Search

The aim of this study is to examine the lecture method preferences of Ukrainian consumers of educational services. The study has observed two popular methods of providing educational services: the auditory method and the visual method. Research methodology included: information research; questioning and statistical processing of questionnaires; graphical representation of results and verification of statistical hypotheses. The sampling included two groups of students and one group of school teachers. It was statistically proved that Ukrainian students prefer the visual method of lectures but not the auditory method in availing educational services. Since the results are strongly significant, they have a great practical importance, recommending university teachers to use visual methods of lectures more than auditory while providing educational services. This will help them to adapt their lecture form and technique according to the needs and preferences of students as consumers of educational services. In addition, the results will also be useful to design and formulate training programs for teachers of Ukrainian Universities and making policy design for the Ukrainian Higher Education.

The aim of the study was a verification of statistical hypotheses about the preferences of Ukrainian and Polish Law-students related the method of learning at lectures. There were two groups of Ukrainian Law-students and one group of Polish Law-students. The main research methods were the methods of sociological research. There are statistically proved three scientific facts in the study: (1) The general population of Ukrainian and Polish Law-students does not prefer the auditory learning method at lectures; (2) There is no a difference in the preferences of Ukrainian Law-students of 1 and 2 levels from the statistical viewpoint. So, the difference might not be taken into account; and (3) There is a difference in the preferences of Ukrainian and Polish Law-students from the statistical viewpoint. So, the difference must be taken into account. All of the results are highly statistically significant (99.0%). The results of the study have a great practical importance: they will help to adapt the forms of lectures to the needs of Law-students. Adaptation benefits both sides -- both students and teachers.

The results of a reconnaissance survey using direct-prospecting technology of satellite images and photographs frequency-resonance processing within some areas of coal basin and shale gas production in China, France, Ukraine, USA, Argentina, England, UAE are presented. The data of the local areas reconnaissance surveying within coal basins show the possibility of detecting oil, condensate and gas deposits in the deep and ultra-deep horizons of cross-section underneath coal deposits. Materials of experimental studies at the Fuman oil field site and the Luntan-1 deep well drilling site indicate the potential possibility and feasibility of direct-prospecting methods using in the process of selecting the most optimal sites of the deep exploratory wells for oil and gas drilling. Helium deposits may be discovered at an ultra-deep well drilling site in the Taklamakan Desert at depths of over 7120 m. By detailed scanning of this cross-section interval, the depths of helium accumulations in the reservoirs can be determined. The deep channels for fluids, chemical elements and minerals migration, filled with 1-6 groups of sedimentary rocks, were found in all surveyed shale gas production sites. The received measurement data of the work carried out can be considered as additional evidence in favor of the concept of deep (abiogenic) synthesis of hydrocarbons, including those in shale formations. Within the survey site in England a significant number of local zones of visible hydrogen degassing are located. It is advisable to conduct additional research on these sites in order to study these local zones in more detail. Experimental studies within area of shale oil in the Williston Basin also confirmed the presence of hydrocarbon deposits in the deep horizons of cross-section. It is advisable to carry out detailed geological exploration work in order to search for hydrocarbon deposits in coal and shale basins in various regions of the world! To the east of Williston Basin, a large cluster of basalt volcanic structures with hydrogen and living (healing) water, as well as the process of hydrogen and phosphorus migration into the atmosphere were revealed by instrumental measurements. In general, the materials of the experimental work carried out can be considered as additional evidence in favor of the volcanic model of formation of structural elements and the external appearance of the Earth's surface, as well as deposits of ore and combustible minerals and water. The research results indicate the feasibility of using mobile technology of frequency-resonance processing and decoding of satellite images and photographs for the detection and localization of oil and gas accumulation zones within large blocks and local areas. The use of super-operational and low-cost directprospecting technology will significantly speed up the exploration process for oil, gas, natural hydrogen and ore minerals, as well as reduce the financial costs of its implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A group of species of Cytisus sect. Tubocytisus with strictly lateral inflorescences, commonly referred to as C. ratisbonensis s.l., is critically revised in Eastern Europe on the basis of morphology and comprehensive treatment of herbarium specimens and observations. Seven species and two presumed hybrids are recognised. Complete accounts are provided for each species, with synonyms, typifications, brief morphological descriptions, data on ecology and distributions, taxonomic and nomenclatural annotations. Cytisus polonicus is described as new to science, separated from C. ratisbonensis on the basis of morphology and diploid (vs. tetraploid) chromosome count. The lectotype of C. elongatus is superseded and a new lectotype is designated; this name has priority for the species previously known as C. triflorus. Six species names are newly placed to the synonymy: Chamaecytisus pineticola under Cytisus ruthenicus s. str., and Cytisus czerniaevii, C. leucotrichus, C. lindemannii, C. ponomarjovii and Chamaecytisus korabensis under Cytisus elongatus. The presumed hybrid between C. ruthenicus and C. elongatus, which was incorrectly known as C. czerniaevii, is described here as C. semerenkoanus. Cytisus lithuanicus, which has been an obscure name since its original publication, is resurrected for a newly-recognised octoploid species, which is endemic to eastern Poland, western Belarus and north-western Ukraine. The name C. cinereus is re-instated for the species previously known as C. paczoskii, and C. horniflorus is added to its synonymy; its complete distribution area is circumscribed, and its occurrence in Austria, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Slovakia is documented. Cytisus kreczetoviczii and C. elongatus are reported for the first time from Belarus, and the latter species also from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Slovenia. Cytisus borysthenicus and C. elongatus are reported as new to some territories in European Russia. Cytisus ratisbonensis s. str. is treated as absent from Eastern Europe. The neglected protologue of C. ruthenicus is discovered, and the nomenclature of all other names is verified and corrected when necessary. The original material of C. borysthenicus is re-discovered. Five further lectotypes and one neotype are designated. Distribution areas are circumscribed on the basis of numerous herbarium collections and documented observations, identified or verified by the authors. Chromosome counts published for nameless taxa from Belarus, Ukraine and Russia are assigned to the species according to their herbarium vouchers: C. borysthenicus, C. kreczetoviczii and C. lithuanicus are octoploid (2n = 100), C. ruthenicus is tetraploid (2n = 50) and octoploid (2n = 100), and C. semerenkoanus and C. elongatus are tetraploid (2n = 50). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article "Belarus at War" describes the effects of Russian aggression against Ukraine on Belarus. Belarus is increasingly dependent on Russia due to the presence of Russian troops, the deployment of nuclear weapons, and increased oil and gas subsidies. President Lukashenko supports Russia in the war against Ukraine, which is very unpopular in Belarus and has incurred high costs. The West has imposed sanctions on Belarus. The deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus increases Russia's control over the country and reduces the threshold for Belarus' involvement in the war. The Lukashenko regime is seen as toxic by Western politicians, and public sentiment in Belarus is largely negative. Belarus is economically, financially, and energy-wise heavily dependent on Russia. The Lukashenko regime suppresses opposition members and political prisoners, has enacted laws providing for the death penalty for attempted terrorist acts, and offers the possibility to revoke the citizenship of individuals deemed extremist. Opposition parties and civil society structures have been dissolved, and independent media and cultural institutions are suppressed. [Extracted from the article]

The relevance of the study is due to the urgent need to address the critical state of children’s rights in the context of military aggression against Ukraine, which requires immediate measures to strengthen their protection. The main purpose of this study is to examine the concept of child security as an integral part of national security. Methodologically, the study is based on a critical analysis of scientific sources and the international and Ukrainian legal framework for the protection of children’s rights in general and in armed conflict in particular. The study also analysed relevant statistics. The results of the study highlight the state of child rights protection in Ukraine in the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion. The state of national legislation in the field of child protection and its compliance with international standards are examined, and ways to improve the Ukrainian legal framework are proposed. The urgency of expanding international cooperation to restore the psychological and moral well-being of children is substantiated. The author emphasizes the need to increase funding for organizations involved in supporting and protecting children’s rights, recognizing that children represent the future of the state. The author emphasizes the role of juvenile justice bodies in the implementation of the state’s domestic policy, which is an integral part of national security, is guided by international and national legal norms and is aimed at guaranteeing and protecting the rights and freedoms of children. Long-term perspective goals for state bodies are formulated. By addressing a previously unexplored area, the study improves understanding of the important link between child security and national security. In practice, the findings offer valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders in protecting the rights and well-being of children, who are among the most vulnerable citizens in times of armed conflict [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides an overview of the main trends and vectors of the development of higher teacher education in the EU countries and Ukraine. The authors analyze the main trends in the development of modern pedagogical education, identify points of contact, and problematic issues that need to be solved for the effective integration of Ukraine into the European educational environment. The article reflects on the problematic issues faced by modern pedagogical universities both in the EU countries and in Ukraine. It was also possible to identify the typical features of the European educational environment, historically inherent in the Ukrainian tradition of teacher training, which shows that Ukraine belongs to the pan-European socio-political and cultural family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Describes the growth of distance education in the Ukraine and looks at the problems faced by universities such as developing professors' skills, creating national educational information space, elaborating legal guarantees for distance education usage, and creating distance education courses. (JOW)

The analysis of methodical approaches to the entrepreneurship development evaluation in Ukraine has shown that they have significant conceptual flaws: integral indicators do not have a socio-economic essence; using a large number of indicators without highlighting key indicators; double and distorted accounting of indicators when calculating the integral indicator; lack of trends evaluation in key development indicators; lack of development indicators evaluation in the context of threshold values; unrepresentativeness of certain groups of indicators. Reasonable conceptual provisions for the entrepreneurship development evaluation in the context of determining the level of capitalization as one of the key characteristics which acquires special relevance in the conditions of the post-war recovery of the national economy. A system of indicators has been developed for the comprehensive evaluation of entrepreneurship development at the regional and basic levels in terms of the sustainable development components (indicators for the entrepreneurship development evaluation in economic, social and environmental aspects). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the constitutional reform in Belarus, initiated by President Lukashenko. Although neither the government nor the opposition or other civil society actors showed great interest in the reform, 83 percent of voters voted in favor of the constitutional draft. Originally, the reform was supposed to enable a controlled transfer of power, but Lukashenko has apparently decided to remain in power until 2025. The new constitution provides for Lukashenko to assume the chairmanship of the All-Belarusian People's Assembly after its creation, indicating that he will continue to exercise autocratic power. The referendum was not uniformly approached by the opposition, and the public debate was overshadowed by the war in Ukraine. [Extracted from the article]

The article considers the chronology of cooperation between Ukraine and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The significance and role of loans of this institution in the conditions of economic and social reforms are revealed. The effectiveness of Ukraine's interaction with the IMF is assessed and the corresponding risks are investigated; the rationality and necessity of cooperation between Ukraine and the IMF have been proved. Emphasis is placed on the fact that the relations between Ukraine and the IMF must move away from the position of a «passive partner». A systematic analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of such a cooperation is conducted. It is proved that there is a need to develop effective and efficient reform measures that would address a range of economic and social issues that should be seen as today's challenges. Recommendations aimed at improving the effectiveness of cooperation between Ukraine and the IMF are proposed. Among them are: (a) use of financial and credit resources for the development of the country's economy through internal transformations; (b) debt burden optimization; (c) creation of favourable conditions for doing business; and (d) creation of a positive image of a solvent country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six species of EntelecaraSimon, 1884 are known in Ukraine: E. acuminata (Wider, 1834), E. congenera (O. Pickard-Cambridge, 1879), E. erythropus (Westring, 1851), E. flavipes (Blackwall, 1834), E. mediaKulczyński, 1887 (needs confirmation), and E. omissaO. Pickard-Cambridge, 1903. Entelecara errataO. Pickard-Cambridge, 1913 was excluded from the earlier list (erroneous identification) and E. forsslundiTullgren, 1955 was synonymized with E. flavipes (Blackwall, 1834). Information on distinctive features of the copulatory organs and their shape variation is presented, as well as data on ecology and distribution in Ukraine. Drawings of the male palp, carapace, epigyne, and vulva of each of the five species which undoubtedly occurs in Ukraine are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to verify do the humanity student new needs meet the State decisions of distance learning in distance learning during COVID-19 epidemic in Ukraine. It was used the research methods: general scientific research methods; study of official documents and scientific resources; statistical methods, including verification of statistical hypotheses. It was 77 students of humanity specialities. Verification of statistical hypotheses led to the Alternative hypothesis. The principal result is that the humanity student new needs in distance learning do not meet the state decisions of distance learning related to the COVID-19 epidemic in Ukraine. The result is highly statistically significant (99.0%). The major conclusions are: 1) the state decisions of student health are distance learning in the amount of 100%; 2) the humanity student new needs in distance learning are 25.00% - 46.25%; 3) this amount is less than it was just before the pandemic came (54.20% - 68.66%). The new scientific knowledge has important practical and theoretical significance. The authors prepared some multi-level recommendations about distance learning during the COVID-19 epidemic for Ukrainian authority and universities. This study is helpful for higher education institutions who use distance learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To investigate the influence of physical rehabilitation on psycho-emotional and cognitive impairment in patients in a restoration period (3-6 months from the moment of disease) of a cerebral ischemic stroke. Materials and Methods: Research was conducted on the basis of the department of vascular pathology and rehabilitation of the State Institution "Institute of Neurology, Psychiatry and Narcology of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine". Observations were carried out in 84 patients in a restorative period of cerebral ischemic stroke. Patients were divided into two groups. The main group included 43 patients who underwent a course of rehabilitation treatment and received drug therapy within secondary prevention. The comparison group included 41 patients who received only drug therapy for secondary prevention. Results: In the course of the study, it was found that patients who underwent a course of restorative treatment with the use of drug therapy and physical rehabilitation programs received statistically significant improvement in the indicators of cognitive functions by the MMSE, MoCA scales, reduction of manifestations of psycho-emotional disorders that were confirmed by Beck and Spielberger-Khanin scales. Conclusions: Physical rehabilitation of patients in the restorative period of cerebral stroke by ischemic type reduces the degree of expressivness of neurological manifestations, positively affects cognitive functions, contributes to reducing manifestations of depressive and anxiety symptoms, increases the functional capacity of the patient. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents the results of the study of vertebrate fossil assemblages recovered from the Grot Skeliastyi rock shelter in south-western Crimea (Ukraine). The deposition of its fossil-bearing layers covers the time span from the Late Glacial to the early Holocene. The studied sample consists of 2,736 bones belonging to 52 species of vertebrates (including 3 fishes, 1 amphibian, 12 reptiles, 10 birds, 26 small and large mammals). Among them, the past presence of the Aesculapian snake, four-lined ratsnake, squacco heron, tree pipit, and water pipit in the region is here documented for the first time. Extinct taxa in the faunal assemblage of Grot Skeliastyi were represented by wild horse, European ass, steppe bison, and woolly mammoth. Remains of small animals were accumulated due to the feeding activity of the eagle owl, while bones of large mammals could have been a part of the prey of carnivores but mostly are associated with the hunting activity of ancient people who inhabited the rock shelter. Most of the species persisted from the Pleistocene to the Holocene without losses. Our results indicate that the Pleistocene/Holocene transition in Crimea was not characterised by drastic faunal changes unlike those in other parts of Eastern Europe.Not StartedCompletedRejected [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, forest fire research is becoming especially relevant in Ukraine. This study examines patterns of forest fuel accumulation in pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands that grow in different soil conditions with different pine stand structure. To estimate the load of forest fuel of different fractions, a combined methodology was used: the weighing method and the FIREMON (fuel load estimation) method. It was found that increase in surface forest fuel loads is not directly proportional to forest stands' age. Fractional size distribution, capacity and loads of forest fuel depend on several factors, among which the greatest role is played by forestry characteristics of the pine stand. It was determined that in the forest site conditions of type C (fairly rich soils) in Kyiv Polissya, the share of forest litter compared to pine stands that grow in poor soil conditions (A) is smaller, ranging from 41% to 76% of the total forest fuel load. The mass proportion of the duff layer varies from 15% in young forest stands to 43% in mature stands. It was established that changes in forest fuel fractions for 1, 10, 100 and 1000 hours varied insignificantly with age rate. The share of substratum woody debris of 10 and 100 hours was insignificant and depended more on the forestry treatment regime on these sites. The mass proportion of coarse woody debris (1000 hours) was also insignificant, varying from 0% to 5.9% of the total load of surface fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The examination of decomposed human bodies is a complex task that requires a comprehensive assessment of macroscopic, microscopic and laboratory data; • Even with signs of decay changes, it is possible to detect metal compounds on the skin of the body; • Explosive trauma causes the formation of various types of damage, differing in morphological characteristics. The Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 caused a significant spike in the number of deaths from blast injury. The impossibility of evacuating the bodies of dead servicemen or civilians from the battlefield for a long time leads to the fact that forensic experts often have to deal with the examination of bodies in a state of decomposed changes. At the same time, the material and technical support of forensic medical institutions in different parts of Ukraine is heterogeneous: most experts do not have access to laboratory or instrumental research methods and can only rely on macroscopic research data. This article provides an overview of the cases of expert examination of cases of explosive trauma of decomposed bodies using macroscopic, microscopic, chemical and instrumental research, which indicates the high efficiency of their use for the purpose of solving expert questions of various nature. At the same time, the identified morphological characteristics of the damage are not purely specific and indicate the action of a blunt solid object with a limited contact surface, which had high kinetic energy and significant penetrating capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

What explains the variation in violence in the internationalized civil conflict? This study identifies such conflict as an adaptation of insurgency warfare by the state. The analysis of the conflict in Eastern Ukraine indicates that violence levels peak in the areas where the preexisting political loyalties for the challenger state were strongest, where the central government of the incumbent state has inadequate access, and where the impact of war on civilians is relatively low. The study also points to the importance of scaling factors for determining the intensity of violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

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

The article investigates the distinctive features of the development of human resources of agro-industrial complex (AIC). The study determined the categorical nature of human resources, as a whole, and the author's vision of the resource capacity of AIC was offered, in particular. The detailed analysis of the development of human resources of AIC in Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus through the prism of the study of the features of life, well-being and safety of the rural population was carried out. Particular attention is paid to the problems of staffing of AIC of the leading countries of the world, including EU countries. The results obtained allowed to establish the fact of the indirect identity of the main factors of reduction of the rural population in the considered post-Soviet republics and the depopulation of rural areas in the EU. On this basis, at the conceptual level the key tasks were identified, which resolution, as for Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine and Belarus, and for Europe, make prospects of development of human resources of AIC. Taking into consideration peculiarities of AIC of Russia, as well as specific, national problems of rural development, the article developed the concept of development of human resources of AIC of Russia. Apart, within the concept, measures for training and retraining of workers for agricultural enterprises of Russia were allocated, as well as a model of balancing supply and demand in the labor market in order to determine the number of specialists of specific specialties necessary for the development of AIC in the region was offered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Current knowledge about Chornobyl-related thyroid cancer risks comes from ecological studies based on grouped doses, case-control studies, and studies of prevalent cancers. OBJECTIVE: To address this limitation, we evaluated the dose-response relationship for incident thyroid cancers using measurement-based individual iodine-131 (I-131) thyroid dose estimates in a prospective analytic cohort study. METHODS: The cohort consists of individuals < 18 years of age on 26 April 1986 who resided in three contaminated oblasts (states) of Ukraine and underwent up to four thyroid screening examinations between 1998 and 2007 (n.=.12,514). Thyroid doses of I-131 were estimated based on individual radioactivity measurements taken within 2 months after the accident, environmental transport models, and interview data. Excess radiation risks were estimated using Poisson regression models. RESULTS: Sixty-five incident thyroid cancers were diagnosed during the second through fourth screenings and 73,004 person-years (PY) of observation. The dose-response relationship was consistent with linearity on relative and absolute scales, although the excess relative risk (ERR) model described data better than did the excess absolute risk (EAR) model. The ERR per gray was 1.91 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.43.6.34], and the EAR per 104 PY/Gy was 2.21 (95% CI, 0.04.5.78). The ERR per gray varied significantly by oblast of residence but not by time since exposure, use of iodine prophylaxis, iodine status, sex, age, or tumor size. CONCLUSIONS: I-131-related thyroid cancer risks persisted for two decades after exposure, with no evidence of decrease during the observation period. The radiation risks, although smaller, are compatible with those of retrospective and ecological post-Chornobyl studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Chornobyl accident in 1986 exposed thousands of people to radioactive iodine isotopes, particularly 131I; this exposure was followed by a large increase in thyroid cancer among those exposed as children and adolescents, particularly in Belarus, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine. Here we report the results of the first cohort study of thyroid cancer among those exposed as children and adolescents following the Chornobyl accident. Methods: A cohort of 32 385 individuals younger than 18 years of age and resident in the most heavily contaminated areas in Ukraine at the time of the accident was invited to be screened for any thyroid pathology by ultrasound and palpation between 1998 and 2000; 13 127 individuals (44%) were actually screened. Individual estimates of radiation dose to the thyroid were available for all screenees based on radioactivity measurements made shortly after the accident and on interview data. The excess relative risk per gray (Gy) was estimated using individual doses and a linear excess relative risk model. Results: Forty-five pathologically confirmed cases of thyroid cancer were found during the 1998-2000 screening. Thyroid cancer showed a strong, monotonic, and approximately linear relationship with individual thyroid dose estimate (P<.001), yielding an estimated excess relative risk of 5.25 per Gy (95% confidence interval ICII = 1.70 to 27.5). Greater age at exposure was associated with decreased risk of radiation-related thyroid cancer, although this interaction effect was not statistically signify- cant. Conclusion: Exposure to radioactive iodine was strongly associated with increased risk of thyroid cancer among those exposed as children and adolescents. In the absence of Chornobyl radiation, 11.2 thyroid cancer cases would have been expected compared with the 45 observed, i.e., a reduction of 75% (95% Cl = 50% to 93%). The study also provides quantitative risk estimates minimally confounded by any screening effects. Caution should be exercised in generalizing these results to any future similar accidents because of the potential differences in the nature of the radioactive iodines involved, the duration and temporal patterns of exposures, and the susceptibility of the exposed population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our work has revealed a rather low level of similarity in regard to the finger dermatoglyphics of somatically healthy men, 19-35 years old, between Ukraine's north and west, north and south, center and west, center and south, as well as the palmar dermatoglyphics between central regions and the east, center and west, center and south. The obtained finger/palmar dermatoglyphics did not differentiate administrative-territorial local groups of men between the north and the center, south and west (quantitative characteristics); or palmar - between the north and west, north and east, south and west, south and east, north and center. The differences between the administrative and territorial division of dermatoglyphic signs are a reflection of the historical and cultural differences induced by migration, as well as the intensive process of mixing, in addition to the isolation of particular groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article covers the elaboration of a methodical toolkit of assessing the prospects of coal mines, which allows for the differentiation of enterprises by an integrated index of their prospects as regards mining and the geological conditions of each coal mine. Is proposed An algorithm for the coal mine prospects assessment, of containing the stages of selecting the characteristics of mining and geological conditions, the use of a multi-attribute assessment by the COPRAS-G interval data, and the rating of coal mines. A comparative analysis of the prospects, employing the COPRAS-G method, was tested on an the example of 14 coal mines of the Central district Donbass of Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: After the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (CNPP), the incidence of thyroid cancer increased among children. Recently, a strong relationship between solid thyroid nodules and the incidence of thyroid cancer was shown in atomic bomb survivors. To assess the prognosis of benign thyroid nodules in individuals living in the Zhitomir region of Ukraine, around the CNPP, we conducted a follow-up investigation of screening data from 1991 to 2000 in the Ukraine. Patients and Methods: Participants of this study were 160 inhabitants with thyroid nodules (nodule group) and 160 inhabitants without thyroid nodules (normal control group) intially identified by ultrasonography from 1991 to 2000. All participants were aged 0 to 10 years old and lived in the same area at the time of the accident. We performed follow-up screening of participants and assessed thyroid nodules by fine needle aspiration biopsy. Results: Among the nodule group participants, the number and size of nodules were significantly increased at the follow-up screening compared with the initial screening. No thyroid nodules were observed among the normal control group participants. The prevalence of thyroid abnormality, especially nodules that could be cancerous (malignant or suspicious by fine needle aspiration biopsy), was 7.5% in the nodule group and 0% in the normal control group (P<0.001). Conclusions: Our study indicated that a thyroid nodule in childhood is a prognostic factor associated with an increase in the number and size of nodules in individuals living in the Zhitomir region of Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a general evaluation of the higher education system under reform in Ukraine with examples of some higher education institutions in different regions, and demonstrates basic tendencies and regularities which typical of all the institutions that are undergoing similar processes of reform. The process is heavily influenced by the so-called "human factor", by investigating the participants' opinion. The empirical data presented in this paper demonstrate how lecturers and students understand the reform process in different ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Hypothyroidism is the most common thyroid abnormality in patients treated with high doses of iodine-131 (131I). Data on risk of hypothyroidism from low to moderate 131I thyroid doses are limited and inconsistent. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to quantify the risk of hypothyroidism prevalence in relation to 131I doses received because of the Chornobyl accident. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional (1998--2000) screening study of thyroid diseases in a cohort of 11,853 individuals < 18 years of age at the time of the accident, with individual thyroid radioactivity measurements taken within 2 months of the accident. We measured thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine, and antibodies to thyroid peroxidase (ATPO) in serum. RESULTS: Mean age at examination of the analysis cohort was 21.6 years (range, 12.2--32.5 years), with 49% females. Mean 131I thyroid dose was 0.79 Gy (range, 0--40.7 Gy). There were 719 cases with hypothyroidism (TSH > 4 mIU/L), including 14 with overt hypothyroidism. We found a significant, small association between 131I thyroid doses and prevalent hypothyroidism, with the excess odds ratio (EOR) per gray of 0.10 (95% confidence interval, 0.03--0.21). EOR per gray was higher in individuals with ATPO ≤ 60 U/mL compared with individuals with ATPO > 60 U/mL (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to find a significant relationship between prevalence of hypothyroidism and individual 131I thyroid doses due to environmental exposure. The radiation increase in hypothyroidism was small (10% per Gy) and limited largely to subclinical hypothyroidism. Prospective data are needed to evaluate the dynamics of radiation-related hypothyroidism and clarify the role of antithyroid antibodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In order to estimate current external gamma doses to the population of the Russian territories contaminated as a result of the Chernobyl accident, absorbed gamma-dose rates in air (DR) were determined at typical urban and suburban locations. The study was performed in the western districts of the Bryansk Region within the areas of 30 settlements (28 villages and 2 towns) with the initial levels of 137Cs deposition ranging from 13 to 4340kBqm−2. In the towns, the living areas considered were private one-story wooden and stone houses. DR values were derived from in situ measurements performed with the help of gamma-dosimeters and gamma-spectrometers as well as from the results of soil samples analysis. In the areas under study, the values of DR from terrestrial radionuclides were 25±6, 24±5, 50±10, 32±6, 54±11, 24±8, 20±6, 25±8, and 18±5nGyh−1 at locations of kitchen gardens, dirt surfaces, asphalt surfaces, wooden houses, stone houses, grasslands inside settlement, grasslands outside settlement, ploughed fields, and forests, respectively. In 1996–2001, mean normalized (per MBqm−2 of 137Cs current inventory in soil) values of DR from 137Cs were 0.41±0.07, 0.26±0.13, 0.15±0.07, 0.10±0.05, 0.05±0.04, 0.48±0.12, 1.04±0.22, 0.37±0.07, and 1.15±0.19μGyh−1 at the locations of kitchen gardens, dirt surfaces, asphalt surfaces, wooden houses, stone houses, grasslands inside settlement, grasslands outside settlement, ploughed fields, and forests, respectively. The radiometric data from this work and the values of occupancy factors determined for the Russian population by others were used for the assessments of annual effective doses to three selected groups of rural population. The normalized (per MBqm−2 137Cs current ground deposition) external effective doses to adults from 137Cs ranged from 0.66 to 2.27mSvy−1 in the years 1996–2001, in accordance with professional activities and structures of living areas. For the areas under study, the average external effective doses from 137Cs were estimated to be in the range of 0.39–1.34mSvy−1 in 2001. The average external effective doses from natural radionuclides appeared to be lower than those from the Chernobyl fallout ranging from 0.15 to 0.27mSvy−1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Many challenges emerged during completion of a study to examine radiation dose and acute leukemia among children in areas of the former Soviet Union. In an era of globalization, our experiences might benefit others involved in multinational investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents the result of a study concerning the monitoring of crop fields in different ecological areas of Ukraine for phytoviral infections. Use of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique in evaluating the spread of plant virus; Effectiveness of the technique in the identification of viral antigens; Methodology and discussion.

The consequences of the Chernobyl disaster continue to threaten humans and ecosystems across fallout gradient in Northern Ukraine and nearby. Forest ecosystems contain substantial stocks of long-lived radionuclide 90Sr which was leached from the fuel matrix during the disaster. Nowadays, there is a lack of information about current transfer factors (TF) of this radionuclide from soil to the stemwood of native tree species. We have estimated 90Sr content in the forest stemwood of three tree species utilizing models of their growth and yield and collected woody samplings. TFs provided here vary greatly across studied tree species (18.0 × 2.1±1, 8.7 × 2.8±1, and 10.4 × 6.0±1n × 10−3 m2·kg−1 (geometrical mean (GM) ± geometrical standard deviation, GSD) for the above species, respectively) and together with indicators of soil contamination allow us to reliably assess local stocks in the stemwood. Silver birch stands are estimated to deposit the highest 90Sr stocks. Herewith, at 25 years old Black alder stands could accumulate higher stocks (up to 35 MBq·ha−1) under rich growth conditions. TFs obtained in this study substantially exceed values provided by the International Atomic Energy Agency for studied tree species and thus could entail respective restrictions on use of firewood across large areas in Ukrainian Polissya. Data provided here may be harnessed to support decisions of respective stakeholders to provide credibly safe management of the contaminated forest ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We employ a non-decimated wavelet decomposition to analyse inter-annual variations of the North Atlantic Oscillations (NAO) indices and relationship of these variations with both the Eddy kinetic energy contents (K E) in the atmosphere of Northern mid-latitudes and the precipitation in the different regions of Ukraine during July 1960–February 2003. Major advantage of using this tool is to isolate short- and long-term components of fluctuations. Such analysis allows revealing basic periodic behaviours for the NAO indices such as the 4–8-year and the natural change of dominant phase. The main results can be posed as follows. The most essential relationship between the NAO index and K E content is found for the low frequency variations with the periods of 4–8 and 8–16 years, at that if the NAO phase tends to abrupt changes then the impact of these changes on the K E content is more significant than for the durational dominance of certain phase. The largest coefficients of correlation for the NAO index and Ukrainian precipitation are stated for the periodicities of 2–4 and 4–8 years; the former is caused by the synoptic-scale activity forced by the NAO while the former is conditioned by the air-mass processes in the warm season. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russian captivity were subject to torture before death. • Without a laboratory study, it is impossible to differentiate an electric mark from burns on decay tissues. • In the conditions of modern military conflicts, the importance of international normative documents is increasing. The given information and forensic medical characteristics of injuries found on the bodies of Ukrainian soldiers who were in Russian captivity and died as a result of cruel, inhuman treatment and torture in 2022–2023. According to their nature and morphological features, the damage could be the result of high temperature action using hot metal objects, but more likely, the result of the use of electric current conductors (bare end of the wire). In other cases, after the exhumation of the occupied territory of the Kharkiv region, the manifestations of torture were brain injuries and fractures of the bones of the body caused by blunt hard objects with a limited surface. All the injuries described by us correspond both to the list of physical evidence of torture of the "Istanbul Protocol" and to the list of war crimes of the "Rome Statute". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A wide range of different countermeasures has been used to mitigate the consequences of the Chernobyl accident for agriculture in affected regions in Belarus, Russia and Ukraine. The paper comprehensively brings together key data on countermeasure application over twenty years for all three countries and critically evaluates the response to the accident with respect to agriculture. The extents of countermeasures implementation in various periods following the ChNPP accident are documented. Examples of best practices and drawbacks in remediation of affected areas are identified. Data on the effectiveness of agricultural countermeasures have been evaluated and the impact of countermeasures implementation to mitigate consequences of the accident has been assessed for the period 1986–2006. Implementation of agricultural countermeasures averted 30–40% of the internal collective dose that would have been received by the residents of affected regions without the use of countermeasures. The current situation in agriculture of areas subjected to contamination following the Chernobyl accident is described. Current and future needs for remediation, including a consideration of various strategies of rehabilitation of affected areas are presented. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The shoreline of the Taganrog Gulf of the Azov Sea at the mouth of Don River provides a series of extended Upper Pliocene and Quaternary sections that have been actively studied in the last century. This extraglacial region had a complex sedimentary history combining subaerial aggradation with marine, fluvial, and deltaic sedimentation. The well-exposed stratigraphical sequence and abundant palaeontological record continuously attract geologists and highlight the region as one of international importance for the addressing of numerous problems of Late Pliocene and Quaternary stratigraphy and palaeogeography. Fossil mammalian faunas of the region include important Eurasian biostratigraphical markers such as Stenocranius ex gr. hintoni-gregaloides, Lagurini spp., and Mimomys savini. For many years, fossil remains of mammals provide decisive clues to the geological history of the region. Recent geological studies of reference sections have provided data on small mammals, palaeomagnetism and palaeogeographical reconstructions in the northeastern part of the Azovian Region. Mammalian assemblages indicate the presence of the Late Pliocene, late Early Pleistocene, Middle Pleistocene and Late Pleistocene levels and, in addition, provide a clear biostratigraphical context for the Early Middle Pleistocene transition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]