Verification of Photometric Parallaxes with Gaia DR2 Data

Results of comparison of Gaia DR2 parallaxes with data derived from a combined analysis of 2MASS (Two Micron All-Sky Survey), SDSS (Sloan Digital Sky Survey), GALEX (Galaxy Evolution Explorer), and UKIDSS (UKIRT Infrared Deep Sky Survey) surveys in four selected high-latitude $|b|>48^{\circ}$ sky areas are presented. It is shown that multicolor photometric data from large modern surveys can be used for parameterization of stars closer than 4400 pc and brighter than $g_{SDSS} = 19.^m6$, including estimation of parallax and interstellar extinction value. However, the stellar luminosity class should be properly determined.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figure

Transcriptomic Studies in Non-Model Plants: Case of Pisum sativum L. and Medicago lupulina L.

Transcriptomics is a dynamically developing branch of biology highly important for geneticists and molecular ecologists alike. A large number of studies concerning differential gene expression, mapping of genes and quantitative trait loci (QTL), analysis of genotyping variations and so on has been conducted recently on several non‐model plants using next‐generation sequencing techniques. One example of non‐model legumes is garden pea (Pisum sativum L.), a valuable pulse crop capable of forming nitrogen‐fixing nodules and arbuscular mycorrhiza. Adaptation of standardised RNA‐seq approaches and data analysis developed for model plants to P. sativum should facilitate both studying of pea molecular genetics and breeding of new cultivars possessing agriculturally important traits. Another non‐model legume is black medick Medicago lupulina L. (a close relative of model legume plant barrel medick, Medicago truncatula Gaertn.), for which unique genetic lines almost obligatory dependent on arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis formation have been obtained. Such lines show promise as the perfect model for studying the genetic bases of arbuscular mycorrhiza development. In this chapter, we give a brief description of the current developments in the field of garden pea and black medick transcriptomics. Our aim is to provide a quick start guide to the non‐expert researchers for next‐generation sequencing (NGS)‐based transcriptome analysis

Economic mechanisms of environmental protection

This article explores the various economic mechanisms that can be implemented for environmental protection. The sustainable development of any country depends on preserving natural systems and maintaining the appropriate quality of the environment. The article discusses the history of economic thought and its impact on environmental problems, as well as the development of new concepts of sustainable development. The economic mechanisms discussed include environmental taxes, emissions trading, subsidies, environmental fees, and others. Additionally, the article explores the importance of environmental audits and impact assessments in ensuring the effectiveness of economic mechanisms in protecting the environment

Spectrometric investigation of internal combustion engine oil

One of the ways to improve the efficiency of internal combustion engines is by reducing fuel and lubricant costs. The major cost of engine oil is due to the need to replace it regularly. Extending the service life of the oil based on the evaluation of its actual condition provides a significant reduction in operating costs. The article presents the results of the evaluation of changes in oil performance using spectrometric methods of oil sample analysis. Spectrometric methods allow to estimate promptly the intensity of accumulation of wear products, impurities, additives degradation degree, its viscosity index, oxidation, alkalinity in the oil. The results of spectrometric analyzes can also be used to assess the technical condition of the engine and the intensity of wear of its main parts. Results of researches confirm a possibility of scientific substantiation of prolongation of term of use of engine oils of internal combustion engines that provides decrease in operational expenses. The application of spectrometric methods of engine oil analysis also provides perfection of the engine maintenance system based on an objective estimation of the condition of the knots and mechanisms of the engine and the exception of not forced repairs and service. To increase the efficiency of the use of spectrometric methods of engine oil analysis, it is necessary to accumulate and generalize experience of their practical application and increase the duration of tests

Zero-bias photodetection in 2d materials via geometric design of contacts

Structural or crystal asymmetry are necessary conditions for emergence of zero-bias photocurrent in light detectors. Structural asymmetry has been typically achieved via $p-n$ doping being a technologically complex process. Here, we propose an alternative approach to achieve zero-bias photocurrent in 2d material flakes exploiting the geometrical non-equivalence of source and drain contacts. As a prototypical example, we equip a square-shaped flake of PdSe$_2$ with mutually orthogonal metal leads. Upon uniform illumination with linearly-polarized light, the device demonstrates non-zero photocurrent which flips its sign upon 90$^\circ$ polarization rotation. The origin of zero-bias photocurrent lies in polarization-dependent lightning-rod effect. It enhances the electromagnetic field at one contact from the orthogonal pair, and selectively activates the internal photoeffect at the respective metal-PdSe$_2$ Schottky junction. The proposed technology of contact engineering can be extended to arbitrary 2d materials and detection of both polarized and natural light

The Intellectual and Educational Resources as an Institutional Factor of Innovative Economy Formation

Quality of an innovation and its efficiency depend in a decisive way on quality and degree of novelty of the knowledge that is been its basis. New knowledge, such as the discovery of electricity, the managed nuclear reaction, the creation of electronic computers, the mean transition of mankind to the qualitatively new step in development. The new knowledge is equivalent to new economy of knowledge to power, material and labor costs, directly allowing replacing them with knowledge how it is possible to gain the same or bigger effect at the same or smaller costs of energy, materials and live human labor. In the economy of knowledge, the corporate and national wealth depends on accumulation and use of the knowledge making the main cost of intellectual capital. Despite a set of determinations and classifications of intellectual capital, most of the authors adheres to that point of view, that the intellectual capital includes human capital and the structural capital. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n3s6p28

METHOD OF OBTAINING TWO-LAYER FIBROUS SCINTILLATOR

FIELD: chemistry. SUBSTANCE: invention relates to scintillation materials, specifically to two-layer fibrous scintillators for detecting slow neutrons and suitable for making scintillation fibrous detectors for radiation environmental monitoring, for monitoring space and industrial neutron background, for making systems for monitoring nuclear fuel and articles made from fissile materials, as well as for making antiterrorist radiation monitoring systems. The method of making two-layer fibrous scintillator involves heating core and cladding material at 180-190°C, pressure 150-180 kg/cm² and then moulding the two-layer structure of the fibre through extrusion at a rate of 1.0-1.5 m/h. The material of the core of the scintillator contains the following in wt %: silver chloride 5.0-10.0; silver bromide 87.5-85.0; silver iodide 0.5-1.0; thallium (I) iodide 7.0-4.0, and the cladding material of the scintillator contains the following in wt %: silver chloride 18.0-20.0; silver bromide 80.5-79.4; silver iodide 0.1-0.5; thallium (I) iodide 0.5-1.0. The invention enables to obtain a new generation of flexible long two-layer fibrous scintillators with fluorescence spectrum maximum between 600 nm and 800 nm. EFFECT: two-layer fibre structure enables transmission of scintillation radiation with virtually no loss owing to the effect of total internal reflection of radiation in the core of the fibre at the core-cladding boundary surface. 3 ex.Изобретение относится к сцинтилляционным материалам, конкретно к двуслойным волоконным сцинтилляторам, предназначенным для регистрации тепловых нейтронов и пригодным для создания на их основе сцинтилляционных волоконных детекторов для радиационного экологического мониторинга территории, контроля космического и техногенного нейтронного фона, для создания комплексов технического контроля за ядерным топливом и изделиями из делящихся материалов, а также для создания антитеррористических комплексов радиационного контроля. Способ получения двуслойного волоконного сцинтиллятора, включает разогрев материала сердцевины и оболочки при температуре 180-190°С, давлении 150-180 кг/см² с последующим формированием двуслойной структуры волокна методом экструзии со скоростью 1,0-1,5 м/час, причем материал сердцевины сцинтиллятора содержит ингредиенты, мас.%: хлорид серебра 5,0-10,0; бромид серебра 87,5-85,0; иодид серебра 0,5-1,0; иодид одновалентного таллия 7,0-4,0, а материал оболочки сцинтиллятора содержит ингредиенты, мас.%: хлорид серебра 18,0-20,0; бромид серебра 80,5-79,4; иодид серебра 0,1-0,5; иодид одновалентного таллия 0,5-1,0. Изобретение позволяет получить новое поколение гибких длинных двуслойных волоконных сцинтилляторов с максимумом спектра свечения от 600 до 800 нм. Структура двуслойного волокна обеспечивает передачу сцинтилляционного излучения практически без потерь за счет эффекта полного внутреннего отражения излучения в сердцевину волокна на границе раздела сердцевина-оболочка

Concept, opportunities and challenges of urban tourism in the Arab world: Case studies of Dubai, Cairo and Amman

This paper aims to provide a better understanding of the current situation of urban tourism with referring to the experiences of the Arab World. By using bibliographic documentation and descriptive-analytic method, this paper addresses the main opportunities, impediments, and challenges of urban tourism in three Arab cities (Dubai, Cairo and Amman). This paper indicates that the three cities have many opportunities stemming from their location and their rich tourism resources. Moreover, urban tourism in these cities should confront some internal (country based) and external (global and regional) challenges such as seasonality, pollution, congestion, competition, funding and instability. Some recommendations and policy implications were suggested. The paper concludes, by arguing, that common internal and external challenges need to be addressed in a systematic manner within the broader cultural and tourism policy context in which urban tourism is now implicated. There is a lack of literature on urban tourism within the Arab countries, which is attributed to that tourism in the Arab world is heritage dominated type. Therefore, this research also attempts to bridge the gap in the existing literature about urban tourism in the Arab cities