164 research outputs found
Youri Boutsko’s “Second Great Organ notebook” (2010): a “Swan Song”
No full textThe article is devoted to analysis of the “Second Great Organ notebook” written in 2010 by the great
Russian composer Youri Boutsko (1938–2015). The author, who has a double role of musicologist and
concert organist to whom this “Second Great Organ notebook” was dedicated, presents its complete
analysis (conception and images, harmony and musical form), completed by her personal impressions
and recollections. Refs 6. Figs 7
Plant DNA metabarcoding of lake sediments: How does it represent the contemporary vegetation
No full textMetabarcoding of lake sediments have been shown to reveal current and past biodiversity, but little is known about the degree to which taxa growing in the vegetation are represented in environmental DNA (eDNA) records. We analysed composition of lake and catchment vegetation and vascular plant eDNA at 11 lakes in northern Norway. Out of 489 records of taxa growing within 2 m from the lake shore, 17–49% (mean 31%) of the identifiable taxa recorded were detected with eDNA. Of the 217 eDNA records of 47 plant taxa in the 11 lakes, 73% and 12% matched taxa recorded in vegetation surveys within 2 m and up to about 50 m away from the lakeshore, respectively, whereas 16% were not recorded in the vegetation surveys of the same lake. The latter include taxa likely overlooked in the vegetation surveys or growing outside the survey area. The percentages detected were 61, 47, 25, and 15 for dominant, common, scattered, and rare taxa, respectively. Similar numbers for aquatic plants were 88, 88, 33 and 62%, respectively. Detection rate and taxonomic resolution varied among plant families and functional groups with good detection of e.g. Ericaceae, Roseaceae, deciduous trees, ferns, club mosses and aquatics. The representation of terrestrial taxa in eDNA depends on both their distance from the sampling site and their abundance and is sufficient for recording vegetation types. For aquatic vegetation, eDNA may be comparable with, or even superior to, in-lake vegetation surveys and may therefore be used as an tool for biomonitoring. For reconstruction of terrestrial vegetation, technical improvements and more intensive sampling is needed to detect a higher proportion of rare taxa although DNA of some taxa may never reach the lake sediments due to taphonomical constrains. Nevertheless, eDNA performs similar to conventional methods of pollen and macrofossil analyses and may therefore be an important tool for reconstruction of past vegetation.</div
Youri, gardien de la sagesse et des traditions du peuple des Vents : Le dernier chamane aléoute ?
No full textAu cours de son terrain de recherche en Alaska, l’auteure a fait la rencontre d’un chef spirituel aléoute, personnage surprenant qui l’amène à penser qu’il est peut-être un chamane caché. Après avoir fait une incursion dans le domaine du chamanisme traditionnel aux îles Aléoutiennes et retracé l’implantation très particulière de la religion russe orthodoxe en Alaska, notamment par l’intermédiaire du moine Veniaminov, devenu plus tard saint Innocent II, elle décrypte et analyse le discours de son interlocuteur en fonction du concept revu et transformé du chamanisme contemporain. Youri est-il un survivant du chamanisme, ou seulement un messager de la sagesse de ce peuple plusieurs fois millénaire qui règne sur la mer de Béring ? La réponse ne se trouve pas dans cet article, mais elle sera donnée deux ans plus tard dans un ouvrage que l’auteure a publié avec le dénommé Youri, avec qui elle a mené, après cette rencontre, un long et minutieux travail d’écriture.During fieldwork in Alaska, the author met an Aleut spiritual leader, a surprising man who led her to think he is possibly concealing his shamanism. After an overview of traditional shamanism in the Aleutian Island, and of the very particular establishment of the Russian Orthodox faith in Alaska, especially by the Monk Veniaminov, later Saint Innocent II, the author deciphers and analyzes the discourse of the Aleut spiritual leader according to the revised and transformed notions of contemporary shamanism. Is Youri a survivor of shamanism or only a messenger of the wisdom of his people who reigned for several thousand years over the Bering Sea ? The answer to that question is not in this article but will be given two years hence in a book that the author published in collaboration with Youri. As a result of that providential meeting she is producing a long and thorough written work
Sedimentary ancient DNA: Exploring methods of ancient DNA analysis for different taxonomic groups
No full textThis thesis explores the potential of sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) from lakes as a tool for studying past communities. First it sets out to determine what taxa in the environment are most likely to be detected in lake sediments. For this, vegetation surveys were carried out around eleven different lakes in Norway and the taxa detected based on plant metabarcoding of the lake sediments were compared to the recorded flora. The taxa detected in the lake sediments primarily resembled those growing either in the lake or within the immediate surrounding. Furthermore, taxa abundant in the vegetation were more likely to be detected based on DNA. Three different studies were carried out to compare plant sedaDNA results to traditional palaeoecological proxies such as pollen or macrofossils. The results indicate that overall sedaDNA is capable of detecting more taxa than the alternative methods, though differences are observed between the shotgun and metabarcode methods tested, as well as the lakes themselves. A separate study aimed to detect mammals based on sedaDNA, which proved to be more problematic. Co-amplification of off-target taxa, the presence of common lab contaminants and a general low amount of template material hindered the identification of mammals present. However, the detection of “bycatch” worm taxa demonstrates their potential for palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. Finally, the shotgun sequencing of two algal rich sediment layers allowed for both the reconstruction of the algal organelle genomes, as well as the exploration of the present within lake populations
Data from: Plant DNA metabarcoding of lake sediments: how does it represent the contemporary vegetation
No full textNGSfilter file.The ngsfilter file containing the sample - PCR tag information necessary for demultiplexing the sequence data in OBITools.140704_SND104_B_L001_GZO-13.ngsfilterPost OBITools analysis scriptThe R script contains the various commands that were used for filtering the metabarcoding data and matching it to the vegetation.FilterDNAandCompareToVegetation.RVegetation dataThe results of the vegetation surveys of the 11 lakes. Abundance assignment in the &gt;2m survey is follows: Dominant taxa are recorded as 4, common taxa as 3, scattered taxa as 2 and rare taxa as 1.Vegetation.csvMetabarcoding resultsThe OBITools output, expanded with the lake name, core number, depth information and and a shorter taxa code used for linking the results to the vegetation data.IdentifiedDNA.tsvSample code informationFile that links the sample codes used in the study to the lake name, core and depth information.SampleToSampleInfo.tsvForward reads (part 1)Compressed FASTQ file containing the first half of the forward reads.140704_SND104_B_L001_GZO-13_R1-1.fastq.gzForward reads (part 2)Compressed FASTQ file containing the second half of the forward reads.140704_SND104_B_L001_GZO-13_R1-2.fastq.gzReverse reads (part 1)Compressed FASTQ file containing the first half of the reverse reads.140704_SND104_B_L001_GZO-13_R2-1.fastq.gzReverse reads (part 2)Compressed FASTQ file containing the second half of the reverse reads.140704_SND104_B_L001_GZO-13_R2-2.fastq.gz,Metabarcoding of lake sediments have been shown to reveal current and past biodiversity, but little is known about the degree to which taxa growing in the vegetation are represented in environmental DNA (eDNA) records. We analysed composition of lake and catchment vegetation and vascular plant eDNA at 11 lakes in northern Norway. Out of 489 records of taxa growing within 2 m from the lake shore, 17-49% (mean 31%) of the identifiable taxa recorded were detected with eDNA. Of the 217 eDNA records of 47 plant taxa in the 11 lakes, 73% and 12% matched taxa recorded in vegetation surveys within 2 m and up to about 50 m away from the lakeshore, respectively, whereas 16% were not recorded in the vegetation surveys of the same lake. The latter include taxa likely overlooked in the vegetation surveys or growing outside the survey area. The percentages detected were 61, 47, 25, and 15 for dominant, common, scattered, and rare taxa, respectively. Similar numbers for aquatic plants were 88, 88, 33 and 62%, respectively. Detection rate and taxonomic resolution varied among plant families and functional groups with good detection of e.g. Ericaceae, Roseaceae, deciduous trees, ferns, club mosses and aquatics. The representation of terrestrial taxa in eDNA depends on both their distance from the sampling site and their abundance and is sufficient for recording vegetation types. For aquatic vegetation, eDNA may be comparable with, or even superior to, in-lake vegetation surveys and may therefore be used as an tool for biomonitoring. For reconstruction of terrestrial vegetation, technical improvements and more intensive sampling is needed to detect a higher proportion of rare taxa although DNA of some taxa may never reach the lake sediments due to taphonomical constrains. Nevertheless, eDNA performs similar to conventional methods of pollen and macrofossil analyses and may therefore be an important tool for reconstruction of past vegetation.</span
Data from: Clitellate worms (Annelida) in lateglacial and Holocene sedimentary DNA records from the Polar Urals and northern Norway
No full textWhile there are extensive macro- and microfossil records of a range of plants and animals from Quaternary records, earthworms and their close relatives among annelids are not preserved as fossils, and therefore we have limited knowledge of their Quaternary distributions. This lack of fossils means that clitellate worms (Annelida) are currently underused in palaeoecological research, even though they can provide valuable information about terrestrial and aquatic environmental conditions. Their DNA might be preserved in sediments, which offers an alternative method for detection. Here we analyse lacustrine sediments from lakes in the Polar Urals, Arctic Russia, covering the period 24,000-1,300 cal. years BP, and NE Norway (10,700-3,300 cal. years BP) using a universal mammal 16S rDNA marker. While mammals were recorded using the marker (reindeer was detected twice in the Polar Urals core at 23,000 and 14,000 cal. years BP, and four times in the Norwegian core at 11,000 cal. years BP and between 3,600-3,300 cal. years BP), worm extracellular DNA “bycatch” was rather high. In this paper we present the first reported worm detection from ancient DNA. Our results demonstrate that both aquatic and terrestrial clitellates can be identified in late-Quaternary lacustrine sediments, and the ecological information retrievable from this group warrants further research with a more targeted approach.,FilterBarcodingR script used for the Filtering of the OBITOOLS output.Sample_tag_primer_URAL-MamExcel file containing the primer tags and sample names for the Polar Urals run. The primer information was used by OBITOOLS to demultiplex the data.Sample_tag_primer_Varanger-MamP007Excel file containing the primer tags and sample names for the Varanger run. The primer information was used by OBITOOLS to demultiplex the data.URAL-Mam.un.an.C1.L13.obiclean.r5.HpS.M-iden.ann.sort_10_23_1_2_1The filtered OBITOOLS output for the Polar Urals run.Hubia2-Mammal.ali.uniq.c2.cl.M-iden.ann.sort_10_23_1_2_1The filtered Varanger OBITOOLS outputGZO-35_merged.fastqFirst part of the merged forward and reverse reads for the Varanger core.GZO-36_merged.fastqSecond part of the merged forward and reverse reads for the Varanger core.GZO-37_merged.fastqFirst part of the merged forward and reverse reads for the Polar Urals core.GZO-38_merged.fastqSecond part of the merged forward and reverse reads for the Polar Urals core.GZO-39_merged.fastqThird part of the merged forward and reverse reads for the Polar Urals core.GZO-40_merged.fastqFourth part of the merged forward and reverse reads for the Polar Urals core.</span
Holocene floristic diversity and richness in northeast Norway revealed by sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) and pollen
No full textWe present a Holocene record of floristic diversity and environmental change for the central Varanger Peninsula, Finnmark, based on ancient DNA extracted from the sediments of a small lake (sedaDNA). The record covers the period ca. 10,700 to 3,300 cal. a BP and is complemented by pollen data. Measures of species richness, sample evenness, and beta-diversity were calculated based on sedaDNA sampling intervals and 1000-year time windows. We identified 101 vascular plant and 17 bryophyte taxa, a high proportion (86 %) of which are still growing within the region today. The high species richness (>60 taxa) observed in the early-Holocene, including representatives from all important plant functional groups, shows that modern shrub-tundra communities, and much of their species complement, were in place as early as ca. 10,700 cal. a BP. We infer that post-glacial colonisation of the area occurred prior to the Holocene, during the Younger Dryas stadial or earlier. Abundant DNA of the extra-limital aquatic plant Callitriche hermaphroditica suggests it expanded its range northward between ca. 10,200 and 9,600 cal. a BP, when summers were warmer than present. High values of Pinus DNA occur throughout the record, but we cannot say with certainty if they represent prior local presence; however, pollen influx values >500 grains/cm2/a-1 between ca. 8,000 and 7,300 cal. a BP strongly suggest the presence of pine woodland during this period. As the site lies beyond the modern tree limit of pine, it is likely that this expansion also reflects a response to warmer early-Holocene summers
Clausewitz and the new wars: a confrontation of formulations between Mary Kaldor and Youri Cormier
No full textEsse trabalho tem como objetivo analisar de forma crítica os argumentos de Mary Kaldor sobre a suposta obsolescência do referencial teórico de Carl von Clausewitz. Para isso, serão apresentados os principais pontos criticados por Kaldor, que enfatiza aspectos como a inadequação das teorias clássicas de guerra frente aos conflitos contemporâneos, em conjunto com sua teoria das “novas guerras”, bem como serve como método de confronto conceitual. Em seguida, utiliza-se a crítica de Youri Cormier ao autor prussiano como contraponto à tese de Kaldor. Dessa maneira, argumenta-se que a análise de Kaldor apresenta superficialidades e uma interpretação equivocada do legado teórico de Clausewitz, apontando a necessidade de um exame mais profundo e fundamentado em relação ao autor prussiano, a fim de evitar pressupostos previamente abordados por ele. Por fim, recorre-se a uma análise bibliográfica das obras dos autores referenciados, revisando conceitos fundamentais, oferecendo subsídios teóricos para a sustentação dos argumentos desenvolvidos, além da observação crítica sobre seus apontamentos.This study aims to critically analyze Mary Kaldor's arguments regarding the alleged obsolescence of Carl von Clausewitz's theoretical framework. To this end, the main points criticized by Kaldor will be presented, highlighting aspects such as the inadequacy of classical war theories in addressing contemporary conflicts, alongside her theory of "new wars," which serves as a method of conceptual confrontation. Subsequently, Youri Cormier's critique of the Prussian author is employed as a counterpoint to Kaldor's thesis. In this context, it is argued that Kaldor's analysis demonstrates superficiality and a misinterpretation of Clausewitz's theoretical legacy, underscoring the need for a more profound and substantiated examination of the Prussian author's contributions, in order to avoid assumptions he had previously addressed. Finally, a bibliographical analysis of the referenced authors' works is conducted, revisiting fundamental concepts, providing theoretical support for the arguments developed, and offering a critical reflection on their insights
La géographie dans l'étude et la gestion du milieu
No full textUsing examples, especially of the Moscow agglomeration and urban region, studied in the Laboratory of the Ecology of Man at the Science Academy Institute in the USSR, the author develops two main ideas : the complexity of sociogeographical systems and population requirements, rather inaccessible to rigid planned structures, and the conviction that the adoption of systemic mathematical models and analyses, applied in the geography, will contribute to improving the understanding and management of inhabited environments.À partir d'exemples, notamment de l'agglomération et de la région urbaine de Moscou, étudiés au sein du Laboratoire d'Écologie de l'Homme de l'Institut de Géographie de l'Académie des Sciences de l'URSS, l'auteur développe deux idées principales : la complexité des systèmes sociogéographiques et des exigences des populations, qui les rend peu accessibles aux structures planifiées rigides, la conviction que l'adoption d'analyses et de modélisations mathématiques systémiques, appliquées dans la géographie, permettra d' améliorer la compréhension et la gestion des milieux habités.Medvedkov Youri. La géographie dans l'étude et la gestion du milieu. In: Villes en parallèle, n°26-27, décembre 1998. La ville soviétique avant la Pérestroïka. pp. 118-141
Telecommunications policy in Turkey: restructuring for economic growth. European Policy Paper #11, November 2006
No full textIntroduction. Modern telecommunications technology is now widely seen as a critical driver in economic development. However, the issues involved in the rapid deployment of this technology are complex and frequently highly controversial. While some of these issues are technical, the most difficult ones involve changing a legal and regulatory framework which was originally designed for different times and different technologies. The process of changing this framework necessarily involves disruptive change for existing service providers as well as substantial benefits for the economy at large. This paper seeks to discuss these issues in light of Turkey’s progress to date in taking advantage of advanced available telecommunications technology and the myriad productivity-enhancing services that are associated with it.(1) An important element in developing a more competitive and dynamic sector in Turkey has been the desire of the country to become a member of the European Union. This has encouraged changes in the telecommunications regulatory regime following the guidelines set out in Chapter 19 of the EU “acquis” for candidate members. Nonetheless, substantial further efforts are needed to complete and implement the desired regulatory framework, particularly as it affects the former government monopoly carrier, Turk Telekom, and the cable companies. A further limiting factor has been an overall investment climate in Turkey which has been characterized by a high level of uncertainty for most investors, regardless of size or nationality. Policy recommendations to help accelerate the deployment of telecommunications technology include a clear reaffirmation of the government’s priorities for the sector, a reduction in the level of ownership and regulatory uncertainty, strengthening the Board and Staff of the Telecommunications Authority, and reviewing policies which reduce the scope and increase the cost of telecommunication licenses
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