The effect of multiple paternity on genetic diversity during and after colonisation

In metapopulations, genetic variation of local populations is influenced by the genetic content of the founders, and of migrants following establishment. We analyse the effect of multiple paternity on genetic diversity using a model in which the highly promiscuous marine snail Littorina saxatilis expands from a mainland to colonise initially empty islands of an archipelago. Migrant females carry a large number of eggs fertilised by 1 - 10 mates. We quantify the genetic diversity of the population in terms of its heterozygosity: initially during the transient colonisation process, and at long times when the population has reached an equilibrium state with migration. During colonisation, multiple paternity increases the heterozygosity by 10 - 300 % in comparison with the case of single paternity. The equilibrium state, by contrast, is less strongly affected: multiple paternity gives rise to 10 - 50 % higher heterozygosity compared with single paternity. Further we find that far from the mainland, new mutations spreading from the mainland cause bursts of high genetic diversity separated by long periods of low diversity. This effect is boosted by multiple paternity. We conclude that multiple paternity facilitates colonisation and maintenance of small populations, whether or not this is the main cause for the evolution of extreme promiscuity in Littorina saxatilis.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, electronic supplementary materia

Финансы в России и мире: концептуальные аспекты

The modern digital economy requires “new finance”. The subject of the study is to clarify their content, and the goal is to develop the author’s view of the term of “finance”. The relevance of the topic is dictated by the need to analyze complex theoretical questions of technological transformation of financial markets and activities of financial intermediaries. The scientific novelty consists of the theoretical contribution of the theory of finance evolution in the digital era. The main research methods are systemic and logical approaches, the method of theoretical cognition, the historical method and the method of scientific abstraction. The results of the study are clarification the essence of finance and applied issues of their use in Russia and abroad. It will contribute to the development of a scientific doctrine of digital assets circulation; will allow to refine the model of the activities of financial intermediaries’ regulation in our country and lay the foundation for the formation of global norms and rules for the development of national and international financial markets of the CIS, the EAEU, the SCO, and BRICS countries. The conclusions of the study are: a) confirmation of the author’s position on the essence of finance. The paper indicates that, in the context of the economy’s digital revolution, the substance of economic categories stays constant, although their forms vary according to innovation, behavioral characteristics, and other factors; b) without rejecting the rational knowledge formed in the Western scientific school, the authors emphasize that the social sciences cannot be global, they have a national character; c) based on the investigation, the author defines “finance” as a distribution category in the development and utilization of financial resources.Современная цифровая экономика требует «новых финансов». Предметом исследования является выяснение их содержания, а целью — разработка авторской позиции толкования дефиниции «финансы». Актуальность темы продиктована необходимостью исследовать сложные теоретические вопросы технологической трансформации финансовых рынков и деятельности финансовых посредников. Научная новизна состоит в обосновании эволюции теории финансов в цифровую эпоху. Основными методами исследования являются системный, логический, теоретического познания, исторический и  научной абстракции. Результаты исследования включают выяснение сущности и прикладных вопросов использования финансов в России и за рубежом, что, по мнению авторов, будет способствовать развитию научной доктрины обращения цифровых активов; позволит скорректировать модель регулирования деятельности финансовых посредников в нашей стране и заложить основу формирования наднациональных норм и  правил развития национальных и  международных финансовых рынков стран СНГ, ЕАЭС, ШОС, БРИКС. Выводы исследования включают: а) обоснование авторской позиции о сущности финансов. В статье подчеркивается, что в условиях цифровой трансформации экономики сущность экономических категорий остается неизменной, в то время как их формы видоизменяются под влиянием инноваций, поведенческих аспектов и других факторов; б) не отвергая рациональное знание, сформировавшееся в западной научной школе, авторы подчеркивают, что общественные науки не могут быть глобальными, они имеют национальный характер; в) на основе проведенного анализа дано авторское определение дефиниции «финансы» как распределительной категории в процессе формирования и использования финансовых ресурсов

Magnetic phase transition in the itinerant helimagnet MnSi: Thermodynamic and transport properties

A careful study of thermodynamic and transport properties of a high-quality single crystal of MnSi at ambient pressure suggests that its transition to a helical magnetic state near 29 K is weakly first order. The heat capacity, temperature derivative of resistivity, thermal expansion, and magnetic susceptibility exhibit a specific structure around the phase transition point, interpreted as a combination of first- and second-order features. Striking mirror symmetry between the temperature derivative of resistivity and the thermal expansion coefficient is observed. Conclusions drawn from these experiments question prevailing views on the phase diagram of MnSi

Changes of Granite Rapakivi under the Biofouling Influence

Interdisciplinary study of granite rapakivi biofouling in the natural and anthropogenic environment (St. Petersburg, Vyborg, Southern Finland) was carried out. The biodiversity of microorganisms (cyanobacteria, micromycetes, and organotrophic bacteria) and various types of biofilms are characterized. The influence of external factors on the changes of cyanobacterial biofilms is shown. The features of biofilms localization on the granite surface in an urban environment and in natural outcrops are studied. Differences in the biofilms metabolites composition at the granite quarries and monuments of St. Petersburg are shown. The behavior of chemical elements during the bioweathering of granite is estimated. The role of biofilms in the accumulation of chemical elements on the surface of granite is established. The dynamics of chemical elements leaching from granite may depend on the type of biofilm developing on granite

Вызовы фондовых рынков Евразийского экономического союза: аналитический подход

Strengthening cooperation of the Eurasian Economic Union member-countries is the best solution to mitigate trade wars, unfair competition and worsening of international economic relations. The article reveals the significant correlation of the stock indices based on the analysis of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) stock markets. The objective of the article is to introduce recommendations aimed at optimising cooperation of EAEU member-states and expanding their interaction in the financial sphere. Bloomberg data for 2000-2017 together with Excel tools have been used which allowed to prove the hypothesis of interdependence between the most developed stock markets: Moscow and Kazakhstan. The graphical analysis of the research has showed that a correlation between the indicators of these stock trading floors appeared in 2008, when the effects of the global financial and economic crisis were being overcome. There was no interdependence between the indices of the Moscow and Kazakhstan marketplaces until 2007. The research has showed that the EAEU stock market indices depend significantly on the production of raw materials and commodity prices. In the conditions of the financial relations development, the EAEU has proposed to use the world experience of strengthening the economic cooperation of European countries and their methods to overcome the crisis phenomena of the 1950s. The EAEU has to harmonize financial policies and financial relations, simplify entrepreneur access to lending, improve tax breaks for exporters of manufactured goods and grant subsidies to new sectors of the economy. The European experience can help the EAEU to overcome difficulties and solve cooperation problems.Укрепление сотрудничества стран Евразийского экономического союза — лучшее решение для смягчения последствий торговых войн, недобросовестной конкуренции и ухудшения международных экономических отношений. В статье представлены результаты анализа индексов фондовых рынков Евразийского экономического союза (ЕАЭС), на базе которых выявлена их значительная корреляция. Цель статьи — разработка рекомендаций, направленных на оптимизацию сотрудничества стран — членов ЕАЭС и расширение взаимодействия сторон в финансовой сфере. Использованы данные Bloomberg за период 2000–2017 гг. и технология Excel, что позволило на базе публикуемых индексов торговых площадок ЕАЭС подтвердить гипотезу о взаимозависимости наиболее развитых фондовых рынков: московского и казахстанского. Графический анализ исследования показал, что корреляция показателей указанных торговых площадок возникла в 2008 г. —  в период преодоления последствий глобального финансово-экономического кризиса. До 2007 г. взаимозависимости индексов московской и казахстанской торговых площадок не наблюдалось. Проведенное исследование показало, что индексы фондовых рынков ЕАЭС в значительной степени зависят от производства сырья и цен на сырьевые товары. В условиях развития финансовых отношений ЕАЭС предложено использовать мировой опыт укрепления экономического сотрудничества европейских стран и методы преодоления ими кризисных явлений 50-х гг. ХХ в. ЕАЭС необходима гармонизация финансовой политики и финансовых отношений, упрощение доступа предпринимателей к кредитованию, совершенствование налоговых льгот экспортерам промышленных товаров и порядка предоставления субсидий новым отраслям экономики. Использование европейского опыта в ЕАЭС может способствовать преодолению проблем и решению задач сотрудничества

Transcriptomic resources for evolutionary studies in flat periwinkles and related species

The flat periwinkles, Littorina fabalis and L. obtusata, comprise two sister gastropod species that have an enormous potential to elucidate the mechanisms involved in ecological speciation in the marine realm. However, the molecular resources currently available for these species are still scarce. In order to circumvent this limitation, we used RNA-seq data to characterize the transcriptome of four individuals from each species sampled in different locations across the Iberian Peninsula. Four de novo transcriptome assemblies were generated, as well as a pseudo-reference using the L. saxatilis reference transcriptome as backbone. After transcripts’ annotation, variant calling resulted in the identification of 19,072 to 45,340 putatively species-diagnostic SNPs. The discriminatory power of a subset of these SNPs was validated by implementing an independent genotyping assay to characterize reference populations, resulting in an accurate classification of individuals into each species and in the identification of hybrids between the two. These data comprise valuable genomic resources for a wide range of evolutionary and conservation studies in flat periwinkles and related taxa

Features of Morphometric Changes in Platelets and Red Blood Cells in Women with Various Forms of Hypertensive Disorders in the Third Trimester of Pregnancy

Background. Arterial hypertension during pregnancy is accompanied by pronounced changes in microcirculation and hemostasis in the system, the state of which is largely determined by the structural and functional properties of red blood cells and platelets. The study of quantitative and morphometric characteristics of blood cells will expand the existing understanding of their role in the pathogenesis of hypertensive disorders.Aim of the research. To study the quantitative and morphometric indicators of red blood cells and platelets in pregnant women with various forms of hypertensive disorders, on the basis of which to develop an additional method for the diagnosis of preeclampsia. Materials and methods. 237 women in the third trimester of pregnancy were examined. The main group (167 women) included patients with various forms of hypertensive disorders. The comparison group included 70 pregnant women without signs of hypertensive disorders. The characteristic of clinical and anamnestic data of the studied groups is given. A comparative analysis of the number and morphometric parameters of red blood cells and platelets was performed.Results. With moderate and severe preeclampsia, a decrease in the level of red blood cells, hemoglobin and hematocrit was not accompanied by changes in red blood cell indices. In women with preeclampsia, regardless of the presence of chronic arterial hypertension, an increase in the average dry weight, average volume and degree of platelet anisocytosis was detected. In severe preeclampsia and preeclampsia with underlying of  chronic arterial hypertension, an increase in the number of large forms of platelets and their granulocytosis was revealed, and in addition, in severe cases of preeclampsia, a decrease in platelet level was noted.Conclusions. Modern hematological analyzers make it possible to establish the nature of not only quantitative, but also morphometric changes in red blood cells and platelets, thereby complementing the existing understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. Using average dry platelet mass and average blood pressure may be useful in diagnosing preeclampsia

СПОСОБ ВЫДЕЛЕНИЯ ЛИЧИНОК Toxocara canis ИЗ ПАРЕНХИМЫ ПЕЧЕНИ И ЛЕГКИХ ПЛОТОЯДНЫХ ЖИВОТНЫХ

The method of allocation of Toxocara canis larvae from parenchyma of liver and lung of carnivorous animals for postmortem diagnostics of toxocarosis is of-fered at a weak infection and in prepatent period. The received culture of larvae of T. canis can be used for studying pathogenesis of the diseases, carrying out genetic researches and receiving proteins with diagnostic and protective properties. The list of the equipment, reactants and solutions for allocation of T. canis larvae is given. The work course which consists of preparation of tests of tissue of a liver and lungs, preparation of artificial gastric juice, digestion of tissues, an assessment of the re-sults, concentration of T. canis larvae is described. For researches take samples of a parenchyma of lungs or a liver weighing 50 g, crush on a meat grinder. Samples digest to the current of 50 min. at a temperature of 41–42 °C. After 10 minute up-holding a deposit merge in Petri's cups and investigate on existence of T. canis lar-vae and their mobility. For concentration of a material a deposit centrifuge during 10 min.Предложен способ выделения личинок Toxocara canis из паренхимы печени и легких плотоядных животных для посмертной диагностики токсокароза при слабой инвазии и в период препатентной стадии. Полученную культуру личинок T. canis можно использовать для изучения патогенеза болезни, проведения генетических исследований и получения белков с диагностическими и протективными свойствами. Дан перечень оборудования, реактивов и растворов для выделения личинок T. canis. Описан ход работы, который состоит из подготовки проб ткани печени и легких, приготовления искусственного желудочного сока, переваривания проб тканей, оценки результатов, концентрации личинок T. canis. Для исследований берут пробы паренхимы легких или печени массой 50 г, измельчают на мясорубке. Пробы переваривают в течение 50 мин при температуре 41-42 оС при постоянном перемешивании. После 10-минутного отстаивания осадок сливают в чашки Петри и исследуют на наличие личинок T. canis и их подвижность. Для концентрации материала осадок центрифугируют 10 мин при 5000 об./мин