Relationship of methane consumption with the respiration of soil and grass-moss layers in forest ecosystems of the southern taiga in Western Siberia

The consumption of methane by some soils in the southern taiga of Western Siberia was studied by the static chamber method in the summer of 2013. The median of the specific CH4 flux through the soil was −0.05 mg C/(m2 h) for the entire set of measurements (the negative flux indicates the consumption of methane by the soil). A statistically significant (R2 = 0.81) linear relationship has been found between the specific CH4 flux to the soil and the total respiration of the soil and the grass-moss layers in the studied forest ecosystems. The quantitative theoretical explanation of this relationship is based on the plant-associated and free methanotrophy

Vascular changes in diabetic retinopathy-a longitudinal study in the Nile rat.

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes and is a major cause of blindness, but an understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease has been hampered by a lack of accurate animal models. Here, we explore the dynamics of retinal cellular changes in the Nile rat (Arvicanthis niloticus), a carbohydrate-sensitive model for type 2 diabetes. The early retinal changes in diabetic Nile rats included increased acellular capillaries and loss of pericytes that correlated linearly with the duration of diabetes. These vascular changes occurred in the presence of microglial infiltration but in the absence of retinal ganglion cell loss. After a prolonged duration of diabetes, the Nile rat also exhibits a spectrum of retinal lesions commonly seen in the human condition including vascular leakage, capillary non-perfusion, and neovascularization. Our longitudinal study documents a range and progression of retinal lesions in the diabetic Nile rat remarkably similar to those observed in human diabetic retinopathy, and suggests that this model will be valuable in identifying new therapeutic strategies

Direct observation of electron density reconstruction at the metal-insulator transition in NaOsO3

5d transition metal oxides offer new opportunities to test our understanding of the interplay of correlation effects and spin-orbit interactions in materials in the absence of a single dominant interaction. The subtle balance between solid-state interactions can result in new mechanisms that minimize the interaction energy, and in material properties of potential use for applications. We focus here on the 5d transition metal oxide NaOsO3, a strong candidate for the realization of a magnetically driven transition from a metallic to an insulating state exploiting the so-called Slater mechanism. Experimental results are derived from non-resonant and resonant x-ray single crystal diffraction at the Os L-edges. A change in the crystallographic symmetry does not accompany the metal-insulator transition in the Slater mechanism and, indeed, we find no evidence of such a change in NaOsO3. An equally important experimental observation is the emergence of the (300) Bragg peak in the resonant condition with the onset of magnetic order. The intensity of this space-group forbidden Bragg peak continuously increases with decreasing temperature in line with the square of intensity observed for an allowed magnetic Bragg peak. Our main experimental results, the absence of crystal symmetry breaking and the emergence of a space-group forbidden Bragg peak with developing magnetic order, support the use of the Slater mechanism to interpret the metal-insulator transition in NaOsO3. We successfully describe our experimental results with simulations of the electronic structure and, also, with an atomic model based on the established symmetry of the crystal and magnetic structure.Comment: 6 figure

Synthesis, luminescent and magnetic properties of new tetranuclear lanthanide complexes with 4-hydroxy-2,1,3-benzothiadiazolate and dibenzoylmethanide ligands

© 2017 Elsevier LtdFour new tetranuclear complexes, [Ln4(dbm)4(O-btd)6(OH)2] 1a (Ln = Yb), 1b (Ln = Dy) and [Ln4(dbm)6(O-btd)4(OH)2] 2a (Ln = Yb), 2b (Ln = Dy) (O-btd = 4-hydroxo-2,1,3-benzothiadiazolate and dbm = dibenzoylmethanide), and their solvates with toluene and tetrahydrofuran were synthesized. The magnetic properties of the complexes 1a, 1b, 2a and 2b have been studied, revealing different magnetic susceptibility patterns for the Yb(III) and Dy(III) complexes in the temperature range 80–300 K. Upon lowering the temperature, a weak antiferromagnetic ordering is observed for both Yb compounds, while the Dy derivatives are assumed to show weak ferromagnetic interactions. The Yb complexes 1a and 2a demonstrate strong NIR luminescence at ∼1000 nm in CH2Cl2 solution upon excitation of the (O-btd)− ligand. This observation suggests the (O-btd)− ligand to be an efficient antenna ligand for lanthanide-based NIR luminescence

Psychological Aspects of Management and Economics of Higher Education

This paper considers the idea that the creative productivity of and psychological basis for achieving high results is expressed in general abilities, creativity, optimism, belief in success and motivation in all social spheres. Management education is crucial for the formation of future professionals in all areas of public life. The article contains analysis of development of new progressive models of management education which should combine the basic types of controls: administrative (command) and motivational management, project management and process management. To control dynamics, which was considered more “progressive”, there are two problems. The first is the problem of the relation of design (innovation) and process (recurring) activities, the other activities of education authorities, particularly at the municipal level, a significant proportion of time and energy which is the current routine functions - the payment of salaries to employees of educational institutions, etc. In the modernization models of management education need to move from the traditional use of two control mechanisms - planning (many “activities”), and pervasive control for the full set (cycle) mechanisms, such as: analysis of current state controlled educational system, the forecast of development of the education system, goal setting, scheduling development tasks, providing resources, monitoring the development of the educational system, which is the essence of operational management. Keywords: higher education, psychology, management of education, modernization of education, economic education JEL Classifications: A20, A29, I21, I2

New NIR-emissive tetranuclear Er(III) complexes with 4-hydroxo-2,1,3-benzothiadiazolate and dibenzoylmethanide ligands: Synthesis and characterization

© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2015. New tetranuclear heteroleptic complexes [Er4(dbm)6(O-btd)4(OH)2] (1) and [Er4(dbm)4(O-btd)6(OH)2] (2) (O-btd = 4-hydroxo-2,1,3-benzothiadiazolate and dbm = dibenzoylmethanide) and their solvates with toluene, THF and CH2Cl2 were prepared using two synthetic approaches. The structures of the products were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Magnetic properties of 1 and 2 are in good agreement with X-ray data. The effective magnetic moment (μeff) values at 300 K for 1 and 2 corresponds to a system of 4 non-interacting Er(iii) ions in the ground state 4J15/2 with g = 6/5. At ambient temperature and upon excitation with λexc = 450 nm, complexes 1 and 2 exhibit luminescence at ∼1530 nm, i.e. in the near infra-red (NIR) region. The luminescence intensity grows with increasing the number of the (O-btd)- ligands in the complexes. This observation suggests (O-btd)- as a new efficient antenna ligand for the lanthanide-based NIR luminescence

An approach to verification and validation of MHD codes for fusion applications

We propose a new activity on verification and validation (V&V) of MHD codes presently employed by the fusion community as a predictive capability tool for liquid metal cooling applications, such as liquid metal blankets. The important steps in the development of MHD codes starting from the 1970s are outlined first and then basic MHD codes, which are currently in use by designers of liquid breeder blankets, are reviewed. A benchmark database of five problems has been proposed to cover a wide range of MHD flows from laminar fully developed to turbulent flows, which are of interest for fusion applications: (A) 2D fully developed laminar steady MHD flow, (B) 3D laminar, steady developing MHD flow in a non-uniform magnetic field, (C) quasi-two-dimensional MHD turbulent flow, (D) 3D turbulent MHD flow, and (E) MHD flow with heat transfer (buoyant convection). Finally, we introduce important details of the proposed activities, such as basic V&V rules and schedule. The main goal of the present paper is to help in establishing an efficient V&V framework and to initiate benchmarking among interested parties. The comparison results computed by the codes against analytical solutions and trusted experimental and numerical data as well as code-to-code comparisons will be presented and analyzed in companion paper/paper

Octahedral molybdenum cluster as a photoactive antimicrobial additive to a fluoroplastic

Finding methods that fight bacterial infection or contamination, while minimising our reliance on antibiotics is one of the most pressing needs of this century. Although the utilisation of UV-C light and strong oxidising agents, such as bleach, are still efficacious methods for eliminating bacterial surface contamination, both methods present severe health and/or environmental hazards. Materials with intrinsic photodynamic activity (i.e. a material's ability upon photoexcitation to convert molecular oxygen into reactive oxygen species such as singlet oxygen), which work with light within the visible photomagnetic spectrum could offer a significantly safer alternative. Here we present a new, bespoke molybdenum cluster (Bu4N)2[Mo6I8(n-C7F15COO)6], which is both efficient in the generation of singlet oxygen upon photoirradiation and compatible with the fluoropolymer (F23-L) known for its good oxygen permeability. Thus, (Bu4N)2[Mo6I8(n-C7F15COO)6]/F23-L mixtures have been solution-processed to give homogenous films of smooth and fibrous morphologies and which displayed high photoinduced antibacterial activity against four common pathogens under visible light irradiation. These materials thus have potential in applications ranging from antibacterial coatings to filtration membranes and air conditioners to prevent spread of bacterial infections

Layered Synthesis of Workpieces by the Method of Mig-Pulse Surface with the Use of Austenitic Metal-Core Wire with Nitrogen

Works were carried out on the synthesis of a workpiece using metal-cored wire with nitrogen (0,322 wt. %) using the mig-pulse-technology. It was possible to obtain a defect-free dense deposited metal with high strength and plastic characteristics.Работа выполнена при финансовой поддержке Министерства науки и высшего образования Российской Федерации (государственное задание № FSNM-2021-0011) и Российского фонда фундаментальных исследований (проект РФФИ 20-48-596006 р_НОЦ_Пермский край)