Middle Of June Research Articles

Quantifying seasonal thrips population dynamics in relation to temperature and wheat senescence

AbstractThe incidence of thrips in the High Plains of Texas (USA) was investigated using sticky traps during the 2021 and 2022 seasons. Yellow sticky traps were placed in wheat fields and collected and replaced weekly and thrips were counted under a dissecting scope. Weekly wheat reflectance measurements were taken using a hyperspectral radiometer from which normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was calculated for each measurement. Temperature (degree day) and NDVI values were then related to weekly thrips incidence using regression. Thrips incidence curvilinearly increased over time during each of the two seasons and reached a maximum in the middle of June, after which it declined sharply. There was a strong positive relationship between degree days and thrips incidence until the incidence reached a maximum, whereas the incidence was negatively related to NDVI values. Analysis of the thrips changes over time progress with the two variables together showed that degree day has greater impact on thrips incidence than NDVI. However, the steep decline in thrips abundance after its peak in mid‐June suggests that senesced wheat fields with NDVI values near zero are not significant sources of thrips, signifying the importance of wheat growth stages in the seasonal population dynamics of thrips. Overall, the 2‐year results were generally consistent in trends of thrips incidence during the season, which may need to be considered when choosing vegetable planting dates in the region.

РАСПРЕДЕЛЕНИЕ И ДИНАМИКА ЧИСЛЕННОСТИ ИХТИОПЛАНКТОНА И РАННЕЙ МОЛОДИ ТЮЛЬКИ И ХАМСЫ В АЗОВСКОМ МОРЕ В 1993–2023 ГГ.

Background. Natural and anthropogenic factors have a major influence on the fish population status. In the Azov Sea, for the last 30 years, substantial changes in the environment have been observed and new exotic species of aquatic living organisms have been introduced, which affected reproduction of fish species. Relevance. To identify the driving forces behind the present dynamics of population abundance of European anchovy and Black and Caspian Sea sprat (tyulka), it is crucial to summarize the data collected during the annual ichthyoplankton surveys of the Azov Sea. This work is aimed at the assessment of the distribution of the ichthyoplankton and early juveniles of Black and Caspian Sea sprat (tyulka) and European anchovy in the Azov Sea area over time with regard to various environmental factors. Methods. Ichthyoplankton surveys are customarily conducted over the entirety of the Azov Sea in the middle of June, when eggs and larvae of Black and Caspian Sea sprat (tyulka) and European anchovy are caught at the highest quantities. Results. The dynamics of distribution and abundance variations for the early developmental stages of Black and Caspian Sea sprat (tyulka) and European anchovy under the influence of environmental factors, including ctenophores and scyphozoan jellyfishes, has been identified; a decrease in the survival rates of their jellyfishes juveniles in the present period of the Azov Sea salinization has been observed. Conclusion. In the context of increasing salinity of the Azov Sea waters, the main factors contributing to the reduced survival rates of the Black and Caspian Sea sprat (tyulka) larvae and fingerlings are the decrease in spawning ground area and competition for food resources with scyphozoan jellyfishes and ctenophores. In the case of the European anchovy larvae and fingerlings, the main factor affecting their abundance is a small number of breeders; food competition and predation of the scyphozoan jellyfishes and ctenophores are of secondary importance.

Notes on Bat Falcon (<i>Falco rufigularis</i>) distribution, nesting, and diet in central-western Mexico

The Bat Falcon may nest in constructions in urban areas. It feeds on bats, birds, and insects. We present records on its distribution, nesting, and diet in western central Mexico. We observed a Bat Falcon couple breeding in 2013 and 2015 in a wall’s cavities from a town’s construction. We collected the remains of the prey consumed by the juveniles in the nest cavities after the juveniles abandoned them in 2013 and 2015, and additionally the remains of prey under the parent’s perches next to the nest cavity in 2015. The nesting period was from March to at least the middle of June. Some of the dietary items during the nesting period were one rodent, four bats, six birds, grasshoppers, and beetles. This study confirms that the Bat Falcon breeds in urban areas and preys upon local species.

Dynamic connectedness between green energy and carbon risk during Russia-Ukraine conflict: new evidence from a wavelet analysis.

The study explores the inter-relations betweengreen and renewable energy and carbon risk. Key market participants with varying time horizons include traders, authorities, and other financial entities. This research examines these relationships and frequency dimensions from February 7, 2017, to June 13, 2022, using novel multivariate wavelet analysis approaches, such as partial wavelet coherency and partial wavelet gain. The multiple coherencies between green bond, clean energy, and carbon emission futures imply that these regions were situated at low frequencies (relating to approximately 124-day frequency) and run from the beginning of 2017 to the beginning of 2018, in the first half of 2020, and from the beginning of 2022 to the end of the sample.The relationship between the solar energy index, envitec biogas, biofuels, geothermal energy, and carbon emission futures,is significant in the low-frequency band starting from early 2020 to middle 2022 and in the high-frequency band starting fromearly 2022 to middle 2022.Our research demonstrates the partial coherencies between these indicators during the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The partial coherency between the S&P green bond index and carbon risk suggests that carbon risk pushes anti-phase connectedness. The partial phase difference S&P global clean energy index and carbon emission futures (from early April 2022 to the end of April 2022) recommend that indicators are in-phase with carbon risk pushing and the phase (from early May 2022 to middle June 2022), suggesting that carbon emission futures are in-phase with S&P global clean energy index pushing.

Summer Onset in Northern East Asia: Feature, Mechanism and Variability

Summer in the East Asian monsoon region is characterized by heavy rainfall and high temperature. Its onset, depicted by monsoon rainfall and/or airflow as well as surface air temperature, has been well documented. However, the onset of summer season is rarely addressed in northern East Asia (NEA) around the northern edge of the East Asian summer monsoon. This study investigates the feature, mechanism, and variability of the summer onset in NEA based on the ERA-5 reanalysis dataset for 1979–2020. Results show that, in climatology, the onset of summer in NEA occurs in pentad 31 when the spring-to-summer warming process is decelerated at the highest rate. The change in the warming rate is mainly attributed to a decrease in the diabatic heat, mostly surface sensible heat, and temperature advection plays a small role. After the onset of summer, regional low-level northwesterly winds are weakened, and a local NEA cyclonic low forms. The latter, coupled with monsoon southerly airflow to the south, advects more moisture into NEA and increases regional rainfall. Furthermore, a temperature threshold of 17 °C, the climatological regional mean surface air temperature in pentad 31, was proposed to depict summer onset in NEA. Based on the temperature threshold, the year-to-year variability of summer onset timing in NEA is revealed, ranging from pentad 29 (late May) to 34 (middle June), with the standard deviation of 1.2 pentads. It advanced by 0.6 pentads, on average, after the late 1990s. This study provides a new method to objectively quantify the timing of summer onset in East Asia, which is thermodynamically explainable and may help us to depict and monitor summer onset in different latitudes and topography.

Preliminary investigations of the main Flavescence dorée vector Scaphoideus titanus and its first record in Kosovo

Scaphoideus titanus Ball is a major pest of grapevine in Europe, being the main vector of Flavescence dorée phytoplasma (FDp). The North American grapevine leafhopper was identified in neighboring countries, however, the FDp vector was not recorded and there is no available data on its presence in Kosovo. In 2021, initial investigations were conducted and field surveys were carried out in the region of Rahovec in order to evaluate the presence of S. titanus in Kosovarian vineyards. The survey was established in seventeen vineyards in different locations and grapevine varieties. In the middle of June, in each vineyard chosen for investigation were settled yellow sticky traps for surveying and sampling of leafhoppers. All plantations were subjected to fungicide treatment and no insecticide treatment was applied for S. titanus. The captures on the yellow sticky traps indicated that the North American grapevine leafhopper was present in Kosovo. Its population was different in investigated vineyards. Of the seventeen vineyards monitored, in twelve of them was captured the FDp vector, two sticky traps were damaged, and in three vineyards was not captured any specimen of Scaphoideus titanus. An average, of two up to forty-nine specimens of S. titanus per trap were collected over the surveyed period from the beginning of June until the end of September 2021. These results show only the distribution of S. titanus in the surveyed area. Furthermore, the presence of the North American grapevine leafhopper in Kosovo is an alert for urgent phytosanitary control of the quarantine phytoplasma Flavescence dorée (FD).

A case study on the content of 1-Deoxynojirimycin in some mulberry varieties (Morus Alba L.) cultivated in Bulgaria

In recent years, more and more attention has been given to the naturally occurring alkaloids due to their unique bioactive properties. In particular, 1-Deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), an iminosugar derivative, has been attracting growing attention as anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-microbial, anti-cancer, and cardioprotective agent. This alkaloid is detected in various parts of the mulberry plant, such as leaves, latex, and root bark. The predominant active substance in the mulberry leaf extract is 1-deoxynojirimycin (DNJ), known for its role as a blood sugar level regulator. The present research aims at analyzing the impact of vegetation stages and mulberry variety on the content of 1-deoxynojirimycin in dried mulberry leaves. It has been concluded that the vegetation stage and variety have an effect on the content of 1-deoxynojirimycin in mulberry leaves, as the values of DNJ are the highest in the end of July and the lowest in the middle of June. The highest DNJ content is detected for the following varieties: Kokuso 21, Kinriu and Italian106; and the lowest content in Bulgarian 24 and Kokuso 27 varieties.

Динамика развития побегов Salix triandra на саженцах, выращенных из базальных и апикальных черенков

Abstract. Purpose of research is to identify the patterns of development of shoots on annual saplings of S. triandra grown from cuttings taken from different parts of uterine shoots. Research methodology and methods. The object of the study is a model inbred-clonal population of S. triandra. Experimental group: replicas of eight clones. Variants for each clone: annual saplings grown from basal and apical cuttings. All variants were carried out in three replications. Material: growing annual shoots. The research was doing out in the soil-climatic conditions of the Bryansk district of the zone of broad-leaved forests. Observations were conducted against the background of excessive atmospheric moistening during the rooting of cuttings. Methods: chronobiological, numerical analysis of time series. Results. The seasonal growth of shoots on basal cuttings was 148–219 cm, on apical – 95–171 cm. The maximum daily increment of shoots on basal cuttings is 2.59 ± 0.148 cm/day, on apical – 1.86 ± 0.085 cm/day. The highest values of the daily increment of shoots on basal cuttings were revealed in middle of June, on apical cuttings – in middle of July. The duration of multi-day cycles of daily increment was 16–26 days, regardless of the clone factor and the origin of cuttings. The maximum number of multi-day cycles does not exceed 5. On the shoots of clones with the highest daily increment, the number of multi-day cycles decreases to 3–4. Scientific novelty. Under the conditions of this experiment, the cyclical development of all the studied shoots of S. triandra was established. Multi-day cycles of daily increment are highly synchronized in the first half of the vegetative period, regardless of the clone factor and the origin of cuttings. The range of fluctuations in the daily increment of shoots on basal cuttings is determined primarily by the clone factor. The same range of oscillations on apical cuttings is largely determined by intraclonal variability. To create plantings of S. triandra, it is recommended to use, first of all, cuttings from the basal parts of shoots. If there is a shortage of planting material, it is permissible to use the tops of shoots, taking into account the factor of mother clones.

Research on the Characteristics of Surface Flux and Surface Parameters of Meadow Underlying Surface in the Source Region of Yellow River

Based on observation data from January 1st to December 31st in 2014 at Maduo Site, which is located near the Yellow River source area in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, this research examined how the surface flow of alpine meadow underlying surface varies. The applicability of the land-surface process models CLM5.0 and CLM4.5 in alpine grassland was also tested. The findings revealed that total radiation in the Yellow River source area was lower in the winter but quickly increased after mid-March, peaked in June or July, and then gradually decreased. The surface reflected radiation was affected by both the total radiation and surface albedo. Its seasonal variation showed different characteristics than the total radiation. Due to the snow on the surface, the short-wave radiation reflected by the surface was larger in winter, while the surface reflected radiation in summer was relatively small, especially after the rainy season. Long-wave surface radiation followed the same seasonal pattern as air counter radiation, with a low point in winter and a high point in summer. Due to cloud cover and other variables, however, long-wave surface radiation was larger than atmospheric counter radiation. The sensible heat flux and net radiation varied similarly until July (rainy season), but after July, the latent heat flux and net radiation followed the same pattern until the soil was frozen in early November. For the whole year, the study of regional surface flux was mainly focused on latent heat flux. Corresponding to sensible heat and latent heat, the daily average of soil heat flux was above 0 from mid-March to late August, which meant that the soil heat flux was transmitted from the surface soil to the deep layer, while the rest of the time showed a negative, with soil heat flux transmitted from the deep layer to the surface soil. In late March, the daily average heat flux of soil was abnormally large, which was related to the melting of frozen soil. Generally, for the whole year, soil heat flux was transmitted from the deep layer to the surface soil. The simulation results of CLM5.0 and CLM4.5 for radiation flux and surface heat flux are very close to the observed values, especially CLM5.0. This indicates that the simulation effect of the model in Alpine Grassland in the source region of the Yellow River has been significantly improved after improving many parameterization schemes and dynamic processes in CLM5.0. However, the soil freezing and thawing process and snow parameterization scheme in CLM need to be further improved. Generally, the daily average CO2 flux during the frozen period of soil was 0. In May, September, and October, the respiration of alpine meadows dominated, surface releasing CO2, while in early and middle June, photosynthesis played the leading role, surface absorbing CO2. During the period from late June to mid-August, when both the moisture and temperature of soil were higher, and the surface vegetation experienced rapid growth, the daily average CO2 flux increased sharply. On the contrary, when the frozen soil melted, the CO2 flux released by the surface increased significantly.

Change in Climate Indices Using Bias-Adjusted CMIP5 Models: The Case Study of the Fatick Region, Senegal

This study analyses change in rainfall and temperature indices by 2035 and 2050 in Senegal, with a focus on the Fatick region. These parameters are crucial for understanding the impacts of anthropogenic climate change on some vital socio-economic sectors such as agriculture and water resources in this region. To this end, a multi model ensemble mean of 21 bias-adjusted global climate models participating in CMIP5 has been used. We considered two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). The results indicate an increase of 0.7˚C for maximum and minimum temperature by 2035 compared to the reference period (1976 - 2005). By 2050, an increase of 1.4˚C (2˚C) is projected for RCP4.5 (RCP8.5). These increases in temperature are statistically significant at the 90% confidence level. Conversely, the mean rainy season length decreases from 95 to 85 days by 2035 and less than 80 days by 2050. These decreases in rainy season length are mainly due to a delayed rainy season onset by 2035 and 2050, with the ensemble mean projecting an onset in the second half of July by 2050 instead of around the middle of June. The changes in both the onset and the length of the rainy season are significant at the 90% confidence level. Our results show a slight decrease in seasonal cumulated total rainfall by 2035 and 2050. However, we note a slight increase in seasonal cumulated extreme rainfall. These future changes in climate indices could induce yield reduction and water resources availability. To reduce yield losses, it would be interesting to adopt longer season varieties and also diversify income-generating activities. Concerning water resources, many actions could be done such as carrying out water retention works, treatment and reuse of non-conforming water for agriculture and livestock to reduce pressure on the resource.

Factors Associated with the Patient's Decision to Avoid Healthcare during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in changes in healthcare use. This study aimed to identify factors associated with a patient’s decision to avoid and/or delay healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. We used data from a community-based survey in Portugal from July 2020 to August 2021, “COVID-19 Barometer: Social Opinion”, which included data regarding health services use, risk perception and confidence in health services. We framed our analysis under Andersen’s Behavioural Model of Health Services Use and utilised Poisson regression to identify healthcare avoidance associated factors. Healthcare avoidance was high (44%). Higher prevalence of healthcare avoidance was found among women; participants who reported lower confidence in the healthcare system response to COVID-19 and non-COVID-19; lost income during the pandemic; experienced negative emotions due to physical distancing measures; answered the questionnaire before middle June 2021; and perceived having worse health, the measures implemented by the Government as inadequate, the information conveyed as unclear and confusing, a higher risk of getting COVID-19, a higher risk of complications and a higher risk of getting infected in a health institution. It is crucial to reassure the population that health services are safe. Health services should plan their recovery since delays in healthcare delivery can lead to increased or worsening morbidity, yielding economic and societal costs.

154 Transient left ventricular systolic dysfunction during intravenous immunoglobulins treatment for myasthenia gravis exacerbation

Abstract A 61-year-old man suffering from myasthenia gravis with predominant bulbar involvement since 10 months before admission, was diagnosed with thymoma in April 2021. He had no relevant comorbidities except for history of polymorphic ventricular ectopic beats. In this regard, in 2019 he had undergone transthoracic echocardiogram and coronary computed tomography angiography, which resulted both normal. After 1 month, due to poor response to standard medical therapy with prednisone and pyridostigmine and in preparation for thymectomy, an intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) treatment was prescribed leading to mild clinical improvement (Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America Clinical Classification IIIA—MGFA). Two weeks later, the patient underwent robotic-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy without complications. Pathological findings were consistent with type B1 Thymoma classified as Masaoka Stage IIB (TNM Stage pT1a). After discharge the patient complained a rapid worsening of neurological symptoms (MGFA IIIB) leading to an urgent hospitalization for Myasthenia Gravis exacerbation in the middle of June. On admission Intravenous Immunoglobulins (IVIG) treatment was immediately started. After administration of the second IVIG dose, he had a myasthenic crisis complicated by refractory heart failure with significant increase of cardiac troponin up to 5.768 ng/L, requiring invasive ventilation, inotropic support and urgent transfer to the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU). The 2D echo showed severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVEF 20%) with diffuse hypokinesis. The patient underwent cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography that confirmed severe reduction of the LVEF (LVEF 23%) with embolic occlusion of the distal posterior descending coronary artery (PDA) without other significant coronary artery stenosis. An endomyocardial biopsy was performed, which revealed cardiomyocytes of normal dimensions with sporadic cytoplasmic vacuolization and excluded signs of inflammation, fibrosis, necrosis and viral myocarditis. The day after the patient completed IVIG treatment. During the following days, despite persistence of severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction, he was successfully weaned form inotropic and ventilatory support. At neurological evaluation he reported persistence of severe bulbar involvement with upper and lower limbs weakness. Five days later, the patient had a sudden cardiac arrest for pulseless electrical activity. Advanced cardiac life support requiring inotropes and invasive ventilation was performed for 28 min before returning to spontaneous circulation. The echocardiogram excluded pulmonary embolism and mechanical complications but showed severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction. A new coronary angiography showed clear coronary arteries including PDA. Because of severe haemodynamic compromise, an Impella CP device was implanted and set at maximum support level (P8 flow, >3 L/min). A neurological exam revealed no severe neurological sequelae. As a result of the long CPR the patient had a massive left haemothorax, initially treated with multiple blood transfusions and pleural drainage. Two days later, due to persistence of haemodynamic instability and active pleural bleeding with incessant severe anaemia the case underwent a Heart Team discussion where it was decided to escalate Impella CP device to Veno-Arterial Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and then perform a video-assisted thoracoscopic evacuation of the haemothorax. Both procedures were carried out without complications. The patient had an immediate haemodynamic improvement which led to rapid weaning from inotropic support. Haemoglobin was stable. The 2D echo showed significant improvement of the LVEF (40%). After 3 days, given the persistence of haemodynamic stability, ECMO device was removed and invasive ventilation stopped shortly afterwards. Eleven days later, another 2D echo demonstrated complete recovery of left ventricular systolic function (LVEF 59%). Notwithstanding, the patient reported a progressive worsening of neurological symptoms with generalized myasthenia and severe bulbar involvement (MGFA IVB) along with episodes of respiratory muscle fatigue requiring non-invasive ventilation. For this reason, the patient was transferred to Subintensive Respiratory Unit and the case underwent a new multidisciplinary discussion involving neurologists, cardiologists and haematologists. Specialists agreed upon potential causal role of IVIG treatment in transient left ventricular dysfunction and considered re-administration absolutely contraindicated. Thus, they prescribed five plasmapheresis treatments and up-titration of corticosteroid therapy (methylprednisolone up to 60 mg od). An immediate and outstanding improvement of neurological symptoms was obtained (MGFA IIIA) and the patient was discharged from hospital 1 week later.

Fortnightly Variation of the Tsushima Warm Current on the Continental Shelf in the Southwestern Japan Sea

AbstractThe first and second branches of the Tsushima Warm Current flow on the continental shelf and along the shelf break/slope in the southwestern Japan Sea, respectively. The second branch corresponds to the offshore side of the bottom temperature front between the offshore cold and nearshore warm waters. Across the Tsushima Warm Current on the continental shelf and the shelf edge, five bottom‐mounted ADCPs with temperature sensors were deployed between middle June and late July 2014. At the shelf edge, the bottom temperature varied with the diurnal tidal cycle. The offshore bottom cold‐water intruded into the continental shelf region in conjunction with the fortnightly spring‐neap (2‐week) cycle which is the modulation of the diurnal K1 and O1 internal tides. The bottom temperature front and the first branch of the Tsushima Warm Current on the continental shelf intensified in response to the bottom cold‐water intrusion.

Factors affecting winter damage and recovery of newly planted Norway spruce seedlings in boreal forests

In boreal and temperate forest zones, snowless winters and springs with varying temperature conditions are becoming more common with climate change. In the spring of 2020, extensive winter damage in Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) seedlings, which had been planted the previous year in Central Finland, was observed. In most cases, the probable reason was winter desiccation. This provided a good opportunity to study the regeneration site, seedling, and weather factors that affect winter damage and the recovery of seedlings from damage. In the study, systematic plot sampling was done in 60 selected regeneration sites where damage was known to have occurred. The prediction models for the probabilities of winter damage and the recovery of seedlings were fit to the data. The risk of winter damage was higher in seedlings packed in a closed package than in seedlings stored in open trays. The risk was especially high if seedlings packed in a closed package were stored for more than a week before planting in the middle of June or later. In open trays, the risk of damage was highest in seedlings planted in September, but even then, the risk was lower than in seedlings packed in a closed package. Long storage duration also increased the damage risk in seedlings stored in open trays and planted in September. Other factors that increased damage were coarse soil and the sample plot being on top of a hill. Factors reducing the risk were a fast chain from clear-cutting to planting, planting in good-quality mounds, a sample plot position on the north slope, and the shading of the forest edge on the southern side of a plot. Recovery of seedlings was weaker when seedlings were stored in a closed package and planted in the fall, in too shallow planting depth, or in humus-covered mounds. Recovery improved when seedlings were planted at a depth of at least 5 cm, or when the coniferous forest edge was on the southern or western side of a plot. Winter damage reduced seedling growth and induced the formation of multiple leaders. In practice, the most important factors to be taken into account were avoiding long storage duration and planting seedlings packed in a closed package after the middle of June. Good-quality site preparation and planting were also important for minimizing the risk of damage and improving recovery.

PHENOLOGY OF THE HORSE FLIES (DIPTERA, TABANIDAE) FROM THE CENTRAL BALKAN MOUNT

The study was conducted in the Central Balkan Mountains in the 2010-2013 periods. On the basis of new and literature data it was summarized that the tabanid fauna in the region is represented by 41 species of 10 genera. The species Tabanus leleani Austen, 1920 is reported for the first time for the fauna of Bulgaria. The phenological features of 31 species of tabanids registered during the study in the region have been analyzed. The terms of activity of the most common tabanid species have been confirmed. The flight period of Tabanus sudeticus Zeller, 1842 in Bulgaria (from the middle of June to the middle of August) are marked.

All‐of‐government response to the COVID‐19 pandemic: The case of Vietnam

All‐of‐government response to the COVID‐19 pandemic: The case of Vietnam

Making Data Reports Useful During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, anxiety regarding hospitals resulted in patients risking their lives and not seeking emergency medical care when needed. Early into the pandemic, hospital emergency room utilization plummeted more than 40% in some hospitals, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As COVID-19 outbreaks intensified in the Western regions of the country, emergency room census began to increase significantly in the middle of June. Local safety net health care resources were struggling with the increase in emergency room utilization and scrambled to increase patient care capacity, especially their emergency rooms and intensive care units. The data collected during this time is of great value. Unfortunately, it is often poorly reported, overlooked, and ignored when it should be used to make better decisions and allocations. During the pandemic, underserved populations were especially impacted, overwhelming safety net health organizations. The findings from a simple data analysis provide a template for resource acuity among communities and depict the importance of health equity.

THE OCCURRENCE OF BACTERIAL AGENTS CAUSING MASTITIS IN DAIRY SHEEP AND THEIR RESISTANCE TO ANTIBIOTICS

Introduction: The aim of this study was to monitor the occurrence of bacterial agents causing mastitis, forms of mastitis and antibiotic resistance in 300 ewes on a farm in Eastern Slovakia.
 Material and methods: During the milking season, were performed three complex investigations including clinical examination, California Mastitis Test and laboratory analysis of milk samples. The investigations and milk samples were taken in three phases; the beginning (April), the middle (June) and the end (September) of the milking season.
 Results: Of all the samples (806), 225 (28.0%) were positive for bacterial pathogens. The highest incidence of mastitis (33.3%) was recorded in September, while April (23.8%) and June (25.3%) had lower incidence. The samples from September showed the highest incidence of subclinical mastitis (20.1%), with 13.2% being an acute form of mastitis. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) were identified in 61.7% of the positive samples. Especially, S. chromogenes, S. epidermidis and S. schleiferi were most frequently isolated. Staphylococcus aureus was the causative agent in 20.0% of the positive samples and caused acute or subclinical mastitis in the affected ewes. The tested bacteria showed very high resistance to novobiocin (59.5%) and penicillin (51.4%) and high resistance to amoxycillin (35.1%). We found that 80% of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria tested for antibiotic resistance were resistant to novobiocin and 70% were resistant to penicillin. Of all tested CNS, 56.5% were resistant to novobiocin, 39.1% to penicillin, and 34.7% to amoxicillin.
 Conclusion: Proper isolation and identification of the causative organism play a significant role in the prevention and control of the intramammary infection. In our study, a combinations of Streptomycin, Ciprofloxacin and Tetracycline were the most effective antibiotics for the control of mastitis.

Forecasting COVID-19 pandemic: A data-driven analysis.

In this paper, a new Susceptible-Exposed-Symptomatic Infectious-Asymptomatic Infectious-Quarantined-Hospitalized-Recovered-Dead (SEIDIUQHRD) deterministic compartmental model has been proposed and calibrated for interpreting the transmission dynamics of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). The purpose of this study is to give tentative predictions of the epidemic peak for Russia, Brazil, India and Bangladesh which could become the next COVID-19 hotspots in no time by using a newly developed algorithm based on well-known Trust-region-reflective (TRR) algorithm, which is one of the robust real-time optimization techniques. Based on the publicly available epidemiological data from late January until 10 May, it has been estimated that the number of daily new symptomatic infectious cases for the above mentioned countries could reach the peak around the middle of June with the peak size of ∼ 15, 774 (95% CI, 12,814–16,734) symptomatic infectious cases in Russia, ∼ 26, 449 (95% CI, 25,489–31,409) cases in Brazil, ∼ 9, 504 (95% CI, 8,378–13,630) cases in India and ∼ 2, 209 (95% CI, 2,078–2,840) cases in Bangladesh if current epidemic trends hold. As of May 11, 2020, incorporating the infectiousness capability of asymptomatic carriers, our analysis estimates the value of the basic reproductive number (R0) was found to be ∼ 4.234 (95% CI, 3.764–4.7) in Russia, ∼ 5.347 (95% CI, 4.737–5.95) in Brazil, ∼ 5.218 (95% CI, 4.56–5.81) in India, ∼ 4.649 (95% CI, 4.17–5.12) in the United Kingdom and ∼ 3.53 (95% CI, 3.12–3.94) in Bangladesh. Moreover, Latin hypercube sampling-partial rank correlation coefficient (LHS-PRCC) which is a global sensitivity analysis (GSA) method has been applied to quantify the uncertainty of our model mechanisms, which elucidates that for Russia, the recovery rate of undetected asymptomatic carriers, the rate of getting home-quarantined or self-quarantined and the transition rate from quarantined class to susceptible class are the most influential parameters, whereas the rate of getting home-quarantined or self-quarantined and the inverse of the COVID-19 incubation period are highly sensitive parameters in Brazil, India, Bangladesh and the United Kingdom which could significantly affect the transmission dynamics of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). Our analysis also suggests that relaxing social distancing restrictions too quickly could exacerbate the epidemic outbreak in the above-mentioned countries.

Enhanced West Nile Virus Circulation in the Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy Regions (Northern Italy) in 2018 Detected by Entomological Surveillance.

With several human cases reported annually since 2008 and the unapparent risk of infection of blood donors, the West Nile virus (WNV) is emerging as an important health issue in Europe. Italy, as well as other European countries, experienced a recrudescence of the virus circulation in 2018, which led to an increased number of human cases. An integrated surveillance plan was activated in the Emilia-Romagna and Lombardy regions (Northern Italy) since 2008 in order to monitor the intensity and timing of WNV circulation. A fundamental part of this plan consists in entomological surveillance. In 2018, the surveillance plan made it possible to collect 385,293 mosquitoes in 163 stations in the two Regions. In total 269,147 Culex mosquitoes were grouped into 2,337 pools and tested for WNV, which was detected in 232 pools. Circulation started in the central part of the Emilia-Romagna region in the middle of June, about one month before the previous seasons. Circulation suddenly expanded to the rest of the region and reached the Lombardy region in the middle of July. WNV circulated more intensively in the eastern part of the surveyed area, as confirmed by the highest number of human cases. A relationship between the number of mosquitoes collected and the virus incidence emerged, but the data obtained highlighted that the probability of detecting the virus in a given site was less than expected with a higher number of collected mosquitoes. A significant relationship was observed between the temperature recorded one week before the sampling and the number of collected mosquitoes, as well as between the estimated number of WNV-positive mosquitoes and the temperature recorded two weeks before the sampling. The two weeks delay in the influence of temperature on the positive mosquitoes is in line with the time of the virus extrinsic incubation in the mosquito. This finding confirms that temperature is one of the principal drivers in WNV mosquito infection. The surveillance system demonstrated the ability to detect the virus circulation early, particularly in areas where circulation was more intense. This allowed evaluating the effect of mosquito abundance and weather factors on virus circulation.