Spatial-territorial factors of economic growth in the Russian Federation

Relevance. In contemporary economic research, the study of the diversity of factors of national economic growth is gaining more and more significance, particularly with regard to the so-called 'spatial-territorial factors'. In contrast to the existing concepts of regional and spatial economy, the approach described in this paper is based on the hypothesis that it is possible to accelerate national economic growth. It can be done by stimulating extended economic reproduction on the subnational level, that is, on the level of relatively independent and self-contained spatial and administrative units such as regions of the Russian Federation, municipalities, agglomerations, etc.Research objective. The study aims to propose a decomposition of the economic growth rates in Russia by territorial units and to describe the spatial-territorial factors of national economic growth.Data and methods. To characterize the spatial-territorial factors, we used indices of the physical volume of gross regional product (GRP) and gross value added (GVA) in types of economic activities in Russian regions in percentage to the previous year for the period of 2013-2018. The types of economic activities were specified according to the Russian Classifier of Economic Activities of 2007 (OKVED) (Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community - NACE Rev. 1.1 (2013-2016)) and OKVED-2 (NACE Rev.2 (2017-2018)).Results. We estimated the contributions of Russian regions to national economic growth by analyzing the data on the key types of economic activities in a 6-year period (2013-2018). We also identified the regions which accounted for the largest losses in economic growth, on the one hand, and those which, on the other hand, acted as drivers of the country's economic development.Conclusion. There is a small number of regions lagging in terms of GRP and their influence on the national rates of economic growth is also insignificant. The general rates of GRP decline in a region are determined, first and foremost, by the sluggish growth in those types of economic activities that have the largest share in GRP. The number and share of the regions which demonstrate extended economic reproduction, that is, deliver at least 2% growth a year, are also quite small. These regions make up slightly more than 19% of the country's GRP. The largest group of regions comprises those regions that do not go beyond the simple reproduction (their growth rates are less than 2% a year), while their share in the country's GRP exceeds 74%.The so-called ‘heavyweights’ - regions accounting for the largest share in the country's total GRP - have the strongest effect on the national rates of economic growth, hindering it. It is the economic structure of these regions that has the biggest influence on the country's performance in such types of economic activities as wholesale and retail trade and maintenance and repair of motor vehicles. Sadly, it is in these sectors that the 'heavyweights' demonstrate the largest losses in GVA. As a result, these sectors suffer the most, which is bound to be reflected in the country's overall economic growth

Сross-analysis of big data in accreditation of health specialists

Objective: The relevance of this study is due to the mass accreditation of health professionals that is developing in Russia, which requires innovative measurement tools and opens new opportunities for a well-founded cross-analysis of specialists’ professional readiness quality. Purpose of the study: The purpose of this article is to present approved methodical approaches to the transformation of accreditation data into a format suitable for secondary analysis of medical schools graduates quality based on the requirements of Professional Standards. Method: The leading methods of secondary data analysis are: a) codification of indicators in the primary data accumulation array; b) statistical processing of study results (evaluation of the relationships between the arrays of primary data accumulation and instrumental data, the correlation of test scores obtained by accreditation results with the labor functions of Professional Standards); c) the creation of representative samples for data analysis. The implementation of methods is carried out in the mode of working with arrays of big data, which also uses the method of cross-analysis to identify additional factors that affect to specialists’ professional readiness quality. Results: As a results of the research, there were: 1) approaches to the codification of data in the array and their secondary analysis were developed; 2) three samples were constructed with an estimation of representativeness for different strata, including subjects, assignments and corresponding labor functions; 3) the matrix of primary data in the specialty “Pediatrics” was verified using the example of the results of students from 50 medical universities in Russia. Conclusion: Approbation of methods of secondary data analysis conducted on representative samples of the subjects showed the effectiveness of the developed approaches that should be used when analyzing large data sets in the procedures of certification or accreditation. The materials of the article can be useful for specialists in the field of assessing the quality of education or assessing the professional readiness of health professionals, managers, professors and pedagogical staff of medical schools, specialists of centers for independent assessment of qualifications. © 2018, Modestum Ltd.. All rights reserved

Time delays in PG1115+080: new estimates

We report new estimates of the time delays in the quadruple gravitationally lensed quasar PG1115+080, obtained from the monitoring data in filter R with the 1.5-m telescope at the Maidanak Mountain (Uzbekistan, Central Asia) in 2004-2006. The time delays are 16.4 days between images C and B, and 12 days between C and A1+A2, with image C being leading for both pairs. The only known estimates of the time delays in PG1115 are those based on observations by Schechter et al. (1997) -- 23.7 and 9.4 days between images C and B, C and A1+A2, respectively, as calculated by Schechter et al., and 25 and 13.3 days as revised by Barkana (1997) for the same image components with the use of another method. The new values of time delays in PG 1115+080 may be expected to provide larger estimates of the Hubble constant thus decreasing a diversity between the H_0 estimates taken from gravitationally lensed quasars and with other methods.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, Accepted for publication in MNRAS Letter

Пространственно-территориальные факторы экономического роста Российской Федерации

Received December 24, 2020; accepted March 3, 2021.Дата поступления 24 декабря 2020 г.; дата принятия к печати 3 марта 2021 г.Relevance. In contemporary economic research, the study of the diversity of factors of national economic growth is gaining more and more significance, particularly with regard to the so-called ‘spatial-territorial factors’. In contrast to the existing concepts of regional and spatial economy, the approach described in this paper is based on the hypothesis that it is possible to accelerate national economic growth. It can be done by stimulating extended economic reproduction on the subnational level, that is, on the level of relatively independent and self-contained spatial and administrative units such as regions of the Russian Federation, municipalities, agglomerations, etc. Research objective. The study aims to propose a decomposition of the economic growth rates in Russia by territorial units and to describe the spatial-territorial factors of national economic growth. Data and methods. To characterize the spatial-territorial factors, we used indices of the physical volume of gross regional product (GRP) and gross value added (GVA) in types of economic activities in Russian regions in percentage to the previous year for the period of 2013–2018. The types of economic activities were specified according to the Russian Classifier of Economic Activities of 2007 (OKVED) (Statistical Classification of Economic Activities in the European Community – NACE Rev. 1.1 (2013–2016)) and OKVED-2 (NACE Rev.2 (2017–2018)). Results. We estimated the contributions of Russian regions to national economic growth by analyzing the data on the key types of economic activities in a 6-year period (2013–2018). We also identified the regions which accounted for the largest losses in economic growth, on the one hand, and those which, on the other hand, acted as drivers of the country’s economic development. Conclusion. There is a small number of regions lagging in terms of GRP and their influence on the national rates of economic growth is also insignificant. The general rates of GRP decline in a region are determined, first and foremost, by the sluggish growth in those types of economic activities that have the largest share in GRP. The number and share of the regions which demonstrate extended economic reproduction, that is, deliver at least 2% growth a year, are also quite small. These regions make up slightly more than 19% of the country’s GRP. The largest group of regions comprises those regions that do not go beyond the simple reproduction (their growth rates are less than 2% a year), while their share in the country’s GRP exceeds 74%. The so-called ‘heavyweights’ – regions accounting for the largest share in the country’s total GRP – have the strongest effect on the national rates of economic growth, hindering it. It is the economic structure of these regions that has the biggest influence on the country’s performance in such types of economic activities as wholesale and retail trade and maintenance and repair of motor vehicles. Sadly, it is in these sectors that the ‘heavyweights’ demonstrate the largest losses in GVA. As a result, these sectors suffer the most, which is bound to be reflected in the country’s overall economic growth.Актуальность. На современном этапе все более актуально исследование расширенной классификации факторов экономического роста национальной экономики, дополненной так называемыми «пространственно-территориальными факторами». В отличие от существующих концепций региональной и пространственной экономики, подход, описанный в этой статье, основан на гипотезе о возможности ускорения национального экономического роста. Это может быть сделано путем стимулирования расширенного экономического воспроизводства на субнациональном уровне, то есть на уровне относительно независимых и автономных пространственно-административных единиц, таких как регионы Российской Федерации, муниципалитеты, агломерации и т. д. Цель исследования – предложить декомпозицию темпов национального экономического роста в разрезе территориальных образований, оценка пространственно-территориальных факторов национального экономического роста. Данные и методы. Для характеристики пространственно-территориальных факторов использовались показатели физического объема валового регионального продукта (ВРП) и валовой добавленной стоимости (ВДС) по видам экономической деятельности в регионах России в процентах к предыдущему году за период. 2013–2018 гг. Виды экономической деятельности определены в соответствии с Российским классификатором экономической деятельности 2007 г. (ОКВЭД) (Статистическая классификация видов экономической деятельности в Европейском сообществе – NACE Rev.1.1 (2013–2016)) и ОКВЭД-2 (NACE Rev.2). (2017–2018)). Результаты. Мы оценили вклад регионов России в рост национальной экономики, проанализировав данные по ключевым видам экономической деятельности за 6-летний период (2013–2018 гг.). Мы также выявили регионы с учетом их значимости, с одной стороны, обуславливающие потери в национальном экономическом росте, с другой стороны, выступающие его драйвером. Выводы. Количество стагнирующих по показателю ВРП регионов невелико и влияние их на национальные темпы экономического роста является невысоким. Выявлено, что общие темпы снижения ВРП региона определяются, в первую очередь, стагнирующими тенденциями видов экономической деятельности, имеющих наибольший удельный вес в ВРП. Относительно невелики количество и масштабы регионов, показывающих расширенное воспроизводство, за критерий которого было взято достижение не менее двух процентов в среднем за год. Суммарный удельный вес подобных регионов в ВРП Российской Федерации составляет чуть более 19%. Самая крупная группа – регионы, обеспечивающие лишь простое воспроизводство (темпы роста – менее двух процентов в год), их удельный вес превышает 74% в ВРП Российской Федерации. Наибольший тормозящий национальные темпы экономического роста эффект оказывают так называемые регионы-«тяжеловесы», удельный вес которых наибольший в суммарном российском ВРП. В частности, ввиду сложившейся структуры экономики регионов-«тяжеловесов», в наибольшей степени они влияют на вид экономической деятельности «торговля оптовая и розничная; ремонт автотранспортных средств и мотоциклов», но именно по этому виду эти регионы демонстрируют наибольшие потери валовой добавленной стоимости. В результате этот сектор несет масштабные потери и ощутимо негативно влияет на темпы экономического роста для российской экономики в целом.The research was carried out as part of the state assignment to Ufa Federal Research Centre of the Russian Academy of Sciences by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation.Работа выполнена в рамках государственного задания Уфимского федерального исследовательского центра Российской академии наук Министерства науки и высшего образования Российской Федерации

Time delay between images of the lensed quasar UM673

We study brightness variations in the double lensed quasar UM673 (Q0142-100) with the aim of measuring the time delay between its two images. In the paper we combine our previously published observational data of UM673 obtained during the 2003 - 2005 seasons at the Maidanak Observatory with archival and recently observed Maidanak and CTIO UM673 data. We analyze the V, R and I-band light curves of the A and B images of UM673, which cover ten observational seasons from August 2001 to November 2010. We also analyze the time evolution of the difference in magnitudes between images A and B of UM673 over more than ten years. We find that the quasar exhibits both short-term (with amplitude of \sim 0.1 mag in the R band) and high-amplitude (\sim 0.3 mag) long-term variability on timescales of about several months and several years, respectively. These brightness variations are used to constrain the time delay between the images of UM673. From cross-correlation analysis of the A and B quasar light curves and error analysis we measure the mean time delay and its error of 89 \pm11 days. Given the input time delay of 88 days, the most probable value of the delay that can be recovered from light curves with the same statistical properties as the observed R-band light curves of UM673 is 95{+5/-16}{+14/-29} days (68 and 95 % confidence intervals). Analysis of the V - I color variations and V, R and I-band magnitude differences of the quasar images does not show clear evidence of the microlensing variations between 1998 and 2010.Comment: Submitted to A&A, 11 pages, 9 figure

PG 1115+080: variations of the A2/A1 flux ratio and new values of the time delays

We report the results of our multicolor observations of PG 1115+080 with the 1.5-m telescope of the Maidanak Observatory (Uzbekistan, Central Asia) in 2001-2006. Monitoring data in filter R spanning the 2004, 2005 and 2006 seasons (76 data points) demonstrate distinct brightness variations of the source quasar with the total amplitude of almost 0.4 mag. Our R light curves have shown image C leading B by 16.4d and image (A1+A2) by 12d that is inconsistent with the previous estimates obtained by Schechter et al. in 1997 - 24.7d between B and C and 9.4d between (A1+A2) and C. The new values of time delays in PG 1115+080 must result in larger values for the Hubble constant, thus reducing difference between its estimates taken from the gravitational lenses and with other methods. Also, we analyzed variability of the A2/A1 flux ratio, as well as color changes in the archetypal "fold" lens PG 1115+080. We found the A1/A2 flux ratio to grow during 2001-2006 and to be larger at longer wavelengths. In particular, the A2/A1 flux ratio reached 0.85 in filter I in 2006. We also present evidence that both the A1 and A2 images might have undergone microlensing during 2001-2006, with the descending phase for A1 and initial phase for A2. We find that the A2/A1 flux ratio anomaly in PG 1115 can be well explained both by microlensing and by finite distance of the source quasar from the caustic fold.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures, 8 tables, Accepted for publication in MNRA

Time delay of SBS 0909+532

The time delays between the components of a lensed quasar are basic tools to analyze the expansion of the Universe and the structure of the main lens galaxy halo. In this paper, we focus on the variability and time delay of the double system SBS 0909+532A,B as well as the time behaviour of the field stars. We use VR optical observations of SBS 0909+532A,B and the field stars in 2003. The frames were taken at Calar Alto, Maidanak and Wise observatories, and the VR light curves of the field stars and quasar components are derived from aperture and point-spread function fitting methods. We measure the R-band time delay of the system from the chi-square and dispersion techniques and 1000 synthetic light curves based on the observed records. One nearby field star (SBS 0909+532c) is found to be variable, and the other two nearby field stars are non-variable sources. With respect to the quasar components, the R-band records seem more reliable and are more densely populated than the V-band ones. The observed R-band fluctuations permit a pre-conditioned measurement of the time delay. From the chi-square minimization, if we assume that the quasar emission is observed first in B and afterwards in A (in agreement with basic observations of the system and the corresponding predictions), we obtain a delay of - 45 (+ 1)/(- 11) days (95% confidence interval). The dispersion technique leads to a similar delay range. A by-product of the analysis is the determination of a totally corrected flux ratio in the R band (corrected by the time delay and the contamination due to the galaxy light). Our 95% measurement of this ratio (0.575 +/- 0.014 mag) is in excellent agreement with previous results from contaminated fluxes at the same time of observation.Comment: 26 pages, 15 figures, Astronomy and Astrophysics (see also http://www.astro.ulg.ac.be/RPub/Colloques/JENAM/proceedings/proceedings.html - Quasars Section

Efficient Genome-Wide Detection and Cataloging of EMS-Induced Mutations Using Exome Capture and Next-Generation Sequencing

Chemical mutagenesis efficiently generates phenotypic variation in otherwise homogeneous genetic backgrounds, enabling functional analysis of genes. Advances in mutation detection have brought the utility of induced mutant populations on par with those produced by insertional mutagenesis, but systematic cataloguing of mutations would further increase their utility. We examined the suitability of multiplexed global exome capture and sequencing coupled with custom-developed bioinformatics tools to identify mutations in well-characterized mutant populations of rice (Oryza sativa) and wheat (Triticum aestivum). In rice, we identified ∼18,000 induced mutations from 72 independent M2 individuals. Functional evaluation indicated the recovery of potentially deleterious mutations for >2600 genes. We further observed that specific sequence and cytosine methylation patterns surrounding the targeted guanine residues strongly affect their probability to be alkylated by ethyl methanesulfonate. Application of these methods to six independent M2 lines of tetraploid wheat demonstrated that our bioinformatics pipeline is applicable to polyploids. In conclusion, we provide a method for developing large-scale induced mutation resources with relatively small investments that is applicable to resource-poor organisms. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that large libraries of sequenced mutations can be readily generated, providing enhanced opportunities to study gene function and assess the effect of sequence and chromatin context on mutations

Observational determination of the time delays in gravitational lens system Q2237+030

We present new brightness monitoring observations of the 4 components of gravitationally lensed system Q2237+0305, which show detection of an intrinsic quasar brightness fluctuation at a time of subdued microlensing activity, between June 27 and October 12, 2003. These data were used to determine the time delays between the arrivals of the four images. The measured delays are -6, 35, and 2 hours for images B, C and D relative to A, respectively, so they confirm that the long history of brightness monitoring has produced significant detection of microlensing. However the error bars associated with the delays, of order 2 days, are too large to discriminate between competing macro-imaging models. Moreover, our simulations show that for the amplitude of this intrinsic fluctuation and for photometric errors intrinsic to optical monitoring from our 1.5-m telescope or from the OGLE monitoring, a daily sampled brightness record cannot produce reliable lags for model discrimination. We use our simulations to devise a strategy for future delay determination with optical data. Nevertheless, we regard these first estimates to be significant, since they are the first direct measurements of time delays made for this system from ground-based observations in the visual wavelengths. Our results provide the most convincing confirmation of the gravitational-lens nature of Q2237+0305, and give observational justification to the extensive literature which attributes the quasar's previously observed brightness fluctuations to microlensing.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, LaTeX, submitted to A&

Chromosome Bin Map of Expressed Sequence Tags in Homoeologous Group 1 of Hexaploid Wheat and Homoeology With Rice and Arabidopsis

A total of 944 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) generated 2212 EST loci mapped to homoeologous group 1 chromosomes in hexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). EST deletion maps and the consensus map of group 1 chromosomes were constructed to show EST distribution. EST loci were unevenly distributed among chromosomes 1A, 1B, and 1D with 660, 826, and 726, respectively. The number of EST loci was greater on the long arms than on the short arms for all three chromosomes. The distribution of ESTs along chromosome arms was nonrandom with EST clusters occurring in the distal regions of short arms and middle regions of long arms. Duplications of group 1 ESTs in other homoeologous groups occurred at a rate of 35.5%. Seventy-five percent of wheat chromosome 1 ESTs had significant matches with rice sequences (E ≤ e(−10)), where large regions of conservation occurred between wheat consensus chromosome 1 and rice chromosome 5 and between the proximal portion of the long arm of wheat consensus chromosome 1 and rice chromosome 10. Only 9.5% of group 1 ESTs showed significant matches to Arabidopsis genome sequences. The results presented are useful for gene mapping and evolutionary and comparative genomics of grasses