Physical properties of thermoelectric zinc antimonide using first-principles calculations

We report first principles calculations of the structural, electronic, elastic and vibrational properties of the semiconducting orthorhombic ZnSb compound. We study also the intrinsic point defects in order to eventually improve the thermoelectric properties of this already very promising thermoelectric material. Concerning the electronic properties, in addition to the band structure, we show that the Zn (Sb) crystallographically equivalent atoms are not exactly equivalent from the electronic point of view. Lattice dynamics, elastic and thermodynamic properties are found to be in good agreement with experiments and they confirm the non equivalency of the zinc and antimony atoms from the vibrational point of view. The calculated elastic properties show a relatively weak anisotropy and the hardest direction is the y direction. We observe the presence of low energy modes involving both Zn and Sb atoms at about 5-6 meV, similarly to what has been found in Zn4Sb3 and we suggest that the interactions of these modes with acoustic phonons could explain the relatively low thermal conductivity of ZnSb. Zinc vacancies are the most stable defects and this explains the intrinsic p-type conductivity of ZnSb.Comment: 33 pages, 8 figure

Carbon Sequestration Dynamics in Urban-Adjacent Forests: A 50-Year Analysis

Achieving carbon neutrality is crucial for urban ecosystems. Forests growing near cities largely determine the state of the environment in urban areas. The aim of the present research is to assess the carbon productivity dynamics in forests near Krasnoyarsk (a large industrial center) over a 50-year period in terms of carbon sequestration and conservation. The study was based on forest inventory conducted in Karaul'noe Forestry in 1972, 1982, and 2002 and forest inventory covering six forest compartments in 2022. The forest covers 3980 ha and consists of 52 forest compartments. The analysis was based on the assessment of carbon productivity dynamics and followed four levels of principles: forestry, structure, forest compartment, and forest stand. The research was based on forest fund dynamics, analyzing methods, long-term forest inventory, assessing carbon stock, and growing stock dynamics. Pine is the dominant forest-forming species that absorbs the most carbon in the study area. Pine is long-lived, covers a vast area, and has the highest carbon sequestration potential. At the forest structure level, the predominant carbon pools are mid-late successional and late successional stands dominated by pine, birch, and aspen. Forest compartment-level analysis revealed three trends in carbon sequestration: carbon balance, a decrease in carbon sequestration, and an increase in carbon sequestration. Notably, the prevailing trend is determined by changes in carbon sequestration by dominant forest-forming species (pine). Forest stand-level analysis showed that stands have become more and more uneven-aged. About 65% of total carbon stock is concentrated in mid successional, mid-late successional and late-successional stands, and 35% in young stands. The carbon sequestration rate decreases in forests with age. However, pine forests increase biological productivity and continue to successfully sequester carbon. Deciduous forests have lost their carbon sequestration potential, and the area they occupy is currently decreasing in the study area. The development of the young generation in pine stands suggests that the carbon sequestration potential in forests growing near the city will not decrease and may even increase due to climate change. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2023-09-09-08 Full Text: PD

Fatty Acid Binding Domain Mediated Conjugation of Ultrafine Magnetic Nanoparticles with Albumin Protein

A novel bioconjugate of stearic acid capped maghemite nanoparticle (γ-Fe2O3) with bovine serum albumin (BSA) was developed by taking recourse to the fatty acid binding property of the protein. From FT-IR study, it was found that conjugation took place covalently between the amine group of protein molecule and carboxyl group of stearic acid capped maghemite nanoparticle. TEM study further signified the morphology of the proposed nanobioconjuagte. The binding constant of nanoparticle with protein molecule was evaluated from the optical property studies. Also, magnetic measurement (M–H) showed retaining of magnetic property by significant values of saturation magnetization and other hysteretic parameters

ЭПИДЕМИЧЕСКАЯ СИТУАЦИЯ ПО ТУБЕРКУЛЕЗУ В АЗЕРБАЙДЖАНСКОЙ РЕСПУБЛИКЕ ЗА 2011-2015 гг

Goal of the study: to evaluate tuberculosis epidemic situation in Azerbaijan in 2011-2015.Materials and methods. The following tuberculosis rates were analyzed and compared: incidence, prevalence and mortality for 5 years (2011-2015) basing on the data of official statistic reporting (Form no.8 and Form no. 20) for 2011-2015.Results. During 5 years (2011-2015) tuberculosis incidence decreased by 22.2%, prevalence by 20.3%, mortality by 7.3%, tuberculosis incidence in children by 28.5% and prevalence by 35.6%. These positive changes resulted from strengthening and optimization of tuberculosis care in the Republic. Цель исследования: изучение эпидемической ситуации по туберкулезу в Азербайджане за 2011-2015 гг.Материалы и методы. Проведен сравнительный анализ показателей эпидемического процесса при туберкулезе: заболеваемости, распространенности и смертности за 5 лет (2011-2015 гг.) по данным официальной статистической отчетности (форма № 8 и форма № 20) за 2011-2015 гг.Результаты. За 5 лет (2011-2015 гг.) уровень заболеваемости туберкулезом снизился на 22,2%, уровень распространенности - на 20,3%, смертности - на 7,3%, заболеваемости детей туберкулезом - на 28,5%, распространенности - на 35,6%. Эти благоприятные изменения явились результатом начатой ранее интенсификации и оптимизации противотуберкулезной работы в республике

Algorithm of physical diagnostics of dorsopathies of the cervical and thoracic spine

The article presents an algorithm tor the physical examination of patients suffering from degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine. Dorsopathies of the cervical and thoracic spine are manifested in a variety of different symptoms, and differential diagnosis comes with a wide range of diseases. Every physician involved in the rehabilitation of patients with this type of pathology should receive a systematic understanding of the physical diagnosis, which allows avoiding damage to the patient's health and obtaining the maximum effect in treatment.В статье представлен алгоритм физикального обследования пациентов, страдающих дегенеративно-дистрофическими заболеваниями позвоночника. Дорсопатии шейного и грудного отдела позвоночника проявляются множеством различных симптомов, а дифференциальная диагностика идет с широким спектром заболеваний. Каждый врач, занимающийся реабилитацией больных с данным видом патологии, должен получить системное представление о физикальной диагностики, позволяющее избежать нанесения вреда здоровью пациента и получить максимальный эффект в лечении

Особенности получения биодизеля первого поколения в аппарате с вихревым слоем

The possibility of intensifying the process of transesterification of triglycerides of carboxylic acids of vegetable oils with alcohols C1-C3 in the presence of potassium hydroxide in an apparatus with a vortex sheet is shown. Analysis of the composition of mixtures of methyl esters of carboxylic acids of sunflower oil showed that the redistribution of hydrogen and the destructive transformation in the system take place along with the transesterification reactions. This results in the expenditure of octadecyl acid ether.Показана возможность интенсификации процесса переэтерификации триглицеридов карбоновых кислот растительных масел спиртами С1-С3 в присутствии гидроксида калия в аппарате с вихревым слоем. Анализ состава смесей метиловых эфиров карбоновых кислот подсолнечного масла показал, что наряду с переэтерификацией в системе протекают реакции перераспределения водорода и деструктивные превращения, приводящие к исчезновению в биодизеле метилового эфира октадеценовой кислоты

Manual therapy on the thoracic spine, general and private technical receptions

Methods of manual therapy on chest department of a backbone, including cervicothoracic and grudo-lumbar transition are presented in article. The general methodical principles of carrying out mobilization and the principles of carrying out traction mobilization are sorted.The general handling methods of manual therapy on chest department of a backbone which are carried out consistently by the described technique fully allow to create the effective base, to be as a preparatory stage before the aimed exact work on zones of blocking and dysfunction in chest department of a backbone, and can be, in certain cases, independent version of the purposeful exact handling equipment.В статье представлены приемы мануальной терапии на грудном отделе позвоночника, включая шейно-грудной и грудо-поясничный переход. Разобраны общие методические принципы проведения мобилизации и принципы проведения тракционной мобилизации. Общие манипуляционные приемы мануальной терапии на грудном отделе позвоночника, выполняемые последовательно по описанной методике, в полной мере позволяют создавать эффективный плацдарм, быть как подготовительным этапом перед нацеленной точной работой на зонах блокировки и дисфункции в грудном отделе позвоночника, так и могут являться, в некоторых случаях, самостоятельным вариантом целенаправленной точной манипуляционной техники

РОЛЬ ОППОРТУНИСТИЧЕСКИХ ИНФЕКЦИЙ В ВОЗНИКНОВЕНИИ ОСЛОЖНЕНИЙ У ДЕТЕЙ

The article highlights problems in the diagnosis of opportunistic infections (OI), shows the frequency of detection of acute infections in children with immunodeficiency and without marked disturbances in the immune system. The mothers and their ailing children were surveyed, The children were diagnosed with immune neutropenia. High presence of opportunistic infection pathogens was revealed both in mothers and in children. 4,5% of cases proved the mother to be the source of infection. The article discusses the role of causative agents of OI in the etiology of obstructive bronchitis and prolonged subfebrility in children. В статье освещены вопросы диагностики оппортунистических инфекций (ОИ), показана частота выявления острых форм инфекции у детей с иммунодефицитом и без выраженных нарушений в иммунной системе. Проведены наблюдения за парами мать — ребенок, где ребенок болен иммунной нейтропенией и была показана высокая инфицированность как матерей, так и детей возбудителями ОИ. В 4,5% случаев была доказана роль матери как источника инфекции. Определена роль возбудителей ОИ в этиологии обструктивных бронхитов и длительных субфебрилитетов у детей.

P2Y2 and P2Y6 receptor activation elicits intracellular calcium responses in human adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells

Adipose tissue contains self-renewing multipotent cells termed mesenchymal stromal cells. In situ, these cells serve to expand adipose tissue by adipogenesis, but their multipotency has gained interest for use in tissue regeneration. Little is known regarding the repertoire of receptors expressed by adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (AD-MSCs). The purpose of this study was to undertake a comprehensive analysis of purinergic receptor expression. Mesenchymal stromal cells were isolated from human subcutaneous adipose tissue and confirmed by flow cytometry. The expression profile of purinergic receptors was determined by quantitative real-time PCR and immunocytochemistry. The molecular basis for adenine and uracil nucleotide-evoked intracellular calcium responses was determined using Fura-2 measurements. All the known subtypes of P2X and P2Y receptors, excluding P2X2, P2X3 and P2Y12 receptors, were detected at the mRNA and protein level. ATP, ADP and UTP elicited concentration-dependent calcium responses in mesenchymal cells (N = 7–9 donors), with a potency ranking ADP (EC50 1.3 ± 1.0 μM) > ATP (EC50 2.2 ± 1.1 μM) = UTP (3.2 ± 2.8 μM). Cells were unresponsive to UDP (< 30 μM) and UDP-glucose (< 30 μM). ATP responses were attenuated by selective P2Y2 receptor antagonism (AR-C118925XX; IC50 1.1 ± 0.8 μM, 73.0 ± 8.5% max inhibition; N = 7 donors), and UTP responses were abolished. ADP responses were attenuated by the selective P2Y6 receptor antagonist, MRS2587 (IC50 437 ± 133nM, 81.0 ± 8.4% max inhibition; N = 6 donors). These data demonstrate that adenine and uracil nucleotides elicit intracellular calcium responses in human AD-MSCs with a predominant role for P2Y2 and P2Y6 receptor activation. This study furthers understanding about how human adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells can respond to external signalling cues