Residual stresses appeared with time due to the imperfection of the material production process. Sometimes the redistribution of residual stresses is the reason of cracks initiation in the tested object on one of the manufacturing stages or this redistribution increases them up to the critical value, when a small external load results in breakage ofthis object. Relaxation is the main reason of redistribution of residual stresses and it can occur without extemal influence or ifthere is heating, static and cyclic loads. Relaxation results in change of the sizes and shapes of the tested object. The dimensional stability is especially important in modern high technologies, in particular in the use of compact discs for the storage of information.Modem CDs are produced from polycarbonate, possessing an effect of birefringence. It allows to make an estimation of stresses at CDs by the method of photoelasticity. A metallized coating put on one of a CD surfaces provides ideal conditions for registration of interference picture observed in the reflected light. When investigating the stresses in CDs with the use of reflective V-type plane polariscope the solving equations become similar to those used in a photoelastic coating method. The present work discusses the results of the research of the residual stresses in CDs with various operation time produced by various firms and by different technologies (punching, laser recording). A simple optical method ofthe NDT ofCDs at various stages oftheir manufacturing is offered.

The interrelation of the severity of the epidemiological situation in a particular country and its institutional characteristics (including the level of health care, quality of management, the level of public trust, cultural characteristics, etc.) is considered. As a result, using the developed index of the severity of the epidemiological situation, the institutional characteristics that most affect the effectiveness of the measures applied were determined. It was figured out that of the 16 characteristics considered, only two (the level of employment and trust in the government) have a medium statistical correlation with the severity of the pandemic. Three more characteristics (prevalence of secular-rational values, degree of urbanization, GDP PPP per capita) have a correlation close to the medium. The remaining characteristics (including health care costs, government efficiency, etc.) have either a weak correlation wiыth severity, or actually do not have it. The results obtained indicate insufficient use and reassessment of existing institutional capacities at the initial stage of the pandemic, as well as insufficient reliability of morbidity and mortality statistics in a number of countries. In conclusion, based on the analysis of statistical indicators, recommendations are given to improve the effectiveness of the use of institutional capacity to counter epidemiological threats, improve this potential, increase the effectiveness of protective and restrictive measures that reduce the severity of the epidemiological situation.

The article is devoted to actual tendencies of development of local government system in India after gaining of the constitutional status. Considered such topics as the phenomenon of new leadership at the local level in the context of overcoming the traditional distribution of political power; feminization of panchayats; influence of regional parties on the activities of local government.