The work presents information about Georgia and the Caucasus by five authors of IX-X centuries Ibn Khordadbeh, Ibn Rustah (IX century), Al-Istakhri, Ibn Hawqal and Al-Mukaddasi Al-Bashari (X century). The research focuses not only on the translation of references but also on their content in different areas. Starting with the study of toponyms, ending with the economic function of the region in international trade. This issue is relevant and important for researchers interested in medieval history and the historical geography of Georgia and the Caucasus. The urgency of the topic is exacerbated by the ongoing military-political controversies in the region, in which process, of which the opposing parties, often citing the medieval authors to mark the historical belonging of disputed territories. First of all, the novelty of the work is the translations of the references, which were performed directly from the Arabic language and are presented in full or partial transliterations. Also novel is the X century maps presented in the study, which were not known to Georgian historiography until now and some of them are less studied worldwide. In the conclusion of this dissertation, the socio-economic, geographical, political or cultural issues are comprised, which are discussed in the main text as well. It is indicated the positive consequences that may result from the subsequent use of the translated texts. Conclusions are drawn and assumptions are made based on the references of the authors discussed in the paper.

Rectal cancer constitutes an important part of oncological diseases among patients and quite often becomes the cause of death. In our country from 2008 to 2017, the incidence of this disease has been increasing, according to the data of 2017, it is the fifth place in women, while in fourth place men. During this period methods of treatment were also gradually improved, and the better disease-related survival is associated with the introduction of multi-modal approach. However, the main problem remains that in most cases rectal cancer is diagnosed when it’s locally advanced and the treatment is relatively complicated and problematic. At present treatment of LARC consists of several steps: preoperative chemoradiotheray, radical transabdominal surgery and postoperative chemotherapy. Although such multi-modal approach reduced the local recurrence data, the issue remains problematic. Higher doses than 50.4 Gy would cause local recurrence decrease, but such kind of treatment is related to acute high-grade toxicity, increased morbidity and worsened quality of life. All this is possible with neoadjuvant volumetric modulated arc radiotherapy with simultaneous integrated boost technique, but in the review of literary sources, it has been revealed that there is no clear data about the efficacy of this technique.

Over the past decades, various international bodies have adopted many declarations, charters, conventions and programmes to protect and promote cultural heritage worldwide. European Cultural Routes by the Council of Europe, the World Heritage List and the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity of UNESCO are those frameworks in which efforts have been made to preserve and manage heritage across the globe. Within the UNESCO World Heritage programme, a relatively new Silk Roads Transnational and Serial Nomination appears to be another platform for international heritage management and cultural diplomacy. Within the UNESCO World Heritage Programme, a relatively new Silk Roads Transnational and Serial Nomination appears to be another platform for international heritage management and cultural diplomacy. The thesis aims to study historical and archaeological evidence for the “Silk Road” and related cultural heritage sites in Georgia to analyze the possibility of submitting them in the framework of the UNESCO World Heritage Silk Roads Transnational and Serial nomination. In doing so, the paper synthesises trade and transit roads leading to the territory of ancient and medieval Georgia and cultural heritage sites, including archaeological sites related to these roads. Historical, archaeological and numismatic data on the foreign cultural and economic ties of ancient and medieval Georgia, as well as theories of cultural heritage management and its value, provide a framework for the present study. As a result of the research, the trade routes operating in different periods and cultural heritage sites related to the Silk Roads have been identified in Georgia. The study's results complement the existing lacuna on the Caucasus section of the Silk Roads. Based on the abovementioned results, the prospect of Georgia’s inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage Serial and Transboundary Silk Road nomination is discussed. In this regard, challenges related to the state of conservation of the heritage sites and the cooperation with neighbouring countries are analysed. The study highlights the importance of re-thinking the historical past and outlines ways heritage sites can become a source of positioning a country in the international arena. Given the omplex values, including cultural, social, economic and political, of the cultural heritage corridors of the Silk Roads, the importance of properly presenting and promoting the cultural heritage sites associated with the Silk Roads is outlined.

Humor is a complex social and psychological phenomenon and it is an aspect of our daily social communication. The ability to perceive humor is different in all people. There are many reasons for this difference. It can be a factor of such a wide scale and importance as culture, cultural similarities-differences or peculiarities, as well as the linguistic mechanisms that lead to the successful communication of a humorous narrative. This paper presents an analysis of humorous discourse based on qualitative and quantitative research. Parallel to intercultural observations in the theoretical framework of pragmatics, sociopragmatics and semantics. 20 American "standup" monologues, 10 monologues of one of the famous Georgian comedy TV shows (Vano's show), 10 monologues of the famous American comedy TV show (Tonight Show with Stephen Colbert) and 80 terms of American and Georgian prison argot (code language of prisoners), (40 for each) are taken as empirical data of the paper. Empirical data is selected according to 3 main criteria: (1) Culture and aggressive humor (2) Gender and aggressive humor (2) Subculture and aggressive humor (3) Stereotypes/ minorities and aggressive humor Our research has confirmed that linguistic methods both intralinguistic: with semantic, lexical, grammatical and stylistic features, as well as extralinguistic: situation, topic area, time, place, receiver, sender and effective implications have a decisive role for humorists in achieving desired rhetorical effect. However, at the same time, we should mention the contribution of paralinguistic techniques – ((sudden) change of timbre and tone, gesticulation, body language, personalization, etc.) Linguistic aggressive strategies are the main driving force of their rhetoric, using which they most effectively criticize and attack the face of the targets, and as a result contribute to changing the consciousness of the society.

The dissertation - "The transformation of Human Capital and activation of innovative processes" – is structured in three chapters consists of an introduction, seven paragraphs, conclusion and attached list of references. The appendix contains the results of the research. The format of Introduction is standard. There is consistently listed the actuality of the work, the aim and the tasks of the research, object and subject, the theoretical and methodological bases, scientific innovation and its practical value. The first chapter - "The essence of the theory of human capital and innovation in the era of globalization" - covers two issues. 1. Human Capital: A Theoretical and Conceptual Analysis; 2. Activation of innovative processes as the result of transformation of human capital. The first chapter introduces the concept of human capital and its theories of origin. It was the scientists’ response to the formation of post-industrial, informative and innovative economy and society. The formation of the knowledge and innovative economy made the obvious necessity of intellectual labor and highly qualified specialists – their increasing role in economic growth, competitiveness and improvement. The 21st century and second half of the 20th century was characterized as replacement of physical and natural capital by human capital and diversification of the investments. As a result, share of human capital in national wealth of developed countries (for example: Belgium, Finland, the United States, Singapore, Switzerland, Japan, Iceland, etc.) covers 70-90% of the national wealth.

The Dissertation research studies two factual autobiographies of the 19th century. The contemporary theory of autobiography has been formed on the basis of the knowledge of cognitive sciences (Eakin 2008, Löschnigg 2006). Prior to the given research, these attitudes had not been applied to the study of Georgian autobiographical texts. When planning the research, it was also taken into account that the narratological strategies of description of the character’s consciousness were not fully integrated into the contemporary theory of autobiography. The purpose of the research was to identify the cognitive basis of functioning of the factual autobiography and find out how the biographical data of the autobiographer are semanticized in the autobiographical narrative. Another significant purpose of the research was to implement detailed analysis of the selected autobiographical texts. Research methodology was worked out based on the synthesis of the contemporary theory of autobiography and cognitive narratology. Selection and processing of the textual data were based on the cognitive grounds of recollection, as well as the importance of emotion for the functioning of consciousness. Based on cognitive narratology, the author defined the type of textual data that would be relevant for research purposes. As a result of the research, it was proved that an inalienable part of factual autobiography is fiction; the biographical data given in the text are organized based on the homeostatic needs of the narrator autobiographer; the experiencing autobiographer’s experience, is described in the text based on continuity and coherence. The study of Akaki Tsereteli’s My Adventure has made it possible to identify the dynamics of formation of the experience of the experiencing autobiographer. Research has proved that observation of the emotion of the experiencing autobiographer is a precondition for the study of formation of the above-mentioned experience. Georgian factual autobiography of the 19th century hardly ever describes the verbal thoughts of the experiencing autobiographer. The analysis of Mariam Jambakur-Orbeliani’s biography has also proved that creation of the factual autobiography is conditioned by the homeostatic needs of the narrator autobiographer. For Mariam, who was old-aged at the time of writing, her written autobiography fulfilled the function of a cognitive crutch. The research outcomes are of great theoretical value because, within the framework of the given research, the contemporary theory of autobiography was enhanced based on narratological categories worked out for the study of character’s consciousness. This forms substantial grounds for the study of factual autobiography. Research outcomes are of practical value as well: they form significant methodological basis for the study of the vast corpus of autobiographies written in the Georgian language.

It is known that a significant congenital disorder of homocysteine metabolism evokes blood vessels disorder, but the mechanism of this damage development is still not well established. Now, hyperhomocysteinemia is considered as an independent risk-factor of atherosclerotic vascular disease. The mechanism, by which hyperhomocysteinemia contributes the development of vascular damage is still unknown. What is established can be shortly summarized in this way: an increased concentration of total homocysteinemia affects the endothelial cells. Their damage, the activation of platelets, a damaging effect on thrombomodulin expression, the activation of tissue factor, an enhanced oxidativeness in low density lipid proteins – it is the list, in which any of above-said may be considered as possible mechanisms, by means of which homocysteine leads to atherosclerosis and thrombosis

The doctoral dissertation aims to analyze the U.S. public diplomacy objectives in Ge-orgia in the 1980s. The research goals include the exploration of the issues of the U.S. public diplomacy and national security in the 1980s, examination of the U.S. public diplomacy objectives toward the Soviet Union, specifically, toward Georgia and evaluation of Russia’s vision of American soft power in Georgia after the Russo-Georgian War of 2008. Based on the U.S. public diplomacy lessons from the 1980s, this dissertation supports recommendations to modern Georgia’s foreign policy regarding countering Russia’s soft power. The research data in this dissertation is mainly drawn from the primary sources – inc-luding but not limited to the archival documents, reports, and interviews – and secondary sources – works of American public diplomacy scholars, including monographs and articles. The research is interdisciplinary, as it covers the fields from the humanities, social and political sciences. Hence the research methodology is based on the combination of qualitative and quantitative methods from these fields. The dissertation analyzes the 1980s’ U.S. public diplomacy and national security issues; explores the 1980s’ U.S. public diplomacy objectives in the Soviet Union, specifically, in Georgia; evaluates Russia’s vision of American soft power in Georgia after the Russo-Georgian War of 2008 and supports recommendations to modern Georgia’s foreign policy...

The paper discusses the anti-government rallies launched during the Democratic Republic of Georgia in the Shida Kartli highlands (so-called "South Ossetia"), the scale of which increased to the point where they demanded the separation of the territory from Georgia and unification with Russia. A complete analysis of the controversy is important for the study, so both political, economic, and military events are discussed, which help us to perceive the full picture. There is a lot of material in this direction in the Central Archive of Georgia, in the archives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Center of Manuscripts. Most of them are published either in the modern period or in the contemporary press. Along with the authentic material, the memories of the participants are interesting, especially of two people, General Giorgi Kvinitadze and General Valiko Jugheli. Regardless of the subjectivity of the memoirs, based on a combination of sources, we can reconstruct and / or clarify many facts, which provides a basis for further analysis. This issue is quite important for the history of Georgia in the new and recent period, especially if we take into account the current political situation, when Russia has occupied the so-called. "South Ossetia" and allegations that Georgia organized genocide against Ossetians in 1920. This paper will discuss this view and also provide an overview of the situation in Georgia in terms of protection of the rights of ethnic minorities in 1918-1921, both in terms of legislation and the Constitution, as well as in practice.

Healthy mouth is an indicator of the level of human health and quality of life. Dental caries and diseases of parodontal tissue are especially important in a wide range of oral cavity diseases, which later define the violation of the integrity of the teeth rhythm, and even the loss of the teeth. Non carious lesions, like hypoplasia, fluorosis, erosion, abfraction, trauma, dental abscesses and other anomalies of jaw-facial tissues are also noteworthy. It is important to know the etiological factors of non carious lesions, to reduce the progression of existing diseases, to prevent further injuries and to plan treatment.

PhD thesis - ‘’ 1st-3rd centuries AD. local pottery vessels from the territory of Georgia’’ is an innovative scientific research. 1st-3rd centuries AD. earthenware discovered on the territory of Georgia have not been totally explored by the scientists yet. Ceramic ware is the most informative material among the archaeological discoveries. Ceramic production was the most widespread branch of the craftsmanship in old Georgia. Pottery is a material culture, which contains the widest information about the development of the economic and industrial aspects of the society. An interdisciplinary research of the pottery is the most important task, which can solve the most important scientific problems, such as 1st-3rd centuries AD. organization and manufacturing features; development of the society and economic aspects; The identity of the Georgian culture; International relation scales between Georgia and leading countries of this period. Investigation of these important scientific problems will enable us to clear the issues, such as cultural-political belongings of Georgia to the western and eastern cultural areas in the 1st to 3rd centuries AD. Thus, the PhD thesis is urgent for the implementing the Georgian science into the international scientific space. It should be mentioned, that ceramic ware are the most informative product for the archaeologists, because of their frequent, daily usage and accordingly, their wide production in the past. Thoroughly research of the pottery vessels with the modern scientific methods is necessary. Results of the PhD thesis research will develop not only archaeology, but also many related or non-related scientific branches, such as Ethnology, Ethnography, social sciences; scientific fields related to the medicine and history of the medicine etc. For this reason, the research will be interdisciplinary, which boosts the problem actuality. As it seems, the pottery vessels, except for their main purposes, were also used for keeping the medical liquids or medicinal powders, along with the glass and metal vessels. Beside this, the perfume powders or liquids were also kept in the pottery. These facts increase the scientific meaning of the PhD thesis. The studding of the 1st-3rd centuries AD. Pottery vessels with these interdisciplinary methods are novelty in the Georgian scientific space and none of the archaeologists had tried to done such investigations till today. This is the most important scientific novelty of my investigation. With the pottery vessels of daily uses (Bowls, jugs, pitchers, pots, jars etc.), different groups of the ceramic products were discovered on the Late Classical period settlements and cemeteries of the eastern Georgia. These vessels are interesting for their rarity and distinctive morphological features and definitely distinguish from the pottery vessels that were used for daily life. Some of them, presumably, were prepared for ritual purposes, while others were used for practical aims. They are represented by the deer shaped pottery figures (Rhytons-drinking vessels); bicorporal jugs; amphoriskoi and askoi-shaped vessels; glazed vessels and jugs with zoomorphic depictions (snake, pig). Their rarity and context of discovery proof, that they were not produced serially, and were not used for daily life. Presumably, they were prepared for special occasions. Several features of some ceramic forms (Jugs, pitchers, tumblers, bowls) will be calculated in percentage (according to morphological and technological features), according to which the comparative statistical tables will be created, which will show the vessels similarities and differences within three centuries. I will attempt to explore all these pottery vessels in the thesis, and determine their importance and functional assignment.

New Mythology and Georgian Symbolism in European Context In the 10s of the twentieth century in the Georgian literary area, the first Symbolist group Tsisperi Qantsebi (The Blue Horns) came into being, with a clearly defined purpose and aesthetic position, which implied renewing the Georgian literature and including it into the Western context. Desiring to expand the thought area and to modernize Georgian literature, Georgian Symbolists rested on the philosophical and worldview principles of European Symbolism. Irrespective of the asynchrony of French and Georgian Symbolism, in forming of their artistic and worldview position, the Blue Horns regarded French Symbolists and particularly the “Big Four” – Charles Baudelaire, Arthur Rimbaud, Stefan Mallarme and Paul Verlaine as the main authorities. The subject of interest and scientific research of the dissertation is an identification and analysis of the key archetypical motifs revealed in two different (Georgian and Western) cultural spaces and the new myth created in the symbolist model, studying of interrelations between Georgian and French Symbolism employing archetype (mythological) criticism. The dissertation belongs to the category of interdisciplinary studies. Considering the complexity of the studied subject – archetypical image, motif, would be unacceptable, without due consideration of the knowledge gained in different scientific disciplines – anthropology, psychology, philosophy, history of religion, wide cultural context. Moreover, on the basis of accumulated knowledge in different disciplines, Archetypal (mythological) criticism was created as a universal research strategy of the “visionary” texts (C.G.Jung’s term). In this thesis, along with the artistic texts of the Georgian and French symbolist authors, their theoretical heritage is also analyzed – letters, manifestos etc. In the practical part of the thesis, four myths of symbolist aesthetics are studied: a) Reflection of drugs in two different symbolist models – the myth of opium, hashish and wine; b) urban myth, which is one of the main myths of symbolism. Paris, Tbilisi and its antithesis (the village, mythological space Chaldea) are studied; c) universal archetypal image of mother and father and its representation in texts; d)mythological, psychological and literary plaster of the myth of Narcissus and its new understanding. We have also studied the archetypes and archetypal motifs that are associated with four main myths that we have considered (fame fatale, bohemia, travel, auto-myth, mask, village etc.). Our goal is to define the worldview, aesthetic and historical reasons for the activation and creation of myths in the Georgian and European symbolist paradigms, as well as analyze their functions.

In dentistry there is a separate direction of surgical treatmens to create optimal conditions for implantation. Main group in this direction is reconstructive-boneplastic operations, which are directed to increase volume in the implantation area. For this needs a wide range of materials can be used, like collagen, hydroxyapatite and various combinations of this two, also conserved alo-, xeno- and autobone. One of the most used version of autobone implant is taken from Crista Iliaca, that contains sustainable osteoblasts and stem cells that are potent to induct osteogenesis. Our main goal was to create a biotolerant bone matrix that can be successfully used to increase volume of the bone tissue for implantation purposes. To achieve this goal, we set some targets: 1. Engineer and refine technological steps to create decellularized neutral bone matrix form cattle bone tissue; 2. Optimize bone tissue decellularisation method; 3. Simulate bone tissue defect in experimental animals that is very near to clinical terms; 4. Examine effectiveness of our new natural bone matrix for underjaw bone defect restoration; 5. Onestep implantation of natural, mineral matrix (Bio-Oss) and titanium implant to restore underjaw defect; 6. Onestep implantation of new natural decellularized bone and titanium implant to restore underjaw defect; 7. Make a comparative analysis of effectiveness in bone tissue augmentation between decellularized bone matrix developed by us and natural bone mineral “Bio-Oss” (Switzerland)

The dissertation is dedicated to the study of the peculiarities of Boris Pasternak's epistolary legacy and its creative significance, the addressees of which were Georgian friends of the Russian author. Numerous works have been dedicated to the friendship of Boris Pasternak and Georgian poets. As Maria Filina points out, the brilliant poets of their time felt both human and creative attraction and remained friends until the end of their lives. Personal relationships are, of course, best reflected in diaries and personal letters. Pasternak is one of those authors of the 20th century, in whose work the epistolary legacy occupies a completely separate and at the same time quite extensive place. Aside from the fact that through these letters, not only a single life detail, but also the author's personal qualities and views are revealed, at the same time, it gives us an idea of many aspects of his literary creativity. In many cases, these letters themselves become a part of literary creation. Choosing life and work of Boris Pasternak as the topic of a dissertation or any other paper imposes great responsibility on the researcher: Pasternak, as one of the peaks of 20th century poetry, is addressed by leading Russian, European and American specialists from various fields of literary studies and philosophy. More than 60 years have passed since the poet's death and the interest in him is not fading, but in some ways it is getting stronger. The political controversy surrounding Pasternak's name has long moved into the background, and now, first of all, in-depth issues of the writer's legacy are discussed, although sometimes new letters, new facts from the writer's life that were previously unknown are discovered and additional interpretation becomes necessary.

The administration considered the relevance of the topic and the necessity of studying the problem, so as defined goals, objectives, subject and object of study. The subject of study is the community of theoretical, practical and methodological issues for decision-making; besides the analysis of organizational decision-making process in regional and corporate structures. The object of research is the work of managers of regional and corporate structures. The author outlined the innovation of its research and the results expected. In the first chapter of the work, "Theoretical and Methodological Aspects of the Decision-making Process", considered by the decision-making process, its significance and characteristics. Results unlike the process of decision-making from other control processes and the technologies develop and implement solutions. Scientific analysis in the decision-making suggests that there is a view taken on the number and composition of the phases that make up the decision-making process. The main reason is different from the circumstances in which the decision- making processes take place. In different circumstances, the decision-making tapas have different meanings. In addition, the number of stages of the decision depends on, on what aspect is emphasized. In private and public organizations, management decisions based on strategic planning, which, in turn, is the result of strategic planning. Constant demands of economic science to strategic planning, is its effectiveness.