Bioenergy production on agricultural land in Slovakia

The potential of bioenergy accumulation and production of Slovakian agricultural soils was derived. Energetically most productive are the soil types like Chernozems (88.6 GJ.ha-1) and Mollic Fluvisols (76.14 GJ.ha-1). The least energy amount generate Gleys, Organosols, Solonetzes and Lithosols (31.63 GJ.ha-1). Energy accumulated in farmland exploita-bility by plants cropped is variable depending from soil representative and its properties. The lowest exploitability was found at Cambisol (0.7–1.8 %), the highest at Regosols (3.1–7.0 %). Рассчитан биоэнергетический потенциал накопления и продуктивности словацких сельскохозяйственных почв. Энергетически наиболее продуктивными являются такие типы почв, как Черноземы (88,6 ГДж/га-1) и Moллик Флювисоли (76,14 ГДж/га-1). Наименьшим энергетическим продуцированием обладают Глеесоли, Орга-носоли, Солонцы и Литосоли (31,63 ГДж/га-1). Энергия, которая накапливается в сельхозугодиях растениями, ва-рьируется в зависимости от представленной почвы и еѐ свойств. Самая низкая накопительная способность была найдена в Камбисолях (0.7-1.8%), а самая высокая в Регосолях (3.1-7.0%). Розрахований біоенергетичний потенціал нагромадження і продуктивності словацьких сільськогосподарсь-ких ґрунтів. Енергетично найбільш продуктивними є такі типи ґрунтів, як Чорноземи (88,6 ГДж/га-1) і Moллік Флювісолі (76,14 ГДж/га-1). Найменшим енергетичним продукуванням володіють Глеєсолі, Органосолі, Солонці і Літосолі (31,63 ГДж/га-1). Енергія, що накопичується в сільгоспугіддях рослинами варіюється в залежності від представленого ґрунту і його властивостей. Найнижча накопичувальна здатність була знайдена в Камбісолях (0.7-1.8%), а найвища в Регосолях (3.1-7.0%)

Homology modeling and molecular dynamics study of Mycobacterium tuberculosis urease

Introduction. M. tuberculosis urease (MTU) is an attractive target for chemotherapeutic intervention in tuberculosis by designing new safe and efficient enzyme inhibitors. A prerequisite for designing such inhibitors is an understanding of urease's three-dimensional (3D) structure organization. 3D structure of M. tuberculosis urease is unknown. When experimental three-dimensional structure of a protein is not known, homology modeling, the most commonly used computational structure prediction method, is the technique of choice. This paper aimed to build a 3D-structure of M. tuberculosis urease by homology modeling and to study its stability by molecular dynamics simulations. Materials and methods. To build MTU model, five high-resolution X-ray structures of bacterial ureases with three-subunit composition (2KAU, 5G4H, 4UBP, 4СEU, and 4EPB) have been selected as templates. For each template five stochastic alignments were created and for each alignment, a three-dimensional model was built. Then, each model was energy minimized and the models were ranked by quality Z-score. The MTU model with highest quality estimation amongst 25 potential models was selected. To further improve structure quality the model was refined by short molecular dynamics simulation that resulted in 20 snapshots which were rated according to their energy and the quality Z-score. The best scoring model having minimum energy was chosen as a final homology model of 3D structure for M. tuberculosis. The final model of MTU was also validated by using PDBsum and QMEAN servers. These checks confirmed good quality of MTU homology model. Results and discussion. Homology model of MTU is a nonamer (homotrimer of heterotrimers, (αβγ)3) consisting of 2349 residues. In MTU heterotrimer, sub-units α, β, and γ tightly interact with each other at a surface of approximately 3000 Å2. Sub-unit α contains the enzyme active site with two Ni atoms coordinated by amino acid residues His347, His349, carbamylated Lys430*, His459, His485, Asp 573, Gly490. Helix-turn-helix motif (residues 524-545) forms a mobile flap that covers the active site and is in closed conformation impeding access to the enzyme active site. The structural stability of MTU model was checked by molecular dynamics simulation in explicit water at 300 К and рН 7,4. During the simulation, root mean square deviations of Сα atoms (RMSD Сα) and root mean square fluctuations (RMSF) of amino acid residues of MTU were monitored for 60 ns. Also, the distance between the loop that covers the active site and the dinickel center was monitored. Analysis of MD trajectory indicate that the enzyme global structure is stable and the flap covering the active center remains in closed state during the simulation time. Conclusion. Predicted three-dimensional structure of M. tuberculosis urease can be used in the studies of structure-function relationships of the enzyme, in designing new safe and efficient enzyme inhibitors aimed to struggle with infectious diseases promoted by urease activity

Somatoform disorders in the family doctor's practice.

Somatoform disorders – psycho­genic diseases are characterized by pathological physical symptoms that resemble somatic illness. Thus, any organic manifestations, which can be attributed to known diseases are not detected, but there are non-specific functional impairments. Somatoform disorders include somatization disorder, undifferentiated somatoform disorder, hypocho­n­driacal disorder, somatoform dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system and stable somatoform pain disorder. The first part of the article reviewes features of the clinical manifestations of somatization disorder and undifferentiated somatoform disorder. Role of non-benzodiazepine tranquilizers (ADAPTOL) and metabolic drugs (VASONAT) in the treatment of patients with somatoform disorders is discussed. In review article data of neurologists and cardiologists on the effectiveness of anxiolytic drug ADAPTOL and metabolic drug VASONAT in different clinical groups of patients (coronary artery disease, chronic ischemia of the brain), which can significantly improve quality of life, increase exercise tolerance, improve cognitive function and correct mental and emotional disorders are presented

Influence of Regions Innovative and Investment Activity on Their Social-Economic Development: Results of an Empirical Study

In this paper, the authors analyze methodological approaches to evaluation of innovative and investment activity and social-economic development of regions as well as subsequent methods to measure mutual influence of the factors. The obtained results allowed the authors to point out factors which influence regions' innovative and investment activity. The study discusses the experience of regional strategies' implementation through the example of the most innovatively active regions. The authors have carried out an empirical research related to creation of innovative territorial clusters. The methodology of mutual influences evaluation worked out during this study can be used to introduce changes into budget strategy and programs of regional innovative development and to evaluate how efficient is the implementation of cluster-based development programs. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015.v6n3p34

Interaction of a free burning arc with regenerative protective layers

The possible use of protective layers made of ceramic powders for walls in thermal plasma applications is studied. A stable free burning arc of currents up to 5 kA between copper- tungsten electrodes is used to analyse the arc interaction with samples coated by mixtures of CaCO3, MgCO3, and Mg(OH)2 with plaster. By means of optical emission spectroscopy the maximum arc temperature and the radiation impact on the surfaces are estimated to be around 15000 K and 20 MWm-2, respectively. Thermographic measurements confirm the efficient protection of substrates by all layer materials. Layers containing CaCO3 lead to the lowest heating of ceramic samples which may be caused by a strong evaporation of the layer material

Research in the area of preparing activated alumina. Part 4. new technological approaches for synthesis of ultrafine α-Al₂O₃

Results of new integrated technological approaches to synthesis of ultrafine -alumina using commercially available metallurgical alumina as a raw material are presente

Accumulate Function Concerning Nutrients in Slovak Agricultural Soils

Lisnyak A., kand. geogr. science, Torma S., PhDAccumulate soil function directly influences the nutrient movement and their accumulation in the soil. On the basis of nitrogen mineralization in the soil and chosen soil parameters (soil depth, content of gravel in the soil, soil slop, content of clay particles in the soil). Were created five categories of the agricultural soils according to the ability of nutrients accumulation. The maps of soil ability to accumulate nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium were additionally acumulate phosphorus and 16% soil to accumulate potassium. On the other side it is only 6% of soil with very weak ability to accumulate nitrogen, 14% to accumulate phosphorus and 20% to accumulate potassium