We present the results of the effect of the initial pH, carbon and alkanoic media on the biomass yield of the active species of the genus Nocardia, derived from oil-contaminated soils of different areas of the Apsheron Peninsula. It was established that the development of Nocardia depends on the source of hydrocarbons and the pH of the medium. Intensive development for the untreated oil, n-alkanes and C11H24 was observed at the optimum pH in the range 4.5-7.7, 6.0-7.0 and 5.5-5.7, respectively. According to the results, the ratio of species of the genus Nocardia to the pH of the medium is a response to ecological and geographical conditions.

The research was performed in Chelyabinsk in order to assess heart rate variability of prepubertal children suffering from scoliosis. The study of heart rate variability allows an assessment of the state of the regulatory systems of the body. The data obtained indicate the lack of the regulatory lobe in the parasympathetic branch of the autonomic nervous system. The results of the study suggest the need to create special conditions (physical fitness programs and relaxation techniques) in educational institutions for adolescents with scoliosis, which would allow one to compensate for these regulation deviations.

Mycobiota of 126 species of medical plants widely spread in Azerbaijan is studied. 168 species of micromycete are found in investigated plants and 7 of them are new for Azerbaijan. It is shown that 103 species are parasitic fungi, which cause various diseases (leaf spot, rust, powdery mildew, gray rot, etc.) of medical plants. The most frequent was leaf spot disease (23%-45%), caused by various fungi of the genus Alternaria, Ascochyta, Phoma, Phyllosticta, Ramularia and Septoria.

PCR-analysis of the nucleotide sequences of the 16S rRNA gene was used to identify lactic acid bacteria, isolated from dairy products (sour clotted milk) from the Azerbaijan region of Iran. Eight strains were identified as Lactobacillus plantarum and seven strains - as Lactobacillus acidophylus. The analysis of acid and bile tolerance of the strains isolated from sour clotted milk showed that at pH 2.5 two strains were sensitive (10%-20% survival), 5 strains - tolerable (26%-48% survival), 6 strains - resistant (52%-76% survival) and 2 strains - more resistant (84%-86% survival). As for the bile tolerance, two strains were sensitive (10 min delay in growth), 3 strains were tolerant (20-30 min delay), 6 strains were resistant (40-50 min delay) and 4 strains were more resistant (60 min delay).

The impact of temperature stress on the activity and multiple forms of catalase, perocsidase, amylase, esterase and ribonuclease of cultivated and wild soybean sprouts is investigated. It is shown, that wild soybean having a high adaptive potential is characterized by an increased specific activity and a small amount of multiple forms of enzymes. Low specific activity of enzymes in cultivated soybean is compensated for by an increase in heterogeneity, which improves the stability of the plant under conditions of temperature stress.

Single administration of serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor (fluoxetine) to male Wistar rats with high predisposition to audiogenic seizures made it possible to study the effect of serotonin on seizure activity. It was shown that in the seizure-sensitive rats characterized by high predisposition to audiogenic seizures, this drug decreased the strength of seizure reactions. The results indicate possible anti-seizure effects of the studied drug in Wistar rats with different original brain monoamines levels.

Using the results of preventive medical examinations in 2011-2012, we studied the dynamics and characteristics of biological maturation of 2767 rural schoolchildren in the Nizhnii Novgorod region. It was found that over the past 45 years, the level of biological maturation has significantly increased and approaches the age standards of urban schoolchildren at the beginning of the XXI century; nevertheless, this level differs by the age structure variability of different stages of secondary sexual characteristics. Modern standards for determining biological age are developed and presented.

The contribution of the great Russian microbiologist S.N. Winogradsky in the development of science is associated with the discovery of chemosynthesis as a new way of existence; with the introduction of elective media as the methodological basis of the study of diversity of microorganisms; with the isolation of the first free-living nitrogen-fixing bacteria; with the identification of the cycles of main elements in nature, catalyzed by microorganisms; with the elaboration of methodological principles of soil microbiology; and with the creation of environmental microbiology. Winogradsky's book 'Soil Microbiology' was published in 1949 in France and in 1952 in the USSR. The book exerted a significant influence on the generations of Russian microbiologists. The first monument to Winogradsky was unveiled on May 25, 2012 in Ukraine.

The effect of sulfates of copper, zinc, cadmium and lead on the activity and multiple forms of peroxidase of cultivated and wild soybean in the first trifoliate leaf stage and the flowering period is investigated. An inverse relationship of the activity of the enzyme at various stages of vegetation is established. The increased quantity of multiple forms of peroxidase is revealed in the flowering phase for cultivated soybean. The peroxidase activity can be used as a biochemical test for resistance of soybean to the influence of heavy metals.

The molecular testing of genomic DNA from sick people with the combination of β-thalassemia and glucose- 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6FD) deficit made it possible to identify two well-known Mediterranean molecular types of ferment: G6FD - B (-) 563 C - T and G6FDA (-) 376 A - G 202 G - A in combination with mutation of β-globin gene, i.e., β0 - IVS - 2 - 1 G - A. The modern exposure of β-thalassemia carriers and the hemizygote carriage of G6FD deficit and also their combined forms with establishing of mutations' genotypes will enable the specialists later to conduct the qualified treatment of clinical manifestation and the prophylaxis of illness in the form of medical and genetic consulting, including prenatal diagnostics of anaemia.

We have studied the microbiotic composition of imported and local wheat and flour samples as well as of baked bread samples in order to prevent microbic spoilage of bread under more or less prolonged storage conditions. Microbiological analyses showed that primary products and bread itself often become 'polluted' with spore-forming bacteria, 'potato disease' bacilli and mould. Their role in bread spoiling and hardening is rather great in various terms and periods of storage. It was found that use of sodium salt of hydroacetirc acid, proprionic acid, UV rays and ozone for dough and baked bread results in slowing the further growth of detrimental microorganisms and prolongs the storage period in a good qualitative state.

Microbiological characteristics of the Sheherchay river and the Sheherchay reservoir formed in the river bed in 2004 were determined for the first time for the seasonal changes of 2009. The total number of water and soil microorganisms, quantitative and qualitative composition of the saprophytic and some physiological groups of bacteria are assessed. It is shown that the upper reaches of the river are environmentally stable in all seasons. At the same time, the middle part of the river is locally enriched with allochthonous organic matter from human settlements. Before inflowing into the water reservoir, water becomes stable and the increase in the saprobic degree is not observed. In the reservoir, the development of microbiota is closely related to abiotic factors of the region and the environment. Seasonal changes in the number and physiological activity of microorganisms is most strongly manifested in the water, whereas the generation of microorganisms in the soil is less pronounced. Water in the river and the reservoir is mesosaprobic and mesotrophic.

The effect of high concentrations of crude oil (100, 300, 500 mg/l) from the 'Oil Rocks' field on the cells of the gill tissue of Kura carp is shown. Violations were found in the state of the primary lamellae and in the organization of secondary lamellae. Depending on the concentration and exposure, the earliest changes in the organization of the gill tissues were characterized by the separation of respiratory epithelium of the blood complex of secondary lamellae, leading to hemorrhages in the gills and an increase in the number of epithelial cells. In addition, the most common violations were hypertrophy of the epithelial cells, epithelial membrane integrity gap lamellae, telangiectasis, stasis (aneurysm).

We studied the character of the Michaelis constant (KM) variability of acid phosphatase and DNase in river snails (Vivivparus viviparus L.) collected in the natural waters of the Moscow region. This variability was used as a differentiation marker in order to analyze the reasons of interpopulation polymorphism in this molluscan family. Cluster analysis allowed us to verify the chosen differentiator and to assume that it refers not only to the territorial remoteness of populations and the possibility of their interpenetration but also to their dependence on the environmental conditions in the corresponding reservoirs. It was shown that the degree of KM similarity increases among completely isolated populations living in similar conditions.

We have studied granulation of a class of multicomponent polydisperse materials containing secondary materials. We have determined the criteria characterizing the change in structural and deformation properties, such as formability, plastic strength and lump formation. Using the obtained values of the numerical parameters, we have proposed the methods of granulation of these materials, i.e., compacting, pressing, nodulizing, high-speed granulation, pelletization, and throughput pressing.

We have studied the process of granulation of complex organomineral fertilizers in a dish nodulizer and high-speed granulator. The mechanism of granulation of multicomponent fertilizers, as applied to the high-speed granulator, is established. The mechanism of granulation of a material is considered from the point of view of movement of a 'package' of particles in the device. Tilt angles of the shovels in the granulator, affecting of the time of the material stay in the device, are found.

The development of thermal power stipulates the construction of appropriate environmental policies. On the basis of the concept of technogenic impact zone of a thermal power plant (TPP), a notion of a green TPP is justified. It is shown that from an environmental point of view, a version of the environmental strategy aimed at reducing the total impact of all technological industries involved in energy production is the most optimal. However, the implementation of this version is almost an insoluble task on a global scale due to a conflict of interests between various countries and large energy companies. Therefore, in the foreseeable future, the environmental problems related to TPPs will be solved based on the version of a green TPP concept.

We have analyzed the range of problems concerning the causes and consequences of adoption of the Federal Law No. 184-FZ of December 27, 2002 'On Technical Regulation.' The main problems related to implementation of the provisions of the law are caused by the fact that they allow for deviation from the requirements of national standards and become optional. Herewith, the liability for the requirements to the planned facility is entrusted to the building owner. It is shown that an attempt of the state to assign responsibility for the production of poor quality works on commercial structures, which are inherently programmed to other tasks, is futile.

We consider the place of unmanned aerial vehicles in a multilevel system of environmental monitoring for validation, interpretation and correction of remotely sensed data, as well as the issue of environmental mapping and assessment of the environment, taking into account the use of commercially available models of unmanned aerial vehicles.

The ecological state of soils in the cities of Arkhangelsk industrial agglomeration is assessed by the degree of their contamination with iron and manganese. A scale of ecological regulation of the content of mobile forms of these metals in the soils is proposed. The peculiarities of accumulation of mobile forms of iron and manganese in the soils of different landscapes and the major functional areas of Arkhangelsk, Novodvinsk and Severodvinsk are analyzed. It is found that the soils of urbanized landscapes of the cities of Arkhangelsk industrial agglomeration actively accumulate iron and manganese. In technogenic and anthropogenic zones of the cities, soils uncontaminated or slightly contaminated with mobile forms of iron and manganese dominate. The natural-anthropogenic zone of Arkhangelsk exhibit medium, high and very high levels of contamination with these metals.

The results of landscape analysis of the territory of the Dniester-Prut interfluve are presented using the symmetry method. As elements of the landscape structure and formal parameters of symmetry, use is made of relative areas of different types of natural-territorial complexes and their relationship. The degree of influence of the solar radiation field on the parameters of the symmetry of the structure of the landscape area is estimated. It is found that the symmetry of the landscape structure caused by the solar radiation field is violated in the meridional and latitudinal direction. It is shown that the symmetry of the landscape structure in the interstream area is in good agreement with the high-altitude characteristics of the geomorphological field of the interstream area.

By the example of the Klyon deposit (Bilibinsky district of Chukotka Autonomous Okrug), we have developed a scheme for ranking the factors of anthropogenic impact of mining enterprises on the environment and humans using the expert-analytical method. The basic recommendations are proposed for environmental engineering and environmental activities at different stages of the life cycle of the minefield. It is noted that these recommendations should be specified, taking into account natural and man-made conditions of a particular minefield.

Along with the use of narrow-range indices of images as a tool to evaluate the environmental sanitation status of forests, we consider the possibility of using narrowband vegetation indices for assessing the vegetation condition in order to increase the implementation of forest management activities. We have assessed the vegetation oppression performance index which can be used to identify the surface areas, where the forest cover has undergone a serious violation, and the areas experiencing stress load

We have analyzed the content of mobile forms of such heavy metals as copper and zinc in the soils of natural and industrial landscapes in Arkhangelsk. We have revealed the peculiarities of consolidation of these metals in the soil cover by determining the fraction of each form, obtained with the use of selective extracts from the total number of mobile forms. The forms were extracted by using the fractionation scheme, which is based on the analysis of the data of series and parallel extraction. The study of the relations of zinc and copper geochemical forms can ensure advantageous processes of fixing them in the urban soils and predict the potential environmental hazards of the secondary contamination.

The problem of contamination of soils in Kaluga with heavy metals is studied. The content of heavy metals in the urban soils of Kaluga is analyzed and the degree of contamination manifestation in different functional areas of the city is determined. The research made it possible to locate the city areas with different levels of soil contamination with basic metals, i.e., pollutants of the urban environment. The data obtained indicate a moderate soil contamination with heavy metals. Based on the results obtained, a map showing the areas contaminated with metals at a depth of 0-5 cm and 20-25 cm was constructed. The analysis performed shows the characteristics of contamination of urban soils with metals. The influence of large industrial plants on soil contamination with copper, lead, zinc and manganese is evaluated.

The problem of taking into account ecological hazards in the technological decisionary rationale process of buried gravel deposits is quite urgent. This is explained by the necessity to present a deposit development project to the investor in the most favorable light, which does not involve calculation of ecological hazards. Neglect of imminent ecological consequences is also associated with the absence of the examples of ecologically safe development of gravel deposits by an open-cast mining method in Russia. A critical review of the materials published on geological exploring and economic decisions of deposit development is presented. These publications are considered from the point of view of negative consequences for natural resources of the Beshpagir titanium-zirconium deposit area. Account for ecological hazards under study in the deposit development project will allow one to decrease their ecological and economic damage

Modern geostationary satellites and their specifications are considered. A geosynchronous satellite is a satellite in geosynchronous orbit, with an orbital period the same as the Earth's rotation period. The advantage of their great height is that they can view the whole earth disk below them, rather than a small subsection, and they can scan the same area very frequently (typically every 30-60 minutes). The spectral range of the sensors mounted on each of the satellites and use of the obtained data in the economy are considered in detail.