Population diversification in demographics, health, and living environments: the Barents Region in review

: This paper provides updates on the geographical patterns in well-being of the population of the Barents region by applying indicators used in demography, public health, and environmental studies. In particular, we analyze recent demographic trends with regard to gender, age, ethnicity, and over time (1990−2015), considering depopulation, aging age structures, mortality and fertility patterns in connection with environmental changes. We investigate environmental effects on population health and living conditions of the Barents people, including the impact of air and water contamination, food insecurity, housing conditions, and new diseases driven by climate change. In addition, we highlight the importance of human capital (highest educational attainment of population) in tackling socio-economic challenges as well as adapting to climate and other sweeping changes occurring in the Barents region. Barents territories show inequalities in post-secondary educational attainment distribution between average nation-wide level and northern regions of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia, based on the latest data available. The results and discussion suggest a significant variability across regions in the context of the studied parameters, except for life expectancy. The causes and consequences of the diversification of these trends need to be further investigated; as does the spatial distribution of societal well-being in the Barents region, an important geographical alliance in the northernmost part of Europe. The evidence presented in this review may help in the planning of adaptive community programs which respond to stresses in society, health, and the environment in the Barents region

Synthesis of multi-loop automatic control systems by the nonlinear programming method

The article deals with the problem of calculation of the multi-loop control systems optimal tuning parameters by numerical methods and nonlinear programming methods. For this purpose, in the paper the Optimization Toolbox of Matlab is used

Population projections of the Arctic by levels of education

The Arctic is a rapidly changing geographical area surrounding the North Pole. A relatively small total number of around 10 million people (in 2015) reside in the territorial vastness of dozens of sub-national entities north of eight Arctic countries. Local people are subject and driver of the widely discussed transformation. In this study we examine recent population developments and model future demographic trends forward to 2050. By combining available data from national statistics and data demographically reconstructed on health, mortality, and mobility we provide an overview of the factors influencing the number of children born to Arctic women, mortality levels and patterns, causes and implications of changes in the sex and ethnic composition, aspects of population ageing, as well as the spatial distribution and patterns of migration across the North. To account for regional characteristics we incorporate assumptions on the processes of population change explicitly Arctic in nature in addition to global ones. We explore the age and sex parameters of interest, and the level of higher education based on the fertility and mortality of people with a different level of attained education. We present three alternative future scenarios: “Medium development”, “Arctic Boost”, and “Arctic Dip”. The sub-national and country-wide population projections suggest how education as a factor of human capital may drive demographic shifts in various parts of the Arctic

Crystal structure and conductivity of bismuth-containing complex oxides

In the paper, a comprehensive systematic study of different classes of bismuth containing oxide compounds was carried out. The relationship between composition, temperature and concentration regions of existence of stable, specific structure and properties of solid solutions on the basis of vanadates, molybdates, niobates and bismuth was found. The general regularities of synthesis of solid solutions with different variants of solid-phase and soluble methods were determined. On this basis, the optimal conditions for obtaining single-phase materials were formulated. For the first time the temperature and concentration boundaries of the regions of homogeneity and areas of stable existence of polymorphic modifications of solid solutions were defined and/or refined. The structural parameters of the synthesized phases were determined. By the method of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy the nature and features of impedance spectra, the temperature and concentration dependences of electrical conductivity of ceramic materials based on bismuth containing complex oxides were identified

Procedure of building the university graduate training practice-oriented model

The aim of the article is to develop and prove the procedure of practical oriented graduate training model based on bringing the educational situation to the conditions of professional activity. Methods. The methods involve comparative analysis of documents (professional and Federal State Educational Standard papers); analysis of domestic and foreign literature on the problem of vocational teacher education, professional-pedagogical training modeling. Results. Inadequacy in the requirements for professional teacher competence identified by professional and Federal State Educational Standards has been revealed. Based on the Master’s programme «Methodology and methods of social education» as an example, the method of educational programs development is described on the basis of underlining professional labor actions that meet the requirements of the profession.Scientific novelty. The contradictions of practice-oriented training in the context of the university education are identified; the ways of the contradictions elimination through the use of the university educational environment opportunities were justified. Practical significance. The practical significance lies in the justification of the procedure of professional training cluster model constructing. The description of the sequential steps required for the practice-oriented educational program development is givenЦелью статьи является разработка и обоснование процедуры построения практико-ориентированной модели подготовки выпускника на основе приближения образовательной ситуации к условиям профессиональной деятельности. Методы, использованные в работе: сравнительный анализ документов (профессионального и федерального государственного образовательного стандарта); обобщение содержания отечественных и зарубежных источников по проблеме профессионально-педагогического образования; моделирование профессионально-педагогической подготовки. Результаты. Выявлены несоответствия в требованиях к профессиональным компетенциям педагога, предъявляемые профессиональными и Федеральными государственными образовательными стандартами. На примере магистерской программы «Методология и методика социального воспитания» продемонстрирован способ разработки образовательной программы на основе выделения трудовых действий, соответствующих требованиям профессии. Научная новизна. Обозначены противоречия практико-ориентированной подготовки в университетах и показаны пути их разрешения через использование возможностей образовательной среды высшего учебного заведения. Практическая значимость работы заключается в предложении процедуры построения кластерной модели профессиональной подготовки. Описаны последовательные шаги разработки практико-ориентированной образовательной программыРоссийский научный фон

Mitochondrial Electron Transport Chain in Heavy Metal-Induced Neurotoxicity: Effects of Cadmium, Mercury, and Copper

To clarify the role of mitochondrial electron transport chain (mtETC) in heavy-metal-induced neurotoxicity, we studied action of Cd2+, Hg2+, and Cu2+ on cell viability, intracellular reactive oxygen species formation, respiratory function, and mitochondrial membrane potential of rat cell line PC12. As found, the metals produced, although in a different way, dose- and time-dependent changes of all these parameters. Importantly, Cd2+ beginning from 10 [mu]M and already at short incubation time (3 h) significantly inhibited the FCCP-uncoupled cell respiration; besides, practically the complete inhibition of the respiration was reached after 3 h incubation with 50 [mu]M Hg2+ or 500 [mu]M Cd2+, whereas even after 48 h exposure with 500 [mu]M Cu2+, only a 50% inhibition of the respiration occurred. Against the Cd2+-induced cell injury, not only different antioxidants and mitochondrial permeability transition pore inhibitors were protective but also such mtETC effectors as FCCP and stigmatellin (complex III inhibitor). However, all mtETC effectors used did not protect against the Hg2+- or Cu2+-induced cell damage. Notably, stigmatellin was shown to be one of the strongest protectors against the Cd2+-induced cell damage, producing a 15–20% increase in the cell viability. The mechanisms of the mtETC involvement in the heavy-metal-induced mitochondrial membrane permeabilization and cell death are discussed

To the question about the use of the service create collages in the framework of the elective course «Computer graphics»

This article discusses the features of the use of the service "BeFunky" in the educational process in the framework of elective courses related to computer graphics. Is the case for students of middle school on the theme: "Creating greeting cards "Winter Wonderland". This article is designed for teachers, and will be of interest to studentsВ данной рассматриваются особенности использование сервиса «BeFunky» в образовательном процессе в рамках элективных курсов, связанных с компьютерной графикой. Приводится кейс для обучающихся среднего звена школы на тему: «Создание открытки «Зимняя сказка». Данная статья рассчитана на учителей, а также будет интересна школьникам и студент