Explore the vast range of titles available.

Background This study examines the effects of COVID-19 related restrictions on the supply of illicit drugs, drug-use behaviour among people who use drugs (PWUD) regularly (at least weekly), and drug-related service provision in Tbilisi, Georgia. Methodology In this mixed methods study, a cohort of 50 Georgian PWUD recruited through a snow-ball sampling participated in a bi-weekly online survey in April–September, 2020. They also took part in the qualitative telephone interviews at 12- and 24-week follow-up time points. In addition, four key informants (field experts) were interviewed monthly to assess their perceptions of changes in the illicit drug market and drug service delivery. Results Mean age in the sample was 36 (range 18–60); 39 (78%) were males. Perceived availability of drugs was reduced during the lockdown, and many PWUD switched to alternative substances when preferred drugs were not available. On average, participants used significantly fewer substances over the course of the study, from 3.5 substances in the preceding 14 days to 2.1 (aOR 0.92; 95% CI 0.90–0.94). Consumption of cannabis products declined significantly (aOR 0.89; 95% CI 0.84–0.95), likewise alcohol (aOR 0.94; 95% CI 0.88–1.0), diverted medicinal methadone (aOR 0.85; 95% CI 0.8–0.9) and diverted medicinal buprenorphine (aOR 0.91; 95% CI 0.84–0.99). PWUD cited fewer contacts with drug dealers, the lack of transportation, and the lack of conventional recreational environment as the main reasons for these changes. When access to sterile injection equipment was limited, PWUD exercised risk-containing injection behaviours, such as buying drugs in pre-filled syringes (aOR 0.88; 95% CI 0.80–0.96). Harm reduction and treatment programs managed to adopt flexible strategies to recover services that were affected during the initial stage of the pandemic. Conclusions COVID-19-related restrictive measures mediated specific changes in supply models and drug-use behaviours. While adjusting to the new environment, many PWUD would engage in activities that put them under increased risk of overdose and blood-borne infections. Harm reduction and treatment services need to develop and implement protocols for ensuring uninterrupted service delivery during lockdowns, in anticipation of the similar epidemics or other emergency situations.

Understanding COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) in healthcare workers (HCWs) is critical to inform vaccination policies. We measured COVID-19 VE against laboratory-confirmed symptomatic infection in HCWs in the country of Georgia from January - June 2022, during a period of Omicron circulation. We conducted a cohort study of HCWs in six hospitals in Georgia. HCWs were enrolled in early 2021. Participants completed weekly symptom questionnaires. Symptomatic HCWs were tested by RT-PCR and/or rapid antigen test (RAT). Participants were also routinely tested, at varying frequencies during the study period, for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR or RAT, regardless of symptoms. Serology was collected quarterly throughout the study and tested by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We estimated absolute and relative VE of a first booster dose compared to a primary vaccine series as (1-hazard ratio)*100 using Cox proportional hazards models. Among 1253 HCWs, 141 (11%) received a primary vaccine series (PVS) and a first booster, 855 (68%) received PVS only, and 248 (20%) were unvaccinated. Most boosters were BNT162b2 (Comirnaty original monovalent) vaccine (90%) and BBIBP-CorV vaccine (Sinopharm) (9%). Most PVS were BNT162b2 vaccine (68%) and BBIBP-CorV vaccine (24%). Absolute VE for a first booster was 40% (95% Confidence Interval (CI) -56-77) at 7-29 days following vaccination, -9% (95% CI -104-42) at 30-59 days following vaccination, and -46% (95% CI -156-17) at ≥ 60 days following vaccination. Relative VE of first booster dose compared to PVS was 58% (95% CI 1-82) at 7-29 days following vaccination, 21% (95% CI -33-54) at 30-59 days following vaccination, and -9% (95% CI -82-34) at ≥ 60 days following vaccination. In Georgia, first booster dose VE against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs was moderately effective but waned very quickly during Omicron. Increased efforts to vaccinate priority groups in Georgia, such as healthcare workers, prior to periods of anticipated high COVID-19 incidence are essential.

Background Early evidence indicates increased mental health burden arising from COVID-19 and related control measures. The study aim was to examine concern about COVID-19 and its association with symptoms of mental disorders in the Republic of Georgia. A cross-sectional internet-based survey of adults in Georgia using non-probabilistic sampling was used. Questionnaire topics were: (i) demographic and socio-economic characteristics; (ii) level of burden caused by common causes of COVID-19 related concerns; (iii) strategies used in response to concerns about COVID-19; and (iv) symptoms of mental disorders of anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), PTSD (ITQ) and adjustment disorder (ADNM8). Descriptive and multivariate analyses were conducted. Results There were 2088 respondents. High levels of symptoms for mental disorders were observed for anxiety (23.9% women, 21.0% men), depression (30.3% women, 25.27% men), PTSD (11.8% women, and 12.5% men), and adjustment disorder (40.7% women, 31.0% men). Factors significantly associated with increased COVID-19 concern included bad/very bad household economic situation, larger household size, current NCD, symptoms of anxiety, adjustment disorder and PTSD. Response strategies significantly associated with reduced mental disorder symptoms included meditation and relaxation exercises, physical exercise, positive thinking, planning for the future, TV/radio, housework/DIY, and working. Drinking alcohol was associated with a greater probability of increased mental disorder symptoms. Conclusions High levels of mental disorders were recorded, and they were strongly associated with increased concern about COVID-19. A number of response strategies were identified which may help protect against worse mental health and these could be supported by innovations in mental health care in Georgia.

Georgia is a country in the Caucasus region with a traditional backyard and highly variable pig farming system. The practices of such sectors have seldom been described and analyzed to better understand their implication in the introduction and spread of infectious pig diseases. Moreover, the Georgian pig sector was badly hit by an epidemic of African swine fever in 2007 that quickly spread throughout the region. We interviewed 487 pig farmers and 116 butchers using closed questionnaires on socioeconomic issues related to pig production, husbandry practices, biosecurity, marketing and movements, and disease awareness. Surveys were conducted in four regions of Georgia and descriptive statistics were computed. Factorial analyses of mixed data and hierarchical clustering on principal components were applied to study the relationship among collected variables for both farmers and butchers. Results show that pig farming in Georgia is a non-professional sector, highly heterogeneous by region, characterized by smallholdings of few animals, with low inputs, outdated technologies, and poor biosecurity, which all translates into low outputs and productivity. The hierarchical clustering on principal components confirmed that there are five major production and husbandry strategies, which match the four regions where the study was conducted. Our results are the first step to quantify biosecurity gaps and risky behaviours, develop risk profiles, and identify critical control points across the market chain where to implement mitigation measures. This study provides the baseline information needed to design realistic and sustainable prevention, surveillance and control strategies.

The Gopher tortoise is considered a keystone species as they create burrows that house over 300 different species of wildlife and play a vital role in the pollination process via scat dispersal. Therefore, it is imperative to encourage recruitment and survival of Gopher tortoise populations. Unfortunately, Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) populations have declined significantly in the past hundred years. This decline is due to multiple factors including but not limited to; predation (animal and human consumption), habitat destruction (degradation, fragmentation, climate warming, sea-level rise), human activity (urban expansion, tree harvest, gasoline in burrows, and poor habitat management) and introduced diseases. The purpose of this project is to conduct a demographic survey on a 2-year cohort of 174 Gopher tortoise hatchlings marked with Passive Integrated Transponders (PIT) tags and released during 2008-2009 at Reed Bingham State Park in Adel, Georgia. The survey will be limited to the Gopher Tortoise management area and Pioneer site at RBSP. A line sweep will be conducted on the areas all subadult and juvenile tortoise burrows and tortoises encountered will be recorded for data purposes. When encountered the Gopher Tortoise will be scanned for a PIT tag ID number and their weight, shell height, carapace width, and straight carapace length will be measured. Each recapture will have a record that includes the capture site's flag or tag, GPS coordinates, date, weather information, and time of day. PIT tag identification number would be recorded for both individual identification purposes and to evaluate the tag's usage over time. Results of this survey could provide demographic information on growth and survivability of Gopher tortoises and evaluate the reliability and usage of Passive Integrated Transponders over time in population monitoring.

Aquaporins are proteins that selectively transport water across membranes. The current work is part of a larger research project to explore the use of aquaporins in a biomimetic film for the desalination of water. The bioinformatics program BLAST was used to find an aquaporin gene in the micro algae, Trebouxia. This gene was chosen because of its high sequence similarity to a proposed aquaporin gene in a salt water sea lettuce, Ulva mutabilis. The hypothesis is that aquaporin proteins from salt water organisms may be better choices for the desalination of water than from other species. The Ulva m. proposed aquaporin sequence was not used directly due to its being less characterized than the Trebouxia gene from the NCBI database. The Trebouxia gene was successfully cloned into E. coli and experiments are underway to clone into yeast. As a eukaryote, the yeast may be a better expression vector for the aquaporin. Over expression of aquaporin in E. coli is known to be toxic to the host. The goal is to produce aquaporin in sufficient amounts to use to make the desalination membranes. The gene identification and progress to express the algal aquaporin will be discussed both qualitatively and quantitatively.

Non-native plants have overtaken large areas in recent decades. These introduced plants may not be compatible with the local food chain, impacting insects and the birds that feed on them. Birds are some of our most beautiful and beloved faunas, but many species are now in decline. To investigate a possible link between bird and plant populations in north Georgia, we conducted avian surveys in 12 ha of forest over the course of a year. Approximately 4 ha this plot is dominated by non-native plants with the rest primarily native, an ideal location for our study. To quantify bird density and diversity in the plot, we conducted five-minute point counts every 2 weeks at 12 locations spaced 100m apart. We recorded each bird heard or seen within 50m. On alternating weeks, we collected observations of bird behavior in the research area. For each observation, we recorded the bird species, height in canopy, the plant occupied, and the type of behavior. Our focus was foraging, defined as eating or seeking food. Finally, we quantified the nature of the plant community at 27 points, located on a 50m spacing grid. Measurements included canopy density, number of trees (>8cm dbh) and groundcover within an 11m radius. We used a smaller, 5m, radius to count stems (<8cm dbh). We calculated Shannon indices for the avian data and will initially use principal component analysis to determine correlations between the plant and avian communities. We hope that these results will shed light on the effects of the non-native vegetation now covering parts of our campus and contribute to the greater body of research related to the effects of invasive species on local flora and fauna.

Excavation at Nokalakevi in west Georgia has been undertaken as an Anglo-Georgian collaboration since 2001, building on the success of the S. Janashia Museum expedition which started in 1973. In the winter of 1930–31 the very first formal excavation of the site was also a collaborative venture, bringing together specialists from the German Reich, known as the Weimar Republic, and the Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic. As the Anglo-Georgian Expedition to Nokalakevi marks the 50th anniversary of the commencement of large-scale excavations, the recent discovery of archive material relating to the excavation led by Dr Alfons Maria Schneider provides a timely opportunity to reflect on the first collaboration at Nokalakevi.

A spectral analysis of the time dynamics of seismicity occurring in the Enguri area of Georgia from 1978 to 2021 is performed by means of Schuster’s spectrum analysis, periodogram analysis, and empirical mode decomposition. The results of our analysis suggest that earthquakes around the reservoir (within a 50 km radius from the center of the dam) may be due to changes in water level, featured by the yearly cycle of loading and unloading operations of the reservoir. It is observed that the impacts of water fluctuations are more pronounced in shallower strata (down to 10 km) than deeper ones (down to 20 km); this could indicate that earthquakes occurring at deeper levels may primarily result from tectonic forces, whereas those at shallower depths may be predominantly triggered by reservoir-induced factors.

The global climate change, driven by natural processes and increasing human activities, is especially significant for Georgia. The region is experiencing increases in temperature, desertification, redistribution of precipitation, and a rise in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events. Georgia’s complex topography and its proximity to the Black and Caspian seas make it essential to employ high-resolution regional climate models to evaluate future climate change risks. In this study, we examine the results of a high-resolution simulation of mean and extreme precipitation and temperature using the Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics Regional Climate Model version 4.7.1 for the period 1985–2008, providing an initial evaluation of the model’s performance for the territory of Georgia. The model domain (1524 km; 2388 km) encompasses the entirety of Georgia’s territory and surrounding regions. The simulation, conducted at a 12 km horizontal grid spacing using ERA5 data as boundary conditions, indicates that the least discrepancy between observed and modeled average annual temperatures and precipitation, falling within a −1 to 1 °C and −200 to 200 mm range, respectively, was observed at most stations of eastern Georgia. The largest disparities between the model and observed average annual precipitation totals were noted along the Black Sea coast, in the Kolkheti Lowland, and in some high mountain stations in western Georgia. The most significant differences in average annual temperatures between the model and observations were observed in Ambrolauri, Mt. Sabueti, and Dedoplistskaro. For Georgia territory, such a long run with such a high resolution using ERA5 as boundary conditions was conducted for the first time. Overall, the modeling results are quite satisfactory, providing a solid basis for the successful utilization of the regional climate model RegCM4.7.1 with the selected parameterization for modeling monthly mean and extreme temperatures and precipitation in Georgia.