Geological nature of mineral licks and the reasons for geophagy among animals

In this paper, the reasons for geophagy (the eating of rocks by wild herbivores) in two regions of the eastern Sikhote-Alin volcanic belt are considered. The mineralogical and chemical features of the consumed rocks, as well as the geological conditions of their formation, are investigated. A comparative analysis of the mineral and chemical composition of the consumed rocks and the excrement of the animals, almost completely consisting of mineral substances, is carried out. It is established that the consumed rocks are hydrothermally altered rhyolitic tuffs located in the volcanic calderas and early Cenozoic volcano-tectonic depressions. They consist of 30–65 % from zeolites (mainly clinoptilolites) and smectites, possessing powerful sorption properties. According to the obtained data, the main reason for geophagy may be connected with the animals' urge to discard excessive and toxic concentrations of certain elements that are widespread in specific habitats and ingested with forage plants

Characteristics of the material composition of atmospheric suspensions in Birobidzhan city

The article presents the results of research of nano- and microparticles of the atmospheric suspensions containing in snow of Birobidzhan in winter of 2011/2012 by means of scanning electronic microscopy with the power dispersive analysis. To exclude secondary pollution by anthropogenous aerosols tests (an atmospheric precipitation in the form of snow) were gathered during snowfalls. Only the top layer (5-10 cm) fresh-dropped out snow was collected. Snow was placed in the 3-liter sterile containers. The material analysis of suspensions was carried out on a light microscope Nikon SMZ1000 and scanning electronic microscope Hitachi S-3400N with power dispersive spectrometer Thermo Scientific. It was shown that in atmospheric suspensions of Birobidzhan particles of rocks, vegetable detrite and technogenic (black, slag and not-defined) educations prevail in decreasing order. Influence of combined heat and power plant and motor transportation outcomes on qualitative structure of atmospheric suspensions was revealed. In the typical sample taken around a railway crossing we defined (in decreasing order): not-defined technogenic particles, parts of rocks, plant detrite, metal microparticles (by results of the power dispersive analysis - mostly Fe). In a typical sample from the area of the ring highway we revealed (in decreasing order): not-defined technogenic particles, black spherules, plant detrite, parts of rocks (by results of the power dispersive analysis - mainly alyumosilicates), metal microparticles (by results of the power dispersive analysis - mostly Fe). In the typical sample taken around combined heat and power plant black spherules and not-defined technogenic particles were defined in major. In an inspection pure zone, despite removal from dusting sources, black and metallic (Fe, Ti, Co, W) particles are found. Among features of qualitative structure of tests in Birobidzhan city big specific weight of plant detrite in them, in comparison with other Far East cities, should be noted. The analysis of qualitative structure of atmospheric suspensions of Birobidzhan confirms its status as the cities with small population, one combined heat and thermoelectric power station (working on coal), moderate press of motor transport and an average as a whole level of atmospheric pollution

Rapid Mass Spectrometric Study of a Supercritical CO2-extract from Woody Liana Schisandra chinensis by HPLC-SPD-ESI-MS/MS

Woody liana Schisandra chinensis contains valuable lignans, which are phenylpropanoids with valuable biological activity. Among green and selective extraction methods, supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) was shown to be the method of choice for the recovery of these naturally occurring compounds. Carbon dioxide (CO2) was the solvent with the flow rate (10−25 g/min) with 2% ethanol as co-solvent. In this piece of work operative parameters and working conditions were optimized by experimenting with different pressures (200–400 bars) and temperatures (40–60 °C). The extraction time varied from 60 to 120 min. HPLC-SPD-ESI -MS/MS techniques were applied to detect target analytes. Twenty-six different lignans were identified in the S. chinensis SC-CO2 extracts

Biochemical Content of Cambium of Abies nephrolepis

The peculiarity of bears behavior of stripping of bark is typical for all species. We have described the damage to trees, by Asiatic black bear (Ursus thibetanus) and brown bear (U. arctos) in Primorsky Krai and by brown bears on the Sakhalin Island during 1998–2015. In this study, we studied the damaged bark of the tree only in cases where it was clear that part of the cambium was eaten by bears. Cambium of species Abies nephrolepis is the most preferred for bear consumption in Primorsky Krai. We distinguished very large seasonal fluctuations in the amount of its consumption. The greatest interest of bears in this kind of food is in the summer time. We have analyzed the composition of the cambium of A. nephrolepis. These results suggest that the important purpose of the use of this kind of food is to restore and maintain the normal functioning of the intestines

Polyphenols of <i>Perilla frutescens</i> of the family Lamiaceae identified by tandem mass spectrometry

Perilla frutescens is mainly cultivated as an oilseed crop. Perilla seeds contain 40–53 % of oil, 28 % of protein. The growing season is 100–150 days. In Russia, perilla is grown in the Far East, where the yield is 0.8–1.2 t/ha. Perilla of different geographical origin has its own special, sharply different features that characterize two geographical groups: Japanese and Korean-Chinese. These groups differ from each other in the length of the growing season, the height of plants, the color of the stem, the surface and the size of the leaves, the shape of the bush, the shape and size of the inflorescences, the size of the cups, the size and color of the seeds. P. frutescens contains a large number of polyphenolic compounds that are biologically active components. The purpose of this research was a metabolomic study of extracts from leaves of P. frutescens obtained from the collection of Federal Research Center the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources, grown on the fields of the Far East Experiment Station – Branch of Federal Research Center (Primorsky Krai, Russia). To identify target analytes in extracts, HPLC was used in combination with an ion trap. Preliminary results showed the presence of 23 biologically active compounds corresponding to P. frutescens. In addition to the reported metabolites, a number of metabolites were newly annotated in P. frutescens. There were hydroxycoumarin Umbelliferone; triterpene Squalene; omega-3 fatty acid Stearidonic [Moroctic] acid; higher-molecular-weight carboxylic acid: Tetracosenoic acid and Salvianic acid C; lignan Syringaresinol and cyclobutane lignan Sagerinic acid, etc. A wide range of biologically active compounds opens up rich opportunities for the creation of new drugs and dietary supplements based on extracts of perilla of the family Lamiaceae, subfamily Lamioideae, tribe Satureji and subtribe Perillinae

Toxicity bioassay of waste cooking oil-based biodiesel on marine microalgae

The world biodiesel production is increasing at a rapid rate. Despite its perceived safety for the environment, more detailed toxicity studies are mandatory, especially in the field of aquatic toxicology. While considerable attention has been paid to biodiesel combustion emissions, the toxicity of biodiesel in the aquatic environment has been poorly understood. In our study, we used an algae culture growth-inhibition test (OECD 201) for the comparison of the toxicity of B100 (pure biodiesel), produced by methanol transesterification of waste cooking oil (yellow grease), B0 (petroleum diesel fuel) and B20 (diesel-biodiesel blended of 20% biodiesel and 80% petroleum diesel fuel by volume). Two marine diatoms Attheya ussuriensis and Chaetoceros muelleri, the red algae Porphyridium purpureum and Raphidophyte Heterosigma akashiwo were employed as the aquatic test organisms. A sample of biodiesel from waste cooking oil without dilution with petroleum diesel (B100) showed the highest level of toxicity for the microalgae A. ussuriensis, C. muelleri and H. akashiwo, compared to hexane, methanol, petroleum diesel (B0) and diluted sample (B20). The acute EC50 in the growth-inhibition test (96 h exposure) of B100 for the four species was in the range of 3.75–23.95 g/L whereas the chronic toxicity EC50 (7d exposure) was in the range of 0.42–16.09 g/L

The formation of oxidative disorders in the population of Vladivostok under the influence of atmospheric microparticles

We studied the response of trigger systems in healthy volunteers living in areas with different levels of air pollution. We determined that particles with the size of 800 microns and higher of relatively favorable region, particles with the size of less than 50 microns dominated in the air of the unfavorable area, among which there were the most hazardous to health amounts of microparticles - from 200 to 300 nm. Microparticles of unfavorable area causes the development of oxidative modifications of proteins and DNA contributing to the change of leukocyte potential energy. The increase in total antioxidant activity and response of thiol-disulfide system (the increase in thioredoxin, glutathione with a stable reductase level] maintains a balance of oxidation and antioxidant processes contributing to protection of the cellular and subcellular structures against considerable oxidative damage

Identification of cement in atmospheric particulate matter using the hybrid method of laser diffraction analysis and Raman spectroscopy

Environmental science; Atmospheric science; Ecology; Environmental chemistry; Environmental pollution; Atmospheric particulate matter, Laser diffraction analysis, PM10, Raman spectroscop