The development of the northern territories of the Russian Federation is a crucial element of the country’s sustainable development, as emphasized by the Strategy for the Development of the Arctic Zone of the Russian Federation until 2035. In light of the active policy of import substitution, which is a key component of the national goal of “Technological Leadership,” increasing attention is being paid to the manufacturing industry, including in the Far North. This study analyzes data on the operations of manufacturing enterprises in the cities of the Far North and equivalent regions from 2016 to 2022, utilizing municipal and state statistical sources as well as databases such as SPARK-Interfax, zavody.rf, and fabricators.ru. As a result, the sectoral structure of the manufacturing industry in the Far North was identified, forming the basis for a proposed classification of industrial hubs divided into four categories. The study also highlights general trends in the development of the supporting frameworks of the manufacturing industry in the northern territories of Russia in recent years. The findings indicate that the manufacturing industry in the Far North has undergone minimal transformation in recent years, with changes primarily limited to the modernization of existing facilities or the closure of unprofitable enterprises.

The article examines the factors shaping spatial differences in consumer preferences when using online automotive classifieds in Russia. The study employs content analysis of major automotive online platforms—Avito.ru, Auto.ru, and Drom.ru—highlighting the functional comparability of these services. To identify the causes of regional differences, a series of in-depth interviews were conducted with residents from various Russian regions. Additionally, comprehensive and cartographic analysis methods were used to study the spatial component. The study revealed spatial characteristics associated with the use of automotive online classifieds in different macro-regions of Russia. Furthermore, the research identifies key factors influencing spatial differences in consumer behavior: the geographical location of the region, the socio-historical context of the spread of automotive online classifieds, the presence of local alternatives, the economic interest of online services in expanding their activities in specific regions, and the intensity of their advertising campaigns.

The challenging situation in the labor market of the Russian Federation, both nationwide and in individual regions, necessitates the search for new solutions to address workforce shortages. Currently, there is virtually no region where this problem has been fully resolved. Government measures have made it possible to establish various approaches to overcoming labor resource shortages. In the Kaliningrad region, one such initiative has been the implementation of a career-guidance tourism project for school students. Career-guidance tourism is among the most popular forms of educational tourism, and its positive impact on territorial and economic development is becoming increasingly evident. Career guidance projects are attracting growing interest not only from local governments but also from businesses operating in the regions. The goal of this study is to track the dynamics of the transformation of the Kaliningrad region’s career-guidance project “PRO Opportunities.” The study employed comparative analysis methods to assess annual results and cartographic methods for a visual presentation of the distribution of career-guidance tourism sites across the region.

Amber classification plays a crucial role in its study, extraction, use in jewelry and amber art, various industrial sectors, and trade. This article provides a comparative analysis of classification systems and principles that have existed historically and are currently adopted in the main amber-producing and amber-processing countries (Russia, Poland, and Ukraine). The study does not address geological and mineralogical classifications of fossil resins or their physical and chemical properties. Instead, the focus is on classification systems used for practical production and commercial purposes during amber extraction, sorting, processing, and trade. Three fundamental levels of classification criteria for raw amber are identified: (a) weight or size, (b) stone structure (monolithic versus layered, presence or absence of cracks and impurities), and (c) decorative properties (natural shape, color range, and transparency). Additionally, the presence of animal and plant inclusions in amber, which hold both scientific and commercial value, is considered separately. The article concludes that the most advanced system of commercial amber classification in recent years has been developed and implemented at the Kaliningrad Amber Plant.

The level of urbanization is steadily increasing and has already surpassed 82 % in Central Russia. Urban ecosystems face environmental imbalances that can be mitigated through the use of green plants. Establishing an ecological framework plays a key role in addressing this issue. Natural ecosystems serve as the cores of the ecological framework. In urbanized areas, these cores may include urban forests, forest parks, and natural ecosystems forming green belts around cities. Using the city of Oryol as an example, the study highlights the significance of forest parks as the cores of the ecological framework and as areas of high phytodiversity, including rare and protected plant species. Monitoring studies of the forest parks forming Oryol’s green belt were conducted between 2016 and 2024. These studies analyzed vegetation and identified the floristic composition within these areas. Forest parks fulfill diverse ecological functions, including recreational purposes, which necessitated an assessment of their recreational load. The studied forest parks are in the second to third stages of recreational degradation, yet they possess high recreational potential. Scientifically informed urban planning that incorporates these suburban forests as cores of the city’s ecological framework will not only enhance the environmental quality of urbanized areas but also contribute to the conservation of biodiversity.

Industrial dumps serve as natural habitats for numerous biocenoses due to the specific features and directionality of early soil formation processes. The purpose of this study is to investigate the characteristics of soil cover and bioremediation on coal dumps. It is demonstrated that the lithological heterogeneity of disturbed territories in Kuzbass is influenced by mining technologies, which directly affect the methods of coal extraction. The study establishes that eluviated material on technogenically disturbed lands shows significant variations in physical and chemical properties depending on the conditions of formation. These differences determine the varying quality of the resulting soils and underscore the need for reclamation efforts. Phytocenoses at later metastable stages of development exhibit impoverished composition and structural deficiencies upon reaching this stage. It is proven that the impact of vegetation on young soils, supplemented by fertilization, can lead to the accumulation of biophilic elements in the upper soil profile. The presence of rare earth and radioactive elements in anthracite slows the development of biota on dump surfaces due to their potentially toxic effects on microorganisms and vegetation. Bioremediation is shown to focus on restoring soil formation processes, enhancing soil self-purification capabilities, and re-establishing phytocenoses. The selection of plant species for reclamation is based on their ability to thrive in technogenically disturbed landscapes. These species should belong to a group of resilient plants with high phytoremediation potential, such as Pinus sylvestris, Picea pungens, Larix decidua, Physocarpus opulifolius, Betula pubescens, Populus nigra, Caragana arborescens, Rosa rugosa, and Elaeagnus commutata. These species are characterized by high resistance to adverse factors and are considered promising for biological reclamation of technogenically disturbed landscapes.

Xenon, an inert gas, exhibits a wide range of effects on the human and animal body. In recent years, it has been utilized in various fields of medicine and has become the focus of numerous scientific studies. This work aims to summarize the available information on xenon. The primary mechanism of the gas’s action on the body is currently known to involve the reduction of NMDA receptor activity, which underpins most of its effects. Ongoing research into xenon’s mechanisms has revealed several kinase cascades that contribute to the gas’s protective properties. Additionally, xenon inhalation has been demonstrated to be effective as an anesthetic during surgeries, in organ transplantation, and in reducing pain syndromes. A novel application of this inert gas may be in addressing symptoms of psycho-neurodegenerative disorders, particularly autism. Patients with autism spectrum disorder are characterized by hyperexcitability, heightened anxiety, and impaired social interaction. Xenon inhalation has been shown to normalize autism-like behaviors in animal models of autism induced by valproate.

To ensure the sustainable development of the agricultural sector, modern research in this field must focus on creating and applying effective and environmentally safe means of protecting plants from fungal diseases. Advanced agricultural technologies enable the development of biopreparations based on microorganisms that are effective in combating phytopathogens. These biopreparations represent an innovative and promising solution for agricultural producers seeking sustainable and environmentally friendly production practices. Currently, particular attention is given to the development and use of biopreparations based on micromycetes of the Trichoderma genus, known for their broad spectrum of antagonistic activity against phytopathogens. However, the necessity of individually selecting Trichoderma strains with high antagonistic activity for the creation of biofungicides remains a pressing issue. The aim of this study is to investigate the antagonistic activity of various Trichoderma strains against phytopathogens and evaluate their potential for further use as biopreparations in agriculture. An optimal nutrient medium was selected to maximize spore production in Trichoderma. The antagonistic activity of Trichoderma strains against fungi of the genera Aspergillus, Rhizopus, Alternaria, and Mucor was assessed using the dual-culture method. Statistical analysis of the results was performed using variance analysis. Special attention was paid to studying the antagonistic activity of Trichoderma strain consortia and evaluating their potential for developing an effective biopreparation.

Microbial xylanases are widely used across various industries, making the search for new microorganisms capable of producing these enzymes a highly relevant task. A source for isolating strains with xylanolytic activity is plant-­based materials rich in hemicelluloses, such as lignocellulosic biomass. In the Kaliningrad region, such materials include the meal of industrial hemp seeds (Cannabis sativa), seed hulls and seeds of white lupine (Lupinus albus), unroasted soybean hulls, roasted soybean hulls, granulated soybean hulls, and seeds of common horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum). Among the 23 bacterial isolates obtained from the mentioned lignocellulosic materials, the highest xylanolytic activity was observed in nine strains. Based on morphological and staining characteristics, these strains were identified as Gram-positive spore-­forming rods. Molecular genetic identification using the 16S rRNA method revealed that the strains belong to the species Peribacillus acanthi, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus zanthoxyli, and Bacillus badius. The identified microbial strains have the potential to be used as industrial producers of highly active xylanases, enabling the biodestruction of lignocellulosic biomass to produce valuable products.

Green microalgae belong to a phyletic category of organisms that have adapted to a wide range of ecological conditions. This study explores a novel freshwater microalgae isolate, Chlorella sp. B1, as a potential platform for biomass production. The research evaluated the isolate’s ability to grow in mixotrophic media. The results reveal a relationship between growth rate and dynamic changes in biomass composition. The use of granulated forms of the fertilizer “Fertika Universal” as a nutrient medium significantly increased the optical density of the initial solution to 0.087, more than doubling the results compared to other conventional media and proving advantageous for industrial-scale cultivation. The study recommends using a reduced initial cell concentration of Chlorella sp. B1 in the inoculum, followed by cultivation at 32 °С with enhanced illumination (52 W) and the addition of 0.9 g/L of carbon dioxide for three days in a 500 mL flat-panel photobioreactor.