Marriage ethnic assortative mating of urban and rural population of Karachay-Cherkessia

This paper presents analysis of 28879 marriage records from 1990–2000 (total sample). Ethnic marriage assortative mating is positive in all ethnic groups significantly represented in Karachay-Cherkessia; the lowest values are characteristic of the more numerous ethnic groups (Karachays and Russians). The rate of metisation of the urban population is 21.6%; the rate for the rural population is 16%; the values vary significantly for different ethnic groups, reaching 98% for urban Ukrainians. With this rate of gene exchange, half of the urban population becomes interbred after three generations, and half of the rural population after four.     

Russians of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic: Population Genetic Portrait

To describe the population-genetic structure of the Russian population of Karachay-Cherkessia, the database of Compulsory Medical Insurance and marriage records for 1990–2000 were used. The Russian population is characterized by a low birth rate, low endogamy, low inbreeding, and a high level of miscegenation.     

Ethnic marriage assortativeness and intensity of metisation of Karachays

On the basis of 11280 marriage records of four regions of Karachay-Cherkessia (Karachaevsky, Malokarachaevsky, Ust-Dzhegutinsky, Prikubansky, 193.2 thousand people in total) for 1990–2000, the intensity of Karachay cross-breeding was determined, amounting to 11.7%. Comparison of the intensity of Karachay cross-breeding with that for some other ethnoses is carried out. The ethnic assortativness H is approximately one. The population is characterized a preference for monoethnic marriages. The endogamy index in the studied regions varies from 0.29 to 0.53; after the exclusion from the analysis of repatriates, it increases to 0.34–0.63. The values of local inbreeding in an interval are 0.0001–0.0004, and no differences in terms of isolation by distance are revealed among the regions (0.001). The average square migration is 40–60 km.

     

Dynamics of the genetic demographic structure of the Kursk province population: migration processes

Marriage records from parish books of the second half of the 19th century and marriage records of 1967-1970 and 1993-1995 obtained from registry offices were used to analyze the dynamics of genetically significant parameters of migration and marriage structure with respect to spouses' birthplaces in populations of different hierarchical levels in the Kursk oblast. It was found that, among the persons contracting marriage (both males and females), the proportions of those who were born in the same population and those who were born in any population of the Kursk oblast decreased by about one third and one fifth, respectively, for the 130-year period. In rural and small urban populations, the coefficients of marriage migration in the 19th century were an order of magnitude lower than in the 20th century. The immigration to urban populations was maximum in the late 1960s (m = 0.745 in small towns and m = 0.680 in Kursk), and that to rural populations, in the 1990s (m = 0.344). In both urban and rural populations, the mean distance between the spouses' birthplaces has increased by several times for the period studied. The endogamy level has decreased approximately twofold: from 0.797 to 0.380 in Kursk, from 0.897 to 0.419 in small towns, and from 0.958 to 0.440 in rural districts. The marriage assortativeness with respect to birthplace was maximum in the late 19th century (K = 0.393-0.491) and minimum in the 1960s (K = 0.155-0.246). The increase in genetic diversity of the urban population of the Kursk oblast due to migration has been slowing down since the late 20th century, whereas the outbreeding level is still increasing in rural populations.     

Dynamics of the Genetic Demographic Structure of the Kursk Oblast Population: Migration Processes

Marriage records from parish books of the second half of the 19th century and marriage records of 1967–1970 and 1993–1995 obtained from registry offices were used to analyze the dynamics of genetically significant parameters of migration and marriage structure with respect to spouses' birthplaces in populations of different hierarchical levels in the Kursk oblast. It was found that, among the persons contracting marriage (both males and females), the proportions of those who were born in the same population and those who were born in any population of the Kursk oblast decreased by about one third and one fifth, respectively, for the 130-year period. In rural and small urban populations, the coefficients of marriage migration in the 19th century were an order of magnitude lower than in the 20th century. The immigration to urban populations was maximum in the late 1960s (m = 0.745 in small towns and m = 0.680 in Kursk), and that to rural populations, in the 1990s (m = 0.344). In both urban and rural populations, the mean distance between the spouses" birthplaces has increased by several times for the period studied. The endogamy level has decreased approximately twofold: from 0.797 to 0.380 in Kursk, from 0.897 to 0.419 in small towns, and from 0.958 to 0.440 in rural districts. The marriage assortativeness with respect to birthplace was maximum in the late 19th century (K = 0.393–0.491) and minimum in the 1960s (K= 0.155–0.246). The increase in genetic diversity of the urban population of the Kursk oblast due to migration has been slowing down since the late 20th century, whereas the outbreeding level is still increasing in rural populations.     

The marriage migration characteristics of the Rostov oblast population

Marriage records have been used to study the marriage migration structure of five raions of the Rostov oblast. The mean ethnic marriage assortativeness in the Russian and Ukrainian rural populations are 1.16 and 1.6, respectively. The endogamy index of the urban population varies from 0.19 to 0.34; and that of the rural population, from 0.21 to 0.54. Malecot's isolation by distance parameters have been calculated. Genetic landscapes have been constructed.     

Social life factors affecting the mortality, longevity, and birth rate of total Japanese population: effects of rapid industrialization and urbanization

To expand upon the findings that lower mortality was found in Japanese urban areas in contrast to the Western model where in the US and Britain the risk of death was higher in metropolitan areas and conurbations, 22 social life indicators are examined among 46 prefectures in Japan in terms of their effect on age specific mortality, life expectancy, and age adjusted marriage, divorce, and birth rates. The effects of these factors on age adjusted mortality for 8 major working and nonworking male populations, where also analyzed. The 22 social life factors were selected from among 227 indicators in the system of Statistical Indicators on Life. Factor analysis was used to classify the indicators into 8 groups of factors for 1970 and 7 for 1975. Factors 1-3 for both years were rural or urban residence, low income and unemployment, and prefectural age distribution. The 4th for 1970 was home help for the elderly and for 1975, social mobility. The social life indicators were classified form 1 to 8 as rural residence in 1970 and 1975, urban residence, low income, high employment, old age, young age, social mobility, and home help for the elderly which moved from 8th place in 1970 to 1st in 1975. Between 1960-75, rapid urbanization took place with the proportion of farmers, fishermen, and workers declining from 43% in 1960 to 19% in 1975. The results of stepwise regression analysis indicate a positive relationship of urban residence with mortality of men and women except school-aged and middle-aged women, and the working populations, as well as life expectancy at birth for males and females and ages 20 and 40 years for males. Rural residence was positively associated with the male marriage rate, whereas the marriage rate for females was affected by industrialization and urbanization. High employment and social mobility were positively related to the female marriage rate. Low income was positively related to the divorce rate for males and females. Rural residence and high employment were positively related to the birth rate. The birth rate is higher in rural areas. Mortality of professional, engineering, and administrative workers was slightly lower than the total working population, while sales workers, those in farming, fishing, and forestry, and in personal and domestic service had significantly higher mortality. The mortality of the nonworking population was 6-8 times higher than sales, transportation, and communication, and personal and domestic service as well as the total population.     

The Marriage Migration Characteristics of the Rostov Oblast Population

Marriage records have been used to study the marriage migration structure of five raions of the Rostov oblast. The mean ethnic marriage assortativeness in the Russian and Ukrainian rural populations are 1.16 and 1.6, respectively. The endogamy index of the urban population varies from 0.19 to 0.34; and that of the rural population, from 0.21 to 0.54. Malecot’s isolation by distance parameters have been calculated. Genetic landscapes have been constructed.__________Translated from Genetika, Vol. 41, No. 7, 2005, pp. 981–985.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Kriventsova, El’chinova, Amelina, Zinchenko.     

Genetic demographic analysis of western Ukrainian populations: the marriage structure of populations from the Khmel'nitskii oblast with respect to ethnicity and birthplace

Ukrainians account for 85 and 91% of the populations of the city of Khmel'nitskii and the town of Starokonstantinov (Khmel'nitskii oblast, western Ukraine), respectively, and for 97% of the rural population of the Khmel'nitskii oblast. The proportions of Russians in the urban and rural populations of the Khmel'nitskii oblast are 7-10 and 1%, respectively. Between 1960 and 1995-1998, the proportions of Ukrainians in all populations studied increased and the proportion of interethnic marriages steadily decreased. The marriage association coefficient (K) with respect to ethnicity varied from 0.35 to 0.76 in different years. The highest assortative marriage indices (A') with respect to ethnicity were 75-98 and 71-84% in Ukrainians and Jews, respectively. The migration coefficient was 0.58-0.77. Western Ukrainian populations differ from eastern Ukrainian ones in a steadily decreasing outbreeding component.     

Population structure and anthropometric variation in rural western Ireland: Isolation by distance and analysis of the residuals

The study of human population structure allows the assessment of cultural and historical influences on mating probabilities, and, hence, genetic variation. A commonly used model is isolation by distance, which predicts a negative exponential relationship between genetic similarity and geographic distance. Anthropometric data collected during the 1930's for 261 adult women in 12 towns of rural western Ireland were used to test the isolation by distance model and to assess the influence of cultural factors upon the fit of the model. The effects of recent migration were tested by using two additional data subsets, one excluding known intercounty migrants and the other consisting of unmarried women, only in an attempt to control partially for local migration upon marriage. Deviations from the expected isolation by distance model were analyzed using rotational fitting and regression analysis. Estimates of the isolation by distance parameters agree closely with independent estimates from isonymy and with estimates obtained in other studies of rural European population structure. Analysis of the residuals indicates three major factors which contribute to deviations from the expected model: recent migration upon marriage, age variation among groups, and variation in population size and/or transportation opportunities. Variation in population size was tested using the gravity model of economic geography by regressing the residuals from the isolation by distance model for each pair of towns on the product of their population sizes. The best fit occurred for the unmarried sample, as expected from ethnographic evidence, since rural–urban migration was most common among unmarried women.     

Genetic structure of the population of Ashkhabad City of the Turkmen SSR]

Some genetical demographic characteristics of population of Ashkhabad city were studied by direct interviewing of women aged over 18 years. The influence of urbanization on the basic genetical-demographic indices was found, the indices being essentially different from those of rural population studied elsewhere. Analysis of intensity and the structure of marriage migrations showed considerable ethnic subdivision in Ashkhabad population and stability of marriage policy in an every ethnic group. The level and structure of inbreeding as well as positive marriage assortativity are of the same order as in the Turkmen rural population.     

Reproductive Biology of the Rock Lizard (Darevskia saxicola,Reptilia, Lacertidae)

Biology Bulletin - Data on the reproduction of the rock lizard (Darevskia saxicola (Eversmann 1834)) in the gorges of Bol’shaya Laba (Karachay-Cherkessia) and Malaya Laba (Krasnodar...     

Factors in the incidence of childlessness in Canada: an analysis of census data

Due to the difficulties involved in attempting to determine the relative proportion of involuntary childlessness and of voluntary childlessness in a given population, many investigators insist that the problem can only be examined in small-scale studies using intensive psychological interviewing techniques. A method for assessing the causes of childlessness in a population using census materials is described. If a distinction is made between psychological and physiological causes, instead of between intentional and unintentional causes, it is possible to assess the relative importance of these causes using large-scale investigation techniques. Physiological causes include all physiological conditions which produce sterility. Psychological causes include both psychosomatic infertility and the voluntary decision not to have children. The method involves using the minimum rate of childlessness in a population group known to place a high value on fertility as an estimate of the rate of physiological childlessness in the population. This estimate is then subtracted from the childlessness rate observed in other population groups in the same society in order to determine the degree of psychological childlessness in these other population groups. This method was used to assess the causes of childlessness in Canada. Census materials were used to determine the minimum rate of childlessness among rural women in Quebec. Since this group is primarily Catholic and places a high value on children, its childlessness rate provides an estimate of the proportion of sterile couples in the population. This rate was then subtracted from the childlessness rates for urban Canadian women, and the remainder provided an estimate of psychological childlessness among urban women. Age of marriage was controlled for since rural women married at younger ages. Study findings were 1) the proportion of childlessness among urban women declined over the years as 15.2% of the women over 45 years old were childless while only 10.8% of the women, aged 30-44, were childless; 2) the proportion of physiological childlessness declined from 6.6% among women over 45 years old to 4.6% among women, aged 30-44; and 3) approximately 50% of the cases of childlessness among urban women were due to psychological factors. These findings do not support the contentions of some investigators that 10% of the population is sterile and that psychological childlessness is rare. Study findings were presented in tabular form.     

Two ant species (Hymenoptera,Formicidae) from the Northern Caucasus,new to the fauna of Russia

Two ant species, Leptothorax gredleri Mayr, 1855 previously known from Western and Eastern Europe and Solenopsis juliae (Arakelian, l991) formerly known from the Transcaucasia (Armenia), were found in the Northern Caucasus (the republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia) for the first time; both the species are new to the fauna of Russia. The distribution, ecology, and morphological characters of the species are considered.     

Demography and evolution of an urban ethnic community: Polish Hill, Pittsburgh.

Polish Hill is an urban, ethnic enclave of approximately 3000 residents residing in a 25-block area of Pittsburgh. This paper documents changes in the fertility, morbidity, and mortality patterns in the community from the turn of the century to the present. The demographic reconstruction is based upon baptismal and marriage records, the administration of demographic proformae and population censuses. The high mortality, morbidity, and fertility variance suggest that the immigrant population has experienced a period of high opportunity for selection in the early 1900's and that Crow's index was gradually reduced to its present level.     

Consanguineous marriages in the province of Antalya, Turkey

To assess the trends in the frequency and the medical effects of consanguinity in the south coast of Turkish population using local and national data in the last 11 years. This cross-sectional study was carried out in Manavgat province, which is a major tourism center on the Mediterranean coast of Turkey. The authors studied consanguineous marriages in rural and urban population in the Mediterranean coast, Manavgat province, Turkey, via a 1500 random survey sample of married couples. There has been a significant increase in the incidence of consanguineous marriages in rural areas (40.7%) since 1989 in the southern population of Turkey. The results showed that the most frequent type of marriage was between the first cousins. It is found that there is no statistically significant difference between the consanguineous and non-consanguineous marriages in the different age groups. The results were discussed on the basis of educational status, reasons for having consanguineous marriages and the general medical effects as well as with the relation of congenital malformations. The custom of consanguineous unions in the Mediterranean population of Turkey is still extremely high, and preventive measures should be done to decrease its frequency and associated complications.     

Inbreeding in Finland

We have compiled data on the frequency of first-cousin marriages in Finland using royal dispensation records for the time period 1810-1872 and national population statistics for the time period 1878-1920. For the earlier period, 0.315% of Finland's marriages were contracted between first cousins (2,331 of 739,387). During the second time period, 0.174% of Finland's marriages took place between first cousins (1,325 of 761,976). These figures, which yield average kinship coefficients of 0.00020 and 0.00011, respectively, show that the level of inbreeding in Finland due to first-cousin marriage has been quite low. An analysis of individual parishes shows that first-cousin marriages are, on average, substantially less frequent than predicted by a random-mating model. In order to evaluate determinants of first-cousin marriage, several predictive variables have been examined: parish ethnic composition (proportion of Swedish and Finnish speakers), husband's occupation (graded into 6 socioeconomic levels), geographic distance between spouses' premarital residences, population density, parish endogamy, and urban vs. rural residence. Various logistic and linear regression models were analyzed in which consanguinity was the dependent variable. The best predictors of consanguinity were ethnic composition and occupation. The other variables were not in general significant predictors. These results show that many of the "mate availability" factors that would be predicted theoretically to account for consanguinity variation (population density, geographic isolation, urban vs. rural residence) do not. Instead, the best predictors of consanguinity at the first-cousin level are cultural factors such as ethnicity and occupation. Evaluation of cultural variables can provide a greatly enriched interpretation of complex biosocial phenomena such as inbreeding.     

Consanguinity: Geographical variation and temporal evolution in the North of the Iberian peninsula, 1918–1968 (León,Spain)

We studied 71.740 marriage certificates from the Diocese of León, Northern Spain, between the years 1918 and 1968. If VI degree marriages are considered 6.27% of the total were among relatives. The inbreeding coefficient is very near the average for other Spanish populations from the same period (F=0.002). Within the area studied, levels of inbreeding are higher in rural than in urban zones and slightly higher in the montaña than in the meseta. Within the montaña it is higher in the non-mining zone of the North than in the mining zone of the South. Throughout the entire period under study there is a continuous tendency towards a decrease in inbreeding which is sharper in the rural than in the urban zone. Consequently there is a convergence of values in recent times. This tendency appears later in rural populations in the center of the peninsula than in those of northern Spain, and in the Spanish population later than in other European countries.     

Genetic structure of the Udmurt population

Integrated study of the genetic structure of the Udmurt population with respect to different genetic systems has been performed. Data on the genes of genetic diseases, abiotic parameters analyzed by population statistic methods, and DNA polymorphism are summarized. The populations of six raions (districts) of Udmurt Republic (the Mozhga, Malaya Purga, Sharkan, Debesy, Igra, and Glazov raions) have been studied. The total population studied was 267 655 people (an urban population of 150 119 people and a rural population of 117 536 people), including 155 346 Udmurts. The population structure has been studied in six districts on the basis of the vital statistics, Crow’s indices, Malecot’s isolation by distance parameters, ethnically assortative marriage parameters, endogamy indices, inbreeding-endogamy (ie) indices, and frequencies of the genotype and allele frequencies of four DNA markers (17 alleles). The prevalences of hereditary diseases have been calculated for different population groups: urban and rural populations, Udmurts and other ethnic groups. These groups, especially the urban and rural populations, substantially differed from one another in the prevalences of autosomal dominant (AD) and autosomal recessive (AR) diseases. The correlation between the prevalence of AD and AR diseases and the ie index is positive and significant. The spectrum of hereditary diseases detected in six districts of Udmurtia comprises 149 diseases (80, 57, and 12 AD, AR, and X-linked diseases, respectively). Accumulation of individual diseases in districts of Udmurtia and accumulation of diseases in Udmurtia as compared to regions studied earlier has been found. Cluster analysis of the frequencies of genes of AD and AR diseases and DNA markers has determined the gene geographic position of Udmurts.     

Genetic structure of the Udmurt population

Integrated study of the genetic structure of the Udmurt population with respect to different genetic systems has been performed. Data on the genes of genetic diseases, abiotic parameters analyzed by population statistic methods, and DNA polymorphism are summarized. The populations of six raions (districts) of Udmurt Republic (the Mozhga, Malaya Purga, Sharkan, Debesy, Igra, and Glazov raions) have been studied. The total population studied was 267,655 people (an urban population of 150,119 people and a rural population of 117,536 people), including 155,346 Udmurts. The population structure has been studied in six districts on the basis of the vital statistics, Crow's indices, Malecot's isolation by distance parameters, ethnically assortative marriage parameters, endogamy indices, inbreeding-endogamy (ie) indices, and frequencies of the genotype and allele frequencies of four DNA markers (17 alleles). The prevalences of hereditary diseases have been calculated for different population groups: urban and rural populations, Udmurts and other ethnic groups. These groups, especially the urban and rural populations, substantially differed from one another in the prevalences of autosomal dominant (AR) and autosomal recessive (AR) diseases. The correlation between the prevalence of AD and AR diseases and the ie index is positive and significant. The spectrum of hereditary diseases detected in six districts of Udmurtia comprises 149 diseases (80, 57, and 12 AD, AR, and X-linked diseases, respectively). Accumulation of individual diseases in districts of Udmurtia and accumulation of diseases in Udmurtia as compared to regions studied earlier has been found. Cluster analysis of the frequencies of genes of AD and AR diseases and DNA markers has determined the gene geographic position of Udmurts.