Experimental Factory of Scientific Engineering and Special Design Department

The Late Holocene stage of forest pedogenesis has been studied on the interfluves along river valleys in the forest-steppe zone of the Central Russian Upland. The development of gray forest soils from the former chernozems as a result of the Late Holocene advance of forest vegetation over steppes is discussed. It is argued that the climatic conditions of the Subatlantic period were unstable, so that multiple alternation of forest and steppe vegetation communities took place. This specified a complex character of soil evolution upon contrasting substitution of forest pedogenesis for steppe pedogenesis. On the interfluves near the natural drainage network (balkas, ravines, and steep slopes of river valleys), the climate-driven dynamics of forest and steppe vegetation with corresponding changes in the character of pedogenesis could take place during the entire Holocene, which is reflected in a lower thickness of humus profiles and deeper leaching of carbonates from chernozems of the Early Iron Age in comparison with their analogues formed under steppe cenoses in central parts of the interfluves. Two variants of the evolution of gray forest soils can be suggested: the pulsating evolution typical of balkas and interfluves near river valleys and the continuous progressive evolution typical of automorphic (plakor) positions in central parts of the interfluves.

Soil-archeological studies were performed in the area of the ancient Russian settlement Sorokino 1 dating back to the 13th century AD and located in the upper reaches of the Orlik River (Khotynets district, Orel oblast) within the natural zone of deciduous forests. Morphological, physical, and chemical properties of soils associated with the archeological monument and with the background area under the forest were analyzed. Phytolith spectra and the radiocarbon age of soil organic matter were determined in the paleosols of the archeological monument and in the background surface soils. A comparative analysis of the soil features—indicators of the environment—allowed us to determine and characterize the main stages of the formation of soils and landscapes under the influence of climate changes and anthropogenic factors. Climate-related alternation of the phases of steppe and forest development in the study area was revealed. Steppe conditions in the Boreal period of the Holocene were replaced by the spreading of deciduous forests in the Holocene Optimum (Middle Atlantic period). At the end of the Atlantic period, steppe landscapes reappeared in the area, which was reflected in the intensification of the activity of steppe burrowers (mole rats) in the soil profiles. Steppe formation in river valleys during the Medieval Climatic Optimum was replaced by the propagation of forests in the subsequent Little Ice Age. The analysis of phytolith complexes of different ages indicated that the forests growing in the studied area in the Late Holocene included both deciduous and coniferous trees and reflected cooler climatic conditions in comparison with the deciduous forests without conifers of the Atlantic Optimum. In the recent centuries of the active agricultural development, forests have been replaced by arable land and hayfields, which has led to the formation of chernozems in the areas previously occupied by dark gray forest soils (Luvic Greyzemic Phaeozems).

The Late Holocene stage of forest pedogenesis has been studied on the interfluves along river valleys in the forest-steppe zone of the Central Russian Upland. The development of gray forest soils from the former chernozems as a result of the Late Holocene advance of forest vegetation over steppes is discussed

Electron cyclotron resonance plasma system generated in a radially uniform magnetic field was used to produce a large area (15-20 cm diam) uniform plasma stream at 20-30 cm from the source output. The application of the ECR plasma for sub-100 nm T-shape gate of GaAs microwave transistor and microbridges of bolometric matrix was demonstrated.

This article overviews the contribution of a well known Russian archaeologist, A.D. Pryakhin, to research on the history of Russian archaeology of various periods, and shows the relationship between the topics studied by Pryakhin and his teaching activities. It is emphasized that Pryakhin both focused on the works of individual archaeologists and small-scale problems, and attempted to understand the trends in the development of the entire history of Russian archaeology. The article shows a distinctive aspect of Pryakhin's studies – their close link with the development of specific areas of archaeological research, most clearly manifested in his books and articles on the Bronze Age of the Eurasian steppes and forest-steppes, the emergence of archaeology in the region, and the study of southeastern frontiers of the Slavic world and Old Rus.

A method is proposed for producing a powdered combined reagent, including an aluminum-silicon coagulant-flocculant, a sorption material and an acidity regulator of treated wastewater, as well as using this reagent in the treatment system of multi-component urban wastewater treatment plants. It has been shown that the use of powdered reagents of various compositions ensures purification efficiency for suspended solids in the range from 66.1 to 94.1 %, and for COD – from 70.1 to 78.0 %.

Established the thickness of alluvium (loamy facia) on the segmental-maned and flattened floodplain of Voja-river near Bagramovo-village. Within the various morphological types of the floodplain, the presence of both relatively ancient and younger sites has been determined. Revealed spatial features of the distribution of the buried soils, their thickness in the profile, depth of occurrence. Showing the main features of the relief of the valley of Voja-river in the study area, the ratio of the width of the mainstream and floodplain, the presence of old channels, including significantly greater than the width of the modern channel of Voja-river.