Current issue

The study examines the factors limiting investment inflows into the development of re­sort infrastructure in the North Caucasus Federal District. Particular attention is given to the consequences of inefficient spatial distribution of resort facilities, which generate signifi­cant environmental threats and negatively affect the sustainable functioning of the region’s tourist and recreational systems. The research methodology employed systemic, comparative, and structural analysis. The study identified the key obstacles to investment development, including environmental degradation, irrational use of natural resources, and deficiencies in the territorial management system. The practical significance of the research lies in the ap­plicability of its findings for designing strategies for the sustainable development of tourist and recreational areas in the North Caucasus Federal District. The conclusion outlines a set of proposals aimed at reducing environmental risks, enhancing the efficiency of spatial plan­ning, and creating favorable conditions for the sustainable development of the tourist and recreational potential of the North Caucasus Federal District.

Modern digital technologies play a key role in the preservation of cultural heritage, providing new opportunities for its study and documentation. One of the most promising methods is three-dimensional modeling, which makes it possible to create accurate digital cop­ies of historical objects. The purpose of this study is to analyze international practices of im­plementing 3D modeling in the field of preservation of architectural and archaeological mon­uments. Methods of laser scanning, photogrammetry, and hyperspectral analysis are exam­ined, along with their advantages and limitations. Particular attention is given to examples of successful international projects, such as CyArk and Flyover Zone, which demonstrate the effectiveness of 3D modeling in the preservation and popularization of cultural assets. The main conclusions of the study concern the prospects for the development of digital methods of heritage preservation, their integration into global practice, and the need for further interdis­ciplinary cooperation.

The aim of the article is to assess the current level of digitalization in rural areas of the regions of the Central Federal District of Russia. A comprehensive methodology for evaluat­ing the level of digitalization has been developed, which includes 12 indicators grouped into three categories: the development of ICT infrastructure, digital community, and digital ser­vices. The indicator of rural digitalization is represented by an integral index (IDRA). The index was calculated using statistical data and open data from mobile network operators as of 2023. The study revealed significant disparities in the digital development of rural territories. A typology of the regions of the Central Federal District has been proposed, identifying three types: advanced, moderate, and lagging. The advanced group includes Moscow, Vladimir, Bryansk, Voronezh, Tambov, and Kursk regions, while Tver region is classified as lagging. To overcome digital inequality, a differentiated approach is proposed, which includes moderniza­tion of ICT infrastructure, development of public-private partnerships, and the introduction of digital mentoring programs. The results obtained are of considerable significance for shap­ing targeted digitalization policies for rural territories in Russia.

The study examines the impact of the development of the road network on the dynamics of socio-economic indicators of the regions of the Northwestern Federal District in the context of the implementation of Russia’s Spatial Development Strategy. Based on a correlation anal­ysis of data for the period 2007—2023, which includes 22 indicators of socio-economic dy­namics and 6 parameters of road infrastructure, key patterns of interaction between the transport network and regional development dynamics have been identified. The use of Spearman’s rank correlation method made it possible to determine the strength and direction of relationships, interpreted with regard to the physical-geographical and economic character­istics of the regions. The study confirms that transport infrastructure acts as a catalyst for spatial development; however, its effects vary depending on economic specialization and spa­tial constraints. The results may be applied to optimize regional transport policy and achieve the goals of the national strategy.

The article addresses the identification of the most suitable coastal areas of Primorsky Krai for the installation of offshore wind farms, including the potential use of the generated electricity for the production of “green” hydrogen. The analytic hierarchy process, combined with fuzzy logic applied for the unification of absolute parameter values, was selected as the assessment method. Eleven criteria influencing the suitability of territories for wind farm deployment were analyzed. Six experts in the relevant field were surveyed to determine the weights of the criteria, and the absolute values were unified. After obtaining the suitability index, areas where wind farm installation was technically undesirable were excluded from consideration. As a result, the highest suitability values were identified in Ussuri Bay, in the coastal zone near the ports of Vostochny and Nakhodka, as well as in the vicinity of the port of Olga. The development of wind energy may serve as an important driver of regional growth both from a technological perspective and in addressing energy shortages, while the produc­tion of “green” hydrogen could establish the region as a major hub for hydrogen trade among the Asia-Pacific countries. All of the above correspond to national priorities as outlined in the Concept for the Development of Hydrogen Energy of the Russian Federation and the Energy Security Doctrine of the Russian Federation.

The article presents an assessment of the sustainability and variability of regional gas­tronomic brands in Russia. Based on the analysis of the regions’ participation in the national competition “Flavors of Russia” in 2020—2021, gastronomic events held in Russian regions in 2024 and 2025, as well as information on the gastronomic characteristics of Russian re­gions provided on the TasteAtlas platform, a typology of regional gastronomic brands has been developed. This typology takes into account the variability and balance of a brand, as well as the nature of its promotion at the national and international levels. As a result, all regions of the Russian Federation are classified into four types (with several subtypes). For each identified type, practical recommendations are proposed for the further development of re­gional gastronomic brands.

Seasonal and spatial variations in the content of biogenic elements (mineral forms of ni­trogen and phosphorus) are presented for the estuarine system of the Pregolya River (Kali­ningrad Sea Canal, Kaliningrad Bay) and the coastal zone of the Baltic Sea in 2024. Their seasonal dynamics were characterized by maxima during the high-water period. Minima were observed in spring and summer during water “blooming” against the background of intense water warming. Spatial distribution was characterized by the highest nitrogen and phospho­rus concentrations in the estuarine zone, where the Pregolya River inflow occurs. Episodic pollution exceeding the maximum permissible concentrations for ammonium and nitrite ni­trogen was recorded in the eastern section of the Kaliningrad Sea Canal, including the area near the Kaliningrad wastewater treatment plant outlets. In winter, concentrations of mineral nitrogen and phosphorus corresponded to a potentially hypertrophic level according to the classification for the Baltic Sea waters, which manifests in the high biological productivity of the Pregolya estuarine system. An increase in phosphorus during summer under low nitro­gen concentrations creates conditions for the development of cyanobacteria and water “bloom­ing.” The inflow of biogenic substances through the marine strait increases their concentra­tions in the coastal zone and contributes to the eutrophication of this part of the Baltic Sea.

Currently, there are several classifications of climate in geographical science, developed by different authors, both domestic and foreign. Each classification has its own principles for distinguishing climatic belts and climate types. Such principles include temperature and hu­midity characteristics, dynamics of the general circulation of the atmosphere, landscape and geo­graphic features of the land, etc. Two classifications of climates — B. P. Alisov’s and V. P. Köp­pen’s, which were developed and supplemented back in the last century — are wide­ly spread in domestic science. In modern literature, different types of climate corresponding to different classifications are often indicated for the same locality. Such an example is Magadan, for which not only different climatic belts but also climate types are mentioned. Thus, in sci­entific and educational literature there are mentions of subarctic and temperate climatic belts, as well as different types (kinds) of climate, namely: maritime, monsoon, continental with wet cold indicators. The analysis and assessment of the main climatic variables and prevailing winds allowed to specify the type of climate of Magadan, which corresponds to the temperate monsoon climate. The study, conducted in comparison with other cities typical for different types of climate, confirmed these results.

One of the promising approaches for the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is the use of biopeptides derived from proteomics data. The effect of an enzymatic hy­drolysate of cow colostrum, containing ten peptides, on the development of type 2 diabetes was studied in male Wistar rats. Three groups of Wistar rats, each consisting of seven ani­mals, were formed for the experiments: Group 1 — intact controls; T2D was induced in rats of Groups 2 and 3. Rats in Group 3 additionally received an intragastric administration of the trypsin hydrolysate of cow colostrum alongside their standard diet. In Wistar rats with in­duced T2D, the trypsin hydrolysate of cow colostrum demonstrated antihyperglycemic and antioxidant effects. Blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels decreased in T2D rats re­ceiving the trypsin hydrolysate compared to untreated T2D rats. Administration of the tryp­sin hydrolysate to Group 3 rats reduced body weight loss relative to Group 2 and was accom­panied by less pronounced hyperglycemia. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase activity decreased, while the levels of reduced glutathione and lipoprotein fractions were nor­malized.

Heavy metals cadmium and lead are among the widely distributed pollutants in the envi­ronment due to the activities of the industrial, livestock, and agricultural sectors. These heavy metals can cause serious physiological and biochemical disturbances in vertebrates and inver­tebrates, which makes bioindication and the assessment of heavy metal toxicity using specific protein markers highly relevant. For insects, as the most widespread group of invertebrates in ecosystems, contamination with traces of heavy metals primarily leads to elimination. There­fore, the heightened sensitivity of insects to pollution levels is considered in laboratory tests for evaluating heavy metal toxicity. Among the existing species, Galleria mellonella was se­lected for toxicity assessment. The evaluation of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) toxicity sug­gested the presence of specific protein markers of toxicity, namely proteins with molecular weights of 25 and 70 kDa.

The influence of a microbial consortium of lactic acid bacteria — Lactobacillus casei, Lac­tobacillus plantarum, Lactococcus lactis — and yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae on the yield and quality of winter wheat of the Nador variety was studied. Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the effect of the microorganism suspension on the morphometric pa­rameters of wheat seedlings in an aqueous culture, and the content of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in the microbial culture fluid was measured. The lactic acid bacteria — yeast consorti­um exhibited higher biological activity compared to monocultures. The optimal concentration for stimulating wheat growth was found to be a 1.0 % solution of the consortium. The plant growth—promoting ability of the lactic acid bacteria and yeast is attributed to their capacity to synthesize phytohormones. Field experiments demonstrated that the microbial consortium increased grain yield, protein content, microelements (Zn, Fe), and nutrients (N, P, K) in wheat grains. A comparative analysis of the efficacy of the bioproduct “Baikal EM-1” and the microbial consortium showed that treatment with the consortium led to greater accumulation of macroelements in the grains, higher yield, increased protein content, and protein output. The studied consortium demonstrated higher effectiveness than the bioproduct “Baikal EM-1” and can be recommended for implementation in agriculture as an environmentally safe mi­cro­bial preparation, serving as an alternative to chemical agents.