Real-time monitoring of the ionospheric state with the use of a 3D assimilation model

The 3D assimilation ionospheric model is improved to assimilate in real time the ionospheric total electron content (TEC) measurement data from the International GNSS Service (IGS) network of ground-based stations of the global positioning system (GPS). This model makes it possible to calculate the space-time electron-concentration distributions of electrons, concentration of the seven main ions, and the temperature and velocity of electrons and ions in the ionosphere at altitudes of 100–1000 km. The model calculations of the ionospheric TEC are compared to the TEC measured on slant paths with the use of two-frequency receivers of the ground-based IGS network of stations not included into the assimilation scheme. The model calculations of ionospheric electron-concentration height profiles are compared to the data measured by an incoherent-scatter radar. It is shown that the ionospheric parameters calculated without using experimental data are in worse agreement with the radar measurement data than the results obtained with the assimilation model of the ionosphere. The model-calculated electron concentrations are compared to the data from the FORMOSAT-3/COSMIC system of medium-Earth-orbit satellites.     

Single-Molecule AFM Study of Polystyrene Grafted at Gold Surfaces

Single-molecule studies under poor solvent conditions show that atomic force microscopy (AFM) measurements of contour lengths of polystyrene 12K and 17K relate well to gel permeation chromatography (GPC) data when grafting concentrations are low (not greater than 0.7 mM). Contact angles and ellipsometry have been used to characterize the surfaces and indicate low grafting densities at this grafting concentration. Persistence lengths (p) of different length polystyrene chains, when fitted to a WLC (worm-like chain) model, show values of p = 0.23 nm±0.10 nm and p = 0.25 nm±0.13 nm, for 12 K and 17 K polystyrene, respectively, when the persistence lengths are fitted to log-normal distributions. These values are close to the expected theoretical value of 0.23 nm and further confirm that mostly single molecules were studied on these polystyrene surfaces. Higher grafting concentrations (≥1 mM) resulted in pulling multiple molecules.     

Electrochemical characterization of anodic biofilm development in a microbial fuel cell

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and polarization tests were used to monitor the progress of the anode colonization by electrode-reducing microorganisms in a single-chamber membraneless microbial fuel cell seeded with anaerobic sludge. The electrochemical methods showed that an increase in microbial fuel cell power output coincided with a progressive decrease of the anode internal resistance and a more negative open circuit potential. Two redox systems were observed in cyclic voltammograms shortly after microbial fuel cell startup, while a redox system with a peak around ?330 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl) was predominant in the mature biofilm. The redox systems were also dependent on the external resistance chosen for microbial fuel cell operation. This suggests that within the diverse microbial populations several species are capable of electron transfer to the anode, and that the microorganisms with the highest electron transfer rate become predominant. Furthermore, the growth of these electrode-reducing microorganisms can be accelerated by optimizing the microbial fuel cell electrical load.     

Quickest Detection of Changes in the Generating Mechanism of a Time Series via the ε-Complexity of Continuous Functions

Abstract

A novel methodology for the quickest detection of abrupt changes in the generating mechanisms (stochastic, deterministic, or mixed) of a time series, without any prior knowledge about them, is developed. This methodology has two components: the first is a novel concept of the ε-complexity and the second is a method for the quickest change point detection (Darkhovsky, 2013 Darkhovsky , B. S. ( 2013 ). Detection of Changes in Random Sequence with Minimum Priori Information, Theory of Probability and Its Applications 58:585–590. (in Russian)  [Google Scholar]). The ε-complexity of a continuous function given on a compact segment is defined. The expression for the ε-complexity of functions with the same modulus of continuity is derived. It is found that, for the Hölder class of functions, there exists an effective characterization of the ε-complexity. The conjecture that the ε-complexity of an individual function from the Hölder class has a similar characterization is formulated. The algorithm for the estimation of the ε-complexity coefficients via finite samples of function values is described. The second conjecture that a change of the generating mechanism of a time series leads to a change in the mean of the complexity coefficients, is formulated. Simulations to support our conjectures and verify the efficiency of our quickest change point detection algorithm are performed.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Cured Allyl/Propargyl Ether Novolac Resins

A new kind of modified thermoset resins were synthesized by phase-transfer Williamson reaction from novolac resin and mixtures of allyl- and propargyl-chlorides. The compositions of the resins were defined by 1H NMR （nuclear magnetic resonanse） spectroscopy and the dependence of the cured materials properties on the composition was established. Increase of a propargyl content resulted in char yield raise and the maximum value had been found for propargylated resin--58%. DSC （differential scanning calorimetry）-analysis of the resins has demonstrated that exothermic enthalpy of the curing process could be adjusted by varying the content of propargyl and allyl groups in the resin.     

A way to increase the quality of the control loops of an aircraft engine

A way to introduce a guaranteed stability margin into control loops of aircraft engines is examined. We also study ways to determine the lag effect of an aircraft engine to correct filtering properties of control loops by means of the theory of sensitivity.     

A washed-curd goat's cheese as a vehicle for delivery of a potential probiotic bacterium: Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis UO 004

This study characterizes the probiotic properties of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis UO 004 and examines its suitability for making cheese. This strain was isolated from infant feces and shows interesting features, such as acid and bile tolerance, adherence to intestinal epithelial cells, and inhibition of the growth of certain enteropathogens, that support its potential use as a probiotic strain. In this regard, the suitability of a washed-curd cheese (Vidiago type) made with goat's milk as a delivery system for this probiotic strain was assessed. Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. lactis UO 004 was incorporated into a starter culture (IPLA 001). Changes in the overall composition of control and experimental cheeses were determined during ripening through bacteriological, chemical, high-performance liquid chromatography, and gas chromatography analyses. Slight changes in the gross composition and appreciable differences in the flavor compounds profile were observed between control and experimental cheeses. This strain was capable of surviving at high cell numbers (10(8) to 10(9) CFU/g) in cheeses after 28 days of ripening without adversely affecting sensory criteria or appearance of the cheese, thus satisfying the criteria for a probiotic food product.     

Collagen from porcine skin: a method of extraction and structural properties

This paper presents a study of the processing of collagen-containing raw material and its changes in the course of targeted complex processing by hydrolysis, including freeze-drying. The pH, chemical composition, penetration magnitude, and critical shear stress were determined. The dried samples were examined using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and their microstructures were characterized. The characteristic property of the product developed was determined to be the presence of a relatively homogeneous fibrillar structure that promotes the functional capacity of the proteinoid-forming fibres in the compositions of foods from different groups.