Genetic Diversity in Populations of Mediterranean Fruit Flies in North-Eastern Brazil

This study aimed at determining the population genetic structure of Mediterranean fruit flies (Ceratitis capitata) in North-eastern Brazil, so as to improve our understanding of the viability of the inter-simple sequences repeat (ISSR) markers in Brazilian populations, along with inferences on population genetic composition which can be used in management programs. For this, ISSR markers were used in groups collected from four municipalities in this region. Primers were polymorphic, revealing moderate expected heterozigosity, with 80% of the variation occurring within populations and moderate structure. Bayesian analysis revealed K = 3, consistent with pairwise FST and indicating low structure between Barra do Choça and Planalto, and moderate structure between Caraíbas and Planalto. Data indicated high diversity, suggesting two interpretations: the analyzed populations arose from a single population and are now under structuring processes, or populations had different origins, but are currently connected by gene flow. Thus, ISSR primers were affective in obtaining information about genetic structure of C. capitata populations in North-eastern Brazil, as evidenced by high polymorphism and separation or grouping of populations according to their allelic compositions. Furthermore, this paper provides useful information for understanding the genetic diversity, population structure and gene flow of C. capitata populations in this region and developing regional strategies for the control and management of the species.

S3 and Recovery and Resilience Funds: A Case Study Built on the Experience of 10 Spanish Regions

The EU's response to the COVID-19 crisis, namely the approval of the Next Generation package, provides an opportunity to explore to what extent the existing Smart Specialisation regional strategies and related ecosystems have been taken into account in the highly relevant territorial context in which the national Recovery Plans have been designed. According to our results the potential of the Smart Specialisation approach (S3) in relation with its place-based strategic prioritisation may have been overlooked in the process. The research is based on a desk review of relevant documents and recent literature in this field; followed by semi-structured interviews with regional planners and practitioners from 10 Spanish regions (autonomous communities); complemented, in a second phase, by the organisation of a focus group to validate the initial results. During our research we identified the main contributions that the Smart Specialisation approach has so far made to the regions (mainly in terms of participative governance and creation of regional ecosystems); and the unanimous perception shared by all the practitioners interviewed that the S3 approach has led to a change of vision in public intervention. However, all of the interviewed regions have confirmed that the drafting of the national recovery and resilience plan lacked an ex-ante alignment with the regional S3 strategies, and failed to consider the existing regional S3 ecosystems. The separation of the recovery logic (based on the operation of public consultations at national level to identify strategic projects) from the S3 logic (based on a strategic prioritisation exercise conducted by each regional ecosystem) confirms that an opportunity may have been missed in the recovery planning process to consolidate the multi-actor, multilevel and place-based S3 approach. Although there is a certain degree of disappointment among regional practitioners as a result of this misalignment, the majority of them believe in the possibility of an ex-post alignment between the two processes, that can protect existing regional shared visions. However, without clear recognition of the S3 ecosystems and the S3 managing bodies, the significant role that Smart Specialisation could play in the recovery process may be at risk.

Russian and UK Dementia Action Plans: a comparative analysis

Purpose This study aims to compare two national dementia plans and analyse the approach of each state to the issue. Design/methodology/approach Comparative analysis, legal analysis, policy analysis Findings Although research is central to both plans, the practical implementation of the Russian and UK plans differs. The Russian action plan on dementia is advisory in nature and does not propose specific programmes for research funding. Two plans have different approach to the role of education and risk factors. Research limitations/implications Lack of information on Russian regional strategies does not allow to compare regional differences between two countries. Originality/value This study illustrates several weak points in the UK and Russian dementia policies, which should be addressed to tackle the dementia problem in both countries.

TURKISH-IRANIAN COMPETITION IN THE SOUTH CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA

Turkey and Iran have maintained stable relations for decades and established cooperation by exploring their common interests despite many political disputes, ideological differences, or economic competition. But recently, many emerging disagreements of the two neighbors started to test the breaking point of this longtime balance. Today, Ankara and Tehran are trying to get a better hand against each other through diplomatic, military, and economic instruments. Starting by presenting an overview of Turkish-Iranian relations, this article focuses on the main points of friction between the two actors in the South Caucasus and Central Asia. The region is going through a critical juncture with crucial events such as the Nagorno-Karabakh War in 2020 and the aftermaths of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. So far, Turkey has increased its regional influence by strengthening its economic and diplomatic presence and establishing military cooperation. This target is pursued through the Turkic identity, which provides the ideological basis for Ankara’s regional strategy. The Islamic Republic of Iran, on the other hand, is trying to defend the regional status quo to resist the containment strategy and international isolation that it has been facing since the revolution. The “axis of resistance” idea that Iran pursues, especially in the Middle East, is almost nonexistent in the Central Asian and Caucasian region due to the Russian factor, lack of sympathy to such an approach on the part of the regional actors, and the Regime’s reluctance to change the status quo in its Northern and Eastern borders. In addition to Ankara and Tehran’s competing regional desires, several bilateral problems to solve in energy, trade, security, and migration management put the actors on the opposing sides. The study claims that the incompatibility between the actors’ regional strategies increases to the point that their rivalry in the Middle East will expand to Central Asia and the Caucasian region. But in contrast to this slow process, there are imminent common issues that can only be solved by a joint effort by Turkey and Iran, and this necessity will restrain the damages of this incompatibility on bilateral relations.

Alignment of Global and National Interest with Regional Strategic Priorities

Aim. The presented study aims to examine strategic principles for developing regional strategic priorities with allowance for the alignment of global and national interests.Tasks. The authors define the role of the alignment of interests in the development of regional strategies; determine the global interests of the United Nations (UN), the International Labour Organization, and the national interests of Russia, which should be taken into account when formulating strategic priorities for regional development.Methods. This study uses the theory and methodology of strategizing developed by academician V.L. Kvint to describe strategic principles for developing regional strategic priorities with allowance for the alignment of global and national interests. Applied research is conducted through the example of Kuzbass.Results. The conceptual framework for substantiating the strategic priorities of regional development is determined as a result of the alignment of global, national and regional interests based on relevant trends. It is shown how the UN Sustainable Development Goals, the initiative of the Global Commission on the Future of Work, national goals, and strategic objectives for the development of the Russian Federation are reflected in the strategic contours of Kuzbass development until 2035 and beyond.Conclusions. When developing strategic priorities, aligned interests of all parties — from global to personal — make it easier to achieve a positive multiplier effect, increasing the effectiveness of initiatives and satisfaction of performers. Conflicting interests may lead to opportunistic behavior, a ban on holding any events, inefficient use of rare limited resources, and loss of confidence among performers in the implementation of their initiatives. Inconsistency with global and national interests may lead to sanctions, economic and political warfare.

Conservation of Biodiversity and Protection of Forest and Water Resources: a Strategy for Boreal Zone

The article introduces a new system of boreal forest management that aims at preserving the biodiversity, resources, and ecological potential. The research results can help to develop regional strategies for large forest regions that experience significant man-made impact. Antropogenic factors destroy the resource potential of forests, as well as their biological diversity, not to mention the hydrological regime of rivers. The paper features various measures that make it possible to avoid risks and ensure sustainable long-term use of forests.

Formalization of Regional Strategies with Allowance for the Long-Term Consequences of the Interaction between Internal and External Components of Regional Socio-Economic Systems

Aim. The presented study aims to define a methodological approach to the formalization of regional strategies with allowance for the prospective benefits from the interaction between internal and external components of regional socio-economic systems for the national economy.Tasks. The authors determine the essence of strategic management of regional development by analyzing the internal processes of the interaction between subsystems, components, and elements of the region as a complex socio-economic system; compare the specific features of the functioning and interaction of administrative divisions in a planned and market economy; substantiate the principles of mutually beneficial interregional interaction and the need to improve supra-regional economic efficiency in view of the allowance made for the projected effects of interregional interaction in rational strategic planning; define the concept of strategic management of regional socio-economic systems and formulate an approach to the formation of the management process.Methods. This study use general scientific methods, including systems analysis, synthesis, induction and deduction, detalization and generalization, modelling.Results. The process of formation and coordination of regional strategies is conceptualized as a basic element of the organizational mechanism of strategic management of the functioning and development of regional socio-economic systems. A system diagram is provided that makes allowance for three hierarchical levels of management (federal, interregional, regional), each acting on the appropriate level of abstraction and introducing its inherent critical aspects of rational planning of national spatial development. It is shown that strategic planning of interregional interaction at the supra-regional level makes it advisable to develop multi-regional, multi-sectoral computer models that would help to achieve a state of interaction close to economic equilibrium, thus ensuring future functioning of the national economy based on the planning principle applied in a brand new way.Conclusions. The system of strategic management of regional development and interregional interaction should be a multilevel, hierarchically ordered mechanism for the formation and implementation of a strategic plan for the spatial development of the country. Such a system should be aimed at functionally maintaining social and economic, planned and competitive balance between national expediency determined by state strategic priorities and independent regional development guidelines without degenerating into bureaucratic formalism when creating regional development concepts on the one hand and without turning into a constant competitive struggle of divergent interests of the regions on the other. It is advisable to develop an integrated (supra-regional) approach to the strategic management of regions as regional socio-economic systems based on the conceptual organizational-managerial mechanism for their functioning and development. This approach should be aimed at achieving the planned supra-regional efficiency (socio-economic balance) using not-yet-manifested projected interregional synergetic and agglomeration effects from the use of interregional (national) infrastructure, scientifically based implementation of absolute and relative regional advantages in the process of determining and planning future regional specialization at the federal level, deployment and development of the territorial cores of intersectoral clusters serving as the starting points of growth for an optimally balanced crystal lattice of spatial development on the national scale, implementation of interregional interaction of expected quantity and quality, mathematically justified with allowance for the needs of interregional and intersectoral exchange, intra- and intersystem structures, elements, communicative relationships, dynamics and stages of the life cycle of industries, organizations, the ability to adapt to changes in the external environment of the regions included in the system.

Effect of Resource Economy on the Standard of Living in the Kemerovo Region

This review article introduces a comparative analysis of the standard of living in the Kemerovo region aka Kuzbass in 2005–2019. The research objective was to identify the reasons behind the decline in the living standards and the growing negative migration. Considering that Kuzbass is a coal region, the analysis was performed in the context of resource economy. It featured Russian and foreign studies on the theory of living standards and welfare, resource economy, and fair economy. The authors defined the concept of the standard of living as elements of human existence that depend on the socio-economic development of society and one's personal income. The standard of living in the Kemerovo region, which has enormous natural resources, is deteriorating from year to year, despite its increasing coal production and GRP. Most indicators appeared to be lower than Russia's average; in fact, the gap may reach 50–60 %. Poor living standards are an urgent problem for many resource regions. Regional strategies and programs seem unable to improve the situation, which requires state decisions to change the mechanisms of distribution of the gross regional product in favor of resource regions. By changing tax and budget legislation, the state should redirect financial flows from big resource companies to local problem areas.

Determinants of Intercity Air-Passenger Flows in the “Belt and Road” Region

Air-passenger flow, denoting intercity connections, has been a focal point of studies pertaining to urban networks. While most existing studies include only the geoeconomic characteristics of nodes as explanatory variables, this analysis developed a gravity model by incorporating further factors (e.g., cultural disparity and institutional disparity) that might influence air-passenger flows in the “Belt and Road” region. The primary findings are as follows: (1) The cultural and institutional disparities correlate negatively with the air-passenger flows in this region; (2) air-passenger flows are positively related to border, population and economy size, and economic disparity; (3) flows tend to first increase and then subsequently decrease as geographical distance increases; (4) the impact of the factors on the flows varies by subregion. This study could serve as a reference for those interested in gaining a greater insight into air-passenger flows and could also help improve regional strategies for air-transportation development.

Creating models of integrated development of ecotourism in Russian protected areas

The topic of ecotourism is now more relevant than ever, both in Russia and around the world. Despite the existence of well-known world practices of creating a variety of ecotourism products and services compatible with the goals of conservation of natural territories, Russia still has a long way to go to turn ecotourism into alternative form of recreation that contributes to the environmental and socio-economic development in the Russian regions. The article discusses the methodological approaches, experiences, and results of the All-Russian competition organized to identify pilot ecotourism areas, where tourist and recreational clusters (TRCs) may be developed through implementation of the combined potential of nature protection areas and adjacent territories. The research database includes the competition documents and regional projects published on the website https://priroda.life. The paper presents the goals, objectives, stages and features of the competition, regional strategies for participation in the competition, and the best projects. Moreover, the study identifies the key challenges for the development of ecotourism in natural areas. It shows that the process of involving Russian protected areas (PAs) in ecotourism is more than one-step action, that requires a systematic approach to advancement of tourism-and-recreational clusters jointly with the development of natural and adjacent territories.