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Introduction. The intestinal microbiocenosis is the most complex and important bio-tope of the body formed in the process of individual development. Material and methods. The study was conducted on groups of 20-25-day-old chicks. The first group was housed under standard vivarium conditions with artificially maintained optimal climatic parameters. The second group was raised in a rural homestead in the Kyiv region, on pasture with access to water, and fed twice daily with a blend of grains supplemented with kitchen wastes. Samples of chicken droppings (10 per group) were analyzed according to current international ISO standards using certified nutrient media and equipment. Results. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Enterococcus spp. were isolated from 100% of samples from chickens kept in simulated conditions of an industrial poultry house, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from 70% of samples. E. coli and Enterococcus spp. were isolated from free-range chickens in 100% of cases. The analysis revealed that in pasture-raised chickens, Klebsiella spp. and P. aeruginosa were absent from the litter, with significantly higher levels of normal microflora (Enterococcus spp.). Conclusions. Backyard-raised chickens showed no pathogenic zoonotic bacteria, in contrast to those raised under controlled conditions with optimal climate and standard diets.

Мета роботи: мета статті полягає у визначенні перспективної моделі оцінки ризиків доставки вантажів підрозділами Сил Логістики на основі теорії нечіткої логіки. Метод дослідження: основним методом дослідження є метод синтезу моделі оцінки ризиків доставки вантажів підрозділами Сил Логістики. Результати дослідження: в роботі сформовані основні теоретичні аспекти впровадження синтезованої моделі нечіткого логічного виводу щодо оцінки ризиків доставки вантажів підрозділами Сил Логістики. Теоретична цінність: основними результатами дослідження за тематикою статті є: удосконалення методів інтелектуального моделювання логістичних процесів шляхом синтезу моделі нечіткого логічного виводу оцінки ризиків успішного виконання завдань з перевезення вантажів підрозділами Сил Логістики. Тип статті: теоретична.

Feline infectious peritonitis is a feline disease, the causative agent of which is a mutant coronavirus, which leads to the death of young animals. Presently, this pathology is considered incurable, and therefore it requires a detailed study. The purpose of this study was to establish the features of clinical manifestation and haematological parameters in cats with infectious peritonitis. This paper presents the results of a clinical and laboratory study of 12 cats aged from 6 months to 3 years who were diagnosed with effusive and dry infectious peritonitis. Clinical, laboratory, and visual research methods were used. Laboratory analysis included a study of morphological and biochemical parameters of blood, cytological examination of effusion from the abdominal and pleural cavities, and a Rivalta test. As a result of cytological examination of effusion from these cavities, a high concentration of cells, macrophage accumulation, neutrophil phagocytosis, and red blood cells were detected in the entire field of view. It was found that the predictive value of the Rivalta test for feline infectious peritonitis is 62.5%. According to haematological examination, all sick animals were diagnosed with anaemia, lymphopenia, hypoalbuminemia, hyperglobulinemia, hyperbilirubinemia, increased activity of relative liver- specific enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase). Trobmocytopenia was observed in two animals, and an increase in blood markers of the functional state of the kidneys (creatinine, urea) was found in one cat. The serum albumin/globulin ratio should also be considered an important diagnostic indicator. Thus, with feline infectious peritonitis, this indicator should be < 0.4. In 11 sick cats, this ratio was characterized by values below 0.4, and in one animal this indicator was 0.46. In general, the obtained data of morphological and biochemical blood tests are not specific for feline infectious peritonitis, and therefore the authors of this paper recommend their comprehensive investigation for diagnostic purposes. An objective assessment of the available methods of laboratory diagnostics will contribute to the creation of a diagnostic protocol for feline infectious peritonitis

The relevance of the study of coronavirus infection in animals is conditioned upon the lack of sufficient information about the mechanisms of development of this disease, imperfect methods of diagnosis and treatment, and, most importantly, almost 100% of their mortality. The purpose of this study was to identify the age, breed, seasonal, and sexual characteristics of cats' predisposition to coronavirus infection and the development of infectious peritonitis. The paper presents the results of epizoothogolic features of the spread of coronavirus infection among animals of this species and feline infectious peritonitis during 2020-2022 based on the veterinary clinic “White Wolf” (city of Kyiv). During this period, 483 samples were examined from cats with symptoms of coronavirus infection. From these samples, using immunochromatographic analysis, a virus of the Coronaviridae family was detected in 399 animals, and infectious peritonitis was established in 63 animals. This paper highlights the results of a study of the age, breed, and sexual predisposition of cats to coronavirus infection and the development of infectious peritonitis. It was found that cats of any age are susceptible to coronavirus infection, while infectious peritonitis develops in animals aged from 2 months to 3 years. Coronavirus infection was most frequently found in mixed breed cats and British shorthair cats, infectious peritonitis – in Burmese and Bengal breeds. The study also summarised data on the seasonal manifestation of coronavirus infection and infectious peritonitis of cats. Based on the results of epizootological analysis, a nosological profile of infectious diseases was formed in animals of this species that had similar clinical symptoms of coronavirus infection and infectious peritonitis. Eight infections are presented, of which the most frequently recorded diseases were caused by viruses of the Herpesviridae, Caliciviridae, and Parvoviridae families. The results of this study provide new information about the epizootological features of the manifestation and development of coronavirus infection in cats, which allows not only improving the available diagnostic methods, but also developing new ones

The article demonstrates how Charles Sanders Peirce built cosmological ideas based on the analysis of the specifics of a human being. It is proved that the possibility of a certain degree of anthropocentrism in Peirce’s cosmological conception was laid down in the categorical system, including the level of the Firstness, Secondness, and Thirdness. It is shown why according to his scientific metaphysics, for everyone, the concept that corresponds to human nature is more true than other ones, as well as why a person instinctively feels the truth. This situation is possible because the laws of thought are formulated in accordance with the laws of nature. Human nature reflects what is in the world. Thus, through self-knowledge, a person also discovers reality itself as a dynamic universe in which the physical and he mental, the real and the ideal are subject to the same laws (habits-regularities). However, human beings do not know all of them, but only those that correspond to the level of their understanding and interests. Subsequently, science and technology are built on the basis of individuals’ own intentions. Human beings realize that the universe is boundless and not everything they are able to understand and justify. This makes fallibilism inevitable. It is analyzed how to solve the difficulties of fallibilism; Peirce proposed to use the concept of practical certainty as a basic criterion for recognizing the system of knowledge about the world as true. It is shown that the concepts of tychism, synechism, and agapism, which reveal the meaning of Peirce’s cosmological theory of evolution, are also based on the principles of anthropocentrism and anthropomorphism. Thus, it is argued that human being becomes the key to understanding Peirce’s metaphysical cosmology.

It is established that in geese, are constantly registered only cervicothoracic lymph nodes. The cervicothoracic lymph nodes of geese are local accumulations of lymphoid tissue in the wall of the lymphatic vessels, which are taking away lymph from the head and neck. The cervicothoracic lymph nodes of geese are not the same shape, most of them have a conical shape. Parameters of absolute, relative weights, and size of the cervicothoracic lymph nodes of geese depend on the weight and sizes of their body. The cervicothoracic lymph nodes of geese are formed by a connective tissue stroma, parenchyma, and sinus. Connective tissue stroma is represented by a capsule, which is a continuation of the adventitia and media of lymphatic vessels and trabeculae. Connective tissue stroma is formed by loose fibrous connective tissue, which has blood vessels and myocytes. Sinus is a continuation of the lymphatic vessel lumen and its wall – a continuation of its intima. The area, occupied by a connective tissue stroma, parenchyma, and sinus in the nodes of investigated birds, varies. The largest area occupies the parenchyma of the cervicothoracic lymph nodes, which like the parenchyma of lymph nodes in mammals, is formed by lymphoid tissue. In the parenchyma, there is unclearly allocated the cortical and cerebral substances. The cortical substance is located on the periphery and the cerebral substance – around the sinus. The area of the cortical substance dominates over a cerebral substance. The cortical substance is formed by the diffuse lymphoid tissue and lymphoid nodules (mainly secondary), and the cerebral substance – only by the diffuse lymphoid tissue. Lymphoid nodules are spherical in shape, surrounded by delicate shells, and depending on the diameter, is divided into three groups: large, medium, and small. The basis of the lymphoid tissues in the parenchyma is reticular tissues, which consists of reticular fibers. The architectonics of its fibers varies in the different components of the lymphoid tissue. They are placed tightly, intertwined, and form the confined units of various shapes and small sizes. The cellular composition of the parenchyma of the cervicothoracic lymph nodes of geese is extremely diverse. It is reticulocytes, lymphocytes, immunoblasts, macrophages, monocytes, plasma cells, mast cells, and myoid cells. The content of these cells is not the same. The presence of lymphocytes, immunoblasts, macrophages, and plasma cells in the parenchyma of the cervicothoracic lymph nodes of geese convinces in their functioning as peripheral organs of immunogenesis

In the article, the authors considered the challenges for space law, which are created by the intensive development of production technologies of unmanned spacecrafts and space drones, as well as their use in the space industry. The authors clarified the term “space object”, which is used in the Space Law. This helped reveal the difference between the terms “unmanned spacecrafts” and “space drones”, which are synonymous in the Air Law. The authors investigated the basics of the space law and proved that in the existing formulations, the space law is not able to regulate the modern space exploration. Based on the study, the authors proposed: (1) to consolidate the influence of public organizations created in the space industry and specializing in the space exploration in the space law; (2) to change approaches to space law; space law should be considered as an effective regulator capable of ensuring the sustainable development of the mankind;. (3) under the space law, to create a holistic concept for using all types of space object on the Low Earth Orbit.

Objective: To evaluate and systematize tongue color-related manifestations among patients with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 infection. Material and Methods: This retrospective study included analysis of tongue images obtained from patients with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 infection. Evaluation of coronavirus disease severity (mild, moderate, severe, critical) was provided, considering clinical symptomatology and results of laboratorial and instrumental diagnostic methods. Each picture was analyzed considering the parameters of color of the tongue and color of the tongue plaque by two dental specialists. Cochran-Armitage test for trend was used to evaluate associations between the tongue color and tongue plaque color, and coronavirus disease severity. Results: The most prevalent tongue colors were pale pink, red and dark red (burgundy color). A total of 64.29% of patients with mild disease demonstrated pale pink color of the tongue. Patients with moderate coronavirus disease were characterized with the adverse trend: 62.35% of them presented with red-colored tongue, while in 37.64% of cases, the tongue was pale pink. Severe COVID-19 patients, almost in 90% of the cases, had either red or burgundy color of the tongue. Conclusion: SARS-COV-2 infection is not manifested by tongue-targeted or tongue-specific signs and features; however, coronavirus disease itself provokes changes within the tongue color and tongue plaque color similar to those registered during other internal pathologies.

Ischemic stroke is among the top diseases leading to mortality and disability in the world. The detailed investigation of the mechanisms underlying this pathology and especially mediating the tendency to relapse during the first year after stroke incident undoubtedly belongs to important tasks of modern medicine and biology. The current study aims to analyze the influence of IgG derived from the blood serum of ischemic stroke patients on some hemostasis factors. In total, 123 participants with IS, 62 with atherothrombotic ischemic stroke, 61 with cardioembolic ischemic stroke, and 57 subjects as control have been examined. The same patients have participated in the research a year after stroke. IgG from serum was isolated by affinity chromatography on protein A Sepharose column. The activity of key hemostasis factors under the influence of IgG was analyzed. Obtained results revealed that IgG of stroke patients but not healthy subjects caused the inhibition of the amidolytic activity of endogenously generated thrombin, protein C, factor Xa, and led to an increase in the degree of ADP-induced platelet aggregation. The reduction of clotting time in the test "Thrombin time" by IgG of patients at the acute phase of disease was also observed; IgG of healthy subjects mediated the opposite effect. In contrast to acute ischemic stroke IgG, IgG of patients one year after both atherothrombotic and cardioembolic ischemic stroke influenced only the activity of endogenously generated thrombin and factor Xa resulting in inhibition of their activities. It was also established that IgG of ischemic stroke patients, as well as healthy subjects, stimulated the secretion of tissue plasminogen activator by endotheliocytes.

The paper describes the medical data personalization problem by determining the individual characteristics needed to predict the number of days a patient spends in a hospital. The mathematical problem of patient information analysis is formalized, which will help identify critical personal characteristics based on conditioned space analysis. The condition space is given in cube form as a reflection of the functional relationship of the general parameters to the studied object. The dataset consists of 51 instances, and ten parameters are processed using different clustering and regression models. Days in hospital is the target variable. A condition space cube is formed based on clustering analysis and features selection. In this manner, a hierarchical predictor based on clustering and an ensemble of weak regressors is built. The quality of the developed hierarchical predictor for Root Mean Squared Error metric is 1.47 times better than the best weak predictor (perceptron with 12 units in a single hidden layer).

The R package ClickClust is a new piece of software devoted to finite mixture modeling and model-based clustering of categorical sequences. As a special kind of time series, categorical sequences, also known as categorical time series, exhibit a time-dependent nature and are traditionally modeled by means of Markov chains. Clustering categorical sequences is an important problem with multiple applications, but grouping sequences of sites or web-pages, also known as clickstreams, is one of the most well-known problems that helps discover common navigation patterns and routes taken by users. This popular application is recognized in the package title ClickClust. The paper discusses methodological and algorithmic foundations of the package based on finite mixtures of Markov models. The number of Markov chain states can often be large leading to high-dimensional transition probability matrices. The high number of model parameters can affect clustering performance severely. As a remedy to this problem, backward and forward selection algorithms are proposed for grouping states. This extends the original clustering problem to a biclustering framework. Among other capabilities of ClickClust, there are the estimation of the variance-covariance matrix corresponding to model parameter estimates, prediction of future states visited, and the construction of a display named click-plot that helps illustrate the obtained clustering solutions. All available functions and the utility of the package are thoroughly discussed and illustrated on multiple examples.

The study was conducted by applying machine learning and data mining methods to treatment personalization. This allows individual patient characteristics to be investigated. The personalization method was built on the clustering method and associative rules. It was suggested to determine the average distance between instances in order to find the optimal performance metrics. The formalization of the medical data preprocessing stage was proposed in order to find personalized solutions based on current standards and pharmaceutical protocols. The patient data model was built using time-dependent and time-independent parameters. Personalized treatment is usually based on the decision tree method. This approach requires significant computation time and cannot be parallelized. Therefore, it was proposed to group people by conditions and to determine deviations of parameters from the normative parameters of the group, as well as the average parameters. The novelty of the paper is the new clustering method, which was built from an ensemble of cluster algorithms, and the usage of the new distance measure with Hopkins metrics, which were 0.13 less than for the k-means method. The Dunn index was 0.03 higher than for the BIRCH (balanced iterative reducing and clustering using hierarchies) algorithm. The next stage was the mining of associative rules provided separately for each cluster. This allows a personalized approach to treatment to be created for each patient based on long-term monitoring. The correctness level of the proposed medical decisions is 86%, which was approved by experts.

The R package MixSim is a new tool that allows simulating mixtures of Gaussian distributions with different levels of overlap between mixture components. Pairwise overlap, defined as a sum of two misclassification probabilities, measures the degree of interaction between components and can be readily employed to control the clustering complexity of datasets simulated from mixtures. These datasets can then be used for systematic performance investigation of clustering and finite mixture modeling algorithms. Among other capabilities of MixSim, there are computing the exact overlap for Gaussian mixtures, simulating Gaussian and non-Gaussian data, simulating outliers and noise variables, calculating various measures of agreement between two partitionings, and constructing parallel distribution plots for the graphical display of finite mixture models. All features of the package are illustrated in great detail. The utility of the package is highlighted through a small comparison study of several popular clustering algorithms.