Maximum Decrease Research Articles

The magnetic field on the bioconvection flow of NEPCM in A Z-shaped cavity containing three circular cylinders

This work adopts an incompressible smoothed particle hydrodynamics (ISPH) method for handling the bioconvection flow of nanoparticle-enhanced phase change materials (NEPCM) inside a Z-shaped containing three circular cylinders and oxytactic microorganisms. The fractional time derivative of a system of controlling equations is solved by the ISPH method. The influences of magnetic field on thermosolutal convection of NEPCM in Z-shaped cavity. The mesh-free nature of the ISPH method helps in simulating the nanofluid flow in complex geometries. The Z-shaped cavity was chosen in this work for bioconvection flow because of its uses in semiconductors in solar cells, electronic devices, biomedicine, and thermal batteries. The bioconvection flow and heat transfer of the embedded circular cylinders are significant in heat exchangers and renewable energies. The scales of physical parameters are bioconvection Rayleigh number Rab=1−1000, Lewis number Le=1−20, Hartmann number Ha=0−80, fractional-time derivative α=0.9−1, Rayleigh number Ra=103−106, the radius of embedded circular cylinders Rc=0.05−0.2, and nanoparticles’ parameter ϕ=0−0.15. The results introduced the importance of Rab in enhancing the distributions of oxytactic microorganisms, and oxygen concentrations as well as the intensity of the velocity field. The size of embedded circular cylinders is effective in adjusting the distributions of oxytactic microorganisms, oxygen concentration, and temperature inside a Z-shaped cavity. The maximum velocity field decreases by 86.79 % as nanoparticle concentration increases from 0 % to 15 % due to the resulting high viscosity of the suspension fluid. An expanded radius of embedded circular cylinders improves the values of Nu‾ and Sh‾. This research provides crucial insights into optimizing thermal management and efficiency across diverse technological applications, from electronics to renewable energy and biomedical devices.

Anti-friction and anti-infection properties on biomedical Ti3Zr2Sn3Mo25Nb alloy driven by high-precision cross-elliptical micro-texture and copper coating

A surface modification method was proposed to boost tribological properties of near β-type biomedical titanium alloy Ti3Zr2Sn3Mo25Nb (TLM) by synergistic application of micro-texture and copper coating. In calf serum, the friction coefficient on the TLM surface decreased by approximately 17 % when the micro-texture density was 15 %. Furthermore, the texture-free modified TLM surface exhibited reduced friction coefficients under various loads, with a maximum decrease of nearly 30 %. Additionally, the wear mass and wear rate of TLM surface were as low as 1.97 times and 2.34 times of commercial Ti6Al4V alloy when combining micro-texture with copper coating, respectively. The anti-friction mechanism can be attributed to enhanced load-bearing capacity due to micro-texture and the self-lubricating effect by copper coating. Importantly, introducing copper coating on micro-textured surface will catalyze protein denaturation to generate graphite-like carbon films during friction with an anti-friction property, meanwhile, exhibited significant antibacterial activity, with the antibacterial rate of 99.41 % and 94.70 % against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, effectively improving postoperative infections.

Numerical analysis of blood flow in the abdominal aorta under simulated weightlessness and earth conditions

Blood flow through the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries is a crucial area of research in hemodynamics and cardiovascular diseases. To get in to the problem, this study presents detailed analyses of blood flow through the abdominal aorta, together with left and right iliac arteries, under Earth gravity and weightless conditions, both at the rest stage, and during physical activity. The analysis were conducted using ANSYS Fluent software. The results indicate, that there is significantly less variation in blood flow velocity under weightless conditions, compared to measurement taken under Earth Gravity conditions. Study presents, that the maximum and minimum blood flow velocities decrease and increase, respectively, under weightless conditions. Our model for the left iliac artery revealed higher blood flow velocities during the peak of the systolic phase (systole) and lower velocities during the early diastolic phase (diastole). Furthermore, we analyzed the shear stress of the vessel wall and the mean shear stress over time. Additionally, the distribution of oscillatory shear rate, commonly used in hemodynamic analyses, was examined to assess the effects of blood flow on the blood vessels. Countermeasures to mitigate the negative effects of weightlessness on astronauts health are discussed, including exercises performed on the equipment aboard the space station. These exercises aim to maintain optimal blood flow, prevent the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, and reduce the risk of cardiovascular complications.

Economic impact and food security effects of trade disruptions in agricultural products for Sweden

The COVID-19 pandemic and geopolitical conditions in 2022–2023 highlighted the vulnerabilities of food supply chains to trade disruptions in agricultural inputs and foods, with the ensuing economic effects on producers and consumers. This study calculated the impact of various disruptions in the trade of agricultural inputs and outputs for Swedish producers and consumers and for food security. To this end, a mathematical programming model of the food sector with a spatial dimension was applied, which accounts for adjustments and interactions between producers and consumers of food. Food security is measured in terms of the self-sufficiency ratio, the ability to produce minimum dietary needs, and economic access for low-income households. The trade scenarios included disruptions to imports of agricultural inputs (fertilisers, fuel, feed, pesticides and foreign labour) and foods. The results showed that the economic effects for producers can be considerable, with a reduction in producer surplus by up to 75%. The decrease in consumer surplus is smaller, amounting to a maximum decrease of 21%. The self-sufficiency ratio and the ability to produce minimum dietary needs can be reduced by 55% and 61%, respectively, but may rise if the disruption to feed imports increases. Economic access to foods is slightly decreased in all scenarios. These results showing different impacts of trade disruptions on producers and consumers and food security metrics highlight the need to undertake extensive assessments to determine whether and how to prevent and mitigate their effects. The economic effects on producers and consumers and the associated impacts on food security are likely to differ, which affects the selection and targeting of policies, such as compensation for economic losses and promotion of food security.

Spatial heterogeneity of cyclone induced social psychology in the Indian Sundarbans using empirical data and geospatial techniques

Recurrent cyclones in the Bay of Bengal affect the lives and livelihoods of coastal communities. However, studies on the socio-psychological behaviour of cyclone-affected communities in the Indian Sundarbans received less attention in the existing literature. Thus, the present work intends to explore the tropical cyclone induced livelihood vulnerability and spatial heterogeneity of socio-psychological behaviour. The study was systematically carried out considering four selected mouzas (villages) from Indian Sundarbans using robust geospatial and statistical methods. The results depict that during the cyclone, the maximum decrease of monthly per-capita income was recorded for Amrabati mouza due to the southernmost location with comparatively higher perceived socio-psychological threats as portrayed by the interpolation maps and hotspot analysis. Considering all the six cyclones, Dwariknagar mouza recorded a maximum rating for fear/phobia, psychological stress and shock while a minimum rating for physical stress. Thus, income, age, gender, caste and religion also significantly control socio-psychological behaviour as shown by p < 0.05 and principal component analysis. This research calls for a thorough investigation of cyclone-affected victims in the Indo-Bangladesh Sundarban region. This study helps better comprehend the mental health of the cyclone victims which is important before the policymakers for designing the appropriate measures.

Mechanical Characterization of GFRP Tiled Laminates for Structural Engineering Applications: Stiffness, Strength and Failure Mechanisms

This study investigates the mechanical properties of tiled laminates, frequently used in FRP bridges, and a completely new class of composites for which currently no experimental literature is available. In this paper, first a microscopic examination of laminates extracted from bridge deck flanges is performed, revealing complex multi-ply structures and tiled laminates in the transverse direction of the bridge deck. The subsequent fabrication of tiled laminates in the transverse (i.e., weak) and longitudinal (i.e., strong) span direction explores stiffness and strength characteristics depending on the stacking angle. It is observed that the stiffness in both directions is only slightly reduced with increasing stacking angles, reaching a maximum decrease of 10%, while the failure strength is significantly reduced, particularly with longitudinal tiling, dropping by approximately 70% for a 2° stacking angle. Transverse tiling demonstrates a more moderate 45% strength reduction due to the presence of some 90° plies. Given the small reduction in the stiffness and the fact that in many applications the design is mainly governed by serviceability (i.e., stiffness) requirements than strength, this strength reduction may be acceptable, considering other advantages of the concept. Additionally, this research sheds light on failure mechanisms, emphasizing the role of ply assembly in stress distribution and highlighting the importance of gradual ply ends in reducing strain concentrations. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing tiled laminates in structural applications, ensuring their effective and reliable use.

A structural and biochemical approach to effect of temperature and pH on the Molten Globule phenomenon in a thermophilic protease: Molecular dynamics simulation, fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism

Proteins in the molten globule (MG) stage have a reasonably stable secondary structure content, but changes in side-chain packing cause a noticeable decrease in the number of tertiary structures. Here, we investigated serine protease as a suitable model to study the folding route and characteristics of a protein in the MG state. Upon induction with IPTG, the protein exhibited a molecular weight of 42 kDa and achieved a final concentration of 1.7 mg/mL after the concentration process. Serine protease's intrinsic and extrinsic fluorescence was examined in the pH range of 1–12 using fluorescence spectroscopy with maximum intrinsic fluorescence in 335 nm and a blue shift in 510 nm for extrinsic fluorescence. It was suggested that the protein transitions probably to an MG state at pH 3. Evidences showed that serine protease's secondary structure using far-UV circular dichroism (CD) showed a little shift in the MG state intermediate, pH 3, relative to the original state, pH 8, which is typical for MG. Maximum decreases was observed in 228 to 300 nm for UV-near CD. Also revealed a notable alteration in the pH 3 of the enzyme compared to pH 8, which is the pH at which the protein takes on its natural structure. By using acrylamide to quench the fluorescence, the Stern-Volmer constant (KSV) was determined at pH values of 8 and 3, yielding values of 20 and 14 M−1, respectively. This is likely correlated with an increase in the enzyme's molecular volume in the MG state. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulation showed that although the thermal stability of this enzyme at 90° was confirmed in the Root-Mean-Square-Deviation (RMSD), Root-Mean-Square-Fluctuation (RMSF), Radius of gyration (Rg) as well as Solvent-Accessible-Surface-Area (SASA) graphs, but pH 3 may significantly disturb the tertiary structure and secondary structure. These in-silico results may also be analyzed in line with the occurrence of MG at pH 3.

Experimental study on a dual synthetic jets liquid cooling device

To address the growing heat dissipation requirements of high heat flux electronic devices, this work presents experimental research on a dual synthetic jets (DSJ) liquid cooling device. The effects of different heat flux, channel inlet flow rates, driving frequencies, and other parameters on the device ability have been explored. The experimental results indicate that the wall temperature increases by increasing the heat flux. Raising the channel inlet flow rate will reduce wall temperature. When DSJ is off, increasing the inlet flow rate from 0.16 L/min to 0.40 L/min results in a maximum temperature decrease of 6.30 °C and a pressure drop increase of 2.20 kPa. There is essentially no change in the pressure drop when DSJ is operating. When the inlet flow rate is 0.16 L/min, the maximum wall temperature at DSJ on is reduced by 6.83 °C compared with DSJ off. The convective heat transfer coefficient was raised by 40.55%. The vibrating diaphragm exhibits better low-frequency characteristics when working underwater. The convective heat transfer coefficient increases by 36.46% when the driving frequency is 20 Hz. Increasing the driving voltage, the device cooling performance increased. By increasing the driving voltage to 240 V, the wall temperature decreased by 6.30 °C, a decrease of 13.82%, and the convective heat transfer coefficient raised by 28.51%. The device overall performance increased by a maximum of 39.55% after DSJ on compared with DSJ off.

Aging phenomenon in BESIII drift chamber

As the main tracking detector of Beijing Spectrometer (BESIII), the multilayer drift chamber (MDC) is used to accurately measure the position and the momentum of the charged particles produced in e+e− collisions at Beijing Electron-Positron Collider (BEPCII), and meanwhile to test dE/dx information for particle identification. The MDC has been taking data since 2009. During about 15 years of operation, the MDC has worked stably with good performance, but it is suffering from aging issues due to beam related background. The gains of the cells in the first ten layers show a significant decrease, reaching a maximum decrease of about 50% for the first layer, and correspondingly, the spatial resolution and the hit efficiency also show a degradation. In addition, the inner chamber of the MDC encountered Malter effect in January 2012. About 2000 ppm water vapor was added to the gas mixture to solve this cathode aging problem. No Malter discharge has been observed since then. These aging monitoring and study provide important references for stable operation of the MDC and the upgrade of the inner chamber.

Shallow groundwater table fluctuations promote the accumulation and loss of phosphorus from surface soil to deeper soil in croplands around plateau lakes in Southwest China

The continuous excessive application of phosphorus (P) fertilizers in intensive agricultural production leads to a large accumulation of P in surface soils, increasing the risk of soil P loss by runoff and leaching. However, there are few studies on the accumulation and loss of P from surface soil to deep soil profiles driven by shallow groundwater table (SGT) fluctuations. This study used the intensive cropland around 7 plateau lakes in Yunnan Province as an example and conducted in situ monitoring of P storage in the soil profile and SGT during the rainy season (RS) and dry season (DS) as well as simulation experiments on soil P loss. The aim was to study the spatiotemporal variation in P accumulation in the soil profile of cropland driven by SGT fluctuations in the RS and DS and estimate the P loss in the soil profile driven by SGT fluctuations. The results showed that fluctuations in the SGT promoted P accumulation from the surface soil to deeper soil. The proportions of P stored in various forms in the 30–60 cm and 60–100 cm soil layers in the RS were greater than those in the DS, while the average proportion in the 0–30 cm soil layer in the DS was as high as 48%. Compared with those in the DS, the maximum decreases in the proportion of P stored as TP and Olsen-P in the 0–100 cm soil layer in the RS were 16% and 58%, respectively, due to the rise in the SGT (SGT <30 cm), while the soil TP storage decreased by only 1% when the SGT was maintained at 60–100 cm. The critical thresholds for soil Olsen-P and TP gradually decreased with increasing soil depth, and the risk of P loss in deeper soil increased. The loss of soil P was increased by fluctuations in the SGT. Based on the cropland area around the 7 plateau lakes, P storage, and SGT fluctuations, the average loss intensity and loss amount of TP in the 0–100 cm soil layer around the 7 plateau lakes were estimated to be 25 kg/ha and 56 t, respectively. Therefore, reducing exogenous P inputs, improving soil endogenous P utilization efficiency and maintaining deep soil P retention are the basic strategies for preventing and controlling P accumulation and loss in deep soil caused by SGT fluctuations.

Environmental impacts of shifts in surface urban heat island, emissions, and nighttime light during the Russia-Ukraine war in Ukrainian cities.

As recent geopolitical conflicts and climate change escalate, the effects of war on the atmosphere remain uncertain, in particular in the context of the recent large-scale war between Russia and Ukraine. We use satellite remote sensing techniques to establish the effects that reduced human activities in urban centers of Ukraine (Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Mariupol) have on Land Surface Temperatures (LST), Urban Heat Islands (UHI), emissions, and nighttime light. A variety of climate indicators, such as hot spots, changes in the intensity and area of the UHI, and changes in LST thresholds during 2022, are differentiated with pre-war conditions as a reference period (i.e., 2012-2022). Findings show that nighttime hot spots in 2022 for all three cities cover a smaller area than during the reference period, with a maximum decrease of 3.9% recorded for Donetsk. The largest areal decrease of nighttime UHI is recorded for Kharkiv (- 12.86%). Our results for air quality changes show a significant decrease in carbon monoxide (- 2.7%, based on the average for the three cities investigated) and an increase in Absorbing Aerosol Index (27.2%, based on the average for the three cities investigated) during the war (2022), compared to the years before the war (2019-2021). The 27.2% reduction in nighttime urban light during the first year of the war, compared to the years before the war, provides another measure of conflict-impact in the socio-economic urban environment. This study demonstrates the innovative application of satellite remote sensing to provide unique insights into the local-scale atmospheric consequences of human-related disasters, such as war. The use of high-resolution satellite data allows for the detection of subtle changes in urban climates and air quality, which are crucial for understanding the broader environmental impacts of geopolitical conflicts. Our approach not only enhances the understanding of war-related impacts on urban environments but also underscores the importance of continuous monitoring and assessment to inform policy and mitigation strategies.

Exploring the influence of optical and thermal parameters on the effectiveness of parabolic trough collector receiver units

Abstract This study investigates the optimization of physical parameters in a parabolic trough collector receiver unit to improve its thermal and optical performance. The parameters include the transmissivity, reflectivity, absorptivity, emissivity and thermal conductivity of the outer cover and absorber pipe. This study utilizes a novel experimental design and a simulation model that accounts for the infrared reflectivity inside the receiver. The simulation results were validated by the experimental data, with a maximum deviation of 8%. The study analyses the effects of varying the physical parameters on the heat transfer fluid temperature, total plant efficiency, temperature profiles, temperature gradients and thermal stress. The study finds that increasing the reflectivity and decreasing the emissivity of the outer cover and the absorber pipe significantly enhance the performance, with maximum increases of 25.8% and 26.5% in total efficiency, respectively. The study also finds that increasing the thermal conductivity of the absorber pipe reduces the temperature gradients and thermal stress, with maximum decreases of 42.2% and 29%, respectively. This study provides valuable insights for optimizing the receiver design and operation in solar–thermal systems.

Effect of Ultrasound and Freeze‐Drying to Enhance the Extraction of Phenolic Compounds in Dragon Fruit Peels and Apply Them in Edible Starch‐Based Films

ABSTRACTIn this study, dragon fruit peels were subjected to different times (5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 min) of ultrasound pretreatment (4.870 W m−2/25°C) and then freeze‐drying (FD) (−56°C/48 h) to obtain powder particles, which underwent physical–chemical, functional and structural characterisation. Additionally, the extraction of total phenolic compound (TPC) was evaluated through ultrasound‐assisted kinetics and mechanical agitation. Finally, films based on black rice starch were developed with the addition (0.5, 1.5 and 2.5%) of dragon fruit peel powder particles, and their physical, barrier, antioxidant, structural and mechanical properties were evaluated. The results obtained showed that all particles had low water content (4.21%–6.58%) and high solubility (84.62%–88.73%) with a reduction in particle size (23.21–39.32 μm). In the extraction of TPC, the synergistic effect of the tested conditions increased efficiency, reaching 686.66 mg GAE/100 g for pretreated dragon fruit peel powder particles (25 min) in 180 min of extraction. Furthermore, the type ‘A’ crystallinity structure did not change significantly with pretreatment, but there was a reduction in peak area, reflecting on relative crystallinity, with a maximum decrease of 29.04%. The starch‐based films produced with 2.5% dragon fruit peel powder particles showed low solubility (28.72%) and low water vapour permeability (5.03 × 10−8 g mm s−1 m2 Pa), however, they contained higher levels of TPC (31.78 mg GAE/100 g film) and antioxidant activity (8.17 μmol TE/g film) that were easily migrated in aqueous medium. Furthermore, they also presented low values of tensile strength at break (3.41 MPa) and Young's modulus (4.18 MPa), as well as a high value of elongation at break (45.82%). Finally, our results highlight the potential of ultrasound as a pretreatment for FD of dragon fruit peels, paving the way for the development of rice starch‐based food packaging.

Thermal dynamics in deep shale reservoirs: Influences of the kerogen microstructural behavior on the gas adsorption/desorption capacity

In shale gas extraction projects, an investigation into the mechanisms of energy/mass transfer associated with shale gas adsorption/desorption in organic matter (kerogen) microstructure under high temperature and stress condition is crucial for improving the efficiency of shale gas production. This study presents a coupling thermo-hydro-mechanical model based on an improved fractal method that could explain the microstructural evolution of the kerogen system and the resultant alterations during the gas adsorption/desorption process under varying thermal conduction, gas seepage, and stress conditions. The influence of porosity, diameter, and tortuosity on the abundance, length, and complexity of kerogen networks under coupled multi-field effects is evaluated. The significance of this study is it could address the following aspects quantitively: (1) the spatiotemporal evolution of kerogen fractal dimensions following various extraction timelines; (2) the influence of shale temperatures on kerogen structures; (3) the influence of the kerogen fractal dimension on the shale gas desorption capacity and production efficiency; and (4) under different temperatures, when the fractal dimension/tortuosity fractal dimension of kerogen changes due to extraction disturbances, the volumetric deformation induced by gas adsorption increases by a maximum of 26.1%/decreases by 28.1% and in the later stages of extraction, the maximum gas pressure decreases by 44.7%/increases by 47.1%. The proposed fractal method adeptly reveals shale gas desorption behaviors under multi-field coupling conditions from a microscopic perspective, which cannot be found in the literature.

Optimization of the PVT performance with various orientations of jets and MFFNN-RSA prediction model for smart buildings

The combined thermal and photovoltaic technology in PV/T systems is considered as a greatly promising technology for smart buildings. Thus, investigations for enhancing the PV/T performance are still proceeding. This research presents an investigation for novel configurations of cooling jets for the PVT system. The linear and circular distribution for the inlet jets considering regular and irregular positioning for all the jets as new cooling configurations are implemented. Moreover, the proposed geometrical configurations are optemized regarding the performance to identify the most suitable configuration that achieves the optimum efficiency and temperature. Furthermore, a novel hybrid ANN model is presented for predicting the performance of the PVT systems. This model combines the multi-feedforward neural network (MFFNN) with an optimization technique called reptile search algorithm (RSA). The proposed model can process the studied parameters to predict the PVT performance parameters (top surface temperature, temperature un-uniformity, outlet temperature, and efficiencies). The proposed MFFNN-RSA model minimized the mean square error to less than 0.4857×10-3. The maximum temperature decrease achieved by the presented configuration reached 60.62K compared to the uncooled case, while the minimum temperature un-uniformity reached 1K and 6K for 400 and 1000 W/m2, respectively. The increase of the ambient temperature found to decrease the temperature un-uniformity in all the cases. The irregular jet with the linear distribution was found to achieve the optimum performance of the overall, thermal, and electrical efficiencies of 63.5%, 49.6%, and 14.25%, respectively. Furthermore, the electricity production cost was reduced by 11.6%, and the yearly CO2 emissions were reduced by 215.3 kg/m2 compared to the normal PV system. The proposed irregular-line distribution of the jets is found to be the best configuration regarding the temperature of the PV model and the overall efficiency considering the pumping losses.

Assessment of synthetic food dye erythrosine induced cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, biochemical and molecular alterations in Allium cepa root meristematic cells: insights from in silico study.

Synthetic food dyes are being exponentially used in food products and scarce studies regarding their toxicities and safety raise concern. Erythrosine is one of the synthetic food dyes being used in jams, fig, pineapple marmalades, dairy products, soft drinks, pickles, relishes, smoked fish, cheese, ketchup, maraschino cherries and a variety of other foods. In this study the cyto-genotoxic effect of erythrosine was evaluated, using root meristematic cells of Allium cepa for the cellular and molecular alternations at concentrations 0.1, 0.25, 0.5 and 1mg/mL. The results revealed a significant decrease of 57.81% in the mitotic index after 96h at the 0.1mg/mL concentration. In biochemical analysis, the malondialdehyde content increased significantly (5.47-fold), while proline content, catalase activity and superoxide dismutase activity decreased gradually in a concentration-dependent manner showing a maximum decrease of 78.11%, 64.68% and 61.73% respectively at the highest concentration after 96h duration. The comet assay revealed increased DNA damage with increasing concentration and attenuated total reflectance- Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) analysis showed significant alterations in biomolecules as indicated by multivariate analysis, i.e. Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Furthermore, molecular docking demonstrated a strong binding energy (Gbest=-11.46kcal/mol) and an inhibition constant (Ki) of 3.96nM between erythrosine and the DNA minor groove. The present study's findings revealed the cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of erythrosine on A. cepa root cells. Further, the study also proposed the usefulness of A. cepa as a model system for studying the toxicity of food additives.

Genome-Wide Profiling of the Genes Related to Leaf Discoloration in Zelkova schneideriana

Zelkova schneideriana is a landscaping flowering and deciduous plant whose leaf color changes in the fall season. In the discoloration period, the anthocyanin content in the red lines of Z. schneideriana is 3.52 times greater than that in the green lines, whereas the chlorophyll content in the red lines is 20.10 times lower. To understand the molecular mechanism of the leaf discoloration, transcriptome sequencing was performed. A total of 3965 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the red and green lines in the discoloration period. These DEGs were mainly involved in plant–pathogen interactions, the MAPK signaling pathway, plant hormone signal transduction, flavonoid biosynthesis, and anthocyanin biosynthesis. Among them, three downregulated genes were involved in chlorophyll synthesis; these genes exhibited a maximum decrease in the red lines that was 11.13 times greater than their expression in the green lines. In contrast, 33 upregulated genes were involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis; they exhibited a maximum increase in the red lines 4645.33 times greater than their expression in the green lines. The results of an association analysis revealed that four transcription factors, including ZeBHLH42, ZeMYB123, ZeMYB113, and ZeWRKY44, positively regulated the anthocyanin synthesis genes. These results explained the mechanism underlying the discoloration of Zelkova leaves and provided a basis for molecular breeding programs of colorful plants.

Study of Influence of Various Methods of Intraoperative Keratoprotection on Morphological and Functional State of Ocular Surface System in Early Period after Phacoemulsification in Senile Cataract

Purpose: to study the effect of various methods of intraoperative keratoprotection on morphological and functional state of ocularsurface system (OSS) in early period after phacoemulsification (PE) in senile cataract (SC). Patients and methods. 240 patients (240 eyes) who applied for surgical treatment of SC. Age: 65 ± 4 years. 109 men, 131 women. All patients were divided into three observation groups according to the method of intraoperative keratoprotection: 1st group — 60 patients, corneal irrigation with balanced solution; 2nd group — 60 patients, ophthalmic viscosurgical device was applied to the cornea; 3rd group: 3a subgroup — 60 patients, soft contact lens (SCL) was applied to the cornea; subgroup 3b — 60 patients, SCL impregnated with riboflavin solution was applied to the cornea. In addition to the standard ophthalmological examination, Schirmer I test, OCT-scanning were performed, and tear breakup time (TBUT) was determined. Results. Operations were performed without complications. On the 1st day after the operation, the parameters of the Schirmer I test were higher in the eyes of 1st and 2nd groups. On the 5th day after the operation, tear production decreased sharply in all eyes. On the 10th day, an increase in tear production was observed in all groups, the maximum increase — in 3b subgroup. On the 1st day after the operation, TBUT decreased in all examined eyes. The largest significant TBUT decrease was noted in 1st group, the smallest — in 3b subgroup. On 1st day, corneal epithelial thickness (CET) decreased in all eyes, the maximum decrease was detected in 1st group. On the 5th day, CET continued to decrease in all eyes, the minimum decrease occurred in the 3b subgroup. On the 10th day — a decrease in CET in all groups with minimal significant dynamics in 3b subgroup. Conclusion. The study showed that the state of OSS in the early period after PE in SC depends on the method of intraoperative keratoprotection. The most optimal method of intraoperative protection of corneal epithelium and prevention of negative morphological and functional state of OSS after PE in SC is using of SCL impregnated with riboflavin.

Effect of varnish on the performance and stability of journal bearings

This paper is dedicated to characterizing the steady-state and dynamic behavior of journal bearings with the provision for varnishing. Degraded base oils and additives cause varnish at high temperatures. Once the varnishing initiates, the oil flow is restricted due to the reduction in film thickness, which leads to an increase in the operating temperature and further accelerated varnishing. The effect of the varnish on the bearing performances is predicted by solving the Reynolds equation for the pressure distributions with the mass conservation algorithm coupled with the energy equation through the viscosity. The solution of the Reynolds equation with the perturbations of the displacement and the velocity is used to calculate the stiffness and damping coefficients and determine the dynamic behavior of the bearing. At a given eccentricity ratio, the maximum pressure and temperature with the varnish become considerably higher than those without the varnish due to the reduced film thickness. Results are presented for both single and double axially grooved journal bearings. Results show that the maximum pressure decreases when the varnish size extends circumferentially at a given varnish thickness, but the maximum temperature still remains relatively constant. For both single and double-grooved bearings, the critical speed decreases considerably, leading to the reduction of the stability of the system.

Пигментная система нитчатых цианобактерий в условиях аккумуляции ионов свинца

The effect of Pb (CH3COO)2 solutions with Pb2+ concentrations equal to 0.02, 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 mM to strain of cyanobacteria (CB) Leptolyngbya sp. SK was studied. The duration of exposure of the culture with solutions was 21 days. During the experiment, measured the loss of lead ions in the solution; the increase in the biomass of CB was assessed as an indicator of culture adaptation; determined the content of photosynthetic pigments as indicators of maintaining the viability of the culture. The content of lead ions decreased in all variants, the maximum decrease was 96.2% – in the medium with a Pb2+concentration of 0.4 mM. An increase in the biomass of CB was observed in the presence of Pb2+ of all concentrations, the maximum increase in a solution with a Pb2+ concentration of 0.1 mM was up to 7.5 times. There was a decrease in the content of chlorophyll a in the biomass of CB, in comparison with the control, by 67.0–94.2% with an increase in the concentration of Pb2+ in the solution. Under the influence of solutions with Pb2+ concentrations of 0.02, 0.1, and 0.4 mM, the content of carotenoids in the biomass of cyanobacteria decreased by 48%, 75% and 92%, respectively; the concentration of Pb2+0.2 mM caused an increase in the content of carotenoids by 1% with the control. The inhibitory effect of all investigated concentrations of Pb2+ was noted on the complex of phycobilin pigments. The accumulation of lead ions from solutions with Pb2+ concentrations up to 0.4 mM, an increase in CB biomass in the presence of 0.1 mM Pb2+ and an increase in the synthesis of carotenoids at 0.2 mM Pb2+ may indicate adaptation of the studied culture to lead acetate.