Kharkiv incoherent scatter facility

The structure, parameters and operating modes of the incoherent scatter radar of the Institute of Ionosphere, Kharkiv are presented. Some results of the ionosphere research obtained by this facility are shown.Наведено структуру, параметри і режими роботи радара некогерентного розсіяння Інституту іоносфери (м. Харків). Показано деякі результати спостережень іоносфери за допомогою цього обладнання

Воздействие высокой концентрации оксида азота на оксигенаторы аппаратов искусственного кровообращения (экспериментальное исследование)

The aim of the study. To study the effect of high nitric oxide concentrations on hollow polypropylene fibers of oxygenators.Materials and methods. The study was conducted in two stages. At the first stage, we evaluated the stability of oxygenator membrane made of hollow polypropylene fibers after six hours of exposure to air-oxygen mixture containing NO at 500 parts per million, or 500 pro pro mille (ppm) concentration, using mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy. At the second stage, an experiment with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was conducted on 10 pigs. In the study group (n=5) animals sweep gas was supplied to the oxygenator as an air-oxygen mixture with NO at 100 ppm. In the control group animals (n=5) an air-oxygen mixture was used without NO. The CPB lasted for 4 hours, followed by observation for 12 hours. NO, NO2 (at the inlet and outlet of the oxygenator), and the dynamics of methemoglobin were evaluated. After weaning of animals from CPB, the oxygenators were tested for leakproofness, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed.Results. The oxygenator made of polypropylene hollow fibers retained its gas transfer parameters after six hours of exposure to air-oxygen mixture containing NO at 500 ppm. Based on IR-Fourier spectroscopy findings, NO did not affect structural integrity of polypropylene membranes. NO added to gas mixture at 100 ppm did not increase NO2 to toxic level of 2 ppm in 91% of control tests during 4 hours CPB in pigs; mean value was 1.58 ± 0.28 ppm. Methemoglobin concentration did not exceed the upper limit of permissible level (3%), and there were no statistically significant differences with the control group. All tested oxygenators have passed the leakproofness test. According to SEM findings, larger amounts of fibrin deposits were found in the control group oxygenators vs study group.Conclusion. There were no negative effects of NO at 500 ppm concentration on the oxygenator membrane made of hollow polypropylene fibers. NO at 100 ppm in a gas-mixture supplied to oxygenators did not lead to an exceedance of safe NO2 and methemoglobin concentrations in an animal model. Reduced fibrin deposits on hollow fibers of polypropylene oxygenator membranes were observed when with NO at a level of 100 ppm was added to a gas mixture.  Цель исследования. Изучить воздействие высоких концентраций оксида азота на полипропиленовые полые волокна оксигенаторов.Материалы и методы. Исследование провели в два этапа. На первом этапе с помощью масс-спектрометрии и инфракрасной спектроскопии выполнили оценку стабильности мембраны оксигенатора из полых волокон полипропилена после шестичасового воздействия воздушно-кислородной смеси, содержащей NO в концентрации 500 пропромилле, или 500 частей на миллион – parts per million (ppm). На втором этапе провели эксперимент на 10 свиньях с подключением аппарата искусственного кровообращения (ИК). Животным основной группы (n=5) в оксигенатор подавали воздушно-кислородную смесь, содержащую NO в концентрации 100 ppm. Животным контрольной группы (n=5) в оксигенатор подавали воздушно-кислородную смесь без NO. Процедура ИК длилась 4 часа, затем следовало наблюдение в течение 12 часов. Оценивали NO, NO2 (на входе и выходе из оксигенатора), динамику метгемоглобина. После отключения от ИК оксигенаторы тестировали на герметичность, а также выполняли сканирующую электронную микроскопию (СЭМ).Результаты. Оксигенатор из полипропиленовых полых волокон сохранял свои газотранспортные характеристики после шестичасового воздействия воздушно-кислородной смеси с добавлением NO в концентрации 500 ppm. По данным ИК-Фурье спектроскопии показали, что NO не влияет на структуру мембран из полипропилена. Добавление NO в дозировке 100 ppm во время 4 часов ИК у свиней не сопровождалось повышением концентрации NO2 до токсичного уровня 2 ppm в 91% измерений: среднее значение составило 1,58 ± 0,28 ppm. Концентрация метгемоглобина не превышала верхнего  предела  допустимых  значений  (3%),  не  обнаружили  каких-либо статистически значимых различий при сравнении с группой контроля. Все исследуемые оксигенаторы выдержали тестирование на герметичность. По результатам СЭМ оксигенаторы группы контроля характеризовались большим количеством отложений фибрина, чем оксигенаторы основной группы.Заключение. Негативного воздействия NO в концентрации 500 ppm на мембраны оксигенаторов из полых волокон полипропилена не обнаружили. Подача в оксигенатор NO в концентрации 100 ppm NO2 не приводила к превышению безопасного содержания NO2 и метгемоглобина в эксперименте на животных. Выявили снижение образования отложений фибрина на полых волокнах мембран оксигенаторов из полипропилена при подаче NO в концентрации 100 ppm

Attitude to climate changes in everyday management practice at the level of Kaliningrad region municipalities

Representanter för kommuner i Kaliningradområdet deltog i en enkätundersökning där frågeformuläret var utformat inom projekten ECOSUPPORT och BalticClimate. Svarssammanställningen visade att för närvarande rankas inte klimatrelaterade problem nämnvärt högt eftersom andra typer av samhällsproblem överskuggar, framförallt problem av socioekonomisk karaktär. Av denna anledning bedrivs kommunernas politik utan att ta hänsyn till klimatförändringar, trots att många vetenskapliga institutioner framhåller klimatförändringsrelaterade problem och dess konsekvenser. Avslutningsvis diskuteras utvecklingsstrategier för kommunerna i Kaliningradområdet i ljuset av klimatförändringen.A survey was conducted, based on a questionnaire developed within the projects ECOSUPPORT and BalticClimate. The respondents were representatives from municipalities in the Kaliningrad region. The answers showed that at the present time the climate related problems are not of high importance since other problems prevail, most of all – the socioeconomic problems. Therefore the municipality management is performed without taking climate change into account despite the fact that many scientific institutions emphasize the problem of climate change and its consequences. Municipal development strategies were discussed and their relationship to climate chang

Żegluga na Zalewie Wiślanym – analiza i możliwości częściowego zastąpienia połączeń lądowych

In Poland and Russia, sharing the Vistula Lagoon, there are strong tendencies toward developing tourism, on the local and national scale. Socio-economic development of the Vistula Lagoon subregion can benefit from the ongoing process of improving infrastructure of ports and harbours. The aim of the paper is to analyse transport accessibility of ports and harbours of the Lagoon. Potential partially to replace land transport by ships is investigated. Travel times by land and waterways between ports and harbours of the Vistula Lagoon within national borders and the entire Lagoon basin are compared. On average, water transport requires more time – up to four hours, than land transport – up to three hours. However, advantages of water transport in travels from inner ports, like Frombork, Mamonovo, Nowa Pasłęka, and Ushakovo, to ports on the Vistula Spit are obvious. Due to shorter travel distances, water travel in the Polish part of the Vistula Lagoon is less time-consuming than in the Russian part.W Polsce i Rosji, współgospodarujących na Zalewie Wiślanym, istnieją silne tendencje rozwoju turystyki w skali lokalnej i krajowej. Rozwój społeczno-gospodarczy subregionu Zalewu Wiślanego może skorzystać z trwającego tam procesu poprawy infrastruktury portów i przystani. Celem pracy jest analiza transportowej dostępności portów i przystani Zalewu Wiślanego lądem i wodą oraz zbadanie potencjalnych możliwości częściowego zastąpienia transportu lądowego przez transport wodny. Dokonano oceny czasu podróży lądem i wodą między portami i przystaniami Zalewu Wiślanego – między portami krajowymi, a także między portami różnych krajów. Średnio biorąc, korzystanie z transportu wodnego wymaga nieco więcej czasu w całym regionie, do 4 godzin, niż w przypadku podróży samochodem, do 3 godzin. Przewaga transportu wodnego jest bezsporna w podróży z portów na wewnętrznym brzegu Zalewu jak Frombork, Mamonowo, Nowa Pasłęka, Uszakowo do portów położonych na Mierzei Wiślanej. Ze względu na mniejsze odległości drogą wodną żegluga w polskiej części Zalewu jest bardziej korzystna niż po stronie rosyjskiej

Experimentally Created Magnetic Force in Microbiological Space and On-Earth Studies: Perspectives and Restrictions

Magnetic force and gravity are two fundamental forces affecting all living organisms, including bacteria. On Earth, experimentally created magnetic force can be used to counterbalance gravity and place living organisms in conditions of magnetic levitation. Under conditions of microgravity, magnetic force becomes the only force that moves bacteria, providing an acceleration towards areas of the lowest magnetic field and locking cells in this area. In this review, we consider basic principles and experimental systems used to create a magnetic force strong enough to balance gravity. Further, we describe how magnetic levitation is applied in on-Earth microbiological studies. Next, we consider bacterial behavior under combined conditions of microgravity and magnetic force onboard a spacecraft. At last, we discuss restrictions on applications of magnetic force in microbiological studies and the impact of these restrictions on biotechnological applications under space and on-Earth conditions

Reactions of [H2OS3(CO)(10)] with conjugated diynes (RC2C2R ') containing nucleophilic oxygen in beta position of a substituent (R = Ph, R ' = CH2OH, C(O)Ph; R = R ' = CMe2(OH))

Reactions of [H2Os3(CO)10] with a series of diynes, RC2C2R' (1: R = Ph, R' = CH2OH; 2: R = Ph, R' = C(O)Ph; 3: R = R' = C(OH)Me2), have been studied. It was found that upon coordination to the triosmium cluster, the nucleophilic oxygens of the R' substituents of 1 and 2 take part in intramolecular cyclization reactions to give [HOs3(CO)10{-1:2-PhCH2(C=CH-C=CH-O)}] (5) and [HOs3(CO)10{-1:1-Ph(C=CH-C=C-O)CPh}] (6), respectively, both of which contain furan rings coordinated to the cluster core. On heating of the latter compound, the furan moiety remains intact, but a carbonyl group dissociates from the cluster, leading to the formation of [HOs3(CO)9(3-1:3:1-Ph(C=CH-C=C-O)CPh)] (7) with a closed "C3Os3" pentagonal pyramidal structure. Reaction of [H2Os3(CO)10] with 3 does not lead to cyclization of the diyne; instead, the clusters [Os3(CO)10{3-2-(RCH=CH-C2R)}] (8) and [Os3(CO)10{3-2-(RC2C2R)}] (9) are formed. Deuterium labeling of the starting compounds has been used in the reaction of [H2Os3(CO)10] with HOCH2C2C2CH2OH in order to investigate possible mechanisms of the cyclization reaction. The crystal and molecular structures of clusters 5, 7, and 9 are presented

Combined Impact of Magnetic Force and Spaceflight Conditions on Escherichia coli Physiology

Changes in bacterial physiology caused by the combined action of the magnetic force and microgravity were studied in Escherichia coli grown using a specially developed device aboard the International Space Station. The morphology and metabolism of E. coli grown under spaceflight (SF) or combined spaceflight and magnetic force (SF + MF) conditions were compared with ground cultivated bacteria grown under standard (control) or magnetic force (MF) conditions. SF, SF + MF, and MF conditions provided the up-regulation of Ag43 auto-transporter and cell auto-aggregation. The magnetic force caused visible clustering of non-sedimenting bacteria that formed matrix-containing aggregates under SF + MF and MF conditions. Cell auto-aggregation was accompanied by up-regulation of glyoxylate shunt enzymes and Vitamin B12 transporter BtuB. Under SF and SF + MF but not MF conditions nutrition and oxygen limitations were manifested by the down-regulation of glycolysis and TCA enzymes and the up-regulation of methylglyoxal bypass. Bacteria grown under combined SF + MF conditions demonstrated superior up-regulation of enzymes of the methylglyoxal bypass and down-regulation of glycolysis and TCA enzymes compared to SF conditions, suggesting that the magnetic force strengthened the effects of microgravity on the bacterial metabolism. This strengthening appeared to be due to magnetic force-dependent bacterial clustering within a small volume that reinforced the effects of the microgravity-driven absence of convectional flows