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Introduction: The use of modern technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), in medical imaging is a current hot topic. Standardization of radiologic and ultrasound scans of the studied area is a prerequisite for implementation of this computer system. It is important to create and apply AI in ultrasound diagnosis of fetal central nervous system (CNS) anomalies in order to improve the quality of differential diagnosis.Objective: To evaluate diagnostic accuracy of AI in detecting fetal CNS anomalies between 19 and 22 weeks’ gestation. Materials and methods: We conducted a multicenter 2-stage study to evaluate AI effectiveness in detecting fetal CNS anomalies between 19 and 22 weeks’ gestation. At stage I, more than 1500 pregnant women underwent sonographic examination of the fetal head in the axial plane with 5 anatomical landmarks, and we recorded a 15-second video in the MP4 format (video sequence). At stage II, we tested “Decision-Making System for Detecting Fetal Central Nervous System Anomalies” to determine its diagnostic accuracy.Results: The diagnostic accuracy of the developed software (“Formulation of an Imaging-Based Diagnosis of Fetal Central Nervous System Anomalies”) in regard to such parameters as “normal findings” and “abnormal findings” was 78.9%. The diagnostic accuracy for formulation of a specific imaging-based diagnosis was 74.4%.Conclusions: The AI implemented into modern ultrasound differential diagnosis of fetal CNS anomalies between 19 and 22 weeks’ gestation will make it possible to formulate an imaging-based diagnosis (“normal findings”/“abnormal findings”) with high accuracy and can be used as an additional computer technology in the primary screening of pregnant women.

Background. Developing new effective plant protection methods against viruses is a vital task for seed potato production. The use of virus inhibitors (mainly synthetic ones) is the most common method in potato virus control. Products of natural origin might be a way to reduce the dependence on synthetic inhibitors. Among the former, extracts from seaweeds have high potential, producing a low or no negative impact on the environment or human health. Materials and methods. The materials of the research included potato cvs. ‘Poseidon’ and ‘Orion’ developed at the Federal Scientific Center of Agricultural Biotechnology of the Far East named after A.K. Chaika, the commercial antiviral product Ribavirin, and the sulfated polysaccharide – carrageenan – obtained from red algae at the G.B. Elyakov Pacific Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry. A highly sensitive PCR method was employed to detect viral infections in plant samples. Results. The efficacy of chemotherapy with Ribavirin (0.03%) was established at 79.8% against PVY, 77.0% against PLRV, 80.3% against PVM, and 84.5% against PVS. The most successfully eliminated viruses were PVY, PVM, and PVS. Carrageenan as an antiviral substance eliminated potato viruses at the following rates: PLRV in 74.7% of the explants, PVM in 70.2%, PVS in 69.2%, and PVY in 16.9%. Conclusion. Analyzing the antiviral activity of natural and synthetic virus inhibitors in the case study of carrageenan and Ribavirin demonstrated their high efficacy against potato viruses. Natural polysaccharides – carrageenans – were observed to have a significant antiviral effect, so their use in agricultural biotechnology might be promising for new experiments. Our approach successfully eliminated viruses in two new promising potato cultivars, ‘Poseidon’ and ‘Orion’, which were included in the system of virus-free seed production. These cultivars were submitted for patenting and official testing under the State Variety Trials.

Relevance. The garden strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa (Weston) Duchesne ex Rozier) is a widespread berry crop distinguished by its fast vegetative growth, early bearing age, and high yield and plasticity. Today everbearing (remontant) strawberry varieties gain in popularity due to their long fruiting period, and high yield and berry quality. Annually new foreign varieties appear on the Russian market. For this reason, it is important to study foreign garden strawberry varieties of different ecological and geographical origin and identify those of them that are adaptable to agro-climatic conditions of a given region. The research goal was to determine the biochemical and customer qualities of the garden strawberry varieties introduced in Primorsky kray and to select varieties with economically important traits for further breeding and production. Research methods. The research was carried out in the nursery of primary variety testing at FSBSI “FSC of Agricultural Biotechnology of the Far East named after A.K. Chaiki”. The following garden strawberry varieties of foreign breeding origin were used as the research object: Сabrillo (USA), Albion (USA), Florentina (Netherlands), Murano (Italy), and Bravura (Netherlands). The studied varieties were day-neutral and everbearing. Variety Elizaveta 2 was used as the control (Russian breeding origin; admitted to use in all regions of the Russian Federation). The following parameters were evaluated: total yield, average berry weight, maximum berry weight, berry size, the yield of marketable berries, and the content of dry matter, reduced sugars, and vitamin C. The accumulation of anthocyanins in berries was determined by a rapid assessment using a color scale. Records were made and scientific observations were conducted according to “Program and methods of variety testing of fruit, berry, and nut crops” (1999). Results. Based on the results of the research on the economically important traits of the everbearing day-neutral strawberry varieties introduced in Primorsky kray, the following varieties were selected: Cabrillo for yield (263.3 g/plant, control – 82.8 g/plant), Murano for the yield of marketable berries (81.3 %), and Bravura (15.5 g) and Florentina (15.2 g) for berry size. The highest content of dry matter was accumulated in berries of variety Аlbion (9.87%). The highest content of reduced sugars was found in varieties Cabrillo (7.16%), Florentina (7.09 %), and Аlbion (7.09 %); of vitamin C – in Florentina (60.30 mg/100 g), and of anthocyanins – in Murano (50 mg/100 g). Murano was established to be the most promising variety under the conditions of Primorky kray for the complex of its traits.