Irreversible Changes Research Articles

Lactate- and immunomagnetic-purified hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes generate comparable engineered cardiac tissue constructs.

Three-dimensional engineered cardiac tissue (ECT) using purified human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) has emerged as an appealing model system for the study of human cardiac biology and disease. A recent study reported widely used metabolic (lactate) purification of monolayer hiPSC-CM cultures results in an ischemic cardiomyopathy-like phenotype compared with magnetic antibody-based cell sorting (MACS) purification, complicating the interpretation of studies using lactate-purified hiPSC-CMs. Herein, our objective was to determine if use of lactate relative to MACS-purified hiPSC-CMs affects the properties of resulting hiPSC-ECTs. Therefore, hiPSC-CMs were differentiated and purified using either lactate-based media or MACS. Global proteomics revealed that lactate-purified hiPSC-CMs displayed a differential phenotype over MACS hiPSC-CMs. hiPSC-CMs were then integrated into 3D hiPSC-ECTs and cultured for 4 weeks. Structurally, there was no significant difference in sarcomere length between lactate and MACS hiPSC-ECTs. Assessment of isometric twitch force and Ca2+ transient measurements revealed similar functional performance between purification methods. High-resolution mass spectrometry-based quantitative proteomics showed no significant difference in protein pathway expression or myofilament proteoforms. Taken together, this study demonstrates that lactate- and MACS-purified hiPSC-CMs generate ECTs with comparable structural, functional, and proteomic features, and it suggests that lactate purification does not result in an irreversible change in a hiPSC-CM phenotype.

Fungal communities are more sensitive to mildew than bacterial communities during tobacco storage processes.

Mildew poses a significant threat to tobacco production; however, there is limited information on the structure of the abundant and rare microbial subcommunities in moldy tobacco leaves. In this study, we employed high-throughput sequencing technology to discern the disparities in the composition, diversity, and co-occurrence patterns of abundant and rare fungal and bacterial subcommunities between moldy and normal tobacco leaves collected from Guizhou, Shanghai, and Jilin provinces, China. Furthermore, we explored the correlation between microorganisms and metabolites by integrating the metabolic profiles of moldy and normal tobacco leaves. The results showed that the fungi are more sensitive to mildew than bacteria, and that the fungal abundant taxa exhibit greater resistance and environmental adaptability than the rare taxa. The loss of rare taxa results in irreversible changes in the diversity, richness, and composition of the fungal community. Moreover, rare fungal taxa and abundant bacterial taxa played crucial roles in maintaining the stability and functionality of the tobacco microecosystem. In moldy tobacco, however, the disappearance of rare taxa as key nodes resulted in reduced connectivity and stability within the fungal network. In addition, metabolomic analysis showed that the contents of indoles, pyridines, polyketones, phenols, and peptides were significantly enriched in the moldy tobacco leaves, while the contents of amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, and other compounds were significantly reduced in these leaves. Most metabolites showed negative correlations with Dothideomycetes, Alphaproteobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria, but showed positive correlations with Eurotiales and Bacilli. This study has demonstrated that abundant fungal taxa are the predominant biological agents responsible for tobacco mildew, while bacteria may indirectly contribute to this process through the production and degradation of metabolites. KEY POINTS: • Fungi exhibited greater sensitivity to mildew of tobacco leaf compared to bacteria • Rare fungal taxa underwent significant damage during the mildew process • Mildew may damage the defense system of the tobacco leaf microecosystem.

Evaluation of the behavioral, histopathological, and immunohistochemical effects resulting from ventriculosubcutaneous shunt obstruction in kaolin-induced hydrocephalus in rats.

Hydrocephalus is a brain disease prevalent in the pediatric population that presents complex pathophysiology and multiple etiologies. The best treatmentis still ventricular shunting. Mechanical obstruction is the most frequent complication, but the resulting pathological effects are still unknown. Evaluation and comparison of clinical, histopathological, and immunohistochemical aspects in the acute phase of experimental hydrocephalus induced by kaolin, after treatment with adapted shunt, and after shunt obstruction and posterior disobstruction. Wistar rats aged 7days were used and divided into 4 groups: control group without kaolin injection (n = 6), untreated hydrocephalic group (n = 5), hydrocephalic group treated with ventriculosubcutaneous shunt (DVSC) (n = 7), and hydrocephalic group treated with shunt, posteriorly obstructed and disobstructed (n = 5). The animals were submitted to memory and spatial learning evaluation through the Morris water maze test. The rats were sacrificed at 28days of age and histological analysis of the brains was performed with luxol fast blue, in addition to immunohistochemical analysis in order to evaluate reactive astrocytosis, inflammation, neuronal labeling, and apoptotic activity. The group with shunt obstruction had worse performance in memory tests. Reactive astrocytosis was more evident in this group, as was the inflammatory response. Obstruction of the shunt results in impaired performance of behavioral tests and causes irreversible histopathological changes when compared to findings in the group with treated hydrocephalus, even after unblocking the system. The developed model is feasible and efficient in simulating the clinical context of shunt dysfunction.

Dynamic Li+ Capture through Ligand-Chain Interaction for the Regeneration of Depleted LiFePO4 Cathode.

After application in electric vehicles, spent LiFePO4 (LFP) batteries are typically decommissioned. Traditional recycling methods face economic and environmental constraints. Therefore, direct regeneration has emerged as a promising alternative. However, irreversible phase changes can significantly hinder the efficiency of the regeneration process owing to structural degradation. Moreover, improper storage and treatment practices can lead to metamorphism, further complicating the regeneration process. In this study, a sustainable recovery method is proposed for the electrochemical repair of LFP batteries. A ligand-chain Zn-complex (ZnDEA) is utilized as a structural regulator, with its ─NH─ group alternatingly facilitating the binding of preferential transition metal ions (Fe3+ during charging and Zn2+ during discharging). This dynamic coordination ability helps to modulate volume changes within the recovered LFP framework. Consequently, the recovered LFP framework can store more Li-ions, enhance phase transition reversibility between LFP and FePO4 (FP), modify the initial Coulombic efficiency, and reduce polarization voltage differences. The recovered LFP cells exhibit excellent capacity retention of 96.30% after 1500 cycles at 2C. The ligand chain repair mechanism promotes structural evolution to facilitate ion migration, providing valuable insights into the targeted ion compensation for environmentally friendly recycling in practical applications.

Energy cooperation of Russia and China in the Arctic: state and prospects

ABSTRACT In the twenty-first century the Arctic region remains strategically important for many states located both inside and outside the Arctic. The transformation of the Arctic into an outpost of the world economy is dictated by the rapid and irreversible changes in the natural, socio-economic and political environment, among which two interrelated features stand out: climate change and globalization. The article focuses on analyzing the features of energy interaction between Russia and the People's Republic of China in the Russian Arctic. Over the past two years, the development of the Arctic, including the Russian Arctic zone, has been strongly influenced by the exacerbation of the Ukrainian crisis. The termination of Russia’s cooperation with member countries and the majority of observer states of the Arctic Council towards the implementation of industrial projects in the Russian Arctic has strengthened the so-called ‘orientation to the east’ in Russian Arctic policy. The current macroeconomic situation creates the preconditions for the development of cooperation between the Russian Federation and the countries of the Asia-Pacific region, primarily with China. The publication analyzes the current stage of Russian-Chinese relations and examines the prospects for interstate energy cooperation in the Arctic.

Predictors of fibrogenesis in children with JIA: a single-center pilot study

BackgroundPatients with rheumatological diseases are at high risk of developing irreversible fibrotic changes, both articular and extra-articular, as a result of tissue damage caused by the chronic phase of persistent inflammation. Thus, our purpose was to study early markers of fibrosis formation in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).MethodsSeventy patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, namely, polyarthritis (64.29%) and oligoarthritis (35.71%) variant JIA (mean age 13.3 years, 64.29% girls, 35.71% boys), were included in this 4-year prospective study. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels were determined by ELISA kits.ResultsWe evaluated bFGF (mean: 7478.21 pg/ml; min: 4171.56 pg/ml; max: 18,011.25 pg/ml) and VEGF (mean: 342.47 pg/ml; min: 23.68 pg/ml; max: 2158.91 pg/ml) levels in children with JIA. Children with JIA had a higher VEGF level when JIA onset occurred after 15 years of age and they had a high disease activity; additionally, a higher bFGF level was observed in children older than 14 years and in those with a JIA onset after 15 years of age, the oligoarticular variant, a moderate disease activity and regardless of MTX administration but more often when MTX was administered at a dosage from 10 to 12.5 mg/m2/week.ConclusionsLaboratory screening of fibrosis formation predictors could help identify patients who may be at greater risk of adverse outcomes. Children with JIA had higher bFGF and VEGF levels when JIA onset occurred after 15 years of age, depending on disease activity.

Automated detection of early signs of irreversible ischemic change on CTA source images in patients with large vessel occlusion.

To create and validate an automated pipeline for detection of early signs of irreversible ischemic change from admission CTA in patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO) stroke. We retrospectively included 368 patients for training and 143 for external validation. All patients had anterior circulation LVO stroke, endovascular therapy with successful reperfusion, and follow-up diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). We devised a pipeline to automatically segment Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) regions and extracted their relative Hounsfield unit (rHU) values. We determined the optimal rHU cut points for prediction of final infarction in each ASPECT region, performed 10-fold cross-validation in the training set, and measured the performance via external validation in patients from another institute. We compared the model with an expert neuroradiologist for prediction of final infarct volume and poor functional outcome. We achieved a mean area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.69±0.13, 0.69±0.09, 0.61±0.23, and 0.72±0.11 across all regions and folds in cross-validation. In the external validation cohort, we achieved a median [interquartile] AUC, accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 0.71 [0.68-0.72], 0.70 [0.68-0.73], 0.55 [0.50-0.63], and 0.74 [0.73-0.77], respectively. The rHU-based ASPECTS showed significant correlation with DWI-based ASPECTS (rS = 0.39, p<0.001) and final infarct volume (rS = -0.36, p<0.001). The AUC for predicting poor functional outcome was 0.66 (95%CI: 0.57-0.75). The predictive capabilities of rHU-based ASPECTS were not significantly different from the neuroradiologist's visual ASPECTS for either final infarct volume or functional outcome. Our study demonstrates the feasibility of an automated pipeline and predictive model based on relative HU attenuation of ASPECTS regions on baseline CTA and its non-inferior performance in predicting final infarction on post-stroke DWI compared to an expert human reader.

FORTALITIES AND FORTIFIED MANORS OF THE LUBELSKIE VOIVODESHIP: ANALYSIS ON THE EXAMPLE OF SELECTED

Analysing fortalities and fortified manors in the region of the Lublin Voivodeship, the article focuses on their architectural functions, cultural significance and position in the background of spatial planning. The study analyses the condition of the selected three monuments, taking into account their technical and visual condition and functionality. On the basis of the research, it can be concluded that selected monuments from the Lublin region, which show signs of defensive features, currently perform functions that are not consistent with their historical purpose. These neglects not only affect the aesthetics and functionality monuments, but also their durability and survival for future generations. Such a condition without proper consideration of their architectural and historical specificity can lead to irreversible changes and damage. It may be necessary to develop sustainable adaptation plans that take into account both contemporary needs and the protection of cultural heritage. The aim of the article is to deepen knowledge about regional monuments, promote cultural and historical value and propose a concept of a tourist route that can contribute to the increase in the attractiveness of the region. The essence of the study is the recipient's understanding of the potential of the historical buildings by presenting the current state of preservation. The way to meet the current problems and use the potential of monuments is to try to take integrated actions. The concept of a thematic tourist path, adapted to the architectural features of the monuments, could attract tourists and raise public awareness of their value. Cooperation with educational institutions and non-governmental organizations is crucial for the implementation of educational programs and scientific research on cultural heritage. Creating social awareness through the organization of cultural events and regular monitoring of the condition of monuments is necessary for the effective protection and management of cultural heritage, which is to serve present and future generations. The conclusions of the study are intended to initiate a broader discussion on the role and future of architectural heritage in the Lublin region.

The Critical Contagion: Gender and Critical Race Theories

Queer theory or critical gender studies are close relatives of critical race theory. The original critical race theorists stressed that their worldview also encapsulated radical theories on “gender.” The term “gender” is ambiguous. Humans are born male or female--designed to produce either sperm or eggs, even in cases of individuals with biological abnormalities. Individuals, including young children, can be confused about their biological sex, now a cultural contagion leading young people to make irreversible changes to their bodies. Culturally, a society should show empathy and offer to help young people through counseling and guidance, but we do not help children when we affirm his or her choice to assume a gender that conflicts with their biology.

Influence of maternal cholesterol-enriched diet on chemical composition of teeth enamel in offspring of mice.

Aim: To determine the chemical composition of the tooth enamel of two-day-old mice from hypercholesterolemic mothers by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Materials and Methods: Forty mature female mice were randomly assigned (n = 20/group) to either a standard chow vivarium diet (control group) or a cholesterol-enriched chow diet (experimental group). After fertilization, pregnancy and birth, on postnatal day 2, the incisor segments of 6 pups form each group were used for energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Results: Influence of maternal hypercholesterolemic diet on tooth development and mineralization was examined, which revealed changes in enamel chemical composition. First, the results indicate the presence of seven elements (Na, Cl, Ca, P, Mg, S, Fe) in the enamel of both the hypercholesterolemic and normal offspring, but the content of element Ca2+ decreased, the content of elements P5+, Na+, Cl- tended to increase in pups from hypercholesterolemic mice. Second, the initial level of mineralization according to the atomic (%) Ca / P in hypercholesterolemic pups ratio was 1.26, comparing with normal pups where level of mineralization was 1.34. Taking into account that irreversible changes in the structure of the enamel were observed when the Ca / P ratio was below 1.33, we can suggest that the eruption of teeth with an imperfect structure could be because of maternal hypercholesterolemic diet. Conclusions: Results of this study suggest that hypercholesterolemic diet during gestation and lactation leads to altered enamel mineralization in mice because of changes in chemical composition and may link to the early childhood caries.

Revisit to Phlebolymphedema as Ultimate Outcome of Dual Outflow System Failure

Venous and lymphatic systems are one interdependent, "inseparable" dual-outflow system of the circulation. Both systems are "mutually complimentary"; the insufficiency or overload to one of two systems allows the other to play an auxiliary role of fluid return through micro- &amp; macro-anastomosis. But both systems are "mutually complimentary" only when they are with normal function; when the venous stasis exceeds this maximum lymphatic compensatory capacity, the insufficiency becomes "phlebo-lymphatic". When one of the two systems should fail to provide sufficient compensation to the other system, it would become a combined condition of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI)/chronic venous hypertension and chronic lymphatic insufficiency (CLI)/chronic lymphedema, known as “phlebo-lymphedema” (PLE). Hence, the ulcer of PLE origin represents an unavoidable outcome of the joint failure of this “inseparable” venous-lymphatic circulation system, presenting as a combined condition of veno-lymphatic edema caused by CVI and CLI. When the lymphatic system becomes damaged (mechanical insufficiency) or the ultrafiltrate load becomes greater than the ability of the lymphatic system to drain it (dynamic insufficiency), the lymphatic system would fail to handle the interstitial fluid load, and the proteins and macromolecules start to accumulate in the interstitium. This "presence of proteins in the interstitial space" further induces an inflammatory cascade to create a proinflammatory state leading to the irreversible changes. These proteins may serve further as a substrate for microorganisms to facilitate extending and intensifying infections. Increased scarring and trauma by these infections cause further damage to the vulnerable lymphatic collectors. Therefore, lymphatic system can be easily damaged not only by drainage overload but also by the inflammatory environment created by the fluid stasis so that this vicious circle created by the impairment of the venous and lymphatic system would cause the ulcer management more seriously complicating. Hence, a precise understanding of the nature of all the chronic "indolent" venous stasis ulcers as a combined condition of veno-lymphatic edema caused by CVI and CLI of various origins is mandated based on simultaneous evaluation of these two closely linked conditions/systems.

Medication-related Osteonecrosis of the Jaws – Practitioner’s Update

Abstract Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw is a comparatively recent addition to the panel of pathologies affecting the jawbones. Its clinical presentation shares features with radiation osteonecrosis and osteomyelitis. Imprudent dental procedures may initiate the cascade of events that lead to irreversible changes that impact the QOL of vulnerable patients. Hence, a working knowledge of this entity is imperative.

Фрагментация и остранение как процесс: В. Б. Шкловский перечитывает Л. Н. Толстого

The paper examines crucial topics of reflection on the nature of art in L. N. Tolstoy’s works (1890–1900) in the light of their interpretations by V. B. Shklovsky. The principal part of these reflections is the search for a new mode of writing, “beyond any form,” which Shklovsky inherits and analyzes in his fragmentary aphoristic prose. The fragmentary forms in the late period of Tolstoy’s works and Shklovsky’s writing stem from the era of dramatic, rapid, and irreversible changes at the turn of the 19th–20th centuries. The paper pays particular attention to aspects of Shklovsky’s interpretation of Tolstoy’s technique of defamiliarization (ostranenie) and examination of the contexts of Tolstoy’s thought, which combine the themes of freedom, memory, and imagination in the existential, ethical, and aesthetic registers. Shklovsky translates Tolstoy’s existential thought into an aesthetic register, considering it as a result of a long process of emerging new forms in art.

СУЧАСНІ ТЕНДЕНЦІЇ РОЗВИТКУ БАНКІВСЬКИХ ІННОВАЦІЙ У СВІТІ

This work focuses on the fact that the rapid development and spread of new information and communication technologies has led to radical changes in the information sphere at the global level, which has a significant impact both on financial markets as a whole and on various sectors in which banks play an important role as financial intermediaries. It is noted that modern banks operate in conditions of rapid and irreversible changes in technology, competition in the market for banking services, the growth of non-banking organizations, changes in customer behavior and regulatory changes. This work analyzes the strategy of building the e-Stonia information society, the main principles of its functioning and the main components. Some characteristics of innovations introduced into the banking environment are determined. The most common types of innovative banking products are presented. The process of digitalization of relations between banks and other financial market participants is analyzed. It is noted that the interest in the banking system in the conditions of the digital economy is due to the need to solve a number of specific issues outlined in this article. The main changes in the functioning of the banking system as a result of the digitalization of the economy are analyzed. The need for further research into the security of banking operations is emphasized, taking into account the instability of world financial markets, technical progress and the potential of financial crises.. The article defines the classification of threats that pose risks to banking security in two directions. A list of conditions guaranteeing the financial security of banks is also given, and the principles reflecting the process of ensuring financial security in the banking sector are detailed. The main components that make up the bank's financial security have been determined. It was established that the factors affecting the financial security of banks lead to the loss of the bank's resource base (capital, labor resources and client base), lack of access to digital technologies and the full functioning of the financial institution. It is believed that the direct impact of digitalization on economic growth is related to the level of its innovativeness.

Эколого-экономическое регулирование хозяйственной деятельности на Байкальской природной территории

The article considers the ecological and economic aspects of the legal regulation of economic activity in territories with a special regime of nature management on the example of the Baikal natural territory. A retrospective analysis of the legal regulation of economic activity in such an area has been carried out. The authors give an assessment and a critical vision of topical issues of regulation of economic activity, use and protection of natural resources during the planned economy, post-perestroika and the present time. It is emphasized that without proper scientific justification, laws can lead to irreversible changes in the environment and economy. The emerging legal conflicts are considered on the basis of specific examples of modern practice. The authors draw attention to the fact that significant restrictions and the framework for the development of economic activity, determined by the special regime of nature management in the Baikal natural territory, generally hinder the socio-ecological, economic, and demographic development of the region. Conclusions are drawn that the regulatory framework for regulating economic activity in territories with a special regime of nature management in the region under consideration, as well as environmental documents, are insufficiently relevant, need clarifications and additions, primarily in matters of regulating the level of Lake Baikal and bringing it closer to its natural state. The relationship between nature and society is proposed to be optimally regulated by nature-like technologies that are maximally integrated into ecological systems. Value orientations and goals for the preservation and development of a unique natural environment should be accompanied by the creation of conditions for improving the quality of life of the population.

Четыре вида деструктивного влияния конфаундинг-эффектов кардиоренального континуума

Introduction. Studying the influence of risk factors (RF) for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) is a promising direction, since reducing their degree of influence can lead to an increase in overall life expectancy. The least studied of the RFs are confounders. Aim. To find out the influence of confounders in the chain of events of the cardiorenal continuum (CRC) using the example of a group of initially healthy 7,959 male workers of locomotive crews of the Trans-Baikal Railway aged 18-66 years. Materials and methods. Using 22 items of clinical and anamnestic data of a 6-year follow-up of a natural professional population of 7,959 men, multivariate statistical analysis was used to determine predictors of microalbuminuria (MAU), creatininemia (CR), reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR), retinopathy (RP) and sudden cardiac death (SCD), which made it possible to construct a CRC from the prepared symptomatic blocks applying the synthesis method. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to determine the influence of all predictors of these symptoms on the increased risk of consecutive CRC events. The time of formation of MAU, RP, CR, reduced GFR, SCD, and the stages of endothelial dysfunction was found out using Kaplan-Meier (K-M) curves. The effects of damage to the endothelium by RFs, including confounders, were assessed by «failures» in K-M models. Results. Depending on the place of implementation in the CRC vascular bed, confounders manifest themselves by synergistic/additive and stabilizing processes caused by them in the endothelium. 1. They increase the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) / target organ damage (TOD) and the number of «failures» of the outcome being studied; 2. They increase the risk of CVD/TOD, but do not affect the number of «failures» of the outcome being studied; 3. They do not affect the increase in the risk of CVD/TOD, but increase the number of «failures» of the studied outcome; 4. They are associated with CVD/TOD, but do not affect the increase in risk and increase in the number of «failures» of the outcome being studied. Conclusion. Confounders of the CRC have four types of destructive effects. It is necessary to conduct targeted biochemical and morphological studies in order to finally clarify the processes of damage in the endothelium caused by risk factors and confounders and to resist their influence before the irreversible changes occur in the endothelial cell.

ASSESSMENT OF FOREST VEGETATION POTENTIAL OF RECLAIMED AREAS AFTER ILMENITE MINING USING THE REMOTE EARTH SENSING METHOD

The mining of ilmenite has irreversible negative environmental impacts on the ecosystem of the area where mining companies operate. First of all, it leads to disturbance of the soil and vegetation layer, changes in the natural landscape, formation of depression sinkholes, which causes changes in water flow and water distribution in the mining area, lowering of groundwater levels, pollution of the atmosphere, soil and water bodies, and loss of species diversity of flora and fauna. In general, the mining process lasts for decades, during which time the territory is subject to irreversible changes and disturbances and requires high-quality restoration after the completion of ilmenite mining. The article suggests a methodology for assessing the forest vegetation potential of soils in areas disturbed by ilmenite mining using remote earth sensing (RES). Based on satellite images and spectral characteristics, we determined the parameters of soil type and moisture, as well as the vegetation and moisture index of the forest vegetation layer The results of the remote earth sensing were compared with the results of laboratory analyzes of soil samples from the territory operated by the branch of the Irshansk Mining and Processing Plant of PJSC UMCC. Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, Normalized Difference Moisture Index, soil type and moisture were calculated and identified using QGIS software from data obtained from free-access satellite images. The results showed that a combination of laboratory and remote sensing methods can be quite effective for studying areas disturbed by mining activities and the state of their recovery after reclamation.

Breathing of a Silicon-Based Anode: Mechanical Discrete Approach Using DEM

Silicon is one of the most considered solutions to improve lithium-ion battery technology. Nevertheless, silicon shows a huge expansion, leading to a significant “breathing” of electrodes during cycling, i.e. a succession of swelling and shrinking. Irreversible volume changes are observed and conjectured to be related to microstructure changes. However, current publications addressing the modeling aspects mainly use analytical or continuous models. Thus, this study aims to apply Discrete Element Method (DEM), a granular dynamics numerical tool, on a silicon-based anode in order to consider the complex internal microstructure and the associated micro-mechanics. In particular, a sample of anode was created using the DEM software LIGGGHTS and simplified linear breathing laws of particles were implemented. The global approach follows successive sensitivity analysis of granular/contact parameters to evaluate individually their capacity to reproduce more finely the observed breathing behavior. So far, it is found that the breathing amplitude is mostly influenced by the silicon fraction and the breathing irreversibility by particles stickiness. The rigidity of particles also had a decreasing influence on swelling amplitude, but only for low values, far from practical ones, and the silicon content within the anode presented a linear influence on the swelling amplitude.

Ecological innovations in the development of sustainable tourism

In a situation of a significant increase in risks and restrictions imposed by the action of homeostatic mechanisms of the biosphere, without taking into account the environmental imperatives of development, it will not be possible to prevent irreversible anthropogenic changes in natural complexes. For the tourism sector of the economy, for which the high quality of the natural environment is vital, the problem of stimulating innovations in the field of rationalization of nature management and resource conservation is particularly relevant. The development of sustainable tourism involves the integration of environmental, economic and social principles of managing biological and physical ecosystems in such a way as to protect environmental sustainability, biological diversity and environmental productivity. It is environmental innovations in tourism that play a significant role in increasing the efficiency of using natural ecosystems, preserving the wealth of natural heritage and biological diversity. The aim of the work was to study the potential, conditions, key factors for the practical implementation of environmental innovations in the tourism industry, as well as the development of mechanisms for the implementation of state policy aimed at transforming tourism activities on ESG principles. The scientific novelty of the work consists in identifying current priorities and measures for integrating environmental and innovation policies in relation to the tasks of ensuring sustainable tourism development by using the benefits of their joint implementation.

Влияние длительного естественного старения теплоизоляционных минераловатных материалов на физико-химические и термические превращения

Purpose. The article studies physico-chemical and thermal transformations of mineral wool thermal insulation of natural ageing. The subject of the study is thermal insulation materials of natural ageing, and the object of the study is their physicochemical and thermal characteristics. The aim of the work is to establish physicochemical and thermal transformations of mineral thermal insulation of natural ageing. The research is aimed at identifying features of physico-chemical and thermal transformations of thermal insulation based on mineral fibers and organic binders in the ageing process. Methods. A set of precision physicochemical methods such as X-ray phase analysis (XRF), infrared spectroscopy and thermal analysis methods (TG, DTG, DSC) was used. Findings. The results of studying mineral thermal insulation (service life of 60 years) revealed characteristic changes in the structure of the material. The XRF method established that the ageing process of mineral wool materials is caused by occurring microdefects and disruption of material fibers structure organization. Changes in thermal insulation phase state have thermal fluctuation of kinetic nature of material mechanical destruction. The IR spectroscopy method identified changes in the areas of characteristic absorption bands: 2 800–2 200, 2 000–1 600 and 1 295–1 005 cm–1 caused by chemical destruction of organic binder in mineral thermal insulation. The nature of thermal transformations of the material was established, a tendency towards a decrease in the threshold temperatures for mass loss start due to destructing polymer binder was revealed. It is noted that natural ageing may result in loss of fire resistance of thermal insulation systems, as well as in intensificating smoldering combustion of thermal insulation. Research application field. The results are of interest to builders, designers, fire safety engineers and can be used in regulatory and technical as well as in reference literature on fire safety. Conclusions. During the ageing process irreversible physical and chemical changes occur in the structure of thermal insulation, leading to loss of thermal stability of the material and to a possible increase in the intensity of latent smoldering combustion. Technical obsolescence of the material leads to decreasing fire resistance limits of various thermal insulation systems due to loss of thermal insulation capacity and integrity.