Potential Distribution of the Invasive Species Metcalfa pruinosa (Hemiptera, Flatidae) and Perspectives of its Classical Biocontrol in Ukraine

The study used GIS software and climate projections to assess the distribution potential of the citrus planthopper Metcalfa pruinosa (Say, 1830) in Ukraine, taking into account global climate change. The model showed that climatic conditions in Ukraine meet the requirements of the species in the European part of its range, considering various indicators such as the sum of active temperatures, mean annual temperature and precipitation. The whole territory of Ukraine could potentially be a range for M. pruinosa due to suitable climatic conditions and the presence of host plants, with Zakarpattia, Crimea and the forest and woodland and steppe zones of Ukraine being the most favourable. Current phytosanitary measures are not sufficient to prevent its spread and a pest management system is needed to reduce the damage. The parasitoid Neodryinus typhlocybae (Ashmead, 1893) (Hymenoptera, Dryinidae) from North America could serve as a classical biological control agent, and suitable areas in southern Ukraine have been identified using GIS modelling. To manage the risk effectively, it is recommended that M. pruinosa be added to the list of regulated, non-quarantined pests in Ukraine

Development of Real-Time Multiplex PCR Assay for the Detection and Differentiation of Burkholderia mallei and Burkholderia pseudomallei

Objective of the study was to develop a real-time multiplex PCR assay for the detection and differentiation of B. mallei and B. pseudomallei, characterized by high sensitivity and specificity. Materials and Methods. The primers and probes were designed to detect the species-specific sequence of the fliР gene of B. mallei and gp68 gene of B. pseudomallei, respectively. Species specificity was tested with a panel of 56 B. pseudomallei strains, 14 B. mallei strains and 34 strains of closely or distantly related species. To define the analytical sensitivity of the assay, the serially diluted bacterial suspension at concentrations of 109 –102 cells /ml was used. Conclusions. The multiplex PCR assay with two primer pairs and fluorescently-labeled probes, allowing for simultaneous detection and differentiation between B. mallei and B. pseudomallei was designed. Species-specific for glanders agent, B. mallei, fragment of fliP gene, which encodes protein of flagellin biosynthesis, and species-specific gene region of B. pseudomallei, encoding gp68 protein, were identified as DNA targets. Testing of Burkholderia and non-Burkholderia bacterial species revealed 100 % specificity of the amplification assay. The minimum detection limit of the designed multiplex PCR test-system was 1·103 cells/ml for B. mallei, and 1·104 cells/ml for B. pseudomallei

Finding the set of k-additive dominating measures viewed as a flow problem

n this paper we deal with the problem of obtaining the set of k-additive measures dominating a fuzzy measure. This problem extends the problem of deriving the set of probabilities dominating a fuzzy measure, an important problem appearing in Decision Making and Game Theory. The solution proposed in the paper follows the line developed by Chateauneuf and Jaffray for dominating probabilities and continued by Miranda et al. for dominating k-additive belief functions. Here, we address the general case transforming the problem into a similar one such that the involved set functions have non-negative Möbius transform; this simplifies the problem and allows a result similar to the one developed for belief functions. Although the set obtained is very large, we show that the conditions cannot be sharpened. On the other hand, we also show that it is possible to define a more restrictive subset, providing a more natural extension of the result for probabilities, such that it is possible to derive any k-additive dominating measure from it

ТРИТИЙ В МОЧЕ ЛЮДЕЙ В ЗОНЕ ВЛИЯНИЯ БЕЛОЯРСКОЙ АЭС

The goal of the research is to determine relationship between tritium concentration in the body fluid (urine) of people living in the area of influence of the Beloyarskaya NPP and tritium concentration in drinking water.Materials and methods. Studed population (men and women). Urine samples were collected in the clinical laboratory of a medical unit in Zarechny town. There were 50 individuals in the studied group. Patients were different on age and weight. Water samples were collected in an arbitrary way, through the all study period, from October to November in 2015 year. Tritium concentrations were determined with the ultra-low level liquid scintillation spectrometer Quantulus-1220 (USA). The facility developed by L.G. Bondareva was used for tritium extraction. The method allowes to separate the template, which significantly effects determination of tritium.Results. The urine samples from people living in the area of influence of the Beloyarskaya NPP in Zarechny town were analyzed in the study. There was positive relationship between tritium concentration in drinking water and tritium concentration in urine. Statistically significant correlation between analyzed parameters was found (correlation coefficient 0.98; significance level 0,007). Individual doses were estimated according to Harrison, Khursheed, Lambert. The Doses vary from 0,32 to 1,12 with an allowance for consumption of drinking water 100 l y–1 (according to the consumption standard for the analyzed region), which amounts 0,032–0,12 % from dose limit for population (1 mSv y–1). It was determined what drinking water is the main source of the radionuclide in human body in this region. The determined values of tritium concentration in drinking water are significantly lower than the intervention level for tritium of 7600 Bq l–1 ( Radiation Safety Standards-99/2009, Appendix 2a).Цель исследования. Выявить зависимости содержания трития в биологических жидкостях (моче) людей, проживающих в зоне действия Белоярской атомной станции, от концентрации трития в питьевой воде.Материалы и методы. Исследуемое население (мужчины и женщины). Образцы мочи были получены в клинической лаборатории медсанчасти г. Заречный. Количество испытуемых составляло 50 человек. Пациенты различались по возрасту и полу. Пробы воды отбирались произвольно, в течение всего времени проведения исследований, т.е. с января по ноябрь 2015 г. Режим отбора и определения содержания трития был произвольный, но не реже двух раз в месяц. Содержание трития в исследуемых пробах измеряли с использованием жидкостно-сцинтилляционного спектрометра низкофонового альфа-бета-радиометра Quantuluse-1220 (США). Для выделения трития использована установка, разработанная Л.Г. Бондаревой и позволяющая отделить матрицу, в значительной степени влияющую на определение содержания трития.Результаты. Исследована моча населения, проживающего в зоне влияния Белоярской АЭС, в городском поселении Заречный. Во всех случаях выявлена зависимость концентраций трития в моче от содержания трития в питьевой воде. Установлена высокодостоверная корреляционная связь между исследуемыми параметрами (коэффициент корреляции 0,98; уровень значимости 0,007). Определены, в соответствии с расчетами, приведенными в работе Harrison, Khursheed, Lambert, значения индивидуальных доз для населения. Значения дозы варьируются в интервале 0,32–1,2, при учете потребления 100 л/месяц питьевой воды (согласно нормативам потребления питьевой воды для исследуемого региона), что составляет 0,032–0,12% от предела дозы для населения (1 мЗв/год). Установлено, что радионуклид поступает в организм людей данного региона преимущественно из питьевой воды. Полученные значения значительно меньше уровня вмешательства для трития, приведенного в НРБ-99/2009, приложение 2а, значение которого составляет 7600 Бк/л

The Features of West Nile Fever Epidemiological Situation in the World and Russia in 2013 and Prognosis of Its Development in 2014

Epidemiological situation on West Nile Fever (WNF) in Europe in 2013 was characterized by a notable rise of morbidity rate primarily due to the outbreak of WNF in Serbia (302 cases registered). In the North America, in the United States and Canada, WNF manifestations in 2013 were characterized by the lower intensity compared to previous epidemic season. 192 cases were registered in 16 constituent entities of the Russian Federation in 2013. It was revealed, that genotype 2 West Nile Virus (WNV) circulated in the territory of the Volgograd and Saratov regions, the same as in Serbia, Greece and Italy, and genotype 1 WNV in the Astrakhan region. According to the data obtained from the Reference Center for monitoring over WNV pathogen, WNV markers were detected in the territory of 61 constituent entities of the Russian Federation throughout the period of observation in 1999-2013 which testified to the existence of potential risk of human exposure during epidemic season in most of the parts of country. According to Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring forecast, climatic conditions in Russia for the next 5-10 years will stick to global warming trend which will contribute to further spread of WNV onto the northern areas