Arctic Strategy Singapore

Currently, the Arctic is the center of world politics. It is of interest not only for major world powers, but also for small technologically advanced states. So Singapore, a small island state, declares its economic and political interests on the territory of a large white mainland. Providing in return its vast technological base.В настоящий момент Арктика является центром мировой политики. Она представляет интерес не только для крупных мировых держав, но и для малых технологически развитых государств. Так, Сингапур, малое островное государство, заявляет свои экономические и политические интересы на территории большого белого материка. Предоставляя взамен свою технологическую обширную базу

Portable neutron/gamma scintillation detector for status monitoring of accelerator-driven neutron source IREN

Accelerator-driven system (ADS) facilities world-wide opens new opportunities for nuclear physics investigations, so that a high flux of neutrons through spallation reactions can be produced at these facilities. It is known that the measurement, continuous monitoring and optimization of the particle accelerator beam intensity are among the most important actions in the operation of such facilities. Considering this point of view, this paper presents a neutron/gamma counter based on a micropixel avalanche photodiode (MAPD) and a plastic scintillator that monitors the status of the accelerator-driven intense resonance neutron source (IREN) facility by measuring the neutron-gamma intensity in the target hall. The electronics of the modular neutron counter has been designed and developed, including a bias voltage source (up to 130 V), a preamplifier (36 gain) and discriminator (>10 mV) circuit. The last product of MAPD (operation voltage- 55 V, PDE- 33 %, total number of pixels- 136900) was used as a photon readout from a plastic scintillator. The sensitive area of MAPD was 3.7*3.7 mm2 and the size of the plastic scintillator 3.7*3.7*30 mm3. The measurement was carried out in the IREN target hall, where it was necessary to monitor not only high neutron fluxes, but also gamma quanta. The experimental results demonstrated a dependence between the count rate of the detector and the frequency of the accelerator, which ranges from 2 to 50 Hz.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figure

REGARDING THE RISKS OF OCCURRENCE OF EMERGENCY SITUATIONS IN THE SPHERE OF BIOLOGICAL SAFETY OF INTERNATIONAL CONCERN AND THEIR PREDICTORS

The paper presents the analysis of the current epidemiological situation from the viewpoint of identification of risks of emergency situation onset in the sphere of biological safety, which differs from the emergency situation of sanitary-epidemiological welfare in the character of after-effects that are comparable in the quality and the scale to the threats to national and international security. In reference to the parameters of emergency situation in the sphere of biological safety, epidemic of Ebola fever in West Africa countries (2013-2016) has been described. Biosafety emergency situation is most likely to be predicted in the following cases: occurrence of the flu pandemic of the novel subtype (International Health Regulations, 2005); intensification of unfavorable for public health tendencies against the background of Zika fever transmission; larde-scale failures in the provision of biological safety when working with pathogenic biological agents; foreseeable, hard to control consequences of onset and transmission of infectious diseases caused by microorganisms with synthetic genome; occurrence of epidemic events during international mass meetings; justified interpretation of emergency situation, applying IHR (2005), as an after-effect of violation of the Convention on the Prohibition of Biological and Toxin Weapons (CBTW) and the grounds for intervention into the internal affairs of offending countries with social-economic, geo-political aftermaths and damage to the national security

Deployment of Systematic Approach to the Assessment of Surveillance and Control over Ebola Virus Disease

Studied has been systematic approach as regards epidemiological surveillance and control over emergency situations in the sphere of sanitary-epidemiological welfare by the example of Ebola fever epidemic in West Africa countries. Based on the literature data available, analyzed have been measures for EVD surveillance and control, with reference to every stage of epidemiological process (source/ origin, agent, mechanism of transmission, recipient) at various levels of matter organization (global, regional, population, cellular, molecular, and sub-molecular). Following this, put forward have been primary areas for EVD control optimization

Concerning Two-Level Structure of Potential Epidemic Hazard of the Mass Events with International Participation

The paper discusses epidemiological environment of particular countries and parts of the world viewed as potential platforms for mass events with international participation. It is established that the most unfavorable in this respect are Asian countries, primarily South-Eastern Asia ones, and African ones, from where the majority of well-known pandemics and epidemics have originated. Specified are the factors which are significant for spread of infectious diseases that can trigger emergency situation of sanitary epidemiological character of international concern. They are tourism and migration, trade and economic affairs, natural and anthropogenic disasters. The concept - “potential epidemic hazard of mass events with international participation” - is defined. It is demonstrated that its structure comprises two levels: the natural background of endemic and imported as related to mass event region epidemiological hazards, and epidemiological hazards imposed by the event itself. Outlined is a step-by-step algorithm for assessment of “potential epidemic hazard” of mass events with international participation allowing for adjustment of measures for the provision of sanitary and epidemiological welfare of the population

Improvement of the Preventive Measures for Managing Universiade-2013 Held in Kazan, Based on Comprehensive Evaluation of Epidemiological Risks as Regards Natural-Focal Infectious Diseases

Presented is the methodology for comprehensive evaluation of epidemiological risks (spatial and temporal characteristics, risk factors and cohorts) associated with natural-focal infectious diseases that pose a threat to sanitary-epidemiological welfare of the population within the frames of Universiade-2013. The event has been characterized from the viewpoint of mass gathering taking into consideration the complex of related threats to sanitary-epidemiological welfare of the population. Analyzed has been regional epidemiological situation on the currently important infections, whereas natural-focal infections have been assessed in reference to epidemiological risk. Based on the comprehensive evaluation with GIS software application differentiated have been the territories against the level of potential epidemiological hazard, put forward has been methodological approach to non-specific prophylaxis of natural-focal infectious diseases. Discussed have been the fundamentals of the approach, herewith it has been demonstrated that justified selection of internal threat and identification of spatial risk factors, as well as nature, scope and timing of the preventive measures ensure provision of favorable epidemiological situation as seen in the case of Universiade-2013

Distribution of Infectious Diseases Significant for Sanitary Protection of the Territory of the Russian Federation in the WHO European Region

The review presents generalized epidemiological data and the situation on infectious diseases requiring measures for the sanitary protection of the territory of the Russian Federation in the countries of the European Region of the World Health Organization (WHO). The epidemiological analysis was carried out using data from the official websites and periodicals of WHO, the WHO European Office, the ministries of health of countries, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control, other international organizations, as well as materials from publicly available publications. The review summarizes and systematizes data on the incidence and territorial distribution of diseases in each specific country from the standpoint of possible risks for people visiting it. The presented data on infectious diseases make it possible to navigate through issues related to the risk of contracting infectious diseases, to determine the factors and seasonality of an increased risk of infection, and to predict the possibility of importing diseases into the Russian Federation

Quantitative Assessment of Potential Epidemic Hazard of Mass Events with International Participation and Methodology Approbation in the Context of Universiade-2013

Put forward is a methodology for quantitative assessment of potential epidemic hazard (PEH) as regards mass events with international participation in terms of the relevant infectious diseases capable of (in compliance with IHR, 2005) inducing emergency situation of sanitary epidemiological character. It is established that PEH is an aggregate risk of infection importation by incoming contestants and visitors and of its dissemination across the mass even location. As a result of PEH level differentiation identified have been four following grades: high, medium, low and minimum. Calculated has been a rate of PEH for the XXVI Worldwide Summer Universiade in Kazan, 2013, exemplified by such infectious disease as cholera

Evaluation of External and Internal Threats to Sanitary-Epidemiological Welfare of the Population in the Context of Mass Sporting Events

Mass gatherings (MGs) always incur some kind of potential hazard associated with incipiency of emergency situations with sanitary-epidemiological bias (ES). Upcoming Universiade (World Student Games) in Kazan (July, 2013) raises an issue of implementation of a unified system of approaches to the effective provision of sanitary-epidemiological welfare of the population, taking due account of peculiarities and specific conditions under which the MG will be conducted. Therewith key objective of this study has been formulated as elaboration of the system based on epidemiological assessment of real and potential threats at the MG. Analyzed have been the data on 37 MGs carried out over the period of 25 years since 1987 up to 2012; investigated is epidemiological situation in 170 participating states. Worked out is a scheme of qualitative determination of potential epidemiological threat on the basis of comprehensive assessment of epidemiological risks in the endemic territories of the troubled regions. Distinguished is a complex of measures for the provision of sanitary-epidemiological welfare when managing the Universiade in Kazan heedful of high potential epidemiological hazard of this event