Period Of Formation Research Articles

Stratigraphic pattern of soil remnants, cultural and colluvial deposits in a small dry valley in the Viking settlement Hedeby, Northern Germany

This study aimed to identify spatial distribution of soil remnants, colluvial and cultural deposits in a small dry valley of the early medieval Viking settlement Hedeby; reconstruct factors of soil destruction and main phases of deposits formation. Hedeby (54° 29′ 27.77″ N, 9° 33′ 54.42″ E) is located approximately 40 km northwest of Kiel, Northern Germany, at the western shore of the lake Haddebyer Noor. The protected status of the settlement as a UNESCO heritage site predetermined the choice of a minimum-destructive technique of coring.The stratigraphy demonstrated that the main factors of soil destruction were surface erosion, incorporation of the soil horizon A into a cultural layer and extraction of soil material for earthwork formation such as construction of the semi-circular fortification rampart. Buried soil horizons were additionally mixed by active local bioturbation.Three periods of deposit formation were identified. The occurrence of soil erosion due to intensive deforestation in the earliest period of settlement erection was indicated by the deepest colluvial layer M1. During the Viking settlement period formation of the exposed colluvial layer M2 and cultural deposits must have been simultaneous but at different locations. After the Viking Age settlement period, the erosion was activated by agricultural land use in late medieval time. This was clearly seen in the central part of the valley, where cultural deposits were covered by colluvium.This study closes a gap in the long-term archaeological and geoarchaeological study of Hedeby, i.e. it contributes to the discussion of the relationship between human activity and landscape development in this significant settlement. Moreover, it brings new knowledge on the large-scale vision of the landscape transformation performed by Viking Age settlers.

The monks of San Millán: Investigating the transition between pre-monastic and monastic diet using carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios in incremental dentine

From the early Medieval period, Christian monasteries were wealthy and powerful, and played a central role in both religious and political life. Those who entered the monasteries did so at the age of 7–8 years and were drawn from a wide range of social strata. From that point, they were subject to the dietary rules imposed by the rules of each monastic order. In order to assess the origins and diet of 10 monks who lived in the monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla Yuso (La Rioja, Spain) during the 17th – 18th century, collagen from small sections of human dentine (representing the childhood diet) and from ribs (an average of the last 5–10 years of adult diet) was measured to establish lifetime variations in the isotope ratios of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N). Bulk collagen δ13C (overall mean = -18.2‰ +/-0.4) and δ15N (overall mean = 12.6‰ +/-0.8) values from the ribs suggest 2 adult cohorts: one with a diet based on C3 plants and a high intake of protein from meat or dairy products and some marine resources and a second cohort with some C4 plant consumption alongside meat and dairy. Data from the dentine sections revealed different dietary patterns during the period of tooth formation among the monks, suggesting that 4 of them entered the monastery after consuming lower status diets during childhood.

In vivo and molecular docking studies of the pathological mechanism underlying adriamycin cardiotoxicity

Adriamycin (ADR), one of the most effective broad-spectrum antitumor chemotherapeutic agents in clinical practice, is used to treat solid tumors as well as hematological malignancies in adults and children. However, long-term ADR use causes several adverse reactions, including time- and dose-dependent cardiotoxicity, which limit its clinical application. In addition, the mechanism by which ADR induces cardiotoxicity remains unclear. Therefore, we used zebrafish as animal models to evaluate ADR toxicity during embryonic heart development owing to the similarity of this process in zebrafish to that in humans. Exposure of zebrafish embryos to 1.25, 2.5, and 5 mg/L ADR induced abnormal embryonic development, with the occurrence of cardiac malformations, pericardial edema, decreased movement speed and activity, and increased distance between the venous sinus and the arterial bulb (SV-BA). ADR exposure induced dysregulated cardiogenesis during the precardiac mesoderm formation period. We also observed irregular expression of cardiac-related genes, an upregulation of apoptotic gene expression, and a dose-dependent increase in oxidative stress levels. Furthermore, oxidative stress-induced apoptosis exerted deleterious effects on cardiac development in zebrafish embryos, and treatment with astaxanthin (ATX) alleviated these heart defects. ADR- and Wnt pathway-related genes exhibited good energy and spatial matching, and ADR upregulated the Wnt signaling pathway in zebrafish. Moreover, IWR-1 effectively alleviated ADR-induced heart defects. In conclusion, we demonstrated that the toxic effects of ADR on cardiac development in zebrafish embryos could provide a theoretical basis for explaining the pathogenesis of ADR-induced cardiotoxicity, which occurs through the upregulation of oxidative stress and Wnt signaling pathway, as well as its prevention and treatment in humans. These findings will help develop effective treatment strategies to combat ADR-induced cardiotoxicity and broaden the application of ADR for clinical practice.

Stages of plastic surgery’s development

The article is devoted to the analysis of the main stages in the development of the history of plastic surgery as one of the important sections of surgery that deals with aesthetic aspects of human health and has always been an integral part of medicine. The purpose of the article is to identify and characterize the main periods of the formation and development of plastic surgery. While writing the article, comparative historical and analytical methods of historical and medical research were used. The main results consist in presenting the stages of development of plastic surgery, starting from the era of the Ancient World, and ending with Modern times. A description of the contribution to plastic surgery of the most prominent representatives of this field is presented. In conclusion, it is concluded that there are three periods of plastic surgery development: the empirical period (II century BC - mid-XIX century), the period of formation of the foundations of plastic surgery (mid-XIX century - 1950s), the modern period (1960s - present).

Накопление фенольных соединений в плодах новых интродуцированных сортов жимолости съедобной (Lonicera edulis Turcz. ex Freyn) в условиях Беларуси

The results of a comparative study in the southern agroclimatic zone of Belarus in the contrasting hydrothermal regime seasons of 2021 and 2022 are presented. parameters of accumulation of the main groups of bioflavonoids and tannins in the fruits of 5 new introduced varieties of edible honeysuckle - Aurora, Honeybee, Indigo Gem, Wojtek, Zojka and the zoned variety Leningradsky giant, chosen as a comparison standard. It was established that the reduced and very uneven temperature background of the second season during the period of fruit formation contributed to their preferential enrichment in comparison with the previous, warmer season by 8-50 % in anthocyanins proper and by 13-43 % in tannins, the most significant in the first case in varieties Honey bee, in the second - in varieties Leningradsky giant and Indigo gem, against the background of a predominant depletion of 14-38 % in leukoanthocyanins and to a lesser extent (by 6-14 %) in catechins in the absence of significant interseasonal differences in the accumulation of flavonols and in most cases in overall output of P-vitamins. In most honeysuckle taxa, especially in the Honey bee variety, a positive effect of an unfavorable temperature background on the totality of the characteristics of the phenolic complex of fruits and a negative one in the Indigo gem variety were found, with the most pronounced resistance to this factor in the Wojtek variety.

The Isolation, Immobilization, and Characterization of Urease from The Seeds of Winged Bean (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) DC.

Urease has been utilized in the field of health and industry. Urease is commonly used in the form of free enzyme, so that the utilization is limited. Urease efficiency can be improved using immobilization enzyme. This research aimed to do the urease isolation, immobilization, and characterization from the winged bean seeds. This research was started by determining the amino-acid content of winged bean seeds using the Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS). The winged bean seeds were germinated and extracted. The obtained crude extract’s activity was determined using Nessler reagent and measured using UV-Vis spectrophotometer with the wavelength of 500 nm. The urease of winged bean seeds was immobilized using the alginate matrix. The optimization of urease-immobilized beads could be made through the variations of natrium alginate concentration and beads formation periods in solution CaCl2. Characterization free and immobilized urease were made using the variations of urea substrate concentration, pH, temperature, and also the repeated utilization of immobilized urease. Winged bean seeds are rich with essential amino acid, such as leucine, isoleucine, histidine, phenylalanine, and valine. The urease obtained from the winged bean seeds had the optimum activity in the germination period of 8 days. The urease immobilization showed the optimum condition in the natrium alginate concentration of 5% (w/v) and beads formation period in solution CaCl2 for 60 minutes. The characterization results of free urease and immobilization had the optimum condition at the urea substrate of 0.2 M, and pH 7. Free urease had the optimum temperature of 35 oC, while the immobilized urease had the optimum temperature of 40 oC. The immobilized urease had the utilization stability up to 5 times with the relative activity of 48%. The EDX analysis results showed that the alginate did not contain N, while alginate urease beads contained N as much as 12%.

Co-regulatory effects of hormone and mRNA-miRNA module on flower bud formation of Camellia oleifera.

Few flower buds in a high-yield year are the main factors restricting the yield of Camellia oleifera in the next year. However, there are no relevant reports on the regulation mechanism of flower bud formation. In this study, hormones, mRNAs, and miRNAs were tested during flower bud formation in MY3 ("Min Yu 3," with stable yield in different years) and QY2 ("Qian Yu 2," with less flower bud formation in a high-yield year) cultivars. The results showed that except for IAA, the hormone contents of GA3, ABA, tZ, JA, and SA in the buds were higher than those in the fruit, and the contents of all hormones in the buds were higher than those in the adjacent tissues. This excluded the effect of hormones produced from the fruit on flower bud formation. The difference in hormones showed that 21-30 April was the critical period for flower bud formation in C. oleifera; the JA content in MY3 was higher than that in QY2, but a lower concentration of GA3 contributed to the formation of the C. oleifera flower bud. JA and GA3 might have different effects on flower bud formation. Comprehensive analysis of the RNA-seq data showed that differentially expressed genes were notably enriched in hormone signal transduction and the circadian system. Flower bud formation in MY3 was induced through the plant hormone receptor TIR1 (transport inhibitor response 1) of the IAA signaling pathway, the miR535-GID1c module of the GA signaling pathway, and the miR395-JAZ module of the JA signaling pathway. In addition, the expression of core clock components GI (GIGANTEA) and CO (CONSTANS) in MY3 increased 2.3-fold and 1.8-fold over that in QY2, respectively, indicating that the circadian system also played a role in promoting flower bud formation in MY3. Finally, the hormone signaling pathway and circadian system transmitted flowering signals to the floral meristem characteristic genes LFY (LEAFY) and AP1 (APETALA 1) via FT (FLOWERING LOCUS T) and SOC1 (SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CO 1) to regulate flower bud formation. These data will provide the basis for understanding the mechanism of flower bud alternate formation and formulating high yield regulation measures for C. oleifera.

Combination model-based numerical simulation of the mineralizing processes within iron oxide-apatite systems

Iron oxide-apatite (IOA) deposits are high grade iron magmatic-hydrothermal mineral deposits having significant economic values and extremely complex and coupled forming processes. The combination model of ore deposits is a model integrating characteristics of several deposits with the same genetic type or sharing close temporal-spatial correlations. This research highlights the usage of numerical simulation method and combination model of deposits in quantitatively analyzing ore-forming processes during the formation of IOA systems and views the future developments of numerical modeling in ore geology research. Our numerical model couples heat transfer, pressure, fluid-flow, chemical reactions and migration of ore-forming materials. Results match the fact that temperature reduction and pressure variation are two key factors controlling the temporal-spatial distribution of iron mineralization, and results of cooling process indicates that a single period of ore formation of IOA deposits may last no more than 12,200 years, a timespan much shorter than previously estimated. These results are obtained based on the concept of combination model of IOA systems, providing quantitative information reflecting the generation of IOA deposits. However, the methods in our research are stills limitations remained, such as uncertainty of pre-metallogenic conditions and restriction from elementary reactions. Future advances in analytical methods and mathematical models will definitely improve the practicality of combination model of deposits and numerical modeling of ore formation, and provide quantitative answers for existing problems related to mineral deposits.

Theoretical-legal and historical characteristics of the volunteer institute in Ukraine: the modern dimension

Purpose. The purpose of the work is a theoretical and legal analysis of the institution of volunteering in Ukraine, in particular in the modern dimension, taking into account the historical picture of the past and the prospects for the development of the present. Methodology. The methodology includes a comprehensive analysis and generalization of the available scientific and theoretical material and the formulation of relevant conclusions and recommendations. The following methods of scientific knowledge were used during the research: empirical, comparative, logical-semantic, systemic-structural. Results: In the process of this scientific and legal research, it was established that volunteer activity is a voluntary, socially oriented, non-profit activity carried out by volunteers by providing volunteer assistance. In addition, it is determined that a volunteer is a natural person who voluntarily carries out socially oriented non-profit activities by providing volunteer assistance. At the same time, it was established and described in the course of the research that the development of volunteering in the world began as far back as the 19th century. At a time when volunteer activity in Ukraine is gaining momentum after the high-profile events of 2013 and is starting its new formation in the existence of a sovereign, independent, democratic, social, legal state. The implemented development encourages the legislator to create normative legal acts that would carry out proper regulation of active social activities. At the same time, the created legal framework needs to be improved in order to meet the modern course. Originality. In the process of the research, a comparative legal analysis was carried out, in particular, in the part of the historical aspects of the formation of volunteer activity and the development of the institution of volunteering in modern Ukraine. Practical significance. The obtained research results can be used in the future for the implementation of scientific developments and the solution of actual legal and scientific problems regarding the functioning of the volunteering institute in modern Ukraine. In addition, the presented results can be applied in historical and legal research, in particular, in determining the period of formation and active development of volunteer activity in a sovereign, independent, democratic, social, legal state. The obtained results can also be useful for the next steps of the legal study of the problems of regulatory regulation of the volunteering institute in order to determine the level of the need to improve the current legal framework.

Урожайність пшениці озимої в умовах дефіциту вологи на дерново-підзолистому ґрунті

Goal. To investigate the peculiarities of the formation of productivity and grain quality of winter wheat at different levels of organo-mineral nutrition in the Polissia zone. Methods. Field — stationary experiment; laboratory — determination of quality indicators of soil and grain according to the generally accepted methods; the processing of experimental data — using Microsoft Office Excel computer program. Results. Research conducted during 2016–2020 on the dynamics of moisture reserves in sod-podzolic drained soil had established that during the period of grain formation and swelling, productive moisture reserves in the 0–100 cm soil layer decreased to a critical level of 60–80 mm (by 130–200 mm — during the period of vegetation recovery). In conditions of low soil moisture, 2.67 t/ha of grain (14.1% increase compared to absolute control) was obtained under the biological fertilizer system (byproducts of soybeans). Against the background of the by-products the introduction of the recommended for the zone dose of mineral fertili­zers (N60P60K60), the yield of grain increased to 3.52 t/ha. The highest grain productivity (3.86 t/ha) was obtained with the use of an increased (intensive) dose of mineral fertilizers (N90P90K90) with a se­parate application of nitrogen in 3 stages (N30 — for sowing, N30 — at the output to the tube, N30 — at grain swelling) in combination with side products. The fullness of the wheat grain did not depend significantly on the fertilizer system. The weight of 1000 seeds was 41.0–43.0 g, the grain quality index was within 738–748 g/l. The protein content in the versions with fertilizer application was 13.7–14.2%, on the increased background — 14.5%, which was 1.6% more than the indicator in the control version. Conclusions. The highest level of profitability of growing winter wheat was achieved under the biological fertilizer system using soybean by-products — 150%. Although the application of the enhanced fertilizer system (N90P90K90) in combination with by-products resulted in the highest grain yield (3.52 t/ha) and its protein content (14.5%), the profitability of winter wheat cultivation decreased to 68%. That is, mineral fertilizers increase and improve the quality indicators of grain and at the same time reduce the profitability of crop cultivation.

Production of PBHs from inflaton structures

At times prior to Big Bang Nucleosynthesis, the universe could show a primordial structure formation period if dominated by a fast oscillating inflaton field during reheating. In this context, we have postulated a new mechanism of primordial black hole formation [L. E. Padilla, J. C. Hidalgo, and K. A. Malik, Phys. Rev. D, vol. 106, p. 023519, Jul 2022], that draws the analogy between an extended reheating era and the scalar field dark matter model, stipulating the gravitational collapse of inflaton halos and inflaton stars. In this paper we look at the requirements for the realization of this new mechanism. We show that a generic primordial power spectrum with a peak at small scales is most suitable for the production of a considerable number of PBHs. When such requirement is met, and if reheating lasts long enough, large populations of PBHs with $M_{\rm PBH}\sim 1~\mathrm{gram}$ may be produced. We find in particular, that the mass fraction of PBHs is orders of magnitude larger than that obtained when PBHs form via direct collapse in a universe dominated by radiation or pressure-less dust. Looking at observable implications of our findings, we explore the possibility that the PBHs component may dominate the energy density of the universe at some point after the end of reheating.

An injectable and rapidly degraded carboxymethyl chitosan/polyethylene glycol hydrogel for postoperative antiadhesion

Postoperative peritoneal adhesion will result in serious complications for patients and increase their hospitalization costs. The critical period for postoperative adhesion formation is 3–5 days after surgery. Constructing a simple, safe and rapidly degradable material for postoperative antiadhesion is still a great challenge. Herein, an injectable and biocompatible hydrogel was fabricated via Schiff base reaction between carboxymethyl chitosan (CMC) and dialdehyde-functionalized polyethylene glycol (DF-PEG), which exhibited wet tissue adhesion, self-healing property and attractive rapid degradation performance within one week. The CMC/DF-PEG hydrogel can cover irregular wounds and fix on the targeted tissue in situ, generating physical barrier for antiadhesion. In the cecum-sidewall abrasion model, the CMC/DF-PEG hydrogel powerfully reduced the severity of peritoneal adhesion. Notably, the mechanism of antiadhesion was associated with its ability to balance the extracellular matrix (ECM), fibrinolytic system and inhibit inflammatory responses during the healing of peritoneal injuries. Thus, the matched degradation performance and barrier effect make the CMC/DF-PEG hydrogel a promising solution for postoperative antiadhesion in surgery.

Increasing thermal conductivity in aluminium-copper compound castings: modelling and experiments

Compound cast heat sinks have various advantages over conventionally manufactured ones, but oxides present on the metals and formation of a brittle intermetallic layer (IMC) make casting difficult. In the present study, a novel approach was used that employs a silane-doped argon environment to overcome these issues. Oxidation could be fully suppressed and thermal heat conductivities around 67 W/(m·K) were obtained for the compound zone. The microstructural analysis revealed that the thickness of the IMC layer could be kept below the critical value of 3 µm. Yet, the process window was found to be extremely tight. The modelling revealed that the critical time period for formation of the IMC layer is only on the order of a few 10 s.

The religious and legal dimension of the russian war against Ukraine against the background of social and state transformations xx—xxi centuries

The article defines the nature of the Russian war against Ukraine in the context of social and state transformations of the 20th — 21st centuries. It is emphasized that this is a war of different worlds, mentalities, worldviews, ways of life, values, etc., which has been going on for many centuries in various forms (direct and mediated, open and veiled, hot and cold). The role of the religious-legal factor in the Russian war against Ukraine at various stages of Ukrainian state formation (periods of the Ukrainian People’s Republic, Soviet, modern) is revealed. It is emphasized that it was during the time of the Ukrainian People’s Republic that the legal basis for the organization of the Ukrainian Local Orthodox Church, confessional differentiation and the establishment of freedom of conscience and interconfessional tolerance in Ukrainian society was created. Emphasized attention is paid to the fact that in the Soviet period, the Russian war against Ukraine continued in a new, veiled, hidden, invisible (at first glance) form with the active use of the religious factor. The results of this period have been determined, namely: rampant militant/ scientific atheism, radical extermination, Russification of Ukrainian Orthodoxy, liquidation of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, etc. Special attention is paid to the Soviet secular/political religion (Marxism-Leninism) as a key basis for the implementation of an aggressive policy regarding the historical memory and cultural identity of the Ukrainian people and a manipulative tool for the destruction of Ukrainian history, culture, worldview, nation, state and law in the information, hybrid, total, full-scale and other Russia’s wars against Ukraine. The article substantiates that improved legislation with an effective legal mechanism for its implementation, a strong civil society with developed institutions, including the institution of religion (church), adequate guarantees of religious rights and freedoms are important factors in ensuring state, national, religious security and victory of Ukraine (at the current stage) in the war waged against it by the Russian Federation.

Features of physical education of students with postural disorders

The purpose of the experimental study was the development and testing of a set of special exercises that form the correct wasp nku in physical education classes at the university. The period of posture formation is quite wide and covers the age up to 18 years. years However, most of the studies devoted to postural disorders are aimed at studying this problem in children of preschool and primary school age, undeservedly avoiding the spread of this problem among student youth. On the one hand, this is due to the fact that at an earlier age, before the appearance of pronounced violations, the process of correction and prevention of posture violations is implemented more effectively, and on the other hand, the complexity of work organization and the low motivation of this category of people to engage in physical education.
 The goal was concretized through the formulation of a number of tasks: to identify the degree of posture disorders in first-year students, to develop and try a set of physical exercises aimed at correcting posture disorders, evaluate the effectiveness of work on the formation of correct posture for physical education. The study consisted of three stages: ascertaining, formative, control. The results of the study of the degree of posture disorders at the control stage indicate that the number of children in the experimental group with normal posture increased in the process of purposeful work. Based on the results of the primary research, a set of special physical exercises and outdoor games was compiled, aimed at correcting students’ posture disorders in the experimental group. Within the framework of physical culture, the dosing of the load was carried out by changing the tempo, amplitude, number of movements, as well as by burdening and resistance. After each lesson, students were given homework, which they had to do on their own at home. Special exercises were included in various forms of physical culture work at the university: in physical education, gymnastics before classes, in physical education in the classroom, physical education activities for an extended break x. Complexes of special physical exercises and outdoor games, conducted with first-year students in physical culture classes, positively influenced the formation of correct posture.

Methodology for assessing the schoolchildren’s research competency level

The article presents the structure of research competency, we reveal the main criteria for its formation. The necessity of developing research competency in the period of personality formation is shown. The results of an ascertaining experiment conducted on a sample of 100 sixthformers using the following diagnostic tools are presented – the author's questionnaire aimed at identifying the level of research competency of schoolchildren, pedagogic observation, the method of peer review for pedagogues "Identification of research skills" by Aleksandr Savenkov, questioning of parents. Approbation of the results of the study was carried out on the basis of secondary school #30 in Kostroma. Identification of the specifics of the research competency of schoolchildren makes it possible to outline the prospects for pedagogic activity aimed at creating favourable socio-cultural conditions for the development of research skills and motivation for the participation of children in research activities. It is assumed that the targeted application of a set of activities that develop the research competencies of schoolchildren has a positive impact not only on the effectiveness of their cognitive activity, but also an important educational value, since it contributes to the development of self-control skills, responsibility, self-development, the ability to act in a team and solve complex problems together.

Development of the institute of advocacy in the Ukrainian territories in the middle ages and under empires

A deep understanding of the modern institution of advocacy, as well as the search for effective ways to solve its problems, is impossible without addressing issues of the history of the development of the defense function. The purpose of the paper is a historical and comparative analysis of the organizational design and development of the Institute of Advocacy in the Ukrainian territories in the Middle Ages and under the empires. We highlighted and researched two global periods of formation and development of the legal profession in Ukrainian territories: the Middle Ages and the imperial period. The first - the period of existence of ancient statehood on Ukrainian territories - is characterized by the absence of professional protection in the process. Certain features of protection can be traced in the actions that were inherent in "listening". The second is the imperial period. The state entities, which included the modern Ukrainian territories, developed their own approaches in the direction of introducing the function of protection into the process and developing the status of persons who, on a professional basis, performed the defense of the accused. Thus, in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the function of protection was entrusted to the deputy and procurator. With the development of legislation, the former acts as an authorized person of the defendant, and the latter as her professional representative. Prosecutors' offices in form and especially in terms of activity were lawyers, in their modern understanding, who were entrusted with the function of defending defendants. In various editions of the Statutes of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania: the range of cases that could be under the jurisdiction of prosecutors is fixed and expanded; activities of private and public defenders, etc. are organized. After the unification of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the existing institution of defenders also operated on the territory of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In the Archduchy of Austria, and later in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, lawyers had the right to speak in court. Throughout the existence of these states, special attention was paid to the quality of the legal profession, issues related to organizational and professional requirements for applicants who wanted to become lawyers were clearly regulated. In the Russian Empire, the institute of sworn attorneys (lawyers) was introduced into the court system during the judicial reform of 1864, which introduced professional corporate advocacy. Before the reform, the status of attorneys was equated to the status of hired servants, their participation in the process was insignificant, which was explained by objective reasons - the dominance of the investigative form of the court process.

THELAZIOSIS IN WISENTS OF THE SHAHDAG NATIONAL PARK (AZERBAIJAN)

In the Shahdag National Park (Azerbaijan) the natural grouping of wisents (European bisons) is being formed. The program should eventually result in obtaining the independent stable grouping of wisents, capable of existing and reproduction without human interference. In the course of work with the grouping such a disease as wisent thelaziosis was detected. The presence of the disease can negatively affect the efficiency of the wisents reintroduction program. The aim of the work was to identify the problem, describe the clinical cases of wisent thelaziosis and determine possible measures to minimize risks for animals health. The article presents the data collected throughout a three years period of wisent group formation. The diagnosis – thelaziosis – was confirmed by finding the mature thelazia specimens of Thelazia rhodesi species. Such clinical manifestations as photophobia, eyelid edema, pathological lacrimation, serous conjunctivitis, purulent-catarrhal keratoconjunctivitis, clouding and ulceration of the cornea up to perforating ulcers, iridocyclitis were observed in wisents. The clinical form of thelaziosis had been detected in a wisent herd at all seasons of the year, at maximum in the period from the end of May to the end of July, up to 18.8 % of animals in the herd. At the rest of the time, the percentage of animals with disease manifestation varied from 3.7 to 11 %; two years in a row the cases of disease manifestation in adult wisents were observed in February. One case of thelaziosis was registered in a 1.5-month-old calf, the disease evolved in a hyperacute form. For treatment against thelaziosis in wisents the single intramuscular injections of ivermectin at a dose of 200 μg/kg (Ivermec, 2 ml/100 kg) were used. Medical treatment was given frontally to the herd after each detected clinical case. In addition wisents with strongly expressed clinical signs received a single injection of tulathromycin at a dose of 2.5 mg/1 kg (Draxin, 2.5 ml/100 kg). Medications were injected by means of a remote gun Dan-Inject. In Azerbaijan thelaziosis is spread among productive animals, as evidenced by veterinary reports. However, systematic studies of thelaziosis were carried out only in the 70–80s. As follows from the studies the thelaziosis infection rate in Azerbaijan has clearly expressed zonal distribution: high infection rate in the plain and submontane zones and rare cases of disease occurrence in the mountain belt. It was concluded that when forming wisents population, it is necessary to take into account the factor of zonality and plan the populations’ release in the mountainous areas of the national park, as the safest from veterinary side. Also due to domestic animals being the main source of infection for wisents in Azerbaijan, it is necessary to conduct research on disease expansion and intensity of infection in domestic livestock in the areas bordering with the Shahdag National Park. Currently while wisents are kept at the quarantine and transfer place, given the proximity of the enzootic focus, it is recommended to conduct the systematic frontal preventive treatment with ivermectin.

Subantarctic Mode Water Biogeochemical Formation Properties and Interannual Variability

AbstractSubantarctic mode water (SAMW) is a key water mass for the transport of nutrients, oxygen, and anthropogenic carbon into the ocean interior. However, a lack of biogeochemical observations of SAMW properties during wintertime formation precluded their detailed characterization. Here we characterize for the first time SAMW properties across their entire wintertime formation regions based primarily on biogeochemical profiling floats. Observations show that the SAMW properties differ between the two main formation regions in the Pacific and Indian sectors of the Southern Ocean. SAMW formed in the Pacific is colder, fresher, and higher in oxygen, nitrate, and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) than its Indian Ocean counterpart. The relationship between potential density and biogeochemical water properties is nearly identical between the two formation regions; property differences thus predominantly reflect the difference in mean densities of SAMW formed in each region. SAMW is undersaturated in oxygen during formation, which will impact calculations of derived quantities that assume preformed oxygen saturation. SAMW is at or above atmospheric pCO2 during wintertime and therefore not a direct sink of contemporary carbon dioxide during the formation period. Results from the Biogeochemical Southern Ocean State Estimate suggest anti‐correlated interannual variability of DIC, nitrate, and oxygen between the central and southeastern Pacific formation regions similar to previously established patterns in mixed layer physical properties. This indicates that the mean properties of SAMW will vary depending on which sub‐region has a stronger formation rate, which is in turn linked to the Southern Annual Mode and the El‐Niño Southern Oscillation.

Laser ablation strontium isotopes and spatial assignment show seasonal mobility in red deer (Cervus elaphus) at Lazaret Cave, France (MIS 6)

Zooarchaeological analysis is a useful means of exploring faunal palaeoecology, paleoclimate and past human behaviours. The Middle Pleistocene archaeological site Lazaret Cave, located in modern-day Nice, France, features a vast assemblage of faunal remains pertinent to the understanding of early Neanderthal subsistence behaviours as well as red deer (Cervus elaphus) ecology during MIS 6. This pilot study examines materials from archaeological layer UA25, a short-term occupation layer at Lazaret dating to ~150,000 years ka, which has revealed 28 early Neanderthal remains as well as thousands of faunal bones, of which red deer and ibex (Capra ibex) are most abundant. Molars from three red deer mandibles and a single ibex were analysed for strontium (87Sr/86Sr) isotopic analysis using laser ablation mass spectrometry to determine animal movements during tooth formation, combined with intra-tooth oxygen (δ18O) isotope analysis to determine seasonality. The isotope data was modelled within a local 87Sr/86Sr isoscape and computational spatial assignment was undertaken to reconstruct potential summer and winter ranges of red deer. Results from this pilot study show seasonal mobility within 20 km of Lazaret, identifying two possible summer and winter ranges for the red deer excavated from UA25. Both possible summer ranges are located at higher elevations further from Lazaret while winter ranges have been assigned to lower elevations closer to the coastline and closer to Lazaret. The ibex shows no 87Sr/86Sr variation throughout the first, second and third molar and the spatial assignment indicates it lived proximal to the site during the period of tooth formation. In addition to providing the first evidence of red deer spatial ecology in southern France during MIS 6, we also infer from the faunal isotope data that hominins at Lazaret Cave were likely hunting red deer in autumn and winter when they were closer to the cave site, while hunting in summer would have required up to 20 km of travel.