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Abstract Background Loss of appetite is a common nutrition symptom in patients with cancer. Understanding the trajectory of appetite could be of clinical use for prognostication in palliative cancer care. Our primary aim was to explore the association between self-assessed appetite and mortality in patients suffering from advanced cancer. Secondary aims included the relation between fatigue, albumin levels and CRP/albumin ratio and mortality. We also aimed to study potential sex-differences in the associations. Methods Post-hoc analyses were performed using data from the Palliative D-study comprising 530 patients with cancer admitted to palliative care. Appetite and fatigue were assessed with the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS). Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for exposures of appetite, fatigue, albumin and CRP/albumin ratio, and time from study inclusion to death or censoring. Analyses were also performed stratified by sex. Results The follow-up time ranged between 7 to 1420 days. Moderate and poor appetite were significantly associated with a higher mortality rate compared to reporting a good appetite; HR 1.44 (95%CI: 1.16–1.79) and HR 1.78 (95%CI: 1.39–2.29), respectively. A higher mortality rate was also seen among participants reporting severe fatigue compared to those reporting no fatigue; HR 1.84 (95%CI:1.43–2.36). Participants with low albumin levels ( 36 g/L) and those in lowest tertile of CRP/albumin ratio. These associations were more pronounced in men than in women. Conclusion Poor appetite, severe fatigue, low albumin level and a high CRP/albumin ratio were associated with increased mortality rates among patients with advanced cancer. All these variables might be clinically useful for prognostication in palliative cancer care. Trial registration Clinicaltrial.gov. Identifier: NCT03038516;31, January 2017.

This work presents a review of the actual monograph “Economic bases of management of innovative projects of enterprises of agrarian sector: theory and practice” prepared by Professor, DrS, PhD Lesia Kucher. The main provisions of the monograph and its contribution to the development of the modern system of scientific knowledge on the theory, methodology and practice of managing innovative projects of enterprises in the agricultural sector are revealed.

Мета. Метою цієї роботи є висвітлення результатів оцінювання й аналізу тенденцій, сучасного стану й галузевих особливостей готовності аграрних підприємств різних розмірів до впровадження інноваційних проєктів та управління ними. Методологія / методика / підхід. У дослідженні використано такі методи: бібліометричний і кластерний аналіз за допомогою програми VOSviewer – для визначення стану й кластеризації досліджень на основі бази Scopus; статистичні методи нормування даних (за розмахом варіації, відносно еталона, з використанням сигмоїдної функції) – для оцінювання готовності аграрних підприємств до впровадження інноваційних проєктів та управління ними; кореляційний аналіз – для виявлення ступеня співпадіння результатів, обчислених за різними методами нормування даних; математичне вирівнювання динамічних рядів – для визначення тенденцій зміни й прогнозування готовності підприємств до впровадження інноваційних проєктів; описова статистика й графічний – для наочного представлення здобутих результатів; монографічний та абстрактно-логічний – для узагальнення результатів оцінювання. Емпіричною базою дослідження були дані Державної служби статистики України та дані 46 аграрних підприємств Харківської області. Результати. Апробація методології визначення готовності аграрних підприємств до впровадження інноваційних проєктів та управління ними підтвердила практичну придатність її застосування, дала змогу порівняти результати, обчислені за різними методами нормування даних, а також дозволила виявити й проаналізувати фактичний рівень і динамку вказаної готовності. У разі збереження наявних тенденцій спрогнозовано підвищення інтегрального показника готовності українських підприємств у 2025 р. у галузі рослинництва до 81,5 бала, галузі тваринництва – до 54,9 бала. У цілому по аграрній галузі й по тваринництву зокрема великі підприємства мали вищий інтегральний показник готовності до впровадження інноваційних проєктів, ніж середні та малі підприємства, причому саме середнім притаманна відносно найнижча готовність. У рослинництві відносно вищим рівнем готовності вирізнялися малі підприємства, другу позицію посідали великі, однак відмінності між ними були не настільки істотними, як у тваринництві. Для переважної більшості досліджених аграрних підприємств Харківської області притаманний дуже низький і низький рівень готовності до впровадження інноваційних проєктів та управління ними, тому він потребує поліпшення. Оригінальність / наукова новизна. Уперше здійснено оцінку готовності аграрних підприємств до впровадження інноваційних проєктів та управління ними, що дало змогу ідентифікувати тенденції, сучасний стан і галузеві особливості вказаної готовності в цілому та в розрізі великих, середніх, малих, у т. ч. мікропідприємств. Набули дальшого розвитку методологічні положення про оцінювання готовності аграрних підприємств до впровадження інноваційних проєктів та управління ними в частині порівняння між собою оцінок, здобутих за різними методами нормування даних. Практична цінність / значущість. Результати дослідження можуть бути використані для (і) удосконалення політики щодо поліпшення готовності до впровадження інноваційних проєктів та управління ними з урахуванням галузевих особливостей і розмірів підприємств аграрного сектора; (іі) оцінювання резервів поліпшення вказаної готовності та прогнозування її рівня з урахуванням можливого підвищення регульованих факторів; (iii) ухвалення менеджерами аграрних підприємств управлінських рішень щодо підвищення їх готовності до впровадження інноваційних проєктів та управління ними.

Purpose. The purpose of the study is to develop directions for improving the management of livestock reproduction processes on the basis of its innovation-and-investment development. Methodology / approach. The theoretical and methodological basis of the study is the dialectical method of cognition, conceptual provisions of economic theory, scientific works of domestic and foreign scientists on the management of the process of reproduction of animal husbandry and a systematic approach to the study and timely detection of various socio-economic and industrial problems. The study of economic aspects of management of the process of revival and effective development of animal husbandry was carried out using general scientific (analysis, synthesis, abstraction, generalization) and statistical and mathematical methods (correlation, regression, scenario planning, mathematical modeling and forecasting of economic processes). Results. The application of the proposed methods and methodological approaches made it possible to take into account the main components of the management system to reproduce the potential of the industry to identify prospects for growth in gross livestock production and predict changes in economic indicators of its innovation and investment development in the future. The use of systematic and abstract-logical approaches contributed to the formation of a strategy for the revival of the livestock industry based on a list of development scenarios in accordance with the objectives for its implementation and provided an opportunity to outline the problem area for economic modernization of livestock. Originality / scientific novelty. For the first time, a mechanism for modernization and development of animal husbandry, flexible to economic and social changes in production, is developed, which provides the possibility of modernization processes in the main subsectors of animal husbandry and the introduction of innovative technologies for livestock production. It is developed the study of the use of an alternative method of forecasting priority economic parameters under the conditions of unstable tendencies of agricultural production and dynamic changes in the development of animal husbandry under the influence of factors that are changed with different intensity over a long period. Practical value / implications. The developed theoretical and practical principles made it possible to reveal the integrity of the process of managing the reproduction and development of the livestock industry. The conducted forecast allowed stating changes in production of livestock products and productivity of animals. The obtained results helped to identify the factors that prevent the changing economic, social, political and environmental conditions to transfer the livestock industry to an innovative path of its development through the introduction of modern technologies.

Purpose. The work takes up topic with the impact of gas pipeline investments in the agricultural space. The reduction in the productivity of agricultural areas is felt by farmers already at the stage of investment construction (loss of benefits, reduction of property value, additional costs for biological reclamation). The purpose of the article is to determine the impact of the high-pressure gas pipeline by open trench method on agricultural land on the basis of estimated compensation. Estimating the value of compensations for field crops and reducing yield and biological reclamation as an issue that raises many doubts. Determining the appropriate compensation for losses incurred in field crops, due to temporary partial occupation of the area is often a matter definitely resolved in civil proceedings by the court. Methodology / approach. The research was supposed to answer the question whether the unit cost of biological reclamation after the installation of the high pressure gas pipeline depends on the type of use and the type of crops being cultivated. Assumed, among others that the decrease in the value of benefits (yielding of plants) is higher, the higher the soil quality class and that the decrease in the value of the property depends on the type of soil valuation class. Determination of the gas pipeline impact of the high-pressure line investment is presented on the example of the 34 km section of the gas pipeline, running through the villages of Zawonia and Długołęka communes, ie Budczyce, Byków, Cielętnik, Czeszów, Kamieniec, Krakowiany, Michałowice, Pęciszów, Piecowice, Tarnowiec, Zaprężyn, and Zawonia (areas located in the Lower Silesia Voivodship). Results. As a result of the conducted research, it was established on the basis of the estimated compensations that the cost of biological reclamation after building the high pressure gas infrastructure does not depend on the type of use and the type of crops being cultivated. It was also found that the decrease in the value of benefits (yielding of plants) is all the greater, the higher the soil quality class. Originality / scientific novelty. The study looked for the answer to the question: Does the unit cost of biological reclamation after the implementation of the high-pressure gas pipeline depend on the type of use and type of crop being cultivated. It was assumed that the decrease in the value of benefits (yielding of plants) is all the greater, the higher the soil quality class and that the decrease in value of benefits (yielding of plants) depends on the type of cultivation per 1 m2. It was also assumed that the decrease in the value of the property depends on the type of soil valuation class. For the purposes of the study, the authors collected data indicating the value of compensation, including to the size of the surface. Practical value / implications. Determination of the impact of high pressure gas pipeline construction using the open trench method on agricultural land on the basis of compensation paid indicates that the reduction in the value of benefits depends on the type of crops.

Albumin is an important biochemical marker in palliative cancer care, used for assessment of nutritional status, disease severity and prognosis. Our primary aim was to investigate sex differences in the association between appetite and albumin levels in palliative cancer patients. We also aimed to study associations between appetite and C-reactive protein (CRP), Quality of Life (QoL), pain and fatigue. In the Palliative D-cohort, consisting of 266 men and 264 women, we found a correlation between appetite and albumin; low appetite, measured with the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, correlated significantly with low albumin in men: (r = −0.33, p < 0.001), but not in women (r = −0.03, p = 0.65). In a regression analysis adjusted for confounding factors, results were similar. Lower appetite was correlated with higher CRP in men (r = 0.27, p < 0.001), but not in women (r = 0.12, p = 0.05). Appetite was correlated with QoL, fatigue and pain in both men and women; those with a low appetite had a low QoL and high fatigue- and pain-scores (p < 0.001). In conclusion, our results indicated possible sex differences in the associations between appetite and albumin, and between appetite and CRP, in palliative care patients. Understanding these associations could provide additional value for clinical practice.

Whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) as a treatment for brain metastases has been questioned over the last years. This study aimed to evaluate health care levels and survival after WBRT in a cohort of lung cancer patients with brain metastases receiving WBRT in Stockholm, Sweden, from 2008 to 2019 (n = 384). If the patients were able to come home again was estimated using logistic regression and odds ratios (OR) and survival by using Cox regression. The median age in the cohort was 65.6 years, the median survival following WBRT was 2.4 months (interquartile range (IQR) 1.2–6.2 months), and 84 (22%) patients were not able to come home after treatment. Significantly more males could come home again after WBRT compared to women (OR = 0.37, 95%CI 0.20–0.68). Patients with performance status scores WHO 3–4 had a median survival of 1.0 months, hazard ratio (HR) = 4.69 (95%CI 3.31–6.64) versus WHO score 0–1. Patients admitted to a palliative ward before WBRT had a median survival of 0.85 months, HR = 2.26 (95%CI 1.53–3.34) versus being at home. In conclusion, patients treated with WBRT had a short median survival and 20% could not be discharged from the hospital following treatment. Significantly more women did not come home again.

Abstract Background Statins are often discontinued in patients with advanced cancer since the net effect of treatment is considered negative. However, guidelines concerning discontinuation of statin treatment are lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate any differences in time of discontinuation of statin treatment between men and women with advanced cancer disease. Methods Medical records from 195 deceased palliative cancer patients from a previous study cohort were reviewed. Patients treated with statins 2 years before death were identified as “statin users.” The time of discontinuation of statin therapy was identified and correlated to time of death. Only patients that had incurable cancer disease at time of statin discontinuation were included in the analysis. Results Fifty-four patients were identified as statin users, 29 women and 25 men. The average time span between discontinuation of statin treatment and time of death was significantly longer in women than in men, 10 months compared to 4 months (p

Purpose. The purpose of the paper is to present the results of research on the development and justification of the economic and environmental feasibility of implementing innovative projects for organizing of production organic products (on an example of the project of cultivation of organic potatoes using minimal technology (mini-till)). Methodology / approach. The basis for preparing the project for the production of organic potatoes is the author’s methodology, which includes a form and recommendations for the development of a business plan for an innovative agricultural project. The study used the following methods: abstract-logical (theoretical generalization and formulation of conclusions); analysis and synthesis (justification and analysis of project indicators); monographic (depth analysis of the issue under study); calculation-constructive (determination of the main parameters of the project and economic efficiency). Results. The theoretical and practical aspects of project management in organic agricultural production are substantiated (on the example of the project of organization of organic potato production). An innovative project for organizing organic potato production using minimal technology (mini-till) was developed, and the investment attractiveness of this project was estimated. The author’s methodology for developing a business plan for an innovative agricultural project has been tested. Originality / scientific novelty. The scientific novelty of the paper is that the regulations on the application of project management in organic agricultural production on the market platform of environmental entrepreneurship have been further developed, which is reflected in the developed environmentally oriented project. This is one of the first papers to examine the project management in organic agricultural production in Ukraine. Practical value / implications. The project of organizing organic potato production has been developed and economically substantiated. It can be used by stakeholders for practical implementation and/or as a basis for preparing such a project taking into account the individual characteristics of a specific agricultural enterprise. The calculated economic parameters of the project are the basis for managing marketing activities, resource support, personnel, cost and efficiency of the project, organization of project financing and project risk management.

Clinical trials in palliative care are challenging to design and conduct. Burden on patients should be minimized, while gatekeeping by professionals and next-of kin needs to be avoided. Clinical deterioration due to disease progression affects attrition unrelated to intervention, and different care settings complicate comparisons and reduce the generalizability of the results. The aim of this review is to provide advice for colleagues planning to perform clinical trials in palliative care based on our own experiences from performing the Palliative-D study and by a thorough literature review on this topic. The Palliative-D study was a double-blind trial with 244 randomized patients comparing the effect of vitamin D3 to placebo in patients with advanced or metastatic cancer in the palliative phase of their disease trajectory who were enrolled in specialized palliative home care teams. Endpoints were opioid and antibiotic use, fatigue, and QoL. Recruitment was successful, but attrition rates were higher than expected, and we did not reach targeted power. For the 150 patients who completed the study, the completeness of the data was exceptionally high. Rather than patient reported pain, we choose the difference in the mean change in opioid dose between groups after twelve weeks compared to baseline as the primary endpoint. In this paper we discuss challenges in palliative care research based on lessons learned from the “Palliative-D” trial regarding successful strategies as well as areas for improvement.

The article is devoted to the application of the territorial extrapolation of basic data method during a mass (cadastral) assessment of a territory that is characterized by an acute lack of market information. In the framework of the study, an acute lack is understood as the conditions when for the assessing territory there are less than five transaction (offer) prices suitable for regression models. The idea of the method is to use market information of territories that are comparable in a composition of pricing factors and the nature of their influence on the cost, as well as in terms of price levels. The developed method includes such stages as collection of basic data, creation of thematic maps, grouping of estimated territories by price level and composition of pricing factors and modeling. The method was applied to assess land plots that have the type of permitted use “for individual housing construction” and belong to the mass appraisal segment “gardening and horticulture, low-rise residential buildings” in the settlements of the Republic of Udmurtia. The results of approbation shown that the method of territorial extrapolation helps to overcome an acute shortage of market information and build statistically significant models of the cadastral values of land plots.

The purpose of this research was to assess the development potential of cities and municipalities in Wałbrzych County, approached from the perspective of social, economic and environmental potential. Comparisons were performed for the periods 2002–2004 and 2016–2018. The following problem questions were formulated in the study: Which strategic goals can currently act as incentives for taking action in the analysed post-industrial areas, and for which ones should development be particularly strengthened? What development direction should be taken by individual municipalities in Wałbrzych County? The research covering the development potential of the municipalities was conducted using the multidimensional analysis method, and the similarities in municipal potential were analysed taking into account a comparison of distances between individual diagnostic variables. Among the analysed municipalities, in terms of social, economic and environmental potential, Szczawno-Zdrój and Czarny Bór achieved the best results, and Boguszów Gorce ranked the worst. In some municipalities, a noticeable increase in social potential (Jedlina-Zdrój, Mieroszów, Walim) or economic potential (Jedlina-Zdrój) was observed, and a significant decline in economic potential in Stare Bogaczowice was seen. As a result of the research, the following was established: the policies of municipal authorities have to focus on improving the living conditions of residents; the crucial factors are opening new jobs, providing appropriate living conditions and services and offering diverse sports and tourism options. Efforts should be made to take advantage of the inherent potential in the area, also by highlighting the preserved post-industrial buildings and constructions.

Statin treatment is often terminated in patients with advanced cancer but guidelines for statin discontinuation are still lacking. The aim of this study was to investigate sex-differences in time-points of statin discontinuation in patients with advanced cancer. Medical records from 1535 deceased patients enrolled at a Palliative Home Care Unit were reviewed. A total of 149 patients (42 women and 107 men) who were diagnosed with cancer, and were treated with statins one year before death, were identified. Statin treatment was terminated earlier in women than in men, 3.0 months prior to death (IQR 0.88–7.25) as compared to 1.5 months (IQR 0.5–4.0) (p < 0.05), respectively. In a longitudinal analysis there was a significant difference between men and women still on statin treatment at all studied time-points, 9, 6, and 3 months before death (p < 0.05), where women terminated statin treatment earlier in the disease trajectory. Baseline demographics were similar between the sexes except that more men than women had a history of previous cardiovascular events (p < 0.01). However, neither the indication for statin treatment, i.e., primary prevention versus secondary prevention, nor age could explain the sex-difference in statin discontinuation. There was no difference in cardiovascular events or mortality between men and women after statin discontinuation.

In the urban landscape, footbridges appeared along with the development of urbanization through the implementation of more complex spatial structures. The introduction of transport transit to cities or sometimes urban gravity towards the important communication routes imposed their construction in order to ensure pedestrians’ safety and smooth flow of traffic. The aim of the study is to determine how an overpass in the city of Trabzon is used by people of different ages, the security and motivation problem, the possibility of a footbridge, and how an overpass is perceived as a crossing over a highway. The study addresses the problem of safety and motivation related to the use of an overpass by people of different ages and is focused on the perception of an overpass as a crossing over a highway. The overpass connects the northern part of the city with the parking lot and the seaside boulevards in Trabzon. It has been constructed over the road no. D010, also known as the Black Sea Coastal Highway. In total, 124 members of the urban population who used the overpass participated in a questionnaire, which included multiple-choice and open-ended questions. The ‘Semantic Differential Scale’ was also used to evaluate the results. The research revealed that the respondents who chose the road through the overpass for safety in most cases used it relatively rarely (59%). People who used the footbridge every day or frequently marked safety as the reason in 39% of cases only. This means that as pedestrians use the overpass more often, they begin to notice other functional features of the footbridge. The results of the study showed that the overpass was most frequently used for the purpose of going down to the coast (76.0%), although 51.2% reported rarely using the overpass, which showed it was used very little by pedestrians.

We previously showed an association between low vitamin D levels and high opioid doses to alleviate pain in palliative cancer patients. The aim of this case-controlled study was to investigate if vitamin D supplementation could improve pain management, quality of life (QoL) and decrease infections in palliative cancer patients.Thirty-nine palliative cancer patients with levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D < 75 nmol/L were supplemented with vitamin D 4000 IE/day, and were compared to 39 untreated, matched "control"-patients from a previous study at the same ward. Opioid doses, antibiotic consumption and QoL-scores measured with the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) were monitored. The primary endpoint was the change from baseline after 1 and 3 months compared between the groups using linear regression with adjustment for a potential cofounding factor.After 1 month the vitamin D treated group had a significantly decreased fentanyl dose compared to the untreated group with a difference of 46 μg/h; 95% CI 24-78, which increased further at 3 months to 91 μg/h; 95% CI 56-140 μg/h. The ESAS QoL-score improved in the Vitamin D group the first month; -1.4; 95% CI -2.6 - (-0.21). The vitamin D-treated group had significantly lower consumption of antibiotics after 3 months compared to the untreated group, the difference was -26%; 95%CI -0.41%-(-0.12%). Vitamin D was well tolerated by all patients and no adverse events were reported.Vitamin D supplementation to palliative cancer patients is safe and improvement in pain management is noted as early as 1 month after treatment. Decreased infections are noted 3 months after vitamin D treatment. The results from this pilot-study have been used for the power-calculation of a future randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study called "Palliative-D" that will start in Nov 2017 and will include 254 palliative cancer patients.

The study discusses the issue of introducing drilling fluid (bentonite) into the environment during the construction of linear underground investments, considering the example of the construction of the high-pressure gas pipeline, Czeszów—Kiełczów DN1000, which involved the use of the Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) method. The analyses concern the drilling stage as a low-waste technology, indicating the use and management of bentonite drilling fluid in a closed circulation cycle in the area of Pęciszów, poviat Trzebnica (Poland). The loss of drilling fluid in valuable natural areas during the construction stage of the gas pipeline has been analyzed. Drilling fluid is an element of the horizontal directional drilling technology (HDD). The analyzed area included a section of the route of the strategic gas pipeline, realized in June⁻July 2017 in an area of lowland ash and alder forest 91E0-3, a probable breeding site of the Bluethroat for a detailed description and common frog. The loss of the drilling fluid used in the drilling phase has been determined, depending on the type of soil and the related fraction as well as the possibility of treating the drilling fluid used to construct the drilling.

The aim of the article is to showcase the practical aspects of collecting betterment levies related to an increase in the value of real estate due to its division. As a statutory deduction, the betterment levy contributes to the budget of its respective municipality. The reason it is collected has to do with an increase in the value of property that is financially beneficial for the owner or perpetual lessee who has paid their annual fees for the entire lease period or is exempt from it. In order to achieve the goal of the study, the authors performed a characterisation of proceedings related to establishing the levy in the rural municipality of Zielona Góra in the years 2009–2012. During the analysed period 266 decisions were issued regarding the determining of betterment levies. In 2009 this number surmounted to 109 decisions, but decreased yearly to finally reach only 39 decisions in 2012. The increase in the value of the real estate formulated in the property valuation for the purpose of calculating the levy was decreasing each year from circa 8% in 2009 to circa 2% in 2012.

The conducted research involves an attempt at evaluating the attractiveness of rural spas using the example of two Lower Silesian villages – Przerzeczyn-Zdrój and Długopole-Zdrój. The authors pursue the answer to the following question: “Can rural spas be evaluated in the context of attractiveness, as is the case with urban ones? What guidelines can be used for the purpose of such an evaluation?” This is followed by an initial formulation of the elements determining the attractiveness of a spa, which include: the location of the spa in the context of important road, railway and bus passageways (accessibility); topographic location; the curative (medicinal) climate; the existence of curative materials (curative mineral waters, peloids etc.); the types of curative treatment available; available night lodgings in sanatoriums, spa hospitals, hotels, pensions, motels, inns; spa well-rooms; Spa Houses, green areas (including Spa Parks and forests); amphitheatres; bandshells; Spa Theatres; restaurants, cafés, bars and other gastronomic outlets; tourist attractions; non-curative functions; non-curative tourist infrastructure; the types of treated illnesses; the architectural and urban consistency of curative facilities; public utility infrastructure; the quality of the environment.

The study involves an unusual function of the village, i.e. the curative function present in a small number of towns in Poland. The subject of research includes two Lower-Silesian villages: PrzerzeczynZdrój, Długopole-Zdrój and one village from the Świętokrzyskie Province – Solec-Zdrój. As is the case with most highly developed states, the contemporary village in Poland is no longer a settlement inhabited exclusively by farmers. It may serve various functions. A significant number of inhabitants in villages make their living through non-agricultural work performed either in or beyond their place of residence. One of these functions, uncommon for Polish villages, is the curative function found in places having curative potential, especially in the context of environmental conditions (the existence of curative mineral waters or a therapeutic climate) as well as infrastructural conditions.

Com base na definição de representação social como forma de conhecimento prático, foi realizada uma pesquisa a fim de analisar o fenômeno da imagem do profissional analista de sistemas da informação e suas representações. Buscou-se identificar como ele vê seu relacionamento com o usuário/cliente, seu entendimento sobre a competência profissional, as competências essenciais para sua área de atuação e sua reputação. Este artigo demonstra o resultado dessa pesquisa