Investment climate of the EU countries and Ukraine in the context of realization of “green” economy

In the current context of the development of the world economy, one of the main priorities of the country’s economic development is the intensification of investment processes, because they have a positive impact on economic growth and efficient functioning of a country’s economy. The modern investment market is full of competition among countries in order to attract investment. The main indicator influencing the amount of funds raised in the country’s economy is the country’s investment climate. Also, in modern conditions the concept of “green” economy is actively promoted. Therefore, today the assessment of the investment climate of the EU countries and Ukraine in the implementation of the “green” economy is a very important and relevant issue. Finding ways to improve the investment climate in Ukraine is another topical issue. The main objective of this study is to assess the investment climate of the EU countries and Ukraine under conditions of realization of the “green” economy. The research uses general scientific methods of cognition: induction and deduction, analysis and synthesis, methods of qualitative and quantitative economic and statistical analysis, graphic method. Among the methods of economic-mathematical modelling, correlation analysis, trend analysis and correlationregression analysis were used. It was established that the study of the investment climate of the EU countries and Ukraine in the context of the implementation of the “green” economy is based on objective international ratings that have a transparent calculation methodology. These international ratings are constantly updated and cover most countries of the world. So, the proposed method makes it possible to conduct an analysis of the investment climate and the “environmental friendliness” of the country’s economy according to world indices, to determine which countries are leaders and which are outsiders according to the selected indices and indicators, to study the place of Ukraine according to these indicators, and to conduct a trend analysis, to model the degree of close relationship between indices and factors of the investment climate on the basis of correlation analysis, as well as to develop recommendations for improving the investment climate of the EU countries and Ukraine in the conditions of implementation of the “green” econom

New Records on Acanthocephalans from California Sea Lions Zalophus californianus (Pinnipedia, Otariidae) from California, USA

To increase the currently limited knowledge addressing acanthocephalans parasitizing California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), 33 animals including pups, juvenile and adult males and females from the Marine Mammal Center (TMMC), Sausalito, California, USA were examined. Totally, 2,268 specimens of acanthocephalans representing five species from the genera Andracantha (A. phalacrocoracis and Andracantha sp.), Corynosoma (C. strumosum and C. obtuscens) and Profilicollis (P. altmani) were found. Profilicollis altmani and A. phalacrocoracis, predominantly parasitize fish-eating birds; they were registered in Z. californianus for the first time. Prevalence and intensity of California sea lion infection and transmission of acanthocephalans in these hosts of different age groups were analyzed and discussed. We provide brief morphological descriptions of the five species of acanthocephalan found in California sea lions

Trematodes from Antarctic teleost fishes off Argentine Islands, West Antarctica: molecular and morphological data

In 2014–2015 and 2019–2021, teleost fishes off Galindez Island (Antarctic Peninsula) were examined for trematodes. Combined morphological and molecular analyses revealed the presence of eight trematode species of four families (Hemiuridae, Lecithasteridae, Opecoelidae, Lepidapedidae) from five fish species. Only adult trematodes were found and all of them are Antarctic endemics with their congeners occurring on other continents. The hemiuroids, Elytrophalloides oatesi (Leiper & Atkinson, 1914), Genolinea bowersi (Leiper & Atkinson, 1914), and Lecithaster macrocotyle Szidat & Graefe, 1967 belong to the most common Antarctic species and together with Lepidapedon garrardi (Leiper & Atkinson, 1914) and Neolebouria georgiensis Gibson, 1976 they were recorded as the least host-specific parasites. The originally sub-Antarctic Neolepidapedon macquariensis Zdzitowiecki, 1993 is a new record for the Antarctic Peninsula and Parachaenichthys charcoti (Vaillant), is a new host record. Neolebouria terranovaensis Zdzitowiecki, Pisano & Vacchi, 1993 is considered a synonym of N. georgiensis because of identical morphology and dimensions. The currently known phylogenetic relationships within the studied families are supported, including the polyphyly of Macvicaria Gibson & Bray, 1982 with the future need to accommodate its Antarctic species in a new genus. The validity of M. georgiana (Kovaleva & Gaevskaja, 1974) and M. magellanica Laskowski, Jezewski & Zdzitowiecki, 2013 needs to be confirmed by further analyses. Genetic sequence data are still scarce from Antarctica, and more studies applying integrative taxonomic approaches and large-scale parasitological examinations of benthic invertebrates are needed to match sequences of larval stages to those of well-characterised adults and to elucidate trematode life-cycles

Morphological and molecular evidence for synonymy of Corynosoma obtuscens Lincicome, 1943 with Corynosoma australe Johnston, 1937 (Acanthocephala: Polymorphidae)

Corynosoma obtuscens Lincicome, 1943 (Acanthocephala: Polymorphidae) is synonymised with Corynosoma australe Johnston, 1937 based on combined morphological and molecular evidence. Morphological comparison of C. obtuscens (24 males and 27 females) collected from a California sea lion Zalophus californianus (Lesson) in California, USA, with the type-specimens of C. obtuscens and C. australe, and with published data on C. australe collected from different hosts and regions showed no significant differences. The levels of genetic divergence in the cox1 sequences obtained from C. obtuscens from a California sea lion in the present study and C. australe from otariid seals from Argentina and penguins from Brazil ranged between 1.4–1.6% and was considered to represent intraspecific variability. Additionally, cox1 sequences were generated for Andracantha phalacrocoracis (Yamaguti, 1939), Corynosoma semerme (Forssell, 1904), C. strumosum (Rudolphi, 1802), C. validum Van Cleave, 1953 and C. villosum Van Cleave, 1953. Our results revealed inconsistency in the identification of material used as a source of the previously published sequence data for C. obtuscens and C. magdaleni Montreuil, 1958. © 2018, Springer Nature B.V

Metazoan parasites of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus): A new data and review

The population of California sea lion Zalophus californianus (CSL) has steadily increased during the last several decades. Despite extensive research addressing CSL biology and ecology performed during the last decades, there has been a minimal number of published papers documenting their parasite fauna. Our objective was to analyze the actual list of the metazoan parasites reported from CSLs and add new data on the age-related differences in the prevalence and biodiversity of the parasite community. There have been 33 species recorded but this study considers only 24 of them valid. Among them, 11 species are specific parasites of CSLs and 13 species are not specific. Additional species represent accidental infections or misidentifications. In total, 6653 helminths and 847 mites were collected and identified from 34 CSLs for this study. Six species of nematodes, Anisakis simplex sensu lato s. l. (prevalence 41%; intensity 7.6), Contracaecum ogmorhini s. l. (38%; 269.6), Pseudoterranova decipiens s. l. (29%; 33), P. azarazi (9%; 2.7), Acanthocheilonema odendhali (15%; 3.5) and Parafilaroides decorus were found. Two species of cestodes, Diphyllobothrium sp. (38%; 8.5) and Anophryocephalus sp. (15%; 14.6) represent novel undescribed species. Two species of trematodes, Apophallus zalophi (18%; 19.7) and Zalophotrema hepaticum (12%; 39.2), and five species of acanthocephalans, Corynosoma obtuscens (68%; 100.8), C. strumosum (53%; 4.6), Andracantha phalacrocoracis (3%; 1), Andracantha sp. (9%; 4.3) and Profilicollis altmani (6%; 8.5) were found. Mites Orthohalarchne attenuata (prevalence 85%) were found in the nasal cavity, while O. diminuata (21%) parasitized in the trachea and bronchi. The highest levels of infection with nematodes and trematodes were found in adult CSLs (3–16 years old), whereas the highest level of infection with acanthocephalans was found in young CSLs (pups and yearlings). Keywords: Marine mammals, Nematoda, Cestoda, Trematoda, Acanthocephala, Biodiversit

The First Record of Asymphylodora Progenetica (Trematoda, Monorchiidae) in Ukraine

The trematode Asymphylodora progenetica Serkova et Bychovskii, 1940 was found in freshwater mollusks Bithynia tentaculata (Linnaeus, 1758) collected from the Kalmius River (near the city of Donetsk) in Ukraine. This species was recorded for the first time in Ukraine. Previously unknown encysted metacercariae and all detected stages of development are described and figured.Трематода Asymphylodora progenetica Serkova et Bykhovskii, 1940, обнаруженная у моллюсков Bithynia tentaculata (Linnaeus, 1758), впервые зарегистрирована на территории Украины. Материал собран в р. Кальмиус (окр. г. Донецк). Выявлены и описаны ранее неизвестные для этого вида инцистированные метацеркарии. Приведены промеры, рисунки и морфологическая характеристика вида на всех выявленных стадиях

LARVAL STAGES OF PHYLLODISTOMUM SP. (DIGENEA, GORGODERIDAE) FROM THE DUCK MUSSELS ANODONTA ANATINA IN UKRAINE

Rhopalocercous cercariae were found in the gonads of duck mussels, Anodonta anatina (Linnaeus, 1758) collected from the Sluch River (Zhytomyr oblast, Ukraine). The morphological features observed led to conclusion that this species belonged to the genus Phyllodistomum Braun, 1899. Obtained results suggested that the second intermediate hosts in the life cycle of this trematode were absent. Free-swimming cercariae were observed encysting in water. This species is similar to Phyllodistomum pseudofolium Nybelin, 1926 by overall body proportions and ratio of suckers: lengths of oral to ventral sucker 1 : 1.1; widths of the same organs 1 : 1.2. To confirm the taxonomic position of the species found and establish a possible relationship between it and P. pseudofolium an experimental infection of fish Carassius carassius (Linnaeus, 1758) as potential definitive host was performed. The infection was not successful. Descriptions and figures of all detected larval stages of Phyllodistomum sp.are provided.Булавохвостые церкарии обнаружены в гонадах моллюсков Anodonta anatina (Linnaeus, 1758) из р. Случ (Житомирская обл., Украина). Изучение морфологических особенностей позволило сделать вывод, что этот вид принадлежит роду Phyllodistomum Braun, 1899. Полученные результаты показали, что второй промежуточный хозяин в жизненном цикле данного вида отсутствует. Инцистирование свободноплавающих церкарий происходило в воде. Данный вид наиболее близок к Phyllodistomum pseudofolium Nybelin, 1926 по общим пропорциям тела и соотношению присосок: длины ротовой к брюшной присоске 1 : 1,1; ширины тех же органов, 1 : 1,2. Для подтверждения таксономического положения обнаруженного вида и установления возможной связи между ним и P. pseudofolium проведен эксперимент по заражению рыбы Carassius carassius (Linnaeus, 1758) как потенциального окончательного хозяина. Экспериментальное заражение не было успешным. Приведено описание и рисунки всех обнаруженных личиночных стадий

Особенности диагностики туберкулеза на фоне COVID-19

2020 began with the most significant pandemic COVID-19 in the history of this century. The epidemiology indicators are growing every day. The spread of COVID-19 may affect an increase in the incidence of tuberculosis, despite a decrease in the incidence rate that is associated with objective difficulties in detecting tuberculosis against the background of COVID-19 and severe complications after the new coronavirus infection. Tuberculosis is one of the infectious diseases, and the problem of its spread continues to be relevant throughout the World. The effect of the SARS-CoV-2 virus can cause certain difficulties in the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis infection. The possibility of concomitant these infectious diseases can affect the clinical course of tuberculosis, an influence on mortality of the disease, but at the same time, there is a decrease in the number of cases that is not objective. The authors analyzed the currently published data on detecting tuberculosis in the conditions of the COVID-19 problem and presented difficulties in the diagnosis of COVID-19 and TB concomitant diseases with a description in the clinical case.2020 г. начался с самой значимой пандемии XXI в. – СOVID-19. Эпидемиологические показатели, характеризующие смертность и заболеваемость COVID-19, продолжают расти ежедневно. Распространение вируса SARS-CoV-2 и проводимые эпидемиологические мероприятия могут повлиять на увеличение заболеваемости туберкулезом, что связано с объективными трудностями в выявлении данной инфекции на фоне COVID-19 и развитием осложнений после перенесённого заболевания. Туберкулез является инфекционным заболеванием, проблема которого по-прежнему актуальна во всем мире. Возможность сочетания данных инфекционных заболеваний может приводить к повышению смертности от туберкулеза на фоне объективного снижения числа заболевших, что связано с трудностями в диагностике и лечении туберкулезной инфекции на фоне COVID-19. Авторами проведен анализ опубликованных в настоящее время данных по проблеме выявления туберкулеза в условиях COVID-19 и представлен клинический случай с описанием трудностей диагностики туберкулеза при сочетании данных инфекционных заболеваний