Climatically driven loss of calcium in steppe soil as a sink for atmospheric carbon

During the last several thousand years the semi‐arid, cold climate of the Russian steppe formed highly fertile soils rich in organic carbon and calcium (classified as Chernozems in the Russian system). Analysis of archived soil samples collected in Kemannaya Steppe Preserve in 1920, 1947, 1970, and fresh samples collected in 1998 indicated that the native steppe Chernozems, however, lost 17–28 kg m−2 of calcium in the form of carbonates in 1970–1998. Here we demonstrate that the loss of calcium was caused by fundamental shift in the steppe hydrologic balance. Previously unleached soils where precipitation was less than potential evapotranspiration are now being leached due to increased precipitation and, possibly, due to decreased actual evapotranspiration. Because this region receives low levels of acidic deposition, the dissolution of carbonates involves the consumption of atmospheric CO2. Our estimates indicate that this climatically driven terrestrial sink of atmospheric CO2 is ∼2.1–7.4 g C m−2 a−1. In addition to the net sink of atmospheric carbon, leaching of pedogenic carbonates significantly amplified seasonal amplitude of CO2 exchange between atmosphere and steppe soil

CLINICAL STUDIES OF THE VACCINE PREPARATION FOR PREVENTION OF FLEXNER DYSENTERY ON THE BASIS OF MODIFIED SHIGELLA FLEXNERI LIPOPOLYSACCHARIDE (BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THE I PHASE OF CLINICAL TRIALS)

The article presents the results of the I phase of clinical trials of a vaccine preparationfor prevention of Flexner dysentery on the basis of modified Shigella flexneri lipopolysaccharide on the limited contingent of adult volunteers (26 persons). Studying general and local post-inoculative reactions showed good acceptability and low reactogenicity of candidate vaccine "FLEXVAC®" in the doses from 25 to 100 gg. In the majority ofvolunteers immunized by the candidate vaccine "FLEXVAC®" we registered 4 and more times seroconversion of IgG and IgA classes antibodies playing basic role in the formation of adaptive anti-shigella immune response

Milestones of the history (to the 95-th anniversary of the V.V. Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute)

The article considers the logic and periods of V.V. Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute development as well as the driving forces during the mentioned periods and the most important outcomes and tasks for the near future. One can distinguish four main periods in the history of the Institute, they are: organization, sustainable development, survival, revival. Some factors like scientific and organizational structure of the Institute, its contribution to the development of theoretical and applied soil science are considered as the indicators typical of each period. Firstly, the Institute structure during the initial organization period shows the priority of fundamental soil research in the leading areas: soil physics, soil chemistry, soil genesis, biology, etc. Advanced development of theoretical research allowed scientists to promptly respond to actual needs of the developing country: search for soil resources for cultivation of technical crops, development of new territories, land reclamation and hydrotechnical construction. By the 1970s a kind of sustainable scientific and organizational structure had finally formed in the Institute. In the early 90s, the Soil Science Institute entered a critical phase of development. The second decade of the XXI century became a turning point in its fate. A new strategy in the development of scientific activities of the Institute was sorely needed. The new strategy consisted of three interrelated elements. The first one was modernization of the material and technical basis for researches; the second one was strengthening of the human resources potential through attraction of motivated young researchers; and the third one was in establishing unilateral and multilateral interactions between the partners – users of scientific knowledge. The main areas of interaction were the topical issues: food security, global climate change and their implications for the country. It has been shown that society can recognize and support the scientific research only if a constant flow of information, obtained by means of different tools and methods, is provided. The significance of soil science as a fundamental discipline in the socio-economic development of the country was confirmed by the Government Resolution (2022) on the celebration of the 100-th anniversary of the V.V. Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute. The modern noosphere paradigm in soil research poses new challenges to the science, at the forefront of which is V.V. Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute

J/Ѱ polarization in p+p collisions at √s = 200 GeV in STAR

We report on a polarization measurement of inclusive J/Ѱ mesons in the di-electron decay channel at mid-rapidity at 2 \u3c pT \u3c 6 GeV/c in p + p collisions at √s = 200 GeV. Data were taken with the STAR detector at RHIC. The J/Ѱ polarization measurement should help to distinguish between different models of the J/Ѱ production mechanism since they predict different pT dependences of the J/Ѱ polarization. In this analysis, J/Ѱ is studied in the helicity frame. The polarization parameter λθ measured at RHIC becomes smaller towards high pT, indicating more longitudinal J/Ѱ polarization as pT increases. The result is compared with predictions of presently available models

Beam-Energy-Dependent Two-Pion Interferometry and the Freeze-Out Eccentricity of Pions Measured in Heavy Ion Collisions at the STAR Detector

We present results of analyses of two-pion interferometry in Au+Au collisions at √SNN=7.7, 11.5, 19.6, 27, 39, 62.4, and 200 GeV measured in the STAR detector as part of the BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider Beam Energy Scan program. The extracted correlation lengths (Hanbury-Brown–Twiss radii) are studied as a function of beam energy, azimuthal angle relative to the reaction plane, centrality, and transverse mass (mT) of the particles. The azimuthal analysis allows extraction of the eccentricity of the entire fireball at kinetic freeze-out. The energy dependence of this observable is expected to be sensitive to changes in the equation of state. A new global fit method is studied as an alternate method to directly measure the parameters in the azimuthal analysis. The eccentricity shows a monotonic decrease with beam energy that is qualitatively consistent with the trend from all model predictions and quantitatively consistent with a hadronic transport model

Charged-to-Neutral Correlation at Forward Rapidity in Au + Au collisions at √\u3cem\u3e\u3csup\u3eS\u3c/sup\u3e\u3csub\u3eNN\u3c/sub\u3e\u3c/em\u3e=200 GeV

Event-by-event fluctuations of the multiplicities of inclusive charged particles and photons at forward rapidity in Au+Au collisions at √SNN=200 GeV have been studied. The dominant contribution to such fluctuations is expected to come from correlated production of charged and neutral pions. We search for evidence of dynamical fluctuations of different physical origins. Observables constructed out of moments of multiplicities are used as measures of fluctuations. Mixed events and model calculations are used as base lines. Results are compared to the dynamical net-charge fluctuations measured in the same acceptance. A nonzero statistically significant signal of dynamical fluctuations is observed in excess to the model prediction when charged particles and photons are measured in the same acceptance. We find that, unlike dynamical net-charge fluctuation, charge-neutral fluctuation is not dominated by correlation owing to particle decay. Results are compared to the expectations based on the generic production mechanism of pions owing to isospin symmetry, for which no significant (\u3c1%) deviation is observed

Suppression of Υ production in \u3cem\u3ed\u3c/em\u3e + Au and Au + Au collisions at √\u3cem\u3e\u3csup\u3es\u3c/sup\u3eNN\u3c/em\u3e = 200 GeV

We report measurements of Υ meson production in p + p, d + Au, and Au + Au collisions using the STAR detector at RHIC. We compare the Υ yield to the measured cross section in p + p collisions in order to quantify any modifications of the yield in cold nuclear matter using d + Au data and in hot nuclear matter using Au + Au data separated into three centrality classes. Our p + p measurement is based on three times the statistics of our previous result. We obtain a nuclear modification factor for Υ (1S + 2S + 3S) in the rapidity range | y| \u3c 1 in d + Au collisions of RdAu = 0.79 ± 0.24(stat.) ± 0.03(syst.) ± 0.10(p + p syst.). A comparison with models including shadowing and initial state parton energy loss indicates the presence of additional cold-nuclear matter suppression. Similarly, in the top 10% most-central Au + Au collisions, we measure a nuclear modification factor of RAA = 0.49 ± 0.1(stat.) ± 0.02(syst.) ± 0.06(p + p syst.), which is a larger suppression factor than that seen in cold nuclear matter. Our results are consistent with complete suppression of excited-state Υ mesons in Au + Au collisions. The additional suppression in Au + Au is consistent with the level expected in model calculations that include the presence of a hot, deconfined Quark–Gluon Plasma. However, understanding the suppression seen in d + Au is still needed before any definitive statements about the nature of the suppression in Au + Au can be made

\u3cem\u3eJ\u3c/em\u3e/\u3cem\u3eψ\u3c/em\u3e Production at Low \u3cem\u3ep\u3csub\u3eT\u3c/sub\u3e\u3c/em\u3e in Au + Au and Cu + Cu Collisions at √\u3cem\u3e\u3csup\u3eS\u3c/sup\u3eNN\u3c/em\u3e = 200 GeV with the STAR Detector

The J/ψ pT spectrum and nuclear modification factor (RAA) are reported for pT \u3c 5 GeV/c and |y| \u3c 1 from 0% to 60% central Au + Au and Cu + Cu collisions at √SNN = 200 GeV at STAR. A significant suppression of pT-integrated J/ψ production is observed in central Au + Au events. The Cu + Cu data are consistent with no suppression, although the precision is limited by the available statistics. RAA in Au + Au collisions exhibits a strong suppression at low transverse momentum and gradually increases with pT. The data are compared to high-pT STAR results and previously published BNL Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider results. Comparing with model calculations, it is found that the invariant yields at low pT are significantly above hydrodynamic flow predictions but are consistent with models that include color screening and regeneration

Suppression of ϒ Production in d + Au and Au + Au collisions at √Sɴɴ = 200 GeV

We report measurements of ϒ meson production in p + p, d + Au, and Au + Au collisions using the STAR detector at RHIC. We compare the ϒ yield to the measured cross section in p + p collisions in order to quantify any modifications of the yield in cold nuclear matter using d + Au data and in hot nuclear matter using Au + Au data separated into three centrality classes. Our p + p measurement is based on three times the statistics of our previous result. We obtain a nuclear modification factor for ϒ (1S + 2S + 3S) in the rapidity range | y | \u3c 1 in d + Au collisions of RdAu = 0.79 ± 0.24(stat.) ± 0.03(syst.) ± 0.10(p + p syst.). A comparison with models including shadowing and initial state parton energy loss indicates the presence of additional cold-nuclear matter suppression. Similarly, in the top 10% most-central Au + Au collisions, we measure a nuclear modification factor of RAA = 0.49 ± 0.1(stat.) ± 0.02(syst.) ± 0.06(p + p syst.), which is a larger suppression factor than that seen in cold nuclear matter. Our results are consistent with complete suppression of excited-state ϒ mesons in Au + Au collisions. The additional suppression in Au + Au is consistent with the level expected in model calculations that include the presence of a hot, deconfined Quark-Gluon Plasma. However, understanding the suppression seen in d + Au is still needed before any definitive statements about the nature of the suppression in Au + Au can be made

Jet-Like Correlations with Direct-Photon and Neutral-Pion Triggers at √\u3cem\u3e\u3csup\u3eS\u3c/sup\u3e\u3csub\u3eNN\u3c/sub\u3e\u3c/em\u3e = 200 GeV

Azimuthal correlations of charged hadrons with direct-photon (γdir) and neutral-pion (π0) trigger particles are analyzed in central Au+Au and minimum-bias p+p collisions at in the STAR experiment. The charged-hadron per-trigger yields at mid-rapidity from central Au+Au collisions are compared with p+p collisions to quantify the suppression in Au+Au collisions. The suppression of the away-side associated-particle yields per γdir trigger is independent of the transverse momentum of the trigger particle (ptrigT), whereas the suppression is smaller at low transverse momentum of the associated charged hadrons (passocT). Within uncertainty, similar levels of suppression are observed for γdir and π0 triggers as a function of zT (passocT / ptrigT). The results are compared with energy-loss-inspired theoretical model predictions. Our studies support previous conclusions that the lost energy reappears predominantly at low transverse momentum, regardless of the trigger energy