Drone-Based Autonomous Robot Diagnostic System for Gas and Oil Pipelines in the Arctic and Far North

A drone-based autonomous robot diagnostic system for gas and oil pipelines in the Arctic and Far North has been developed.     

Technological value of coal. 2. Coking coal with moderate and low yield of volatiles

The concept of technological value is analyzed. Some characteristics of technological value are refined. The coke group and lean additives are redefined in terms of the metamorphism and vitrinite content of the coal. The technological value is qualitatively assessed in terms of the ranks in those functional groups. A program is proposed for calculating the coal batch used in producing coal of specified strength.     

From miRNA Target Gene Network to miRNA Function: miR-375 Might Regulate Apoptosis and Actin Dynamics in the Heart Muscle via Rho-GTPases-Dependent Pathways

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short, single-stranded, non-coding ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules, which are involved in the regulation of main biological processes, such as apoptosis or cell proliferation and differentiation, through sequence-specific interaction with target mRNAs. In this study, we propose a workflow for predicting miRNAs function by analyzing the structure of the network of their target genes. This workflow was applied to study the functional role of miR-375 in the heart muscle (myocardium), since this miRNA was previously shown to be associated with heart diseases, and data on its function in the myocardium are mostly unclear. We identified PIK3CA, RHOA, MAPK3, PAFAH1B1, CTNNB1, MYC, PRKCA, ERBB2, and CDC42 as key genes in the miR-375 regulated network and predicted the possible function of miR-375 in the heart muscle, consisting mainly in the regulation of the Rho-GTPases-dependent signaling pathways. We implemented our algorithm for miRNA function prediction into a Python module, which is available at GitHub.     

Dynamics of the Oxygen Adsorption Process on the Surface of Aluminum–Cerium Alloy in Polycrystalline and Amorphous States

Protection of Metals and Physical Chemistry of Surfaces - Based on the concept of collective vibrations of ions in the bulk of metal systems, the frequency of vibrations of an oxygen molecule on...     

Multimodal Semiconductor Converter for Direct Current Electric Trains: Structure and Control Principles

This paper considers the structure of a multimodal converter intended for electric trains with rotational traction motors. It is shown the consumption of electricity in the upgraded traction electric drive can be reduced and its adjusting properties enhanced in comparison with the standard drive. Circuit designs and software solutions are proposed for using regenerative braking at high motion speeds. It is proposed to weaken the magnetic flux by pulse regulation of bypass resistance. The design with a shunting pulse converter of excitation weakening is tested. It is shown that the armature and excitation current can be adjusted in a broad range of braking speeds.     

Natural Silk Film for Magnesium Protection: Hydrophobic/Hydrophilic Interaction and Self‐Healing Effect

Biodegradable implants are required in order to provide successful treatment of injuries. Temporary magnesium‐based implants with particular properties are needed in cases when it is desirable not only to maintain vital activity, but also to initiate the self‐healing process of damaged bones or tissues as well. Unfortunately, the use of magnesium alloys is limited due to the fast biodegradability of the applied material. The aim of this research is to improve the corrosion resistance of magnesium alloys by sonochemical treatment in silk solution followed by additional layer‐by‐layer deposition of natural silk on the magnesium surface. The sonication process is carried out at a frequency of 20 kHz during 5–10 min, while the duration of the silk layer deposition is 15 min. The corrosion behavior of magnesium substrates modified by natural silk layer‐by‐layer assembly is studied. Magnesium substrates sonochemically treated in silk solution demonstrate three times better corrosion resistance compared to control samples sonochemically treated in water. Additional deposition of a silk layer enhances obtained corrosion resistance by 18 times, resulting in a 54‐fold increase overall.     

Thermal Processes in Mixtures of Iron with Polymers and Low-Molecular-Weight Organic Compounds after Plastic Deformation under High Pressure

Protection of Metals and Physical Chemistry of Surfaces - The passivating properties of various polymer matrices have been studied for a metal-polymer composite prepared by intensive plastic...