Stagnating liquid biofuel developments in Russia: Present status and future perspectives

It is widely acknowledged that Russia possesses enormous biomass resources (Hoogwijk et al., 2005). Its vast areas devoted to agricultural production and plentiful timber resources suggest good prospects for the development of liquid biofuel production. However, no significant advances in this direction have been reported till now. None of the numerous investment projects announced at the heydays of biofuel excitement in Russia (2006-2008) are at the moment commercially operating. There are no specialised plants for the production of bioethanol and biodiesel in Russia. Little is known of the reasons for this discrepancy between biofuel potential and actual development. In investigating this discrepancy, this article analyses national developments and investigates local dynamics through a case-study in the Omsk region. It is found that the reasons for this discrepancy are not related to technological incapabilities, but are to be found in the low policy and institutional priority given to non-fossil fuel exploitation and lack of market opportunities. Sprouts of second generation liquid biofuel technologies can be identified within the state system, but it remains to be seen how strong and how long these will be supported by the Russian stat

The Effects of Self-Regulation, Future Orientation, and Sensation Seeking on Delay Discounting During Adolescence

The first hypothesis was self-regulation and future orientation would mediate the effects of age on delay discounting. The second hypothesis was future orientation would be a stronger mediator than self-regulation of the effects of age on delay discounting. The third hypothesis was sensation seeking would moderate these mediation effects. A total of 216 participants, ranging from 12 years old to 18 years old, completed the Future Orientation Scale (Steinberg, Graham, O’Brien, Woolard, Cauffman, & Banich, 2009), the Self-Regulation Questionnaire (Neal & Carey, 2005), the UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale (Whiteside & Lynam, 2001), the Original Monetary Choice Questionnaire (Kirby, Petry, & Bickel, 1999), and the general demographics survey on Inquisit. Andrew Hayes’ (2013) PROCESS program was used to analyze mediation and moderated mediation models. Mediation and moderated-mediation were not supported. It’s possible a restriction in age range, selection bias and/or attrition bias, and inappropriate measurement of delay discounting led to null results. Furthermore, using longitudinal designs and including multiple measures of self-regulation, future orientation, and delay discounting in future research may better represent adolescents’ decision making

Renewable energy in Russia: The take off in solid bioenergy?

Triggered by debates on climate change and energy security, renewable energy sources are presently high on the political agenda in many countries. In this regard Russia seems to stand aside worldwide developments. Until recently Russia¿s enormous potential in renewable energy sources remained poorly utilised. However, Russia¿s formal commitment to the global climate change regime, its new Energy Strategy 2030, and an increase in wood pellet production suggest a discontinuity. This paper investigates and explains the (limited) progress in the solid bioenergy sector in Northwest Russia. With little Russian experience in this sector, poor technological knowledge on renewables, and inadequate domestic market structures, the development of a domestic solid bioenergy sector is far from easy. Hence, Northwest Russian wood pellet developments cannot be traced back to new federal policies, only partly to local demand and stimulation, and significantly to foreign drivers. Major EU demand for wood pellets and intensified collaboration with foreign companies and organisations leading in the field of solid bioenergy research, technology and trade have triggered these developments. But it is a long way before Russia will be released from its fossil fuel addiction, as repeatedly promised by governmental officials

Wakefield acceleration. State and prospects (Оverview)

The results of researches on the wakefield method of high-gradient acceleration of charged particles carried out within the framework of the projects “FACET” (SLAC), “BELLA” (LNBL), “AWAKE” (CERN) and in other laboratories, including NSC KIPT, are presented. The acceleration of charged particles in a plasma wakefield with acceleration rate up to 100 GeV/m excited by an intense electron bunch (PWFA) or by a powerful laser pulse (LWFA), and in a dielectric wakefield with acceleration rate up to 1 GeV/m excited by an intense electron bunch (DWFA) is considered.Представлено результати досліджень кільватерного методу високо-градієнтного прискорення заряджених частинок, які виконані в рамках проектів «FACET» (SLAC), «BELLA» (LNBL), «AWAKE» (CERN) і в інших лабораторіях, включаючи ННЦ ХФТІ. Розглянуто прискорення заряджених частинок у плазмовому кільватерному полі до 100 ГеВ/м, збуджуваному інтенсивним електронним згустком (PWFA) або потужним лазерним імпульсом (LWFA); та в діелектричному кільватерному полі до 1 ГеВ/м, збуджуваному інтенсивним електронним згустком (DWFA).Представлены результаты исследований кильватерного метода высоко-градиентного ускорения заряжен-ных частиц, выполненных в рамках проектов «FACET» (SLAC), «BELLA» (LNBL), «AWAKE» (CERN) и в других лабораториях, включая ННЦ ХФТИ. Рассмотрено ускорение заряженных частиц в плазменном кильватерном поле до 100 ГэВ/м, возбуждаемом интенсивным электронным сгустком (PWFA) или мощным лазерным импульсом (LWFA); и в диэлектрическом кильватерном поле до 1 ГэВ/м, возбуждаемом интенсивным электронным сгустком (DWFA)

Regulation of dopamine transporter activity by carboxypeptidase E

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The dopamine transporter (DAT) plays a critical role in terminating the action of dopamine by rapid reuptake into the presynaptic neuron. Previous studies have revealed that the DAT carboxyl terminus (DAT-CT) can directly interact with other cellular proteins and regulate DAT function and trafficking.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here, we have identified that carboxypeptidase E (CPE), a prohormone processing exopeptidase and sorting receptor for the regulated secretory pathway, interacts with the DAT-CT and affects DAT function. Mammalian cell lines coexpressing CPE and DAT exhibited increased DAT-mediated dopamine uptake activity compared to cells expressing DAT alone. Moreover, coexpression of an interfering DAT-CT minigene inhibited the effects of CPE on DAT. Functional changes caused by CPE could be attributed to enhanced DAT expression and subsequent increase in DAT cell surface localization, due to decreased DAT degradation. In addition, CPE association could reduce the phosphorylation state of DAT on serine residues, potentially leading to reduced internalization, thus stabilizing plasmalemmal DAT localization.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Taken together, our results reveal a novel role for CPE in the regulation of DAT trafficking and DAT-mediated DA uptake, which may provide a novel target in the treatment of dopamine-governed diseases such as drug addiction and obesity.</p

Infrarenal Aortic Coarctation as a Cause for Hypertension

In the Russian Arctic, nature protection is important to preserve valuable ecosystems and indigenous lifestyles against the rapidly expanding oil and gas activities. In this regard, zoning legitimately balances influential stakeholders versus weak ones, and can leverage stakeholders to exercise their rights. This study explores how various stakeholders employ zoning in the Numto Nature Park in the oil-rich Russian Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug–Yugra to advance their interests and how they use scientific information to achieve this. Through stakeholder interviews, analysis of electronic media and literature review, we conclude that a participatory and science-based zoning exercise stimulates the necessary deliberation. However, legal ambiguity, deficient law implementation and informal practices limit the zoning's potential to balance stakeholders’ interests. All the stakeholders calculatingly used scientific information to legitimize their own ambitions, activities and claims. Hence, zoning and the underlying information claims should be interpreted as both a resource and a battleground in nature-use conflicts

Soil carbonate analysis using the solvita compost maturity gel system

Soil fertility and nutrient-management programs across Idaho and the western United States need to consider the effective comparison of various extractants for nutrient analysis. Common extractants for primary (potassium; K), secondary (calcium; Ca, magnesium; Mg, sulfur; S) and micro (zinc; Zn, copper; Cu, manganese; Mn, iron; Fe, aluminum; Al, boron; B, sodium; Na,)-nutrients vary (e.g., ammonium acetate, AA, Olsen). The desire to develop relationships among common tests in the region and those of multinutrient extractants used or proposed in other geographical regions has increased due to the interest in soil health measurements (Mehlich-3; M-3 and Haney, Haney, Hossner, Arnold; H3A). To investigate these multinutrient tests, 46 primarily alkaline soils were sampled from the 0 to 30-cm depth in agricultural fields in Idaho. The majority of nutrients were highly related and relationships were developed. However, for Ca issues were noted for M-3 due to high levels of calcium carbonate in the soil interfering with the test on alkaline soils. Additionally, issues were noted for specific micronutrients when both acidic and alkaline soils were combined in the analysis, but were improved when they were separated. Thus, this research provides specific correlation equations that could be used for comparison among tests as well as provides evidence of the potential suitability of multinutrient extractants in the region

Working with text during russian as a foreign language classes at the pre-higher education stage

В статье рассматривается работа с текстом в группах технического и технологического профиля на довузовском этапе обучения русскому языку как иностранному. Приводятся основные этапы работы с текстом на начальном этапе обучения, обращается внимание на использование информационно-коммуникационных технологий. Даются практические рекомендации по работе с научными текстами технического профиля на довузовском этапе обучения, которые будут содействовать наибольшей эффективности обучения иностранцев