Application of Humic Sorbents for Pb{2+}, Cu{2+} and Hg{2+} Ions Preconcentration from Aqueous Solutions

The sorbent prepared by sequential treatment of silica gel by polyhexamethylene guanidine of linear structure and humic acids is suggested for sorption concentration of metal ions (Pb{2+}, Cu{2+} and Hg{2+}) from aqueous solutions. Thermogravimetry and infrared spectroscopy have confirmed the success of the attachment of the humic acids onto modified silica surface. Sorption isotherms of lead (II), copper (II) and mercury (II) obtained in optimal conditions of metals sorption were analyzed by using Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption isotherms. Structural model of surface of humic sorbent was proposed based on the obtained results. The results demonstrated the potential applicability of supramolecular humic sorbent in the preconcentration of metal ions from aqueous solution

The Process of Acetonitrile Synthesis over γ-Al[2]O[3] Promoted by Phosphoric Acid Catalysts

The influence of principal parameters (reaction temperature, ratio of acetic acid and ammonia, composition of reactionary mixture and promotion of catalysts) on the selectivity and yield of the desired product was studied in the reaction of catalytic acetonitrile synthesis by ammonolysis of acetic acid. The processing of [gamma]-Al[2]O[3] by phosphoric acid increases amount of the centers, on which carries out reaction of acetamide dehydration. The kinetic model of a limiting stage of reaction - the acetamide dehydration to acetonitrile was suggested. In the process of ammonolysis of acetic acid it was demonstrated that the use of catalysts promoted by phosphoric acid and ratio NH[3]:CH[3]COOH=(3-4):1 at temperatures of a reactor 360-390°С leads to the increase of acetonitrile productivity to 0.7-0.8 g/cm{3}·h and allows to minimize formation of by-products

Engineered repeating prints: computer-aided design approaches to achieving continuity of repeating print across a garment using digital engineered print method

This Master’s research investigated approaches for engineering of repeating prints using digital textile printing technology and universally available computer-aided design software. Current practices for alignment of designs in yardage printed fabrics at garment seams are wasteful and do not allow for mass customisation. This inefficiency can be overcome with engineered digital printing, a method that allows for an integration of prints with garment patterns to generate Ready-to-Print images. Engineered printing offers more cost-effective use of materials, improved visual appearance, potential for mass customisation and more sustainable manufacturing. Still, technical difficulties exist in the integration of prints with garment patterns. As a result, application for apparel is limited to non-repeating prints and one-off fashion show garments. The integration of repeating prints presents even more difficulties. However, the advances in digital printing and computer-aided design technologies call for an examination of possible approaches for achieving improved continuity of a repeating print across a garment. The research used a three-stage mixed method approach. The first qualitative stage examined current practices for design and printing of repeating prints. By undertaking Applied Thematic Analysis, the diversity of meanings assigned to words describing attributes of repeating prints as a result of historical and current usage were identified and the terminology consolidated. A taxonomy of repeating print attributes was established, with three levels observed: a superordinate level for a surface, a basic for a repeat, and a subordinate for a motif. Quantifiable attributes of repeating prints were assigned to each level. The analysis also suggested three potential directions for engineered repeating prints: Modularity Design, Flexible Tiling and Distortion. The second quantitative stage evaluated suggested design directions in four experimental studies: one for each of the directions and a final study combining all three directions to engineer repeating prints for a graded garment. Practical computer-aided design techniques, based on accessible Adobe software tools, were developed for integration of repeating prints with garment patterns. The techniques were then tested in comparison with mainstream printing practices. In each experiment, repeating print attributes were examined for their impact on the adaptability of repeating prints for engineered printing. All three directions were validated as suitable for engineering of repeating prints. Statistical analyses revealed relationships between repeating print attributes and their impact on the adaptability of repeating prints for the engineered printing method. The final stage analysed the combined results of the previous two stages. Existing computer- aided design solutions were found to offer opportunities regarding their ability to be integrated into current digital production for innovative and sustainable engineered printing. While the suggested techniques require knowledge of more advanced dynamic editing tools, the research highlights the benefits for both fashion and textile designers to utilise such tools in order to fully embrace the potential digital printing technology has to offer. The research also highlights the need for dedicated software solutions for integration of repeating prints with garment patterns. The findings on the impact of repeating print attributes on the adaptability for engineered printing can help in the development of dedicated software

Optical Properties of Gallium-Doped Zinc Oxide-A Low-Loss Plasmonic Material: First-Principles Theory and Experiment

Searching for better materials for plasmonic and metamaterial applications is an inverse design problem where theoretical studies are necessary. Using basic models of impurity doping in semiconductors, transparent conducting oxides (TCOs) are identified as low-loss plasmonic materials in the near-infrared wavelength range. A more sophisticated theoretical study would help not only to improve the properties of TCOs but also to design further lower-loss materials. In this study, optical functions of one such TCO, gallium-doped zinc oxide (GZO), are studied both experimentally and by first-principles density-functional calculations. Pulsed-laser-deposited GZO films are studied by the x-ray diffraction and generalized spectroscopic ellipsometry. Theoretical studies are performed by the total-energy-minimization method for the equilibrium atomic structure of GZO and random phase approximation with the quasiparticle gap correction. Plasma excitation effects are also included for optical functions. This study identifies mechanisms other than doping, such as alloying effects, that significantly influence the optical properties of GZO films. It also indicates that ultraheavy Ga doping of ZnO results in a new alloy material, rather than just degenerately doped ZnO. This work is the first step to achieve a fundamental understanding of the connection between material, structural, and optical properties of highly doped TCOs to tailor those materials for various plasmonic applications

Cyclotron resonance of extremely conductive 2D holes in high Ge content strained heterostructures

Cyclotron resonance has been observed in steady and pulsed magnetic fields from high conductivity holes in Ge quantum wells. The resonance positions, splittings and linewidths are compared to calculations of the hole Landau levels

Социальные технологии в эпоху “надзорного капитализма”: цифровизация и власть алгоритмов

“Surveillance capitalism” is not yet a sustainable term used in the social sciences, although there has long been scientific debate about the basic technologies of this economic order- digital information and communication technologies, algorithms, data, artificial intelligence, neural networks, the Internet of things, etc. At the time, Google had revolutionized the field of predictive analysis and promoted “surveillance capitalism”. The company began to pay special attention to extracting and analyzing data in translation operations, speech recognition, image processing, ranking, etc. Google began to turn data (raw materials) into intelligent products – algorithms designed to predict user behavior. These predictive products have been used for sale to other organizations that are increasing their profits by improving their predictive marketing capabilities. Smart machines are no longer just learning to know a man his behavior, they are trying to push him into making certain decisions, into programmed behavioral responses to some stimulus, which leads to an increase in the earnings of “supervising capitalists” (and, above all, the income of owners of digital platforms). That is, by automating various processes, machines set the human behavior that  leads to the emergence of a new type of power – the “instrumental” power (automation of life of individuals by means of universal implementation of “smart” network devices, formation of “smart” space, “smart” houses). Algorithms penetrate into a variety of spheres, on the basis of algorithms management decisions are made and modern cities function. However, questions inevitably arise about the social consequences of widespread algorithmization and digitalization, the security of data storage, the limits of digitizing the social world.“Надзорный капитализм” пока еще не является устойчивым термином, используемым в социальных науках, хотя давно ведутся научные дискуссии об основных технологиях такого экономического порядка – цифровых информационно-коммуникативных технологиях, алгоритмах, данных, искусственном интеллекте, нейросетях, интернете вещей и др. В свое время компания Google совершила революцию в области прогнозной аналитики и способствовала развитию “надзорного капитализма”. Компания стала уделять особое внимание извлечению и анализу данных при осуществлении операций по переводу текстов, распознаванию речи, обработке изображений, ранжированию и т.п. Google начала превращать данные (сырье) в интеллектуальные продукты – алгоритмы, предназначенные для прогноза поведения пользователей. Эти прогнозные продукты стали использоваться для продажи другим организациям, которые увеличивают свою прибыль, улучшая свои предсказательные возможности при осуществлении маркетинговой деятельности. Умные машины уже не только научились познавать человека, они пытаются подтолкнуть его к принятию определенных решений, к запрограммированной поведенческой реакции на тот или иной стимул, что ведет к увеличению доходов “надзорных капиталистов” (и, прежде всего, доходов владельцев цифровых платформ). Иными словами, машины задают поведение человека, автоматизируя различные процессы, все это приводит к появлению нового типа власти – власти “инструментальной” (автоматизирование жизни индивидов с помощью повсеместного внедрения “умных” сетевых устройств, формирования “умного” пространства, “умных” домов). Алгоритмы проникают в самые разные сферы, на основе алгоритмов принимаются управленческие решения, функционируют современные города. И неизбежно возникают вопросы о социальных последствиях повсеместной алгоритмизации и цифровизации, безопасности хранения данных, пределах оцифровки социального мира

Россия между Западом и Востоком: организация, культура, практики управления и отношения неравенства

This article is dedicated to the problems of formation of Russian business culture and the influence, which exert the national culture, on functioning of modern Russian organizations and organization behavior. Doing business involves work at the management level with heterogeneous elements, reducible to a single system, where the very heterogeneity (social, historical, cultural) is one of the major management problems that require the development and application of sometimes very trivial management technologies.Статья посвящена проблемам формирования российской деловой культуры, влиянию национальной культуры на специфику функционирования современных российских организаций и организационное поведение. Ведение бизнеса предполагает на управленческом уровне работу с неоднородными элементами, сводимыми в единые системы, в которых сама неоднородность (социальная, историческая, культурная) является одной из основных управленческих проблем, требующих разработки и применения порой весьма нетривиальных управленческих технологий

Социальные технологии как исследовательское поле и инструмент социальных преобразований

This article attempts to represent social technologies as a research area of sociology and a practical field. Social technologies (as technology of government of social processes, agents, organizations, communities) are the complex social phenomenon. Nowadays — the days of radical technological changes (Internet of things, Big Data, virtual and augmented reality, blockchain technology, artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotization, transition to a shared economy), redefining a wide range of social fields and generating principally new social regimes ad configurations — the social technologies acquire almost universal character. The exploration and practices (design, implementation, modification) of social technologies mean the work with the widest possible range of social phenomena, deploying on very different spatial and time scales and in various social spheres. At the same time, there remains a need for conceptual and theoretical clarification of “social technologies” on the other hand, and for their institualization as research and practical fields (with its own standards, human and organizational resources and so on). The department of social technologies was opened in Moscow State University establishment on Faculty of Sociology in 2013 to address that need. The article outlines the whole number of research directions of this department since its establishment, through to the present day.В статье предпринята попытка представить социальные технологии и как выделенное направление социологических исследований, и как практическое поле. Социальные технологии (как технологии управления социальными процессами, социальными агентами, организациями, общностями и т.д.) это комплексное социальное явление. Это явление приобретает в настоящее время — время радикальных технологических трансформаций (интернет вещей, Big Data, виртуальная и дополненная реальность, технологии блокчейна, роботизация, искусственный интеллект, машинное обучение, развитие экспертных систем, переход к разделяемой (“шеринговой”) экономике и др.), переопределяющих принципы и способы функционирования самых разных областей социального мира и порождающих радикально новые социальные режимы и конфигурации — едва ли не универсальный характер. Исследовать и практиковать (разрабатывать, внедрять, изменять) социальные технологии означает работу с самыми разнообразными социальными феноменами и процессами, разворачивающимися в самых разных временных и пространственных масштабах и в различных социальных сферах. При этом до сих пор сохраняется необходимость, с одной стороны, концептуального и теоретического прояснения “социальных технологий”, а с другой стороны, их институционализации и как исследовательского направления в рамках социологии, и как области социальной практики (со своими стандартами, организационными и кадровыми ресурсами и прочее). Открытие в 2013 г. кафедры социальных технологий на социологическом факультете МГУ имени М.В. Ломоносова стало своеобразным ответом на данную необходимость. В статье очерчивается ряд исследовательских направлений работы кафедры с момента ее учреждения по настоящее время

Complexing of Sulfur(IV) Oxide with Hexamethylenetetramine and Hexamethylenediamine in Aqueous Solutions

Interaction in the sulfur(IV) oxide–hexamethylenetetramine (hexamethylenediamine)–water systems was studied by pH-, redox-, and conductometric titration techniques. The structure and stability of the resulting molecular and ionic complexes were examined in relation to the nature and concentration of the components in solution, as well as to temperature

Manganese catalysts to obtain olefins from C1-C4 alkanes

Oxidative transformations of C1-C4 alkanes into olefins on oxide manganese catalysts were under study. We also studied oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) into ethylene on deposited and applied on the silicon dioxide catalysts. We studied the influence of chemical composition of catalyst and promotors on the OCM. Adding a little amount of ethane and propane hydrocarbons to methane allows increasing the concentration of ethylene in gases and significantly increasing productivity in ethylene. The study also shows the impact of the amount of manganese and promotors applied on SiO2 on the yield of olefins during the conversion of C3-C4 alkanes