Background: DNA-image cytometry (DNA-ICM) is able to detect gross alterations of cellular DNA-content representing aneuploidy, a biomarker of malignancy. A Health Canada-approved DNA-ICM system, ClearCyte ® in combination with a cytopathologist's review, has demonstrated high sensitivity (89%) and specificity (97%) in identifying high-grade oral lesions. The study objective was to create an improved automated algorithm (iClearcyte) and test its robustness in differentiating high grade from benign reactive oral lesions without a cytopathologist's input.Methods: A set of 214 oral brushing samples of oral cancer (n = 92), severe dysplasia (n = 20), reactive lesions (n = 52), and normal samples (n = 50) were spun down onto slides and stained using Feulgen-Thionin reaction. Following ClearCyte ® scan, nuclear features were calculated, and nuclei categorized into "diploid," "hyperdiploid," "tetraploid," and "aneuploid" DNA ploidy groups by the ClearCyte ® software. The samples were randomized into training and test sets (70:30) based on patient's age, sex, tobacco use, and lesion site risk. The training set was used to create a new algorithm which was then validated using the remaining samples in the test set, where sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated. Results:The proposed iClearCyte algorithm (>1 "aneuploid" cell or ≥ 1.7% combined "hyperdiploid" and "tetraploid" nuclei frequency) identified high-grade samples with sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of 100.0%, 86.7%, 89.7%, and 100.0%, respectively, in the test set. Conclusion:The iClearCyte test has potential to serve as a robust non-invasive automated oral cancer screening tool promoting early oral cancer detection and decreasing the number of unnecessary invasive biopsies. K E Y W O R D S aneuploidy, DNA-image cytometry, oral cancer, oral cancer screening, oral mucosa | 503 PARFENOVA Et Al.

The possibility of using base metals and alloys based on them as electrodes for a new type of membraneless fuel cells operating on renewable fuel has been investigated. The phase boundary of two immiscible liquids in the ethanol-water-potassium hydroxide system plays a role of a membrane in these elements. Top phase of this fuel cell has significant alcohol content and insignificant electrolyte content, bottom phase has significant electrolyte content and insignificant alcohol content. Platinum-and rutheniumcoated titanium electrode, carbon electrode and stainless steel electrode were used as the anode. Stainless steel electrode and carbon steel electrode were used as the cathode. The possibility of using ferrous alloys as anode and cathode catalysts in this type of fuel cells is shown.

The issues of waste disposal are currently having a global technological and economic complexity. The severity of the environmental problem is specified by the accumulation of large volumes of various wastes, including sewage sludge (SS). Modern technologies can provide its disposal with environmental and economic benefits. SS is a rich source of nutrients with a high fertilization potential. This work aims to study the utilization of wastewater sludge in recycling technology for agriculture. The composition of urban sewage sludge and its impact on the properties of gray forest soil were studied. It was shown that its application in a dose of 40-60 t/ha promoted an increase in the content of humus, mobile phosphorus and exchangeable potassium in the soil and a decrease in acidity. The noted increase in the content of the studied heavy metals upon the introduction of various doses of sludge did not exceed the approximate permissible concentration (APC) in the soil. The results showed that the use of SS as a fertilizer restores the balance of organic matter in soils and improves their agroecological properties. This technology, as a safe way of recycling waste into a valuable complex fertilizer, contributes to resource conservation.

Pollution of the natural environment of the city with heavy metals (HM) from various sources receives much attention. They accumulate, exceeding the background level, cause pollution of the surface of the soil cover, vegetation, natural waters. It should be noted that their accumulation turns soils into a source of secondary pollution of natural environments and poses a threat to human health. In this regard, the monitoring studies, in addition to the traditional control of the HM content in soils, should assess the trend of changes in the level of pollution and their consequences. The object of research is soils, subject to varying degrees of anthropogenic burden. The analysis revealed a significant variation in all studied elements, which indicates a negative trend of their gradual increase. The average content of HMs was found not extreme but the rate of their accumulation raises concerns. An excess of MPC was found along highways (up to 500 m), from the railway (up to 20 m): Pb by 1.25–3 times; Cd - 1.65; Ni - 1.69-1.81; on the adjacent territory to the gas station by 1.37 times for copper, and 3.45 times for lead, which indicates the danger of pollution of the urban environment.

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