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Biodiversity has a great importance on agroecosystems, since it determines their actual and potential productivity. Bees provide crucial ecological service in the agricultural landscape in most geographical regions because they are considered to be predominant and most economically important group of pollinators. The objective of the study was the assessment of bees (domestic, wild, bumblebees) diversity in different types of habitats in agroecosystems of Central Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine. Bee communities were investigated in agrocenosis, semi-natural habitats and ecotones between on territories of 6 farms. In total were sampled 1131 individuals of bees that were presented by 60 species. Species composition, density and richness of bees were investigated. Indexes of Shannon, Simpson and Sorensen were used for biodiversity analysis. The results indicated that the species richness of bees grows by gradient: agrocenosis – semi-natural habitat – ecotone. The most common and spread species were Apis mellifera L., Bombus lapidarius L., B. terrestris L., Halictus simplex Blüthgen, Systropha curvicornis Scopoli, Lasioglossum leucozonium Schrank. Density of Apidae increases in agrocenosis and falls in semi-natural habitats. Forming of bees’ fauna in agrocenosis depends on bees fauna of semi-natural habitats. Availability of ecotones promotes increasing of bee diversity in agroecosystems because it performs preservation function for biota and improves the spreading of bees and other species. The presented results could be used to predict changes in the formation of bee entomocomplexes in order to preserve their biodiversity.

The article presents the results of research on the karyotype characteristics variability in purebred and crossbred dairy cows. The material for the research was peripheral blood samples of purebred firstborn cows of the Ukrainian red-spotted dairy and Ukrainian black-spotted dairy breeds, as well as crossbred cows obtained from crossing Ukrainian red-spotted with Montbeliard bulls (DG “Nyva” SE of the Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics named after M. V. Zubets NAAS. Preparation of cytogenetic preparations, analysis of morphology, identification and classification of chromosome aberrations were carried out according to generally accepted methods. We performed cell analysis with the Axiostar plus microscope (Carl Zeiss, Germany) under immersion magnification of 1000 times and took microphotographs. In all studies, the frequency of aberrant metaphases and the spectrum of chromosomal aberrations were determined as parameters of chromosomal instability. The following signs were taken into account: the frequency of aneuploid and polyploid cells, cells with premature separation of the centromeric regions of chromosomes (CRC), cells with structural aberrations of chromosomes (breaks, fragments and associations of non-homologous chromosomes). As a result of the analysis of karyotypes of firstborn cows of purebred and crossbred origin, it was established that the proportion of diploid cells in the norm is on average 85%. The remaining almost 15% are somatic cells with numerical and structural abnormalities. Crossbred cows have significantly higher frequencies (P

The globalization of food trade, the growing demand for minimally processed, easy-to-prepare, ready-to-eat food, and the proliferation of centralized food processing pose serious problems for food safety. Outbreaks of infectious diseases of alimentary origin stimulate the search for innovative ways to increase the safety and shelf life of ready-to-eat foods. No less important is the problem of solid waste disposal, a significant share of which is food packaging. Therefore, in the last decade, interest in edible films and packaging has increased significantly. Essential oils are natural antibacterial agents that can be successfully used in edible films as a substitute for synthetic compounds. Numerous studies have shown that antimicrobial films and coatings with the inclusion of essential oils are effective in reducing the level of pathogenic microorganisms such as Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella Typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli O157: H7 and others. Essential oils have the status of GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) registered by the European Commission and the United States. They contain a wide variety of secondary metabolites that are capable of inhibiting or slowing the growth of bacteria, yeasts and moulds. In addition to external application on the surface of food systems, the components of essential oils can diffuse into food to neutralize the target microorganisms. The article summarizes current information on the sources, properties, limitations and potential application of volatile essential oils and their compounds in edible films and packaging to ensure food safety. Despite the many advantages, the inclusion of these compounds in the composition of edible films requires additional research, in particular to determine the optimal inhibitory concentrations, mechanical and functional properties of the films and so on.

Метою даної роботи є розробка розрахунково-експериментальної методики визначення модуля пружності одного з шарів двошарового бруса прямокутного поперечного перерізу при згинанні за умови, що модуль пружності іншого шару відомий. У представленій частині роботи із застосуванням формул переходу відносно паралельних осей отримано математичний вираз для визначення згинальної жорсткості двошарового прямокутного перерізу, який не включає відстані від центрів ваги перерізів шарів до зведеного центру ваги всього перерізу, які, в свою чергу, залежать від модулів пружності шарів. Наявність такого виразу дала змогу в замкненій формі скласти алгебраїчне рівняння, в якому в якості невідомого може виступати модуль пружності одного з шарів. В результаті було встановлено математичний зв’язок невідомого модуля пружності з відомим модулем пружності іншого шару, геометричними розмірами шарів та згинальною жорсткістю всього перерізу, яку слід визначати експериментально.

Test procedure and a device for the spatial loading of full-scale bone specimens with fractures and fixation means and simultaneous measurement of mutual displacements arising in the fracture region due to the load are presented. The device allows us to apply longitudinal, transverse bending and rotational one-time and long-term cyclic loads to the specimen, simulating the action of loads when walking. The measurement of displacements was carried out by digitally photographing the fracture areas followed by computer image processing. The test results of the “tibia with simulated fracture - fixation plate” systems under spatial loading by three external forces are presented, which cause compression, bending and torsion. As a result of the tests, the values of mutual displacements and the angles of mutual rotation of parts of the fracture were measured. Comparison of test and calculation results using the relationships described in Message 1 shows the suitability of the method, which allows us to quickly and reliably assess the level of displacements in bone fractures under the spatial loading.

Based on experimental studies, an analytical method is proposed for assessing the functional reliability of osteosynthesis systems. As criteria for the rigidity of osteosynthesis systems, displacements and mutual rotations of parts of bone fractures with fixation tools were used. The characteristics of the “bone with a fracture - fixation system”, necessary for calculations, determined experimentally from individual loads by compression, bending, and torsion of bone samples with simulated fractures and fixation tools. The characteristics of the plates for fixation of tibial fractures are determined, the level of allowable loads is calculated according to the combined action of compression, bending and torsion, and the areas of valid loads are determined. The proposed criteria for functional reliability make it possible, using simple tests and analytical calculations, to determine permissible load levels that do not lead to the occurrence of dangerous movements in the fracture area.

The second exon of the BoLA-DRB3 gene has the highest level of polymorphism among all studied loci of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in cattle, which allows it to be used for studying population-genetic structure and assessing the level of biodiversity of populations or comparing the biodiversity of particular herds. According to the results of typing the blood samples of 293 cows using the method of PCR-RLFP, we determined allele frequencies of the BoLA-DRB3 gene for the Ukrainian black-pied dairy breed. The study was conducted on three herds in Khmelnytskyi Oblast: LLC “Kozatska Dolyna 2006” (herd A, n = 122), agrofirm “Perlyna Podillya” (herd B, n = 82) and branch “Ridnyy kray” (herd C, n = 89). In total, 37 alleles were found: herd A 31, herd B 25 and herd C 28. In total, in the three subpopulations seven alleles were found with frequency of over 5%, the total share of which equaled 55.8%. The most widely distributed allele was BoLA-DRB3.2*24, which composed 22.2% of the allele pool of the breed. We determined a high level of observed (0.89 to 0.95) and expected (0.93 to 0.94) heterozygosity. In herds A and B, there was determined domination of homozygotes. Deviation from HWE, calculated using the value of Wright`s individual fixation index, equaled FIS(A) = 0.016 (χ2 = 0.03; P > 0.05) and FIS(B) = 0.044 (χ2 = 0.076; P > 0.05). In herd C, we found excess of heterozygotes FIS(C) = -0.017 (χ2 = 0.026; P > 0.05). Rather low values were determined for the subpopulation fixation index: FST(A) = 0.009 (χ2 = 65.9; P < 0.01), FST(B) = 0.012 (χ2 = 47.2; P < 0.05) and FST(C) = 0.003 (χ2 = 14.4; P > 0.05), which were significantly different from the mean value for cattle (FST = 0.078), indicating insignificant reduction of heterozygosity and divergence between the subpopulations by the BoLA-DRB3 gene. To assess genetic diversity, we calculated parameters of effective allele number (Ae) and Shannon’s information index (I). In spite of the different numbers of alleles found in the selections, it was suggested that for assessing their diversity, an efficiency index will be used which shows the share of effective alleles among all alleles found in a subpopulation (Ae/Nа). The calculated values of the parameters equaled: herd A Ae = 14.9, Ae/Nа = 0.48, I = 3.05; herd B Ae = 14.5, Ae/Nа = 0.58, I = 2.87; herd C Ae = 16.4, Ae/Nа = 0.59, I = 3.01. Frequencies of BoLA-DRB3 alleles were used for calculating genetic similarity and standard genetic distances according to Nei. Cows of herds B and C were found to be more genetically affinitive by the BoLA-DRB3 gene. Standard genetic distance between them was the lowest D = 0.13, which coincides with the geographic locations and historical development of these populations. The results of the study prove that the studied herds have a high level of polymorphism. Frequency characteristics, values of expected heterozygosity, effective allele number, efficiency index and Shannon’s information index compared to the similar parameters for Holstein, black-pied and some other local breeds of cattle indicate the high genetic diversity of the studied subpopulations of the Ukrainian black-pied dairy breed.

The Coniacian-Santonian stages in western North America are characterized by a sparse fossil record. We present here the first account of dinosaur tracks from nine sites in the Frontier Formation (Coniacian-Santonian) of southwestern Montana. Tracks are largely preserved in distal alluvial facies as sandstone casts, with a single example of shallow epirelief impression interpreted as undertrack. Sandstone casts show significant relief, kinematic features (i.e., scale marks), and variable morphologies, arguing for a strong substrate control on their preservation. Putative producers are assigned to ornithopod, ankylosaurian, and theropod dinosaurs in decreasing order of abundance. This record reflects a composition similar to those of other middle Cretaceous formations in North America. Moreover, ankylosaurian tracks of the Frontier Formation represent the first known from Coniacian strata in North America. The incorporation of body and trace fossils yielded by the Frontier Formation indicates the presence of a fauna with North American endemic elements. The establishment of Coniacian-Santonian dinosaurian palaeocommunities akin to those observed in Campanian and Maastrichtian formations may reflect the trend towards provincialism attested for the end of the Mesozoic in North America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring of presence and propagation of biotechnological crops in Ukraine was conducted during 2013-2016. GMO detection was provided by own kits with patent and technical requirements. Designed kits are based on TaqMan-method of Real-Time PCR and allow to detect biotech crops either regulatory elements, and target genes and allow some GM lines of soy, maize and rape to be identified also. Though GMO growing ban, obtained results show biotech soy,maize and rapeseed presence in the country

Functional reliability of fixative-bone means was studied for various types of metacarpal fractures depending on the type of fixator and its location. The stiffness characteristics of fracture fixation systems with titanium miniplates were studied, an analysis was performed of the surgical treatment of patients with metacarpal fractures, in which osteosynthesis with needles and external fixation rod apparatus was used, with static and cyclic modes of action of external loads. When transferring a compressive force to a fragment, the type of fixing means significantly influences the deformation of the osteosynthesis system at all levels of stress; for the most of the measured characteristics, rod devices with external fixation and titanium miniplates of various designs are preferable.

The characteristics of stiffness are studied and the fixation means allowable load at fractures of the distal epimetazh of the tibia is calculated. The processes of a fracture points mutual displacements development under the influence of long-term cyclic loads are studied. Metal osteosynthesis was performed using various types of medial and lateral plates with angular stability and blocked plates for fixing fractures in the distal epimetazh of the tibia. The tests are conducted under the influence of actual physiological loads of compression, bending and torsion, including cyclic loading modes. Keywords: osteosynthesis; tibial, occipital plates, stiffness of fracture fixation, fracture fixation strength, fracture fixation stability

Proposed and experimentally grounded non-contact method for measuring the displacement of bone fragments with the help of digital photography. The described technique is both a direct measurement of displacements along the marks established at the points under study in the fracture zone, and by the analytical method with the positions of the reference points outside the fracture zone. The results of measurements of displacements by the proposed method and the traditional method using a cathetometer. A comparison of the results obtained confirmed the suitability of the method for measuring the displacement of bone fragments with the help of digital photography for practical use.

Purpose. Subject matter of the present paper is to investigate the characteristics of rigidity and reliability of fixing of pathological changes at metastatic defeat are investigated in real, including cyclic, the modes of influence of external loadings. Design/methodology/approach. During experiment was used of extremities without pathology of a bone tissue and with a tumor on a bone tissue . Fixing of bone fragments (osteosynthesis) has been executed by means of the device of external fixing of A. Kostiuk and by means of reinforcing of a metal osteosynthesis by system with application of a extramedullar plate and bone cement. Tests were carried out, transferring freight on the fixed femur fragment change diversely. Ways of loadings: compression, a bend and rotation and cyclically variable freights which model human weight. Results. The reinforced metal osteosynthesis with application of a extramedullar plate and bone cement is more stable method of fixing in comparison with rod devices of external fixing like AVF-K. Fixing of a change in the way of a metal osteosynthesis significantly interferes with development of deformations at action of cyclic loadings. Is the most dangerous from the point of view of physiological reliability for both studied systems of an osteosynthesis bending and rotational loadings. Originality/cost. Results are important for medicine and can improve treatment.

Statistical data of many national registers and medical societies show that aseptic instability of the hip joint prosthesis is one of the main obstacles in the path to application of orthopedic implants. One of the causes for aseptic instability is manifestation of stress shielding effect, which is due to mismatch of the moduli of elasticity of the implant and bone tissue. Methods are considered, which allow lowering the modulus of elasticity of the metal implant, bringing it closer to the respective modulus of elasticity of bone tissue. It is found that reaching the posed goal by replacement of the traditional metals, which are used for implant manufacture, by alloys with much lower modulus of elasticity, is a task, which has not been solved technologically in their mass production. the currently most common methods of lowering the modulus of elasticity of orthopedic implants were analyzed, and their advantages and short-comings are indicated. The most serious problem in mass application of advanced additive technologies in implant manufacture is their labour- and material consumption. It is found that application of surface modification technologies, in particular plasma methods of porous coating deposition is the most affordable and effective method of lowering the modulus of elasticity of the implant surface, contacting the bone, with a high probability of reduction of the stress shielding effect manifestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The work is devoted to studying the process of microplasma spraying of coatings from zirconium wire. technological possibility of formation of porous biocompatible Zr-coatings with bulk porosity in the range from 2 to 20 % and up to 300 µm size is demonstrated. It is shown that controlling the content of bulk porosity in Zr-coating allows changing elasticity modulus, reducing it by 14 times compared to the source cast material that allows getting closer to a bone modulus and reducing the stress shielding effect. the values of the adhesion strength of Zr-coating to the base from an alloy of Vt6 grade were determined, its average value being higher than 26.9 ± 4.7 Mpa and meeting the international requirements of IsO 13179-1:2021. Based on the obtained investigation results, the values of technological parameters were established for spraying of biocompatible Zr-coatings by the method of microplasma spraying of the wire from Ktts-110 grade alloy that allows forming functional coatings on the surface of different types of endoprostheses, which will provide a stronger and more reliable bonding of the endoprosthesis with the osseous tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]