The present study describes situation of antimicrobial resistance of animal pathogens and resistance trends in Estonia in years 2006-2009. Bacterial strains isolated during period 2006-2009 were Escherichia coli (E. coli), Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium), Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), collected from healthy pigs faeces as well as from diagnostic submissions of pig samples. Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) isolates originated from cows with clinical mastitis and Staphylococcus pseudointermedius (S. pseudointermedius) isolates from dogs with pyoderma or otitis externa. Antimicrobial susceptibility was detected by microdilution method. Normal enteric microflora from health y pigs had resistance against streptomycin, tetracyclin, sulfametoxazol and trimethoprim. E. faecalis and E. faecium were resistant to erythromycin, tetracyclin, streptomycin and kanamycin. Multiresistance occured mainly against kanamycin, streptomycin and tetracyclin. E. coli strains isolated from pathological material showed high resistance to ampicillin, tetracycline, streptomycin, sulphonamides and trimethoprim. Multiresistance was detected between 60–73% during study years. In 2009, one ESBL (extended spectrum betalactamase) producing isolate was observed. S. aureus strains isolated from clinical mastitis samples were mainly penicillin resistant (58–86%). Meticillinresistant S. aureus was not found during the study. In 2009, resistance to lincomycin (30%) and fucidinic acid (22%) was detected. In S. pseudointermedius strains isolated from canine skin samples the prevalence of resistance to penicillin as high as 53–81% was found. Multidrug resistance was relatively stable being 38% in 2006, 29% in 2007 and 25% in 2009. In conclusion, antimicrobial resistance of animal pathogens in Estonia was high. Further improvement of prudent use of antimicrobials and infection control is needed.

The objective of the present study was to investigate the microbiological content of cows’ milk in Latvia’s organic farms with a purpose to detect potential microbiological threats in milk. Samples were collected in December 2011 at 12 biological dairy farms of Latvia. Raw milk samples (N=155) obtained from cow composite milk were studied. The total mesophilic aerobic and facultative anaerobic microorganisms (MAFAM), the presence of coliforms and coagulase-positive staphylococci, count of yeasts and moulds were analysed using standard methods. Of the sampled cows 50% had a low somatic cell count (SCC) (LESS THAN 200,000 cells mLE-1), 23% - high, but 27% had a very high SCC (greater than 500,000 cells mLE-1). The mean value of MAFAM in the samples with low, high and very high SCC was 4.7, 5.0 and 5.0 log10 colony forming units (cfu) mLE-1, respectively. The yeasts were present in 57% of milk samples with the mean concentration of 3.1 log10 cfu mLE-1. Moulds were found in 27% of all milk samples; their mean concentration was 4.4 log10 cfu mLE-1. Identified mould strains belonged to genera Absidia, Aspergillus, Geotrichum, Mucor and Penicillium. In cases of subclinical mastitis and latent mammary infection the most distributed mastitis pathogens were Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus kristinae, Bacillus cereus and coagulase negative staphylococci.

The aim of study was to investigate porcine circovirus-2 (PCV2) impact on the morphological sight of pig lymph nodes. The research was carried out in 2010. Three Latvian farms were investigated (from Latgale and Kurzeme) and thirty 5-15 weeks old pigs with clinical signs of Postweanig Multisystemic Wasting Syndrome were selected and observed. Four lymph nodes from each animal for histological and immunohistochemical investigations were taken. Thirty structural parameters of a lymph node were detected on histological slides: visualization of follicle structure, lymphocyte depletion and amount of histiocytic cell infiltration. As a result, changes in lymph nodes with PCV2 antigen were detected in all these structural parameters: increasing amount of PCV2 antigen in pig lymph nodes, but the greatest changes were in the follicles structure in lymph node. The increased amount of PCV2 antigen in lymph node; significantly decreases the amount of lymphocytes and increases the amount of histiocytes in them. Porcine circoviruss-2 in lymph node basically distributes from the lymph node cortex into the medulla, as well the amount of PCV2 antigen in lymph node also increased.

Forethought deployment of an industrial production system is a significant step towards improving economic benefit of an industrial company. The author proposes the procedure for finding an optimal specification of multirobot system, which considers it on the level of components of the robotic system. Components are grouped into mobile or stationary units of the system. A set of agents is considered as a solution for particular mission, it defines a specification of a heterogeneous multi-robot system. The paper presents the concept of the optimization procedure and describes the implementation of investment costs optimization step, which uses genetic algorithm.

Litter invertebrate communities in pine forests of different age (cut, six-year-old, 45-, 62-, and 105-year-old) in the Baranivka area of Zhytomyr Polissya (northwestern part of Ukraine) were studied. Samples were collected in April, August, and November 2011. 99% of extracted invertebrates were represented by mites (Acari) and springtails (Collembola). With forest age, the following tendencies were observed: mean absolute density of mites, springtails, and all litter-inhabiting animals increased; relative abundance of mites increased, but relative abundance of springtails decreased; taxonomic richness of invertebrate communities increased. In all samples, the most represented taxon was suborder Oribatida. The most diverse litter invertebrate community was in the 45-year-old forest. Similar compositions of invertebrate community were in the 45-, 62-, and 105-year-old forests as well as the cut and six-year-old ones.

The interest in stumps has increased with recent boost of the bioenergy in Europe. Fuel yield from stumps can be as high as from harvesting residues. The most valuable areas for stump extraction are spruce and pine stands on dry mineral soils. In Finland the utilization of stumps for energy is rapidly moving from the testing phase to forest practice. In 2005 the use of stump wood chips by heating and power plants totalled 0.4 mill. m**3, tripled the consumption of 2004, which corresponds to 14% of the total consumption of forest chips in Finland. Extensive whole-tree harvesting trials in Sweden demonstrate that removal of stumps and slash from clear-felled sites has a strong positive impact on natural forest regeneration. Results from Finland indicate that stump and slash removal can improve productivity and quality of subsequent re-planting of harvested forest sites. The majority of available studies on root rot control demonstrate that subsequent forest regeneration is more successful on sites where the stumps have been removed. The scope of this study was to evaluate quality of forest regeneration after stump extraction in Finland according to the national regulations in Latvia. Number, size, distribution and mortality of seedlings were estimated in 15 compartments. Additionally, moisture and compaction of soils were determined. Results of the study approved that regeneration of forest stands on fertile mineral soils after stump extraction was successful and combination of mounding with scarification during stump extraction provides sufficient growing conditions for new seedlings.

Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) samples from three different provenances in Canada were investigated. All trees were the same age and had been grown in Latvia in similar conditions. Lodgepole pine of Summit Lake provenance had higher wood density (503 kg m-3) and a higher late wood content (46%) in comparison to Fort Nelson and Pink Mountain provenances. Investigation of chemical composition of wood indicated Summit Lake provenance wood as superior in cellulose content (49.7%), but no differences in lignin and extractives content were found between samples. Kraft pulp yield of Summit Lake samples (48%) was the highest, but the handsheet strength properties were relatively higher for pulp from Pink Mountain provenance pine wood.

This research was carried out to start the discussion on the amount of harmful emissions that are emitted in producing building and insulation materials for roof constructions. Usually, for the improvement of energy efficiency of buildings and reduction of the embodied thermal energy, effective thermal insulation solutions for the external building envelope have to be provided. From the buildings available for the analysis, in Latvia there were selected multi-apartment buildings of separate series with a uniform composition of roof constructions. Within the context of renovation works, the reports of energy audit for the buildings contain recommendations referred to improvement of the thermal performance of roofs. Using mutually comparable energy efficiency report data, there was drawn up an averaged model of a five-storey multi-apartment residential house. There were taken into account legislative documents relating to thermal engineering of buildings: LBN 002-01 ‘Heat engineering of building boundary constructions’ and LVS EN ISO 6946: 2007 ‘Building components and building elements – Thermal resistance and thermal transmittance’, and moisture regime according to LVS EN ISO 13788: 2001 ‘Hygrothermal performance of building components and building elements – internal surface temperature to avoid critical surface humidity and interspatial condensation – calculation methods’, which states that the roof constructions should be free from possibility of water vapour condensation. In this study, there were calculated energy savings obtained by improving thermal resistance of the roof constructions and the opposite primary energy consumption for the production of building materials. As a result, there is obtained environmentally friendly roof construction.

Within several decades many natural Lithuanian rivers were straightened and adapted for needs of soil drainage. By 1998, 63.4 thousands kilometres of trenches of which approximately 46 thousands kilometres were regulated rivers and streams were excavated. It is calculated that trenches of regulated rivers and streams currently cover 82.6, and natural – only 17.4% of total rivers network. While straightening rivers, their channels were extended, their slopes were changed, and bends were removed. Thus, it ensured a fast removal of excess water from drained areas of ground. However, as in the straightened rivers an equal stream was present, unfavourable conditions arouse for ichthyofauna, as well as for settlement and evolution of the invertebrates. Furthermore, possibilities for selfpurification of water running through the channel were reduced. In order to restore morphological, hydraulic, and especially ecological conditions, close to natural ones, of the straightened rivers, it is necessary to renaturalize them. The analysis of river naturalization and renaturalization ways and means was performed on the basis of the reviewed projects carried out in foreign countries. Four renaturalization methods were identified: self-naturalization, soft naturalization, partial and full renaturalisation. The possibility to use these naturalization methods were evaluated taking into account environmental conditions of Lithuania. The analysis of naturalization projects implementation showed that the best way to rehabilitate Lithuania‘s straightened rivers is to use partial renaturalization method that lets form more favourable ecological environment of rivers. The object of the research was - to evaluate the most suitable naturalization methods for Lithuanian conditions.

Contamination of urban areas is directly connected with the lack of adequate waste management planning. Problems mostly arise in former military bases, garages, warehouses and areas with other facilities. For many decades environmental problems caused by pollution in areas of military use were not managed in Latvia. The aim of this research is to assess visual environmental quality and study heavy metal contents in soil of ‘Jaunais Mežaparks’ after demolishing works in the capital of Latvia – Riga, as well as to provide comparison to the former military ‘Daugavgrīva’ site. Research was carried out from November 2011 to February 2012 by soil sampling and further analysis and comparison of the heavy metal content in soil with target and boundary levels in legislation. ‘Jaunais Mežaparks’ is a former military area which is planned to be reused in future. The former military site is planned to be used as the residential neighborhood and is situated close to important recreational object in Mežaparks area – Lake Ķīšezers. According to Riga Development Plan old military sites must be remediated in accordance with environmental legislation if the contamination exceeds critical concentration values. Thus, this case study includes assessment of visual pollution as well as soil heavy metal contamination study. Recommended actions as well as direct remediation technologies to reduce the poisonous impact of contamination to environment in this area are proposed.