First experiences in the application of biopreparations against the cherry fruit fly in Southern Russia in 2007

On the Russian market there are no currently registered biological preparations for the control of Rhagoletis cerasi (cherry fruit fly, CFF), and therefore the effects of natural products against this pest were studied. In laboratory, semi-field and field experiments a range of botanicals (NeemAzal-T/S and Quassia-MD) were tested alone and in combination with comparison product Phytoverm and chemical standard insecticides for their effectiveness against R. cerasi in commercial orchards. These products showed a high biological effectiveness against R. cerasi comparable with chemical insecticides

A Generalized Multiscale Finite Element Method for Poroelasticity Problems I: Linear Problems

In this paper, we consider the numerical solution of poroelasticity problems that are of Biot type and develop a general algorithm for solving coupled systems. We discuss the challenges associated with mechanics and flow problems in heterogeneous media. The two primary issues being the multiscale nature of the media and the solutions of the fluid and mechanics variables traditionally developed with separate grids and methods. For the numerical solution we develop and implement a Generalized Multiscale Finite Element Method (GMsFEM) that solves problem on a coarse grid by constructing local multiscale basis functions. The procedure begins with construction of multiscale bases for both displacement and pressure in each coarse block. Using a snapshot space and local spectral problems, we construct a basis of reduced dimension. Finally, after multiplying by a multiscale partitions of unity, the multiscale basis is constructed in the offline phase and the coarse grid problem then can be solved for arbitrary forcing and boundary conditions. We implement this algorithm on two heterogenous media and compute error between the multiscale solution with the fine-scale solutions. Randomized oversampling and forcing strategies are also tested.Comment: arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1309.6030 by other author

A Generalized Multiscale Finite Element Method for poroelasticity problems II: nonlinear coupling

In this paper, we consider the numerical solution of some nonlinear poroelasticity problems that are of Biot type and develop a general algorithm for solving nonlinear coupled systems. We discuss the difficulties associated with flow and mechanics in heterogenous media with nonlinear coupling. The central issue being how to handle the nonlinearities and the multiscale scale nature of the media. To compute an efficient numerical solution we develop and implement a Generalized Multiscale Finite Element Method (GMsFEM) that solves nonlinear problems on a coarse grid by constructing local multiscale basis functions and treating part of the nonlinearity locally as a parametric value. After linearization with a Picard Iteration, the procedure begins with construction of multiscale bases for both displacement and pressure in each coarse block by treating the staggered nonlinearity as a parametric value. Using a snapshot space and local spectral problems, we construct an offline basis of reduced dimension. From here an online, parametric dependent, space is constructed. Finally, after multiplying by a multiscale partitions of unity, the multiscale basis is constructed and the coarse grid problem then can be solved for arbitrary forcing and boundary conditions. We implement this algorithm on a geometry with a linear and nonlinear pressure dependent permeability field and compute error between the multiscale solution with the fine-scale solutions

Language ideology and identity construction in public educational meetings

The study explores educational meetings that have a goal of promoting the Belarusian language and providing a platform for people who want to interact in this language. These meetings are not like any traditional language courses; they are rather a public discussion space for a community of people who speak Belarusian, try to speak this language, or are interested in it. Findings demonstrate how the identity of a Belarusian-speaking Belarusian is interactionally constructed and speaking Belarusian is framed in relation to identity formation and language ideology

The facilitator’s communicative actions to construct meetings in a semi-informal educational context

The study examines how interactivity is constructed in the course of multi-person interaction in a semi-informal educational context. The audio-recordings of seven meetings of a female discussion club in Belarus and their transcripts serve as interactional data. The club was organized with a goal of providing a platform for females to engage in intellectual discussions in an informal setting. The study takes the communication design approach and uses discourse analysis. The analysis of the audio recordings and the transcripts is guided by the following question: how the participants’ use of linguistic and interactional resources contributes to the construction of a meeting. The particular attention is paid to the facilitator’s communicative actions to shape interaction and their local context

Strategic maneuvering in dispute mediation

The study examines transcripts from dispute mediation to explore mediators’ strategic maneuvering for keeping the disputants on task – that is, on negotiating plans about caring for their children. The article discusses mediators’ institutional practices to keep disputants on task and to constrain what becomes arguable. It analyzes strategic maneuvering at the levels of topical potential, audience demands, and presentational devices. The study also suggests that the concept of strategic maneuvering can be further developed by including identities as another type of interactional resources employed to shape argumentative activity. It focuses on how mediators use interactional resources to balance institutional goals (i.e. reaching an agreement) and interactional goals (i.e. sustaining participants’ face) and to shape an institutionally preferred interactivity

Influence of OATP1B1 Function on the Disposition of Sorafenib-β-D-Glucuronide

The oral multikinase inhibitor sorafenib undergoes extensive UGT1A9-mediated formation of sorafenib-β-D-glucuronide (SG). Using transporter-deficient mouse models, it was previously established that SG can be extruded into bile by ABCC2 or follow a liver-to-blood shuttling loop via ABCC3-mediated efflux into the systemic circulation, and subsequent uptake in neighboring hepatocytes by OATP1B-type transporters. Here we evaluated the possibility that this unusual process, called hepatocyte hopping, is also operational in humans and can be modulated through pharmacological inhibition. We found that SG transport by OATP1B1 or murine Oatp1b2 was effectively inhibited by rifampin, and that this agent can significantly increase plasma levels of SG in wildtype mice, but not in Oatp1b2-deficient animals. In human subjects receiving sorafenib, rifampin acutely increased the systemic exposure to SG. Our study emphasizes the need to consider hepatic handling of xenobiotic glucuronides in the design of drug-drug interaction studies of agents that undergo extensive phase II conjugation

Локальная система контроля и предупреждения аварийных ситуаций на хлороопасных предприятиях и объектах Украины

Розглянуто деякі питання вирішення проблеми контролю концентрації хлору в повітрі робочої зони промислових підприємств та запропоновано створення системи контролю і попередження аварійних ситуацій з використанням засобів газового аналізу.Some questions of the decision of a problem of the control of concentration of chlorine in air of a working zone of the industrial enterprises are considered. The recommendations for creation of the monitoring system and prevention of emergencies with use of means of the gas analysis are given.Рассмотрены некоторые вопросы решения проблемы контроля концентрации хлора в воздухе рабочей зоны промышленных предприятий. Даны рекомендации по созданию системы контроля и предупреждение аварийных ситуаций с использованием средств газового анализа

The Search for Invariance: Repeated Positive Testing Serves the Goals of Causal Learning

Positive testing is characteristic of exploratory behavior, yet it seems to be at odds with the aim of information seeking. After all, repeated demonstrations of one’s current hypothesis often produce the same evidence and fail to distinguish it from potential alternatives. Research on the development of scientific reasoning and adult rule learning have both documented and attempted to explain this behavior. The current chapter reviews this prior work and introduces a novel theoretical account—the Search for Invariance (SI) hypothesis—which suggests that producing multiple positive examples serves the goals of causal learning. This hypothesis draws on the interventionist framework of causal reasoning, which suggests that causal learners are concerned with the invariance of candidate hypotheses. In a probabilistic and interdependent causal world, our primary goal is to determine whether, and in what contexts, our causal hypotheses provide accurate foundations for inference and intervention—not to disconfirm their alternatives. By recognizing the central role of invariance in causal learning, the phenomenon of positive testing may be reinterpreted as a rational information-seeking strategy