A traditional technology for removing acid gases includes absorption by aqueous solutions of alkanolamines. Despite a high degree of gas flow purification and the high productivity of this process, there is a problem of thermo-oxidative degradation of the absorption solution. Degradation products are thermally stable and tend to accumulate within the system, resulting in significant operational problems. One of the promising approaches to the regeneration of alkanolamine absorbents is combining of membrane filtration and electrodialysis. This paper presents the first study of the effect of the pore size of a membrane used for prefiltration of an alkanolamine absorbent on the efficiency of the removal of heat-stable salts (HSS) by electrodialysis. Our findings indicate that both the initial HSS content and the effectiveness of their extraction vary depending on the alkanolamine type. Such variation is determined by the different mechanisms of a resin formation in absorbent solutions depending on the alkanolamine type. It was shown that decreasing the pore size and transition from microfiltration to nanofiltration enhances the degree of HSS extraction from 55 to 65

There is a direct linear relationship between the total amount of carbon emitted by human activities and the level of warming on the Earth’s surface. At the same time, warming in the northern regions of Eurasia is faster than in the southern ones. In this work, we considered changes in atmospheric temperature and accumulation of precipitation in the Urals and their influence on the number and area of fires in the region. We assessed the combined effect of elevated atmospheric temperatures and high humidity on the pollen fertility of P. sylvestris L. The Ural region has faced the trend of climate warming and fixing of new records of high temperatures. Thus, the average annual temperature in the region has increased by 3 °C since 2020. A decrease in the thickness of the snow cover in early spring leads to dryness in May, which increases forests burning. The most dangerous weather in the Urals was in 2010, which led to growth in the number of forest fires. The decrease in spring humidity has led to almost 10 times increase in the number of fires. High atmospheric temperature led to a sharp decrease in the proportion of fertile pollen, which was almost three times lower compared to climatically normal years. Sharp changes in climatic factors lead to the transformation of the ecosystems. In the long term, broad-leaved tree species have the greatest adaptive potential in the Ural region.

The effect of light and root competition of the tree stand on the growth of the Pinus sibirica Du Tour undergrowth in post-fire birch forests of different ages is investigated using the example of mid-taiga forests of the Middle Urals. The studies were carried out on the basis of a microecosystem approach, using indices of light competition of the tree stand (Ilsc), root competition of the tree stand (Irsc) and integral competition of the tree stand (Irlsc). At the stage of the 13-year-old young birch stand with almost full illumination, the main factor determining the growth and development of Pinus sibirica undergrowth is root competition for soil nutrition. In the 32-year-old middle-aged birch stand, a joint, almost identical, effect of the factors of light and root competition on the growth of Pinus sibirica undergrowth is observed. In the mature 70-yearold birch stand, the main factor, influencing the growth of Pinus sibirica undergrowth, is the level of interception of photosynthetically active radiation by its canopy (light competition) with root competition is not expressed. In our opinion, this is due to the adaptive abilities and characteristics of the soil nutrition of the Pinus sibirica undergrowth and a change in the degree of soil saturation with organic compounds during the development of the post-fire birch forest.

The study of the α diversity of the stand and the herb layer of all major forest types of primary pine and spruce forests in the Middle Urals was conducted. Four indices (Shannon's Diversity Index, Pielou's Evenness Index, Simpson's Diversity Index, Zhivotovsky's Diversity Index) were used to quantify α diversity. The indices were calculated based on the basal area (for the stand) and absolutely dry biomass (for the herb layer). It was shown that each forest type studied has its own characteristics of α diversity, while the relationship between the stand and the herb layer according to the dynamics of the calculated indices when changing habitats was not revealed.

The article presents the results of the study of fifty populations of common heather (Calluna vulgaris (L.) Hull) collected throughout its range. A phased comparative analysis (genetic, biochemical, anatomical, morphological, and ecological) was carried out with the estimation of indicators that included two key populations—Zavodouspenskoe (Pritobolye, Western Siberia) and Luga (Baltic, Eastern Europe). It was concluded that heather growing in Western Siberia should be identified as a separate taxonomic group, giving it the status of a subspecies. The gene pool of Pritobolye populations (including Zavodouspenskoe) is represented by the completely dominant (100%) monohaplotype S, which is not found anywhere else. The heather plant growing in Zavodouspenskoe has a longer lifespan. It is distinguished by larger linear leaf dimensions (length 2.06 ± 0.09 mm), thicker cuticle (4.77 ± 0.33 μm), increased number of trichomes (18.98 ± 0.56), and a reduced number of stomata (13.60 ± 0.63) than that growing in Luga. The new subspecies differs in biochemical composition: twice less content of epicatechin (average 1.992 ± 0.005 mg g−1), three times more myricetin (average 2.975 ± 0.005 mg g−1), twice as much chlorogenic acid (average 2.763 ± 0.004 mg g−1). An ecological feature is that C. vulgaris does not grow in the swamps of Western Siberia and has a small population. This species has a high horticultural potential and requires protection as its population in Western Siberia continues to decline rapidly.

The research is devoted to an urgent modern problem: the identification of temperature factors that limit the distribution and survival of plants in the mountainous conditions of the Northern Urals. The article’s aim is to determine the air temperature in four altitudinal zones of the southern part of the Northern Urals (Sverdlovsk region 59º30´N, 59º15´E) and to identify regression relationships of the obtained temperature data with control temperature data from the nearest meteorological station. Registration of air temperatures was carried out from May to September 2019 around the clock, every two hours in the mountain forest zone (at an altitude of 460 and 640 m above sea level) under the canopy of Siberian stone pine forests, in the zone of subalpine woodlands with elements of mountain forest tundra (820 m above sea level) and on a plateau in the mountain tundra zone (1030 m above sea level). It has been established that the change in air temperature at different altitude levels and at the nearest meteorological station (far from 60 km, at an altitude of 202 m above sea level) occurs relatively synchronously. Difference between average daily temperatures at altitudes of 460, 640, 820 and 1030 m above sea level and the control data of the meteorological station is 2.2, 3.0, 4.7 and 5.1ºC respectively. For all altitude levels, a reliable close straight-line relationship between average daily air temperatures and meteorological station data has been established. The altitudes of 460, 640, 820 and 1030 m above sea level correspond to the coefficients of determination ( R 2) equal to 0.96, 0.95, 0.92 and 0.88. The relationship of the minimum temperatures of the corresponding altitude levels with the control data is also quite high ( R 2 is not lower than 0.7). With the help of the identified relationships and the obtained regression equations, it is possible to retrospectively restore the dynamics of the thermal regime according to the meteorological station data for mountain habitats of different altitudes in the southern part of the Northern Urals over a long period. Including extreme critical temperatures, which act as factors limiting the resettlement and survival of plants and determine the ecosystem biodiversity.

The aim of the research is to reveal the relationship between the age and composition of the forest stand and the regeneration of Picea obovata Ledeb. and Abies sibirica Ledeb . Null hypothesis: we can estimate young generations of P. obovata and A. sibirica under the forest canopy based on the composition and age of the forest stand. The studies conducted in the most widespread forest type of the South Ural Mountains confirmed our null hypothesis about the possibility of modelling the regeneration of P. obovata and A. sibirica by the structure of the stand. The number of young generations of P. obovata and A. sibirica showed high sensitivity to the age and composition of the stand. The graphical models developed by us can be used to combine with forest management data in order to obtain large-scale data on the regeneration of woody plants in the primary spruce small-grass-green mossy forests and secondary birch and aspen forests of the South Ural Mountains. In order to expand the scope of application of the developed models, it is planned to conduct additional studies for other forest types of the Urals.

Identifying the patterns of dynamics of natural populations of woody plants at the stage of their renewal is one of the main problems of forest ecology. The reforestation process is determined by both the dynamics of seed production and the specificity of seed dispersal of forest tree species. The five-needled pine renewal the Cembrae subsection with wingless seeds depends on birds of the genus Nucifraga sp., which store and spread their seeds. The aim of this study is to determine the relationship between seed production and regeneration of Pinus sibirica Du Tour using the thin-billed nutcracker (Nucifraga caryocatactes macrorhynchos Brehm C. L.) as a mediator. Long-term studies of these relationships have been carried out in the Siberian pine forests of the North Ural Mountains. As a result, a paradoxical conclusion is made that the number of Nucifraga birds during the period of storing and spreading of seeds in the previous year is a key factor in the abundance of Pinus sibirica seedlings. In turn, the number of seeds, both from the previous year and the current year, affects the number of Nucifraga birds.

Abstract. To preserve biological diversity, it is necessary to determine the genetic structure of species populations, because this gives the most complete picture of the manifestation of polymorphism and makes it possible to detect genetically and phenotypically distinct subspecies. The information obtained will help determine the optimal habitat and protection conditions for endangered and farmed species. The purpose of research is to conduct an allozyme analysis of 10 populations of P. sylvestris L. 2 of the physiographic countries of Yakutia and the Amur region. Results. An allozyme analysis revealed less polymorphism and the most drastic differentiation of the Amur region populations (at the level of geographic race) from Yakutia populations, subdivided from each other at the level of geographical populations. Significant differences are shown between the populations of Yakutia and Amur Region according to the distances of Mahalanobis, calculated according to 19 signs of cones. A positive linear relationship was obtained between the distances of Mahalanobis (D2) and the genetic distances of Ney (DN78) (R2 = 0.4159). Scientific novelty. A dominant role in the origin of the Yakut populations of P. sylvestris of three Siberian group-gradual fellings (GGF) - Tynda, Romanovka, Irkutsk and a decrease in the genetic similarity of the GGF as they move away from Yakutia were found.

Using nine nuclear microsatellite loci (nSSR), the structure of genetic variability of Scots pine in the Black Sea–Caucasus region, Eastern Europe, the Urals, Siberia, and the Russian Far East has been studied and the demographic history of these population groups has been investigated using approximate Bayesian computations (ABC) analysis. A significant differentiation between the populations of the Eastern Black Sea Region (EBSR) and the main areal is confirmed, while the time of divergence between these groups is estimated at 0.5 million BP. The differentiation of the populations of the Greater Caucasus into western and eastern populations is found, probably due to migrations of Eastern European populations to the Western Caucasus. The nSSR similarity of the populations of Crimea and Asia Minor is shown, probably as a result of their relatively recent differentiation. nSSR analysis reveals a significant differentiation between the populations of the Russian Far East and the rest of the populations of the northern part of the range. The divergence time between these groups of populations is estimated using ABC analysis at 97 000 BP, which confirms the survival of the Scots pine in the Russian Far East during the last glacial maximum (LGM).

С помощью девяти ядерных микросателлитных локусов (nSSR) изучена структура генетической изменчивости сосны обыкновенной в черноморско-кавказском регионе, Восточной Европе, на Урале, в Сибири и на Дальнем Востоке и с помощью ABC-анализа исследована демографическая история этих групп популяций. Подтверждена значительная дифференциация между популяциями Восточного Причерноморья и основного ареала, при этом время дивергенции между данными группами оценено в 0,5 млн лет назад (л. н.). Обнаружена дифференциация популяций Большого Кавказа на западные и восточные, вероятно, обусловленная миграциями на Западный Кавказ восточно-европейских популяций. Показано сходство по nSSR популяций Крыма и Малой Азии, видимо, в результате их относительно недавней дифференциации. Анализ nSSR выявил существенную дифференциацию между популяциями Дальнего Востока и остальными популяциями северной части ареала. Время дивергенции между этими группами популяций оценено с помощью ABC-анализа в 97 тыс. л. н., что подтверждает выживание сосны обыкновенной на Дальнем Востоке во время последнего ледникового максимума. Using nine nuclear microsatellite loci (nSSR), the structure of genetic variability of Scots pine in the Black Sea-Caucasus region, Eastern Europe, the Urals, Siberia and the Russian Far East was studied and the demographic history of these population groups was investigated using ABC-analysis. A significant differentiation between the populations of the Eastern Black Sea region and the main areal was confirmed, while the time of divergence between these groups was estimated at 0.5 million BP. The differentiation of the populations of the Greater Caucasus into western and eastern populations was found, probably due to migrations of Eastern European populations to the Western Caucasus. The nSSR similarity of the populations of the Crimea and Asia Minor is shown, probably as a result of their relatively recent differentiation. The nSSR analysis revealed a significant differentiation between the populations of the Russian Far East and the rest of the populations of the northern part of the range. The divergence time between these groups of populations was estimated using ABC-analysis at 97 thousand BP, which confirms the survival of the scots pine in the Russian Far East during the last glacial maximum.

Specific features of using membrane reactors for hydroformylation (oxo-synthesis) were analyzed. The main attention is given to the hydroformylation of olefins with an average chain length (C6–C9), which are important precursors of organic synthesis. The catalysts compatible with the membrane reactor and prospects of using composite polymer and inorganic membranes are considered. A high permeability of the membranes to aldehydes makes it possible to intensify the oxo-synthesis process due to the in situ removal of the reaction product and also to reduce costs of separating a feedstock—product—catalyst mixture.

Purpose The article at the theoretical and methodological level problematizes the effectiveness of representation of convergence in the field of legal facts, especially its legal recipient, and also establishes the relationship between short stories of legislation and law enforcement. Design/Methodology/Approach At the same time, special attention is paid to the meaning of the electronic system for fixing legal facts and its elements in the form of legally significant messages, stimulation of law-making in the field of digitalization, which has become an attribute of the last few decades. Findings It is noted that the relevance of the topic is due to the rapid growth in information, the intensive development of digital technologies and their wide introduction in various spheres of public life. Originality/Value In the new reality, law becomes not only a means, an instrument that ensures the digitalization of the economy, management and other segments of social life, but also the object of the influence of digitalization, as a result of which its forms, content, system, structure and mechanism of action undergo changes. This is of great importance, since the existence of notaries, registry activities, banks, guarantors and many other institutions of modern civilized society is based on electronic fixation. In this regard, the problems associated with the use of a smart contract as a legal basis for automation of legal relations are analyzed. It is concluded that, despite the diversity of existing digital technologies, the electronic system of fixing legal facts is in the process of becoming.

The adaptive capacity of ecosystems is a key to maintaining ecosystem functions and preserving biodiversity at all levels. The research was carried out in the western Southern Ural low-hill terrains (Russia). We analyzed distributions of above-ground biomass of herb layer species in the primary spruce, long-term secondary birch 20-35-year forests, stable-term secondary 20-year aspen forests. Species abundance distributions (SAD) analysis allowed us to study the species diversity and the species structure of communities, to understand the mechanism of adaptation of the plant community to disturbance and the role of species biodiversity in this process. It became clear that only with sufficient species diversity can SAD be maintained stable, and the adaptive potential and resistance of plant communities to external influences can be preserved. In General, the SAD analysis can be considered useful and informative for studying the adaptation of plant communities. In addition, it is universal and can be applied to any terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. SAD can also help in designing artificial plant communities with increased resilience and high ecosystem functions.

The processes of natural reforestation play a crucial role for the preservation of primary coniferous forests and the success of their restoration after catastrophic impacts. The objective of our research was to identify the features of the natural renewal of the main coniferous forest-forming plants under the canopy of stands in the mountains of the Middle Urals, to establish dependencies on the forest type not only the total number of tree saplings, but also its age structure. The research was carried out in the mountainous part of the Sverdlovsk region (Russia) on the eastern macroslope of the Ural Mountains. We studied old-age pine forests, which belong to the 4 most common forest types. The tree saplings were counted into account on 2-4 subplots with a length of 20 meters and a width of 2 meters. It is established that under the canopy of all types of forest there is a different age coniferous saplings, despite significant differences in habitats. The most abundant pine saplings are found in pine forests with Vaccinium vitis-idaea, and the most abundant spruce saplings is found in pine forest with spruce and moss cover.

A comparative allozyme analysis ofPinus sylvestrisL. populations distributed over the entire species range has been performed to estimate Nei's minimum genetic distances among eight phylogeographic population groups (PPGs) from the "glacial" zone and 26 populations from the southern "extraglacial" zone. On this basis, the locations of nine main and eight second-order hypothetical Pleistocene refugia (HPRs) for the species have been determined. Using the conditional "refugium investment index," relative contributions from the gene pools of HPRs to those of PPGs from the glacial zone has been estimated. It is shown that populations of this zone have originated from several refugia. A classification of Pleistocene refugia forP. sylvestrisis proposed, which is based on their location within the range and role in the formation of the current gene pool of the species.

The history of the interaction between the boreal floras of northern Eurasia and those from the mountain areas located at intermediate latitudes remains insufficiently studied. Twenty-four population samples of 4 to 34 trees were analyzed with eight mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) markers and four chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) microsatellite loci to study the history of Scots pine in the Black Sea region, and infer migration routes and genetic relationships with populations of the northern part of the range. These new data were combined with data previously obtained from Eastern Europe and North Asia. Scots pine past geographic range was also reconstructed using environmental niche modeling. Both mtDNA and cpDNA revealed a common origin of populations in the eastern Black Sea region (EBS), i.e., Crimea, Caucasus, and Asia Minor, and deep divergence from the main range of Scots pine, reminiscent of the isolation of enclaves in Iberian and Apennine Peninsulas. Mitochondrial DNA haplotypes (mitotypes) endemic to Western Caucasus are genetically intermediate between mitotypes from Eastern Europe and other mitotypes from the EBS region, indicating a recombinant origin likely due to migration to the Caucasus from the north and hybridization with local trees. Environmental niche modeling shows the possibility of such migration events during the last glacial maximum.

Simulation of fire impact on forest floor renewal in pine forests was based on predictions for 2100 by the Canadian Climate Centre for increase in temperatures of by 4.5 °C and total precipitation by 14% in the West Siberian pre-forest-steppes and empirical regression relationships between them and the degree of burnt forest floor, as well as amount of Pinus sylvestris L. regeneration. It was predicted that by 2100, pine regeneration on fire prone sites under the canopy of the dominant forest type will increase by 29–54% compared to the 1980s but on adjacent open sites, regeneration will decrease twice as much. This means that the regeneration potential and pine population stability in pre-forest-steppes will become as poor as it is today.

The structure and seed bearing of stands, factors of episoil medium, quantity, vitality and age structure of Scots pine undergrowth 15 years after the disastrous crown and surface fire, which occurred in 2004 in insular pine forest in northern forest-steppe of Western Siberia (Kurgan region), were studied. The studies took place at six sample plots (0.3–0.5 ha) located in two predominant (88 %) types of pine forests – cowberry-short grasses-moss and bilberry-bracken – at four types of burns: 1) «burn under the forest canopy», 2) «thin stand burn», 3) «open burn with peripheral insemination» and 4) «open burn without insemination». The reliable differences in pine regeneration in different types of burns in both types of forests were specified. They were conditioned mainly by differences in their stand density and dissemination levels. The total pine regeneration level in forest-steppe was several times less than in pre-forest-steppe. This was connected with extreme dryness of the studied climate period and low seeding of stands, damaged by the intensive fires. The renewal role of dissemination of 2003 which took place simultaneously with the fire; absence of mouse-like rodents (main seed consumers), as well as sharp change of sex ratio in pine populations (to female dominance) due to intensive surface fire have been shown. On the whole, the total summer precipitation played the main role in pine regeneration of all burn types in forest-steppe zone of Western Siberia.