Modeling with Advanced Engineering Applications: The Overview of CI MATH 4990, the Propagation of Heat along the Human Arm in Electric Arc Phenomenon

This creative inquiry seeks to educate students of all STEM majors in the development of mathematical models of physical phenomenon using a multi-disciplinary approach to examining the physical phenomenon behind the propagation of heat through the human arm by means of the electric arc phenomenon. With an end goal of effectively modeling this phenomenon, the creative inquiry involves students of all majors while increasing research, presentation, and mathematical skills in areas directly related to their course of study

Application of excilamps in agriculture and animal breeding (review)

The paper provides a review of research data on applications of XeCl excilamps in agriculture and animal breeding. The data demonstrate a favorable effect of radiation produced by the excilamps on the fertility of animals (outbred mice and pigs) and on the growth of plants (flaxes, potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, conifers). Excilamp models adapted specially for use in stock-raising and grain storage complexes are now available. The research data obtained in 2012-2015 suggest that XeCl excilamps hold promise for prevention of diseases in indoor-housed pigs and for pre-sowing seed preparation

The Hereditary Approach to Time Dependent Modeling with Fractional Exponential Function

For polymer based composites, the creep and relaxation parameters are examined using the hereditary approach to time dependent mechanical behavior. Specifically, methods of optimization are utilized to determine the optimal parameter estimates for the fractional exponential functions. The relative advantages of the Rabatnov kernel over the Abel kernel have been examined. Finally, the results of this parameter estimation using the Rabatnov kernel (i.e. fractional exponential) are compared to results obtained from experimental data

Cardiovascular pathology in patients with newly diagnosed tuberculosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Introduction. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cardiovascular diseases (arterial hypertension, ischemic heart disease, chronic heart failure) are among the comorbid conditions that mutually aggravate each other. The addition of tuberculosis in this category of patients requires additional efforts from the doctor to improve treatment outcomes.Purpose. Тo assess the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease and chronic heart failure in patients with newly diagnosed tuberculosis hospitalized in an anti-tuberculosis hospital.Materials and methods. We examined 462 patients with newly diagnosed tuberculosis, hospitalized in a tuberculosis dispensary, aged 17 to 88 years, the median (Me (P25; 75) age was 43.68 (32.00; 54.00) years, including 266 men (57.6%) and 196 women (42.4%) All patients underwent clinical, laboratory, instrumental examination to establish or confirm the diagnosis.Results. The incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among patients with newly diagnosed tuberculosis was 31.4%, with arterial hypertension – 12.1%, coronary heart disease – 6.1%, chronic heart failure – 6.1%. The incidence of cardiovascular pathology in the group of tuberculosis + chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was 40%, in the group of tuberculosis without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 6%.Conclusions. The prevalence of comorbid cardiovascular pathology in patients with tuberculosis + chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is significantly higher than among patients with only tuberculosis, which requires the involvement of doctors of various specialties to manage this category of patients to prevent adverse treatment outcomes, disability and mortality

Biochemical characterization of peroxidases from the moss Dicranum scoparium

© 2018 South African Association of Botanists Mosses are a convenient model to study stress responses of plants because of their remarkable stress tolerance. Peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7) activities were tested in three moss species, namely Dicranum scoparium, Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi growing together in the same location in a boreal forest. Peroxidase activity in D. scoparium was twice as high as in other mosses. Total peroxidase activity in unstressed D. scoparium was constitutively high; furthermore, long-term desiccation caused a significant increase in activity after 48 h of drying. Interestingly, when thalli desiccated for a week were rapidly rehydrated, peroxidase activity initially declined and then increased after 2 h rehydration. Diverse anionic and cationic isoforms were detected by native isoelectric focusing and PAGE of both crude extracts and partially purified peroxidases. The ability of peroxidases from D. scoparium to produce superoxide radical (O2•−) was confirmed using the 2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) reduction assay and in-gel nitroblue tetrazolium chloride (NBT) staining; specific O2•−producing isoforms were revealed using 2D electrophoresis. Given a quinone and chelated Fe3+D. scoparium could produce extracellular hydroxyl radical (•OH), and production was increased by desiccation/rehydration stress. The possible roles of peroxidases and quinone reductases in apoplastic•OH production is discussed. Our data demonstrate that D. scoparium possesses high constitutive peroxidase activity that can be further increased by desiccation stress. Among the diverse moss peroxidases, some anionic isoforms displayed both pro- and antioxidative activities. These findings suggest that the ability of peroxidases to produce and detoxify reactive oxygen species is an evolutionarily ancient characteristic, important for plant stress tolerance

Presowing XeCl excilamp irradiation of crops: field research and prospects

Here we present research data demonstrating how crop seeds response to ultraviolet produced by a barrier-discharge XeCl* excilamp with a wavelength of 290–320 nm (82–88 %). The data show that presowing ultraviolet treatment is stimulatory to seed germination and plant growth. Ultraviolet treatment increases the seed germinability by 20–30 % and the plant fresh weight by 54 %, compared to untreated control samples, and provides a developed root system with long twisted segments. The research results are encouraging for upgrading the UV technology to larger-scale seed irradiation

Characteristics of the existing methods for the production of carotenoids from vegetable raw materials and secondary resources of its processing

Carotenoids, in particular, beta-carotene and lycopene, have high antioxidant properties and are used to prevent and treat various diseases associated with human aging. The search for new or intensification of the existing methods of their preparation from plant raw materials and the secondary resources of its processing is relevant due to the high demand for carotenoids in the food, cosmetic and pharmacological industries. The purpose of the research is to analyze the patent information for determining the most optimal and promising directions in the technology of obtaining carotenoids from vegetable raw materials. The main method of obtaining carotenoids from vegetable raw materials and secondary resources of its processing is their extraction using organic solvents. Domestic and foreign scientists have been conducting scientific research in the field of intensification of the process of extraction of carotenoids from vegetable raw materials and secondary resources of its processing in order to increase the environmental safety of the technological process and the quality of the product obtained. Various technical solutions have been proposed on pre-processing of the feedstock using ultrasound (US) effects and microwave radiation, as well as enzymes and enzyme preparations for carotenoids. Analysis of foreign and domestic patent information has shown that studies in the field of integrated use of physical (ultrasound and microwave radiation) and biotechnological (enzymes and enzyme preparations) of pretreatment of the initial raw materials are most promising to increase the efficiency of the extraction of carotenoids from vegetable raw materials and secondary resources of its recycling

Cellular Growth in Aerial Roots Differs From That in Typical Substrate Roots

Background and Aims: In the roots of most vascular plants, the growth zone is small, the meristem and the elongation zone are sharply separated, and only meristematic cells divide. This statement is based almost entirely on studies with soil-rooted plants. Whether aerial roots of structurally dependent (=epiphytic/hemiepiphytic) species differ is virtually unexplored. Methods: Growth of aerial roots in 20 structurally dependent plant species from eight families was studied ex situ. In 12 species, we studied the anatomical structure and distribution of cortex cell lengths and rhizoderm in the growth zone. Key Results: All the studied aerial roots had an open apical meristem, and mitoses were not restricted to the meristem. In contrast to belowground roots, relative growth rate did not strongly increase upon transition to the elongation zone, while elongating growth was often prolonged. Still, the relative growth rate was lower than in belowground roots in soil, and in different species, it did not change considerably compared to each other. Conclusions: A distinct elongation zone with rapid cell growth was missing in the studied aerial roots. Rather, there was a growth zone in which division, growth, and differentiation co-occurred. We observed a generally low relative growth rate in aerial roots and a surprisingly similar initial growth pattern in spite of the diversity in taxonomy and ecology, which resembled initial cellular growth in leaves, stems, and fleshy dicotyledonous fruit.This work was supported by the Federal budget of Russian Federation, Grant to support for the creation and development of a World-Class Scientific Center Agrotechnologies for the Future, Project No. 075-15-2022-322 date 22.04.2022 and accordance with Institutional Research Project No. 122042700002-6 at the Unique Scientific Installation Fund Greenhouse. Also, the work was supported by MSU Contract #121032500089-1. In this work we used a microscope purchased under the program of modernization of scientific equipment of St. Petersburg State University No. 1.40.541.2017

Algorithm for the development of enriched bakery products using food additives

The problem of health saving of the Russian population is one of the key problems that cannot be solved without the development of functional foods, which include fortified foods, and their systematic use as part of diets of different age groups of the population. The development of fortified food products, and, above all, bakery products with food additives is the most promising direction in the field of creating functional food products. The algorithm for the development of enriched bakery products food additives has been proposed considering the importance of the problem of health saving of the Russian population of different age groups by enriching traditional bakery products with food additives, which are essential food and are in stable demand of the population, allowing for their systematic use to correct nutritional deficiencies in the diet, and therefore reduce the risk of socially significant diseases. The algorithm for the development of enriched bakery products with the use of food additives provides for the implementation of several stages, including the scientific justification of the choice of a food additive for enriching a traditional bakery product; the rationale for choosing the recipe of a traditional bakery product for its enrichment with a food additive; the scientific justification of the effective dosage of a food additive for its inclusion in the recipe of a traditional bakery product; development of the formulation and technological modes of the production processes of a bakery product enriched with a food additive; study of the consumer properties of the developed enriched bakery product and its effectiveness when consumed by the population of different age groups; assessment of the competitive potential of the developed enriched bakery product compared with traditional bakery product; development of technical documentation: technical specifications, RC and TI for the production of enriched bakery product. The implementation of the proposed algorithm will make it possible to create enriched bakery products with the use of food additives, the systematic use of which will ensure the normalization of the nutritional status of the Russian population, and therefore will contribute to health conservation

Investigation of the efficiency of the application of modified vegetable oil lecithins for the creation of encapsulated forms of micronutrients in the form of nanoemulsions

Micro- and nanoemulsions are promising systems for encapsulating micronutrients for food enrichment. For the formation of stable nanoemulsions, it is advisable to use natural emulsifiers – modified lecithins of vegetable oils. The aim of the research is to study the effectiveness of the use of modified lecithins of vegetable oils to create encapsulated forms of micronutrients in the form of nanoemulsions. Emulsions have been obtained using the method of ultrasonic exposure with the use of fat-free vegetable lecithins and their alcohol-soluble fractions as emulsifiers. It has been found that the particle size of emulsions formed by fat-free lecithins is significantly higher compared to the emulsions formed by their alcohol-soluble fractions. It has been revealed that emulsions formed by alcohol-soluble fractions of lecithins are more resistant to delamination. It is shown that alcohol-soluble fractions of vegetable lecithins with a PH content from 75.0 to 76.0% have the highest emulsifying properties, which makes it possible to obtain physically stable nanoemulsions with an average particle size of the dispersed phase less than 100 nm. Thus, modified lecithins of vegetable oils, namely, alcohol-soluble fractions of lecithins are highly effective encapsulating agents for creating encapsulated forms of micronutrients in the form of nanoemulsions