DESTROYING EFFECTS OF TRUCK TIRES ON THE DESIGN OF ROADWEAR

The article presents a mathematical model of the destructive effect of a wide-profile tire on the roadway. The mathematical model makes it possible to adequately reproduce the effect of a wide-profile tire on the road surface, taking into account the load and parameters of the tire, as well as the structure of the road surface and the temperature state.

Graphitisation of Waste Carbon Powder with Femtosecond Laser Annealing

Graphitisation of structural characteristics and improvement in electrical conductivity was reported onto waste carbon powder through femtosecond laser annealing. Raman spectroscopy on the carbon powder pre- and post-annealing showed a shift from amorphous-like carbon to graphitic-like carbon, which can be explained by the three-stage model. Electrical I-V probing of the samples revealed an increase in conductivity by up to 90%. An increase in incident laser power was found to be correlated to an increase in conductivity. An average incident laser power of 0.104 W or less showed little to no change in electrical characteristics, while an average incident laser power of greater than 1.626 W had a destructive effect on the carbon powder, shown through the reduction in powder. The most significant improvement in electrical conductivity has been observed at laser powers ranging from 0.526 to 1.286 W. To conclude, the graphitisation of waste carbon powder is possible using post-process femtosecond laser annealing to alter its electrical conductivity for future applications.

SPATIAL PROBLEMS OF DYNAMIC STABILITY OF FRAME STRUCTURES

Periodic longitudinal forces in structural elements caused by operational or seismic influences, at certain values of the parameters of these forces can cause the occurrence and growing of transverse oscillations of these elements. This phenomenon is called parametric resonance or loss of dynamic stability. In the works of N. M. Belyaev, N. M. Krylov, М. М. Bogolyubov, E. Mettler, V. N. Chelomey, V. V. Bolotin flat problems of dynamic stability of frame structures were investigated. In this paper the modified Bolotin’s method, proposed to solve flat problems of dynamic stability of frames, is used. Instead of the deformation method used by V. V. Bolotin to construct analytical expressions of deflections of frame rods, in the modified method the numerical-analytical method of boundary elements is used. The article proposes a method for constructing domains of dynamic instability of frames in the space of parameters (frequency and amplitude) of seismic and operational dynamic influences that cause longitudinal forces in the rods, which periodically change over time and lead to unlimited growth of transverse oscillations amplitudes in the domains of instability. The proposed method is demonstrated in example, which considers the spatial problem of dynamic stability of a П-shaped frame with two concentrated masses located on it, which are under the action of vertical periodic forces. These forces create periodic longitudinal forces in the vertical rods of the frame. Areas of dynamic instability of the frame were constructed. Taking into account the destructive effect of oscillations is important for practical application. The most dangerous destructive effect of oscillations is observed in earthquakes and explosions. The study of this action makes it possible to avoid undesirable consequences of oscillations by limiting their level and to solve important practical problems of the dynamics of structures. Solving dynamics problems is a difficult problem. Dynamic calculation of structures provides their bearing capacity under the combined action of static and dynamic loads.

STUDY OF SPATIAL PROBLEMS OF DYNAMIC STABILITY OF REINFORCED CONCRETE FRAMES

The article proposes a method for constructing areas of dynamic instability of reinforced concrete frames in the space of parameters (frequency and amplitude) of seismic and operational dynamic impacts that cause the appearance of longitudinal forces in the bars of structures, which periodically change in time and lead to an unlimited increase in amplitudes of transverse vibrations when the values of these parameters are in the areas of instability. The proposed method is demonstrated by a specific example, which considers the spatial problem of dynamic stability of a П-shaped frame with two concentrated masses located on it, which are under the action of vertical periodic forces. These forces create periodic longitudinal forces in the vertical rods of the frame. Areas of dynamic instability of the frame are constructed. From the point of view of human activity, fluctuations can be both beneficial and harmful. We can observe vibrations of various buildings, structures, bridges, which cause additional stresses and deformations of these structures, have a harmful effect on their safe functioning. Too intense fluctuations lead to serious consequences. This leads to the destruction of individual elements of the structure and, as a result, to accidents. The most destructive effect of vibrations is observed during earthquakes and explosions. The study of vibrations is of great practical importance. This avoids the unwanted effects of fluctuations by limiting their level. Only on the basis of a deep study of various types of vibrations can important practical problems of the dynamics of structures be solved. Solving dynamics problems is a complex problem. In contrast to static calculation, when studying oscillations, one has to take into account an additional factor – time. The dynamic design of structures provides them with bearing capacity under the combined action of static and dynamic loads. A construction will be considered as a system with an infinite number of elementary masses distributed over it with an infinitely large number of dynamic degrees of freedom.

Potential Role of Colchicine in Combating COVID-19 Cytokine Storm and Its Ability to Inhibit Protease Enzyme of SARS-CoV-2 as Conferred by Molecular Docking Analysis

Despite the advance in the management of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the global pandemic is still ongoing with a massive health crisis. COVID-19 manifestations may range from mild symptoms to severe life threatening ones. The hallmark of the disease severity is related to the overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines manifested as a cytokine storm. Based on its anti-inflammatory activity through interfering with several pro and anti-inflammatory pathways, colchicine had been proposed to reduce the cytokine storm and subsequently improve clinical outcomes. Molecular docking analysis of colchicine against RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) and protease enzymes of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) revealed that colchicine provided a grid-based molecular docking method, C-DOCKER interaction energy 64.26 and 47.53 (Kcal/mol) with protease and RdRp, respectively. This finding indicated higher binding stability for colchicine–protease complexes than the colchicine–RdRp complex with the involvement of seven hydrogen bonds, six hydrogen acceptors with Asn142, Gly143, Ser144, and Glu166 and one hydrogen-bond donors with Cys145 of the protease enzyme. This is in addition to three hydrophobic interactions with His172, Glu166, and Arg188. A good alignment with the reference compound, Boceprevir, indicated high probability of binding to the protease enzyme of SARS-CoV-2. In conclusion, colchicine can ameliorate the destructive effect of the COVID-19 cytokine storm with a strong evidence of antiviral activity by inhibiting the protease enzyme of SARS-CoV-2.

Corruption: institutional features, social determinants and consequences

The article considers the nature, causes, determinants and consequences of corruption. As a form of social deviation of a delinquent nature and as a type of crime, corruption has a destructive effect on all spheres of social life, primarily on their management - by redistributing their resources and by replacing social values and goals with group and personal ones. Corruption affects not only states but also international affairs; therefore, we need active opposition to corruption from the world community: International Anti-Corruption Day was included in the calendars of 187 countries including Russia. According to the World Bank, the annual global amount of bribes is 1 trillion US dollars. For many countries, corruption has become a threat to national security, which makes them seek and use effective and often radical measures to counter corruption, and to conduct comprehensive studies of corruption as an objective and widespread social phenomenon. The authors consider corruption on the basis of an interdisciplinary methodology with an emphasis on institutional and structural-functional approaches, which allowed to identify institutional features of corruption, its structure, functions and social consequences, and to assess the efficiency of anti-corruption measures. The article is based on the statistical data on the dynamics of corruption in Russia and the Republic of Bashkortostan in 2012-2020, and on the results of the sociological survey conducted by the Institute for Strategic Studies of the Republic of Bashkortostan in 2020 according to the methodology for assessing corruption described in the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation. The survey focused on the problems in the interaction of citizens and employees of state and municipal authorities (everyday corruption), and in the interaction of authorities and business (business corruption) (the corresponding samples were 814 and 300 people). The study of everyday corruption was conducted by individual formalized interviews, of business corruption - by the online survey on the Google Forms.

The Problem of Memory Preservation and Identity Formation (on the Example of the Great Patriotic War Memory)

Significant events of the past have always been the most important aspects in the structuring of national memory. Obviously, they also become key elements in the formation of identity. Therefore, the use of various falsifications, distortions of history, and manipulations in this area seems to be quite logical in the framework of the ongoing information war. The devaluation and depersonalization of the Great Patriotic War memory, of the irreplaceable losses and sacrifices of the Soviet people, of exploits in the name of the Motherland and in the name of victory over fascism have crushing power, destroy the integration potential of the Soviet past, have a destructive effect on the formation of an identity that should be associated with the correct interpretation of the heroic role of the Soviet people. Pride in the past of one's country contributes to the formation of civic consciousness and a positive awareness of one's belonging. The roots of this perception are in the stories of eyewitnesses of those events, which are becoming less and less every year, in the process of socialization, in school history textbooks. In conditions of freedom of choice, with an ever-increasing virtual component of life, in which there are opportunities for the individual to immerse themselves in the format of a completely different socio-cultural space, with a different system of values and meanings, the global elite imposes new standards and determines the field of choice for modern youth. At the same time, our educational task is the preservation and reproduction of memory for future generations.

Silicon Dioxide Nanoparticles Induce Innate Immune Responses and Activate Antioxidant Machinery in Wheat Against Rhizoctonia solani

The phytopathogenic basidiomycetous fungus, Rhizoctonia solani, has a wide range of host plants including members of the family Poaceae, causing damping-off and root rot diseases. In this study, we biosynthesized spherical-shaped silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs; sized between 9.92 and 19.8 nm) using saffron extract and introduced them as a potential alternative therapeutic solution to protect wheat seedlings against R. solani. SiO2 NPs showed strong dose-dependent fungistatic activity on R. solani, and significantly reduced mycelial radial growth (up to 100% growth reduction), mycelium fresh and dry weight, and pre-, post-emergence damping-off, and root rot severities. Moreover, the impact of SiO2 NPs on the growth of wheat seedlings and their potential mechanism (s) for disease suppression was deciphered. SiO2 NPs application also improved the germination, vegetative growth, and vigor indexes of infected wheat seedlings which indicates no phytotoxicity on treated wheat seedlings. Moreover, SiO2 NPs enhanced the content of the photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids), induced the accumulation of defense-related compounds (particularly salicylic acid), and alleviated the oxidative stress via stimulation of both enzymatic (POD, SOD, APX, CAT, and PPO) and non-enzymatic (phenolics and flavonoids) antioxidant defense machinery. Collectively, our findings demonstrated the potential therapeutic role of SiO2 NPs against R. solani infection via the simultaneous activation of a multilayered defense system to suppress the pathogen, neutralize the destructive effect of ROS, lipid peroxidation, and methylglyoxal, and maintain their homeostasis within R. solani-infected plants.

Physico-chemical properties of silicon dioxides obtained by extraction from sulfuric acid solutions from acid decomposition of nepheline

The synthesis of silica was carried out by extraction from a silica-containing solution from the decomposition of nepheline using acetone and ethanol, followed by gelatinization of the organic phase. The structural and surface properties of the obtained sample of SiO2 were studied and the pH of the isoionic point of their surface was determined. It was found that the use of extraction does not have a destructive effect on the specific surface of the SiO2 xerogel and allows preserving its original microporous structure.