Search Results (20)

The European part of Russia has been characterized by a remarkably low documented diversity of entomopathogenic fungi, particularly when compared to the high species richness recorded in the Russian Far East. This pattern has persisted through decades of primarily morphology-based studies, which require critical reassessment using modern molecular methods. Here, we introduce a new species, Cordyceps biarmica, described from its asexual stage collected in the taiga of Arkhangelsk Oblast, representing a notable addition to the known diversity of the genus Cordyceps in the region. The fungus was isolated from a poorly preserved lepidopteran cocoon with pulvinate, unbranched conidiomata. Morphological features of its pure culture revealed an Isaria-like asexual morph characterized by solitary or verticillate phialides on a subspherical to subcylindrical base, bearing conidia in imbricate chains twisted in spirals. Multilocus phylogenetic analysis of a five-locus dataset (ITS, nrLSU, rpb1, rpb2, and tef1-α) was conducted using Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Inference. The isolate was robustly placed within Cordyceps s.s., forming a distinct monophyletic lineage separate from other closely related well-supported taxa, including Cordyceps cateniannulata, C. exasperata, C. locastrae, C. polyarthra, C. sandindaengensis, and C. spegazzinii. Full article

Background: Several targeted drugs have been recently approved for the treatment of PIK3CA-mutated hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/HER2-negative (HER2−) breast cancer (BC). This study aimed at a comprehensive evaluation of the spectrum of PIK3CA alterations in Russian BC patients. Methods: The tumor material from 1872 patients with ER+/HER2− BC was tested by a combination of PCR-based methods. Results: Mutations were detected in 693/1872 (37%) cases, including 46 BC with two PIK3CA lesions. The three most common substitutions (E542K, E545K, and H1047R) were identified in 542/693 (78%) PIK3CA-mutated cases, while as many as 5.5–12% of identified mutations were not potentially detectable by common commercial kits. The study included patients of Slavic and non-Slavic ethnicities residing in regions with different climate conditions, however, these factors did not influence the distribution of PIK3CA mutations. The presence of PIK3CA variants was associated with older patient age at diagnosis (p = 0.0002), smaller tumor size (p = 0.005), lower grade (p = 0.005), Ki67 <20% (p = 0.0001) and progesterone receptor-positive status (p = 0.002) at the initial disease diagnosis, and fewer distant metastases at the time of the detection of BC spread (p = 0.0001). In a subgroup of 413 BC patients who received adjuvant tamoxifen or aromatase inhibitors, PIK3CA mutations were not associated with resistance to either type of treatment. Conclusions: The results of this study highlight the need to extend the PIK3CA testing beyond the hotspot regions of this gene. Although PIK3CA alterations contribute to the pathogenesis of HR+/HER2− BC and represent a target for several novel drugs, they are not intrinsically associated with unfavorable clinical characteristics of this subtype of cancer disease. Full article

Heart rate variability biofeedback (HRV BF) training aids adaptation to new climatic, geographical, and social environments. Neurophysiological changes during the HRV BF in individuals from tropical regions studying in the Arctic are not well understood. The aim of this study was to research electroencephalographic (EEG) changes during a single short-term HRV BF session in Indian and Russian students studying in the Russian Arctic. The Indian (n = 40) and Russian (n = 40) healthy students (age 19–21 years) at a medical university in Arkhangelsk (64°33′ N 40°32′ E) were studied. HRV and EEG parameters were measured at baseline (5 min) and during a short-term HRV BF session (5 min) to increase the total power (TP, ms²) of the HRV spectrum. The baseline heart rate and stress index levels were significantly higher in the Indian students. During the HRV BF sessions, the sympathetic activity decreased more significantly in Russian students, while the alpha EEG activity significantly increased across all brain regions in both groups. In Indian students, there was a notable increase in theta and beta1 EEG spectral power in the frontal, central, and temporal regions. HRV BF training in Indian students was associated with a more pronounced activation of brain systems compared with Russian students. Full article

This paper presents the reconstruction of the architecture of the lithospheric mantle, including its thermal state and thickness, as well as the scale and efficiency of its sampling by four kimberlites from the Arkhangelsk diamondiferous province: Arkhangelskaya, Lomonosovskaya, V. Grib, and TSNIGRI-Arkhangelskaya. These kimberlites differ in terms of their composition, diamond content, and location. Data presented include the major-element composition of clinopyroxene xenocrysts (>2000 grains), P–T calculations from compositionally filtered Cr-diopside grains, and the reconstruction of local paleogeotherms. Additionally, we used available data on Ni content in peridotitic garnet xenocrysts to calculate their T values and project them onto local Cr-diopside-derived geotherms to reconstruct the vertical distribution of mantle xenocrysts and assess the efficiency of lithospheric mantle sampling by different kimberlites. We identified the presence of a >200 km-thick lithospheric mantle beneath the region at the time of kimberlite emplacement. We also found that the diamond content of the studied pipes was, to some extent, dependent on the following set of factors: (1) the thermal state of the lithospheric mantle; (2) the width of the real “diamond window” marked by mantle xenocrysts, especially by diamond-associated garnets; and (3) the efficiency of lithospheric mantle sampling by kimberlite. The results of this study can be used to inform diamond exploration programs within the region. Full article

Dating young peatlands using the ²¹⁰Pb dating procedure is a challenging task. The traditional ²¹⁰Pb age models assume an exponential decline in radioactivity in line with depth in the peat profile. Lead exhibits considerable migratory capacity in Arctic peatlands; hence, to perform precise peat dating, existing models should be enhanced to remove the effects of migration. Independent isotope chronometers, such as ¹³⁷Cs, can verify this. The Monte Carlo method and IP-CRS were utilised, together with several CA, CF/CS, PF, and CF models, to analyse the peat core samples acquired in the Arkhangelsk region. Data analysis revealed that the height partitioning of ¹³⁷Cs and ²¹⁰Pb is associated with physical characteristics, like the peat ash and the bulk density of the bog. Comparison between the natural activity of ²¹⁰Pb in the peat and the radioactivity of ¹³⁷Cs measured at depths of 19–21 cm in relation to the global fallout in 1963 indicated that the CF/CS, CF, and IP-CRS models (1965, 1962 and 1964, respectively) gave the closest age to the reference point given. IP-CRS was found to be the preferred model of these three options, as it gave a rather closer correlation with the ¹³⁷Cs activity specific to the reference layer, allowing the error. The core dating of ²¹⁰Pb showed an age of 1963 for a depth of 17–19 cm, which was in agreement with the reference horizon ¹³⁷Cs and ash content, thus validating the accuracy and sufficiency of the selected model turf profile chronology. The maximum content of man-made radioisotopes in the peatlands corresponded to the formulation of the Partial Test Ban Treaty of 1963. The rates of accumulation of peat and atmospheric flux of ²¹⁰Pb are in good agreement with the values available for the bogs of Northern Europe and those previously estimated by the authors in the subarctic region of European Russia. Although the problems of the complex migration-related distribution of ²¹⁰Pb in the peat layer were considered, the dating methods used were effective in our study and can be adapted in following studies to perform the age determination of different peat deposits. Full article

The possibility of obtaining building foamed glass-ceramic using the diamond concentration tailings of the Lomonosov deposit in Arkhangelsk Region, Russia, is demonstrated here. The effect of the tailings’ particle size distribution, feed temperature, the addition of a foaming agent, and the content of oxidizer on the feed charge foaming is established. The process conditions for obtaining foamed glass-ceramic materials are described. The specifications of the materials with the optimal composition (tailings 50 wt.%, glass waste 50 wt.%, SiC 0.5 wt.%, Fe₂O₃ 1 wt.%) foamed at 1020–1050 °C were as follows: apparent density 0.23–0.51 g/cm³, compression strength 0.58–2.40 MPa, water absorption (by volume) 8.7–19.0%. Based on the combination of the measured properties when used in dry conditions, the obtained materials can be considered heat-insulating foam materials. The thermal conductivity was 0.060–0.066 W/m·K. Full article

Lake sediments are a reliable source of information about the past, including data of the origin of water bodies and their changes. Russia has more than 2 million lakes, so paleolimnological studies are relevant here. This review deals with the most significant studies of sequential accumulation of pollutants, including heavy metals in recent lake sediments in Russia. The key areas are northwestern regions of Russia (Murmansk Region, the Republic of Karelia, Arkhangelsk Region), the Urals (Chelyabinsk Region, the Republic of Bashkortostan), and Siberia. The review presents the data of pollutants accumulation, the sedimentation rate in lakes in the anthropogenic period, and the key sources of pollution of the environment in each of the mentioned regions. The article is divided into three parts (sections): industrial areas, urbanized areas, and background (pristine) areas so that readers might better understand the specifics of particular pollution and its impact on lake ecosystems. The impact of metallurgical plants, mining companies, boiler rooms, coal and mazut thermal power plants, transport, and other anthropogenic sources influencing geochemical characteristics of lakes located nearby or at a distance to these sources of pollution are considered. For instance, the direct influence of factories and transport was noted in the study of lake sediments in industrial regions and cities. In the background territories, the influence of long-range transport of pollutants was mainly noted. It was found that sedimentation rates are significantly lower in pristine areas, especially in the Frigid zone, compared to urbanized areas and industrial territories. In addition, the excess concentrations of heavy metals over the background are higher in the sediments of lakes that are directly affected by the source of pollution. At the end of the article, further prospects of the development of paleolimnological studies in Russia are discussed in the context of the continuing anthropogenic impact on the environment. Full article

Tree stand dynamics, changes in the ground vegetation and soils, and species diversity of wood-decaying fungi were studied in pristine middle boreal spruce forests affected by a surface fire in the Vodlozersky National Park (Arkhangelsk Region, Russia) in 2011. In the third year after the fire, the burnt area was dominated by birch, which contributed an average of 72% to the total amount of major tree species regeneration. In sites affected by a high-severity fire, the ground vegetation cover did not exceed 40%, with Chamaenerion angustifolium (L.) Scop. and Marchantia polymorpha L. dominating in the first years after. By the tenth year, the diversity of the newly forming tree layer increased from 5 to 11 species and natural thinning of deciduous tree regeneration was already underway, although its amount was still over 100,000 plants per hectare throughout. By the end of the first post-fire decade, Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. and Pinus sylvestris L. accounted for 11% of the total regeneration. The occurrence and cover of pyrogenic species Chamaenerion angustifolium and Marchantia polymorpha declined sharply at this stage. Vegetation in sites affected by mid-severity fire was mostly regenerating through propagation of the survivor Avenella flexuosa (L.) Drejer, Vaccinium myrtillus L., V. vitis-idaea, etc. In the burnt area, the species diversity of wood-destroying fungi was reduced compared to the adjacent unburned areas, and it was the same in both heavily and moderately burnt areas. This is probably due to the fact that the downed deadwood in post-fire sites was trunks of the same age and in the same degree of decay whereas the total amount of downed deadwood in the control (unburnt forest) was lower but featuring all stages of decay and, furthermore, there were plenty of fungi-populated dead standing and weakened overmature trees. Full article

Synchronization between heart rate variability (HRV) in the low-frequency (LF) range (0.04–0.15 Hz) and 1-min variations in the components (X, Y, Z)and the total vector (F) of geomagnetic induction (nT) was studied in normotensive (blood pressure up to 140/90 mmHg) and hypertensive (blood pressure above 140/90 mmHg) individuals living in the Arkhangelsk region (60°51′52″ N 39°31′05″ E).The duration of registration of HRV for each person is 30 min in a sitting position. The most pronounced synchronization of the LF parameter, which reflects baroreflex activity, with variations in the GMF was found in normotensive individuals. The absence of a significant synchronization of the LF parameter with variations in the GMF components indicates a decrease in the sensitivity of the baroreflex mechanism and a risk of dysregulation of vascular tone, especially in people with arterial hypertension, under conditions of instability of the geomagnetic field. Full article

This paper investigates the impact of the moderate growth of government borrowing on debt sustainability in 11 Russian regions over about 10 years, starting in 2010. The current study aims to assess the debt sustainability of the Russian region’s budget by determining Euclidean distance budget constraints and cluster analysis. This study is based on the methodology of hierarchical cluster analysis, which makes it possible to isolate regions of accumulation of objects from the aggregate data and combine them into homogeneous segments. The central hypothesis of this study is that by using this method, it is possible to increase the accuracy of the values that limit budget constraints in a region’s financial system. This study, using open data from the Federal State Statistics Service, is based on a database of statistical, financial, and economic indicators of the Russian economy. The calculations include about 45 macroeconomic indicators, which reflect the ratios of socio-economic development of the region’s financial system. The methodology described in the paper for assessing the debt sustainability of budget policy proves the need to calculate six indicators and determine the debt limits for the regions of each cluster. It finds a need to reduce the high debt burden of 46% of the regions belonging to the Northwestern Federal District. Confidence intervals for the debt limit suggest that the negative growth effect of high debt may start from levels of around 5% of the debt-to-GDP ratio and about 43% of the debt-to-revenue ratio. The results indicate that regions with a high level of debt sustainability include St. Petersburg city, the Leningrad region, and the Kaliningrad region. From a state debt policy perspective, the results provide additional arguments for debt reduction for the Republic of Komi, the Republic of Karelia, the Arkhangelsk region, and the Pskov region. The general conclusion of the study boils down to the need to reduce the debt burden of the budgets of some regions of the SFZO, as well as to the need to change the upper limits of debt, which are equally set for all regions by the Budget Code of the Russian Federation, to differentiated values of public domestic debt, taking into account the results obtained in the study. Full article

Regarding the bumblebee fauna, a number of regions of Russia are still insufficiently studied. These include Arkhangelsk Region, a large territory that is partly located in the subarctic region of Northern European Russia. In this research, we present information on the distribution of bumblebees of the studied region and discuss the bumblebee communities and also their conservation in Northern European Russia. The regional fauna of bumblebees is represented by species that are widely distributed in the Palaearctic. The species richness of bumblebees is highest in the valleys of large rivers and in secondary meadows due to the appearance of species that are not common of the zonal taiga ecosystems. These include Bombus ruderarius, B. veteranus, B. soroeensis, B. sichelii and other species belonging to a group of meadow species. One species, B. consobrinus, is considered as a rare species in the regional fauna. It is represented quite locally in most districts of Arkhangelsk Region. In the north of Arkhangelsk Region, B. consobrinus is most abundant in the native taiga habitats, but is rare in the other areas of the studied region. B. consobrinus in Arkhangelsk Region prefers the meadows near coniferous forests, where its main food plant, Aconitum septentrionale, is concentrated. Full article

Older people and their families were particularly affected during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, but not much is known about the context of the Arctic regions of Russia. In this study, we identified the changes in family care before and during the pandemic using a questionnaire for the informal caregivers of older people. We investigated how and to what extent the pandemic has affected the relationships between caregiver and older person, and how the mental and physical health of older people and caregivers were affected by self-isolation in the Arkhangelsk region of Russia. The pandemic has changed the contribution of care from various actors: the share of care by charities, churches, and other aid agencies increased, while that of municipal services decreased. Sixteen percent of female and forty percent of male caregivers informed the study that COVID-19-related restrictions led to deterioration in the health of older people cared for at home. Family caregivers’ own health worsened, especially mental health: 28% of caregivers reported aggravated stress during the COVID-19 pandemic and expressed various fears. Our data show that the main resources in overcoming the period of self-isolation have been telephone communication, personal contact, reading/music, friends, as well as the help of social services and maintaining a positive attitude. Full article

The Corbicula clam is one of the most successful invaders of aquatic ecosystems and has invaded all continents except Antarctica. The natural dispersion of Corbicula seems to be limited by low winter temperatures that fall below the lower lethal temperatures (0 to +2 °C). However, Corbicula can be found in colder regions, taking refuge in waters heated by thermal power plants. The purpose of this investigation was to study the gonadal histology, reproductive cycle, and the seasonal changes of shell size structure of the Corbicula clam populations in the warm water discharge of the Arkhangelsk thermal power plant (Northwest Russia). Samples were collected monthly from January 2017 to December 2018 and processed using traditional histological and morphological techniques. The number of reproductive periods varied from year to year. It was established that the Corbicula clam has a continuous reproduction period which may be adaptive in unstable environmental conditions. This reproductive strategy is probably aimed at increasing the reproductive success of the population. Our data expand the understanding of reproductive features of the Corbicula clam in harsh environmental conditions. These results could be applied to control, monitoring, and management measures. Full article

Despite the abundance of charcoal material entrapped in soils, they remain relatively less studied pyrogenic archives in comparison to the sedimentary paleofire records (e.g., lacustrine and peat deposits), and that is especially the case in most of Russia’s territory. We report here on the deep soil archives of the Holocene forest fires from the Pinega District of the Arkhangelsk region (64.747° N, 43.387° E). Series of buried soil profiles separated by charcoal layers and clusters were revealed in specific geomorphological traps represented by the active and paleokarst subsidence sinkholes on sulfate rocks overlaid by glacial and fluvial deposits. We combine the study of soil morphology and stratigraphy with a set of radiocarbon data on charcoal and soil organic matter, as well as the anthracomass analysis, to extract a set of paleoenvironmental data. A total of 45 radiocarbon dates were obtained for the macrocharcoal material and the soil organic matter. The maximum temporal “depth” of archives estimated from the radiocarbon dating of macrocharcoal reached 10,260 ± 35 cal yr BP. Soil formation with Podzols established at the inter-pyrogenic stages repeatedly reproduced within the period of ten thousand years, while the dominant tree species was Pinus sp. According to the macrocharcoal data, the intervals between fires have shortened in the last thousand years. Dendrochronological estimates suggest the occurrence of fires in almost every decade of the 20th and early 21st centuries. This is the first study of the millennia-scale soil record of forest fires in this particular region of Russia. Full article

Research Highlights: The majority of non-conformities (NCs) occurred under environmental impact (Principle 6) in all regions, and contributed on average to 40% and 48% of the total number of minor and major NCs respectively. Background and Objectives: The performance of certified companies operating has been frequently criticized in Russia. The aim of this study was to analyse the NCs of FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) -certified companies in northwestern (NW) Russia during the period 2011–2015. Materials and Methods: In total, 69 FSC certificates were assessed, representing 112 FSC-certified companies. It should be noted that the number of certificates in this study increased 2.4-fold (from 29 to 69) during the period 2011–2015. At the same time, the number of minor NCs increased only 1.6-fold (from 221 in 2011 to 363 in 2015), while the number of major NCs increased 3.4-fold (from 25 in 2011 to 84 in 2015). Results: During the five-year period, the highest number of NCs was issued in the Arkhangelsk region and in Republic of Karelia, followed by the Vologda region. On the contrary highest number of issued NCs both minor and major per 1000 ha of certified area was in the Novgorod region. The data were also analyzed on leaseholder level and preliminary split into three categories. Conclusions: The number of NCs was, on average, higher for large-sized leaseholders for both the major and minor NCs in comparison to medium- and small-sized leaseholders. However, there were no significant statistical differences observed. Full article