Chernihiv Polytechnic National University

Electric energy consumption is increasing much faster than the predicted growth in energy generation. Although the installed capacity of renewable energy sources is also expanding, grid congestion remains unavoidable without adopting smart energy management systems (EMS) and flexible power electronics structures. Given the significant installed capacity of photovoltaic (PV) systems in the residential sector, moving towards zero-emission buildings (ZEBs) through the use of storage systems and smart power electronics is essential. This article provides a detailed review of power electronics solutions for ZEBs and offers strategies to address related challenges. By exploring the promising future of the low-voltage dc (LVDC) industry in ZEBs, it presents and compares grid connection scenarios and evaluates their overall efficiencies across hybrid, dc, and ac technologies. Furthermore, it addresses the integration of dc and ac systems in energy resources (ER), proposing solutions for challenges related to protection, grounding, and leakage currents. Finally, it examines the latest EMS solutions, emphasizing the shift to full digitalization through a combination of cloud-based and edge-computing platforms.

Diversity management encompasses dimensions such as gender and sexual orientation, age, disabilities, nationality, ethnicity, religion, and socio-economic status (SES) and is fundamental to sustainable development, enabling higher education institutions (HEIs) to foster inclusive, equitable, and resilient academic environments. This study examines diversity management practices in seven Czech and five Ukrainian HEIs recognized as leaders in the Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Rankings. Data were obtained from university websites, SDG reports, or annual reports focusing on SDG 1, SDG 2, SDG 4, SDG 5, SDG 8, SDG 10, and SDG 16. The analysis shows that Czech universities demonstrate structured policies and stable resources, enabling them to offer comprehensive support for professional growth, gender equality, and inclusivity. Examples include sabbatical opportunities, gender-balanced organizational policies, and adaptive measures for individuals with disabilities. Conversely, Ukrainian universities exhibit remarkable resilience and adaptability, addressing challenges posed by the ongoing war. Key initiatives include supporting displaced students and veterans, restoring damaged infrastructure, and integrating inclusive education practices under wartime constraints. Despite differing contexts, both countries emphasize financial aid and scholarships as critical tools for ensuring equitable access to education. The findings underscore the importance of leveraging diversity dimensions to develop effective strategies for achieving SDGs while adapting to regional and institutional specificities. AcknowledgmentThis publication is based upon work from 24-PKVV-UM-002, ‘Strengthening the Resilience of Universities: Czech-Ukrainian Partnership for Digital Education, Research Cooperation, and Diversity Management,’ supported by the Czech Development Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the initiative ‘Capacity Building of Public Universities in Ukraine 2024’.

The privacy and anonymity of transactions are considered some of the biggest challenges when designing Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDC). While many surveys show that people strongly prefer privacy in their transactions, behavioral theories suggest that human behaviour in digital spaces is more complex, a phenomenon known as the privacy paradox. The research aims to measure privacy preferences in specific situations and examine how these preferences influence choices between anonymous transactions versus the design of CBDC functionality. The study used the ANOVA method to determine if there were significant differences between groups based on privacy preferences. Survey data from respondents in emerging markets showed a mild form of the privacy paradox. The research measured privacy tendencies in three areas: general, digital, and financial environments, and found a statistically significant correlation between these measures. However, the respondents' privacy preferences did not consistently align with their choices between transaction anonymity and CBDC functionality, nor did they consistently relate to trust in central banks as privacy guarantors or the importance of central bank independence for ensuring privacy. The ANOVA test found no significant differences in privacy preferences between respondents who prioritized anonymity or functionality, or between those who trusted or did not trust central banks to guarantee privacy and their independence in doing so. This suggests that when faced with complex decisions, people may exhibit intricate patterns of preference, which is crucial for optimizing CBDC design.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental effect on the global economy, including the insurance industry. It has forced financial markets to confront a new risk directly related to the virus's rapid spread. Therefore, the paper aims to determine possible risks or opportunities that insurance companies may encounter, considering both pre-and post-pandemic phases. For this purpose, financial data of 110 Romanian insurance companies for 2016-2022 were analyzed. The topfirme platform was used in the data collection process. Subsequently, based on statistical analysis methods, an econometric model was developed to evaluate the turnover for insurance companies in Romania. When developing the model equation, establishing dependent and independent variables based on the Altman model or the Z-model of bankruptcy prediction was considered. Thus, the findings indicate that employees are the primary factor in these businesses' proper operation and increased profitability. It is emphasized that turnover directly depends on these variables since the number of employees is a variable around which incomes and expenses fluctuate. Turnover is affected positively or negatively depending on employee productivity and workload, which can lead to increased revenues and decreased costs, or vice versa. Accordingly, an insurance company's HR department should resolve issues that crop up during the shift to tele-medicine, enhance workers' digital skills, provide them with moral and psychological support, and foster stable working relationships. It should also implement strategies to sustain and raise employee engagement levels, fortify control measures, and alter internal communications.

According to the World Health Organization, 70% of the population reports experiencing traumatic incidents. Psychological flexibility, which consists of acceptance, cognitive defusing, mindfulness, value orientation, and behavioral flexibility, is important for adaptation after traumatic situations. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to determine the role of psychological flexibility in the process of recovery from traumatic events. This paper uses the methods of literature analysis and observation. In particular, the PRISMA approach was used to collect relevant scientific materials. To include the literature, 5 criteria were developed that related to the content, methodology, and time of writing (from 2014–2024). A total of 40 items were included. The results showed that psychological flexibility is characterized by such factors as perception, cognitive defusing, mindfulness, value orientation, and behavioral flexibility. The study found that individuals with a high level of psychological flexibility cope better with traumatic events, have fewer PTSD symptoms, and recover faster. The conclusions note that well-developed psychological flexibility contributes to effective emotional management, adaptation to change, and finding constructive solutions in stressful situations. Thus, it is proved that developed psychological flexibility promotes recovery from trauma and reduces the negative impact of stress on health.

Introduction. Giant Miscanthus (Miscanthus giganteus J.M. Greef & Deuter ex Hodkinson and Renvoize) is widely used in many countries as an important bioenergy crop for producing various types of solid biofuels. Miscanthus plantations, which can yield significant amounts of phytomass, can also serve as a source of other environmental services, such as sequestering carbon dioxide, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation, and producing certain volumes of oxygen necessary for the survival of other living organisms. Objective. The aim of the study is to determine the carbon sequestration volumes and oxygen production on Miscanthus plantations, as well as to develop models of their age-related dynamics. Method. Carbon Stock was assessed using the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) methodology, which involves multiplying the value of absolutely dry biomass by the carbon concentration (CF), accepted as 0.50. To determine the oxygen productivity of Miscanthus, methodological approaches based on determining two indicators were used: the absolutely dry state of phytomass and the mass of oxygen produced during photosynthesis in the formation of absolutely dry organic matter. Results. Using data on the solid biofuel output depending on the yield of giant Miscanthus stems and the percentage of dry matter in the harvested biomass, and converting it into phytomass stock, we determined the carbon sequestration capacity of the aboveground phytomass of giant Miscanthus and its oxygen productivity, presented in nomogram format. Depending on the yield of green Miscanthus stems (with 50% moisture content), the carbon sequestration volumes per hectare of plantation may vary from 1.25 to 12.5 t/ha, and the oxygen production volumes from 3.0 to 30.0 t/ha. The dynamic model of Miscanthus' carbon sequestration capacity shows that annual carbon sequestration volumes increase at a decreasing rate from a one-year plantation (approximately 2 t/ha) to 8-10 years (about 9 t/ha), then decline over the next five years to 7 t/ha. Carbon dioxide sequestration in the aboveground phytomass of Miscanthus is short-term; thus, the carbon balance in the atmosphere can be more significantly influenced by carbon sequestration in the underground phytomass of Miscanthus as well as in soil organic matter.

This study proposes an example of a wireless charging station design for a small-scale vehicle available on the market. The article analyzes basic transmitter inverter topologies and their compensation methods in terms of flexibility of control, tolerance to uncertainty in positioning, and the possibility of decreasing the integration price. Our comprehensive analysis focuses on the battery voltage range, energy capacity, cost, and travel distance. We evaluate the constraints of efficiency, transmitted power, amount of used material, and size of the energy delivery system based on our design example. The aim is to increase the penetration of wireless technology in terms of convenience and integration capabilities.

A novel educational platform called the Shared Modeling and Simulation Environment (SMSE) was initiated in the ERASMUS+ “CybPhys” project. It integrates the Jupyter platform, including Jupyter Notebooks, with the Moodle Learning Management System for e-learning in the STEM field. This novel platform enhances e-learning by combining the content of training courses in Moodle with practical programming provided Jupyter’s capabilities to create virtual labs. A survey was conducted in the spring of 2023 among bachelor’s and master’s students at Chernihiv Polytechnic National University, which aimed at gathering feedback from students using SMSE in their e-learning process. Two student groups were involved: one of them consisted of students using SMSE in both the autumn and spring semesters and another represented the students starting with SMSE in the spring semester. The survey, based on the adjusted Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), was conducted to understand the acceptance of this e-learning approach. A comprehensive analysis of students’ answers based on the TAM approach revealed the inner process of the transformation of students’ perceptions during the acquisition of the SMSE platform. Our research demonstrates that SMSE effectively merges Moodle’s online learning capabilities with Jupyter Notebooks, providing a flexible and interactive learning experience for both in-class and remote students. It provides a web-based, multifunctional e-learning environment that combines a variety of tools and technologies, giving students the possibility to be involved in all sorts of teaching activities related to STEM education, such as theoretical knowledge, exercises, simulations and calculations, through the use of one single online environment.

This article explores the operational management of construction enterprises within the framework of public-private partnerships (PPP). It describes the theoretical foundations of operational management, main tasks, methods and tools, as well as the specific features of operational management in PPP construction enterprises. The main tasks of operational management include timely and cost-effective project execution, risk minimization, resource optimization, ensuring construction quality, and meeting customer needs. The authors discuss methods of performance evaluation, coordination, and control mechanisms in managing construction projects under PPP. The article proposes a performance evaluation system for construction enterprises from the perspective of PPP. Emphasis is placed on the importance of risk management in PPP projects. A model of the impact of risk assessment on management decision-making in PPP is formulated. A combined approach to risk assessment is proposed, integrating elements of sensitivity analysis, simulation modelling, and expert evaluation. Recommendations for improving the operational management system and enhancing risk management in PPP are provided. Keywords: operations management, construction enterprise, management tools, strategic partnership, public-private partnership, risk management, performance evaluation, coordination, control.

This article explores the operational management of construction enterprises within the framework of public-private partnerships (PPP). It describes the theoretical foundations of operational management, main tasks, methods and tools, as well as the specific features of operational management in PPP construction enterprises. The main tasks of operational management include timely and costeffective project execution, risk minimization, resource optimization, ensuring construction quality, and meeting customer needs. The authors discuss methods of performance evaluation, coordination, and control mechanisms in managing construction projects under PPP. The article proposes a performance evaluation system for construction enterprises from the perspective of PPP. Emphasis is placed on the importance of risk management in PPP projects. A model of the impact of risk assessment on management decisionmaking in PPP is formulated. A combined approach to risk assessment is proposed, integrating elements of sensitivity analysis, simulation modeling, and expert evaluation. Recommendations for improving the operational management system and enhancing risk management in PPP are provided. Keywords: operations management, construction enterprise, management tools, strategic partnership, public-private partnership, risk management, performance evaluation, coordination, control.

The purpose of the study is to identify the features of ensuring the competitiveness of distance business education and modern trends in the development of the field of educational services and the role of digital technologies and project management in these processes. General scientific and special methods are used: historical-logical grouping (systematization of electronic learning system elements, distance education, approaches of project management etc.); generalization (understanding of modern role and evaluation of distance education and e-learning resources, digitalization processes). It has been proven that such an alternative to traditional formal education is more closely correlated with the demands of the labour market, allows to better and more quickly meet the needs of employers, and for employees to ensure their professional development throughout their life and to apply their competencies in the countries of the European Union. Approaches to project management in distance business education are described. It has been established that project management in business education has a scientific basis based on pedagogical theories and researches, which supports active, collaborative and critical learning, and also promotes the development of skills that are important in today's information society and the labour market.

One of the tools of economic policy of any country is efficient public debt management, which influences and determines the dynamics of key macroeconomic indicators. The study aims to assess how public debt management affects Ukraine’s macroeconomic development. The analyzed period includes data of 2015–2021. Econometric modeling is used to establish the existence of causal relationships between the dynamics of public debt and changes in key macroeconomic indicators using the Granger causality test and VAR (Vector Autoregression) model. The obtained results demonstrate that during the study period, the strongest links existed between the public debt and GDP, debt servicing and Ukraine’s total state budget expenditures, public debt and consumer price index, real effective exchange rate index of the hryvnia to the US dollar, and political stability index. At the same time, the calculations proved that public debt does not have a significant impact on foreign direct investment and the level of imports of goods and services. The proposed model allows for forecasts for future periods and can be used in developing public debt management policy.

Amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, this study conducts a rigorous analysis of the online learning landscape within higher education. It scrutinizes the manifold issues that emerged during the era of quarantine restrictions, investigating the perspectives and experiences of students and academic staff in this transformative educational paradigm. Employing a comprehensive suite of research methodologies, including content analysis, observation, comparative analysis, questionnaires, correlation studies, and statistical and graphical methods, this research unearths the substantial challenges faced by participants in online learning. It meticulously evaluates the advantages and limitations of this pedagogical shift during the pandemic, probing into satisfaction levels regarding the quality of online instruction and the psychological aspects of adapting to new learning environments. Moreover, this study offers practical recommendations to address the identified challenges and proposes solutions. The findings serve as invaluable insights for higher education management, particularly within the framework of quality assurance, equipping administrators with the requisite tools and strategies to confront the extraordinary challenges that have arisen in contemporary higher education. These lessons gleaned from the crucible of the pandemic’s trials also hold a unique promise. The results of this research are not confined to a singular crisis but carry a profound implication: the effective application of online learning, even under the most arduous conditions. These ‘pandemic lessons’ become the guiding light for resilient education in the face of any adversity.

DC microgrids, along with existing AC grids, are a future trend in energy distribution systems. At the same time, many related issues are still undefined and unsolved. In particular, uncertainty prevails in isolation requirements between AC grids and novel microgrids as well as in the grounding approaches. This paper presents a critical technical analysis and an overview of possible grounding approaches in DC systems and the feasibility of avoiding isolation between AC and DC grids.