Need For Systematic Monitoring Research Articles

Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency is Common after Total Pancreatectomy and Islet AutoTransplantation.

Total pancreatectomy and islet autotransplantation (TPIAT) for pancreatitis may induce risk for essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD) due to exocrine pancreatic insufficiency and intestinal alterations. The prevalence of EFAD post-TPIAT is currently unknown. We abstracted essential fatty acid (EFA) profiles (n = 332 samples) for 197 TPIAT recipients (72% adult, 33% male). Statistical analyses determined the prevalence of, and associations with, EFAD post-operatively. EFAD was defined as a Triene-to-Tetraene ratio ≥ 0.05 if <18 years old, or ≥ 0.038 if ≥18 years old. Prevalence of EFAD was 33%, 49%, and 53.5% at 1, 2, and ≥ 3 years. At 1 year post-TPIAT, older age at transplant (p = 0.03), being an adult versus a child (p = 0.0024), and obstructive etiology (p = 0.0004) were significant predictors of EFAD. Only 6% of children had EFAD 1 year post-TPIAT vs. 46% of adults. ALA levels were lower with lower BMI at transplant (p = 0.011). EFAD was associated with the presence of other intestinal diseases (p < 0.0001). One-third of individuals had EFAD 1 year post-TPIAT, highlighting the need for systematic monitoring. Older age at transplant increased risk and adults were more affected than children. Other diagnoses affecting intestinal health may further increase risk for EFAD.

Политические аспекты «доверия» как фактора влияния в условиях кризиса: понятие, ресурсность и современные тренды

Introduction. The article is devoted to topical issues and political aspects of “trust” in the conditions of the modern crisis. This article analyzes the political aspects and manifestations of “trust” and characterizes its resource capacity depending on the level of application. Methods and materials. The article used a certain set of methods that were used to substantiate and solve problems and contributed to the achievement of the goals and objectives of the authors. The historical-retrospective method, which made it possible to trace the process of evolution and changes in the essential interpretations of “trust”, can be attributed to the number of significant ones. The typological and systematic methods made it possible to identify the types of trust and reflect the resource potential of political trust. In addition, the method of actualization, which was used in the process of working on the problem, contributed to the identification of modern trends and prospects. Analysis. The authors dwell in detail on the features of the evolution of “trust” in the context of modern processes and crisis phenomena. The article analyzes various approaches to exploring the essence and characteristics of “trust” as a scientific and practical phenomenon. The levels and types of trust functioning are considered, and certain aspects that have found application in the political sphere and are actualized at the present stage are highlighted. The authors note the influence of information and communication processes on the state of public trust in political institutions, processes, and phenomena. In the context of scaling fake information, the state of counter-suggestiveness of the individual in relation to information stuffing and suggestions that differ from its value orientations, views, and beliefs is highlighted. Results. The study of the category of trust within the framework of an interdisciplinary approach allows us to attribute it to significant elements and factors of the sociopolitical process and track its dynamics under the influence of deep global transformational shifts taking place in the socio-political sphere. The authors, in their results, note the need for systematic monitoring and the accumulation of objective data on the social mood in the issue of trust in the power and the presence of threats in the conditions of dissonance of the political line of power and unsatisfied interests of citizens, which can lead to a crisis of institutional trust. Authors’ contribution. R.H. Usmanov presented the justification and conceptualization of the study, took part in planning the stages of the study, summarized the results of the work, and formulated conclusions, advising on certain issues of manifestations of trust in the political sphere. O.I. Oskina carried out direct analysis and generalization of data sources and scientific literature, conducted a review and analytical study of the data, and participated in the interpretation of the results. E.V. Kudryashova collected data from sources and scientific literature, designed the manuscript and the list of references, edited and processed them, and worked with empirical data.

Potential role of climate change on the spread of salmonid skin condition: the biogeochemical hypothesis on ulcerative dermal necrosis on the Słupia River - Poland

Ulcerative dermal necrosis (UDN) it is an idiopathic condition of fish skin that has been reported in Europe since 1820. UDN affects primarily an epidermal and dermal layer of the skin lesion, which in the early stages, occurs in the head area of migratory adult salmonids entering freshwater for upstream river migration. Studies show that acid-base water properties in estuaries are exceptionally dynamic, which results from the variability of the CO2 system. The carbonate system is shaped by the net effect of mineralization and primary production enhanced by: i) the constant inflow of nutrients and organic matter from the land and ii) the horizontal and vertical mixing of the two end-members of the total alkalinity, dissolved organic carbon and pCO2; both cause high acid-base gradients between the river and the ocean. Climate change affects the biogeochemical characteristics of estuaries. We show a strong positive correlation between local temperature anomalies along the Polish coast and the occurrence of UDN in Salmo trutta sp. spawners in the Słupia River, Poland. The results suggest that the biogeochemical processes associated with climate change may be at least one component of the UDN aetiology. They also highlight the need for systematic monitoring to understand these processes and their consequences. It is crucial for restoring and further preserving sustainability in the coastal system, which involves marine life and human well-being. Furthermore, salmonids are valuable commercial fish. Thus any health issues may have a profound effect on fisheries, local communities and the fish market in general.

Endocrine disruptors, estrogenic activity by the YES bioassay, and acute toxicity in Southeastern Brazil metropolitan surface waters

This study aimed to determine endocrine disruptors in urbanized rivers Maracanã and Mangue Channel in Rio de Janeiro the second most populated city in Brazil. Bisphenol A, 17β-estradiol, estriol, and 17α-ethinylestradiol were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector and fluorescence detector In addition, the evaluation of estrogenic activity was performed by the YES bioassay (Yeast estrogen screen) with the Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast, and acute toxicity assays were performed using Daphnia similis and Vibrio fischeri. Estrogenic activity in the water samples ranged from below the limit of detection (&lt;LD) to 1.6 ng L-1, while bisphenol A ranged from 22.3 to 1325.2 ng L-1 and estrogens 17β-estradiol from &lt;LD to 55.2 ng L-1, estriol from &lt;LD to 313.7 ng L-1 and 17α-ethinylestradiol, from &lt;LD to 409.4 ng L-1. The acute toxicity was not detected in both analyzed organisms. The present study indicates a serious level of pollution by the compounds evaluated with significant risks to the aquatic ecosystem, mainly for Guanabara Bay which receives urbanized river discharge. Therefore, recommending the need for systematic monitoring and mitigating actions in these water bodies.

СТРУКТУРА СІЛЬСЬКОГОСПОДАРСЬКИХ ЛАНДШАФТІВ ЯК ОСНОВА ФОРМУВАННЯ ЗООЦЕНОЗІВ СЕРЕДНЬОГО ПРИДНІСТЕР'Я

Agricultural landscapes are the most common class of anthropogenic landscapes. In the structure of agricultural landscapes, there are subclasses of field, garden and meadow-pasture landscapes, which collectively make up to 80% of the area of the study area. To establish the influence of agricultural landscapes on the territorial distribution of zoocenoses of terrestrial vertebrates within Middle Transnistria. In the research process, landscape science, ecological and biogeocenotic approaches and principles of complexity and systematicity, natural-anthropogenic coexistence, constructivism, etc. were applied. The study of zoocenoses of anthropogenic landscapes was based on a system of general scientific and specific scientific methods: observation, analysis and synthesis, induction and deduction, comparison and analogy, abstraction and generalization, and the bibliographic method were also used. Records of terrestrial vertebrates, and capture of amphibians, reptiles and small mammals were carried out by faunal methods, taking into account the specifics of individual groups of animals. The share of field landscapes corresponds to an average of 65%, of which the main part is located on watersheds and floodplain terraces. It was found that the zoocenotic composition of field landscapes is relatively impoverished, but the growth of zoodiversity is provided by “migrant animals” and animals that use fields to find food. Garden landscapes of Middle Transnistria occupy up to 5 %. The timeliness of certain groups of terrestrial vertebrates to garden landscapes was studied, a significant part of which belongs to dendrophilous species of birds and mammals. The reduction of anthropogenic load (compared to field landscapes) affected the growth of the species composition of all settled animal species, as well as nesting birds in garden landscapes. It was determined that meadow-pasture landscapes of Middle Transnistria occupy an average of about 9.5 % and are localized, as a rule, on the slopes of river valleys. In separate areas, they enter the plakors and river floodplains. A wider range of terrain types (increasing the number of ecological niches) influenced the growth of the overall species diversity of animals of this subclass of agricultural landscapes. We consider the need for systematic monitoring of zoocenoses in different classes of anthropogenic landscapes to be a generalization of our research. This will make it possible to trace their dynamics and form scientifically based recommendations regarding the protection and rational use of local areas of animal concentration.

Екологічна оцінка Запорізького (Дніпровського) водосховища

Environmental assessment of water is an integral part of monitoring water bodies. It provides information about water as a component of the aquatic ecosystem, the habitat of hydrobionts and an essential part of the natural environment, which is necessary for establishing environmental standards for water quality and adoption of measures to improve the ecological state of water bodies. Assessment of the quality of the ecological environment is an important parameter of sustainable development, necessary for the rational use of nature. Currently, the Zaporizhzhia (Dnipro) reservoir is exposed to increased anthropogenic impact, which affects water quality. The ecological state of the reservoir is deteriorating, and mass algal bloom is observed. The work aims to provide an integrated environmental assessment of water quality in different sites of the Zaporizhzhia reservoir. The study was conducted in 2019 at 5 sites along the course of the Zaporizke reservoir, which differ in hydrological and hydrochemical conditions: Samara Bay, Festivalnyi pier, Monastyrsky island, creek of the Mokra Sura river and the lower section of the reservoir (near Viyskove village), following generally accepted hydrobiological methods. The article calculates block indices and provides an environmental assessment of the water quality of the Zaporizhzhia reservoir according to the "Methodology for environmental assessment of surface water quality in the corresponding categories. The assessment of water quality by the criteria of contamination with salt composition components indicates that the water body condition is good at most of the studied points. The worst indicators were recorded in Samara Bay, where increased mineralization is observed for a long time. The trophic-saprobological block revealed to have the worst indicators and a high amplitude of index fluctuations. No significant deviations were observed in terms of the content of toxic and radiation exposure indicators throughout the entire studied water area, which makes it possible to assign water to the same class. It has been determined that the water quality of the Zaporizhzhia reservoir according to the average annual data is characterized as "good" in terms of the state and "clean, fairly clean" in terms of purity degree. However, during the study period, significant deviations from the average were observed, especially in the summer. There is a need for systematic monitoring of the reservoir, the establishment of annual dynamics, which will make it possible to determine the causes of deteriorating water quality and develop ways to address them.

Analysis of the effectiveness of regulatory legal acts on counterfeiting of medicines in Ukraine

The problem of medicines counterfeiting is relevant for all countries of the world, without exception. At the same time, the effectiveness of combating the spread of counterfeit medicines (CM) in different countries, as well as the volume of counterfeited medical products, varies. Any state that aimed to ensure highly effective control over the circulation of medicines has to elaborate a comprehensive solution to this problem, primarily to adopt high-quality national legislation. The executive authorities should not only pay attention to neutralizing CM problem, but also take the most active part in this process. The primary role here should be played by law enforcement authorities. There is a need for coordinated work by law enforcement authorities to investigate the cases of falsified medicines and clandestine production, as well as by regulatory bodies to identify such products. It is also necessary to systematize the investigative and judicial practice on this issue, create an unified system for recording the facts of identifying the counterfeit drugs. The need for systematic monitoring and analysis of regulatory legal acts regarding the counteraction to the circulation of the CM in order to assess their effectiveness, as well as the adoption of appropriate measures by the authorized bodies, determine the relevance of the study.&#x0D; The aim of the work was to analyze the laws and regulations of CM adopted in Ukraine after the Declaration of Independence had been signed (1991), to assess their effectiveness in terms of bringing perpetrators to justice for pharmaceutical counterfeiting.&#x0D; Materials and methods. Scientific publications on the problem of CM, as well as the Laws of Ukraine and legal acts adopted by various authorities to combat the spread of falsified medicines, reports of law enforcement agencies, the General Prosecutor’s Office, the State Judicial Administration, court decisions included in the Unified State Register of Court Decisions (USRCD) under Article 321-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The analysis of the respective norms of the legislation adopted during 1991–2020 is carried out.&#x0D; Results. Having analyzed the reports of law enforcement agencies, the State Statistical Office, and the Prosecutor General’s Office, the authors established that none of the people who had been convicted under Article 321-1 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, after the entry of the guilty verdict into force, was in places of deprivation of liberty. There are many information sources that provide various forms of statistics, but understanding them is quite a challenge. A large number of criminal proceedings have been investigated for a long time, and since the USRCD is inaccessible, and is available only for the pre-trial investigation bodies and the prosecutor’s office, it is impossible for a private person to get information regarding the end of the pre-trial investigation in certain cases.&#x0D; Conclusions. Despite the large quantity of regulatory legal acts adopted in Ukraine to prevent the spread of counterfeit medicines, the severity of the sanctions of Article 321-1 of the Criminal Code, which criminalizes the falsification and circulation of medicines, as well as the importance of medicines’ counterfeiting for public health, the effectiveness of measures to combat this phenomenon is dramatically low.

Special-Purpose River-Port Sediment Valorization as Road Construction Material Emphasising Environmental Aspects

Abstract Special-purpose river port sediment was investigated for its potential use as a road construction material. Sediment samples were extracted from three locations in three small river ports, and detailed laboratory research was conducted to determine its basic mechanical properties and characteristics that can potentially have an adverse influence in a roadside environment. The results of the research conducted indicate that there is a need for systematic monitoring of the quality and quantity of sediment in special-purpose river ports of the Danube River Basin to maintain its mobility and prevent flooding. The basic engineering characteristics (Proctor elements, Atterberg limits, California bearing ratio, and unconfined compressive strength) determined represent the good potential of the sediment samples tested herein for use in road construction. In addition, the chemical characteristics tested indicate the need for detailed analyses of the potential environmental risk before application in civil engineering structures

ВИКОРИСТАННЯ ДОСВІДУ ПІДВИЕЩННЯ КВАЛІФІКАЦІЇ БРИТАНСЬКИХ ВИКЛАДАЧІВ ВИЩОЇ ШКОЛИ В УКРАЇНІ

The article considers the recommendations for the domestic system of advanced training of scientific and pedagogical staff of higher educational institutions on the basis of the British experience. It is noted that it is appropriate for the domestic system of professional development of scientific and pedagogical staff to use the ideas of corporate education and network approach, which will allow teachers to better adapt to new requirements due to socio-economic changes, timely update and improve their professional knowledge. There is also a need for systematic monitoring of the problems and needs of teachers in order to respond quickly and develop current and modern programs and training courses. It is stated that to improve the efficiency of coordination of work on professional development of scientific and pedagogical staff it is necessary to organize such activities in different departments of the university, which will build an effective individual route of professional growth of teacher from assistant to professor at different levels and in different areas. It is concluded that in order to ensure that the content of the programs meets the needs of students of advanced training courses, it is necessary to significantly improve the feedback between teachers who improve their skills and course developers, including through the Internet and other modern technologies. It is also noted that in order to organize the process of professional development, relevant to each teacher, it is necessary to develop special programs that would take into account the interests and needs of each such teacher. In turn, to optimize the methods and forms of professional development of university teachers it is necessary to use an orderly system of interaction between the moderator and students of the course, the use of e-interactive learning in combination with traditional methods in accordance with the program of advanced training. The active involvement of teachers of domestic universities in the process of professional development will also be facilitated by constructive changes in determining their workload and in the material stimulation of professional activity.

Information Support of System Monitoring and Complex Assessment of Forestlands in Industrial Regions

The need for systematic monitoring and complex evaluation of forest lands in industrial regions (on the example of the Urals and Western Siberia) is considered. The methodology of system monitoring and complex evaluation of forest lands on the basis of the concept of sustainable development of territories and biotic regulation of the environment, taking into account the widespread and long-term consequences of nature-land-forest management, modeling of natural objects, phenomena and processes, combining data collection and processing procedures with models of structural elements of forest lands with algorithms of forecasting and decision-making is presented. The scientific and technological principles of system monitoring and information support of complex evaluation of forest lands in industrial regions are considered. The results of using a sound methodology and the proposed principles of system monitoring and complex evaluation of forest land in industrial regions in solving practical problems are presented: substantiation of the concept of environmental safety of the development of the Middle Urals, the role of the natural potential of forest lands in the national accounts structure, the formation of sustainable subsoil use.

ОСОБЕННОСТИ ПСИХОФИЗИОЛОГИЧЕСКОГО СТАТУСА ОБУЧАЮЩИХСЯ 16–17 ЛЕТ ОБОЕГО ПОЛА

Modern trends in education reveal the need for a systematic assessment and development of the adaptive psychophysiological potential of students for their successful adaptation in the situation of a rapidly changing education system. The paper presents the results of a study of the psychophysiological status of 50 students of both sexes aged 16-17 who have no deviations in health. The students in both groups demonstrated evident right-handedness (dominance of the left hemisphere), however, the number of people with right- and interhemispheric activity was greater among girls. A significantly higher level of semantic memory was found in boys, whereas girls registered a higher quotient of neural processes mobility and a high rate of attention switching. The male group registered the prevalence of excitation processes in the cerebral cortex, while the group of girls displayed the prevalence of inhibition processes in the cerebral cortex. The discovered psychophysiological peculiarities are important for theoretical and practical research in modern education. The main idea of the work is to emphasize the need for systematic monitoring of the psychophysiological indicators of students - this can preserve their mental health and improve adaptation to the changes in the modern educational environment. An innovative approach to assessing the success of the educational process should consist of regular comprehensive monitoring of students’ psychophysiological indicators and the dynamics of the educational process. The obtained data on the psychophysiological status will make it possible to take into account the individual characteristics of students of both sexes.

Results of hearing screening of school-age children in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

To gauge the prevalence of hearing loss in school children in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and refer pupils with positive results for further diagnostic testing. According to WHO data, hearing disorders are common in school-age children. Screening for hearing loss is an important preventative tool, helping to avoid further complications. Expenditure that supports early child development can reduce future outlay on health care and social services; it can eliminate disability problems, education deficits, and social maladaptation in later adult life. Pure-tone air-conduction hearing thresholds were obtained at 0.5-8 kHz. The results of the hearing screening examination were regarded as positive if pure-tone thresholds were higher than 20 dB HL in one or both ears at one or more of the test frequencies. Data were also obtained from follow-up visits of children who failed the initial screening. This study included 452 children aged 7-13 years old. Based on audiograms, screening showed that 123 (27.2%) of the children had hearing impairment. The study has important implications for clinical practice and health policy. There is a need for systematic monitoring of hearing status among children of this age, and parents and educators need to be made aware of the significance of hearing loss.

Physiological monitoring of the complex multimorbid heart failure patient - diabetes and monitoring glucose control.

Heart failure (HF) is a global epidemic, particularly affecting the elderly and/or frail patients often with comorbidities. Amongst the comorbidities, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is highly prevalent and associated with higher morbidity and mortality. We review the detection and treatment of T2DM in HF and the need to balance the risk of hypoglycaemia and overall glycaemic control. Despite large attributable risks, T2DM is often underdiagnosed in HF. Therefore there is a need for systematic monitoring (screening) for undetected T2DM in HF patients. Given that patients with HF are at greater risk for developing T2DM compared with the general population, an emphasis also has to be placed on regular reassessment of glycaemic status during follow-up. Therefore, glucose-lowering therapies (e.g. sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors, SGLT-2 inhibitors) with a known benefit for the prevention or delay of HF hospitalization could be considered early in the course of T2DM, to optimise treatment and reduce cardiovascular (CV) risk. Although intensive glycaemic control has been shown to effectively reduce the risk of microvascular complications in T2DM, these same trials have shown either no reduction in CV outcomes, or even an increase in mortality with tight glycaemic control (i.e. targeting HbA1c levels <7.0%). More lenient glycaemic targets (e.g. HbA1c levels 7.0-8.0%) may be more appropriate for HF patients with T2DM. The 2016 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of HF proposed metformin as the first-line therapy, given its long-standing use and low risk of hypoglycaemia. More recently, several novel glucose lowering-medications have been introduced, including dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RA), and SGLT-2 inhibitors. The most consistent reduction in the risk of HF hospitalisation has been shown with the three SGLT-2 inhibitors (empagliflozin, canagliflozin and dapagliflozin) which now offer improved outcomes in patients with both HF and T2DM.

Prevalence of hearing loss among polish school-age children from rural areas – Results of hearing screening program in the sample of 67 416 children

BackgroundHearing loss in children is a relevant health issue, both for its prevalence and for its physical, emotional and social consequences. Our aim was to estimate the national prevalence of hearing loss in school-age children from rural areas in Poland. MethodsThe study was conducted in the general, pediatric, nonclinical population of school-age children from rural areas in Poland. It was a population-based, epidemiological study. The participants were 67416 children (32630 girls and 34786 boys) aged from 6 to 13 years old (M = 8.65; SD = 2.54). Pure-tone air-conduction hearing threshold were obtained at 0.5–8 kHz. Hearing loss was defined as a pure-tone average higher than 20 dB in one or both ears in at least one of the following pure-tone average: four-frequency pure-tone average (FFPTA), high-frequency pure-tone average (HFPTA) and low-frequency pure-tone average (LFPTA). ResultsThe rate of positive results of hearing screening was 16.4% and it was significantly higher in younger children than in older children. Mild hearing loss was more frequently than moderate or worse hearing loss. The children more often experienced unilateral than bilateral hearing loss. ConclusionsThis study reveals that hearing problems are common in this population, especially among younger children. It shows a strong need for systematic monitoring of hearing status among children and increasing awareness of parents and educators of the significance of hearing loss, including unilateral and mild hearing loss. Further studies conducted among children in urban areas are needed to compare the prevalence of hearing loss in children from various environments.

Evaluation of psycho-emotional status of robotic system operator in the Arctic

The paper shows the algorithm to assess psycho-emotional status of robotic system operator in the Arctic. It is shown that modern direction of robotics development does not sufficiently take into account the peculiarities of operator work in polar conditions. As a result, the efficiency of operator work can be significantly reduced which may lead to accidents and disabling of robotic systems and, consequently, to an increase in the cost of operations. The paper shows the need for systematic monitoring of psycho-emotional operator status. Modern methods to assess psycho-emotional state of a person in extreme conditions are considered and the assessment by speech signal is shown to be the most appropriate one. At the same time, other methods to assess psycho-emotional status of a person, such as assessment of heart rate and electrical activity of the skin, as well as assessment of facial expressions and body movement, have features that limit their use to assess operator status in the Arctic. The approach to assess psycho-emotional status of a person in the Arctic based on two-dimensional model of emotional plane is proposed, the effectiveness of these models. The possibility of using the proposed method for evaluating the psycho-emotional state of the operator under the conditions of the Arctic.

Spatial and temporal analyses of salinity changes in Pulicat lagoon, a transitional ecosystem, during 1996–2015

ABSTRACT We investigated the salinity changes of Pulicat lagoon connected to the Bay of Bengal, during the period 1996–2015. Our objective was to drive useful perspectives on the annual, seasonal and sectoral trends of salinity changes using available datasets on salinity, precipitation, and sea-entrance closures. Annual mean salinities randomly correlated with the extent of rainfall. Highest dilution (89-91%) was observed for POE in 1997 and highest concentration in PRE was recorded in 1999 and 2005 (15.2–20.2%) with respect to mean salinity. Predominant changes were evident at the cross-over from dry season (“PRE”; February to September) to wet season (“POE”; October to January). Geostatistical models of PRE and POE salinities provided estimates to be 35.6 ± 4.1 ppt and 25.5 ± 12.9 ppt, respectively. Secondary salinization from run-off contributes to the increase in the salinities in the POE. Sectoral analyses of salinity deviations from mean revealed that the magnitude of desalination due to monsoonal dilution increased with distance from the sea under conditions of exclusivity to riverine influences (e.g. a decrease of ~12.41 ppt observed in 2015). Eastern sector experienced highest dilution in POE (100%; year 1997) as well as increase in PRE (22.9%; 1999). Lowest deviations in POE were observed in southern sector in POE (81.5%). The sensitivity of the various sectors to regime shifts from low magnitude salinity change decreases in the order: Western > Southern > Central > Eastern. Our results further emphasize the need for systematic monitoring of salinity distributions to understand ecosystem dynamics at multiple scales.

English

The electrical conductivity and of cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+ and K+) and anions (Cl-, CO32-, HCO3- and SO42) contents of the water an Amazon well, from State University of Para&iacute;ba, Catol&eacute; do Rocha city, Para&iacute;ba State, Brazil, located in the semi-arid region of the Brazilian High Sert&atilde;o were evaluated monthly from January to December of year 2017. Despite the increase in electrical conductivity from 0.89 to 1.16 mS cm-1 and sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) from 4.43 to 10.45 (mmol L-1)1/2 did not change the water quality to agriculture. With mean risk to saline (C2) and low risk to exercise sodicity at soil (S1), toxicity and nutritional imbalance to plants, the concentration of dissolved salts increased from 0.57 to 0.74 g L-1 between rainy and arid periods. This situation expresses a high increase of almost 30% in the total dissolved salts during the evaluated period and shows the need for systematic monitoring. Simulating the irrigation with a 400 mm blade of this water with 1.16 dS m-1, in 120 days, can add to soil 2,970 kg ha-1 of salts, of which 1,892; 633; 258 and 143 kg ha-1 are of the sodium, calcium, potassium and magnesium species, respectively. Key words: Water quality, ionic components of water, salinity of water in well. &nbsp

Long-term monitoring suggests bat boxes may alter local bat community structure

Bat boxes are often used to provide supplementary roosting habitats; however, little is known of their impacts on community composition. Data collected from a 25-year box-monitoring and 31-year harp trapping case study provides preliminary evidence that the installation of boxes may have contributed to one species, Gould’s wattled bat (Chalinolobus gouldii), dominating the bat community of a periurban park in Melbourne. This highlights the need for systematic monitoring and empirical assessment of conservation-focused bat box programs.

Identyfikacja morfologiczna grzybów rodzaju Monilinia występujących na owocach jabłoni w sadach województwa lubelskiego

Among the pathogens occurring on apple trees, Monilinia fungi have a great importance. It causes brown rot of stone fruit. It is a disease that occurs in apple orchards throughout the country. The purpose of the research was monitoring Monilinia fungi in apple orchards in the Lublin Province. Research conducted in the years 2013–2014 included a collection of mummies (mummified apples with visible sporodochia) from the ecological orchards in the spring and autumn. Morphological characteristics of the colonies were evaluated, such as growth rate, color and surface of culture, as well as spore size. Colonies of Monilinia spp. obtained in laboratory were assigned to the species. According to the research, four species of Monilinia fungi, namely M. fructigena, M. laxa, M. fructicola and M. polystroma, were found in apple orchards located in the Lublin Province. M. fructigena fungus was predominant on apple fruits. This species was isolated more often in spring than in autumn. There was also a significant number of M. fructicola and M. laxa in the mummies whose colonies were isolated more often in autumn than in spring. Morphological identification of Monilinia spp. should be confirmed by genetic analysis because the macroscopic and microscopic features of Monilinia spp. are very similar. The conducted studies indicate the need for systematic monitoring of fruit orchards.

Malaria control in rural Malawi: implementing peer health education for behaviour change

BackgroundInterventions to reduce malaria burden are effective if communities use them appropriately and consistently. Several tools have been suggested to promote uptake and use of malaria control interventions. Community workshops on malaria, using the ‘Health Animator’ approach, are a potential behaviour change strategy for malaria control. The strategy aims to influence a change in mind-set of vulnerable populations to encourage self-reliance, using community volunteers known as Health Animators. The aim of the paper is to describe the process of implementing community workshops on malaria by Health Animators to improve uptake and use of malaria control interventions in rural Malawi.MethodsThis is a descriptive study reporting feasibility, acceptability, appropriateness and fidelity of using Health Animator-led community workshops for malaria control. Quantitative data were collected from self-reporting and researcher evaluation forms. Qualitative assessments were done with Health Animators, using three focus groups (October–December 2015) and seven in-depth interviews (October 2016–February 2017).ResultsSeventy seven health Animators were trained from 62 villages. A total of 2704 workshops were conducted, with consistent attendance from January 2015 to June 2017, representing 10–17% of the population. Attendance was affected by social responsibilities and activities, relationship of the village leaders and their community and involvement of Community Health Workers. Active discussion and participation were reported as main strengths of the workshops. Health Animators personally benefited from the mind-set change and were proactive peer influencers in the community. Although the information was comprehended and accepted, availability of adequate health services was a challenge for maintenance of behaviour change.ConclusionCommunity workshops on malaria are a potential tool for influencing a positive change in behaviour towards malaria, and applicable for other health problems in rural African communities. Social structures of influence and power dynamics affect community response. There is need for systematic monitoring of community workshops to ensure implementation fidelity and strengthening health systems to ensure sustainability of health behaviour change.