High Informative Value Research Articles

VoI-Based Optimization of Structural Assessment for Spatially Degrading RC Structures

Before implementing a bridge monitoring strategy, a bridge manager would like to know the return on investment. Moreover, in order to spend the available budget as efficiently as possible, the monitoring strategy should be optimized, i.e., the type of measurements but also the time and locations at which these are performed. For this purpose, the Value of Information (VoI) can be used. The VoI represents an estimate of the benefit that can be gained from a monitoring strategy before it is actually implemented. By comparing the VoI of different alternative strategies, the one with the highest VoI can be selected. As such, the VoI is a tool for objective decision-making. The calculation of the VoI is based on pre-posterior analyses, including Bayesian updating of model parameters based on yet unknown monitoring outcomes. When calculating the VoI for an actual case, some challenges arise. First, the calculation of the VoI requires a number of assumptions on different input parameters. Second, the VoI is computed by evaluating life-cycle costs for different possible outcomes of the monitoring strategy, leading to a high computational cost. However, for practical implementations, results are preferably available within an acceptable time span and are robust with respect to the chosen input parameters. In this work, the implementation of the VoI approach for optimization of monitoring strategies is investigated by a problem statement in a case study where a reinforced concrete girder bridge is considered. To perform this optimization, the VoI for different monitoring strategies is compared. The calculation time required for the Bayesian updating of the model parameters based on the available data is limited by using Maximum A Posteriori (MAP) estimates to approximate the posterior distribution. The VoI can be used both to optimize a monitoring strategy or for comparison of different strategies. To limit the number of required (computationally expensive) evaluations of the VoI, optimization of the monitoring strategy itself can be simplified by determining the optimal sensor locations beforehand, based on a different metric than the VoI. For this purpose, the information entropy is used, which expresses the difference between the prior and posterior uncertainty of the model parameters. Finally, the sensitivity of the VoI to different input parameters is investigated.

Buy, Sell or Hold? The Information in Institutional Real Estate Investor Consensus

We investigate whether the consensus of institutional investors to buy, sell, or hold a particular property type in a particular quarter can improve the information environment in commercial real estate markets. In particular, we analyze the drivers of investor consensus as well as the informative value of buy and sell consensus for future returns. For the period of 1996 to 2018 and for eight sub-property types, we find that private leasing (space market) information predominantly drives the buy and hold consensus, while private asset market information is more important for the sell consensus. Publicly available equity and debt capital market information has the highest explanatory power for the sell and hold consensus. Furthermore, buy and sell consensus has informative value for future returns. The component of buy consensus that is explained by private information has the highest informative value for future returns, particularly in periods of financial crisis and poorly performing real estate markets. On the other hand, the component of sell consensus that is explained by public information has the highest informative value for future returns. Our findings have implications for institutional investors and portfolio managers as they suggest that the survey-based consensus of institutional investors contains valuable information to formulate return expectations, identify trends, and make investment decisions.

The role of computed tomography in optimizing the surgical treatment of ventral hernias

In spite of a high informative value, spiral computed tomography is currently an additional optional examination and it is not included in domestic and foreign preoperative examination protocols.
 Purpose – assessing the feasibility of spiral computed tomography in the complex of presurgery examination of patients with ventral hernias. Materials and methods. The paper deals with analyzing the diagnostic findings of 35 patients with ventral hernias treated at Surgery Department of Municipal Non-Commercial Enterprise of Kharkiv Regional Council “Regional Clinical Hospital” during 2018–2019 period. All patients were operated on after compulsory and additional examinations according to the existing guidelines. Spiral computed tomography was an additional examination for all patients. The frequency of symptoms detected by means of computed tomography and confirmed during surgery was analyzed.
 Results. Most of the signs revealed during tomography and associated with the combined abdominal pathology, were completely confirmed by laparoscopic exploration of the abdominal cavity and pelvis. Spiral computed tomography was of particular value in patients clinically diagnosed with chronic appendicitis. When assessing the ventral hernia, it was possible not only to clearly determine its content and location towards the abdominal line, but also, before surgery, to calculate the width and length of the hernia gate and the volume of the organs in hernia sac. Unlike ultrasonography, computed tomography makes it possible to thoroughly evaluate the dimensions of the hernia gate and the state of the muscular aponeurotic layer of the anterior abdominal wall. Not least important is diagnosing the combined abdominal pathology, including the oncological one, which has no clinical manifestations but still has to be exposed to surgery.
 Conclusions. In the complex of preoperative examination of patients with ventral hernias, spiral computed tomography provides useful information on the anatomical features of ventral hernia and the combined abdominal pathology that requires surgical intervention. These data aid in planning a favorable type of hernioplasty of ventral hernia and simultaneous surgery. Spiral computed tomography is recommended to be added to the standard protocol of presurgery examination of patients with ventral hernias.

Assessment of carotid arteries and brain matter in patients with isolated abnormal tortuosities and those combined with occlusion by computed tomography angiography

Rationale: The prevalence of malformation of internal carotid arteries (ICA) in the population amounts to 46%. In 4 to 16% of the cases, it is associated with clinical manifestations of cerebrovascular insufficiency. Hemodynamic changes in the abnormal arterial vasculature and neurological symptoms are the main indications for surgical intervention. Computed tomography (CT) angiography has shown its high information value in the assessment of ICA occlusions; however, its informativity in the diagnosis of ICA malformations has not been established.Aim: To assess ICA and brain matter in the patients with abnormal tortuosities, both isolated and combined with occlusion, by CT angiography.Materials and methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of medical files of 58 inpatients, who underwent ultrasound examination and CT angiography of extra and intracranial parts of brachycephalic arteries with 256 slice multidetector computer scanner (Philips iCT). CT angiography included native imaging, and contrast-enhanced arterial and venous phases. We assessed the impact of ICA abnormalities on the degree of brain matter lesions in patients with isolated ICA malformations (n=27) and with combination of ICA malformations with its occlusion (n=31).Results: In the group of the patients with isolated ICA malformations, there were no brain focal lesions in 14, small vessel focal lesions and single liquor cysts in 9, and areas and zones of cystic and glial abnormalities in 4. The most frequent in this group were S-like and C-like malformations, together with 2 saccular aneurysms (one of them true and one false). In the group of patients with combination of abnormal ICA tortuosities and occlusions, there were areas and zones of cystic and glial abnormalities in 7, various degrees of small vessel disease and few liquor cysts in 18, and no abnormal brain matter foci in 6. No ICA malformations in combination with true or false aneurysms were found. The patients with combination of ICA malformations and stenosis, the signs of chronic brain ischemia were more advanced, compared to those in the patients with isolated ICA malformations (p=0.012).Conclusion: CT angiography is a highly informative method for the assessment of carotid arteries and brain matter in patients with ICA malformations. The combination with ICA malformations and occlusion is associated with more advanced lesions of brain matter.

Increased resilience for manufacturing systems in supply networks through data-based turbulence mitigation

In manufacturing systems, a state of high resilience is always desirable. However, internal and external complexity has great influence on these systems. An approach is to increase manufacturing robustness and responsiveness—and thus resilience—by manufacturing control. In order to execute an effective control method, it is necessary to provide sufficient information of high value in terms of data format, quality and time of availability. Nowadays, raw data is available in large quantities. An obstacle to manufacturing control is the short-term handling of events induced by customers and suppliers. These events cause different kinds of turbulence in manufacturing systems. If such turbulences could be evaluated in advance, based on data processing, they could serve as aggregated input data for a control system. This paper presents an approach how to combine turbulence evaluation and the derivation of measures into a learning system for turbulence mitigation. Integrated in manufacturing control, turbulence mitigation increases manufacturing resilience and strengthens the supply network’s resilience.

Problems of Insulation Diagnostics of Power Equipment by the Method of Partial Discharges

Target. High information value and reliability of diagnostics of isolation by partial discharges. Methods. Simulation of PD in Multisim and calculation of electrical fields of insulation defects by finite element method in the program ComSol. Results. A strong influence of the power supply on the value of voltage surge in case of emergency has been established. The method of adjustment of this influence is proposed. It was found that the oscillatory form of the PD is mainly determined not by the parameters of the insulation defect, but by the parameters of the energy object in which this defect is observed. Method for separation of aperiodic signal of PD from oscillatory component of system transient process in PD is proposed. It is shown that in operating turbogenerators and power transformers the unambiguous connection between the phase of PD occurrence and the voltage of PD occurrence is broken. Method of determination of PD occurrence place in slot part of turbogenerators is proposed. It is shown that in order to increase the reliability of comparing PD in polymer insulation of power cables of different voltage classes and geometric dimensions, when calibrating the measuring system, it is necessary to take into account the speed of propagation of the PD pulse through the cable and the capacity of the cable length unit. The concept of a corrective coefficient for calibration has been introduced and a method for determining it has been proposed. Conclusions. Taking into account the differences in PD parameters in real objects of the electric power industry, proposed in the article, from the parameters obtained in the standard laboratory model of the PD should increase the information and reliability of the PD method, as well as make it possible to conduct a comparative analysis of the results obtained under various observation conditions.

Credit scoring using system log data in the internet bank

This study is the first to examine whether the performance of credit rating, one of the most important data-based decision-making of banks, can be improved by using system log data that is extensively accumulated inside the bank for system operation. This study uses the log data recorded for the mobile app system of Kakaobank, a leading internet bank used by more than 14 million people in Korea. After generating candidate variables from Kakaobank's vast log data, we develop a credit scoring model by utilizing variables with high information values. Consequently, the discrimination power of the new model compared to the credit bureau grades was improved by 2.4% points based on the K-S statistics. Therefore, the results of this study imply that if a bank utilizes its log data that have already been extensively accumulated inside the bank, decision-making systems, including credit scoring, can be efficiently improved at a low cost.

Transformation of the vegetation of the Tsasuchey steppe pine forest

The Tsasuchey pine forest is located at the South-Eastern Trans-Baikal near the Mongolian border. This territory is included in the State Nature Reserve of Federal Importance “Tsasuchey pine forest”. An increase in air temperatures and a low atmospheric precipitation in recent decades resulted in an increase in fire hazard and catastrophic fires, which nearly destroyed the pine forest. With the help of satellite images of the Terra/Modis spectroradiometer, we determined the burnt areas and vegetation indices NDVI and EVI for the territory of Tsasuchey pine forest. The research results showed that the fires are the key factor of vegetation transformation at the forest territory, and its recovering is closely connected with humidifying. During the last drought period the pine forest area was reduced from 43.5 to 2.5 thousand ha as the result of the catastrophic fires in 2000, 2003, and 2012. Correlation coefficients between investigated vegetation indexes on the territory of Tsasuchey pine forest and meteorological factors show the proved connection between precipitation and hydrothermal index (humidity factor), herewith, the EVI shows higher correlation coefficients with meteorological parameters than NDVI, which indicates its high informative value. The most direct relationship was revealed between the average and maximum monthly values of the EVI index and the total precipitation. In the dynamics of the average annual minimum values of EVI, there is, on average, a positive trend, which indicates an increase in the amount of vegetation on the territory of Tsasuchey pine forest during the warm period.

Approaches to the Management of Humanitarian Aid in the Era of Globalization

Research background: Humanitarian aid is about people trying to help the victims of crises. The needs of the victims of humanitarian crises are crucial for the provision of humanitarian aid. That is why this aid is an integral part of globalization also contributes to the deepening of relations between donors and recipients around the world. Purpose of the article: The purpose of the article is to point out the humanitarian aid provided and financed by the Slovak Republic. This expenditure will compare with the expenditure of the other members of the European Union. For a higher informative value, attention will be focused also on the comparison of EU states and Slovakia in terms of per capita. Methods: The scientific methods used in the article will be, in particular, to compare EU Member States’ humanitarian aid expenditure over a last period. Analysis and synthesis be use throughout the solution of the article. Using these methods, the connections and relationships between the facts will be examined. Inductions and deductions will be used to interpret the results correctly. Findings & Value added: The result of the article will be a clear presentation and comparison of the Slovak and EU funds spent on humanitarian aid for a certain period. The results will make it possible to understand the importance of this assistance in the context of globalization. A comparison of the per capita conversion is an important basis for a realistic picture of aid with regard to possible capacities.

Temporal-spatial variation of surface water affected by apatite mining activity in Lao Cai, Viet Nam

Apatite ore mining and processing is one of the main mineral activities of Lao Cai province. According to the annual environmental monitoring results, most of the rivers and streams flowing through apatite mining and processing areas such as: O, Ngoi Dum, Ngoi Duong, Dong Ho and Coc streams are all polluted by content of COD, BOD5, TSS, N?2−, N?4+, N?3−. The concentration of parameters as COD, BOD5, N?3−, N?2−, N?4+, tends to increase over the years. Streams near the mining areas such as Ngoi Duong, Dong Ho, Chu O, Coc streams were mainly polluted by COD, BOD5, TSS, N?3−. Streams in the ore processing area at Tang Loong such as Trat, Cam Duong, Khe Chom streams,... were mainly polluted by N?4+, NO2- and some heavy metals like as Cu, Fe. The results of cluster analysis showed that basically the quality of stream water in the ore mining and processing area is divided into 4 groups: heavy pollution, medium pollution, light pollution and no pollution. In particular, heavy polluted streams flow through apatite mining areas such as Ngoi Duong, Ngoi Dum and Chu O. The results of PCA show changes in the distribution of environmental quality parameters in major components by years.In particular, the parameters that contain high information values include COD, BOD5¸ N?3−, N?2− , Cu and Fe. The source of pollution is related to domestic wastewater at apatite mining and processing areas.

Value of information of combinations of proof loading and pore pressure monitoring for flood defences

Spatial variability and limited measurements often result in low reliability estimates of geotechnical failure modes of dikes (i.e., earthen flood defences). Required dike reinforcements are usually not executed within a few years after inception, which enables efforts to improve reliability estimates by reducing uncertainty. Often decision makers are unclear on whether uncertainty reduction is worth investing, and which (combination of) methods yields the highest Value of Information (VoI). This paper presents a framework to assess the VoI of two uncertainty reduction methods (proof loading and pore pressure monitoring) for a case study of a typical river dike with an insufficiently stable inner slope, using a decision tree. In all cases, a positive VoI was found for at least one strategy consisting of a proof load test, monitoring or both. The optimal strategy of proof loading and monitoring has a VoI of 4.0 M€, being a reduction in total cost of 25% compared to a conventional dike reinforcement. It was also found that sometimes proof loading enhances the VoI of pore pressure monitoring, which demonstrates the benefits of jointly considering different methods in a single decision tree. The decision framework yields insight in total cost and VoI of risk reduction strategies, which enables decision makers to determine where proof loading and/or pore pressure monitoring are efficient, leading to more efficient flood defence asset management.

Social and hygienic aspects of assessment of working conditions and health status of medical workers in the Samara Region

Introduction. Due to the increased psychoemotional load, the emergence of new sources of chemical, physical and microbiological effects on the health of medical workers, the study of the incidence of this category of workers is becoming increasingly important. The aim of study is to study social and hygienic issues related to the assessment of working conditions and health status of medical workers in the Samara Region. Materials and methods. Retrospective analysis of the results of medical and social monitoring of working conditions, health status and occupational morbidity of medical workers in the Samara Region. Results. Based on the analysis of data from the sanitary and epidemiological service and the Ministry of Health of the Samara Region on demographic and socio-economic situations, morbidity, and labor characteristics of medical workers in the Samara Region, a socio-hygienic assessment of working conditions of medical workers at the regional level was carried out. The high informative value of medical and demographic indicators in relation to the assessment of the impact of factors of the production environment on the health of health care workers and social services is shown. It is established that medical organizations generally do not meet the requirements of the current sanitary legislation in terms of ensuring safe working conditions for employees who come into contact with carcinogenic substances. Conclusions. The study of the demographic, socio-economic situation, and morbidity of medical workers with a hygienic assessment of health risk is a priority and serves as the basis for a comparative analysis of their morbidity and material for comprehensive hygiene studies.

The way of value of Correlation of genomic DNA microsatellite loci and live weight of Chukchi reindeer

The article presents the genetic characteristic of the Chukchi reindeer breed. The object of the study was of the Chukchi reindeer. In recent years, the number of reindeer of the Chukchi breed has declined sharply. Reduced reindeer numbers could lead to biodiversity loss. The Chukchi breed of deer has good meat qualities, has high germination viability and is adapted in adverse tundra conditions of Yakutia. Herding of the Chukchi breed of deer in Yakutia are engaged only in the Nizhnekolymsky district. There are four generic communities and the largest of which is the agricultural production cooperative of nomadic tribal community «Turvaurgin», which was chosen to assess the genetic processes of breed using microsatellite markers: Rt6, BMS1788, Rt 30, Rt1, Rt9, FCB193, Rt7, BMS745, C 143, Rt24, OheQ, C217, C32, NVHRT16, T40, C276. It was found that microsatellite markers have a wide range of alleles and generally have a high informative value for identifying of genetic differences between animals and groups of animal. The number of identified alleles is one of the indicators of the genetic diversity of the population. The total number of detected alleles was 127. The Chukchi breed of deer is characterized by a high level of heterozygosity, and the random crossing system prevails over inbreeding in the population. On average, there were 7.9 alleles (Na) per locus, and the mean number of effective alleles (Ne) was 4.1. The index of fixation averaged 0.001. The polymorphism index (PIC) ranged from 0.217 to 0.946, with an average of 0.695.

The multispiral computed tomography in the early diagnosis of pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2

The high informative value of chest computed tomography in the diagnosis of pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 is generally recognized, but there is no enough data on the diagnostic capabilities of this method within 5 first days of the clinical manifestations of the disease. The paper presents the results of chest multispiral (multislice) computed tomography (MSCT) of 56 patients with COVID-19 pneumonia in the early days of the disease. The aim of the study was to analyze the semiotics of pathological changes in the lungs in the first days of the onset of clinical symptoms of COVID-19 and to clarify the methodology for conducting MSCT. Methods. The data of chest MSCT of 56 patients with clinical symptoms of a new coronavirus infection SARS-CoV-2 were analyzed. MSCT was carried out in the first 4 – 5 days of the disease. Results. Five variants for the development of the disease were revealed, including atypical, characterized by the prevalence and CT semiotics of lung damage and apparently due to the different response of the patients to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The leading signs of COVID-19 pneumonia in the early stages of the disease were foci of ground glass opacification (GGO), multifocal lesions of the lungs, edema of the interalveolar pulmonary interstitium, which distinguishes it from pneumonia of another etiology. Conclusion. Comparison of MSCT data and the clinical picture of the disease during the first 5 days suggests with high confidence the pneumonia associated with COVID-19. A prerequisite for conducting MSCT in case of suspicion of this type of pneumonia is the implementation of thin 0.5 – 1.5 mm sections, MSCT performance at suspended full inspiration, post-processing of unenhanced tomogram data in MinIP mode.

POLYMORPHISM OF DNA MICROSATELLITE AMONG CHUKOTKA REINDEER

The article presents the results of DNA microsatellite polymorphism with the use of a commercial kit containing 16 markers: Rt6, BMS1788, Rt30, Rt1, Rt9, C143, Rt7, OheQ, FCB193, C217, Rt24, BMS745, NVHRT16, T40 и C276. The study object is domestic reindeer procured from Chukotka AO to Nizhnekolymsky district of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) to refresh the blood of Chukotka reindeer under the rehabilitation program and improvement of reindeer breeding condition. Allele frequency, indicators of observed and expected heterozygosity, fix index and polymorphism were calculated. The calculation of allele frequencies showed that microsatellite markers have a wide range of alleles and high informative value for detecting genetic differences between animals and groups of animals. A total of 116 alleles were identified, which gave an average of 7.25 alleles per locus, and the number of effective alleles was 3.9. Indicators of observed and expected heterozygosity were 0.713 and 0.691. The highest number of alleles 12 and 13 were found in locus OheQ и BMS1788 and the smallest in locus C 143, which had 2 alleles. Also, 3 alleles were identified in locus C217 and C32. The results of the study can contribute to receiving information on the genetic structure of the Chukchi reindeer and using an improvement population program in Yakutia. Moreover, the results can be used in methods development and DNA test rules in the northern reindeer breeding.

Association of molecular markers with physio-biochemical traits related to seed vigour in rice.

Eighteen physio-biochemical traits influencing seed vigour were studied for their association with molecular markers using a mini core set constituted from 120 germplasm lines. High genetic variation was detected in the parameters namely chlrophyll a, Chlrophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, total anthocyanin content, gamma-oryzanols, total phenolics content,superoxide dismutase, catalase, guaicol peroxidase, total soluble sugar, total protein, seed vigour index -I and seed vigour index -II. Strong positive correlation of seed vigour index II was observed with amylose content, total anthocyanin content, catalase, total phenolic content and total flavonoid content while a negative association was observed for gamma-oryzanol content. High gene diversity (0.7169) and informative markers value (0.6789) were estimated from the investigation. Three genetic structure groups were observed in the panel population and genotypes were grouped in the subpopulations based on the seed vigour trait. Differences in the fixation indices of the three sub populations indicated existence of linkage disequilibrium in the studied panel population. Association of the traits namely total flavonoids, superoxide dismutase, catalase, chlorophyll a, Chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoids, starch, amylose, total anthocyanin, gamma-oryzanol, total phenolics with the molecular markers were detected by Generalized Linear Model and Mixed Linear Model showing > 0.10 R2 value. Association of the trait, total flavonoids with marker RM7364 located on chromosome 8 reported in earlier study was validated in this investigation. The validated markers and the novel markers detected showing higher R2 value will be useful for improvement of seed vigour in rice.

Relationship between red blood cell membrane disorders and Doppler ultrasound indices of renal blood flow in patients with chronic kidney disease

the study aimed to investigate the relationship between red blood cell membrane disorders and Doppler ultrasound indices of renal blood flow in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages1-2.
 Methods. The complex clinical, laboratory and instrumental (color duplex Doppler scanning of renal parenchyma vessels) examination was conducted in 131 CKD stage 1-2 patients. Among them, there were 47 patients with pyelonephritis, 48 patients with diabetic nephropathy, and 36 patients with primary glomerulonephritis. Each patients’ group was divided into 2 subgroups: with and without arterial hypertension. Twenty healthy volunteers were also included for the study control.
 Results. A significant correlation between indices of the erythrocytes morphology and basic Doppler ultrasonography parameters of the kidney vessels circulation, namely a.interlobaris was demonstrated in CKD patients with arterial hypertension. The most significant changes were observed in diabetic patients.
 Conclusion. The results of our study indicated a high informative value of renal Doppler ultrasonography as a non-invasive technique to diagnose the CKD progression in patients with comorbid hypertension

Determination of CD43 and CD200 surface expression improves accuracy of B-cell lymphoma immunophenotyping.

The Matutes score (MS) was proposed to differentiate chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) from other B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (B-NHLs). However, ambiguous immunophenotypes are common and remain a diagnostic challenge. Therefore, we evaluated the diagnostic benefit of measuring CD200 and CD43 expression together with the standard MS antigens. 138 lymphoma patient samples and a validation cohort of 138 additive samples were classified according to the standard MS and further assigned with one or two additional points, for high CD200 and/or CD43 expression levels. The "classical" MS and the "Matutes score-extended" (MS-e) were categorized as high (4-5/6-7), intermediate (2-3/4-5), and low (0-1/0-3). Samples were reclassified into the MS-e with focus on ambiguous cases with an intermediate "classical" MS. A total of 35 of 138 (25.4%) patient samples were assigned to the intermediate MS group and confirmed by histopathological reports as CLL (14/40.0%) and B-NHLs other than CLL (21/60%). MS-e analysis identified 13 of 14 (92.9%) of CLL cases (MS-e 4-5) and 18/21 (85.7%) non-CLL cases (MS-e ≤ 3) correctly. Overall, the sensitivity of the CLL diagnosis was significantly increased by application of MS-e compared to the "classical" MS (98.8% vs. 82.7%; p = 0.0009), while specificity of both methods was almost equal (94.7% vs. 98.3%; p = 0.4795). Of note, sole measurement of CD43 and CD200 on B-cells sufficiently differentiated CLL from non-CLL with a test accuracy superior to the "classical" MS (F1 score 96.2 vs. 93.6). CD200 and CD43 have a high informative value in diagnostic immunophenotyping and facilitate the separation of CLL from other B-NHLs particularly in ambiguous cases.

Mutations in the ATP7B Gene in Ukrainian Patients with High Risk of Wilson’s Disease

Wilson’s disease (WD) is an autosomal recessive condition caused by an impaired copper metabolism due to hereditary mutations in the ATP7B gene; the spectrum and frequency of mutations are considerably different in different populations. The goal of the study was to determine the most frequent mutations in the ATP7B gene in patients from Ukraine for the introduction of genetic testing into the practice of medical and genetic consulting. The materials for the study were DNA samples isolated from the leukocytes of 90 patients (41 males and 49 females), aged 3–60 with clinical and biochemical signs of the disease. The molecular and genetic analysis of the mutation c.3207C > A (H1069Q), the most common among Europeans, was conducted by the PCR Bi-PASA method. The sequencing of exons of the ATP7B gene was conducted for 23 patients who had a score of three or higher according to the Leipzig scoring system. The molecular and genetic analysis of the mutations in the ATP7B gene genetically verified Wilson’s disease in 23.3% of patients with clinical signs of the disease. Five different mutations and five single-nucleotide polymorphisms in the ATP7B gene were determined in the patients of the investigated group. The mutation c.3207C > A, most common for Europeans, was determined in 28 patients, including 15 cases of homozygosity. In six cases, the mutation c.3207C > A was in a compound heterozygosity state with other mutations in the ATP7B gene: 3–c.2304dupC (8 exon), 1–c.2128G > A (8 exon), 1–c.3011AC (13 exon), 1–c.3402delC (15 exon). No other transformations, except for mutation H1069Q, were found in seven people. The frequency of the pathogenic allele c.3207C > A (H1069Q) of the ATP7B gene, most widespread in Europe, among patients who had a score of three and higher according to the scoring system of diagnostic tests, was 76.8%. The frequency of allele c.2304dupC among genetically verified cases was 7%. The genetic testing of two mutations in the ATP7B gene (c.3207C > A and c.2304dupC), frequent among patients from Ukraine with Wilson’s disease, was introduced into practice. A third of patients did not have pathogenic alleles in exon sequences of the ATP7B gene but had one or several single nucleotide polymorphisms, including several nonpathogenic variants and one polymorphism associated with the increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (c.2495A > G). The obtained results indicate the high informative value from genetic testing of c.3207C > A and c.2304dupC mutations in the ATP7B gene among Ukrainian patients with Wilson’s disease.

An Improved Multiple Damage Identification Method of Plate Structure Using Discrete Wavelet Transform

In order to improve the identification accuracy of multiple damage of the plate structures, a method based on a two-dimensional discrete wavelet transform is proposed. Firstly, the structural characteristic parameters of the undamaged and damaged plate structures are obtained through the finite element modal analysis. The discrete wavelet transform is used to decompose and evaluate the modal node displacement data of the rectangular thin plate, and the high frequency information and singular values of the structural damage location are calculated. Secondly, the quantitative analysis of damage is realized by the change rate of the maximum value of the wavelet coefficient. Finally, according to the proposed algorithm, the anti-noise performance of the algorithm is verified through different ratios of noise. The results are shown that the vibration-based damage identification method is effective to detect the location and severity of the rectangular thin plate structures, which can be used to solve the damage identification problems of complex structures.