Parts Of Asia Research Articles

Molecular detection and phylogeography of the hypervirulent subtype of <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> Beijing 14717-15

Aim. To develop a method for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains belonging to highly lethal, hypervirulent, multidrug-resistant Beijing 14717-15-cluster to be applied to screen for M. tuberculosis retrospective collections obtained from various regions of Russia. The collection included M. tuberculosis DNA samples obtained during population studies. Spoligotyping and genotyping of 24 variable number tandem repeats loci were performed according to standard protocols. Phylogenetic analysis was based on the whole genome sequencing data. Polymorphism at the genomic position 2423040 A G, specific for the Beijing 14717-15 cluster, was detected using PCR-RFLP and HhaI restriction enzyme. The bioinformatic and phylogenetic analysis of whole genome sequencing data for 205 strains of the early ancient sublineage of the M. tuberculosis Beijing genotype showed that strains with the VNTR 14717-15 profile (according to MIRU-VNTRplus.org) and those close to it were grouped into one monophyletic cluster of related strains, which we defined as Beijing 14717-15-cluster. Among the SNPs specific for the 14717-15 cluster, we chose a functionally neutral SNP at the genomic position 2423040 A G (Rv2161c Val33Ala) and developed a method for its detection in the PCR-RFLP format. Next, we applied this method to screening DNA collections from the regions of the European and Asian parts of Russia and Asian countries. The data demonstrate the presence of strains of the Beijing 14717-15 cluster only in the Asian region of Russia peaking in Buryatia (18%). We have developed a method for detection of the hypervirulent and highly lethal genetic cluster M. tuberculosis Beijing 14717-15 based on detection of the specific mutation in the Rv2161c gene using PCR followed by HhaI restriction of the PCR product and agarose gel electrophoresis to discriminate between wild-type and mutant alleles. The advantages of the proposed method are the speed, simple and unambiguous data interpretation, opportunity to detect contamination and mixed infection, suitability for efficient analysis of large collections of M. tuberculosis strains.

About the key regional priority of Russia's foreign policy

The state structures of the country are developing a new concept of the state's foreign policy. The geopolitical situation has changed dramatically and the previous concept no longer refl ects the new reality. The concept will determine the main priorities of the country, including regional ones. In previous documents, the European one occupied the priority place among them. Due to the increased dynamics of political and economic processes in Asia, an increase in its share in the global economy, an increase in the potential for conflict in this region and, consequently, the need to solve regional security problems, Russia should set the Asian direction as its key regional priority. This is an objective necessity. The article examines the factors contributing to the preference of this priority, among them the policy of the European Union, which was created by Western European elites to form a "united Europe" under the auspices of the EU. The aim was to reduce Russia's infl uence on pan-European processes, pushing it into the Asian part of the Eurasian space. Eurasia should take its proper place in the new concept of Russia's foreign policy. In addition to developing relations with the leading Asian countries, with ASEAN, fi lling these relations with appropriate content, the bet should be placed on the development of integration within the EU, which does not remain a loose integration. In addition, Western countries have increased pressure on the Central Asian states with the aim of tearing their economy away from the Russian economy. Strengthening the EAEU meets the interests not only of our country, but also of the Central Asian states, since it is difficult for them individually to resist the larger players in Asia. The combined potential of the EAEU countries, taking into account Uzbekistan's cooperation with them, is a market of 23 million people. This is a fairly self-suffi cient market with large resources. Therefore, the development of the potential of the EAEU, strengthening its position as an integration association should take a key place in the regional priorities of our country's foreign policy.

Environmental Considerations Related to Generation Facilities in the Regions of the Asian Part of Russia

Environmental Considerations Related to Generation Facilities in the Regions of the Asian Part of Russia

A taxonomic revision of Taraxacum sect. Dissecta, a continental steppe group common in Siberia and adjacent regions of Central Asia

Steppe and similar habitats in southern Siberia, Mongolia and adjacent regions harbour a considerable diversity of Taraxacum sect. Dissecta (Asteraceae, Crepidinae); its taxonomic revision is presented. A thorough study of live and herbarium plants revealed 30 species that belong, or are very close, to T. sect. Dissecta; seven species were known previously and 23 are described as new, mostly from the Altai Republic, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Lake Baikal and Bratsk. Their distribution includes the Asiatic part of Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia and Xinjiang, China. The name T. dissectum (Ledeb.) Ledeb. is relegated to the synonymy of T. pubescens (Fr.) Fr. A detailed analysis of the original material of the name T. collinum revealed that it consists of mostly juvenile plants belonging to several species of T. sect. Dissecta, and that it requires further study on newly collected material. The frequently reported occurrence of T. sect. Dissecta (as T. dissectum) in the European mountain ranges was reassessed. The reports from the Pyrenees belong to T. pyrenaicum and related species of T. sect. Obliqua. Two mutually similar species, often referred to as T. dissectum, recognized as T. aquilonare Hand.-Mazz. and T. zermattense Dahlst., were studied in order to reconsider the hypothesis that they represent T. sect. Dissecta in the Alps. On the basis of morphological and phytogeographical data, we present this hypothesis as quite plausible but requiring experimental, phylogeographic evidence; a full treatment of both species is also given. The name T. compactum is typified and the species is excluded from T. sect. Dissecta; it belongs to T. sect. Qaisera.

Қазақ даласы мен Орта Азияның еуропалық карталары

The article is devoted to the study of the information about the Kazakh steppe and Central Asia, given on European maps, and consists of an introduction and three parts, each accompanied by cartographic visual material and tables. The first part thoroughly examines the various names of the Kazakh Khanate and the countries of Central Asia from the middle of the 16th century to the middle of the 18th century. Examples of the use of such names as Kosaky Orda, Cassakia, Kasaky Tartar, KirgisKaisak, Kalmuk, Nogay, Naiman and others are analyzed in detail. The second part of the article considers various terms denoting the Kazakh Khanate and the countries of Central Asia on the maps by Anthony Jenkinson (1529–1611). While making his map, he used not only his own observations, but also the maps of his predecessors. On his map, he showed the borders of the Kazakh Khanate as an independent state and highlighted its territory with color. Lake Kitay (Kitaia Lacus) on his map is, apparently, Lake Teletskoye. The article identifies all the seven rulers depicted on the Asian part of the map. The third part of the article considers the Kazakh Khanate and the cities of Central Asia on the world map of Matteo Ricci (1602), where the Kazakhs are designated as Ge’ermo (=Ge’erheishi = Kirgessi). The influence of European cartography on Ricci’s map is demonstrated, and the sinicized names of Astrakhan, Turkestan, Chagatai, Nogai, Volga, etc. are given. Ricci mainly used the names and toponyms from Ptolemy, but in a distorted or sinicized form, and changed them in accordance with new materials.

Konstantin Dmitrievich Glinka (23.06.1867 – 02.11.1927) – the first academician-soil scientist, organizer and first Director of V.V. Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute and the first Rector of Voronezh Agricultural Institute named after Emperor Peter I, Professor, full member of the USSR Academy of Sciences

Konstantin Dmitrievich Glinka made a major contribution to the development of such areas of soil science as genesis, geography, cartography and mineralogy of soils. He made the first world soil maps (1908, 1915, 1927), the first soil map of the Asian part of Russia (1927, jointly with L.I. Prasolov), classic studies of weathering processes and transformation of primary minerals into secondary, first studies of buried and relic soils, which laid the foundation for paleosoil science. Fundamental, encyclopedic textbook, written by K.D. Glinka “Soil science” went through six editions (1908–1936) and became a basic guide for many generations of soil scientists. The ideas of K.D. Glinka in the genesis of different types of soils, including gray forest soils, podzols, red earths, burozems (brown soils) have not lost their scientific value until the present day. His outstanding scientific, organizational and pedagogical contribution to the development of genetic soil science has earned K.D. Glinka a well-deserved fame as a scientist of world class.

Geopolitics of separatism

Geopolitics of separatism

Calculating the Ice Thickness on the Rivers of the North of the Asian Part of Russia

Calculating the Ice Thickness on the Rivers of the North of the Asian Part of Russia

A review of Trichogramma Westwood parasitoids on eggs of Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis & Schiffermüller) in habitats of the Balkan Peninsula and Asia Minor

Studies on egg parasitoids of the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa) were conducted during the period 1991-2018 in native localities of the pest on the Balkan Peninsula and in Asia Minor. In Bulgaria the biological material (2510 egg batches and 579273 eggs) was collected in 48 host localities. A number of 650 egg batches and 135611 eggs were studied from the Balkan countries (North Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and Greece), and in the Asian part of Turkey (Asia Minor), the biological material was examined from nine habitats. Eight species of egg parasitoids (Ooencyrtus pityocampae, Baryscapus servadeii, B. transversalis, Pediobius bruchicida, Anastatus bifasciatus, Eupelmus vesicularis, E. vladimiri and Trichogramma sp.) were found. The total regulating effect of egg parasitoids in Bulgaria was on average 17.6%, and in the other Balkan countries – 24.9%. Trichogramma sp. was found in 63.1% of the analysed samples in Bulgaria and in 55.6% from the neighboring countries. The percent of parasitism of T. pityocampa eggs by Trichogramma sp. was low - on average 0.39% for Bulgaria and 0.73% for the other Balkan countries. The relative share of the species in the total percentage of parasitised eggs for Bulgaria and the other countries was 2.2% and 2.9%, respectively.  

Analysis and Synthesis of Alternative Solutions to Environmental Problems Associated with Large-scale Projects

In this study the environmental problems in the large-scale project called "Ecology of the Angaro-Yenisei region" are addressed. A description of various approaches to assess the program of conservation and restoration of the Yenisei as the basis of the ecological potential of the Angaro-Yenisei region is presented. A justification is given for taking into account the uncertainty in such an assessment. The present study suggests three stages of assessment for different levels, macro-, meso- and microlevel. The estimates of the previous assessment level are the initial information for the lower level, which allows a gradually reduction of the degree of uncertainty. At the first stage, the goals of the program were developed and ranked by expert assessment methods. The second stage consisted in analyzing the National Project called "Ecology of Russia," composed of 11 interconnected federal projects. A mathematical model of the problem of optimal project management in conditions of uncertainty is presented. At the third stage, a hybrid model of assessing a large ecological project from the logical-descriptive model created at the first stage and the mathematical model of stage 2 is considered. Similar models, in the creation of which the authors took part, were used in the assessment of large-scale railway projects. More specifically, with the help of one of them, an analysis of the development of the Asian part of the Russian Federation was carried out by the Siberian branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In conclusion, the need of the use of mathematical methods at various stages of assessing large-scale environmental projects from their initiation to implementation is justified

Current state of the ferroalloy industry in Russia and prospects for its development in the Asian part of the country

Ferrous metallurgy, as a supplier of metal products and a major consumer of energy and engineering products, is an industry that can act as one of the source for Asian Russia complex development impulse. The different ferroalloys and ligatures have used in the process of steelmaking to ensure the required range of steel products. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct an audit of the current state of the Russian ferroalloy industry and its Asian part in order to identify possible growth points of the industry to ensure the development of ferrous metallurgy and sustainable socio-economic growth of the Asian Russian space. In the article it is shown that Asian part is one of the ferroalloy industry centers in Russia, which, as in the industry as a whole, has a high dependence on imported supplies of ore which neces-sary for ferroalloys production. Its own raw materials provided only for production of silicon alloys. In the issue of oth-er alloys and ligatures production, the existing conservative approach in the organization of the ferroalloy industry does not allow the use of poor domestic ore in production. The growth in demand for silicon alloys can be achieved by reori-enting export flows to domestic consumption but the most important alloys for the development of Asian Russia based on manganese, chromium, vanadium and niobium may have difficulties in providing ferrous metallurgy with them. The solutions of such problems are implementation of new technologies for raw materials processing, development of non-standard types of alloys, introduction of technogenic waste processing. This will contribute to the realization of Russia’s desire for import substitution, including the provision of metallurgy with its own raw materials.

Neoskrjabinolepis paradoxa n. sp. from shrews on Sakhalin Island, Russia, with an amended diagnosis of Neoskrjabinolepis Spassky, 1947 (Cestoda: Cyclophyllidea: Hymenolepididae), a key, and a review on geographical distribution of the species.

A taxonomic review was performed on cestodes of the genus Neoskrjabinolepis Spassky, 1947 that parasitize different species of Sorex shrews in different regions of the northern Palearctic and in the Nearctic (Alaska, USA). Information on Palearctic Neoskrjabinolepis cestodes published in various articles is summarized. An overview of the geographical distribution of the Neoskrjabinolepis species is also presented. Currently, the genus includes 17 species. In the European part of the Palearctic, four species of the genus are registered; in the Asian part, 13 species; and on the American continent (Seward Peninsula, Alaska, USA), two species. Descriptions, illustrations, and differential diagnoses are given for a new species of Neoskrjabinolepis, i.e. N. paradoxa n. sp., which was found in shrews Sorex unguiculatus Dobson and S. caecutiens Laxmann on Sakhalin Island. A unique feature of the new species is irregularly alternating genital pores in the uterus series in the strobila. Amended new differential features (positioning of the uterus relative to osmoregulatory canals and alternation of genital pores) of genus diagnosis and an identification key for Neoskrjabinolepis spp. are presented.

Растительность торфяных бугров болотных комплексов севера Западной Сибири и полуострова Таймыр

Растительность торфяных бугров болотных комплексов севера Западной Сибири и полуострова Таймыр

Transport Accessibility of Rural Territories of the Siberian Federal District

The article provides a comparative analysis of the transport accessibility of the grain-producing territories of the European and Asian parts of Russia. It has been determined that on the territory of Russia the role of the main regional beneficiary in the port infrastructure of western directions has only increased, including for the reception of grain products. The development of northern ports in terms of the reorientation of grain flows is limited by the development of the northern sea route, in which, in turn, the main role is assigned to sustainable supplies of mineral raw materials. Eastern ports of the country are limited by natural and climatic conditions, as well as infrastructural restrictions, historical and economic factors in the development of port infrastructure. The main directions for solving these problems at the level of the Siberian Federal District include increasing export flows through river ports oriented to the Northern Sea Route (Sabetta port) for Novosibirsk and Tomsk and Irkutsk regions, Krasnoyarsk Territory; intensification of the river direction of the southern export flow through the checkpoint "Cherlak" for the Omsk region; formation in the southern municipalities of regional cargo-forming hubs for orientation to the east for the Irkutsk region and the Krasnoyarsk Territory.

Renewable energy and prospects for decarbonising the Asian Russia

Decarbonisation of energy system has many reasons and climate change remains the key factor for transition from conventional to renewable sources of energy. The Asian part of Russia is closely connected with the Arctic and global agenda on climate change makes it urgent to seek the balance between abundant conventional sources of energy in Siberia and renewables, which have obtained a great technical potential. According to our study, establishing voluntary carbon markets and green certificates in Russia stimulate for penetration of renewables in Siberia.

Геоинформационная система «Речные бассейны России»

An electronic map of basin geosystems of small rivers has been created for almost the entire mainland of Russia. The form of representation is a vector layer of polygonal objects; spatial detail corresponds to the regional level of generalization (scale 1:1 000 000). The research was performed in three stages: 1) The European Part of Russia (with the exception of the Crimea and the Kaliningrad region); 2) The Arctic watershed area of the Asian Part of Russia; 3) The Pacific watershed area (Far Eastern Federal District). In total, over 388 000 objects (basins) have been allocated with an average area of about 47.8 km2. The method used for constructing the basin map includes: selection of the base DEM and the hydro grid map; selection of geometric parameters of the raster grid to represent the initial data and the results of model calculations; correction of the DEM using the hydro grid map; construction of watershed basin boundaries in automatic mode; assessment of the accuracy of the allocation of river basin boundaries for different types of terrain. A specialized geoinformation system “Basins of small rivers of Russia” has been formed. GIS integrates geoinformation representing natural (geomorphometry of the relief, the hydro-climatic parameters, sediment yield and river flow, soils, landscapes) and anthropogenic (land use types, population, transport network, etc.) characteristics of river basins. As an example of solving geoecological and geographical problems, calculations of the intensity of soil erosion for the Lena River basin using a modified model of soil loss are presented. The average value of soil erosion losses in the Lena River basin, taking into account the types of land cover, is 0.22 t/ha/year. This generally indicates a very low intensity of erosion, most of the basin area belongs to the nonhazardous category of soil loss.

Оценка влияния факторов природных условий на накопление человеческого капитала в восточных регионах Российской империи конца XIX — начала XX в.

The article presents a methodology for quantitative analysis of the influence of the natural-geographical environment on the accumulation of human capital and its testing on the data from the Asian part of the Russian Empire in the late 19th — early 20th centuries. The territorial unit of analysis is an uezd or district as a set of urban and rural settlements, an internal part of larger administrative entities, namely provinces and regions. The regression analysis showed that geographical factors are statistically significantly associated with the formation of human capital in the territory of the Eastern part of late imperial Russia. The research work was carried out based on a wide range of statistical and cartographic sources, including data from the 1897 census, reference maps of the 1914 atlas, climatic atlases of the Russian Empire and others. The significance and quantitative estimates of various factors (climate, natural resources, share of the urban population, and others) of human capital accumulation depending on the sample are presented. The article shows in detail the progress of the work and its methodology, including the identification of significant factors of literacy disparity in the context of “urban/rural” and “male/female” population». Input data and results of regression analysis are provided in the corresponding tables. The processed data set was presented as a composition of cartographic materials. Thus, topical maps were prepared for the source data, in particular on natural resources and climate; statistical results on disparity were displayed in the form of cartograms.

Этническая идентичность в регионах Урала, Сибири и Дальнего Востока (по результатам социологического исследования)

The article presents the results of an ethno-sociological study conducted in the regions of the Ural, Siberian and Far Eastern federal districts. One of the objectives of this study was the analysis of ethnic identity, its comparison in national regions and in regions with a predominantly Russian population, among people of different age groups. In general, ethnic identity turned out to be less important for the inhabitants of the regions of the Asian part of Russia than the all-Russian or regional identity. But in the national republics, especially among representatives of the titular peoples, ethnic identity is more pronounced.

Ups and downs of infections with the broad fish tapeworm Dibothriocephalus latus in Europe (Part II) and Asia from 1900 to 2020.

The broad fish tapeworm, Dibothriocephalus latus (Diphyllobothriidea), is the most important causative agent of diphyllobothriosis, a fish-borne zoonosis, in Europe. Part I of this review focused on the occurrence of D. latus in northwestern and central Europe, particularly in Fennoscandia, the Baltic, the Alpine lakes and Danube River regions during 1900-2020. Part II summarises data on D. latus from the European and Asian parts of Russia and from Asian countries. The tapeworm has occurred throughout Russia, with the most important foci in (i) the Republic of Karelia in the northwest of European Russia, (ii) the Volga River basin in the central and southern parts of European Russia, (iii) the Ob-Irtysh rivers region in the Ural region, (iv) the Yenisei-Lena rivers region in Siberia, and (v) the Lake Baikal basin in Siberia. The incidence of diphyllobothriosis has declined in recent decades, especially in European Russia, but zoonosis is still prevalent in some regions of Siberia. Cases reported from Arctic regions, the region around Lake Baikal, and the Pacific coast, including the Amur basin, however, were probably misidentifications with D. dendriticus and/or D. nihonkaiensis. No other Asian country where D. latus findings represented either imported cases or misidentifications had natural focus of diphyllobothriosis. Patterns of distribution of D. latus occurrence were similar in all Eurasian foci between 1900 and 2020. The numbers of records were associated with historical and epidemiological milestones of particular time periods.

The Power and Weakness of the Sultan’s Army in the Description of the Allies of the Second Anti-French Coalition (the Asian Stage of the Campaign of 1799—1801)

The article is devoted to a little-studied event of the Napoleonic Wars: the Ottoman campaign of 1799—1801 against the French expeditionary force that captured Egypt. The events of this campaign are revealed in documents, some of which have not yet been published, and some written in Arabic and Ottoman languages are poorly introduced into scientific circulation. Of particular interest is the fact that the most informative source covering the Asian part of the campaign was Enrico Frankini, the Russian agent in the army of the Grand Vizier. Comparing the views of European and Ottoman campaign participants on the system of organization and management of the Sultan’s army, the relationship between the central and provincial authorities, the Ottomans and the Arabic-speaking population, the self-identification of Muslim soldiers and their attitude to “infidel” enemies or allies — all this allows us to better understand the mutual perception of Europeans preparing for colonial conquests in the Middle East, and the Ottoman society, which was on the verge of transformation. Realizing the need for modernization, Sultan Selim III (1789—1807) began to organize the regiments of the “new order”, but the military reform, as well as several other transformations, caused a sharp rejection of the traditional Ottoman elites. Involvement in the Napoleonic Wars, first as part of the anti-French coalition, and then on the side of France, had fatal consequences both for Selim III himself and for his reforms. A significant role in assessing the low combat capability of the Sultan’s army was played by the reports of Russian and British informants who participated in the Ottoman campaign in Egypt.