Intracranial volume (ICV) is an important indicator of the development of the brain and skull in children. At present, there is a lack of ICV growth standards based on large infant and children samples. Our aim was to assess the normal range of the ICV variation in Russian children using a modern automatic system for constructing the endocranial cavity (Endex) and to provide growth standards of the ICV for clinical practice. High-resolution head CT scans were obtained from 673 apparently healthy children (380 boys and 293 girls) aged 0–17 years and transformed into the ICV estimates using the Endex software. The open-source software RefCurv utilizing R and the GAMLSS add-on package with the LMS method was then used for the construction of smooth centile growth references for ICV according to age and sex. We demonstrated that the ICVs estimates calculated using the Endex software are perfectly comparable with those obtained by a conventional technique (i.e. seed feeling). Sex-specific pediatric growth charts for ICV were constructed. This study makes available for use in clinical practice ICV growth charts for the age from 0 to 17 based on a sample of 673 high-resolution CT images.

Introduction. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) is an indirect method of body composition assessment. The equipment for BIA measurements is produced in many countries including Russia and may differ in electrical current frequencies, measurement schemes and built-in algorithms for the evaluation of body composition. In view of this, body composition estimates from various BIA instruments may be inconsistent which limits the ability to combine and generalize BIA data. Our purpose was to analyze the consistency and possibility of joint use of the BIA data obtained using the ABC-01 ‘Medas’ (SRC Medas, Moscow) and Diamant-AIST (LLC Diamant, St. Petersburg) instruments in adults. Materials and methods. 185 adult volunteers (107 women and 78 men) aged 18 to 61 years were examined according to the standard anthropometric measurement protocol and on the basis of paired consecutive measurements with the bioimpedance body composition instruments ABC-01 ‘Medas’ and Diamant-AIST. The estimates of fat-free mass (FFM), body fat (BF) and percentage body fat (%BF) were compared. Mutual calibration of the bioimpedance data was carried out based on transformation of the Diamant-AIST data using a conversion formula between the ABC-01 ‘Medas’ and Diamant-AIST resistances and subsequent application the ABC-01 ‘Medas’ body composition assessment algorithm. Results. There were significant differences in the median values of FFM, BF and %BF estimates provided by the ABC-01 ‘Medas’ and Diamant-AIST instruments. The FFM values in females using the ABC-01 ‘Medas’ instrument were significantly lower, and the BF and %BF were significantly higher as compared to the Diamant-AIST data. In males, the inverse relationship was observed while maintaining significant differences between the medians. The differences in paired estimates of body composition data provided by the ABC-01 ‘Medas’ instrument and the transformed Diamant-AIST data in males and females, respectively, were statistically insignificant. Also, the confidence intervals for the differences of paired body composition estimates reduced essentially, but still not ensured good consistency of individual body composition data. Conclusions. Significant differences in paired values of fat-free mass, fat mass and relative body fat using the ABC-01 ‘Medas’ and Diamant-AIST bioimpedance instruments are obtained. The possibility of mutual calibration and joint analysis of the related bioimpedance data at the group level is established. @ 2023. This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 license.

BACKGROUND: The present state of the global agricultural industry caused by growing consumption of crop and livestock products demands its practical solution that can be achieved, first of all, using high-quality equipment for production and its constant improvement and renovation. Regarding this, using high-quality tillage units which partially or completely improve productiveness and reduce energy consumption during their operation becomes necessary. AIMS: Process mechanization and improvement of quality of soil cultivating with the developed refined tillage tool. METHODS: Accomplishment of the given research tasks and ensuring the demaned quality of soil cultivating are done with making changes in working bodies of a disk-chisel harrow at its operation at various velocities on the experimental field by means of adjustment of disk attack angle and measurement of corresponding performance indicators of the unit. Processing of the theoretical data was performed with the Microsoft Excel 2007 software of the Microsoft Office software package. RESULTS: With the comparison of the data obtained at observing the soil external state before and after disk attack angle adjustment, it may be concluded that the proposed technical equipment gives better soil cultivating with the disk attack angles of 15 and 30. At this adjustment level it can be observed that soil is cultivated properly with a pretty good overturning. CONCLUSIONS: With the analysis of the given data, it is found that the tendency of values of productiveness and specific resistance indicators begin to change. The larges fuel consumption is observed at disk module adjustment to 45.

The article evaluates the trends and factors of preventable mortality in the Republic of Tuva. We formulate proposals to reduce mortality and increase life expectancy. The authors used the Federal State Statistics Service data on mortality in the Republic of Tuva and in the Russian Federation during the COVID-19 pandemic and before its onset, as well as bioimpedance monitoring data from the Health Center of the Republic of Tuva.We used a list of preventable causes of death that were grouped by levels of preventive measures. This allows identifying the most relevant focus areas: problems related to the conditions and ways of people's lives, issues of early detection and timely treatment of oncological diseases, problems of the quality of medical care in the treatment of socially significant diseases. The prevalence of nutritional risk factors for the development of chronic diseases in the examined sample of persons aged 18 years and older (over 5,000 people) was estimated according to their physical development data.Young people are recognized as a risk group in the Republic of Tuva. If primary prevention is the most relevant method of reducing mortality among young men, then for young women it is early detection of malignant diseases and the quality of medical care. The results of the study have shown that COVID-19 caused relatively less demographic damage to the republic than to many other territories of Russia.

В статье оцениваются тенденции и факторы предотвратимой смертности в Республике Тыва, сформулированы предложения по сокращению смертности и росту продолжительности жизни. Использованы данные Росстата о смертности в Республике Тыва и в Российской Федерации в период пандемии COVID-19 и до ее начала, а также данные биоимпедансометрии Центра здоровья Республики Тыва. Используется список предотвратимых причин смерти, сгруппированных по уровням профилактики, что позволяет выявлять наиболее актуальные направления: проблемы, связанные с условиями и образом жизни населения, проблемы раннего выявления и своевременного лечения онкологических заболеваний, проблемы качества оказания медицинской помощи при лечении социально значимых заболеваний. Распространенность нутритивных факторов риска развития хронических заболеваний в обследованной выборке лиц в возрасте от 18 лет и старше (свыше 5000 человек) оценена по данным физического развития. Группой риска в Республике Тува признана молодёжь. Если для юношей наиболее актуальным методом снижения смертности является первичная профилактика, то для девушек — раннее выявление злокачественных заболеваний и качество оказания медицинской помощи. Результаты исследования показали, что COVID-19 нанес сравнительно меньший демографический урон республике, чем многим другим территориям нашей страны.

The object of research in this article is the design of the filter with bulk dispersed media; this type of device has a wide application within the framework of water treatment for technological needs of food enterprises. On the basis of the data of the previously obtained complex of theoretical and experimental studies of the process of bulk filtration of mechanically activated aqueous solutions, the main purpose of the work is to find effective options for modernisation of the filter design with bulk dispersed media, allowing one to improve the filtration process, namely to increase productivity and improve the quality of filtrate. The research methods included both theoretical (methods of analysis, comparison, etc.) and experimental measures aimed at studying vibromechanical activation of the initial solution in the process of filtration, studying the physical and chemical properties of the activated solution, and determining the rational modes of mechanical action. The results obtained in the course of the research are determined by the basis of the modernisation of the device, the changes made in the design had a positive effect on its operation, and the cycle time changed by 20-22 %. The achievements of the device modernisation are represented by: built-in vibromechanoactivators; washing and regeneration without the use of reagents; measurement by sensors of indicators in the device tanks before and after the filtering process; improved wear resistance and durability of the casing coating inside and outside. On this basis, further plans are focused on the realisation of the design ideas into an experimental industrial unit and subsequent research in laboratory and industrial conditions.

A comprehensive investigation of nutritional status of children with oncological diseases using reference methods of body composition analysis is of interest for optimizing nutritional support during and after cancer treatment. In this paper, we report the first clinical use of the deuterium dilution method for body composition assessment in children in the early period after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in Russia. Our study is carried out as a part of the IAEA project on applying nuclear methods for the evaluation of nutritional status in childhood cancer. It was approved by the Independent Ethics Committee and the Scientific Council of the Dmitry Rogachev National Medical Research Center of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Immunology. From February 2021 to April 2023, the study enrolled 39 patients aged 5 to 17 years, 4 of whom were subsequently excluded. Out of the remaining 35 patients (25 boys and 10 girls with the median age of 9.7 years), 25 were diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 4 with acute myeloid leukemia, 3 with aplastic anemia, 2 with acute bilineal leukemia, and 1 with lymphoma. The children were assessed at the following time points: between day –30 and day –10 of HSCT (time point 1); between day –2 and day +2 of HSCT (time point 2); between day +30 and day +45 after HSCT (time point 3), between day +100 and day +125 after HSCT (time point 4), and between day +280 and day +380 after HSCT (time point 5). Two patients were assessed at all 5 time points, 21 patients – at 4 time points, 11 patients – at 3 time points, and 1 patient – at two time points. All the patients required parenteral nutrition between time points 2 and 3 ( n = 35). Out of these, 7 patients also received parenteral nutrition support from time point 3 to 4. All the patients were given enteral nutrition support starting from time point 3. Evaluations at each time point included clinical status assessment, laboratory testing, a bioimpedance analysis (BIA), anthropometric measurements, the assessment of oral intake as well as the amount and quality of nutritional support. Measurements using the deuterium dilution method (DDM) and a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) were performed only at time points 1, 4, and 5. The DDM was applied in 8 out of 35 patients. Body composition was measured using all three methods (DDM, DXA, and BIA) at least at one time point in 7 patients and at two adjacent time points in 3 patients. The results of body composition assessment using the DDM, DXA and BIA were compared. The statistical significance of individual changes and differences between paired measurements of body composition were evaluated using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test for dependent data with a threshold significance level of p = 0.05. Before HSCT, 17 out of 35 patients were overweight or obese according to the body mass index (BMI) thresholds set by the World Health Organization, and only 2 out of 35 patients were underweight, which corresponds to the common understanding of nutritional status in children before HSCT. Nevertheless, according to BIA findings, 11 out of 18 patients with normal or reduced BMI had an increased or high body fat percentage (%BF), which may be an evidence of a catabolic state. Between time points 1 and 4, there was a sharp decrease in mean body weight and BMI due to a reduction in fat-free mass (FFM) and, to a lesser extent, in fat mass (FM), indicating the progression of catabolic changes. A comparison of body composition estimates obtained by the DDM, DXA, and BIA revealed the smallest differences between the DDM and BIA measurements (–1.0 kg difference for FFM). However, the estimates of FFM obtained by DXA were significantly lower than those obtained by the DDM and BIA (by 2.3 kg and 3.3 kg, respectively), while FM and %BF estimated by DXA were significantly higher than those estimated by the DDM and BIA (by 2.6 kg and 3.8 kg, and by 7.8% and 10.9%, respectively) which could be explained by an increase in FFM hydration. Our preliminary data demonstrate good agreement between the DDM, DXA and BIA in assessing FFM, FM and %BF changes at a group level, but not at an individual level. A larger sample size is needed to clarify the obtained results and to compare the clinical significance of these methods of body composition assessment in children with cancer during and after HSCT.

Despite the presence of body composition studies in Russia, there are no current reviews on this topic, and the results are relatively rarely published abroad. Our aim was to describe the history and current state of this research work, to list unresolved problems, and to outline possible developmental trends. For completeness, in the initial part of the review, traditional research areas indirectly related to body composition studies are considered, namely, the analysis of biological variation of anthropometric parameters and somatotyping. It can be seen that anthropometry and bioimpedance analysis (BIA) are mainly used to assess body composition in Russia. Other methods, such as double-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), are utilized less often. The achievements include the common use of comprehensive anthropometry in anthropological studies, some advancements in clinical studies, approbation of potentially important methods such as the deuterium dilution method and three-dimensional laser-based photonic scanning, and ongoing mass population BIA measurements in health centers. Various bioimpedance instruments are manufactured, the local reference BIA body composition data are available, and a large updated BIA database is ready for international comparisons. Among major limitations of body composition research in Russia, one can note the lack of validation studies using reference methods, so that foreign regression formulas are used with the double indirect methods, such as anthropometry and BIA, despite the fact that their accuracy has not yet been checked in our population. Conventional reference body composition assessment methods, such as three- or four-component molecular-level models and whole-body in vivo neutron activation analysis, were not applied yet, despite the technical feasibility. In general, it can be argued that the body composition research in Russia follows the observed global trends. Along with the achievements, there are a number of unresolved methodological and organizational issues. Prospects for further research include validation studies, updating reference population body composition data, and establishing local cut-offs for malnutrition and disease risks. In our view, further development could be facilitated with the establishment of well-equipped Human Body Composition Units in major Russian research centers, such as Moscow State University, which could be assigned a coordinating and methodical role.

Improving the environmental friendliness of agricultural production is a paramount task that needs to be addressed in the near future. As a result of production activities, an agricultural enterprise affects the environment and in most cases this impact is detrimental. Pollution of water and atmospheric basins, reduction of soil fertility is the result of inefficient production activities, the consequences of which will not be long in coming and will turn into a tragedy for the agricultural sector. The deterioration of the quality of soil, water and atmosphere will negatively affect future crops, and failure to comply with the requirements for land reclamation will lead to depletion of fertile soils. Therefore, taking into account the influence of environmental factors on the development of agricultural production is relevant and in demand.

Extensive bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) data have the potential of health monitoring and the assessment of health risks at the population level. The importance of BIA data lies in their availability and abundance for many countries. In Russia, mass BIA data are generated by the national network of health centers (HCs). Our aim was to describe the structure and capabilities of the updated HCs' BIA database. Upon several requests between 2012 and 2020, 369 HCs representing all Federal districts of Russia and 60 out of 85 Federal subjects in them, submitted raw bioimpedance data which were obtained using the same type of BIA instrument, namely ABC-01 'Medas' (SRC Medas, Russia). After application of strict selection criteria, 2,429,977 BIA measurement records were selected that formed the updated 2010-2019 HCs' database. Various slices of the BIA data are described according to spatiotemporal, demographic and other characteristics. Reference curves of the bioimpedance phase angle according to age and sex are presented. Limitations and prospects for further work are outlined. We believe that, after appropriate sampling, the database can be utilized to study biological, geographical, social and other associations of the bioimpedance and body composition parameters, for generating updated national references, international comparisons and data standardization.

This article summarizes the results of an experimental study conducted to research the effect of mechanical activation on the process of filtration of suspension liquids. The experimental studies were carried out in laboratory settings and in an industrial fish processing plant. A more effective design of a washing filter with vibrating cartridges has been developed as a result of this study.

An empirical Benford's law which describes the probability of the appearance of certain first significant digits in many distributions taken from real life, is used to identify anomalies in various kinds of data. Our aim was to test Benford's law to assess the quality of mass preventive screening data on the example of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) data from Moscow health centers. As was shown earlier, such a data is characterized by a high level of contamination by artificially generated and falsified data. A generated 2010–2019 database of BIA measurements contained 1361019 measurement records in the age range of the examined persons from 5 to 96 years. Application of the expert quality assessment algorithm, which was used as a reference for evaluation of the effectiveness of Benford analysis, revealed a high percentage of incorrect data (66.5 %) which was dominated by falsified data. To characterize the degree of the data compliance with Benford's law, the mean absolute deviations of the frequency distributions of the first and first two significant digits deviations from the proper values and chi-squared statistics for the tenth powers of the standardized resistance, reactance, and resistance index values were assessed for each health center. A significant correlation was observed between the data deviation from Benford's law and the percentage of incorrect data as provided by the expert quality assessment algorithm (ρmax = 0.66 and 0.62 for the mean absolute deviations and χ2 statistics, respectively, based on the resistance value and the first significant digit). It is suggested that deviation of the BIA data from Benford's law serves as a sufficient, but not a necessary, condition for their contamination. For those health centers, in which most of the incorrect data were represented by multiple measurements of the same person under the guise of different ones, the data were in good agreement with Benford's law. If the structure of incorrect data was dominated by measurements of the calibration block, software emulations of BIA measurements and outliers, then the use of Benford's law made it possible to effectively rank health centers by the level of data authenticity.

The article formulates the problems of the development of measurement control regulators in digital platforms. Attention is paid to the role of the digital revolution and metrology on the economy of enterprises and the transformation of the service sector model as a whole. Attention is paid to the impact of the digital revolution and metrology on the economy. The article presents and substantiates the policy of introduction of metrological support for innovative development in the context of the digital cybernetic revolution. The proposed policy pays attention to the consideration of the fundamental model of cyber-physical systems, as a technological basis for the implementation of a new industrial evolution in metrological context. The importance of organizing of measurement principles in network infrastructure and communication protocols in the context of economic transformation is emphasized. A model of the use and implementation of chaos engineering and information technologies in metrological apparatus is considered.

The role and significance of adaptive neuro-fuzzy systems as well as the theory of fuzzy sets are considered in the article. The method for determination of the truth of the rules is interrogated, the iterative feature of the algorithm under study is put on focus. The practical implementation of calculation of the fuzzification layer function and the functional significance of the mathematical apparatus of the network are presented. The importance of the used perception in creation of a fuzzy inference apparatus in digital and analogue actuators is put on focus. A model for the practical use of the algorithm during simulation of the operation of a device in an unmanned vehicle is provided.

The optimal parameters and operating modes of vibratory roller for soil compaction after sowing winter wheat were substantiated. For objective function - the optimum coefficient of variation of density of soil during operation of vibratory roller for compacting winter wheat regression equation was obtained in the planning according to the B K plan of the experiment. The adequacy of model according to Fisher criterion, the significance and reliability of coefficients of regression equation was established. The response surface obtained by the shape of hyperboloid rotation was studied, two-dimensional sections of three factors were constructed on optimization criterion. With its minimum value, the optimal parameters of vibratory roller were established: the mass of roller is 293 kg, the spring stiffness is 11.95 kN/m, the working speed of roller is 9.6 km/h. The minimum value of optimization criterion is 10.43%.

The paper deals with the problem of asymptomatic manifestations of negative factors that have an impact on the quality of products and the operation of technical systems. The role and significance of the dilemma of detection of atypical problems of specific industries has been studied using practical examples and situations. The author's version of the analysis and identification of such situations, deduced through the error function in the author's algorithm, is presented. The application of a software and analytical platform based on the Bloom filter of input parametric valuesof operation of devices (objects of analysis) is considered.

A comparative study of the calipers GPM (DKSH, Switzerland), Holtain (Holtain Ltd, Great Britain), the caliper designed by V.E. Deryabin, and the sliding caliper GPM (Martin type) was carried out by the four measurers. The study was conducted using a metal caliper checking gauge GPM, a ‘sandwiches’ of soft silicone rubber kSil™ GP250 (Silicon Engineering, UK), as well as by measurements of subscapular, triceps, suprailiac, and calf skinfolds utilized in the Heath-Carter somatotype assessment scheme, in 20 adult volunteers (10 women and 10 men). Results and discussion. When measuring the caliper checking gauge, the V.E. Deryabin’s and the sliding caliper were accurate, the caliper GPM slightly underestimated (by 0.2 mm), and the caliper Holtain overestimated the exact values (by 0.4-0.6 mm). When measuring ‘sandwiches’ of silicone rubber, the GPM and Holtain calipers showed small but statistically significant differences between measurers (up to 1.4 mm), and for the V.E. Deryabin’s caliper, these differences were more pronounced (up to 5 mm). With a sufficiently high reproducibility of skinfold data, the mean values of their total thickness for the GPM and Holtain calipers differed significantly, and for the V.E. Deryabin and GPM calipers, there were no significant differences. The measurement data using the sliding caliper were consistent with those for the Holtain caliper but showed the largest variation of data between measurers: the maximal difference of the total skinfold thickness averages was 5.2 mm and 7.1 mm in the female and male subgroups, respectively, or 10-14% of the total averages. Conclusion. The results obtained support the need for mutual comparison of skinfold calipers and control of technical measurement errors to ensure data comparability. Cross-calibration of skinfold calipers is a necessary procedure that should precede the anthropometric study. When measured by an experienced anthropologist, the technical error of measuring skinfolds with a sliding caliper can be reduced, but this instrument is not recommended for training and subsequent use for skinfold measurements due to the high risk of obtaining inconsistent data.

Approaches to solving the problem of determination of the permissible level of traction current asymmetry in railway transport that is required for the transition from service according to the standard value to the actual service are reviewed in the article. The presented solutions, which are based on the machine learning method, comply with the policy of the Russian Railways company in the field of transformation of the railway automation and telemechanics economy. Methods for collection of information from devices subject to the influence of traction current asymmetry are proposed to solve the problem. Method for calculation of the traction current asymmetry coefficient based on machine learning methods is selected and justified. The Lasso method is used as a machine learning method for solving the regression problem. This method allows to predict the required value with high accuracy, including cases of work with big data.

Sorghum is one of the staple foods in the Republic of Burundi, where food security is at risk. Sorghum is genetically adapted to hot and dry agroecologies and is used not only as food, but also as feed for poultry and cattle. There is a problem of increasing the yield of sorghum and reducing the high labor costs in its cultivation in the Republic of Burundi, since in general agriculture is characterized by a natural species with a predominance of food and seasonal crops, which occupy about 90 % of the cultivated land. Traditional African agriculture is based on a system with individual elements of intensive farming and is not well prepared for the use of high-tech machinery and tools of production. On the plots of a peasant family of about 0,8 hectares (two acres) with the help of a hoe and a machete with a shift farming system, the yield of sorghum reaches 1,0 ... 1,3 t / ha. For peasant farms in the form of production cooperatives with an area of 200 ... 300 hectares, where it is possible to conduct intensive farming and to use of modern technical units of high productivity in order to increase yields several times, there was proposed the Mounted discochisel harrow developed in the Kuban State Agrarian University. The harrow consists of a three-girder frame, brackets, a disc module, disc rippers, a chisel module, chisel rippers and a packer roller. Its purpose of peeling, plowing and seedbed cultivation, thanks to a special regulating mechanism, is performed by the unit in one pass. This will help to achieve lower operating and energy costs due to the fact that tillage work is carried out in a very short time.