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The article discusses two currently relevant concepts such as sustainable development and sustainable growth. By analyzing the sustainable growth factors of 48 ESG-oriented listed Chinese companies for the period 2020–2022, the authors have proved that following the sustainable development concept can ensure the sustainable growth of companies’ performance. ESG- oriented companies show an increase in the level of generated profits and profitability, as well as a decrease in the debt-equity ratio, which positively characterizes their performance. Excess of actual growth of such companies over sustainable growth has been revealed, which does not lead to negative consequences of the activity for the analyzed period, and also does not increase the risks associated with the need to increase debt capital to ensure the identified growth. The study concludes that it is necessary to develop a new toolkit or integrate the two concepts considered to ensure the ability of companies to achieve their sustainability goals without compromising fundamental financial performance. The study results can be used by companies that are already following the sustainable development concept, as well as by those ones that are only at the initial stage of developing and implementing ESG indicators in their operations, by investors when selecting an investment target and by academics in the course of research devoted to the topic of sustainable development and sustainable growth.

This article offers an overview of commemorative and bullion coins dedicated to the North, grouping thematic coins from the past 30 years. It analyzes various aspects, including historical, economic, and investment perspectives. The authors review noteworthy commemorative coins made of precious metals by the Bank of Russia. These coins honor the cultural heritage, landmarks, notable figures of Northern exploration, and the region’s flora and fauna. Specifically, coins such as “Exploration of the Russian Arctic,” “International Polar Year,” and “Let’s Save Our World” are examined. The article evaluates the role of monetary policy in the Russian economy, particularly its anti-inflationary objective. A brief historical overview is provided regarding the first Soviet banknotes featuring Northern views and their circulation. In addition to Russian practices, the article showcases international experiences in issuing commemorative coins dedicated to exploring the North. The relevance of this study lies in the Bank of Russia’s emission activities regarding commemorative coins made of precious and base metals, as well as investment coins made of precious metals, both domestically and internationally. The study’s findings set the stage for further exploration of new thematic coins, including an assessment of numismatic and investment demand prospects.

The priority of investing in sustainable development and ESG-oriented companies has become a global trend. Along with the developed markets of the USA and Europe, numerous ESG indices have been formed in countries of other continents. This segment of the stock market shows high growth rates in China. The purpose of the article is to identify the financial indicators that are most closely related to the value dynamics of ESG-oriented companies in China. The empirical base for the comparative analysis of companies adhering to ESG principles and not implementing them in practice was 48 companies included in the SSE 180 ESG Leaders Index of the Shanghai Stock Exchange, and 44 companies from the Shanghai Composite index that are not included in the ESG indices. The analysis of the value dynamics of the two groups of companies showed the higher resilience of ESG-oriented enterprises to the crisis phenomena in the economy. However, the comparative analysis of multipliers did not allow us to conclude that one of the groups of companies is more attractive for investment. Special attention was paid to the study of financial indicators of fundamental analysis. The main conclusion is important for investors: the growth in the value of ESG-neutral companies is not consistent with the positive dynamics of financial indicators, and such investments are riskier than investments in ESG-oriented companies. Further research on investment attractiveness of financial ESG-instruments and individual companies, adhering to the principles of sustainable development and represented in the stock market of China, will be associated with more detailed factor analysis, which is important for Russian investors to make informed decisions when developing a new capital market.

The research was carried out to identify the optimal dose of bedding bulk poultry manure on the influence of the crop structure and the yield of spring rape seeds of Lunedi variety. The work was carried out in 2022-2023 in the forest-steppe zone of the Nizhny Novgorod region. Poultry manure loose (GOST 31461-2012) was applied in doses of 4, 6 and 8 t/ha (control - without fertilizers). The experiment was conducted on light gray forest loamy soil with low humus content, neutral reaction and mobile forms of phosphorus and potassium. Statistically proven changes in the structure of rape yield were noticed on the manured variants: the increase in length of the fruit (pod) was 0.40–0.67 cm, in pod weight – 0.04–0.12 g, the number of pods per plant increased by 1.4–2.1 times, the number of seeds in a pod increased by 2.5–4.6 seeds, seed productivity of a single plant increased by 1.9–3.0 times, the weight of 1000 seeds exceeded by 0.66–0.94 g. The application of poultry manure on all variants revealed a reliable increase in the yield of above-ground phytomass and seeds, the increase in rape biomass was 6.03–8.70 t/ha (LSD05 = 1.30), seeds – 0.94–1.26 t/ha (LSD05 = 0.46). The maximum increase in the biomass of rapeseed and seeds (6.03 and 0.94 t/ha) was established in the variant with a manure dose of 4 t/ha, since with an increase in the manure dose (6 and 8 t/ha) in excess of the minimum increase by 1.42–2.67 t/ha of plant biomass and 0.22–0.32 t/ha of seeds. The obtained results suggest that the optimum dose of poultry manure application to spring rapeseed on light grey forest soil (Alfisol) is 4 t/ha.

The development of the ESG (Environmental, social, and governance) concept has led to the rapid spread of financial instruments for investing in sustainable development on all continents. The purpose of the article is to study the attractiveness of sustainable investing in the developed and emerging markets of America, Europe and Asia, in particular, to conduct a comparative analysis of the returns of market indices based on ESG criteria and those of indices that do not take them into account. Particular attention is paid to the duration of the investment period: the authors studied profitability on time intervals from one to five years. The object of the study is stock indices. The subject of the study is profitability of ESG-oriented and ESG-neutral indices. A comparative analysis of 28 market indices, 15 of which were formed with ESG indicators in the period from 2013 to 2022 led to the conclusion that it is advisable to invest in ESG index funds in both developed and emerging markets, since in more than 50% of cases, the return of ESG indices is higher than that of non-ESG indices. Investments in ESG indices over a longer time horizon tend to have higher returns on invested capital than traditional investments in non-sustainable indices. Analysis of European stock market returns has shown insufficient efficiency of ESG investments and requires additional analysis of the factors that have influenced this. A promising direction for further research is also the analysis of the mutual influence of stock markets of developed and developing countries on financial ESG instruments and indices. The applied value of the study lies in the possibility of using the results of the analysis in the reorientation of Russian investors in the face of sanctions pressure on stock markets in the Asia-Pacific region.

The digital economy has predetermined the priority of digital transformation of all company processes, including staff training and development. But, not all companies have been able to adjust quickly in the face of the digitalisation of their processes by advanced companies. However, the pandemic COVID-19 radically changed the situation, forcing everyone to urgently switch to a remote work format and introduce digital methods for training and developing staff. The article presents an analysis of the peculiarities of accelerated digital transformation of staff training and development in Russian and foreign companies, and staff assessment during the pandemic. The most frequently used digital methods and approaches to staff development and assessment have been analysed, the main trends in corporate training in Russia and worldwide have been identified, and recommendations for improving digital transformation of training and personnel development in the current environment have been offered.

The present review analyzes the problem of accumulation and utilization of bark and bark-wood waste from wood-working and pulp and paper industries. The methods of utilization are systematized, which differ for "fresh" bark and bark-wood waste of a long shelf life. The essence of biotechnological methods of deep biotransformation of bark-wood waste of long shelf life is described in more detail: composting with the use of mineral fertilizers, stimulation of native microflora, use of activated sludge and artificial consortia of microorganisms, creation of biotechnical systems in the body of bark dumps, solid-phase fermentation of bark-wood waste by xylotrophic fungi. Successful examples of the implementation of methods of biotransformation of bark-wood waste of long-term storage in the bark dumps of pulp and paper enterprises of the Perm Region of Rusian Federation are given. The algorithm of utilization of bark-wood waste by solid-phase fermentation with the help of xylotrophic fungi at the bark dumps of Syktyvkar woodworking plant (Republoc of Komi, Russia) is proposed in order to obtain soil-like substrates and fertilizers, fruit bodies of edible xylotrophic fungi and valuable fungal metabolites for medicine.

The relevance of the research. Air pollution is an important and urgent problem of our time. One of the main sources of particulate matter is the construction industry. Solid particles enter the atmospheric air as a result of the extraction, transportation and grinding of raw materials, clinker firing, grinding and transportation of cement. In this regard, the environmental assessment of dust and aerosol pollution of atmospheric air in the areas where cement plants are located is relevant. Purpose: to assess the state of atmospheric air in the vicinity of the cement plant based on the study of dust load, the levels of accumulation of chemical elements and the forms of their presence in the composition of solid particles settled in the snow cover in the vicinity of the cement plant in Iskitim. Objects: the solid phase of the snow cover containing dust and aerosol particles deposited from the atmospheric air into the snow cover in the area of the cement plant. Methods: atmogeochemical method, including the selection and preparation of snow cover samples to obtain a solid phase of snow cover; analytical methods for studying samples: inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, instrumental neutron activation analysis, X-ray phase method, scanning electron microscopy; methods of statistical processing of results in the software «STATISTICA 8»; ecological and geochemical analysis of data by calculating indicators – dust load (Pn), concentration coefficient (Kc), total pollution index (Zspz), cartographic presentation of the results in Surfer 11 and CorelDraw X7 software, raw materials for cement production (limestone, clay, slag, pyrite cinders). Results.The levels of dust load in the vicinity of the cement plant are in a wide range (from 57 to 1028 mg/(m2∙day) with an average value of 318 and a background of 7 mg/(m2∙day). Dust pollution ranges from low to very high level. The levels of dust load decrease from 436 to 78 mg/(m2∙day) in the north-north-west direction at a distance of 0,6 to 2,8 km from the plant. The near zone of influence (up to 500 m) – 1028 mg/(m2∙day), as well as in the area of the open pit where the main raw materials are mined – 932 mg/(m2∙day). The mineral composition of the solid phase of the snow cover is represented by minerals raw materials – calcite (CaCO3) – 82,1 %, quartz (SiO2) – 4,4 %, magnesite (MgCO3) – 7,6 %, cement clinker minerals – brownmillerite (Ca2(Al, Fe)2O5) and hatrurite (Ca3(SiO4)O)) – 6,4 and 26,6 %, respectively. In the solid phase of the snow cover, microparticles of calcium and iron oxides, as well as microparticles of aluminosilicate composition with sizes from 2,7 to 64,5 μm, were isolated. The technogenic geochemical specialization of the solid phase of the snow cover is characterized by elevated levels of accumulation of Ca (14–23 times higher than the background), Zn, Sr, Sb, Tb, Yb, La, Sm, U (2–7 times higher than the background), which form a low pollution level. The distribution of Ca and dust load with distance from the boundaries of the plant in the northwest direction are similar. The maximum levels of dust load (1028 mg/(m2∙day)) and Ca accumulation (24 %) in the solid phase of the snow cover were determined at a distance of 0,5 km, and as the distance from the plant boundaries (from 0,5 to 2,8 km), there is a decrease in the level of dust load by an average of 7 to 13 times (140–78 mg/(m2∙day)) and Ca accumulation by 1,5 times (16–17 %). Trace elements-indicators (Cr, Sb, Zn), which are defined in the reference book of the best available technologies as specific in the composition of cement production emissions, in the solid phase of the snow cover exceed background levels from 2 to 7 times. The solid phase of the snow cover is characterized by geochemical associations Zn-Cr, As-Ta, Yb-U-Sb, Tb-Ba, Th-Na, Fe-La. There are correlations between trace elements-indicators (Ca, Ba, Cr, As, Fe, Sb, Zn), characteristic of cement production emissions, with rare earth and radioactive (U, Th) chemical elements. This fact may indicate a single source of these elements (with positive correlations), and also reflect the difference in the composition of corrective additives for cement production and different forms of presence of chemical elements in the composition of solid particles in the vicinity of the cement plant (with negative correlations). The identified geochemical associations with a high degree of probability reflect the geochemical specialization of the raw materials used, corrective and mineral technological additives for cement production.

BACKGROUND: Psychological predictors of overall mortality in the Russian population of Type 2 diabetic patients and their impact compared to biological risk factors have not been studied.AIM. To identify clinical, laboratory and psychological factors independently associated with the 5-year overall mortality in Type 2 diabetic patients in the Moscow region.MATERIALS AND METHODS: This open label observational prospective study included 178 consecutive type 2 diabetic patients (women 145, men 33, age range 37 to 82 years, duration of diabetes 0,5 to 30 years). At baseline, in addition to the standard clinical, laboratory and instrumental work-up, all patients were assessed for depression, cognitive dysfunction and diabetes-related quality of life. No study-related intervention was performed; all patients were followed up and treated by their local physicians. After 5 years, we assessed the patients’ vital status (alive or dead). Multiple logistic regression was used to identify baseline patients’ characteristics, which were significantly and independently associated with 5-year overall mortality. Taking into account the exploratory type of multiple regression, the results were considered significant at α

The state of the organs of wels catfish (Silurus glanis) caught in the Volga-Caspian fishery region have been analyzed. Destructive processes in the gill apparatus manifested in the changes of the epithelium of filaments and lamellae. Signs of hemosiderosis were found in the spleen. Necrotic areas and signs of fatty degeneration were found in the liver. Pathologies were observed in the stomach and intestines, manifested by edema and desquamation of the epithelium. All examined organs were characterized by signs of impaired blood microcirculation. The pathomorphological studies indicated the response of the fish organism to the environmental conditions. The revealed pathological signs served as red flags of nonspecific adaptation taking place at the cellular and tissue levels. Such responses allowed the fish to adapt and survive in the prevailing environmental conditions.

Digitalisation processes have a signifcant impact on changing forms of interaction between economic entities; they also contribute to the development of the fnancial market. Thus, the study of the capitalisation of companies as one of the defning indicators of the stock market is becoming increasingly relevant, including the identifcation of factors that have a direct and indirect impact on the volatility of the indicator under consideration and their management capabilities. The purpose of this study is to identify the relationship between the sustainable development of the enterprise, as well as its components and the capitalisation of the company. The methodological basis of the study is the balanced growth model, general scientifc methods – analysis and synthesis, as well as statistical – correlation and regression analysis. The empirical base of the study includes 20 companies whose shares are traded on the stock market of the Russian Federation. The authors conducted a correlation and regression analysis and as a result revealed the relationship between the sustainable development of companies and their capitalisation.

The main political theatre of the 2010s in Estonia was Teater NO99 (2005–2019), which created several experimental projects. The performance Tallinn — Our City (2010) was a tour through the Old Town, during which the guide revealed corruption schemes with the real estate in which city government and personally mayor Edgar Savisaar were allegedly involved. The fictitious political movement Unified Estonia with the final performance United Estonia Assembly (2010) existed for 44 days and copied unfair campaigning of parliamentary parties, thereby predicting the rise of hyper-populism in the 2010s. The documentary production Meeting of the Leadership of the Reform Party (2012) was devoted to a real investigation into the suspicious financing of the ruling party. The musical Savisaar (2015), released during the parliamentary elections, foresaw the fall of the chairman of the Estonian Centre Party, Edgar Savisaar, who had held power for too long. At the same time, the performance activated the followers of the politician, which led to the fact that the year of the performance's release marked the highest level of electoral activity. Performances From the Second Glance (2016) and I’d Rather Dance with You (2016) gathered Estonian and Russian-speaking audience in theatre halls to talk about the problems that had accumulated in society. The play Will Be/Won’t Be: Estonia in 100 Years (2018) was based on the surveys of children and students: the younger generation should choose which way of development Estonia would take. By participating in interactive voting, viewers themselves decided what kind of Estonia they wanted to see: multicultural, technological, nationalistic, ecological Estonia. There could be distinguished three strategies of performativity in the political theater of Estonia: 1) role reversal, when the audience becomes participants in the production and realizes themselves as subjects of the political process, and the active political forces (government, party) turn out to be spectators of an unpredictable theatrical action; 2) usage of space outside the theater (city, media, social networks) to signify how public spaces become the stage for real politics; 3) erasing the line between art and reality, when a fictitious process exists along with the real political process and even affects it.

The article deals with the transformation of the interpretation of 9 May in Estonia after the Bronze Night in Tallinn (2007) which was marked by sizeable clashes between Russian-speaking and Estonian youth. The celebration of Victory Day at the monument to the Unknown Soldier which had been moved outside the city centre and the march of the “Immortal Regiment” are seen as an attempt to compensate for the traumatic experience of the Russian-speaking population of Estonia. It is pointed out that the Bronze Soldier has acquired the meaning of a physical embodiment and a symbol of consolidation of the protest of the local Russians who are defending their right to historical memory. The article notes the painful reaction of the Estonian population to the celebration of 9 May which is perceived as a threat of social unrest among the Russian minority and questioning the sovereignty of the whole country.

The need for the social adaptation of children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders determined by its psychophysical development. The organization of basic and additional education of the presented category of chil dren should be carried out on the basis of adapted educational programs that consider specifics of child development. Adaptive tourism classes can fully apply to additional education programs. This direction includes a diverse list of areas of work with children, on the basis of which it is possible to make programs of special and developmental classes for children with ASD. One of the main directions is the development of socialization. Adaptive tourism programs, which include various effective teaching methods, contribute to the development of interpersonal relations, the for mation of group work skills, the development of behavioral peercommunication rules and norms, the development of leisure skills and successful adaptation in a children environment.

The article is devoted to the analysis of the current status of nuclear cardiology in the Russian Federation. The data on the number of facilities performing radionuclide investigations for the diagnosis and monitoring of the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, their staffing and equipment are given. The statistics of the conducted nuclear cardiology tests for 2018-2020 are given, as well as their methods, features and diagnostic significance are described.

Background. Present concepts of the novel coronavirus infection prognosis in haemodialysis (HD) patients are rather controversial. There is little information on therapy efficiency and safety in such patients. We studied COVID-19 course specifics, prognostic factors associated with fatal outcomes, therapy efficiency and its transformation at different stages of the pandemic first year. Materials and methods. Single-centre retrospective uncontrolled study included 653 COVID-19 HD-patients treated at Moscow City Nephrology Centre from April 1 to December 31, 2020. Results. This period mortality rate was 21.0%. Independent predictors of COVID-19 unfavourable outcome in HD patients were pulmonary lesion extension (CT grades 34), high comorbidity index, and mechanical ventilation. Approaches to COVID-19 treatment modified significantly at different periods. Immunomodulatory drugs (monoclonal antibodies to IL-6, corticosteroids) were used largely at later stages. With tocilizumab administration, mortality was 15.1%, tocilizumab together with dexamethasone 13.3%; without them 37.8% (р0,001). Tocilizumab administration in the first 3 days after hospitalization of patients with CT grades 12 was associated with more favourable outcomes: 1 out of 29 died vs 6 out of 20 (tocilizumab administered at later periods); p0.04. There was no significant difference in death frequency in patients with CT grades 34 depending on tocilizumab administration time. Conclusion. COVID-19 in HD patients can manifest in a severe course with unfavourable outcome. It is urgent to identify reliable disease outcome predictors and develop efficient treatment in this population.

In this article we report a case of pericallosal lipoma in a newborn with fetal alcohol syndrome, brain malformation (agenesis of the corpus callosum), and intrauterine infection (meningitis) diagnosed in a perinatal center.

Relevance. Since the increasing demand for agricultural products, especially at present in the conditions of import substitution, cannot be met without creating new highly productive varieties and hybrids.Material and methods. This article provides a description and comparative characteristics of economically valuable qualities and varieties of vegetable crops, the most common and in demand among the population, created by breeders of the All-Russian Research Institute of Irrigated Vegetable Growing and Melon Growing – a branch of the FSBSI "PAFSC RAS". The experiments were laid on the experimental fields.Results. As a result of many years of breeding work presented varieties belong to different variety types, they differ in groups of precocity, shape, size, color of fruits. Tomatoes – Astrakhan, Bulldog, Avdeevsky, Caspian, Malinovi shar, Moryana, Rychansky, Forward, Orange Avuri, Malinovi Supergol, etc. Varieties of sweet pepper – Atomor, Marble, Novichok VNIIOB, Sprinter, Lyudmila, etc. Varieties of eggplant – Albatross, Diamond, Astrakom, Nizhnevolzhsky, Swan, etc. Since 2021, the Gnomik tomato variety has been entered into the State Register, and the Zarnitsa sweet pepper variety is being tested. The Astrakhan region is also a center for the creation and production of melon crops, their fruits belong to dietary products, are used both fresh and for preservation, preparation of drinks, desserts, home cooking. Watermelon varieties – Astrakhan, Photon, Ilyasovsky, Portioned; melon – Lada, pumpkin – Kroshka and Kapelka, zucchini – Sosnovsky and Jubilee, squash – Tabolinsky.

Background. Due to the growing light pollution and the development of new territories, including northern ones, the search for drugs that increase the adaptive capacity of the organism is promising.The aim. We studied the effects of the exogenous melatonin (100 µg/day/animal) on antioxidant status of liver and small intestine in Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) in the light conditions of North-West of Russia (Petrozavodsk, northern lighting – NL).Materials and methods. Female hamsters were exposed to a 12/12 light/dark cycle (LD; n = 12) or NL for 3 months. In NL light conditions hamsters were divided into two groups: NL-control (received placebo; n = 12) and NL-mel (received melatonin; n = 12). The study was conducted from the period of the summer solstice – June 25 (NL: 19.36/4.24) to September 25 (NL: 12/12) (autumn equinox).Results. Animals were kept in the NL conditions had decreased the levels of GSH and activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase) at initial stage of experiment as well as increased TBA reactive substances (TBARS) level at the beginning and after a month of the experiment in the liver in comparison to control (LD). It was observed that in the small intestine the activities of SOD and the levels of GSH (initial and intermediate stages) and TBARS (end of the experiment) were significantly higher in NL in comparison to LD. Liver and small intestine TBARS concentrations after one and three months of the experiment were decreased in NL-mel in comparison to NL-control.Conclusion. The results of the study indicate the sensitivity of the antioxidant defense system in the tissues of the liver and small intestine of Syrian hamster to the photoperiod and exogenous melatonin. The present study revealed that exogenous melatonin was able to reduce the level of TBARS and increase the activity of SOD and CAT in the light conditions of North-West of Russia.

Rationale: Acute infectious diarrhea (AID) is the fourth leading cause of death among children < 5 years worldwide. Kidney damage is one of the poorly studied aspects of pediatric AID. The level of serum cystatin C is independent on gender and age, and it is highly informative even in the early stages of renal dysfunction.Aim: To optimize diagnosis of renal dysfunction in children with moderate AID through comparison of different methods of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) calculation and determination of serum cystatin C level.Materials and methods: Observational cross-sectional study enrolled 80 children in pediatric hospital with moderate AID not followed by hemolytic uremic syndrome. Serum creatinine and serum cystatin C levels were determined in all the patients in acute period with GFR calculating according to Schwartz equation in unmodified (1976) and modified (2009) versions. GFR was also calculated using a single-factor equation based on serum cystatin C level.Results: GFR in acute period, calculated according to unmodified and to modified Schwartz equation was in patients < 3 years (n = 40) 115.47 ± 3.33 ml/min/1.73 m2 and 98.56 ± 2.84 ml/min/1.73 m2 (p < 0.001), in patients 3-7 years 132.13 ± 4.2 ml/min/1.73 m2 and 108.85 ± 3.84 ml/min/1.73 m2 (p < 0.001), respectively. Increased serum cystatin C level (> 950 ng/ml) occurred in 18 patients (22%). In other patients level of serum cystatin C remained within the reference range or lower. The risk of acute kidney injury development based on two indicators - GFR according to the modified Schwartz equation and GFR according to the equation used cystatin C level - occurred in 4 (10%) patients aged 1-3 years and in 1 (2.5%) child in the age group 3-7 years; risk, based on one indicator - the calculation of GFR according to the formula using cystatin C - in 8 (20%) and 9 (22.5%) children, respectively, and based on the assessment of only GFR according to the modified Schwartz equation - in 3 (7.5%) children of both age groups.Conclusion: We have confirmed that the GFR values calculated with usage of unmodified Schwartz equation (1976) are higher than those calculated with usage of modified Schwartz equation (2009) and taking into account the level of cystatin C.Thus, usage of unmodified Schwartz equation for GFR calculation in infants and preschool children seems incorrect. Level of serum cystatin C is promising marker permitted to select patients with risk of acute kidney injury development among children in acute period of moderate AID.

The article considers the essence of the company's market value, clarifies the concept of enterprise capitalization. The author analyses Russian and foreign studies devoted to the identification of quantitative factors that affect the market value of companies. In the analysis of domestic research, the author pays special attention to the oil and gas and electric power industries of the economy. The analysis of foreign studies includes companies from Italy, Indonesia and Jordan. The paper analysed the structure and dynamics of the Russian stock market, the influence of revenue, net profit, the level of dividend payments, return on assets, the ratio of borrowed and own funds, as well as the return on sales by the amount of the market value of electric power companies whose shares are traded on the Russian stock market. The study identifies the main quantitative factors affecting the capitalization of companies. The author determines the directions of further research.

The phenomenon of the author’s reflection on his works is considered on the basis of the introductions by I. S. Turgenev. The absence of special works on this topic allows us to speak about the novelty of the study. Its relevance is associated with raising the question of the specifics and role of the author’s understanding of the meaning of his own works and its correlation with the perception of the reader. The results of a comparative analysis of all of Turgenev’s introductions are presented in the article. The attitude of Turgenev to the opinion of the reader and criticism is shown. It is proved that Turgenev’s introductions “do not justify” their theoretical expectations, because the writer deliberately refuses to comment on the intentionality and meaning of his works in them. It is concluded that this allows the writer to express a theoretically important idea about the “non-interference” of the writer in the text he created. Particular attention is paid to the “Introduction to the Novels”, which is a kind of metatext uniting all six works of this genre, which allows Turgenev to determine the main direction and principles of his work. It is shown that these issues are considered by the writer in the context of general aesthetic problems: the specifics of artistic cognition, freedom of creativity, the conscious and unconscious in art, the relationship between the artist and the critic / reader, etc.

The paper examines the role of maritime transport in the economic development of the African continent. It is shown that the modernization of seaports not only attracts potential investors, but also opens up new opportunities for African countries. Thanks to the creation of new innovative ports, new jobs are created, training programs appear, and the local population is more actively involved in new technologies. Foreign companies often offer a set of measures to reform the transport and logistics sstems of African countries, with the connection of all transport arteries for faster delivery of goods. There are a number of problems that hinder the implementation of ambitious logistics projects, but with the joint efforts of foreign representatives and local authorities, it is possible to gradually reform legislation, prepare transport solutions taking into account the specifics of each country, and improve the investment attractiveness of African countries. Projects implemented in North and West Africa reflect different approaches of the world's leading countries to foreign economic strategy. The main competitors in the fight for new projects in Africa are Western countries, on the one hand, and China, on the other. Sea transport is the oldest transport link in Africa, and many ports were built by the efforts of the colonial authorities. Some ports have a narrow commodity specialization, which hinders the development of sea traffic. New innovative ports are needed for successful trade operations in Africa. In some countries, the solution of transport and logistics problems was dictated by economic and industrial needs. For example, in Morocco, the construction of automobile factories (with the need for subsequent transportation of finished products) has prompted foreign companies to develop a plan for an innovative industrial city with a modern port. In general, in many countries, the process of modernizing transport and logistics systems is still in its infancy, but ports have become the starting point for new investment programs for systemic transformation in Africa.

At an online meeting of experts held on May 14, 2021 additional research results on a sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor empagliflozin in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction were considered. According to the data from the EMPEROR-Reduced international study, cardiovascular and renal effects of empagliflozin therapy in patients with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D) were analyzed. A number of proposals and recommendations was accepted regarding the further study of cardiovascular and renal effects of empagliflozin and its use in clinical practice in patients with heart failure, regardless of the T2D presence.

Domestic violence is one of the most common forms of human rights violations. Illegal actions against a family member are in most cases accompanied by acts of aggression, humiliation and abuse. Such actions by the abuser lead to a negative physical, mental and social health of the victim or several members of the family. As a rule, women, children and the elderly suffer the most from domestic violence. The state is the main actor in combating violence, and public authorities should help to create the environment of non-violence by taking the necessary measures and creating the system of protection of victims, punishment of perpetrators and prevention of violence. Despite the existing regulatory provision in the field of combating and protecting the rights and interests of victims of domestic violence, as well as a wide range of scientific papers focused on various aspects in this area, the problem of domestic violence remains relevant and needs theoretical clarification and justification. The purpose of the article is to determine the causes of the origin of domestic violence against the elderly, to analyze the forms for the commission of violence against persons of this category, to focus on the wide scale of this issue, preventive measures and the need to create an information base (statistics) of victims. The introduction of an information database (statistics accounting) of victims suffered from domestic violence will ensure unimpeded access for employees of the National Police, territorial centers of social services and medical institutions to information about the victims. Inquiries and reports will make it possible to quickly and efficiently update the information and keep differentiated statistical records of such persons.

Antimicrobial activity of bacteriocin S760 (enterocin) produced by Enterococcus faecium strain LWP760 was studied. Bacteriocin S760 is a cationic, hydrophobic, and heat stable peptide with the molecular weight of 5.5 kDa and pI of 9.8. Enterocin S760 is shown to inhibit in vitro the growth both of sensitive and resistant to antibacterials gramnegative and grampositive bacteria of 25 species. MICs of the bacteriocin S760 vary between 0.05-1.6 mg/l for Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella enteritidis, Campylobacter jejuni, Yersinia enterocolitica, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, Listeria monocytogenes and Clostridium perfringens, that are main food-borne pathogens, and from 0.4-1.6 mg/l for Streptococcus pyogenes, Streptococcus pneumoniae and Corynebacterium diphteriae. It is also active against antibioticresistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter cloacae, Acinetobacter baumannii (with MICs of 0.05-3 mg/l), Klebsiella pneumoniae (with MICs of 6 mg/l), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (with MICs of 0.4-25 mg/l), as well against fungi belonging to species of Candida albicans, Candida krusei and Aspergillus niger (with MICs of 0.1-0.2 mg/l). Enterocin S760 is a novel antimicrobial agents useful in medicine, veterinary and food industry.

The objective of this study was to clarify the intraspecies phylogenetic relationship between pneumococci strains from various geographical locations. Concatenated Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) sequences of six housekeeping genes were chosen for the phylogenetic tree construction. Trees, constructed for concatenated genes, revealed that there is a tendency for a clonal spread of antibiotic resistance. Interestingly, the isolates with novel or circulating mainly in Russia genotypes, described in this study, many are related to successful international clones, with the potential to spread.

The article discusses the main provisions and ideas of the project of the international transport corridor “North - South” (ITC). The main economic benefits of this project are highlighted, as well as the problems that arise during the implementation of this ambitious transport corridor. The important aspects of the creation of the railway transport network between the participating countries of the project are considered and analyzed. Authors identify the main advantages of such a corridor for the main organizers of this transport artery. There are various factors that impede the implementation of the project: geopolitical contradictions between countries, the lack of administrative and legal unification of all documents, economic differences between the participating countries of the project, and a different approach to solving infrastructure and transport and logistics problems are intertwined here.

An online meeting of experts held on November 6, 2020 describes the results of EMPA-REG OUTCOME and EMPEROR-Reduced trials on sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor empagliflozin. We analyzed cardiovascular and renal outcomes in patients with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D) receiving empagliflozin. A number of proposals and recommendations have been adopted regarding the further study of the cardiovascular and renal effects of empagliflozin and its practical use in patients with heart failure, regardless of the T2D presence.

The author has developed new criteria for the inclusion of African countries in the group of small countries. It is noted that the criteria for assignment to small countries in the developed world cannot fully meet the criteria applicable to the African continent. On the basis of a comparison of the population of Africa with some countries of Europe, small states of the African continent are singled out. Emphasize the fact that a single criterion for attributing to small countries has not yet been developed. In the author’s opinion, it is incorrect to evaluate African countries using only economic indicators, since economic growth rates do not always coincide with demographic indicators, sociocultural transformations, and ethnic and tribal characteristics in Africa. The main types of foreign economic strategies of small African countries are identified and considered. It is shown that the states of the African continent often use several strategies for the development of their countries. The small countries of the African continent are actively involved in integration processes that fit into the overall concept of African modernization and development. An important role in the processes of modernization in Africa is played by international financial, educational, innovative and technical programs. Often, it is precisely small countries that become a kind of transport hub at the regional level, which contributes to the strengthening of foreign economic relations between the countries of the regions of the African continent, attracts considerable financial, resource, and innovative capital to African countries. The historical and ethno-tribal characteristics of some African states, especially the long and bloody wars, hinder the progressive development of these countries. A vivid example of such tragic events is Rwanda (attributed to the small states by the author of the article), where incessant civil wars have undermined the economic and political stability in the region. In such cases, substantial international assistance will be required with the involvement of Rwanda’s neighbouring countries for the implementation of possible major regional programs and investment projects. Since innovative infrastructure projects in African countries are possible only with the involvement of all countries of the region, in this regard, Russia will need new management approaches and interesting projects for the integrated development of the African continent to actively participate in ambitious African projects.

Development of the Far North territories is such a process of human interference that causes certain changes in natural environment. Fields development and relative technological processes, being the main type of man-made burden, have negative influence on all components of the environment. The ecosystems of the Far North are characterized by their low ability of self-recovery, so the impact of extraction of mineral resources and its consequences in severe climate conditions increase manyfold. In order to solve the existing environmental problems and ensure sustainable development of the region, it is necessary to have objective information about the state of the environment. The only possible way to obtain such information is monitoring, which includes a system of observations, assessment and forecast of the state of the natural environment, the results of which will provide a comprehensive assessment of the ecological state of the environment, the degree of anthropogenic impact, as well as allow to make forecasts of environmental situations taking into account external and internal environmental factors.

The aim of the study was to investigate a species composition of parasites and microorganisms and determine infection rate of Caspian herrings. Methods and materials. The objects of the study were Caspian and big-eyed shad, Alosa braschnikowi, that were caught at the aquatic area of the Northern Caspian Sea in spring period 2014, 2015. Collection and processing material was carried out in accordance with generally accepted methods in parasitology and microbiology. Scientists used determinants in species identification. Results and discussion. Parasitophauna of Alosa braschnikowi, Caspian and big-eyed shads were presented by 7 species, relative to classes: Monogenoidea - 1; Crustacea - 1; Trematoda - 2; Nematoda - 2; Acanthocephala - 1. Wide-ranging enteral trematodes Pseudopentagramma symmetricum induce high level of infection of herrings. Fauna is the most variously presented by Caspian big-eyed shads. Fluctuations in parasitophauna structure are connected with ecological conditions, food chains and specificity of parasites to theirs hosts. Indicators of transformation processes of ecosystems are indicator species of parasites and fish microorganisms. As a part of the study it is estimated, that internal organs and gills of herrings were contaminated by microorganisms. The maximum number of bacterium was noted in intestines and gills. The Enterobacteriaceae microorganisms held the dominant position. Besides bacterium there are have been revealed cystophores of micromycetes in liver and spleen in the process of organs microscopic examination. All revealed parasites and microorganisms were characterized by epizootic and epidemiologic significance. However they coexist on the level of symptom-free carriage, without exhibiting the development of invasive and infectious processes in the body of the examined fishes.

Passive acoustic monitoring is an actual tool for population monitoring at conservation and tourist areas. This study provides detailed knowledge of roaring activity of male Far-East wapiti (Cervus elaphus xanthopygus) in the rut period of 2017 at three sites of most active rut at the 453.4 km2 territory of the State Nature Reserve «Bolshekhekhtsirsky» (Far East of Russia). Rutting calls were recorded for 5 min/h throughout the 58-day rut period by using three automated recording devices, one in each site, with simultaneous registration of temperature, once per hour. In total, we recorded 3474 rutting calls (1538, 1159 and 777 calls in the three sites respectively). In each site, the roaring activity (calculated as the mean daily number of calls/h) demonstrated a similar dynamic of three rut phases: start phase, active phase and fading phase. Although the roaring activity displayed a positive correlation between sites, the actual values of the mean number of calls/h differed between sites. This finding indicates the different use of the three sites by males during the rut. At any site, the roaring activity was related to time of day (hourly); it was the highest between 03:00 a.m. and 06:00 a.m. and nearly lacked between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. At any site, the number of calls/h increased steadily from 8:00 p.m. to 03:00 a.m. to a maximum value and then rapidly decreased from 06:00 to 09:00 a.m. to a minimum value. The effect of temperature on the daily and hourly roaring activity was weaker than the effect of time of day. We discuss the results with similar data of another protected Russian population of Far-East wapiti inhabiting the State Nature Reserve «Ussuriysky».

The article considers the role of the budgeting system in mergers and absorption at all stages of their implementation – the search for the target company and preparation for the transaction, the process of conducting and concluding the transaction, the integration of the initiator company and the target company in the post-transaction period and describes the options for the build budget models during the integration period. The article suggests models of interaction of budgeting systems using project budgets in mergers and absorption in general, as well as in the implementation of vertical integration of companies that are parties to the transaction. It shows the role of project budgets in relationship between budget model of initiation company and target company. The advantages and disadvantages of the considered models have been highlighted.

The creation of highly scab-resistant apple genotypes increases the profitability and environmental friendliness of the production of this fruit crop. Early stage evaluation of the resistance using phytopathological testing and DNA markers allows to accelerate the process of breeding for this trait allows the use. The purpose of the study was to comprehensively assess resistance to the causative agent of scab of hybrid seedlings of apple obtained from crossing susceptible (Rennet Simirenko) and resistant (Modi) cultivars for the Rvi6 gene, using infectious background and marker assisted selection. A phytopathological analysis of 207 hybrid apple seedlings against the natural background of apple scab pathogen revealed 117 (56%) plants without scab lesions (0 points). The remaining seedlings had lesions of varying degrees. DNA marker analysis of the Rvi6 gene allowed identification of 105 plants (51%) with the Rvi6rvi6 genotype and 102 (49%) – rvi6rvi6, which is close to a theoretical segregation ratio 1:1 in the crosses of this type. Comparison of the results of infectious evaluation and DNA-marker analysis showed 98% coincidence of the presence of the resistance gene with no lesions. In general, the complex use of the phenotypic and molecular markers evaluation of the hybrid family for resistance to Venturia inaequalis (Cooke) G. Winter shows a high degree of agreement between the results of the methods. However, the discrepancy between the qualitative classes of reactions to infection and the results of molecular genetic analysis indicates an insufficient strength of the natural infectious background of the study year. The low efficiency of the development of the disease was due to the unfavorable weather and climatic conditions at the beginning of the vegetative period and the formation of infection, which were expressed in a higher average monthly temperature and a small amount of precipitation compared to the norm. Our results suggest an advantage, a comprehensive assessment of resistance to the scab pathogen using an infectious background and marker-assisted selection for the Vf gene (Rvi6) in which the first stage involves the selection of resistant samples against a natural infectious background, followed by confirmation of the presence of the desired gene using a DNA marker analysis.

The author has developed new criteria for the inclusion of African countries in the group of small countries. It is noted that the criteria for assignment to small countries in the developed world cannot fully meet the criteria applicable to the African continent. On the basis of a comparison of the population of Africa with some countries of Europe, small states of the African continent are singled out. Emphasize the fact that a single criterion for attributing to small countries has not yet been developed. In the author’s opinion, it is incorrect to evaluate African countries using only economic indicators, since economic growth rates do not always coincide with demographic indicators, sociocultural transformations, and ethnic and tribal characteristics in Africa. The main types of foreign economic strategies of small African countries are identified and considered. It is shown that the states of the African continent often use several strategies for the development of their countries. The small countries of the African continent are actively involved in integration processes that fit into the overall concept of African modernization and development. An important role in the processesof modernization in Africa is played by international financial, educational, innovative and technical programs. Often, it is precisely small countries that become a kind of transport hub at the regional level, which contributes to the strengthening of foreign economic relations between the countries of the regions of the African continent, attracts considerable financial, resource, and innovative capital to African countries. The historical and ethno-tribal characteristics of some African states, especially the long and bloody wars, hinder the progressive development of these countries. A vivid example of such tragic events is Rwanda (attributed to the small states by the author of the article), where incessant civil wars have undermined the economic and political stability in the region. In such cases, substantial international assistance will be required with the involvement of Rwanda’s neighboring countries for the implementation of possible major regional programs and investment projects. Since innovative infrastructure projects in African countries are possible only with the involvement of all countries of the region, in this regard, Russia will need new management approaches and interesting projects for the integrated development of the African continent to actively participate in ambitious African projects.

Introduction. For over two decades, Russian education has been in a state of permanent reform. Due to the long and unproductive nature of the modernisation process, researchers are paying special attention to systemic factors, noting that system optimisation processes are structured primarily around organisational and technological models derived from industry. The prevalence of the technological component over the axiological results in the consolidation of a pragmatic, narrowly functional, technocratic vector of education development. To overcome this situation and to break this deadlock, a profound reconsideration of the values underlying mechanisms of reform is required, taking into account multifaceted personal, social, national and universal relations, as well as unity of content, forms and means of education.The aims of the research were identified as follows: to analyse the current trends of modernisation in comprehensive schools and higher educational establishments; to justify humanistic mechanisms for improving the modernisation in the context of language education, which performs personally developing and socialising functions under ideological pluralism and opposition of value systems.Methodology and research methods. The research was conducted taking a person-activity-based approach, referring to cultural-historical concepts, ideas of philosophical hermeneutics and traditional principles of pedagogical methodology. The theoretical framework was based on the publications and philosophical foundations of Russian and foreign scholars, who define the key role of humanistic principles and value orientations in education. The following standard research methods were used: comparison, induction, deduction, abstraction, synthesis, specification, structural and logical modelling, content analysis of documents and scientific publications on the stated problem, observation, questioning, peer review and experiment. In addition, non-standard methods and research techniques such as metaphorical modelling, biographical method and interpretational techniques were used.Results and scientific novelty. Modernisation processes in Russian education were considered: regulatory base, purposes, priorities, problems and prospects. The following thesis was proposed: at the new stage of socio-historical transformation, it is necessary to overcome the negative effects of long-term practice in the reform of the national educational system through developing established traditions as well as updating the humanistic potential of education and ensuring its axiological enrichment. The authors consider pedagogical hermeneutics as a potentially productive means and methodological tool. Pedagogical hermeneutics implies a heuristic and poly-variable apperception of reality through education in order to understand and interpret different genres of cultural texts, providing simultaneous support both to the general public and to the individual, on the basis of rational and emotionally intelligent experience accumulated in science, religion, art, language and national traditions – i.e. culture as a whole. It was shown that language education based on principles of pedagogical hermeneutics is capable of establishing humanistic mechanisms of personactivity-based social norms and cultural models. The authors presented a number of modelling options for the realisation of the proposed hermeneutical approach: various experimentally-validated techniques, educational approaches and procedures designed by teacher-researchers were briefly described, focusing on the achievement of qualitative conformance of educational results to the humanistic appeals and urgent needs of society.Practical significance. The use of hermeneutical techniques as educational tools and procedures allows us to decode semiotic information of curricula subjects; in addition, when using meta-language, it is possible to expand the content by adding personal value-sense and dialogical subjectivity, as well as to transform it into a personal sign-symbol or behavioural template. The acquisition of language experience in the process of humanistic-centred education increases the immunity of a student to various manifestations of character defectivity, strengthening identity and resistance to manipulation of consciousness in political and ideological processes and mass media. Moreover, language experience resists the deformation of the communicative sphere and verbal-cognitive processes, encouraging personal self-realisation.

Qualitative and quantitative composition of parasites from herring (Dolgino population), caspian shad, and big-eyed shad is analyzed on the data of long-term samplings, using traditional methods and determinants for identifcation. The community of parasites has temporal fluctuations associated with changes of habitat conditions, including feeding base for hosts, and depended on biological features of both parasites and their hosts. The basis of the herring parasitofauna is composed by specifc and euryxene species. Monogeneans and intestinal trematodes has a stable high degree of infection. Helminths dangerous for human and epizootically signifcant parasites are recorded sporadically. Hyphae of microscopic fungi are found on the smears-prints of parenchymal organs of herrings with domination of gen. Penicillium. All detected parasites do not cause signifcant clinical deseases in organisms of the investigated species.

Aim. To investigate the histological structure of fish tumors in the Volga Delta and the northern part of the Caspian Sea to assess the habitat quality of aquatic organisms.Material and Methods. Neoplasms identified in the following representatives of ichthyofauna were analyzed: black‐backed herring, roach, asp, perch, carp, pike, zander, catfish and bream. Biological material was collected during specialized scientific research expeditions to the Volga Delta in April‐October 2015‐2018. Sample analysis were carried out in accordance with standard histological techniques.Results. The research shows that tumors were localized both on the surface of the body and in the internal organs of fish. During the period of investigation individuals examined were diagnosed with the following cancers: adenomectomy, basal cell carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, polypous cancer, rhabdomyoma, fibrosarcoma and follicular, epidermal papilloma. The most common pathology in the populations of semi‐migratory, migratory and river fish was a malignant tumor, fibrosarcoma, registered in six of the ten examined ichthyofauna species. Epithelial papilloma was most often observed in catfish. There were no oncological diseases were detected in rudd.Conclusions. Histological analysis of tumors recorded in the Volga ichthyofauna has shown that a number of identified disorders are irreversible and will inevitably lead to the reduction of fish resources as well as generally indicating the environmental problems of the habitat of aquatic organisms.

Objective: to study the prognostic significance of the expression of cancer-testis (CT) genes PRAME, NY-ESO1, GAGE1, MAGE A3, MAGE A6, MAGE A12, SSX1, SLLP1, PASD1 in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) and their influence on overall survival and relapse rate. To determine their effect on suсh clinical parameters as levels of lactate dehydrogenase, leucocytes, hemoglobin, calcium, albumen, creatinine, beta-2-microglobulin.Materials and methods. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed on complementary DNA obtained from bone marrow of 77 patients with MM. The statistical analysis was performed using the Statistica 10.0 software package. To estimate prognostic values of the CT gene expression data were analyzed by the Kaplan – Meier method.Results. The study was conducted to determine the level of expression of CT genes PRAME, NY-ESO1, GAGE1, MAGE A3, MAGE A6, MAGE A12, SSX1, SLLP1, PASD1 in a group of patients with MM. The group included primary and receiving cancer treatment in MM patients. According to the log-rank criterion expression of any of the CT genes PRAME, NY-ESO1, GAGE1, MAGE A3, MAGE A6, MAGE A12, SSX1, SLLP1, PASD1 exerts a significant influence on overall survival and progression-free survival/relapse. It was also determined that providing expression of some CT genes, the levels of creatinine, calcium, beta-2-microglobulin were much higher to compare with patients without expression.

This article considers discussions about the purpose and usefulness of art which took place in the Russian literary criticism of the 1860s. A comparative analysis of journalistic and aesthetic criticism as well as works by M. N. Katkov and N. D. Akhsharumov leads the author to conclude that the critical discussions of the period in question had a variety of answers to these questions, but there was a number of recurring ideas. Art is seen as a tool for popularising scientific knowledge and has enlightening functions; it is recognised as a valuable factor capable of spiritually and morally influencing people; it is regarded as lacking practical usefulness, and superfluous when considered from the rational viewpoint. Depending on the authors’ methods and their own axiological preferences, the usefulness of art was considered differently between the 1850s and 1860s. For instance, N. G. Chernyshevsky argues that when promoting and popularising academic knowledge, art helps change people’s consciousness and improve their material and social status, in other words, it can become practically useful. A. V. Druzhinin, V. P. Botkin, and P. V. Annenkov do not use any evaluative categories when speaking about the role and meaning of art. For M. N. Katkov, the idea of usefulness of art is connected with the idea of creative freedom, and independence of creative work from any dictatorship from without. N. D. Akhshrumov thinks the criterion of usefulness cannot be applied to art at all. In spite of the polemic nature of the issue, all the above mentioned approaches manifest certain similarities, though not obvious enough, but anyway significant for the understanding of the complex relations between different aesthetic theories and key problems of the epoch. Discussions about the usefulness of art in the criticism of the 1850s–1860s testify to the relativity of this axiological category and its historical changeability. However, regardless of the interpretations of the category, it remains a constant notion which determines the value of art for an individual and society as a whole as well as its purpose and need for it. Such issues were topical in the 19th century, an era of change, and they remain relevant in any epoch capable of reflection and not indifferent to ‘eternal’ questions.

The aim of the study is to conduct a research of patient encounters concerning tick bites and incidence rates of infections transmitted by ixodid ticks among Moscow population; to estimate data about abundance of ticks infected with human diseases in Moscow region and formulate an approach to non-specific prevention of human diseases, transmitted by ixodid ticks, taking into account the city environment. Materials and methods. We have analyzied quantitative data provided by Federal Service on Surveillance for Consumer rights protection and human well-being (period: 2013-2016) about patient encounters concerning tick bites and incidence rates of infections transmitted by ixodid ticks among Moscow population. We employed standard method of collecting and tracking Ixodid ticks abundance in the parks and parklands of Moscow using “flags” and “trackers” within vegetation. Existence of infectious agents in Ixodid ticks was identified with PCR method in the laboratory of the department of highly infectious diseases FBHI «Moscow Centre of Hygiene and Epidemiology». Results and considerations. Epidemiological situation in Moscow in 20132016 concerning infections transmitted by ixodid ticks remains stressful. According to Federal Service on Surveillance for Consumer rights protection and human well-being, Lyme disease and introduced cases of tick-borne encephalitis were registered in Moscow. In 2016, 61 parks and parklands were listed as a potential life environment for Ixodid ticks. Investigation of the cases about infectioning with Lyme disease agents in Moscow region in 2013-2016 revealed that most of the cases were registered in East and North-West districts of Moscow in «Losiniy Ostrov» and «Serebryaniy Bor» parks. Conclusion. In the megapolis environment the approach to prevent infectious diseases transmitted by ixodid tick should be multifaceted. The greatest value should lie in non-specific prevention aimed on protection against several infectious agents that might be in a tick.

The literary review provided, on the topic of complex cardiorehabilitation program formulation of patients with cardiovascular disease, beginning from the origins to recent state. The stageing issues considered and continuity, timeline of exercises begin. The recommendations given for introduction of the novel methods of exercises as secondary prevention of the main disease, their efficacy and safety.

Abstract. Objectives The aim of the study is to identify the impact of labour migration processes on the quality of human capital. Methods For researching the methods and forms of migration capital’s impact on the formation of a new quality of human capital, a systematic approach is applied. In order to identify the imbalance in the distribution of labour resources among the regions of the Russian Federation and to assess migration processes, analytical and synthetic as well as statistical and comparative methods were applied. In order to help to visualise the identified economic and statistical dependencies, graphic images are provided. Results The essence of migration processes in the era of economic turbulence is revealed. The main share of labour migrants in the overall structure of migratory flows to the Russian Federation are labour migrants from the CIS countries; the main reasons for this situation are established. The factors of Russia’s high migration attractiveness are identified and the basic migratory process management tasks are defined. Among the main tasks of migration process management are: ensuring the national security of the Russian Federation; preservation, maintenance and improvement of comfort, well-being and quality of life of the Russian Federation population; solving the problems of stability and growth of the permanent population of the Russian Federation; creating conditions for the full satisfaction of the high-quality labour resource needs of the Russian economy, attracting labour migrants from highly developed countries; formation of conditions for the transition to sustainable development based on the introduction of scientific and technological progress and the creation of competitive industries. Conclusion The paper suggests three scenarios for the development of migration processes in Russia: inertial, realistic and optimistic. Improvements in the quality of migration capital can be achieved through the activation of business migration processes, which will positively affect the quality of human capital in general.

This paper systematizes and generalizes a research cycle devoted to studying the acoustics and vocal behaviour of silver foxes that differ in their tolerance to humans. The research revealed that 50-year selection for tameness toward people resulted in selective use by Tame foxes toward humans of two call types, pant and cackle. At the same time, the selected for aggression toward people Aggressive foxes and the non-selected for behaviour Control foxes, selectively use toward humans cough and snort. Thus, call types representing vocal indicators of friendly and aggressive behaviour of foxes toward humans have been revealed by the research. Nevertheless, experimental domestication did not change vocal behaviour of foxes toward conspecifics; all three strains did not differ by their vocal behaviour toward same-strain silver foxes. Relationship has been investigated between vocal behaviour and degree of tolerance toward people for hybrids between Tame and Aggressive foxes and for backcrosses to Tame and Aggressive foxes. Effect was estimated between fox sex and the degree of human impact on focal fox for variables of fox vocal behaviour. The research revealed the universal for mammals vocal indicators of emotional arousal that are independent of the emotional valence. Characteristics of vocal behaviour that are related with positive and negative emotional valence have been revealed. A simple and effective method for estimating animal discomfort based on ”joint calls” that takes into account the characteristics of all calls irrespective of their acoustic structure has been revealed. The obtained results provide a basis for further comparative studies of the acoustic structure and vocal behaviour for other taxa of the genus Vulpes and the related canid genera (Canis, Cuon, Lycaon).

Aim. To assess the efficacy of physical cardiorehabilitation in patients with acute coronary syndrome non-ST-elevation (NSTEACS) and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on infarction-relevant artery.Material and methods. To the prospective study, 35 patients included — mean age 57,9±9,7 y.o.; 78% males, 22% females after NSTEACS with urgent PCI on symptom-dependent artery and noncomplicated post-surgery period. Time of inclusion into the study was 2-8 weeks after ACS onset. At 1 and 12 weeks of cardiorehabilitation programs there was functional (echocardiography, electrocardiography, exercise testing) and laboratory diagnostics (lipids and chemistry). For 12 weeks the participants visited 3 times per weeks the standard cardorehabilitation trainings.Results. After the cardiorehabilitation course, in patients we found decreae of total cholesterol from 4,4±1,4 to 3,9±1,1 (р=0,02); low density lipoproteides level from 2,6±1,1 to 2,1±0,7 (р=0,002); significant increase of high density lipoproteides from 0,9±0,3 to 1,2±0,4 min (р

Since 1980 when L. Ludwig et al. [1] identified changes in the liver characteristic of alcohol-induced hepatitis in persons who didn’t misuse alcohol, intense study of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) started. The definition of NAFLD has two major principles: a morphological pattern in biopsy ma terial microscopy completely corresponds to changes induced by alcoholic pathology and the major etiologic factors is lacking – alcoholic at hepatotoxic dosages. Obligatory condition is to rule out viral, drug, metabolic and other reasons [2].

The article tells about the indications for use of ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA). The most significant positive effects were demonstrated in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) and cholelithiasis (CL). The possibility of using UDCA for CL prophylaxis during biliary sludge (BS) and in risk groups -people of elderly and senile age - is discussed. The article presents the results of the authors’ study of UDCA administration in 32 patients with gallbladder deformity (GD) and BS. Grinterol (UDCA) demonstrated high clinical efficacy, safety and no side effects.

The objective: to analyze the experience of use of cepeginterferonalfa-2b and ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotypes 2 and 3 in clinical practice, to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of this treatment regimen.Materials and methods. From 2013 to 2016 a total of 73 patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC) received antiviral therapy with cepeginterferon alfa 2b (cePEG-IFN alfa-2b) and ribavirin in the Center for Gastroenterology and Hepatology of FSBE «Vishnevsky Third Military Clinical Hospital» of Russian Ministry of Defence. Treatment efficacy was assessed by the rate of sustained virologic response (SVR) on 24 week after completion of antiviral therapy. All cases of deterioration of the patient’s condition and laboratory abnormalities were registered throughout the treatment period and follow up. Severity of adverse events was assessed in accordance with the classification of CTCAE (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events).Results. 73 CHC patients genotype 2/3 received cePEGIFN alfa-2b 1.5 μg/kg/week and ribavirin 800-1400 mg/day based on body weight for 24 weeks. SVR 24 was registered in 94,7% (n=54) of patients with HCV genotype 3 and in 93,7% (n =15) patients with genotype 2. During the first 12 weeks of therapy the normalization of serum transaminase activities was registered. All adverse events were typical for interferon/ribavirin treatment regimen.Conclusion. According to our data the use of double treatment regimen (CePEG-IFN alfa-2b and ribavirin) is reasonable in patients who don’t have negative predictive factors of response to IFN-based therapy. The SVR rate in this group of patients was 94.5%.