This article explores the individual nicknames from Northern Russian dialects that are motivated by distinctive speech characteristics and communication behaviors. The materials were drawn from the anthroponymic database of the Toponymic Expedition of Ural Federal University. Approximately 300 instances of individual nicknames were analyzed, with a significant portion being introduced into scholarly discourse for the first time. A classification of nicknames based on nomination motives is proposed, developed from accompanying motivational contexts that capture informants' narratives about the origins of specific nicknames. It is emphasized that this classification is fundamentally probabilistic in nature and reflects the linguistic awareness of naïve linguistic consciousness. The author concludes that the nicknames reveal both physical aspects of speech (such as speed, pitch, and timbre) and content-related features (including frequently used words and adherence to literary norms). The most prominent categories include “Frequency of Word Usage,” “Speech Defects,” and “Communication Behavior and Style.” It has been established that the primary model for nickname formation is the fixation of an exemplar word within their internal structure, which imitates the individual's speech characteristics.

This study aims to explore the relationship between the semantic content of an utterance and its impact on the mental activity of individuals acquiring second language intonation. A neurolinguistic experiment was conducted to confirm the correlation between gaze direction/head movements and various cognitive tasks. The experimental framework involves a series of questions with varying intonational patterns and semantic contents. An eye-tracker was used to monitor the direction of the respondents’ gaze and head movements while they were listening and repeating a set of English utterances designed to practice various intonational patterns. It was established that at the listening and production stages when they encountered utterances, requiring significant cognitive effort to be comprehended, participants exhibited a higher number of saccades compared to utterances with a lower cognitive load. A tendency for gaze to move towards a specific area of the visual space was observed only when the utterance did not allow for multiple semantic interpretations. It was demonstrated that when participants were compelled to focus on the intonational contour of an utterance, they applied less cognitive effort to its semantic processing, which resulted in a reduction of the areas within the visual space where their gaze was fixed.

This article provides an in-depth examination of the urbanonyms that have emerged in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region between 2002 and 2024. The primary sources for this study are the minutes from the meetings of the Toponymic Commission, resulting in an analysis of a total of 996 entries. The authors propose a classification system for urbanonyms based on various motivational criteria, including notable individuals and events commemorated by these names, urban infrastructure elements, as well as geographical features and natural landscapes. The paper identifies and analyzes trends in the formation of the city’s toponymic landscape, taking into account the sociocultural specificity of the newly established urbanonyms. It emphasizes the connection between urbanonyms as markers of sociocultural identity and the processes of historical and cultural memory preservation within urban spaces. The study demonstrates that this urban environment is characterized by trends such as the use of Finno-Ugric and Ingrian names, the restoration of lost names, an ensemble approach to naming closely situated entities, and folk traditions of naming based on churches and temples. The authors conclude that the predominance of urbanonyms associated with culture, military events, and science underscores the significance of these domains for the city.

This paper examines lexical variation in the translation of religious terminology from the New Testament into Old English and Modern English, with a focus on shifts in theological semantics. Using the Wessex Gospels and eleven modern English Bible translations as primary materials, the study employs quantitative methods — including Shannon and Simpson indices, as well as Jaccard similarity coefficients — to assess translational divergence. Findings indicate that variation correlates strongly with source-word semantics and translation strategies, with core religious terms exhibiting minimal variation due to their entrenched liturgical tradition. Formal-equivalence translations demonstrate greater lexical affinity among themselves compared to dynamic-equivalence renderings. An inverse relationship emerges between translational diversity and intertextual overlap, while cross-period analysis reveals parallels in Old and Modern English translation challenges, suggesting consistent hurdles in conveying sacred lexicon. The results underscore the influence of translation tradition, theological framing, and translation philosophy on lexical choices. The study affirms that religious-text translation constitutes a complex, multidimensional process amenable to empirical linguistic analysis.

This article explores the semantic shifts and connotations of denotative terms referring to the residents of Mexico City, as well as their documentation in Spanish lexicography. It examines the influence of extralinguistic factors on the evolution of these meanings. The objective of this study is to identify the characteristics of the semantic development and cultural connotations of the denotative terms mexiqueño, defeño, chilango, and capitalino, along with the principles governing their representation in authoritative Spanish dictionaries and corpora. To achieve this, an etymological, linguistic-cultural, and pragma-semantic analysis of these linguistic units is conducted. The relevance of this article lies in its contributions to linguistics, lexicography, and intercultural studies, as it reveals the mechanisms of interaction between language, society, and institutional norms. Furthermore, the study of the evolution of these denotative terms reflects the processes of language adaptation to socio-political realities. The novelty of this research is evident in its comprehensive comparative analysis of the dynamics of all key nomenclatures for Mexico City residents, taking into account their pragma-semantics and lexicographic documentation. Special attention is given to the contradictions between artificial normativity and natural language development, raising questions about the role of academic institutions in language policy. The findings suggest that changes in dictionaries often lag behind actual usage, highlighting the crucial role of grassroots language practices in solidifying meanings. Future research prospects include the potential application of this approach as a model for studying similar phenomena in other languages.

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the visual-verbal strategies employed in outdoor social advertising within China, a context characterized by high ideological engagement and cultural specificity. It introduces a typology of the interaction between verbal and visual codes, including the classification of image types and forms of creolization utilized in contemporary advertising formats. The empirical foundation is based on a corpus of 50 advertising posters captured in public spaces across Chinese cities during 2024-2025 through targeted photographic documentation. The methodological framework incorporates elements of semiotic and intent analysis, enabling a multifaceted description of the interacting components at both visual and verbal levels. The findings reveal that the predominant forms of creolization are repetitive and integrative models, reflecting the variability in structural organization of the posters and the specificity of their pragmatic orientation. Based on this analysis, an original classification of visual components is proposed, which systematically organizes graphic elements according to their semiotic and functional characteristics in the context of public social influence. Additionally, the existing typology of creolized texts developed by G.N. Telminov is refined and expanded. The results contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of visual-verbal influence in social advertising and may inform future interdisciplinary research.

This article presents a comparative analysis of the preverb systems in the Iron and Digor dialects of contemporary Ossetian. The relevance of this study lies in its contribution to addressing various grammatical issues within Iranian languages through a comparative lens. The functions of preverbs are described in detail, taking into account their dialectal variation and supported by a substantial corpus of illustrative linguistic data collected by the authors during dialectological expeditions. The degree of morphological integration of preverbs is also examined. It is reported that eight productive preverbs are present in the Iron variant of modern Ossetian, while the Digor variant contains seven. The study demonstrates that, alongside aspectual, locative, and deictic functions, Ossetian preverbs have developed abstract and detached semantics. The findings of this comparative analysis confirm that both the Iron and Digor dialects allow preverbs to convey meanings of action completion or transitions from one state (quality) to another in action verbs. It has been established that, based on morphosyntactic characteristics, Ossetian preverbs can be classified as “preverbs with limited autonomy.”

This article conducts a comprehensive diachronic analysis of the semantic transformations of the lexeme ‘gender’ within the English. The relevance of this study lies in its exploration of the linguocognitive mechanisms that have elevated the term to the status of a key concept, fostering a wide array of interdisciplinary research and becoming a significant ideological tenet within the framework of neoliberal values. It is argued that the newly ideologized meaning of the term arises from the artificial incorporation of the semantic feature of social construction of gender while diminishing the relevance of its biological nature. The notion of ‘gender’ is posited as a quasi-term based on its relative alignment with the ontology of the object it denotes. The article illustrates how the excessive proliferation of ideas surrounding the necessity for individuals to consciously choose their gender identity generates contexts in which the term is used ironically. The shift from a binary opposition of ‘male / female’ to a multiplicity of gender identities is interpreted as one manifestation of a broader trend toward deconstruction and transgression in postmodern philosophy. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that in everyday discourse, the word ‘gender’ functions as a politically correct equivalent of the noun ‘sex’, undergoing processes of determinologization and deideologization.

This study aims to identify and describe the structural components involved in the representation of Russian male and female characters in American films, taking into account the intermedial nature of cinematic works — specifically their verbal (speech) and visual (video) elements within the narrative structure. The analysis is based on a corpus of 24 films produced from the mid-1980s to 2021, all of which are connected to Russia and feature characters associated with the country. The analysis was conducted in two stages: (1) a corpus-based examination of English-language subtitles to identify concordances containing the root -russ-; (2) a qualitative analysis of the visual content corresponding to the identified concordances using subtitle timecodes. The results indicate that the construction of the Russian character involves several components: verbal (Russian spoken and written dialogue, voiceovers, isolated words in Russian, tattoos in Russian), visual (stereotypical elements of Russianness such as fur, vodka, samovar, accordion, military uniforms, Soviet symbols, the color red, etc.), and narrative (the conflict between Russians and Americans, their unity only against a common enemy; nuclear military conflict, espionage intrigues, secret agents and government structures, criminal organizations).

This paper provides a comprehensive review of theoretical and empirical approaches to the study of the hero archetype within the emerging digital and mediatized sociality, which reflects profound changes in contemporary society’s structure, value systems, and communication forms. It presents the results of a comparative analysis of traditional and modern heroic archetypes within the Russian media landscape, elucidating their interactions in the context of cultural digital transformation. The study pays particular attention to the influence of cyber-socialization, networked identities, digital communications, and algorithmic mechanisms on the processes of redefining heroism and the symbolic representation of individuals. It raises questions regarding the relationship between classical values of heroism, sacrifice, and glory with new reputational and rating practices associated with online success. The findings indicate that the contemporary hero is defined by media visibility, audience engagement, and digital capital. The research demonstrates that the digital environment establishes new criteria for heroic behavior and public recognition. It emphasizes that the heroic myth does not disappear but rather transforms, maintaining its function — an individual’s readiness to respond to the challenges of their time and reshape reality in the digital age. This investigation contributes to the development of media culture philosophy, social heroism theory, and the concept of digital humanism, opening avenues for interdisciplinary research.

This study examines the ideological narratives that accompanied the discussions regarding the translation of the Bible into Ashkharabar — the modern Armenian language — in the Armenian periodicals of Tiflis from 1876 to 1882. The analysis is based on materials from three key publications of this period: the liberal newspaper “Mshak” and the conservative newspapers “Meghu Hayastani” and “Ardzagank.” It is established that the discourse surrounding the translation of the Holy Scriptures became a significant element of ideological opposition, intertwining religious, linguistic, cultural, political, and economic interests. For liberals, the use of Ashkharabar was viewed as a means of enlightenment and strengthening national identity, while conservatives regarded Grabar as the sacred and normative language — a symbol of spiritual continuity and tradition. From the perspective of traditionalists, the translation of the Bible as an act of religious and cultural communication should be regulated by the Armenian Apostolic Church, as external influences were perceived as threats to national authenticity. The findings indicate that the Armenian press in the late 19th century served as a crucial arena for the formation and dissemination of ideological positions amidst the interplay of imperial (Russian and Ottoman), confessional, and cultural discourses.

This study investigates various forms of repetition in texts that describe the content of podcast episodes. The research corpus comprises 20 texts from two American podcasts and 20 texts from two British podcasts, all of which were selected from the top-ranked academic-themed podcasts of 2024 and 2025. Employing stylistic and linguistic-pragmatic analysis techniques, along with systematic organization, classification, and quantitative assessment of the data, a comparative method was utilized. The findings reveal that repetition serves as a means of rhetorical impact in these texts. It is shown that the analyzed English-language texts for episodes of American and British podcasts are characterized by a predominance of lexical repetition, heavily relying on the use of the address pronoun “you,” morphological repetition, and structural repetition within single sentences. The British corpus exhibits a more active engagement with parallel constructions and anaphoric repetition compared to the American texts. Additionally, a common feature across both corpora is the low frequency of epiphora, as well as repetitions of exclamatory and interrogative constructions. The conclusion is drawn that repetition in English-language concise texts is multifunctional: it aims to capture the audience's attention and stimulate their interest in the presented information.

This study investigates the linguistic parameters of media manipulation within the Kazakhstani media discourse, utilizing digital technologies. It addresses issues of covert psychological and informational influence in mass media. The complexity of the media manipulation phenomenon is highlighted, particularly its implicitness and obscured content. The research draws upon a corpus of 1,673 Russian-language media texts sourced from Kazakhstani online publications. Employing methods from corpus linguistics and descriptive linguistics, alongside discourse analysis techniques, the study establishes that the manipulative effect is generated through a combination of linguistic parameters that systematically enact hidden influence on the recipient. A classification of the identified linguistic parameters is proposed. The primary criteria for recognizing manipulative texts are suggested to be the frequency and contextual functioning of linguistic units with manipulative potential. The analysis utilized thematic dictionaries and algorithms to capture the most typical lexical, graphical, and grammatical features of manipulativeness. It is reported that fourteen thematic dictionaries were developed, encompassing lexical units with manipulative potential, including a dictionary of negative lexicon, a dictionary of colloquial and jargon language, a dictionary of invective lexicon, a dictionary of generalizers (pronouns), and a dictionary of intensifiers (amplifying words), among others.

This paper provides a comprehensive review of Russian academic works (2000–2025) on the literary representation of plants in world literature. Drawing on dissertations, monographs, encyclopedias, and scholarly articles, the study offers the first systematic overview of research examining botanical imagery with both fixed and non-fixed semantic functions. The analysis demonstrates that, since early Romanticism, plant imagery has acquired a pronounced imaginative dimension. Despite the growing prominence of polysemous botanical motifs from the 19th century onward, archetypal plant symbols persist even in contemporary texts. Key thematic clusters identified include: the study of floriography (the “language of flowers” or “selam”), floral poetic garlands and bouquets, the rose motif, the Christmas tree symbol, and unique authorial botanical constructions. The paper further presents an original analytical framework for interpreting key floral symbols — such as the rose, the fir tree, the nameless flower, the blue flower, and flowers of evil — contextualizing them within broader literary discourse. Findings indicate a significant increase in floropoetics scholarship between 2000 and 2025, signaling the maturation of this research domain. It has been demonstrated that a methodology for the study of plants is evolving, along with the establishment of a specialized terminology system. It has been found that the representation of plants has been thoroughly examined by domestic researchers; however, the field of floropoetics requires further development.

This study explores the reception of M.Yu. Lermontov’s traditions within the poetry of the Silver Age. The relevance of this research is underscored by the significance of Russian classical literature traditions as foundational to the integrity of national literary discourse, serving as a source of creative reflection for subsequent generations and a means of grappling with contemporary issues. The novelty of this investigation lies in the examination of how female poetic consciousness at the turn of the 19th to the 20th century engaged with Lermontov’s spiritual legacies, highlighting both shared and distinctive traits in creative continuity. The religious and aesthetic underpinnings of Lermontov’s artistic expression are emphasized, particularly his interpretations of the divine and earthly realms within a unified cosmological framework. The study identifies the reasons behind the enduring relevance of Lermontov’s insights in the literature of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Special attention is given to the female poetic line represented by the works of Anna Akhmatova, Zinaida Gippius, and Mira Lokhvitskaya. A typology of women’s poetry is developed based on their shared attraction to a common spiritual-aesthetic center. It is demonstrated that this poetry is intrinsically linked to the preservation of Lermontov’s primary ideological trajectory — the religious-aesthetic perspective. Furthermore, the analysis reveals unique characteristics in each poetess’s interpretation of various thematic, imagery-based, and stylistic elements from Lermontov’s vast legacy.

This study reconstructs the process of the emergence and establishment of the metaphor “book as companion” within the context of Russian literary development from the twelfth to the twentieth century, exploring its semantic spectrum. The analysis draws on a variety of sources, including literary texts, letters, literary-critical articles, and memoirs. It is established that the absence of this metaphor in early Russian literature can be attributed to the religious worldview of the time, which regarded texts as spiritual sustenance and guiding mentors rather than companions in earthly life. Furthermore, it is noted that this bibliometaphor is also absent at the dawn of the Enlightenment, as the extensive nature of reading during this period fostered a rapid exchange of texts, leaving little room for the notion of a book as a steadfast companion. The emergence of the “book as companion” metaphor in Russia is proposed to coincide with the Decembrist era. Early references to this concept are found in letters from A.F. Brigen, G.S. Batenkov during their Siberian exile, and A.A. Bestuzhev-Marlinsky, who was relocated from Siberia to the Caucasus. Positive connotations of this metaphor are illustrated through Brigen’s characterization of books as “dear, faithful companions” in his solitary Siberian existence. Conversely, a negative (astronomical) connotation is evident in Bestuzhev-Marlinsky's remarks on non-original texts, referring to them as “other companions alongside the guiding star.” The study demonstrates that in the twentieth century, the semantic spectrum of the bibliometaphor expands significantly.

This study examines the publication of Slavic poetry translations in “Russkii Vestnik” (The Russian Herald) within the framework of cultural, sociopolitical, and editorial developments during the second half of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Drawing on issues of “Russkii Vestnik” from 1856 to 1904, the analysis focuses on translations from Polish, Czech, and Serbo-Croatian (now Serbian and Croatian) languages. The journal’s inclusion of Western and Southern Slavic poetry is presented as an active contribution to intercultural dialogue within the Slavic world. The article demonstrates that the frequency of these translations correlates with key geopolitical events, most notably the Polish Uprising of 1863–1864, the Slavic Congress of 1867, and the Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878, which sought to liberate Southern Slavs from Ottoman rule. Polish literature in “Russkii Vestnik” is shown to be dominated by translations of Adam Mickiewicz, whose works resonated ideologically and aesthetically with his Russian contemporaries and, for later readers, reflected the legacy of the Pushkin era. Meanwhile, translations and adaptations of Czech and Serbian poetry (including folk traditions) highlight the affinities between Russian and Slavic literary and cultural traditions.

This study analyzes the sentiments of the Soviet rural poor in the late 1920s through the lens of generational history. The authors identify three distinct generations within the Soviet countryside of the 1920s: the “Children of the Revolution,” the “Generation of Revolutionary Break,” and the older generation. Drawing on archival documents, the research uncovers how these generations perceived the everyday realities of Soviet life during this period. It is emphasized that poor peasants, feeling supported by the authorities, began to recognize their significant role in transforming rural society; however, even among them, support for collectivization was largely declarative, with active collective farmers expressing dissatisfaction with their circumstances. A comparative analysis reveals that members of the “Children of the Revolution” were particularly sensitive to issues of social injustice in the NEP-era countryside and demonstrated a readiness for decisive action against “alien elements.” Similar sentiments were observed among the “Generation of Revolutionary Break,” yet this group, feeling a part of the peasant community, voiced discontent regarding the methods employed in grain procurement. It was established that the increasingly burdensome tax obligations were condemned by representatives of the older generation as well. The authors conclude that a prevailing trend among the sentiments of poor peasants was a hostile attitude towards wealthier peasants and local bureaucracies.

This article examines the history of establishing new logistical routes to support the salt industry within the Volga-Caspian transport corridor. The study highlights the construction of critical transport arteries — the Baskunchak and Astrakhan railway lines. The analysis draws on a combination of published legislative sources and previously unexplored archival documents, including administrative and regulatory records. The article underscores that modernization efforts during the post-reform era, state industrial and transportation policies, capital and labor mobility, and the rise of private enterprise — all within the resource-rich Volga-Caspian region — formed an interconnected economic framework. The findings suggest that the efficiency of this economic mechanism fostered the growth of resource-oriented industries and entrepreneurship, facilitated the settlement of peripheral territories, and integrated the Volga-Caspian region into the broader national economy. The study demonstrates the pivotal role of state regulation in ensuring effective coordination between the salt industry and the transport-logistics cluster of the Volga-Caspian region.

This study reconstructs the circumstances surrounding the construction of the “Druzhba-2” oil pipeline using previously inaccessible archival documents that reveal the motives and actions of the agencies overseeing this largescale project. The analysis draws on resolutions by top Soviet Party and state authorities, as preserved in the collections of the Russian State Archive of Contemporary History and the Russian State Archive of the Economy. The paper highlights the competitive struggle between two key Soviet ministries in the oil and gas sector for control over the operation of the strategically vital “Druzhba” pipeline and the construction of its second phase. The study seeks to elucidate the peculiarities of economic management at the highest levels of party and state authority. It is established that the first phase of the “Druzhba” pipeline was built under the supervision of Glavgaz (the USSR Main Gas Administration), owing to the agency’s prior experience in gas pipeline construction. However, upon the project’s completion, the economic and technological rationale for keeping the pipeline under gas industry control became obsolete. While the transfer of the pipeline from gas to oil authorities was met with reluctance, higher-level decisions in this matter are shown to have been prudent and well-founded. The study demonstrates that the phased commissioning of pipeline sections enabled significant savings in oil transportation costs, ultimately offsetting construction expenses.

This article examines the establishment and development of museums under the auspices of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society (IRGS) in Siberia and the Far East. It explores the institutional preconditions and historical foundations for the creation of these museums, along with data reflecting the growth of their collections and their public reception. Special attention is given to the contributions of the Siberian (East Siberian) Branch of the IRGS in advancing museum development in the region. The primary methods of collection-building are identified, as well as the efforts of Society members to catalog and systematize museum holdings. The role of these museums in public education and knowledge dissemination is assessed. Notably, the Siberian Branch and its museum laid the groundwork for a broader network of museums in Omsk, Khabarovsk, Chita, Troitskosavsk-Kyakhta, Krasnoyarsk, and other Siberian and Far Eastern cities. The article pays particular attention to the logistical and financial challenges faced by these institutions. Findings suggest that IRGS branches and sub-branches had uneven income levels, which directly influenced their developmental trajectories. Despite budgetary constraints in some cases, affiliation with the IRGS provided structural support, facilitating the expansion of collections, improvements in cataloging practices, and increased public engagement.

This article examines the dynamics and specific characteristics of the development of the healthcare institutional network in the Penza Region during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It introduces into scholarly discourse a body of previously unpublished archival materials. The study outlines the general directions of the restructuring of the healthcare system’s administrative and organizational framework. We analyze quantitative trends in the region’s hospital, outpatient, and inpatient care infrastructure. Particular emphasis is placed on shifts in the accessibility of inpatient medical care for different population groups, accounting for demographic fluctuations. A central focus of the inquiry is the modernization of the curative-preventive network’s structure, specifically its increasing specialization. The authors establish that the organizational transformation of the sector and the expansion of the healthcare institutional network, accompanied by a significant increase in budgetary expenditures, yielded positive outcomes for public health. However, it is demonstrated that the pace of development of the Penza Region’s medical facilities lagged considerably behind the average rates for the Russian Republic. Consequently, access to qualified medical care remained a significant challenge for a substantial portion of the population, particularly in rural areas.

This article investigates rationalistic sectarian movements of a Protestant nature that gained prominence within the territory of Tobolsk province from the late nineteenth century through the early twentieth century. The study draws upon archival documents housed at the State Archive of Tobolsk as well as publications in the local ecclesiastical newspaper “Tobolskiye Eparkhialnyye Vedomosti” and works authored by representatives of Orthodox clergy. Analysis of these sources leads to several key conclusions. Firstly, it is observed that Protestant sects such as Stundists, Baptists, Mennonites, and Adventists began appearing on provincial soil towards the end of the nineteenth century. Secondly, the growth in numbers of adherents to these sects was significantly influenced by legislation enacted between 1905 and 1906 which introduced greater religious tolerance. Furthermore, the dissemination of foreign-derived rationalist doctrines emerged as an important trend in the evolution of Russian religious sectarianism during this period. A critical finding is highlighted regarding challenges faced by both provincial and diocesan authorities when attempting to categorize specific religious communities into distinct rationalist sectarian categories. These difficulties stemmed not only from the sheer diversity of theological interpretations but also from common practices among Stundists, Baptists, and Mennonites who frequently shifted allegiances across different denominations. Lastly, while new teachings rarely held broad appeal for indigenous Siberian populations, increases in sect membership were largely driven by migration patterns involving settlers relocating from European and southern regions of Russia.

This article examines the evolution of personnel policies within the Ministry of Internal Affairs concerning the formation of gubernatorial bodies during periods of socio-political transformation in Imperial Russia. It analyzes changes in governor appointments over the second half of the nineteenth century into the early twentieth century. The study encompasses 47 provinces of European Russia, excluding Astrakhan and Orenburg Governments. Chronologically, it spans from the beginnings of Alexander II’s zemstvo reforms until the outbreak of World War I. A comprehensive timeline of annual appointments is presented for this period. Key conditions leading to significant generational shifts among governors are identified as being linked with the Great Reforms era and the epoch of P.A. Stolypin. The role of vice-governor positions as a reserve pool for future gubernatorial appointments is also explored. Findings indicate that reformative periods and times of social instability were characterized by increased administrative turnover rates. During such transformative eras, conservative staffing strategies shifted towards appointing individuals without prior experience in vice-gubernatorial roles, thereby creating new generations of provincial administrators.

This study explores the issue of unwarranted awards conferred upon civilians in the Rostov region during World War II by military units stationed in the area. The primary sources for this research include archival documents, which are introduced into scholarly discourse for the first time. It has been established that the regional prosecutor’s office promptly identified instances of unjustified awards granted to individuals among the local party, Soviet, and economic leadership. The findings indicate that the regional party leadership took decisive action to combat such practices, as reflected in the resolution passed by the Bureau of the Rostov Regional Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks) on May 26, 1943. The measures implemented can be interpreted both as a proactive response by the regional party leadership to address identified abuses in the Rostov region, in accordance with state legislative directives (Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR Decree of May 2, 1943), and as an attempt to evade accountability to higher party authorities for violations committed by local party and economic officials, as well as for the negligence displayed by regional party authorities regarding these transgressions. It is noted that the special resolution adopted by the regional committee’s Bureau aimed at rectifying these violations and improving the prevailing situation played a crucial role in preventing similar infractions in the future.

This study investigates the relationship between the United States and Venezuela during World War II with a focus on the role of petroleum resources in shaping U.S. foreign policy toward Venezuela. It analyzes how Venezuelan oil reserves influenced American strategic interests and examines diplomatic efforts by the United States to secure stable access to Venezuelan oil amid competition from Britain. The research draws upon archival documents from the U.S. State Department, treaties between American and Venezuelan officials, as well as scholarly publications related to international relations, history of the petroleum industry, and U.S.-Latin American relations. Special attention is given to key figures within both governments who significantly impacted decision-making processes concerning petroleum matters. The findings reveal that America's wartime interests in Venezuela necessitated new approaches and structural changes in implementing its petroleum diplomacy: an office dedicated specifically to addressing oil-related issues was established at the State Department, while foundations for cooperation were laid between the U.S. government and private American oil companies. These results contribute to understanding the origins of contemporary Venezuela's dependence on the petroleum sector and its ties with the United States.

This article explores the struggle of British women to gain access to medical education and practice during the second half of the nineteenth century. It presents an analysis of documentary and narrative sources as well as contemporary scholarly literature. Central focus is given to the activities of Britain’s first female physicians. The reasons behind the development of women’s medicine are examined, along with its connection to the broader fight for women’s rights. Prejudices within Victorian society against female doctors are discussed. Florence Nightingale’s contribution to professionalizing nursing and validating women’s contributions to healthcare is highlighted. The role of the Women’s Medical Society and College established by J. Edmunds is analyzed, including the causes leading to their closure. Challenges faced by British women attempting to obtain a degree from Edinburgh University between 1869 and 1874 are addressed. Attention is also paid to the establishment of the London School of Medicine for Women, which became foundational for women’s medicine throughout the Empire. Key events include the Medical Act of 1876 that allowed women to legally practice medicine and the lifting of restrictions on female membership in the British Medical Association. Ultimately, it is concluded that through overcoming societal stereotypes and drawing support from progressive segments of society, this small group of pioneering British women demonstrated the necessity and importance of professional female medical care beyond traditional roles such as nurses or midwives.