The Application of Machine Learning Methods in Determining Attractive Development Directions for Tourism Businesses

CC BY-NC-ND 4.0This paper proposes a methodical approach to the selection of attractive development directions for tourism businesses. The approach is based on the following machine learning methods: “center of gravity” method; taxonomic indicator of the level of development; hierarchical agglomerative and iterative methods of cluster analysis; methods for analyzing panel data; and Kohonen neural networks. The developed approach includes the following core blocks: classification of countries (regional market segments) according to the level of socio-economic development and safety; formation of a diagnostic indicator system of countries’ touristic attractiveness; assessment of the development dynamics of the market geographical segments (countries); classification of countries according to the level of tourist attractiveness; and selection of development directions for the tourism industry. The proposed approach is implemented on the data of 35 countries, including the EU countries and the countries of the post-Soviet space. The results show that the most attractive geographic market segments for tourism business development are such countries as Italy, Spain, Croatia, Greece, Portugal, and Poland. These countries are characterized by a high level of security, average cost and barriers to entry into the tourism market, a steady pace of development of the tourism industry, a favorable business environment, attractive natural resources, and developed infrastructure. Comparison of the dynamics of tourist flows with the obtained distribution of countries by the level of tourist attractiveness made it possible to single out Portugal separately, which is characterized by a high level of tourist attractiveness, but insufficient actual intensity of tourist flow. Implementation of the proposed approach in the business processes of travel companies make it possible to improve the quality of management decisions regarding the choice of tourism business development directions

Mechanisms of Regulation Allergic and Autoimmune Reactions by Bacterial Origin Bioregulators

Relevance. The increase in allergic and autoimmune diseases observed in recent decades highlights the need for therapy and prevention, which requires detailed research into the mechanisms of their occurrence. The onset and progression of allergic and autoimmune diseases are influenced by genetic predisposition, lifestyle, environmental factors, and disruptions in the coordinated operation of the immune system, and as a consequence of immune homeostasis. Treatment of these diseases is primarily symptomatic and often accompanied by undesirable side effects. Immune system disorders in various pathologies have their own characteristics for each type of disease, and at the same time have common mechanisms. Considering the presence of a large number of various microorganisms in the human body, taking their influence into account is of paramount importance. Microorganisms are a source of biologically active molecules, the action of which can either prevent and reduce the severity of the disease or exacerbate it. The aim of this study was to analyze the cytokine profile of the effects of fragments of cell walls of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria - lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and muramyl peptide (MP), as well as nisin - an antimicrobial peptide of bacterial origin on human mononuclear cells. Materials and Methods. Mononuclear cells were obtained from peripheral blood of healthy volunteers using Cell separation media Lympholyte CL 5015, and were cultured in the presence of LPS, GMDP and bacteriocin nisin. The cytokine activity of LPS, GMDP and bacteriocin nisin was examined using the multiplex cytokine analysis; the analysis of surface markers was determined flow cytometry. Results and Discussion. It was shown that bacterial cell wall fragments to a much greater extent than nisin induce the production of cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors. It was established that LPS and MP increase the expression of CD11c on dendritic cells, while bacteriocin nisin does not affect the increase of CD11c+ DCs. LPS and MP in the conducted ex vivo studies did not affect the emergence of CCR7. Conclusion. Bacterial origin bioregulators trigger a negative feedback mechanism by inducing the synthesis of anti-inflammatory factors, that can prevent the inflammatory process. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of the influence of bacterial origin bioregulators on the human body opens new approaches in the prevention and development of personalized therapy strategies

Novel LRBA Mutation and Possible Germinal Mosaicism in a Slavic Family

Peer reviewe

Facilitates Chromatin Transcription Complex Is an “Accelerator” of Tumor Transformation and Potential Marker and Target of Aggressive Cancers

SummaryThe facilitates chromatin transcription (FACT) complex is involved in chromatin remodeling during transcription, replication, and DNA repair. FACT was previously considered to be ubiquitously expressed and not associated with any disease. However, we discovered that FACT is the target of a class of anticancer compounds and is not expressed in normal cells of adult mammalian tissues, except for undifferentiated and stem-like cells. Here, we show that FACT expression is strongly associated with poorly differentiated aggressive cancers with low overall survival. In addition, FACT was found to be upregulated during in vitro transformation and to be necessary, but not sufficient, for driving transformation. FACT also promoted survival and growth of established tumor cells. Genome-wide mapping of chromatin-bound FACT indicated that FACT’s role in cancer most likely involves selective chromatin remodeling of genes that stimulate proliferation, inhibit cell death and differentiation, and regulate cellular stress responses

Deletion of Asxl1 results in myelodysplasia and severe developmental defects in vivo

Somatic Addition of Sex Combs Like 1 (ASXL1) mutations occur in 10-30% of patients with myeloid malignancies, most commonly in myelodysplastic syndromes (MDSs), and are associated with adverse outcome. Germline ASXL1 mutations occur in patients with Bohring-Opitz syndrome. Here, we show that constitutive loss of Asxl1 results in developmental abnormalities, including anophthalmia, microcephaly, cleft palates, and mandibular malformations. In contrast, hematopoietic-specific deletion of Asxl1 results in progressive, multilineage cytopenias and dysplasia in the context of increased numbers of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells, characteristic features of human MDS. Serial transplantation of Asxl1-null hematopoietic cells results in a lethal myeloid disorder at a shorter latency than primary Asxl1 knockout (KO) mice. Asxl1 deletion reduces hematopoietic stem cell self-renewal, which is restored by concomitant deletion of Tet2, a gene commonly co-mutated with ASXL1 in MDS patients. Moreover, compound Asxl1/Tet2 deletion results in an MDS phenotype with hastened death compared with single-gene KO mice. Asxl1 loss results in a global reduction of H3K27 trimethylation and dysregulated expression of known regulators of hematopoiesis. RNA-Seq/ChIP-Seq analyses of Asxl1 in hematopoietic cells identify a subset of differentially expressed genes as direct targets of Asxl1. These findings underscore the importance of Asxl1 in Polycomb group function, development, and hematopoiesisclos

The application of information technologies for color reproduction and technical system management in printing art production

The article develops the process of modeling color separation in the reproduction of graphic information in printing technology, shows the management of the technical system at each stage. With the use of information technology, this complex and multi-stage technological process of color conversion is carried out automatically, which does not allow showing the clarity of technological operations

Dual Effect of Low-Molecular-Weight Bioregulators of Bacterial Origin in Experimental Model of Asthma

Asthma is one of the most common noncommunicable diseases, affecting over 200 million people. A large number of drugs control asthma attacks, but there is no effective therapy. Identification of reasons for asthma and preventing this disease is a relevant task. The influence of bacterial components is necessary for the normal development of the immune system and the formation of an adequate immune response to antigens. In the absence of microorganisms or their insufficient exposure, the prerequisites are formed for excessive reactivity to harmless antigens. In the present study, we analyzed cellular and humoral factors in a standard mouse model of OVA-induced asthma modified by 5-fold intraperitoneal injection of bacterial cell wall fragments of glucosaminylmuramyl dipeptide (GMDP) 5 μg/animal or 1 μg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) per animal for 5 days before sensitization by ovalbumin (OVA). Preliminary administration of LPS or GMDP to animals significantly reduced goblet cells as well as the number of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage, wherein GMDP corrected neutrophilia to a 2-fold degree, and LPS reduced the severity of eosinophilia by 1.9 times. With OVA administration of GMDP or LPS at the sensitization stage, an increase in the total number of bronchoalveolar lavage cells due to neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes, and eosinophils in relation to the group with asthma without GMDP or LPS was observed. The administration of GMDP or LPS to normal mice without asthma for 5 days had no statistically significant effect on the change in the number and population composition of cells in bronchoalveolar lavage in comparison with the control group receiving PBS. As a result of a study in a mouse model of asthma, a dual effect of LPS and GMDP was established: the introduction of LPS or GMDP before sensitization reduces neutrophilia and eosinophilia, while the introduction of LPS or GMDP together with an allergen significantly increases neutrophilia and eosinophilia. The study of the immunoglobulin status shows that in normal-asthma mice, GMDP and LPS slightly increase IgA in bronchoalveolar lavage; at the same time, in the asthma model, injections of GMDP or LPS before sensitization contribute to a significant decrease in IgA (2.6 times and 2.1 times, respectively) in BALF and IgE (2.2 times and 2.0 times, respectively) in blood serum. In an experimental model of asthma, the effect of GMDP and LPS was multidirectional: when they are repeatedly administered before sensitization, the bacterial components significantly reduce the severity of the allergic process, while in the case of a joint injection with an allergen, they increase the influx of macrophages, lymphocytes, and neutrophils into the lungs, which can aggravate the course of pathological process. Thus, the insufficient effect of antigens of a bacterial nature, in particular, with prolonged use of antibiotics can be compensated for by substances based on low-molecular-weight bioregulators of bacterial origin to establish the missing signals for innate immunity receptors, whose constant activation at a certain level is necessary to maintain homeostasis

Dual Effect of Low-Molecular-Weight Bioregulators of Bacterial Origin in Experimental Model of Asthma

Asthma is one of the most common noncommunicable diseases, affecting over 200 million people. A large number of drugs control asthma attacks, but there is no effective therapy. Identification of reasons for asthma and preventing this disease is a relevant task. The influence of bacterial components is necessary for the normal development of the immune system and the formation of an adequate immune response to antigens. In the absence of microorganisms or their insufficient exposure, the prerequisites are formed for excessive reactivity to harmless antigens. In the present study, we analyzed cellular and humoral factors in a standard mouse model of OVA-induced asthma modified by 5-fold intraperitoneal injection of bacterial cell wall fragments of glucosaminylmuramyl dipeptide (GMDP) 5 μg/animal or 1 μg lipopolysaccharide (LPS) per animal for 5 days before sensitization by ovalbumin (OVA). Preliminary administration of LPS or GMDP to animals significantly reduced goblet cells as well as the number of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage, wherein GMDP corrected neutrophilia to a 2-fold degree, and LPS reduced the severity of eosinophilia by 1.9 times. With OVA administration of GMDP or LPS at the sensitization stage, an increase in the total number of bronchoalveolar lavage cells due to neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes, and eosinophils in relation to the group with asthma without GMDP or LPS was observed. The administration of GMDP or LPS to normal mice without asthma for 5 days had no statistically significant effect on the change in the number and population composition of cells in bronchoalveolar lavage in comparison with the control group receiving PBS. As a result of a study in a mouse model of asthma, a dual effect of LPS and GMDP was established: the introduction of LPS or GMDP before sensitization reduces neutrophilia and eosinophilia, while the introduction of LPS or GMDP together with an allergen significantly increases neutrophilia and eosinophilia. The study of the immunoglobulin status shows that in normal-asthma mice, GMDP and LPS slightly increase IgA in bronchoalveolar lavage; at the same time, in the asthma model, injections of GMDP or LPS before sensitization contribute to a significant decrease in IgA (2.6 times and 2.1 times, respectively) in BALF and IgE (2.2 times and 2.0 times, respectively) in blood serum. In an experimental model of asthma, the effect of GMDP and LPS was multidirectional: when they are repeatedly administered before sensitization, the bacterial components significantly reduce the severity of the allergic process, while in the case of a joint injection with an allergen, they increase the influx of macrophages, lymphocytes, and neutrophils into the lungs, which can aggravate the course of pathological process. Thus, the insufficient effect of antigens of a bacterial nature, in particular, with prolonged use of antibiotics can be compensated for by substances based on low-molecular-weight bioregulators of bacterial origin to establish the missing signals for innate immunity receptors, whose constant activation at a certain level is necessary to maintain homeostasis