Nanoferroics: state of art, gradient driven couplings and advanced applications (Authors' review)

Ferroics and multiferroics are unique objects for fundamental physical research of complex nonlinear processes and phenomena, which occur in them in micro and nanoscale. Due to the possibility of their physical properties control by size effects, nanostructured and nanosized ferroics are among the most promising for advanced applications in nanoelectronics, nanoelectromechanics, optoelectronics, nonlinear optics and information technologies. The review discuss and analyze that the thickness of the strained films, the size and shape of the ferroic and multiferroic nanoparticles are unique tools for controlling their phase diagrams, long range order parameters, magnitude of susceptibility, magnetoelectric coupling and domain structure characteristics at fixed temperature. Significant influence of the flexochemical effect on the phase transition temperature, polar and dielectric properties is revealed for thin films and nanoparticles. Obtained results are important for understanding of the nonlinear physical processes in nanoferroics as well as for the advanced applications in nanoelectronics.Comment: 23 pages, 15 figure

Quantitative Estimation of Logging Residues by Line-Intersect Method

Line intersect sampling (LIS) is a method used for quantifying forest residues after logging operations. In conventional LIS theory, forest residues are considered as separate pieces of cylindrical shape, they occur horizontally, and are randomly orientated and randomly distributed. In the case of cut-to-length (CTL) logging operation, forest residues represent separate clusters, consisting of pieces of branches, twigs, tips, etc. So the application of the conventional LIS theory for quantifying forest residues after CTL logging is difficult. The purpose of the article was to assess the accuracy of the modified LIS method for quantifying forest residues after CTL logging. The studies were conducted by computer simulations. In the models, the forest residues are represented as clusters in the form of circles. The laws of distribution of the radius of the clusters and their position in the plot were determined by field measurements. In the simulations, 4 types of clusters were considered: Þ type 1 – clusters uniformly distributed within the entire cutting area (Fig. 7) Þ type 2 – clusters uniformly distributed along the X-axis and five stripes on the Y-axis (Fig. 8) Þ type 3 – clusters uniformly distributed along the X-axis and three stripes on the Y-axis (Fig. 9) Þ type 4 – clusters uniformly distributed along the X-axis and one stripes on the Y-axis (Fig. 10) It was determined through simulation that the formula of the modified LIS method estimatedappropriately forest residues after CTL logging. According to the results of simulation experiments,it was found that when the location of the lines of sample are across the area of Fig.7, 8 (across the stripes with clusters), the results are in good agreement with the theoreticalformulas. Differences are within error of 20%

Efficiency of new local method of treatment and prevention of inflammatory diseases of oral mucous membrane and parodontium in smokers

Treatment and prevention of inflammatory diseases of oral mucous membrane and parodontium at smokers is one of the most difficult problem in stomatology today.Purpose of research: estimation of clinical efficiency of local application of developed agent for oral cavity care apigel at treatment and prevention of inflammatory diseases of oral mucose membrane and parodontium at smokers. Local application of the new apigel based on propolis in the complex medical treatment of smokers patients favourably affects the clinical symptoms of inflammation in the oral mucous membrane and parodontium. As compared with patients who had traditional anti-inflammation therapy with the local use to the stomatologyc gel with chamomile, the patients treated with local application of new apigel had decline of the bleeding gums. The occurred more rapid improvement of inflammation painfulness, which correlated with the improvement of hygienic state of oral cavity and promoted to prevention of bacterial content of damaged mucous surfaces. Estimation of microvasculatory blood stream by the method of ultrasonic Doppler flowmetry revealed more rapid normalization of volume and linear high systole, speed of blood stream in the parodontal tissues in case of use of new local method that testified to the less pronounced inflammation of oral mucosa. The effect of the developed local agent in smokers patients with inflammatory diseases of oral mucose membrane and parodontium at smokers creates the best conditions for removal of violations of oral cavity microbiocenosis and restores structural-functional state of parodontium and oral mucosa.The authors came to conclusion that local application of the offered method of medical treatment reduces terms of renewal of structural-functional integrity of oral mucosa, helps in preventing development of inflammatory complication, improves the hygienic state of oral cavity, renders the regenerative action on oral mucosa tissues, which improves efficiency of medical treatment and quality of life of smokers patients

MINERALOGICAL AND GEOCHEMICAL FEATURES OF APATITE-FLUORITE ROCKS OF THE BURPALA MASSIF IN THE NORTHERN BAIKAL REGION

The Burpala massif located in the Northern Baikal region contains ore-bearing pegmatites, carbonatites and apatite-fluorite rocks with Zr-Nb-REE-rare-metal mineralization. Considering their petrological, geochemical, geological and thermobarochemical features, it was established that apatite-fluorite rocks were formed from a residual fluid melt containing minor CO2, increased P2O5 and F. Apatite-fluorite rocks of the Burpala massif are similar to the foscorite formations of most carbonatite complexes distinguished by the presence of fluorite.The mineral composition of these rocks was for the first time studied in details. In addition to apatite and fluorite, the following minerals are present: zircon, baddeleyite, barite-celeistine, barite, thorianite, ilmenite, magnetite, hematite, biotite, potassium feldspar, pyroxene, as well as rare minerals with high Ta, Nb and Pb content

Problematic questions in the development of specific prevention of dengue fever

Dengue fever known from literary sources since the Qin dynasty (265-420) is caused in humans when bitten by Aedes mosquitoes infected with the dengue virus (DENV) and manifests as a flu-like disease. A feverish state can be accompanied by dyspeptic disorders (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) and a rash. Approximately 1-2% of infections are clinically presented as the most severe form – it is dengue hemorrhagic fever/dengue shock syndrome (DHF/DSS) leading to 500 thousand annual hospitalizations with a mortality rate of about 5% in endemic areas.Four genetically removed DENV serotypes (1, 2, 3, and 4) are classified as different types of viruses within the same antigen complex and have almost identical epidemiological features. In 2013 a new serotype DENV-5 was isolated.Until the 1980s in most geographical regions of the world where dengue fever was registered only one or two viral serotypes were detected as an etiological agent of the disease. Over time there is an increase in the cocirculation of four types of viruses which can serve as a key indicator of their global spread. As the “traces” of the four DENV species overlap more and more the threat of severe disease increases due to the phenomenon of antibody-dependent of infection when re-infected with a heterologous viral serotype.Development of specific dengue fever prevention has been underway since 1944 (since the discovery of viral agents of this disease) but the first and so far only licensed in 2015 tetravalent vaccine-Dengvaxia developed by the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi Pasteur has been effective in varying degrees of protection against infection with each of the viral serotypes and in addition dangerous for previously seronegative people. Research aimed at obtaining a safe and effective vaccine is continuing. Neutralizing monoclonal antibodies are a necessary tool for studying the antigenic structure of viral immunogens as base of prevention preparates against dengue fever

Quantum Conductance in Semimetallic Bismuth Nanocontacts

Electronic transport properties of bismuth nanocontacts are analyzed by means of a low temperature scanning tunneling microscope. The subquantum steps observed in the conductance versus elongation curves give evidence of atomic rearrangements in the contact. The underlying quantum nature of the conductance reveals itself through peaks in the conductance histograms. The shape of the conductance curves at 77 K is well described by a simple gliding mechanism for the contact evolution during elongation. The strikingly different behaviour at 4 K suggests a charge carrier transition from light to heavy ones as the contact cross section becomes sufficiently small.Comment: 5 pages including 4 figures. Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Let

Contribution of some immunological and metabolic factors to formation of piglets’ post-vaccination immunity

The role and responsibility of natural resistance factors, protein and lipid metabolism in the formation of piglets post-vaccination immunity against circovirus is researched. Blood was taken for tests before and on the 15th, 40th and 70th day after the vaccination. The sampled blood was analyzed to determine immunological and biochemical parameters. It was revealed that before vaccination, 31.46% of the studied samples have a positive reaction in ELISA; their number increases to 67.80–71.16% on the 40th and 70th days after vaccination.In the blood of piglets, especially on the 40th and 70th day after the vaccination, the total count of leukocytes, monocytes and lymphocytes increases by 1.21; 2.28 times and 1.48 times, but neutrophils reduced by 1.74 times along with the phagocytic properties activation. The anabolic directivity of protein metabolism is defined by the synthesis of globulin proteins. At the same time albumin-synthesizing activity in a liver decreased and “cytolysis reaction” of hepatocytes was detected. In the lipid profile of piglets’ blood, the content of LDL‑cholesterol increased by 1.44 times, while that of triglycerides decreased by 2.64 times. X‑ray spectral analysis revealed the correlation between the formation of post-vaccination immunity and two factors: the factor of the principal component (PC) 1, which is predominantly associated with indicators of natural resistance, and PC2, which is associated with metabolism indicators. The research results show that in order to increase the efficiency of formation of post-vaccination immunity in piglets, it is necessary to combine vaccination with hepatoprotective drugs