Statistical Approximation of Fourier Transform-IR Spectroscopy Data for Zinc White Pigment from Twentieth-Century Russian Paintings

We present a statistical model for approximation of experimental Fourier transform-IR spectroscopy (FTIR) data for paint samples from paintings of different ages. The model utilizes random variations in some parameters (initial ageing rate, degree of change in ageing rate and time at which the change occurs). We determine the parameters characterizing variation in the paint composition and the storage conditions for the paintings. The numerical calculation is qualitatively consistent with the experimental data. In the proposed model, changes in the initial composition of the paint and the storage conditions make about the same contribution to the experimentally observed scatter in the data points

Use of Natural Gas in Motor Transport as a Strategic Reference Point for Improving the Environmental Situation in Cities

The paper presents a brief analysis of the problem of environmental pollution by motor transport. Some ways of reducing the harmful effect of transport are presented. Russian legislation on the use of natural gas is analyzed. It is established that the development of the gas-engine infrastructure near major highways and cities is the most urgent issue. The criteria that must be met for the successful construction of a branched network of natural gas vehicle refueling stations are given. On the example of the Russian city of Tyumen, an experiment was conducted to account for transit traffic passing through its highways. It is concluded that improvement of the ecological situation is an important aspect of the sustainable urban development. And the actual factor that will reduce the harmful impact of transport on the environment is the use of a more environmentally friendly alternative fuel - natural gas. And to expand its use, a rational territorial and quantitative location of the natural gas vehicle refueling station network is necessary. &nbsp

Localization Study of Co-Phthalocyanines in Cells by Raman Micro(spectro)scopy

An investigation of intracellular localization of Co-phthalocyanines is reported. The Raman images of K562 cells stained with phthalocyanine were acquired. To understand the peculiarities of the Raman images, measurements were performed at different z-axis positions. The intracellular concentration of phthalocyanine was estimated. A colocalization study was carried out using the fluorescence probes FITC-dextran and acridine orange by means of Raman and fluorescence microscopy. Partial colocalization with both probes was revealed

Research of the air temperature influence on fuel consumption of a passenger car converted to operate on liquefied petroleum gas

Due to the rapid growth of environmental pollution from mobile sources, the part of alternative fuels use is increasing. One of these for motor vehicle is liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). This study focuses on the LPG use by Mitsubishi Lancer X passenger car in driving conditions. Based on the results of the previous studies analysis, the most significant factors affecting the change in fuel consumption by motor vehicles were identified. It was proved that the decrease in the ambient temperature from +30 to –20 °C leads to an increase in gas consumption from 11.2 to 13.6 l/100 km. In addition, at air temperatures from –20 °C and below, the gas-fueled engine is unstable

Comparative analysis of low-frequency vibrational spectra of native and denatured proteins

Background and Objectives: Changes in the secondary and tertiary structures of protein molecules during thermal denaturation lead to changes in their vibrational spectra. Vibrations corresponding to elements of the primary and secondary structure of the protein are manifested in the fingerprint range, while vibrational modes of large fragments corresponding to higher levels of the protein structural hierarchy can be observed in the low-frequency (40–500 cm−1) spectral range. The purpose of this work is to reveal changes in the vibrational spectra of proteins resulting from denaturation that can be used to characterize changes in the protein structure. Materials and Methods: Two proteins (collagen and chymotrypsin) having different secondary and tertiary structures are studied using Raman spectroscopy. The experimental data are analyzed using bandpass filtering of the Fourier transforms of the spectral curves. Results: Vibrational spectra of two proteins (collagen and chymotrypsin) having different secondary and tertiary structures, as well as the spectra of thermally denatured samples of these proteins have been measured in the fingerprint and low-frequency ranges. Several low-frequency spectral features that can be used to characterize structural changes of protein molecules have been considered. A few bands may correspond to vibrations of tertiary structure elements (both in the low-frequency range and in the “fingerprint” range). Conclusion: A comparison of the vibrational spectra of native and denatured (superhelical) collagen, as well as native and denatured (globular) chymotrypsin shows that changes in the amide I and amide III bands sensitive to the secondary structure are supplemented with spectral changes in bands that are not assigned to elements of the secondary structure and can be related to changes at higher levels of structural hierarchy. Comparison of the low-frequency vibrational spectra indicates a lower sensitivity of presumably tertiary structure of the globular protein to denaturation

Development and Rationale of Two-Disk Operating Body of Agricultural Machine for Tillage

One of the main problems in the design of agricultural machines, including tillage machines, is to ensure the optimal energy intensity of various technological operations. The design, kinematic and technological parameters of rotary tillage machines have a significant impact on the indicators of the energy intensity of the process and the quality of tillage. These parameters include the diameter of the operating body of the agricultural machine, the angular speed and rotational speed of the disks, the number of cutting elements, the translational speed of the operating body, the height of the ridge formed during soil cultivation, the thickness of the cut chips. An important agrotechnical parameter of a rotary tillage machine is the ridging of the furrow bottom. The height of the ridges formed should not be less than 20 % of the depth of the cultivated soil. Currently, in order to ensure the required height of the ridges in the designs of rotary machines, there are a number of restrictions that determine the operating mode and parameters of the units. The degree of influence of the parameters of the developed operating body and the energy consumption on the quality of tillage has been assessed in the process of the research. The experiments have been carried out on an installation that included an operating body, a power unit, control and instrumentation equipment. As the power section, AC motors with a phase rotor were used, the power of which was 0.75 and 1.50 kW, and the speed of rotation was 920, 1500 and 3000 rpm. The parameters have been set that allow to reduce the energy consumption for tillage by 11–17 %, compared to existing machines, and ensure the alignment of the furrow bottom by up to 80 %

Разработка и обоснование двухдискового рабочего органа сельскохозяйственной машины для обработки почвы

One of the main problems in the design of agricultural machines, including tillage machines, is to ensure the optimal energy intensity of various technological operations. The design, kinematic and technological parameters of rotary tillage machines have a significant impact on the indicators of the energy intensity of the process and the quality of tillage. These parameters include the diameter of the operating body of the agricultural machine, the angular speed and rotational speed of the disks, the number of cutting elements, the translational speed of the operating body, the height of the ridge formed during soil cultivation, the thickness of the cut chips. An important agrotechnical parameter of a rotary tillage machine is the ridging of the furrow bottom. The height of the ridges formed should not be less than 20 % of the depth of the cultivated soil. Currently, in order to ensure the required height of the ridges in the designs of rotary machines, there are a number of restrictions that determine the operating mode and parameters of the units. The degree of influence of the parameters of the developed operating body and the energy consumption on the quality of tillage has been assessed in the process of the research. The experiments have been carried out on an installation that included an operating body, a power unit, control and instrumentation equipment. As the power section, AC motors with a phase rotor were used, the power of which was 0.75 and 1.50 kW, and the speed of rotation was 920, 1500 and 3000 rpm. The parameters have been set that allow to reduce the energy consumption for tillage by 11–17 %, compared to existing machines, and ensure the alignment of the furrow bottom by up to 80 %.Одна из главных проблем при проектировании сельскохозяйственных машин, в том числе почвообрабатывающих, – обеспечение оптимальной энергоемкости выполнения различных технологических операций. Конструктивные, кинематические и технологические параметры ротационных почвообрабатывающих машин оказывают существенное влияние на показатели энергоемкости процесса и качество обработки почвы. К этим параметрам относятся диаметр рабочего органа сельскохозяйственной машины, угловая скорость и частота вращения дисков, количество режущих элементов, поступательная скорость рабочего органа, высота образуемого при обработке почвы гребня, толщина срезаемой стружки. Важной агротехнической характеристикой почвообрабатывающей ротационной машины является гребнистость дна борозды. Высота образуемых гребней должна быть менее 20 % глубины обрабатываемой почвы. В настоящее время для обеспечения требуемой высоты гребней в конструкциях ротационных машин имеется ряд ограничений, которые обусловливают режим работы и параметры агрегатов. В процессе исследований оценивали степень влияния параметров разработанного рабочего органа и затрачиваемой энергии на качество обработки почвы. Опыты проводили на установке, включавшей рабочий орган, силовой агрегат, регулирующую и контрольноизмерительную аппаратуру. В качестве силовой части использовали электродвигатели переменного тока с фазовым ротором, мощность которых составляла 0,75 и 1,50 кВт, а частота вращения – 920, 1500 и 3000 об/мин. Установлены параметры, позволяющие на 11–17 % уменьшить затраты энергии на обработку почвы по сравнению с существующими машинами и обеспечить выравнивание дна борозды до 80 %

Оценка влияния транспортных и природно-климатических факторов на уровень расхода электроэнергии электробусов в условиях городской среды

The paper considers the issue of expanding the use of electric buses when transporting passengers on regular urban routes, which contribute to a significant reduction in the overall environmental pollution by road transport. Legislative actsconfirming the state support for the development of this industry are analyzed. The results of driving cycles of electric buses AKСM-E321 [AKSM-E321] and AKСM-E433 [AKSM-E433] in Minsk, electric buses ЛиАЗ-6274.00 [LiAZ-6274.00] and КАМАЗ-6282 [KAMAZ-6282] in Tyumen and Moscow are presented. The correlation of the specific average monthly electricity consumption and the average monthly ambient temperature is revealed. It has been established that for Moscow, the most significant factor influencing the electric bus power consumption are transport conditions. The ambient air temperature was identified as a key factor for the city of Tyumen. The research results make it possible to plan the use of electric buses on various urban routes based on runs without recharging. This may allow us to develop recommendations for the use of the studied brands of electric buses on routes of a certain length and complexity.В статье рассматривается вопрос расширения использования электробусов при перевозке пассажиров регулярными городскими маршрутами, которые способствуют значительному снижению общего загрязнения окружающей среды автомобильным транспортом. Проанализированы законодательные акты, подтверждающие государственную поддержку развития данной отрасли. Приведены результаты ездовых циклов электробусов АКСМ-Е321 и АКСМ-Е433 в Минске, электробусов ЛиАЗ-6274.00 и КАМАЗ-6282 в Тюмени и Москве. Выявлена корреляция удельного среднемесячного расхода электроэнергии и среднемесячной температуры окружающего воздуха. Установлено, что наиболее весомым фактором, влияющим на расход электроэнергии электробуса, для Москвы являются транспортные условия, для Тюмени – температура окружающего воздуха. Результаты исследований позволяют планировать использование электробусов на различных городских маршрутах на основе пробегов без подзарядки. Это может позволить разработать рекомендации по применению исследуемых марок электробусов на маршрутах определенной протяженностью и сложностью

Improving vehicle adaptability to the operating conditions of "smart" cities in the northern regions

The paper reviews a relevant problem of providing a higher quality of people’s living in the northern regions by the application of the modern technologies within transport in order to improve its environmental performance and efficiency. The aim of the research is to substantiate methods of increasing the adaptability of vehicles to variable low-temperature operating conditions based on a neural control system of preheating and maintaining the optimum temperature of technological fluids by SHF radiation and improving diesel fuel properties by introducing a multifunctional additive. It has been found that SHF radiation influences the physical and chemical parameters of diesel fuel, as well as the engine output parameters. SHF radiation results in a reduction of fuel consumption to 7%, smoke from the exhaust to 15%, and nitrogen oxide emission to 30%. A conclusion is made that using SHF radiation for technological fuel preheating is essential. An approach has been developed that improves low-temperature properties of diesel fuels and increases engine operation efficiency under severe climatic conditions by introducing a multifunctional additive. The additive will enable a significant decrease in fuel consumption under low-temperature operating conditions and a complex improvement of fuel properties