Sumy Region Research Articles

CHARACTERISTICS OF ILLNESS AMONG HEALTHCARE EMPLOYEES

The aim of the work is to characterize and assess the state of health of health care workers and to find out which diseases are most common among health care workers and which list of diseases requires treatment on the basis of social health insurance.
 Materials and methods. In the course of the research, 550 health care workers were interviewed and surveyed regarding the feasibility of implementing social insurance for health care workers in the city of Kyiv and medical and preventive institutions in the Kyiv region. Evaluating the classification of commercial and social insurance in Ukraine, the authors noted that 9% of them do not support any type of insurance at all, 5% support commercial insurance, and 85% support social insurance, 1% refrained from answering.
 The results. As of January 1, 2022, the number of insured persons in the Social Insurance Fund of Ukraine was 4,236,285, of which: legal entities – 2,548,964, individuals – 1,714,321, voluntarily insured persons – 52. In 2021, the fund's income amounted to UAH 17,753.1 million, or 99.3% of the plan, including insurance contributions of policyholders and insured persons – UAH 16,858.8 million, which is 99.2% of the plan [1].
 The article provides a thorough characterization of statistical information, which includes the processing of the primary documents "Occupational Disease Record Card (Occupational Injury)", compiled for all cases of occupational diseases first detected and registered in Ukraine for the specified years; conducted questionnaires and interviews of health care workers (employees of health care institutions in the city of Kyiv and Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi, Odesa, Cherkasy, and Sumy regions).
 The number of appeals for qualified specialized medical care and issuance of disability certificates was studied. The formation of occupational diseases of health care workers was also determined and their statistical information was provided.
 Conclusions. For the high-quality functioning of the health care sector and the reduction of mortality among medical workers, it is necessary to implement the proposed model of social insurance for health care workers. It is this kind of insurance that will ensure the proper life of health care workers, preserve and restore their working capacity, reduce the rate of deaths among them with a low financial loss for them and their family members.

Informative, Ideological and Didactic Role of the Occupation Press in Accustoming Ukrainians to Life Under the New Order (Based on the Material of Local Periodicals of the Sumy Region in 1942–1943)

The Ukrainian present is focusing researchers’ attention on military topics. Interest in the study of the Second World War has especially increased, which gives reason to say that this period has been reactualized in national historical studies. The comprehension of the economic life in the context of the current hard times has encouraged the authoress of the submitted article to look at the studied problems through the lens of the past. In particular, the work is aimed at the searching and studying a collection of local magazines published during the German occupation in one of the regions. First of all, the task is to monitor information in propaganda periodicals related directly or indirectly to the economic system of the occupied territories. As a result of scientific research and analysis, the materials have been selected according to their form and content and grouped into four separate blocks. The first one includes administrative materials typical for the occupation press, through which the Hitler regime has regulated various spheres of economic activity of Ukrainians. The second block is formed with the published works covering the current situation in many sectors of the economy in a propaganda style, calling for compliance with a particular model of economic behavior. The third block contains articles by specialized experts who give practical advice to the public on how to run a personal peasant household. The fourth block includes actually short motivational texts used to direct the local population to live under the new order. Grouping the materials in this way and studying their content, among other things, have allowed us to trace how local newspapers performed several functions simultaneously during the German occupation: informative, ideological, and didactic. It is found that these media have covered a rather wide range of the Ukrainian economic system, but because of their ideological nature, the interpretation of the relevant content should a priori take into account the context of the social and political life of the time.

Factors and their influence on the indicators of milk productivity of first-born of Ukrainian dairy breeds

The article examines the influence of genotypic factors on the formation of milk productivity indicators in first-born cows of various breeds. Genotyping of 744 cows of Ukrainian Brown Dairy, Ukrainian RedAnd White, Ukrainian Black-and-White Dairy breeds and Sumy inbred type of Ukrainian Black-and-White dairy breed, which are kept in breeding farms of State Enterprise "Experimental Farm of Institute of Agriculture of Northern East of NAAS" of Sumy district of Sumy Region and PRAE Ichnyanske and PRAE Khliborob of Chernihiv region. In order to determine the polymorphism of the beta-casein gene, genetic studies were carried out in the laboratory of Institute of Physiology named after Bogomolets of NAS with the help of molecular biological analysis of allele recognition by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in real time. The study of milk productivity indicators was carried out with the help of generally accepted methods, using the electronic database of SUMS "Orsek". The influence of genotypic factors was determined based on the results of one-factor variance analysis. Between animals of different breeds, there is a significant difference in the influence of genotypic factors on indicators of milk productivity. Linear belonging had a statistically significant effect on milk yield and the content of fat and protein in milk in animals of the Ukrainian black-and-white and redand-white dairy breeds. Whereas in cows of Ukrainian brown dairy breed - only on the amount of milk yield. In first-borns of Sumy intrabreed type, linear belonging did not have a statistically significant effect on the studied indicators. Father's origin has a much greater influence (ή2,=22-62 %). The genotype of the animal according to beta-casein actually does not have a reliable effect on the indicators of milk productivity. However, in animals of Ukrainian red-and-white dairy breed and Sumy inbred type of Ukrainian black-and-white dairy breed, it reliably influenced the formation of milk yield and fat content in milk. Therefore, with the aim of forming the desired value of milk productivity traits in first-born cows, the primary task is to carry out the selection of breeders assessed for the quality of the offspring of the corresponding lineal affiliation. Key words: genotype, beta-casein, influence, milk productivity, breed

SOCIOECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY AND THE SOLIDARITY ECONOMY FORMATION UNDER THE WAR CONDITIONS IN UKRAINE

A full-scale russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 changed socioeconomic sustainability (SES) and boosted the solidarity economy (SE) formation in the country under the ongoing war. In the context of this study, the SES issue is associated with the importance and necessity of understanding the real needs of communities and developing programs to ensure their satisfaction and the need to establish social ties within each community and increase mutual support and solidarity. The research evaluates SES and its factors of influence on the civil population during the war. The paper relies on online focus group interviews conducted from May to June 2022 in the Sumy region, Ukraine. 1,292 randomly selected respondents were interviewed, of which 65.6% were women, and 34.4% were men who were not involved in military service. The survey results were processed by specialists of the Center for Social Research of Sumy State University using the "ОСА" program. The strong point is that 60.7% of respondents confirmed increased social activity in response to the war. The war in Ukraine harmed the employment and incomes of the population in the Sumy region, deepened the financial instability of people, and increased the risk of falling into a vulnerable situation. The policy implications of the study require strengthening the solidarity ties inside the society to promote the socio-economic sustainability of people during the war. Based on these results, the recommendations of the study include measures of investing in social protection programs, supporting the development of local economies and new job creation initiatives, encouraging the participation of civil society organizations and community groups in peacebuilding and conflict resolution efforts, as well as restoration of the social and economic infrastructure of the region.

Scots pine stands in the Left-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine

Abstract The article presents the results of the research on the features of Pinus sylvestris L. condition and productivity in forest stands of the Left-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine (in Kharkiv and Sumy regions) for 2006–2021. The study was carried out using the ‘Forests of Ukraine’ Database as of 01.01.2017, and the results of field research at 30 temporary sample plots (TSP), 3 permanent sample plots (PSP) (in 2006–2018), and 13 monitoring plots (2009–2021). Generally accepted methods and new standards were used. The dynamics of forestry and evaluation indicators of Scots pine stands at sample plots were analyzed and compared with high-productive Scots pine stands. The characteristics of natural regeneration are given. It was revealed that the age structure of pine stands is not optimal: there is an excess of middle-aged stand areas. Changes in the structure and development of managed Scots pine stands with respect to changing environmental conditions were observed for 2009–2021. Studied forest stands showed a tendency for negative changes in stand structural characteristics related to regeneration and growth. Drought mainly in combination with even medium anthropogenic impact can further worsen the health status of Scots pine stands in lowland areas of the Left-Bank Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. Thus, the formulation of forest management measures to mitigate the impact of these stress factors is needed.

Archaeological Sights of Oleshnia District (Based on the Materials of Boris Baturyn’s Land Map of 1724)

The purpose of the article. The article aims to analyse archeological monuments depicted on a little-known cartographic source – the land map of the Oleshnya district of the first half of the 18th century.
 Scientific novelty. A 1724 land map authored by geodesist Borys Baturyn is introduced into scientific circulation. It depicts the Oleshnya District as of the first third of the 18th century. The map contains images of administrative boundaries and settlements. However, in our opinion, the image of two hillforts of the Ancient Rus era and an ancient rampart is the most interesting. On the map, it runs from the Kukuyeve hillfort to the village of Stanova in the upper reaches of the Buimer.
 Conclusions. The studied map is one of the series of “Partied el’Ukraine”, which were compiled by geodetic surveyors from 1721 to 1725. The map is a little-known but quite informative source for the location and names of settlements in the district, as well as archaeological monuments. It is the result of several years of work by two cartographers – Borys Baturyn and Ivan Khrushchev, who worked in several districts located in the territory of the modern Sumy region.
 The two hillforts pictured on the map were well-known landmarks at the time, mentioned in administrative documents of the second half of the 17th century. The greatest attention was paid to the localization and definition of the third archaeological object, which was drawn during the compilation of the map. This is an ancient rampart that has not been discovered so far and is mentioned only in this source. The authors assume its emergence on the map.

Rezultaty skryninhu donorskoi krovy na naiavnist antytil do hepatytu S u sluzhbi krovy Ukrainy za 2019–2021 rr.

Introduction. An indicator of social and medical well-being, in particular, during wartime in Ukraine, is the level of spread of one of the hemotransmissive infections – hepatitis C. After being contaminated with hepatitis C virus donor blood is transformed from a life-saving treatment to a source of deadly disease, all the above accompanied by lack of statistics on cases of infection transmission during blood transfusions. There is an urgent need for the blood service of Ukraine to implement method of polymerase chain reaction, widely used in global practice, which will make it possible to detect blood transmissive pathogens even in the early phases of infection. Detection of potential infectious agents should be established in Ukraine at an appropriate level with the mandatory use of methods and quality test systems that are implemented in countries of European Union and United States of America. The aim of the study. To analyze the donor`s blood screening results on the presence of hepatitis C antibodies according to the blood service of Ukraine reports for the years 2019-2021. Materials and Methods. An epidemiological, single-moment, continuous, retrospective analysis was carried out using biostatistical data in accordance with the order of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine № 353 of 10.12.98 “On ensuring the safety and quality of donated blood, its components and derivatives preparation” (reports of regional centers for blood transfusion of Ukraine) for the period 2019-2021 while applying medico-statistical methods: retrospective, copying, mathematical, graphic, abstract, deductive awareness, structural and logical systemic analysis. Screening of donor blood for the presence of hepatitis C antibodies was accomplished by the enzyme immunoassay method. The dynamics of the prevalence of hepatitis C markers among donors per 100,000 studies with deviation indices (DI+/-) were analyzed. Results. The number of tests conducted for the presence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus in 2019, 2020 and 2021 was 502155, 445224 and 474488 respectively, indicating certain decrease of donor blood screening potential. According to the quantitative hierarchy, the highest peak in the prevalence of hepatitis C markers in 2019 was detected in Ivano-Frankivsk region, while the lowest value of this same index documented in Sumy region. According to the obtained database, the average all-Ukraine index of the hepatitis C virus prevalence in donor`s blood decreased from 832.0 in 2019 to 527.3 in 2021 per 100.000 probes. Conclusions. Taking into consideration the overall epidemic situation related to the prevalence of hepatitis C markers in donor’s blood in Ukraine due to period 2019-2021, the Parliamentary view on the problem, with regard to the Order of the Ministry of health care of Ukraine “On the approval of measures and means for preventing infections during patient care”, there is acute necessity for the implementation of modern diagnostic methodology (namely – the polymerase chain reaction) for the detection of potential hemotransmissive infections in donor`s blood, with simultaneous enhancement of elucidative activities of public organizations regarding the prevention of infections with special regard to the hemotransmissive infections. Keywords: screening for hepatitis C markers, donor’s blood, regions of Ukraine, prevalence per 100,000 probes.

GENEALOGICAL STRUCTURE OF THE UKRAINIAN BROWN DAIRY BREED

GENEALOGICAL STRUCTURE OF THE UKRAINIAN BROWN DAIRY BREED

Strategic priorities of the development of tourist activities in the Sumy region in the post-war period

At the current stage of regional development, Sumy Oblast is still significantly inferior to the Western and Central regions of Ukraine in terms of an integrated assessment of economic efficiency, standard of living, and environmental safety. In addition, external factors, including pandemic restrictions and military invasion, have negatively affected the region's economic situation. The purpose of the article is to analyze the prerequisites for development and the current state of tourism in the Sumy region, as well as to develop proposals for improving its state in the post-war period. The subject of the study is the prospects for the development of tourism in the Sumy region in the post-war period. The research was carried out on the basis of the analysis of official statistical data on the development of tourism and tourist infrastructure in Ukraine, and in particular in the Sumy region. To identify the level of tourism development, economic and statistical methods were used, horizontal and structural analysis of statistical data on tourism development was carried out, which made it possible to identify the peculiarities of the regional development of tourism infrastructure. The following results were obtained. The strategic directions of the development of tourism in the Sumy region in the post-war period have been determined: reconstruction and restoration of the damaged and destroyed tourist infrastructure; liquidation of the consequences of hostilities, complete demining of territories; improving the quality of providing tourist services: training qualified personnel; creation of regional tours and tourist routes in the Sumy region; development of the tourism brand of the Sumy region; increasing the tourist potential of Sumy as a regional center; development of new promising types of tourism; involvement of the local population in the development of tourism; preservation and restoration of natural and cultural monuments. Conclusions. Regional policy in the post-war period should be aimed at prioritizing the tourism industry and creating an effective strategy for the development of tourism in the region and increasing the tourism competitiveness of Sumy Oblast among other administrative and territorial units of Ukraine.

ADORNMENTS AND ARMS FROM THE EARLY MEDIEVAL SITES IN SUMY REGION: COMPILING THE CATALOG OF FINDINGS

The paper contains information about Early Medieval jewelry and parts of bladed weapons from the Sumy region, discovered in the sites and assemblages of the Penkivka and Kolochyn cultures. In total, the information on seven points was collected where twenty four finds occurred. The conditions of finding, typological definition and circle of analogies are determined. These materials supplement the information about the Early Medieval hoards of the Martynivka circle from the Sumy region which were given to the storages of the museums.
 Adornments from Kolochyn culture presented by finds from Velyki Budky hillfort and settlement, Bezdryk barrow cemetery, Krasne 4 and Mala Rybytsia settlements. There are also two burials with jewe­lry of «antiquities of the Ants circle» known in Sumy region: Berezivka and Riabivka 3. Decorations from Penkivka culture presented by finds from Riabivka 3. All finds presented by radiate-headed fibulas, bracelets, belt sets and beads.
 Parts of bladed weapons presented by two cross-guards from Kolochyn culture sites — hillfort Velyki Budky and settlement Krasne 4.
 These finds either belong to the early stages of the existence of Early Medieval Slavic antiquities or find analogies among the decorations characteristic of the hoards of the Martynivka circle. Finds from the Krasne 4 settlement (buckle and cross-guard) and cross-guard from the Velyki Budky settlement belong to the early stage of the Kolochyn culture. The burial from Berezivka can be dated to the late 6th century, and the burials from Riabivka 3 to the second half of the 7th century. Most of the individual adornments have analogies among the decorations characteristic of the hoards of the Martynivka circle. Jewelry from these hoards dates from the second half of 6th — the late 7th century. And deposition into the earth occurs in the middle — third quarter of the 7th century.

HOLY INTERCESSION CATHEDRAL, OKHTYRKA: BETWEEN THE PAST AND THE FUTURE

The article attempts to investigate the history of the construction of the Intercession Cathedral in the city of Okhtyrka, Sumy region, which was built in 1753–1768 during the Ukrainian Baroque era. Studying new documents from various archival funds helped reveal changes in the plans of this sacred building aimed at observing the Ukrainian tradition of a three-story church. It is shown that the artistic decoration of the cathedral continued in the 19th century, and the masters of carving, sculpting, wall painting, etc., performed their work without the participation of the architect, which did not interfere with the integrity of the artistic decision. It is confirmed by archival photo documents of the general appearance and interior design of the temple, which are introduced to the scientific circulation for the first time. Some names of the masters who worked on the artistic design of the cathedral in different periods of its history before the Soviet era have been identified and introduced into scientific circulation. Emphasis is placed on the unique regional stylistic features of this Sloboda Ukraine landmark of the Ukrainian Baroque era. An analysis of its condition during Soviet times, when it was used as a wine-vodka warehouse, is accompanied by corresponding photos, which are presented for the first time. In the description of the current state of the Cathedral, already used for divine services, for the first time a number of photos are given, fixing the results of the reconstruction. The need to create a unified state management system for the protection of cultural monuments is emphasized, which is especially relevant under modern conditions, when the aggressor country of the Russian Federation, having attacked Ukraine, mercilessly destroys the objects of our cultural heritage. It is emphasized that due to the lack of state support, local communities, which are trying to restore a sacred building abandoned during the Soviet era, are unable to create a comprehensive program of reconstruction or restoration, and therefore resort to stylization according to a certain historical era, losing their relevance to the individual uniqueness of the artistic image of the lost monument, as can be seen on the example of the reconstruction of the Holy Intercession Cathedral, Okhtyrka. The results of the study have the prospect of continuation and can be used in the future to match the lost identical image of this important sacred monument for Ukrainian culture.

Current state of the land resources of Sumy region: problems and priority directions of their protection

Purpose. To assess the ecological condition of the Sumy region's soils and to develop priority directions for the protection of land resources of any form of ownership. Methods. The theoretical method of system analysis, comparison and generalization were used in the framework of the conducted research. Current legal acts and research by scientists on land use problems served as the theoretical basis. Statistical data on the state of land resources of the Sumy region served as an information base for the analysis and comparison of phenomena. Results. The ecological condition of the agricultural lands of the Sumy region was analyzed. Weaknesses in the existing soil protection system of the region were identified. Modern land use in most cases is not rational. Excessive plowing of agricultural land leads to depletion of land resources, depression of rural areas, disruption of the natural process of soil formation. Measures to improve and preserve the land cover and its rational use in the Sumy region are proposed. The use of analytical studies allows to thoroughly characterize the economic potential of agricultural lands of the Sumy region, to determine the prospects for their use, reproduction and increase in fertility, which corresponds to the interests of the state, territorial communities, their population and economic entities on the land. The land reform, which is being carried out in Ukraine, sets itself the main task of opening a free land market, is a nationwide phenomenon and relies on the support of the rural population.The work also deals with the issues of land management, land management planning taking into account rational nature management and the land protection system. Conclusions. Land protection is becoming increasingly important as it affects the protection of the natural environment, including forests, waters, subsoil, wildlife and atmospheric air. Improving the state of land resources is a prerequisite for increasing the volume of agricultural production and creating an effective agricultural land market in Ukraine. Therefore, it is important to implement an effective model of land relations and build a perfect legal framework to ensure rational land use.

The effect of military activities on the epizootic situation of ASF in the Sumy region

Using publicly available information from the State Service of Ukraine on Food Safety and Consumer Protection on the cases of African swine fever in Ukraine, the epidemiological situation regarding ASF in the Sumy region was analyzed, taking into account the consequences of military activities. When considering the ways of spreading the virus, the impact of the armed aggression of the Russian Federation on the main risk factors for the spread of the disease was revealed. In our opinion, wild boars, the number of which has increased by 19.3 % in the region over the past year and which is not regulated by hunters due to the hunting ban, remain a particularly dangerous way of spreading the virus. Hostilities, shelling and the movement of military equipment through the ASF-affected regions directly affect the migration processes of disturbed wildlife, which can quickly spread the virus over long distances, spread it within the population and transmit it to the domestic livestock. An important anthropogenic factor in the spread of the disease is the chaotic contamination of military base areas with unprocessed food residues that may contain a viable virus and, together with other fomites, contaminate the environment. Therefore, state anti-epizootic measures and methods of monitoring infectious diseases should be updated to reflect the realities of today. To control the circulation of the ASF virus among wildlife in the Sumy region under the conditions of a ban on monitoring culling, 25 samples of swabs, feed residues and feces from the feeding grounds of three forestries were studied using Real-Time PCR. In 100 % of the samples, no African swine fever virus DNA was detected, which means a negative result. However, the probable absence of the disease within the studied forestries did not prevent the region from having three outbreaks of ASF among domestic animals during 2022, which is a significant deterioration in the epizootic situation compared to the positive case-free year of 2021. Thus, the epidemiological situation regarding African swine fever in the Sumy region remains unfavorable and requires significant attention due to a number of factors that are dangerous and atypical for peacetime and may significantly affect the spread of numerous infectious diseases.

The dynamics of the incidence of tuberculosis in the Sumy region

Objective — to study the dynamics of the incidence of tuberculosis among residents of the Sumy region for the years 2007—2022 and to draw the attention of general practitioners to the current problem of our time. Materials and methods. The incidence of tuberculosis among residents of the Sumy region for 2007—2022 was analyzed. Two groups were distinguished. The first study group (2007—2014) included 5,037 people, the second (2015—2022) — 4,218. Results and discussion. In the period of 2007–2014, the number of tuberculosis cases was 1.2 times higher than in 2015–2022 (p > 0.05). The highest incidence was registered in 2011 — 57.2 cases per 100,000 population, while the lowest was observed in 2020 and 2021 (32.9 and 33.4 cases per 100,000 population, respectively). The mortality rate decreased from 23 per 10,000 population in 2007 to 5.2 in 2022. On average, the mortality rate in the first group was 18.2 per 10,000 population, and in the second group it was 9.7 (p < 0.05 ). From 2007 to 2022, children accounted for 3.2 % of the total tubercu­losis cases, with the highest occurrence among teenagers (15—17 years) comprising 120 individuals (1.3 %). The highest number of drug-resistant tuberculosis cases was registered in 2015 (234), while the lowest number (83) was registered in 2022. Prior to 2011, no cases of resistance were reported in Ukraine. Among the drug-resistant forms of tuberculosis, the most common type is multi-resistant. Conclusions. During the period of 2007 to 2014, the average incidence of tuberculosis was 54.5 cases per 100,000 population. In 2020, the incidence of tuberculosis has halved compared to previous years, possibly due to the COVID-19 epidemic. This decrease in incidence was accompanied by a decline in primary care referrals, which in turn affected tuberculosis diagnosis. The mortality rate from 2015 to 2022 was significantly lower, only half of what was observed during 2007 to 2014 (p < 0.05). The majority of patients were individuals of working age who were not employed, accounting for 55.5 and 53.3 % in groups 1 and 2, respectively.

Tourism activities in the frontline areas of Sumy region: problems, opportunities and prospects

The Sumy region has great and significant tourism potential. Before the Russo-Ukrainian War, the region had 3,465 historical and cultural monuments, including 367 architectural and urban planning monuments (five of them of national importance). Before the war, the tourism sector was developing steadily, with new types of tourism services and the formation of tourism clusters. However, Russia's Invasion of Ukraine resulted in a significant decrease in tax revenues, which has a negative impact on tourism. The purpose of this paper is to study the peculiarities and future prospects of tourism development in the Sumy region during the war, based on data from a sociological survey conducted in five Ukrainian frontline regions in the framework of the Estonian-Ukrainian research project "Development of Ukrainian frontline communities and tourism business during the war and future strategy", which was supported by the Estonian Research Agency. The sociological survey was conducted online and included 25 closed and open-ended questions. Survey results were processed using Microsoft Excel 2010 and SPSS Statistics V21.0. A total of 29 respondents (20.1%) from the Sumy region participated in the sociological survey, 69% of whom live in urban areas and 31% in rural areas. Analysis of the areas of activity of the tourism respondents from the Sumy region revealed that urban respondents were more representative of tourism businesses (tour operators, travel agents, sole proprietors, etc.), while rural respondents were predominantly representatives of tourist attractions (museums, educational and recreational facilities, etc.). Responses to the following questions were analyzed: pre-war tourism activities, wartime tourism activities, changes in tourism, prospects for tourism development, threats and opportunities for tourism development, problems in the tourism sector, prospects for tourism development, and advantages in cluster cooperation.

Epidemiological characteristics of hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy in the Sumy region

The aim of the study was to investigate the characteristics of the spread of hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy type 1A in the Sumy region, in terms of administrative units and specific ethnic groups of the population.
 Materials and methods. An epidemiological study of hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy (HMSN) type 1A in the Sumy region was conducted based on patient referrals to various healthcare facilities from 2014 to 2017. The prevalence of HMSN in the Sumy region was studied using an epidemiological approach. The prevalence rate of HMSN was calculated for different administrative units of the Sumy region, as well as for specific ethnic groups of the population.
 Results. The study registered 67 patients with hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy type 1A in the Sumy region. The prevalence rate of hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy type 1A in the Sumy region was 5.96 per 100,000 population. Of the HMSN patients, 47.8 % (32 individuals) resided in urban areas, while 52.2 % (35 individuals) lived in rural areas. In terms of gender distribution, 59.7 % (40 individuals) were female, and 40.3 % (27 individuals) were male. Most patients were of Ukrainian ethnicity (77.6 %), followed by Russians (20.9 %). Belarusians accounted for 1.5 % of HMSN patients in the Sumy region. Among other ethnic groups present in the Sumy region, HMSN type 1A was not detected.
 Conclusions. Hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy type 1A is unevenly distributed in the Sumy region. The heterogeneous distribution of the disease is primarily attributed to the characteristics of settlement in specific geographic regions, which have led to the formation of territorial, national, and religious isolates with the accumulation of genetically heterogeneous types in these populations, resulting in an increased genetic burden

Features of conformation type of black-andwhite cows of different origin estimated by linear classification method

The research was carried out in the aspect of studying features of conformation type cows of Ukrainian Black-and-White dairy and Holstein breeds estimated by linear classification method. Basis for research was the herd of company "Ukrlandfarming" private enterprise "Burynske", Pidlisniv branch in Sumy region. The aim was to conduct a comparative analysis of experimental breeds according to the assessment of linear classification and determine the impact of final score for type on milk productivity first-born cows. In general, first-born cows of both breeds were characterized by good linear estimation, especially on a 100-score scale. However, animals of Holstein breed in comparison with Ukrainian Black-and-White dairy were better in terms of body parts, which characterize the dairy type by 1.3 score, body - by 0.8 score, udder - by 1.2 score and the final assessment - by 0.8 score (P <0.001). On the trait of chest width, Holstein animals were inferior to their Ukrainian Black-and-White dairy breeds with reliable difference of 1.3 score, but exceeded in angularity - by 1.2 score, strength of fore udder parts attachment - on 0.8 score, central ligament - by 1.1 score (P <0.001). The final estimation level of first-born cows for conformation type directly proportionally determined their milk productivity in 305 days of the first lactation. Cows of Holstein and Ukrainian Black-andWhite dairy breed with score - "very good" exceeded their peers with score - "good with plus" for milking by 785 and 589 kg (P˂0.01) respectively, and with score of "good" - by 1705 and 1502 kg (P˂0.001). The use in the selection process of dairy cattle, in determining cows breeding value, linear classification method will be a very effective means of objective definition breed features of conformation type. The presence of correlative relationship between the final score and milk productivity level will contribute to the effectiveness of selection in the indirect sampling of animals on these traits. Key words: Holstein, Ukrainian Black-andWhite dairy, linear type assessment, conformation, milk yield.

Duration and efficiency of lifetime use of cows of different genotypes according to beta-casein

The article examines the peculiarities of the duration and efficiency of the use of cows depending on the genotype of the cows for the beta-casein gene. Genotyping of 136 cows of Sumy intrabreed type of Ukrainian black and white dairy breed and Ukrainian brown dairy breed, which are kept in the breeding farms of the State Enterprise «Research Farm of the Institute of Agriculture of Northern East of NAAS» of Sumy district of Sumy region, was carried out. In order to determine the polymorphism of the beta-casein gene, genetic studies were carried out in the laboratory of the Institute of Physiology n.a. Bogomolets of NAS with the help of molecular biological analysis of allele recognition by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in real time. The duration and efficiency of the use of cows was determined with the help of generally accepted methods, using the electronic database of SUMS «Orsek» of breeding farms. An interbreed differentiation according to the share of abandoned animals was established. Among the genotyped cows of Ukrainian black and white dairy breed - 37 % were eliminated, and 46 % - of Ukrainian brown dairy breed. Most of the animals that were eliminated among Ukrainian black and white dairy breed were animals with the A2A2 genotype (47 %), and Ukrainian brown dairy breed - A1A1 (67 %). Cows of Ukrainian black and white dairy breed with the A1A2 genotype had a longer average period of life, economic use and lactation compared to animals of other genotypes. In terms of lifetime productivity, cows with the A2A2 genotype prevailed. The average values of milk yield per day of life, economic use and lactation were higher in animals with the A1A1 genotype. At the same time, the difference was not statistically significant. On the contrary, cows of Ukrainian brown dairy breed with the A2A2 genotype had a longer average period of life, economic use and lactation. They prevailed in indicators of lifetime productivity, milk yield per day of life, per day of economic use and lactation of animals with other genotypes, with a statistically insignificant difference. Accordingly, the formation of a herd of animals with the A2A2 genotype for beta-casein will allow to preserve the indicators of the duration and efficiency of the lifelong use of Ukrainian black and white and brown dairy breed cows. The obtained results are preliminary, which is due to the small number of experimental livestock. Therefore, we believe that research should be continued. Key words: genotype, beta-casein, life expectancy, lifetime productivity, coefficient of economic use.

STATE AND FEATURES OF THE PLEIN AIR PAINTING MOVEMENT DEVELOPMENT IN UKRAINE AT THE CURRENT STAGE

The aim of the article is to discuss the current stage and features of the development of the plein-air movement in Ukraine. Open air is an integral part of contemporary fine arts. Their role lies in the very nature of artistic creativity. Formation of spatial representations, construction of the scheme of the compositional structure of the work of art, understanding of its logic are closely connected with the ability of artistic modeling of the world, the presence of advanced artistic imagination in combination with holistic perception of nature. From this point of view, plein air is widely used both for educational purposes to develop the spatial skills and creative style of young artists, as well as for the creative expression of recognized artists. The collective nature of plein air promotes close creative communication between representatives of different art schools, provoking the process of mixing and mutually influencing the achievements and achievements of both art schools and artistic fields. In Ukraine, plein airs became a striking feature of artistic life at the turn of the 2010s, which makes it possible to consider them as a feature of the national school of painting formed in the present day. The author classifies the plein-air movement by its types and analyzes the specifics of its development in Ukraine using concrete examples. The following types of plein-airs are distinguished. The first type of plein air is to include traditional plein airs, which have the meaning of an artistic event and focus on creative experimentation. An example of this type of plein air is the sculptural plein air movement in Vinnytsia region. The second type includes traditional plein airs, which are related to the event of a wider cultural context, and which they should complement. In particular, the plein air that takes place within the framework of the traditional Mamay-fest historical and cultural festival in Kamianskе. The next, third, type of plein air is organized on the basis of historical and cultural complexes. This complex is Stavchansky estate, located in the Radomyshl district of Zhytomyr region. We refer international plein air to the fourth type. Such is the creative trip of Ukrainian artists to Italy, which took place within the framework of the international plenary project “GENIUS LOCI”. The wide involvement of Italian motifs in painting and their creative comprehension by Ukrainian artists was the essential result of the plein air. Plein airs that pursue the goal of promoting the commercialization of artistic results, we refer to the fifth type of plein air. Finally, we can refer to the sixth type of plein airs as regional art events, such as the Sumy Spring All-Ukrainian Art Plein Air, held in April 2019 in Sumy Region. Thus, we can state the growth of the plein air movement in Ukraine, which forms the country's artistic and artistic environment. Plein airs are structured according to their types and tasks. The last decade has tended to include them as an integral part of cultural and artistic events of various levels, where plein airs play the role of their artistic component. This has a number of consequences. These include the activation of mutual communication between artists; popularization of painting in society; promoting the creation of artistic traditions or traditions specific to different art schools and regions of the country. In some cases, plein-airs can be used as a component for the formation (or restoration) of artistic and cultural-historical complexes. Also, plein-airs intensify exhibition activities and contribute to the commercialization of the results of artistic creation.

BIMETALLIC PICK-AXE FROM THE DNIPRO FOREST-STEPPE LEFT BANK: CAUSE FOR CONVERSATION ABOUT THE SIMILAR ARMAMENT OF EARLY SCYTHIAN EPOCH IN EURASIA

The paper is devoted to a newfound artefact of the Scythian archaic epoch — a bimetallic pick-axe, discovered in the Vorskla River basin, near the city of Akhtyrka of Sumy region of Ukraine. Pick-axes are a kind of close-in fighting weapon, along with picks and axes, quite rare for the Scythian Age. The specimen under study belongs to a relatively small group of bimetallic pick-axes, consisting of an iron (or steel) warhead and a bronze socket. Like most bimetallic pick-axes, the specimen from Akhtyrka has a bird’s head with slotted eyes and a curved beak (part of the beak is lost) under the striker, cast together with the socket.
 The bimetallic pick-axes from Akhtyrka is, at the moment, the most western reliable find of this type of weapon. The paper includes a catalog of bimetallic pick-axes of the early Scythian Age from Eurasia, numbering 24 items: 2 — Western Siberia, 4 — Southern Urals, 3 — Volga-Kama region, 3 — Western Asia (3; most likely 2 pick-axes kept in the British Museum and the Metropolitan Museum are from the same region), Aral Sea (1), Colchis, Western Georgia (3), North Caucasus (2), Kuban (1), Taman (1), Northern Azov region, Eastern Ukraine (1), Vorskla basin, Eastern Ukraine (1). Most of the bimetallic pick-axes (18 items) have a sculptural image of a bird’s head between the striker and the socket.
 The main chronological indicators of the time of existence of the bimetallic pick-axes are 4 assemblages: mound 84 of the Uygarak burial ground (first half of the 7th century BC); mound 5 of the Kichigino-I burial ground (second half — late 7th century BC); grave G of the Ananyino ground burial; grave near the village of Imirler (both — second half of the 7th — early 6th century BC). In the light of the discussion that has been going on for more than 20 years about the dating of the early Scythian culture, it seems important that none of these complexes dates back to the 8th century BC. Accordingly, the time of existence of bimetallic pick-axes must be attributed to the 7th — first half of the 6th century BC.
 The chronological priority of the Uygarak pick-axe in relation to the Asia Minor pick-axes allows us to conclude that the latter are markers of the advance of the Saka military contingent to the Middle East, as part of the famous Asia Minor campaigns of the Scythians. Accordingly, the finds of pick-axes in the Caucasus, the Kuban region and Eastern Ukraine should be considered as markers of the movement of some part of the Scythian military contingent to Europe during or immediately after the Asiatic campaigns. The concentration of pick-axes in the area of the Ananyino culture is explained by the migration of part of the Scythian or Saka military contingent, recorded by Herodotus.
 The dating of the main chronological indicators makes it possible to draw a correlation with bronze pick-axes, which have become widespread in the eastern regions of Eurasia. The variety of forms of bronze pick-axes from Southern Siberia, Altai and Tuva, as well as their chronological priority, allow us to conclude that bimetallic pick-axes are derived from bronze ones. Apparently, in the first half of the 7th century BC a technological innovation takes place, as a result of which the bronze blade are replaced with an iron / steel plate inserted into a bronze socket. The currently available archaeological sources make it possible to connect this innovation with the Aral Sea region and the historical Sakas but it is still premature to draw final conclusions.