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The total mineral content was studied in medicinal plants from roadside and railside biotopes of the Voronezh region. Pharmacopoeial plant raw materials of 10 species were evaluated: roots of Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg and Arctium lappa L.; herb of Polygonum aviculare L., Artemisia absinthium L., Leonurus quinquelobatus Gilib., and Achillea millefolium L.; leaves of Urtica dioica L. and Plantago major L.; and flowers of Tanacetum vulgare L. and Tilia cordata Mill. Plant raw materials were collected near roads and railways of various types in the periods specified in regulatory documents. The total ash content in plant material was used to determine the minimum allowable distances from various roads and railways for collecting plant material. The minimum allowable distance from heavy-traffic motorways was recommended to be 210 m in the forest zone, 240 m in the forest-steppe zone, and 380 m in the steppe zone. A distance of at least 80 m was recommended for secondary low-speed roads and railways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The available information on the elemental composition of medicinal plant raw materials of the Voronezh region showed that studies are carried out mainly on several elements, which does not allow determining the complete mineral complex of medicinal plants and describing the specifics of the accumulation of individual elements in them.Aim. The purpose of the study is to study the macro- and microelement composition of medicinal plant raw materials of the Voronezh region on the example of a protected area.Materials and methods. Pharmacopoeic types of medicinal vegetal raw materials were used as subjects of investigation: nettle leaves dioecious (Urtica dioica L.), plantain leaves large (Plantago major L.), common pajma flowers (Tanacetum vulgare L.), heart-shaped linden flowers (Tilia cordata Mill.), herb of five-lobed dumplings (Leonurus quinquelobatus Gilib.), grass of bitter wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.), common millennium grass (Achillea millefolium L.), bird mountain grass (Polygonum aviculare L.), roots of the common bladder (Arctium lappa L.), roots of the dandelion drug (Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg). Raw material harvesting was carried out in accordance with pharmacopoeic rules in natural thickets in the Voronezh State Natural Biosphere Reserve named after V. M. Peskov in the Ramonsky district. The microelement composition of the samples was studied mass-spectroscopically on an ELAN DRC device (PerkinElmer Instruments, USA) after acid-microwave decomposition.Results and discussion. In each plant sample, 59 elements were quantified. The content of the total elemental complex in the studied types of LRs varies from 1.91 to 7.68 % in terms of dry raw materials. The studied raw materials accumulate macroelements to the greatest extent (more than 84 %). Essential trace elements accumulate most in dioecious nettle leaves (more than 9 mg/g). Of the essential trace elements, silicon and iron accumulate most of all the studied raw materials. Content of regulated toxic trace elements does not exceed requirements of pharmacopoeia.Conclusion. The results of the study showed a complex macro- and microelement composition of the studied medicinal vegetal raw materials, which can be used in the medical and pharmaceutical practice of creating phytopreparations and biologically active additives for correcting physiological norms of the content of elements in the human body. The most quantitatively rich elemental composition is noted for the grass of five-lobed dumplings, nettle leaves of dioecious and large plantain (more than 50 mg/g).

The article describes how a dugout boat was discovered by a local historians in the vicinity of the village of Sukhoi Donets in the Boguchar district of the Voronezh region in 2015. This boat is the fourth discovered and the southernmost in the Voronezh region, dating back to the pre-industrial epoch. The fate of a chance find has become an example of unprofessional actions of history and archaeology amateurs. A rare monument of the Don river transport was left without proper conservation measures. The article gives the dimensions of the boat, the results of radiocarbon analysis, clarified the tree species and characterizes the historical processes of settlement in the XVI-XVII centuries of the south of the Voronezh region. The boat is the material embodiment of the folk life of the Middle Don basin during the late Middle Age- early modern era.

Introduction. The formation and accumulation of biologically active substances in plants is a complex process associated with a number of environmental factors, including anthropogenic ones. The study of the characteristics of the qualitative composition of essential oil of wormwood grass of bitter different from the ecological point of view of the places of harvesting is relevant.Aim. The aim of this study study of the qualitative composition of essential oil of bitter wormwood grass, harvested in areas of the Voronezh region that are different from an ecological point of view.Materials and methods. In the Voronezh region, 4 points of raw materials procurement were selected, diverse in terms of anthropogenic impact. Isolation of essential oil from the raw materials was carried out according to the method of PS "Wormwood of bitter grass". Component composition of the obtained essential oils was determined using Agilent 7890B GC System (Agilent Technologies, USA) with Agilent 5977A MSD mass selective detector (Agilent Technologies, USA). Data analysis and processing was carried out on the basis of NIST11 databases (from 19.05.2011), MassHunter ver. B.06.00 and NIST MS Search ver. 2.0 software were used.Results and discussion. In a sample of essential oil obtained from reserved raw materials, monoterpene compounds account for more than 82 %, and sesquiterpene compounds – 16.6 %, about 2 % are organic impurities. Intensive biosynthesis of monoterpenes was noted in a sample collected in the area of agricultural fields of the Verkhnekhavsky district, its mass fraction is more than 73 %. In samples of raw materials with anthropogenic load (OJSC "Minudobreniya" and Highway M4), the share of monoterpene compounds is significantly lower (63.7 and 49 %, respectively). The increase in the proportion of sesquiterpene compounds in the last samples of wormwood essential oil may be due to the excessive acidity of the urbanized places of the workpiece. The sesquiterpene compound hamazulene, which stains essential oil blue, is identified in only two samples of gorse grass wormwood harvested along agricultural fields and in M4 tracks, which explains the presence of a blue hue in these oils.Conclusion. The chromato-mass spectrometric analysis of the essential oil of the studied samples of bitter wormwood grass made it possible to identify more than 70 different components in them, while the qualitative composition of the essential oil of the raw materials of different places of the workpiece was significantly different, which may indicate a significant influence of the place of growth of the species and anthropogenic factors on the features of the secondary metabolism of terpene compounds in the plant organism.

Amethodological approach to regional ecological and pharmacognostic quality assessment of medicinal plant raw materials has been developed. Modern physicochemical analytical methods (atomic absorption spectrometry, gas chromatography, spectroradiometry, chromatography-mass spectrometry, spectrophotometry, gravimetry) were used for a comprehensive study of the ecological and pharmacognostic state of medicinal plant raw materials using knotgrass (Polygonum aviculare L.), absinth herb (Artemisia absinthium L.), common yarrow herb (Achillea millefolium L.), motherwort herb (Leonurus quinquelobatus Gilib.), plantain leaves (Plantago major L.), nettle leaves (Urtica dioica L.), linden flowers (Tilia cordata Mill.), tansy flowers (Tanacetum vulgare L.), dandelion roots (Taraxacum officinalis F. H. Wigg), and burdock roots (Arctium lappa L.) as examples. Contamination of them by various ecotoxins (heavy metals and arsenic, organochlorine pesticides, natural radionuclides) and the accumulation of the main groups of biologically active compounds (BACs) (flavonoids, phenolcarboxylic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, essential oils, polysaccharides) were studied. Voronezh Region was chosen as a model region. A correlation between the contents of these ecotoxins in the upper soil layers and the plants was revealed. The impact of the determined ecotoxins on the accumulation of the various groups of BACs in the medicinal plant raw materials was studied. Features and regularities of the accumulation of heavy metals and arsenic, pesticides, radionuclides, and the main groups of BACs in plants of various ecotopes are shown. The results of the theoretical and experimental studies of the quality of plant resources formed the basis of methodological approaches developed to conduct regional ecological and pharmacognostic quality assessment of medicinal plant raw materials that can be scaled for studying plant resources of other territories of the Russian Federation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Voronezh region is one of the most important areas of agriculture and crop production. The purpose of the study was to study the patterns of accumulation of the most dangerous heavy metals in wild medicinal plant raw materials of various ecotopes of the Voronezh region. The accumulation of heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, nickel, copper, zinc, cobalt, chromium) and arsenic was studied, using an example of 10 types of medicinal plant raw materials, which were produced in 51 ecotopes of the Voronezh region. When analyzing the average values of the accumulation coeffi cients of heavy metals and arsenic by all studied types of medicinal plant raw materials, it is possible to build up a series of decreases in the total average accumulation effi ciency of the determined elements for these plants, which is as follows: zinc> copper > cadmium > cobalt > nickel > arsenic > chromium > lead > mercury. When analyzing the values of accumulation coeffi cients, rows of decreasing effi ciency of accumulation of elements in all types of medicinal plant raw materials studied are constructed. A detailed analysis of the characteristics of the accumulation of heavy metals and arsenic from soils in medicinal plant raw materials showed the presence of aclose positive relationship between concentrations in soil and plants for most of the determined elements, which indicates the predominant contamination of plant raw materials through the soil.

The features of extracting macroelements from medicinal plant raw materials (pharmacopoeial types) into infusions and decoctions were studied. The richest mineral compositions were found in infusions of Urtica dioica L. leaves, Leonurus quinquelobatus Gilib. herb, and Plantago major L. leaves and the decoction of Arctium lappa L. roots. The transfer of potassium into the extracts was relatively low (from 35.69% to 67.49%) although its content in all studied infusions and decoctions ranged from 62.72% to 75.99% of the entire elemental composition. High concentrations were noted for calcium (from 4.82 to 23.27% of the elemental complex of infusions and decoctions) and phosphorus (from 2.35% to 14.76%). The degree of calcium extraction varied from 7.11% to 32.30%; phosphorus, from 12.73% to 53.39%; magnesium, from 22.11% to 33.00%. Sodium amounted to 0.23 – 1.12% of the elemental profile of the aqueous extracts while the degree of sodium extraction was the highest among all determined macroelements (77.69 – 99.39%). The dependences of the macroelement content in infusions and decoctions on their content in the medicinal plants showed that their concentrations in the water extracts increased as the concentration of all determined elements in the raw material increased although the efficiency of their transfer into the aqueous extracts decreased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of macro- and trace elements by medicinal plant raw materials (MRMs) from soils in the natural biocenosis of Voronezh Region is studied. Potassium and phosphorus belong to a group of macroelements highly accumulated in all studied MRMs. Arelatively high level of calcium accumulation was noted in leaves of common plantain (Plantago major) and nettle (Urtica dioica); of magnesium, in leaves of U. dioica. Essential elements including zinc and copper were strongly accumulated by all types of MRMs. Molybdenum was strongly accumulated in linden flowers, yarrow and bitter wormwood herbs, plantain leaves, and especially strongly in nettle leaves. Cobalt was strongly accumulated in roots of the studied plant species. Nettle leaves strongly accumulated mercury. High strontium accumulations were noted in burdock roots, nettle and plantain leaves, and yarrow herb. Knotweed (Polygonum aviculare) herb strongly accumulated tellurium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Socio-economic security is a highly critical issue that is addressed by every country in the world. In order to counteract challenges and threats faced by Russia, the Economic Security Strategy of the Russian Federation has been formulated. The development of human capital was proclaimed as one of the key areas to be targeted by the state policy. In this regard, the primary task is to identify destabilizing factors of socio-economic security in the development of human capital, which determined the relevance of the article. The article analyzes the research approaches to defining the key features of socio-economic security and human capital. It highlights the main principles of the theory of human capital on the basis of which a systematic approach to the study of human capital is justified. The proposed approach aims to identify negative factors that weaken regional security. By adopting this approach to the data in hand, the socio-economic security of the Voronezh Region, the old-developed region of the Central Black Earth Region in Russia, has been assessed. The data used for the analysis were collected from the Federal State Statistics Service. The mapping of the results of socio-economic differentiation was carried out by methods of GIS-technology, in particular Quantum GIS 12. For the processing of the initial information, the of multivariate statistical and econometric analysis SPSS Statistic 20.0 was used. As a result, factors that will have a negative impact on the development of human capital in the foreseeable future have been identified, namely the deterioration of the demographic situation, in particular the aging of the population and its natural decline; the decline in the quality of education, imbalances in the labor market, declining living standards, and deteriorating public health. It is concluded that to overcome the critical situation in the sphere of human capital and to ensure socio-economic security, it is necessary to carry out preventive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. The bitter wormwood herbs (Artemisia absinthium L.) is used to reflexively enhance gastric juice secretion, increase appetite, and increase bile secretion. These pharmacological effects are due to the rich chemical composition of the feedstock, of which essential oil is an important component. The study of the peculiarities of accumulation of this group of compounds is relevant.Aim. The aim of this study the features of the accumulation of essential oil in bitter wormwood herbs, collected in agro- and urbo-cenoses of the Voronezh region.Materials and methods. In the Voronezh region, 13 raw material harvesting points were chosen to study the content of essential oil in it, which was carried out according to the methodology of the FS "Bitter wormwood herbs." Correlation coefficients were analyzed to examine in detail the effect of basic pollutants (heavy metals and arsenic) on the accumulation of essential oil.Results and discussion. All analyzed vegetable raw materials are considered benign in terms of essential oil content. The maximum amount of essential oil (2.04 %) is noted in a sample of bitter wormwood herbs growing on the territory of the Khopersky Reserve. The minimum amount of essential oil was noted in a sample collected on the street of the city of Voronezh (0.63 %). In general, for samples of control territories and agrobiocenoses, a higher content of essential oil can be noted than in samples of urbobiocenoses. Thus, the content of essential oil in the herb of bitter wormwood collected in territories deprived of human economic activity amounted to 1.85–2.04 %, near agricultural land – 1.61–1.85 %. In a number of urbanized territories, samples of bitter wormwood herbs with a much lower content of essential oil were harvested – less than 1 % – on the streets of the cities of Voronezh, Ostrogozhsk, Borisoglebsk, along the M4 highway in Ramonsky and Pavlovsky districts, along the railway. The calculated values of correlation coefficients showed a strong negative effect of lead, cadmium, nickel, cobalt, zinc on the accumulation of essential oil bitter wormwood herb.Conclusion. The lowest content of essential oil was found in samples harvested on the streets of large cities of the region, along road routes and the railway. This makes it possible to conclude that the anthropogenic load has a negative effect on the accumulation of this group of compounds in bitter wormwood herbs.

The research was aimed at studying the accumulation of natural and artificial radionuclides in medicinal plant raw materials (MPMs) and determining approaches to standardization of natural radionuclides in them using plants growing in Voronezh Region as examples. A total of 36 collection sites of soil and MPM located throughout Voronezh Region and diverse in terms of anthropogenic impact were selected. Pharmacopoeial species of MPM were used as research subjects. All MPMs met the requirements of GPM.1.5.3.0001.15 for specific activity of cesium-137 and strontium-90 and for the total indicator of compliance with radiation safety requirements and its determination accuracy. The obtained specific activities of natural radionuclides in most cases exceeded the numerical values for radionuclides of anthropogenic origin. Asupplement to general pharmacopoeia monograph GPM.1.5.3.0001.15 establishing the additional numerical indicator "Effective specific activity of natural radionuclides not greater than 165 Bq/kg" is proposed to monitor contamination of MPM with natural radionuclides. These recommendations are based on an analysis of greater than 360 MPM samples from territories subject to various anthropogenic impacts. However, they are preliminary in nature and require additional research on MPMs from other regions of the Russian Federation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Small-leaved linden flowers are mainly used for aquatic extracts, and their pharmacological benefit is based on water-soluble polysaccharides.Aim. The aim of this study was to investigate the rate of accumulating all reducing sugars in small-leaved linden flowers, collected in agro- and urbo-cenoses of the Voronezh region.Materials and methods. 51 sites were selected for collecting flowers from the small-leaved linden, which is a widespread deciduous tree species in Russia. In order to determine the total level of reducing sugars in the samples, we measured glucose levels using the method described in Pharmacopeia article "Linden Flower". Correlation coefficients were analyzed to examine in detail the effect of the major pollutants (heavy metals and arsenic) on the accumulation of reducing sugars in small-leaved linden flowers.Results and discussion. All analyzed samples of medicinal plant raw materials were benign in terms of their reducing sugar levels. Samples collected in control (protected) areas contained reducing sugar levels 13.31 to 16.89 %, which is 6–8 times more than the lower numerical value established by the Pharmacopoeia article. In the agrocenoses of the region, the concentration of reducing sugars varied from 6.12 to 16.68 %, which is 3–8 times more than the value given in the Pharmacopoeia article. In the urbocenoses of the region, a lower level of reducing sugars was found compared to samples from protected areas (2.35–13.49 %). Correlation coefficients showed a noticeable negative impact of cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, zinc, as well as a moderate negative effect of lead and mercury on the accumulation of reducing sugars in the small-leaved linden flowers.Conclusion. The lowest concentrations of reducing sugars were detected in samples harvested along the streets of large cities in the region, and along highways, roads and railways. This suggests that anthropogenic factors might negatively impact the accumulation of reducing sugars in small-leaved linden flowers in these areas. At the same time, it is possible that saccharide complexes might have reacted with heavy metals instead of the complexing agent when levels of reducing sugars in the samples were quantitatively determined. This would have the effect of underrepresenting reducing sugar levels in the raw materials.

The aim of the study was a comparative assessment of radiation doses to the population of the Voronezh and Irkutsk regions according to the unified state system for monitoring individual doses and radiation-hygienic certification. The objects of research were the territories of the Voronezh and Irkutsk regions, significantly differing in climatic conditions and resources, industrial potential, but comparable in terms of population. The subject of the study was the average territorial values of radiation doses to personnel due to the normal operation of anthropogenic sources, radiation doses to the population due to natural sources and anthropogenic background, radiation doses to patients due to the use of ionizing radiation in medical diagnostics. The method of comparative analysis of effective collective and individual average annual radiation doses was used. In the Voronezh and Irkutsk regions, the priority dose-generating factor is natural radiation, which contribution to the annual effective collective dose is 83.33 and 89.18%, respectively. At the same time, the average individual annual effective doses to the population due to natural sources of ionizing radiation in the Irkutsk region in relation to the Voronezh region are significantly higher for radon – 2,81 times, due to the content of radionuclides in drinking water – 1,93 times and external terrigenous radiation – 1,46 times, which leads to a two-fold difference in the total individual effective doses associated with natural sources of ionizing radiation. These differences are explained by the features of the physical and geographical location of territories. There are significant differences in the values of the average effective annual doses of the population due to global fallouts and past radiation accidents, because a part of the territory of the Voronezh region was exposed to radioactive contamination as a result of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant (in the Voronezh region – 0.062 mSv / year, in the Irkutsk -0.005 mSv / year). Radiography (63.15 and 67.27%) makes the leading contribution to the value of medical radiation doses, which occupy the second place in the structures of the effective collective annual doses to the population (in the Voronezh region make up 16.46%, in the Irkutsk region – 10.74%) and fluorography (31.29 and 27.41% in the regions, respectively). It was established that the radiation situation in the Voronezh and Irkutsk regions remains stable and safe.

Aim. The aim is to assess the sustainability of the social and economic development of the municipalities in the Voronezh Region.Material and Methods. A systematic approach to an integrated, structured and dynamic study of the level of social and economic sustainability of municipalities in the region. This approach uses the classification method, which defines and restricts existing conceptual approaches to the interpretation of conflict as an economic category, and the comparative analysis method, which compares the selected approaches with each other. The statistical database covers the period from 2014 to 2018. The integral index of social and economic sustainability of the municipalities in the region has been calculated.Discussion. The results of calculations of the integral sustainability index allowed us to identify 5 groups of municipalities, characterized by a certain degree of social and economic sustainability: a group with a high level of socio‐economic sustainability, a group with an above‐average level of socio‐economic sustainability, a group with an average level of socio‐economic sustainability, a group with a low level of socio‐economic sustainability and a group with a crisis level of socio‐economic sustainability. A crisis situation in a number of municipalities necessitates the development of certain anti‐crisis recommendations that contribute to the effective use of existing potential and directly develop the internal resources of the municipalities.Conclusion. The work resolves an actual practice‐oriented issue in the field of socio‐economic and geographical research ‐ the calculation of the sustainability of the social and economic development of municipalities in the region. Assessment of the sustainability indicators of the regional municipalities made it possible to comprehensively and adequately reveal the "strengths and weaknesses" of the regional social and economic system of the Voronezh Region and to identify the principal strategic tasks in moving towards a single strategic aim – improving the population level and life quality.

Aim. The development of an innovation profile model as a means of assessing the innovative sustainability of the region (Voronezh region, Russia).Material and Methods. The study employed system, comparative and economicstatistical methods. Calculations were conducted using MS Excel and Statistica soft‐ ware packages. The database was created in retrospect for the period 2010‐2017. Assessment of innovation sustainability based on the resource approach was undertaken using four groups of resource indicators that characterize the state of technological, human resources, financial and scientific sectors. The effective component was calculated.Results. The results of calculations of the generalizing indicator indicate a sufficiently developed regional innovation system, which has not only the potential for implementing effective innovative sustainable activities but has already achieved effective results. However, there are crisis indicator values such as the share of internal expenditures on researches and development, the index of physical volume of investments in fixed capital and the share of researchers with a degree. In turn, the effective component’s criticality requires the development of certain recommendations that contribute to the effective use of existing potential.Conclusion. A solution to an actual practice‐oriented issue in the field of socioeconomic and geographical research is presented: a developed innovation profile model which makes it possible to determine the degree of innovation sustainability of the region quickly and reliably. Assessment of the indicators of innovative potential of this region made it possible to identify the ‘strengths and weaknesses’ of the innovation system of the Voronezh region comprehensively and adequately and to determine the principal future strategic objectives.

Aim. The purpose of the study was to assess the socio‐economic security of the municipalities of the Voronezh Region on the basis of a developed methodology.Material and Methods. The information base of the study was made up of official data of the Federal State Statistics Service. To measure the socio‐economic security of the region, the following methods were used: comparison of macroeconomic indicators with threshold values; assessment of the dynamics of changes in the rates of socio‐economic growth of the region; cartographic tools.Results. The results of the calculations of the integral index of socio‐economic security made it possible to identify 5 groups of municipalities that have a certain degree of socio‐economic security: high; medium, below average, low and crisis. It is the crisis situation of a number of municipalities that indicates the need to develop certain anti‐crisis recommendations that contribute to the effective use of existing potential and directly develop the internal resources of municipalities.Conclusion. The assessment conducted of the indicators of socio‐economic security of the municipalities of the region will make it possible to determine the "strengths and weaknesses" of the regional socio‐economic system of the Voronezh region and to develop strategic directions for the implementation of a single strategic goal: improving the level and quality of life of the population. The authors’ approach can be used as a basis for further monitoring of socio‐economic security, which would involve expanding the range of analyzed indicators, as well as conducting regular calculations and comparisons.

For the first time for the European part of Russia, a study of the population biology of the endemic species of chalk and limestone Pimpinella tragium Vill. in natural habitats of the Voronezh region was carried out. The species is an obligate calcephyte, prefers open chalk substrates. Biomorphological analysis made it possible to classify Pimpinella tragium as a herbaceous polycarpic taproot plant. Due to the presence of a powerful taproot, the species promotes the fixation of weak chalky substrates. In the future, open groups of calciphilic vegetation with the participation of Pimpinella may appear on the Cretaceous substrate. Six-year monitoring of the main stages of development of Pimpinella tragium made it possible to identify 4 ontogenetic periods and 9 age states: latent (seeds), pregenerative (seedlings, juvenile, immature and virginal individuals), generative (young, middle-aged, old generative individuals), postgenerative (senile individuals). The paper presents the morphometric characteristics of individuals of different age groups. The ontogenetic structure of Pimpinella tragium cenopopulations was studied, the type of the basic spectrum was revealed. Most cenopopulations have a left-sided spectrum; the absolute maximum is more often represented by young individuals, the local maximum – by middle-aged individuals. For some populations, a centered ontogenetic spectrum was noted with maxima on middle-aged generative individuals. The formation of the ontogenetic structure of Pimpinella tragium cenopopulations is significantly influenced by the physical characteristics of the Cretaceous substrate, and hence the physiological characteristics of this species. The ability of the species to reproduce only by seed is of great importance, since in different years the germination and survival rate of seedlings can differ sharply. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Radionuclides are recognized as one of the most dangerous pollutants of a surrounding medium in forces of their fissile migration on biological chains and influences on metabolism of alive organisms now.Aim. Studying of accumulation of radionuclides and polysaccharides in roots of a burdock big, collected in the territory of the Voronezh region in the areas which are influenced various anthropogenic influence and also an interrelation research between accumulation of these groups of substances.Materials and methods. The raw material was collected in the territory of Voronezh Region in the areas with different anthropogenic impact. Based on cartography the 36 points of the medicinal vegetable raw material samples collection were chosen in Voronezh Region. The subject matter was the roots of the Greater Burdocks as a wide spread perennial plant. The main artificial (Sr-90 and Cs-137) and natural (K-40, Th-232 and Ra-226) radionuclides as well as a concentration of the total amount of polysaccharides in terms of fructose and the total amount of gravimetrically determined polysaccharides were defined in the samples.Results and discussion. All the samples met the requirements of the pharmacoeial article of the artificial radionuclides content. A content of the total amount of polysaccharides in terms of fructose determined by spectrophotometry significantly varied in the root samples depends on their collection point. Thus, in protected reserved areas a content of the total amount of polysaccharides in term of fructose was 30-45 % high than in the samples from ecologically unfavourable areas. However all the samples also met the requirements of the pharmacoeial article of the total amount of polysaccharides in terms of fructose. A content of the polycaccharides close to the lower norm was found out in a sample collected in Povorino, while a content of the polycaccharides in terms of fructose significantly exceeded the normative standard in the rest of the samples. A content of gravimetrically determined water-soluble polysaccharides in the roots varied from 21,17 to 37,82 %. No noticeable anthropogenic effect on the accumulation of these substances was found. The samples from ecologically unfavourable and protected areas were little different from each other in a quantitative content of water-soluble polysaccharides.Conclusion. The correlation coefficients between the content of radionuclides and major groups of bioactive substances in the roots indicated that the radionuclides accumulated in the greater budock roots in a minor amounts and they did not affect the content of bioactive substances in plant raw material.

The aim of this study was to investigate the heavy-metal and arsenic contamination of lime tree flowers collected from urban and agricultural ecosystems in the Voronezh Region exposed to various human impacts. The accumulation of heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, nickel, copper, zinc, cobalt, chromium) and arsenic was studied in 51 samples of small-leaved lime tree flowers using atomic absorption spectrometry with MGA-915MD spectrometer and following pharmacopoeial techniques. All the samples met the regulatoryrequirements for the content of standardized heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury) and arsenic. Comparing the data on content of the heavy metals in the region’s topsoilwith their content in lime tree flowers, it can be argued that there are significant physiological barriers to the accumulation of the ecotoxicants in the plants’ reproductive organs,which is particularly noticeable for elements such as lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, cobalt and chromium. Lime tree flowers proved to be capable of selectively concentratingsome heavy metals involved in the active cores of enzymatic systems (e. g. copper and zinc) if their environmental content was below a certain vital level, and barring their inflow to flowers through physiological mechanisms if the content of the elements in the soil was high. One can therefore suppose that when small-leaved lime trees are exposed to human pressure, a peculiar edaphic type is formed as a result of selection underman-made environmental pollution and the development of adaptations to these conditions. The results of the studies showed that the accumulation of toxic elements from soilsin flowers of small-leaved lime trees is minor, which is an important consideration when planning the harvesting of medicinal plant material and assessing its quality.

The paper considers the microtoponymy of the village of Abramovka, Talovsky district, Voronezh Region. The analysis of rural microtoponymic naming peculiarities is based on upstream research of Russian linguists, including representatives of the Voronezh Onomastic School (headed by Professor G. F. Kovalev). The origins of names are identified with reference to historical and geographical data. The fieldwork character of the research gives extra significance to the testimonies of the local population in clarifying names’ motivations. The time coverage for the village microtoponymy development takes from the late 1930s and lasts until present day. The study provides a catalogue of onyms grouped depending on the named objects and a dictionary of village microtoponymy with each name given a lexical-semantic description, and obsolete and gradually obliterated microtoponyms noted. The author has found that the popularity of a particular microtoponym relates directly to the social relevance of the microobject it designates. It was concluded that the microtoponymy of the village of Abramovka in the Talovsky district of the Voronezh Region reflects both the microtoponymic features typical of the Russian onomastic system and local semantic, structural, and motivational specificities.

Pollution of top soil layers and medicinal plant raw material in Voronezh Region by artificial and natural radionuclides was analyzed using common dandelion roots as an example. Common dandelion roots accumulated effectively strontium-90 and radium-226. The correlation coefficients between the radionuclide contents and water-extractable compounds, in particular, polysaccharides, showed that the accumulated radionuclides probably did not have a noticeable impact on the content of biologically active compounds in the roots because of their insignificant amounts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper presents new data on 28-30-year-olds testing of triploid poplar hybrids (2n = 3x = 57), obtained using in hybridization artificially obtained unreduced diploid (2n) pollen (induced by high temperature or colchicines treatment) in Voronezh region. The growth dynamics, preservation and timber productivity of 26 triploid and diploid (2n = 2x = 38) clones of Populus alba L., P. balsamifera L., P. nigra L. and intersectional hybrids (Populus deltoides Marsh. × P. balsamifera L.) were studied. It was revealed that a preservation of triploid hybrids of white poplar at 28-year-old age was higher than diploid hybrids. The greatest loss of plants of white poplar was observed during the first three years after planting of cutting seedlings in the nursery. In comparison, major loss of plants of P. balsamifera L., P. nigra L. and intersectional hybrids (P. deltoides Marsh. × P. balsamifera L.) was observed after the 2010 drought. Especially high plant mortality was observed in P. balsamifera clone (preservation of 40 %) and to a lesser extent in poplar «Robusta-236» (preservation of 60 %). There were no statistically significant differences in growth between groups of diploid and triploid white poplar clones. Only part of the artificially produced autotriploid hybrids (40 %) were characterized by fast growth and productivity. It is suggested that the heterosis effect in triploids associated with participation of high heterozygous 2n gametes in hybridization. Such were formed on the basis of a synapsis of chromosomes and loss of the I-st meiotic division. Six best triploid and diploid poplar hybrids have been selected as promising for Voronezh region.

Fauna of helminthes of wild carnivorous in Voronezh region is presented by 33 species, including 6 species - Trematoda, 9 - Cestoda, 17 - Nematoda. The highest rates of specific variety of helminths are noted at fox - 24 species. Two species of cestodes - Echinococcus multilocularis and Taenia krabbei and five species of nematodes - Dirofilaria immitis, D. repens, Ascaris columnaris, Stron- gyloides martis and Eucoleus paranalis are registered in Voronezh region for the first time

The article is about naturalization features of invasive fraction of flora in Voronezh and some other regions of the European part of Russia. The summary table represents all invasive and potentially invasive plants of the European part of Russia with their level of naturalization (or invasive status). Invasive fraction of flora in the Voronezh region numbers 120 plants. All of them are on different stages of naturalization process in an anthropogenic areal. Invasive plants represent by agriophyts – 41 (34,1 %) species, epecophyts – 75 (62,5 %) species and colonophyts-epecophyts – 4 (3,4 %) species. Totally there are 201 species of invasive and potentially invasive plants spread within European part of Russia (Northern-West Russia, Ivanovo, Kaluga, Tver, and Voronezh regions). They formed the “black list” of European Russia. 10 species are common to all invasive fractions. These are Acer negundo, Amelanchier x spicata, Aster x salignus, Echinocystis lobata, Elodea canadensis, Heracleum sosnowskyi, Impatiens glandulifera, Impatiens parviflora, Juncus tenuis and Lupinus polyphyllus. The analysis of the general list of invasive fractions of European Russia shows that 120 species of the list are invasive or potentially invasive in the Voronezh region (100 and 20 species in accordance), adventives naturalized species – 31, native species – 19, archaeophyts – 2, apophyts – 4. 26 species from the list were not found in the Voronezh region. Apparently, the region is a transit area for many invasive plants, which migrate from South to North, from East to West etc. Not only its natural and climatic potential, but also high level of transformation of local landscapes enabled immigrant-plants to naturalize within the bounds of the region. Furthermore, for many years the Voronezh region was the center of introduction of alien plants. Many of those became a part of invasion fraction of regional flora. In recent decades green building took place of public policy of introduction. A lot of landscaping firms work with not native species. They offer them in a great variety for citizens. In case of introduction, some of these species could become invasive.

The levels of pollution by heavy metals and arsenic in top soil layers and medicinal plant raw materials in Voronezh Region were studied using Urtica dioica and Plantago major leaves as examples. The analyses were carried out using atomic absorption spectrometry on a graphite-furnace MGA-915MD spectrometer. Samples were collected from districts with different anthropogenic impacts across the whole region. Leaves of P. major characteristically had the highest coefficients of accumulation from the soil for Cd, As, and Ni. Leaves of U. dioica typically had high accumulation coefficients for Ni. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urgency of the research. Current world is actively developing IP industrial parks (hereinafter IP). In foreign legal science main types of existing IP’s, are carefully study the themes of organizational and legal framework for the existence of IP. Target setting. Meanwhile, IP’s infrequently became the subject of research in Russian science. Researches are “scrappy”, and affect local aspects of this problem. Actual scientific researches and issues analysis. Domestic science has no clear picture of IP’s legal regulation at the Federal and regional levels, as well as it is “not in touch” with contemporary problems of IP’s functioning. Uninvestigated parts of general matters defining. Domestic science has no clear picture of IP’s legal regulation at the Federal and regional levels, contemporary problems of functioning of IP. The research objective. Under such circumstances, it is necessary to identify the prerequisites for the creation of IP in a territory characterized by the basic scheme of formation of IP’s in the region and their relationship with direct investments. Among the objectives of the analysis of the legal regulation of IP algorithm of their formation and interaction of regional authorities and IP residents. The statement of basic materials. The article identifies preconditions for the formation of the IP. Among them: a substantial degree of activity of the authorities, the high level of innovation and considerable human resources. Preference turns high-tech industries, energy saving technologies, using environmentally friendly processes. Also enjoy priority in production, which has a high level of added value and the most efficient processing. For example, the Voronezh Oblast examines legal rules governing the formation and operation of PIS. Explores the advantages of placing companies in the IP’s territory. Great attention is paid to the essential conditions of the contracts, concluded for the exercises of investment activities. Explores the mechanisms of State support for companies using this institute on the borderline between economy and law. Characterized by legal grounds for termination of State support for resident companies. Conclusions. As a result of previously mentioned benefits of IP’s creation and manufacturing in the sphere of industrial production, led in the conclusion of the text to the economic nature of IP’s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studied the cyclic dynamics of limiting growth trees climatic factors (using a series of observations of weather station Voronezh) and the growth of Scots pine stands in the Usman and Khrenovoe pine forests of the Voronezh region. The conditions of severe drought and weather conditions of the fire in 2010 in Voronezh have been analyzed. In the secular dynamics of droughts (and radial increment of Scots pine) in the Сentral forest-steppe region easily traced cycles: the 11-year (solar or Schwabe- Wolf), magnetic (Hales), Brikners with important prognostic value. Since the mid-1970-s variations in climatic factors (precipitation during the warm period, the moisture conditions presented by hydrothermal coefficient) in the Central forest-steppe are in phase with the 11-year cycle of solar activity. The main meteorological factor affecting the growth of pine trees forming a precipitation of the warm period (April-October). Radial increment of Scots pine response to drought conditions simultaneously or with a delay of one year. Severe drought in the forest-steppe zone (1939, 1972, 2010 years) observed only after two or three or more years with a significant lack of rainfall and necessarily accompanied by increased relative to the norm air temperatures. The drought in 2010 resulted from the decrease in precipitation from 2007 to 2009 (509, 485, and 428 mm, respectively, at the normal 570 mm) and abnormally high temperatures of summer 2010. One of the reasons for the temperature anomalies of summer 2010 likely is the overlay of minimum of 11 years and centuries-old cycles of solar activity (2008).

Five species of assassin bugs (Heteroptera: Reduviidae) are identified on the territory of Voronezh Region (Russia). Reduvius personatus (Linnaeus, 1758) is recorded for the region for the first time. Data on the studied material and distribution for each species are given.

Remains of a new small vascular plant, Istchenkophyton filiciforme gen. et sp. nov., are described from the Upper Givetian strata of Pavlovsk vicinity (Voronezh Region). The plant is characterized by a very thick cuticle (up to 300 μm), complex branching pattern, similar to that of a frond rachis, anomocytic stomata, and a well-developed vascular bundle with a central elongated in transversal section protoxylem strand and massive metaxylem composed chiefly of scalariform bordered-pitted tracheids. A reconstruction of the new plant is proposed; its ecology and systematic position are considered. In the light of new data relationships of problematic Devonian plants with thick cuticle are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new ichthyosaur, Platypterygius ochevi sp. nov., from the Albian-Cenomanian of the Voronezh Region is described based on a partial forefin. It differs from congeners in the very large facet for the lageniformis on the humerus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Detailed palynological research carried out on samples from the three quarries at Khlevnoye and Kamenka (Voronezh region) permitted recognition of the Frasnian–Famennian boundary in the lower Kamenka quarry. Two miospore zones, Cristatisporites deliquescens–Verrucosisporites evlanensis (DE) from the Frasnian and Cyrtospora cristifera–Diaphanospora zadonica (CZ) from the Famennian, have been recognized. Some faunistic data were also obtained from the F–F boundary deposits. Research confirmed the existence of a sedimentological gap between the Livny and Zadonsk horizons, including all of the Volgograd horizon. These new palynological results are compared with data from adjacent areas: Pripyat Depression (Belarus), Timan-Pechora Province and the Volgograd Volga region (Russia), western Pomerania and the Holy Cross Mountains (Poland). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In Russia, the issue of improving socio-economic sustainability of municipalities in the region through the assessment of its indicators are particularly relevant. The aim of this work is to assess the sustainability of socio-economic development of municipalities in the Voronezh region. The paper uses a systematic approach for a comprehensive, structured and dynamic study of the state of socio-economic sustainability of municipalities in the region. This approach uses the methods of classification and comparative analysis. The authors propose a methodology for assessing the sustainability of socio-economic development of the region's municipalities. The results of calculating the integral sustainability index indicate the presence of five groups of municipalities, characterized by a particular degree of socio-economic sustainability, ranging from high to crisis. The proposed methodology for assessing the sustainability of socio-economic development of municipalities allows us to highlight the problematic parameters of socio-economic development within the municipalities themselves and to identify the main strategic objectives on the way to a single strategic goal: improving the level and quality of life of the population. Regional policy measures to equalize the level of socio-economic development should be designed, taking into account the identified features of the territorial development of municipal districts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]