Topologically disordered systems at the glass transition

The thermodynamic approach to the viscosity and fragility of amorphous oxides was used to determine the topological characteristics of the disordered network-forming systems. Instead of the disordered system of atoms we considered the congruent disordered system of interconnecting bonds. The Gibbs free energy of network-breaking defects (configurons) was found based on available viscosity data. Amorphous silica and germania were used as reference disordered systems for which we found an excellent agreement of calculated and measured glass transition temperatures. We reveal that the Hausdorff dimension of the system of bonds changes from Euclidian three-dimensional below to fractal 2.55 ± 0.05-dimensional geometry above the glass transition temperature

Removing exogenous information using pedigree data

Management of certain populations requires the preservation of its pure genetic background. When, for different reasons, undesired alleles are introduced, the original genetic conformation must be recovered. The present study tested, through computer simulations, the power of recovery (the ability for removing the foreign information) from genealogical data. Simulated scenarios comprised different numbers of exogenous individuals taking partofthe founder population anddifferent numbers of unmanaged generations before the removal program started. Strategies were based on variables arising from classical pedigree analyses such as founders? contribution and partial coancestry. The ef?ciency of the different strategies was measured as the proportion of native genetic information remaining in the population. Consequences on the inbreeding and coancestry levels of the population were also evaluated. Minimisation of the exogenous founders? contributions was the most powerful method, removing the largest amount of genetic information in just one generation.However, as a side effect, it led to the highest values of inbreeding. Scenarios with a large amount of initial exogenous alleles (i.e. high percentage of non native founders), or many generations of mixing became very dif?cult to recover, pointing out the importance of being careful about introgression events in populatio

Structural identification of oxidized acyl-phosphatidylcholines that induce platelet activation

Oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) generates proinflammatory and prothrombotic mediators that may play a crucial role in cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. In order to study platelet-activating components of oxidized LDL 1-stearoyl-2-arachidonoyl-sn-glycero-3- phosphocholine, a representative of the major phospholipid species in LDL, the 1-acyl-phosphatidylcholines (PC), was oxidized by CuCl2 and H2O2. After separation by high-performance liquid chromatography, three compounds were detected which induced platelet shape change at low micromolar concentrations. Platelet activation by these compounds was distinct from the pathways stimulated by platelet-activating factor, lysophosphatidic acid, lyso-PC and thromboxane A(2), as evidenced by the use of specific receptor antagonists. Further analyses of the oxidized phospholipids by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry structurally identified them as 1-stearoyl-2-azelaoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (m/z 694; SAzPC), 1-stearoyl-2-glutaroyl-snglycero-3- phosphocholine (m/z 638; SGPC), and 1-stearoyl-2-( 5-oxovaleroyl)-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (m/z 622; SOVPC). These observations demonstrate that novel 1-acyl-PC which had previously been found to stimulate interaction of monocytes with endothelial cells also induce platelet activation, a central step in acute thrombogenic and atherogenic processes. Copyright (C) 2005 S. Karger AG, Basel

Hybridization in parasites: consequences for adaptive evolution, pathogenesis and public health in a changing world

[No abstract available

Quality and safety problems of sports nutrition products

The purpose of this work was to study the quality and safety of some sports nutrition products. The objects of study were sports nutrition products: protein bars of ‘ProteinBar’ (Russia) and ‘Bombbar’ (Russia); capsule forms of dietary supplements ω–3, ω–6, ω–9 firms ‘Sportline’ (Russia), ‘Multipower’ (Germany) and ‘Maxler’ (USA). According to the research results, the normalized safety indicators of the fat component of the studied products for sports nutrition (acid number and peroxide) are within acceptable values. The standardized safety indicators of the fat component do not fully reflect the safety requirements for the fat component of sports nutrition products, since there are no standards for the most important indicators of fat safety – the content of secondary oxidation products – copolymers insoluble in petroleum ether and epoxides. The results obtained in the course of the work showed that in almost all of the studied samples are content of epoxides (7.5–47.6 g -1 ) and secondary oxidation products – 1% or more

Use of Machine Learning in Processes Optimization for Drinking Water Treatment Plant Butoniga (Istria, Croatia)

Drinking water treatment plant Butoniga is located in central Istria (Croatia) downstream of the Butoniga reservoir. The Butoniga reservoir is an artificial lake created in 1987 with two main objectives: 1) protection from adverse water impacts, and 2) drinking water supply. The operation of the drinking water treatment plant is mainly related to the tourist season, and the 5.000.000 m3 of produced and distributed drinking water annually, 3.000.000 m3 is produced and distributed during June 15 to September 15, when the raw water quality in the Butoniga reservoir is the worst. Regarding this, main problem with Butoniga reservoir and thus drinking water treatment plant appear in summer months when water temperature is the most critical parameter and raw water for the treatment process must be captured from the lowest layer of the reservoir which have increased concentrations of Mn, Fe, NH4 and lower pH values and thus influence on the treatment processes. To deal with this problem, model predicting Mn, seven days in advance is build using machine learning approaches. Build model have high accuracy compared to the measured data, with a good prediction of the peak values. As such, obtained model can help in optimization of the treatment processes which are depending on the quality of raw water, and overall, in sustainability and management of the drinking water treatment plant Butoniga

Experimental studies on oscillation modes of vibration separation devices

Despite the rapid development of alternative energy sources, the role of hydrocarbons in the global fuel and energy balance remains significant. For their transportation and further processing, pre-processing is carried out using a set of equipment. In this case, the mandatory devices are separators. In terms of specific energy consumption and separation efficiency, methods based on the action of inertia forces are optimal. However, standard designs have common disadvantages. A method of dynamic separation is proposed to eliminate them. The proposed devices are automatic control systems. The object of regulation is hydraulic resistance, and elastic forces are the regulating actions. Aerohydroelastic phenomena accompany the operation of dynamic separation devices. Among them, the most interesting are flutter and buffeting. Oscillations of adjustable baffles accompany them. It is necessary to conduct a number of multifactorial experiments to determine the operating parameters of dynamic separation devices. In turn, physical experiments aim to identify patterns and features of processes occurring during vibration-inertial separation (i.e., the dependence of various parameters on velocity). Therefore, the article proposes a methodology for carrying our physical experiments on dynamic separation and a designed experimental setup for these studies. As a result, the operating modes of separation devices for different thicknesses of baffle elements were evaluated. Additionally, the dependences of the adjustable element’s deflections and oscillation amplitudes on the gas flow velocity were determined for different operating modes of vibration separation devices

Spruce bark aqueous extracts as modulator in copper induced stress

Plants manifest a certain reaction against increasing of heavy metals toxic concentration in the cultivated soils. The differences depends on plant sensitivity, species, time exposure intensity (concentration of heavy metals, cultivation length), or amendments applied on cultivated site. The challenge of this work is to investigate the influences of different amendments such as biologic active compounds, on the seedling stage and growth responses, copper uptake and accumulated at different evolution stage of plants. Thus, physiological responses of maize (Zea mays) under copper ions stress and polyphenolic amendments were evaluated in pot cultivation experiments through roots and stem length measurements and quantitative determination of wet biomass. The distribution of copper ions concentration in different parts of the plants was estimated by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. In some cases stimulating effects were identified for different concentrations of spruce bark extracts applied on maize seed under copper stress. Other extracts seems to have inhibiting proprieties on maize plant growth. In conclusion spruce bark extracts can have stimulator as well as inhibitor effect depending on the concentrations of biological active compounds and the presence of copper ions