With the growing demand for e-learning, as well with the striving for excellence, everyone worldwide is encouraged to improve and ensure the quality of e-learning. Quality assurance requires a supportive environment. The purpose of this paper is to propose procedures for evaluating and controlling the quality of e-learning materials. The article reflects on the approach, which is often mentioned in the field of quality assurance, procedures that characterize the processes, helps to sort them, track their progress sequence and identify those responsible. Clearly, the quality of online learning has many dimensions, but this article deals only with the part that relates to the quality of e-learning materials. In January 2018, experts from European Distance Education Secondary School, Riga Distance Education Secondary School and Riga 1st Distance Education Secondary School were interviewed. The questionnaire included questions about the quality assessment of the study materials. Based on the findings of scientific research literature and taking into account the good practice, procedures for the quality control of electronic learning materials were created. The article offers four procedures that include the use of a web-based checklist developed by the author. Activities of procedures can be divided into areas of responsibility that deal with developers of the material, methodological commission, material evaluators and IT administrator. Distance learning program implementers can use the proposed procedures in the process of making and monitoring electronic learning materials. In addition, the checklist helps to identify important conditions and requirements that affect the quality of the study material.

This study was conducted to investigate the genetic diversity at d-loop of mitochondrial DNA and establish the possible maternal lineages of indigenous goat breeds in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRCongo). Phylogenetic relationships among and within 111 goats from three indigenous populations from a peste-des-petits ruminants outbreak in South Kivu, Eastern of Democratic Republic of the Congo and 22 goats sequences from the gene bank were analysed using mitochondrial control region sequences (d-loop region). The results show that a total of 120 segregating sites, 56 haplotypes and 124 mutations were found in a 1220-bp sequence. The mean haplotype diversity and nucleotide diversity were 0.971±0.007 and 0.011±0.002, respectively with the overall number of nucleotide differences of 10.73. The phylogenetic analysis showed that all goat sequences were clustered into two haplogroups (A and B), of which haplogroup A was the commonest. The global analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), incorporating all the three populations independent of any hierarchical clustering, indicated that 83.22% of the total genetic variation present in studied goats was explained by genetic differences between individuals (pv= 0.327), 11.18% among groups (pv=0.000*) and only 5.60% of the variation was attributed to genetic differences between populations (pv=0.003*). These results conclude that there are high levels of intrapopulation diversity in Mwenga-Shabunda, Fizi and Kalehe goats and the weak phylogeographic structuring, thus, suggested that there existed strong gene flow among goat populations probably caused by extensive trans-border movement of goats in the past

The objects of research are the lime-tree forests of the Leningrad region. The studies were carried out on 2 permanent plots established by the authors in May 2013 in the Lisino forest district (Leningrad region, Russia). The goal of research was to obtain a complex characteristic of stands dominated by linden (Tilia cordata). The objective of the research included a taxation and geobotanical description on permanent plots and studies of the soil cover (morphological and agrochemical characteristics of soils). The general health status of stands on the surveyed areas was determined as satisfactory – mean score 2.5 and 2.8 (relevant health status was determined with the help of the following 6-grade scale for each tree: 1 – no signs of weakening; 2 – weakened tree; 3 – very weakened tree; 4 – partial mortality of the tree; 5 – dead-standing trees of the current year; 6 – dead-standing trees of previous years). The average mortality rate varies from 3.05% year-1 on the sample plot 2 to 5.7% year-1 on the sample plot 1. Vegetation on sample plots attributes to a nemorose-herbal series of forest types, soils – to a podzolic type with a weak development of the podzol-forming process. They were well-mediated ones by humus in the upper horizon. This fact was facilitated by the lime litter: a lime has a deep root system to take up nutritional chemicals from a greater depth, where moraine loams enriched with calcium carbonate located. Old-aged forests of this type are being in the phase of gap dynamics now. This means that they can occur for a rather long time in the same place, however, the lime-tree forests of natural origin are constantly under threat of being replaced by spruce. The results of our study have shown that low levels of soil mineral nutrients supply are sufficient for the successful linden growth.

In this study, antifungal properties of an organoclay additive were investigated. Two types of organoclay (red and white) were tested in Petri dishes to determine their toxicity against the brown rot fungus Coniophora puteana and the white rot fungus Trametes versicolor. Red organoclay was more efficient than the white one and, depending on the fungus, inhibited or stopped the fungal growth. Red organoclay was chosen as an additive to produce a new type of plywood product. Biological durability of this plywood product was determined according to the methods: NF B 51-295 (bending strength test) and LVS ENV 12038:2002 (mass loss test). The loss in bending strength exceeded 81% and 65% after exposure to brown and white rot fungi, respectively. The mass loss of the plywood product after the decay test was higher than 3%, which defined the material as not fully resistant against decay fungi. According to CEN/TS 15083-1:2005, the plywood product corresponded to the durability class 3 (moderately durable) to 5 (not durable) depending on the fungus.

Rhododendron spp. plants were surveyed for Phytophthora infection in Lithuania during 2010 – 2016. This study aims to identify Phytophthora genus pathogen which infects rhododendrons in Lithuania. Samples were taken from young sick plants with visible infection symptoms. Soil sampling was performed from the rhizosphere of sick plants. DNA from soil and plant was tested for the presence of Phytophthora genus pathogens. Data showed positive results of Phytophthora genus specific probe during real-time PCR. All tested diseased leaves and soil samples have indicated Phytophthora sp. infection during Alert-LF® Phytophthora spp. analysis. The extracted DNA concentrations were not very high for Phytophthora species identification, but in most cases, it was high enough for further researches.

The article presents an analysis of the existing situation of forests of the Republic of Lithuania. The situation is analysed in ten counties of the country. In the Republic of Lithuania, forests occupied 2,178,958.04 ha, country’s forest coverage – 33.38% in 2017. The highest forest coverage was established in Alytus (48.80%) and Vilnius (43.47%) counties. Only in three counties of Lithuania (Panevėžys, Telšiai and Utena) the prevailing type of ownership is private forests. In all counties of Lithuania mostly there are Group IV commercial forests, which make up 71.4% of the total forest area. The least are Group I reserved forests. Coniferous species (56.2%) prevail in the country’s forests, of which pine forests are dominant. It is crucial today to analyse the current state of forests and anticipate changes in trends, preventing potential threats. Following the analysis of Lithuanian forest change, it was determined that during the period between the years 2006 and 2017, the forest area increased by 78,616.40 ha or 3.74%. The largest forest development took place in Utena (17,324.13 ha or 7.32%) and Šiauliai (14,798.15 ha or 6.87%) counties. In order to implement the forestry development prospects, from 2018 to 2030, 106,068.87 ha of forests should be planted. In 2030, 2,285,026.91 hectares of forest would occupy Lithuania and would make up to 35% of the country’s area.

Land use efficiency is based on agricultural production. Correct and effective land use could solve several problems – food production, improving the welfare and provision of social stability. The use of land and natural resources is an important issue in the development of the country; therefore, many researchers and scientists have analysed and studied the use of agricultural land and land use efficiency. Efficient land use has an impact on different types of factors, which are mutually contradictory. In the paper several authors researches are analysed, studying influencing factors of the use of agricultural land. Influenced by several factors the main problems associated with the use of agricultural land are the increase of unused agricultural land, the continued degradation of land, but the major problem of land use is the existence of a fragmented property structure. For the efficient use of agricultural land, there are several conditions that need to be met or improved to achieve effective land use. The main conclusion is that analysing the problems that are associated with the use of agricultural land is seen as interactive interaction, as the fragmented property structure is one of the reasons influencing the use of agricultural land, which leads to an increase in unused areas of agricultural land, while unused areas of agricultural land are often overgrown with shrubs while promoting degradation of land.

The high toxicity, bioaccumulative and increased distribution of cadmium (Cd) in the environment, makes it the most dangerous to any biological system, including immune system in human and animals. The effect of dietary intake of Cd (8.25 mg per kg) on accumulation and distribution of this heavy metal in various tissues, and functional changes in organs of immunity (thymus, bursa of Fabricius, spleen) in 35-day-old broiler cockerels were investigated, using biochemical and immunological methods. Significant increases in the Cd concentration both in central immunocompetent organs (thymus, bursa of Fabricius) and peripheral (spleen) were established. Excessive tissue level of Cd induced the prooxidative effect of this heavy metal in the organs. It was manifested in an increase of cell membrane lipid peroxidation (the enhanced malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration) in immune system organs. The oxidative stress resulted in immunocompetent cell damage. The fall of vital dye absorptive ability of immunocyte indicated the increase in the injured cell number. This harmful effect is in accordance with T- and B (C3) – population prominent depletion, organ relative mass reduction, and growth retardation in chicks, and was established as a result of dietary Cd loading for 5 weeks of the experiment.

Vegetable processing in food industry results in significant number of by-products – peel, mark, bark, seeds still rich in bioactive compounds. The objective of this study was to investigate the stability of total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity after high temperature short time (HTST) extrusion cooking of a rye and oat- based matrix with addition of apple, carrot and pumpkin by-product flour (BPF) in various amounts (5%, 10%, 15% and 20%). Extrusion was performed with co-rotating twin-screw extruder (compression ratio 8:1) at Ltd MILZU. The main drive of extruder was provided with a 7.5 HP motor (400 V, 3 HP, 50 cycles). Temperatures for extrusion zones were 125 °C /135 °C /145 °C. TPC was determined using the Folin Ciocalteu method. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by free radical 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) antioxidant scavenging activity. TPC in cereal-based crispbread was 62.03 ± 0.15 mg GAE gE-1 DW before extrusion and 37.73 ± 1.96 mg GAE gE-1 DW after extrusion. Addition 20% of apple BPF increased TPC in crispbread to 193.92 ± 1.37, carrot BPF 171.36 ± 6.97 and pumpkin BPF to 195.09 ± 4.68 mg GAE gE-1 DW after extrusion. Antioxidant activity of control (20% oats, 80% rye flour blends) sample was 0.516 ± 0.192 mg TE gE-1 DW but in samples with addition of 20% by-products, it was significantly higher reaching 0.926 ± 0.05 TE gE-1 DW in samples with pumpkin by-products after extrusion.

This article describes the results of a pre-clinical study of immunogenicity and effectiveness of an inactivated pandemic vaccine (Refluvac®) on model mice. Mice received two 0.5 ml intraperitoneal inoculations with an interval of 14 days in three doses: containing 10.0, 5.0 and 2.5 μg HA (hemagglutinin) per animal. As a comparator preparation, the study used a semi-finished product (SP) vaccine diluted with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) to obtain HA concentrations of 5 μg and 10 μg. For a control group, the study used PBS as the negative control. We determined the vaccine’s protective effectiveness level by analysing its response in animals challenged with a pandemic А/California/7/09 (Н1N1) pdm09 virus. We assessed the immunogenicity of the vaccine by examining the mean geometric titre (GMT) of antibodies against the influenza virus as measured by hemagglutination-inhibition test (HAI). In the course of testing the GMT, we noted a dependence of the concentration of antibodies in serum on the vaccine’s antigen load. The highest GMT was observed in the group of mice vaccinated with a HA load of 10.0 μg – it amounted to 278.6 (95% CI, 135.6 to 572.4). We established a high tolerability of the vaccine tested. Our study shows that Refluvac® yields a high degree of protectivity against influenza A/H1N1 and prevents clinical signs, death or accumulation of influenza virus in the organs of vaccinated animals. There were deaths and clinical signs including general depression, hypodynamia and anorexia in the negative control group. The results of our study were used for the clinical study of the first Kazakhstan produced Refluvac® vaccine against pandemic A/H1N1 influenza virus.