bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metformin Should Not Be Used to Treat Prediabetes
Authors: Davidson Mayer B.
Published: August 2020

Based on the results of the Diabetes Prevention Program Outcomes Study (DPPOS), in which metformin significantly decreased the development of diabetes in individuals with baseline fasting plasma glucose (FPG) concentrations of 110–125 vs. 100–109 mg/dL (6.1–6.9 vs. 5.6–6.0 mmol/L) and A1C levels 6.0–6.4% (42–46 mmol/mol) vs. <6.0% and in women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus, it has been suggested that metformin should be used to treat people with prediabetes. Since the association between prediabetes and cardiovascular disease is due to the associated nonglycemic risk factors in people with prediabetes, not to the slightly increased glycemia, the only reason to treat with metformin is to delay or prevent the development of diabetes. There are three reasons not to do so. First, approximately two-thirds of people with prediabetes do not develop diabetes, even after many years. Second, approximately one-third of people with prediabetes return to normal glucose regulation. Third, people who meet the glycemic criteria for prediabetes are not at risk for the microvascular complications of diabetes and thus metformin treatment will not affect this important outcome. Why put people who are not at risk for the microvascular complications of diabetes on a drug (possibly for the rest of their lives) that has no immediate advantage except to lower subdiabetes glycemia to even lower levels? Rather, individuals at the highest risk for developing diabetes—i.e., those with FPG concentrations of 110–125 mg/dL (6.1–6.9 mmol/L) or A1C levels of 6.0–6.4% (42–46 mmol/mol) or women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus—should be followed closely and metformin immediately introduced only when they are diagnosed with diabetes.
Efficacy and Safety of Short- and Long-Acting Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists on a Background of Basal Insulin in Type 2 Diabetes: A Meta-analysis
Authors: Huthmacher Jessica A. , Meier Juris J. , Nauck Michael A.
Published: August 2020

PURPOSE

To compare the efficacy and safety of short- and long-acting glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), both used in combination with basal insulin, in patients with type 2 diabetes.

DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SELECTION

Randomized controlled trials comparing the coadministration of short- or long-acting GLP-1 RAs and basal insulin with basal insulin ± placebo were identified (PubMed search). Of 974 identified publications, 14 clinical trials were included. Eight trials examined short-acting and six long-acting GLP-1 RAs.

DATA EXTRACTION AND DATA SYNTHESIS

Differences in HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, body weight, and adverse events were compared between studies using short- or long-acting GLP-1 RAs by random-effects meta-analysis.

LIMITATIONS

There were relatively small numbers of available publications, some heterogeneity regarding protocols, and differences in the GLP-1 RA compound used.

CONCLUSIONS

Long-acting GLP-1 RAs more effectively reduced HbA1c (∆ −6 mmol/mol [95% CI −10; −2], P = 0.007), fasting plasma glucose (∆ −0.7 mmol/L [−1.2; −0.3], P = 0.007), and body weight (∆ −1.4 kg [−2.2; −0.6], P = 0.002) and raised the proportion of patients achieving an HbA1c target <7.0% (<53 mmol/mol) (P = 0.03) more than the short-acting ones. Patients reporting symptomatic (P = 0.048) but not severe (P = 0.96) hypoglycemia were fewer with long- versus short-acting GLP-1 RAs added to insulin. A lower proportion of patients reported nausea (−52%, P < 0.0001) or vomiting (−36%, P = 0.0002) with long-acting GLP-1 RAs. Overall, GLP-1 RAs improved HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, and body weight when added to basal insulin. However, long-acting GLP-1 RAs were significantly more effective for glycemic and body weight control and displayed better gastrointestinal tolerability.
The Measurement of Insulin Clearance
Authors: Piccinini Francesca , Bergman Richard N.
Published: August 2020

Insulin clearance has recently been highlighted as a fundamental aspect of glucose metabolism, as it has been hypothesized that its impairment could be related to an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes. This review focuses on methods used to calculate insulin clearance: from the early surrogate indices employing C-peptide:insulin molar ratio, to direct measurement methods used in animal models, to modeling-based techniques to estimate the components of insulin clearance (hepatic versus extrahepatic). The methods are explored and interpreted by critically highlighting advantages and limitations.
A Computational Approach for Defining a Signature of β-Cell Golgi Stress in Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Admin Ada , Bone Robert N. , Oyebamiji Olufunmilola , Talware Sayali , Selvaraj Sharmila , Krishnan Preethi , Syed Farooq , Wu Huanmei , Evans-Molina Carmella
Published: August 2020

The Golgi apparatus (GA) is an important site of insulin processing and
granule maturation, but whether GA organelle dysfunction and GA stress are
present in the diabetic β-cell has not been tested. We utilized an informatics-based approach to
develop a transcriptional signature of β-cell GA stress using existing RNA
sequencing and microarray datasets generated using human islets from donors
with diabetes and islets where
type 1(T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) had been modeled ex vivo. To narrow our results to GA-specific genes, we
applied a filter set of 1,030 genes accepted as GA associated. In parallel, we generated an RNA-sequencing
dataset from human islets treated with brefeldin A (BFA), a known GA stress
inducer. Overlapping the T1D and T2D
groups with the BFA dataset, we identified 120 and 204 differentially expressed
genes, respectively. In both the T1D and
T2D models, pathway analyses revealed that the top pathways were associated
with GA integrity, organization, and trafficking. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to validate a
common signature of GA stress that included ATF3,
ARF4, CREB3, and COG6. Taken together, these data indicate that GA-associated
genes are dysregulated in diabetes and identify putative markers of β-cell GA
stress.
Development of a Decision Support System for Urban Planning by Using K-means ++ Algorithm
Authors: Salih Hussein Ali , Ahmed Ahmed Shihab , Jameel Jalal Qais
Published: August 2020

This article depicts a decision support system (DSS) devoted to the coordinated administration of urban frameworks. This framework defines the information and related treatments normal to a few civil managers and characterizes the necessities and functionalities of the PC devices created to enhance the conveyance, execution, and coordination of metropolitan administrations to the populace. The cooperative framework called Decision Support System for Urban Planning (DSS-UP) is made out of a universal planning and coordination framework. So, it helps the decision-making process, a DSS was created as a learning-based framework gave derivation components that empower urban architect to settle on key decisions as far as specialized meditations on civil foundations. The learning-based framework stores experts_ information and additionally answers for past issues. Preparatory execution comes about demonstrate that DSS-UP viably and effectively underpins the decision-making process identified with overseeing urban foundations by using K-means++ data mining algorithm.
Different Mathematical Spectrophotometric Methods for Determination of Ampyrone in Presence of Its Acid Degradation Product
Authors: Abbas Ruba Fahmi
Published: August 2020

Three simple spectrophotometric methods namely; area under the curve, simultaneous equation method, and modified simultaneous equation method was developed and validated for the determination of Ampyrone with the presence of its acidic product using zero-order spectra without prior separation techniques. The linearity was found in the range of (10-50 mg/L) and (10-55 mg/L) for Ampyrone and its acidic product, respectively. The recovery percentage was found to be in the range from 99.6 to 100.65 for the area under curve method and 96.64 to 104.8 for the simultaneous equation method and its modified version which showed good accuracy and precision for three proposed methods.
Studying the thinning Effect of Longitudinal development in Extensive Air Showers for Primary Proton and Iron Nuclei at Ultra-High Energies
Authors: Raham Abbas R. , Al-Rubaiee Ahmed A. , Al-Kubaisy Majida H. , Esmaeel Suror N.
Published: August 2020

In the present work, extensive air showers (EAS) effects are described by estimating the longitudinal development model of EAS at very high energies of various cosmic ray particles. The longitudinal development was simulated for charged particles such as gamma, charged pions and charged muons at very high energies 1017, 1018 and 1019eV. The simulation was performed using an air shower simulator system (AIRES) version 19.04.0. The effect of primary particles, energies, thinning energy and zenith angle (θ) on the number of charged particles (longitudinal development) produced in the EAS was taken into account. The rapprochement of the estimated longitudinal development of the charged particles such as the charged muons and charged pions with the experimental measurements (AUGER experiment) that gave a good agreement for primary proton at the fixed primary energy 1019eV for θ =0˚.
A GC-MS Characteristic Analysis of Hybrirock and Pactol Seeds Harvested in Erbil/Iraq
Authors: AbdulJabbar Ahmed A. , Mahmood Bahar J. , Salih Sirwan T.
Published: August 2020

The research project designed for the first time on comparison of Hybrirock seeds and pactol seeds of Brssica napus L. A plant affiliation of Brassicaceae family. The objective of this study was to phytochemically analyzing of France purchased Hybrirock and local pactol seeds by Gas chromatography mass spectrophotometry and comparison of their essential oil components in relation with previous works. The French purchased hybrirock seeds and local pactol seeds were planted in Gerda rasha field Grdarash field, College of Agriculture, Salahaddin University-Erbil and seeda were stored for later chemical analysis. The GC-MS detections showed that the most abundant phytochemical constituents were E, E, 2, 4-Decadienal (22.3% for Hybrirock seed oils and 15.64% for pactol seed) and Hexanal (18.37 for hybrirock seed and 8.72% for Pactol seed oils), followed by 2-Undecenal (7.66% for hybrirock seed and 14.27% for pactol seed oils). Our study demonstrated that both studied genotypes of same species contained different important chemicals and beneficial polyunsaturated fatty acids however glucosinolates were significantly higher in pactol seeds in compare with hybrirock seeds, making pactol seeds less edible and more suitable as nematicides or as precursor of Bio-fuels and the two tested genotype seeds have shown sufficient hydrocarbon content which can be used as a substitute of petrol hydrocarbon. While hybrirock seeds with higher fatty acid contents and lower glucosinolates possessing more edibility features to be used as food products and medical agents.
Results of the pilot part of the cardiac drug overdoses hospital registry (storm): focus on drug-induced bradycardia
Authors: Yakushin Sergey S. , Nikulina Natal`ya N. , Filippov Evgenii V. , Seleznev Sergey V. , Lygina Elena V. , Chernysheva Mariya B.
Published: August 2020

Aim. Analysis of the relevance of drug-induced bradycardia (DIB) as a medical and social problem, its main regularities and determination of the need for further study of this issue.
Materials and Methods. The register study was performed on 01 Jan 2017-30 Jun 2018 (18 months) at the clinical base of the Ryazan Regional Clinical Cardiology Dispensary. Inclusion criteria were: 1) bradycardia/bradyarrhythmia syndrome with intake of at least one drug with a bradycardic effect (BCE), 2) signing Informed consent to the processing of personal and clinical data. No additional interventions were performed in the diagnosis or treatment of patients within the registry.
Results. During 18 months, 191 patients (age 77.0 [69.0;82.0] years, 26.7% of men) were hospitalized with a verified diagnosis of DIB, which accounted for 52.6% of all cases of hospitalization for drug overdose. During the analyzed period, there was an increase in both the total number of drug overdoses (1.7 times, p0.001) and overdoses of drugs with BCE (1.8 times, p0.001). Main clinical manifestations of DIB: reduced heart rate (50 beats/min 80.0%, 40 beats/min 51.1%), sinoatrial (30.4%) and atrioventricular blocks (1st degree 8.2%, 2nd degree 10.4%, 3rd degree 14.1%), syncope (32.6%) and cardiac pauses 3 s (7.4%). Almost all (94.8%) the patients were hospitalized by ambulance, 40.7% to the intensive care unit; 17.8% required pacemaker implantation; hospital mortality was 5.2%. More than half (54.5%) of hospitalized patients took 2 drugs with BCE, 15.7% 3 and 3.14% 4 (both in monotherapy and as a part of a combination): beta-blockers 68.4%, antiarrhythmic preparations 38.9%, digoxin 25.8%, non-dihydropyridine calcium antagonists 10.5%, I1-imidazoline receptor agonist 9.5%, and other drugs with BCE 7.4%. To analyze the cause of DIB, we used clinical data of 135 patients (age 77.0 [69.0;82.0] years, 20.7% of men), who could indicate the exact dose of a taken drug with BCE. Among them, the absolute exceedance of the recommended dose of drugs with BCE was found in 14.1% of cases, while in 85.9% of cases summation/potentiation effect of several drugs with ВСЕ was observed, with intake of each in a therapeutic dose.
Conclusion. The study confirmed high medical and social significance of the problem of DIB, which requires attention of practitioners, pharmacologists and clinical pharmacologists, health care providers, and also continuation of its study.
Dynamics of parameters of psychological status of patients with stable ischemic heart disease and coronary artery bypass surgery
Authors: Solodukhin Anton V. , Trubnikova Ol`ga A. , Barbarash Ol`ga L.
Published: August 2020

Aim. Assessment and analysis of parameters of psychological status of patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) referred for coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG).
Materials and Methods. A study of parameters of psychological status, in particular, of the attitude to illness, coping strategies, and lifelong orientations was conducted in 58 male patients aged 40 to 74 years with a stable form of CHD before and after CABG surgery. The parameters were evaluated by a clinical psychologist in 2-3 days after admission of the patient to the hospital and in 7-8 days after CABG. Clinical and psychological diagnostics was carried out using the following questionnaires: TOBOL (L.I. Wasserman, et al.), Life-Purpose Orientations (D.A. Leontiev), Coping Behavior Strategies (R. Lazarus, adapted version of T.A. Kryukova). Statistical analysis was performed with use of computer Statistica 10.0 software program.
Results. After CABG patients with coronary artery disease show a significant reduction of the parameters of the anxious variant of the internal picture of the disease on the basis of TOBOL questionnaire, of the positive re-evaluation coping strategy on the basis of evaluation of stress-coping behavior and of the level of Aim scale on the basis of evaluation of the level of neurotization using the Life-Purpose test.
Conclusion. The results of the study indicate reduction of the level of adaptation to the disease in patients with coronary artery disease after CABG in result of behavioral disorders and difficulties in setting further aims for recovery. To increase postoperative adaptation, the psychocorrection measures may be targeted to the coping strategy for positive re-evaluation and assistance in setting aims in the postoperative stage of CABG.
Variability of heart rhythm in patients with myocardial infarction with Q wave with standard therapy and nutritive support with organic selenium
Authors: Radchenko Elena N. , Nizov Aleksej A. , Lapkin Mikhail M. , Yudin Vladimir A. , Zorin Roman A. , Aksentiev Sergey B. , Mazo Vladimir K.
Published: August 2020

Aim. Assessment if the interrelation of the levels of selenium, parameters of heart rate variability (HRV), biochemical and rheological characteristics of blood in patients with Q-myocardial infarction (Q-MI) taking standard medicinal therapy and dietary correction with organic selenium in different stages of the disease.
Materials and Methods. An open comparative clinical study was conducted with involvement of 90 patients (the average age 58.31.4, of them 71 men and 19 women) diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome with elevation of Q-segment with outcome into Q-MI. The patients were divided to two comparable groups: control group that received standard therapy, and the main group that additionally received dietary product enriched with organic selenium. In acute, subacute and cicatrization stages, the dynamic series of RR intervals were recorded and mathematically analyzed on Varicard 2.51 complex, some biochemical parameters of blood, selenium status, rheological properties of blood were assessed.
Results. In the stage of hospital treatment, reduction of the heart rate (from 68.81.7 to 64.01.3 beat/min; p0.05) was recorded in the main group. The initial level of SDNN in both groups was within the critical range (25.01.3 msec), and stress index (SI) several time exceeded the norm (1356.2390.6 conv.un.); by the end of the observation both parameters did not achieve normal values in both groups. The coefficient of variation (CV) stayed below normal values throughout the whole treatment period, although in the dynamics it showed some tendency to growth. The spectrum power of the curve enveloping the dynamic series of RR intervals (HF) almost twice increased in the control group (р0.05). Correlation analysis of the interrelation of biochemical parameters of blood, coagulogram and selenium of blood serum with different parameters of mathematical analysis of the heart rhythm revealed interrelations of different levels and direction.
Conclusion. Use of dietary product rich in selenium having a positive effect on the trophotropic functions of an organism, in complex with standard therapy, reduces tension of adaptation mechanisms and enhances adaptation potential of an organism that improves the prognosis and reduces risks.
Comparison of cytotoxicity of vascular prostheses in vitro
Authors: Kalinin Roman E. , Suchkov Igor A. , Mzhavanadze Nina D. , Korotkova Natalya V. , Nikiforov Aleksandr A. , Surov Ivan Yu. , Ivanova Polina Yu. , Bozhenova Anastasiya D. , Strelnikova Ekaterina A.
Published: August 2020

Aim. To study and compare cytotoxicity of the main types of synthetic prostheses used in arterial reconstructive surgery, including polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyethylene-terephthalate (Dacron).
Materials and Methods. On the culture of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) of the 3rd passage, MTS test was conducted that is used in laboratory examinations with attraction of cellular technologies to study cytotoxicity of medical drugs and medical products. The test implies use of MTS reagent that is 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-il)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium; additionally phenazine methosulfate (PMS) was used that plays the role of electron-binding reagent. In the experiment, cells were incubated with PTFE and Dacron within 24 hours at 37ᵒC with 5% CO2. For control, HUVEC cultured in the standard growth medium, were used. In the presence of PMS, MTS was reduced by mitochondrial dehydrogenases of endothelial cells to formazan staining blue. Supernatant of cell cultures was evaluated by photocolorimetric method on Stat Fax 3200 analyzer (microplate reader) of Awareness technology Inc. Palm City Fl. (USA).
Results. The lowest mean values were noted in Dacron group 0.21 (0.20-0.22) optical density units, the highest values were noted in the control group 0.36 (0.35-0.38); parameters in PTFE group were 0.35 (0.33-0.36). In comparison of the groups statistically significant differences were found between the control group and Dacron group (р0.001), control and PTFE group (р=0.037), Dacron and PTFE (р0.001). Incubation with Dacron led to suppression of metabolic activity of cells by 41.7% as compared to the control group (р0.001). Metabolic activity of cells exposed to PTFE, approached that of the control group, that is, it corresponded to the optimal conditions of culturing of endothelial cells in vitro.
Conclusion. In comparison with polyethylene-terephthalate (Dacron), polytetrafluoro-ethylene (PTFE) showed the least suppression of metabolic activity of endothelial cells in vitro.
Research of physical and mechanical characteristics of suture material in experiment in operations on liver
Authors: Lipatov Vyacheslav A. , Severinov Dmitriy A. , Denisov Artem A. , Lazarenko Sergey V. , Grigor’yev Nikolay N.
Published: August 2020

Taking into account the peculiarities of the blood supply to the liver and the structure of its parenchyma, and, as a result, considerable difficulties in providing reliable hemostasis without additional traumatization, a surgeon needs to be careful when performing a surgical manipulation. Despite a large number of modern methods for stopping parenchymal bleeding, many practi-tioners give preference to classic methods of hemostasis, including ligation of bleeding vessels in the bulk of the organ using specialized sutures. One of the most serious complications of the use of suture material is cutting of organ tissue, which leads to enhanced bleeding and expansion of the area of damage. At the moment, the tactics of choosing suture material for surgical procedures is empirical. In this context, the aim of this study was to assess the physico-mechanical properties of suture material regarding its structure, and to develop a criterion for choosing surgical sutures for surgical procedures. For the study, the liver was removed out of corpses of males of 35 to 40 years of age, after which separate sections of 7.574 cm in size were obtained from it. Then a wound 3 cm long and 2 cm deep was made. The wound was sutured with a simple interrupted suture without tightening, but with application of one simple half-node. For suturing, catgut, twisted capron and polyglycolide thread were used. Attention was paid to the maximal force applied at the moment of cutting (Fmax) and the degree of pulling the thread at the moment of cutting (Lu). The analysis of the data was based on comparison of Fmax and Lu parameters. This method permits to refuse from the empirical approach to the choice of suture material for operations on the liver, and to develop a criterion for choosing surgical sutures.
Epidemiological safety as a component of the operational management unit of the infocenter in introduction of lean manufacturing in a medical organization that provides primary health care
Authors: Kurmangulov Albert A. , Reshetnikova Yuliya S. , Brynza Natalya S.
Published: August 2020

Currently, the primary health care system is undergoing active reformation. Lean manufacturing technologies are being introduced into the activities of medical organizations that help reduce the loss of medical and auxiliary processes. One of the main methods of lean production is visualization, which is implemented in the operational management of a medical organization in the form of creating information centers (InfoCenters) that reflect the main parameters of the activity of a medical organization in the SQDCM system: safety, quality, order execution, costs and a comfortable environment. Criteria of safety of medical activity most relevant for the national healthcare system are parameters of epidemiological safety. A parameter most difficult for indication, but necessary for reflection of epidemiological diagnostics in the InfoCenter is the accident rate at work.
Aim. Generalization of literature data on the possibility of including epidemiological safety parameters into the operational assessment of the InfoCenter.
Epidemiological studies conducted in our country in medical organizations of various profiles show an increasing rate of emergency situations among the medical personnel. With this, the system of indication and identification of all emergency cases still remains imperfect, and medical personnel often hide cases of emergency situations.
Conclusion. Introduction of criteria of epidemiological safety into the practical activity of a medical organization as a component of the operational management unit of the InfoCenter will contribute to the formation of functioning and constantly improving system of analysis of the activity of medical organizations, to the control of provision of medical care, and to standardization of invasive procedures to ensure epidemiological safety. The key tasks of the InfoCenter are: focusing the attention of medical organization employees on problems, prompt response to emerging problems and risks, and also ensuring effective communication of all participants of operational meetings in a single information space.
Consanguineous marriage as socio-medical problem
Authors: Bobdjonova Oksana B. , Abdurakhmanova Firuza M.
Published: August 2020

Despite the availability of a large amount of scientific data on the negative impact of consanguineous marriages on the health of children born in such families, the significance of this problem is not decreasing in a number of countries.
Aim. Analysis of the modern scientific base on the problem of consanguineous marriages, assessment of their impact on the development of a particular pathology in children.
The article reflects the position of modern clinical recommendations, the results of recent studies, and some controversial and unresolved issues. Despite the emerging trend of declining consanguineous marriages in recent decades, this problem involves at least 20% of the population and dozens of countries around the world. The prevalence of consanguineous marriages in the world varies significantly, ranging from 0.1-0.4% in the United States and European countries to more than 50% in North Africa, the Middle East and West Asia. The most common form of consanguineous marriage is a marriage between first cousins. In general, rural residents who have a lower level of education are more likely to enter into consanguineous marriages.
Conclusion. Despite a number of positive social and economic aspects of consanguineous marriages, from the point of view of genetics and medicine, it is necessary to take into account the negative impact of consanguineous marriages, which consists in an increased genetic risk to offspring and a high incidence of congenital pathology in newborns. An assessment of the socio-demographic aspects of consanguineous marriages shows that their greater prevalence is often due to poor economic conditions, lack of education, and low social security.
Is It Possible to Repeat the Experience of East Asia? The External Factors of East Asian ‘Miracle’
Authors: Krasilshchikov V. A.
Published: August 2020

The paper focuses on the widespread presupposition about a possibility for the developing countries beyond the East Asian region to follow the development path of the newly industrialised countries (NICs) of East and Southeast Asia known as ‘tigers’. The author underlines that the ‘tigers’ success story was the effect of fortune combination of the external and internal factors of fast modernisation of the countries under scrutiny. The subject of the given paper is a set of the external factors of the East Asian ‘miracle’. In the author’s opinion, there were three main external factors of successful development in the East Asian NICs. Firstly, there was a strong influence of cold war in the region. Since the early‑1960s the rivalry between the USSR and USA was here ‘supplemented’ by pretensions of the Maoist China to the role of ‘torch’ for the poor and wretched peoples of Asia. Thus, there was the specific triangle of foreign forces that operated in the region. The US ruling circles conceived that the best way to ‘the containment of communism’ was to create a show case of ‘good capitalism’: to eradicate mass poverty, to build contemporary effective economy, to open the channels of vertical social mobility for youth, and, thereby, to erode the social soil for the Leftist ideas. Secondly, the business and political leaders of the considerable countries understood a necessity to modernise their economies. The local elites, being in vassal dependency on the American protection, were obliged to follow the path of development that corresponded mostly to the interests of US. This circumstance determined, to a big degree, a choice of the outward‑looking industrialisation. Thirdly, the export‑oriented industrialisation in East Asia coincided with profound structural changes in Western economies. The NICs could occupy niches at the internal markets of industrial countries, exporting their manufactured goods to the West. It provided the growth of incomes for further accumulation. The neoconservatism in politics and neoliberalism in economics in the West helped to the East Asian ‘tigers’ to carry out their modernisation. Since the called external factors of East Asian ‘miracle’ do not recently exist in other developing regions, the author comes to conclusion that none of these regions can repeat the success story of the Asian NICs.
Forgotten Integration: The Failure and Lessons of the Council of Mutual Economic Assistance
Authors: Vardomskiy L. B.
Published: August 2020

CMEA evolution is considered using the concept of a life cycle. Entry into individual stages of the life cycle depends on the compliance of integration institutions with internal and external development factors of the participating countries, the ratio of integration and national identity. The CMEA analysis allows us to assess the dynamics of modern integration projects important for Russia. The main reasons for the collapse of the CMEA were the overestimation of the role of planned instruments and the underestimation of the role of monetary instruments, collective import substitution (autarky) and technological weakness, primarily the USSR, as a leader in the integration process. To modernize their industry, the CMEA countries, under conditions of detente, increased imports of equipment from Western countries. The country’s budget deficit arising in connection with the growth of external debt was forced to solve by raising prices for consumer goods and services, which caused social discontent. Delays in market reforms exacerbated the situation. The “perestroika” that began in 1985 in the USSR, brought about drastic changes in domestic and foreign policy and gave a “green light” to market transformations in CEE countries. Despite the failure, CMEA made a significant contribution to the development of global regionalization processes. It was part of the bipolar world order and supported strategic stability in the world, contributed to the improvement of European integration institutions, especially in terms of planning the integration process and creating mechanisms for converging the levels of development and welfare of the participating countries. The CMEA experience has shown that in order to meet the growing complexity of the international economic, it is necessary to create the corresponding integration and national institutions of the participating countries. The central issue of the effectiveness of integration is the acquisition by the participating countries of such specialization, not only within the framework of the integration association, but also of the global economy as a whole, which will ensure their sustainable income. In the course of evolution, modern integration associations will change functions and institutions, the composition of participants, enter into larger alliances, but are unlikely to disappear from the world economy as CMEA.
The Role of G5 Sahel States in German Political-Military Strategy in Africa
Authors: Trunov Ph. O.
Published: August 2020

The article raises the question of whether German participation in resolving the armed conflict in Mali is a special case or, on the contrary, is a transition to a new political‑military strategy in Africa. In this regard the author issues the key parameters of Bundeswehr`s usage in Africa from 1990‑s until the middle 2010‑s and pays special attention to Somalia. The paper analyzes the features of German military presence evolution there. In comparison with Somalian one the author explores German approach to the resolution of the Malian armed conflict at the period of 2013‑2015 and since 2016. The paper pays attention to the Bundeswehr`s usage in EUTM Mali and MINUSMA missions and the results of this process. The article underlines the huge increase of German military presence since 2016‑2018 in Mali and shows the reasons of this tendency. Considering German activity in Mali, the paper explores its «spillover effect» with the examples of German relations with Algeria and G5 Sahel countries. In this regard the scientific research pays special attention to German bilateral relations with Burkina‑Faso and Niger. The paper underlines that by the beginning of the 2020‑s FRG concentrated its efforts in the African states which belong to traditional sphere of French interests. In the conclusion the author shows the importance of Sahel region for the testing of new German politicalmilitary strategy in Africa.
China and Asian Neighbors: A Crisis Test
Authors: Salitskii A. I.
Published: August 2020

The beginning of the new decade in 2020 has brought a combination of seemingly dramatic events across the world. We have focused on China and its economic role in Asia under new realities of trade war from Donald Tramp, coronavirus outbreak and de‑globalization, which started after global financial crisis (GFC) in 2008‑09. De‑globalization is understood as a steady decline of the role of exogenous factors in economic development, which has been observed globally and even more clearly in China in 2010‑19. De‑globalization is also understood as a process of regionalization forming more intensive and cooperative links with neighboring countries and territories. The China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) may be viewed as a de‑globalization source providing self‑consolidation of national states in Asia – to build a more friendly and productive environment for the future of the continent. In this sense BRI may be assessed as a project opposite to liberal globalization –poor in results both economic and social. Thus, today’s crises are a good test for China’s cooperation with its neighbors, ideas of collective self‑reliance, South‑South consolidation and leading role of national states in economic modernization: ideas which were popular before arrival of liberal globalization in the 1980‑90’s. Globally that may mean restoration of UN documents and projects on economic rights and duties of states, code of behavior for TNC etc.
What Have We Learnt of Joint Ventures in the Internationalization Process of Chinese Multinationals (MNCs)? Evidence from Central Africa
Authors: Dzaka-Kikouta T.
Published: August 2020

The purpose of this article is to analyze the specific role of joint ventures and other strategic alliances in Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) carried out by Chinese Multinationals Corporations in Central Africa. After exploring the extent to which the use of Sino‑Western joint ventures has helped Chinese firms to improve their technical and managerial skills both in domestic and foreign markets, the focus shifts to Central African countries members of the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS). The result is that joint ventures have become a major vehicle for Chinese multinationals firms to channel FDI, thus supporting the hypothesis that in the region under study this strategy allows them to guarantee the supply of raw materials (oil and mining products: copper, cobalt, gold, diamond,..), as part of a “package deals” linking FDI, Chinese Aid and Trade, also known as “Angolan model”; to conquer foreign markets (for technology and manufactured goods “Made in China”) and; to a lesser extent, to acquire strategic assets (brands, technological innovation, managerial skills).The commitment of Chinese stateowned MNCs through the “package deals” appears to be the keystone of stability and sustainability of Chinese FDI in Central Africa and in the continent In conclusion, the expectation is that the flow of Chinese FDI to Central Africa, should contribute to the process of sustainable development in recipient countries, provided that adequate political and economic governance is guaranteed. A pre‑requisite is to achieve institutional change, from a rent‑seeking to a developmental behavior at the state level, the result being an enhanced capacity to promote engineering potential, through the strengthening of human capital, and to negotiate transfer of technology and know‑how, with emerging countries partners, especially BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa)
Shanghai Experimental Free Trade Zone
Authors: Portyakov V. Ya.
Published: August 2020

In 2013 the People’s Republic of China has entered the second stage of foreign economic openness. If at the first stage, which started in the late 1970s as an integral part of the overall reform policy, China focused primarily on attracting foreign equipment and technologies, knowledge, and capital, at the new stage, the sending abroad Chinese capital, goods, services, and technologies becomes at least an equal task. One of the most important elements of this stage is the creation of experimental free trade zones (EFTZ), designed to help China master the most advanced world rules and regulations for conducting trade, investment activities, and international financial transactions. The first such zone was created in 2013 in Shanghai. At the very end of 2014, EFTZ were established in Tianjin, Fujian and Guangdong. This event was followed by the creation of zones in 7 more provinces of the PRC (5 of which are in the inner and Western regions of the country). In 2018, Hainan island was declared a free trade zone, and in the summer of 2019 EFTZ were established in six other regions of China. China’s experimental free trade zones have been in existence for more than six years. They have accumulated a variety of operational experience, which is also being implemented in national practice and is partially reflected in this article. The article focuses on the Shanghai EFTZ. The article shows changes in its format and describes features of zone’s development at the initial stage of 2013‑2015, in the dynamic period of 2016‑2017 and in the context of complex external economic conditions (2018‑2019). This text was prepared on the basis of original Chinese‑language sources, including official statistical materials of Shanghai. Useful information was also obtained during a visit to the Shanghai EFTZ in April 2019, organized with the assistance of the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Shanghai.
Fundamentals of the Foreign Policy of the Republic of Azerbaijan at the Present Stage
Authors: Avatkov V. A.
Published: August 2020

The article analyzes the basis of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy at the present stage. The main attention is paid to the documentary substantiation of foreign policy, political and legal bases of foreign policy strategy, and key organizations in this area. There is analysis of the most significant areas of Azerbaijan’s foreign policy. It is noted that the Republic is trying to find a new balance in the region and the world, pragmatically maintaining contacts with the main players in the region – Russia, the United States, Turkey and Iran. Moreover, in foreign policy documents of Baku, special emphasis is placed on cooperation with the West, in particular, there is a strengthening not only in the framework of doctrinal cooperation with NATO and the EU, but also constant contacts on all political, economic and military lines. In addition, the leadership of Azerbaijan pays special attention to the problem of Nagorno‑Karabakh. The article also shows that the fundamental documents that determine the external state agenda, although they are sufficiently Westernoriented, at the same time reflect the ambition of Azerbaijan in the context of becoming a regional center of power. This process is also influenced by external actors, in particular the Republic of Turkey. It was determined that the territorial issue, logistic and military issues, regional and global political trends are indicators, thanks to which one can observe the transformation of the foreign policy of Azerbaijan. In the context of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Russia, it was revealed that the interaction between the countries seems significant for both states in terms of ensuring security in the South Caucasus.
Integration Projects of Russia and EAEU: Chance for Extension Export?
Authors: Obolenskiy V. P.
Published: August 2020

The article deals with the possibilities of improving the access of Russian goods to foreign markets through regional trade agreements. Participation in such agreements has acquired mass character in the current century, within their framework about two thirds of transboundary commodity flows are already moving. The main peculiarity of regionalism development in this century is the pro‑integration character of the concluded agreements, which are not limited to agreements on free trade zones of goods, but cover a wide range of issues of trade in services, investment cooperation, competition, environment, labor standards, i.e. they envisage a movement towards greater institutional homogeneity of economies. Until recently, Russia was limited to the tasks of preserving and developing economic ties in the post‑Soviet space, and only after the establishment of the Eurasian Economic Union did it start showing interest in signing free trade agreements with non-CIS countries. To date, the EAEU has concluded free trade agreements with a number of countries and is negotiating a FTA with several more countries. The EAEU integration policy has not yet brought any noticeable results in terms of a significant reduction of tariff barriers into total foreign markets: the current and planned integration projects will allow Russia to enjoy tariff preferences on less than one tenth of the global market. Possible new union agreements on preferential trade with ASEAN countries can only help Russia to expand its scope, while the creation of liberal economic partnerships such as WTO plus is not on the Russian integration agenda. Nor is there any intention to promote the idea of a FTA with Russia’s largest trade partners – the EU and China – in the EAEU. The conclusion is made that it is vital for Russia to address the problem of increasing the competitiveness of manufacturing industries, without which further facilitation of access to foreign markets through free trade agreements may not be possible.
Covid-19: A Review of the Relentless Pandemic Ever
Authors: Srivastava Mohit Kishore , Kumar Dileep , Jauhari* Sugandha , Gupta Anil Kumar , Mishra Sudhir Ram Kishore , Yadav Ganesh
Published: August 2020

This article highlights key facts about the recent ongoing relentless pandemic of SARS-COV2 virus causing the disease COVID 19.On 31 December 2019, WHO was alerted to a cluster of pneumonia patients in Wuhan City, Hubei Province of China. WHO first declared it as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) under International Health Regulations (2005) on 30th January and finally it was designated as “Pandemic” on 11th March 2020 when majority of European countries, western pacific region, region of America and south-east Asia was adversely affected. The pandemic has caused almost 20 lakh confirmed cases globally with 1,23,000 deaths making it one of the worst pandemics of this time. The developed countries have been adversely affected with massive load on their health care system and unavailability of proper protective equipment’s for the frontline workers followed by unavailability of any vaccine or treatment for this disease. Social distancing, Hand hygiene and wearing masks seem to be the most effective preventive measure to contain the virus. Due to this both the developing and developed countries have undergone complete lockdown to prevent further transmission of virus.
Prospects of development of unmanned ships in Russian Federation
Authors: Kirilova Mariia Aleksandrovna , Rozhko Alexey Igorevich
Published: August 2020

The article considers the actuality of crewless shipping. The development of technical means in the marine shipbuilding industry has been pointed out. The statistical data on accidents at sea are given; as a result of the data analysis, there have been identified the main causes

of the accidents: non-compliance with generally accepted methods of controlling a vessel, ignoring the specific hydrometeorological parameters of the navigation and mooring areas, non-compliance with safety and technical operation rules, navigation errors, etc. The human factor has been stated to remain the main and most frequent cause of accidents at sea. The types of accidents at sea are considered in detail (damage to ship devices and mechanisms, ship's hull, loss of life, bulk, explosion, fire, loss of a towed object, winding on a screw, grounding, serious bodily harm, collision, loss of stability, buoyancy, collision with a submerged object). The advantages of using a crewless vessel are substantiated, as well as the prospects associated with the introduction of such vessels: reduction in accident rate due to the exclusion of the human factor, lower negative and harmful effects on the environment, increased reliability of transportation due to changes in the structure

of vessels, increased economic efficiency due to the uselessness of crew support, etc. There has been given an example of creating a project for the e-Navigation test area executed by Kronstadt in 2016. The test water area includes all e-Navigation coverage areas, combines 13 ports, training centers, over 300 sea vessels, several ship traffic control systems into a single electronic space. Within the framework of the project, developers introduce and test new equipment, conduct training for the crews. The conclusions have been made about possibility for the Russian Federation of accelerating the introduction of new technologies in the global market of shipping companies, increasing competitiveness and reducing dependence on foreign technologies
Influence of lubricating oil centrifugal separation intensity in combined cleaning systems on marine diesel engine
Authors: Molokov Nikolai Sergeevich , Kicha Gennadiy Petrovich , Nadezkin Andrei Veniaminovich
Published: August 2020

The article considers the rationality of combined lubricating oil cleaning system in the automatically operated marine diesel engines. The system includes a self-recovering filter and

a self-cleaning centrifugal purifier. This combination is found to obtain resource-saving oil using coupled with minimum engine wear and increased reliability. The full-flow filtration of oil in a die-sel engine lubricating system is necessary to protect its friction couples (bearings) from abrasive wear. Centrifugal separation contributes deep oil purification i.e. removal of insoluble impurities reducing lubricating oil service life. By means of experimental simulation there has been found

a minimum value of centrifugal purifier capacity index, when engine wear reaches the lowest level and keeps stable. The dependence of engine wear on the fuel quality and centrifugal purification intensity represented by centrifugal purifier capacity index is displayed. The adequacy variance was calculated, the adequacy of the found model being checked by using Fisher criterion. The experimental design and processing of the results have been carried out using orthogonal central composite plan of the second order. Specificity of polynomial when all the points of extremum show the minimum value of engine wear was presented. The model is designed to select the proper oil purifier for forced marine diesel engines with average and increased revolutions.