Genetic Passports: Science for the Economy

The present paper discusses methodological approaches to the creation of nomenclatural standards and genetic passports for Russian cultivars, currently being developed at the N.I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (VIR) in collaboration with different breeding research centers. Plant material of potato cultivars bred in the Siberian Research Institute of Plant Cultivation and Breeding was collected by the cultivar creator A.D. Safonova in the experimental field of this institute and transferred to the VIR herbarium for preparation of their nomenclatural standards. Plant shoots and tubers of potato cultivars bred in other Siberian research centers in collaboration with the A.G. Lorkh All-Russian Research Institute of Potato Farming (VNIIKH) was collected by the representative of this institute in the experimental field of VNIIKH. As a result of joint research, nomenclatural standards were accomplished for 11 cultivars, namely ‘Аntonina’, ‘Zlatka’, ‘Lina’, ‘Lûbava’, ‘Nakra’, ‘Pamâti Rogačeva’, ‘Sarovskij’, ‘Safo’, ‘Solnečnyj’, ‘Tuleevskij’, ‘Ûna’** bred in five different Siberian breeding institutes including cultivars developed in collaboration with VNIIKH. Nomenclatural standards were prepared according to the ‘International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants’. DNA samples isolated from nomenclatural standards were used for preparation of genetic passports of these 11 cultivars. These genetic passports include information of the polymorphism of eight chromosome-specific microsatellites, data on the markers of 11 R-genes conferring resistance to various harmful organisms, as well as the information about cytoplasm types. Voucher specimens of additional three Siberian cultivars ‘Kemerovčanin’, ‘Kuznečanka’, ‘Tanaj’ and five Ural cultivars ‘Аlâska’, ‘Bravo’, ‘Irbitskij’, ‘Lûks’, ‘Terra’ from the Ural Research Institute for Agriculture were also registered in the VIR herbarium collection. For these eight cultivars, the genetic passports were not issued, but the results of SSR genotyping and molecular screening of voucher specimens performed with the same set of the DNA markers are presented in this report. A similar set of DNA markers was used for genotyping cultivar accessions from the in vitro and field collections of various institutes as well as cultivar specimens from eco-geographical tests performed within the framework of the Comprehensive Research Plan of the subprogram “Development of potato breeding and seed production in the Russian Federation”. The comparison of cultivar genetic passport data with genotyping results of specimens having the same name, but obtained from different sources made it possible to verify this plant material.

The five essays of this dissertation combine topics from development and environmental economics. All essays treat the overall topic on how to influence and regulate the production of CO2 emissions. The green house gas CO2 is one of the biggest externalities from human development during the last century. The essays give insight on how changes in local climate conditions affect human wellbeing and what are the potential monetary loses from a rise in average temperature in Latin America. They further analyze the major drivers of CO2 emissions at the household as well as national level and assess how current international climate policy has contributed to reduce CO2 emissions. The last essay gives an overview on how unequal emissions are globally distributed and what will be the future distribution of CO2 emissions when taking different policy scenarios into account. The first essay analyzes how changes in local climatic conditions affect the level of welfare in Latin America. Self reported wellbeing levels are used as a proxy for individual welfare. Subjective wellbeing does not only account for changes in individual income but also for changes in other areas, which determine overall welfare, such as the access to health care or schooling. The study finds that a temperature up to 22 degrees Celsius and rainfall up to 247mm are beneficial for human wellbeing. Higher temperatures or rainfall go in line with welfare loses. A global average warming of 2 degrees Celsius would go in line with welfare loses in Latin America. The second essay analyzes household emissions from consumption, the so-called carbon footprint, in India. The study focuses on the effect of changes in income and the socio- economic composition of the household. A higher household income leads to higher consumption but at the same time the goods, which are consumed change towards lower carbon intensive goods. Still the change in the consumption pattern does not offset the higher carbon footprint due to overall higher consumption rates with rising income. The third essay evaluates how current international climate policy did influence CO2 emissions. Countries with obligations from the Kyoto Protocol did indeed emit on average 6.5% less CO2 than comparable countries with similar income and population growth but without any commitments from Kyoto Protocol. The fourth essay analyzes the main determinant of rising CO2 emissions, namely income. The focus is not on changes in income but on changes in the income distribution within a country and its effect on CO2 emissions. The relationship between carbon dioxide emissions per capita and income inequality is U-shaped: for countries characterized by high income inequality, reductions in income inequality are associated with lower per capita emissions. For less unequal societies, reductions in income inequality are associated with increases in carbon emissions per capita. The fifth essay studies the global distribution of per capita CO2 emissions. The focus is on the effect the energy mix and the sectoral composition have on emission inequality. The decline of heavy manufacturing in OECD countries and the rise of using coal in non- OECD countries led to a decline of global inequality in per capita CO2 emissions. In the long run there is the possibility that emission inequality will rise again. Each essay contributes to the literature in its specific field. They analyze how economic activities (mostly consumption) influence CO2 emissions, which are considered responsible for changes in climatic conditions. At the same time those changes in climatic conditions affect human wellbeing and go in line with monetary loses. National policies such as redistributive policies can have an influence on national CO2 emissions in both directions and have to be well planned. Policies to influence consumption habits towards less CO2 intensive goods could be efficient to regulate CO2 emissions but might only be feasible in richer countries. International climate policies have shown an impact on CO2 emissions among participating countries. International policies can help to get national policies to reduce CO2 emissions on the way.

Genetic profiling of cultivars is important for confirming the authenticity of a cultivar and monitoring cultivar purity, preventing counterfeiting and, consequently, for protecting breeding achievements and protecting the rights of breeders, which are regulated at the international and national levels. An important aspect of developing genetic passports for cultivars is the choice, documentation and long-term preservation of the specimens used for DNA extraction. A new approach to solving these issues for vegetatively propagated agricultural crops was proposed at VIR in 2020 as part of the Integrated strategy for cultivar gene pool registration in Genebanks. The objectives of this strategy are: (a) registration of nomenclature standards for cultivars in accordance with the recommendations of the International Code of Nomenclature for Cultivated Plants (ICNCP) and transfer them for storage to the Herbarium of Cultivated Plants of the World, their Wild Relatives and Weeds (WIR); (b) development of genetic passports, molecular profiling of nomenclature standards; (c) preservation of live specimens genetically identical to nomenclaturе standards in duplicate in vitro - and cryo-collections. The results of solving these three tasks for domestic potato cultivars are summarized and the prospects for their application are outlined. At the same time, VIR researchers, together with breeders from various regions of the Russian Federation, are carrying out large-scale work to create a collection of nomenclature standards for cultivars of various agricultural crops belonging to the families Solanaceae, Rosaceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae, Grossulariaceae and Brassicaceae. This collection includes 308 nomenclature standards, designed in accordance with the requirements of ICNCP, which are stored in the VIR Herbarium of Cultivated Plants of the World, their Wild Relatives and Weeds (WIR). Nomenclature standards are a priority for molecular profiling of cultivars of various crops.

Purpose. To determine promising directions for the development of the technical and technological foundations of soil cultivation in the conditions of climate change. Methods. Monographic, abstract-logical, graph-analytical, induction and deduction, regression analysis of results. Results. Modern soil cultivation technologies are considered, their advantages and disadvantages, development trends are defined. It has been established that climate change will significantly affect the terms of execution of works, the conditions of interaction of working bodies of technical means with the soil environment. The parabolic relationship between traction resistance and soil moisture means that climate change will increase fuel costs for tillage. Therefore, the further search for new technical and technological solutions should be aimed at reducing energy consumption and preventing physical degradation of soils, substantiating structural and functional schemes of technical means for soil cultivation, parameters of working bodies and modes of operation, under which the number of dust particles in the surface layer of the soil will be minimal. Conclusions. The main direction of the development of the technical and technological base for the production of plant products in the conditions of climate change is the harmonization of the interaction of the working bodies of tillage machines with the soil, which will ensure the reduction of physical soil degradation and energy consumption to create a favorable environment for plant development and crop formation. In the conditions of global climate change, agricultural production is being reoriented towards precision farming systems, therefore, crop production technologies should be based on targeted tillage with the simultaneous introduction of a full dose of mineral nutrition into the seed sowing area for the planned harvest, sowing of seeds and preservation of plant residues on the surface of the soil for protection it from overheating and loss of moisture. Keywords: technical means, soil cultivation technologies, interaction of working bodies with the soil, soil moisture, soil resistance, energy consumption, physical soil degradation.

Introduction. In the conditions of climate change, ensuring the environmental, energy and food components’ resilience of national security needs to optimize the agricultural nature management. In this context, a special role belongs to the development of critical technologies as cross-sectoral climate-neutral innovations in the agriculture and energy. Purpose. With this in mind, the article is devoted to studying the features of critical technologies development as cross-sectoral climate-neutral innovations in the field of agricultural nature management to strengthening environmental, energy and food security. Method (methodology). To achieve the goal set and solve certain tasks, the following general scientific and specific methods based on an abstract-logical approach were used: system analysis; content analysis; grouping and systematization; induction; deduction; graphical and tabular representation. The application of a cross-sectoral approach to the circular use of natural resources, the determination of the features of critical technologies development made it possible to form the structure of agro-industrial hackathon functioning as a way of developing critical technologies in the context of strengthening environmental, energy and food security. Results. Strengthening environmental, energy and food security involves the use of critical technologies as a stimulus for the sustainable development of the national economy. The article has considered the features of critical technologies development as cross-sectoral climate-neutral innovations in the field of agricultural nature management. The relationship between sustainable development and national security as a way of determining resource potential at the national level is established. In terms of determining the criticality of the economic sectors and the criticality of individual objects in a regional and national sense, the critical technologies development is considered. The criticality criteria for the technologies in the field of agro-industrial complex have been formed. The advantages of the transition to the optimization agricultural nature management on the basis of the development of cross-sectoral critical climate-neutral technologies for strengthening environmental, energy and food security are determined. The article has proposed the structure of the agro-industrial hackathon functioning as a way of developing critical technologies in the context of strengthening environmental, energy and food security. Prospects for further research are to determine the resilience of agricultural enterprises to the critical technologies development as cross-sectoral climate-neutral innovations on the basis of strengthening environmental, energy and food security.

Background.This article is devoted to a problematic issue – the specifics of the recruitment of young people by extremists and terrorists using online games, and some specific mechanisms for recruiting people to the ranks of terrorists using modern technologies over the Internet, which are often used by members of radical groups. The study focuses on the issues of psychological impact on players, the use of playful reality as manipulation tools, and highlights some of the problems of law enforcement agencies in identifying threats in the Internet space related to the active development of information technologies that allow recruiters to remain unpunished. Purpose.The purpose of this study is to identify key factors contributing to the recruitment of extremists through online games, as well as to develop recommendations to reduce risks and prevent such cases. Materials and methods.In the course of the scientific research, the following were used: scientific works on the problems of recruiting people through online gaming platforms, research by specialists on the problems of psychological methods of influencing players through online platforms, cases of influencing people's subconsciousness through gaming platforms were analyzed; regulatory legal acts of the Russian Federation regulating public relations related to countering the spread of terrorism and extremism; The international practice of methods of combating the spread of ideas of extremism and terrorism on the Internet was studied. In the course of the research, general scientific, private scientific and special research methods were used. In particular, the formal-logical, comparative-legal, case-study method, as well as methods of analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction have found application. Results.Some psychological ways of influencing recruiters on players through online platforms have been identified. The author's recommendations are formulated in the field of monitoring the spread of extremist ideology on the Internet and improving the operation of online and playgrounds, gambling sites. The scope of the results.The results of the study can be applied in standard-setting activities, in the course of further scientific research in the field of combating the spread of extremist ideology on the Internet and on playgrounds, as well as to improve and create gaming and streaming platforms.

Technology Transfer Models Between Industrial Biotechnology Companies and Academic Spin-Offs

Himalaya is endowed with a great diversity of medicinal plants, which have been used extensively for curing a number of ailments since time immemorial. However, climatic perturbations in the region have imposed severe threat to their survival, status in wild and production of bioactive metabolites. Changes in climatic conditions include variation in different abiotic (light, water, temperature) and biotic (weed, pathogen) factors, which are known to play a key role in plant growth and development. Increased global temperature, erratic monsoon, recurrent drought/flooding events, increased insect-pest attacks, etc., have negatively affected the phenology, morpho-physiological and biochemical responses of plants. However, to date, a collective record on the occurrence of various environmental stresses in the medicinal plants is not available. Thus, this review provides comprehensive and updated information on this topic to facilitate thorough understanding of response of Himalayan plants to different stress factors. This will help in adapting potential disease management strategies, identifying resilient accessions and optimum environmental conditions for plant growth and metabolite production. Further, the review will provide valuable insight to conservation biologists, plant pathologists, plant breeders and biotechnologists about current disease and stress trends in Himalayan medicinal plants, so that location specific management practices can be adopted and/or standardized.

В последние годы угрозы социально-экономическому развитию как Российской Федерации в целом, так и отдельным регионам нарастают в значительной степени. В первую очередь это отражается на финансовой сфере, поскольку политика санкций в отношении России, в первую очередь, основана на блокировании возможностей использования различных финансовых инструментов за рубежом. Дальнейшее нарастание угроз может привести к различным формам чрезвычайных ситуаций в экономике и финансовой сфере. В то же время, малоизученным остается вопрос влияния специальных режимов на финансовую сферу отдельных регионов, которое может быть разнородным в зависимости от возможностей территорий.Цель исследования – выделить для финансовой сферы отдельных регионов возможные последствия, связанные с нарастанием внешних угроз и введения специальных режимов хозяйствования.Методы исследования: в работе использованы методы анализа и исторических аналогий, применены общенаучные методы сравнений и экстраполяции.Результаты: на основе обобщения зарубежного и российского опыта введения экономических санкций против отдельных стран, выделены наиболее вероятные виды санкционных режимов против России в финансово-экономической сфере. Также автором определен вероятный сценарий изменений в финансовой сфере в случае введения специальных режимов хозяйствования в РФ, а также возможное влияние на отдельные регионы РФ. Выделены параметры финансовых ограничений и основные характеристики функционирования денежно-кредитной системы в данные периоды времени, определены базовые условия изменений в социально-экономической сфере регионов РФ.Область применения результатов: полученные результаты могут быть использованы в работе органов государственной власти при учете последствий от введения санкций и чрезвычайных режимов в региональной привязке.

Plant breeding collects, induces and rearranges genetic diversity followed by selection. Breeding may contribute to diversity in farmers’ fields or significantly reduce it. History has numerous examples of both. The diversity of many crops have gone through domestication, dispersal and modernization bottlenecks. Between these major decreasing processes, diversity has picked up through different evolutionary processes, and plant breeding affected by policies. Major negative effects of plant breeding on diversity have been recorded following the modernization bottleneck, but alternative breeding strategies have come up as well, both in the formal system and in the interphase between formal and farmers’ seed systems. Multiline breeding and participatory plant breeding are introduced as examples to also analyse effects of current developments in technology and policy. This paper intends to shed some light on the questions: how will current developments in technology and policy affect crop genetic diversity? Are we heading for a new bottleneck—either a molecular or a policy bottleneck, or a combination of both? Or could the future become more diverse? We look at the relationship between breeding, policies, and crop genetic diversity in farming systems with a birds-eye view. Notably because of current policy trends we warn for a new diversity bottleneck.

The article draws attention to the problem of the lack of synchronization of innovative development programs and innovative technological development projects implemented by corporations with the priorities and strategies of scientific and technological (innovative) development of the Russian Federation. This problem is also exacerbated by the fact that most industry-leading corporations do not have developed strategies and/or innovative development programs that correspond to strategic planning documents approved in the Russian Federation, namely the Strategy of Scientific and Technological Development and the Concept of Technological Development. The solution to this problem is seen by the author of this article in the development of methodological foundations for the creation of corporate innovative development programs synchronized with top-level priorities and strategies of scientific and technological development at the national level.

Climate change impacts on the ecosystem services that people rely on, such as water, air, and agricultural products. The quality and quantity of various ecosystem services may be diminished under conditions of extreme climate change. Therefore, the effects of climate change may be expected to threaten people's health and survival. The concept of health promotion includes attention to the environment and emphasizes balance between nature and manmade structures. In addition, health promotion practices and actions in response to climate change emphasize multidisciplinary cooperation and focus on health inequality and vulnerable populations. Therefore, health promotion professionals must have sufficient professional competence in order to manage the multifaceted health impacts of climate change. The purpose of this article is to review the literature on health promotion and emergency medical care under conditions of climate change. Examples are provided to delineate the biological, psychological, social, and spiritual effects of climate change. The results of this literature review may provide community-based health promotion and emergency medical services guidance for further development and improvements. Healthcare professionals are expected to play a central role in managing the impact of climate change in order to achieve health for all.

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of the European Union’s sanctions policy in the field of human rights protection, focusing on its fundamental transformation from predominantly declarative and fragmented measures to an institutionalized, systemic global sanctions regime. The central subject of the research is Regulation (EU) 2020/1998, which established this new mechanism. The study employs institutional analysis, comparative legal methodology, and a systemic approach. The legal nature of this regime is examined in detail, including its universal character that allows for the application of restrictive measures irrespective of the perpetrator’s geographical location. The institutional architecture is analyzed, encompassing the roles of key EU institutions (the Council of the EU, the European External Action Service, the European Commission) and Member States in the process of initiating, adopting, and implementing sanctions. The criteria for applying restrictive measures are disclosed, particularly concerning the severity and systemic nature of human rights violations, such as genocide, crimes against humanity, torture, and other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment. A comparative analysis of the EU’s global sanctions regime with the American Magnitsky Act is conducted, identifying common features and significant differences, especially in the degree of centralization in decision-making and implementation approaches. Particular attention is paid to the European Union’s response to the full-scale military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, which has demonstrated both the potential and certain limitations of the existing sanctions policy, acting as a catalyst for its further strengthening. Key challenges to the effectiveness of the EU’s sanctions mechanism are identified and analyzed. These include the significant decentralization of the sanctions implementation process at the national level by Member States, which can lead to uneven application and the creation of «weak links.» Problems related to complex schemes for circumventing imposed restrictions and insufficient coordination are also considered. The urgent need for the unification of implementation and control procedures, as well as for the clear definition of specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) objectives for each sanctions regime and individual decision, is substantiated. Based on the conducted research, evidence-based proposals for improving the EU’s sanctions policy are formulated. These proposals include strengthening coordination, expanding analytical capabilities for detecting circumvention schemes, and enhancing monitoring. It is emphasized that studying the EU’s experience in this area is highly relevant for Ukraine in the process of developing and harmonizing its own effective sanctions strategy in accordance with international standards.

The inclusion of time limits signals a significant change in the recent sanctions practice of the Security Council. This change ties in with the ongoing debate about the reform of the Council's sanctions policy. The article traces the emergence of time limits by examining the constellation of the 'reverse veto' which triggered a shift in the sanctions policy of France, China and the Russian Federation. After a brief assessment of the legality of time limits, the main focus is placed on their implications for the future sanctions practice of the Council which are evaluated with regard to their contribution to a successful sanctions policy. The author addresses the shift in the internal power dynamics in the Council, the potential for ensuring the legality and for enhancing the legitimacy of the Council's sanctions policy as well as the objections raised against time limits for undermining the effectiveness of sanctions as the three crucial areas in assessing time limits. In conclusion, time limits are viewed as a device, the use of which has not only proved helpful in overcoming a threatening stalemate in the Council's sanctions policy but also has the potential of enhancing the flexibility and the legitimacy of such a policy.

The article draws attention to the problem of the lack of synchronization of documents aimed at scientific and technological (innovative) development of the Russian Federation, national, regional/sectoral and corporate levels. This problem is also reinforced by the fact that most industry–leading corporations do not have strategies of innovative development that correspond to strategic planning documents approved in the Russian Federation, namely the Strategy of Scientific and Technological Development and the Concept of Technological Development. The solution to this problem is seen by the author of this article in the development of methodological foundations for the creation of corporate innovative development strategies synchronized with the top-level priorities of scientific and technological development at the national level for the implementation of innovations.