Environmental assessment of Petasites spurius (Retz.) Reichb. in various habitats of the southern taiga subzone in Kirov oblast

The paper presents the results of an ecological assessment of Petasites spurius habitats in the southern taigasubzone of Kirov oblast. Indicators of potential ecological valence indicate a low degree of lability of species individuals,which is manifested in the predominance of stenovalent and hemistenovalent fractions. Their distribution is limited by verydry and damp, poor and saline soils, low illumination. The studied P. spurius cenopopulations differ in the level of soilmoisture and salt regime, which is associated with the degree of their distance from the water line. In general, individuals of P.spurius quite fully realize their ecological potential, however, in cenopopulation 1 they are realized the least. This is due to itslocation, high level of moistening, surface occurrence of water table and constant leaching of mineral salts from the substrate.

Functioning of affricates in the Upper-Kama dialect of the Komi-Permian language

Introduction: the paper is a fragment of the description of the phonetic features of the language of the Kirov Permians, one of the idioms of the Komi-Permian language, which native speakers live in the Afanasyevsky District of Kirov Oblast. Affricates are the subject of study. The paper examines the peculiarities of their functioning: the distribution of affricates in the phonetic structure of the word is described, and the process of transition of the consonants ǯ', ǯ, č to fricative ones is considered. Objective: to describe the positional-combinatorial conditions of the use of affricates, to trace the phonetic changes that affricates are subject to in the language of the Kirov Permians. Research materials: field materials of dialectological expeditions to the area of residence of the Kirov Permians in the period from 2002 to 2012. Results and novelty of the research: the paper analyzes affricates from the point of view of their functioning in the language of the Kirov Permians. New dialect data are introduced into scientific circulation, which can become an additional source for the comparative-historical study of the affricate system in the Permian languages. As a result of the study, it was revealed that in the studied idiom, the affricates ǯ', ǯ, č tended to gradually restrict distribution, reduce the frequency of use: in some positions, they were replaced by the corresponding fricative consonants z', ž, š. In the dialect, there is an inconsistency in the use of affricates, which reflects the peculiarities of the informants’ idiolect, as well as the incompleteness of the process of changing the considered consonants in the studied idiom

From lobbyist to extras: Main groups of municipal deputies in Russian municipalities

Introduction: most studies on authority and governing in Russian municipalities is focused on the executive branch while the representative power issues get lessexpert attention. Objectives: to identify the main groups of deputies of municipal representative bodies. Methods: the article presents some results of an empirical study of local authorities conducted in 66 municipalities of three Russian regions: Sverdlovsk Oblast, Perm Krai and Kirov Oblast. An in-depth study of the public administration system at the local level was carried out in seven municipalities. These are Verkhnyaya Pyshma, Kushva, Sredneuralsk in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Kungur, Chusovoy, Ocher in Perm Krai and Kirovo-Chepetsk in Kirov Oblast. The main method of collecting information is expert interviews (N=10). Results: the following groups of deputies of municipal representative bodies were identified: “lobbyists”, “resource-holders”, “experts”, and “extras”. Conclusions: groups of municipal deputies differ by a number of parameters, but the most important being the differences in their degree of independence, their affiliation and the view of their own role in the municipal representative body. Municipal administrations and heads of municipalities personally have a high level of control over the extras − the deputies who are the agents of their policy in municipal representative bodies.

RITUALS AND BELIEFS OF UDMURT-KALMEZ IN UNINSKY DISTRICT OF THE KIROV OBLAST

The article is based on the materials of the ethnographic expedition conducted in the year 2002 among the Udmurt- Kalmez in Uni district of Kirov oblast which is located in the upper reaches of the Loban’ River, the right tributary of the Kilmez River. The paper provides information on demographic indicators, the area settled by the Udmurt- Kalmez , and about the dialect terms used by this local Udmurt group. The differences between the Udmurts-Kalmez and the Udmurts- Vatka are traced. The description of family and calendar rites is given focusing on settlements like the villages of Magi, Udmurt Porez, Malye Uni, Pazjal, Kljuchi, Malyj Polom, and others. Information is provided about the traditional public shrine of Tod’y oshmes (‘white / light spring’) of the Udmurts- Kalmez which acted under the influence of Orthodoxy as a sacred place for the local Udmurt and Russian people. These materials are connected to the processes of russification among the local Udmurts, the erosion of their language and culture due to the influence of the Russian population, the outflow of villagers to the urban areas, and the change in social and cultural infrastructure in the rural areas.

The assessment of house construction situation and investments in housing development in the regions of Volga Federal District

This article is dedicated to the assessment of socioeconomic and house construction situation, as well as investments of local authorities and household sector in the development of housing facilities and infrastructure in Volga Federal District. The situation is described on the example of three regions different in the level of socioeconomic development – the Republic of Tatarstan, Nizhny Novgorod Oblast and Kirov Oblast. Analysis is conducted on such parameters as housing quantity, possibility of residential mortgage, strategies for improvement housing conditions, and planned investment volume in housing on the part of population, etc. The research is based on the analysis of the official statistical data on socioeconomic situation, as well as housing and utilities policy in the regions of Volga Federal District; survey that involved population of three cities – Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod and Kirov (total of 1560 respondents); and expert interview with 25 realtors from the indicated cities. The acquired results allow determining three clusters of the regions in accordance with socioeconomic indexes and characteristics of housing policy: regions-leaders, regions-drivers", and regions-anchors. A more detailed comparative characteristics of the official statistics in three regions – the Republic of Tatarstan, Nizhny Novgorod and Kirov regions, confirmed the results of clusterization. The population polling of the cities of Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod and Kirov complemented the picture with specific details on citizens’ perception of their living conditions and readiness to improve them. Interview with the realtors revealed the typical trends in development of house construction and residential property market in the aforementioned cities.

HISTORICAL AND ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES OF THE CITY CINEMAS UDMURT REPUBLIC OF THE EARLY TWENTIETH CENTURY IN THE CENTRAL STATE ARCHIVE OF THE KIROV REGION (CHACO KIROV)

The article deals with historical and architectural features of the city's cinemas that have appeared in the Vyatka Governorate in the territory of the modern cities of the Udmurt Republic in the early twentieth century. On the basis identified in the research work of the author of the documents of the Central State archive of the Kirov Oblast (Kirov), investigated the problems of the structure and construction of cinema buildings, characterized the role of local authorities in the formation and development of cultural institutions in cities. The author finds out the influence of cinema buildings on the folding of the architectural appearance of the cities of Udmurtia, analyzes their location and related problems of formation of urban space. In the Fund of the Vyatka provincial Board (Construction Department) found documents testifying to their reliable architectural appearance, the features of their historical development, design, stages of construction and reconstruction. A valuable component is the confirmation of the authorship of some buildings.