Peculiar Structure Research Articles

Fungal Keratitis. Part 1. Etiomorphology, Historical Aspects, Epidemiology, Risk Factors, Pathogenesis and Clinical Features

Fungal keratitis (FK) is 8–30 % in the structure of infectious inflammation of the cornea. There are 2 main types of mushroom growth — mycelial and yeast. Mycelial (mold) fungi grow in the form of special branched microscopic tubes — hyphae. Yeast fungi form compact colonies of individual oval cells. Due to the peculiarities of the yeast structure, the tendency to rapid spread in the tissues is reduced, which determines the less aggressive clinical course of such keratomycosis compared to mold. Until the 50s of the 20th century, the occurrence of FK in the world was low. However, probably with the introduction of corticosteroid and antibacterial drugs into medicine, their prevalence began to grow. The highest frequency of occurrence of FK is in regions with a hot climate and high involvement of the population in agriculture. The main provoking factor for the appearance of FK is corneal injury with damage to the epithelium and adhesion to the Bowman’s membrane or stroma components. Highly adhesive fungi (Aspergillus spp., Candida spp.) trigger a cascade of immune inflammatory reactions, production of reactive oxygen species and matrix metalloproteases-9, which leads to the destruction of lamellae. Fungi with low adhesive ability (Fusarium spp.) can grow parallel to lamellae for a long time and indefinitely without inducing pronounced inflammation. Symptoms of FC are similar to those observed in other forms of infectious keratitis, but more often they develop more slowly (5–10 days) and are less acute. A defect against the background of mycelial FC is more often characterized by jagged edges, a raised slough, and a non-yellow color. Yeast FK is manifested by oval ulceration of the epithelium with expanding, more sharply demarcated, densely focal suppuration.

Features of the geological structure of the Achimov complex of the Yarudeisky megaswell (Western Siberia)

This work is devoted to the peculiarities of sedimentation and geological structure of clinoform deposits of the Yarudeisky megaswell (Western Siberia). The main feature of the clinoforms under consideration is that the sediments are confined to the marginal regional clinocyclite of the western dip of the area of oncoming clinoforms, formed in relatively shallow sea conditions and differing from deep-sea clinoforms by pinching out not onto the Bazhenov formation or the early underlying clinoforms of the western dip, but by stopping their spread along the path of movement of the oncoming clinoforms eastern dip. The study of the counter clinoforms of the Yarudeisky megaswell is based on a regional analysis of the structure of cross-layered deposits in conditions of extremely poor knowledge of the study area. Within the framework of western dipping clinoforms, possible oil and gas potential prospects for the Achimov complex within the boundaries of the Yarudeisky megaswell are identified. As a result of the analysis of geological and geophysical data, the boundaries of the distribution of opposing clinoform complexes in the study area were determined. The existing paleo-geomorphological conditions that contribute to the accumulation of sandstone with improved properties in the designated seismic complexes are presented. The fields of the Nadym oil and gas bearing region with the proven productivity of the Neocomian clinoform complex are indicated, which confirms the oil and gas potential of the region and suggests favorable conditions for the accumulation of hydrocarbons in the study area.

Hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy reveals self-organized structures of electrocatalytic nickel oxy-hydroxides

Alkaline water electrolysis represents one of the simplest methods employed for renewable hydrogen production, reaching high conversion efficiency utilizing cheap and abundant transition metals such as nickel and its alloys. The outstanding properties of Ni-materials do not arise from the metallic host, rather from the surface passivated with various oxidized compounds formed during the electrochemical process. This newly formed layer is responsible for the catalytic properties of the system, therefore the investigation of its evolution as function of potential and time is crucial for a deeper understanding of the overall electrochemical process. However, the characterization of the chemical environment at the topmost layer, as well as the underlying layers, is complex and requires surface sensitive techniques. Here, we show that while ambient pressure soft X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (APXPS) allows to follow the changes of the topmost layer, characterization of the deeper layers modifications occurring during electrocatalysis requires a combination of soft- and hard X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS/HAXPES), coupled with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The findings show how the high electrocatalytic activity of Ni (oxy)-hydroxides is directly related to the increasing water intercalation into the passivation layer, which supports the long-debated hypothesis of a water mediated OH− diffusion mechanism. High performance of the electrode is promoted by the peculiar structure of the surface, which self-organizes during the initial formation of the passivation layer enabling self-healing during electro-catalysis. Ultimately, we show how the investigation at different depths by means of XPS/HAXPES in combination with EIS allows a better understanding of the chemical changes occurring throughout the passivation layer, signaling a paradigm shift from the traditional explanation of electro-catalysis by a simple electrode material with a stable nanostructure, to a concept leaning towards a dynamic electrochemical interface.

Geoecological assessment of the prospective system for the development of cities in the Central Chernozemic region of Russia based on the index method

The article presents the results of assessing the comfort potential and development prospects of the urbanized territories of the Central Chernozemic region of Russia based on the developed and tested geoinformation index of the urban environment comfort development potential (City Development Potential Index, CDPI). The calculation of the total indicator of the areas of technogeosystems by ecological and functional structures was carried out, followed by an analysis of the ratio of existing and planned landscape units to areas suitable for expanding green infrastructure. For the first time, cartographic models of Voronezh, Belgorod and Kursk are presented, showing the spatial distribution of urban geosystems with index values. On the basis of the obtained geoinformation values, features of urban development and geomorphometric indicators, landscape structures were identified to develop the comfort of the urban environment. Calculations of index values for the presented cities showed significant differences, due to the peculiarities of the urban structure and spatio-temporal development of the territories. In the city of Voronezh, the values of the CDPI index are characterized by negative and low positive, the territory is relatively suitable for planting trees and shrubs. Belgorod is distinguished by extremely low values of the environmental comfort development potential index among the selected cities. Index values aimed at determining the potential for the development of comfort in the city of Kursk are significantly higher than those of Voronezh. Positive indicators of the index (above +0.5) were recorded, indicating a high level of prospects for the formation of green infrastructure with a low degree of economic pressure on the landscape.

Growth kinetics of crumb-like structure formation on SnO2 nanowires during direct oxidation

A facile AAO (anodic aluminum oxide) template-assisted vacuum die-casting technique was used to create Sn nanowires and convert them into SnO2 without degrading the wires nanostructure. As a function of time and temperature, the controlled oxidation on the Sn nanowires of two different spatial configurations (100 and 250 nm in diameter) revealed distinct oxidation mechanisms. The 250-SnO2 nanowires exhibits a peculiar crumb-like structure formation over the surface due to the higher level of Sn atom dislocation. Conversely, the sub-100 nm SnO2 nanowires shows a highly crystalline, homogenous, and defect-free surfaces. The optical properties of the sub-100 nm SnO2 nanowires were characterized using UV–Vis spectroscopy. The heat-treated tin oxides nanowires samples at temperatures of 300, 500, and 700 °C for 7 h exhibited optical energy bandgaps of 1.8, 2.6, and 3.3 eV, respectively. The observed variation in bandgap is attributed to the unique phase compositions achieved in each of the heat-treated samples. Moreover, the obtained results showed exceptional structural integrity and optical properties that are inherently interconnected with the diverse phases achieved under precise heat treatment conditions.

Structural analysis of open reading frames of bovine immunodeficiency virus proteins

The goal of this study was determining the structural organization peculiarities of the ORF2 and ORF3 proteins of the bovine immunodeficiency virus (BIV). Five ORFs were determined for two BIV isolates with complete genome using the ATGpr software, which permits effective prediction of translation initiation codons with nucleotide accuracy. Phyre2 software was used to predict, analyze the secondary structure and function of proteins. PONDR-FIT software was used to search for protein fragments in a disordered or natively unfolded state. Analysis of the amino acid composition of ORF2 and ORF3 proteins of BIVisolates regarding the presence of nonpolar, polar, aromatic, and hydrophobic amino acid residues was carried out using PSIPRED software. Models of the 3D-structure of proteins were obtained by I-TASSER server. 14% of α helices, 17% of β strands and 43% of disordered structure are predicted for the ORF3 protein. 37% of α helices, 0% of β strands, and 41% of disordered structure were determined for Gag polyprotein, which is translated from ORF2. The distribution of charged amino acid residues characterizes the surface properties of proteins. Their number reaches 23.9% for ORF2 protein. The amount of Arg is 5.2%, Lys — 8.0%, Glu — 7.3%, Asp — 3.4%. The total number of charged amino acid residues of ORF3 is 23.3%. The number of Arg is 12.6%, Lys — 4.9%, Glu — 1.9%, Asp — 3.9%. Only two ORFs of five ones coincide in nucleotide length (and, therefore, in length of corresponding proteins) for the two BIV isolates. The ORF3 protein belongs to the intrinsically disordered proteins that cannot be stably folded into a unique three-dimensional structure under physiological conditions, and the Gag polyprotein, which is translated from ORF2, belongs to the class of fully structured proteins. The secondary structure of both proteins shows the presence of α-helices

«Колокола» С. В. Рахманинова: поэма “The Bells” Э. А. По в переводе К. Д. Бальмонта как источник рождения индивидуальной музыкальной формы. Часть II: особенности структуры

This paper is the second part of the publication: Svistunenko T. A. “The Bells” by Sergei Rachmaninov: The poem “The Bells” by Edgar Allan Poe in the translation by Konstantin Balmont as a source for the birth of an individual musical form. Part I: background and history of creation // Manuscript. 2023. Vol. 16. Iss. 2. The first part gave a description of E. A. Poe’s creative work and his aesthetic views; characterised the general composition of K. D. Balmont’s translation of E. A. Poe’s poem “The Bells” and presented the history of creation of the poem “The Bells” by S. V. Rachmaninoff and the public perception of this work. In this article, the author conducts a detailed analysis of each of the four parts of S. V. Rachmaninoff’s poem “The Bells”, which makes it possible to identify a number of general patterns inherent in the composition as a whole. As a result, the peculiarities of main theme development in each part of the work have been determined; it has been substantiated that in S. V. Rachmaninoff’s poem “The Bells”, there is a special type of a main theme, which, despite being one of several “seeds”, develops according to monothematic laws. All the structure peculiarities in the poem testify to the creator’s individuality and the composer’s nuanced solution of questions of musical form, which reflects his desire to convey the very essence of the content of the poetic work in music.

PROSPECTS FOR COOPERATION BETWEEN GEOLOGICAL MUSEUMS OF UKRAINE AND SPAIN

The publication actualizes issues related to the prospects for geological science development and ways of cooperation between Ukraine and Spain. As part of the bilateral cooperation between these countries, at the end of February 2023, a meeting of geologists was held in Barcelona at one of the leading research institutes in Spain. The main issues discussed were the popularization of geology and the geological museum’s development. The first part of the article contains an overview of the peculiarities of the tectonic structure, stratigraphy, rock complexes, and unique reference sections within Ukraine, which are of world scientific importance. The second part is devoted to the characteristics of the Ukrainian museums of Earth sciences, the problems of modern scientific research, the geological monuments preservation, and strengthening the role of geological museums in popularizing knowledge about the Earth. As a result, joint projects within the framework of international cooperation between Ukraine and Spain are proposed. Cooperation will occur at the level of individual Institutes of Earth Sciences and Natural History Museums, as they store primary geological information. For the accumulation of geological information, its preservation and presentation, it is necessary to unite museums into a single museum space and international museum organizations. To create a general complex multi-level museum database. In addition, cooperation can be manifested in joint expeditions in which factual material can be obtained for further analytical research; in the organization and conduct of joint research, conferences, and educational seminars; in publishing joint scientific works, etc. Such events will contribute to exchanging information/specimens and improving external communication for further developing the museum business, educational and scientific activities in the geological field.

Biochemical and structural characterization of the RT domain of Leishmania sp. telomerase reverse transcriptase

BackgroundThe Leishmania genus comprises parasites that cause leishmaniasis, a neglected disease spread worldwide. Leishmania sp. telomeres are composed of TTAGGG repeats maintained by telomerase. In most eukaryotes, the enzyme minimal complex contains the TER (telomerase RNA) and the TERT (telomerase reverse transcriptase) components. The TERT holds the enzyme catalytic core and is formed by four structural and functional domains (TEN, Telomerase Essential N-terminal; TRBD, Telomerase RNA Binding Domain; RT, the reverse transcriptase domain and CTE, C-Terminal Extension domain). Methods and resultsAmino acid sequence alignments, protein structure prediction analysis, and protein: nucleic acid interaction assays were used to show that the Leishmania major RT domain preserves the canonical structural elements found in higher eukaryotes, including the canonical motifs and the aspartic acid residues that stabilize the Mg2+ ion cofactor. Furthermore, amino acid substitutions specific to the Leishmania genus and partial conservation of the residues involved with nucleic acid interactions are shown. The purified recombinant Leishmania RT protein is biochemically active and interacts with the G-rich telomeric strand and the TER template sequence. ConclusionOur results highlight that the telomerase catalysis mechanism is conserved in a pathogen of medical importance despite the structural peculiarities present in the parasite's RT domain.

Marine Invertebrate Antimicrobial Peptides and Their Potential as Novel Peptide Antibiotics.

Marine invertebrates constantly interact with a wide range of microorganisms in their aquatic environment and possess an effective defense system that has enabled their existence for millions of years. Their lack of acquired immunity sets marine invertebrates apart from other marine animals. Invertebrates could rely on their innate immunity, providing the first line of defense, survival, and thriving. The innate immune system of marine invertebrates includes various biologically active compounds, and specifically, antimicrobial peptides. Nowadays, there is a revive of interest in these peptides due to the urgent need to discover novel drugs against antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, a pressing global concern in modern healthcare. Modern technologies offer extensive possibilities for the development of innovative drugs based on these compounds, which can act against bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses. This review focuses on structural peculiarities, biological functions, gene expression, biosynthesis, mechanisms of antimicrobial action, regulatory activities, and prospects for the therapeutic use of antimicrobial peptides derived from marine invertebrates.

The JWST Hubble Sequence: The Rest-frame Optical Evolution of Galaxy Structure at 1.5 < z < 6.5

We present results on the morphological and structural evolution of a total of 3956 galaxies observed with JWST at 1.5 < z < 6.5 in the JWST CEERS observations that overlap with the CANDELS EGS field. This is the biggest visually classified sample observed with JWST yet, ∼20 times larger than previous studies, and allows us to examine in detail how galaxy structure has changed over this critical epoch. All sources were classified by six individual classifiers using a simple classification scheme aimed at producing disk/spheroid/peculiar classifications, whereby we determine how the relative number of these morphologies has evolved since the Universe’s first billion years. Additionally, we explore structural and quantitative morphology measurements using Morfometryka, and show that galaxies with M * > 109 M ⊙ at z > 3 are not dominated by irregular and peculiar structures, either visually or quantitatively, as previously thought. We find a strong dominance of morphologically selected disk galaxies up to z = 6 in this mass range. We also find that the stellar mass and star formation rate densities are dominated by disk galaxies up to z ∼ 6, demonstrating that most stars in the Universe were likely formed in a disk galaxy. We compare our results to theory to show that the fraction of types we find is predicted by cosmological simulations, and that the Hubble Sequence was already in place as early as one billion years after the Big Bang. Additionally, we make our visual classifications public for the community.

TRANSFORMATION OF MORDOVIAN VILLAGES IN BASHKIRIA: GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS

At the beginning of the 20th century the Mordovian villages in the Fedorovsky district of the Bashkortostan Republic were characterized by the maximum growth rates and population density among settlements with another ethnic structure of the population. During the 20th century, the average population of Mordovian villages in the district decreased by 79%, and many of the settlements disappeared. High rates of depopulation of Mordovian villages within zone with favorable agro-climatic conditions have no analogues among villages with another ethnic structure of the population. The article provides a geographical analysis of a rapid growth of the Mordvins ethnic area in the 18-19th centuries and its reduction in the 20th century. Specific features of the development of Mordovian villages influenced by natural conditions (attraction to water sources and forest areas), the “periphery of settlement”, the peculiarities of the economic structure (gardening) and dominant psychological universals (closeness, individualism, etc.) are discussed. The evolution of factors driving the transformation of Mordovian villages at different stages of its development is described. The main factors of the “Mordovian village crisis” in the 20th-21st centuries - migration, institutional, economic and ethno-cultural, are identified. To demonstrate the scope of settlement transformation, a modern schematic map of the Alyoshkino (typical Mordovian) village has been compiled showing inhabited and inoccupied homesteads, abandoned and developed territories. Based on the results of in-depth interviews and characteristics of the population, the main groups of residents of the modern Mordovian village are identified: “old people”, “young families”, “new kulaks (farmers)” and “urban cottagers”.

Thermal, mechanical and electrical performance of structural epoxy resins filled with carbon nanofibers

Carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were heat-treated at 1100 °C (CNF1100) and 2500 °C (CNF2500), respectively, and embedded as fillers at different mass percentages into an epoxy mixture. The paper aims at evaluating, through a comparison between the two different types of resulting nanocomposites, the influence of the CNF heat treatment on the thermal, mechanical, and electrical performance of the formulated samples. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed oxidative stability in the air of CNF2500 approximately 200 °C higher than the CNF1100 ones. The first oxidation stage of the resins embedding the two typologies of CNFs falls between 380 and 480 °C. This means that the temperature of the heat treatment of the nanofiller does not influence the temperature at which the thermodegradation of the nanocomposites starts. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) data show that the highest degree of cure (DC) was recorded for the epoxy samples filled with CNF2500. CNF thermal treatment increases the direct current (dc) conductivity of the nanocomposite by 3 orders of magnitude around the electrical percolation threshold (EPT) and increases the storage modulus of the CNF2500-based resins up to 60 °C compared with the unfilled resin. The peculiar wall structure of CNF1100 determines a further slight enhancement. Tunneling Atomic Force Microscopy (TUNA) reveals that the CNFs are evenly distributed on the nanodomains showing higher electric current values for samples loaded with CNF2500.

Lead Exposure Assessment and Its Impact on the Structural Organization and Morphological Peculiarities of Rat Ovaries.

Lead is known to be highly toxic to humans, causing various disorders infetal development. An experiment was conducted to examine the effects of lead acetate on the structural organization of female rat ovaries. The study involved 40 non-linear female rats divided into four groups: a control group, a low-dose group, a moderate-dose group, and a high-dose group. The rats were given lead acetate solutions in varying doses for 30 days, and their ovarian tissue was examined using light microscopy.The results showed that increasing doses of lead acetate led to morphological changes in the cortex and medulla of the rat ovaries. The changes were characterized by a decrease in ovarian mass, alterations in the thickness of the tunica albuginea (protein envelope), and a reduction in the number of follicles. Light microscopy revealed that exposure to lead acetate resulted in a significant decrease in the number of follicles in all experimental groups, with the high-dose group experiencing the most significant decrease.These findings suggest that lead acetate has a dose-dependent negative impact on the morphology and function of female rat ovaries. Further studies are needed to investigate the potential impact of lead on human ovarian tissue.

Peculiar crystal structure and long-range order of spin-1/2 ladders in MoOBr3

Tetragonal crystal structure of molybdenum oxytribromide, MoOBr3, consists of non-planar Mo2Br6 units joined by non-equidistant Mo-O-Mo bonds into infinite ladders, which are connected to each other by the van der Waals forces. Within unit cell, the apical Mo atoms in any given ladder are shifted along the c axis either above (+z) or below (−z) the basal ab plane of the Br atoms. Magnetic susceptibility taken at various frequencies χac(T) and magnetic fields χdc(T) as well as specific heat Cp(T) data evidence the formation of a long-range antiferromagnetic order at TN = 34 ± 1 K with largely reduced effective magnetic moments µeff = 1.3 ± 0.1 µB. First principles GGA+U calculations point to the predominance of intra-ladder ferromagnetic exchange interaction on both rungs Jrung = − 10 meV and legs Jleg = − 1 meV of the ladder, while much weaker inter-ladder antiferromagnetic exchange interaction Jinter = 0.2 meV couples the ladders. The anisotropic part of the exchange K = 0.6 meV in combination with Jinter allows estimating the spin-flop transition field µ0Hspin-flop ∼ 6 T in good correspondence with the magnetization M(H) data.

Tensors with Constant Components in the Constitutive Equations of a Hemitropic Micropolar Solids

The present paper is devoted to elastic potentials and the constitutive equations of mechanics of anisotropic micropolar solids, the kinematics of which can be specified by two independent vector fields: a contravariant field of translational displacements and a contravariant pseudovector field of microrotations of weight +1. The quadratic stress potential is represented by three constitutive tensors of the fourth rank, two of which are pseudotensor in nature and can be assigned weights –2 and –1. Such a solid is completely specified by the 171st micropolar elastic modulus. The main attention is focused on the model of a hemitropic (half-isotropic, demitropic) micropolar elastic solid characterized by nine constitutive constants. The components of the constitutive pseudo-tensor of weight ‒1 turn out to be sensitive to mirror reflection transformations in three-dimensional space. A peculiar algebraic structure of the constitutive tensors of a hemitropic solid, more precisely, their absolute analogues obtained by multiplying by integer powers of a pseudoscalar unity, is studied. It is shown that these tensors can always be constructed from isomers (isomer) of a tensor with constant components (generally insensitive to any transformations of the coordinate system) and one additional fourth-rank tensor constructed, in turn, from the components of the metric tensor.

Tin/Tin Oxide Nanostructures: Formation, Application, and Atomic and Electronic Structure Peculiarities.

For a very long period, tin was considered one of the most important metals for humans due to its easy access in nature and abundance of sources. In the past, tin was mainly used to make various utensils and weapons. Today, nanostructured tin and especially its oxide materials have been found to possess many characteristic physical and chemical properties that allow their use as functional materials in various fields such as energy storage, photocatalytic process, gas sensors, and solar cells. This review discusses current methods for the synthesis of Sn/SnO2 composite materials in form of powder or thin film, as well as the application of the most advanced characterization tools based on large-scale synchrotron radiation facilities to study their chemical composition and electronic features. In addition, the applications of Sn/SnO2 composites in various fields are presented in detail.

Proton-controlled molecular ionic ferroelectrics

Molecular ferroelectric materials consist of organic and inorganic ions held together by hydrogen bonds, electrostatic forces, and van der Waals interactions. However, ionically tailored multifunctionality in molecular ferroelectrics has been a missing component despite of their peculiar stimuli-responsive structure and building blocks. Here we report molecular ionic ferroelectrics exhibiting the coexistence of room-temperature ionic conductivity (6.1 × 10−5 S/cm) and ferroelectricity, which triggers the ionic-coupled ferroelectric properties. Such ionic ferroelectrics with the absorbed water molecules further present the controlled tunability in polarization from 0.68 to 1.39 μC/cm2, thermal conductivity by 13% and electrical resistivity by 86% due to the proton transfer in an ionic lattice under external stimuli. These findings enlighten the development of molecular ionic ferroelectrics towards multifunctionality.

Extension of the Gardner exponential equation to represent the hydraulic conductivity curve: Inclusion of macropore flow effects

In soil hydraulics, it is crucial to establish an accurate representation of the relative hydraulic conductive curve (rHCC), K_r(h). This paper proposes a simple way to determine K_r(h), called the Modified Gardner Dual model (MGD), using a logarithmic extension of the classical Gardner exponential representation and including macropore flow effects. MGD has five parameters which are hydraulic constants clearly identified in the bilogarithmic representation of K_r(h). Two of them are related to the main inflection point coordinates of rHCC; from them, it is possible to determine the macroscopic capillary length of the infiltration theory. The model was tested in the suction interval 0 < h < 15,000 cm with a total of 249 soil samples from two databases, and employing a flexible representation of the Mualem-van Genuchten (MVG) equation as a reference. Using the RMSE statistics (with log base) to measure the fitting errors, we obtained a 31% reduction in errors (RMSE_MGD = 0.27, RMSE_MVG = 0.39). In 74% of the soils, including samples from the two databases, the reduction was 53% (RMSE_MGD = 0.19, RMSE_MVG = 0.40); the rHCC data fitting of this group was accurate over all the suction h intervals, with RMSE_MGD < 0.32 in each soil sample. In the remaining 26% of the samples, the quality of the MGD fitting degraded due mainly to the presence of multiple rHCC data inflection points. Therefore, in soils without this structural peculiarity, the proposed model revealed to be quite accurate in addition to being analytically simple. Another advantage of MGD is that its parameters depend mainly on the data with h around and lower than the main inflection suction value, which, in turn, never exceeded the 300-cm limit in this study. Hence, in soils that do not have multiple inflections, the extrapolations of the model in drier intervals (1000 cm < h < 15,000 cm) are reliable. The MGD parameter optimization software has been called KUNSAT. It is available in the Supplementary Material or from the corresponding author on request.

THE RELIEF OF ARAGATSOTN REGION AS A TOURIST RESOURCE

The touristic-recreational assessment of the relief is an important process in the economic development of the territory, especially since it becomes essential today, when tourism is one of the main directions of economic development of Armenia. In this article the touristic-recreational potential of the Aragatsotn relief is presented, which will be useful for travel companies, as well as for tourists. The relief of the Aragatsotn region stands out for its diversity, which is due to the peculiarities of natural conditions and geological structure. The relief of the region is divided into various orographic units, based on some indicators that have different opportunities for organizing recreation. In the article, with the use of modern GIS technologies, a morphometric analysis of the relief of the Aragatsotn region was performed. The basis for the creation of maps was digital terrain models compiled using ASTER GDEM satellite data, which have high accuracy and detail. As a result, several thematic maps were compiled: hypsometry, surface slopes and slope exposures, and these maps were analyzed from the perspective of assessing recreational potential. As a result of the analysis, it was found that the relief of the Aragatsotn region, with its morphometry, creates favorable conditions for the development of tourism.