Different Locations In Lithuania Research Articles

THE REALISATION OF CHILDREN’S RIGHT TO PARTICIPATION IN COMMUNITY CHILDREN’S CARE HOMES

The article reveals the findings of a qualitative study the aim of which was to identify the realities of the realisation of the children’s right to participation in the community children’s care home (hereinafter referred to as CCCH). Research questions of the study: What are real possibilities for children to realise their right to participate in the decision taking in CCCH? How are children involved in decision taking? Nine social workers, working in CCCHs in different locations in Lithuania, participated in the study.The study revealed that to realise the child’s right for participation a positive attitude of an employee towards child’s participation. The positive attitude of an employee should be linked to a child-centre approach, which includes attentiveness to every child, openness to the child’s experience, opinion, non-dominance of an adult and the acknowledgement of the child being the expert of his situation. To realise the child’s right for participation establishment and maintenance of positive relationships with the child by employees which is linked to a respectful communication with the child, trust in the child and the child’s trust in the employee. It is also important to provide the child with information regarding his right for participation by informing that employees are ready to listen to him and that he has a right to express his opinion on different topics regarding himself. Another important aspect of the realisation of the child’s right for participation is cooperation with the child which is expressed through the provision of information in the manner which is understandable to the child, his empowerment to participate when taking decisions, listening to his opinion, taking into consideration his opinion, in order to ensure his best interests, the analysis of situations and discussions with children when taking decisions, assistance, but not substitutionary help when the child takes decisions. The study revealed that CCCHs create conditions for the child’s right for participation to be realised in his daily activity which is expressed the child’s participation when drawing up CCCH’s rules and adhering to them, planning and organising his leisure time, the child’s involvement in the creation and maintenance of personal and common spaces, daily choruses.

THE OPPORTUNITIES TO DEVELOP COMMUNICATION AND COOPERATION SKILLS AT CHILDREN'S COMMUNITY CARE HOMES

The purpose of the article is to reveal the opportunities to develop communication and cooperation skills in children living at children’s community care homes (further on CCCHs) based on the experience of social workers working at CCCHs. Problematic question: What are real opportunities for children to develop communication and cooperation skills while living at CCCHs? Nine social workers, who work at CCCHs in seven different locations in Lithuania, participated in the research. The study revealed that, while living at CCCHS, the opportunities to develop communication and cooperation skills change in the positive direction. At CCCHs, a positive family environment, in which closer and warmer relationships form, is created, more time is devoted to mutual communication. Children develop communication and cooperation skills while creating home rules, negotiating and obliging themselves to stick to the set order, learning to create and maintain harmonious mutual realtionships, empasising attentiveness, politeness, empathy, as well as learning to resolve problems and conflicts in a constructive manner, conculting and agreeing regarding the ways to spend their leisure time. In addition, children, while expanding their social ties in their community, learn to coexist with others, as well as to develop social resilience while learning to resist the pressure of others, not to give in to bad influences, to trust their own strength and to take decisions independently.

Meteorological Conditions in a Temperate Climate for Colletotrichum acutatum, Strawberry Pathogen Distribution and Susceptibility of Different Cultivars to Anthracnose

Previously, Colletotrichum spp. has been considered a warmer climate pathogen as these meteorological conditions are most optimal for its development. However, climate change is fostering the spread of plant disease and complicating the ability to predict meteorological conditions for disease development. This study aims to determine meteorological conditions for anthracnose development, evaluate the susceptibility of different strawberry cultivars and detect the distribution of strawberry pathogens in temperate climate conditions. The experiment was carried out in the Institute of Horticulture Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry (LAMMC) in Lithuania during the 2018–2019 strawberry growing season. To evaluate the contamination levels (fungal and bacterial pathogens) of strawberry plant parts, soil and susceptibility to Colletotrichumacutatum, samples were collected at four different locations in Lithuania from eleven cultivars. The results revealed that Colletotrichum spp. was not equally prevalent in the soil at all strawberry farms tested. The evaluation indicated that strawberry leaves and stems were similarly contaminated with pathogenic fungi. The most frequently isolated fungi from the leaves and stems were Mycosphaerella spp., Alternaria spp., Fusarium spp., Colletotrichum spp., Phytophthora spp., and Botrytis spp. Our study confirmed that the response of cultivar susceptibility to C. acutatum was unequal. The most suitable temperature for C.acutatum development was 25 °C. Monitoring of meteorological conditions, evaluation of inoculum source and appropriate cultivar selection could reduce or avoid yield losses caused by the C. acutatum.

Biogas production from chicken manure at different organic loading rates in a mesophilic full scale anaerobic digestion plant

The objective of this work was to determine the potential of using chicken manure (CM) as a sole feedstock for renewable biogas production under anaerobic conditions before spreading the digested chicken manure biomass on the fields as an organic biofertilizer. The chicken manure samples from four different locations of Lithuania were analysed and compared in order to better understand the chemical composition of the locally generated biomass resource. The annual quantities of chicken manure produced were investigated allowing estimation of the biogas potential if such biomass was treated anaerobically. Laboratory biomethane potential (BMP) tests performed indicated the biogas potential of methane – 508 mL CH4 g−1 VS added and this result was compared to biogas yields obtained in full scale anaerobic digestion plant using manure as a core substrate. Fermentation process data analysis of anaerobic digestion performance indicates that the system is able to adapt even if the same operational conditions, such as organic loading rate and retention time are applied. Once adapted, the performance of biogas plant fermenter was able to deliver 93% of chicken manure biogas potential with an OLR of 3.14 kg VS L−1d−1 and TAN concentration of 5.5 g L−1. The results indicated that it is possible to digest chicken manure as a stand-alone feedstock if ammonium concentration was carefully controlled via optimized fresh water dilution process.

Investigation of Babesia spp. in sympatric populations of Dermacentor reticulatus and Ixodes ricinus ticks in Lithuania and Latvia

The objectives of the present study were to investigate the presence of the Babesia parasites in Dermacentor reticulatus ticks along its current distribution range in Lithuania and Latvia, and Ixodes ricinus in Lithuania, to characterize the detected Babesia spp. using partial sequencing of 18S rRNR gene, and to determine the prevalence of the Babesia pathogens in ticks from different locations of Lithuania and Latvia. From 2013 to 2015, four D. reticulatus nymphs and 2255 questing adults were collected from 40 locations in Lithuania, and 181 questing adult D. reticulatus specimens from 11 locations in Latvia. In Lithuania, 16 questing I. ricinus nymphs and 354 questing adults were collected from 12 locations with the sympatric existence of D. reticulatus and I. ricinus. In Lithuania, Babesia spp. were detected in 1.2% (26/2259) of D. reticulatus and in 9.5% (35/370) of I. ricinus ticks. The overall prevalence of Babesia in D. reticulatus ticks from Latvia was 2.8% (5/181). Sequence analysis of partial 18S rRNA gene of positive samples indicated the presence of B. canis and B. venatorum in D. reticulatus ticks, whereas B. microti and B. venatorum were detected in I. ricinus ticks. Our study is the first investigation on the prevalence and molecular characterization of zoonotic B. canis, B. venatorum, and B. microti in ixodid ticks in Lithuania, and of B. canis in D. reticulatus ticks in Latvia. It is also the first report of B. venatorum in D. reticulatus ticks.

Screening of antioxidant activity and volatile compounds composition of Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Holub ecotypes grown in Lithuania

Since biological activity of medicinal plants is dependent on cultivation area, climatic conditions, developmental stage, genetic modifications and other factors, it is important to study flora present in different growing sites and geographical zones. This study was focused on screening of antioxidant activity of C. angustifolium harvested in six different locations in Lithuania. The total contents of phenolic compounds, flavonoids and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity were evaluated by spectrophotometric methods. A correlation between radical scavenging activity and total phenolic compounds content was observed (correlation coefficient 0.98). HPLC with online post-column DPPH radical scavenging reaction detection was used for the separation of extracts. Oenothein B, rutin and one unidentified compound were predominant. Volatile compounds were analysed using solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Based on the analysis of volatiles, all samples were classified into two chemotypes: (I) with predominant α- and β-caryophyllenes and (II) with predominant anethole.

Evaluation of phytochemical composition of fresh and dried raw material of introduced Chamerion angustifolium L. using chromatographic, spectrophotometric and chemometric techniques

Due to the wide spectrum of biological activities, Chamerion angustifolium L. as medicinal plant is used for the production of food supplements. However, it should be kept in mind that quality (biological activity) of the herb depends on its geographic origin, the way of raw material preparation or extraction and chemotype. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the compositions of volatile, non-volatile compounds and antioxidant activities of C. angustifolium grown in Kaunas Botanical Garden after the introduction from different locations in Lithuania. The compositions of fresh and air-dried samples were compared.The profile of volatile compounds was analyzed using headspace solid phase microextraction coupled with GC/MS. trans-2-Hexenal (16.0–55.9% of all volatiles) and trans-anethole (2.6–46.2%) were determined only in the dried samples, while cis-3-hexenol (17.5–68.6%) only in fresh samples. Caryophyllenes (α- and β-) were found in all analyzed samples, contributing together from 2.4% to 52.3% of all volatiles according to the origin and preparation (fresh or dried) of a sample. Total amount of phenolic compounds, total content of flavonoids and radical scavenging activity (using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)) were determined using spectrophotometric assays. The variation of total phenolic compounds content was dependent on the sample origin, moreover, drying reduced amount of phenolics 1.5–3.5 times. The DPPH free radical scavenging activity was in the range of 238.6–557.1mg/g (expressed in rutin equivalents) in the fresh samples and drastically reduced to 119.9–124.8mg/g after drying. The qualitative analysis of phenolic compounds in the aqueous methanolic extracts of C. angustifolium was performed by means of HPLC with UV detection. Oenothein B and rutin were predominant in the samples; also caffeic and chlorogenic acids, and quercetin were determined. Chemometric methods, namely principal component analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis and K-means clustering analysis, were applied for evaluation of the results. Chemometric analysis showed existence of different chemotypes of C. angustifolium L. and their relation to the geographic origin.

Sensitivity of Mycosphaerella graminicola isolates to demethylation-inhibiting (DMI) fungicides

Mycosphaerella graminicola (Fuckel) J. Schrot. (anamorph Zymoseptoria tritici (Desm.) Quaedvlieg & Crous) causes Septoria leaf blotch disease of wheat. The disease can be responsible for yield losses of 30–50% and, when severe, requires management with a fungicide. Single picnidia isolates collected from different locations of Lithuania were tested in vitro for sensitivity to demethylation-inhibiting (DMI) fungicides epoxiconazole, cyproconazole and prothioconazole. Fungicide concentrations were chosen from the proposed Fungicide Resistance Action Committee (FRAC) methods. Microtitre plates with 96-wells were inoculated with suspensions of pycnidiospores taken from single pycnidia of leaves. In total, 196 isolates from 34 locations were tested over the three experimental years (2009–2011). The results showed reduced sensitivity of M. graminicola isolates to epoxiconazole and cyproconazole. The average EC 50 values over three experimental years for epoxiconazole varied between 1.02 and 3.15 mg l -1 , for cyproconazole – 1.51 and 10.66 mg l -1 . The sensitivity to prothioconazole of 64 isolates from 13 locations (2011) ranged from 0.43 to 32.28 mg l -1 . Results of field experiments (2007– 2011) showed that fungicides epoxiconazole and prothioconazole significantly reduced the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC) values of Septoria leaf blotch compared with untreated plots in winter wheat. In most cases, a single fungicide application significantly increased grain yield and a thousand grain weight weight.

Non-Fermentative Gram-Negative Bacteria in Drinking Water

The description of a microbiological community of drinking water distribution systems is intended for a safe and proper use of drinking water. These studies were aimed at characterising the microbial condition of the drinking water supply system in Lithuania by means of culture-based methods and biochemical techniques. Samples of drinking water (in cities supplied in centralised way from taps, wells, and boreholes) were collected in different locations in Lithuania. Seeking to grow microflora present in water the membrane filtration method was applied to study the samples. Most often water samples were studied to identify coliform bacteria (Citrobacter spp., Enterobacter spp., Klebsiella spp., Serratia spp.), Escherichia coli (or faecal coliform), Enterococci (or fecal Streptococcus), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (other non-fermentative gram-negative bacteria) according to the international ISO standards. Large amounts of non-fermenting gram-negative bacteria were found in centralised urban water. The investigation showed that more than 50% of the wells under study had increased microbial contamination with faecal coliform bacteria and faecal Streptococcus. Bacteria of the Pseudomonas group, CDC group and other non-fermentative gram-negative bacteria were detected in more than 30% samples of centralised urban water studied.

Pollen diversity in honey collected from Lithuania’s protected landscape areas

The aim of the present work was to describe the most unique pollen found in the honey collected in protected landscapes of Lithuania. Honey samples were collected from Lithuania's protected landscape areas to study the botanical origin of pollen. A total of 17 samples of honey were obtained from different protected geographical locations of Lithuania: Varduva Scenic Landscape Reserve, Salantai Regional Park, Žemaitija National Park, Dzūkija National Park, from the border between Poland and Lithuania in the Lazdijai District, Armona Geological Reserve, Gomerta Landscape Reserve, and Krekenava Regional Park. Botanical origin of honey was determined by the melissopalynology method. Monofloral lime honey was specific for the south (Dzūkija National Park) and east (Armona Geological Reserve) of Lithuania, where pollen of Tilia cordata Mill. made up 79.0% and 53.9%, respectively. Monofloral caraway honey was found in the Salantai Regional Park close to Žemaitija National Park and in the Armona Geological Reserve. In these locations Carum carvi L. pollen in this type of honey accounted for 50.19% and 82.8%, respectively. Honey with the highest content of Fagopyrum esculentum M. pollen (close to 100%) was collected from Dzūkija National Park. Monofloral honey from Onobrychis Mill. was characteristic mainly of the Lazdijai District. Onobrychis Mill. pollen accounted for 52.1-54.4% of the monofloral honey and 9.2-17.8% of the polyfloral honey. Monofloral Frangula alnus Mill. honey was found only in the Lazdijai District, where the dominant F. alnus pollen made up 46.1-52.1%. Salix spp. pollen was identified in all kinds of honey collected in different locations of Lithuania.

Caryophyllene Oxide-rich Essential Oils of Lithuanian Artemisia campestris ssp. campestris and Their Toxicity

The chemical composition of the essential oils of aerial parts of Artemisia campestris ssp. campestris, collected from ten different locations in Lithuania is detailed in this paper. The major component in all the oils was caryophyllene oxide (8.5-38.8%), whereas compounds with the caryophyllane skeleton ranged from 10.2 to 44.5%. Other representative constituents were germacrene D (< or = 15.0%), humulene epoxide II (< or = 8.1%), beta-ylangene (< or = 7.7%), spathulenol (< or = 6.8%), beta-elemene (< or = 6.8%), beta-caryophyllene (< or = 6.2%), junenol (< or = 6.1%) and alpha- or beta-pinene (< or = 5.5%). Eighty-seven compounds were identified, comprising 73.6-92.3% of the oils. The chemical composition was highly variable depending on the sample location. Toxicity of A. campestris oils was determined using the brine shrimp (Artemia sp.) assay. LC50 values ranging to 20 microg/mL were obtained for three of the oils after 24 hours of exposure. Data of this test revealed that A. campestris ssp. campestris essential oils with dominant caryophyllene oxide are notably toxic.

Variability of phenolic compounds in flowers of Achillea millefolium wild populations in Lithuania

Achillea millefolium L. sensu lato (yarrow) is the best-known species of the genus Achillea due to numerous medicinal applications both in folk and conventional medicine. Phenolic compounds such as flavonoids and phenol carbonic acids are present in yarrow and constitute one of the most important groups of pharmacologically active substances. In the present study, yarrow flowers gathered from native populations in different locations of Lithuania were analyzed for phenolic compound composition. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used for chemical analyses. Eight phenolic compounds--chlorogenic acid and flavonoids, namely vicenin-2, luteolin-3',7-di-O-glucoside, luteolin-7-O-glucoside, rutin, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, luteolin, and apigenin--were identified in the extracts from yarrow flowers. Considerable variation in accumulation of phenolic compounds among the flowers from different locations was observed. The samples were divided into two main groups based on chemical composition: the first group was characterized by lower than the mean total amount of the identified phenolics; the second was formed from samples accumulating higher concentrations of investigated secondary metabolites. The total amount of the identified phenolics in yarrow flowers from different populations varied from 13.290 to 27.947 mg/g.

Prevalence of Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia divergens in Ixodes ricinus ticks from Lithuania and Norway

We detected Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia divergens in Ixodes ricinus ticks collected from different locations in Lithuania and Norway by using the Taq Man based real-time PCR method. The msp2 gene of A. phagocytophilum and the 18S rRNA gene of B. divergens have been chosen as amplification targets. The overall infection rate of A. phagocytophilum in Norwegian ticks was 4.5% (10/224) and in Lithuanian ticks 3% (4/140). The prevalence varied in locations between 0% and 9% in Lithuania and in Norway. Three out of 140 (2%) ticks were infected with B. divergens in Lithuania and two out of 224 (0.9%) in Norway. The prevalence of B. divergens infection varied from 0% to 3% and from 0% to 4% in different sites in Lithuania and Norway, respectively.

Chemotypes of Achillea millefolium transferred from 14 different locations in Lithuania to the controlled environment

The composition of essential oils hydrodistilled from 19 samples of inflorescences and leaves of Achillea millefolium L. plants, which were transferred from 14 natural habitats in Lithuania to the field collection, is reported. Total content of oil was 0.15–0.55% in inflorescences and 0.06–0.19% (v/w) in leaves. In total 117 compounds were identified positively or tentatively. Data obtained clearly indicate the presence of a remarkable chemical polymorphism within the population of A. millefolium in Lithuania. The content of the major constituents in the oils from inflorescences varied in the following ranges: β-pinene, 0.33–62.29%; β-myrcene, 0.05–69.76%; α-phelandrene, 0.13–29.96%; 1,8-cineole, 2.30–21.57%; and chamazulene, 0.08–30.70%. According to the major components the essential oils' six chemotypes of A. millefolium were defined.

Radical scavenging activity and composition of raspberry ( Rubus idaeus) leaves from different locations in Lithuania

Raspberry ( Rubus idaeus) leaves, collected in different locations of Lithuania were extracted with ethanol and the extracts were tested for their antioxidant activity (AA) by using ABTS + decolourisation and DPPH scavenging methods. All extracts were active, with radical scavenging capacity at the used concentrations from 20.5 to 82.5% in DPPH reaction system and from 8.0 to 42.7% in ABTS + reaction. The total amount of phenolic compounds in the leaves varied from 4.8 to 12.0 mg of gallic acid equivalents (GAE) in 1 g of plant extract. Quercetin glucuronide, quercetin-3- O-glucoside and rutin were identified in the extracts.

Genetics Polymorphism Study of Ixodes Ricinus L. Populations in Lithuania using RAPD Markers

Ixodes ricinus ticks are common and widespread in Lithuania. They are the main vector in transmission of infectious diseases like tick-born encephalitis, Lyme borreliosis and human granulocytic ehrlichiosis. The aim of our study was to investigate genetic variability of I. ricinus ticks in Lithuania. I. ricinus ticks were collected from different locations of Lithuania. Data on genetic polymorphism of I. ricinus were used to determinate genetic distances within and among different Lithuanian populations in this species. At first, 103 collected ticks were analysed using specifics for I. ricinus new primers designed by A. Jenkins for taxonomic identification. PCR analysis data showed that all ticks were I. ricinus. Polymorphism of I. ricinus was analysed using the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method. 47 DNA samples of I. ricinus ticks were used for RAPD reaction. Ten arbitrary sequence decamers were used as primers. Reproducible amplification patterns were obtained using five primers. RAPD analys...

Composition of Essential Oils of Pinus sylvestris L. from Different Locations of Lithuania

Oils of Pinus sylvestris L. produced from plant material collected from different locations in Lithuania have been investigated by GC and GC/MS. The oil content in many samples was approximately 1 mL/100 g (dry weight) with few exceptions when it was slightly higher or lower. More than 70 constituents were identified (64 positively and 10 tentatively) in the oils. α-Pinene (18.5-33.0%) and δ-3-carene (9.1-24.6%) were dominating constituents with the only one exception when the germacrene-4-ol content in one of the samples was 13.2%. The important bornyl acetate content varied from 0.5% to 3.0%. The main sesquiterpenes were β-caryophyllene, germacrene D, bicyclogermacrene, δ-cadinene, γ-cadinene, germacrene D-4-ol, cubenol (2.0-5.1%) and α-cadinol (1.9-7.7%).