Morphological content and recyclability of separate collected packages: a case study for Kaunas, Lithuania**

Packaging materials can arise from a wide range of sources and are commonly used for food, medicine, household appliances, and items to enclose or protect products during distribution, storage, sale, delivery, and use. The choice of material (paper, plastic, glass, wood, metal, multi-layer or other packaging) to be used depends on the type and properties of product, the purpose of packaging, and the price. The aim of the investigation is to analyse the morphological composition of packaging waste collected separately in Kaunas (Lithuanian) private households and to evaluate its recycling possibilities. The mixture of paper, plastic, and metal packaging waste was analyzed in the winter and spring (one time per month) in the waste management company JSC "Kauno švara".

The influence of the pre-slaughter weight of steers on their beef traits

Beef productivity of animals such indicators as breed, age of the animal at slaughter, pre-slaughter weight, and after slaughter – yield of carcass, slaughter weight and slaughter yield, morphological composition and the nature of fat deposition are characterized by. The purpose of the research was to study the influence of the pre-slaughter weight of steers of Aubrac breed on their beef traits. In order to carry out the research, three groups of animals have been formed per 15 animals in each. The 1st group included animals whose pre-slaughter weight was in the range of 425–440 kg, the 2nd group – 455–460 kg and the 3rd – 475–500 kg. The conditions of feeding and housing the animals were the same. The animals were housed in arched-type barns with free access to exercising areas. The results of the investigation of the beef productivity and quality of the Musculus longissimus in steers of Aubrac breed depending on the pre-slaughter live weight have been presented in the article. It has been found that animals with the pre-slaughter weight of more than 455 kg were characterized by higher beef traits. Steers with the pre-slaughter weight from 475 to 500 kg were characterized by higher slaughter and beef traits, in the samples of the Musculus longissimus they had a higher content of fat and amino acids. Samples of the Musculus longissimus of steers at slaughter of 455–460 kg were characterized by the higher caloric content, protein-quality indicator. It has been proposed according to the results of the research that the optimal slaughter for steers of Aubrac breed with the pre-slaughter weight is more than 455 kg.

Characterization of size and morphological composition of ablated nanoparticles of cerium dioxide after ultrasonic dispersion and centrifugation in aqueous solution

The paper investigates the size and morphological composition of ablated cerium dioxide nanoparticles after ultrasonic dispersion at centrifugation speeds from 800 to 13400 rpm. A nanodispersed solution of cerium dioxide was deposited onto silicon substrates by the drop method. To characterize the size and morphological composition of cerium dioxide nanoparticles, methods of scanning electron and atomic microscopy were used, and X-ray phase analysis was performed. It was found that ablated cerium dioxide particles in an aqueous solution agglomerated and without centrifugation their average size was 162 nm, after centrifugation their average size varied from 86 nm to 142.5 nm. X-ray phase analysis showed that with an increase in the centrifuge speed, the size of the coherent scattering region decreases, which affects the effectiveness of antioxidant properties, for example, in the Fenton reaction.

INFLUENCE OF DRUGS "IMUNOFAN" AND "FOSPRENIL" ON MORPHOLOGICAL COMPOSITION OF BLOOD OF CALVES

The aim of the work was to study the effect of immunomodulators "Imunofan" and "Fosprenil" on the intensity of nitric oxide (II) formation and the morphological composition of blood in calves. Increased levels of stable nitric oxide (II) metabolites in the blood plasma of calves after the use of immunomodulators indicates the participation of NO in nonspecific immunity reactions. Also the established relationship between the level of stable nitric oxide (II) metabolites and the number of stab neutrophils proves that NO is one of the regulators of neutrophil activity.

Influence of integrated crop-livestock-forest on morphological composition and nutritional value of Marandu palisadegrass under continuous grazing

This study characterizes the changes in leaf mass, morphological composition and nutritional value of leaf blades of palisadegrass (Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu) under continuous grazing in the first year of implementation of pasture and after second year of the eucalyptus planting in an Integrated Crop-Livestock System and Integrated Crop-Livestock-Forest, which were tested in the four seasons. The experimental design was in random blocks, with three treatments: Crop-Livestock System (ICL) and Integrated Crop-Livestock-Forest with two eucalyptus tree densities (ICLF-1L, 196 eucalyptus trees ha-1 and ICLF-3L, 448 eucalyptus trees ha-1) and four replicates. Sixty castrated Nellore cattle with initial weight of 235.43 ± 25.46 kg and mean age of 16 ± 2.81 months were used during the growing phase under continuous grazing. The agronomic variables were: total dry mass of forage, leaves, stem and dead material; leaf: stem and live: senescent material ratios; and accumulation rate. The leaf: stem and live: senescent material relation did not obtain any difference between the evaluated systems. Dry matter, crude protein, fiber fractions and digestibility of leaf blades were evaluated. Dry mass of the forage (6775 kg ha-1), stem (2175 kg ha-1), senescent material (3175 kg ha-1) and dry matter content (28.6%) were greater in the ICL, whereas crude protein (11.3%) was greater in the ICLFs. On the other hand, accumulation rate and dry mass of leaf blades did not change between systems. Thus, until the first year of grazing, tree systems have advantages, because the forage production (accumulation rate) and leaf mass are similar to those of plants in full sun, besides showing higher nutritional value.

Productivity of laying hens and morphological parameters of eggs under the influence of astaxanthin and lycopene

The introduction of feed for poultry carotenoids that are not transformed in the body, including lycopene and astaxanthin, causes an attractive commercial appearance of chicken egg yolks. The production of high-quality and safe table eggs involves limiting the use of synthetic yolk dyes and switching to natural dyes, including tomato and seaweed products. The aim of this study was to determine the egg productivity of poultry, morphological composition of eggs, as well as feed and water intake with the addition of oil extracts of lycopene (20, 40 and 60 mg/kg or feed) or astaxanthin (10, 20 and 30 mg/kg of feed) to the diet. laying hens. The experiment was performed on 45 chickens of the High Line W36 cross at the age of 24 weeks. Each additive was fed to laying hens for 30 days in increasing concentrations. The use of lycopene or astaxanthin in different doses to laying hens did not have a negative impact on the clinical condition of the bird and behavior, did not cause death of birds of the experimental groups throughout the experiment. The condition of feathers and visible mucous membranes in chickens during the use of experimental diets was characteristic of clinically healthy birds. It was found that the addition of lycopene at doses of 20, 40 and 60 mg/kg and astaxanthin at doses of 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg of compound feed for 30 days did not significantly affect feed consumption and egg productivity. Increasing the content of astaxanthin to 20 and 30 mg/kg of compound feed, as well as lycopene to 60 mg/kg of compound feed resulted in a slight decrease in water consumption by laying hens. Feeding laying hens supplements of astaxanthin oil extract at doses of 10, 20 and 30 mg/kg or lycopene at doses of 20, 40 and 60 mg/kg of compound feed for 90 days did not significantly affect the weight of eggs, as well as the weight of protein, yolk and shell. Additions of lycopene and astaxanthin oil extracts to the diet of laying hens may be promising for use in correcting the color of egg yolks.

Objectivation of the Ecological and Economic Losses from Solid Domestic Waste at the Heating Enterprises

The aim of this research is to study theoretical and practical aspects of the ecological and economic losses from the use of solid domestic waste (SDW) as energy resources in the heat power industry of Ukraine. The methodical approaches to evaluating the ecological and economic losses caused by solid domestic waste (SDW) comprise: the developed algorithm, which evaluates the ecological and economic losses in the SDW use as fuel and energy resources in comparison with basic and project variant; the investigated morphological composition of SDW in the Ukrainian regions, on the basis of which there is proposed a matrix for further calculations of the ecological and economic loss from atmospheric pollution as a result of the energy-intensive SDW combustion at the power plants by the Ukrainian regions. The efficiency of using SDW as secondary energy resources, which essentially depends on the conventional energy resources combustion, is proved. According to the chemical and morphological composition of SDW, the average amount of harmful substances by their element constituents of SDW is determined. The economic loss from the combusting 1 ton of SDW as energy resources is estimated. Reasonability of using SDW as energy resources, based on the optimal ratio between conventional resources and energy-intensive SDW through minimizing total production costs and possible ecological and economic loss, is grounded. It is proved that while estimating the ecological and economic losses, it is necessary to consider the SDW morphological composition and regional specific features regarding the location of heat and power enterprises and organized storage landfills. It is grounded that the obtained estimates of the ecological and economic losses may be used for identifying the ecological and economic evaluation of the SDW efficiency use in the heat power industry at the regional level.

The morphological composition of the blood and the peculiarities of metabolism in gonadectomized cockerels of the Adler silvery breed

The article reflects the results of a study of the morphological composition of blood, indicators of metabolism and the content of hormones in the blood plasma of gonadectomized cockerels of the Adler silvery breed. In the experiment, 40 males were used at the age of 6 weeks, of which two groups were formed, a control and an experimental, 20 heads each. It was found that during the preparatory (leveling) period, the clinical state, morphological composition of blood and metabolic parameters in the experimental group of males did not differ from each other and were within the limits of their physiological values. There were also no differences in blood glucose concentration, protein content, triglycerol, cholesterol, uric acid, as well as the activity of alkaline phosphatase, alanine and aspartate aminotransferase in the blood plasma of cockerels in the experimental and control groups during the preparatory period. Gonadectomy of males by surgical intervention at the age of six weeks did not significantly affect the morphology of their blood on the third day, with the exception of ESR, the value of which in birds of the experimental group was 1.9 times higher than in the control. In gonadectomized males, the number of platelets in the blood decreased by 30.7% compared to the control, which indicates a decrease in platelet activity and is probably associated with their participation in blood coagulation processes in the body after gonadectomy. Other indicators of the morphological composition of blood, namely, the number of erythrocytes, leukocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils and neutrophils in gonadectomized males did not change compared with the control. It was found that the concentration of glucose in the blood, as well as total protein and uric acid in the blood plasma of males who underwent gonadectomy on the third day of the research period were at the level of the values of the control group birds and corresponded to the physiological values of these parameters in clinically healthy birds. On the 125th day of the main period in gonadectomized males, the level of glucose and protein, as well as indicators of lipid metabolism, namely, the concentration of triglycerol and cholesterol in the blood plasma did not change, while the content of uric acid increased by 23.7% compared with the control. It was found that the content of cortisol in the blood plasma of gonadectomized males was 3.2 times lower, and testosterone 10.2 times lower than in the control. So, gonadectomy of cockerels does not affect the morphological composition of the blood, indicators of the metabolic status of the bird, but it helps to reduce the content of cortisol and testosterone in the blood plasma. Key words: roosters, gonadectomy, blood morphology, metabolic parameters, enzyme activity, cortisol, testosterone.