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The important role of mesopores has been investigated in electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) operating from 24 °C down to − 40 °C by using two in-house synthesized carbons with hierarchical porosity. These carbons were prepared from colloidal nanoparticles of SiO2 as the template and d-glucose as the carbon source. A decrease in the average diameter of the nanoparticles from 12 to 8 nm results in increased surface area and offers a perfect match between ions of binary mixture of imidazolium-based fluorinated ionic liquids and the pores of carbon. Short-range graphene layers produced with 8-nm silica nanoparticles lead to the creation of transport channels which better accommodate ions. We explain these findings per coulombic interactions among the ions and between the pore wall and the ionic species under confinement and electrochemical polarization conditions. Further, it is shown that a microporous carbon (another in-house produced rice-husk carbon SBET = 1800 m2∙g−1) performs better than hierarchical carbons at room temperature; however, thanks to the large fraction of mesopores, the latter exhibit far higher capacitance down to − 40 °C. While the ordering of ions in confinement is more critical at room temperature and dictated by the micropores, low temperature performance of supercapacitors is determined by the mesopores that provide channels for facile ion movement and keep the bulk ionic liquid–like properties. Graphical abstract

Differences in measures of verbal and nonverbal intelligence (Wechsler test, WISC) were analyzed in 98 children of different age groups (younger children of 8–11 years/older children of 12–15 years), along with sensorimotor specifi city on execution of operant movements of a computer mouse (decreases in the amplitude of the EEG μ rhythm in the low-frequency/high-frequency subranges) and the presence of μ-rhythm suppression on observation and auditory perception of analogous movements executed by another person. In the situation of watching movements, the absence of any decrease in the amplitude of the μ rhythm in frontal areas of the cortex (i.e., the absence of “mirror” activation) in children of the older group with a high-frequency μ rhythm was typical for subjects with lower levels of development of nonverbal intelligence. The absence of “mirror” activation in the central areas was seen in children of both age groups with high-frequency μ rhythms and lower levels of nonverbal intelligence, but in the parietal areas in those with higher levels of verbal intelligence. In the situation of auditory perception of movements, less marked mirror activation was seen in children with low-frequency μ rhythms and higher levels of nonverbal intelligence. Thus, the nature of the connection between mirror system reactivity and intelligence levels in schoolchildren depends on age, the frequency characteristics of their μ rhythm, the area of the cortex analyzed, and the experimental situation in which the dynamics of EEG rhythms are recorded.

For the Republic of Kazakhstan, like for any country with a developed mining and processing sector, it is important to develop knowledge to improve methods and technologies for the complex processing of raw materials, including those for the more complete extraction of precious metals. This is needed due to the high loss of precious metals during their processing and separation and the need to improve the process of their concentration. Advances in the field of carbon nanomaterials offer great prospects for improving existing technologies for the extraction of precious metals from waste solutions and pulps. The goal of the work is to conduct comprehensive studies on the influence of the flow rate of solutions, pH, and the presence of ions of other metals on the extraction of gold on a carbon nanostructured material from rice husk (with its further regeneration and reuse). The effect of the pH of the solution on the degree of extraction of gold(III) ions is studied, it is found that the highest recovery for gold ions is observed at pH ~ 2. The selectivity of gold extraction is established in the combined presence of copper, nickel, and silver. The dependence of the electrochemical reduction sorption of gold on the flow rate of solutions is investigated. It is found that the optimal flow rate of solutions is 10 mL/min. The sorption capacity of the sorbent based on carbonized rice husk is calculated. The investigation into the electrochemical sorption/desorption of gold(III) ions showed that the desorption process proceeds better in an acetone/water/NaOH mixture; the degree of desorption is 96%, which demonstrates the possibility of regeneration of the carbon material of the electrode for reuse. The results can be applied to optimize the processes of extraction of precious metals from their solutions.

Controlling the porosity of carbon-based electrodes is key toward performance improvement of charge storage devices, e.g., supercapacitors, which deliver high power via fast charge/discharge of ions at the electrical double layer (EDL). Here, eco-friendly preparation of carbons with adaptable nanopores from polymers obtained via microwave-assisted cross-linking of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP) is reported. The polymeric hydrogels possess porous and foam-like structures, giving excellent control of porosity at the precursor level, which are then subjected to activation at high temperatures of 700–900 °C to prepare carbons with a surface area of 1846 m2 g–1 and uniform distribution of micro-, meso-, and macropores. Then, graphene as an additive to hydrogel precursor improves the surface characteristics and elaborates porous texture, giving composite materials with a surface area of 3107 m2 g–1. These carbons show an interconnected porous structure and bimodal pore size distribution suitable for facile ionic transport. When implemented in symmetric supercapacitor configuration with aqueous 5 mol L–1 NaNO3 electrolyte, a capacitance of 163 F g–1 (per average mass of one electrode) and stable evolution of capacitance, coulombic, and energy efficiency during 10 000 galvanostatic charge/discharge up to 1.6 V at 1.0 A g–1 have been achieved.

The reactivity of EEG power in the individually defined μ frequency ranges was studied in the central, frontal, and parietal EEG leads in children imagining an action, watching the real action, and performing the action him- or herself. The study involved 39 children aged 17–41 months. Analysis of the variance of EEG power in the μ range demonstrated significant desynchronization in the central, frontal, and parietal EEG leads on observation and performance of actions. The Observing a real action situation was accompanied by greater power desynchronization in the μ range in the medial frontal (Fz) and medial parietal (Pz) loci as compared with the Observing a fake action situation. With the aim of identifying the role of the mirror neuron system in speech assimilation processes, we analyzed the characteristics of EEG μ rhythm reactivity in children with different levels of receptive speech development, as defined using the Bayley test. Children with high levels on the receptive speech scale were found to display greater EEG power desynchronization in the μ range when observing a real action in the frontal (F3) and parietal (P3) loci of the left hemisphere as compared with children with intermediate levels on this scale. The results obtained here show that children demonstrating higher levels of activation of the mirror neuron system have higher levels of speech comprehension.

Nanoporous carbon materials are well recognized as the main components of electrodes in capacitive deionization. Herein, the activated carbons were produced based on rice husk which is an abundant waste material in southern regions of Kazakhstan. The resulting carbons were characterized electrochemically by comparing their performance with well-known brands of commercial porous carbons (i.e. Norit DLC Super 30, Kuraray YP 50F). The features of carbon/ carbon electrochemical cells were analyzed using the means of galvanostatic cycling with potential limitation and cyclic voltammetry. Whilst the surface morphology and elemental composition of carbons were observed using scanning electron microscopy combined with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Using the method of low-temperature nitrogen adsorption it has been established that the specific surface of home-made carbon produced based on rice husk is equal to 2290 m2g-1. The salt adsorption analysis has been performed using different concentrations of inlet solutions of sodium chloride. Our study has shown that the manufacturing and application of activated carbons based on rice husk can be highly efficient because the resulting electrode materials exhibit a high electrosorption capacity of 20.02 mg g-1, which exceeds similar values obtained in the case of application of commercial porous carbons.

The effect of ionic liquids (ILs) confinement in the nanoporosity of carbons on their low temperature transitions has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry. The ILs consisted of the [EMIm+] cation and [FSI−], [TFSI−] or [BF4−] anions. The carbons were strictly microporous (Maxsorb) and mesoporous with a small amount of micropores, i.e. a MgO templated carbon TC-1 (Lmeso = 3.4 nm), a silica templated carbon TC-2 (Lmeso = 8.7 nm), and a high surface area carbon black SC2A (Lmeso = 9.6 nm). All ILs encapsulated in the microporous Maxsorb demonstrated “flat” low temperature thermograms typical of an adsorbed state. In the narrow mesopores of TC-1, the interactions between the ions and the pore walls constrained the molecular motions, leading to a glass transition upon heating. The three confined ILs in SC2A displayed a melting peak at lower temperature (ΔTm ∼ -30 °C) than their neat counterpart. The ΔTm shift was comparable for TC-2 soaked with [EMIm+] [FSI−], whereas only a glass transition was given by [EMIm+] [TFSI−] and [EMIm+] [BF4−] confined in this carbon. Overall, the work shows that the liquid state of ILs can be extended to lower temperatures by their confinement in carbons possessing relatively wide mesopores.

This paper reports a study of the kinetics of the initial stages of electroreduction of AuCl 4 - in the case of gold electrosorption using activated carbon. The activated carbon was synthesized from rice husk by the chemical activation. Obtained sorption materials were characterized by Raman Spectroscopy, Transmission electron microscopy, Scanning electron microscopy and SORBTOMETR-M techniques. The kinetics of electrodeposition of gold (III) on platinum from chloride electrolytes by the cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry methods have been studied. Chronoamperometric measurements were performed at the potential of +0.2 V vs. Ag/AgCl with varying gold concentration and temperature. Diffusion coefficient of Au3+ ions determined by the cyclic voltammetry method on the basis of the Randles-Sevcik equation is in good agreement with the value determined by the chronoamperometry using the Cottrell law.

The adsorption behavior of Au3+ ions on metal electrodes has been studied using an electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance combined with the cyclic voltammetry technique. The experiments were carried out for HAuCl4 using 0.1 mol·L-1 HCl (pH~1) as a background electrolyte solution. The kinetics of electroreduction of Au3+ ions on the rice husk based activated carbon and gold electrodes in chloride electrolytes by the cyclic voltammetry and the electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance with a variation of the scan rate in the range of 5‒50 mV·s-1 has been studied. The diffusion coefficient of Au3+ ions for the tested solution on gold and carbon electrodes was determined by the cyclic voltammetry method on the basis of the Randles-Ševčik equation. It is found that electroreduction of gold goes via the discharge of AuCl4- complexes to the formation of metallic gold with a current efficiency of 97‒99%. The scanning electron microscopic images of the gold adsorbed carbon surface was taken to see gold particles and their morphology. In SEM images, it is clearly seen that the surface of carbon has a relief structure and gold has grown in the form of clusters. The smallest gold nanoparticles that could be examined were 100‒250 nm in diameter on the surface of the c arbon electrode.

Considering the cost-effectiveness, safety, and environmental friendliness for energy storage and delivery at high rates, hybrid electrochemical capacitors in aqueous electrolytes containing redox-active species are attractive alternatives to expensive organic electrolyte based electric double-layer capacitors (EDLCs). Here, the influence of electrode mass-balancing on the equilibrium potential of hybrid cells in aqueous sodium nitrate + sodium iodide (5 mol L−1 NaNO3 + 0.5 mol L−1 NaI) has been investigated. The shift of equilibrium potential determines, whether the positive electrode behaves fully battery-like (charge/discharge strictly in the iodide redox potential range) or shows a mixed battery-like and EDL capacitive behavior. With an appropriate mass-balancing of the positive and negative electrodes (mass ratio = 1:2), the equilibrium potential shows a negligible shift during galvanostatic charge/discharge cycles at 0.5 A g−1, which results in full battery-like behavior of the positive electrode. Consequently, the hybrid cell exhibits stable electrochemical performance. By contrast, an equal or higher mass of the positive compared to the negative electrode, leads to a shift of the equilibrium potential resulting in two different charge storage mechanisms at the positive electrode. As a result, the overall performance of the hybrid cell deteriorates. We show by thermogravimetric analysis and Raman spectroscopy that the formation of polyiodides (I3− and I5−) is controlled by the oxidation of iodide (I−) anions to molecular iodine in nanoporous carbon based positive electrode, and that more polyiodides are produced, if the positive electrode operates strictly within the iodide/iodine redox potential range.

Activated carbons (ACs) have been prepared from chemical treatment of walnut shells (WS) precursor at various temperatures (400‒800 °C) by using phosphoric acid (H3PO4) as activating agent. Influence of activation temperature on the porosity development and capacitive properties of resulting carbons was investigated. Thermal post-treatment of carbons previously activated at moderate temperature, e.g. 400 °C allowed further structural and porosity modification. Then, these carbons were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, electrochemical techniques and low temperature nitrogen adsorption exhibiting high BET specific surface area of approximately 2100 m2 g-1 and a total pore volume up to 1.3 cm3 g-1. Carbon material obtained through activation by H3PO4 at 400 °C and post-treated at 800 °C was used to make electrodes which were implemented to realize AC/AC capacitor using 1 mol L-1 Li2SO4. The electrochemical capacitor demonstrated high capacitance of 123 F g-1 per mass of one electrode, reduced cell resistance and stable capacitance for 5000 galvanostatic charge/discharge cycles at 1.0 A g-1.

The goal of this study was to compare the temperamental properties (i.e. Surgency/extraversion, Negative affectivity, Effortful control) of institution-reared (IR) and family-reared (FR) toddlers, aged between 17 and 37 months, living in Simferopol, Crimea. The results demonstrated significantly lower Surgency and higher Negative affectivity scores in the institution-reared toddlers. At the same time, in IR children Surgency scores depended on children’s age, the older the children were, the higher scores they were assigned. No such relation was found for FR toddlers. Further, level of Negative affectivity in IR group depended significantly on amount of time that children spent at the institution; more time resulted in higher Negative affectivity scores. We could not find any differences between IR and FR children in Effortful control. The study results suggest different developmental patterns for Surgency and Negative affectivity in IR and FR children and are discussed in terms of potential impact it may have on further personality development.

The paper surveys the behavior and psychophysiological responses (electroencephalographic power modulations of the alpha and beta rhythms) in 16 boys and 33 girls aged from 1.5 to 3.5 years when they were distributing reward tokens (carton cookies) among the toy characters who previously demonstrated proand antisocial behavior (rendering help and causing harm, respectively). The individual way of distributing the reward was translated into a moral evaluation index (MEI) for each child. When children were distributing the reward tokens, an increase in power, relative to the baseline, was registered for theta rhythm in the prefrontal, frontal and occipital cortex regions, and for beta rhythm in the temporal and occipital regions. Besides, those children who tended to give a bigger reward to the good-acting toy character (i.e., having higher MEI) showed a significantly greater increase in beta rhythm power compared to the children with lower MEI. The reason for that might be that children with higher MEI engage their cognitive resources into making socially significant decisions more effectively and adequately process emotionally significant information.

We report on electrical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs) operating effectively at low temperature (down to −40 °C) while implementing nanoporous carbon electrodes and an ionic liquid (IL) electrolyte. For this purpose, the binary mixture of [EMIm][FSI] and [EMIm][BF4] in 1:1 mol ratio has been selected, since it has been previously shown that it remains liquid down to its vitrification at −97 °C, unlike the parent ILs with melting points of −13 °C and 14 °C, respectively. To enhance the mass transport of the IL ions, especially at a low temperature, where the IL electrolyte exhibits a high viscosity, carbon electrode materials with a substantial share of mesopores serving as passageways for bulky ions were selected. These were a carbon black (SC2A) with a broad range of interparticle mesopores in addition to a reasonable amount of micropores, as well as a home-made templated carbon (MP98B) with hierarchical porous texture made of interconnected micropores and well-defined mesopores. From 20 to −40 °C, the capacitor with MP98B electrodes displayed greater specific capacitance, energy and power as well as better charge propagation than the cell with SC2A, whereas on volumetric basis its performance was inferior due to lower electrode density. Advanced SCMP composite electrodes of intermediate density were formulated by mixing these two carbons in the 1:1 mass ratio and harnessed to realize EDLCs with enhanced both specific and volumetric energy. Owing to the adjusted electrode properties, the performance of SCMP-based EDLCs surpassed literature data obtained with analogous constructions based on IL electrolytes and lightweight mesoporous materials, which suffered from poor volumetric metrics.

The kinetics of a strongly nonequilibrium system of electrons and holes excited in QDs by a ~30 ps laser pulse are studied by a time-resolved photoluminescence method. The excitation of electrons near the 1Pe states and holes near the 1P3/2 states is used. Three bands of the transient photoluminescence spectra were identified, and the rise and decay of each of them was investigated. The complex picture of the time evolution of the bands is explained by the fast processes of cascade intraband relaxation and the Pauli exclusion principle. The durations of formation and decay for each of the photoluminescence bands are determined.

We investigated whether the electroencephalogram (EEG) during visual fixation in institutionalized children shows the altered oscillation properties. EEG was recorded in the "eyes open" situation w ...

Results of the study of micro-mesoporous carbonaceous materials with characteristic turbostratic carbon structure and specific surface area of 1000 - 2000 m 2 /g were shown. These materials were derived by use the method of chemical activation of plant fiber represented by apricot and walnut shells, and also by the rice husk. Derived carbon-containing samples were used to manufacture composite electrode materials, which were subsequently subjected to electrochemical testing in the composition of capacitors with a double electric layer. The possibility of using these electrode materials assembled as a part of composite electrodes of supercapacitors was studied; the maximum specific electric capacity of which amounted to 160 F/g.

Results of applying the method of thermo-oxidative modification of fiber, based on the shell of apricot along with producing on its base microporous activated carbons that have high specific surface area and a significant amount of micropores were presented. The paper contains analysis and interpretation data of changes in the structure and composition of samples, which occurring as a result of thermal degradation of lignocellulosic materials. Morphological features of the surface of produced activated carbons were studied by using SEM microscopy; the pore structure and specific surface area were investigated using the method of low-temperature nitrogen adsorption.

In 2.5-3.5-year-old orphans (n = 41) and children raised in a family (n = 50), we examined specificities of speech perception-related changes in the spectral power density (SPD) of the EEG rhythms. Changes in the SPDs of the θ-, α-, β-, and γ-rhythms in 16 EEG leads where estimated at presentation of a meaningful speech fragment record (short poem) and of a reversed record of the same signal (direct and reversed speech, respectively). The Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development III demonstrated the existence of noticeable delays in the development of speech in orphans. Comparison of background EEGs and EEGs in the course of listening for direct speech showed that the α-rhythm is desynchronized, while the θ-, β-, and, especially, γ-oscillations are synchronized upon perception of the above stimulus. In this case, children raised in a family demonstrated significant increases in the γ-rhythm SPD in 13 leads of both hemispheres; in orphans, this was observed only in 8 loci localized mostly in the left hemisphere. In children of both groups, listening for reversed speech induced mostly desynchronization of all EEG rhythms with the greatest drops in the γ SPD mostly in the frontal and left temporal leads. Comparison of SPDs of the EEG components (rhythms) at listening for direct and reversed speech demonstrated that powers of θ-, β-, and γ-oscillations increased at presentation of a direct (comprehended) speech in children of both groups. In children raised in families, greater SPDs of the γ-rhythm were observed in 13 leads (differences were most significant in the frontal parts of the left hemisphere). In institutionalized children, the number of leads with significant increments of the γ-rhythm power was significantly smaller (only 9). It is supposed that smaller increases in the SPD of of γ-range oscillations in orphans are related to deviations in the processing of a semantic component of speech perception. This can result from insufficient development of cerebral neuronal networks responsible for processing of verbal information.

Serine is the only amino acid that is encoded by two disjoint codon sets so that a tandem substitution of two nucleotides is required to switch between the two sets. Previously published evidence suggests that, for the most evolutionarily conserved serines, the codon set switch occurs by simultaneous substitution of two nucleotides. Here we report a genome-wide reconstruction of the evolution of serine codons in triplets of closely related species from diverse prokaryotes and eukaryotes. The results indicate that the great majority of codon set switches proceed by two consecutive nucleotide substitutions, via a threonine or cysteine intermediate, and are driven by selection. These findings imply a strong pressure of purifying selection in protein evolution, which in the case of serine codon set switches occurs via an initial deleterious substitution quickly followed by a second, compensatory substitution. The result is frequent reversal of amino acid replacements and, at short evolutionary distances, pervasive homoplasy.

This article presents the results of the synthesis of carbon nanomaterials: Nanoscale materials obtained by carbonization of waste agricultural products (apricot kernel, Greek walnut (GW), rice husk). The results of physico-chemical characteristics of the obtained nanomaterials. Physico-chemical parameters of the synthesis of carbonized sorbents based on plant raw material are investigated along with the properties of these sorbents. The data of FTIR, ESR spectroscopy & BET-method, as well as electron microscopy are reported. It is stated that carbonized sorbents possess high specific surface area and porosity. Carboxylic, carbonyl, hydroxyl groups are detected on the surface of the synthesized sorbents. Separate fusicoccine and similar biostimulators effectively; remove LPS-endotoxines from blood plasma selectively. They may be used as carriers to introduce probiotics into intestine thanks to formation of stable colonies on their developed surface. A method of preparation of honeycomb monoliths from carbonized rice husk with developed mesoporous structure via modification of the porous structure by silica leaching has been developed.

A possible mechanism of carrier multiplication (CM) in semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) as an inseparable successive creation of two and three electron-hole (e-h) pairs was considered in the frame of the second and third orders of the perturbation theory. The absorption process begins with the annihilation of the incident photon and the creation of initial virtual e-h pair (c 1 , h) consisting from electron in the excited conduction band c 1 and a hole in the valence band ν. In the following evolution the main role in our model is played by the Coulomb scattering of the electron c 1 interacting with another valence electron ν, which is promoted across the semiconductor band gap into the lowest conduction band c 0 where the electrons are accumulated. In such a way the second e-h pair (c 0 , h) is created, whereas the scattered electron transfers itself in another conduction band c 2 . Such scattering is characterized by two quantum-transition dipole moments →dc 1 c 2 and →d νc0 and is equivalent to the conversion c 1 → (c 2 , c 0 , h) of one electron into the complex of three unbound particles. When the conduction band c 2 coincides with c 0 , the creation of two pairs is finished. If the electron c 2 will be able to repeat the same scenario, the creation of three e-h pairs will take place being described in the third order of the perturbation theory and so one.

Представлены результаты применения метода термоокислительной модификации лигноцеллюлозных материалов растительного происхождения. В качестве исходного прекурсора для получения микропористых углеродных материалов была выбрана и использована скорлупа абрикоса (лат. Prunus armeniaca), сорта «Краснощекий Никитский». Углеродсодержащие образцы материалов, полученные на основе скорлупы абрикоса, характеризуются микропористой структурой и обладают высокой удельной поверхностью. Физико-химический анализ объектов исследования проводился с использованием методов рентгеноструктурного и рентгено-флуоресцентного анализов, а также метода ИК-Фурье спектрометрии. Морфологические особенности поверхности полученных активных углей изучались с помощью микроскопии СЭМ; пористая структура и удельная поверхность исследовалась с применением метода низкотемпературной адсорбции азота и высокотемпературной десорбции азота

The problem aspects of the effective use of natural resources income flow are described. Directions of economic development policy formation on the basis of capitalization of natural resources are defined. Advantages of natural capital investment management through the institute of trust fund are grounded. The features of functioning of trust fund of natural resources are exposed.

The main forms of territorial capital, on the basis of rational use of which state sustainable development is possible, are defined. The conceptual scheme of territorial systems reproduction through the use of inward capacity is grounded.

The Russian Republic has an arctic zone of 2.5 million sq. km, including vast territories to the north of the Arctic Circle, the seas of the Arctic Ocean and many archipelagoes. Russian arctic research dates back to the 18th century and today is more important than ever, covering a broad spectrum of activities in the physical and biological sciences, economics, political science, defense and external affairs and involving the participation of many institutions of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Their primary immediate concerns are 1) the existence of rich natural resources and their importance in the developing market economy; 2) ecological problems; 3) national security; and 4) establishing domestic legislation and international agreements to regulate development in the Arctic. ... The Russian Academy of Sciences has created a special program to study the economic and social problems of all of Russian, and within this program there is a focus on the arctic and northern regions. ... In 1991 a joint interagency program called "the Arctic" was started. This program, involving the participation of 140 different research bodies in 17 departments, covers the priority directions in basic and applied sciences. The Arctic Research Center leads the research on economic and social problems within this "Arctic" program, collaborating with more than 35 institutes in working on the concept of arctic development. I would like to stress that practically all research is done in the framework of academic, regional, republic, federal and international programs. ... It is obvious that Russian cooperation with other countries should not be confined to bilateral government agreements, but should also involve researchers, institutes and universities in each country. Such cooperation will promote scientific links and joint research projects on the problems related to the Arctic and the North. To further such international cooperation, it is useful to have exchanges of information, publications and experts themselves and to engage in concrete joint projects. Among the areas of mutual interest are: 1) monitoring the environment, ecology and meteorology of the Arctic, including dealing with the problem of radioactive waste; 2) studying the dynamics of the ecosystems and forecasting the course of natural processes near islands and the coastal arctic shelf; 3) studying the geology of the Arctic Ocean basin and its environs, as well as the geology of particular arctic regions, doing a comparative study of their mineral resources; 4) developing facilities, hardware and expertise suitable for arctic research; 5) developing technology and expertise for geophysical exploration in an ice-covered environment; 6) undertaking economic development and rational management of natural resources; 7) analyzing the socio-economic implications of arctic exploration; 8) facilitating the socio-economic development of native peoples; and 9) conducting comprehensive medical and ecological studies of human adaptation to arctic conditions. Russian scientists hope that through international cooperation we will strengthen our mutual interests in arctic research and development.