Issues of transport security and human factor

The article discusses the concept of human factor. The authors have studied the problem of transport security that depends on the socio-psychological component of the staff. The reasons for the significant influence of the human factor in the field of motor transport are identified, as well as the ways of formation of individual indicators in the structure of the emotional stability of the driver or conductor. The textual and graphical materials of the reports on the formation of a safety culture in transport organizations, as well as informational tables on the results of staff surveys, served as an empirical base. The study was made in support of the methods of cognitive modeling, questionnaires, application of the SHELL model, which reveals the main elements of the human factor and the relationship between them. Empirical Base - Tyumen Passenger Transport Organizations - DEP Tyumenavtotrans, individual entrepreneur Evrobus 72, IntelInvest LLC

Potential of the rhizobacterium Ensifer meliloti for the phytoremediation of mixed PAH–heavy metal contamination

The potential of the rhizobial strain Ensifer meliloti P221 as a bacterium capable of degrading phenanthrene in the presence of a heavy metal (nickel) and exhibiting plant-growth promoting activity toward Sorghum bicolor under mixed contamination condition was studied. It was shown that nickel at a concentration of 0.1 mM inhibited the microbial growth and phenanthrene degradation by 43 and 34%, respectively. Analysis of the enzymes involved in the phenanthrene degradation by the rhizobium revealed the activity of the phenanthrenequinone reductase (PQR) and protocatechuate 2,3-dioxigenase (2,3-PCD). It was found that nickel at concentrations up to 0.2 mM did not affect significantly the PQR activity, but inhibited it by 30% when the metal concentration increased to 5 mM. Nickel at concentrations up to 5.0 mM did not affect significantly on the activity of 2,3-PCD. E. meliloti promoted elongation of sorghum seedling roots by 69% in medium co-contaminated with phenanthrene and nickel. The results obtained assume that the rhizobial strain studied can exhibit its PAH-degrading and plant-growth promoting activities in the environment co-contaminated with nickel and phenanthrene. This microorganism may be promising for bioremediation and phytoremediation of mixed PAH–heavy metal contamination

Neurocognitive Trends in the Structural-Functional Model of the Lexical-Semantic Way of Word Formation

The article analyzes traditional views of Ukrainian linguists on the consideration/disregard of neurocognitive factors in the lexical-semantic way of word formation (hereinafter “LSWWF”). The relevance of the article lies in a pronounced divergence in the views, as well as in the contradictions in the interpretation of polysemy as a result of this type of word formation. Research methods include analysis of definitions and basic theories, comparison, extrapolation of a neuroscientific perspective on the cognitive nature of metaphorical generation of new meanings on traditional (structural and functional) approaches to linguistic phenomena. The article proves that Ukrainian linguistics involves prerequisites and basics of cognitive subject-based explanation of secondary semantics, present since the Soviet period, and lacks categorical and methodological tools for its interpretation. Besides, the authors of the article suggest some compromise solutions to these contradictions without completely abandoning traditional views on word formation. The international relevance of the article is seen in its attempts to reconsider the significant traditional achievements of Eastern European linguistics (on the example of Ukraine) in the context of objective natural neurocognitive views on key linguistic processes, in particular LSWWF.</em

Degradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons by Co-Culture of Pleurotus ostreatus Florida and Azospirillum brasilense

Bacterial-fungal interactions are important in the functioning of natural ecosystems. We examined possible synergistic or antagonistic effects during the degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by a fungal&ndash;bacterial co-culture. Bacteria and fungi were grown in a liquid nutrient medium supplemented with PAH substrates. The degradation of PAHs and the identification of metabolites were checked by HPLC. Enzyme activities were spectrophotometrically measured with test substrates. Compared to monocultures, the co-culture yielded higher mycelium dry weights and higher numbers of bacterial colony-forming units (CFUs). Both organisms and their co-culture transformed three- and four-ring PAHs into the corresponding quinones. The degradation of PAHs was accompanied by the production of fungal extracellular laccase and versatile peroxidase, whose activities were higher in the co-culture than they were in the monocultures. The presence of exogenous indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) boosted PAH degradation and enzyme production. The xylotrophic basidiomycete Pleurotus ostreatus Florida and the plant-growth-promoting rhizobacterium Azospirillum brasilense exerted a positive mutual effect, including increases in mycelium dry weight, number of CFUs, degradation of PAHs, and production of fungal extracellular enzymes. IAA may be a factor in the interactions of P. ostreatus Florida with A. brasilense

Issues of transport security and human factor

The article discusses the concept of human factor. The authors have studied the problem of transport security that depends on the socio-psychological component of the staff. The reasons for the significant influence of the human factor in the field of motor transport are identified, as well as the ways of formation of individual indicators in the structure of the emotional stability of the driver or conductor. The textual and graphical materials of the reports on the formation of a safety culture in transport organizations, as well as informational tables on the results of staff surveys, served as an empirical base. The study was made in support of the methods of cognitive modeling, questionnaires, application of the SHELL model, which reveals the main elements of the human factor and the relationship between them. Empirical Base - Tyumen Passenger Transport Organizations - DEP Tyumenavtotrans, individual entrepreneur Evrobus 72, IntelInvest LLC

Potential of the rhizobacterium

The potential of the rhizobial strain Ensifer meliloti P221 as a bacterium capable of degrading phenanthrene in the presence of a heavy metal (nickel) and exhibiting plant-growth promoting activity toward Sorghum bicolor under mixed contamination condition was studied. It was shown that nickel at a concentration of 0.1 mM inhibited the microbial growth and phenanthrene degradation by 43 and 34%, respectively. Analysis of the enzymes involved in the phenanthrene degradation by the rhizobium revealed the activity of the phenanthrenequinone reductase (PQR) and protocatechuate 2,3-dioxigenase (2,3-PCD). It was found that nickel at concentrations up to 0.2 mM did not affect significantly the PQR activity, but inhibited it by 30% when the metal concentration increased to 5 mM. Nickel at concentrations up to 5.0 mM did not affect significantly on the activity of 2,3-PCD. E. meliloti promoted elongation of sorghum seedling roots by 69% in medium co-contaminated with phenanthrene and nickel. The results obtained assume that the rhizobial strain studied can exhibit its PAH-degrading and plant-growth promoting activities in the environment co-contaminated with nickel and phenanthrene. This microorganism may be promising for bioremediation and phytoremediation of mixed PAH–heavy metal contamination

Impact of energy economy development on the region’s population life quality

Regional economic development depends on development of fuel and energy industry facilities capable of ensuring a stable and reliable supply of energy carriers. At present, it is impossible to imagine livelihood of population without electrical energy. Russia produces 1094 billion kWh of electrical energy, of which 580 billion kWh is consumed by industry. Electrical energy is the basis for development of all types of economic activities. It is a condition for creation of material values and an increase in the standard of living of population. Modern industrial technologies are characterized by high energy intensity. Industry is dependent on electrical energy which drives power equipment. Electric power affects productivity which is the main indicator of production efficiency. The increase in GRP is mainly accounted for manufacturing industry (high-tech production) and service sector. Such indicators as GRP per capita, the volume of goods shipped by manufacturing industries, consumption of electricity by industry, and electric power per worker characterize sustainable socio-economic development of regions. It is relevant to conduct a statistical analysis of these indicators and identify development prospects to ensure energy security of regions

Wet Torrefaction of Poultry Litter in a Pilot Unit: A Numerical Assessment of the Process Parameters

International audienceA numerical model for the wet torrefaction of poultry litter in a pilot unit was developed in this study. The model accounted for the following process steps: preheating biomass in a feed hopper, feeding biomass into the reactor, fluidized-bed generation using superheated steam, and the supply of additional heat by the electric heating of the reactor walls. Following a “black box” approach, a major assumption of the model is that the behavior of the fluidized-bed reactor is similar to a completely stirred tank reactor (CSTR). Under this assumption, the properties of the particles and gases do not depend on their location inside the reactor. During wet torrefaction, poultry-litter biomass was heated to a predetermined temperature and decomposed, generating biochar along with a gas phase (torgas), whose amounts depended on the content of inert ash in the biomass particles. Variable optimization in the model was performed using MATLAB software. The model successfully estimated the optimal duration required for the completion of wet torrefaction under various conditions: temperature, batch weight, reactor dimensions, etc. The model was validated using experimental data obtained from a series of wet torrefaction experiments performed in a fluidized bed, and provided reliable estimations of the duration of the process depending on material properties, reactor size and feedstock characteristics