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Abstract Kalb–Ramond gravity is expected to show the signatures of the low energy limit of the Lorentz violating extension of the standard model of particle physics. To understand the theory further, we study the circular geodesics belonging to a class of exact solutions [found recently by Lessa, Silva, Maluf, Almeida (LSMA)] by posing them as a Hamiltonian dynamical autonomous system. The analysis on the phase space for relevant values of the Lorentz violating parameters reveals for the first time a wealth of novel information that include prediction of homoclinic orbits, saddle points, separatrices that are not available from the conventional analysis. Their image on the actual physical space is discussed.

Aim – to investigate the associations of rs3134069, rs4355801 and rs3102735 polymorphisms in the TNFRSF11B gene with knee osteoarthritis in postmenopausal women. Material and methods. 483 postmenopausal women were examined, including 157 patients with knee osteoarthritis. The remaining 326 women had no signs of joint disease and formed the control group. All examined women were tested using real-time polymerase chain reaction for single nucleotide polymorphisms rs3134069, rs4355801 and rs3102735 in the TNFRSF11B gene. Results. It was found that genotypes distribution of polymorphisms rs3134069, rs4355801 and rs3102735 in the TNFRSF11B gene in the total group of examined women (n = 483) corresponded to the Hardy – Weinberg law (p 0.05). The analysis of the polymorphic variants’ frequency in the TNFRSF11B gene revealed an increased frequency of AC or CC genotypes of rs3134069 polymorphism in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OR = 1.91; 95% CI: 1.10–3.32; p = 0.030). Also, the allele C frequency of the above-mentioned polymorphism was increased among patients with osteoarthritis (OR = 1.78; 95% CI: 1.06–2.99; p = 0.040). No association with knee osteoarthritis was found for two other studied polymorphisms in the TNFRSF11B gene – rs4355801 and rs3102735 (p 0.05). Conclusion. The increased frequency of genotypes AC or CC registration, as well as allele C of rs3134069 polymorphism in the TNFRSF11B gene in postmenopausal women with knee osteoarthritis indicates the important role of TNFRSF11B gene mutations in the osteoarthritis development and progression. Further research in this area is of great interest both for a deeper understanding of the disease pathogenesis and for the development of personalized approach in the prevention and treatment of knee osteoarthritis in postmenopausal women.

A brief analysis of studies on logging equipment has allowed us to conclude that it is necessary to further study the degree of influence of silvicultural and taxation indicators of the stand, containing quantitative data on the trees harvested and remaining for rearing, on the productivity of the harverster. The degree of influence of quantitative indicators of the stand on the work of the harvester is random, which is due to the infinitely wide variety of options for the spatial arrangement of trees in forest swathes. The article presents the results of a production experiment to assess the impact of the quantitative characteristics of the forest stand on the duration of individual elements of the cycle time of the harvester. The analyzed factors included the total number of trees per 1 hectare and the proportion of the felled component of the stand. These factors play a significant role in assessing the shift and hourly productivity of machines, however, when analyzing the duration of a number of elements of cycle time of manipulator machines, the importance of these indicators is underestimated by many researchers and, in order to increase the convenience and simplicity of calculations, these indicators are not used in justifying labour costs. Both factors have been considered at three levels of variation. As a result, the significant influence of the analyzed factors on the duration of 3 independent elements of cycle time of the machine (pointing the manipulator at the tree, hauling the trunk to the processing zone and moving the harvester between operating positions) has been proven. The experiment has been carried out using the Silvatec 8266TH harvester under conditions of its operation in the swathes characterized by various silvicultural and taxation indicators. The sequence of conducting the production experiment and statistical processing of the obtained data has been shown. The analysis of variance has allowed us to conclude that it is necessary to comprehensively take into account the analyzed factors when assessing each technological operation. The results can be used to improve mathematical relationships in calculating productivity and labour costs when designing logging operations.

The objective of our study was to investigate the genetic predictors of self-regulation and related characteristics indicative of a higher level of rational behavior control. The study 107 female participants aged between 22 and 52 years, with an average age of 33.5 years (Russian Federation). In order to measure level of self-regulation and other characteristics corresponding to a higher level of rational behavioral control the following psychological tests were employed: the “Differential Type of Reflection” questionnaire (Leontyev D.A.), the “Style of Self-Regulation of Behavior” questionnaire (Morosanova, Kholopova, 1995), and the Test of Life-Meaning Orientations (D.A. Leontyeva, 1988). Genotyping was use to examine polymorphisms of the COMT, DRD2 genes. Our findings demonstrate significant differences in the level of systemic reflection among carriers of different genotypes of the DRD2 and COMT genes. The highest level of systemic reflection in carriers of the CC genotype for the DRD2 gene and a heterozygous variant of the COMT gene suggests a balance between the elevated dopaminergic activity characteristic of the CC DRD2 genotype and moderate COMT activity, fostering optimal dopamine metabolism.

Background. Currently, psychological knowledge integrates theories on codependent behavior, advancing our understanding of this phenomenon. However, empirical research is lacking to understand its specific manifestations in relation to different types of addiction. Objective. To identify the features of self-attitude and reflection in codependent women. Design. The study included 233 women (ages 18–70), including 102 in relationships with a person addicted to alcohol, drugs, or suffering from a non-chemical addiction). The study was conducted using the following methods: Self-Attitude Questionnaire (Stolin & Panteleev, 1988); Differential Type of Reflection Questionnaire (Leontiev, 2009); and Codependency Self-Inventory Scale (CSIS; Weinhold & Weinhold, 1989; translated by A. G. Cheslavskaya, 2002). Results. Significant differences were observed in self-attitude and reflection. Women with high codependency have lower self-esteem and tend to underestimate their abilities, compared to the control group. They also exhibit a lower sense of control over their lives, lower self-consistency; they tend to focus on their weaknesses and shortcomings and are more inclined to self-blame. Quasi-reflexivity is more common in codependent women who have relationships with non-chemical addicts or do not identify an addict in their lives. Conclusion. There are significant differences in self-attitude and reflection between the control group and subgroups of women in relationships with different types of addicts; the same differences were observed in comparison of women with low and high codependency levels. The study contributes to a better understanding of the psychological mechanisms underlying codependent behavior in women and has implications for future research and clinical practice.

Background. Remote work has been gaining popularity for a long time. With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote work has become a necessity for many people. However, the personality traits of people for whom remote work is suitable are poorly understood. Objectives. The study focuses on the personality traits of successful freelancers working remotely. Study Participants. 184 Freelancers (115 females, 69 males, aged from 14 to 60) were recruited from Advego.com. Freelancers were divided into two groups of beginners and experts, based on the number of tasks completed. Groups were compared with each other. The group of experts was also compared with a group of 98 females (aged from 16 to 72) who were not freelancers. Methods. An empirical study was carried out using a five-factor personality questionnaire by H. Tsuji in the version of A.B. Khromov. Results. Significant differences were found between expert freelancers and women of different professions for the following personality traits: extraversion (p = 0.0001), agreeableness (p = 0.0001), openness to experience (p = 0.0001). The hypothesis that freelancers have a higher level of conscientiousness than non-freelance women was not confirmed. Conclusions. The personality traits of freelancers who are successfully adapted to remote work are revealed including lower levels of extraversion, agreeableness, and openness to experience. The results obtained can be used to select staff for remote work.

A mathematical model of the in-line control of the insulation resistance state for cathodically polarized main pipelines according to electrometry data is considered. The relevance of the work is caused by the opportunity to create in-line internal isolation defects indicators of the main pipelines for transported liquids that are good conductors and expand the functionality of monitoring and controlling cathodic protection systems of the main pipelines. Features of the mathematical model are: consideration of the electric conductivity of transported liquid influence on electric field distribution; consideration of the influence of external and internal insulating coating resistance; use of the electric field of an in-line diagnostic probe for quality control of internal insulation. Practical significance consists in the development of modeling methods for control subsystems of main pipeline protection against corrosion and the development of special mathematical and algorithmic support systems for monitoring and controlling the operating modes of the cathodic protection station of main pipelines.

A new derivatization reagent, phthalylglycyl chloride (PG-Cl), for the analysis of urinary amino acids was demonstrated using reversed-phase ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometer. The study compares the limits of detection and quantification for different sample preparation techniques with the commonly used and effective method of derivatization using dansyl chloride. The stability of the derivatives was investigated, and the study includes an example of urinary amino acid analysis using PG-Cl derivatization. The optimal values for pH, temperature, and concentration of the derivatization reagent were established. Limits of quantification in the range of 0.5–500 µg/mL were obtained for different amino acids. The possibility of phthalylglycyl chloride usage for non-target screening applications and targeted analysis of amino acids in urine was discussed. An advantages and issues of PG-Cl in comparison with commonly used acyl-chlorides (FMOC-Cl and DNS-Cl) provided and discussed.

On the example of the Alardinskaya mine, the problem of underground mining of seams prone to spontaneous combustion and rock bumps in the conditions of the Kondomsky geological and economic region of the Kuznetsk coal basin is considered. The contradictions in the requirements of regulatory documents for the width of the inter-panel coal pillars in the mining of seams with longwalls in conditions of endogenous fire hazard and in the mining of seams that are dangerous due to geodynamical phenomena are discussed. These contradictions impede the safe mining of seams using traditionally used layouts with the danger of spontaneous combustion of coal and rock bumps. A mining-geomechanical model is presented, which is used for numerical three-dimensional simulation of the stress-strain state of a rock mass with various layouts for longwall panels using the finite element method. The results of the numerical analysis of the stress state of the rock mass immediately before the rock bump are presented, and the main factors that contributed to its occurrence during the mining of the seam are established. A dangerous degree of stress concentration in the coal seam near the leading diagonal entries is shown, especially in conditions of application of abutment pressure from the edge of panels’ gob. The analysis of the features of stress distribution in the inter-panel pillar at different widths is carried out. Recommendations for improving the layout for the development and mining of coal seams that are prone to spontaneous combustion and dangerous in terms of rock bumps in the conditions of Alardiskaya mine have been developed. The need for further studies of the influence of pillars for various purposes, formed during the mining of adjacent seams, on the stress-strain state of previously overmined and undermined seams is shown.

Background. The question of the dynamics of the subjective well-being of students with alexithymia, who represent a risk group for the emergence of maladaptive states in stressful conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, is considered in connection with their emotional competencies, reflecting the development of personal mechanisms for regulation (self-regulation) of emotions. Objective. The goal is to study and access the impact of the pandemic situation on the subjective well-being of students with symptoms of alexithymia through their emotional competencies. Methods. Toronto Alexithymia Scale by J. Taylor, Subjective Well-Being Scale by A.A. Rukavishnikov, emotional intelligence questionnaire by D.V. Lyusin, a technique for diagnosing emotional barriers in interpersonal communication by V.V. Boyko; Pearson r-test, Kruskal — Wallis H-test were applied. Sample. The study was conducted at the North Caucasus Federal University during the pre-COVID period (2018) and during the pandemic (2021). The sample consisted of 120 students. Results. As a result of a comparative analysis of signs of alexithymia, students found increased difficulties in describing feelings and externality of thinking during the pandemic. There were no significant differences in emotional barriers to communication before the pandemic and during the pandemic among alexithymics. A pronounced reluctance to get emotionally close to other people and a lower level of emotional effectiveness of communication, compared to students without alexithymia, were diagnosed in alexithymics both before and during the pandemic. During the pandemic period, alexithymics have identified: negative dynamics in the ability to understand and manage their own emotions, a noticeable decrease in subjective well-being to a feeling of pronounced emotional discomfort, especially on the scale of the significance of the social environment; negative correlations between the general indicator of alexithymia and difficulties in describing feelings, on the one hand, and satisfaction with everyday life, self-esteem of health, mood stability, ability to manage one's own emotions, on the other hand. Positive correlations with the control of emotional expression, depressive manifestations, absent-mindedness, drowsiness were also identified. Conclusion. The situation of the pandemic had a pronounced negative impact on the subjective well-being of students with alexithymia, mediated by barriers of emotional rapprochement with other people characteristic of alexithymics and a low level of intrapersonal emotional competencies.

Introduction: the need for effective psychocorrective work with persons convicted of terrorism-related crimes, focused on the correction of these persons, does not raise any doubt. Even greater relevance to the problematic issues considered in the publication is given by the fact that we are talking about females. A not so significant number of convicts in this category, as well as gender psychological characteristics, determine the relevance and significance of aspects of psychological work with women convicted of terrorism-related crimes. Purpose: to determine roles and psychological motives of women in the commission of terrorism-related crimes and disclose methods of their recruitment. The study (83 women convicted of terrorism-related crimes) was conducted in the period from 2014 to 2022 with the help of the following methods: survey and analytical, providing a theoretical analysis of literary sources; empirical, involving the use of psychodiagnostic techniques, author’s questionnaires and questionnaires designed to determine general and socio-psychological characteristics of persons convicted of terrorism. The study covered 83 women convicted of terrorism-related crimes. The analysis of empirical material and scientific sources helps identify key trends of female terrorism, the role, psychological motives of behavior and methods of recruiting potential terrorists. Recommendations for conducting psychocorrective work with the appropriate category of persons are developed. Conclusion: the experience of psychocorrective work of correctional psychologists with women convicted of terrorism-related crimes has not been sufficiently studied due to the small number of this category in correctional institutions; the analysis of scientific data makes it possible to determine key reasons for women’s involvement in terrorism-related crimes, as well as the roles and motives for which they were involved. Understanding mechanisms and motives of women’s involvement in terrorism-related crimes, psychologists of correctional institutions can conduct psychocorrection with this category of convicts.

Magnesium alloys are promising materials for aviation, automotive engineering, and medicine, however, due to the low resistance to stress corrosion cracking (SCC), their wide application is limited. To create alloys with high resistance to SCC, a comprehensive study of this phenomenon nature is required. Previously, it was suggested that diffusible hydrogen and corrosion products formed on the magnesium surface can play an important role in the SCC mechanism. However, the contribution of each of these factors to the SCC-induced embrittlement of magnesium and its alloys is understudied. Since the influence of diffusible hydrogen on the mechanical properties of metals increases with the strain rate decrease, the study of the strain rate sensitivity of the SCC-susceptibility of magnesium alloys is a critical task. In this work, the authors studied the effect of the strain rate in the range from 5•10−6 to 5•10−4 s−1 on the mechanical properties, the state of the side and fracture surfaces of the as-cast commercially pure magnesium and the AZ31 alloy before and after exposure to a corrosive environment and after removal of corrosion products. The study identified that the preliminary exposure to a corrosive medium leads to the AZ31 alloy embrittlement, but does not affect the mechanical properties and the fracture mode of pure magnesium. The authors found that the AZ31 alloy embrittlement caused by the preliminary exposure to a corrosive medium appears extensively only at the low strain rate and only if the layer of corrosion products is present on the specimens’ surface. The study shows that a change in the strain rate has little effect on the mechanical properties of pure magnesium. The authors concluded that the main cause of the AZ31 alloy embrittlement after soaking in a corrosive medium is the corrosion products layer, which presumably contains the embrittling agents such as hydrogen and residual corrosive medium.

The issue of the influence of the concentration of the solid phase on the reduction of energy costs and specific energy consumption during pulp transportation is considered. The procedure for preparing slurry from the current enrichment tailings is shown. A scheme is given and the operation of a hydroficated unit for thickening and hydraulic transport of backfill mixtures is described. A diagram of the movement of solid particles in one of the units of the complex – a lamellar thickener is shown. The summary table shows the main design parameters and characteristics of the lamellar thickener. A general view of the laboratory setup used for experimental studies with slurry at various concentrations is given. An example of calculating productivity, density and specific load is presented. The dependence of the shear stress on the velocity gradient was determined for various pulp concentrations. Experimental studies of the process of thickening the production of slurry from the current enrichment tailings have been carried out. It was found that the geometric dimensions of the thickener depend on the concentration of the solid phase in the transported mixture. It is concluded that the flow rate of the slurry and the head loss are functions of the rheological characteristics of the viscoplastic slurry and can be calculated from the derived calculated dependencies.

Abstract Background Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have become the most common tobacco product used among adolescents in the United States (US). Prior research has shown that peer e-cigarette use was associated with increased risk of own e-cigarette use. Nonetheless, there is little empirical evidence on the directionality of these associations—if peer use predicts own use (peer influence) or if own use predicts peer use (peer selection). Methods We estimated the association between peer and own e-cigarette use among US adolescents 12–17 years of age. We used the cross-lagged model to investigate the mutual relationship between peer and own e-cigarette use over time using data from a population-based longitudinal study, Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health. Stratified analyses were conducted by sex and age subgroups. Results Results from a cross-lagged model showed a statistically significant predicting path leading from peer use at the prior time point to own use at the following time point, but not vice versa. Conclusions We found strong relationships between peer e-cigarette use and own e-cigarette use at within-individual levels. Peer influence paths were more robust than peer selection paths for e-cigarette use. Incorporating peers into prevention and intervention programs may help enhance these strategies.

The rational design of composites based on graphene/metal oxides is one of the pillars for advancing their application in various practical fields, particularly gas sensing. In this study, a uniform distribution of ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) through the graphene layer was achieved, taking advantage of amine functionalization. The beneficial effect of amine groups on the arrangement of ZnO NPs and the efficiency of their immobilization was revealed by core-level spectroscopy, pointing out strong ionic bonding between the aminated graphene (AmG) and ZnO. The stability of the resulting Am-ZnO nanocomposite was confirmed by demonstrating that its morphology remains unchanged even after prolonged heating up to 350 °C, as observed by electron microscopy. On-chip multisensor arrays composed of both AmG and Am-ZnO were fabricated and thoroughly tested, showing almost tenfold enhancement of the chemiresistive response upon decorating the AmG layer with ZnO nanoparticles, due to the formation of p-n heterojunctions. Operating at room temperature, the fabricated multisensor chips exhibited high robustness and a detection limit of 3.6 ppm and 5.1 ppm for ammonia and ethanol, respectively. Precise identification of the studied analytes was achieved by employing the pattern recognition technique based on linear discriminant analysis to process the acquired multisensor response.

Introduction. The territorial organization of Inner Asian polities underwent significant transformations in the first quarter of the 20th century, which resulted in a need for its visualization. Goals. The article attempts to reconstruct the system of key public governance institutions in Mongol-inhabited lands of China in the mentioned period, and to describe tools of their visualization supposed to spot the former across present-day geographical points of the region. So, the study aims to examine some basic institutions of princely power and khoshun administration, religious and aimag/league-level authorities, impacts of the Chinese colonization on Mongol-inhabited territories, investigate sources, tools and methods instrumental in spatial localization and visualization of territorial /governance structures across the lands. Materials and methods. The work focuses on two groups of sources, namely: unpublished materials from P. Dudin’s doctoral thesis (manuscript) (Statehood of Inner Mongolia: Late 19th to Mid-20th Centuries) discussing public governance structures of Mongolian banners (counties); and unique maps of 1914/1925 mentioning khoshuns, aimags and leagues of almost all Mongol-inhabited domains. The research methodology rests on an interdisciplinary approach, methods of historical science to comprise the ideographic (descriptive-narrative) and retrospective ones, a narrative approach, and principles of historicism; knowledge of political science yields an opportunity to employ functional and behavioral approaches. The geographical methods involved rest on the scheme of analysis proposed in works of O. Medushevskaya (1957) and L. Goldenberg (1958), as well as on some analysis of the data generalization degree. Results. The work has reconstructed the early 20th-century system of key Mongolian public governance institutions, outlines how the system of princely power functioned, how khoshun-level administrative bodies took shape and worked, identifies the governance role of religious institutions, while insights into different levels of the administrative/territorial organization facilitates further understanding as to actual scopes of power attributed thereto, and makes it possible to visualize the investigated space with the aid of contemporary tools and techniques. Conclusions. The paper points to the efficiency of the then management system where it was the khoshun that had served — and remained — a key structural element. The latter’s detailed illustrations on V. Surin’s maps make it possible to restore the ancient territorial organization of Mongolia using the GIS system, free access be provided for researchers of the region.

The paper adopts a sociopragmatic approach to the study of emotion processes and investigates discursive traits of the reader’s interest. The field of written popularization was examined to establish how it conceptualizes the reader’s interest through discourse structures. The text materials were obtained experimentally. They consist of 104 pairs of expository text; each of the pairs includes a text published in an academic source and a popular science text created by the participant for provoking the reader’s interest. The comparative methods of empirical discourse analysis are used to identify and describe popularisation strategies. The results show that participants employed four strategies to transform academic texts: reduction N = 94), simplification (N = 81), contextualization (N = 58), and concrete elaboration (N = 17). The strategies tend to present the most significant text ideas, reduce reader’s efforts for processing, and introduce the reader into the discourse-world. The findings suggest that the strategies aim to enhance the optimal relevance and conceptualize reader’s interest through the communicative dimension of relevance.

There is a strong belief that hydrogen absorbed by magnesium alloys during corrosion can cause their stress corrosion cracking. One of the characteristic markers indicating the involvement of diffusible hydrogen into the fracture mechanism of metals is the negative strain rate dependence of the embrittlement degree. Recent studies show that the loss of ductility of the ZK60 alloy specimens subjected to a short-term (1.5 h) pre-exposure in a corrosive medium actually decreases with the increasing strain rate. However, after the removal of corrosion products from the surface of the specimens, the strain rate dependence of the ductility loss becomes positive, which indicates the absence of hydrogen in the bulk of the metal. At short-term exposure in a corrosive environment, the deep penetration of hydrogen into a metal could be limited due to the insufficient time for hydrogen diffusion. The paper studies the mechanical behavior of the ZK60 alloy subjected to a longer (12 h) pre-exposure in a corrosive medium followed by tensile testing in air at various strain rates. The authors consider the effect of strain rate, long-term pre-exposure in a corrosive medium, and subsequent removal of corrosion products on the strength, ductility, stages of work hardening, and localized deformation, as well as on the state of the side and fracture surfaces of specimens. It is established that the ductility loss of the specimens pre-exposed in a corrosive medium for 12 h decreases with the increasing strain rate, regardless of whether the corrosion products have been removed from their surface or not. It is shown that in this case, the negative strain rate dependence of the ductility loss is associated not with hydrogen dissolved in the bulk of a metal but with the presence of severe corrosion damage of the specimens’ surface. An explanation for the effect of corrosion damage on the mechanical properties and their strain rate sensitivity is proposed.

Relevance. The West Siberian region is currently one of the largest oil and gas provinces in Russia, but the problem of declining production is becoming more frequent there. This phenomenon is caused by various reasons, however the most frequent ones are such as lowering of formation permeability and productivity factor due to various complications of oil production in the bottomhole zone (bottomhole formation zone). As a result, it becomes necessary to carry out work to increase or restore the filtration-capacitance properties of the reservoir. The method of acid treatment of productive reservoirs, which contributes to the intensification of oil inflow into the well, has been actively used in the fields of Western Siberia. However, a significant part of the treatments does not give positive results. Improving the efficiency of acid treatments of wells is one of the main tasks of oil production today, which largely determines the relevance of this study. The purpose of this work is to analyze the degree of expediency of hydrochloric acid treatment in the field and determine the most appropriate method of treatment for carbonate reservoirs of the West Siberian field. Results. The principle of effect and peculiarities of the hydrochloric acid treatment for reservoirs of carbonate structure was studied. The choice and expediency of application of the technology in these conditions was substantiated.

The ergm package supports the statistical analysis and simulation of network data. It anchors the statnet suite of packages for network analysis in R introduced in a special issue in Journal of Statistical Software in 2008. This article provides an overview of the new functionality in the 2021 release of ergm version 4. These include more flexible handling of nodal covariates, term operators that extend and simplify model specification, new models for networks with valued edges, improved handling of constraints on the sample space of networks, and estimation with missing edge data. We also identify the new packages in the statnet suite that extend ergm's functionality to other network data types and structural features and the robust set of online resources that support the statnet development process and applications.

Background: Previously obtained results indicate that faces are /preattentively/ detected in the visual scene very fast, and information on facial expression is rapidly extracted at the lower levels of the visual system. At the same time different facial attributes make different contributions in facial expression recognition. However, it is known, among the preattentive mechanisms there are none that would be selective for certain facial features, such as eyes or mouth. The aim of our study was to identify a candidate for the role of such a mechanism. Our assumption was that the most informative areas of the image are those characterized by spatial heterogeneity, particularly with nonlocal contrast changes. These areas may be identified /in the human visual system/ by the second-order visual /mechanisms/ filters selective to contrast modulations of brightness gradients. Methods: We developed a software program imitating the operation of these /mechanisms/ filters and finding areas of contrast heterogeneity in the image. Using this program, we extracted areas with maximum, minimum and medium contrast modulation amplitudes from the initial face images, then we used these to make three variants of one and the same face. The faces were demonstrated to the observers along with other objects synthesized the same way. The participants had to identify faces and define facial emotional expressions. Results: It was found that the greater is the contrast modulation amplitude of the areas shaping the face, the more precisely the emotion is identified. Conclusions: The results suggest that areas with a greater increase in nonlocal contrast are more informative in facial images, and the second-order visual /mechanisms/ filters can claim the role of /filters/ elements that detect areas of interest, attract visual attention and are windows through which subsequent levels of visual processing receive valuable information.

The relevance of the research lies in the need to replenish the resource base of hydrocarbons in Russia through the development of deposits in the southern part of the East Siberian. Productive horizons in the area are characterized by increased non-uniformity, which is largely due to post-sedimentation processes. The aim of the work is to study the results of the development of halitization processes (epigenetic filling of the void space of rocks with halite). The material for the study was the data of lithological and petrophysical studies of the core, on the basis of which a statistical analysis of saline rocks was performed and the relations between reservoir properties and halite content in the paleovoids for productive horizons were constructed. Filling the void space with secondary halite has not only a negative impact on the reservoir properties of rocks, but also negatively affects the process of developing deposits. Injection of fresh water into the reservoir will cause the beginning of dissolution of salt crystals, the development of which is accompanied by the release of a large amount of heat, which in turn will entail intensive deposition of calcite crystals in the void space, since carbonate waters are widespread in the formation. As a result, the reservoir properties of productive rocks will deteriorate up to the isolation of a number of oil and gas-saturated bodies from the main drainage system of productive horizons, which will negatively affect the oil recovery coefficient and, consequently, the efficiency of the development of hydrocarbon deposits.

Background. It is known that some genes regulate neurochemical metabolism, and their polymorphisms affect cognitive performance, including the ability to categorize emotionally significant information. Objective. The aim of our study was to analyze the recognition of emotional and neutral visual scenes in carriers of different polymorphic variants of the MAOA, COMT, DRD4, and 5HT2A genes. Design. The study sample consisted of 87 university students (Caucasians, women 63%, average age 20.4±2.6 years). The genotypes of the COMT, 5HT2A, and DRD4 genes were determined by polymerase chain reaction. Agarose gel electrophoresis was used to determine the number of tandem repeats of the MAOA gene. Three hundred sixty (360) photographic images of scenes of different emotional valence (positive, negative, and neutral – 120 images for each category) were used as stimuli. These images were classified by expert assessments. The images were presented in a random sequence. The exposure time was 700 ms. The research participants were asked to determine the emotional valence of each scene. Results. We found that only the COMT gene genotype affected the recognition of emotional and neutral visual scenes. Carriers of the COMT Val/Val genotype, which causes dopamine to stay in the synaptic space for a shorter time, are better in recognizing and demonstrate higher sensitivity to the emotional content of scenes. Carriers of the Val/Met genotype demonstrated the worst ability to differentiate the emotional valence of visual scenes. Conclusion. This study has shown that the length of stay of monoamines in the synaptic space regulated by the COMT gene affects the recognition of emotional visual information.

The work is devoted to the problem of increasing the reliability of the calculation of the permeability cube in the construction of a threedimensional geological model. The common method of mechanically transferring the relationship between porosity and permeability, obtained on the basis of the approximation of the results of the study of the core, gives too vague result since neither the differences in the sizes of cells and samples, nor the large scatter of the values of the analyzed dependencies are taken into account. Instead, it is proposed to use stochastic methods to calculate permeability histograms for each elementary cell. First, the analysis of the results of determining the petrophysical properties performed in the laboratory is carried out. For rocks with similar porosity values, the probability of occurrence of rocks whose permeability exceeds a number of threshold values is calculated. Then, for each threshold value of permeability, empirical dependences of the probability of exceeding a given value on porosity are determined. At the next stage, the obtained results are adapted to the cell scale. The Monte Carlo method is used. Each cell is represented as a set of a large number of rocks, the sizes of which are close to those of the samples. Each virtual rock is assigned a porosity using a random number generator in such a way that the average value of the cell porosity is stored. For each conditional rock, the probabilities of exceeding the corresponding permeability thresholds are calculated. Based on the porosity cube for each cell, the probability of existence of all permeability ranges is automatically calculated for each cell. The authors provide examples of the implementation of the proposed methodology in the study of terrigenous deposits of the Tyumen suite of the Shaim oil and gas region.

This article will focus on the mechanistic origins of the computer metaphor, which forms the conceptual framework for the methodology of the cognitive sciences, some areas of artificial intelligence and the philosophy of mind. The connection between the history of computing technology, epistemology and the philosophy of mind is expressed through the metaphorical dictionaries of the philosophical discourse of a particular era. The conceptual clarification of this connection and the substantiation of the mechanistic components of the computer metaphor is the main goal of this article. The statement is substantiated that the invention of mechanical computing devices, having a long history in the European engineering tradition, formed the prerequisites for the emergence of machine functionalism in the modern philosophy of mind. The idea of multiple implementation stems from the principle that a formal symbol system prescribes rules for the use of rational abstractions through the physical architecture of a computational engine. The article considers the reasons for the conceptual shift and reveals the semantic foundations for the metaphorical transfer of the properties of abstract objects from the theory of automata to the field of modern philosophy of mind. The criticism and ways of protecting the philosophical program of machine functionalism are analyzed by changing the content of the metaphor “Mind as machine”. The reasons for the stability of the information-computer approach in cognitive sciences are also disclosed and explained.

The problem of simulation of efficient ducted fan type propulsors is considered. From experience of operation of twin blades in fantails of helicopters, it is known that this configuration creates less noise compared to a uniform arrangement of the blades around the circumference. However, the flow behind such fan is less uniform than that of a conventional ducted fan. For multicopter-type unmanned aircraft and air taxis, the key problem is flight in take-off and landing modes as well as acoustic and vortex fields created by propulsors in these modes. The decrease in the noise level in propellers with twin blades can potentially be accompanied by an increase in non-stationary vortex effects on the aircraft as well as a decrease in specific thrust. The objectives were to develop a method for simulation of ducted fan propellers in the takeoff and landing mode, to determine the optimal angle between the blades, and to compare a ducted fan with twin X-shaped blades to conventional blade position. Turbulent flows were calculated using transient Reynold-averaged Navier-Stokes equations, complemented by SST turbulence model, and large eddy simulation with WALE subgrid viscosity model. The calculations used the modification γ–Reθ Transition SST of the Langtry-Menter turbulence model, where there are relations for the intermittency criterion, which made it possible to consider the laminar-turbulent transition and the appearance of thin laminar separation bubbles that affect both the thrust of the propeller and the nonuniformity of the flow behind it. Testing was carried out on four-bladed propellers according to the known results of the TsAGI reference experiments. Testing of the γ–Reθ Transition SST Langtry-Menter turbulence model showed that it reproduces the dependence of the thrust coefficient and power factor on the blade angle better than the standard SST model. Calculations have shown that there is a clearly defined optimum angle between the paired blades. A comparison of three-bladed, six-bladed single and six-bladed propellers with twin blades showed that the latter option has slightly better thrust characteristics and creates a significantly lower noise level on the ground. The studied characteristics of ducted fans demonstrate the prospects for the use of propellers with twin blades in aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing. The developed numerical method can be directly used for industrial calculations of propellers and fans.

The relevance of the research consists in search for methods for methods for increasing oil recovery aimed at growing the coverage of oil reservoirs developed by flooding, which will allow continuing the operation of fields with high depletion of reserves at the last stages of development. Involvement in the development of complexly localized non-drainable reserves due to the injection of polymer compositions will extend the life cycle of depleted fields and increase the final oil recovery factor. Purpose: to study the impact of injection of polymer compositions on the change in the filtration flows of an oil reservoir in order to increase the final oil recovery factor. Objects: sand layers of the Yu1 horizon of the Vasyugan suite, distinguished by their heterogeneity, inconsistency in thickness, and different permeability along the section. Methods: analysis of the recovery of oil reserves in terms of displacement characteristics, as well as analytical dependencies; analysis of the current state of development; assessment of the effectiveness of the formed waterflooding system; analytical calculations using the filtration equation; laboratory studies on a filtration model; analytical evaluation of the results of testing the selected compositions at the oil field «Х». Results. The article summarizes the results of experimental studies of the effect of adding polymeric reagents to the composition of the fluid injected into the formation on changing the reservoir properties of the productive formation. The paper introduces the results of laboratory studies to determine the technologies and compositions for the implementation of the program for the injection of polymers into the Yu12+3 formation of the oil field «Х». The filtration model of a real reservoir was created from core samples of the field under consideration especially for the research in laboratory conditions; the conditions for fluid filtration through the core column are as close as possible to reservoir ones. The paper introduces the results of pilot work on application of the technology of injection of polymer compositions into the Yu12+3 reservoir of the oil field «Х». The authors carried out the analysis of the effectiveness of the work, made the recommendations for further use of the technology of injection of polymer compositions into the reservoir.

BACKGROUND: The present stage of modern civilization is characterized as a political, social, economic, and climatological evolution, with which the issue of effective functioning of the health system, population health status study and analysis, and ensuring control and management of the processes of public health formation is acute. This task can be conducted only within the framework of population health monitoring measures. AIMS: The study aimed to analyze the organizational technology for monitoring population health in the Russian Federation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data of expert assessments of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center on the Family of International Classifications of Information Coding Quality and the results of the discussion at conferences on the problems of population health monitoring were used. RESULTS: The organization of systemic monitoring as a method of managing public health should include the definition of a set of informative monitoring parameters, as well as clear mechanisms for collecting and analyzing data. Additional parameters shall be possible if necessary. CONCLUSION: Monitoring should be based on a family of international classifications, but derived classifications should be developed and used as a link between statistical and clinical classifications. The organization of systemic monitoring as a method of managing public health should include the definition of a set of informative monitoring parameters, as well as clear mechanisms for collecting and analyzing data, with possible additional parameters if necessary.

Introduction. The article focuses on Manchu-Mongolian society as a historical and cultural community of East Asia which has had significant impacts on destinies and paths of many Eurasian peoples. Having been dramatically influenced by both objective and subjective factors in the early-to-mid 20th century, one part actually lost its identity while the other one preserved and even strengthened it. These and many other aspects have been actively explored by Russian (Soviet) and foreign scientific communities but works authored by our compatriots to have lived and worked in the to be examined region have been largely overlooked. Goals. The study attempts a source analysis of publications that somehow cast light on Manchu-Mongolian society and that were published in scientific centers of the Far East in the early-to-mid 20th century. Materials and methods. The work examines articles and notes from journals once published by the Society of Russian Orientalists, Society for the Study of Manchuria, Russian Law Faculty of Harbin, and non-periodical editions. The research methodology was determined by an interdisciplinary approach with the prevalence of historical tools. The work comprises data collection, thematic monitoring of publications, discourse analysis, a narrative approach, external and internal criticism of sources and their textual analysis, systemic historical and retrospective methods. The conducted research identifies key early 20th-century trends of Mongolian and Manchu studies, delineates the place of Manchu-Mongolian peoples in the population structure of the Qing Empire / Republic of China assigned to the former in those publications, characterizes the degree of awareness about legal traditions and law practices of the region. Conclusions. The publications under study and their authors contributed a lot to the understanding of the mentioned region of East Asia and its native peoples. The paper states that Orientalists at large — and particularly those engaged in historical and political studies — are obliged to revive names of those researchers, travelers, translators and other participants to have joined that grandiose process of exploring the Manchu-Mongolian region in the early-to-mid 20th century, and made (and still do) our stay in this part of Eurasia peaceful, with most complete knowledge about the latter.

The research aims to study the content of organic matter in typical chernozem, its distribution in the soil profile under herbaceous and wooden phytocenoses. Organic matter plays a key role in the functioning of soils and their stable performance of ecological functions, including – the protection function. This is particularly relevant in the growing urbanization. The research analysis includes 40 full-profile sections of migration-segregated chernozems (typical carbonate) laid on the upland soil of the Rostov agglomeration. We determined organic matter by high-temperature catalytic combustion on a TOC-L CPN Shimadzu in an SSM-5000A solid sample combustion unit. Based on the data obtained, we calculated the organic carbon reserves. Statistical analysis included the calculation of the Mann-Whitney U-test to consider significant differences in the samples of indicators under wooden and herbaceous phytocenoses and descriptive statistics. The research results showed the influence on the organic carbon content of such a widespread type of anthropogenic impact as planting trees in the steppe zone. Comparison of the total organic carbon content values in similar genetic horizons under herbaceous and wooden phytocenoses indicates the spatial heterogeneity of this indicator, associated primarily with the type of land use. The supply of humus for Rostov chernozems under herbaceous phytocenoses was assessed as low and under wooden phytocenoses – as average. In the one-meter layer of natural chernozems of the Rostov agglomeration, humus reserves are 387 t/ha, which corresponds to the average supply level. Thus, the park and recreational zone, where wooden vegetation grows, plays a special ecological role in the city as a place of accumulation of an increased amount of organic matter of natural origin compared to other soils of the Rostov agglomeration.

Abstract Introduction People who both smoke cigarettes and vape are often considered as a homogenous group even though multiple subgroups may exist. We examined biomarkers of exposure (BOE) and biomarkers of potential harm (BOPH) to differentiate between subgroups of people who smoke and vape based on PATH Study Wave 1 (2013–2014) data. Methods We compared people who only smoke cigarettes everyday (Group A, n = 2442) and people who only vape everyday (Group C, n = 169) against people who smoke and vape segmented into subgroups of people who frequently smoke and vape (Group B1, n = 169), frequently smoke and infrequently vape (Group B2, n = 678), frequently vape and infrequently smoke (Group B3, n = 57), and infrequently smoke and vape (Group B4, n = 66). Eighteen BOEs (representing exposure to TSNAs, nicotine, heavy metals, PAHs, and volatile organic compounds) and four BOPHs (representing inflammation and oxidative stress) were compared within the subgroups. Results Levels of many BOEs/BOPHs were higher among Group B2 relative to Groups B1, B3, and B4. Compared to Group A, many BOEs were significantly lower in Groups B3 (15/18) and B4 (17/18), and some BOEs were higher among B2 (4/18). Compared to Group C, significantly lower BOEs were observed for Group B4 (2/18). Conclusions Overall, the levels of BOEs and BOPHs in people who smoke and vape are associated with frequency of cigarette smoking. Our findings indicate that not all people who smoke and vape are the same, and tobacco product use frequency should be considered when categorizing people who smoke and vape.

Abstract All forms of dementia including Alzheimer’s disease are currently incurable. Mitochondrial dysfunction and calcium alterations are shown to be involved in the mechanism of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease. Previously we have described the ability of compound Tg-2112x to protect neurons via sequestration of mitochondrial calcium uptake and we suggest that it can also be protective against neurodegeneration and development of dementia. Using primary co-culture neurons and astrocytes we studied the effect of Tg-2112x and its derivative Tg-2113x on β-amyloid-induced changes in calcium signal, mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial calcium, and cell death. We have found that both compounds had no effect on β-amyloid or acetylcholine-induced calcium changes in the cytosol although Tg2113x, but not Tg2112x reduced glutamate-induced calcium signal. Both compounds were able to reduce mitochondrial calcium uptake and protected cells against β-amyloid-induced mitochondrial depolarization and cell death. Behavioral effects of Tg-2113x on learning and memory in fear conditioning were also studied in 3 mouse models of neurodegeneration: aged (16-month-old) C57Bl/6j mice, scopolamine-induced amnesia (3-month-old mice), and 9-month-old 5xFAD mice. It was found that Tg-2113x prevented age-, scopolamine- and cerebral amyloidosis-induced decrease in fear conditioning. In addition, Tg-2113x restored fear extinction of aged mice. Thus, reduction of the mitochondrial calcium uptake protects neurons and astrocytes against β-amyloid-induced cell death and contributes to protection against dementia of different ethology. These compounds could be used as background for the developing of a novel generation of disease-modifying neuroprotective agents.

Magnesium biodegradable alloys are a promising material for self-dissolving surgical implants. Magnesium is known to be sensitive to electrochemical corrosion due to the galvanic effect between the matrix and particles of secondary phases and inclusions. Another important factor is the pH level. The behavior of certain chemical reactions depends on the pH level, so one can assume that the pH level of a corrosive medium at the material surface is a factor determining what chemical reactions can occur there. Finally, there is evidence that variability of the crystallographic orientation of the grains may be a cause of anisotropy of corrosion properties. The purpose of this work is to reveal the influence of the electrode potential of the microstructural elements, the crystallographic orientation of the grains, and the pH level of the near-surface volume of the corrosion solution on the corrosion process. In the study, sections of 2×1.5 mm were marked on the ZX10 alloy samples, for which maps of the distribution of crystallographic orientations and chemical composition were drawn. To assess the influence of the electrode potential of the particles, the authors carried out a Kelvin probe mapping in the 90×90 µm area. Next, corrosion tests were carried out with video filming of the surface on the marked area. To determine the pH level influence, the solution circulation in the cell was varied. Upon completion of the tests, corrosion products and corrosion damage were examined in detail. According to the results, the pH level in the liquid near-surface micro-volumes has a greater influence than the electrode potential of the particles as it provokes the formation of corrosion products of a different composition, which leads to passivation of the surface areas around the particles. The authors identified two different types of filiform corrosion. For filiform corrosion, a correlation between the corrosion direction and the crystallographic orientation of the grains was established.

UDP-3-O-(R-3-hydroxymyristoyl)-N-acetylglucosamine deacetylase (LpxC) is a zinc amidase that catalyzes the second step of the biosynthesis of lipid A, which is an outer membrane essential structural component of Gram-negative bacteria. Inhibitors of this enzyme can be attributed to two main categories, non-hydroxamate and hydroxamate inhibitors, with the latter being the most effective given the chelation of Zn2+ in the active site. Compounds containing diacetylene or acetylene tails and the sulfonic head, as well as oxazoline derivatives of hydroxamic acids, are among the LpxC inhibitors with the most profound antibacterial activity. The present article describes the synthesis of novel functional derivatives of hydroxamic acids—bioisosteric to oxazoline inhibitors—containing 1,2,4- and 1,3,4-oxadiazole cores and studies of their cytotoxicity, antibacterial activity, and antibiotic potentiation. Some of the hydroxamic acids we obtained (9c, 9d, 23a, 23c, 30b, 36) showed significant potentiation in nalidixic acid, rifampicin, and kanamycin against the growth of laboratory-strain Escherichia coli MG1655. Two lead compounds (9c, 9d) significantly reduced Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 growth in the presence of nalidixic acid and rifampicin.

Tubulin-targeting agents attract undiminished attention as promising compounds for the design of anti-cancer drugs. Verubulin is a potent tubulin polymerization inhibitor, binding to colchicine-binding sites. In the present work, a series of verubulin analogues containing a cyclohexane or cycloheptane ring 1,2-annulated with pyrimidine moiety and various substituents in positions 2 and 4 of pyrimidine were obtained and their cytotoxicity towards cancer and non-cancerous cell lines was estimated. The investigated compounds revealed activity against various cancer cell lines with IC50 down to 1–4 nM. According to fluorescent microscopy data, compounds that showed cytotoxicity in the MTT test disrupt the normal cytoskeleton of the cell in a pattern similar to that for combretastatin A-4. The hit compound (N-(4-methoxyphenyl)-N,2-dimethyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinazolin-4-amine) was encapsulated in biocompatible nanocontainers based on Ca2+ or Mg2+ cross-linked alginate and it was demonstrated that its cytotoxic activity was preserved after encapsulation.

The complex unsteady flow in cavities leads to the formation of large-scale disturbances in the shear layer. Natural closed-loop mechanisms provoke a dramatic increase in pressure pulsations and aerodynamic noise. This paper presents the experimental study of pressure fluctuations in closed-loop control in rectangular cavities using plasma dielectric barrier discharge. The flow velocity was 37 m/s, and the Reynolds number based on a cavity depth was approximately 120,000. The discharge ignition near the leading edge of the cavity provoked the shear layer restructuring. It was found that pressure fluctuations with an amplitude of 120 dB occur at frequencies 480 and 820 Hz. Frequency modulation of the discharge at resonant peaks was carried out by changing the phase shift of the power supply. The peak amplitude was reduced or increased by phase shifts from natural disturbances to forced ones. The optimum energy input was 50 W/m. This was three times less than the power consumption of the open-loop mode. The PIV visualization was organized in the phase-locked mode. The pressure spectrum corresponds to the magnitude of coherent structures in the shear layer of the cavity.

The relevance of the study is caused by the fact that at present there are practically no pure oil fields left on the territory of Western Siberia. A huge share of reserves is concentrated in oil rims, reservoirs with high gas pressure or the presence of a gas cap. The development of such oil fields by simple methods (for example, a rigid water pressure mode) is difficult, since there is a sharp decrease in reservoir pressure on them and the impossibility of its recovery by these mechanisms. It is necessary to consider alternative methods of influence to involve hard-to-recover hydrocarbon reserves in the development. The article discusses the combined use of water-gas treatment with the utilization of associated oil gas. The technique is caused by the fact that, first of all, a mechanism for gas compression and mixing with liquid has been developed to maintain reservoir pressure. The joint methodology of water-gas impact will allow effectively influencing reservoir with high gas pressure, and will also eliminate the need for utilization of associated oil gas due to technological processes. The main aim is to research and suggest a method for using water-gas impact with the recycling of associated oil gas for areas with a rate of reservoir pressure drop. Object: reservoir with high gas content under development. Methods: theoretical methods to substantiate the way of increasing gas pressure and the ability to mix gas with liquid to maintain reservoir pressure, analytical and computational methods. Results. The authors obtained the technique for compressing and mixing associated oil gas. The paper considers the technique for applying water-gas treatment using software. The effectiveness of the method was proved.

Technological advances in computer science have secured the computer metaphor status of a heuristic methodological toolused to answer the question about the nature of mind. Nevertheless, some philosophers strongly support opposite opinions.Anti-computationalism in the philosophy of mind is a methodological program that uses extremely heterogeneous grounds for argumentation, deserving analysis and discussion. This article provides an overview and interpretation of the traditional criticismof the computational theory of mind (computationalism); its basic theses have been formed in Western philosophy in the last quarterof the 20th century. The main goal is to reveal the content of the arguments of typical anti-computationalist programs and expandtheir application to the framework of the semantic problems of the Classic Computational Theory of Mind. The main fault of the symbolic approach in the classical computationalism is the absence of a full-fledged theory of semantic properties. The relevance of considering these seemingly outdated problems is justified by the fact that the problem of meaning (and generalproblems of semantics) remains in the core of the latest developments in various areas of AI and the principles of human-computerinteraction.

The paper presents the vegetation experiments results on the low-temperature argon plasma effect on barley plants ( Hordeum vulgare L.) of the Vladimir cultivar and its influence on morphophysiological parameters and yield. Plasma treatment was once at three organogenesis stages of barley plants: 3rd leaf, tillering and booting. Plasma exposure was 15 and 30 min. The barley plants were grown to full maturity. Analysis of barley yield structure did not reveal clear patterns in the change in most parameters resulted from the plasma treatment. However, 15 min plasma exposure on barley plants in the critical development stage (3rd leaf) increased by 77.8 % (p 0.05) the root weight of plants compared with control. After treatment at the tillering stage, the number of spikelets per main stem ear increased by 18.5 % (p 0.001) after 15 min plasma exposure, and by 11.17 % (p 0.05) after 30 min exposure. An increase in the number of productive stems and the number of grains per lateral stem ear was observed. At the same time, 30 min exposure in the 3rd leaf stage reduced by 7 % (p 0.05) the plant height. And the treatment in the tillering stage reduced by 39 % (p 0.01) the root weight of barley plants. The effect of low-temperature plasma on barley plants at the booting stage was less expressed to the plasma effect at earlier development stages. This can be explained by the lower sensitivity of this stage of organogenesis. The obtained effects of single exposure to low-temperature argon plasma at different organogenesis stages of barley plants can be useful to increase barley yields.

The article presents methodological approaches to the organization of radioecological monitoring in the regions where nuclear power plants are located. The analysis of the monitoring results at the Beloyarsk, Kursk, Leningrad and Rostov NPPs showed that the contribution of the natural radiation background to the public exposure dose is within a narrow range from 3.13 to 4.16 mSv per year, and the dose from the existing technogenic contamination varies from 0.47 μSv (Rostov NPP) up to 150 μSv per year (Beloyarsk NPP). The variability of the exposure doses is determined by the influence of natural climatic conditions and by differences in characteristics of contamination sources, including differences in electricity generation technologies. The technogenic radiation background in the area of the Beloyarsk NPP is determined by environmental contamination as a result of previous activities, whereas in the areas of the Leningrad NPP and the Kursk NPP it is associated with Chernobyl fallout (91 and 14 μSv per year, respectively). The contribution of NPPs to the existing technogenic radiation background varies from 1% (Rostov NPP) to 10–11% (Kursk and Beloyarsk NPPs).

The article aims to expand the scope of interpersonal pragmatics and deals with the issue of ‘recipient’s emotions’ which is the least developed area of communication research into emotions. The authors promote the sociopragmatic conception of emotional processes and highlight the strategic nature of emotional impact in communicative situations. The study focuses on the analysis of emotion-evocative communication in terms of the reader’s emotional interest with reference to expository texts from Russian school textbooks. The main purpose of the study is to identify how the strategic use of language increases text-triggered interest. In order to achieve this purpose, the study applies not only linguistic methods intended to explore the strategic manner of language usage, but also experimental methods intended to verify a possible emotional impact. The linguistic analysis reveals that there are three main ways the strategic use of language increases text-triggered interest: expression of dialogicity, concretisation, and manifestation of emotions. The experimental results prove their provoking functions and demonstrate a leading role of linguistic-based factors in interest-evocative communication. The study suggests that the recipient’s interest is often provoked by text-based factors, and text-triggered interest is dependent on the linguistic structure of the discourse. The linguistic strategies used to increase text-triggered interest might be treated as a foundation for different interest-evoking strategies and as a discursive dimension of the recipient’s interest.

Based on the studies of the daily work of teachers in educational institutions, it was noticed that the teacher in the learning process makes decisions on average every minute. The primary school teacher interacts even more actively with their students. Although most of such interactions are not planned. The teacher is constantly looking for new ideas, they improvise, use innovations. And they always reflect on what they are doing. Many solutions are the product of teachers' personal pedagogical experience and their intuition. These solutions are often not included in the research results. The purpose of the study is to identify the main patterns of influence of the educational environment components on the effectiveness of teachers' professional activities. The problem of teachers’ professional development is gaining significance in scientific research. However, the educational environment itself contains a number of factors that contribute to the professional success of a teacher. Factors can help, stimulate the teacher to the most effective and efficient forms of work with students, or they can create obstacles, difficulties that lead to the teacher's failure to succeed. The empirical study revealed a number of features of the educational environment that impact the success of the teacher's professional activity based on the analysis of big data accumulated in the system “Electronic Education in the Republic of Tatarstan” and statistical reports. Further, it is planned to use the identified features in the management (possibly modification) of the professional development trajectory of the teacher.

Autoencoders gained popularity in the deep learning revolution given their ability to compress data and provide dimensionality reduction. Although prominent deep learning methods have been used to enhance autoencoders, the need to provide robust uncertainty quantification remains a challenge. This has been addressed with variational autoencoders so far. Bayesian inference via Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) sampling has faced several limitations for large models; however, recent advances in parallel computing and advanced proposal schemes have opened routes less traveled. This paper presents Bayesian autoencoders powered by MCMC sampling implemented using parallel computing and Langevin-gradient proposal distribution. The results indicate that the proposed Bayesian autoencoder provides similar performance accuracy when compared to related methods in the literature. Furthermore, it provides uncertainty quantification in the reduced data representation. This motivates further applications of the Bayesian autoencoder framework for other deep learning models.

The treatment with hydrofluoric acid (HF-treatment) was suggested to be an effective way of improving the corrosion resistance of Mg alloys, including Mg-Zn-Ca (ZX) ones used for biodegradable implants. However, the effect of the HF-treatment on the stress corrosion cracking (SCC) susceptibility of ZX alloys has not been reported yet, although this phenomenon can induce premature brittle failures of the metallic medical devices, and thus, it is critical for their in-service structural integrity. In the present study, the effect of the HF-treatment on the microstructure, cytotoxicity, corrosion rate, mechanical properties, and fracture and side surface characteristics of the as-cast ZX20 alloy were investigated with the use of scanning electron microscopy, immersion, and slow-strain rate tensile testing in Hanks’ solution and indirect cell viability tests. It is found that the HF-treatment exerts no cytotoxic effect and results in a significant reduction in corrosion rate (up to 6 times of magnitude) and SCC susceptibility indexes (up to 1.5 times of magnitude). The observed improvement of corrosion and SCC performance of the alloy by the HF-treatment is found to be attributed to three effects, including (i) formation of the protective surface film of MgF2, (ii) removal of surficial contaminations originating from sample preparation procedures, and (iii) dissolution of surficial secondary phase particles. The mechanism of corrosion and SCC in the specimens before and after the HF-treatment are discussed.

Bimetallic FeCo and FeNi nanoparticles attract much attention due to their promising magnetic properties and a wide range of practical applications as recording and storage media, catalytic systems in fuel cells, supercapacitors, lithium batteries, etc. In this paper, we propose an original approach to the preparation of FeCo- and FeNi/N-doped carbon nanocomposites by means of a coupled process of frontal polymerization and thermolysis of molecular co-crystallized acrylamide complexes. The phase composition, structure, and microstructure of the resulting nanocomposites are studied using XRD, IR spectroscopy, elemental and thermal analysis, and electron microscopy data. The main magnetic characteristics of the synthesized nanocomposites, including the field dependences and the ZFC-FC curves peculiarities, are studied. It is shown that the obtained FeCo/N-C nanocomposites exhibit exchange bias behavior at low temperatures. In turn, FeNi/N-C nanocomposites are ferromagnetically ordered.

This review is devoted to the problems of the common features linking metabolic disorders and type 2 diabetes with the development of Alzheimer’s disease. The pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease closely intersects with the mechanisms of type 2 diabetes development, and an important risk factor for both pathologies is aging. Common pathological mechanisms include both factors in the development of oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, insulin resistance, and amyloidosis, as well as impaired mitochondrial dysfunctions and increasing cell death. The currently available drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease have limited therapeutic efficacy. It is important to note that drugs used to treat Alzheimer’s disease, in particular acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, show a positive therapeutic potential in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, while drugs used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes can also prevent a number of pathologies characteristic for Alzheimer’s disease. A promising direction in the search for a strategy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease may be the creation of complex multi-target drugs that have neuroprotective potential and affect specific common targets for type 2 diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.

Dermal fillers have gained significant attention in the field of aesthetic medicine due to their ability to restore volume and correct facial wrinkles. Even though such formulations have similar compositions, they can have different microstructure and molecular characteristics, which in turn affect the biodegradation profile. This study presents the results of an investigation of the physicochemical characteristics of four dermal fillers from different manufacturers (Sculptra®, Gana V®, AestheFill®, and Repart PLA®). The molecular and supramolecular characteristics of polylactic acid (L/D isomer ratio, molecular weight, degree of crystallinity), the morphology and size of PLA microparticles were determined. Hydrolytic degradation studies in phosphate buffer revealed differences in the rate of molecular weight reduction in the polymer. The obtained data may be important for the analysis and interpretation of the results of biological studies and clinical outcomes of the PLA dermal fillers.

During operation, cables of overhead power lines (OPLs) are exposed to the impact that differs in separate parts of the OPL span due to the different responses of cables near the clamps and far from them. This paper presents the results of a study of aluminum and steel wires cut from such separate parts of ACSR cables before and after exploitation. Structural, microstructural, and elastic–microplastic properties of wires and their changes during operation were studied through optical microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis, electron backscattering diffraction, X-ray diffraction, densitometry, and acoustic measurements. The characteristics of the properties of the wires along the span were found to change in a coordinated manner. Numerical estimates of the influence of the steel core on aging the ACSR cable were obtained. Changes in the properties of the wires, as well as oxidization and corrosion of their near-surface layers, were studied in detail. Quantitative values of the characteristics of properties, the most distant from those observed in the new wires, were revealed for samples of aluminum and steel wires cut from the cable at 1/4 span and near clamps. It is assumed that these cable parts should be the most crucial for cable durability.

Introduction: the steady increase in the number of the suspected, accused and convicted of terrorism and extremism, as well as cases of their participation in various emergencies, necessitates a personal, targeted approach to correctional psychological and educational work with them. The need for an individual approach, including in psychological and educational work with those convicted of terrorism and extremism, is also indicated by regulatory legal documents, in particular the Order of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia No. 1111 dated November 24, 2017 “On the organization of events on countering terrorism, extremist activity in penal enforcement institutions and bodies”. Study purpose: determination of the effectiveness of the tested model program for psychological correction of personality of persons convicted of terrorism and extremism-related crimes. Research methods: psychodiagnostics methods: the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI) “Time perspective of convicts”, multidimensional self-attitude research questionnaire, a psychodiagnostic method “Life-purpose orientations”; a method for testing the program developed; a method for identifying statistical differences – the Student’s t-test; a method for comparative analysis of the psychodiagnostics results obtained following the testing results. Results: validation of the reliability of statistical differences with the help of the Student’s t-test determined the absence of significant changes in the indicators of convicts in the control group. Meaningful changes were observed in the indicators of convicts of the experimental group with the help of the following methods: ZTPI “Time perspective of convicts”, a multidimensional self-attitude research questionnaire and a psychodiagnostic method “Life-purpose orientations”. A comparative analysis of the results of psychodiagnostics of convicts in the experimental group before and after testing of the basic program proved the reliability of statistical differences with the help of the Student’s t-test determined the presence of positive personality changes in the behavioral, cognitive and affective spheres of the personality of convicts in the experimental group. Conclusions: assessment of the model program testing results revealed a sufficient degree of its effectiveness and the possibility of its implementation. The model program largely determined the content and structure of the section of the additional professional program – a professional development program for psychological service employees who accompany persons convicted of terrorist and extremist crimes.

The article deals with the inverse problem of determining the transient resistance of the main pipeline insulating coating. For this, UAV measurements of the magnetic induction vector modulus of the magnetic field excited by the system of electrochemical cathodic protection of pipelines are used. The solution method is based on Tikhonov's method for finding the extremal of the regularizing functional. The developed algorithm is implemented in software. The results of computational experiments are presented.