Перспективы децентрализованных межбанковских расчетов с использованием блокчейна

Digital currency became a relevant topic lately, with the central banks contemplating the idea of issuing their own virtual currencies. Central banks may issue their virtual currencies to simplify interbank cross-border settlements and make them cheaper. In order to achieve this, both commercial and central banks recognize these virtual currencies as means of payments. In these projects blockchain could be used to store information about the digital currencies, instead of fiat money. We have identified the risks associated with the virtual currencies issued by the central banks: conversion and volatility risks. We have looked at different approaches to the distributed ledger, principles for decentralized virtual currencies, possibility of these technologies being used by the central banks, various risks and their mitigation strategies. We also formulated the technological and legal principles that may guide the issuance of the digital currency by the central banks. And reviewed the practicability of issuing virtual currencies by the central banks, based on exogenous and endogenous factors.В последнее время чрезвычайно актуальной стала тема цифровых денег: центральные банки разных стран стали задумываться о выпуске собственных виртуальных валют. Центральные банки могут выпускать собственную виртуальную валюту с целью облегчить и удешевить межбанковские трансграничные расчеты. Это возможно при условии, что центральные и коммерческие банки будут признавать и принимать данную валюту, выпущенную другими центральными банками. В блокчейне хранилась бы информация лишь о цифровой валюте, а не о фиатных деньгах. В результате анализа выявлены риски, с которыми могут столкнуться центральные банки, выпустив виртуальную валюту: необходимость конвертации и обеспечение устойчивого курса данной валюты. В ходе анализа рассмотрены существующие технологии распределенного реестра, принципы функционирования децентрализованных виртуальных валют, возможность применения имеющихся технологий для центральных банков, возможные риски, предложены пути их предотвращения. Сформулированы технологические, правовые и другие аспекты, способствующие выпуску центральными банками цифровой валюты. Целесообразность выпуска виртуальной валюты центральными банками проанализирована с учетом внешних и внутренних факторов

Socio-Demographic Profile of Sverdlovsk (City Passport 1959)

Цель статьи — охарактеризовать информационный потенциал паспорта города для изучения демографических процессов. Паспорт города «Основные показатели развития хозяйства и культуры города» — статистический документ, содержащий динамические ряды основных показателей его развития — населения, промышленности, торговли, строительства, транспорта, благоустройства и других сведений. Системный характер источника позволяет в комплексе оценить социально-демографический профиль города с учетом уровня развития его социальной сферы и экономики. В статье рассматривается паспорт Свердловска, составленный в 1959 г. и характеризующий социально-демографическое и экономическое развитие города во первой половине XX в., особый акцент сделан на послевоенный период (1950-е гг.).The article aims to characterise the information potential of a city passport for studying demographic processes. City passport “Main development indicators of the citys economy and culture” is a statistical document containing time series of the main indicators of its development: population, industry, trade, construction, transport, improvement and other information. Due to its systematic nature, the source can be used for a comprehensive assessment of the socio-demographic profile of the city, considering its social sphere and economy. The article examines the passport of Sverdlovsk, compiled in 1959 and characterising the socio-demographic and economic development of the city in the first half of the 20th century, with special emphasis on the post-war period (1950s).Исследование выполнено при финансовой поддержке Российского научного фонда (проект № 24-28-00629 «Траектории развития городов Среднего Урала в середине XX в.: методологический и источниковедческий аспекты»).The article has been prepared with the support of the Russian Science Foundation (the project No. 24-28-00629 “Trajectories of development of the cities of the Middle Urals in the middle of the 20th century: methodological and source studies aspects”)

Results of implementation of viral hepatitis B elimination program in the North-West Russia

Introduction. Vaccination contributed to reduce the incidence of acute hepatitis B in the territories of the North-West Russia. The urgency of this problem remains due to the high incidence of chronic hepatitis B. This accounted for the need to develop a hepatitis B elimination program in the district discussed that was approved in 2013 by the head of the Federal Service for Surveillance on Consumer Rights Protection and Human Wellbeing. Objective is to characterize the results of the program for the elimination of acute hepatitis B virus implemented in the North-Western Federal District. Materials and methods. The 2010–2020 incidence rate of acute and chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the regions of the North-West Russia was carried out. To determine HBV genotypes and subgenotypes, 160 blood plasma samples from patients with acute hepatitis B were studied using molecular genetic methods (PCR, sequencing). The prevalence of latent hepatitis B in various population groups was assessed. The 2016–2020 hepatitis B vaccination coverage and relevant serological monitoring in adults was carried out. Results. While implementing the program, it was found that the incidence rate of acute hepatitis B in the district decreased by 4.5-fold, revealing in 2020 no cases of the disease in 5 regions, with incidence rate in the 6 subfederal units being lower than 1.0 per 100,000 population. Moreover, the incidence rate for chronic hepatitis B decreased by 2.6 times. The 2020 vaccination coverage of children under 17 and adults in all territories comprised more than 95% and 90%, respectively. In addition, it was shown the circulation of genotypes D and A of hepatitis B virus is dominated by genotype D (91.8%), subgenotype D2 (47.8%). The prevalence of latent hepatitis B among migrants was 6.5%, pregnant women — 4.9%, hemodialysis patients — 1.7%. Conclusion. Implementation of the program on elimination of acute viral hepatitis B in the territory of the North-West Russia contributed to raise in the vaccination coverage in adult population and lowered incidence rate of acute and chronic HBV infection

Life in a Historical Monument: Advantages and Disadvantages (Using the Example of the T. M. Ryazanov’s Estate)

В статье рассматривается состояние памятника федерального значения и проводится анализ объекта, позволяющий выявить триггерные точки, определяющие его место в городской среде. Из-за того, что город с момента возникновения не может сохранять свой первичный облик, его трансформация приводит к утрате многих прежних его «лиц», однако следы истории так или иначе остаются, распадаясь на отдельные объекты разных эпох. Одна из задач при выборе вектора городского развития – определить место архитектурного наследия в мегаполисе, находящемся в постоянном движении. Таким объектом является усадьба Т. М. Рязанова в г. Екатеринбурге, построенная в XIX в. и представляющая сегодня одновременно и жилое пространство, и объект культурного наследия. Двойственность ее положения становится основной проблемой, осмыслению которой посвящена данная статья. В качестве основного источника информации использованы интервью с представителями различных групп населения, взаимодействующих с этим местом.Исследование выполнено за счет гранта Российского научного фонда № 24-28-00629 «Траектории развития городов Среднего Урала в середине XX в.: методологический и источниковедческий аспекты»

Potential of decentralized interbank settlements using blockchain

Digital currency became a relevant topic lately, with the central banks contemplating the idea of issuing their own virtual currencies. Central banks may issue their virtual currencies to simplify interbank cross-border settlements and make them cheaper. In order to achieve this, both commercial and central banks recognize these virtual currencies as means of payments. In these projects blockchain could be used to store information about the digital currencies, instead of fiat money. We have identified the risks associated with the virtual currencies issued by the central banks: conversion and volatility risks. We have looked at different approaches to the distributed ledger, principles for decentralized virtual currencies, possibility of these technologies being used by the central banks, various risks and their mitigation strategies. We also formulated the technological and legal principles that may guide the issuance of the digital currency by the central banks. And reviewed the practicability of issuing virtual currencies by the central banks, based on exogenous and endogenous factors

Assessment of the Herd Immunity to SARS-CoV-2 among the Population of the Leningrad Region during the COVID-19 Epidemic

The first case of COVID-19 was registered in the Leningrad Region on March 13, 2020. The period of increasing intensity of the epidemic process lasted 8 weeks. One month after reaching the maximum incidence rate, a study was organized to determine seroprevalence to COVID-19 among the population of the Region.Objective of the study was to determine the level and structure of community immunity to SARS-CoV-2 virus in the population of the Leningrad Region in the period of intensive COVID-19 transmission.Materials and methods. The work was carried out within the framework of the Rospotrebnadzor project on assessment of community immunity to the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the population of the Russian Federation. The content of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 was determined applying ELISA using a kit for the analysis of human serum or blood plasma for the presence of specific IgG to the nucleocapsid of the SARS-CoV-2 virus , manufactured by the State Scientific Center of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology (Obolensk) in accordance with the instructions for use.Results and discussion. The study has showed that the herd immunity of the population of the Leningrad Region was 20.7 %. The maximum level has been established in children 1–6 years old (42.3 %) and people over 70 years old (29.0 %). The highest level of seropositivity, except for children and older people, was found among the unemployed (25.1 %). The lowest level of seroprevalence was detected in civil servants (12.8 %) and military personnel (16.7 %). It has been shown that the risk of infection increases by 1.5 times in case of contacts with COVID-19 patients. After exposure to COVID-19 virus, antibodies are produced in 82.1 % of the cases. In individuals with a positive PCR test result obtained earlier, antibodies are detected in 82.8 % of cases. The share of asymptomatic forms among seropositive residents of the Leningrad Region was 86.9 %. The results of assessing the herd immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in the population of the Leningrad Region indicate that during the period of intensive COVID-19 transmission, an average level of seroprevalence was formed. A significant proportion of asymptomatic forms of infection characterizes the high intensity of the latently developing epidemic process. The results obtained should be taken into account when organizing preventive measures, including vaccination, and predicting morbidity rates