Periodization of Development of Ethnic Relations of Western Ukraine and Poland (1918–1939)

The article makes an attempt to investigate the peculiarities and determine the regularities of cooperation between the Ukrainian and Polish states during the time of the Second Rzeczpospolita, to recreate the overall picture of events and their subsequent influence on the relations between the two countries. Analysis of the concepts of activities of various representatives of the Polish government is presented, which helps to prove that Poland's constant struggle for spheres of influence in the International arena led to unpleasant consequences that claimed the lives of the representatives of many nations, including Ukrainians and Poles. At the same time, the struggle of the Polish national chauvinists and the Ukrainian patriotic forces did not allow Ukrainians to defend the sovereignty of its state, since the military-political situation in the region, the position of the Entente countries, as well as the ethnic relations of the region did not contribute to this. The attempt to normalize the Ukrainian-Polish relations in the Second Commonwealth did not bring the expected results because it was not seen by the government as a positive solution to the problem. Having negatively impacted the life of Ukrainians, these actions were remembered as the last wasted attempt to improve the situation on the eve of the Second World War. Ukrainians in such a difficult situation were forced to adjust to the requirements of time, and therefore quite often changed the vector of activity toward the cultural and social direction. The intellectuals were fighting for the right to teach in Ukrainian in schools, preserving traditions and gaining minor rights and privileges. The positions of the Polish government, in this case, remained unchanged, with the exception of the insignificant tolerant statements of its individual representatives. Consequently, Polish politics did not achieve the desired results

Theoretical study of the charge transport through C60-based single-molecule junctions

We present a theoretical study of the conductance and thermopower of single-molecule junctions based on C60 and C60-terminated molecules. We first analyze the transport properties of gold-C60-gold junctions and show that these junctions can be highly conductive (with conductances above 0.1G0, where G0 is the quantum of conductance). Moreover, we find that the thermopower in these junctions is negative due to the fact that the LUMO dominates the charge transport, and its magnitude can reach several tens of micro-V/K, depending on the contact geometry. On the other hand, we study the suitability of C60 as an anchoring group in single-molecule junctions. For this purpose, we analyze the transport through several dumbbell derivatives using C60 as anchors, and we compare the results with those obtained with thiol and amine groups. Our results show that the conductance of C60-terminated molecules is rather sensitive to the binding geometry. Moreover, the conductance of the molecules is typically reduced by the presence of the C60 anchors, which in turn makes the junctions more sensitive to the functionalization of the molecular core with appropriate side groups.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure

ІННОВАЦІЇ В НАНОМЕДИЦИНІ ТА НАНОФАРМАЦІЇ

The review examines current trends in the development of biomedical nanotechnology, its application in various fields of medicine and prospects for further development. Among the main directions — monitoring and control of delivery, distribution and use of drugs; nanobiosensors; diagnostics of pathological states; theranostics; use of nanostructured materials in regenerative medicine; nanotoxicology; nanophytopharmacy; green synthesis; development of new nanobiotech devices and nanorobototics.The review examines current trends in the development of biomedical nanotechnology, its application in various fields of medicine and prospects for further development. Among the main directions — monitoring and control of delivery, distribution and use of drugs; nanobiosensors; diagnostics of pathological states; theranostics; use of nanostructured materials in regenerative medicine; nanotoxicology; nanophytopharmacy; green synthesis; development of new nanobiotech devices and nanorobototics

СОЦІАЛЬНІ ВИДАТКИ В УКРАЇНІ: СТРУКТУРНО-ДИНАМІЧНІ ОСОБЛИВОСТІ ФІНАНСУВАННЯ ТА ВПЛИВ НА СОЦІАЛЬНУ БЕЗПЕКУ

The purpose of this article is to study the structural and dynamic features of public funding of social expenditures in Ukraine in the context of their impact on social security. During 2014–2020, the amount of budget funding for the social sphere in all its components (education, health care, spiritual and physical development, social protection and security) has been constantly growing. Despite the steady growth of budget funding for social expenditures, their rates did not correspond to inflation, which  indicates a decrease in funding for the social sphere in real terms. Local budgets in Ukraine are most important for financing education, as well as spiritual and physical development, the state budget is for financing social protection and security programs, while almost the same importance of different levels of the budget system in Ukraine is for financing health care. Taking into account expenditures from social insurance funds somewhat changes the structural features of financing social expenditures in Ukraine: the largest share in total expenditures falls on local budgets (about 40% in 2019), while the state budget and social insurance funds in 2019, accounted for 32% and 28% of total expenditures, respectively. That is, almost a third of all social expenditures in Ukraine are financed by insurance funds. Based on a comparison of the total amount of public funding for social expenditures in Ukraine and the EU in relation to GDP, it can be stated that the EU publicpolicy has a higher level of social orientation. The level of social security in Ukraine, according to the Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Agriculture, is quite low (during 2010–2019 it varied from 56 to 64%). At the same time, there is a direct link between the amount of funding for the social sphere and the integrated index of social security. That is, the financing of social expenditures is a factor in the growth of social security. It is noteworthy that with the vast majority of indicators that are components of indicators of social security in accordance with national methods, the amount of funding for social expenditures does not show the connection or it contradicts the logic. This indicates that the financing of the social sphere has a complex impact on all components of social security, which issometimes manifested through a certain time lag. Исследованы структурно-динамические особенности государственного финансирования расходов социального назначения в Украине. Выявлена значимость различных уровней бюджетной системы и отдельных источников в финансировании социальной сферы. Обосновано влияние расходов социального назначения на уровень социальной безопасности и его основные составляющие в Украине.Досліджено структурно-динамічні особливості державного фінансування видатків соціального призначення в Україні. Виявлено значимість різних рівнів бюджетної системи та окремих джерел у фінансуванні соціальної сфери. Обґрунтовано вплив видатків соціального призначення на рівень соціальної безпеки та його основні складові в Україні

Institutional development gap in the social sector: Cross-country analysis

An institutional quality convergence is always a relevant subject matter since institutional quality is considered to be a vital factor for economic development. The question regarding the convergence of social parameters into development is especially acute when choosing a social policy direction and the related instruments. This paper proposes a methodology to calculate the institutional development gap of social sector (IDGSS) in its three measures: social capital development, social infrastructure development, social security system development. IDGSS is calculated here for 20 countries. The estimation demonstrates how social development parameters (social capital, social infrastructure and social security) depends on a country’s economic development level. Besides, we show how IDGSS depends on noneconomic factors, including the level of basic institutions’ development, the degree of inequality in the distribution of income and poverty

Geochronology of granites of the western Korosten AMCG complex (Ukrainian Shield): implications for the emplacement history and origin of miarolitic pegmatites

The origin of large miarolitic (also known as “chamber”) pegmatites is not fully understood although they may have great economic value. The formation of cavities in magmatic bodies is related to melt degassing and gas or fluid flow through partially solidified magma. In this paper, the origin of the Volyn pegmatite field, located in the Palaeoproterozoic Korosten anorthosite–mangerite–charnockite–granite (AMCG) complex, North-Western region of the Ukrainian Shield, is discussed. Pegmatites of the field host deposits of piezoelectric quartz that is accompanied by gem-quality beryl and topaz. The Volyn pegmatite field is confined to granites located in the south-western part of the Korosten complex and extends for 22 km along the contact with the anorthosite massif within the Korosten plutonic complex. Geological data indicate hybridization of basic melts and partly crystallized granites, as well as direct impact of fluids derived from basic melts on the chamber pegmatites. The new U–Pb zircon ages obtained for granites and pegmatites of the Korosten complex confirm that the rock assemblage in the northern part of the complex crystallized between 1800 and 1780 Ma, whereas rocks in the southern part intruded mainly between 1768 and 1755 Ma. U–Pb zircon ages for granites from the south-western part of the Korosten complex indicate that granites were emplaced at 1770–1765 Ma, a few million years prior to the intrusion of the gabbro–anorthosite massif (1762–1758 Ma), while chamber pegmatites in these granites crystallized at 1760 ± 3 Ma, coevally with the basic rocks. Ultimately, the formation of the chamber pegmatites was related to the reheating of the semi-crystallized granitic intrusion and to fluids migrating from the underlying gabbro–anorthosite massif.DFG, 414044773, Open Access Publizieren 2021 - 2022 / Technische Universität Berli

Important Determinants for Fucoidan Bioactivity: A Critical Review of Structure-Function Relations and Extraction Methods for Fucose-Containing Sulfated Polysaccharides from Brown Seaweeds

Seaweeds—or marine macroalgae—notably brown seaweeds in the class Phaeophyceae, contain fucoidan. Fucoidan designates a group of certain fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharides (FCSPs) that have a backbone built of (1→3)-linked α-l-fucopyranosyl or of alternating (1→3)- and (1→4)-linked α-l-fucopyranosyl residues, but also include sulfated galactofucans with backbones built of (1→6)-β-d-galacto- and/or (1→2)-β-d-mannopyranosyl units with fucose or fuco-oligosaccharide branching, and/or glucuronic acid, xylose or glucose substitutions. These FCSPs offer several potentially beneficial bioactive functions for humans. The bioactive properties may vary depending on the source of seaweed, the compositional and structural traits, the content (charge density), distribution, and bonding of the sulfate substitutions, and the purity of the FCSP product. The preservation of the structural integrity of the FCSP molecules essentially depends on the extraction methodology which has a crucial, but partly overlooked, significance for obtaining the relevant structural features required for specific biological activities and for elucidating structure-function relations. The aim of this review is to provide information on the most recent developments in the chemistry of fucoidan/FCSPs emphasizing the significance of different extraction techniques for the structural composition and biological activity with particular focus on sulfate groups

Outline of the history of the Dnieper railroad (1920 - 1940 years)

У статті підкреслено значення залізничного транспорту для економічного, соціального та культурного розвитку регіону. Вивчено головні проблеми розбудови Придніпровської залізниці у міжвоєнний період. До таких слід віднести неспроможність повною мірою забезпечити перевезення усіх промислових вантажів і велику аварійність через поганий стан колійного господарства, застарілість і несправність паровозів і вагонів, слабкість матеріально­технічної бази та нестачу кваліфікованих кадрів.Розглянуто заходи радянської влади спрямовані на оптимізацію роботи залізниці. Від 1935 року активізувався процес її реконструювання, було частково оновлено паровозний і вагонний парки, механізовано ряд вантажно­розвантажувальних робіт, розширено залізничні вузли, збудовано нові мости, сортувальні станції, паровозні депо і вагоноремонтні пункти, прокладено кілометри колій. Вдалося покращити основні показники роботи залізниці.В статті виокремлено методи, які застосовувалися комуністичною партією і урядом задля пришвидшення і підвищення якості роботи залізничників: моральне стимулювання, розгортання соціалістичного змагання передовиків і новаторів, схвалення стахановсько­кривоносівського руху, а також матеріальне заохочення працівників, підвищення заробітної плати, преміювання кращих трудових колективів. За матеріалами газети «Стальная магістраль» авторами статті зафіксовано наявність таких недоліків у роботі залізниці, як порушення графіка руху потягів, невиконання плану вантажних робіт, несправність вагонів, низька якість ремонтних робіт, чисельність аварій тощо. Також на підставі газетних публікацій зроблено висновок про незадовільне соціально­побутове становище працівників залізниці, погані умови життя, недостатність і поганий санітарний стан гуртожитків і їдалень.У статті підкреслено значення залізничного транспорту для економічного, соціального та культурного розвитку регіону. Вивчено головні проблеми розбудови Придніпровської залізниці у міжвоєнний період. До таких слід віднести неспроможність повною мірою забезпечити перевезення усіх промислових вантажів і велику аварійність через поганий стан колійного господарства, застарілість і несправність паровозів і вагонів, слабкість матеріально­технічної бази та нестачу кваліфікованих кадрів.Розглянуто заходи радянської влади спрямовані на оптимізацію роботи залізниці. Від 1935 року активізувався процес її реконструювання, було частково оновлено паровозний і вагонний парки, механізовано ряд вантажно­розвантажувальних робіт, розширено залізничні вузли, збудовано нові мости, сортувальні станції, паровозні депо і вагоноремонтні пункти, прокладено кілометри колій. Вдалося покращити основні показники роботи залізниці.В статті виокремлено методи, які застосовувалися комуністичною партією і урядом задля пришвидшення і підвищення якості роботи залізничників: моральне стимулювання, розгортання соціалістичного змагання передовиків і новаторів, схвалення стахановсько­кривоносівського руху, а також матеріальне заохочення працівників, підвищення заробітної плати, преміювання кращих трудових колективів. За матеріалами газети «Стальная магістраль» авторами статті зафіксовано наявність таких недоліків у роботі залізниці, як порушення графіка руху потягів, невиконання плану вантажних робіт, несправність вагонів, низька якість ремонтних робіт, чисельність аварій тощо. Також на підставі газетних публікацій зроблено висновок про незадовільне соціально­побутове становище працівників залізниці, погані умови життя, недостатність і поганий санітарний стан гуртожитків і їдалень.In article the meaning of railway transport for economic, social and cultural development of the region has been emphasized. There have been studied the main problems of building of Prydniprovsk railway during the inter­war period, among them are impossibility to procure transportation of all industrial cargos to the full extent and high damage rate caused by bad condition of rail unit, old age and failure of steam trains and carriages, weakness of material and technical resources and insufficiency of qualified staff.Core measures of soviet government directed to optimization of railway operation have been examined. Since 1935 process of its reconstruction has been activated, steam and carriage stocks have been renewed partially, range of loading­unloading operations has been mechanized, railway junctions have been extended, new bridges, terminal stations, locomotive depots and car­repair yards have been built, numerous kilometers have been railed. All aforementioned helped to improve key performance indicators of the railway.In article methods to have been used by communist party and government in order to force and increase quality of railway employees’ work have been shown, namely moral incentives, socialist competitions of best employees and innovators, encourage of the Stakhanov and Krivonos movement and also material incentives of employees, raise in wages, bonus awards for the best labor collectives.Based on materials of «Steel Trunk» newspaper authors of the article have revealed the following nonconformance in railway operation: breach of train schedule, non­fulfillment of loading plan, carriage failure, low quality of repair operations, numerous accidents etc.In addition the conclusion of unsatisfactory social conditions of railway employees, their bad living conditions, insufficiency and bad sanitary condition of dormitories and canteens has been made based on newspaper publication

De Novo Missense Variants in SLC32A1 Cause a Developmental and Epileptic Encephalopathy Due to Impaired GABAergic Neurotransmission

Objective:Rare inherited missense variants inSLC32A1, the gene that encodes the vesicular gamma-aminobutyric acid(GABA) transporter, have recently been shown to cause genetic epilepsy with febrile seizures plus. We aimed to clarifyif de novo missense variants inSLC32A1can also cause epilepsy with impaired neurodevelopment.Methods:Using exome sequencing, we identified four individuals with a developmental and epileptic encephalopathyand de novo missense variants inSLC32A1. To assess causality, we performed functional evaluation of the identifiedvariants in a murine neuronal cell culture model.Results:The main phenotype comprises moderate-to-severe intellectual disability, infantile-onset epilepsy within thefirst 18 months of life, and a choreiform, dystonic, or dyskinetic movement disorder. In silico modeling and functionalanalyses reveal that three of these variants, which are located in helices that line the putative GABA transport pathway,result in reduced quantal size, consistent with impairedfilling of synaptic vesicles with GABA. The fourth variant,located in the vesicular gamma-aminobutyric acid N-terminus, does not affect quantal size, but increases presynapticrelease probability, leading to more severe synaptic depression during high-frequency stimulation. Thus, variants invesicular gamma-aminobutyric acid can impair GABAergic neurotransmission through at least two mechanisms, byaffecting synaptic vesiclefilling and by altering synaptic short-term plasticity.Interpretation:This work establishes de novo missense variants inSLC32A1as a novel cause of a developmental andepileptic encephalopathy

Fucose-Containing Sulfated Polysaccharides from Brown Seaweeds Inhibit Proliferation of Melanoma Cells and Induce Apoptosis by Activation of Caspase-3 in Vitro

Fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharides (FCSPs) extracted from seaweeds, especially brown macro-algae, are known to possess essential bioactive properties, notably growth inhibitory effects on tumor cells. In this work, we conducted a series of in vitro studies to examine the influence of FCSPs products from Sargassum henslowianum C. Agardh (FSAR) and Fucus vesiculosus (FVES), respectively, on proliferation of melanoma B16 cells and to investigate the underlying apoptosis promoting mechanisms. Cell viability analysis showed that both FCSPs products, i.e., FSAR and FVES, decreased the proliferation of the melanoma cells in a dose-response fashion, with FSAR being more potent at lower dosages, and FVES being relatively more anti-proliferative than FSAR at higher dosages. Flow cytometric analysis by Annexin V staining of the melanoma cells exposed to the FCSPs products confirmed that both FSAR and FVES induced apoptosis. The FCSPs-induced apoptosis was evidenced by loss of plasma membrane asymmetry and translocation of the cell membrane phospholipids and was accompanied by the activation of caspase-3. The FCSPs bioactivity is proposed to be attributable to distinct structural features of the FCSPs, particularly the presence of sulfated galactofucans (notably in S. henslowianum) and sulfated fucans (notably in F. vesiculosus). This study thus indicates that unfractionated FCSPs may exert bioactive effects on skin cancer cells via induction of apoptosis through cascades of reactions that involve activation of caspase-3