Increased Indoor Exposure to Commonly Used Disinfectants During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Staying safe during the COVID-19 pandemic requires frequent disinfecting of the indoor environment. Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs or “quats”) are the major class of chemicals widely used as disinfectants in consumer products. While disinfection is necessary for a safe environment during the pandemic, the increased use of QACs is concerning as exposure to these compounds has been associated with adverse effects on reproductive and respiratory systems. We have determined the occurrence and distribution of 19 QACs in 46 residential dust collected before and during the outbreak of COVID-19. All QACs were detected in more than 90% of the samples at concentrations ranging from 1.95 to 531 μg/g (median 58.9 μg/g). Higher QAC concentrations were found in dust collected before the COVID-19 pandemic and in homes with higher disinfecting frequencies (p < 0.05). In addition, 7 products most frequently used in these homes were analyzed, and QACs were detected at concentrations reaching up to 16,600 mg/L. The QAC profiles in dust and in products were similar, suggesting that these products can be a significant source of QACs. Our findings indicate that the indoor exposure to QACs is widespread, raising concerns about increased exposure to these chemicals during the ongoing pandemic.We thank the participating households for donating dust. The MapMyEnvironment program and related sampling effort is partially supported by NSF award ICER-1701132 to Filippelli and the Environmental Resilience Institute, funded by Indiana University’s Prepared for Environmental Change Grand Challenge Initiative

К 20-летию создания Союза Арабского Магриба

The Arab Maghreb Union was formed in 1989 in order to coordinate regional policies on military, economic, cultural and international issues. The reasons of lack of understanding among countries - participants of the Arab Maghreb Union and factors of organizational strengthening in future are examined.Союз Арабского Магриба был создан в 1989 г. с целью проведения скоординированной региональной политики в военной, экономической, культурной и международной областях. Статья посвящена изучению причин разногласий между странами - участницами Союза и факторов возможного укрепления организации в будущем

Конструирование личных брендов в бьюти-влогах

В мире стабильно растет популярность цифрового контента о макияже и уходе за собой («бьюти»). Большая часть его производителей и потребителей — молодые люди. На примере трех российских YouTube-каналов («Arina Viscera», «ND Beauty Channel» и «Gev Mua») автор исследует, как производящие их влогеры выстраивают свои личные бренды в рамках производства бьюти-контента. В исследовании используются анализ дискурса и качественный анализ контента. Полученные результаты свидетельствуют, что формат бьюти-влога предоставляет пользователю различные варианты презентации себя аудитории через выбор тех или иных способов демонстрации экспертной позиции, соотнесения себя со зрителями, манифестации своей увлеченности косметикой и раскрытия эмоциональных и физических ресурсов, вкладываемых в производство контента

Social commitment

The article is devoted to the modern problems of state regulation associated with a decrease in the amount of resources allocated for ensuring social rights. The points of view of a number of authors on this topic are considered. Analyzed the possibility of solving this problem. Статья посвящена современным проблемам государственного регулирования, связанных с уменьшением объема ресурсов, направляемых на обеспечение социальных прав. Рассмотрены точки зрения ряда авторов по данной теме. Проанализирована возможность решения данной проблемы

Priority Areas of Scientific and Technological Development

The accelerated scientific and technological development of Russia requires the development of both platform (end-to-end) technologies with significant multiplicative potential and targeted areas that form the basis of the Russian economy and are focused on solving the most important socio-economic problems. Accounting for the effects of global trends, combined with the expected demand for new technologies from the sectors of the economy, made it possible to form promising areas of scientific and technological development, which are presented in the report in the form of a three-level hierarchical structure

Economics of Biotechnological Processes in Sustainable Development

The growth of the world’s population and its concentration in large cities increases the pressure on ecosystems and infrastructure, which can be offset by the introduction of “smart” technologies in the urban environment. The increase in life expectancy generates demand for technologies, products, services that provide an active lifestyle, the growth of “age” employment (“silver economy”), high-tech healthcare and personalized medicine. The need to solve food problems stimulates the development of agro- and food biotechnologies, the introduction of new technologies for the industrial production of agricultural raw materials and food products. The consequences of the demographic transition, migration processes and social inequality increase the risks of new epidemics, the return of disappeared infections and, accordingly, the demand for quality and affordable medical services. Changing values, lifestyles, digitalization of society entail the transformation of consumption patterns (economy of sharing, greening, etc.). Under the influence of ICT and their convergence, globalization and digitalization will also cover the field of education, strengthening its interdisciplinary nature

Petroleum-Collecting And Dispersing Chemicals For Cleaning Sea Surface From Thin Petroleum Slicks

Monoethylolamide, diethylolamide and triethanolamine ester synthesized by us based on fish oil and their phosphate derivatives being surface-active and ecologically safe possess a high capacity of petroleum collecting and dispersing. When introducing phosphate group, a tendency to replacement of petroleum slick dispersing by its collection (accumulation into a spot) is observed. Efficiency of the chemicals change depends on the type and concentration of ions in the water. Such salts as NaCl, KI, KBr, and MgSO4 positively influence petroleum-collecting activity whereas K2CO3 and NaHCO3 cause petroleum dispersing

The effect of hydrogen on the magnetostriction of rare-earth compounds TbxDy₁₋xFe₂

The crystal structure and the magnetic and magnetoelastic properties of TbxDy₁₋xFe₂Hy (x = 0.27; 0.41; y ≤ 3) are investigated. The hydrides are obtained by the interaction of TbxDy₁₋xFe₂ samples with hydrogen gas at room temperature. It is established that the hydrides have the same cubic type of structure as the parent compounds but the lattice parameter in the hydrides is larger than in the hydrogen-free samples. Both the Curie temperature and the magnetic moment decrease drastically as the hydrogen concentration increases. Measurements of the longitudinal λ|| and transverse magnetostriction λ^ are carried out in magnetic fields up to 12 kOe in the temperature range 78√300 K using strain gauges.The thermal expansion coefficients as a function of temperature are obtained for hydrides with high hydrogen concentration. The magnetostriction of hydrides is strongly different from that of hydride-free samples. The small and negative value of the magnetostriction at low temperatures proves that hydrogen atoms make a strong contribution to the crystal field acting on the rare-earth ions

An Innovative Model of Economic Development of the Market

The transformation of the economy into an innovative socio-economic system is the basis for fundamental changes in the modern world, radically changing both the nature of labor and the main productive forces, and the appearance of society, the level and quality of its life. The content of the transition of the economy to a new stage of development is such processes as a change in the technological basis and model of economic management, strengthening of its social orientation and, finally, globalization. A fundamentally new technological basis of society is being formed today, a key role in which is played by information computer systems, nano- and biotechnologies, which have an innovative character and dynamism as their distinctive feature. The ongoing intensive development of the needs of society, science, technology, information determines both the expansion of the diversity of existing factors and models of economic growth, and the emergence of new ones