Mathematical modeling of seismic and acousto-gravitational waves in a heterogeneous earth–atmosphere model

AbstractA numerical–analytical solution to problems of seismic and acoustic-gravitational wave propagation is applied to a heterogeneous Earth–Atmosphere model. The seismic wave propagation in an elastic half-space is described by a system of first order dynamic equations of the elasticity theory. The propagation of acoustic-gravitational waves in the atmosphere is described by the linearized Navier–Stokes equations. The algorithm proposed is based on the integral Laguerre transform with respect to time, the finite integral Bessel transform along the radial coordinate with a finite difference solution of the reduced problem along the vertical coordinate. The algorithm is numerically tested for the heterogeneous Earth–Atmosphere model for different source locations

Analysis of spatial humus distribution in virgin and arable Chernozems in the eroding landscapes

A statistical assessment of data on the content and spatial distribution of humus in virgin and arable Chernozems on slopes in the south of the forest-steppe zone of the Central Russian Upland was performed. The greatest number of statistically significant differences between arable and virgin Chernozems was found for the upper soil layer (0–20 cm

Towards to Extraction of Nanodispersed Noble Metals From Natural Black Graphite Shales

A theoretical approach based on the density functional theory and the pseudopotential method was applied to consider diffusion and accumulation of Au, Pt, and Pd in graphite. It is shown that Pt atoms migrate easily inside graphite. They can stop at structure defects and accumulate there, attracting each other and forming plate clusters. Atoms of gold do not penetrate into graphite but link with edge atoms of broken graphite crystallites, forming three-dimensional metallic particles. Palladium behavior is intermediate between platinum and gold. Addition of silicon into graphite can promote the extraction of noble metals because Si atoms force out Pt, Pd, and Au atoms from their bonded states. Last effect can be used as a mechanism of striking off metals from graphite and their extraction from shale

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and mineral waters of Ukraine – opportunities of application (experimental-clinical studies)

Non-alcoholic fat liver disease (NAFLD) is an urgent problem of modern healthcare and ranks first among all liver diseases worldwide, assuming the nature of an epidemic. The pathogenesis of NAFLD is complex and insufficiently studied, and therefore pharmacological therapy is not always effective and causes negative side effects (or complications). Treatment with mineral waters (MW) is one of the most effective methods of treating diseases of the digestive system and metabolic disorders. Objective: to study the effect of sulphate MW on metabolic disturbances in rats with the experimental NAFLD model for the purpose of scientifically substantiating its use in the complex of treatment of patients. Morphological studies have established that the use of sulfate MW in healthy animals causes an increase in the functional activity of the liver and stomach, which indicates a pronounced biologic activity of this MW. In animals under the influence of sulphate MW was determined a significant reduction in hepatic steatosis according to the morphological study of biopsy specimens, restoration of the processes of bile formation and bile secretion, positive dynamics in the restoration of energy-dependent transmembrane ion transport. Clinical studies in the complex treatment of NAFLD with the use of sulphate MW established normalization of lipid metabolism, improvement of the functional state of the liver, decreased insulin resistance, recovery of adiponectin secretion

LARGE AREA HODOSCOPES FOR MUON DIAGNOSTICS OF HELIOSPHERE AND EARTH'S MAGNETOSPHERE

Muon diagnostics is a technique for remote monitoring of active processes in the heliosphere and the magnetosphere of the Earth based on the analysis of angular variations of muon flux simultaneously detected from all directions of the upper hemisphere. To carry out muon diagnostics, special detectors – muon hodoscopes – which can detect muons from any direction with good angular resolution in real-time mode are required. We discuss approaches to data analysis and the results of studies of various extra-terrestrial processes detected by means of the wide aperture URAGAN muon hodoscope

Swirling astrophysical flows - efficient amplifiers of Alfven waves

We show that a helical shear flow of a magnetized plasma may serve as an efficient amplifier of Alfven waves. We find that even when the flow is purely ejectional (i.e., when no rotation is present) Alfven waves are amplified through the transient, shear-induced, algebraic amplification process. Series of transient amplifications, taking place sequentially along the flow, may result in a cascade amplification of these waves. However, when a flow is swirling or helical (i.e., some rotation is imposed on the plasma motion), Alfven waves become subject to new, much more powerful shear instabilities. In this case, depending on the type of differential rotation, both usual and parametric instabilities may appear. We claim that these phenomena may lead to the generation of large amplitude Alfven waves and the mechanism may account for the appearance of such waves in the solar atmosphere, in accretion-ejecion flows and in accretion columns. These processes may also serve as an important initial (linear and nonmodal) phase in the ultimate subcritical transition to MHD Alfvenic turbulence in various kinds of astrophysical shear flows.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication (25-11-02) in Astronomy and Astrophysic

Properties of SPEEK based PEMs for fuel cell application

Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye

Optimising observing strategies for monitoring animals using drone-mounted thermal infrared cameras

The proliferation of relatively affordable off-the-shelf drones offers great opportunities for wildlife monitoring and conservation. Similarly the recent reduction in cost of thermal infrared cameras also offers new promise in this field, as they have the advantage over conventional RGB cameras of being able to distinguish animals based on their body heat and being able to detect animals at night. However, the use of drone-mounted thermal infrared cameras comes with several technical challenges. In this paper we address some of these issues, namely thermal contrast problems due to heat from the ground, absorption and emission of thermal infrared radiation by the atmosphere, obscuration by vegetation, and optimizing the flying height of drones for a best balance between covering a large area and being able to accurately image and identify animals of interest. We demonstrate the application of these methods with a case study using field data, and make the first ever detection of the critically endangered riverine rabbit (Bunolagus monticularis) in thermal infrared data. We provide a web-tool so that the community can easily apply these techniques to other studies (http://www.astro.ljmu.ac.uk/~aricburk/uav_calc/)

Design of organyl phosphate-based pro-drugs: comparative analysis of the antibiotic action of alkyl protecting groups with different degree of fluorination

Background. Molecular structures combining a phosphorus-containing counterpart and non-polar radicals are employed in design of pro-drugs as structural and functional groups necessary for transportation of drugs through cellular barriers. It is assumed that the carrier itself does not exhibit biological activity. However, the “organic phosphate – alkyl radical” complex may possess its own metabolic and pharmacological properties even in the absence of a drug moiety.The aim. To study the effect of fluorinated alkyl phosphates on the growth of bacterial test cultures in an agar medium and to identify conjugated metabolic markers using UV/visible spectroscopy.Materials and methods. The effect of six organyl phosphates on the growth of five types of bacteria under aerobic conditions was evaluated by the method of wells in an agar medium. For solutions containing cell metabolites of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the absorption spectra were recorded at 250–280 nm. The principal component analysis (PCA) was used for multivariate comparative analysis of the spectra. Results. The studied organyl phosphates bearing the ethyl and propyl radicals are potential temporary carriers of the drug moiety, since they are capable of penetrating through cellular barriers. However, the fluorinated compounds exhibit bactericidal properties, the degree of which depends on the arrangement of fluorine atoms in the radical. The most active compounds are those exhaustively halogenated at the terminal carbon atom of the ethyl radical (-СН2-СF3), while non-fluorinated organyl phosphate is the least active. UV/visible spectra of P. aeruginosa cultivation products, according to PCA data, contain patterns reflecting the metabolic effects mediated by these structural features of the radicals.Conclusion. In terms of practical application of the studied compounds, the activity of a proantibiotic based on organyl phosphate with a non-fluorinated ethyl(propyl) radical will be determined only by the specificity of the drug moiety. Exactly the same molecule, but exhaustively fluorinated at the terminal carbon atom of the alkyl radical, is likely to be characterized by lower specificity and higher activity under the additive (or synergistic) action of metabolically active groups