Immunosupressive activity of opportunist pathogens of the infectious-inflammatory process in the urinary tract of men with calculous pyelonephritis

Objective - identification of pathogens of the infectious-inflammatory process of the urinary tract in men with calculous pyelonephritis, antilysozyme, anticomplementary, anti-immunoglobulin activity and inhibitory effect on the phagocytic activity of peripheral blood neutrophils.Material and methods. 34 strains of opportunistic taxa were isolated and identified by bacteriological method from 30 sick men aged 31 to 65 years (mean age 48.8 ± 4.27 years). These bacteria have antilysozyme, anti-complementary and anti-immunoglobulin activity, as well as the suppressive effect of supernatants of cultures of calculous pyelonephritis pathogens on the phagocytic activity of neutrophils in the peripheral blood of patients. The determination of the anti-complementary activity of bacteria was carried out using the principle, which includes testing the protective action of bacteria and their metabolic products against the growth of an indicator strain in the presence of a bactericidal substance (complement of blood serum). The antilysozyme activity of pathogens was investigated by a photometric method. Anti-immunoglobulin activity was studied by the method described in the work of I.S. Gaidash et al. Results. The majority of 27 (79.41%) isolated strains of Enterobacteriaceae (84%) and facultative anaerobic and aerobic gram-positive cocci (E. faecalis, S.saprophyticus) (66.67%) exhibit antilysozyme activity of varying degrees. The highest antilysozyme activity was found in the isolated strains of K. pneumoniae, 8.14% lower – in E. coli. Most (64.71%) of isolated strains of Enterobacteriaceae (68%) and gram-positive cocci (55.56%) from the urinary tract of men with calculous pyelonephritis exhibit anti-complementary activity. All isolated and identified taxa exhibit inhibitory activity against immunoglobulins of the main classes: Ig M, Ig G, and Ig A. K.pneumoniae inhibits immunoglobulins of all major classes, the concentration of Ig M decreases under the influence of this taxon by 22.36%, Ig G - by 26.88% and Ig A - by 19.61%.Conclusions. Opportunistic pathogens (E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. mirabilis, E. cloaceae, S. marcescens, E. faecalis, S. saprophyticus) of the infectious-inflammatory process of the urinary tract in men with calculous pyelonephritis exhibit different levels of antilysozyme, anti-complementary activity; reduce the function of immunoglobulins Ig G (by 21.60%), Ig A (by 21.49%) and Ig M (by 14.30%), inhibit the phagocytic activity of neutrophilsby 15.74%, their capturing ability- by 22.59%.

Development of Virtual Laboratory Simulation: e-SCILAB on Waves for Grade 7 Science

Virtual Laboratory Simulation (VLS) enhances student understanding, retention of concepts, and promotes active learning through direct visualization and manipulation of computer animations. This study aimed to develop a VLS with complementary manual for Grade 7 physics that can be utilized by the teachers to address the needs of the students in the new normal learning. The developed VLS is composed of a Teacher’s Instructional Manual and Student’s Learning Manual. The study used Research and Development approach with the ADD (Analysis, Design, and Development) model as the instructional method. These allows the researchers to analyze the need of VLS, identify the design of VLS, and develop the VLS. The VLS was evaluated based on the content quality with a mean of 4.68, technical quality with 4.65, and instructional quality with 4.57. The results for the complementary activity manual in terms of the content quality is a mean of 4.62, the technical quality with 4.54, and the instructional quality with 4.55. The result showed that the developed VLS together with the complementary activity manual satisfied the quality components and attained the intended standards. It is recommended that evaluation of the effectiveness of VLS through pilot tests in public and private schools.

Is There a Benefit of Adding Atrazine to HPPD-Inhibiting Herbicides for Control of Multiple-Herbicide-Resistant, Including Group 5-Resistant, Waterhemp in Corn?

The evolution of multiple-herbicide-resistant (MHR) waterhemp (resistant to Groups 2, 5, 9, and 14) in Ontario, Canada is challenging for growers. The complementary activity of the co-application of hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)-inhibiting herbicides with atrazine has been well documented. The objective of this research was to determine if the addition of atrazine to 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)-inhibiting herbicides applied postemergence improves their consistency of MHR waterhemp (including Group 5 resistance) in corn. Five field trials were conducted over a two-year period (2018, 2019) in Ontario, Canada. Five HPPD-inhibiting herbicides [isoxaflutole (105 g ha-1), mesotrione (100 g ha-1), topramezone (12.5 g ha-1), tembotrione (90 g ha-1), and tolpyralate (30 g ha-1)] were applied postemergence with and without atrazine to 10-cm-tall waterhemp. Corn injury (≤ 10%) was observed at specific sites where the application of tembotrione, isoxaflutole and isoxaflutole + atrazine resulted in characteristic white bleaching of corn foliage; however, yield was not affected. Averaged across field sites, the addition of atrazine to isoxaflutole, mesotrione, topramezone, or tembotrione improved MHR waterhemp control 15%, 11%, 7%, and 7%, respectively at 4 weeks after application (WAA). Averaged across herbicide treatments and sites, the addition of atrazine reduced the standard error of MHR waterhemp control by 13% to 100%. This study concludes that the co-application of atrazine with HPPD-inhibitors applied postemergence reduced the risk of herbicide failure and resulted in greater and more consistent control of MHR waterhemp.

Interaction of 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)- and atrazine alternative photosystem II (PS-II)- inhibitors for control of multiple-herbicide-resistant waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus) in corn

The complementary activity of 4-hydroxphenylpyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD)-inhibitors and atrazine is well documented, but the use of atrazine is restricted in some geographical areas including the province of Quebec in Canada necessitating the evaluation of atrazine alternatives and their interactions with HPPD inhibitors. The objectives of this study were to determine if mixing HPPD-inhibitors with atrazine alternative photosystem II (PS II)-inhibitors, such as metribuzin and linuron applied PRE, or bromoxynil and bentazon applied POST, results in similar control of multiple-herbicide-resistant (MHR) waterhemp [Amaranthus tuberculatus (Moq.) Sauer] in corn. Ten field trials, five with herbicides applied PRE and five with herbicides applied POST, were conducted in Ontario, Canada in fields infested with MHR A. tuberculatus. Isoxaflutole, applied PRE, controlled MHR A. tuberculatus 58% to 76%; control increased 17% to 34% with the addition of atrazine, metribuzin, or linuron at three of five sites across 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after application (WAA). The interaction between isoxaflutole and PS II-inhibitors, applied PRE, was additive for MHR A. tuberculatus control, and biomass and density reduction. Mesotrione, tolpyralate, and topramezone, applied POST, controlled MHR A. tuberculatus 54% to 59%, 61%, and 44% to 45%, respectively, at two of five sites across 4, 8, and 12 WAA. The addition of atrazine, bromoxynil, or bentazon to mesotrione improved MHR A. tuberculatus control 29%, 34%, and 22%, to tolpyralate improved control 2%, 20%, and 10%, and to topramezone improved control 3%, 14%, and 8%, respectively. Interactions between HPPD- and PS II-inhibitors were mostly additive; however, synergistic responses were observed with mesotrione + bromoxynil or bentazon, and tolpyralate + bromoxynil. Mixing atrazine alternatives, metribuzin or linuron with isoxaflutole, applied PRE, and bromoxynil or bentazon with mesotrione or tolpyralate, applied POST, resulted in similar or better control of MHR A. tuberculatus in corn (Zea mays L.).

Activity of indicators of the humoral immunity unit of calves for the action of pyridoxine hydrochloride

The article presents the data of the effect of different doses of pyridoxine hydrochloride on the activity of humoral immunity in the blood serum of calves of the dairy growing period. The lowest activity of the indicators of humoral immunity was found in the serum of calves for the first day of life in all research groups. Exogenous administration of pyridoxine hydrochloride to colostrum and milk led to changes in the studied parameters. It was found that the bactericidal activity of serum increases on the 21st day of calf life and slightly decreases on the 90th day. The addition of pyridoxine hydrochloride at different doses to the milk leads to a probable increase in bactericidal activity of the serum only at doses of 4.0 mg/kg body weight at 60 and 90 days (P<0.05) and 5.0 mg/kg body weight from 21 90 days (P<0.05). Serum lysozyme activity increases during ontogeny and under the action of exogenous pyridoxine hydrochloride. A significant difference between the lysozyme activity indices of the control and experimental groups was established in calves of II, III, IV and V groups on the 60th and 90th day (P<0.05, P<0.01). Complementary activity of serum increases during ontogenesis, and additional introduction of pyridoxine hydrochloride has led to its decrease. A significant decrease in the complementary activity of serum was detected in calves at doses of 4 mg/kg body weight on the 90th day (P<0.05) and 5 mg/kg body weight from 21st to 90th day (P<0.05, P<0.01).

Cultural Tourism as a Driver of Rural Development. Case Study: Southern Moravia

The main aim of the study was to find out whether cultural tourism could be a driver of rural development in the selected area and in general. In case yes, to what extent and under what conditions. Three districts in the South-Moravian Region, Znojmo, Břeclav, and Hodonín, situated in the rural borderland with Austria and Slovakia represented the study area. Both geographical and sociological methods were used to gather evidence for cultural tourism in that study. Firstly, attractiveness analysis of the area defined for cultural tourism took place. Next, factors influencing the potential for cultural tourism affecting rural development in South Moravia were evaluated. Finally, synergistic relations were discussed. In the territory, many forms of tourism intersect. Based on the results, it can be stated that cultural tourism can hardly be the main driver of rural development after the decline of agriculture because the region’s economy has branched out in several directions. However, it can be an important complementary activity that yields both economic and non-economic benefits.