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A mathematical model for the calculation and express analysis of triple configurations of air shock waves arising from an “elevated” explosion of a condensed high-energy material is presented. The considered blast waves with a long duration of the positive phase (compression phase) can take place in industrial and agricultural applications: in the explosion of fuel-air mixtures, explosive dust in elevators and granaries, as well as high-energy materials for agricultural and industrial applications based on ammonium nitrate and explosive saltpetre mixtures with petroleum products. The developed mathematical model uses exact and semi-empirical relationships developed earlier in the theory of optimal shock wave systems.

The problem of generating pressure waves with a profile similar to the profile of a blast wave in closed shock tubes with constant cross-section is considered. Applying non-stationary gas dynamics methods, the dimensions (lengths) of high and low pressure chambers are determined analytically and numerically. Also, the gas parameters in those chambers necessary to produce pressure waves with a profile close to triangular are determined.

In this paper, we strived to the goal to ensure various special structures against damage factors of high-explosive blast. Together with application of combined blast protection devices, we considered reinforcement of constructive elements and simulated the impact and interaction of detonating projectile with reinforced concrete wall. Various packages of computational mechanics which belong to ANSYS family were applied to numerical simulations, as well as the developed numerical model of reinforced media which can be effective in development of combined blast-protective structures for urban environment. Protection devices based of developed blast-protective structures combine influence of blast-absorbing multiphase media with durability of rigid reinforced base constructions, so the numerical simulation of blast wave reflection and projectile impact are also necessary for their research and development. Our computational results, achieved in this study, have shown that, owing to reinforcement, the considered coating slab retained its integrity, though some cracking and ejection of concrete really occurred.

The article is concerned with studying the factors of external and internal environment that ensure the competitiveness of higher education institution (HEI). It is proved that the competitiveness of HEI is expedient to consider as an innovation-active activity, which acts as a critical condition for the long-term and sustainable economic development of education in the modern global knowledge economy. The article is aimed at identifying the competitiveness factors of the HEI of Ukraine as the basis for the formation and further development of an innovation-active university in the current conditions of transformation of the national higher education system. The carried out systematic and morphological analysis allowed to group the factors by the degree of influence on the competitiveness of HEI (client-orientedness; source of financial resources; innovation and investment potential; strategic management; rationing of labor; internationalization; monitoring; informatization; quality of training of applicants) and to build a graph of the relationship between these factors. An hierarchy of the university’s competitiveness factors is proposed, which allows to combine goals and objectives directed towards forecasting, improving, solving, modeling, analyzing educational processes. This, in turn, will act as an instrument for comprehensive assessment of the level of competitiveness of an HEI. The carried out analysis and application of the problem-oriented approach allowed to define five levels at which the mutually conditioned hierarchical influence between factors was determined, which would be the basis for the formation of conceptual measures directed towards increasing the competitiveness of HEI.

The article presents the results of numerical simulation of an explosive of interaction between air blast wave and water barrier. To find the best spape of relaxation material and to evaluate the suppression degree resulted from the interaction of the blast wave with protective liquid barriers, calculations for various shapes and sizes of water barriers were provided. Keywords: high explosive blast, blast protection, shock-wave structures, relaxation media, water barrier

The article discusses the numerical simulation of a blast wave interaction with a relaxation multiphase material used in design of the destructible protection bin with combined method of suppression of the blast damage effects. Numerical simulation of shock-wave systems and processes occurring during the detonation of a condensed high explosive (HE) in semi-open (open at the top) explosion-proof bins was obtained, including when one which uses multiphase gas-liquid material (at a first approximation – water-bubble mechanical foam) as relaxation substance that absorbs the explosion energy and thus reduces the damaging effect of the blast waves.

Background: There are few studies on bullying in skin diseases. Persons with skin diseases are especially prone to bullying. Objectives: This component of the project 'Bullying among Dermatologic Patients' aimed to study the prevalence and nature of bullying in patients with skin diseases from different countries and age groups. Methods: Data were collected from participants of international social media groups for patients with skin diseases, in‐patients and out‐patients with skin diseases, and parents of children with skin diseases from six European countries. School and university students from Poland and Ukraine were asked to answer the question: Have you been bullied because of skin problems? Results: Bullying was reported in 1016 patients with 36 different skin diseases. Prevalence of self‐reported and parental‐reported bullying was quite heterogeneous among different countries In total, self‐reported bullying was noted by 25.6% of patients with skin diseases during face‐to‐face consultations, by 63.7% of respondents from international patients' groups and by 12.2% of school and university students. Parental‐reported bullying was detected in 34.5% of 3–4 years old children with skin diseases. The peak of bullying prevalence occurred between the ages of 13 and 15. The most prevalent forms of bullying were verbal abuse and social isolation. Physical abuse was the least often reported form of bullying. Only 33.2% of participants talked to anyone about being bullied. Negative long‐term effects of bullying were reported by 63% of respondents. Conclusions: Skin disease‐related bullying was reported by patients in all centres of the project. The main manifestations of bullying were similar in different countries and among patients with different skin diseases. International activities aimed to decrease or prevent skin disease‐related bullying in different age groups are needed. These activities should be multidirectional and target teachers, parents of classmates and classmates of children with skin diseases, patients' parents and patients themselves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many events, including the COVID‐19 pandemic, have accelerated the implementation of teledermatology pathways within dermatology departments and across healthcare organizations. Quality of Life (QoL) assessment in dermatology is also a rapidly developing field with a gradual shift from theory to practice. The purpose of this paper organized jointly by the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Task Force (TF) on QoL and patient‐oriented outcomes and the EADV TF on teledermatology is to present current knowledge about QoL assessment during the use of teledermatology approaches, including data on health‐related (HR) QoL instruments used in teledermatology, comparison of influence of different treatment methods on HRQoL after face‐to‐face and teledermatology consultations and to make practical recommendations concerning the assessment of QoL in teledermatology. The EADV TFs made the following position statements: HRQoL assessment may be an important part in most of teledermatology activities; HRQoL assessment may be easily and effectively performed during teledermatology consultations. It is especially important to monitor HRQoL of patients with chronic skin diseases during lockdowns or in areas where it is difficult to reach a hospital for face‐to‐face consultation; regular assessment of HRQoL of patients with skin diseases during teledermatology consultations may help to monitor therapy efficacy and visualize individual patient's needs; we recommend the use of the DLQI in teledermatology, including the use of the DLQI app which is available in seven languages; it is important to develop apps for dermatology‐specific HRQoL instruments for use in children (for example the CDLQI and InToDermQoL) and for disease‐specific instruments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the impact of hand eczema (HE) on patients' lives, focusing on anxiety, depression, and quality of life impairment. The authors conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, revealing that HE significantly affects patients' quality of life. The study suggests the importance of assessing quality of life in dermatological practice and highlights the need for psychological support for HE patients experiencing anxiety and depression. The findings underscore the need for further research on the association between HE and suicidal ideation, as well as the impact of different clinical subtypes and occupational factors on the disease. [Extracted from the article]

Pruritus (or itch) is an unpleasant sensation leading to a desire to scratch. In the epidermis, there are selective C or Aδ epidermal nerve endings that are pruriceptors. At their other ends, peripheral neurons form synapses with spinal neurons and interneurons. Many areas in the central nervous system are involved in itch processing. Although itch does not occur solely because of parasitic, allergic, or immunologic diseases, it is usually the consequence of neuroimmune interactions. Histamine is involved in a minority of itchy conditions, and many other mediators play a role: cytokines (eg, IL-4, IL-13, IL-31, IL-33, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin), neurotransmitters (eg, substance P, calcitonin gene-related peptide, vasoactive intestinal peptide, neuropeptide Y, NBNP, endothelin 1, and gastrin-releasing peptide), and neurotrophins (eg, nerve growth factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor). Moreover, ion channels such as voltage-gated sodium channels, transient receptor potential vanilloid 1, transient receptor ankyrin, and transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M (melastatin) member 8 play a crucial role. The main markers of nonhistaminergic pruriceptors are PAR-2 and MrgprX2. A notable phenomenon is the sensitization to pruritus, in which regardless of the initial cause of pruritus, there is an increased responsiveness of peripheral and central pruriceptive neurons to their normal or subthreshold afferent input in the context of chronic itch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Online media have a short history. Only twenty years has passed with the moment the first telecommunication media appeared (mainly in the US). However, web journalism as an independent type of convergent journalism began to evolve relatively recently. We will examine its features in this article as an example of new music media journalism. First of all, it features such as universalism, ownership multimedia forms (e-journal, online-radio, online-TV, web portal, etc.) and hypertext, personalization, increased interactivity