Dialogue (discourse) is the main indication leading us to the conclusion that mediation is constructive. Discourse, the main form of dialogue, allows to achieve a positive result of mediation – an agreement between the participants of the conflict, as well as to learn dialogue communication skills. The aim of this study is to determine the types of dialogue used in mediation, the usage of recognized dialogue, and to find methods for assessing the dialogue (discourse) skills that need to be taught to the participants of the conflict, as well as future mediators and to evaluate the effectiveness of mediation. The research was conducted based on the theoretical methods of analysis of modern concept of dialogue and empirical testing methods (using questionnaires) of the participants of the conflicts and future mediators. Methods of mathematical statistics were used, when processing and analysing the results of the questionnaires. As a result of this work, the types of dialogue used in mediation are identified; recommendations on the choice of components and barriers of dialogue to be considered by the mediator when training participants in the conflict and future mediators are made, as well as recommendations on assessment the effectiveness of mediation are offered.

One of the factors affecting winter wheat grain yields are leaf blotches. The two-factorial trial was conducted in the Research and Study farm ‘Pēterlauki’ in 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 (Latvia). Four nitrogen rates and five fungicide treatment schemes were used. The aim was to clarify the impact of leaf blotches on the winter wheat yield. In winter wheat plots, the tan spot (caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis) dominated but also Septoria leaf blotch (caused by Zymoseptoria tritici) was found. The severity of leaf blotches in winter wheat was low in both years due to dry and warm weather. The development of leaf blotches was influenced by fungicide application schemes, but not by nitrogen fertilizer rate. The total disease impact during the vegetation period was estimated by calculation the area under the disease progress curve (AUDPC). AUDPC for both diseases were significantly higher in the variant without fungicides (F0) and in the variant, where half of dose of fungicides at the growth stage (GS) 55–59 (F1) was used. The using of full dose of fungicide at the GS 55–59 (F2) as well as using of fungicides two (F3) or three (F4) times in growing season significantly decreased the values of AUDPC for both diseases, but differences among AUDPC values in mentioned three variants were not significant. Results showed that the nitrogen fertilization significantly increased the average per both years grain yield until the nitrogen rate N180. Fungicide treatment schemes had no significant effect on the average grain yield.

Drainage ensures flow of water and access of oxygen to the roots of the trees. Therefore, melioration systems have been established in a third of the forest area of Latvia, and for the most part highly productive stands can be observed in these areas. Water flow in these systems is often stopped by beaver dams. The aim of our case study was to assess the impact of ditch reconstruction on the increment of the coniferous trees. Increment cores were collected from 169 trees at a distance up to 45 m from the ditch in the drainage system that was reconstructed 8 years prior. Drainage system reconstruction reversed the trend of declining radial increment for both Scots pine and Norway spruce; however, the influence of this measure over an 8 year period was statistically significant, notable (55%) and positive only for Norway spruce, growing closest to the edge of the ditch. Other growth limiting factors need to be considered and tackled to ensure the highest effect of the investment in drainage system reconstruction, including choice of the tree species, stand density, age, and availability of nutrients.

The topicality of the study is determined by the increasing demand for sanitary felling services currently mainly provided by manual work. Harvesting using hand-held motor instruments is a physically hard work whose costs are increasing rapidly, but labour availability is declining. In sanitary cuttings, additional complications are caused by the use of conventional machinery in harvesting, which necessitates the creation of wide (4 m) technological corridors and significantly increases the proportion of damaged remaining trees in a stand (according to past studies, a set of middle-class forest machines in thinning of spruce stands results in 4–5% of damaged trees, but in pine stands – in approximately twice less damaged trees than in spruce stands). The compact class forest machines in thinnings result in mechanical damage to not more than 1% of remaining trees. During field trials in sanitary felling 9329 trees were felled. The average productivity, working in one shift, is 5.35 m**3 hE−1 with average stands 10 cm. The cost of harvester’s productive hour is 92 € but of a forwarder it is 78. The compact class forwarder creates significantly smaller impact on the soil by reducing ruts depth and soil compaction, which is especially important in sanitary fellings and extraction of seed trees in regenerated areas.

The aim of the study is to clarify the compliance of machinery information systems used by Latvian logging service providers with the requirements of the Forest Machine Data and Communications Standard StanForD 2010. For determining the number of logging machines and structure registered in Latvia, data from the State Technical Control Agency of Latvia (VTUA) has been used. This dataset includes 2094 registered machinery units from which 1663 units recorded as harvesters and forwarders are distributed for data processing. Using the national AS Latvian State Forests (LSF) database, where 541 machinery units have been recorded, of which 239 harvesters and 302 forwarders, it is determined what and how many machines already use the standard StanForD 2010, how many machines can implement it and which machines are not suitable for the implementation of StanForD 2010. The study showed that the VTUA register does not fully reflect the true quantity of harvesting machines in Latvia and does not provide information about the use of machines. The LSF data provide reliable information on the possibilities of using StanForD 2010 in harvesters in national forests. From the harvesters working in the country’s forests, 52% of the machines use the StanForD 2010 standard. Work should be continued to clarify the possible use of the standard in the machines working in private forests. Similarly, work should be continued with dealers of harvesting machines to identify models for which it is possible to adjust the StanForD 2010 standard and what the cost of adapting the indicative information systems is.

Plantation willows are commonly grown plants which are widely used for energetic purposes that does not correspond completely to its potential. To fully integrate this resource into biorefinery scheme, it is necessary to study optimal conditions of willow bark processing, aimed for separation of bark components, their comprehensive characterization and profitable practical application. Extraction of secondary metabolites is well known approach for bark processing. But the separation of the main cell wall components including lignin from the residual biomass is less studied. In this work plantation residual willow bark after extractives separation by two different solvents (acetone and ethanolwater) was used as a feedstock for Organosolv delignification. Effect of temperature and catalyst used on the yield and properties of lignin isolated from residual bark by ethanol-water treatment was studied. It was possible to obtain pure lignin with high yields (up to 41%) that has the potential to be used for bio-plastic producing. Insoluble residue after delignification was carbohydrate rich (up to 80%) feedstock allowing its practical use for bioethanol producing.

Due to the ever increasing demand for energy resources, more and more attention is being paid to renewable energy resources. One such potential resource is lignocellulosic biomass that can be treated to acquire a carbohydrate rich substrate for further use in producing biofuels such as bioethanol or biobutanol. In this study, birch (Betula pendula) chips were used in fast pyrolysis to acquire bio-oil. This bio-oil was further hydrolyzed in pressurized reactor Parr 4554 to produce a carbohydrate rich feedstock. Hydrolysis conditions were optimized. Several conditions − three different temperatures (111, 121, 131 °C) and four different sulfuric acid concentrations (0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5 M) were tested. The optimal conditions were 121 °C with 0.2 M sulfuric acid as a catalyst that allowed to acquire a solution with the total glucose concentration being 6.6% that can be further used as a feedstock for biofuel acquiring.

The aim of our study was to describe the histopathological and cytological characteristic of the cow endometrium on the seventh day of the oestrous cycle. In this study, 11 different breeds’ dairy cows (78.18 ± 37.46 months old, in 3.6 ± 2.17 lactation, the mean body condition score 3.4 ± 0.72 (5 points scale)) from Research and Study farm ‘Vecauce’ were selected. All cows were more than 210 days postpartum. Overall health and reproductive tract examination was performed, progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) concentration in blood serum were established and the biopsy and cytology samples of endometrium were taken. Mean E2 concentration was 14.92 ± 7.92 pg mLE−1, mean P4 concentration was 13.64 ± 9.44 nmol LE−1. The mean percentage in the cytology slides was established: epithelial cells 89 ± 9%, polimorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) 6 ± 5%. Cytological subclinical endometritis (SE) was confirmed in 5 cows. Histopathological findings (out of 22 samples): endometrium stromal edema in 14, hemosiderin and hemosiderophages in 8, supranuclear vacuolization in 12, pseudodecidual reaction in 12 samples. No subnuclear vacuolization and mitosis in the glandular epithelium were detected. Histopathological examination did not reveal SE. Morphology between the uterine horns with and without corpus luteum (CL) and between cows with serum P4 level higher than 15 nmol LE−1 and lower than 15 nmol LE−1 were not statistically different (p is greater than 0.05). In conclusion, histopatological examination is more reliable diagnostic method for SE. Future investigation should be performed to establish cut-off values for the diagnosis of SE in cows more than 210 days postpartum.

The second half of the 20th century brought to light the consequences of human activity, when Humanity was confronted with demiurgical complexes and realized that the planet Earth was not only nature, but a complex system that today could no longer be operated by traditional methods and logic. While until the middle of the 20th century man used natural resources only to meet his needs, the 21st century poses new challenges for mankind to manage the consequences of human activities and to use them rationally and sustainably. The paper presents a study aimed at assessing the potential of ecosystem services development in the Nemunas Delta and anticipating their development directions. As a result of the research, the possible development directions of the Elderships were presented. It was done in two scenarios. The research was carried out in six municipality subdivisions (elderships) of the Nemunas Delta area in the framework of the Lithuanian Science Council project ‘Interaction of ecosystem services and human activities in the context of climate change’. Preparation of this paper was supported by funding from European Social Fund (project No 09.3.3-LMT-K-712-01-0178) under the grant agreement with the Research Council of Lithuania (LMTLT).

The culture industry and its human resources have been little researched in Latvia, yet research on the culture industry is important, because the industry makes a significant contribution to economic growth by promoting employment and the development of competitive regions. The culture industry encompasses libraries, folk art, theatre, music, museums, the creative industry and other sub-industries, yet in recent years those working in all the culture subindustries faced various challenges, including: a low remuneration and insufficient monetary and non-monetary bonuses, resulting in lower job satisfaction and a high personnel turnover. Accordingly, the aim of the research is to develop recommendations for hiring and retaining human resources by examining challenges in managing human resources in the culture industry. The authors conducted a survey among the personnel of the Board of Culture of Jelgava municipality. The survey found that the main challenges faced by the administration of the Board of Culture were an uncompetitive remuneration, the aging of the personnel and generational change as well as inefficient and insufficient motivation for working. The research has developed two scenarios for recruiting: ‘promotion of creativity and non-monetary motivation’ that aim to publicly appreciate human resources, so that they would feel important and significant as well as facilitate creativity, innovation and collective solidarity, while for the purpose of retaining human resources in a long-term and decreasing their turnover, the second scenario ‘competitive remuneration and the differentiation by position category’ aims to gradually raise the remuneration and differentiate it for all categories of personnel.