The trends of export activities development of small and medium enterprises: world experience and russian practice

The article analyzes the peculiarities of export activities of small and medium-sized businesses, shows the high involvement of companies belonging to small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) in the high-tech sector. The contribution of SMEs to the creation of the value of a product/service through the introduction of innovations and their adaptation to different contexts by providing new or niche products that meet the diverse needs of customers is noted. Based on the analysis of the world practice of export activities of SMEs, the author concludes that SMEs can contribute to economic diversification and economic sustainability. This is especially true for resource-rich countries that are particularly sensitive to fluctuations in raw material prices. The emphasis is placed on the analysis of the export activity of Russian SMEs, an insignificant share of SMEs in the total volume of exports in comparison with other countries is highlighted. It is concluded that Russian small and medium-sized businesses are in the process of formation, which makes them vulnerable to the influence of both external and internal threats. It is shown what impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on SMEs. It was emphasized that the main problems for such companies were non-fulfillment of contractual obligations and a sharp decline in demand.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Non-COVID-19 Clinical Trials

Randomized controlled trials (RCT) were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but no systematic analysis has evaluated the overall impact of COVID-19 on non-COVID-19-related RCTs. The ClinicalTrials.gov database was queried in February 2020. Eligible studies included all randomized trials with a start date after 1 January 2010 and were active during the period from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2020. The effect of the pandemic period on non-COVID-19 trials was determined by piece-wise regression models using 11 March 2020 as the start of the pandemic and by time series analysis (models fitted using 2015–2018 data and forecasted for 2019–2020). The study endpoints were early trial stoppage, normal trial completion, and trial activation. There were 161,377 non-COVID-19 trials analyzed. The number of active trials increased annually through 2019 but decreased in 2020. According to the piece-wise regression models, trial completion was not affected by the pandemic (p = 0.56) whereas trial stoppage increased (p = 0.001). There was a pronounced decrease in trial activation early during the pandemic (p < 0.001) which then recovered. The findings from the time series models were consistent comparing forecasted and observed results (trial completion p = 0.22; trial stoppage p < 0.01; trial activation, p = 0.01). During the pandemic, there was an increase in non-COVID-19 RCTs stoppage without changes in RCT completion. There was a sharp decline in new RCTs at the beginning of the pandemic, which later recovered.

Impact of Oil Revenue Spending on Income Distribution: the Case of Azerbaijan

This paper examines the impact of the oil factor on income distribution in a resource-rich country, Azerbaijan. Since the early 2000s, the rapid increase in oil revenuesh as been used for the economic and social development in the country. The increased revenues from oil sales has led to a sharp increase in the share of the top 10% of the population in total income, the stabilization of the share of the lowest 10%, and a significant decline in the share of the middle layer. The widespread use of oil revenues has played a leading role in the formation of new structural features in social stratification. In addition to the sharp decline in extreme poverty in the country, the layer with a higher income has emerged. At the same time, increasing oil revenues has not given a strong impetus to the formation of a prosperous middle layer. This paper also demonstrates that the solution of the income inequality problem is related to improving the quality of institutions, enhancement strategies for the use of oil revenues in the short and long terms, as well as ensuring the consistent implementation of an active diversification policy.

Demographic and Religious Changes in Nahiya Kara Lom in the 17th–18th Centuries

The report presents the changes that took place in nahiya Kara Lom between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. It is based on published and unpublished Ottoman documents – detailed cizye and avariz defters, stored in the Ottoman Archives in Istanbul and at the Oriental Department in Sofia. They were composed in the late 17th – first half of the 18th centuries. At the turn of the 18th century, very significant transformations took place in this region, which changed its appearance and state fundamentally. The main focus of the study is on the demographic and religious changes and processes in the region. They were expressed in the sharp decline of the population. This process was specific to the whole region, and its causes can be traced to many factors that have had a detrimental effect. These included climate change, plague epidemics, population migrations, economic problems in the Ottoman Empire, and the process of Islamization. They led to a decline in the population of Kara Lom, which can be described as a demographic crisis. In the vortex of this crisis, there was a “change” of the confessional image of the nahiya, i.e. a radical change in the religious model of the district, which had disastrous consequences for many settlements in the region. The report provides possible explanations for the demographic and religious transformations in nahiya Kara Lom, which shaped the area in the next century as we know it today.

Malnutrition Rates in Chile from the Nitrate Era to the 1990s

Following Salvatore and the WHO, in this article, we provide the first long-term estimates of malnutrition rates for Chile per birth cohort, measured through stunting rates of adult males born from the 1870s to the 1990s. We used a large sample of military records, representative of the whole Chilean population, totalling over 38 thousand individuals. Our data suggest that stunting rates were very high for those born between the last three decades of the nineteenth century and the first two decades of the twentieth century. In addition, stunting rates increased from the 1870s to the 1900s. Thereafter, there was a clear downward trend in stunting rates (despite some fluctuations), reaching low levels of malnutrition, in particular, from the 1960s (although these are high if compared to developed countries). The continuous decrease in stunting rates from the 1910s was mainly due to a combination of factors, the importance of which varied over time, namely: Improved health (i.e., sharp decline in infant mortality rates during the whole period); increased energy consumption (from the 1930s onwards, but most importantly during the 1990s); a decline in poverty rates (in particular, between the 1930s and the 1970s); and a reduction in child labour (although we are less able to quantify this).

Evaluation of anti-lice topical lotion of ozonated olive oil and comparison of its effect with permethrin shampoo

Background: Pediculosis is an infestation of lice affecting mostly children and spreads by direct contact with the hair of someone infected. Although topical application of a pediculicide such as permethrin shampoo is the most common cure for head lice, the addition of alternative treatments is necessary due to permethrin resistance and some safety concerns, including irritation, burning sensation, tingling, and breathing problems. Recent studies have indicated that ozone, which is an allotropic form of oxygen, may have anti-pediculosis effects. Objective: This study focused on the evaluation of an ozonated olive oil topical lotion for the treatment of pediculosis and the comparison of its effects with permethrin shampoo. Methods: 121 patients with proven head pediculosis were divided into two groups. They were treated with either topical ozonated olive oil lotion or permethrin shampoo for one week. Results: It was shown that the ozonation process enormously improved the physico-chemical properties of olive oil. Specifically, acid and peroxide values increased 60 fold and 200 fold, respectively, while there was a sharp decline for the iodine index (81.8±1.28 to 0 g iodine per 100 g). Additionally, all patients who received the ozonated olive oil lotion were entirely cured after one week of treatment, while those who were treated with permethrin, required to receive more. Statistical analysis of the data also proved this claim. Conclusion: The prepared lotion has shown significant effects in controlling head lice. Thus, it can be prescribed as an effective anti-pediculosis medicine which is biocompatible and has high potential.

Cognitive and Behavioral Patterns across Psychiatric Conditions

Psychiatric conditions represent a highly heterogeneous group of disorders associated with chronic distress and a sharp decline in quality of life [...]

Comparative analysis of the structure of passenger transportation in Russia

Passenger transport of the country has a significant impact on the level of its economic development, providing the connection of the population with objects of industrial, social, cultural and household purposes.In Russia, intercity passenger transportation by public transport is mainly represented by bus, rail, aviation (aircraft) and water (domestic). The article analyzes the dynamics of passenger transportation and passenger turnover of public transport for the period from 2015 to 2020, presents a calculation of the number of flights performed by bus, rail, air (aircraft) and water (domestic) transport, identifies the reasons for the lack of development of passenger transportation and suggests solutions.It is established that inland water transport is currently undergoing decline and state intervention is necessary for their development. Also, during the period under review, there is a decrease in the popularity of buses and a preference for private transport to public, it is necessary to improve the quality of transportation. The indicators of air and rail transport have positive dynamics, but they also require growth. The development of air transport in Russia can be carried out by the introduction of new services, for example, air taxi, rail-transport in the field of urban and suburban communications, the construction of new high - speed highways. In 2020, due to the announcement of restrictions on movement and quarantine measures, there is a sharp decline in indicators for all types of transport.The materials can be used to analyze and improve the work of the country's passenger complex.

Molecular strategies for antibody binding and escape of SARS-CoV-2 and its mutations

The COVID19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has infected more than 200 million people worldwide. Due to the rapid spreading of SARS-CoV-2 and its impact, it is paramount to find effective treatments against it. Human neutralizing antibodies are an effective method to fight viral infection. However, the recent discovery of new strains that substantially change the S-protein sequence has raised concern about vaccines and antibodies’ effectiveness. Here, using molecular simulations, we investigated the binding mechanisms between the S-protein and several antibodies. Multiple mutations were included to understand the strategies for antibody escape in new variants. We found that the combination of mutations K417N, E484K, L452R, and T478K produced higher binding energy to ACE2 than the wild type, suggesting higher efficiency to enter host cells. The mutations’ effect depends on the antibody class. While Class I enhances the binding avidity in the presence of N501Y mutation, class II antibodies showed a sharp decline in the binding affinity. Our simulations suggest that Class I antibodies will remain effective against the new strains. In contrast, Class II antibodies will have less affinity to the S-protein, potentially affecting these antibodies’ efficiency.

DEVELOPMENT OF UZBEK THEATER ARTIN THE HISTORICAL AND THEORETICAL ASPECT

The article provides a scientific analysis of the difficult financial situation of the theaters of Uzbekistan in recent years in the post-Soviet space, a sharp decline in the quality of stage performances, staff turnover, as well as changes in the theaters of the republic during the period of perestroika. Although the strategy “Main Directions of Theatrical Development and Reconstruction of Theater Creativity in Uzbekistan” is well thought out, in practice it has undergone critical scrutiny based on the sources from which most theaters operate in the old way. It is scientifically substantiated that radical changes in the theatrical art began to take place only in the period of independence. This process is analyzed on the basis of laws, decrees, decisions taken at the state level