Search

—Anomalous variations in radon emissions from the soil are sometimes observed before and after strong earthquakes. In this paper, we theoretically analyze the known hypothesis that these variations in radioactive emanations in the surface layer of the atmosphere cause variations in the vertical background current in the atmosphere with subsequent changes in the electron density $${{n}_{e}}$$ in the lower ionosphere. For this purpose, we will first assess the relation between radon emission variations and the vertical atmospheric current flowing into the ionosphere. Then we will solve a model problem concerning the spatial distribution of plasma density and electric field perturbations occurring in the E-layer of the ionosphere caused by an inflowing vertical current. It was believed that the current flowing into this layer contains only an electron component and is attenuated only by the recombination of electrons. The estimate of the maximum variation $${{n}_{e}}$$ is at least 3–5 orders of magnitude smaller than the observed anomalous variations, which allows us to conclude that this hypothesis is not plausible.

The question of whether earthquake precursors can arise in the ionosphere is of a special interest in geophysics. Despite numerous encouraging reports on seismo-ionospheric effects, the mechanism of the lithosphere-ionosphere coupling during the crust destruction phase was not established. One of hypothesis assumes that a seismogenic current transfers an abnormal electric field from the near-surface atmosphere to the ionosphere prior to an earthquake occurrence. This current can be caused by air ionization due to enhancement of radon gas emission from the soil or upward movement of charged atmospheric aerosols. Here we present a theoretical model of the spatial structure of the electric field driven by a vertical external current in the lower atmosphere. Perturbations of electric fields in the ionosphere are derived in the approximation of the "thin" E-layer. Simple analytical estimates have been obtained that relate the electric fields in the ionosphere and on the ground to the parameters of the external current. The electric field attenuation with altitude is caused by the increase of atmospheric conductivity and the horizontal spreading of current. The estimates obtained enable one to evaluate the feasibility of anomalous variations of electric fields in the ionosphere related to forthcoming earthquakes. The analysis has shown that the suggested hypothesis seems unrealistic, since to explain the relation between the ionospheric anomalies and extrinsic current it is necessary to assume the presence of such large currents and electric fields in the lower atmosphere which were never observed during non-thunderstorm periods.

The paper discusses the design issues of a high-performance induction installation for heating ferromagnetic billets before processing on deforming equipment. Specific features of the technological process of heating ferromagnetic billets to plastic strain temperatures are noted. It is shown that in order to increase the efficiency of the process, the heating of large-sized preforms from ferromagnetic steel is advisable to be carried out in a two-frequency induction heater with two autonomous sections. A study of the heating process in a two-section heater of ferromagnetic billets was carried out taking into account the nonlinear dependence of the physical characteristics of the heated billets metal on the temperature changing during heating. The problem of minimizing the length of a two-section heater is formulated and solved taking into account energy and technological limitations. A condition for determining the optimal length of the first section is to achieve a temperature corresponding to the loss of magnetic properties in the layer equal to the depth of current penetration at the frequency of the second section power supply. The results of numerical calculation of the optimal parameters of a two-section heater are presented. It is shown that the power distribution algorithm along the length of a two-section heater is a piecewise constant function. The results of calculating the temperature distribution in the workpieces during heating are presented. The results of the study can be used to solve the problem of optimizing the structural and operational parameters of a multi-section heater.

Processing of liquid radioactive waste (LRW) includes evaporation followed by vitrification. Reducing the energy consumption of evaporation of LRW is an urgent task. In the article, an attention is paid to the fact that similar technical and economic problems are solved with the desalination of seawater. It is proposed to use well-developed seawater desalination technologies for preliminary evaporation of LRW. For a detailed analysis, desalination technology with mechanical vapor compression (MVC) was selected. This technology is energy-saving because it implements the heat pump principle. MVC technology is highly efficient, simple, and does not lead to the generation of secondary radioactive waste. A mathematical model of a single-stage desalination plant with MVC has been developed, taking into account that the thermodynamic cycle of this process is open. Since there are no data on the physical properties of LRW in the literature, the properties of sea water were used. The design and operational parameters were optimized in order to reduce the cost of 1 m3 of evaporated water. It has been established that the main design parameters affecting the cost of evaporated water are the degree of vapor compression in the compressor and the heat exchange surface area of the evaporatorcondenser. The influence of these parameters on capital and operating costs is shown. The optimal combinations of these parameters are determined. To ensure the optimal operating mode of the installation, it is necessary to maintain the optimum salt content of boiling brine, which is determined by the rate of consumption of the source water. The optimal values of these parameters are calculated in a wide range of salt content of the source water. It is shown that, at low salinity of the initial LRW, evaporation is advisable to be carried out in a multi-stage installation. As a result of the calculations, it was found that the specific cost of evaporation of liquid radioactive waste with an initial salt concentration of 10% to a salt content of 20% using the desalination technology with mechanical vapor compression is 0.843 USD/m3.

The article is devoted to solving a practical problem: the choice of equipment for pre-treatment of salt water that feeds the desalination plant. The preliminary stage of desalination is the purification of water from sand particles, which can significantly reduce productivity and even damage the desalination plant, which is situated at the next stage. For pre-treatment, settling tanks, hydrocyclones, sand filters, etc. are used. The main dimensions of hydrocyclones of standard designs are calculated based on well-known recommendations. Modern computer simulation systems allow you to create three-dimensional models of the apparatus being studied, and then calculate the velocity and pressure fields in them. It was necessary to estimate the amount of sand contained in the feed water. To solve this problem, an experimental hydrocyclone was developed and manufactured. The hydrocyclone was numerically simulated and the sand capture coefficient was estimated under various operating conditions. It has been established that an experimental hydrocyclone reliably captures grains of sand 50 microns in size and above. The average daily mass of trapped sand was experimentally determined. Numerical modeling made it possible with reasonable accuracy to estimate the sand capture coefficient by an experimental hydrocyclone. During the tests, the mass of sand entering the pipeline per day was determined. The hydrocyclone reliably captures sand particles of 50 microns or more. At the same time, a significant part of particles less than 50 microns is not captured by the hydrocyclone, which is why a sand filter was chosen for industrial use. In the future, it is advisable to use a serial connection of a hydrocyclone and a sand filter, but such a solution requires additional technical and economic calculation. It is concluded that in the case under consideration, it is advisable to use a sand filter for preliminary water treatment

Desalination of sea water is becoming more urgent for many regions. In the coming decades water will be used for desalination from various reservoirs of the World Ocean. It is important to determine the operating modes of desalination plants, which ensure the minimum cost of desalinated water at different salinity of sea water. Mathematical modeling of the desalination plant with mechanical vapor compres-sion (MVC) is carried out. It has been established that for each sea water salinity there is an optimum salinity value of the boiling brine in the evaporator. An approximating dependence was obtained for calculating the optimal salt content.

The study was based, firstly, on the diverse data collected during field work in 2018 – 2020 in the eastern part of the Terek River delta and long-term hydrological monitoring data on the Roshydromet gauges. Secondly, on a profound comparative analysis of multi-temporal cartographic materials and multiple satellite images, laboratory analysis of water and sediment samples and other research groups’ field data. The performed analysis resulted in unprecedented complex and profound assessment of the contemporary hydrological, morphological and ecological state of the former Agrakhan Bay of the Caspian Sea. The drivers, dependencies and parameters of hydrological and morphological degradation were described; a multi-layer large-scale GIS was created to design multiple illustrations. The performed assessment allowed for development of measures for partial restoration of the hydrological and ecological potential of the former Agrakhan Bay.

Oxygen isotope thermometry has been traditionally based on the ratio of 18O/16O in oxyanions of minerals such as carbonate (CaCO3) in shells/tests, and phosphate in bioapatites (Ca5(PO4)3OH) of marine invertebrates/vertebrates (for example, fish) and mammals. The requirement of mineral biomass, however, has restricted the application of oxygen isotope thermometry to only those organisms possessing biomineral hardparts. This has completely omitted from study, not only organisms lacking hard mineral tissues, but two entire Domains of life: Bacteria and Archaea. Prokaryotic organisms in the domains Bacteria and Archaea comprise the majority of earth9s biodiversity and also inhabit the most extreme environments on earth. This calls for a thermometry based on a more rudimentary component of biomass that is present in all organisms such as DNA. Our previous studies of the ubiquitous intracellular enzyme inorganic pyrophosphatase (PPase), which catalyzes oxygen isotope exchange between dissolved inorganic PO4 (Pi) and water inside of cells, suggest that DNA may contain even more information than the blueprint for life. Here we show that PO4 moieties in DNA record the temperature at which life forms and evolves. Our results demonstrate that the 18O/16O ratio of PO4 (δ18OP) in DNA as well as in bulk biomass, reflects the temperature-dependent exchange of oxygen isotopes between PO4 and intracellular water. Thus, δ18OP values of DNA may serve as both a new soft-tissue bio-thermometer and probe of intracellular PO4 or water during DNA synthesis and cellular growth. Results presented here of the first direct measurements of the oxygen isotopic composition of PO4 in microbial DNA, demonstrate systematic variation in δ18OP of DNA from several different strains of microorganisms as a function of temperature, and also extend the PO4-water O-isotope thermometer to >70 °C. A composite calibration curve based on several strains of bacteria is presented for DNA-PO4–water –temperature relations between 12 and 75 °C and suggests a “universal” DNA-based oxygen isotope thermometry for microorganisms that may further extend to all organisms. Our results open the possibility of connecting temperature with taxonomy and also expand the range of investigations of habitat temperatures and limits to life in extreme and diverse environments, from Earth9s subsurface deep biosphere to Antarctic ice sheets and extraterrestrial systems where life may have originated at extreme temperatures.

For a number of reasons, the domestic construction industry has traditionally been characterized by a conservative attitude to such means of influencing the market as marketing in general and branding in particular. The excess of demand over supply, observed in the Russian housing market for a long time, allowed the construction companies to consider marketing as an unnecessary, unproductive element of market activity. However, the active growth in production volumes that took place in the field of housing over the past 20 years has led to a significant intensification of competition between the construction companies, contributed to the increased demands from the consumers, and, as a result, forced many construction companies to reconsider their old attitude to marketing. To date, almost every major construction company operating in the housing market is already actively using certain marketing tools. Branding was no exception in this series either. Creating and promoting brands of construction companies and residential complexes has become a daily practice. A review of the current situation, problems and prospects in this area are the objectives of this article.

Construction is rightfully considered one of the most important sectors in any economic system. It takes an active part in building up the fixed assets, creating a diverse technological and social infrastructure, as well as providing the population with housing. At the same time, the specific features inherent in construction and the product it produces, such as, for example, territorial consolidation and a long service life, as well as excess of demand over the supply on the Russian housing market, allowed the construction companies to long consider marketing as an unnecessary, optional element of the market activities. However, the rapid growth observed in the field of housing construction over the past 20 years, increased the competition and increased the demands from the consumers, led to the fact that many construction companies were forced to reconsider their old attitude to marketing. Today, almost every organization in the housing market uses, to one degree or another, marketing tools, more often tactical, less often strategic. However, the ongoing changes in the Russian construction market, due primarily to economic stagnation and a decrease in the population solvency, actualize a greater active introduction of marketing tools in the construction companies’ practice, including against the backdrop of the economic activity increasing digitalization. A review of the problems and prospects in this area is one of the objectives of this article.

We have described the current hydrological state of the Agrakhan Bay, studied its features and defined trends, factors and parameters of hydrologic-morphological evolution of the Bay, mainly in the XX and early XXI centuries, and proposed measures for its restoration. The study was based on field measurements and long-term networked hydrological observations, comparative analysis of multitemporal cartographic material and satellite images, and laboratory analysis of water samples. Agrakhan Bay is a unique hydrographic and ecologically valuable object in the south-eastern part of the Terek delta, which 100 years ago had the features of a typical sea gulf and an area of 340 km2, was one of the main habitats for sturgeon spawning and fishery. Now it is divided into two different parts. Water areas and watered reed cover only 258 km2. Their area continues to decrease, which generates negative environmental and socio-economic consequences. The fishing value of the bay has been lost.

Ensuring the competitiveness of Russian producers of food products is impossible without achieving the consistent quality and food safety. Special attention in this paper is paid to the introduction of relevant management systems at the enterprises of the food processing industry. A significant number of the currently available standards and specifications enables the management of any enterprise to choose the most appropriate variant for the given enterprise: to implement a single system or a set of systems which can represent the integrated management system (IMS). The main point in this choice is the idea of these types of management systems and of the potential, additional opportunities, and advantages that can be obtained due to their implementation at the enterprises. The responsibility of food manufacturers for the implementation and maintenance of procedures based on the principles of HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) also determines the relevance of the topic. The evaluation of management systems, which are possible to implement at the food enterprises, has been conducted according to the following criteria: solvability of problems, applicability for the food enterprises and the possible effect from the implementation (a potential). The availability of fundamentals for the integration of management systems has been shown, the concept of IMS has been discussed and the need for IMS from the food enterprises has been identified The detailed plan of IMS development has been proposed. The possibility and the attractiveness of the development, implementation of other management systems in the food processing industry, in particular, the environmental management systems, management systems of occupational safety and health, energy management systems, models of ethical and social management have been established. The approach to the choice of IMS components has been confirmed on the basis of the utility definition and potential advantages of each management system separately. The model of the development and implementation of the "optimal" integrated management system of quality and safety for the food enterprises has been offered. The basic point of it is the process model as the main part of the "optimal" IMS of the food enterprise.

Criminal personality for thousands of years is the object of philosophical research. For philosophical anthropology, in particular, it is important to understand which components of human nature can be regarded as criminal. The term “hubris” that appears in ancient Greek culture, today received its second wind. It is widely used (especially in the West) to refer to the human outlook, which provokes too arrogant, defiant behavior, which is a public danger. The term “hubris” is often used in criticism of certain politicians. However, we propose to expand the scope of its application also in other spheres of public life. Іn the history of criminology there are many examples of people with hubris, especially among dangerous criminals. Therefore hubris can be considered as criminogenic factor that requires research and limitations of the society. In another case, there is a situation, by analogy with the term “intoxication of power”, can be called “intoxication of impunity”. This thesis is confirmed by authoritative theories developed in criminology, sociology, psychology too. It is also consistent with some modern philosophical views on the nature of the criminal personality. Analysis of factors that stimulate the emergence and growth of hubris, suggest that most are present in a mass society. It generates anomie (loss of values) that щаеут manifests as hubris that can act as criminogenic factor. Therefore, hubris reducing requires changes in the organization of social life.

The refractive index of Na2MgSi4O10 and Na2Al2Si4O12 glasses in the pressure range to 6.0 GPa was measured using a polarization-interference microscope and apparatus with diamond anvils. The changes in relative density, which characterize the compressibility of glasses, were calculated in the studied range of pressures from the measured refractive indices within the framework of the theory of photoelasticity. For the studied glasses, the degree of depolimerization was found to be NBO/T = 0.28 and 0.25 for Na2MgSi4O10 and Na2Al2Si4O12 glasses, respectively. It is shown that the replacement of aluminum by magnesium in silicate glasses does not lead to a considerable decrease in compressibility, which suggests the predominant role of magnesium ions as network formers. A minor increase in compressibility when passing from Na2MgSi4O10 to Na2Al2Si4O12 glass conforms with the corresponding decrease in the degree of depolymerization.

Features of present-day channel deformations of the Tom' River within the Tomsk region and related processes of the ice jams’ formation have been considered. Recommendations about prevention of their negative consequences have been offered. They include organizational, scientific/information and engineering measures of the damages prevention against dangerous hydrological processes under consideration.

The subducting oceanic crust has a heterogeneous composition but mainly is composed of a mixture of anhydrous dolerite and gabbro with mafic green schist (albite + epidote + chlorite + actinolite) and amphib� olite [1]. An increase in pressure and temperature results in rock dehydration in the subducting oceanic crust [2]. As this takes place, dehydration proceeds successively depending on phase transitions in hydrous phases (chlorite, lawsonite, amphibole, phengite, zoisite–clinozoisite, and others). The sub� ducting oceanic crust contains >5 wt % Н2О at the ini�

Plant import inspection can prevent the introduction of exotic pests and diseases, thereby averting economic losses. We explore the optimal allocation of a fixed budget, taking into account risk differentials, and the optimal-sized budget to minimise total pest costs. A partial-equilibrium market model is used to compute the economic consequences of pest invasion. An application to Dutch imports of chrysanthemum cuttings shows that the optimal allocation of a fixed inspection budget halves the cost of pest invasion compared to allocating the same budget equally over all imports. A budget increase that enables 42 per cent more inspection can reduce total societal costs by 81 per cent compared to smaller, constrained budget that ignores risk differentials. Oxford University Press and Foundation for the European Review of Agricultural Economics 2009; all rights reserved. For permissions, please email journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org, Oxford University Press.

The distribution of neck muscles and the shape of the skull shows that Permian and Triassic dicynodontsmay be classified into three categories which probably reflect feeding on low, medium and high vegetation. These are distinguished on the basis of the occipital index, the difference between the relative width and height of the occiput, which gives a measure of the relative importance of the lateral and the dorsoventral clusters of neck muscles. The basicranium is relatively shortened in Triassic forms, except in Vinceria, Shansiodon, Tetragonias, and Jachaleria, as has been noted before. Data on skull proportions indicates that the height of the parietal crest may be of little taxonomic use, and that the genus Tetragonias is not a clade. Dicynodonts with dietary preferences at the intermediate level correspondto major branching points in dicynodont phylogeny. High-level feeding adaptations among dicynodonts arose by the middle of the Tatarian (latest Permian) and lasted until the Late Triassic....

Plant species, forming important components of Arctic food chains and of interest from a monitoring perspective, were studied at 36 plots representing flood plain and terrace landscapes of the Yenisey River and Estuary from its upper delta to the gulf. 137 Cs contamination densities at the plots varied from 0.35 kBq/m 2 (central delta, sandy riverside plot) to 88 kBq/m 2 (the upper delta plot) indicating both global and regional sources of anthropogenic pollution. Cs-137 levels in plants were within the range expected from global fallout inputs and varied from 31 to 140 Bq/kg d.w. increasing in dominant groups in the order: grasses < alder, willow (leaves), lichens < mosses (upper part) < mosses (lower part), litter. Tundra plants exhibited remarkably high 137 Cs Tag values (0.03-0.1 m 2 /kg) comparable to those found on swampy areas contaminated by Chernobyl fallout. The frontal delta island seems to act as a barrier, contributing to local accumulation of 137 Cs as reflected in higher inventories in soil and biomass. Horsetail and willow leaves were noted for higher 40 K content and lower 137 Cs Tag compared to mosses and alder, respectively. This makes the latter plant types more appropriate indicators of 137 Cs contamination.

Large footprints of terrestrial tetrapods have been found in the Cis-Urals region of European Russia. The foot- print horizon is in Late Permian (Changhsingian) deposits of the Vyatkian Gorizont (uppermost Tatarian) approximately 50 m below the local Permian ⁄ Triassic boundary. Seventeen randomly orientated footprints were excavated and are referred to the ichnospecies Brontopus giganteus. The foot- prints were emplaced in a reddish-brown mudstone that was deposited from suspension beneath shallow ponded water in a floodplain environment. They were subsequently cast by the base of the overlying fine-grained sandstone, which was deposited from a sheet-flood event. The footprints were pro- duced by a large therapsid, possibly a dinocephalian, but more probably a dicynodont, and represent the first ichnological record of the Therapsida from the Upper Permian of Russia.

The paper presents results of the investigations in respect of powder media for realization of mono-phase borating process.Structure, chemical and phase composition of powder mixture are determined and properties of mono-phase boride coatings are investigated in the paper.

Geochemical cycling of phosphorus (P) in aquatic environments is carried out almost exclusively by biota and involves reactions that are catalyzed by enzymes. Oxygen isotope effects accompanying phosphoenzymatic reactions have been determined in controlled laboratory experiments in order to elucidate processes underlying biogeochemical cycling of P, and to identify possible reaction pathways for P-compounds in nature. Phosphate oxygen isotope effects are distinct for specific enzymatic reaction mechanisms measured in microbial culture experiments and in cell-free systems. P 16 O4 is taken up preferentially from inorganic phosphate (Pi )i n the growth medium by intact E. coli cells, producing a kinetic fractionation in the extracellular dissolved Pi pool. Inorganic pyrophosphatase is the intracellular enzyme that catalyzes the temperature-dependent equilibrium oxygen isotope fractionations between phosphates and water in biological systems, and imprints an equilibrium isotope signature on Pi that is turned over or cycled by intact cells. Alkaline phospha- tase, a key enzyme involved in extracellular Pi regeneration in aquatic systems, catalyzes hydrolysis of phosphomonoesters, reactions that are accompanied by kinetic fractionations and disequilibrium (inheritance) isotope effects in released Pi. Compari- son of laboratory determined enzyme-specific isotopic fractionations with those ob- served in microbial culture experiments and in natural aquatic systems, provide new insights into processes controlling P cycling and the relations between P availability and the cycling of N and C. Isotopic signatures associated with specific cellular processes and phosphoenzyme reaction pathways may be useful in assessing P status and for tracing P turnover.

The mass extinction at the Permian–Triassic boundary, 251 million years (Myr) ago, is accepted as the most profound loss of life on record1,2,3. Global data compilations indicate a loss of 50% of families or more, both in the sea1,2,4 and on land2,5, and these figures scale to a loss of 80–96% of species, based on rarefaction analyses6,7. This level of loss is confirmed by local and regional-scale studies of marine sections3,8, but the terrestrial record has been harder to analyse in such close detail. Here we document the nature of the event in Russia in a comprehensive survey of 675 specimens of amphibians and reptiles from 289 localities spanning 13 successive geological time zones in the South Urals basin. These changes in diversity and turnover cannot be explained simply by sampling effects. There was a profound loss of genera and families, and simplification of ecosystems, with the loss of small fish-eaters and insect-eaters, medium and large herbivores and large carnivores. Faunal dynamics also changed, from high rates of turnover through the Late Permian period to greater stability at low diversity through the Early Triassic period. Even after 15 Myr of ecosystem rebuilding, some guilds were apparently still absent—small fish-eaters, small insect-eaters, large herbivores and top carnivores.

Current phylogenetic hypotheses for the dicynodonts conflict, probably because the characters used, especially those of the jaws and facial region, show considerable convergence. Characters of the braincase and basipterygoid articulation of the Late Permian–Middle Triassic dicynodonts Diictodon, Dicynodon, Kingoria, Lystrosaurus, Rechnisaurus, and 14 other genera, may have phylogenetic value. Parsimony analysis and the character compatability permutation test suggest, at the highest possible confidence level, that the data set contains significant hierarchical structure, interpreted as a result of phylogeny. The most parsimonious tree broadly agrees with all recent hypotheses on the relationships among dicynodonts. However, it conflicts with the recent suggestion that Lystrosaurus is part of a clade of Middle–Late Triassic dicynodonts, but supports the basal position of Kingoria. The use of Eodicynodon as an outgroup does not perturb the parsimonious relationship of the included taxa. Topological constraints reveal that phylogenetic hypotheses based only on basicranial characters are not robust. Characters of the basipterygoid articulation and inner braincase have high consistency and retention indices, which suggests that the main evolutionary transformations in the dicynodont basicranium occurred within these structures.

The distribution of C and A defects in the octahedral growth sectors of a diamond crystal grown by the temperature-gradient method at 6.0 GPa and 1470–1495°C in the Fe–Ni–C system was studied by Fourier transform IR spectroscopy. The use of the induced-zonality technique made it possible to determine the postgrowth annealing duration, evaluate the rate constants K of nitrogen aggregation in the framework of second-order kinetics, and to relate them to the growth rate vg at a particular point. The results demonstrate that the aggregation rate varies widely over the octahedral growth sector and that K varies nonlinearly with vg . The more rapid nitrogen aggregation at higher growth rates is tentatively attributed to an increase in nickel concentration in diamond.

Based on the available data on the kinetics ofC-to-A nitrogen aggregation, theA-defect profile is calculated for a particular growth sector in diamond crystals grown by the temperature-gradient method. The effects of the growth duration and temperature on the contents ofC andA nitrogen are examined. The formation ofA defects from single substitutional nitrogen is shown to occur even under typical growth conditions, at temperatures of 1300-1500°C, and to have a significant effect on the structural perfection of diamond.

A solution to the problem of current spreading is constructed in the case of relaxation of electric charges, which have arisen in the mesosphere for one reason or other. These currents penetrate into the conductive region with anisotropic conductivity of the D- and E-layers of the ionosphere, being transformed to a MHD-wave that propagates into the magnetosphere. Based on this solution, the form and spectrum of the generated MHD signal are calculated for Alfvenic and magnetosonic modes coming out to the ionosphere and magnetosphere. Electric charges and currents can arise, for example, in the space between a thunderstorm cloud and the ionosphere, or between the shock wave from a ground explosion and the ionosphere. Some signal parameters accepted in the model are close to those expected for high-altitude electric discharges of the Red Sprite type. The conditions are determined under which the Alfven impulse with an amplitude of up to 100 nT propagates in the magnetosphere above high-altitude discharge of this type. Such an impulse was recorded by the AUREOL-3 satellite after the ground explosion MASSA-1. Recently, this impulse was hypothesized to originate as a result of a high-altitude electric discharge. The hypothesis on a similar MHD pulse allows one to explain in a semiquantitative way the short burst of electron field-aligned acceleration observed by the DE-2 satellite over the Debbie hurricane. The high-altitude atmospheric discharge of this type can be a powerful, though short-time and local, source of electrons with kiloelectronvolt energies at low and middle latitudes. One could expect that such an effect causes a modified character of the so-called Trimpi-effect (a short-term disturbance of propagation of VLF waves in the ionosphere), and thus, it can be observable.

The Makhtesh Ramon erosional‐tectonic depression (canyon), 40 km long and approximately 8 km wide, is situated in the Negev Desert (southern Israel), 65 km southwest of the Dead Sea. The canyon rim and center are located at an altitude of 800‐1000 and 400‐ 600 m, respectively. In terms of tectonics, this structure represents the southern margin of the Syrian-Sinai [1] block‐fold belt. A comprehensive analysis of the available regional geophysical data revealed a collisionrelated origin of the belt [2]. Its formation terminated approximately 132 Ma ago, i.e., during the Levantine tectonic phase [3].The subsequent origination of the Levantine marginal volcanic suture [4] promoted the accumulation of postcollisional trap rocks (alkaline basaltic, alkaline gabbroic, and kimberlitic associations). The kimberlitic association, which was first discovered in western Syria, is represented in the study region by diatremes filled with kimberlite-type rocks containing eclogitic xenoliths [5]. Maximal magmatism in the region occurred approximately 120 Ma ago, which corresponds to the epoch of global tectonothermal activation (the Middle Cretaceous maximum in the development of upper mantle hot spots [7]). In the Makhtesh Ramon area, this stage is reflected in central-type volcanoes composed of lava flows, eruptive breccia, and tuffs that suggest wide development of explosive volcanism in the Middle Cretaceous [8]. Vent facies of the central-type Mahale Khahatsmaut Depression contain peridotite xenoliths with spinel-bearing lherzolites [9]. The presence of such rocks indicates significant depths of explosive volcanism. Magmatic rocks of the western Makhtesh Ramon Canyon are represented by picritic and olivine basalts and alkaline picrites. It should be noted that the development of these rocks does not rule out the presence of kimberlites in the study area. Detailed analysis of the magnetic (including quantitative interpretation and 3D modeling) and gravity fields indicated the possibility of discovery of parental diamondiferous bodies in the Makhtesh Ramon area. The low heat flow (~35 mW/m 2 ) in southern Israel [11] is an additional indicator of diamond potential in the area. The first diamond microcrystal discovered in the Negev Desert 30 km north of Makhtesh Ramon (Israel) in the Cretaceous/Paleogene boundary iridium layer was attributed to a meteorite fall. However, the habit, size, and characteristic impurities in the microcrystal suggest that it was washed out of diamondiferous bedrocks.

The optimum parameters of glass cutting are studied and substantiated: the material and the sharpening angle of the glass-cutting roll, the load applied to the roll, the role of the propping liquid, and the effect of all these parameters on the glass edge quality.

The effect of various propping liquids on the glass cutting process is analyzed: on the wear of the roll cutter edge, the force of breaking glass along the inflicted cutting line, and on the load applied to the roll cutter. The results of studying the effect of propping liquids on chip formation and their washability off the glass surface are considered.

A method is proposed for contact and contactless coordinate measurements of the geometrical parameters of cutting instruments. Practical applications of coordinate measuring instruments and systems for the inspection of cutting tools and the setup of tool units are discussed. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.

Phytosanitary inspection of imported plants and flowers is a major means for preventing pest invasions through international trade, but in a majority of countries availability of resources prevents inspection of all imports. Prediction of the likelihood of pest infestation in imported shipments could help maximize the efficiency of inspection by targeting inspection on shipments with the highest likelihood of infestation. This paper applies a multinomial logistic (MNL) regression model to data on import inspections of ornamental plant commodities in the Netherlands from 1998 to 2001 to investigate whether it is possible to predict the probability that a shipment will be (i) accepted for import, (ii) rejected for import because of detected pests, or (iii) rejected due to other reasons. Four models were estimated: (i) an all-species model, including all plant imports (136,251 shipments) in the data set, (ii) a four-species model, including records on the four ornamental commodities that accounted for 28.9% of inspected and 49.5% of rejected shipments, and two models for single commodities with large import volumes and percentages of rejections, (iii) Dianthus (16.9% of inspected and 46.3% of rejected shipments), and (iv) Chrysanthemum (6.9 and 8.6%, respectively). All models were highly significant (P < 0.001). The models for Dianthus and Chrysanthemum and for the set of four ornamental commodities showed a better fit to data than the model for all ornamental commodities. Variables that characterized the imported shipment's region of origin, the shipment's size, the company that imported the shipment, and season and year of import, were significant in most of the estimated models. The combined results of this study suggest that the MNL model can be a useful tool for modeling the probability of rejecting imported commodities even with a small set of explanatory variables. The MNL model can be helpful in better targeting of resources for import inspection. The inspecting agencies could enable development of these models by appropriately recording inspection results.

The limiting value of mean-square deviation of vacuum in a milk line during milking, providing its maximal staying in the given range is determined theoretically. Mathematical models permitting to calculate the probability of maintaining of vacuum mode in the tolerance zone are given.

ISSN 1990-7478, Biochemistry (Moscow) Supplement Series A: Membrane and Cell Biology, 2009, Vol. 3, No. 3, p. 299. © Pleiades Publishing, Ltd., 2009.Original Russian Text © P.V. Avdonin, I.B. Sukhanova, K.V. Surkov, O. Petermann, U.T. Rueggc, 2009, published in Biologicheskie Membrany, 2009, Vol. 26, No. 4, p. 305.

A machine for rectangular cutting of sheet glass has been designed, which provides for increased efficiency in the production of rectangular glass articles. The cutting head of the machine ensures smooth passing of the roll cutter onto the glass.