EXPLORATION AND COLLECTING OF WILD <i> LACTUCA </i> L. SPECIES, VEGETABLE AND CUCURBIT CROP GENETIC RESOURCES IN PRIMORSKY AND KHABAROVSK REGIONS OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IN 2017

A collecting mission was carried out over the territory of Primorsky and Khabarovsk Regions in 2017. The goal of this mission was searching for wild species of the genus Lactuca L., and collecting samples of those species. Also, collecting of vegetable crops and cucurbits as well as wild relatives of such crops was important. Finally, 453 wild samples belonging to 8 species of Lactuca L., were collected in their native habitats. In the explored area, Lactuca spp. were found growing almost everywhere, but each species had its own preferable ecotype. The dataset of all collecting spots of the gathered Lactuca species including geographical coordinates of each point was developed. Besides, 243 samples of vegetable crops and cucurbits were purchased at the local markets, and 94 samples of crops wild relatives were collected in wild nature

Mobilization of plant genetic resources from the territory of the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic

Background. The Kabardino-Balkarian Republic is one of the floristically unique territories in the Russian Federation. Its vegetation, especially in the mountainous and foothill areas, is very rich due to, inter alia, the extremely complex and diverse relief. Over 50% of the entire Caucasian flora is present in the republic, representing all main groups of plant formations, except subtropical and tropical ones. It seems relevant to search for and collect crop wild relatives as well as landraces of vegetables and cucurbits cultivated for a long time in the surveyed territory and adapted to local environmental conditions in order to add new genetic resources of these crops to the VIR collection.Methods. The expedition route included explorations of the foothill and highland areas of Kabardino-Balkaria, and familiarization with the seed assortment available at the markets and agricultural stores in Nalchik and Prokhladny. The target areas were surveyed from August 18 through 26, 2019, by one- or two-day trips starting from Nalchik. The length of the itinerary was about 600 km.Results. The collecting mission examined local farms and homesteads, explored the mountains, and collected 256 local and commercial cultivars of vegetable and cucurbit crops, 69 seed and vegetative samples of vegetable crop wild relatives, plus a number of fodder plant samples. Russian and foreign breeding companies whose cultivars are popular in Kabar dino-Balkaria were identified

Catalytic Synthesis of Acetonitrile by Ammonolysis of Acetic Acid

The influence of principal parameters (reagent ratio, reaction temperature, temperature gradients along a catalyst layer) on the yield of the desired product was studied in the reaction of acetonitrile synthesis from acetic acid over γ-alumina. Thus, the increase in ammonia:acetic acid ratio leads to the increase in acetonitrile selectivity and yield. In this work it has been demonstrated that initial temperatures of 360-380 °C are optimum to effectively carry out the process of acetonitrile synthesis. The increase in reaction temperature allows one to increase the yield of acetonitrile, but at elevated temperatures the catalyst carbidization and contamination of the desired product were observed. The additives to the reaction mixture of the substances that decrease the rate of compaction products (CP) formation and participate in the desired product formation are very effective for decreasing the catalyst carbidization. The effect of the composition of a reaction mixture on a catalyst lifetime is considered. The addition of ethyl acetate to acetic acid promotes a greater carbidization as compared to pure acetic acid. The application of a mixture of acetic acid with acetic anhydride at similar acetonitrile yield decreases the catalyst carbidization

Генетическое разнообразие и биохимическая ценность корнеплодных овощных растений семейства капустные (Brassicaceae Burnett)

Root crops of the Cabbage family (radish, turnip, garden radish, Russian turnip) are valuable root vegetable crops widely cultivated in the world. Radish and garden radish belong to botanical species Raphanus sativus L., turnips belong to species Brassica rapa L. subsp. rapa, and Russian turnip to Brassica napobrassica L. The root crops are valuable for high concentration of vitamins B1, B2, B6, PP, C, essential amino acids and essential and mustard oils. The world collection of root plants of Cabbage family is represented by more than 2500 samples of garden radish and radish from 75 countries; 604 samples of turnip from 32 countries, 251 samples of rutabaga from 26 countries. The researchers from Russian Institute of Genetic Plant Resources named after N.I.Vavilov are involved in collecting, preserving and investigating genetic resources of root crops. The collection is being completed by expeditionary surveys, references from breeding institutions in Russia, extracts from foreign genetic banks and commercial acquisitions. The authors focus on the fact that cultivation of root crops in the Asian part of Russia requires varieties of garden radish, radish, turnips and Russian turnip not only with high yield potential, but also well adapted to local conditions, high nutritional value and high concentration of biologically active matters. Breeding of these crops should be aimed at improving their biological and consumer properties. The properties are seen as tasty varieties, ones with nutritional value that are able to keep juiciness of the pulp for a long time and resistant to biotic and abiotic environmental factors.Корнеплодные культуры семейства Капустные (редька, репа, редис, брюква) являются ценными корнеплодными овощными культурами, широко возделываемыми во всем мире. Редька и редис относятся к ботаническому виду Raphanus sativus L., репа – к виду Brassica rapa L. subsp. rapa, брюква – к виду Brassica napobrassica L. Корнеплоды этих культур ценятся за высокое содержание витаминов В1, В2, В6, РР, С, незаменимых аминокислот, эфирных и горчичных масел. Мировая коллекция ВИР корнеплодных растений семейства Капустные представлена более чем 2500 образцами редиса и редьки из 75 стран мира, 604 образцами репы из 32 стран, 251 образцом брюквы из 26 стран. В настоящее время в ВИР им. Н. И. Вавилова продолжается работа по сбору, сохранению и изучению генетических ресурсов корнеплодных растений. Коллекция продолжает пополняться за счет экспедиционных обследований, поступлений из селекционных учреждений России, выписки из зарубежных генетических банков и коммерческого приобретения. Для возделывания корнеплодных культур в азиатской части России нужны сорта редиса, редьки, репы и брюквы не только с высоким потенциалом урожайности, но и хорошо приспособленные к местным условиям, имеющие высокую питательную ценность и повышенное содержание биологически активных веществ. Селекционная работа с этими культурами должна быть направлена на улучшение их биологических и потребительских качеств, таких как создание сортов с хорошим вкусом и пищевой ценностью, способных длительное время сохранять сочность мякоти, устойчивых к биотическим и абиотическим факторам среды

Antibacterial activity of phenylpropanoids derived from cinnamic acid

In this work, we present antibacterial activity of a 22 phenylpropanoids derived from cinnamic acid, recently reported as antifungal agents by our group. Some of these compounds are commercial, others are natural products and some of them were obtained by synthesis. Antibacterial activity was determined in two stages. At first, a screening was made by an easy, economic and fast assay using a commercial lyophilized of Gram (+) bacteria. Compounds that showed activity at the screening were tested against Gram (+) and Gram (-) pathogens.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Timeless standards for species delimitation

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Trajectories of Early Adolescent Loneliness: Implications for Physical Health and Sleep

The current study examines the relationship between prolonged loneliness, physical health, and sleep among young adolescents (10–13 years; N = 1214; 53% girls). Loneliness was measured at 10, 12 and 13 years of age along with parent-reported health and sleep outcomes. Using growth mixture modelling, 6 distinct trajectories were identified: ‘low increasing to high loneliness’ (n = 23, 2%), ‘high reducing loneliness’ (n = 28, 3%), ‘medium stable loneliness’ (n = 60, 5%), ‘medium reducing loneliness’ (n = 185, 15%), ‘low increasing to medium loneliness’ (n = 165, 14%), and ‘low stable loneliness’ (n = 743, 61%). Further analyses found non-significant differences between the loneliness trajectories and parent-report health and sleep outcomes including visits to health professionals, perceived general health, and sleep quality. The current study offers an important contribution to the literature on loneliness and health. Results show that the relationship may not be evident in early adolescence when parent reports of children’s health are used. The current study highlights the importance of informant choice when reporting health. The implications of the findings for future empirical work are discussed

Assessing nitrate groundwater hotspots in Europe reveals an inadequate designation of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones

Monitoring networks show that the European Union Nitrates Directive (ND) has had mixed success in reducing nitrate concentrations in groundwater. By combining machine learning and monitored nitrate concentrations (1992–2019), we estimate the total area of nitrate hotspots in Europe to be 401,000 km2, with 47% occurring outside of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (NVZs). We also found contrasting increasing or decreasing trends, varying per country and time periods. We estimate that only 5% of the 122,000 km2 of hotspots in 2019 will meet nitrate quality standards by 2040 and that these may be offset by the appearance of new hotspots. Our results reveal that the effectiveness of the ND is limited by both time-lags between the implementation of good practices and pollution reduction and an inadequate designation of NVZs. Significant improvements in the designation and regulation of NVZs are necessary, as well as in the quality of monitoring stations in terms of spatial density and information available concerning sampling depth, if the objectives of EU legislation to protect groundwater are to be achieved