissue, the waist circumference (WT, cm) and hip circumference (HB) were measured with a flexible centimeter tape, with the calculation of the W/H ratio. The concentration of VsP, VF, ITLN1, RBP4 was studied using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method using the kits; the concentration of the level of UA in blood serum and daily urine was studied using the colorimetric method. Liraglutide was injected into the subcutaneous fat of the anterior abdominal wall at a dose of 0.6 mg once a day for the first week. Escalation by 0.6 mg every week was then recommended until a dose of 18 mg per day was reached. Participants then received injections at a dose of 1.8 mg for 3 months. Thus, the observation period was 3 months. Laboratory studies and assessment of anthropometric parameters were carried out initially, as well as after 3 months. The control group consisted of 16 healthy men matched in age. Statistical data processing was carried out using the statistical software package Statistica 13.0.Results. 3 months after treatment, a statistically significant decrease in body weight, BMI and WC was noted (in all cases, p

This article substantiates the benefits of digitalization for the strategic development of industrial enterprises. The main directions of digital transformation of all business processes are defined. The experience and key results of the technological development strategy of the mechanical engineering division of SC "Rosatom" and the specifics of the nuclear power industry as a management object are considered and presented.

The main purpose of this work is to provide calculations of annual weight of sediment formation deposit in Municipal Collector System (MCS). The article considers two-phases flow in the collector. The storm water collector is small culvert for storm water (rainwater) or for removing the river (creek, stream, flow) underground. The article defines the solid particles in flow as sand, clay, stones, silt, etc. It was found that in case of signif\icant flow rate, then all solid particles move in the pipe. If not, they settle to the bottom and sediment is formed. In this paper, total weight of sediment formation in Moscow collector system is calculated at average annual values. On this ground a consideration can be made that sediment deposit reduces efficiency of the system partially or completely.

In recent decades, global pharmaceutical value chains have been actively developing. Formed close cross-country and inter-sectoral ties contributed the Covid-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the functioning of global pharmaceutical chains. The effects of Covid-19 were overlapped previously emerging trends towards defragmentation of global pharmaceutical production. The aim of this paper is to identify possible firm strategies and models for restructuring pharmaceutical chains aimed at increasing their resilience in response to the damaging effects of Covid-19. We suppose that the resilience of the chain as a whole depends on the resilience of its separate links, and we show that the restructuring of pharmaceutical chains takes place in the form of the so-called “link” restructuring (restructuring of separate links of the chain). The paper highlights such models of “link” restructuring of sectoral cross-border chain as “zero” restructuring (stock creation); localization (including import substitution); migration (including reshoring and regionalization); globalization, which operate both in the short and long term periods. The multistage nature of global pharmaceutical chains, as well as the dynamic development of pharmaceutical outsourcing processes, have created favorable opportunities for “link” restructuring. At the same time, the features of restructuring were influenced by various factors, among which the degree of technology intensity of the pharmaceutical chain takes a key place. The paper proposes one of the possible classifications of pharmaceutical chains depending on the technologies used, where the following are distinguished: low-tech and medium-low-tech chains (production of essential pharmaceutical goods); medium-high-tech chains (production of generics); high-tech chains (production of patented drugs, production of biopharmaceuticals, production of medical equipment). The main conclusion the author comes is as follows: the higher the technology intensity of the pharmaceutical chain, the less defragmentation of pharmaceutical production will take place. Thus, in the production of high-tech biopharmaceutical goods, the most needed strategies will be regionalization and globalization of the chain links, while in the production of essential pharmaceutical goods, the strategy of localization and import substitution will be very successful (especially in the short term). This is due to the fact that as the technological effectiveness of the pharmaceutical chain increases, investment costs grow, which makes the efficiency of the chain’s functioning no less important than its resilience.

Large pharmaceutical companies (commonly referred to as Big Pharma) determine transformation trends in the global and national pharmaceutical market, make the largest investments in RD to create new original medicines, act as leaders in the processes of creating cross-border pharmaceutical value chains. In recent years, more and more Big Pharma companies penetrated the Russian pharmaceutical market. The purpose of this work is to identify the business models of Big Pharma companies in Russia from the point of view of their participation in a particular link of the pharmaceutical value chain, as well as to assess future trends. Based on the analysis of the collected information, we identify the following business models for Big Pharma companies: export model of supplying market; model of transferring RD links; production localization model at owned enterprises; model of contract manufacturing; model of participation in the links of wholesale distribution and retail. Foreign companies in Russian pharmaceutical market can use several models, and the more models are used, the deeper the company is integrated into the pharmaceutical chain. Such companies as Sanofi, Abbott, AstraZeneca, and Takeda are engaged in their own localized production and contract manufacturing, and they also exporting produced medicine abroad. So, they are the ones that are mostly involved in the pharmaceutical value chain in the Russian market. The transformation of business models of foreign pharmaceutical companies will be influenced by two interrelated factors: foreign strategy and geographic priorities of Big Pharma and the role of Russia in this strategy, which in turn is determined by the specifics of the Russian pharmaceutical market (compared to other countries).

This article describes the laboratory diagnostics stages of acute erythroid leukemia clinical case. The following research results allow observing the process of disease formation in development.

Industry value chains take important place in the architecture of the global economy. In recent years, cross-border pharmaceutical value chains have been actively developing, the formation of which took place both through offshoring and outsourcing processes under the control of Big Pharma companies, which keep leading positions in the pharmaceutical markets. The study evaluates the possibilities of outsourcing, as well as identifies its features at various stages of the pharmaceutical chain. The multistage pharmaceutical chain, as well as its high degree of its modularity, have created favourable opportunities for outsourcing at every stage, from the lower stage of retail sales to the upper stage of RD. This is so-called bottom - up outsourcing. An increase in costs and a decrease in the efficiency of the entire pharmaceutical chain, caused by the complication of the development and production of drugs, led to a crisis in pharmaceutical innovation. Outsourcing allowed to partially solve arisen problems, increase the productivity of the chain and distribute financial risks, which has led to the emergence of contract organizations that have taken over the implementation of certain pharmaceutical services (contract development and manufacturing, sales, packaging, research organizations). The pharmaceutical RD market was one of the last to get involved in outsourcing processes, due to the fact, that Big Pharma, which manage outsourcing processes, on the one hand, strives to expand outsourcing in order to improve the efficiency of the pharmaceutical chain, and, on the other hand, are very wary of it, since they want to retain ownership and control over their key competencies, which in the case of outsourcing is not always possible.

The anti-tumour effect of immune checkpoint inhibitors is potentiated by CD137 agonists in preclinical models, but translation of these results to the clinical practice is hampered by toxicity. Authors describe here a human CD137xPD-L1 bispecific antibody with improved anti-cancer activity whilst maintaining low toxicity in non-human primates.

Background. Defects in pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC), involved in the glycolysis products integration into the cells' energy metabolism, are one of the reasons of mitochondrial pathology development. The diagnosis of this condition can be pretty complicated also due to the lack of description of such patients with encephalomyopathy associated with PDC deficiency in Russian population. Clinical Cases Description. We have performed the analysis of clinical manifestations polymorphism of progressive mitochondrial encephalomyopathy caused by pathogenic variants in nuclear X linked gene, PDHA1 (encodes alpha subunit of pyruvate dehydrogenase), in 8 boys aged from 1 to 8 years. The adverse perinatal period was mentioned in all cases. The major features of symptom complex by the time of hospital examination were psychomotor retardation, ataxy, myopathic manifestations. Dystonic attacks were observed in 2 sibs. All patients had changes on brain magnetic resonance imaging: in basal ganglia in 6 children and ventriculomegaly in 2 children. All children had lactic acidosis. Clinical examination has shown that 4 patients had severe damage of nervous system, other 4 patients had moderate damage. Missense mutations in the PDHA1 gene were revealed in 6 children, insertions and duplications including 6 and 16 base pairs — in 2 children. The moderate positive dynamics was noticed as a result of complex treatment of children: stabilization of the overall condition, no metabolic crises, decrease in frequency of dystonic attacks. Conclusion. The clinical polymorphism of mitochondrial encephalomyopathy associated with PDC deficiency is described. The differences in manifestations of severe and moderate forms of disease are shown. The presented description may be useful for medico-genetic counseling and providing medico-genetic care for families.

Background. Hepatocellular carcinoma is rare disease in pediatrics, it affects mostly male adolescents aged 10–15 years. There are only 10 described cases of hepatocellular carcinoma and familial adenomatous polyposis combination.Clinical Case Description. Patient G., 16 years, visited the pediatrician with complaints on low fever episodes and abdominal pain. The abdominal ultrasound was performed. Non-homogeneous mass was revealed in the left lobe of the liver. Contrast X-ray computer tomography has revealed large pathological mass in the left lobe of the liver (atypical haemangioma? adenoma?). Adenoma phenotype was established in obtained needle biopsy material. The child has undergone the resection of the left lobe of the liver with plastic reconstruction of the left hepatic vein entry. Histological examination of the surgical specimen has confirmed the presence of hepatocellular carcinoma. Peripheral blood α-fetoprotein levels remained within normal range throughout the follow-up. In past medical history: classical familial adenomatous polyposis in the mother (diagnosis has been established 3 years before the clinical events in the child). The genetic testing of APC gene (Adenomatous Poliposis Coli) was performed after detection of the tumor in the child’s liver. The pathological allele similar to that previously found in the mother has been identified. Conclusion. Timely diagnosis of familial adenomatous polyposis, risk awareness on combined course of polyposis with various malignant tumors, as well as monitoring of health condition of the child are necessary to diagnose hepatocellular carcinoma on its early stages.

Analysis efficiency operating drain sewer systems (DSS) is a part of urban water management. Two basic parameters flooding and sediment formation with average annual precipitation and with rains varying intensity are considering. Dealing with hydraulic problems, modelling focus lies on non-pressure systems with two-phase flows. The main requirement in the design of gravity collectors is the flow rate with self-cleaning velocity. The initial data for hydraulics calculation DSS is the flow rate in hole system and geometrical characteristic of the each elements. The average velocity in local tube depends on average flow rate and the cross-sectional area. For calculation, cross-section area needs to estimate depth of flow, which can be find only in situ. The average velocity was found for each element of the system by combining the two matrices. The first contains the initial data of the working collector, and the second contains all possible velocities and depth of the collector with such geometric characteristics. Verification of the proposed model was carried out using data from the standards and from engineering systems in Moscow. Maps with the coordinates of the tube outlet in the considered part of Moscow where the flooded collectors and collectors with sediment were compiled.

Анализ стабильных изотопов углерода и азота широко используется в экологических исследованиях для изучения структуры трофических сетей, оценки роли различных ресурсов в питании отдельных особей, определении трофического уровня консументов. Раковина у моллюсков постепенно формируется в течение всей жизни и отражает особенности питания особей в разном возрасте. Проведены исследования стабильных изотопов углерода и азота раковин чужеродных моллюсков Viviparus viviparus (Linnaeus, 1758), собранных в Новосибирском водохранилище. Отмечены статистически значимые различия изотопного состава фрагментов раковин, соответствующих годичному приросту разных лет. Высказано предположение о значимой роли межгодовых различий трофических условий в водохранилище в формировании изотопной подписи раковин моллюсков. Результаты работы могут быть использованы в экологических и палеолимнологических исследованиях питания моллюсков, при реконструкции долговременных изменений экологических условий водоемов.

Rare diseases continue to present numerous challenges for the medical field worldwide. Understanding innovative mechanisms of service provision for patients with rare conditions through shared communication across different healthcare systems should be encouraged. This study presents the organization of medical care for people with rare diseases in Russia, while also exploring the epidemiology of both life-threatening and chronic, progressive, rare diseases. Further, the regulation of medical care provision is examined, including the preferential provision of medicines in different Russian regions and potential role of compulsory medical insurance. The principles guiding patient referrals to appropriate specialist centres for rare diseases are outlined, including considering the increased role that public-patient organizations have in developing healthcare systems. In reviewing the specialized resources available for patients with rare diseases, medical genetics services offering diagnostics and counselling are discussed. Additionally, population-level preventive care necessitates significant investment, principally in diagnostic technology and screening programs. As seen elsewhere, these initiatives involve forming reference centres and tertiary-level pediatric departments staffed by multidisciplinary specialists in rare diseases. Numerous challenges are highlighted relating to Russian healthcare systems, including the financing of expensive treatments and ensuring equitable access to medical care for those patients with rare diseases outside of State-subsidized programs. Recommendations are made on creating international registries for knowledge sharing, quality appraisal, newborn screening, diagnostic challenges, available treatments and rehabilitation services. Given the high cost of rare diseases, cost-effective interventions are advisable, particularly developing preventive programs and targeting the most common and severe mutations in patients planning pregnancies.

This article is an attempt to explore the emergence and expansion of left ideas in Bengal, the key province of colonial India. Nowadays the major part of the province is a part of the West Bengal state, headed by communists for decades. A communist state in a capitalist country is a phenomenon, which cannot be explained merely by economic reasons. A closer scrutiny reveals a certain correlation between the travels to the West by prominent Bengali public figures and leftist thoughts in their works between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Therefore, their travel narratives, or travelogues, which present the West as the epicenter of rapid economic, scientific and technological development, causing, however, an observable spiritual degradation of society attracts a special attention. None of the travelers introduces him/herself as a consistent socialist or communist, but the Western model comes under severe criticism, though the importance of technical development for India is commonly recognized. This results in the positioning the Soviet system as an alternative to the European and American ways, as a model that is closer and more attractive for India.

Aim. To study such circulating angiogenesis factors as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), as well as the cytokine profile (IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-23) and their soluble receptors (SRp55 TNF-α, SR IL-6) in the blood serum of gout patients having various obesity phenotypes.Material and methods. The study included 112 male patients with intercritical gout. The patients were divided into 2 study groups: the 1st group consisted of 39 patients with a metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) phenotype and body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2; the 2nd group included 73 people having metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) with impaired immune status, hypertension (HTN) and class 1 abdominal obesity. The control group consisted of 25 metabolically healthy subjects with normal body weight. Serum concentration of uric acid, CRP, insulin, leptin, insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR), cytokine status, plasma levels of VEGF-A, HGF, IGF-1 were studied. To assess the left ventricular (LV) diastolic function, tissue Doppler imaging of the mitral annulus was used.Results. In the group of patients with MUO, an increase of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-23, TNF-α, SRp55 TNF-α) was revealed, while the level of TNF-α and IL-1β exceeds the control values in 4,7 and 6,8 times, respectively (p

In 2010, UNAIDS put forward their bold vision of the 'Three Zeros,' to envisage a world in which there were zero new infections, zero AIDS deaths and zero discrimination [1]. [...]

Alterations in fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) genes have been identified as potential driver oncogenes. Pharmacological targeting of FGFRs may therefore provide therapeutic benefit to selected cancer patients, and proof-of-concept has been established in early clinical trials of FGFR inhibitors. Here, we present the molecular structure and preclinical characterization of INCB054828 (pemigatinib), a novel, selective inhibitor of FGFR 1, 2, and 3, currently in phase 2 clinical trials. INCB054828 pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics were investigated using cell lines and tumor models, and the antitumor effect of oral INCB054828 was investigated using xenograft tumor models with genetic alterations in FGFR1, 2, or 3. Enzymatic assays with recombinant human FGFR kinases showed potent inhibition of FGFR1, 2, and 3 by INCB054828 (half maximal inhibitory concentration [IC50] 0.4, 0.5, and 1.0 nM, respectively) with weaker activity against FGFR4 (IC50 30 nM). INCB054828 selectively inhibited growth of tumor cell lines with activation of FGFR signaling compared with cell lines lacking FGFR aberrations. The preclinical pharmacokinetic profile suggests target inhibition is achievable by INCB054828 in vivo with low oral doses. INCB054828 suppressed the growth of xenografted tumor models with FGFR1, 2, or 3 alterations as monotherapy, and the combination of INCB054828 with cisplatin provided significant benefit over either single agent, with an acceptable tolerability. The preclinical data presented for INCB054828, together with preliminary clinical observations, support continued investigation in patients with FGFR alterations, such as fusions and activating mutations.

This article belongs to the body of imageological studies dealing with mutual perceptions of nations, communities and cultures as well as the idea of “Other”. The main topic is the evolution of attitude to the West in the works of Swami Vivekananda, who was a social and religious figure on the cusp of XIX – XX centuries and an ideologist of Indian nationalism. It is widely known that roots of the actual social and political thought in India go back to the period of colonialism. With the status of one of the most influential thinkers in modern India and attention paid to the legacy of Vivekananda by ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his case appears to be of a considerable importance. Vivekananda spent years in America and Europe, establishing contacts and promoting Indian culture. He used it as a “soft power” to draw attention of the West to the national liberation struggle just starting to unfold in India. So the research goal is to trace the transformation of Swami Vivekananda’s attitude to the West and find out how its picture after the author’s close acquaintance with Western countries is different from the one in his earlier works. In this context the research focuses on his travel writings created while in the West as well as back in India. In addition to a number of traditional means of research, i.e. historical genitival and historical comparative, content analysis and discourse analysis are also employed. The result of the research says for a rather significant devaluation of the West in Swami Vivekananda’s eyes. His views develop from an enthusiastic, optimistic expectation of Western help in the struggle against British colonialism to the realization that the declining West, torn by interstate differences on the verge of a great war, is not willing to provide an active support to the Indian people, notwithstanding its interest to the Indian civilization. So his last works present evident criticisms of the West and appreciation of India as the source of moral integrity, which the West is devoid of and which is vital for a further development of the mankind.

In recent years we can observe the dramatic development of the automotive industry in Central and Eastern European countries (CEE). During the period of 2000-2014 the share of CEE countries in the world auto production rose from 1.8% to 5%, and in European production - from 5% to 20% correspondingly. Foreign investment became the main driver of this growth; and the key motives for the process were not only favourable economic factors (production capacity held from Soviet times, relatively low wages of workers compared with their relatively high technical professional skills, good geographical location), but also effective industrial policy by CEE governments. Foreign investors, including Volkswagen, Renault, Peugeot-Citroen, Fiat, GM, Ford, Toyota, Hyundai-KIA, Suzuki, used different methods to enter CEE market - from brownfield investment and M&A to greenfield investment. The authors came to the conclusion that the main feature of the automotive sector in CEE became its export-oriented character, and key development trend - the building-up of value added chains in CEE countries, location of assembly plants (Czech Republic and Slovak Republic are the leaders), and later - suppliers of various levels.

The paper reviews the Conference on International Trade and Macroeconomic Interdependence in the Age of Global Value Chains that took place in Vilnius (Lithuania) in September 2016. The review deals with organisational and professional aspects of the Conference, and analyses main messages of the key speakers of the conference - Richard Baldwin (the concept of “unbundling”) and Marcel Timmer (the idea of decreasing intensity of international trade and defragmentation of international production). The paper includes author’s personal impression of the Conference.