Production’s digital transformation analysis using Industry 4.0 technologies

The article is devoted to a detailed analysis of the industry’s digital transformation processes based on the use of Industry 4.0 technologies. The theoretical analysis made it possible to establish that technological trends are often in the spotlight, however, the need for transformation is not posed by technology as such, but by deep shifts in the enterprise’s external environment caused by digitalization. The study of industry transformation global mechanisms allowed the article’s authors to identify eight key levers necessary for creating value due to the Industry 4.0 technologies implementation at a high-tech production. In conclusion, the authors consider the technological transformation process in Russia, as well as the main directions that can effectively accelerate it

Ore-forming Сonditions of the Blagodat Gold Deposit in the Riphean Metamorphic Rocks of the Yenisey Ridge According to Geochemical and Isotopic Data

Neodymium and strontium isotopic composition and rare earth elements (REE) distribution pattern have been determined in whole rocks and minerals were separated from host metamorphic rocks and disseminated sulfide ores of the Blagodat gold deposit. Isotopic data are given to construct few isochrones that could be reflected an age of main stages of metamorphic and metasomatic alteration in rocks varieties during a successive accumulation of gold in structural traps. The significant temporal range in the forming of the studied rocks can be interpreted as an evidence of multi-stage tectonic destruction accompanying with trust-folding processes, shear deformations and development of local fracture zones that had place from the Late Riphean to Middle Paleozoic time. According to isotopic data basic ore-forming processes were realized in the relatively narrow interval from 690 to 750 Ma that correspond to a beginning of continental rifting on the western margin of Siberian craton. Chemistry and trace element distribution are closed for host and auriferous schists and mainly showed differences in the composition initial sedimentary units. The middle negative value εNd (from -14 to -16) and very high positive value εSr (from +570 to +725) are mostly corresponded to that of upper continental crust matter. The role of synchronic granite intrusions in the studied area can be only estimated due to a generation of thermal energy and crustal fluids

Controlled drug release from electrospun PCL non-woven scaffolds via multi-layering and e-beam treatment

Currently, electrospun synthetic bioresorbable polymer scaffolds are applied in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering as targeted drug delivery devices because of their mechanical and physico-chemical properties. To control the rate of polymer degradation and drug release from polymer scaffolds, surface modification techniques are widely used. In this study, paracetamol-loaded poly (ε-caprolactone) electrospun fibrous scaffolds were treated by the pulsed electron beam irradiation. Pure control PCL scaffold, as well as scaffolds with four paracetamol concentrations (2 wt./wt. %, 8 wt./wt. %, 16 wt./wt. %, and 32 wt./wt.%) were modified. The mechanical and chemical properties and morphology of modified materials were examined. The sustained release of the model drug over a period of one hour for both non-treated and treated samples was demonstrated. It was shown that treatment leads to an increase in drug release rate and does not change surface morphology of scaffolds and fibers diameter distribution

Genesis of precious metal mineralization in intrusions of ultramafic, alkaline rocks and carbonatites in the north of the Siberian platform

The gold and platinum-group elements (PGE) mineralization of the Guli and Kresty intrusions was formed in the process of polyphase magmatism of the central type during the Permian and Triassic age. It is suggested that native osmium and iridium crystal nuclei were formed in the mantle at earlier high-temperature events of magma generation of the mantle substratum in the interval of 765–545 Ma and were brought by meimechite melts to the area of development of magmatic bodies. The pulsating magmatism of the later phases assisted in particle enlargement. Native gold was crystallized at a temperature of 415–200◦C at the hydrothermal-metasomatic stages of the meimechite, melilite, foidolite and carbonatite magmatism. The association of minerals of precious metals with oily, resinous and asphaltene bitumen testifies to the genetic relation of the mineralization to carbonaceous metasomatism. Identifying the carbonaceous gold and platinoid ore formation associated genetically with the parental formation of ultramafic, alkaline rocks and carbonatites is suggested

Hemozoin "knobs" in Opisthorchis felineus infected liver

Background Hemozoin is the pigment produced by some blood-feeding parasites. It demonstrates high diagnostic and therapeutic potential. In this work the formation of co-called hemozoin “knobs” – the bile duct ectasia filled up by hemozoin pigment - in Opisthorhis felineus infected hamster liver has been observed. Methods The O. felineus infected liver was examined by histological analysis and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The pigment hemozoin was identified by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and high resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analysis. Hemozoin crystals were characterised by high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Results Hemozoin crystals produced by O. felineus have average length 403 nm and the length-to-width ratio equals 2.0. The regurgitation of hemozoin from parasitic fluke during infection leads to formation of bile duct ectasia. The active release of hemozoin from O. felineus during in vitro incubation has also been evidenced. It has been shown that the hemozoin knobs can be detected by magnetic resonance imaging. Conclusions In the paper for the first time the characterisation of hemozoin pigment extracted from liver fluke O. felineus has been conducted. The role of hemozoin in the modification of immune response by opisthorchiasis is assumed