Soft Pneumatic Gelatin Actuator for Edible Robotics

We present a fully edible pneumatic actuator based on gelatin-glycerol composite. The actuator is monolithic, fabricated via a molding process, and measures 90 mm in length, 20 mm in width, and 17 mm in thickness. Thanks to the composite mechanical characteristics similar to those of silicone elastomers, the actuator exhibits a bending angle of 170.3 {\deg} and a blocked force of 0.34 N at the applied pressure of 25 kPa. These values are comparable to elastomer based pneumatic actuators. As a validation example, two actuators are integrated to form a gripper capable of handling various objects, highlighting the high performance and applicability of the edible actuator. These edible actuators, combined with other recent edible materials and electronics, could lay the foundation for a new type of edible robots.Comment: Submitted to IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems 201

Processes in spark electric discharge in air, nitrogen and oxygen

The yield of redox reactions in aqueous solutions under the action of a remote spark discharge in the air, nitrogen and oxygen was studied. Mohr's salt and potassium permanganate were used as test substances. The direct and indirect effects of a source of active particles were compared. On direct exposure active species can immediately interact with the substance. By indirect action the source of active species directly affects only water. Immediately after treatment water was mixed with a solution of the test substance and the reactions of accumulated active species with the test substance began. When discharged in air medium, the oxidation and reduction reaction yields are approximately the same 5 - 6 1(100 эВ)-1 eV. Equal yields means that active species are firstly produced in water. When discharged in the nitrogen and oxygen medium, the oxidation yield is ∼15% lower, and the recovery yield is much lower. In this case, there is oxygen or nitrogen in the aqueous solution, so nitrogen oxides cannot be formed in water. So the contribution of products, produced in the discharge region is not more than 15% and that radiation plays a major role in initiating of chemical processes in liquid. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd

Sources of agronomically important traits for breeding of soft spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in the forest steppe of Novosibirsk region

The efficiency of donors in plant breeding depends on the degree of knowledge of the physiological and genetic background of agronomic characters. The research is aimed to assess quantitative agronomic traits (1000-grain weight, grain weight, grain number per spike and spikelet number per spike) in soft spring wheat varieties with different maturation timing in order to identify genotypes that show the best adaptation to the regional environment, high yield and resistance to stress. Agronomic traits were studied in 139 soft spring wheat varieties in contrasting years. The cultivars were divided into the following maturation groups: mid-early and early (31 plants), middle (94 plants) and mid-late (14 plants). In the mid-early and early group, Leningradskaya 97 and Rosinka 1 had three measures of maturation (grain weight per spike, grain number per spike, and spikelet number per spike) higher than the group average. In the middle group, Baganskaya 51, Prokhorovka, Omskaya kormovaya, Amir and Lada each had two or more measures significantly higher than the group average. In the midlate group, the winners were Omskaya 24 (grain weight per spike, grain number per spike and spikelet number per spike), Sibirskaya 16 (grain weight per spike and spikelet number per spike) and Ishimskaya 98 (1000-grain weight and spikelet number per spike). Varieties identified and characterized in this way can be used in the selection process as a source of higher 1000-grain weight, grain number per spike, spikelet number per spike and grain weight per spike. A tendency towards increase has been demonstrated for 1000-grain weight, spikelet number per spike and grain weight per spike depending on the length of the growing season. No reduction in vegetation period was observed in epiphytotic years in susceptible varieties as compared to resistant varieties

Sources for the breeding of soft spring wheat in the conditions of Novosibirsk region

The sources were identified among collection samples characterized by highly pronounced economic and valuable features, which allows new geographically remote source material to be taken to the regional breeding practices. This research aims to assess the agronomic traits (duration of the growing period, lodging resistance and plant height, 1000-grain weight, grain weight and yield) in soft spring wheat varieties of different ecological and geographical origin. Estimation was carried out by a 9-point system of expression of the trait during the study, which allows identifying samples with the greatest expression of the trait in the years of study with respect to the average experience. 5439 samples have been studied over 28 years, with 1106 of them, over two years or more. The study was carried out according to the methods of VIR on plots of 2 m2. It was shown that the samples mainly had no correlation between the yield and the duration of the growing period, while the average dependence (г = 0.6) was revealed between the yield and the height of the plants. Varieties forming the intermediate (4.5-5 points) and above average (6-7) yield in a short growing period (69-85 days) were identified (Lutescens 675, Irkut-skaya 49, Simbirca, Hybrid F3 S-141, Hybrid F4, Hybrid F3 S-289 and Hybrid F4 S-2300 and Pamyati Vavenko-va). A high average score (8.6-9) at 1000 grains weight was shown for 16 varieties with variation from 37 g (N43 and IAO-9) to 56 g (Hofed 1). A high average score (8-9) in the evaluation of grain weight was shown for Pamyati Leont'eva, Ekada 70, Simbirtsit, Don Jose, Yong-Liang 4 and Long-Mai 11, which formed ears with an average weight from 0.96 to 2.30 g. A consistently high score (9) reflecting the yield was in the varieties Condestavel, PF 843025, Prilenskaya 19, Pamyati Leont'eva, Omskaya Krasa

Comparison of Mechanisms for the Action of Cold Electric Discharge Plasma and Hot Pulsed Discharge Plasma Emission on Water Solutions

Cold electric discharge plasma can be in direct contact with the water solution being treated. Active species are generated directly in the discharge and penetrate into the solution through the gas-liquid interface. Hot plasma of pulsed electric discharge can remotely affect an object without causing any thermal damage to it, e.g., by means of irradiating it. The effect of light penetrating into the solution is fundamentally different from the effect of cold plasma which is in contact with the solution: cold plasma already contains all active species, while radiation does not contain any of them. The species are generated in water solution when radiation passes through it. It is shown that the penetration depth of radiation into distilled water can be considerable. The method for activated water production based on the effect of plasma radiation can be more advantageous than that based on its treatment with cold plasma. © 2021 Institute of Physics Publishing. All rights reserved.Project Center ITER; Science and Technology Center PLASMAIOFAN; State Research Center of Russian Federation TRINITI

Septoriablotch epidemic process on spring wheat varieties

The Septoriablotch of spring wheat leaves and ears is one of the most economically significant infections in the Siberian region. In the control systems of Septoriablotch the main ecologically safe element is resistant  varieties, which are designed to slow down the pathogens reproduction rate and slow down or stop the development of the epiphytotic process. The purpose of the work was to clarify the species composition of Septoriablotch  pathogens for West Siberian regions and spring wheat varieties, to study the epiphytotic process of Septoriadifferentially on the leaves and ears of varieties, and to evaluate the activity of seed transmission of Parastagonospora  nodorum. Studies were carried out in 2016–2018 according to generally accepted methods. Septorialeaf and ear  blotch of spring wheat is widespread in West Siberia and the Trans-Urals, causing a decrease in yield by up to 50 %  or more with the deterioration in grain quality. The causative agents of the disease are P. nodorum, Septoria tritici,  and P. avenaef. sp. triticae, and the species ratio varied across the regions and varieties, and within plant organs.  In Novosibirsk Region, P. nodorumcompletely dominated; S. triticiwas 13.8 times less common; and P. avenae f. sp. triticaewas a singleton. In Tyumen Region, the dominance of P. nodorumwas disrupted in some geographic  locations by S. triticiand P. avenaef. sp. triticae. In Altai Krai, P. nodorumpredominated at all points studied; S. tritici and P. avenaef. sp. triticaewere found everywhere, but 5.6 and 8.6 times less often, respectively. The study of spring  wheat varieties of different origins has not revealed any samples immune to Septoriablotch. A differen tiated manifestation of resistance to Septorialeaf and ear disease has been established. Some varieties show complex resistance, combining reduced susceptibility to Septorialeaf and ear disease. Seed infection with P. nodorumin the  regions of Siberia reached 7 thresholds and was largely (52.5 %) determined by the August weather conditions.  The study of the collection of spring wheat varieties from three Siberian regions has revealed the following trend.  Transmission of P. nodorumwith the seeds of varieties was the most active (7.6 %) in Novosibirsk Region and somewhat weaker in Omsk Region (5.7 %). The most favorable phytosanitary situation was in Kurgan Region, where  varieties transmitted P. nodorumto a low degree (2.1 %), below the threshold

Pulsed Electric Discharge in Active Metallic Grains for Water Purification Processes

Chemical reactions in electric metal pulse dispersion in the aqueous solutions of inorganic substance (НSiO[3]{–}, Ni{2+}, Н[2]AsO[4]{–}, Mn{2+}, Cr[2]O[7]{2–}) were determined through IR spectroscopy, X-ray phase, chemical, kinetic, and thermodynamic analyses. Under such conditions, both reduction and oxidation reactions occur, as well as, locally initiated by heating, hydrolysis and exchange reactions without changing the oxidation rate of the dissolved substance itself. Reduction and oxidation of dissolved substances is determined by the generation and activation of high dispersed Fe in an electric discharge. Physical and chemical processes which take place under the action of pulse electric discharges upon the layer of metallic grains in salt solution, containing НSiO[3]{–}, Ni{2+}, Н[2]AsO[4]{–}, Mn{2+}, Cr[2]O[7]{2–} ions were determined on the basis of product composition, obtained experimentally and the thermodynamic data. It was shown, that PED discharge in heterogeneous mediums can be used for waste and natural water purification

Gluthatione system during physical loads and alimentary factor impact on it

Objective: to evaluate the functioning of gluthatione system (GS) in organism of swimmers during considerable endurance physical loads and to reveal the influence of nutritional factors on these features. Materials and methods: two groups of swimmers were studied. Sportsmen of the first group consumed «Sport nutrition product» (SNP) based on vegetable raw materials, obtained by cryogenic technology in addition to normal diet. In both groups the blood concentrations of reduced gluthatione (RG), oxidized gluthatione (OG), gluthatione reductase, gluthatione transferase, gluthatione peroxidase in blood were analyzed three times as well as parameters of cardio-vascular system and effectiveness of activity were examined. Results: low initial RG level was revealed in blood of swimmers. At the same time, RG/OG ratio was 25% lower than optimal in both groups. Towards the end of the study, the ratio significantly (50%) increased in group of sportsmen consumed SNP. The same dynamics was also observed by analyzing indices of effectiveness of activity and pulse rate. Conclusions: dynamics of examined parameters provided evidence that both intensity of physical load and peculiarities of nutrition status may influence on effectiveness of GS function in swimmers. SNP administration increased the effectiveness of activity, but a maximum effect was postponed and was observed in a month after cancelling of its administration