Current State of Pineries in Zhytomyr Polissia Under the Influence of Environmental Factors

Recently, there has been a massive drying of conifers all over the world. In North America and Siberia, there are millions of hectares of shrunken plantings; in Europe, pines and firs have been drying up over the past two decades. Furthermore, considerable damage is caused to woody plants by phyto-pest and phyto-diseases, since mass reproduction of Ips typographus Linnaeus, Ips acuminatus Gyllenhal has been observed in Europe in recent years, Dendroctonus micans Kud – in North America, Polygraphus proximus Blandford – in East Asia. Nematodes also cause significant damage to pine forests. Among phyto-diseases, Heterobasidion annosum (Fr.) Bref. harmfully affects Pinus sylvestris L. The appearance of foci of shrunken trees in different parts of the globe indicates the global nature of processes associated with cyclical planetary processes and climate change. This study describes climate changes in the research region for 1961-2020. According to the analysis, it was found that for 2009-2020, considerable damage to pine plantations in Zhytomyr Polissia is caused among needle-eating insects – Panolis flammea Denis & Schiffermuller, Diprion pini L., Neodiprion sertifer Geoffroy; among other pests – Aradus cinnamomeus Panz, Dendrolimus pini L., Bupalus piniarius L. The greatest harmful effect that pineries have recently sustained has been caused by Diprion pini L. It was also found out that among phyto-diseases suffered by the pine forests, significant damage has been done by Heterobasidion annosum (Fr.) Bref., with the damaged area of 13.0-14.2 thousand hectares. Hydrothermal analysis was performed for 2009-2020. The influence of solar activity on the number of phyto-pest and diseases is analysed. This paper provides the estimate of the amount of CO2 emissions is given for 2009-2020. It was found that since 2014, the amount of carbon dioxide emissions has decreased from 1.5 million tonnes to 0.6 million tonnes. Correlation analysis of all indicators indicated a high mutual influence between the area of trees damaged by insect pest, root sponge, the Wolf number, and CO2 emissions to the environment. Mathematical dependences are obtained to predict the influence of the W number on damage to pineries by forest pests and diseases in the conditions of Zhytomyr Polissia

MEDIEVAL MERCHANTS ON THE ROUTE BETWEEN THE DALMATIAN (RAGUSAN) LITTORAL AND THE CITIES ON THE SOUTHERN HUNGARIAN BORDER: IMPACT OF TRADE ON MOVEMENT

The inhabitants of Dubrovnik played an important role in the development of long-distance trade not only in the Balkans, but in other places as well. The cities along the southern Hungarian border were also within the scope of Dubrovnik’s merchants, and thanks to their activities in this area, trade flourished between the Dubrovnik (Ragusan) littoral and the lower Sava and Danube regions. From the fourteenth century onwards, these merchants played a crucial role in the development of trade in these areas and most trade was conducted through them. They supplied the cities along the lower Sava and the Danube Rivers with a variety of goods, but most often dealt in cloth. This was particularly apparent during the Despotate, when Belgrade and Smederevo were developed cities full of wealthy nobles who dressed in fine fabrics imported from Dubrovnik. Dubrovnik’s merchants long dominated trade in these areas. However, the arrival of the Ottomans and the wars they waged in the lower Sava and Danube regions often caused considerable damage to their commercial endeavors.

Weather based forewarning of leaf folder attack on kharif rice and operational crop protection at Pattambi, Kerala

Kharif and Rabi rice grown extensively over Kerala is mainly infested by gall midge, leaf folder and green jassid in kharif season. Under favourable weather conditions leaf folder become the dreaded pest and cause considerable damage to the crop. The study revealed that maximum and minimum temperature, morning and afternoon relative humidity and weekly total of rainfall have profound effect on the development of leaf folder at their successive generations on kharif rice crop. Weather based multiple regression models for the peak infestation period for each of the generations of the pest were developed using data for the period 1987-99 and validated using observed meteorological as well as pest data for 2000-2001. Based on the findings of this study pest weather calendar for leaf folder of kharif rice was prepared. This calendar would be useful for early warning and operational rice crop protection from leaf folder attack.

Criminal and Administrative Measures to Protect Forests from Illegal Logging in Ukraine

The conducted research showed a lack of coordination between different norms of Ukrainian criminal and administrative laws that define the offences in the sphere of illegal logging, and determine the type and degree of liability for committing them. This lack of coordination is manifested, specifically, in the competition of certain norms, their ineffectiveness, and the absence of liability for certain publicly dangerous actions connected with illegal logging and damaging trees. The authors carried out a comparative analysis of criminal administrative offences in this sphere and formulated recommendation on improving criminal and administrative legislations that protect public relations in the sphere of protecting forests in Ukraine. They suggest the following: 1) amending Art. 65 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offences by establishing liability for selling illegally logged timber or shrubs; 2) amending Art. 246 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and Art. 65 the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offences by introducing administrative liability for buying illegally logged timber or shrubs, as well as criminal liability for buying illegally logged timber or shrubs if it inflicted considerable damage; 3) amending Art. 246 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine by introducing criminal liability for destroying or damaging forest plantations, seedlings, young plants in tree nurseries and plantations, as well as young trees of natural origin and self-seed plants in the areas designated for reforestation if that inflicted considerable damage on protected public relations. The presented suggestions on improving current criminal and administrative legislations of Ukraine are aimed at improving the effectiveness of counteracting illegal logging in the country.

The impact of Education on the Student, Family and Society as a result of Covid-19 in India

The Covid-19, which shocked the whole world and created a riot, is well known to the common man today. Covid-19 has already been declared as a pandemic under the Infectious Diseases Act-1897. It is noteworthy that the pandemic has not only directly caused harm to man, but also indirectly caused him to discontinuing his academic, economic and social activities with considerable damage. The virus, which first appeared in China in December 2019, appeared first in India on 30th January 2020, on a student returning to Kerala from Wuhan University, China. Since then, the Covid-19 pandemic has spread in India and killed 4,18,987 people till 22 July 2021. As a result of this horror, many of the country's historic buildings, religious sectors, entertainment mansions, railways, courts, administrative sectors and educational institutions were officially closed, causing considerable problems in Indian Society. Against that backdrop, the present article seeks to address how and why Covid-19 has impacted Students, Families, Educational Institutions and Society in relation to academic life.

Damage and spatiotemporal dynamics of the Ngaio flat mite, Brevipalpus ferraguti (Trombidiformes: Tenuipalpidae), with observations on the development of the female insemination system

We studied the Ngaio flat mite, Brevipalpus ferraguti Ochoa & Beard, on Myoporum laetum (Scrophulariaceae), a common introduced plant used as hedgerows in gardens and green areas of the Mediterranean, where the mite causes considerable damage. We first describe the damage, and then the patterns of mite seasonal abundance and spatial distribution. Finally, we address the development of the female insemination system at the population level. Damage occurs on both sides of the leaves, starting with a uniform stippling and bronzing and ending in the leaves drying out and extensive defoliation that coincides with summer. Mite population peaked between June and August, maintained moderate levels in autumn and winter and reached its lowest density in early spring. Active motile immatures and eggs were present throughout the year. Females and motile immature forms were more abundant on the abaxial (lower) leaf surface, but eggs were deposited on both surfaces indistinctly, suggesting that females actively move to the adaxial (upper) surface in summer to oviposit. All the developmental stages were aggregated on the leaves throughout the year regardless of their population density. Our study suggests that a binomial or presence-absence sampling, examining only the number of females on the abaxial surface, can accurately estimate the total mite density levels. Only 23.5% of females possessed a fully developed spermatheca, whereas in 76.5% of the cases the seminal receptacle was not present or not developed. Females with a complete spermatheca were less abundant in summer. Average temperatures and host plant species affected the occurrence of this reproductive structure.

Population dynamics, seasonal fluctuations and spatial distribution of the olive psyllid Euphyllura olivina Costa (Homoptera, Psyllidae) in Algeria

The olive psyllid Euphyllura olivina Costa (Homoptera, Psyllidae) causes considerable damage in olive groves in the Mediterranean basin, there by affecting production. To assess the rate of infestation and provide elements of integrated pest management, we monitored the life cycle and bio–ecology of this pest through population counts on the leaves and twigs of the tree from 29 March 2019 to 27 March 2020 at two relatively distant olive farms (Ain fares and Oued taria) in the wilaya of Mascara, Algeria. Our results showed that infestation was high on trees in the Oued taria farm. We found that E. olivina developed two generations per year, in spring, influenced by the climatic factors. The difference between the relative abundance of the different life stages (eggs, larval instar 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, female and male) in the cardinals orientations was significant. Infestation was highest on the southern and central orientations of the tree. Populations fluctuations were significantly affected by season at both farms.

Infection of Slugs with Theronts of the Ciliate Protozoan, Tetrahymena rostrata

Tetrahymena rostrata is a free-living ciliated protozoan and is a facultative parasite of some species of terrestrial mollusks. It is a potential biopesticide of pest slugs, such as the grey field slug, which cause considerable damage to crops. T. rostrata has several developmental forms. Homogeneous preparations of the feeding stage cells (trophonts) and excysted stage cells (theronts) were compared for their ability to infect and kill Deroceras reticulatum slugs. Theronts were more effective and remained viable and infective, even after prolonged starvation.

Novel Approach to the Treatment of Gypseous Soil-Induced Ettringite Using Blends of Non-Calcium-Based Stabilizer, Ground Granulated Blast-Furnace Slag, and Metakaolin

Gypseous soil is one type of expansive soil that contains a sufficient amount of sulphate. Cement and lime are the most common methods of stabilizing expansive soil, but the problem is that lime-treated gypseous soil normally fails in terms of durability due to the formation of ettringite, a highly deleterious compound. Moisture ingress causes a significant swelling of ettringite crystals, thereby causing considerable damage to structures and pavements. This study investigated the suitability of various materials (nano–Mg oxide (M), metakaolin (MK), and ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBS)) for the stabilization of gypseous soil. The results showed soil samples treated with 20% M-MK, M-GGBS, and M-GGBS-MK to exhibit lower swelling rates (<0.01% change in volume) compared to those treated with 10% and 20% of lime after 90 days of curing. However, soil samples stabilized with 10% and 20% binder of [(M-MK), (M-GGBS), and (M-GGBS-MK)] exhibited higher strengths after 90 days of soaking (ranging from 0.96–12.8 MPa) compared to those stabilized with 10% and 20% lime. From the morphology studies, the SEM and EDX analysis evidenced no formation of ettringite in the samples stabilized with M-MK-, M-GGBS-, and M-GGBS-MK. These results demonstrate the suitability of M-MK, M-GGBS, and M-GGBS-MK as effective agents for the stabilization of gypseous soil.

Venom of Viperidae: A perspective of its antibacterial and antitumor potential

: The emergence of multi-drug resistant bacteria and limitations on cancer treatment represent two important challenges in modern medicine. Biological compounds have been explored with particular focus on venoms. Although they can be lethal or cause considerable damage to humans, venom is also a source rich in components with high therapeutic potential. Viperidae family is one of the most emblematic venomous snake families and several studies highlighted the antibacterial and antitumor potential of viper toxins. According to the literature, these activities are mainly associated to five protein families – svLAAO, Disintegrins, PLA2, SVMPs and C-type lectins- that act through different mechanisms leading to the inhibition of the growth of bacteria, as well as, cytotoxic effects and inhibition of metastasis process. In this review we provide an overview of the venom toxins produced by species belonging to the Viperidae family, exploring their roles during the envenoming and their pharmacological properties, in order to demonstrate its antibacterial and antitumor potential.