The paths to carbon neutrality in the Russian electric power industry

The Paris Climate Agreement has endorsed a strategic course towards “carbon neutrality” by 2050. Currently, all or at least most of the anthropogenic CO2 emission in Russia is absorbed by forests. The main sources of CO2 emission are fuel and energy sectors, including the electric power industry and transport. The introduction of a “carbon” tax can cause big losses for Russian manufacturers. To reduce the carbon intensity of electricity production and maintain “carbon neutrality” in the future Russia has to increase generation at nuclear, hydroelectric and other renewable energy sources, take measures to improve the fuel combustion efficiency at coal-fired power plants and introduce more economical gas turbine and combined cycle equipment installations at gas power plants

Implementation of a new pricing mechanism in the heat supply market

The article notes the lack of investment in heat supply market, which leads to increased wear and tear of both heat sources and heating networks, huge heat losses and non-competitiveness of district heating systems. A proposal is being considered to implement a new model of the heat market in all regions of Russia and to switch from direct state regulation of tariffs for heat energy (capacity) to contractual tariffs, the maximum level of which is determined by the “alternative boiler house” method. However, for those regions where the existing tariffs for heat energy (capacity) are higher than the established limit levels using the “alternative boiler house” method, the authors propose the use of other approaches and methods of tariff regulation, in particular, examples, advantages and disadvantages of using energy service contracts, tariff regulation based on method of return on invested capital, new legislation in terms of obtaining long-term loans for the modernization of infrastructure from the National Welfare Fund and the Housing and Utilities Reform Assistance Fund

Effect of a biological product with iron nanoparticles on the activity of soil enzymes and potato yields

The paper presents data on a three-year study (2020-2022) of the effect of a liquid-phase biological product containing iron nanoparticles (LPB-Fe), obtained by biosynthesis using green tea extract, on the yield of potatoes of the Skarb variety and the activity of soil enzymes under the conditions of Tverskaya areas. Comparative efficiency of LPB-Fe, the original LPB biopreparation, solution of iron nanoparticles Fe NPs was studied in the field against the background of NPK application. The results showed that the maximum productivity (669.1 g/bush) of potatoes was obtained by foliar treatment of vegetative plants with a 1% solution of LPB-Fe – 16.9 % more than the control variant (NPK background). With the separate use of a 1% solution of LPB and a 1% solution of Fe NPs, the productivity was 628.4 and 550.6 g/plant, respectively, which indicates an increase in their impact on potato plants when used together as part of LPB-Fe. It was noted that the activity of invertase correlated with the content of humus in the soil, and the activity of the protease correlated with the content of readily hydrolysable nitrogen. In addition, the study of the activity of enzymes in the soil under potatoes (catalase, dehydrogenase, invertase, cellulase and protease) showed that they have a significant impact on the yield of potatoes at different stages of the growing season with various technological methods of using biological preparations. For example, when treating potato tubers at the seedling stage, an inverse relationship was found between catalase activity in the soil and yield: the higher the enzyme activity, the lower the yield (correlation coefficient is -0.82). And in the case of cellulase, with the same technological method, on the contrary, a direct dependence is observed: the higher the activity of the enzyme in the soil at the seedling stage, the greater the yield (correlation coefficient is 0.72). Thus, when soil and plants are exposed to Fe-containing biological products, the activity of enzymes responsible for the transformation of the main biogenic elements (carbon and nitrogen) and redox processes occurring in the soil changes, which ultimately leads to a change in soil fertility and, therefore, either decrease or increase of crop yields.method, on the contrary, a direct dependence is observed: the higher the activity of the enzyme in the soil at the seedling stage, the greater the yield (correlation coefficient is 0.72). Thus, when soil and plants are exposed to Fe-containing biological products, the activity of enzymes responsible for the transformation of the main biogenic elements (carbon and nitrogen) and redox processes occurring in the soil changes, which ultimately leads to a change in soil fertility and, therefore, either decrease or increase of crop yields

Prospects and directions of digital transformation of Russian oil and gas companies

The article analyzes the current state of digital technologies in industry in general and in the oil industry in particular. To understand the essence of digitalization, the authors consider some of the provisions set out in the state program “Digital Economy of the Russian Federation”. Relevant digital technologies are proposed for use for each stage of the oil cycle, considering the technological and economic features, and the possibility of introducing digital technologies into the business processes of oil and gas companies is assessed. In the final part of the article, based on the analysis of the prospects for the implementation of digital economy technologies in oil and gas companies, the results from the implementation of these technologies are identified, which manifest themselves both in the financial aspect and in intangible assets. At the same time, the article also identifies the most significant risks associated with the implementation and operation of business processes based on digital technologies

The basic principles of pedagogical diagnostics in an assessment of the educational achievements of learners

The problem of pedagogical diagnostics which remains actual in modern pedagogical science and practice is considered in the article. Considering a state, properties and characteristics of learners, conditions in which the process of education and training is carried out, and also features of activity and professional and personal qualities of the teacher, the basic principles of pedagogical control at an assessment of educational achievements of students are defined in this scientific research. Module-rating assessment of educational achievements of students contributes to the quality of education in the University, because the educational process is carried out timely diagnosis, timely and objective, facilitating the timely introduction of changes in the educational process, the correct statement of teaching goals and the correct selection of pedagogical tools.Рассматривается проблема педагогической диагностики, которая остается актуальной и в современной педагогической науке и практике. Показано, что модульно-рейтинговая технология оценки учебных достижений студентов способствует повышению качества образования в вузе, так как в образовательном процессе осуществляется своевременная диагностика, оперативная и объективная, способствующая своевременному внесению изменений в учебный процесс, правильной постановке педагогических целей и корректному отбору педагогических средств

Capture of particles of dust by convective flow

Interaction of particles of dust with vortex convective flows is under theoretical consideration. It is assumed that the volume fraction of solid phase is small, variations of density due to nonuniform distribution of particles and those caused by temperature nonisothermality of medium are comparable. Equations for the description of thermal buoyancy convection of a dusty medium are developed in the framework of the generalized Boussinesq approximation taking into account finite velocity of particle sedimentation. The capture of a cloud of dust particles by a vortex convective flow is considered, general criterion for the formation of such a cloud is obtained. The peculiarities of a steady state in the form of a dust cloud and backward influence of the solid phase on the carrier flow are studied in detail for a vertical layer heated from the sidewalls. It is shown that in the case, when this backward influence is essential, a hysteresis behavior is possible. The stability analysis of the steady state is performed. It turns out that there is a narrow range of governing parameters, in which such a steady state is stable.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures, published in Physics of Fluid

STUDY OF THE EFFICIENCY AND SAFETY OF MYCOPHENOLATE MOFETIL THERAPY IN PATIENTSWITH SYSTEMIC SCLERODERMA

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is one of the major causes of death in systemic scleroderma (SSD). Treatment of these patients remains difficult and controversial. Mycophenolate mofetil (MPM) has been in vitro shown to inhibit overproduction of type I collagen and hence may be effective against SSD. Objective: to study the efficiency and safety of MPM therapy in patients with SSD and clinically relevant ILD in an open-label prospective study. Subjects and methods. Ten patients with SSD (7 and 3 with its diffuse and limited forms, respectively) and ILD were given MPM in combination with glucocorticoids (mean daily dose was 10+4 mg). The mean MPM therapy duration was 11.4+1.3 months. The Rodnan total skin thickness score, flexion index, forced vital capacity (FVC), diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO), and European Scleroderma Study Group (EScSG) activity index were estimated and a 6-minute walk test (6MWT) was carried out before and after MPM therapy. Results. After therapy, the whole group showed a significant reduction in skin scores from 12.9+9.8 to 5.6+3.2 (p=0.036) and EScSG from 3.9+1.4 to 2.25+1.03 (p=0.015) and an increase in exercise tolerance from 446+155 to 535+78 m (p=0.03) as evidenced by 6MWT. The degree of flexion contractures decreased from 15+21 to 3.7+11.3 mm (p>0.05). FVC (77.8+18.7% versus 73.8+11.3%) and DLCO (45+14.4% versus 42+16.4%) were significantly unchanged. A 10% or more clinically significant fall was noted in FVC and DLCO in 3 and 1 patients, respectively. In the remaining patients, the lung functional test results remained stable. MPM tolerability was satisfactory. All the patients completed their course of treatment. Conclusion. Stabilization of lung function with higher exercise tolerance and significantly reduced skin density allow therapy with MPM in combination with low-dose glucocorticoids to be regarded as an effective and well-tolerated treatment in patients with ILD in the presence of SS

European Space Agency experiments on thermodiffusion of fluid mixtures in space

Abstract.: This paper describes the European Space Agency (ESA) experiments devoted to study thermodiffusion of fluid mixtures in microgravity environment, where sedimentation and convection do not affect the mass flow induced by the Soret effect. First, the experiments performed on binary mixtures in the IVIDIL and GRADFLEX experiments are described. Then, further experiments on ternary mixtures and complex fluids performed in DCMIX and planned to be performed in the context of the NEUF-DIX project are presented. Finally, multi-component mixtures studied in the SCCO project are detailed