Influence of the ways of spreading influenza epidemics across the territory Russia on the peculiarities of the epidemic process in various Federal districts

Aims. Show the ways of spreading influenza epidemics across the territory of Russia over a long period (1968–2019) and their influence on the incidence of influenza and ARVI in total and separately influenza A (H1N1), A (H3N2) and B in the Federal Districts in the period from 2009 to 2019.Materials and methods. The analysis of influenza epidemics was carried out according to the computer database of the National center for influenza.Results. A retrospective analysis of influenza epidemics shows the absence of inter-epidemic seasons after 1986, the increase in epidemics of mixed etiology and different routes of entry and spread of influenza viruses in Russia. During the circulation of the influenza A (H1N1)pdm09 virus, influenza epidemics were mainly of mixed etiology. The main causative agents of epidemics entered the territory of Russia more often from the west and in both ways, and from the west and from the east. In the next season, the main pathogen changed, and the path of the virus circulating in the previous season also changed. Influenza viruses of different types A and B usually diverged in time. Influenza viruses of the same type A, but of different subtypes, usually spread in different directions, with one of them having a limited distribution in the districts. The tendency of greater intensity of the epidemic process in the districts involved in the epidemic first is shown.Conclusions. 2009 to 2019 the incidence was higher in the Northwestern and Ural districts of the European part of Russia. One of the reasons for the high morbidity in these districts is the predominance of the western route of influenza viruses entering the territory of Russia and the high intensity of the epidemic process in the districts that were the first to be involved in the epidemic.

Straw Mulching with Minimum Tillage Is the Best Method Suitable for Straw Application under Mechanical Grain Harvesting

Mechanical grain harvesting is a crop production development direction. However, the residue management methods suitable for mechanical grain harvesting have been not established. In order to study the effect of residue management modes on maize yield formation and explore the best residue management methods for mechanical grain harvesting, four crop field surveys were carried out in Southwest China. Crops were mechanically harvested, and the residues were shredded and returned to the field using various straw application methods including straw deep burial with plowing (SDBP), straw shallow burial with rotary tillage (SSBRT), and straw mulching with minimum tillage (SMMT). The first-season rape residues were returned to the field, and the second-season maize yield under SDBP and SSBRT was significantly higher than that under SMMT. However, with the increase in rounds of residue application, compared with SDBP and SSBRT, SMMT continuously increased the soil moisture content in the 0–30 cm soil layer at the early stage of maize growth, increased the soil alkaline-hydrolyzed nitrogen content in the 0–20 cm and 40–60 cm layers, and reduced the soil compaction under 40 cm layer, which were more conducive to the root system growth. Maize yield with the SMMT increased by 5.4% compared with that of the previous season, while the yields with SDBP and SSBRT decreased by 16.7% and 12.7%, respectively, compared with those of the previous season. In conclusion, it is recommended to employ the SMMT method during crop mechanical harvesting, which is of great significance to improve soil quality and increase maize grain yield.

Site-Specific Variation in Bacterial Loads of Wooden Nest Boxes in the Pre-Breeding Period

Among environmental factors affecting life - history traits of birds breeding in nest boxes, an influence of microbial communities is relatively poorly understood. In this study, nest boxes used for breeding by great tit (Parus major) and blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) were sampled before the start of the breeding season to assess the bacterial loads of the nest box. Samples from the entrance hole and the interior of the nest box were taken at two different study sites: an urban parkland and a natural forest. Nest boxes were sampled to check if their bacterial loads differed between habitats. The second objective of this study was to check whether the occupancy of the nest boxes during the previous season would influence the bacterial load of the nest box. To verify this prediction, two categories of nest boxes were sampled at both study sites: nest boxes occupied by any of the two tit species in the previous season for breeding and nest boxes that had remained empty that year. The bacterial load of the nest box was significantly higher in the forest study area in both the occupied and unoccupied nest boxes. The nest boxes used for breeding in the previous season had significantly higher bacterial loads, but only in the forest area. Our results suggest that the bacterial load of the nest box can vary between habitats and may be positively related to the presence of the nests in the previous breeding season.

Effect of Repeated Plant Debris Reutilization as Organic Amendment on Greenhouse Soil Fertility

Greenhouse agriculture typically generates large amounts of waste with plant residue (agricultural biomass) being the most abundant. This residue is generated on a seasonal basis, which complicates the external management of the material. Recently, the European Union (EU) has been implementing a policy based on sustainability through the circular economy that seeks to minimize waste generation. The effect of reusing 3.5 kg·m−2 tomato plants from the previous season as the only fertilizer versus no fertilization and inorganic fertilization in 215-day tomato cycles after transplanting was studied in this trial. The study was carried out during three seasons in greenhouse agriculture in Almeria (Spain) with the repeated use of the solarization technique. The plant debris had similar production results during two of the three seasons and fruit quality parameters were similar to inorganic fertilization. In addition, some physicochemical variables improved and the biological depressive effect of solarization was mitigated. The results suggest that the reuse of the tomato plant debris as the only fertilizer could be an alternative to conventional fertilization under the conditions tested.

Association of Thoroughbred Racehorse Workloads and Rest Practices with Trainer Success

Understanding the relationship between the training practices of Thoroughbred racehorses and race performance is important to ensure advice given to trainers for injury prevention or management is practical and consistent. We assessed associations between intended volume and speed of gallop training (i.e., typical workloads for horses free of injury or other performance limiting conditions) and rest practices on official trainer career and previous season success rates (rate of wins and places, prizemoney per start). Sixty-six Australian Thoroughbred trainers were surveyed. Multivariable negative binomial regression models were employed for the outcomes career and previous season wins and places, and linear regression models for prizemoney per start. Intended training workload was not associated with prizemoney. Pre-trial total galloping distances (≥13.3 m/s) between 7500 m and 15,000 m were associated with a higher rate of career wins, and previous season wins and places per start (p < 0.05). Slow-speed (13.3–14.3 m/s) galloping distance to trial between 5000 m to 12,500 m was associated with higher rate of career placings per start, with reduced performance over 12,500 m (p = 0.003). Greater time between race starts was associated with a greater rate of previous season wins and prizemoney per start until three weeks between starts, with decline in performance thereafter (p < 0.05). Greater frequency of rest breaks was associated with greater prizemoney per start earnt in the previous season (p ≤ 0.01). These results suggest that modifications to training programs aimed at injury prevention, such as avoiding long galloping distances, should not adversely affect trainer success.

Effect of Tillage Systems on the Growth and Productivity of Eight Wheat Cultivars

A field experiment was carried out in one of the agricultural fields in Abu Ghraib region during the winter season of 2018-2019 in order to study the effect of plowing systems on the growth and productivity of eight cultivars of wheat crop in a silty clay loam, field land which was not sown in the previous season. Two tillage systems were used (no-tillage and tillage) to grow the wheat crop, moldboard plows and harrow (local made). The cultivars were (Wafia, Adena, Araz, Erratum, Pura, Spelta, Doru, and Cymto). Randomized complete blocks design (RCBD) was used in a split plot arrangement with three replications. Results revealed that Adena predominated in plant height (87.77 cm), spike length (10.68 cm) tillers (4.695 tiller plant-1), whereas Cymto was superior in plant dry weight (80.00 g), thousand grains weight (54.80 g), grains yield per unit (5.535 Kg). Genetic material of Azar, Adena and Cymto cultivars was the best, as it was clearly manifested in the phenotypic components of wheat.

Participation and Dropout of Hockey New South Wales Participants in 2017 and 2018: A Longitudinal Study

Background Sports have a focus on increasing participation, which contributes to increasing population levels of physical activity, social cohesion and longevity of the sport. The primary aim of this study was to examine reasons for drop-out of a popular team sport in Australia, Field Hockey and identify opportunities to increase participation. Methods This longitudinal study obtained routinely collected registered player data from Hockey New South Wales over two consecutive years, and survey data from registered players who dropped out. Logistic regression models identified demographic subgroups who were more likely to drop out of sport, and the reasons for dropping out. Results In 2018, 8,463 (31%) of hockey players did not return to play hockey after the previous season and 805 (10%) of these completed a survey. Specific groups who were more likely to stop playing included 5–6 years (OR: 2.1, 95% CIs 1.8, 2.6; reference: 12–17 years), females (OR: 1.1, 95% CIs 1.3, 1.2; reference: males), Indigenous (OR: 1.2, 95% CIs 1.1, 1.4; reference: non-indigenous), most disadvantaged (OR: 1.1, 95% CIs 1.0, 1.2; reference: least disadvantaged) or regional and remote (1.1, 95% CIs 1.0, 1.2; reference: major cities). Top reasons for drop out were; medical/age (17%), change in circumstances (16%) and high cost (13%), lack of time (13%) and lack of enjoyment (7%). Conclusions This research makes recommendations to sport on how to reduce dropout and specifically amongst 5–6 year olds, females, Indigenous, disadvantaged and regional or remote areas through enjoyable flexible, modifiable versions of the game.

A warmer growing season triggers earlier following spring phenology

Under global warming, advances in spring phenology due to the rising temperature have been widely reported. However, the mechanisms underlying the warming-induced earlier spring phenology remain poorly understood. Here, using multiple long-term and large-scale phenological datasets between 1951 and 2018, we show that warmer temperatures during the previous growing season between May and September led to earlier spring phenology in the Northern Hemisphere. We also found that warming-induced increases in maximum photosynthetic rate in the previous year advanced spring phenology. Furthermore, we found a significant decline in the advancing effect of warming during previous growing season on spring phenology from cold to warm periods over the past decades. Our results suggest that observed warming-induced earlier spring phenology may be driven by increased photosynthetic carbon assimilation in the previous season, while the slowdown in the advanced spring phenology is likely due to decreased carbon assimilation when warming exceeding the optimal temperatures for photosynthesis. Our study suggested the vital role of photosynthetic carbon assimilation during growing season in spring phenology under global warming.