Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

About: Bulgarian Academy of Sciences is a government organization based out in Sofia, Bulgaria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Coupling constant & Catalysis. The organization has 17989 authors who have published 36276 publications receiving 642820 citations. The organization is also known as: Bulgarian Academy of Sciences，簡稱：BAS & Balgarska Akademiya na Naukite.

Removal of metal ions from aqueous solution by activated carbons obtained from different raw materials

Abstract: The adsorption of Pb 2+ , Cu 2+ , Zn 2+ and Cd 2+ from aqueous solution at 293 K by activated carbons obtained from different raw materials was studied. These carbons were prepared by water vapour pyrolysis of the raw materials-apricot stones, coconut shells and lignite coal. The influence of the solution pH on the adsorption processes has been studied. The presence of other metal ions in the solution decreases the adsorption of each of the ions. The selective adsorption of the metal ions is observed but the ones preferentially adsorbed do not completely prevent the adsorption of other ions. The chemical nature of the carbon surface and metal ions have great significance for the adsorption process

Extreme climatic events: impacts of drought and high temperature on physiological processes in agronomically important plants

Abstract: Climate models predict more frequent and more severe extreme events (e.g. heat waves, extended drought periods, flooding) in many regions for the next decades. The impact of adverse environmental conditions on crop plants is ecologically and economically relevant. This review is focused on drought and heat effects on physiological status and productivity of agronomically important plants. Stomatal opening represents an important regulatory mechanism during drought and heat stress since it influences simultaneously water loss via transpiration and CO2 diffusion into the leaf apoplast which further is utilized in photosynthesis. Along with the reversible short-term control of stomatal opening, stomata and leaf epidermis may produce waxy deposits and irreversibly down-regulate the stomatal conductance and non-stomatal transpiration. As a consequence photosynthesis will be negatively affected. Rubisco activase - a key enzyme in keeping the Calvin cycle functional – is heat-sensitive and may become a limiting factor at elevated temperature. The accumulated reactive oxygen species during stress represent an additional challenge under unfavorable conditions. Drought and heat cause accumulation of free amino acids which are partially converted into compatible solutes such as proline. This is accompanied by lower rates of both nitrate reduction and de novo amino acid biosynthesis. Protective proteins (e.g. dehydrins, chaperones, antioxidant enzymes or the key enzyme for proline biosynthesis) play an important role in leaves and may be present at higher levels under water deprivation or high temperatures. On the whole plant level, effects on long-distance translocation of solutes via xylem and phloem and on leaf senescence (e.g. anticipated, accelerated or delayed senescence) are important. The factors mentioned above are relevant for the overall performance of crops under drought and heat and must be considered for genotype selection and breeding programs.

Peripheral effects on the amplitude of monopolar and bipolar H-reflex potentials from the soleus muscle

Abstract: Variations in the amplitude of mono- and bipolarly measured H-reflex potentials can be influenced by muscle architecture and changes in muscle length. In the passive soleus muscle with the ankle joint fixed at 90 degree, the maximal-amplitude bipolar H-potentials were obtained along the midline of soleus at a distance of 2.0-4.0 cm below the insertion of the gastrocnemii on the Achilles tendon. In contrast, the optimal location of monopolar H-potentials was 5.0-8.0 cm below the gastrocnemii insertion. Stepwise passive shortening of soleus resulted in an increase in the amplitude of both H- and motor-unit potentials. This correspondence implicates peripheral factors, such as changes in muscle fibre diameter and inclination to the skin surface, as mechanisms mediating the changes in the amplitude of the potentials. Such effects necessitate caution in interpretation of the association between H-potential amplitude and monosynaptic reflex excitability.

Search for narrow resonances using the dijet mass spectrum in pp collisions at √s=8 TeV

Abstract: Results are presented of a search for the production of new particles decaying to pairs of partons (quarks, antiquarks, or gluons), in the dijet mass spectrum in proton-proton collisions at sqrt(s) = 8 TeV. The data sample corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 4.0 inverse femtobarns, collected with the CMS detector at the LHC in 2012. No significant evidence for narrow resonance production is observed. Upper limits are set at the 95% confidence level on the production cross section of hypothetical new particles decaying to quark-quark, quark-gluon, or gluon-gluon final states. These limits are then translated into lower limits on the masses of new resonances in specific scenarios of physics beyond the standard model. The limits reach up to 4.8 TeV, depending on the model, and extend previous exclusions from similar searches performed at lower collision energies. For the first time mass limits are set for the Randall-Sundrum graviton model in the dijet channel.