Functional and aesthetic approach to design of bird feeders

Anthropogenic objects which load the urban environment negatively affects the human psyche. The alternative is attracting elements of the natural environment into urban environment, of which some of the most frequently identified are birds. Attracting birds in the city is possible by means of feeders and artificial nests, however, both must be harmonious. The aim of this study is to analyze the essential functions of the feeders, and their integration into the environmental design and development of the city. On this basis an original feeder which is convenient for use by birds and attracts people's attention is developed. In this paper we apply comparative analysis of different types of feeders encountered in Tomsk, bird watching, and evaluate usability of different types of feeders from the position of their convenience both for birds and human beings. Historical-cultural analysis for determining features of the architectural and environmental design of Tomsk is carried out, the method allows us to solve engineering problems. In this study the feeder convenient for bird use is designed which blends harmoniously with the architectural design of Tomsk

Design as Means of Countering Vandalism

In this research the design in hardening of aesthetically valuable objects against vandalism is analyzed. There are two distinguished forms of vandalism: meaningless and meaningful ones. The purpose of this research is to develop design methods that enhance protection of aesthetically valuable objects against vandals. The harmonious development of the society is the main goal of culture. Actions that prevent movement to the harmonious development of society are treated as vandalism in this study, in a broad sense of the word. Meaningful vandalism is aimed at the destruction or desecration of objects with aesthetic or cultural value. The counteraction against the meaningful vandalism cannot be realized through the design. The research of vandalism motivation shows that meaningless vandalism does not have a pronounced goal. The main characteristic of meaningless vandalism is a destruction of the most at the lowest cost. It is shown in the study, how to resist the meaningless vandalism by using the objects of design. The relationship of design and mindless vandalism is not linear. Inharmonious design can provoke this type of vandalism. It is important to avoid stress and attention concentrators, when designing aesthetically valuable objects. Aimless (mindless) production is a kind of meaningless vandalism. Trash is the lower border of mindless vandalism and the upper border is meaningful vandalism. Violation of physical and spiritual ecology is the main source of mindless vandalism

The age limits and markers of old age as the characteristics of the social and age group of the elderly

У статті розглядаються критерії виділення меж старості в різних підходах, а саме медико-біологічному, психологічному, демографічному, а також соціальний критерій, придатний в якості теоретичного підґрунтя для створення соціологічного інструментарію. Визначається, що на сьогодні єдиного уявлення про час настання старості не існує, а традиційні маркери старості наповнюються новим змістом, вікові межі стають порівняно відносними.The article examines the criteria for separating old age in different approaches: medical-biological, psychological, demographic, as well as a social criterion, suitable as a theoretical basis for the creation of sociological tools. It is determined, that today there is no single idea of the time of the onset of old age, and the traditional markers of old age are filled with new content, age boundaries become relative.В статье рассматриваются критерии выделения границ старости в различных подходах, а именно медико-биологическом, психологическом, демографическом, а также социальный критерий, пригодный в качестве теоретической основы для создания социологического инструментария. Определяется, что сегодня единого представления о времени наступления старости не существует, а традиционные маркеры старости наполняются новым содержанием, возрастные границы становятся относительными

LED-technologies for bright light therapy

The significance of the LED-based medical equipment design is caused by the need to make up for the sunshine shortfall in many areas of Russia (Siberia, the Far East, the Extreme North) that will allow reducing dramatically the risk of seasonal affective disorders. The sunshine is the essential synchronizer of the human biological rhythms, the abnormality of which plays an important role in the seasonal affective disorder nature. The study allows proving the object database development able to meet the human demand for a comfortable and high-quality placemaking as well as the health potential recoverability

Stylization levels of industrial design objects

The urgency of the research of form making problem in design is associated with the necessity of new understanding of visual culture and new approaches to design engineering representing the integration of artistic and designed problems. The aim of this research is to study the levels of stylization of design objects and dependance (relation) on the specific project objectives and existing technologies. On the ground of quantitative evaluation, the stylization measures are emphasized: figurative image, stylized image and abstract image. Theoretic conclusions are complemented by practical problem solution over creating openwork metal lantern. Variants of both the traditional mains supply of the lantern and the autonomic supply system based on solar energy were offered. The role of semantic factor, affecting the depth of perception of design objects semantic space, is represented in this paper

Ligand Decomposition during Nanoparticle Synthesis: Influence of Ligand Structure and Precursor Selection

Aliphatic amine and carboxylic acid ligands are widely used as organic solvents during the bottom-up synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles (NPs). Although the ligands’ ability to alter final NP properties has been widely studied, side reactivity of these ligands is emerging as an important mechanism to consider. In this work, we study the thermal decomposition of common ligands with varying functional groups (amines and carboxylic acids) and bond saturations (from saturated to polyunsaturated). Here, we investigate how these ligand properties influence decomposition in the absence and presence of precursors used in NP synthesis. We show that during the synthesis of inorganic chalcogenide NPs (Cu2ZnSnS4, CuxS, and SnSx) with metal acetylacetonate precursors and elemental sulfur, the ligand pyrolyzes, producing alkylated graphitic species. Additionally, there was less to no ligand decomposition observed during the sulfur-free synthesis of ZnO and CuO with metal acetylacetonate precursors. These results will help guide ligand selection for NP syntheses and improve reaction purity, an important factor in many applications.journal articl

The design features of the body of the portable electrocardiograph "ECG-EXPRESS"

The sequence of the industrial product shaping is specified, the main modeling characteristics of the configuration and some of its parts are designated subject to the electrocardiograph design and the technologies used for the production of its body

LED-technologies for bright light therapy

The significance of the LED-based medical equipment design is caused by the need to make up for the sunshine shortfall in many areas of Russia (Siberia, the Far East, the Extreme North) that will allow reducing dramatically the risk of seasonal affective disorders. The sunshine is the essential synchronizer of the human biological rhythms, the abnormality of which plays an important role in the seasonal affective disorder nature. The study allows proving the object database development able to meet the human demand for a comfortable and high-quality placemaking as well as the health potential recoverability

Prevalence of risk factors of HIV contamination in injection drug using women in the Omsk Region

The results of an epidemiological study of risk factors of HIV infection among women, who inject drugs, are presented in this paper. Incidence of HIV among women during the period from 2005 to 2013 had a significant increasing trend from 2,1 to 63,3 per 100000 women. The predominance of parenteral transmission of HIV, as well as a significant prevalence of substance abuse disorders among women, determined a significant risk of morbidity for women with HIV infection (6,3 per 10,000 women). We included 115 women, taking injection drugs, in our study. Most of the women noted patterns of high risk HIV infection behavior, as well as the lack of knowledge about HIV prevention. 45% of women had been using drugs for 6-11 years, most of them have started using drugs at the age of 16-19 years, 40% of participants have used more than one type of drug, used common needles, syringes, together with other persons, including those with HIV infection. 23,8% of the women mentioned having unprotected sex, including sex with casual sex partners

Gold nanoparticle-polymer nanocomposites synthesized by room temperature atmospheric pressure plasma and their potential for fuel cell electrocatalytic application

Conductive polymers have been increasingly used as fuel cell catalyst support due to their electrical conductivity, large surface areas and stability. The incorporation of metal nanoparticles into a polymer matrix can effectively increase the specific surface area of these materials and hence improve the catalytic efficiency. In this work, a nanoparticle loaded conductive polymer nanocomposite was obtained by a one-step synthesis approach based on room temperature direct current plasmaliquid interaction. Gold nanoparticles were directly synthesized from HAuCl4 precursor in poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT: PSS). The resulting AuNPs/PEDOT: PSS nanocomposites were subsequently characterized under a practical alkaline direct ethanol fuel cell operation condition for its potential application as an electrocatalyst. Results show that AuNPs sizes within the PEDOT: PSS matrix are dependent on the plasma treatment time and precursor concentration, which in turn affect the nanocomposites electrical conductivity and their catalytic performance. Under certain synthesis conditions, unique nanoscale AuNPs/PEDOT: PSS core-shell structures could also be produced, indicating the interaction at the AuNPs/polymer interface. The enhanced catalytic activity shown by AuNPs/PEDOT: PSS has been attributed to the effective electron transfer and reactive species diffusion through the porous polymer network, as well as the synergistic interfacial interaction at the metal/polymer and metal/metal interfaces.Funding Agencies|UK EPSRC [EP/K022237/1, EP/M024938/1, EP/P00394X/1, EP/I013229/1]; National Natural Science Foundation of China [51203135]; InvestNI [PoC-325]; Department of Employment Learning; EU-COST Action [TD1208]</p