Vol 5, No 3 (2016)

Bryophytes are not numerous but a very ancient and original group of higher plants. Due to their small size the study of bryophytes has long lagged behind the study of vascular plants. According to the literature available to us the first information about mosses of the Samara Region was obtained only at the beginning of the XX century. According to available literature data the total number of bryophytes of the Samara Region are at least 192 species of mosses from 98 genera, 47 families and 17 orders belonging to 5 classes (Haplomitriopsida, Jungermannopsida, Sphagnopsida, Polytrichopsida, Bryopsida). On the basis of the data obtained Bryopsida class (10 orders, 37 families, 84 genera and 149 species) dominates in the number of orders, families, genera. The order Hypnales is most widely represented by 17 families, 49 genera, 75 species. Sphagnaceae (19 species, but the genus Sphagnum 1) leads in the number of species among the 47 families, Amblystegiaceae (10 genera, 13 species) leads in the number of genera. Sphagnum – 19 species, Brachythecium (7 types), Bryum and Plagiomnium (6) of the largest generas.

Middle-Volga complex biosphere reserve is a specially-protected natural area in Samara region. The reserve was established in 2006 on the basis of Zhiguli reserve named after I. Sprygina and National Park «Samarskaya Luka» and became the first integrated biosphere reserve in Russia. The main purpose of the reserve is to ensure the conservation of Zhiguli landscapes and forest-steppe complexes of Middle Volga region, the organization of environmental monitoring and the development of careful environmental management system. The most valuable for research are fragments preserved in the reserve steppe areas, found only in small outlier unplowed areas in the southern and south-western part of Samarskaya Luka, in the Zhiguli and Sengileevskaya mountains. These are the remains of the steppe vegetation that once covered much of the plateau reserve. Although currently they are only small areas they cover all types of steppes in Samara region: meadow (north) steppe, present or feather-fescue (south), as well as special versions of steppe – shrubs, rocky and sandy. The uniqueness of the reserve nature, biodiversity, a large number of rare, endemic and relict species and communities could not but attract the attention of botanists from various periods. We consider the most important works from the point of view of studying the steppe vegetation.

Raccoon dog is an invasive species which has successfully expanded on the new territory in the Samara region. The paper presents data on its distribution on the Samara Region areas. The studies were conducted on the floodplain, steppe, forest and riparian areas of the region, including both national park «Samarskaya Luka» and Zhiguli State Nature Biosphere Reserve areas. Collected data proves studied species’ presence (such as footprints, burrows, temporary shelters) in 12 municipal districts of the region. The paper contains information on the GPS-mapping of burrows and temporary shelters which have been found in the southern part of the protected area of the national park «Samarskaya Luka» during 2002–2015. Fifteen burrows and temporary shelters, footprints, urinary points, feces have been found in this area, and the detailed burrow’s descriptions were provided. Further spread of the population depends on the places suitable for temporary shelters and burrows, presence of water reservoirs areas where raccoon dogs may find food, as well as minimized influence of disturbing factor (anthropogenic press). The data obtained may be useful for employees of nature biosphere reserves, forestry and hunting organizations for invasive species’ monitoring.

Currently despite the extended study of the temporary dynamic of the cultivated soil organic substance on the global scale scientists pay much attention to the establishing the patterns of its quantitative transformation on the regional level depending on the systems of agricultural exploitation for the purpose of clarifying the worldwide estimate of humus reserve in relation to the issue of the «greenhouse effect». In this regard we have examined the modern dynamic (1990–2015) of the regular and southern black soil organic substance in the conditions of long-term stationary field experiments in the primary grain-sowing region of the Northern Kazakhstan. Based on the data from alternative time periods on the proportion of Соргand N in the upper (mainly 0–25 cm) layer of virgin and agrogenic black soil of Akmolinsk and Kostanay regions of Kazakhstan we have discovered the distinctive characteristics of changes in the content of soil organic substance. It has been demonstrated that the content of humus in the regular black soil is significantly higher than that in the southern carbonated black soil. Evaluation of transforming and inert pool of organic carbon in virgin and agrogenic variants of southern black soil has been made. It has been established that currently in the result of influence from various methods of southern black soil treatment the rate of humus percentage decrease is slowing down in comparison with that of the previous period of its agricultural exploitation, however, in practice, those methods, including the subsurface tilling, do not halt the de-humusization process. Content of humus in soil of the variants with continuous spring wheat is approaching that with continuous complete fallow. There are sufficient grounds to suggest that the reason for de-humusization of the southern black soil could reside in biochemical (mineralization), as well as physical (deflation) loss of humus. Particular danger comes from the wind erosion resulting in percentage of humus dropping even below its minimal value, i.e. due to the decrease of nearly unrecoverable inert part. In agrogenic regular black soil, during the closing period of its agricultural exploitation, there has been no humus loss detected, which is most probably related to the existence of protective anti-erosion forest belts in the studied fields area.

This work presents research data on pasture ecosystems vegetation in south-east Ukraine. This survey was carried out during 1998–2011 by route and semi-permanent methods. All botanical and geographical chorions of lower level within the territory of our region were explored. The representation of vegetation formations and associations were studied in following pasture steppe ecosystems: watershed ecosystems with differentiated black soil (43 formations, 425 associations), ravine-gully ecosystems with eroded black soil (81 formations, 750 associations), ravine-gully ecosystems with eroded to granite black soil (48 formations, 293 associations), ravine-gully ecosystems with eroded to limestone black soil (39 formations, 355 associations), above flood-plain terraced ecosystems with cretaceous soil (46 formations, 220 associations), above flood-plain terraced sandy ecosystems (24 formations, 140 associations). It is shown that syntaxonomic diversity of natural pasture ecosystems vegetation is dominantly represented by 1029 associations and 178 formations (37% and 33% from associations and formations of regional native vegetation). As far as steppe ecosystems are concerned, 920 associations and 147 formations are registered (33% and 27% from associations and formations of regional native vegetation). As for meadow ecosystems, we registered 424 associations and 80 formations (15% and 14% from native associations and formations, respectively). The highest syntaxonomic diversity is characteristic of ravine-gully ecosystems on eroded to loess black soil, the lowest diversity of all the steppe ecosystems is reported for above flood-plain terraced sandy steppes. Among meadows, vegetation of salt and marsh meadows has the lowest diversity.

Soil is a separate natural unit, its protection is a top priority issue when it is used by industry or agriculture. Urban environment is subjected to different changes because of the intensive anthropogenic influence. The soil surface of urban areas needs much attention as well as traffic influence consequences. Industrial and building sites have great impact on soil diverting its components (agrochemical and physical ones). It interferes with its important ecological function. Microbiota, biochemical parameters of the soils, its biological activity are the first to change that is why they are considered by many explorers to be the most sensitive to pollution of soil layers. Green areas play an important role for the urban population. The scientists often do not take that areas into consideration because their soils are traditionally believed not to be subjected to intensive anthropogenic influence and do not cause much of pollution and hereby are not dangerous. Meanwhile small recreational zones within cities are often influenced by industrial factors, as a result the vegetation and soils worsen though they play an important role in environmental recovery and fulfil recreational and sanitary functions. We have measured soil fungi and bacteria by a reproduction and insemination method by placing the soil suspension into dense nutrient medium.

The paper reports the results of the research at Neolithic site Algay in Saratov region in steppe Povolzhye in 2015. The existence of two levels of cultural layer was traced. New data on the pottery of Orlovskaya culture and the technology of its making were obtained. The vessels were made of clay with clamshell additive or of silt. Stone tools are represented by plaques, scrapers, points and geometric microliths. The co-occurance of trapezoids with planed back and segments with Geluanskaya retouch was noted. The determination of osteological remains at the site shows tour, tarpan, onager and saiga prevailing. Domestic dog bones were found. They were in the layer dated back to 5700 BC. Radiocarbon dating of different materials (bones, charred organic remains, charcoal) from the site makes it possible to compare the results. The low level dates back to between 5800 and 5400 BC and the upper level to 4800 BC. These dates allow to confirm the site development from VI to the beginning of V millennium BC in calibrated meanings. It allows to correct the chronology of the Neolithic in the Low Povolzhye.

This article is devoted to the heritage analysis of the Boris Fedorovich Zhelezchikov – the sarmatology scientist. It considers its contribution to the study of early nomads of the Southern Urals. The main target of the article is the generalization of theoretical development of famous researcher of Volga-Ural region. The scientific interests of researsher were linked with genesis questions of Savromatian and early Sarmatian cultures, with household activity and social and religious beliefs of nomads. He was elaborating the problem of the origin, of the chronology and the process of creating a culture of nomads of the Early Iron Age of the Southern Urals. Many of the provisions made by him, ideas and hypotheses are not lost its relevance todayHistorical adjustments introduced by B. Zhelezchikov in the reconstruction of historical and cultural situation in the region were developed in the works of his students and followers. Article describes field researchers work in 70-ies of Twentieth century. During this period, Zhelezchikov teamed up with archaeologists G.A. Kushaev, M.G. Moshkova and V.A. Krieger conducted extensive archaeological excavations at the previously little-studied areas of Western Kazakhstan. As a result of many years of field work at times was increased the range of the studied monuments, the new unique complexes became the property of the science. The research base of history was refilled for further summarizing works.

The article analyzes the pottery Plotnikovo burial ground, which belongs to the Rodanovskaya culture. Material culture this time has not been well studied. Finds discovered during the excavations, it was quite diverse. Jewelry, weapon, tools and household items represent it. Some things are similar to the materials of the Russian North, the Volzhskaya Bulgaria and Perm Vychegodskaya. The study was conducted typological and technological analysis of the fragments of 52 vessels. For the site is characterized by proliferation of cup-shaped vessel with a flattened bottom and a loop handle, weak ornamentation dishes with the prevalence of the use of a comb stamp for applying the patterns, the use of clay in the wet state with the addition of crushed shells in the molding composition. A comparison with ceramic complexes chronologically simultaneous sites Vymskaya and Chepetskaya culture revealed both similarities and differences. These differences indicate the presence of its own tradition of producing ceramics in funerary XII–XV centuries of the population, left the Plotnikovo burial ground. The study material of the Plotnikovo burial ground is great interest to address the issues of ethno genesis Permian Komis and clarify the chronology of late stage rodanovskaya culture.

This article discusses the history of the study of epidemic diseases in domestic science, analyses the main tendencies of epidemiology as a science in Russia. The importance of the work of scientists – practitioners is the fight against infectious diseases in previous centuries, the positive experience which is the basis of modern science of epidemiology. This fight against infectious diseases in previous centuries had mixed results. On the one hand, domestic and foreign epidemiologists outstanding results have been achieved in the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases, which allowed significantly reduce of the morbidity and mortality rates in the XX–XXI centuries. At the same time, the history of the modern period is characterized by a set of social and economic changes: the growth of cities, the intensity of migration, transformation also affected the age structure of the population of the world. All these factors have led to a change in one of the main characteristics of the majority of infectious diseases – the limited territorial localization in the XXI century. It is observed the tendency of spread of epidemics to a considerable distance, they become global. New and unknown diseases such as SARS, swine and bird flu (H1N1 and H5N1), Ebola virus, the middle east respiratory syndrome (MERS), etc. arise at this time. It is registered the return of liquidated infections: typhoid, cholera, yellow fever, etc. These processes show that humanity is still a long way to complete victory over infectious diseases, and to study the experience achieved in the previous century scientists – epidemiologists. They would make a significant contribution in the unequal struggle with the human virus.

The problem of historical cities formation is very relevant in recent years. The second half of the XIX century is a period of reforms in the Russian history, when many values were rethought. This historical period was a period of industrialization and urbanization, when a provincial city got its new development and prosperity. This paper is devoted to the historical development and transformation of the Samara province city in the second half of the XIX century. Every city of the Samara province passed a unique way of development during the study period and contributed to the development of the originality region. Both sides characterize the originality of the cities: economic and social. Economic uniqueness of the Samara province cities in the second half of the century was reflected in such indicators as: industrial production and development of trade relations (in the province there was a variety of places and forms of trade: fair, railway station and harbor). A social component of the originality of the region county town was made of the population characteristics: the number, class hierarchy, the mentality. Each element formed the uniqueness of the county towns as well as created a common image of industrial Russia.

This paper is about an implementation process of the 1890 law in the Orenburg province for organization of new regional structures of penitentiary management – provincial prison inspection and prison department of provincial board. Specifics of prison reform implementation in the region, the relation of the governor's power to emergence of new bureaucratic structures, features of interaction between the created governing bodies are considered as well as the place taken by representatives of prison administration in regional bureaucratic community after the reform implementation is determined. The conclusion is drawn that implementation of the 1890 law took place in the Orenburg province with essential regional features. Orenburg provincial inspection has been created later (1894) than in the Russian Empire in general because of prolonged implementation of judicial reform (1864) on the territory of the region. However this inspection became more influential than similar organizations in other regions of the Russian Empire as it has subordinated the prison department of the Orenburg provincial board and accumulated all main competences of the sphere of prison case. The status of the Orenburg provincial prison inspector was almost equal to the status of the vice-governor.

This article explains the necessity of studying the historical experience of the management organization of the Russian Empire. The article contains an analysis of the situation of contemporary historiography, which feature lies in the fact that it is necessary to study not only the degree of effectiveness of the mechanisms of power, but also the factors influencing it. Among these factors occupies an important place daily serving officials, their way of life, material security, way of life. The history of everyday life – a new branch of historical knowledge, the subject of study which is the sphere of human commonness of multiple historical, cultural, political and event-and religious-confessional contexts. The focus of the study of the history of everyday life repeating, «normal» and usual, design style and way of life of the members of different social classes, including emotional reactions to events and behavior motives. One of the main sources of this study advocates periodical «Vestnik chinovnika», which allows to understand the lifestyles of officials from the "inside." Analysis of this edition allows to draw conclusions about the limited salaries, lack of financial security, which is reflected in the number of employees malfeasance. The results can serve as a basis for further study of the factors influencing the efficiency of public administration and for the study of everyday regional officials.

The study of Ministry of Internal Affairs economic activities gives an opportunity to look at relationships with other departments and its role as an economy agent. The studying of departmental correspondence materials allows us to speak about the conflict of interests among The Ministry of Internal Affairs, The State Planning Committee and other сommissariat-ministries. Contradictions were settled at the highest party and the state levels. All actors in the Soviet planned economy had their own interests and the most important was provision of resources for the government tasks and timely fulfilment of obligations by other economic organizations. During this process the departments involved tried to obtain more favorable conditions for themselves. Heads of different levels (from the ministries to separate agencies), who sent appeals and requests to the center, served as channels for information on the fulfillment of government directives. The conflicts helped to determine if a plan was impossible to fulfill and to correct figures and decisions. This allowed the Stalinist system to react and overcome contingent problems like a personal dispute with producers, and structural, such as economic capacity. The result was paid with material costs and overextended bureaucratic procedures for coordination of departmental interests.

The analysis of federal state educational standards for all steps of existing educational system shows that meta-subject approach in learning and bringing up activity is becoming more urgent. Orientation to the key strategic priority of continuous education such as bringing up activity and forming the ability to study are also urgent. The main types of universal studying activities are analyzed: personal, subject, meta-subject results; usage of learning activity matrix during the process of study. Federal State Educational Standard of basic common education sets the demands to personal, meta-subject and subject results of learning after basic educational program of secondary education. So, according to the succession principle we should develop the competence of the students following these three directions transforming them into educational environment of the university. Thus, meta-subject competence should include ability to use intersubject definitions and universal learning activities performing them at learning, knowledge and social practice. The achievement of meta-subject results is connected with the nature of universal activity. The basis of nature-coordinated education should lie in basic values – and the most important is morality which is formed from the human nature. That is why the standards of the second generation formulate four blocks of universal learning activities: personal, regulative, common knowledge and communicative. According to their nature meta-subject activities are functional-oriented ones and they form the psychological basis and determining condition of subject task solution success. Meta-subject competence development supposes various forms of studying process organization. One of such organization forms can be the business game which can be used as the means of diagnosis and forecast of personal behavior in various situations. Project technology is also aimed to develop wide range of competence and creative abilities and that is why it suggests the integrity of research, searching, problem solving and comparison methods. It has been shown that nowadays the role of each course in meta-subject competence development has been growing rapidly.

The paper explains the importance of the problem of student patriotic education and emphasizes the need to create a culture of patriotic students. The concept of «patriotism» is a basic component in the formation of patriotic culture of students. Critical thinking scientific knowledge about patriotism, methods and techniques of education lead to an understanding that the system of activities in the field of patriotic education requires changes based on education of spiritual values and development of the concept of formation of student patriotic culture. A central element of patriotic education as the basis of patriotic culture is a philosophical theory of values. In modern state programs and documents it is indicated that patriotism is one of the enduring and ineradicable values. Education value and moral oriented personality, with a sense of patriotism, responsibility and other qualities is one of the main tasks of the state policy in the field of education at the present stage of society development. Students – future citizens must be prepared to confront the global challenges of the modern era, they should be highly moral, creative, competent citizens who are aware of the responsibility for the present and the future of their country. Analysis of scientific pedagogical literature leads to the conclusion that the scientific community addresses the problem of patriotism in the historically urgent tasks of development of society in periods of social crisis. Scientists and public figures from different eras are unanimous in saying that patriotism is firstly love for the country and secondly the activity aimed at the goodness of the motherland, to the defense of its interests, willingness to serve the motherland.

The paper analyzes the problem of assessing the development degree of the specialized university graduate competencies that are found in state standards of higher education and the departmental order. We consider the existing practices and approaches to making a collection of evaluation tools. The paper presents the requirements for assessment tools to check the development of competencies: integrative, problem-activity tasks, focus on the application of skills and knowledge in the field of special situations in the actualization of the content of professional work tasks, expertise in the professional community, link criteria with planned results. These requirements are considered for innovative forms of control: level test (recognition – substitution – productive activity – decision-making in problem situations); test action (practical test); situational test (analysis of the situation of the future professional activity). Special attention is devoted to the consideration of this form of professional competence assessment as interdepartmental exercises that allow you to check special developed students’ competences when students demonstrate their knowledge, skills and personal qualities and carry out their professional activities in practice. Developed professional competence assessment tools for specialized university cadets and students can serve as a basis for further coordination of the educational process.

This paper discusses the theoretical aspects and relevance of the interdisciplinary approach in the pedagogical process. An interdisciplinary teaching aid for public relations, developed at Psychology and Pedagogy Department of SSTU, is considered to be a form of interdisciplinary connections formation in the process of bachelors training whose major is 42.03.01 «Advertising and public relations». This study guide is a part of the educational complex for the courses «Theory and Practice of Public Relations», «Theory and Practice of the media», «Fundamentals of communication theory» and is supposed to be used as part of their practical training. Interdisciplinary potential of this training manual is that the content and didactic units of different disciplines complement each other, forming a single integral perception of the subject. In terms of developing competencies students acquire a wide range of knowledge and skills as well as perceive a continuity and consistency between the results of the planned development of the disciplines. Implementation benefits Bachelors’ 3rd year learning process and lets the students majoring in «Advertising and public relations» improve the level of training due to the accumulation of knowledge and skills from different disciplines to solve professional problems.

The article presents the research results of the formation model of students' professional experimental and research competences during performance of laboratory and experimental works. It explains the problem and solution of professional training of specialists in physical processes of oil and gas industry. It shows the meaning of laboratory and experimental works in competence paradigm of specialists in physical processes of oil and gas industry. Here author represents such concept as «professional experimental and research competence» and defines its functionality and content components. It points out the formation model of students' professional experimental and research competences during performance of laboratory and experimental works which is an algorithm and system navigator for developers and users of similar systems. The author notes descriptors of functionality and content components which use such as criterion of the formation level of students' professional experimental and research competence. The article points out the structure and content of the information and didactic basis based on the laboratory works complex in physical processes of oil and gas industry. The article represents the results of ascertaining and forming experiment. It determines the initial and final equation of formation in experimental and control groups. It shows the feasibility and effectiveness of using high innovative competence modular technology of laboratory and experimental works.

The paper grounds that moral and ethical principles guide the teacher to seek the meaning of life together with the students which explains to them the relations with the world, provides insight into the teacher’s and students’ world, exists in their mind as a world image and regulates their mutual activity in accordance with the logics of life necessity, i.e. Peace on the Earth. The author explains that the true morality considers a person and his/her life the most important moral values, which formulate moral and ethical principles, prescribing development of moral life strategy. The paper proves that person’s morality, his/her doings, outlook, evaluation, goals and motifs of activity and relations with people and the world depend on correct understanding of values. The author explains the categories «virtue», «good», in terms of which moral and ethical principles are formulated. The paper gives the meaning of the categories «virtue» and «good» and explains why one cannot teach virtue, that virtues are not inherent that is why they are nurtured. The author shows moral and ethical knowledge is necessary for a person to become virtuous and points out the importance of differentiation between life as it is and good life. The paper grounds that moral and ethical principles provide a teacher with an initial axiom (what for?) – for achieving the goal – Peace on the Earth, the strategy of moving along the way chosen (what way?) – making good for him/herself and for the students.

The problem of school innovative educational activities is considered to be urgent due to the competition on the market of educational services. Content, technology and teaching educational innovations become the source of competitive advantages of the modern school. Innovation is always a risk, because only a few of them are implemented in reality and lead to positive results. The purpose of this paper is to clarify the content and methodological aspects of opportunities and risks prediction as an integral part of school innovative development. The basis of the author's position is the probabilistic nature of school, which is manifested in the uncertainty and unpredictability of the effects of innovations introduction in the educational process. Subjects of innovative activity, innovative activity itself and the environment are thought to be the main factors of uncertainty. Chances and risks are considered to be the forms of actualization of school future development. Chances and risks are objective and subjective. The author describes a hierarchy of predictable chances and risks, including operational, tactical and strategic levels. Chances and risks prediction is considered to be a mechanism for reducing the uncertainty and unpredictability of school innovative development. The author represents methodological aspects of opportunities and risks prediction. The paper contains an example of real educational practice.