Agroecology

First time comprehensive studies of soil erosion were carried out in a 42-hectare catchment area (near the Lomovets, Orel region) in the zone of Luvic Phaeozems with erosion resistance is significantly lower than that of Chernozems. Analysis of archival and historical cartographic materials showed that the duration of plowing of the catchment is 200 ± 10 years. The rates of soil erosion and accumulation over the entire plowing period, post Chernobyl period, last 50 ± 25 years and single erosion event (which occurred on May 31, 2022) were determined based on the use of field methods (soil-morphological, radiocesium, rain rills method, detailed survey using drone) and WaTEM/SEDEM erosion model calculation. The estimates of soil losses and accumulation indicate significant fluctuations in the rates of erosion-accumulative processes over the past 200 years, which are mainly due to the conditions of the formation of melt runoff, the repeatability and distribution of runoff-forming heavy rain within the warm season, the set of crops sown, the frequency and methods of tillage, changes in field boundaries. The average annual estimates of soil erosion for the agricultural period are higher than those for the post-Chernobyl period, since the rates of soil erosion have decreased in the last three decades. Estimates of soil losses using the WaTEM/SEDEM model are generally comparable with the results of determining soil losses based on the soil-morphological method, provided that the redistribution of sediment to the lower boundaries of arable land is taken into account. The spatial structure of a single erosive event turned out to be largely close to the spatial structure of the location of the areas of eroded and aggradational soils formed during the entire agricultural period.

Intercropping, i.e., growing several species in the same field for a major part of their growing periods, often improves yield and weed control, but their performance greatly varies across situations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of bi-species legume–cereal intercrops on weed dynamics and their impact on crop production, in the absence of nitrogen or water stress, via simulations with FlorSys. This individual-based 3D model simulates daily crop–weed seed and plant dynamics over the years, from cropping system and pedoclimate, focusing on competition for light. The study tested seven species proportions in two species mixtures (wheat–faba bean and barley–pea) and nine spatial sowing patterns in three species mixtures (triticale–faba bean, wheat–faba bean, wheat–pea), in both cases comparing the intercrops with the corresponding sole crops (controls). Intercrops and controls were inserted into rotations and simulated over 30 years and repeated with 10 climate scenarios from South-Western France, either with or without weeds. The simulations showed that: (1) the intercrops that best controlled weeds were barley–pea and triticale–faba bean, (2) the spatial pattern alternating one cereal row with one legume row as well as the 67 %-cereal–33 %-legume and 100 %-cereal–50 %-legume species proportions were those that maximised yields and minimised losses due to weeds, (3) the weed biomass in intercrop was greater than or equal to that of the sole cereal, and less than that of the sole legume, and (4) legumes benefitted more from intercropping than cereals because cereals are more competitive against weeds. Intercrop yield was best when combining species with contrasting shading responses (etiolated with stockier plants, leafy with stemmier plants) but early and good plant emergence was essential, particularly for weed suppression.

The impact of human activity on the environment is becoming increasingly evident in the modern world. Growing industrialization, the use of natural resources, and environmental pollution lead to serious environmental problems at the global level. In this context, preserving natural resources in rural areas is particularly important. Villages and rural areas, an essential component of society, also play a crucial role in ensuring environmental and economic sustainability. Balanced environmental and economic sustainability in rural areas is a task that requires a comprehensive approach and interaction between different actors, including local authorities, communities, businesses, and civil society organizations. Environmental sustainability involves preserving the diversity of nature, maintaining ecosystems, and using resources rationally without harming the environment. Economic sustainability is the development of agriculture and enterprises that provide vital goods and services while preserving the region's ecological integrity. The study aims to analyze the ecological and economic sustainability of rural areas and provide recommendations on preserving natural resources and ensuring their sustainable development. This article analyzes various aspects of the environmental and economic sustainability of rural areas in Ukraine. The importance of preserving natural resources, the possibility of using new technologies for sustainable agriculture, and the role of communities and the state in achieving these goals are considered. The trends and critical issues are assessed across dimensions like natural resource management, pollution in rural areas, etc., drawing upon data from national statistics, government reports, academic studies, and field surveys. It is determined that it is necessary to implement measures aimed at conserving natural resources to ensure the sustainable development of rural areas. This is achieved by introducing resource-saving and environmentally friendly technologies, developing alternative energy sources, promoting environmental culture, and improving the socio-economic situation in rural areas. This is achieved by creating new jobs, developing infrastructure, and providing social services. An essential condition for ensuring the sustainable development of rural areas is an integrated approach that considers all these factors. Rural areas play an essential role in ensuring food security and sustainable development of the country. However, in the process of economic activity in rural areas, significant environmental and economic problems arise that threaten the sustainability of these areas. Particular attention should be focused on integrated approaches that enhance synergies between the economic, environmental, and social spheres rather than individual initiatives. The importance of involving rural residents is emphasized to implement sustainability principles in rural lifestyles and institutions. Keywords: sustainable development, rural areas of Ukraine, theoretical aspects, practical aspects, environmental sustainability, economic sustainability, natural resource conservation, agriculture, communities.

Тhe healthcare sector is the most vulnerable and, along with the quality of life of the population, is at the top of the list of the most pressing issues today. The importance of this area is difficult to overestimate, as it applies to everyone, and the importance of ensuring the inalienable human right to health is growing every year.At the same time, creating optimal conditions for exercising the right to receive the necessary medical care for every citizen and achieving appropriate standards of quality of life and well-being of the population in Ukraine is part of the obligations under the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union. With the reform of the health care system in Ukraine, the problem of optimizing medical infrastructure is on the agenda, because in accordance with the reform of budget decentralization, the maintenance of medical institutions has come under the direct authority of local authorities. Thus, the creation of competitive conditions for the maintenance and development of medical infrastructure and improving the quality of medical services is a necessary requirement of today and an urgent issue that requires clear strategic and operational decisions.

Microbacterium sp. C448, isolated from a soil regularly exposed to sulfamethazine (SMZ), can use various sulphonamide antibiotics as the sole carbon source for growth. The basis for the regulation of genes encoding the sulphonamide metabolism pathway, the dihydropteroate synthase sulphonamide target (folP), and the sulphonamide resistance (sul1) genes is unknown in this organism. In the present study, the response of the transcriptome and proteome of Microbacterium sp. C448 following exposure to subtherapeutic (33 µM) or therapeutic (832 µM) SMZ concentrations was evaluated. Therapeutic concentration induced the highest sad expression and Sad production, consistent with the activity of SMZ degradation observed in cellulo. Following complete SMZ degradation, Sad production tended to return to the basal level observed prior to SMZ exposure. Transcriptomic and proteomic kinetics were concomitant for the resistance genes and proteins. The abundance of Sul1 protein, 100-fold more abundant than FolP protein, did not change in response to SMZ exposure. Moreover, non-targeted analyses highlighted the increase of a deaminase RidA and a putative sulphate exporter expression and production. These two novel factors involved in the 4-aminophenol metabolite degradation and the export of sulphate residues formed during SMZ degradation, respectively, provided new insights into the Microbacterium sp. C448 SMZ detoxification process.

Abstract Background & AimsThe landscape of nutrition research has changed over the past decades. We aimed to map the landscape of nutrition or diet-related interventions research, using data from randomised controlled trial (RCT) protocols published in the last decade.MethodsThis meta-research study examined nutrition or diet-related RCT protocols published in journals indexed in PubMed, Embase, Cinahl, Web of Science, PsycINFO, or the Global Health Database between January/2012 and March/2022. Two reviewers independently screened the titles and abstracts to check eligibility and one reviewer extracted bibliometric information, study characteristics, and research transparency practices such as protocol registration, conflicts of interest and funding disclosure. We also screened the "Instructions for Authors" of journals with publications in our sample to check for endorsement of SPIRIT, TIDieR, and CONSORT reporting guidelines, and we checked if the authors mentioned these reporting guidelines in their paper.ResultsThe search retrieved 62,319 records, of which 1,068 met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. The number of published RCT protocols increased annually between 2012 and 2022, with a mean of 161 (range: 155-163) publications/ year. The USA (n = 165; 15.5%) and Australia (n = 137; 12.8%) published the largest number of protocols. Protocols were published in 148 journals, mainly medical journals (n = 518; 48.5%). Among these journals, 50 (33.8%) endorsed SPIRIT, 111 (75.3%) endorsed CONSORT, and four (2.7%) endorsed TIDieR. In 343 (32.1%) publications the authors mentioned SPIRIT, in 297 (27.8%) CONSORT was mentioned, while 20 (1.9%) mentioned TIDieR. Most protocols reported the RCT registration number (n = 1,006; 94.2%) and included statements about conflicts of interest (n = 952; 89.1%) and funding (n = 994; 93.2%). More than one third of protocols focused on adults and elderly participants (n = 350; 32.7%) and most protocols included participants with a specific clinical condition (n = 726; 68.0%). A single nutrition or diet-related intervention (n = 724; 67.8%) was described in most protocols, with "supplementation, supplements or fortification" (n = 405; 37.9%) and "nutrition education, counseling or coordination of care" (n = 354; 33.1%) being the most frequent types of interventions studied. The most frequent primary outcomes reported were related to clinical status (n = 308; 28.8%), nutritional status (n = 247; 23.1%), and frequency or severity of disease (n = 238; 22.3%). The majority of protocols described a single-centre study (n = 838; 78.5%), with two-arms (n = 844; 79.1%), parallel (n = 1014; 94.9%) design, with a superiority framework (n = 755; 70.7%).ConclusionsThe number of protocols on nutrition or diet-related trials being published is increasing, indicating the importance of this type of publication. The mention of relevant reporting guidelines by both researchers and journals remains far from ideal. Most protocols assessed supplementation or fortification and nutrition education, counselling or coordination of care interventions, among adults and the elderly.

Abstract Artisanal manufacture of cassava flour mobilizes a cultural and biological framework that has developed and been continuously improved over generations of traditional rural workers. Despite this evidence in Brazilian traditional communities, few studies focus on rural settlements of agrarian reform. This paper addresses a broad diagnosis of flour production in rural settlements in the Extreme South of Bahia, Brazil, carried out in 2019. Thirty rural settlements were visited in eleven municipalities, where 107 flour-houses were evaluated. The results present the socioeconomic profiles of local farmers, cassava varieties, types of flour, particularities of production and characteristics of commercialization. Finally, the multiple functions of artisanal production of cassava flour are highlighted, especially related to the social and economic maintenance of settled families, the promotion of food security and sovereignty within and around the settlements, strengthening of the social and cultural fabrics, and the conservation of agrobiodiversity in the rural landscape.

Abstract Although intended to control pests, pesticides affect a phylogenetically diverse range of non-target species contributing to global biodiversity declines1–7. However, the magnitude of this risk is only partly understood. Here, we show that pesticides negatively affect non-target organisms across the tree of life. We analyzed 26,096 effect sizes from 1,705 studies reporting effects of insecticides, fungicides and herbicides on growth, reproduction, behaviour, and other biomarkers of non-target terrestrial and aquatic taxa. Pesticides negatively affected invertebrate and vertebrate animals, seed and spore-producing plants, as well as bacteria and fungi. Pesticides formulated to target a particular taxon negatively affected phylogenetically distant groups, e.g. insecticidal neonicotinoids impacted amphibians, fish, mammals and monocotyledonous plants. The effects were evident for field-realistic exposures, were more pronounced in temperate than tropical regions, and were consistent in magnitude for exposure in aquatic and terrestrial environments. The detection of strong detrimental effects of pesticides across a wide range of non-target organisms questions current regulatory practices. Adoption of sustainable management practices (e.g. agricultural ecological intensification, integrated pest management, and non-pesticide control) may help balance food security alongside reducing dependencies on pesticide with their associated risks to nature.