Innovative Biosystems and Bioengineering

Application of Image Correlation Analysis to Detect Cell Sensitivity to Magnetic Field

Lolita Marynchenko, Volodymyr Khokhlov, Olena Nizhelska, Valeriia Holub — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Background. The increase in technogenic electromagnetic load leaves open the question of its impact on living cells, which do not have a specific evolutionary mechanism for responding to such an environmental factor. Currently, there are not enough suitable tests that can detect the effects of weak electromagnetic fields. Visualization of morphological changes in cell structure by simple optical methods does not give results, therefore, an additional image processing mechanism may be useful.

Objective. To verify the suitability of the method of correlation analysis of microimages using the example of yeast cells dried in saline on a silicon substrate to detect the effect of a static magnetic field on the surface structure of cells that do not have defined mechanisms of sensitivity to it.

Methods. Digital microimages of drops of yeast suspension in saline, dried on silicon surfaces under the influence of a static magnetic field of 0.17 T and without the field, were analyzed by one of the fractal methods - the correlation di-mension parameter was determined, which was based on the matrix of pixel brightness values.

Results. The suitability of the correlation analysis method for determining changes in the surface structure of yeast cells and sodium chloride crystals under the influence of a static magnetic field of 0.17 T during drying of the yeast sus-pension was shown: the correlation measurability index, which indicated the variability of the structures, increased for yeast cells, and decreased for NaCl crystals.

Conclusions. In the case of correlation dimension, unlike other dimensions, its calculation is carried out using bright-ness values, therefore, even those image elements that are almost indistinguishable to the eye are taken into account. That is why this method turned out to be sensitive to changes in the structure and relief of the yeast cell wall dried un-der the influence of a static magnetic field of 0.17 T, recording its complications, and also demonstrating a more homo-geneous structure of the formed NaCl crystals.

Combined Еffects of Heavy Metal Ions (Fe3+-Cu2+, Fe3+-Zn2+, Fe3+-Cr3+, Cu2+-Zn2+, Cu2+-Cr3+ and Zn2+-Cr3+) on the Productivity of Biogas and Biomethane Production

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Abstract. Background. Determining the effect of combined metal action on the anaerobic microbial association during the fermentation process and methane production.

Objective. To investigate the effect of the simultaneous interaction of heavy metal ions (Zn–Fe, Zn–Cu, Zn–Cr, Fe–Cu, Fe–Cr, Cu–Cr) on the process of biogas production and methane formation in it.

Methods. A laboratory study performed under conditions approximating industrial biogas production, involving the application of heavy-metal-ion salts and the measurement of the quantitative and qualitative composition of the final product.

Results. The combined effect of two heavy-metal ions on biogas production by an anaerobic microbial association is specific: the synergy of certain metal ions may stimulate the biosynthesis of biomethane while simultaneously inhibit-ing biogas production. In particular, Fe (20 mg/dm³) – Cu (40 mg/dm³) and Fe (20 mg/dm³) – Cr (10 mg/dm³) exhibit a slight positive effect on biogas yield compared to the control, whereas the interaction of these metal ions with Zn (5 mg/dm³) reduces the biogas yield but improves its qualitative composition — the methane content increases.

Conclusions. The combined effect of two heavy-metal ions generally reduces biogas production compared to the con-trol; however, it stimulates the production of a higher methane content in the biogas. Compared with the effect of a sin-gle heavy metal, the combined exposure does not have a positive impact on biogas production, which is attributed to the elevated concentrations of metal ions used in the experiment.

Specificity of Pharmacological and Toxicological Studies on Juvenile Animals

Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:00 +0200

Abstract. With levels of medicine and pharmacology individualization constantly increasing, the scientific community is becoming seriously concerned about the safety of existing and developing drugs for the pediatric population insufficient assessment. The aim of this review is to analyze the main problems arising in the development and preclinical evaluation of drugs for children and adolescents, taking into account their age-related physiological and biochemical characteristics, as well as the selection of adequate juvenile experimental models among various animal species.

Juvenile animal studies planning should be based on the specific age group of the pediatric population for which a specific drug is being developed. They cannot be conducted using standardized research protocols and require an individual approach in each specific case. Their design should include the study of drug effects at all ontogenesis stages, without exception, that correspond to the growth and development of the relevant pediatric population. Also fundamental are the correct choice of animal species, based on its sensitivity to the effects of the drug, the availability of relevant data from preclinical studies on adult animals and the planned procedures and types of studies, some of which can only be carried out on certain animal species. Pathologists should be able to compare tissue structures in parallel in an experiment, both normal and drug-treated, at all stages of ontogenesis, and have access to as many reference and image databases as possible. All of the above requirements are the minimum to ensure adequate support for clinical trials in the pediatric population.