Parts Of Central Europe Research Articles

Estimation of Frequencies and Splitting of <sub>2</sub>S<sub>1</sub> and <sub>3</sub>S<sub>1</sub> Modes from the IGETS Superconducting Gravimeter Network Data after the 2013 Sea of Okhotsk Earthquake

For the first time, the 2S1 and 3S1 modes of the Earth’s free oscillations following the largest deep-focus earthquake in the Sea of Okhotsk on May 24, 2013, have been analyzed using the maximum likelihood method. Data from 14 superconducting gravimeters of the IGETS network deployed in the central part of Europe were used for the analysis. Estimates of the time of mode excitation after the earthquake origin time, degenerate frequencies, and mode splitting parameters are obtained.

Secondary Ice Production in Simulated Deep Convective Clouds: A Sensitivity Study

Abstract Multiple mechanisms have been proposed to explain secondary ice production (SIP), and SIP has been recognized to play a vital role in forming cloud ice crystals. However, most weather and climate models do not consider SIP in their cloud microphysical schemes. In this study, in addition to the default rime splintering (RS) process, two SIP processes, namely, shattering/fragmentation during freezing of supercooled rain/drizzle drops (DS) and breakup upon ice–ice collisions (BR), were implemented into a two-moment cloud microphysics scheme. Besides, two different parameterization schemes for BR were introduced. A series of sensitivity experiments were performed to investigate how SIP impacts cloud microphysics and cloud phase distributions in warm-based deep convective clouds developed in the central part of Europe. Simulation results revealed that cloud microphysical properties were significantly influenced by the SIP processes. Ice crystal number concentrations (ICNCs) increased up to more than 20 times and surface precipitation was reduced by up to 20% with the consideration of SIP processes. Interestingly, BR was found to dominate SIP, and the BR process rate was larger than the RS and DS process rates by four and three orders of magnitude, respectively. Liquid pixel number fractions inside clouds and at the cloud top decreased when implementing all three SIP processes, but the decrease depended on the BR scheme. Peak values of ice enhancement factors (IEFs) in the simulated deep convective clouds were 102–104 and located at −24°C with the consideration of all three SIP processes, while the temperature dependency of IEF was sensitive to the BR scheme. However, if only RS or RS and DS processes were included, the IEFs were comparable, with peak values of about 6, located at −7°C. Moreover, switching off the cascade effect led to a remarkable reduction in ICNCs and ice crystal mass mixing ratios. Significance Statement The cloud phase is found to have a significant impact on cloud evolution, radiative properties, and precipitation formation. However, the simulation of the cloud phase is a big challenge for cloud research because multiple processes are not well described or missing in numerical models. In this study, we implemented two secondary ice production (SIP) processes, namely, shattering/fragmentation during the freezing of supercooled rain/drizzle drops and breakup upon ice–ice collisions, which are missing in most numerical models. Sensitivity experiments were conducted to investigate how SIP impacts cloud microphysics and cloud phase in deep convective clouds. We found that SIP significantly impacts in-cloud and cloud-top phase distribution. We also identified that the collisional breakup of ice particles is the dominant SIP process in the simulated deep convective clouds.

Replacing Tsar, King, and Emperor with the Sultan: Ukrainians, Hungarians, and the Ottomans (1660–1680)

Abstract During the 1660s and 1670s, the Ottoman Empire reached the peak of its expansion with military invasions of Ukraine and Habsburg Hungary, parts of central Europe that had traditionally been regarded as beyond the Porte's horizons. Many Ukrainians and Hungarians welcomed the Ottomans as liberators; they saw the sultan as a more benevolent ruler than the Russian tsar, the Polish king, and the Habsburg emperor. This article reconstructs the political, social, and religious dimensions of pro-Ottoman hopes as well as the popular revolts that resulted from these hopes. Comparing Ukrainian and Hungarian engagements with the Ottomans reveals the divergent and overlapping aspects of a largely forgotten historical reality, that is, the quest of many Orthodox and Protestant Europeans to consider a Muslim alternative to the Christian empires that oppressed them. The article draws on a treasure trove of little studied sources, both archival and published, in multiple languages.

Actual and design wind loads for overhead transmission lines in the Central European part of Russia

This paper reveals an impact of the climatic loads on the sustainable operation of power grid facilities. An overview is provided considering various international standards related to the design of overhead transmission lines. The aim of the research was to analyze and compare the actual and design values of wind loads for transmission lines located in the Central European part of Russia and operated by the power grid company “Rosseti Center and Volga Region”. An analysis of wind load dynamics has been carried out considering the territory of 9 subjects of Russia and 1983-2022 timeframe. The actual climate data were computed according to the direct measurements of the weather stations. Nomograms of the maximum annual wind speeds are formed utilizing the first limiting Gumbel distribution for two climatic regions of the research area. The retrospective wind loads values were compared against the design values. The results of the study show that climate standards should be updated more frequently as it is the case nowadays, in particular, it relates to revision of existing wind loads or recalculation of wind speed correction factors for the near future.

Records on citizen science portals suggest occurrences of Campodorus paradiesensis Bendixen 2022 (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) in Austria, Belgium, The Netherlands, Slovakia and Sweden

The currently known distribution of Campodorus paradiesensis is summarised, showing that the species is likely to be present in Northern, Western and most parts of Central Europe. However, because the data is mainly based on photographs on citizen science portals and social media only, most of these records need confirmation.

PADAPT 1.0 – the Pannonian Dataset of Plant Traits

The existing plant trait databases’ applicability is limited for studies dealing with the flora and vegetation of the eastern and central part of Europe and for large-scale comparisons across regions, mostly because their geographical data coverage is limited and they incorporate records from several different sources, often from regions with markedly different climatic conditions. These problems motivated the compilation of a regional dataset for the flora of the Pannonian region (Eastern Central Europe). PADAPT, the Pannonian Dataset of Plant Traits relies on regional data sources and collates data on 54 traits and attributes of the plant species of the Pannonian region. The current version covers approximately 90% of the species of the region and consists of 126,337 records on 2745 taxa. By including species of the eastern part of Europe not covered by other databases, PADAPT can facilitate studying the flora and vegetation of the eastern part of the continent. Although data coverage is far from complete, PADAPT meets the longstanding need for a regional database of the Pannonian flora.

The Future of European Beech in Northern Germany—Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Potential

Earth’s forests are increasingly exposed to climate risks through climate change-related drought and heat waves. Here, we review the climate vulnerability of European beech (Fagus sylvatica), the most abundant tree species of Central Europe’s temperate forests, and its adaptation potential to a hotter and drier climate in northern Germany, close to the center of the species’ distribution range. About two-thirds of the studied beech forests show persistent negative growth trends of their dominant trees since the onset of rapid warming in the early 1980s, driven primarily by long-term deterioration of the climatic water balance (CWB) in summer and, locally, long-term decrease in June precipitation. Lower water storage capacity of the soil increases the climate sensitivity of growth. Even though beech populations of drier sub-regions reveal some acclimation to drought (reduced stomatal conductance, turgor loss point reduction, higher C allocation to roots), they are more climate-vulnerable than populations at moister sites, visible in larger growth decreases and greater CWB sensitivity of growth. Even though beech mortality is still lower in the study region than in other parts of Central Europe, our results identify beech forest regions with <350 mm growing-season precipitation as vulnerable to recent climate conditions, which refers to half of the study region. With further climate warming and aridification, most of northern Germany likely will become unfavorable for beech growth within the next tree generation, which suggests choosing in many production forests alternative, more drought- and heat-resistant timber species.

Spatial Distribution of Lepidoptera in Forest Ecosystems of Central European Russia: Studies Using Beer Traps

Temperate forests are highly complex ecosystems in which many aspects of invertebrate distribution and abundance remain poorly understood. In order to accumulate data on the vertical and temporal distribution of forest Lepidoptera in the Republic of Mordovia (central European part of Russia), specimens were collected with beer-baited traps from April to October in 2019–2022. Traps were deployed at different heights above ground level (i.e., 1,5, 3,5, 7, and 12 m) in deciduous forests, pine forests, forest edges, and forest glades. Over the four-year sampling period, over 69,000 specimens of Lepidoptera were collected and examined. In deciduous forests, maximum abundance was observed at 12 m above ground level, whereas in pine forests, maximum abundance was observed at 7 m. In both forest types, the lowest abundance was observed at the lowest sample sites (i.e., 1.5 m above ground level). In forest glades in 2020, maximum abundance was observed at 2 m, with abundance showing a conspicuous decline with trap height above the ground. However, this pattern was not repeated in subsequent years. Lepidoptera exhibited various patterns of seasonal abundance among habitat types, but most showed bi- or trimodal patterns (corresponding with spring summer and fall), with the greatest number of specimens captured in late summer or autumn. Forest edges showed the greatest abundance of all sampled habitat types.

Geographical variation in abdominal colour pattern in Criorhina pachymera (Egger, 1858) (Diptera: Syrphidae)

The bee-mimicking hoverfly species Criorhina pachymera shows pronounced geographical variation in abdominal colour pattern. Based on 218 records from 22 European countries, we describe six abdomen forms divided over two main groups. Group A in western, northern and central parts of Europe contains abdomen forms A1–A3 with slender pollinose bands on the third and fourth tergite. Group B in south-eastern Europe contains forms B1–B3 with broad pollinose bands. These groups are separated by the Alps and the Carpathians, such as the separation of the original distributions of the two main postglacial recolonization lineages of honey bees in Europe. As these honey bee groups differ by the width of the pollinose bands on the third to fifth tergite, Batesian mimicry can explain the group distribution of C. pachymera with slender or broad pollinose bands. The different forms of C. pachymera in both groups are categorised by the extent of orange colouration on the second and third tergite. The darkest form A1, has a widespread distribution in Europe. Intermediate bright forms A2 and A3 occur predominantly in a belt along the southern margin of the group A distribution and in Sweden. Dark form B1 and intermediate bright form B2 occur on the Balkan peninsula and in neighbouring regions. The brightest form B3, is found in Italy, Switzerland (Ticino) and Greece. There is an average increase in the extent of orange colouration on the second and third tergite with decreasing geographical latitude, making temperature a likely additional cause for the described abdominal colour variation.

Geographical variation in abdominal colour pattern in Criorhina pachymera (Egger, 1858) (Diptera: Syrphidae)

The bee-mimicking hoverfly species Criorhina pachymera shows pronounced geographical variation in abdominal colour pattern. Based on 218 records from 22 European countries, we describe six abdomen forms divided over two main groups. Group A in western, northern and central parts of Europe contains abdomen forms A1–A3 with slender pollinose bands on the third and fourth tergite. Group B in south-eastern Europe contains forms B1–B3 with broad pollinose bands. These groups are separated by the Alps and the Carpathians, such as the separation of the original distributions of the two main postglacial recolonization lineages of honey bees in Europe. As these honey bee groups differ by the width of the pollinose bands on the third to fifth tergite, Batesian mimicry can explain the group distribution of C. pachymera with slender or broad pollinose bands. The different forms of C. pachymera in both groups are categorised by the extent of orange colouration on the second and third tergite. The darkest form A1, has a widespread distribution in Europe. Intermediate bright forms A2 and A3 occur predominantly in a belt along the southern margin of the group A distribution and in Sweden. Dark form B1 and intermediate bright form B2 occur on the Balkan peninsula and in neighbouring regions. The brightest form B3, is found in Italy, Switzerland (Ticino) and Greece. There is an average increase in the extent of orange colouration on the second and third tergite with decreasing geographical latitude, making temperature a likely additional cause for the described abdominal colour variation.

Study of imidazolinone-resistant hybrids of rapeseed and sunflower for yield depending on doses of mineral nutrition

The article offers an analysis of the yield of hybrid lines of sunflower and spring rapeseed, grown according to the technology using herbicides of the chemical class Imidozalinones, against the background of various doses of mineral nutrition. The research was carried out in two regions of the Central European part of Russia, in the Lipetsk and Ryazan regions in 2021-2022. According to the results of the experiment, all used hybrids of oilseeds showed high yields, above the average yields for the regions. The maximum yield was found in all plots of mineral nutrition with the action of N250P70K70 - for sunflower, and with the action of N210P50K50 - for spring rapeseed.

Accident analysis of 220, 500 kV overhead lines of the main power systems network

The statistical analysis of overhead lines (OHL) of the unified national power grid (UNPG) of the Central European part of the country for the previous 15 years is subjected to statistical analysis. The structure of the failure flow parameter (failure frequency) of 220 and 500 kV overhead lines with a total length of 17.6 and 8.5 thousand kilometers, respectively, is compared. It is shown that the last decade is characterized by the most favorable reliability characteristics. At the same time, a tendency was detected, when the parameter of overhead line failure flow became insignificantly dependent on the nominal voltage of the network. This fact makes us doubt the existing belief of specialists, according to which the specific (per 100 km) failure rate of overhead transmission lines decreases with the increase of the nominal voltage of the network. The above trend once again demonstrates the objective possibility of purposeful management of electric networks reliability.

Responses of Bunias orientalis to Short-term Fungal Infection and Insect Herbivory are Independent of Nutrient Supply

Plants have to allocate their resources in both growth and defense under different environmental challenges. Several plant species have become invasive particularly in disturbed fertile habitats, which may influence their resource allocation. We studied the effects of nitrate fertilization (low versus high) on various plant responses towards a pathogenic fungus, Alternaria brassicae, and a herbivorous insect species, Mamestra brassicae, in a population of Bunias orientalis, which is invasive in parts of central Europe. Aboveground biomass and leaf trichome density were enhanced in plants under high fertilization. In contrast, the short-term fungal infection and herbivory had no effect on aboveground biomass. Leaf water, nitrogen content and glucosinolate concentrations were neither affected by fertilization nor in response to antagonist attack. The total soluble sugar content, especially fructose, as well as leaf peroxidase activity increased significantly in leaves upon fungal infection, but independent of fertilization. Larval biomass gain and herbivore survival were likewise unaffected by fertilization. Our findings highlight that under conditions of high fertilization, B. orientalis plants allocate more resources into growth and morphological defenses than chemical defenses. In contrast, induced responses to short-term antagonist attack seem independent of nitrate availability in this population.

Sociokulturel betydning af tragtbægerkulturens tidligneolitiske flintøkser

Sociokulturel betydning af tragtbægerkulturens tidligneolitiske flintøkser

Assessing Genetic Diversity and Searching for Selection Signatures by Comparison between the Indigenous Livni and Duroc Breeds in Local Livestock of the Central Region of Russia

Indigenous pig breeds are mainly associated with the adaptive capacity that is necessary to respond adequately to climate change, food security, and livelihood needs, and natural resources conservation. Livni pigs are an indigenous fat-type breed farmed in a single farm in the Orel region and located in the Central European part of the Russian Federation. To determine the genomic regions and genes that are affected by artificial selection, we conducted the comparative study of two pig breeds with different breeding histories and breeding objectives, i.e., the native fat-type Livni and meat-type Duroc breeds using the Porcine GGP HD BeadChip, which contains ~80,000 SNPs. To check the Livni pigs for possible admixture, the Landrace and the Large White breeds were included into the study of genetic diversity as these breeds participated in the formation of the Livni pigs. We observed the highest level of genetic diversity in Livni pigs compared to commercial breeds (UHE = 0.409 vs. 0.319–0.359, p < 0.001; AR = 1.995 vs. 1.894–1.964, p < 0.001). A slight excess of heterozygotes was found in all of the breeds. We identified 291 candidate genes, which were localized within the regions under putative selection, including 22 and 228 genes, which were specific for Livni and Duroc breeds, respectively, and 41 genes common for both breeds. A detailed analysis of the molecular functions identified the genes, which were related to the formation of meat and fat traits, and adaptation to environmental stress, including extreme temperatures, which were different between breeds. Our research results are useful for conservation and sustainable breeding of Livni breed, which shows a high level of genetic diversity. This makes Livni one of the valuable national pig genetic resources.

Effectiveness of the use of desiccant “Dictator, VR” on soybean crops (<i>Glycine max</i>) in the conditions of the Central European part of the Russia

Relevance. In the Ryazan region in recent years the acreage under soybeans has been growing. Given the ever-growing demand for soybeans as a high-protein and oilseed crop, the priority is the development of chemical methods that affect the acceleration of maturation.Methods. A variety of soy Kasatka was taken for research. In the experiment, the effect of desiccant “Diktator, VR” (AD — 150 g/l of diquat in the form of dibromide) was studied. Experimentaloptions: 1) “Diktator, VR” 1.5 l/ha; 2) “Diktator, VR” 2.0 l/ha; 3) control (without desiccant). The studies were carried out by field and laboratory methods using appropriate techniques.Results. The results of the experiment showed that all the studied doses of desiccant after 2–3 days dry the leaves of the culture well. Analysis of the dynamics of the decrease in the moisture content of soybean grain showed that both dosages of “Diktator, VR” were effective (at a dosage of 1.5 l/ha, the moisture content of soybean seeds decreased by 4.6–6.3%; 2.0 l/ha — by 2.9–4.6%). The decrease in the number of weeds was 80.3–84.8% (2020) and 78.0–84.1% (2021), the reduction in the mass of weeds was 81.1–81.8% (2020) and 80.0–81.5% (2021). Germination energy in all variants of the experiment had high indicators — 90.0–95.0%, viability — 92.0–97.0%. The desiccant did not have a negative effect on the yield of soybean seeds. On average, the yield of soybeans using this desiccant at a rate of 1.5 l/ha was 2.05 t/ha, at a rate of 2.0 l/ha — 2.02 t/ha, control — 2.10 t/ha. Desiccation did not have a negative effect on the quantitative chemical composition of soybean seeds, which was approximately the same as the control. So, on average, the protein content in the soybean seeds of the Kasatka variety was at a high level — 41.5–41.7%, the oil content also was at optimal amount — 17.6–17.8%. The most effective dosage of desiccant “Diktator, VR” on soybean crops is the norm of 1.5 l/ha.

Analysis of von Willebrand Disease in the "Heart of Europe".

Background von Willebrand disease (VWD) is a genetic bleeding disorder caused by defects of von Willebrand factor (VWF), quantitative (type 1 and 3) or qualitative (type 2). The laboratory phenotyping is heterogenic making diagnosis difficult. Objectives Complete laboratory analysis of VWD as an expansion of the previously reported cross-sectional family-based VWD study in the Czech Republic (BRNO-VWD) and Slovakia (BRA-VWD) under the name “Heart of Europe,” in order to improve the understanding of laboratory phenotype/genotype correlation. Patients and Methods In total, 227 suspected VWD patients were identified from historical records. Complete laboratory analysis was established using all available assays, including VWF multimers and genetic analysis. Results A total of 191 patients (from 119 families) were confirmed as having VWD. The majority was characterized as a type 1 VWD, followed by type 2. Multimeric patterns concordant with laboratory phenotypes were found in approximately 83% of all cases. A phenotype/genotype correlation was present in 84% (77% type 1, 99% type 2, and 61% type 3) of all patients. Another 45 candidate mutations (23 novel variations), not found in the initial study, could be identified (missense 75% and truncating 24%). An exon 1–3 gene deletion was identified in 14 patients where no mutation was found by direct DNA sequencing, increasing the linkage up to 92%, overall. Conclusion This study provides a cross-sectional overview of the VWD population in a part of Central Europe. It is an addition to the previously published BRNO-VWD study, and provides important data to the International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis/European Association for Haemophilia and Allied Disorders VWD mutation database with identification of novel causal mutations.

Long-term drought intensification over Europe driven by the weakening trend of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation

Study regionEurope, with a particular focus on the Czech Republic, Poland, Spain, and Norway. Study focusLong-lasting droughts have become a semi-permanent feature of the European climate, especially over the last two decades. These prolonged droughts are usually driven by persistent sea surface temperature anomalies over the Pacific and Atlantic basins. By employing complex statistical methods (i.e., Canonical Correlation Analysis and Convergent Cross-Mapping) in this study we make a comprehensive assessment of the observed drying trend over the central and southern parts of Europe and its underlying drivers. New hydrological insightsBuilding upon the potential relationship between drought variability and large-scale oceanic and atmospheric circulation, we show that the observed drying trend in the central and southern parts of Europe has been driven by a long-term slowdown of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), via changes in the large-scale atmospheric circulation. A weakening of AMOC leads to an increase in the frequency of atmospheric-blocking like circulation over the central part of Europe, which in turn inhibits precipitation and favors long-term drying. Since climate projections indicate a slowdown of the AMOC in the future, we suggest that this will potentially lead to an increase in the frequency of dry years, especially over the central and southern parts of Europe (e.g., the eastern part of Germany, the Czech Republic, Poland, Spain and Portugal).

Religiosity of the population and society, perception of the "Russian peace" ideology in countries with a majority of Orthodox Christians in the eastern and central parts of Europe

The religious processes in 10 countries of Eastern and Central Europe whose population 25 years after the collapse of the totalitarian system and the bankruptcy of the dominant ideology of national atheism were enabled to form their attitude to religion and choose their affiliation to any church or religious organization freely and consciously are studied in this article. These processes in 2016-2017 were explored by the American Pew Research Center that studies trends in the development of science, technology, religion and society. The Global Religious Futures project («The Future of Global Religion») is aimed at exploring religious changes in 10 countries with Orthodox and Catholic majority of the population that affect personal and social life and shape national, cultural and religious identity. The relationship between denominational identity and the religious identity of the Orthodox population in the countries of Eastern and Central Europe and the assessment of the current state of Orthodox religiosity is analyzed in this light. Their attitude to the idea "Russian world" in the context of the recognition of Russia as "defender of the Orthodox population" outside the Russian Federation is the determining factor in the religious, national and cultural identity of the Orthodox and Catholics in these countries. This aspect of the research enabled to determine the priority of the Orthodox patriarchal dominant in the attitude of the Orthodox Churches to the Moscow and Ecumenical Patriarchs. Cross-national and cross-confessional relations, ethnic and confessional diversity, national and religious homogeneity of a society and multiculturalism are of the huge importance for the identification of the nature of the religious changes in European countries with Orthodox and Catholics majorities. In this context in particular the position of the interviewed Ukrainian Orthodox is highlighted.

A new late Eocene alligatoroid crocodyliform from Transylvania

Here we describe a new eusuchian crocodyliform, collected 130 years ago from a shallow marine limestone of the late Eocene (Priabonian) fossil locality of Cluj-Mănăștur, Transylvania, Romania. Diplocynodon kochi n. sp. is represented by a three-dimensionally preserved incomplete skull that may have belonged to a mature individual. The new taxon possesses a relatively narrow and elongated snout and a mediolaterally shallow but anteroposteriorly wide premaxillary-maxillary notch, strengthened by a prominent bony ridge. The nasals are excluded from the naris and the anterior tip of the frontal forms a broad, complex sutural contact with the nasals. Diplocynodon kochi n. sp. possesses, similarly to other members of the genus, 16-17 maxillary alveoli of which the fourth and fifth alveoli are enlarged and confluent; the lacrimal is longer than the prefrontal; the ectopterygoid is situated close to the posteriormost maxillary tooth alveoli, the dorsal margin of the infratemporal fenestra is bordered by the quadratojugal, preventing the quadrate from reaching the fenestra, and the foramen aëreum is situated on the dorsal surface of the quadrate. The occurrence of D. kochi n. sp. in the Priabonian of the eastern part of Central Europe suggests that the genus was still present and probably widespread across the continent that contributed probably to its survival (at least locally) across the Eocene/Oligocene boundary.