Use Of Sequences Research Articles

Optimization of fuel and energy infrastructure for urban ground passenger transport system

Introduction. The influence of urban passenger transport on the formation of a comfortable urban environment is indicated. The role and place of the fuel and energy supply infrastructure as one of the subsystems in the urban ground passenger transport system is determined. The results of the review of scientific works in the field of designing the infrastructure of fuel and energy supply are presented. The insufficient degree of development of methodological support forming the integrated development of subsystems of urban passenger transport is noted. The purpose of the study is formulated, the tasks are defined, the solution of which ensures its achievement.Materials and methods. A brief description of the methodology for determining the main technological parameters of the fuel and energy infrastructure of the urban ground passenger transport system is presented. The sequence of use of the presented calculation formulas is determined, the main hypothesis underlying the research is described. The expected results are described.Results. As intermediate results of the conducted research, the data and functional dependencies obtained in the process of performing the research part of the work are presented. These data provide practical implementation of the developed methodology and allow modeling of the parameters of the projected infrastructure. The dependencies obtained as a result of modeling and which are the basis for the development of optimization measures are given. Discussion. It is noted that the logistics approach implemented in the development of the presented methods allows us to determine the design parameters of the fuel and energy infrastructure as one of the subsystems of urban passenger transport, which ensures the coordinated development of the system based on the conditions for achieving maximum efficiency.Conclusion. As a generalizing conclusion, it is noted that the practical implementation of the developed methodology within the framework of an integrated system approach makes it possible to achieve the set goal – to increase the efficiency of the urban ground passenger transport system.

Treatment strategies for patients with resistant advanced breast cancer to CDK4/6 inhibitors

CDK4/6 inhibitors have become the standard of care for HR-positive, HER2-negative advanced breast cancer. However, there is still a lack of standard recommendations for the subsequent treatment of patients with CDK4/6 inhibitor resistance, especially those with primary resistance or rapid progression. Currently, appropriate treatment strategies included re-challenge of CDK4/6 inhibitors, combination with PI3K/AKT/mTOR inhibitors, new antibody drug conjugate (ADC), novel endocrine therapy drugs, and chemotherapy. In addition, many new targeted drugs and new combination treatment strategies are also being explored. In the future, precise treatment strategies based on biomarkers should be established, as well as the optimal sequence of use of different therapies.

Feasibility of conducting a cohort randomized controlled trial assessing the effectiveness of a nurse-led package of care for knee pain.

To evaluate the feasibility of conducting a cohort randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a nurse-led package of care for knee pain and determining a treatment sequence for use in a future trial. This study was an open-label, three-arm, single-centre, mixed-methods, feasibility cohort RCT. Adults aged ≥40 years with moderate-to-severe knee pain for ≥3 months were eligible. Participants were randomized into group A (non-pharmacological treatment first), group B (pharmacological treatment first), or group C (usual care). The intervention was delivered over 26 weeks. Outcomes were dropout rate, recruitment rate, intervention fidelity, ability to collect outcome data, and treatment acceptability. Seventeen participants were randomized and enrolled into each of groups A and B (5.2% recruitment rate), and 174 participants were randomized to group C. The participant characteristics at randomization were comparable across the three arms. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) paused the study from March-November 2020. Participants enrolled in groups A and B before March 2020 were withdrawn at the restart. Of the 20 participants enrolled after the restart, 18 completed the study (10% dropout). The nurse reported delivering most aspects of the intervention with high fidelity. The participants viewed the package of care as structured, supportive and holistic, they learnt about self-managing knee pain, and they could engage with and follow the non-pharmacological treatment. Most found the non-pharmacological treatment more useful than the pharmacological treatment, preferring to receive it before or alongside analgesia. Many self-report questionnaires were not fully completed. The nurse-led package of care for knee pain was acceptable, with low dropout, although the cohort RCT design may not be feasible for a definitive trial. ClinicalTrials.gov, https://clinicaltrials.gov, NCT03670706.

Evaluation of non-vendor magnetic resonance imaging sequences for use in bladder cancer magnetic resonance image guided radiotherapy.

Hybrid systems that combine Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and linear accelerators are available clinically to guide and adapt radiotherapy. Vendor-approved MRI sequences are provided, however alternative sequences may offer advantages. The aim of this study was to develop a systematic approach for non-vendor sequence evaluation, to determine safety, accuracy and overall clinical application of two potential sequences for bladder cancer MRI guided radiotherapy. Non-vendor sequences underwent and passed clinical image qualitative review, phantom quality assurance, and radiotherapy planning assessments. Volunteer workflow tests showed the potential for one sequence to reduce workflow time by 27% compared to the standard vendor sequence.

Identification of further variation at the lipooligosaccharide outer core locus in Acinetobacter baumannii genomes and extension of the OCL reference sequence database for Kaptive.

The outer core locus (OCL) that includes genes for the synthesis of the variable outer core region of the lipooligosaccharide (LOS) is one of the key epidemiological markers used for tracing the spread of Acinetobacter baumannii, a bacterial pathogen of global concern. In this study, we screened 12 476 publicly available A. baumannii genome assemblies for novel OCL sequences, detecting six new OCL types that were designated OCL17-OCL22. These were compiled with previously characterized OCL sequences to create an updated version of the A. baumannii OCL reference database, providing a total of 22 OCL reference sequences for use with the bioinformatics tool Kaptive. Use of this database against the 12 476 downloaded assemblies found OCL1 to be the most common locus, present in 73.6 % of sequenced genomes assigned by Kaptive with a match confidence score of good or above. OCL1 was most common amongst isolates belonging to sequence types (STs) ST1, ST2, ST3 and ST78, all of which are over-represented clonal lineages. The highest level of diversity in OCL types was found in ST2, with eight different OCLs identified. The updated OCL reference database is available for download from GitHub (https://github.com/klebgenomics/Kaptive; under version v. 2.0.5), and has been integrated for use on Kaptive-Web (https://kaptive-web.erc.monash.edu/) and PathogenWatch (https://pathogen.watch/), enhancing current methods for A. baumannii strain identification, classification and surveillance.

Relapsed/Refractory Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL).

There have been significant advances in the treatment of relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) over the past two decades. However, the intention of treatment remains control of the disease and delay of progression rather than a cure which remains largely elusive. Considering that CLL is mostly seen in older patients, there are multiple factors that play a role in the selection of CLL beyond the frontline treatment. Here, we review the concept of relapsed CLL, factors that predispose to relapse, and therapeutic options available to this patient population. We also review investigational therapies and provide a framework for selection of therapies in this setting. Targeted therapies with continuous BTK inhibitors (BTKi) or fixed duration venetoclax plus anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody therapy have established superiority over chemoimmunotherapy in relapsed CLL and have become the preferred standard of care treatment. The second-generation more selective BTK inhibitors (acalabrutinib and zanubrutinib) have shown improved safety profile compared to ibrutinib. However, resistance to the covalent BTK inhibitors may emerge and is commonly associated with mutations in BTK or other downstream enzymes. The novel non-covalent BTK inhibitors such as pirtobrutinib (Loxo-305) and nemtabrutinib (ARQ 531) are showing promising activities for relapsed CLL refractory to prior covalent BTKi. Other novel therapies such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy have also shown significant activities for relapsed and refractory CLL. Measurable residual disease (MRD) assessment has a growing importance in venetoclax-based limited-duration therapy and there is mounting evidence that MRD negativity improves outcomes. However, it remains to be seen if this will become an established clinically significant endpoint. Further, the optimal sequence of various treatment options remains to be determined. Patients with relapsed CLL now have more options for the treatment of the disease. The choice of therapy is best individualized especially in the absence of direct comparisons of targeted therapies, and the coming years will bring more data on the best sequence of use of the therapeutic agents.

Optimal Active Fault Detection in Inverter-Based Grids

Ground faults in converter-based grids can be difficult to detect, because, unlike in grids with synchronous machines, they often do not result in large currents. One recent strategy is for each converter to inject a perturbation that makes faults easier to distinguish from normal operation. In this brief, we construct optimal perturbation sequences for use with the multiple-model Kalman filter (MMKF). The perturbations maximize the difference between faulty and fault-free operation while respecting limits on performance degradation. Simulations show that the optimal input sequence increases the confidence of fault detection while decreasing detection time. It is shown that there is a trade-off between detection and degradation of the control performance, and that the method is robust to parameter variations.

THEORETICAL ASPECTS OF BRANDING FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF BRAND MANAGEMENT STRATEGY AT UKRAINIAN ENTERPRISES

The importance of the problem of forming and managing Ukrainian brands (trademarks) is determined by the fact that well-known brands become an important condition for a company's stable position on the market, and one of the key factors is its profitability and competitiveness. The world experience was considered and analyzed, which shows that at the current stage of development of competitive markets, brands are fighting for a place in the minds of buyers. The theoretical aspects of the justification of the brand and brand management were studied, and a holistic definition of the concept of "brand" was formed. In the article, the tools of brand management and its system are formed, agreed, and characterized. The sequence of use and formation of the brand, its stages are highlighted. Based on the conducted research, the expenses for the formation and implementation of the brand in the sales and service personnel of the Ukrainian company were compiled. All this makes the analysis of practical experience and the development of a theoretical concept of brand management of trade and production of Ukrainian companies relevant in the conditions of modern realities. The criteria determining the priority of brand effectiveness of sales and service personnel of Ukrainian companies are compared. The possibility of practical use of its results in the activities of Ukrainian companies makes this work particularly relevant. A SWOT analysis of the company's activities was carried out, which identified the company's strengths and weaknesses, potential advantages, and threats that the company may face in its activities. It has been proven that the formation and development of a brand in the sales and service personnel of a Ukrainian company from the field of commerce is economically beneficial. The proposed elements of the brand will help the enterprise to increase its economic efficiency, which is necessary in the current economic situation in the country, as well as in the financial state of the enterprise. Keywords: brand, brand management, branding, brand effectiveness, brand tools.

In silico prediction and in vivo testing of promoters targeting GABAergic inhibitory neurons

Impairment of GABAergic inhibitory neuronal function is linked to epilepsy and other neurological and psychiatric disorders. Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-based gene therapy targeting GABAergic neurons is a promising treatment for GABA-associated disorders. However, there is a need to develop rAAV-compatible gene-regulatory elements capable of selectively driving expression in GABAergic neurons throughout the brain. Here, we designed several novel GABAergic gene promoters. In silico analyses, including evolutionarily conserved DNA sequence alignments and transcription factor binding site searches among GABAergic neuronal genes, were carried out to reveal novel sequences for use as rAAV-compatible promoters. rAAVs (serotype 9) were injected into the CSF of neonatal mice and into the brain parenchyma of adult mice to assess promoter specificity. In mice injected neonatally, transgene expression was detected in multiple brain regions with very high neuronal specificity and moderate-to-high GABAergic neuronal selectivity. The GABA promoters differed greatly in their levels of expression and, in some brain regions, showed strikingly different patterns of GABAergic neuron transduction. This study is the first report of rAAV vectors that are functional in multiple brain regions using promoters designed by in silico analyses from multiple GABAergic genes. These novel GABA-targeting vectors may be useful tools to advance gene therapy for GABA-associated disorders.

Performance of Biopsy Tools in Procurement of Lung Tissue in Robot-Assisted Peripheral Navigation: A Comparison

Introduction: Robot-assisted navigation bronchoscopy (RANB) has been gaining traction as a new technology for minimally invasive biopsies of peripheral pulmonary lesions (PPLs). Cryobiopsy is an established method of procuring satisfactory lung tissues and can be safely paired with RANB. While some studies have evaluated the diagnostic accuracy and yield of this procedure, there is limited data on the utility of various biopsy tools, the sequence of use and differences in tissue characteristics based on the sampling techniques. Therefore, this study aims to examine the real-life performance of needle, forceps and cryoprobe when utilized in succession with RANB in the biopsy of PPLs, and to evaluate the specific types of tissue samples obtained from each instrument. Methods: In a single-center retrospective study, 50 patients presenting 52 PPLs underwent biopsies sequentially using fine-needle aspiration (FNA), forceps, and cryoprobe. All procedures were performed via cone-beam CT-assisted RANB. Performance metrics, such as diagnostic yield, sensitivity, and specificity, were determined by classifying malignancy as true positives and explicit benign findings as true negatives. Tissue sizes and subtypes were based on pathology description and compared with Student’s t test and χ², respectively. Results: Cryobiopsy, when performed sequentially after FNA then forceps, was able to retrieve more alveolar tissue (p = 0.0098) among diagnosed lesions and showed higher diagnostic yield (p = 0.001) in PPL biopsy with RANB platform. Cryobiopsy was also able to obtain larger sample size (p = 0.0087). No difference was observed in the diagnosis of malignancy between forceps and cryobiopsy (p = 0.8877). Conclusion: The integration of RANB and sequential biopsies, utilizing FNA, forceps, and cryoprobe, can efficiently diagnose PPLs and procure alveolar tissues. Further research based on histopathological subtypes is required to assess its prognostic significance.

Advances in Computational Intelligence Techniques-Based Multi-Intersection Querying Theory for Efficient QoS in the Next Generation Internet of Things.

An environment of physically linked, technologically networked things that can be found online is known as the "Internet of Things." With the use of various devices connected to a network that allows data transfer between these devices, this includes the creation of intelligent communications and computational environments, such as intelligent homes, smart transportation systems, and intelligent FinTech. A variety of learning and optimization methods form the foundation of computational intelligence. Therefore, including new learning techniques such as opposition-based learning, optimization strategies, and reinforcement learning is the key growing trend for the next generation of IoT applications. In this study, a collaborative control system based on multiagent reinforcement learning with intelligent sensors for variable-guidance sections at various junctions is proposed. In the future generation of Internet of Things (IoT) applications, this study provides a multi-intersection variable steering lane-appropriate control approach that uses intelligent sensors to reduce traffic congestion at many junctions. Since the multi-intersection scene's complicated traffic flow cannot be accommodated by the conventional variable steering lane management approach. The priority experience replay algorithm is also included to improve the efficiency of the transition sequence's use in the experience replay pool and speed up the algorithm's convergence for effective quality of service in the upcoming IoT applications. The experimental investigation demonstrates that the multi-intersection variable steering lane with intelligent sensors is an appropriate control mechanism, successfully reducing queue length and delay time. The effectiveness of waiting times and other indicators is superior to that of other control methods, which efficiently coordinate the strategy switching of variable steerable lanes and enhance the traffic capacity of the road network under multiple intersections for effective quality of service in the upcoming IoT applications.

On Sanctitatis nova signa: A provisional case against Celano's authorship

AbstractThis paper advances a provisional case denying the attribution of the medieval liturgical sequence Sanctitatis nova signa, written in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, to Thomas of Celano (died c. 1260), who is best known for writing the earliest biography of the saint. The Conventual Franciscan friar and bishop, Pietro Ridolfi, provides the oldest extant attribution of this sequence to Celano. Luke Wadding (died 1657) echoes this point in his Annales Minorum; several recent critical editions of early Franciscan texts, as well as countless secondary sources, cite Wadding for the attribution to Celano. This identification remains problematic, not only due to the lateness of the Ridolfi-Wadding claim; the sequence's use of Dionysian mystical motifs and details unique to Bonaventure's Legenda Major (completed 1262) should exclude the possibility of Celano's authorship. Consequently this study tentatively dates the sequence to the latter part of the thirteenth century. Unlike the earlier sequences for Saint Francis attributed to Pope Gregory IX (died 1241) and Thomas of Capua (died 1243), Sanctitatis depicts Francis as a model Dionysian mystic. This mystical exemplarity becomes the image of unity advanced by the Franciscans to heal the internal crises plaguing the order in the later thirteenth century.

To see or not to see: Evaluation of magnetic resonance imaging sequences for use in MR Linac-based radiotherapy treatment

Background/PurposeThis work evaluated the suitability of MR derived sequences for use in online adaptive RT workflows on a 1.5 Tesla (T) MR-Linear Accelerator (MR Linac). Materials/MethodsNon-patient volunteers were recruited to an ethics approved MR Linac imaging study. Participants attended 1-3 imaging sessions in which a combination of DIXON, 2D and 3D volumetric T1 and T2 weighted images were acquired axially, with volunteers positioned using immobilisation devices typical for radiotherapy to the anatomical region being scanned.Images from each session were appraised by three independent reviewers to determine optimal sequences over six anatomical regions: head and neck, female and male pelvis, thorax (lung), thorax (breast/chest wall) and abdomen. Site specific anatomical structures were graded by the perceived ability to accurately contour a typical organ at risk. Each structure was independently graded on a 4-point Likert scale as ‘Very Clear’, ‘Clear’, ‘Unclear’ or ‘Not visible’ by observers, consisting of radiographers (therapeutic and diagnostic) and clinicians. ResultsFrom July 2019 to September 2019, 18 non-patient volunteers underwent 24 imaging sessions in the following anatomical regions: head and neck (n=3), male pelvis (n=4), female pelvis (n=5), lung/oesophagus (n=5) abdomen (n=4) and chest wall/breast (n=3). T2 sequences were the most preferred for perceived ability to contour anatomy in both male and female pelvis. For all other sites T1 weighted DIXON sequences were most favourable. ConclusionThis study has determined the preferential sequence selection for organ visualisation, as a pre-requisite to our institution adopting MR-guided radiotherapy for a more diverse range of disease sites.

The third-line therapy for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer: regorafenib or repeated administration of drugs? A review

To this date, the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer involves continuous drug therapy, the so-called "continuum of care" approach in order to control of tumor growth and try to increase life expectancy for patients. The characteristic is the limited availability and insufficient number of third- and subsequent-line therapy. The main options for the treatment of resistant forms of metastatic colorectal cancer in real practice are the alternation of chemotherapy regimens, targeted drugs and the application of regorafenib. The choice of the treatment tactics is influenced by the patient's condition, the previous treatment and the efficacy, the molecular status of the tumor. The correct sequence of use of such approaches is currently not clearly defined and is the subject of many discussions and retrospective studies. The article discusses the main trends in the application of targeted antiangiogenic therapy for this category of patients.

Blockchained Industry Information Handoff Based on Internet of Things Devices with Intelligent Customized Object Recognition.

To determine the quality and safety of each product used in manufacturing, the exchange of measured data between machines, operators, production lines, and manufacturing companies is crucial. In this study, we developed a system with customized object recognition capability for the secure blockchain-based transfer of industry information through Internet of Things (IoT) devices. In the proposed system, product history data are transferred through blockchains through artificial intelligence (AI)-based object recognition. Individual objects are recognized and represented using a unique number sequence for use as a private key on a blockchain. The data history can be automatically secured, and all the data are traceable and trackable. The reliability and validity of the proposed system were verified using the Jetson Nano Developer Kit. The proposed AI-based system is a low-cost embedded system. Based on the open-source cloud computing platform, the required computing resources for blockchain computing and storage are available. In an experiment, the proposed system achieved >99% accuracy within 1 s. Furthermore, the computational cost of the proposed system was 10% that of traditional AI systems. The proposed device can be rapidly connected to IoT devices that require limited manual operation and can be adopted in manufacturing and production lines.

Limaces and Unifaces in the Paiján Industry, Peru, and the Early Prehistory of America

ABSTRACT On the coast of Peru, early human occupation is represented by the Paiján tradition. As well as the stemmed bifacial projectile points, “limaces” are characteristic of this paleo American lithic complex, in comparison with similar forms of the European Mousterian, a term that has been changed to "uniface" because of the variety of shapes in Paiján assemblages. In contrast with the Mousterian expedient technology, unifaces are highly curated tools that are discarded following repeated sequences of use and resharpening that finally render them non-functional. The discovery of a cache of two little-used unifaces in a bifacial knapping workshop shows the process of reduction to which the unifaces encountered so far have been subjected. Unifaces are generally found in the context of occupations dating from the Pleistocene-Holocene transition (Paleo-American stage) throughout America. Unifaces should be considered as one of the characteristic tool types of this stage, besides the lithic projectile points.

Pivotal phase III COMPOSE trial will compare 177Lu-edotreotide with best standard of care for well-differentiated aggressive grade 2 and grade 3 gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors.

TPS514 Background: Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs), which represent approximately 70% of NETs, frequently develop metastatic disease with limited treatment options. Current standard therapies for well-differentiated high grade 2 and grade 3 GEP-NETs include cytoreductive procedures, somatostatin analogues, molecular targeted therapies (everolimus or sunitinib), chemotherapy and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT), with no specified sequence of use. PRRT may stabilize disease and induce objective tumor responses. This treatment uses radiolabeled somatostatin analogues to selectively target somatostatin receptor expressing (SSTR+) tumor cells. 177Lu-edotreotide is an innovative radiolabeled somatostatin analogue with a favorable safety profile and promising efficacy. Retrospective data in metastatic GEP-NETs treated with two or more 177Lu-edotreotide cycles demonstrated a progression free survival (PFS) of at least 30 months. The currently recruiting Phase III COMPETE trial compares the efficacy and safety of 177Lu-edotreotide, versus everolimus, in grade 1 and grade 2 GEP-NETs. Methods: COMPOSE (NCT04919226) is a prospective, randomized, controlled, open-label, multi-center Phase III study, in patients with well-differentiated high grade 2 and grade 3 (Ki-67 index 15−55%), SSTR+, GEP-NETs. This trial is to evaluate the efficacy, safety and patient-reported outcomes of first- or second-line treatment with 177Lu-edotreotide PRRT compared to best standard of care. It aims to randomize 202 patients 1:1 to a defined number of cycles of 177Lu-edotreotide or an active comparator (either chemotherapy [CAPTEM or FOLFOX] or everolimus, according to investigator´s choice). The primary endpoint is PFS, assessed every 12 weeks until disease progression (RECIST v1.1), or death, whichever occurs earlier. Secondary outcomes include overall survival, assessed up to 2 years after disease progression. Study recruitment for COMPOSE commenced in September 2021. It is expected that COMPOSE will inform optimal treatment options for patients with well-differentiated high grade 2 and grade 3 SSTR+ GEP-NETs, including for first-line therapy. Clinical trial information: NCT04919226.

A Longitudinal Study of E-Cigarette, Cigarette, and Marijuana Use Sequence in Youth.

ObjectiveThere is evidence linking youth use of electronic (e-) cigarettes to subsequent cigarette and marijuana use, raising public health concerns. We examined the sequence of use of e-cigarettes, conventional cigarettes, and marijuana in a longitudinal sample of adolescents, to determine if use of e-cigarettes often preceded use of other substances.MethodsWe collected self-reports from 1123 Oregon adolescents (52% female; 37% Hispanic) longitudinally from 8th to 11th grade (8 total surveys) regarding their lifetime (ever use) and current use (last 30 days) of e-cigarettes, cigarettes, and marijuana. If applicable, students also reported the delivery method of their current marijuana use.ResultsAlmost 10% of adolescents reported using e-cigarettes prior to use of cigarettes or marijuana, and the majority of these youth initiated use of marijuana, cigarettes, or both by 11th grade. More youth transitioned from e-cigarette use to marijuana use then from e-cigarettes to use of conventional cigarettes. Participants who were co-using e-cigarettes and marijuana in 11th grade had an increased likelihood of consuming marijuana via vaping, dabbing, and edibles, compared to those who were only using marijuana.DiscussionE-cigarettes were often the first substance used in this longitudinal sample, and more of these youth subsequently used marijuana compared to cigarettes. While research has focused on the progression from e-cigarettes to cigarettes in youth, these findings indicate that more attention should be focused on the subsequent initiation of marijuana.

ФОРМУВАННЯ КОНКУРЕНТНИХ ПЕРЕВАГ КОМПАНІЇ ШЛЯХОМ РОЗВИТКУ ІННОВАЦІЙНИХ МОЖЛИВОСТЕЙ

The formation of competitive advantages of enterprises on the basis of innovations is the main prerequisite for ensuring the efficiency of their activities, the direction of overcoming crisis situations in which a significant number of Ukrainian business entities in various industries and forms of ownership are. At the same time, the solution of this problem should be considered from the standpoint of improving the theory and methodology of forming competitive advantages in the context of the use of innovations. From a scientific point of view, within a particular subject area, the issue of com-petitive advantage of enterprises is unresolved, thus determining the relevance of the research topic. The purpose of this study is to study and systematize the theoretical and methodological aspects of competitive advantages taking into account the innovation component, as well as a description of the method of building an integrated rating of large Ukrainian companies based on hierarchical ranking procedure to determine their competitiveness. The methodological basis was made by general scientific theoretical methods: generalization, explanation, grouping – for the study of the conceptual apparatus; statistical – for a comprehensive economic assessment of the current state of competitive advantages of the largest companies in the leading sectors of the economy of Ukraine; methods of system analysis and synthesis, economic and mathematical and expert methods of analysis of competitive advantages, methods of abstraction and visualization (for visual demonstration of research results and analytical data). The integrated rating proposed in the work allows to estimate the level of competitiveness of companies compared to previous periods and to draw a conclusion about the feasibility of investment. The authors recommend using the presented tools in developing a competitive strategy of the enterprise. The next step in the study is to analyze the sequence of use of competitive advantages of the enterprise. Thus, competition can be seen as a dynamic process in which companies are forced to use new technologies, attract investment, adapt to ever-changing market conditions.

CrxN/Mn1.7Cu1.3 coating on ferritic stainless steel for solid oxide fuel cell interconnects

CrxN/Mn1.7Cu1.3 dual layer coating was prepared on SUS 430 steel via multi-arc ion plating and magnetron sputtering in sequence for use of solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) interconnects. The coated steel was exposed to air at 800 °C corresponding to SOFC cathode environment to evaluate the oxidation behavior and electrical property of the surface scale. Results indicated that the Mn1.7Cu1.3 outer layer was thermally converted into Mn1.7Cu1.3O4 spinel outer layer and the CrxN inner layer was gradually oxidized to form a protective Cr2O3 layer at the interface of CrxN and Mn1.7Cu1.3O4. After the CrxN layer was completely oxidized, the surface scale mainly consisted of an outer Mn1.7Cu1.3O4 spinel layer and an inner Cr2O3 layer. Area specific resistance of the surface scale formed on CrxN/Mn1.7Cu1.3 coated steel after 15 weeks oxidation was 17.28 mΩ·cm2. The superior performance of the coated steel benefited from the combination of CrxN barrier layer and Mn1.7Cu1.3O4 spinel.