National transport and logistics system: navigating challenges for development until 2030

This scientific article explores strategies for developing national transport and logistics system, taking into account external factors. The authors analyze potential directions for market diversification and infrastructure development, focusing on cooperation with Asia, Africa, and CIS countries. The main problems and prospects for the Russian economy are also discussed in the context of inflation and the need for government investment and regulation

Molecular phylogeny of one extinct and two critically endangered Central Asian sturgeon species (genus Pseudoscaphirhynchus) based on their mitochondrial genomes

The enigmatic and poorly studied sturgeon genus Pseudoscaphirhynchus (Scaphirhynchinae: Acipenseridae) comprises three species: the Amu Darya shovelnose sturgeon (Pseudoscaphirhynchus kaufmanni (Bogdanow)), dwarf Amu Darya shovelnose sturgeon P. hermanni (Kessler), and Syr Darya shovelnose sturgeon (P. fedtschenkoi (Bogdanow). Two species – P. hermanni and P. kaufmanni – are critically endangered due to the Aral Sea area ecological disaster, caused by massive water use for irrigation to support cotton agriculture, subsequent pesticide pollution and habitat degradation. For another species – P. fedtschenkoi – no sightings have been reported since 1960-s and it is believed to be extinct, both in nature and in captivity. In this study, complete mitochondrial (mt) genomes of these three species of Pseudoscaphirhynchus were characterized using Illumina and Sanger sequencing platforms. Phylogenetic analyses showed the significant divergence between Amu Darya and Syr Darya freshwater sturgeons and supported the monophyletic origin of the Pseudoscaphirhynchus species. We confirmed that two sympatric Amu Darya species P. kaufmanni and P. hermanni form a single genetic cluster, which may require further morphological and genetic study to assess possible hybridization, intraspecific variation and taxonomic status and to develop conservation measures to protect these unique fishes.publishedVersio

Marketing technologies for building competitiveness of companies export

In context of post-industrial development of global economy, escalating competition in international goods markets, the definition of competitive export is proposed based upon both existing criteria – sustainability, effectiveness, adaptivity and fair competition, and on those described in the work – ecological performance, service maintenance, brand awareness and high technology. Given that, it is proved that with the aim of detailing the elements of competitive export, the latter should be typified depending upon the performer (export competitiveness of a company, country, region) and subject (export competitiveness of goods, services, rights upon intellectual property objects), keeping in mind universal and specific features of export criteria proposed to be characterised through a range of indices on corporate and state levels. Groups of factors affecting export competitiveness building are systematized (institutional, financial and economic, marketing, foreign trade, scientific and technological, resource-related and social and ecological). Marketing technologies are typified on corporate level under the following criteria: novelty, object, creative component availability, internationalization stages, international marketing forms, digitalization level, management functions, customer-centreness scale, international marketing activity stages, financial security, specific features of intercorporate coordination. The practice of applying international marketing technologies by companies is investigated. In context of necessity to overcome crisis phenomena and increase competitive export volume, an assessment is made of integrating national manufacturing into regulated global chains of creating added value with the relevant rating, in particular, depending upon the available potential, minimality of technical and organizational changes, marketing relevancy, enabling to determine the manufacturing areas most prepared to cooperation, and estimate marketing contribution into market success

Model of risk management of construction project based on transaction costs

The paper studies the relationship between transaction costs and risk management in the construction projects affecting ecosystem considering economic externalities. Quantitative indicators of the impact of transaction costs on the level of risk in the project are thoroughly investigated. The construction project risk management model based on transaction costs is discussed in detail. Collected and experimental data of the construction project, which has a significant impact on the ecology of the Baikal region in the Russian Federation is analyzed and the uncertainty reduction caused by transaction costs is measured

Trends in the application of “green” standards on the life cycle of capital housing construction objects

The study aims to identify the problems of “green” housing in the concept of sustainable-ESG development of the life cycle of a capital facility. It was revealed that the priority area of sustainable management of the capital object life cycle is a responsible attitude towards the environment, and the main factor is energy efficiency. In this aspect, the analysis of actual data from the Unified Housing Information System was carried out using statistical methods, mathematical and graphic modeling. Trends in the distribution of houses by energy efficiency groups were identified, an economic assessment of the increase in the cost of “green” residential buildings was made, the impact on the marginality of developers, which reduces when using “green” technologies, was shown. The role of the banking sector in maintaining “green” projects is shown: their share in the portfolios of financial institutions has been assessed, leaders in the top 5 banks have been identified. The conclusions are formulated in the form of points of growth of “green” housing construction in the field of standardization of requirements and approaches to the assessment of “green” projects, the development of mechanisms for their regulation based on the balance of administrative and economic instruments, as well as the activation of banking structures for the introduction of preferential investment

Characterization of Divergent Grapevine Badnavirus 1 Isolates Found on Different Fig Species (<i>Ficus</i> spp.)

Fig mosaic disease is spread worldwide and is believed to have a viral etiology. Divergent isolates of grapevine badnavirus 1 (GBV1), named fGBV1, were discovered on Ficus carica, F. palmata, F. virgata, and F. afghanistanica in the fig germplasm collection of the Nikita Botanical Gardens, Russia, expanding the list of viruses infecting this crop. The complete genomes of five fGBV1 isolates from F. carica and F. palmata trees were determined using high-throughput and Sanger sequencing. The genomes comprised 7283 base pairs, contained four overlapping open reading frames, were 99.7 to 99.9% identical to each other, and related to GBV1 (83.2% identity). The reverse transcriptase RNase H genome regions of fGBV1 and GBV1 share 84.6% identity, indicating that fGBV1 is a divergent isolate of GBV1, which was found on the new natural hosts from a different family (Moraceae). Further, fGBV1-specific primers were developed to detect the virus using RT-PCR. Survey of 47 trees, belonging to four fig species and 14 local and introduced F. carica cultivars, showed the high fGBV1 prevalence in the collection (93.6%), including trees with no obvious symptoms of fig mosaic disease

First Report and Complete Genome Characterization of Cherry Virus A and Little Cherry Virus 1 from Russia

Virus diseases affect the yield and fruit quality and shorten the productive life of stone fruits (Prunus spp. in the family Rosaceae). Of over fifty known viruses infecting these crops, cherry virus A (CVA) is among the most common, and little cherry virus 1 (LChV1) is one of the most economically important. Using high-throughput sequencing, full-length genomes of CVA and LChV1 isolates, found on interspecies hybrids in the Prunus collection of the Nikita Botanical Gardens, Russia, were sequenced, assembled, and characterized. CVA was found in the P. cerasifera × P. armeniaca hybrid and in phylogenetic analysis clustered with non-cherry virus isolates. The LChV1 isolate Stepnoe was detected in ((P. cerasifera Ehrh. × P. armeniaca L.) × P. brigantiaca Vill.) trihybrid suggesting that both P. cerasifera and P. brigantiaca potentially can be the LChV1 hosts. The isolate Stepnoe was most closely related to the Greece isolate G15_3 from sweet cherry, sharing 77.3% identity at the nucleotide level. Possibly, the highly divergent Russian isolate represents one more phylogroup of this virus. This is the first report of CVA and LChV1 from Russia, expanding the information on their geographical distribution and genetic diversity

Whole Genome Characterization of Prunus Necrotic Ringspot Virus and Prune Dwarf Virus Infecting Stone Fruits in Russia

We conducted a survey of the phytosanitary status of the Prunus germplasm collection in the Nikita Botanical Gardens, Yalta, Russia. The virome of plants displaying virus-like symptoms was studied using Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing. Reads related to prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV), prune dwarf virus (PDV), and ourmia-like virus 1 (OuLV1) were generated in a number of samples. Near complete genomes of two divergent PNRSV isolates, PDV isolate, and a contig partly covered OuLV1 genome were assembled de novo using the metaSPAdes program. The structure of the genomic RNA1, RNA2, and RNA3 of the new ilarvirus isolates was shown to be typical of PNRSV and PDV. This is the first report and characterization of the PNRSV and PDV full-length genomes from Russia, expanding the information on their geographical distribution and genetic diversity. An open reading frames (ORF)-based phylogeny of all full-length PNRSV and PDV genomes available in GenBank divided each ORF into two or three main clusters. A number of isolates migrated from one cluster to another cluster, depending on the analyzed genome segment. The different branching order may indicate reassortment in the evolutionary history of some PDV and PNRSV isolates

In Vivo Accelerator-Based Boron Neutron Capture Therapy for Spontaneous Tumors in Large Animals: Case Series

(1) Background: accelerator-based neutron sources are a new frontier for BNCT but many technical issues remain. We aimed to study such issues and results in larger-animal BNCT (cats and dogs) with naturally occurring, malignant tumors in different locations as an intermediate step in translating current research into clinical practice. (2) Methods: 10 pet cats and dogs with incurable, malignant tumors that had no treatment alternatives were included in this study. A tandem accelerator with vacuum insulation was used as a neutron source. As a boron-containing agent, 10B-enriched sodium borocaptate (BSH) was used at a dose of 100 mg/kg. Animal condition as well as tumor progression/regression were monitored. (3) Results: regression of tumors in response to treatment, improvements in the overall clinical picture, and an increase in the estimated duration and quality of life were observed. Treatment-related toxicity was mild and reversible. (4) Conclusions: our study contributes to preparations for human BNCT clinical trials and suggests utility for veterinary oncology

Molecular phylogeny of one extinct and two critically endangered Central Asian sturgeon species (genus Pseudoscaphirhynchus) based on their mitochondrial genomes

The enigmatic and poorly studied sturgeon genus Pseudoscaphirhynchus (Scaphirhynchinae: Acipenseridae) comprises three species: the Amu Darya shovelnose sturgeon (Pseudoscaphirhynchus kaufmanni (Bogdanow)), dwarf Amu Darya shovelnose sturgeon P. hermanni (Kessler), and Syr Darya shovelnose sturgeon (P. fedtschenkoi (Bogdanow). Two species – P. hermanni and P. kaufmanni – are critically endangered due to the Aral Sea area ecological disaster, caused by massive water use for irrigation to support cotton agriculture, subsequent pesticide pollution and habitat degradation. For another species – P. fedtschenkoi – no sightings have been reported since 1960-s and it is believed to be extinct, both in nature and in captivity. In this study, complete mitochondrial (mt) genomes of these three species of Pseudoscaphirhynchus were characterized using Illumina and Sanger sequencing platforms. Phylogenetic analyses showed the significant divergence between Amu Darya and Syr Darya freshwater sturgeons and supported the monophyletic origin of the Pseudoscaphirhynchus species. We confirmed that two sympatric Amu Darya species P. kaufmanni and P. hermanni form a single genetic cluster, which may require further morphological and genetic study to assess possible hybridization, intraspecific variation and taxonomic status and to develop conservation measures to protect these unique fishes