Ophiolite association of Cape Fiolent (western part of the Mountainous Crimea) – the upper age constraint according to the U-Pb isotope dating of plagiorhyolites (Monakh Cliff)

The article presents the results of U-Pb isotope dating (SHRIMP-II, VSEGEI, Saint Petersburg) of zircon crystals extracted from plagiorhyolites of the Monakh Cliff in the area of Cape Fiolent in the western part of the Mountainous Crimea (southern suburb of Sevastopol). a concordant age estimate of 168.3±1.3 Ma was obtained from 20 zircon crystals. It exactly corresponds to the Bajocian/Bathonian boundary of the Middle Jurassic according to the International Chronostratigraphic Chart (February 2022 version). The available results of isotope dating of igneous rocks from the Mountainous Crimea, as well as their geochemical typification are synthesised. The plagiorhyolites of the Monakh Cliff in the area of Cape Fiolent are spatially, and most likely paragenetically, associated with the wallrock (Cape Vinogradny) and ore (Heraclea Plateau on the cognominal peninsula) massive sulphide formations, as well as pillow basalts, gabbroids, and serpentinized hyperbasites, combined into the ophiolite association of Cape Fiolent. The obtained dating is the upper age limit for the entire ophiolite association of Cape Fiolent

Multispectral anti-reflection coatings based on YbF3/ZnS materials on ZnGeP2 substrate by the IBS method for Mid-IR laser applications

A multispectral anti-reflective coating of high radiation strength for laser applications in the IR spectrum for nonlinear ZnGeP2 crystals has been developed for the first time. The coating was constructed using YbF3/ZnS. The developed coating was obtained by a novel approach using ion-beam deposition of these materials on a ZnGeP2 substrate. It has a high LIDT of more than 2 J/cm2. Optimal layer deposition regimes were found for high film density and low absorption, and good adhesion of the coating to the substrate was achieved. At the same time, there was no dissociation of the double compound under high-energy ions

Glassy behavior of a homopolymer from molecular dynamics simulations

We study at- and out-of-equilibrium dynamics of a single homopolymer chain at low temperature using molecular dynamics simulations. The main quantities of interest are the average root mean square displacement of the monomers below the theta point, and the structure factor, as a function of time. The observation of these quantities show a close resemblance to those measured in structural glasses and suggest that the polymer chain in its low temperature phase is in a glassy phase, with its dynamics dominated by traps. In equilibrium, at low temperature, we observe the trapping of the monomers and a slowing down of the overall motion of the polymer as well as non-exponential relaxation of the structure factor. In out-of-equilibrium, at low temperatures, we compute the two-time quantities and observe breaking of ergodicity in a range of waiting times, with the onset of aging.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

Problems and Prospects of Development of the Oil Exchange Market in the Russian Federation

In the context of speculatively priced Russian oil on the world energy market, the oil exchange market development in the Russian Federation is updated. The purpose of the article was to rationalize conditions ensuring the crude oil market pricing by means of exchange trade development. The main objective of the scientific search was to justify state oil purchase as the main factor in improving the Russian oil exchange market liquidity at the present stage of its development. An optimal level of the ratio of public expenditures for oil exchange purchase to Russia's GDP was determined. The optimal amount of public expenditures for oil exchange purchase for the second quarter of 2018 amounted to 2,384.64 billion rubles. The optimal amount of public expenditures for oil exchange purchase is 89.9 million tons per quarter. State procurement of such oil volumes as of today could ensure an increase in the oil exchange market liquidity. The research results may lay the groundwork for enhancing the state strategy efficiency to improve the pricing of Russia's energy resources. Some practical focus areas substantiated in the article would contribute to the exchange market development at the present stage as a factor in the formation of an actual market price for Russian oil. Keywords: Oil Market, Oil Exchange Market, Participants in Oil Exchange Trade, Oligopolistic Oil Market, Russian Oil Industry JEL Classifications: G23; L52; O24 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.737

Optimization Model for the Russian Electric Power Generation Structure to Reduce Energy Intensity of the Economy

In the context of high energy intensity of the country's economy, contributing to a decrease in the industry competitiveness of the Russian Federation, it is relevant to develop scientific approaches to energy efficiency provision. The article is aimed at stimulating the optimal structure of electric power generation in Russia, promoting energy conservation and lowering energy intensity of the economy. The Cobb-Douglas production function was used to determine the dependence of the gross electric output on such production factors as labor costs and capital. Based on the expert evaluation method, the sources of electricity generation were differentiated according to the level of labor intensity. An optimization model has been developed for electric power generation structure in Russia in the context of actual energy generation sources: nuclear power plants; natural gas fired thermal power plants , coal and fuel oil fired power plants; hydropower plants; solar power plants; wind power plants; tidal power plants; and biofuel power plants. The percentage changes in the consumption of energy resources and power generation, ensuring a decrease in the energy intensity of the Russian Gross Domestic Product by 19.1%, are argued. The system of optimization measures has been substantiated; their practical implementation will contribute to the steady decline in energy intensity of the Russian economy, effective energy consumption and the growth of the country's energy potential, with regard to ensuring structural changes in the energy sector. Keywords: Energy Intensity of the Russian Economy, Energy Resources, Optimization Model for Electric Power Generation Structure, Power Industry, Economic Energy Efficiency JEL Classifications: Q4; L16; L52 DOI: https://doi.org/10.32479/ijeep.755

The origins and spread of domestic horses from the Western Eurasian steppes

This is the final version. Available on open access from Nature Research via the DOI in this recordData availability: All collapsed and paired-end sequence data for samples sequenced in this study are available in compressed fastq format through the European Nucleotide Archive under accession number PRJEB44430, together with rescaled and trimmed bam sequence alignments against both the nuclear and mitochondrial horse reference genomes. Previously published ancient data used in this study are available under accession numbers PRJEB7537, PRJEB10098, PRJEB10854, PRJEB22390 and PRJEB31613, and detailed in Supplementary Table 1. The genomes of ten modern horses, publicly available, were also accessed as indicated in their corresponding original publications57,61,85-87.NOTE: see the published version available via the DOI in this record for the full list of authorsDomestication of horses fundamentally transformed long-range mobility and warfare. However, modern domesticated breeds do not descend from the earliest domestic horse lineage associated with archaeological evidence of bridling, milking and corralling at Botai, Central Asia around 3500 BC. Other longstanding candidate regions for horse domestication, such as Iberia and Anatolia, have also recently been challenged. Thus, the genetic, geographic and temporal origins of modern domestic horses have remained unknown. Here we pinpoint the Western Eurasian steppes, especially the lower Volga-Don region, as the homeland of modern domestic horses. Furthermore, we map the population changes accompanying domestication from 273 ancient horse genomes. This reveals that modern domestic horses ultimately replaced almost all other local populations as they expanded rapidly across Eurasia from about 2000 BC, synchronously with equestrian material culture, including Sintashta spoke-wheeled chariots. We find that equestrianism involved strong selection for critical locomotor and behavioural adaptations at the GSDMC and ZFPM1 genes. Our results reject the commonly held association between horseback riding and the massive expansion of Yamnaya steppe pastoralists into Europe around 3000 BC driving the spread of Indo-European languages. This contrasts with the scenario in Asia where Indo-Iranian languages, chariots and horses spread together, following the early second millennium BC Sintashta culture

Phenological shifts of abiotic events, producers and consumers across a continent

Ongoing climate change can shift organism phenology in ways that vary depending on species, habitats and climate factors studied. To probe for large-scale patterns in associated phenological change, we use 70,709 observations from six decades of systematic monitoring across the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Among 110 phenological events related to plants, birds, insects, amphibians and fungi, we find a mosaic of change, defying simple predictions of earlier springs, later autumns and stronger changes at higher latitudes and elevations. Site mean temperature emerged as a strong predictor of local phenology, but the magnitude and direction of change varied with trophic level and the relative timing of an event. Beyond temperature-associated variation, we uncover high variation among both sites and years, with some sites being characterized by disproportionately long seasons and others by short ones. Our findings emphasize concerns regarding ecosystem integrity and highlight the difficulty of predicting climate change outcomes. The authors use systematic monitoring across the former USSR to investigate phenological changes across taxa. The long-term mean temperature of a site emerged as a strong predictor of phenological change, with further imprints of trophic level, event timing, site, year and biotic interactions.Peer reviewe

Relevance and perspective concept of investigation of subclinical Cushing syndrome.

Subclinical Cushing’s syndrome is the most widespread variant of hormonal activity among adrenal incidentalomas. The clinical significance of this condition has been confirmed by numerous studies showing “metabolic consequences” of chronic autonomous cortisol hypersecretion. Some clinical symptomatology of metabolic syndrome, such as obesity, impaired carbohydrate metabolism and hypertension, are peculiar to subclinical hypercorticism more than to population. This requires a thorough examination of patients with adrenal incidentalomas for hormonal activity, as well as determining the indications for surgical intervention. In the current era of evidence-based medicine, the overall management of these tumors remains empirical. The pathogenesis of subclinical Cushing’s syndrome remains unclear. Understanding of the mechanisms of chronic autonomous cortisol hypersecretion would enable to identify clinical and genetic heterogeneity of this condition, to determine prognosis and indications for surgery and to develop pharmacological methods of treatment. The purpose of this article is to review the current views on the diagnosis, pathogenesis and treatment of subclinical Cushing’s syndrome, identifying perspective directions of work

Experimental study of pine forest fuel layer ignition by the steel heated particle

Experimental research results of ignition processes of typical and widespread forest fuel (pine needles) by single heated up to high temperatures metal particles of the cylindrical form are presented. Ignition delays for particles of the various sizes and initial temperatures are resulted. Ignition conditions are established and a number of features of the investigated process mechanism are marked