Regional social infrastructure management in the system of tools used for improving the quality of life for regional population

This paper analyzes the processes in the social sphere and the performance of operating the social infrastructure to improve the population’s quality of life in the Russian regions. Particular attention has been paid to the role of organizational and administrative components, which include the regulation of social infrastructure institutions, planning, and programming that affect the performance of infrastructure facilities utilization. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of social infrastructure management through the congruence of immediate results (dynamics of indicators for social services) and final results (parameters of the population’s quality of life). The working hypothesis of the study was a breach of infrasystemic principle in the infrastructural support for improving the population’s quality of life in the constituent entities of the Russian Federation because of the insufficient effectiveness of public administration. The work on this paper involved using a set of methodological approaches, such as structured, factorial, systemic, and evolutionary approaches, to substantiate the conceptual framework, prepare the method-based approaches, and determine the impact made by the changes in the parameters of social infrastructure facilities on provided services and shifts in the indicators of the population’s quality of life. The paper proposes a method-based approach to quantifying the effectiveness of organizational and administrative components by using the diagnostics of sufficiency in the implementation of infrasystemic principle for the operation of social infrastructure based on elasticity coefficients. The proposed approach and analytical data obtained in the areas, such as health care, education, trade, housing & utilities, culture & sport, allowed ranking the regions of the Ural Federal District and identifying the areas of insufficient effectiveness in the organizational and administrative mechanism used for improving the population’s quality of life as the basis for developing practical recommendations for the executive branch of constituent entities of the Russian Federation and adjustment of socioeconomic policies

Structural Evidence for a Copper-Bound Carbonate Intermediate in the Peroxidase and Dismutase Activities of Superoxide Dismutase

Copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD) is of fundamental importance to our understanding of oxidative damage. Its primary function is catalysing the dismutation of superoxide to O2 and H2O2. SOD also reacts with H2O2, leading to the formation of a strong copper-bound oxidant species that can either inactivate the enzyme or oxidise other substrates. In the presence of bicarbonate (or CO2) and H2O2, this peroxidase activity is enhanced and produces the carbonate radical. This freely diffusible reactive oxygen species is proposed as the agent for oxidation of large substrates that are too bulky to enter the active site. Here, we provide direct structural evidence, from a 2.15 Å resolution crystal structure, of (bi)carbonate captured at the active site of reduced SOD, consistent with the view that a bound carbonate intermediate could be formed, producing a diffusible carbonate radical upon reoxidation of copper. The bound carbonate blocks direct access of substrates to Cu(I), suggesting that an adjunct to the accepted mechanism of SOD catalysed dismutation of superoxide operates, with Cu(I) oxidation by superoxide being driven via a proton-coupled electron transfer mechanism involving the bound carbonate rather than the solvent. Carbonate is captured in a different site when SOD is oxidised, being located in the active site channel adjacent to the catalytically important Arg143. This is the probable route of diffusion from the active site following reoxidation of the copper. In this position, the carbonate is poised for re-entry into the active site and binding to the reduced copper. © 2012 Strange et al

Cool spots on the surface of the active giant PZ Mon

Based on the multiband (BVRIJHKL) photometric observations of the active red giant PZ Mon performed for the first time in the winter season of 2017-2018, we have determined the main characteristics of the spotted stellar surface in a parametric three-spot model. The unspotted surface temperature is Teff=4730 K, the temperature of the cool spots is Tspot=3500 K, their relative area is about 41%, and the temperature of the warm spots is Twarm=4500 K with a maximum relative area up to 20%. The distribution of spots over the stellar surface has been modeled. The warm spots have been found to be distributed at various longitudes in the hemisphere on the side of the secondary component and are most likely a result of its influence.Comment: 5 pages, 7 figure

Схеми гібридних приводів візків дощувальних машин із використанням альтернативних джерел енергії

Then analysis of the operation of modern multi-bearing sprinkling machines has shown that for irrigation needs and movement of sprinkling technics when in use for watering different types of drives and energy sources are used, in particular diesel fuel and electrical power. Most sprinkling machines move whren irrigating with the help of electric motors of self-propelled carts, which are supplied by power generators of low power (up to 20 kW), which are driven by a diesel engine, and water to the car is fed from a stationary electrified pumping station. There is an option for moving sprinkling machines with the help of hydraulic motors mounted on the carts, which are driven by hydraulic fluid supplied to them by a hydraulic pump from a diesel engine drive. As the electrified pumping stations of irrigation systems were designed for  the pressure of 0.6 … 0.8 MPa at the point of connection of a sprinkling machine, while today the sprinkling machines operate at pressure of 0.3 … 0.4 MPa, that is, there is a  possibility of using the so-called excess pressure of 0.2 … 0,3 MPa for obtaining some additional energy at the place of connection of a sprinkling machine without redesigning and laying additional pipelines or power transmission lines. It is important to direct this extra energy for moving sprinkling machines. The purpose of the research is to develop the circuits of hybrid drives with the use of alternative energy sources to reduce fuel consumption for irrigation by circular, frontal and frontal-circular sprinkling machines. Analysis of previous research. In the course of previous research at the Institute of Water Problems and Land Reclamation of NAAS it has been established the possibility of using a full-flow hydro turbine as an energy source to feed the drives of the support carts of a multifunctional sprinkling electrified circular machines. The use of a full-flow hydro turbine, powered by the energy of irrigation water flow, makes it possible to do without a diesel generator, and thus without the fuel burn for its operation. Along with that, the sprinkling machines, whose power is provided only by the energy of irrigation water flow (from the irrigation pipeline), cannot move without performing watering. This is a disadvantage that prevents the implementation of technological regulations for watering by such types of sprinkling machines. Research results. The results of the calculations of the power required for the movement of circular sprinkling machines of various modifications have shown that the use of excess energy of irrigation water in the pipeline at the input of a sprinkling machine with a hydroturbine drive, as a power source for the electric drive or the hydraulic drive for the movement of support carts, requires an increase in pressure in the irrigation network up to 4 m, and taking into account the possible losses of pressure at the connection points and in view of providing a water energy reserve the increase in pressure should be up to 10 m. In this case, the turbine drive with water consumption from 50 to 100 l / s can provide a power within the range of 4.0 to 8.0 kW. Based on the results of the calculations, we obtained the initial data for the development of the circuits of hybrid drives of sprinkling machines at existing irrigation systems using alternative energy sources. Also we proposed different circuits of hybrid drives of carts, which can be applied on modern multi-support sprinkling machines. Conclusions. 1. It has been established that modern sprinkling machines operate at a pressure of 0.3-0.4 MPa, while the existing electrified pump stations are designed for pressure in a closed irrigation network of 0.6-0.8 MPa, which gives the possibility of obtaining additional energy for moving sprinkling machines by means of a hybrid drive. 2. It has been established that a hybrid drive with a flow rate from 50 to 100 l/s can provide a capacity within 4.0-8.0 kW. 3. The turbine capacity for moving a sprinkling machine in length from 200 to 500 m, which should be up to 10 kW, has been grounded. 4. It has been obtained the initial data for the development of circuits of hybrid drives of sprinkling machine at the existing irrigation systems using alternative sources of energy. The flow rate of a sprinkling machine should not be less than 50 l/s and the minimum pressure at the connection point of a sprinkling machine should be 0.48 MPa. 5. The circuits of the hybrid drives of sprinkling machine carts with the use of a full-flow turbine have been developed, which will enable to increase the efficiency of existing irrigation systems by providing the excess energy of water pressure in the pipeline network of existing irrigation systems, as well as to provide energy and material resources savings in the range of 20-30%.Обґрунтовано вихідні дані щодо розроблення схем гібридних приводів дощувальних машин на діючих зрошувальних системах із використанням альтернативних джерел енергії. Наведено схеми застосування повнопроточної гідротурбіни як джерела енергії для приводів опорних візків багатоопорних дощувальних маши

A study of the photometric variability of the peculiar magnetic white dwarf WD1953-011

We present and interpret simultaneous new photometric and spectroscopic observations of the peculiar magnetic white dwarf WD1953-011. The flux in the V-band filter and intensity of the Balmer spectral lines demonstrate variability with the rotation period of about 1.45 days. According to previous studies, this variability can be explained by the presence of a dark spot having a magnetic nature, analogous to a sunspot. Motivated by this idea, we examine possible physical relationships between the suggested dark spot and the strong-field magnetic structure (magnetic "spot", or "tube") recently identified on the surface of this star. Comparing the rotationally-modulated flux with the variable spectral observables related to the magnetic "spot" we establish their correlation, and therefore their physical relationship. Modeling the variable photometric flux assuming that it is associated with temperature variations in the stellar photosphere, we argue that the strong-field area and dark, low-temperature spot are comparable in size and located at the same latitudes, essentially overlapping each other with a possible slight longitudinal shift. In this paper we also present a new, improved value of the star's rotational period and constrain the characteristics of the thermal inhomogeneity over the degenerate's surface.Comment: accepted to the Ap

Time based radar signal analysis revealing nature and properties of surface scans

To clarify subsurface properties, it is necessary to investigate the time base of the signal. However, it is often necessary to solve the problem of determining the structure of only the surface layer. Our method addresses this problem. Advantages of the method: 1. Highlights homogeneous areas in terms of surface conditions 2. It can process large data on profile measurements in an almost continuous mode, using any one (or a small amount) information signal attribute. 3. There is no need for desk data processing, interpretation. 4. This method uses a signal of any nature. Here we explore if it is possible to obtain more information about the quality and state of the object by not only looking at a single time-based measurement, but instead looking at consecutive measurements as from a stream. By studying the structure of the stream and the changes in it, properties like moisture content can be revealed. A method is proposed for fingerprinting radar signals and detecting the boundaries of homogeneous media during a scan along changing objects properties