Upgrading Russian enterprises from the value chain perspective: the case study of tube & pipe, and furniture sectors

The paper is the first analysis of the competitiveness of Russian enterprises from the perspective of value chains, with a focus on the example of tube & pipe and furniture producers. In both industries, Russian firms enjoy an advantage on the raw material side. Nevertheless, the overall competitiveness level of Russian producers remains modest. Domestic industries primarily owe decreased competitiveness to the inadequate operation of the final links in the value chain: from end-product production to the end-user. In addition, the competitiveness of domestic producers is limited to the ability of key players in the chain to redistribute additional gains in their own favor. Study shows that any non-selective methods of supporting enterprises (such as tax reductions) exert extremely limited influence on the status of players in those chains where one of the links is characterized by serious entry barriers and related opportunities of rent redistribution in favor of a particular player. Paper suggests several policy measures which aim to improve the ability of the producers to reposition themselves along the chain or to modify the chain itself

Russian Manufacturing Revisited: Industrial Enterprises at the Start of the Crisis

The paper is based on the findings of a major project by the Higher School of Economics Institute for Industrial and Market Studies (IIMS) to monitor competitiveness of manufacturing enterprises. The study focuses on the drivers and dynamics of business competitiveness, including changes in firms’ behavior during the period before the crisis (2005-2008). The primary issue was to find out what firms and to what extent succeeded in capitalizing on the strong economic growth before the crisis to catch up with their competitors and gain a sustainable competitive position in the market. What was driving output increases and enhanced production efficiency? What were the impediments to this process

Double proximity effect in hybrid planar Superconductor-(Normal metal/Ferromagnet)-Superconductor structures

We have investigated the differential resistance of hybrid planar Al-(Cu/Fe)-Al submicron bridges at low temperatures and in weak magnetic fields. The structure consists of Cu/Fe-bilayer forming a bridge between two superconducting Al-electrodes. In superconducting state of Al-electrodes, we have observed a double-peak peculiarity in differential resistance of the S-(N/F)-S structures at a bias voltage corresponding to the minigap. We claim that this effect (the doubling of the minigap) is due to an electron spin polarization in the normal metal which is induced by the ferromagnet. We have demonstrated that the double-peak peculiarity is converted to a single peak at a coercive applied field corresponding to zero magnetization of the Fe-layer

The nucleation in oligomer melts

Impulse NMR has been used to study the crystallization conditions of oligoethylene- and oligo-butylene adipates as a function of the melt temperature at constant crystallization temperature. Residual crystal structures have been found in the melts above the melting temperature; these act as nuclei in the subsequent crystallization. The Avrami equation describing the crystallization kinetics from the melt has been modified on the basis of this result; in addition to the classical and homogeneous nucleation there is one in which the crystal nuclei are the residual crystal structures already existing in the melt. © 1978

Determination of the inertness of the balance of the excitatory and inhibitory type of the nervous system in athletes using the kinematometric method

When training professional athletes, a special place is occupied by the analysis of mental activity, carried out from the standpoint of an individual approach. The present paper discusses ways to control the change of nerve processes such as excitation and inhibition and their predominance in each individual.При подготовке профессиональных спортсменов особое место занимает анализ психической деятельности, осуществляемый с позиций индивидуального подхода. В представленной работе рассматриваются способы контроля за сменой нервных процессов таких как возбуждение и торможение и их преобладание у каждого индивида

Evaluation of the state of functional system with the help of cardiointervalograms in drivers

The article discusses ways to control the formation of a functional system in novice drivers, while the physiological characteristics of heart rate variability (HRV) of novice drivers were used as reference pointsВ статье рассматриваются способы контроля за формированием функциональной системы у начинающих водителей, при этом в качестве опорных моментов были использованы физиологические характеристики вариабельности сердечного ритма (ВРС) начинающих водителе

Comparison of the effects of liraglutide and sibutramine in obese patients

Background: Obesity is a global noncommunicable pandemic. The low effectiveness of treating obesity is associated with the difficulty of maintaining weight loss due to the reaction of the appetite regulation system. Drugs with central mechanisms of action can help overcome this problem.Aim: The aim of our study was to compare the effects of liraglutide and sibutramine (Reduxin) on the dynamics of weight and cardiometabolic parameters in obese patients without cardiovascular diseases.Materials and methods: We estimated the dynamics of the main metabolic parameters (BMI, glucose, lipid metabolism, blood pressure), the level of hormones involved in the regulation of fat metabolism (leptin, adiponectin, insulin), the ­HOMA-IR index, markers of oxidative stress and inflammation during therapy with liraglutide in comparison with reduxin for 6 months in obese patients.Results: 64 obese patients were included in the study: 25 patients — in the “Liraglutide” group, 39 patients — in the “Sibutramine” group in accordance with the declared inclusion / exclusion criteria. The included patients were young, average body mass index (BMI) (37.92 ± 5.45 kg / m2), average glycemic level was 5.47 ± 0.81 mmol /l, HOMA-IR was 6.01 ± 4.25, blood pressure was at inclusion was within the normal range, but 21.8% of patients received antihypertensive therapy.Both treatment options provided a comparable decrease in body weight (-10.28% vs -9.47%, p = 0.13)., Leptin level (-32.12% vs -41.77%, p = 0.77) and myeloperoxidase (-33.33% vs -19.91%, p = 0.2). The blood pressure level did not change significantly on liraglutide, while on reduxin the level of diastolic blood pressure (dBP) increased significantly (6.87%, p = 0.006). There was a more pronounced decrease in insulin levels compared to the baseline level (-46%, p = 0.005), as well as a decrease in the HOMA-IR index (-50.08, p = 0.005) on liraglutide therapy.An increase in adiponectin levels (+ 45.36% vs 14.01%, p = 0.0045) and a decrease in low density lipoprotein(LDL) cholesterol were significantly more pronounced on reduxin therapy (-15.03% vs -9.4%, p = 0.006).36% of the participants completed their participation in the study ahead of schedule due to the lack of effect in the form of weight loss in the «Liraglutide» group. Side effects in the “Liraglutide” group were observed in 16% of patients. 48% of patients took part in the study within 6 months. In the «Sibutramine» group 33.4% of patients completed the study ahead of schedule for reasons unrelated to the drug intake, the side effects were observed in 20.5% of patients. 46.1% of participants in the «Sibutramine» group received therapy for 6 months.Conclusions: This study confirms the previous findings that both liraglutide and reduxin therapy provide effective weight loss. We found a positive trend in markers of inflammation, atherogenesis and oxidative stress, and leptin levels. Liraglutide therapy was accompanied by a more pronounced effect on the state of carbohydrate metabolism, and reduxin therapy provided a more pronounced dynamics of lipid disorders and adiponexin. Both groups were characterized by a rather low adherence to therapy, but the incidence of side effects requiring stopping therapy was higher in the Sibutramine group

TNF, SOLUBLE RECEPTORS AND AUTOANTIBODIES TO TNF OF PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND HEALTHY DONORS

The content of autoantibodies to TNF in the sera of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in conjunction with the definition of soluble receptors and TNF was investigated. A significant increase in the content of TNF and I and II types soluble receptors to TNF in sera of RA patients in the acute stage and of responding to therapy RA patients compared with relatively healthy donors was demonstrated. In determining autoantibodies subclasses a significant increase in the relative content of subclasses IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 autoantibodies in sera of RA patients in the acute stage compared with relatively healthy donors, as well as a significant increase in the relative content of subclasses IgG2 and IgG4 autoantibodies in RA patients in the acute stage compared with RA patients, responding to therapy were shown. Thus we have shown the presence of antibodies, soluble receptors to TNF and cytokine in the serum of relatively healthy donors and RA patients, herewith taking into account significant changes in the relative content of the subclasses of autoantibodies and in the content of TNF and soluble receptors we can talk about the functional role of the autoantibodies and soluble receptors to TNF in the pathology