The gene pool of the Belgorod oblast population: II. “Family name portraits” in groups of districts with different degrees of subdivision and the role of migrations in their formation
AbstractThe frequencies and spectra of surnames have been analyzed in groups of raions (districts) of the Belgorod oblast (region) with different degrees of population subdivision. The “family name portraits” of districts with low (0.00003 < < f*r < 0.00022, 
$$\overline {f_r^ * } $$
 = 0.00015) and moderate (0.00023 < f*r < 0.00042, 
$$\overline {f_r^ * } $$
 = 0.00029) inbreeding levels are similar both to each other and to the “family name portrait” of the Belgorod oblast as a whole. Districts with high subdivision levels (0.00043 < f*r < 0.00125, 
$$\overline {f_r^ * } $$
 = 0.00072) had very distinctive surname spectra and the highest surname frequencies. Intense immigration to the Belgorod oblast significantly affects its population genetic structure, decreasing the population subdivision.
The Russian Gene Pool: Gene Geography of Surnames
Surnames are traditionally used in population genetics as “quasi-genetic” markers (i.e., analogs of genes) when studying the structure of the gene pool and the factors of its microevolution. In this study, spatial variation of Russian surnames was analyzed with the use of computer-based gene geography. Gene geography of surnames was demonstrated to be promising for population studies on the total Russian gene pool. Frequencies of surnames were studied in 64 sel'sovets (rural communities; a total of 33 thousand persons) of 52 raions (districts) of 22 oblasts (regions) of the European part of Russia. For each of 75 widespread surnames, an electronic map of its frequency was constructed. Summary maps of principal components were drawn based on all maps of individual surnames. The first 5 of 75 principal components accounted for half of the total variance, which indicates high resolving power of surnames. The map of the first principal component exhibits a trend directed from the northwestern to the eastern regions of the area studied. The trend of the second component was directed from the southwestern to the northern regions of the area studied, i.e., it was close to latitudinal. This trend almost coincided with the latitudinal trend of principal components for three sets of data (genetic, anthropological, and dermatoglyphical). Therefore, the latitudinal trend may be considered the main direction of variation of the Russian gene pool. The similarity between the main scenarios for the genetic and quasi-genetic markers demonstrates the effectiveness of the use of surnames for analysis of the Russian gene pool. In view of the dispute between R. Sokal and L.L. Cavalli-Sforza about the effects of false correlations, the maps of principal components of Russian surnames were constructed by two methods: through analysis of maps and through direct analysis of original data on the frequencies of surnames. An almost complete coincidence of these maps (correlation coefficient ρ = 0.96) indicates that, taking into account the reliability of the data, the resultant maps of principal components have no errors of false correlations.
Public health in eight European countries: an international comparison of terminology.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this paper was to assess the use of different terms pertaining to public health in selected Member States of the European Union.


STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS
Qualitative research methods were used to compare the terminology among eight Member States. Seven to nine core terms were defined for each country, and a search was performed for these terms in the names of institutions and professional titles, organized into three comparable categories.


RESULTS
The data analysis showed considerable diversity in terminology. The three most commonly used terms for each country, and the frequency distribution of the core terms for all eight countries were determined.


CONCLUSION
Public health terminology and underlying concepts vary among Member States of the European Union. A large number of loosely related terms are in use, indicating the lack of a common conceptual framework for the discipline of public health. The most commonly used terms pertaining to public health are 'health sciences' and 'health promotion'. 'Public health' is not among the most commonly used terms.