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Nutrition is an essential factor for human health. Earlier research has suggested that Arctic residents are vulnerable to environmental toxic exposures through traditional foods. Although Russia is the largest Arctic country, the evidence on the topic from the Russian part of the Arctic is scarce. We studied associations between blood concentrations of essential and non-essential elements and traditional food consumption in 297 adults from seven rural settlements in the Nenets Autonomous Area, Northwest Russia. Blood arsenic concentration was positively associated with consumption of rainbow smelt, pink salmon, Arctic char and navaga fish. Frequent consumption of northern pike was associated with increased concentration of blood mercury. Blood mercury and arsenic concentrations were significantly associated with blood selenium. We also observed positive associations between blood lead levels and the frequency of goose consumption. Moreover, subjects who reported to be hunters had higher blood levels of lead, suggesting contamination of goose meat with fragments of shotgun shells. Blood cobalt and manganese concentrations were inversely associated with serum ferritin levels. Positive associations between blood levels of manganese and lead were observed. Moreover, blood lead concentrations were significantly associated with cadmium, mercury, copper, and zinc. Our results corroborate earlier findings on the traditional foods as source of non-essential elements for the Arctic residents. Observed correlations between the levels of lead and other elements warrant further research and may have potential implications for the studies on the associations between essential elements and health outcomes.

Mosses are an impotent component of developing plant communities of glacier forelands of the Russian Altai Mountains. Species of the Bryum genus appear already in the first years after the glaciers retreat and play a significant role at the initial stage of the formation of a closed ground cover. A study of mosses distribution by successional stages and age fragments on the foreland of the Maly Aktru glacier (Central Altai Mountains) was carried out to assess the species diversity of the Bryum genus. The Bryum genus is the largest in the floristic list of mosses of the study area and includes seven species (16.3% of the bryoflora, numbering 43 species). It is the species of the Bryum genus among plants that are among the earliest settlers and occur at all three successional stages on the foreland of the Maly Aktru glacier. Four species of Bryum genus, such as B. intermedium, B. caespiticium, B. creberrimum and B. elegans, appear at the pioneer stage of vegetation development, which is characterized by a minimal species diversity of mosses and vascular plants. Six species, such as B. caespiticium, B. capillare, B. creberrimum, B. elegans, B. intermedium and B. lonchocaulon, were found at the second willow-moss successional stage. Six species were identified at the third larch-birch-moss stage of succession, as at the previous stage, but B. pseudotriquetrum appears for the first time and B. lonchocaulon disappears here. In general, the great diversity of species of the Bryum genus on the foreland of the Maly Aktru glacier is mainly due to the wide distribution of open and rather moist calcium-containing fine earth, which is the optimal substrate for many species of the genus. The highest frequency of occurrence of species was observed at the second stage (Table). At the same time, a third of the species of the Bryum genus is rare, and another third part is sporadic. Most of the Bryum species noted by us in the studied area grow at all three successional stages. The exceptions are B. lonchocaulon, which is limited in its distribution only to the second stage, as well as B. pseudotriquetrum, which occurs only in the third stage. B. caespiticium is distinguished by the highest frequency of occurrence on the foreland.

The article is devoted to the reaction of the societies of four countries (the United States, Great Britain, Italy and Russia) to the global risks and challenges associated with the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, which has grown from a health problem to a global political and economic one. Considering the socio-economic risks of the pandemic as the most significant for the lives of citizens of different countries, the authors operationalize them through the fears of public consciousness. The events of the last year have shown that the increased fear and panic among the population in the face of "new infections" has turned into a global problem. The specifics of the life organization in the context of the spread of the pandemic have contributed to the emergence of new distinct socio-economic and socio-political practices that require analysis. The obvious request to the authorities from the population of different countries to ensure the adoption of timely and effective measures to prevent the spread of infection and minimize its consequences also actualize the study of public attitudes during the pandemic in a comparative context. Based on a comparative international online survey, the main socio-economic risks and fears of residents of the four countries were identified, which included both general threats to well-being (low incomes, unemployment, lack of prospects in life, housing problems, etc.) and threats actualized by the pandemic situation (difficulties in obtaining medical care, the high cost of medicines, the inability to go on vacation, difficulties with obtaining education). The differences in satisfaction with the socio-economic situation in the countries, including the response to the actions of governments and local authorities, were analyzed. The review of individual strategies for coping with crisis situations showed significant differences across countries. At the same time, in assessing the activities of the authorities, respondents demonstrate unanimity, showing dissatisfaction with the measures taken and concern for their well-being in the future. The conclusion is made about the actualization of socio-economic fears during the spread of the pandemic and the widespread deterioration of the social well-being of the population.

The overwhelming majority of Arctic biomonitoring studies in humans include either pregnant or non-pregnant women of reproductive age while little attention is paid to toxic compounds concentrations in men. This study contributes with information of the present amounts of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in men living in Arctic Russia. We studied the serum concentrations of 11 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners and 17 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and some of their metabolites in samples collected from 92 adult men (mean age 43 years) from seven different settlements in Nenets Autonomous Okrug (NAO). The median concentrations of individual PCB congeners increased in the order PCB 183, PCB 180, PCB 118, PCB 138, PCB 153. The concentrations of o, p′-DDD, p, p′-DDD, aldrin, mirex and 1,2,3,5-TCB were in most cases below the quantification limit. The observed concentrations of PCBs and chlorinated pesticides were in the same range as those found in similar groups of women of these territories, but lower than of men in other Arctic countries. However, significant geographic differences between the settlements were observed with exceptionally high concentrations of PCBs in the Islands group. The highest serum ∑PCBs and β-HCH levels were observed in adult males aged 60–78 years. We found significant variations in serum concentrations of POPs across settlements and ethnic groups with exceptionally high concentrations of PCBs among the residents of the Arctic islands. At the same time, our findings suggest a considerable decrease in serum concentration of POPs over the last decade Geographic and Ethnic Variations in Serum Concentrations of Legacy Persistent Organic Pollutants among Men in the Nenets Autonomous Okrug, Arctic Russia

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are heterogeneous carbon-based compounds that can seriously affect human health. The aim of this study was to measure serum concentrations of POPs in women residing in the Euro-Arctic Region of Russia. A total of 204 women from seven rural settlements of the Nenets Autonomous Okrug (NAO) took part in the study. We measured serum concentrations of 11 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and 17 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) across the study sites and among Nenets and non-Nenets residents. Measurement of POPs was performed using an Agilent 7890A gas chromatograph equipped with an Agilent 7000 series MS/MS triple quadrupole system. The concentrations of all POPs were low and similar to findings from other Arctic countries. However, significant geographic differences between the settlements were observed with exceptionally high concentrations of PCBs in Varnek located on Vaygach Island. Both &Sigma, DDT (p = 0.011) and &Sigma, PCB (p = 0.038) concentrations were significantly lower in Nenets. Our main findings suggest that the serum concentrations of the legacy POPs in women in the Euro-Arctic Region of Russia are low and similar to those in other Arctic countries. Significant variations between settlements, and between Nenets and non-Nenets residents, were found. Arctic biomonitoring research in Russia should include studies on the associations between nutrition and concentrations of POPs.

It is known that the geomagnetic field can influence animal migration and homing. The magnetic field detection by animals is known as magnetoreception and it is possible due to two different transduction mechanisms: the first one through magnetic nanoparticles able to respond to the geomagnetic field and the second one through chemical reactions influenced by magnetic fields. Another behavior is the magnetic alignment where animals align their bodies to the geomagnetic field. It has been observed that magnetic alignment of cattle can be disrupted near electric power lines around the world. Experimentally, it is known that alternating magnetic fields can influence living beings, but the exact mechanism is unknown. The parametric resonance model proposes a mechanism to explain that effect on living beings and establishes that, in the presence of a constant magnetic field, molecules associated with biochemical reactions inside cells can absorb resonantly alternating magnetic fields with specific frequencies. In the present paper, a review is made about animal magnetoreception and the effects of alternating magnetic fields in living beings. It is suggested how alternating magnetic fields can interfere in the magnetic alignment of animals and a general conclusion is obtained: alternating magnetic field pollution can affect the magnetic sensibility of animals.

Fire ants Solenopsis sp. show magnetic orientation and magnetosensitivity when exposed to constant magnetic fields. The present report aims to analyze the effect of alternating magnetic fields of 60 Hz on the behavior of fire ants associated with constant magnetic fields. Individuals were exposed to alternating magnetic fields of 60 Hz and 21, 40 and 57μT of intensity in the presence of constant magnetic fields of 10, 16, 26 and 29μT. The experiment consisted in observing an ant trap inside a plastic cap with 8 holes equally spaced by 45°; the parameters measured were the time to escape and the orientation angle relative to the geomagnetic North-South axis. Both parameters are associated to magnetosensitivity and magnetic orientation, respectively. It was observed that the behavior is modified just for specific values of alternating and static magnetic field intensities (constant 10μT and alternating 57μT, constant 26 μT and alternating 40 μT, constant 29 μT and alternating 40μT). It is shown, for the first time, that 60 Hz alternating magnetic fields affect magnetic orientation and magnetosensitivity of fire ants. More experimental efforts are necessary to understand the real mechanisms behind the observed effects. Assuming that the mechanisms associated to these behaviors are similar in several animals, it is hoped that similar effects may be observed in animals that have already shown magnetic orientation and magnetosensitivity.

Industrial production of magneto-sensitive nanoparticles, which can be used in the production of target drug delivery carriers, is a subject of interest for biotechnology and microbiology. Synthesis of these nanoparticles by microorganisms has been described only for bacterial species. At the same time, it is well known that yeasts can form various metal-containing nanoparticles used, for instance, in semiconductors, etc. This paper describes the first results of the biosynthesis of magneto-sensitive nanoparticles by yeasts. The organisms we used—Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Cryptococcus humicola—represented two different genera. Magneto-sensitive nanoparticles were synthesized at room temperature in bench-scale experiments. The study included transmission electron microscopy of the yeast cells and their energy dispersive spectrum analyses and revealed the presence of iron-containing nanoparticles. Both yeast cultures synthesized nanoparticles at high concentrations of dissolved iron. Electron microscopy showed that nanoparticles were associated mainly with the yeast cell wall. Formation of magneto-sensitive nanoparticles was studied under conditions of applied magnetic fields; a possible stimulating role of magnetic field is suggested. On the whole, the paper reports a novel approach to green biosynthesis of magneto-sensitive nanoparticles.

To learn whether the low flux density combined magnetic field (CMF) can affect rats pretreated with a dopamine agonist, the frequency spectra of cortical and hippocampal EEG were studied after intraperitoneal injection of agroclavine (50 microg/kg, Day 1) either alone (N=5) or combined with 30-min exposure to CMF (B(AC)=50 microT, f(AC)=20.9Hz, B(DC)=27.3 microT) (N=5) an hour post-injection. The CMF caused an immediate and robust increase in the hippocampal beta(2) activity (22.5-30.5Hz) vs. its value in the pre-exposure period. This effect persisted during 30-min post-exposure period. After vehicle injection (0.1% ethanol) on Day 10, the beta(2) activity increased gradually during the exposure to CMF and was at the pre-exposure level during the post-exposure period. In two rats, pretreated with the vehicle on Day 1, CMF increased a hippocampal beta(2) level. The effect was about half the amplitude and shorter in duration than that after agroclavine, with no effects in the post-exposure period. However, during the 2nd exposure to CMF, started 30 min later, cortical and hippocampal beta activity was significantly greater than that during the 1st. On Day 10, the 1st exposure was completely ineffective, while during the 2nd, the hippocampal beta(2) activity was increased gradually. These results demonstrate that dopaminergic activation can potentiate CMF-evoked EEG effects in the hippocampal beta(2) frequency band.

The article takes as its starting point the definition of a specialised language within specialised discourse and thus defines the language of tourism, which is the language of a wide discursive community. This includes languages of various fields, professions and disciplines, connecting them at the same time to the general language. The language of tourism is thus a reflection and tool of transdisciplinary tourism studies, which for its development also calls for the planned development of tourism terminology. In the article a typology is presented of tourism terminology according to field and meaning within the framework of the Tourism Terminology Dictionary (TURS).