Water and energy-based optimisation of a “MiniCity”: A system dynamics approach

Urban sprawls in Australia and several countries around the world have introduced a number of social, economic, and environmental issues for residents and urban planners, highlighting the need for new urban development concepts. In recent years, the concept of a vertical sprawl called "MiniCity" has been presented. The objective of a successful "MiniCity", compared to traditional high-rises, is to be as self-sufficient and self-contained as possible; whilst also minimising issues such as car dependency, loss of agricultural land and natural habitats, water and air pollution, and poorer health and wellbeing, which are common for residents in low-density, low-rise areas and developments. To date however, the viability of a MiniCity has yet to be properly addressed. Arguably, the predominant needs for a community are water, energy and food. In this research study, a System Dynamics model was developed to simulate supply and demand of the water and energy systems, as well as their interaction, for a hypothetical MiniCity located in South-East Queensland, Australia. The models were conceptualised based on expert knowledge, with data and equations collected from local Gold Coast sources and from the literature. Preliminary results show the complex, but expected, dynamics and interactions between the two systems, and their dependence to critical input parameters, such as climate data, roof area, number of floors, to name a few. Future work will focus on adding other critical modelling components such as food production and thus analyse the water-energy-food nexus. The final, validated model will allow the optimisation of critical MiniCity parameters and the identification of suitable locations that can maximise the socio-economic and environmental viability of the MiniCity.Full Tex

Effect of cytokine cerebroproteciton on the state of antioxidant thiol-disulfide system in the brain tissue of rats with experimental diabetes mellitus

Agents, providing both for damaging effect and cell viability system in the ischemia/hypoxia area, include cytokines – intercellular communication transmitters in health and disease, which establish communication signal network between cells of the immune system and cells of other organs and tissues. According to present day ideas, nature of immune response and peculiarities of development of the pathophysiological changes in ischemic/hypoxic tissue disorders depends on preemptive activation of the T-lymphocyte subpopulations, their synthesis of cytokines of varioustypes and formation of "cytokine cascade", i.e. relation between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, application of cytokine preparations may become effective perspective link in the complex therapy of port-ischemic complications in DM. In case of ischemic dmaage to the brain tissue in DM model, TDS balance shifts due to decrease in its reduced intermediates on the background of  oxidized forms, with considerable lowering of reduced glutathione level and GR and GP activity. Similar pathological biochemical changes cause significant functional changes in cells and are often irreversible. Changes on TDS activity and oxidation of thiol groups of a cystein-dependent protein region of the mitochondrial internal membranes cause depolarization and destabilization of the mitochondrial internal membranes, with so called non-selective PT-pore (permeability transition pore – PTP) being formed. Opening of such channel in the internal membrane results in establishing ion balance in the matrix andmitochondrial intermembranous space, distributes hydrogen ion gradient (Н+) to the internal membrane and breaks respiratory chain. Also, this causes volume disregulation of mitochondria due to the matrixhyperosmolality, results in the increased matrix volume, breaks of the external membrane and growing destabilization of mitochondria and enzyme system, leads to development of persistent mitochondrialdysfunction, and as a result, to mitochondrial death – mitoptosis. Moreover, IL-1, produced in response to hypoxia, expresses inducible NOS (iNOS) in the glial cells, which results in NO hyperproduction and toxiceffects die to its excessive amount. Excessive amount and its highly toxic derivatives nitrosylate proteinclinging enzymes of the respiratory chain ofmitochondria and Krebs cycle, and inhibit them. Dysfunction of mitochondrial enzyme complexes (MEC) is formed, which causes qualitative changes of iron-sulfur centers in the mitochondrial enzymes and their functions, as well as suppression of a main (NADdependent)pathway for the substrate oxidation in respiratory chain. Aerobic energy synthesis is suppressed, thus bioenergetic (tissue) hypoxia is developed. Under conditions of the impaired generation of cell energy, caused by mitochondrial dysfunction, loss of NAD and ATP results in death of cells by necrosis or apoptosis. These pathophysiological changes form the basis of occurrence of early or late postischemic DM complications, resulting in disturbance of the usual lifestyle and lowering of life quality, persistent loss of occupational capacity and rapid progression of heavy neurological consequences up to lethal outcome. To gain maximum protective effect in the DM therapy, it is necessary to achieve interruption of pathogenetic ischemic/hypoxic cascade at earlier stages, which includes stage of thiol-disulfide imbalance establishing.Normalization of TDS state allows prevention of depolarization and destabilization of the mitochondrial internal membrane followed by development of mitochondrial dysfunction, energy imbalance and otherpost-ischemic consequences

Bipolaron Binding in Quantum Wires

A theory of bipolaron states in quantum wires with a parabolic potential well is developed applying the Feynman variational principle. The basic parameters of the bipolaron ground state (the binding energy, the number of phonons in the bipolaron cloud, the effective mass, and the bipolaron radius) are studied as a function of sizes of the potential well. Two cases are considered in detail: a cylindrical quantum wire and a planar quantum wire. Analytical expressions for the bipolaron parameters are obtained at large and small sizes of the quantum well. It is shown that at $R\gg 1$ [where $R$ means the radius (halfwidth) of a cylindrical (planar) quantum wire, expressed in Feynman units], the influence of confinement on the bipolaron binding energy is described by the function $\sim 1/R^{2}$ for both cases, while at small sizes this influence is different in each case. In quantum wires, the bipolaron binding energy $W(R)$ increases logarithmically with decreasing radius. The shapes and the sizes of a nanostructure, which are favorable for observation of stable bipolaron states, are determined.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figures, E-mail addresses: [email protected]; [email protected]

P and CP violation in B physics

While the Kobayashi--Maskawa single phase origin of CP violation passed its first crucial precision test in $B\to J/\psi K_S$, the chirality of weak $b$-quark couplings has not yet been carefully tested. We discuss recent proposals for studying the chiral and CP-violating structure of these couplings in radiative and in hadronic B decays.Comment: 15 pages, talk at PASCOS'03, Tata Inst., Mumbai, Jan. 200

MECHANISMS OF ANALEPTIC AND ANTIGIPOXIC EFFECTS OF HETEROSIDES – (DERIVATIVES FOR SULFUR AND NITROGEN CONTAINING HETEROCYCLES)

In order to expand the theoretical base of targeted search for analeptics, the awakening and antihypoxic properties of Heterosides-21, Heterosides-31 (derivatives of sulfur and nitrogen containing heterocycles) were studied and their mechanisms of action were established. Sodium thiopental (42 mg/kg) was used to simulate suppression of the respiratory and vasomotor centers of the brain. Comparative drugs were the combined analeptic sulfocamphocaine (SCC) (20 mg/kg) and antihypoxant Piracetam (300 mg/kg).The results were obtained on the models of thiopental anesthesia and normobaric hypoxia with hypercapnia, the analysis of which allowed: to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the awakening, antihypoxic activity of the studied substances and classical preparations; their effect on the respiratory center of the brain and the behavioral responses of animals; theoretically substantiate, experimentally confirm and establish aerobic, anaerobic and detoxification mechanisms for the realization of effects in various conditions; to formulate the theoretical foundations of a targeted search for universal analeptics and antihypoxic drugs, to offer an instrumental and methodological complex for their experimental reproduction.In order to expand the theoretical base of targeted search for analeptics, the awakening and antihypoxic properties of Heterosides-21, Heterosides-31 (derivatives of sulfur and nitrogen containing heterocycles) were studied and their mechanisms of action were established. Sodium thiopental (42 mg/kg) was used to simulate suppression of the respiratory and vasomotor centers of the brain. Comparative drugs were the combined analeptic sulfocamphocaine (SCC) (20 mg/kg) and antihypoxant Piracetam (300 mg/kg).The results were obtained on the models of thiopental anesthesia and normobaric hypoxia with hypercapnia, the analysis of which allowed: to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the awakening, antihypoxic activity of the studied substances and classical preparations; their effect on the respiratory center of the brain and the behavioral responses of animals; theoretically substantiate, experimentally confirm and establish aerobic, anaerobic and detoxification mechanisms for the realization of effects in various conditions; to formulate the theoretical foundations of a targeted search for universal analeptics and antihypoxic drugs, to offer an instrumental and methodological complex for their experimental reproduction

Measuring the Relative Strong Phase in D0→K∗+K−D^0 \to K^{*+} K^- and D0→K∗−K+D^0 \to K^{*-} K^+ Decays

In a recently suggested method for measuring the weak phase $\gamma$ in $B^\pm \to K^\pm (KK^*)_D$ decays, the relative strong phase $\delta_D$ in $D^0 \to K^{*+} K^-$ and $D^0 \to K^{*-} K^+$ decays (equivalently, in $D^0 \to K^{*+} K^-$ and \od \to K^{*+} K^-) plays a role. It is shown how a study of the Dalitz plot in $D^0 \to K^+ K^- \pi^0$ can yield information on this phase, and the size of the data sample which would give a useful measurement is estimated.Comment: 13 pages, latex, 5 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. D. Appendix and some text on additional resonant contributions adde

Some groups of Toll-like receptor gene polymorphisms and their clinical and pathogenetic manifestations in children with bronchial asthma

The prevalence of bronchial asthma has shown its steady increase in the world in recent years. Despite all the achievements of Allergology, control of the disease can be achieved only in two-thirds of patients even if all social risk factors and the influence of concomitant diseases are excluded. Thus, it is necessary to study endogenous factors that modify the pathogenesis of the disease. Toll-like receptors are the main molecules for recognizing pathogenic patterns in the human immune system. Since any Allergy is a recognition error, mutation of the genes of the recognizing molecules can have a direct and multidirectional effect on the nature of the inflammation and its clinical manifestations in bronchial asthma (BA). To detect this effect, 65 patients with BA were examined, and mutations of Toll-like receptor genes were detected: TLR2-Arg753Glu, TLR4- Asp299Gly, TLR4-Ghr399Ile, TLR9-T1237C, TLR9-A2848G, lymphocyte subpopulations CD3, CD19, CD4, CD8, CD16, phagocytosis indicators, levels of IgA, IgM, IgG, IgE and IL-6, IL-7, IL-9. The assessment of the severity of asthma and its level of control were conducted according to clinical recommendations of the Ministry of health of the Russian Federation in 2019 criteria. We have shown characteristic clinical manifestations of the studied mutations. A lighter course of the disease, more complete control over it and a better response to therapy were found in single-nucleotide substitutions in the Toll-like receptor 4 and 9 (TLR4-Asp299Gly, TLR4-Ghr399Ile, TLR9-T1237C, TLR9-A2848G). On the contrary, a heavier course and a worse response to therapy were detected in the TLR2 mutation with Arg753Glu replacement. In the studied groups, the features of immunity indicators characteristic of genotypes with a lighter and more controlled course of BA were determined: a higher absolute number of T-helpers, with multidirectional changes in the number of T-killers, but with invariably preserved higher ratio of CD4/CD8 in such genotypes. Higher levels of phagocytosis indicators (primarily characterizing chemotaxis) and IL-7, IL-9 were also detected. The exception is the TLR9-A2848G mutation, in which greater disease control and better response to therapy are combined with no changes in the studied laboratory characteristics. At the same time, a specific feature of the genotype of the studied patients with BA was revealed – a combination of Toll-like receptors 4 and 9 mutations. This suggests the presence of genetic patterns that characterize groups of patients with BA that differ in severity, response to therapy, and degree of control, which makes it possible to personalize approaches to diagnosis, prevention, and therapy of the disease

Charmless B→PPB \to PP decays using flavor SU(3) symmetry

The decays of $B$ mesons to a pair of charmless pseudoscalar ($P$) mesons are analyzed within a framework of flavor SU(3). Symmetry breaking is taken into account in tree ($T$) amplitudes through ratios of decay constants; exact SU(3) is assumed elsewhere. Acceptable fits to $B \to \pi \pi$ and $B \to K \pi$ branching ratios and CP asymmetries are obtained with tree, color-suppressed ($C$), penguin ($P$), and electroweak penguin ($P_{EW}$) amplitudes. Crucial additional terms for describing processes involving $\eta$ and $\eta'$ include a large flavor-singlet penguin amplitude ($S$) as proposed earlier and a penguin amplitude $P_{tu}$ associated with intermediate $t$ and $u$ quarks. For the $B^+ \to \pi^+ \eta'$ mode a term $S_{tu}$ associated with intermediate $t$ and $u$ quarks also may be needed. Values of the weak phase $\gamma$ are obtained consistent with an earlier analysis of $B \to VP$ decays, where $V$ denotes a vector meson, and with other analyses of CKM parameters.Comment: 26 pages, 1 figure. To be submitted to Phys. Rev. D. Reference update

Linguo-pragmatic features of elliptic constructions in media discourse

The article is devoted to a linguistic research of the impact of social media texts on modern society. The article considers the linguistic and pragmatic features of ellipsis in mass media texts and their influence on readers. The argument of the article is illustrated through the discourse analysis of media texts. The object of the present paper is to analyze ellipsis as a particular characteristic of media text