Theory of enhancement of thermoelectric properties of materials with nanoinclusions

Based on the concept of band bending at metal/semiconductor interfaces as an energy filter for electrons, we present a theory for the enhancement of the thermoelectric properties of semiconductor materials with metallic nanoinclusions. We show that the Seebeck coefficient can be significantly increased due to a strongly energy-dependent electronic scattering time. By including phonon scattering, we find that the enhancement of ZT due to electron scattering is important for high doping, while at low doping it is primarily due to a decrease in the phonon thermal conductivity

Integrating Sustainability Issues into Investment Decision Evaluation

The paper investigates the issues of integrating ESG factors into investment decision-making process. Based on the available investor surveys, academic research, the analysis of the Russian companies` non-financial reports, Bloomberg ESG data, Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility indexes and their sectoral aspects, as well as Russian ecological-stock index ERAX and stock exchange index MICEX dynamics the paper concluded that ESG factors have a material impact on corporate financial performance. At the same time there are barriers to the full ESG integration in the investment process primarily connected with the lack of standardized data, information comparability, reliability, completeness and timeliness; limited knowledge and guidance for ESG risk and opportunity measures and appropriate analytical tools as well as lack of dialogue between the investment community and the reporting companies. To contribute to the problem development this paper presents an approach of integrating ESG factors at different stages of investment analysis and business valuation

Induction of granzyme B expression in T-cell receptor/CD28-stimulated human regulatory T cells is suppressed by inhibitors of the PI3K-mTOR pathway

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Regulatory T cells (Tregs) can employ a cell contact- and granzyme B-dependent mechanism to mediate suppression of bystander T and B cells. Murine studies indicate that granzyme B is involved in the Treg-mediated suppression of anti-tumor immunity in the tumor microenvironment and in the Treg-mediated maintenance of allograft survival. In spite of its central importance, a detailed study of granzyme B expression patterns in human Tregs has not been performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our data demonstrated that natural Tregs freshly isolated from the peripheral blood of normal adults lacked granzyme B expression. Tregs subjected to prolonged TCR and CD28 triggering, in the presence of IL-2, expressed high levels of granzyme B but CD3 stimulation alone or IL-2 treatment alone failed to induce granzyme B. Treatment of Tregs with the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor, rapamycin or the PI3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor LY294002 markedly suppressed granzyme B expression. However, neither rapamycin, as previously reported by others, nor LY294002 inhibited Treg proliferation or induced significant cell death in TCR/CD28/IL-2 stimulated cells. The proliferation rate of Tregs was markedly higher than that of CD4+ conventional T cells in the setting of rapamycin treatment. Tregs expanded by CD3/CD28/IL-2 stimulation without rapamycin demonstrated increased <it>in vitro </it>cytotoxic activity compared to Tregs expanded in the presence of rapamycin in both short term (6 hours) and long term (48 hours) cytotoxicity assays.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>TCR/CD28 mediated activation of the PI3K-mTOR pathway is important for granyzme B expression but not proliferation in regulatory T cells. These findings may indicate that suppressive mechanisms other than granzyme B are utilized by rapamycin-expanded Tregs.</p

PROBLEMS OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH: RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS ON THE EXAMPLE IRKUTSK OBLAST

The article presents important medico-ecological problems: preservation of an effect of influence of air pollution in the subsequent generations; environmental and medical consequences of the cumulative ecological danger; taking into account regional features at the harmonization of hygienic standards; use of modern approaches to formation of target preventive programs. Relevance of these problems is observed on the example of Irkutsk region. Irkutsk region is one of the largest advanced industrial subjects of Russian Federation. The leading industries are energy, pulp-and-paper and chemical, wood and woodworking, nonferrous metallurgy, mechanical engineering. Concentration of the industry in the south of the region has led to high man-caused environmental load. Under conditions of reduced ability to self-purification of environmental objects this fact results in formation of zones of ecological trouble. Environmental and medicosocial problems occurring in a long-term technogenic mercury pollution are very important and require more systematic studies. Bratsk water reservoir is strongly polluted by technogenic Hg. Among rural population living near the toxicant sources the signs of unfavorable mercury effects have been revealed: mercury microcirculation in the organism (10,5 % of cases with group level urinary mercury > 5,2 microg/l), disorders of vegetative nervous system (87 % in intact group vs 43 % in the group of comparison; р ≤ 0,05) and pathology of thyroid glands (14,6 % children in intact group vs 8,1 % in the group of comparison; р ≤ 0,05). The aims of ecological medicine must include prevention as well as safe remediation and translational therapeutic intervention in human populations after exposures. The conception of development of the programs aimed at the coordination of activity of preventing ecologically caused losses was proposed

Motivation of teenagers to design in the field of fine arts

This article includes the results of a scientific study, the purpose of which has been to study the motivational component of the design process in teenagers. In this regard, we considered the motivational component of the teenager's desire to design activities in the field of fine arts. We offered fine arts as an effective mean of developing this component, the effectiveness of which has been proved in the course of experimental work, organized in three consecutive stages. To implement the experimental work, we used observation, testing, diagnostic techniques and other pedagogical methods. We consistently analyzed the results of the experimental and control groups after the formative stage of the experiment, which revealed a positive qualitative and quantitative dynamics of the indicators studied. The qualitative dynamics is manifested in the following: increased emotional responsiveness to works of art and interest in the project activities, illustrations of works, artistic component of literary works, as well as interest in participating in the scientific and practical conferences and competitions not only in fine arts, but also in other subjects. In addition, it is noted the teenager's activity in the after-hour activity on the creation and implementation of new school projects: charitable action, creative competition, school newspaper, master class, etc. It is concluded that the fine arts contribute to the teenager's motivation development to design.Key words: motivation, readiness for design activity, teenagers, fine arts

Probing Amphotericin B Single Channel Activity by Membrane Dipole Modifiers

The effects of dipole modifiers and their structural analogs on the single channel activity of amphotericin B in sterol-containing planar phosphocholine membranes are studied. It is shown that the addition of phloretin in solutions bathing membranes containing cholesterol or ergosterol decreases the conductance of single amphotericin B channels. Quercetin decreases the channel conductance in cholesterol-containing bilayers while it does not affect the channel conductance in ergosterol-containing membranes. It is demonstrated that the insertion of styryl dyes, such as RH 421, RH 237 or RH 160, in bilayers with either cholesterol or ergosterol leads to the increase of the current amplitude of amphotericin B pores. Introduction of 5α-androstan-3β-ol into a membrane-forming solution increases the amphotericin B channel conductance in a concentration-dependent manner. All the effects are likely to be attributed to the influence of the membrane dipole potential on the conductance of single amphotericin B channels. However, specific interactions of some dipole modifiers with polyene-sterol complexes might also contribute to the activity of single amphotericin B pores. It has been shown that the channel dwell time increases with increasing sterol concentration, and it is higher for cholesterol-containing membranes than for bilayers including ergosterol, 6-ketocholestanol, 7-ketocholestanol or 5α-androstan-3β-ol. These findings suggest that the processes of association/dissociation of channel forming molecules depend on the membrane fluidity

Spoilage at the thermoforming of layered materials

Steady growth of plastics industry necessitates the disposal of waste products from them. More and more manufacturers seek to include recycled materials and their technological waste in polimers compositions. Blending polymeric materials commonly used in the preparation of thermoformed articles from sheets of thermoplastics. Thermoforming process is cost effective, as it requires a significant investment in tooling in the manufacture of small batches of parts. In this study we investigated species discard practical use products, namely bath made by a combination of methods of thermoforming and contact molding coextruded sheets of ABS plastic with polymethylmethacrylate. Results of the study showed the veracity of the submitted samples assumption that as a raw material in the manufacture of sheets usedrecycled materials, which led to marriage in the finished product