[Comparison of visometry by Sivtsev and ETDRS charts].

Unlabelled: Most foreign authors currently recommend the protocol and charts developed for the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) as the gold standard for evaluation of visual acuity (VA) in clinical trials and studies. Not every medical facility has equipment required for performing visometry by that method, while Sivtsev tables are found universally.

Objective: To compare ETDRS and the more common Sivtsev visometry methods.

[Methods of studying deformation properties of ocular structures].

Studying ocular biomechanics presents apparent interest because of certain clinical situations when evaluation of mechanical properties can help with both diagnosis and treatment. This literature review considers the approaches to studying deformation properties of various ocular structures: dynamometric methods, elastotonometry, ophthalmic mechanography, photoelasticity method, ultrasound methods, analysis of pneumatic applanation of the cornea, atomic force microscopy, holographic interferometry, optical coherence elastography. Knowledge of the particularities of tissue deformation during examination with various methods can expand our understanding of the mechanisms of pathological changes in different structures of the organ of vision, which can help develop new methods of diagnosis and treatment.

[Atomic force microscopy in the study of anterior eye segment structures].

The application of atomic force microscopy (AFM) in ophthalmology is considered with respect of the classical anatomical division of the eye into anterior and posterior segments. The review presents the findings of published research studies that involved AFM as a method for assessing anatomical and functional condition of the structures of anterior eye segment. One significant line of research is related to the use of AFM technologies for evaluation of morphological and biomechanical characteristics of various parts of the eye lens.

[Structure of Epiphytic Bacterial Communities of Weeds].

Dynamics of the taxonomic structure of epiphytic bacterial communities of the rhizosphere and phyllosphere of seven weed species was studied. The major types of isolated organisms were identified using phenotypic and molecular biological approaches. Dispersion analysis revealed that the ontogenesis stage and plant organ were the factors with the greatest effect on the taxonomic structure of the communities.

[Biochemical processes of greenhouse gasses generation in swamplands of the Gorny Altai].

Starting from 2009, monitoring studies of swamp regimes have been conducted at the swampland station located in the north-eastern Altai. Here, we present the results of biological activity (indices of microorganisms abundance, respirometric indicator, catalase activity) in peat deposits of eutrophic (Turochak) and mesotrophic (Kutyushskoye) swamps during 2012-2013 vegetation periods with different levels of marsh water and oxidation-reduction conditions.