bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A New Definition of the Term “High-Phenolic Olive Oil” Based on Large Scale Statistical Data of Greek Olive Oils Analyzed by qNMR
Authors: Diamantakos Panagiotis , Ioannidis Kostas , Papanikolaou Christos , Tsolakou Annia , Rigakou Aimilia , Melliou Eleni , Magiatis Prokopios
Published: February 2021

In the last few years, a new term, “High-phenolic olive oil”, has appeared in scientific literature and in the market. However, there is no available definition of that term regarding the concentration limits of the phenolic ingredients of olive oil. For this purpose, we performed a large-scale screening and statistical evaluation of 5764 olive oil samples from Greece coming from >30 varieties for an eleven-year period with precisely measured phenolic content by qNMR. Although there is a large variation among the different cultivars, the mean concentration of total phenolic content was 483 mg/kg. The maximum concentration recorded in Greece reached 4003 mg/kg. We also observed a statistically significant correlation of the phenolic content with the harvest period and we also identified varieties affording olive oils with higher phenolic content. In addition, we performed a study of phenolic content loss during usual storage and we found an average loss of 46% in 12 months. We propose that the term high-phenolic should be used for olive oils with phenolic content > 500 mg/kg that will be able to retain the health claim limit (250 mg/kg) for at least 12 months after bottling. The term exceptionally high phenolic olive oil should be used for olive oil with phenolic content > 1200 mg/kg (top 5%).
Reusable Fe3O4/SBA15 Nanocomposite as an Efficient Photo-Fenton Catalyst for the Removal of Sulfamethoxazole and Orange II
Authors: González-Rodríguez Jorge , Fernández Lucía , Vargas-Osorio Zulema , Vázquez-Vázquez Carlos , Piñeiro Yolanda , Rivas José , Feijoo Gumersindo , Moreira Maria Teresa
Published: February 2021

Today, the presence of recalcitrant pollutants in wastewater, such as pharmaceuticals or other organic compounds, is one of the main obstacles to the widespread implementation of water reuse. In this context, the development of innovative processes for their removal becomes necessary to guarantee effluent quality. This work presents the potentiality of magnetic nanoparticles immobilized on SBA-15 mesoporous silica as Fenton and photo-Fenton catalysts under visible light irradiation. The influence of the characteristics of the compounds and nanoparticles on the removal yield was investigated. Once the key aspects of the reaction mechanism were analyzed, to evaluate the feasibility of this process, an azo dye (Orange II) and an antibiotic (sulfamethoxazole) were selected as main target compounds. The concentration of Orange II decreased below the detection limit after two hours of reaction, with mineralization values of 60%. In addition, repeated sequential experiments revealed the recoverability and stability of the nanoparticles in a small-scale reactor. The benchmarking of the obtained results showed a significant improvement of the process using visible light in terms of kinetic performance, comparing the results to the Fenton process conducted at dark. Reusability, yield and easy separation of the catalyst are its main advantages for the industrial application of this process.
A Review on LDH-Smart Functionalization of Anodic Films of Mg Alloys
Authors: Kaseem Mosab , Ramachandraiah Karna , Hossain Shakhawat , Dikici Burak
Published: February 2021

This review presents an overview of the recent developments in the synthesis of layered double hydroxide (LDH) on the anodized films of Mg alloys prepared by either conventional anodizing or plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) and the applications of the formed composite ceramics as smart chloride traps in corrosive environments. In this work, the main fabrication approaches including co-precipitation, in situ hydrothermal, and an anion exchange reaction are outlined. The unique structure of LDH nanocontainers enables them to intercalate several corrosion inhibitors and release them when required under the action of corrosion-relevant triggers. The influences of different variables, such as type of cations, the concentration of salts, pH, and temperature, immersion time during the formation of LDH/anodic film composites, on the electrochemical response are also highlighted. The correlation between the dissolution rate of PEO coating and the growth rate of the LDH film was discussed. The challenges and future development strategies of LDH/anodic films are also highlighted in terms of industrial applications of these materials.
Patient-Derived Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) and Cerebral Organoids for Drug Screening and Development in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Opportunities and Challenges
Authors: Villa Chiara , Combi Romina , Conconi Donatella , Lavitrano Marialuisa
Published: February 2021

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) represents a group of neurodevelopmental diseases characterized by persistent deficits in social communication, interaction, and repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, and activities. The etiopathogenesis is multifactorial with complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors. The clinical heterogeneity and complex etiology of this pediatric disorder have limited the development of pharmacological therapies. The major limit to ASD research remains a lack of relevant human disease models which can faithfully recapitulate key features of the human pathology and represent its genetic heterogeneity. Recent advances in induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), reprogrammed from somatic cells of patients into all types of patient-specific neural cells, have provided a promising cellular tool for disease modeling and development of novel drug treatments. The iPSCs technology allowed not only a better investigation of the disease etiopathogenesis but also opened up the potential for personalized therapies and offered new opportunities for drug discovery, pharmacological screening, and toxicity assessment. Moreover, iPSCs can be differentiated and organized into three-dimensional (3D) organoids, providing a model which mimics the complexity of the brain’s architecture and more accurately recapitulates tissue- and organ-level disease pathophysiology. The aims of this review were to describe the current state of the art of the use of human patient-derived iPSCs and brain organoids in modeling ASD and developing novel therapeutic strategies and to discuss the opportunities and major challenges in this rapidly moving field.
Multicompartmental Lipopolyplex as Vehicle for Antigens and Genes Delivery in Vaccine Formulations
Authors: Sanmartín Isaías , Sendra Luis , Moret Inés , Herrero María José , Aliño Salvador F.
Published: February 2021

Vector design and its characterization is an area of great interest in current vaccine research. In this article, we have formulated and characterized a multicompartmental lipopolyplex, which associates multiple liposomes and polyplexes in the same complex. These particles allow the simultaneous delivery of lipid or water-soluble antigens associated with genes to the same cell, in much higher amounts than conventional lipopolyplexes. The vector characterization and optimization were carried out using liposomes with entrapped carboxyfluorescein and adapted electrophoretic assays. Two types of lipopolyplexes (containing hydrophilic or lipophilic antigens) were employed to evaluate their interest in vaccination. The lipopolyplex loaded with an extract of water-soluble melanoma proteins proved to efficiently induce humoral response in murine melanoma model, increasing the levels of IgM and IgG. The specificity of the immune response induced by the lipopolyplex was demonstrated in mice with the lipopolyplex containing the GD3 ganglioside lipid antigen, abundant in melanoma cells. The levels of anti-GD3 IgG increased markedly without modifying the expression of humoral antibodies against other gangliosides.
Non-Cannabinoid Metabolites of Cannabis sativa L. with Therapeutic Potential
Authors: Lowe Henry , Steele Blair , Bryant Joseph , Toyang Ngeh , Ngwa Wilfred
Published: February 2021

The cannabis plant (Cannabis sativa L.) produces an estimated 545 chemical compounds of different biogenetic classes. In addition to economic value, many of these phytochemicals have medicinal and physiological activity. The plant is most popularly known for its two most-prominent and most-studied secondary metabolites—Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Both Δ9-THC and CBD have a wide therapeutic window across many ailments and form part of a class of secondary metabolites called cannabinoids—of which approximately over 104 exist. This review will focus on non-cannabinoid metabolites of Cannabis sativa that also have therapeutic potential, some of which share medicinal properties similar to those of cannabinoids. The most notable of these non-cannabinoid phytochemicals are flavonoids and terpenes. We will also discuss future directions in cannabis research and development of cannabis-based pharmaceuticals. Caflanone, a flavonoid molecule with selective activity against the human viruses including the coronavirus OC43 (HCov-OC43) that is responsible for COVID-19, and certain cancers, is one of the most promising non-cannabinoid molecules that is being advanced into clinical trials. As validated by thousands of years of the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes, vast anecdotal evidence abounds on the medicinal benefits of the plant. These benefits are attributed to the many phytochemicals in this plant, including non-cannabinoids. The most promising non-cannabinoids with potential to alleviate global disease burdens are discussed.
Prey Size Decline as a Unifying Ecological Selecting Agent in Pleistocene Human Evolution
Authors: Ben-Dor Miki , Barkai Ran
Published: February 2021

We hypothesize that megafauna extinctions throughout the Pleistocene, that led to a progressive decline in large prey availability, were a primary selecting agent in key evolutionary and cultural changes in human prehistory. The Pleistocene human past is characterized by a series of transformations that include the evolution of new physiological traits and the adoption, assimilation, and replacement of cultural and behavioral patterns. Some changes, such as brain expansion, use of fire, developments in stone-tool technologies, or the scale of resource intensification, were uncharacteristically progressive. We previously hypothesized that humans specialized in acquiring large prey because of their higher foraging efficiency, high biomass density, higher fat content, and the use of less complex tools for their acquisition. Here, we argue that the need to mitigate the additional energetic cost of acquiring progressively smaller prey may have been an ecological selecting agent in fundamental adaptive modes demonstrated in the Paleolithic archaeological record. We describe several potential associations between prey size decline and specific evolutionary and cultural changes that might have been driven by the need to adapt to increased energetic demands while hunting and processing smaller and smaller game.
Revisiting the Scopes Trial: Young-Earth Creationism, Creation Science, and the Evangelical Denial of Climate Change
Authors: Marshall K. L.
Published: February 2021

In the century since the Scopes Trial, one of the most influential dogmas to shape American evangelicalism has been that of young-earth creationism. This article explains why, with its arm of “creation science,” young-earth creationism is a significant factor in evangelicals’ widespread denial of anthropogenic climate change. Young-earth creationism has become closely intertwined with doctrines such as the Bible’s divine authority and the Imago Dei, as well as with social issues such as abortion and euthanasia. Addressing this aspect of the environmental crisis among evangelicals will require a re-orientation of biblical authority so as to approach social issues through a hermeneutic that is able to acknowledge the reality and imminent threat of climate change.
Quantum Universe, Horizon, and Antimatter
Authors: Melkikh Alexey V.
Published: February 2021

If the isolated system of bosons and fermions was initially in a pure maximally entangled quantum state, then, as a result of decoherence caused by the creation and annihilation of particles, this system not only enters a mixed state but also achieves equilibrium. The time of such a transition does not depend on the size of the system but is determined only by the properties of the particles. This phenomenon allows the problem of the horizon (the homogeneity of the universe) to be solved, since the transition time of different parts of the universe (if they were originally entangled with each other) to equilibrium will not depend on their sizes, and the speed of the interaction may be greater than the speed of light. Based on the decay of entangled states, the problem of the predominance of matter over antimatter in the universe can also be solved.
Refinements on Some Classes of Complex Function Spaces
Authors: El-Sayed Ahmed Ahmed
Published: February 2021

Some weighted classes of hyperbolic function spaces are defined and studied in this paper. Finally, by using the chordal metric concept, some investigations for a class of general hyperbolic functions are also given.
Combination of Extrusion and Fermentation with Lactobacillus plantarum and L. uvarum Strains for Improving the Safety Characteristics of Wheat Bran
Authors: Bartkiene Elena , Zokaityte Egle , Lele Vita , Starkute Vytaute , Zavistanaviciute Paulina , Klupsaite Dovile , Cernauskas Darius , Ruzauskas Modestas , Bartkevics Vadims , Pugajeva Iveta , Bērziņa Zane , Gruzauskas Romas , Sidlauskiene Sonata , Santini Antonello , Juodeikiene Grazina
Published: February 2021

Processed wheat bran (W) is of great importance for food and feed. Consequently, the biosafety of W should be evaluated and improved with valorisation strategies. This study tested a design combining extrusion (at temperature of 115 and 130 °C; screw speeds of 16, 20, and 25 rpm) and fermentation with Lactobacillus plantarum and L. uvarum strains for the valorisation of W to provide safer food and feed stock. The influence of different treatments on biogenic amine formation, mycotoxin content, and free amino acids, as well as acidity, microbiological parameters, and sugar concentration, were analysed. This research showed that a combination of extrusion and fermentation with selected strains can change several aspects of W characteristics. There was a significant effect of applied treatments on acidity and the microbiological parameters of W, as well as biogenic amines content. The lowest total mycotoxin concentration (29.8 µg/kg) was found in extruded (130 °C; 25 rpm) and fermented with L. uvarum sample. Finally, the combination of the abovementioned treatments can be confirmed as a prospective innovative pre-treatment for W, capable of potentially enhancing their safety characteristics and composition.
Сomparative study of the accuracy of Earth observation by satellite constellations in high elliptical orbits
Authors: GUNCHENKO Mikhail Yu.
Published: February 2021

The paper provides results of estimated accuracy comparisons for applied satellite constellations (ASC) in Molniya-type high elliptical orbits based on a previously presented criterion for analysis of accuracy parameters of ASC that observe targets on the Earth surface and/or in the layer above the surface, which is not dependent on specific features of the onboard equipment, but rather on the structure and dynamics of the ASC. The paper provides an algorithm for numerical simulations of ASC. The paper discusses accuracy parameters for ASC in high elliptical orbits in various orbital configurations, as well as a combined option involving spacecraft in geostationary orbit. It defines key trajectory design parameters driving the ASC accuracy. The results can be used for selecting the initial ASC configuration in high elliptical orbits during preliminary design phase.
Key words: observation satellite systems, high elliptical orbits, accuracy criterion, satellite constellation analysis.
Studying of space weather electromagnetic parameters of ionosphere in «Obstanovka 1-step» experiment on the Russian segment of the ISS
Authors: KLIMOV Stanislav I. , GRUSHIN Valery A. , BALAJTHY Kalman , BACHVAROV Dichko Enchev , BELYAEV Serhiy M. , BERGMAN Jan E.S. , FERENCZ Csaba , GEORGIEVA Katya Yancheva , GOUGH Michael Paul , BELIKOVA Alla B. , BELYAKOVA Lyudmila D. , GRECHKO Tatiana V. , KONOSHENKO Viktor P. , KOREPANOV Valery E. , KIROV Boyan Borisov , LAPSHINOVA Olga V. , LICHTENBERGER János , MARUSENKOV Andriy A. , MORAWSKI Marek , NAGY Janos , NEDKOV Roumen , NOVIKOV Denis I. , RODIN Vyacheslav G. , ROTHKAEHL Hanna , STANEV Georgi Antonov , SZALAI Sándor , SZEGEDI Peter
Published: February 2021

The program and results of physical research in the international (5 countries) space experiment «The situation (1 stage)», conducted onboard the Russian segment of the International Space Station (ISS) in the period 27.02.2013 to 09.05.2015, is presented. The methods and scientific tasks of the experiment and the composition of the Plasma-wave complex based on the combined wave diagnostics method are described in detail, and designed to conduct geophysical studies through long-term monitoring measurements of the electromagnetic parameters of the ionosphere plasma and plasma-wave processes associated with the manifestation in the ionosphere of the solar-magnetosphere-ionosphere and ionosphere-atmosphere relationships, i. e., parameters of space weather. Studies in the near-surface zone of plasma-wave processes of interaction of an extra-large spacecraft, like ISS, with the ionosphere are necessary for both applied and fundamental geophysical studies. The electric and magnetic fields and currents measured at the surface of the ISS are determined by the parameters of the surrounding ionosphere plasma and the nature of the interaction of the materials on the surface with this medium.
Key words: orbital space station, fundamental space research, ionosphere plasma, plasma-wave processes, electromagnetic fields and radiation, scientific instrument, space weather.
Small spacecraft-based space system for real-time Earth surface monitoring
Authors: DANYLKIN Aleksandr P. , VORONKOV Vladimir N. , KAZANTSEV Oleg Yu. , KETOV Vyacheslav A. , KOPTEV Yury N. , PLASTININ Yury A. , STRULYA Igor L. , TATARNIKOV Aleksandr V.
Published: February 2021

The paper presents basic results of exploratory design studies into a space system for real-time monitoring of the Earth surface based on small spacecraft* for Earth remote sensing, which provides acquisition in real time of highly detailed Earth surface images with resolution of 0.7–1.0 m, a swath of 20 km and 15m in-plane georeferencing accuracy from a ~300 km orbit with a mass of spacecraft ~200 kgf repeating with high frequency (at least every 1.0–1.5h). The said parameters are in line with the current state of the art and are quite feasible for our country’s industry.
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* — for the purposes of this paper ‘small spacecraft’ is a 150-220 kg spacecraft.

Key words: small spacecraft, space system, Earth remote sensing, satellite bus, payload module, electro-optical equipment, multipurpose ground facility, combined ground station, services of space monitoring of the Earth surface.
KEY ENGINEERING SOLUTIONS IMPLEMENTED IN ROCKET AND SPACE SYSTEM VOSTOK TO ASSURE CREW SAFETY DURING ASCENT (towards 60th anniversary of the first man in space)
Authors: LEBEDEV Gennady V. , EVSEENKO Olga V.
Published: February 2021

The paper analyzes engineering and operational solutions implemented in rocket and space system Vostok to assure crew safety during ascent in view of the need to complete the work on an extremely short notice. It reviews the results of flight tests of launch vehicles belonging to the R7 family and the status of during prelaunch processing and ascent phase. The paper draws comparisons between work to develop a crew escape system by the time when the first manned mission of Vostok spacecraft took place. It provides an analysis of emergencies and measures to assure safety our country’s project Vostok and US project Mercury.
Key words: rocket and space system, spacecraft, descent vehicle, crew safety.
Correction: Effectiveness of Polypill for Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease (PolyPars): Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Malekzadeh Fatemeh , Gandomkar Abdullah , Malekzadeh Zinab , Poustchi Hossein , Moghadami Mohsen , Fattahi Mohammad Reza , Moini Maryam , Anushiravani Amir , Mortazavi Roozbeh , Sadeghi Boogar Shahrokh , Mohammadkarimi Vahid , Abtahi Firoozeh , Merat Shahin , Sepanlou Sadaf G. , Malekzadeh Reza
Published: February 2021

This corrects the article "Effectiveness of polypill for prevention of cardiovascular disease (PolyPars): protocol of a randomized controlled trial" published on 2020: Volume 23, Issue 08, Pages 548–556. Correction to: Arch Iran Med. 2020;23(8):548–556. doi: 10.34172/aim.2020.58. In the original version of this article, the recruitment period was wrongly reported to last from December 2014 to December 2015 in abstract and methods sections of the article. This is corrected into "from December 2015 to December 2016" in the PDF and HTML versions of the article. Also the "PolyIran" is changed to "PolyPars" in the last paragraph of the discussion section in the PDF and HTML versions of the article.
THE INFLUENCE OF COMPENSATION, ORGANIZATION CULTURE AND MOTIVATION ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE
Authors: TJAHJADI KAREL , URIA MELIANTHA SANJUNG
Published: February 2021

The purpose of this study was to analyze and determine the effect of compensation, organizational culture and motivation on employee performance at PT. Perfect Circle Engineering. This study takes a population that is an employee at PT. Perfect Circle Engineering. The sampling method used is non-probability sampling method in the form of purposive sampling. In collecting data, researchers distributed questionnaires to respondents and the samples obtained in this study were 59 questionnaires. The tool used to analyze data is the multiple regression method. The results obtained from this study are the compensation and motivation variables individually affect the performance of employees while the organizational culture individually does not affect the performance of employees.
PENGARUH PEMAHAMAN, KESADARAN, KUALITAS PELAYANAN DAN KETEGASAN SANKSI TERHADAP KEPATUHAN WPOP
Authors: LAURA LAURA , AKHADI IMAN
Published: February 2021

This study aims to obtain empirical evidence and examine the influence of independent variables, namely understanding, awareness, quality of services, strictness of sanction, modernization of the tax administration system and tax socialization. On the dependent variable, namely compliance individual taxpayers. Taxpayers registered in DKI Jakarta are the population in this study. Meanwhile, this study used a sample of 104 respondents, namely individual taxpayers who work as an entrepreneur and have NPWP which is in West Jakarta region. The sampling technique researchers use in one type of non-probability sampling, namely convenience sampling or accidental sampling. The instrument used to collect data in this study was a closed questionnaire. The result given in this research are; modernization of tax administration have an influence on compliance of individual taxpayers. While understanding, awareness, quality of services, strictness of sanction and tax socialization do not have an influence on compliance of individual taxpayers.
An Arts-Based Praxis Process of Building Towards a Relational Model of Curriculum Oriented Towards
Authors: Van Borek Sarah
Published: February 2021

A PhD student shares part of her arts-based praxis process of developing a relational model of curriculum oriented towards reconciliation in Canada and South Africa by reflecting on a pilot course she offered at a university in Canada in 2018. This site-specific, media arts-based environmental education is intended for universities committed to walking the talk of decolonising education. Centered around water as a mirror of the state of our social relations and democracy, which it seeks to transform, the curriculum also facilitates public education and dialogue around the importance of healthy waterways amidst the pressures of climate change. Using a set of questions as a data analysis tool combined with narrative analysis of students’ videos, the researcher outlines the three most prominent relational sensibilities and abilities towards reconciliation cultivated by students through the program: (1) Knowledge Ecologies; (2) A Hopeful Social Imaginary; and (3) Embodied Ways of Knowing.
Editorial
Authors: Schoeman Maxi , Thuynsma Heather
Published: February 2021

In July 2019, the University of Pretoria, in association with Wits, UFS, Rhodes, UKZN, UWC, Stellenbosch University and UCT, its partners inthe Mellon programme titled ‘Unsettling paradigms: The decolonial turn in the Humanities curriculum at universities in South Africa’,hosted a conference on the theme ‘The decolonial turn and the humanities: Prospects, practice and interventions’. A number of papers were subsequently reworked as articles and submitted for peer review with a view to their publication in this second issue of the first volume of the Journal of Decolonisng Disciplines (JDD). The six articles selected for publication speak to some of the broad themes of the conference, butwhat binds them together is their shared focus on pedagogy, practice and interventions—some of the core issues underlying the quest for the decolonisation of the humanities curriculum.
IMPROVING THE MANAGEMENT MECHANISM OF THE REGIONAL ECONOMIC SYSTEM
Authors:   Institute of Economic Problems. G. P. Luzina of the Kola Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Bazhutova E.A.
Published: February 2021

The development of market relations in the Russian Federation has complicated the management of regional economic systems due to the strengthening of the independence of economic systems of each rank, both economic entities in the regions and the regions themselves as a whole. The change in management processes is taking place against the background of persisting disproportions between regions, caused both by their inherent objective natural and geographical differences and by differences in the level of their socio-economic development, which further complicates the problem of forming effective mechanisms for managing regional economic systems. In this article, it is proposed to consider the problem of forming an optimal mechanism for managing the regional economic system from the standpoint of the theory of regional reproduction. The theoretical foundations of the formation of the mechanism for managing the economic system are supplemented by the clarification of the concepts of «region», «regional economy» and «control mechanism» in relation to the specificity of the reproduction processes in the regions. This allows us to highlight economic activity through the phenomenon of entrepreneurial activity, as a management factor in the mechanism of management of the regional economic system, to propose theoretical and methodological approaches to its assessment. The method of the multivariate average was used as an estimation method. Based on the results of the assessment, the classification of the regional economic systems of the Russian Federation was carried out and, on its basis, an algorithm was proposed for determining a set of measures for managing economic activity in a region, depending on the type and level of manifestation of entrepreneurial activity in it. The proposed algorithm for differentiating regional management of economic activity will thereby improve the mechanism for managing regional economic systems, enhancing the targeting and efficiency of decisions and measures taken, and will help optimize economic activity in the region.
ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT STATE OF MANAGEMENT OF THE OPERATION OF THE HOUSING STOCK
Authors:   Orenburg State University, Troyanskaya M.A.
Published: February 2021

The housing stock is the most important national treasure, all Russian society and government bodies are interested in its growth and preservation. The very sphere associated with the management of the operation of the housing stock is constantly developing and requires improvement at all levels of management. The managing organization, as an executor of housing and communal services, is the basic link between consumers and contractors of these services, as well as providers of communal resources. Bearing responsibility to citizens for the uninterrupted and high-quality provision of housing and communal services, the managing organization constitutes the economic core of the entire economy. Therefore, an assessment of the current state of management of the operation of the housing stock will make it possible to develop directions for improving the activities of managing organizations, which will help to increase the efficiency of their activities and the level of quality of services provided for managing the operation of the housing stock. In the article, the author’s attention is drawn to the dynamics of indicators of the housing stock and its components in the Russian Federation. The features of the housing stock as a management object are presented. The analysis of: financial indicators of the activities of enterprises for managing the operation of the housing stock in Russia (balanced financial result; profitability of works, services; return on assets; autonomy ratio; ratio of own circulating assets; current liquidity ratio); indicators for payment for services provided by enterprises for managing the operation of the housing stock (accrued housing payments to the population; actually paid by the population for housing payments; actual level of housing payments by the population; arrears of the population for housing payments); indicators of debt on financial obligations of enterprises carrying out activities for the management of the operation of the housing stock. Highlighted the problems that the owners of the housing stock in the event of arrears in payment for services.
ORGANIZATION OF BUSINESS ACTIVITIES OF JOINT VENTURES IN AZERBAIJAN AND THEIR ROLE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF TARGETED AND SOCIAL PROJECTS
Authors:   Azerbaijan State University of Oil and Industry, Akberli Y.B.O.
Published: February 2021

Based on longterm statistical and primary reporting data, the article examines and evaluates the impact of the results of business activities of enterprises, including joint ventures operating in the oil and gas industry of Azerbaijan, on the implementation of targeted and social projects both in the republic and in foreign countries. The activities of similar structural units are analyzed, and the results of business activities of joint ventures in the oil industry are obtained. At the same time, special attention is paid to the analysis of the results of business activities of the studied enterprises. The content of the implementation of targeted and corporate social projects is disclosed, as well as the issues of the formation of income of the State Oil Fund, the allocation of funds from it for the implementation of a wide network of social infrastructure facilities, social events and maintenance of intellectual property. The key aspects of SOCAR’s activities on the expansion of the foreign market were considered. Specific target projects of SOCAR in different countries of the world have been analyzed. The potential and dynamics of the number of employees of SOCAR joint companies and their main financial indicators are shown. The essence and significance of the implementation of corporate social projects that contribute to raising the company’s image among the population of the country and in the world community are revealed. The necessity of developing and implementing larger investment and innovation projects in the context of new global challenges and requirements has been substantiated. The expediency of expanding the activities of SOCAR and its subsidiaries abroad in the short and long term was considered. The importance of SOCAR’s activities in solving social and economic problems of the population and enhancing the development of the country’s economy is revealed. The efficiency of SOCAR joint ventures in solving multifunctional tasks facing this large company in the modern period was noted. A number of recommendations were prepared and a group of substantiated proposals for organizing business activities of joint ventures in Azerbaijan was presented, their role in the implementation of targeted and social projects was disclosed.
INCREASING THE IMPORTANCE OF HR-CONSULTING IN THE CONDITIONS OF ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTY
Authors:   Financial University of the Government of the Russian Federation, Smirnova M.E. , Subocheva A.O. ,   Financial University of the Government of the Russian Federation, Belogrud I.N. ,   Financial University of the Government of the Russian Federation
Published: February 2021

In the conditions of economic uncertainty, serious requirements are put forward for the personnel management system. Special skills and qualifications of personnel are increasingly prevailing as the main competitive companies’ advantage in the struggle for a leading position in the market. In the short term, highly dynamic employment processes are expected, as many organizations aim to significantly adjust existing labor relations. Personnel consulting reflect the activity to solve the tasks set for the top personnel management in order to increase the profitability of the organization. The object of the personnel audit is the internal labor market, that is, the available human resources are considered, in particular, the workforce, various aspects of the organization’s production activities. Effectiveness evaluation of the methods of vocational guidance and adaptation, identification and diagnosis of problems arising during the adaptation period is also one of the main parameters. Thus, the specific diversity of personnel audit is determined by the goals and objectives. The lack of personnel assessment and development systems in the company entails serious risks in forming and implementation of management decisions, which can also lead to serious costs for the organization. Personnel assessment using transparent and understandable criteria, organization of trainings and training for employees, formation of programs for the development of professional competencies are not only conditions for retaining employees, but also a tool for developing the organization’s HR brand.
FEATURES OF FORMING THE JAPANESE ECONOMIC MODEL DURING THE OCCUPATION PERIOD 1945–1951
Authors:   National Research Institute of Russian Federal Ministry of the Interior, Kobets P.N.
Published: February 2021

The author chose as an object of research the post-war Japan, the economy of which had undergone significant changes over six years. In the process of the research, based on methods of analysis, synthesis, statistical and historical, the author considered the post-war reform of the Japanese economy during the occupation period of 1945-1951, the features of the relationship between business and the state; he analyzed the changes that occurred in the Japanese economy over the period under review. As a result, it was concluded that the active postwar economic development was not an exclusive Japanese phenomenon, it was observed in many states, including the countries of the socialist camp. Post-war world economy of the 1950 grew at a fairly rapid pace, while during the period of the American occupation, the Japanese economy was not among the world leaders in most of its positions, and in some positions was lower than other states, including those that suffered from World War II. However, thanks to the actions of the occupation administration, Japan received a certain platform for further growth of its economy, which began in the 1950; and the country’s government got the opportunity to carry out new reforms. The scientific novelty of the research is a comprehensive analysis of the peculiarities of forming the economic model in Japan during the occupation period of 1945-1951. As a result, the author comes to the conclusion that the reforms laid foundations for the effective functioning of market mechanisms in the country. Determining the practical significance of the article, it should be noted that it may interest specialists studying the history of the Japanese economy, as well as students and teachers at higher educational institutions of economic profile.
STRATEGIC GROUNDS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF FARMING IN THE NORTHWEST
Authors:   St. Petersburg Institute for Informatics and Automation of the RAS, Shepeleva E.A.
Published: February 2021

The need to formulate a strategy for the development of farms in the North-West of the Russian Federation is confirmed by the fact of their significant contribution to maintaining rural areas and ensuring food security in the region. The article proposes recommendations for creating strategic foundations for the development of peasant farm enterprises in the North-West of the Russian Federation, which can be used by the authorities when developing such a strategy. The study is based on the works of both domestic and foreign scientists-economists dealing with the issues of strategic planning considering farms and identifies various nuances of this issue. According to the foreign researchers, it is important for a farmer to find his competitive advantage, and this must be done taking into account the assessment of internal and external opportunities and threats. The analysis used the data of the Federal State Statistics Service for the municipal districts of the Northwestern Federal District, as well as methods of socio-economic analysis, economic and statistical (groupings), SWOT analysis, the problem tree method, the method of typing the municipal districts by A.I. Kostyaev. The study made it possible to propose recommendations for the formation of a strategic framework for developing farms in the North-West of the Russian Federation. Main scenarios for the development of this category of farms in accordance with the determined types of municipal districts and the classification of alternative farming strategies existing in modern science were identified, and SWOT was carried out, i.e., the analysis of the peasant farm enterprise development from the point of view of the farmer and the state. Also a problem tree for developing these farms was built, taking into account the specifics of the Northwestern Federal District, which made it possible to identify the difficulties that hinder the successful functioning of farms. In order to improve the functioning of peasant farm enterprises in the region, measures are recommended that should become the basis for the development strategy of these farms in the North-West of the Russian Federation, including: increasing state support, improving the legal framework, expanding educational programs and consulting activities, supporting the sales market by the government authorities.
IMPACT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC ON THE FOOD SITUATION IN RUSSIA
Authors:   Financial University of the Government of the Russian Federation, Shurakova N.N.
Published: February 2021

The article examines such a new global challenge as the coronavirus pandemic. The features of this large-scale, unprecedented shock and the economic crisis agent are analyzed. It was noted that among the affected sectors of the world economy, there is the global agri-food system: a demand shock is superimposed on the supply shock, world trade is paralyzed, logistics flows are disrupted, supply chains are disrupted, and agricultural production is likely to decline. The outbreak of COVID-19 has led to a fall in the Russian economy. It is concluded that currently nothing threatens food security from the point of view of physical accessibility. However, the economic availability of food may not be ensured due to income loss and rising prices. In addition, COVID-19 may negatively affect the country’s export-oriented food course, foreign economic relations in the agro-industrial sector and the current import substitution policy. Despite the fact that the country is currently provided with food, there are still problems connected with the dependence on the import of technologies and components, machinery and equipment, breeding products and seeds. It has been substantiated that in order to prevent food crisis in the foreseeable future, the restructuring and stabilization of food systems at the national and global levels is required, which could ensure their sustainability and smooth operation in terms of creating backup channels and reserves to prevent disruptions and blockages in supply chains that are observed in period of COVID-19.
GIFFEN EFFECT MODEL
Authors:   Kostroma State Agricultural Academy, Tsurikov V.I.
Published: February 2021

The mathematical model of the Giffen effect proposed in the article clearly demonstrates both the effect itself and the reasons for its manifestation. The main advantages of the model include its extreme simplicity, which opens up access to the widest circle of readers, the use of standard methods for solving the consumer choice problem, and the most important fundamental agreement with the results of the field experiment of Jensen and Miller. The model shows that any good for which there is a more expensive substitute can be of little value. This or that good is endowed with the appropriate property by a particular consumer due to his or her own preferences, income level and prevailing prices. Any good of little value, including those that can only be consumed by a high-income individual, may turn out to be Giffen’s goods. Therefore, the consumption of Giffen’s product cannot be considered as evidence of the low standard of living of the consumer. According to the model, an increase in demand for an increasingly expensive low-value good, which is the essence of the Giffen paradox, is the result of optimizing a set of goods, i.e. the result of rational consumer behavior. It is shown that for the manifestation of the Giffen effect, it is necessary that the amount of funds allocated by the consumer for the purchase of a low-value good and its more expensive substitute falls into a certain rather narrow range of values. The failures of numerous and long-term studies aimed at detecting empirical manifestations of Giffen behavior in various historical events are explained by the fact that the corresponding analysis was carried out on the basis of averaged rather than individual values of demand for all categories of consumers. As a result, the negative slope of the aggregate demand curve turned out to be dominant over the positive sections of certain individual demand curves.
REDUCING THE SECTORAL DIFFERENTIATION OF INNOVATIVE ACTIVITY AS A PRIORITY AREA FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DIGITAL AGRARIAN ECONOMY
Authors:   Institute of Agrarian Problems of RAS, Osovin M.N.
Published: February 2021

In 2017, the aggregate level of innovation activity in Russia amounted to 8.5%, the introduction of technological innovations - 7.5%; new business methods were used by only 2.3% of the surveyed organizations. In agriculture, technological innovations were carried out by 3.1% of enterprises, organizational - 0.9%, marketing - 0.5%; innovations aimed at increasing environmental safety in the production process or as a result of using improved products were introduced by 3.6% agricultural enterprises. According to the results of assessing the level of diffusion of innovations in agriculture, carried out on the basis of Rosstat data, the Central, Northwestern and Ural federal districts differ in a balanced level of innovation activity in all parameters. In the Volga Federal District, the share of organizations engaged in marketing innovations exceeds the average Russian level, but the aggregate level of innovation activity is low - 3%. A characteristic feature of the administrative-territorial units of the Russian Federation, in which the smallest share of innovative activity of any type in agriculture is recorded, is the predominance of small forms of management in their structure. According to the Analytical Center of the Ministry of Agriculture of Russia, in 2019 the number of people employed in agriculture was 4706 thousand people (6.5% of the employed people total number in the Russian Federation); among them only 113 thousand people were specialists in the field of information technology. The shortage of the qualified workforce with skills in digital technologies is more than 90 thousand people. Most respondents acknowledge the advisability of raising the qualifications of agricultural specialists in the field of digital technologies; they note the need to create centers of competence. In the context of macroeconomic and geopolitical instability, ensuring the Russian Federation’s leading position in the world food markets requires a set of institutional solutions aimed at increasing innovative activity in agriculture.
FRUIT AND BERRIES WORLD PRODUCTION AND INTERNATIONAL TRADE
Authors:   Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy, Moscow, Mukhametzyanov R.R. , Britik E.V. ,   Russian State Agrarian University – Moscow Timiryazev Agricultural Academy
Published: February 2021

Horticulture is an important branch of agriculture with particular importance in some countries of the world. The production of fruits, berries and nuts is an important part of forming a high-grade food supply for the population in many countries, including the developing ones. Basing on the statistical data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (UN), the authors examined the change in the production volume of these products in the world as a whole for 1961-2018, as well as for the period 1992-2018 in some countries - twenty largest producers in 2018; and a number of trends were identified. In particular, it was noted that in 2018 the global gross harvest of fruits and berries increased by 4.34 times compared to 1961, while that of nuts - by 7.04 times. A deeper analysis in the context of states, which are the main producers of fruits, berries and nuts, carried out for 1922-2018, indicates that there is a change in the positions of these countries in the corresponding world ranking. The quantitative and qualitative changes we observe inevitably have a significant impact both on the volume of the world market in terms of production, and, consequently, the supply of fruit and berry products, and on the parameters of international trade in fruits, berries and nuts. Due to the fact that the Russian Federation is not among the countries - largest producers of fruit and berry products (in 2018 it was the 31st in the global rating for fruits and berries, and the 52nd for nuts), it occupies a very significant position in the world on its imports, especially on some of them. In connection with the policy of import substitution, deployed in response to sanctions from a number of Western states, some positive changes are also observed in the Russian gardening industry. However, imports in the resources of fruits and berries still amounted to 53.6% in 2018. Naturally, many types of fruit and berry products are economically inexpedient to cultivate on an industrial scale in the natural and climatic conditions of our country, but it is necessary to carry out scientifically grounded and systematic work to increase the production of relatively traditional for Russia fruit and berry plants in the large-scale commodity sector.