Estimation of the Equilibrium Real Exchange Rate in Russia: Trade-Balance Approach

The paper estimates the equilibrium real exchange rate (ERER) in Russia for 1995-20065 using the partial-equilibrium version of the trade-balance approach. The three-good framework is applied, allowing distinction between the RER for imports and RER for exports. The terms of trade are viewed as exogenous. Russia’s export demand is regarded as infinitely price elastic, implying the estimation of export supply function. Russian imports are assumed to be demand determined. The estimation of the trade-volume equations is based on the search of cointegrating relationships. The import elasticities are in line with estimates obtained in other studies. The estimations for the export supply equation confirm “supply elasticity pessimism”. The ERER simulations reveal the degree of rouble overvaluation of 25%-40%, depending on the measure of the RER used, before the August 1998 crisis. In recent years, given the surge in oil prices and pro-active exchange rate policy of the Bank of Russia, the rouble appears to be substantially undervalued. In 2004-2006, given the surge in oil prices and pro-active exchange rate policy of the Bank of Russia, the rouble appears to be substantially undervalued: by 40-70% on average, depending on the measure of the RER used.Equilibrium Real Exchange Rate, Trade Elasticities, Russia

Acupressure in Everyday Life

Acupressure is a healing method used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) by which certain meridian points in the human body are manually stimulated in order to heal the body and introduce the correct circulation of the vital energy "Qi". Chinese medicine theory states that the constant flow of Qi through the meridians is essential to maintaining the health of the body. Acupressure is a manual, non-invasive method to influence the well-being of the body. It is performed by a person who has undergone specialized training, but it can also be applied independently on one's own body with training from a specialist in this field. Common everyday complaints, including stress, anxiety, panic, headaches, and high blood pressure, are typically addressed using established Western medical practices such as pharmacological interventions and other medicinal treatments. Nevertheless, complementary methods like acupressure can supplement the primary therapy by exerting a holistic influence on the entire body. Numerous scientific studies support the efficacy of acupressure as a standalone approach for managing some of these everyday complaints. Additionally, acupressure can be combined with other natural remedies like essential oils, climate-based factors, and bee products. They gently influence the Qi energy and, in combination with acupressure, are a natural way to rebalance the body to optimize health and overall well-being and to cope with the stressful living conditions that accompany today's hectic lifestyle

Hydrolytic stability of diltiazem in the presence of chosen polymers - Poloxamer 407 and Ammonio Metacrylate Copolymer Type B (Eudragit RS): а preliminary study

Introduction: The hydrolytic stability of the calcium channel blocker representative diltiazem hydrochloride in the presence of different polymeric entourage was quantitatively assessed using HPLC.Aim: The experiment was performed in order to establish drug-excipients compatibility in Poloxamer 407 hydrogel formulations, where the drug was introduced either by a direct (conventional) approach or in the form of Eudragit RS microsponge-type particles with sustained drug release.Materials and Methods: Samples of conventional diltiazem 2% hydrogel and microsponge-enriched diltiazem 2% hydrogel were stored at 25±2oC for 10 months, protected from light. Analysis of the chemical decomposition rate of diltiazem hydrochloride to its desacetyl degradant - O-desacetyl-diltiazem hydrochloride - was performed in the period between 4th and 10th month of storage.Results and Discussion: It was hypothesized that a polymeric “shield” of Eudragit RS in the composition of diltiazem-loaded porous microspheres and/or the enhanced viscosity achieved by the addition of high-molecular gelling agent Poloxamer 407 to an aqueous drug dispersion will benefit the drug’s stability. Instead, a negative effect on the hydrolysis rate was found to be dominant for both polymers, likely due to an “unfavorable” shift in the dielectric conductivity of the media and/or suspected catalytic effect of quaternary ammonium groups of Eudragit RS.Conclusion: These preliminary results led us to a deeper understanding of the polymeric impact on diltiazem hydrolytic behavior and a very useful foundation for a future preformulation stage in the development of diltiazem modified-release semisolid forms for the treatment of chronic anal fissure

Shakespeare's heroines: woman as the main character in William Shakespeare’s doublenamed tragedies Antony and Cleopatra and Romeo and Juliet

Mi trabajo de fin de grado se centra en las tragedias de Shakespeare Romeo y Julieta y Antonio y Cleopatra, las cuales constituyen un cambio en la interpretación del personaje femenino en la literatura. El hombre pierde importancia para permitir que la figura femenina se convierta en la principal. El contexto (estado de la cuestión) de mi ensayo introduce Shakespeare como dramaturgo, sus tragedias junto con los principales motivos de los dos dramas analizados y una breve descripción del estereotípico papel femenino. En la segunda sección, los dos melodramas han sido analizados por separado: Cleopatra es descrita a través de su papel como reina y su faceta de una mujer que puede ser tanto buena como malvada. Julieta, por el contrario, es presentada como un personaje que despierta: una niña que se convierte en una mujer y escapa de la tiranía de su padre. La tercera parte de mi ensayo presenta similitudes entre ambas tragedias y la conclusión afirma que Shakespeare logró crear una nueva forma de caracterizar la figura femenina en la literatura.Departamento de Filología InglesaGrado en Estudios Inglese

Serum Iron Metabolism Variables in Clinically Healthy Persons

BACKGROUND: In healthy persons, iron acquisition, trafficking and storage are strictly regulated processes due to the lack of a physiological pathway for the excretion of excess iron from the body. The liver, the duodenum and the bone marrow are involved in the regulation of iron metabolism. MATERIAL: Subject to the testing were 60 healthy volunteers who took part in clinical trials. METHODS: Case histories, physical check-up and demographic data including people’s heights and weights, laboratory studies and tests using medical equipment. RESULTS: None of the healthy persons were reported to have shown any deviation from the reference values for the serum markers of iron metabolism tested with the exception of hepcidin. CONCLUSION: In healthy persons, there was only a positive correlation between iron level and IBC, and feedback between hepcidin serum levels and transferrin saturation

Innovation as a Factor in Sustainable Development of Russia’s Agriculture

Sustainable agriculture is an integral aspect of the sustainable development of a socio-economic system. In this regard, innovation is considered to be one of the leading factors ensuring the development of sustainable agricultural since it increases the efficiency and competitiveness of the industry in the domestic and foreign markets. This study presents a system of recursive equations characterizing the innovations occurring within agricultural organizations in the regions of the Russian Federation. Additionally, the study assesses the sustainability of agricultural development in Russia by calculating the integrated index of five components: economic, innovative, social, ecological, and institutional. Also, the authors built a regression model that estimates the influence of innovation on the sustainability of agricultural development in Russia

Biopharmaceutical and marketing evaluation of diosmin- and hesperidin-containing products on the Bulgarian market

Introduction Diosmin and hesperidin are commonly used flavonoids in the therapy of vascular diseases.AimThis study aimed to present an independent evaluation of the market status, quality and biopharmaceutical characteristics of diosmin- and hesperidin-containing oral tablet-products (DHCPs) on the Bulgarian market.Materials and Methods Seven products, among which medicines (used as reference) and food supplements, with sustainable or growing market were selected for the survey: Detralex 500 mg, Phlebodia 600 mg, Dioket 600 mg, Novarix 650 mg, Asketon 500 mg, Venocode and Dih max 1000 mg. Sales analysis for 2016, 2017 and 2018 (year-to-date) was done with the kind support of Iqvia TM. All products were subjected to European Pharmacopoeia (EP) tests for tablet quality - disintegration, resistance to crushing, uniformity of mass and uniformity of dosage units. Biopharmaceutical profile regarding tablet drug release and dissolution potency was investigated on EP Apparatus 2 (Paddle method).Results Although all products were found to almost fully fulfill the EP criteria, extremely unsatisfying drug release was established in all tested media (pH 1,5, pH 4,5 and pH 7,2), reaching not more than 1.6% of the labeled content after 24 hours for the best performing products - Novarix and Venocode.Conclusion These results were not surprising considering diosmin and hesperidin`s water insolubility and respective low bioavailability. However, it would be reasonable to approach these two bioactive compounds technologically in preformulation stage in order to improve their solubility and therapeutic potency

New English Words for Describing the International English as a Current World Language Reality

The evolution of the English language, its changing in the situation of language contacts and functioning of English as an international means of communication have created a need for a more systematic analysis of related phenomena. In this paper, new English words which apparently appeared due to globalization and internationalization, have been considered. On the basis of authoritative theoretical approaches and several e-dictionaries, the words selected by means of continuous sampling method (more than 200 units) were analysed in terms of their semantics, morphology and spelling. Then they were classified into several thematic groups: 1) new words for naming natural and artificial versions of current English; 2) words classified with regard to social accents and dialects; 3) neologisms that reflect the English language domain and its interaction with indigenous languages. The morphological analysis revealed the application of different processes of word-formation, including neologisms and forms created according to traditional English patterns. Sometimes play on words and homo-acronyms were used in order to reinforce the meaning and connotation. Compounding and blending were found to be the most productive means of words formation within the corpus, and stylistic neologisms, used to mark a certain underlying sense proved to be the second most frequent process. It is demonstrated that studying of the currently active processes of word formation in the English language used as an international communication tool emphasizes the interdisciplinary aspect of such research programs