The purpose of this study is to analyze the main factors of socialization that affect a person at the stage of admission to a higher education institution. The study is based on a 2020 survey of students of St. Petersburg Mining University. The paper analyzes such factors as family influence, academic performance, changes in the circle of friends, and new conditions. As a result, each of the studied factors was characterized, as well as the phenomenon of value conflict and the possibility to consider high academic performance at university as an indicator of successful socialization were noted.

The main stakeholders in the gas distribution sector (government, shareholders and consumers) have different interests and goals. The state, as a regulatory body, should find the best regulatory methods in order to achieve the maximum effect of public welfare: direct (pricing) and indirect (price influencing). The use of the “costs plus” method makes it possible to set the lowest possible tariffs for the transportation of natural gas, but it leads to the emergence of a “tariff precedent”, a loss of profits for companies, limited investment in the development of the sector. In order to stimulate the increase in the efficiency of gas distribution organizations, the implementation of the fundamental principle of gas distribution sector regulation is proposed. The use of incentive regulation will help find a balance in setting prices for gas networks in order to cover the costs of companies, increase profitability, stimulate the development of networks and innovations, establish the optimal price for consumers.

In this article actual topics concerned with mechanical properties of bulk materials, usage of computer vision and artificial neural networks in this research are discussed. The main principles of the system for analysis of bulk materials mechanical characteristics are described. Bulk material outflow behaviour with predefined parameters (particles shapes and radius, coefficients of friction, etc.) was modelled. The outflow was modelled from the calibrated conical funnel. Obtained dependencies between mechanical characteristics and pile geometrical properties are represented as diagrams and graphs.