Mathematical Simulation of an Autonomous Network of Retail Outlets at a Local Market

The paper is devoted to economic and mathematical simulation of an autonomous network of retail outlets at a local market. The question of simulation of redistribution precesses in the network is discussed. Two interconnected and complemented economic -mathematical models are suggested. These models describe the evolution precesses of the sale conditions in the network. They are constructed on the basis of the price demand and the system state functions. The mathematical models are described by a dynamic system of partial differential equations. The main attention is given to mathematical simulation of the redistribution process of consumer demand through retail outlets in the network under fluctuations of prices. The numerical realization of the models is discussed. Computer simulations show that the proposed models can adequately reflect some real processes of the sales redistribution in the network

On One Problem of Vector Optimization of Pricing in an Autonomous Wholesale Market

The paper is devoted to mathematical simulations of an autonomous network of wholesale at a local market. The question of optimization of prices at outlets is discussed. The model is constructed on the basis of a vector optimization problem. The main properties of the multicriteria problem are studied. The necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence and uniqueness of a solution are formulated. An effective numerical solution algorithm is developed. The results a re illustrated by examples of numerical solutions using real data. Practical applications are presented in the form of specialized algorithms and software

Predicting perceived ethnicity with data on personal names in Russia

This is the final version. Available on open access from Springer via the DOI in this recordData availability statement: The research data supporting this publication and the Python code are openly available from Github at: https://github.com/abessudnov/ruEthnicNamesPublicIn this paper, we develop a machine learning classifier that predicts perceived ethnicity from data on personal names for major ethnic groups populating Russia. We collect data from VK, the largest Russian social media website. Ethnicity was coded from languages spoken by users and their geographical location, with the data manually cleaned by crowd workers. The classifier shows the accuracy of 0.82 for a scheme with 24 ethnic groups and 0.92 for 15 aggregated ethnic groups. It can be used for research on ethnicity and ethnic relations in Russia, with the data sets that have personal names but not ethnicity

Study of Potato Tuber Motion on the Elevator with a Separation Intensifier

Introduction. When harvesting potatoes from the waterlogged soils, the gaps between the elevator bars become clogged, the soil separation efficiency decreases while damage to potato tubers and yield loss increases. In this study, the authors propose a potato harvester intensifier in the paddle conveyor form to improve the separation quality for specific conditions. It is located under the carrying run of the main elevator apron. Aim of the Study. The aim of the study is theoretical justification of the potato harvester paddle intensifier for separating potato tubers from waterlogged soils in order to reduce damage to potatoes during harvesting. Materials and Methods. There was analyzed the work of the separation intensifier with a paddle conveyor located under the carrying side of the potato harvester main elevator with flexible flat blades moving towards the main elevator apron. The intensifier paddle, installed under the elevator carrying side, must act as a pusher when potato tubers stick and fall into the gap between the elevator bars in harvesting potatoes from waterlogged soils. Results. The analysis of potato tuber motion relative to the bar has showed that under the specified parameters and conditions the pitch of blades equal to 210 mm provides the falling of the ball clod from the bar and blade on the conveyor belt without impact. In order to avoid the friction of potato tubers and impurities with bars, the distance between the intensifier conveyor belt and bars must exceed the gap between bars. When the distance between the conveyor belt and bar is equal to 30 mm, the blade pitch is determined to within 1 per cent by the speed of a blade moving relative to the bar. Discussion and Conclusion. The conducted theoretical studies of the blade intensifier of potato harvester separation on overwatered soils revealed its high efficiency, which is confirmed by the results of field experiments

КООРДИНАЦИЯ НАУЧНО-ТЕХНИЧЕСКИХ ПРОГРАММ В ВЕТЕРИНАРНОЙ ПАРАЗИТОЛОГИИ (КООРДИНАЦИОННЫЙ СОВЕТ ВСЕРОССИЙСКОГО НАУЧНО-ИССЛЕДОВАТЕЛЬСКОГО ИНСТИТУТ ФУНДАМЕНТАЛЬНОЙ И ПРИКЛАДНОЙ ПАРАЗИТОЛОГИИ ЖИВОТНЫХ И РАСТЕНИЙ ИМ. К. И. СКРЯБИНА, РОССИЯ, МОСКВА)

The epizootological pattern for intensive technologies of livestock management and natural ecosystems were determined. The epizootic situation on parasitic zoonoses in Russia, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Tadzhikistan, and Kyrgyzstan was studied. The technology of veterinary and sanitary expertise of meat products of animals’ slaughtering was improved. The antiparasitic drugs discovery was conducted; their efficacy against ecto and endoparasites evaluated, a pharmacological and toxicological assessment submitted, a drug administration schedule developed. The influence of infections and preventive measures on the host immune response has been determined, and the drugs having immunocorrection properties are proposed. 41 scientific institutions were involved in the implementation of Interdepartmental and Interstate Science programs. 294 research associates were participants in these programs.Выявлены закономерности эпизоотического процесса при интенсивных технологиях ведения животноводства и в природных экосистемах. Изучена эпизоотическая ситуация по паразитарным зоонозам в России, Казахстане, Белоруссии, Таджикистане и Кыргыстане. Усовершенствована технология ветеринарно-санитарной оценки продуктов убоя животных. Проведен поиск антипаразитарных препаратов и определена их эффективность при экто- и эндопаразитозах, дана фармакотоксикологическая оценка и разработаны схемы применения. Выяснено влияние инвазий и средств защиты животных на иммунный ответ организма и предложены препараты с иммунокоррегирующими свойствами.  В выполнении Межведомственной и Межгосударственной тематик научно-технических программ было задействовано 41 научное учреждение. Исполнителями являлись 294 научных сотрудника

Особенности ограничительных мер при трихинеллезе

The purpose of the research is to structure the major veterinary and sanitary practices at the time of application of restrictive measures in the case of trichinellosis and under conditions of quarantine removal.Materials and methods. To improve trichinellosis focus complex of immunological and diagnostic studies of pigs is used, trichinelloscopic control is carried out in focus of all carcasses of susceptible animals including pigs, carnivores and rodents. Pigs displacement both on the territory of focus and beyond is forbidden. Human immunoassays, definition of source and scoping of infection distribution are carried out within the context of general restrictive measures by Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing.Results and discussion. Establishment of quarantine in trichinellosis focus is carried out upon a decision of the head of the supreme government organ of territorial entity of the Russian Federation against presentation of chief executive officer of an executive agency territorial entity of the Russian Federation, which exercises authority in the field of veterinary medicine. A plan of anti-trichinellosis activities is being developed taking into account the structure of livestock animals, livestock facilities and settlements. Special attention is given to the population information about application of restrictive measures in the case of trichinellosis. High-quality performance of complex of measures and periodical inspection of their implementation allow improving adverse item and withdrawing restrictive measures during the year. Цель исследований: cистематизировать основные ветеринарно-санитарные мероприятия при наложении ограничительных мероприятий при трихинеллезе и условия снятия карантина.Материалы и методы. Для оздоровления очага трихинеллеза используют комплекс иммунодиагностических исследований свиней, осуществляют трихинеллоскопический контроль в очаге всех туш восприимчивых животных, включая свиней, плотоядных животных и грызунов. Запрещается перемещение свиней как на территории очага, так и за его пределы. В рамках общих ограничительных мероприятий органами Роспотребнадзора проводятся иммунологические обследования населения, выявление источника и определение масштабов распространения инвазии.Результаты и обсуждение. Установление карантина в очаге трихинеллеза осуществляется на основании решения руководителя высшего исполнительного органа государственной власти субъекта РФ на основании представления руководителя органа исполнительной власти субъекта РФ, осуществляющего полномочия в области ветеринарии. Разрабатывается план противотрихинеллезных мероприятий с учетом структуры сельскохозяйственных животных, животноводческих объектов и населенных пунктов. Особое внимание уделяется информации населения о введении ограничительных мероприятий при трихинеллезе. Качественное выполнение комплекса мероприятий и периодический контроль за их реализацией позволяют в течение года оздоровить неблагополучный пункт и снять ограничительные мероприятия.

COVID-19 Pandemic and IBS. Results of the All-Russian Observational Non-interventional Program to Study the Effectiveness of the Drug Kolofort® in Real Clinical Practice in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome After a New Coronavirus Infection (VESNA)

Aim: to study the effectiveness and safety of using the drug Kolofort® in outpatients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) after a new coronavirus infection.Materials and methods. An observational non-interventional program was conducted in patients with exacerbation of IBS symptoms after a new coronavirus infection. One hundred forty-one patients took part in the study. The final efficacy analysis included data from 127 study participants. All patients complained of increased/appearing gastrointestinal symptoms that appeared within 1–6 months after the infection (all patients had a history of COVID-19 infection). To assess the presence and severity of symptoms of the disease, the “7 × 7” questionnaire was used before the start of treatment and three months after the start of treatment.Results. At the stage of inclusion in the program, the average total score on the “7 × 7” questionnaire was 17.36, which corresponded to a moderately severe disorder. During the treatment period, the average total score decreased to 6.14, which corresponded to borderline disorder. In addition, significant improvement was observed for each symptom separately. After three months of therapy, doctors rated the overall impression of the treatment on a 5-point Likert scale from “very effective” to “ineffective”. The average score was 4.24. In addition, no serious adverse events were identified while taking the drug.Conclusion. In real clinical practice, the drug Kolofort® demonstrated high clinical efficacy in the treatment of patients with IBS after COVID-19 infection

Structural transformations in Sc/Si multilayers irradiated by EUVlasers

Multilayer mirrors for the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) are keyelements for numerous applications of coherent EUV sources such as newtabletop lasers and free-electron lasers. However the field ofapplications is limited by the radiation and thermal stability of themultilayers. Taking into account the growing power of EUV sources thestability of the optics becomes crucial. To overcome this problem it isnecessary to study the degradation of multilayers and try to increasetheir temporal and thermal stability. In this paper we report the resultsof detailed study of structural changes in Sc/Simultilayers when exposedto intense EUV laser pulses. Various types of surface damage such asmelting, boiling, shockwave creation and ablation were observed asirradiation fluencies increase. Cross-sectional TEM study revealed thatthe layer structure was completely destroyed in the upper part ofmultilayer, but still survived below. The layers adjacent tothe substrateremained intact even through the multilayer surface melted down, thoughthe structure of the layers beneath the molten zone was noticeablychanged. The layer structure in this thermally affected zone is similarto that of isothermally annealed samples. All stages of scandium silicideformation such as interdiffusion, solid-state amorphization, silicidecrystallization, etc., are present in the thermally affected zone. Itindicates a thermal nature of the damage mechanism. The tungstendiffusion barriers were applied to the scandium/silicon interfaces. Itwas shown that the barriers inhibited interdiffusion and increased thethermal stability of Sc/Si mirrors

Bezlotoxumab for Prevention of Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection

BACKGROUND Clostridium difficile is the most common cause of infectious diarrhea in hospitalized patients. Recurrences are common after antibiotic therapy. Actoxumab and bezlotoxumab are human monoclonal antibodies against C. difficile toxins A and B, respectively. METHODS We conducted two double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trials, MODIFY I and MODIFY II, involving 2655 adults receiving oral standard-of-care antibiotics for primary or recurrent C. difficile infection. Participants received an infusion of bezlotoxumab (10 mg per kilogram of body weight), actoxumab plus bezlotoxumab (10 mg per kilogram each), or placebo; actoxumab alone (10 mg per kilogram) was given in MODIFY I but discontinued after a planned interim analysis. The primary end point was recurrent infection (new episode after initial clinical cure) within 12 weeks after infusion in the modified intention-to-treat population. RESULTS In both trials, the rate of recurrent C. difficile infection was significantly lower with bezlotoxumab alone than with placebo (MODIFY I: 17% [67 of 386] vs. 28% [109 of 395]; adjusted difference, −10.1 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], −15.9 to −4.3; P<0.001; MODIFY II: 16% [62 of 395] vs. 26% [97 of 378]; adjusted difference, −9.9 percentage points; 95% CI, −15.5 to −4.3; P<0.001) and was significantly lower with actoxumab plus bezlotoxumab than with placebo (MODIFY I: 16% [61 of 383] vs. 28% [109 of 395]; adjusted difference, −11.6 percentage points; 95% CI, −17.4 to −5.9; P<0.001; MODIFY II: 15% [58 of 390] vs. 26% [97 of 378]; adjusted difference, −10.7 percentage points; 95% CI, −16.4 to −5.1; P<0.001). In prespecified subgroup analyses (combined data set), rates of recurrent infection were lower in both groups that received bezlotoxumab than in the placebo group in subpopulations at high risk for recurrent infection or for an adverse outcome. The rates of initial clinical cure were 80% with bezlotoxumab alone, 73% with actoxumab plus bezlotoxumab, and 80% with placebo; the rates of sustained cure (initial clinical cure without recurrent infection in 12 weeks) were 64%, 58%, and 54%, respectively. The rates of adverse events were similar among these groups; the most common events were diarrhea and nausea. CONCLUSIONS Among participants receiving antibiotic treatment for primary or recurrent C. difficile infection, bezlotoxumab was associated with a substantially lower rate of recurrent infection than placebo and had a safety profile similar to that of placebo. The addition of actoxumab did not improve efficacy. (Funded by Merck; MODIFY I and MODIFY II ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT01241552 and NCT01513239.

Why treat non-alcoholic fatty liver disease?

The article considers the problem of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, analyzes the main etiopathogenic aspects and risk factors such as obesity, insulin resistance and other. The treatment regimen with pathogenically relevant drugs, including the new generation hepatorpotectors, is discussed