In the period December 12, 2022, to February 28, 2023, we performed a series of UBVRI observations of 65 asteroids, including 50 primitive-type objects, which could be observed near perihelion at that time, and calculated their approximated reflectance spectra. The observations were aimed at searching for spectral signs of sublimation-driven dust activity in the asteroids and formation of a transient dust exosphere, which are caused by the presence of Н2О ice in their interior and the highest subsolar temperature. Based on the analysis of the accuracy and shape of approximated reflectance spectra of the primitive-type asteroids, a set of which was conventionally restricted by the geometric albedo value not exceeding 0.10, we found sublimation-driven dust activity in asteroids 164 Eva, 360 Carlova, and 750 Oskar by distinct short-term variations in the reflectance of these asteroids in the U band. During one of the nights, similar spectral changes and sublimation-driven dust activity related to them were detected in asteroid 629 Bernardina; the geometric albedo of this asteroid is somewhat higher (0.14 or 0.19), which may be indicative of a heterogeneous composition of its material and, apparently, a local outcropping of water ice on its surface. Moreover, in three asteroids of a high-temperature type, 757 Portlandia, 1121 Natascha, and 1687 Glarona, noticeable variations were detected in the entire spectral range; they may be connected with ejection of submicron dust particles from the surface by some other mechanisms. To substantiate and interpret the results of observations, we numerically modeled the reflectance spectra of conditional asteroids of taxonomic types C and S (with low- and high-temperature mineralogy, respectively), which are enveloped by an optically thin dust exosphere containing aggregate or homogeneous submicron particles of different composition. On the basis of this modeling, we introduce a quantitative criterion to identify a weak sublimation-driven dust activity in primitive-type asteroids in the visible range.

The detection and study of spectral signs of sublimation-driven dust activity (SDA) in 20 primitive-type asteroids of the Main Belt observed in the visible range allowed us to ascertain its temporal (or periodic) character. The asteroids exhibit SDA of relatively low intensity at minimal heliocentric distances, when their subsolar temperatures are, accordingly, highest (i.e., the surface temperature of the asteroid at the center of its sunlit hemisphere is close to the absolute maximum). Most likely, the major cause of SDA in these asteroids is that their interior contains H2O ice, which becomes outcropped due to recent impact events. As follows from the numerical modeling of the reflectance spectra of active asteroids under consideration, the optically thin dust exosphere (DE), which was induced by SDA and envelopes these bodies, consists of submicron homogeneous particles of different composition and/or fractal-like aggregates of such particles. Taking into account an extremely weak gravitational field of asteroids that cannot hold this optically thin DE even for a short time (especially, if their sizes are less than 10 km), we conclude that the DE of active primitive-type asteroids is supported by two jointly operating mechanisms. Namely, the electrostatic field of photoemission nature creates a plasma–dust sheath on a sunlit side of the asteroid (as in all atmosphereless celestial bodies), and SDA provides the additional ejection of dust particles from the surface into this layer, which enhances their amount to a detectable level; at the same time, the self-rotation of the body contributes to the spreading of dust around the asteroid.

The article deals with the social well-being of residents of three Far Eastern regions - the Republic of Buryatia, Zabaykalsky Krai, and Primorsky Krai. The analysis is based on the results of a sociological study conducted in October 2023 - March 2024. The study revealed a high level of optimism among respondents (54.3% in the Republic of Buryatia, 64.1% in Zabaykalsky Krai, 51.5% Primorsky Krai), corresponding to the results of all-Russian studies. The degree of satisfaction of respondents with various aspects of life is characterized. The respondents are more satisfied with family relationships, communication with friends, food, clothing, and living conditions. The respondents are the least satisfied with the political situation in the country, the environmental situation in the region, and the availability of money. The regional phenomena causing the greatest concern in all the three regions were identified: rising prices for food and essential goods, rising prices for housing and communal services, low income of the working population, medical care (quality, cost). A rating of alarming circumstances related to the personal safety of citizens was determined. Most often, the respondents are concerned about such fears as the future of children, getting sick with an incurable disease, loss of family, becoming unemployed, becoming a victim of thieves, robbers, scammers. It is concluded that there is a significant resource for strengthening Russian identity in three Far Eastern regions, based on the respondents' satisfaction with basic needs, positive assessments of life in their regions, positive social sentiments, and an optimistic vision of their future.

Celestial bodies which have orbital and physical characteristics typical of asteroids, but episodically exhibit the signs of cometary activity are of particular interest, because the knowledge of the nature of these bodies is necessary to understand the processes of how the Solar System formed and how water was delivered to the terrestrial planets. In the estimation of the properties of an exosphere of an active asteroid (AA) from remote-sensing data, polarimetry can play a prominent role, since the polarization of scattered light is sensitive to the properties of particles in the medium. Numerical simulations of the light scattering by particles in the exosphere around an AA have shown that, depending on the wavelength of the scattered light, the refractive index of particles, and their morphology, the light scattering in the exosphere may both weaken the polarization of light reflected by the surface and enhance it. At the same time, the spectral gradient of polarization may change both towards larger positive values and towards negative ones. At phase angles less than 30°, which are typical of observations of the Main-belt asteroids, the changes in the polarization induced by scattering in the exosphere are small and vary only slightly for particles of different properties. Nevertheless, if the polarizations of light reflected by an asteroid changes relative to the canonical values, this may indicate the presence of the exosphere. At larger phase angles, the influence of scattering in the exosphere on the polarization of an AA is more noticeable, which makes the use of polarimetry promising for studying activity of near-Earth asteroids. This effect should also be taken into account when estimating the albedo of an asteroid by the polarization maximum (according to the Umov law), if a manifestation of activity in this particular asteroid can be expected.

Обнаружение и изучение спектральных признаков сублимационно-пылевой активности (СПА) двадцати астероидов примитивных типов Главного пояса, наблюдаемых в видимом диапазоне, позволило нам установить ее временный (или периодический) характер. СПА астероидов проявляет себя с относительно низкой интенсивностью преимущественно вблизи их минимальных гелиоцентрических расстояний и, соответственно, при их наиболее высоких подсолнечных температурах (т. е. вблизи абсолютного максимума поверхностной температуры астероида в центре его освещенного полушария). С высокой вероятностью основной причиной СПА этих астероидов является наличие льда Н2О в их недрах, который оказывается вскрытым благодаря недавним ударным событиям. Как следует из численного моделирования спектров отражения рассматриваемых активных астероидов, окружающая эти тела оптически тонкая пылевая экзосфера (ПЭ), обусловленная СПА, состоит из субмикронных однородных частиц разного состава и/или фракталоподобных агрегатов таких частиц. С учетом крайне слабого гравитационного поля астероидов (особенно при их размерах менее ~10 км), неспособного удерживать такую оптически-тонкую ПЭ даже непродолжительное время, мы пришли к выводу о том, что ПЭ активных астероидов примитивных типов поддерживается совместной работой двух механизмов: электростатическое поле фотоэмиссионной природы создает плазменно-пылевой слой на подсолнечной стороне астероида (как и всех безатмосферных небесных тел), а СПА обеспечивает дополнительный выброс пылевых частиц с поверхности в этот слой до обнаружимого уровня; при этом собственное вращение тела способствует их распределению вокруг астероида.

This article touches upon the issue of the Russian identity of the residents of Buryatia. It is based on the results of a sociological study conducted in October – November 2023 in the republic. The theoretical and methodo-logical foundations for analyzing Russian identity and patriotism as its emotional manifestation are considered. The high level of Russian identity of the population of the republic and its positive dynamics compared to 2018 are revealed, the resources of consolidation of the regional community are determined. Conclusion dwells up-on the state-civic type of Russian identity and the republic’s inclusion in the all-Russian processes. It has been established that patriotic sentiments are widespread in the republic and traditional ideas about patriotism are characteristic, first of all, as love for the Motherland and pride in it.

The reflectance spectra of active asteroids (AAs) measured in the visible and near-UV ranges exhibit unusual features, which are apparently caused by the light scattering in an exosphere formed under active processes on an asteroid. To estimate the prospects for a quantitative interpretation of these features, we numerically simulated reflectance spectra of an AA enveloped by an exosphere composed of aggregate submicron particles of various composition and morphology, as well as homogeneous submicron particles. We assumed that the sizes of aggregates’ constituents correspond to those of grains in agglomerates of cometary and interplanetary dust. It has been shown that the scattering on aggregates of submicron grains produces interference features at wavelengths shorter than 0.6 μm, and the positions of these features are determined by both the sizes of these grains (rather than the aggregates themselves) and the real part of their refractive index. The structure of an aggregate and variations (up to ±20%) in the sizes of constituents weakly influence the position of these features. The shape of the spectrum at longer wavelengths also depends on the sizes of grains in the aggregates and serve as an additional criterion for estimating this parameter. Calculations performed for aggregate particles absorbing in a short-wavelength range (which is typical of many materials that one may expect to find on AAs) show that the absorption significantly weakens the interference details appeared in this range. Hence, the attempts to detect strongly absorbing particles in the exosphere and to estimate their properties by these spectral features cannot yield reliable results, as opposed to the simulations for weakly absorbing particles. The presence of homogeneous weakly absorbing submicron particles in the exosphere of an AA results in a steady growth of the intensity at wavelengths shorter than 0.4−0.5 μm. Spectral measurements at the wavelengths shorter than 0.35 μm may help to estimate more reliably the properties of weakly absorbing particles, both aggregate and homogeneous, in the exospheres of AAs.

— In December 2021 to February 2022, the UBVRI photometry of 29 primitive-type asteroids of the Main Belt, being near the perihelion distances, was carried out at the 0.6-meter RC600 semiautomatic telescope of the Caucasus Mountain Observatory (CMO) of the Sternberg Astronomical Institute, Moscow State University. These observations, as well as the data processing and analysis, were aimed at searching for supposed sublimation-driven dust activity on asteroids under maximal subsolar temperatures. Among the tasks to be accomplished was the comparison of the physical and dynamic parameters of active and inactive asteroids. The main result is that substantial spectral signs of quasi-simultaneous sublimation-driven dust activity were detected on six primitive-type asteroids of the Main Belt—145 Adeona, 302 Clarissa, 322 Phaeo, 435 Ella, 690 Wratislavia, and 779 Nina (on 302 Clarissa, 322 Phaeo, 435 Ella, and 690 Wratislavia—for the first time). These six asteroids represent ~21% of all bodies included in the observation program. Probable spectral manifestations of activity at a lower intensity level were detected for the first time on five more asteroids—424 Gratia, 751 Faina, 762 Pulcova, 778 Theobalda, and 859 Bouzaréah. On 145 Adeona and 779 Nina, sublimation-driven dust activity near perihelion was registered for the third time for the last ten years; this time interval corresponds to about three orbital periods of these asteroids around the Sun. We consider the circumstances due to which five of the listed asteroids possess families. General processes and conditions that could and/or can influence the portion of primitive-type asteroids that quasi-simultaneously show signs of sublimation-driven dust activity are discussed.

The article analyzes the income stratification of the population of Buryatia. The results of a sociological study conducted in 2020 and 2021 are taken as a basis. A relative (objective) approach was applied using a median calculated from the empirical data obtained. In the presented graphical income distribution model, seven income groups are identified ("poor", "needy", " vulnerable", "median", "middle-income", "provided", "wealthy"), arranged into low- income (23.1%), middle-income (59.7%) and high-income (17.2%) groups. The indicators of the socio-economic development of the republic, which affect the social stratification in the region and the formation of a certain type of income distribution model, as well as create conditions for the reproduction of poverty, are considered. The study shows that the main characteristics and adaptation strategies of low-income and middle-income groups have much in common, including ineffective adaptation strategies, while they differ significantly among low-income and high- income groups. Representatives of low-income groups, as a rule, have a low level of education, a high dependency burden, high-interest debts and loans, and they more often live in rural areas. Middle-income groups are well educated, but they are indebted, they have multiple employment with low income, a lower dependency burden, and they more often live in urban areas. Representatives of high-income groups, mostly with higher education, have highly paid jobs, low dependency burden, their own way of life, power resources, and use highly effective adaptation strategies. "he most massive is the "median group" (40.9%), which occupies a middle position, although it does not correspond to the classical parameters of the middle class. The study concludes that it is necessary to find the most effective mechanisms for improving the social well-being of the region's population, reducing its differentiation and poverty, and expanding the middle class.

The article deals with the social well-being of the residents of Buryatia in modern socio-political conditions. The content and conclusions are based on the results of a sociological study conducted in Buryatia in 2023. The article analyzes the indicators characterizing the social well-being of the respondents: the level of social opti-mism, social security, satisfaction with living conditions, the rating of the most serious problems that cause con-cern. It has been established that despite the difficult situation in general within the country and in the world, the existing problems, residents of the republic demonstrate optimism in assessing their future, without feeling much concern for the safety of themselves and their families. At the same time, in the ranking of the main re-gional problems and aspects of life that cause the least satisfaction, the leaders are such as increasing prices for food and essential goods; medical care, its quality, payment; increasing tariffs for housing and communal services; pollution environment, environmental problems; availability of money. It is concluded that it is neces-sary to implement measures to improve the level and quality of life in the region, which will contribute to main-taining a high level of social well-being and reducing the degree of migration attitudes of the population.

Based on the data of a sociological survey conducted in 2020-2021, the article analyzes the ideas of the residents of Buryatia about social justice. The authors have established that the problem of social justice is important for the vast majority of the respondents, who often face its reverse side - injustice. Rural residents with a low financial level and with debts often suffer from social injustice. The respondents consider income inequality and the system of distribution of property to be the most unfair in modern Russia. The authors have revealed that the content of the concept of social justice is connected, first of all, with equality before the law, equality of opportunities and leveling equality, and only secondarily with inequality - distributive and responsible. The analysis of empirical data has shown that the majority of the respondents demonstrate conservative views, associating social justice with a strong state, order and national interests, while the minority appeal to liberal values - democracy, solidarity, freedom. Moreover, the ideas of social justice differ somewhat among different income groups. The higher the income level, the more confident the representatives of this group are in choosing their estimates (as a rule, conservative ones), and vice versa: the lower the income, the more often respondents from low-income income groups find it difficult to answer and almost equally choose conservative and liberal values. The article concludes that social justice in the views of the respondents is not limited to financial issues: also important for them is inter-regional inequality associated with limited areas of residence and life opportunities for residents of the regions, benefits on the periphery of our country, which gives rise to their mass migration to other more prosperous regions of the Russian Federation. Therefore, serious state measures are needed to overcome inter-regional inequality and to ensure a balanced spatial and socioeconomic development of all regions of the country, which will help improve the level and quality of life of the population, improve their social well-being, and strengthen the foundations of social justice.

Many current and proposed programs of satellite remote sensing of the Earth and other celestial bodies rely upon measurements of the intensity and polarization of light scattered by these bodies. These measurement data are interpreted by searching for the best fits to light-scattering characteristics precalculated with some theoretical models. For regolith-like surfaces, i.e., discrete densely packed random media, the light-scattering models are still under development and they work under different approaches. Here, to estimate the difference between the reflectance characteristics yielded by these procedures, we compare the results of simulations performed according to five frequently used approximate models of a semi-infinite particulate medium. Special attention is paid to taking into account the weak-localization effect. The models differ by the scattering matrixes of a volume element and the dependence of the imaginary part of the effective refractive index on the filling factor. The volume element is an individual spherical particle or a randomly oriented cluster of particles. The cases of modifying the scattering matrix by the static structure factor correction or by subtracting the contribution of the mean field are also considered. The values for the size parameter of particles or monomers in the clusters and the refractive index were assumed at 1.76 and 1.50 + i 0.0001, respectively; and two values for the filling factor (defined as a volume fraction occupied by particles in the medium), 20 and 10%, were considered. Our analysis shows that the angular dependences of the intensity and the linear polarization degree obtained with the considered models are rather close to each other. Moreover, they agree with the corresponding characteristics for a large cloud of particles ( N is equal to or exceeds 10 6 ) with the filling factor up to 20%, which were obtained by approximate methods but well follow the trends found in rigorous simulations for smaller ensembles of particles (Penttilä et al., J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transfer, 2021, 262, 107524). Hence, these approximate models are equally acceptable to the interpretation of the results of observations.

We present results from multiband photometry of the interstellar comet 2I/Borisov (C/2019 Q4). The observations were carried out in the two months before its perihelion passage. The UBVri photometric data obtained for comet 2I were converted to its reflectance by means of observations of neighbouring solar analogues, which allowed the reflectance of the comet with wavelength to be calculated. The registered prominent changes in the reflectance spectra of 2I while it was approaching the Sun from 2.40 to 2.01 au, and numerical simulations of the light scattering by aggregate particles provide insight into the chemical-mineralogical and structural properties of the cometary dust particles. The close agreement between the trends observed in the spectral characteristics of 2I and some models suggests that, during the observations, conglomerates of magnesium-ferrous (and, probably, organic) submicron particles prevailed in the scattering by its matter, H 2 O ice particles induced no noticeable spectral signals, and the gas contribution to the scattering by the coma was relatively small.

Modern challenges, threats and risks associated with accelerating migration flows, interethnic conflicts, facts of terrorism and extremism dictate the need for continuous monitoring of trends in the development of interethnic interaction in the Russian Federation. This is especially true for multi-ethnic regions. The article analyzes the data of a sociological research conducted in Buryatia in 2016-2019. It considers experts' and population's assessments of interethnic relations, prospects for their development, as well as the influence of ethnicity on vertical upward mobility opportunities. Factors that pose a threat to stable interethnic harmony in the region are identified; these include the deterioration of the socioeconomic situation in the country amidst the global economic crisis and sanctions, low living standards of the local population, the use of political technologies during election campaigns to politicize ethnicity and ethnic mobilization, the destructive influence of Internet communications which spread protest sentiments. The conclusion is made about the need to increase the level of the socioeconomic development of the republic, which is reflected in the citizens' quality of life, their social well-being and assessments of inter-ethnic relations. There is also the need to strengthen the potential of interethnic harmony in the republic as a resource for consolidating society, to prevent interethnic tensions, and to work more effectively and comprehensively in the educational sphere of the republic on creating an effective system of patriotic and international education.