Ukrainian Samples Research Articles

Factor structure of academic resilience among Polish and Ukrainian students involved in remote education caused by Covid-19 and military aggression

Academic resilience explains how students overcome various challenges or negative experiences that can hinder the learning process. The COVID pandemic as well as war conflicts might be significant factors affecting the structure of the academic resilience of students. This study attempted to assess the extent to which the Cassidy’s construct of resilience can be used to interpret the behavior of other—Polish and Ukrainian samples, under remote education caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and Russian military aggression against the Ukrainian civils. Second, the relationships between resilience and students' self-efficacy were estimated. To test the factor structure of the resilience exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted. Assumed structure reproduced to a greater extent among Polish (83.4% similarity) than in Ukrainian respondents (from 27 to 40%) and it was three or two factors for Polish and Ukrainian students, respectively. General self-efficacy positively correlated with resilience both among Polish and Ukrainian respondents confirming the concurrent validity of the scale. The discovered differences were explained by differences in the historical and sociocultural experiences of the two nations. If among Ukrainian students historical and social experiences actually lead to the formation of a pattern of Perseverance in Overcoming Problems, then in the factor analysis, this pattern should be reproduced in the form of a single factor. At the same time, experiences with negative emotions should give a second-factor Negative affect and emotional response. The results obtained confirmed this assumption.

Strategic perspectives of design development in Ukraine: theory, practice and development innovations

The modern development of the information and globalized society causes new requirements for design. The purpose of the article is to analyze the strategic perspectives of design in modern Ukraine, to investigate certain theoretical and practical aspects of its development, the possibility of introducing innovations. General scientific methods were used. The forecasting method also made it possible to highlight the problem of the further transformation of design in the world and in Ukraine. In the results, new ideas and prospects for the development of design, caused by the restructuring of its concept from the classical to the neoclassical stage, innovative solutions in the development of the design environment are traced. The prospect of further harmonization of EN, ISO, IEC standards with Ukrainian samples has also been proven. The further development of design as an educational specialty is a promising direction, the effectiveness of which can be controlled thanks to the mechanism of accreditation of educational programs. It is suggested to turn to informal education, which is more dynamic than classical university education, and allows you to acquire not only professional, but also business skills. The conclusions showed that further transformations of design will influence the creative development of designers.

ANALYSIS OF THE TAXONOMIC STATUS OF LIMONIUM CASPIUM (WILLD.) P. FOURN. USING THE ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 REGION

There are 15 representatives of the genus Limonium Mill in Ukraine. The taxonomic status of some of them requires clarification. In particular, some taxonomists consider L. caspium (Willd.) P. Fourn. to be a separate species, while others tend to consider this name as a synonym for L. bellidifolium Dumort. Until now, only one sample of L. caspium from eastern Iran has been analyzed using molecular genetic approaches: for this accession, the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 of 35S rDNA region was sequenced. For both species, L. caspium and L. bellidifolium, samples from the territory of Ukraine have not yet been examined using molecular taxonomy methods. In this work, we amplified and sequenced ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region for two L. caspium and two L. bellidifolium samples from southern Ukraine. All four samples appeared to be identical in this region. They also do not differ from previously sequenced samples of L. bellidifolium from France, Turkey and Greece. On the other hand, the sequence of L. caspium from Iran has five nucleotide substitu-tions and four indels compared to the mentioned samples. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that representatives of the so-called "L. bellidifolium complex", which, in addition to the two species mentioned, also includes L. iconium and L. tamaricoides analyzed in this work, are grouped together with representatives of the Nephrophyllum section. A similar result was obtained in the studies of other authors using the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 sequence and regions of chloro-plast DNA. However, according to the IGS 5S rDNA sequence, representatives of the "L. bellidifolium complex" in our previous work were grouped together with the species of the Limonium section, to which they were previously as-signed based on morphological characters. Such a discrepancy between phylogenies using different genomic regions indicates the reticular nature of the evolution of the genomes of representatives of this group and indicates probable hybridization events in their past. Within the clade of the "L. bellidifolium complex" that we obtained in our analysis, the sample of L. caspium from Iran forms a sister branch to all its other representatives. Thus, the comparison of the ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region shows that the Ukrainian samples identified as L. caspium do not differ from L. bellidifolium. However, to finally clarify the taxonomic status of L. caspium, it is necessary to analyze more samples from different geographic origins.

Demirjian’s dental age estimation accuracy among Ukrainian. Transcarpathian children sample: pilot study

Background. Number of forensic methods have been proposed for dental age estimation, while parameter of dental age itself is demonstrating a high level of correspondence with chronological age. Analysis of available literature revealed deŢciency of studies regarding applicability of using Demirjian’s age estimation technique among Ukrainian samples for forensic purpose.
 Objective. To evaluate accuracy of original Demirjian’s dental age estimation method amongsamp le of Ukrainian Transcarpathian children.
 Materials and Methods. Study was organized as retrospective by the design based on the analysis of 276 digital panoramic X-ray images obtained from the patients of University Dental Clinic aged 6.0-15.99 years old. Dental age estimation was held by the originally proposed Demirjian’s technique.
 Results. Dental age estimation using Demirjian’s technique provoked overestimation effect on 0.43 years among patients aged 6.0-6.99 years, on 0.49 years among patients aged 7.0-7.99 years, on 0.47 years among patients aged 8.0-8.99 years, on 0.55 years among patients aged 9.0-9.99 years, on 0.51 years among patients aged 10.0-10.99 years, on 0.55 years among patients aged 11.0-11.99 years, on 0.44 years among patients aged 12.0-12.99 years, on 0.45 years among patients aged 13.0-13.99 years, on 0.54 years among patients aged 14.0-14.99 years, on 0.58 years among patients aged 15.0-15.99 years.
 Conclusion. Demirjian’s dental age estimation technique may be used for forensic purposes among population of children from Ukrainian Transcarpathia, if accuracy of other available dental age estimation methods would not be validated till the moment of needed forensic investigation.

Связь зависимости от смартфона с признаками психологического неблагополучия у россиян и украинцев

Introduction. Smartphone addiction is the most widespread non-medical digital addiction associated with signs of psychological distress, which makes the study relevant. The purpose of the study is to identify similarities and differences in the relationship between smartphone addiction and signs of psychological distress (impulsivity, narcissism, lack of assertiveness, vulnerability to manipulation, addiction to social media) in Russian and Ukrainian men and women. Methods. Smartphone addiction was diagnosed using the CAC-16 questionnaire (developed by V. P. Sheinov), assertiveness was diagnosed with a shortened version (A23) of the assertiveness questionnaire (V. P. Sheinov), exposure to manipulation was diagnosed with the questionnaire “Assessment of the degree of vulnerability of an individual to manipulation” (B. P. Sheinov), addiction to social media with the ZSS-15 questionnaire (V. P. Sheinov, A. S. Devitsyn), impulsiveness with V. A. Losenkov’s method, narcissism with E. Kot’s questionnaire. The data for the study were obtained in an online survey of 663 respondents, including 412 Russian residents and 251 residents of Ukraine. Results. Russian and Ukrainian samples of men and women revealed the following similarities as regards correlation between smartphone addiction and personal qualities: a negative correlation with assertiveness and positive correlation with impulsivity, loss of self-control, fear of refusal to use a smartphone, euphoria from its use, addiction to social media and the related factors. No correlation with vulnerability to manipulation was found. Regardless of gender and geographic location, the strongest link is between smartphone addiction and loss of self-control. Russian female respondents showed a negative correlation between smartphone addiction and narcissism, while a positive correlation was found in Ukrainians of both sexes. Conclusion. The prospects of the study are related to the expansion of the range of studied personal qualities and traits, presumably associated with smartphone addiction. Similar studies may be conducted in other regions.

CORRELATION BETWEEN PHYSICAL FITNESS AND MOTIVATION FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS

Information on the correlation of physical fitness indicators to indicators of motivation for physical activity (PA) in schoolchildren with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is very limited. The lack of such information makes it impossible to collect informative tests that best assess the level of РА literacy. It also hampers the effective identification of appropriate and effective means for the formation of РА literacy among schoolchildren with ASD. The study aims at comparing the levels of physical fitness and motivation for PA in children with ASD with their peers without disorders; determining the degree of correlation between physical fitness and motivation for physical activity in children with ASD. Data were collected from two Ukrainian samples: 18 children with ASD aged 11–13 years, and 30 children aged 11–12 years without ASD diagnosis. Results. Most of the correlation coefficients between the indices of physical fitness and motivation for РА in children with ASD (9/12) are reliable. This suggests that motivation to РА (defined by the CAPL-2 methodology) is an informative criterion of РА literacy of children with ASD. Significant correlations with motivation for РА in schoolchildren with ASD were observed in the results of two exercise tests.

Palynomorphs in Baltic, Bitterfeld and Ukrainian ambers: a comparison

The different geographical origins of Baltic, Bitterfeld and Ukrainian ambers may be reflected in differences in their preserved fungal spores and plant pollen. In this study, over 573 palynomorphs were isolated through solvent extraction and the differences in their morphological characteristics examined using conventional transmitted light microscopy to explore this hypothesis. The spore spectra in the Baltic, Bitterfeld and Ukrainian samples differed considerably whereas the pollen spectra differed only marginally. In the Ukrainian ambers, the isolated fungal spores were primarily basidiomycetes (mostly Coprinus s.l., Strophariaceae and similar taxa with thick-walled, melanised spores), indicative of a moist environment rich in decaying plant debris. The first amber-based evidence for Ilex was found in the Bitterfeld samples and for members of the Juglandaceae in those from the Baltic. Overall, the pollen spectra were consistent with earlier findings on Eocene-Oligocene vegetation and climate. The mixed forests of those geological epochs are the hallmark of a habitat containing multifaceted niches for animals and obviously fungi.

Социальные верования, политическое доверие и готовность к политическому поведению: сравнение России и Украины

Objectives. Analysis of the relationship between social beliefs, political trust and readiness to participate in normative and non-normative forms of political actions. Background. Amid growing politicization of citizens in different countries, the demand for an analysis of factors linked to the readiness of citizens to participate in various forms of political activity, from voting to street protests, is increasing. It is extremely important to identify universal and culturally specific factors that influence political behavior. Study design. The study examined the relationship between social beliefs, political trust, and readiness to participate in political activity. The presence and nature of the relationship was verified through correlation analysis and structural equation modeling (SEM). Participants. Russian sample: 440 people (76.4% of men, 23.4% of women) from 23 to 77 years old (M = 38.99; SD = 11.62). Ukrainian sample: 249 people (59.8% of men and 40.2% of women) from 23 to 65 years old (M = 35.55; SD = 10.76). Measurements. Russian-language versions of the scales of Belief in a dangerous world by J. Duckitt and Belief in a just world by C. Dalbert. Author’s scale of political trust and readiness to participate in political activity. Results. Belief in a just world increases political trust; belief in a dangerous world reduces it. Political trust positively predicts readiness to participate in various forms of normative political activity. The presence of cross-cultural differences in the characteristics of the model between the Russian and Ukrainian samples is established. Conclusions. There is a significant relationship between social beliefs, political trust and readiness to participate in various forms of political activity.

Subrepeats in 5s rDNAs as a molecular marker in Acer platanoides L. populations

Aim. To study the genetic diversity of tree species it is necessary to use only those regions of genome, which evolve at the highest rate, such as 5S rDNA. To estimate the potential of 5S rDNA to be used as a molecular marker for genogeographic studies, the molecular organization of this genomic region was compared between samples from two geogra-phically remote Bulgarian and Ukrainian populations of Norway maple, Acer platanoides. Methods. PCR amplification, cloning and sequencing. Results. It was shown that in the genome of A. platanoides the 5S rDNA sequences are highly similar. However, in the 5S rDNA intergenic spacer (IGS) of A. platanoides from the Bulgarian population three copies of GTCCGTT subrepeats are present, whereas only one copy of this sequence occurs in plants from the Ukrainian population. Except for different number of subrepeats, the 5S rDNA sequences of the Bulgarian and Ukrainian samples of A. platanoides are identical. In two taxonomically distant species, A. platanoides and A. pseudoplatanus, the region of 5S rDNA IGS, which contains the potential external elements of the promoter of RNA polymerase III, shows no difference, and therefore evolves at a lower rate than other parts of the IGS. Conclusions. The identity of the potential external promoter elements within the genus Acer supports the idea that this part of the IGS could be involved in the initiation of 5S rDNA transcription. The presence of different numbers of sub-repeats in the 5S rDNA IGS in various populations of A. platanoides makes them suitable for identification of intraspecific forms and for evaluation of the intraspecific genetic diversity of A. platanoides.
 Keywords: 5S rDNA, molecular evolution, sub-repetitions, intraspecific variability, Acer.

Students’ humor styles and its use in stress coping

The article shows the results of studying of role of students’ humor styles during coping the stress . It was shown the positive and negative humor styles regarding the interpersonal relationship. It was revealed some differences in use of humor styles during coping the stress among students of Ukrainian and Russian samples; among girls and younkers. The statistically significant correlations between students’ use of humor style and indexes of stress coping were calculated, which show that coping the stress students use negative for the relationship humor styles (aggressive humor and self-defeating humor). At the same time, the potential possibilities of affiliative humor to improve the relationship are used not enough during coping the stress both by the younkers and girls. While potential possibilities of affiliative humor to improve the relationship are used not enough during coping the stress both by the younkers and girls.

The role of personality traits in Facebook and Internet addictions: A study on Polish, Turkish, and Ukrainian samples

Although the relationships between Facebook addiction, Internet addiction and personality have already been investigated. The aim of the present study was to explore whether there were personality traits associated with Facebook addiction and Internet addiction across three different cultures. The participants were 1011 Facebook users from Poland, Turkey, and Ukraine. We administered the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale, the Internet Addiction Test, and the Ten Item Personality Inventory. We found that in the total sample Facebook addiction was positively associated with Internet addiction, while Internet addiction was negatively associated with emotional stability, conscientiousness, and extraversion. The lack of invariance across the countries indicates that the tested links are not the same in each of them, which may suggest the role of cultural factors in this phenomenon. The results are discussed in the light of Facebook addiction and personality literature. The application of culturally sensitive intervention programs in dealing with Facebook addiction is encouraged.

DEVELOPMENT OF PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS CHROMATOGRAPHIC IDENTIFICATION IN BILBERRY SHOOTS

<p align="center"><strong>DEVELOPMENT OF PHENOLIC COMPOUNDS CHROMATOGRAPHIC IDENTIFICATION </strong><strong>IN</strong><strong> BILBERRY SHOOTS</strong><strong></strong></p><p align="center"><strong>L. V. Vronska, M. B. Chubka, A. E. </strong><strong>Demyd</strong></p><p class="Heading10" align="center">SHEI "Ternopil State Medical University by I. Ya. Horbachevsky of MPH Ukraine"</p><p><strong>Introduction.</strong> Bilberry shoots have hypoglycemic properties and are used for easy forms of diabetes as in the form of plant raw materials and as part of various charges, such as Arfazetyn and others. Shoots of bilberry are considered as herbal substance that<strong> </strong>contains tannins, although their presence is not associated with mild hypoglycaemic effect. It is known that the bilberry leaves contain tannins, hydroxycinnamic acids, flavonoids, triterpene acids and vitamins. Standardization of bilberry shoots as herbal substances is still going to be important because it is still little studied and in the State Pharmacopoeia of Ukraine there is no corresponding monograph. Manufacturers of bilberry shoots officinal herbal raw material perform their identification by means of a quality reaction on tannins with ammonium iron (III) sulphate, which is a non-specific method. Moreover, taking into consideration the literature data and a various biological activity hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonoids it is necessary to study their composition for raw materials growing within theterritory ofUkraine.</p><p> The objective of our work was investigation of bilberry shoots phenolic compounds with the help of chromatographic methods, development of methodology of their identification, selection of identification markers.</p><p><strong>Investigation methods</strong><strong>.</strong> The qualitative composition of four bilberry shoots samples that were harvested in summer in the following regions: 1 – Transcarpathia, 2 - Ternopil, 3 - Volyn, 4 - Ivano-Frankivsk, and five samples of "Shoots of bilberries" therapeutic agent, produced in PLC "Liktravy", Zhytomyr city was investigated.</p><p>The qualitative composition of phenolic compounds was studied by the methods of thin layer and high performance liquid chromatography.</p><p><strong>Results and discussion</strong><strong>.</strong> Bilberry shoots contain chlorogenic acid mostly from phenolcarboxylic acids, the caffeic acid appears on the chromatograms as a zone with weak fluorescence intensity. In both solvent systems three located next to each other flavonoids zones with an average intensity of fluorescence are shown at the top of the chromatogram; the central of these zones is identified as a quercitrin.</p><p>Isoquercitrin appears on chromatograms of all samples as a zone of very weak fluorescence and hyperoside – with an average fluorescence. Under a zone of chlorogenic acid in the first solvent system and over a zone of chlorogenic acid in the second solvent system, much more hydrophilous, flavonoid glycoside appears as the most intensive fluorescence area. Another flavonoid with a large intensity of fluorescence appears over rutin zone in both solvent systems. Flavonoids aglycones were not found in methanol extractions of bilberry shoots in the described conditions.</p><p> The flavonoids aglycone content studying of nine bilberry shoots samples allowed to identify aglycones: quercetin as a zone of very intense orange fluorescence and kaempferol as a zone of weak yellow-blue fluorescence. In the described sample processing conditions there are other fluorescent zones on the TLC chromatogram. Thus, the main bilberry shoots aglycone of flavonoids, which grows within theterritoryofUkraineand is industrially stored up, is quercetin.</p><p>The results of TLC about the presence of quercitrin, hyperoside, traces of rutin, as well as chlorogenic and traces of caffeic acid in significant amount in all studied samples of bilberry shoots were confirmed by HPLC analysis. HPLC investigation of bilberry shoots samples after hydrolysis confirms the presence of quercetin as a dominant aglycone and traces of kaempferol.</p><p>The difference between Ukrainian samples analysis results and data of numerous authors is obviously caused by not only differences in sample preparation and sensitivity of the methods used, but also indicates the quality different from bilberry shoots phenolic compounds that grow in different conditions.</p><p>Therefore, TLC identification method of bilberry shoots was developed for medicinal plants growing inUkraine.</p><p><strong>Conclusions.</strong></p><ol><li>All bilberry shoots analyzed samples contain the rutin, chlorogenic acid, hyperoside, quercitrin, that have been identified with the help of TLC and HPLC methods.</li><li>TLC identification method of bilberry shoots was developed and these compounds were proposed as identification markers.</li></ol><ol start="3"><li>Caffeic acid and isoquercitrin are contained in the studied samples of raw materials in small quantities, so they aren't recommended as obligatory identification markers.</li></ol>

Serum concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and a polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) in men from Greenland, Poland and Ukraine

Many brominated flame retardants (BFRs)—including polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)—have been shown to persist in the environment, and some have been associated with adverse health effects. The aim of the present study was to quantify serum concentrations of common brominated flame retardants in Inuit men from across Greenland, and in men from Warsaw, Poland and Kharkiv, Ukraine. Serum was sampled between 2002 and 2004 from men 19 to 50years of age. 299 samples were analyzed for BDE-28, 47, 99, 100, 153, 154 and 183 and the brominated biphenyl BB-153 using gas chromatography–high resolution mass spectrometry. BDE-47 and BDE-153 were detected in more than 95% of samples from all three populations. All other congeners, except BDE-154, were detected in more than 70% of samples from Greenland; lower detection frequencies were observed in Polish and Ukrainian samples. Concentrations of individual congeners were 2.7 to 15 fold higher in Greenlandic relative to Polish and Ukrainian men. Geometric mean concentrations of the sum of the most abundant PBDEs of the Penta-BDE commercial mixture (BDE-47, 99, 100, 153 and 154) were 6.1, 1.7 and 0.87ng/g lipids in the Greenlandic, Polish and Ukrainian men, respectively. Furthermore, significant geographical differences in BFR concentrations were observed within Greenland. Principal component analysis revealed distinct clustering of samples by country of origin. The associations between ΣPBDEs and age were inconsistent, varying from no association in Greenlandic and Polish study populations to a U-shaped relationship in Ukrainians. We report BFR levels for three populations for which sparse biomonitoring data exists.

Molecular epidemiology of rabies in Ukraine

To investigate the circulation of rabies virus in Ukraine, 78 rabies virus isolates were acquired from 14 states in 2002 and 2008-2010 for characterization. Partial sequences of nucleoprotein (359 nt) and glycoprotein (344 nt) genes were compared with those from neighbouring countries. The analysis identified 39 unique nucleoprotein genes and two geographically distinct RV variants belonging to the cosmopolitan lineage. The Ukrainian samples were similar to the North-East European lineage (NEE) (n = 19) and Russian group C (n = 20). The group C viruses were mainly isolated in Eastern Ukraine, from 9 regions, and from two other regions in Western Ukraine, suggesting the presence of group C throughout the country. These group C viruses are intermixed in bordering regions along the Dnieper River with viruses of group NEE, which were mainly isolated in six regions in Western Ukraine. Both nucleoprotein and glycoprotein gene analyses suggested evidence for cross-border movements of rabies virus.

Conservation genetics of endangered leaf-beetle Cheilotoma musciformis populations in Poland

Steppe-like habitats in Europe are seriously threatened as a result of fragmentation and anthropogenic degradation, at least in western and central parts. Considering the dramatic loss of steppe-like habitats, the evaluation of genetic variation in populations of steppe species is of immediate importance if appropriate conservation measures are to be undertaken. In this paper, we examine the genetic diversity of the highly endangered populations of the leaf-beetle Cheilotoma musciformis, which inhabits only a limited area in south-central Poland, which is geographically isolated from the continuous range of this species. Both mitochondrial and nuclear markers show that the Polish populations are distinct from Slovakian and Ukrainian ones. These regional populations should be considered independent conservation units. On the other hand, very little (mtDNA) or no (nuclear DNA) diversity has been found among the Polish subpopulations. This leads to the conclusion that this species has gone through a strong bottleneck leading to a drastic reduction in its genetic diversity prior to the establishment of present-day populations. Host plants have been identified for this species using barcodes, and the only hosts for the Polish and Ukrainian samples are sainfoins Onobrychis spp. while for the Slovakian sample it is either Dorycnium pentaphyllum or Lotus spp. (all Fabaceae). All of these data can be very valuable for the conservation of C. musciformis populations (e.g. for reintroductions).

Два нових для мікобіоти України види ліхенофільних грибів із родин Nectriaceae та Bionectriaceae (Hypocreales, Ascomycota)

The description, illustrations, and data concerning distribution and location of herbarium collections of two species new for the mycobiota of Ukraine – Trichonectria anisospora (Lowen) Lowen and Xenonectriella leptaleae (J. Steiner) Rossman & Lowen, are presented. Ukrainian samples of Trichonectria anisospora are shown to have considerably larger spores than typical material ((15.6–)18.03–21.07×(5.6–)6.2–7.1(–7.3) vs. 14.5–17×4–6.5(–7) µm). The species of Xenonectriella genus is demonstrated for the territory of Ukraine for the first time. Keywords: Western Ukraine, new genus, Trichonectria anisospora , Xenonectriella leptaleae.

Is the Bosphorus Strait a barrier to gene flow for the Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis (Lamarck, 1819)?

The Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis, is a commercially important species with a continuous distribution spanning the eastern Atlantic, the Mediterranean, the Aegean and the Black Sea. Previous genetic research has indicated differentiation between the Aegean and the Ukrainian Black Sea populations of this species. Using the COIII region of mitochondrial DNA and six microsatellite markers, we investigated whether there is any genetic differentiation among populations of the Black Sea, the Bosphorus Strait and the Sea of Marmara, on a local scale. A total of 170 mussels representing eight localities extending from the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara, including the Bosphorus Strait, were analysed. Results for mitochondrial DNA and microsatellite analysis showed no significant genetic grouping among geographical regions. Ukrainian samples differed from those analysed in this study by a single base position. These results suggest that the Bosphorus Strait does not restrict gene flow for this species. Analysis of samples from a greater geographic range, encompassing the Dardanelles, the Aegean, and more northern populations in the Black Sea, will be necessary to understand the nature of the previously reported genetic break of the Mediterranean mussels between the Black Sea and the Aegean.

On unusual deep-violet microcrystals of diamonds from placers of Ukraine

A distinctive feature of Ukrainian deep-violet diamond microcrystals is a broad absorption band centered at about 560 nm (17850 cm -1 or 2.21 eV). In the Ukrainian samples, the intensity of this band is almost two orders of magnitude greater than in a light- rose diamond from Yakutia. Previously (Taran et al., 1998), the band was attributed to the N-V center because the absorption spectrum of the negative N-V center in irradiated and annealed type Ib diamonds is known to have an absorption band with a maximum at a similar wavelength. However, this assignment is not confirmed by vibrational spectroscopy and low temperature optical absorption spectroscopy in all crystals studied. In addition, at ~77 K the band 17850 cm -1 displays no fine structure that unambiguously evidences that it can not be the band at ~2.2 eV, commonly attributed to the N-V center.

Plutonium and other alpha emitters in mushrooms from Poland, Spain and Ukraine

The paper presents results on Pu, U and Th isotope activity concentration measurements in some mushroom samples collected in Poland, Spain and Ukraine. The sampling sites differ a lot with regard to observed levels of Pu, its origin and isotope ratios as well as the environmental properties. Some of the Polish samples were collected in the north-eastern part of the country with up to 30 Bq/m 2 of Chernobyl Pu deposition. Other Polish and the Spanish samples are from areas with almost exclusively global fallout Pu present. Ukrainian samples were collected in a highly contaminated area with a deposition of about 3.7 kBq/m 2 of Chernobyl 239+240Pu. The maximum 239+240Pu activity concentration was found equal to (54±4) Bq/kg (dw—dry weight) for a Ukrainian Cantharellus cibarius sample. Ukrainian samples have an extremely high radiocesium level, with maximum of (51±4) MBq/kg (dw). The maximum 239+240Pu activity concentration for Polish samples was (81±5) mBq/kg (dw) for Xerocomus badius. From the isotopic ratio in this sample it can be concluded that Chernobyl fallout is the origin of Pu. More than twice as large was the Spanish maximum for Hebeloma cylindrosporum but with only global fallout Pu. Some aspects of the transfer of nuclides to fruit bodies is discussed and in some cases the transfer factors or aggregation coefficients were calculated. Especially high transfer factors were found for Hebeloma cylindrosporum from Spain.

Oxygen isotope measurements of mammoth and reindeer skeletal remains: an archive of Late Pleistocene environmental conditions in Eurasian Arctic

58 samples of fossil mammoth and reindeer teeth and bones of various ages and coming from different locations were studied for the oxygen isotopic composition of their phosphate. Samples from Siberia have interstadial (Marine Isotope Stage 3), stadial (MIS 2), late-glacial and post-glacial ages. Russian and Ukrainian samples refer to the late-glacial and transitional (between the interstadial and glacial stages) time. The δ 18O of palaeoenvironmental waters were calculated from the δ 18O p obtained from fossil samples by means of the isotope equations calibrated on modern specimens of elephants and deer respectively. The δ 18O w obtained are generally lighter than those measured nowadays in the same areas and not far from those measured on ice cores of Holocene age, the isotopic differences being not greater than a few δ units. The calculated values are also in fairly good agreement with some isotopic values obtained from Siberian permafrost samples. According to the results obtained it seems that the elephant and deer equations can be reasonably used respectively in the case of fossil mammoth and deer skeletons to evaluate environmental palaeowaters.