Search

The article deals with a set of economic, social and psychological factors that result in decrease of birth-rate and render the market incentives in overcoming depopulation of Russia inefficient. Doubts about the appropriateness of Western models, which are being continuously and ineffectively adapted to Russian reality by researchers from Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, call for attempts at finding solution within the framework of social constructivism. Analytical sessions and a sociological research into circumstances and considerations, which are perceived as those impeding the realization of the reproductive potential of Russian women, helped to lay down the conceptual statements on the formation of new strategies aimed at inclusion of reproductive labor in the process of social production. Ascertained were the specific social-psychological and medical factors that influence reproductive processes and can bring about considerable demographic changes.

This research analyzes the illegal and unreasonable practice of court rulings that aim to accelerate the major construction of problematic long-delayed apartment blocks in the Russian Federation. The authors express their critical attitude to the widespread wrongful approach that violates the laws in effect and allows courts to apply branch-specific legal regulation to public relations, which should be regulated by different laws. The authors support the supremacy of law over the administrative and economic expedience, which often prevails in modern Russia, and analyze the legal status of the victims of unscrupulous real estate developers, including that of persons who took mortgage loans and bore additional costs due to increased interest rates, and the financial losses of banks that were forced to create additional reserves for potential losses from bad debts with security in the form of apartments in buildings, the construction of which was delayed indefinitely.

Insectivores (Eulypotiphla) are a substantial component of Russian forest ecosystems. The parasites of these animals also form an important part of natural biocenoses and act as one of the factors in the formation of biodiversity. The Mordovia Nature Reserve and National Park "Smolny" are large, forested areas located in the center of European Russia. We studied the helminth fauna of insectivores in these protected areas in 2018–2022. In total, using the method of complete helminthological necropsy, we examined 478 individuals of shrews, moles, and hedgehogs and recorded 34 species of parasitic worms, i.e., 8 trematode, 7 cestode, 1 acanthocephalan, and 18 nematode species. The most diverse helminth fauna was found in Sorex araneus (22 species). The composition of helminths in S. isodon (12), Neomys fodiens (9), Sorex minutus, and Erinaceus roumanicus (8 species each) turned out to be less diverse. The lowest species diversity of helminths was observed in Neomys milleri (3) and Talpae europaea (2 species). Taking into account the newly obtained data, we conducted a review of the helminth diversity in shrews, hedgehogs, and moles in the Middle Volga region. According to our literature data, the helminth fauna of insectivores in this region consists of 52 species, including 14 cestodes, 13 trematodes, 22 nematodes, and 3 acanthocephalans. Most of them belong to the Palearctic faunal complex (36 species). The helminth fauna of insectivores in the studied protected areas was compared with the helminth fauna of micromammals in other areas of the Middle Volga region. Our comparative analysis showed a high and average degree of similarity in the helminth fauna within individual species and genera of Eulipotyphla. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this research was to determine the natural factors that contribute to maintaining the standard quality of fresh drinking groundwater in areas with high strontium content. Hazard index values for the consumption of water containing strontium were also calculated to assess the overall non-carcinogenic health risk from combined ingestion and dermal exposure. The results showed that the groundwater with strontium concentrations exceeding the maximum permissible concentrations had an increased correlation of strontium concentrations with total dissolved solids and celestite and gypsum saturation indices. A decrease in calcium content was recorded with a simultaneous increase in the concentration of magnesium and strontium. Reducing conditions in the aquifer were also favorable for the conservation of these waters. In waters of standard quality, all these factors did not appear, which indicates their formation in sediments with discretely located small inclusions of celestite and gypsum. These waters were characterized by a calcium bicarbonate composition, low total dissolved solids (TDS), and oxidizing conditions. Elevated radiocarbon contents indicate their relatively young age. In general, it was found that children in the study area are most vulnerable to risks. Fifty percent of wells supply drinking water that is unsafe for consumption. The water from about a third of the wells studied is dangerous for adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish in the Volga-Kama River System (the largest river system in Europe) are important as a crucial food source for local populations; fish have the highest trophic level among hydrobionts. The purpose of this research is to describe the diversity of non-indigenous and native fish in the Volga and Kama Rivers, in the European part of Russia. This dataset encompasses data from June 2001 to September 2021 and comprises 1888 records (36,376 individual observations) for littoral and pelagic habitats from 143 sampling sites, representing 52 species from 42 genera in 22 families. The dataset has a Darwin Core standard format and has been fully released in the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) under CC-BY 4.0 International license. The data are validated with several international databases such as FishBase, Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes, the Barcode of Life Data System, and the SAS.Planet geoinformations system. Newly established populations have been found for several species belonging to the following Actinopteri families: Alosidae, Anguillidae, Cichlidae, Ehiravidae, Gobiidae, Odontobutidae, Syngnathidae, and Xenocyprididae. Therefore, this dataset can be used in the particular taxon species distribution analysis, which are especially important for non-indigenous species. Data set: https://doi.org/10.15468/n8gv7y Dataset License: Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 International License [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, I consider the historical stages of development of nanotechnology in Russia as well as the political framework for this. It is shown that early federal nanotechnology programs in Russia date back to the 1990s and that since the mid-2000s, nanotechnology has attracted the increasing attention of government. I characterize the formation of the political landscape and the basic institutions for the promotion of nanotechnology in relation to the adoption of the Russian Federation president's initiative "Strategy of Nanoindustry Development" in 2007. The evaluative part of the article deals with three aspects: (a) bibliometric to assess Russian research output in nanotechnology, (b) scientific cadre to assess the research capacity of Russia in the long term, and (c) economical to consider the early results and prospects of the domestic nanoindustry. To construct the scientometric indicators, I used the Science Citation Index Expanded and some internal databases. The texts of program documents and available reports served as the source of economic information.

In this study, we present our dataset containing up-to-date information about occurrences of trematodes in small mammals in the Middle Volga region (European Russia). The dataset summarizes micromammals' trematode occurrences obtained by long-term field helminthological studies of soricomorphs, erinaceomorphs, bats and rodents during a period of more than 20 years (1999–2022). Our studies of trematodes in micromammals were conducted using the method of complete helminthological necropsy. The dataset includes 7470 records of trematode occurrences in micromammals with 4483 digenean records in Samara Oblast, 2986 records in Republic of Mordovia and one trematode record in Ulyanovsk Oblast. Our dataset presents the data on 43 trematode species from 21 genera and 9 families found in the region studied. The data on trematodes from 28 species of micromammals belonging to 14 genera are presented. In total, the number of collected trematode specimens in our dataset is 153,050. Each occurrence record contains the trematode species name, basis of record, locality of finding, host species, site in host, date and authors of the record and species identification. All occurrence records are georeferenced. The dataset is based on the research of the staff of the Institute of Ecology of the Volga River basin of RAS and the Joint Directorate of the Mordovia Nature Reserve and National Park "Smolny". The distribution and diversity of trematodes of small mammals in the Middle Volga region has not been completely studied, and further investigation may reveal both new occurrences of trematodes and new host records. Dataset:  https://doi.org/10.15468/gmt9ct. Dataset License: Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 License. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of mineral deposits causes changes that are comparable to natural exogenous geological processes, and prevail over the latter in local areas of intensive mining activity. In this article, a diamond deposit is selected, developed by quarries of great depth, and a forecast is made of the impact of drainage water discharge on changes in the composition of surface water and bottom sediments during the entire period of development of the deposit. Modeling was performed according to various scenarios, taking into account changes in the total dissolved solids of groundwater from 0.5 to 21.7 g/kg H2O. Thermodynamic calculations were carried out using the HCh software package. The role of dissolved organic carbon in the migration of chemical elements and the effect of DOC on the precipitation of chemical elements from mixed solutions is given. It has been established that fulvic acid completely binds to Fe in the Fe(OH)2FA− complex in all types of natural waters and under all mixing scenarios. With humic acid, such a sharp competitive complex formation does not occur. It is distributed among the various elements more evenly. It was determined that the mass of precipitating iron in the presence of DOC decreases by 18–27%, and its precipitation in winter is more intense. In contrast to Fe, the precipitation of Ca, Mg, and C from solutions with DOC is higher in summer, and there are more of them in the solutions in winter. This study contributes to a better understanding of the behavior of heavy metals in surface waters and sediments under anthropogenic pressures in order to improve the sustainable management of water resources in the face of anthropogenic activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article considers some patterns of ranking higher education institutions which are used in the Russian Federation to reveal strengths and weaknesses in meeting the national individual, societal and state-related needs, as well as those of the international academic community concerning relevant information on Russian higher education institutions. The following are appended: (1) Groups of Parameters for the Calculation of University Rankings; (2) Parameters of the Ranking System of the Russian Technical Universities Association; (3) Parameters of the "Kariera" Magazine Ranking; (4) Criteria for the Status of "Special Valued Object of Cultural Heritage of the Russian Federation"; and (5) Interpretation of Sub-Ranking Indices of the RAEE Universities Potential. (Contains 2 tables, 5 figures and 3 footnotes.)

In this study, the authors reviewed the development of Russian business education in the past decade. This development, fueled by historic changes in Russian society, has affected all aspects of business education, including its organizational structures, demand in different business areas, and mode of teaching. In a short period of time, Russian business education has substantially adjusted to new market requirements and transformed itself into one of the most influential parts of the Russian academic community. However, business education in Russia still has many challenging problems inherited from the Soviet-era planning mentality, which emphasized theory at the expense of practical problem solving.

The microbiota of the respiratory tract remains a relatively poorly studied subject. At the same time, it is involved in modulating the immune response to infectious agents in the host organism, just like the intestinal microbiota. A relationship between the composition of the respiratory microbiota and the likelihood of development and the severity of COVID-19 may be assumed. In this study, we applied the 16S rRNA metagenomic sequencing to analyze the oropharyngeal swabs from 120 COVID-19 patients collected during the first and the second waves of the COVID-19 epidemic in Russia. Differential abundance analysis with respect to comorbidities suggested association of Neisseria oralis, Neisseria mucosa, unidentified Veillonella spp., Lautropia mirabilis species with more severe lung damage, and Streptococcus salivarius, Capnocytophaga sputigena and Haemophilus parahaemolyticus with a milder course of the disease. We hypothesize that the latter bacteria (or some of them) might be beneficial for the respiratory tract and might be able to alleviate the course of the COVID-19 disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research of deionized water after filtration with shungite was performed. For the research of physicochemical parameters, the filtration lasted 24 hours for 50 g shungite in 1 L deionized water with conductivity 3.13 µS cm-1. For in vitro studies of microbiological parameters, the effect of shungite was studied for 12 and 36 hours. The research was performed with Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The shungite was received from Russian Federation with Material Safety Data Sheet and Certificate of conformity. The study was executed according to Ordinance No. 9/2001 with determination of 31 physicochemical parameters and additionally of potassium (K), hydrocarbonates (HCO3 -) and carbonates (CO3 -). After filtration with shungite, all 34 parameters were in norm and the water was suitable for drinking. The pH of shungite deionized water was 6.30. The pH of deionized water before the research was 6.09. The study proved that deionized water after filtration through shungite is not saturated with minerals of greater value than the normal one. Analyzes for the filtering properties of shungite are shown. The antibacterial effect of shungite water (aqueous infusions of shungite) obtained for 12 and 36 hours was tested. Staphylococcus aureus-ATCC and TSA-MRSA and Escherichia coli ATCC strains were used in the studies. Both tested aqueous infusions of shungite reduced the amount of viable E. coli and S. aureus cells even when they were in high concentrations (106 cells mL-1). The effect of the 36-hour infusion was better, under the influence of which after 15 min the number of live bacteria from the two tested species decreased to 85.5 + 5.0 %. After 120 min, the 12-hour infusion completely inactivated E. coli cells and reduced those of S. aureus to 38.8 + 7.4%. However, about 25 % of S. aureus cells survived after 24 hours of exposure to both aqueous infusions of shungite, and 20 % of them - even after 96 hours of exposure to these infusions. The antibacterial effect of the two aqueous infusions of shungite was established. These results show prospects for the use of shungite water as a prophylactic and adjuvant treatment for bacterial gastroenteritis and other infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first well‐preserved soft‐body imprint of a fossil squid was discovered from the Lower Oligocene of the Krasnodar region, Russia. The squid is perfectly preserved, with many details of its body available for study, such as imprints of eyes and head, a pair of statoliths, jaws, and stomach contents. Statoliths of this squid are the first finds of in situ statoliths in fossil non‐belemnoid coleoids, and their shape is characteristic of the genus Loligo (family Loliginidae). Although some Mesozoic coleoids were previously classified as teuthids, these finds remain controversial and the squid described herein is the first unquestionable representative of fossil Teuthida known to date. It should be noted that the squid is preserved not due to phosphatization, which is typical for fossil coleoids, but by pyritization and carbonization. Numerous fish remains in the stomach contents of the squid indicate its piscivorous diet. A small cutlassfish Anenchelum angustum, which was buried together with the squid and whose bones are located near the squid's jaws, sheds light on the circumstances of the death of this animal. Most likely, the squid suffocated in the anoxic bottom waters, where it drowned along with its last prey (distraction sinking). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Espacios is the property of Talleres de Impresos Oma and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The aim of the research is a comprehensive evaluation of the character of the impact of recreational activity and tourism on the biological communities of the Republic of Altai. The article discusses the main tendencies of changes in biological communities in the Altai Mountains proper to places of high recreational load. It is shown that as a rule, changes are manifested in the impoverishment of biological diversity, local extinction or decrease of the number of stenotopic bank types and the extension of the spatial distribution anthropoperseverant species. The general regularities and specificity of the reaction of the researched groups of organisms are demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To study the association of polymorphisms rs699947, rs2010963, rs3025039 in the VEGFA gene region and rs1870377, rs2305949, rs2071559 in the VEGFR2 gene region with the risk of primary varicose veins in ethnic Russians. Methods Genotypes were determined by real-time PCR allelic discrimination. The case group consisted of 448 patients with primary varicose veins and the control group comprised 609 individuals without a history of chronic venous disease. Association was studied by logistic regression analysis. Results Allele rs2010963 C was associated with the decreased risk of varicose veins (additive model of inheritance: odds ratio = 0.73, 95% confidence interval = 0.59–0.91, P = 0.004). Conclusions Our results provide evidence that polymorphism rs2010963 located in the 5′ untranslated region of the VEGFA gene can influence genetic susceptibility to primary varicose veins in Russians. Otherwise, it can be in linkage disequilibrium with another functional single nucleotide polymorphism that can alter the level of vascular endothelial growth factor A protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Data on content of 90Sr, 137Cs, 239,240Pu and 3H in water of the Tobol–Irtysh part of the Techa–Iset–Tobol–Irtysh–Ob river system (through which the “Mayak” PA radioactive wastes are transported) are presented and discussed. The data were received in 2004–2005 under the ISTC project on radioecological monitoring of the Tobol and Irtysh rivers. Monthly observations of 137Cs, 90Sr and 3H content in water in the area of the Tobol and Irtysh confluence have been conducted starting from May 2004. To obtain information on the investigated river system as a whole, the radioecological survey of the Tobol and Irtysh rivers at the section from the mouth of the Iset River to the confluence with the Ob River was carried out in 2004. It is shown that the impact of “Mayak” PA waste transport by 90Sr is distinctly traced as far as the area of the Irtysh and Ob confluence. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The article makes an overview of possible new means of space payload launching and landing. The possibilities of essential reducing the unit cost of space transportation are described. Both vertical and horizontal versions of the take-off and landing are allowed launching and landing vehicles of different configurations are analyzed by ensuring the reusable application of all elements of the space system, and not just the first stage of the launch vehicle. The advantages of using water areas for space needs are discussed. The opportunities and difficulties of application a heavy ekranoplane (WIG-craft) to assist the marine take-off and landing of an aerospace plane are explained. The flight safety requirements for maneuvering of both these winged vehicles for their reliable approach and docking are analyzed. The interest of readers in the proposed article will certainly be high, primarily because of the detailed description of a new constructive idea to reduce the unit cost of take-off and landing of spacecraft with the involvement of a heavy ekranoplane. At the same time, the article assesses the capabilities of the new Russian « Vostochny » cosmodrome in servicing both vertical launch vehicles traditional for Russia and the possibility of using the Pacific Ocean regions for space launches and landings. For the first time, the idea and structure of the mechanisms for docking two winged aircraft are considered, moreover, at the final stage of the flight. Such a docking may be required in the implementation of other space transport systems, and the need for a deeper study of the problem is clear, first of all, working out the dynamics and modeling of all elements involved in the docking process. This topic is of particular relevance within the framework of the specialized "Space Flight Safety" issue of the magazine. Two more topics covered in the article may also be relevant for readers. This is the rationale for the development of a heavy ekranoplane with a mass of about a thousand tons, several areas of application of which are already clear, and the development of a wide-range air-breathing jet engine. Such an engine could make it possible to implement the idea of a single-stage spacecraft that could become truly reusable. The detailed description made in the first part of the article about many unsuccessful attempts to achieve the reusability of space technologies should also be recognized as useful. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alexander I. Pereswetoff-Morath:“Bishop of Ingria and All the Sea-Coast of the Northern Ocean”: The Smooth Operations of Athenogenes Kryzanovskij The paper treats the short “Ingrian” period in the life of the Belorussian monastic Athenogenes (Anfinogen) Kryzanovskij (fl. 1629-68), a man known to scholarship mainly from his adventurous involvement in Muscovite and Ruthenian church affairs. He is identified as the mysterious archbishop “Arfimager” of Ingria (known from 1638/9), one of of a mere couple of attested Orthodox hierarchs in that Swedish province, and as Aaron “Semblicenscoi”, “archimandrite of Nazareth”, whose epistle to the Ingrian Orthodox in 1651 was to add to the clash between local Lutherans and Orthodox during the Russian-Swedish war of 1656-8 when discovered by local authorities in 1656. The identifications explain several of the outlandish titles bestowed upon Athenogenes in a satirical poem by his countryman Symeon Polockij and throw light on aspects of Orthodox life in Swedish Ingria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The technogenic impact of the development of the Lomonosov diamond deposit is associated with the discharge of quarry and drainage water into the river, which has a special conservation status. Earlier studies on the composition of bottom sediments showed that there are signs of increased accumulation of heavy metals and radionuclides at wastewater discharge sites. The purpose of this work was to predict changes in the composition of surface water and bottom sediment in the river during the further development of mining operations with brackish and salty water captured by drainage systems, the presence of which was established in the zone of their future influence. For this, a simulation of changes in the composition of the water in the river was carried out using the GEOCHEQ software package by minimizing the free energy of the system using a convex simplex algorithm. It was found that the maximum salinity of surface water can reach 1.51 g/L. In this case, the MPC of Cl−, Na+, SO42−, Mg2+, Sr, V, and U can be exceeded for fishery watercourses. The genetic basis of the accumulation of these components in solutions for mixing was considered. According to the calculations, when about 5000 m3/h of drainage water is discharge d into the river, the mass of precipitated chemical elements will be 56–191 t/h, including up to 2.1 t/h of iron; therefore, accumulation in the discharge zone must be controlled. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Kema terrane is a suite of Barremian(?)–Aptian to Albian volcano-sedimentary rocks of Sikhote–Alin that are interpreted as deposits of the back-arc basin of the Moneron–Samarga island-arc system. Compositional features of the different-type deposits indicate a near-slope depositional environment influenced by volcanic processes. Studies of slump fold orientation testify to the accumulation of material from southeast to northwest by gravitational sliding. Compositional characteristics of terrigenous rocks suggest the major provenance for detrital material was an ensialic volcanic island arc. Petrochemical characteristics of basaltic rocks indicate that the formations studied were confined to the back part of the arc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper seeks to identify some of the more common trends within Evangelical biblical interpretation produced by the current circumstances in post-Soviet countries of the Former Soviet Union. I argue that the present religio-cultural context, the ongoing political-economic shift and current theological education are impacting how the Bible is being understood by these countries' Evangelicals. Today's Evangelical Christians face the challenge of approaching the biblical texts in the midst of constant change related to the historic transformation that their country, society and Churches are now undergoing. Within this unsettling context transpires a frequent reinterpretation of the biblical texts and a continuing search to discover new meanings within them. This paper seeks to formulate a framework to foster a post-communist hermeneutical debate among Slavic Protestant Evangelicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article studies the mechanisms used by Methanosarcina barkeri, an anaerobic methanogenic archaeon, upon exposure to oxidative stress by researchers from Russia and Switzerland. The capability of M. barkeri to survive oxidative stress has puzzled microbiologists. In this study, the researchers have elucidated the regulation of the adaptive response of M. barkeri to different oxidative stresses.

Abstract: The State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology “Vector” and the Institute of Optics SB RAS are performing systematic study of tropospheric bioaerosols in the South of Western Siberia. The work summarizes the results of analysis of some physical characteristics of the data array on bioaerosol concentration obtained with an airplane laboratory at the altitudes of 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5.5 and 7km. The flights were performed during the last 10 days of each month in 1999–2003. It was shown that the concentration of total protein aerosols obeyed the laws of continual statistics, and the concentration of culturable microorganism aerosols obeyed the laws of discrete statistics. The analysis of correlation coefficients and cross correlation of bioaerosol concentration fields was performed. Wavelet analysis of the data showed that variations of tropospheric bioaerosol concentration were mainly determined by typical seasonal processes with periods of 12, 6, 4 and 8–9 months. Seasonal variations cause approximately 80% of the total dispersion of variations of total protein concentration, and the amplitudes of variations of culturable microorganism concentration are small as compared with the constant component. Harmonic analysis of bioaerosol concentration fields was performed. Harmonics that are significant in wavelet spectra for all time series were taken for the approximation of the series. It was revealed that four-month periodicity was internal and was caused by a wave spreading from above with a vertical rate of about 4km/month. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A joint Russian and US model intercomparison study was undertaken to develop more realistic contaminant transport models of the Mayak Site, southern Urals. The test problems were developed by the Russian team based on their experience in modeling contaminant migration near Lake Karachai. The intercomparison problems were designed to address lake and contaminant plume interactions, as well as river interactions and plume-density effects. Different numerical codes were used. Overall, there was good agreement between the results of both models. Features shown by both models include (1) the sinking of the plume below the lake, (2) the raising of the water table in the fresh water adjacent to the lake in response to the increased pressure from the dense plume, and (3) the formation of a second sinking plume in an area where evapotranspiration exceeded infiltration, thus increasing the solute concentrations above the source (i.e., lake) values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terrestrial mud volcanoes (TMVs) are important natural sources of methane emission. The microorganisms inhabiting these environments remain largely unknown. We studied the phylogenetic composition and metabolic potential of the prokaryotic communities of TMVs located in the Taman Peninsula, Russia, using a metagenomic approach. One of the examined sites harbored a unique community with a high abundance of anaerobic methane-oxidizing archaea belonging to ANME-3 group (39% of all 16S rRNA gene reads). The high number of ANME-3 archaea was confirmed by qPCR, while the process of anaerobic methane oxidation was demonstrated by radioisotopic experiments. We recovered metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of archaeal and bacterial community members and analyzed their metabolic capabilities. The ANME-3 MAG contained a complete set of genes for methanogenesis as well as of ribosomal RNA and did not encode proteins involved in dissimilatory nitrate or sulfate reduction. The presence of multiheme c-type cytochromes suggests that ANME-3 can couple methane oxidation with the reduction of metal oxides or with the interspecies electron transfer to a bacterial partner. The bacterial members of the community were mainly represented by autotrophic, nitrate-reducing, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria, as well as by fermentative microorganisms. This study extends the current knowledge of the phylogenetic and metabolic diversity of prokaryotes in TMVs and provides a first insight into the genomic features of ANME-3 archaea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In September 2017, studies were conducted in the East Siberian Sea along the transect from a Indigirka delta to the ice edge at the outer shelf margin. The abundances of planktonic prokaryotes (N PR) and free viruses (N V), frequency of visibly infected prokaryotic cells (FVIC), and virus-mediated mortality of prokaryotes (VMPR) varied within (0.5–3.4) × 106 (on average (1.67 ± 0.69) × 106) cells/mL; (2.3–10.3) × 106 (on average (5.28 ± 1.91) × 106) viruses/mL; 0.6–2.5 (on average 1.1 ± 0.4) % of N PR ; and 4.5–22.3 (on average 9.0 ± 3.8) % of the total prokaryotic production, respectively. The proportions of viruses attached to prokaryotic cells (N VPR) and suspended particles (N VP) were 1.9–26.3 (on average 8.0 ± 5.0) % of N V and 0.1–65.9 (on average 8.0 ± 13.3) % of N V , respectively. High concentrations of detrital and mineral particles, to which a significant number of viruses were attached and, as a result, loss of their activity were recorded in the river–sea water mixing zone. In such a situation, the number of virus attacks on prokaryotes and cases of their infection decreased. There was a negative relationship between the concentration of suspended particles 0.5–5.0 μm in size and the abundance of infected prokaryotic cells. Thus, we conclude that viruses played a substantial role in controlling the abundance and production of heterotrophic prokaryotic plankton in the low-productive East Siberian Sea at the beginning of autumn. Regional index terms : Russian Federation; East Siberian Sea. Geographic bounding coordinates : 70–78° N; 150–165° E. [Display omitted] • For the first time viruses – bacteria interactions were studied in the East Siberian Sea. • A significant number of viruses were attached to suspended particles and bacteria. • The parameters determined were comparable in the waters with temperature > and < 0 °C. • Viruses play a considerable role in controlling the heterotrophic bacterioplankton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deals with the trend in business education in Russia as of December 1998. Development of business schools in Russian universities; Current conditions of some business programs; Actions taken by the Russian government in response to economic transformations; Details on the majors in the Russian business programs.

This article advances the understanding of the present and future of Russian entrepreneurship. Based on secondary information published in the West and in contemporary Russia, empirical research and personal interviews, general characteristics of Russian entrepreneurship within different controversial periods that occurred during different periods of this country's history are presented. Also discussed are the influences of ethnic and religious minorities and foreign businesses on entrepreneurship development as well as the relatively low social status of the entrepreneur. The vitality of entrepreneurial response is discussed in terms of recent events in post-Socialist Russia including the transformation of its economy and society and its integration into the global market. In so doing, the article presents the latest trends in entrepreneurship in the country as well as a profile of the Russian entrepreneur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sequential extraction procedure is used to reconstruct the processes of redistribution of uranium isotopes in the mineral phases of the aquifer of the Vendian sandy-argillaceous deposits developed in the coastal territory of the European North of Russia. This aquifer has large resources of drinking and mineral groundwater which, however, are used in extremely limited quantities. This is due to the very complex nature of the hydrochemical conditions, and uranium-isotopic methods are used to clarify these conditions. The following mineral phases of core samples were characterized: adsorbed trace materials and carbonate minerals; ferrihydrate, amorphous minerals of Fe, Al and Si, and secondary U minerals; crystalline iron minerals; clay and some refractory minerals; and all remaining resistant minerals. The most resistant minerals, whose fraction ranges from 70.58 to 96.4%, have a minimum average uranium concentration of 0.47 ppm. This uranium is practically conserved in the rock, as a result of which the average ratio of its 234U:238U isotopes is close to equilibrium. In the remaining fractions, uranium is redistributed by groundwater along their flow lines from recharge areas in watersheds to areas of discharge into river valleys. Its maximum concentration (12.89 ppm) measurement is carried out by coprecipitation with iron hydroxides, then the uranium is adsorbed and precipitated with carbonates (9.14 ppm). The average 234U:238U is maximum in adsorbed trace materials and carbonate minerals (2.39 ± 0.36) and is close to that in fresh groundwater (2.8 ± 0.42). It is also increased in the amorphous minerals of Fe (1.53 ± 0.23). In general, there is a dependence of the 234U:238U activity ratio in rock on the degree of participation of groundwater in the deposition of hydrogenic uranium isotopes into the cracks and pores of these rocks. The results obtained contribute to the refinement of such a parameter as the retardation factor, which is necessary for understanding the processes of migration and concentration of uranium in sedimentary basins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work is part of a research project that aims to develop a method for combined radiocarbon and uranium-isotope dating of groundwater. The specific objective of this study was to investigate the mobility of uranium isotopes in the various mineral phases of rocks of an aquifer of sandy-clay deposits of the Vendian in the northwest of Russia, for which a partial extraction procedure was used. Representative aliquots of each core sample were treated with various reagents: distilled water, low mineralized fresh natural groundwater, minopolycarboxylic acid chelating agent (0.05 M EDTA), 0.5M HCl, 15 M HNO3, as well as total digestion, and the U isotope data for each procedure are reported in this study. The following mineral phases of core samples were characterized: sorbed material, carbonate minerals, amorphous iron oxides, partially soluble aluminosilicates and crystalline iron oxides, totally digestible aluminosilicates and a clay/quartz resistate. Red-colored siltstones and sandstones were depleted in uranium in relatively readily soluble mineral phases. The concentration of sorbed uranium was established in the range 15.8 ± 2.1–30.5 ± 3.9 μg/kg and carbonate minerals contained even less uranium. For iron hydroxides and the most readily soluble aluminosilicates, uranium concentrations were in the range 168 ± 24–212 ± 28 μg/kg. The most insoluble fraction contained uranium in the range 1.65 ± 0.21–4.32 ± 0.45 mg/kg. In green-colored siltstones, the concentration of sorbed uranium was much higher in the range 106 ± 14–364 ± 43 μg/kg. Carbonate minerals and amorphous iron oxides contained uranium in the range 1.91 ± 0.21–2.34 ± 0.26 mg/kg. In aluminosilicates and a clay/quartz resistate, uranium concentrations were in the range 5.6 ± 0.5–16.8 ± 1.4 mg/kg. Elevated values of 234U:238U activity ratio prevailed in the sorbed material and iron hydroxides. In aluminosilicates and clay/quartz resistate, the values decreased. This indicates the replacement of primary sedimentogenic uranium by secondary hydrogenic uranium sorbed on the surface of minerals and coprecipitation with iron hydroxides. The results obtained made it possible to carry out preliminary quantitative estimates of the retardation factor and recoil loss factor of uranium in the groundwater of siltstones and sandstones of the studied Vendian aquifer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Widespread basaltic volcanism occurred in the region of the West Siberian Basin in central Russia during Permo-Triassic times. New [sup 40]Ar/[sup 39]Ar age determinations on plagioclase grains from deep boreholes in the basin reveal that the basalts were erupted 249.4 ± 0.5 million years ago. This is synchronous with the bulk of the Siberian Traps, erupted further east on the Siberian Platform. The age and geochemical data confirm that the West Siberian Basin basalts are part of the Siberian Traps and at least double the confirmed area of the volcanic province as a whole. The larger area of volcanism strengthens the link between the volcanism and the end-Permian mass extinction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Non-immunogenic staphylokinase is modified recombinant staphylokinase with low immunogenicity, high thrombolytic activity, and selectivity to fibrin. We aimed to assess the safety and efficacy of a single intravenous bolus of non-immunogenic staphylokinase compared with alteplase in patients with acute ischaemic stroke within 4·5 h after symptom onset.Methods: We did a randomised, open-label, multicentre, parallel-group, non-inferiority trial in 18 clinical sites in Russia. We included patients aged 18 years and older with a diagnosis of acute ischaemic stroke (up to 25 points on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale). The study drug had to be administered within 4·5 h after the onset of symptoms. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either non-immunogenic staphylokinase (10 mg) or alteplase (0·9 mg/kg, maximum 90 mg), both administered intravenously. The randomisation sequence was created by an independent biostatistician using computer-generated random numbers. 84 blocks (block size of four) of opaque sealed envelopes were numbered sequentially from 1 to 336 and were opened in numerical order. Patients were unaware of their assigned treatment and were assessed by the study investigators who were also unaware of the treatment assignment on all trial days. Emergency department staff, who administered the assigned drug and opened the envelopes, were not masked to treatment. The primary efficacy endpoint was a favourable outcome, defined as a modified Rankin scale (mRS) score of 0-1 on day 90. The margin of non-inferiority was established as 16% for the difference in mRS score of 0-1 on day 90. Non-inferiority was tested using Welch's t-test for the primary outcome only. Endpoints were analysed in the per-protocol population, which comprised all randomly assigned patients who completed treatment without any protocol violations; this population was identical to the intention-to-treat population. This trial is completed and registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03151993.Findings: Of 385 patients recruited from March 18, 2017, to March 23, 2019, 336 (87%) were included in the trial. 168 (50%) patients were randomly assigned to receive non-immunogenic staphylokinase and 168 (50%) to receive alteplase. The median duration of follow-up was 89 days (IQR 89-89). 84 (50%) of 168 patients in the non-immunogenic staphylokinase group had a favourable outcome at day 90 compared with 68 (40%) of 168 patients in the alteplase group (odds ratio [OR] 1·47, 95% CI 0·93 to 2·32; p=0·10). The difference in the rate of favourable outcome at day 90 was 9·5% (95% CI -1·7 to 20·7) and the lower limit did not cross the margin of non-inferiority (pnon-inferiority <0·0001). Symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage occurred in five (3%) patients in the non-immunogenic staphylokinase group and in 13 (8%) patients in the alteplase group (p=0·087). On day 90, 17 (10%) patients in the non-immunogenic staphylokinase group and 24 (14%) patients in the alteplase group had died (p=0·32). 22 (13%) patients in the non-immunogenic staphylokinase group had serious adverse events, compared with 37 (22%) patients in the alteplase group (p=0·044).Interpretation: Non-immunogenic staphylokinase was non-inferior to alteplase for patients with acute ischaemic stroke. Mortality, symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage, and serious adverse events did not differ significantly between groups. Future studies are needed to continue to assess the safety and efficacy of non-immunogenic staphylokinase in patients with acute ischaemic stroke within the 4·5 h time window, and to assess the drug in patients with acute ischaemic stroke outside this time window with reperfusion CT or magnetic resonance angiography followed by thrombectomy if necessary.Funding: The Russian Academy of Sciences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The eclogites from the Gridino eclogite-bearing mélange complex in the Belomorian province, Fennoscandian Shield may represent one of the oldest terrain in the world. The Belomorian province is a superposition of Archean and Palaeoproterozoic collisional orogens, which experienced repeated high-grade metamorphic reworking and intense polyphase tectonic deformation in the early Precambrian. Main purpose of this study is to determine the metamorphic age(s) and evolutionary PT path of eclogite as boudin-like body within the Gridino tectonic mélange. Representative rock materials of well-preserved, plagioclase-free eclogite and associated retrogressed eclogitic rock were sampled from Stolbikha Island in the Gridino area for our research. The eclogite sample mainly comprises omphacite, garnet, amphibole, rare quartz, and some accessory minerals (rutile, magnetite), whereas the retrogressed eclogite sample is made of diopside – Na-rich plagioclase symplectites, amphibole, quartz, and accessory minerals. Thermodynamic modeling points to a clockwise metamorphic PT path, with peak conditions of P = 18.5 kbar, T = 710 °C, and a “warm” subduction is inferred thus. LA-ICP-MS zircon U–Pb dating yields diverse metamorphic episodes from the Neoarchean to the Palaeoproterozoic. While metamorphic zircon formed at eclogite-facies condition is identified by studying the trace element distribution and partitioning in and between zircon and co-existing eclogite-facies minerals (omphacite, garnet); consequently, Neoarchean eclogite-facies metamorphic event of ca. 2.70 Ga can be distinguished for the Gridino eclogite complex, and a regional-scale thermal event may have occurred in the period of 2.70–2.61 Ga. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to assess the markers of arsenic, cadmium, mercury, and lead exposure in first-year RUDN University students of different geographic origins. A total of 274 first-year students of the RUDN University originating from Russia (n = 65), Asia (n = 57), Middle East (n = 84), Africa (n = 40), and Latin America (n = 28) were enrolled in the present study. Evaluation of As, Cd, Hg, and Pb levels in urine and hair was performed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The obtained data demonstrate that hair As levels in foreign students exceed that in Russian examinees. The highest Cd and Pb levels were detected in subjects from Africa and Latin America, whereas hair Hg content was significantly higher in Latin America students. Urinary Cd levels in foreign students exceeded those in Russian counterparts. In turn, the highest Hg concentration in urine was revealed in students originating from Middle East and especially Latin America. Urinary Pb levels were found to be the highest in students from Africa. Multiple regression analysis demonstrated that Asian, African, and Latin American origins were considered as a significant predictor of hair Hg content. Higher urinary Hg levels were associated with Asia, Middle East, and Latin American origins. Prior habitation in Africa and Asia was considered as predictor of higher hair Pb and urinary Cd levels. The observed difference may be indicative of geographic difference in toxic metal exposure patterns.

This manuscript collects all the efforts of the Russian Consortium, bottlenecks revealed in the course of the C-HPP realization, and ways of their overcoming. One of the main bottlenecks in the C-HPP is the insufficient sensitivity of proteomic technologies, hampering the detection of low- and ultralow-copy number proteins forming the "dark part" of the human proteome. In the frame of MP-Challenge, to increase proteome coverage we suggest an experimental workflow based on a combination of shotgun technology and selected reaction monitoring with two-dimensional alkaline fractionation. Further, to detect proteins that cannot be identified by such technologies, nanotechnologies such as combined atomic force microscopy with molecular fishing and/or nanowire detection may be useful. These technologies provide a powerful tool for single molecule analysis, by analogy with nanopore sequencing during genome analysis. To systematically analyze the functional features of some proteins (CP50 Challenge), we created a mathematical model that predicts the number of proteins differing in amino acid sequence: proteoforms. According to our data, we should expect about 100 000 different proteoforms in the liver tissue and a little more in the HepG2 cell line. The variety of proteins forming the whole human proteome significantly exceeds these results due to post-translational modifications (PTMs). As PTMs determine the functional specificity of the protein, we propose using a combination of gene-centric transcriptome-proteomic analysis with preliminary fractionation by two-dimensional electrophoresis to identify chemically modified proteoforms. Despite the complexity of the proposed solutions, such integrative approaches could be fruitful for MP50 and CP50 Challenges in the framework of the C-HPP.

The specific objective of this study was to investigate the changes in the chemical composition of river waters during the exploitation of the Lomonosov diamond deposit and the danger of these changes for the ichthyofauna. It was found that the Ca-HCO 3 composition of river water both upstream and downstream from the quarry was almost identical before discharge of the drainage waters into the river. In subsequent years, the water downstream from the quarry acquired a Na-HCO 3 composition, and then a Na-HCO 3 -Cl composition and TDS increased by 2.5 times. With respect to Fe, Mn, and Mo, concentrations that are above the maximum permissible concentrations (MPCs) for fishery rivers are apparent. At the same time, elevated Fe and Mn concentrations are associated with the natural composition of river water. The negative influence of drainage waters is manifested only with respect to the high concentrations of Mo. An important role in increasing Mo concentrations in drainage waters is played by the processes of hydrolysis of sodium aluminosilicates and mixing of fresh water with salt water. The concentrations of Sr, B, Ba, V, and Cr in drainage waters are higher than those in surface waters. However, they generally do not exceed the concentrations of the current MPCs. The source of Cr, Ba, Ni, and V in the drainage waters can be the products of the kimberlite magmatism. The possible impacts of metals effects on fish are presented.

The complete genomes of two human bocavirus 4 (HBoV4) isolates recovered in 2011 in Novosibirsk, Russia have been determined. A set of primers was designed based on the determined and previously published HBoV sequences; this primer pair was able to detect all possible HBoV replicative intermediates. This primer set was used to assay all HBoV genotypes and detected only those structures that correspond to an episomal form of this viral genome. Also, for the first time, head-to-tail nucleotide sequences have been determined for HBoV4. Secondary structures of the terminal noncoding regions (NCRs) of episomal forms have been computed for all HBoV genotypes, as well as for the canine bocavirus. Conserved secondary structures in episomal NCRs, which are likely to play an important part in the replication of bocaviruses, were found. NCR heterogeneity in the genomes of individual HBoV isolates has been shown for the first time., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A comparative analysis of radiation doses determined by tooth enamel electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and by an acknowledged analytical method is performed for individual doses and for average doses in population of some settlements of the Bryansk region (Russia), which have been contaminated after the Chernobyl nuclear accident. The analysis is performed for doses in the range of 0-200 mGy for individuals and in the range of 0-50 mGy for the averaged populations. The method of orthogonal distance linear regression is used for the analysis. For both data sets the slopes of the regression line close to unity and the intercept close to zero are obtained, which indicates that doses determined by these two methods agree with each other. The root-mean-square difference between the results of EPR and analytical methods is estimated to be 35 mGy for individual doses and 15 mGy for averaged doses, which is consistent with uncertainty of these methods., (© The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Human bocavirus (HBoV) is associated with acute gastroenteritis in humans, occurring mostly in young children and elderly people. Four bocavirus genotypes (HBoV1-HBoV4) have been found so far. Since there were no data on the contribution of HBoV to gastroenteritis in Russia, 1781 fecal samples collected from infants hospitalized with acute gastroenteritis in Novosibirsk, Russia during one year were tested for the presence of nucleic acids from HBoV and three major gastrointestinal viruses (rotavirus A, norovirus II, and astrovirus). HBoV was detected only in 1.9% of the samples: HBoV1 was detected in 0.6% and HBoV2, in 1.3%. Complete genome sequencing of three Novosibirsk isolates was performed. An evolutionary analysis of these sequences and the available sequences of human and great apes bocaviruses demonstrated that the current HBoV genotypes diverged comparatively recently, about 60-300years ago. The independent evolution of bocaviruses from chimpanzees and gorillas commenced at the same time period. This suggests that these isolates of great apes bocaviruses belong to separate genotypes within the species of human bocavirus, which is actually the primate bocavirus. The rate of mutation accumulation in the genome of primate bocaviruses has been estimated as approximately 9×10(-4)substitutions/site/year. It has been demonstrated that HBoV1 diverged from the ancestor common with chimpanzee bocavirus approximately 60-80years ago, while HBoV4 separated from great apes bocaviruses about 200-300years ago. The hypothesis postulating independent evolution of HBoV1 and HBoV4 genotypes from primate bocaviruses has been proposed., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

A survey of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) throughout Russia was undertaken to understand the range of ECT usage and knowledge. A survey form was distributed by mail to 1648 Russian doctors and institutions expected to deal with ECT. A total of 114 replies were received. They indicated that ECT is available to 22.4% of the country's population. In available regions, ECT is given to 1.43% of hospital admissions and 0.54 per 10,000 persons per year. ECT is used in Russian psychiatry, neurology, and addictionology. Outdated ECT instruments are used in more than one third of sites, and EEG and seizure quality are virtually never monitored. Fewer than 20% of ECTs are modified with anesthesia. There is no system or expectation for ECT training or privileging, there is no national organization that aims to advance ECT practice, and ECT research is haphazard. Nevertheless, most respondents are enthusiastic and positive about ECT, and most institutions are eager to adopt modern ECT methods.