This article outlines a new and rapidly developing method of managing organic waste by using biochar as an additive in composting. Biochar, produced through pyrolysis of organic biomass, has a highly porous structure, a large specific surface area, and a high cation exchange capacity. These properties make it effective for improving compost structure and maintaining stable physicochemical parameters during composting. Here, a detailed analysis was performed on the effects of biochar on key composting parameters, including temperature, moisture, aeration, pH, and carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C/N), as well as on the levels of toxicants and antibiotics, the structure of the microbial community, and the presence of pathogenic species in compost. Special attention was given to the role of biochar in shaping antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) of compost microorganisms, particularly the mechanisms that may reduce their abundance.
The quest for alternative energy sources, including electrochemical ones, has never been more critical. The key components in energy-releasing devices are functional electrodes, which have a large specific active surface area and high lateral electrical conductivity. This article considers the modification of electrodes by electrochemical deposition from the liquid phase as a promising strategy to obtain alternative electrochemical energy sources. The modification resulted in oriented metal nanowire networks with a developed surface area due to their high anisotropy. Using the deposition from supramolecular systems containing metal ions and calix[4]resorcinol, a high homogeneity of the applied network layer was achieved. The method of electrochemical atomic force microscopy (EC-AFM) was employed for in situ observation of the formation of the anisotropic network on the electrode surface. Several complexes of metal ions (Fe(II), Ni(II), Co(II)) with thiophosphorylated calix[4]resorcinols were investigated, and the electrochemical reduction potentials and deposition times were determined for each of them. For most of the studied systems, the electrochemical deposition proceeded with the formation of nanoparticles, which combined into large aggregates, producing a continuous film.
The kinetics of mineral nitrogen and phosphorus uptake by Chlorella vulgaris during its intensive phototrophic cultivation in Tamiya medium were examined. The main growth parameters of the batch culture were established: maximum biomass concentration (2.3 ± 0.1 g/L), specific growth rate (0.46 1/day), and maximum productivity (0.27 g/(L×day)). The requirements of C. vulgaris for phosphorus (13.4 ± 0.5 mg P/g of dry weight (DW)) and nitrogen (86 ± 4 mg N/g DW), as well as their specific uptake rates (1.12 ± 0.05 mg P/(g DW×day) and 7.1 ± 0.4 mg N/(g DW×day), respectively), were determined. At a N : P ratio of about 6.4 : 1, the assimilation of these essential macronutrients was balanced. Without additional CO2 supply, the extraction efficiencies of phosphorus and nitrogen were only 15 and 32 %, respectively, due to carbon limitation. The protein content in the biomass (56 %) was calculated, indicating a strong proteinogenic potential of the studied strain. The results are helpful for further optimization of biotechnological processes in microalgae cultivation and for the development of biological wastewater treatment systems.
Based on snow samples collected in 2016–2022, the chemical composition of the snow cover in major urban centers of the Republic of Tatarstan, including Kazan, Almetyevsk, Bugulma, and the Nizhnekamsk industrial zone, was examined. The snowmelt waters exhibited mineralization values of 5.26–733 mg/L, pH of 4.89–7.84, and dust fallout intensity of 1.40–880 kg/(km2 ×day). Differences were identified among various natural and anthropogenic landscapes, as well as across key functional zones both within and outside the urban areas. The least mineralized and dusty snow was found in the field sites and lake environments away from roads. The highest pollution levels were associated with the suburban highways, industrial zones, and heavily trafficked roads in Kazan. The potential of using isotopic data (δD and δ18O) to infer the degree of snow pollution was demonstrated. The mean fallout intensity of dissolved substances and dust with winter atmospheric precipitation in Tatarstan was estimated at 1.1 t/km2 and 5.37 t/km2 , respectively. The total amount of substances deposited in the region by the snow cover per winter season was 438 800.5 t. The most intense acidic precipitation was observed near the Nizhnekamsk industrial zone, although the emissions from its petrochemical enterprises affected only the snow pH and organoleptic properties. The substantial improvement in the snow quality since 1990 suggests a progressive enhancement of the air quality.
This article presents the results of an overlay analysis carried out from 2000 to 2024 in the forest stands and burned areas of the Dyakovsky Forest National Park. Using expert interpretation of multi-temporal satellite images, 9300 ha of natural and planted forests and 53 fire events, including 13 fires that entered the protected territory from outside the park boundary, were identified. The results show that fires appear to be the primary cause of forest loss in the park. The extensive fires of 2008 and 2010 destroyed 3200 ha of its forests. In total, 3600 ha of forests died due to fires in the studied years. Pine stands were found to be particularly vulnerable to fires, with 93.7 % of mortality cases associated with crown fires. Small-leaved elm stands turned out to be more resistant to ground fires, yet still suffered loss in 62 % of cases due to fire disturbance. The recurrence of fires was low (no more than three fire events per site).
Urban tree assemblages are an integral natural component of cities. Each autumn, during the leaf fall season, leaf waste (leaf litter) accumulates on the ground and is then collected and disposed of in municipal solid waste landfills by public services. However, as part of the gradual shift toward a circular economy and in the context of the development of the national project “Technological support of bioeconomy,” fallen leaves can be recycled into valuable resources, such as oil sorbents. This article examines the production of an oil sorbent from urban leaf litter using only mechanical modification methods (drying, grinding, pelletizing, and fabrication of oil sorbent pillows). The approach was tested on fallen leaves of common ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.), whose oil sorption capacity has never been studied. The leaves were collected within the urbanized area of Ufa and subsequently utilized to produce oil sorbent samples (0.1–5 mm leaf particles, along with 2 mm pellets and a pillow made from leaf particles of the same size). The highest oil sorption capacity was observed for the leaf particles sized 1 and 2 mm and the pillow. The worst results were obtained for the pellets.
Six bacterial strains capable of degrading benzoic acid (BA) were isolated from anthropogenically contaminated Antarctic soil samples. In addition to using BA as the sole carbon and energy source, the bacterial isolates were capable of growing on other aromatic substrates (naphthalene, biphenyl, and ortho-phthalate). Based on the 16S rRNA gene analysis, the strains were identified as belonging to the class Actinomycetes (affiliated with genera such as Arthrobacter, Cryobacterium, Paeniglutamicibacter, Pseudarthrobacter, and Rhodococcus). The studied bacteria, except for Rhodococcus sp. LB2, grew efficiently on BA at 10 °C, and Paeniglutamicibacter sp. PBA4 and Cryobacterium sp. LBA9 also maintained growth at lower temperatures (4 °C). The benA genes encoding the α-subunit of benzoate 1,2-dioxygenase, a key BA-degrading enzyme, were found in all isolates. The nucleotide sequences of the benA genes of the tested strains were most similar (81.7–100 %) to known homologous sequences of Actinomycetes bacteria from extreme habitats. The results suggest that the isolated BA-degrading bacteria may be used to restore contaminated habitats with cold climates.
The surface soils of the Preduralye Nature Reserve were analyzed for dialkyl esters of phthalic acid. Five phthalates (dimethyl phthalate, diethyl phthalate, diisobutyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, and diethylhexyl phthalate) were identified in the samples. Their total content was in the range of 0.012–0.461 mg/kg, with a median of 0.064 mg/kg and a mean of 0.099 mg/kg. Dibutyl and diethylhexyl phthalates were the most abundant, accounting for 90–100 % of the total phthalate content. The content of phthalates in the studied soils varied with vegetation types. The highest levels were detected in the soils of the fir–spruce forests and the oak forest, as well as in the soils of the meadows dominated by green strawberry. The lowest levels were in the soils of the maple–linden forests, the coastal aquatic and synanthropic plant communities, and the meadows dominated by awnless brome, ground elder, and cocksfoot.
The chemical composition, physical properties, and biological activities of Cananga odorata essential oil (CoEO) from fresh blossoms collected in Dong Nai (Vietnam) were studied. The gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed the dominance of benzyl acetate (13.15 %), β-linalool (19.73 %), and β-caryophyllene (8.01 %), which are all known for their pronounced antibacterial and antioxidant effects. CoEO also demonstrated favorable physical properties such as relative density (0.95 ± 0.01), absolute density (0.92 ± 0.03 g/mL), and evaporation time (up to 108 h), indicating its prolonged fragrance retention and stability. Using the DPPH• (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) test, the high antioxidant capacity of CoEO (IC50 = 50 ± 3 mg/mL) was found. In addition, CoEO exhibited antibacterial activity against Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. Based on the obtained findings, it can be suggested that CoEO may have many valuable potential applications in the food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries.
The radioprotective effects of copper chlorophyllin, riboxin, indralin, and the combined use of glutathione and ascorbic acid were compared in male ICR (CD-1) mice exposed to five daily irradiations at doses of 1.4 or 2.5 Gy, with all compounds administered on the days of irradiation. The radioprotective efficacy was assessed three days following the final exposure using hematological parameters, thymus and spleen weights, number of nucleated cells in the bone marrow of the femur, and content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the liver. Riboxin, administered at 200 µg/g after each irradiation, showed contradictory effects in the TBARS test, increasing oxidative stress at 1.4 Gy and suppressing it at 2.5 Gy. Copper chlorophyllin was as efficient in inhibiting the metabolism of lipid radiotoxins as classical antioxidants, glutathione and ascorbic acid. In certain cases, the compounds exhibited an ability to somewhat alleviate radiation-induced pancytopenia. Indralin, an emergency radioprotector, had no consistent radioprotective superiority across the assessed physiological parameters of mice under fractionated irradiation. The ambiguity of the observed effects highlights the need for further comprehensive research to clarify the influence of the analyzed compounds on the course of radiation sickness under various experimental conditions.
Bacterial isolates from the samples of Orostachys spinosa (L.) growing in the Baikal region were identified and studied. A total of 16 strains with different morphotypes were obtained, and their generic affiliation was determined by 16S rRNA sequencing. The antagonistic activity was confirmed for most strains belonging to the genus Bacillus. The most pronounced antagonism was exhibited by the strains 117B1–117B5, 117BA, and 117BE, which suggests their possible use as biological control agents against fungal phytopathogens. The ability to synthesize bacterial auxins was expressed in all the studied strains, but at a comparatively low level. The ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen under aerobic conditions was revealed in 14 of the 16 strains. The ability to mobilize phosphorus from calcium salt of phytic acid was found in 11 strains. The highest phosphorus mobilizing activity was observed in representatives of the genus Pseudomonas, particularly in the strains 117B7, 117B9, 117BB, and 117BD. Representatives of the genus Bacillus (the strains 117B1, 117B3, 117B4, 117B5, 117B8, and 117BE) had strong cellulase activity. The greatest ability to degrade cellulose was demonstrated by the strain Bacillus sp. 117BA. The findings indicate that the strains Bacillus sp. 117BA and 117BE and Pseudomonas sp. 117BB and 117BD are promising candidates for the development of new biopreparations.
A comparative analysis was carried out to explore the co-expression networks of the SLC34A2 gene, which encodes the sodium-dependent phosphate transporter NaPi2b, with glycosyl-and sulfotransferase genes and the interaction between the products of these genes in ovarian normal and tumor cells in order to identify proteins responsible for aberrant glycosylation of the NaPi2b transporter in malignant cell transformation. Data on the expression of 214 glycosyl-and sulfotransferase genes and the SLC34A2 gene in ovarian normal and tumor cells were obtained from the E-MTAB-3732 dataset (ArrayExpress, n = 579), and data on 7025 protein-protein interactions were sourced from open-access databases. The networks constructed using the collected data revealed differences in the patterns of gene co-expression and the interaction of their products. The cophenetic correlation coefficient of the networks in ovarian normal and tumor cells was 0.17. The key genes B3GNT2, GCNT1, ST3GAL1, and ST6GAL1 were found to be part of the largest module together with SLC34A2 in the network of gene co-expression and protein-protein interactions in ovarian tumor cells. The results suggest that the expression and interaction profiles of ST6GAL1, B3GNT2, GCNT1, and ST3GAL1 gene products may be associated with abnormal glycosylation of NaPi2b in ovarian tumor cells. Further research on these proteins will foster a better understanding of the role of glycosylation in conformational changes of the large extracellular domain of the NaPi2b transporter and may contribute to the development of anti-tumor drugs targeting the potential tumor-specific MX35 epitope of the NaPi2b transporter.
Haloxylon aphyllum (Minkw.) Iljin is a shrub or small tree commonly used in agroforestry and desertification control in arid territories of southern Russia. To date, adaptive reactions at the physiological and biochemical level, particularly those associated with the photosynthetic apparatus and the content of metabolites in green shoots, and their relation to antioxidant properties remain poorly studied. Analysis of the genetic structure of various populations using DNA markers is also of considerable interest. In this study, the content of chlorophylls, carotenoids, and phenolic antioxidants in the green shoots of H. aphyllum was assessed, and the most informative ISSR primers were identified to examine the genetic structure of H. aphyllum populations. The experiments were conducted in 2024 with H. aphyllum samples collected in the Kharabalinsky district of the Astrakhan region. The ISSR primers UBC809, UBC810, UBC811, UBC818, UBC826, UBC834, UBC840, UBC846, UBC855, UBC860, UBC887, and UBC890 were found to be suitable for ISSR analysis of the genetic diversity of H. aphyllum populations. The original data on the content of photosynthetic pigments and metabolites with antioxidant properties in the green shoots of H. aphyllum were presented.
The physical characteristics of three peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) varieties grown in Vietnam differed significantly. The RP seeds had the highest moisture level (3.9 % RP, 2.9 % SP, 3.7 % BP). The SP variety showed the highest mass per 1000 seeds (474 g RP, 599 g SP, and 541 g BP). The bulk and particle densities of all the varieties ranged from 0.633 to 0.664 g/cm3 and from 1.10 to 1.14 g/cm3, respectively. The RP seeds were relatively larger based on their length (18.2 mm), width (9.0 mm), and thickness (8.7 mm). In terms of sphericity (0.62 RP, 0.62 SP, and 0.65 BP), the BP seeds were rounder in shape. The angle of repose was higher in the SP seeds (28 degrees RP, 28.1 degrees SP, 20 degrees BP). The BP seeds had higher static friction coefficient values (0.37 RP, 0.35 SP, 0.40 BP). These findings highlight the need to adapt standard peanut cultivation, processing, storage, and transportation methods to each peanut variety in order to increase the efficiency of local and global peanut-based production and reduce its potential losses.
The biological effects of low concentrations of Bisphenol A, a known inducer of oxidative stress, were evaluated in an in vitro experiment using & Ncy;& iecy;pG2 cells. With this aim, & Ncy;& iecy;pG2 cells were exposed to 0.10, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.0 mu M Bisphenol A for 48 and 72 h and then studied for their viability (via MTT assay) and oxidative stress based on the content of protein and non-protein SH groups, the protein carbonyl content, and the expression of the transcription factor NRF2 and the antiapoptotic protein BCL-2. The levels of NRF2 and BCL-2 remained unchanged after 48 h of exposure but increased following 72 h of incubation. This increase was accompanied by a rise in the concentration of thiol groups and the stabilization of the protein carbonyl content, suggesting the formation of a molecular mechanism protecting & Ncy;& iecy;pG2 cells from the xenobiotic action. The findings demonstrate that low concentrations of Bisphenol A have no pronounced effect on the viability of & Ncy;& iecy;pG2 cell line.
The molecular mobility of ibuprofen and ketoprofen, two active ingredients of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, was examined. All calculations were performed by the DFT method in the isolated molecule approximation using the BP86 functional in combination with the def2-SVP basis set. The potential energy surface profiles for rotation around the C–C bond in key structural fragments of ibuprofen and ketoprofen were obtained. For both compounds, the preferred conformers and intramolecular rotation barriers were determined. The most stable conformers showed a good agreement between the experimental and calculated parameters of the molecular geometry. Linear correlations were observed between the experimental Raman spectra of ibuprofen and ketoprofen and the harmonic vibrational frequencies of their most stable conformers calculated at the BP86/def2-SVP level of theory, suggesting that this approach may be useful for further investigation of the structure and properties of ibuprofen and ketoprofen.
The adverse effects ofpolychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on human and animal health pose a significant concern. However, to date, most studies have considered the risks of environmental contamination by highly chlorinated biphenyls. This study, on the contrary, focuses on the impact of dichlorinated biphenyl (PCB 8) and its bacterial transformation products on the immune system. PCB 8 was found to suppress antibody formation without affecting cell-mediated immunity responses. The degradation of PCB 8 by Rhodococcus opacus FG1 reduced its impairment of humoral immunity. The bacterial transformation by Rhodococcus opacus FG1(VKMAc-3030) enzymes induced a 16.9-fold decrease in the PCB 8 concentration over 14 days. Concurrently, 2-chlorobenzoic acid (2-CBA) and 4-chlorobenzoic acid (4-CBA) accumulated in the medium. The assessment of the immune parameters following the exposure to 2-CBA and 4-CBA revealed no negative changes. The data from the health risk assessment demonstrated that, despite the observed decrease in the PCB 8 concentration during biotransformation, the non-carcinogenic risk remained high for both children and adults, whereas the carcinogenic risk declined to acceptable and safe levels for children and adults, respectively, by day 14. The calculated non-carcinogenic risk values from the resulting CBAs were not associated with health hazards.
Rhizobacteria synthesizing indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) are often used to stimulate plant growth. To enhance IAA production by the rhizospheric bacterium Pseudomonas baetica MGMM504 during the growth on a tryptophan medium, a plasmid encoding naphthalene 1,2-dioxygenase synthesis genes (EC 1.14.12.12) was introduced. The expression of naphthalene 1,2-dioxygenase genes increased IAA synthesis in P. baetica MGMM504(pJeM2:nahA) by 40 % compared with the control. At the same time, P. putida PCL1760(pJeM2:nahA) showed no significant increase in IAA synthesis compared with PCL1760(pJeM2), which produced only trace amounts of IAA. The tests on wheat revealed a higher plant growth stimulating activity of P. baetica MGMM504(pJeM2:nahA), increasing the root length and germination of wheat seedlings by 45 % and 15 %, respectively, compared with P. baetica MGMM504(pJeM2). Neither variant of P. putida PCL1760 exhibited a phytostimulatory effect. The findings suggest that naphthalene 1,2-dioxygenase promotes the formation of an intermediate, which in itself is not a phytostimulator, but can be converted into one if a specialized IAA synthesis system is present in the strain.
The protection and sustainable use of groundwater resources require continuous monitoring and forecasting of both natural and anthropogenic pollutants accumulated in them. However, due to a lack of analytical data, a reliable assessment of these and other trends in the development of indicators necessary for making appropriate management decisions remains a great challenge. Even in a megalopolis such as Moscow, time series of data from available observation wells are limited to 10-20 members, which underscores the inefficiency of traditional statistical research methods. To solve the above problem, this article proposes an expert statistical exploratory data analysis (EDA) approach based on graphical visualization of statistical results and, compared to traditional methods, less dependent on the amount of experimental data. Using data obtained from the observation wells of the Teplostanskaya Upland in the Southwest Administrative District of Moscow during 2018-2023, statistical heterogeneity was established in the time series of groundwater composition and properties, eliminating randomness in the formation ofdata and indicating the presence ofhidden patterns in theirchange, mutually consistent variability was detected among certain pairs of groundwater pollutants, the possibility of identifying the origin (natural or anthropogenic) of individual groundwater components was demonstrated, and the feasibility of reducing the number of variables in a set of controlled indicators through the application of principal component analysis (PCA), accounting for 72 % of the variance in the problem under consideration, was shown. Since all measurements were carried out using a set of spatially separated wells, the experimental data were studied by common panel analysis method.
