The paper presents the strategic project of Tomsk State University devoted to studying the carbon cycle in the arctic land-shelf system. The obtained carbon cycle characteristics should be used for global climate model correction. The main objective of the consortium is to obtain new data on the variability of climatic and biological factors of various ecosystems, monitor them, and create archives of data on their dynamics. The area of the project includes the basins of the Great Siberian Rivers, and the shelf of the adjacent Arctic seas. A consortium of approximately twenty universities and research institutions was formed to study the carbon cycle in various environments, including seas, rivers, wetlands, and permafrost. In addition to studying the carbon cycle, the project also aims to develop methods for carbon sequestration and ecosystems remediation. One of such methods was developed for the assessment and cleanup of bottom sediments from oil and petroleum products as well as other hydrophobic contaminants and has been patented and tested in a series of field trials. Several special monitoring methods are described, such as novel sampling and sample laboratory processing techniques to assess microplastics in the environment; and holographic methods for underwater monitoring of the plankton behavior for early bioindication of hazards in the water area. This is particularly relevant for areas with dangerous objects, such as nuclear power plants, oil platforms, and gas pipelines. The methods of math modeling of the impact of climate change and anthropogenic factors on indigenous and local population lives were used.

Preparation and characterization of biopolymer-based packaging materials have significantly gained importance because of sustainability, biodegradability, and eco-friendly nature. In this study, novel wheat gluten (WG)/cloisite 30B (C30B) organoclay-based bionanocomposite (BNC) films were prepared by solution casting method at various C30B concentrations (5%, 10%, and 15%). X-ray diffraction and field emission scanning electron microscopy revealed intercalation/exfoliation of C30B sheets into the WG matrix. WG-C30B 10% film was thermostable. It showed low surface roughness along with higher water barrier properties and surface hydrophobicity. The tensile strength values of WG and WG-C30B 10% films were found to be 0.7 +/- 0.02 and 1.11 +/- 0.01, respectively, indicating improvement in mechanical properties. WG-C30B 10% film demonstrated antibacterial activity against both Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enterica. Shelf life of green grapes was monitored under different conditions: 4 degrees C, ambient conditions, and 42 degrees C. WG-C30B 10% film proved effective in extending shelf life up to 18 days under ambient conditions. More than 50% of the bionanocomposite films were degraded in agricultural soil within 2 weeks, while completely degraded in sewage sludge soil after a few days. WG-C30B 10% film appeared to be promising regarding the demonstrated physico-chemical and antibacterial properties. This report would be useful in preparing biodegradable biopolymer-based packaging materials.

Recently, there has been an increasing interest in biodegradable films for extending food's shelf life. This study developed pectin-potato starch-based films incorporating varying pyrogallol concentrations and evaluated shelf life their physical, antioxidant, mechanical, optical, antibacterial, structural, biodegradation, and shelf-life properties. Among the tested films (F1, pectin; F2, pectin + potato starch; F3, pectin + potato starch + 0.5%pyrogallol; and F4, pectin + potato starch + 1%pyrogallol), F4 exhibited superior antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (42 mm), Klebsiella pneumoniae (20.5 mm), and Escherichia coli (25.5 mm), antioxidant activity (AA) (95% (diphenylpicrylhydrazyl), 76% (metal chelating activity), and 87% (hydroxyl radical scavenging assay)), mechanical, and soil biodegradation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy confirmed biocompatibility, whereas differential scanning calorimetry studies showed thermal stability. Shelf-life studies on tomatoes at 30 degrees C demonstrated that F4 film coating extended shelf life to 21 days by reducing weight loss (14.5%), total phenolic content (25 mg/100 g), AA (53.5%), firmness (46 N), and titratable acidity (0.38%) while maintaining the total soluble solids, pH, lycopene content, color, and microbial inhibition. This study introduces a novel active biodegradable film with enhanced antimicrobial, mechanical, and antioxidant properties for sustainable food packaging applications.

The increasing issue of plastic waste necessitates improved solutions, and biodegradable food packaging is a promising alternative to traditional plastic. In this study, we prepared packaging films using cassava starch (CV), chitosan (CT) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), with glycerol as a plasticizer. However, these films require modifications to enhance their mechanical properties. Therefore, we modified the films by adding vanillin as the crosslinking agent and gingerol extract stabilized silver nanoparticles. The films were fabricated using the filmcasting method and characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM, TGA, mechanical property test, biodegradability test, antibacterial test and food packaging evaluation test. Among these films, CT/CV/V/CMC/Gin-AgNPs1 exhibited superior mechanical properties and demonstrated excellent anti-bacterial property both for gram-positive (S. aureus) and gram-negative (E. coli) bacteria and biodegradability, losing over 50% of its weight after 21 days of burial in soil and effectively preserved grapes at 4 degrees C for 21 days.

Post-harvest loss of fruits and vegetables, and health risks and environmental impact of current plastic packaging warrant new biodegradable packaging. To this end, cellulosic residue from agricultural processing byproducts is suitable due to its renewability and sustainability. Herein, soyhulls cellulosic residue was extracted, solubilized in ZnCl2 2 solution, and crosslinked with calcium ions and glycerol to prepare biodegradable films. The film combination was optimized using Box Behnken Design and film properties were characterized. The optimized film is translucent and exhibits tensile strength, elongation at break, water vapor permeability, hydrophobicity, and IC50 of 6.3 f 0.6 MPa, 30.2 f 0.9%, 0.9 f 0.3 x 10-10 gm-1 s- 1 Pa- 1 , 72.6 degrees, degrees , and 0.11 f 0.1 g/mL, respectively. The water absorption kinetics follow the Peleg model and biodegrade within 25 days at 24% soil moisture. The film extends the shelf life of raspberries by 6 more days compared to polystyrene film. Overall, the value-added soyhull cellulosic films are advantageous in minimizing post-harvest loss and plastic-related issues, emphasizing the principles of the circular bioeconomy.

This study targets explicitly finding an alternative to petroleum-based plastic films that burden the environment, which is a high priority. Hence, polymeric films were prepared with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) (4%), pectin (2%), and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) (0.5%) with different concentrations of thymol (0.3%, 0.9%, 1.8%, 3%, and 5%) and glycerol as a plasticizer by solution casting technique. The prepared films were tested for mechanical, optical, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties. Film F5 (CMC + P + PHB + 0.9%thymol) showed an excellent tensile strength of 15 MPa, Young's modulus of 395 MPa, antioxidant activity (AA) (92%), rapid soil biodegradation (21 days), and strong antimicrobial activity against bacterial and fungal cultures such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus flavus. The thymol content increase in films F6 (1.8%), F7 (3%), and F8 (5%) displayed a decrease in mechanical properties due to thymol's hydrophobicity. For shelf life studies on tomatoes, F2, a film without thymol (poor antimicrobial and antioxidant activities), F5 (film with superior mechanical, optical, antimicrobial, and antioxidant properties), and F7 (film with low mechanical properties) were selected. Film F5 coatings on tomato fruit enhanced the shelf life of up to 15 days by preventing weight loss, preserving firmness, and delaying changes in biochemical constituents like lycopene, phenols, and AA. Based on the mechanical, optical, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and shelf life results, the film F5 is suitable for active food packaging and preservation.

Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS)-based nanocomposites, reinforced and toughened with ZnO-coated multi-walled carbon nano-tubes (MWCNT-ZnO), demonstrate significantly enhanced properties, making them ideal for potential applied in food packaging applications. This study explores the effects of varying proportions of MWCNT-ZnO on the overall characteristics of these composites. The addition of 0.1 parts per hundred (phr) MWCNT-ZnO optimizes the nanocomposites' mechanical properties, crystallinity, melting temperature, thermal stability, and barrier performance. Specifically, the composite exhibits a 22% increase in tensile strength, a 28.4% rise in yield strength, and a remarkable 95.7% enhancement in the material's elongation at break, compared to the pure PBS matrix. Moreover, these nanocomposites exhibit excellent antibacterial properties, crucial for food preservation and safety. The soil burial test indicates that, except for the addition of 0.1phr which is lower than pure PBS, the biodegradation rate increases with the increasing addition of MWCNT-ZnO. This further suggests that a low nanoparticle filler content can enhance structural compactness, thereby improving the mechanical stability. The study also reveals notable preservation benefits for vegetables. When used for beef packaging, this composite material successfully extends the meat's freshness period, substantially curtails bacterial proliferation, and ensures the beef remains within safe consumption parameters. The combination of enhanced mechanical, thermal, barrier, and antibacterial properties makes PBS/MWCNT-ZnO nanocomposites promising candidates for sustainable and efficient food packaging materials.

In the pursuit of enhancing food packaging, nanotechnology, particularly green silver nanoparticles (G-AgNPs), have gained prominence for its remarkable antimicrobial properties with high potential for food shelf-life extension. Our study aims to develop corn starch-based coating materials reinforced with G-AgNPs. The mechanical properties were examined using a uniaxial tensile tester, revealing that starch coated with the highest G-AgNPs concentration (12.75 ppm) exhibited UTS of 87.6 MPa compared to 48.48 MPa of control paper, a significant (p < 0.02) 65% increase. The assessment of the WVP showcased a statistical reduction in permeability by up to 8% with the incorporation of the hydrophobic layer. Furthermore, antibacterial properties were assessed following ISO 22196:2011, demonstrating a strong and concentration-dependent activity of G-AgNPs against E. coli. All samples successfully disintegrated in both simulated environments (soil and seawater), including samples presenting G-AgNPs. In the food trial analysis, the presence of starch and G-AgNPs significantly reduced weight loss after 6 days, with cherry tomatoes decreasing by 8.59% and green grapes by 6.77% only. The results of this study contribute to the advancement of environmentally friendly packaging materials, aligning with the UN sustainable development goals of reducing food waste and promoting sustainability.

Traditional wooden structures are characterized by the presence of a column base that seems to be floated above the foundation stone. This study used pseudo-static experiments to assess the seismic performance of flat pendulum floating resting columns, focusing on the decay and repair of the wood frame (WF). First, an artificial method was used to simulate fungal decay damage of column-foot joints, and filling reinforcement was applied to the decayed column-foot joints, and second, according to the design method in the Sung dynasty architecture, the Ying-tsaofa-shih (building standards). This study presents the findings of pseudo-static tests that were conducted at Yangzhou University. Three 1:3.52 scaled specimen WFs with flat-pendulum-floating-shelf (FPFS)-typed (Ping-bai-fu-ge) columns, i.e., non-damaged WF (named after NT), considering the damaged WF (named after DF) and strengthening damaged WF (named after DR) with one-way straight mortise-tenon joints (OWSMT) joints were made and subjected to cyclic lateral loads during testing. The properties of the WFs with FPFS columns, such as the failure mode, hysteretic and envelope curves, strength and stiffness deterioration, and energy dissipation, have been studied. Finally, the effects of additional damage and reinforcement measures on the seismic performance of WFs are analyzed and compared with the finite element numerical simulation results. This research shows that damage to the column foot decreases the WF's seismic performance, although filler reinforcement may increase it. The foot and mortise joints are interconnected and interact in the wood frame's seismic stressing mechanism. Foot decay reduces the seismic performance of the foot joint, hence increasing the seismic energy dissipation activity of the mortise joints.

Fastening of hydrotechnical oil-gas mining facilities to seabed soils in Caspian Sea aquatoriums is usually carried out by pile foundations. Sustainability of strength and stability during the design and construction of hydraulic structures requires to solve a number of theoretical and practical problems. Numerous static and dynamic tests (experiments) were carried out in the Caspian Sea aquatorium and in laboratory conditions to solve these issues. The widespread use of pile foundations in the development of offshore oil and gas fields revealed the inconsistency of the domestic scientific methodological and regulatory framework for calculating their load-bearing capacity over the soil. It is established that the wave strikes, acting on pile foundations, interact with the surface design of offshore structures and offshore ground bases. Sea wave banging pile foundations creates vibrations in the pile foundation - topsides offshore structures and moving piles in subgrade. Displacement piles depend on the strength of the reaction between the structure and subgrade, the intensity of the shock wave in the time that passed through piles for offshore soil. At the same time, it takes into account the rheological properties of composite models of shelf soil.