The results of the determination of the age of zircon grains from tuffites of the Leskovo Unit of the Unda–Daya Basin, Eastern Transbaikalia, are presented for the first time. The age of the youngest population of zircon grains is 145.8 ± 3.8 Ma, approximately corresponding to the Jurassic–Cretaceous boundary and indicating the Early Cretaceous age of most of the Leskovo Unit. Given that the similar taxonomic composition of ostracods from the middle part of the Leskovo Unit and the Valanginian–Lower Hauterivian Dabeigou Formation of northeastern China, our U–Pb age from the lower part of the Leskovo Unit allows confident correlations of these lithostratons.

—The age of the Turga Formation in the Middendorf’s outcrop is determined as latest Barremian–earliest Aptian based on fauna and microfossil assemblages. The composition of the fauna and palynomorph assemblages allows correlations between the Turga Formation and the Yixian Formation and lower part of the Jiufotang Formation of Northeast China. Results of the petrographic and geochemical analysis as well as microfossil studies showed that sediments accumulated in a shallow lake with low-energy hydrodynamics, sometimes under low-oxygen conditions. Climate features (warm temperate climate transitional to subtropical) and type of vegetation (coniferous forests with admixture of hardwoods) are reconstructed taking into consideration the composition of spore-pollen assemblages.

The publication of the collective monograph "Historical Politics in the Countries of the Former Yugoslavia" is undoubtedly an important event both for political studies of historical memory and for Slavic and Balkan studies in Russia. Based on this monograph, D.Efremenko, using the example of the Western Balkan countries, reflects on the importance of the actor approach in memory studies, as well as on the role of historians in the formation of the collective memory of national communities. From his viewpoint, it makes sense to consider the phenomenon of post-Yugoslav "historical revisionism" discussed in the monograph not only as a substantive revision of the historiographic canon of Tito's era, but also as a politically conditioned paradigm shift - the replacement of this canon with nation-centric historiographies. According to Efremenko, the texts presented in the monograph clearly indicate that historical narratives still play a crucial role in political discussions, being an integral component of the ontological security of macropolitical communities. In particular, the Kosovo (Vidovdan) myth continues to exert a strong influence on the Serbian political leadership's decision -making related to the resolution of the conflict in Kosovo and the country's integration into the European Union. This example demonstrates that problems in the field of ontological security can possess serious consequences for confirming or changing the international status of a country, as well as maintaining reliability and sustainability of alliances and partnerships with other states.

The publication of the collective monograph “Historical Politics in the Countries of the Former Yugoslavia” is undoubtedly an important event both for political studies of historical memory and for Slavic and Balkan studies in Russia. Based on this monograph, D.Efremenko, using the example of the Western Balkan countries, reflects on the importance of the actor approach in memory studies, as well as on the role of historians in the formation of the collective memory of national communities. From his viewpoint, it makes sense to consider the phenomenon of post-Yugoslav “historical revisionism” discussed in the monograph not only as a substantive revision of the historiographic canon of Tito’s era, but also as a politically conditioned paradigm shift — the replacement of this canon with nation-centric historiographies. According to Efremenko, the texts presented in the monograph clearly indicate that historical narratives still play a crucial role in political discussions, being an integral component of the ontological security of macropolitical communities. In particular, the Kosovo (Vidovdan) myth continues to exert a strong influence on the Serbian political leadership’s decision-making related to the resolution of the conflict in Kosovo and the country’s integration into the European Union. This example demonstrates that problems in the field of ontological security can possess serious consequences for confirming or changing the international status of a country, as well as maintaining reliability and sustainability of alliances and partnerships with other states.

На основании изучения фауны и микрофоссилий возраст тургинской свиты в обнажении Миддендорфа определен как конец баррема-начало апта. Состав комплексов фауны и палиноморф позволяет коррелировать тургинскую свиту с формацией Yixian и низами формации Jiufotang Северо-Восточного Китая. Результаты петрографического и геохимического анализов, а также изучения микрофоссилий показали, что отложения накапливались в мелководном озере со спокойной гидродинамикой, иногда в условиях дефицита кислорода. По составу спорово-пыльцевых комплексов восстановлены климатические условия (умеренно теплый климат, переходный к субтропическому) и тип растительности (хвойные леса с примесью лиственных пород). The age of the Turga Formation in the Middendorf’s outcrop is determined as latest Barremian-earliest Aptian based on fauna and microfossil assemblages. The composition of the fauna and palynomorph assemblages allows correlations between the Turga Formation and the Yixian Formation and lower part of the Jiufotang Formation of Northeast China. Results of the petrographic and geochemical analysis as well as microfossil studies showed that sediments accumulated in a shallow lake with low-energy hydrodynamics, sometimes under low-oxygen conditions. Climate features (warm temperate climate transitional to subtropical) and type of vegetation (coniferous forests with admixture of hardwoods) are reconstructed taking into consideration the composition of spore-pollen assemblages.

Based on secondary data analysis and semi-structured expert interviews (n = 90), the study analyses metabolic transformations in the area of municipal solid waste (MSW) management in Russian megalopolises using the city of Moscow as a case study. The findings suggest that the key node that triggered numerous interdependent processes involved the changes introduced in the legislation on MSW management and the decision to shut down several large MSW landfills without the simultaneous implementation of other landfills. These actions affected the health of the population and contributed to environmental inequality. The authors provide recommendations for the mitigation of risks associated with MSW generation, recycling, and storage in large Russian cities.

The article discusses the possibilities of using the technology assessment as a special area of complex interdisciplinary research of the long-term consequences of the development of new technologies in the context of the digital transformation of modern society. Assessment of digital technologies allows supporting the political decision-making process, as well as finding options for resolving conflicts of social actors caused by digitalization processes. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account the institutional effects of the development of digital technologies. Integration of the principles of ethics and social responsibility into the process of social control of digital transformation is of fundamental importance. Particular attention is paid to such areas of digital transformation as the development of Industry 4.0, the widespread introduction of autonomous driving and care robots.

В статье рассматривается опыт политического использования исторического прошлого на постъюгославском пространстве на примере двух ключевых государств региона – Сербии и Хорватии. Сербо-хорватское соперничество, дважды в XX в. переходившее в кровопролитное противостояние, наложило глубокий отпечаток на политику памяти в каждой из этих политий. Сербский и хорватский исторические нарративы, описывающие события Второй мировой войны и вооруженных конфликтов 1991-1995 гг., не просто конкурируют друг с другом, но предлагают несовместимые интерпретации, в результате чего появляются основания говорить о возникновении дилеммы мнемонической безопасности. Суть ее состоит в том, что систематическое оспаривание определенного нарратива, значимого для “биографии” сообщества и представляющего его в мировой политике государства, в конечном счете подрывает уверенность представителей сообщества в устойчивости его существования. Дилемма мнемонической безопасности также означает, что под уже существующие между государствами и сообществами противоречия в различных сферах подводится исторический и символический базис. В этих условиях конфликт памяти становится важным и даже конституирующим элементом формирования макрополитической идентичности. Как показывает динамика сербо-хорватских отношений, дилемма мнемонической безопасности достаточно инерционна и устойчива, она может сохраняться и препятствовать постконфликтному урегулированию даже в существенно изменившемся международно-политическом контексте, когда основные предпосылки противостояния уходят в прошлое. События, которые могут быть интерпретированы как акты геноцида, военные преступления или преступления против человечности, уместно рассматривать как важнейшие индикаторы или как темы, описание которых (либо замалчивание) является определяющим для мнемонического ландшафта соответствующей страны. В статье также анализируется противоречивое влияние на политику памяти в Хорватии и Сербии процессов европейской интеграции, которые стимулируют как реальные изменения в этой сфере, так и различные имитационные практики.

The article discusses the processes of degradation of the Sino-US relations during the presidency of D. Trump. The existence of trade and economic symbiosis between China and the United States (Chimerica) has ceased to be an obstacle to global geopolitical rivalry between the two superpowers of the 21st century. The US move to China's overt containment is most pronounced in the economic, commercial and technological areas. D. Trump administration has also significantly increased pressure on China over the most sensitive political and humanitarian issues. The trade war unleashed by Washington was suspended in early 2020 in result of the signing of the first phase of a trade deal between the United States and China. Obviously, this agreement represents a way to a truce, but not to final settlement of trade and economic contradictions. Both sides got the opportunity to regroup forces in anticipation of a new round of confrontation. The rivalry between the two great powers covers a wide range of technologies. It is highly likely that during the 2020s, China and the United States will create two competing and increasingly incompatible global ecosystems of the development of the Internet of things, big data processing technologies, 5G mobile communications, additive technologies, robotics, etc. The choice of one of the ecosystems will at the same time become a geopolitical choice, which, obviously, during the next decade all states in the system of international relations will have to make. The pandemic of coronavirus COVID-19 has become a new important factor in the further aggravation of the bilateral relations. China was the first major state to achieve a turning point in the fight against the disease. In turn, the US administration gave a new impetus to escalation of anti-Chinese rhetoric. The implications of these developments for the existing world order are discussed in the final part of the article.

В обзоре рассматриваются функциональная трансформация и переосмысление миссии библиотек в условиях социальных изменений современности и развития информационно-коммуникационных технологий. Обсуждается специфика научных библиотек, которые преобразуются в многофункциональные научно-информационные центры. В обзоре показано, что, с одной стороны, традиционная роль библиотек как «хранилищ знания» дополняется задачами защиты прав и создания пространства для публичной жизни, с другой – библиотеки становятся значимыми акторами пространства цифровой коммуникации. Таким образом, стремясь соответствовать актуальным запросам времени, библиотеки разрабатывают и предоставляют новые цифровые сервисы, меняют свое пространство, делая его более открытым для публичной жизни, ориентируются на социальную инклюзию и даже выступают в роли защитников гражданских прав и свобод. Эти процессы и сама библиотека как социокультурный феномен могут быть рассмотрены в различных теоретических ракурсах. Поскольку деятельность библиотек затрагивает социальные, цифровые и физические аспекты взаимодействия людей и объектов, предполагается, что в перспективе библиотеки могут быть описаны как социокиберфизические системы.

Рассматриваются принципиальные особенности и подходы к формированию Единого цифрового пространства научных знаний (ЕЦПНЗ). Отмечено, что работы по формированию единой среды информационных ресурсов, а далее - знаний ведутся почти четверть века. Приведены нормативные документы, направленные на разработку данной проблемы; отмечено, что существует неоднозначность в подходах к определению единого пространства. Актуализировано определение, сформулированы основные принципиальные особенности пространства знаний, в числе которых отмечены: необходимость включения достоверной фундаментальной и научно-популярной информации; наличие ряда подпространств, связанных между собой, относящихся к отдельным научным направлениям. Проанализированы ресурсы, составляющие основную базу для формирования ЕПЦНЗ. Показаны основные начальные направления работ. Отмечено, что данное научное направление должно стать ключевым в решении задач, поставленных перед научным сообществом в рамках национального проекта «Наука» и национальной стратегии «О развитии искусственного интеллекта в Российской Федерации» (2019-2030 годы).

The article discusses the problems of transformation of social memory institutions in the context of the transition to a digital society. During the transformation, multidirectional dynamics are revealed, associated with a change in the technological basis, functioning models and social functions of libraries, archives and museums. Along with the strengthening of the role of some of the institutions of social memory as platforms for communication and public dialogue, their integration into the Unified Digital Knowledge Space leads to the expansion of functionality and to the upgrading of the status of social memory institutions in digital society. At the same time, the influence of scientific libraries and centers of scientific and technical information on the processes of knowledge production, its expert evaluation, as well as reflection and control of the dynamics of the formation of digital society can increase.

The article discusses the growing interdependence between the geopolitical competition of great powers and the development of digital technologies. Throughout the 2010s, the contradictions of the leading states regarding the control and regulation of the Internet have noticeably intensified. In the absence of universal rules for information security, the Internet is evolving towards a kind of “gray zone” in which various actors can use the wide range of available tools to achieve their political or other goals without fear of being drawn into a full-scale conflict.Nowadays, the geopolitical rivalry, primarily between the United States and China, covers a wide range of digital technologies, including artificial intelligence. It is highly likely that during the 2020s, China and the United States will create two competing and increasingly less compatible global ecosystems for the development of the Internet of things, big data processing technologies, 5 G mobile communications, additive technologies, robotics, etc. The choice of one of the ecosystems will at the same time become a geopolitical choice, which, obviously, during the next decade all state actors in the system of international relations will have to make.

The article provide insight on the phenomenon of sociobiotechnical systems (SBT-systems) - the open systems of nonlinear ties and interactions that possess the internal 'asymmetry' because the 'the human factor' plays a key role in them. The emergence of SBT-systems is inseparably connected with the formation of a human civilization, and the process of globalization as a result of the former is by its nature includes the process of formation of a single sociobiotechnical system in planetary scale. Interactions of 'technical', 'natural' and 'social' dimensions need to consider as processes of metabolic transformation. We understand all types of SBT systems, regardless of their scale, as conflict, contradictory and internally risky by nature. The problems created by SBT systems have both ontological and epistemological character. The fruitful theoretic and methodological approaches vis-a-vis SBT systems include problem-oriented and interdisciplinary approaches, the methodological combination of 'top-down' and 'bottom-up' approaches, an emphasis on a study of metabolic processes, recurrent development of critical situations and global risks, a phenomenon of 'space inversion', the relativity of concepts the 'subject' and the 'environment', and the network nature of SBT systems.

The article discusses new trends in the development of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization after its expansion in 2018. The results of the Chinese presidency of the SCO in 2018 are also analyzed. It is shown that traditional priority for the SCO - Central Asian security issues in no way lose their significance. But if before Afghanistan could he considered mostly as an external factor of Central Asian security, now the settlement of the situation in the country acquires topicality and direct importance for the further work of the SCO as such. The accession of India and Pakistan in the SCO means both significant increase of the political and economic weight of the Organization, and the inevitable absorption by the Organization of India-Pakistan rivalry that previously was of only peripheral significance for the SCO. India's participation in the SCO seems to become a hindrance to the evolution of the Organization towards an anti-Western geopolitical alliance. The decisive factor for the further SCO development may be sought in the "Russia-India-China" (RIC) triangle activities. In this context, two scripts of the interaction between Russia, India and China should he considered. The first., and more realistic one assumes that Russian-Chinese and Russian-Indian relations within the triangle will have mostly positive impact on the inter-SCO situation, while Chinese-Indian relations may be much more troublesome. Under certain favorable conditions, the three countries will be able to develop a common stance on significant international issues or timely respond to crisis processes in economic or security spheres. The second script assumes a gradual qualitative deepening and expansion of cooperation within the RIC format, based on a common vision of geopolitical transformations in Greater Eurasia. In this case, it can be assumed that over time, the SCO will become the basis for the formation of the Great Eurasian Partnership.

— The basic principles, framework conditions, and specific measures aimed at creating a modern digital infrastructure of scientific and technological information in the Russian Federation are discussed along with the organizational, political, economic, and legal aspects of setting up a digital infrastructure of scientific and technological information.

The set of issues associated with the formation of a single Russian electronic knowledge space is considered. This task, first formulated in the Russian Presidential Decree On Approval of the Foundations of a State Cultural Policy, has become particularly urgent in the context of the so-called Big Challenges, preconditioned by the development of scientific knowledge and technologies. To solve this task, it is necessary to develop a tool kit based on the Semantic Web technology, using scientific electronic libraries and other data arrays, as well as classifications, thesauruses, ontologies, and systems of metadata and other tools for subject area representation. The creation of a single Russian electronic knowledge space may be referred to nationwide projects, and the RAS scientific organizations and the country’s leading universities should play the leading role in it.

The tendencies towards the increasing relevance of studying the negative effects of research, technology, and industrial development are analyzed. The methodological aspects of social assessment of technical and technology risks are considered. The prognostication, computer-aided modeling, and minimization of harmful effects of hi-tech industrial development and adoption of new technologies are discussed. The tasks of analytical information support of interdisciplinary studies aimed at technology assessment are considered from a system perspective. The relevance of developing the conceptual form of the national system of social assessment of equipment and new technologies and the need for the structural and substantial organization of this system are shown.