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Sugar beet leaf spot, caused by the air-borne fungus Cercospora beticola Sacc., leads to a decrease in sugar beet leaf mass and the consequent regrowth of leaves based on exploiting the sugar reserves stored in the plant’s roots, thus ultimately resulting in lower yields and sugar contents of sugar beets. Azoxystrobin belongs to the group of QoI fungicides, which inhibit mitochondrial respiration by blocking cytochrome c reductase. The QoI fungicides are characterized by a very high risk of resistance interfering with their biological activity. For the purpose of testing the azoxystrobin sensitivity of the Cercospora beticola population found at the site of Rimski Šančevi, a collection of 84 isolates was assembled and tested for sensitivity to azoxystrobin by measuring the mycelial growth on fungicide-amended media with the addition of SHAM. The results obtained indicate that none of the isolates tested exhibited complete sensitivity to azoxystrobin, 4% were found to have reduced sensitivity, 26% were moderately resistant and 70% were highly resistant. A higher proportion of resistant isolates recorded is associated with the loss of azoxystrobin biological efficacy at the experimental site.

Exams have traditionally dominated assessment in higher education. Yet, we still do not know if they are authentic assessment, especially in an environment of rapid demographic changes within higher education and evolving perceptions of authenticity. This work offers a method to measure exam authenticity, defined as the overlap between exams and workplace assignments. To measure the overlap, workplace assignments and exams are mapped into a time-type space. The mapping creates a quantitative measure of exam authenticity. The results show that exams produce vital graduate job market skills. Therefore, they are authentic assessment and a necessary component of the post-pandemic assessment mix. The new authenticity measure is scalable and generalizable across fields and could inform policies and practices, such as subject benchmarking and student recruitment. The paper closes with a simple replication guide.

Referring to the documents of the Archive of Foreign Policy of the Russian Federation, the author of the article examines the approach of the Czechoslovak People’s Party to the recognition of the Soviet state and the motivation of the former in that matter. The article shows that the first statement made by the party’s leadership on the recognition of the USSR was the speech delivered by Mngr. F. Světlík (canon of the Olomouc Diocese, deputy of the National Assembly of the Czechoslovak Republic from the Czechoslovak People’s Party) in the Parliamentary Commission on Foreign Affairs on February 11, 1927. Advocating rapprochement with Moscow, Světlík and his supporters proceeded from the economic interests of their country and counted on the softening of the Bolsheviks’ revolutionary ideology and the expansion of the Catholic Church’s activities in the USSR. The author considers in detail the discussion in the Czechoslovak People’s Party and the response of other political forces in the Czechoslovak Republic to Světlík’s speech. Considerable attention is paid to the study of the activities conducted by the Soviet plenipotentiary representation in Prague in order to establish contacts with the Catholic circles of the Czechoslovak Republic and neutralize the publications in the Czechoslovak press about the anti-religious policy of the Soviet government and persecution of believers in the USSR, for which the plenipotentiary representation widely used the book Church Life in Moscow by Jesuit M. d’Herbigny, director of the Pontifical Oriental Institute. In the final part of the article, the author notes the reasons why the Czechoslovak People’s Party was unable to take the initiative and influence the decision of the state to recognize the USSR de jure in 1927 despite its status as a government party. Among those reasons were regional disunity of the party, disagreements in its leadership, significant dependence on the domestic and international political situation, and continued persecution of the Catholic clergy in the Soviet Union. Under such circumstances, the efforts of Soviet diplomats to encourage the leadership of the Czechoslovak People’s Party to initiate the recognition of the USSR de jure were doomed to failure.

Nowadays, climate changes induce deviations in the composition of honey varieties characteristic of a specific geographic region. Therefore, according to Codex Alimentarius for honey, the slight variations in values of determined parameters cannot be strictly regarded as a sign of its adulteration. Here, modified methods are presented for preparing honey samples for inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) analysis and the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method to use them as fast and reliable methods in the food industry. ICP-OES analysis suggested that all analysed honey samples are natural, and HPLC-DAD (diode-arrray detection) analysis on the flavonoids showed that one sample is probably not natural. Invertase activity showed an overlap with this HPLC-DAD finding but suggested more samples as possibly adulterated, which can be neglected due to possible thermal treatment of those natural samples, causing a decrease in invertase activity. Therefore, results obtained from the analyses of investigated honey samples based on the mineral content, number, and quantity of flavonoids, together with the invertase activity, indicated that the combination of analyses could be a reliable tool for determining the quality of honey samples.

Let $G=(V,E)$, $V=\{v_1, v_2,\ldots,v_n\}$, $E=\{e_1, e_2,\ldots,e_m\}$, be a simple connected graph with $n\ge 2$ vertices and $m$ edges, with vertex degree sequence $\Delta=d_1\ge d_2\ge \cdots \ge d_n=\delta$, $ d_i=d(v_i)$, and edge degree sequence $\Delta_e=d(e_1)\ge d(e_2)\ge \cdots \ge d(e_n)=\delta_e$. The reformulated Sombor index is defined as $RS(G) =\sum_{e_i\sim e_j}\sqrt{d(e_i)^2+d(e_j)^2}$. We consider a relationship between reformulated Sombor index and some of the vertex--degree-based indices.

This article examines the stages of formation and development of innovative digital sports sections, sports programming ones in particular, in the Donetsk People’s Republic in 2022–2024. The process of creating innovative digital sports sections in student sports clubs is shown in order to popularize and attract talented youth to the field of digital technologies. The need for athletes-programmers and cybersportsmen for realization of the full technological sovereignty of our country is noted.

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, demonstrated that zoonotic transmission of animal sarbecoviruses threatens human health but the determinants of transmission are incompletely understood. Here, we show that most spike (S) proteins of horseshoe bat and Malayan pangolin sarbecoviruses employ ACE2 for entry, with human and raccoon dog ACE2 exhibiting broad receptor activity. The insertion of a multibasic cleavage site into the S proteins increased entry into human lung cells driven by most S proteins tested, suggesting that acquisition of a multibasic cleavage site might increase infectivity of diverse animal sarbecoviruses for the human respiratory tract. In contrast, two bat sarbecovirus S proteins drove cell entry in an ACE2-independent, trypsin-dependent fashion and several ACE2-dependent S proteins could switch to the ACE2-independent entry pathway when exposed to trypsin. Several TMPRSS2-related cellular proteases but not the insertion of a multibasic cleavage site into the S protein allowed for ACE2-independent entry in the absence of trypsin and may support viral spread in the respiratory tract. Finally, the pan-sarbecovirus antibody S2H97 enhanced cell entry driven by two S proteins and this effect was reversed by trypsin while trypsin protected entry driven by a third S protein from neutralization by S2H97. Similarly, plasma from quadruple vaccinated individuals neutralized entry driven by all S proteins studied, and availability of the ACE2-independent, trypsin-dependent pathway reduced neutralization sensitivity. In sum, our study reports a pathway for entry into human cells that is ACE2-independent, can be supported by TMPRSS2-related proteases and may be associated with antibody evasion.

Purpose: This paper aims to enrich understanding of the obesity transition among socioeconomic status (SES) strata by gender and age in cities of Colombia and Mexico. The study uses harmonized data from the Salud Urbana en América Latina (SALURBAL) study. Methods: A population-level system dynamics model was developed using 2010 and 2015 data from Colombia and 2012 and 2016 data from Mexico (national health surveys). The model simulates the prevalence of different BMI categories (i.e., not overweight, overweight, obese) stratified by gender, age, and SES, in the SALURBAL cities (aggregated to the country level) of Colombia and Mexico from 2010 to 2050. Sample sizes for Colombia in 2010 and Mexico in 2012 were 7420 and 5785 children (

Endoleak represents the most common complication after endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) and is defi ned as persistent perfusion of the aneurysmal sac, which subsequently could lead to its expansion and possibly rupture. There are different types of endoleaks, depending on their infl ow source, regardless of the number and type of other vessels involved in the outfl ow (endoleak type I A/B/С, type II, type III, type IV and type V). The current gold standard for the diagnosis of endoleak is the contrast-enhanced helical computed tomography (CT). Since, there is no generally accepted consensus for the best surveillance and treatment methods for this pathology, in this article we will present the most effective endovascular interventions for the successful management of the different types of endoleaks.

Abstract Background Transportation policies can impact health outcomes while simultaneously promoting social equity and environmental sustainability. We developed an agent-based model (ABM) to simulate the impacts of fare subsidies and congestion taxes on commuter decision-making and travel patterns. We report effects on mode share, travel time and transport-related physical activity (PA), including the variability of effects by socioeconomic strata (SES), and the trade-offs that may need to be considered in the implementation of these policies in a context with high levels of necessity-based physical activity. Methods The ABM design was informed by local stakeholder engagement. The demographic and spatial characteristics of the in-silico city, and its residents, were informed by local surveys and empirical studies. We used ridership and travel time data from the 2019 Bogotá Household Travel Survey to calibrate and validate the model by SES. We then explored the impacts of fare subsidy and congestion tax policy scenarios. Results Our model reproduced commuting patterns observed in Bogotá, including substantial necessity-based walking for transportation. At the city-level, congestion taxes fractionally reduced car use, including among mid-to-high SES groups but not among low SES commuters. Neither travel times nor physical activity levels were impacted at the city level or by SES. Comparatively, fare subsidies promoted city-level public transportation (PT) ridership, particularly under a ‘free-fare’ scenario, largely through reductions in walking trips. ‘Free fare’ policies also led to a large reduction in very long walking times and an overall reduction in the commuting-based attainment of physical activity guidelines. Differential effects were observed by SES, with free fares promoting PT ridership primarily among low-and-middle SES groups. These shifts to PT reduced median walking times among all SES groups, particularly low-SES groups. Moreover, the proportion of low-to-mid SES commuters meeting weekly physical activity recommendations decreased under the 'freefare' policy, with no change observed among high-SES groups. Conclusions Transport policies can differentially impact SES-level disparities in necessity-based walking and travel times. Understanding these impacts is critical in shaping transportation policies that balance the dual aims of reducing SES-level disparities in travel time (and time poverty) and the promotion of choice-based physical activity.

Considering it contains a variety of physiologically active compounds, including flavonoids, common phenols, and essential oils (EOs), St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) is a common plant in Bulgaria that is predominantly used in folk medicine to cure various disorders. Determining the chemical makeup of St. John’s wort inflorescences that were gathered from northern Bulgaria was the purpose of this investigation. The antioxidant activity of H. perforatum L. extracts was assessed using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrilhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) tests on methanol extract. The amount of EO obtained by water distillation was 0.08%, with its main components (over 3%) being n-nonane (27.46%), β-sesquiphellandrene (11.17%), heptanal dimethyl acetal (5.94%), ethyl hexyl ketone (5.93%), undecane (3.75%), sabinene (3.3%), and tridecyl alcohol (3.1%). Methanol extracts were obtained from the inflorescences, with the total flavonoid content determined as 8.66 mg quercetin equivalents (QE)/mg and total phenolic content as 271.33 mg Gallic acid equivalent/g. The FRAP assay yielded 493.07 µmol/L of antioxidant activity, while the TEAC assay yielded 106.39 µmol/L, respectively. Our findings enable a comprehensive characterization of H. perforatum from Bulgaria and an assessment of its oil suitability for potential industrial applications. Additionally, the results could guide the selection of specimens for future targeted breeding efforts.

Summary: In July/August 2023, the highly mutated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) BA.2.86 lineage emerged and its descendant JN.1 is on track to become the dominant SARS-CoV-2 lineage globally. Compared to the spike (S) protein of the parental BA.2.86 lineage, the JN.1 S protein contains one mutation, L455S, which may affect receptor binding and antibody evasion. Here, we performed a virological assessment of the JN.1 lineage employing pseudovirus particles bearing diverse SARS-CoV-2 S proteins. Using this strategy, it was found that S protein mutation L455S confers increased neutralization resistance but reduces ACE2 binding capacity and S protein-driven cell entry efficiency. Altogether, these data suggest that the benefit of increased antibody evasion outweighs the reduced ACE2 binding capacity and further enabled the JN.1 lineage to effectively spread in the human population.

Abstract There are differing views on cannabis and phytocannabinoid usage in diverse domains of application. This review explores the advantages and drawbacks of using cannabis and phytocannabinoids, including their effects on human health, in addition to highlighting the need for precise and repeatable analytical methods for quantifying controlled phytocannabinoids in consumer cannabidiol (CBD) products and foods. The composition and characteristics of the phytochemicals found in cannabis, the advantages and disadvantages of controlled and uncontrolled phytocannabinoids, and the need for regulation and standardization in the use of cannabis and products containing phytocannabinoids are all covered in this review of the pertinent literature. Cannabinoids used illegally can have negative consequences, but controlled phytocannabinoids found in consumer CBD products are relatively safe and unlikely to cause any adverse effects. It is necessary to restrict the amount of CBD in foods and consumer products in order to ensure safety. To measure the amount of restricted phytocannabinoids in these products, accurate analytical techniques are also required. In order to increase the use of cannabis among consumers, more research is needed to improve our understanding of the bioavailability and metabolic pathways of these compounds. Furthermore, consumers want clear and uniform federal rules governing the amount of CBD in food products in order to ensure correct dosing. To promote safe and responsible use, cannabis and phytocannabinoids must be carefully considered, regulated, and standardized. It is necessary for consumers to have clear, consistent standards governing the percentage of CBD in their food products. As a result, they would know the exact amount of CBD in their products.

The article is devoted to the history of the emergence and development of student sports at Donetsk National Technical University. The work is based on archival materials of the sports club of Donetsk National Technical University and reflects the events of 1921–2023.