Protein Adsorption and Conformational Changes

Protein adsorption onto surfaces of diverse materials of both natural and artificial origin is of utmost relevance in many areas of research and technology: medicine, pharmaceutical sciences, analytical sciences, biotechnology, nanotechnology, and cell biology, among others [...]

Attention to Anomalies

According to Avi Loeb, the observed anomalies associated with the object known as ‘Oumuamua serve as a credible reason for considering its artificial origin.

A NEW CORONAVIRUS INFECTION. TODAY'S VIEW OF THE PANDEMIC

Based on the literature review, the authors describe current situation of the new coronavirus infection COVID-19 spread, which is a common problem for the entire world community. The COVID-19 infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has rapidly spread to all countries and continents. All segments of the population are sensitive to it, regardless of gender, age, belonging to various social groups. This virus creates certain difficulties in detecting and treating the disease. It is associated with the risks of developing critical clinical conditions of infected people. There are several versions regarding the origin of the coronavirus. The first theory is the natural origin of the virus. The second theory is the artificial origin of the virus. Currently, the evidence for both the artificial origin of the coronavirus and its natural origin is indirect, so it is impossible to reject both hypotheses yet. Reducing the incidence of coronavirus infection can be achieved only through vaccination and compliance with appropriate safety measures.

Features of the specific composition of weeds on the territory of Vsevolozhsk (Leningrad region)

As a part of the ecological approach, weeds are considered as plants of secondary habitats of natural and artificial origin with disturbed natural vegetation cover. Such habitats are also available in the territory of settlements. Therefore,the study of the specific composition of weeds in the territory of settlements is an important area of scientific research. Thepurpose of this study is to identify the features of the specific composition of weeds depending on the type of habitat in thecity of Vsevolozhsk (Leningrad Region). Аs a result of the study, new data were obtained on the weeds distribution in different types of habitats within the city. For comparison, harvested clogged areas and lawns were selected, 59 and 66 species wereidentified on them, respectively. Species compositions of weeds of comparable habitat types have significant similarities in thetaxonomic structure and composition of species groups which dominate in occurrence (14 common species). The proportion of young (annual and biennial) and perennial species of weeds on the compared types of habitats varies slightly. Together,15 species from the compositions of the dominant species groups are dominant in the fields of the Leningrad Region, whichdemonstrates the relationship between the different components of the weed flora of the Leningrad Region. As a part of the ecological approach, weeds are considered as plants of secondary habitats of natural and artificial origin with disturbed natural vegetation cover. Such habitats are also available in the territory of settlements. Therefore,the study of the specific composition of weeds in the territory of settlements is an important area of scientific research. Thepurpose of this study is to identify the features of the specific composition of weeds depending on the type of habitat in thecity of Vsevolozhsk (Leningrad Region). Аs a result of the study, new data were obtained on the weeds distribution in different types of habitats within the city. For comparison, harvested clogged areas and lawns were selected, 59 and 66 species wereidentified on them, respectively. Species compositions of weeds of comparable habitat types have significant similarities in thetaxonomic structure and composition of species groups which dominate in occurrence (14 common species). The proportion of young (annual and biennial) and perennial species of weeds on the compared types of habitats varies slightly. Together,15 species from the compositions of the dominant species groups are dominant in the fields of the Leningrad Region, whichdemonstrates the relationship between the different components of the weed flora of the Leningrad Region.

Spatial distribution and interannual variability of catches for pink salmon of artificial origin in the waters of eastern coast of Sakhalin Island in modern times

Mixed herds of pink salmon including the fish of both artificial and natural origin are exploited by fishery in many areas of Sakhalin Island. To separate the fish of different origin, large-scale tagging of the juveniles otoliths is conducted at salmon hatcheries since 2008. The hatcheries contribution to pink salmon catches in certain areas of East Sakhalin (from the Langeri River to Cape Crillon) is assessed for 2011–2017 on the base of previously published and new data on occurrence of the fish with marked otoliths. The specimens were sampled from commercial catches of 5–13 fixed nets and from research catches in 5–9 rivers throughout entire spawning season. In total, 40,992 otoliths of pink salmon were collected. The otoliths were prepared for microstructure analysis using standard methods of processing. All marked otoliths had the tags of hatcheries located on the eastern coast of Sakhalin. The fish of artificial origin were caught in all examined sites between Cape Soymonov and Cape Crillon every year, but in some years their distribution was wider, up to the northern limit of the investigated area (Langeri River). The fish of artificial origin migrated to all rivers within this area. The total annual landing of the pink salmon marked at artificial hatcheries in the East Sakhalin waters was estimated as 300–10600 t, by years. The rest of the fish of artificial origin (0.4–2.3 . 106 ind.) entered to the rivers and mostly reached the spawning grounds. Long-term dynamics of landing was compared for the pink salmon of artificial and natural origin and their independence was concluded. Distribution of pink salmon originated from certain artificial hatcheries by sites of catch was rather constant that allowed to extrapolate the results for marked fish to all released pink salmon. The highest contribution of pink salmon of artificial origin was noted for catches in the Aniva Bay (23.9 %, on average), it was lower for catches at the southeastern coast of Sakhalin (13.2 %), and more lower for catches in the Patience Bay (7.6 %). Total number of pink adults of artificial origin caught on a particular stretch of coast did not depend directly on the number of pink juveniles released from a local hatchery, but was determined mainly by number of fish migrated there from other hatcheries. The landing of pink salmon originated from artificial hatcheries directly in the rivers where these hatcheries were located and at their mouths was < 10 % of the total catch of pink salmon of artificial origin. Schemes of quantitative distribution of pink salmon with marked otoliths in the waters of East Sakhalin are presented.

Recreational and health forests of Kremenets district, Ternopil region

The article presents the results of the research of recreational and health stands in Kremenets district of Ternopil region. The total area of these forests is 5868.2 hectares. Studies of the typological structure of the forests were carried out according to the methods of AlekseevPohrebniak Forest Typology of Forestry Ecological School. MapInfo Professional 12.0 and a vector map of Ukraine were used to construct a map-scheme of the research region. The typological variety of recreational and health-improving stands is represented from subors (В) to dubravas (D). Thus, dubravas are the largest share among them (72.9% of the total area covered with forest vegetation). The share of the area of sudubravas is 17.7% of the total area covered with forest vegetation; the rest is subors (9.4%). Forest managers have identified 14 types of forests on the territory of the research facility. Thus, there are only 2 types of forest in the subors, 8 types of forest in the sudubravas and 4 types of forests in the dubravas. The most common type of forest in Kremenets district is fresh hornbeam forest represented 71.6% of the total area covered with forest vegetation. The share of fresh hornbeam-oak-pine forest reaches 17.1%; a slightly smaller share is represented by fresh oak-pine subors — 9.4%. The forest species diversity is represented by 22 species of trees. Thus, among these tree species, the largest area is occupied by Common Oak (Quercus robur L.) — 40.6% of the total area covered with forest vegetation, and 29.1% — by Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Stands of artificial origin (78.0% of the total area covered with forest vegetation) are dominant; the rest of stands have natural origin (22.0%). The age structure of stands is unbalanced. Middle-aged stands dominate (57.9% of the total area covered with forest vegetation). The share of maturing, young and matured forests ranges from 9.0 to 14.9% of the total forest area. In terms of relative completeness, stands with a density of 0.71–0.8 dominate which is 37.7% of the total area covered with forest vegetation. The share of stands with completeness of 0.61–0.7 (29.9%) and 0.81–0.9 (14.5%) is slightly smaller. The bonitete classes are dominated by stands of the I bonitete class — 51.3% of the total area covered with forest vegetation. Thus, the share of II, Ia and III bonitete classes varies from 7.1 to 23.3% of the total forest area

MODELING IN THE INFORMATION AND MEASURING SYSTEM OF CUSTOMS CONTROL

The possibility of application in the practice of customs control of the anechoic regime created by means of non-standardized measuring instruments in the form of an anechoic chamber is analyzed. From the standpoint of the principle of reliability of confirmation of conformity, the calibration of a hole-like anechoic chamber was performed as a basis for additional tools in the information system of customs control of an anechoic chamber. The task is to create a data bank of images of typical objects for the introduction into customs practice of methods and means of radar detection and recognition. The functional scheme of the laboratory installation from the anechoic chamber is given and the results of experimental researches are presented. Comprehensive mathematical modeling in the information-measuring system of customs control was carried out, which allowed to choose a more reliable required mode of certification of the involved control-measuring equipment not only from the point of view of their information security due to detection of own accompanying parasitic electromagnetic radiation objects. Note that, for the purity of the experiment when creating a catalog of images of hidden objects of artificial origin, it is advisable to use the anechoic mode, created by special methods and techniques that implement them, for example, anechoic cameras. Thus, without a priori information about hidden objects of artificial origin, it is advisable to create banks of images of hidden objects, taking into account their interaction in the process of detection, measurement and recognition.

Natural Pigments of Bacterial Origin and Their Possible Biomedical Applications

Microorganisms are considered one of the most promising niches for prospecting, production, and application of bioactive compounds of biotechnological interest. Among them, bacteria offer certain distinctive advantages due to their short life cycle, their low sensitivity to seasonal and climatic changes, their easy scaling as well as their ability to produce pigments of various colors and shades. Natural pigments have attracted the attention of industry due to an increasing interest in the generation of new products harmless to humans and nature. This is because pigments of artificial origin used in industry can have various deleterious effects. On this basis, bacterial pigments promise to be an attractive niche of new biotechnological applications, from functional food production to the generation of new drugs and biomedical therapies. This review endeavors to establish the beneficial properties of several relevant pigments of bacterial origin and their relation to applications in the biomedical area.