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Among researchers and scholars of legal sciences, the issue of recognizing several crimes committed by Russia against Ukraine and its population as genocide is currently under discussion. Instead, at the level of media discourse, a number of researchers have determined that Russian propaganda discourse contains genocidal features (for example, M. Ryabchuk, T. Snyder). In particular, scientists take into account such strategies as denial of genocide as a strategy for committing genocide (S. Cohen, A. Jones), dehumanization and demonization (H. Stanton, B. Bahador), manipulative use of the term «genocide» by Russian propaganda (V. Romaniuk, O. Dudko, E. Fortuin). The purpose of the article is to determine the genocidal strategies regarding Ukraine in the Russian propaganda discourse based on their compliance with the ten stages of genocide developed by H. Stanton: 1. classification; 2. symbolization; 3. discrimination; 4. dehumanization; 5. organization; 6. polarization; 7. preparation; 8. persecution; 9. extermination; 10. denial. In the article, these stages are superimposed on the Russian propaganda media discourse and considered in the context of the Russian Federation’s war against Ukraine. The compliance analysis was carried out based on the following criteria: intensity of hateful rhetoric, narrativization, and organization of the media system of the Russian Federation (level of state intervention in the agenda of information media resources). The case of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine on February 24, 2022, which was followed by mass killings of civilians, destruction of residential areas, and deprivation of living conditions of Ukrainians (such as shelling of energy infrastructure), was chosen for analysis. The article analyzes how the physical actions of the Russian Federation against Ukraine are reflected in the propaganda media discourse and how they correspond to the stages of committing genocide, according to H. Stanton. In particular, the stages of classification, symbolization, dehumanization, polarization, and extermination in the Russian propaganda discourse can be considered as a manifestation of hateful rhetoric of varying intensity by increasing it with each stage concerning a certain group. The stages of discrimination, preparation, persecution, and denial are mostly revealed at the level of narratives about Ukraine, and the stage of organization is revealed in the media system of the Russian Federation.

In the 1950s, the daily functions of the militia continued to include combating violations of street traffic rules and controlling the decrease in motor vehicle accidents. The accident rate on the roads of the republic at that time remained high. An analysis of the current state of road safety shows that the level of accidents, injuries and deaths on the roads was influenced by such objective factors as the level of development of the regulatory framework, the technical condition of vehicles, the level of development of the road network, its quality, and weather and climatic conditions. Subjective factors included the level of legal culture of road users (drivers and pedestrians), the degree of their readiness to participate in traffic, the professional qualifications and material and technical equipment of the employees of the State Automobile Inspection. During this period, state bodies carried out significant, but ambiguous in quality, rule-making work, the purpose of which was to develop measures aimed at improving both objective and subjective conditions that affected the state of road safety and were of a mutually agreed nature. The established driver training mechanism was one of the important components of the effective operation of the road safety system. Therefore, the activities of state bodies, in particular the State Automobile Inspection of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Ukrainian SSR, were aimed at forming not only stable skills in driving vehicles among the drivers, but also behavioral stereotypes that require compliance with legal norms in the field of road safety. At the same time, it was necessary to develop and legally establish criteria for assessing the quality of their training in the relevant institutions. Militia bodies carried out quite active work to improve the situation with road accidents, which included measures of administrative influence, involvement of the public in monitoring violations of traffic rules, various propaganda activities, but its effectiveness was ultimately insignificant.

The article describes a set of pyridines annulated with functionalized 6-membered saturated rings, which are attractive building blocks for the synthesis of diversified compound libraries in medical chemistry. A certain array of compounds includes pyridines with condensed cyclohexane, piperidine and tetrahydropyran cycles containing keto-, amino-, carboxylic groups, as well as fluorinated fragments. The synthesis of the compounds using the procedure previously developed by us via CuCl2-catalyzed condensation of propargylamine with ketones was performed. The limits of application of this reaction were further expanded and determined in this work compared to our previous results. Condensed pyridines, which proved problematic or impossible to obtain by this method, were synthesized using other synthetic pathways. Thus, the study offers a number of new building blocks for use in drug discovery.

Abstract Objective To explore glucose metabolism in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its association with insulin resistance (IR) risk factors and disease activity indicators, including matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP3). Methods This single-center study included 127 non-diabetic subjects: 90 RA patients and 37 matched controls. IR-related risk factors, disease activity (DAS28-ESR/CRP), concentrations of inflammation markers, MMP3, glucose, specific insulin, and C-peptide (a marker of β-cell secretion) were determined. Homeostasis Model Assessment was used to establish insulin resistance (HOMA2-IR) and sensitivity (HOMA2-%S). Associations of HOMA2 indices with IR-related risk factors, inflammation markers, and RA activity were tested using multiple regression analyses. Results RA patients had significantly increased HOMA2-IR index than controls. In the RA group, multivariate analysis revealed DAS28-ESR, DAS28-CRP, tender joint counts, patient’s global assessment, and MMP3 level as significant positive predictors for HOMA2-IR (β = 0.206, P = 0.014; β = 0.192, P = 0.009; β = 0.121, P = 0.005; β = 0.148, P = 0.007; β = 0.075, P = 0.025, respectively), and reciprocal negative for HOMA2-%S index. According to the value of the coefficient of determination (R 2), DAS28-ESR ≥ 5.1 has the largest proportion of variation in both HOMA2-IR indices. DAS28-ESR ≥ 5.1 and ESR were independent predictors for increased C-peptide concentration (β = 0.090, P = 0.022; β = 0.133, P = 0.022). Despite comparability regarding all IR-related risk factors, patients with DAS28-ESR ≥ 5.1 had higher HOMA2-IR than controls [1.7 (1.2–2.5) vs. 1.2 (0.8–1.4), P = 0.000]. There was no difference between patients with DAS28-ESR

Background/Aim. Previous studies have confirmed a positive correlation between homocysteine levels and a greater risk for acute coronary syndrome and stroke, but there are no available data to support an association between homo-cysteine and inflammatory markers and the severity of coronary artery disease according to the clinical SYNTAX score in patients with stable angina. The aim was to determine the association between homocysteine and inflammatory biomarker levels: interleukin (IL)-6, high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), fibrinogen, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and the severity of coronary artery disease according to clinical SYNTAX score. Methods. Eighty-two patients with stable angina pectoris (average age 65 ± 8 years, 28.9% females) underwent coronary angiography and were divided into three groups according to the clinical SYNTAX score: the group I < 22 (39 patients), the group II 23–32 (16 patients), the group III > 33 (27 patients). The severity and complexity of coronary artery disease were calculated by clinical SYNTAX score, multiplying the SYN-TAX score with the modified ACEF score, based on the patients’ left ventricular ejection fraction, age and creatinine clearance (derived with Cockcroft–Gault equation). Results. Homocysteine levels were significantly higher in patients with high clinical SYNTAX score [the group I: median (interquartile range – IQR): 10.20 (3.97), the group II: 10.45 (5.77), the group III: 14.70 (7.50), p = 0.005]. Patients in the group III had significantly higher homocysteine levels compared to the group I (p = 0.001). We also found a posi-tive association between inflammatory biomarkers (IL-6, hsCRP, fibrinogen, ESR) and the severity of coronary artery disease according to the clinical SYNTAX score (p = 0.017, 0.001, 0.032, 0.049 respectively). We detected significantly lower plasma levels of vitamin B12 in the group III and group II in comparison with the group I (the group I: median (IQR): 238 (160), the group II: 171 (160), the group III: 172 (102), p = 0.022), which indicates its important role in homocysteine metabolism. Conclusion. The elevated plasma levels of homocysteine, IL-6, hsCRP, fibrinogen, ESR were detected in patients with high clinical SYNTAX score (> 33). Our results showed that hyperhomocysteinemia and some inflammatory biomarkers can predict more severe and extensive coronary artery disease in stable angina patients.

Background/Aim. The evaluation of blood levels of cardiac troponin I (cTnI), D-dimer, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), and C-reactive protein (CRP) on admission and during the treatment of pulmonary embolism (PE) are the part of routine diagnostic process and estimation of mortality risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of these biomarkers on admission for all-cause 30-day mortality in consecutive PE patients regarding whether they classified as spontaneous, transiently provoked, or permanently provoked PE. Methods. This retrospective analysis was gained from the data of 590 PE patients from the Serbian University Multicenter Pulmonary Embolism Registry (SUPER). Patients had at least one of these biomarkers (BNP, CRP, cTnI, and D-dimer) measured during the first 24 hours upon admission. Results. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses demonstrated that BNP had the highest prognostic accuracy for 30-day mortality in patients (n = 219) who had data for all examined biomarkers. BNP provided an AUC of 0.785 (p < 0.001). Separately, BNP had the highest c-statistic for all three groups of patients. CRP had a modest predictive value for the 30-day all-cause mortality in the group with transient provoked PE. Troponin I had a very modest predictive value for the 30-day all-cause mortality only in patients with spontaneous PE, and D-dimer was a very weak predictor of this end-point only in patients with persistent provoked PE. Conclusion. Patients with spontaneous, transient provoked, and persistent provoked PE have a significantly different pro-file of blood biomarkers level with different prognostic significance for early all-cause mortality.

The subject of the research is the theoretical and methodological principles of modeling the processes of formation of competitive sanatorium and resort services as a prerequisite for sustainable development of enterprises. The purpose of the study is to substantiate the possible options for the most effective strategy that would meet the requirements of the SCC to achieve sustainable development goals in conditions of limited funding and would strengthen the SEB SR SCC. Research methods. The study used a set of scientific methods and approaches, including logical generalization, system, comparison method, graphical and tabular, which allowed to ensure the conceptual unity of the study. Results of work. Given the unified business model of the studied VCCs, an important issue to be addressed is to determine the choice of the most effective strategy that would meet the requirements of the VCC to achieve sustainable development goals in conditions of limited funding and strengthen the SEB SR VCC. Field of application of results. In the field of economic sciences and in the practical activities of sanatoriums. Conclusions. The study is aimed at developing a methodology for implementing the principles of sustainable development in modeling the processes of providing quality services in the field of spa services. The developed model is implemented using the methods of multifactor fuzzy modeling: the method of hierarchy analysis (MAI) and the method of structuring the quality function (QFD) and the use of indicators of sustainable development in terms of fuzzy structuring of quality functions. QFD makes it possible to transform the value for the consumer into the technical characteristics of the IC services, to prioritize and identify tasks for the optimization of health services. viable strategies for eliminating or reducing these risks are formed. The impact of each strategy on the achievement of the goals of the SE SRS VHF is determined by a fuzzy IAI scale.

Objective: This study aims to investigate whether the high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) is associated with an ejection fraction of left ventricle (EFLV) in the early phase of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), treated with the primary percutaneous intervention (pPCI), and to establish whether there exists a relationship between its values and the presence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) within six months of pPCI. Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, 357 patients who were diagnosed with STEMI and who underwent pPCI within 24 hours of pain onset were included. The following were monitored and recorded: 1) hsCRP values, which were measured between 24 and 48 hours of pPCI, 2) EFLV values, which were measured five days after the pPCI, and 3) MACE, which was established within six months of pPCI. Results: The EFLV values measured five days after the pPCI were significantly lower with increasing hsCRP values (rho=-0.384, p

African trypanosomes cause sleeping sickness in humans and nagana in cattle. These unicellular parasites are transmitted by the bloodsucking tsetse fly. In the mammalian host’s circulation, proliferating slender stage cells differentiate into cell cycle-arrested stumpy stage cells when they reach high population densities. This stage transition is thought to fulfil two main functions: first, it auto-regulates the parasite load in the host; second, the stumpy stage is regarded as the only stage capable of successful vector transmission. Here, we show that proliferating slender stage trypanosomes express the mRNA and protein of a known stumpy stage marker, complete the complex life cycle in the fly as successfully as the stumpy stage, and require only a single parasite for productive infection. These findings suggest a reassessment of the traditional view of the trypanosome life cycle. They may also provide a solution to a long-lasting paradox, namely the successful transmission of parasites in chronic infections, despite low parasitemia.

Розглянуто впровадження медіаосвіти в українську освітню систему, особливості формування медіаграмотності студентської спільноти в закладах вищої освіти. Термін «медіаосвіта» визначено як процес розвитку особистості за допомогою і на матеріалі засобів масмедіа, результатом якого є медіаграмотність. Під час дослідження ми послуговувались такими методами наукового пізнання, як аналіз, синтез, статистичний та описовий методи. Також використано аналітичні методи узагальнення різних поглядів учених з проблем розвитку медіаосвіти, медіаграмотності й медіакомпетентності. Визначено специфіку та пріоритетні напрями розвитку медіаосвіти, необхідність цілеспрямованої підготовки особистості до протидії інформаційним загрозам зовнішніх джерел. Обґрунтовано актуальність медіаграмотності як одного з головних пріоритетів державної освітньої політики з питань виховання студентської молоді. Особливості сучасного рівня розвитку освіти, особистісні комунікативні потреби, специфіка і рівень розвитку медіакультури студентів надають змоги припустити, що найприйнятнішим для ефективного впровадження наскрізної медіаграмотності в педагогічній практиці було б інтегрування курсів медійної грамотності в базові освітні програми.

Introduction: Platelets aggregability (PA) and the activation of hemostasis, during myocardial ischemia within physical or mental stress, can be one of many factors that influence the process of stent thrombosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Objective: The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between PA and activity of anticoagulant proteins with myocardial ischemia during dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE) in asymptomatic patients four months after PCI. Methods: The study population included 74 asymptomatic patients who had successful PCI four months before high-dose dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE).PA on epinephrine (EPI) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) were determined by Light Transmission Aggregometry (LTA), together with plasma activity of protein C (PC) and antithrombin (AT) before DSE and at the peak stage of the stress test. Patients were divided into several groups whether they have baseline or induced disturbance of segmental myocardial kinetics or not. All patients were on clopidogrel and aspirin therapy at the time of DSE. Results: There were no statistically significant difference in PA on ADP (47.50% vs. 50.20%; p=0.970) as well as on EPI (59.30% vs. 60.30%, p=0.600) before and at the peak DSE. A statistically significant difference was found in the anticoagulant activity of the AT (84.85% vs. 74.75%, p=0.001) and PC (77.75% vs. 67.60%, p

Iron deficiency (IDA) and chronic disease (ACD) anemia are complications of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). Therapeutic modalities in remission and active IBD depend on the type of anemia. This study evaluated the link between hepcidin-25, proinflammatory cytokines, and platelet activation markers as biomarkers of anemia and inflammation in active IBD and remission. This prospective observational study included 62 patients with IBD (49 with ulcerative colitis and 13 with Crohn's) and anemia. Patients were divided into Group I (no or minimal endoscopic signs of disease activity and IDA), Group II (moderate and major endoscopic signs of disease activity and mild ACD), and Control group (10 patients with IBD in remission, without anemia). We assessed the difference among groups in the levels of CRP, hemoglobin (Hgb), serum iron, ferritin, hepcidin-25, interleukins, TNF–α, IFN-γ, soluble CD40 ligand, and sP-selectin. Hepcidin-25 levels were significantly higher in Group II versus Group I (11.93 vs. 4.48 ng/mL, p < 0.001). Ferritin and CRP values showed similar patterns in IBD patients: significantly higher levels were observed in Group II (47.5 ng/mL and 13.68 mg/L) than in Group I (11.0 ng/mL and 3.39 mg/L) (p < 0.001). In Group II, hepcidin-25 was positively correlated with ferritin (ρ = 0.725, p < 0.001) and CRP (ρ = 0.502, p = 0.003). Ferritin was an independent variable influencing hepcidin-25 concentration in IBD patients, regardless of disease activity and severity of anemia. IBD hepcidin-25 best correlates with ferritin, and both parameters reflected inflammation extent and IBD activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article examines the essence of the concept of state financial control by considering the concepts of “institute of control” – “agent of institute of control” – “subject / quasi-subject of state financial control”, the functioning of agents of institute of control - the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine and the State Audit Service of Ukraine, and the results of their activities on the use of public finance in the framework of official information. The reports of the agents of institute of control were analyzed and conclusions about the continuation of the negative dynamics of illegal and inappropriate use of public resources were made, the spread of budget and financial violations. disproportions that exist in the system of state financial control are identified and ways to eliminate them are defined. The necessity of improvement of functioning of the bodies and the legal mechanism in the management of state financial control in Ukraine is justified, as well as the need to ensure the creation of a unified system of state financial control that is able to resist abuse and prevent possible loss of budget funds by adopting the Code of state financial control of Ukraine, clearly delimiting the powers of internal and external control that could solve such problems as: legal support of control activities and unification of functions and powers of financial control in the executive branch. It is necessary to expand the contents of the basic principles of control in the Budget Code of Ukraine, clearly defining the object and the subject of control, its principles and types, principles of conducting, which will contribute to the expansion of terminology and basic issues of state financial control.

Background/Aim. Acute pulmonary embolism (PE) is a potentially life threating event, but there are scarce data about genderrelated differences in this condition. The aim of this study was to identify gender-specific differences in clinical presentation, the diagnosis and outcome between male and female patients with PE. Methods. We analysed the data of 144 consecutive patients with PE (50% women) and compared female and male patients regarding clinical presentation, electrocardiography (ECG) signs, basic laboratory markers and six-month outcome. All the patients confirmed PE by visualized thrombus on the multidetector computed tomography with pulmonary angiography (MDCTPA), ECG and echocardiographic examination at admission. Results. Compared to the men, the women were older and a larger proportion of them was in the third tertile of age (66.0% vs 34.0%, p = 0.008). In univariate analysis the men more often had hemoptysis [OR (95% CI) 3.75 (1.16-12.11)], chest pain [OR (95% CI) 3.31 (1.57-7.00)] febrile state [OR (95% CI) 2.41 (1.12-5.22)] and pneumonia at PE presentation [OR (95% CI) 3.40 (1.25-9.22)] and less likely had heart decompensation early in the course of the disease [OR (95%CI) 0.48 (0.24-0.97)]. In the multivariate analysis a significant difference in the rate of pneumonia and acute heart failure between genders disappeared due to strong influence of age. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of typical ECG signs for PE between the genders. Women had higher level of admission glycaemia [7.7 mmol/L (5.5-8.2 mmol/L) vs 6.9 mmol/L (6.3-9.6 mmol/L), p = 0.006] and total number of leukocytes [10.5 x 109/L (8.8-12.7 x 109/L vs 8.7 x 109/L (7.0-11.6 x 109/L)), p = 0.007]. There was a trend toward higher plasma level of brain natriuretic peptide in women compared to men 127.1 pg/mL (55.0-484.0 pg/mL), p = 0.092] vs [90.3 pg/mL (39.2-308.5 pg/mL). The main 6-month outcomes, death and major bleeding, had similar frequencies in both sexes. Conclusion. There are several important differences between men and women in the clinical presentation of PE and basic laboratory findings which can influence the diagnosis and treatment of PE.

The highly motile and versatile protozoan pathogen Trypanosoma brucei undergoes a complex life cycle in the tsetse fly. Here we introduce the host insect as an expedient model environment for microswimmer research, as it allows examination of microbial motion within a diversified, secluded and yet microscopically tractable space. During their week-long journey through the different microenvironments of the fly´s interior organs, the incessantly swimming trypanosomes cross various barriers and confined surroundings, with concurrently occurring major changes of parasite cell architecture. Multicolour light sheet fluorescence microscopy provided information about tsetse tissue topology with unprecedented resolution and allowed the first 3D analysis of the infection process. High-speed fluorescence microscopy illuminated the versatile behaviour of trypanosome developmental stages, ranging from solitary motion and near-wall swimming to collective motility in synchronised swarms and in confinement. We correlate the microenvironments and trypanosome morphologies to high-speed motility data, which paves the way for cross-disciplinary microswimmer research in a naturally evolved environment.

For persistent infections of the mammalian host, African trypanosomes limit their population size by quorum sensing of the parasite-excreted stumpy induction factor (SIF), which induces development to the tsetse-infective stumpy stage. We found that besides this cell density-dependent mechanism, there exists a second path to the stumpy stage that is linked to antigenic variation, the main instrument of parasite virulence. The expression of a second variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) leads to transcriptional attenuation of the VSG expression site (ES) and immediate development to tsetse fly infective stumpy parasites. This path is independent of SIF and solely controlled by the transcriptional status of the ES. In pleomorphic trypanosomes varying degrees of ES-attenuation result in phenotypic plasticity. While full ES-attenuation causes irreversible stumpy development, milder attenuation may open a time window for rescuing an unsuccessful antigenic switch, a scenario that so far has not been considered as important for parasite survival.