Biochar influence on the development of spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and acidity of soddy-podzolic soil in Western Siberia

The paper purpose was to establish the effect of applying biochar obtained from various organic wastes of agriculture (cow manure, straw), woodworking (pine sawdust) and food industry (pine nut shell), which are typical of Western Siberia, on the morphometric characteristics of plants (using spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) as the example) and the soddy-podzolic soil properties. The assessment of biochar influence was performed by a series of vegetation experiments using climatic chambers. As a result, it was found that the introduction of all the noted biochar types into the soil layer leads to a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the morphometric characteristics of spring wheat. For example, when applying the straw biochar to the soil, it results in growing the plant height to the node by 19%, while the number of leaves increased by 8% compared to the control variant. The introduction of biochar from manure leads to the increased length of the spring wheat root by 35%. Moreover, straw and manure biochars contribute to the reduction of soil acidity (increase in pH values from 7.1 to 7.4 and 7.8, respectively). The results of the comprehensive analysis indicate that the agronomic advantages of application of biochars obtained from wheat straw and cattle manure are better compared to biochars from pine sawdust and pine nut shells, which is due to higher concentration of nutrients and substances with alkaline reaction (carbonates and oxides) in the former. The results obtained are useful from the point of view of assessing the environmental risks when applying biochar ameliorants in soils typical of the boreal bioclimatic zone. Subsequent experiments, including studies of the joint application of biochars and fertilizers to the soil, will make it possible to develop recommendations for applying the thermal conversion technology for recycling the regional organic waste into ameliorants that improve soil quality and increase its fertility

Prospects of using low-grade fuels of Tomsk region for thermal technology use

The relevance of the work is conditioned by the necessity of including renewable energy sources, in particular biomass, into fuel and energy balance. The aim of the paper is the experimental testing of heat technologies in producing fuel briquettes in various types of low-grade fuels of Tomsk region. Using the physical experiment method the authors tested the largest manifestation of low-grade fuels of Tomsk region for suitability of their processing into fuel briquettes. Thermotechnical characteristics of low-grade fuels of Tomsk region, the material balances of their thermal technological processing, the results of forming fuel briquettes were determined through the research. Thermotechnical and strength characteristics of the briquettes allow making the following conclusions: the developed thermal technology should be used for processing wood chips and Kandinsky peat; processing of brown coal of Talovsky deposit and peat of Sukhoi deposit is possible at detailed feasibility study; Karasevsky sapropel and Arkadevsky peat as source raw material for thermal technology are least suitable because of very high ash value of the produced fuel briquettes

Life quality of the Russian population by the data from ESSE-RF study

Life quality (LQ) is an integrated parameter of the health, applied for integral characterization of population health, and as the parameter of healthcare interventions effectiveness.Aim. To assess LQ in Russian population at the age 25-64 y. o. in general and in various socio-economical groups using EQ-5D, by the results of ESSE-RF (2012-2013) study.Material and methods. LQ was assessed on representative selections of inhabitants of 13 Russian Federation regions, aged 25-64 (males 8327, females 13497) with response 80%. LQ was assessed via international questionnaire EUROQOL — EQ-5D: 1) no decline; 2) mild decline; 3) significant decline; scoring also performed with visualanalogue scale (VAS). Integral LQ by EUROQOL performed with Shaw JW et al. method (ranging from 0,0 (death) to 1,0 (perfect health)).Result. EQ-5D index of Russian population was 0,87 with no gender difference. By the increase of the age LQ declines. Educational gradient of LQ was significant only in VAS (p<0,05). Wealth level negatively associated with LQ. Most common (p<0,0005) were disorders by the components pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Part of those with lower LQ among males is lesser than in females, by all 5 factors of the LQ, and in all educational states. Regional specifics of LQ by EQ-5D index: from 0,82 in Vladikcaucas to 0,95 in Orenburg (p<0,0005). There was significant correlation of EQ-5D index with unemployment level (0,4) and consumer prices index (0,29) in regions.Conclusion. Monitoring of LQ is necessary condition for assessment of efficacy of population health improvement interventions, and the LQ values obtained will be useful as populational norms for health condition assessment in addition to morbidity and mortality factors

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC GRADIENTS OF BEHAVIORAL RISK FACTORS IN RUSSIAN POPULATION (BY THE ESSE-RF STUDY)

Aim. To study social and economic gradients — educational and occupational statuses, wealth level, behavioral risk factors (FR) in Russian population by the ESSE-RF data.Material and methods. The data for the analysis consisted of representative selections of 13 regions of RF (n=22906) participants of the study, incl. men (n=8353) and women (n=13553) of 25-64 y.o., with response 80%. We calculated the odds ratios for the presence of behavioral FR: smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, insufficient physical activity (IPA), nonrational food consumption, anxiety and depressive disorders, — in persons from different social and economic groups by education level, type of inhabitation, professional status, wealth level.Results. Higher education was associated with better FR profile, except IPA (negative association) and alcohol consumption (absence of association). "White in general had less FR probability than Blue, excl. IPA and psychoemotional deviations (in men). As for the wealth association with the FR there is backward gradient, i.e. lesser the income, higher the risk of FR presence, excl. IPA and excessive alcohol intake in women. For example, in very wealthy men the odds ratio for depressive states was 3,09 [95% CI 2,08-4,57] comparing to the persons with low income. The type of territory of inhabitance was associated with less behavioral FR in Russian population, as significant associations are found only for depression and excessive salt consumption in both genders and IPA in men. Conclusion. The significant social and economic gradients of behavioral FR prevalence are found, the direction of those is not necessary the same as in European countries. The analysis of association with social and economic parameters would help to develop the directed preventive interventions

AWARENESS AND TREATMENT SPECIFICS OF STATIN THERAPY IN PERSONS WITH VARIOUS CARDIOVASULAR RISK: THE STUDY ESSE-RF

Aim. To assess rate of familiarity and specifics of treatment with statins among the citizens of economically active age with various cardiovascular risk by the data from epidemiological study ESSE-RF (Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Diseases in Different Russian Federation Regions). Material and methods. In the work the data from ESSE-RF study was used,  of representative  selection  of non-organized  male and  female inhabitants aged 25-64 y.o. from 13 regions, investigated during 2012-2014. Responded ~80%. The study included questionning by standard scale that included data on the anamnesis, etc. Lipid profile, including total cholesterol  (TC), cholesterol  of lipoproteids low and high density were measured at SSRCPM and RSPCC.Results. Analysis of the whole selection showed that 20% of men and 32% of women knew their TC, and 13,6% and 18,2% were even familiar having increased  level of TC. Part of those with high and very high risk was 31,3%, incl. men — 42,2%, women — 30,9%. Statins took ~7,0% of patients from this risk category. Effectiveness of treatment (target levels reached  of low density cholesterol) in these groups of men and women was 14,4% and 4,8%, respectively.Conclusion. The data obtained in populational study points on insufficient knowledge and low rate of statin treatment  of the persons with high and very high cardiovascular  risk in RF, which confirms the anxiety provoking data of registries and other studies. The data dictates necessity  of development  and implementation of specific educational programs for citizens, of physician improvement and availability of cheap but effective lipid-lowering medications