Samara Journal of Science

This article examines the levels of accumulation and distribution of mercury in the tissues of fish of different trophic status from different reservoirs (the Mologa River, the Chagodoscha River and Lake Vanya), located in the western part of the Vologda Region, is characterized by favorable natural and climatic conditions for methylation processes. Mercury content was determined in 108 tissue samples from 87 individuals of four fish species – Rutilus rutilus (Linnaeus, 1758); Abramis ballerus (Linnaeus, 1758); Perca fluviatilis Linnaeus, 1758; Esox lucius Linnaeus, 1758. The total mercury concentration was measured on a mercury analyzer RA-915M with a PYRO+ device (the lower limit of mercury detection in samples is 0,001 mg/kg). The mercury index values in the tissues of the studied fish species range from 0,02 to 1,7 mg/kg, crude weight. The minimum average values were noted for a predominantly non–predatory species, roach (0,12 mg/kg, crude weight), the maximum average values were noted for a typical predator, common pike (0,64 mg/kg, crude weight) (in some individuals it exceeded 1,5 micrograms/g). Intermediate values are typical for perch and tuna (on average 0,33 mg/kg and 0,37 of the crude weight, respectively). It was found that in 28% of the studied individuals, the mercury content exceeds the regulatory levels in force in the Russian Federation (0,3 micrograms/g for non-predatory species and 0,6 micrograms/g for predatory fish species).

The study is devoted to the analysis of the ratio of stable carbon isotopes (ẟ¹³C) and stable nitrogen isotopes (ẟ¹⁵N) in the hair of mammals of the Rodentia order (Eurasian beaver – Castor fiber Linnaeus, 1758; Ural field mouse – Apodemus uralensis Pallas, 1811; European water vole – Arvicola amphibius (Linnaeus, 1758); Muskrat – Ondatra zibethicus Linnaeus, 1766; Siberian chipmunk – Eutamias sibiricus (Laxmann, 1769); Siberian flying squirrel – Pteromys volans Linnaeus, 1758; Red squirrel – Sciurus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758) in the Vologda Region. The isotopic composition of carbon in the hair of the studied animals varies from −28,2‰ to −17,9‰, nitrogen – from 0,4‰ to 10,6‰. The values of ẟ¹³C in the hair of mammals of the Rodentia order are higher, and ẟ¹⁵N is lower than in the hair of mammals of the Carnivora order, previously studied in the Vologda Region. The ratio of heavy carbon and nitrogen isotopes in the hair of animals captured in different regions of the Vologda Region does not differ significantly statistically. It has been established that the hair of aquatic organisms is less enriched in heavy carbon isotope and more enriched in heavy nitrogen isotope than the hair of terrestrial representatives of the Rodentia order. The hair of omnivores is more enriched in a heavy nitrogen isotope than the hair of herbivores. The overlap of isotopic niches in certain species of the Rodentia order has been revealed. A statistically significant decrease in the δ¹³C content in Muskrat hair by 2,7‰ over 50 years has been established.

Over the past two and a half decades (in different years), bird counts have been conducted in summer on 7 permanent routes in rural settlements of various natural and territorial complexes of the Nizhny Novgorod Region. In some of them, birds have been counted for several years. Almost everywhere, the route method with a non-fixed accounting lane was used. A total of 113 bird species (including rare ones) from 13 orders and 35 families were recorded. There are 10 species common to all localities. In most cases, the village swallow Hirundo rustica Linnaeus, 1758, and the field sparrow Passer montanus (Linnaeus, 1758) are the leaders in abundance, less often the white wagtail Motacilla alba Linnaeus, 1758. No clear territorial differences have been identified between the bird populations of different natural and territorial complexes. Ornithocomplexes are heterogeneous in different characteristics both in space and in time. The bird population of rural settlements located among large woodlands is characterized by high species richness, including background species, maximum species diversity, and a low proportion of dominant species. In cluster analysis, they are combined into a common group. Ornithocomplexes of settlements with complexly structured spaces surrounded by open landscapes combined with ravine-girder forests are close to them in terms of species diversity.

Lichens are a stable, self-regulating association of fungus and algae or cyanobacteria. The composition of photobionts is associated with certain taxonomic groups of lichens. The most common groups of lichen photobionts are green algae and cyanoprokaryotes. Being well adapted, lichens play a prominent role in the Antarctic flora. The purpose of work is to study the nitrogen-containing composition of lichen thalli in the Antarctic flora. The samples of thalli were collected by doctor of biological sciences M.P. Andreev (Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences) the January–April of 2015, 2016 and 2018 in different regions of the Antarctic. 11 lichen species with different photobiont type, including algae and/or cyanobacteria and belonging to the families Cladoniaceae, Parmeliaceae, Sphaerophoraceae, Ochrolechiaceae, Umbilicariaceae, Stereocaulaceae, Pannariaceae, and Collemataceae, were analysed. The work includes the data on the content of total nitrogen, soluble protein, free and protein amino acids in thalli of representatives of the Antarctic zone. There is a significant species variability by the content of total nitrogen, soluble protein, protein and free amino acids between thalli of Antarctic lichens. The studied parameters are found for a high variation coefficient. The median values of the samples for the content of amino acids differ from the mean values, which indicate a slight shift in the normalcy of the primary data distribution. Lichens with cyanoprokaryotes have been identified to be prominent through a higher content of total nitrogen and protein amino acids compared to lichens with green algae as photobiont. The content of protein and free amino acids is found to be closely correlated with the concentration of total nitrogen in thalli, whereas the correlation between the content of soluble protein and total nitrogen, as well as soluble protein and the sum of PAA and FAA is statistically insignificant. In general, the results obtained significantly deepen and expand the knowledge on the ecological and biological features of Antarctic lichens and their role in the nitrogen cycle of ecosystems.

The Battle of Raphia (June 22, 217 BC), the main battle of the Fourth Syrian War between the Seleucid ruler Antiochus III and the Egyptian king Ptolemy IV, was one of the largest in Ancient history and at the same time one of the most underestimated. For a long time, based on Polybius's fairly detailed account, researchers concluded that the generals lacked skill. Only in the late 1970s B. Bar-Kochva and E. Galili in their publications did attempt to reassess the course of the battle and reconstruct it based on topographic data. Relying on the same quotes by Polybius and taking advantage of the fact that he does not provide an exact description of the terrain, they come to different conclusions and localize the battlefield in different places. Their interesting arguments help to clarify some passages in Polybius and interpret certain tactical decisions of different commanders, although they are certainly not immune to criticism. Nevertheless, the main thing uniting both of them them is that they are, in their own way (in each case), offer rather convincing attempt to refute the old historiographical viewpoint stating so-called «decline» of Hellenistic military art after Alexander the Great. Both studies remain relevant to this day.

The paper examines British policy in Afghanistan in 1870–1880 based on archival materials of the headquarters of the Turkestan Military District. The reports of the military agent, Major General Alexander Pavlovich Gorlov, regarding the actions of the British and Indian governments in Afghanistan are considered and analyzed, special points to which attention was paid are investigated. During the period under review, the Turkestan Military District played a special role in the policy of the Russian Empire in Central Asia. Within this chronological framework, the British begin to advance to the borders of Afghanistan and exert diplomatic and military pressure on it, and the actions of the Russian government depended on what position the headquarters of the Turkestan military district occupied, as well as on what information it received from military and political agents, as well as intelligence. The work also reveals the general situation in Afghanistan, the specifics of the formation of the Turkestan military district and its commanders, in order to better disclose the goals of the work. These events must be considered in the context of the confrontation between the Russian Empire and Great Britain, called the «Big Game», and the study will reveal the attitude of A.P. Gorlov and the mood of the headquarters, which did not completely coincide with the mood prevailing in St. Petersburg. For a better understanding, the paper reveals the specifics of the interaction between Russian and English representatives on the issue of defining the border.

This article examines the main organizational problems faced by the new government in the person of provincial and district commissars in the territory of the Orenburg Governorate after the February revolutionary events. Zemstvo institutions were the main pillar of this government. One of the main problems was the indeterminacy of the powers of the commissioners themselves. In addition, the issue of the relationship of the new provincial authorities with zemstvos, city councils and other self-government bodies in the governorate was acute. In addition, there was the issue of relations with public organizations such as councils of workers' and peasants' deputies, public security committees and others. The issue of maintaining law and order was even more acute. The country was at war, but in these conditions the authorities had to rebuild the entire law enforcement system. The separation of law enforcement agencies between different departments had negative consequences. The shortage of qualified personnel and weapons, which, among other things, was a consequence of the war, forced the new provincial authorities to involve military vacationers in law enforcement. Which, in fact, did not solve the personnel problem, but only postponed it for a short time. All these factors had an impact and as a result did not allow the new government to strengthen its position.

The study deeply examines the Zionist issue in the international politics of US presidents in the period from 1913 to 1929, and examines the images of this issue formed in the periodical press of America. The process of evolution of the perception of international relations by US presidents in the period of Modern times and modernity has long been the subject of in-depth and comprehensive study by specialists of the widest profile. Using the example of studying the image of Zionism and the Middle East, it seems possible to identify common patterns inherent in the formation of the image of a «crisis region» in speeches and documents of American presidents and to trace what differences exist in the construction of an «imaginary crisis» in W. Wilson, W. Harding and C. Coolidge. The author examined the interaction between US politicians, American society, American Jews and Arab diplomats. As a result of the conducted research, the author drew conclusions about the transformation of the US policy towards Jews, as well as about the development of the Zionist issue as a whole: the process of resettlement of Jews to a single center in Palestine, interaction with Great Britain and other European countries on the Jewish issue.

In the presented article, the «revolutionary warfare» theory and its impact on the armed forces of France in the era of decolonization after World War II are viewed through the prism of the ideological and theoretical legacies of the two most famous representatives of the «French school» of colonial counterinsurgency of the second half of the XXth century – David Galula and Roger Trinquer. The discrepancies and similarities of the «revolutionary warfare» theory and the main provisions of the military-theoretical works of D. Galula and R. Trinquer are sorted out in the context of the formation and the subsequent abandonment of it among the French military class in the 1950s and 60s. In this regard, the work touches upon not only the specifics of the perception by officers of the colonial service in this historical period of events in the dependent territories and in the metropolis, but also their correlation with the ideas of D. Galula and R. Trinquer in the framework of the counterinsurgency. Particular attention is paid to the characteristic features of the research optics of their consideration of the actions of the French army in Indochina (1946–1954) and Algeria (1954–1962), including ideas about the permissible limits of the use of force and the role of the army and civil services in ensuring the colonial order, in the context of the «revolutionary warfare» theory.

The article examines the imbalance between the teacher's and student's speech in a foreign language class at a university. This phenomenon leads to a negative effect, which is reflected in the volume and quality of the student's speech activity in the lesson. An experimental method of observation both by the teacher himself and by a colleague of the teacher makes it possible to establish the volume and quality of the teacher's speech activity in the lesson. To this end, the author analyzed nine lessons from three teachers of English at the Faculty of Philology of the Crimean Engineering and Pedagogical University in the name of Fevzi Yakubov. These teachers taught students enrolled in the Bachelor’s degree program with the field of «Philology» in the direction of 45.03.01 in the 2023/2024 academic year. The aim of the research is to identify methods for increasing the quantity and quality of students' speaking activities by reducing the amount of teacher speaking time and using effective techniques to enhance student speaking time. The author emphasizes the importance of fostering students' engagement in verbal communication through more systematic collaborative work, such as pair and group activities, discussions, games, and projects. The teacher can effectively stimulate students' verbal participation by employing open-ended questions that prompt reflection. By allowing students more time to reflect on their responses, they will be able to provide more thoughtful, meaningful, and detailed answers.

The article substantiates that in the context of the changing international situation, the dissemination of the Russian language is an important tool for strengthening Russia's position on the world stage and forming a positive image of the country. The article argues for the need to develop an ethno-oriented model for training teachers of Russian as a foreign language for educational institutions of the United Republic of Tanzania in the system of Russian continuous pedagogical education, aimed (model) at staffing the process of teaching Russian as a foreign language in Tanzania, taking into account the specifics of the national education system of the country, as well as the ethnocultural characteristics of the target audience. It is proved that the developed model is a normative model reflecting ideas about what the content, methods, forms and means of organizing the educational process should be, ensuring effective professional training of teachers of Russian as a foreign language for educational institutions of Tanzania from among Tanzanians studying in Russia. The priority functions of the model are defined: explanatory, illustrative, informational and projective functions. The article substantiates the block structure of the model and reveals the content of the target, analytical and diagnostic, motivational, methodological, substantive, methodical and result-prospective blocks. The article reveals the essence of the ethno-oriented, cultural, axiological, communicative and competence-based approaches to organizing the training of teachers of Russian as a foreign language for educational institutions of the United Republic of Tanzania in the system of Russian continuous pedagogical education and identifies the principles of implementing the approaches: the principle of national context of training, the principle of taking into account the national and personal characteristics of students, the principle of taking into account the peculiarities of the national education system of students, the principle of the adaptive focus of teaching Russian as a foreign language to foreign students in the Russian education system, the principle of international integration, program-target principle, the principle of taking into account the native language and culture of students (ethno-oriented approach); the principle of dialogue of cultures, the principle of cultural conformity (cultural approach); the principle of value orientation, the principle of subjectivity (axiological approach); the principle of functionality, the principle of novelty (communicative approach). principle of didactic consistency, principle of personal orientation (competence approach).

The article substantiates the fundamental nature of natural science knowledge and the role of natural science training in the formation of a future teacher. It is emphasized that natural science knowledge not only influences the scientific and technical potential of society, but also forms a picture of the world, allowing us to find the right answers to socially and personally significant questions. The natural science training of future teachers is especially important, as it will help them form a correct picture of the world of their students in the future. Summarizing the experience of natural science training of humanities students obtained at Samara Socio–Pedagogical University, the authors reveal the main theoretical and methodological problems of natural science education (inconsistency of the content of the studied material with the current scientific picture of the world, lack of understanding by humanities students of the importance of natural science knowledge, low interest of humanities students to natural sciences in general, a small number of hours for natural science training). The authors concluded that it is necessary to search for new approaches in the natural science education of students – future teachers. In the course of the research, such methods as the analysis of scientific and pedagogical literature, pedagogical observation, comparison, generalization were used. The results of pedagogical research can be used in the educational process of higher pedagogical schools, in the process of professional development of educational workers.

The article features the application of modern Internet technologies in teaching foreign language vocabulary in universities. The aim of the article is to show the efficient application of Internet technologies in English class when developing lexical skills of students of both linguistic and non-linguistic majors. The problem is vital due to the role of the Internet in modern society, changes in teaching foreign languages and vast application of modern technologies to the teaching process. Nowadays university professors face the challenge of making no mistake in choosing the right technology for their orientation or subject; because of that the analysis of Internet technologies effectiveness becomes a problem of prime importance. The article is based on the publications of Russian and foreign authors who treat the problem of lexical skills development using Internet technologies. When compiling the article the authors use theoretical methods, such as analysis and synthesis, comparison and logical arrangement, as well as practical, such as experiment and student survey. Ultimately the authors come to the conclusion that the application of Internet technologies to developing students’ lexical skills of both linguistic and economic orientation shows positive dynamics. The value of the article lies in the fact that its theoretical part provides reading material for university professors interested in modern technologies whereas practical recommendations and examples of actual application of Internet technologies are sure to help in class when working with vocabulary in the context of any syllabus connected with foreign languages.

This article discusses the relevance of forming entrepreneurial thinking in schoolchildren. Entrepreneurship education at different levels of education is described. Disciplines that form entrepreneurial thinking in the curricula and additional educational programs of basic and secondary general education in Tomsk are analyzed. The experience of implementing projects and programs for the development of entrepreneurial thinking in the regions of Russia is described. In current paper the results of an experimental study to measure the level of entrepreneurial thinking in schoolchildren in grades 8–9 at Secondary Comprehensive School № 28 in Tomsk, during which comprehensive testing and practice-oriented educational and technological tasks were developed. Studies have shown that schoolchildren have a generally low level of entrepreneurial thinking, which can be corrected by active teaching methods. A conclusion was made about the need to develop and implement additional education programs, extracurricular activities to develop entrepreneurial thinking in general education. The obtained materials can serve as a basis for further monitoring of the formation of entrepreneurial thinking in other schools in Tomsk and beyond.

The article actualizes the problem of professional training of a mid-level specialist capable of working effectively in a production team, one of the aspects of which is the formation of teamwork experience in students. Scientific prerequisites for an effective solution to the problem of forming the experience of teamwork interaction of students of mid-level professional educational organizations are revealed. The interpretation of the experience of teamwork interaction is proposed as a set of 1) knowledge about teamwork interaction, its features and methods of implementation, 2) motives for activity in a team, the form of which is taken by values, as conscious meanings, 3) dialogical orientation of the individual in communication, 4) practical skills and abilities in implementing joint activities with other team members. The possibilities of humanitarian disciplines in forming the experience of teamwork interaction of students of secondary vocational education institutions are revealed. In the context of the content of humanitarian disciplines, the role of values in building effective teamwork of students both within the educational process and in production is revealed. Examples of the formation of experience of team interaction of students in the process of studying the academic disciplines «History», «Fundamentals of Philosophy», «Psychology of Communication» in the context of the educational process at of Branch of Murmansk Arctic University in Kirovsk of Murmansk Region are given.

The article argues for the importance of the creative personality of a teacher for modern Russian education and reveals the role of creative abilities of a teacher in his professional development. The main aspects of pedagogical creativity that determine the professional development of a teacher as a creative person are identified: methodological creativity, communicative creativity, creativity in organizing the learning process, creative self-education. The analysis of scientific ideas about specific creative abilities that a teacher should have is carried out, and the abilities are identified, the development of which in students of a pedagogical university will allow them to demonstrate pedagogical creativity in all aspects of future professional activity: analytical abilities, the ability to search for alternative solutions to pedagogical problems, the ability to independent and proactive creative pedagogical activity, the ability to cope with situations of uncertainty, the ability to effectively communicate in creative pedagogical activity. The possibilities of the academic discipline «Pedagogy» in developing the creative abilities of students – future teachers are revealed. The potential of the technology of developing critical thinking of students through reading and writing in developing the analytical abilities of students is revealed. The role of brainstorming, case study method, role-playing games, discussions (debates) in developing the ability of future teachers to search for alternative solutions to pedagogical problems is substantiated. The importance of project activities, self-development programs, business games in developing the ability of future teachers to independent and proactive creative pedagogical activity is revealed. The potential of games-situations with conditions of uncertainty, analysis of situations of uncertainty, development of scenarios of actions in uncertain situations, debates in developing the ability of students – future teachers to cope with situations of uncertainty is revealed. The possibilities of communication games, group discussions, role-playing games in developing the ability of students – future teachers to effective communicative interaction in creative pedagogical activity are substantiated.

The author of the study offers a contextual definition of the concept of «aesthetic consciousness», a model of aesthetic organization of vocal and choral activity developed by him, formulates pedagogical conditions for the formation of aesthetic consciousness in vocal and choral activity in the interpretation of choral works. These data are the result of a study that focuses on the formation of students' aesthetic consciousness in vocal and choral activities. In the contextual definition of aesthetic consciousness, the author relies on the study of the genesis of ideas about aesthetics and aesthetic consciousness in philosophy, art studies, musicology, as well as ideas about the formation of aesthetic consciousness in psychology and music pedagogy. The most effective way to form aesthetic consciousness is to introduce centuries–old singing aesthetic traditions in the process of artistic and performing creativity, the experience of interpreting works in choral art. The work emphasizes that the affiliation of choral singing to collective types of music making creates special conditions for the formation of aesthetic consciousness of students. The teacher-choirmaster should observe the artistic and pedagogical functional situations that arise in the creative process of interpretation, using them as a pedagogical tool that provides an instrumental opportunity to introduce the members of the choral group to each other's aesthetic values. Musical pedagogy is considered by the author as a special professional sphere of reality, which has its own expressive forms, perceived and assimilated as a value directly by the senses in purposeful activity to solve artistic and pedagogical tasks. The aesthetic value of the expressive forms of the subject «music» within the framework of all disciplines taught on its basis has a powerful pronounced pedagogical potential and acts as a means of forming the aesthetic consciousness of the future teacher-musician.