Current issue

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are increasingly contributing to hotel branding initiatives within the hospitality industry. This study investigates the potential applications of AI in the hospitality sector, using the hotel services industry as a case study. A generative AI chatbot (ChatGPT 4, YandexGPT 2) was employed to model hotel branding based on a set of predefined parameters, focusing on two historic districts of Kaliningrad. The results indi­cate that the architectural styles and hotel designs generated by AI largely aligned with the intended concepts of the historic sites and could be successfully integrated into the contempo­rary architectural landscape of Kaliningrad. Additionally, the hotel names proposed by AI were consistent with the descriptions of the districts and took into account historical charac­teristics. However, identified limitations included insufficient consideration of the geographic features and urban planning restrictions of the selected areas. The article offers recommenda­tions for crafting effective AI prompts to obtain more accurate results in hotel design and highlights the significant potential of AI technologies to advance the hospitality industry.

Migration flows across Russia are highly heterogeneous: some areas are characterized as depressed, repelling population outflows, while others serve as "migration centers" that at­tract large numbers of residents. The migration appeal of such centers is often determined by specific factors related to their economic and geographical position, including proximity to major urban agglomerations and coastal locations, the presence of large industrial and pro­duction hubs, extensive transportation networks, and borderland positions. The combination of these factors in different parts of a region enhances its migration attractiveness and deter­mines its sustainability. The aim of this study is to examine the spatial structure of migration attractiveness in three Russian regions with stable migration growth — Kaliningrad and Leningrad Oblasts and Krasnodar Krai — through an analysis of how economic and geo­graphical factors influence migration patterns, using a multi-scale approach. The study draws on data from Rosstat for the period 2011—2023. The findings indicate that the highest levels of migration attractiveness are observed in the capital agglomerations and coastal municipali­ties. Industrial and production centers also exert a significant influence on migration attrac­tiveness, particularly in areas distant from major urban agglomerations. Additionally, clus­ters of the resort and sanatorium industries and major transportation hubs contribute posi­tively to migration appeal. Sea-oriented industries help to mitigate negative migration trends, while proximity to borders and the presence of automobile and railway transportation net­works have a limited impact on municipal attractiveness.

Currently, significant attention is being devoted at various levels of government to the development of civil society, with support directed toward projects initiated by non-profit organizations (NPOs), local communities, and territorial public self-government bodies (TPSGs). A key requirement for these projects is the direct involvement of citizens in the pro­cesses of discussion, decision-making, and project implementation. This article analyzes the historical development of TPSGs in Russia, noting a renewed interest in this form of organi­zation following 2015, reflected particularly in the active emergence of new TPSGs. The study compares TPSGs as a form of local self-organization with other formats, including NPOs. The authors conclude that, while there are several differences between TPSGs and NPOs, the primary distinction lies in their foundational principles: NPOs are formed around a common goal (tasks or problems to be addressed), whereas TPSGs are based on territorial affiliation. Empirical findings indicate that in the Kaliningrad region, a modern wave of TPSG formation began in 2017, with the number of TPSGs increasing from 3 to 56 between 2020 and 2024. At present, there is a high density of TPSGs (number per 10,000 inhabitants) in rural and peripheral municipalities. Furthermore, for most peripheral municipalities in the Kaliningrad region, a high level of TPSG presence correlates strongly with a significant number of socially oriented non-profit organizations (SONPOs).

This article examines the history of geoecological research on cities, tracing developments from the origins of the field to current trends. The following key stages in the evolution of geoecological studies of urban areas are identified: (1) early research, spanning from the 19th century to the early 20th century; (2) the development of geoecology and urban ecology in the mid-20th century; (3) the rise of eco-urbanism and sustainable development during the 1970s—1990s; and (4) contemporary trends of the early 21st century. Particular attention is given to how the historical trajectory of geoecological studies highlights the growing need to develop comprehensive methods for assessing urbanized areas, integrating factors of diverse origins that impact human well-being in the modern city.

The development of domestic tourism in Russia requires the more active integration of recreationally significant territories into this sector. This fully applies to the Kaliningrad coast of the Baltic Sea, as evidenced by the increased volume of tourist flows in recent years. A comprehensive approach to assessing the attractiveness of areas located in the "land—sea" contact zone is proposed, based on a component-wise evaluation method using 25 indicators that reflect the natural characteristics of coastal landscapes and the degree of their anthropo­genic transformation. The methodology was tested on 31 sections of the Sambia Peninsula’s coastline. The analysis of their attractiveness revealed a predominance of areas with a high level of appeal (56.8 % of the studied coastal length) and a complete absence of low-attrac­tiveness territories. This indicates, on the one hand, the high recreational potential of the area and, on the other, the insufficient realization of this potential. Based on the assessment re­sults, sections with varying priorities for recreational development have been identified.

This study focuses on investigating atmospheric zinc deposition in the Kaliningrad Re­gion using biomonitoring methods. The moss species Pleurosium schreberi and Hylocomium splendens, collected in 2020, were selected as bioindicators. The primary aim of the study was to assess the spatial distribution of atmospheric air pollution by zinc in the region and to identify its sources. Epithermal neutron activation analysis was used to determine the metal content in the moss samples. The obtained data were processed using statistical methods and backward air mass trajectory modeling. The results indicated that zinc concentrations in the mosses varied significantly, reaching maximum values in the southern and central parts of the region. A comparison with 2015 data revealed a 46 % increase in zinc accumulation lev­els. The study established that the main sources of pollution include both local industrial facil­ities and transboundary transport of air masses from Europe, particularly under prevailing southwesterly winds.

This study examines the morphometric characteristics of the Letny — Zimny pond sys­tem in Kaliningrad as factors potentially influencing the ecological condition of small artifi­cial water bodies. Based on hydroacoustic surveying conducted with the "AsCor" software-hardware complex, which simultaneously recorded current depth and geographic coordinates of the surveyed bottom areas in real time, bottom relief maps of the ponds were created for the first time. Key morphometric parameters were determined, including the surface area, basin shape, enclosed water volume, shoreline length and shoreline development index, width, depths (average and maximum), catchment area, specific runoff index, among others. The investigated water bodies are classified as excavation ponds, characterized by small size, shal­low depth, and limited catchment areas. It was noted that such ecosystems may experience short-term fluctuations in water levels and hydrochemical characteristics, driven by both nat­ural factors (precipitation, groundwater) and anthropogenic influences (flow regulation). The study emphasizes that maintaining favorable ecological conditions in these ponds is possible through proper management and development, taking into account the basin morphology and the biogenic load originating from the catchment area.

For the first time, a find of an incomplete tooth (a fragment of the crown) belonging to a Cretaceous shark of the genus Ptychodus has been discovered in the Kaliningrad Region, with­in boulder-pebble material along the seashore near Zelenogradsk. Previously, the geogra­phically closest remains of Ptychodus were known from Upper Cretaceous reworked deposits in Lithuania. The morphological features of the studied tooth suggest that it is a symphyseal tooth and may be classified as Ptychodus cf. latissimus Agassiz, 1835. This new find expands our knowledge of the distribution of Ptychodus during the Cretaceous period and enhances our understanding of the diversity of fossils found within the erratic boulders of the region.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of selenium nanoparticles on the key cultivation parameters and phytostimulatory properties of Lactococcus lactis IMB B-7352. Cultivation of L. lactis IMB B-7352 was carried out in MRS medium supplemented with nanoselenium at concentrations of 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 mg/L (based on selenium content). The antagonistic activity of L. lactis IMB B-7352 against cultures of phytopathogenic bacteria was assessed using the agar block method. It was found that nanoselenium at a concentration of 0.75 mg/L exhibited optimal stimulatory activity in terms of biomass accumulation by L. lactis IMB B-7352. Examination of the antagonistic activity of L. lactis IMB B-7352 revealed that the inhibition zones against Xanthomonas campestris B-4102 and Agrobacterium tume­faciens B-8833 measured 55.0 mm and 20.0 mm, respectively. The addition of nanoselenium to the MRS medium did not result in statistically significant differences in the inhibition zones of phytopathogenic bacteria. A stimulatory effect of L. lactis IMB B-7352, cultivated on MRS medium supplemented with nanoselenium, was demonstrated on the growth parameters of wheat and pea plants. It was established that nanoselenium concentrations of 0.25—0.5 mg/L in the MRS medium are optimal for promoting plant growth. For the first time, the effectiveness of nanoselenium supplementation in the cultivation medium for Lactococcus species used for plant growth stimulation has been demonstrated. The experiments conducted are promising for the development of microbial preparations for crop production.