Legal Aspects of Participation of a Psychologist as a Specialist in Enforcement of Court Decisions in Parenting Cases (Part I)

The article provides an analysis of scientific sources, normative legal acts, instructive letters of Federal Bailiffs Service of Russia, the position of judges and practices on the execution of enforcement documents related with upbringing of children. A psychologist with the legal status of specialist is to be involved in this category of enforcement proceedings. Based on analysis, problems associated with the imperfection of separate legal norms were identified, as well as Insufficiently thought-over legal design of specialist status in enforcement proceedings were found. The authors make proposals on expanding the list of rights and toughening the responsibility of specialist in enforcement proceedings, as well as the proposal to provide a psychologist with right of making an acquaintance with the conclusion made by a forensic psychological or complex forensic psycho-psychiatric expertise. Based on the position of the judges and the absence of prohibition in carrying out of a special study made by a specialist in the enforcement proceedings, and the existing task for psychologist to evaluate psychological condition of a child, the authors conclude that the psychologist has the right to conduct a psychodiagnostic examination using scientific methods and techniques. The proposed measures to improve the legal norms are aimed to ensure a possibility of full and correct execution of adjudications on legal disputes related with upbringing of a child

Growth and longevity of Mytilus edulis (L.) from northeast Europe

The growth of mussels, Mytilus edulis (L.), was studied in most of the northeastern part of their distribution. The growth, longevity and maximal size of molluscs from 24 wild populations and one cultured population located in the White Sea and the southeast part of the Barents Sea were compared. The 25 studied populations were combined in six clusters. The maximal longevity and the size of the mussels varied between 7 and 18 years and 25.5 and 77.7 mm, respectively. The geographical location of the population within the studied region did not affect either maximal longevity or maximal size, or the growth rate of mussels. However, these parameters were influenced by local habitat conditions, primarily connected with the position within intertidal and subtidal zones. Animals inhabiting the intertidal zone were characterized by relatively low growth performance, a short life span and a small size. The longest life span was typical for deep subtidal mussels, whereas the highest growth rate was recorded in the cultured population and in the upper subtidal habitats. Growth patterns of Mytilus edulis in the subarctic White and the Arctic southeast Barents seas are similar to those reported from other parts of the area of distribution. Therefore, growth was mostly determined by local environmental factors, including those related to vertical zonation, rather than by latitude/longitude and related temperature effects.

Growth and longevity of Mytilus edulis (L.) from northeast Europe

The growth of mussels, Mytilus edulis (L.), was studied in most of the northeastern part of their distribution. The growth, longevity and maximal size of molluscs from 24 wild populations and one cultured population located in the White Sea and the southeast part of the Barents Sea were compared. The 25 studied populations were combined in six clusters. The maximal longevity and the size of the mussels varied between 7 and 18 years and 25.5 and 77.7 mm, respectively. The geographical location of the population within the studied region did not affect either maximal longevity or maximal size, or the growth rate of mussels. However, these parameters were influenced by local habitat conditions, primarily connected with the position within intertidal and subtidal zones. Animals inhabiting the intertidal zone were characterized by relatively low growth performance, a short life span and a small size. The longest life span was typical for deep subtidal mussels, whereas the highest growth rate was recorded in the cultured population and in the upper subtidal habitats. Growth patterns of Mytilus edulis in the subarctic White and the Arctic southeast Barents seas are similar to those reported from other parts of the area of distribution. Therefore, growth was mostly determined by local environmental factors, including those related to vertical zonation, rather than by latitude/longitude and related temperature effects

Trace metals and variations of antioxidant enzymes in arctic bivalve populations

In the framework of an INTAS project, arctic populations of the clam Macoma balthica were collected from seven stations (Mezen, Khaypudyr, Pechora 3, Pechora 5, Dvina, Keret 1, and Keret 2) in the White Sea and Pechora Sea. The main objectives of this research were to define baseline concentrations of trace metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn) in M. balthica and to evaluate antioxidant responses as biomarkers of anthropogenic stress in these organisms. The antioxidant parameters examined included the levels of glutathione and the activities of several glutathione-dependent and antioxidant enzymes: glyoxalase I and glyoxalase II (EC 4.4.1.5 and EC 3.1.2.6), glutathione S- transferases (EC 2.5.1.18), glutathione reductase (EC 1.6.4.2), glutathione peroxidases (EC1.11.1.9 and EC 2.5.1.18, respectively, for Se-dependent and Se-independent forms), superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), and catalase (EC 1.11.1.6). Organisms revealed enhanced concentrations of lead in both Keret stations, Khaypudyr, and Mezen, and high levels of copper in Keret and cadmium in Khaypudyr. At the biochemical level, organisms from Pechora 3, Pechora 5, and Dvina were not statistically different, whereas those from Mezen and Khaypudyr exhibited higher activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glyoxalase II. Catalase levels were lower in Mezen and Khaypudyr. More heterogeneous were the responses of glyoxalase I and glutathione S-transferases, while no significant differences among the stations were observed for glutathione reductase. Multiple regression analyses revealed significant positive relationships between the main antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidases, superoxide dismutase, glyoxalase I, and glyoxalase II), and confirmed the exception of catalase, which, when significant, was negatively correlated with the other parameters. The results support the suitability of antioxidant responses as biomarkers of pollutant exposure and/or toxicity for arctic biomonitoring programs even though only moderately polluted sites were sampled. [KEYWORDS: Mixed-function oxygenase; mytilus-galloprovincialis; lipid-peroxidation; geukensia-demissa; oxidative stress; macoma-balthica; aquatic animals; marine bivalves; digestive gland; common mussel]

Sensitivity to stress in the bivalve Macoma balthica from the most northern (Arctic) to the most southern (French) populations: low sensitivity in Arctic populations because of genetic adaptations?

The stress sensitivity, determined in copper exposure experiments and in survival in air tests, and the genetic structure, measured by means of isoenzyme electrophoresis, were assessed in populations of the Baltic clam Macoma balthica (L.) from its southern to its northern distribution limit, in order to test the hypotheses that near the distribution limit the clams would be more stress sensitive and would have a lower genetic variability. The populations in west and north Europe show a strong genetic resemblance. The populations in the sub- Arctic White Sea are genetically slightly different, and show a low stress sensitivity. The populations in the Arctic Pechora Sea are genetically very distant from the other populations, and show the lowest stress sensitivity. Near the southern distribution limit, in agreement with the hypotheses, genetic variability is low and stress sensitivity high. On the other hand, in contrast to expectation, near the northern distribution limit, in the populations of the Pechora Sea, the genetic variability was higher, thus not reduced, and the stress sensitivity was low compared to ail other populations. Yet, it remains a question if such is due to gradual physiological acclimatization (and ongoing differential selection) or to genetic adaptation. [KEYWORDS: Arctic; adaptation; copper; distribution limit; genetics geographic cline; Macoma balthica; stress sensitivity; survival in air Allele frequency cline; mussel mytilus-edulis; crassostrea-virginica; electrophoretic data; allozyme variation; marine mollusks; differentiation; selection; growth; oyster]