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The study of soils in the vicinity of medieval settlement that has only one stage of anthropogenic impact at 5-8th centuries AD was established. For comparison, fertilized soils within the modern rural household were investigated. In order to study the microbiological properties of the soils in either case, series of soil pits were made at different distances from the settlement: in the area of regular manuring, in the area of episodic fertilization and in undisturbed areas. The determination of the number of thermophilic bacteria was performed using the plate counting method. From the date obtained, it was established that around the modern rural household in the regularly fertilized soils, the number of thermophilic microorganisms significantly exceeded the background level. The same pattern in the change in the number of thermophilic microorganisms was found in the soils near ancient settlement. A decrease in the number of thermophilic bacteria in the soils with the distance from the settlement was shown. Their high number indicates the duration and extent of manure usage in agricultural practice in the Middle Ages. A significant increase in the number of thermophiles can be observed only under regular application of cattle manure, composts and other self-heating organic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The physicochemical properties and the state of the microbial communities of the buried soils of the loess strata of the Khasavyurt plain (Eastern Ciscaucasia, Russia) were studied. The thickness of loess deposits was about 50 m. An exposed surface dark chestnut soil (Kastanozem) had a thickness of about 0.5 m, the next 3-3.5 m were almost pure light yellow loess. Buried soils were observed in the upper part of the loess. Palaeosol 1 at a depth of 5-10 m and a thickness of about 2 m was morphologically similar to chernozem-like soil. It was dated back to 10,850 yrs BP. Palaeosol 2 dated back to 19,425 yrs BP was well pronounced at a depth of 15-20 m, intensely colored on the top, and was also of a chernozem-like type. The lower part of the loess stratum (10– 15 m) was complicated by several horizons with obvious traces of soil formation processes (palaeosol 3). These horizons reflect the dynamics of erosion-accumulative processes during the loess accumulation and redistribution likely in the end of the Eopleistocene. Living microbial biomass was determined from the content of soil phospholipids. In the upper 10 cm soil layer, it was about 290 µg C / g. In the loess layers, it was 12–42% of that in the upper soil layer. The highest biomass was detected in the upper and closest to the surface loess layer, which was probably affected by current soil formation processes. In the palaeosols, the content of living microbial biomass varied from 20% to 28% of the level in the upper soil layer. Compared to the adjacent loess layers, the living microbial biomass was reliably higher. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The problem of protecting territories from flooding is relevant for many decades. An effective way to protect buildings and structures from groundwater is to install vertical anti-filtration screens. But not always waterproof is at the reach of depth, and the construction of a horizontal screen will create additional difficulties. The arrangement of a horizontal screen under an existing building will require a large area of production, the implementation of labor-intensive soil development or the use of expensive horizontal directional drilling. It will also require the interface of the horizontal and vertical parts of the anti-filtration shield to provide protection from groundwater. The technology of the device of the conjugate anti-filtration screen under existing buildings and structures, which are located in areas subject to flooding, has been developed. In the article, the use of well boring under the slope and the device of conjugate anti-filtration screens using the developed screw equipment are considered. Drilling of inclined guide holes is carried out under the existing building at an angle, which ensures further coupling of the anti-filtration elements of the screen. Screw equipment is usually used for the arrangement of vertical wells and the auger is directed along the well being developed. In the developed technology the auger is located perpendicular to the guiding wells and is used for the development, transportation and mixing of soil with solutions. Anti-filtration screens, made with auger equipment, are formed due to intersecting elements, in the form of panels, which are formed by mixing the soil with cement mortar. A technological plan for the production of works to protect against flooding of existing buildings according to the developed technology is developed. The main technological processes, materials and equipment for the production of works are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on the 19th International Symposium on Very High Energy Cosmic Ray Interactions (ISVHECRI 2016) that was held at the P.N. Lebedev Physical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (LPI RAS) in Moscow from August 22-28, 2016 is presented. Topics discussed include cosmic rays, hadronic interaction models and neutrinos.

A new comprehensive EAS experiment for multi-component study of the energy spectrum behavior and composition of the PCR in a wide energy range 1014 - 1018 eV is launched at the Pamirs this year. The experimental setup of ~ 1 km2 in area combines conventional EAS array technique with those of X-Ray emulsion chamber, Cherenkov detector array and Cherenkov atmospheric imaging telescopes (IACT). The goals of the experiment and the experimental techniques are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]