Comprehensive Hydrological Survey of Glukhoye Lake, a Typical Forest Lake on Kunashir Island (Kuril Islands)

In order to study a typical forest lake on Kunashir Island, which is Glukhoye Lake, a bathymetric mapping was conducted using a Lowrance echo sounder, during which 25 transects and 3 longitudinal tacks were measured. According to the results of bathymetric mapping, 5 points of hydrological and hydrochemical synchronous survey were carried out, within the framework of which hydrochemical indicators were measured and 9 water samples were taken for further analysis. At the same locations, 5 sediment samples were collected and described during the ground survey. Based on these studies, a comprehensive hydrological characterization of Glukhoye Lake, a typical forest lake on Kunshir Island, has been formulated. It is located in a forested area between the hills, has a shallow basin, few tributaries and slow water exchange. The lake is characterized by very little variability in hydrochemical parameters in depth and in plan. The predominance of hydrocarbonate and sodium ions is quite typical for surface water bodies of volcanic massifs. The hypothesis of a continuing close link between the lake and the ocean has not been confirmed

Glycosylation of immunoglobulin G is regulated by a large network of genes pleiotropic with inflammatory diseases

Effector functions of immunoglobulin G (IgG) are regulated by the composition of a glycan moiety, thus affecting activity of the immune system. Aberrant glycosylation of IgG has been observed in many diseases, but little is understood about the underlying mechanisms. We performed a genome-wide association study of IgG N-glycosylation (N = 8090) and, using a data-driven network approach, suggested how associated loci form a functional network. We confirmed in vitro that knockdown of IKZF1 decreases the expression of fucosyltransferase FUT8, resulting in increased levels of fucosylated glycans, and suggest that RUNX1 and RUNX3, together with SMARCB1, regulate expression of glycosyltransferase MGAT3. We also show that variants affecting the expression of genes involved in the regulation of glycoenzymes colocalize with variants affecting risk for inflammatory diseases. This study provides new evidence that variation in key transcription factors coupled with regulatory variation in glycogenes modifies IgG glycosylation and has influence on inflammatory diseases

Chronicles of nature calendar, a long-term and large-scale multitaxon database on phenology

We present an extensive, large-scale, long-term and multitaxon database on phenological and climatic variation, involving 506,186 observation dates acquired in 471 localities in Russian Federation, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Belarus and Kyrgyzstan. The data cover the period 1890-2018, with 96% of the data being from 1960 onwards. The database is rich in plants, birds and climatic events, but also includes insects, amphibians, reptiles and fungi. The database includes multiple events per species, such as the onset days of leaf unfolding and leaf fall for plants, and the days for first spring and last autumn occurrences for birds. The data were acquired using standardized methods by permanent staff of national parks and nature reserves (87% of the data) and members of a phenological observation network (13% of the data). The database is valuable for exploring how species respond in their phenology to climate change. Large-scale analyses of spatial variation in phenological response can help to better predict the consequences of species and community responses to climate change.Peer reviewe

Phenological shifts of abiotic events, producers and consumers across a continent

Ongoing climate change can shift organism phenology in ways that vary depending on species, habitats and climate factors studied. To probe for large-scale patterns in associated phenological change, we use 70,709 observations from six decades of systematic monitoring across the former Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Among 110 phenological events related to plants, birds, insects, amphibians and fungi, we find a mosaic of change, defying simple predictions of earlier springs, later autumns and stronger changes at higher latitudes and elevations. Site mean temperature emerged as a strong predictor of local phenology, but the magnitude and direction of change varied with trophic level and the relative timing of an event. Beyond temperature-associated variation, we uncover high variation among both sites and years, with some sites being characterized by disproportionately long seasons and others by short ones. Our findings emphasize concerns regarding ecosystem integrity and highlight the difficulty of predicting climate change outcomes. The authors use systematic monitoring across the former USSR to investigate phenological changes across taxa. The long-term mean temperature of a site emerged as a strong predictor of phenological change, with further imprints of trophic level, event timing, site, year and biotic interactions.Peer reviewe

A STUDY OF RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN SOCIOECONOMIC INDICATORS AND RATES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING VICTIMIZATION IN EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA

This study uses IBM SPSS(Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) statistical software to determine if there is a statistically significant relationship between the numbers of officially identified human trafficking victims and social and economic indicators that can significantly affect the victimization rate. These indicators are GDP per capita, Human Development index, levels of government corruption, internet usage, GINI index, numbers of agricultural laborers, and tourism rates. The regions chosen for this study are Europe and Central Asia. The data is obtained from the official reports or statistics published by the United Nations, the World Bank, and the Central Intelligence Agency

Optimization tools for regulating investment activities in the agricultural sector

The subject, the purpose of the work. The following is the generalization of the methodological and practical provisions for the investment development of the agro-industrial complex. Solved assignment of the mechanism of regulation of investment activity in the agricultural sector. Developed proposals for prospective instruments of direct and indirect support of investment activity in the agricultural sector. The role of innovation as a special form of investment in the agricultural sector. Subject of research - scientific and practical bases of regulation of investment activity in the agricultural sector. The purpose of this study is to develop evidence-based recommendations on optimization of the instrumentation for regulation of investment activity in the agro-industrial complex in conditions of modern socio-economic transformations. Method or methodology of work. Was used General scientific and specific methods and techniques of scientific research – induction and deduction, analysis and synthesis, scientific abstraction, method of expert evaluations, a formal method (for the analysis of texts of regulatory legal acts). The results of the work. The scientifically-based proposals on further optimization of the instrumentation for regulation of investment activity in the agricultural sector. The scope of the results. The obtained results can be applied in the formation and realization of state agrarian policy, state investment policy, the state of monetary policy. Conclusions. Scientifically substantiated proposal on the feasibility of Strategy of investment development of the agro-industrial complex. The aim of the Strategy should determine structure improvement and increase of the investment resources involved (sent) to the types of economic activities agro-industrial complex taking into account declared priorities of socio-economic and food policy. Among the instruments of direct support for investment activities in the agricultural sector are the following: full or partial state financing of investment and innovative projects in selected economic activities in agriculture; implementation of programs of public-private partnership in the implementation of the system of investment projects; providing guarantees (state, local) in the implementation of investment projects (full, partial); support of major investment projects, including with attraction of foreign investments; promotion of individual investors (investors) to obtain subsidies, grants, investment loans. Among the instruments of indirect support of investment activity in the agricultural sector offered the following: maintaining the appropriate level of producers ' income; price regulation; support the development of market and production infrastructure; payment of costs of operating activities; state financing of scientific and scientific-technical activities on creation of new varieties of plants and breeding animals; instruments for regional support of food industry and agricultural production; organization of non-profit marketing and promotion of the domestic food industry and agriculture in world markets

Розробка електродугових псевдосплавних покриттів для зміцнення мідних стінок кристалізаторів

On the basis of the requirements for protective coatings of molds, the materials of pseudoalloys were determined for applying coatings from two wires. One of the wires is copper, which provides maintaining a sufficient thermal conductivity of the layer, and the second one consists of a material, which provides wear resistance of a coating. As the second wire, the wires NiCr, Mo, Ti and a flux-cored wire were used, consisting of a steel sheath and a filler – FeB powder. Based on the calculation data on the thermal conductivity of coatings, taking into account the coefficients of heat transfer, the estimation of the influence of these coatings on the thermal processes in the mold (temperature of the wall surface, intensity of heat removal from the wall) was performed. Applying electric-arc spraying, the pseudoalloy coatings with a uniform distribution of components were produced, one of which is copper with a hardness of 1,320–1,460 MPa, and the second one is the strengthening component NiCr, with a hardness of 2,440 MPa; Mo, with a hardness of 5,350 MPa; Ti, with a hardness of 7,540 MPa; FeB, with a hardness of 7,050 MPa.As a result of measurements of the coefficient of thermal expansion of coatings, it was found that the coating Cu-NiCr is the closest to the coefficient of thermal expansion of copper. Then it is followed by Cu-FCW (FeB), Cu-Ti and Cu-Mo. The abrasive wear resistance of pseudoalloy coatings at a room temperature exceeds pure copper 1.4–2.3 times. The tests of pseudoalloy coatings for resistance to wear during heating to 350 °C showed that the wear resistance of Cu-NiCr and Cu-FCW (FeB) coatings exceeds the resistance of pure copper 4.5 and 22 times, respectively. The hot hardness of the coating Cu-NiCr in the range of 20–400 °C exceeds the hardness of pure copper 3 times.На основании требований, предъявляемых к защитным покрытиям кристаллизаторов, были определены материалы псевдосплавов для нанесения покрытий из двух проволок. Одной из проволок является медная, которая обеспечивает поддержание достаточной теплопроводности слоя, а вторая состоит из материала, обеспечивающего износостойкость покрытия. В качестве второй проволоки использовались проволоки NiCr, Mo, Ti и порошковая проволока, состоящая из стальной оболочки и наполнителя – порошка FeB. На основании расчетных данных по теплопроводности покрытий с учетом коэффициентов теплоотдачи, выполнена расчетная оценка влияния этих покрытий на тепловые процессы в кристаллизаторе (температуру поверхности стенки, интенсивность отвода тепла от стенки). Электродуговым напылением получены псевдосплавные покрытия с равномерным распределением компонентов, одним из которых является медь, твердостью 1320–1460 МПа, а вторым – упрочняющий компонент NiCr, твердостью 2440 МПа; Mo, твердостью 5350 МПа; Ti, твердостью 7540 МПа; FeB, твердостью 7050 МПа.В результате измерений коэффициента термического расширения покрытий установлено, что наиболее близким к коэффициенту термического расширения меди является покрытие Cu-NiCr, далее Cu-ПП(FeB), Cu-Ti и Cu-Mo. Стойкость псевдосплавных покрытий к абразивному изнашиванию при комнатной температуре превышает чистую медь в 1,4–2,3 раза. Испытания псевдосплавных покрытий на сопротивление износу при нагреве до 350 оС показали, что износостойкость покрытий Cu-NiCr и Cu-ПП(FeB) превышает стойкость чистой меди в 4,5 и 22 раза, соответственно. Горячая твердость покрытия Cu–NiCr в диапазоне температур 20–400 оС превышает твердость чистой меди в 3 разаНа підставі вимог, що пред'являються до захисних покриттів кристалізаторів, були визначені матеріали псевдосплавів для нанесення покриттів з двох дротів. Одним з дротів є мідний, який забезпечує підтримку достатньої теплопровідності шару, а другий складається з матеріалу, що забезпечує зносостійкість покриття. В якості другого дроту використовувалися дроти NiCr, Mo, Ti і порошковий дріт, що складається з сталевої оболонки та наповнювача – порошку FeB. На підставі розрахункових даних по теплопровідності покриттів з урахуванням коефіцієнтів тепловіддачі, виконана розрахункова оцінка впливу цих покриттів на теплові процеси в кристалізаторі (температуру поверхні стінки, інтенсивність відводу тепла від стінки). Електродуговим напиленням отримані псевдосплавні покриття з рівномірним розподілом компонентів, одним з яких є мідь, твердістю 1320–1460 МПа, а другим – зміцнюючий компонент NiCr, твердістю 2440 МПа; Mo, твердістю 5350 МПа; Ti, твердістю 7540 МПа; FeB, твердістю 7050 МПа.В результаті вимірювань коефіцієнта термічного розширення покриттів встановлено, що найбільш близьким до коефіцієнта термічного розширення міді є покриття Cu-NiCr, далі Cu-ПП (FeB), Cu-Ti і Cu-Mo. Стійкість псевдосплавних покриттів до абразивного зношування при кімнатній температурі перевищує чисту мідь в 1,4–2,3 рази. Випробування псевдосплавних покриттів на опір зношуванню при нагріванні до 350 °С показали, що зносостійкість покриттів Cu-NiCr і Cu-ПП (FeB) перевищує стійкість чистої міді в 4,5 і 22 рази, відповідно. Гаряча твердість покриття Cu-NiCr в діапазоні температур 20–400 оС перевищує твердість чистої міді в 3 раз