West Nile fever in Volgograd Oblast: features of the epidemic process’s manifestations at the present stage

Objective: To study the regional features of the West Nile fever (WNF) epidemic process manifestations using the example of the territory with stable and long-term pathogen circulation (Volgograd Oblast).Materials and Methods: We used the data of the Reference Center for monitoring the WNF pathogen based on the Volgograd Research Anti-Plague Institute of Rospotrebnadzor over 1999–2021. The main method is a comprehensive epidemiological method.Results: The long-term changes in the WNF incidence in Volgograd Oblast is characterized by a cyclical nature with an interval of 1–8 years and a tendency to decrease. The maximum risk of infection occurs in August (58.8%), but there is an increase in the number of cases in September. The average duration of the epidemic season is 8.4 weeks. Case fatality rate is at the level of 4.3%; the prevalence of the number of deaths in the group of 70 years and older (75%), as well as among men (63.6%) has been established. The greatest contribution to the incidence rate is made by the age group of 60 years and older (37.7%). Features of the clinical presentation include the dominance of forms without damage to the central nervous system (91.1%) and moderate clinical course (72.3%). The prevalence of the urban population among the infected was noted (85.5%).Conclusion: A comparative analysis of the clinical and epidemiological WNF manifestations in Volgograd Oblast, territories with a stable circulation of the pathogen (Astrakhan and Rostov Oblasts) and, in overall, the Russian Federation, established differences in the duration of cyclical fluctuations in incidence, seasonality (Rostov Oblast), age structure of incidence (Astrakhan Oblast), distribution of cases by the severity of the clinical course, the site of the alleged infection and social status.

Geoinformation analysis of agricultural landscape components for land management, cadastre and monitoring of irrigated lands

Agro-landscape complexes of the Volgograd oblast are indispensable sources of production and form the food-safety policy of the region. Timely monitoring unstable natural zones is a necessary factor of maintaining the ecological stability of the region, which prevents withdrawing the land from the agricultural turnover. As a result of geoinformation monitoring, 1424 contour of irrigated and 931 ones of rainfed arable land were examined. 44 % of that is rainfed arable land having an area of 50 hectares, and 56 % of the irrigated one up to 10 ha; refined characteristics such as perimeter, angle, slope, maximum and minimum elevation values and their differences. Geoinformation modeling of the studied territory revealed discrepancies in the actual use of land and legally fixed borders that had passed cadastral registration by more than 30 %. The data lack on the location of existing forest stands and other elements of the agricultural landscape challenges the reliability and completeness of the state cadastral records. The resulting cartographic model of the irrigated agricultural landscapes enables assessing their spatial location, nature of use, etc. Making a register of irrigated lands arises the opportunity of considering them as a separate type of use that requires constant monitoring and accounting in order to prevent the destruction of the agricultural landscape.

PONDS OF VOLGOGRAD OBLAST AND THEIR CONDITION

В статье проведен инвентаризация прудов, копаней и мини-водохранилищ, расположенных на территории Волгоградской области. В Волгоградском регионе находятся порядка 5000 искусственных водоёмов различного назначения. Не смотря на такое количество водных объектов район исследования относится к территориям с недостаточным количеством водных ресурсов, что обусловлено природной зоной сухих степей и полупустынь и резко континентальным климатом. Мониторинг большинства прудов и копаней не проводится, научно-методические работы, посвященные данной тематике, почти отсутствуют. С целью выяснения современного состояния искусственных водных объектов области были проведены полевые выезды для их визуального осмотра и мониторинга, а также исследованы морфометрические, физические и статистические данные, предоставленные администрациями районов и поселений. В климатических условиях эти водные объекты играют важное значение: орошение сельскохозяйственных угодий, обводнение прилегающих территорий, разведение рыбы, водоплавающей птицы, хранение воды для различных хозяйственно-бытовых нужд, судоходства, противопожарных и противоэрозионных целей и т. д. Многие гидротехнические сооружения, расположенные на искусственных водоёмах, находятся кризисном состоянии: плотины на некоторых разрушены или прибывают в нерабочем состоянии, а вода в них отсутствует. Состояние некоторых прудов в регионе оценивается как предкризисное и кризисное. На многих из них встречаются таблички на запрет некоторых форм мобильной и стационарной рекреации: вылова рыба, пляжной рекреации, водный туризм и др. The article contains an inventory of ponds, pits for collecting water, and mini-water storages located in Volgograd Oblast. In Volgograd Oblast, there are about 5,000 artificial reservoirs for various purposes. Despite such a number of water bodies, the study area belongs to territories with an insufficient amount of water resources, which is due to the natural zone of dry steppes and semi-deserts and a sharply continental climate. Most of the ponds and pits for collecting water are not monitored, and there are almost no scientific and methodological works devoted to this topic. In order to clarify the current state of artificial water bodies in the region, field trips were carried out for their visual inspection and monitoring, as well as morphometric, physical and statistical data provided by the administrations of districts and settlements were studied. In climatic conditions, these water bodies play an important role: irrigation of agricultural land, watering of adjacent territories, fish and waterfowl farming, storage of water for various household needs, shipping, fire-fighting and anti-erosion purposes, etc. Many hydraulic structures located on artificial reservoirs are in a state of crisis: dams on some of them are destroyed or are inoperative, and there is no water in them. The condition of some ponds in the region is assessed as pre-crisis and crisis. On many of them, there are signs prohibiting some forms of mobile and stationary recreation: fishing, beach recreation, water tourism, etc.

Activism resource of local associations of the Volgograd Oblast

The object of this research is the local municipal and rural associations of the Volgograd Oblast. The subject of this research is the resource of activism of local associations of the Volgograd Oblast. This research analyzes the key characteristics of the population of municipal and rural districts of the Oblast for emergence of activism, namely the unity in understanding of the key issues faced by local association and attention to them; presence of social solidarity and close communication; self-identification with the local territorial community. The main hypothesis of this research was tested with help of mass surveys of the population, conducted based on quota cell. Statistical population in this research – the population of the Volgograd Oblast (N=2,491,751). The basis for the quota consisted in the following: place of residence of respondents (municipal and rural districts of the Volgograd Oblast), as well as gender and age of respondents. The total size of the cell is n=848 respondents. The novelty of this research consists in the fact that for the first time it is determined that rural local associations possesses greater potential for activism than their urban counterparts, which can become a substantial base for development of rural areas if properly applied.

Stages of concession mechanisms implementation in the Volgograd Oblast

Subject. This article highlights the issues of development of practice and activation of interaction between authorities and private business. The article reveals the essence, content and stages of concession mechanisms in the region. Objectives. The article aims to consider the realization stages of concession mechanisms at the regional level using the Volgograd oblast as a case study. Methods. The research involves the methods of systems analysis, observation, specification, abstraction, synthesis, comparison, and generalization of theoretical and practical material. Results. The article identifies and specifies the essence, content, and stages of concession mechanisms at the regional level. Relevance. Concession mechanisms help to search private investors and encourage competitive procedures in the region. The results obtained can be used by the local authorities in implementing the concession mechanisms in the region.