2026 Issue №1

A comparative study of the acute oral toxicity of the neonicotinoid insecticides imidacloprid and thiacloprid with respect to honey bees (Apis mellifera) was conducted. Under laboratory conditions, survival dynamics, changes in locomotor activity, and the repellent effect were examined under exposure to various concentrations of these compounds. The study established that both insecticides exhibit pronounced toxicity toward honey bees; however, their modes of action differ. Imidacloprid shows a more rapid onset of toxic effects, whereas thiacloprid develops toxicity more gradually. Analysis of behavioral activity demonstrated that both insecticides cause a sequential suppression of locomotor functions, followed by the development of hyperactivity typical of the neurotoxic effects of neonicotinoids. Assessment of repellent activity using the coefficient of protective action revealed a dose-dependent reduction in food consumption by bees under the influence of both substances.

Modern urban environments are characterized by high levels of light pollution, which negatively affect the adaptive mechanisms of the human body and cause various disorders and impairments of vital functions. This study focuses on changes in adaptive processes in the bodies of young people exposed to different lighting conditions—natural illumination and complete absence of light. The research employed heart rate variability (HRV) analysis using specialized equipment (Omega-M). The obtained data indicate significant differences in the functioning of the main regulatory systems of the body under changing lighting conditions. The study reveals that artificial light exposure disrupts normal biorhythmological processes, weakens the body’s resistance to external stressors, and increases the risk of pathological conditions. The results highlight the role of natural lighting cycles in maintaining normal homeostasis and ecological stability of the human body in a modern urbanized environment. Prolonged exposure to complete darkness exerts a destabilizing effect on the autonomic nervous system, reducing the body’s adaptive capacity. This leads to an imbalance between sympathetic and parasympathetic regulation, manifested in increased activity of stress-related mechanisms.

The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between the cold tolerance of Vigna samples and their susceptibility to pathogenic micromycetes. Ten Vigna unguiculata samples were used. Pollen viability in vitro was assessed in a 20 % PEG 6000 solution at 25 °C for 3 hours (control) and at 6 °C for 24 hours (cold tolerance assessment). Seed germination under low temperatures was evaluated by germinating seeds on filter paper at 10, 12, and 25 °C (control), as well as in soil at a constant 25 °C and under a regime of 10 °C for 10 days followed by 25 °C. Root system adaptability to low temperatures was determined by growth rate under a 25 °C → 14 °C regime and by the ratio of growth rates at low versus optimal temperatures. Correlations between traits were analyzed using SPSS and Excel. The study revealed significant differences among Vigna samples in cold tolerance and susceptibility to pathogenic micromycetes. A significant negative correlation was found between pollen cold tolerance (0—97.9 %) and seed infection rate, as well as between seed germination at low temperature (0—77.7 %) and infection percentage. Pollen cold tolerance showed a significant positive correlation with seed germination on filter paper at 10 °C (r = 0.787; p < 0.01) and with overall seed cold tolerance (r = 0.757; p < 0.05). Samples with high germination after recovery from cold exposure exhibited lower rates of seed rot. Furthermore, the study identified correlations among the cold tolerance of pollen, seeds, and the root system. The Zinder and Fakir varieties demonstrated the best overall performance, combining high cold tolerance with low seed rot rates. This research provides a theoretical basis for the selection of Vigna cultivars for stress resistance.

The study investigated the effectiveness of composite gold-cobalt ferrite nanoparticles (Au@CFO) in photothermal and magnetomechanical therapy on human hepatocarcinoma Huh7 cells. The nanoparticles demonstrated significant activity during in vitro photothermal therapy and exhibited inherent cytotoxicity, reducing cell viability by 32 % at a concentration of 100 µg/mL. Photothermal therapy using an 808 nm laser further decreased viability by 25 %, while magnetomechanical therapy in an alternating field of 100 mT reduced Huh7 cell viability by an additional 17 %. Combined photothermal and magnetomechanical therapy resulted in a 47 % reduction in hepatocarcinoma cell viability compared to the control group. However, its direct efficiency was 14 %, as confirmed by fluorescence microscopy. The results highlight the potential of Au@CFO nanoparticles for the development of combined cancer treatment strategies.

A current challenge in soybean cultivation is the development of biological inoculants based on symbiotic nitrogen-fixing microorganisms, which provide the crop with the necessary amount of nitrogen for full plant development and sufficient protein accumulation. In particular, biological inoculants containing live nitrogen-fixing microbial cells are in high demand. Nodulating bacteria of the genus Bradyrhizobium are considered promising candidates for such inoculants. The aim of this study was to isolate and investigate Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bradyrhizobium elkanii and to develop a microbiological seed inoculant based on these bacteria. Optimal cultivation conditions were determined to achieve the maximum titer of viable bacterial cells. A microbiological inoculant composition was developed, and a prototype was created. Field trials of the experimental samples of the new bioproduct were conducted. The study demonstrates the effectiveness of the developed inoculant containing Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bradyrhizobium elkanii in soybean cultivation.