Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University

Assessing the impact of military actions is an important task that allows for evaluating the extent of damage, forecasting environmental restoration measures, and making decisions regarding risk and threat management. The purpose of the work is to develop a procedure for applying satellite monitoring to assess the impact of military actions on natural complexes. The study presents available tools for identifying fires and damage to forest stands, steppe areas, and arable land, as well as determining their area and nature. Using the proposed satellite monitoring procedure, an assessment of the fire consequences for the especially valuable areas of the Dnipro-Buh Estuary in Mykolaiv region (Ukraine) was conducted.

This study analyzes the development of foreign language communicative competence in the context of digitalization. It highlights the importance of contextual learning and digital information technologies in enhancing students’ foreign language proficiency. The study identifies key structural components of communicative competence and explores the role of students’ adaptation to new digital learning methods in higher education. A methodology for developing foreign language communicative competence in students of various specialties is proposed, detailing essential tasks, motivations, approaches, and factors for its successful implementation. The study employs a mixed-method approach, combining theoretical analysis, pedagogical observations, student and teacher surveys, and an experimental study involving 160 third-year students. The experiment was divided into an initial assessment and an intervention stage, where the proposed methodology was applied to the experimental group. Results indicate a statistically significant improvement in the experimental group, confirming the methodology’s effectiveness. The findings emphasize the value of integrating smart technologies and digital tools in foreign language education. The study concludes that digitalization enhances the formation of foreign language communicative competence, offering insights for curriculum development and pedagogical strategies in higher education. Future research should explore virtual learning environments and advanced training for educators.

The modern agro-food sector is one of the most important components of the national economy, which provides food security of the country and stable income for a large number of the population. In the context of globalization and increasing competition in international markets, the issue of increasing the efficiency of foreign economic activities of enterprises of the agro-food sphere is becoming relevant. In the modern world, agro-food enterprises face numerous challenges that require constant improvement and adaptation to new conditions. Globalization of markets, increasing competition, changes in consumer preferences, and rapid development of technologies make it necessary to introduce innovative approaches to management of production processes. One of the key factors determining the success of the external economic activities of agro-food enterprises is the introduction of innovative technologies and management methods that enable enterprises to increase productivity, reduce costs, improve the quality of products, and respond promptly to changes in the environment. These examples of implementation of such approaches demonstrate that innovation can become a powerful tool for ensuring long-term development and increasing the competitiveness of agro-food enterprises in the global market. This article discusses the main innovative approaches and technologies that contribute to increasing the efficiency of foreign economic activities of enterprises of the agro-food sphere, as well as an example of a successful enterprise that actively uses innovation in its activities. However, innovation encounters a variety of obstacles, such as legal, financial, and technological. The process of generating innovative ideas may be impeded by the demand for substantial investments, access issues to contemporary technologies, and a suboptimal regulatory environment. Consequently, it is essential to encourage the active involvement of the private sector and scientific institutions, as well as government action, in order to expand the creative potential of agro-food companies. Thus, researching the innovative aspects of managing the foreign economic activities of agro-food enterprises is extremely important and relevant. It will contribute to the formation of effective development strategies that ensure stable economic growth and increase the competitiveness of enterprises in the international arena.

As an important further extension of a multistage fuzzy control model of stable sustainable regional agriculture development proposed by the authors, the stability requirement is added which stands for a clear preference of the stakeholders, i.e. farmers, agri-food producers, local, regional and central authorities, food producers and processors, etc. for a limited variability of crucial development indicators and parameters. A dynamic programming model is proposed which reflects many crucial aspects of the respective systems. proicessses and their characteristics, notably the life quality indicators, and which are subject to objective, by the authorities, and subjective, by the inhabitants, evaluations and assessments a considerable part of which is perception oriented. An additional requirement of a limited variability of crucial development indicators, parameters, etc. is added. As an example the determination of the best (optimal) investment policy under different development scenarios, and subject to objective and subjective evaluations, is shown.

We examined the amorphocrystalline structures of polyethylene glycol 400 (PEG-400) using thermogravimetric, calorimetric, X-ray phase analysis, dielectric and IR spectroscopies. The physical properties of such a system are affected by the presence of water, due to the formation of the hydration shell. When the amorphic-crystalline PEG-400 is heated, it undergoes first low-temperature and then high-temperature dielectric relaxation. We demonstrate that the low-temperature dielectric relaxation is due to conformational motion of the PEG molecule’s HO–CH2–CH2– end groups. In contrast to that, the high-temperature relaxation is due to the conformational motion in the central parts of the PEG molecule, due to the motion of local topological defects along the backbone of the molecule.

Background The prevalence of dementia in people aged 65 and over in the world is approximately 6‐10%, two‐thirds of these cases are due to Alzheimer disease The frequency of deaths from Alzheimer disease in Ukraine is 0.3 per 100,000 population, while in Great Britain this indicator is 112 per 100,000 people, USA – 82, France – 76, Germany – 51 [1, 2]. The purpose of the study was to estimate the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in the Odesa region. Method Retrospective analysis of the medical records about the registered cases of Alzheimer disease were received from Odesa Regional Mental Health Center for the years 2016‐2022. These data were analysed by the frequency and variance for indices of prevalence, age and gender structure. Result According to the retrospective data of the Odesa Regional Mental Health Center for the years 2016‐2022, a constant increase in the number of detected patients with Alzheimer disease was noted ‐ from 4.9 cases per 100,000 population in 2016 to 6.3 cases in 2022. The gender balance throughout the analyzed period was stable, with a slight predominance (60%) of women in the structure of patients. The average age of men was 72.8±0.3 years, women – 78.6±0.3 years. Statistically significant differences (p<0.05) could be explained by longer life expectancy in women. Conclusion The prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases in the Odesa region, according to medical records, is significantly lower than the European average, which indicates underdiagnosis. References: 1. 2023 Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures. Alzheimers Dement. 2023 Apr;19(4):1598‐1695. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.13016. Epub 2023 Mar 14. PMID: 36918389. 2. Федотова М. С., Панфілова Г. Л., Цурікова О. В., Блажієвська О.М. Дослідження епідеміології деменції та хвороби Альцгеймера в Україні. [Research on the epidemiology of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in Ukraine] Вісник фармації. 2021. 2(102) 50‐58 [Ukr]

The North Pontic region, which encompasses present-day Ukraine, was a crossroads of migration, connecting the vast Eurasian Steppe with Central Europe. We generated shotgun-sequenced genomic data for 91 individuals dating from around 7000 BCE to 1800 CE to study migration and mobility history in the region, with a particular focus on historically attested migrating groups during the Iron Age and the medieval period. We infer a high degree of temporal heterogeneity in ancestry, with fluctuating genetic affinities to different present-day Eurasian groups. We also infer high heterogeneity in ancestry within geographically, culturally, and socially defined groups. Despite this, we find that ancestry components which are widespread in Eastern and Central Europe have been present in the Ukraine region since the Bronze Age. In short, our study reveals a diverse range of ancestries in the Ukraine region through time as a result of frequent movements, assimilation, and contacts.

Aim The aim is to investigate the causes of stress and its impact on women’s mental and physical health indicators. Material and methods The research was conducted from 2022 to 2024 and involved 157 women from Zhytomyr oblast (Ukraine) of different ages, education, professions, and geographic residence. The research methods included analysis of literary sources, medical and sociological (survey), statistical method. Results It has been established that during the war, the vast majority of women surveyed experienced very high and high levels of stress (45.2 % and 35.0 %, respectively). The main causes of stress for women include: “full-scale war” – 41.2 %, “financial difficulties” – 12.4 %, and “job loss” – 11.9 %. At the same time, only a fifth of the respondents (21.7 %) said they were able to overcome stress and neutralize the state of anxiety. It was found that stress in women led to insomnia (31.8 %), gastrointestinal disorders (40.1 %), exacerbation of chronic diseases (20.6 %), decreased immunity (8.4 %), and menstrual irregularities (7.2 %). Conclusions It has been found that the war had a significant impact on women’s mental and physical health: the frequency of anxiety and depression, psychosomatic disorders, uncontrollable fear, and the desire to withdraw from people increased. Given this, public health professionals need to intensify awareness-raising activities in this area.

In the present manuscript, we highlight the contradictions in the thermally activated processes theory which treats a system's activated state as a state of the phonon subsystem. We offer an alternative model, in which the activated state is treated as an electron subsystem state. The mechanism of the activated state formation is as follows: thermal fluctuations excite electrons of some particles within the activation zone. This excitation is then shared with other particles in the ground state. This creates a locally-equilibrium activated state. We estimate the lifetime of such a state and derive expressions for the activation energy and entropy, necessary to calculate the number of excited particles in the activation zone and the energy of the particle's excitation. We validate the model experimentally, by examining the behavior of nanocrystals of undecylenic acid in pores of silica gels using dielectric spectroscopy and the analysis of the complex dielectric permittivity behavior at different temperatures and with different frequencies of the external field. The estimated number of excited particles in the activation zone of the nanocrystals and the particle excitation energy for the dielectric relaxation process observed in undecylenic acid confirm that the results of the experiment align well with the proposed model.

The whole-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine has produced a massive response in various media and art forms. Memes, cartoons, graphic novels, street art create an interesting war imagery and portray the effect of the war on society and the individual. Our project focuses on the popular songs created during this war, especially those included in music videos. The songs perform various functions; they express emotions ‒ of pain, sorrow, hope; they might be propagandistic calling for action; they might display deeply personal feelings about the lost world of peace; they may help one survive, and they also help one reflect on the impact of the war on the everyday life of the people and the country, in other words, on the current existential crisis. Songs refer to the moral issues and values in human life, and they articulate the pride in national heroes and national culture. In this article, we intend to collect, categorize, and interpret the songs with focus on the war morale songs that are employed in the mobilization efforts and the shaping of public opinion. Although they are of heterogeneous professional quality, our aim is to document the songs brought about by the war as the personal and political response to the events. Our primary interest lies in the hermeneutics of the messages inscribed in the music, lyrics and visuals.

This spatial analysis focuses on the relevant elements regarding the use of renewable energy sources, in particular, biogas, taking into account sustainability. The characteristics of the processes of biogas formation are presented, including the technological and biological aspects of its production. The issues of agricultural biogas plant profitability are discussed using examples from Poland, analyzing the economic and financial aspects of investing in this type of plant. Geospatial analysis supported by geographic information systems (GISs) looked at factors affecting the relief of the land and also the analysis of local plans or zoning decisions for the selected site. In addition, distance relationships and geological aspects taking into account terrain, landslides, and forestation, as well as hydrological aspects relating to flood and flooding hazards, were examined. It analyzed the availability of utility networks and proximity to road infrastructure. It was also examined that the proposed project will not have a negative impact on environmental protection. The analyzed site meets favorable conditions for the construction of the proposed project, and the conclusion drawn from this study is to emphasize the importance of integrating renewable energy sources with information systems to achieve sustainable development.

Background The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates the prevalence of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among the population of Ukraine at approximately 25%. Almost half of the population, or 57%, is at risk of developing PTSD. Methods This longitudinal study included an assessment of QoL dynamics among 109 Ukrainian civilians with PTSD, before and after receiving complex treatment during the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Clinical, anamnesis, socio-demographic, psychological, and statistical methods were employed. To assess quality of life, we used the Ukrainian versions of the 36-item survey (SF-36) and European Quality Assessment Questionnaire in 5 Regions (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaires. Results On the 30th day after the complex treatment, the following parameters showed significant improvement compared to the 1st day: physical functioning (48 vs 5), general perception of health (56 vs 52), and synthetic index associated with physical health (34 vs 29). On the 90th day, there was additional improvement in body pain, vitality, and mental health compared to the 30th day. By the 180th day, the score in general health reached statistical significance at 76. According to items characterizing mental health, it was possible to achieve reliable improvement in overall mental health 100, p = 0.0049 only on the 180th day of the study. Conclusions Normalization of mental health indicators in patients with PTSD occurs more slowly than physical indicators. Therefore, it requires long-term active monitoring of this category of patients during the post-rehabilitation period. In particular, special attention should be paid to psychological aspects even when somatic recovery has been achieved.

Aim: To study the impact of martial law restrictions on the level of students’ health and physical fitness at higher educational institutions. Materials and Methods: The research conducted in 2022-2024 involved 127 students (58 men, 69 women). Methods included analysis, synthesis and generalization of literary sources, express methodology for assessing physical health, testing of physical qualities, and methods of mathematical statistics. Results: It has been established that martial law restrictions negatively impact students’ health and physical fitness. Over the two years of war, the level of physical health has significantly deteriorated by 1.8 for male students and by 2.0 for female students. The results of all physical fitness tests have also significantly deteriorated for both male and female students. Among the physical qualities, the most pronounced negative changes occurred in the endurance, strength, and flexibility indicators. Conclusions: The research results show that students’ education under martial law in Ukraine, which takes place in various formats, is accompanied by significant emotional and intellectual intensity, extremely limited motor activity, and stressful situations. This negatively affects the health and physical fitness of today’s students. Future specialists’ poor health and low physical fitness can negatively impact their professional working capacity and cause various diseases.