Mineral composition of rhizomes Potentilla erecta L.

Chemical substances, which accumulate selectively by plants, can influence at their pharmacological action: to increase or decrease their absorption, resorptive properties; be synergists or antagonists, as well as to reduce or enhance the toxic effect. Potentilla erecta used in traditional herbal medicine system in many countries due to high therapeutic value. The concentrations of secondary metabolites in the plant raw materials are well understood. However, the data on concentration of trace and major elemental composition of it raw material remains extremely insufficient. The aim of our study was to examine the elemental compound of P. erecta rhizomes. The object of study was the rhizomes of P. erecta from a various natural zones of Ukraine (Carpathians, Polesie). Raw material was analyzed by atomic emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma. Twenty nine elements were identified in studied samples. It was established that the level of concentration decreases in this sequence: Ca > S > Mg > K > Sn > I > P > Ba > Al > Zn > Mn > Fe > Sr > Si > Ag > Cr > Ni > Cu > Pb > V > Se > Ti > Cd > Ge > Na > Mo > Co > As > Bi. Ca, S and Mg are present in high concentrations in both analyzed samples of P. erecta. K, Sn, I, P, Ba and Al were identified in quantities of more than 100 mg/kg. Other elements found in small quantities. The content of some metals was significantly different in the analyzed samples. The main reason is, probably, the difference between the ecological conditions of plants habitats. The experimental data can be used for prognosing and planning pharmacological research of P. erecta and development of quality control methods for plant material of this medicinal plant

Біопротекторна дія цинку в макро- і наноаквахелатній формі на ембріогенез щурів за умови свинцевої інтоксикації

The article presents results of studied influence of low doses of lead and zinc (nanozinc) on embryonal development in a la­boratory experiment on rats.  Negative influence of lead on pregnancy of laboratory animals, manifested in violation of the physiological dynamics of the rectal temperature and decrease in body weight gain was revealed. Embryotoxic ef­fect of low doses of lead results in increased fetal mortality by 2.16 times compared to the control group of animals, de­terioration of the morphometric indices of fetuses, violation of placentogenesis. Simultaneous injections of zinc on back­ground of lead intoxication causes a protective effect on the body of pregnant rats and embryonal development of the offspring, more pronounced for zinc citrate, received by using aquananotehnology, as compared to zinc chloride. Thus, by morphometry indices, male fetuses were more sensitive to prenatal lead exposure in comparison to female fetuses.В статье представлены результаты изучения воздействия низких доз свинца и цинка (наноцинка) на эмбриональное развитие в условиях лабораторного эксперимента на крысах. Установлено негативное вли­яние свинца на протекание беременности у лабораторных животных, что проявляется в нарушении физио­логической динамики ректальной температуры и снижении прироста массы тела. Эмбриотоксический эффект низких доз свинца проявляется в увеличении эмбриональной смертности в 2,16 раза по сравнению с кон­трольной группой животных, ухудшении морфометрических показателей плодов, нарушении плацен­тогенеза. Одновременное введение препаратов цинка при свинцовой интоксикации оказывает протекторное действие на организм беременных крыс и эмбриональное развитие потомства, более выраженное для цит­рата цинка, полученного с использованием аквананотехнологии по сравнению с хлоридом цинка. При этом по морфометрическим показателям плоды мужского пола оказались более чувствительны к пренатальному воз­действию свинца по сравнению с плодами женского пола. The article presents results of studied influence of low doses of lead and zinc (nanozinc) on embryonal development in a la­boratory experiment on rats.  Negative influence of lead on pregnancy of laboratory animals, manifested in violation of the physiological dynamics of the rectal temperature and decrease in body weight gain was revealed. Embryotoxic ef­fect of low doses of lead results in increased fetal mortality by 2.16 times compared to the control group of animals, de­terioration of the morphometric indices of fetuses, violation of placentogenesis. Simultaneous injections of zinc on back­ground of lead intoxication causes a protective effect on the body of pregnant rats and embryonal development of the offspring, more pronounced for zinc citrate, received by using aquananotehnology, as compared to zinc chloride. Thus, by morphometry indices, male fetuses were more sensitive to prenatal lead exposure in comparison to female fetuses

Tunneling without tunneling: wavefunction reduction in a mesoscopic qubit

The transformation cycle and associated inequality are suggested for the basic demonstration of the wavefunction reduction in a mesoscopic qubit in measurements with quantum-limited detectors. Violation of the inequality would show directly that the qubit state changes in a way dictated by the probabilistic nature of the wavefunction and inconsistent with the dynamics of the Schr\"{o}dinger equation: the qubit tunnels through an infinitely large barrier. Estimates show that the transformation cycle is within the reach of current experiments with superconducting qubits.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figure

Resonant-Cavity-Induced Phase Locking and Voltage Steps in a Josephson Array

We describe a simple dynamical model for an underdamped Josephson junction array coupled to a resonant cavity. From numerical solutions of the model in one dimension, we find that (i) current-voltage characteristics of the array have self-induced resonant steps (SIRS), (ii) at fixed disorder and coupling strength, the array locks into a coherent, periodic state above a critical number of active Josephson junctions, and (iii) when $N_a$ active junctions are synchronized on an SIRS, the energy emitted into the resonant cavity is quadratic with $N_a$. All three features are in agreement with a recent experiment [Barbara {\it et al}, Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 82}, 1963 (1999)]}.Comment: 4 pages, 3 eps figures included. Submitted to PRB Rapid Com

Mobile π−\pi-kinks and half-integer zero-field-like steps in highly discrete alternating 0−π0-\pi Josephson junction arrays

The dynamics of a one-dimensional, highly discrete, linear array of alternating $0-$ and $\pi-$ Josephson junctions is studied numerically, under constant bias current at zero magnetic field. The calculated current - voltage characteristics exhibit half-integer and integer zero-field-like steps for even and odd total number of junctions, respectively. Inspection of the instantaneous phases reveals that, in the former case, single $\pi-$kink excitations (discrete semi-fluxons) are supported, whose propagation in the array gives rise to the $1/2-$step, while in the latter case, a pair of $\pi-$kink -- $\pi-$antikink appears, whose propagation gives rise to the $1-$step. When additional $2\pi-$kinks are inserted in the array, they are subjected to fractionalization, transforming themselves into two closely spaced $\pi-$kinks. As they propagate in the array along with the single $\pi-$kink or the $\pi-$kink - $\pi-$antikink pair, they give rise to higher half-integer or integer zero-field-like steps, respectively.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures, submitted to Supercond. Sci. Techno

Dynamics of a Josephson Array in a Resonant Cavity

We derive dynamical equations for a Josephson array coupled to a resonant cavity by applying the Heisenberg equations of motion to a model Hamiltonian described by us earlier [Phys. Rev. B {\bf 63}, 144522 (2001); Phys. Rev. B {\bf 64}, 179902 (E)]. By means of a canonical transformation, we also show that, in the absence of an applied current and dissipation, our model reduces to one described by Shnirman {\it et al} [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 79}, 2371 (1997)] for coupled qubits, and that it corresponds to a capacitive coupling between the array and the cavity mode. From extensive numerical solutions of the model in one dimension, we find that the array locks into a coherent, periodic state above a critical number of active junctions, that the current-voltage characteristics of the array have self-induced resonant steps (SIRS's), that when $N_a$ active junctions are synchronized on a SIRS, the energy emitted into the resonant cavity is quadratic in $N_a$, and that when a fixed number of junctions is biased on a SIRS, the energy is linear in the input power. All these results are in agreement with recent experiments. By choosing the initial conditions carefully, we can drive the array into any of a variety of different integer SIRS's. We tentatively identify terms in the equations of motion which give rise to both the SIRS's and the coherence threshold. We also find higher-order integer SIRS's and fractional SIRS's in some simulations. We conclude that a resonant cavity can produce threshold behavior and SIRS's even in a one-dimensional array with appropriate experimental parameters, and that the experimental data, including the coherent emission, can be understood from classical equations of motion.Comment: 15 pages, 10 eps figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

The Flux-Line Lattice in Superconductors

Magnetic flux can penetrate a type-II superconductor in form of Abrikosov vortices. These tend to arrange in a triangular flux-line lattice (FLL) which is more or less perturbed by material inhomogeneities that pin the flux lines, and in high-$T_c$ supercon- ductors (HTSC's) also by thermal fluctuations. Many properties of the FLL are well described by the phenomenological Ginzburg-Landau theory or by the electromagnetic London theory, which treats the vortex core as a singularity. In Nb alloys and HTSC's the FLL is very soft mainly because of the large magnetic penetration depth: The shear modulus of the FLL is thus small and the tilt modulus is dispersive and becomes very small for short distortion wavelength. This softness of the FLL is enhanced further by the pronounced anisotropy and layered structure of HTSC's, which strongly increases the penetration depth for currents along the c-axis of these uniaxial crystals and may even cause a decoupling of two-dimensional vortex lattices in the Cu-O layers. Thermal fluctuations and softening may melt the FLL and cause thermally activated depinning of the flux lines or of the 2D pancake vortices in the layers. Various phase transitions are predicted for the FLL in layered HTSC's. The linear and nonlinear magnetic response of HTSC's gives rise to interesting effects which strongly depend on the geometry of the experiment.Comment: Review paper for Rep.Prog.Phys., 124 narrow pages. The 30 figures do not exist as postscript file

СТРАТЕГІЇ МЕНЕДЖМЕНТУ ТЕПЛОВОГО СТРЕСУ У ПТАХІВНИЦТВІ

In recent years, the problem of rising seasonal temperatures has become more acute in Ukraine. Periods of heat, when the temperature outside in summer exceeds 30 °C, and in some regions reaches 40 °C, become longer, which negatively affects the main production indicators of farms for raising animals and poultry and leads to increased deaths due to heat stress. As a result, farms suffer significant economic losses. Under conditions of high external temperature and humidity (> 30 °C,> 60 %) in the bird stress develops rapidly, the internal body temperature rises by 0.5-1.0 °C, respiration increases from 22 to 200 cycles per minute (so-called symptom of "hyperpnea") and due to the absence of sweat glands, arterial-venous anastomoses are activated in the areas of the body through which the main heat transfer is carried out: ridges, earrings, open skin of the feet.  There are a number of effective strategies to help minimize the negative impact of high outdoor temperatures on poultry, which can be divided into technical, technological, feed and medicinal. Technical strategies include: equipping poultry houses with evaporative cooling systems and tunnel ventilation, thermal insulation of roofs and walls to help reduce the negative effects of heat stress. Technological strategies include: reducing the density of poultry, reducing the thickness of the litter, the use of intermittent light, avoidance of feeding in the hottest period of the day; regular purification and disinfection of water and irrigation systems; water acidification; increase the watering front by 20-25 %. Feeding strategy during heat stress: increasing the proportion of fat relative to carbohydrates, reducing protein and increasing the level of easily digestible amino acids, the introduction of electrolytes, increasing the dose of vitamins C and E, limiting feed intake. Increasing the proportion of microelements by introducing into the diet of highly effective metal-amino acid complexes, especially those containing zinc, manganese and selenium. To reduce the negative impact of heat stress on poultry, veterinary drugs and feed additives, both mono - and multicomponent, are used, including veterinary drugs containing acetylsalicylic, ascorbic and citric acids and feed additives containing essential oils, menthol, micro- and macro elements in the form of sulfates and sulphates and vitamins. В Україні за останні роки все гострішою стає проблема підвищення сезонних температур. Періоди спеки, коли температура зовнішнього повітря влітку перевищує 30 °С, а в окремих регіонах сягає 40 °С, стають все тривалішими, що негативно впливає на основні виробничі показники господарств при вирощуванні тварин і птиці та призводить до підвищеної їх загибелі через тепловий стрес. Як наслідок. господарства зазнають значних економічних збитків. В умовах високої зовнішньої температури і вологості (>30 °C, >60 %) у птиці швидко розвивається стрес, внутрішня температура тіла підвищується на 0,5-1,0 °С, дихання частішає з 22 до 200 циклів на хвилину (так званий симптом «гіперпноє») та, через відсутність потових залоз, активізуються артеріально-венозні анастомози в ділянках тіла, через які здійснюється основна тепловіддача: гребені, сережки, відкрита шкіра ніг. Існує ряд дієвих стратегій, що допомагають мінімізувати негативний вплив високих зовнішніх температур на птицю, можна умовно поділити на технічні, технологічні, кормові та медикаментозні. До технічних стратегій належать: оснащення пташників системами охолодження випарувань і тунельною вентиляцією, теплоізоляція покрівлі і стін, які допомагають зменшити негативні наслідки теплового стресу. До технологічних стратегій належать: зниження щільності посадки птиці, зменшення товщини підстилки; застосування переривчастого світлового режиму; уникання годівлі в найспекотніший період доби; регулярне очищення і знезараження води і системи напування; підкислення води; збільшення фронту напування на 20-25 %.  Стратегія годівлі в період теплового стресу: збільшення частки жирів щодо вуглеводів, зменшення білка та підвищення рівня легкозасвоюваних амінокислот, введення електролітів, збільшення дози вітамінів С та Е, обмеження споживання корму. Збільшення частки мікро елементів шляхом введення в раціон високоефективних метал-амінокислотних комплексів, особливо з вмістом Цинку, Марганцю та Селену. Для зменшення негативного впливу теплового стресу на птицю застосовують ветеринарні лікарські засоби та кормові добавки як моно-, так і багатокомпонентні, в тому числі ВЛЗ, що містять ацетилсаліцилову, аскорбінову і лимонну кислоти та кормові добавки з вмістом ефірних олій, ментолу, мікро- та макроелементів у формі сульфатів і нанохелатів та вітамінів

Bioprotective Effect of Zinc in Macro- and Nanoaquachelate Form on Embryonal Development of Rats in Conditions of Lead Intoxication

The article presents results of studied influence of low doses of lead and zinc (nanozinc) on embryonal development in a la­boratory experiment on rats. Negative influence of lead on pregnancy of laboratory animals, manifested in violation of the physiological dynamics of the rectal temperature and decrease in body weight gain was revealed. Embryotoxic ef­fect of low doses of lead results in increased fetal mortality by 2.16 times compared to the control group of animals, de­terioration of the morphometric indices of fetuses, violation of placentogenesis. Simultaneous injections of zinc on back­ground of lead intoxication causes a protective effect on the body of pregnant rats and embryonal development of the offspring, more pronounced for zinc citrate, received by using aquananotehnology, as compared to zinc chloride. Thus, by morphometry indices, male fetuses were more sensitive to prenatal lead exposure in comparison to female fetuses