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Introduction. Today, the competition in educational market is increasing. A wide range of online courses with a simultaneous tendency decrease the interest of school­children in higher education. This aggravates the competition of universities for the attraction of talented applicants. One of the factors, allowing the university to get an advantage when a student chooses a place of study is a recognisable brand, which includes a certain set of asso­ciations and characteristics perceived by the students, defined as a brand personality.Aim. The present research aims to identify the factors of the brand personality of Rus­sian universities and to develop a brand personality model as a tool for its evaluation.Methodology and research methods. The research was conducted among students and their parents; 414 people took part at different research stages. A free association test was used to determine a set of characteristics describing the brand personality of Russian universities. Using the results, a list of 22 traits describing the university as a “person” was generated through comparative and content analysis. The development of the brand personality model of Russian universities was carried out on the basis of mathematical and statistical methods.Results. The effectiveness of the developed model for assessing the brand personality of Russian universities, which can be used to attract applicants, has been proved using the meth­ods of mathematical statistics. The methodology for assessing brand individuality was adapted on the example of a pedagogical university. This methodology is a tool for assessing brand personality, which allows comparing, and classifying different universities and getting feedback on the university brand perception by potential applicants. The paper shows the difference of traits characterising Russian and foreign universities. The differences between these groups in the perception of brand personality have been highlighted based on the comparison of stu­dents’ and their parents’ brand perception. It is proved that the concept of brand personality can significantly supplement the official measured parameters of university brand success. It is shown that the developed model can be used for communication with applicants, it allows to see the differences of one university from another, translates the values of the university, forms its vision of the target audience.Scientific novelty. The scientific novelty of the study is in the fact that the difference in the applicants' and parents' perceptions of the characteristics of Russian universities in comparison with foreign universities is confirmed. The brand personality model of Russian universities has 20 characteristics united in 4 factors: serious, kind, young, and bright. The developed model allowed the authors to compare and classify universities.Practical significance. The developed model of the brand personality of Russian univer­sities and the adapted methodology of its assessment can be used by universities to obtain feedback, to compare the characteristics of the brand by its developers and features of its perception by the target audience, as well as to compare themselves with competitors. This, in turn, will make it possible to develop marketing strategy for attracting talented applicants.

Carried out has been whole-genome sequencing of the Vibrio cholerae 81 El Tor Inaba strain DNA, isolated from Temernik River waters in the territory of Rostov-on-Don in July, 2014. Identified is the presence of hybrid CTX prophage, which contains ctxB gene of the classical type ( ctxB1 allele), as well as rstR gene El Tor type, tcpA gene with the mutations in coding and promoter regions ( tcpETCIRS allele), the null-mutation in rtxA gene, and extended deletion inside the pandemicity island VSP-II. All the stated above peculiarities are characteristic of cholera vibrio genovariants, which have an enhanced epidemic potential and have recently replaced the typical strains of this biovar.

Laboratory diagnostics of plague was carried out in compliance with valid operational guidelines and regulations. But its peculiarity consisted in the performance of diagnostic investigations secondary to antimicrobial therapy with application of preparations characterized by the expressed activity towards gram-negative microorganisms, including the agent of plague (ceftriaxone, ciprolet, and amikacin). The studies revealed that under antibiotic treatment during the early phase of infection the most effective method for the laboratory plague diagnostics was PCR. Based on the results of the assay it was possible to establish not only provisional, but also the final diagnosis in a patient. Obtained was genetic characteristics of the strains isolated from the patient and the marmot, withdrawn at the patient’s place, using techniques of molecular-genetic analysis, in particular PCR, multilocus VNTR, and multilocus and genome-wide sequencing. Thereupon the strains were attributed to antique biovar of the main subspecies of plague agent. In addition, close relation to Y. pestis of the main subspecies isolated in the same focus in 2012 and to the strains from Mongolian Altai and Tuvinian mountain focus was determined based on phylogenetic analysis of the isolates.

Rapidly developing sequencing technologies have provided the possibility for identification of a DNA nucleotide sequence of a whole individual human genome just in a couple of weeks. Working capacity of some sequencers is already measured in thousands of milliards of base pairs per an operating cycle. Reviewed have been the basic principles and analytical potential of the modern methods for DNA sequencing which are nominally subdivided into three major types: classical - capillary electrophoresis sequencing and pyrosequencing, novel (Next Generation Sequencing - NGS) - simultaneous sequencing of millions of DNA fragments, each one of which is a cluster containing many thousands or hundreds of thousands of their clones - high-performance pyrosequencing, cyclic ligase and semiconducting sequencing, molecular-cluster-based sequencing using fluorescent-labeled precursors; and cutting-edge methods - (Next-Next Generation Sequencing - NNGS) - the ones that read millions of single DNA fragments without pre-cloning.

Designed is an optimized scheme for SNP analysis of the genome wide sequences of plague agent strains, based on the consecutive algorithm of clusterization of individual intraspesific Y. pestis groups. The scheme comprises 680 singular polymorphic nucleotides (SNPs), the usage of which provides not only for the clustering of closely related strains, but for the determination of phylogenetic bonds between groups of strains and order of their divergence from the common tree-trunk of the plague agent evolution. Based on the consecutive 680-SNP algorithm, carried out is the analysis of genome wide sequences of C-627 Y. pestis strain isolated in Central-Caucasian high-mountain focus (Russia), strain 1454 isolated in Altay mountain focus (Russia), strain 231 (708) – Aksay high mountain focus (Kirgizia), and vaccine EV NIIEG (Research Institute of Epidemiology and Hygiene) strain, applied for immunization in the Russian Federation and in a number of other countries. Identified are the genome variants of the strains: 1. ORI3 (EV NIIEG), 2. MED0 (C-627), 0.ANT3 (231(708)), 0.ANT4 (1454), and their place in the scheme of Y. pestis global variation. Evidenced is the absence of the chromosomal region responsible for pigmentation in the genome wide sequence of the vaccine strain EV NIIEG, which testifies to its safe use for specific plague prophylaxis.

The phenotypic and molecular-genetic analysis of Vibrio cholerae O1 El Tor Inaba strain 301, isolated in 2011 from sea water in recreation zone in Taganrog, demonstrated this isolate to be a genetic variant of El Tor cholera causative agent. Its genome was shown to carry a hybrid prophage, containing gene ctxB of classical type and gene rstR of El Tor type, as well as altered pathogenicity island VPI-1 and pandemicity island VSP-II. This strain produced much more cholera toxin (0,12 mcg/ml) than typical strains of this causative agent.

Described is the first-ever experience in genome analysis use in SAET mobile complex facilities, obtained during the XXVII World-wide Summer Universiade in Kazan, 2013. Carried out was 16S rRNA sequencing of Salmonella enteric strain isolated from an infected. For that matter, employed was “MicroSEQ 500 16S rDNA Bacterial Identification Kits” (Applied Biosystems, USA), which allows for sequencing of DNA fragments (500 bp) of 16S rRNA gene in the bacteria under investigation.

The relevance of the research is caused by the need of achieving sustainability in exploitation of geothermal waters. Temperature drop of geothermal reservoir during the re-injection of used fluid is the most important problem of long-term operation, the forecast of which is possible with the help of computer modelling. The main aim of the research is to forecast the temperature changes during the Khankala field exploitation, consider various development scenarios and propose possible solutions to achieve sustainability in field operation. Objects of the research are the Khankala field; doublet circulation system of the Khankala geothermal station. Methods: computer modelling of temperature changes of the geothermal resource; assessment and analysis of possible variants for periodic exploitation of the field; calculation of the total heat generation and the final temperature of the geothermal reservoir at the time of shutdown for various operating options. Results. Temperature drop in a production well will start after 6–7 years of exploitaion in the planned mode at the Khankala field. Periodic short-term operation and shutdown (10-year cycle, 100 years in total) allows more heat to be generated compared with longer operation (50-year cycle, 100 years in total), while the second variant makes it possible to achieve a higher temperature recovery in the production well. In the case of a significant decrease in temperature after a certain period of the XIII layer exploitation, periodic use of various productive layers (IV–VII, XVI or XXII) is proposed to ensure the sustainability of the geothermal station. Development of the XIII layer is possible after a period of stopping due to the relatively high rate of temperature recovery. Wells should be placed parallel to the two main faults of the Khankala field, with the productive well in the south and the injection well in the northern part, since the natural flow of groundwater can slow down the expansion of the cold front to the productive well. The installation and periodic use of two or more circulation systems can provide the greatest stability in long-term operation. However, the rationality of this method, which requires large additional costs at the initial stage of project implementation, is a complex issue. The choice of operating mode requires consideration of hydrogeological, geothermal, economic and technical aspects with the joint participation of hydrogeologists, geothermal specialists, technologists and economists.

Salmonella enterica is an ubiquitous pathogen throughout the world causing gastroenteritis in humans and animals. Survival of pathogenic bacteria in the external environment may be associated with the ability to overcome the stress caused by starvation. The bacterial response to starvation is well understood in laboratory cultures with a sufficiently high cell density. However, bacterial populations often have a small size when facing this challenge in natural biotopes. The aim of this work was to find out if there are differences in the transcriptomes of S. enterica depending on the factor of cell density during starvation. Here we present transcriptome data of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium str. 14028S grown in carbon rich or carbon deficient medium with high or low cell density. These data will help identify genes involved in adaptation of low-density bacterial populations to starvation conditions.

The article is devoted to the use of unmanned aerial vehicle for geothermal waters exploitation monitoring. Development of a geothermal reservoir usually requires a system of wells, pipelines and pumping equipment and control of such a system is quite complicated. In this regard, use of unmanned aerial vehicle is relevant. Two test unmanned aerial vehicle based infrared surveys have been conducted at the Khankala field (Chechen Republic) with the Khankala geothermal plant operating at different regimes: during the first survey – with, and the second – without reinjection of used geothermal fluid. Unmanned aerial vehicle Geoscan 201 equipped with digital (Sony DSX-RX1) and thermal imaging (Thermoframe-MX-TTX) cameras was used. Besides different images of the geothermal plant obtained by the surveys, 13 thermal anomalies have been identified. Analysis of the shape and temperature facilitated determination of their different sources: fire, heating systems, etc., which was confirmed by a ground reconnaissance. Results of the study demonstrate a high potential of unmanned aerial vehicle based thermal imagery use for environmental and technological monitoring of geothermal fields under operation.