DISTRIBUTION OF THE SMALL SPRUCE BARK BEETLE IPS AMITINUS (EICHHOFF, 1872) IN WESTERN SIBERIA

The data on distribution of small spruce bark beetle Ips amitinus (Eichh.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), a new invasive pest of European origin on the territory of Western Siberia are presented. Alien bark beetle species was recorded in the Siberian pine forests of the Tomsk, Kemerovo and Novosibirsk regions. According to the modern data the total invasion range is more than 30 thousand km² with a tendency to further expansion. The number outbreaks of I. amitinus in Siberian pine forests near settlements, in nature preservations and plantations of Pinus sibirica Du Tour cause significant harm to pine-nut harvesting and selective breeding.

Applied Successful Treatment of Two Main Post-COVID-19 Symptoms: Anosmia and Ageusia: A Novel Approach

Patients recovering from COVID-19 occasionally reported anosmia (loss of smell) and ageusia (loss of taste). This paper aims to use medications to treat anosmia and ageusia in post-COVD-19 recovered patients. A total of 6391 recovered COVID-19 patients were invited to enroll in this study from all age groups, both genders and different health conditions (immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients). Clinical treatments of anosmia were done by application of Apisal nasal/eye drops (Amman Pharmaceutical Industries, Jordan), used 3 times a day to stimulate nasal epithelial lining cells. It can sensitize the nose then stimulate and induce smelling function. Responders were 2794 (43.72%) of patients who were cured and retained smelling (novel work). Next was application of Vicks inhaler nasal stick which consists of 125 mg menthol, 50 mg camphor and 10 mg Siberian pine needle oil used 3 times a day. Responders were 5884 (92.07%) within 5 days. A combination of Apisal and Vicks recorded 6186 (96.80%) cures. The rest, 205 non-responsive patients to above medications were prescribed Avamys (fluticasone furoate) 27.5 micrograms/spray, nasal spray suspension (GSK, UK), twice a day which gave 203 (99.02%) cures as this is a novel work. Clinical treatment of ageusia involved administration of A-Z vital caplets (Hansal, Germany), an excellent tonic (multivitamins and minerals) once a day for adults, while Pharmaton Kiddi syrup (Boehringer Ingelheim, Germany) was given to children. Hot spices included a mixture of equal volumes of black pepper, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and coriander (doses were not determined but little mixture powder was applied inside the mouth) were advised beside tonics to stimulate taste pads so as to gain its function back to normal. 6382 (99.80%) patients got their taste back to normal within 5 days and this is also a novel work. After massive success of these medications, they were circulated all over Arab homeland as well as expat Arabs across the world.

Novel Materials for Myco-Decontamination of Cyanide-Containing Wastewaters through Microbial Biotechnology

This study examined the effectiveness of decontamination of industrial cyanide-containing water using mycelium-based lignocellulosic materials. These results suggest that fungi biomass and plant substrates can be used successfully in the treatment of wastewater contaminated by cyanide. Fungi were isolated from old wood samples taken from a tailing dam with high cyanide content (more than 20 years in semi-submerged condition). All isolated fungi belonged to the genus Fusarium. Fusarium oxysporum Schltdl. is most effective for biodegradation of cyanide-containing wastewaters (even at low temperatures). The most optimal lignocellulosic composition for production of mycelium-based biomaterial for biodegradation of cyanide wastewater consists of a uniform ratio of Siberian pine sawdust and wheat straw. The high efficiency of mycelium-based materials has been experimentally proven in vitro at 15-25 ° C. New fungal biomaterials are provide decrease in the concentration of cyanide ions to 79% (P <0.001). Large-scale cultivation of fungi biomass was carried out by the periodic liquid-phase cultivation. The submerged biomass from bioreactor was used as an inoculum for the production of mycelium-based materials for bioremediation of cyanide wastewater in situ (gold mine tailing).

Comparative Assessment Of Some Physical And Mechanical Properties Of Wood Of Different Scots Pine Climatypes

For a more efficient and rational use in the production of Scots pine wood of various geographical origin, it is necessary to know its physical and mechanical properties. The purpose of this study was to determine the physical and mechanical properties of wood of 17 climatic ecotypes of Scots pine and to carry out a comparative analysis of the indicators obtained for the studied climatypes separately and when they are grouped into subspecies in accordance with the classification of L.F. Pravdin. The range of the geographical origin of the places of seed procurement is from 47 to 62° north latitude and from 22 to 85° east longitude. The modern density universal testing machine MTS INSIGHT 100 was used for research. As a result of the research, it was found that the density of wood in an absolutely dry state varies from 370 kg/m3 (Kursk climatype) to 524 kg/m3 (Volgograd climatype), and at 12% humidity – from 397 kg/m3 (Kursk climatype) to 550 kg/m3 (Volgograd climatype). The index of the strength of wood of the studied climatypes for compression along the fibres was from 32 MPa (Kursk climatype) to 54 MPa (Volgograd climatype), and for static bending – from 55 to 92 MPa for the Vologda and Ulyanovsk climatypes, respectively. Distribution of Scots pine climatypes into subspecies in accordance with the classification of L.F. Pravdin and the obtained data on the physical and mechanical properties of wood have a certain pattern. The maximum density of wood at 12% moisture is typical for the European Scots pine subspecies is 497±8 kg/m3 , the minimum value of this indicator for the Siberian Scots pine subspecies is 423±30 kg/m3 . An intermediate position is occupied by the subspecies of Lapland pine and Forest-steppe pine with values of 483±16 and 464±12 kg/m3 , respectively. The strength index of wood in the studied subspecies for compression along the fibres ranged from 47±1 MPa (European subspecies) to 33±4 MPa (Siberian subspecies), in the Lapland pine subspecies – 44±2 MPa and somewhat lower in the Forest-steppe pine subspecies – 42±2 MPa. The maximum value of the static bending strength of wood is typical for the European pine subspecies – 78±4 MPa, and the minimum – for the Siberian pine subspecies – 61±14 MPa. This indicator turned out to be equal in subspecies of forest-steppe and Lapland pine and amounted to 72±4 MPa. The practical value of the work lies in identifying the existing differences and variability among climatypes according to the studied physical and mechanical properties of wood and selecting the most promising of them for further breeding purposes

The Ecological State of the Soils of the Industrial City of Usolye-Sibirskoye

The results of a study of the state of soil cover in the sphere of influence of an industrial city in the conditions of Eastern Siberia are presented. In the town of Usolye-Sibirskoye (Irkutsk region), industrial nature use dominates. The acid-alkaline conditions of the soils of the city were transformed relative to the background soils. An assessment of the biochemical activity of soils is given as an integral indicator, which was assessed by the express method. Three groups of soils were identified according to the level of their activity. The diversity of soil microbiocenosis has been established. A tendency towards a decrease in the qualitative composition of microscopic fungi in industrial zones has been noted. It is recommended to increase the planting area of woody vegetation (poplar, birch, Siberian pine, fir, bird cherry, wild rose) and sowing herbs (clover, sweet clover, timothy grass, and bluegrass) to improve the environment.

Formation of Siberian Pine Forests by Improvement Felling on Former Agriculturаl Lands

On the base of the researches carried out on the permanent study area silvicultural effectiveness of improvement felling was analyzed in soft-leaved plantations formed on the former agricultural lands in Khanty-Mansi Autonomons Okrug – Yugra. It was experimentally found that among 25–30-year-old soft-leaved stands there is Siberian pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour); besides this, nominal undergrowth of this species can be found under the canopy. Improvement felling can provide an increase in the share of Siberian pine in the composition of the forming plantations and even its dominance in stands. It is recommended to carry out improvement felling by the strip method. On the first-stage the felling of soft-leaved species in strips of 10 m wide is carried out, while leaving strips of similar width without care. On the second stage in 10 years soft-leaved trees are cut down in those strips where care was not taken. Felling of all the accompanying Siberian pine trees in a single shot is inadmissible, since it leads to intensive growth of herbaceous vegetation, sodding and exclusion of the Siberian pine undergrowth as well as dramatically increases the fire danger in spring and autumn. In addition, at the indicated intensity, the specimens of Siberian pine left for cultivation are affected by Pineus cembrae (Cholodovsky, 1988).

Palynological diagrams of Holocene sediments and ice wedges at the mouth of the Seyakha River (Zelenaya), Yamal Peninsula

This article examines the sections of the high floodplain of the Seyakha River (Zelenaya) and sections of Holocene peat layers with ice wedges on the third terrace.&nbsp;Palynospectra from sediments and ice wedges of the high floodplain are characterized by a rhythmic fluctuations typical to floodplain facies.&nbsp;The presence of spruce pollen is related to resedimentation, since spruce pollen is detected in the samples with the composition of verifiably resedimented palynomorphs around 10% or higher.&nbsp;The change in composition of the pollen of Siberian pine, scots pine, and birch tree is associated with a change in wind drift, since&nbsp;fluctuations in the composition of the pollen of these taxonomic units do not correlate with fluctuations in resedimented palynomorphs.&nbsp;Therefore, the three periods of increased wind drift and possible increase in pollen productivity can be determined based on mid-period contrast changes in the structure of palynospectra.&nbsp;At the same time, the local peak of cereals is replaced three times by the maximum pollen of dwarf birch and alder.&nbsp;The absence of larch trunks can be substantiated by fires, the traces of which are observed in the section, as well as that larch at the northern limit of its habitat has crumbly wood tissue, which is being rapidly destroyed.&nbsp;Tree limb, needles, and cones usually remain, while the wood tissue is absent.&nbsp;It is assumed that ice wedges formed here 8.5-6 thousand years ago during a single cycle of the change in wind direction and speed , when prevalence of birch tree pollen with some alder pollen at a relatively low pollen concentration was replaced by the dominance of gramineae pollen, and then, dwarf birch pollen in the spring pollen rain. Palynospectra of these ice wedges indicates an increase in the sum of positive temperatures from 8.3 to 6 thousand years.

Geoactive Zones and the Structure of Plant Communities in Connection With New Discoveries in Space Geology

The purpose of the work is to find out how plants react to such zones and whether their phytoindication is possible. Two territories of the Perm territory were studied: the Vishersky Nature Reserve and forests near Perm. The research methodology included lineament and geostructurometric analysis of space images and special maps using ring structures discovered on the Earth’s surface by Yu. I. Fivenskii, as well as phyto- and bioindication of small geoactive zones. It was found that in the forests near Perm favorable zones of such zones occupy 1.44% of the territory and within their limits the safety of common pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is 29–42 times higher. Phytoindication of small geoactive zones of 1.0 and 3.0 m by common pine was shown in the zones of influence of these zones: 0–18 cm — the radius of inhibition with the absence of trees; 19–29 cm — the depression zone with small trees; 30–48 cm — the comfort zone with medium and large trees. Two types of networks formed by zones of 1.0 and 8.0 m in size near Perm (on the plain) and in the reserve (in the mountains) were compared. In the mountains, with high geodynamic activity of territories, the networks are oriented in one direction, while on the plain their orientation is misaligned by 30°. In the reserve, large trees of Siberian spruce (Picea obovata Ledeb.) were located on small geoactive zones of 1.0 and 8.0 m, and trees of Siberian pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour) — on zones 1.0 and 3.0 m in combination with zones 16, 32 and 55 m. In the subgolets zone, ring structures of perennial plants were also found on the first two types of zones. In addition, along the edges of the swamps, chains of trees were found whose direction coincides with ring faults, and the chains themselves are similar to the structure of small geoactive zones networks, and this fractality requires field verification. The hypothesis recharge of plants within geoactive zones is proposed, which also explains the successful growth of trees on rocks, where the amount of available soil is minimal.