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This article covers issues related to conducting functional analysis, which aims to derive given trends and processes in regional development. The aim of the article is to characterize the main elements selected platform supporting the implementation of professional functional solutions in regional development and the experience of evaluation a its development. The approach requires in the field of regional development to approach in an integrated way or with a variety of methods of space and territory assessment. Thus, the model of functionality and usability is imposed in regional development. The stated objective is used to implement the method of analysis and critique of the literature on the subject, the method of observation and individual case methods. The main result of the work done is a detailed presentation of the chosen platform to create a detailing of the results of functional processes in regional development

This article focuses on the impact of disasters and accidents on the conditions for socio-economic and demographic development of rural areas in Bulgaria. The topicality of the topic is caused by the necessity of the new conditions of globalization to overcome regional and local risks related to the way of life of the population. To a large extent, the processes of urbanization and the relocation of the population in urban areas lead to the creation of threats to its security, mainly by disrupting the reliability of the functioning of the natural-ecological and socio-economic systems. Rural areas and their potential for security and regional development must therefore be strengthened. In this regard, it is important to create the necessary basic conditions for the life and development of the population - minimum infrastructure, taking measures to reduce natural and environmental risks through a system encompassing activities and facilities for monitoring, maintaining, and cleaning riverbeds and forests in sparsely populated areas in Bulgaria.

Aim: The aim of this study was to discuss the epidemiological aspects, clinical picture and the mode of surgical treatment in patients with primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANDO). Patients and methods: Between 1995 and 2016, the Eye Clinic at the University Hospital in Pleven carried out a retrospective analysis on 28 PANDO patients who underwent external dacryocystorhinostomy (DCR). The effect of surgical treatment was assessed based on a history of watery eyes and the tear drainage system’s patency. Only eight of those patients responded to a follow-up examination after surgery for the purposes of this study. Results: The demographics of the evaluated patients were as follows: 17.9% were male, 82.1% were female, 78.6% lived in the city, 92.9% had one impaired eye, and 7.1% had bilateral PANDO. The mean age of the patients at operation was 43.3±5.7 years (SD=14.6). All patients experienced epiphora and discharge; 63.3% had redness of the skin around the lacrimal sac, and 33.3% had episodes of acute dacryocystitis prior to surgery. The surgical success of external DCR was evaluated in nine eyes among the eight patients who responded to the postoperative review. The results showed that the operation was successful in 55.6% of these patients, whereas in 11.1% it had a doubtful effect, and in 33.3% it was not successful. Conclusion: PANDO primarily affects women in their middle years. Cases that are unilateral are more common. External DCR is performed in patients with prolonged epiphora and purulent discharge. 55.6% of the cases are successful. In spite of the outcome, patients expressed great satisfaction with the cosmetic outcome and the disruption of their everyday lives caused by the watering of the eyes.

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is often associated with anxiety and depression. Chaenomeles japonica (Thunb.) Lindl, also known as Chaenomeles maulei or Japanese quince, is a medicinal plant with a long history of use forits health-promoting properties.

The red mullet (Mullus barbatus Linnaeus, 1758) is a keynote species for the Bulgarian Black Sea ecosystem and fisheries; nevertheless, existing knowledge on population status is very scarce. The present study was intended to assess the health status and adaptive potential of M. barbatus populations inhabiting the Bulgarian waters of the Black Sea. Our findings revealed that populations of M. barbatus are exposed to a variety of anthropogenic and environmental stressors. The species’ status was assessed using representative genetic, morphological, biochemical and chemical biomarkers from specimens obtained in the research area’s northern and southern regions. Based on mtDNA markers, genetic analysis revealed low haplotype and nucleotide diversity, typically observed in overexploited or “threatened” populations. Examining the morphology of the specimens revealed no discernible pattern of differentiation. Except for aluminium and chrome, metal and PAH concentrations in fish were below the regulatory thresholds. The specimens from the southern region ingested more microplastics than those from the northern region. The majority of specimens collected from the southern region also exhibited elevated levels of oxidative stress and decreased antioxidant defence, which can be interpreted as an early indication that they had reached the limits of their adaptive potential. Further research on the composite effects of the stressogenic environment on the Black Sea biota are critically needed, as well as the introduction of new indicators and thresholds at molecular and cellular levels for adequate monitoring of both the ecological state of the marine environment and its biota.

The article is focused on microbiological safety of the traditional raw-dried meat product “Lukanka Panagyurska”, produced by a starter cultures, containing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum GLP3 and Debaryomyces hansenii ATCC 36239 instead of using nitrates/nitrites. The aim of the study was to demonstrate that the starter cultures had a similar or better preservative effect as the traditional ni-trates transformed into nitrites in the drying-ripening phase. The effect of the same starter cultures, produced by two different technological approaches on the survival of foodborne pathogens (Salmo-nella Typhimurium, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli and Clostridium perfringens) was ex-amined. The study showed the presence of the lactic acid microorganisms at every stage of the pro-duction process of the raw-dried meat product. Zoonotic pathogens as S. Typhimurium and L. mono-cytogenes and sanitary indicator bacteria as E. coli and C. perfringens were combined to control the levels of pathogen inactivation. The preservative effect of the starter cultures resulting from lactic acid fermentation was more effective in comparison to that of nitrites/nitrates. The experiments proved that the microbiological safety of the raw-dried meat product was improved in comparison with the popular practice of adding nitrates/nitrites as a preservative.

One of the latest trends in sustainable agriculture is the use of beneficial microorganisms to stimulate plant growth and biologically control phytopathogens. Bacillus subtilis, a Gram-positive soil bacterium, is recognized for its valuable properties in various biotechnological and agricultural applications. This study presents, for the first time, the successful encapsulation of B. subtilis within electrospun poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) fibers, which are dip-coated with cellulose derivatives. In that way, the obtained fibrous biohybrid materials actively ensure the viability of the encapsulated biocontrol agent during storage and promote its normal growth when exposed to moisture. Aqueous solutions of the cellulose derivatives—sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and 2-hydroxyethyl cellulose, were used to dip-coat the electrospun PHB fibers. The study examined the effects of the type and molecular weight of these cellulose derivatives on film formation, mechanical properties, bacterial encapsulation, and growth. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was utilized to observe the morphology of the biohybrid materials and the encapsulated B. subtilis. Additionally, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the surface chemical composition of the biohybrid materials and verified the successful coating of PHB fibers. Mechanical testing revealed that the coating enhanced the mechanical properties of the fibrous materials and depends on the molecular weight of the used cellulose derivatives. Viability tests demonstrated that the encapsulated B. subtilis exhibited normal growth from the prepared materials. These findings suggest that the developed fibrous biohybrid materials hold significant promise as biocontrol formulations for plant protection and growth promotion in sustainable agriculture.

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of Aronia melanocarpa fruit juice (AMFJ) on the histology of the myocardium and coronary arteries in metabolic syndrome (MS) rats.

Phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase IIIα (PI4KIIIα/PI4KA/OMIM:600286) is a lipid kinase generating phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate (PI4P), a membrane phospholipid with critical roles in the physiology of multiple cell types. PI4KIIIα's role in PI4P generation requires its assembly into a heterotetrameric complex with EFR3, TTC7 and FAM126. Sequence alterations in two of these molecular partners, TTC7 (encoded by TTC7A or TCC7B) and FAM126, have been associated with a heterogeneous group of either neurological (FAM126A) or intestinal and immunological (TTC7A) conditions. Here we show that biallelic PI4KA sequence alterations in humans are associated with neurological disease, in particular hypomyelinating leukodystrophy. In addition, affected individuals may present with inflammatory bowel disease, multiple intestinal atresia and combined immunodeficiency. Our cellular, biochemical and structural modelling studies indicate that PI4KA-associated phenotypical outcomes probably stem from impairment of PI4KIIIα-TTC7-FAM126's organ-specific functions, due to defective catalytic activity or altered intra-complex functional interactions. Together, these data define PI4KA gene alteration as a cause of a variable phenotypical spectrum and provide fundamental new insight into the combinatorial biology of the PI4KIIIα-FAM126-TTC7-EFR3 molecular complex.

Abstract Background . The Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing genotype is globally spread lineage with important medical properties that however vary among its subtypes. M. tuberculosis Beijing 14717-15-cluster was recently discovered as both multidrug-resistant, hypervirulent, and highly-lethal strain circulating in the Far Eastern region of Russia. Here, we aimed to analyze its pathogenomic features and phylogeographic pattern. Results . The study collection included M. tuberculosis DNA collected between 1996 and 2020 in different world regions. The bacterial DNA was subjected to genotyping and whole genome sequencing followed by bioinformatics and phylogenetic analysis. The PCR-based assay to detect specific SNPs of the Beijing 14717-15-cluster was developed and used for its screening in the global collections. Phylogenomic and phylogeographic analysis confirmed endemic prevalence of the Beijing 14717-15-cluster in the Asian part of Russia, and distant common ancestor with isolates from Korea (> 115 SNPs). The Beijing 14717-15-cluster isolates had two common resistance mutations RpsL Lys88Arg and KatG Ser315Thr and belonged to spoligotype SIT269. The Russian isolates of this cluster were from the Asian Russia while 4 isolates were from the Netherlands and Spain. The cluster-specific SNPs that significantly affect the protein function were identified in silico in genes within different categories (lipid metabolism, regulatory proteins, intermediary metabolism and respiration, PE/PPE, cell wall and cell processes). Conclusions . We developed a simple method based on real-time PCR to detect clinically significant MDR and hypervirulent Beijing 14717-15-cluster. Most of the identified cluster-specific mutations were previously unreported and could potentially be associated with increased pathogenic properties of this hypervirulent M. tuberculosis strain. Further experimental study to assess the pathobiological role of these mutations is warranted.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype 3 is a prevalent zoonotic pathogen in European pig farms, posing a significant public health risk primarily through the foodborne route. The study aimed to identify effective biosecurity measures for controlling HEV transmission on pig farms, addressing a critical gap in current knowledge. Utilizing a cross-sectional design, fecal samples from gilts, dry sows, and fatteners were collected on 231 pig farms of all farm types across nine European countries. Real-time RT-PCR was employed to test these samples for HEV. Simultaneously, a comprehensive biosecurity questionnaire captured data on various potential measures to control HEV. The dependent variable was HEV risk, categorized as lower or higher based on the percentage of positive pooled fecal samples on each farm (25% cut-off). The data were analyzed using generalized linear models (one for finisher samples and one for all samples) with a logit link function with country and farm type as a priori fixed factors. The results of the final multivariable models identified key biosecurity measures associated with lower HEV risk, which were the use of a hygienogram in the breeding (OR: 0.06, p = 0.001) and/or fattening area after cleaning (OR: 0.21, p = 0.019), the presence of a quarantine area (OR: 0.29, p = 0.025), testing and/or treating purchased feed against Salmonella (OR: 0.35, p = 0.021), the presence of other livestock species on the farm, and having five or fewer persons in charge of the pigs. Contrary to expectations, some biosecurity measures were associated with higher HEV risk, e.g., downtime of 3 days or longer after cleaning in the fattening area (OR: 3.49, p = 0.005) or mandatory handwashing for farm personnel when changing barn sections (OR: 3.4, p = 0.026). This novel study unveils critical insights into biosecurity measures effective in controlling HEV on European pig farms. The identification of both protective and risk-associated measures contributes to improving strategies for managing HEV and underscores the complexity of biosecurity in pig farming.

Cotinus coggygria Scop. is a valuable medicinal plant species with pronounced pharmacological potential due to its numerous biological activities. The herb is characterized by a high content of polyphenols among which is fustin. The anticancer activities of fustin, however, are extremely weakly studied. The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro antiproliferative potential of fustin isolated from the heartwood of C. coggygria against cell lines originating from two of the most common cancer types – breast (MDA-MB-231 and MCF7), and colon cancer (Colon 26).

Nano solutions are widely used in medicine and also have the potential to be used when performing allelopathy screening studies. The present experiment aimed to test the effectiveness of colloidal nano silver Silver–Amber© with nanoparticles of 20 nm (>20 mg/L at a purity level of 99.99%) as a carrier of allelochemicals in laboratory conditions. The influence of eleven concentrations of Silver–Amber© (0.10, 0.20, 0.39, 0.78, 1.56, 3.13, 6.25, 12.5, 25.0, 50.0 and 100.0% v/v) on the germination and initial development of test plant Lactuca sativa L. in 0.75% agar medium was studied. Data revealed that when increasing the quantitative ratio of Silver–Amber©, an inhibitory effect on seed germination (from 37.8 to 94.3%) and on the plant growth (from 54.0 to 98.9%) appeared. Lower concentrations (0.63 to 0.04 ppm) had an indifferent to statistically unproven stimulatory effect on the germination and initial development of L. sativa (GI ranged from 88.7–94.6%). Therefore, nano silver can be used as carrier of allelochemicals in allelopathic studies in laboratory conditions.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by demyelination and neuroinflammation, often accompanied by cognitive impairment. This study aims (1) to investigate the potential of glatiramer acetate (GA) as a therapy for preventing cognitive decline in patients with MS (pwMS) by modulating oxidative stress (OS) and (2) to seek out the differences in cognition between pwMS in a cohort exhibiting good clinical evolution and control subjects (CS). An exploratory, prospective, multicentre, cross-sectional case–control study was conducted, involving three groups at a 1:1:1 ratio—41 GA-treated pwMS, 42 untreated pwMS, and 42 CS. The participants performed a neuropsychological battery and underwent venepuncture for blood sampling. The inclusion criteria required an Expanded Disability Status Scale score of ≤3.0 and a minimum of 5 years of MS disease. Concerning cognition, the CS had a better performance than the pwMS (p = p = 0.038). The pwMS exhibited a worse cognitive performance than the CS. The pwMS treated with GA did not show an improvement in oxidation. Lactate emerged as a potential biomarker for cognitive preservation.

BackgroundNo trials have compared cabozantinib and regorafenib for the second-line treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).ObjectivesConduct a matching-adjusted indirect comparison (MAIC) of the efficacy and safety of second-line cabozantinib and regorafenib in patients with advanced HCC and disease progression after prior sorafenib.MethodsThe CELESTIAL and RESORCE trials were used for indirect comparison of second-line cabozantinib and regorafenib in advanced HCC. Population-level data were available for RESORCE, individual patient data (IPD) for CELESTIAL. To align with RESORCE, the CELESTIAL population was limited to patients who received first-line sorafenib only. To minimize potential effect-modifying population differences, the CELESTIAL IPD were weighted to balance the distribution of clinically relevant baseline characteristics with those of RESORCE. Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were evaluated for the matching-adjusted second-line CELESTIAL population and compared with those for RESORCE using weighted Kaplan-Meier curves and parametric modeling. Rates of grade 3/4 treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) affecting > 5% of patients in any study arm were compared.ResultsIn the matching-adjusted second-line populations (CELESTIAL, effective sample size = 266; RESORCE, n = 573), median (95% confidence interval) OS was similar for cabozantinib and regorafenib (11.4 [8.9-17.0] versus 10.6 [9.1-12.1] months; p = 0.3474, log-rank test). Median PFS was longer for cabozantinib than regorafenib (5.6 [4.9-7.3] versus 3.1 [2.8-4.2] months; p = 0.0005, log-rank test). There was a trend for lower rates of some grade 3/4 TEAEs with regorafenib than with cabozantinib, which may reflect the exclusion of sorafenib-intolerant patients from RESORCE but not from CELESTIAL, a difference that the MAIC methods could not remove. Only diarrhea rates were statistically significantly lower for regorafenib (p  ≤ 0.001).ConclusionsCabozantinib may achieve similar OS and prolonged PFS compared with regorafenib in patients with progressive advanced HCC after prior sorafenib.

Introduction: Impaired circadian rhythm (ICR) is a commonly used model of mild stress. The fruit juice of Chaenomeles japonica var. maulei (Mast.) Lavall‚e (CMFJ) is rich in polyphenols known for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective properties. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of CMFJ on the behavior of rats subjected to ICR.Materials and methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into five groups of 10 animals each: control group (without ICR), the ICR, ICR+CMFJ2.5, ICR+CMFJ5, and ICR+CMFJ10 groups. ICR was induced by exposing rats to 14 days of constant light. Over these days, oral treatment was administered with distilled water (the control and ICR groups) and CMFJ at doses 2.5, 5, and 10 ml/kg for the respective groups. Then we performed the open field test, the social interaction test (SIT), and the forced swim test (FST) to assess rats’ locomotion, anxiety, and the depressive-like behavior, respectively.Results: The ICR animals increased their horizontal and vertical locomotion when compared to the controls. The ICR rats did not change significantly the social interaction time in the SIT test and immobility time in the FST. The horizontal and vertical activity of the ICR+CMFJ10 rats was reduced in comparison with ICR animals. Compared to ICR rats, the animals treated with CMFJ at doses of 2.5 and 10 ml/kg demonstrated an improved social interaction and decreased immobility time in the FST. ]Conclusions: CMFJ prevented the development of ICR-induced hyperactivity and showed an anxiolytic-like and antidepressant-like effect, probably due to its high polyphenol content.

Introduction: The ovariectomized rat is a model used to mimic the changes in female organism during menopause. Aronia melanocarpa fruit juice (AMFJ) is extremely rich in phenolic substances (procyanidins, flavonoids and phenolic acids).Aim: The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of AMFJ on rat behavior in a model of ovariectomy-induced estrogen deficit.Materials and methods: Four groups of female Wistar rats were used, each consisting of 14 animals – sham operated (SO), ovariectomized (OVX), OVX+AMFJ5, and OVX+AMFJ10. After two-week recovery from the operation, three-month oral treatment was performed with distilled water for the SO and OVX groups, and AMFJ at doses of 5 ml/kg and 10 ml/kg for the OVX+AMFJ5 and OVX+AMFJ10 groups, respectively. Then, behavioral tests were conducted. Locomotor activity was assessed using the open field test (OFT). Anxiety was evaluated in the OFT, elevated plus-maze test and social interaction test. Depressive behavior was assessed in the forced swim test. Thermal pain sensitivity was measured in the hot plate test.Results: OVX rats showed increased anxiety, depressive behavior and pain sensitivity in comparison with SO animals. Compared to OVX rats, anxiety, depressive behavior, and pain sensitivity of AMFJ-treated animals were decreased. Locomotor activity of AMFJtreated rats was reduced in comparison with both SO and OVX animals, probably due to the sedative effect of the juice.Conclusions: AMFJ was able to antagonize the negative impact of the estrogen deficit on rat behavior (anxiety, depression, pain sensitivity), probably due to the biological activity of its polyphenolic ingredients.

In recent decades, climate change has become a critical global issue with far-reaching consequences for regional climates and ecosystems. While regional climate models provide valuable information, there is a growing need for high-resolution simulations to assess local impacts. This paper addresses this gap by presenting the first simulation of a 3 km convection-permitting (CP) scenario simulation for Bulgaria. The main aim of this study is to assess different precipitation indices and their future changes for Bulgaria under the Representative Concentration Pathway 8.5 (RCP8.5) scenario following the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment Flagship Pilot Study protocol. The simulations are evaluated against high-resolution observations. We downscale Coupled Model Intercomparison Project 5 Global Climate Model (CMIP5 GCM) data for historical (1995–2004) and future (2089–2098) periods using a regional climate model (RCM) at 15 km grid spacing and parametrized convection. We use these fields as initial and boundary conditions for convection-permitting kilometer-scale simulations. The 15 km grid spacing driving model is used as a reference to assess the added value of the kilometer-scale simulation. Additionally, the 3 km seasonal mean and projected 2 m temperature and the winter snow water equivalent are presented. The results show that the kilometer-scale simulation shows better performance of wet-hour intensity in all seasons, wet-hour frequency in the spring, fall, and winter, and extreme precipitation (99.9th percentile of all precipitation events, p99.9) in the winter and fall. The kilometer-scale simulation improves the projected precipitation distribution and modifies the signal of the precipitation frequency, intensity, and heavy precipitation change over some areas. A positive projected change in the wet-hour intensity is expected in all seasons (13.86% in spring, MAM, 17.48% in summer, JJA, 1.97% in fall, SON, and 17.43% in winter, DJF) and in the heavy precipitation in the spring (13.14%) and winter (31.19%) in the kilometer-scale experiment. The projected increase in mean winter precipitation is accompanied by a significant decrease in mean winter snowfall over lowlands (50−70%). The convection-permitting Regional Climate Model, version 4.7.1 (RegCM4.7.1) suggests an increase in winter snowfall over the highest parts of the country, but a significant increase in the 2 m temperatures there. The results of this study are encouraging and may be of interest to the community of climate scientists and users of climate data for making reliable estimates of the local impacts of future climate change.

Purpose: To observe the factors affecting the prevalence and control of myopia among children in Pleven, Bulgaria. Methods: A retrospective study was done. From March 2019 to March 2021, 404 consecutive patients from 3 to 18 years old with the main diagnosis myopia after cycloplegia passed through the private ophthalmology practice. The following signs were analyzed: age, sex, location, type and degree of myopia, review result and accompanying diseases. Results: The demographic profile of the evaluated children was: 43.8% males and 56.2% females (р< 0.05); most of them are living in the city (89.2%). The most significant number of children with myopia were between 9 and 12 years old. Children with new onset myopia were 27.7% and 72.3% were with existing one. Patients between 8 and 18 years of age with existing myopia are more than those with new onset one (p

Lower respiratory tract infections are among the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population worldwide. Despite advances in treatment and prevention, childhood pneumonia is the major reason for hospital admissions and remains a leading cause of death claiming an estimated 800 000 childrens lives in 2018. Globally, over 1.23 million children died of pneumonia before reaching their 5th birthday the equivalent of over 3400 deaths per day worldwide. There is growing evidence that vitamin D plays an important role in the immune system by modulating both innate and adaptive immunity. Vitamin D is an additional factor in the inflammatory response regulation. Its action is mediated via the vitamin D receptor (VDR), which is present in almost all types of immune cells, including activated CD4+ and CD8+ cells, B cells, macrophages, neutrophils and dendritic cells. Vitamin D deficiency is associated with decreased host defenses against infections. Therefore, our aim was to investigate whether low vitamin D status was a risk factor for pneumonia complications, usage of multiple antibiotics and prolonged hospital stay among hospitalized pediatric patients with community-aquired pneumonia. Total of 200 children (102 healthy controls and 98 with severe pneumonia) from 11 days to 17 years old were included in the study. Cases with severe pneumonia were subdivided into groups with and without complications (36 and 62, respectively). Electrochemiluminescence immunoassay was used to measure the serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels. The control group showed lower values than the study group. Cases with complicated pneumonia had significantly lower levels whitin the range of 29.768.0 nmol/l, compared with 49.188.6 nmol/l in cases without complications. A significant negative correlation was found between vitamin D concentrations and duration of hospital stay, the number of antibiotics used for treatment, and serum levels of inflammatory markers. The low status of vitamin D is related to the severity of the disease but has not been associated with the incidence/frequency of the disease. Children with low vitamin D levels may be at higher risk of developing life-threatening complications, intensive care admissions and a higher inflammatory response.

To improve quantitative traits, it is essential to acknowledge genetic structure and diversity of the crop plants. In this study, 54 barley cultivars released from 1963 to date by different institutes in both Turkey and Bulgaria were screened with 18 iPBS and four SCoT markers to evaluate population structure and genetic diversity. According to the results, while total polymorphic band numbers was identified as 560, the polymorphic ones were found as 530 (438 and 92 amplified bands for iPBS and SCoT markers, respectively). In addition, the average polymorphic band number was found as 24.09. While the average polymorphism information content (PIC) value was 0.48, the average PIC value was 0.48 for iPBS and 0.48 for SCoT markers. The highest PIC value was determined as 0.50. The highest effective number of alleles, Shannon’s information index, and Nei’s genetic diversity were detected from the iPBS2271 marker at 1.61, 0.52 and 0.35, respectively among the iPBS markers while the highest values were obtained from SCoT-71 marker as 1.55, 0.32 and 0.48, respectively. As a result of a distribution of the 530 amplified bands in 54 barley cultivars, structure analysis showed that the subpopulations in the barley cultivars as a value of k=5. The average expected heterozygosity and fixation indices were identified as 0.234 and 0.322, respectively. Based on DICE similarity index, Martı and Zahir cultivars were found the most similar barley cultivars with 75% genetic similarity, whereas Özdemir and Karatay 94 and Tosunpaşa and Konevi cultivars were found 73% similar. On the other hand, Bayrak and Avcı-2002 were found the most diverse cultivars with 19.9% genetic similarity. As a result, the barley cultivars released in Turkey and Bulgaria were found varying and, the genetic diversity and statistics index analysis indicated that iPBS and SCoT markers are powerful markers to perform genetic diversity analysis.

Abstract Background This study aimed to characterize recent Mycobacterium bovis/M. caprae isolates from Bulgaria by whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to gain a first insight into their molecular diversity, transmission, and position within the global phylogeography of this important zoonotic species. Results The isolates were obtained from cattle in diverse locations of Bulgaria in 2015-2020 and were identified by microbiological and PCR assays. WGS data were used for phylogenetic analysis that also included M. bovis global dataset. Thirty-seven M. bovis/caprae isolates from Bulgaria were studied and 34 of them were SNP genotyped. The isolates were subdivided into 3 major phylogenetic groups. Type Mbovis-13 (Eu2 complex [western Europe and northern Africa]) included one isolate. Mbovis-37 type included 5 isolates outside of known clonal complexes. The Bulgarian M. caprae isolates formed a sub-group within the Mcaprae-27B cluster which also included 22 M. caprae isolates from Poland, Spain, Germany, and the Republic of Congo. The Bulgarian M. caprae isolates share their latest common ancestors with Spanish isolates. The Mbovis-37 group shares a distant common ancestor (pairwise distance 22-29 SNPs) with an isolate from Poland but was very distant (> 200 SNPs) from the rest of the tree. The Mbovis-13 group shares a common ancestor with two human isolates from Germany. Phylogeographically, both M. bovis clades had limited circulation in northeastern Bulgaria while the majority of the studied isolates (M. caprae) were from central and western provinces. A phylogenetic network-based analysis demonstrated that 11 Bulgarian isolates were separated by 1 to 6 SNPs within four clusters, mostly forming pairs of isolates. Conclusion The obtained WGS analysis positioned the Bulgarian isolates within the global phylogeography of M. bovis/M. caprae. Hypothetically, the observed phylogenetic diversity may not have resulted from livestock trade routes, but instead may reflect the deeply rooted M. bovis/M. caprae phylogeography of Europe. A high level of genetic divergence between the majority of the studied isolates suggests limited active transmission of bTB in Bulgaria during the survey period. At the same time, a possibility of the endemic presence of circulating bTB strains in the form of the latent persistent disease cannot be ruled out.

One of the latest trends in sustainable agriculture is the use of beneficial microorganisms to stimulate plant growth and biologically control phytopathogens. Bacillus subtilis, a Gram-positive soil bacterium, is recognized for its valuable properties in various biotechnological and agricultural applications. This study presents, for the first time, the successful encapsulation of B. subtilis within electrospun poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) fibers, which are dip-coated with cellulose derivatives. In that way, the obtained fibrous biohybrid materials actively ensure the viability of the encapsulated biocontrol agent during storage and promote its normal growth when exposed to moisture. Aqueous solutions of the cellulose derivatives—sodium carboxymethyl cellulose and 2-hydroxyethyl cellulose, were used to dip-coat the electrospun PHB fibers. The study examined the effects of the type and molecular weight of these cellulose derivatives on film formation, mechanical properties, bacterial encapsulation, and growth. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was utilized to observe the morphology of the biohybrid materials and the encapsulated B. subtilis. Additionally, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the surface chemical composition of the biohybrid materials and verified the successful coating of PHB fibers. Mechanical testing revealed that the coating enhanced the mechanical properties of the fibrous materials and depends on the molecular weight of the used cellulose derivatives. Viability tests demonstrated that the encapsulated B. subtilis exhibited normal growth from the prepared materials. These findings suggest that the developed fibrous biohybrid materials hold significant promise as biocontrol formulations for plant protection and growth promotion in sustainable agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different nano-sized phases were synthesized using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) processes. The deposition took place on {001} Si substrates at about 1150–1160 °C. The carbon source was thermally decomposed acetone (CH3)2CO in a main gas flow of argon. We performed experiments at two ((CH3)2CO + Ar)/Ar) ratios and observed that two visually distinct types of layers were deposited after a one-hour deposition process. The first layer type, which appears more inhomogeneous, has areas of SiO2 (about 5% of the surface area substrates) beside shiny bright and rough paths, and its Raman spectrum corresponds to diamond-like carbon, was deposited at a (CH3)2CO+Ar)/Ar = 1/5 ratio. The second layer type, deposited at (CH3)2CO + Ar)/Ar = a 1/0 ratio, appears homogeneous and is very dark brown or black in color and its Raman spectrum pointed to defect-rich multilayered graphene. The performed structural studies reveal the presence of diamond and diamond polytypes and seldom SiC nanocrystals, as well as some non-continuously mixed SiC and graphene-like films. The performed molecular dynamics simulations show that there is no possibility of deposition of sp3-hybridized on sp2-hybridized carbon, but there are completely realistic possibilities of deposition of sp2- on sp2- and sp3- on sp3-hybridized carbon under different scenarios.