Identification Of Paraproteins Via Serum Immunofixation or Serum Immunosubtraction and Immunoturbidimetric Quantitation of Serum Immunoglobulins in the Laboratory Testing for Monoclonal Gammopathies: A Comparison of Methods

Context.— In laboratory testing for monoclonal gammopathies, paraproteins are identified via serum immunofixation or serum immunosubtraction and immunoturbidimetric quantitation of serum immunoglobulins is often used. Objective.— To evaluate methodic differences between serum immunofixation and serum immunosubtraction as well as in the quantitation of serum immunoglobulins on different clinical chemical platforms. Design.— Three hundred twenty-two unique routine patient samples were blinded and used for comparison between serum immunofixation on Sebia's HYDRASIS 2 and serum immunosubtraction on Sebia's CAPILLARYS 2 as well as between quantitation results of immunoglobulin A, G, and M on Abbott's ARCHITECT c16000PLUS and Roche's Cobas c 502 module. Microsoft Excel 2019 with the add-on Abacus 2.0 and MedCalc were used for statistical analysis and graphic depiction via bubble diagram, Passing-Bablok regressions, and Bland-Altman plots. Results.— The median age of patients was 75 years and samples with paraproteinemia were nearly evenly split between sexes. Paraprotein identification differed remarkably between immunofixation and immunosubtraction. Quantitation of serum immunoglobulins showed higher values on Abbott's ARCHITECT c16000PLUS when compared with Roche's Cobas c 502 module. Conclusions.— Identification of paraproteins via serum immunosubtraction is inferior to serum immunofixation, which can have implications on the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with monoclonal gammopathy. If immunoturbidimetric quantitation of immunoglobulins is used for follow-up, the same clinical-chemical platform should be used consistently.

OPTIMIZATION OF RESOURCE POTENTIAL AS A STRATEGIC DIRECTION OF ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT

The objective of the study is to build an optimization model that will allow finding the most effective combinations of resource potential to maximize the final result in the conditions of limited resources. In the course of the research the following methods and techniques were used: abstract-logical (in generalizing the theoretical and methodological approaches to defining the notion of resource potential), comparative (analysis of the current state and identifying the tendencies of development of the phenomena under study), graphical (graphic depiction of dependencies), method of economic and mathematical modeling (for building a model of optimization of resource potential of an enterprise). The article investigates the essence of the concept of "resource potential" and develops a methodology for determining the effect of the implementation of management activities. Methodological bases of construction and principles of action of the mechanism of stimulation of managers and specialists of agricultural enterprise are based on the definition of "additional profit" as the difference between the "real" profit of the enterprise and its "conditional" value, i.e. the one that would be received by the enterprise in its resource potential if it was used correctly. It is proved that the available financial resources of the enterprise were used irrationally. Taking into account the structure and qualitative composition of production resources, it is confirmed that increase of the level of profitability of agricultural enterprises is possible due to optimal distribution of resource potential. An economic and mathematical model is proposed, the result of which is the optimization of limited production resources of agricultural producers. It is proved that in order to solve this problem, it is necessary to apply an effective system of incentives for managerial staff. The measures proposed in the study will be optimal, taking into account the production of all types of agricultural products, the use of existing production resources, the planned costs for the production of a unit of each type of product and its sale price.

A SIMPLE STOCHASTIC MODEL FOR THE SARS-COV-2 EPIDEMIC CURVE

An epidemic curve is a graphic depiction of the number of outbreak cases by date of illness onset, ordinarily constructed after the disease outbreak is over. However, a good estimate of the epidemic curve early in an outbreak would be invaluable to health care officials. On the other hand, from the end of February, the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Brazil seems to not following the Europe, or in particular, Italy or Spain. Even if less tests have been applied, there are less deaths occurring in Brazil than in both cited countries. However, due to the few applied tests, there is no certain planning on the real number of active cases. To estimate the number of future cases, epidemiologists make an educated guess as to how many people might become affected. We have proposed a simple fitting model using a simulated annealing technique, testing it with the South Korea data. We have tested and discussed the uncertainties of the model. We also have analyzed the trends in the confirmed cases using this model for the five most affected countries plus Brazil along several epidemic weeks.

Nationalizing Realism in Dermot Bolger’s The Journey Home

Dermot Bolger’s third novel, The Journey Home, emerged in 1990 in the author’s home country of the Republic of Ireland, yet took 18 years to be republished in the United States in 2008. The novel’s graphic depiction of an array of abuses, including sexual, physical, political, and economic, not only illustrated the author’s intention to shock the reading public regarding the government’s conscious disregard for these struggles, but its publication also elucidated the aftereffects of exposing the differences between experiences with abuse and the ways in which both national and socio-economic processes mediate their interpretations. In this paper, I will argue that Bolger’s illustration of corruption and abuse does not only display a contrast between the public and those who represent their image, but also how socioeconomic paradigms are used to mediate perceptions of what constitutes ‘reality’.

A simple Stochastic model for the SARS-CoV-2 Epidemic curve

An epidemic curve is a graphic depiction of the number of outbreak cases by date of illness onset, ordinarily constructed after the disease outbreak is over. However, a good estimate of the epidemic curve early in an outbreak would be invaluable to health care officials. On the other hand, from the end of February, the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Brazil seems to not follow the Europe, or in particular, Italy or Spain. Even if less tests have been applied, there are less deaths occurring in Brazil than in both cited countries. However, since few tests were applied, there is no certain planning on the real number of active cases. To estimate the number of future cases, epidemiologists make an educated guess as to how many people might become affected. We have proposed a simple fitting model using a simulated annealing technique, testing it with the South Korea data. We have tested and discussed the uncertainties of the model. We also have analyzed the trends in the confirmed cases using this model for the five most affected countries plus Brazil along several epidemic weeks.

Intellectual Measuring Complex for Control of Geometrical Parameters of Aviation Details

This chapter proposes a new automated method of measuring complex three-dimensional surfaces of aircraft parts in static and dynamic modes. The method allows conducting measurements in closed conditions and at the site of the aircraft disposition. The method consists in the continuous determination of the coordinates of the points of the surface of the detail and their representation in a three-dimensional graphic depiction. New methods of measuring the geometric parameters of parts with the complex spatial surface are suggested. This opens the prospect for the development of new ways of measuring geometric parameters of parts in real-time with high metrological characteristics and computer simulation of the measurement process. The differential-digital method is based on the suggested zero-coordinate principle of the measurement process which involves simultaneous parts availability check, and connects measurement result obtained which provided a reduction in the order of measurement error.

Usage of the associativity principle in the cartographic symbols’ design

Cartographic symbols evoke certain psychological associations regarding phenomena, objects and the interrelation between them in the imagination of the cartographic models’ user. Different associations depend on the person’s memory, as it is a general complex of cognitive characteristics and higher psychological functions that relate to the accumulation, storage and reproduction of knowledge and skills. In the formation of a generalized image of cartographic models in users of different levels of development and consciousness, there are different levels of application of the principle of associativity in the design of cartographic symbols. This is due to such features as age groups of users, the disclosure of thematic areas of cartographic models, and so on. The purpose of this article lies in grounding the application of the associativity principle, which is one of the main principles of cartographic symbols’ design, taking into account diff erences in the levels of users’ comprehension and consciousness, outlining topic-oriented maps, etc. Main material. When designing cartographic symbols, a number of diff erent principles have to be followed. One of them is the principle of associativity. When applying it, there have to be considered the associations of the cartographic object and their corresponding graphic depiction on the cartographic product. Such technique is called the principle of associations and stereotypes or the principle of associativity. The notion of association is widely used in psychology and philosophy and means psychological connections, i.e. the connections between the phenomena when one of them causes simultaneous appearance of others. The age, education, etc., are the factors that can infl uence the level of associativity. The article outlines the ways of the application the associativity principle in the development and design of a cartographic symbol. It also examines various cartographic methods and techniques that are used to achieve the associativity of symbols. Conclusions. The associativity principle in the cartographic symbols’ design is an important element of the qualitative creating and using of cartographic models. The study of the associativity principle is relevant and vital scientifi c branch which can greatly improve and perfect the cartographic models.

REGULATORY DOCUMENTS OF MILITARY LOGISTICS: CHANGES AND ADDITIONS

The author identifies deficiencies and suggests amendments and additions to the procedure of operational (combat) orders production (hereinafter referred to as the Procedure) as well as Field Manuals for the mechanized and tank forces of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in order to improve graphic depiction of the performance of military logistics units at operational and tactical level. The elimination of the identified deficiencies suggests the following changes: use identical typical symbols to depict similar in function units and elements of military logistics within all armed services and branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which requires prior coordination with various military command and control agencies; use only letters of the Ukrainian alphabet in textual modifiers of the conventional symbols, avoid duplication of conventional symbols, which stand for various types of equipment, in textual modifiers; clarify the existing symbols and add some new ones to the Procedure in order to identify the units and technical means of logistics as well as their functional performance while accomplishing their tasks, anticipate the logistics units of the prospective organizational structure as well as local industrial facilities. Taking in consideration the identified deficiencies, the following proposals for making changes and additions to specified regulatory documents are given: use identical symbols to indicate warehouses (artillery, engineering equipment, engineering weapons and ammunition storage, NBC protection equipment, topographic maps, armored vehicles, medical equipment); introduce new conventional symbols to indicate the performance of logistics units and all available means of military logistics (areas and points of transfer of material resources, points of meeting of automobile units with material means of rear services, technical means for cooking and washing clothing, patrols, supply and evacuation routes for the brigade ( regiment), local industrial facilities and economic infrastructure, mobile departments of deployed forces and service support elements); make recommendations regarding the size of letters for the footnotes on topographic maps scales 25,000 and 50,000, as well as codes of the maps used by military personnel with regard to the experience of participation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the antiterrorist operation (operation of the combined forces) in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions.