THEORETICAL INVESTIGATION OF HEAT PRODUCTION FEASIBILITY BY MEANS OF WIND MECHANICAL PLANTS

A widespread use of wind turbines can fully or partly provide energy for the consumers, but with due regards to certain investments and instability of energy generation. Technologies of using wind energy imply the conversion of the mechanical energy of a wind flow into the electrical or heat energy. The work is concerned with the estimation of the amount of heat in the process of heating liquid coolants and heat-transfer fluids when using wind mechanical plants. In the paper was made a numerical analysis of the temperature rise of the liquid which circulates in a closed loop of a gear-type pump, whose productivity is 3 l/m and which is driven by a wind turbine 5 kW of power capacity under a nominal wind speed of 7 m/s and under cycle duration of 2 s. The analysis showed that the temperature increased by 0.290 °К/s. If such wind speed is observed during one hour, the temperature of 100 kg of water will increase by 8.1°С. Heating of a heat-transfer fluid with a supply of mechanical energy to a working part can be achieved by a centrifugal fan. Assuming that the given process occurs without supplying and removing heat energy (it is adiabatic), for the capacity of 1.5 kW and under the revolution in a range of 1000….3000 r/m, the changes in temperature will range from 0.38 to 0.87 °К/s, but for the capacity of 7.5 kW and under 750 – 1500 r/m, the changes in temperature will range from 0.56 to 1.23 °К/s.

The Effect of Dia2 Protein Deficiency on the Cell Cycle, Cell Size, and Recruitment of Ctf4 Protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Cells have evolved elaborate mechanisms to regulate DNA replication machinery and cell cycles in response to DNA damage and replication stress in order to prevent genomic instability and cancer. The E3 ubiquitin ligase SCFDia2 in S. cerevisiae is involved in the DNA replication and DNA damage stress response, but its effect on cell growth is still unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the absence of Dia2 prolongs the cell cycle by extending both S- and G2/M-phases while, at the same time, activating the S-phase checkpoint. In these conditions, Ctf4—an essential DNA replication protein and substrate of Dia2—prolongs its binding to the chromatin during the extended S- and G2/M-phases. Notably, the prolonged cell cycle when Dia2 is absent is accompanied by a marked increase in cell size. We found that while both DNA replication inhibition and an absence of Dia2 exerts effects on cell cycle duration and cell size, Dia2 deficiency leads to a much more profound increase in cell size and a substantially lesser effect on cell cycle duration compared to DNA replication inhibition. Our results suggest that the increased cell size in dia2∆ involves a complex mechanism in which the prolonged cell cycle is one of the driving forces.

Sex- and Age-Related Features of Interrelations Between Structural and Functional Parameters of the Heart in Junior Speed Skaters

Success of adaptive changes in young athletes in response to training and competition loads is predicted on the basis of a comprehensive assessment of quantitative and qualitative parameters of the state of critical body systems, primarily, the cardiovascular system. The aim of this paper was to determine sex- and age-related features of the morphofunctional parameters of the heart in young skaters and to identify the relationships that determine their adaptation to speed skating. Materials and methods. The research (with informed consent) included 49 athletes of both sexes with the rank of the First-Class Sportsman. The subjects were divided by age and sex into four subgroups: boys aged 13–15 and 16–18 years; girls aged 13–15 and 16–18 years. We performed electrocardiogram (ECG) recording and echocardiographic examination at rest in line with the existing protocols. Results. According to the screening of intra-system correlations between ECG and echocardiography contour analysis parameters, the following proved to be of prognostic significance: QT interval duration, heart rate and alpha angle for girls aged 13–15 years; duration of atrial excitation and pulmonary artery diameter for boys aged 13–15 years; ejection fraction and cardiac cycle duration for girls aged 16–18 years; duration of atrial excitation, which has four correlations with echocardiographic parameters, for boys aged 16–18 years. The revealed features of the structure of intra-system relationships between 21 morphofunctional parameters of the cardiovascular system are determined in the first age group (13–15 years) by athlete’s sex, while in the second age group (16–18 years) by sex and type of sport. For citation: Yarysheva V.B., Shibkova D.Z., Bayguzhin P.A., Erlikh V.V. Sex- and Age-Related Features of Interrelations Between Structural and Functional Parameters of the Heart in Junior Speed Skaters. Journal of Medical and Biological Research, 2021, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 405–416. DOI: 10.37482/2687-1491-Z078

The effectiveness of commercial household ultraviolet C germicidal devices in Thailand

Ultraviolet C (UVC), or ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI), is known for its effective air, water, and surface disinfectant properties. With the rise of global awareness about public sanitation and personal hygiene due to the emergence of the current coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, several applications of UVC were introduced to the commercial market. The present experimental study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of commercial household UVC germicidal devices for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) inactivation. Ten UVC devices were included in the study comprising of 7 low-pressure mercury lamps (LPMLs) and 3 UVC- light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Considering applications, 3 were handheld UVGI surface disinfection equipment, 4 were UVGI disinfection chambers, and 3 were movable UVGI air and surface purifiers. To determine SARS-CoV-2 inactivation performance, UVC irradiance (mW/cm2) was measured 3 times repeatedly at distance and duration corresponding to manufacturers’ usage instructions. The required UVC dosage could not be achieved by either of UVC-LED devices (1 handheld UVGI surface disinfection equipment and 2 UVGI disinfection chambers). Five of seven LPMLs can sufficiently emit UVC irradiance for SARS-CoV-2-inactivation. A lack of standardization in the distance and cycle duration for each UVC application was observed. Standard usage guidelines for UVC devices are required to improve the effectiveness of UVC irradiance for SARS-CoV-2 inactivation as well as to minimize the potential side effects of UVC.

Road Intersection Improvement – Main Step for Emission Reduction and Fuel Economy

This article demonstrates the changes made in the intersection model using PTV Vissim have an impact on reducing an amount of GHG and fuel consumption. One of the most problematic intersections in Namangan, Uzbekistan, was selected and traffic flow during peak hours was studied in order to prepare the simulation of the intersection. The article offers two types of solution as so to lessen the amount of toxic gases and fuel consumption. In the first solution, the situation was improved by optimizing the phase of the traffic light and by changing the cycle duration. The second solution was to reduce the amount of toxic gases and fuel consumption from vehicles by changing the geometric dimensions of the intersection. After the implementation of both solutions, the current state of LOS was raised from D to A level.

EEG sleep macrostructure and sleep spindles in early infancy

Study Objectives Sleep features in infancy are potential biomarkers for brain maturation but poorly characterised. We describe normative values for sleep macrostructure and sleep spindles at 4-5 months of age. Methods Healthy term infants were recruited at birth and had daytime sleep EEGs at 4-5 months. Sleep staging was performed and 5 features were analysed. Sleep spindles were annotated and 7 quantitative features were extracted. Features were analysed across sex, recording time (am/pm), infant age and from first to second sleep cycles. Results We analysed sleep recordings from 91 infants, 41% girls. Median (IQR) macrostructure results: sleep duration 49.0 (37.8-72.0) minutes (n=77); first sleep cycle duration 42.8 (37.0 – 51.4) minutes; REM percentage 17.4 (9.5 - 27.7)% (n=68); latency to REM 36.0 (30.5-41.1) minutes (n=66). First cycle median (IQR) values for spindle features: number 241.0 (193.0-286.5), density 6.6 (5.7-8.0) spindles.min -1(n=77); mean frequency 13.0 (12.8-13.3) Hz, mean duration 2.9 (2.6-3.6)s, spectral power 7.8 (4.7-11.4)µV 2, brain symmetry index 0.20 (0.16-0.29), synchrony 59.5 (53.2-63.8)% (n=91). In males, spindle spectral power (µV 2) is 24.5% lower (p=0.032) and brain symmetry index 24.2% higher than females (p=0.011) when controlling for gestational and postnatal age and timing of the nap. We found no other significant associations between studied sleep features and sex, recording time (am/pm), or age. Spectral power decreased (p<0.001) on the second cycle. Conclusion This normative data may be useful for comparison with future studies of sleep dysfunction and atypical neurodevelopment in infancy.

Non-uniform porous structures and cycling control for optimized fixed-bed solar thermochemical water splitting

Solar thermochemical redox cycles provide a sustainable pathway for solar fuel processing. If done in porous (ceria) structures, they can profit from faster reaction rates owned to the enhanced heat and mass transport characteristics. However, the exact porous structure and operating conditions significantly affect the performance. We present a transient volume-averaged fixed-bed model of a thermochemical redox reactor utilizing macroporous ceria. We studied the porosity-dependent (ε=0.4-0.9) and operating condition-dependent (solar concentration ratio, ratio of oxygen partial pressure to total pressure, gas flow rate) performance of the fixed-bed ceria redox cycle. Structures with large porosity (ε=0.9) showed better performance than low-porosity structures, owning to the enhanced heat absorption and resulting higher temperatures. We show that the cycle duration requires optimization according to the porosity of the structure. Two hours of operation for a structure with ε=0.75 resulted in the largest hydrogen production (115.78) if the single cycle duration was 240 s (i.e. 30 cycles in 2 hours), while nearly five times less was produced for a 15 times longer single cycle duration (i.e. 2 cycles in 2 hours). We subsequently introduced porous structures with different types of non-uniform porosity distributions. For an average porosity of ε=0.75, the most favorable non-uniform porosity media exhibited higher porosity at the boundaries and a denser core. The fuel production of the best non-uniform porous structure was six times larger compared to a uniform porous structure. Adjusting on top of this the cycling conditions, a 14.6 times production gain was achieved. This work suggests that under non-isothermal operation condition for macroporous ceria redox fixed-bed cycling, non-uniform porous structure with higher porosity boundaries and a dense core benefit fuel production and porosity-dependent cycle duration modulation can be used to increase performance.

Seed production potential evaluation of sugar beet half-sib families in Morocco

In Morocco, sugar-beet seed production represents a new challenge to meet the main breeding programme goals. The identification of a suitable zone for plant vernalization represents a bottleneck for seed production. This study aimed chiefly at evaluating the vernalization aptitude of 18 sugar beet half-sib progenies. Trials were conducted during three selection cycles in a specifically chosen environment. The experimental site of Merchouch is 40 km south-east of Rabat city. Field trials design is according to an open-pollinated experimental block. Yield components and five phenological traits were recorded during the growing cycle and at the plant maturation. The variance analysis showed a significant effect of the selection cycle on the phenological traits and grain yield. The plant cycle duration increased by 10.7 days between the first and the third selection cycles. According to the principal component analysis and the hierarchical clustering, F2, F5, F6, F9, F10, F11, F14 and F15 half-sib progenies are described as long cycle and high grain yield families. Grain yield reached 257.3 g per plant, the duration to maturity 350.6 days and the germination rate 93%. The three selection cycles and the suitability of the site vernalization conditions are potentially effective for seed production progress. Our results are relevant as they established an adequate site for the sugar beet seed production. The half-sib selection is a valuable method for sugar beet germplasm enhancement.

The Effect of Driving Cycle Duration on its Representativeness

There is an increasing interest in properly representing local driving patterns. The most frequent alternative to describe driving patterns is through a representative time series of speed, denominated driving cycle (DC). However, the DC duration is an important factor in achieving DC representativeness. Long DCs involve high testing costs, while short DCs tend to increase the uncertainty of the fuel consumption and tailpipe emissions results. There is not a defined methodology to establish the DC duration. This study aims to study the effect of different durations of the DCs on their representativeness. We used data of speed, time, fuel consumption, and emissions obtained by monitoring for two months the regular operation of a fleet of 15 buses running in two flat urban regions with different traffic conditions. Using the micro-trips method, we constructed DCs with a duration of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, 60, and 120 min for each region. For each duration, we repeated the process 500 times in order to establish the trend and dispersion of the DC characteristic parameters. The results indicate that to obtain driving pattern representativeness, the DCs must last at least 25 min. This duration also guarantees the DC representativeness in terms of energy consumption and tailpipe emissions.

Comparative analysis of two methodological approaches to the study of endocrine disruptor alpha-cypermethrin reproductive toxicity

At present, one of the main threats to humanity is undoubtedly endocrine disruptors (ED), since they directly disrupt the processes of ensuring homeostasis, which are identical to the very essence of the concept of health, considered in valeology as the ability to maintain age-appropriate stability in conditions of sharp changes in quantitative and qualitative parameters of the triune flow of sensory, verbal and structural information. Pesticides can disrupt the physiological functioning of many endocrine chains, including the endocrine mechanisms that ensure reproductive health. The study aimed to compare the results of our studies of alpha-cypermethrin reproductive toxicity in the test system for studying gonadotoxic activity with data obtained in the test system "Three Generation Reproduction Study". The studies were performed on male and female Wistar Han rats with two generic samples of alpha-cypermethrin from different manufacturers at doses of 0.2, 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg body weight. The exposure lasted 11 (males) and 10 (females) weeks. During the last two weeks of exposure the state of the estrous cycle, duration and frequency of each stage in females was studied. After the end of treatment functional parameters of the state of the gonads in males and the ability of animals to reproduce were examined. In males, the total sperm count, the absolute and relative number of motile germ cells, and the number of pathologically altered forms were evaluated. The results of the study showed that exposure of male and female Wistar Han rats to alpha-cypermethrin at doses of 0.2–3.0 mg/kg during gametogenesis had a toxic effect on the reproductive system characterized by impaired gonadal and reproductive functions. In our studies, alpha-cypermethrin was found to have reproductive toxicity (reduced number of corpora luteum and live fetuses, increased absolute and relative postimplantation death, reduced average weight of fetuses and litters) and endocrine-disruptive effect, having a pronounced antiandrogenic effect on males. Obvious signs of endocrine reproductive disorders (changes in testis and epididymis weight, deterioration in semen parameters, altered length of separate stages of the estrous cycle) were observed in both females and males. However, studies in a test system of three-generations did not reveal a reproductive and endocrine-disruptive effect of cypermethrin, the toxicity of which was recognized as equivalent to the toxicity of alpha-cypermethrin. The obtained results showed higher sensitivity, informative and diagnostic significance of the methods for studying gonadotoxicity than the methodology of reproductive toxicity studies in the test system “Three Generation Reproduction Study”.