No abstract available

[en] Transgenic plants are at the origin of new methods of evaluation of water and radioactive soils genotoxicity or chemically polluted soils genotoxicity. These tests show the advantage of simplicity, that makes of them, choice tools for environmental studies. (N.C.)

[en] Metal Micro-strip Detector (MMD) represents a novel position sensitive detector for wide range of applications. The main advantages of MMD are low thickness, high radiation resistance and high spatial resolution. MMD production technology includes some stages: micro-strip layout made by photo-lithography on silicon wafer, plasma-chemistry etching of the silicon wafer in the operating window, micro-cabling connection to the readout electronics and DAQ. Commercially available read-out systems (VA_SCM3 microchip preamplifier, Time Pix readout chip, Gotthard, X-DAS) have been studied for use with MMD. Characterization studies of the MMD are presented in details.

[en] The paper presents a mathematical model for the calculation of rod structures based on analytical solutions of static and dynamic equations of state for rod or beam elements. Analytical solutions of the equations of state are used in the work and the matrix of influence is constructed from them. The model underlying the calculation allows the use of a real diagram of stretching and compression of structural materials. For a mathematical model, analytical solutions are formed in matrix form. This approach allows us to use the known algorithms of the finite-element and super-elements method for numerical studies and to obtain the result with high accuracy. (paper)

[en] We report the results of dielectric spectroscopy, Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies performed on the nematic liquid crystal (LC) mixture Merck ZLI-1132 filled with TiO₂ (rutile and anatase) and SiO₂ nanoparticles. The observed static dielectric permittivities are interpreted in terms of orientation of the LC with respect to the measuring electric field. Adding of SiO₂ particles mainly induces a statistical orientation of LC molecules, whereas TiO₂ particles promote the perpendicular orientation. The dynamics of LC molecules in all systems is very similar. The reason for the slightly faster reorientation observed in the mixtures may be connected with a disturbed nematic order near the surface of solid particles

[en] On the basis of the results obtained for one of the variants of the mathematical model of the console-type construction with sudden application of the load described by a nonlinear differential equation, an analytical approximate solution with a given accuracy is constructed. The results of the numerical experiment are presented. The proposed mathematical approach allows on the basis of analytical solutions to calculate for any point the coordinates fracture during bending of the beam. (paper)

[en] Design of collimators and their effectiveness for the purposes of the fractionated mini-beam hadron radiation therapy were evaluated by Monte Carlo simulations. The calculations have been performed for proton, carbon and oxygen ion beams at the energies relevant for medical applications. Micropixel metal and hybrid detectors were tested for measuring charged particles intensity distribution in multi - beam structures shaped by slit or matrix collimators exploring low energy proton beam at the Tandem generator (INR NASU, Kyiv). The results obtained illustrate reliable performance of the designed collimators as well as hybrid and metal microdetectors for measuring and imaging in real time the proton intensity distribution over mini-beam structures

[en] The ways of involving iron ore tailings in road construction are shown in this paper on example of alkali-activated slag cements used as a binding material. The results of the study showed that in case of the alkali-activated slag cements the compacted concrete mixtures for bases could incorporate up to 40 % of iron ore tailings, and with addition of up to 10 % of fly ash by mass – up to 60 % by mass with providing the required compressive strength (>2 MPa) and coefficient of softening (in water) (not lower than 0.8). The results suggested to show that with increase in quantities of the alkaline component the strength tended to increase, and that addition of fly ash was favourable in terms of consistency of the concrete mixture and time of workability retention. The concrete with 100 % replacement of fine aggregate by iron ore tailings exhibited compressive strength of 30 MPa and the concrete mixture had a consistency of classes S3-S4 as per EN 206-1:2000. This concrete mixture of optimal composition was used as paving in the construction of a pilot road (length 50 m, width 4 m, and thickness 0.3 m) in Qianxi (Tianshan, P.R.China). (paper)

No abstract available

[en] To evaluate the genetic consequences of radioactive contamination originating from the Nuclear reactor accident of Chernobyl on indigenous populations of plants and animals, it is essential to determine the rates of accumulating genetic changes in chronically irradiated populations. An increase in germline mutation rates in humans living close to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant site, and a two- to tenfold increase in germline mutations in barn swallows breeding in Chernobyl have been reported. Little is known, however, about the effects of chronic irradiation on plant genomes. Ionizing radiation causes double-strand breaks in DNA, which are repaired via illegitimate or homologous recombination. The authors make use of Arabidopsis thaliana plants carrying a β-glucuronidase marker gene as a recombination substrate to monitor genetic alterations in plant populations, which are caused by nuclear pollution of the environment around Chernobyl. A significant increase in somatic intrachromosomal recombination frequencies was observed at nuclear pollution levels from 0.1--900 Ci/km², consistent with an increase in chromosomal aberrations. This bioindicator may serve as a convenient and ethically acceptable alternative to animal systems