Dark-humus soils on the updated soil map of Russian Federation scale 1 : 2.5 M

The dark-humus soil type was included in the updated legend of the Soil Map of the Russian Federation at scale 1 : 2.5 M, converted to the system of Soil Classification of Russia. The soil profile starts with the dark-humus horizon gradually merging to the parent rock; any mid-profile diagnostic horizons are absent. Large areas of dark-humus soils are found in the forest-steppe, steppe and taiga zones of the European Russia, Western and Central Siberia, in the Trans-Baikal region, the Altai-Sayany Mountains, and the Caucasus. The type of dark-humus soils comprises both mesomorphic soils (of normal moisture conditions) and soils with additional surface or ground-water moisture. The main prerequisites for the formation of dark-humus soils are, on the one hand, the climatic conditions favorable for the dark-humus horizon formation, and, on the other hand, parent material - mostly derivates of hard rocks, restricting the development of mid-profile diagnostic horizons. In the updated map, the following initial legend units are partially or completely converted to dark-humus soils: several units of chernozems, dark-gray forest and gray forest non-podzolized soils, soddy-taiga base-saturated and slightly unsaturated soils, several mountain soils, a significant part of soddy-calcareous soils, as well as some mountainous forest-meadow soils. The diversity of dark-humus soils subtypes is determined by secondary carbonate features, weak signs of clay accumulation and podzolization, alteration of the mineral mass, gley and cryogenic phenomena

Hybridization Capture Using RAD Probes (hyRAD), a New Tool for Performing Genomic Analyses on Collection Specimens.

In the recent years, many protocols aimed at reproducibly sequencing reduced-genome subsets in non-model organisms have been published. Among them, RAD-sequencing is one of the most widely used. It relies on digesting DNA with specific restriction enzymes and performing size selection on the resulting fragments. Despite its acknowledged utility, this method is of limited use with degraded DNA samples, such as those isolated from museum specimens, as these samples are less likely to harbor fragments long enough to comprise two restriction sites making possible ligation of the adapter sequences (in the case of double-digest RAD) or performing size selection of the resulting fragments (in the case of single-digest RAD). Here, we address these limitations by presenting a novel method called hybridization RAD (hyRAD). In this approach, biotinylated RAD fragments, covering a random fraction of the genome, are used as baits for capturing homologous fragments from genomic shotgun sequencing libraries. This simple and cost-effective approach allows sequencing of orthologous loci even from highly degraded DNA samples, opening new avenues of research in the field of museum genomics. Not relying on the restriction site presence, it improves among-sample loci coverage. In a trial study, hyRAD allowed us to obtain a large set of orthologous loci from fresh and museum samples from a non-model butterfly species, with a high proportion of single nucleotide polymorphisms present in all eight analyzed specimens, including 58-year-old museum samples. The utility of the method was further validated using 49 museum and fresh samples of a Palearctic grasshopper species for which the spatial genetic structure was previously assessed using mtDNA amplicons. The application of the method is eventually discussed in a wider context. As it does not rely on the restriction site presence, it is therefore not sensitive to among-sample loci polymorphisms in the restriction sites that usually causes loci dropout. This should enable the application of hyRAD to analyses at broader evolutionary scales

Chemistry for Sustainable Development 13 (2005) 507-514 Distribution and Composition of Nitrogen-Containing Compounds in Petroleum from the Lower and Middle Jurassic Deposits in West Siberia

Abstract The distribution and composition of low-molecular nitrogen-containing components in petroleum from the Lower and Middle Jurassic complex of West Siberia were investigated. The dependence of the quantitative content and qualitative composition of hetero-organic compounds of nitrogen on the geological-geochemical bedding conditions was revealed. It was established that the group and individual composition of nitrogencontaining compounds of the Lower and Middle Jurassic petroleum is typical also for petroleum from the Cretaceous and Upper Jurassic deposits of the West Siberian oil-and-gas province. No evident differences in the distribution of predomin ant types of low-molecular nitrogen-containing compounds were revealed in the investigated kinds of petroleum

Floodplain soils on the soil map of the Russian Federation, scale 1 : 2.5 M, 1988, in the Russian soil classification

The development of the digital model of the soil map of Russia derived of the map of the Soviet Russian Federation, 1988, compiled in Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute, comprises the transfer of soil names in the initial legend to those in the new classification system of Russian soils (2004). Floodplain soils (only native) are represented by seven legend units (out of 205) that were named in terms of soil classification of USSR, 1977, and part of their names indicated ‘landscapes’ rather than soils, which disagrees with the principles of the new classification system. Basing on numerous publications and following the rules of the new system, soils were renamed. Most of them were referred to alluvial soil types within the synlithogenic trunk (Fluvisols), and their new names indicate both their properties and their zonal attachment. In order to obtain more adequate patterns of soils in river valleys additional soils were introduced including stratified-alluvial soils in the trunk of primary pedogenesis (Regosols). Simultaneously, the composition of polygons in the database was revised in accordance with regional data; human-modified soils were introduced (agro-soils and urbo-soils)

Arctic and tundra soils on the new digital soil map of Russia, 1 : 2.5 M scale

V.V. Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute has initiated a project on compilation of a new Digital Soil Map of Russia on the basis of the Soil Map of the Russian Federation (SMRF) 1 : 2.5 M scale (1988) revised and interpreted in ideology and nomenclature of the new substantive-genetic Classification System of Russian Soils (CSRS). The first stage implies the conversion of soil mapping units on the original map into the CSRS with a corresponding renaming of soils in the attribute database to the digitized version of the map for each soil polygon. During the second stage, a new digital model of the soil cover is developed with the use of digital soil mapping technologies, basic soil map, and new materials, including satellite images and digital elevation models. The legend section “Tundra Soils” contains 16 soil units forming their own areas or found in various combinations (soil complexes). As a result of the reclassification and careful analysis of each soil polygon, the soils of Arctic and Subarctic tundra have obtained a more detailed and differential representation on the new map, and their diagnostics based on the morphology of the profiles and major soil properties have been specified. The most significant changes in the initial content of the map concern the soils referred to as gley soils on the SMRF. A separate group of cryozemic soils has been specified. Weakly developed soils (petrozems, psammozems, and pelozems) and lithozems have been introduced on the map for the first time. Differential decisions are suggested for the soils of “spotty tundra” with sorted and nonsorted circles and for the soils of cryogenic fissures and cracks. The results of the study have made it possible to refine the diagnostics and nomenclature of soils in the CSRS

Holographic recording in a photopolymer by optically induced detachment of chromophores

We demonstrate holographic recording in a new photopolymer system. The recording material is created by copolymerization of an optically inert monomer, methyl methacrylate, and a second monomer that is optically sensitive. On exposure of the recording material to light, a portion of the optically sensitive component detaches from the polymer matrix and causes hologram amplification through diffusion of the free molecules. We measured postrecording grating amplifications as high as 170% by this process. The recorded holograms are persistent at room temperature under continuous illumination at the recording wavelength. (C) 2000 Optical Society of America

«GREEN» BUILDING IS FUTURE TECHNOLOGY

The «green» building method for creating energy-efficient buildings, reducing heat loss and energy savings is described. The definition of the method of «green» building is given. The basic methods of «green» building are considered.В работе описывается метод «зеленого» строительства для создания энергоэффективных зданий, снижения теплопотерь и экономии энергии. Дается определение методу «зеленого» строительства. Приводятся основные приемы «зеленого» строительства