A QTL Resource and Comparison Tool for Pigs: PigQTLDB

During the past decade, efforts to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) in pigs have resulted in hundreds of QTL being reported for growth, meat quality, reproduction, disease resistance, and other traits. It is a challenge to locate, interpret, and compare QTL results from different studies. We have developed a pig QTL database (PigQTLdb) that integrates available pig QTL data in the public domain, thus, facilitating the use of this QTL data in future studies. We also developed a pig trait classification system to standardize names of traits and to simplify organization and searching of the trait data. These steps made it possible to compare primary data from diverse sources and methods. We used existing pig map databases and other publicly available data resources (such as PubMed) to avoid redundant developmental work. The PigQTLdb was also designed to include data representing major genes and markers associated with a large effect on economically important traits. To date, over 790 QTL from 73 publications have been curated into the database. Those QTL cover more than 300 different traits. The data have been submitted to the Entrez Gene and the Map Viewer resources at NCBI, where the information about markers was matched to marker records in NCBI’s UniSTS database. Having these data in a public resource like NCBI allows regularly updated automatic matching of markers to public sequence data by e-PCR. The submitted data, and the results of these calculations, are retrievable from NCBI via Entrez Gene, Map Viewer, and UniSTS. Efforts were undertaken to improve the integrated functional genomics resources for pigs

An overview of the PubChem BioAssay resource

The PubChem BioAssay database (http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov) is a public repository for biological activities of small molecules and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) hosted by the US National Institutes of Health (NIH). It archives experimental descriptions of assays and biological test results and makes the information freely accessible to the public. A PubChem BioAssay data entry includes an assay description, a summary and detailed test results. Each assay record is linked to the molecular target, whenever possible, and is cross-referenced to other National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database records. ‘Related BioAssays’ are identified by examining the assay target relationship and activity profile of commonly tested compounds. A key goal of PubChem BioAssay is to make the biological activity information easily accessible through the NCBI information retrieval system-Entrez, and various web-based PubChem services. An integrated suite of data analysis tools are available to optimize the utility of the chemical structure and biological activity information within PubChem, enabling researchers to aggregate, compare and analyze biological test results contributed by multiple organizations. In this work, we describe the PubChem BioAssay database, including data model, bioassay deposition and utilities that PubChem provides for searching, downloading and analyzing the biological activity information contained therein

The Regional Project “Technologies in Language and Cultural Adaptation of Children of Immigrants from the CIS Countries”

The article deals with the positive practice of introducing the system of interconnected adaptive events in Tyumen region. The events target at inclusing children of immigrants, who study at local schools, in Russian educational space. And this inclusing should be gradual and consistently organized. The authors of the paper describe the project concept. Its topicality is due to migration flows, which are constantly increasing in Tyumen region. The project has been successfully tested. It proves that the strategy in acculturation of immigrants has been correctly chosen. The basis of the project is a multipurpose approach to the problem of adopting children of immigrants in Russian social and cultural situation, which is new and unfamiliar for them. It shows that integration events are more effective, if various target groups are covered. Among them there are school children themselves, adult immigrants, who are their parents, school teachers, working in heterogeneous classes, and representatives of Government bodies and diasporas. The technologies and methods, which are used during the project, can be reproduced in the regions with significant migration flows

“South American Version” in the Modern Russian Travelogue

В статье рассматривается образ Латинской Америки как фрагмент геопоэтической картины мира. Актуальность исследования обусловлена сакральным характером южноамериканского пространства: открытие центров энергии Мачу-Пикчу, Пачакамака и других священных индейских городов влечет в эти заповедные места ученых и художников. Объектом исследования являются тексты травелогеров И. Стогоff’а и В. Шанина, посетивших ряд стран Южной Америки (Перу, Аргентина, Чили, Эквадор). Предметом исследования становится специфика пространства Южной Америки в литературе о путешествиях. Цель исследования — изучить феномен путешествия, репрезентируемого сквозь призму оппозиции «свое — чужое». Достижению поставленной цели способствует решение ряда задач, связанных с определением места травелога в современной российской литературе и образа Латинской Америки в историческом, этнографическом и культурном контекстах. В результате исследования авторы статьи приходят к выводу о том, что увлечение российских травелогеров Латинской Америкой — своего рода попытка погружения в ментально чужую реальность, которая никогда не станет своей. В травелогах Ильи Стогоff’а и Валерия Шанина репрезентируется образ места, в котором не работают традиционные законы мироустройства. Существуя в пространстве другого полушария, в мире латиноамериканского карнавала, травелогеры стремятся описать в своих текстах не только те или иные географические и культурные объекты, но и фиксируют свое внутреннее состояние, кардинально отличающееся от обычного. Путешественник, оказавшись в Южной части Западного полушария, начинает ощущать себя совершенно по-другому. Пытаясь постигнуть жизненную стратегию человека, живущего в ином мире, авторы-персонажи тем не менее не готовы воспринимать это пространство как свое и продолжают репрезентировать его как чужое. Таким образом, в текстах травелогов о Латинской Америке оппозиция «свое — чужое» становится . This article deals with the image of South America, which is represented as a fragment of the geopoetical model. The relevance of the study rests upon sacred nature of the South American space. Such energy centers, as Machu Picchu and Pachacamac, as well as other sacramental cities of indigenous peoples in South America attract researchers and artists in these sanctuary places. The object of the study involves the travelogues by Ilya Stogoff and Vitaly Shanin, who have visited several countries in South America (Peru, Argentina, Chile and Ecuador). The subject of study is the peculiarity of the South American space in the travel literature. The aim of the study is to examine the phenomenon of travel, which is represented through the opposition “own vs. alien”. It requires solving the following objectives: to determine the travelogue position in modern Russian literature; and to define Latin America image in historical, ethnographic, and cultural contexts. The authors of the study conclude, that the Russian traveloguers’ interest in Latin America is a kind of an attempt to penetrate into a mentally alien reality, which will never become native to them. In I. Stogoff’s and V. Shanin’s travelogues there is a description of a place, where the traditional world laws do not work. From another hemisphere, in the South American carnival space, the writers tend to show not only certain geographical and cultural objects in their texts, but also to fix their unwonted internal state. The other hemisphere makes the travelers feel quite differently. The narrators try to comprehend the vital strategy of a human living in another world. However, they do not perceive this space as their own and continue to represent it as alien. So, in the travelogues about Latin America, the opposition “own vs. alien” is the key. Thus, socio-cultural and mental interactions with another reality, assimilation of cultural codes, new geographical objects and perception of the other space peculiarity create a unique Latin American story in V. Shanin’s Internet bestseller “Around the World for $280” and I. Stogoff’s journalist’s entries “Apocalypse yesterday: Commentary on the book of Daniel”. The temptation of experiencing another space allows the narrators to explain how the phenomenon of Latin American civilization impacts someone’s world model through another cultural context

The authentic text in teaching Russian as a foreign language

Возросший интерес иностранных студентов и школьников к русскому языку, их стремление учиться в России обусловили поиск новых практик культурно-лингвистической адаптации. Работа с аутентичными текстами на занятиях по русскому языку как иностранному является одним из успешных способов преодоления межкультурных и языковых барьеров и способствует формированию коммуникативных компетенций, позволяющих иностранцам свободно чувствовать себя в иноязычной среде, эффективно общаться с носителями русского языка. Статья посвящена практике использования аутентичных текстов детской литературы в обучении русскому языку иностранцев (уровни А1 — А2). Авторы акцентируют внимание на особой роли данных текстов в процессе становления языкового сознания. Предлагаемая в статье разработка занятия является не только материалом обучения, но и базисом для совершенствования методики преподавания русского языка как . In our contemporary society the desire of foreign pupils and students to learn the Russian language and to study in Russia is increasing, which demands searching for the new ways of their cultural and linguistic adaptation. Exercising with authentic texts is a most useful method in teaching Russian as a foreign language, as it makes possible to overcome the cross-cultural and language barriers and develop communicative competence. As a result, foreigners adapt more comfortably in another cultural situation, and their communication with native speakers of Russian becomes more effective. The article deals with the problem of applying authentic texts of children’s literature in teaching foreigners, who learn Russian at A2 level. The authors of the article highlight the defining role of these texts in the development of linguistic consciousness. The tutorial project, which is represented in the article, is both a training material and a way to improve teaching techniques in Russian

Historical dynamics of poetic imagery in the russian poetry on siberiaof the XVIII — beginning of XX c.

На обширном историко-литературном материале рассматривается историческая динамика сибирского текста русской лирики; выявляются ключевые символы художественного пространства Сибири; устанавливается генезис и судьба поэтической топики; показан диалогический характер авторских поэтических моделей сибирского . The vast historical and philological material allows to observe the historical dynamics of the Siberian text of Russian lyrics; the key-symbols of the fictional image of Siberian space are found out; the genesis and fate of the poetical topic are described; the dialogical character of the authors’ poetic models of Siberian locus is shown

A QTL Resource and Comparison Tool for Pigs: PigQTLDB

During the past decade, efforts to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) in pigs have resulted in hundreds of QTL being reported for growth, meat quality, reproduction, disease resistance, and other traits. It is a challenge to locate, interpret, and compare QTL results from different studies. We have developed a pig QTL database (PigQTLdb) that integrates available pig QTL data in the public domain, thus, facilitating the use of this QTL data in future studies. We also developed a pig trait classification system to standardize names of traits and to simplify organization and searching of the trait data. These steps made it possible to compare primary data from diverse sources and methods. We used existing pig map databases and other publicly available data resources (such as PubMed) to avoid redundant developmental work. The PigQTLdb was also designed to include data representing major genes and markers associated with a large effect on economically important traits. To date, over 790 QTL from 73 publications have been curated into the database. Those QTL cover more than 300 different traits. The data have been submitted to the Entrez Gene and the Map Viewer resources at NCBI, where the information about markers was matched to marker records in NCBI’s UniSTS database. Having these data in a public resource like NCBI allows regularly updated automatic matching of markers to public sequence data by e-PCR. The submitted data, and the results of these calculations, are retrievable from NCBI via Entrez Gene, Map Viewer, and UniSTS. Efforts were undertaken to improve the integrated functional genomics resources for pigs.This article is from Mammalian Genome 16 (2005): 792, doi:10.1007/s00335-005-0060-9.</p