Search

In order to study the mechanism of destruction of rocks of various genesis and the formation of fractured reservoirs at great depths, laboratory studies of rock samples in the loading conditions of comprehensive pressure with registration of acoustic emission (AE) and parameters of the process of changing the strength and deformation properties of samples were carried out. The spatial distributions of the hypocenters of AE events for each sample were investigated. By the nature of the distributions, the fracture geometry is described, then visually compared with the position of the formed macrofractures in the samples as a result of the tests. The time trends of the amplitude distribution b, set by the Guttenberg – Richter law, were calculated, which were compared with the loading curves and trends of the calculated AE activity. Based on the analysis of the AE process for three types of rocks – igneous (urtites), metamorphic (apatite-nepheline ores), and sedimentary (limestones) – parameterization of acoustic emission was carried out to determine the features of the deformation process and related dilatancy. As a result, three types of destruction of samples were identified, their geometry and changes in strength and seismic criteria were established.

Pandemics are regularly occurring events, and there are foundational principles of pandemic preparation upon which communities, regions, states, and nations may draw upon for elevated preparedness against an inevitable future infectious disease threat. Many disciplines within the social sciences can provide crucial insight and transdisciplinary thinking for the development of preparedness measures. In 2023, the National Science Foundation funded a conference of circumpolar researchers and Indigenous partners to reflect on COVID-19-related research. In this article, we synthesise our diverse social science perspectives to: (1) identify potential areas of future pandemic-related research in Alaska, and (2) pose new research questions that elevate the needs of Alaska and its people, pursuant of a specific body of pandemic knowledge that takes into account the ecological and sociocultural contexts of the region. In doing so, we highlight important domains of research in the social sciences from transdisciplinary perspectives, including the centering of Indigenous knowledges and needs, the contexts of risk perception and resilience, food and housing security, and more. We highlight the contributions of social sciences to pandemic knowledge and provide a foundation for future pandemic-related research in Alaska.

Milk powder is a commercial product of mass consumption. Its popularity means a variety of quality and production requirements. New methods of skimmed milk powder production are strategically important for the food industry in Russia and worldwide. Russia is currently experiencing a shortage of low-heat milk powder import. The research featured the effect of thermal treatment and pasteurization mode on the protein profile and microbiological parameters of skimmed milk powder. The research objective was to establish the thermal variables for low-heat milk powder. The study involved raw milk, skimmed milk produced under different heat treatment conditions, and skimmed milk powder obtained from this milk. The authors used standard analytical methods to define the protein profile, as well as the microbiological and physicochemical parameters. A set of experiments made it possible to classify the heat treatment of skimmed milk powder produced under various milk pasteurization modes, as well as to establish its biochemical and microbiological parameters. The optimal mode for low-heat milk powder was a combination of thermal treatment (60 ± 2°C for 10 s followed by cooling to 10°C for 10 h) and low-temperature pasteurization (72 ± 2°C for 15 s). The powder obtained met the Technical Regulations of Customs Union TR CU 033/2013 and State Standard 33629-2015. A lower thermal load maintains the microbiological safety of milk powder while preserving its quality. In this study, the optimal thermal treatment and pasteurization mode yielded milk powder of low-heat category, thus preserving the native protein and microbiological safety. As a result, the low-heat milk powder acquired some high-quality functional and consumer properties.

The year 2023 saw a challenging epizootiological and epidemiological situation regarding highly pathogenic avian influenza. The virus affected 150 bird species and dozens of mammal species. More than 650 outbreaks were reported in poultry across 29 countries, resulting in the death or destruction of approximately 19 million specimens. There was a high incidence of the influenza among wild birds (approximately 3,000 outbreaks in 65 countries) and mammals (more than 16,000 cases). The majority of outbreaks in wild birds, poultry and mammals were caused by influenza A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b viruses. Many countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, North and South America experienced the outbreaks throughout the year. For the first time, a polar bear death from A(H5N1) virus was documented. Moreover, molecular markers of virus adaptation to mammals were found in PB2 proteins of 50 % of influenza A(H5N1) viruses that caused the death of animals. During the year 2023, human infections with highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) viruses were reported in Cambodia, Chile, China, and the UK. In addition, human infections with A(H3N8), A(H5N6), A(H9N2) and A(H10N5) viruses were reported in China. In Russia in 2023, outbreaks among wild birds and poultry were registered in 25 regions, as well as an outbreak among fur seals in the Sakhalin Region. The stated outbreaks were caused by highly virulent influenza A(H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b. Hemagglutinin sequences of all Russian viruses analyzed in this study in 2023 were genetically close to the WHO candidate vaccine strains A/Astrakhan/3212/2020 (H5N8), A/chicken/ Ghana/AVL-763_21VIR7050-39/2021 (H5N1) and A/American Wigeon/South Carolina/22-000345-001/2021 (H5N1). All studied A(H5N1) viruses were antigenically similar to the A/Astrakhan/3212/2020 vaccine strain.

The article presents the results of a search for genome-wide associations with phenotypic traits characterizing the growth and development of sheep from a crossbred population obtained from crossing Romanov sheep and F1 hybrid rams (Romanov sheep x Katahdin). The phenotype database included ten body measurements (withers height, sacral height, back height, chest depth, chest width, ischial tuberosity width, body length, oblique body length, chest girth, pastern girth) recorded at the age of 6 days, 3, 6 and 9 months. Genotyping of sheep was carried out using high-density DNA chips containing about 600,000 SNP markers. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were performed using regression analysis in the STATISTICA 10 program. The search for candidate genes localized in the SNP region was performed using Ensembl genome browser 110. There was carried out an analysis of the matches of the identified SNPs with known quantitative trait loci (QTLs) described in the Sheep Quantitative Trait Locus Database. There were found SNPs that were significantly associated with the studied phenotypic traits overlapped with the QTLs, among which the most common categories were “Body weight (slaughter)”, “Muscle weight in carcass”, “Body weight (live)” and “Bone weight in carcass”. There has been established that SNPs significantly associated with exterior traits were localized within or in the immediate vicinity of 64 genes. There were found potential candidates regulating the growth of muscle (FOXO3, PRKAG3, MYOZ2, and ANKRD1) and cartilage tissues FGF12) and involved in metabolic processes, which were critical for the growth of lambs (CLDN, ALB, and MRC1). Along with the known in sheep functional candidates (CAST and SCD5) , there were identified genes that were not previously described in sheep, but regulated growth and development processes in other livestock species including genes RAB28, PRKAG3 and FOXO3. The identified SNPs can be recommended for inclusion in marker-guided selection programs in sheep breeding.

Abstract We study the energy–momentum characteristics of the plane “+”-polarized gravitational wave solution of general relativity in the teleparallel equivalent of general relativity (TEGR) and the symmetric teleparallel equivalent of general relativity (STEGR) using the previously constructed Noether currents. The current components describe energy–momentum locally measured by an observer if the displacement vector $$\xi $$ ξ is equal to the observer’s 4-velocity. To determine the non-dynamical connection in these theories, we use the unified “turning off” gravity principle. For a constructive analysis of the values of Noether currents and superpotentials in TEGR and STEGR, we use the concept of “gauges”. The gauge changing can affect the Noether current values. We study under what conditions the Noether current for the freely falling observer is zero. When they are established, the zero result can be interpreted as a correspondence to the equivalence principle, and it is a novelty for gravitational waves in the TEGR and STEGR. We highlight two important cases with positive and zero energy, which reproduce the results of previous works with a different approach for determining gravitational energy–momentum in the TEGR, and give their interpretation.

In finite-dimensional Euclidean space, we address the problem of a simple pursuit of two evaders by a group of pursuers in a given time scale. It is assumed that the evaders use the same control and do not move out of a convex polyhedral set. The pursuers use counterstrategies based on information on the initial positions and on the prehistory of the control of evaders. The set of admissible controls of each of the participants is a sphere of unit radius with its center at the origin, and the goal sets are the origin. The goal of the group of pursuers is the capture of at least one evader by two pursuers. In terms of the initial positions and parameters of the game, a sufficient condition for capture is obtained. The study is based on the method of resolving functions, which makes it possible to obtain sufficient conditions for solvability of the pursuit problem in some guaranteed time.

In addition to studying bioactive organic compounds in plants, it is increasingly important to determine the biological role of elements in plants growing in environmentally unfavorable areas. One of such regions in Russia is Kuzbass with its intensively developing chemical, metallurgical, and coal mining sectors. In this study, we assessed the plant materials of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum L.), and white clover (Trifolium repens L.) collected from their natural populations in Kuzbass. The qualitative and quantitative composition of heavy metals in the clover samples was determined voltammetrically. The contents of molybdenum and phosphorus were measured by the photocolorimetric method. Total nitrogen and protein were determined by the Kjeldahl method. Nickel, cobalt, and chromium were quantified by spectrophotometry. We analyzed the plant materials of the clover samples for heavy metals and found that the content of lead was the least in red clover and the highest in alsike clover. Copper varied in a larger range and was minimal in red clover compared to that in alsike and white clover. Zinc was found at higher concentrations of in white and red clover compared to that in alsike clover. The levels of cadmium exceeded the maximum permissible concentrations in all the clover samples. We also revealed that the clover samples contained different amounts of various amino acids, including arginine, valine, lysine, glycine, aspartic acid, and alanine. The plant materials of the clover species growing in Kuzbass can be used to improve the fertility of soil and nitrogen regime. However, the clover species should not be used in bulk feed for farm animals because of high concentrations of cadmium.

Numerous adverse factors may violate the human immune system and trigger various diseases. Immune-response modulating agents, or immunomodulators, help the immune system to function properly. Biologically active substances extracted from medicinal plants are especially promising in this respect. The article reviews traditional and novel methods for extracting biologically active immune-response modulating agents from plant raw materials. The review covered articles published in English and Russian in 2019–2023 and indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, and eLIBRARY. Extraction efficiency depends on such factors as solvent, temperature, and particle size, but the method is the most important one. Traditional extraction methods include percolation, maceration, Soxhlet extraction, heat reflux extraction, and decoction. However, they are solvent-consuming and expensive. Modern extraction methods rely on carbon dioxide, microwave treatment, ultrasonic processing, and pressure. They proved quite efficient in extracting biologically active substances from ginseng (Panax gin- seng). Carbon dioxide, or supercritical, extraction was able to isolate polyphenol quercetin from quince fruit (Cydonia oblonga) and other biologically active substances from alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Maceration with methanol was applied to meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) while Soxhlet extraction proved especially effective with smoke tree (Cotinus coggygria), moorland spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata), and greater butterfly-orchid (Platanthera chlorantha). Both traditional and novel extraction methods find their application in medicine and food science, where they yield plant extracts of biologically active immune-response modulating agents.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain to be the leading cause of death in the whole world. The structure of nutrition of the population and diet therapy are extremely important factors for prevention and treatment of CVDs. Results of the scientific research obtained over the last decade give new data on the role of certain micronutrients in the physiological processes and pathogenesis of these groups of diseases. The aim of this research was to study the current role of certain trace elements (magnesium, zinc and copper) in the pathogenesis of diseases, including assessment of the level of their intake in different countries. Furthermore, the review considers the necessity of creating new functional products to use in diet therapy for patients with cardiovascular diseases. It includes publications in Russian and English for the period of 2011 to 2022 from open databases PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, CyberLeninka, eLIBRARY as well as from open Internet sources. The research work carried out during preparation of this review was directed to studying the sphere of CVD prevention, role and relevance of the development of functional foods enriched with micronutrients. The data on the dysfunctions of the human body caused by the deficiency of zinc, copper and magnesium intake are presented. The current physiological daily norms for intake of these trace elements in different countries are given, and the dynamics of changes in the norms of intake over the last twenty years is shown. The review summarizes new data on the correlation between the risk of emergence of certain CVD types and the specific features of assimilation of the above-mentioned trace elements. The regulatory conditions acting on the RF territory for introducing trace elements into food products are analyzed. Based on the obtained results, conclusions were made regarding the relevance of the further development of functional foods that do not require changes in the traditional food behavior model.

Wheat is a vital agricultural crop whose phytopathogens include fungi of the genera Fusarium and Alternaria. Synthetic pesticides, which are used to combat them, have a negative impact on the environment. Therefore, there is a need for developing safe and effective biopesticides. We aimed to create a consortium of extremophilic microorganisms isolated from natural sources to protect wheat from the diseases caused by Alternaria and Fusarium fungi. Ten isolates of extremophilic microorganisms were tested for their antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and their antagonistic activity against phytopathogens. Based on the results, we developed microbial consortia and evaluated their effectiveness in protecting wheat from phytopathogens. Five of the strains under study showed the highest activity, three of which were biocompatible, namely Leclercia sp., Sphingomonas paucimobilis, and Lactobacillus plantarum. Four consortia were created from these microorganisms, of which consortium B (with a 2:1:1 ratio of the strains, respectively) proved the most effective. In particular, it increased the area free from the phytopathogen by 4.2% compared to the average values of its individual microorganisms. Also, the consortium had a phytostimulating effect on wheat seedlings (germination of 73.2–99.6%) and protected the seeds infected with phytopathogens from morphometric changes. The resulting consortium can be used as a biopesticide since it is highly effective in protecting wheat from Alternaria and Fusarium pathogens.

The paper is aimed at assessing the associations between the road networks geography and dynamics of wildfire events in the East Siberian boreal forest. We examined the relationship between the function of roads, their use, and management and the wildfire ignition, propagation, and termination during the catastrophic fire season of 2016 in the Irkutsk Region of Russia. Document analysis and interviews were utilized to identify main forest users and road infrastructure functional types and examine wildfire management practices. We combined community observations and satellite remotely sensed data to assess relationships between the location, extent, and timing of wildfires and different types of roads as fire sources, barriers, and suppression access points. Our study confirms a strong spatial relationship between the wildfire ignition points and roads differentiated by their types with the highest probability of fire ignition near forestry roads and the lowest near subsistence roads. Roads also play an important role in wildfire suppression, working as both physical barriers and access points for firefighters. Our research illustrates the importance of local and Indigenous observations along the roads for monitoring and understanding wildfires, including “zombie fires”. It also has practical implications for fire management collectively developed by authorities and local communities.

Abstract We derive conservation laws in Symmetric Teleparallel Equivalent of General Relativity (STEGR) with direct application of Noether’s theorem. This approach allows us to construct covariant conserved currents, corresponding superpotentials and invariant charges. A necessary component of our constructions is the concept of “turning off” gravity, introduced in the framework of STEGR to define the flat and torsionless connection. By calculating currents, one can obtain local characteristics of gravitational field like energy density. Surface integration of superpotentials gives charges which correspond to global quantities of the system like mass, momentum, etc. To test our results for the obtained currents and superpotentials, we calculate the energy density measured by freely falling observer in the simple solutions (Friedman universe, Schwartzchild black hole) and total mass of the Schwartzchild black hole. We find ambiguities in obtaining the connection, which explicitly affect the values of conserved quantities, and discuss possible solutions to this problem.

The purpose of the research is to develop, based on the concept of a balanced system of indicators, a methodology for assessing investment processes in the constituent regions of the Russian Federation, which makes it possible to track the relationship between the dynamics of the investment attractiveness of each region and the balance of investment policy. The relevance of development a practice-oriented methodology, on the basis of which it is possible to determine the effectiveness of decisions when choosing investment directions, is conditioned by the limited investment resources in the current conditions of the impact of politics on the economy. The scientific novelty consists in the original balanced system of indicators and the balanced evaluation methodology proposed by the authors as a tool for managing. The main research methods are systematic and balanced approaches, the methodology of the balanced system of indicators, the method of multidimensional average (for determining integral indicators) and correlation analysis (to analyse the relationship between investment attractiveness calculated on the basis of the developed system of indicators, and investment activity) are used as private methods. The main result of the research: the creation on the basis of the developed balanced system of indicators of an economic model for assessing the balance of investment policies as a mechanism for coordination the interests of private investors, public administration and the population. On the basis of approbation of the developed economic model (on the example of one of the regions of the Arctic zone — the Republic of Komi), the authors concluded: the imbalance of investment processes, revealed on the basis of the multidirectional dynamics and differentiation of the values of indicators by components of the proposed assessment system, limits the implementation of the investment potential of the Republic of Komi and reinforces the structural imbalances. The proposed model of assessment allows diagnose the investment problems in the regions of the Russian Federation, finding investment growth reserves, identifying investment priorities and improving the sustainability of investment management.

ObjectivesThis study examines the COVID-19 pandemic’s spatiotemporal dynamics in 52 sub-regions in eight Arctic states. This study further investigates the potential impact of early vaccination coverage on subsequent COVID-19 outcomes within these regions, potentially revealing public health insights of global significance.MethodsWe assessed the outcomes of the COVID-19 pandemic in Arctic sub-regions using three key epidemiological variables: confirmed cases, confirmed deaths, and case fatality ratio (CFR), along with vaccination rates to evaluate the effectiveness of the early vaccination campaign on the later dynamics of COVID-19 outcomes in these regions.ResultsFrom February 2020 to February 2023, the Arctic experienced five distinct waves of COVID-19 infections and fatalities. However, most Arctic regions consistently maintained Case Fatality Ratios (CFRs) below their respective national levels throughout these waves. Further, the regression analysis indicated that the impact of initial vaccination coverage on subsequent cumulative mortality rates and Case Fatality Ratio (CFR) was inverse and statistically significant. A common trend was the delayed onset of the pandemic in the Arctic due to its remoteness. A few regions, including Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Northern Canada, Finland, and Norway, experienced isolated spikes in cases at the beginning of the pandemic with minimal or no fatalities. In contrast, Alaska, Northern Sweden, and Russia had generally high death rates, with surges in cases and fatalities.ConclusionAnalyzing COVID-19 data from 52 Arctic subregions shows significant spatial and temporal variations in the pandemic’s severity. Greenland, Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Northern Canada, Finland, and Norway exemplify successful pandemic management models characterized by low cases and deaths. These outcomes can be attributed to successful vaccination campaigns, and proactive public health initiatives along the delayed onset of the pandemic, which reduced the impact of COVID-19, given structural and population vulnerabilities. Thus, the Arctic experience of COVID-19 informs preparedness for future pandemic-like public health emergencies in remote regions and marginalized communities worldwide that share similar contexts.

In recent years, major attention has been devoted to immunotherapy in oncology. Immunotherapy is a promising treatment approach targeted to inhibit tumor growth via stimulating the body’s antitumor immune response. Purpose. The study was aimed to investigate the relationship between melanoma growth and metastasis in mice with the various schemes of Galavit treatment. Materials and methods. We used B16-F10 melanoma in F1-mouse as an experimental model. We divided animals in 3 groups: control (no therapy after tumor transplantation); immediate Galavit therapy at a dose of 5 mg/mouse after tumor transplantation; postponed Galavit therapy a week after tumor transplantation at doses of 5mg/mouse. We evaluated the rate of tumor node growth, 50-day survival rate and metastatic development after the 50th day follow-up period. Results. We revealed 80% survival rate for 50-day observation period in the control group. Interestingly, the 50-day survival rate was 60% for the animals treated with Galavit immediately after tumor inoculation. In other group with postponed Galavit therapy, survival rate was 100 %. A similar pattern was observed for tumor growth rates. Conclusion. We found that therapy with Galavit a week after tumor inoculation significantly increased the 50-day survival rate, suppressed tumor growth and the development of metastases in comparison with the control group and the group with immediate Galavit administration.

Antibiotics have traditionally been used to prevent and treat common diseases in farm animals. However, residual antibiotics in dairy products and meat remain a serious public health problem, which is associated with antibiotic resistance. The research objective was to assess the impact of antibiotic contamination on the quality and safety of dairy products, the microbiological composition of milk, and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The study featured six years of Russian and foreign scientific articles registered in PubMed (National Center for Biotechnology Information, USA), Scopus and ScienceDirect (Elsevier, the Netherlands), Web of Science (Clarivate, USA), and eLibrary.ru. The analysis involved 63 foreign and domestic sources. Residual antibiotics in milk inhibits the vital activity of lactic acid bacteria, which, in its turn, disrupts the technological process of yogurts, cheeses, etc. After such processing as normalization, pasteurization, and homogenization, antibiotics accumulate in fermented dairy products and bind with milk proteins and fats. Antibiotics, in their initial amount, enter yoghurts from dairy raw materials. In cheese production, antibiotics usually pass into the whey, but aminoglycosides, quinolones, and tetracyclines remain in the finished product because they bind with the protein fraction. The problem of biological safety of dairy products is associated with antibiotic resistance developed by human intestinal microbiota. This problem remains understudied, and the number of scientific papers on the matter is limited.

Gelatin is a natural amphiphilic biopolymer that is widely used in food products, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. We studied the effect of spray and freeze drying on the solubility and amphiphilicity of gelatin samples. The control sample was a commercially produced edible gelatin. The experimental samples were spray- and freeze-dried gelatins obtained by enzymatic-acid hydrolysis of cattle bone. Amino acid sequences were determined by matrix-activated laser desorption/ionization. Solubility was assessed visually. Bloom strength of the gelatin gels was measured by a texture analyzer. The ProtScale online service was used to predict the amphiphilic topology of gelatin proteins. Molecular weight distribution of proteins was carried out by electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate. Spray drying reduced protein degradation and retained more α-chains, while freeze drying increased gelatin’s hydrophobicity and decreased its solubility. The predicted topology of protein hydrophobicity based on the amino acid sequences was in line with our results on solubility. The freeze-dried gelatin had a 18% larger amount of low-molecular weight peptides, compared to the control and the spray-dried samples. This was probably caused by the cleavage of peptides during the drying process. Thus, freeze drying can lead to maximum degradation of gelatin components, which may be associated with a longer heat treatment, compared to spray drying. Thus, spray drying is more suitable for gelatin, since this method improves the stability of its outer and inner structure, ensuring high hydrophilic properties.

The quality of food products depends not only on the technological parameters of production process, but also on storage conditions. Smart packaging controls storage conditions and tracks violations. The research objective was to review the use of sensors in food storage. The study featured publically available information on sensor-equipped smart food packaging. The information was obtained from open sources published in 2016–2021. The paper describes biosensors, chemical sensors, and indicators that determine some of the characteristics of food products and provide information to the producer, retailer, and consumer. Indicators proved to be the most promising type of sensors used in smart packaging. This type of sensor indicates the presence and concentration of various analytes through color change. The best indicators are those based on radio frequency (RFID), poison identifiers, compaction/leaks indicators, indicators of freshness/ripeness, etc. All the considered indicators visualize their data by changing color, which makes it possible to assess the quality of food products on the market. Sensor-based smart packaging is a promising direction in food industry because they make it possible to monitor and control product quality. Smart packaging allows consumers to check the freshness of products by themselves.

This article presents microbiological study of canned vegetable snacks replaced with various cereals.Currently both abroad and in our country, regulatory documents and recommendations on ensuring quality and safety of foodsare actively developed. The quality reduction and food spoilage may be related to biochemical (fermentative) processes inherent to products themselves. As another important factor, influencing on this can be microbiological contaminants.Miroorganisms constantly contaminates on surface of technological equipments, vegetables raw material and as a result they end up in canned food. Canned vegetable snacks are ready meals, made from vegetables processedin various ways, that can be usedcold and heated. The main purpose is studying microbiological indicators of canned vegetable snacks. According to the results of the study, some types of microorganisms were found in the samples.

The article offers a view on the potential need for introducing science-technical profess and innovation into agriculture in the 90-s of the last century; there is also a description for the method employed to evaluate the efficiency of agricultural relationships based on the economic evaluation of weather conditions and dynamic assessment of land.

The article is devoted to the methods for maturity assessment of an innovative product or technology for implementation at the enterprises of JSCo “RZD” and assessing the risks of not achieving the readiness level of innovative projects. The main principles, scope and effects of using methods are noted. The method was developed for JSCo “RZD” and based on the TPRL methodology for a complex assessment of the technological project readiness level with the improvement of the procedure, rules and the mathematical model of assessment in accordance with the management processes in the railway industry. Approbation of the proposed assessment methods was carried out on the examples of promising innovative proposals received by the “SingleWindow of Innovations of JSCo “RZD”.The methods can be used for: a) assessing the level of technology development in JSCo “RZD” and comparing the level of technological development of the Russian Railways holding with foreign analogue companies; b) making a management decision on financing a development project, or on purchasing an innovative product and (or) technology and introducing it into the production process of JSCo “RZD”; c) building and verifying a product (technology) development and implementation roadmaps; d) monitoring the implementation of a project for the development and implementation of a product (technology), etc.The application of the methods will improve the efficiency of innovation activities in JSCo “RZD”.

Introduction. Apple juice owes its beneficial properties to various biologically active compounds, e.g. antioxidants. Therefore, food science needs effective methods that would cover all the mechanisms of their effect on human metabolism. However, fruit juice production raises certain safety issues that are associated not only with production risks, but also with some natural components in the raw material. The Allium cepa test seems to be an effective solution to the problem. This plant bioassay has a good correlation tested on mammalian cell cultures. Study objects and methods. Onion roots (A. cepa) were treated with aqueous solutions of juices and sorbic acid to assess their antioxidant profile. The toxic effects on root tissues were described according to biomass growth, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, and proliferative and cytogenetic disorders. Results and discussion. The study revealed the optimal conditions for the A. cepa assay of the antioxidant properties of apple juice. The antioxidant activity was at its highest when the juice was diluted with water 1:9 and the onion roots were treated with sorbic acid. The lipid oxidation of the A. cepa roots decreased by 43%. A comparative analysis of three different juice brands showed that the difference in their antioxidant profiles was ≤ 3%. As for toxic side effects, the chromosome aberrations increased by six times in all samples. Conclusion. The research offers a new in vivo method for determining the antioxidant profile of apple juice. Three juice brands proved to have irreversible cytotoxic and genotoxic effects.

O b j e c t i v e s . Early detection of network intelligence allows to reduce the risks of information security of organizations. The study was carried out to develop software module for detecting the features of network intelligence by machine learning methods.M e t h o d s . Analysis of open datasets of appropriate destination; formation of metrics characteristic of network intelligence; development of a dataset based on certain metrics; study of the effectiveness of machine learning methods for classification task.R e s u l t s . The topology was designed and a test segment was created in the corporate network of RUE "Beltelecom" to create a dataset. A monitoring tool has been developed for detecting and analyzing the events, the results of which were used as the basis for a new dataset.The implementation of the decision tree method in the form of program code allowed to increase the speed of the module by about 2 times (0,147 ms). Practical tests of the developed module have shown the alarm on all types of network scanning using Nmap and Masscan utilities.Co n c l u s i o n. The analysis of the dataset by principal component method showed the presence of a border area between the events of legal traffic and network intelligence traffic, which had a positive effect on the training of the model. The most promising machine learning methods have been studied and tested using various hyperparameters. The best results were shown by the decision tree method with the parameters criterion = gini and splitter = random and speed as 0,333 ms.

Для принятия эффективных управленческих решений в области инвестиционной политики необходимо наличие достоверной объективной информации о результатах ранее вложенных инвестиций и методики комплексной оценки таких результатов. Проведенный анализ современных инвестиционных рейтингов выявил ряд методических проблем, что обуславливает актуальность разработки методики оценки региональной инвестиционной политики на основе представленной авторами оригинальной модели сбалансированной системы показателей как нового и перспективного для России инструмента оценки инвестиционной привлекательности российских регионов. Методологической основой исследования является концепция сбалансированной системы показателей, предложенная Капланом и Нортоном. На основе ключевых инвестиционно значимых факторов определена конфигурация сбалансированной системы показателей, включающая четыре составляющих (развития, природно-ресурсную, политико-экономическую и социальную, производственно-финансовую); определены ключевые показатели оценки, взаимосвязанные с ключевыми инвестиционно значимыми факторами и информационными потребностями акторов инвестиционного процесса (органов государственного управления, частных инвесторов, населения); предложены методические приемы оценки и система измерителей на основе целевых значений показателей, взаимосвязанных с целями региональной инвестиционной политики. Определение степени достижения целей региональной инвестиционной политики осуществлено посредством сопоставления фактических значений показателей, информативно отражающих результаты инвестиционной деятельности, и целевых. Определение приоритетных направлений инвестиционной политики регионов по повышению инвестиционной привлекательности осуществлено на основе выявленных значительных отклонений фактических значений показателей от целевых. Разработанная методика апробирована на примере субъектов Арктической зоны Российской Федерации с использованием официальных данных Федеральной службы государственной статистики. Показано, что приоритетное положительное влияние на инвестиционную привлекательность данных регионов оказывает природно-ресурсная составляющая, отрицательное — составляющая развития. Выявленная дифференциация и разнонаправленность динамики интегральных показателей свидетельствуют о несбалансированности отдельных направлений инвестиционной политики данных регионов (за исключением Республики Саха (Якутия)), что ограничивает реализацию инвестиционного потенциала. Определены основные направления повышения инвестиционной привлекательности данных регионов на основе полученных результатов оценки.

Introduction. The functional basis of protopectin complex can be represented as a network of regions that consist of homogalacturonan sequences and a base of rhamnogalacturonans-I, i.e. rhamnosyl-containing branching sites. Enzymatic isolation of these regions is possible only at a certain minimal native degree of polymerization. The research objective was to develop a system of criteria for assessing the potential applicability of the enzymatic transformation of plant protopectin complex. Study objects and methods. The research featured the polymerization degree of the homogalacturonan regions of the protopectin complex and produced a system of assessment criteria for the enzymatic fragmentation potential of the protopectin complex. The theoretical calculations were based on the values of the mass fractions of rhamnosyl and galacturonide residues in plant cell walls. The result was a new polymerization degree analytical function. Results and discussion. The ratio of the mass fractions of rhamnosyl and galacturonide residues in the water-insoluble plant tissue served as a dimensionless criterion of applicability. The rational condition for the dimensionless criterion of applicability was based on the fundamental constraint for homogalacturonan regions in the protopectin complex. It was expressed by a fundamental inequation. The rational area for determining the numerical values of the applicability criterion was presented as . The functional dependence was reduced to a two-dimensional criteria space as “width of rhamnosyl branches vs. the criterion of applicability”, where each pectin-containing raw material was given a single uniquely defined position. The boundary conditions for the criteria space were determined analytically. Conclusion. The new approach offers an assessment of the enzymatic fragmentation potential of the plant protopectin complex by homoenzyme preparations. The approach is in fact the second stage of the decision tree in the science-based technology for pectin and its products.

Studies of the benthos in nearshore water areas within Protected Areas along the Black Sea are an important ecological task. In this connection, protected habitats can be recognised as intact natural areas, where the entire natural complex is preserved with its typical taxonomic structure and biodiversity features. This study is based on the obtained quantitative data on the biodiversity of benthic assemblages in coastal Protected Areas. It aims to study the structure of polychaete communities as inhabitants of fouling areas at sublittoral (depth 0–3 m) rocky/boulder substrates in four Protected Areas along the Black Sea (Cape Martyan State Nature Reserve, Karadag State Nature Reserve, Opukskiy State Nature Reserve, and Utrish State Nature Reserve). The studied sites differ in their geographic location, orographic shape of the coastal strip, features of underwater substrates, the pattern of spatial coverage and species composition of macroalgae foulings and other environmental parameters. The purpose of this study was also to make a prognostic estimation of the expected species richness (Sexp) and comparative analysis of the structural organisation of polychaete complexes on rocky substrates in the selected coastal Protected Areas. The prognostic modelling of polychaete species richness was based on the known extrapolation algorithms (estimators Chao-2, Jackknife-2, and bootstrap). The results show that the expected level of species richness (Sexp) exceeds the actually detected (Sobs) number of species in each of the four Protected Areas by 20–95%, depending on the estimator and total number of collected samples. In all sublittoral water areas, it was found that with an increase in the number of samples the accumulation curves do not reach a horizontal asymptote. This indicates an underestimated species richness of polychaetes. At the rocky sublittoral zone of the Cape Martyan State Nature Reserve, the fastest increase in Sexp values was revealed with an increase in the number of samples taken. This relationship can be determined by heterogeneity of microhabitats in this area, where the increased number of polychaete species is also formed. Considering the other Protected Areas, the extrapolative curves of species richness have a flatter mode and a smaller expected number of species (Sexp), despite the larger number of samples analysed. According to the results of the clustering and ordination analyses, based on the species composition and abundance of polychaetes, almost all samples taken were grouped into separate clusters corresponding to each of the four studied Protected Areas. The reliability of structural differences between polychaete complexes was statistically confirmed by pairwise comparison of three areas (Utrish, Karadag, and Martyan). The comparison of sites conditionally named Utrish and Opukskiy demonstrated that structural differences between polychaete complexes were statistically insignificant probably due to the affinity of the geomorphologic pattern of hard-bottoms and composition of fouling vegetation in sublittoral zones of both Protected Areas. The specific polychaete complexes have been formed on rocky/boulder substrates within each of the investigated Protected Areas, being different in their taxonomic structure and quantitative characteristics of the certain species. For each polychaete complex, the most significant species were identified, which determine both the intracomplex taxonomic structure (indicating species) and structural differences between the complexes (discriminating species). In the polychaete complex of the rocky sublittoral in the Karadag State Nature Reserve such indicating species were Nereis zonata, Platynereis dumerilii, and Syllis gracilis. In the Cape Martyan State Nature Reserve and Utrish State Nature Reserve, the indicating taxa were Polyophthalmus pictus, Nereis sp., and Pholoe inornata. Finally, in the Opukskiy State Nature Reserve, Notomastus latericeus and Pholoe inornata were recognised as indicating species. Most of these species may also be considered as discriminating species. Parameters of their quantitative development reflect the structural features of polychaete complexes formed under the influence of specific environmental factors in the sublittoral zone of each of the four studied coastal Protected Areas. The obtained results of the structural-faunistic analysis of polychaete complexes can be applied for comparative assessment of the biodiversity features of benthic communities during the comprehensive ecological monitoring of the coastal Protected Areas.

Based on 16 STR-loci, the allele pool and interbreed differentiation of goat breeds of Russian and foreign breeding were investigated in this study. These breeds included Karachai (KRCH-K, n=73, mountain zone; KRCH-Z, n=33, foothill zone), Dagestan Downy (DAGD, n=30), Dagestan Wool (DAGW, n=30), Soviet Wool (SOVW, n=30), Saanen (SAAN, n=34), Murciano-Granadina (MURS, n=37), as well as wild goats, represented by three species of mountain goats (n=52): Siberian Capricorn (Capra sibirica) of Altai (CSIB-S, n=6), Tajikistan (CSIB-T, n=4), Kyrgyzstan (CSIB-K, n=6), and the Himalayas (CSIB-H, n=4); Bezoar goat (Capa aegagrus) of Turkey (CAEG, n=3) and Pakistan (CAEG-S, n=3); West Caucasian tur (Capra caucasica): western Caucasian (Kuban, CCAU-K, n=10), central Caucasian (CCAU-M, n=8), and eastern Caucasian (Dagestan, CCAU-D, n=8). The highest genetic diversity was observed in the North Caucasus breeds, such as Karachai, Dagestan Downy, and Dagestan Wool. The mean numbers of alleles per locus and allelic diversity were 7.385-9.154 and 7.353-7.713, respectively. The genetic proximity of Caucasian breeds was confirmed by cluster analysis, and they formed a common branch with the highest genetic affinity, while the Orenburg and Soviet Wool breeds formed another branch, and the third branch with the least affinity was the dairy breed of foreign selection. The analysis of the phylogenetic tree of domestic and wild species established the formation of three clusters formed by the subspecies of the West Caucasian tur, Siberian ibex, and breeds of domestic goats. At the same time, populations of the Bezoar goats were localized at the root of the last cluster, which confirmed their role as the ancestors of domestic goats.

The second year of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Arctic was dominated by the Delta wave that primarily lasted between July and December 2021 with varied epidemiological outcomes. An analysis of the Arctic’s subnational COVID-19 data revealed a massive increase in cases and deaths across all its jurisdictions but at varying time periods. However, the case fatality ratio (CFR) in most Arctic regions did not rise dramatically and was below national levels (except in Northern Russia). Based on the spatiotemporal patterns of the Delta outbreak, we identified four types of pandemic waves across Arctic regions: Tsunami (Greenland, Iceland, Faroe Islands, Northern Norway, Northern Finland, and Northern Canada), Superstorm (Alaska), Tidal wave (Northern Russia), and Protracted Wave (Northern Sweden). These regionally varied COVID-19 epidemiological dynamics are likely attributable to the inconsistency in implementing public health prevention measures, geographical isolation, and varying vaccination rates. A lesson remote and Indigenous communities can learn from the Arctic is that the three-prong (delay-prepare-respond) approach could be a tool in curtailing the impact of COVID-19 or future pandemics. This article is motivated by previous research that examined the first and second waves of the pandemic in the Arctic. Data are available at https://arctic.uni.edu/arctic-covid-19.

Oceans governance occurs through overlapping, multi-level institutions that often fail to recognize Indigenous sovereignty and self-determination. The International Whaling Commission (IWC) provides pathways for recognizing Indigenous rights. However, observed power asymmetries and cross-level local to international conflicts threatened subsistence rights and generated research and advocacy fatigue for Chukchi, Iñupiat, Saint Lawrence Island Yupik, and Siberian Yupik communities in the USA and Russia. We conduct an institutional analysis of Indigenous bowhead whaling governance based upon lived experiences of Indigenous authors, primary documents from co-management organizations, national agencies, the IWC, and extant literature. We explore how Indigenous co-management organizations increased sovereignty and self-determination for communities whose culture, identities, livelihoods, and origins are intimately connected to marine mammal hunting. Our study also provides lessons for the United Nations Decade for Ocean Science on the challenges of institutional navigation and the role of embodied resurgent practice amongst Indigenous communities within Earth system governance.

The article is devoted to one of the most meaningful and therefore controversial concepts, such as title insurance. The author considers the legal nature of an insurable interest in the title insurance and the legal consequences of its absence.

Background. Netakimab (NTK), an original humanized anti-interleukin-17 monoclonal antibody, showed therapeutic efficacy in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in a phase 2 clinical study. Herein we report the results of 54 weeks of a phase 3 trial. Aim. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of two NTK regimens vs. placebo in moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Methods. PLANETA is the ongoing randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. 213 patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis were randomly assigned to receive NTK 120 mg once every 2 weeks (NTK Q2W), NTK 120 mg once every 4 weeks (NTK Q4W) or placebo. During the first 3 weeks, patients received subcutaneous injections of NTK or placebo (according to the allocation) once a week. Patients in the NTK Q2W group then received NTK at weeks 4, 6, 8, and 10. Subjects in the NTK Q4W group received NTK at weeks 6 and 10 and placebo at weeks 4 and 8. Patients in the placebo group received placebo injections at weeks 4, 6, 8, and 10. Treatment was unblinded at week 12. During the open-label phase, patients in both NTK groups continued to receive NTK Q4W. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients in each group who achieved a 75% or greater reduction from baseline in psoriasis area and severity index (PASI 75) at week 12. Results. A total of 77.7%, 83.3%, and 0% of patients had a PASI 75 response at week 12 in the NTK Q2W, NTK Q4W, and placebo groups, respectively (P 0.0001, Fishers exact test, ITT). The effect was maintained throughout the 1-year treatment. NTK showed a good safety profile and low immunogenicity. Conclusion. Treatment with NTK results in high rates of sustained clinical response in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. The study is ongoing; thus, long-term use efficacy and safety data are forthcoming.

Abstract We examine various methods of constructing conserved quantities in the Teleparallel Equivalent of General Relativity (TEGR). We demonstrate that in the covariant formulation the preferred method are the Noether charges that are true invariant quantities. The Noether charges depend on the vector field $$\xi $$ ξ and we consider two different options where $$\xi $$ ξ is chosen as either a Killing vector or a four-velocity of the observer. We discuss the physical meaning of each choice on the example of the Schwarzschild solution in different frames: static, freely falling Lemaitre frame, and a newly obtained generalised freely falling frame with an arbitrary initial velocity. We also demonstrate how to determine an inertial spin connection for various tetrads used in our calculations, and find a certain ambiguity in the “switching-off” gravity method where different tetrads can share the same inertial spin connection.

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) including acetate, formate, propionate, and butyrate are the end products of dietary fiber and host glycan fermentation by the human gut microbiota (HGM). SCFAs produced in the column are of utmost importance for host physiology and health. Butyrate and propionate improve gut health and play a key role in the neuroendocrine and immune systems. Prediction of HGM metabolic potential is important for understanding the influence of diet and HGM-produced metabolites on human health. We conducted a detailed metabolic reconstruction of pathways for the synthesis of SCFAs and L- and D-lactate, as additional fermentation products, in a reference set of 2,856 bacterial genomes representing strains of >800 known HGM species. The reconstructed butyrate and propionate pathways included four and three pathway variants, respectively, that start from different metabolic precursors. Altogether, we identified 48 metabolic enzymes, including five alternative enzymes in propionate pathways, and propagated their occurrences across all studied genomes. We established genomic signatures for reconstructed pathways and classified genomes according to their simplified binary phenotypes encoding the ability (“1”) or inability (“0”) of a given organism to produce SCFAs. The resulting binary phenotypes combined into a binary phenotype matrix were used to assess the SCFA synthesis potential of HGM samples from several public metagenomic studies. We report baseline and variance for Community Phenotype Indices calculated for SCFAs production capabilities in 16S metagenomic samples of intestinal microbiota from two large national cohorts (American Gut Project, UK twins), the Hadza hunter-gatherers, and the young children cohort of infants with high-risk for type 1 diabetes. We further linked the predicted SCFA metabolic capabilities with available SCFA concentrations both for in vivo fecal samples and in vitro fermentation samples from previous studies. Finally, we analyzed differential representation of individual SCFA pathway genes across several WGS metagenomic datasets. The obtained collection of SCFA pathway genes and phenotypes enables the predictive metabolic phenotype profiling of HGM datasets and enhances the in silico methodology to study cross-feeding interactions in the gut microbiomes.

Introduction. Mare’s milk is a valuable food product with medicinal properties. In combination with cow’s milk, it is used to create new functional foods. Efficient identification of mare’s milk, cow’s milk, and their mixes prevent falsification. Study objects and methods. The protein composition of mare’s and cow’s milk whey and their mixes was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using an Agilent 1200 chromatograph with an Agilent G1315C diode array detector. Separation was performed using a column Machinery Nagel C 18 4.6×250, 5 μm. Results and discussion. The standard HPLC method was optimized to analyse whey proteins in the milk samples. The separation of whey proteins included the following optimal parameters: chromatography time = 60 min, linear gradient of acetonitrile concentration = 0–50%, and sample volume for injection = 20 μl. Alpha-lactoalbumin proved to be the protein of mare’s milk and cow’s milk. The retention time of mare’s α-lactoalbumin was 45.16 min, and that of cow’s milk – 40.09 min. The differences in the retention time of α-lactoalbumin were associated with the presence of 33 amino acid substitutions in the primary structure of both milks. The areas of α-lactoalbumin peaks were used to calculate the amount of cow’s milk added to mare’s milk and the related percentage. Conclusion. A HPLC analysis of whey proteins made it possible to determine up to 50 mL of added cow’s milk in 1 liter of mare’s milk.

In this study, we investigated the temperature dependencies of the total, crystal lattice, and electronic thermal conductivities in films of topological insulators p–Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 and p–Bi2Te3 formed by discrete and thermal evaporation methods. The largest decrease in the lattice thermal conductivity because of the scattering of long-wavelength phonons on the grain interfaces was observed in the films of the solid-solution p–Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 deposited by discrete evaporation on the amorphous substrates of polyimide without thermal treatment. It was shown that in the p–Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 films with low thermal conductivity, the energy dependence of the relaxation time is enhanced, which is specific to the topological insulators. The electronic thermal conductivity was determined by taking into account the effective scattering parameter in the relaxation time approximation versus energy in the Lorentz number calculations. A correlation was established between the thermal conductivity and the peculiarities of the morphology of the interlayer surface (0001) in the studied films. Additionally, the total κ and the lattice κL thermal conductivities decrease, while the number of grains and the roughness of the surface (0001) increase in unannealed films compared to annealed ones. It was demonstrated that increasing the thermoelectric figure of merit ZT in the p–Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 films formed by discrete evaporation on a polyimide substrate is determined by an increase in the effective scattering parameter in topological insulators due to enhancement in the energy dependence of the relaxation time.

Vaccination of the population is one of the most effective countermeasures in responding to the pandemic caused by novel coronavirus infection. Therefore, scientists all over the world have been working to develop effective and safe vaccines. We have developed a synthetic peptide vaccine, EpiVacCorona, against novel SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, which is a suspension for intramuscular administration containing a composition of chemically synthesized peptide immunogens of the S protein of SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus conjugated to a carrier protein and adsorbed on aluminum hydroxide. Phase I–II clinical trials of the vaccine have started that consist of two stages: Stage 1 is an open study of the safety, reactogenicity, and immunological activity of the vaccine with the involvement of 14 volunteers aged 18–30 years; Stage 2 is a single blind, comparative, randomized placebo-controlled study with the involvement of 86 volunteers. The study involved volunteers aged 18–60 years; the vaccine was injected intramuscularly twice, spaced 21 days apart between injections. All local reactions in response to vaccine administration were mild, such as a short-term pain at the injection site. There were no signs of development of local or systemic adverse reactions. The two-dose vaccination scheme induced the production of antibodies, specific to the antigens that make up the vaccine, in 100% of the volunteers. Seroconversion with a neutralizing antibody titer ≥ 1:20 was reported in 100% of the volunteers 21 days following the second immunization dose. No seroconversion was reported in the groups of volunteers vaccinated with a placebo. The peptide-based EpiVacCorona Vaccine has low reactogenicity and is a safe, immunogenic product. Clinical Trials Identifier: NCT04527575.

In finite-dimensional Euclidean space, we analyze the problem of pursuit of a single evader by a group of pursuers, which is described by a system of differential equations with Caputo fractional derivatives of order \(alpha.\) The goal of the group of pursuers is the capture of the evader by at least \(m\) different pursuers (the instants of capture may or may not coincide). As a mathematical basis, we use matrix resolving functions that are generalizations of scalar resolving functions. We obtain sufficient conditions for multiple capture of a single evader in the class of quasi-strategies. We give examples illustrating the results obtained.

Arctic research faces unprecedented disruptions due to COVID-19. This ‘pause’ gives an opportunity to reflect on the current state and the future of Arctic science and move towards a more resilient, thus equitable, coordinated, safe and locally-embedded Arctic research enterprise. Arctic science has been greatly affected by COVID-19. This comment looks forward to how Arctic science could be conducted in the future.

The authors’ hypothesis boils down to the assertion that the modern scientific and technological policy of Russia does not fully consider the critical level of the country’s technological dependence and the lack of stakeholders in technological development in the real sector of the economy. Insufficiently accurate identification of beneficiaries and key actors in achieving the national goal of “accelerating technological development” was noted as methodological problems of this policy. Three cases of 2020 are considered, illustrating the features of promoting domestic high-tech products as part of the implementation of import substitution programs. The recommendations for updating the state policy aimed at overcoming the technological lag are grounded.

Negative physiological and biochemical effects of chronic and subchronic doses of benzoates and sorbates may pose a certain risk to human health. Identifying new biomarkers responsible for the body’s response to these compounds could provide significant details in determining the mechanism of their toxicity. To assess comparatively physiological, cytological, cytogenetic, and biochemical parameters in onion roots cells we used an Allium test. The roots were previously treated with sorbic and benzoic acids. The study recorded the dose-dependent toxic effect of these preservatives on the root mass growth. The EC50 values obtained for benzoic and sorbic acids (10 mg/L and 110 mg/L respectively) were significantly lower than the regulated concentrations prescribed by the standards for their content in certain types of food products. With an increase in concentrations of these acids, the mitotic index of meristematic cells decreased in experimental groups compared to control groups. The data obtained confirmed the necessity of estimating the mitotic index when choosing onion for the Allium test. The necessity resulted from the fact that low proliferative activity could cause false positive results. Sorbic and benzoic acids in concentrations below the corresponding EC50 increased the frequency of chromosomal aberrations in apical meristematic cells of the roots compared to control. Thus, benzoic and sorbic acids had reliable mitodepressive and genotoxic effects on the dividing cells of onion roots. The study explored the dynamics of lipid oxidation biomarker accumulation (malon dialdehyde, MDA) after exposure to benzoic and sorbic acids. The toxic effect of benzoic acid appeared not to be associated with oxidative damage to root cell lipids, whereas sorbic acid in concentrations from 20 to 200 mg/L resulted in a multiple increase in MDA concentration in the test samples compared to control. At the same time, lipid peroxidation showed a higher level of sensitivity compared to other indicators of this test. Further, the data obtained on the toxic influence of sorbic and benzoic acids can be used in express methods to assess food and ecological security of these acids.

This paper presents the results of a study of the mineral transmission oil TAP-15V for the determination of thermal oxidative stability indicators including optical density, viscosity, and volatility. The effect of temperature on oxidative processes is shown. Thus, the study of thermo-oxidative stability using the optical form of non-destructive testing using the photometry method of oxidized gear oils allows us to evaluate the kinetics of changes in optical properties determined by the absorption coefficient of the light flux to determine the relationship between optical properties and viscosity, as well as the rate of oxidation processes and the volatility of oils, which allowed as a parameter of thermo-oxidative stability of oils to offer a complex coefficient of thermo-oxidative destruction, considering the optical properties and the viscosity at their oxidation.

The article describes a model for assessing the level of technological readiness of projects submitted to the competition for funding, built using the TPRL methodology. The model can be used along with other tools for evaluating competitive applications to increase the accuracy and objectivity of the expert evaluation of competitive projects. Based on the results obtained using the proposed model, ranked lists of participating projects can be compiled for the subsequent selection of winning projects. The developed model for assessing the level of technology development hasbeen tested for projects of the federal target program «Research and Development in Priority Directions for the Development of the Russian Scientific and Technological Complex for 2014-2020».

Introduction. Laser correlation spectroscopy is a promising method that allows one to analyze sizes of nanoparticles and to evaluate their shape and dynamics of aggregation in liquids. A limited usage of laser correlation spectroscopy is currently caused by insufficient accuracy of existing instruments and data processing algorithms. The paper described the development of laser correlation spectroscopic hardware complex designed for nanoparticles size determination in liquids. The basic requirements for the elements of the device and the approaches used to calculate the signal-to-noise ratio were discussed. The achieved parameters of the laser correlation spectrometer were presented.Aim. To develop the hardware for nanoparticles size determination in liquids and to optimize the parameters of hardware elements to increase signal-to-noise ratio.Materials and methods. Theory of dynamic light scattering to describe scattering of laser radiation in liquids was applied. Fundamental requirements for the elements of the laser correlation spectrometer were described.Results. An original scheme of the laser correlation spectrometer was developed, the basic requirements for the general scheme elements were described. Equations for calculating signal-to-noise ratio were given.Conclusion. The analysis of the main parameters of the elements of the laser correlation spectroscopic scheme were carried out. It helps one to evaluate the expected signal-to-noise ratio in laser correlation spectrometers.