Synthetic Nature Research Articles

Promoting Sustainable Investment Through Designing and Pricing Green Financial Derivatives

As climate change and environmental degradation escalate, the financial sector faces growing pressure to adopt sustainable practices. This paper examines designing and pricing of green financial derivatives and their role in promoting sustainable investment. Through references review and case studies, the study assesses the influence of regulatory frameworks like the EU's EIA Directive on the environmental integrity of green derivatives. The findings emphasize the crucial role of EIAs in ensuring that green financial products meet sustainability goals and highlight the increasing importance of ESG derivatives. However, the effectiveness of these derivatives is hindered by challenges such as their synthetic nature, lack of direct ownership of underlying assets, and complexities in ESG reporting. The study also identifies the need for traditional pricing models to evolve by incorporating sustainability factors, with advanced data analytics and technologies. In conclusion, robust regulatory frameworks, effective market incentives, and improved investor education are essential for promoting sustainable investment. Additionally, it is significant for public-private collaboration to scale sustainable finance initiatives and the integration of ESG criteria into financial decision-making to achieve both financial and sustainability objectives.

Modifiers for the preparation of starch composites under mechanochemical activation: An extended set of criteria

Modification of starch with synthetic polymers under mechanochemical activation is a convenient way to regulate the operational properties of composite materials. The widespread use of this approach is limited by the lack of data on the influence of synthetic polymer nature on the properties of starch and the absence of clear criteria for modifiers selection in the form of aqueous dispersions. To eliminate existing problems, the work proposes to use five integral criteria − polarity, hydrophilicity, and flexibility of synthetic modifiers, as well as particle size and ζ-potential of their aqueous dispersions. To achieve this goal, we studied the dielectric constant, contact angles, IR spectra, and dynamic mechanical properties of four acrylic copolymers and an aliphatic polyurethane. Using the mechanochemical activation, blends and composite films based on corn starch and synthetic modifiers (80:20) were manufactured. Methods of rotational viscometry, X-ray diffraction analysis, DMA, mechanical tests, and moisture permeability allowed us to reveal the influence of the modifier integral parameters on the rheological characteristics of the molding blends and the impact of joint mechanical activation on them, as well as on the crystal structure of the composites, their storage modulus, strength, and transport characteristics.

Artistic-Stylistic Search for Cinematic Expression and Hybrid Documentary: To the Question of Genealogy of Mockumentary

The purpose of article is to analyse the artistic-stylistic search for cinema expression in connection with the emergence of hybrid documentary as an audio-visual environment and a context for the development of mockumentary. Research methodology is based on the culturological approach that allowed us to expand the context of consideration of the problem genealogy of mockumentary and special-scientific methods of art history. Considering the synthetic nature of the researched phenomenon, the work is comprehensive and interdisciplinary. Without involving knowledge in philosophy, aesthetics, the theory of cinema and television is difficult to understand such multifaceted and complex phenomena, such as hybrid documentary and mockumentary. Scientific novelty of the research lies in the fact that for the first time, at the level of a single research, attention is focused on the role of artistic-stylistic searches for cinematic expressiveness and hybrid documentary in shaping the context of the formation of mockumentary as a genreform and phenomenon of audio-visual culture in the second half of the XX century. Conclusions. If is proved that they should not exclude the practice of embodying life material in a work of fiction and documentary, which is directly related to the stylistic search for cinematic expressiveness as an important determinant of the genealogy of mockumentary. It is affirmed that the advent of television convinced us that the mobility of the boundaries between the chronicle and the staged aspect is not limited to on-screen synthesis and experiments with form, but also refers to semantic hybridisation, which has led to the formation of various genreforms within television documentaries, such as mockumentaries, documentary drama, or “docudrama”. Genre mutations and convergent processes, which also encompassed hybrid documentaries, eventually led to the expansion of the documentary sphere towards the emergence of mixed forms as hybrids of the fiction, fictional and real spheres, i.e. the transformation of the artistic-aesthetic system of documentary led to the emergence of mockumentary as a fiction film with fictional content in documentary form in the audio-visual culture of the second half of the XX century.

Novel post-heat treatment green biodegradable PLA@SiO2 nanocomposite membrane for water desalination

Membrane distillation (MD) has received significant attention because of its energy efficiency and ability to treat industrial wastewater and salty water. However, the synthetic nature of commonly used membranes raises environmental disposal concerns, requiring the development of alternative eco-membranes. To address this issue, a novel, eco-friendly membrane using polylactic acid (PLA) coated with green silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs), modified by post-heat treatment, was developed for effective direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD). Herein, two nanofibrous membranes were fabricated via electrospinning/electrospraying: one, PLA, with a 12.5 wt% PLA solution, and another, PLA@SiO2, with 2 % (w/v) SiO2 NPs coating. The PLA@SiO2 membrane demonstrated enhanced hydrophobicity. Various post-heat treatments were applied to optimize membrane properties, such as structure, pore size, hydrophobicity, liquid entry pressure (LEP), thickness, and thermal stability. In addition, the desalination performance of all membranes was evaluated using a DCMD unit for 6 h. Results showed that the heat-pressed then annealed PLA@SiO2 membrane (denoted M44) exhibited notable improvements, including an LEP of 128.7 kPa, a tunable pore size of 0.21 μm, and a contact angle of 135.9°. Furthermore, the M44 membrane demonstrated a porosity of 80.5 %, a stable permeate flux of 14.3 kg.m−2.h−1, and an exceptional salt rejection of 99.99 % over a 24 h DCMD test. This novel eco-membrane shows promising potential for efficient desalination and represents a significant advancement in sustainable MD applications.

Evaluation of Turmeric extract for human spermatozoa morphology assessment in combination with haematoxylin

Introduction: This study aims to assess the effectiveness of utilising Turmeric extract as a sustainable alternative to synthetic Eosin dye in the commonly employed Haematoxylin and Eosin (H and E) staining method for analysing human spermatozoa morphology. While H and E staining yields high-quality results, the synthetic nature of Eosin raises concerns about its environmental impact. By exploring the use of Turmeric extract as a substitute, this research aims to provide a more eco-friendly solution without compromising the staining quality. Method: A solution of Turmeric extract, comprising 15 grams per 100 ml, is formulated using 70% alcohol. This alcoholic extract is substituted for Eosin in the process of H and E staining. In the experiments, two sets of semen smears are prepared. One set is subjected to H and E staining, while the other set undergoes staining with Haematoxylin and Turmeric (H and T). The quality of staining on each slide is assessed based on various parameters, including the background of the smear, as well as the distinct sections of the sperm, namely the head, neck, body, and tail. Result and conclusion: Turmeric confers a unique coloration to the stained spermatozoa, yielding a vivid and distinguishable visual effect that contrasts with the conventional pink staining achieved through the use of Eosin. In both staining techniques, the morphology of the spermatozoa is clearly observable and distinguishable, albeit with Eosin providing enhanced contrast and sharpness. The exceptional staining capacity of Turmeric paves the path for the exploration of natural alternatives to supplant synthetic dyes.

Re-evaluating Affixes and Clitics in Munda Multi-verb Constructions

Languages from the same genetic lineage often exhibit differences in certain parameters, but significant variation in their morphological typology is uncommon. Austroasiatic languages present a notable paradox, where Munda languages are categorized as polysynthetic, while Mon-Khmer languages are considered isolating. This contrast within the same linguistic family, with both sub-branches occupying opposite ends of the synthesis continuum, is particularly intriguing. This paper aims to explore whether the morphological disparity between Munda and Mon-Khmer languages can be reconciled by examining specific bound elements in Munda languages that contribute to their synthetic characteristics. The study conducts a detailed analysis of numerous bound elements in Munda languages, comparing these to similar structures in Mon-Khmer languages. The focus is on understanding whether these bound markers are better classified as clitics rather than affixes, especially in the context of multi-verb constructions. The analysis suggests that many bound elements in Munda languages are more likely to be clitics rather than affixes. The study specifically investigates phrase-level affixation involving multi-verbs, concluding that when these markers attach at the phrase level, they should be considered clitics. This study sheds light on the synthetic nature of Munda languages within the Austroasiatic family, arguing for a reclassification of certain bound markers as clitics rather than affixes, particularly in multi-verb constructions. This reclassification could help reconcile the typological differences observed between Munda and Mon-Khmer languages.

From Waste to Wonder: Leveraging Rust Dyeing and Eco-Printing for Modern Sustainable Textiles

In rust dyeing, rusted objects are repurposed to transfer unique patterns and earthy tones onto fabric, transforming what might be considered waste into beautiful, sustainable works of art. This study investigates the combined effects of rust dyeing and eco-printing on different fabric types—cotton, modal, viscose, and polyester. Rust dyeing was performed using rusted iron nails to impart earthy tones of brown and orange to the fabrics. Following the dyeing process, eco-printing was carried out using Psidium guajava (guava) leaves that were pre-mordanted with a ferrous sulphate solution. The colourfastness, pattern quality, and overall appearance of the rust-dyed fabrics post eco-printing was assessed. Results revealed that rust dyeing produced distinct shades on each fabric type, with cotton and modal showing the most pronounced colour retention and eco-print detail. Viscose exhibited moderate colour absorption, while polyester showed limited dye adhesion and eco-print definition. The study concludes that while rust dyeing and subsequent eco-printing can effectively enhance the aesthetic qualities of natural and regenerated cellulosic fabrics, polyester's synthetic nature poses challenges in achieving vibrant and durable impressions. The findings provide insights into optimizing eco-printing techniques for diverse fabric types and contribute to the broader understanding of sustainable textile processes. By embracing the unpredictability of nature, artists and designers can create one-of-a-kind designs that reflect the textures, shapes, and hues found in the environment. These eco-friendly approaches not only reduce reliance on synthetic dyes but also transform everyday materials, often considered waste, into beautiful works of art.

Synthesis of In Situ Marine Calcium Carbonate Dissolution Kinetic Measurements in the Water Column

AbstractCalcium carbonate (CaCO3) dissolution is an integral part of the ocean's carbon cycle. However, laboratory measurements and ocean alkalinity budgets disagree on the rate and loci of dissolution. In situ dissolution studies can help to bridge this gap, but so far published studies have not been utilized as a whole because they have not previously been compiled into one data set and lack carbonate system data to compare between studies. Here, we compile all published measurements of CaCO3 dissolution rates in the water column (11 studies, 752 data points). Combining World Ocean Atlas data (temperature, salinity) with the neural network CANYON‐B (carbonate system variables), we estimate seawater saturation state (Ω) for each rate measurement. We find that dissolution rates at the same Ω vary by 2 orders of magnitude. Using a machine learning approach, we show that while Ω is the main driver of dissolution rate, most variability can be attributed to differences in experimental design, above all bias due to (diffusive) transport and the synthetic or biogenic nature of CaCO3. The compiled data set supports previous findings of a change in the mechanism driving dissolution at Ωcrit = 0.8 that separates two distinct dissolution regimes: rslow = 0.29 · (1 − Ω)0.68(±0.16) mass% day−1 and rfast = 2.95 · (1 − Ω)2.2(±0.2) mass% day−1. Above the saturation horizon, one study shows significant dissolution that cannot solely be explained by established theories such as zooplankton grazing and organic matter degradation. This suggests that other, non‐biological factors may play a role in shallow dissolution.

Cultivating resilience: Harnessing pyoverdine-producing Pseudomonas to contrast iron deficiency in cucumber plants

Iron (Fe) deficiency in crops significantly reduces yield, impacting agricultural productivity worldwide. Synthetic Fe chelates are commonly applied as fertilizers to address this issue, but their synthetic nature and prolonged use poses environmental risks. Thus, inoculation of plant growth-promoting bacteria rises as an alternative to enhance Fe uptake in crops while minimizing reliance on synthetic chelates. This study aimed to examine the influence of Pseudomonas RMC4 inoculation and pyoverdine application on cucumber plants cultivated hydroponically under Fe deficiency conditions. Evaluations included the SPAD index, plant biomass, root morphology, Fe-chelate reductase activity, gene expression, and ionomic analysis. Following Fe deficiency, Pseudomonas RMC4 inoculation improved the SPAD index, increased dry weight, enhanced root development, and facilitated Fe acquisition mechanisms, thus, fostering the endogenous resilience of the plant to the limited Fe availability. This improvement was observed with bacterial inoculation or pyoverdine application alongside an insoluble Fe source (ferrihydrite). Overall, the results suggest the beneficial impact of Pseudomonas RMC4 inoculation in alleviating symptoms of Fe deficiency. Future studies will investigate bacterial application under field conditions to assess its potential in replacing synthetic Fe-chelates fertilizers in crop production in favor of more sustainable agriculture.

What to monitor? Microplastics in a freshwater lake – From seasonal surface water to bottom sediments

Marine microplastics have received considerable attention, and efforts are underway to develop standardised methods for sampling, sample treatment, and analysis, while the observation of freshwater ecosystems remains relatively overlooked. To address this understudied environment, we present a comprehensive case study on microplastics in an urban lake from Baltic region of Northern Europe covering the seasonal dynamics of microplastics in surface water, deposition rate throughout one year in sediment traps and distribution of microplastics in dated sediment archive to determine the most representative environmental compartment for microplastic pollution monitoring. The following well-established microplastic research methods have been used: Manta trawling for surface water, trapping for assessing microplastics sedimentation rate and coring for sediments. Attenuated total reflection and micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy methods were used to investigate the synthetic nature of identified particles. The sediment core chronology was based on 210Pb and Bayesian Plum model revealing sediment layers to represent even the time before the beginning of plastic mass production (approximately 1950). The surface water microplastic concentrations were higher in summer (5.71 particles/m3) and gradually decreased towards winter (0.75 particles/m3); they were almost 25 times higher in more recent (2018) sediments than in the deeper layers referring to years prior to 1890. Surprisingly, microplastic particles were found in sediments before the year 1950. The microplastic deposition rate was 9.47 particles/cm2/year or 4.31 µg/cm2/year. The most abundant polymers were polyethylene, polystyrene and polypropylene, and the prominent particle shapes were fibres in surface water and fragments in sediments. Our results provide a baseline for evaluating future contamination level changes in highly urbanized area. We recommend the combination of surface water filtering with net and sediment trapping methods for monitoring microplastics in lakes since this method requires little time and financial resources for sampling and processing and produces information on temporal microplastic occurrence and deposition.

Utility of synthetic electrospun fiber matrix in general surgery: From head to toe

BackgroundTo highlight the role of a novel synthetic electrospun fiber matrix in the treatment of high-risk wounds across a range of etiologies. MethodsThis was a retrospective study of patients at a single institution who underwent complex wound care treatment with at least 1 application of the electrospun fiber matrix from January 2021 to December 2022. Information regarding patient demographics, wound size and etiologies, pertinent medical history, and treatment outcomes was collected. ResultsTwenty-one patients with 24 complex wounds who received synthetic electrospun fiber matrix treatment were identified. Nineteen patients (22 wounds) met the inclusion criteria for analysis. Patient mean age was 63.58 ± 15.20 (range 34–90) years. A wide range of wound etiologies was represented, including transmetatarsal amputation secondary to frostbite (n = 1), post-Mohs defect (n = 2), acute trauma (n = 3), surgical dehiscence (n = 3), infected implanted medical device (n = 2), chronic ulcers (n = 3), partial ray resection (n = 1), pilonidal cyst (n = 1), rattlesnake bite (n = 1), necrotizing soft-tissue infection (n = 1), and others (n = 2). A total of 17 of 19 (89.5%) patients were observed to meet their individual clinical goals after application of the wound matrix. Wound ages ranged from 1 to 429 days before initial synthetic electrospun fiber matrix application. ConclusionThe synthetic nature of the matrix limits the risk of inflammatory response and is well tolerated, which demonstrates initial proof of concept of synthetic electrospun fiber matrix treatment in a variety of complex wounds. The positive results observed across this mixed etiology surgical analysis should be replicated in future controlled, single-etiology studies to further confirm the utility of the electrospun fiber matrix in the surgical setting.

Uncertainty-aware deep learning for monitoring and fault diagnosis from synthetic data

Deep neural networks (DNNs) are often coupled with physics-based and data-driven models to perform fault detection and health monitoring. The system models serve as digital surrogates that generate large quantities of data for training DNNs which would otherwise be difficult to obtain from the real-life system. In such a scenario, the uncertainty in the system model and in the DNN parameters will influence the predictions of the DNN. Here, we quantify the impact of this uncertainty on the performance of DNNs. The uncertainty from the system model is captured with two methods, namely assumed density filtering and heteroskedastic modelling. In addition to quantification, these methods allow training DNNs in an uncertainty-aware manner. The uncertainty in the DNN parameters is captured with Monte Carlo dropout. The proposed approach is demonstrated for fault diagnosis of electric power lines. Data generated from a physics-based model calibrated with real-life measurements is used to train three neural network architectures for fault diagnosis. The results reveal that uncertainty-aware models can provide 1% to 19% improvement in classification accuracy than their deterministic counterparts. The uncertainty-aware models also exhibit better robustness to uncertainty and, thus, offer more reliable models for deployment. Remarkably, the article provides a system-agnostic framework for uncertainty-aware training of DNN models for fault diagnosis and monitoring that explicitly accounts for the synthetic nature of training data.

Emerging pollutant in surface water bodies: a review on monitoring, analysis, mitigation measures and removal technologies of micro-plastics.

Water bodies play a crucial role in supporting life, maintaining the environment, and preserving the ecology for the people of India. However, in recent decades, human activities have led to various alterations in aquatic environments, resulting in environmental degradation through pollution. The safety of utilizing surface water sources for drinking and other purposes has come under intense scrutiny due to rapid population growth and industrial expansion. Surface water pollution due to micro-plastics (MPs) (plastics < 5mm in size) is one of the emerging pollutants in metropolitan cities of developing countries because of its utmost resilience and synthetic nature. Recent studies on the surface water bodies (river, pond, Lake etc.) portrait the correlation between the MPs level with different parameters of pollution such as specific conductivity, total phosphate, and biological oxygen demand. Fibers represent the predominant form of MPs discovered in surface water bodies, exhibiting fluctuations across seasons. Consequently, present study prioritizes understanding the adaptation, prevalence, attributes, fluctuations, and spatial dispersion of MPs in both sediment and surface water environments. Furthermore, the study aims to identify existing gaps in the current understanding and underscore opportunities for future investigation. From the present study, it has been reported that, the concentration of MPs in the range of 0.2-45.2 items/L at the Xisha Islands in the south China sea, whereas in India it was found in the range of 96 items/L in water samples and 259 items/kg in sediment samples. This would certainly assist the urban planners in achieving sustainable development goals to mitigate the increasing amount of emergent pollutant load.

A round-robin study on the tensile characterization of single fibres: A multifactorial analysis and recommendations for more reliable results

In this benchmark, the tensile properties of three types of organic fibres – flax, hemp and aramid − were determined using single-fibre tensile tests performed by nine research groups. Flax and hemp were chosen due to their prevalence among European fibre plants. Aramid was selected for its synthetic nature and comparable dimensional properties. Due to the morphological complexity and variability of plant fibres, the scatter in the apparent tangent modulus and strength is more pronounced for flax and hemp compared to aramid. The primary source of scatter in the tensile properties results from human factors and experimental procedures, particularly regarding the fibre selection, the measurement of the fibre cross-sectional area and of the tensile strain. The post-processing procedure also turns out to be a key factor. Finally, recommendations and guidelines for best practices are proposed to reduce the main sources of dispersion associated with the reproducibility of single fibre tensile tests.

Environment friendly MOF-MoS2 composite for Cr(VI) and Pb(II) capture from paint industry wastewater: sequestration, regeneration and toxicity

Treatment of paint industry wastewater is challenging due to the presence of interfering ions, tertiary organics and radical species beyond acceptable levels. Further, the synthetic nature of adsorbent poses a risk in post-adsorption waste disposal due to hightened chances of environmental damage or toxicity. Therefore, this reported study focuses on the development of an ecofriendly heterogeneous composite by hydrothermal process using Iron-terephthalic acid (BDC), Metal-organic framework (MOF), and Molybdenum disulphide (MoS2)-together named Fe(BDC)-MoS2. This composite was tested for adsorption of Cr(VI) available in paint industry effluent wastewater (PW). The characterization of the Fe(BDC)-MoS2 using SEM, XRD, XPS, FTIR, revealed resilient formation of the composite. The maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) for Cr(VI) was 116.36 mg/g at 1.0 g/L Fe(BDC)-MoS2 dose at pH 5.13. Fe(BDC)-MoS2 readily adsorbed Cr(VI) from PW with ∼ 99.99 % effecieny. Significant reduction in the co-existing cations (e.g., Ni2+, Mn3+, Al3+, Cu2+, Co2+, Pb2+, and Zn2+) and anions (e.g. Chloride, Sulfate, and Nitrate) was also observed. The reusability study demonstrated a drop in adsorption efficiency by about 25 % after 4 consecutive cycles. The toxicity study on the human cervical epithelial (HeLa) cells at 50 μg/m Fe(BDC)-MoS2 dose showed cell viability of 95, while at 250 μg/Ml, it was 26.5 %. Overall, this study demonstrated Fe(BDC)-MoS2 as an ecofriendly and viable adsorbent for treating industrial wastewater.

Aligning paleobiological research with conservation priorities using elasmobranchs as a model

AbstractHumans have dramatically transformed ecosystems over the previous millennia and are potentially causing a mass extinction event comparable to the others that shaped the history of life. However, only a fraction of these impacts has been directly recorded, limiting conservation actions. Conservation paleobiology leverages geohistorical records to offer a long-term perspective on biodiversity change in the face of anthropogenic stressors. Nevertheless, the field's on-the-ground contributions to conservation outcomes are still developing. Here, we present an overview of directions in which paleobiological research could progress to aid conservation in the coming decades using elasmobranchs (sharks, rays, and skates)—a highly threatened group with a rich fossil record—as a model. These research directions are guided by areas of overlap between an expert-led list of current elasmobranch conservation priorities and available fossil and historical records. Four research topics emerged for which paleobiological research could address open questions in elasmobranch science and conservation: (1) baselines, (2) ecological roles, (3) threats, and (4) conservation priorities. Increasingly rich datasets and novel analytical frameworks present exciting opportunities to apply the elasmobranch fossil record to conservation practice. A similar approach could be extended to other clades. Given the synthetic nature of these research topics, we encourage collaboration across timescales and with conservation practitioners to safeguard the future of our planet's rapidly disappearing species.

“This kind of life has no meaning”

“This kind of life has no meaning”

Generative adversarial networks for anonymous acneic face dataset generation.

It is well known that the performance of any classification model is effective if the dataset used for the training process and the test process satisfy some specific requirements. In other words, the more the dataset size is large, balanced, and representative, the more one can trust the proposed model's effectiveness and, consequently, the obtained results. Unfortunately, large-size anonymous datasets are generally not publicly available in biomedical applications, especially those dealing with pathological human face images. This concern makes using deep-learning-based approaches challenging to deploy and difficult to reproduce or verify some published results. In this paper, we propose an efficient method to generate a realistic anonymous synthetic dataset of human faces, focusing on attributes related to acne disorders at three distinct levels of severity (Mild, Moderate, and Severe). Notably, our approach initiates from a small dataset of facial acne images, leveraging generative techniques to augment and diversify the dataset, ensuring comprehensive coverage of acne severity levels while maintaining anonymity and realism in the synthetic data. Therefore, a specific hierarchy StyleGAN-based algorithm trained at distinct levels is considered. Moreover, the utilization of generative adversarial networks for augmentation offers a means to circumvent potential privacy or legal concerns associated with acquiring medical datasets. This is attributed to the synthetic nature of the generated data, where no actual subjects are present, thereby ensuring compliance with privacy regulations and legal considerations. To evaluate the performance of the proposed scheme, we consider a CNN-based classification system, trained using the generated synthetic acneic face images and tested using authentic face images. Consequently, we show that an accuracy of 97.6% is achieved using InceptionResNetv2. As a result, this work allows the scientific community to employ the generated synthetic dataset for any data processing application without restrictions on legal or ethical concerns. Moreover, this approach can also be extended to other applications requiring the generation of synthetic medical images.

Aptasensors for the Detection of Environmental Contaminants of High Concern in Water Bodies: A Systematic Review

With the advancement of technology and increasing industrial activity, anthropogenic contaminants are currently detected where there is no record of their presence or insufficient information about their toxicological impact. Consequently, there are not sufficiently robust local or global regulations, the ecotoxicological and human health risks are critical, and they may not be routinely monitored despite being ubiquitous. The interest in studying environmental contaminants, including micropollutants and emerging contaminants, in complex environmental water samples has grown in the last decade. Due to the concentrations in which they are typically found in the environment and the rapid global dispersion, the detection procedures for these substances must be capable of measuring very low concentrations. Many efforts have been made to improve remediation procedures or develop novel analytical methods for their determination. Although there are several robust and reliable standard analytical techniques for their monitoring, pollutant contamination requires simple and inexpensive methods for massive, in situ monitoring campaigns. In this regard, biosensors have emerged as devices with high selectivity, sensitivity, easy operation, and short analysis times. Aptasensors are biosensors based on a nucleic acid recognition element (aptamer). Due to their synthetic nature, stability, and easy production, aptamers are frequently employed to develop bioassays. This work presents a systematic review of the trends in using aptasensors for detecting environmental contaminants present in environmental water samples, as well as the estimation of the potential technological contribution these devices might give to environmental monitoring.

The synthetic nature of N. Lvov’s lyrical works in the focus of the “holiday” concept

This article examines the embodiment features of the dialogue of arts in N. Lvov’s creative heritage (1753-1803) based on the lyrical works of the writer intended for vocal performance (“Winter” (1796), “Duets. To the Music of Zhirdini Printed in London” (1791), “Words to the Finished Music of Seidelman. Duet” (1793), “A Song for Gypsy Dancing” (1789). The research uses the biographical, historical-functional and historical-typological methods. In the course of the study, we found that the synthesis of arts is a semantic and formative element. The writer managed to combine the literary code with the genome of a number of other, sometimes even antonymous, fields of art, which ultimately contributed to the creation of a unique work whose hallmark is eclecticism. Thus, through the active use of the musical art code in his work, N. Lvov managed not only to integrate two areas of art, but also to create a qualitatively new format of musical and literary art with powerful aesthetic potential. A clear example of this is his lyrical work with the concise title “Winter” (1796). In addition, as the analysis showed, the writer managed to organically introduce the festive concept of pagan extraction into the work, in many respects this is due to the genre nature of the text. Realizing the multiplicity of contact points between literature and painting, Lvov sought to develop various mechanisms of rapprochement. For example, he used the tools of fine art when creating the verbal fabric of a poetic text, thanks to which his poetic works acquired a special color and picturesqueness. We can observe this phenomenon in the “Duet. To the Music of Zhirdini Printed in London” (1791) and in “Words to the Finished Music of Seidelman” (1793). Being an innovator, N. Lvov made an attempt to combine various types of art – dynamic (literature) and spatial-temporal (choreography). An example of this kind of experiment is his “A Song for Gypsy Dancing” in whose genome the festive motif characteristic of N. Lvov’s work is traced again.