The study was aimed at examining how the preplant inoculation of seed tubers (healthy hydroponic minitubers and super elite reproductive tubers) with Bacillus subtilis 10-4 endophytic bacteria affects the yield and quality (phytonutrient composition) of potato tubers. It was shown that with the inoculation of hydroponic minitubers and super elite tubers, the number of tubers per one potato plant exceeded control by 35%; the yield exceeded control by 68.5 and 16.7%, respectively. In addition, more tubers of marketable quality were obtained in terms of both number and weight as compared to control. The pretreatment of tubers with endophyte had no effect on starch accumulation in the tubers grown from minitubers and super elite reproductive tubers while decreasing the content of reducing sugars by 57 and 11% and promoting a more intensive accumulation of vitamin C (up to 24 and 19%), as well as anthocyanins up to 64 and 67%, as compared to control. The nitrogen content of tubers grown from bacterized minitubers and super elite tubers increased by 15 and 9% as compared to untreated control; phosphorus content, by 42 and 15%; potassium content, by 10 and 7%; copper content, by 13 and 8%; iron content, by 10 and 6%, respectively. The study results indicate that the use of healthy hydroponic minitubers for preplant inoculation provides a more effective yield increase and a significant improvement in the phytonutrient composition of tubers (especially in terms of phosphorus and copper content) as compared to super elite reproductive tubers.

Studies on bacteria stimulating plant growth are currently relevant. Rhizobacteria are known to promote root system development and plant growth, improve nutrient availability, and protect against diseases by inhibiting the growth of phytopathogens. The creation of new biopreparations from local plant-growth-promoting rhizobacteria strains constitutes a promising direction for agronomy and is of theoretical and practical interest. Local strains exhibit higher adaptability to specific environmental conditions than their foreign counterparts. We believe that such properties should be exhibited by microorganisms from the rhizosphere of Hedysarum zundukii, an endemic to the Olkhon region, growing under high insolation and low precipitation conditions (Olkhonsky District, Irkutsk Oblast, Russia). The conducted study was aimed at examining the effect produced by the rhizosphere microorganisms of Hedysarum zundukii on wheat growth and development under normal and water deficit conditions. The conducted study revealed that microbial activity has a positive effect on wheat growth and development. Noteworthy is that the positive effect of analyzed microorganisms on plants was enhanced under drought conditions. When wheat seeds were treated with Bacillus sp. strain Hz 7, an 8% increase in root growth stimulation was observed. In the case of Streptomyces sp. Hz 21, this effect increased from 19 to 31%; the use of Pseudomonas sp. strain Hz 19 contributed to a 16% increase in root formation. The obtained results indicate the potential of rhizosphere microorganisms for improving the stress tolerance of crops.

This article presents data on the effect of fruit and hairy root extracts of Withania coagulans Dunal on the process of milk coagulation with a view to its potential application in cheese making. Cheese curd can be obtained by the action of milk-clotting enzymes on the protein fraction of milk. To that end, animal-derived enzymes are widely used. However, the as-produced cheeses may not suit some population groups. In this regard, studying the possibility of using plant proteases in cheese making, as well as their production in plant tissue cultures, appears to be a relevant research task. Hairy roots bioreactor-cultivated using the Agrobacterium rhizogenes soil bacterium contain, as a rule, not only root-specific metabolites but also compounds characteristic of other plant tissues. In this work, protein was extracted from Withania coagulans fruits and hairy roots using various buffers followed by assessing the milk-clotting activity of the extracts using fresh and powdered full cream milk. An animal milk-clotting enzyme was used as a control. The activity of Withania coagulans fruit extract was found to be 5 U/mg of protein. Coagulation carried out with hairy root extracts lasted for at least 6 hours, indicating the presence of a low concentration of milk-clotting enzyme. Since hairy roots of Withania coagulans have been studied in this respect for the first time, further optimization of their cultivation parameters, enzyme extraction, and its application is required.

The current market of wood preservatives offers a wide variety of products. However, the search for efficient fungicides meeting modern requirements continues to be relevant. Such requirements include safety for both humans and the environment; physical and chemical resistance; affordable cost; absence of unpleasant odor; absence of effects on the mechanical properties of wood, etc. This study was aimed at obtaining an effective fungicide for wood, which could meet all the above requirements. We synthesized a partial copper salt of polyacrylic acid (cupril), which was characterized by infrared spectroscopy. The biological activity of the substance was assessed using compounds based on polyacrylic acid of various molecular weights. Atomic adsorption spectroscopy was used to select the most feasible method for applying a cupril solution onto wood surfaces. The fungicidal and antibacterial activity of the obtained antiseptic was studied. The most feasible method for covering wood surfaces with a cupril solution was found to be its application followed by thermal drying (105 °C). Cupril with medium- and high-molecular weights was established to be most active against fungi of different taxonomic groups, including Trichaptum laricinum, Trichoderma harzianum, Hormonema macrosporum, also exhibiting activity against such copper-resistant fungi as Fomitopsis pinicola. Antibacterial activity testing showed that cupril with different molecular weights of polyacrylic acid equally inhibited the bacterial growth of Enterococcus durans and Bacillus subtilis; however, inhibition of Escherichia coli was observed only in the case of the highest molecular weight.

Callus cultures have long been used in many works to study physiological processes and the effects of environmental factors on plant organisms. Of great importance, including for agriculture, are the callus cultures of cereals, specifically Triticum aestivum L. (wheat). However, callus induction and its effective growth are complicated by the genetic and physiological characteristics of a particular species or cultivar. In this connection, the study was aimed at examining the growth of callus cultures of winter and spring wheat on different growth media, as well as identifying the optimal medium for callus induction and effective callus growth. As explants, the study used the germs of imbibed and dry seeds. The germ was isolated from the seed and incubated on Murashige and Skoog medium, Gamborg medium, and Chu medium (modified with the microsalts of Blaydes medium) under aseptic conditions. As a growth regulator, the study used 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid at a concentration of 2.5 mg/L. The germs were cultivated for three weeks at 26 °С in the dark. In order to evaluate the effectiveness of culture media, the callus formation rate and callus biomass growth were recorded. Active callus induction was observed in the culture of dry winter and spring wheat germs on all of the used media. In the case of imbibed germs, the maximum callus formation rate in winter wheat was observed on Murashige and Skoog medium, whereas in spring wheat, it was observed on Gamborg medium. In terms of the callus growth rate, Murashige and Skoog medium and Chu medium were found to be more appropriate for cultivating winter wheat explants, while Gamborg medium showed better results for cultivating spring wheat explants.

Natural rubber is currently obtained primarily from Hevea brasiliensis. Due to the dependence of natural rubber production on only one plant species, climate changes, and the spread of fungal diseases, it is relevant to find alternative sources. The best alternatives to Hevea brasiliensis include rubber dandelions Taraxacum kok-saghyz Rodin, Taraxacum hybernum Steven, and Taraxacum pobedimovae Schischk, as well as several others. Due to the large number of problems arising in the cultivation of rubber-bearing dandelions in soil, this work was aimed at studying their hydroponic cultivation. The tested technology for growing rubber-bearing dandelions used a standard hydroponic system, hard soil (neutral peat), and 1/8 Hoagland-Arnon solution, as well as Phytosporin-M (Bacillus subtilis) and Trichoderma viride. The highest wet and dry weights of roots were found in hydroponically grown Taraxacum kok-saghyz, which were ten times higher than those of plants cultivated in soil. The highest rubber content per dry weight of roots was found in hydroponically grown Taraxacum pobedimovae. The best rubber yield per the volume of used peat was observed in hydroponically grown Taraxacum kok-saghyz and Taraxacum pobedimovae; in the dandelions grown in soil, this parameter was found to be an order of magnitude lower. Only Taraxacum pobedimovae and Taraxacum hybernum produced fully mature seeds under hydroponic conditions. Taking the accumulation of root biomass and rubber into account, as well as seed production, Taraxacum pobedimovae is preferred for hydroponic cultivation.

Tartar is a key factor in developing such dental diseases as caries, gingivitis, and periodontitis. Tartar results from dental plaque formed by accumulation of bacteria in the tooth cavity. Following the period of about 12 days, unremoved plaque mineralizes in contact with salts, forming tartar firmly attached to the tooth surface. Tartar in the oral cavity increases the risk of inflammatory processes. In this study, we aim to assess the feasibility of using tomato paste and cranberry juice in combination as an antibacterial and plaque-removing agent. In order to obtain a mixture of tomato paste and cranberry juice, fruits were washed separately with clean water at room temperature and homogenized by grinding in a mortar. The resulting homogenized mass was centrifuged for separation. The as-obtained tomato paste and cranberry juice were mixed to yield a homogeneous mass. Confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that a mixture of tomato paste and cranberry juice in a 1:1 ratio promotes the destruction of Staphylococcus aureus and some Streptococcus species, thus exhibiting high antimicrobial activity against these bacteria. In addition, exposure of tartar to the tested mixture of tomato paste and cranberry juice for 20 days led to an 86% destruction of tartar. Thus, a mixture of tomato paste and cranberry juice may serve as a promising antibacterial and cleansing agent for oral hygiene.

The study was aimed at comparing the effect of oil, diesel fuel, and motor oil on the capillary moisture capacity and hygroscopic moisture content of gray forest soil, as well as assessing changes in these characteristics of oil-contaminated soils following their washing with polysorbate 80. Water and a washing solution (with detergent concentrations of 1, 5, and 10 g/L) were added to the soil to be continuously mixed for 1 h at 20 °С using a shaker (60 rpm). The analyzed agrophysical characteristics of soils are shown to decrease when soils are contaminated with oil, diesel fuel, and motor oil at concentrations of 50, 150, and 300 mL/kg. The effect of motor oil on capillary moisture capacity is more pronounced than those of oil and diesel fuel at similar concentrations, while the effect on hygroscopic moisture content is, conversely, less pronounced. The washing of contaminated soils with polysorbate 80 partially restored these agrophysical characteristics; however, they remained lower than those of the original samples. The effectiveness of polysorbate 80 is also confirmed by the reduction in the phytotoxicity of contaminated soil samples following their washing with detergent solutions. At the level of oil contamination of up to 150 mL/kg, solutions containing 5 g/L of polysorbate 80 were found to be more effective, whereas at 300 mL/kg, it is recommended to increase the concentration of detergent up to 10 g/L. The recommended weight ratio of soil, washing solution, and water for soil washing is 1:1:4. Thus, the prospects for using polysorbate 80 to mitigate the negative impact of oil contamination in soil are demonstrated.

Among organic compounds resistant to biodegradation, antibiotics are of particular interest because their constantly increasing consumption has resulted in their presence in almost all components of aquatic ecosystems. With the use of advanced oxidation processes, it is possible to achieve conversion not only of target compounds but also of their reaction intermediates, which are often more toxic. Close attention is paid to the use of persulfates as precursors of reactive oxygen species, which are activated via combined methods involving ultraviolet radiation. Modern mercury-free sources include KrCl exilamps emitting quasi-monochromatic radiation. This study is the first to examine the kinetics of oxidation of a β-lactam antibiotic (ceftriaxone) and mineralization of total organic carbon by persulfate under the UVC radiation of a KrCl exilamp. Different oxidative systems were comparatively evaluated. The efficiency of target compound degradation was found to increase in the series {S₂O₈ ^2-} << {UV} < {Fe²⁺/ S₂O₈ ^2-} < {UV/ S₂O₈ ^2-} < {UV/Fe²⁺/ S₂O₈ ^2-}. The total organic carbon was mineralized only in the oxidative systems {UV/Fe²⁺/ S₂O₈ ^2-} > {UV/ S₂O₈ ^2--}. The optimal conditions for complete conversion of ceftriaxone and deep mineralization of total organic carbon (43–60%) in the {UV/Fe²⁺/ S₂O₈ ^2-} system were achieved at a molar ratio of [S₂O₈ ^2-]:[Fe²⁺] = 10. Both sulfate radical anions and hydroxyl radicals were shown to participate in ceftriaxone degradation and mineralization of total organic carbon. The obtained results indicate the viability of using the UVC radiation of a KrCl exilamp in the combined oxidative system {UV/Fe²⁺/ S₂O₈ ^2-} for effective degradation of β-lactam antibiotics.

Mongolia possesses substantial coal resources (173 billion tons), which include high-rank bituminous coals, subbituminous coals, and brown coals. Based on these coal types, a manufacturer of activated carbon can be developed using comparatively simple technology. The consumption of activated carbon is continuously increasing due to its use in waste and drinking water treatments, atmospheric pollution control, gas mixture separation, and solvent recovery. Currently, Mongolia imports 700–800 tons of activated carbon annually at a price of 700–900 USD per ton. For this study, we have selected several high-rank coals from Mongolia, including Tavan Tolgoi IV and Nariin Sukhait (both bituminous coking coals from Southern Mongolia), as well as the Saikhan-Ovoo deposit (a high-rank stone coal from Northern Mongolia). The selected coals were enriched with a zinc chloride solution and subjected to semicoking (carbonization) to produce the primary raw material for activated carbon production. Activated carbon was obtained from the carbonized coal by activation with preheated water steam within 120 minutes. The main technical characteristics of the initial coal samples and activated carbons, along with their microporous properties such as iodine number, methylene blue adsorption, and surface area (BET), have been determined. Additionally, a technological scheme for activated carbon production from high-rank coal has been proposed.

It is known that spent diatomaceous earth (diatomite; kieselguhr), one of the main waste products from the beer filtration process, can be used as an adsorbent to purify water from crude oil. The thermal and chemical modification of this waste product increases its oil capacity. The conducted study was aimed at obtaining a sorbent tailored to purify water from oil using different modifications of spent diatomaceous earth. Preliminary studies revealed that the modification of spent diatomaceous earth is affected by the chemical nature and concentration of the modifying agent, as well as the temperature and duration of exposure. Alkaline modification of spent diatomaceous earth is more effective than acid modification; modification with sodium hydroxide solution produces the greatest effect on oil capacity. The maximum oil capacity is exhibited by spent diatomaceous earth modified with 1.5 M sodium hydroxide solution at 75 °С for 120 min. In order to optimize the procedure for obtaining an adsorbent suitable for purifying water from oil, a full factorial design was implemented on the basis of preliminary experimental data using Statistica 10.0, and additional experiments were conducted. An analysis of Pareto charts of standardized effects revealed that the modification process of spent diatomaceous earth is significantly affected by the modifying reagent concentration and the modification process temperature. Therefore, modification with 1.5 M sodium hydroxide solution at 75 °С for 30 min is the most optimal and effective procedure for obtaining an adsorbent suitable for purifying water from oil.

The study was aimed at ascertaining gelation conditions for the systems water – oxyethylated nonylphenol and water – oxyethylated nonylphenol – salting agent. The work involved analyzing scientific and technical literature on the use of surfactants in extraction processes. Systems containing nonionic surfactants are shown to be promising extraction systems. The effect that the concentration of nonionic surfactants and temperature can have on gelation in aqueous solutions is examined. The problem of using oxyethylated nonylphenols in gel extraction is considered. The phase diagrams of the systems water – neonol AF 9-6 and water – neonol AF 9-6 – sodium sulfate were constructed using the visual polythermal method. Gelation conditions were ascertained for the systems water – neonol AF 9-6 and water – neonol AF 9-6 – sodium sulfate. For the gel to form in the system water – oxyethylated nonylphenol (neonol AF 9-6), the concentration of the surfactant must exceed 25 wt%. For achieving gelation at lower concentrations of neonol AF 9-6, it is necessary to introduce a salting agent (sodium sulfate). The phase diagrams of the systems water – oxyethylated nonylphenol – sodium sulfate were constructed within the temperature range of 20–65 °C. The gel structure was found to form at a 3:1 weight ratio of oxyethylated nonylphenol to sodium sulfate. It is shown that for gelation, the minimum concentrations of neonol AF 9-6 and sodium sulfate are 15 and 5 wt%, respectively. An increase in the concentrations of neonol AF 9-6 and sodium sulfate to 24 and 8 wt%, respectively, leads to a decrease in the gelation temperature to 46 °C.

The study was aimed at synthesizing amides of different structures and their subsequent testing as paraffin dispersants in hydrotreated summer diesel fuels of different hydrocarbon compositions together with a depressor additive based on ethylene and vinyl acetate copolymer. The following parameters were determined for the hydrotreated base summer diesel fuels under study: molecular weight distribution of n-alkanes, fractional composition, density, kinematic viscosity, low-temperature properties, and sulfur content. The target compounds were synthesized using known procedures. Their structures were confirmed via infrared spectroscopy. For each product, the alkaline and acid numbers were determined using methods described in ASTM standards. The low-temperature parameters were estimated according to the known procedures given in ASTM standards, domestic state standards, as well as STO 11605031-041-2010 of the All-Russian Research Institute for Oil Refining. For the obtained diesel fuel samples, including those containing the additive, the following low-temperature properties were determined: pour point, cloud point, cold filter plugging point, as well as sedimentation stability under cold storage conditions. The amides synthesized in this work were found to improve the low-temperature properties of fuels depending on their alkenyl radical, as well as the composition of the analyzed diesel fuel; in particular, they increase the sedimentation stability under cold storage conditions. The article studied the dependence of the dispersing properties of synthesized amides on their structure and the molecular weight distribution of n-alkanes in the base summer diesel fuels.

The development of self-reinforced polymer composites, representing a relatively new group of composite materials, is a promising direction in the field of polymer chemistry. The method of self-reinforcement is used to combine the materials of a single polymer possessing different molecular, supramolecular, and structural features. The high adhesion and mechanical properties of such self-reinforced composites are achieved by the formation of a homogeneous system without an interfacial boundary. In addition, self-reinforcement offers the opportunity of using polymer waste for manufacturing high-strength composites, thus contributing to environmental load mitigation. In this work, we investigate the phase composition and properties of self-reinforced polymer composites based on polytetrafluoroethylene. Self-reinforced composites were prepared by mixing powders of industrial and recycled polytetrafluoroethylene followed by compression molding and pressureless sintering. The crystallinity degree of the as-obtained materials calculated by X-ray phase analysis equaled 41–68%. The performed dynamic mechanical analysis showed that the introduction of a powder of regenerated polytetrafluoroethylene into industrial polytetrafluoroethylene increases the elastic modulus of the obtained materials significantly (up to 2.0–3.1 GPa). The study of deformation and strength characteristics confirmed the feasibility of using up to 30 wt% of recycled polytetrafluoroethylene, obtained by mechanical abrasion, for manufacturing composites with good performance properties. The findings also indicate that the phase composition of the material depends on the method of polymer waste processing, determining the heat resistance and mechanical properties of the obtained self-reinforced polymer composites.

Antimicrobial resistance represents a serious threat to public health due to such negative consequences as the difficulty of treating certain diseases, higher mortality, and increased medical costs. Transmission through food chains is known to be one of the most important routes for the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains. According to scientific publications, lactic acid bacteria can serve as a reservoir for the transmission of antibiotic resistance genes. In this regard, it is important to study the antibiotic resistance of lactic acid bacteria strains used in food industry, particularly those not subjected to heat treatment prior to consumption. In this article, we investigate the resistance of Latilactobacillus sakei lactic acid bacteria to antibacterial preparations by a disk diffusion susceptibility test. The strains under study were not resistant to most of the antibiotics considered. The DSM 20017 strain, which was sensitive to all tested preparations, showed the least resistance to antibiotics. Other strains also demonstrated sensitivity to most of the studied antibacterial preparations, although with an intermediate sensitivity to certain antibiotics. Further research is required for a comprehensive characterization of the phenotypic resistance of Latilactobacillus sakei bacteria to antibiotics.