Minsk City Research Articles

Organization оf Electrochemical Protection оf Steel Underground Pipelines Against Corrosionin the Gas Distribution Industry of the Republic of Belarus

Steel underground gas pipelines occupy a significant share of the total length of gas distribution pipelines, and therefore their maintenance in proper condition is a constant and very urgent task. Due to its global nature, the main influencing factor affecting the technical condition of any steel underground pipelines, including gas pipelines, is corrosion, primarily soil corrosion. To protect against it on pipeline networks, along with insulating coatings, electrochemical protection (ECP) is applied, that is, following the definition of STO [Standard of Organization] 17330282.27.060.001–2008, protection of metal against corrosion in an electrolytic environment, carried out by establishing a protective potential on it or eliminating the anodic potential shift from the stationary potential. In the gas distribution industry of the country, methods and means of electrochemical protection have been applied since the beginning of gasification and the construction of the first gas pipelines. All gas supplying organizations of the State Production Association for Fuel and Gasification “Beltopgaz” (six regional and Minsk city), which operate gas distribution facilities, have specialized corrosion protection services. These services provide maintenance of available ECP equipment, conduct electrical measurements on gas pipelines and corrosion studies of soils, and have certified laboratories. This paper is devoted to the analysis of domestic experience in organizing electrochemical protection of steel underground gas distribution pipelines, searching for promising directions for its improvement and increasing efficiency through the implementation of a unified industry technical policy, automation and telemechanization of ECP equipment in the general context of digital transformation, optimization of the timing and volume of maintenance.

Ultrasound thyroid size in young healthy women in the minsk city

Ultrasound thyroid size in young healthy women in the minsk city

Ultrasound assessment of thyroid gland size in young healthy men in the Minsk city

Ultrasound assessment of thyroid gland size in young healthy men in the Minsk city

Analysis of the work of the office of diabetic foot care "minsk city clinical endocrinilogy center" for 2019-2023

Analysis of the work of the office of diabetic foot care "minsk city clinical endocrinilogy center" for 2019-2023

Cannulated prolactin test in the diagnosis of the hyperprolactinemia syndrome

Hyperprolactinemia (HP) is a persistent pathological increase in a prolactin serum concentration amounting to more than 20 ng/ml in males and 25 ng/ml in females and leads to developing the pathological symptom complex of HP primarily from the reproductive system. To confirm the persistent etiology of HP and to eliminate physiological short-term hormone enhancement, a number of recommendations, including Russian and Belarusian, were proposed to make several prolactin measurements.This study included 120 patients with HP (96 females, 78.0 %) and (27 males, 22.0 %) aged 18–50 years who sought medical help at the Health Institution “Minsk City Clinical Endocrinology Center” in the period from December 2022 to September 2023. After catheterizing the vein, a venous cannula was inserted and blood was taken immediately after cannulating (T0), and then in 60 minutes (T1) and 120 minutes (T2). The cannulated prolactin test results were considered positive – with HP remaining in all three samples (T0, T1, T2), questionable – if HP was kept at T0 and T1, and negative if HP was only at T0. When evaluating the cannulated test results, true HP is 36.7 %. Patients with a positive cannulated test had a higher prolactin at T0, which was 888.5 mME/L (U = 97.0; z = 7.92; p < 0.001). Patients with stress-induced HP (negative test) and patients with true HP (positive test) had no statistically significant differences in age and occurrence frequency of specific and non-specific complaints and symptoms for HP.

Green spaces system analysis and assessment of plantings’ ecological state in Minsk city applying geoinformation technologies

The article presents the results of public green spaces system of Minsk city exploration and assessment of their plantings’ ecological state, implemented with applying geoinformation technologies. To conduct the study, the information about spatial distribution features of green spaces system parameters, urban planning indicators and the ecological state of atmospheric air was selected and ranked (groups 1-9). Using this data set, in ArcGIS program with its additional Spatial Analyst module territory modeling was implemented and an original assessment map of Minsk city, which shows various favorability degrees areas (6-1) for green spaces system organization, was created. It was revealed that the sites of the lowest favorability degree (1) are concentrated in the southwestern part of the city (Oktyabrsky, Moskovsky, Frunzensky administrative districts). On their territory the ecological condition monitoring of public green spaces was carried out. Within green areas boundaries 74 field areas were laid on which 2220 trees were examined. The assessment of plantings was conducted in stages: an individual assessment of trees based on a set of dendrometric indicators, calculation of tree stands condition indexes, identification of public green spaces ecological state category. The completed assessment became the basis for measures proposal to optimize the green spaces system.

Analysis of errors and complications when performing microdiscectomy on the lumbar spine in the conditions of the neurosurgical department of the city of Minsk, Belarus.

Analysis of errors and complications when performing microdiscectomy on the lumbar spine in the conditions of the neurosurgical department of the city of Minsk, Belarus.

MILP model for fleet and charging infrastructure decisions for fast-charging city electric bus services

The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions is one of required conditions for the transition to the sustainable cities. The creation of sustainable public transportation system is seen as an efcient long-term solution to achieve it. This paper develops a framework for designing a sustainable infrastructure for fast-charging electric buses. This framework helps the decision makers and in particular public authorities to determine a heterogeneous fleet of electric buses, to design the network of required charging facilities and to maximize the flow of passengers utilizing sustainable public transportation to minimize the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. An efcient Mixed Integer Linear Programming model is developed for the particular case where all chargers are interchangeable among the electrical buses. The decision-making process is illustrated through a case study for the public bus transportation in the city of Minsk. Extensive computer experiments show that the developed model provides efcient solutions in acceptable computational time and outperforms state-of-the-art methods on every tested problem instance.

Regional features of the incidence of chronic Ph-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms in Belarus

According to published data, there are differences in the registered incidence of chronic Ph-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) in some regions of the world. In this study, for the first time, we compare the Ph- MPN incidence in the regions of Belarus in order to determine the regional features.It was shown that for the period 2014-2018 the highest rates of standardized incidence of polycythemia vera were noted in the Brest region – 1,17 and Minsk – 1,11, the lowest incidence rate was determined in the Vitebsk region – 0,68 per 100,000 population per year, p<0,05. The maximum incidence rates of essential thrombocythemia were recorded in Minsk city – 1,04 and Gomel region – 0,86, which is significantly higher than in Minsk region – 0,27, Vitebsk region – 0,35 and Grodno region – 0,44 per 100 000 population per year. The highest incidence rates of primary myelofibrosis were noted in Gomel – 0,63 and Vitebsk regions – 0,53, they were significantly higher than in Grodno – 0,14 and Minsk regions – 0,24 per 100 000 population per year.Differences in the incidence of Ph-MPN between the regions of Belarus were revealed, while the overall incidence rates in Minsk city, Gomel, Brest and Mogilev regions exceeded those in Vitebsk, Grodno and Minsk regions. In addition, variation in incidence rates for individual nosologies was noted. The information obtained can be used to make management decisions when organizing medical observation and treatment of patients with Ph- MPN in Belarus.

MODELING THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF TRANSPORT
 ON THE ECOSYSTEMS OF CITIES AND SETTLEMENTS

The article provides an overview of models for predicting the environmental impact of transport on the ecosystem of cities, as well as the results of developing a software product for calculating emissions from road transport using the methodology of the Belarusian National Technical University. Modeling is carried out using GPS tracks. The results of the visualization of the application of the methodology for assessing environmental losses in traffic in the city of Minsk and the mapping of a specific section of the street network are presented.

Первичная заболеваемость тиреоидной системы и йодное обеспечение организма взрослого населения Заводского района г. Минска

Currently, iodine deficiency diseases are one of the most common diseases of non-infectious origin. In the Republic of Belarus, preventive measures are being taken to eliminate the problem of iodine deficiency, in particular, a state strategy has been developed and implemented, the main measure of which is the mandatory use of only iodized salt in the food industry and public catering. Despite the measures taken, the problem of iodine deficiency remains relevant, especially for children and pregnant women. According to the results of the assessment of iodine sufficiency in the world, published by the RIAC on Surveillance for Iodine Deficiency Diseases (ICCIDD) - a global non-commercial, spheral need created for the use of iodine deficiency and the consequences of its negative examination on health, adequate iodine intake is provided in the Republic of Belarus. In 2016, the Global Iodine Network published maps characterizing iodine sufficiency for two main assessment categories - school-age children and pregnant women, confirming the status of the Republic of Belarus as a country with adequate iodine sufficiency. However, despite the results achieved, from the standpoint of medical monitoring, the quality of studies conducted to monitor the iodine supply of the population, the risks of excessive salt intake remain relevant. In this paper, a comparative analysis of the dynamics of the primary incidence of thyroid pathology in the population of the Zavodskoy district of the city of Minsk for the period 2016-2020 was carried out. According to the results of the analysis, a positive trend in the primary incidence of simple goiter, nodular non-toxic goiter and thyroiditis was revealed, while the dynamics of the primary incidence of hypothyroidism did not change. According to the data presented, the presence of iodine deficiency with a median urinary iodine excretion of 196.15 gg/l was revealed in pregnant women of the Zavodskoy district of Minsk in 2021. An analysis of the questionnaire survey of the nature of the nutrition of pregnant women showed that most of the surveyed do not know about the benefits of using iodized salt for the development of the fetus, and therefore the reason for the formation of iodine deficiency in the body of pregnant women is the insufficient intake of iodine in the body and refusal to take iodine preparations. In the surveyed region, 22 % of women do not comply with the prescription of endocrinologists about the need to take iodine-containing drugs.

Economic and geographical analysis of changes in the economic specialisation of the cities of Belarus

A comparative geographical characteristic of the economic specialisation of cities of regional subordination and the city of Minsk in the context of the main sectors of the economy (sections of types of economic activity) was carried out for 2010–2020. Using materials from the database of the National Statistical Committee of the Republic of Belarus, the coefficients of specialisation for the considered cities were calculated. Using the cartographic method, the leading economic specialisation (the highest values of the coefficients) of the cities in the intra-republican division of labour is reflected. The research allows us to talk about changes in the economic specialisation of the cities of regional subordination and the city of Minsk, while the nature of the dynamics of economic specialisation differs by city. A general pattern in the dynamics of economic specialisation has not been established for the entire group of analysed cities. The most cities are characterising by the absence of pronounced changes in specialisation for 2010–2015. The dynamics of economic specialisation takes place for Baranovichi, Pinsk, Novopolotsk and Mogilev. The minor shifts were revealed in specialisation of eight cities and a pronounced change in specialisation of Grodno for 2016–2020. The authors developed a grouping of cities according to the number of specialised sections of types of economic activity. Spatial differences are revealed between western and eastern cities in economic specialisation in terms of production and service sectors.

Pharmaceutical sales in the Republic of Belarus: dynamics and geography

The article presents the results of the analysis of the dynamics and geography of the state of pharmaceutical trade in the Republic of Belarus for the period from 2010 to 2020, which was conducted on the basis of a number of indicators (total sales, distribution in the pharmacy and hospital sectors, sales of domestic and imported products at the level of 6 regions and Minsk) using a systematic, territorial and temporary approaches. The positive dynamics of pharmaceutical trade volumes was revealed both in the country as a whole and in the context of the regions and Minsk. The leadership of the capital in total sales of pharmaceuticals in value terms for the period under review was noted, which is due to the high number of the population living in it. The predominance of imported products in the total volume of sales both at the country and at the administrative-territorial level has been established. An increase in the share of domestic drugs in total sales was recorded, which is due to the development of the Belarusian pharmaceutical industry and its comprehensive support from the state. The pharmacy segment acts as the dominant sales market, both at the country level and at the level of the regions and the city of Minsk during the entire study period. In the placement of pharmaceutical enterprises, there is a tendency of their spatial deconcentration associated with their placement not only in the capital, but also in other areas, which indicates the emerging geographical shifts of this industry within the country.

TRENDS OF SOIL CONTAMINATION WITH HEAVY METALS AND OIL PRODUCTS IN THE CITIES OF BELARUS

The results of the analysis of the current state and dynamics of concentrations of heavy metals and oil products in the soils of Belarusian cities for the period from 1990–1995 to 2016–2021 are presented. It is based on the soil monitoring data in the cities of Belarus within the framework of the National Environmental Monitoring System in the Republic of Belarus and the results of a detailed soil-geochemical survey of the city of Minsk, carried out by the authors in 1990. The dynamics of the content of chemicals in the soils of cities was assessed by comparing the average
 concentrations for individual cities over the period under review and with comparison of the concentrations of chemicals in soil samples taken at the same sampling sites in the city of Minsk over a nearly 30-year period. It has been established that for most cities there is a tendency to accumulate zinc and oil products in the soil cover. There is a decrease in the content of lead in the soil in 46 % of cities and an increase in its concentration in 19 % of cities are observed. Similar to lead dynamic is typical for copper content in urban soils. It is shown that the annual average increase in the content of zinc in the soils of Minsk is 0.57 mg/kg per year, while the annual average decrease in the content of lead is 0.22 mg/kg per year.

«Российская девиантологическая панорама: теория и практика» (Обзор первой международной научно-практической конференции)

Article presents a review of the international scientific and practical conference «Russian Deviantological Panorama: Theory and Practice» held under the auspices of the Russian Journal of Deviant Behavior in September 2022. The conference was aimed at sharing scientific knowledge on deviant behavior, analysis of modern methodologies of research and prevention of deviations, communication of scientists and practitioners working in this subject field.
 More than 120 people from 47 Russian and foreign organizations took part in the conference including guests from Shanghai Higher Police School of the Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China, Kokshetau Abai Myrzakhmetov University, Kazakh-British Technical University, Police Academy of the Azerbaijan Republic, Minsk City Clinical Narcological Center, Belarusian State Medical University, National Medical Research Center of Psychiatry, Moscow State University, Moscow State University, Moscow State Pharmaceutical Academy, and others.
 The conference sessions were held in the form of plenary and three breakout sessions on the key areas of deviant behavior research and prevention of its manifestations. As part of the conference a competition of poster presentations (posters) was held, according to its results five research teams were awarded.
 The conference resulted in discussion of academic and applied problems of deviant behavior, spread of modern methodologies, techniques, experiences among researchers of deviations, development interaction between scientists and practitioners.

School Feeding in the Republic of Belarus

Introduction: The relevance of providing healthy nutrition for school-age children, a significant coverage of students with school meals, and an increase in the proportion of children requiring correction of the diet have determined the objective of the study to evaluate school feeding and to substantiate further measures for its improvement. Materials and methods: Twenty-six regulations on school meals adopted from the year 2000 to the present have been analyzed. The study of the eating schedule and the frequency of consumption of certain foodstuffs was carried out based on a survey of 1,975 parents and schoolchildren in grades 5 to 11. The energy value, the content of vitamins and minerals in school breakfasts and home meals of 1,168 fifth graders from the city of Minsk were estimated. Results: The findings show that regulations on school meals have been developed in the republic; dietary nutrition is organized at schools, the material and technical base of school kitchens is constantly being improved, and children are being taught healthy eating skills. At the same time, the analysis of actual nutrition at school and at home indicates malnutrition causing an imbalance in the dietary intake of macro- and micronutrients. Discussion: An effective model of school feeding has been created in the Republic of Belarus. Yet, the current system cannot fully ensure a balanced diet for children. It is therefore important to continue personnel training, monitoring of school meals using modern information technologies, and awareness raising on healthy eating among schoolchildren.

Состояние повышения квалификации специалистов Центров коррекционно-развивающего обучения и реабилитации в вопросах оценки качества образования воспитанников с тяжелыми множественными нарушениями в Республике Беларусь

In 1999, the Republic of Belarus began to educate children with severe multiple disorders (SMD). For this purpose, new special educational institutions – correction and development training centres (CDTC) – were opened across the country. Curricula for preschoolers with SMD appeared only in 2011, and curricula approved by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Belarus appeared in 2014. Before 2011, teachers were more engaged in the care and supervision of preschoolers with SMD than in the actual educational process. Currently, changes are taking place in preschool education. The education of children with SMD should be built on a competency basis where the formation of their life competencies should play the leading role. The need to assess the quality of such education has emerged, and, consequently, the issue of professional training of specialists of CDTC in this direction. The aim of the article is to determine the possibilities of the system of professional development of teachers of specialized institutions on the issues of quality assessment of education of pupils with severe multiple disorders at the present stage in the Republic of Belarus. The basic methods in the study of this problem were questioning and content analysis. The experimental base of the study is represented by 63 state educational institutions “Centre for Corrective and Developmental Education” (Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel, Grodno, Mogilev, Minsk regions and the city of Minsk, Republic of Belarus), as well as 8 institutions providing professional development of CDTC personnel (Brest, Vitebsk, Gomel, Grodno, Minsk regions, the city of Minsk, Republic of Belarus). The study involved 345 respondents: 334 teachers of CDTC and 11 employees of professional development institutions. The study was conducted in 2020. The article presents the author’s view on assessing the quality of education of preschool children with SMD, highlights the results of the empirical study, and substantiates the possibility of changing the training of teachers of CDTC in the context of professional development institutions. The obtained data allow us to see a holistic picture of the modern system of professional development for special teachers on the problems of assessing the quality of education of preschool children with SMD, which further allows to adjust the training programs of professional development in specialized institutions (Academy of Postgraduate Education, Institutes of Education Development), to include the most popular topics in their content.

UPDATING EXISTING STANDARDS IN THE SPHERE OF TRANSPORT SERVICE OF THE POPULATION BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

The article considers the existing minimum social standards and other existing legal acts that determine the parameters of transport services for the population of the Republic of Belarus. The possibility of feasibility of these standards on the territory of the country is analyzed. As a result of the study, recommendations for improving the system of minimum social standards in the field of public transport are proposed. The practical significance of the work lies in the possibility of improving the existing standards of transport services for the population by the regional and Minsk city executive committees, together with operators of regular passenger transportation.

Staffing for digitalization processes in agriculture

The legal basis for cooperation between the regions of the Republic of Belarus and the provinces of the People’s Republic of China in the industrial sphere is disclosed. Major projects implemented in the regions and the city of Minsk with the participation of Chinese investors are presented. The branches of industry that have a high potential for the creation of Chinese-Belarusian industries, in the context of regions, have been identified. Prospective forms of interaction between enterprises of both countries are proposed, including industrial cooperation, joint research and development in the field of high technologies, the creation of scientific and technical cooperation centers, and the implementation of joint cluster initiatives.

Pollen cargo structure on Aculeata – visitors of alien Solidago canadensis L. s. l. inflorescences in Belarus

Community structure of visitors to inflorescences of invasive goldenrods was investigated by sampling at 9 sites in Minsk city, Minsk and Mogilev regions in Belarus. A total 44 species of Aculeata including 1 species of Chrysioidea, 7 species of Vespoidea and 36 species of Apoidea were registered. Among them 2 species of bumblebees (Bombus terrestris L., B. lapidarius L.) were numerous, 2 species of Vespoidea (Polistes dominula Christ, P. nimpha Christ) and 3 species of Apoidea (Philanthus triangulum F., Hylaeus communis Nyl., B. ruderarius Müller) were common. Pollen cargo analysis revealed the predominance of easily lost and relatively easily lost conspecific pollen grains on the bodies of the imago of the all common and numerous species of visitors to inflorescences of invasive goldenrods.