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The species of the genus Deschampsia are difficult for identification, and the genus is difficult for taxonomic treatment. The regions of 35S rRNA genes were studied for the species of the genus Deschampsia of different geographical origin with a method of sequencing by Sanger (ITS1–5.8S rRNA gene–ITS2, 14 species) and with a method of a locus-specific next-generation sequencing (NGS) on the Illumina platform (ITS1–5.8S rRNA, 7 species). All species of Deschampsia formed one clade; the species, referred by some authors on the basis of morphological characters to the species D. cespitosa s.l., entered one subclade. Subantarctic species formed a separate subclade and their ribotypes formed their own subnetwork. Avenella flexuosa, earlier referred to Deschampsia, entered the other clade, though this species contains some ribotypes common with some Deschampsia species. Deschampsia pamirica and related mountain species have their own specific ribotype groups. On the network of the ribotypes, one can see that D. cespitosa from Great Britain forms a network with some species, but D. cespitosa from the USA forms its own network. Ribotype analysis of each sample revealed traces of introgression with Deyeuxia/Calamagrostis in D. cespitosa and with A. flexuosa and probable introgression of Northern and subantarctic species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artificial hybrids between cultivated Avena species and wild Avena macrostachya that possess genes for resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses can be important for oat breeding. For the first time, a comprehensive study of genomes of artificial fertile hybrids Avena sativa × Avena macrostachya and their parental species was carried out based on the chromosome FISH mapping of satellite DNA sequences (satDNAs) and also analysis of intragenomic polymorphism in the 18S–ITS1–5.8S rDNA region, using NGS data. Chromosome distribution patterns of marker satDNAs allowed us to identify all chromosomes in the studied karyotypes, determine their subgenomic affiliation, and detect several chromosome rearrangements. Based on the obtained cytogenomic data, we revealed differences between two A. macrostachya subgenomes and demonstrated that only one of them was inherited in the studied octoploid hybrids. Ribotype analyses showed that the second major ribotype of A. macrostachya was species-specific and was not represented in rDNA pools of the octoploids, which could be related to the allopolyploid origin of this species. Our results indicate that the use of marker satDNAs in cytogenomic studies can provide important data on genomic relationships within Avena allopolyploid species and hybrids, and also expand the potential for interspecific crosses for breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We performed next-generation sequencing of the 18S rDNA–ITS1–5.8S rDNA region along with traditional Sanger sequencing of rbcL, matK, ndhF, and ITS1–5.8S rDNA–ITS2 to clarify the hybridization pattern in the subtribe Alopecurinae and in the genus Alopecurus in particular. Our data support the hybrid origin of Alopecurus × brachystylus from hybridization between A. geniculatus (sect. Alopecurium) and A. pratensis (sect. Alopecurus). Moreover, in the rDNA of hybrid A. × brachystylus, only A. aequalis-like ribotypes from tetraploid A. geniculatus participated. Surprisingly, we found the traces of introgression of A. arundinaceus-like ribotypes not only in hybrid A. × marssonii (A. geniculatus × A. arundinaceus) but in A. aequalis s. str. as well. A high-polyploid group from the section Alopecurus, A. aggr. alpinus has undoubted hybrid origin: e. g., A. brachystachyus has rDNA from the sect. Alopecurium. Alopecurus alpinus, with its allies, is clearly distinct from other members of the sect. Alopecurus (especially by maternal line) and thus we can re-establish a previous opinion about the separate group to which A. alpinus belongs. Species from the section Colobachne (presumably Alpine grasses from Ancient Mediterranean region) probably hybridized with the A. alpinus group. Even A. myosuroides (sect. Pseudophalaris) that could be referred to the separate genus has ribotypes common with the species of the section Alopecurium (A. aequalis, A. geniculatus) in one of the accessions. Additionally, we found that the possible polyphyletic origin of the genus Limnas. Limnas stelleri is very close to Alopecurus magellanicus according to NGS data, while L. malyschevii is more or less distinct from other studied species of the genus Alopecurus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Investigations that are focused on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus (AMF) biodiversity is still limited. The analysis of the AMF taxa in the North Caucasus, a temperate biodiversity hotspot, used to be limited to the genus level. This study aimed to define the AMF biodiversity at the species level in the North Caucasus biotopes. Methods: The molecular genetic identification of fungi was carried out with ITS1 and ITS2 regions as barcodes via sequencing using Illumina MiSeq, the analysis of phylogenetic trees for individual genera, and searches for operational taxonomic units (OTUs) with identification at the species level. Sequences from MaarjAM and NCBI GenBank were used as references. Results: We analyzed >10 million reads in soil samples for three biotopes to estimate fungal biodiversity. Briefly, 50 AMF species belonging to 20 genera were registered. The total number of the AM fungus OTUs for the "Subalpine Meadow" biotope was 171/131, that for "Forest" was 117/60, and that for "River Valley" was 296/221 based on ITS1/ITS2 data. The total number of the AM fungus species (except for virtual taxa) for the "Subalpine Meadow" biotope was 24/19, that for "Forest" was 22/13, and that for "River Valley" was 28/24 based on ITS1/ITS2 data. Greater AMF diversity, as well as number of OTUs and species, in comparison with that of forest biotopes, characterized valley biotopes (disturbed ecosystems; grasslands). The correlation coefficient between "Percentage of annual plants" and "Glomeromycota total reads" r = 0.76 and 0.81 for ITS1 and ITS2, respectively, and the correlation coefficient between "Percentage of annual plants" and "OTUs number (for total species)" was r = 0.67 and 0.77 for ITS1 and ITS2, respectively. Conclusion: High AMF biodiversity for the river valley can be associated with a higher percentage of annual plants in these biotopes and the active development of restorative successional processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A detailed investigation of the liquid-state polymerization of diacetylenes by calorimetric (DSC) and spectroscopic (in situ EPR) thermal analysis techniques is performed. Isoconversional kinetic analysis of the calorimetric data reveals that liquid-state polymerization is governed by a well-defined rate-limiting step as evidenced by a nearly constant isoconversional activation energy. By comparison, solid-state polymerization demonstrates isoconversional activation energy that varies widely, signifying multistep kinetics behavior. Unlike the solid-state reaction that demonstrates an autocatalytic behavior, liquid-state polymerization follows a rather unusual zero-order reaction model as established by both DSC and EPR data. Both techniques have also determined strikingly similar Arrhenius parameters for liquid-state polymerization. Relative to the solid-state process, liquid-state polymerization results in quantitative elimination of the p-toluenesulfonate group and the formation of p-toluenesulfonic acid and a polymeric product of markedly different chemical and phase composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CuII ternary systems with aromatic N‐donors (1,10‐phenanthroline, dipyrido‐[3,2‐f:2',3'‐h]‐quinoxaline, and 2‐methyldipyrido‐[3,2‐f:2',3'‐h]‐quinoxaline) and amino acids have been extensively studied in water solution under closely physiological conditions using several techniques, including potentiometric pH titration, mathematical modeling, nuclear magnetic relaxation, EPR, and DFT calculations. Based on the distribution diagrams of the complex species, single crystal syntheses of the ternary systems CuII‐aromatic N‐donor‐L‐amino acid were carried out. As a result, several crystal structures of the complexes with the desired copper‐to‐ligand ratio were established by X‐ray diffraction analysis. The most successful synthetic attempts were with L‐proline and L‐serine, resulting in the crystals with the desired copper(II) to ligand ratio. The developed approach made it possible to thoroughly describe systems with major proteinogenic amino acids in the L‐configuration. Numerous non‐covalent interactions such as H‐bonds, π‐π stacking, d‐π interactions, lone electron pair‐π interactions between CuII atom, conjugated aromatic ligand system, counterions, and water molecules were found to affect the stability and structure of the resulting complex particles. It has been found that in the CuII–N‐donor–amino acid systems there is an acceleration of ligand exchange by a factor of 2–25 compared to CuII‐amino acid systems, which is explained by taking into account steric effects, d‐π interactions, and the pseudo Jahn‐Teller effect. The investigated systems were tested for antitumor activity against MCF‐7, PC‐3, OVCAR‐4, SNB‐19, and M‐14 cell lines, and most samples, in particular, CuII–Phen–L‐His, CuII–MeDPQ−L‐Val and CuII–MeDPQ−L‐Ser, showed a therapeutic activity index greater than 2 for all selected cell types, which opens up prospects for their medical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the results of studies of the relationship of potential consumers to new synbiotic products with predictably formed functional, prebiotic properties and biological activity. The assessment of the prospects of including the developed bioactive synbiotic products in the recipes of dishes of public catering enterprises and giving them functional properties is given. The main socio-demographic characteristics and preferences of consumers in relation to synbiotic products with compositions of bioactive plant components have been identified. The trends of needs change, their duality, dilemmas, reality and problems of the main drivers relevant to the modern consumer, price expectations, preferred options for introducing bioactive synbiotic products into the diet are revealed. The study allows us to draw a conclusion about the need to take into account when developing new technologies and reflect in the information and advertising materials the identified consumer expectations regarding the taste, usefulness, safety, convenience and authenticity of new products, including synbiotic with plant-based biological active components, and their Introduction into food recipes is a promising direction for the development of enterprises of the HoReCa segment. The results of the study, carried out with a focus on enterprises in the public catering sector, seem relevant, since the use of synbiotic products with herbal biological components is an expansion of opportunities for food and bio-technologies, public catering organizations with justified socio-economic effect.

The results of studies of alimentary correction of the efficiency of gas exchange in the lungs by the example of students and teachers of an engineering university with daily use of foods with known bio-correcting properties: 3.5 g of wheat germ oil (WGO), 50 g of wheat germ meal cake (WGMC), are presented 6.5 g of concentrated tissue fish oil (CTFO) and their combinations with the biomass of the consortium of lacto- and bifidobacteria (10 g). The efficiency of gas exchange processes was evaluated based on the analysis of the respiratory coefficient, the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2) in the exhaled gas mixture was determined using a TESTO-310 gas analyzer, an MDG-1201 capnograph, the values of which were recorded before and after daily use of the studied products during 30 days. The experimental group consisted of volunteers – teachers and university students aged 16 to 65 years, divided into 3 age groups: 16-24, 25-44 and 45-65 years old. It was established that the most effective antihypoxic drug is WGMC, in all age groups, the increase in average RR values amounted to 0.041 units, and 4.8% relative to the initial values. When using WGO, the change in RC was 0.032, an increase compared to baseline – 3.7%. In the 1st, 2nd and 3rd age groups, the average change in RC was: 0,031, 0,036 and 0,043 units, relative to the initial indicators, the increase was 3.5, 4.2 and 5.0%, respectively. It is proved that the combination of the studied biocorrector with the active forms of probiotic microorganisms provides a more active antihypoxic effect for all the studied products in all age groups. The effectiveness of the WGO was increased, the increase in RC was 0.049 units, for CTFO – 0.024 units. The growth of RC relative to the initial values was 5.7 and 2.9%, respectively. The synergism of the action of biocorrectors in combination with probiotics, by age groups amounted to – 0.035, 0.033 and 0.038 units, which is 4.1, 3.8 and 4.5% relative to the initial indicators.

The paper addresses analysis of equilibrium state of an elastic body with a thin nonhomogeneous inclusion in a non-coercive case. We assume that a part of the inclusion is located outside the elastic body, and the traction free boundary condition at the external boundary of the elastic body does not provide a coercivity of the problem. The inclusion is delaminated from the surrounding elastic material that implies a presence of the interfacial crack. Constraint boundary conditions at the crack faces describe a mutual nonpenetration and have an inequality type form. We prove a solution existence of the equilibrium problem, analyze a passage to the limit as the rigidity parameter of the inclusion tends to zero, and prove a solution existence of an inverse problem. The inverse problem assumes that along with the displacement field we have to find an elasticity coefficient for the inclusion provided that an additional information is given which can be found from a measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the world has experienced large-scale pollution and poisoning of environmental objects and the disappearance of certain parts of natural resources. The current research uses statistical data and methods in order to analyze the situation in the sphere of ecological and biological development on the basis of the main indicators. Among these indicators was chosen the current (operating) costs of environmental protection. The natural resource base of the Russian economy, the problems of which require immediate solutions, must be protected by the state. The country’s environmental policy is aimed at creating appropriate conditions for reducing the anthropogenic impact on the environment to an acceptable level and restructuring this impact. Maintaining the life-supporting systems of the biosphere, protecting and reproducing reserves are the primary actions that the natural resource base of the Russian economy requires. The problems facing today can be solved as follows: improving the regulatory system, developing the institution of state property, taking into account the division of competence between the state and the subjects, reforming and improving the system of economic assessment and accounting of natural resources, environmental restrictions, licensing the use of reserves, gradual changes in tax legislation, aimed at increasing the share of environmental payments while reducing rates for other fees, improving economic and financial mechanisms for the reproduction of reserves, developing the market for services and work in the field of environmental management.

In today’s global economy, the importance of environmental and social responsibility is constantly growing. There are thousands of environmental and social standards and guidelines around the world today. These guidelines and standards define requirements and objectives. However, the main problem is their practical implementation and implementation. The Environmental and Social Management System (ESMS) enables companies to integrate the requirements of these guidelines and standards into their operations by organizing a set of well- defined, iterative processes. One aspect of this system is the remuneration system. On the basis of content analysis and analysis of statistical data, the authors develop proposals for improving this system.

An innovative type of development presupposes a continuous and purposeful process of searching, preparing and implementing innovations that make it possible to increase the efficiency of the functioning of social production, increase the degree of realization of the needs of society, and ensure an improvement in the life of the people. The international experience of solving the problem of poverty through innovative and technological development can be applied in Russia. On the basis of the materials from 77 constituent entities of the Russian Federation the authors determined that the provided regional action plans to achieve the national goal of halving the poverty level I were not sufficient and propose the additional list of measures to achieve this goal. The authors propose the methods for calculating the target value of the poverty level indicator (the level of the population with incomes below the subsistence level and the distribution of target persons across the constituent entity of the Russian Federation.

In recent years, the metal-producing industries face a range of economic and ecological problems. The authors use content-analysis and statistical methods for analyzing the recent data and make proposals for the development t of metallurgy. The metallurgical industry is in second place among all other industries in terms of atmospheric emissions. Ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises are forced to use ore with a very low content of useful components in the extraction of metals. Thus, a huge volume of ore is supplied to beneficiation and smelting, and this, in turn, generates large quantities of waste gases from unused components. The current position of metallurgy companies in Russia does not contribute to the development of new industries for several reasons: lack of funds for the development of large plants; lack of forecast for short-term global demand for ferrous metallurgy products; a growing group of competition from foreign manufacturers for the products provided by the industry. To reduce the level of negative impact of metallurgy on the environment, it is necessary to develop and use new technologies that are safe for the environment. Unfortunately, not all enterprises use purification filters and facilities, although this is mandatory in the activities of every metallurgical enterprise.

Compilation, evaluation and dissemination of nuclear data are arduous tasks that rely on contributions from experts in both the basic and applied sciences communities whose efforts are coordinated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The Evaluated Nuclear Structure Data File (ENSDF) includes the most extensive and comprehensive set of nuclear structure and decay data evaluations performed by the international network of Nuclear Structure and Decay Data evaluators (NSDD) under the auspices of the IAEA. In this report we describe the recent NSDD activities supported by the IAEA and provide some future perspectives.

Foams have been successfully implemented to overcome the challenges associated with gas-enhanced oil recovery (EOR) over time. Generally, the foam helps to increase the viscosity of the injected gas, which in turn improves the effectiveness of EOR. However, this technology has rarely been applied in the oilfield due to technological and economical limitations. It is widely considered that nanoparticles may be added to foam to enhance its performance in harsh reservoir conditions to overcome some of these limitations. In this study, we employed high-pressure microscopy (HPM) as an advanced technique to examine the stability of N 2 and C O 2 foams at reservoir conditions, both with and without nanoparticles. The experiments were conducted under vapour and supercritical conditions. Our results indicated that foams produced at 80% quality were more stable than foams produced at 50% quality because the bubble size was significantly smaller and the bubble count was higher. Additionally, foams under supercritical conditions (sc) exhibited greater stability than foams under vapour conditions. This is because at supercritical conditions, the high density of gases helps to strengthen the foam lamella by enhancing the intermolecular contacts between the gas and the hydrophobic part of the liquid phase. Furthermore, core flooding studies were performed to investigate their effect on oil displacement and mobility control in both real and artificial core samples. Rather than focusing on precise quantitative results, our objective was to assess the effect of foams on oil recovery qualitatively. The results indicated that foam injection could significantly increase displacement efficiency, as foam injection raised total displacement efficiency from an initial 48.9% to 89.7% in the artificial core sample. Similarly, in the real core model, C O 2 foam injection was implemented as a tertiary recovery method, and a recovery factor of 28.91% was obtained. These findings highlight the potential benefits of foams for EOR purposes and their ability to mitigate early gas breakthrough, which was observed after injecting approximately 0.14 PV during s c C O 2 injection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we analyzed the origin of wild polyploid oats (Avena L., Poaceae) using the region 18S rDNA (partially)–ITS1–5.8S rDNA obtained via NGS. There are six tetraploid (2n = 28) and four hexaploid (2n = 42) wild species differing by specific genome combinations: A. barbata, A. vaviloviana (AB), A. agadiriana (AB or BB), A. magna, A. murphyi, A. insularis (AC or CD), A. ludoviciana, A. sterilis, A. fatua, and A. occidentalis (ACD). We compared the pool of marker sequences of polyploid oats with those of their putative diploid ancestors: A. atlantica (As-genome), A. hirtula (As), A. canariensis (Ac), A. ventricosa (Cv), and A. clauda (paleopolyploid with Cp and A-related rDNA). We found 15 major ribotypes (more than 1000 reads per rDNA pool) in polyploid oats. Comparing them, we found that the AB-tetraploid oats possibly inherited their A-genome ribotypes from A. atlantica (As1-ribotype), whereas their B-genome ribotype is specific and can be a derivative of the A-genome family. Our data do not support the hypothesis of the CD-genome set in A. magna, A. murphyi, and A. insularis: they have an AC-genome ribotype constitution instead. The C-genome-related sequences could have been obtained from A. ventricosa. Hexaploids show a different ribotype pattern than tetraploids; the main ribotypes of A. fatua, A. ludoviciana, and A. sterilis probably belong to the D-group and are also shared with one of the major ribotypes of A. clauda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]