The use of the aquatic plant Elodea canadensis to assess the effects of low-dose gamma irradiation.

Responses of cytogenetic and growth endpoints of the aquatic plant Elodea canadensis were studied using the plants collected from non-contaminated control areas of the Yenisei River and exposed to external γ-radiation for 11-13 days in the laboratory. Elodea canadensis was exposed to 0.5-25 mGy/day γ-radiation dose rates from a Cs source.

[To the question of genetic predisposition to the development of professional sensorineural hearing loss].

Unlabelled: Objective was to study single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in CAT, NCL, HSPA1L, PCDH15, and PON2 genes and their associations with hearing impairment among the people working among noise-exposed workers of the mashine-building plant (JSC «Krasmash», Krasnoyarsk, Eastern Siberia, Russia).

Materials And Methods: The 443 employees of Krasmash JSC, who have been working under conditions of increased noise for at least 1 year, were surveyed and examined. A hearing study was performed by speech and tonal audiometry.

sp. nov., isolated from the saline Lake Tus in Siberia.

A halotolerant, psychrotolerant and methylotrophic methanogen, strain SY-01, was isolated from the saline Lake Tus in Siberia. Cells of strain SY-01 were non-motile, cocci and 0.8-1.

Biomonitoring of radioactive contamination of the Yenisei River using aquatic plants.

The Yenisei River is contaminated by artificial radionuclides released by one of the Russian facilities producing weapons-grade plutonium (the Mining-and-Chemical Combine, MCC), which has been in operation for 60 years. The paper presents results of long-term monitoring of radionuclide concentrations in six aquatic plant species collected from the 1400 km Yenisei River stretch downstream of the city of Krasnoyarsk. Before the last MCC reactor was shut down (in 2010), up to 30 artificial radionuclides were detected in the plant biomass, and 2 and 5 years after the reactor shutdown, 11 and 3-5 radionuclides, respectively, were detected.

Constructing Slow-Release Fungicide Formulations Based on Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and Natural Materials as a Degradable Matrix.

Slow-release fungicide formulations (azoxystrobin, epoxiconazole, and tebuconazole) shaped as pellets and granules in a matrix of biodegradable poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) and natural fillers (clay, wood flour, and peat) were constructed. Infrared spectroscopy showed no formation of chemical bonds between components in the experimental formulations. The formulations of pesticides had antifungal activity against .

Radioactive particles in the Yenisei River floodplain (Russia): Characterization, leaching and potential effects in the environment.

The operation of the Mining-and-Chemical Combine (MCC), the largest producer of weapons-grade plutonium in Russia, has resulted in radioactive contamination of the Yenisei River floodplain. Investigations carried out in Novosibirsk and Krasnoyarsk institutes have shown that the floodplain of the Yenisei downstream of the MCC is contaminated by radioactive particles (RP) of various types and activities. Analytical characterization of the RP showed that most of them were fuel particles, which were carried into the Yenisei after incidents at the MCC reactors.

Chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei induced in onion (Allium cepa) by gamma-radiation.

The Allium-test is commonly used to assess genotoxicity of chemical and physical factors. In the present study, the roots of germinating onion (Allium cepa) were exposed to 0.02-13 Gy of γ-radiation.

Methanolobus psychrotolerans sp. nov., a psychrotolerant methanoarchaeon isolated from a saline meromictic lake in Siberia.

A psychrotolerant, methylotrophic methanogen, strain YSF-03, was isolated from the saline meromictic Lake Shira in Siberia. Cells of strain YSF-03 were non-motile, irregular cocci and 0.8-1.

Detonation Nanodiamonds as a New Tool for Phenol Detection in Aqueous Medium.

This paper demonstrates the effectiveness of using detonation nanodiamonds (DNDs) for detecting phenol in aqueous medium. The study has shown that the catalytic effect of DNDs in the oxidative azo coupling reaction (phenol-4-aminoantipyrine-hydrogen peroxide) is produced by trace amounts of iron and copper ions adsorbed on the surface of nanoparticles. The effectiveness of DNDs as a catalyst is determined by the amounts of these adsorbates and can be enhanced by a factor of two by additional adsorption of these ions onto the nanoparticles.

Mechanism and color modulation of fungal bioluminescence.

Bioluminescent fungi are spread throughout the globe, but details on their mechanism of light emission are still scarce. Usually, the process involves three key components: an oxidizable luciferin substrate, a luciferase enzyme, and a light emitter, typically oxidized luciferin, and called oxyluciferin. We report the structure of fungal oxyluciferin, investigate the mechanism of fungal bioluminescence, and describe the use of simple synthetic α-pyrones as luciferins to produce multicolor enzymatic chemiluminescence.

Development and morphological features of biofilms formed by transgenic and wild type strains of Bacillus subtilis.

The study addressed the ability of the transgenic strain (TM) B. subtilis 2335/pBMB 105 (KmrInf+) to form biofilms on the surface of liquid media of various compositions, inoculated with vegetative cells and spores. The morphological features of these biofilms do not differ from those of the films formed by the recipient strain (WT) B.

Volatile metabolites of higher plant crops as a photosynthesizing life support system component under temperature stress at different light intensities.

The effect of elevated temperatures of 35 and 45 degrees C (at the intensities of photosynthetically active radiation 322, 690 and 1104 micromoles m-2 s-1) on the photosynthesis, respiration, and qualitative and quantitative composition of the volatiles emitted by wheat (Triticum aestuvi L., cultivar 232) crops was investigated in growth chambers. Identification and quantification of more than 20 volatile compounds (terpenoids--alpha-pinene, delta 3 carene, limonene, benzene, alpha- and trans-caryophyllene, alpha- and gamma-terpinene, their derivatives, aromatic hydrocarbons, etc.

A mathematical model of "plants-microorganisms" interaction on complete mineral medium and under nitrogen limitation.

A mathematical model concerning the interaction of plants and rhizospheric microorganisms on complete mineral medium and under nitrogen limitation has been constructed. The model takes into account the closeness of plants and microorganisms in terms of the matter released by the plant and consumed by the microorganisms. The effect of rhizospheric microorganisms on plant growth with normal carbon dioxide and complete mineral medium has been demonstrated.

Catalase activity as a potential indicator of the reducer component of small closed ecosystems.

Dynamics of catalase activity has been shown to reflect the growth curve of microorganisms in batch cultivation (celluloselythic bacteria Bacillus acidocaldarius and bacteria of the associated microflora Chlorella vulgaris). Gas and substrate closure of the three component ecosystems with spatially separated components "producer-consumer-reducer" (Chl. vulgaris-Paramecium caudatum-B.

Indications and counterindications for applying different versions of closed ecosystems for space and terrestrial problems of life support.

Different versions of manned closed ecosystems (CES) based on photosynthesis of unicellular and/or higher plants and chemosynthesis or bacteria are considered. Different versions of CES have been compared for applying them on Earth, Moon, Mars and Venus orbital stations, for Mars missions and planetary stations as well as to provide high-quality life in extreme conditions on the Earth. In microgravity [correction of mycrogravity] we recommend CES with unicellular organisms based on photosynthesis or chemosynthesis (depending of the availability of the light or electric energy).

Biospherics: a new science.

The experience of human existence in the last few decades shows clearly that developed civilizations come into greater and greater antagonism with nature. Modern technology cannot on its own coexist easily with the biosphere without destroying key biological components. The necessity of comprehending the laws of development of the biosphere as a single whole is becoming more and more obvious and urgent.

Man as a component of a closed ecological life support system.

Material support of all manned space flights so far has been provided from a prestored stock of substances or replenished from the Earth's biosphere. Exploration of space will, however, become real only when man is able to break away from Earth completely, when he will be accompanied by a system providing everything necessary to sustain full-valued life for an unlimited time. The only known system to date meeting this requirement is the Earth's biosphere.