Gomel Region Research Articles

Autoimmune thyroiditis: organizational and medical measures for early detection in the Republic of Belarus

Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of conducted organizational and medical measures for early detection and medical examination of patients with autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) in the regions of the Republic of Belarus and to develop measures to enhance them.Materials and methods. Data on the incidence rates of AIT and primary hypothyroidism (PGT) in the Republic of Belarus from 1997 to 2017 were analyzed, data of a sociological study were presented and patients` records were analyzed. Epidemiological and sociological methods were used.Results. In the Republic of Belarus, two organizational and medical approaches to early diagnosis of AIT have been developed. The study has found a low competence level among therapists (general practitioners) of the Brest and Gomel regions and showed the absence of patients with AIT at Gomel Regional Endocrinological Dispensary even if there is a pathognomonic ultrasound picture and a high level of AT-TPO titer, which indicates that the incidence is undercounted.Conclusion. As a result of the performed study, the algorithm for organizational and medical measures has been developed and implemented for early detection and clinical examination of AIT patients aimed at PGT prevention.

Extrapulmonary tuberculosis: risk factors

Objective. To identify the main demographic and clinical risk factors for the development of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB).Materials and methods. A retrospective study of tuberculosis cases registered from 2016 to 2020 in the Gomel region was conducted (330 patients with EPTB and 2,505 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis). The odds ratios were calculated to assess the risk factors for the development of EPTB.Results. The prevalence of EPTB was studied over the course of five years. The most significant risk factors for the development of tuberculosis in extrapulmonary localizations have been identified.Conclusion. The risk factors for the development of EPTB are age (EPTB often develops in children and older persons), females, and in those who have had an episode of tuberculosis previously. Awareness of the predisposing factors may help physicians maintain a high index of suspicion regarding the development of EPTB.

Specificity of the work of physicians in inpatient healthcare facilities of the Gomel region in the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic

Objective. To study the specificity of the functioning of inpatient healthcare facilities in the Gomel region in the spread of the coronavirus disease COVID-19.Materials and methods. A survey among 78 physicians of the inpatient healthcare facilities was conducted, which provided an opportunity to analyze the specificity of the work in the spread of the coronavirus disease COVID-19 and related difficulties.Results. According to the respondents, in the situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a considerable growth in working hours and intensity of the work of the physicians in the inpatient healthcare facilities. In the vast majority of the cases (74.7 %), the physicians in the inpatient healthcare facilities underwent training on prevention, diagnostics, adoption of anti-epidemic measures in the detection and treatment of COVID-19 patients. Nevertheless, only 25.6 % of the respondents considered their professional competence level with regard to their work with COVID-19 patients to be high. Moreover, the physicians` satisfaction rate for the existing strategies for rendering medical care to COVID-19 patientswas 6.87 ± 2.06 outof 10.Conclusion. To a large extent, the physicians of inpatient healthcare facilities of the Gomel region during their work with patients are concerned about such circumstances as longer working hours and increased working intensity, complexity of making balanced and optimal decisions regarding the organization of the work of inpatient healthcare facilities during the pandemic, as well as issues related to contact with patients (worrying about getting infected and infecting family, organization of childcare due to the closure of schools and preschool institutions during quarantine and others).

TRENDS AND PRIORITIES IN WATER USE IN THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

Based on the water management statistics of the state water cadaster, the results of a study of the water use for the period 2000–2019 are presented. Research level covered the country as a whole, regions and administrative districts. The study is based on statistical methods for analyzing time-series and relative indicators of the dynamics of water use. The tendencies and priorities in water use in the administrative-territorial units of the Republic of Belarus are revealed on the basis of a comparative analysis presented in relative terms of indicators: total water abstraction, volume of groundwater extraction and withdrawal of surface water, the amount of water for water use purposes. For the period 2000–2019 downward trends in total water abstraction and water use have been established. The reduction in water abstraction was 28 %, and the use of water for domestic and drinking and industrial purposes decreased by more than 30 %. The largest decrease in water abstraction (from 30 to 40 %) occurred in the Gomel, Mogilev and Vitebsk regions. In the structure of water use among the regions, with the exception of the Brest region, domestic and drinking purposes prevail, which account for up to 33–54 % of water from the total volume of use. A comparative assessment at the level of administrative districts revealed that in most of them (in 102 out of 118 districts), groundwater is the main natural source of water supply. Groundwater abstraction exceeds surface water abstraction. In 36 districts, water supply is provided entirely from groundwater. The administrative districts were grouped according to the priority purposes of water use. It has been established that in 78 districts the priority is simultaneously two purposes of water use, as a rule, domestic and drinking and agricultural purposes, provided by groundwater. Differentiation of water intake volumes and water use priorities at the district level is determined by the population, the degree of development of the production industries, and their purposes of water. A unified record of displaying water use indicators at the level of administrative districts is proposed.

EFFICIENCY OF USE OF HUMATE-CONTAINING WASTES FROM HUMIC PREPARATIONS PRODUCTION IN POND FISHERIES

The article presents the results of testing of solid wastes generated during liquid humic preparations production as biologically active additives in fish ponds. The tests were carried out in 2019 season in the nursery ponds of the SPU “Isobelino” and in the feeding ponds of the KhRU “Vileika” control of pond water in reservoirs showed that the introduction of humate-containing additives into fish ponds does not violate the hydrochemical regime of their functioning, all indicators are within the normative limits. As a result of the study of the aquatic biota, more efficient development of phyto- and zooplankton was revealed, as well as an increase in fish productivity, both in feeding and nursery ponds compared to the control ones. A production check carried out at OJSC "Beloye" Experimental fish farm" of Gomel region in 2020 showed that the use of humate-containing wastes of humic production makes it possible to achieve higher fish productivity in comparison to the traditional scheme of intensification measures, with 50 % savings of applied
 organic fertilizers, 25 % savings in ammophos and 100 % savings in ammonium nitrate. The increase in fish productivity is 6‒7 %.

ESTIMATION OF THE RADIOLOGICAL EFFICIENCY OF ENTEROSORPTION COMPOSITE FORAGE ADDITIVE APPLICATION IN LACTATING COWS DIET

A prototype of composite enterosorption feed additive based on peat modified with iron hexacyanoferrate (ferrocin) has been developed. A scientific and economic experiment was carried out on lactating cows on the basis of the MTP "Dublin" of JSC "Malozhinsky" of Bragin district of Gomel region. For this, three groups of lactating cows were formed: two experimental and one control, five cows each. When setting up for the experiment, the animals were selected according to the principle of analogous pairs, taking into account live weight, calving age, stage of lactation, and average daily milk yield. The maintenance and care of the experimental animals corresponded to the milk production technology adopted at the livestock facility, as well as the organization of labor. The diets of the experimental animals were compiled according to detailed feeding rates and were calculated to receive 18–20 kg of milk from a cow per day. Milk sampling was carried out from each cow of the experimental and control groups on the 0th, 6th, 12th, 18th and 22nd days of the experiment in accordance with the sampling scheme during morning milking according to STB-1051-2012 "Selection samples of milk and dairy products. General requirements". The determination of the specific activity of 137Cs (Bq/kg) in the studied samples of feed and milk was carried out on a γ-spectrometric complex "Canberra-Packard" with an error of no more than 30 %. The radiological efficiency of composite ferrocin-containing feed additive based on peat in relation to 137Cs has been studied. For the first time, the multiplicity of decrease in 137Cs content in milk of cows was es tablished during the use of composite ferrocin-containing feed additive based on peat by a factor of 4.6 in relation to the control.

241Am and 137Сs in the Khoiniki district of Belarus: updated radiological assessment of the local existing exposure situation

The results covered in this paper relate to the “Khoiniki” research sub-unit of a larger-scale sequence of studies focused on the local assessments of the present-day 241Am and 137Cs concentrations in the soils and locally produced foods, with the estimation of the public internal radiation doses in the residential areas of the Gomel region of the Republic of Belarus most closely adjacent to the ChNPP resettlement zone. The objective was to make a conservative estimate of a committed annual dose of internal exposure from 241Am and 137Сs received by the villagers of 96 farmsteads in 30 settlements of the private sector of Khoiniki countryside through both, inhalation and consumption of local foodstuffs. The results obtained in this study include an update of the existing contamination levels of 241Am and 137Сs present in the local soils and foods grown or produced in private backyards and households. 241Am in food samples was determined by alpha-spectroscopy radiochemical analysis with the use of selective extraction-chromatographic resins. Gamma-spectrometry techniques were used to measure 241Am in soil samples and 137Сs in soil and food samples. Based on our findings, the present-day deposition density of 241Am in the soils does not exceed 4 kBq/m2 , while the values of 137Cs contamination are by one to two orders of magnitude higher than that of 241Am and vary between 30 and 500 kBq/m2 . Generally, the values of activity concentration of 241Am detected in local soils are well within 10 Bq/kg in the majority of inspected villages, with the exception of three sites where higher levels of 241Am contamination is soils were detected ranging from 14 to 16 Bq/kg. The ambient dose rates in the countryside range from 0.05 to 0.38 μSv/hour, with the average of 0.15 μSv/hour. No cases of 137Сs contamination above the established reference levels of 80, 100 and 90 Bq/ kg have been found in the local food samples of, respectively, potatoes, vegetables (incl. roots and tubers) and grains. The content of 241Am in the staple foods produced in the area varies from single digits to tenths of mBq/ kg, which is less by three orders of magnitude than 137Сs activities concentrationd found in the same staples. Of the two pathways contributing to the local committed internal exposure from 241Am, the dominant one is through inhalation (0.006–0.038 mSv/year) prevailing over the consumption pathway of this same radioisotope by at least one order of magnitude. At the time of gardening and other household field works, the existing levels of 241Am contamination in soils are estimated to produce from 85 to 98% of the internal radiation dose received by individuals from inhaling the total of 241Am and 137Сs. The maximum committed annual doses of internal exposure from 137Сs are estimated to be above 1 mSv/year in 6 out of 30 villages engaged in our study. At the same time, the estimated internal radiation dose due to 241Am does not surpass 0.04 mSv/year. The 137Сs major contribution to the internal exposure of villages in the Khoiniki countryside is through food consumption.

Разнообразие лихенобиоты дубрав заказника «Выдрица» (Республика Беларусь, Гомельская область)

As a result of the research, the species composition of lichens and closely related fungi of the oak forest of the reserve «Vydritsa» (Republic of Belarus, Gomel Region) has been revealed. An annotated list, including 113 species has been compiled, 106 of these species are lichens, 6 – non-lichenised saprobic and 1 – lichenicolous fungi. Species Calicium adspersum, Cetrelia olivetorum, Chaenotheca chlorella, Cladonia caespiticia, Lobaria pulmonaria and Parmotrema stuppeum are included in the Red Data Book of Belarus and are listed for the first time for the Svetlogorsk district and the reserve «Vydritsa». The indicator lichens of old-growth oak forests include 20 species; 28 species were recorded in all 12 surveyed localities.

Obtaining alumi- nosilicate nanotubes from natural kaolin

The analysis of the trajectories of molecular dynamics On the basis of natural kaolin from the “Dedovka” deposit (Gomel region), aluminosilicate nanotubes 800– 1100 nm in length and 50–60 nm in diameter were obtained for the first time. The synthesis was carried out according to the developed method under relatively mild conditions at a temperature of 60–66 °C, atmospheric pressure, and a low (7.0 mL/g) amount of a reagent (methanol) required for their formation.

CLINICAL PARAMETERS OF MULTIPLE MYELOMA PROGRESSION IN RESIDENTS OF THE GOMEL REGION OF BELARUS

To study clinical parameters of multiple myeloma progression in residents of the Gomel region of Belarus The study included 159 MM patients who were examined at the State Institution “Republican Research Center for Radiation Medicine and Human Ecology”, Gomel from 2018 to 2021. The average age was 62. Female patients prevailed and amounted 57.1%. MM was diagnosed according to international criteria. The criteria for progression were determined when new foci of destruction or extramedullary lesions appeared, and at an increase in the number of plasma cells in the bone marrow> 10%. Progression was in 10.7%(17). No differences in the immunological variant of MM. CD20 expression>20% was found 6.18 more often in progressed patients (p=0.0001). CD56>20% was 2.37 more common at progression (p=0.006). CD117>20% was 2.34 more often at progression, (p=0.116). M-protein>15 g/l was 6.22 more often at progression (p = 0.0001). Abnormal κ/λ was in 81.3% at progression (p=0.027). LDH was different (p=0.023). Kidney damage and destructive syndrome did not affect progression (p=0.797). Identification of markers of progression at the initial examination, such as excess expression of CD20> 20%, CD56> 20%, excess of M-protein> 15 g/l, abnormal κ/λ ratio can predetermine the outcome of the disease. Our findings are consistent with the literature data, but much remains unclear, for instance, cases with normal LDH values in patients with progression. This gives rise to future research.

P-033: Significant markers in the progression of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance in residents of Gomel region of Belarus

<h3>Background</h3> The course of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is often associated with a high risk of its transformation into malignant lymphoplasmacytic diseases. We have reviewed some of the markers most commonly encountered in patients with progression. <h3>Methods</h3> The study included 159 MG patients with a median age of 61.0 (25% and 75% - 54.0 and 67.0), of which 102 women were observed at the SI "RRCRM&HE" in 2018-2021. The average percentage of tumor plasma cells in the bone marrow was 2.7% (range 0-10%). The presence of clonal cells was detected in 13.2% with IHC. The immunochemical variant with immunoglobulin IgG was in 38.9% of patients, IgA in 7.5% and IgM in 19%; biclonal gammopathy was found in 22% of patients. The LC type kappa or lambda was found in 26.4% of patients. <h3>Results</h3> During the observation period, disease progression was recorded in 17 MGUS patients. The age of patients over 65 at the time of diagnosis was not significantly associated with the risk of progression (p = 0.114). Hemoglobin level less 120 g/l was determined in 31.4% of patients. In each case, the anemia was induced by causes other than plasma cell proliferation, such as iron deficiency, renal failure. Among MGUS patients who progressed over the observation period, the variant with IgM secretion was 2.46 times more frequent than among patients without progression (p = 0.096, [0.79-11.39]). In patients with the phenotype of tumor cells containing CD20> 20%, disease progression developed in 46.7% of cases, which is 4.73 times more often than in patients without this marker (p = 0.0001, OR 7.98 (95 % CI [2.29-27.86]). Moreover, 80% of the progressed patients with CD20> 20% were with IgM secretion. An excess of CD56> 20% was detected 1.62 times more often in patients with disease progression. When studying CD117 and CD200, it was found that exceeding their level> 20% was more often determined in patients with progression, although the differences were insignificant (p = 0.584, OR 1.64 (95% CI [0.27-9.89]) for CD200 > 20% and p=0.116, OR 2.83 (95% CI [0.74-10.78]) for CD117> 20%). Progression to MM was more frequently observed in patients with secretion of IgG, IgA and CD56> 20%. An increase in the level of LDH> 280 U/L was observed 4.43 times more often in patients with progression (p = 0.011, OR 5.67 (95% CI [1.32-24.39]). An abnormal ratio of light chains was detected in 85.7% of cases in patients with progression, which is 1.54 times more often than in patients without progression (p = 0.033, OR 4.80 (95% CI [1.01-22.84]). <h3>Conclusion</h3> The study results have demonstrated that immunophenotypic markers (CD20, CD56 CD117), increased LDH level, immunoglobulin light chain ratio distortion can be useful for predicting the onset of disease progression from MGUS to multiple myeloma or other lymphoplasmacytic tumors in individual patients.

ПРЕДОТВРАЩЕНИЕ ВРЕДНОГО ВОЗДЕЙСТВИЯ НА ОБЪЕКТЫ ЖИВОТНОГО МИРА ПРИ ОБУСТРОЙСТВЕ И ЭКСПЛУАТАЦИИ НЕФТЯНЫХ СКВАЖИН

The damage that is incurred to zoobiota by oil wells development and operation has been evaluated for Gomel region for the first time. This evaluation has been made based on the analysis of zoocenoses state under the conditions of ecosystems that are linked to oil exploration and production sites. Measures and practical recommendations have been also developed. They can reduce the damage incurred. It has been found out that development of an additional area facilitates the conservation of invertebrate animals species composition by edge effect formation. This area is up to 20 meters wide and planted with grass and shrubs. The absence of such a buffer zone leads to ingress of sand to a forest ecosystem, changes its hydrological conditions, which factors into trees shrinkage and increase of secondary insects number. It has also been revealed that the equipment of oil wells in grassland ecosystems brings about changes in species composition of invertebrate communities. The above-mentioned equipment is associated with natural thatch removal as well as with cutting down trees and shrubs, and injection of sand here to develop bunding zone and setback (buffer) area. Similar anthropogenic transformation of grassland ecosystems is accompanied by an increase of the number of invertebrate animals inhabiting vast sand spaces and a decrease in the proportion of species preferring grassy habitats. As a result of research, it has been shown that it makes sense to preserve the soil layer removed at technological works for further soil reclamation of the transformed ecosystem. It has been detected that the Coleoptera number has increased within the site in the setback (buffer) area of oil wells. Grass mixture of red and sheep’s fescue, meadow grass, and perennial ryegrass were sowed on this site and the complex nitrogen-phosphate fertilizer was added. Moreover, species abundance inhabiting sand areas has been decreasing within seeds and the number and richness of meadowy species tending to areas of high projective grass cover have been increased. At the same, time there is an increase of Coleoptera number neat the outer edge of seeds as in the case with invertebrate animals. In our opinion, it can be explained by a particular border effect.

Genogeography of norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) according to the analysis of cytoplasmic DNA

Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) is one of the main forest-forming species in Belarus. It plays important economic, ecological and social roles. The spruce forest of the region is characterized by a complex history of the formation of its population genetic structure. The aim of this study was the genogeographic analysis of P. abies populations and the description of regional features of its gene pool in Belarus. Molecular genetic analysis of microsatellite (SSR) loci of chloroplast DNA and mt15-D02 locus of mitochondrial DNA of Norway spruce was carried out for samples from 57 naturally originated forest stands. We identified 19 allelic variants of the Pt63718, Pt26081, Pt71936 cpDNA loci and two allelic variants of mt15-D02 mtDNA. The geographical distribution of the alleles has been described and the regional features of the genogeographic differentiation of the spruce forests have been considered. The southern border of the continuous distribution area of P. abies and its island localities lie in the south of Belarus (Brest and Gomel regions). The frequency of occurrence of individual allelic variants of cpDNA SSR loci has the most pronounced deviations from the average values for the whole country in those regions. Analysis of cpDNA showed the presence of certain regional features of the genogeographic structure of the spruce forest in the “south-north” and “west-east” directions. According to mitochondrial DNA analysis higher concentration of P. abies trees of southern (Carpathian) origin is observed in the southwest of Belarus. On the contrary northern (Boreal) origin dominates in the rest of the country. The results of performed genogeographic analysis of Norway spruce populations can serve as a basis for improving the forest seed zoning of the tree species.

MM-338: Factors of an Unfavorable Prognosis in Patients with Solitary Plasmacytoma Among Residents of the Gomel Region of Belarus

Introduction Solitary plasmacytoma is a tumor of plasma cells with local proliferation without signs of systemic damage and a high risk of progression to MM. Depending on the presence of a lesion in the bone or soft tissues, there are solitary plasmacytoma of bone and solitary extramedullary plasmacytoma. There are currently few data available on prognostic factors. Methods The study included 24 patients (4 SEP patients, 20 SBP patients) of the Gomel region (Belarus) 2018–2021 with different anatomical localization. The diagnosis was histologically confirmed. The average age was 62 (from 41 to 79 years); female patients prevailed 54.2% (13/11). All patients underwent aspiration biopsy with IFT and FISH, trepanobiopsy with immunohistochemical examination of the BM, and X-ray examination of the skeletal bones. Results were assessed after 3 years of observation. The signs of progression include the appearance of any one of the CRAB-criteria. Results The presence of clonal PCs 5 cm) were detected in 4 patients (all progressed to MM). The progression of the disease to MM was recorded in 7 patients (29.2%). The period to progression was 10 months (media) (3–18). An immunophenotypic study in these patients revealed a significant decrease in the CD95 level (p = 0.001) and in 71.4%, a significant excess of the TNF-a level (p = 0.001) and a significant excess of the B2 microglobulin level (p = 0.001). The 3-year survival rate was 100%. Local relapse developed after 4 courses of PAD in 1 patient who progressed to MM. Conclusion The progression of the disease in patients was associated with the presence of cytogenetic changes in combination with the presence of aberrant or clonal cells in BM 5 cm).

Poster: MM-338: Factors of an Unfavorable Prognosis in Patients with Solitary Plasmacytoma Among Residents of the Gomel Region of Belarus

Poster: MM-338: Factors of an Unfavorable Prognosis in Patients with Solitary Plasmacytoma Among Residents of the Gomel Region of Belarus

Лишайники и близкородственные грибы дубрав Петриковского района Гомельской области (Республика Беларусь)

Based on studies of lichenbiota of oak forests of Petrikovsky district (Gomel Region, Republic of Belarus), car-ried out in 2021 in 10 localities, an annotated list, including 100 species of lichens and 5 species – related fungi, was compiled. Lichen Coenogonium luteum is published for the first time for Belarus; 16 species are new for the Gomel Region. Calicium adspersum, Chaenotheca chlorella, Hypotrachyna revolutа and Parmotrema stuppeum are included in the Red Data Book of Belarus and are presented for the first time for the Petrikovsky district. The indicator lichens of old-growth forests include 18 species. In all surveyed 10 localities, 31 species were noted.

FREQUENCY OCCURRENCE OF PHYTOPLASMA IN APPLE PLANTATIONS IN BELARUS

Apple-tree proliferation is a plant disease caused by phytoplasma Candidatus Phytoplasma mali which belongs to the&#x0D; Аpple proliferation (AP) group, subgroup 16SrX-A. The damage of plants by phytoplasm leads to changes in the nature&#x0D; of branching of shoots, crushing of fruits and often to the death of plants, causing damage to agricultural production.&#x0D; In order to assess the frequency occurrence of phytoplasm in apple-tree plantations in Belarus, a survey was carried out&#x0D; of the examination of orchards of Minsk, Brest, Gomel and Mogilev regions. There were selected (from symptomatic or&#x0D; damaged trees) and tested 453 samples (60 genotypes). Based on the results of examination and testing by real-time PCR with&#x0D; Phyto-F/Phyto-R primers and Phyto-P probe, the presence of phytoplasm in apple-tree plantations in Gomel (61 infected&#x0D; samples out of 177 tested), Minsk (18 out of 112) and Mogilev regions was revealed (48 out of 67) and the absence of&#x0D; a pathogen in the plantations of the Brest region.

State information system “AITS”: features of formation and directions of development

Animal breeding is a strategic branch of agri-business in the Republic of Belarus, focused on solving social and economic issues and ensuring national food security. Currently, its development is innovations based, forming a high level of the country’s production and export potential. In the world ranking by the end of 2020, the Republic of Belarus took the 5th place in terms of milk exports (4.8 million tons). As world experience shows, the key direction is implementation of electronic identification of animals as an accounting system in agriculture, including assigning identification number to an animal by tagging, registering information about it in a database and issuing an appropriate passport. The paper summarizes and systematizes legal, organizational and financial conditions for creation and functioning of national information systems in Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Great Britain, the European Union, Canada, the Netherlands, the USA, Switzerland, and Japan. It has been determined that absence of a system for identifying the registration of farm animals leads to distortion of data on the number of livestock, and also creates obstacles for selection work and livestock breeding, decreases efficiency of antiepizootic measures, and inhibits international trade in animals and animal products. In development of this, the necessity of this process in the Republic of Belarus, feasibility of creating the state information system “AITS” (SIS AITS) and corresponding management structure – SI “Center for information systems in animal husbandry” are substantiated. With Gomel region as an example, peculiarities of planning and implementation of process of identification and registration of farm animals are disclosed, the main indicators of the efficiency of SIS AITS for 2013–2020 are analyzed. The advantages of commodity producers of the Republic of Belarus in the context of strengthening production and marketing and export potential and reducing risks in the domestic and foreign markets are substantiated. The issues presented in the article are of interest in determining measures for implementation of the State Program “Agrarian Business” for 2021-2025 and a strategy for the export of agricultural products and food products for the period up to 2025.

Mapping of forest fire hazard depending on weather conditions using geoinformation technologies

An important component of forest firefighting strategies is related to the accurate prediction of fire risks. This article describes the development process of special decision support system (ForestFire GIS) - for the analysis of climatic conditions and definition of fire risks in Belarus including radioactively contaminated territory. The application consists of two basic modules: fire danger rating module and module of radionuclides transfer during the fire event. Fire danger rating module uses data on daily temperature, dew point and 24-hour rainfall to calculate weather based fire hazard index (FHI). The program provides recommendations for firefighting officials about efficient wildfires suppression strategy. GIS core (based on the MapWinGIS) performs all basic operations with map layers (scaling, moving, geocoding etc.), load and save changes. The ForestFire GIS was tested for the beginning of fire seasons in Gomel region in Belarus.

ESTIMATES OF MOISTURE AND VULNERABILITY OF SOILS OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS OF THE BELARUSIAN POLESIE TO DROUGHT

The evaluation of soil moistening of farmlands of the Belarusian Polesie under the conditions of modern climate change is given. The frequency of occurrence of soil droughts has been determined. A comparative assessment of the change in the frequency of soil droughts during the pre-warming period (1951–1980) and the modern period (1989–2018) is given. The cyclical nature of the change in the average number of cases with soil droughts has been established. Indicators of the degree of vulnerability of soils of farmlands in the region to droughts have been determined. A map of the degree of vulnerability of soils of farmlands to droughts of the Belarusian Polesie and Kalinkovichi district of the Gomel region is presented.