Theory of enhancement of thermoelectric properties of materials with nanoinclusions

Based on the concept of band bending at metal/semiconductor interfaces as an energy filter for electrons, we present a theory for the enhancement of the thermoelectric properties of semiconductor materials with metallic nanoinclusions. We show that the Seebeck coefficient can be significantly increased due to a strongly energy-dependent electronic scattering time. By including phonon scattering, we find that the enhancement of ZT due to electron scattering is important for high doping, while at low doping it is primarily due to a decrease in the phonon thermal conductivity

Microstructural evolution of layered K-doped RuCl₃ during annealing traced by thermogravimetric analysis and 3D electron diffraction

Nanoscale phase separation was induced in the K-doped RuCl3 van der Waals material by annealing, and studied with the goal to find a natural design strategy for the formation of two-dimensional architectures as an alternative to the costly and time-consuming experimental artificial growth methods. Phase conversion was traced by means of thermogravimetric analysis combined with mass spectrometry. The local crystal structure of co-existing K3Ru2Cl9 domains with the sizes of about 100 nm was solved by 3D electron diffraction.</p

Цифровая логистика и электронный обмен данными в грузовых перевозках

[For the English abstract and full text of the article please see the attached PDF-File (English version follows Russian version)].ABSTRACT The article depictures approaches to building a new model of interaction and system optimization of business processes based on the use of digital technologies at all stages of shaping the value chain of products and services that provide the creation of an information platform for digital economy. The methodical foundations of formation of the evidence base for development of digital logistics and introduction of legally significant electronic data exchange in the organization of rail transportation are considered. Keywords: digital technologies, freight transportation market, electronic document management, information system of organization of relations with customers of the holding Russian Railways in the field of freight transportation, losses in the transport sector.Текст аннотации на англ. языке и полный текст статьи на англ. языке находится в прилагаемом файле ПДФ (англ. версия следует после русской версии).В статье приведены подходы к построению новой модели взаимодействия и системной оптимизации бизнес-процессов на основе использования цифровых технологий на всех этапах формирования цепочки добавленной ценности продуктов и услуг, обеспечивающих создание информационной платформы для цифровой экономики. Рассмотрены методические основы формирования доказательной базы развития цифровой логистики и внедрения юридически значимого электронного обмена данными в организации железнодорожных перевозок

Мультикапитальный подход для устойчивого роста: опыт нефтегазовых компаний

Nowadays, companies traditionally use economic capital and follow the interests of profit-making by shareholders or financial structures. However, recently there has been a tendency to analyze non-financial factors affecting equity. Multicapitalism is a doctrine that studies the impact of social, environmental, and economic indicators on equity. The subject of the study is the Chinese oil and gas companies’ sustainable growth. The paper’s purpose is to consider the interdependence of non-financial indicators with the Higgins Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) and the Ivashkovskaya Sustainable Growth Index (SGI). The primary task is to solve the problems faced by China oil and gas companies regarding the introduction of non-financial reporting. The methodological basis of the study is a regression analysis of the influence of non-financial factors on sustainable growth indices. The authors analyze the impact of non-financial factors EROI, PRP, ES, ROEenv, ROL, ROEsr on the China oil and gas companies’ SGR and SGI. It is shown that non-financial indicators show a stronger correlation with SGR than SGI. The study’s main conclusion is that there is a significant positive correlation between individual non-financial indicators and sustainable growth indices. The practical application of the obtained research results is seen in the development of non-financial reporting of oil and gas companies in China by including indicators EROI, PRP, ES, ROEenv, ROL, ROEsr to assess the work of sustainable growth of the enterprise.В настоящее время общество традиционно использует экономический капитал в интересах получения прибыли акционерами или финансовыми структурами. Однако в последнее время появилась тенденция анализировать нефинансовые факторы, влияющие на собственный капитал. Мультикапитализм — это доктрина, которая изучает влияние социальных, экологических и экономических показателей на капитал. Предметом исследования является устойчивый рост китайских нефтегазовых компаний. Цель статьи — рассмотреть взаимозависимость нефинансовых показателей с индексом устойчивого роста Хиггинса (далее — SGR) и индексом устойчивого роста Ивашковской (далее — SGI). Важной задачей видится решение проблем, с которыми сталкиваются нефтегазовые компании Китая в отношении внедрения нефинансовой отчетности. Методологическая основа исследования — регрессионный анализ влияния нефинансовых факторов на индексы устойчивого роста. Проанализировано влияние нефинансовых факторов EROI, PRP, ES, ROEenv, ROL, ROEsr на SGR и SGI нефтегазовых компаний КНР. Показано, что нефинансовые показатели демонстрируют более сильную корреляцию с SGR, чем SGI. Главный вывод исследования заключается в том, что существует значительная положительная корреляция между отдельными нефинансовыми показателями и индексами устойчивого роста. Практическое применение полученных результатов исследования видится в развитии нефинансовой отчетности нефтегазовых компаний КНР путем включения показателей EROI, PRP, ES, ROEenv, ROL, ROEsr для оценки работы устойчивого роста предприятия

Another look at the BL Lacertae flux and spectral variability

The GLAST-AGILE Support Program (GASP) of the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT) monitored BL Lacertae in 2008-2009 at radio, near-IR, and optical frequencies. During this period, high-energy observations were performed by XMM-Newton, Swift, and Fermi. We analyse these data with particular attention to the calibration of Swift UV data, and apply a helical jet model to interpret the source broad-band variability. The GASP-WEBT observations show an optical flare in 2008 February-March, and oscillations of several tenths of mag on a few-day time scale afterwards. The radio flux is only mildly variable. The UV data from both XMM-Newton and Swift seem to confirm a UV excess that is likely caused by thermal emission from the accretion disc. The X-ray data from XMM-Newton indicate a strongly concave spectrum, as well as moderate flux variability on an hour time scale. The Swift X-ray data reveal fast (interday) flux changes, not correlated with those observed at lower energies. We compare the spectral energy distribution (SED) corresponding to the 2008 low-brightness state, which was characterised by a synchrotron dominance, to the 1997 outburst state, where the inverse-Compton emission was prevailing. A fit with an inhomogeneous helical jet model suggests that two synchrotron components are at work with their self inverse-Compton emission. Most likely, they represent the radiation from two distinct emitting regions in the jet. We show that the difference between the source SEDs in 2008 and 1997 can be explained in terms of pure geometrical variations. The outburst state occurred when the jet-emitting regions were better aligned with the line of sight, producing an increase of the Doppler beaming factor. Our analysis demonstrates that the jet geometry can play an extremely important role in the BL Lacertae flux and spectral variability.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in A&

The infrared JHK light curves of RR Lyr

We present infrared JHK time series photometry of the variable star RR Lyr, that allow us to construct the first complete and accurate infrared light curves for this star. The derived mean magnitudes are =6.74 +/- 0.02, =6.60 +/- 0.03 and =6.50 +/- 0.02. The magnitude is used to estimate the reddening, the mass, the mean luminosity and temperature of this variable star. The use of these RR Lyr data provide a more accurate absolute calibration of the P-L_K-[Fe/H] relation, and a distance modulus (m-M)_0=18.48 +/- 0.11 to the globular cluster Reticulum in the LMC.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication by MNRA

Problems of forensic medical diagnosis of fatal poisoning drug «design»

The article considers methods of determining "designer" drugs in biological materials and issues of the legal status of methods. It is noted that there are methods of chemical-toxicological diagnosis, which allow to determine the presence of foreign chemicals in biological materials, potentially capable of causing psychotic reactions. However, there are certain legal conditions for the classification of chemical compounds as analogues of drugs or the inclusion in the list of drugs, which complicates the production of forensic medical examination.В статье рассматриваются методы определения «дизайнерских» наркотиков в биологических материалах и вопросы правового статуса методов. Отмечено, что существуют способы химико-токсикологической диагностики, которые позволяют определить в биологических материалах наличие посторонних химических веществ, потенциально способных вызывать психотические реакции. Однако, существуют определенные правовые условия для отнесения химических соединений к аналогам наркотических веществ или внесения в список наркотических средств, что затрудняет производство судебно-медицинской экспертизы