Noninvasive real-time breath test for controlling hormonal background of the human body: detection of serotonin and melatonin with quantum point-contact sensors.

Significant progress in development of noninvasive diagnostic tools based on breath analysis can be expected if one employs a real-time detection method based on finding a spectral breath profile which would contain some energy characteristics of the analyzed gas mixture. Using the fundamental energy parameters of a quantum system, it is possible to determine with a high accuracy its quantitative and qualitative composition. Among the most efficient tools to measure energy characteristics of quantum systems are sensors based on Yanson point contacts.

Prognostic assessment of the zone of occurrence of radiation combined injuries within a nuclear blast area.

Background: A detonation of nuclear weapon (NW) is considered as one of the most devastating radiological scenarios in the list of modern global threats. An essential proportion of victims in a mass casualty radiation event may require an immediate medical care due to radiation combined injuries (RCI). Surprisingly, there is a lack of clear guidance for quantitative prognosis of the spatial distribution of expected RCI casesin a given nuclear explosion scenario.

Experimental Evaluation of Food-Grade Semi-Refined Carrageenan Toxicity.

The safety of food additives E407 and E407a has raised concerns in the scientific community. Thus, this study aims to assess the local and systemic toxic effects of the common food additive E407a in rats orally exposed to it for two weeks. Complex evaluations of the effects of semi-refined carrageenan (E407a) on rats upon oral exposure were performed.

Fetal ECG signal processing and identification of hypoxic pregnancy conditions in-utero.

The fetal heart rate (fHR) variability and fetal electrocardiogram (fECG) are considered the most important sources of information about fetal wellbeing. Non-invasive fetal monitoring and analysis of fECG are paramount for clinical trials. They enable examining the fetal health status and detecting the heart rate changes associated with insufficient oxygenation to cut the likelihood of hypoxic fetal injury.

Quantum Transport in Mesoscopic Systems.

Mesoscopic physics has become a mature field [...

Parameter Identification of Cutting Forces in Crankshaft Grinding Using Artificial Neural Networks.

The intensifying of the manufacturing process and increasing the efficiency of production planning of precise and non-rigid parts, mainly crankshafts, are the first-priority task in modern manufacturing. The use of various methods for controlling the cutting force under cylindrical infeed grinding and studying its impact on crankpin machining quality and accuracy can improve machining efficiency. The paper deals with developing a comprehensive scientific and methodological approach for determining the experimental dependence parameters' quantitative values for cutting-force calculation in cylindrical infeed grinding.

Selective detection of complex gas mixtures using point contacts: concept, method and tools.

Of all modern nanosensors using the principle of measuring variations in electric conductance, point-contact sensors stand out in having a number of original sensor properties not manifested by their analogues. The nontrivial nature of point-contact sensors is based on the unique properties of Yanson point contacts used as the sensing elements. The quantum properties of Yanson point contacts enable the solution of some of the problems that could not be solved using conventional sensors measuring conductance.

Effects of semi-refined carrageenan (food additive E407a) on cell membranes of leukocytes assessed in vivo and in vitro.

Aim To assess the impact of semi-refined carrageenan (E407a) on hydrophobic regions of phosphololipid bilayer in cell membranes of leukocytes collected from rats orally administered this food additive and white blood cells incubated with E407a. Methods Fluorescent probes (ortho-hydroxy derivatives of 2,5-diaryl-1,3-oxazole) were used to estimate the state of lipid bilayer in leukocytes obtained from rats orally exposed to the food additive E407a and in white blood cells incubated with E407a. Results No noticeable changes in the physico-chemical properties were observed in the lipid membranes of leukocytes in the region where the probes locate in response to oral intake of semi-refined carrageenan.

Orally administered gadolinium orthovanadate GdVO:Eu nanoparticles do not affect the hydrophobic region of cell membranes of leukocytes.

Aim: To assess the phospholipid bilayer of white blood cells (WBCs) and the ability of leukocytes to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) in rats orally exposed to GdVO:Eu nanoparticle (VNP) solution for 2 weeks by fluorescent probes-ortho-hydroxy derivatives of 2,5-diaryl‑1,3‑oxazole.

Methods: Steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy, i.e.

Large magnetic gap at the Dirac point in BiTe/MnBiTe heterostructures.

Magnetically doped topological insulators enable the quantum anomalous Hall effect (QAHE), which provides quantized edge states for lossless charge-transport applications. The edge states are hosted by a magnetic energy gap at the Dirac point, but hitherto all attempts to observe this gap directly have been unsuccessful. Observing the gap is considered to be essential to overcoming the limitations of the QAHE, which so far occurs only at temperatures that are one to two orders of magnitude below the ferromagnetic Curie temperature, T (ref.

Three-Dimensional Free Vibration Analysis of Thermally Loaded FGM Sandwich Plates.

Using the finite element code ABAQUS and the user-defined material utilities UMAT and UMATHT, a solid brick graded finite element is developed for three-dimensional (3D) modeling of free vibrations of thermally loaded functionally gradient material (FGM) sandwich plates. The mechanical and thermal material properties of the FGM sandwich plates are assumed to vary gradually in the thickness direction, according to a power-law fraction distribution. Benchmark problems are firstly considered to assess the performance and accuracy of the proposed 3D graded finite element.

Doebner-type pyrazolopyridine carboxylic acids in an Ugi four-component reaction.

Substituted 1-pyrazolo[3,4-]pyridine-4- and 1-pyrazolo[3,4-]pyridine-6-carboxamides have been synthetized through a Doebner-Ugi multicomponent reaction sequence in a convergent and versatile manner using diversity generation strategies: combination of two multicomponent reactions and conditions-based divergence strategy. The target products contain as pharmacophores pyrazolopyridine and peptidomimetic moieties with four points of diversity introduced from readily available starting materials including scaffold diversity. A small focused compound library of 23 Ugi products was created and screened for antibacterial activity.

The assessment of radiation hazardous areas considering the spectral analysis of the neutron component of a tactical neutron bomb detonation.

This study provides an improved background for the operational assessment of the radiation hazardous areas with induced radioactivity, based on the analysis of spectral characteristics of the neutron component of the penetrating radiation. The interrelationships between the nuclear munitions explosion parameters, environmental conditions and dosimetric characteristics of the secondary gamma-ray emission from the activated soil are analyzed. The interrelationships of these parameters are used in the methodology of the assessment of the dosimetric characteristics of the radiation hazardous areas.

Process integration of crude oil distillation with technological and economic restrictions.

The petrochemical industry is one of the most important industries in the world economy. In the largest oil-producing countries, more than half of GDP is generated by hydrocarbons production and refining. Reduction of oil prices and new environmental regulations are forcing petrochemical companies to improve their energy efficiency.

A study of enterocyte membranes during activation of apoptotic processes in chronic carrageenan-induced gastroenterocolitis.

Aim To investigate the lipid membranes of rat enterocytes in chronic carrageenan-induced gastroenterocolitis accompanied by the activation of apoptotic processes. Methods Steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy: a study by fluorescent probes - by ortho-hydroxy derivatives of 2,5-diaryl-1,3- oxazole. Activity of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase in small intestinal homogenates, blood serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and caspase-3 and the level of DNA fragmentation in small intestinal homogenates were determined.

Nanocrystalline SiC film thermistors for cryogenic applications.

We developed a heat-sensitive material based on nanocrystalline SiC films obtained by direct deposition of carbon and silicon ions onto sapphire substrates. These SiC films can be used for resistance thermometers operating in the 2 K-300 K temperature range. Having high heat sensitivity, they are relatively low sensitive to the magnetic field.

Location of fluorescent probes (2'-hydroxy derivatives of 2,5-diaryl-1,3-oxazole) in lipid membrane studied by fluorescence spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulation.

2'-Hydroxy derivatives of 2,5-diaryl-1,3-oxazole are known as environment-sensitive ratiometric excited-state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) fluorescent probes, which are used to monitor physicochemical properties of lipid membranes. However, because of their heterogeneous membrane distribution, accurate experimental determination of the probe position is difficult. To estimate the location of the ESIPT probes in lipid membranes we have performed fluorescence measurements and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations.

Topological quantum phase transition from mirror to time reversal symmetry protected topological insulator.

Topological insulators constitute a new phase of matter protected by symmetries. Time-reversal symmetry protects strong topological insulators of the Z class, which possess an odd number of metallic surface states with dispersion of a Dirac cone. Topological crystalline insulators are merely protected by individual crystal symmetries and exist for an even number of Dirac cones.

Negative Longitudinal Magnetoresistance from the Anomalous N=0 Landau Level in Topological Materials.

Negative longitudinal magnetoresistance (NLMR) is shown to occur in topological materials in the extreme quantum limit, when a magnetic field is applied parallel to the excitation current. We perform pulsed and dc field measurements on Pb_{1-x}Sn_{x}Se epilayers where the topological state can be chemically tuned. The NLMR is observed in the topological state, but is suppressed and becomes positive when the system becomes trivial.

Electrochemical Formation of Multilayer SnO-Sb O Coating in Complex Electrolyte.

The multilayer antimony-doped tin dioxide coating was obtained by cathodic deposition of multilayer metal-hydroxide coating with near 100-nm thickness layers on the alloy underlayer accompanied by the anodic oxidation of this coating. The potential regions of deposition of tin, antimony, tin-antimony alloy, and mixture of this metals and their hydroxides in the pyrophosphate-tartrate electrolyte were revealed by the cyclic voltammetric method. The possibility of oxidation of cathodic deposit consisting of tin and Sn(II) hydroxide compounds to the hydrated tin dioxide in the same electrolyte was demonstrated.

Giant Rashba Splitting in Pb Sn Te (111) Topological Crystalline Insulator Films Controlled by Bi Doping in the Bulk.

The topological properties of lead-tin chalcogenide topological crystalline insulators can be widely tuned by temperature and composition. It is shown that bulk Bi doping of epitaxial Pb Sn Te (111) films induces a giant Rashba splitting at the surface that can be tuned by the doping level. Tight binding calculations identify their origin as Fermi level pinning by trap states at the surface.

Diamond grinding wheels production study with the use of the finite element method.

Research results on 3D modeling of the diamond grain and its bearing layer when sintering diamond grinding wheels are provided in this paper. The influence of the main characteristics of the wheel materials and the wheel production process, namely the quantity of metallic phase within diamond grain, coefficient of thermal expansion of the metallic phase, the modulus of elasticity of bond material and sintering temperature, on the internal stresses arising in grains is investigated. The results indicate that the stresses in the grains are higher in the areas around the metallic phase.

Entanglement and manipulation of the magnetic and spin-orbit order in multiferroic Rashba semiconductors.

Entanglement of the spin-orbit and magnetic order in multiferroic materials bears a strong potential for engineering novel electronic and spintronic devices. Here, we explore the electron and spin structure of ferroelectric α-GeTe thin films doped with ferromagnetic Mn impurities to achieve its multiferroic functionality. We use bulk-sensitive soft-X-ray angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (SX-ARPES) to follow hybridization of the GeTe valence band with the Mn dopants.

Highly wear-resistant and biocompatible carbon nanocomposite coatings for dental implants.

Diamond-like carbon coatings are increasingly used as wear-protective coatings for dental implants, artificial joints, etc. Despite their advantages, they may have several weak points such as high internal stress, poor adhesive properties or high sensitivity to ambient conditions. These weak points could be overcome in the case of a new carbon nanocomposite coating (CNC) deposited by using a C60 ion beam on a Co/Cr alloy.

Shape of red blood cells in contact with artificial surfaces.

The phenomenon of physical contact between red blood cells and artificial surfaces is considered. A fully three-dimensional mathematical model of a bilayer membrane in contact with an artificial surface is presented. Numerical results for the different geometries and adhesion intensities are found to be in agreement with experimentally observed geometries obtained by means of digital holographic microscopy.