Russian Research Institute for Phytopathology

The clinical efficacy of chemotherapy against rapidly proliferating cells stimulates both the development of new agents and the reassessment of established drugs. Spectroscopic methods (UV, FT-IR, and 1H NMR) were applied to characterize prospidium chloride and related substances. The FT-IR spectrum of prospidium chloride, arising from vibrational transitions within the alkyl fragments of the dispirotripiperazinium cation, is reported with band assignments. Electronic transitions between molecular orbitals are analyzed using quantum–mechanical selection rules (Laporte and spin selection rules). The n→σ* transition (ΔS = 0) corresponds to the absorption maximum at λmax = 282 ± 0.40 nm (ε = 3.89 ± 0.08 L·mol−1·cm−1). A 1H NMR spectrum (700 MHz) was used to assign chemical shifts δ (ppm), J-coupling constants (Hz), and gauche conformational features of prospidium chloride and its dihydroxy and epoxy impurities. Quantitative 1H NMR (qNMR) was applied to determine the content of the active pharmaceutical ingredient and related substances. The methods provide complementary structural information for the characterization of prospidium chloride.

The antioxidant status of woody plants is linked to their adaptation to stress factors, including the influence of phytopathogens and agricultural practices. Information on methods for extracting natural plant antioxidants is contradictory or insufficient due to the complexity of the physicochemical extraction processes and analysis conditions. This study aims to investigate the extraction efficiency of antioxidants using extractants of different polarity in samples of a model woody plant. The following pure solvents and their mixtures in specified ratios were examined: distilled water (DW), water/ethanol 50:50 (W/E), water/ acetone 50:50 (W/A), acetone (AC), 96 % ethanol (ET), acetone/ethanol 50:50 (A/E50), acetone/ethanol 90:10 (A/E10), and dichloromethane (DCM). The antioxidant activity of the obtained extracts was assessed using an amperometric detector and standard antioxidants of various nature (ionol, quercetin, gallic acid). Additionally, the instrument sensitivity to these compounds was evaluated using mobile phases of varying acidity. The study experimentally demonstrated the high sensitivity of the method for detecting plant antioxidants using a gallic acid standard in the concentration range of 0.1–5 μg/ml. Water and acetone-ethanol solutions were identified as the most effective for extracting antioxidant compounds from plant samples (leaves and roots of the model plant), while acetone was most effective for samples of the multicomponent nutrient substrate (soil model). In leaf samples, the highest content of acid-soluble antioxidants was observed for: DW – 0.12–0.14 mg/g, A/E50 – 0.11 mg/g, and A/E10 – 0.19 mg/g. The highest content of the base-soluble antioxidants group was characterized for: DW – 0.53 mg/g, W/A – 0.41 mg/g, and A/E10 – 0.57 mg/g. Data on the antioxidant activity of root extracts showed maximum values for: A/E10 – 0.15 mg/g, DW – 0.14 mg/g, W/A – 0.11 mg/g – for acid-soluble antioxidants; and W/E – 0.4 mg/g, W/A – 0.43 mg/g, AC – 0.41 mg/g, A/E50 – 0.403 mg/g, A/E10 – 0.64 mg/g – for base-soluble antioxidants. The data on the antioxidant content in extracts from the soil substrate showed selectivity, with significant values obtained only for the AC variant – 0.6–3.2 mg/g.

Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) function as engineered ecosystems in which microbial consortia mediate nutrient cycling, xenobiotic degradation, and heavy metal detoxification. This review discusses a forward-looking roadmap that integrates microbial ecology, multi-omics diagnostics, and artificial intelligence (AI) for next-generation treatments. Meta-analyses suggest that a globally conserved core microbiome indicates sludge functions, with high predictive value for treatment stability. Multi-omics approaches, including metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and environmental DNA (eDNA) profiling, have integrated microbial composition with greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, showing that WWTPs contribute 2–5% of anthropogenic nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions. Emerging AI-enhanced eDNA models have achieved >90% predictive accuracy for effluent quality and antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) prevalence, facilitating near-real-time monitoring and adaptive control of effluent quality. Key advances include microbial strategies for degrading organic pollutants, pesticides, and heavy metals and monitoring industrial effluents. This review highlights both translational opportunities, including engineered microbial consortia, AI-driven digital twins and molecular indices, and persistent barriers, including ARG dissemination, resilience under environmental stress and regulatory integration. Future WWTPs are envisioned as adaptive, climate-conscious biorefineries that recover resources, mitigate ecological risks, and reduce their carbon footprint.

Sustainable agriculture and food security are challenged by the indiscriminate use of synthetic nitrogen (N2) fertilizers, inefficient water management, and land degradation. Hydroponic cultivation uses nutrient-rich aqueous media and is a climate-resilient and resource-efficient alternative to traditional farming methods, whose dependence on synthetic N2 fertilizers reduces their long-term sustainability. Biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), which is mediated by diazotrophs that reduce atmospheric N2 to plant-available ammonium, has emerged as a sustainable alternative to synthetic N2 input in hydroponic systems. This review discusses the integration of BNF into hydroponic systems by exploring the functional diversity of diazotrophs, root–microbe interactions, and environmental constraints. It further highlights recent advances in strain improvement, microbial consortia development, nitrogenase protection, and genome editing tools, novel bioformulation strategies to enhance microbial compatibility with hydroponic nutrient regimes, and omics-based tools for the real-time assessment of N2 fixation and microbial functionality. Key challenges, such as microbial leaching, nitrate-induced inhibition of nitrogenase activity, and the absence of standardized biostimulant protocols, are discussed. Case studies on staple crops have demonstrated enhanced NUE and yield productivity following diazotroph applications. This review concludes with future perspectives on synthetic biology, regulatory policies, and omics-based tools for the real-time assessment of N2 fixation and microbial functionality.

Thousands of tons of waste accumulate, as a result of the activities of the pulp and paper industry, which is often stored in the form of dumps. However, intensifying the use of lignocellulose for more efficient bioremediation remains highly challenging. Therefore, the study of microbiomes with potentially desirable characteristics for the decomposition of pulp and paper wastes is currently an important task. In this study, a comprehensive assessment of the microbiota biodiversity of these dumps was carried out using high-throughput, high-resolution sequencing. In study 472 million high-quality clean reads assembled into 6,413,337 contigs with a total length of 4306Mb, of which 3,633,174 open reading frames (ORFs) were identified. The core microbiome was composed of four phyla from Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Verrucomicrobia. Representatives of phylum Proteobacteria prevailed in samples. Annotation using the KEGG database in the Metabolism category resulted in 654,234 ORFs and 5138 ORFs encoding enzymes/proteins involved in degradation of lignocellulose which formed main pool of the wastes. By use of the created database, the search for lignocellulose degradation genes showed that genera Shewanella, Achromobacter, and Delftia covered significant part of the reads. The results indicate that the established microbiome of local landfills can be considered as an important source for improving lignocellulose bioremediation, provided that lignocellulosic fungi are sufficiently active. In whole, these new data can be used as a scientific basis to form an efficient eco-biotechnology for auto-remediation of pulp and paper industry waste.

Abstract. The article provides an analysis of the current topic regarding the advantages and challenges of monolithic reinforced concrete structures in civil construction. It includes summarized statistics on the number of residential buildings commissioned over the years. The main advantages and challenges of the frame-monolithic construction technology are analyzed, along with proposed solutions to these challenges to reduce construction costs and improve the quality of completed real estate projects. The benefits of monolithic reinforced concrete structures over brick and prefabricated reinforced concrete structures are highlighted from architectural, economic, and structural perspectives. The study concludes that monolithic reinforced concrete structures remain a popular choice in civil construction due to their strength, durability, and architectural flexibility. At the same time, their application requires consideration of economic, environmental, and technological factors. To enhance the efficiency of monolithic construction, it is necessary to improve concreting technologies, use innovative materials, and adopt more environmentally friendly solutions in concrete production. Examples are provided on how economic factors impact monolithic reinforced concrete construction not only in Ukraine but worldwide. The article demonstrates how the number of residential buildings commissioned annually in Ukraine has increased over the past five years. The key advantages and disadvantages of concreting work during the winter period are outlined, as this remains a relevant issue, given that monolithic reinforced concrete structures are installed during this season, requiring strict adherence to the concrete mixture heating process. The study also examines the planning of the construction process to ensure that the majority of work is carried out during warmer periods. Additionally, examples are provided on how to monitor the condition of formwork systems and replace worn-out components.

Abstract. The purpose of the article is to study the global experience of regulatory and legal regulation of construction and demolition waste management to determine measures to ensure the use of secondary raw materials from construction waste in Ukraine for the restoration of objects damaged and destroyed as a result of military actions and the construction of new buildings. The results of the study of the experience of developed countries regarding the attraction of construction and demolition waste for reuse and processing into secondary raw materials are presented. Analytical studies have established that Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and the Council provides for a target increase by 2020 of the share of non-hazardous construction waste prepared for reuse and recycling to at least 70% by weight, as well as promotion of recycling by selective removal of materials and creation of sorting systems. The direct requirements of the regulatory and legal regulation of construction waste management during the construction of facilities are outlined. In some states, direct requirements for handling construction waste have been established: in new construction, a certain percentage of products from recycled waste must be used; ban on landfills for construction waste that can be used for processing into secondary raw materials; the minimum area of buildings, during the construction of which mandatory disposal of waste is regulated; the minimum volumes of construction work are legally defined, the excess of which determines the need for builders to sort and process construction and demolition waste. The lack of specific target indicators for the collection, sorting, processing of construction and demolition waste, as well as the use of secondary raw materials obtained from them, was emphasized in the normative legal acts of Ukraine on waste management.

The excessive intake of biogenic elements into water bodies leads to the active development of planktonic algae, water bloom pathogens, which mostly include cyanobacteria. In vitro studies have allowed us to test a working hypothesis on the absence of any inhibitory effect of metabolites of the Chlorella vulgaris BIN strain on the CALU 799 Dolichospermum spiroides (Klebhan) Wacklin, L. Hoffmann Komárek and CALU 1749 Planktothrix agardhii (Gomont) Anagnostidis Komárek cyanobacterial cultures in working concentrations of 1 : 1, 10 : 1, 100 : 1, and 1000 : 1 (cyanobacteria : chlorella). In a series of experiments, no effect of chlorella culture on the viability of cells of the studied cyanobacteria has been detected. However, high cyanobacteria densities (concentrations of 1 : 1, 10 : 1, 100 : 1, and 1000 : 1) are associated with an increase in the number of dead chlorella cells. The toxic effect of the CALU 799 D. spiroides strain is more pronounced in comparison with that of CALU 1749 Planktothrix agardhii.

The effect of 20-hydroxyecdysone on carbohydrate metabolism indices was studied in crossbred piglets (♂ Danish Yorkshire ×♀ Danish Landrace) during the postnatal period of ontogenesis. At the age of 60 days, 2 groups of animals were formed: 1 (control, n=3) and 2 (experiment, n=4), which received compound feed con- taining (g/kg) crude protein 158.7; lysine 7.7; threonine 4.8; methionine 4.6 and metabolizable energy (MJ/kg) 12.7. 20-hydroxyecdysone was introduced into the diet of piglets in the experimental group at the rate of 30 mg/kg of feed. The parameters of carbohydrate metabolism (glucose, pyruvate, lactate concentrations, alpha-amylase and lactate dehydrogenase activity in the blood, glycogen content in the longissimus dorsi muscle and liver) were studied. Statistical processing of the obtained results was performed using the STATISTICA v.12.5 software package. The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to identify differences between animal samples. Differences be- tween groups were considered statistically significant at p≤0.05. The use of 20-hydroxyecdysone in animals dur- ing the postnatal period of ontogenesis for 2 months leads to a decrease in the lactate level in the blood serum (by 17.1%; p<0.05). In animals of the experimental group, compared to the control, an increase in the pyruvate con- tent (by 15.8%; p<0.05), the activity of lactate dehydrogenase and alpha-amylase enzymes in the blood serum was found against the background of a low glucose level in whole blood (by 22.8%; p<0.05). At the same time, in an- imals receiving 20-hydroxyecdysone, compared to the control, an increase in the glycogen level in the liver and longissimus dorsi muscle was found (by 23.0% and 20.7%, respectively; p<0.05). It was concluded that 20-hydroxyecdysone activates the intracellular signaling pathway of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase and protein kinase B, which leads to an increase in the intensity and direction of carbohydrate metabolism, accompanied by complete oxidation of glucose to pyruvate with a large formation of adenosine triphosphoric acid (ATP) and ef- fective utilization of glucose for glycogen synthesis in the liver and longissimus dorsi muscle.

The state of modern protective plantations in coniferous-deciduous forests of the Non-Chernozem zone is characterized by great heterogeneity. Currently, both protective forest plantations and protective tree plantations are managed by an extensive method, often without taking into account biological relationships in the agrophytocenosis. Successional changes in Aphyllophorales macromycetes (AFMM) at different stages of xylolysis of large tree debris represent a complex biochemical process. The limiting conditions for the active growth of fungal mycelium inside wood include light, access to moisture and air, violations in water transport. As mycogenic xylolysis develops, there is an increase in the biodiversity of AFMM species, which reaches a maximum at stage III–IV. On a large data set of 332 model trees and 3,543 basidiomes of xylotrophic basidiomycetes, the presence of correlations between the settlement on the substrate of various ecological groups of AFMM involved in xylolysis was established. It has also been shown that the fruit bodies of fungi are actively formed under conditions of abiotic stress and their number increases in subsequent seasons. When using AFMM as indicators of the xylolysis stage of coniferous species, it is necessary to take into account that the development of mycelium depends on the structural features of the wood. The course of mycelium development in the trunk cross-section is associated with both the action of external environmental factors and interference processes between species. At the same time, the frequency of basidioma formation and their age are of great importance in field identification.