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The results of the investigation of operational reliability of the fuel supply system of diesel engines F1A FIAT DUCATO cars, the main reasons for the system's loss of operability, the numeri-cal characteristics of its failure-free performance are given. On the basis of processing the array of experimental data on faults and failures in the system, the regularities of change of failure intensi-ty and probabilities of failure-free operation of its main parts depending on vehicle mileage are determined. Methods and algorithm of troubleshooting and timely elimination of damages occur-ring in the fuel supply system are proposed and tested at the FIAT PROFESSIONAL dealership in Vladimir. The introduction of the results of the performed investigations into the production pro-cesses of car service enterprises allows to significantly reduce the costs of maintaining the opera-ble state of the diesel engine fuel supply system in operation.

The ranges of all three zokor (Myospalax) species, the little-studied burrowing rodent, are described in southeastern Transbaikalia, Russia, based on the results of special expeditions. Myospalax aspalax inhabits only the Onon River basin, M. psilurus populates the forested steppe in the Argun River basin and the upper reaches of the Borzya River (a tributary of the Onon River), while M. armandii is known only from the Klichkinskii Mountain Range. The distribution area of M. armandii is very small (less than 2000 km2) and is isolated from the other parts of the range (in China). The zokor species in the region are shown to be parapatric, with no sympatry being involved. The ranges of M. psilurus and M. armandii are the closest, the distance between the closest settlements being less than 5 km. Reduction in the zokor distributions is observed in Transbaikalia. It is advisable to include M. armandii on the Red Data list of Russia.

Field studies on the distribution and population size of tarbagan (Mongolian marmot) were carried out in 2010–2017 in districts of Zabaikal’skii krai bordering Mongolia and China. The study area constitutes parts of federal-level, strictly protected areas: Daursky State Nature Biosphere Reserve and Dzeren Valley Federal Nature Refuge. It is shown that the tarbagan population in the study area has reached more than 2000 families by 2017. The most active population restoration is observed in habitats historically characterized by the maximum tarbagan population: the Nerchinskii Ridge near the Mongolian border. Engineering structures at the border and the special frontier regime contributed to the preservation of the original marmot settlements. Marmot migration from Mongolia no longer plays an important role in the maintenance of frontier marmot populations in the studied section of the Russian–Mongolian border.

The population and number dynamics of small mammals in the vicinity of the Torey lakes (Southeast Transbaikalia, Russia) were characterized between 2008 and 2017. The monitoring was carried out against the backdrop of the complete drying out of these largest lakes in the region. The stability of the fauna of small mammals was revealed over an 80-year period, although the structure of communities has changed significantly as a result of changes in moistening of the territory. Xerophilous species of mammals had an advantage in the period of studies in the dry climate phase. Correlation analysis showed a possible link between the population dynamics of some common species of small mammals with the precipitation amount of the current and previous years or with the precipitation amount of some spring (in one case, winter) months.

The article is devoted to the development of a system for ensuring the efficiency of ECM through the introduction of diagnostics of its technical condition into the technological processes of servicing and repairing vehicles. In order to create such a system, we performed studies on the operational reliability of the structural elements of the ECU, the effect of their failures on the engine operating parameters, and the substantiation of diagnostic parameters evaluating the technical condition of the system. The object of the research is the electronic control system M86, installed on domestic LADA VESTA automobiles (VAZ-21179 engine). According to the results of the research, the average operating time of the structural elements of the ECM to failure and the reasons for their occurrence were established. Authors imitated the failure of each ECM elements by turning it off and using the appropriate equipment to measure selected parameters of engine operation. The most significant influence on the operation of the engine is caused by failure of fuel pump, ECU and crankshaft position sensor. The failure of this elements causes the complete loss of engine performance as fuel supply to the cylinders stops. In case of failure of other elements of ECM the engine performance is maintained, but its operating capabilities significantly decrease. To ensure the required level of reliability of the ECM, it is necessary at regular intervals to maintain the vehicles to diagnose the technical condition of its elements at automobile service enterprises. In this paper, it is recommended to split the ECM into three subsystems, each of which is evaluated by one complex diagnostic parameter reflecting the technical condition of the structural elements included there. The deviation of the parameters beyond the tolerance limits caused by the occurrence of faults serves as the basis for deciding whether to conduct the necessary technical actions. Diagnostics of the ECM subsystems is carried out in accordance with the developed algorithms that establish a rational sequence of control, adjustment and other operations to identify and eliminate damages arising in the process of operation. As an example, the article presents an algorithm for diagnosing the fuel supply subsystem and reducing the toxicity of exhaust gases. The developments proposed in the article were tested and introduced into the technological processes of maintenance and automobile repairs of the LADA dealership center in the city of Vladimir.

The problem of increasing the dependability of the engine, which is the most complex and expensive unit of an automotive vehicle, cannot be solved without objective and reliable information on the failures and malfunctions of its components, their causes, actual life, as well as the factors affecting such indicators in real operational conditions. Manufacturing factories do not always have such information, hence design deficiency failures associated with design and development flaws are among the most common causes of loss of engine operability.The aim of this paper is to study the engine operational dependability using the results of their maintenance and repair.The methods are based on operational tests of engines that yield the most complete and objective information on their dependability, as they were conducted in typical operational conditions of automobile operating companies in the course of vehicle maintenance and repair. The results of the studies processed with the standard Statistica 6.0 are represented in the form the statistical evaluations of the dependability of primary structural engine components (times to failure, changes in the probability of nofailure depending on the travelled distance). The analysis of the obtained information allows estimating the level of actual dependability of the engine, identifying design flaws, developing specific measures aiming to increase operational dependability. Information obtained during such tests is useful not only to the engine manufacturers, but to the operators as well, as it enables a scientific substantiation of the norms of operability. For the purpose of identification and localization in the process of maintenance and repair of specific engine malfunctions, the paper substantiates a set of diagnostic parameters and their standard values.Conclusions. The research allowed elaborating a set of diagnostic parameters for evaluation of the technical condition of primary engine systems (cylinder-piston group, crank and gas distributing mechanisms) that define and limit its dependability. The application of the findings in the automobile maintenance and repair processes enables a significant improvement of the engines’ operational dependability and reduction of the costs of ensuring their operability.

The article provides information on the synanthropic rodent fauna of Eastern Transbaikalia. In 2017–2020 the city of Chita, the town of Baley and small settlements of Zabaykalsky krai were surveyed. True synanthropes: the house mouse and the brown rat are most abundant in residential landscapes. Natural populations of the house mouse are typical for coastal biotopes of the steppe zone, and the brown rat is typical for forest-steppe zone of Zabaykalsky krai. In Chita (administrative centre of Zabaykalsky krai) the share of the brown rat in rodent communities has considerably increased in recent decades. There is an extension of the brown rat’s habitat in the area of Baikal-Amur Mainline. Optional synanthropes: striped field mouse, striped dwarf hamster, Maximowicz’s vole, and narrow-headed vole are less important in residential landscapes of the region. In the beginning of the 21st century the field mouse is extending its habitat to the disjunct zone to the west of Transbaikalia: it is now common in the residential area of the town of Baley. Penetration of another optional synanthropic species recorded in the neighbouring Siberian regions – the East European vole – has not been detected.

The paper presents data on registration of two regionally protected insects in the north of Zabaykalsky krai. Observations were made in summer 2019-2021 in Kalarsky district of Zabaykalsky krai on the Ridges Udokan and Kodar. Parnassius eversmanni and Parnassius phoebus are characteristic and common species of high alpine meadows of the study area, especially at the Kodar Ridge between the Apsat and Sredny Sakukan Rivers. This area is not part of the Kodar National Park and requires attention for conservation of rich high altitude ecosystems that include the studied insect species.

The features, population characteristics of reproduction, nutrition, and lifestyle of an extremely poorly studied narrow-range species of underground rodents—the false zokor (Myospalax aspalax)—have been described on the basis of original field materials. The data were obtained within the Russian part of the species range in Zabaikal’skii krai. The false zokor is characterized by a pronounced sexual dimorphism in body size (males are larger) and a predominance of females in the population. Mating takes place in April; at other times of the year, zokors lead a solitary lifestyle. The size of the brood is small: 3.7 embryos per breeding female. Their preferred food is bulbs and rhizomes of Allium, Thermopsis, Phragmites, and Leymus. In Eastern Transbaikalia, they are active in winter.

We examine the diversity of six microsatellite loci and partial RAG1 exon of “barabensis” and “pseudogriseus” karyoforms in Cricetulus barabensis sensu lato species complex. A total of 435 specimens from 68 localities ranging from Altai to the Far East are investigated. The results of the population structure analysis (factor analysis and NJ tree based on Nei genetic distances) support subdivision into two well-differentiated clusters corresponding to the two karyoforms. These karyoforms are also well differentiated by the level of microsatellite variability. In several “barabensis” specimens, we found microsatellite alleles that are common in “pseudogriseus” populations but are otherwise absent in “barabensis.” Most of these specimens originate from a single population in one of the zones of potential contact between karyoforms, Kharkhorin in Central Mongolia. These molecular results are consistent with previously published karyological data in suggesting that rare hybridization events between the two chromosomal races occur in nature.

We examine the diversity of six microsatellite loci and partial RAG1 exon of “barabensis” and “pseudogriseus” karyoforms in Cricetulus barabensis sensu lato species complex. A total of 435 specimens from 68 localities ranging from Altai to the Far East are investigated. The results of the population structure analysis (factor analysis and NJ tree based on Nei genetic distances) support subdivision into two well-differentiated clusters corresponding to the two karyoforms. These karyoforms are also well differentiated by the level of microsatellite variability. In several “barabensis” specimens, we found microsatellite alleles that are common in “pseudogriseus” populations but are otherwise absent in “barabensis.” Most of these specimens originate from a single population in one of the zones of potential contact between karyoforms, Kharkhorin in Central Mongolia. These molecular results are consistent with previously published karyological data in suggesting that rare hybridization events between the two chromosomal races occur in nature.

Materials on the new findings of the striped field mouse (Apodemus agrarius) in Transbaikalia, within an earlier disjunction area in the habitat of this species (in the basins of the Onon and Ingoda rivers), are presented. Possible causes of the expansion of the species range are discussed. It is most probable that the species was introduced from the basin of the Argun River with a cargo of agricultural products to the lower reaches of the Onon River or the upper reaches of the Shilka River. Currently, the striped field mouse is a com� mon species inhabiting a floodplain shrub biotope in the lower reaches of the Ingoda and Onon rivers.

It was demonstrated that in Y-maze individuals of the outdoor species Myodes glareolus and the semi-synanthropic species Microtus levis avoided the urine odor of commensal Mus musculus. On the contrary mice stayed longer in the maze compartment with the odor of voles. The level of avoidance of commensal mice odor was higher than the other strange odors (urine of rabbit or outdoor mouse Mus spicilegus). It is assumed that the sharp smell of commensal mice is an adaptation designed to hold and protect a particular ecological niche against other species of rodents, i.e., human buildings.

In the paper the author reports literature data and his own on the shrew fauna and communities of the steppe and forest zones of Eastern Transbaikalia.

Hydrogenation and isomerization of α-pinene on heterogeneous catalysts were studied, and conditions were found for hydrogenation of pinene to cis-pinane on nickel catalysts and for its dehydrogenation to p-cymene on decationized zeolite Y.

In this paper, we look at the interregional cooperation in adjacent areas. Specifically, we focus our attention on the cluster of regions formed by the city of St. Petersburg, the Leningrad region and the Republic of Karelia. All three areas face a number of challenges when it comes to international trade: challenges that are shared and that require strategic coordinated solutions from regional decisionmakers. One of such solutions, for example, could require pooling of competitive advantages of these areas. The analysis of strategic documents of regional development, however, shows that the issue of interregional cooperation has not been duly addressed at any level, theoretical or practical. It is important to strengthen international trade capacity and to increase cooperation in other areas of cross-border relations, since these processes are crucial for Russia’s integration into the global markets.

1. A simple formula is proposed making it possible to determine the value of penetration of highway bitumens in a temperature interval of from plus 30 to minus 30 °C and giving good agreement with experimental results. 2. The determination of penetration of highway bitumens at various temperatures should be carried out with an identical charge of 100 g and a time of 5 sec for research purposes.

The separation of hydrocarbon gases in a turbulent tube is calculated by means of the material-balance method. The results are compared with experimental data.

Holograms of plane wave fronts were recorded in photoplastic materials using a cathode-ray tube with a CdS laser screen. The output power of the laser pulses was 1.5 W and their duration was 200 nsec, which was sufficient for the recording of one hologram in a pulse. The light-modulation characteristics of the recorded holograms were determined.