Home – Home – Jornals – Philosophy of Sciences 2024 number 4

An algorithm aimed at searching for small-sized (about ten pixels) objects with constant brightness on a non-uniform random background has been developed. The algorithm is based on the procedure for finding the conditional maximum of the product of probabilities for an object and a local background to have certain brightness values. For the background, these probabilities are estimated from a histogram constructed for an image segment. The algorithm is implemented for the case when all the brightness values of an object in the acceptable range are equally probable. The computational experiment is performed on twenty photographs of clouds with a size of 1200 ⨯ 1200 pixels. Ten circles with a radius of two pixels are placed on each photo. Of the two hundred objects set in this way, 169 are detected by the proposed algorithm, while the number of errors of the second kind is 280.

Three-dimensional time-of-flight cameras are increasingly used in robotics to provide information support for motion control tasks. They are also considered promising for solving docking problems with non-cooperating spacecraft. In this case, the magnitude of relative coordinate measurement errors that a time-of-flight camera can provide is very important. Random (noise) errors are analyzed in the present study, and the presence of significant correlations of random errors in measuring the range of time-of-flight cameras for neighboring pixels is revealed. For a particular example, an analytical solution is constructed that shows significant deterioration in the accuracy of distance measurements in the presence of this correlation.

The initial intensity shape effect on the spatial evolution of the averaged Poynting vector and the intensity distribution of laser beams propagating in a turbulent atmosphere has been studied. The cases of focused Gaussian and annular laser beams are considered. Introducing the term of the power-cutoff-radius, i.e., the radius of the circle spot possessing a fraction of the full power, the beam quality is evaluated and discussed. It is shown that, by varying the shape of the annular intensity profile at the source plane, the energy flux density through the spot with less than one half of the full power can be increased as compared to the Gaussian beam of the same power-cutoff-radius.

The influence of simultaneously acting additive and fluctuating multiplicative noise with a high level on the accuracy of measuring the information parameter of the signal is considered and analyzed. Expressions defining conditional probabilities of the correct measurement of the information parameter and a spurious count are obtained. The channel probability densities for an N-channel receiver are determined; a special case of a two-channel receiver is considered. The probability of correctly measuring the parameter at a high level of multiplicative noise is approximately equal to the probability of detecting a signal in the channel where the undistorted part of the signal is present. The value of the threshold voltage of the N-channel receiver has been determined, which allows us to obtain the specified probabilistic characteristics of the measurement. Dependences characterizing the probability of correct measurement on the level of the undistorted part of the signal are obtained for the case of a bell-shaped power distribution of fluctuations in the distorted signal through the channels of the receiving device with different spectrum widths of the noise modulation function and different numbers of channels of the receiving device. It is proved that, in the case of a large number of channels or with a power-law distribution of fluctuations of the noise component of the signal distorted by multiplicative noise symmetrical with respect to the k-th channel, the average value of measurement errors (spurious counts) is zero, i.e., there are no systematic measurement errors.

The article considers an approach to range determine to point targets based on the images from a thermal camera in the mid-infrared band. The paper shows the analysis of the equation of radiation transfer and demonstrates the statistical stability of the target thermal distribution depending on the range and weather conditions. A multidimensional linear regression model is proposed based on the identified object features in order to predict the distance to the object using a trained artificial neural network. The article simulates the obtained approach according to known experimental data, which showed the advantage of the estimated distance (less than Δ_D/D < 0,04)) in comparison with the direct method of the range determining (Δ_D/D > 0,82). The ways forward of research are given and the need to improve the feature space is valid for the increasing of the accuracy.

A constructive method for solving linear-quadratic problems of spatial-temporal control with amplitude limitations of controlling actions in systems with distributed parameters of parabolic type at a given accuracy of uniform approximation of the final state of the object to a required spatial distribution of the controlled quantity is proposed. The proposed approach is based on the previously developed alternance method of constructing parameterisable algorithms of program control. It is demonstrated that the equations of optimal regulators are reduced to linear feedback algorithms on the measured state of the object with pre-determined non-stationary transfer coefficients.

The problem of calibration of a vector magnetometer is considered. Technological errors of its production lead to measurement errors that are unacceptable during device operation. A statistical calibration method is proposed based on iterative minimization of the residual of the measurement result and the exact value of the magnetic field induction obtained through the use of a stationary high-precision meter. Experimental results illustrating the effectiveness of the method are presented.

Currently, when solving the problem of autonomous navigation according to the parameters of the optical flow captured by a video camera during the movement of an object, only the components of the linear and angular velocities of the object are determined. This determination of velocities is only part of the general task of navigation (current positioning of an object and determining its angular orientation) and does not allow it to be solved as a whole. In this regard, the article describes an integration approach that allows combining the capabilities of an inertial navigation system, which provides a solution to the problem of autonomous navigation in general, and an optical flow navigation system, which allows autonomous observation of linear and angular motion parameters with the minimum hardware expenses. When using these systems, the complexity of accounting for interference with different probabilistic nature is a serious problem, and the synthesis of a stochastic model of the proposed integrated inertial optical system is carried out with due allowance for the possibility of further application of methods that take into account the influence of interference in assessing the navigation parameters of an object, i.e., methods of modern stochastic filtering theory. As a result, a modified extended Kalman filter is built to estimate the full vector of object motion parameters based on measurements of the integrated inertial optical navigation system, with the correlation of object and observer noise taken into account. A numerical experiment has been carried out to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.

An adaptive optics system for correcting laser radiation distortions on a long atmospheric path in real time is presented, which includes an atmospheric turbulence emulation unit and a forward correction contour for errors in laser beam tilt angles caused by the delay of the correcting Tip-Tilt mirror. The forward correction algorithms are tested based on the numerical analysis of measurements performed by the Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor.

When designing devices in the terahertz range based on resonant tunneling structures with an operating point in the region of negative differential conductivity, serious problems arise in predicting the current-voltage characteristics of such structures. In this study, the problem of predicting the current-voltage characteristics of resonant tunneling diodes in the area of negative differential conductivity for signal conversion devices is solved. A method for calculating the hysteresis on the current-voltage characteristics of resonant tunneling diodes is proposed. The developed model differs from the previously used approaches by using the stationary version of the wave function formalism to describe the hysteresis, while the nonstationary equations of the Wigner function formalism or quantum hydrodynamics were previously used. It is shown that the hysteresis is a consequence of the interelectronic interaction in the quantum channel of the resonant tunneling structure, which can be taken into account using the self-consistent field method. Three types of initial conditions for the system of the Schrödinger-Poisson equations are considered, and it is shown that the appearance of the hysteresis in the current-voltage characteristics of resonant tunneling diodes is achieved by applying special initial conditions in the self-consistency procedure. It is found that the hysteresis manifests itself in the stationary case of a constant voltage, which can be predicted by varying the initial conditions during the self-consistency procedure.

The nonlinear photothermal effect that occurs during local laser ablation of metal oxide films with different thermal conductivity coefficients is investigated. It is shown that the track width decreases monotonously with a change in the thermal conductivity coefficient in the range from 25 to 1 W/(m∙K). It is found that a moderate decrease in the thermal conductivity of the film does not lead to a significant decrease in the track width. The conclusion is made about a combined effect of the thermal conductivity coefficient and the thermal acceleration factor on the minimum track width, which introduces additional nonlinearity into the oxide film heating process.

Currently, GaSe crystals, as a special case of van der Waals materials, are of increased interest to researchers and developers in the field of terahertz optoelectronics and integrated photonics. From the engineering point of view, it is important to have an accurate knowledge of the nonlinear optical coefficient, in particular, at telecommunication wavelengths. Few papers have been devoted to its studying, and the available data differ significantly. In this regard, an independent estimation of the nonlinear optical coefficient d^eo₂₂ of GaSe_1-xS_x (where x = 0, 0.03, 0.12, 0.16, and 0.22) responsible for interaction of optical radiation frequencies (including telecommunicational) and terahertz ranges is carried out. Based on the totality of data obtained using electro-optical measurements and predictions based on Miller's rule, it is shown that the value of d^eo₂₂ for crystals with various doping does not exceed 20 pm/V for near-infrared wavelengths. The resulting value is up to two times smaller than that reported by other authors.

The article examines the unique characteristics of spatial spillover effects in the Russian economy and their connection to the level of economic activity and its variability across regions. The study employs methods based on Markov chain theory with discrete time and continuous state space to analyze the spatial dynamics of regional indicators. The findings reveal that not only a commonly low level of economic activity but also significant disparities in its levels between regions hinder the emergence of positive spatial externalities. Regions that lag considerably behind their neighbors do not experience accelerated growth; instead, they fall even further behind both their neighbors and the national average. Conversely, regions with smaller differences in economic activity levels and those with above-average economic activity are more likely to experience positive spatial spillover effects. This leads to a convergence in economic activity levels and results in positive spatial autocorrelation across regions. In such cases, regions catching up with their neighbors benefit from the greatest acceleration in development, while leading regions tend to slow down slightly. Thus, spatial autocorrelation, which reflects the degree of similarity among neighboring regions, can both result from and reinforce the processes of spatial concentration or dispersion of economic activity.

In the current geopolitical climate, with heightened risks and threats related to foreign economic activity, the importance of understanding tax revenue sources, their regional distribution, and sectoral diversification has increased significantly. Along with economic development, the movement of revenues to the budget system is influenced by the level of the tax burden. This study aims to assess the evolution of tax revenues and identify the factors driving their dynamics and changes in sectoral and territorial structures, as administered by the Federal Tax Service. The analysis reveals that from 2010 to 2022, the growth rate of Russia’s gross regional product (GRP), even when measured in current prices, steadily declined until 2020. Tax revenue trends closely mirrored this economic performance. A sharp decline in budget system resources was averted after 2018 due to a marked increase in the tax burden. Of all the growth in the budget system’s revenue, 10% was attributed to the increased tax burden, while GRP dynamics drove 90%. Significant structural shifts that shape the scale and trajectory of the country’s budget revenues are concentrated in a relatively small group of regions. About a quarter of the regions with the highest share of total revenues account for around 80% of Federal Tax Service revenues (on average from 2010 to 2022). Sectors such as trade and certain manufacturing sub-sectors typically demonstrate a higher-than-average return on sales and relatively low tax burden assessments. These sectors, therefore, warrant closer scrutiny to explore opportunities for increasing tax revenue in both the short and medium term.

This article addresses the insufficient scientific attention given to the impact of public and private infrastructure investments on reducing regional inequalities, especially within the BRICS countries, and particularly Russia. Despite the importance of this issue, it has been under-researched there, unlike in other countries such as China. To bridge this gap, the article evaluates how infrastructural financialization influences uneven regional development in Russia. Using a Tobit regression model and panel data from 2005 to 2019, the study analyzes regional development disparities, with infrastructural finanicate that advanced infrastructural financialization contributes to reducing regional inequality in Russia. Although Russia’s economy focuses on public administration, the article emphasizes the need for increased regionally proportional private investment in infrastructure to achieve regional convergence. Notably, the study’s conclusions differ from those of studies using similar methodology abroad, highlighting the controversial nature of the topic.

The article considers the structural and institutional factors that have determined the levels and dynamics of macroeconomic indicators in the Siberian Federal District (SFD) over the past 20 years. A trend of peripheralization is revealed, manifested in the fact that most of the district’s socio-economic indicators lag behind the national average. We highlight the reasons behind changes in the structure of economic activity and income, as recorded by official statistics, which have led to income concentration in capital regions. At the same time, non-capital regions show reduced formal participation in overall outcomes. The resulting gap between the actual distribution of productive forces and the macroeconomic indicators reflects an inter-regional redistribution of financial resources, contributing to strong disparities in living standards. The article also underscores the role of sectoral restructuring in the SFD’s lagging labor productivity. Lastly, the opportunities and limitations for economic growth in the district, in relation to labor and investment resources, are analyzed.

This article presents an assessment of the regional economic specialization, using the Republic of Bashkortostan and its manufacturing industry as a case study, analyzed in relation to public finance performance in this constituent entity of the Russian Federation. The TOPSIS method was employed as a tool to identify the most promising economic activities for financial support, aiming to enhance the performance of public finance utilization in the region. The study has found that in 2021-2022, amid the impacts of COVID-19 and sanctions on the regional economy, the significance of the public finance indicator (revenue collected per employee in the region) increased in the evaluation of economic specialization. What is more, despite a shift in the preferred area of support from the woodworking industry (2019-2020) to pharmaceutical production (2021-2022), the core of the region’s economic specialization remained virtually unchanged. Priority industries for continued financial support include chemical production, vehicle manufacturing, paper production, electrical equipment manufacturing, and non-metallic mineral products. Supporting these sectors is expected to maximize the performance of public finance use in the Republic of Bashkortostan’s manufacturing industry.

This article, building on theories that explore the causes and factors of company growth, focuses on identifying growing companies as a key element in developing high-tech businesses. It presents a methodology for categorizing companies that influence regional market dynamics, where the regional market is defined as the set of companies within a specific region. The categorization is based on company size (four levels) and age (four levels), grouping companies from each region into 16 distinct size and age categories. This methodology is tested against high-tech business development in Russia’s eastern regions. Despite regional variations in the revenue structure of high-tech businesses, large mature companies are found to dominate across all regions. Analyzing the contribution of different size and age groups to overall regional revenue growth reveals the groups driving growth in each region. Targeted state support for these key groups could have a more significant impact on regional economic development. The proposed methodology can also be applied to assess growth dynamics in other industries and regions.

This study explores internal resources for territorial development based on human capital by identifying a sector of the regional economy associated with the economic activities of the local population. We use the concept of “embeddedness" of economic actions within the regional community to describe this sector. The share of income derived from entrepreneurship and property among the local population is proposed as a criterion for measuring economic embeddedness, reflecting the extent to which the regional community participates in market relations as an economic actor. The analysis highlights spatial differences in the degree of economic embeddedness, notably in Siberian resource regions where external corporations dominate the economy through raw material extraction and primary processing. The development of the embedded sector, especially in areas related to intellectual activity, plays a part in retaining the most active and educated members of the population in eastern regions. The findings can be applied to regional socio-economic planning, advocating a shift from reliance on natural resources to prioritizing human potential by fostering the growth of the embedded economy.

This study aims to examine the peculiarities of the manufacturing industry’s development in the eastern regions of Russia. Can the “eastern vector" of regional development be considered a noteworthy factor in this dynamic? We investigate several aspects of economic processes in the eastern regions during the economic shocks of2020-2021 and 2022-2023, including the dynamics of production, labor productivity in manufacturing, and tax revenues from manufacturing industries. The calculations are based on the production index. In terms of production volumes, industrialization in the east of the Russian Federation generally outpaced the national average from 2017 to 2023, with the exception of2022, though results varied significantly by region. Labor productivity in all Far Eastern regions was higher in 2022 than in 2017. However, according to the foreign economic activity (FEA) data for “Manufacturing Industries" in the Russian East, this indicator was below the national average in 2022, and in four regions, it declined compared to 2017. Given the current limited availability of labor resources, this poses risks to the continued growth of the manufacturing sector in the eastern regions. An analysis of Federal Tax Service data revealed a substantial increase in tax revenues from the manufacturing industry both nationally and in the eastern regions in 2023. While this trend is positive for overall budget revenues, it also suggests a growing tax burden on the industry, which could negatively affect its development and modernization in the medium term. The findings support expanding the argument for a “pivot to the east." Rather than focusing solely on increasing exports, the priority should be on fostering horizontal economic relationships and cooperation between regions in Russia’s Asian part to improve the efficiency of regional economic systems. That is to say, a “pivot to the east" should first and foremost be a “pivot to the East of Russia".

This article examines the social determinants of urban community consolidation. Its goal is to test hypotheses regarding the relationship between long-term socio-economic and socio-demographic trends in urban communities within Russia’s border regions and the population’s perception of social consolidation. By comparing statistical data and sociological research findings, the authors demonstrate that attitudes toward consolidation are not necessarily tied to favorable demographic indicators. Migration has a mixed impact on the prevalence of consolidation in the public consciousness (when cultural distance is significant, consolidation tendencies strengthen among natives as a protective response, whereas smaller cultural distances do not encourage solidarization). The study finds that the “upper" and “lower" strata of the urban population are most inclined toward consolidation, while the “middle" class remains relatively passive. Paradoxically, the erosion of the middle class fosters stronger consolidation attitudes. Additionally, the population’s awareness of the presence of consolidation infrastructure in their city (such as NGOs and public associations) and participation in these organizations contribute to the development and spread of consolidation efforts.

This paper aims to analyze the purchasing power coefficient of Russia’s working population, focusing on regional differences, sectors of economic activity, and decile groups. The study specifically examines workers with a relatively acceptable level of earnings-those not living in poverty but also not considered wealthy. This approach is uncommon and underexplored, but it offers valuable insights into the welfare of Russian workers, potentially benefiting both researchers and regional authorities. The article introduces the concepts of minimum necessary and acceptable wage levels and examines the distribution of workers across decile groups based on purchasing power. It covers 85 constituent entities of the Russian Federation and 18 sectors of economic activity, classified according to OKVED 2, over the period from 2017 to 2022. The analysis reveals that workers’ ability to achieve minimum necessary and acceptable wage levels varies by employment sector. Over time, the disparity in meeting minimum wage levels decreases across most regions, while the gap in achieving acceptable wage levels widens. The study identifies the most and least favorable sectors for achieving acceptable earnings and draws conclusions on regions with pronounced sectoral specializations.

The greatest opportunity to enhance quality of life lies in maximizing the potential of rural areas for recreational use and as new residential locations. This research identifies the main motives and factors influencing tourists and new rural residents when selecting places to relax or live. Nature, the absence of city noise, rural heritage and culture, and the availability of locally sourced, healthy foods were found to be the primary factors of small rural areas’ attractiveness. The study also highlights that further development of local gastronomy would enhance these areas’ appeal. Respondents believe that increasing tourist flow to rural regions-which they predict will rise annually-will contribute to the socio-economic development of the countryside. The study was conducted using empirical methods, including sociological surveys and semi-structured interviews during the 11th expedition of the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages and Towns of Russia, Reviving the Love for Rural Russia. The expedition took place in the Russian North from October 2 to 13, 2023, with support from the student expedition competition “Rediscovering Russia" (www.openrussia.rsv.ru) and the Vologda Oblast administration.

This paper investigates the structure and specific features of the underexplored synergies in institutional interactions within the triple helix model, which reflects the development of Russia’s innovative economy. The evidence is based on regional statistics from the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. Multidimensional classification methods, statistical hypothesis testing, and the analysis of relationships in complex institutional systems are employed. The study reveals significant regional disparities in the formation of an innovative economy. The classic triple helix model is implemented in less than 30% of Russia’s regions. In most of them, the innovation sector is either dominated by industrial enterprises that interact poorly with the scientific and educational sectors, or the scientific sector is insufficiently focused on applied outcomes. The lack of institutional intermediaries hampers the model’s full potential. The article highlights the presence of both established and emerging institutional spheres in Russia’s innovation economy. The practical implementation of the triple helix model depends on so-called “windows of opportunity, " determined by regional factors and federal institutional policies. The study’s findings are recommended for use in shaping regional innovation and cluster policies, as well as in strategic planning for interregional innovation cooperation.

The article presents the results of a study examining key economic aspects of the Russian-Belarusian border regions: foreign trade, competition, and the labor market. The research explores the hypothesis that both positive and negative effects have emerged in the region’s economy due to the formation of the Union State of Belarus and Russia. Using statistical and sociological methods, the study underscores changes in foreign trade among economic entities in these border regions. Surveys of entrepreneurs reveal that inter-industry trade in the borderlands prevails over intra-industry trade, with key groups of traded goods highlighted. Interstate integration has also affected the level of competition, driving business transformation and prompting the search for new niches in various economic sectors. Additionally, the article presents statistical and sociological data confirming a labor shortage in the border regions. The findings can assist regional authorities in adjusting internal development strategies and roadmaps related to the Union State’s construction. We propose to draft a supranational strategy for the socio-economic development of the Russian-Belarusian border regions, aimed at capitalizing on the positive effects and mitigating the negative consequences of interstate integration.

The article considers two main epistemic attitudes - knowledge and understanding, variants of their correlation and dynamics of the respective ideas in contemporary epistemology and philosophy of science. It is shown that the shift of interest towards understanding has largely occurred due to dissatisfaction with the classical three-part definition of knowledge and the need to respond to Gettier-type situations. The gap between knowledge and understanding, i.e. the so-called possibility of “knowledge without understanding”, is considered separately. The distinctive characteristics and features of understanding in cognitive activity are specified. The dangers and possible social consequences of the gap between knowledge and understanding are explicated,

The article considers the thesis of incompleteness of mathematical objects, from which the criterion of intrinsic properties is explicated. Two justifications of the criterion of intrinsic properties are reconstructed; the necessity and sufficiency of this criterion as an independent metaphysical criterion of objecthood are analyzed. It is shown that both justifications are vulnerable to criticism. The following objections are raised: firstly, objects can have criteria of identity without having intrinsic properties; secondly, not all mathematical objects lack intrinsic determinacy; thirdly, an independent existence and intrinsic properties do not necessarily imply each other. The conclusion is made that the criterion of intrinsic properties in itself can be considered neither a necessary nor a sufficient criterion of objecthood.,

There is a widely known statement of Nobel laureate Eugene Wigner that the invariant character of laws in modern physics is a hypothetical cause of the effective application of mathematics in this field of knowledge. He believed that the adequacy of contemporary mathematics for describing physical knowledge has the status of an empirical law of epistemology. In this article, by analyzing works in the field of artificial intelligence, the author confirmed Wigner’s hypothesis. As an example, the works of Pearl, one of the founders of the theory of artificial intelligence, are mentioned, which demonstrate the effective application of mathematics to the study of invariant regularities in computer science described using causal relationships.,

The purpose of the paper is to reveal Bohm’s ideas, primarily his notions of holism and implicit order, and to relate these philosophical views to the causal interpretation of quantum mechanics, or the de Broglie-Bohm theory. The key principles of the causal interpretation, or the theory of hidden variables, or the pilot wave theory, are compared with the principles of the Copenhagen interpretation which is historically the first and one of the most widespread interpretations of quantum mechanics. The Copenhagen interpretation and the de Broglie-Bohm theory are based on different methodological approaches, which provide different interpretations of the same physical phenomena. The phenomenological principles of the Copenhagen interpretation, which do not separate the “event” from the observation, differ from Bohm’s approach, realistic in both ontological and epistemological terms. The concept of non-locality serves as the scientific basis for Bohm’s holistic metaphysics. Reality is a whole, but a constantly changing whole, in which implicit processes become explicit, and relatively autonomous and self-sufficient aspects that make up particles and fields separate from the whole.,

Based on materials of trial plots, it has been analyzed the consequences of strip-gradual felling (SFG) of derivative forests on the territory of birch derivatives of the southern taiga forest region (the European part of the Russian Federation within the borders of the Republic of Udmurtia). It has been established that in the presence of coniferous undergrowth of addition to pregeneration and its preservation during logging operations it is ensured the formation of young spruce stands in place of derivative birch plantations without artificial forest restoration. In addition to preserving the pre-generation coniferous undergrowth, it is important to minimize the area of skidding roads, since even 25 years after cutting there is no undergrowth of coniferous species on them. In order to preserve undergrowth and coniferous trees it is advisable to place logging residues on skidding tracks, they increasing the bearing capacity of the soil. The destruction of teenage coniferous trees in the process of carrying out adjacent work contributes overgrowth of cut down strips with soft deciduous trees and living soil cover. Coniferous undergrowth of accompanying generation in stripes left for the second appointment is not accumulated due to the high density of the tree canopy of a two years planting but in the cut down strips of the first cut down strips appointment due to high competition from 2Sc undergrowth and softwood trees. In the absence of coniferous undergrown preliminary generation is advisable to carry out 5-7 before the first SFG for the purpose of accumulating coniferous undergrowth.

The article provides an analysis of the Gmelins’ larch ( Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Kuzen.) (Pinaceae) natural regeneration, which were studied on lands located in the permafrost zone. The study was carried out in order to identify the course of regeneration processes in areas subjected to pyrogenic effects from forest fires. The restoration of larch forests depends on many factors, the success of which is ensured by the favorable conditions that arise after their impact. This is due to biological, climatic, soil conditions, characteristics of seed production, their maturation, harvest periods, and other factors, including silvicultural conditions. According to the tasks of analysis and evaluation of the natural regeneration of tree species, and the further formation of forest stands, they were carried out according to the method of sample plots established in forest stands, passed by fires of different prescriptions in the Mazanovsky forestry district of Amur Oblast. Six sample plots of a rectangular shape were laid on the lands of the forest fund, subjected to pyrogenic effects in different years. For a detailed study on accounting sites, the young generation of trees was taken into account in terms of quantitative indicators, projective cover, size and qualitative characteristics. Regeneration was assessed on a regional scale for the Far East. According to the results of data processing, tendencies are noted to change from coniferous to deciduous species on sample plots 1 and 2 in the case of preservation of grass-moss cover and forest litter, as well as with intensive vegetative renewal of deciduous species. Preservation of the dominant for Gmelins’ larch is observed under favorable soil conditions and fruitful years before the formation of forest litter and living ground cover on sample plots 3 and 5. For the first time for mixed forest stands in the northern region of Amur Oblast (on the example of the Mazanovsky forestry district), it was revealed that as a result of repeated fire impact on forest ecosystems, there are prerequisites for the formation of pure larch forests with a low participation of associated species, depending on the period of fruiting of the main economic species - Gmelins’ larch and pyrogenic impact on the forest floor.

There are very few works in the scientific literature based on the results of long-term introduction. In this regard, the data obtained on stands in protected areas (objects of landscape art), which include introduced rocks in their compositions, are important both from a theoretical and practical point of view. Plantings at the objects of landscape art, in this regard, are actually a scientific, industrial and educational base. The objects of the study were old-age trees growing on 18 sites of specially protected natural territories of Vologda Oblast. It was found that 74 % of the compared tree-ring chronologies, taking into account forest growing areas, have a lack of communication, 16 % have a low connection, 10 % have an average one. Based on the denrochronological and dendroclimatic analysis, the relative contribution of various factors, taking into account the biological characteristics of tree species, to the formation of annual rings has been established. There is a positive reaction (response by radial increment) to the sum of positive temperatures in pedunculate oak ( Quercus robur L.) and small-leaved linden ( Tilia cordata Mill.) at values above 2000 °C. In turn, a negative response was recorded in Siberian larch and Siberian pine at a total effective temperature of less than 1900 °C. For Siberian pine, it was found that with a precipitation level of more than 300 mm and with the sum of effective temperatures for the growing season less than 2000 °C, an increase in radial growth is noted. The performed study allowed us to conclude that not for all introduced tree species, the thermal regime in the European North is a limiting factor, which is important for the introduction of introduced tree species into the crops in the region under consideration. The lack of timely care for stands in protected areas, an unsuccessful combination of tree species and agrotechnics of the formation of these objects affected the slowdown in growth rates, especially at the initial stages of growth and development of innoregional species, the obtained tree-ring chronologies were obtained for the region for the first time, they are characterized by high synchronicity with each other when compared. These data allow us to assert the existence of connections and general patterns in the growth and development of plants, regardless of their territorial location, and all differences are related only to the individual characteristics of the growth and development of each tree species.

Krasnoyarsk Krai and Irkutsk Oblast are the leading regions of the Russian Federation in terms of timber harvesting. However, the gross regional product of the forest industry in the region does not exceed 2.5 %. Forest areas of the Siberian Federal District regularly burn and are affected by forest pests. In this case, significant volumes of damaged and low-quality wood are formed. Wood processing adds waste in the form of sawdust, slabs, slats. The policy of uncontrolled growth in harvesting volumes in coniferous forest stands in order to obtain exclusively high-quality round timber has led to the depletion of timber resources, an increase in timber transportation distances, and increased complexity of logistics. A way out of the current negative situation can be a justified focus on deep processing of wood raw materials with the subsequent production of highly marketable products. Global trends in the field of integrated use of wood raw materials make it possible to identify the production of fuel briquettes and pellets as the main vector for processing these resources. A feature of the market for the production and consumption of pellets in the Russian Federation is its exclusively export orientation, the volume of domestic consumption does not exceed 15-20 %. In the current economic and political situation, the Russian Federation has practically lost its usual markets for pellets in Europe. Manufacturers’ focus on South Korea and Japan faces logistics challenges and aggressive competition from Vietnam, Canada and the United States. Under these conditions, a way out of the situation associated with the insufficient involvement of low-quality wood and waste in industrial processing may be the direction of processing in the hope of supplying the building materials market with boards and wood-mineral composites. These products are highly processed products and have predictable internal demand and sales market.

The article analyzes and updates the features of the functioning of the transport and technological system for the supply of commercial wood and supply chain management, and identifies the main parameters for optimizing the supply chain management system for commercial wood to ensure the efficiency of the process. A multi-criteria approach to assessing the efficiency of the transport and technological process of supplying commercial timber is proposed due to the inconsistency of the main indicators that determine its effectiveness. A mathematical model has been developed for a complex multi-criteria assessment of the efficiency of the transport and technological process of supplying commercial wood, based on: methods of linear and dynamic programming, stochastic and economic-mathematical modeling, elements of statistical and economic analysis. The combination of the mentioned modeling methods allows the model to be quite simple and reliable in practical application, as well as adaptive to the changing external conditions of the production environment. The methodological development is presented with a detailed description of all the dependencies included in it, and the advantages of its application are noted.

This article presents the results of a comprehensive investigation of the ice complex discovered within the strath terrace in the lower course of the Vilyui River, Central Yakutia. On the basis of chemical, isotopic, granulometric, palynological, and radiocarbon data, it has been revealed that the formation of the ice complex took place from the end of the Kargin (MIS-3) and throughout the Sartan (MIS-2) epochs of the Late Pleistocene (between 29 and 11.7 ka BP) under cryoarid conditions with a predominance of dry cold xerophytic steppes and, locally, forb-grass meadows. Mineralization of syngenetic ice wedges is low (0.07-0.29 g/dm³), and a predominance of calcium bicarbonates suggests that winter precipitation - snowmelt water - was the main source of wedge ice. The increased content of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Co, V, Sr) indicates that the formation of ice wedges also involved the water of shallow freezing lakes confined to the polygonal microrelief. The ice wedges have a relatively light isotopic composition (δ¹⁸О -(29.2 ± 0.3)‰ and -(27.2 ± 1.4)‰; δD -(226.6 ± 2.3)‰ and -(215.8 ± 8.5)‰, d_exc (6.8±0.51)‰ and (1.7±3.1)‰), which is close to the composition of modern atmospheric precipitation of the cold season and spring snow storage in Yakutsk. These data attest to dry and cold conditions, thin snow cover, and moisture deficiency in cryogenic landscapes during the formation of the ice complex.

Calculating the water balance for lakes in the mountains is difficult due to insufficient observation data and poor knowledge of a number of runoff formation processes. The hydrological regime of high-mountain lakes is determined, on the one hand, by climatic factors, and on the other hand, by the characteristics of the underlying surface of catchments with different ratios of glacial and non-glacial parts. In this article, based on data from field hydrological, meteorological, and glaciological observations, the water balance was calculated with a daily step for a periglacial lake located in the Southern Chuya Ridge (Central Altai). Calculating the water balance made it possible to estimate the contribution of meltwater from glaciers and snowfields and of precipitation to the total inflow of water to the lake and to identify the features of the meltwater inflow from glaciers into the lake. The predominant role of subsurface runoff in the incoming part of the lake water balance has been revealed.

Studies show that frozen rock strata can accumulate significant amounts of natural gas both in free form and in the form of gas hydrates. Changes in the thermobaric conditions of gas-bearing permafrost can be accompanied by various gas-dynamic processes that lead to active gas emissions from the upper horizons of permafrost. During the activation of these processes, the gas pressure in gas-saturated horizons can be equal to or even exceed the pressure of the overlying rocks, and pressure gradients can reach a significant value that will be sufficient for deformation of ice- and hydrate-containing rocks, the occurrence of gas filtration, its permeation and breakthrough into the overlying rock layers. To simulate such natural conditions, the authors developed an original technology that included the creation of a special core holder for the filtration system and the development of an algorithm for conducting laboratory tests. In the course of methodological experiments, it was found that at a constant gas pressure of approximately 2 MPa in a heated impermeable ice-saturated sandy clay sample, gas filtration can occur in the region of high negative temperatures, below its thawing temperature. Methodological experiments to study the changes in the gas permeability of frozen and thawing rocks under conditions of the formation and dissociation of methane pore hydrates have shown regular changes in gas permeability due to ice (water)-hydrate phase transitions and structural transformation of the soils caused by these phase transitions.

Based on data from route snow surveys, the average long-term values of snow density at the time of the maximum snow cover depth and for individual months were determined for the continental part of the Russian Arctic. A comparison of snow densities was made for the climatic periods of 1966-1990, 1991-2020, and 2011-2020; on average, they comprised 0.265, 0.264, and 0.267 g/cm³, respectively. A comparison with the historical climatic period of 1966-1990 indicates that current changes in the maximum snow density in the Russian Arctic are insignificant: a decrease by about 1%. The greatest decrease in snow density is noted in the north of Yakutia, and the most significant increase in snow density is observed in the north of Western Siberia. Snow density values for individual months indicate that, owing to the later dates of snow cover establishment, the most significant changes in snow density take place in the autumn period. On average, snow density in 1991-2020 compared to that in 1966-1990 decreased by 6% in October, 10% in November, 2% in January, and 5% in May. An increase by 1% took place in March. Along with the changes in snow density for individual months, a change in its dynamics - the ratio of snow density for individual months to its maximum value - was also observed. In November 1991-2020, this ratio decreased by 15-20% in a number of Arctic regions in the European territory of Russia and up to 25% in the north of Yakutia in comparison with that in November 1966-1990. Maps of snow density and its variability have been constructed.

The results of a study of the relationship between evaporation from the soil surface and atmospheric precipitation during the warm seasons of 2015-2016 and 2019 at the Tyimaada geocryological research station in Central Yakutia are analyzed. The volumes of evaporation from the soil surface and precipitation›s amount and chemical composition were studied. The average evaporation was 1.37 (0.33-3.13) mm/day, exceeding precipitation by about 40%. The intensity of evaporation was especially high in the first month of the warm season (May), which was associated with the thawing of frozen soil and the seepage of meltwater from snow into the seasonally thawed layer. The bicarbonate calcium chemical composition of atmospheric precipitation during the summer remained stable, but the degree of mineralization decreased by 20-40% by autumn. The content of most chemical elements in precipitation was higher in May-June and decreased in the second half of the warm season. The greatest contrasts in the concentrations of chlorides, sulfates, sodium, and ammonium in the atmospheric precipitation were observed during the periods of maximum and minimum evaporation from the soil surface.

The use of phyto- and bioindicators for interpreting geoelectric data in the study of permafrost sections is substantiated. The research used electrical resistivity tomography and ground-penetrating radar methods in various climatic and geocryological conditions from the Tien Shan to the Magadan region. In each region, specific landscape features of geocryological conditions were identified and compared with geoelectric sections or ground-penetrating radar data. Certain types of larch stands in Central Yakutia and birch stands in Transbaikalia together with data on high rock resistivity indicate the presence of permafrost with reduced temperature. In the northeast of Russia, poplars and willows (chosenia) grow in the area of talik zones, which allows interpreting areas of low electrical resistivity of rocks under them as taliks rather than the areas with pyritization or increased clay content. In the Tien Shan, a correlation was established between the electrical resistivity of a rock glacier and its age indicated by the size of Rhizocarpon sp. lichens. In mountainous areas, anomalies of low resistivity in places, where large anthills are concentrated, indicate the deep occurrence of permafrost table or open taliks in fault zones. Thus, taking into account landscape indicators of geocryological conditions helps us to reduce the ambiguity of geological interpretation of geoelectric data.