Biodiversity surveys of grassland and coastal habitats in 2021 as a documentation of pre-war status in southern Ukraine

Background This paper presents two sampling-event datasets with occurrences of vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens collected in May-June 2021 in southern Ukraine. We aimed to collect high-quality biodiversity data in an understudied region and contribute it to international databases and networks. The study was carried out during the 15th Eurasian Dry Grassland Group (EDGG) Field Workshop in southern Ukraine and the Dark Diversity Network (DarkDivNet) sampling in the Kamianska Sich National Nature Park. By chance, these datasets were collected shortly before the major escalation of the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Surveyed areas in Kherson and Mykolaiv Regions, including established monitoring plots, were severely affected by military actions in 2022. Therefore, collected data are of significant value in the context of biodiversity documentation. The knowledge about the biodiversity of this area will help to assess the environmental impact of the war and plan restoration of the damaged or destroyed habitats. The first preliminary analysis of collected data demonstrates the biodiversity richness and conservation value of studied grassland habitats. New information We provide sampling-event datasets with 7467 occurrences, which represent 708 taxa (vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens) collected in 275 vegetation relevés. Amongst them, vascular plants are represented by 6665 occurrences (610 taxa), lichens - 420 (46) and bryophytes - 381 (51). Several new species were reported for the first time at the national or regional level. In particular, one vascular plant species (Torilis pseudonodosa) and two lichen species (Cladonia conista, Endocarpon loscosii) were new to Ukraine. One vascular plant (Stipa tirsa), two species of bryophytes (Rhynchostegium megapolitanum, Ptychostomum torquescens) and three species of lichens (Cladonia cervicornis, C. symphycarpa, Involucropyrenium breussi) were recorded for the first time for the Kherson Region. Additionally, these datasets contain occurrences of taxa with narrow distribution, specialists of rare habitat types and, therefore, represented by a low number of occurrences in relevant biodiversity databases and particularly in GBIF. This publication highlights the diversity of natural vegetation and its flora in southern Ukraine and raises conservation concerns

Ecological Indicator Values for Europe (EIVE) 1.0

Aims: To develop a consistent ecological indicator value system for Europe for five of the main plant niche dimensions: soil moisture (M), soil nitrogen (N), soil reaction (R), light (L) and temperature (T). Study area: Europe (and closely adjacent regions). Methods: We identified 31 indicator value systems for vascular plants in Europe that contained assessments on at least one of the five aforementioned niche dimensions. We rescaled the indicator values of each dimension to a continuous scale, in which 0 represents the minimum and 10 the maximum value present in Europe. Taxon names were harmonised to the Euro+Med Plantbase. For each of the five dimensions, we calculated European values for niche position and niche width by combining the values from the individual EIV systems. Using T values as an example, we externally validated our European indicator values against the median of bioclimatic conditions for global occurrence data of the taxa. Results: In total, we derived European indicator values of niche position and niche width for 14,835 taxa (14,714 for M, 13,748 for N, 14,254 for R, 14,054 for L, 14,496 for T). Relating the obtained values for temperature niche position to the bioclimatic data of species yielded a higher correlation than any of the original EIV systems (r = 0.859). The database: The newly developed Ecological Indicator Values for Europe (EIVE) 1.0, together with all source systems, is available in a flexible, harmonised open access database. Conclusions: EIVE is the most comprehensive ecological indicator value system for European vascular plants to date. The uniform interval scales for niche position and niche width provide new possibilities for ecological and macroecological analyses of vegetation patterns. The developed workflow and documentation will facilitate the future release of updated and expanded versions of EIVE, which may for example include the addition of further taxonomic groups, additional niche dimensions, external validation or regionalisation

Клинико-биохимические аспекты развития обструкции бронхов при бронхиальной астме

The aim of this study was to investigate NO- and lipid peroxidation (LPO)-related airway reactivity and its correlation to ventilation disorders in different clinical variants of asthma. NO, malone dialdehyde, IL-4, TNF-α, and IgE were measured in BAL fluid and blood serum of 39 asthma patients and 15 healthy volunteers matched for age and gender.In patients with stable asthma, airflow parameters in small and medium airways were significantly decreased compared to those of healthy persons. Concentrations of key cytokines of atopic inflammation in BAL fluid and serum were increased in asthma patients. Serum IgE tended to decrease and IL-4 and TNF-α in BAL fluid increased in asthma patients while the disease worsened. Inverse correlations were found between NO and TNF-α, malone dialdehyde concentration and parameters of bronchial obstruction.In conclusion, NO production in airways is caused by strong accumulation of inflammatory cells with high metabolic activity resulting in release of inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cytokines which regulate immunopathological reagine-induced inflammation.Цель исследования состояла в оценке активности оксида азота (NO) и процессов перекисного окисления липидов (ПОЛ) в дыхательных путях при различных клинических формах БА и взаимосвязи этих процессов с нарушениями функции внешнего дыхания (ФВД). Проведена оценка содержания NO, малонового диальдегида (МДА), интерлейкина-4 (IL-4), фактора некроза опухоли α (TNF-α) и иммуноглобулина Е (IgE) в жидкости бронхоальвеолярного лаважа (ЖЖБАЛ) и сыворотке крови 39 пациентов с БА и у 15 добровольцев, сопоставимых по возрасту и полу. У всех обследованных больных БА в период клинической ремиссии, в отличие от здоровых лиц, достоверно снижены показатели, характеризующие проходимость мелких и средних бронхов. Подтверждено повышение содержания ключевых цитокинов атопического воспаления в ЖБАЛ и в сыворотке крови больных БА. Выявлены тенденции к снижению содержания IgE в сыворотке крови и повышению IL-4 и TNF-α в жидкости бронхоальвеолярного лаважа у больных БА по мере нарастания тяжести заболевания. Обнаружены отрицательные корреляции между между NO и TNF-α, уровнем МДА и показателями, характеризующими ФВД и степень бронхиальной обструкции. NO-продуцирующая функция дыхательных путей обусловлена мощной аккумуляций воспалительных клеток в респираторной системе и их высокой метаболической активностью, проявляющейся выработкой воспалительных и провоспалительных цитокинов, регулирующих иммунопатологическое реагиновое воспаление

Two different faces of the triangular cluster Rh3Cp3(μ2-CO)3 towards metalloelectrophiles: Structural and theoretical study

The tetrahedral clusters [(C4Me4)CoRh3Cpʹ3(μ3-CO)3]+ (2; Cpʹ = C5H4Me) and [(Ph3P)AuRh3Cpʹ3(μ2-CO)3]+ (3) were synthesized by reactions of Rh3Cpʹ3(μ2-CO)3 (1b) with metalloelectrophiles [(C4Me4)Co]+ (generated from [(C4Me4)Co(C6H6)]+ under visible-light irradiation) and [(Ph3P)Au]+ (generated from (Ph3P)AuCl/Tl+). They were isolated as salts with PF6− anion, and the structures of 2PF6 and 3PF6 were determined by X-ray diffraction. The structural data gave evidence that the coordination of [(C4Me4)Co]+ occurs to the face of 1b with the CO ligands, while the [(Ph3P)Au]+ species reacts with the opposite face of 1b. The latter interaction is accompanied by elongation of the Rh–Rh bonds within the rhodium triangle by 0.1 Å. DFT calculations (at the BP86/TZP level) revealed that the selectivity of the metalloelectrophile coordination is determined by orbital control. © 2020 Elsevier B.V

New approaches for the reductive formation of the C-N bond

This work was supported by the Grant for Young Scientists (No. MK-520.2017.3) and RUDN University Program “5-100”

Інструменти та механізми підтримки мотивації в процесі підготовки студентів вищих навчальних закладів

The relevance of this topic lies in the fact that the current stage of social-economic development is characterized by the emergence of the problem of improving the efficiency of educational activities at all levels of education. Special attention has been paid to the issue of students’ motivation in higher educational institutions in recent years, as it testifies to the quality of educational activities. Motivation significantly affects the formation of worldview of individuals, their behavioral reactions, internal emotional condition, which in turn affects a person’s perception not only of the world around, but also inner worldview, the adequacy of assessing situations and also the adequacy of their perception. The problem of motivation is fundamental in pedagogy and psychology. In our opinion, psychological and pedagogical research among students is of significant practical importance in optimizing the educational process. The purpose of the study is to analyze the motivational component of students, as well as to identify the most significant motives for learning and the conditions for effective establishment of the development of factors of professional motivation. In order to achieve the set goals and to determine the means and mechanisms for supporting motivation in the process of preparing students of higher educational institutions, the method of research of motives of educational activity and the method of value orientations have been used. The practical significance of the results of our research is to determine the motivation of students in order to improve the educational process in higher educational institutions.As a result of practical research, we have concluded that increasing the motivation of students depends on the motivation of the teaching staff.Актуальність даної теми полягає в тому, що сучасний етап соціально-економічного розвитку характеризується появою проблеми підвищення ефективності освітньої діяльності на всіх рівнях освіти. Питанням мотивації студентів у вищих навчальних закладах в останні роки приділяється особлива увага, оскільки це свідчить про якість навчальної діяльності. Мотивація суттєво впливає на формування світогляду особистості, її поведінкових реакцій, внутрішнього емоційного стану, що в свою чергу впливає на сприйняття людиною не лише навколишнього світу, а й на внутрішнє світосприйняття, на адекватність оцінки ситуацій, а також на адекватність свого сприйняття. Мотивація є основоположною в педагогіці та психології. Вагоме практичне значення в оптимізації навчального процесу, на нашу думку, має психолого-педагогічне дослідження серед студентів. Мета дослідження – проаналізувати мотиваційну складову студентів, а також виявити найбільш значущі мотиви навчання та умови ефективного налагодження розвитку факторів професійної мотивації. Для досягнення поставлених цілей та визначення засобів і механізмів підтримки мотивації в процесі підготовки студентів вищих навчальних закладів використано методику дослідження мотивів навчальної діяльності та методику ціннісних орієнтацій. Практичне значення результатів нашого дослідження полягає у визначенні мотивації студентів щодо вдосконалення навчального процесу у вищих навчальних закладах. У результаті практичного дослідження ми дійшли висновку, що підвищення мотивації студентів залежить від мотивації педагогічний колектив

Technology and instrumentation stevia solutions of spray drying

The relevance of the use and development of sweeteners is reflected in the article. The main requirements for sweeteners were given: the sweetness quality, color and odor absence, a pleasant taste, harmlessness, complete elimination from the body, good solubility in water, chemical resistance. Due to its beneficial properties, the sweetener obtained from stevia leaves is increasingly used. A method of obtaining stevia extract with subsequent drying is presented. The leaves and stems of the Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni plant were used for the experiment. The extract was obtained using water-alcohol extraction at a temperature of 85–87 ?С, a water module of 1.0: 4.5, and a duration of 115–118 min. using three rinsings, the water and alcohol extracts were combined. The extract filtered from suspended impurities on a deep filter was concentrated under a vacuum of 0.08 MPa at a temperature of 60 ° C to a content of 35%. The resulting concentrate was dried on an experimental spray dryer. The temperature of the dried particles did not exceed 60 ° С, and the drying process lasted 15–30 s. High-quality stevioside powder was obtained due to instant drying and low temperature of sprayed solution particles. Thus obtained sweetener from stevia does not need intermediate purification from ballast substances and does not require further modification to improve organoleptic properties - to enhance sweetness and reduce the residual bitter aftertaste characteristic of some natural glycosides. The authors believe that the resulting sweetener makes it possible to develop new products with dietary and therapeutic purposes

Synthesis, crystal structure and catalytic activity in reductive amination of dichlorido(η6 - P -cymene)(2′-dicyclohexylphosphanyl-2,6-dimethoxybiphenyl-κ P)ruthenium(II)

The title compound, [RuCl2 (C10 H14)(C26 H35 O2 P)] (I), crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2 1 /c with two crystallographically independent molecules (A and B) in the asymmetric unit. The geometries of both molecules are very similar and distinguished only by the twist angles of the two benzene rings in the phosphine substituents [89.54(14) and 78.36(14)° for molecules A and B, respectively]. The Ru atoms have classical pseudo-tetrahedral piano-stool coordination environments. The conformation of each molecule is stabilized by intramolecular C - H...O and C - H...Cl hydrogen bonds and C - H...π interactions. The two molecules are linked by a C - H...Cl hydrogen bond. In the crystal, the molecules are further linked by C - H... π interactions, forming -A-B-A-B- chains propagating along the a-axis direction. Complex I is an active catalyst for reductive amination reaction. The catalytic activity of this complex can be explained by the lability of the p-cymene ligand, which can be replaced by two-electron ligands such as CO or amine. © 2018 Makarova et al