Practical Testing of a Method for Recording Hydrocarbon Boundaries Based on Measuring the Deposits’ Own Radiation

The article provides a theoretical analysis of the interaction of dual-frequency and modulated electromagnetic waves with anisotropic media above hydrocarbon deposits and computer modeling. The frequency range of changes in the electrodynamic parameters of the environment above the deposit with the manifestation of anomalies in the electric field strength has been established. Recommendations are given for the use of modulated signals to improve the accuracy of determining the boundaries of hydrocarbons based on measuring the phase characteristics of the surface impedance of the medium above the hydrocarbons. A hardware and software complex has been developed for recording the electric field strength in the modes of receiving probing signals and the natu ral radiation of hydrocarbon deposits. Experimental studies were carried out in gas fields of Syria. Methods are shown to increase the information content of the developed method and equipment when carrying out prospecting work at hydrocarbon sites. The research results can be used in devices for identifying oil and gas deposits in geophysics

Finishing methods for packaging products

The article provides information about enhancing the competitiveness of a product on the market by means of surface treatment techniques and methods of creating a unique design which is one of the final processes in the preparation of packaging products. Packaging created using innovative ideas is a very important factor for expensive products. These include: cosmetics boxes as well as high-end packaging. Exclusive decoration of the packaging of such products serves to show the quality of the product and distinguish it from counterfeit products. Decorative and exclusive coatings ore widely used for these processes. One type of finish is varnishing. This method protects products from external influences and helps to improve their appearance. The lacquering method gives a glossy effect when using UV-glossy varnishes and a metallic imitation when printing with metallic varnishes. For the production of multilayer packaging materials for liquid foodstuffs on various substrates, extrusion lamination is used, which protects against external influences and gives a glossy effect that enhances the product's appearance. Hot stamping with aluminium foil is proven to be the most common type of finish, due to the possibility of obtaining different textures and types of aluminium foil. The application of fine metallic powder only on smooth materials belongs to the bronzing process and is the most economical and profitable option in comparison with hot stamping with aluminium foil and printing with metallic inks. It is stated that twice as much effort is required to do hot stamping. The blanket process requires 4 times as much force than aluminium foil embossing. It follows that when choosing the type of finishing in order obtaining indelible and clear prints which are resistant to mechanical influences and whose aesthetics ensure recognisability of the corporate style for the packaging products, the labour input and cost of the process must be taken into consideratio

Interrelation between subjective assessment of mental state and perception of family relations by relatives caring for patients with addiction

The addictive disorder often becomes a difficult experience for the all family. Studying the factors influencing the level of psychological distress of addicted patients’ relatives is necessary to create an effective system of psychological assistance for them.Purpose: to reveal the interrelations between the subjective assessment of the mental state and the perception of family relationships among relatives of patients with pathological gambling (PG) and relatives of patients with stimulant use disorder (SUD).Materials and methods. In a cross-sectional study 100 and 41 patients’ relatives were included in the PG and SUD groups respectively. The Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) and the Family Environment Scale (FES) was used as an assessment tools. Socio-demographic and clinical data were also collected.Results. The analysis of interrelations between the severity of psychopathological symptoms and the perception of family relationships in the studied groups determined both general and specific correlations. In both groups there are multiple negative correlations between the majority of SCL-90-R scales and the “Cohesion” scale (FES). The specific interrelations included, for example, multidirectional correlations between the “Expressiveness” scale (FES) and psychopathological symptoms scales of the SCL-90-R. Increased expressiveness in the PG group was associated with less severity of psychopathological symptoms and level of distress, and, on the contrary, a greater severity of psychological distress in respondents of the SUD group. Analysis of the correlations in PG compared to SUD showed greater predictability of the connections between psychopathological symptoms and perception of family relationships in the PG group. Thus, the indicators of psychopathological symptoms and psychological distress are negatively associated with parameters reflecting the perception of family cohesion, trust in intrafamily relations, social activity and family organization and, at the same time, have positive interrelations with the indicator of conflict in family relationships.Conclusion. The perception of the family cohesion function as the intrapsychic protection that facilitate the relatives’ adaptation in the emerging life situation, regardless of the form of patients’ addiction

Analysis of the state of the electric power industry of the Ural Federal District

The article studies importance of marketing analysis of electric power industry on the example the Ural Federal District. A brief characteristic of the region under consideration has been given and prevailing branches of specialization and territories of their location reflected. Electricity consumption indicators in dynamics for the decade (2012–2022) for all groups of consumers in the region (industrial consumers, population, non-industrial consumers, budgetary consumers, and agricultural producers) have been analyzed, and electricity consumption structure considered, i.e. electricity shares that fall on each group of consumers have been revealed. Forecasts of electricity consumption have been made and dynamics of such an important indicator as electricity intensity of gross regional product analyzed. Dynamics of electricity tariffs for urban and rural population, non-industrial consumers, as well as for large and small industrial enterprises, has been analyzed. Consumers’ ability to pay for electricity has been studied by identifying the share of electricity costs in expenditures of households and enterprises of different energy intensity structure. The indebtedness of consumers to guaranteeing suppliers and power grid companies has been given. Effective measures to combat the indebtedness of some large guaranteeing suppliers from the district under consideration have been analyzed

A comparative study of the psychosocial, behavioral, and clinical characteristics of HIV-positive and HIV-negative opioid users Part 2 Comparative analysis of personal characteristics, indicators of aggression, anger, coping strategies, stigma, quality and purpose of life

Our comparative study of psychosocial, behavioural, and clinical characteristics involved 46 HIV-negative individuals with opioid dependence (HIV-IDUs), 57 HIV-positive opioid-dependent individuals (HIV+IDUs) and a control group of 90 healthy subjects (CG). All opioid dependent participants were injecting drug users (IDUs). Results reported in Part 2 are based on our analysis of the following tests: The Buss - Durkee Hostility Inventory (BDHI), State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI), Folkman and Lazarus’ Ways of Coping Questionnaire (WCQ), Purpose-in-Life Test (PIL), Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire (l6PF), WHO Quality of Life questionnaire (WHOQOL-100), and the modified Link’s Stigma Scale (LINK). Our analysis demonstrated that IDUs (independently of their HIV status) showed higher results on the BDHI’s subscales of assault, verbal hostility, irritability, guilt and the total score; STAXI’s subscales of trait anger and anger expression-out; LINK’s drug use and HIV-related stigma and discrimination; behaviour is dominated by non-adaptive coping strategies of distancing, self-control, escape-avoidance (WCQ) and the vigilance (L), apprehension (O), tension (Q4) personality characteristics (16PF) compared to the control group. All participated IDUs demonstrated lower results compared to that in the control group on all subscales and the total score of the Purpose-in-Life test and lower quality of life in the domains of physical and psychological health, social relationships and level of independence, as well as the total score of WHOQOL-IOO. Coping strategies of the positive reappraisal and ‘planful’ problem solving (WCQ) are more rare and the personality characteristics of rule-consciousness (G), sensitivity (I), abstractedness (M), self-reliance (Q2), perfectionism (Q3), and motivational distortion (MD) (16PF) are decreased compared to the control group. Compared to HIV-negative IDUs, HIV-positive IDUs demonstrated higher scores on the ‘resentment’ and ‘guilt’ subscales, and the overall hostility index (BDHI); ‘trait anger’ and ‘anger expression-out’ subscales of the STAXI; HIV-related stigma and discrimination (LINK) and lower scores on the reasoning (B), emotional stability (C), and perfectionism (Q3) subscales of the 16PF; psychological and level of independence domains of WHOQOL-100; purpose in life, locus of control-life, and life process or emotional richness of life (PIL)

Not particularly special: critiquing ‘NPS’ as a category of drugs

Novel Psychoactive Substances (NPS) have been a dominant feature of drug discourse for many years now and, in academic, policy and public discourse, have become established as a new – and by implication, distinct – category of drugs. We argue that this understanding of NPS is fundamentally problematic. Differences within the category are obscured, as are similarities between NPS and more established categories of drugs. Focusing on NPS as something new, different or particularly special is misleading and counterproductive and can have serious consequences in terms of understanding the bigger picture in relation to illegal drugs more generally. This has led to overestimations of the size of the NPS problem, obfuscation of the common underlying causes of dependent drug use, and the implementation of significant and problematic policy changes. Further, a failure to see the rise in NPS as just one of a number of emerging trends in contemporary drug scenes, alongside the development of online markets or the rise in domestic drug production operations, for example, impairs our ability to understand the wider societal, cultural and theoretical underpinnings of drug use. NPS are not particularly special: treating them as such can have dangerous and far-reaching consequences

One Europe or None? Monism, Involution and Relations with Russia

The crisis in relations between Russia and the European Union (EU) is part of the broader breakdown of the post-Cold War security order. This commentary focuses on structural interpretation and identifies four interlinked processes shaping the crisis: tension between the logic of the enlargement and transformation; a dynamic of involution and resistance; the problem of monism, whereby the expanding self is unable adequately to engage with the un-integrated other; and the recent emergence of ‘other Europes’ that may potentially overcome involution. The erosion of the Atlantic system provides an opportunity for delayed institutional and ideational innovation

Protein N-terminal acetylation: NAT 2007–2008 Symposia

Protein N-terminal acetylation is a very common modification, but has during the past decades received relatively little attention. In order to put this neglected field back on the scientific map, we have in May 2007 and September 2008 arranged two international NAT symposia in Bergen, Norway. This supplement contains selected proceedings from these symposia reflecting the current status of the field, including an overview of protein N-terminal acetylation in yeast and humans, a novel nomenclature system for the N-terminal acetyltransferases (NATs) and methods for studying protein N-terminal acetylation in vitro and in vivo

NatF Contributes to an Evolutionary Shift in Protein N-Terminal Acetylation and Is Important for Normal Chromosome Segregation

N-terminal acetylation (N-Ac) is a highly abundant eukaryotic protein modification. Proteomics revealed a significant increase in the occurrence of N-Ac from lower to higher eukaryotes, but evidence explaining the underlying molecular mechanism(s) is currently lacking. We first analysed protein N-termini and their acetylation degrees, suggesting that evolution of substrates is not a major cause for the evolutionary shift in N-Ac. Further, we investigated the presence of putative N-terminal acetyltransferases (NATs) in higher eukaryotes. The purified recombinant human and Drosophila homologues of a novel NAT candidate was subjected to in vitro peptide library acetylation assays. This provided evidence for its NAT activity targeting Met-Lys- and other Met-starting protein N-termini, and the enzyme was termed Naa60p and its activity NatF. Its in vivo activity was investigated by ectopically expressing human Naa60p in yeast followed by N-terminal COFRADIC analyses. hNaa60p acetylated distinct Met-starting yeast protein N-termini and increased general acetylation levels, thereby altering yeast in vivo acetylation patterns towards those of higher eukaryotes. Further, its activity in human cells was verified by overexpression and knockdown of hNAA60 followed by N-terminal COFRADIC. NatF's cellular impact was demonstrated in Drosophila cells where NAA60 knockdown induced chromosomal segregation defects. In summary, our study revealed a novel major protein modifier contributing to the evolution of N-Ac, redundancy among NATs, and an essential regulator of normal chromosome segregation. With the characterization of NatF, the co-translational N-Ac machinery appears complete since all the major substrate groups in eukaryotes are accounted for

Internet addiction predictors: analysis of psychological factors

The article presents the results of a study of individual psychological factors that are potentially significant for the development of Internet addiction (IA), carried out as part of the Russian interdisciplinary research project to identify a system of high-risk markers for developing IA. As a result of the analysis, a model of psychological predictors of IA was obtained, which includes personality characteristics — high nonplanning impulsiveness (as a lack of forethought and ability to follow future plans), and low self-direction (concerning to Cloninger’s psychobiological model of personality). Additionally, childhood experiences of living in a community with a high level of violence were included in the model as one of the psychological predictors. The male gender also entered one of the final models as a risk factor for the development of IA. The results can be used as the basis for the development of targeted psychological assistance programs and preventive measures aimed at improving the specific characteristics of inhibitory control and the development of self-awareness