Landscape genomics of a widely distributed snake, Dolichophis caspius (Gmelin, 1789) across Eastern Europe and Western Asia

Across the distribution of the Caspian whipsnake (Dolichophis caspius), populations have become increasingly disconnected due to habitat alteration. To understand population dynamics and this widespread but locally endangered snake’s adaptive potential, we investigated population structure, admixture, and effective migration patterns. We took a landscape-genomic approach to identify selected genotypes associated with environmental variables relevant to D. caspius. With double-digest restriction-site associated DNA (ddRAD) sequencing of 53 samples resulting in 17,518 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), we identified 8 clusters within D. caspius reflecting complex evolutionary patterns of the species. Estimated Effective Migration Surfaces (EEMS) revealed higher-than-average gene flow in most of the Balkan Peninsula and lower-than-average gene flow along the middle section of the Danube River. Landscape genomic analysis identified 751 selected genotypes correlated with 7 climatic variables. Isothermality correlated with the highest number of selected genotypes (478) located in 41 genes, followed by annual range (127) and annual mean temperature (87). We conclude that environmental variables, especially the day-to-night temperature oscillation in comparison to the summer-to-winter oscillation, may have an important role in the distribution and adaptation of D. caspius

Zwitterionic iodonium species afford halogen bond-based porous organic frameworks

Porous architectures characterized by parallel channels arranged in honeycomb or rectangular patterns are identified in two polymorphic crystals of a zwitterionic 4-(aryliodonio)-benzenesulfonate. The channels are filled with disordered water molecules which can be reversibly removed on heating. Consistent with the remarkable strength and directionality of the halogen bonds (XBs) driving the crystal packing formation, the porous structure is stable and fully preserved on almost quantitative removal and readsorption of water. The porous systems described here are the first reported cases of one-component 3D organic frameworks whose assembly is driven by XB only (XOFs). These systems are a proof of concept for the ability of zwitterionic aryliodonium tectons in affording robust one-component 3D XOFs. The high directionality and strength of the XBs formed by these zwitterions and the geometrical constraints resulting from the tendency of their hypervalent iodine atoms to act as bidentate XB donors might be key factors in determining this ability

Innovative Ecosystem of Mining Industry

The mining industry belongs to the leading sectors of the global economy. However, the technologies used in it can not always be called innovative. This is due to both the specifics of the industry and the general technological lag of Russian economy. At present, it is almost impossible for individual enterprises to achieve significant success apart. In order for the process of innovative technological development to proceed more intensively, it is necessary to consider it through the prism of the ecosystem, i.e. a set of participants and the corresponding environment of this process, allowing to achieve a synergistic effect. The concept of an innovative ecosystem is based on the triple helix model, which is in turn based on a partnership between the state, science and business. They can interact effectively on the basis of technopark structures, which are a key element of the modern innovation ecosystem. The study was conducted on the basis of the Kemerovo region – a region in which a significant part of the Russian mining industry is concentrated. One of the tools for implementing the ecosystem approach to managing the development of the mining industry should be the main element of the innovation infrastructure of the Kemerovo region – the Kuzbass Technopark

Assessment of the Regional Knowledge Index for Sustainable Development of Siberian Mining Regions

At present time, the issue of defining indicators of sustainable development corresponds to the processes of modern economy development such as digitalization, technological convergence. They are going to replace mining from GDP of industrial countries and decease environmental pressure by expanding economy of knowledge. For the first time, the knowledge index was calculated by the World Bank. It should be noted that the World Bank calculated the indices for each individual country. This would allow developing the necessary decisions and government policies to build a knowledge economy. This goal is pursued by the authors of the article, but in relation to the sustainable development of the mining regions of Russia. The article discusses various approaches to assessing the regional knowledge index, and proposes a new methodology for its assessment based on the main determinant of the matrix and its logarithm. Based on the proposed methodology, the knowledge index was evaluated, which shows the conditions for the knowledge economy development in the mining regions of Russia. The rating of the mining regions of Siberian Federal District was built. The main conditions affecting the formation of the knowledge economy in the mining regions of Siberia in the context of their sustainable development are identified

Techno-Park Assistance in Mining Regions’ Integration into the Innovative Economy

A characteristic feature of the innovative economy is the increasing role of human capital, knowledge and high technologies. According to the indicators of innovative development, Russia lags behind the Western countries. At the same time, the development of Russian regions is extremely uneven. First of all, this applies to the mining regions. Technological parks should bridge the gaps and help the mining regions to integrate into the new economy. The authors consider the essence of techno-parks, the history of their establishment in Russia, and also analyze the dynamics of the main indicators of their functioning. When considering techno-park structures of the Tomsk and Kemerovo regions, the most important problems inherent these regions are highlighted. The authors analyze in detail the results of the innovation territorial center "ITC Tomsk" and the Kuzbass Techno-park, determine the main activities for the integration of mining regions in the innovation economy and characterize the positive effect of the techno-park structures functioning

Digital Transformation of Mining Enterprises

The level of competitiveness of the mining industry is determined primarily by productivity and operational excellence. Digitalization is becoming a determining factor that will enable companies in this field to remain competitive in the future. In the mining industry, the transition to new, more advanced working methods is usually slower due to the scale and complexity of production processes, as well as due to the significant volumes of technological modernization costs. Therefore, some enterprises in this area are not actively using digital technologies. Nevertheless, the world's leading mining companies are investing heavily in the development of modern energy and automation technologies in order to increase production and environmental efficiency, reduce the use of manual labor and energy expences. It is becoming clear that digital technology is opening up new opportunities to dramatically increase productivity and profit margins. The article examines the main directions of digital transformation of mining enterprises, reveals the main opportunities and threats

Socio-Economic Indicators of Mining Regions Development

The paper analyzes the dynamics of socio-economic indicators of the development of coal-mining regions of Russia. The aim of the study is to analyze the socio-economic situation of coal-mining regions and determine the factors that influenced the social processes in the region. Based on statistical data for the period from 2010 to 2019, there was conducted the analysis of changes in economic indicators such as: income of the population; gross regional product per capita; nominal average monthly wage; unemployment rate; the proportion of the population with incomes below the subsistence level; housing commissioning in the regions. Analysis of the data showed that the most favorable social position of all the analyzed coal-mining regions is observed in the Sakhalin region. The “outsiders” in terms of social status among the coal-mining regions are the Trans-Baikal Territory and the Kemerovo Region. Improvement of the social situation in coal-mining regions is associated with the adoption by the Russian Government of a program to combat poverty, an increase in social payments to certain categories of citizens, an indexation of old-age pensions, etc. It was also revealed that social processes in the regions are influenced by prices for hydrocarbons on the world market and objective economic phenomena such as business cycles

Innovative Technological Potential as the Basis of Mining Regions Sustainable Development in the Era of Knowledge

The increasing role of human capital, knowledge and high technology indicates the formation of a new stage of economic development – the knowledge economy, from which innovation becomes an integral part of business. However, in terms of innovation development, Russia lags behind the western countries several times. At the same time, the development of Russian regions is extremely uneven. First, it concerns mining regions. For analysis, a key mining cluster of Russian Federation was chosen – Kemerovo Region. The article assesses the innovative potential of the region, and identifies the most pressing problems that impede its integration into the knowledge economy. Solving existing problems should be carried out through a set of measures aimed at developing partnerships of government, mining science and mineral resources extracting business, creating conditions for attracting and retaining highly qualified specialists to the mining enterprises, creating an appropriate infrastructure, increasing the region’s investment attractiveness, developing interregional and international cooperation in the field of subsoil extracting management

Assessing the Impact of Innovation Activity on Mining Industry Results

The role of the mining industry in the world economy is enormous, since its branches are the most important source of industrial raw materials, without which the intensive growth of modern industry would be completely impossible. However, the technologies used in it are not always innovative. Despite the fact that the mining industry occupies a fairly small percentage in the structure of the world economy and does not exceed 10%, it is an important source of income for many states, including Russia. However, the changes that are now observed in the global economy require new approaches to organizing activities. Despite its profitability, this industry is quite difficult to manage. The way from the extraction of raw materials to their end user is very complicated and depends on many conditions. For the successful integration of the Russian mining industry into new economic realities, it is necessary to intensify innovative processes by investing financial resources in new equipment and high technology. At the same time, acceleration of the development of the mining industry can be achieved in the chain “mining industry - processing industry” through the introduction and use of nanotechnology, which can significantly improve the quality of raw materials

Spatial and Technological Periphery of Types of Economic Activity and Regions in Transition to Sustainable Development

Currently, the economic development of an industry or type of activity cannot be considered in isolation from the spatial component. Any organization is located in some territory. It has to interact not only with suppliers and consumers, but also with the population that lives in this territory. Therefore, the economic efficiency of the activities of any organization is directly related to the social-and-economic situation of a particular space, territory. The regions in which mining enterprises are located and systemically important are no exception. These organizations belong to the “technological periphery”. New technological solutions, which are the core of economic development for new industries and some of the traditional industries, come here with a delay. Moreover, for many of their consumers, their products are not in demand. And the consequence of this is not only the economic problems of the enterprise, but also the social problems of the region or settlement. The article considers the problem of functioning for these enterprises and regions in the conditions of a new technological structure