Varietal reaction of potato plants grown on aeroponic installations

The article presents data on study of the productivity of potato early ripening varieties (Legenda, Russia; Red Scarlet, Netherlands) and middle-early varieties (Irbitskiy Russia; Gala, Germany) grown on aeroponic installations in artificial lighting conditions: three-tier adaptive installation (“Syntol” production) and single-tier installation produced by “Biological systems” plant. Potato plants were characterized by active growth and development. Their height ranged from 71.0 to 94.2 cm among the varieties, the number of leaves formed on one plant – from 23 to 31 pieces. The formation of mini-tubers was noted from the 46th day (Legenda variety) to the 53rd day (Irbitskiy variety). The first harvest was obtained at the 65th day in early varieties and at the 67th day for middle-early varieties beginning from planting of micro-plants on to the adaptation installation. The productivity of plants by varieties ranged from 123.0 g (Legenda) to 216.1 (Gala) g of mini-tubers per plant, output of mini tubers from 68.1 (Irbitskiy) to 105.2 (Legenda) pieces per plant, the mass of one mini-tuber ranged from 1.17(Legenda) to 2.73 g (Red Scarlet)

The use of interactive learning technologies in teaching a foreign language in high school

© 2016 Valeev et al.Modern Russian educational system is focused today on the use of interactive technologies in education. It is due to such objective factors as the possibility to enhance learning efficiency; the possibility of assimilation per unit of time more training concepts; increasing the speed of assimilation of the material; encouraging the active participation of each student in the learning process; awakening students’ interest in learning a foreign language; providing multifaceted impact on them. In this regard, in the recent researches on pedagogy and psychology it is highly recommended to use interactive technologies, which involves giving students the opportunity to individually expand and deepen their language skills, as well as forming their subject position in determining their educational path. The article reveals the essence of the use of interactive technologies in teaching a foreign language and gives structurally-substantial characteristics of this technology; grounded didactic conditions for the implementation of interactive technologies in teaching a foreign language; the content and methods of interactive learning at collaborative learning and, in general, the implementation of interactive technologies in the practice of the school. The article proposes the model of foreign language teaching methodology of the Russian high school students, due to the overall goal setting system of education in Russia, as well as the specifics of subject “Foreign Language”

The human health risk assessment from contaminated air in the oil-producing areas (on the example of Novoshehminsky Region of the Republic of Tatarstan)

© 2014 AENSI Publisher All rights reserved. Based on the analysis of the monitoring results the air quality evaluation is provided and the incidence level of oil-producing Novosheshminsky region of the Republic of Tatarstan during the period of 2005-2009. Despite the satisfactory air quality, there is the growth of a number of systemic and autoimmune diseases (blood, blood-forming organs diseases, cancer, the endocrine system diseases) among the district population. The calculated level of non-cancer inhalation risk to public health made 11.0 (extremely high) for children and 2.4 (average) for an adult. The exponential nature of the relationship between the blood diseases, blood-forming organs, autoimmune diseases spread among children and the value of non-cancer risk reflects the presence of the cumulative effect of exposure to low concentrations of pollutants in ambient air on the most vulnerable children of the population

Use of sewage sludge compost as the restoration agent on the degraded soil of Tatarstan

One of the characteristics of soils in Tatarstan is their low organic matter content. The decrease in soil organic matter is paralleled by declines in soil fertility. One method to reverse this degradation in soil quality is the addition of organic matter. The use of sewage sludge on soils intended for growing of plant seedlings provides an alternative for sewage sludge disposal. Therefore, the evaluation of the feasibility of using compost from the municipal sewage sludge produced in Kazan for the soil restoration and growth of Pinus silvestris seedlings was carried out. The grey forest soil (Haplic Greyzem) was amended with compost at application rate 30, 60 and 90 Mg ha-1 on a dry matter basis. Organic matter content increased with the increase in sludge amendment. The concentrations of individual heavy metal were below the current limits established for Russia and European countries. Sludge amendments enhanced the germination and the number of the seedlings and the increase were more obvious for the soil with highest sludge treatment. The application of composted sludge to soil was followed by the increase in microbial biomass and basal respiration

University students’ peer assessment in the language environment: From rote to meaningful learning

© 2016 Latypova et al.The study presents the research on how the shift to student-centered approach drastically changed the educational environment. Greater flexibility both in the content and teaching methods is the greatest challenge for educational community. The paper describes results of the experiment aimed to prove the effectiveness of peer assessment method to form meaningful learning. The experiment outcome convinced that contradiction between students’ perception of learning and teaching practices of educators is eliminated by the paradigm shift from direct form of teaching to a more collaborative one. The purpose of the research was to examine both learners’ performance and evaluators’ assumptions regarding that performance cooperatively at each stage. To achieve this objective, we conducted the experiment where students’ focus group was exposed to peer-assessment practice throughout the course while training of others was based on traditional method. The results proved the efficiency of peer assessment method in meaningful learning formation by observing students’ final project presentation. The experiment showed viability and prospects of meaningful learning. To create continuity lessons and the whole curriculum should be based on meaningful learning. We state meaningful learning to have crucial value both for Bachelor and Master students’ success in mastering the English language and maintaining learners’ continued engagement in the process of acquiring linguistic competence

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Novel (S)-Naproxen Derivatives

© 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.In order to optimize the study of the anti-inflammatory activity of novel drugs, in the current study, we used simple in vitro test system, which included osmotic and free radical hemolysis of human erythrocytes and human platelets aggregation, to screen for potential anti-inflammatory activity of three newly developed (S)-naproxen derivatives. We selected one of them (L3), which performed in in vitro tests nearly as well as naproxen, and studied their anti-inflammatory effects on in vivo model of inflammation, induced by carragenan. L3 was comparable to naproxen in its anti-inflammatory effects, suggesting that the studied simple inexpensive in vitro tests of erythrocyte osmotic and free radical hemolysis and human platelets aggregation could be used for pre-screening of potential anti-inflammatory agents

Toxic action of petroleum and oil processing products on Daphnia magna straus

The kinetics of spontaneous transformations in crude oil (forming fractions and film, sorption, evaporation) in the aquatic medium was under laboratory studies. There have been stated the degrees of toxicity of crude oil, diesel fuel, and gasoline (petrol) to laboratory culture of D. magna. Bioassays with daphnia may be recommended to reveal the presence of petroleum and products of its processing in the water

2(5H)-Furanone Derivatives as Inhibitors of Staphylococcal Biofilms

© 2016, Springer Science+Business Media New York.The opportunistic bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis often form rigid biofilms on wounds and artificial surfaces and thereby become extremely resistant to antimicrobials. Here, we report the effect of four novel 2(5H)-furanone derivatives on the cell growth and biofilm formation by these microorganisms. Using the differential fluorescence staining of viable and dead cells, we demonstrated that furanones increase the antibacterial efficacy of chloramphenicol against both biofilm-embedded S. aureus and S. epidermidis with F35 being the most efficient compound, probably by increasing the accessibility of cells against antimicrobials. Compounds F6, F8, and F83 inhibited the biofilm formation at concentrations of 2.5–10 μg/ml, although exhibiting high cytotoxicity for human skin fibroblasts with CC50 of 0.5–1.1 μg/ml. F35 demonstrated minimal biofilm inhibition concentration of 10 μg/ml, while its cytotoxicity was ten times lower than that of the other compounds (CC50 13.1 μg/ml), suggesting its chemotype seems a promising starting point for the development of new antibiofilm agents

Effect of hydrostatic pressure, temperature, and solvent on the rate of the Diels–Alder reaction between 9,10-anthracenedimethanol and maleic anhydride

© 2017, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.The rate of the reaction between 9,10-anthracenedimethanol and maleic anhydride in 1,4-dioxane, acetonitrile, trichloromethane, and toluene is studied at 25, 35, 45°C in the pressure range of 1–1772 bar. The rate constants, enthalpies, entropies and activation volumes are determined. It is shown that the rate of reaction with 9,10-anthracenedimethanol is approximately one order of magnitude higher than with 9-anthracenemethanol

Electrochemical reduction of mucochloric acid and its 5-alkoxy derivatives

5-Alkoxy-3-chloro-2(5H)-furanones were synthesized by the electrochemical reduction of 5-alkoxy derivatives of mucochloric acid in acetonitrile on the lead electrode in the presence of acetic acid as a proton donor. A combined analysis of the experimental data and quantum chemical calculation of intermediates indicates the EE D C mechanism of reduction, including the tandem transfer of two electrons with chloride ion elimination at the stage of transfer of the second electron and protonation. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media New York