Application of Statistical Methods and Neural Networks to Analysis of Factors of Small Business Development (the Case of China)

By constructing a production function and using neural networks the authors study major trends of small business development in China. Comparative analysis of these methods is given as well as relative forecast calculationsSmall business development; production functions; neural networks

Factors of functioning and development of tourist clusters at regional level

Under the condition of tough competition, lack of proper support for tourist industry at the state level, and necessity for development and bringing this sector to a new level, which consists in capability for offering a consumer a high-quality and competitive product, the necessity for search for effective solutions is obvious. One of the perspective and effective means for solving the problems of tourist sphere at present is formation and development of tourist clusters. The article studies existing approaches to determination of tourist cluster, analyzes the current state of internal tourism, and views factors which hinder the creation of competitive product and factors which stipulate the increase of effectiveness of functioning of tourist clusters at regional level.peer-reviewe

Ecotoxicants Content of Sanguisorba officinalis L., Growing on Mining Disturbed Lands of Kemerovo Region

Ecotoxicant content – heavy metals and radionuclides in embryonic soils and herbal medicinal products of Sanguisorba officinalis L. of the rose family (Rosaceae) in the circumstance of technogenicallydisturbed lands was analyzed, in example of the rock waste disposal areaof the Kedrovsky coal pit in Kemerovo region. It was experimentally proved that the embryonic soils of the coal dump is characterized by largeelemental variation. Analysis revealed that the raw materials of Sanguisorba officinalis L. more accumulates such metals as Fe(61, 95mg/kg), Mn (33, 46 mg/kg), Zn (17, 53 mg/kg) and Cu (12, 35mg/kg), which are related to biophilic metals. Technogenical group ofelements – Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Co, are with in 0,04 … 1,52 mg/kg. It was alsoexperimentally proved that the main share in overall radioactivity ofembryonic soils and rhizome and roots of greaterburnet falls to naturalradionuclides, especially K-40. The share of Cs-137 and Sr-90 are about7% in embryonic soils and 85 in rhizome and roots of burnet. Ecological hygienic assessment of Sanguisorba officinalis L. herbal medicinal products has shown the MPC no-exceedance of heavy metals and radionuclides, provided for the plant based BAA

Niños con discapacidades en la educación y preparación de la participación de sus padres

The article provides an overview of philosophical and humanitarian approaches to training parents in an inclusive education and the training system itself. The study purpose is to substantiate, develop and test a system for preparing parents of children with disabilities for assistance in the education, based on the humanistic approach and the axiological concept of philosophy. These approaches in the parent training system lead society to the fact that parental competencies should be based on the special education methods, techniques and technologies for educating children with special needs; to predict the result of education and manage the correctional and pedagogical process based on an individual approach to the child. The implementation of the developed system resulted in a high level of parents’ readiness to participate in inclusive children education.El artículo proporciona una visión general de los enfoques filosóficos y humanitarios para capacitar a los padres en una educación inclusiva y el sistema de capacitación en sí. El propósito del estudio es corroborar, desarrollar y probar un sistema para preparar a los padres de niños con discapacidades para la asistencia en la educación, basado en el enfoque humanista y el concepto axiológico de la filosofía. Estos enfoques en el sistema de capacitación para padres llevan a la sociedad al hecho de que las competencias de los padres deben basarse en los métodos, técnicas y tecnologías de educación especial para educar a los niños con necesidades especiales; predecir el resultado de la educación y gestionar el proceso correccional y pedagógico basado en un enfoque individual del niño. La implementación del sistema desarrollado resultó en un alto nivel de preparación de los padres para participar en la educación inclusiva de los niños

The selection of production technology of polymer-bitumen binders as an innovative nanobinders used in asphaltic concrete pavement

In recent years nanotechnology and nanomaterials have been used in various industries including road construction and road construction has reached a new level. Today it is one of the most priority field for the state. To increase the number of roads that would meet modern requirements is impossible without new technologies and materials. Bituminous materials are the example of such materials. They are typical oil nanodisperse systems, the properties of which are determined by the nanostructured particles of the dispersed phase and hydrocarbon dispersion medium.To expand the range of modern and promising binders, the aim of the research was to design a promising technology for the production of polymer-containing bituminous materials obtained by different technologies: modification by polymers of roadside bitumen, compounding of deeply oxidized bitumen with modified polymers, tar. The objects of the studies were the road bitumen, deepoxygenized bitumen, light and heavy tar. Butadiene-styrene thermoplastic elastomer DST-30-01 was used as polymer modifier that allows achieving the desired particle size of the dispersed phase and creates an additional nanophase of the polymer and thus provides the required performance. The analysis of the properties of polymer-bitumen binders showed the advantage of the technology based on the compounding of deep-oxidized bitumen with modified polymer tar. There is an increase in the values of the maximum tensile force, cohesive and strength properties, adhesion index with a certain decrease in extensibility. A promising technology for the production of polymer-bitumen binders as innovative nanobinders for asphaltic concrete pavement with improved quality indicators has been designed. The technology will expand the range of high-quality products needed in road construction and will provide the growth of technical and economic indicators of bitumen production

Fig. 3. Frequency of anaemia in patients with type 1 DM with DN with proteinuria (n = 154) and with various morphological variants of primary CGN (n = 244).

Background. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a non-infectious disease with a high prevalence worldwide and is one of the most common causes of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Anaemia is a well-known complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and has been estimated to affect one in three adults with DM. Aims. To evaluate the prevalence and severity of anaemia among patients with DKD and to compare the distribution of anaemia among patients with diabetic and non-diabetic CKD. Methods. A total of 2,015 patients with DM [n = 807 with type 1 DM (T1DM); n = 1,208 with type 2 DM (T2DM)] and 244 patients with biopsy-proven chronic glomerulonephritis (CGN) were selected. Patients with glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of <15 ml/min/1,73 m2 (stage 5 CKD) and treated by erythropoietin-stimulating agents and/or iron medication were not included. The presence of anaemia was defined as haemoglobin (Hb) of <130 g/l in men and <120 g/l in woman. GFR was calculated using the MDRD formula. CKD stages were defined based on stages 1–4 of CKD by KDOQI and KDIGO guidelines: stage 1 (GFR ≥ 90 ml/min/1.73 m2); stage 2 (GFR 60–89 ml/min/1.73 m2); stage 3 (GFR 30–59 ml/min/1.73 m2); stage 3a (45–59 ml/min/1.73 m2); stage 3b (GFR 30–44 ml/min/1.73 m2); stage 4 (GFR 15–29 ml/min/1.73 m2). Results. Rates of anaemia were higher among patients with DM and DKD (38.8% and 22.6% for T1DM and T2DM, respectively) than diabetic patients without DKD (16.6% and 11.5%, respectively. Prevalence of anaemia by CKD stage increased from 23.3% in stage 1 to 80% in stage 4 among patients with T1DM, and from 16.9% to 81 % among patients with T2DM. The prevalence of anaemia was also higher among protoeinuric patients (53.9% and 34.4% for T1DM and T2DM, respectively) relative to microalbuminuric patients (29.4% and 17.6%, respectively). Anaemia prevalence was significantly greater in DKD due to T1DM (53.9%) than in CGN (19.7), and the rates did not differ based on stages of CKD. Conclusions. We found a two-fold higher rate of anaemia among patients with DM and CKD than patients with DM and non-DKD. In addition, we found that the frequency of anaemia depends on renal function (i.e., stage of CKD) and degree of albuminuria. Taken together, anaemia is highly prevalent among patients with T1DM and DKD compared with patients with chronic CGN, without differences in its severity

Experience with the use of undenatured type II collagen in patients with stage III knee osteoarthritis: a multicenter, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial

Introduction. Current strategies for treating osteoarthritis (OA) are based on a multimodal approach that includes pharmacological and non-pharmacological methods. Undenatured chicken collagen type II (NK2) is considered safe and effective for maintaining joint health and can be used alone and combined with drugs for OA treatment. Aim. To further evaluate the efficacy of the combination of Artneo containing NK2 in patients with stage III knee OA compared with placebo in a multicenter, prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial. Materials and methods. The study included 212 patients from 12 centers in the Russian Federation, of whom 50 had radiological stage III knee OA: 41 (82.0%) females and 9 (18.0%) males aged 44 to 75. Using the interactive web response system (IWRS), the study population was randomized into two groups: Group 1 (Artneo group) included 28 patients receiving the drug 1 capsule once a day for 180 days, Group 2 (placebo group) included 22 patients receiving placebo with drug-matched presentation and the same regimen as in Group 1. The effectiveness of therapy was assessed by the change of pain using the Visual Analog Scale, the WOMAC index, KOOS, the EQ-5D quality of life questionnaire, and the need for non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. All patients had a complete blood count, urinalysis, blood chemistry, and ultrasonic examination of the target knee joint. Results. A prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial demonstrated that Artneo containing NK2 was significantly superior to placebo in all studied parameters, improved all clinical manifestations of OA: reduced pain and stiffness, improved joint function and quality of life, and had a good safety profile. Conclusion. Artneo showed high efficacy and safety in the general population of patients, including those with stage III knee OA

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake