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Planctomycetes of the genus Singulisphaera are common inhabitants of soils and peatlands. Although described members of this genus are characterized as possessing hydrolytic capabilities, the ability to degrade chitin has not yet been reported for these bacteria. In this study, a novel Singulisphaera representative, strain Ch08, was isolated from a chitinolytic enrichment culture obtained from a boreal fen in Northern European Russia. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of this isolate displayed 98.2% similarity to that of Singulisphaera acidiphila MOB10T. Substrate utilization tests confirmed that strain Ch08 is capable of growth on amorphous chitin. The complete genome of strain Ch08 determined in this study was 10.85 Mb in size and encoded two predicted chitinases, which were only distantly related to each other and affiliated with the glycoside hydrolase family GH18. One of these chitinases had a close homologue in the genome of S. acidiphila MOB10T. The experimental verification of S. acidiphila MOB10T growth on amorphous chitin was also positive. Transcriptome analysis performed with glucose- and chitin-growth cells of strain Ch08 showed upregulation of the predicted chitinase shared by strain Ch08 and S. acidiphila MOB10T. The gene encoding this protein was expressed in Escherichia coli, and the endochitinase activity of the recombinant enzyme was confirmed. The ability to utilize chitin, a major constituent of fungal cell walls and arthropod exoskeletons, appears to be one of the previously unrecognized ecological functions of Singulisphaera-like planctomycetes.

Dispersion and aggregation of nanoparticles in aqueous solutions are important factors for safe and effective application of nanoparticles, for instance, in the oil industry. As conventional oil reserves are depleted, it is necessary to advance chemical enhanced oil recovery (cEOR) techniques to develop unconventional oil reservoirs. Nanoparticles modified by surfactants can be a promising reagent in cEOR. These nanomaterials can reduce interfacial tension and change the wettability of reservoir rock, which leads to an increase in oil recovery. However, the application of nanoparticles is limited by their substantial aggregation in aqueous solutions. The purpose of this work is to select nanoparticles for obtaining stable sols in water in the presence of an anionic surfactant and to optimize the conditions (pH) for further modifying the nanoparticles with the anionic surfactant. Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) is used as an anionic surfactant. The aggregation of oxide and carbon nanoparticles in water and anionic surfactant solutions was studied by laser diffraction, dynamic and electrophoretic light scattering methods. Most of the studied nanoparticles in water form aggregates with bi-, three- and polymodal particle size distributions. TiO2 nanoparticles obtained by plasma dynamic synthesis form the most stable sols in anionic surfactant solutions. The range of 5–7 pH is defined as optimal for their modification with surfactants. The stability of carbon nanoparticles in aqueous solutions increases significantly in the presence of a surfactant. The obtained results form the basis for further research on the modification of marked nanoparticles in surfactant solutions.

Objective. To analyze the state of autonomic regulation of the heart rate in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis before the upcoming surgical treatment of spinal deformity. Material and Methods. The study included 30 patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis who were admitted for surgical treatment from January to April 2021. There were 28 female and 2 male patients. The heart rate variability (HRV) registration was carried out on the VNS-micro vegetotester, with Poly-Spectrum.NET software, Neurosoft (Russia). The study was conducted for 5 minutes in the supine position and for 5 minutes after the active orthostatic test. Temporal and spectral indicators of heart rate were analyzed. Results. When analyzing HRV at rest, an increase in the temporal indicators of the heart rate and the power of high-frequency wave oscillations was recorded, which indicates both an increased activity of autonomic regulation in general and the predominance of the regulatory influence o of the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system. A decrease in all spectral components during an active orthostatic test and an increase in stress index values by 3.5 times indicate a significant stress of regulatory systems. Conclusion. Analysis of HRV in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis at rest revealed increased autonomic activity with a predominant effect of the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system. The state of exercise-induced energy deficit, registered after an active orthostatic test, indicates a significant preoperative stress of the regulatory systems and refers this category of patients to a group of increased risk of complications associated with hemodynamic instability.

Carotenoids are secondary metabolites that exhibit antioxidant properties and are characterized by a striking range of colorations from red to yellow. These natural pigments are synthesized by a wide range of eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms. Among the latter, carotenoid-producing methanotrophic bacteria, which display fast growth on methane or natural gas, are of particular interest as potential producers of a feed protein enriched with carotenoids. Until recently, Methylomonas strain 16a and Methylomonas sp. ZR1 remained the only representatives of the genus for which detailed carotenoid profile was determined. In this study, we analyzed the genome sequences of five strains of Methylomonas species whose pigmentation varied from white and yellow to orange and red, and identified carotenoids produced by these bacteria. Carotenoids synthesized using four pigmented strains included C30 fraction, primarily composed of 4,4’-diaplycopene-4,4’-dioic acid and 4,4’-diaplycopenoic acid, as well as C40 fraction with the major compound represented by 1,1’-dihydroxy-3,4-didehydrolycopene. The genomes of studied Methylomonas strains varied in size between 4.59 and 5.45 Mb and contained 4201–4735 protein-coding genes. These genomes and 35 reference Methylomonas genomes available in the GenBank were examined for the presence of genes encoding carotenoid biosynthesis. Genomes of all pigmented Methylomonas strains harbored genes necessary for the synthesis of 4,4’-diaplycopene-4,4’-dioic acid. Non-pigmented “Methylomonas montana” MW1T lacked the crtN gene required for carotenoid production. Nearly all strains possessed phytoene desaturases, which explained their ability to naturally synthesize lycopene. Thus, members of the genus Methylomonas can potentially be considered as producers of C30 and C40 carotenoids from methane.

The scavenging of atmospheric trace gases has been recognized as one of the lifestyle-defining capabilities of microorganisms in terrestrial polar ecosystems. Several metagenome-assembled genomes of as-yet-uncultivated methanotrophic bacteria, which consume atmospheric CH4 in these ecosystems, have been retrieved in cultivation-independent studies. In this study, we isolated and characterized a representative of these methanotrophs, strain D3K7, from a subarctic soil of northern Russia. Strain D3K7 grows on methane and methanol in a wide range of temperatures, between 5 and 30 °C. Weak growth was also observed on acetate. The presence of acetate in the culture medium stimulated growth at low CH4 concentrations (~100 p.p.m.v.). The finished genome sequence of strain D3K7 is 4.15 Mb in size and contains about 3700 protein-encoding genes. According to the result of phylogenomic analysis, this bacterium forms a common clade with metagenome-assembled genomes obtained from the active layer of a permafrost thaw gradient in Stordalen Mire, Abisco, Sweden, and the mineral cryosol at Axel Heiberg Island in the Canadian High Arctic. This clade occupies a phylogenetic position in between characterized Methylocapsa methanotrophs and representatives of the as-yet-uncultivated upland soil cluster alpha (USCα). As shown by the global distribution analysis, D3K7-like methanotrophs are not restricted to polar habitats but inhabit peatlands and soils of various climatic zones.

Epidemiological situations, such as the pandemic of COVID-19, pose a clear and significant problem for the states in their efforts to construct and to control their population. The widespread introduction of a lockdown as a regulatory method during the current pandemic could be associated with the need to preserve an understandable, quantifiable, and predictable management object. This paper considers, analyses, and compares two deviant cases of COVID-19 pandemic responses: South Korea and Sweden. In South Korea, the pandemic regulations were dominated by large-scale testing and contact tracing, while lockdown policies have played a supplementary role. Sweden’s attempt to develop population immunity by introducing less stringent measures that its neighbours has attracted much attention worldwide. The authors conduct desk research and analyse secondary data on pandemic regulations and their effects in these two countries in 2020. Similarities and differences between Swedish and South Korean cases are formulated regarding trust inside and between the states.

In recent years, US share buyback costs have hit record highs, in part due to the 2017 Tax Reform, shareholder activities and record low borrowing costs. The purpose of the present study is to explore the reasons for choosing a policy of payments to investors in American companies and the impact of share buybacks on the results of companies and the economic system. The study reviews traditional theories that explain the choice of investor payout policy. The authors have highlighted the main motives of companies when making decisions on the payment mechanism. After examining the existing theoretical aspects of the choice of payment policy and the trend of US buybacks, a panel data regression analysis of is carried out to comprehensively investigate the causes and consequences of the choice of payment policy. The study identifies managements’ motives for the share buyback and demonstrates the positive impact of share buybacks on the company’s development.

The complete genome of the naphthalene- and n-alkane-degrading strain Pseudomonas sp. strain OVF7 was collected and analyzed. Clusters of genes encoding enzymes for the degradation of naphthalene and n-alkanes are localized on the chromosome. Based on the Average Nucleotide Identity and digital DNA–DNA Hybridization compared with type strains of the group of fluorescent pseudomonads, the bacterium studied probably belongs to a new species. Using light, fluorescent, and scanning electron microscopy, the ability of the studied bacterium to form biofilms of different architectures when cultured in liquid mineral medium with different carbon sources, including naphthalene and n-dodecane, was demonstrated. When grown on a mixture of naphthalene and n-dodecane, the strain first consumed naphthalene and then n-dodecane. Cultivation of the strain on n-dodecane was characterized by a long adaptation phase, in contrast to cultivation on naphthalene and a mixture of naphthalene and n-dodecane.

Strains of the genus Delftia are poorly studied microorganisms. In this work, the complete genome of the naphthalene-degrading Delftia tsuruhatensis strain ULwDis3 isolated from seawater of the Gulf of Finland of the Baltic Sea was assembled. For the first time, genes encoding naphthalene cleavage pathways via salicylate and gentisate were identified in a strain of the genus Delftia. The genes are part of one operon (nag genes). Three open reading frames (ORFs) were found in the genome of D. tsuruhatensis strain ULwDis3 that encode gentisate 1.2-dioxygenase. One of the ORFs is part of the nag operon. The physiological and biochemical characteristics of the strain ULwDis3 when cultured in mineral medium with naphthalene as the sole source of carbon and energy were also studied. It was found that after 22 h of growth, the strain stopped consuming naphthalene, and at the same time, naphthalene 1.2-dioxygenase and salicylate 5-hydroxylase activities were not detected. Later, a decrease in the number of living cells and the death of the culture were observed. Gentisate 1.2-dioxygenase activity was detected from the time of gentisate formation until culture death.

The impact of geographical factors, functional zoning, and biotope type on the diversity of microbial communities and chemical components in the dust of urban ecosystems was studied. Comprehensive analyses of bacterial and fungal communities, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and metals in road and leaf dust in three urban zones of Murmansk and Moscow with contrasting anthropogenic load were conducted. We found that the structure of bacterial communities affected the functional zoning of the city, biotope type, and geographical components. Fungal communities were instead impacted only by biotope type. Our findings revealed that the structure of fungal communities was mostly impacted by PAHs whereas bacterial communities were sensitive to metals. Bacteria of the genus Sphingomonas in road and leaf dust as indicators of the ecological state of the urban ecosystems were proposed.

We performed a comparative study of the total bacterial communities and communities of cultivable polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)-degrading bacteria in different functional zones of Moscow and Murmansk that were formed under the influence of the PAH composition in road and leaf dust. The PAHs were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC); the bacterial communities’ diversity was assessed by metabarcoding. The degraders were isolated by their direct plating on a medium with the PAHs. The PAH total quantity declined in the leaf dust from the traffic to the recreational zone. For the road dust, a negative gradient with pollution was observed for Rhodococcus and Acinetobacter degraders and for their relative abundance in the microbiome for the functional zones of Moscow. The opposite effect was observed in the Murmansk leaf dust for the Rothia and Pseudomonas degraders and in the Moscow road dust for Microbacterium. The PCA and linear regression analyses showed that the Micrococcus degraders in the dust were sensitive to anthropogenic pollution, so they can be used as a tool for monitoring anthropogenic changes in the biosphere. The data on the degraders’ and microbial communities’ diversity suggest that minor degrading strains can play a key role in PAH degradation.

Drug-eluting films made of bioresorbable polymers are a widely used tool of modern personalized medicine. However, most currently existing methods of producing coatings do not go beyond the laboratory, as they have low encapsulation efficiency and/or difficulties in scaling up. The PLACE (Printed Layered Adjustable Cargo Encapsulation) technology proposed in this article uses an additive approach for film manufacturing. PLACE technology is accessible, scalable, and reproducible in any laboratory. As a demonstration of the technology capabilities, we fabricated layered drug-eluting polyglycolic acid films containing different concentrations of Cefazolin antibiotic. The influence of the amount of loaded drug component on the film production process and the release kinetics was studied. The specific loading of drugs was significantly increased to 200–400 µg/cm2 while maintaining the uniform release of Cefazolin antibiotic in a dosage sufficient for local antimicrobial therapy for 14 days. The fact that the further increase in the drug amount results in the crystallization of a substance, which can lead to specific defects in the cover film formation and accelerated one-week cargo release, was also shown, and options for further technology development were proposed.

Narrow dispersed poly(1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazole) (PVT) was synthesized by reversible addition–fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization of 1-vinyl-1,2,4-triazole (VT). AIBN as the initiator and dithiocarbamates, xanthates, and trithiocarbonates as the chain transfer agents (CTA) were used. Dithiocarbamates proved to be the most efficient in VT polymerization. Gel permeation chromatography was used to determine the molecular weight distribution and polydispersity of the synthesized polymers. The presence of the CTA stabilizing and leaving groups in the PVT was confirmed by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The linear dependence of the degree of polymerization on time confirms the conduct of radical polymerization in a controlled mode. The VT conversion was over 98% and the PVT number average molecular weight ranged from 11 to 61 kDa. The polydispersity of the synthesized polymers reached 1.16. The occurrence of the controlled radical polymerization was confirmed by monitoring the degree of polymerization over time.

Abstract. Aim. To evaluate the effectiveness of a consortium of hydrocarbon oxidizing bacteria in various model systems. Methods. Two types of model systems were used for carrying out the experiments: with a liquid mineral medium and with non-sterile soil. To determine the number of microorganisms, a standard method of serial dilutions with seeding to individual colonies was used. Individual strains in the consortium were distinguished using selective media with antibiotics. Oil degradation was assessed by IR spectrometry. Results. The consortium was capable to effective oil destruction in a liquid medium at 4°C and at 24°C, and with respect to control, oil loss is higher at low temperature. At 50°C, the consortium was inactive. In model non-sterile soil systems, the stimulation of native microorganisms by introducing mineral fertilizers did not lead to significant changes in the number of oil-degrading microorganisms but the degree of oil degradation increased. With the joint introduction of the microbial consortium and fertilization, the greatest number of both heterotrophic and oil-degrading strains was observed in the soil system. The degree of oil destruction in this system was also the highest: 59% at 42 days at room temperature. Main conclusions. The developed bacterial consortium has a high oil-degrading activity both at low (4°C) and moderate (18-25°C) temperatures. In non-sterile soil systems, the consortium's microorganisms do not inhibit the local biota, maintaining their numbers at about constant levels, but at the same time they make the main contribution to pollution degradation.

The paper highlights issues of studying artificial intelligence (AI). The path taken here is to engage the reader in a discussion of interdisciplinarity/crossdisciplinarity of AI studies. It begins with a basic assumption and key argument that antidisciplinarity rather than inter- or multi-disciplinarity will bring a new dynamic to scientific research dealing with "artificial intelligence" and "artificial sociality". Discussion of the social scientists' concerns and problems is reported in what follows. On this base the authors develop their ideas which may help theorists and empirical researchers to tackle questions of AI development in a society. In a conclusion the paper makes correlations of the research outcomes with a reality of higher education.

Upland forest ecosystems are recognized as net sinks for atmospheric methane (CH4), one of the most impactful greenhouse gases. Biological methane uptake in these ecosystems occurs due to the activity of aerobic methanotrophic bacteria. Russia hosts one-fifth of the global forest area, with the most extensive forest landscapes located in West Siberia. Here, we report seasonal CH4 flux measurements conducted in 2018 in three types of stands in West Siberian middle taiga–Siberian pine, Aspen, and mixed forests. High rates of methane uptake of up to −0.184 mg CH4 m−2 h−1 were measured by a static chamber method, with an estimated total growing season consumption of 4.5 ± 0.5 kg CH4 ha−1. Forest type had little to no effect on methane fluxes within each season. Soil methane oxidation rate ranged from 0 to 8.1 ng CH4 gDW−1 h−1 and was negatively related to water-filled pore space. The microbial soil communities were dominated by the Alpha- and Gammaproteobacteria, Acidobacteriota and Actinobacteriota. The major group of 16S rRNA gene reads from methanotrophs belonged to uncultivated Beijerinckiaceae bacteria. Molecular identification of methanotrophs based on retrieval of the pmoA gene confirmed that Upland Soil Cluster Alpha was the major bacterial group responsible for CH4 oxidation.

Methanotrophic verrucomicrobia of the order Methylacidiphilales are known as extremely acidophilic, thermophilic or mesophilic bacteria that inhabit acidic geothermal ecosystems. The occurrence of verrucomicrobial methanotrophs in other types of acidic environments remains an open question. Notably, Methylacidiphilales-affiliated 16S rRNA gene sequences are commonly retrieved from acidic (pH 3.5–5.5) peatlands. In this study, we compared the patterns of verrucomicrobial diversity in four acidic raised bogs and six neutral fens located in European North Russia. Methylacidiphilales-like 16S rRNA gene reads displaying 83–86% similarity to 16S rRNA gene sequences of currently described verrucomicrobial methanotrophs were recovered exclusively from raised bogs. Laboratory incubation of peat samples with 10% methane for 3 weeks resulted in the pronounced increase of a relative abundance of alphaproteobacterial methanotrophs, while no response was detected for Methylacidiphilales-affiliated bacteria. Three metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of peat-inhabiting Methylacidiphilales bacteria were reconstructed and examined for the presence of genes encoding methane monooxygenase enzymes and autotrophic carbon fixation pathways. None of these genomic determinants were detected in assembled MAGs. Metabolic reconstructions predicted a heterotrophic metabolism, with a potential to hydrolyze several plant-derived polysaccharides. As suggested by our analysis, peat-inhabiting representatives of the Methylacidiphilales are acidophilic aerobic heterotrophs, which comprise a sister family of the methanotrophic Methylacidiphilaceae.

Rokubacteria is a phylogenetic clade of as-yet-uncultivated prokaryotes, which are detected in diverse terrestrial habitats and are commonly addressed as members of the rare biosphere. This clade was originally described as a candidate phylum; however, based on the results of comparative genome analysis, was later defined as the order-level lineage, Rokubacteriales, within the phylum Methylomirabilota. The physiology and lifestyles of these bacteria are poorly understood. A dataset of 16S rRNA gene reads retrieved from four boreal raised bogs and six eutrophic fens was examined for the presence of the Rokubacteriales; the latter were detected exclusively in fens. Their relative abundance varied between 0.2 and 4% of all bacteria and was positively correlated with pH, total nitrogen content, and availability of Ca and Mg. To test an earlier published hypothesis regarding the presence of methanotrophic capabilities in Rokubacteria, peat samples were incubated with 10% methane for four weeks. No response to methane availability was detected for the Rokubacteriales, while clear a increase in relative abundance was observed for the conventional Methylococcales methanotrophs. The search for methane monooxygenase encoding genes in 60 currently available Rokubacteriales metagenomes yielded negative results, although copper-containing monooxygenases were encoded by some members of this order. This study suggests that peat-inhabiting Rokubacteriales are neutrophilic non-methanotrophic bacteria that colonize nitrogen-rich wetlands.

Objective. To analyze risk factors for the development of increased blood loss during surgical correction of idiopathic scoliosis. Material and Methods. A total of 395 patients with idiopathic scoliosis were operated on using hybrid instrumentation, in prone position, under inhalation multicomponent anesthesia. Four groups of patients were identified: Group I – blood loss below 15 % of total blood vol- ume (TBV) (n = 201); Group II – blood loss 15–30 % of TBV (n = 133); Group III – blood loss 30–40 % of TBV (n = 42); and Group IV – blood loss more than 40 % of TBV (n = 19). In 92 patients, operations were performed under condition of incomplete decompression of the anterior abdominal wall, in 303 patients – under condition of complete decompression. Analysis included data on increased intra- abdominal pressure, the initial condition of the system regulating the aggregate state of blood, the presence of connective tissue dysplasia, and structural features of the bone tissue. Results. Complete decompression of the anterior abdominal wall during posterior instrumental correction allows reducing the volume of intraoperative blood loss by 60 % and avoiding blood transfusion in 75.9 % of patients. Structural and chronometric hypocoagulation as- sociated with the inhibition of lateral aggregation of fibrin, is a start functional state of the hemostasis system in 80.0 % of patients with idiopathic scoliosis. Conclusion. The main importance in solving the problem of reducing the severity of intraoperative blood loss belongs to the correction of the revealed disorders in the system regulating the aggregate state of blood and the implementation of procedures aimed at preventing an increase in intra-abdominal pressure.

Objective. To assess the effectiveness of tranexamic acid in the surgical correction of idiopathic scoliosis. Material and Methods. The study included a retrospective analysis of intraoperative and postoperative blood loss during surgical correction of idiopathic scoliosis in 198 patients. In 70 patients, the operation was performed without administra- tion of tranexamic acid. In 58 patients, tranexamic acid was administered 15 minutes before the skin incision at a dose of 10 mg/kg, and continued uninterruptedly at a dose of 1 mg/kg/h. In 70 patients, tranexamic acid was administered con- tinuously during the operation at a dose of 10 mg/kg. Patients underwent surgery in a prone position with full decompres- sion of the anterior abdominal wall. Results. The registered intraoperative blood loss in most cases corresponded to Class I (no more than 750 ml or 15 % of blood volume) and Class II (no more than 750–1500 ml or 15–30 % of blood volume) according to the WHO classifica- tion of severity. The volume of intraoperative blood loss was not statistically different between groups. Significant differ- ences were detected only in assessing parameters of postoperative blood loss. Conclusion. The use of tranexamic acid in surgical correction of scoliosis does not affect the bleeding index of tissues at the surgical site and the total intraoperative blood loss. Using tranexamic acid in spine surgery is a technological procedure al- lowing for significant reduction in postoperative blood loss.

Members of the Acidobacteria are among the most efficient colonizers of acidic terrestrial habitats but the key traits underlying their environmental fitness remain to be understood. We analyzed indigenous assemblages of Acidobacteria in a lichen-covered acidic (pH 4.1) soil of forested tundra dominated by uncultivated members of subdivision 1. An isolate of these bacteria with cells occurring within saccular chambers, strain SBC82T, was obtained. The genome of strain SBC82T consists of a 7.11-Mb chromosome and four megaplasmids, and encodes a wide repertoire of enzymes involved in degradation of chitin, cellulose, and xylan. Among those, four secreted chitinases affiliated with the glycoside hydrolase family GH18 were identified. Strain SBC82T utilized amorphous chitin as a source of carbon and nitrogen; the respective enzyme activities were detected in tests with synthetic substrates. Chitinolytic capability was also confirmed for another phylogenetically related acidobacterium isolated from a Sphagnum peat bog, strain CCO287. As revealed by metatranscriptomic analysis of chitin-amended peat, 16S rRNA reads from these acidobacteria increased in response to chitin availability. Strains SBC82T and CCO287 were assigned to a novel genus and species, Acidisarcina polymorpha gen. nov., sp. nov. Members of this genus colonize acidic soils and peatlands and specialize in degrading complex polysaccharides.

Upland soils of tundra function as a constant sink for atmospheric CH4 but the identity of methane oxidizers in these soils remains poorly understood. Methane uptake rates of −0.4 to −0.6 mg CH4-C m−2 day−1 were determined by the static chamber method in a mildly acidic upland soil of the lichen-dominated forested tundra, North Siberia, Russia. The maximal CH4 oxidation activity was localized in an organic surface soil layer underlying the lichen cover. Molecular identification of methanotrophic bacteria based on retrieval of the pmoA gene revealed Upland Soil Cluster Alpha (USCα) as the only detectable methanotroph group. Quantification of these pmoA gene fragments by means of specific qPCR assay detected ~107pmoA gene copies g−1 dry soil. The pmoA diversity was represented by seven closely related phylotypes; the most abundant phylotype displayed 97.5% identity to pmoA of Candidatus Methyloaffinis lahnbergensis. Further analysis of prokaryote diversity in this soil did not reveal 16S rRNA gene fragments from well-studied methanotrophs of the order Methylococcales and the family Methylocystaceae. The largest group of reads (~4% of all bacterial 16S rRNA gene fragments) that could potentially belong to methanotrophs was classified as uncultivated Beijerinckiaceae bacteria. These reads displayed 96–100 and 95–98% sequence similarity to 16S rRNA gene of Candidatus Methyloaffinis lahnbergensis and “Methylocapsa gorgona” MG08, respectively, and were represented by eight species-level operational taxonomic units (OTUs), two of which were highly abundant. These identification results characterize subarctic upland soils, which are exposed to atmospheric methane concentrations only, as a unique habitat colonized mostly by USCα methanotrophs.

Large areas in Northern Russia are covered by extensive mires, which represent a complex mosaic of ombrotrophic raised bogs, minerotrophic and eutrophic fens, all in a close proximity to each other. In this paper, we compared microbial diversity patterns in the surface peat layers of the neighbouring raised bogs and eutrophic fens that are located within two geographically remote mire sites in Vologda region using 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Regardless of location, the microbial communities in raised bogs were highly similar to each other but were clearly distinct from those in eutrophic fens. Bogs were dominated by the Acidobacteria (30%–40% of total 16S rRNA gene reads), which belong to the orders Acidobacteriales and Bryobacterales. Other bog-specific bacteria included the Phycisphaera-like group WD2101 and the families Isosphaeraceae and Gemmataceae of the Planctomycetes, orders Opitutales and Pedosphaerales of the Verrucomicrobia and a particular group of alphaproteobacteria within the Rhizobiales. In contrast, fens hosted Anaerolineae-affiliated Chloroflexi, Vicinamibacteria- and Blastocatellia-affiliated Acidobacteria, Rokubacteria, uncultivated group OM190 of the Planctomycetes and several groups of betaproteobacteria. The Patescibacteria were detected in both types of wetlands but their relative abundance was higher in fens. A number of key parameters that define the distribution of particular bacterial groups in mires were identified.

The exponential growth of online technologies in everyday life transforms the very contours of social phenomena, processes, and institutions well known to sociologists. We discuss these transformations in two interrelated areas: transnational migration and extremism. First, the paper proposes an approach to examine «transnationalism online» as a sub-set of transnational migration studies. Second, it presents a critical review of how contemporary scholars study extremist activities and discourse of those who are involved in migration with a special focus on online manifestations of extremism. In a concluding part of the paper we present theoretical and methodological comments on the paths in examining the «dark side» of transnationalism online.

Viliuisk encephalomyelitis is an acute, often fatal, meningoencephalitis that tends to develop into a prolonged chronically progressive panencephalitis. Clinical, neuropathologic, and epidemiologic data argue for an infectious cause, although multiple attempts at pathogen isolation have been unsuccessful. To assess mechanisms of disease transmission and spread, we studied 6 multiplex families. Secondary cases occurred among genetically related and unrelated persons in a setting of prolonged intrahousehold contact with a patient manifesting the disease. Transmission to unrelated persons was documented in a densely populated region around the city of Yakutsk in which Viliuisk encephalomyelitis had not been previously known. Initially identified in a small Yakut-Evenk population on the Viliui River of eastern Siberia, the disease subsequently spread through human contacts to new geographic areas, thus characterizing Viliuisk encephalomyelitis as an emerging infectious disease.