Influence of long-term use of various doses of mineral fertilizers on the productivity of grain-fallow crop rotation in the arid steppe of the Volga region

The work reflects the analysis of changes in the productivity of crops of crop rotation during the long-term use of fertilizer systems in a stationary experiment for the period from VI to VIII rotation (1999-2001 - 2016-2018). The influence of various doses of nitrogen, phosphorus and nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers on the change in the content of nitrate nitrogen and mobile phosphorus in the conditions of the southern chernozem for the specified period of research was determined. The responsiveness of crop rotation crops to the application of nitrogen, phosphorus, and nitrogen-phosphorus fertilizers in minimum, medium and high doses has been established.

Mycelial compatibility, anastomosis, and nucleus numbers of eight Mexican Hirsutella citriformis strains isolated from Diaphorina citri

Background Among entomopathogenic fungi, H. citriformis has been recognized as potential biocontrol agent against the Asian citrus psyllid Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae). Nevertheless, this fungus is poorly characterized. Previous molecular studies have shown high sequence similarities among strains, but significant differences in Diaphorina citri virulence. Objective The aim of the present study was to determine mycelial compatibility and anastomosis, and nucleus numbers in mycelium and conidia of eight H. citriformis strains isolated from mycosed D. citri adults collected from several Mexican states. Methods Mycelial compatibility and anastomosis evaluation was performed after pairing strains, leading to 36 confrontations, and cultured in chlorate minimum medium to obtain mutants for vegetative compatibility group. Results Hypha or conidia nuclei were visualized with safranin-O and 3% KOH, and 0.05% trypan blue–lactophenol solution. H. citriformis strains showed compatibly and anastomosis events after confrontation. In addition, they showed one nucleus per conidium and mycelium section. It was not possible to obtain H. citriformis nit mutants from the chlorate concentrations tested. Conclusions To date, this is the first report demonstrating mycelial compatibility, anastomosis occurrence, and hyphae and conidia nuclei number among H. citriformis strains.

Extraction and Isolation of Antioxidant-antibacterial Compounds From Lactobacillus casei Strain K1C by Thin-layer Chromatography

Background: Nowadays, searching for natural bioactive compounds with potential use in food industries is a major issue. Because of simple purification, natural compounds from microbial sources attract more attention. These encompass antioxidant and antibacterial materials derived from probiotics. Methods: In this study, Lactobacillus strains were isolated from kefir specimens. The antioxidant and antibacterial activity of the methanol extract of the supernatants was determined using 2, 2-diphenyl-picyril hydrazil (DPPH) and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) methods, respectively. In order to increase the antioxidant properties, a minimum medium fermented aerobically was used. Results: Antibacterial activity of Lactobacillus supernatant increased against E. coli ATCC 11303 in case of minimum medium (25.32 mg/mL) compared to MRS broth (32 mg/mL); however, aerobic condition decreased antibacterial production (65.44 mg/mL). After fractionation by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), this value reached the highest level (500 µg/mL). Production analysis at different times showed that maximum antibacterial activity was obtained in the middle of the logarithmic growth phase until the beginning of the stationary growth phase. The antioxidant traits increased significantly in minimum culture media and anaerobic condition (492.1 ± 0.25 µg/mL) compared to the similar condition in MRS broth (880.96 ± 0.05 µg/mL). The highest antioxidant production was observed in the stationary growth phase of the aerobically fermented minimum medium (266.82 ± 0.17 µg/mL). Conclusions: The findings of this study showed that the best antibacterial and antioxidant-producing isolate, L. casei strain K1C (accession no.: KU954559), could be useful as a natural preservative in food industries.

These insights into the pension law trends peculiar to the USSR and Russian federation: analysis of the results achieved

Pension law trends peculiar to the USSR and Russian Federation, their fundamental influence upon the ultimate results of pension provision as to the citizens of the USSR and the ones of post-Soviet Russia are the concern of the present study. A brief review of Soviet pension law is provided herein, key elements of legal regulation of pension entitlement during Soviet period are analyzed along with the results achieved both in the USSR and Russian Federation as to the old-age insurance. The information about scales of pensions at the periods of time listed above – their minimum, medium and maximum values – is represented therewith; the purchasing power of Soviet and Russian pensions is compared, figures concerning coefficient of substitution of lost wage with pensions are dealt with. It is pointed out that the unified public pension system of the USSR has been a beneficial experience along with the establishment of proper social standards in the domain of pension provision, opportune getting the pension law development priorities right, approach and coherent rise in the standard of living of pensioners. The results of legislative work through the 90s of the 20-th century in the domain of pension provision in Russia are also summing up herein, correlation of reformative decisions made during the last decades and their consequences for the Russian pensioners are considered. Relying on the analysis above the following conclusions can be reached: pension provision reforming in Russia nowadays has not brought to rise in the standard of living of most pensioners. Moreover the level of pension provision in Russia has become lower than the one in the USSR. By this means it is concluded that fundamental reforming of pension provision setup in Russian Federation is extremely necessary and thereafter some ways of its improvement are suggested.

Histochemical demonstration of protein concentration in intestinal tissue of coccidiosis infected broiler chicks treated with Mercurius corrosivus

The present investigation includes the study of protein concentration in intestinal tissue of coccidiosis infected broiler chicks orally inoculated by the infection of Eimeria tenella sporulated oocysts and treated with Mercurius corrosivus by using the methods of histochemical techniques. The treatment of homoeopathic medicine Mercurius corrosivus was administered to the coccidiosis infected group of broiler chicks.For the study of protein concentration in intestinal tissue of the coccidiosis infected and non-infected broiler chicks, the histochemical technique was used. Histochemical study indicates that the presence of different concentration of protein content found in the intestinal tissue of the broiler chicks.Intestinal tissue of all the chicks of different groups have presence of protein content in variable concentrations. It is also observed that the presence of protein concentration was variable in different region and shows different traces like minimum, medium and maximum amount of protein content found in different region of the intestinal tissue.The amount of protein concentration was observed high in group B(INC) in comparison to the other group of chicks observed during the experimental period. The concluded results of the study by using histochemical techniques shows that the protein concentration in the intestinal tissue is demonstrated by the variable staining reaction. The concentration of protein content is maximum in the parasitic stages showing the utilization of the protein from the host tissue. Whereas the infected and treated group with homoeopathic medicine Mercurius corrosivus also showed variable staining reaction according to the presence of protein in the intestinal tissue.

Biobutanol Production Using High Cell Density Fermentation in a Large Extractant Volume

Biobutanol is well-known as a suitable substitute for gasoline which can be applied without enginemodification. Butanol toxicity to the producer strain causes difficulties to grow strain with more than 4 g/L dry cellweight and to produce butanol more than 20 g/L. Fermentation with high initial cell density was reported to enhancebutanol productivity. In addition, oleyl alcohol has been recognized to perform effective extraction for butanol because ofits selectivity and biocompatibility so that reducing toxicity effect. Butanol fermentation with high cell density and largeextractant volume has not been reported and is expected to improve butanol production in minimum medium volume.Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum N1-4, C. beijerinckii NCIMB 8052 (8052), and C. acetobutylicum ATCC 824(824) were used in this study. Three kinds of media, TYA, TY, and TY-CaCO3, were used to investigate in conventionalextractive fermentation. Then, in situ extractive fermentations with Ve/Vb ratios at 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 10 were operated.Total butanol concentration was defined as the broth based total butanol, that is total amounts of butanol produced inbroth and extractant per the volume of broth. TYA medium resulted the highest total butanol concentrations by N1-4 (12g/L), 8052 (11 g/L), and 824 (15 g/L) and the highest partition coefficient (3.7) among the three media with Ve/Vb ratiosat 0.5. N1-4 yielded the highest increment of total butanol production (22 g/L) in the extractive fermentation with highcell density. Low butanol concentration of 0.8 g/L butanol in broth was maintained with the extractant to broth volumeratio (Ve/Vb), which was much lower than 4.4 g/L with the ratio of 0.5. Ve/Vb ratio of 10 provided 2-fold higher totalbutanol concentration (28 g/L) than that 11 g/L obtained with Ve/Vb ratio of 0.5. These results indicated that largervolume of extractant to broth improved total butanol concentration by reducing butanol toxicity and led to high mediumbasedbutanol yield in fermentation using high cell density.

APLIKASI LOGIKA FUZZY SUGENO UNTUK PREDIKSI NILAI SLUMP DAN KUAT TEKAN BETON

Abstrak:Salah satu faktor yang mempengaruhi nilai slump dan kuat tekan beton adalah bahan-bahan penyusun beton. Logika fuzzy Sugeno digunakan untuk prediksi nilai slump dan kuat tekan beton dengan bantuan software MATLAB versi 8.5.0.197613 R2015a. Penelitian menggunakan desain eksperimental aplikatif dan validasi dengan sistem Multiple Input Double Output (MIDO). Hasil penelitian : 1) Variabel multiple input terdiri dari semen, agregat kasar, agregat halus, dan air. Variabel double output terdiri dari nilai slump dan kuat tekan beton. 2) Himpunan fuzzy yang digunakan himpunan variabel linguistik minimum-medium-maksimum dengan fungsi keanggotaan segitiga. 3) Perhitungan cara manual dengan 4 tahapan, yaitu: membuat himpunan dan multiple input variabel, aplikasi fungsi implikasi, komposisi aturan, dan deffuzifikasi. 4) Perhitungan cara komputasi. 5) Hasil validitas diperoleh: a) hasil perhitungan ouput cara manual sama dengan output cara komputasi, yaitu nilai slump 8,75 cm dan kuat tekan 50 MPa, b) uji linearitas menghasilkan nilai koefisien determinasi R2 sama dengan 0,967 lebih dari 0,95 untuk slump dan R2 sama dengan 0,9516 lebih dari 0,95 untuk kuat tekan beton, c) uji beda rerata didapat P-value 0,200 lebih dari 0,05 untuk slump dan P-value 0,136 lebih dari 0,05 untuk kuat tekan beton. Maka, program dinyatakan valid dan layak digunakan. 6) Simulasi aplikasi logika fuzzy Sugeno dilakukan 5 kali dengan hasil: a) Jumlah semen, jumlah agregat kasar, jumlah agregat halus dan jumlah air berbanding lurus dengan nilai slump dan kuat tekan beton, b) Jumlah semen berbanding terbalik dengan air. Apabila jumlah semen maksimum dan jumlah air minimum maka menghasilkan nilai slump minimum dan kekuatan tekan beton maksimum dan sebaliknya, c) Agregat halus berbanding lurus dengan agregat kasar. Sehingga nilai slump dan kuat tekan beton akan mengalami minimum, medium dan maksimum apabila agregat kasar medium dan agregat halus medium.Kata-kata kunci: Logika fuzzy, Metode Sugeno, slump beton, kuat tekan beton.Abstract: One of the factors that influence the value of slump and compressive strength of concrete is the ingredients of concrete. Sugeno fuzzy logic is used to predict slump values and concrete compressive strength with the help of MATLAB software version 8.5.0.197613 R2015a. The study uses an applicative experimental design and validation with a Multiple Input Double Output (MIDO) system. Results: 1) Multiple input variables consisting of cement, coarse aggregate, fine aggregate, and water. The double output variable consists of slump value and concrete compressive strength. 2) Fuzzy set which is used minimum-medium-maximum linguistic variable set with triangle membership function. 3) Calculation of the manual method with 4 stages, namely: creating sets and multiple input variables, application of function implications, composition of rules, and deffuzification. 4) Calculation of computational methods. 5) The validity results are obtained: a) the results of manual output calculation are the same as the output of the computational method, namely the slump value of 8.75 cm and compressive strength of 50 MPa, b) the linearity test produces a coefficient of determination R2 is 0.967 more than 0.95 for the slump and R2 is 0.9516 more than 0.95 for concrete compressive strength, c) the average difference test obtained P-value 0.200 more than 0.05 for slump and P-value 0.136 more than 0.05 for concrete compressive strength. Then, the program is declared valid and is feasible to use. 6) Sugeno fuzzy logic application simulation is done 5 times with the results: a) The amount of cement, the amount of coarse aggregate, the amount of fine aggregate and the amount of water is directly proportional to the slump value and concrete compressive strength, b) The amount of cement is inversely proportional to water. If the maximum amount of cement and minimum amount of water results in a minimum slump value and maximum concrete compressive strength and vice versa, c) Fine aggregate is directly proportional to coarse aggregate. So the value of slump and compressive strength of concrete will experience a minimum, medium and maximum if the coarse aggregate is medium and the fine aggregate is medium.Keywords: Fuzzy logic, Sugeno Method, concrete slump, strong concrete reach.

Energy Utilization Potential of Wheat Straw in an Ecological Balance—A Case Study of Henan Province in China

Minimum volume of straw should be retained in collecting wheat straw in order to obtain sustainable agricultural biomass energy and measure the energy utilization potential of wheat straw when considering ecological balance. Based on relevant literature, this paper calculates the minimum, medium, and maximum volume of wheat straw retention in various types of soil and designs three different scenarios of minimum, medium, and maximum wheat straw retention. Taking Henan province in China as a case, this paper calculates the potential of wheat straw for energy utilization using linear regression method and scenario analysis, with consideration of influencing factors such as the harvest coefficient and combustion ratio of wheat straw. The results show that the energy utilization potential of wheat straw in Henan province in 2020, 2030, 2050 are 13.77, 16.48, 22.54 million tons of coal equivalent (TCEs), respectively, in the minimum retention scenario, assuming that wheat straw is not directly used for combustion. Excessive straw left in the field causes resource waste and produces CH4 and other greenhouse gases. This paper finds that energy potential of wheat straw for energy utilization is limited when ecological balance is considered, however, it is beneficial to the sustainable development of crop biomass energy.

Rhamnolipids fromPseudomonas aeruginosaDisperse the Biofilms of Sulfate-Reducing Bacteria

ABSTRACTBiofilm formation is an important problem for many industries.Desulfovibrio vulgarisis the representative sulfate-reducing bacterium (SRB) which causes metal corrosion in oil wells and drilling equipment, and the corrosion is related to its biofilm formation. Biofilms are extremely difficult to remove since the cells are cemented in a polymer matrix. In an effort to eliminate SRB biofilms, we examined the ability of supernatants fromPseudomonas aeruginosaPA14 to disperse SRB biofilms. We found that theP. aeruginosasupernatants dispersed more than 98% of the biofilm. To determine the genetic basis of this SRB biofilm dispersal, we examined a series ofP. aeruginosamutants and found that mutantsrhlA,rhlB,rhlI, andrhlR,defective in rhamnolipids production, had significantly reduced levels of SRB biofilm dispersal. Corroborating these results, purified rhamnolipids dispersed SRB biofilms, and rhamnolipids were detected in theP. aeruginosasupernatants. Hence,P. aeruginosasupernatants disperse SRB biofilms via rhamnolipids. In addition, the supernatants ofP. aeruginosadispersed the SRB biofilms more readily than protease in M9 glucose minimum medium and were also effective against biofilms ofEscherichia coliandBacillus subtilis.

Evaluation of Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) Microphysics single moment class-3 and class-6 in Precipitation Forecast

In this study, the performance of two different Microphysics Scheme options in Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model were evaluated for the estimating the precipitation forecast. The schemes WRF single moment class-3 (WSM-3) and single moment class-6 (WSM-6) were employed to produce the minimum, medium and maximum precipitation for the selected events over the Kuantan River Basin (KRB). The obtained simulated results were compared with the observed data from eight different rainfall gauging stations. The results comparison indicate that WRF model provides better forecasting at some rainfall stations for minimum and medium rainfall events but did not produce good result during maximum rainfall overall. The WSM-6 scheme is found to produce better result compared to WSM-3. The study also found that to acquire accurate precipitation results, it is also required to test some other physics scheme parameterization to enhance the model performance.