Hardware and Software for Determining the Thermal Properties of Rocks Under Close to Stratified Conditions

An instrument for determining the nonlinear thermal properties of rocks under natural conditions is proposed. Software is developed for processing the temperature readings, obtained from the instrument sensors, using mainly the theory of the solution of inverse problems for a parabolic-type nonlinear equation. Practical examples of the determination of the nonlinear thermal properties of some materials are presented. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York

The possible evolution of pitch angles of spiral galaxies

The origin and maintenance of spiral structure in galaxies, the correlation between different types of spiral structure and several proposed mechanisms for their generation, and the evolution of spiral arms of galaxies with time are questions that are still controversial. In this note we study the spiral structure in a sample of distant galaxies in order to infer the evolution of spiral arm characteristics with redshift. We considered a sample of 171 face-on spiral galaxies in the Hubble Space Telescope COSMOS (The Cosmic Evolution Survey) field. The galaxies are distributed up to $z \approx 1$ with a mean value of 0.44. For all galaxies, we determined the pitch angles of the spiral arms and analysed their dependence on redshift; a total of 359 arms were measured. Analyses of our measurements combined with the literature data suggest a possible evolution of the pitch angles of spiral galaxies: by the modern epoch the spiral pattern, on average, becomes more tightly wound. This may be a consequence of the general evolution of the structure of galaxies as galaxies become more massive over time and their bulges grow. In addition, the distribution of the cotangent of pitch angle of galaxies indicates the possibility that the dominant mechanism of spiral pattern generation changes over time.Comment: 5 pages, accepted for publication on Astronomy & Astrophysics Letter

Shear viscosity of degenerate electron matter

We calculate the partial electron shear viscosity $\eta_{ee}$ limited by electron-electron collisions in a strongly degenerate electron gas taking into account the Landau damping of transverse plasmons. The Landau damping strongly suppresses $\eta_{ee}$ in the domain of ultrarelativistic degenerate electrons and modifies its %asymptotic temperature behavior. The efficiency of the electron shear viscosity in the cores of white dwarfs and envelopes of neutron stars is analyzed.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures, accepted to Journal of Physics

Directions of perfection of development of bitumen deposits on the basis of geothermal modelling layers

In clause the opportunity of increase of efficiency of thermal influence on the bitumen layers, described is considered by a complex structure. Results of modelling of thermal influence on layers described are resulted by a complex structure. Results of modelling of thermal influence on layers with spreading water are resulted. The opportunity of optimization of system of development of a deposit on the basis of regulation of input of the heat-carrier and a grid of chinks with reference to concrete is considered

Large collection of astrophysical S-factors and its compact representation

Numerous nuclear reactions in the crust of accreting neutron stars are strongly affected by dense plasma environment. Simulations of superbursts, deep crustal heating and other nuclear burning phenomena in neutron stars require astrophysical S-factors for these reactions (as a function of center-of-mass energy E of colliding nuclei). A large database of S-factors is created for about 5000 non-resonant fusion reactions involving stable and unstable isotopes of Be, B, C, N, O, F, Ne, Na, Mg, and Si. It extends the previous database of about 1000 reactions involving isotopes of C, O, Ne, and Mg. The calculations are performed using the Sao Paulo potential and the barrier penetration formalism. All calculated S-data are parameterized by an analytic model for S(E) proposed before [Phys. Rev. C 82, 044609 (2010)] and further elaborated here. For a given reaction, the present S(E)-model contains three parameters. These parameters are easily interpolated along reactions involving isotopes of the same elements with only seven input parameters, giving an ultracompact, accurate, simple, and uniform database. The S(E) approximation can also be used to estimate theoretical uncertainties of S(E) and nuclear reaction rates in dense matter, as illustrated for the case of the 34Ne+34Ne reaction in the inner crust of an accreting neutron star.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figures, Phys. Rev. C, accepte

A preliminary factor analytic investigation into the first-order factor structure of the Fifteen Factor Plus (15FQ+) on a sample of Black South African managers

The original publication is available at http://www.sajip.co.zaMoyo, S. & Theron, C. 2011. A preliminary factor analytic investigation into the first-order factor structure of the Fifteen Factor Plus (15FQ+) on a sample of Black South African managers. SA Journal of Industrial Psychology, 37(1), 1-22, doi: 10.4102/sajip.v37i1.934.Orientation: The Fifteen Factor Questionnaire Plus (15FQ+) is a prominent personality questionnaire that organisations frequently use in personnel selection in South Africa. Research purpose: The primary objective of this study was to undertake a factor analytic investigation of the first-order factor structure of the 15FQ+. Motivation for the study: The construct validity of the 15FQ+, as a measure of personality, is necessary even though it is insufficient to justify its use in personnel selection. Research design, approach and method: The researchers evaluated the fit of the measurement model, which the structure and scoring key of the 15FQ+ implies, in a quantitative study that used an ex post facto correlation design through structural equation modelling. They conducted a secondary data analysis. They selected a sample of 241 Black South African managers from a large 15FQ+ database. Main findings: The researchers found good measurement model fit. The measurement model parameter estimates were worrying. The magnitude of the estimated model parameters suggests that the items generally do not reflect the latent personality dimensions the designers intended them to with a great degree of precision. The items are reasonably noisy measures of the latent variables they represent. Practical/managerial implications: Organisations should use the 15FQ+ carefully on Black South African managers until further local research evidence becomes available. Contribution/value-add: The study is a catalyst to trigger the necessary additional research we need to establish convincingly the psychometric credentials of the 15FQ+ as a valuable assessment tool in South Africa.Publisher's versio

Budget Policy of Social Development

The monograph is devoted to the development of methodological and institutional framework for the formation of fiscal policy to ensure social development. The essence and role of budget regulation in supporting the processes of endogenous economic growth are revealed. The experience of the implementation of fiscal policy in countries with developed and transformational economies is systematized. The directions of increasing the efficiency and strengthening the regulatory potential of the state tax policy are proposed. An assessment of the tax burden on labor and consumption in 2001–2017 is carried out; a comparative analysis of the values of the corresponding indicators in Ukraine and the European Union member countries is carried out. The factors that affect the fiscal significance of the value added tax, excise tax, income tax, personal income tax are identified. Provisions for enhancing the effectiveness of the institutional architectonics of the budget system are improved. Directions for improving the efficiency of budget expenditures are substantiated. The analysis of the influence of the main factors on the dynamics of changes in the ratio of public debt to GDP is carried out; it is established that inflation affected the most, and the exchange rate influenced the increase. An approach to assessing the state of debt security of the country is proposed, the conceptual framework for managing the budget deficit and public debt is defined. Provisions for the implementation of long-term budget planning and forecasting are developed. Institutional framework for the formation of the budget strategy is improved. The conceptual foundations of state financial support for human development are defined. A long-term budget strategy is developed, taking into account the cyclical nature of economic development. The conducted scientific research allows identifying the possibilities of positive influence of the budget policy on social development in the context of improving the quality of the institutional environment

Examination of azimuthally-averaged surface brightness profiles of the spiral arms using decomposition

Исследован вклад спиральных рукавов в азимутально усредненные профили поверхностной яркости галактик по результатам декомпозиции 29 галактик в инфракрасном диапазоне. Показано, что вклад спиральных рукавов в поверхностную яркость распределен сильно неравномерно, в среднем достигая наибольшего значения на радиусе около 1.5 экспоненциального масштаба диска. Получены характерные значения высоты «горба» на азимутально усредненном профиле, обусловленного наличием спиральных рукавов. Полученные результаты могут применяться для грубой оценки вклада осесимметричных составляющих галактики, что важно, например, для оценки параметров диска по азимутально усредненному профилю поверхностной яркости или для анализа спектрального распределения яркости в галактике.We analyze the contribution of spiral arms to the azimuthally-averaged surface brightness profiles of galaxies’ using results of the decomposition of 29 galaxies in the infrared. We show that spiral arms contribution to the galaxy luminosity varies strongly with the galac- tocentric distance. We obtain the characteristic values of the “bump” height on the galaxy’s azimuthally-averaged profile which is caused by the spiral arms. Our results can be applied for the rough estimates of axisymmetric components’ share in galaxy’s light, which is important for determination of disk parameters based on azimuthally-averaged profiles, or for analysis of the spectral energy distribution in galaxy.Работа выполнена при поддержке Российского научного фонда, грант 22-22-00483

Decomposition of Galaxies Considering the Spiral Arms as a Separate Component

Спиральная структура может вносить значительный вклад в светимость галактики. Для определения, как она может влиять на оценку параметров при декомпозиции галактики, отобраны 29 галактик с выраженным спиральным узором и проведена их декомпозиция с учетом спиральной структуры как отдельного компонента. Были использованы изображения из инфракрасного обзора S4G в полосе 3.6 мкм. Получены фотометрические модели галактик и их полное параметрическое описание. Показано, что учет спиральной структуры заметно влияет на оценку некоторых параметров галактик, например поверхностной яркости диска.Spiral structure can contribute significantly to galaxy luminosity. To determine how it can affect the estimation of parameters from decomposition, 29 galaxies with prominent spiral structure are selected and their decomposition considering the spiral arms as a separate component is performed. The sample consists of S4G infrared survey galaxies in 3.6 micron band. Photometric models of galaxies and the full set of model parameters are the results of this work. It was shown that considering spiral arms as a separate component affects the estimation of some other parameters in decomposition, for example, surface brightness of the disc