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The goal of this work is to analyze the dynamics of soil organic matter (SOM) in arable soils of Yamal using computational experiments with the ROMUL model. Soil temperature and moisture dynamics were simulated using the SCLISS model. The Yamal experimental station was organized in 1932. The soil is Plaggic Podzol. The thickness of humus horizon (PY) is 30 cm. Pools, kg/m2: SOM – 9.32 and 13.75; N – 0.46 and 0.66 for 0–20 and 0–30 cm respectively. Background: soddy-green-moss tundra near Salekhard. Soil: Folic Podzol: litter (O, 2 cm) and humus-accumulative (AY, 4 cm) and illuvial ferruginous (BF, 6 cm) horizons. Pools, kg/m2: SOM – 1.38 and 2.69, N – 0.03 and 0.18 for 0–2 and 2–6 cm respectively. The quantity and quality of background fall was estimated according to literature data. Clarification of the amount of fall was carried out by the method of inverse problem solving (spin-up). Peat application was simulated: starting application in the dose of 12 kg/m2 and maintenance (every 6 years) in doses 4, 8 and 12 kg/m2, N 1%. Application of mineral fertilizers, 2 variants: a) N 4 g/m2 (40 kg/ha) in peatting years and b) application of the same dose of nitrogen every year. The duration of computational experiments is 30 and 90 years. Computational experiments showed that after the starting peatting of Folic Podzol at the rate of 12 kg/m2 after 30 years, only 15% of the applied detritus remained. Maintenance peatting of 8–12 kg/m2 leads to an increase in SOM pool to 20–30 kg/m2 and excessive accumulation of detritus. Application of 4 kg/m2 of peat once every 6 years for 90 years shows the dynamics of SOM pools from Folic Podzol to Plaggic Podzol which is confirmed by field survey data. Application of mineral nitrogen (4 g/m2) once every 6 years does not affect SOM pools. Annual application of mineral N (4 g/m2) increases SOM pools due to intensified humification. This fact requires experimental verification.

The year 2024 is marked by the relevance of considering the interaction between state bodies and public institutions, especially in the context of wars such as the Russian-Ukrainian war. Despite these difficulties, Ukrainian society has been active in confronting the aggressor and has received support from democratic countries. The study aimed to analyse the actual aspects of the interaction between the government and civil society structures during the period of martial law. A variety of scientific and legal methods were used, such as comparative legal, systemic, formal legal, formal-logical, descriptive analysis and forecasting methods. The current state of legal and regulatory framework for cooperation between government and civil society is considered, including an analysis of the experience of other countries, which highlights the key aspects of this interaction. It was established that in Ukraine, the processes of formation of a democratic state governed by the rule of law and institutionalisation of civil society are taking place in parallel, contributing to their mutual evolution. The interaction between political authorities and civic initiatives is important because it consists of interrelated factors: the influence of state structures on the activity of citizens and the influence of civil society itself on the formation of political decisions. The paper examined the root causes that delay or, on the contrary, facilitate the proper and effective exchange of ideas and initiatives between government agencies and the public, including imperfect legislation, ineffective existing mechanisms of interaction and their formal nature, as well a lack of public trust in government agencies, and others. The paper formulated and substantiated recommendations that can be used to improve the legal framework for the creation and functioning of civil society institutions as active participants in interaction with the authorities. These proposals may be useful for educational programmes, the development of scientific recommendations and practical activities of civil society institutions and authorities

Restoration of the pool of coarse woody debris after disturbances is one of the mechanisms for maintaining the stability of forest biogeocenoses. The studies of coarse woody debris have been carried out in the “Vepssky Forest” Reserve in the Leningrad Region on 8 sample plots established in primary forests (4 sample plots) and in secondary forests of the 1st generation after logging in 1973–1974 (4 sample plots), where the composition and structure of the stand, as well as the site conditions have been identical to those in primary forests. The coarse woody debris has been inventoried on transects. The stocks of coarse woody debris in primary stands have ranged from 104 to 233 m3 ha–1. Windfall and leaning trees have prevailed. The proportion of deadwood in both primary and secondary forests has been low. Clear cutting has significantly changed not only the stock of coarse woody debris, but also its distribution by decay classes and substrate categories. The stocks of coarse woody debris in secondary forests have ranged from 8 to 40 m3 ha–1, and have been mainly represented by stumps. The coarse woody debris of the 4th and 5th decay classes has almost been absent in primary forests, while in secondary forests the proportion of highly decomposed wood remaining after cutting has been about 50 %. The ratio of coarse woody debris and growing stocks has been on average 1:1 and 1:5 in the biogeocenoses of primary and secondary forests, respectively. The annual carbon balance of coarse woody debris (the difference in fluxes due to the loss of growing forest and the decay of coarse woody debris) has ranged from 0,40 to 2,80 t C ha–1 year–1, averaging 1,75 and 0,63 t C ha–1 year–1 in secondary and primary forests, respectively. The positive annual carbon balance in the coarse woody debris is due to the predominance of the rate of the loss of growing forest over the rate of the decay of coarse woody debris in primary forests as a result of wind disturbances and as a result of self-thinning of the stand in secondary forests.

Due to the large number of nuclear power plants around the globe and the growing threat of radioactive accidents, a complex assessment of the biological consequences of the Chornobyl disaster is a relevant issue. Study of mutagenic activity of prolonged and chronic action of radionuclide pollution of soil in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone long after the accident will allow us to identify the current level of threat they pose to the human genome and can reveal specific cytogenic markers of radionuclide environmental pollution. For this purpose, we germinated seeds of wheat of soft winter varieties Smuhlianka and Bohdana in soil samples from the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone 35 years after the disaster. Specific activity of Cs-137 and Sr-90 accounted for 4.5–28.2 kBq/kg. To determine the frequency and range of chromosomal aberrations, we used the anaphase-telophase method. In aberrant cells, we studied extracellular distribution of chromosomal disorders. The frequency of aberrant cells was 3.53–7.55 times above the spontaneous level. High mutagenic activity remained in the conditions of the lowest density of radionuclide pollution of soil. The range of chromosomal disorders mostly included paired fragments and bridges and containd chromosomal acentric rings, binding of chromosomes, myocardium, and lagging and leading chromosomes. Radionuclide pollution in the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone induced multiple cellular aberrations in the rhizome meristem, the share of which was the highest in case of low specific radionuclide pollution of soil, and exhibited a tendency towards decrease against the background of the highest density of radionuclides. Pollution of the environment with radionuclides as a result of disasters at nuclear energy objects poses a threat to the human genome and is a global problem, requiring state support to solve through systematic genetic monitoring in readionuclide-polluted territories and areas adjacent to them.

Up to 57% of patients develop postoperative delirium after surgery for congenital heart defects (CHD). To reduce cerebral damage in pediatric patients during CHD surgery it is important to find out what inflicts the worse damage: would it be a systemic inflammatory response (SIR) triggered by transfusion, or hypoxia developed in non-transfused patients? In vitro evaluation of hypoxia and SIR effects on the neurovascular unit (NVU) cells might contribute to finding the answer.The aim of the study was to compare the effect of varying severity hypoxia and SIR on the functional activity of NUV cells in vitro.Materials and methods. An in vitro NVU model was designed including neurons, astrocytes and endotheliocytes. The effect of hypoxia on NVU was evaluated in the control (C) and 4 study groups (H 1–4), formed based on O₂ content in the medium. The C group NVU were cultivated in standard conditions: N₂ — 75%, O₂ — 20%, CO₂ — 5%; H1: N₂ — 99%, O₂ — 1%; H2: N₂ — 98%, O₂ — 2%; H3: N₂ — 97%, O₂ — 3%; H4: N₂ — 96%, O₂ — 4%. The significance of the differences was 0.0125. The effect of interleukin-6 (IL-6) content on NVU was measured by adding to culture medium pediatric patients’ serum with known minimal or maximal SIRS-response. The assessment was made in the Control — an intact NVU model, and 2 study groups — «Minimum» and «Maximum», i. e. samples with minimum or maximum IL-6 content in culture, respectively. The significance of the differences was 0.017. The cells were incubated at a normothermia regimen for 30 minutes. Then, the functional activity of NVU cells was evaluated by measuring transendothelial resistance (TER) for 24 hours and Lucifer Yellow (LY) permeability test at 60 and 90 minutes after the start of the experiment.Results. After incubation under hypoxic conditions, TER changes occurred in all studied groups. However, they were statistically significant only in the group with 1% oxygen content in the medium. TER decrease in this group was observed after 2, 4 and 24 hours. LY permeability also changed at 60 and 90 minutes, similarly — in NVU cultivated with 1% oxygen in the medium. Minimal TER values were documented at 4 hours after patients’ serum was added to NVU cells culture medium, and TER increased at 24 hours in both study groups. Cellular permeability to LY changed significantly after 1 hour exposure in both groups — with minimum and maximum IL-6 content in the medium. Although at 90 minutes, there was no difference between the 3 groups in LY permeability tests.Conclusion. Intensive SIR demonstrated short-term but more deleterious than hypoxia, effect on cells in the NVU model. Hypoxia disrupted functional activity of NUV cells only at 1% O₂ concentration in the medium.

Abstract IL-22 is critical for ameliorating obesity-induced metabolic disorders. However, it is unknown where IL-22 acts to mediate these outcomes. Here we examine the importance of tissue-specific IL-22RA1 signaling in mediating long-term high fat diet (HFD) driven metabolic disorders. To do so, we generated intestinal epithelium-, liver-, and white adipose tissue (WAT)-specific Il22ra1 knockout and littermate control mice. Intestinal epithelium- and liver-specific IL-22RA1 signaling upregulated systemic glucose metabolism. Intestinal IL-22RA1 signaling also mediated liver and WAT metabolism in a microbiota-dependent manner. We identified an association between Oscillibacter and elevated WAT inflammation, likely induced by Mmp12 expressing macrophages. Mechanistically, transcription of intestinal lipid metabolism genes is regulated by IL-22 and potentially IL-22-induced IL-18. Lastly, we show that Paneth cell-specific IL-22RA1 signaling, in part, mediates systemic glucose metabolism after HFD. Overall, these results elucidate a key role of intestinal epithelium-specific IL-22RA1 signaling in regulating intestinal metabolism and alleviating systemic obesity-associated disorders.

Neurodegeneration is a complex and multifactorial process presenting one of the major issues of fundamental science and clinical medicine due to its high prevalence, multiple nosological entities, and variations in pathogenesis. Translational research contributes to the study of neurodegenerative diseases, with modeling of such pathologies being an important part of this research. Behavioral testing in various animal models of neurodegenerative diseases allows to assess the model validity and reliability, as well as to investigate the potential efficacy of pharmacotherapy and other management approaches. In this overview we present test batteries that evaluate behavior, cognitive performance, and emotional states in animals with experimentally induced neurodegeneration.

Tregs have the potential to be utilized as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of various chronic diseases, including diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis. One of the challenges associated with developing a therapeutic product based on Tregs is the non-selectivity of polyclonal cells. A potential solution to this issue is a generation of antigen-specific CAR-Tregs. Other challenges associated with developing a therapeutic product based on Tregs include the phenotypic instability of these cells in an inflammatory microenvironment, discrepancies between engineered Treg-like cells and natural Tregs, and the expression of dysfunctional isoforms of Treg marker genes. This review presents a summary of proposed strategies for addressing these challenges.

Permafrost-affected regions in the Russian Arctic are a critical study area for studying the sources of metal elements (MEs) in soils originating from geological/pedogenic processes or from anthropogenic sources via atmospheric transport. In the Nadym region of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District, we investigated the contents of soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and MEs across different soil types and horizons, explored the source apportionment of MEs, and assessed local ecological risks of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). The results showed that (1) the contents of SOC and TN in Histic Cryosols (8.59% and 0.27%) were significantly higher than in Plaggic Podzols (Arenic, Gelic, and Turbic) (2.28% and 0.15%) and in Ekranic Technosols (Umbric) (1.32% and 0.09%); (2) the concentrations of MEs in the Nadym region were lower than in other Arctic regions; (3) the primary sources of MEs were identified as geological processes (36%), atmospheric transport (23%), agricultural activities (21%), and transportation (20%); and (4) the permafrost-affected soils in the Nadym region exhibited low ecological risks from PTEs. These results underscore the critical role of geological and anthropogenic factors in shaping soil conditions and highlight the relatively low ecological risk from PTEs, providing a valuable benchmark for future environmental assessments and policy development in Yamal permafrost regions.

Abstract Background The gut microbiota contributes to macrophage-mediated inflammation in adipose tissue with consumption of an obesogenic diet, thus driving the development of metabolic syndrome. There is a need to identify and develop interventions that abrogate this condition. The hops-derived prenylated flavonoid xanthohumol (XN) and its semi-synthetic derivative tetrahydroxanthohumol (TXN) attenuate high-fat diet-induced obesity, hepatosteatosis, and metabolic syndrome in C57Bl/6J mice. This coincides with a decrease in pro-inflammatory gene expression in the gut and adipose tissue, together with alterations in the gut microbiota and bile acid composition. Results In this study, we integrated and interrogated multi-omics data from different organs with fecal 16S rRNA sequences and systemic metabolic phenotypic data using a Transkingdom Network Analysis. By incorporating cell type information from single-cell RNA-seq data, we discovered TXN attenuates macrophage inflammatory processes in adipose tissue. TXN treatment also reduced levels of inflammation-inducing microbes, such as Oscillibacter valericigenes, that lead to adverse metabolic phenotypes. Furthermore, in vitro validation in macrophage cell lines and in vivo mouse supplementation showed addition of O. valericigenes supernatant induced the expression of metabolic macrophage signature genes that are downregulated by TXN in vivo. Conclusions Our findings establish an important mechanism by which TXN mitigates adverse phenotypic outcomes of diet-induced obesity and metabolic syndrome. TXN primarily reduces the abundance of pro-inflammatory gut microbes that can otherwise promote macrophage-associated inflammation in white adipose tissue. Video Abstract

The aim of the work was to investigate detection of different modifications of the green fluorescent protein gene (gfp) in the transgenic tobacco and maize plants by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Methods. Total DNA isolation, PCR, electrophoresis of DNA in agarose gel, bioinformatic resources. Results. Three pairs of primers were used for PCR analysis of tobacco and maize containing wild-type gfp or mutant synthetic gene S65Tpgfp. The primer pair gfp1F-gfp1R interacted with the wild-type gfp gene only. The gfp2F-gfp2R primers interacted with the gfp gene of different modifications both in tobacco and maize. The gfp3F-gfp3R primer pair interacted with the modified S65Tpgfp gene in tobacco DNA, but not with maize samples. Conclusions. Primers for detection of heterologous gfp gene, which were both narrowly specific (only one gene modification could be detected), and universal (more than one gene modification could be detected), were verified. It was shown that the primer pair gfp2F-gfp2R was universal for gfp gene detection both in tobacco and maize plants by PCR. The results obtained with gfp2F-gfp2R were reliably reproducible, so this primer pair is recommended for general use.

Abstract Background DAPfinder and DAPview are novel BRB-ArrayTools plug-ins to construct gene coexpression networks and identify significant differences in pairwise gene-gene coexpression between two phenotypes. Results Each significant difference in gene-gene association represents a Differentially Associated Pair (DAP). Our tools include several choices of filtering methods, gene-gene association metrics, statistical testing methods and multiple comparison adjustments. Network results are easily displayed in Cytoscape. Analyses of glioma experiments and microarray simulations demonstrate the utility of these tools. Conclusions DAPfinder is a new friendly-user tool for reconstruction and comparison of biological networks.

Soils of archaeological sites are highly interesting objects for multidisciplinary research in various fields of soil science, ecology, archaeology, anthropology and other sciences. Currently, the soils of archaeological sites in the Arctic regions have not been studied sufficiently, although many ancient monuments beyond the polar circle have been found. This work is devoted to the study of morphological and chemical properties of soils of the archaeological site “Settlement Labytnangi 1”, which is located beyond the northern polar circle, near the cities of Labytnangi and Salekhard (Yamal-Nenets Autonomous Okrug). Development of these territories (according to archaeological research) began in the Eneolithic (Late IV – III millennia BC) and continues to the present day. Soil types on the territory of the monument are represented by soil-like bodies (urbikvazizems), podzols, turbozems, urbo-agrozems and peat soils with inclusions of archaeological and anthropogenic artifacts dating back to the XX century. Most of the studied soils were previously subjected to the processes of cryoturbation, although at present the lower boundary of the active layer of permafrost lies at a depth of 120–130 cm, according to the conducted electrophysical sounding. Significant changes occurred in the acid-base properties of the studied soils. In addition, anthropogenic activity entailed the introduction of biophilic elements and organic matter into the soil profile, in particular phosphorus, which is concentrated in the urbanized soil horizons (phosphorus concentrations above 2 800 mg/kg were recorded). The concentrations of heavy metals in the soils are at/below the conventional background (vicinity of Salekhard and Labytnangi). However, some excess concentrations of copper (up to 87.5 mg/kg), zinc (up to 303.3 mg/kg), lead (up to 76.1 mg/kg), and cadmium (up to 2.1 mg/kg) in the urbanized soil horizons have been detected. According to the results of the work, we can conclude that the soils of the archaeological site were formed under the strong influence of modern and past anthropogenic activity, which determined their morphological structure and chemical characteristics at present.

The diet represents one environmental risk factor controlling the progression of type 1 diabetes (T1D) in genetically susceptible individuals. Consequently, understanding which specific nutritional components promote or prevent the development of disease could be used to make dietary recommendations in prediabetic individuals. In the current study, we hypothesized that the immunoregulatory phytochemcial, indole-3-carbinol (I3C) which is found in cruciferous vegetables, will regulate the progression of T1D in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. During digestion, I3C is metabolized into ligands for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a transcription factor that when systemically activated prevents T1D. In NOD mice, an I3C-supplemented diet led to strong AhR activation in the small intestine but minimal systemic AhR activity. In the absence of this systemic response, the dietary intervention led to exacerbated insulitis. Consistent with the compartmentalization of AhR activation, dietary I3C did not alter T helper cell differentiation in the spleen or pancreatic draining lymph nodes. Instead, dietary I3C increased the percentage of CD4+RORγt+Foxp3- (Th17 cells) in the lamina propria, intraepithelial layer, and Peyer's patches of the small intestine. The immune modulation in the gut was accompanied by alterations to the intestinal microbiome, with changes in bacterial communities observed within one week of I3C supplementation. A transkingdom network was generated to predict host-microbe interactions that were influenced by dietary I3C. Within the phylum Firmicutes, several genera (Intestinimonas, Ruminiclostridium 9, and unclassified Lachnospiraceae) were negatively regulated by I3C. Using AhR knockout mice, we validated that Intestinimonas is negatively regulated by AhR. I3C-mediated microbial dysbiosis was linked to increases in CD25high Th17 cells. Collectively, these data demonstrate that site of AhR activation and subsequent interactions with the host microbiome are important considerations in developing AhR-targeted interventions for T1D.

Abstract Clinical and preclinical studies established that supplementing diets with ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) can reduce hepatic dysfunction in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) but molecular underpinnings of this action were elusive. Herein, we used multi‐omic network analysis that unveiled critical molecular pathways involved in ω3 PUFA effects in a preclinical mouse model of western diet induced NASH. Since NASH is a precursor of liver cancer, we also performed meta‐analysis of human liver cancer transcriptomes that uncovered betacellulin as a key EGFR‐binding protein upregulated in liver cancer and downregulated by ω3 PUFAs in animals and humans with NASH. We then confirmed that betacellulin acts by promoting proliferation of quiescent hepatic stellate cells, inducing transforming growth factor–β2 and increasing collagen production. When used in combination with TLR2/4 agonists, betacellulin upregulated integrins in macrophages thereby potentiating inflammation and fibrosis. Taken together, our results suggest that suppression of betacellulin is one of the key mechanisms associated with anti‐inflammatory and anti‐fibrotic effects of ω3 PUFA on NASH.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection elicits both protein and lipid antigen-specific T cell responses. However, the incorporation of lipid antigens into subunit vaccine strategies and formulations has been underexplored, and the characteristics of vaccine-induced Mtb lipid-specific memory T cells have remained elusive. Mycolic acid (MA), a major lipid component of the Mtb cell wall, is presented by human CD1b molecules to unconventional T cell subsets. These MA-specific CD1b-restricted T cells have been detected in the blood and disease sites of Mtb-infected individuals, suggesting that MA is a promising lipid antigen for incorporation into multicomponent subunit vaccines. In this study, we utilized the enhanced stability of bicontinuous nanospheres (BCN) to efficiently encapsulate MA for in vivo delivery to MA-specific T cells, both alone and in combination with an immunodominant Mtb protein antigen (Ag85B). Pulmonary administration of MA-loaded BCN (MA-BCN) elicited MA-specific T cell responses in humanized CD1 transgenic mice. Simultaneous delivery of MA and Ag85B within BCN activated both MA- and Ag85B-specific T cells. Notably, pulmonary vaccination with MA-Ag85B-BCN resulted in the persistence of MA, but not Ag85B, within alveolar macrophages in the lung. Vaccination of MA-BCN through intravenous or subcutaneous route, or with attenuated Mtb likewise reproduced MA persistence. Moreover, MA-specific T cells in MA-BCN-vaccinated mice differentiated into a T follicular helper-like phenotype. Overall, the BCN platform allows for the dual encapsulation and in vivo activation of lipid and protein antigen-specific T cells and leads to persistent lipid depots that could offer long-lasting immune responses.

Problem. Usually, complex dynamic systems are characterized by a high order of equations in their mathematical models and intricate interconnections among subsystems that constitute the complex dynamic system. Naturally, the analysis and synthesis of complex dynamic systems require the use of powerful computational systems with vast memory and high processing speed. Goal. The aim is quantitative assessment of the influence of the continuum part of a dynamic system on the behavior of its discrete part and the possibility to perform decomposition of the mathematical model of perturbed motion of a discrete-continuum system based on this assessment. Methodology. The measures are aimed at addressing issues that are based on the discrete-continuum capabilities and their decomposition. Results. For three types of complex dynamic systems described by infinite-dimensional systems of ordinary differential equations, quantitative assessments of the influence of the continuum part on the discrete part of the system have been proposed. These assessments determine the decomposition of the mathematical models of perturbed motion for such systems. Originality. Simplified mathematical models for three types of discrete-continuous dynamic systems were obtained. Practical value. The obtained results can be recommended for the study of the specialized course on the motion characteristics of cargo trucks during the transportation of liquids in tanks. Through optimization using the MATLAB software package, it is possible to simulate various parameters of both the cargo truck and the cargo being transported.

BackgroundNonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global health problem. Identifying early gene indicators contributing to the onset and progression of NAFLD has the potential to develop novel targets for early therapeutic intervention. We report on the early and late transcriptomic signatures of western diet (WD)-induced nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in female and male Ldlr−/− mice, with time-points at 1 week and 40 weeks on the WD. Control Ldlr−/− mice were maintained on a low-fat diet (LFD) for 1 and 40 weeks.MethodsThe approach included quantitation of anthropometric and hepatic histology markers of disease as well as the hepatic transcriptome.ResultsOnly mice fed the WD for 40 weeks revealed evidence of NASH, i.e., hepatic steatosis and fibrosis. RNASeq transcriptome analysis, however, revealed multiple cell-specific changes in gene expression after 1 week that persisted to 40 weeks on the WD. These early markers of disease include induction of acute phase response (Saa1-2, Orm2), fibrosis (Col1A1, Col1A2, TGFβ) and NASH associated macrophage (NAM, i.e., Trem2 high, Mmp12 low). We also noted the induction of transcripts associated with metabolic syndrome, including Mmp12, Trem2, Gpnmb, Lgals3 and Lpl. Finally, 1 week of WD feeding was sufficient to significantly induce TNFα, a cytokine involved in both hepatic and systemic inflammation.ConclusionThis study revealed early onset changes in the hepatic transcriptome that develop well before any anthropometric or histological evidence of NALFD or NASH and pointed to cell-specific targeting for the prevention of disease progression.

A visual survey of 108 teaching and administrative buildings at the universities in the south of Russia revealed a certain degree of obsolescence and physical deterioration as important criteria for suitability for their modernization

Aim. To compare Artemisia tilesii “hairy” root lines with different transferred genes in terms of the relationship between the total content of flavonoids, the levels of antioxidant activity (AOA) and reducing power (RP), as well as the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), chalcone synthase (CHS), rolB and rolC genes. Methods. We compared the root lines Nos. 10 and 16, obtained by transformation with the wild Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain A4, lines Nos. 2 and 4, obtained using A. rhizogenes carrying pSV124 vector with ifn-?2b and nptII genes, as well as the roots of non-transformed plants that were cultivated in vitro. The presence and activity of rolB, rolC, PAL, and CHS genes were determined by PCR and real-time PCR, respectively. The content of flavonoids, AOA and RP were determined by standard tests with AlCl3, DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and K3[Fe(CN)6] accordingly. Results. The content of flavonoids in most of the lines was higher than in the control, and correlated with AOA and RP. Roots No. 10 were characterized by the fastest growth, which coincided with higher activity of rolB and rolC genes. The activities of PAL and CHS in “hairy” roots were lower than those in non-transformed ones. Conclusions. Root lines carrying only rolB and rolC and lines with additional ifn-?2b and nptII genes had similar ranges of flavonoids concentration, AOA and RP levels that exceeded those in the control. The dependence of the root growth rate, and lack of the dependence of the flavonoids content with the activity of the rol genes were demonstrated. PAL activity inversely correlated with flavonoids content in all experimental lines, which may be the result of overproduction of compounds in transgenic roots.

The agricultural use of soils is limited by their contamination with various compounds and low contents of nutrients. We aimed to study the unique soils of the Yamal Experimental Station to determine their contamination with heavy metals and assess their potential fertility. Established in 1932, the Yamal Experimental Station (Salekhard, Russia) has bred new varieties of vegetable crops in open and protected ground. In August 2021, we made a soil section and 40 pits in a 0–10 cm layer. X-ray fluorescence was used to determine 11 metals and oxides. The qualitative assessment was based on the total soil pollution, soil pollution, and geoaccumulation indexes. Finally, we determined the contents of nutrients. The metals and metal oxides showed regressive-accumulative distribution along the soil profile. The concentrations of all ecotoxicants (except for arsenic) were within the maximum/approximate permissible values. Since arsenic has a high regional background content, its elevated concentrations make the soil suitable for agricultural use if proper quality control is in place. The total soil pollution index classified the level of pollution as “acceptable”. The geoaccumulation index showed the soils as mostly “unpolluted” with metals. The soil pollution index had values below 1, which indicated the absence of pollution. The fallow soils of the Yamal Experimental Station have a high level of potential fertility and are suitable for agricultural reuse according to the soil quality indexes applied. They can also serve as a local geochemical standard that has a long history of agrogenic transformation in cryogenic ecosystems. Taking into account increased concentrations of arsenic, we recommend primary quality control of agricultural products to identify its possible migration in the soil-plant system.

Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID), the most common symptomatic primary antibody deficiency, is accompanied in some patients by a duodenal inflammation and malabsorption syndrome known as CVID enteropathy (E-CVID).The goal of this study was to investigate the immunological abnormalities in CVID patients that lead to enteropathy as well as the contribution of intestinal microbiota to this process.We found that, in contrast to noE-CVID patients (without enteropathy), E-CVID patients have exceedingly low levels of IgA in duodenal tissues. In addition, using transkingdom network analysis of the duodenal microbiome, we identified Acinetobacter baumannii as a candidate pathobiont in E-CVID. Finally, we found that E-CVID patients exhibit a pronounced activation of immune genes and down-regulation of epithelial lipid metabolism genes. We conclude that in the virtual absence of mucosal IgA, pathobionts such as A. baumannii, may induce inflammation that re-directs intestinal molecular pathways from lipid metabolism to immune processes responsible for enteropathy.

Students learning a new language are aided by the use of a voice assistant when practicing speech, as it allows them to intensify their independent studies and master the elementary level of a foreign language. Moreover, the didactic potential of the Russian voice assistant "Alice" has hardly been studied in the context of teaching a foreign language at the university level. The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of educational interactions between students who are mastering a beginner level of Russian as a foreign language at university with the aid of the voice assistant "Alice". This study involved foreign students of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia. The observation method allowed us to determine five educational functions of "Alice" while studying a foreign language and five scenarios of educational interaction students had with "her" in the process of their independent study. The flipped classroom model was selected to implement the proposed scenarios. The effectiveness of these educational interactions is confirmed by the results of the exam, which tested whether students meet the requirements for a beginner level of proficiency in Russian as a foreign language. After the exam, foreign students left positive feedback about working with "Alice". The results of the study indicate the didactic potential of the Russian voice assistant for those studying Russian at a university as an international student.