This study aimed to examine the influence of changes in exercise status, nutritional status, and a number of comorbidities on functional ability in Taiwanese community-dwelling older adults. Data were obtained from the Taiwan Longitudinal Study of Aging. The results revealed that current exercise and consistent exercise were negatively associated with subsequent 4- and 8-year activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental ADL (IADL) decline (all <i>p</i> < 0.05). The Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA) score was negatively associated with subsequent 8-year IADL decline (all <i>p</i> < 0.05), while the number of diseases was positively associated with subsequent 4- and 8-year IADL decline (all <i>p</i> < 0.05). Current exercise and consistent exercises are beneficial for adults aged ≥65 years to maintain their functional ability in ADL and IADL and to prevent declines in functional ability. Consistency of exercise, MNA score, and the number of chronic diseases are good predictors of IADL decline.

Entomophagy as an alternative way of eating in the Czech Republic is gaining more and more supporters. For this reason, we have focused on the microbial quality of the insect dry powder made from Tenebrio molitor during storage. In the samples were determined the major groups of microorganisms by standard procedures. It is the total number of microorganisms, aerobic microorganisms thermoresistant, E. coli and other coliform bacteria, micromycetes and bacteria of the genus Enterococcus. The highest increase of total microorganisms occurred after five months storage in the sample stored in a paper bag and cold, where their number reached a value of 2.870 log CFU/g. For the same sample, coliform bacteria at the rate of 1.839 log CFU/g were also detected. The other monitored groups of microorganisms were in the samples at most in the order of tens of CFU/g. The results of our research show that the microbiologically tested the insect dry powder is a very stable material. After eight months of storage, there was only a minimal increase in count of microorganisms. Based on the results, it is not possible to decide clearly which storage conditions are most appropriate. In our opinion, storage in a paper bag at a temperature of 22-23 °C is considered to be very convenient, whereas storage at 4-6 °C and 90% humidity cannot be recommended because of the higher incidence of mold due to high humidity in the refrigerator. Due to the small number of expert publications dealing with this issue, it is necessary to continue to address this topic. The research was developed with financial support from IGA IP24/2017.

In our pioneer study, we explore the number of population change in Hungarian villages based on the latest available statistical data (1995–2016), looking for the answer to whether the rapid and profound economic and social structural changes of post-socialism and the historically unique periods of accession to the European Union have rearranged the numerical dominance of the earlier largest rural population in Hungarian society. According to the concept of the post-socialist demographic turn, the population of the villages began to grow during the transformation crisis of the 1990s, and a significant part of the villages became marginalized. In contrast, agglomeration and suburbanization processes also intensified, which also contributed to changes in the number of villagers. We used the data of the Central Statistical Office (CSO) and the Regional Information System (RIS), which were organised into a new database for the purposes of the research. The theory and methods of the population dynamics approach emphasize the need for more complex demographic studies. We argue that the absolute population of the villages has greatly decreased, but this is only an apparent shift because it is a consequence of the administrative designation of a large number of villages as cities. The paper concludes that from 1995 to 2016 population number of villages with the same administrative classification (village) remained relatively stable, and this is radically different from previous research findings.

The high yield of seeds can reduce the cost of seed production for parental lines, as well as F₁ cultivars in radish. The number of seeds per silique and silique length are two important traits among traits determining seed yield, but no study has been conducted on their quantitative trait loci (QTLs) in radish. A high-density linkage map was constructed, based on genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) of the F₂ population, derived from two parental lines, significantly differed by the two traits, which were grown in a controlled environment to minimize the environmental effects. Using the map with 848 SNPs, three significant QTLs were identified, two and one of which were associated with the number of seeds per silique and silique length, respectively. Ortholog analysis was conducted with <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i> genes, related to the number of seeds per silique, and revealed five radish putative candidate genes. These putative candidate genes appear to be related to ovule, embryo sac, embryo, pollen and seed development, as well as a double fertilization process. The method to pollinate the F₂ population, as well as preliminary QTLs and SNPs therein, can be helpful for future QTL studies to improve seed production in radish breeding programs.

Background: In patients with uncontrolled diabetes, an increase in Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) inhibits osteoblast differentiation so that the number of osteoblasts decreases and interferes with bone formation in orthodontic movement. Giving natural ingredients such as olive oil is proven to increase the number of osteoblasts. Purpose: To determine differences in the number of osteoblasts and their effect on the orthodontic movement of diabetic teeth after oral administration of olive oil. Method: 25 male guinea pigs divided into four groups: diabetic guinea pigs treated with olive oil at a dose of 0.7; 1.05; 1.4 ml/day, distilled water, and healthy guinea pigs were given aquadest. Alveolar bone tissue samples were taken on the 15th day after orthodontic application, and then the number of osteoblasts was calculated histologically. Result: In the diabetic model group treated with olive oil doses of 0.7; 1.05; 1.4 ml/day, distilled water, and healthy guinea pigs given aquades were 2.900 ± 0.678; 4.320 ± 0.497; 5.920 ± 0. 460; 0.200 ± 0.200; 1.320 ± 0.415. The study showed that the olive oil treatment group had more osteoblasts than the untreated group. Analysis one way ANOVA showed a very significant difference between the treatment group and the untreated group (p≤0.01), while the LSD test showed a significant difference between groups. The highest number of osteoblasts was found at a dose of 1.4 ml/day. Conclusion: There was an increase in osteoblasts in the orthodontic movement of diabetic teeth after oral administration of olive oil.

Winter wheat occupies the main share in the structure of agricultural land in the Rostov region. The main factor in the deterioration of high-quality grain production in this area is the corn bug. Agrotechnical measures and plant protection products used in wheat cultivation have a significant impact on the formation, development and structure of the pest population. The purpose of the current study was to determine the effect of the sown winter wheat varieties on the number and phenotypic structure of the Rostov corn bug population under the use or absence of chemical treatments. In accordance with the “Methodical recommendations on the registration tests of insecticides, acaricides, molluscicides and rodenticides in agriculture” and phenogenetics methods, there have been conducted the analysis and registration of the corn bug number and the study of its phenotypic structure. There has been established that fluctuations in the number and changes in the intraspecific structure of the corn bug population depended on the varietal characteristics of the sown wheat. The most significant changes in the pest population were established on untreated sowings of the variety ‘Yuka’. There has been found out that the use of insecticides of different chemical classes reduces the number of bug larvae from 3 to 0 pcs./m2 , but at the same time, there is a transformation of the phenotype of the pest population, when the share of morphotype 1 in the structure increases on 13.5–23.5% and the share of morphotype 2 decreases on 10.4–36.3%. The greatest phenotypic modification of the corn bug population was registered on wheat sowings treated with insecticide Bi-58 New, EC (400 g/l), which indicates the need to limit its use or use in tank mixtures.

This study was carried out to investigate the effect of supplemental irrigation, application of mycorrhizal fungi and plant density on yield and yield components and grain protein percentage of chickpea under rainfed conditions in the Qalhar village of Delijan region, Iran during 2012, as a split- split plot experiment based on Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. Four levels of irrigation management (as main plots) were rainfed without irrigation, irrigation at flowering stage, irrigation at seed filling stage and complete irrigation. two levels of inoculation (as sub plots) were inoculation with Glomus ineraradice and non-inoculation. Three plant densities (as  a sub-sub plots) were 20, 30 and 60 plant.m-2. Irrigation treatments had a significant effect on the number of pods per plant, the number of nodes per plant, grain yield and grain protein percentage and the highest grain yield was obtained at full irrigation. Inoculation with mycorrhiza fungus increased the number of nodes in the root and grain yield by 50% and 10.7%, respectively. Mycorrhiza inoculation in rainfed conditions resulted in the highest number of nodes in the root. The highest grain yield was obtained at a density of 60 plants.m-2. One stage of irrigation at the flowering stage and grain filling led to an increase in grain yield to 31.5% and 26.7% compared to rainfed, respectively. Therefore, according to the results of this study, by inoculation with mycorrhiza, the density of 60 plants.m-2 and a supplementary irrigation stage, a significant increase in grain yield compared to rainfed conditions at similar conditions to the present study can be achieved.

Soil microorganisms are an important component of agrocenoses, which due to physiological and genetic features respond quickly to changes in the quality of the soil environment. Each plant in the rhizosphere forms a specific composition of the microflora which depends on the phase of plant development and soil-climatic conditions. The objective of our study was the quantitative composition of ecological and trophic groups of rhizosphere soil micromycetes of different crops in chernozem soils in the Left-Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine. According to the results of research, it was determined that the rhizosphere soil under different crops – winter wheat, rye and oats in Chernihiv region – is characterized by the largest number of pedotrophic micromycetes. This indicates that the soil contains a sufficient amount of organic matter. The rhizosphere soils under winter wheat and spring barley in Kiev region were characterized by a larger number of pathogenic micromycetes and amylolytic and cellulolytic ecological-trophic groups. This indicates the intensive use of plant protection products. The rhizosphere soil under onions in experimental fields in Kharkiv region was characterized by a high number of the cellulolytic group. This indicates the presence of cellulose-destroying microorganisms. According to the results of statistical analysis, it was found that the number of micromycetes in the rhizosphere soil of the studied varieties of crops was in direct correlation with the value of the hydrothermal coefficient (НTC) in the vegetation period. Weather conditions during the research vegetation period differed by agrometeorological indicators. The characteristic feature was a contrast of differences in air temperature and unequal distribution of rainfall, which affected the composition of the soil mycobiocenosis. The vegetation period of 2021 in Kyiv region was characterized by a sufficiently moist hydrothermal coefficient which increased to1.81 while in Chernihiv, Kharkiv regions drought prevailed, but in some months the HTC increased to 1.32–1.54. It has been shown that the higher the HTC, the greater the number of micromycetes in all study regions.

Sorghum is one of the most important food, fodder, and energy crops in the world. The crop is resistant to stress factors, especially moisture deficiency. This biological feature allows it to form high and stable grain yields in conditions of moisture deficiency and hot temperature. Grain sorghum has a significant advantage in terms of several physiological, biological, yield characteristics compared to other crops, but the acreage under it in Ukraine stays limited. The main reason for this is, first, the lack of varietal technologies for its cultivation with improved elements. Therefore, the study of the complex influence of the rate of sowing seeds and the width of the row spacing on the formation of productivity elements is currently a relevant area of research. The main goal of the research was to study the influence of a complex of factors: row spacing, seed sowing rates on the productivity and biological yield of sorghum grain. The research was carried out in 2019-2021 at FE “Diunis”, Kreminskyi district, Luhansk region. The scheme of the experiment: width between rows - 35, 45 and 70 cm, hybrids - Swat and Flagg, sowing rates - 100,000 pieces/ha, 140,000, 180,000 and 220,000 pieces/ha. The Flagg hybrid formed a higher panicle productivity of the main and side stem systems. As to sorghum hybrid Flagg, the grain mass from panicle of the main and lateral stems was 45.1 and 39.0 g, respectively; that of hybrid Svat were 39.5 and 31.1 g. A higher panicle productivity of hybrid Flagg was formed due to a much larger mass of 1,000 grains (by 35–40 %); sorghum hybrid Svat had a larger number of grains in panicle of both stem systems. The biological grain productivity of both stem systems was higher for sorghum hybrid Flagg – 5.87 t/ha, as compared with that of early-ripening hybrid Svat, which was equal to 4.75 t/ha

The article presents the studying results by morphological and biological characteristics: bunch length, number of berries in a bunch and the weight of the berry of 32 of black currants species from breeding schools of Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, Scotland, Poland, Lithuania, Romania, Sweden, Finland. Significant differences between species in all indicators were revealed. In the studied sample of species, the length of the bunch varied from 2.8 to 11.4 cm, the number of berries in the bunch – from 4 to 13 pieces, the average weight of the berry – from 0.88 to 2.59 g. The best selected species are: Cantata (by the length of the bunch and the number of berries in the bunch), Geo, Blagoslovenie, Volshebnitsa, Pamyati A. H. Voluzneva, Selechenskaya-2 (by weight of berries – more than 1.5 g), which are included in the breeding process as initial forms. | В статье приводятся результаты изучения 32 сортов смородины черной из селекционных школ Беларуси, России, Украины, Шотландии, Польши, Литвы, Румынии, Швеции, Финляндии по морфолого-биологическим признакам: длине кисти, количеству ягод в кисти и массе ягоды. Выявлены существенные различия между сортами по всем показателям. В изученной выборке сортов длина кисти варьировала от 2,8 до 11,4 см, количество ягод в кисти – от 4 до 13 шт., средняя масса ягоды – от 0,88 до 2,59 г. Выделены лучшие сорта: Кантата (по длине кисти и количеству ягод в кисти), Geo, Благословение, Волшебница, Памяти А. Г. Волузнева, Селеченская-2 (по массе ягоды – более 1,5 г), – которые включены в селекционный процесс в качестве исходных форм.