A series of optically active 5(S)-(l-bornyloxy)- and 5(S)-(l-menthyloxy)-2(5H)-furanones with an arylthio group at the C(4) position of the γ-lactone ring was synthesized and studied for its oxidation reactions with various reagents. Novel 2(5H)-furanone sulfoxides were obtained as mixtures of two diastereoisomers through the oxidation of arylthioethers with m-chloroperbenzoic acid (m-СРВА) or hydrogen peroxide in acetic acid. Individual stereoisomers of these sulfoxides were isolated using recrystallization and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and characterized by IR and NMR spectroscopy. The molecular structures of eight stereoisomerically pure compounds were confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The antibacterial activity of the novel sulfoxides against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli was assessed, with a number of compounds found to inhibit bacterial growth and biofilm formation in S. aureus.

Carbon composites with graded binder distribution along the product cross-section were developed using epoxy-benzoxazine powder binders. Their rheological, thermophysical, and physicomechanical properties were analyzed. It was demonstrated that graded compositions offer certain advantages in providing control over the parameters of the production process, both during the plate consolidation and the final product formation by pressing. The production of dry prepregs by electrostatic spraying of powder binders on carbon fiber followed by melting, the consolidation of prepregs into plates by vacuum bagging, and subsequent pressing of the plates to obtain the product were optimized. The feasibility of producing a graded carbon composite with enhanced physicomechanical and thermophysical properties was revealed for powder compositions based on benzoxazine, thermoplastic polymer, and epoxy-novolac and epoxy resins. Binder compositions with a gradient of components were proposed. A positive effect of the matrix gradient on lowering the temperature gradient during thermal pressing was confirmed.

Prodrug bipharmacophore anti-inflammatory compounds based on pyridoxine and ketorolac were synthesized. A new laboratory method was developed to achieve > 98 % purity of these compounds, without the use of column chromatography. Compared to ketorolac tromethamine, which is the most potent non-opioid analgesic, both compounds exhibited lower toxicity (LD₅₀ > 2000 mg/kg), while maintaining comparable analgesic efficacy in a model of acute thermal pain response.

Acid treatment is commonly used to enhance the production capacity of wells drilled in carbonate deposits. However, field outcomes of this procedure may vary significantly. Current approaches to acid treatment design rely on advanced software tools that evaluate major acidizing factors. Machine learning is a valuable complement to the existing techniques: it facilitates the selection of target wells and aids in defining initial parameters for design engineering on reliable and effective software platforms. This study examines potential applications of machine learning in target selection based on the history of treatment outcomes influenced by the initial well conditions, operational conditions, treatment frequency, acid volumes, acid system types, pretreatment strategies, acid system diverters, and acid residence time. Acid treatment design requires complex laboratory work to investigate the kinetics of acid-rock interactions determined by the mineral composition of the rock formation and the chemical properties of the acid system, including the concentrations of its components. The problem of predicting the reaction kinetics of acid systems by processing an array of laboratory data using machine learning methods, specifically linear regression and random forest methods, was discussed. It was demonstrated that the incorporation of machine learning enables the development of robust decision-making algorithms that optimize acid treatment by considering its multifactorial effects. These algorithms significantly simplify the tasks of acid treatment design.

Novel amides of some amino and citric acids were synthesized and studied for their ability to improve the kinetics of carbon dioxide hydrate formation. It was demonstrated that these compounds can be effective promoters of hydrate formation, even at low concentrations. The addition of citric acid and norleucine amide (CTR+Nle) increased the water-to-hydrate conversion and significantly reduced the induction time. At a concentration of 0.05 wt. %, the conversion rate reached 57 ± 3 %, which is 21 and 3.1 % higher than in water without additives and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) solution, respectively. In the presence of CTR+Nle, the induction time decreased to 35 min, which is an 8.1-fold reduction compared to water without additives, as well as 5.8-fold less than with tryptophan solution known as a promoter of carbon dioxide hydrate formation.

Autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) is a chronic thyroid disorder wherein overstimulated CD4⁺T lymphocytes activate CD8⁺ cytotoxic T lymphocytes, thereby inducing Fas-mediated apoptosis of thyrocytes and reducing the hormonal activity of the thyroid gland. Recent studies suggest that autophagy, a process vital for maintaining cellular homeostasis through the degradation of damaged proteins and organelles in autolysosomes, is involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. This article examines autophagy in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and the expression of key autophagy proteins (Vps34, p62, and LC3) in patients with AIT. The number of autophagosomes in the cells was tracked and assessed using flow cytometry. The expression of the protein markers was measured by western blotting. It was demonstrated that the levels of Vps34, LC3-II, and p62 increased significantly in the lymphocytes of all patients with AIT. The high level of the autophagosome protein LC3-II correlated with that of the ubiquitin-binding protein p62, which may indicate a disruption in the late stage of autophagy, i.e., in the fusion of autophagosomes with lysosomes. Impaired autophagy promotes excessive accumulation of autophagosomes in the cytoplasm, which, in turn, triggers apoptotic or necrotic cell death. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of impaired autophagy in lymphocytes could be a promising avenue for slowing and limiting the damage associated with the onset and development of AIT.

Lysosomal storage diseases are a group of inherited disorders caused by lysosomal dysfunction, impairing cellular metabolic enzymes, signaling pathways, and other biological processes. Among them is metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) associated with arylsulfatase A (ARSA) deficiency, which leads to the accumulation of sulfatides and the destruction of myelin sheaths in the nervous system. This study evaluates the therapeutic efficacy of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) in treating neurodegenerative diseases such as MLD. The biodistribution and safety of AAV9-ARSA and AAVrh.10-ARSA vectors following prior immunization in pigs were shown. The immune aspects of AAV-based gene therapy were outlined. Its potential efficacy and durability limitations were discussed.

Using the JABOWA single-tree growth model, a program was designed to estimate carbon storage dynamics in the aboveground biomass of a mixed forest community. The developed model incorporates the parameters of tree species that are common to the forests of Central Russia: pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.), silver birch (Betula pendula Roth), common aspen (Populus tremula L.), small-leaved lime (Tilia cordata Mill.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.), and fir (Abies Mill.). A differential equation for tree diameter at breast height (D) was solved. The results were compared with the forest inventory data. The amount of carbon stored in the aboveground biomass of trees was calculated following the methodology suggested by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The dynamics of tree volume were analyzed. An analytical formula was proposed to describe the dependence of tree volume and stored carbon on tree age. The differences in the rates of tree volume growth and carbon accumulation were identified among the species studied. The analytical and numerical results on stored carbon and tree age showed a good agreement for a test plot with the known species composition and tree count, which is located within the forest part of the carbon polygon of Kazan Federal University. The formula offers an accurate estimation and prediction of carbon storage dynamics in mixed forest communities with trees varying in age and, hence, is a valuable tool for managing forestry activities. However, when predicting tree biomass growth and carbon storage dynamics, one should also consider forest site quality classes reflecting the actual growth conditions of trees. Developing a mathematical model based on forest site quality classes as a key variable would help increase the reliability of biomass growth and carbon storage predictions for forest communities. Notably, the obtained model applies to actual forest communities with known species composition and fails to account for natural regeneration. To incorporate this parameter, spatial diffusion models that describe forest regeneration in non-forest areas should be utilized.

This article summarizes the history of meteorological and climate research at Kazan University, spanning a period from 1812 to the present day. The distinguished contributions of Professor Adolph Theodor Kupffer to the establishment of Russia’s Hydrometeorological Service in 1834 were highlighted. Major achievements of the Kazan Meteorological School were analyzed, including those concerning global and regional climate change, circulation systems, as well as atmospheric dynamics and structure up to altitudes of 80 km. The influence of weather and climate factors on agriculture, wind industry, heating period, and public health was assessed. The observational data show that annual temperatures in Kazan have increased from 3.1 to 5.7 °C since 1871, with a rise in summer and winter temperatures from 18.1 to 19.7 °С and from –12.6 to –8.7 °C, respectively. The findings suggest that contemporary climate warming in Kazan began earlier (1946) compared to the general trend in the Northern Hemisphere (1970). The annual input of the Northern Hemisphere processes to temperature shifts in Kazan amounts to 63 %, with 27 % in summer and 43 % during winter. Using the CMIP6 climate projections based on anthropogenic factors as a driving force, future air temperature levels in Kazan throughout the 21st century were predicted.

The long-term trends in temperature and precipitation across the Middle Volga, Cis-Urals, and the whole of Russia were explored. A general warming trend in recent decades was revealed.

The efforts of Kazan meteorologists in advancing the understanding of large-scale atmospheric processes from the Earth’s surface up to 80 km were noted. The agroclimatic and biometeorological conditions of the Volga Federal District, the Republic of Tatarstan in particular, were described.