RELIEF AND GEOLOGICAL STRUCTURE OF CARPATHIAN BIOSPHERE RESERVE

The relief and geological structure of Carpathian Biosphere Reserve represent the features of the geological and geomorphological structure of the four geomorphological regions of the Ukrainian Carpathians. The block mid-mountains of the Polonynsko-Chornohirsky Carpathians (Chornohora, Svydovets, and Uholsko-Shyrokoluzhansky massifs) and the folded mid-mountains of Marmarosy crystal massif (Marmarosy and Kuziy-Trybushansky massifs) are well protected within the reserve. The analysis of the morphostructure and morphosculpture of the reserve is carried out taking into account the longitudinal (NW–SE) and transverse divisions of the Ukrainian The analysis of the morphostructure and morphosculpture of the reserve is carried out taking into account the longitudinal (NW–SE) and transverse divisions of the Ukrainian Carpathians. The longitudinal division is associated with morphostructures of higher orders, such as second and third. The transverse division is associated with the fourth and fifth orders of morphostructures. In the analysis of morphosculpture of the reserve, the types characterized for all regions of Flysch and Crystal Carpathians are allocated. All mountain massifs and ridges could be characterized by an asymmetrical structure, such as steep northeastern slopes and acclivous southwestern slopes. The relic morphosculpture is represented by: 1) fragments of denudation surfaces of different ages such as Polonynska, Pidpolonynska, and riparian; 2) ancient glacial and extra glacial landforms; 3) areas of ancient longitudinal valleys. River valleys with a complex of different age terraces represent inherited morphosculpture. Modern morphodynamic processes are represented by height (tier) differentiation. The processes of sheet erosion, deflation, and rill erosion play an important role in the relief modeling for the tiers of strongly dissected mid-mountain relief. The lower tier of the terraced and non-terraced bottoms of the valleys are associated with the processes of leaching and erosion as well as a significant accumulation of erosion products and mudflows. Stabilized and active displacements are the most recorded among the gravitational processes and block motions. Key words: Carpathian Biosphere Reserve; Ukrainian Carpathians; relief; morphostructure; morphosculpture.

Efficient Detection of Longitudinal Bacteria Fission Using Transfer Learning in Deep Neural Networks

A very common way to classify bacteria is through microscopic images. Microscopic cell counting is a widely used technique to measure microbial growth. To date, fully automated methodologies are available for accurate and fast measurements; yet for bacteria dividing longitudinally, as in the case of Candidatus Thiosymbion oneisti, its cell count mainly remains manual. The identification of this type of cell division is important because it helps to detect undergoing cellular division from those which are not dividing once the sample is fixed. Our solution automates the classification of longitudinal division by using a machine learning method called residual network. Using transfer learning, we train a binary classification model in fewer epochs compared to the model trained without it. This potentially eliminates most of the manual labor of classifying the type of bacteria cell division. The approach is useful in automatically labeling a certain bacteria division after detecting and segmenting (extracting) individual bacteria images from microscopic images of colonies.

Stress-strain state of metal in deformation zone during production of steel section billets on the unit of combined continuous casting and deformation. Report 1

Volumetric problem of determining stress-strain state of metal in deformation zone during forming of three section billets from the slab by separating collars of grooved strikers on the unit of combined continuous casting and deformation was set and solved. The expediency of using such unit was justified for longitudinal division mation are given for St3sp steel. The solid-state finite elements used in calculation of stress-strain state of metal in deformation zone and dimensions of the grid are described. The results of calculation of stress-strain state of metal in deformation zone were obtained by solving the problem of elasticity by the finite element method in volumetric formulation. The results of calculation of displacements and stresses in deformation zone are given in form of graphs and tables by working surfaces in four cross sections and are presented for characteristic points. Values and regularities of distribution of axial displacements in width and length of deformation center were determined during introduction of strikers separating collars into continuously cast slab in production of three section steel billets on the unit of combined continuous casting and deformation.

Longitudinal cell division is associated with single mutations in the FtsZ-recruiting SsgB in Streptomyces

ABSTRACTIn most bacteria, cell division begins with the polymerization of the GTPase FtsZ at the mid-cell, which recruits the division machinery to initiate cell constriction. In the filamentous bacterium Streptomyces, cell division is positively controlled by SsgB, which recruits FtsZ to the future septum sites and promotes Z-ring formation. Here we show via site-saturated mutagenesis that various amino acid substitutions in the highly conserved SsgB protein result in the production of ectopically placed septa, that sever spores diagonally or along the long axis, perpendicular to the division plane. Ectopic septa were especially prominent when cells expressed SsgB variants with substitutions in residue E120. Biochemical analysis of SsgB variant E120G revealed that its interaction with - and polymerization of - FtsZ had been maintained. The crystal structure of S. coelicolor SsgB was resolved and the position of residue E120 suggests its requirement for maintaining the proper angle of helix α3, thus providing a likely explanation for the aberrant septa formed in SsgB E120 substitution mutants. Taken together, our work presents the first example of longitudinal division in a free living bacterium, which is explained entirely by changes in the FtsZ-recruiting protein SsgB.

Development of the embryo in some species of the genus Delphinium L.

In the 10 examined species of <i>Delphinium</i> all theoretically possible types of zygote division may be found - transverse, oblique and longitudinal. With these divisions is connected the peculiar characteristic mode of differentiation of the embryo body. Embryogenesis of two species, <i>D. tricolor</i> and <i>D. cariopetalum</i>, shows a number of regularities on the basis of which new types of embryo development in angiosperms may be distinguished. These types have been named Valerianad and Ranunculad. Probably all the <i>Delphinium</i> species in which a longitudinal division of the zygote occurs are more primitive as regards embryonomic features than species in which zygote division is transverse or oblique.

Review of Teiid Morphology with a Revised Taxonomy and Phylogeny of the Teiidae (Lepidosauria: Squamata)

Despite advances within particular groups, systematics of the Teiidae has long been unsatisfactory, because fewmorphological characters have been described for this family. Consequently, most species have been assigned to the large,polyphyletic, and poorly defined genera Ameiva and Cnemidophorus. We describe 137 morphological characters andscore them for most species of Neotropical Teiidae. Important, but previously undescribed, character suites include pupilshape; the frontal ridge; longitudinal division of the interparietal; the rostral groove; patterns of supraciliary fusion; thepreauricular skin fold; the “toothy” first supralabial; modified apical granules; the pectoral sulcus; expansion of scales atthe heel; tibiotarsal shields; scales between the digital lamellae along the postaxial edges of the toes; scale surfacemicrostructure of macrohoneycomb, macroridges, or lamellae; distribution patterns and morphology of lenticular scaleorgans; types of epidermal generation glands; and several hemipenial structures. We propose a new taxonomy of theTeiidae based on recovered evolutionary history and numerous morphological characters surveyed in this study. Werecognize three subfamilies: Callopistinae new subfamily, Teiinae Estes et al., and Tupinambinae Estes et al. To resolvepolyphyly of Ameiva and Cnemidophorus, we erect four new genera for various groups of Neotropical Teiidae: Ameivulanew genus, Aurivela new genus, Contomastix new genus, and Medopheos new genus. We resurrect Holcosus Cope fromthe synonymy of Ameiva and Salvator Duméril and Bibron from the synonymy of Tupinambis. On the basis of sharedderived characters, we propose new species groups of our redefined Ameiva and Cnemidophorus. We incorporate our newcharacters into a key to the genera and species groups of Teiidae. A phylogenetic hypothesis of Teiidae based onmorphological characters differs substantially from hypotheses based on mitochondrial DNA. The phylogeny based onmorphology is consistent with well-established biogeographic patterns of Neotropical vertebrates and explains extreme morphological divergence in such genera as Kentropyx and Aurivela.

Immunoprecipitation techniques and Elisa in the detection of anti-Fonsecaea pedrosoi antibodies in chromoblastomycosis

Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is a chronic subcutaneous infection caused by several dematiaceous fungi. The most commonly etiological agent found in Brazil is Fonsecaea pedrosoi, which appears as thick walled, brownish colored cells with transverse and longitudinal division in the lesions, called "muriform cells". This disease is found worldwide but countries like Madagascar and Brazil have highest incidence. Diagnosis is made by clinical, direct and histopathologic examination and culture of specimens. Serological tests have been used to identify specific antibodies against Fonsecaea pedrosoi antigens, as well as immunotechniques have been used for CBM serological identification and diagnosis. In the present study double immunodiffusion (DID), counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) and immunoenzymatic test (ELISA) have been used to evaluate humoral immune response in patients with CBM caused by F. pedrosoi. Metabolic antigen was used for immunoprecipitation tests (DID and CIE) while somatic antigen for ELISA. Our results demonstrated 53% sensitivity and 96% specificity for DID, while CIE presented 68% sensitivity and 90.5% specificity. ELISA demonstrated 78% sensibility and 83% specificity. Serological tests can be a useful tool to study different aspects of CBM, such as helping differential diagnosis, when culture of the pathogenic agent is impossible.