Impact of hydrotechnical construction on aquatic ecosystems of the Kiliia branch of the Danube Delta

Resumption of shipping in the Bystryi branch in the Ukrainian part of the Danube Delta, one of the largest aquatic-wetland areas of Europe and the world, has made it necessary to control the anthropogenic impact on the neighboring water areas of the Danube Biosphere Reserve. The objective of the study was comparing the compositions and structure of phytoplankton, microphytobenthos, macrophytes, benthic invertebrates and ichthyofauna of the mouth area of the Bystryi branch with such communities of the mouths of the branches Vostochnyi, Tsyhanka and Starostambulskyi, which are situated in the protected zone and characterized by limited anthropogenic activity. We also determined the correspondence of the descriptors of biotic groups to the categories of the ecological status according to the Water Framework Directive of the EU. The studies were performed in the autumn and summer periods in 2020–2021. We recorded 367 species of animals and plants, the richest biodiversity was seen for the biota of the Bystryi branch – 250 species, and 180–231 species of hydrobionts were found in the undisturbed mouths. We determined 25.3% of shared species for the water areas, and therefore high values of similarity of the species compositions according to Bray-Curtis (47.5% to 81.5%). We determined no significant differences between the groups of the mouths of the examined branches according to most indicators of taxonomic and ecological structure. As the descriptors of ecological status, we chose assemblage indices of phytoplankton and microphytobenthos, which are based on ratios of biomass of functional groups of algae, and also the Macrophyte Biological Index for Rivers, saprobic index of Zelinka & Marvan and Biological Monitoring Working Party Index of Benthic Invertebrates and Representation of Species of Ichthyfauna according to vulnerability to actions of environmental factors. We determined that the range of descriptors of phytoplankton and microphytobenthos corresponded to the “high” ecological status category, such of macrophytes and benthic invertebrates to “good”, and such of ichthyofauna varied “high” to “good”. In general, all the mouth areas were characterized by “good” ecological status. Similarities of the species composition and the structure of biotic communities of the mouths of the studied branches of the delta indicate the absence of negative impact of the deepwater shipping on adjacent ecosystems, which may be related to the peculiarities of reactions of groups in the water areas with natural stress, as well as local impact of the hydrotechnical construction

Proposals for the Organization of International Logistics Activities of Agricultural and Agro-Processing Enterprises During the War Period

The agricultural sector is the driver and “point of growth” of the national economy of Ukraine. Agriculture accounts for an average of 16% of gross value added in some regions and play a key role in ensuring food security. However, the current conditions of martial law in Ukraine have led to problems in the organization of logistics activities of enterprises of the agro-industrial complex as a result of non-fulfilment of the terms of contracts; emergence of risks of disruption of the sowing campaign; decrease in final harvest indicators and the level of food security; decrease in the volume of export deliveries of agricultural products; disruption of food supply chains; lack of adequate financing and logistics infrastructure facilities; insufficiently effective use of marketing management tools and a network approach in the process of distributing agricultural products to the final consumer; increase in transaction costs, etc. The article provides a statistical analysis of the main indicators of the development of foreign economic activity of enterprises of the agro-industrial complex of Ukraine in the pre-war period. Barriers that inhibit the effective organization of international logistics activities of agrarian enterprises in wartime have been identified. Priority directions for eliminating existing barriers that prevent the organization of foreign economic logistics activities are proposed, the essence of which is to activate network interaction and partnership relations based on the creation of agro-cluster structures; unification of small farms for the proper execution of contracts, as well as joint activity in the agrarian sphere of two or more companies and different groups of stakeholders to achieve a common goal and a synergistic effect.Аграрний сектор є драйвером і «точкою зростання» національної економіки України. Сільське господарство формує у деяких регіонах у середньому 16% валової доданої вартості та відіграє ключову роль у забезпеченні продовольчої безпеки. Однак сучасні умови воєнного стану в Україні призвели до проблем організації логістичної діяльності підприємств агропромислового комплексу унаслідок невиконання умов контрактів; появі ризиків зриву посівної кампанії; зменшення фінальних показників врожаю та рівня продовольчої безпеки; зниження обсягів експортних поставок сільськогосподарської продукції; порушення ланцюгів постачання продовольства; відсутності належного фінансування та об’єктів логістичної інфраструктури; недостатньо ефективного використання інструментарію маркетингового менеджменту і мережевого підходу в процесі розподілу аграрної продукції до кінцевого споживача; збільшення трансакційних витрат тощо. У статті виконано статистичний аналіз основних показників розвитку зовнішньоекономічної діяльності підприємств агропромислового комплексу України у довоєнний період. Виявлено бар’єри, які гальмують ефективну організацію міжнародної логістичної діяльності аграрних підприємств у воєнний час. Запропоновано пріоритетні напрями усунення існуючих бар’єрів, що перешкоджають організації зовнішньоекономічної логістичної діяльності, суть яких полягає в активізації мережевої взаємодії та партнерських взаємовідносин на основі створення агрокластерних структур; об’єднання дрібним фермерських господарств для належного виконання контрактів, а також спільної діяльності в аграрній сфері двох або більше компаній і різних груп стейкхолдерів для досягнення загальної мети і синергетичного ефекту

Phytochemical profiles and antimicrobial activity of the inflorescences of Sorbus domestica, S. aucuparia, and S. torminalis

The genus Sorbus L. is known for its extremely complex taxonomical relationships and health-promoting phytochemicals included in the composition of its floral constituents. The inflorescences of three Sorbus species (rowans), characterized by distinct molecular-genetic traits, were studied in order to examine the possible chemotaxonomic and antimicrobial value of their metabolites. GC–MS profiling of the hexane extracts of S. domestica, S. aucuparia, and S. torminalis inflorescences identified a total of 87 components, which represented six chemical classes (hydrocarbons, alcohols, esters, fatty acid, aldehydes, and ketones) and miscellaneous minor floral constituents (1-methylinosine, 5-amino tetrazole, 1,4-dimethylbenzene, 3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-phenol, 3-acetoxy-7,8-epoxylanostan-11-ol, cycloeucalenol acetate, etc.). Principal component analysis (PCA) of the qualitative and quantitative heterogeneity of the floral metabolites determined 1-hentetracontanol, nonacosane, pentadecyl acrylate, 1-methylhexacosane, cycloeucalenol acetate, butyl acetate, and urs-12-ene as the main components which contributed to the differences between S. domestica, S. aucuparia and S. torminalis and resulted in the distinction between the rowan species. Disc-diffusion assays showed variability in activity of inflorescence extracts against Gram-negative (Enterobacter dissolvens, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae) and Gram-positive (Micrococcus lysodeikticus, Staphylococcus aureus, and S. epidermidis) bacterial and clinical fungal (Candida albicans) strains. The effect of S. torminalis was high against S. epidermidis and P. aeruginosa, while it was at its lowest against clinical C. albicans strains. Inflorescences of S. domestica showed the highest inhibition of P. aeruginosa, and moderate effects against S. epidermidis and C. albicans. Inflorescences of S. aucuparia caused low to moderate growth inhibition of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains, while it showed the highest effect on C. albicans. Antimicrobial properties of rowan inflorescences may be attributed to oleic, linoleic, arachidic, hexadecanoic, and pentadecanoic acids, 24-norursa-3,12-diene, hexahydrofarnesyl acetone, cycloeucalenol acetate, and other compounds which have known bioactivity. These findings indicated rowan inflorescences as a rich source of valuable secondary metabolites and allow us to assume an application of the floral constituents as chemotaxonomic markers of the genus Sorbus species

Productivity and grain quality of winter triticale varieties (Triticosecale Wittmack el. Camus) under different soil and climatic growing conditions

Purpose. To evaluate the productivity and grain quality of winter triticale varieties grown under different soil and climatic conditions. Methods. The research process involved laboratory, computational and statistical methods, and analysis and synthesis to draw conclusions. Results. HTC (IV–X) was found to vary significantly monthly, annually and in general between the research sites. It was found that the yield of winter triticale varieties in the Forest-Steppe and Polissia zones was 5.3 t/ha. The maximum yield in the Forest-Steppe zone was achieved by the variety ‘MIP Feniks’ (5.9 t/ha), in the Polissia zone by the variety ‘Pamiati Patseky’ (5.8 t/ha). It was found that the protein content of winter triticale varieties for the 2019–2020 research years in the Forest-Steppe zone was on average 12.6% and ranged from 12.2% (‘Liubomyr’) to 13.3% (‘MIP Yatahan’), which according to the classifier corresponded to grain of medium quality and can be used in the confectionery industry. The coefficient of variation (V,%) for this characteristic was 3.5%. In the Polissia zone, the protein content of the varieties averaged 13.6% over the years of research and ranged from 12.9% – medium content (‘MIP Feniks’) to 14.3% – high content (‘MIP Yatahan’). The intrazone variation was low and amounted to 4.0%. Correlation and regression analysis showed that an increase in the active temperature during the vegetation period up to 3203 оС allows an increase in the productivity indicators and in the weight of 1000 grains from 5.6 to 6.1 t/ha and from 46.8 to 53.5 g, respectively; an increase in precipitation during the vegetation period up to 515.1 mm leads to a decrease in the weight of 1000 grains from 45.2 to 38.1 g; with an increase in the amount of active temperatures and precipitation during the vegetation period from 3167.65 to 3202.9 оС and from 413.85 to 515.1 mm, respectively, it is possible to increase the protein content in grain from 12.4 to 13.8%; with an increase in the yield and weight of 1000 grains from 5.8 to 6.1 t/ha and from 51.8 to 53.8 g, the protein content of the grain can be reduced from 13.1 to 12.0%. Conclusions. Different responses of varieties to zonal growing conditions were observed. A positive influence of the rainfall factor during the growing season on the yield of winter triticale in Forest-Steppe and Polissia (r = 0.66 and 0.34 units) and on the increase of the protein content of grain grown in the Polissia zone (r = 0.56) was revealed

Quercetin potentiates antiradical properties of epigallocatechin-3-gallate in periodontium of rats under systemic and local administration of lipopolisaccharide of Salmonella typhi

There has been demonstrated that pharmaceutical effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a polyphenol, which is found in green tea (Camellia sinensis), is implemented through the activation of Nrf2 (Nuclear Factor Erythroid 2-Related Factor 2).The importance of Keap1 / Nrf2 / antioxidant response element (ARE) system is determined by the fact that the state of NF-κB- and АР-1-associated pathways depends on its activity. Recent studies have demonstrated the property of quercetin to suppress ubiquitin-dependent proteolysis of complex of NF-κB and its inhibitory protein IκB. All this provides preconditions to eliminate the potentiality of NF-κB-dependent expression of the number of genes of pro-oxidant and pro-inflammatory proteins. However, co-effect produced by quercetin and EGCG on the oxidative nitrosative stress markers in the periodontal tissues is still unclear

ДИФФЕРЕНЦИАЛЬНАЯ ДИАГНОСТИКА ДИФТЕРИИ У ВЗРОСЛЫХ

A total of 1,824 human cases of diphtheria, treated at the Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital SP Botkin (St. Petersburg) during 1993, as well as 19 deaths in 1994. It is known that early diagnosis of infectious diseases, especially diphtheria, contributes to the favorable outcome of the disease. The diagnosis of diphtheria at the prehospital stage is always difficult. Presented in detail the differential diagnosis of the disease, clinically similar to diphtheria: Lacunal angina, angina Simanovsky, infectious mononucleosis, angina Ludwig’s angina Dugue, syphilis, non-infectious with clinical «masks» of diphtheria and other. Diphtheria epidemic of 1993–1994 in Russia and, in particular, in St. Petersburg, showed that the late admission of patients with diphtheria infection in hospitals, usually associated with irregular differential diagnosis of this dangerous disease.Обследовано 1824 человека, больных дифтерией, находившихся на лечении в Клинической инфекционной больнице им. С.П. Боткина (Санкт-Петербург) в течении 1993 г., а также 19 умерших в 1994 г. Известно, что ранняя диагностика инфекционных больных, особенно дифтерии, способствует благоприятному исходу болезни. Диагноз дифтерии на догоспитальном этапе всегда затруднителен. Подробно представлена дифференциальная диагностика с заболеваниями, клинически сходными с дифтерией: ангина лакунарная, ангина Симановского, инфекционный мононуклеоз, ангина Людвига, ангина Дюге, сифилис, неинфекционные с клиническими «масками» дифтерии и прочие. Эпидемия дифтерии 1993–1994 гг. в РФ и, в частности, в Санкт-Петербурге, показала, что поздняя госпитализация больных дифтерией в инфекционные стационары, как правило, связана с неправильной дифференциальной диагностикой этого опасного заболевания

Genetic variation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis circulating in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A persistent increase of tuberculosis cases has recently been noted in the Ukraine. The reported incidence of drug-resistant isolates of <it>M. tuberculosis </it>is growing steadily; however, data on the genetic variation of isolates of <it>M. tuberculosis </it>circulating in northern Ukraine and on the spectrum and frequency of occurrence of mutations determining resistance to the principal anti-tuberculosis drugs isoniazid and rifampicin have not yet been reported.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Isolates of <it>M. tuberculosis </it>from 98 tuberculosis patients living in Kharkiv Oblast (Ukraine) were analyzed using VNTR- and RFLP-IS6110-typing methods. Mutations associated with resistance to rifampicin and isoniazid were detected by RFLP-PCR methods, and also confirmed by sequencing.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We identified 75 different genetic profiles. Thirty four (34%) isolates belonged to the Beijing genotype and 23 (23%) isolates belonged to the LAM family. A cluster of isolates belonging to the LAM family had significant genetic heterogeneity, indicating that this family had an ancient distribution and circulation in this geographical region. Moreover, we found a significant percentage of the isolates (36%) belonged to as yet unidentified families of <it>M. tuberculosis </it>or had individual non-clustering genotypes. Mutations conferring rifampicin and isoniazid resistance were detected in 49% and 54% isolates, respectively. Mutations in codon 531 of the <it>rpoB </it>gene and codon 315 of the <it>katG </it>gene were predominant among drug-resistant isolates. An association was found for belonging to the LAM strain family and having multiple drug resistance (R = 0.27, p = 0.0059) and also for the presence of a mutation in codon 531 of the <it>rpoB </it>gene and belonging to the Beijing strain family (R = 0.2, p = 0.04).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Transmission of drug-resistant isolates seems to contribute to the spread of resistant TB in this oblast. The Beijing genotype and LAM genotype should be seen as a major cause of drug resistant TB in this region.</p

EXPERIMENTAL MEASLES VACCINES: A RESEARCH TOOL IN VACCINATION EVENTS

Abstract. The review article considers different variants of measles vaccine that may be classified into two groups, i.e., vaccines that do not contain viable measles virus, and attenuated measles vaccines which could be employed in unusual manner.The first group includes DNA-vaccines, recombinant vaccine strains encoding synthesis of measles hemagglutinin and fusion protein, as well as peptide vaccines containing molecular fragments of these proteins. The mentioned variants of vaccines were effective in animal experiments, but they have not been tested in humans. The second group includes live attenuated mucosal measles vaccins applied in combination with immunomodulator(s), as aerosol and intranasally. Efficiency of these vaccines was tested and confirmed by immunization of children and adults. Mucosal measles vaccine induces local production of IgA measles antibodies, along with induced synthesis of circulating IgM and IgG antibodies against measles. The latter experimental variant could be a live attenuated measles vaccine containing some immunity-modulating agent. Elaboration of these variant was based on the known data about transient immunosuppressive activity of measles vaccine. An appropriate experimental variant represents a mixture of attenuated measles vaccine and synthetic immunomodulating agent (MP-2 peptide) which protects T-lymphocytes from inhibitory effect of the measles virus. In present revue, some data are presented concerning the mechanisms of immunogenic activity and adverse effects of measles vaccines