Scientific Reserve Research Articles

Management of scientific and technological regional development in the Volga Federal District: review of government programs

Relevance. In light of the growing interest in the scientific and technological development of regions, setting goals for scientific and technological advancement at the national level, the issue of developing programs for the development of science and education leading to the technological sovereignty of the country becomes relevant.The purpose is to analyze the ongoing programs for scientific and technological development of the regions of the Volga Federal District, as well as individual indicators characterizing the dynamics of the scientific and educational sector of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation.Objectives: conduct an economic and statistical analysis of the main indicators characterizing the scientific and technological progress of the regions of the Volga Federal District; identify regions of the Volga Federal District in which state programs for scientific and technological development have been developed, and consider their features.Methodology. The study used methods of economic-statistical and comparative analysis.Results. A review of state programs for scientific and technological development shows that four pilot regions of the Volga Federal District (Nizhny Novgorod region, Republic of Tatarstan, Republic of Bashkortostan and Republic of Mordovia) have already developed corresponding programs, and two regions (Orenburg region and Perm Territory) are under development. The remaining regions either have state programs that indirectly indicate the development of scientific and technological potential, or they do not exist.Conclusions. Scientific and technological development programs represent an important document that defines strategic guidelines for the development of science, technology and higher education. Regions that have already developed state programs for scientific and technological development have a high scientific reserve and are located in the top positions in the National Rating of Scientific and Technological Development of Regions. Such regions show strong results in the scientific and educational sector, which contributes to improving the economic and social development of the region. A systematic analysis of these programs makes it possible to identify their impact on various aspects of social life, as well as determine the effectiveness of the measures taken and mechanisms for achieving the set goals. It is important to take into account the variety of approaches to the development and implementation of strategic programs, which should be aimed at the unique characteristics of the country’s regions, their bottlenecks and development prospects, taking into account an assessment of their potential.

A new species of Petalocladius Sublette & Wirth, 1972 (Diptera, Chironomidae, Orthocladiinae) from the Dominican Republic, with an emended generic diagnosis

Petalocladius dominiensis Andersen & Baranov sp. n. is described and figured based on an adult male collected in the Ebano Verde Scientific Reserve in the Dominican Republic. The new species can be separated from its only congener, P. setosus Sublette & Wirth, 1972 from Jamaica, as it is slightly smaller with about 115 dorsocentrals compared to 56 in P. setosus. The inferior volsella is broadly subtriangular, while more lingulate in P. setosus, and the gonostylus has a small, but distinct megaseta and a subapical brush of spine-like seta, which apparently lack in P. setosus. The generic diagnosis is emended including the new species, and the systematic position is briefly discussed.

Assessment of the physico-chemical quality of the Bandama water River at Lamto Scientific Reserve (West Africa, Côte d’Ivoire)

Assessment of the physico-chemical quality of the Bandama water River at Lamto Scientific Reserve (West Africa, Côte d’Ivoire)

Variation of chlorophyll index and dry mass in Quercus robur L. trees from different provenances

In the comparative forest cultures of the "Plaiul Fagului” Scientific Reserve, an evaluation of the chlorophyll index and dry mass in the leaves of pedunculate oak descendants from the northern, central, and southern regions of the Republic of Moldova was carried out. The obtained data showed significant variations within trees in terms of minimum and maximum values, as well as the position of the median value relative to the mean in the distribution of the chlorophyll index in the investigated provenances. The analysis of the variation indicates significant differences in the distribution of the chlorophyll index of the leaves of trees originating from different ecological zones. Within this variation, two trends can be observed. The first trend refers to the fact that descendants from more distant areas (in the north and south) have a higher chlorophyll index than those from the central area (including local provenance). This difference due to the fact that descendants from ,,foreign” zones are exposed to different environmental conditions than optimal ones, which makes adaptation processes more pronounced compared to descendants from the central zone with similar conditions to the cultivation area. The second tendency consists of the uniformity in the response of different genotypes of non-locally provenance descendants from remote areas in the north and south, in relation to the specific environmental conditions of the common arboretum. This uniformity is indicated by lower coefficients of variation in the chlorophyll index of descendants from ,,foreign” zones compared to local provenance ones. Therefore, descendants of non-local provenance developed adaptation processes in new environmental conditions reflected by differences in the distribution of chlorophyll content. In descendants of northern and southern origin, these differences are lower than those characteristic of local provenance descendants. This view is supported by the fact that the dry mass rate of the leaves of local provenance descendants tends to be lower compared to those from the northern and southern parts of the Republic of Moldova.

Study of the hydrocarbon-oxidizing activity of bacterioplankton in the Moldavian section of the Prut River

The paper presents the results of study of the Prut River heterotrophic bacterioplankton. The bi-disciplinary technique was used to assess its hydrocarbon-oxidizing activity, namely: microbiological research was carried out in parallel with hydrochemical investigation of the natural water samples and samples enriched with diesel fuel. The Moldovan-Romanian transboundary section of the Prut River includes various ecological zones, such as the Costești-Stanca Reservoir, the mouth of the Jijia River, the Prut floodplains with the relict Beleu Lake (where oil extraction is carried out despite the fact that it is a protected area of the scientific reserve "Prutul de Jos") and the Prut River mouth with the Giurgiulesti International Free Port. The microbial community of fluvial bacterioplankton corresponds to the specific conditions of each these biotopes, being the most reproducible and adaptable component of the biota. The results obtained in the study of the Prut River bacterioplankton demonstrate the presence of hydrocarbon-adapted microorganisms with a good potential to utilize petroleum products in their metabolic processes.

Высокоточный элементный анализ образцов горных пород и археологических артефактов методом рентгеновской фотоэлектронной спектроскопии

Introduction. Despite a fairly wide range of methods currently used for the chemical and elemental analysis of rocks and archaeological artifacts, many questions regarding the qualitative and quantitative accuracy of the analysis and the distribution of elements over the surface and volume of the sample with a high degree of locality remain open. In this regard, to solve these issues, in this work, for the first time, the method of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was proposed and tested, which allows unambiguous and high-precision chemical identification of an object and the construction of its elemental map of the surface and volume. Materials and methods. The physical principles of the XPS method operation, which determine its record high qualitative and quantitative accuracy, are considered, a description of one of the most highly efficient X-ray photoelectron spectrometers Escalab 250 Xi, features of its operation and methods of adaptation for the study of rocks and archaeological artifacts are given. A special methodological advantage is the possibility of sample preparation and research under ultrapure conditions of ultrahigh vacuum. Results. XPS spectra were obtained in a wide range of photoelectron binding energies, which makes it possible to cover a fairly wide range of chemical elements that make up rocks and archaeological artifacts. With a high degree of spatial locality – at the level of 30 μm – elemental maps of the objects under study were built. Using the additional advantage of the method, based on the analysis of the energy position and the shape of the photoelectron spectral line, the chemical states of the elements that make up the samples were determined. Discussion. The obtained results of high-precision chemical analysis, combining both the general composition of the elements of the test sample as a whole and their spatial distribution with a high degree of locality, make it possible to achieve greater unambiguity in the identification of the objects under study compared to currently used analysis methods. Such high accuracy makes it possible to establish a correspondence between the composition of the rock and the archaeological artifact from the same area. The non-destructive nature of the XPS method, combined with ultrapure analysis conditions, makes it possible to ensure the safety of often unique objects. Conclusion. As a result of the study, it was shown that the XPS method can be quite effectively used for high-precision qualitative and quantitative analysis of rocks and archaeological artifacts, which is achieved both by the features of the method itself and by sample preparation and study of materials in ultrapure conditions of ultrahigh vacuum. The advantage of the method is the combination of a number of possibilities, such as not only the elemental, but also the chemical composition of objects, as well as the possibility of chemical mapping of the surface and analysis of the depth of the object with high spatial resolution. The research results can be used in solving a wide range of problems – from archeology to the development of mountainous areas, in particular, solving environmental problems by developing a scientific reserve for creating effective geochemical barriers. Further research should be focused on the development of techniques for adapting the XPS method to obtain three-dimensional tomographic models of the studied objects, which will improve the quality of their identification, in particular, from the point of view of geology and archeology.

The number of larval instars in the flax weevil (Anagotus fairburni) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

ABSTRACT The flax weevil Anagotus fairburni is a large flightless beetle, that is one of the members of the endemic insect ‘megafauna’ of New Zealand. It is a protected species that currently persists only on predator-free islands or in remote and difficult to access alpine areas. Little is documented about the ecology of the flax weevil. In this study we estimated the number of instars in the A. fairburni life cycle by measuring the head capsule widths of larvae collected in the field on Mana Island Scientific Reserve. We used kernel density function estimates to predict average head-capsule widths and the number of larval instars. We then used Brooks-Dyar’s law on the head capsule width data and analysed Brooks and Crosby indexes to refine the estimated number of instars based on imperfect data. Results from sampling of 86 larvae suggested four instar groupings, but further analysis based on Brooks-Dyar’s law found that A. fairburni likely passes through 6 or 7 larval stages prior to pupation, with some uncertainty for smaller instars. Our method provides new data on ecology of an endemic species and provides a framework for further work on similar endangered species where data is imperfect or difficult to gather.

Saproxylic beetles from the scientific reserves ”Plaiul Fagului”, ”Pădurea Domnească” and ”Prutul de Jos” at first mention

The paper includes five saproxylic coleopteran species new for the fauna of the Republic of Moldova. The species Agathidium nigripenne (Fabricius, 1792) of the family Leiodidae has been reported in dead wood in the Scientific Reserve “Pădurea Domnească”, Neoclytus acuminatus (Fabricius, 1775) (Cerambycidae) – in the Scientific Reserve “Prutul de Jos”, Leioderes kollari Redtenbacher, 1849 (Cerambicidae), Palorus depressus (Fabricius, 1790) and Eledonoprius armatus (Panzer, 1799) (Tenebrionidae) in the Scientific Reserve “Plaiul Fagului”. For each species, collection/reporting data, some ecological aspects and their importance are presented.

Representation of American Women Spirit of 21st Century Through the Character of Agent Peggy Carter From Television Series Marvel Agent’s: Carter (ABC, 2015 - 2016)

This research is written to analyze the representation of Agent Peggy Carter in television series <em>Marvel Agent’s: Carter (ABC, 2015 – 2016). </em>Agent Peggy Carter is an agent turns into secretary who works in secret division of Strategic Scientific Reserve. Agent Peggy Carter tried to fight against sexism from her male counterparts in the workplace. The television series was planned to be produced into three seasons. However, due to the low rating in the second season, the production cancelled the plan to make the third season. The series highlight Agent Carter’s struggle against sexism. The research used female action hero theory to analyze about Agent Carter representation as female action hero and Semiotic film theory. The result shows that Agent Carter representing female action hero and how Agent Carter representing the spirit of American women in twenty first century.

Diversity and ecology of mammal species from the „Padurea Domneasca” scientific reserve

The studies were performed in the “Pădurea Domnească” scientific Reserve between years 2017–2022. The mammal fauna includes 7 insectivore species, 13 bat species, 20 rodent species, a species of hare, 12 species of carnivores and 3 species of ungulates. In the last five years, 4 new bat species have been registered for the reserve. The 5 species of shrews were recorded mainly in wet habitats. Among the bats, the rarest were Myotis mystacinus, M. dasycneme and Plecotus auritus. The rodent fauna was the richest, many species being eurytopic. The reserve is home to 12 species of carnivores, of which the European mink has not been recorded in recent decades. The jackal number increased from 30 in 2017 to about 60 in 2022. Other species have a stable or an increasing dynamic. The wild boar number decreased from 340 in 2018 to 43 in 2021. The samples taken established the presence of the pure form of wild boar. The roe deer has an average density of 26 ind./ha, and the common deer reached 38 individuals in 2022. 18 species are protected at national level and 6 – at international level.

The Subject (Basis) of the Forensic Method for Investigating Intercorporate Theft in Insurance

The article discusses the conceptual issues of the theoretical prerequisites for the formation of a private forensic method for investigating intra-corporate theft in the insurance sector. The authors in the relevant aspect consider the content of the initial principles of the formation of private forensic techniques, characterize the related problems of the methodology of criminology. On the basis of the principles of immediacy, contiguity and interdisciplinarity adopted by the authors, the scientific reserve on the issues of criminalistic support for the investigation of fraud, other embezzlement and other crimes in the field of insurance is characterized. The “niches” for the prospective study of the problems of intra-corporate theft in the insurance sector are determined. The subject and place of the corresponding private forensic methodology in the system of forensic methodological knowledge are determined.

Frontiers and Structural Transformations of the Global Pharmaceutical Market

Background. In order to achieve the technological sovereignty of the Russian Federation, the transformation of existing scientific reserves into in-demand technologies and technologically independent sectors of the economy, special attention is paid to the frontier areas of world science. At the same time, frontiers are understood as thematic areas on the basis of which Russian critical technologies will be developed in the import-saving paradigm. Aims the purpose of the study is to identify the most promising niches of the global pharmaceutical market and research areas focused on their expansion. Methods. Analysis of the volume of RD financing by the worlds leading pharmaceutical companies in the period 20152022, multi-criteria scientometric analysis and thematic mapping of the collection of the most highly cited reviews published in 20202022 and indexed in the Scopus database. Results. The analysis of the volume of RD financing by the worlds leading pharmaceutical companies in the period 20152022, and their average annual growth rates, was carried out. It is shown that with an annual increase in the corporate RD budget of 2.8%, by 2022 the total RD expenditures of key players in the global pharmaceutical market reached $182 billion per year. At the same time, 60% of these funds ($109.4 billion) fell in 2022 to the top 20 global pharmaceutical companies investing in the development of new medicines. For comparison, the internal costs of research and development of the Russian Federation are given, which, taking into account the GDP deflator as of 08.04.2022, are estimated at $48 billion, of which the amount of budget funding provided in 2023 for the priority direction of the Strategy of Scientific and Technological Development of the Russian Federation Transition to personalized medicine, high-tech healthcare and technologies health savings, including through the rational use of medicines (primarily antibacterial), will amount to 39.5 billion rubles. Given the relatively low level of funding for domestic research and development of new medicines (compared to the budgets for RD of pharmaceutical companies in the world), it seemed important to identify the most promising niches of the global pharmaceutical market and research areas focused on their expansion. Conclusion. As a result of multi-criteria scientometric analysis and thematic mapping of the collection of the most highly cited reviews published in 20202022 and indexed in the Scopus database, 10 frontier research areas have been identified that have the potential to transform the structure of the global pharmaceutical market until 2030.

Influence of soil geomorphic factors on vegetation patterns in a model white sands ecosystem complex

Understanding the development of white sands ecosystems (WSEs) and their occurrence is critical for determining structural diversity in global biodiversity hotspots. WSE has fascinated ecologists for decades, with soil always opined to play a critical role in the development of complex ecosystem vegetation patterns. However, few to no studies have systematically investigated the effect of soil natural capital on the complex vegetation patterns in humid tropical forests that include the occurrence of open savannas. Instead, fires have been advanced as the key driver that sustains and expands open savannas in tropical forest biomes. In this study, we investigated the effects of soil geomorphic factors on vegetation patterns that range from tropical forests to open savannas in a model WSE complex known as the Aripo savannas scientific reserve. Soils were sampled from three white sands landscapes, each containing three vegetation types (open savanna, palm island, and marsh forest). Two transects of five soil sampling sites were randomly sampled in each vegetation type where stratified sampling of microtopography (hollows and flats) was applied. Samples were analyzed mainly for chemical properties, with some physical and mineralogical properties. Results showed patterns and relationships amongst vegetation types. Parent material was rich in quartz and zircon, poor in alkalis and sesquioxides, and resistant to weathering, forming white sands. Open savannas were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in coarse silt (32.8 %) and fine sand (34.1 %) and lower in fine silt and clay, suggesting a clear sorting associated with aeolian cover sands. In microtopographic areas, the upward gradient of water potential drove matter accumulation in hollows and upward translocation of elements under flat relief. The plant available nutrients and carbon were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in open savannas, demonstrating that plant nutrition was resource dependent. The Al concentration and pH matched with the vegetation patterns with a significantly decreasing Al concentration from forests (953 ppm) to open savannas (223 ppm) and significantly increasing pH from forests (3.7) to open savanna (4.1). Interestingly, the significantly lower Al concentration and higher pH in the open savanna suggest that these properties though more favorable in this locale, did not support tree growth and therefore were not predominant determinants of vegetation patterns. Quartz dominated all textural fractions, with clay fractions (which increased under forest) having higher levels of non-quartz minerals, e.g., silica. Silica, which is more degradable and initially provided more cations (nutrients and Al) to forest vegetation. Therefore, both texture (clay size) and minerals (clay minerals) together, degraded and delivered more cations. We conclude that WSEs in tropical forests developed on originally poor parent material. Since natural fire regimes are unlikely in this ecosystem, differences in vegetation distribution were not attributable to fires but are related to soil variability due to weathering and pre- weathering sorting. Most likely matter transport by lateral sheet water flow due to soil geomorphology is another factor controlling the development of vegetation patterns within WSE mainly found in humid tropical areas where wet season rainfall exceeds 2000 mm.

Re-Imagining The Antarctic Treaty: Goals to Mitigate Ice Melting, Reduction of Zooplankton Communities, and Imbalances In the Arctic Ecosystem

In 2022, massive ice melts in Antarctica and Greenland reflect the human-induced impacts of climate change, and the necessity of using human solutions to respond to the global climate crisis. Although the current Antarctic Treaty characterizes Antarctica as a place of scientific reserve, it does not address the direct impacts of climate change on the cryosphere. Due to the growing mortality rate of the arctic zooplankton and their essentiality within the arctic food chain, this study proposes an “Emergency Antarctic Climate Treaty Protocol” that presents the effects of climate change on the Antarctic ecosystem as an “emergency.” To better examine the correlation between ecosystems and human systems within the context of climate change, this research project asks: 1) How does characterizing the arctic zooplankton community as a “vulnerable species” address its essentiality to the arctic food chain? 2) What is the correlation between disruptive impacts to the arctic biosphere and negative impacts on human communities? 3) What role does the “Emergency Antarctic Climate Treaty Protocol” play in addressing the necessity of integrating emergency climate discourse into ice melt trends in the Antarctic? By targeting the ecological impacts of climate change through the arctic food chain, the proposed “Emergency Antarctic Climate Treaty Protocol” views the changing arctic ecosystem as mirroring effects of climate change on human communities, where the reduction of the arctic zooplankton species speaks to failures of the current Antarctic Treaty to address CO2 emissions.

ROMANIA'S NATIONAL AND NATURAL PARKS AND THEIR ECOLOGICAL AND ECOTURISTIC IMPORTANCE

Ecotourism is essential to protect and preserve the natural and cultural heritage, to develop local communities socially and economically and to increase the environmental education. To conserve the biological diversity, Romania has established many protected natural areas (over 7% of the country's area or about 18% if Natura 2000 sites considered). Romania has 32 protected natural areas of national interest: the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve, 13 national parks and 18 natural parks. Besides these major protected areas, there are 941 scientific reserves, nature monuments and nature reserves nationwide, exceeding 300,000 hectares. Although Romania has a significant ecotourism heritage with great potential for valuation and an adequate legislative framework, ecotourism is still a fairly narrow segment of tourism market, facing many problems, such as: poor local cooperation, modest national and international promotion, limited supply, poor diversification, poor development of ecotourism infrastructure in protected areas, labor migration, low level of training of those employed in the field. Using a proper management and infrastructure, these protected areas could receive more visitors, which would increase tourism revenue and improve the current precarious situation of financing protected areas.

Four new species of Craspedia (Compositae/Asteraceae, Gnaphalieae) from the South Island of New Zealand, all characterised by dark red-purple anthers

ABSTRACT In New Zealand, Craspedia (Compositae/Asteraceae, Gnaphalieae) has much more morphological variation than previously recognised, as demonstrated by suggestions of about 50 informally named putative species and varieties. As part of our research towards a revision of New Zealand Craspedia we have focused here on those plants that can be segregated from other New Zealand species of Craspedia by their dark red-purple anthers. We are describing the four species C. argentea, C. diversicolor, C. rugosa, and C. thinicola from the South Island of New Zealand as new to science. They are recognised based on a morphological assessment of scape, rosette leaf, inflorescence, floret, and achene characters following detailed herbarium, cultivation, and field studies. All four species are threatened. Each is known from a single locality only. Craspedia argentea, endemic to Mahaka Katia Scientific Reserve (Pisa Flats) in Central Otago, has rosette leaves with a dense, silvery, appressed to floccose lanate indumentum. Craspedia diversicolor was once more widespread in the Canterbury plains but is now restricted to Wakanui Gully in Canterbury, where only two plants were found recently. The colour of its rosette leaves varies from olive-green to grey, to dark red. Craspedia rugosa, known only from Cameron Fan, near Lake Heron, in Canterbury, can be distinguished from all other species of Craspedia by its rugose, dark-red-mottled rosette leaves. Craspedia thinicola is confined to the stable deflation hollows at Kaitorete Spit, adjoining Banks Peninsula in Canterbury. Its rosette leaves are covered with a dense, appressed, lanate indumentum. When in the open its leaves are appressed to the ground, with the upper rosette leaves strongly recurved. The formal taxonomic treatments for each species are provided, together with illustrations and descriptions of their morphology, distribution, habitat, phenology, etymology, and cytology, as well as an assessment of their conservation status.

Volcanic Landforms and Landscapes of the East Carpathians (Romania) and Their Geoheritage Values

The Neogene–Quaternary volcanic range running along the East Carpathians in Romania, extends from the Oaș Mountains, in the north-west, to the South Harghita Mountains and the Perșani Mountains, in the south-east, as part of the broader volcanic province of the Carpathian–Pannonian Region. It resulted from intense volcanic activity during the 15–0.1 Ma time interval, generating huge volumes of effusive and explosive products and a variety of volcanic edifices and primary landforms from large composite volcanoes to small-sized domes/dome-coulées/lava flows and volcaniclastic plateaus around them. The present-day landforms were shaped by various syn-volcanic deformation processes (such as volcano spreading), post-volcanic erosion of various degrees and types (including glacial erosion on the highest-elevation parts and relief inversion in the peripheral areas) and modern anthropic intervention. Developed on this diverse volcanic substrate, the present-day landscape shows a large variety of aspects due to further factors (original topography, elevation, vegetation cover, distance from settlements, anthropic activities, and degradation processes). This volcanic range hosts many geoheritage-relevant sites of various spatial extent (from hundreds of km2 to limited areas of a few 10 m2) and of protection status (from national parks, natural or scientific reserves, natural monuments, and protected areas to areas with no protection at all). Despite its high geoheritage potential, geoparks are still absent, geotrails are sparse, and geotourism is in its infancy in the East Carpathian volcanic range.

ПРАКТИКО-ОРИЕНТИРОВАННЫЕ РЕШЕНИЯ ДЛЯ РАДИАЦИОННОЙ МЕДИЦИНЫ

Purpose: perform a retrospective review and generalization of practice-oriented scientific research of the SBR Center in the field of radiation medicine in the period 2000-2021. Material and methods: The object of research of the SBR Center is the population of the Seversk and the personnel of the Siberian Chemical Combine (SCC). The basis for scientific research of the SBR Center is the regional medical and dosimetric register of population of the Seversk and personnel of the SCC, the bank of biological material of population of the Seversk and personnel of the SCC, as well as regular participation in the organization and conduct of periodic medical examinations of SCC personnel. Results: The assessment of morbidity and mortality from malignant neoplasms of the personnel of the nuclear industry enterprise and the population of the observation zones showed no increase in their risk during chronic technogenic exposure in the range of “small” doses. Malignant neoplasms of the digestive, respiratory, urinary and reproductive systems make the greatest contribution to the structure of oncological morbidity among the personnel of the nuclear industry enterprise and the population of the observation zones. The SBR Center was the first in the world to obtain data on the significant role of ionizing radiation in combination with traditional risk factors for the development of coronary heart disease in the increased incidence of myocardial infarction among SCC personnel. The established fact is the basis for the creation of a comprehensive program for the diagnosis and prevention of diseases of the circulatory system among the personnel of the SCC, which is being effectively implemented. The modern strategy for the prevention of non-communicable socially significant diseases developed at the SBR Center among workers at nuclear facilities and the population of observation zones (on the example of the Seversk population) includes an effective system for identifying pathological conditions, their timely correction and subsequent monitoring, which is an innovative form of work on the organization of health care and the strengthening of public health in order to increase life expectancy and ensure professional longevity. Conclusion: SBR Center performs fundamental and applied research in topical areas of radiobiology, radiation medicine, epidemiology, radiation safety and public health organization. Over the years, a significant scientific reserve has been created, a unique team has been formed, the material and technical base has been developed, and significant results have been achieved, recognized by the domestic and international scientific community.

Метод поддержки принятия решений по управлению научными исследованиями и разработками на основе комплекса моделей

Research and development (R&amp;D) ensure stable functioning and forms the innovative potential of most companies in the production sector. Ineffective R&amp;D management leads to the fact that many initiated projects go beyond planned deadlines and budgets, and much of the intermediate R&amp;D results are not completed. The complexity of R&amp;D management is associated with high information uncertainty regarding the performance of R&amp;D and the productivity of employees. The paper considers a multi-model method of decision support for R&amp;D management in companies. To reduce information uncertainty in solving various management problems it is proposed to use an ontological model of intellectual capital of the company, simulation models of R&amp;D processes and individual stages, fuzzy logic models to obtain integral assessments of management decisions. The method provides a basis for making decisions on the possibility and expediency of using previously obtained R&amp;D results (scientific and technological reserve); on the feasibility of the proposed project based on the assessment of its feasibility; on the project organization (volume-calendar planning); on the allocation of resources to tasks; on the incentives for performers; on the planning of activities for additional training and organization of information support. The paper provides a general description of the method, as well as an example of its use to support decision-making on the feasibility of an R&amp;D project based on its assessment. Two structures for organizing the R&amp;D process in a manufacturing company are considered as alternatives. After selecting the best structure, the impact of staffing quality on the integral feasibility assessment is evaluated.

Accessibility to Protected Areas Increases Primate Hunting Intensity in Bioko Island, Equatorial Guinea

Bioko is one of the most important sites for African primate conservation; yet it has seen a severe decline in its primate populations due to illegal hunting to supply a thriving wildmeat trade. The completion in 2015 of a new road bisecting the Gran Caldera Scientific Reserve (GCSR), where rugged terrain and lack of infrastructure once served as a natural barrier, further threatened this last stronghold for Bioko's primates. Here we used passive acoustic monitoring to study factors affecting hunting patterns within GCSR through the automatic detection of shotgun sounds. Ten acoustic sensors were placed in locations that varied in terrain heterogeneity, distance to the new road, human settlements, research camps (i.e., Moraka and Moaba) and elevation. Sensors recorded continuously between January 2018 and January 2020, collecting 2,671 site-days of audio. In total 596 gunshots were detected, including in the most remote areas. There were significant differences in hunting rate between areas (Kruskal-Wallis, χ2 = 102.71, df = 9, p &amp;lt; 0.001). We also found there were significantly fewer gunshots during 2019 than during 2018 (V = 55, p &amp;lt; 0.001). Occupancy modeling showed that hunting increased with decreasing terrain heterogeneity and decreasing distance to roads and villages; and decreased with increasing proximity to Research Camps. These results demonstrated that increasing accessibility increased primate hunting in GCSR, which was exacerbated by the opening of the new road. We also demonstrated that research presence was effective at reducing primate hunting. Unless strict conservation interventions are implemented, including road checkpoints, increasing biomonitoring and hunting patrols, and an island-wide, enforced ban on firearms, GCSR will see a significant decrease in primate density over the next decade, including the potential extinction of Critically Endangered Pennant's red colobus, whose entire population is restricted to GCSR and is a primary target of hunters.