Lomonosov Moscow State University Research Articles

Dependences of Characteristics of Bulges on the Mass of the Central Black Hole and Theoretical Aspects of Their Origin

To study the influence of the central black hole on the formation of the bulge of spiral galaxies, we analyzed the relationship between the masses of supermassive black holes (SMBHs) and the parameters of their bulges. Unlike other authors, we consider only spiral galaxies. In this paper, we present empirical formulas derived from observations of 54 spiral galaxies, establishing connections between the mass of the central black hole (MBH), the bulge stellar mass (Mbulge), and the velocity dispersion (σ) of stars in it. A non-linear non-stationary disk model with an anisotropic velocity diagram is constructed. Within this model, the instabilities of individual perturbation modes are studied. The increments of instability are calculated depending on the physical parameters of the model. These values are compared across three perturbation modes. The paper is partly based on the report presented at the conference “Modern Stellar Astronomy-2022,” held at the Caucasian Mountain Observatory of the Sternberg Astronomical Institute of Lomonosov Moscow State University, on November 8–10, 2022.

ЗАГРЯЗНЕНИЕ МОСКОВСКОГО МЕГАПОЛИСА: МОНИТОРИНГ ХИМИЧЕСКОГО СОСТАВА МИКРОЧАСТИЦ В СИСТЕМЕ “АТМОСФЕРА - СНЕГ - ДОРОЖНАЯ ПЫЛЬ - ПОЧВЫ - ПОВЕРХНОСТНЫЕ ВОДЫ”

A methodological framework for a system of ecological and geochemical monitoring of urban landscapes has been developed based on a joint analysis of the chemical composition of microparticles in transit (atmospheric aerosol and precipitation, river water and suspended sediments) and depositing (road dust, snow and soil covers, bottom sediments) environments. For automated monitoring on the territory of the Lomonosov Moscow State University Meteorological Observatory, the Aerosol Complex has been created, and seasonal variations in mass concentrations of PM10, black carbon, metals, metalloids, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in atmospheric aerosol and precipitation in the Moscow megacity has been analyzed. In the aerosol-precipitation subsystem, a high washout capacity of precipitation with respect to Pb, Sb, As, Ni, Mg, K, Al, and S in the aerosols has been revealed. The enrichment of PM10 with metals and metalloids decreases in the snow-road dust-soil series, and Sb, W, Bi, Sn, Cd, Cu, Pb, Mo, and Zn are accumulated in PM10 in all three environments. The particles of PM10 suspended matter and of the Moskva River bottom sediments play a key role in transport and accumulation of Pb, Cu, Ni, and V.

DEVELOPING CHINESE STUDENTS’ COMMUNICATION SKILLS THROUGH SYNCHRONOUS DISTANCE INTERPRETING COURSE

Future of higher education is closely connected with degree programs in distance mode as it guarantees security and convenience for overseas students. With Chinese-Russian relations becoming closer, more Chinese students are majoring in translation and interpreting studies at Russian universities while staying in China, so universities should provide well-organized online interpreting classes to build professional interpreting competences.
 Purpose. This paper aims to assess possibility of developing basic communication competence of future interpreters from China through all-digital synchronous interpreting course in Russian educational environment.
 Methodology. The research was carried out among Master’s degree Chinese students and their trainers at Lomonosov Moscow State University, overall number of participants was 58. The set of tools included role playing performance evaluation, open discussion, assessment scales, questionnaires and interviews.
 Results. The study showed that communication skills of future Chinese interpreters can be sufficiently developed in synchronous all-digital interpreting course if good educational environment is provided. The results of the cross-semester examination as well as the questionnaire data confirm that interpreting classes in distance synchronous mode at Moscow State University promote developing of communication competence of Chinese major degree students. For this purpose, pedagogical technologies of the course should include online interactive tasks, role play activities, small-size group rooms, chats via video platforms as well as use of various digital translation technologies. The results of the survey also showed that open online discussions with Russian students have a positive impact on the development of Chinese students’ communication skills. The study also reveals that synchronous distance learning is preferable for Chinese students in turbulent periods of world history (epidemics, wars) as it guarantees sustainability and continuality of educational process.
 Practical implications. The results of the study can be applied in optimizing the organization process in professional higher education both in Russia and abroad. Under certain circumstances synchronous distance training can be the only choice for international higher education programs.

The Results of the State Examination Committees’ work at the Faculty of Geology of Lomonosov Moscow State University in 2022

The paper summarizes the results of the state exams as well as of the defenses of bachelors’ and mas- ters’ theses in the field of “Geology”. In 2022, the state examination committees worked in person. They considered 155 master’s and 178 bachelor’s theses. In 2022, the Faculty of Geology prepared master specialists in “Digitalization in the field of fossil fuel geology” for the first time; 156 master’s students passed the state exam in the field of “Geology”; 177 bachelor’s students passed state exams in the respective fields; 89 master’s students and 47 bachelor’s students graduated with honors. State examination committees worked systematically, in a well-organized and active manner.

Linking biodiversity and ecological function through extensive microeukaryotic movement across different habitats in six urban parks

Linking biodiversity and ecological function through extensive microeukaryotic movement across different habitats in six urban parks

Analysis of ‘Graduation Qualification Work’ Defense at the Faculty of Economics of Lomonosov Moscow State University

In Russian universities the graduation qualification work (GQW) is the final step for acquiring a bachelor’s degree. Doing the research work a student may face a few problems, starting from insufficient communication with the supervisor and ending with the lack of relevant data for the study. The quality of the research work and further performance and defense of it can be affected by both the internal psychological characteristics of a student and academic abilities. This article includes quantitative analysis of GQW defense at the Faculty of Economics (bachelor program – Economics) of Lomonosov Moscow State University. Authors mention a list of contradictions arising during the GQW defense procedure. The main factors for determining the student’s score are identified and a proxy variable of abilities explaining the largest share of the spread of points is compiled to collect information.

Regenerative biomedicine in biology and medicine

The article covers the fundamental and applied problems of regenerative biomedicine. As a scientific field, it arose at the end of the XX century and today it is rapidly growing: the mechanisms of cell renewal, tissue regeneration and repair are being elucidated, fundamentally new methods are being developed to combat severe disease caused by damage and loss of vital cells and tissues. The human body is a “self-renewing machine” and during whole life, it produces of tons of cells, thus, demonstrating its strong regenerative potential that can be used in modern medicine. At the Institute of Regenerative Medicine of the Medical Research and Educational Center of Lomonosov Moscow State University preclinical studies and clinical trials of several novel drugs are being carried. Including ones that stimulate the growth of nerve fibers after re-implantation of upper limb parts (finger and palm), and eliminate neurological dysfunctions after hemorrhagic stroke. For the treatment of male infertility, a drug is being developed that stimulates spermatogenesis and restores spermatogenesis. In order to create an antifibrotic drug, a substance secreted by endometrial cells and preventing fibrosis of the tissues of the uterus and other organs, is being identified. The role of navigational receptors (primarily T-cadregin and urokinase receptor) in choosing the direction of tissue growth is being studied.

Нормативность в философии киноискусства (обзор конференции)

The article is devoted to the All-Russian scientific conference "Normativity in the Philosophy of Cinema", organized jointly by Volgograd State University, Lomonosov Moscow State University, and the Russian Philosophical Society. Lomonosov Moscow State University and the Volgograd branch of the Russian Philosophical Society. The participants of the conference focused their attention on the fact that cinema inevitably reflects the nature of normativity because, in accordance with the traditions of European dramaturgy, the storyline is based on the event of disorder, and the conflict structure requires that the figure of the violator is opposed by the antagonist, that is, the follower and defender of the social norm. At the same time, cinetext can reflect both the author's ideas and purely typical notions of law prevailing in culture. At the same time, the cinema, among other things, can be used as an experimental ground for working out a new way of social action. In addition to the philosophical approach proper, interdisciplinary approaches to the problems in question were presented: legal, historical, sociological, and theological. In the framework of the thematic sessions and plenary lectures of the conference, various aspects of philosophical comprehension of cinema in general and the idea of normativity as its substantial leitmotif were discussed, including genre specificity (crime films, horror, serials); the works of certain masters (A. Tarkovsky, F. Fellini, M. Scorsese, W. Anderson, M. Zakharov, E. Ryazanov, G. Daneliya, etc.); national codes of film cultures; reflection of historical events, including traumatic ones, and their processing by means of film language; representation of religious symbols and meanings in cinema; normative modes of perception of a film production. Thus, we have seen that cinema, as a fractal way of seeing modern culture, is an exceptionally rich and grateful material for philosophical thinking.

Yedoma. Part 3. Annals of geocryological research, study of radiocarbon age, the stable-isotope composition studies in the 21st century

The second decade and the beginning of the third decade of the XXI century in yedoma research were characterized by a variety of high-precision measurements of gas inclusions, molecular biomarkers, and DNA. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the most notable publications of 2010–2023 devoted to radiocarbon dating and stable isotope studies of yedoma in the Russian and North American Arctic. AMS dating and stable isotope analysis continued at Lomonosov Moscow State University (Yu.K. Vasil’chuk, A.C. Vasil’chuk, N.A. Budantseva, I.D. Streletskaya, Ju.N. Chizhova, J.Yu. Vasil’chuk), especially detailed on the yedoma of Batagay, Seyakha, Kotelny, and Faddeevsky islands. Active research was continued by the participants of the Russian-German expedition (A. Yu. Derevyagin, A. I. Kizyakov, S. Wetterich, T. Opel, J. Strauss, G. Grosse and L. Schirrmeister) on the yedoma sections of the New Siberian Islands. They studied the Batagay yedoma together with J. Murton and K. Ashastina. Researchers from the University of Fairbanks (M. Kanevskiy, Y. Shur, M. Jorgenson, and E. Stephani) studied in detail the yedoma of the Itkillik River valley, as well as new yedoma sections in the Fox Tunnel, where radiocarbon and isotope studies were also carried out by M.S. Lachniet and A. Sloat from the University of Las Vegas. Research has begun on molecular biomarkers and DNA (E. Willerslev, T. Jørgensen) in yedoma. The study of PAHs in yedoma ice wedges has also begun (Yu.K. Vasil’chuk). It is emphasized that isotopic data is not an end in itself for research; the next step, paleotemperature reconstruction based on these data, is necessary and logically justified. The accuracy and reliability of the proposed paleotemperature-isotope equations are considered.

V International Winter Demographic School at Lomonosov Moscow State University

From February 2 to February 4, 2023, the Department for Demography of the Higher School of Contemporary Social Sciences (Faculty) of Lomonosov Moscow State University held the 5th anniversary International Winter Demographic School online on the Zoom platform.

NATIONAL-STATE IDENTITY: METHODOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL ASPECTS

Aim. To introduce the scientific community to the research results presented at the international conference “National Identity and Patriotism in States in International Crises” (October 28, 2022) and the round table with international participation “National Identity, patriotism and Historical Memory” (December 23, 2022), organized by the Department of Political Sciences of the Institute of Scientific Information on Social Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Faculty of Political Science of Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov with the support of the electronic online publication “Bulletin of Moscow Region State University”.Methodology. The article presents data on the problems of uniting (“consolidating”) national identity and patriotism, including methodological problems of “political cyclism”,“return” cycles, agent modeling, ideological and semantic “counter-discourse”. The authors are researchers of ISISS RAS, Institute of Sociology of the RAS, Lomonosov Moscow State University, L. N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University (Republic of Kazakhstan).Results. Based on the materials of theoretical and methodological, historical and applied research, the article highlights the spectrum of national identity and patriotism formation problems, the ethics of service history, the informational influence of foreign and inner destructive forces. The paper also considers the problems of cyclical changes in national identity, information and communication and cognitive aspects of identity, discourses and “counter-discourses” on social values, tasks of countering manipulative technologies with regard to the complexity of the ethno-national composition of society, the specifics of identification processes and public consciousness in Russia, Israel, Kazakhstan, Brazil.Research implications. The published materials have theoretical, methodological and applied significance for the research of the national-state identity and the introduction of scientific results into the mechanisms of ideological and political confrontation of constructive and deconstructive forces, which is important in the education of patriotism, maintaining optimism and faith in the possibility of positive development in a tough struggle for identity. The conclusions and recommendations of the researchers can contribute to solving urgent political and educational tasks, improving the effectiveness of mechanisms that positively affect society consolidation, maintaining the ethics of “service”.

ELENA TSYBENKO (1923–2011)

The note is dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding Russian scientist, the founder of literary studies polonistics school, Professor of the Department of Slavic Philology (Faculty of Philology, Lomonosov Moscow State University), Elena Zakharovna Tsybenko.

P A U T K I N A. A. OT KNIZHNOSTI K LITERATURE (IZ LEKCIY I NABLYUDENIY): SBORNIK STATEY (RUSSIAN LITERATURE, FROM MEDIAEVAL TO MODERN (LECTURES AND OBSERVATIONS): COLLECTED PAPERS). MOSCOW, 2020. — 240 p.

The new book by Alexey Pautkin, professor at Lomonosov Moscow State University, is a collection of papers on various aspects of Russian literary history. Th e book comprises two parts, the fi rst one concerning mediaeval and the second modern literature. The book features diverse research approaches, comparing mediaeval and modern as well as Russian and foreign literature and interweaving criticism with adjacent disciplines, from chronology to art history and cultural studies.

THE CHRONICLES OF THE INTERNATIONAL SCHOLARLY CONFERENCE “‘SOMEONE ELSE’S SPEECH IS CLEAR TO HIM...’: TO THE 200th ANNIVERSARY OF APOLLON GRIGORYEV”

The article presents the content of research reports made at the International Scholarly Conference dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the critic, poet, novelist and translator Apollon Grigoryev. Th e conference was attended by 34 speakers from a range of countries and research institutions, including the Faculty of Philology of Lomonosov Moscow State University. Th e speakers focused on Apollon Grigoryev’s critical legacy, the impact of his ideas on contemporaries, primarily Slavophiles, writers of the Silver Age and up to the mid-twentieth century. A special meeting was dedicated to researchers of Grigoryev’s heritage — Boris F. Egorov and Anna I. Zhuravleva.

The Year of Science and Technology in Russia as a Factor in Promoting University Brands on the Online Media

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared 2021 to be the Year of Science and Technology. It was intended to popularize science and increase the prestige of the profession of a scientist. Universities have become one of the main active actors in holding the Year of Science and Technology in Russia. The article examined the media activity of universities associated with the Year of Science and Technology, analyzed newsworthy events and identified the most prominent brands of universities in this context. The media posted the most publications about universities and the Year of Science and Technology in February and December 2021. It was the beginning and the end of the theme year. The study showed that universities actually used the news related to the Year of Science and Technology in their work. At the same time, the leading positions in the information field were hold by the traditional leaders of the media activity ratings (Lomonosov Moscow State University, HSE University, Kazan Federal University). News about famous people who supported measures that were important for all science received the biggest media coverage. The results of the study can be used by modern Russian universities to plan a communication strategy.

The Influence of Online Format on Forming Soft Skills in Foreign Language Teaching

The purpose of this research is to identify opportunities to develop soft skills, which are essential for graduates’ future professional activities, in online foreign language learning. The study focuses on distance learning, which has become a reality in university education due to the pandemic and the increased availability of higher education to those who cannot attend in-person classes (because of the distance, health problems, etc). Specifically, the research aims to demonstrate which soft skills, prioritized by employers, can and must be developed in distance foreign language learning, the preferred typology of exercises for this task, the specifics of teachers’ work in this format, and how to mobilize active attention in distance education. The study uses survey results collected from teachers and students at Lomonosov Moscow State University, which are analyzed along with relevant theoretical models. The research prioritizes tasks and assignments targeting soft skills such as creativity, learnability, critical thinking, and collaboration, with independent student work gaining more importance. The study concludes that online lessons should emphasize autonomous work performance over primary educational elements, and the results can form the basis for developing foreign language methodology in distance instruction. The research suggests this could be an optional module in a hybrid format that shows promise for higher foreign language education.

ПЕДАГОГИЧЕСКИЕ ПОДХОДЫ К ЗНАКОМСТВУ С ИДЕЯМИ В. И. ВЕРНАДСКОГО В ЕСТЕСТВЕННОНАУЧНЫХ МУЗЕЯХ

The paper considers the use of two pedagogical approaches, person-centered and systemic-structural, in the development and implementation of two thematic museum classes dedicated to V.I. Vernadsky’s life and scientific activities. These classes, namely, “From the soil to the biosphere” and “V.I. Vernadsky’s life and scientific activity”, were developed at the Earth Science Museum of the Lomonosov Moscow State University and aimed at in-depth acquaintance of schoolchildren with the teaching about the biosphere. The paper presents methodological materials for the classes: a description of the stages of the lessons and tasks for independent work (a crossword and a quest). Our analysis of the second lesson’s approbation showed that the schoolchildren were unanimous in their opinion: the organization of an independent search for answers to the posed questions and the leading role of the museum teacher allowed them to better accepting complex concepts and understanding the relationship of various scientific directions.

VI ALL-RUSSIAN SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE WITH INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPATION “ALGAE: ISSUES ON TAXONOMY, ECOLOGY AND MONITORING APPROACHES”

The 6th All-Russian Scientific Conference with international participation “Algae: issues on taxonomy, ecology and monitoring approaches” and the School for young scientists was held in the Zvenigorod Biological Station of M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, September 12–17, 2022. The conference was organized by the M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University and the Institute of Plant Physiology named after K.A. Timiryazev RAS. 82 algologists from 30 scientific institutions of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan attended the conference. The main topics of the Conference: Taxon problems in algology: from morphology to molecular genetics, modern synthesis; Floristics and geography of algae: problems and modern approaches; Soil algocenoses; Structural and functional organization of planktonic and benthic algocenoses; Physiology and biochemistry of algae: theory and practical application; Algae in assessing the state and quality of the environment: modern approaches, results and prospects; Cultivation – algae as an object of biotechnology: theory and its implementation in practice; Paleoalgology and biostratigraphy. During the conference, 72 reports were presented, including 6 plenary and 16 posters.

Main directions in the study of infants’ growth at Moscow school of anthropology: а review based on the articles published in «Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin (MUAB)» for the last 15 years

Introduction. The present study is of a complex nature and is devoted to the assessment of the main directions of the development of auxology in Russian anthropology. To a large extent, this work is a continuation of the review of the activities of the laboratory of auxology of the Anuchin Research Institute and the Museum of Anthropology of Moscow State University [Godina, 2010]. At the same time, the main directions of work are considered and described in more detail not only directly by the auxology laboratory, but also by other working groups of the same Institute, the Department of Anthropology of the Faculty of Biology of Lomonosov Moscow State University, as well as other academic institutions. Materials and methods. Specifically, in this part of the work, articles devoted to the comprehensive assessment of the processes of growth and development of children from birth to 3 years old, which were published in the «Moscow University Anthropology Bulletin» from 2009 to 2022, were used as a source of information. Results and discussion. The studies conducted in this area affect a large number of aspects of physical development in infancy and early childhood – for example, factors influencing these processes (evolutionary, climatic, geographical, ethnic and genetic factors, constitutional features of mothers, circumstances of intrauterine growth) are analyzed on representative samples. Special attention should be paid to the work on the evaluation in comparative and secular aspects of growth processes and indicators of sexual dimorphism of children under 3 years of age in the countries of the former USSR. Conclusion. Despite the difficulties in working with a rather specific contingent, the fact that these works, together with the results obtained, lead us to conclude that this stage of ontogenesis is represented to a large extent in the works of domestic anthropologists, which allows us to use these data both in the field of interdisciplinary and interdepartmental research.

OLEG GEORGIYEVICH SMOLYANOV

The article is dedicated to the outstanding mathematician and pedagogue, Professor of Lomonosov Moscow State University, Oleg Georgiyevich Smolyanov (9 Feb. 1938 – 16 Dec. 2021), whose full life path and multifaceted activities were aimed at science and education development in the USSR and Russia. Oleg Georgiyevich, being a talented pedagogue and organiser, was a devotee of the scientific school in the field of the theory of topological vector spaces, infinite-dimensional analysis, beneficial for the formation of a huge number of scientists and teachers of higher educational institutions.