Student Mobility as a Form of Education Internationalization: A Systems Approach to Management

According to the analysis of the existing internationalization strategies it is demonstrated that its main source is an international students’ mobility, which is based on ability, willingness and common interest in cooperation of three following subjects: countries importing education, education-exporting countries, higher educational institution of the exporting country, which provides its educational services for the citizens of the country importing education. The success of this process depends on a certain set of factor indicators in politics, economics, sociology and technology, which are peculiar to each of three participants. The authors propose common to all the participants list of criteria, which evaluate indicators of the stated factors according to the integrated scale: political (administrative) stability, degree of participants’ cooperation, legislation in educational sphere, mutual amiability of the subjects, level of administrative barriers, peculiarities of demographic situation, economic performance, demand for majors of training, logistic accessibility, the number of graduate students, language attraction of training programs, level of career-oriented activities, correspondence between the level of applicants’ acquirements and requirements of the education-exporting country, competition on the educational services market, accessibility of distance educational technologies, development level and dynamics of innovations. The article gives an integral estimation of the efficiency forecast for the work of exporting higher educational institution with the population of a particular education-importing country. This estimation is carried out by means of the analysis of the formed multi-level hierarchical structure. The convolution of hierarchical elements on each level of the hierarchical structure is done using a generalised f-mean, proposed by Kolmogorov – Nagumo. There are given examples of the proposed methodology implication for quantitative and comparative assessment of the potential of education-importing countries. Due to this, international services of the university determine the most attractive countries in terms of international students’ mobility organization and therefore concentration of administrative and financial resources in the chosen direction, in order to make decision on the university brand promotion on the foreign market of educational services. The model can be easily modified by adding the relevant or excluding irrelevant parameters for a given university

ФІЗІОЛОГІЧНІ ЕФЕКТИ СВІТЛА З ПЕРЕТВОРЕНОЮ ФУЛЛЕРЕНОМ ПРОСТОРОВОЮ СТРУКТУРОЮ

Background. The appearance of a new material containing fullerene and capable of changing the properties of light passing through it at the nanoscale caused interest in determining its physiological action. Experimental studies included assessment of pain and non-pain behavioral reactions of animals (formalin test). Electroencephalography was used to determine the characteristics of the response of the brain's default systems and human sensor-motor functions. The state of the higher nervous activity reflected the dynamics of indicators of mental performance during visual loads of varying complexity. We used polarized light (Bioptron device with a fullerene filter) and diffused light (Tesla HyperLight Eyewear glasses). It has been experimentally shown that light converted by fullerene causes significant physiological changes detected in the antinociceptive sphere, the central nervous system (CNS) and higher nervous activity (HNA). It was revealed a significant weakening of the pain response (analgesic effect) and an increase in the duration of sleep (sedative effect) with the application of «carbon» light on the locus of pain or on the acupuncture point. The many-month stay of animals under natural light passed through the fullerene filter revealed a slowdown in the development of some signs of aging (according to the dynamics of body weight, motor activity) in the absence of negative behavioral changes. Materials and methods. Results. The EEG-activity mosaic testified to the development of a more contemplative attitude to the introspective emotional experiences of past events with their active involvement in the figurative modeling of a hypothetical future. It has been established that in natural conditions the light transformed by fullerene facilitates the performance of the visual-motor task in the black-and-white digital sorting test by 16.5 %. This was equivalent to reducing the age of the CNS structures that participated in the processing of digital information by 14.3 %. The quality of work related to switching attention was improved: according to the color digital test, the execution time was shortened to 105.6 s versus 118.0 s in the control, the average time for switching attention from one character to another was — 1.85 s, against 2.03 s, and errors were made 2.7 times less. With prolonged correctional load, fullerene light contributed to the increase of the information processing rate in the visual analyzer, it increased attentiveness and weakened fatigue. The concentration ratio at the end of the performance of a long proof test in fullerene glasses decreased less (by 16.2 %) than in intact (23.6 %) or placebo (28.5 %) conditions. The latent period of the reaction to the appearance of the symbol was lower, and its deviation was less when compared with comparison groups. Switching attention with a load of 2000 characters has always been faster: 0.537 ± 0.05 s (fullerene), 0.572 ± 0.06 s (intact) and 0.544 ± 0.07 s (placebo). Similar dynamics existed for the latent period of the reaction, its physiological duration, and the time taken to complete the attention-shifting test. The quality of performance of intense mental load increased: the number of errors was 39.97 points, whereas, in intact conditions — 49.83, and placebo — 46.11 points. Conclusions. Modeling the standard situation in which the driver of a vehicle gets under extreme illumination, according to the dynamics of sensorimotor reactions and their correlation against the background of the EEG of the human brain, revealed an increase in the rate of inter-hemispheric information processes and an increase in the quality and effectiveness of decisions made.Экспериментально показано, что преобразованный фуллереном поляризованный (аппарат Биоптрон) или рассеянный (очки Tesla HyperLight Eyewear) свет вызывают достоверные физиологические изменения, выявленные в антиноцицептивной сфере, ЦНС и ВНД. Выявлено достоверное ослабление болевой реакции (анальгетическое действие) и увеличение продолжительности сна (успокаивающее действие). Многомесячное пребывание животных под фуллереновым освещением выявило замедление развития некоторых признаков старения. Мозаика ЭЭГ-активности свидетельствовала о развитии более созерцательного отношения к интроспективным эмоциональным переживаниям прошлых событий при активном вовлечении их в образное моделирование гипотетического будущего. Установлено, что в естественных условиях преобразованный фуллереном свет облегчает выполнение зрительно-моторных тестов. При длительной корректурной нагрузке фуллереновый свет, способствовал увеличению скорости переработки информации в зрительном анализаторе, повышал внимание и ослаблял утомляемость. Качество выполнения интенсивной умственной нагрузки возрастало. Моделирование «ослепления» водителя по данным сенсомоторных реакций на фоне ЭЭГ мозга человека выявило увеличение скорости межполушарных информационных процессов и повышение качества и эффективности принимаемых решений.Експериментально показано, що перетворене фуллереном поляризоване (апарат Біоптрон) або розсіяне (окуляри Tesla HyperLight Eyewear) світло викликають достовірні фізіологічні зміни, виявлені в антиноцицептивній сфері, ЦНС і ВНД. Виявлено достовірне ослаблення больової реакції (анальгетичну дію) і збільшення тривалості сну (заспокійливу дію). Багатомісячне перебування тварин під фуллереновим освітленням виявило уповільнення розвитку деяких ознак старіння. Мозаїка ЕЕГ-активності свідчила про розвиток більш споглядального ставлення до інтроспективного емоційних переживань минулих подій при активному залученні їх в образне моделювання гіпотетичного майбутнього. Встановлено, що в природних умовах перетворене фулереном світло полегшує виконання зорово-моторних тестів. При тривалому коректурному навантаженні фуллеренове світло, сприяло збільшенню швидкості перероблення інформації в зоровому аналізаторі, підвищувало уважність і послаблювало стомлюваність. Якість виконання інтенсивного розумового навантаження зростала. Моделювання «засліплення» водія за даними сенсо-моторних реакцій на тлі ЕЕГ мозку людини виявило збільшення швидкості міжпівкульних інформаційних процесів і підвищення якості та ефективності прийнятих рішень

Corvitin modulates the content of lipids in rat liver bile

Quercetin (QUE) and its water-soluble form сorvitin are medicinally important members of the fla­vonoid family and the most prominent dietary antioxidants. Numerous pharmacological effects of quercetin include protection against diseases, such as atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and cerebrovascular disea­ses. Corvitin modulates liver blood flow but its effects on liver lipid metabolism have not been understood. We investigated the influence of corvitin (2.5, 5, 10 mg/kg) on the formation and secretion of cholesterol (Chol), cholesterol esters (EChol), phospholipids (PLs), free fatty acids (FFAs), and triglycerides (TGs) into the bile. Secreted bile was collected during 2.5 h of the experiment. Lipid fractions of the bile were separated by thin-layer chromatography. We defined that administration of corvitin caused a significant (P < 0.05–0.001) increase in levels of all studied lipid components of bile. At a dose of 2.5 and 5 mg/kg corvitin increased bile content of Chol, PLs and FFAs,and at a dose of 10 mg/kg had the largest effect on the total production of EChol and TGs. We concluded that corvitin activates the liver lipids metabolism and processes of bile formation

Evaluation of probiotic lactobacillus as adjuvants for nasal immunization with chimeric pneumococcal vaccine

Vaccine protection against photogenic gram-positive bacteria including different species ofstreptococci is an important problem of contemporary molecular biology. Streptococcal infections are mostcommon bacterial infections surpassing by the economic losses all the infections excluding influenza. The gatesof streptococcal infection, oral cavity or vagina, are covered with immune and non-immune mucosal cells thatare the first line of defenses. Subcutaneous immunization not always stimulate the local immunity on mucosalsurfaces. On the other hand, mucosal vaccination can provide an appropriate local immune response togetherwith systemic protection. However, mucosal immunization often requires usage of special and effectiveadjuvants especially in case of vaccines based on recombinant proteins.For protection against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection, two chimeric recombinant proteins (PSPF andPSP) have been tested as vaccines. Recombinant proteins PSPF and PSP carry immunogenic epitopes fromthe respiratory pathogen including PspA, Spr1875 and PsaA. PSPF structure also carries a fraction of flagellin-FliC molecule in comparison with PSP, which does not have this fragment. This portion of PSPF was includedas internal adjuvant intended for the stimulation of Toll-like receptor 5.In this work, the adjuvant capacity of two probiotic strains, Lactobacillus rhamnosus CRL1505 andL. rhamnosus L32 was evaluated. It was demonstrated that both lactic acid bacteria strains were able to provideadjuvant effects by enhancing the mucosal and systemic immune responses after their co-administration withthe recombinant chimeric protein PSPF. The adjuvant effect of both Lactobacillus strains was significantlydecreased after their thermal inactivation. However, the cell walls of bacteria showed a marked adjuvant activity.An improved protection against several S. pneumoniae serotypes after mucosal immunization of infant micewith PSPF vaccine with probiotic strains or their cell walls was also demonstrated here.The recombinant chimeric protein PSPF administered with immunomodulatory probiotic strains or theirbacterial components would be a promising vaccine for immunization of humans against S. pneumoniae,particularly in children.Одной из наиболее актуальных задач медико-биологической науки является создание вакцинных препаратов против патогенных стрептококков – самых распространенных бактериаль-ных возбудителей заболеваний человека, экономический ущерб от которых уступает лишь потерям от гриппозной инфекции. Входными воротами стрептококковой инфекции являются слизистые обо-лочки респираторного и мочеполового тракта. Парентеральный способ введения вакцин не всегда позволяет добиваться одинаково эффектив-ной стимуляции местного иммунитета на слизистых оболочках, а вакцины, вводимые через слизи-стые оболочки, способны эффективно стимулировать иммунную защиту в области введения, а также обеспечить развитие системного иммунного ответа. Введение через слизистые оболочки вакцинных препаратов белковой природы требует исполь-зования специальных эффективных и безопасных адъювантов, поскольку рекомбинантные белки обычно проявляют недостаточную ммуногенность при таком способе введения. В работе в качестве вакцинных адъювантов при мукозальной иммунизации лабораторных животных пневмококковыми химерными рекомбинантными белками PSPF и PSP были апробированы два штамма пробиотиков – Lactobacillus rhamnosus CRL1505 и L32. Рекомбинантные химерные белки PSPF и PSP несут в своей структуре несколько иммуногенных эпитопов PspA, Spr1875, PsaA и предназначены для вакцинации против инфекции Streptococcus pneumoniae. Белки, отличие которых связано с присутствием в струк-туре PSPF участка молекулы флагеллина – FliC, по-разному стимулировали иммунный ответ при совместном введении с двумя штаммами пробиотиков. Установлено, что оба исследованных штам-ма L. rhamnosus были способны оказывать адъювантный эффект при интраназальном введении вак-цинных белков, проявлявшийся в усилении секреторного и гуморального иммунного ответа на со-вместно введенный рекомбинантный химерный белок PSPF. Выраженной стимуляции продукции специфических IgA носовых смывов и IgG сыворотки крови на PSP под влиянием L. rhamnosus L32 не происходило. Адъювантный эффект от вводимых лактобациллярных препаратов существенно сни-жался после температурной инактивации бактерий, однако препарат клеточных стенок L. rhamnosus CRL1505 проявлял выраженную активность. Стимуляция иммунного ответа адъювантами приводила к усилению протективного эффекта вакцины в экспериментах на лабораторных животных, инфици-рованных S. pneumoniae. Установлено, что некоторые штаммы лактобацилл, в частности Lactobacillus rhamnosus CRL1505 и L32, могут быть использованы в качестве адъювантов в составе мукозальных вакцин, однако эта способность зависит от свойств вакцинного препарата и формы введения пробиотиков.Fil: Leontieva, G. F.. Institute of Experimental Medicine; RusiaFil: Kramskaya, T. A.. Institute of Experimental Medicine; RusiaFil: Grabovskaya, K. B.. Institute of Experimental Medicine; Rusia; RusiaFil: Filimonova, V. Yu.. Institute of Experimental Medicine; Rusia; RusiaFil: Laiño, Jonathan Emiliano. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Villena, Julio Cesar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Alvarez, Gladis Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Danilenko, V. N.. Academy of Sciences. Institute of General Genetics. Head, Division of Fundamental Genetic Studies in Biotechnology; RusiaFil: Suvorov, A. N.. St. Peterburg State University; Rusia. Institute of Experimental Medicine. Head, Division of Molecular Microbiology; Rusi

Description of a new species of soil algae, Parietochloris grandis sp. nov., and study of its fatty acid profiles under different culturing conditions

© 2018 Elsevier B.V. The new species Parietochloris grandis sp. nov. is described from forest soil in the Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukraine. The description is based on morphological features and the phylogenetic analysis of partial SSU rDNA and rbcL genes. Phylogenetic analysis places P. grandis in the Parietochloris clade, within the family Trebouxiophyceae. The novel strain formed a strongly supported monophyletic lineage with the type species of Parietochloris, P. alveolaris. P. grandis differed from other species in the Parietochloris clade by the size and form of vegetative cells and the large number of zoospores in zoosporangia. A number of experiments with different phosphates and nitrates concentrations were conducted to evaluate changes in fatty acid profile and biomass. The dominant fatty acids during cultivation on standard BG-11 medium, as well as with the phosphates concentrations ranged from 0.22 to 2 mM, were linoleic acid (24–25%), palmitic acid (12–14%), linolenic acid (9–12%), and oleic acid (7–11%). The content of arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid ranged from 3.5 to 4.5% and 0.7% to 0.8%, respectively. The fatty acid profile and total fatty acids varied significantly under different nutrient deficiency. The greatest variation was found for oleic acid (9–46%) and linolenic acid (2–13%). The percentage of arachidonic acid was the highest with a standard nitrates concentration in the medium (5%) and the lowest in the absence of phosphates and nitrates (1.3–1.5%), but the absolute content in dry biomass was similar in all variants of the experiment (6.5–9.3 mg g−1 dry weight). The absence of nitrogen and both nitrogen and phosphorus led to a 3–fold increase in TFA in comparison with the control. Thus, this strain can be considered in biotechnological application as a potential producer of the essential linoleic acid or oleic acid

Brain structural correlates of insomnia severity in 1053 individuals with major depressive disorder : results from the ENIGMA MDD Working Group

It has been difficult to find robust brain structural correlates of the overall severity of major depressive disorder (MDD). We hypothesized that specific symptoms may better reveal correlates and investigated this for the severity of insomnia, both a key symptom and a modifiable major risk factor of MDD. Cortical thickness, surface area and subcortical volumes were assessed from T1-weighted brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 1053 MDD patients (age range 13-79 years) from 15 cohorts within the ENIGMA MDD Working Group. Insomnia severity was measured by summing the insomnia items of the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Symptom specificity was evaluated with correlates of overall depression severity. Disease specificity was evaluated in two independent samples comprising 2108 healthy controls, and in 260 clinical controls with bipolar disorder. Results showed that MDD patients with more severe insomnia had a smaller cortical surface area, mostly driven by the right insula, left inferior frontal gyrus pars triangularis, left frontal pole, right superior parietal cortex, right medial orbitofrontal cortex, and right supramarginal gyrus. Associations were specific for insomnia severity, and were not found for overall depression severity. Associations were also specific to MDD; healthy controls and clinical controls showed differential insomnia severity association profiles. The findings indicate that MDD patients with more severe insomnia show smaller surfaces in several frontoparietal cortical areas. While explained variance remains small, symptom-specific associations could bring us closer to clues on underlying biological phenomena of MDD

Palaeogenomics of Upper Palaeolithic to Neolithic European hunter-gatherers

Modern humans have populated Europe for more than 45,000 years1,2. Our knowledge of the genetic relatedness and structure of ancient hunter-gatherers is however limited, owing to the scarceness and poor molecular preservation of human remains from that period3. Here we analyse 356 ancient hunter-gatherer genomes, including new genomic data for 116 individuals from 14 countries in western and central Eurasia, spanning between 35,000 and 5,000 years ago. We identify a genetic ancestry profile in individuals associated with Upper Palaeolithic Gravettian assemblages from western Europe that is distinct from contemporaneous groups related to this archaeological culture in central and southern Europe4, but resembles that of preceding individuals associated with the Aurignacian culture. This&nbsp;ancestry profile survived during the Last Glacial Maximum (25,000 to 19,000 years ago) in human populations from southwestern Europe associated with the Solutrean&nbsp;culture, and with&nbsp;the following Magdalenian culture&nbsp;that re-expanded northeastward after the Last Glacial Maximum. Conversely, we reveal a genetic turnover in southern Europe suggesting a local replacement of human groups around the time of the Last Glacial Maximum, accompanied by a north-to-south dispersal of populations associated with the Epigravettian culture. From at least 14,000 years ago, an ancestry related to this culture spread from the south across the rest of Europe, largely replacing the Magdalenian-associated gene pool. After a period of limited admixture that spanned the beginning of the Mesolithic, we find genetic interactions between western and eastern European hunter-gatherers,&nbsp;who were also characterized by marked differences in phenotypically relevant variants

White matter disturbances in major depressive disorder : a coordinated analysis across 20 international cohorts in the ENIGMA MDD working group

Altres ajuts: The ENIGMA-Major Depressive Disorder working group gratefully acknowledges support from the NIH Big Data to Knowledge (BD2K) award (U54 EB020403 to PMT) and NIH grant R01 MH116147 (PMT). LS is supported by an NHMRC MRFF Career Development Fellowship (APP1140764). We wish to acknowledge the patients and control subjects that have particiaped int the study. We thank Rosa Schirmer, Elke Schreiter, Reinhold Borschke and Ines Eidner for image acquisition and data preparation, and Anna Oliynyk for quality checks. We thank Dorothee P. Auer and F. Holsboer for initiation of the RUD study. We wish to acknowledge the patients and control subjects that have particiaped int the study. We thank Rosa Schirmer, Elke Schreiter, Reinhold Borschke and Ines Eidner for image acquisition and data preparation, and Anna Oliynyk for quality checks. We thank Dorothee P. Auer and F. Holsboer for initiation of the RUD study. NESDA: The infrastructure for the NESDA study (www.nesda.nl) is funded through the Geestkracht program of the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (Zon-Mw, grant number 10-000-1002) and is supported by participating universities (VU University Medical Center, GGZ inGeest, Arkin, Leiden University Medical Center, GGZ Rivierduinen, University Medical Center Groningen) and mental health care organizations, see www.nesda.nl. M-JvT was supported by a VENI grant (NWO grant number 016.156.077). UCSF: This work was supported by the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation (formerly NARSAD) to TTY; the National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH085734 to TTY; K01MH117442 to TCH) and by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (PDF-1-064-13) to TCH. Stanford: This work was supported by NIMH Grants R01MH59259 and R37101495 to IHG. MS is partially supported by an award funded by the Phyllis and Jerome Lyle Rappaport Foundation. Muenster: This work was funded by the German Research Foundation (SFB-TRR58, Projects C09 and Z02 to UD) and the Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research (IZKF) of the medical faculty of Münster (grant Dan3/012/17 to UD). Marburg: This work was funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG, grant FOR2107 DA1151/5-1 and DA1151/5-2 to UD; KI 588/ 14-1, KI 588/14-2 to TK; KR 3822/7-1, KR 3822/7-2 to AK; JA 1890/ 7-1, JA 1890/7-2 to AJ). IMH-MDD: This work was supported by the National Healthcare Group Research Grant (SIG/15012) awarded to KS. Barcelona: This study was funded by two grants of the Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, by the Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM). The author is funded through 'Miguel Servet' research contract (CP16-0020), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) (2016-2019). QTIM: We thank the twins and singleton siblings who gave generously of their time to participate in the QTIM study. We also thank the many research assistants, radiographers, and IT support staff for data acquisition and DNA sample preparation. This study was funded by White matter disturbances in major depressive disorder: a coordinated analysis across 20 international. . . 1521 the National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (RO1 HD050735); National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (Award 1U54EB020403-01, Subaward 56929223); National Health and Medical Research Council, Australia (Project Grants 496682, 1009064). NIH ENIGMA-BD2K U54 EB020403 (Thompson); R01 MH117601 (Jahanshad/Schmaal). Magdeburg: M.L. and M.W. are funded by SFB 779. Bipolar Family Study: This study has received funding from the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013). This paper reflects only the author's views and the European Union is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein. This work was also supported by a Wellcome Trust Strategic Award (104036/Z/14/Z). Minnesota Adolescent Depression Study: The study was funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (K23MH090421), the National Alliance for Research on Schizophrenia and Depression, the University of Minnesota Graduate School, the Minnesota Medical Foundation, and the Biotechnology Research Center (P41 RR008079 to the Center for Magnetic Resonance Research), University of Minnesota, and the Deborah E. Powell Center for Women's Health Seed Grant, University of Minnesota. Dublin: This study was supported by Science Foundation Ireland through a Stokes Professorhip grant to TF. MPIP: The MPIP Sample comprises patients included in the Recurrent Unipolar Depression (RUD) Case-Control study at the clinic of the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Munich, German. The RUD study was supported by GlaxoSmithKline.Alterations in white matter (WM) microstructure have been implicated in the pathophysiology of major depressive disorder (MDD). However, previous findings have been inconsistent, partially due to low statistical power and the heterogeneity of depression. In the largest multi-site study to date, we examined WM anisotropy and diffusivity in 1305 MDD patients and 1602 healthy controls (age range 12-88 years) from 20 samples worldwide, which included both adults and adolescents, within the MDD Working Group of the Enhancing Neuroimaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis (ENIGMA) consortium. Processing of diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data and statistical analyses were harmonized across sites and effects were meta-analyzed across studies. We observed subtle, but widespread, lower fractional anisotropy (FA) in adult MDD patients compared with controls in 16 out of 25 WM tracts of interest (Cohen's d between 0.12 and 0.26). The largest differences were observed in the corpus callosum and corona radiata. Widespread higher radial diffusivity (RD) was also observed (all Cohen's d between 0.12 and 0.18). Findings appeared to be driven by patients with recurrent MDD and an adult age of onset of depression. White matter microstructural differences in a smaller sample of adolescent MDD patients and controls did not survive correction for multiple testing. In this coordinated and harmonized multisite DTI study, we showed subtle, but widespread differences in WM microstructure in adult MDD, which may suggest structural disconnectivity in MDD

Palaeogenomics of Upper Palaeolithic to Neolithic European hunter-gatherers

Modern humans have populated Europe for more than 45,000 years(1,2). Our knowledge of the genetic relatedness and structure of ancient hunter-gatherers is however limited, owing to the scarceness and poor molecular preservation of human remains from that period(3). Here we analyse 356 ancient hunter-gatherer genomes, including new genomic data for 116 individuals from 14 countries in western and central Eurasia, spanning between 35,000 and 5,000 years ago. We identify a genetic ancestry profile in individuals associated with Upper Palaeolithic Gravettian assemblages from western Europe that is distinct from contemporaneous groups related to this archaeological culture in central and southern Europe(4), but resembles that of preceding individuals associated with the Aurignacian culture. This ancestry profile survived during the Last Glacial Maximum (25,000 to 19,000 years ago) in human populations from southwestern Europe associated with the Solutrean culture, and with the following Magdalenian culture that re-expanded northeastward after the Last Glacial Maximum. Conversely, we reveal a genetic turnover in southern Europe suggesting a local replacement of human groups around the time of the Last Glacial Maximum, accompanied by a north-to-south dispersal of populations associated with the Epigravettian culture. From at least 14,000 years ago, an ancestry related to this culture spread from the south across the rest of Europe, largely replacing the Magdalenian-associated gene pool. After a period of limited admixture that spanned the beginning of the Mesolithic, we find genetic interactions between western and eastern European hunter-gatherers, who were also characterized by marked differences in phenotypically relevant variants.Molecular Technology and Informatics for Personalised Medicine and Healt