Efficiency of Vehicle Operation

The paper presents the results of researching the mileage of vehicle efficient operation (MVEO) based on the method of using the techno-economic criterion (TEC). As a result of our work, we have defined and substantiated the MVEO for motor vehicles operated in the conditions of St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region, and calculated the lifetime of motor vehicles with the use of the techno-economic criterion. In defining MVEO and in the use of the techno-economic criterion an important role was played by complexity of running repair (RR) of the rolling stock not regulated by the manufacturers of vehicles of these brands. It has been found that the value of MVEO is influenced by a number of various factors, for example: efficiency of the production-technical base, qualification of the personnel, operating conditions (road, transport, etc.), and the level of instrumentation. Each of them has its specific weight in the MVEO value, but using the work load of RR parameter is explained by its complexity, and all these factors influence its value in varying degree. Keywords: mileage of vehicle efficient operation; techno-economic criterion; vehicle efficient operation. JEL Classifications: L62, L91, R49

Effectiveness of Growth-regulator Energy-M By Seedlings of Tomatoes in Strict Arid Conditions of the Low Volga Region

The complicated conditions of the modern period of intensification of agricultural production cause the necessity in the development of new technologies adapted to current conditions of land use. Thereby we have developed the concept of “The system of technological measures for growing of vegetable cultures providing the rational effective use of material and energy resources and getting of economically profitable yields”. The paper presents the results of research on the effectiveness of growth-regulator for getting of high-quality yield of tomatoes. It was approved that the organosilicone product Energy-M stimulated plants‘ growth and development, and increased the productivity of tomatoes in strict arid conditions of the Low Volga region. The object of research was the tomato grade Hercules. The highest yields of tomatoes with the formation of big quantity of large fruits with pretty good eating characteristics were harvested when planting of the grade Hercules on the site with pre-sowing treatment of seeds and foliar nutrition of plants during the initial period of growth and the phase of budding-blossom. The application of the growth-regulator Energy-M on tomato sowings is an effective measure. The producers of high-quality vegetable production are recommended to use the said product widely when sufficient mineral nutrition by moistening of the seeds prior to sowing and by the treatment of the plants during the whole vegetation period

Virioplankton and virus-induced mortality of prokaryotes in the Kara Sea (Arctic) in summer

Among the Arctic seas, the largest volume of river runoff (~45% of the total river-water inflow into the Arctic Ocean) enters the Siberian Kara Sea. The viral communities of the Kara Sea are important for the functioning of the marine ecosystem. Studies of virus–prokaryote interactions on the Kara Sea shelf have been conducted only in spring and autumn. Here, we investigated the abundance of free viruses, viruses attached to prokaryotes, and pico-sized detrital particles; the morphology (shape and size) of the viruses, viral infection and virus-mediated mortality of prokaryotes in early summer, i.e., during a seasonal ice melting period and maximum inflow of river-water volumes with high concentrations of dissolved and suspended organic carbon. Seawater samples for microbial analyses were collected across the Kara Sea shelf zone on board the Norilskiy Nickel as a research platform from June 29 to July 15, 2018. Abundances of prokaryotes (range (0.6–25.3) × 105 cells mL−1) and free viruses (range (10–117) × 105 viruses mL−1) were correlated (r = 0.63, p = 0.005) with an average virus: prokaryote ratio of 23.9 ± 5.3. The abundance of free viruses and viral-mediated mortality of prokaryotes were significantly higher in early summer than in early spring and autumn. Free viruses with a capsid diameter of 16–304 nm were recorded in the examined water samples. Waters in the Kara Sea shelf contained high concentrations of suspended organic particles 0.25–4.0 µm in size (range (0.6–25.3) × 105 particles mL−1). The proportions of free viruses, viruses attached to prokaryotes, and viruses attached to pico-sized detrital particles were 89.8 ± 6.0%, 2.2 ± 0.6% and 8.0 ± 1.3%, respectively, of the total virioplankton abundance (on average (61.5 ± 6.2) × 105 viruses mL−1). Viruses smaller than 60 nm clearly dominated at all studied sites. The majority of free viruses were not tailed. We estimated that an average of 1.4% (range 0.4–3.5%) of the prokaryote community was visibly infected by viruses, suggesting that a significant proportion of prokaryotic secondary production, 11.4% on average (range 4.0–34.0%), was lost due to viral lysis. There was a negative correlation between the abundance of pico-sized detrital particles and the frequency of visibly infected prokaryotic cells: r = −0.67, p = 0.0008