Kazan Federal University

About: Kazan Federal University is a education organization based out in Kazan’, Russia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Chemistry. The organization has 9868 authors who have published 14390 publications receiving 135726 citations. The organization is also known as: Kazan (Volga region) Federal University & Kazan State University.

Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers: Thermophysical and Thermochemical Studies of Carbazole Partly and Fully Hydrogenated Derivatives

Abstract: Carbazole derivatives are promising liquid organic hydrogen carrier (LOHCs). They can take up and release hydrogen in catalytic hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactions. The thermophysical properties (heat capacity, density, viscosity, surface tension, and refractive index) of carbazole and N-ethylcarbazole, as well as those of their hydrogenated derivatives, were measured. Furthermore, thermochemical properties (enthalpy of vaporization, sublimation, and fusion) were derived from experiments. Molar enthalpies of formation of the gaseous carbazole derivatives were calculated and validated with high-level quantum chemical calculations. Molar enthalpies of formation data in the liquid phase were derived by combining the high-level quantum chemistry values of the gas-phase enthalpies of formation with experimentally determined enthalpies of vaporization. Thermodynamic analysis of the hydrogenation/dehydrogenation reactions of the carbazole derivatives was performed. This analysis, among others, revealed a rat...

Toll-Like Receptors, Infections, and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract: Toll-like receptors (TLR) that belong to the group of protein recognition receptor (PPR) provide an innate immune response following the sensing of conserved pathogen-associated microbial patterns (PAMPs) and changes in danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that are generated as a consequence of cellular injury. Analysis of the TLR pathway has moreover offered new insights into the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Indeed, a dysfunctional TLR-mediated response characterizes RA patients and participates in establishment of a chronic inflammatory state. Such an inappropriate TLR response has been attributed (i) to the report of important alterations in the microbiota and abnormal responses to infectious agents as part of RA; (ii) to the abnormal presence of TLR-ligands in the serum and synovial fluid of RA patients; (iii) to the overexpression of TLR molecules; (iv) to the production of a large panel of pro-inflammatory cytokines downstream of the TLR pathway; and (v) to genetic variants and epigenetic factors in susceptible RA patients promoting a hyper TLR response. As a consequence, the development of promising therapeutic strategies targeting TLRs for the treatment and prevention of RA is emerging.

R 2 inflation to probe non-perturbative quantum gravity

Abstract: It is natural to expect a consistent inflationary model of the very early Universe to be an effective theory of quantum gravity, at least at energies much less than the Planck one. For the moment, R + R2, or shortly R2, inflation is the most successful in accounting for the latest CMB data from the PLANCK satellite and other experiments. Moreover, recently it was shown to be ultra-violet (UV) complete via an embedding into an analytic infinite derivative (AID) non-local gravity. In this paper, we derive a most general theory of gravity that contributes to perturbed linear equations of motion around maximally symmetric space-times. We show that such a theory is quadratic in the Ricci scalar and the Weyl tensor with AID operators along with the Einstein-Hilbert term and possibly a cosmological constant. We explicitly demonstrate that introduction of the Ricci tensor squared term is redundant. Working in this quadratic AID gravity framework without a cosmological term we prove that for a specified class of space homogeneous space-times, a space of solutions to the equations of motion is identical to the space of backgrounds in a local R2 model. We further compute the full second order perturbed action around any background belonging to that class. We proceed by extracting the key inflationary parameters of our model such as a spectral index (ns), a tensor-to-scalar ratio (r) and a tensor tilt (nt). It appears that ns remains the same as in the local R2 inflation in the leading slow-roll approximation, while r and nt get modified due to modification of the tensor power spectrum. This class of models allows for any value of r < 0.07 with a modified consistency relation which can be fixed by future observations of primordial B-modes of the CMB polarization. This makes the UV complete R2 gravity a natural target for future CMB probes.

Tablet-based cross-curricular maths vs. traditional maths classroom practice for higher-order learning outcomes

Abstract: This study examined the impact of tablet-based cross-curricular maths activities on the acquisition of higher-order learning outcomes over seven months in twelve third grade classrooms in Slovenia. In the experimental group (N = 124), classroom practice included tablet-based cross-curricular maths activities with post-participation testing to identify the effect on learning outcomes, and observations were conducted to identify the affordance and ergonomic characteristics of tablets for student learning. In the control group (N = 135) maths was taught as a discrete subject with traditional paper and pencil technology using manipulation of concrete objects. Groups were matched with respect to gender, ownership of a tablet computer and previous knowledge and understanding of maths. The instructional design of process-outcome strategies incorporated Bruner's (1966) three stage process with learning outcomes in the cognitive, affective-social and psychomotor domains. The affordance of tablet-based cross-curricular apps was examined with respect to domains of learning and ergonomics. The findings indicate that the tablet supported group had better outcomes, with a small effect size for conceptual knowledge (r = 0.10) and medium effect size for procedural knowledge (r = 0.33) and problem-solving abilities (r = 0.30). The authors therefore argue for the introduction of tablets in schools because their multi-sensory human-computer touch interaction provides interactive manipulatives supporting transition between representations on the concrete, visual and abstract level. The authors concluded that in cross-curricular maths teaching, tablets offers efficient use of resources from different subjects and multiple representations which facilitate learning outcomes in the cognitive, affective-social and psychomotor learning domains.