Air pollution as the factor of the influence on the life quality of the population

The paper presents the results of the analysis of the dynamics of the pollutant emissions from stationary sources into the air space in the industrial center. It is established that the dynamics of the emissions of the major air pollutants has a stable tendency to decrease. An exception is the inclusion of black carbon in the atmospheric air; the dynamics of its emission is characterized by the trend to increase. It is shown that the concentration of many metallurgical enterprises in the limited territory creates a high degree of the surface air pollution that induces the increased risk of adverse reflex reactions among the population of the city. Coke production characterized by high constancy of atmospheric emissions during a year makes a stable contribution to the risk of chronic intoxication of the inhabitants of the residential areas adjacent to the sanitary-protection zone of the metallurgical complex

Effect of ion-plasma treatment on oxidation-reduction processes in lithium-titanium-zinc ferrites

We examined the effect of nitrogen, oxygen and argon plasma on the diffusion-controlled oxidation-reduction processes in lithium-titanium-zinc ferrite ceramics by measuring the activation energy of electrical conductivity in the depth of the sample. The experimental results show that the high-temperature treatment in polycrystalline ferrites by nitrogen or argon ion plasma greatly accelerates the oxidation-reduction processes in ferrites and changes the process direction depending on the partial pressure of oxygen

Genetic diversity, distribution and domestication history of the neglected GGAtAt genepool of wheat

Wheat yields are stagnating around the world and new sources of genes for resistance or tolerances to abiotic traits are required. In this context, the tetraploid wheat wild relatives are among the key candidates for wheat improvement. Despite its potential huge value for wheat breeding, the tetraploid GGAtAt genepool is largely neglected. Understanding the population structure, native distribution range, intraspecific variation of the entire tetraploid GGAtAt genepool and its domestication history would further its use for wheat improvement. The paper provides the first comprehensive survey of genomic and cytogenetic diversity sampling the full breadth and depth of the tetraploid GGAtAt genepool. According to the results obtained, the extant GGAtAt genepool consists of three distinct lineages. We provide detailed insights into the cytogenetic composition of GGAtAt wheats, revealed group- and population-specific markers and show that chromosomal rearrangements play an important role in intraspecific diversity of T. araraticum. The origin and domestication history of the GGAtAt lineages is discussed in the context of state-of-the-art archaeobotanical finds. We shed new light on the complex evolutionary history of the GGAtAt wheat genepool and provide the basis for an increased use of the GGAtAt wheat genepool for wheat improvement. The findings have implications for our understanding of the origins of agriculture in southwest Asia

Main principles of developing exploitation models of semiconductor devices

The paper represents primary tasks, solutions of which allow to develop the exploitation modes of semiconductor devices taking into account complex and combined influence of ionizing irradiation and operation factors. The structure of the exploitation model of the semiconductor device is presented, which is based on radiation and reliability models. Furthermore, it was shown that the exploitation model should take into account complex and combine influence of various ionizing irradiation types and operation factors. The algorithm of developing the exploitation model of the semiconductor devices is proposed. The possibility of creating the radiation model of Schottky barrier diode, Schottky field-effect transistor and Gunn diode is shown based on the available experimental data. The basic exploitation model of IRLEDs based upon double AlGaAs heterostructures is represented. The practical application of the exploitation models will allow to output the electronic products with guaranteed operational properties

Gamma Factory at CERN – novel research tools made of light

We discuss the possibility of creating novel research tools by producing and storing highly relativistic beams of highly ionised atoms in the CERN accelerator complex, and by exciting their atomic degrees of freedom with lasers to produce high-energy photon beams. Intensity of such photon beams would be by several orders of magnitude higher than offered by the presently operating light sources, in the particularly interesting gamma-ray energy domain of 0.1-400 MeV. In this energy range, the high-intensity photon beams can be used to produce secondary beams of polarised electrons, polarised positrons, polarised muons, neutrinos, neutrons and radioactive ions. New research opportunities in a wide domain of fundamental and applied physics can be opened by the Gamma Factory scientific programme based on the above primary and secondary beams.Comment: 12 pages; presented by W. Placzek at the XXV Cracow Epiphany Conference on Advances in Heavy Ion Physics, 8-11 January 2019, Cracow, Polan