The article presents the results of studying the evidences of cryogenesis in alluvial and loess-soil deposits of the Lower Volga River region. Four stages of the development of permafrost processes during the Late Pleistocene were newly recognized for the region through the example of the Srednyaya Akhtuba reference section. The processes of cryogenic transformation of sediments under seasonal freezing and the existence of perennial permafrost during the Late Pleistocene predetermined the composition, structure and properties of loess and paleosoils. Cryolithological, particle size and micromorphological analyzes of mineral matter were carried out for each horizon and the evidences of cryogenic processes were described to evaluate the paleogeographic conditions of their formation. The age of the main stages of cryogenic processes in the Lower Volga River region was determined by the optically stimulated luminescence method. The fourth stage of cryogenic processes took place during MIS-4 under the Atelian regression of the Caspian Sea. The third stage is expressed as large wedge-shaped structures (pseudomorphoses) on the border of loess and alluvial horizon; their formation relates to the degradation of ice wedges. During the first and second stages of freezing plastic deformations of sediments occurred.

The Karangatian transgression is a significant milestone in the Pleistocene history of the Black Sea. It was a large interglacial transgression reaching 6–7 m above the modern level and the highest salinity during the Pleistocene. At present absolute age of the event is debatable and there is no consensus among the researchers. The paper presents new dating results obtained by the optically-stimulated luminescence (OSL) of the Karangatian deposits represented in the Eltigen stratotype section on the western coast of the Kerch Strait. The section is a favorable object for OSL dating method, since the deposits are represented mainly by aeolian (loess-like subaerial sediments) and coastal-marine sediments, which are characterized by complete bleaching of quartz and feldspar grains. The chronology was obtained for both quartz and feldspar using three protocols (OSL, IR 50 , pIRIR 290 ) for each sample, which allows for the conclusion of the reliability of resulting datings. Eight luminescence ages were obtained, six of them characterize the marine stage and two – continental stage of the territory evolution. The biostratigraphic analysis of mollusk fauna from marine sediments represented in the section confirmed their attribution to the Karangatian transgression of the Black Sea. The studied section covers two phases of the Karangatian transgression. The early stage was in progress during 131–120 thousand years ago (MIS 5e). The sea level rise was about 32 cm/ka and reached +3,6 m. The second phase of the transgression occurred 120–100 thousand years ago (MIS 5d-s). The rise of the sea level was about 12,5 cm/ka. The maximal sea-level dated 105–100 thousand years (MIS 5c), reaching ~6,45 m. Taking into account the scale of neotectonic movements will allow a more accurate determination of the maximum sea level rise. During the development of the Karangatian basin it was characterized by heterogeneous environmental conditions: from moderately saline (15–17‰) at the initial stages to marine (28–30‰) as the transgression progressed, and again to moderately saline (17–18‰) at the beginning of the sea level decrease. The subaerial stage of sedimentation on the coast began no later than 72±8 thousand years ago. The lower of two buried soils represented in the section was formed in the period of 72–68 thousand years, probably during the inter-stage warming within the Valdai glacial epoch (MIS 4).

The Karangatian transgression of the Black Sea is a significant stage in its Pleistocene history. There is no consensus on the chronometric estimate of the age of this event. The paper presents the dating results for the Karangatian deposits cored from the Tuzla key section on the western coast of the Taman Peninsula. The mollusk shell composition of sediments indicates that the section reflects the peak phase of the transgression. A new absolute chronology bases on the dating by the method of infrared stimulated luminescence of feldspars. The distribution of credible intervals and the results of standard tests are in exact accordance with the ranges accepted in the operational practice of luminescence dating, thus the obtained results could be considered as reliable. The age of the Karangatian deposits of the Tuzla section matches with the time interval of 125–120 ka BP, which corresponds to the peak of the interglacial period (MIS 5e). The waters of the Karangat basin reached the section area about 125 ka BP, and the coastalmarine deposition began at 3.5 m AMSL. The basin level reached 5,3 m AMSL in 120 ka BP, the rise of 1,8 m during 5 thousand years. After 120 ka BP, the local marine sedimentation was insignificant. The subaerial deposition stage in the western part of the Taman Peninsula began about 100 ka BP. The section contains a loess-soil series with three layers of buried soils. An additional geochronological study of the upper part of the section will determine the age of these layers and reconstruct the substages of subaerial deposition stage of the Late Pleistocene regional history.

Oscillations of the Caspian Sea level under climate changes of different scale and direction during the Holocene and their reflection in the structure of the sedimentary series of the Northern Caspian Sea area were studied through the analysis of two-frequency seismoacoustic profiles and the drill cores using lithological, malacofaunistic, and geochronological (radiocarbon) methods The analysis of the Holocene sedimentary series of the Northern Caspian Sea revealed palaeogeographic events of different scale, namely the Mangyshlak regression and the multiple-stage New Caspian transgression. Both resulted from climatic changes varying in scale and direction. The Mangyshlak regression down to –90 m occurred in the Boreal period (according to the Blytt-Sernander scheme) of the Early Holocene characterized by rather high level of heat supply and aridity. A short-term sharp cooling known as «8200 event» and a simultaneous increase in aridity resulted in the maximum drop of the Caspian Sea level at the final stage of the regression. The New Caspian transgression had three transgressive stages: the first one developed under warm and wet climate of the Holocene Atlantic optimum; the second one was a response to the Subboreal cooling and increasing moisture supply on the East European Plain; the third stage is characterized by two groups of dates 1700–1100 and 700–360 yr BP and the hiatus between them suggests a lower level of the Caspian Sea at the warm and dry medieval interval, while the second group of the dates corresponds to the Caspian Sea level rise during cool and wet climate of the Little Ice Age. The transgressive stages are characterized by different mollusk assemblages: slightly brackish-water species were dominant in the early New Caspian basin, the presence of Didacna genus mollusks was insignificant; the middle transgressive stage is noted for widely spread mollusks of Didacna genus and the advent of Cerastoderma glaucum; the species composition of the late transgressive stage is similar to the present-day one and at the latest stages of its evolution some of the Black Sea species appeared, such as Mytilaster lineatus (brought in by chance with ships in the early 20th century) and Abra ovatа (acclimatized intentionally as a sturgeon feed in the mid-20th century). The regressive phases when the sea level went down to 9 m corresponded to the Subboreal thermal maximum of the Holocene and the period of warming and decreasing rainfall in the Volga drainage basin.

Upper Pleistocene deposits of the Srednyaya Akhtuba section (basic for the Lower Volga area) were studied by the method of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL). Eleven dates corresponding to different paleogeographic stages of development of the region were received. It allowed constructing the geochronological scheme of development of the studied region of the Lower Volga area and correlating it with paleogeographic events in the Caspian Sea, as well as with the glacial and interglacial rhythmics of the late Pleistocene on the East European Plain. The beginning of the late Pleistocene (MIS 5e, Mikulino interglacial epoch) is characterized by formation of a soil horizon outside the zone of influence of the Late Khazarian transgression of the Caspian Sea. The transitional stage to the Valdai glacial era is reflected in the section by the horizons of fossil soils (MIS 5c, dating 102 500±5160 years ago and 5a, dating 68 280±4170 years ago) divided by loess subaeral sediments (MIS 5d, dating 112 630±5400 years ago; and MIS 5b, dating 87 620±4100 years ago). The first glacial stage (Kalinin) of the Valdai glaciation (MIS 4) is characterized by formation of loess strata. The final phase of its sedimentation dating 48 680±3100 years ago corresponds to the beginning of the interstadial warming (MIS 3) when the Caspian Sea was in a regressive state. The second half of the interstadial warming (MIS 3) in the Lower Volga area is represented by alluvial strata dating 36 780±3000, 35 500±2800 and 27 000±1580 years ago. Soil formation traces reflecting the heterogeneity of climatic conditions of the era are recorded in its structure. The early stage of Khvalynian transgression developed in the Caspian Sea at the time. The era of degradation of the late Valdai (Ostashkovo) glaciation (MIS 2, dating 15000±1000 and 13000±500 years ago) is characterized in the Lower Volga area by accumulation of chocolate clay strata of Khvalynian transgression of the Caspian Sea. The end of the Holocene stage of sedimentation is dated («control date») back to 720±70 years ago. The first experience of dating of the upper Pleistocene deposits of the Lower Volga area by OSL method showed its prospects both for creation of the geochronological scheme of deposits and events of the region, and for their correlation with global climate changes, paleogeographic events in the Caspian Sea and on the East European Plain.

Представлены данные о впервые вскрытом на дне Каспийского моря ательском горизонте. Методом сейсмоакустического профилирования определено его распространение, положение и условия залегания в толще верхнечетвертичных образований и соотношение с вмещающими отложениями. Изучение керна скважин показало, что горизонт сложен континентальными суглинками, супесями, включающими торфоподобные органические остатки. Они бедны биогенными остатками, содержащими редкие пресноводные виды моллюсков. Отложения накапливались в озерных водоемах, заполняющих впадины, выработанные в толще верхнехазарского горизонта. Впервые выполненные по гуминовым кислотам определения радиоуглеродного возраста позволили определить время на­копления ательских отложений в интервале 40-45 тыс. калиброванных лет ВР.

This article presents the results of experimental (on cell cultures) and clinical (in children’s groups) studies of recombinant interferon alpha-2b medication (Grippferon). Our aim was to examine the virus-inhibitory activity of this medication (against adenovirus) and its preventive effect (on causative agents of ARVI), which allows us to use this medication as a preventive measure against adenovirus (as well as any other) infection in children’s groups.

Materials of seismo-acoustic profiling of Quarternary deposits within the Shirotnaya structure of the Northern Caspian Searegion are presented, as well as the results of lithological, biostratigraphical, pollen and geochronological analyses of drill samples to the depth of 100 m. A complex stratum of Caspian sediments up to 28 mthick lies between well-defined layers of regression sediments (Chernoyar and Atelsk). The stratum includes deposits of two transgression basins, i.e. Late Khazar and Girkan, with different faunal complexes. The Late Khazar complex is characteristic of a shallow to moderately deep transgression basin. Presence of semi-desert grass associations and almost total absence of forest communities speak for the arid climate of that epoch. The Girkan sediments are typical to a higher transgression. Larger percentage of tree species and presence of both xerophytes and herbs indicate a certain climate cooling and humidification. Finding of Corbicula fluminalis in basin sediments speaks to the higher temperature of theNorth Caspian Sea and the influence of fresh water within the Shirotnaya structure. The results of the study confirm G.I. Popov’s ideas of the Girkan transgression during the Late Pleistocene evolution of theCaspian Sea. The Girkan basin was formed during the warm Mikulin epoch and its highest level and the largest water discharge through theManychRiver dated to the transition stage between the Mikulin interglacial epoch and the Valdai Ice Age.