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The monograph discusses the issues of lingua-semiotics, linguaculturology, axiological linguistics and discourse studies. The characteristics of linguistic and cultural concepts, dramatic plots and types of discourse on the material of the Russian, English and German languages are considered. The monograph consists of three sections: “Conceptual Functionality of Language”, “Narrative Functionality of Language” and “Discourse Functionality of Language”. The basic parametric concepts of space and time (infinity and eternity), regulatory concepts of behavior (power, perseverance and stubbornness, style and reputation), the concept of the mastered world (house, garden, merry-go-round) and natural phenomena (fire and ice) are described. As illustrative material, the plots “journey into the past”, “flight into space”, “eternal youth”, “meeting or joint adventures of twins” are considered. When describing the discourse potential of language, the modes of self-expression in communication, the illogical varieties of world perception in different types of discourse (participation), the peculiarities of mystification, discourse accuracy and inaccuracy, the unification of different types of discourse in a speech act (discourse convergence) are shown. It is meant for philologists and a wide range of researchers developing the foundations of the integral science of man.

Objective. To perform comparative analysis of the clinical efficacy and safety of indirect decompression of the spinal roots and interbody fusion through the lateral pre-psoas approach (OLIF) with anterolateral (OLIF-AF) and posterior percutaneous (OLIF-PF) screw fixations in the surgical treatment of single-segment lumbar stenosis. Material and Methods. A retrospective comparative analysis of treatment of 88 patients aged 29 to 72 years with single-level lumbar stenosis was carried out. Posterior instrumental fixation (OLIF-PF) was performed in 60 cases, and anterolateral (OLIF-AF) – in 28. Results. The compared groups did not statistically significantly differ from each other in terms of age, gender, body mass index, clinical picture and duration of symptoms before surgery, assessment of neurological status according to the Zurich Claudication Questionnaire (ZCQ), preoperative diagnosis, localization of stenosis, pain assessment in the back and leg before surgery according to a digital rating scale, physical status (ASA), health assessment (SF-12, ODI), follow-up period, as well as smoking and the presence of comorbidities (p > 0.05). In the OLIF-AF group, compared to the OLIF-PF group, a statistically significant advantage was found in terms of blood loss, duration of surgery and anesthesia, the level of radiological exposure, duration of patient’s hospitalization and hospital stay in the postoperative period, as well as the duration of antibiotic prophylaxis and intraoperative volume of infusions (p < 0.05). Despite earlier discharge and less use of local anesthesia (35.7 % vs 73.3 %; p = 0.001), patients in the OLIF-AF group had statistically significantly lower level of back pain on the day of discharge (3.0 vs 3.5; p = 0.034) and were less likely to need opioids (3.6 % vs 31.7 %; p = 0.003). With regard to complications and adverse events, there were no statistically significant differences during dynamic follow-up period from 3 to 50 months in both groups (17.9 % vs 28.3 %; p = 0.290), including depending on the timing of complications (early or late). In addition, no statistically significant differences were found for neurological, infectious, gastrointestinal, urological, or implant-related complications (p > 0.05). Conclusions. Indirect decompression of the spinal roots and interbody fusion through the lateral pre-psoas approach in combination with OLIF-AF is an effective and safe technique for the surgical treatment of single-segment lumbar stenosis. This method allows to reduce the invasiveness of surgery and severity of the pain syndrome and to create conditions for enhanced recovery after surgery. Further multicenter randomized trials are needed to comprehensively evaluate long-term outcomes.

Objective. To study the effect of arthroplasty and anterior interbody fusion in the cervical spine on degenerative changes in the adjacent intervertebral joints. Material and Methods. A retrospective cohort study included 46 patients (22 with cervical total disc arthroplasy – CTDA, and 24 with anterior cervical discectomy and fusion – ACDF) with symptoms of cervical spondylogenic compression myelopathy and/or radiculopathy. The degree of degeneration of facet joints adjacent to the operated segments was evaluated 12 months after surgical treatment. Degenerative changes in the cervical spine were assessed using CT according to the Okamoto classification. Vidar Dicom Viewer 3.2 software was used to view images and evaluate intervertebral joints. Statistical processing was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 23. Data were presented as median and 25th and 75th percentiles – Me [Q1; Q3]. Results. The mean age of patients in both groups was 47 [39; 52] years (Mann – Whitney U-test, p = 0.047). In the ACDF group it was 48 [42; 55] years and in the CTDA group – 42 [36; 52] years. Comparison of degenerative changes in the ACDF group before and after treatment (Wilcoxon analysis) showed a statistically significant difference in the cranial (p = 0.023), and caudal (p = 0.001) joints, with the progression of degeneration degree. In the CTDA group, no difference between pre- and post-treatment degeneration degree (Wilcoxon analysis) was found in either cranial joints (p = 0.157) or caudal joints (p = 0.161). Conclusion. Surgeries to stabilize spinal segments in degenerative diseases undeniably affect the development of the adjacent level syndrome. However, the use of endoprosthetic technology makes it possible to aggravate the degree of degenerative changes in the intervertebral joints of adjacent segments to a lesser extent.

Introduction. The canonical norms, customs and superstitions that regulate common church practices are not always clearly differentiated in religious consciousness. As a result, the substitution of superstitions for canonical norms and customs leads to a distortion of the normative foundations of religious practices. The purpose of this study is to identify the level of subjective and objective knowledge of clergy and parishioners about normative and non-normative religious practices based on the results of the authors’ sociological research. Materials and Methods. The empirical base is the data of a sociological study conducted in October-November 2022 among the clergy and parishioners of the Mordovia Metropolis of the Russian Orthodox Church with interactive questionnaire. A non-probabilistic approach to sampling was used; respondents were recruited through own networks of researchers. The use of comparative method made it possible to identify differences in the perception of canons, customs and superstitions by two groups of respondents. Within the framework of pilot study, the author’s sociological tools and methods for result processing were tested. Since parishioners and especially clergy are a hard-to-reach group of respondents, a non-probability approach was used to form the sample. This entailed a number of limitations of the study. Results. Subjective assessments of the level of religious literacy were analyzed, including the knowledge about canons, customs and superstitions. Not only the clergy, but also parishioners demonstrated a comparatively high level of awareness of the normative foundations of religious practices, although some parishioners have an inflated self-esteem. General ideas about the concepts of normative and non-normative were revealed, none of the respondents had any objections to the definition of the concepts of “canon”, “custom”, “superstition”. However, discrepancies were found regarding the assessment of some practices. Discussion and Conclusion. Four factors were identified, in which variables are grouped, demonstrating the different nature of respondents’ knowledge about canons, customs and superstitions: knowledge to distinguish customs and canons from superstitions; knowledge of the customs relating to events and situations; knowledge of the canons; knowledge of the canons relating to special religious knowledge, including those regulating the life of clergy. The article will be useful to researchers of religious practices and religious consciousness, as well as lecturers of the theological educational institutions.

This article describes an approach for synthesizing silicon phosphide nanoparticles with a defective zinc blende structure under mild conditions through thermal annealing of hydrogenated silicon nanoparticles with red phosphorus. The synthesized Si3P4 nanoparticles were analyzed using FTIR, XRD, electron diffraction, EDX, TEM, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, and UV–vis spectrophotometry. For the isolated cubic Si3P4 phase, a cell parameter of a = 5.04 Å was determined, and the bandgap was estimated to be equal to 1.25 eV. Because of the nanoscale dimensions of the obtained Si3P4 nanoparticles, the product may exhibit several exceptional properties as a precursor for diffusion doping of wafers and as anode material for Li-ion batteries. A similar method with a hydrogenation step offers the possibility to obtain other compounds, such as silicon selenides, arsenides, and sulfides.

Introduction: The landscape of gastric cancer treatment has changed owing to the widespread use of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Autophagy, involved in regulating the immune system, is a potential trigger of immunity in tumors. This study aims to find molecular-based evidence for the effectiveness of FLOT chemotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors in gastric cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Three patients with advanced gastric cancer received FLOT neoadjuvant chemotherapy with immunotherapy and surgery. IHC was used to determine the PD-L1 status. Real-time PCR was used to analyze expression patterns of transcriptional growth factors, AKT/mTOR signaling components, PD-1, PD-L1, PD-L2 and LC3B. The LC3B content was measured via Western blotting analysis. Results: The combination of FLOT neoadjuvant chemotherapy and immunotherapy was found to be efficient in patients with a PD-L1-positive status. Gastric tumors with a PD-L1-positive status exhibited autophagy activation and decreased PD-1 expression. Conclusions: FLOT chemotherapy combined with immune checkpoint inhibitors showed high efficacy in gastric cancer patients with a positive PD-L1 status. Autophagy was involved in activating the tumor immunity. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanism of effective anticancer treatment.

The high level of power supply and technical provision of logging, along with advanced technologies, ensure the enterprise’s competitiveness. The current state of facilities and resources at forestry institutions in the regions is, as a rule, unsatisfactory. Significant engineering and technological backwardness of facilities and resources is due to the specifics of the modern structure of the forest sector. With the purpose of ensuring the production effectiveness of forestry institutions in the regions on the basis of increasing the level of power supply and technical provision for logging, it is necessary to carry out appropriate research. The methods for assessing the forest as an ecosystem are a relevant area of theoretical and applied research. There are 3 basic methods used in world and Russian practice in the assessment of natural resources: comparative, cost, and income. The methodology of cost estimate for natural resources provides a flexible system of indices, which allow assessing natural resources depending on the amount of available information and practical purposes. In terms of spatial economics we propose to develop a pilot project to improve the efficiency of production in the state autonomous forestry institutions of the Republic of Bashkortostan. The project is intended to provide practical guidance on the allocation of 2–3 groups of forestry institutions. We used an expert approach to assess the rating of forestries. Our earlier estimates for forestry enterprises in the Republic of Bashkortostan (state autonomous institutions) were used as the basis for it. The values of quantitative criteria include expert estimates and statistical information from numerous sources, such as reports, handbooks, results of surveys, interviews, etc. The criteria were divided into 2 groups: quantitative (availability of logging equipment, transport accessibility, calculated logging area) and qualitative (state of the logging equipment, repair depot, and management structure). According to the results of the integral assessment, the forestries are divided into 4 groups. Based on the assessment performed, it is advisable to identify the points of growth in the pilot project of modernization the facilities and resources of forestry enterprises. For citation: Konshakova S.A., Bulkhov N.A., Zaikin A.N., Kuznetsov S.G., Sivakov V.V. Assessment of the Development Potential of Forestry Enterprises of the Republic of Bashkortostan. Lesnoy Zhurnal = Russian Forestry Journal, 2023, no. 4, pp. 202–214. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.37482/0536-1036-2023-4-202-214

remained unchanged for over a decade, and early recognition continues to be the most crucial factor in survival outcome. Early and accurate diagnosis of infection and organ dysfunction remains problematic, as evidenced by numerous interventional trials that have not resulted in improved outcomes. These failures are partly because of the belated intervention, when the patient developed multiple-organ failure and the therapeutic window of opportunity closed. The success of immunomodulatory and other therapeutic strategies, which is often achieved in preclinical models of sepsis, depends on their use in the early stages of sepsis development or even proactive action. Predicting the development of sepsis in surgical patients using laboratory analysis of plasma may be useful for doctors in the intensive care unit and resuscitation. Significant efforts are being made to develop biomarkers for the early stages of sepsis with high sensitivity and specificity. For early and accurate diagnosis, effective treatment of sepsis requires a deep understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms. Dysregulation of the patients response to infection leading to sepsis and septic shock is studied using ohmic approaches: proteomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics. Owing to the complexity and large volume of data sets, special data analysis tools, the so-called machine learning, become necessary.

Various casing perforation methods are used to ensure a hydrodynamic reservoir-to-well connection. However, perforated wells often do not perform satisfactorily during production. This is largely due to a decrease in the permeability of the near-wellbore formation as a result of casing perforation work. Studies and analysis of existing casing perforation methods have shown the effectiveness of abrasive jet perforation. The paper presents the results of numerical modeling to optimize the layout of slot channels during the abrasive jet perforation (AJP) of terrigenous productive object. Geomechanics analysis of the influence the formation scheme and orientation of the slotted channels in the productive layer during abrasive jet perforation on the permeability of terrigenous reservoirs of the oil fields in the Perm Krai was performed. The disadvantages of widespread methods of exposing perforation are described and the advantages of abrasive jet perforation based on geomechanical modeling are revealed. The calculations carried out on the placement of slotted channels showed that the distance between the systems of slotted channels is not important, since they weakly interact with each other in height with standard schemes. It was established that the best placement scheme for jet slot channels is a system of four slot channels shifted along the length of the well to the height of the slot channel with a phasing of 90°. Comparative calculations of the reservoir permeability of the near-well zone for various perforation methods have been performed.

γ-Aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABAARs) are members of the pentameric ligand-gated ion channel (pLGIC) family, which are widespread throughout the invertebrate and vertebrate central nervous system. GABAARs are engaged in short-term changes of the neuronal concentrations of chloride (Cl−) and bicarbonate (HCO3−) ions by their passive permeability through the ion channel pore. GABAARs are regulated by various structurally diverse phenolic substances ranging from simple phenols to complex polyphenols. The wide chemical and structural variability of phenols suggest similar and different binding sites on GABAARs, allowing them to manifest themselves as activators, inhibitors, or allosteric ligands of GABAAR function. Interest in phenols is associated with their great potential for GABAAR modulation, but also with their subsequent negative or positive role in neurological and psychiatric disorders. This review focuses on the GABAergic deficit hypotheses during neurological and psychiatric disorders induced by various phenols. We summarize the structure–activity relationship of general phenol groups concerning their differential roles in the manifestation of neuropsychiatric symptoms. We describe and analyze the role of GABAAR subunits in manifesting various neuropathologies and the molecular mechanisms underlying their modulation by phenols. Finally, we discuss how phenol drugs can modulate GABAAR activity via desensitization and resensitization. We also demonstrate a novel pharmacological approach to treat neuropsychiatric disorders via regulation of receptor phosphorylation/dephosphorylation.

Sports-related traumatic brain injuries (TBI) accounts for up to 20 % of all injuries that are obtained by athletes and its incidence rises annually due to rise in population involving in sports, growing popularity of extreme sports and high level of motivation to achieve record results among young sportsmen. The aim of the review is to present the potential benefits of using microwave radiothermometry and craniocerebral hypothermia technologies in sports-related TBI. The review considers most common form of traumatic brain injury in athletes - mild TBI, which in turn can provoke a wide range of complications and negative consequences in near and delayed periods after the injury. The main shortcomings of programs for complication prevention in treatment and rehabilitation of athletes after TBI are considered, which do not take into account the peculiarities of injury mechanisms, its significant differences from household, road or criminal injuries with brain damage. Lack of objective methods of instrumental diagnosis for injury severity is also described. In addition, pathophysiological component characteristics of sports TBI is accentuated: frequency of repetition, increasement of brain and body temperature, peripheral redistribution of blood flow and hypocapnia, which significantly affects cerebral blood flow. Based on the analysis of the available scientific literature, it is elicited that TBI is an independent cause of cerebral hyperthermia development, which significantly aggravates the consequences of the injury. Conclusions. The authors propose an innovative way to use microwave radiothermometry method as a diagnostic tool for sports-related TBI. In addition, the review highlights the main recommendations for complications prevention by using craniocerebral hypothermia technology, which reduces overall physical and cerebral hyperthermia, and augments the resistance of cerebral cortex neurons to hypoxia and trauma. However, the authors believe that the described approaches in sports medicine are not used purposefully due to lack of awareness of sports team doctors and coaches.

Objective. To analyze long-term results of treatment of a patient with recurrent lumbar aspergillosis and to systematize the literature data. Material and Methods. Long-term follow-up results of treatment of recurrent Aspergillus spondylitis in a 48-year-old patient who underwent primary surgery for reconstruction of the anterior spinal column through the anterior approach were studied. Literature data on the treatment of spinal aspergillosis from 2000 to 2022 were systematized. Results. The key method for the etiological verification of spinal aspergillosis is percutaneous bone biopsy from the lesion, followed by histological and bacteriological examination of the material. Isolated anterior spinal column reconstruction through the anterior approach ensures the achievement of local control of the infection process, but a short course of antimycotic chemotherapy after surgery is a factor of disease recurrence. The optimal duration of antimycotic chemotherapy in the postoperative period is at least 3 months, with voricon- azole being the drug of choice. Conclusion. Spondylitis caused by Aspergillus spp. is a special form of inflammatory spine disease requiring obligatory percutaneous bone biopsy for etiological verification. A multidisciplinary therapeutic approach including a course of conservative antimycotic therapy for at least 3 months, surgical debridement and reconstruction of the affected spinal motion segments provide the best clinical results.

Objective. To analyze the attitude of neurosurgeons to the technology of enhanced recovery after spine and spinal cord surgery in the Russian Federation. Material and Methods. In March 2022, a continuous cohort comparative sociological study was conducted among 83 neurosurgeons of the Russian Federation, during which they were asked to fill out a specially designed online questionnaire consisting of 22 questions on the Google Forms platform. Results. The vast majority of respondents (95.2 %) noted the lack of information in the Russian literature on the technology of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). Nevertheless, most neurosurgeons, regardless of specialization, are familiar with the terms “fast track” (79.5 %) and “ERAS” (60.2 %). Only 44.6 % of specialists declared the implementation of ERAS recommendations into their daily clinical practice, while 78.3 % of neurosurgeons draw attention to the existence of problems that hamper adoption of enhanced recovery protocols (ERP) in Russia. The interviewed respondents are confident that it is possible to introduce ERP into spinal neurosurgery in adults (91.6 %) and children (85.5 %) in Russia. Every second respondent (50.6 %) considers it possible to directly extrapolate foreign ERP into clinical practice in Russian healthcare. Spinal neurosurgeons are more aware of ERAS than cerebral neurosurgeons (p = 0.017), and they also more often use elements of ERAS in their clinical practice (p = 0.002). In other parameters, the respondents did not differ significantly depending on their specialization. Only 7.2 % of interviewed neurosurgeons work in private clinics. All of them are engaged in spinal surgery and introduce the ERAS technology into their clinical practice. Less than half (40.0 %) of neurosurgeons in public clinics implement elements of the ERAS (p = 0.007). More than half (69.7 %) of specialists and every second manager consider the introduction of ERAS in a neurosurgical clinic to be progressive, and only a few of them (3.6 %), on the contrary, believe that the quality of medical care may decrease with the introduction of ERAS. Neurosurgeons (n = 13) identified 7 clinics of the Russian Federation, where the enhanced recovery protocol after spine surgery is implemented. In total, according to the results of the study, 23 elements of the ERAS protocol are implemented in the practice of respondents (n = 20) in the conditions of Russian healthcare. Conclusions. Despite the lack of publications in the Russian literature and the existing organizational problems in the context of domestic healthcare, neurosurgeons have a positive attitude towards the introduction of ERAS protocol into clinical practice. This protocol or its individual elements are already successfully implemented in a group of clinics in Russia.

Introduction. The involvement in the economic circulation of production waste is one of the priority objects within which sustainable development is implemented. The purpose of the article is to explore the issues of waste generation and directions for their use in statistical, legal, strategic and economic contexts, to compare approaches to the involvement of waste in economic circulation in Russia and the European Union countries. Materials and Methods. The study used data from the Federal State Statistics Service of the Russian Federation and the Statistical Service of the European Union. Using the methods of descriptive statistics, the indicators of the generation and usage of waste in Russia and the European Union countries have been studied; the methods of comparative analysis made it possible to consider the directions of involving production waste in economic circulation by sectors of the economy and approaches to involving waste in economic circulation in Russia and the European Union countries. Using the method of generalization and synthesis of profits in transactions, the authors made the main conclusions. Results. It is concluded that, despite the discovery of unresolved problems with production waste, the European approach to identify waste achieves the certain results, in particular, sustainable waste management systems have been established and instruments aimed at preventing and reducing waste, increasing the content of recycling are being applied. In Russia, for the most part, this refers to promising areas, based on international best practices, in the specific experience of the European Union countries, it is assumed that the industry processing, utilizing and neutralizing waste will be observed and prescribed. Discussion and Conclusion. It has been revealed that the problem of waste exists both in Russia and in the European Union countries, but each time it is approached differently. In general, the countries have created a system for dealing with regulation of waste production, have designed targeted strategies aimed at creating a circular economy. The results of the analysis carried out are of practical importance, they can be taken into account by other countries in the process of developing and making a decision on the problem of production waste.

Background: The aim of this research was to determine the functional state of regional blood flow in young people with varying degrees of anatomical and functional disorders of periodontal tissues. Methods and Results: One hundred and thirty-five young patients with varying degrees of anatomical and functional disorders of periodontal tissues (AFDP) and 52 controls with intact periodontium were examined. All patients with AFDP were divided into three groups: Group 1 included 33 patients in the compensation stage (low degree of periodontal risk, intact periodontium, no clinical symptoms, pale pink gums, no bleeding on probing, dentogingival attachment is not disturbed); Group 2 included 38 patients in the sub-compensation stage (average degree of periodontal risk, disorders of the mucogingival complex, without clinical symptoms); and 64 patients in the decompensation stage (high degree of periodontal risk, disorders of the mucogingival complex, the presence of clinical symptoms, individual or combined signs of periodontal pathology, gingival recession (Class I and II according to Miller's classification). We studied the regional blood flow of periodontal tissues, which was assessed by an ultrasound Doppler graph in a non-invasive way. The parameters of linear (PSV, peak systolic velocity) and volumetric (Qs, maximum systolic volume velocity) velocities of blood flow, as well as the parameters of the wall vascularization (PI, pulsation index; RI, resistance index). Results: The PSV increased statistically significantly with a load compared to rest in the control and sub-compensation groups and decreased in the decompensation group with a load, compared to the rest condition. The PSV increased relative to the control in the subcompensation and decompensation groups in rest and under load. The Qs indicator showed a similar trend in the groups. Qs significantly increased under load, compared to the rest condition in the control, compensation, and subcompensation groups, and decreased in the decompensation group. The Qs values, in comparison with the control, increased in the subcompensation and decompensation groups in the rest condition and under load. The PI increased with the load relative to the rest condition in the control, compensation, and decompensation group. At the same time, PI decreased under the load, compared to the rest condition, in the subcompensation group. In comparison with the control, the PI values decreased in the subcompensation and decompensation groups in the rest condition and under load. The RI significantly changed only in the subcompensation group under load, compared to the rest condition. Only RI values decreased significantly in the subcompensation group under load, compared to the control. Conclusion: The use of Doppler ultrasonography in assessing the state of regional blood flow of periodontal tissues is a highly informative and non-invasive method. The velocity characteristics (linear and volumetric velocities) of blood flow are important diagnostic indicators, allowing the most rapid and reliable assessment of the degree of anatomical and functional disorders of periodontal tissues.

Introduction: It is revelant to solve the problem of anesthesia based on the research of new highly effective and safe medicines. Among modern studies, the preparation of heterocyclic compounds starting from cyanothioacetamide with analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities is of considerable interest. Materials and Methods: The analgesic activity of cyanothioacetamide derivatives was determined on the basis of an integrated approach in three tests: orofacial trigeminal pain, thermal immersion of the tail and in the hot plate test. The experimental characteristics in the studies are quantitative indicators – the frequency of scratching movements n in the first test and the time of the latent period a and t in the second and third tests. Statistical processing consisted in a variance analysis of an array of experimental characteristics. A conditional empirical complex criterion of analgesic activity Anat, inversely proportional to the frequency of scratching movements n and directly proportional to the time of the latent period a and t in the tests is proposed for a comparative assessment of the analgesic activity of the samples. Results: It is shown that all the studied 1,4-dihydropyridines and condensed thieno[2,3-b]pyridines and reveal analgesic activity of varying degrees of severity, based on the values of the criterion Anat. Discussion: It was found that the most pronounced analgesic activity was shown by three studied samples: compounds AZ-023, AZ-331 and AZ-383. The complex criterion of analgesic activity of Anat for animals receiving a sample AZ-023 was 50.1, exceeding the indicator in the comparison group by 42 times. The values of this criterion in animals that had received samples AZ-331 and AZ-383 were the highest, namely 64.3 and 68.4, which is 53 and 57 times higher than that of sodium metamizole, respectively. Conclusion: The obtained results and the advantage of the studied samples over the reference drug determine the expediency of further preclinical studies and a detailed study of their acute and chronic toxicity, as well as hepato-, nephro-, hemato- and gastrotoxicity.

Abstract This paper discusses the origin of the small parameters with the aim of explaining the Hierarchy problem. The flexible extra dimensions are an essential tool in the process by which physical parameters are formed. The evolution of a multidimensional metric starts at the Planck scale and is completed with the static extra-dimensional metric and the 4-dim de Sitter space at high energies, where the exponential production of causally disconnected universes begins. Quantum fluctuations independently distort the metric within these universes, causing inflationary processes within them. Some of these universes tend asymptotically towards states characterised by small Hubble parameters. The effective parameter reduction applied to the Higgs sector of the Standard Model is explained by the presence of small-amplitude distributions of a scalar field in a fraction of these universes.

Background. Deep surgical site infection (DSSI) is one of the most severe complications in spinal surgery. The timing and nature of DSSI are the determining criteria in the choice of treatment tactics. The uniqueness of the clinical observation is the combination of early DSSI, epidural abscess and angular kyphotic deformity formed after a course of conservative antibacterial therapy in a patient who underwent surgery for degenerative-dystrophic disease of the cervical spine. Correction of angular kyphosis, removal of fractured vertebrae, interbody implants and three-column cervical reconstruction were performed in one surgical session. Case presentation. A 57-year-old patient was admitted to the clinic after staged surgical interventions on the cervical spine for multilevel degenerative stenosis of the spinal canal. The primary surgical interventions were complicated by DSSI in the early period after the second surgery with formation of angular kyphosis of the cervical spine. The patient underwent revision one-stage reconstructive intervention to correct the deformity, decompress the spinal canal, and three-column reconstruction of C3-7 segments. Long-term follow-up showed persistent reduction of pain syndrome, improved quality of life and absence of recurrence of DSSI. Conclusion. The presented case illustrates the possibilities of one-stage revision three-column cervical spine reconstruction for correction of sagittal profile, decompression of intracanal neural structures and ensuring stability of operated segments. Use of DSSI treatment algorithms based on Prinz V. and Vajkoczy P. classification contributes to the selection of the optimal tactics of patient management.

The article presents a comparative analysis of published data for the physical parameters of the ZGP (ZnGeP2) crystal, its nonlinear and phase-matching properties, and functional capabilities for all frequency conversion processes (harmonics, sum and difference frequencies, and parametric generation). At the first time, the possibilities for obtaining the temperature-noncritical processes for some combinations of wavelengths are shown.