Analysis of consumer behaviour in a retail drugstore chain in Russia based on the type of consumer loyalty

Purpose: To identify the consumer loyalty types in a retail segment of the Russian pharmaceutical market. Methods: A sociological study was conducted in pharmaceutical organisations of various forms of ownership, located in different administrative districts of Moscow (Russian Federation). This was done using a questionnaire developed in advance, and based on literature review. The survey involved 480 respondents selected in a simple random sampling. Results: All questionnaire filled out by the respondents were considered valid. Analysis of the loyalty parameters obtained during the study are as follows: (1) behavioural (repeated purchases), (2) emotional (subjective opinions and experience, sympathy, respect for the brand, etc) and (3) rational (utility assessment) components (4) consumer satisfaction, (5) the desire to buy again, (6) the ability to switch to competitors. They were allocated to four consumer segments. In the course of the study, one consumer segment identified a type of loyalty that had not been previously reviewed by other authors; therefore, a modified classification of the loyalty types was created. Under this classification, constancy, constancy imaginary, inconstancy, and migratory loyalties can be some types of loyalty. The identified socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents influenced the categorization of the loyalty type. Conclusion: A modified classification of loyalty types was created which serves as a parameter for segmentation of the respondents into four groups, with well-readable characteristics and the primary trends in making purchases

Monitoring of Gamma Radiation Prior to Earthquakes at a Study of Lithosphere-Atmosphere-Ionosphere Coupling in Northern Tien Shan

Monitoring of radiation background in the near-surface atmosphere and of gamma rays, geoacoustic emission, and temperature in a borehole at 40m depth, as well as Doppler sounding on a low-inclined radio pass proceed at the Tien Shan mountain station (3340m a.s.l.) in Northern Tien Shan with common goal to search for seismogenic effects preceding earthquake. The flux of gamma rays in the borehole varies negligibly between the days, and it is not influenced by precipitations. Characteristic bay-like drops of the gamma ray flux were found (2-8)days before the M5.0-M6.2 earthquakes. In a M4.2 earthquake event with the 5.3km epicenter distance anomalies were detected (7-10)days before the earthquake in variation of the gamma ray flux, geoacoustic emission, and temperature. Simultaneously with gamma rays, a disturbance was detected in the Doppler shift of the ionospheric signal. Similarly, ionosphere disturbances triggered by the growth of radioactivity in the near-surface atmosphere were found at retrospective analysis of the Doppler shift data acquired after underground nuclear explosions at the Semipalatinsk testing site. This effect is considered from the viewpoint of the lithosphere-atmosphere-ionosphere coupling concept

Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in a high infection-rate country: a cross-sectional study in Russia

Background: COVID-19 vaccine development is proceeding at an unprecedented pace. Once COVID-19 vaccines become widely available, it will be necessary to maximize public vaccine acceptance and coverage.Objective: This research aimed to analyze the predictors of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in Russia.Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted among Russian adults from September 26th to November 9th, 2020. Predictors of the intent to take up COVID-19 vaccination were explored using logistic regression.Results: Out of 876 participants, 365 (41.7%) would be willing to receive the vaccine if it became available. Acceptance increased for a vaccine with verified safety and effectiveness (63.2%). Intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine was relatively higher among males (aOR=2.37, 95% CI 1.41-4.00), people with lower monthly income (aOR=2.94, 95%CI 1.32-6.57), and with positive trust in the healthcare system (aOR=2.73, 95% CI 1.76-4.24). The Russian people were more likely to accept the COVID-19 vaccine if they believed that the vaccine reduces the risk of virus infection (aOR=8.80, 95%CI 5.21-14.87) or relieves the complications of the disease (aOR=10.46, 95%CI 6.09-17.96). Other barriers such as being unconcerned about side-effects (aOR=1.65, 95%CI 1.03-2.65) and the effectiveness and safety of the vaccination (aOR=2.55, 95%CI 1.60-4.08), also affected acceptance.Conclusions: The study showed the usefulness of the health belief model constructs in understanding the COVID-19 vaccination acceptance rate in the Russian population. This rate was influenced by sociodemographic and health-related characteristics, and health beliefs. These findings might help guide future efforts for policymakers and stakeholders to improve vaccination rates by enhancing trust in the healthcare system

Mitochondrial physiology

As the knowledge base and importance of mitochondrial physiology to evolution, health and disease expands, the necessity for harmonizing the terminology concerning mitochondrial respiratory states and rates has become increasingly apparent. The chemiosmotic theory establishes the mechanism of energy transformation and coupling in oxidative phosphorylation. The unifying concept of the protonmotive force provides the framework for developing a consistent theoretical foundation of mitochondrial physiology and bioenergetics. We follow the latest SI guidelines and those of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) on terminology in physical chemistry, extended by considerations of open systems and thermodynamics of irreversible processes. The concept-driven constructive terminology incorporates the meaning of each quantity and aligns concepts and symbols with the nomenclature of classical bioenergetics. We endeavour to provide a balanced view of mitochondrial respiratory control and a critical discussion on reporting data of mitochondrial respiration in terms of metabolic flows and fluxes. Uniform standards for evaluation of respiratory states and rates will ultimately contribute to reproducibility between laboratories and thus support the development of data repositories of mitochondrial respiratory function in species, tissues, and cells. Clarity of concept and consistency of nomenclature facilitate effective transdisciplinary communication, education, and ultimately further discovery

Mitochondrial physiology

As the knowledge base and importance of mitochondrial physiology to evolution, health and disease expands, the necessity for harmonizing the terminology concerning mitochondrial respiratory states and rates has become increasingly apparent. The chemiosmotic theory establishes the mechanism of energy transformation and coupling in oxidative phosphorylation. The unifying concept of the protonmotive force provides the framework for developing a consistent theoretical foundation of mitochondrial physiology and bioenergetics. We follow the latest SI guidelines and those of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) on terminology in physical chemistry, extended by considerations of open systems and thermodynamics of irreversible processes. The concept-driven constructive terminology incorporates the meaning of each quantity and aligns concepts and symbols with the nomenclature of classical bioenergetics. We endeavour to provide a balanced view of mitochondrial respiratory control and a critical discussion on reporting data of mitochondrial respiration in terms of metabolic flows and fluxes. Uniform standards for evaluation of respiratory states and rates will ultimately contribute to reproducibility between laboratories and thus support the development of data repositories of mitochondrial respiratory function in species, tissues, and cells. Clarity of concept and consistency of nomenclature facilitate effective transdisciplinary communication, education, and ultimately further discovery

Analysis of the statistical correlation between the estimated value of individual risk and the hazard class of a hazardous production facility in the Russian Federation

This article describes industrial safety procedures that take into account a risk-based approach to industrial safety in the Russian Federation, and the specifics of their application. The analysis of 189 objects of I-IV hazard classes of LLC “Technical Environmental Consulting” (LLC “TEC”) was carried out and the statistical correlation between the estimated value of individual risk and the hazard class of a hazardous production facility was identified

Disturbances of Doppler Frequency Shift of Ionospheric Signal and of Telluric Current Caused by Atmospheric Waves from Explosive Eruption of Hunga Tonga Volcano on January 15, 2022

After the explosive eruption of the Hunga Tonga volcano on January 15, 2022, disturbances were observed at a distance of about 12,000 km in Northern Tien Shan and regarded variations in the atmospheric pressure, in telluric current, and in the Doppler frequency shift of ionospheric signal. At 16:00:55 UTC, a pulse of atmospheric pressure was detected there, with peak amplitude of 1.3 hPa and propagation speed of 0.3056 km/s, equal to the velocity of Lamb waves. In the variations in the Doppler frequency shift, disturbances of two types were registered on the 3212 km and 2969 km long inclined radio paths, one of which arose as a response to the passage of a Lamb wave (0.3059 km/s) through the reflection point of the radio wave and another as reaction to an acoustic-gravity wave (0.2602 km/s). Two successive perturbations were also detected in the records of telluric current at the arrival times of the Lamb and acoustic-gravity waves at the registration point. According to the parameters of the Lamb wave, the energy transfer into the atmosphere upon the explosion of the Hunga Tonga volcano was roughly estimated to be 2000 Mt of TNT equivalent

Anthropocentric text typology models

The article presents an analysis of theoretical concepts and applied communication models. The purpose of the article is to substantiate and identify ontological features and distinctive parameters of texts of various functional and stylistic characteristics. The research methodology is oriented towards an anthropodeterministic understanding of the nature of the text and the mode of its functioning. The main results are modeling ontological parameters of the text from the position of a functional understanding of the text as a process and product of communication. The article explores relevant concepts and theories of communication and identifies invariant and variable parameters of the functioning of texts in the projection of extralinguistic variables.El artículo presenta un análisis de conceptos teóricos y modelos de comunicación aplicada. El propósito del artículo es sustanciar e identificar características ontológicas y parámetros distintivos de textos de varias características funcionales y estilísticas. La metodología de investigación está orientada hacia una comprensión antropodeterminista de la naturaleza del texto y el modo de su funcionamiento. Los resultados principales son modelar parámetros ontológicos del texto desde la posición de una comprensión funcional del texto como un proceso y producto de la comunicación. El artículo explora conceptos y teorías relevantes de la comunicación e identifica parámetros invariables y variables del funcionamiento de los textos en la proyección de variables extralingüísticas