Reconstructions of deltaic environments from Holocene palynological records in the Volga delta, northern Caspian Sea

This article was made available through open access by the Brunel Open Access Publishing Fund.New palynological and ostracod data are presented from the Holocene Volga delta, obtained from short cores and surface samples collected in the Damchik region, near Astrakhan, Russian Federation in the northern Caspian Sea. Four phases of delta deposition are recognized and constrained by accelerated mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon ages. Palynological records show that erosive channels, dunes (Baer hills) and inter-dune lakes were present during the period 11,500–8900 cal. BP at the time of the Mangyshlak Caspian lowstand. The period 8900–3770 cal. BP was characterized regionally by extensive steppe vegetation, with forest present at times with warmer, more humid climates, and with halophytic and xerophytic vegetation present at times of drought. The period 3770–2080 cal. BP was a time of active delta deposition, with forest or woodland close to the delta, indicating relatively warm and humid climates and variable Caspian Sea levels. From 2080 cal. BP to the present-day, aquatic pollen is frequent in highstand intervals and herbaceous pollen and fungal hyphae frequent in lowstand intervals. Soils and incised valley sediments are associated with the regional Derbent regression and may be time-equivalent with the ‘Medieval Warm Period’. Fungal spores are an indicator of erosional or aeolian processes, whereas fungal hyphae are associated with soil formation. Freshwater algae, ostracods and dinocysts indicate mainly freshwater conditions during the Holocene with minor brackish influences. Dinocysts present include Spiniferites cruciformis, Caspidinium rugosum, Impagidinium caspienense and Pterocysta cruciformis, the latter a new record for the Caspian Sea. The Holocene Volga delta is a partial analogue for the much larger oil and gas bearing Mio-Pliocene palaeo-Volga delta.Funding for the data collection and field work was provided from the following sources: 1 – IGCP-UNESCO 2003–2008 (Project 481 CASPAGE, Dating Caspian Sea Level Change); 2 – NWO, Netherlands Science Foundation and RFFI, Russian Science Foundation 2005–2008 (Programme: ‘VHR Seismic Stratigraphy and Paleoecology of the Holocene Volga Delta’); and 3 – BP Exploration (Caspian Sea) Sea Ltd. (Azeri-Chirag-Gunashli) 2005–2008 (‘Unravelling the Small-Scale Stratigraphy and Sediment Dynamics of the Modern Volga Delta Using VHR Marine Geophysics’). The palynological work was funded jointly by BP Exploration (Caspian Sea) Ltd., Delft University of Technology and KrA Stratigraphic Ltd. Ostracod analyses were funded by StrataData Ltd. and funding for two additional radiocarbon dates provided by Deltares

Distribution and invasiveness of an alien species (Solidago canadensis) in Estonia, Tartu

Bakalaureusetöö Loodusturismi õppekavalInvasiivsed liigid on oluline keskkonnaprobleem, kuna aktiivse leviku käigus võivad nad kohalikke liike välja tõrjuda või elupaiku muuta, põhjustada ökosüsteemi ümberkorraldamist ja bioloogilise mitmekesisuse vähenemist. Invasiivsed liigid võivad kahjustada inimeste tervist või põhjustada majanduslikku kahju. Kanada kuldvits, Solidago canadensis, on nüüdseks laialt levinud ja teda peetakse invasiivseks paljudes Euroopa riikides ja piirkondades. Kanada kuldvits kuulub nn musta raamatu liikide hulka, teda ei tohi Eestis levitada ja riiki sisse tuua. Antud töös vaadeldakse liigi kasvamiseedukust ja levikut, tõrjemeetmeid ja ohtlikkust. Töö eesmärgiks on anda ülevaade invasiivse võõrliigi kanada kuldvitsa levikust kahes Tartu linnaosas, Tähtveres ja Karlovas. Linnaosad on üsna sarnased selle poolest, et mõlemat linnaosa iseloomustab tühermaa raudtee ümbruses ja Karlovas ka jõeluhal. Samuti domineerivad mõlemas linnaosas eramud või väiksemad kortermajad koos aedadega. Täpsemad uurimisküsimused on: millistes kasvukohtades on liik enam levinud? Millise struktuuriga on populatsioonid? Anda soovitused liigi leviku piiramiseks. See on vajalik selle invasiivse taime leviku peatamiseks, kuna tal on kahjulik mõju ökoloogilisele süsteemile tervikuna.Invasive species are an important environmental problem, because in the course of their active spreading, they can displace native species or change habitats, cause ecosystem reorganization and reduce biodiversity. Invasive species can harm human health or cause economical damage. Canadian goldenrod, Solidago canadensis, is now widespreaded and considered invasive in many European countries and regions. Canadian goldenrod belongs to the so-called black book species, it may not be distributed in Estonia or brought into the country. The work examines the characteristics of growth and development, control methods and danger. The aim is to provide an overview of distribution of the invasive alien species as Canadian goldenrod in two districts of Tartu, Tähtvere and Karlova. The districts are quite similar, both of it are characterized by wasteland around the railway, and in Karlova also present the river bank. Also in both districts dominating private houses or smaller apartment buildings with gardens. More specific research questions are: In what places of growth the species are more common? What structure do populations have? To give recommendations of limiting wide spread of the species. This is important in order to stop spreading of invasive plant, which has harmful effect on the ecological system generally

Effect of the Brown Coal-Based Feed Additive on Poultry Productivity Indicators

This study examined the effect of feed additives based on brown coal on the productivity indicators of laying hens. The Relict A® organo-mineral feed additive for livestock and poultry is a multi-component, gummatized product with a wide range of biological activity, accelerating the growth and development of the animal. Relict A® is an environmentally friendly supplement that does not contain hormones or synthetic compounds. The control group was fed complete feed without additives. The second, third and fourth groups were fed feed containing 0.04%, 0.06% and 0.10% of the studied additives, respectively. The amount of feed for each group of laying hens was strictly normalized in accordance with their age, according to the recommendations for this cross. The use of the Relict A® feed additive in the laying hens’ rations led to an increase in the average number of eggs per laying hen, a decrease in the cost of feed for producing 1 dozen eggs, and a reduction in the time when the poultry reached the peak egg laying intensity. Feeding the additive to laying hens reduced the cost of producing 1 dozen eggs in the experimental groups, and also increased the profitability of chicken eggs in comparison with the control. The best dose was to use 0.06% of Relict A® by weight of the feed. A 26.6% increase in laying hen egg production was found. Keywords: feed additives, laying hens, egg productivity, brown coa

Height and timing of growth spurt during puberty in young people living with vertically acquired HIV in Europe and Thailand.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to describe growth during puberty in young people with vertically acquired HIV. DESIGN: Pooled data from 12 paediatric HIV cohorts in Europe and Thailand. METHODS: One thousand and ninety-four children initiating a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor or boosted protease inhibitor based regimen aged 1-10 years were included. Super Imposition by Translation And Rotation (SITAR) models described growth from age 8 years using three parameters (average height, timing and shape of the growth spurt), dependent on age and height-for-age z-score (HAZ) (WHO references) at antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation. Multivariate regression explored characteristics associated with these three parameters. RESULTS: At ART initiation, median age and HAZ was 6.4 [interquartile range (IQR): 2.8, 9.0] years and -1.2 (IQR: -2.3 to -0.2), respectively. Median follow-up was 9.1 (IQR: 6.9, 11.4) years. In girls, older age and lower HAZ at ART initiation were independently associated with a growth spurt which occurred 0.41 (95% confidence interval 0.20-0.62) years later in children starting ART age 6 to 10 years compared with 1 to 2 years and 1.50 (1.21-1.78) years later in those starting with HAZ less than -3 compared with HAZ at least -1. Later growth spurts in girls resulted in continued height growth into later adolescence. In boys starting ART with HAZ less than -1, growth spurts were later in children starting ART in the oldest age group, but for HAZ at least -1, there was no association with age. Girls and boys who initiated ART with HAZ at least -1 maintained a similar height to the WHO reference mean. CONCLUSION: Stunting at ART initiation was associated with later growth spurts in girls. Children with HAZ at least -1 at ART initiation grew in height at the level expected in HIV negative children of a comparable age

Vegetation change in the Astrakhanskiy Biosphere Reserve (Lower Volga Delta, Russia) in relation to Caspian Sea level fluctuation

During the twentieth century the level of the Caspian Sea dropped from -26 m (1930) to -29 m (1977) below global sea level and subsequently rose again to -26.66 m in 1996. We aimed to describe responses of the vegetation in the lower Volga Delta to these substantial sea-level changes using an analysis of historic vegetation maps produced by aerial photography and satellite imagery. The sea level drop in the earlier part of the century was followed by rapid progression of the vegetation. The subsequent rapid sea-level rise in the 1980s did however not result in similarly rapid regression of the vegetation. This partial irreversibility of the vegetation response to sea-level change is explained by the wide flooding tolerance of the major emergent species, namely Phragmites australis. Floating vegetation increased in extent, most likely due to the increased availability of more favourable conditions, particularly for Nelumbo nucifera, a tropical plant reaching its northernmost distribution in the Volga Delta. This species increased in distribution from 3.5 ha in the 1930s throughout the entire Volga Delta to several thousands of hectares in the Astrakhanskiy Biosphere Reserve alone in the 1980s. The reported sea-level changes swept the ecosystems in the Astrakhanskiy Biosphere Reserve back and forth within the Reserve boundaries. At longer time scales, ten-fold greater sealevel change has been reported. The ecosystems for which the Reserve is renowned might be pushed completely out of the Reserve under these conditions. We therefore question whether the current Reserve will be sufficiently large to guarantee conservation of the biota in the lower Volga Delta at longer time scales

Phonological hearing - the basis of the child's speech

В статье представлен опыт взаимодействия учителя-логопеда с родителями воспитанников и педагогами ДОУ по организации коррекционно-педагогической работы по развитию фонематического слуха и восприятия через игру; описывается поэтапное внедрение комплекса игр, разработанного с учетом возрастных и психологических особенностей детей дошкольного возраста.This article presents the experience of interaction a speech therapist with parents of pupils and teachers of the kindergarten on the organization of correctional and pedagogical work on the development of phonemic hearing and perception through the game; describes the phased implementation of a set of games developed with age and psychological characteristics of pre-school children

Сравнительный Анализ Химического Состава Донных Отложений Пресных Водоемов Краснодарского Края в Качестве Сырья для Сельскохозяйственного Производства

Recently, there has been more and more demand for effective ways to use different types of natural mineral raw materials in agricultural production. Rivers of the Krasnodar Territory of Russian Federation are over-regulated, silted and have a sluggish flow, and removal of bottom sediments and their waste-free use is necessary. They can be used as a raw material for the production of fertilizers and animal feed additives. A comparative analysis of the river bottom sediments from the Albashi River and sapropel from an artificial lake in the Krasnodar Territory demonstrated that the content of organic substances and all studied macro- and micronutrients was higher in the river bottom sediments compared to sapropel of the artificial lake. The authors also established that the studied samples can be classified as bottom sediments of the first use-capability class for agricultural production.Recientemente, se presta cada vez más atención a la búsqueda de formas efectivas de utilizar diferentes tipos de materias primas minerales naturales en la producción agrícola. Dado que los ríos del Territorio de Krasnodar de la Federación Rusa han aumentado la regulación, la sedimentación y el flujo lento, surge la cuestión de la limpieza de sedimentos y su uso sin desperdicios, que pueden utilizarse como materia prima para la producción de fertilizantes y aditivos para piensos. Un análisis comparativo de los sedimentos fluviales del fondo del río Albashi y el lago sapropel de origen artificial del Territorio de Krasnodar encontró que el contenido de sustancias orgánicas y de todos los macro y microelementos estudiados en los sedimentos del fondo del río también mostró una ventaja en comparación con el sapropel de un lago artificial. Se revela que las muestras estudiadas pertenecen a los sedimentos del fondo del 1er grado de aptitud física en la producción agrícola.В последнее время для все большее внимание уделяется поиску эффективных способов применения разных видов природного минерального сырья в сельскохозяйственном производстве. Так как реки Краснодарского края Российской Федерации имеют повышенную зарегулированность, заиленность и вялотекущее течение, возникает вопрос очистки от донных отложений и их безотходного применения, которые возможно использовать в качестве сырья для производства удобрений и кормовых добавок для животных. При сравнительном анализе донных речных отложений реки Албаши и сапропеля озера искусственного происхождения Краснодарского края, установлено, что по содержанию органических веществ и всех изучаемых макро- и микроэлементов, в донных отложениях реки также наблюдалось преимущество, по сравнению с сапропелем искусственного озера. Выявлено, что изучаемые образцы относятся к донным отложениям 1 класса пригодности в сельскохозяйственном производстве

THE EVALUATION OF HEART RATE VARIABILITY SIGNALS USING MONOFRACTAL ANALYSIS

The comparison analysis of Hurst exponent indicators for short-term series of heart rate variability of four patients groups by different methods is presented. The consistent results obtained by both methods of estimation are shown. Change of the Hurst exponent corresponds to the dynamics of patient treatment

Информативность нейрофизиологических и нейровизуализационных показателей в диагностике умеренных когнитивных нарушений при дисциркуляторной энцефалопатии

144 patients with dyscirculatory encephalopathy (DE) I and 386 patients with DE II were investigated. The control groups included 76 subjects with no cerebrovascular disease. From neurologycal and neuropsychologycal tests and multyspiral computer tomography and electroencephalography it was exposed that vascular mild cognitive impairments have dysfunction from neuroregulation. Neurophisiological and neurovisualisation exponents have diagnostic information from vascular mild cognitive impairments.С целью уточнить информативность нейрофизиологических и нейровизуализационных показателей в диагностике умеренных когнитивных нарушений при дисциркуляторной энцефалопатии (ДЭ) обследовано 144 больных ДЭ I стадии, 386 больных ДЭ II стадии. Контрольную группу составили 76 человек, не страдающих сердечно-сосудистыми заболеваниями. Проведены клиническое неврологическое и нейропсихологическое исследования, электроэнцефалография, мультиспиральная компьютерная томография. Уточнена роль нейрорегуляторных нарушений в формировании когнитивных расстройств при ДЭ. Доказана диагностическая ценность нейрофизиологических показателей и нейровизуализационных характеристик у больных с сосудистыми когнитивными нарушениями