An Invertebrate Model of the Developmental Neurotoxicity of Insecticides: Effects of Chlorpyrifos and Dieldrin in Sea Urchin Embryos and Larvae

Chlorpyrifos targets mammalian brain development through a combination of effects directed at cholinergic receptors and intracellular signaling cascades that are involved in cell differentiation. We used sea urchin embryos as an invertebrate model system to explore the cellular mechanisms underlying the actions of chlorpyrifos and to delineate the critical period of developmental vulnerability. Sea urchin embryos and larvae were exposed to chlorpyrifos at different stages of development ranging from early cell cleavages through the prism stage. Although early cleavages were unaffected even at high chlorpyrifos concentrations, micromolar concentrations added at the mid-blastula stage evoked a prominent change in cell phenotype and overall larval structure, with appearance of pigmented cells followed by their accumulation in an extralarval cap that was extruded from the animal pole. At higher concentrations (20-40 microM), these abnormal cells constituted over 90% of the total cell number. Studies with cholinergic receptor blocking agents and protein kinase C inhibitors indicated two distinct types of effects, one mediated through stimulation of nicotinic cholinergic receptors and the other targeting intracellular signaling. The effects of chlorpyrifos were not mimicked by chlorpyrifos oxon, the active metabolite that inhibits cholinesterase, nor by nonorganophosphate cholinesterase inhibitors. Dieldrin, an organochlorine that targets GABA(A )receptors, was similarly ineffective. The effects of chlorpyrifos and its underlying cholinergic and signaling-related mechanisms parallel prior findings in mammalian embryonic central nervous system. Invertebrate test systems may thus provide both a screening procedure for potential neuroteratogenesis by organophosphate-related compounds, as well as a system with which to uncover novel mechanisms underlying developmental vulnerability

The sea urchin embryo, an invertebrate model for mammalian developmental neurotoxicity, reveals multiple neurotransmitter mechanisms for effects of chlorpyrifos: Therapeutic interventions and a comparison with the monoamine depleter, reserpine

Lower organisms show promise for the screening of neurotoxicants that might target mammalian brain development. Sea urchins use neurotransmitters as embryonic growth regulatory signals, so that adverse effects on neural substrates for mammalian brain development can be studied in this simple organism. We compared the effects of the organophosphate insecticide, chlorpyrifos in sea urchin embryos with those of the monoamine depleter, reserpine, so as to investigate multiple neurotransmitter mechanisms involved in developmental toxicity and to evaluate different therapeutic interventions corresponding to each neurotransmitter system. Whereas reserpine interfered with all stages of embryonic development, the effects of chlorpyrifos did not emerge until the mid-blastula stage. After that point, the effects of the two agents were similar. Treatment with membrane permeable analogs of the monoamine neurotransmitters, serotonin and dopamine, prevented the adverse effects of either chlorpyrifos or reserpine, despite the fact that chlorpyrifos works simultaneously through actions on acetylcholine, monoamines and other neurotransmitter pathways. This suggests that different neurotransmitters, converging on the same downstream signaling events, could work together or in parallel to offset the developmental disruption caused by exposure to disparate agents. We tested this hypothesis by evaluating membrane permeable analogs of acetylcholine and cannabinoids, both of which proved effective against chlorpyrifos- or reserpine-induced teratogenesis. Invertebrate test systems can provide both a screening procedure for mammalian neuroteratogenesis and may uncover novel mechanisms underlying developmental vulnerability as well as possible therapeutic approaches to prevent teratogenesis

Розробка теплової установки на базі каскадного теплового насоса для забезпечення усіх теплових і холодильних потреб споживача

This article describes the developed and manufactured multifunctional heat point, which allows to supply heat and refrigeration energy to consumers. For effective operation, the heat point contains an automated control system that allows to direct heat flows in an optimal way. Development of this thermal point began because in Russia there are no complex researches on creation of systems of power supply on the basis of heat pumps now. There are some works which actually copy the western technologies. At the same time, features of climatic zones are not considered that is extremely important for the development of similar power stations. That is, earlier nobody created a product which equally well works in the conditions of the Southern regions and Far North. Thermal and hydraulic calculations of thermal point were executed. Coefficients of performance and resistance of the contours of the heat pumping plant were the results of these calculations. These calculations showed that the transformation coefficient on all contours is in the range from3.352 to 4.884. Now starting tests of the thermal point which showed a regularity of the chosen design decisions and operability of the installation are carried out.The received results will be useful at projection of similar systems as the main characteristics of cascade heatpumping plants are received by a calculated path.The concrete received results of a research are as follows:– the multipurpose thermal point allowing to carry out heating – 25 kW, hot water supply – 5 kW, conditioning – 16 kW, ventilation of 25 kW is developed;– key indicators of thermal effectiveness of the power station, such as transformation coefficient, thermal rating etc are defined;– capacity of compact accumulators of warmth is determined. Heating with the temperature of 35 оС, within 12 hours of night-time requires the boiler tank of 2500 l whereas the accumulator on change phase of 300–500 l;– on the basis of the analysis of available renewable and secondary energy sources the structure of heat fluxes of the standard consumer with sources of excess warmth and points of its consumption is developed Представлено описание разработанного и изготовленного многофункционального теплового пункта, позволяющего снабжать потребителя тепловой и холодильной энергией. Для эффективной работы тепловой пункт содержит систему автоматизированного управления, позволяющую направлять тепловые потоки оптимальным образом. Тепловой и гидравлический расчеты теплового пункта, результатами которых были соответственно коэффициенты преобразования и сопротивления контуров теплонасосной установки, показали, что коэффициент преобразования по всем контурам лежит в диапазоне от 3,352 до 4,884. В настоящее время проведены пусковые испытания теплового пункта, которые показали правильность выбранных конструктивных решений и работоспособность установки.Полученные результаты будут полезны при проектировании аналогичных систем, так как основные характеристики каскадных тепловых насосов вычислены расчетным путем.Конкретные результаты исследования состоят в следующем:– разработана многоцелевая тепловая точка, позволяющая осуществлять отопление мощностью 25 кВт, горячее водоснабжение – 5 кВт, кондиционирование – 16 кВт, вентиляция 25 кВт;– определены ключевые показатели тепловой эффективности электростанции, такие как коэффициент трансформации, термическая оценка и т. д.;– определена емкость компактных аккумуляторов тепла. Для нагрева при температуре в 35 °C в течение 12 часов в ночное время требуется резервуар для котла на 2500 л, а коллектор для смены фазы – 300–500 л;– на основе анализа имеющихся возобновляемых и вторичных источников энергии, разработана структура тепловых потоков стандартного потребителя с источниками избыточного тепла и точками его потребленияПредставлено опис розробленого і виготовленого багатофункціонального теплового пункту, що дозволяє забезпечувати споживача тепловою та холодильною енергією. Для ефективної роботи тепловий пункт містить систему автоматизованого управління, що дозволяє направляти теплові потоки оптимальним чином. Розробка такого теплового пункту обумовлена тим, що в Росії в даний час немає комплексних досліджень по створенню систем електропостачання на базі теплових насосів. Існує ряд робіт, які фактично копіюють західні технології. При цьому не враховуються особливості кліматичних зон, що вкрай важливо для розвитку подібних електростанцій. Тобто, раніше ніхто не створював продукт, який однаково добре працює в умовах Південних регіонів і Крайньої Півночі. Тепловий та гідравлічний розрахунки теплового пункту, результатами яких були відповідно коефіцієнти перетворення і опору контурів теплонасосної установки, показали, що коефіцієнт перетворення по всіх контурах лежить в діапазоні від 3,352 до 4,884. В даний час проведені пускові випробування теплового пункту, які показали правильність обраних конструктивних рішень і працездатність установки.Отримані результати будуть корисні при проектуванні аналогічних систем, так як основні характеристики каскадних теплових насосів обчислені розрахунковим шляхом.Конкретні результати дослідження полягають у наступному:– розроблена багатоцільова теплова точка, що дозволяє здійснювати опалення потужністю 25 кВт, гаряче водопостачання –5 кВт, кондиціювання – 16 кВт, вентиляція 25 кВт;– визначені ключові показники теплової ефективності електростанції, такі як коефіцієнт трансформації, термічна оцінка і т.і.;– визначена ємність компактних акумуляторів тепла. Для нагріву при температурі в 35 °C протягом 12 годин у нічний час потрібен резервуар для котла на 2500 л, а колектор для зміни фази – 300–500 л;– на основі аналізу наявних відновлюваних і вторинних джерел енергії, розроблена структура теплових потоків стандартного споживача з джерелами надлишкового тепла і точками його споживанн

Television images identification in the vision system basis on the mathematical apparatus of cubic normalized B-splines

The solution the task of television image identification is used in industry when creating autonomous robots and systems of technical vision. A similar problem also arises in the development of image analysis systems to function under the influence of various interfering factors in complex observation conditions complicated the registration process and existing when priori information is absent, in background noise type. One of the most important operators is the contour selection operator. Methods and algorithms of processing information from image sensors must take into account the different character of noise associated with images and signals registration. The solution of the task of isolating contours, and in fact of digital differentiation of two-dimensional signals registered against a different character of background noise, is far from trivial. This is due to the fact that such task is incorrect. In modern information systems, methods of numerical differentiation or masks are usually used to solve the task of isolating contours. The paper considers a new method of differentiating measurement results against a noise background using the modern mathematical apparatus of cubic smoothing B-splines. The new high-precision method of digital differentiation of signals using splines is proposed for the first time, without using standard numerical differentiation procedures, to calculate the values of the derivatives with high accuracy. In fact, a method has been developed for calculating the image gradient module using spline differentiation. The method, as proved by experimental studies, and computational experiments has higher noise immunity than algorithms based on standard differentiation procedures using masks

Two-component Dark Matter in the vectorlike hypercolor extension of the Standard Model

We consider a minimal vectorlike extension of the Standard Model that naturally contains two types of stable neutral particles. They can be interpreted as the Dark Matter candidates. Here, the SM is supplemented by a new fermion (H-quark) sector that is in confilnement providing by the SU(2)HC gauge group. H-quarks interact with the SM particles via standard electroweak bosons. In analogy with the conventional QCD, H-quarks can form bound states, H-hadrons, that emerge in the σ− model framework. Along with the stable neutral H-pion, there is one more pseudo-goldstone (diquark) state, B0, which is stable and also can be a component of the DM. Mass splittings both for components of the H-pion triplet and for neutral H-pion and B0 have been calculated, it is shown that this splittings can be small. The relic abundance for this composition of the DM is analyzed as well as the DM particles scattering off nucleons. A feature of this scenario is that Dark Matter turns out to consist of particles which are close in mass but have different origin and interact differently with ordinary matter. So, the model predicts two-component structure of the DM together with some specifilc manifestations of it

The test bench of a cascade heatpump installation of a heat power complex for highly effective use secondary and renewables

In article the solution of one of the problems facing developers of a heat power complex for highly effective use secondary and renewables reveals. The solved problem is a development of the circuit decisions providing tests of all set of the modes of cascade heatpump installation of a heat power complex, design of the test bench. The developed complex allows to use most effectively together with heatpump installations and thermal accumulators renewables. Also the complex uses also household overflows of energy for the consumer’s heat supply, as much as possible reducing consumption of organic fuel

The test bench of a cascade heatpump installation of a heat power complex for highly effective use secondary and renewables

In article the solution of one of the problems facing developers of a heat power complex for highly effective use secondary and renewables reveals. The solved problem is a development of the circuit decisions providing tests of all set of the modes of cascade heatpump installation of a heat power complex, design of the test bench. The developed complex allows to use most effectively together with heatpump installations and thermal accumulators renewables. Also the complex uses also household overflows of energy for the consumer’s heat supply, as much as possible reducing consumption of organic fuel

Waste Co-Combustion with a Conventional Fossil Fuel on Power Plants

The paper has to shed light into understanding the waste useful and it has an aim to review about possibilities how to using different types of waste to generate energy. The paper highlighted the terms, that renewables it isn’t energy of the future but waste is – at least the future for the next hundred years. It’s very important to use waste by the right way, because of some current methods waste using have a low efficiency. There are several ways of using waste with pretreatment. Nowadays pretreatment includes torrefaction, pelletization, torrefaction of pellets (TOP) and wide spread around the world. It is necessary to compare economic indicators when you want to using some scenario. Using of waste can help us to reduce the pollutions and decrease load to an ambient. There are some advantages to using organic waste to generate energy – it can be considered as a fuel. But it also consists some negatives aspects such as low efficiency due to low thermal values (i.e. specific thermal capacity). Hence, waste using not so unequivocally as it seems at first sight. Thus, here is our understanding for this problem

Logistics and principles of use of solid and liquid household waste, as relevant energy resource

The principles of effective management of the existing and again arriving waste of different types are considered in this article. Some enterprises of the Russian Federation are considered as sources and consumers of an energy resource. In addition to the main objective — elimination of a large number of the saved-up waste, the task of extraction the useful materials for further use in necessary spheres of the industry is set. Development of heat and electrical energy. The solution of objectives will be carried out by development of the conceptual scheme of logistics the different types waste which will include a layered design with final recommendations for consumers and the enterprises. Also the complex analysis of waste on economic (to the principle of usefulness) and territorial to signs will be carried out