Fishery and Fishculture Challenges in Lithuania

This paper focuses on the development of fishery and fishculture in Lithuania. It provides a brief review of fishery evolution in the Baltic Sea and World Ocean and focuses on Lithuania's inner waters, with a particular emphasis on fishculture in Soviet (1945–90) and post-Soviet (1990–2007) Lithuania. Data for the paper were obtained from statistical yearbooks, state and enterprises' reports, direct contact with institutions and personnel and field survey work. During the Soviet period, more than 20 large state fishculture enterprises were established, each with 500–1000 ha of fishponds. These enterprises also owned 4000–7000 ha of farmland, which were used for rearing ducks and geese, stockbreeding and arable farming. In the Soviet period fishculture was a profitable business because it was partly subsidized by the state and the cost of energy and fish fodder were artificially low, not corresponding to their real value. After Lithuania declared its independence, state support of fishculture ceased, fishponds were privatized and the costs of energy and fodder increased significantly. As a result, fishculture enterprises barely manage to survive in free market economic conditions. Energy costs can be up to 50% of the fishculture enterprises' expenditure. Therefore, it is necessary to look for methods to improve fishculture practices in Lithuania.     

One‐pot Synthesis of N‐Formyl‐O‐acyl‐ threo‐ and erythro‐DL‐β‐phenylserine Ethyl Esters and their Antiviral Properties

A series of N‐formyl‐O‐acyl‐β‐phenylserine derivatives 1b ‐ 7b were prepared by the interaction of N‐acyl‐b‐phenylserine ethyl esters 1a ‐ 7a with formic acid in presence of 1.5% HF. One‐pot acyl group N → O migration followed N‐formylation under elaborated reaction conditions. The kinetics of the reaction was investigated. The carboxylic acid moiety in the structure of β‐phenylserine had a strong influence on the reproduction of the used test‐viruses. The toxicity and antiviral activity is dependent on the diastereomeric forms of evaluated compounds.     

Water and Energy Relations in Lithuania

Water and energy links have changed considerably over the course of the centuries. Since ancient times water has been used in Lithuania for domestic needs (preparing meals, thirst slaking and hygienic necessities) and in agriculture for watering plants, etc. When handicrafts and industries began to develop, water power was used for working purposes: to turn the wheels of mills, sawmills' mechanisms and wool-carding workshop equipment and later to generate electricity. The first small hydropower plant started working in 1900. In 1935 there were 96 small hydropower plants or mixed hydrostations from 309 electricity-producing ones. In the Soviet period (1940-90) water and energy links quickly changed and their development on a large scale depended on the general needs of the Soviet empire. An attempt is made in the paper to discuss briefly the development of water and energy relations in the fields of electricity production, dam quality, water use and wastewater treatment, polder systems and irrigation during the last decade in Lithuania.