TYC 1031 01262 1: The First Known Galactic Eclipsing Binary with a Type II Cepheid Component

We present the discovery and CCD observations of the first eclipsing binary with a Type II Cepheid component in our Galaxy. The pulsation and orbital periods are found to be 4.1523 and 51.38 days, respectively, i.e. this variable is a system with the shortest orbital period among known Cepheid binaries. Pulsations dominate the brightness variations. The eclipses are assumed to be partial. The EB-subtype eclipsing light curve permits to believe that the binary's components are non-spherical.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figures, accepted to MNRAS Letter

Impact of infrastructure on socio-economic development of Russian regions: methodology and analysis

Relevance. Regional infrastructure development directly affects economic growth, social development and the quality of life. To identify the key areas of infrastructure development in Russian regions, it is necessary to develop a methodological approach to the analysis of the impact of infrastructure on socio-economic development, which determines the relevance of this study.Research objective. This study aims to improve the methodology of assessment of the role infrastructure plays in the socio-economic development of Russian regions.Data and methods. The analysis relies on a system of general and integral, static and dynamic indicators used to assess the current state and dynamics of infrastructure in regions. The analysis takes into account the structural and functional features of infrastructure. The proposed methodology comprises methods for obtaining comparative estimates of regional infrastructure development, which can be applied to compile regional rankings. The study also uses methods of econometric and K-means cluster analysis.Results.  A comparative analysis of the infrastructure development of Russian regions allowed us to assess the infrastructural potential of these regions, the discrepancies in infrastructure development and compare the infrastructure-related characteristics of the leading lagging regions. The results of econometric analysis as well as cluster analysis of regions based on general and integral dynamic indicators are discussed.Conclusions. The methodological approach proposed by the authors has been tested by using the data on Russian regions. The analysis has revealed the most typical problems faced by Russian regions. These problems should be taken into account in strategic decision- and policy-making

Influence of World Economic and Credit Ratings on the Investment Climate of the Republic of Belarus

In this article abstract is considered as the situation of the Republic of Belarus in the world economic and credit ratings. Also there are made the conclusions about the dynamic of analyzed indicators and tendencies of the differences of analyzed facts

Arctic Art & Culture

The popular science review includes the materials about educational, research, scientific and practical activity of the team from the Arctic State Institute of Culture and Arts, their partners, and the Northern Forum regions facilitating the modern image-making of the North and Arctic

A compendium and functional characterization of mammalian genes involved in adaptation to Arctic or Antarctic environments

Many mammals are well adapted to surviving in extremely cold environments. These species have likely accumulated genetic changes that help them efficiently cope with low temperatures. It is not known whether the same genes related to cold adaptation in one species would be under selection in another species. The aims of this study therefore were: to create a compendium of mammalian genes related to adaptations to a low temperature environment; to identify genes related to cold tolerance that have been subjected to independent positive selection in several species; to determine promising candidate genes/pathways/organs for further empirical research on cold adaptation in mammals

Arctic Art & Culture

The popular science journal includes the materials about educational, research, scientific and practical activity of the team from the Arctic State Institute of Culture and Arts and the Northern Forum regions facilitating the image-making of the North and Arctic

TECHNOLOGY OF SELF-DETERMINED LEARNING AS A NEW FORMAT OF CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION OF TEACHERS

Introduction. Continuing professional education (CPE) is a strategic resource of cardinal transformations, which are currently taking place in education. The essence of such transformations generally consists in necessary rejection of a subject-information learning model and transition to designing the model of vocational self-development and self-determination.The aim of this research was to reveal the essence of teachers’ professional development as the process of positional self-determination and formation of managerial position. The hypothesis of the study consists in the assumption that the technology of self-determined learning is the institutional form of mastering and implementing the practice of CPE for teachers as a practice of human potential development in the professional and anthropological self-determination of an adult learner.Methodology and research methods. The methodological basis of the study was the comparative educational strategy of CPE, which is embodied in the model of self-determined adult education, focused on the formation of the human ability to manage their own development in an unstable world through the development of new types of cultural thinking and behaviour. The methods of research of teachers’ management position included the system of the following initiatives: interviews, results of group reflections, content-analysis, methods of included observation using video recording of training sessions and educational products.Results and scientific novelty. The complex of diagnostic technologies allowed the authors to establish management positions of teachers (implementer, leader or strategist) and their ability to design the paths of own development and to organise the system of managerial challenges. As the most adequate technological scheme of self-determined learning, the authors tested the mechanism of projectresource management, which regulates the learner’s movement in the educational space from actions carried out in a particular situation in accordance with the circumstances to an activity determined by a local goal, then to the reflection of own activity elevating to the status of a new norm, and, finally, to the reflection of changes in their own position. It was established that the developmental trajectory of human potential in professiogenesis starts from mastering the subject and means of activity (implementer) and passes through building up funds in transforming a special subject of activity (leader) towards designing new standards of means and subject of activity (strategist).The authors introduce the concept of “anthropological self-determination of an adult in the educational process” as the process and the result of formation of own managerial position and development of a new identity in changing life circumstances.Practical significance of the present research is determined by the possibility of designing educational programmes, which ensure co-organisation of adult students in a single event-activity space based on the mechanisms of project-resource management through the system of managerial challenges.Введение. Дополнительное профессиональное образование является стратегическим ресурсом кардинальных трансформаций, которые происходят в настоящее время в сфере образования и суть которых в общем виде заключается в необходимых отстранении и отказе от предметно-информирующей образовательной модели обучения и переходе к конструированию модели профессионального саморазвития и самоопределения.Цель статьи – раскрыть суть дополнительного профессионального развития педагога как процесса самоопределения и становления его управленческой позиции. Гипотеза исследования состояла в предположении о том, что технология соответствующего обучения выступает институциональной формой освоения и реализации практик дополнительного профессионального образования педагогов как поэтапного становления «Человека возможного» в профессиогенезе и антропологического самоопределения взрослого обучающегося. Методология и методы. Методологической основой работы послужила компаративная образовательная стратегия дополнительного профессионального образования, которая воплощается в модели самоопределяющегося образования взрослых, ориентированного на формирование способности человека управлять собственным развитием в нестабильном мире посредством освоения новых типов культуры мышления и поведения. Методы исследования управленческой позиции педагогов включали систему мероприятий: интервью, результаты групповых рефлексий, контент-анализ, использование методик включенного наблюдения с видеозаписью учебных занятий и образовательных продуктов. Результаты и научная новизна. Комплекс диагностических методик позволил выявить управленческие  позиции педагогов («исполнитель», «лидер», «стратег»), а также их способность проектировать ситуации собственного развития и выстраивать систему управленческих задач. В качестве наиболее адекватного технологической схеме самоопределяемого обучения в исследовании апробирован механизм проектно-ресурсного управления, регламентирующий движение обучающегося в образовательном пространстве от действий, осуществляемых в конкретной ситуации в соответствии с существующими обстоятельствами к деятельности, детерминированной локальной целью; затем – к рефлексии собственной деятельности, чтобы придать ей статус новой нормы; и, наконец, – к рефлексии изменений своей позиции. Установлено, что траектория развития «Человека возможного» в профессиогенезе начинается от освоения предмета и средств деятельности (исполнитель), пролегает через наращивание средств в преобразовании специального предмета деятельности (лидер) к конструированию новых эталонов предмета и средств деятельности (стратег). Авторы вводят в научный оборот новое понятие «антропологическое самоопределение взрослого человека в образовательном процессе» как этапы и результат становления собственной управленческой позиции, выработки новой личностной идентичности в изменяющихся жизненных обстоятельствах. Практическая значимость исследования состоит в продемонстрированных возможностях проектирования образовательных программ, обеспечивающих соорганизацию взрослых обучающихся в едином событийно-деятельностном пространстве благодаря запуску механизмов проектно-ресурсного управления через систему управленческих задач

Compilation and functional classification of telomere length-associated genes in humans and other animal species

Telomeres are the terminal regions of chromosomes that ensure their stability while cell division. Telomere shortening initiates cellular senescence, which can lead to degeneration and atrophy of tissues, so the process is associated with a reduction in life expectancy and predisposition to a number of diseases. An accelerated rate of telomere attrition can serve as a predictor of life expectancy and health status of an individual. Telomere length is a complex phenotypic trait that is determined by many factors, including the genetic ones. Numerous studies (including genome-wide association studies, GWAS) indicate the polygenic nature of telomere length control. The objective of the present study was to characterize the genetic basis of the telomere length regulation using the GWAS data obtained during the studies of various human and other animal populations. To do so, a compilation of the genes associated with telomere length in GWAS experiments was collected, which included information on 270 human genes, as well as 23, 22, and 9 genes identified in the cattle, sparrow, and nematode, respectively. Among them were two orthologous genes encoding a shelterin protein (POT1 in humans and pot-2 in C. elegans). Functional analysis has shown that telomere length can be influenced by genetic variants in the genes encoding: (1) structural components of telomerase; (2) the protein components of telomeric regions (shelterin and CST complexes); (3) the proteins involved in telomerase biogenesis and regulating its activity; (4) the proteins that regulate the functional activity of the shelterin components; (5) the proteins involved in telomere replication and/or capping; (6) the proteins involved in the alternative telomere lengthening; (7) the proteins that respond to DNA damage and are responsible for DNA repair; (8) RNA-exosome components. The human genes identified by several research groups in populations of different ethnic origins are the genes encoding telomerase components such as TERC and TERT as well as STN1 encoding the CST complex component. Apparently, the polymorphic loci affecting the functions of these genes may be the most reliable susceptibility markers for telomere-related diseases. The systematized data about the genes and their functions can serve as a basis for the development of prognostic criteria for telomere length-associated diseases in humans. Information about the genes and processes that control telomere length can be used for marker-assisted and genomic selection in the farm animals, aimed at increasing the duration of their productive lifetime

Communication Platforms for Cities: Critical Analysis of Management Technology

Development of digital technologies creates opportunities for the implementation of new forms and innovative methods into the state management system. For a long time, public administration specialists have discussed vividly the idea of an electronic state (e-government), as well as have de bated the advantages and disadvantages of specific digital technologies. Recently, urban communication platforms have become very popular, which indicates that the involvement of citizens into the public administration processes. In recent years, there has been a transition from a model of simple informing and providing public services with digital format to a model of active involvement of citizens through the so-called state platforms. The idea of “the state as a platform” involves the creation of digital platforms to attract business and civil society to receive services, organize discussions and votes on various issues, as well as exchange goods created by both state and non-state producers. The article provides an overview and analysis of existing urban communication platforms in Russia and abroad. To this end, the article used the method of comparative analysis of urban communication platforms based on the criterion of functional features. It was found that today in Russia there are four types of urban communication platforms, which differ in their goals and functionality. The article substantiates the following typology: (1) platforms (sections of sites, pages) of citizens’ appeals; (2) portals of urban (regional) problems; (3) portals for evaluating initiatives; (4) public participation portals / platforms. Communication platforms have been created in all constituent entities of the Russian Federation, but the level of citizen participation in their activities varies greatly. The article analyzes the obstacles to the development of urban communication platforms

Prioritization of genes associated with the pathogenesis of leukosis in cattle

Selection by means of genetic markers is a promising approach to the eradication of infectious diseases in farm animals, especially in the absence of effective methods of treatment and prevention. Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is spread throughout the world and represents one of the biggest problems for the livestock production and food security in Russia. However, recent genome-wide association studies have shown that sensitivity/resistance to BLV is polygenic. The aim of this study was to create a catalog of cattle genes and genes of other mammalian species involved in the pathogenesis of BLV-induced infection and to perform gene prioritization using bioinformatics methods. Based on manually collected information from a range of open sources, a total of 446 genes were included in the catalog of cattle genes and genes of other mammals involved in the pathogenesis of BLV-induced infection. The following criteria were used to prioritize 446 genes from the catalog: (1) the gene is associated with leukemia according to a genome-wide association study; (2) the gene is associated with leukemia according to a case-control study; (3) the role of the gene in leukemia development has been studied using knockout mice; (4) protein-protein interactions exist between the gene-encoded protein and either viral particles or individual viral proteins; (5) the gene is annotated with Gene Ontology terms that are overrepresented for a given list of genes; (6) the gene participates in biological pathways from the KEGG or REACTOME databases, which are over-represented for a given list of genes; (7) the protein encoded by the gene has a high number of protein-protein interactions with proteins encoded by other genes from the catalog. Based on each criterion, a rank was assigned to each gene. Then the ranks were summarized and an overall rank was determined. Prioritization of 446 candidate genes allowed us to identify 5 genes of interest (TNF, LTB, BOLA-DQA1, BOLA-DRB3, ATF2), which can affect the sensitivity/resistance of cattle to leukemia