Home – Home – Jornals – Region: Economics and Sociology 2020 number 2

Spark plasma sintering and a standard free sintering method are used to manufacture ceramic plates with a diameter of 30 mm from aluminum oxide powder with a fraction size approximately equal to 3 m. Dynamic strength of the ceramics obtained is studied. Dynamic loading is carried out by a hardened steel impactor. It is shown that energy dissipation in a material obtained using spark plasma sintering is substantially larger than that in a material fabricated using free sintering, which means that it is more resistant to dynamic loads.

Recent research gives preference to GDP as the most important economic indicator. Meanwhile, according to the Russian school of economic thought, the primary goal of production growth is final consumption by households. Indeed, comprehensive and proven-effective forecasting tools designed over time to predict the prospects for growth and location of production have designated it as the main criterion (objective function). We refer to the absolute level of household final consumption and the dynamics of its change as the key indicator of national economic efficiency. This development goal should not lose its social focus regardless of management arrangements chosen and business patterns employed, albeit related to them. The existing forecasting tools reflect the actual procedure for obtaining a tangible commodity bundle of input-output composition, services included. During financial computations, a summarizing factor often presented in the mass media, GDP, is predominant among the resultants. In terms of content, this indicator is gross and intermediate to the main one (household final consumption), so it differs from the latter in values and emerging dynamics. This circumstance requires greater emphasis on the final consumption indicator and its relation to the production indicators of aggregate economic forecasts. It is to be accounted for when estimating priorities in long-term industrial and regional calculations, as well as drafting both generalfit-for-purpose and managerial solutions that affect the local business climate for various participants, which is achievable with modern interregional economic forecasting tools.

The study of the ecological morphology of plants is a necessary condition for solving a number of fundamental and applied problems in the field of ecology, botany, geography and physiology of plants, when conducting global and regional environmental monitoring, as well as in the selection and introduction of plants. This approach is successfully used for the study of flowering plants of different botanical and geographical zones. Ferns in this aspect tend to fall out of the field of view of botanists. The aim of this work was to study at different levels of organization from the cellular to the organizational photosynthetic apparatus of the fern sporophyte protoepiphyte Lemmaphyllum microphyllum and attempt to answer the question about the ways of its adaptation to the conditions of existence. The laboratory complex of analysis of morphology and structure of photosynthetic apparatus of plants-Siams Mesoplant-was used. It allowed us to conduct a comprehensive analysis of L. microphyllum at the level of fronds, mesophyll cells, plastid apparatus and obtain indicators: specific surface density of fronds, the number of cells per unit area of fronds, the number of chloroplasts in one cell; fronds thickness, surface area and volume of chloroplasts, area and volume of cells, etc. It was found that adapting to living conditions on the trunks and branches of trees, as well as flat rock surfaces devoid of humus, the fern involved different organs and functions. At that completely in its morphology and anatomy showed adaptations to light and humidity mode. At the same time, adaptations were developed both for the most complete capture of light, and for protection from excess light, to reduce the loss of water and its release. They have appeared at different levels of organization and include combined xero-, meso -, helio-and sciomorphic traits that allow the species to form stable populations in cenoses. It is shown that the optimal compensatory strategy was, when reducing the area of fronds, the development of water-holding capacity of tissues and cells on the basis of polyfunction of chlorenchyma (succulentization), as well as the improvement of the conductive elements of the xylem due to the appearance of vessels. These characteristics did not solve the problem of long-term dehydration, but allowed only a short-term water deficit to be tolerated. This gives reason to call such ferns hidden succulents or subsucculents. It was shown that the optimal compensatory strategy was, with a reduction in the fronds area, the development of the water-holding ability of tissues and cells (succulentization) based on the multifunctionality of the chlorenchyma, as well as the improvement of the conductive elements of xylem due to the appearance of vessels. These characteristics did not solve the problem of prolonged dehydration, but allowed only a short-term water deficit to be tolerated. This gives grounds to call such ferns hidden succulents or subsucculents.

The aim of the work to present the biomorphological characteristics of ferns of the genus Athyrium Roth, occurring in South Siberia, and to identify changes of the life form during ontogenesis and in individuals of the same biological age in different ecological and coenotic conditions. Biomorphological study of plants is an important task since both the organization of populations of species and their stable existence in cenoses depend on the life form of the species. The main thing in the identification of life forms of sporophytes of ferns is the study of the formation of its perennial part, which is the rhizome. Based on the structural features of the sporophyte, we define the life form of the sporophytes of the Athyrium species living in South Siberia as summer-green polycyclic densely-rosette ferns with monopodial-dichotomously growing underground-aboveground rhizomes bearing rosette of monomorphous fronds at the apical end. The life form of the different Athyrium species is represented by two variants: (1) large-rhizome orthotropic weakly branching vegetatively non-growing monocentric ferns ( Athyrium filix-femina (L.) Roth., A. monomachii Komarov, A. sinense Rupr.), and (2) large-rhizome ascending weakly branching and weakly vegetatively growing monocentric or implicit-polycentric ferns ( A. distentifolium Tausch ex Opiz). Our study showed that the rhizomes and fronds size is increased, and the ability of rhizomes to branching is realized during sporophyte ontogenesis. The branching is dichotomous: the daughter branches are formed inside the terminal bud of the maternal branch and become distinguishable only after several years. It was determined, that rhizome remains uniaxial throughout life in sporophytes with low vitality, and rhizomes tend to branch in sporophytes with high vitality. Branching of the rhizome starts in young spore-bearing sporophytes. The largest number of branches of the rhizome, and consequently rosettes of fronds is characteristic for middle-aged spore-bearing sporophytes. At the end of the life, non-specialized disintegration (senile partitioning) occurs in the sporophytes having the branched rhizomes. This is expressed in the disintegration of the rhizome into the separate branches. According to the results of the study in various phytocenoses of the Kuznetsk Alatau, the intensity of rhizome branching in sporophytes of the same ontogenetic stage depends on environmental conditions. The rhizomes of A. filix-femina produce a large number of branches in the lighter mixed (fir-aspen and fir-birch) forests; in A. distentifolium , the intensity of the rhizome branching increases from the forest belt towards the subalpine one.

The work is aimed at the description of biomorphology of plants living in variable flooding conditions. The results expand the concept of modular organization as a constructive and representative way of comparative morphological analysis and explanation of the mechanisms of biomorph evolution. Structural organization of biomorphs in the gradient of change in the stability of humidification from floodplain meadows to coasts to water cuts and beaches: Solanum ulcamara , Thalictrum simplex , Lysimachia vulgaris , Lycopus europaeus , Stellaria palustris Persicaria amphibia , Erysimum cheiranthoides is studied from the perspective of a systemic and complementary approach. It has been determined that acceleration in the vegetative and generative spheres leads to the appearance of monocarpics in the hygrophilic line of evolution. It is shown that ontogenesis of individuals of seed and vegetative origin is reduced to a single fruiting and the specificity of the shoot formation model is preserved in plants in all considered biotopes. Specific signs identified: the presence of long internodes in the substrate, in the supersubstrate parts during flooding, in grass rags and dense grass under low light; sympodial growth by formation of shoots of substitution. On the model species, it was determined that plant adaptability is provided by changes in individual structural elements of monocarpic shoots, and the structural and functional zonation of monocarpic shoots determines the autonomization of parts of an individual. Our results allowed us to confirm that the monocarpic shoot and the system formed on its basis is one of the categories of axes of a herbaceous plant as part of an architectural unit (as understood by D. Barthelemy and Y. Caraglio). The data obtained showed that the settlement of reservoirs with flowering plants was possible from long-shoot long-rhizome grasses and subshrub lian in the following directions: 1) the emergence of monocarpic annuals; 2) the emergence of young and annual vegetative origin with the formation of acentric and clearly polycentric stolon-forming and root-shoot biomorphs.

For a long time Amaryllidaceae served as a textbook example of monopodially growing bulbs. The main argumentation in favor of this viewpoint was the position of the first leaf of the innovation bud in Galanthus : it was not placed with its abaxial side to the inflorescence stalk. The discussion on monopodial or sympodial innovation was continued for more than 150 years, and was completed by the victory of the sympodial model. Nevertheless, the variability of phyllotaxis of the innovation bud in Amaryllidaceae did not receive satisfactory explanation by nowadays, that brings actuality to our research. We have reviewed and re-discovered the prophylls of the innovation bud throughout all the Amaryllidaceae family, leading to strict homologization of these leaves in different clades of the family. By the means of comparative structural morphology we rendered the universality of the sympodial model of bulb innovation in all the members of Amatyllidaceae. Based on the results of the provided study, we have postulated, that the prophyll of the innovation bud undergoes the reduction from well-developed green leaf (photoprophyll) through lower scales (cataprophylls) to complete ablation (phantom prophyll). Moreover, we revealed, that the prophyll morphological characters are synapomorphies for the principal geographical clades of Amaryllidaceae (established according to molecular phylogeny data). The major variability of the prophyll structure we documented for the African tribes of Amaryllidaceae. It is important to mention, that the postulated row of morphological reduction of the prophyll could not be referred to as the row of evolutionary events. As for the common ancestor of Amaryllidaceae, we propose the polymorphic state with different degree of the prophyll development. Further evolution lead to stabilization of the prophyll morphology in the majority of geographical clades, but African Amaryllidaceae. Correspondingly, our data undoubtedly proved the model of sympodial innovation for the bulbs in all the Amaryllidaceae family.

The typological problem of revealing architectural models of annual astragali ( Astragalus L.) has emerged a close relationship between the shoot system and the structure of inflorescences. The features of the selected four patterns of architectural models are discussed. The synthesis of approaches has given us insight into the evolutionary trends. The application of the method of architectural models provide the means of classifying of life forms of annual astragali. The synthesis of molecular data, taxonomy and biomorphology confirms the concept of mosaic evolution and heterochronism (heterobatmy) of characters.

The study is aimed at studying the herb life forms of closely related narrowly localized endemic species of the genus Kudrjaschevia in Central Asia. A detailed description of life forms will make it possible to identify morphological rearrangements of plants associated with the adaptation of species to certain ecological conditions. Our results will expand our understanding of the main directions in the evolution of morphs, which is practically not studied in plants of the Central Asian flora. In the process of somatic evolution, individuals of this group adapted to various specific habitats: rocks - K. nadinae , K. grubovii , K. pojarkoviae ; mountain scree - K. allotricha ; rocky outcrops of the mountain slopes - K. korshinskyi . Using an architectural approach to the description of plants, it was found that various ecotopic and ecological-coenotic conditions did not affect the nature of the development of life forms of related taxa. Parallelism in the development of life forms in the studied species is manifested in the passage of the same phases of morphogenesis: primary shoot, main axis, primary bush (clone) and in the preservation of a monocentic biomorph. In ontogenesis in individuals of closely related species, similar reiteration of axes is formed. Each axis characterized as an annually dying branching / non-branching with radial symmetry, having opposite phyllotaxis, the apical meristem of which is realized in inflorescence. The long-term basis of plants in all representatives of Kudrjaschevia was built as a result of sympodial sequential articulation of the short basal parts of the axes (residues) according to the monochasial / dichasial types. Despite the difference in the aerial parts of the studied rock ( K. nadinae , K. grubovii , K. pojarkoviae ) and mountain slope species ( K. allotricha , K. korshinskyi ), the shoot formation and the common long-term basis of the individuals are the same. The diversity of the aerial parts of the axes reflects the adaptation of plants to specific ecological conditions, while maintaining a genetically fixed, general development program.

Using an architectural approach - one of the modern methods of detailed study of the structure of plants, the life form of the dwarf subshrub Thymus seravshanicus is characterized. The Species is widely distributed in different ecotopes in the Republic of Tajikistan (Hissar, Zeravshan, Hazretishokh ridges). For the first time in the structure of individuals, an architectural unit (AU) was identified and characterized, which consists of the main compound skeletal axis (n order), compound skeletal axes of the 1st (n+1) order, branching shoots and ephemeral shoots. Depending on the position of the main (n order) compound skeletal axis in space, a variety of AU was revealed: orthotropic, ascending, and mixed type. The features of their development are characterized. It is shown that in different ecological and cenotic habitat conditions, the structure of individuals is formed by repeated repetition of three or one architectural unit at the same time. In the mixed-grass steppe (black forest belt) and mixed-grass meadow (subalpine belt) communities, the structure of individuals is formed by a combination and repeated repetition of all AU. In areas with a lack of free substrate, the development of individuals begins with the formation of orthotropic AE, a dense shrub is formed; in areas of free substrate, the development of individuals begins with the formation of an ascending AE, a clump is formed. In the steppe community (juniper belt), the structure of T. seravshanicus individuals consists only of ascending AE and a clone is formed. The polyvariance of shoots development was revealed: 1) in the conditions of the black forest belt, intensive branching is characteristic for individuals, the duration of monopodial growth of shoots is up to 3 years; 2) in the conditions of the subalpine belt - rosette shoots, the duration of their monopodial growth up to 6 years; 3) in the conditions of the juniper belt in the structure of shoots there are no short metamers, the duration of monopodial growth up to 2 years. The identified features are mechanisms of adaptation of T. seravshanicus to growing conditions and do not lead to changes in the life form of the dwarf subshrub. The obtained data expand the understanding of the structure of dwarf subshrub, their morphological plasticity and serve as a basis for modeling the ways of morphological transformation of dwarf subshrub in different habitats.

The study was aimed to investigate the latent buds localization and the characteristics of the structures arising from the buds in conifers and deciduous trees in response to age-related changes and various growing conditions. The crown analysis was performed using architectural models and reiteration concept. It was found that in deciduous trees, the latent buds were usually at the bases of annual growth, and in conifers the latent buds were at the bases of annual growth, in the bud scales axils, or along the entire length of the shoot in the needle axils and in the shoot’s distal part. It was revealed that the short shoots’ terminal buds could function as latent buds. In deciduous trees, the skeletal axes’ natural aging is the endogenous factor of shoots’ development from latent buds. In evergreen conifers it is the plant’s response to the needles’ aging. This leads to the growth induction of latent buds and to the acropetal appearance of the buds on the mother axis in conifers. In deciduous trees, the reiterated complexes form in response to the axis development cycle completion, which causes the initiation of latent buds in the centripetal direction. In conifers, the reiterated complexes look like bundles: such structures form due to the latent buds’ easy initiation, which leads to the formation of the other orders’ shoots. In deciduous trees, the reiterated complexes are characterized by prolonged growth, acrotonic branching mode and orthotropic growth direction. In deciduous trees, the crown of the old generative and senile plants almost entirely consists of reiterated complexes. It has been found that conifers have a different degree of latent buds participation in the crown formation, which can vary significantly within the same genus. In Picea abies (L.) Karst., the reiterated complexes replace small twigs. In some other species (for example, Picea schrenkiana Fisch. et E. Mey., Abies sibirica Ledeb., Pinus sibirica Du Tour.), the reiterated complexes can also replace the extending from the trunk skeletal branches. In Pinus sylvestris L., no secondary crown is formed.

The work proposes an algorithm of analysis of structural and functional organization of crowns of Salix species. It can be used to study the architecture of various species of trees and shrubs. The boreal species of Salix are insufficiently investigated from the perspective of structural and biological diversity. The study of plant organs based on the concept of “architectural models” is particularly relevant. On the example of three-year escape systems (TYTS) we first studied the architecture of crowns of Salix species. Depending on gender differences and lighting conditions a new technique to study the architectural modules of Salix boreal species has been developed. From the 16 species studied 11 life forms have been revealed. They refer to two major categories: trees and shrubs. For some species, stannic life forms have also been described. 7 architectural modules have been identified: 3 modules in trees and tall shrubs, 2 modules in medium-sized shrubs, and 2 modules in low shrubs. Life forms of individuals of Salix sub-species were formed on the basis of three architectural modules, and Vetrix sub-family are based on six architectural modules. We have proved that female individuals of Salix species (other than S. acutifolia ) have a greater variety of TYTS types compared to male ones (assimilating “year-long” shoots as a part of TYTS in female individuals are 1.3 to 1.7 times larger than in male ones. It provides them with a larger assimilating surface. The crowns of female individuals have been found to be more branched. Year-long shoots developing from sleeping buds are found in low shrubs 3-6 times more often than in trees. Different parts of the crown of trees and high shrubs species differ in the ratio of year-long assimilating shoots: the largest number of them are in the middle and upper parts of the crown, and the smallest are - in the lower part.

In despite of the considerable interest of many researchers in the Celastrales order, which is largely due to the great diversity of structural characters and almost cosmopolitan distribution (with the exception of some arid regions), a comprehensive biomorphological analysis of its representatives has not yet been carried out. The aim of this work is to analyze the structural and rhythmological characters of the shoots and shoot systems (vegetative and reproductive) of representatives of the order Celastrales, the volume of which is taken according to the latest data of molecular phylogenetics [APG IV]. The main working tool for this analysis was the concept of architectural models. Among the studied representatives of the order, the following architectural models were identified [according to the terminology of Hallé et al., 1978]: Rauh, Attims, Champagnat, Mangenot, Scarrone, Stone. The shoot systems are of three types: 1) polycarpic polycyclic with monopodial or acrosympodial growth and intercalary or pseudo-terminal inflorescences, with orthotropic, plagiotropic and / or mixed orientation of shoots in space, according to the rhythm of development - silleptic and proleptic shoots; 2) monocarpic mono-and dicyclic, terminal inflorescences; 3) monocarpic monocyclic - once blooming, with sympodial growth and terminal inflorescences, with elongated or shortened shoots. In all these cases, the nature of the blooming of flowers is basipetal. For grassy and semi-woody representatives ( Parnassia , Stackhousioideae), they additionally used shoot formation models identified by Russian biomorphologists [Serebryakova, 1981]: monopodic rosette (generative shoots are monocarpic monocyclic, flowers single, terminal) and sympodial semi-rosette (generative shoots are monocarpic monocyclic, but with acropetal blooming of flowers in inflorescence). For the taxon as a whole, the formation of axillary complexes is very usually, which are very different in structure and rhythm of development, that allows to successfully use these characters in the characterization of individual species and in establishing evolutionary trends. Thus, the structural diversity of shoot systems, which is the basis for the formation of different biomorphs, has been revealed for representatives of the Celastrales order. A high degree of ecological and morphological plasticity is manifested in individual and intraspecific shoot polymorphism, the dependence of the ratio of different types of shoots from environmental conditions, the possibility of changing the model during ontogenesis, the formation of transitional models (in Celastrus , Tripterygium ). The possibility of rapid transformation of the all shoot system under extreme environmental conditions was shown using the example of the genus Parnassia and the subfamily Stackhousioideae.

The article presents the results of a study of the structural organization of the crown of Ulmus glabra . Knowledge of the types of shoot systems that regularly change in the tree crown in ontogenesis of an individual is of theoretical and practical value. In our studies, we used the architectural (modular) approach, which allowed us to describe the spatio-temporal program of tree crown development. The results obtained allowed us to determine that the main structural unit of the crown, resistant to changes in climatic factors, is a biennial shoot system. The choice of this unit is due to the fact that the zonality of the maternal shoot is only detected in the second year of its life. To identify the spatio-temporal structure of a biennial shoot system, the characters of shoots of the first and second years of life are compared. The biennial shoot systems of undergrowth plants of U. glabra were studied in the forest-steppe oak forest of the Belogorye reserve. 100 individuals of the same ontogenetic state were studied. In the studied trees, shoot systems were differentiated into large (“growth”) and small (“main”) by having the same location in the crown. Based on the cross-correlation function, which depends on the number of internodes on the maternal shoot, a regression model of the distribution of side shoot lengths was constructed. It was shown that, when numbering the internodes on the maternal shoot from the top, the dependence of the lengths of the side shoots of the “growth” and “main” biennial shoot system of U. glabra on the number of internodes is consistent with the exponential model. It is established that the development of a biennial shoot system is associated with the conditions of the irradiation and position in crown. Comparison of the two samples allowed introducing the shift parameter into the model, which defines a special zone on the maternal shoot.

The authors construct a continuum approximation for the model of a medium with internal structure and internal self-balancing stresses. The presupposition of diffeomorphism, i.e. existence of partial space derivatives of displacements is largely slackened. The information brought to the closed model of a geomedium by this presupposition is comparable with the information brought by the constitutive equations. The new model includes local bends of grains of the skeleton, plasticity and elastic strains of the binding medium in the pore space. The model is of a gradient type.

The article presents the procedure for the experimental and theoretical estimation of fracture toughness in salt rocks in testing of samples with wedge-shaped cut and by numerical modeling of the tests in ANSYS. The values of the stress intensity factor and the energy release intensity factor in tensile fracturing are presented for salt rocks of the Upper Kama Potash Salt Deposit.

The author studies the influence exerted by the boundary conditions and diameter of a circular hole on tensile fracture initiation in brittle and quasi-brittle geomaterials subjected to non-uniform compression with regard to the size effect. The calculation of the critical stress uses the modified non-local and gradient fracture criteria. The calculation results are compared with the experimental data. The developed criteria allow taking into account the size effect when the size of the stress concentration zone is varied by changing both geometry and boundary conditions of the stress raiser.

The article discusses geomechanical justification of undermined ground evaluation methods. The proposed method of subsidence assessment allows analyzing influence of underground mining on ground surface in development of horizontal and flat-dipping uniform and interstratified beds with different deformability. The predictive assessment procedures for the subsidence trough profile in case of uniform and interstratified rocks are presented.

Justification of slope parameters for benches and pit walls in clayey rock mass bases on studies into geological structure and physical and mechanical properties of rocks of various lithological varieties. The upper layers of pit walls occur in weak clayey overburden, in the crust of weathering and in transition zone with conglomerates, up to 150 m in total thickness. In this case, it is required to calculate accurately angles of clayey slopes, to undertake cutback at recommended angles and to eliminate heavy flow of melt water and rain water from ground surface to the slopes. Mining within the design pit wall limits should be accompanied by continuous instrumental monitoring of pit wall slopes.

The process of roof caving at face during its advance is impossible to describe by static and kinematic solutions. It is necessary to take into account unsymmetry of deformation due to the dynamic component of the roof caving process. To that end, it is required to undertake experimental and theoretical studies into the unsymmetrical displacement distribution. It seems to be possible to obtain additional information on deformation and caving of roof rocks from the elastic solution. The main factors to ensure correct formulation of problems are the statics, kinematics and dynamics of rock mass deformation, and the proposed description of the inelasticity zone in the host rocks-mineable seam system.

The behavior of acoustic emission in uniaxial cyclic loading of rock salt samples from the Kaliningrad deposit is determined. The samples were tested under varied temperatures and ratios of maximal stresses in sequential loading cycles. The experimental curves of acoustic emission activity and maximal stress and temperature of the previous cycle are obtained. Stress memory in acoustic emission manifests itself equally stably under constant higher and lower temperatures. Memory of the maximal stress of the previous cycle persists under higher temperature in the next cycle and vanishes under lower temperature in the next cycle. In case of the same maximal stresses and constant or higher temperatures in the successive cycles, the stress memory effect is vague: the stress estimated on this base is lower than the maximal stress of the previous cycle.

We investigated elastic wave attenuation characteristics using a PCI-2 acoustic emission system. A lead-break test was employed to carry out attenuation experiments in granite, marble, red sandstone, and limestone. Because the centroid frequency variation of the red sandstone differs significantly from the other rocks, a pendulum steel ball impact test was also performed to study the attenuation characteristics of elastic waves in red sandstone. The results show that the elastic wave signal amplitude decreases with increasing propagation distance for all four rock types. In granite and red sandstone, the peak frequency of the elastic wave declines abruptly after the propagation exceeds 800 and 100 mm, respectively, and remains almost unchanged in marble and limestone. The attenuation of centroid frequency in granite, limestone, and marble shows the same trend; however, in red sandstone, when the elastic wave propagation exceeds a certain distance, the variation of centroid frequency shows an upward tendency. The main influence of elastic wave attenuation in rock is the packing state of mineral particles: less tightly packed rocks consistently have a higher attenuation coefficient. The secondary cause of attenuation is the development of structures such as joints and stratifications. More developed interior structures lead to higher attenuation coefficients. Sensor selection is also very important in rock attenuation tests. We recommend use of a wide resonant frequency sensor or sensors with different resonant frequencies along the elastic wave propagation path.

The procedure is developed for permeability prediction in deep-level fractured coal. Coal permeability and microstructure are experimentally studied on samples taken from the Tikhov Mine. The predictive relationships between the occurrence depth and permeability of coal in parallel to master and side cleavage are obtained for the Nikitinsky, Tambovsky and Tarsminsky fields of the Leninsk geological-economic region in Kuzbass.

The paper presents the discussion on problems involving the reproduction of the acceleration field of ground vibrations based on the pointwise registration carried out in coal mines subjected to seismic hazard. Simple model that takes into account directional effects of seismic wave attenuation has been presented. It has been accepted the assumption that the contours of the peak ground accelerations take the shape of an ellipse. The carried out calculations for three cases of very strong ground vibrations caused by mine tremors which occurred in three regions of coal mines, show that the application of the proposed model allows us to reduce the value of standard error of the estimate as compared to the results obtained with the commonly applied regression model, which does not allow for the directional effects of attenuation. For the investigated regions, it was showed, that the directional effects of the attenuation depends on the directions of the nearest big tectonic faults.

The article reports the modelling results on direct dumping of overburden by cast blasting. The cast factor variation as function of seam occurrence and explosion block parameters is found. Potential improvement of cast blasting to displace overburden to mined-out pit area is described. The ways of enhancing efficiency of direct dumping in gently dipping coal extraction by combination of truck-and-shovel system with direct dumping in Kuzbass are identified.

The statistical analysis results on methane release in coal faces in Kuzbass are presented. The parabolic curves of methane release have maximums as regard to feed velocity and productivity of shearer. Methane release from broken coal is an inverse proportional function of linear hyperbolic dependence and has maximum as regard to feed velocity and productivity of shearer. The analysis of the found methane release from broken coal shows that methane release reduces as a quadratic dependence with decreasing drum rotation speed and number of picks per cutting line, and increases also as a quadratic dependence with growing thickness of coal seam and shearer web width.

A brief appraisal of probable gold in dredge and sluice tailings dumps at placers in Russia’s Far East is given. In terms of mining waste piles and operating placer mines in the Khabarovsk Territory, Jewish Autonomous Province, Amur and Magadan Regions, a probable gold content of dredge and sluice tailings dumps is predicted. The calculation used different combinations of estimation parameters: loss, initial gold content, fineness of gold sand. It is shown that the probable gold content varies quantitatively and qualitatively as function of combination of the estimation parameters. The tough, optimistic, realistic and unrealistic scenarios of prospects for secondary gold extraction from dredge and sluice tailings are presented.

The authors find that morpholine dithiocarbamate (MDTC) and S-cyanoethyl N, N-diethyl dithiocarbamate (CEDETC) are capable to form stable compounds with gold in the solution and to form an adsorption layer on the surface of gold-bearing sulphides, which points at them as new selective collectors for gold recovery from rebellious ore. The coating area of MDTC on the surface of chalcopyrite, arsenopyrite and pyrite, with new discrete growths is quantitatively assessed. CEDETC improves floatability of chalcopyrite by 1.5-2.0 times as against butyl xanthate at low consumption of reagents, while difference in floatability of chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite considerably grows, which is indicative of a beneficial effect on production of Au-Cu concentrates with lower As content by flotation.

The authors range low-grade copper-nickel ore and mining waste represented by overburden dumps, mill tailings and slag in the territory of the Murmansk Region by the criterion of potential ecological hazard. The determinants of mobility of heavy metals formed in oxidation of sulphides are the content of barren minerals (silicate matrix), pH of pore solutions and exposure to atmospheric weathering (acid rains). The criteria of natural copper-nickel ore and mining waste processability are determined.

The authors justify and exemplify the disintegratability procedure for geomaterials in impact crushing. The procedure distinguishes between two simultaneous processes of destruction and disintegration based on grading analysis of crushing products. The quantitative results on disintegration are obtained for metalliferous geomaterials of different texture and mineral composition. Disintegration is an important process of ore treatment, and disintegratability is an important characteristic of the process and the performance indicator of crushing equipment.

Extended milling/mechanical activation properties of zinc plant residue was investigated using two different milling systems, namely, high speed vibrating ball mill and ring mill, comparatively. The zinc plant residue was mixture of gypsum, anglesite, massicot, quartz, maghemite, and franklinite. Zinc plant residue was milled for 1-30 min in high speed vibrating ball mill and ring mill. The obtained samples were characterized using XRD, SEM, particle size distribution, and N₂-BET methods. According to results, it was found that the ring mill caused a further decrease in particle size. Particle size distribution and N₂-BET analyses showed that agglomeration of particles began after 15 min and 5 min milling time for HSBVM and ring mill, respectively.

The authors study theoretically the non-isometric natural convection of pore water in rock mass subjected to freezing. The mathematical model is developed for a permeable water-saturated layer of rocks under artificial freezing. The model approximations allowed transition to a two-dimension axially symmetric model. The numerical computation produces critical Rayleigh number values such that natural convection of pore water has a significant influence on temperature and position of phase transition front. Three possible convection regimes of pore water are determined as function of alternating ability of thermal expansion factor.

The article analyzes statistics on micro-solid emissions in mineral mining and discusses features of micro-emission in atmosphere in large-scale blasting in open pit mines. The gas-dynamic calculations of dust and gas cloud elevation after blasting for localization of solid micro particles and determination of their concentration in the troposphere are presented. The influence of large-scale blasting on regional seismicity is illustrated in terms of the Kuznetsk Coal Basin.

An analysis of the competitiveness of the Polish hard coal mining sector was performed. The most important conditions in which it operates were presented-the size of the resource base, the current organizational structure, and operating conditions. By presenting the most important sources of competitiveness, factors requiring special attention were identified. After presenting the SWOT analysis of the sector, the issues that were most important for the permanent preservation of the competitive position of the entire sector, as well as individual mining enterprises, were specified.

Two geoinformation databases have been created, which provide information on the parameters of pine forests in the large Baikal region. The database «Elemental chemical composition of pine needles Pinus sylvestris L. in the Prebaikalia» contains the data obtained by the authors on the quantitative content of 39 elements and 20 organic pollutants in pine needles at 162 sample plots (SP), located in the southern part of the Irkutsk region territory, where a large industrial zone is located, aerial emissions of which are one of the main causes of forest pollution in the region. Information on changes in the elemental composition of needles in dynamics from 1992 to 2018 is given. The data are presented: 107 types of pine stands, 50 types of soils, 59 chemical elements and organic pollutants. In the second database «Ecological and physiological state of pine forests in the catchment basin of Lake Baikal», located mainly in the territory of Buryatia. Geographic coordinates, landscape location, type of forest, type of soil, parameters of the vital status of tree-stands, natural and anthropogenic factors that negatively affect the state of forests are indicated for each SP. The created databases contain a large enough amount of information to automate the collection of data on the forests state, analyze data, and form an information basis for GIS. This is of both scientific and practical interest in the planning of work on rational forest management.

On the example of the Azas State Natural Reserve, the potential productivity of forest stands is considered depending on the indicators of forest growth conditions. Multiple regression equations are formed. The class of productivity (bonitet) is used as a function. Initial information for drawing up the equations - materials of forest planning and data of digital elevation model. Soil, moisture and heat are the main factors affecting the development of the stands. The heat supply of locations is considered as a derivative of relief parameters. Soil moisture and fertility indicators of locations are constructed based on the characteristics of forest inventory indicators. The Siberian larch and the Siberian stone pine forests are found throughout almost the entire high-altitude profile of forests in the reserve: the range of absolute heights of larch about 1600 m, the Siberian stone pine - 2200 m, Scotch pine - 700 m, the Siberian spruce - 500 m. It turns out that the vertical temperature gradient significantly affects the representation of tree species in the high-altitude zones of the reserve, but practically does not affect the productivity of the stands. A significant decrease in the class of bonitet as the climb is observed only in larch stands. The effect of slope on productivity is not observed. The ranked number of soil moisture is demonstrated relative to the generalized qualitative indicator of forest-growing conditions of the forest type. There is a statistically significant relationship between the index of forest growth conditions and soil types. It is revealed that the class of bonitet of Scotch pine stands is determined mainly by soil moisture; in larch stands there is a dependence of the class of bonitet on the absolute height of the terrain, humidity and soil fertility; the productivity of the Siberian stone pine and the Siberian spruce stands naturally depends on soil moisture and fertility. Mapping of the potential productivity of stands is made by the values of the absolute height, soil moisture, and soil fertility of forest inventory compartments. Visual analysis of the map shows: on the best mode of moisture and soil fertility, located on the heated areas, can potentially grow more productive stands; it is established that within the reserve the most favorable forest conditions have developed on the terraces of the Azas river, meadows, forest-steppe areas; as elevation increases, forest conditions deteriorate.

At present the problem of abandoned agricultural land overgrown with trees and shrubs is relevant in Russia. At the same time, there is a problem of fire hazard of coniferous young forest, formed on these lands. The paper considers the fire hazard of pine young forest on unused agricultural lands with different duration of the period of termination of land cultivation. On the basis of spatial distribution of young pine trees on overgrown fields it is revealed that overgrowth occurs gradually and it begins from the bordering forest. The main amount of self-seeding and undergrowth occurs at a distance of up to 125 m from the bordering forest in the amount of 4 to 7 thousand trees per ha, and as you move away from the bordering forest, the number of trees gradually decreases. On the studied fields different-aged pine young growth is formed, the vital condition of which is estimated as satisfactory. Proportion of healthy self-seeding and undergrowth is more than 70 %, unreliable to 20 % and dry up to 10 %. The number of seedlings in the fields is insignificant, there are no tree shoots in the fields, which is due to the overgrowth of the fields with grassy vegetation from 53 to 80 % of their area. Duff on sites for this period is not formed. The stock of ground fuels consisting of litter and moss does not exceed 180 g/m² and does not form a continuous layer, in connection with which the spread of fire is impossible. It is revealed, that the ignition is possible in places where young growth grows in small groups or singly in the presence of a loose layer of dry grass consisting of cereals. Young pine stands are most flammable in spring.

The dynamics of ecological and microbiological parameters of the soils in fruticulose-lichen-green moss type of pine forests after fires of different intensity and logging tree stands at the initial stage (up to 10 years) of vegetation restoration in the Lower Priangar’e region are discussed in the article. It is revealed that at four to five year period after fires content of microbial biomass decreases by 2-9 times, total C_mic storages decreases by 20-40 % in the upper organo-mineral horizon of illuvial-ferrous sandy podzol, and the transformation of the structure and the number of ecological-trophic groups of microorganisms (ETGM), with more marked changes after high-intensity fires. The highest values of qCO₂ (6.7-27.4 µgС-СО₂/(mgС_mic · h)) were observed within four years after fires with a tendency to decrease its values. The maximum changes of the functional parameters of microbial communities, decreases the number of ETGM and changes its structure, increased microbial production of CO₂ by 54-40 % while reducing total C_mic storages by 20-40 %, and a high qCO₂ value (5.5-14 4 µgС-СО₂/(mgС_mic · h)) were observed in the soil in two-five years of deforestation with significant mechanical disturbance of litter, whereas in the soil of ten logging at the young stage the considered parameters of microbial communities approximated the control. The restored successions of microbiocenoses of the of illuvial-ferrous sandy podzol of pine forests in five to eight years after high-intensity fires and after logging of pine forests with disturbance of soil and vegetation cover had similar trend and focus, reflecting the transformation of hydrothermal and trophic soil conditions.

The structure of the Siberian stone pine Pinus sibirica Du Tour stands was studied using the example of late-successional chern Siberian stone pine forests with sedge, tall herbaceous and large forest ferns and mountain-taiga Siberian pine forests with bilberry and green hypnum mosses that are widespread in the North-Altai-Sayan and the East-Sayan (respectively) mountain forest vegetation province of the Altai-Sayan mountain ecoregion. A comparative structure analysis of stands by age, diameter and height was carried out in two significantly different climatic zone conditions. The Siberian stone pine stand in the chern sedge, tall herbaceous, large forest ferns Siberian stone pine forest has a wider age range (from 60 to 560 years) and a cycle type of long-term dynamics. The age composition of the Siberian stone pine stand in the mountain-taiga blueberry, green hypnum moss Siberian stone pine forest has a smaller amplitude (from 60 to 220 years) and belongs to an absolutely uneven-aged structure type. Despite the differences in the age composition of stands, the long-term development of both late-successional Siberian stone pine forests led to the formation of similar unimodal distributions of the data of stands structure by diameter and height, which, apparently, provide the most effective interaction of the keystone species with the environment. The dynamic stability of chern sedge, tall herbaceous, large forest ferns Siberian stone pine forest under conditions of abundant rainfall, high soil fertility and powerful development of lower layers vegetation is provided by the increased spatial heterogeneity of phytocenosis, a complicated interaction between the Siberian stone pine and the Siberian fir Abies sibirica Ledeb. populations and high lifespan of the Siberian stone pine trees. The resistance of mountain-taiga blueberry, green hypnum moss Siberian stone pine forests structural-functional organization in less favorable climatic zones conditions is formed by mass, almost permanent natural regeneration of the Siberian stone pine and stable tree recruitment in separate gaps. Thus, fundamental differences in the structure and dynamics of the Siberian stone pine coenopopulations in hyperhumid and humid climatic facies of the Altai-Sayan ecoregion are shown on the example of two representative objects. The results of the study can help predict main possible trends in the forest ecosystems transformation in different scenarios of natural and anthropogenic changes.

Ecotopic analysis of the Scots pine Pinus sylvestris L. population structure based on the ratio of intraspecific forms - red male cones P. s. f. erythranthera Sanio and yellow male cones P. s. f. sulfuranthera Kozubow was performed in the plantations in the Shira steppe of the Republic of Khakassia. It was found that the part of red male cones form trees is (22.5 ± 1.9) %, while in extreme growth conditions associated with a distinct lack of moisture or, in contrast, seasonal excess moisture, the share of their participation increases. A statistically significant relationship between the color of male generative structures and the stand DBH in various ecotopic conditions was identified by the information analysis. The trees’ yellow male cones form has larger stem diameters in the optimal and seasonal excess moisture content. The trees’ red male cones form has best radial growth in the most xerophytic conditions; a high abundance in seasonal excess moisture conditions and in high-density plantations, also characterizes them. The results obtained show that the less common red male cones form of the Scots pine is an adaptively significant «element» of intraspecific diversity, providing a functional «safety margin» of populations and their stability in extreme growing conditions.

In the European North of Russia, the need for scientifically based normative and reference materials for stands’ survey, including nonprincipal tree species, such as treelike willow, represented in the region mainly by sallow Salix carpea L., northern willow Salix borealis Fries, almond-leaved willow Salix triandra L., and their hybrids, was and remains relevant. Without maintaining a unified system of forest survey standards, it is impossible to conduct intensive forestry. Forest survey standards for a treelike willow were developed, taking into account the specifics of forest growing conditions of forest areas. The absence of forest survey standards for a treelike willow makes it difficult to improve the accuracy of accounting forest resources in the European North of Russia, to fulfill functions of protecting, safeguarding and restoring forest resources, and to increase the ecological functions of forests. The article presents new tables of volumes of willow tree stems in diameter and height in the north-taiga region. When developing the tables, the data of 42 sample plots were used, which were established in the Verkhnetoemsky and Arkhangelsk forestry districts of Arkhangelsk Oblast, on which 105 sample trees were measured. Tables of stem volumes by diameter and height of a treelike willow are used to determine the stock of stand, as well as to determine the volume of individual tree stems in the sample plots during the studies. The shape of willow stems were studied using sample trees using the old form factor. The height range with the appropriate diameter was taken from the sample plot data and the measured sample trees. Forest survey standards for a treelike willow in the north-taiga region of the European part of the Russian Federation previously have not been developed.