bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Double masking protection vs. comfort—A quantitative assessment
Authors: Arumuru Venugopal , Samantaray Sidhartha Sankar , Pasa Jangyadatta
Published: July 2021

COVID-19 has forced humankind to adopt face masks as an integral part of everyday life. This preventive measure is an effective source control technique to curb the spread of COVID-19 and other similar diseases. The virus responsible for causing COVID-19 has undergone several mutations in the recent past, including B.1.1.7, B.1.351, P.1, and N501Y, B.1.617, with a higher infectious rate. These viruses' variants are mainly responsible for the recent spike in COVID-19 cases and associated steep rise in mortality rate worldwide. Under these circumstances, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and health experts recommend double masking, which mainly includes a surgical mask and a cotton mask for the general public. This combination provides an additional layer of protection and masks fitment to minimize the leakage of droplets expelled during coughing, sneezing, talking, and breathing. This leakage may cause airborne transmission of the virus. In the present study, we report a systematic quantitative unsteady pressure measurement supplement with flow visualization to quantify the effectiveness of a single and double mask. We have also evaluated double masking consisting of a surgical mask and an N-95 mask used by medical professionals. A simple knot improves the surgical mask fitment significantly, and hence, the leakage of droplets is minimized. The leakage of the droplets was reduced to a large extent by using a double mask combination of a two-layer cotton mask over the surgical mask with a knot. The double mask combination of surgical + N-95 and two-layer cotton + N-95 masks showed the most promising results, and no leakage of the droplets is observed in the forward direction. A double mask combination of surgical and N-95 mask offers 8.6% and 5.6% lower mean and peak pressures compared to surgical, and cotton mask. The best results are observed with cotton and N-95 masks with 54.6% and 23% lower mean and peak pressures than surgical and cotton masks; hence, this combination will offer more comfort to the wearer.
Scale law analysis of the curved boundary layer evolving around a horizontal cylinder at Pr > 1
Authors: Liu Yang , Ren Sitao
Published: July 2021

The convective boundary layer flow on the external surface of an isothermally heated horizontal cylinder is investigated in this study. Numerical simulations are first carried out for a wide range of flow parameters, i.e., Rayleigh and Prandtl numbers, and scale relations quantifying the boundary layer flow are then determined from the simulation data. The numerical results suggest that the curved boundary layer experiences an initial growth state, a transitional state, and a developed state, which are essentially identical to the extensively studied flat boundary layers. Scale relations quantifying the local flow variables are obtained, and the proposed scale laws indicate that during the initial growth, the present curved boundary layer flow follows a two-dimensional growth rather than the well-known one-dimensional startup of flat boundary layers. It is further demonstrated that the characteristic velocity of the boundary layer flow maximizes at π/2, but its thickness is circumferential location independent. In the steady state, however, the maximum streamwise velocity of the boundary layer shifts to approximately 7π/9 and the thickness consistently increases with the circumferential location. It is also shown that the thickness of the inner viscous boundary layer could be obtained by properly considering the Prandtl number effect, i.e., by the term (1 + Pr−1/2)−1. The proposed scale relations could reasonably describe the curved boundary layer flow, and all regression constants are above 0.99.
Driving a low critical current Josephson junction array with a mode-locked laser
Authors: Nissilä J. , Fordell T. , Kohopää K. , Mykkänen E. , Immonen P. , Jabdaraghi R. N. , Bardalen E. , Kieler O. , Karlsen B. , Øhlckers P. A. , Behr R. , Manninen A. J. , Govenius J. , Kemppinen A.
Published: July 2021

We report proof-of-concept experiments on an optically driven Josephson voltage standard based on a mode-locked laser (MLL), a time-division multiplexer, and a cryogenic ultrafast photodiode driving an overdamped Josephson junction array (JJA). Our optical pulse pattern generator (PPG) concept builds on the capability of MLLs to produce trains of picosecond-wide optical pulses with little amplitude and temporal spread. Our present setup enables multiplication of the original 2.3 GHz pulse repetition frequency by a factor of 8. A commercial photodiode converts the optical pulses into about 25 ps wide electrical pulses in liquid helium several cm from the JJA. Using a custom-made MLL, we can drive a JJA with a low critical current of 360 μA at multiple Shapiro steps. We have performed experiments with pulse pairs whose time interval can be set freely without distorting the shapes of individual pulses. Experimental results are in qualitative agreement with theoretical simulations, and they demonstrate, e.g., crossover in the Shapiro step pattern when the time interval between the pulses is approximately equal to the inverse of the characteristic frequency of the JJA. However, there are quantitative discrepancies, which motivate an improved integration of photodiodes and JJAs to improve both the understanding and fidelity of Josephson Arbitrary Waveform Synthesizers. Considering future quantum technologies in a wider perspective, our optical approach is a potential enabler for fast and energy-efficient pulse drive without an expensive high-bandwidth electrical PPG and without high-bandwidth electrical cables that yield too high thermal conductance between cryogenic and room temperatures.
Variations in growth performance, meat quality and consumer preferences influenced by difference of breed in buffalo bulls (
Authors: Saleem Muhammad Usman , Ali Muhammad Muddasir , Nazir Muhammad Mudasser , Durrani Aneela Zameer , Naseer Omer , Asghar Bilal
Published: July 2021

Context Breeds of buffalo (Nili-Ravi and Kundhi) show different growth-rate and meat characteristics. Consumer preferences vary for the selection of meat according to the taste and sensory attributes. Buffalo meat is widely consumed in Asia and multiple buffalo breeds are reared for meat production. Aims The current experiment was designed to compare growth rates, meat characteristics and consumer preference for meat from bulls of different buffalo breeds. Methods Thirty-five male Nili-Ravi buffalo bulls (NRBB) and 35 male Kundhi buffalo bulls (KBB) having an age of 18 ± 1.56 months and 18 ± 1.65 months with live bodyweight of 150 ± 1.98 kg and 149 ± 2.09 kg respectively, were purchased and reared for 90 days. All animals were slaughtered on the 91st day and samples from M. pectoralis descendance, M. latissimus dorsi and M. obliquus externus abdominis were collected. A consumer preference survey was also conducted to assess the preferences for meat from the buffalo breeds. Key results Results of the survey suggested that for buyers, meat colour was the primary selection criteria (P < 0.05) at the time of purchase. Consumers preferred the lighter-coloured meat of KBB (P < 0.05) than that of NRBB. Conclusions Findings of the study showed that meat from KBB had superior sensory attributes compared with NRBB, although the meat from NRBB was the more nutritious of the two buffalo breeds. Implications The results will provide a focussed view regarding selection of buffalo bulls for meat production.
Bayesian genome-wide analysis of cattle traits using variants with functional and evolutionary significance
Authors: Xiang Ruidong , Breen Ed J. , Prowse-Wilkins Claire P. , Chamberlain Amanda J. , Goddard Michael E.
Published: July 2021

Context Functional genomics studies have highlighted genomic regions with regulatory and evolutionary significance. Such information independent of association analysis may benefit fine-mapping and genomic selection of economically important traits. However, systematic evaluation of the use of functional information in mapping, and genomic selection of cattle traits, is lacking. Also, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the high-density (HD) panel are known to tag informative variants, but the performance of genomic prediction using HD SNPs together with variants supported by different functional genomics is unknown. Aims We selected six sets of functionally important variants and modelled each set together with HD SNPs in Bayesian models to map and predict protein, fat and milk yield as well as mastitis, somatic cell count and temperament of dairy cattle. Methods Two models were used, namely (1) BayesR, which includes priors of four distribution of variant effects, and (2) BayesRC, which includes additional priors of different functional classes of variants. Bayesian models were trained in three breeds of 28 000 cows of Holstein, Jersey and Australian Red and predicted into 2600 independent bulls. Key results Adding functionally important variants significantly increased the enrichment of genetic variance explained for mapped variants, suggesting improved genome-wide mapping precision. Such improvement was significantly higher when the same set of variants was modelled by BayesRC than by BayesR. Combining functional variant sets with HD SNPs improves genomic prediction accuracy in the majority of the cases and such improvement was more common and stronger for non-Holstein breeds and traits such as mastitis, somatic cell count and temperament. In contrast, adding a large number of random sequence variants to HD SNPs reduces mapping precision and has a worse or similar prediction accuracy, compared with using HD SNPs alone to map or predict. While BayesRC tended to have better genomic prediction accuracy than did BayesR, the overall difference in prediction accuracy between the two models was insignificant. Conclusions Our findings demonstrated the usefulness of functional data in genomic mapping and prediction. Implications We have highlighted the need for effective tools exploiting complex functional datasets to improve genomic prediction.
TRANVIA (TVA) facilitates cellulose synthase trafficking and delivery to the plasma membrane
Authors: Vellosillo Tamara , Dinneny José R. , Somerville Chris R. , Ehrhardt David W.
Published: July 2021

Significance

Cellulose, the most abundant biopolymer on Earth, is synthesized at the plasma membrane by cellulose synthase complexes (CSCs). The trafficking and delivery of CSCs from the Golgi apparatus to the plasma membrane is critical to maintain the level of cellulose synthesis in plants. We identified a plant-specific protein called TRANVIA (TVA) as a new component of CSC secretory compartments involved in the delivery of CSCs into the plasma membrane. This work reveals that CSCs require specific trafficking partners to facilitate their proper delivery, thus highlighting a new point at which this important process is regulated.
Large-scale ratcheting in a bacterial DEAH/RHA-type RNA helicase that modulates antibiotics susceptibility
Authors: Grass Lena M. , Wollenhaupt Jan , Barthel Tatjana , Parfentev Iwan , Urlaub Henning , Loll Bernhard , Klauck Eberhard , Antelmann Haike , Wahl Markus C.
Published: July 2021

Significance

Bacteria rely on RNA-binding and RNA-remodeling proteins to regulate gene expression posttranscriptionally. RNA-dependent nucleoside-triphosphatases of the DEAH/RHA family constitute important posttranscriptional gene regulatory proteins in bacteria, but their molecular mechanisms are presently poorly understood. Here, we show that the DEAH/RHA protein, HrpA, from
Escherichia coli
is an RNA helicase and that its helicase activity is required to modulate bacterial survival under diverse antibiotics treatments. HrpA crystal structures in different functional states, cross-linking/mass spectrometry, and structure-guided functional analyses indicate that alternative interdomain contacts facilitate large-scale domain movements that are required for RNA binding, translocation, and unwinding. Our findings portray HrpA as a molecular ratchet that translocates single-stranded RNA through a central orifice, thereby displacing a complementary strand.
Procedural tools and pension reform in the long run: the case of Sweden
Authors: Hannah Adam
Published: July 2021

Welfare state reform is understood to be risky, difficult and still ongoing. As such, there is a need for analytic tools that can aid understanding of how governments are able to overcome the various barriers they face in seeking change, and the challenges of managing complex and hybridised welfare arrangements. This article argues that the policy tools literature provides several promising avenues for doing so. Specifically, it suggests that procedural policy tools – increasingly recognised in policy studies – are often critical for mitigating risk of blame, sustaining coalitions and supporting the ongoing adaptation of social policy systems to changing conditions and information. This is especially critical where policy innovations entail new substantive relationships between states, citizens and markets, as initial assumptions about individual and group behaviour are likely to be flawed. Procedural tools can enable learning and recalibration in the pursuit of public legitimacy for changing arrangements. To demonstrate the argument, this article engages closely with a case study of public pension reform in Sweden in the 1990s. The case study finds that, initially, reformers made use of a politically insulated parliamentary working group to design a new system, one which attempted to automate elements of policymaking and transfer risk from the state to the individual. However, this goal has proved more difficult to realise than imagined, and in the longer-term, the government used procedural tools for the purposes of learning and recalibration, and in doing so has gone some way to re-establishing modified forms of state accountability.
The glycoprotein GP130 governs the surface presentation of the G protein–coupled receptor APLNR
Authors: Trillet Kilian , Jacobs Kathryn A. , André-Grégoire Gwennan , Thys An , Maghe Clément , Cruard Jonathan , Minvielle Stéphane , Diest Sara Gonzalez , Montagnac Guillaume , Bidère Nicolas , Gavard Julie
Published: July 2021

Glioblastoma is one of the most lethal forms of adult cancer, with a median survival of ∼15 mo. Targeting glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs) at the origin of tumor formation and relapse may prove beneficial. In situ, GSCs are nested within the vascular bed in tight interaction with brain endothelial cells, which positively control their expansion. Because GSCs are notably addicted to apelin (APLN), sourced from the surrounding endothelial stroma, the APLN/APLNR nexus has emerged as a druggable network. However, how this signaling axis operates in gliomagenesis remains underestimated. Here, we find that the glycoprotein GP130 interacts with APLNR at the plasma membrane of GSCs and arbitrates its availability at the surface via ELMOD1, which may further impact on ARF-mediated endovesicular trafficking. From a functional standpoint, interfering with GP130 thwarts APLNR-mediated self-renewal of GSCs ex vivo. Thus, GP130 emerges as an unexpected cicerone to the G protein–coupled APLN receptor, opening new therapeutic perspectives toward the targeting of cancer stem cells.
Intracellular nanovesicles mediate α5β1 integrin trafficking during cell migration
Authors: Larocque Gabrielle , Moore Daniel J. , Sittewelle Méghane , Kuey Cansu , Hetmanski Joseph H.R. , La-Borde Penelope J. , Wilson Beverley J. , Clarke Nicholas I. , Caswell Patrick T. , Royle Stephen J.
Published: July 2021

Membrane traffic is an important regulator of cell migration through the endocytosis and recycling of cell surface receptors such as integrin heterodimers. Intracellular nanovesicles (INVs) are transport vesicles that are involved in multiple membrane trafficking steps, including the recycling pathway. The only known marker for INVs is tumor protein D54 (TPD54/TPD52L2), a member of the TPD52-like protein family. Overexpression of TPD52-like family proteins in cancer has been linked to poor prognosis and an aggressive metastatic phenotype, which suggests cell migration may be altered under these conditions. Here, we show that TPD54 directly binds membrane and associates with INVs via a conserved positively charged motif in its C terminus. We describe how other TPD52-like proteins are also associated with INVs, and we document the Rab GTPase complement of all INVs. Depletion of TPD52-like proteins inhibits cell migration and invasion, while their overexpression boosts motility. We show that inhibition of migration is likely due to altered recycling of α5β1 integrins in INVs.
Scattering of Rydberg excitons by phonon-plasmon modes
Authors: Stolz Heinrich , Semkat Dirk
Published: July 2021

We propose a new scattering mechanism of Rydberg excitons, i.e., those with high principal quantum numbers, namely scattering by coupled LO phonon-plasmon modes, which becomes possible due to small differences in energies of the states due to different quantum defects. Already in very low-density electron–hole plasmas these provide a substantial contribution to the excitonic linewidth. This effect should allow determining plasma densities by a simple line shape analysis. Whenever one expects that low-density electron–hole plasma is present the plasmon induced broadening is of high significance and must be taken into account in the interpretation.
Generative models improve radiomics reproducibility in low dose CTs: a simulation study
Authors: Chen Junhua , Zhang Chong , Traverso Alberto , Zhovannik Ivan , Dekker Andre , Wee Leonard , Bermejo Inigo
Published: July 2021

Radiomics is an active area of research in medical image analysis, however poor reproducibility of radiomics has hampered its application in clinical practice. This issue is especially prominent when radiomic features are calculated from noisy images, such as low dose computed tomography (CT) scans. In this article, we investigate the possibility of improving the reproducibility of radiomic features calculated on noisy CTs by using generative models for denoising. Our work concerns two types of generative models—encoder–decoder network (EDN) and conditional generative adversarial network (CGAN). We then compared their performance against a more traditional ‘non-local means’ denoising algorithm. We added noise to sinograms of full dose CTs to mimic low dose CTs with two levels of noise: low-noise CT and high-noise CT. Models were trained on high-noise CTs and used to denoise low-noise CTs without re-training. We tested the performance of our model in real data, using a dataset of same-day repeated low dose CTs in order to assess the reproducibility of radiomic features in denoised images. EDN and the CGAN achieved similar improvements on the concordance correlation coefficients (CCC) of radiomic features for low-noise images from 0.87 [95%CI, (0.833, 0.901)] to 0.92 [95%CI, (0.909, 0.935)] and for high-noise images from 0.68 [95%CI, (0.617, 0.745)] to 0.92 [95%CI, (0.909, 0.936)], respectively. The EDN and the CGAN improved the test-retest reliability of radiomic features (mean CCC increased from 0.89 [95%CI, (0.881, 0.914)] to 0.94 [95%CI, (0.927, 0.951)]) based on real low dose CTs. These results show that denoising using EDN and CGANs could be used to improve the reproducibility of radiomic features calculated from noisy CTs. Moreover, images at different noise levels can be denoised to improve the reproducibility using the above models without need for re-training, provided the noise intensity is not excessively greater that of the high-noise CTs. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first effort to improve the reproducibility of radiomic features calculated on low dose CT scans by applying generative models.
An optimization problem for maximum vibration suppression in reconfigurable one dimensional metamaterials
Authors: Stearns Aaron , Beck Benjamin
Published: July 2021

Acoustic metamaterials have already been shown to be effective for vibration reduction and control. Local resonances in the metamaterial cause waves at frequencies within band gaps to become evanescent, thus preventing wave propagation through the material. Active and adaptable local resonances enables the band gaps to be shifted in frequency and increased in bandwidth. Since metamaterial local resonances are usually composite, methods to specify optimal component configurations are helpful for passive metamaterials and almost necessary for adaptable metamaterials, where the metamaterial must be reconfigured for optimal performance at various frequency ranges. To assess band gap locations and bandwidths for metamaterials, a wavenumber spectrum is commonly computed. Commonly, a parameter study of adaptable unit cell variables will be performed to assess optimal configurations of adaptable metamaterials. In this paper, the complex wavenumber is proposed as a direct optimization objective for reconfiguration of active adaptable acoustic metamaterials for maximum vibration suppression at a frequency range of choice. By directly maximizing the imaginary part of the wavenumber, associated with wave attenuation, the unit cell configuration maximum vibration suppression can be obtained for an operating frequency of choice. Additionally, since the optimization problem requires constraints for feasible solutions and the example active piezoelectric metamaterial system shown here is electrically unstable at some configurations, we also explore an experimental method for bounding the optimization problem. Numerical results of the optimization problem are presented.
Interaction potentials, electric moments, polarizabilities, and chemical reactions of YbCu, YbAg, and YbAu molecules
Authors: Tomza Michał
Published: July 2021

Ultracold YbAg molecules have been recently proposed as promising candidates for electron electric dipole moment searches Verma et al (2020 Phys. Rev. Lett.
125 153201). Here, we calculate potential energy curves, permanent electric dipole and quadrupole moments, and static electric dipole polarizabilities for the YbCu, YbAg, and YbAu molecules in their ground electronic states. We use the coupled cluster method restricted to single, double, and noniterative triple excitations with large Gaussian basis sets, while the scalar relativistic effects are included within the small-core energy-consistent pseudopotentials. We find that the studied molecules are relatively strongly bound with the well depths of 5708 cm−1, 5253 cm−1, and 13349 cm−1 and equilibrium distances of 5.50 bohr, 5.79 bohr, and 5.55 bohr for YbCu, YbAg, and YbAu, respectively. They have large permanent electric dipole moments of 3.2D, 3.3D, and 5.3D at equilibrium distances, respectively. We also calculate equilibrium geometries and energies of corresponding trimers. The studied molecules are chemically reactive unless they are segregated in an optical lattice or shielded with external fields. The investigated molecules may find application in ultracold controlled chemistry, dipolar many-body physics, or precision measurement experiments.
Asteroid Photometry with PIRATE: Optimizations and Techniques for Small Aperture Telescopes
Authors: Jackson Samuel L. , Kolb Ulrich C. , Green Simon F.
Published: July 2021

Small aperture telescopes provide the opportunity to conduct high frequency, targeted observations of near-Earth Asteroids that are not feasible with larger facilities due to highly competitive time allocation requirements. Observations of asteroids with these types of facilities often focus on rotational brightness variations rather than longer-term phase angle-dependent variations (phase curves) due to the difficulty of achieving high precision photometric calibration. We have developed an automated asteroid light curve extraction and calibration pipeline for images of moving objects from the 0.43 m Physics Innovations Robotic Telescope Explorer. This allows for the frequency and quality of observations required to construct asteroid phase curves. Optimizations in standard data reduction procedures are identified that may allow for similar small aperture facilities, constructed from commercially available/off-the-shelf components, to improve the image and subsequent data quality. A demonstration of the hardware and software capabilities is expressed through observation statistics from a 10 months observing campaign, and through the photometric characterization of near-Earth Asteroids 8014 (1990 MF) and 19764 (2000 NF5).
Accelerator development at the FREIA Laboratory
Authors: Ruber R. , Bhattacharyya A.K. , Dancila D. , Ekelöf T. , Eriksson J. , Fransson K. , Gajewski K. , Goryashko V. , Hermansson L. , Jacewicz M. , Jobs M. , Jönsson Å. , Li H. , Lofnes T. , Miyazaki A. , Olvegård M. , Pehlivan E. , Peterson T. , Pepitone K. , Rydberg A. , Santiago Kern R. , Wedberg R. , Wirén A. , Yogi R. , Ziemann V.
Published: July 2021

The FREIA Laboratory at Uppsala University focuses on superconducting technology and accelerator development. It actively supports the development of the European Spallation Source, CERN, and MAX IV, among others. FREIA has developed test facilities for superconducting accelerator technology such as a double-cavity horizontal test cryostat, a vertical cryostat with a novel magnetic field compensation scheme, and a test stand for short cryomodules. Accelerating cavities have been tested in the horizontal cryostat, crab-cavities cavities in the vertical cryostat, and cryomodules for ESS on the cryomodule test stand. High power radio-frequency amplifier prototypes based on vacuum tube technology were developed for driving spoke cavities. Solid-state amplifiers and power combiners are under development for future projects. We present the status of the FREIA Laboratory complemented with results of recent projects and future prospects.
Validating commonly used drought indicators in Kenya
Authors: Bowell Andrew , Salakpi Edward E , Guigma Kiswendsida , Muthoka James M , Mwangi John , Rowhani Pedram
Published: July 2021

Drought is a complex natural hazard that can occur in any climate and affect every aspect of society. To better prepare and mitigate the impacts of drought, various indicators can be applied to monitor and forecast its onset, intensity, and severity. Though widely used, little is known about the efficacy of these indicators which restricts their role in important decisions. Here, we provide the first validation of 11 commonly-used drought indicators by comparing them to pasture and browse condition data collected on the ground in Kenya. These ground-based data provide an absolute and relative assessment of the conditions, similar to some of the drought indicators. Focusing on grass and shrublands of the arid and semi-arid lands, we demonstrate there are strong relationships between ground-based pasture and browse conditions, and satellite-based drought indicators. The soil adjusted vegetation index has the best relationship, achieving a mean r
2 score of 0.70 when fitted against absolute pasture condition. Similarly, the 3-month vegetation health index reached a mean r
2 score of 0.62 when fitted against a relative pasture condition. In addition, we investigated the Kenya-wide drought onset threshold for the 3-month average vegetation condition index (VCI3M; VCI3M

<

35), which is used by the country’s drought early warning system. Our results show large disparities in thresholds across different counties. Understanding these relationships and thresholds are integral to developing effective and efficient drought early warning systems. Our work offers evidence for the effectiveness of some of these indicators as well as practical thresholds for their use.
Honeycomb structures in magnetic fields
Authors: Simon Becker , Han Rui , Jitomirskaya Svetlana , Zworski Maciej
Published: July 2021

We consider the nearest-neighbour tight binding model of the honeycomb lattice in magnetic fields and discover surprizing new analytical results that fully explain fractal spectra and experimentally observed asymmetries in the density of states of molecular graphene. We describe a fractal Cantor spectrum for irrational magnetic flux through a honeycomb, and establish the existence of zero energy Dirac cones for each rational flux with fully explicit estimates on the cone angle. Our results give a substantially more refined description of subtleties in the de Haas–van Alphen and quantum Hall effects, and provide the first quantitative bounds on transport coefficients for the tight-binding model under disorder.
Development of water-diesel emulsion through the employment of vibration
Authors: Adorni E , Tyurina J , Urushkina J , Ivanov M V , Revetria R
Published: July 2021

With this study, we want to analyse the different techniques used to develop emulsions and then apply a new mechanism to manufacture a water-in diesel emulsion that would be stable for a relatively long period. After the research on previous studies, we confidently applied the knowledge acquired during the time of personal study and the research to develop a system that brought us to keep in a semi-stable state an emulsion of water and diesel for a period of 24 hours. In this research we are not focusing on one of the two aspects that should be noted once you study emulsions: we are trying to develop a stable emulsion through the employment of vibrations without considering the employment of such emulsion in an engine, for the moment.
The disposal of expired high energy materials
Authors: Romanova S M , Madyakina A M
Published: July 2021

This article highlights the problem of disposal of obsolete pyroxylin powders. The main industrial methods of their utilization were considered. A method of chemical modification of cellulose nitrates that were extracted from obsolete powders with nucleophilic reagents was proposed. According to the results of physicochemical studies the major directions of the chemical reaction were established.
Assessment of the impact on surface waters of oil refining and oil production facilities in the Republic of Tatarstan
Authors: Soliashinova O A , Ryapisova L V , Giniiatullin M A , Ahverdiеv R F
Published: July 2021

An assessment was made of the risks of impact on the surface waters of the Republic of Tatarstan from the discharges of pollutants from the oil-producing and oil-refining industries in the places of their highest concentration.
Segmentation of municipal solid waste using artificial neural networks
Authors: St Kozodaev A , Kostromin N S , Kaplenkova P A , Sivova A N
Published: July 2021

The article discusses the prospects of using neural networks and Waste-to-energy technology to create a rational and efficient waste management culture. The study determines the quality (by metrics) of a trained neural, network that determines the type of solid household waste, depending on various parameters of the model. Based on the analysis of the obtained metrics, a conclusion is made about the best parameters for the developed neural network model. This neural network was trained specifically for this study, and as was chosen TACO dataset. Brief theories of neural networks and Waste-to-energy technologies are also discussedenergy. Particular attention is paid to the need to use these tools together to reduce and suspend the formation of new landfills and energy generation. The article will be especially relevant for scientists in those countries where the percentage of recycled waste tends to zero.
Specifics of using an ejector-mixer with a tangential reagent inlet
Authors: Ksenofontov B , Vasilieva Ya , Kapitonova S
Published: July 2021

The paper shows that mixing of water with a reagent can be successfully carried out using ejectors. The main design features of the ejector-mixer have been studied. Determined parameters of the ejector operation and features of dosing reagent, to ensure the optimal mixing process. At the same time empirical dependencies of reagent solution suction into the treated water are established. All dependencies have a linear nature. The obtained dependencies can be used in the practice of reagent water treatment.
Studying the extraction of heavy-metal ions from galvanic wastewater by reagent method
Authors: Savelyev S N , Savelyeva A V , Dryakhlov V O , Anamova R R
Published: July 2021

This paper presents the study of the possibility to increase the extraction degree of heavy metal ions (HMIs) from two types of galvanic wastewater (GWW 1 and GWW 2) by the reagent method. It is established that, as a result of interaction between GWW 1 components and Na2S pentahydrate, the largest amounts of the resultant precipitate were registered in alkaline medium, which is 13.4 and 91.5% greater than in neutral and acidic media, respectively. A greater precipitate weight increase was observed when using 0.7% of Na2S pentahydrate in alkaline medium than when using 0.14% of that solution. The following efficient conditions are determined for removing HMIs from GWW 1 by the reagent method: Na2S pentahydrate solution concentration of 0.7%; volumetric reagent/GWW ratio: 1:42; alkaline medium; and retention time of 20 minutes. Implementing the method proposed allows achieving the extraction degree of 99.97% for Cu2+ ions and 99.93% for Ni2+ ions. A greater efficiency of extracting HMIs from GWW 2 was identified with adding Na2CO3, as compared to Ca(OH)2 when depositing for 25 minutes. Implementing the technique proposed for cleaning of GWW 1, GWW 2 from HMIs leads to achieving the standards of threshold limit values for fishery water bodies.
Application of oil-containing gabbro-diabase waste sludge for ceramic products manufacturing
Authors: Sverguzova S V , Shaikhiev I G , Valiev R R , Loktionova E V
Published: July 2021

The paper presents research findings of the possibility of recycling and using the oil-containing sludge, generated at water-oil emulsions purification with gabbro-diabase powder, in ceramic constructional products manufacture. It is suggested to add the sludge to clay mass as a mineral and pore-forming admixture. The influence of the added sludge weight on such physical and mechanical parameters of ceramic samples as strength, compressive strength, water absorption, air shrinkage and firing shrinkage values and density was studied. The ceramic samples were prepared using natural clays from the Bessonovka (Belgorod region) and Podgornoye (Voronezh region) deposits. It has been demonstrated that adding the sludge to clay mass in amount of 2% wt. increases the compressive strength of samples by 90%, the air shrinkage by 1%, and water absorption by 1-2%. The firing shrinkage stays the same. At increasing the amount of the added sludge up to 7% all the parameters are slightly changed – water absorption and air shrinkage are increased, compressive strength, firing shrinkage and density are reduced. But further, at 7% sludge content in the clay mix the ceramic samples’ strength meets the grade not lower than 150 by GOST 530-2012.
Development of a new high-capacity formaldehyde absorption unit for environmental problems solving and resource saving in formalin production
Authors: Rakipova K A , Mahotkin A F
Published: July 2021

Ways of further intensification of formaldehyde absorption process and new constructions of more compact apparatuses have been developed on the basis of generalization of results of experimental study of regularities of mechanism and kinetics of formaldehyde absorption in conditions of formalin production. The most effective and for intensification of formaldehyde absorption process are vortex apparatuses in the form of a cascade of one-stage vortex apparatuses, or in the form of a vortex column including three vortex phase contact stages. A new splash trap with bag filtering elements was developed for effective fog catching.
Experience in using regulations when performing acoustic designs in graduate qualification work
Authors: Strokin A A , Kirikova O V , Kuporosova I S
Published: July 2021

This work is devoted to the problems of acoustic design that a future specialist may face in the field of labor protection. The article provides a review of existing noise protection regulations, including those that have lost their force due to the emergence of a new set of rules (Sanitary Regulations) but contain useful information. Using the example of the acoustic design of a machine shop (within the framework of the graduate qualification work (GQW), the article discusses the difficulties of using existing literature and regulations, as well as the inconsistencies and contradictions between them. The material of the article can be used in the development of methodological training materials for technical specialists in the field of technosphere safety.
Representation of the galvanic coagulation process using a mathematical model
Authors: Kozodaev A S , Shulzhenko A D , Korpusova Y V
Published: July 2021

This work is devoted to the study of the process of water purification by galvanic coagulation. It is known that this method is promising for the extraction of toxic contaminants such as heavy metals from wastewater. However, there are no techniques or mathematical dependencies to simulate the treatment process. The paper investigated the chemical side of galvanic coagulation, and also proposed a mathematical model based on a two-stage chemical reaction model and a metal electrochemical corrosion model.
Some features of the synthesis and coagulation treatment wastewater from the TNRS production
Authors: Zainullin A M , Truhan O V , Khusainov R M
Published: July 2021

Experiments were carried out to study the influence of the conditions of TNRS synthesis on the formation of the crystal. The possibility of wastewater treatment of TNRS production using aqueous solutions of coagulants was studied. It was found that with increasing dosages of reagents, the volume of sediment increases, and the COD values of filtrates decrease. It was found that the highest degree of purification was achieved using iron (II) sulfate at a dosage of 10 g/dm3 and was not less than 87.
Natural and technogenic changes in geochemistry of soils in the Ciscaucasian steppe landscapes
Authors: Alekseenko V A , Pisarenko G P , Shvydkaya N V , Puzanov A V
Published: July 2021

The work is based on landscape-geochemical studies, uniformly conducted in the Ciscaucasian region on a scale from 1:500,000 to 1:10,000. Analyses of over 15,000 samples allowed to consider natural and technogenic factors affecting migration and accumulation of elements. The greatest technogenic geochemical changes occurred in the soils of the landscapes during the plowing of steppe. The intensity and direction of the studied regional processes of influx and loss of elements depend mainly on such natural factors as the zonal type of steppes, geomorphological features of the sites, and the intensity of wind erosion. Depending on the land topography, the influence of wind erosion on the geochemical features of steppe soils was described. The impact of dumpsites located at different distances from discrete parts of the steppe landscapes and the post-steppe arable lands were studied alongside the impact of sedimentation tanks of chemical enterprises on the steppe soils.
Assessment of coenopopulations Epipactis atrorubens in nature reserves of Republic of Bashkortostan
Authors: Barlybayeva M Sh , Kildiyarova G N , Suyundukov I V , Ishmuratova M M
Published: July 2021

The effective conservation of rare species is possible in specially protected natural areas. The article presents the results of coenopopulations monitoring and assessing the state by demographic and vitality indicators of dremlik dark red (Epipactis atrorubens) familyOrchidaceaein three reserves of the Republic of Bashkortostan. The geobotanical descriptions were carried out on a nine-point modified scale of Brown-Blanke. The ecological conditions of the habitats were assessed by the composition of species in plant communities using the ecological scales of Ellenberg. The assessment of the vitality of coenopopulations was carried out according to the size range of individuals (IVC). The studied coenopopulations grow on steep slopes, underlain by carbonate rocks, in dry pine forests and pine-birch forests. The number of individuals in coenopopulations is small, from 76 to 600 individuals; more than 4 thousand individuals were recorded in a favorable year in the Bashkir State Nature Reserve. Over a number of years for coenopopulations are characterized by significant fluctuations in the number, density, vitality of individuals and age spectra, which is associated with the prevailing influence of weather conditions on the growth and development of individuals. The average age spectra of coenopopulations are complete and incomplete, right-sided, with a predominance of generative and vegetative individuals. A decrease in the total number of individuals in some years by 3.0-6.5 times forE. atrorubensis not critical. Under protection conditions coenopopulations are in a satisfactory and stable condition.
Methodology for environmental assessment of agrolandscapes in arid zones
Authors: Belyakov A M , Koshelev A V , Tubalov A A
Published: July 2021

The article presents materials on the development of methodological tools for environmental assessment of agricultural landscapes in the conditions of aridization and global climate change. The research purpose consists in assessment of the state of agricultural landscapes in the dry steppe zone of chestnut soils in the Volgograd region and development of a theory of the formation of ecologically balanced agroforest landscapes and adaptive farming systems for conditions of insufficient moisture. The research has been carried out in the agrolandscapes of the dry steppe zone of dark chestnut soils of the Volgograd region on the territory of 3 farms with various types of agricultural technologies and farming systems. The research methodology is based on extensive analysis and synthesis of scientific literature and includes special research methods. As a result of the research, we have determined the principles, classification and directions of ecological development of agrolandscapes. The method has been developed for the relative assessment of soil fertility in agroforest landscapes of the Volgograd region based on a system of indicators. The methodology and the system of criteria for direct, indirect and integrated assessment of the state of agricultural landscapes in the dry-steppe and semi-desert zones of the Volgograd region have been tested. The present research will become the basis for developing the theory of formation of ecologically balanced agricultural landscapes and adaptive farming systems for conditions of insufficient moisture zones in the south of Russia.
Promising drought-resistant and heat-resistant species and varieties of the genus Malus Mill. for creation of sustainable agrocenoses in the Trans-Volga-Ural region steppe
Authors: Berezina T V , Savin E Z
Published: July 2021

The stability and productivity of horticultural agrocenoses depend on the adaptation of fruit plants to climatic and landscape-ecological conditions. To form profitable fruit plantings in the Trans-Volga-Ural region, it is necessary to select varieties with high potential resistance to drought. The purpose of our study is to study the drought- and heat resistance of species and varieties of the genus Malus Mill growing in the study area. To estimate drought-resistance, we identified: the water content of leaves, water deficit, the water-retaining ability for 2 – 6 hours, the water loss on average for 1 hour, and heat-resistance. 180 samples of the genus Malus kinds, sorts, and varieties were the study objects for two years.

Stress climatic factors were not noticed in 2019; therefore, most of the studied samples received a high assessment of relative drought-resistance. M. fuska, M. zumi, M. kaido., M. baccata (Dubki), and clonal rootstocks Ural 1, Ural 5, Ural 8, Arm 18, OB 3-4, OB 4-3, 54-118 and others were among the most drought-resistant species and varieties of the genus Malus in 2019. The vegetation period of 2020 was abnormally hot and dry. According to the water content in tissues, many of the leading sorts and forms of 2019 showed lower results in 2020. M. denticulata, M. mandzschurica, M. sikkimensis, M. turkmenorum №4, M. turkmenorum №5, M. purpurea, M. zumi, 70-20-20, Ural 7, Volga 12. were noticed among the most resistant representatives of the Malus family in 2020.
Ore sources of raw materials of the ancient metallurgy in the steppe Cis-Urals region
Authors: Bogdanov S V
Published: July 2021

The paper considers problems to define the primary source of raw material for metallurgical production in the Bronze Age in the IV-II centuries BC on the steppe Sic-Urals area. The data of field, experimental, and geochemical analytical researches for 2016-2020 are used. The summary indicating the relation between the initial ore protolith and sulfide and silicious-carbonate oxidized ores dated by the end of the Permian period is formulated. Radiocarbon dates of bearing monuments of mining archaeology are given.
Biochemical composition and nutritional value of Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel. in eastern Transbaikalia
Authors: Boloneva L N , Badmaeva N K , Merkushevav M G , Lavrentieva I N
Published: July 2021

The article objective is to define the biochemical composition of Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel., its nutritional and energy value in the southern steppe zone of eastern Transbaikalia, growing in different soil and environmental conditions due to the lack of such data. The authors use standard biochemical methods to determine nutrients calculated by assessing the nutritional value and energy of plant forage. Statistical data processing is carried out in Microsoft Excel. The paper examines content of crude protein, sugars, crude fat, crude cellulose, nitrogen-free extractives, feed units and metabolizable energy in dry matter of Leymus chinensis for the first time. The study ascertains a definite relation of the nutrient accumulation, and soil and environmental conditions, growing season duration, plant development phase, and the species adaptation to prolonged aridization, which causes its vegetative reproduction due to a decrease in generative reproduction. It reveals protein ratios as an indicator of forage digestibility. The research found that the amount of both digestible nutrients, and the content of energy and metabolic energy in the forage varied in a rather narrow range, which is associated with the short growing season of Leymus chinensis development under the harsh continental climate of the steppe zone in eastern Transbaikalia.