We report the sorption properties of a composite material based on borosiloxane (the working title ‘plastidez’). The possibility of using a composite material based on borosiloxane (plastidez) as an individual reusable mechanical disinfectant of skin of hands is studied. The application of plastidez for sorption of dirt and microflora of skin of hands is shown to be effective. A method is proposed for disinfection of plastidez after its use to ensure its multiple applications as a personal disinfectant of hands.

The morphological characteristics of prelarvae and larvae of the laboratory-reared Caucasian toad and Talysh toad are described. The larvae of the species under study are morphologically very similar. Prelarvae leave the shell eggs at the 18th-20th stages of development. During this period, they exhibit a well-developed attachment apparatus and formation of the gill branches and gill filaments. At the 24th stage, larvae have a well developed oral disk and demonstrate exogenous feeding. Hind legs are formed in the larvae at stages 26-39, the front - at stages 42-44. At stages 42-44, larvae stop feeding, and at stages 44-45 they leave water.

We report an example of applying the method for analyzing root growth at a cellular level in Arabidopsis thaliana mutants with reduced cytokinin concentration in roots due to impaired expression of the genes encoding the enzyme ATP/ADP isopentenyl transferase which catalyses the first reaction of cytokinin biosynthesis pathway, as well as in wild type plants. We prove the possibility of using this mutant to unravel the role of cytokinins in the regulation of cell cycle duration. A formula for calculating cell cycle duration is also provided.

Potential hazardous effects of nuclear power plants (NPPs) on the population and landscape components determine the necessity of their monitoring at all stages of the NPP’s life cycle. A special role in the study of the natural environment belongs to the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL), i.e., a medium through which radionuclides in most cases migrate to other media. Therefore, the existing norms for NPP safety provide the monitoring of the ABL at the NPP sites. The paper describes a monitoring system based on the remote aerological

The results of successive calculations of various modeling quality criteria based on different methods for statistical processing of observation series are discussed. Reducible criteria are built on a comparison of calculated and empirical values of the runoff. For a brief analysis of the reasonableness of use of the criteria, the results of calculations by the authors' model for a particular catchment are considered. The examples show a number of difficulties encountered in modeling. It is noted that in the case of incompleteness and inaccuracy of the initial information, which results in modeling errors, the use of formal statistical methods may give a negative assessment of the modeling quality. A conclusion is made about the need of selection of the modeling quality criterion in accordance with the task for which the model is constructed.

The paper justifies the possibility of developing mobile power stations (MPSs) equipped with transport gas-turbines of domestic production. The results of the calculation of the emission of polluting components from power plants with a GAS 902.10 gas-turbine engine (GTE) are compared with those utilizing a PS-90 aviation turbine. Calculations of the parameters of the environmental impact show a fairly high environmental efficiency of MPSs equipped with GTEs to provide their use in recreational areas. At the same time, MPSs based on a PS-90 GTE require the use of special technologies to reduce emissions in accordance with the environmental requirements.

Philosophical views on the content, structure and theoretical problems of geoecology are discussed. A process/environmental approach is proposed to select the object and subject of geoecology as a science. The object of the study of geoecology is an environment-interacting complex of natural and anthropogenic substances, objects, conditions and factors that have a direct or indirect impact on humans, animals and plants. As the subject of the study of geoecology, geoecological processes in the environment are considered. By geoecological processes are meant changes in the health and life of people, changes in the condition of plants and animals under the direct or indirect environmental impacts. The fundamental task of geoecology is the investigation of the environment with the aim of preserving its life-sustaining resources for present and future generations.