Settling of mollusks and sedimentation on artificial substrata in the Sukhodol Bay (​​Japan Sea)

Density of bivalve spat settled on collectors determines the yield of aquaculture plantation. It varies considerably in different water areas at Primorye coast and has year-to-year variability. The spat settling intensity in the last decade is considered for a marine farm in the Sukhodol Bay (Ussuri Bay) and sedimentation of suspended matter on collectors is estimated for the same plantation in the summer of 2012. Period of the scallop spat settling is rather long and continues until late June. Mean spat size is 9.2 ± 2.2 mm (modal group 8-10 mm), mean weight is 0.08 g. The average density of juvenile scallops Mizuhopecten yessoensis changes year-to-year from 77 to 200 ind./collector, and the density of juvenile mussels Mytilus trossulus - from 500 to 2,330 ind. per meter of the collectors set. These values provide the annual harvesting of > 2 million ind. of the scallop spat and 10-30 ton of commercial-size mussels from 1 hectare of plantation. Juveniles of sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus settle on collectors as well, in less number, but sufficient for their growing on bottom plantations in some years. Suspended matter sedimentation on collectors, including agrestal marine organisms, is rather high in the first months after the collectors installation - up to 0.31 ton/month per 1 hectare of standard plantation. Reclamation measures are recommended in the cases of high sedimentation, possibly installation of bicultural plantations in the water column

Subclinical Hypothyroidism after Radioiodine Exposure: Ukrainian–American Cohort Study of Thyroid Cancer and Other Thyroid Diseases after the Chornobyl Accident (1998–2000)

BackgroundHypothyroidism is the most common thyroid abnormality in patients treated with high doses of iodine-131 (131I). Data on risk of hypothyroidism from low to moderate 131I thyroid doses are limited and inconsistent.ObjectiveThis study was conducted to quantify the risk of hypothyroidism prevalence in relation to 131I doses received because of the Chornobyl accident.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional (1998-2000) screening study of thyroid diseases in a cohort of 11,853 individuals < 18 years of age at the time of the accident, with individual thyroid radioactivity measurements taken within 2 months of the accident. We measured thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), free thyroxine, and antibodies to thyroid peroxidase (ATPO) in serum.ResultsMean age at examination of the analysis cohort was 21.6 years (range, 12.2-32.5 years), with 49% females. Mean 131I thyroid dose was 0.79 Gy (range, 0-40.7 Gy). There were 719 cases with hypothyroidism (TSH > 4 mIU/L), including 14 with overt hypothyroidism. We found a significant, small association between (131)I thyroid doses and prevalent hypothyroidism, with the excess odds ratio (EOR) per gray of 0.10 (95% confidence interval, 0.03-0.21). EOR per gray was higher in individuals with ATPO < or = 60 U/mL compared with individuals with ATPO > 60 U/mL (p < 0.001).ConclusionsThis is the first study to find a significant relationship between prevalence of hypothyroidism and individual (131)I thyroid doses due to environmental exposure. The radiation increase in hypothyroidism was small (10% per Gy) and limited largely to subclinical hypothyroidism. Prospective data are needed to evaluate the dynamics of radiation-related hypothyroidism and clarify the role of antithyroid antibodies

Sealing mastics for road surfacing in Siberian regions

This paper provides the results of the studies of polymer-bitumen sealing compounds for sealing seams and cracks in asphalt con-crete road. The polymers used were waste from Krasnoyarsk factories (rubber-fabric and butyl-rubber crumbs) and Tomsk factories (polyethylene waste and atactic polypropylene). Here we formulate the basic require-ments for sealing compounds applied in the Siberian regions. An experi-ment has been carried out with the use of the planning method, we pre-pared the compounds and determined their basic properties, as well as plot-ted the isolines of the compounds’ properties depending on the proportion-ing of mineral powder and polymer waste. Based on the analysis of the iso-lines and comparing the properties with the requirements, we selected the optimal compositions of the prepared sealing compounds and defined their core indicators. As a result of the research, the mastic based on butyl-rubber crumbs was chosen as the one meeting all the requirements by all the indicators. This paper reflects the results of the test surveys on pouring cracks in the road surface of Krasnoyarsk. The developed sealing com-pound has been adopted in production on the roads of Krasnoyarsk Territo-ry

Sealing mastics for road surfacing in Siberian regions

This paper provides the results of the studies of polymer-bitumen sealing compounds for sealing seams and cracks in asphalt con-crete road. The polymers used were waste from Krasnoyarsk factories (rubber-fabric and butyl-rubber crumbs) and Tomsk factories (polyethylene waste and atactic polypropylene). Here we formulate the basic require-ments for sealing compounds applied in the Siberian regions. An experi-ment has been carried out with the use of the planning method, we pre-pared the compounds and determined their basic properties, as well as plot-ted the isolines of the compounds’ properties depending on the proportion-ing of mineral powder and polymer waste. Based on the analysis of the iso-lines and comparing the properties with the requirements, we selected the optimal compositions of the prepared sealing compounds and defined their core indicators. As a result of the research, the mastic based on butyl-rubber crumbs was chosen as the one meeting all the requirements by all the indicators. This paper reflects the results of the test surveys on pouring cracks in the road surface of Krasnoyarsk. The developed sealing com-pound has been adopted in production on the roads of Krasnoyarsk Territo-ry

Improving the efficiency of circular irrigation machines based on models of neural network irrigation control

The article presents the results of studies of the operational efficiency of circular irrigation machines based on models of neural network irrigation control. Existing irrigation machines are not fully able to realize their advantages in irrigation due to the high degree of energy intensity. Traditional approaches based only on physical modeling of technical processes and relationships often make it difficult to find effective solutions. Intelligent irrigation control is essential for maximum efficiency and productivity. An approach based on a model of data mining is proposed, namely, control of a sprinkler using a neurocontroller. Most irrigation systems use ON / OFF controllers. These controllers cannot give optimal results for different time delays and different system parameters. The proposed controller based on an artificial neural network was created using MATLAB. The main modeling parameters are water pressure and speed. Neurocontrol, leads to the possible implementation of better and more effective management of irrigation machines

Leading causes of death and concomitant pathology in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus according to autopsy data

Aims. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence rate of concomitant pathology and its influence on leading causes of death in patients withtype 2 diabetes mellitus according to clinical charts and pathologist's reports. Materials and methods. We have studied the database of Moscow City Hospital №50 in order to pick out confirmed cases of type 2 DM, treated inthe period from 2006 to 2008 years (302 patients, 9,97%). Prevalence rate of concomitant pathology and leading causes of death were then carefullystudied on this ground. Results. We examined clinical charts of 302 patients with type 2 DM - 219 female (72.5%) at the age of 76 [70;80] and 83 male at theage of 75 [68;80]. Cardiovascular pathology and cerebrovascular disease (acute cerebrovascular event and/or postinfarction encephalic cysts,discirculatory encephalopathy) (50.66%) showed high prevalence. Respiratory system diseases (25.8%), excessive body weight and obesity (21.5%),gallstone disease (19.86%), malignant neoplasm (16.2%), prostatic hyperplasia (found in 35 male patients, 42.17%), gynecologic pathology (foundin 23 female patients, 10.5%) and infectious inflammatory diseases of kidneys and urinary tract (8.6%) were also disclosed. Leading causes of deathwere found to be acute cerebrovascular events (28.8%), postinfarction cardiosclerosis (23.18%), acute/recurring myocardium infarction (19.54%)and malignant neoplasm (14.57%). High polypathy prevalence was discovered in studied cohort, and in one third of cases patients perished fromcombination of concurrent diseases.Conclusion: High prevalence rate of intercurrent diseases and polymorbidity in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus substantiate the need for thoroughexamination at different stages of medical care, treatment of existing malfunctions, as well as preventive measures against complications

Effect of CuBTC Composition, Structure, and Morphology on the Catalytic and Antimicrobial Properties

Based on our own and published results of the HKUST-1 (Cu3BTC2)-type organometallic polymers study by X-ray diffraction (cell parameters, intensity ratio of a series of indicator reflections) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (Cu2+ ions local coordination environment), the phase compositions determined by the synthesis conditions were proposed. Different local environments of Cu2+ ions in Cu3BTC2 structures were established depending on the compositions of the precursors with copper ions and solvent and their ratio, solution for post-synthetic treatment of finished samples, temperature, and duration of the process. A relationship between the proposed compositions and the cell parameters, Cu–Cu interatomic distance, and sample morphology was found, which made it possible to explain the catalytic properties (conversion degree and selectivity) of Cu3BTC2 and to identify the most promising catalyst. The Cu3BTC2 antimicrobial properties against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus and possible reasons for the maximum values of the growth inhibition zone were discussed. The concept of “topological structural type” was introduced, which combined phases of different compositions of the HKUST-1 type

Artificial Neural Networks for Predicting Food Antiradical Potential

Using an artificial neural network (ANN), the values of the antiradical potential of 1315 items of food and agricultural raw materials were calculated. We used an ANN with the structure of a “multilayer perceptron” (MLP) and with the hyberbolic tangent (Tanh) as an activation function. Values reported in the United States Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies (FNDDS) were taken as input to the analysis. When training the ANN, 60 parameters were used, such as the content of plastic substances, food calories, the amount of mineral components, vitamins, the composition of fatty acids and additional substances presented in this database. The analysis revealed correlations, namely, a direct relationship between the value of the antiradical potential (ARP) of food and the concentration of dietary fiber (r = 0.539) and a negative correlation between the value of ARP and the total calorie content of food (r = −0.432) at a significance level of p < 0.001 for both values. The average ARP value for 10 product groups within the 95% CI (confidence interval) was ≈23–28 equivalents (in terms of ascorbic acid) per 1 g of dry matter. The study also evaluated the range of average values of the daily recommended intake of food components (according to Food and Agriculture Organization—FAO, World Health Organization—WHO, Russia and the USA), which within the 95% CI, amounted to 23.41–28.98 equivalents per 1 g of dry weight. Based on the results of the study, it was found that the predicted ARP values depend not only on the type of raw materials and the method of their processing, but also on a number of other environmental and technological factors that make it difficult to obtain accurate values

Artificial Neural Networks for Predicting Food Antiradical Potential

Using an artificial neural network (ANN), the values of the antiradical potential of 1315 items of food and agricultural raw materials were calculated. We used an ANN with the structure of a “multilayer perceptron” (MLP) and with the hyberbolic tangent (Tanh) as an activation function. Values reported in the United States Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies (FNDDS) were taken as input to the analysis. When training the ANN, 60 parameters were used, such as the content of plastic substances, food calories, the amount of mineral components, vitamins, the composition of fatty acids and additional substances presented in this database. The analysis revealed correlations, namely, a direct relationship between the value of the antiradical potential (ARP) of food and the concentration of dietary fiber (r = 0.539) and a negative correlation between the value of ARP and the total calorie content of food (r = −0.432) at a significance level of p < 0.001 for both values. The average ARP value for 10 product groups within the 95% CI (confidence interval) was ≈23-28 equivalents (in terms of ascorbic acid) per 1 g of dry matter. The study also evaluated the range of average values of the daily recommended intake of food components (according to Food and Agriculture Organization-FAO, World Health Organization-WHO, Russia and the USA), which within the 95% CI, amounted to 23.41-28.98 equivalents per 1 g of dry weight. Based on the results of the study, it was found that the predicted ARP values depend not only on the type of raw materials and the method of their processing, but also on a number of other environmental and technological factors that make it difficult to obtain accurate values

Physicochemical and Structural Studies of Clathrate Hydrates of Tetrabutylammonium Polyacrylates

In this work, physicochemical and structural studies have been carried out for semiclathrate hydrates of linear (un-cross-linked) and cross-linked tetrabutylammonium polyacrylates with different degrees of cross-linking of the polymeric guest molecules (<i>n</i> = 0.5, 1, 2, 3%) and different degrees of substitution of proton ions of carboxylic groups in poly­(acrylic acid) for TBA cations (<i>x</i> = 1, 0.8, 0.6). The changes in the hydrates’ stability and composition depending on the outlined parameters were examined in the course of phase diagram studies of the binary systems water–tetrabutylammonium polyacrylates using differential thermal analysis method and calorimetric measurements of fusion enthalpies of the hydrates. Phase diagram studies of the binary system water–linear tetrabutylammonium polyacrylate revealed the formation of four hydrates. Based on the data of chemical analysis of hydrate crystals the compositions of all hydrates have been determined. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies revealed a tetragonal structure, space group 4/<i>m</i>, and unit cell parameters are close for different hydrates and lie in the ranges <i>a</i> = 23.4289–23.4713 Å and <i>c</i> = 12.3280–12.3651 Å (150 K). The structure can be related to tetragonal structure I typical for the clathrate hydrates of tetraalkylammonium salts with monomeric anions. Powder X-ray diffraction analyses confirmed the identity of the above crystal structure to that of the hydrates with cross-linked tetrabutylammonium polyacrylates. The behavior of TBA polyacrylate hydrates under the pressure of methane was studied and quantitative assessment of the gas content in the hydrates was made using volumetric analysis method