The Sediments Flow of the Main Baikal Rivers and Its Sensitivity to the Environmental Change (East Siberia, Russia)

The results of the analysis of water and sediments flows’ changes of main inflowing Baikal rivers over the observation period are presented. Long-term observation record of sediments flow is divided into two periods differ with average values and a scale fluctuations of annual averages values. During the first period dynamics of sediments flow of rivers is determined by hydro-climatic factors, i.e. fluctuations of sediments flow, in general, are synchronous to fluctuations of water flow. During the second period (from the second half of 1970s) there is the downward trend of sediments flow’s change (decrease by 48 – 81%) against the background of increased water content of rivers. This trend is caused by both anthropogenic influence in basins of rivers under review and natural processes, connected to global and regional changes of climatic characteristics. In general, natural processes of sediments flow’s changes in the different areas of Baikal basin are adjusted by anthropogenic factors to a greater or lesser extent. The present article can be used as information and analytical material for the further research and forecast of sediments flow’s changes in Baikal basin as well as in other rift-valley lakes of the world. Keywords: Lake Baikal, water and sediments flow, trends, antropogenic factor, climate chang

Reform of the Treaty on the European Union: Implement Impossible Abandon

The article addresses the discussions in the European Union that broke out after closing of the Conference on the future of Europe. The author consistently analyzes the positions of the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission, while identifying differences between both EU institutions and Member States. The stumbling block is the prospects for the EU institutional reform, which can be carried out both by changing the Treaty on the European Union and without convening the Convention, but only by applying the «passerelle» clause, which provides an opportunity to move from unanimity to voting by qualified majority in the Council on a number of important issues. The author emphasizes that an additional motivation for the European Parliament to call for cancelling of unanimity was the threat of blocking sanctions against Russia by certain countries. The second part of the article examines the development of European Political Community (EPC), the idea, which was put forward by French President Macron at the end of the Conference. The author argues that the plans to create the EPC as a «light legal structure with decisionmaking powers» are directly related to implementation of institutional reform, namely, unanimity cancelling. Thus, scientific and political discussions are conducted around fundamental directions – the ratio of deepening and expanding European integration

Representations of the Stone Age anglers about the sky (sanctuaries of the Lake Onega)

In this report the author views the original symbolic images disc-, crescent- and half-moon-shaped with one-two ray-like lines, directed to one aside. These pictures have been carved on capes rock tips of the eastern coast of the Onega Lake together with depictions of waterfowls, elks, ships, men ets., opened 160 years ago. This images had belonged to the population of Pit-Comb Ceramic Culture (the end of the 5-th - the middle 3-rd millennium BC). The author analyses indicated figures in a complex manner, taken into consideration the graphical, cultural and chronological, natural and geographical, topographic and astronomical particular features. The main focus of the report is the interrelationship between the orientation function of the figures, peculiarities of their forms and azimuths meaning, calculated on the basis of the directions of rays-like parts of the signs. Total amount of the analyzed symbolic figures is 62. The results of the research is demonstrates the connection of the examined carvings with the azimuths of the moonrises and moonsets in all the visible phases on the days of equinoxes and solstices. Only eight figures can be belonging to solar symbols. Such situation may be connected with the existence of the lunar calendar. Taking into consideration the specific conditions of the Sanctuary location on the Onega Lake, peculiarities of the forms and semantic content symbolic figures, the author hypothesized that one-two radial lines, located on the solar and lunar signs, could depict the Sun and Moon paths on the lake surface and indirectly to indicate Sun and Moon risings and settings azimuths on the water horizon. The main body of the figures reflected form peculiarities of the observable heavenly body. There are the reasons to think that a lunar and a solar signs of a similar type have been the most ancient astrolabes. The majority of them had pointed to the directions to a place of the luminaries rising and setting on the horizon. Some figures marked a mutual position of the Sun and the Moon at the time of rising and setting in the astronomically significant days of year

THE REFORM OF THE RULES OF PROCEDURE FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF «QATARGATE»

The article focuses on the proposals for the European Parliament’s reform against the background of a corruption scandal called «Qatargate» due to bribes by MEPs and attempts to influence EU policy towards Qatar during preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The author traces the EP’s initiative, from the resolution adopted in December 2022, which laid down outlines of the future reform to the EP President’s plan on specific points of reform, which was presented in January 2022. The more radical proposals of the EP political groups that were not included in the final version are particularly noted. The author points to the dissatisfaction of MEPs with the term «Qatargate», which is explained by the EU leadership’s concern to spoil relations with the state, on which the EU energy security largely depends today. The second part of the article addresses the upcoming law on foreign agents within the framework of the EU legislative package for the democracy protection. The author notes that the law, called EuroFARA, is supposed to be an analogue of the US law on foreign agents (FARA), despite the fact that the corresponding Russian law, which was also developed on the FARA basis, is severely criticised in the European Union

EU AND THE PROBLEM OF CULTURAL GOODS TRAFFICKING

The article addresses the EU legal and practical actions in the new field of combating organized crime-trafficking in cultural goods. The author argues that this area of crime has a long history, but today the scale of criminal networks’ activities has reached unprecedented level, which makes it possible to consider crimes in the field of art as an «emerging» type of crime. Turning to history, the author gives examples of high-profile cases uncovered by law enforcement agencies of European countries since the 1960s, and draws attention to the changing methods of criminal activity with the use of social networks and new digital technologies. The article analyzes international and European legislation against trafficking in cultural goods, as well as practical cooperation of law enforcement agencies to detect and prosecute smugglers and fraudsters operating in art markets. In conclusion, the author notes the low efficiency of both the legal system and international cooperation, citing as one of the reasons the insufficient concern of politicians about the scale of the new threat

Correlation between miR-146a and miR-155 levels and concentration of cytokines in patients with allergopathy in chronic persistence of Epstein-Barr virus infection

Analysis of correlation between miR-146a and miR-155 levels and concentration of antiviral cytokines in patients with allergopathy in active and latent phases of chronic persistence of Epstein-Barr virus infection (EBV) has been conducted. Thus, 38 patients with allergopathy and chronic persistence of EBV of different genders, age 32.73.2 years have been examined, who were divided into groups depending on the phases of virus persistence. Control group included 20 healthy individuals. Reliable changes in IL12, IL33, IL1ß and IFN- were revealed in patients of both groups. The results: reliably higher levels of miR-146a expression, by 2.9 times (р=8.0E-04) and by 2.25 times (р=0.011), respectively, compared with control group; reliable difference in miR-155 levels in patients with EBV-infection in active and latent forms of virus persistence (р=1.0E-07) and significant decrease in the indicated miRNA (р=1.0E-07) by 55.8 times in patients with latent course of EBV-infection compared with control. A reliable reverse correlation of various intensities was detected between IL12, IL1ß, IFN- and miR-146a; absence of correlation between TNF-α, IL33 and miR-146a was observed. A direct correlation was revealed between all investigated cytokines IL12, TNF-α, IL33, IL1ß, IFN- and miR-155. the results of investigation showed that elevation of miR-146a can prognostically indicate inhibition of pro-inflammatory activity of cytokines and anti-inflammatory protection with the formation of pathological disorders, including allergopathy. Meanwhile, the presence of chronic persistence of EBV demonstrates an opposite direction of correlations between miR-155 and cytokines with pro-inflammatory properties, which confirms the ability of opportunistic infections to modulate immune response toward allergopathy

Archaeoastronomical object on Tuzluk Mount in the Elbrus region (Northern Caucasus)

The article presents the results of a study of an object of four megaliths (outcrops) of fairly regular forms on the top of Mount Tuzluk. Outcrops are separated by mutually intersecting passages, forming a shape similar to a cruciform with orientation to the sides of the World. Almost all the sides of the stone-outcrops within the aisles are flat, plumb or slightly inclined, visually artificially aligned and treated. It is assumed that the outcrops were used in ancient times as near-sight sights for observing sunrises and sunsets of the full moon on significant astronomical dates, while the complex of four outcrops was an ancient near-horizon 'observatory'. Field studies using the methodology of archaeoastronomic research and measurements (Potemkina, Yurevich, 1998, pp. 17-35, 46-47), with direct observations in nature from the supposed relative observation center during the solstices, were carried out by a group of enthusiastic experts from 2001 to 2012. In this case, targeted archaeological researches were not conducted. The works were carried out at the exploration level using data from topography and astronomy. The main attention was paid to survey from the top of Mount Tuzluk a circular panorama of the horizon with a mark on it of the calculated and observed directions of rising / setting of the main luminaries on significant astronomical dates. The adjacent territory was also explored, where archaeological monuments were revealed: anthropomorphic stone sculptures (6), plates with molds for casting tools (3), stones with different indentations and traces of strong fire (2), tours of ethnographic modernity, more than 10 in total. There were done photography and mapping of the location of all the artifacts found on the ground and linking them to the object on the top of Mount Tuzluk. Subsequent systematization and analysis of field research results obtained over 10 years allows us to reasonably assume the use of an object at the top of a mountain as an ancient observation point for the annual movement of main luminaries on the surrounding horizon. This conclusion is based primarily on the coincidence of the azimuths calculated and observed relative to the prospective observation center of not only significant astronomical directions, but also with the undercut sides of the outcrops as near viewers and with noticeable sight on the far horizon, which cannot be accidental. The presence in the vicinity of the mountain of these archaeological objects of a cult nature, located on significant astronomical directions, suggests the existence of a cult center on the mountain Tuzluk and the adjacent territory. The beginning of the time of its functioning, if we proceed from the proposed by researchers for the stone sculpture No. 1 located near the Tuzluk mountain, date - VII centuries BC, can be pre-determined by pre-Scythian time. The most similar analogue to the archaeoastronomic object on Mount Tuzluk is the rocky sanctuary Kabile in Bulgaria, reliably functioning in ancient Thrace at the same time and located at the same geographical latitude, in the same Circumpontin region

Violations of the Law in the Field of Card Supply during the Great Patriotic War (Based on the Materials of the Chelyabinsk Region)

The research is devoted to a topic that has not become the subject of special study: the impact of the normalized supply system on economic crime during the great Patriotic war. The reasons for the growth of crime in the card supply system are identified, the types of economic crimes are considered, and the difficulties of their detection and suppression are analyzed. It is concluded that the efforts of government agencies to organize the registration of cards, identify cases of theft and fraudulent schemes, could not be effective due to the General decline in the standard of living of the population and lack of resources.Исследование посвящено теме, не ставшей предметом специального изучения: влиянию нормированной системы снабжения на экономическую преступность в период Великой Отечественной войны. Определены причины роста преступности в системе карточного снабжения, рассмотрены виды экономических преступлений и проанализированы сложности их выявления и пресечения. Сделан вывод о том, что усилия государственных органов по организации учета карточек, выявления случаев хищения и мошеннических схем не могли быть эффективными из-за общего снижения уровня жизни населения и дефицита ресурсов.Исследование выполнено в рамках научно-исследовательского ГРАНТа Российского фонда фундаментальных исследований (2019-2021гг.). 19-09-00185 А «Экономическая преступность в годы Великой Отечественной войны: выявление, расследование, пресечение (на материалах Южного Урала)»

Social Infrastructure of the Enterprise as the Main Factor of Workers’ Life Support During the War Years (1941–1945)

Introduction. The functioning of the social infrastructure of industrial enterprises of the Soviet rear is of research interest to understand the sources of the victory of the USSR in the Great Patriotic War. Methods and Materials. The source base of the study is represented by documents from the central and local archives of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan, most of which are introduced into scientific circulation for the first time. In the course of the study, a modernization methodological approach was applied, historical-comparative and historical-genetic research methods were used. Analysis. The article deals with management mechanisms and characterizes the objects of social infrastructure of industrial enterprises of the military complex of the USSR with the example of defense enterprises of such front and rear regions as Stalingrad, Chelyabinsk region and Kazakhstan with regard to the period 1941–1945. The difficulties of functioning of working hostels, health centers, nurseries, canteens, subsidiary farms, caused by extreme conditions of wartime and a general lack of material and financial resources, are shown. Results. During the analysis, it was possible to establish regional differences in the activities of social infrastructure facilities, violations of the principle of social justice and unsatisfactory quality of social services provided were noted. Using the example of three regions of the USSR, the conclusion is made about the importance of social policy at industrial enterprises for improving production discipline and the survival of workers. Authors’ contribution. M.N. Potemkina analyzed the documents of the Joint State Archive of the Chelyabinsk region, developed the methodological foundations of the study, formulated the main results; R.S. Zharkynbayeva analyzed archival sources from the Archive of the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, which allowed to determine the regional features of the social infrastructure of industrial enterprises. E.V. Anufrieva participated in identifying documents from the archives of the Volgograd region and writing the final text

Formation of the socially-oriented model of economic growth

The article presents the essential characterization of economic growth, considering modern socioeconomic tendencies. The opportunity for economic growth was justified on the basis of its three elements: quantitative, qualitative and reproductive. Strategic initiatives were formulated within the sociallyoriented model of economic growth. Major “failures” in the social environment, which were the result of the current socioeconomic system, were determined. As means for providing a social order in the country, the authors defined the social partnership of power and business. This article formulates strategic initiatives within the framework of socially oriented model of the economic growth.Straipsnyje analizuojamas ekonomikos augimas, atsižvelgiant į šiuolaikines socialines ekonomines tendencijas. Ekonominio augimo galimybes pateisina trys pagrindiniai elementai: kiekybiniai, kokybiniai ir reprodukciniai. Strateginės iniciatyvos buvo suformuluotos, siekiant užtikrinti socialiai orientuotą ekonominį augimą. Buvo nustatytos pagrindinės dabartinės socialinės ekonominės sistemos raidos socialinės aplinkos nesėkmės. Autoriai jėgos ir verslo partnerystę nurodo kaip pagrindinę priemonę, siekiant sustiprinti socialinę tvarką šalyje. Straipsnyje suformuluotos konkrečios strateginės iniciatyvos siekiant socialiai orientuoto ekonomikos augimo