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Crystal-chemical features of a sulfide-bearing variety of the cancrinite-group mineral balliranoite from the Tuluyskoe lapis lazuli deposit, Baikal Lake area, Siberia, Russia, have been investigated using a multimethodic approach based on infrared (IR), Raman, and electron spin resonance (ESR), as well as ultraviolet, visible and near infrared (UV–Vis–near IR) absorption spectroscopy methods, luminescence spectroscopy, electron microprobe analysis, selective sorption of CO2 and H2O from annealing products, and single-crystal X-ray structure analysis. Holotype balliranoite and its sulfate analogue, davyne, were studied for comparison. The crystal-chemical formula of the studied sample from Tultuyskoe is Na5.4K0.1Ca2.4(Si6Al6O24)Cl2[(CO3)0.7(SO4)0.18S*0.95Cl0.1(H2O)0.16], where the content of the wide zeolite channel is given in square brackets; S* is total sulfide sulfur occurring as disordered S2●−, cis- and trans-S4, S52−, minor S3●−, and HS− groups. The presence of S52− and HS− groups, the absence of CO2 molecules, and the association with pyrrhotite and Fe-free pargasite indicate that the studied sample crystallized under highly reducing, low-temperature conditions, unlike holotype balliranoite whose formation was related to the Somma-Vesuvius volcanic complex, Italy. Irradiation of balliranoite from Tultuyskoe with X-rays results in the transformations of polysulfide groups other than S3●− into S3●− in accordance with the scheme: S52− → S2●− + S3●−; 3S2●− → 2S3●− + e−; S4 + S2●− + e− → 2S3●−; S4 + S2●− + e− → 2S3●−; S4 + S52− + e− → 3S3●− (e− = electron).

Water-soluble nanocomposites consisting of arabinogalactan (AG)-stabilized Bi2Te3 nanoparticles with an average size of 32–44 nm were synthesized for the first time on the basis of the natural polysaccharide arabinogalactan and telluride ions generated from elemental tellurium in the system N2H4·H2O–KOH. The phase composition, morphology, and average size of Bi2Te3 nanoparticles were found to be determined by the conditions of their synthesis. Increase of the ratio AG/Bi3+/Te2– is accompanied by reduction of the degree of sphericity and increase of the average size of Bi2Te3 nanoparticles, as well as by the transition of the AG/Bi2Te3 nanocomposite from amorphous to amorphous–crystalline state.

Dark blue lazurite from the Malo-Bystrinskoe lazurite deposit, Baikal Lake area, Eastern Siberian region, Russia, was analyzed by electron microprobe and revealed an unusually high content of total sulfur corresponding to 8.3 wt% S. The relative content of sulfur in sulfate and sulfur in sulfide form was determined by wet chemical analysis. The H2O content was measured by means of differential thermal analysis in combination with mass spectrometry and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The charge-balanced empirical formula of lazurite calculated on the basis of 12 (Al+Si) atoms per formula unit was (Na6.97Ca0.88K0.10)Σ7.96[(Al5.96Si6.04)Σ12O24](SO4)1.092−(S3−)0.55S0.052− Cl0.04·0.72H2O. The presence of H2O molecules and (S3)– and (SO4)2– groups was confirmed by the combination of IR, Raman, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) methods. The idealized formula of lazurite is Na7Ca[Al6Si6O24](SO4)2–(S3)–·H2O, and it is believed that extra-framework cations and anions are grouped into clusters of [Na3Ca·SO4]3+ and [Na4(S3)–]3+. The types of isomorphous substitutions in nosean and haüyne are discussed. Lazurite is a clathrate-type mineral, which may be an effective (S3)– sensor due to the stability of the trisulfur radical anion in isolated cages of the crystal structure. This specific feature makes it possible to study the behavior of this ubiquitous radical anion over larger T and P ranges as compared to free species. This kind of lazurite, with oxidized and reduced sulfur species, seems to be appropriate for the estimation of the fugacity of SO2 and O2 in metasomatic systems forming lazurite-containing rocks. The systematic presence of incommensurate modulations is a unique structural feature of Baikal lazurite and may be an important marker indicating provenance of the mineral.

Water-soluble hybrid nanocomposites were synthesized for the first time with the use of industrial crystalline selenium (gray powder selenium) activated in a hydrazine hydrate—alkali base-recovery system. The obtained nanocomposites consist of the selenium nanoparticles 13.0–24.0 nm in size stabilized by biocompatible natural polysaccharide galactomannan. The structures of the nanocomposites were characterized by a complex of physicochemical methods (X-ray diffraction analysis, transmission electron microscopy, and infrared spectroscopy). The pronounced antioxidant activity of the prepared nanocomposites against free radicals of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt was found, and its value correlates with the particle size of selenium.

The paper reports the results of melting experiments on the fluorite-enriched rhyolites of the Nyalga Basin (Central Mongolia). The fluoride–calcium (F–Ca) melt was obtained in a wide range of P-T parameters (1250–750°С, 5.5–1 kbar). Fluoride–silicate liquid immiscibility was observed at F > 2.5 wt % and CaO > 5.3 wt % in the initial system. An increase of temperature and pressure was accompanied by a significant increase in the concentrations of REE, Y, Sr, P, Th, U, Nb, Co, Cu, Sn, Sb, and Mo in the F–Ca melt. The peculiarity of the DREE distribution coefficients between F–Ca and silicate melts can lead to the formation of M-type tetrad effects for the first, third, and fourth tetrads in the chondrite-normalized REE patterns of silicate melt. The F–Ca melt has existed up to subsolidus temperatures of the rhyolitic melt. None of the models of magmatic crystallization of fluorite in haplogranitic melts or subsolidus postmagmatic and hydrothermal fluoritization can explain the origin of fluorite-enriched rhyolites. It is suggested that these rocks were formed from magma containing the emulsion of rhyolitic and F–Ca melts. The fluoride–silicate liquid immiscibility resulted in the redistribution of trace elements (REE, Y, Sr, P, Zr, Hf, Ta, Nb, Sc, Li, Be, and Rb) between melts. The formation of rock matrix was accompanied by degassing of the rhyolitic melt. An effective viscosity of the magma (melts emulsion with fluid bubbles) is comparable with the viscosity of a liquid. The F–Ca melt was quenched into F–Ca phase consisting of submicron fluorite particles, while solidification of the rhyolitic melt and silicate glass devitrification resulted in the formation of quartz–sanidine symplectites. The F–Ca phase has the elevated contents of O, Sr, LREE, Y, Si, sometimes Sc, P, and Al. The isomorphous substitution of O2– → F– in the fluorite structure led to the formation of aggregates of oxygen-vacancy centers, which are responsible for the laser-induced luminescence of the F–Ca phase in the rhyolite matrix. The wide variations of the REE, Y, Sr, Th, Nb, Ta, Zr, and Hf contents in the F–Ca phase are related to its recrystallization under the effect of fluid, which was released during degassing of rhyolitic melt. The submicron-sized fluorite particles in the F–Ca phase during the interaction with fluid were gradually liberated from impurities (besides Sr) and transformed into larger crystalline segregations. It is suggested that the oxygenated F–Ca melt exists in a metastable supercooled state under oxidizing conditions during eruption of rhyolitic magma. This is inconsistent with previously obtained experimental data on crystallization of fluorite from CaF2- and H2O-saturated haplogranitic melts at < 950°С and 1–2 kbar. Using rhyolites as example, it is shown that fluorite and associated ore mineralization (monazite-group minerals, cerianite) were derived from F–Ca melt with elevated REE and Y contents. In many igneous rocks and magmatogenic ores, fluorite could be a product of transformation of the F–Ca melt.

Water-soluble nanocomposites with narrow distribution of nanoparticles of pharmacophore bismuth and iron oxides have been obtained. The biopolymer matrix of the arabinogalactan polysaccharide has exhibited strong stabilizing properties with respect to transition metal oxides. The size of the spherical metal oxide nanoparticles has been found of 5–7 nm as per transmission electron microscopy. The exclusion liquid chromatography data have revealed that the change in the molecular mass parameters of arabinogalactan is due to the combined processes of self-assembly of nanocomposites and alkaline decomposition.

Lazurite and other lazurite-related minerals (LRMs) containing sulfur in both sulfate and sulfide forms are sodalite-type compounds with various extraframework species, of which the tendency to order leads to structural modulations with a period that is either commensurate or incommensurate with the period of the basic lattice. In this work, the structures of incommensurately modulated monoclinic LRMs are re-examined based on the superstructure of slyudyankaite, formerly known as triclinic lazurite. Similarities and differences between three one-dimensionally modulated LRMs and cubic LRM structures modulated in several directions are discussed. Assumptions are made on how the symmetry of the structure and the composition of the crystal can affect the period of structural modulation.

The use of soil nitrogen by spring wheat plants in sod-podzolic medium loamy soil enriched with a stable nitrogen isotope 15N was researched in a model experiment involving the application of ammonium nitrate and white mustard biomass and seed inoculation with associative nitrogen fixer Rhizoagrin. It is established that plants primarily consume nitrogen contained in the recently applied mineral fertilizer. After the application of white mustard biomass and seed inoculation with Rhizoagrin, spring wheat consumes soil nitrogen; after the combined application of the above components and ammonium nitrate, spring wheat consumes both soil nitrogen and nitrogen contained in the fertilizer. The plant biomass accumulation increases predominantly due to nitrogen contained in the recently applied mineral fertilizer, regardless of whether it was applied separately or in combination with green manure and seed inoculation with the biopreparation. The increase in the plant biomass accumulation reaches 14–28% in comparison with the control variant (no fertilizers). After the application of the nitrogen fertilizer, either separately or in combination with green manure and the biopreparation, the concentration of nitrogen in spring wheat increases by up to 1.5 times. A clear upward trend is observed in relation to the nitrogen concentration in plants after the application of white mustard biomass and seed inoculation with Rhizoagrin. As a result, the total nitrogen accumulation in plants increases twofold after the application of the nitrogen fertilizer and by 1.2 times after the application of white mustard biomass and seed inoculation with the biopreparation. This is due to the presence of nitrogen compounds available to plants in the growing medium. The accumulation of 15N in plants characterizes the consumption of soil nitrogen by them. This parameter decreases after the application of the nitrogen fertilizer and remains equal to that in the control variant (no fertilizers) after the application of white mustard biomass and Rhizoagrin. This indicates that plants consume large amounts of mineralized soil nitrogen after the application of the two latter components and that nitrogen fertilizer is not a factor in the mineralization of soil organic matter. The application of white mustard biomass prior to spring wheat sowing and inoculation of its seeds with Rhizoagrin ensure that plants consume soil nitrogen in the initial vegetation period.

In a model experiment on a sod-podzolic medium loamy soil enriched with a stable nitrogen isotope 15N, the use of soil nitrogen by spring wheat studied when ammonium nitrate was introduced, mustard biomass and seed inoculation with the associated nitrogen fixer Rhizoagrin were introduced. It has been established that plants consume nitrogen primarily from recently applied nitrogen of fertilizer. When making biomass of mustard and inoculating seeds with Rhizoagrin, spring wheat uses soil nitrogen, with the integrated use of these components and applying ammonium nitrate soil nitrogen and fertilizer. The accumulation of plant biomass predominantly increases from recently applied nitrogen of fertilizer, both separately and when combined with green manure and seed inoculation with a biopreparation and is 14-28% relative to the control without fertilizers. When applying nitrogen fertilizer, as well as when combined with green manure and biopreparation, the concentration of nitrogen in spring wheat increases up to 1.5 times. There is a clear upward trend in the concentration of nitrogen in plants with the addition of mustard biomass and it increases with inoculation of seeds with Rhizoagrin. As a result, the accumulation of total nitrogen in plants increases when nitrogen fertilizer is applied, and the use of mustard biomass and biopreparation increases this indicator by 1.2 times, which is due to the presence of nitrogen compounds available to plants in the nutrient medium. The accumulation in plants of 15N characterizes the consumption of soil nitrogen by plants, when introducing nitrogen fertilizer, this indicator is less, and using only biomass of mustard and Rhizoagrin is equivalent to control without fertilizers, indicating large amounts of mineralized nitrogen consumption from the soil when using the last two components, and that nitrogen fertilizer is not a factor in the mineralization of soil organic matter. The use of mustard biomass for spring wheat and seed inoculation with Rhizoagrin leads to the consumption of soil nitrogen by plants during the initial growing season.

To raise the efficacy and the selectivity of known medicinal substances (MS), methods have recently been developed to create systems for their directed transport in the body using various carriers. The problem of decreasing the toxicity and increasing the selectivity of antitumor MSs is particularly relevant. In recent years, studies are underway for the development of conjugates of MSs and the natural polymers, in particular, the non-starch polysaccharides, many of which manifest antitumor and immunomodulatory properties. Owing to the unique combination of physicochemical and biological properties, arabinogalactan from larch wood (AG) is one of the most promising tools for the development of complex preparations with elevated bioavailability and reduced toxicity. The aim of the present work is to obtain mechanocomposites of cyclophosphamide (CPA) with the initial arabinogalactan (molecular mass 16 645 Da) and its fragments (molecular mass 8380 Da) and to study their physicochemical properties. According to IR and 13С, 15N and 31Р NMR spectroscopy, long-term mechanochemical treatment does not lead to a change in chemical composition of CPA molecules, only the formation of hydrogen bonds NH···OH is observed. The data on X-ray analysis, IR and multinuclear NMR spectroscopy show that, with a weight ratio of 1 : 5 and 1 : 10, disordering of CPA crystallographic structure and its molecular dispersion without chemical interaction of the components occur in the matrix of the polysaccharide with mechanical treatment of mixtures of CPA–AG over 4–12 hours.

Spinach (Spinacia oleracca) is a leaf vegetable with low calorie. It appears to be the source of bioflavonoids, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which are highly resistant to heat treatment. Among these substances there are beta-carotene, zeaxanthin, lutein, which appear to be active antioxidants. Spinach also contains В vitamins, vitamin E, vitamin K, calcium and iron. It is common in many countries but is not widely used in Russia. The beneficial features of spinach allow to use it as the ingredient for developing of new types of flour and bakery products for functional and specialized purposes. Due to specific organoleptic and technological properties, it is recommended to use refined spinach in combination with other plant ingredients. The high content of fat-soluble substances in spinach causes using in formulations and technologies of flour and bakery products fat components for purposes of digestion of these substances. These components can be the mixture of vegetable oils of different consistency. For improving of spinach technological properties, it is recommended to use drying with following grinding of dried product into powder. There are several drying and grinding methods, which differ in number of stages and.technological operations, machine and hardware design and energy intensity, which defines the choice of optimal method of spinach powder obtaining. The use of spinach powder in formulations and technologies of flour and bakery products allows obtaining products with high organoleptical qualities, and the containment of the aforenamed substances in products allows to consider them as functional.

The isomorphism of S-bearing feldspathoids belonging to the cancrinite, sodalite, tugtupite, vladimirivanovite, bystrite, marinellite and scapolite structure types has been investigated using a multimethodical approach based on infrared, Raman and electron spin resonance (ESR), as well as ultraviolet, visible and near infrared (UV–Vis–near IR) absorption spectroscopy methods and involving chemical and X-ray diffraction data. Sapozhnikovite Na8(Al6Si6O24)(HS)2 and sulfite and thiosulfate analogues of cancrinite are synthesized hydrothermally and characterized by means of electron microprobe analyses, powder X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. The possibility of the incorporation of significant amounts of SO42−, S4 and SO32− in the crystal structures of cancrisilite, sulfhydrylbystrite and marinellite, respectively, has been established for the first time. Thermal conversions of S-bearing groups in the synthetic sulfite cancrinite and sapozhnikovite analogues as well as natural vladinirivanovite and S4-bearing haüyne under oxidizing and reducing conditions have been studied using the multimethodical approach. The SO42− and S2− anions and the S3•– radical anion are the most stable S-bearing species under high-temperature conditions (in the range of 700–800 °C); their ratio in the heated samples is determined by the redox conditions and charge-balance requirement. The HS− and S52− anions are stable only under highly reducing conditions.

Five samples of differently colored sodalite-group minerals from gem lazurite deposits were studied by means of electron microprobe and wet chemical analyses, infrared, Raman, electron spin resonance (ESR) and UV-Visible spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Various extra-framework components (SO42&ndash, S2&ndash, and Cl&ndash, anions, S3&middot, &ndash, S2&middot, and SO3&middot, radical anions, H2O, CO2, COS, cis- as well as trans- or gauche-S4 neutral molecules have been identified. It is shown that S3&middot, and S4 are the main blue and purple chromophores, respectively, whereas the S2&middot, yellow chromophore and SO3&middot, blue chromophore play a subordinate role. X-ray diffraction patterns of all samples of sodalite-group minerals from lazurite deposits studied in this work contain superstructure reflections which indicate different kinds of incommensurate modulation of the structures.

A Low-temperature (100 K) analysis of the crystalline structures of Cl-bystrite and sulfhydrylbystrite has been carried out, and the data obtained have been compared with the room-temperature characteristics of these minerals. The framework deformations are considered as a result of change in the ditrigonality of six-membered tetrahedral rings: the decrease in the unit-cell volume at low temperature is determined mainly by the increase in the ditrigonality (compression) of six-membered framework rings. Oblique and vertical (corrugated) rings are distorted to a greater extent than horizontal rings. The deformation mechanisms is shown to be the same for the frameworks of bystrite-subgroup minerals and the sodalite framework.

The study was implemented concerning the level of interleukins 2 and 6 (IL-2 and IL-6), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) under hepatic cirrhosis (HC) of viral etiology classes А, В, С according Child-Pugh. The purpose was to evaluate level of serum cytokinemies and their relationship under HC of viral etiology depending on class of severity according Child-Pugh and level of portal pressure. The cytokines concentration was determined using technique of solid-phase enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. It is established that against the background of decreasing of compensation of HC occurs increasing of serum level of IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-α within the limits of reference values at the exception of level of IL-6 under HC class C. In the given category of patients, level of IL-6 exceeds reference values and is within the limits of 9,94-25,21 pg ̸ml with average concentration 14,89±4,96 pg ̸ml. It is demonstrated that quantitative ratios and degrees of relationships between cytokines are determined by compensation of cirrhosis. The correlation relationships are mostly expressed in the form of feedback between TNF-α and IL-6 (r = 0,499) in case of HC class A. and in the form of direct relation between TNF-α and IL-2 (r = 0,421) in case of HC class B. It is proved that against the background of decreasing of compensation of HC increasing is occurring of serum levels of IL-2, IL-6 and TNF-α within the limits of reference values with the exception of level of IL-6 in case of HC class C. In the given category of patients’ level of IL-6 exceeds reference values and is within limits of 9,94-25,21 pg/ml with average concentration 14,89 4,96 pg/ml.

A complex analysis of the crystallization of quartz glass from quartzites of the Bural-Sardyk deposit (the Eastern Sayan) has been performed. A mineralogical and petrographic characterization of the quartzites of this deposit is presented, and techniques of quartz grit preparation and quartz glass formation are described. Quartz glass samples prepared from grits of two types have been thermally tested, and crystallization onset temperatures and character of their crystallization were determined for them.

Water-soluble aggregation-resistance nanocomposites based on silver selenide quantum dots with an average particle size of 11.4–12.7 nm and the natural polysaccharide galactomannan were synthesized for the first time using a simple environmentally benign method for the generation of highly reactive selenide ions acting as selenating agent. The obtained nanocomposites showed luminescence in the transparency range of biological tissues (λ ~705 nm) and were characterized in detail by X-ray powder diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and absorption and luminescence spectroscopy.

We study the properties of tests constructed by a simple modification of the studentized range of the sample from a symmetric stable population in the problem of testing the hypothesis $$ \mathrm{\mathscr{H}} $$ α (the stability index equals α, α ∈ (1, 2)) against the alternative $$ \mathrm{\mathscr{H}} $$ 2. We obtain approximate formulas for the calculation of critical values and estimation of the test power and develop a method for the estimation of the accuracy of these approximations. The major part of the paper deals with the construction of the approximations to the distribution function of the normalized sum of squares of symmetric stable random variables and estimation of the accuracy of approximations.

Water-soluble nanobiocomposite CdSe quantum dots were obtained using the stabilizing potential of natural biologically active polysaccharides galactomannan and κ-carrageenan. A complex of physicochemical methods was used to investigate the biphasic amorphous-crystalline structure of the obtained nanocomposites, the size range (4.8—6.9 nm) of the formed CdSe particles was determined, and, additionally, it was shown that aqueous solutions of the nanocomposites in question were characterized by the presence of photoluminescence in two spectral regions, namely, 410—450 and 510—580 nm.

Crystallographic size effects occurring during the formation of zero-valence silver and gold nanoparticles dispersed in a biopolymer polysaccharide matrix (arabinogalactan) have been studied by means of X-ray diffraction analysis. The average size of the nanoparticles has been found to increase with the increase in the metal content in the nanocomposite. Stabilization of the nanoparticles by the polymer matrix is accompanied by the decrease in the unit cell parameter of the metal correlated with the decrease in the coherent scattering length.

The absorption of a nanocomposite of silver nanoparticles and arabinogalactan in the UV–Vis spectral range is due to the presence of end aldehyde groups in the arabinogalactan and plasmon vibrations in 0D nanosilver. The absorption spectrum of a fundamentally new nanocomposite of silver with arabinogalactan-g-polypyrrole block copolymer reveals additional long-wavelength overlapping absorption bands resulting from the longitudinal component of plasmon resonance in 1D nanosilver and polarons in polypyrrole.

The formula of chlorinated bystrite (rare mineral of cancrinite group) has been refined to Na7.22Ca0.92[Al6Si6O24](S5)0.94Cl1.01. The X-ray diffraction data on the contents of chlorine and sulfur in this mineral are confirmed by the results of chemical analysis. The bystrite cage is found to contain a (S5)2–cluster, which is elongated along the c axis and has a chain configuration. Different ways of aggregation of sulfur atoms lead to cis- and trans-configurations of chains. Columns of cancrinite cages contain–Ca–Cl–Ca–Cl–chains, which were observed previously in the structures of minerals of davyne subgroup, afghanite, and tounkite.

The results of examining high-purity quartzites retrieved from the Eastern Sayan Mountains (namely, the Bural–Sardag deposit), extracting ultra-high purity quartz concentrates from them, and depositing silica glass using the vacuum-compression method are reported. The flowsheet for their beneficiation is elaborated. The characteristics of quartz concentrates and silica glass based on them are provided.

Sulfhydrylbystrite, Na5K2Ca(Al6Si6O24)(S5)(SH), cell parameters a = 12.9567(6) Å, c = 10.7711(5) Å, space group P31c, is a new mineral belonging to the cancrinite group. It was found at Malaya Bystraya lazurite deposit, Lake Baikal area, Eastern Siberian Region, Russia, associated with lazurite, calcite, diopside, phlogopite and pyrite. The mineral develops at the margins of masses of lazurite, replacing it in some areas with the formation of nonequilibrium lazurite-diopside-sulfhydrylbystrite association. It is translucent, yellow to orange, with vitreous lustre, yellow streak and Mohs hardness of 4.5–5. The empirical formula, based on 12 (Si + Al), is Na5.17K1.87Ca0.99[Al6.01Si5.99O24](S5)0.862–(SH0.86)Cl0.07, Z = 2. The crystal structure of sulfhydrylbystrite may be described as an ABAC stacking of six-membered rings of SiO4 and AlO4 tetrahedra and extra-framework cations and anions located within structural cages. There are two type of cages, cancrinite and losod, stacked into chains at (0, 0, z) and (⅔, ⅓, z), respectively. The cancrinite cage hosts Ca2+ and (SH)– ions, whereas the (S5)2– polyanion is in the losod cage associated with Na+ and K+ cations. In addition, (SH)– and (S5)2– anions are detected in the structure of a mineral for the first time.For comparison, a structural and compositional study of a bystrite sample from the same deposit was carried out. Bystrite is confirmed to contain pentasulfide anions in the losod cages, similar to those of sulfhydrylbystrite, in contrast to previous studies. However, bystrite has chloride in cancrinite cages, whereas sulfhydrylbystrite has hydrosulfide in that position. The unit-cell parameters are distinctly different: bystrite has a = 12.8527(6) Å, c = 10.6907(5) Å in the same P31c space group.

Flaxseed flour is a promising raw material as a base or additive ingredient for producing of gluten-free production. It has got high sensory characteristics, and it is also a valuable source of several nutrients (including vitamins and minerals). Thus, food products enriched with flaxseed flour may have functional properties. Based on the results of researches on using flaxseed flour in bakery products formulations, there was revealed the advisability of complete replacement of wheat flour in classic pizza dough formulation with flaxseed flour. The advantages of flaxseed pizza dough are time reduction of the fermentation process from 24 h at 2…6 °C to 1 h at 15…25 °C, increased nutritional value and high sensory properties. The obtained dough formulation was used in the developed technology of mushroom pizza on flaxseed flour and can be implemented at the existing food industry enterprises, including catering enterprises.

In the present paper we obtain approximations to the distribution of a sum of squared normalized variables with small number of summands, and provide an estimate of approximation accuracy. We compare confidence intervals for the unknown parameter σ constructed with the use of the obtained approximations when α 1 is known, with the intervals constructed with the use of the classical chi-square distribution under the assumption of normality of normalized sums.

Bakery products are widespread among Russian population. With their enrichment with natural ingredients used in balanced diets new healthy food products can be obtained. The paper presents the results of development of choux pastry semi-finished products with craquelin dough, which are enriched by infrared-dried spinach powder. Infrared drying of spinach allows preserving its beneficial features and using obtained powder as an enriching ingredient. The technological process of bakery products preparing is developed and the flowchart of the process is presented. The control and experimental samples were evaluated on sensory and physicochemical (dry matters and ash content) characteristics. It is established that increasing of infrared-dried spinach powder makes the samples’ color more intensive, the dry matters content increases by 1.8…7.5%, and the ash content increases by 0.84…1.53%. Therefore, the spinach powder in amount of 7.0% and 2.5% from flour weight in choux pastry dough and craquelin dough accordingly is advisable. The developed choux pastry semi-finished products are recommended for practical implementation and further research in this direction.

Celery stalks are a source of useful nutritional substances. However, their shelf-life is short, so processing them into the powder of infrared (IR) drying is the optimal way to keep their useful properties. Using celery stalks in powder form can prolongate their shelf-life and introduce them into bakery products formulations. Thus, bakery products range will expand, what contributes to the aims of bakery enterprises sustainable development. The paper shows the research results in the development of new bakery production using celery stalks powder of IR-drying. The experiments showed that the celery stalks powder slightly changes carrying out the technological process, and the bakery product has got high sensory characteristics and nutritional value. So, the developed technology can be implemented practically.

The paper presents the results of research of leafy plant raw materials drying with pulsed infrared (IR) radiation by the example of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). The efficiency of the selected method for weight and humidity changes in the processed material has been analyzed. The specific energy consumption for removal of 1 g of moisture as well as ascorbic acid concentration in dried product have been calculated. The results of the analysis show that IR-drying of leafy plant raw materials is efficient and can be carried out in production environment.

Bakery products are popular food product among Russian population. Despite of their high sensory characteristics, they are high-calorie products. For their enrichment with useful substances, the powder obtained from cultivated oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus) can be used as a non-conventional plant raw material. The paper presents the results of development of choux pastry semi-finished product decorated with craquelin dough, which are both enriched with oyster mushroom powder. The technological process of semi-finished products obtaining is developed, where the mushroom powder is introduced into semi-finished product formulations in the amount of 2.5%, 5.0% and 7.5% by weight of high-grade wheat flour. The optimal quantity of the powder introduced into craquelin dough is 2.5% from flour weight. The control and experimental samples were evaluated by sensory and physico-chemical characteristics, and their nutritional value was calculated. The research results showed that with the increase of oyster mushroom powder in choux pastry semi-finished products their sensory characteristics improve. Dry matter content increases by 0.8…4.8%, and ash content increases by 0.24…0.55%/. The calculation of samples’ nutritional value shows the increase of proteins, vitamins, and mineral substances content. Herewith, the contents of fats and carbohydrates decrease, which also decreases energy value of semi-finished products. Therefore, the optimal amount of oyster mushroom powder for introducing into semi-finished product formulation is 7.5% from flour weight. The developed semi-finished products are recommended for further practical implementation and technology improvement.

The antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity of the silver-containing drug, which is zerovalent metallic silver nanoparticles stabilized by sulfated arabinogalactan, towards human lymphocytes were evaluated. The bacteriostatic concentration towards E. coli ATCC 25922, E. coli ESBL1224, S. aureus MRSA34R, S. aureus ATCC 29213, and P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and hospital strains E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and P. mirabilis ranges from 3 to 50 μg mL−1. Their bactericidal activity varies from 5 to 100 μg mL−1, and the concentration of the nanocomposite toxic to isolated human peripheral blood lymphocytes is 5 μg mL−1.

Ferro-pedrizite, a new amphibole-supergroup mineral was discovered in the Sutlug pegmatite occurrence situated in the Targi River Basin, Tyva Republic, Eastern Sibera, Russia. The associated minerals are quartz, albite, microcline, spodumene, cassiterite, beryl, columbite-(Mn), fergusonite-β-(Y), fluorapatite, schorl, trilithionite and fluorite. Ferro-pedrizite forms dark grey-blue to violet-blue acicular and long prismatic crystals up to 2 × 5 × 50 mm and their aggregates. D meas = 3.16(1) g/cm3 (by hydrostatic weighing), 3.13(1) g/cm3 (by flotation in heavy liquids); D calc = 3.135 g/cm3. Ferro-pedrizite is optically biaxial (−), α = 1.614(3), β = 1.638(3), γ = 1.653(3), 2 V meas = 75(5)°, 2 V calc = 76°. The infrared spectrum is given. The chemical composition is (EDS-mode electron microprobe, the ratio Fe2+:Fe3+ by Mossbauer data, Li by ICP-MS, H2O by gas chromatography of ignition products, F by wet analysis, wt. %): Li2O 4.67, Na2O 2.54, K2O 0.13, MgO 4.48, CaO 0.29, MnO 0.59, FeO 9.06, Al2O3 13.13, Fe2O3 4.60, SiO2 57.59, F 1.15, H2O 1.50, -O = F −0.48, total 99.25. The empirical formula based on 24 anions is: (Na0.60K0.02)∑0.62(Li1.89Na0.07Ca0.04)∑2.00(Fe2+1.03Mg0.90Mn2+0.07Al1.88Fe3+0.47Li0.65)∑5.00[(Si7.79Al0.21)∑8.00O22][(OH)1.36F0.49O0.15)]. The simplified formula is NaLi2(Fe2+2Al2Li)Si8O22(OH)2. Ferro-pedrizite is monoclinic, C 2/ m , a = 9.3716(4), b = 17.649(1), c = 5.2800(6) A, β = 102.22(1)°, V = 853.5(1) A3, Z = 2. The structure has been refined to R obs = 3.9 % (4843 I > 2σ I ). A twinning model was introduced into the refinement through the matrix [−1 0 0/0−1 0/−0.7516 0 1] with the ratio of two twin components of 0.681(3)/0.319(3). The strongest lines of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [ d , A( I , %) ( hkl )] are: 8.147 (52) (110), 4.420 (22), (040), 3.009 (100) (310), 2.7102 (28) (330), 2.6865 (29) (151), 2.6236 (21) (461). Type material is deposited in the Mineralogical Museum of the Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russia.

Silver-containing nanocomposites based on sulfated arabinogalactan have been prepared under mild conditions. The products contain 2–12 nm silver nanoparticles stabilized by the polymer. The composites are readily water-soluble and reveal antimicrobial activity against a wide range of bacteria and fungi.

Mechanical composites were produced by mechanochemical treatment of a mixture of the antiviral drug rimantadine and arabinogalactan (AG) isolated from larch wood. Their properties were studied using PMR, 13C and 15N NMR, and IR spectroscopy. It was found that AG and rimantadine did not react chemically under the studied conditions. The mechanical treatment decreased the size of crystalline rimantadine particles and produced amorphous material according to x-ray diffraction analysis. The mechanochemical treatment dispersed rimantadine in the AG matrix.

Garden spinach (Spinacia oleracca) is a well-known leaf vegetable in the world. It contains biologically active substances and thus can be used for enrichment of different kinds of food production, including bakery products. However, spinach is not yet deeply studied from this point of view. Recent studies show that spinach is advisable for introducing into the dough in state of infrared-dried powder. The paper describes the results of quality evaluation of developed bakery products enriched with spinach powder by sensory, physico-chemical characteristics and nutritional value. Three control samples (roll N° 1, curd and lingonberry patties N° 2 and N° 3) were prepared using high-grade and second-grade wheat flour in 1:3 ratio. All experimental samples (N° 1, N° 2, N° 3) were enriched with infrared-dried spinach powder in the amount of 4% from flour weight. All bakery products samples were prepared according to standard technology and passed quality evaluation. The sensory characteristics of experimental samples didn’t change significantly, though some of values decreased by 0.1 points or increased by 0.1 …0.3 points. The dry matters content values either decreased by 1.45…3.38% or increased by 0.36%, the acidity and ash content values increased by 0.2…0.6 deg and 0.16…0.74% accordingly. All samples were evaluated for estimated content of proteins, fats and carbohydrates and their relative approximation to ratio of 1:1:4. The ratio in control and experimental samples N° 1 and N° 2 are close to the recommended ratio value. In control and experimental samples N° 3 the ratio value is not kept but can be improved in different ways. Thus, the results of study show, that the enrichment of bakery products with spinach can save or improve their sensory characteristics, increase organic acids and minerals content. The enrichment also doesn’t have negative effect on products’ nutritional value. The ratios of proteins, fats and carbohydrates allow to use bakery products enriched with spinach in daily diet of adults and children of preschool and school age.

Cultivated oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm) are common for many countries of the world mainly because of their high yield. Their growing doesn’t require special conditions. The mushrooms contain useful nutritional substances and have high sensory characteristics, so they can be suitable for developing of new types of culinary production. In the paper, the technology of sauce production using paste-like semi-finished products from oyster mushrooms is described. While obtaining the semi-finished products, it is advisable to use chopping of raw mushrooms before their heat treatment in combi oven by 100°C during 30 min. The hot and cold sauce production samples based on the semi-finished products have got mainly high points for their sensory evaluation. The estimated nutritional value of sauces shows that they appear to be low-calorie products containing vitamins and mineral substances. Thus, the developed sauce production based on cultivated oyster mushrooms can be recommended for further researches and practical implementation at public catering enterprises.