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The best way to understand the environmental status of a certain region involves thorough non-target analysis, which will result in a list of pollutants under concern. Arkhangelsk (64° 32′ N 40° 32′ E, pop. ~ 344,000) is the largest city in the world to the north of the 60th parallel. Several industrial enterprises and the "cold finger" effect represent the major sources of air contamination in the city. Analysis of snow with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry allows detecting and quantifying the most hazardous volatile and semivolatile anthropogenic pollutants and estimating long-term air pollution. Target analysis, suspect screening, and non-target analysis of snow samples collected from ten sites within the city revealed the presence of several hundreds of organic compounds including 18 species from the US EPA list of priority pollutants. Fortunately, the levels of these compounds appeared to be much lower than the safe levels established in Russia. Phenol and dioctylphthalate could be considered as the pollutants of concern because their levels were about 20% of the safe thresholds. ChromaTOF® Tile, MetaboAnalyst software platform, and open-source software protocols were applied to process the obtained data. The obtained clusterization results of the samples were generally similar for various tools; however, each of them had certain peculiarities. Bis(2-ethylhexyl) hexanedioate, benzyl alcohol, phthalates, aniline, dinitrotoluenes, and fluoranthene showed the strongest influence on the clusterization of the studied samples. Possible sources of the major pollutants were proposed: car traffic and pulp and paper mills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents estimates of forest mortality from fires that occurred in the northern territories in the 21st century, based on the analysis of fire burning intensity obtained from MODIS instruments installed on satellites Terra and Aqua. A brief analysis of fire distribution and forest mortality resulting therefrom is also presented in the paper both by year and by different territories (countries). The analysis shows that from 2002 to 2021, 70 659 fires were registered in Zone 60 (the area north of 60° N) and 5997 fires were registered in Zone AC (the area north of the Arctic Circle). Moreover, 33 892 fires in Zone 60 were registered from 2002 to 2011 and 36 767 fires from 2012 to 2021; 2395 fires were registered in Zone AC from 2001 to 2011 and 3602 fires from 2012 to 2021. Between 2002 and 2021, 102 million ha of forest land were covered by fires in Zone 60 and 8 million ha in Zone AC. At the same time, more than 22 million ha of forests died in Zone 60 (they received the fifth grade of the average weighted category state in the final fire year), and over 2 million ha died in Zone AC. Over 2002–2011, 7 015 000 ha of forests died in Zone 60 (1.2 % of all forest vegetation in the zone; an average of 19.6% of the area affected by fire) and 15 372 000 ha of forests over 2012–2021 (2.6 and 23.3%, respectively); over 2002–2011, 641 thousand ha of forests died in Zone AC (2.8 and 23.7%, respectively) and 1 379 000 ha of forests over 2012–2021 (1.9 and 26.5%, respectively). The paper also presents information on forest death by territories (countries) in the analyzed zones. The presented data made it possible to draw the following preliminary conclusions: over recent decades, there have been no significant changes in the number of fires in Zone 60. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that, in 2019–2020, the number of fires in Zone AC increased drastically in Russia; in the second decade of the analyzed period, an increase in forest death from fires in the analyzed zones in Russia was observed; over the study period, no trends were observed in the ratio of the area of dead forests and total forest area in the analyzed countries; the average percentage of dead forests for the entire study period is comparable in Russia, the United States, and Canada, though it is significantly lower in Northern European countries; the same picture is observed in the ratio of dead forest area and fire affected area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the scientific and technical prospects and potential directions for the development of subterahertz astronomy in the Russian Federation. The concept of creating subterahertz instruments in the form of a universal compact antenna array for placement on the territory of the Russian Federation is proposed. It is possible to implement several space projects in the subterahertz range using such an antenna array, including a space interferometer and a telescope on the surface of the Moon. Ground-based compact antenna arrays will be able to act as a support for the very long baseline interferometer mode of the Millimetron observatory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is focused on study of the geomagnetic field variation response caused by a series of earthquakes with magnitudes of Mw = 7.5–7.8 in Turkey on February 6, 2023. The initial data include high-precision observations of the geomagnetic field with a one-second sampling rate recorded at magnetic observatories in Russia and neighboring countries from middle to high latitudes. The paper analyzes the morphology of the geomagnetic signal, its amplitude-frequency characteristics, pulses in the rate of change and delays of the geomagnetic field response to earthquakes with magnitudes Mw = 7–8 depending on the distance to the source. The results suggest that the geomagnetic effect is detected best in the rate of change recordings, reaching anomalous amplitudes of 10 nT/s. The signal delay ranges from 221 to 592 s depending on the magnetic field component and the distance to the epicenter, which is in the range from 765 to 2650 km for the selected observatories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Speleothems are unique archives of information on climate, geomagnetism, and environmental conditions of the past, and have been successfully used for paleoclimatic and paleomagnetic studies in the last two decades. The uniqueness of these geological objects lies in the peculiarities of their formation and preservation of a wide range of geochemical, geological and geophysical proxies, and, most importantly, in the ability to obtain time series of the corresponding characteristics in an unprecedentedly accurate resolution using isotope-geochronological dating methods and incremental chronology. This paper presents the first results of dating the Vor speleothem from the Vorontsovskaya Cave (Krasnodar region), which preserved a record of the geomagnetic excursion, obtained by 230Th/U α-spectrometry, 14C dating, and incremental chronology. Such studies have been carried out in Russia for the first time. Despite the limitations of using the methods of isotope geochronology, it was possible to obtain an upper limit on the age of the excursion, which probably occurred no earlier than 5500–6000 years ago. By the method of incremental chronology, the duration of the main phase of the excursion Vor – 871 ± 16 years – was determined with great accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the impact of institutional shifts on the strategic choices of Russian firms. It proposes and tests hypotheses of how a shift from a weak to a strong institutional context is likely to affect firms' knowledge accumulation, absorptive capacities and internalisation of operations. Using discriminant analysis, the econometric investigation demonstrates that firms tend to allocate greater resources towards improving their knowledge and absorptive capacity and make more efforts to vertically integrate—in line with improvements in the institutional environment. These investments ensure the survivability and competitiveness of firms in the long term. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that the long-term strategic orientation of firms goes hand in hand with rising resource allocations by the nation-state towards economic development. The findings align with the institutionalist political economy views that institutions are the ultimate overseers that allow the market to operate efficiently, especially in emerging market environments. The paper is also instructive to other developing economies about the need to strengthen their institutional environments, which supports the long-term orientation of firms and has a positive impact on economic development. The analysis does not take into account the impact of sanctions on Russian business and economy, post the annexation of Crimea and the armed conflict with Ukraine. Nor does it consider the impact of COVID-19 on the economy. As such, the study attempts to constitute an untainted comparison of two paths of transition on Russian firms—shock therapy, vis-à-vis, an institutional political economy approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreak of the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict exacerbated the natural gas supply shortage in European countries. European countries restarted coal-fired power plants to maintain economic and social operations. The uneven distribution of coal resources in the world makes coal international trade inevitable. The intricate trade relations between trading countries have formed a coal trade network. When a country's coal exports are limited due to geopolitical factors, it will cause coal supply risks. The risk will spread to more countries along the trade network, eventually leading to the collapse of the trade network. This paper builds a crisis propagation model of the coal supply under the Russia-Ukraine conflict using the cascading failure model. The results showed that the Czech Republic, Ireland, Portugal, and Bulgaria become abnormal as the proportion of coal exports β increases. When the Russian Federation reduced its coal exports by 80% and countries maintained only 10% coal exports against crisis, 23 European countries were the worst. Iceland, Ireland, Turkey and other countries were spread by the indirect risk and became abnormal countries. The Czech Republic and Bulgaria were spread by multiple risk and became abnormal countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the first finding of authigenic carbonates on the southern flank of Gakkel Ridge in its junction with the continental margin of the Laptev Sea of the Russian Federation. The samples are represented by compact magnesian calcites and aragonites, including rounded and angular fragments of terrigenous material, as well as microphytoplankton and spores and pollen of terrestrial and aquatic plants of various ages. The elemental and organochemical characteristics are indicative of the predominant oxidation conditions or those intermediate between oxidation and reduction conditions of carbonate crystallization likely due to the fact that carbonates were formed near the bottom surface. The O, C, and Sr isotopic compositions make it possible to conclude that diagenetic carbonates of Gakkel Ridge were deposited mainly in isotopic equilibrium with bottom water at a temperature of about 0°C, corresponding to measurements from the research vessel. A wide range of δ13С (from –23.5 to –37.3) is indicative of the fact that methane was an important, but not the sole source of carbon in carbonates. Based on wide variations in 87Sr/86Sr (0.70906–0.70933) correlated with δ13С values, the carbonate-forming fluid was not only modern seawater, but also diagenetic solutions coming from the sedimentary cover together with methane and methane and organic matter oxidation products. The active discharge of heterogeneous methane-bearing fluids can be related to the high modern tectonic activity of the study region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we examine the purity level and impurity composition of the titanium, zirconium, and hafnium samples at the Exhibition–Collection of Extrapure Substances and present estimates of the average and total concentrations of elemental impurities in the purest samples. We examine the impurity composition of the array of the group 4 elements and contributions of particular groups of impurities and discuss the purity level of the group 4 elements and their compounds manufactured in Russia and abroad. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreak of the 2022 Russia-Ukraine conflict exacerbated the natural gas supply shortage in European countries. European countries restarted coal-fired power plants to maintain economic and social operations. The uneven distribution of coal resources in the world makes coal international trade inevitable. The intricate trade relations between trading countries have formed a coal trade network. When a country's coal exports are limited due to geopolitical factors, it will cause coal supply risks. The risk will spread to more countries along the trade network, eventually leading to the collapse of the trade network. This paper builds a crisis propagation model of the coal supply under the Russia-Ukraine conflict using the cascading failure model. The results showed that the Czech Republic, Ireland, Portugal, and Bulgaria become abnormal as the proportion of coal exports β increases. When the Russian Federation reduced its coal exports by 80% and countries maintained only 10% coal exports against crisis, 23 European countries were the worst. Iceland, Ireland, Turkey and other countries were spread by the indirect risk and became abnormal countries. The Czech Republic and Bulgaria were spread by multiple risk and became abnormal countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arctic is rapidly warming posing a significant threat to underlying permafrost. Permafrost degradation has already resulted in extensive damage to the Arctic's built infrastructure, putting communities and industries at risk. Projected climate warming will further reduce the capacity of permafrost to support infrastructure, thereby requiring a rethinking of construction and development of permafrost regions in the future. This paper focuses on three Arctic regions with a substantial presence of population and infrastructure on permafrost: USA (Alaska), Canada, and Russia. The three regions' permafrost construction practices are examined in order to identify best practices and major gaps. We identify a lack of standardized, codified construction guidelines; an absence of permafrost-geotechnical monitoring in communities; barriers to integrating climate scenarios into future planning; limited data sharing; and low numbers of permafrost professionals as major constraints limiting the region's resilience in the face of climate change. Refining building practices and standards, implementing operational permafrost monitoring systems, developing downscaled climate projections, and integrating local knowledge will minimize the impacts of permafrost degradation under rapidly warming climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eastern Transbaikalia is a unique rare-metal province of Russia. Most of the studied deposits are associated with granitoid intrusions. Despite the high degree of knowledge of regional magmatism, a number of issues, related to both the belonging of specific massifs to magmatic complexes and the correlation of certain complexes within various structural-formation zones, remain. This paper compares the material composition and age of several petrotypical and parapetrotypical massifs, which are classified as Late Mesozoic complexes distributed within the Aginsk, Shilka, and Argun structural-formational zones of Eastern Transbaikalia. Based on the results of U–Pb dating, two stages of granitoid magmatism have been established: (1) the end of the Middle and the beginning of the Late Jurassic (163–156 Ma) and (2) the beginning of the Early Cretaceous (142 Ma). It is shown that the closely aged rocks of the Borshchovochnyi, Amudzhikan–Sretensk, and Shakhtama complexes have similar material characteristics, while the rocks of the Kukulbei complex (from three massifs) vary in composition. Elevated δ18O values (from +10.8 to +11.9‰) in the rocks of the Jurassic complexes indicate their formation mainly due to the melting of crustal material, and lower δ18O values (from +9.8 up to +10.3‰) in the Early Cretaceous granitoids suggest the contribution of a mantle source to their genesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents a classification of positive displacement piston hybrid power machine (PDPHPM) designs. For the jacket cooling of a piston compressor, it is advisable to use the compressor piston to provide suction for both gas and fluid phases. The reverse flow of the fluid can be partially effected using the compressed gas. A schematic diagram of a PDPHPM protected by a patent of the Russian Federation is presented. Based on the developed scheme, a constructive development of a new cylinder- piston group was carried out. A prototype of the machine and an experimental facility for its testing, equipped with the necessary control and measuring equipment, were constructed. The method of measuring the main thermodynamic and flow rate parameters during the machine operation is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After completing the Program for the Destruction of Chemical Weapons (CW) in September 2017, the Russian Federation converts CW destruction facilities for their further use for civilian purposes. An essential measure in the reprofiling of these facilities is the assessment of possible residual contamination and the identification of unrecorded facts of contamination with toxic organophosphorus substances (organophosphorus toxicants, OPTs) or reaction masses (RM) from the neutralization of the infrastructure of the former CW destruction facilities. This paper presents a procedure for a multipurpose screening of 11 conversion products of three OP nerve agents: O-isobutyl-S-(2-diethylaminoethyl)methylphosphonothioate (VR), isopropyl ester of methylphosphonofluoridic acid (Sarin, GB), pinacolyl ester of methylphosphonofluoridic acid (Soman, GD), and VR itself (as the most persistent OP nerve agents) in construction materials. Screening of all analytes, significantly differing in their physicochemical properties, is carried out within single analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass-selective detection (HPLC–MS/MS). A procedure is proposed for the collection of wipe samples from surfaces and solid samples of construction materials with various matrix composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper considers the level of atmospheric air pollution of the 20 largest cities in Russia in 2019–2020. The data used for the study is initially collected by a TROPOMI instrument (on the Sentinel-5P satellite), including measurements of carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, and aerosol (aerosol index). The measurements were obtained using the cloud-based platform, Google Earth Engine, which presents L3 level data available for direct analysis. The Tropomi Air Quality Index (TAQI) integrates available TROPOMI measurements into a single indicator. The calculation results showed that most of the cities under consideration (15 out of 20) have a low or higher than usual level of pollution. Formaldehyde (35.7%) and nitrogen dioxide (26.4%) play the main role in the composition of pollution particles. A significant share is occupied by sulfur dioxide (16.4%). The contribution of carbon monoxide and aerosol averages 10.8 and 10.6%, respectively. Air pollution in cities is caused by both natural (wildfires, dust storms) and anthropogenic (seasonal migrations of the population, restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic) factors. Estimating atmospheric pollution levels in urban areas using an integral index based on remote data (such as TAQI) can be considered as a valuable information addition to existing ground-based measuring systems within the multisensory paradigm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents an analysis of ICESat-2 data capabilities for forest-height estimation and assessment of its spatial distribution over Russia. A brief overview of available current and historic lidar satellite-data products is carried out. The physical basis of the ATLAS instrument operation, as well as an approach to forming an ATL08 data product with information on vertical structure of vegetation, are described. An approach for automated download and preprocessing of ATL08 product is implemented, including filtering of missing/corrupted data, conversion to vector format, and delineation of borders of aggregated lidar footprints for which characteristics of vegetation-height distribution are provided. All the available ATL08 data over Russia for the period from October 14, 2018, to May 13, 2020, was processed to form a dataset of over 125 million lidar measurements of vegetation vertical structure, including over 50 million measurements of forest height. This study was performed at local and national spatial levels. Local-scale accuracy assessment of the ATL08 product (at the level of forest stands) included actualization of field survey data using models of forest growth, and satellite-data-based estimation of mean forest height and its uncertainty considering uncertainties of input lidar measurements and forest cover heterogeneity. Results of the local-scale accuracy assessment of ATL08 data are presented, showing agreement between ground-based and satellite measurements of mean forest height at the level of R2 = 0.67 and RMSE = 3.79 m. National level analysis included examples of potential use of the resulting dataset to study height and productivity of Russian forests. Estimates of mean forest-height spatial distribution over Russia, as well as distribution of mean height for different forest types, are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social protests, in particular in the form of street protests, are a frequent phenomenon of modern world often making a significant disruptive effect on the society. Understanding the factors that can affect their duration and intensity is therefore an important problem. In this paper, we consider a mathematical model of protests dynamics describing how the number of protesters change with time. We apply the model to two events such as the Yellow Vest Movement 2018–2019 in France and Khabarovsk protests 2019–2020 in Russia. We show that in both cases our model provides a good description of the protests dynamics. We consider how the model parameters can be estimated by solving the inverse problem based on the available data on protesters number at different time. The analysis of parameter sensitivity then allows for determining which factor(s) may have the strongest effect on the protests dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the impact a Russian amended law concerning state secrets is having on science publishing by Russian scientists. It states President Vladimir Putin used a decree in May 2015 expanding the scope of a law requiring scientists get permission from the Federal Security Service prior to publishing results which could have industrial or military applications. It reports Russian universities are requiring scientists seek approval to the publication of any findings without exception.

This paper utilizes Rapaille's (2006) concept of culture codes and Hall's (2001) encoding and decoding model of communication to identify the culture codes of scientific concepts in global scientific online discourse. As an example, we attempted to identify the culture codes of the concept of "image", because this concept can be interpreted in different ways in Russian and international scientific discourse. To identify these codes, we analyzed the interpretations of the concept of "image" in scientific online discourse in Russia and abroad. We studied the titles, key words, and abstracts of papers published in 2014–2018 that appeared in the Russian Science Citation Index (RSCI) and the Scopus abstract and citation database. As a result, we identified the culture codes of the concept of "image" in Russian and international scientific online discourse and compared the culture codes of RSCI-indexed and Scopus-indexed papers. The method we utilized may be used for revealing the culture codes of any scientific concept (using any citation database), which can contribute to revealing and understanding the interpretations of these concepts by researchers from different countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we discuss the purity level of the alkali metals and their compounds manufactured in Russia and abroad. We consider the impurity composition of the array of and individual alkali metals in the Exhibition–Collection of Extrapure Substances and contributions of particular impurity classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is shown that interdisciplinarity in soil science as a scientific area has been growing ever more rapidly in recent years, while the dissemination of related information over different scientific journals has become excessive and still continues to increase. In particular, the number of Russian journals publishing papers on soil science and represented in the eLIBRARY.ru database increased by more than six times in 14 years (2005–2018) and, by the moment of our study, comprised over 600 names of journals and other Russian-language publications. Since 1997, the segment of papers on soil research has finally shifted from the category of soil science to environmental sciences. The Russian array of publications of 1975–2018 on soil research is analyzed in terms of its positioning in the world. Currently, the number of papers on soil science is actively increasing both in Russia and worldwide. The highest growth rate in the Russian document flow in this scientific area was observed in 2016–2018. In the number of publications, Russian soil science is in a good position in the world. Citation analysis demonstrates an increase in the citation rate in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoS CC) and Scopus databases. Contrary to the widespread opinion on the preferential citation of papers, monographs are prevalently cited in the area of soil science in the eLIBRARY.ru. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents an assessment of the rates of erosion and sedimentation in hollows of the Temeva Rechka small dry valley catchment, dominated by forest-steppe gray forest soils (Luvic Retic Greyzemic Phaeozems), over the past 55–60 years with the use of the radiocesium technique. This catchment is located in the Myosha River basin (Republic of Tatarstan, European Russia). The hollows have been grouped by the catchment's slope aspects, hollow length, hollow bottom gradient, and shape of the thalweg profile of the hollow bottoms; origin and age, as well as by the specifics of erosion/sedimentation processes. Short agrogenic hollows with a small catchment area on relatively steep western slopes of the Temeva Rechka small dry valley, probably formed after human deforestation, have been identified. The shape of their catchments contributes to the formation of surface runoff, sufficient for the erosion of a significant part of their bottoms at a rate of about 2–4 t/ha per year. Older, polygenetic, and relatively long hollows with a slightly sloping bottom and larger catchments serve as sediment transit zones between plowed areas and the Temeva Rechka small dry valley bottom. They are characterized by alternating areas of soil erosion and sediment accumulation. The average rate of soil erosion in these landforms is 0.8 t/ha per year. In some hollows, when several small tributaries (smaller hollows) flow into their lower parts, soil erosion loss increases to 3 t/ha per year. The average soil erosion loss is 6 t/ha per year on short slopes of the hollows; in their upper parts, it can reach 11 t/ha per year. There is a general decrease in the rates of soil erosion and accumulation of eroded material in recent decades due to changes in climate and land use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Validation of forensic methods (FMs) is one of the main procedures of standardization of forensic activities aimed at verifying the reliability of the results. This procedure is extensively used in organizations of the European Network of Forensic Science Institutes (ENFSI), which includes the Russian Federal Centre of Forensic Science of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation (RFCFS). In terms of metrology, FMs can be divided into two types: forensic measurement methods (FMMs) and forensic testing methods (FTMs). In an earlier paper, the authors have shown that methodological approaches to FMM validation are well developed and are actively used in RFCFS laboratories, but FTM validation procedures are still a very questionable matter of extensive discussion in scientific literature. The most significant difficulties in FT validation are related to selecting validation parameters, developing the validation experiment, and performing statistical calculations. This article proposes methodological approaches to statistical assessment of FMM and FTM parameters that can be used in forensic practice. A number of recommendations for the validation procedure, a list of validation parameters, and some designs of specific experiments of FMM and FTM quality assessment are also provided. Fitness of FMMs is assessed by repeatedly measuring a monitored indicator in reference samples and standard additions using standard formulas for calculating statistical parameters. The FTM validation procedure is considered by the example of the FTM "Microscopic Examination of Textile Fibers" in which the test samples were fibers from the laboratory collection with known tested characteristics. It is demonstrated that, when assessing the reliability of FTMs and the competence of experts, it is efficient to use probabilistic estimates of the rate of false test results and to calculate the likelihood ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the role of forests in national climate policies of two countries very rich in woods: Russia and Canada. Canada has made efforts to reduce direct CO2 emissions in the national economy, intensify forestry, and increase greenhouse gas sequestration by forests. Russia focuses on the verification and recalculation of the carbon sequestration capacity of its forests. Analysis of the Russian and Canadian stationary models used to assess the carbon sequestration capacity of forests (ROBUL and CBM-CFS, respectively) shows that both the Canadian model and the Russian one derived from it reflect the stationary dynamics of forest stands, which inevitably results in a downward CO2 absorption trend. Even if the forest inventory is updated on a regular basis, the predictive components of such models are unable to take into account the variability of forest ecosystems and their adaptation to climate change. Models that describe global carbon fluxes (e.g., ones using FLUXNET and remote sensing data) provide significantly higher net carbon sequestration values and indicate a nondecreasing net carbon accumulation trend in forests. It is concluded that stationary and remote sensing models should be used together to assess net carbon sequestration and formulate key principles of national climate policies in countries rich in forests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we discuss the purity level of the alkaline-earth metals (AEMs) and their compounds manufactured in Russia and abroad. We consider the impurity composition of the array of AEM samples in the Exhibition–Collection of Extrapure Substances and contributions of particular groups of impurities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider the problem of determining politico-ideological preferences of users of online social networks. We propose a (DLS) model that allows assessing politico-ideological preferences of VKontakte users using information from their accounts (digital footprints). The model meets the main ideological directions in modern-day Russia. Our approach is based on the supervised learning methodology whereby one solves a classification problem by calculating posterior probabilities of class membership. We compile an anonymized labeled dataset and develop appropriate software. Then we formulate and solve the problem of the politician's choice of an ideological positioning strategy that will potentially receive the most support from the considered set of users. We exemplify our methodology by finding "ideal" political positioning for some popular online communities in VKontakte. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Updating of the Soil Map of the Russian Federation (1 : 2.5 M scale, 1988) is planned on the basis of the new classification system of Russian soils. At the first stage, soil information for each polygon on the map is transformed into this system with due account for new factual data. In this paper, we consider problems in reclassification of legend unit "soddy-calcareous soils, including leached and podzolized soils." In dependence on the geographical position of particular polygons with these soils and the composition and properties of calcareous rocks, the soils of this legend unit are reclassified into different orders, types, and subtypes of the new classification system. The new soil names are introduced into the updated database to the vectorized version of the map. Thus, according to the thickness of the unconsolidated part of the profile, the former soddy-calcareous soils are specified into the orders of lithozems (<30 cm) and organo-accumulative soils (>30 cm). Within the latter order, the character of organic and humus horizons is taken into account in identification of the types of dark-humus, gray-humus, mucky–humus, raw-humus, and (probably) light-humus soil types with residual carbonates recorded at the subtype level. The types of raw-humus and light-humus carbolithozems are added to the classification system. An increased content of semidecomposed phytodetritus in the soils is reflected at the subtype level (the subtype of raw-humus soils). This level is also used to reflect the development of eluviation (eluviated soils), illuviation (clay-illuvial soils), and pedogenic transformation of middle-profile horizons (metamorphized, cryometamorphized, ferruginated, and gleyic subtypes) and the inheritance of some specific features of the parent material (red-profile soils). At the species level, the degree of leaching of carbonates from the upper part of the profile is indicated. Plowed soddy-calcareous soils are specified as agrohumus and agro-dark-humus soils. Geographical patterns of manifestation of these soil features and their "soil-ecological" logic are also discussed in the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate change in recent decades is accompanied by rising temperatures and increasing cyclonic activity with strong air flows. How do they affect soil respiration? Is it possible to expect an increase in CO2 emissions and, consequently, a positive feedback of climate change through the greenhouse effect? These questions cannot be answered without the insight into the effect of wind speed on the gas exchange between soil and atmosphere in different landscapes. The paper summarizes the long-term measurements of CO2 efflux from forest-steppe chernozems (Kursk oblast, Russia) in natural and anthropogenic landscapes with forest or herbaceous vegetation depending on wind speed; it presents a physically grounded approach to its quantitative first-approximation (linear) description. The approach assumes an impact of wind through increased forced convection and turbulent diffusivity along with a potential reduction in diffusion mass transfer due to a decrease in the gradient of CO2 concentration between the atmosphere and soil. The constructed inverse parabolic dependence adequately describes the empirical data and assumes a twofold increase in the emission with the wind speed increase to the critical value of 3 m/s and its decreases to the initial level with the further wind speed increase to 6–7 m/s. The intensity of forced convection of soil air turns out to be by five–six orders of magnitude lower than the wind speed in the atmosphere but not inferior to the intensity of conventional isothermal CO2 diffusion, which suggests that this mechanism is to be taken into account in the models of soil–atmosphere gas exchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper discusses the data obtained in 2015–2018 by the State agrochemical monitoring of soils in Belgorod oblast. The research revealed that organic fertilizers are the main source of microelements entering phytocenoses. They are responsible for 79.2% manganese, 87.3% zinc and 84.2% copper of their total amount introduced with fertilizers and ameliorants. The Ap horizon of the ordinary chernozem (Haplic Chernozem) in the steppe zone contains 1.15, 1.18, and 1.14 times more manganese, zinc, and copper, respectively, than the typical chernozem (Haplic Chernozem) in the forest—steppe zone. The studied microelements show the biophylic accumulation in the arable layer. The average total content of manganese, zinc, and copper in the Ap horizon was higher than that in CCa horizon in 1.49, 1.17, and 1.22 times, respectively, in the typical chernozem; and 1.42, 1.22, and 1.16 times in the ordinary chernozem, respectively. The results of continuous monitoring proved that 38.6; 98.7, and 98.2% of the studied arable soils manifest a low supply with manganese, zinc, and copper, respectively. The highest content of manganese was found in grain (1053 mg/kg) and straw (841 mg/kg) of white lupine; that of zinc (43.5 mg/kg), in the grain of the same crop; and the maximal amount of copper was found in the soybean grain (10.5 mg/kg). The lowest accumulation of manganese (9.22 mg/kg) and zinc (26.45 mg/kg) is typical for pea grains, and that of copper, for winter wheat grains (3.60 mg/kg). The concentration of microelements was higher in grains than in straw of winter wheat, soybean and white lupine; whereas the inverse relationship was found for pea plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global reproductive landscapes and with them cross-border routes are rapidly changing. This paper examines the reproductive routes and choices of fertility travellers from China to Russia as reported by medical professionals and fertility service providers. Providing new empirical data, it raises new ethical questions on the facilitation of cross-border reproductive travel and the commercialisation of reproductive treatment. The relaxation of the one-child policy in 2014 in China, the increasing demand for ART exceeding the capacity of national fertility clinics and the difficulty of accessing treatment with donor eggs concomitant with a growing economic power of the upper–middle class are shaping the ART industry in Asia in new ways. A new development is Chinese citizens increasingly seeking ART treatment in Russia, which has a long-standing practice of ART governed by a liberal legislation. Furthermore, as China prohibits the export of gametes, Chinese fertility travellers rely on acquiring donor gametes once starting treatment abroad. Clinicians in Russia report three strategies amongst their Chinese patients: One group is using donor eggs of women of Asian appearance living in Russia or is hiring women of resembling appearance from third-party countries to donate their eggs in Russia to create resemblance in their offspring. Another group is buying white donor gametes to create Eurasian mixed children and thus 'enhance' their offspring. Providing novel empirical data, this article informs ethical deliberation and raises imminent questions for further research in this understudied geographic region and on cross-border reproductive treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rectorite (allevardite) is a regularly interstratified mica–smectite, in which each mica (A) layer is "sandwiched" between smectite (B) layers creating ABABAB.... sequence with 50% contribution of each layer. Similar to other ordered minerals, rectorite is rare in nature. The paper provides the results of the study on properties and mineral composition of the soddy weakly podzolic soil (Umbric Albeluvisol) in the Komi Republic, Russian Federation. Rectorite is found in fine fractions of A1 and A2 horizons of this soil. The studied soil has been formed on the light-textured parent material. The soil profile is texturally differentiated by the eluvial type. In the mineral horizons, varies within 5.1–5.3. The mineral composition of fractions <2, 2.0-0.5 and <0.5 μm was studied by X-ray diffractometry (XRD). In the parent material, smectite predominates and is represented by the high-charged beidellite. In addition, its clay fraction contains mica, vermiculite, kaolinite and chlorite, as well as fine quartz. Vermiculite structure is chloritized. The mineral composition of the clay fraction undergoes transformation within the upper 40 cm of the profile, which is maximally pronounced in the upper 20 cm. The content of smectite is lower there; and that of fine quartz is higher, fine fractions additionally contain rectorite. This mineral is identified on the base of the integer (00h) reflection series 24.54 and 12.27 Å for air-dry samples. After saturation with ethylene glycol, the (001) peak shifts to 26.77 Å. Calcination during 2 h at 550°C results in shifting of this peak to 10 Å. Rectorite is believed to be a syngenetic component of this soils and is formed at the early stage of smectite transformation into illite, being a transitional product of this transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on Devonian and Carboniferous paleosols is limited. In this paper, published data (about 50 sources) on findings of these paleosols mostly on the territory of paleocontinents Laurussia and Pangea are summarized. For visualization of this information, sketch maps of paleosol distribution for Devonian, Mississippian, and Pennsylvanian times have been developed. Their analysis shows that most of Devonian paleosols belonged to the groups of azonal and intrazonal soils; soils of wetlands predominated. The discoveries of Middle and Late Devonian zonal soils—Oxisols and texturally differentiated Alfisols—in the area of Voronezh High (south Russia) are unique. Most of Mississippian paleosols also belonged to azonal and intrazonal soils. The wide distribution of wetland paleosols in the Mississipian subperiod was also reflected in the increased area of coal basins (8% of land in comparison with 1% in Devonian). In the area of the Moscow sedimentary basin, along with Histosols, zonal paleosols—Spodosols and others—have been described. Pennsylvanian soil cover consisted of azonal, intrazonal, and zonal soils. In North America and Western Europe, swampy soils were still widely distributed (22% of land was occupied by coal basins). Oppositely, in the area of the Moscow sedimentary basin, Pennsylvanian paleosols of semiarid and arid ranges with palygorskite as the major clay mineral were widely present. The differentiation of Pennsylvanian soil cover of Laurussia and Pangea reflects the changes in climatic zonality of the planet with an increase in the degree of climatic contrast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyzes the possibility to reduce the carbon footprint of exported products by implementing forest climate offset projects amid the introduction of the carbon tax on imports of high-carbon products, including those exported from Russia, by the European Union. The role of forests as absorbers of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions differs significantly in Russia and in the EU. It is suggested that the EU's climate neutrality policy aimed primarily at the reduction of direct CO2 emissions by sectors such as power, industry, and agriculture is a consequence of the insignificant role of European forests in greenhouse gas absorption. By contrast, Russia can achieve climate neutrality not only by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but also by increasing their absorption by forests and implementing forest climate projects (FCPs). Taking into consideration the UNFCCC baseline and additionality requirements, three FCP types can be proposed for implementation in the Russian Federation. The possibility to monetize the carbon sequestration function of Russian forests in the framework of carbon offset projects is assessed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Computerized training simulators are a powerful tool to decrease the accident rate and improve process control effectiveness. The paper discusses the architectures of present-day training systems, describes the key features of their components, analyzes the content and main phases of a training simulator project and the requirements to its stakeholders. The focus is made on the application of training systems to adjacent process automation problems. Case studies presenting Honeywell's experience in Russia are outlined, a short-term outlook is included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The first data on five primary molybdenite sources within the gabbro-dolerite complex of Pay-Khoy (Pay-Khoy Ridge, Yugra Peninsula, Russia) are presented. The mineral is extended areally in Devonian ore-bearing gabbro-dolerites, contact rocks, and quartz veins. This paper considers the mineralogical–geochemical features of molybdenite, its occurrence, the composition of host rocks, and spectroscopic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on the results of studies of the carbonate–fluoride isolations with extremely high Y and REE concentrations from biotite–arfvedsonite granite of the Katugin rare metal deposit. We obtained the chemical data on that minerals that compose these isolations—gagarinite-(Y), tveitite-(Y), fluocerite-(Ce), bastnaesite, and fluornatropyrochlore. A carbonate–fluoride globule with a well-preserved crystallization order was revealed in quartz of the host granite. This finding might be evidence of silicate–fluorine immiscibility suggested before for the Y–REE isolations in the Katugin granites. We assumed that the fluoride melt occurred at the magmatic stage of the formation of biotite–arfvedsonite granite, which resulted in depletion of the host granite with fluorine and the redistribution of the REE and Y in the fluoride salt melt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we analyze the applicability of the land degradation neutrality (LDN) concept of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification to the Russian boreal forests. In this regard, it is necessary to adapt three global LDN indicators (land cover, land productivity, and carbon stock) to the assessment of land degradation processes of boreal forests in Russia and around the world. According to the research results, landscapes with different types of forest restoration dynamics can be viewed as an object of forest land dynamic studies. A set of LDN indicators adapted for boreal forests conditions has also been suggested in the course of our research. In order to assess LDN proxies, we calculated the retrospective and projected net carbon balance in the middle taiga zone of the Noshulskoye forest domain (Komi Republic, Russia) using the CBM CFS model. We explored three scenarios of forest net carbon balance under three different felling regimes. The net carbon balance should not be applied as an independent LDN indicator, because it does not take into account changes in species diversity and primary productivity. It is suggested that industrial felling should imitate natural types of restoration dynamics in order to achieve LDN targets. It can be reached through minimization of forest felling at sites with fireless types of succession, which accumulate maximum stocks of dead phytomass matter and serve as forest refuges supporting biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports on changes in the dates of the beginning, end, and duration of the stable cold and warm seasons in Russia in the second half of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century. For 2001-2015, the duration of the cold period was significantly reduced by 30 days almost throughout the country. In the eastern European part of Russia, Southern Urals, these changes were caused by a later beginning of the winter; on the remaining territory, this happened because of the date shifting for both the beginning and the end of the stable cold season. The duration of the warm period increases everywhere due to the earlier end of the spring, except for south of the European part of Russia, Southern Yakutia, and the northern part of Western Siberia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper reports the preliminary results of computer simulation of the free thermal convection of fluids in a residual thermal field of a consolidated shallow magma chamber related to caldera formation. The deeply penetrating thermoconvective circulation of fluids provided conditions for mobilization and transportation of uranium from the vast area under the caldera to the ore deposition sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Au-Ag mineralization of the Olcha and Teploe epithermal deposits underwent thermal metamorphism due to porphyritic intrusions. The presence of Bi-bearing galena and matildite in the ores (Teploe), Cu-Te-bearing naumannite (Olcha), the occurrence of middle- and high-temperature facies of metasomatic rocks (epidote and actinolite), and temperature formation conditions are related, firstly, to the influence of granitoids on the ore process, which supplied not only Cu and Mo, but also Bi, Te, and, secondly, to the heating of host rocks containing pre-porphyritic epithermal Au-Ag mineralization. The abundance of Cu-Ag sulfides and Cu-acanthite resulted from the enrichment of later mineral phases in Cu and Ag under the substance redistribution with the formation of Ag-acanthite ores. The data considered in the paper are of practical importance for regional forecasting of metallogenic constructions, exploration, and evaluation of the epithermal Au-Ag deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a survey of Russian researchers' synchronous international scientific mobility as an element of the global system of scientific labor market. Synchronous international scientific mobility is a simultaneous holding of scientific positions in institutions located in different countries. The study explores bibliometric data from the Web of Science Core Collection and socio-economic indicators for 56 countries. In order to examine international scientific mobility, we use a method of affiliations. The paper introduces a model of synchronous international scientific mobility. It enables to specify country's involvement in the international division of scientific labor. Synchronous international scientific mobility is a modern form of the international division of labor in science. It encompasses various forms of part-time, temporary and remote employment of scientists. The analysis reveals the distribution of Russian authors in the space of affiliations, and directions of upward/downward international scientific mobility. The bibliometric characteristics of mobile authors are isomorphic to those of receiver country authors. Synchronous international scientific mobility of Russian authors is determined by differences in scientific impacts between receiver and donor countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focusses on a conceptual overview of ways to address a comprehensive analysis of ecosystem services (ES) in a country as large and heterogeneous as Russia. As a first step, a methodology for assessing the services for the federal subjects of Russia was chosen, i.e., its constituent provinces and similar entities, in physical terms. Russia harbors a great diversity of natural conditions and ecosystems which are suppliers of ES, and likewise a variety of the socio-economic conditions that shape the demand for these services and their consumption. The methodological approach described permits several important tasks to be addressed: the evaluation of the degree of satisfaction of people's needs for ES, the identification of ecological donor and acceptor regions, and zoning of the country's territory for ES assessment. The next step is to prepare a prototype of a National Report on ES in Russia, for which we are presenting the planned structure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the first actual information on the geology of Jeannette Island, one of the islands of the De Long archipelago located in the East Siberian Sea. We show that Jeannette Island has a volcano-sedimentary section dominated by volcaniclastic turbidites. The sequence identified on the southwestern coast of the island has a submonoclinal plunge complicated by secondary deformation structures, which indicate a general E-W direction of tectonic transport (in present-day coordinates). The sequence is intensely cut by multiple thin (up to a few meters) gabbro-dolerite dikes that are deformed conformably with the host rocks. The general geological framework of the island bears a close resemblance to that of nearby Henrietta Island located some 70 km to the east, which consists of a volcano-sedimentary cover of Early Paleozoic age. No organic remains have been found in the studied section of Jeannette Island. The preliminary results of isotope geochronological and paleomagnetic studies confirm the Late Precambrian-Early Paleozoic age assigned to the entire rock complex of Jeannette Island. The measured paleomagnetic directions are generally consistent with the directions of Lower Paleozoic rocks of Bennett Island (De Long archipelago) and Kotelny Island (Anzhu archipelago), which confirms our earlier conclusion that the New Siberian Islands shared a common tectonic history and that this structural element of the Arctic shelf appears to have been a terrane during the Early Paleozoic. This new information can help elucidate the possible relations between the marginal-continental, shelf, island and deep-seated structures of the Eastern Arctic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper considers the design, features, and characteristics of the Russian space-ground very long baseline radio interferometer (VLBRI) RadioAstron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae VR-2 is a commercially available live attenuated vaccine strain widely used in Russia, Kazakhstan, and a number of European countries for immunization of pigs against swine erysipelas. The draft genome sequence of E. rhusiopathiae strain VR-2 reported in this paper is 1,704,727 bp in length, has CG content of 36.5%, and contains 1680 genes, including 51 tRNA, 3 rRNA, and 1408 protein-coding genes. Comparative sequence analysis between Fujisawa (serovar 1a), VR-2 and six other serovar N strains of E. rhusiopathiae revealed wide genetic variability of the chromosomal region essential for serovar-specific antigenicity and virulence of E. rhusiopathiae strains. We have performed a BLAST search and found 12 genomic loci potentially specific for the E. rhusiopathiae VR-2 strain. These data could be helpful for developing genetic assays for differentiation of field isolates and this live attenuated vaccine strain, which is especially important for epizootical monitoring of swine erysipelas in countries, where the live vaccine strain E. rhusiopathiae VR-2 is used for pig immunization, as well as for the design of recombinant vaccines against swine erysipelas. The genome of E. rhusiopathiae VR-2 has been submitted in GenBank under accession number RJTK00000000.1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a proposal to send a neutrino beam from the Protvino accelerator complex located in Russia to the detector facility called 'Oscillation Research with Cosmics in the Abyss' (ORCA) in the Mediterranean sea to study neutrino oscillation. This is called the P2O experiment which will have a baseline of 2588 km. In this paper we carry out an sensitivity study to extract the best possible physics sensitivity of the P2O experiment. In particular, we study the effect of antineutrino runs, the role of background as well as the impact of controlling the systematic uncertainties vis-a-vis the statistics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the world's first nuclear power plant in Obninsk, Russia and mentions papers focusing on fast reactor development published within the issue and in subsequent issues of the journal.