Comparative analysis of rape seed production in Russia and Kemerovsk region

The purpose of the research is to conduct a comparative analysis of rapeseed production in the territory of the Russian Federation and the Kemerovo region. During 2011-2019, on the territory of the Russian Federation (RF) and the Kemerovo region, a comparative analysis of the sown area, yield, gross harvest of spring rape was carried out. The research results showed that over the past 9 years, from 2011 to 2019, the sown area, both in the Russian Federation and in the Kemerovo Region, has doubled. At the same time, there is a strong variation in this indicator. The variation coefficient ranged from 43.3% to 54.1%. On the territory of the Russian Federation and in the Kemerovo region, an increase in the yield of spring rape is observed by 1.13 times and 1.04 times, respectively. It was revealed that an increase in the gross harvest of spring rape seeds occurs on the basis of an extensive development of production due to an increase in the sowing area and yield.

Differentiation and identification of winter bread wheat verieties according to a complex of baking quality indicators

Purpose. Reveal the features of the formation of a quali­ty indicator complex in winter bread wheat depending on the growing seasons, preceding crops and sowing dates, as well as differentiate and identify genotypes with high and stable levels of manifestation. Methods. Field, laboratory, statistical. Results. A different share of the influence of the year conditions, the preceding crop, the sowing date and their interactions on the quality indicators of some varie­ties was determined. A different reaction of varieties in terms of quality indicators, depending on the investigated factors was revealed. The variation was very low for test weight, water absorption ability of flour, crumb porosity. Strong variation was observed for flour strength after sunflower and soybean as preceding crops, alveograph configuration ratio after sunflower and soybean, index of elasticity dough after corn, valorimetric value after mustard, dough dilution degree after green manure, sunflower, corn and especially after mustard and soybeans. The varieties, which on average for 2016/17–2018/19 reliably exceeded the standard both in individual indicators and in general in terms of physical indicators of grain and flour quality and dough rheological properties. GYT biplot analysis identified the genotypes ‘MIP Vidznaka’ and ‘MIP Assol’ with a more optimal combination of increased yield and a complex of quality indicators in terms of different years, preceding crops and sowing dates. Some varieties, namely, ‘Estafeta myronivs’ka’, ‘Trudiv­nytsia myronivs’ka’, ‘MIP Valensiia’, ‘MIP Yuvileina’, ‘Balada myronivs’ka’, ‘Vezha myronivs’ka’ were inferior to them, but were significantly superior the others. Conclusions. The selected by quality indicators varieties as genetic sources can be used in breeding process. A more stable level of yield and quality indicators at different sowing dates after different preceding crops should be expected for growing varieties ‘MIP Vidznaka’, ‘MIP Assol’, as well as ‘Estafeta myronivs’ka’, ‘Trudivnytsia myronivs’ka’, ‘MIP Valensiia’, ‘MIP Yuvileina’, ‘Balada myronivs’ka’, ‘Vezha myronivs’ka’. The peculiarities obtained in the research should be taken into account when evaluating and differentiating genotypes in breeding process, as well as developing basic elements of technology for growing the varieties of winter bread wheat.

The European Stag Beetle (Lucanus cervus) Monitoring Network: International Citizen Science Cooperation Reveals Regional Differences in Phenology and Temperature Response

To address the decline in biodiversity, international cooperation in monitoring of threatened species is needed. Citizen science can play a crucial role in achieving this challenging goal, but most citizen science projects have been established at national or regional scales. Here we report on the establishment and initial findings of the European Stag Beetle Monitoring Network (ESBMN), an international network of stag beetle (Lucanus cervus) monitoring schemes using the same protocol. The network, started in 2016, currently includes 14 countries (see results) but with a strong variation in output regarding the number of transects (148 successful transects in total) and transect walks (1735). We found differences across European regions in the number of stag beetles recorded, related to phenology and temperature, but not for time of transect start. Furthermore, the initial experiences of the ESBMN regarding international cooperation, citizen science approach, and drop-out of volunteers is discussed. An international standardised protocol that allows some local variation is essential for international collaboration and data management, and analysis is best performed at the international level, whereas recruiting, training, and maintaining volunteers is best organised locally. In conclusion, we appeal for more joint international citizen science-based monitoring initiatives assisting international red-listing and conservation actions.

Single Origin Coffee Aroma: From Optimized Flavor Protocols and Coffee Customization to Instrumental Volatile Characterization and Chemometrics

In this study, the aroma profile of 10 single origin Arabica coffees originating from eight different growing locations, from Central America to Indonesia, was analyzed using Headspace SPME-GC-MS as the analytical method. Their roasting was performed under temperature–time conditions, customized for each sample to reach specific sensory brew characteristics in an attempt to underline the customization of roast profiles and implementation of separate roastings followed by subsequent blending as a means to tailor cup quality. A total of 138 volatile compounds were identified in all coffee samples, mainly furan (~24–41%) and pyrazine (~25–39%) derivatives, many of which are recognized as coffee key odorants, while the main formation mechanism was the Maillard reaction. Volatile compounds’ composition data were also chemometrically processed using the HCA Heatmap, PCA and HCA aiming to explore if they meet the expected aroma quality attributes and if they can be an indicator of coffee origin. The desired brew characteristics of the samples were satisfactorily captured from the volatile compounds formed, contributing to the aroma potential of each sample. Furthermore, the volatile compounds presented a strong variation with the applied roasting conditions, meaning lighter roasted samples were efficiently differentiated from darker roasted samples, while roasting degree exceeded the geographical origin of the coffee. The coffee samples were distinguished into two groups, with the first two PCs accounting for 73.66% of the total variation, attributed mainly to the presence of higher quantities of furans and pyrazines, as well as to other chemical classes (e.g., dihydrofuranone and phenol derivatives), while HCA confirmed the above results rendering roasting conditions as the underlying criterion for differentiation.

Who are the most active and influential politicians and parties on Twitter? The case of Germany

Political elites increasingly use Twitter as an instrument to spread their views. Yet, it is hard to come by up-to-date descriptive statistics that would tell us how active and influential politicians, as well as parties, are on Twitter. With the election looming (26th of September 2021) in Germany, the present study attempts to provide a descriptive, comparative and up-to-date overview of Twitter activity/influence across politicians and parties. It analyzes around 125,000 recent tweets, published by around 550 active politicians. Among other things, the study reveals that the share of Twitter users is lowest among members of the CDU/CSU, while there is strong variation in terms of activity (tweets) across and within parties, as well as across time. Regarding influence, well-known members of centrist parties dominate follower statistics, however, members of the populist left and right dominate in terms of retweets. Finally, AfD politicians get more retweets per tweet than members of other parties.

Magnetotransport of dirty-limit van Hove singularity quasiparticles

Tuning of electronic density-of-states singularities is a common route to unconventional metal physics. Conceptually, van Hove singularities are realized only in clean two-dimensional systems. Little attention has therefore been given to the disordered (dirty) limit. Here, we provide a magnetotransport study of the dirty metamagnetic system calcium-doped strontium ruthenate. Fermi liquid properties persist across the metamagnetic transition, but with an unusually strong variation of the Kadowaki-Woods ratio. This is revealed by a strong decoupling of inelastic electron scattering and electronic mass inferred from density-of-state probes. We discuss this Fermi liquid behavior in terms of a magnetic field tunable van Hove singularity in the presence of disorder. More generally, we show how dimensionality and disorder control the fate of transport properties across metamagnetic transitions.

Phenotypic plasticity in size of ant-domatia

Ant-plants produce hollow structures called domatia to host protecting ants. Although size variation in domatia is well documented between related species, intraspecific variation is little explored. The central African ant-plant Barteria dewevrei exibits strong variation in domatium size, giving the opportunity to explore the mechanism underlying variation in a mutualistic trait. We showed that domatium size in Barteria dewevrei varies between sites. We transplanted individual plants between two sites in Gabon where plants have different domatium sizes. Domatium size of transplanted plants changed, revealing that variation in this mutualistic trait is driven by phenotypic plasticity. The two sites differed in their environmental conditions: highland open savanna on sandy soil vs lowland closed tropical rain forest on sandy-loam soil. However, as stomatal density and δ13C of leaves did not differ between sites or between branches produced before and after transplantation, we have no cue on the role of abiotic stress (such as light intensity and water availability) in domatium size variation. As the obligate Tetraponera ant symbionts are too large to fit in the small domatia, variation of the mutualistic trait in response to environmental change through phenotypic plasticity may impact this specialized mutualism.

Cardiogenic shock and radial access in patients with an acute ST elevation myocardial infarction

Background Cardiogenic shock (CS) in patients (pts) with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is the strongest predictor of hospital mortality. Radial in contrast to femoral access in STEMI pts might be associated with a lower mortality. However, little is known on radial access in CS pts. Methods We retrospectively analysed all STEMI pts between 2009 and 2015 who sufferend from CS and who were included into the ALKK PCI registry. Pts treated via a radial access were compared to those treated via a femoral access. Results Between 2009 and 2015 23796 STEMI pts were included in the registry. 1763 (7.4%) of pts were in CS. The proportion of radial access was 6.6%: in 2009 4.0% and in 2015 19.6%, p for trend <0.0001 with a strong variation between the participating centres (0% to 37%). Conclusions Radial access was only used in 6.6% of STEMI pts presenting in CS. However, a significant increase in the use of radial access was observed over time (2009: 4%, 2015 19.6%, p<0.001), with a great variance in its use between the participating hospitals. Despite similar pt characteristics the difference in hospital mortality according to access site has to be interpretated with caution. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Sex-specific aspects of epidemiology, molecular genetics and outcome: primary brain tumours

Recent years have seen a great interest in sex-specific aspects of many diseases, including cancer, in part because of the assumption that females have often not been adequately represented in early drug development and determination of safety, tolerability and efficacy in clinical trials. Brain tumours represent a highly heterogeneous group of neoplastic diseases with strong variation of incidence by age, but partly also by sex. Most gliomas are more common in men whereas meningiomas, the most common primary intracranial tumours, are more common in females. Potential sex-specific genetic risk factors and specific sex biology have been reported in a tumour-specific manner. Several small studies have indicated differences in tolerability and safety of, as well as benefit from, treatment by sex, but no conclusive data have been generated. Exploring sex-specific aspects of neuro-oncology should be studied more systematically and in more depth in order to uncover the biological reasons for known sex differences in this disease.