Valley-dependent topological edge states in plasma photonic crystals

Plasma photonic crystals designed in this paper are composed of gas discharge tubes to control the flow of electromagnetic waves.The band structures calculated by the finite element method are consistent with the experimental results which have two distinct attenuation peaks in the ranges of 1-2.5 GHz and 5-6 GHz.Electromagnetic parameters of the plasma are extracted by the Nicolson-Ross-Weir method and effective medium theory.The measured electron density is between 1×1011 cm-3 and1×1012 cm-3,which verifies the correctness of the parameter used in the simulation,and the collision frequency is near 1.5×1010 Hz.As the band structures are corroborated by the measured scattering parameters,we introduce the concept of photonic topological insulator based on the quantum Valley Hall effect into the plasma photonic crystal.A valley-dependent plasma photonic crystal with hexagonal lattice is constructed,and the phase transition of the valley K(K’)occurs by breaking the spatial inversion symmetry.Valley-spin locked topological edge states are generated and excited by chiral sources.The frequency of the non-bulk state can be dynamically regulated by the electron density.This concept paves the way for novel,tunable topological edge states.More interestingly,the Dirac cone is broken when the electron density increases to 3.1×1012 cm-3,which distinguishes from the methods of applying a magnetic field and changing the symmetry of the point group.

Stress states of thawed soil subgrade

The article presents the field measurement results of the stress states of roadbed thawed soil subgrade during the passage of trains. The dependences of the vertical and horizontal stresses on the velocity of the rolling stock motion, the axle load, and the distance from the sleeper sole have been obtained.

Influence of relative compaction and degree of saturation on the deformation characteristics of bentonite under freeze-thaw cycles

Bentonite,consisting of clay minerals of the montmorillonite group,has been widely used as an adsorbent and backfill material in nuclear waste disposal and groundwater remediation.It is challenging to use bentonite as a filling material in cold regions since bentonite is highly sensitive to thermal environmental changes,during which its bulk volume and microstructure change significantly.In this study,a series of one-dimensional and three-dimensional freeze-thaw tests were carried out within a closed system to investigate the influencing factors of the deformation of bentonite under freeze-thaw cycles.Results show that the initial soil water content greatly impacts bentonite's deformation during freeze-thaw cycles.For an initial higher degree of saturation(Sr),the expansion caused by the formation of ice lenses has a greater impact than the shrinkage induced by dehydration,ice-cementation,and so on.Conversely,bentonite tends to shrink at a lower degree of saturation during freezing.And the critical degree of saturation that determines bentonite's behavior of frost heave or frost shrinkage seems to be roughly 0.8.As the number of freeze-thaw cycles rises,initially uncompacted bentonite clay becomes more compacted,and initially compacted bentonite clay remains unchanged.

丙酮盐酸混合液提取土壤腐殖质组分的光谱学特征

采用丙酮盐酸混合液提取土壤胡敏酸(HA)和胡敏素(HU)组分,利用元素分析、紫外-可见漫反射光谱和红外光谱进行结构表征。元素分析表明,HA中C、H、N和S含量均高于HU,O含量低于HU。原子比分析表明HA的缩合度相对较高,分子结构相对复杂,HU的缩合度相对较低,分子结构相对简单。紫外-可见漫反射光谱分析表明,由于腐殖质(HS)的组成复杂,多种官能团互相干扰,HA和HU紫外-可见漫反射光谱无明显特征峰,吸光度值随着波长的增加呈下降趋势,且HA包含的吸光有机成分较多,化学组成较复杂。HA和HU紫外特征参数SUV254和E4/E6比较分析表明,与HU相比,HA芳香性较大,腐殖化程度较高。红外光谱分析表明,HA和HU具有相似的红外光谱,各研究对象特征吸收峰的吸收强度不同,其中开垦黑土20~40 cm和未开垦灰土18~37 cm土层HA的振动幅度较大,说明其包含的酚类化合物、含羟基化合物、脂肪族化合物和羧酸,以及含羰基的醛、酮、醚等化合物的含量较多。开垦黑土10~20 cm土层和未开垦灰土18~37 cm土层HU在各特征吸收峰振动幅度较大,说明其包含的酚类化合物、羧酸、脂肪烃和糖类化合物含量较多。红外光谱各吸收峰强度比较分析表明,开垦后黑土HA和HU酚类化合物、羟基官能团和脂肪族化合物等含量增加,而开垦后灰土HA和HU酚类化合物、羧酸和脂肪族化合物含量下降,表明开垦对黑土土壤有机质影响相对较小,并且在一定程度上增加了土壤有机质含量,而促进了灰土土壤有机质的分解。综上所述,丙酮盐酸混合液提取法为HS生物化学和生理活性的研究提供了新的技术手段,为合理利用土壤资源提供理论依据。

Model acupuncture point:Bone marrow-derived stromal stem cells are moved by a weak electromagnetic field

AIM To show the existence of a structural formative role of magnetic fields(MFs) with respect to biological objects by using our proposed model of an acupoint.METHODS We introduced a magnetised 10-100 μT metal rod(needle) into culture dishes with a negatively charged working surface and observed during 24 h how cells were arranged by MFs and by electrical fields(EFs) when attached. Rat and human bone marrow-derived stromal stem cells(r BMSCs and h BMSCs), human nonadherent mononuclear blood cells, NCTCs and A172 cells, and Escherichia coli(E. coli) were evaluated. The dish containing BMSCs was defined as the model of an acupoint. r BMSCs proliferative activity affected by the needle was investigated. For investigating electromagnetic field structures, we used the gas discharge visualisation(GDV) method.RESULTS During 24 h of incubation in 50-mm culture dishes, BMSCs or the nonadherent cells accumulated into a central heap in each dish. BMSCs formed a torus(central ring) with an inner diameter of approximately10 mm only upon the introduction of the needle in the centre of the dish. The cells did not show these effects in 35- or 90-mm culture dishes or hydrophobic dishes or rectangular cuvettes. NCTCs and A172 cells showed unstable the effects and only up to two weeks after thawing. Moreover, we observed that the appearance of these effects depended on the season. In winter, BMSCs showed no the effects. GDV experiments revealed that the resonant annular illumination gradually formed from 10 to 18-20 s in polar solutions with and without cell suspension of BMSCs, NCTCs and E. coli when using circular 50-mm dishes, stimulation at 115 V and switching of the electrode poles at 1 kH z. All these data demonstrate the resonant nature of the central ring. Significant influence of MFs on the rB MSC proliferation rate was not observed.CONCLUSION BMSCs can be moved by MFs when in the presence of a constant EF and MF, when the cells are in the responsive functional state, and when there is a resonant relationship between them.

Railroad bed bearing strength in the period of thawing and methods of its enhancement

The practice of building and operating of railroad beds shows that the greatest attenuation of soils occurs in the spring, during their Iransifion from the frozen to thawed state. The geatest influences on the properties of clay soils that form the railway are from hydration, fieeze-thaw cycles and vibrodynamic impact of Wains. The increase in soil moisture is due to infillration of water into the ground, as well as the rise in water level due to soil redistribution during winter freezes. This can dramatically alter the basic characteristics of the soil, such as shear resistance and bulk density, on which strength and stability of soil mass depend primarily. Therefore, the degree of railway bed stability is not constant, but varies with time.

Metformin prevents hormonal and metabolic disturbances and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon carcinogenesis in non-diabetic rats

Effects of two doses of the anti-diabetic drug, metformin(MF), on hormonal and metabolic levels of serum of non-diabetic male Wistar rats with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine(DMH)-induced colon tumor adenocarcinomas were studied. Carcinogenesis in the animals was also observed. Rats with DMH-induced colon adenocarcinomas had elevated levels of serum glucose, insulin, insulinlike growth factor-1, total cholesterol, triglycerides, catalase, malonic dialdehyde, glycated hemoglobin, aspartate aminotransferase,and alanine aminotransferase and decreased hemoglobin. Treatment with two doses of MF normalized majority of these changes in DMH-treated rats, whereas the drug was ineffective in rats without DMH treatment. The only exception was the decreased triglyceride levels in MF-treated rats. A 100 mg/kg dose of MF increased DMH-induced exophytic colon carcinomas and decreased endophytic tumors compared with untreated rats. Moreover, both MF doses increased DMH-induced and highly differentiated tumors and decreased the invasiveness of colon carcinomas compared with rats provided with DMH and water. Therefore, effects of MF on metabolic homeostasis are critical for preventing colon cancer.

Assessment of Changes in Ice Regime Characteristics of Russian Lakes and Rivers under Current Climate Conditions

This article deals with assessment of changes in ice cover duration and maximum ice cover thickness for the last three decades compared with the previous period by the example of observation data for 28 hydrometric stations on rivers and 10 hydrological stations on lakes. Estimations of homogeneity and trends of long term serious of above mentioned rivers and lakes ice regime characteristics for three time periods were carried out using Student and Fisher criteria. Assessment of changes in ice regime characteristics for the period 1980-2010 compared with the period of stationary climate (from the beginning of observations until 1979) using two methodological approaches was made. The results can be used for solving problems of economy branches adaptation in case of rivers and lakes used in winter conditions.

Distribution changes of woody plants in Western Iran as monitored by remote sensing and geographical information system:a case study of Zagros forest

The status of woody plants in dry-land systems is a fundamental determinant of key ecosystem processes. Monitoring of this status plays an important role in understanding the dynamics of woody plants in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. The present study determined the dynamism of the Zagros forests in Iran using Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System techniques and statistical science. The results show that the density of trees varied from 10 to 53 % according to the physio- graphic and climatic conditions of semi-arid regions. The best and lowest correlation between vegetation indices and forest density were obtained for the global environmental monitoring index （GEMI; R2 = 0.94） and soil adjust vegetation index （R2 = 0.81）, respectively. GEMI is used to monitor land use changes over a 10-year period. Results show that 2720 ha2 of forest have been destroyed by human interference and tillage on steep slopes during this period which also resulted in the loss of the fertile soil layer. GEMI determined the areas with a biomass of trees and could normally separate border regions with low bio- mass density of trees from regions without canopy cover. The results revealed that assessment of forest and vegetation cover in arid and semi-arid arduous forest regions using satellite digital numbers and ordinary sampling is subject to uncertainty. A stratified grouping procedure should be established to increase the accuracy of assessment.

Application of biostimulants for vegetative propagation of endangered Abies gracilis

Abies gracilis Kom.(Pinaceae)is one of the rarest and endangered conifers in the Russian flora,which must be cultivated ex situ to ensure its survival.Cuttings of A.gracilis do not take root without biostimulants.We used a selection of biostimulants,concentrations,and conditions of their use to significantly increase Abies gracilis rooting,and to accelerate the production of planting material,and to reduce rooting time to one season.We tested 4 rooting systems:IBA,IBA with glucose and glycine,and original biostimulants(S-try and S-5).The original S-5 biostimulating system had the most balanced ratio of components.The number of rooted samples increased 2.7 times and the length of roots increased 1.8 time when using S-5 as compared to IBA.S-try and S-5-original biostimulant systems were synthesized and collected in 2011 and 2014,respectively,and were tested in St.Petersburg Forest Technical University.

Characteristic plume morphologies of atmospheric Ar and He plasma jets excited by a pulsed microwave hairpin resonator

Different discharge morphologies in atmospheric Ar and He plasmas are excited by using a pulsed microwave hairpin resonator. Ar plasmas form an arched plasma plume at the opened end of the hairpin, whereas He plumes generate only a contracted plasmas in between both tips of metal electrodes. Despite this different point, their discharge processes have three similar characteristics：（i） the ionization occurs at the main electrode firstly and then develops to the slave electrode,（ii） during the shrinking stage the middle domain of the discharge channels disappears at last, and（iii） even at zero power input（in between pulses） a weak light region always exists in the discharge channels. Both experimental results and electromagnetic simulations suggest that the discharge is resonantly excited by the local enhanced electric fields. In addition, Ar ionization and excitation energies are lower than those of He, the effect of Ar gas flow is far greater than that of He gas, and the contribution of accelerated electrons only locates at the domain with the strongest electric fields. These reasons could be used to interpret the different characteristic plume morphologies of the proposed atmospheric Ar and He plasmas.

CONSENSUS ANALYSIS AND DESIGN OF LINEAR INTERCONNECTED MULTI-AGENT SYSTEMS

We deal with the state consensus problem of a general Linear Interconnected Multi-Agent System （LIMAS） under a time-invariant and directed communication topology. Firstly, we propose a linear consensus protocol in a general form, which consists of state feedback of the agent itself and feedback form of the relative states between the agent and its neighbors. Secondly, a state-linear-transformation is applied to equivalently transform the state consensus problem into a partial stability problem. Based on the partial stability theory, we derive a sufficient and necessary criterion of consensus convergence, which is expressed via the Hurwitz stability of a real matrix constructed from the parameters of the agent models and the protocols, and present an analytical formula of the consensus function. Lastly, we propose a design procedure of the gain matrices in the protocol by solving a bilinear matrix inequality.

Pulsed microwave-driven argon plasma jet with distinctive plume patterns resonantly excited by surface plasmon polaritons

Atmospheric lower-power pulsed microwave argon cold plasma jets are obtained by using coaxial transmission line resonators in ambient air.The plasma jet plumes are generated at the end of a metal wire placed in the middle of the dielectric tubes.The electromagnetic model analyses and simulation results suggest that the discharges are excited resonantly by the enhanced electric field of surface plasmon polaritons.Moreover,for conquering the defect of atmospheric argon filamentation discharges excited by 2.45-GHz of continued microwave,the distinctive patterns of the plasma jet plumes can be maintained by applying different gas flow rates of argon gas,frequencies of pulsed modulator,duty cycles of pulsed microwave,peak values of input microwave power,and even by using different materials of dielectric tubes.In addition,the emission spectrum,the plume temperature,and other plasma parameters are measured,which shows that the proposed pulsed microwave plasma jets can be adjusted for plasma biomedical applications.

Synergistic effect of chitin nanofibers and polyacrylamide on electrochemical performance of their ternary composite with polypyrrole

Development of simple methods for preparation of polymeric electrode materials with nanofibrous network structure is a perspective way toward cheap supercapacitors with high specific capacitance and energy density. In this work one-pot synthesis of electroactive ternary composite based on polypyrrole, polyacrylamide and chitin nanofibers with beneficial morphology was elaborated. Ternary system demonstrates better electrochemical performance in comparison with both polypyrrole–polyacrylamide and polypyrrole–chitin binary composites. Possible mechanism of synergistic effect of simultaneous influence of polyacrylamide and chitin nanofibers on the formation of composite＇s structure is discussed.The highest attained specific capacitance of electroactive polypyrrole in ternary composite reached 249 F/g at 0.5 A/g and 150 F/g at 32 A/g. Symmetrical supercapacitor was assembled using the elaborated electrode material. High specific capacitance 89 F/g and good cycling stability with capacitance retention of 90% after 3000 cycles at 2 A/g were measured.

Neutrality Criteria for Stability Analysis of Dynamical Systems through Lorentz and Rossler Model Problems

Two methods of stability analysis of systems described by dynamical equations are being considered. They are based on an analysis of eigenvalues spectrum for the evolutionary matrix or the spectral equation and they allow determining the conditions of stability and instability, as well as the possibility of chaotic behavior of systems in case of a stability loss. The methods are illustrated for nonlinear Lorenz and Rossler model problems.

Pathophysiology transforms into systemic pathobiology being an introductive course of translational medicine

Pathophysiology,as a science and curriculum discipline,stands in front of the biggest challenge of its history.It extended far beyond the limits of its historical name and embedded aspects of pathochemistry,immunopathology,pathobiophysics and pathoinformatics,intermingling with translational medicine.Tteaching and learning of pathophysiology should be modernized in accordance with the needs of nowadays,under the bias of its integrative role for medicine,analogous to that of systems biology among non-medical life sciences.Current pathophysiology grew into clinics(via laboratory and functional diagnostic tests,which are controlled clinical experiments).Thus,physicians of functional diagnosis,clinical immunology and biochemistry services,are in fact close to pathophysiologists.Every diagnostician has to compose a conceptual model of disease in order to explain and combine data for comprehension of a case.However,such modeling is inherent to pathophysiology;hence competence of diagnostician is based on it.Holistic approach to patient,disease and education is traditional for Russian medicine.In our department,classical lab experiments are joint to early start of Clinical Pathology(5th term),combined to case history analysis and lectures co-delivered by pathophysiologist and clinician with patient demonstrations.In our teaching posters,pathophysiological,pathomorphological,clinical and historical data are fused.Local net of digital television microscopes gives instant video archive of experimental results added to student's protocols of lab studies.Hence,we collected considerable experience in interdisciplinary project-oriented learning and interpret the role of modern pathophysiology as bridging scientific and clinical modes of reasoning and establishing common thesaurus for multiplying branches of medicine.

Effect of Crystallization Conditions on Polymorphic Diversity of Malic Acid RS-Racemate

Enantiomers (R(+) and S(-)),RS-racemate (double compound) and (R+S)-conglomerate (mechanical mixture of enantiomers) of malic acid C 4 H 6 O 5 have been investigated by means of X-ray diffractometry and high temperature X-ray diffraction method.The RS-racemate was found to be able to form three polymorphic modifications,which we denominated as M1 (monoclinic,space group P2 1 /c),M2 (monoclinic,space group Cc),and Tc (triclinic,space group P-1),the latter modification having been unknown before.Modification Tc was also described,and its Xray diffraction characteristics,including interplanar spacings d,hkl indices,unit cell parameters,were defined.In addition,X-ray diffraction characteristics for both reported earlier M1 and M2 monoclinic polymorphic modifications were measured with higher accuracy.The ability of RS-racemate to form one of the above three modifications (M1,M2,and Tc) or their mixtures containing various proportions and combinations of the components (M1+M2,M1+Tc,or M2 +Tc) was found to depend on the type of crystallization medium (a melt,aqueous medium,ethanol or acetone solution),crystallization rate (from 2-3 minutes to 4 months),and crystallization temperature.Heating S-enantiomer and M1 RS-racemate up to their respective melting points (100 ℃ and 124 ℃,correspondingly) only made them undergo thermal deformations,while heating (R+S)-conglomerate in the temperature range of 96-110 ℃ resulted in its homogenization to form M2 RS-racemate,which,near the melting point (118 ℃),namely,in the range of 112-116 ℃,was transformed into M1 RS-racemate.

Influence of dust particles on spatial distributions of particles and fluxes in positive column of glow discharge

The research herein examined the results of numerical simulations of the positive column of a glow discharge in argon dusty plasma using COMSOL Multiphysics software under conditions similar to the project known as PK-4.Various scenarios dealing with formations of spatial distributions of densities and fluxes for charged particles were studied,and evaluations of the influence of dust particles on the discharge were obtained in a wide range of dust densities.Two extreme cases were distinguished:weak dust influence when the densities,fluxes and electric field profiles are not perturbed,and strong dust influence when all three density profiles(electrons,ions and charged dust)in the dust cloud are similar(parallel)to each other,resulting in all created charges in the dust cloud being lost inside the cloud.In such a case,the ambipolar field and the transport of charged particles are decreased in the dust cloud,and any ambipolar flux is almost absent within the cloud.

Test results of railway ballast for bearing capacity calculations

This paper presents the results of field and laboratory tests of railway ballast.Field tests were aimed to study vibrational acceleration of ballast particles and ballast layer stressed state in terms of train traffic with heavy axle loads.The test results are vibrational acceleration and stress values distribution in ballast layer and experimental relationships of vertical and horizontal vibroaccelerations damping in terms of train operation with axle load up to 300 k N.Laboratory stabilometer tests were directed to study the change of ballast strength properties due to vibrodynamic impact and shows that for dynamic loading with 10,25,55 Hz frequencies vibrodynamic impact influences strength properties insignificantly and coincides with the accuracy of test equipment.Stated test results provide references for calculation of ballast and sub-ballast bearing capacity.

Searching for the brightest stars in galaxies outside the Local Group

This paper introduces a technique for searching for bright massive stars in galaxies beyond the Local Group.To search for massive stars,we processed the results of stellar photometry from the Hubble Space Telescope(HST)images using the DAOPHOT and DOLPHOT packages.The results of such searches are demonstrated with examples of the galaxies DDO 68,M94 and NGC 1672.In the galaxy DDO 68,the LBV star changes its brightness,and massive stars in M94 can be identified by excess in the Ha band.For the galaxy NGC 1672,we measure the distance for the first time by the TRGB method,which enabled determining the luminosities of the brightest stars,likely hypergiants,in the young star formation region.So far,we have performed stellar photometry on HST images of 320 northern sky galaxies located at a distance less than 12 Mpc.This allowed us to identify 53 galaxies with probable hypergiants.Further photometric and spectral observations of these galaxies are planned to search for massive stars.