Academy Of Sciences Research Articles

Research Overview and Trends of the Effects of Gibberellins (GAs) on Rice Biological Processes: A Bibliometric Analysis.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is a vital crop that feeds more than half of the world's population. Gibberellins (GAs), a crucial phytohormone, play a significant role in the growth and development of rice. Since 1985, there has been a notable increase in the number of studies investigating the effects of GA on various biological processes in rice. Nevertheless, conducting scientific and quantitative research on the extensive literature available poses significant challenges, particularly in understanding the development trajectory of the field, examining major contributors, and identifying emerging research trends. The objective of this study is to address these challenges by analyzing global research patterns and trends using bibliometric methods from 1985 to 2024. Through the application of advanced analytical tools, progress in this field is studied in depth and the global research landscape is characterized from multiple dimensions including countries, institutions, authors, and journals. The analysis of 2118 articles extracted and screened from the Web of Science Core dataset shows a steady growth in the number of publications. The research published in China and the USA has significantly advanced the development of the field. In particular, institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Nagoya University have shown impressive productivity. Lee In-Jung stands out as the most influential author. The journal Plant Physiology publishes the highest number of articles. The study also provides a thorough examination of current research hotspots, indicating a predominant focus on understanding the role of GAs in the biological processes that regulate diverse rice phenotypes, including plant height, seed dormancy, germination, and stress resistance. By tracing the development characteristics and key points in this area, this study contributes to a quantitative and comprehensive understanding of the impact of GAs on rice.

Expanding multiple features of extracranial metastasis to predict survival for patients with breast cancer brain metastasis: A population-based retrospective analysis.

e13038 Background: Breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM) is associated with poor survival outcomes and reduced quality of life. The Graded Prognostic Assessment (GPA) score model serves as a well-established tool for predicting the prognosis of BCBM. Notably, the presence of extracranial metastasis (ECM) is considered as a significant prognostic factor in the breast GPA. This study aims to further refine this factor to enhance the prognostic prediction for BCBM. Methods: This study included all inpatients diagnosed with BCBM at the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CHCAMS), from January 2010 to July 2021. The subsets were categorized by the presence, number, location, and control status of ECM. Baseline clinicopathological characteristics were documented and compared among subgroups. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS) after the diagnosis of BCBM. We used the Kaplan–Meier method with log-rank test to compare the survival outcomes. Cox regression analyses were conducted to identify significant prognostic factors, which were then incorporated into a new Breast-GPA model. Results: A total of 286 patients with BCBM were included in the study. Kaplan–Meier survival curves suggested that patients without ECM when diagnosed with BCBM showed better survival (p=0.0068). In the subgroups with ECM, more than 3 organs involved, both bone and visceral metastasis and progressive ECM portended dismal OS (p=0.0032, 0.0014 and 0.00054). Multivariate analysis (MVA) demonstrated that the presence, number, and control status of ECM significantly influenced OS after BCBM (p=0.01, 0.03, and 0.048, respectively). The specific location of ECM also had a significant impact on the long-term survival (p=0.0014). By modifying the current GPA model to include categories for '3 or fewer controlled ECM', the predictive accuracy of the newly established GPA model was further enhanced. Conclusions: More extracranial sites, both bone and visceral invasion and uncontrolled ECM were independent prognostic factors for dismal survival outcomes of BCBM patients.

Sugemalimab in locally advanced and advanced Chinese NSCLC: A real-world retrospective study.

e20575 Background: Lung cancer is a major cause of cancer deaths in China. Immunotherapy has emerged as a promising treatment approach for advanced NSCLC without sensitive mutations. Sugemalimab, a fully human immunoglobulin G4 monoclonal antibody, retains its Fc function, inducing antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis. This study aims to evaluate the real-world effectiveness and safety of Sugemalimab in various treatment patterns, particularly with radiotherapy, in Chinese NSCLC patients with locally advanced or metastatic disease. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated locally advanced (LA-) and metastatic (m-) NSCLC patients (pts) treated with Sugemalimab in Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences from Feb. 2022 to Sep. 2023. Demographic characteristics, clinical features, genetic landscape and therapy patterns were collected. We employed descriptive statistics to determine the Objective Response Rate (ORR) and Disease Control Rate (DCR), and used the Kaplan-Meier method for estimating Progression-Free Survival (PFS) and Overall Survival (OS). Safety profiles, including adverse events and immune-related pneumonitis, were similarly analyzed. Results: 76 pts with LA-NSCLC and mNSCLC were enrolled. Majority were male (92.1%) and smokers (84.2%) and ECOG PS 0-1 (78.9%). Median age was 66. Squamous-cell carcinoma was found in 44 pts (57.9%). The main metastatic sites were bone, brain, liver, lung and lymph node for mNSCLC pts. Genetic profiling in 39 pts revealed TP53 mutations in 19 (48.7%) and KRAS mutations in 10 (25.6%). A total of 38 pts (51.3%) received 1L Sugemalimab therapy, while 21 pts (27.6%) receiving 2L. Main treatment pattern was Sugemalimab plus platinum-based chemo. Radiotherapy (RT) was main local therapy approach, concurrent with Sugemalimab in 18 pts. Majority of pts received either volumetric modulated arc therapy or intensity-modulated radiation therapy to thoracic lesions. Tomotherapy was administered to brain metastases in 2 pts. The median follow-up time was 9.18m at this cut-off date. 16 pts receiving Sugemalimab plus chemo achieved objective response (ORR 44.4%) and DCR was 91.5% in 1L therapy. Median PFS (mPFS) has not been reached. PFS rate at 6m, 12m was 75.6%, 62.1% respectively. 1L OS was immature. For pts receiving additional thoracic RT concurrent with 1L systematic therapy, mPFS was still not mature. PFS rate was 82.4% at 6m and 74.9% at 12 m. Common RT-related side effects were radiation pneumonitis, radiation esophagitis and skin injury. None immune-related pneumonitis was found in this population. Only one case of immune-related pneumonitis was observed in a pts without RT. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated Sugemalimab-based therapy provide clinical benefits to LA-NSCLC and mNSCLC with good safety in real-world setting. The combination treatment of Sugemalimab with radiotherapy illustrates low pulmonary toxicity and superior tolerability.

Clinical trial diversity (CTD) scorecards.

e23042 Background: To ensure safety and efficacy, oncology clinical trials must include adequate participation by age, gender, race, and ethnicity subgroups. In November 2020, the US FDA issued Guidance for Industry to increase clinical trial diversity in pivotal clinical trial programs. CARER Group developed the CTD Scorecard to evaluate demographic diversity in registration trial programs for new drugs. Methods: Based on publicly available data, CTD Scorecard assigns each drug a letter grade (A, B, C, D, F) for demographic subgroups-age, race and ethnicity, as well as an overall grade. Scoring includes percentage of subgroup enrolled relative to US population, number of subgroup receiving study drug, and prevalence of disease in each subgroup. Results: From January 2022 to December 2023, US FDA approved 26 new oncology drugs. In this period, 8 trial programs were rated Grade B, 18 received Grade C. Notably, elderly, and female participation was better represented with 23 (88%) and 19 (90%) with Grade A or B respectively. Two trial programs each received Grade C for these subgroups. Asian representation was high, with 54% of programs scoring Grades A or B. Only one drug received Grade D for this demographic and no programs received Graded F. In contrast, Black and Hispanic populations showed significant underrepresentation. Fourteen (54%) of trial programs for Black and thirteen (50%) for Hispanic populations received Grades D or F. Notably, 20 (77% ) of trial programs had ≤10 Black participants receive study drug, with 6 programs having no Black participants receive study drug. Similarly, 14 (54%) of trial programs included ≤ 10 Hispanic participants receiving study drug, and 3 (12%) programs with no Hispanics receiving study drug. During this time, FDA issued Post-Market Requirements or Commitments (PMR/PMC) for 9(35% ) of oncology drugs due to premarket trial diversity shortfalls. However, by CTDs, 20 (77%) of the 26 approved drugs lacked adequate representation, yet did not receive Post-Marketing Requirements or Commitments. Conclusions: Oncology drug safety and efficacy can vary by age, race, sex, and ethnicity, necessitating diverse demographic participation in clinical trials. Alongside US FDA industry guidance, entities like the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine and the GAO Report emphasize the need for trial diversity, bolstered by Federal Clinical Diversity Provision H.R. 2617 enacted in 2022. CARER’s scoring system evaluates clinical diversity age, sex, race and ethnicity, based on FDA data since January 2022. Age ≥65, female gender, and Asian race subgroups were generally well represented in clinical trial programs. Black and Hispanic groups show the lowest representation. Consistent use of PMC and PMR to new drugs may improve demographic inclusivity in trials lacking initial diversity.

Catalogue of Bombus wurflenii Radoszkowski, 1860 (Hymenoptera, Apidae) specimens deposited in the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv, Ukraine

Bombus wurflenii Radoszkowski, 1860 belongs to the subgenus Alpigenobombus and is one of the 40 bumblebee species that occur in Ukraine. This Boreal-Alpine species has a disjunctive range and is confined to the mountains and hills of Europe. It occurs in Scandinavia, in central and southern Europe (the Cantabrian Mountains, the Pyrenees, the Alps, the Apennines, the Balkans, the Carpathians). It is also known from the far east of Europe (the Ural Mountains), and from the north-eastern Turkey and the Caucasus (Rasmont, Iserbyt, 2010-2012; Rasmont et al., 2015). All scenarios of future distribution of Bombus wurflenii project a moderate reduction of suitable areas by 2050. By 2100 the climatic niche space of the species would be even more restricted. With low dispersal capability and since Bombus wurflenii is a specialized species linked to cold boreal and alpine-subalpine conditions, it would suffer substantially from global warming (Rasmont et al., 2015). Bombus wurflenii is a medium sized bumblebee. It is highly adapted for “nectar robbing”, i. e. perforating holes at the base of long flower corollas to reach the nectar. To do this, it uses its modified mandibles, each with six denticles on outer margin . In Ukraine the species is represented by the subspecies B. wurflenii mastrucatus Gerst. and occurs in the Ukrainian Carpathians only. It inhabits mountain forests from a height of 500 m a. s. l. to the subalpine zone inclusive. The highest number of population of the species is observed within the altitude range of 800-1100 m above sea level (Konovalova, 2010). B. wurflenii is nesting underground, using the abandoned nests of rodents in beech, beech-spruce and spruce forests, in polonynas, meadows and also on rocky slopes in the subalpine. The emergence of queens from hibernation happens in late spring and early summer. The development of small colonies lasts until July-August, culminating in the emergence of new reproductive generation. In the Carpathian highlands B. wurflenii is considered a common one. However, during last decades, the destruction of both nesting sites and forage flora of this species due to excessive recreational pressure, is a serious factor threatening the persistence of its population. For this reason, B. wurflenii has been included into the Red Book of the Ukrainian Carpathians as vulnerable one, also taking into account a relatively limited area inhabited by populations of the species. The species plays a significant role in the pollination of high mountain flora. A feeding diet of this bumblebee in the Ukrainian Carpathians includes at least 23 plant species belonging to 16 families (unpublished data of the author). Among its favourite forage plants are: Centaurea phrygia subsp. carpatica (Porcius) Dostál, Cirsium waldsteinii Rouy, Gentiana asclepiadea L., Rhododendron kotschyi Simonk., Vaccinium spp., Aconitum spp. In the entomological collection of the State Museum of Natural History, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 42 specimens of B. wurflenii have been deposited. Only one specimen belongs to an old historical collection. It was collected from the Tatry Mts. in Poland on 30.07.1905 and identified by J. Snieżek. From the present territory of Ukraine B. wurflenii was recorded for the first time in 1939 in Chornohora mountain range, at an altitude of 1500 m a.s.l. (Fudakowski et al., 1939). The recent part of the collection includes specimens, found from 2000 to 2006 in mountain regions of Ivano-Frankivska and Zakarpatska provinces of Ukraine (fig. 1). The recent collection of B. wurflenii represents all three castes of the species: 1 queen, 32 workers and 8 males. Bumblebees were collected during June, July and August within altitudes of 800-1700 m a.s.l. in the following physiographic regions: UC: PlChr: Chornohora massif; UC: PlChr: Svydovets massif; UC: OCVV: Gg: Outer Gorgany range. The vast majority of specimens have been collected in protected territories: Carpathian Biosphere Reserve (Chornohora protected massif, Svydovets protected massif) and Carpathian National Nature Park.

Twenty-five years of research on resting-state fMRI of major depressive disorder: A bibliometric analysis of hotspots, nodes, bursts, and trends

Twenty-five years of research on resting-state fMRI of major depressive disorder: A bibliometric analysis of hotspots, nodes, bursts, and trends

Изучение краниологических серий из некрополей русских городов XI–XVIII вв. методом геометрической морфометрии

Anthropological features of the Russian city population in the 11th – 18th centuries were studied using classical methods of craniometry as well as cranio- and osteoscopy. However, the method of geometric morphometry, which has been actively used since the 1990s and is a recent morphometric tool, has not yet been applied to Russian urban craniological series. We obtained and analyzed by the GM method three-dimensional copies of 225 skulls from thirteen series of the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period from the excavations of the Institute of Archaeology of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Despite the small number of studied samples from Tver and Torzhok, we were able to trace their features and originality relative to other comparable groups and among themselves. Based on historical information, these variations can be explained by political factors. The differences between the political systems of Ancient Rus’ and Russia in the Early Modern period also explain the greater morphological homogeneity of the urban population in the 15th – 18th centuries compared to the 11th –13th centuries. The study of variability in the late urban series and comparison of diachronic samples from Yaroslavl and Pereslavl-Zalessky showed morphological similarity between the inhabitants of the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, which may indicate the constancy of administrative, trade, and economic ties, as well as the significant contribution of the local rural population to the formation of the anthropological appearance of the townspeople. The revealed greater variability in the female samples compared to the male ones may indicate significant irregularities in the facial skeleton shape of women, which cannot be disclosed using classical craniology data. In general, the obtained results not only confirm many of the conclusions of previous craniological studies of the urban population from Eastern Europe but also make it possible to obtain new data on the degree of homogeneity of the townspeople’s anthropological appearance in the Middle Ages and Early Modern periods.

The contribution of the Commission for nature protection of the Academy of Sciences of the MSSR (1957–1980) to the establishment of the environmental protection system in the Republic of Moldova

The article analyzes the context of creation and activity of the Commission for Nature Protection of the Academy of Sciences of the MSSR during the years 1957–1980. Being initially authorized to coordinate scientific research in the field and to identify natural objects to be taken under the state protection, it had a much wider spectrum of activities that laid down the basis of the environmental protection system in the country. These activities included not only drafting of the Law on Nature Protection and the Government Decisions on establishment of the State Committee in this field, but also initiation of the network creation of state protected areas and nature monuments, along with preparation of the relevant regulations and of the Red Book. The Commission has also contributed to the protection and expansion of forests, soil conservation and water protection, as well as to the constant promotion of environmental awareness. As a result, the Commission has been instrumental in establishing an environmental management system in the republic that currently broadly meets international standards. Its achievements form the basis for the further development of the environmental protection system in the republic.

Catalogue of Endomychidae (Insecta, Coleoptera) family specimens deposited in the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv, Ukraine

The family Endomychidae is a moderately large group of small to medium-sized beetles with worldwide distribution and maximum diversity in tropical and subtropical regions, which includes about 1,600 species in 90 genera, 9 subfamilies (Shockley et al., 2009; Robertson et al., 2015). Of these, 7 species are known from the territory of Ukraine, of which 5 species occur in the Ukrainian Carpathian region (Nowicki, 1865; Roubal, 1936, Mateleshko, 2002, 2005, 2009; Mateleshko & Chumak, 2006; Mateleshko & Roshko, 2006; Mateleshko & Lovas, 2010; Chumak et al., 2015; Koval, et al., 2018; Diedus et al., 2021) and three species are known from the Sumy, Kharkiv, Kherson provinces and the Crimean Autonomous Republic (Drogvalenko, 1999). Representatives of the family are mainly mycophagous. The most common habitats are fungi, rotten wood and fungus-infested bark. Many species live in leaf litter and decaying plant debris, where they feed on mold and fungi. The collection of the State Museum of Natural History, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (SMNH) presents 58 specimens of the family Endomychidae, belonging to 4 species and 4 genera, as follows: Dapsa denticollis (Germar, 1817) – 3 spec., Endomychus coccineus (Linnaeus, 1758) – 29 spec., Lycoperdina succincta (Linnaeus, 1767) – 21 spec., Mycetina cruciata (Schaller, 1783) – 5 spec. The illustrated catalogue of these species is given below, the species being listed in an alphabet order. The collection material has originated from the western part of Ukraine and southern part of Poland and was collected during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Most of the material was collected from the western part of Ukraine, and is presented in the collection by three species: D. denticollis, E. coccineus and L. succincta from Roztochchia georegion (Lviv (Holosko, Kryvchytsi, Znesinnia, Snopkiv), Yamelnia, Ivano-Frankove); E. coccineus from Male Polissia (Radvantsi); two species from Opillia – L. succincta (Bartativ, Zubra) and E. coccineus (Prybyn). Only one species, E. coccineus, is known from the Cisparpathian Upland (Kolomyia, Sadzhawka) where it was collected in early 20th century (15.06.1902; 23.05.1901). Regarding the material collected from the territory of Poland, 4 specimens of two species are available in the SMNH collection: E. coccineus (Kraków, Rabka-Zdrój, Szymbart) and L succincta (Sztutowo). In addition to the main museum collection, the four above-mentioned species are contained in the collection of A. Stöckl: one spec. D. denticollis from Serbia, collected by Reitter; 5 spec. E. coccineus from the western part of Ukraine (Lviv, Riasne, Ivano-Frankove); 3 spec. L. succincta: one spec. from Poland (Konskowola), two – from Ukraine (Ivano-Frankove, Lviv); and 2 spec. of M. cruciata collected in Ukraine (Pistyn). Other specimens of this collection lack information on the collectors.

Wandering "paper" dominants: positions and functions of high-rise accents in the urban development projects of Pushchino, 1950–1980s

The subject of this study are the architectural and urban planning projects of the scientific town of Pushchino of the USSR Academy of Sciences, developed in the second half of the 20th century. It focuses on high-rise accents planned in the master plans from the 1950s to the 1980s, which, though never realized, played a crucial organizing role in the city's developmental compositions over the years. These "paper" projects significantly influenced the actual architectural ensemble of the city. Specific changes in the creative concepts are correlated with personnel shifts within the team that developed the projects for Pushchino. The dynamics and direction of architectural searches are considered within the broad context of the history of Soviet architecture and are compared with global processes and the positions of architectural theorists and philosophers. The research employs a formal and comparative analysis method, structured historically to segment the creative process into periods that reflect both the subject of the research and the broader historical and architectural context of the era. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the comprehensive analysis of numerous urban planning and architectural projects, gathered through extensive research in state and personal archives. This allowed for the first time to consider the work of architects on the planning projects of Pushchino as a dynamic process, revealing changes that occurred at each of its stages. Through the analysis of the development of “paper” dominants, wandering from project to project, changes in the global urban planning concepts of the city were traced. Consequently, the article provides insights into the development of urban planning in Pushchino, viewed through the lens of high-rise accents. It also paves the way for further research into other aspects of the process, contributing to a more comprehensive and profound understanding of urban architectural development.

Catalogue of Sceliphron destillatorium (Illager, 1807) (Hymenoptera, Sphecidae) specimens deposited in the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv, Ukraine

Representatives of the genus Sceliphron Klug, 1801 are found in almost all biogeographical regions of the world (Yuan, 2022). At present, 35 species of this genus have been known (Pulawski, 2020). Of these, six species have been recorded from the territory of Ukraine as follows: three invasive species: Sceliphron caementarium (Drury, 1773); Sceliphron curvatum (Smith, 1870) and Sceliphron deforme (F. Smith, 1856) (Kletʹonkin, 2023); and three native species: Sceliphron destillatorium (Illiger, 1807); Sceliphron madraspatanum (Fabricius, 1781) and Sceliphron spirifex (Linnaeus, 1758) (Tymkiv et al., 2015). The most common is Sceliphron destillatorium (Illiger, 1807), which occurs throughout the territory of Ukraine. Representatives of the genus Sceliphron Klug, 1801 belong to two subgenera: Sceliphron and Hensenia. Although species of both subgenera take care of their offspring and feed the larvae with spiders, their nests differ in shape and number of mud cells. Wasps of the subgenus Hensenia build a certain number of single-celled mud nests in shape of jugs. Instead, wasps of the subgenus Sceliphron build cells that joint into large mud nest. S. destillatorium is the South–Palaearctic species. Its range covers the Mediterranean region (southern and south-eastern Europe, northern Africa and south-western and southern Asia) (Wisniowski et al., 2013). S. destillatorium is a solitary wasp. It belongs to the family Sphecidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera) of the subgenus Sceliphron (Gülmez1 et al, 2017). S. destillatorium female builds a nests of the moist soil material, which she collects and transports herself. The nest consists of tubular cells placed side by side, the number of which varies (Chatenoud et al., 2012). After building the first cell, the female hunts spiders to feed her offspring (Pytel-Huta, 2023; Yuan, 2022). Female S. destillatorium brings the paralysed spider into the cell, lays an egg and continues to hunt. Each cell stores a certain number of spiders. The number depends on the size of the victims and the sex of the future generation. Once the cells have been built, the female S. destillatorium covers them with an additional layer of soil (Polidori, 2005). In the wild, females build their nests in shady, sheltered places (rock ledges, empty tree trunks, etc.). However, at present, they are increasingly nesting in people's houses (usually under roofs, attics, etc.) (Yuan, 2022). Adult wasps feed on angiosperm nectar. The collection of the State Museum of Natural History, National Academy of Sciences in Lviv contains 14 specimens of this species collected in the western part of Ukraine and one specimen collected in the central part. A few samples (4) of this species were collected in 1922, 1923 and 1926, collector – J. Noskiewicz. The date and place of collection of the remaining specimens are unknown. All data have been entered into the web resource Data Centre “Biodiversity of Ukraine” http://dc.smnh.org/.

The Relevance of the Engineering and Technical Solutions Implemented at the Branch of Shemyakin–Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, and Current Problems of Vivariums and Laboratory Animal Breeding Facilities

The Relevance of the Engineering and Technical Solutions Implemented at the Branch of Shemyakin–Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, and Current Problems of Vivariums and Laboratory Animal Breeding Facilities

Catalogue of stuffed birds with atypical colouration and developmental anomalies deposited in the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv, Ukraine

Birds with atypical colouration and developmental anomalies very rarely occur in the wild, and museum collections of such specimens have been formed over centuries. Today, their scientific importance is growing due to the emergence of new opportunities in genetic research, and distribution of information on the collections of this kind is a useful thing. The digitization of collections becomes especially important in times of war, because currently none of the museum collections in Ukraine have guarantees against possible losses. The collection of stuffed birds with atypical colouration and developmental anomalies, deposited in the State Museum of Natural History, NASU includes 157 specimens of 44 species. It was collected from 1850 to 1930. Later, only one stuffed bird was received in 2012. The collection was formed both as a result of the activities of museum staff (hunting, buying at markets) and the receipt of numerous gifts to the museum's founder, Volodymyr Didushytskyi. Among the species, the most numerous are the house sparrow Passer domesticus L., 1758 – 24 spec., the grey crow Corvus cornix L., 1758, the rook Corvus frugilegus L., 1758 and the village swallow Hirundo rustica L., 1758, presented by 11 spec. each, and the grey partridge Perdix perdix L., 1758 – 9 spec. Some 117 specimens were collected from the present territory of Ukraine, 28 spec. from the present territory of Poland, and the place of collection of the remaining 12 specimens is unknown. In Ukraine, most specimens were collected in Lvivska province (89); the rest – in Ternopilska province (15), Ivano-Frankivska province (12) and Volynska province (1). In Poland, 12 specimens were collected in the Podkarpackie voivodeship, 11 spec. in the Małopolskie voivodeship, 2 spec. in the Lubelskie voivodeship and 1 spec. in the Lódzkie voivodeship. Among all localities, the largest number of specimens was collected from Lviv City and its environs – 24, form the village of Peniaky, Zolochivskyi district, Lvivska province – 12, and from Kraków City and its environs – 11. At the end of 2023, the entire collection was digitized as a part of the project "Crisis Inventory and Leap to Digitalization of Museum Records" Tustan NGO, “Tustan” State Historical and Cultural Museum, NeMo: Ukrainian Heritage Monitoring Lab and the NGO “Centre for Museum Development” with the financial support of the European Union. Each exhibit was photographed in six projections: front, left and right sides, back, bottom, and in the most favourable exhibition position. The catalogue was prepared within the framework of the project "Methodological principles of expert evaluation of the scientific potential of natural history collections" of the Department of Applied Museology of the State Museum of Natural History, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, state registration No.0122U001440.

Catalogue of Carabus estreicheri Fischer von Waldheim, 1820 & Carabus excellens Fabricius, 1798 (Coleoptera, Carabidae) specimens deposited in the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv, Ukraine

The species Carabus estreicheri Fischer von Waldheim, 1820 was recorded from the following settlements and regions: Drancha Mt. near Brody town, Podillia (Butsyky village, Tovtry, Pantelykhy steppe) (Nowicki, 1864), Brody (Łomnicki, 1868), Butsyky (Łomnicki, 1870), Podillia (Nowicki, 1873), Maksymivka village (Rybinski, 1903), Galicia, Volynska, Podilska (Proskuriv, Fisch.-W.), Khersonska (Kryn., Chaud.), Kyivska, Poltavska, Katerynoslavska gubernias (governorates (gubernias) – administrative divisions Russian Empire) , Podillia (Łomnicki, 1913), Lvivska province: Brody town vicinity, Brodivskyi district, Peniaky village, Zolochivskyi district, Velyka Vilshanytsia village vicinity, Lysa Hora Mt., Novosilky village, Pidlypivtsi village; Ternopilska province: Borshchivskyi district, Ivane-Puste village vicinity, Husiatynskyi district, Hrymailiv town, Medobory ridge, Terebovlianskyi district, Derenivka locality , collected for the first time in the post Second World War years in Barber’s soil traps 12.05-2.06.2007 near village Yaseniv (Brodivskyi district, Lvivska oblast) in a small (1-1.5 ha) steppe area , Right-Bank Polissia (Mixed Forest Zone), Left-Bank Polissia (Mixed Forest Zone), Broadleaved Forest Zone (including the Ciscarpathian region, and with the foothills of the Carpathians up to 300 m a.s.l. and Male Polissia), Right-Bank Forest Steppe, Left-Bank Forest Steppe, Northern sub-zone of the Right-Bank Steppe, Northern sub-zone of the Left-Bank Steppe (Пучков, 2012). There are 27 specimens of Carabus estreicheri Fischer von Waldheim, 1822 in the collection of the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv. The beetles were collected by M. Łomnicki, J. Łomnicki, V. Zanko, M. Świątkiewicz, J. Mazurek, A. Stöckl and apparently by Nowicki M. All specimens were collected in the second half of the 19th century and in the first half of the 20th century, and only two labels indicate the years of collection: 1904 and 1906, while the rest of the labels have only date marks (day/month). There is a reason to believe that one specimen (Inventory number – Е2.19.01.04.07/3, Digital record number – SMNH002254, Data Centre “Biodiversity of Ukraine” – ID 21599) was probably collected by M. Nowicki and mentioned by himself in his work (Nowicki, 1865), and another one specimen (Inventory number – Е2.19.01.04.07/4, Digital record number – SMNH002255, Data Centre “Biodiversity of Ukraine” – ID 21600) was apparently too collected by M. Nowicki and mentioned by himself in his work (Nowicki, 1864). The species Carabus excellens Fabricius, 1801 was recored from the following settlements and regions: Podillia, Butsyky village (Nowicki, 1864), Tovste village, Synkiv village (Łomnicki, 1870), Kyiv city vicinity (Hochhuth, 1871), Podillia, northern part of Bukovyna (Nowicki, 1873), Vovchynets village (mountain) (Łomnicki, 1875), Bilche village (Łomnicki, 1877), near Lviv city (Mokrotynski hills), Bibrka town, Chornushovychi village (Łomnicki, 1890), from Ternopil city to Pidvolochysk town (Rybinski, 1903), Eastern Galicia, Eastern Bukovyna, Volynska, Podilska, Kyivska, Kharkivska, Katerynoslavska, Khersonska, Chernihivska gubernias (Якобсон, 1905), Podillia (Łomnicki, 1913), Kamianets-Podilskyi vicinity , Vovchynets village, Sokal town (Kuntze, 1937-1938), «Trostianets» dendrarium , recorded from the Crimea [6], obviously, by mistake , Vinnytska province: Mohyliv-Podilskyi district, Yaryshiv village; Ivano-Frankivska oblast: Horodenka town; Kyiv city; Lvivska province: Zolochivskyi district, Velyka Vilshanytsia village vicinity, Lysa Hora Mt., Lviv city, Zhovkivskyi district, Hriada village, Pustomytivskyi district, Chornushovychi village; Ternopilska province: Borshchivskyi district, Ivane Puste village, Melnytsia Podilska town, Husiatynskyi district, Butsyky village, Hrymailiv town; Monastyryska town, Pidvolochyskyi district, Skalat town , C. e. excellens Fabricius, 1798 Right-Bank Polissia (Mixed Forest Zone), Left-Bank Polissia (Mixed Forest Zone), Broadleaved Forest Zone (including the Ciscarpathian region, but with the foothills of the Carpathians up to 300 m and Male Polissia), Right-Bank Forest Steppe, Left-Bank Forest Steppe, Northern sub-zone of the Right-Bank Steppe, Northern sub-zone of the Left-Bank Steppe, Southern sub-zone of the Right-Bank Steppe, Southern sub-zone of the Left-Bank Steppe, C. e. frivaldskyi Kraatz, 1887 Zone of broadleaf forests (including Prykarpattia, and with the foothills of the Carpathians up to 300 m and Male Polissya) (Bukovyna) (Пучков, 2012). There are 71 specimens of Carabus excellens Fabricius, 1801 in the collection of the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv. The beetles were collected by Dzieduszycki W., M. Łomnicki, J. Łomnicki, Stetsiv V., Zanko V., Hankevych K., Polianskyi S., Sheshurak P.M., Zelenko N., Yanytskyi T.P., Rizun V.B. The specimens were collected in the second half of the 19-th century, the first half of the 20th century, and during the recent decades. This article was written with the support of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine, call 2022.01 «Science for the Recovery of Ukraine in the War and Post-War Periods» the project 2022.01/0013 «Digitization of natural history collections damaged as a result of hostilities and related factors: development of protocols and implementation on the basis of the State Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine». The contents of this article do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine and are the sole responsibility of the State Museum of Natural History, NAS of Ukraine.

Catalogue of Bracychthoniidae (Sarcoptiformes, Oribatida) specimens deposited in the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv, Ukraine

Brachychthoniids are tiny mites, typically measuring less than 250 µm in length (Krant et al. 2009). Brachychthoniids can be distinguished from other oribatids by the fact that their notogaster is divided into 3 plates by 2 transverse furrows (Weigmann, 2006). The anteriormost plate has 6 pairs of setae (c and d rows) (Krant et al., 2009). Without extra cupules immediately lateral to mid-dorsal setae (Krant et al., 2009). The genital plates and the combined anal/peranal plates are of similar size (Krant et al., 2009). There is 1 pair of aggenital setae, 2 pairs of setae on the anal plates, and the peranal plates are present with 1 pair of setae (Krant et al., 2009). In terms of geography and ecology, brachychthoniids may be the most extensively spread family among oribatid mites (Krant et al., 2009). Besides being varied and plentiful in damp forest soil and litter, they are frequently found in disclimax communities and newly established habitats (Norton and Palmer, 1991). The world fauna of Brachythoniidae is represented by 163 species belonging to 12 genera (Subias, 2004). In Ukraine, 40 species of mites of this family, belonging to 9 genera. Thus, the species diversity in Ukraine is 25% of the world's fauna. The collection of oribatid mites of the State Museum of Natural History of the NAS of Ukraine contains 9 species of brachychthoniids, as follows: Liochthonius alpestris (Forsslund, 1958), L. hystricinus (Forsslund, 1942), L. muscorum Forsslund, 1964, L. brevis (Michael, 1888), L. sellnicki (Thor, 1930), Sellnickochthonius suecicus (Forsslund, 1942), S. zеlawaiensis (Sellnick, 1928), Eobrachychthonius oudemansi van der Hammen 1952 and Synchthonius crenulatus (Jacot, 1938). They have been collected in the western regions of Ukraine and are represented by 96 individuals, which make up 16 records. In particular, the collection contains samples collected from Zakarpatska, Lvivska and Ivano-Frankivska provinces. Some materials were collected in nature conservation areas: Nature Reserve Roztochchia, National Natural Park Synevyr and Carpathian Biosphere Reserve. This article was written with the support of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine, call 2022.01 «Science for the Recovery of Ukraine in the War and Post-War Periods» the project 2022.01/0013 «Digitization of natural history collections damaged as a result of hostilities and related factors: development of protocols and implementation on the basis of the State Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine». The contents of this article do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine and are the sole responsibility of the State Museum of Natural History, NAS of Ukraine.

Catalogue of Palamocladium euchloron (Müll. Hal.) Wijk et Margad. (Hypnales, Brachytheciaceae) specimens deposited in the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv, Ukraine

The species Palamocladium euchloron (Müll. Hal.) Wijk et Margad. is distributed in Southern Europe (Greece), in the Caucasus, in Asia (Turkey, Iran, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, China). Findings in the Mountainous Crimea: Kirovskyi district, Agarmysh Mt. in the vicinity of the Old Crimea town, Old Crimea; Khapkhal Gorge near the Dzhur-Dzhur waterfall on the East Ulu-Uzen River, Crimean Nature Reserve, upper reaches of the Alma River; Bakhchysaraiskyi district, near the Bakhchysarai town, Sokolyne and Mashyne villages, Chufut-Kale rock . The species is scientifically significant as a relict (tertiary) one. This moss grows on the soil, on shaded limestone rocks and stones in oak and beech forests. The plant is dioecious. In the Crimea it does not form sporogonies and reproduces vegetatively. Palamocladium euchloron (Müll. Hal.) Wijk et Margad. is protected in the Crimean Nature Reserve, Khapkhalskyi hydrological reserve and the Agarmyskyi Forest landmark of nature . The species is recorded for the Staryi Krym vicinity in the work of M.P. Slobodian . The species is given in the study of fossil Pliocene bryoflora for the territory of Poland . Specimens of the Palamocladium euchloron (Müll. Hal.) Wijk et Margad., represented in the SMNH collection, were collected from the territory of the Crimean Peninsular (Bakhchysarai (Slobodian, 1969), Kirovsky district (Slobodian, 1966), Sudak town (Slobodian, 1968), Sokolyne village (Slobodian, 1969), Mashyne village (Slobodian, 1969), Golovkinskyi waterfall (Melnychuk, 1954); from the territory of Krasnodar Krai (Russia) territory were collected in Krasnaia Poliana (Lazarenko, 1937), from the territory of Azerbaijan near Novo-Alekseevka village (Окснер, 1936). The museum collection contains 14 specimens of Palamocladium euchloron (Müll. Hal.) Wijk et Margad. Two specimens are exsiccates (Institutum Botanicum nomine V.L. Komarivii Academiae Scientiarum URSS, 1961). Samples were collected by M.P. Slobodian, V.M. Melnychuk, A.S. Lazarenko, A.M. Oksner. Exsiccates were collected by I.I. Abramov and A.L. Abramova. Most specimens were collected in the second half of the 20th century. The specimens of A.S. Lazarenko and A.M. Oksner belong to the first half of the 20th century. The species has been included into the Red Data Book of Ukraine with conservation status: Rare. This article was written with the support of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine, call 2022.01 «Science for the Recovery of Ukraine in the War and Post-War Periods» the project 2022.01/0013 «Digitization of natural history collections damaged as a result of hostilities and related factors: development of protocols and implementation on the basis of the State Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine». The contents of this article do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine and are the sole responsibility of the State Museum of Natural History, NAS of Ukraine.

Catalogue of Nebria picicornis (Fabricius, 1792) (Coleoptera, Carabidae) specimens deposited in the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv, Ukraine

The species Nebria picicornis (Fabricius, 1792) belongs to the genus, distributed in the Palaearctic, Middle East and North Africa, and represented by more than 500 described species (Catalogue of Life, 2023). In Ukraine, the genus is represented by 9 species. Nebria picicornis (Fabricius, 1792) has been recorded from thefollowing localities in Ukraine: outskirts of Sambir town, Spas village (Nowicki, 1858), the Eastern Beskydy up to Chornohora range (Nowicki, 1864), Ivano-Frankivsk city at the Bystrytsia river, in the river silt deposits (Łomnicki, 1886), beech forest zone of the Carpathians (Nowicki, 1873), Galicia, Bukovyna, Podilska gubernias , Zelemianka river, Bolekhiv town , NR «Gorgany» , foothill and lowland areas of the Carpathians: Ciscarpathian Upland, Beskydy massif, Gorgany massif, Pokutsko-Bukovynski Carpathians, Krasna range, as well as the Klavdievo village near Kyiv city, 10.V.1976 р., 2 spec., V.G. Dolin (IZU) , the Carpathians (including the Ciscarpathian Upland with foothills above 300 m a.s.l.), Right-Bank Polissia (mixed forest zone), Broadleaf Forest Zone (including the Ciscarpathian Upland, but with foothills of the Carpathians up to 300 m a.s.l. and Male Polissia) . Nebria picicornis (Fabricius, 1792) is distributed in the mountains and foothills of Central Europe and the northern part of southern Europe (Burakowski et al., 1973). In Ukraine it is found in the belts of oak and beech forests and lives along the banks of rivers and streams . There are 34 specimens of Nebria picicornis (Fabricius, 1792) in the collection of the State Museum of Natural History NASU, Lviv. The beetles were collected by Łomnicki M., Polianskyi S., Stöckl A., Susulovskyi A.S., Rizun V.B. Most of them were collected in the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, a number of individuals – in recent decades. Three specimens (Inventory numbers: E2.19.01.08.02//17, Digital record number: SMNH010749, Data Centre “Biodiversity of Ukraine”: ID 58124; Inventory numbers: E2.19.01.08.02//18, Digital record number: SMNH010750, Data Centre “Biodiversity of Ukraine”: ID 58125; Inventory numbers: E2.19.01.08.02//19, Digital record number: SMNH010751, Data Centre “Biodiversity of Ukraine”: ID 58126) most probably were mentioned in the work by M. Łomniсki (Łomnicki M. Muzeum imienia Dzieduszyckich we Lwowe. Dział I. Zoologiczny oddział zwierząt bezkręgowych. IV. Chrząszcze, czyli Tęgoskrzydłe (Coleoptera). – Lwów, 1886. – 308 s.). In general, the collection contains specimens, collected from Ukraine: Lvivska, Ivano-Frankivska, Chernivetska, Zakarpatska provinces, and from Poland. Some part of the presented material was collected in nature conservation areas of Ukraine: the Nature Reserve «Gorgany», National Nature Parks «Boikivshchyna», «Carpathian» and «Hutsulshchyna». This article was written with the support of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine, call 2022.01 «Science for the Recovery of Ukraine in the War and Post-War Periods» the project 2022.01/0013 «Digitization of natural history collections damaged as a result of hostilities and related factors: development of protocols and implementation on the basis of the State Museum of Natural History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine». The contents of this article do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Research Foundation of Ukraine and are the sole responsibility of the State Museum of Natural History, NAS of Ukraine.

Establishment and development of the Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology in Plovdiv, Bulgaria

The Bulgarian research landscape, presented mainly by the research institutes that are part of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and the Agricultural Academy, needs diversification to match the research and innovation potential of the other European Union (EU) countries. This article describes the establishment of the Center of Plant Systems Biology and Biotechnology (CPSBB), a new innovative type of independent research organization that is changing the research landscape in Bulgaria. Supported by the EU Commission, Bulgarian Government, and Plovdiv Municipality, CPSBB has quickly become the leading plant science institute in Bulgaria, creating knowledge in diverse fields such as bioinformatics, biotechnology, genetics and genomics, metabolomics, and systems biology. We outline the organizational structure of CPSBB, the development of its infrastructure, and its scientific productivity. Finally, we compare CPSBB with other similar research establishments in Europe and we conclude that such new types of institutes have a bright future in Bulgaria due to their operational flexibility, productivity, and connections with academia and industry.

Using social networks to study the political culture of modern China

The article systematizes the main approaches adopted by a group of researchers from MGIMO University, HSE University and the Institute of China and Modern Asia of the Russian Academy of Sciences, united within the framework of the ”Moscow Project for the Study of Chinese Political Culture”, to investigate the political culture of modern China through the monitoring of social networks. The authors analyze the existing ideas about political culture in the Chinese academic discourse, identify problems in studying the political views of Chinese citizens by traditional sociological methods (surveys, questionnaires). They further explain the relevance of using social network analysis in modern studies of Chinese society, and also describe the methodology they developed for studying social networks using sentiment analysis. The article lays the theoretical and methodological basis for further research on modern Chinese society based on an array of data from Chinese social networks.

Mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor amplification correlates with adverse pathological features and poor clinical outcome in colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer and the second most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (MET) gene participates in multiple tumor biology and shows clinical potential for pharmacological manipulation in tumor treatment. MET amplification has been reported in CRC, but data are very limited. Investigating pathological values of MET in CRC may provide new therapeutic and genetic screening options in future clinical practice. To determine the pathological significance of MET amplification in CRC and to propose a feasible screening strategy. A number of 205 newly diagnosed CRC patients undergoing surgical resection without any preoperative therapy at Shenzhen Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences were recruited. All patients were without RAS/RAF mutation or microsatellite instability-high. MET amplification and c-MET protein expression were analyzed using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), respectively. Correlations between MET aberration and pathological features were detected using the chi-squared test. Progression free survival (PFS) during the two-year follow-up was detected using the Kaplan-Meier method and log rank test. The results of MET FISH and IHC were compared using one-way ANOVA. Polysomy-induced MET amplification was observed in 14.4% of cases, and focal MET amplification was not detected. Polysomy-induced MET amplification was associated with a higher frequency of lymph node metastasis (LNM) (P < 0.001) and higher tumor budding grade (P = 0.02). In the survival analysis, significant difference was detected between patients with amplified- and non-amplified MET in a two-year follow-up after the first diagnosis (P = 0.001). C-MET scores of 0, 1+, 2+, and 3+ were observed in 1.4%, 24.9%, 54.7%, and 19.0% of tumors, respectively. C-MET overexpression correlated with higher frequency of LNM (P = 0.002), but no significant difference of PFS was detected between patients with different protein levels. In terms of concordance between MET FISH and IHC results, MET copy number showed no difference in c-MET IHC 0/1+ (3.35 ± 0.18), 2+ (3.29 ± 0.11) and 3+ (3.58 ± 0.22) cohorts, and the MET-to-CEP7 ratio showed no difference in three groups (1.09 ± 0.02, 1.10 ± 0.01, and 1.09 ± 0.03). In CRC, focal MET amplification was a rare event. Polysomy-induced MET amplification correlated with adverse pathological characteristics and poor prognosis. IHC was a poor screening tool for MET amplification.