4,363 research outputs found
Система мониторинга потерь углеводородных ресурсов на нефтеперерабатывающих заводах
В статті описана функціональна хіммотологічна модель системи управління енергоефективністю i основні етапи впровадження та функціонування системи моніторингу втрат вуглеводневих ресурсів на нафтопереробних заводах. Дана система сприяє ефективному керуванню установками перероблення вуглеводнів, що, в свою чергу, скорочує витрати на енергоносії, сировину нафтопереробних заводів та надає можливості для отримання більш якісних нафтопродуктів при зменшенні антропогенного впливу на навколишнє природне середовище.The present status of the energy resources efficiency in Ukraine and CIS countries can be defined as one that does not meet modern requirements. One of the reasons for this is the excessive waste of hydrocarbons. Particularly acute this problem is in the field of oil refining. Most of the processing units on the CIS countries territory were built in 60-70 years, when energy savings were not given much importance. To date, refinery equipment are worn out, the power consumption and the level of hydrocarbons waste in the basic processes on 30-60% higher than in modern foreign plants. This is explained by the crisis theories and methods of energy-efficient hydrocarbon resources use. This is the urgent need now in comprehensive introduction into practice new techniques and new energy efficient equipment based on preventing excessive hydrocarbons waste during oil processing, storage and shipment of petroleum products at the refinery The paper describes the functional model of energy efficiency management system and the main stages the hydrocarbon resources waste monitoring system implementation at the refineries. This system contributes to the effective management of the refinery units, decreases the power and crude oil consumption expenditures and provides the possibility of obtaining higher quality oil products while reducing human impact on the environment.В статье описана функциональная химмотологическая модель системы управления энергоэффективностью и основные этапы внедрения и функционирования системы мониторинга потерь углеводородных ресурсов на нефтеперерабатывающих заводах. Данная система способствует эффективному управлению установками переработки нефти, что, в свою очередь, сокращает затраты на энергоносители, сырье нефтеперерабатывающих заводов и предоставляет возможность получения более качественных нефтепродуктов при уменьшении антропогенного влияния на окружающую среду
Формирование множества характеристик фактического режима водопотребления в системах коммунального водоснабжения
Обговорюються питання аналізу фактичного режиму водоспоживання в системах комунального водопостачання як початкового етапу планування енергоефективного режиму водоподачі. Метою дослідження є формування принципів комплексного аналізу добового водоспоживання та урахування впливу сезонних і кліматичних чинників. Для опису графіка добового водоспоживання сформовано сукупність характеристик, яка містить класичні та морфометричні показники. Для виявлення впливу кліматичних чинників запропоновано враховувати параметри, що характеризують погодні умови. Для виявлення сезонних особливостей дослідження добових графіків водоспоживання запропоновано здійснювати з урахуванням пори року та періодів добового циклу. Описані принципи комплексного аналізу графіка добового водоспоживання на основі бази даних добового водоспоживання, попередньо створеної в межах системи моніторингу режимів системи водопостачання, сприятимуть виявленню прихованих спільних рис у водоспоживанні.The issues of analysis of factual water consumption regime in municipal water supply systems as the initial stage planning of energy-effective mode of water supply are discussed in the article. The aim of the investigation is forming principles of complex analysis of diurnal water consumption and the consideration of impact of seasonal and climatic factors. Herewith, previous creation of diurnal water consumption database is assumed within the monitoring system of operation modes of municipal water supply system. A major indicator of regime is selected diurnal water consumption graph. The totality of characteristics, which contains the basic parameters of diurnal water consumption, as well as classical and morphometric indicators of irregularity graph, is formed to describe the graph of diurnal water consumption. To identify the influence of climatic factors was proposed to consider parameters characterizing weather conditions. To identify the seasonal features was suggested to make the investigation of diurnal graphs of water consumption with the consideration of seasons and periods of diurnal cycle. Described principles of complex analysis of graph of diurnal water consumption will promote detection hidden common features in the water consumption. This will allow to perform construction the family of typical graphs water consumption.Обсуждаются вопросы анализа фактического режима водопотребления в системах коммунального водоснабжения как начального этапа планирования энергоэффективного режима водоподачи. Целью исследования является формирование принципов комплексного анализа суточного водопотребления и учета влияния сезонных и климатических факторов. Для описания графика суточного водопотребления сформировано множество характеристик, которое содержит классические и морфометрические показатели. Для выявления влияния климатических факторов предложено учитывать параметры, характеризующие погодные условия. Для выявления сезонных особенностей исследование суточных графиков водопотребления предложено осуществлять с учетом времени года и периодов суточного цикла. Описанные принципы комплексного анализа графика суточного водопотребления на основе базы данных суточного водопотребления, предварительно созданной в рамках системы мониторинга режимов водоснабжения, способствуют выявлению скрытых общих особенностей в водопотреблении
Temporal variation in pollination services to Cucurbita moschata is determined by bee gender and diversity
It has been proposed that species-rich insect communities and species turnover across landscapes enhance the pollination efficiency of crops through complementarity, where both the dominant and less abundant species contribute to reaching a yield threshold from pollination. Alternatively, fluctuations in the most abundant pollinator species, rather than changes in species richness, may drive temporal variation in pollination services. In this study, we used Cucurbita moschata as a model to investigate temporal variation in pollinator communities in a Mexican tropical dry forest region. We sampled floral visitors in the coastal region of Jalisco during the wet and dry seasons and determined the pollination efficiency of all floral visitors. Our results showed that there was temporal variation in the pollinator community and in the pollination efficiency of the main pollinators of Cucurbita moschata crops. In the wet season, native bees of the genus Peponapis were the most frequent and effective pollinators of C. moschata, whereas in the dry season, Peponapis bees were scarce and Apis mellifera became the most frequent floral visitor. Apis mellifera transfers smaller pollen loads than Peponapis, but it provides an effective pollination service in conjunction with other native bees during the dry season. There was also an interaction between flower gender and pollinator species, where A. mellifera had higher visitation rate to female C. moschata flowers, and Peponapis bees to staminate flowers. Mean visitation rate by Peponapis female bees was 17 times higher than visitation rate by male bees. This is the first report of a vis-à-vis relationship of pollinator gender with respect to plant gender in which plants of the genus Cucurbita that produce unisexual staminate and pistillate flowers are differentially visited by Peponapis male and female bees, where females are the main pollinators. Understanding the temporal variation in pollinator communities and the contribution of the different species of pollinators to the reproductive success of different crop species and varieties can be crucial to maintaining pollination services under the current global pollination crisis.Fil: Delgado-Carrillo, Oliverio. Laboratorio Nacional de Análisis y Síntesis Ecológica; México. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Martén-Rodríguez, Silvana. Laboratorio Nacional de Análisis y Síntesis Ecológica; MéxicoFil: Ashworth, Lorena. Laboratorio Nacional de Análisis y Síntesis Ecológica; México. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Aguilar, Ramiro. Laboratorio Nacional de Análisis y Síntesis Ecológica; México. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Lopezaraiza-Mikel, Martha. Universidad Autonoma de Guerrero; MéxicoFil: Quesada, Mauricio. Laboratorio Nacional de Análisis y Síntesis Ecológica; Méxic
Resolution of the type material of the Asian elephant, Elephas maximus Linnaeus, 1758 (Proboscidea, Elephantidae)
The understanding of Earth’s biodiversity depends critically on the accurate identification and nomenclature of
species. Many species were described centuries ago, and in a surprising number of cases their nomenclature or type
material remain unclear or inconsistent. A prime example is provided by Elephas maximus, one of the most iconic
and well-known mammalian species, described and named by Linnaeus (1758) and today designating the Asian
elephant. We used morphological, ancient DNA (aDNA), and high-throughput ancient proteomic analyses to
demonstrate that a widely discussed syntype specimen of E. maximus, a complete foetus preserved in ethanol, is
actually an African elephant, genus Loxodonta. We further discovered that an additional E. maximus syntype,
mentioned in a description by John Ray (1693) cited by Linnaeus, has been preserved as an almost complete skeleton
at the Natural History Museum of the University of Florence. Having confirmed its identity as an Asian elephant
through both morphological and ancient DNA analyses, we designate this specimen as the lectotype of E. maximus
Postoperative cognitive dysfunction: etiology, clinical features, diagnosis
Introduction. The present study analyzed the possibility of using neuropsychological tests to assess postoperative cognitive dysfunction. New data were obtained: in the postoperative period, hippocampal memory impairments predominate in patients, which makes it expedient to use methods for diagnosing primary modal-nonspecific memory disorders in patients who are to undergo neurosurgical intervention on the spinal cord.The aim of the study to evaluate the influence of surgery with anesthesia on the cognitive functions of middle-age patients.Materials and methods. The study included 20 middle-aged patients. All patients had to undergo spinal surgery. Patients received total intravenous anesthesia with propofol induction (4–12 mg/kg/hr). Cognitive functions before and after the operation were made with the use of the MoCA, TMT A and B, FCSRT, state-trait anxiety inventory test (STAI).Results. The development of POCD was noted in 15% of cases. The patients showed a decrease in the FCSRT prompt index (1st day = 87 ± 9.0; 2nd day = 83 ± 15; p = 0,0005), while the overall severity of cognitive impairments (total score of MoCA) did not change significantly (standard deviation according to MoCA: 24.25 ± 2.86 on day 1 and 24 ± 3.24 on the second day, p = 0.61). The RT level decreased by day 2: 44.65 ± 7.4 versus 41.1 ± 8.2 (p = 0.001). Correlation analysis did not show the relationship between the age of patients, education level, comorbidity and development of POCD; however, the duration of anesthesia was associated with a decrease in MoCA scores (Pearson’s correlation coefficient r = –0.44; p = 0.050).Conclusion. Thus, our study shows that the study of hippocampal memory impairments is important in patients with POCD. These data differ from the data of researchers presented earlier, where the most important clinical manifestations of POCD are considered to be a decrease in attention and speed of mental processes. Of course, the small sample size dictates the need for additional research
Differences between <i>Trypanosoma brucei gambiense</i> groups 1 and 2 in their resistance to killing by Trypanolytic factor 1
<p><b>Background:</b> The three sub-species of <i>Trypanosoma brucei</i> are important pathogens of sub-Saharan Africa. <i>T. b. brucei</i> is unable to infect humans due to sensitivity to trypanosome lytic factors (TLF) 1 and 2 found in human serum. <i>T. b. rhodesiense</i> and <i>T. b. gambiense</i> are able to resist lysis by TLF. There are two distinct sub-groups of <i>T. b. gambiense</i> that differ genetically and by human serum resistance phenotypes. Group 1 <i>T. b. gambiense</i> have an invariant phenotype whereas group 2 show variable resistance. Previous data indicated that group 1 <i>T. b. gambiense</i> are resistant to TLF-1 due in-part to reduced uptake of TLF-1 mediated by reduced expression of the TLF-1 receptor (the haptoglobin-hemoglobin receptor (<i>HpHbR</i>)) gene. Here we investigate if this is also true in group 2 parasites.</p>
<p><b>Methodology:</b> Isogenic resistant and sensitive group 2 <i>T. b. gambiense</i> were derived and compared to other T. brucei parasites. Both resistant and sensitive lines express the <i>HpHbR</i> gene at similar levels and internalized fluorescently labeled TLF-1 similar fashion to <i>T. b. brucei</i>. Both resistant and sensitive group 2, as well as group 1 <i>T. b. gambiense</i>, internalize recombinant APOL1, but only sensitive group 2 parasites are lysed.</p>
<p><b>Conclusions:</b> Our data indicate that, despite group 1 <i>T. b. gambiense</i> avoiding TLF-1, it is resistant to the main lytic component, APOL1. Similarly group 2 <i>T. b. gambiense</i> is innately resistant to APOL1, which could be based on the same mechanism. However, group 2 <i>T. b. gambiense</i> variably displays this phenotype and expression does not appear to correlate with a change in expression site or expression of <i>HpHbR</i>. Thus there are differences in the mechanism of human serum resistance between <i>T. b. gambiense</i> groups 1 and 2.</p>
Single hadron response measurement and calorimeter jet energy scale uncertainty with the ATLAS detector at the LHC
The uncertainty on the calorimeter energy response to jets of particles is
derived for the ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). First, the
calorimeter response to single isolated charged hadrons is measured and
compared to the Monte Carlo simulation using proton-proton collisions at
centre-of-mass energies of sqrt(s) = 900 GeV and 7 TeV collected during 2009
and 2010. Then, using the decay of K_s and Lambda particles, the calorimeter
response to specific types of particles (positively and negatively charged
pions, protons, and anti-protons) is measured and compared to the Monte Carlo
predictions. Finally, the jet energy scale uncertainty is determined by
propagating the response uncertainty for single charged and neutral particles
to jets. The response uncertainty is 2-5% for central isolated hadrons and 1-3%
for the final calorimeter jet energy scale.Comment: 24 pages plus author list (36 pages total), 23 figures, 1 table,
submitted to European Physical Journal
Standalone vertex finding in the ATLAS muon spectrometer
A dedicated reconstruction algorithm to find decay vertices in the ATLAS muon spectrometer is presented. The algorithm searches the region just upstream of or inside the muon spectrometer volume for multi-particle vertices that originate from the decay of particles with long decay paths. The performance of the algorithm is evaluated using both a sample of simulated Higgs boson events, in which the Higgs boson decays to long-lived neutral particles that in turn decay to bbar b final states, and pp collision data at √s = 7 TeV collected with the ATLAS detector at the LHC during 2011
Measurements of Higgs boson production and couplings in diboson final states with the ATLAS detector at the LHC
Measurements are presented of production properties and couplings of the recently discovered Higgs boson using the decays into boson pairs, H →γ γ, H → Z Z∗ →4l and H →W W∗ →lνlν. The results are based on the complete pp collision data sample recorded by the ATLAS experiment at the CERN Large Hadron Collider at centre-of-mass energies of √s = 7 TeV and √s = 8 TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of about 25 fb−1. Evidence for Higgs boson production through vector-boson fusion is reported. Results of combined fits probing Higgs boson couplings to fermions and bosons, as well as anomalous contributions to loop-induced production and decay modes, are presented. All measurements are consistent with expectations for the Standard Model Higgs boson
Genic Microsatellite Markers in Brassica rapa: Development, Characterization, Mapping, and Their Utility in Other Cultivated and Wild Brassica Relatives
Genic microsatellite markers, also known as functional markers, are preferred over anonymous markers as they reveal the variation in transcribed genes among individuals. In this study, we developed a total of 707 expressed sequence tag-derived simple sequence repeat markers (EST-SSRs) and used for development of a high-density integrated map using four individual mapping populations of B. rapa. This map contains a total of 1426 markers, consisting of 306 EST-SSRs, 153 intron polymorphic markers, 395 bacterial artificial chromosome-derived SSRs (BAC-SSRs), and 572 public SSRs and other markers covering a total distance of 1245.9 cM of the B. rapa genome. Analysis of allelic diversity in 24 B. rapa germplasm using 234 mapped EST-SSR markers showed amplification of 2 alleles by majority of EST-SSRs, although amplification of alleles ranging from 2 to 8 was found. Transferability analysis of 167 EST-SSRs in 35 species belonging to cultivated and wild brassica relatives showed 42.51% (Sysimprium leteum) to 100% (B. carinata, B. juncea, and B. napus) amplification. Our newly developed EST-SSRs and high-density linkage map based on highly transferable genic markers would facilitate the molecular mapping of quantitative trait loci and the positional cloning of specific genes, in addition to marker-assisted selection and comparative genomic studies of B. rapa with other related species
- …