Self-regulating Properties Research Articles

Electrical and Electro-Thermal Characteristics of (Carbon Black-Graphite)/LLDPE Composites with PTC Effect.

Electrical properties and electro-thermal behavior were studied in composites with carbon black (CB) or hybrid filler (CB and graphite) and a matrix of linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE). LLDPE, a (co)polymer with low crystallinity but with high structural regularity, was less studied for Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) applications, but it would be of interest due to its higher flexibility as compared to HDPE. Structural characterization by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed a segregated structure resulted from preparation by solid state powder mixing followed by hot molding. Direct current (DC) conductivity measurements resulted in a percolation threshold of around 8% (w) for CB/LLDPE composites. Increased filler concentrations resulted in increased alternating current (AC) conductivity, electrical permittivity and loss factor. Resistivity-temperature curves indicate the dependence of the temperature at which the maximum of resistivity is reached (Tmax(R)) on the filler concentration, as well as a differentiation in the Tmax(R) from the crystalline transition temperatures determined by DSC. These results suggest that crystallinity is not the only determining factor of the PTC mechanism in this case. This behavior is different from similar high-crystallinity composites, and suggests a specific interaction between the conductive filler and the polymeric matrix. A strong dependence of the PTC effect on filler concentration and an optimal concentration range between 14 and 19% were also found. Graphite has a beneficial effect not only on conductivity, but also on PTC behavior. Temperature vs. time experiments, revealed good temperature self-regulation properties and current and voltage limitation, and irrespective of the applied voltage and composite type, the equilibrium superficial temperature did not exceed 80 °C, while the equilibrium current traversing the sample dropped from 22 mA at 35 V to 5 mA at 150 V, proving the limitation capacities of these materials. The concentration effects revealed in this work could open new perspectives for the compositional control of both the self-limiting and interrupting properties for various low-temperature applications.

Профиль саморегуляции и социальной активности в портрете учащейся российской молодежи

Background. The relevance of studying the social activity of young people in the context of self-regulation is determined by the vulnerability of young people in difficult conditions of a transforming society subject to uncertainty. In social activity, young people socialize, manifest themselves, and therefore it is necessary to understand its factors, motives for inclusion in one or another of its forms, obstacles to its implementation, as well as risks and threats to the safety and well-being. Objectives. The aim is to establish the role of self-regulation in the involvement of young people in social activity, considering regional and gender specifics. Study Participants. This study involved 1492 respondents (Mage = 19.2; 1013 women), students of various majors from Russian regions. Methods. The research had a survey design, the questionnaires and scales were used in this work for collecting data: V.I. Morosanova's “Style of self-regulation of behavior”, Eysenck's three-factor model, FIRO-B, British scale of well-being, Scale of Russian parties and socio-political organizations attractiveness, Assessment of social contacts intensity and participation in events, and informal associations, a socio-demographic survey. Methods of descriptive statistics, cluster (k-means method) and comparative (t-Student and H-Kraskel-Wallis criterion) analyses were used for data processing. Results. It is established that the leading regulatory processes and properties in the profile of self-regulation of young people are persistence, programming of actions, and flexibility. Self-regulation has a greater impact on such forms of social activity of young people as leisure activities, participation in clubs, spontaneous events as the organizer of these forms with a predominant value for girls rather than for boys. Conclusions. The study showed the typical features of the self-regulation profile of young people. This profile is mostly conditioned by the age specifics of this social group. The limited influence of the processes and properties of self-regulation on the forms of social activity, especially in relation to young men, suggests the need to consider other factors of social activity in a complex.

Эмоционально-личностные детерминанты субъективного благополучия военнослужащих, участвовавших в боевых действиях

Studying the dynamics of subjective well-being in extreme conditions associated with combat operations and the role of intrapersonal factors in its achievement is an urgent task of modern psychology. Presented are the results of an empirical study, the purpose of which is to study the peculiarities of the relationship between emotional and personal formations and the subjective well-being of military personnel who participated in combat operations. The study involved 477 male respondents aged from 20 to 53 years: military personnel with combat experience and those who did not take part in military operations. Questionnaire methods were used for diagnosing personal characteristics, subjective well-being, difficulties in personal reflection of emotions, identifying and assessing neurotic states, emotional intelligence, and conscious self-regulation. The design of the empirical study included assessing differences in the studied indicators between those who took part in combat and those who did not take part in combat operations, as well as analyzing the relationship between these indicators using structural modeling. It was confirmed that being in a combat zone influenced the level of subjective well-being and the studied emotional and personal characteristics. Military personnel consider themselves less prosperous; they have more pronounced difficulties in personal reflection of emotions associated with the tolerance and expression of emotions, a tendency to use physiologically oriented defenses, as well as neurotic depression and obsessive-phobic disorders. They have lower values for extraversion, emotional stability, conscientiousness, and such regulatory processes and properties as modeling and flexibility. Revealed is the structure of relationships between emotional and personal predictors of the subjective wellbeing of combatants, presented in the form of a model. The central place in the model belongs to the processes and properties of conscious self-regulation, which directly and indirectly influence subjective well-being due to the mediating role of indicators of emotional intelligence and conscious suppression of emotions. Basic personality traits have only an indirect effect on subjective well-being through the ability to manage one’s own and others’ emotions and understand one’s emotions, neuroticism and conscious suppression of emotions. The leading role here belongs to emotional stability.

Responses of a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading bacterium, Paraburkholderia fungorum JT-M8, to Cd (II) under P-limited oligotrophic conditions

For the bioremediation of mixed-contamination sites, studies on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) degradation or Cd (II) tolerance in bacteria are commonly implemented in nutrient-rich media. In contrast, in the field, inocula usually encounter harsh oligotrophic habitats. In this study, the environmental strain Paraburkholderia fungorum JT-M8 was used to explore the overlooked Cd (II) defense mechanism during PAH dissipation under P-limited oligotrophic condition. The results showed that the growth and PAH degradation ability of JT-M8 under Cd (II) stress were correlated with phosphate contents and exhibited self-regulating properties. Phosphates mainly affected the Cd (II) content in solution, while the cellular distribution of Cd (II) depended on Cd (II) levels; Cd (II) was mainly located in the cytoplasm when exposed to less Cd (II), and vice versa. The unique Cd (II) detoxification pathways could be classified into three aspects: (i) Cd (II) ionic equilibrium and dose–response effects regulated by environmental matrices (phosphate contents); (ii) bacterial physiological self-regulation, e.g., cell surface-binding, protein secretion and active transport systems; and (iii) specific adaptive responses (flagellum aggregation). This study emphasizes the importance of considering culture conditions when assessing the metal tolerance and provides new insight into the bacterial detoxification process of complex PAH-Cd (II) pollutants.

Magnetic induction heating and drug release properties of magnetic carbon nanotubes

Aim The use of magnetic carbon nanotubes for multi-modal cancer treatment, incorporating both hyperthermia and drug delivery functions, has drawn substantial interest. Yet, the present method of regulating hyperthermia temperature involves manually adjusting the magnetic field intensity, adding to the complexity and difficulty of clinical applications. This study seeks to design novel magnetic carbon nanotubes capable of self-temperature regulation, and investigate their drug loading and release characteristics. Methods Using the co-precipitation method, we synthesized magnetic carbon nanotubes with a Curie temperature of 43 °C. A comprehensive investigation was conducted to analyze their morphology, crystal structure, and magnetic characteristics. To enhance their functionality, chitosan and sodium alginate modifications were introduced, enabling the loading of the antitumor drug doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX) into these magnetic carbon nanotubes. Subsequently, the loading and release properties of DOX were investigated within the modified magnetic nanotubes. Results Under alternating magnetic field, magnetic carbon nanotubes exhibit self-regulating properties by undergoing a magnetic phase transition, maintaining temperatures around 43 °C as required for hyperthermia. On the other hand, during magnetic induction heating, the release percentage of DOX reached 23.5% within 2 h and 71.7% within 70 h at tumor pH conditions, indicating their potential for sustained drug release. Conclusions The prepared magnetic carbon nanotubes can effectively regulate the temperature during hyperthermia treatment while ensuring controlled drug release, which presents a promising method for preparing nanomaterials that synergistically enhance magnetic hyperthermia and chemotherapy drugs.

The REBURN model: simulating system-level forest succession and wildfire dynamics

BackgroundHistorically, reburn dynamics from cultural and lightning ignitions were central to the ecology of fire in the western United States (wUS), whereby past fire effects limited future fire growth and severity. Over millennia, reburns created heterogenous patchworks of vegetation and fuels that provided avenues and impediments to the flow of future fires, and feedbacks to future fire event sizes and their severity patterns. These dynamics have been significantly altered after more than a century of settler colonization, fire exclusion, and past forest management, now compounded by rapid climatic warming. Under climate change, the area impacted by large and severe wildfires will likely increase — with further implications for self-regulating properties of affected systems. An in-depth understanding of the ecology of reburns and their influence on system-level dynamics provides a baseline for understanding current and future landscape fire-vegetation interactions.ResultsHere, we present a detailed characterization of REBURN — a geospatial modeling framework designed to simulate reburn dynamics over large areas and long time frames. We interpret fire-vegetation dynamics for a large testbed landscape in eastern Washington State, USA. The landscape is comprised of common temperate forest and nonforest vegetation types distributed along broad topo-edaphic gradients. Each pixel in a vegetation type is represented by a pathway group (PWG), which assigns a specific state-transition model (STM) based on that pixel’s biophysical setting. STMs represent daily simulated and annually summarized vegetation and fuel succession, and wildfire effects on forest and nonforest succession. Wildfire dynamics are driven by annual ignitions, fire weather and topographic conditions, and annual vegetation and fuel successional states of burned and unburned pixels.ConclusionsOur simulation study is the first to evaluate how fire exclusion and forest management altered the active fire regime of this landscape, its surface and canopy fuel patterns, forest and nonforest structural conditions, and the dynamics of forest reburning. The REBURN framework is now being used in related studies to evaluate future climate change scenarios and compare the efficacy of fire and fuel management strategies that either enable the return of active fire regimes or depend on fire suppression and wildfire effects on forest burning.

Mathematical modeling of the evolution of a tribosystem in the process of formation of equilibrium roughness of a frictional contact

As the science of friction developed, tribologists showed that reliable operation of friction units is determined by the wear resistance of the surface layer, its ability to adapt to changing operating conditions. In this regard, there is a need not only to create structures on the surfaces of friction units that have the properties of self-regulation and self-organization, but also to monitor changes in the characteristics of the surface layer. This article presents an innovative methodology for monitoring the life cycle of surface layers coated by vacuum ion-plasma treatment. In this paper, we propose a dynamic model based on the hypothesis that roughness is both a factor that excites mechanical vibrations and a consequence of these vibrations, whereas roughness changes as a result of wear under the influence of local dynamic forces. It is shown that a friction pair is a nonlinear system with complex feedbacks. Its stationary motion can be considered as a strange attractor. The randomness of motion in the vicinity of the limit cycle is due to the presence of a link of constant delay with rigid positive feedback in the model. As a result, there is constant reconfiguration of the amplitude and phase of the oscillations.

Layered Antibiofouling Composite Membrane for Quenching Bacterial Signaling.

Bacterial quorum quenching (QQ) media with various structures (e.g., bead, cylinder, hollow cylinder, and sheet), which impart biofouling mitigation in membrane bioreactors (MBRs), have been reported. However, there has been a continuous demand for membranes with QQ capability. Thus, herein, we report a novel double-layered membrane comprising an outer layer containing a QQ bacterium (BH4 strain) on the polysulfone hollow fiber membrane. The double-layered composite membrane significantly inhibits biofilm formation (i.e., the biofilm density decreases by ~58%), biopolymer accumulation (e.g., polysaccharide), and signal molecule concentration (which decreases by ~38%) on the membrane surface. The transmembrane pressure buildup to 50 kPa of the BH4-embedded membrane (17.8 h ± 1.1) is delayed by more than thrice (p < 0.05) of the control with no BH4 in the membrane’s outer layer (5.5 h ± 0.8). This finding provides new insight into fabricating antibiofouling membranes with a self-regulating property against biofilm growth.

Perspective on advanced nanomaterials used for energy storage and conversion

Abstract To drive the next ‘technical revolution’ towards commercialization, we must develop sustainable energy materials, procedures, and technologies. The demand for electrical energy is unlikely to diminish over the next 50 years, and how different countries engage in these challenges will shape future discourse. This perspective summarizes the technical aspects of nanomaterials’ design, evaluation, and uses. The applications include solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC), microbial fuel cells (MFC), supercapacitors, and hydrogen evolution catalysts. This paper also described energy carriers such as ammonia which can be produced electrochemically using SOEC under ambient pressure and high temperature. The rise of electric vehicles has necessitated some form of onboard storage of fuel or charge. The fuels can be generated using an electrolyzer to convert water to hydrogen or nitrogen and steam to ammonia. The charge can be stored using a symmetrical supercapacitor composed of tertiary metal oxides with self-regulating properties to provide high energy and power density. A novel metal boride system was constructed to absorb microwave radiation under harsh conditions to enhance communication systems. These resources can lower the demand for petroleum carbon in portable power devices or replace higher fossil carbon in stationary power units. To improve the energy conversion and storage efficiency, we systematically optimized synthesis variables of nanomaterials using artificial neural network approaches. The structural characterization and electrochemical performance of the energy materials and devices provide guidelines to control new structures and related properties. Systemic study on energy materials and technology provides a feasible transition from traditional to sustainable energy platforms. This perspective mainly covers the area of green chemistry, evaluation, and applications of nanomaterials generated in our laboratory with brief literature comparison where appropriate. The conceptual and experimental innovations outlined in this perspective are neither complete nor authoritative but a snapshot of selecting technologies that can generate green power using nanomaterials.

Self-regulating and asymmetric evaporator for efficient solar water-electricity generation

Water evaporation is a ubiquitous natural process than can be applied to generate electricity through hydrovoltaic effect. However, it remains a great challenge to construct an evaporation system that can satisfy both high-efficiency evaporation and stable power output due to their differences in water managements. Herein, we demonstrate a sandwich membrane strategy to construct a three-dimensional (3D) asymmetric evaporator for efficient tandem solar water-electricity generation by coating two carbon black (CB)/polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) functional films with different channel structures and water uptake at two opposite sides of a wood chip. Owing to the smart self-regulating property of the thin PVA skin and the superior thermal utilization performance of the 3D structure, the fabricated device achieves high evaporation rate of 1.93 kg m −2 h −1 . More importantly, the asymmetric water distribution of the evaporation unit and the confined nanochannels of the dense PVA network render the generator with stable and efficient power output, and the simple connections of several units in series and/or parallel can easily power a commercial calculator, electrolyze methylene blue solution, and light up light emitting diodes, which well proves the conception of combining solar water evaporation and electricity generation in an integrated device. • A sandwich evaporator was for the first time fabricated to achieve efficient solar water-electricity generation. • The fabricated device achieves high water evaporation rate of 1.93 kg m −2 h −1 . • The evaporation unit has asymmetric water distribution and confined nanochannels for stable and efficient power output. • The integrated device can easily power a commercial calculator, electrolyze methylene blue solution, and LEDs.

ЕКОЛОГІЧНЕ МОДЕЛЮВАННЯ ВИКОРИСТАННЯ ЗЕМЕЛЬНИХ РЕСУРСІВ ЛІСОСТЕПОВОЇ ЗОНИ

The article reveals the essence of such concepts as “rational land use”, “ecologically safe land use”. In the process of the land reform implementation in Ukraine the land was given into possession, which due to the ground cover is degraded or unproductive, the use of which is economically unproductive and ecologically shady, which negatively affects the natural environment. Among the factors that cause degradation of soil, the most important are those associated with the use of land. The current state of agricultural landscapes of the forest-steppe zone in Kharkiv region is characterized by a significant increase in degraded ornamented land, which require scientifically based measures on their normal environmental use taking into account the formation of a stable development of land use and favorable living environment. This determines the relevance of scientific principles development for rehabilitation of degraded and unproductive lands. Analysis of the state of lands in the forest-steppe zone of Kharkiv region in the context of soil and ecological areas showed that in recent years their condition has historically deteriorated and has become threatening. This also applies to the soil cover, which has significantly lost its self-regulating properties. Water and wind erosion is the most influential factor in reducing the productivity of land resources. Proposals were made on the removal of degraded land from the composition of the land in individual administrative units of Kharkiv region and the need to carry out large-scale land management works to create ecologically stable and balanced agro-landscapes was outlined. Ecological modeling of land resources use in the forest-steppe zone of Kharkiv region should be considered as a system of measures aimed at creating their productive capacity through conservation, rehabilitation, transformation and regeneration of degraded and unproductive lands. The system of comprehensive environmental monitoring should be a tool that will help to detect depletion of natural resources and degradation of agricultural land, changes in the environment. Key words: land degradation, soil erosion, agrolandscapes, land conservation, ecological optimization, land monitoring.

Control of sustainable management according to multilevel combinatorics of homeostatic mechanisms

The article aims to develop the methodological base for study and substantiation of homeostatic mechanisms of control of stability of managing systems in the conditions which is implemented according to the sustainable management concept. The article describes features of main types of homeostasis of managing systems (evolutionary, structural, resistant, system homeostasis), their hierarchical closed interrelation and inherent specific and predictive administrative properties. The following is herein substantiated: conditions of homeostasis generation and realization of specific effect of mechanisms and, respectively, regulators of adaptation of managing systems to external and internal transformations; directions and methods to form resistant, to institutional and resource restrictions, complementary managing complexes. The article states that the combinatorics of homeostasis controls includes stabilizing, inertial, adaptation, organizational and economic, kinematic, cybernetic, alarm, cognitive information, reparative, regenerative and other types of controls. It emphasizes that the complex of mechanisms to ensure self-regulating properties of systems must be focused on support of their adaptation abilities to external and internal transformations. Taking into account four-level structural hierarchy of homeostatic properties, the article substantiates the possibility of ensuring adequate design of regulators for their consolidation according to priority objects of tools and events localization.

Mimicking evolution of ‘mini-homeostatic’ modules in supramolecular systems

Natural systems maintain steady internal, physical, and chemical conditions (i.e. they exhibit homeostasis) and keep control over their local environment by creating many mini-homeostatic modules. In comparison, synthetic materials are typically formed under equilibrium or kinetically trapped conditions and do not usually change their properties with time. Hence, synthetic systems are typically devoid of self-regulation, self-correction and self-monitoring. Because of their static nature, reconfiguration of synthetic systems is also difficult as they exhibit unidirectional responses to perturbation. Here, we describe a hydrogel-based homeostatic system with self-monitoring and self-regulating properties over a cyclic energy input. Unlike other dynamic gels under feedback loops, our system maintains its gel form throughout the energy cycle across a wide pH range. Control over the evolution of the mini-homeostatic modules induces a self-correcting property to our homeostatic hydrogel which can tune the network type and improve the mechanical properties of the system.

Ecological analysis of agricultural environmental management problems in the Central Chernozem Region

Abstract. Land resources of the Central Chernozem Region are intensively used in economic activities that have affected the degradation of the natural environment components. The 100-year observation period revealed changes in biogenic components and humus in the regions soils. To determine the environmental problems of agricultural environmental management, we have calculated modular indicators of geochemical impact of various agricultural sectors. We have calculated the modular indicator of agricultural impact assessment on agricultural systems of the Central Chernozem Region. In order to preserve land resources it is important to quantify the impact of agricultural production. To assess the impact the authors have introduced three types of coefficients: taking into account the agricultural, livestock and technogenic impact. They can be used as the main diagnostic indicators to identify environmental problems. The coefficients make it possible to determine trends in environmental management and by the results of geochemical analysis environmental problems and the degree of impact of different types of agricultural production are identified. Balance violations of the substances cycle in forest-steppe landscapes have been revealed. The landscape and geochemical approach reveals migration processes, the cycle of substance and violations of self-regulating properties of the natural landscape. The analysis of potassium and phosphorus distribution is important in agrochemical aspect. The coefficient was calculated based on the mass of matter introduced and removed from the soil in relation to their content in the soil. The degree of geochemical agricultural impact exceeds the natural geochemical background. It gives an opportunity to define negative features of agricultural nature use. A complex geochemical analysis of different nature users will make it possible to determine the degree of their impact on the natural environment in the region. Soil transformation in agrosystems is accompanied by ecological losses both for the natural environment and for life activity of the population. Due to wide application of chemicalization means for implementation of the agricultural intensification program, it became necessary to determine quantitatively the geochemical load on the landscape in order to optimize and protect it. In this regard, issues of renewal of natural material and energy resources are relevant for agricultural production.

Multiresponsive Microgels with Phase-Separated Nanodomains and Self-Regulating Properties via Incorporation of Anthraquinone Moieties.

Of the multitude of stimuli-responsive microgels, it is still a challenge to achieve multiple responsivenesses to one single stimulus, which can even revert to the corresponding original state autonomously after stimulus. In this work, we reported a series of anthraquinone functionalized microgels (PNI-xVAQ) with thermosensitivity and redox-actuated self-regulating color, size, and fluorescent properties, which were easily synthesized via surfactant-free emulsion copolymerization (SFEP) with N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAm) as the monomer, 2-vinylanthraquinone (VAQ) as the comonomer, and N,N'-methylenebis(acrylamide) (BIS) as the cross-linker in an aqueous solution at 70 °C. The hydrophobic interactions of comonomer VAQ also led to the formation of internal phase-separated hydrophobic nanodomains in the obtained PNI-xVAQ microgels. The self-regulating color, size, and fluorescence changes of the PNI-xVAQ microgels were reliant on the nonequilibrium redox process of anthraquinone moieties by the addition of sodium dithionite as the chemical fuel to activate the positive feedback that was the reduction of anthraquinone to transient anthraquinone radical anions, following the slow oxidation of anthraquinone radical anions by autonomous "breathing" oxygen in air as the delayed negative feedback. These autonomous self-regulating properties of the PNI-xVAQ microgel were recyclable to a certain extent by repeated feeding of sodium dithionite.

Simulations of the star-forming molecular gas in an interacting M51-like galaxy

ABSTRACT We present here the first of a series of papers aimed at better understanding the evolution and properties of giant molecular clouds (GMCs) in a galactic context. We perform high-resolution, three-dimensional arepo simulations of an interacting galaxy inspired by the well-observed M51 galaxy. Our fiducial simulations include a non-equilibrium, time-dependent, chemical network that follows the evolution of atomic and molecular hydrogen as well as carbon and oxygen self-consistently. Our calculations also treat gas self-gravity and subsequent star formation (described by sink particles), and coupled supernova feedback. In the densest parts of the simulated interstellar medium (ISM), we reach sub-parsec resolution, granting us the ability to resolve individual GMCs and their formation and destruction self-consistently throughout the galaxy. In this initial work, we focus on the general properties of the ISM with a particular focus on the cold star-forming gas. We discuss the role of the interaction with the companion galaxy in generating cold molecular gas and controlling stellar birth. We find that while the interaction drives large-scale gas flows and induces spiral arms in the galaxy, it is of secondary importance in determining gas fractions in the different ISM phases and the overall star formation rate. The behaviour of the gas on small GMC scales instead is mostly controlled by the self-regulating property of the ISM driven by coupled feedback.

Flat electric heaters with the effect of self-regulation based on nanomodified polymer composite

The present paper considers the effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (acting as a part of a silicon-organic composite) on the properties of a self-regulating electric heater. Flat electric heaters were manufactured with a heat exchange area of 1600 m2. The heater operating parameters were studied in the temperature range from -60°C to +70°C. The dynamics of the electric current consumed was investigated under self-regulation in the same temperature range It was revealed that when cutting the self-regulating heater into separate parts, the properties of self-regulation and power are maintained in proportion to the size.

Development of the information technology for decision making support when managing refrigeration units

We have studied patterns in the decision-making process related to the managerial influence on the part of the operator of a refrigerating unit as a multifactor energy system with internal and external disturbances. An object such as a refrigeration unit cannot be fully formalized and described using the methods of conventional modeling as it has the properties of partial self-regulation and self-adjustment. Therefore, based on the application of the generalized model of a refrigeration unit, we have improved a decision support system that makes it possible to take into consideration the non-formalized information by means of a neuro-fuzzy component. The information technology has been developed to support decision making when managing different types of refrigeration units. Its implementation would make it possible to reduce the time required for equipment to enter the necessary operation mode and to stabilize a temperature regime at objects. That allows a decrease in the working time ratio of refrigeration equipment and reduces the influence of the human factor, which improves safety of the energy unit operation. Effectiveness of the technology has been experimentally investigated at a single-stage vapor-compression industrial ammonia refrigeration machine, at a single-stage vapor-compression freon refrigeration machine of central air conditioner and at a water- ammonia absorption-diffusion assembly of a household freezer the type of island freezer. The number of disturbing factors and the factors of influence varies in a wide range. The datasets intended to train a neuro-fuzzy system were built based on the results of experiments at actual equipment. The proposed information technology could be used to construct computer simulators to enhance the competence and qualification of industrial-production personnel without training at the facilities of increased danger.

Self-regulating Humidity Activated Carbon Material Prepared from Bamboo for the Room

A self-regulating humidity material with bamboo for the room was prepared. The activated carbons were prepared with the temperature rising rates of 5, 10, 15, 20 °C/min and constant temperatures of 600, 700, 800, 900, 1 000, 1 100, 1 200, 1 300, 1 400, and 1 500 °C for 0.5, 1, 2, 3, and 6 h, respectively. And then their structures such as specific surface areas, volumes of pores from 3.7-7.1 nm and average pore diameters were tested. Various humidity conditions were simulated and their self-regulating humidity properties such as absorption/desorption contents, rates and stabilities were evaluated. The results show that the specific surface area, volume of pores from 3.7-7.1 nm and average pore diameter of activated carbon are closely nonlinearly related to the temperature rising rate, temperature and holding time. In general, the activated carbon prepared with the temperature rising rate of 5 °C/min and kept at 1 100 °C for 2 h has the highest absorption/ desorption content and rate, the lowest decay factor and then the best stability at all humidity for the fact that it is provided with proper average pore diameter, higher specific surface area and volume of pores from 3.7-7.1 nm. The activated carbons can be prepared with the temperature rising rate of 5 °C/min and kept at 1000, 900, 1 200, 1 300, 1 400, 1 500, 800, 700, and 600 °C respectively for 2 h. These resulted properties are attributed to their different average pore diameters and volumes of pores from 3.7-7.1 nm.

The social brain and heart rate variability: Implications for psychotherapy.

Humans evolved within the mammalian line as a highly social species. Indeed, sociality has been a major driver of human social intelligence. From birth, social relationships have emotional and self-regulating properties and operate through different body systems. This paper will explore how heart rate variability (HRV), an index of the vagal regulation of the heart and a central element of the physiological underpinnings of sociality, is related to mental health problems, with important implications for psychotherapy. We conducted a narrative review of the literature on the bi-directional links between prosocial motivations, HRV, and psychophysiological functioning. HRV is associated not only with the ability to downregulate physiological arousal, but also with a variety of psychological and behavioural variables which are usually the target of psychotherapeutic interventions. A modern neurovisceral integration model can be employed to explain the complex intercorrelation between HRV and psychophysiological functioning. In particular, the link between HRV, the experience of inter- and intrapersonal safeness, and the inhibitory function of the prefrontal cortex will be explored in the context of prosocial motives, such as compassion, that alleviate and help prevent mental health difficulties. Our knowledge of the social brain and its physiological underpinnings might influence important elements of a therapeutic intervention, from the initial assessment of patient's difficulties to the evaluation of therapy outcomes. Social relationships have emotional and self-regulating properties. The experience of inter- and intrapersonal safeness is connected to prosocial motives, such as compassion, and the inhibitory function of the prefrontal cortex. Social relationships and compassion influence different body systems, such as the vagus nerve. Many forms of psychopathology represent the activation of evolved, defensive strategies especially in contexts where there are few stimuli indicating safeness and social support. Heart rate variability predicts psychotherapy outcome.