Experimental Research of the Diffraction and Vavilov-Cherenkov Radiation Generation in a Teflon Target

Geometry of Vavilov-Cherekov (VChR) radiation when an electron moves close to a dielectric target is in analogy to diffraction radiation (DR) geometry. In this case we may expect DR generation from the upstream face of the target besides that VChR. The joint observation of these booth types of radiation is very interesting from the pseudo-photon viewpoint, which is applicable for relativistic electrons. Unexpected results obtained in our experiment insist on reflection about nature both DR and VChR. The experiment was performed on the relativistic electron beam of the microtron of Tomsk Polytechnic University.Comment: This article will be published in Journal of Physic

The “Latins” on Mangup. Unique Western-European Cross-Encolpion from the Excavations of Prince’s Palace in Ancient Mangup: Problems of Attribution and Dating

Introduction. The article is devoted to the analysis of a unique cross-encolpion of the WesternEuropean type from the excavations of the Mangup Prince’s Palace. Methods. The research is complex. When describing the find, traditional methods of art history analysis were used, and data from X-ray fluorescence studies were used to determine the material of the product. Attribution of the cross is made on the basis of the generally accepted method of analogies in archaeological science. Analysis. The encolpion is related to a small group of cast silver crosses with “Latin” features, which were produced during the third quarter of the 15th century in one of the craft workshops of Kaffa. Their author was a master-scholarship holder who most likely moved to the capital of Genoese Gazaria in the Northern Black Sea region from one of the cities of Northern Italy. Results. Among the many reasons why this encolpion, as a mandatory attribute of the clothing of a Catholic Priest, could end up on Mangup, the most likely are: unknown in the sources Genoese embassy to the capital of the Principality of Feodoro in the period of 1450–1475 for the purpose of establishing a permanent Catholic mission here; the presence of a Catholic priest in the large embassies of Kaffa to the court of the rulers of Feodoro in 1455, 1465 or around 1471; participation of Genoese, who fled from Kaffa after its capture by the Ottoman army, in the subsequent defense of the Mangup fortress in summer and autumn 1475

About the Bosporos Oil of Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus and the Byzantine “Greek Fire”: Archaeological Evidence

Introduction. The article discusses information sources of the 10th – 11th centuries about the oil fields in the area of the Bosporus needed to produce the secret offensive weapon of the Byzantine Empire, i.e. the famous “Greek fire”. Methods. The study is comprehensive. Along with a review of written sources allowing to establish the chronology of the most active period of using the Byzantine “Greek fire”, their material evidence of the oil fields development on the banks of the Kerch strait and the subsequent transportation of Bosporus oil in the central regions of Byzantium were analyzed. Analysis. The treatise of Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus De Administrando Imperio contains a message about the oil fields in various areas of the Northeastern Black Sea including the Asian Bosporus which are traditionally considered as sources of raw materials for the famous secret weapons of the Empire – the so-called “Greek fire”. The unique nature of this information, in fact, has reliable archaeological evidence. During excavations of many settlements and fortresses of the Bosporus a sufficient number of examples of the local oil production and transportation to the central areas of Byzantium were found. In the late 9th – 11th centuries containers for the oil transportation were the so-called jugs with a high neck, the general chronology of which generally coincides with the period of the most active use of the “Greek fire” by the Byzantine fleet in fighting against numerous opponents of the Empire. Results. As the study shows, in addition to the military-strategic and political component, the interest of Byzantium in ensuring control over the territories of the Bosporus was probably due to the abundance of numerous sources of oil needed to manufacture the secret offensive weapon of the Empire – the famous “Greek fire”

Toxicological Evaluation of Clay Nanomaterials and Polymer-Clay Nanocomposites

© The Royal Society of Chemistry 2017.Clay nanoparticles are widely used as additives for the fabrication of polymer nanocomposites in industry. The nanoclay dopants effectively attenuate mechanical and functional properties of nanocomposites thus expanding their practical applications. This implies an increased risk of human exposure to nanoclays and\or nanoclay-doped polymer composites. Consequently, the evaluation of the toxicity of nanoclays and nanoclay-doped polymer composites is deemed to be of crucial importance, since the expanding use of nanoclays increases the risk of human exposure. Recent studies report the evaluation of toxicity of various nanoclays employing both in vitro and in vivo models, based on microorganisms, cell cultures, invertebrates and mammals. In this chapter, we overview the toxicity evaluation and biocompatibility studies of clay nanoparticles and nanoclay-doped nanocomposite polymer materials

Diffraction of real and virtual photons in a pyrolytic graphite crystal as source of intensive quasimonochromatic X-ray beam

A series of experiments on the parametric X-rays radiation (PXR) generation and radiation soft component diffraction of relativistic electrons in pyrolytic graphite (PG) crystals have been carried out at the Tomsk synchrotronyesBelgorod State Universit

The problem of individualization of legal entities in terms of innovative development of the Russian Federation and the European Union economy

This article is a comprehensive analytical study of the problem of individualization of legal entities in terms of innovative development of the Russian Federation and the European Union. Using the latest methodology of scientific research, the authors provide a justification of the legal institution of individualization, as well as offer a wide range of means of individualization of innovation actors and participants, including in the virtual space of the Internet.peer-reviewe

Species-specific differences in peroxisome proliferation, catalase, and SOD2 upregulation as well as toxicity in human, mouse, and rat hepatoma cells induced by the explosive and environmental pollutant 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene

© 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene (TNT) has been widely used as an explosive substance and its toxicity is still of interest as it persisted in polluted areas. TNT is metabolized in hepatocytes which are prone to its toxicity. Since analysis of the human liver or hepatocytes is restricted due to ethical reasons, we investigated the effects of TNT on cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, peroxisome proliferation, and antioxidative enzymes in human (HepG2), mouse (Hepa 1-6), and rat (H4IIEC3) hepatoma cell lines. Under control conditions, hepatoma cells of all three species were highly comparable exhibiting identical proliferation rates and distribution of their cell cycle phases. However, we found strong differences in TNT toxicity with the lowest IC50 values (highest cell death rate) for rat cells, whereas human and mouse cells were three to sevenfold less sensitive. Moreover, a strong decrease in cellular dehydrogenase activity (MTT assay) and increased ROS levels were noted. TNT caused peroxisome proliferation with rat hepatoma cells being most responsive followed by those from mouse and human. Under control conditions, rat cells contained fivefold higher peroxisomal catalase and mitochondrial SOD2 activities and a twofold higher capacity to reduce MTT than human and mouse cells. TNT treatment caused an increase in catalase and SOD2 mRNA and protein levels in human and mouse, but not in rat cells. Similarly, human and mouse cells upregulated SOD2 activity, whereas rat cells failed therein. We conclude that TNT induced oxidative stress, peroxisome proliferation and mitochondrial damage which are highest in rat cells rendering them most susceptible toward TNT. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 989–1006, 2017