NATIONAL CENTRE FOR INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTATION

ADVADVANCESANCES ININ BULGARIANBULGARIAN SCIENCESCIENCE

1 2005

Advances in Bulgarian Science

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

Published by National Centre for Information and Documentation 52 A G. M. Dimitriv Blvd 1125 , , Phone: +359 2 817 38 62 http: www.nacid-bg.net e-mail: [email protected]

Editorial board: Vanya Grashkina, Olga Racheva, Yana Panova, Kostadin Tonev, Milen Angelov, Tzvyatko Stoyanov Lyudmila Velkova

Disclaimer The articles are published as provided by their authors, without additional editing.

© National Centre for Information and Documentation 2005 - Publisher © Printing Preparation and Printing by Milena Print Ltd., Sofia, Bulgaria © Cover design by Svetoslav G. Marinov Ltd., Sofia, Bulgaria

2 ○○○○○

Advances in Bulgarian Science

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

We present to you the first issue of the bulletin “Advances in Bulgarian Science” edited by the National Centre for Information and Documentation (NACID).

Science has developed so rapidly over the last century that even the most motivated scientists cannot follow the state of the art in research areas different from their own.

The advances of contemporary science during the last decades are so over- whelming that they can make the broad community believe the fundamental scientific problems are already solved, and the future challenges are not so im- portant. However, we are now facing even more challenging research areas and discoveries in all fields of science.

The nature of science is global, not national or local. Science has neither geo- graphical boundaries, nor state borders. Consequently it has become more than ordinary for scientists from different countries to exchange ideas and maintain joint research activities. Development of electronic communications facilitates these processes as never before.

Fortunately Bulgaria has long lasting traditions in scientific researches and research exchange.

The main objective of this bulletin is to rise the awareness of the interna- tional scientific community about the advances of Bulgarian science and about the Bulgarian researchers who, despite the recent challenges to the national sci- entific system, are furthering the country’s traditions in science with their exper- tise and exceptional motivation. For this they deserve the corresponding respect and decent prospects for their future career.

Vanya Grashkina,

Executive Director

○○○○○ 3

Advances in Bulgarian Science

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ NACID National Centre for Information and Documentation

MAIN OBJECTIVES • NACID is a governmental institution affiliated to the Ministry of Education and Science. NACID collects, processes, maintains and disseminates reference and analytical information to support the national policy in the field of education, science and innovation as well as to support Bulgarian research bodies, individual researchers and SMEs

PRIMARY FIELDS OF ACTIVITIES: ¾ Processing and disseminating bibliographic, reference data and analytical information. ¾ Maintaining specialized databases of scientific production and research resources in Bulgaria. ¾ Providing information about national, European and trans-European research programs. ¾ Providing information to support the process of harmonization of the Bulgarian education and research legislation with European Union ones. ¾ Performing the role of institutional contact point of the Sixth Framework Program in Bulgaria.

INFORMATION PRODUCTS AND SERVICES

‰ NACID offers a large range of information products, including: • Subject profiles; • Reviews; • Bibliographic references; ‰ NACID offers a great variety of information services through its own databases as well as information brokerage to external databases to the following locally maintained own databases: “Bulgarian Science” Databases • “SIRENA”, R&D reports and dissertations; more than 70 000 records • “Scientific and Technical Publications in Bulgaria”, more than 1 600 records. • “Who is Who in Bulgarian Science”- more than 5 500 records. • “Papers”, Number of records: 118 “Science and Industry” Databases • “Partnership for Innovation and Development”. Information about the national Research units. • “Knowledge for Innovations and Development” Information about Bulgarian R&D activities. ƒ The information brokerage services are available upon request, providing access to over 1200 databases from major international commercial host centers, thus providing the research community with a wealth of S&T information. ‰ Central Research and Technical Library services: - Library collections - more than 4 million items/reference - Lending of library materials; books, monographs, serials, dissertations, CD ROM, DVD etc., - Electronic Document Delivery; - Online access to the library catalogues since 1980; - Interlibrary loan; - Searching in electronic catalogues and databases; - More that 9000 users per year.

4 ○○○○○

Advances in Bulgarian Science

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

CONTENTS ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMMES WITH EUROPEAN DIMENSIONS 7

High Level Computational Modeling – a Successful Approach

to Understanding the Behavior and Design of New Materials. 7 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ BULGARIAN ADDED VALUE TO ERA 19

Agrobioinstitute – Centre of Excellence in Plant Biotechnology 19 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ MADE IN BULGARIA WITH EUROPEAN SUPPORT 23

Use of Organogenic-Mineral S ediments from the Bottom of the Black S ea as Ameliorant and for Other Aims. 23

Using Natural Products Such as Pesticides and Growth-regulating Substances. 24

Novel Nematode Lipid Binding Protein from Ascaridia Galli. 25

Method for Real-Time Communication in the Mother Tongue. 25 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ EQUAL IN EUROPEAN RESEARCH AREA 29

BULGARIAN VIPs 29

AWARDS 33

ARTICLES 35 ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

EVENTS 37

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

○○○○○ 5

Advances in Bulgarian Science

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

6 ○○○○○

National Scientific Programmes with European Dimensions

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

NATIONAL SCIENTIFIC PROGRAMMES WITH EUROPEAN DIMENSIONS

HIGH LEVEL COMPUTATIONAL MODELING – A SUCCESSFUL APPROACH TO UNDERSTANDING THE BEHAVIOR AND DESIGN OF NEW MATERIALS

Georgi N. Vayssilov Faculty of Chemistry, University of Sofia, 1126 Sofia, Bulgaria, web site: http://www.chem.uni-sofia.bg/depart/ochem/catalysis/ e-mail: [email protected]

The development of new materials with ex- sity-functional (DF) theory. Nowadays, such com- tensive applications not only in modern technolo- putational modeling provides not only insights gies, but also essentially in all fields of human life towards the understanding of the nature, struc- is one of the main achievements of scientific re- ture, and behavior of the existing systems, but also search in the last decades. The progress in this allows simulation of new imaginary species and field has been promoted by the crucial advances materials that plays a key role in the design and in the fundamental experimental characterization tailoring of new materials with pre-defined prop- techniques, reaching already the single molecular erties. This fascinating ability of the computational and atomic levels, and by the methods for repro- methods to contribute to the elucidation of ducible preparation of ordered molecular, supra- mechanisms and origins of the chemical and molecular or atomic aggregate structures, as well physical processes on the molecular and atomic as for their controlled mani pulation and transfor- levels, and at the same time to assemble, test and mation. These modern experimental approaches upgrade virtual materials in order to acquire spe- make use of a wide variety of physical and chemi- cies with specific desired features, was the reason cal treatments, laser, molecular and ionic beam for our keen interests in the field of computa- techniques, various spectroscopic and microscopic tional chemistry. methods, etc. Contemporary computational ap- The Laboratory of Organic Catalysis [2] at proaches for modeling and simulation of the the Faculty of Chemistry, University of Sofia, was molecular, cluster, and materials structure and established in 1958 by Professor C. Dimitrov. For properties have also a substantial contribution to more than 40 years, the research activities in the the development of new materials. During the last laboratory have been focused on the chemical decade, these methods have become feasible for and catalytic properties of zeolites and related realistic applications to systems of practical inter- micro- and mesoporous materials, and their appli- est essentially owing to the rapid progress in com- cations in chemical industry. Zeolites are a class of puters and fast development of efficient and re- crystalline aluminosilicate materials with precisely liable computational methods and procedures. defined structure of internal pores and cavities The importance of the later achievements was with diameter below 1.5 nm (Fig. 1) and, for this acknowledged by the Nobel Prize in Chemistry reason, they are also called molecular sieves since (1998) to Walter Kohn and John Pople [1] for the these dimensions fit to the size of molecules con- development of computational methods in quan- taining from one to several dozens of atoms. tum chemistry (QC) and particularly for the den- Lately, this class has been extended by crystalline

○○○○○ 7

Advances in Bulgarian Science

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

microporous materials of different compositions, materials. In order to take advantage of the de- particularly phosphates, as well as by a new gen- sign of such new materials with desired proper- eration of well ordered amorphous materials with ties, we also carry out experimental preparation pores wider than 2 nm, the so-called mesoporous and characterization of zeolite-immobilized pho- materials. Due to their peculiar structure and spe- tosensitive organic compounds with defined spec- cific sorbent and catalytic properties, molecular tral and optical properties. Here, I will describe sieves have been traditionally used in petrochemi- some of our recent achievements. Essentially, all cal and detergent industry. However, recent ad- studies have been performed in close cooperation vances in the synthesis of new structures and with several partner groups working either experi- compositions and, particularly, the subsequent tai- mentally or theoretically. All theoretical studies on lored modification of these materials extended zeolites and metal cluster systems were accom- considerably the areas of application of zeolites plished in cooperation with the group of N. Rösch and related materials not only to other branches from the Technical University (TU) of Munich, of chemical industry, but mainly to various hi-tech Germany, which has developed efficient parallel applications where they are used as components DF-based program ParaGauss [9]. On some zeo- in electronic, optical, sensor, etc. devices. The pro- lite-related problems, we have also collaborated ductivity, achievements and international recogni- with the groups of V. Nasluzov from the Institute tion of Bulgarian scientists in the field of micro- of Chemistry and Chemical Technology (ICCT), in and mesoporous materials ensured their out- Krasnoyarsk, , J. A. Lercher from the Techni- standing position, as compared to other fields of cal University of Munich, Germany; and B.C. Gates natural and technical sciences. One can clearly see from the University of California, Davis, USA. We that zeolite research is among the leading re- also work with three Bulgarian groups, that of K. search fields; according to current information Hadjiivanov from the Institute of General and In- from Thomson ISI, five [3-7] of the top eight most organic Chemistry (IGIC) of the Bulgarian Acad- cited Bulgarian papers in chemistry concern stud- emy of Sciences (BAS), Sofia, leading in the experi- ies on zeolites. In order to facilitate the further mental IR characterization of zeolites with probe successful research and international cooperation molecules, that of A. Bojilova from the Faculty of in this area, we are organizing an International Chemistry of the University of Sofia, an expert in Symposium on “Catalytic Processes on Advanced the synthesis and reactivity of coumarin and Micro- and Mesoporous Materials”, which will take phosphonocoumarin derivatives, as well as with place in Nessebar, Bulgaria, S eptember 2-5, 2005 the theoretical group of T. Mineva from the Insti- [8]. tute of Catalysis (IC) of BAS, with whom we share Due to the interesting properties and the common interests in various studied systems and promising future of the microporous and meso- computational approaches. A crucial factor for a porous materials and the abilities of the compu- successful research and international cooperation tational method for materials modeling and de- is the reliable funding of the research activities sign, we directed our research mainly on compu- and here I would like to thank the Bulgarian Na- tational studies of zeolites and similar materials in tional Science Fund for the financial support un- the area of overlap of the computational and der the National Research Program materials chemistry. In particular, we focus on in- Nanotechnologies and New Materials. This new vestigations of the structure, spectral features and generation of research funding programs of the chemical properties of zeolites functionalized with Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science is metal cations, embedded metal clusters or organic very useful for acceleration of modern research molecules. The immobilization of very small tran- in this country since it is oriented towards the sition metal species or functional organic com- hottest scientific and technological areas and al- pounds in suitable micro- and mesoporous mo- lows cooperation between several research lecular sieves with nano- and subnano-size pores groups, creating the basis necessary for innovative is performed to provide reliability, efficiency and multidisciplinary research. The new programs for controlled properties of the obtained complex specific support of research activities in the uni-

8 ○○○○○

National Scientific Programmes with European Dimensions

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ versities and carrier development of junior scien- oxygen atoms [17]. In order to facilitate the ex- tists are also quite timely and we hope that these perimental determination of the zeolite basicity, we encouraging initiatives for strengthening of the tried to establish a connection between the PA national research potential will be further ex- and experimentally measurable quantities that tended with programs for innovation and im- would allow the construction of a general scale provement of the research equi pment and infra- of the basicity of zeolite oxygen centers. For this ∆ structure. We are also grateful to the Alexander purpose, we first investigated the shifts Eb(O1s) von Humboldt Foundation and the Deutsche of the 1s core level of these oxygen centers that Forschungsgemeinschaft, Germany, that have sup- could be measured by X-ray photoelectron spec- ported our joint research with the group of N. troscopy (XPS) [17]. The PA values of oxygen at- Rösch. oms in the studied models and their calculated ∆ First, I will summarize our works on under- core level shifts Eb(O1s) were found to correlate standing the properties of extra-framework metal very well. From the slope of this high quality cor- cations in zeolites. Such cations can be included in relation line we conclude that a negative shift of zeolites during the synthesis or via post-synthetic the O1s binding energy by 1 eV (due to destabili- exchange and typically occupy defined positions zation of the O1s level) implies an increase of the in zeolite cavities (Fig. 2) in the vicinity of Al cen- PA by 82 kJ mol–1. Such a linear correlation has ters in the framework due to the excess of nega- been observed experimentally for the PA and tive charge at the oxygen centers around them Eb(1s) values of a series of oxygen- and nitrogen- [10]. Particular interest in these charge-compen- containing molecules in the gas phase [18]. The sating metal cations is connected, on the one hand, second characteristic feature, which we checked, with their influence on the zeolite framework was the shift of the IR frequency of the OH properties, such as acidity of neighboring OH group of a probe molecule, which forms a hydro- groups and basicity of the oxygen centers from gen bond with the basic site, namely methanol [19, the framework. In this way, by cation exchange, 20]. The shifts of both stretching and deforma- one could control to some extent these important tion O-H vibrational frequencies of methanol properties of the material. On the other hand, the adsorbed on alkali-exchanged zeolites were exchanged metal cations, particularly of transition found to correlate with their calculated PA. After metals, feature a peculiar catalytic activity and se- additional calibration of the calculated PA values lectivity, which often cannot be achieved by non- and comparison with the measured IR frequency exchanged forms of the zeolite catalysts. For this shifts [21] of adsorbed methanol we derived two reason, we studied the location and sorption prop- simple equations allowing experimental determi- erties of a series of alkaline [11,12], alkaline-earth nation of the PA values of zeolite oxygen centers [13] and some transition metal cations [14, 15, 16]. using the IR spectra of adsorbed methanol. Spe- We have shown that smaller alkaline and alka- cific advantage of this approach is the ”experi- line–earth cations, Li+, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, are located mental” determination of the PA value of a par- at the six-membered ring in faujasite (FAU) type ticular type of oxygen centers using simulta- zeolites but their exact location with respect to neously two different experimental numbers, the the framework depends not only on the corre- shifts of O-H stretching and deformation bands, sponding ionic radius but also on the number of thus offering a reduction of the error from the Al atoms in the zeolite ring. measured frequencies. In agreement with the ex- All cations of alkaline, alkaline-earth and periment, our calculations suggested that the pro- transition metals interact stronger with the zeo- ton affinity of oxygen centers in the K+ form of lite oxygen centers bound to the Al atom from the zeolite model are by 23-29 kJ/mol higher than the framework. For this reason, we investigated those of the corresponding Na+ model. As an es- the properties of these O centers and found that timate, the most basic O centers in the Na+ form they are characterized by a higher basicity com- of FAU zeolite were found to have PA similar to pared to other O centers in the zeolites, as evalu- that of ammonia, 885 kJ/mol, while the PA of the ated by the calculated proton affinity (PA) of oxygen centers in the Al-free zeolites is calculated

○○○○○ 9

Advances in Bulgarian Science

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

to be close to that of water. tions of the exchanged metal cations, and some- While alkaline and alkaline-earth cations ex- times this information is even misleading [11]. In ist as bare species coordinated to the basic cen- such cases, substantial experimental information ters of the zeolite framework, the experimental can be obtained from the IR spectra of absorbed establishment of the actual chemical form of probe molecules, particularly CO. As it was re- various other metal cations is often ambiguous. cently reviewed [7], this approach provides direct For instance, cationic zinc species in zeolites could information on the coordination vacancies of the exist in several forms: Zn2+, ZnOH+, [Zn-O-Zn]2+, or cations, hints for their location and mobility in zeo- 2+ Zn(H2O) . The zeolites containing cationic zinc lite channels, as well as their reactivity. In this re- species show much higher activity in the catalytic spect, our computational modeling suggested that dehydrogenation of alkanes to alkenes and aro- the frequency shift of CO adsorbed on Na+ cat- matics, as compared to the zinc-free form of ions in zeolites depends on the number of Al at- HZSM-5 zeolite [22]. Our recent computational oms in the neighboring zeolite ring. We also made modeling [16] of these species located in the an important contribution to the elucidation of channels of ZSM-5 zeolite has shown that the the structure of the cationic rhodium dicarbonyl 2+ most stable form is Zn(H2O) , suggesting a rather complex embedded in the cavities of high desorption energy of water in the complex, dealuminated Y zeolite (DAY). This material is 130-184 kJ/mol, depending on the position of the characterized by two very sharp IR bands of CO Zn2+ cation with respect to zeolite wall. In addition symmetric and antisymmetric modes confirming to this energetic argument, the obtained location the formation of dicarbonyls and implying uni- 2+ + of the Zn(H2O) species and the corresponding form location and structure of the Rh(CO)2 spe- interatomic distances fit to the available experi- cies. However, the combination of experimental IR mental EXAFS data [22]. Since these calculations and EXAFS data does not lead to direct determi- were based on an isolated fragment of the zeo- nation of the location and structure of the com- lite, we are currently investigating the influence of plex in zeolite cavities. With the help of a series the rest of the zeolite framework on the state of of DF model calculations [14], we were able to zinc species, employing the advanced hybrid ap- identify the adsorption complex (Fig. 3) that fits proach covEPE for modeling of zeolite structure best the experimental characteristics obtained by (see below) [23, 24]. Using the obtained structures EXAFS and IR spectroscopy. Excellent correspon- of the four different zinc species, we are also dence between the calculated and experimental working on the derivation of some experimentally frequency shifts of the CO ligands in the complex observable characteristics, such as OH frequency, in encouraged us to address a more complicated species where such groups exist, and IR frequen- problem, i.e., the assignment of an experimental –1 cies of adsorbed molecules, more particularly H2. band at 2093 cm assumed to correspond to For this reason, we are now simulating molecular Rh(CO)+ [25]. Our simulations, however, suggested

sorption and dissociation of H2 on the four types that this band should be assigned to rhodium car- of cationic Zn species that will facilitate the as- bonyl species, which contain additional hydrogen + + signment of the experimentally observed species ligands, e.g., Rh(CO)(H2) or Rh(CO)(H)2 , whereas or, at least, will allow formulation of criteria for the zeolite-supported complex Rh(CO)+ is charac- such discrimination in future experiments. In addi- terized by the IR band observed at 2014 cm–1. tion, upon comparison of the relative stability of The presence of metal cations in zeolite

adsorbed H2, we will make clear which cationic Zn pores determines in various cases their sorption species are expected to be most reactive in disso- properties and can be used for the stable immo-

ciating H2 and which would facilitate the recom- bilization of sorbed organic molecules in zeolites bination to molecular hydrogen, the latter being (Fig. 4a). Our recent calculations [26] on the for- assumed as the rate-determining step [22] in mation of a chelate complex of ethane dehydrogenation. phosphonocoumarin derivatives suggested that In various cases, crystallographic studies do such a complex is rather stable, even with a cat- not provide reliable information about the posi- ion as Na+ (Fig. 4b), which is not a typical complex-

10 ○○○○○

National Scientific Programmes with European Dimensions

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ forming cation. However, when complexes with lytic applications of the material. Precise control of neutral ligands are modeled, one should include the size and uniformity of the metal clusters is not only a bare cation, but also a species repre- much more complicated on “open” surfaces. This senting the counter-anion in order to obtain reli- advantage of the zeolite-supported metal clusters able values for the complex formation energy stimulated us to study their structure and bond- and the correct structure of the complex. Other- ing to the host framework. In particular, we con- wise, the complex formation energy would be sidered encapsulated transition metal clusters be- considerably overestimated. These calculations cause of their industrial importance and because also allowed elucidation of the experimentally ob- precise experimental information is available for served complete regioselectivity for acylation of some of these systems [29, 30]. The measure- the diethylphosphonocoumarin. The detailed elec- ments suggest the clusters with defined nuclearity, tron density distribution and bonding analysis in 4 or 6 metal atoms, in zeolite cages. this study, based on the natural bond orbital We studied most extensively Rh6 clusters analysis (NBO) [27], has shown a particularly high embedded in FAU zeolite [31, 32] since such spe- negative charge, -0.59 e (and a respective higher cies have been experimentally investigated by reactivity) of the carbon atom, which is connected Gates and co-workers [29] with EXAFS, which pro- with strongly positively charged centers, vided estimates for the local coordination and in- phosphonic P and lacton C atoms, and also par- teratomic distances of the Rh atoms in the clus- ticipates in a double C=C bond. ter. The experimental distances were, however, Another substantial part of our research is notably longer than the values obtained by den- directed to modeling of metal clusters supported sity functional modeling for non-reactive adsorp- in zeolite cavities. Supported metal clusters play tion of the bare Rh6 cluster (Fig. 5a), which could an important role in nanoscience and not be explained simply by standard errors from nanotechnology [28] with a variety of applications the experimental fit of the computational in advanced heterogeneous and environmental method. In order to solve this problem, we simu- catalysis, microelectronics, magnetic recording, etc. lated various investigated structures of the clus- A typical application is in the automotive catalysts ter, accounting also for the possible presence of for reducing the car exhaust that contain sup- impurity atoms in the system, namely H, C, and O ported small particles of palladium, platinum, and [32]. Model clusters with C or O impurity atoms rhodium. Other applications of importance in were not considered pertinent due to deviations chemical industry are transformations of alkanes from the experimental findings. However, a struc- and alkenes on transition metal clusters in zeo- ture of the Rh6 cluster covered additionally by lites. Specific application of supported metal clus- three H atoms (Fig. 5b) was found to agree ters is related to production of chemical sensors, closely with the EXAFS interatomic distances, while capable of detecting the presence of molecules in for all other structures such an agreement was the atmosphere by means of their reaction with not observed. The modeling suggested that these the supported metal particle. H atoms originate from the neighboring OH Typically in these applications, the efficiency groups of the zeolite and undergo reverse and often the activity of the material increases spillover onto the metal cluster. This process is ac- with the decrease of the cluster size. For this rea- companied by a partial oxidation of the Rh atoms son, zeolites are very suitable as supports (hosts) bound to the zeolite cluster. In addition, the quan- of such metal particles since the dimensions of tum chemical modeling yielded a notably higher their cavities in nanometer and sub-nanometer stability of the “reactive” structure of the Rh6 scale are strictly limited by the crystallographic cluster covered by H atoms, as compared to the structure that allows an efficient control of the non-reactive case. However, it remained unclear size of metal particles embedded inside the zeo- whether this reactivity of supported Rh6 clusters lite. These strict spatial limitations allow prepara- with OH groups of the support is a peculiarity in- tion of uniform encapsulated metal moieties, herent to rhodium or whether such a phenom- which is crucial for the selectivity in further cata- enon can occur also with other subnano-size clus-

○○○○○ 11

Advances in Bulgarian Science

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

ters of transition metal atoms. In order to answer ligands coordinated to the cluster, we found an this question, we are currently modeling non-reac- expansion of the metal cluster (Fig. 8c). Using the tive and reactive adsorption of hexaatomic clus- obtained energies of binding of the ligands to the

ters of 3d, 4d, and 5d transition metals from Ni3 cluster, we were able to simulate the evolution

Groups 8-11 of the Periodic System, which are of different types of Ni3(N2)x species with an N2 most important for catalytic applications. For partial pressure that predicted destruction of the

these calculations, we used the same method and cluster into mononuclear species for N2:Ni3 ratios

zeolite model as for the embedded Rh6 cluster above 7.

(Fig. 5). Just as for Rh6, we found that the reverse In addition to the investigation of the struc- hydrogen spillover (Fig. 6) from hydroxyl groups ture and chemical features of different types of of the zeolite is energetically strongly preferred catalytic systems or composite materials, we have for most elements of Groups 8–11, by at least 90 participated in the development of a new hybrid

kJ/mol per proton. For Ag6 and Au6, however, this quantum mechanical/molecular mechanical (QM/ energy is much lower. Thus, as concluded earlier MM) approach covEPE (Elastic Polarizable Envi- for Rh [31], it does not seem possible to prepare ronment for materials with covalent polar bonds) bare metal clusters of Groups 8–11 in zeolite cavi- [23, 24]. With such hybrid approaches, one can ties or on a hydroxylated oxide surface. model extended and complex systems employing In order to better understand the interac- high level computational methods for the chemi- tion of the transition metal cluster with the sup- cally relevant part of the system (e.g., active site, port, we studied isolated metal clusters, often metal cluster, etc.) and include explicitly the rest called “gas phase” clusters. Using these models, of the system at a more computationally eco- we first checked the influence of the impurity nomic level, typically at molecular mechanics. The atoms on the cluster magnetism and structure, on main advantage of these combined methods over

the examples of Rh6 and Ni4 clusters. The location the isolated cluster models is the relevant ac- of the H, C, and O atoms inside the cluster was counting for the long-range electrostatic effects found disfavored, compared to the outside loca- of the environment and the short-range con-

tion, even for the larger Rh6 cluster. In all studied straints of the neighboring centers. However, the cases, we found a considerable stabilization of all construction of a QM/MM scheme is not trivial; electronic levels in the ligated clusters and a par- various complications related to the QM/MM in- tial rearrangement of the electron occupation on terface, the coherence in the descri ption of the frontier d and s orbitals of the metal atoms (Fig. modeled system by the used QM and MM meth-

7). For instance, for a Ni4 cluster with C impurity ods, etc., should be taken into account. We turned only, this rearrangement is strong enough to towards the development of a new embedding quench the spin multi plicity of the cluster by a approach for zeolites and covalent oxides since factor of 2 [33]. the available hybrid schemes had some drawbacks, In addition to the binding of an impurity such as introduction of “artificial” atoms on the atom on the metal cluster, we investigated the co- QM/MM border or utilization of too large charges ordination of diatomic molecules [34]. As an ex- [35]. From the very beginning, our scheme [23] ample, the exhaustive study of various coordina- was designed to avoid these (and also other pre- tion structures of 1 to 12 dinitrogen molecules to vious) deficiencies by the construction of a spe-

a Ni3 cluster can be mentioned. Although the N2 cial type of border atoms and parameterization of molecule is rather inert, we found that in the most a new force field for zeolites that employs realis- stable structures it is bound by more than 110 kJ/ tic potential-derived charges. In addition, we ap- mol per ligand, which expands the Ni-Ni bonds. plied special scheme providing self-consistency of The preferred way of bonding of the ligand is the the embedding, developed previously within the linear coordination to a Ni atom (Fig. 8a), but in version of the EPE method for ionic oxides [36]. some structures simultaneous coordination to the The performance of the method was checked for three Ni atoms of the cluster is also rather stable three zeolite structures with different composition

(Fig 8b). With the increase of the number of N2 and simulated structural parameters, vibrational

12 ○○○○○

National Scientific Programmes with European Dimensions

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ frequencies, and acidity of the zeolite materials support of the Stability Pact for South Eastern were found to fit well to the experimentally mea- Europe, several international conferences were sured characteristics. Due to the complexity of the organized in Bulgaria. Our group together with T. problem, this method was developed in coopera- Mineva (IC, BAS) initiated and organized two tion with the groups of N. Rösch (TU Munich) Humboldt Conferences on Computational Chem- and V. Nasluzov (ICCT, Krasnoyarsk). As a result istry in 2002 and 2004 that promoted both the of these joint efforts, now we benefit from the regional cooperation in the field and strength- most consistent and reliable hybrid QM/MM ened our connections with scientists from other scheme for zeolites and covalent oxides. Using parts of Europe. We also organized two bilateral this approach, we recently found that the location German-Bulgarian workshops in 2003 and 2005, of the acidic OH groups in zeolites and the frame- in cooperation with K. Hadjiivanov (IGIC, BAS), and work structure affect their properties stronger with the support of the A. von Humboldt Foun- than the Al content of the zeolite [24]. In addi- dation. Here, I should also mention the generous tion, now we can evaluate the contribution of the support for the organization of the internal semi- distant zeolite framework to the calculated char- nars provided by the National Science Fund within acteristics by comparing the results from isolated the program Nanotechnologies and New Materi- and embedded cluster models. This contribution is als. Accounting for the importance of the train- actually a partial estimate of the error of the iso- ing and communication skills of students and jun- lated cluster calculations for the considered sys- ior scientists in their further carrier development, tem. Such calculations were performed in our since 2001 we have carried out annual Scientific study of the type of cationic Zn species in ZSM-5 Sessions for Undergraduate and Doctoral Stu- zeolite, mentioned above [16]. Due to proper ac- dents in Chemistry with the assistance of the counting of the relaxation of the zeolite frame- Humboldt Union in Bulgaria, the Faculty of Chem- work in covEPE, all types of modeled Zn species istry, the Students’ Council, and the “Evrika” Foun- were bound more stably in the embedded cluster dation. During these events, the partici pants not model, particularly the Zn2+ cation with a differ- only presented their research results, but also got ence in the binding energies of more than 70 kJ/ in touch with the latest achievements of the lead- mol. Currently, we are employing the covEPE ing scientists in Bulgaria, such as Academician P. method for other important materials, zeolites Bontchev, Acad. E. Golovinski and Prof. B. Toshev. containing transition metals in framework posi- The constantly growing number of partici pants in tions as titanium silicalite, and subnanosized metal these national sessions has clearly shown the clusters sorbed inside zeolite cavities. keen interest of the new generation of scientists I do hope that this brief review exemplified in the advances in modern chemistry. the orientation of research groups in Bulgaria to- Finally, I would like to express my gratitude wards the modern fields of science and technol- to the National Center for Information and Docu- ogy and the advanced approaches for their ex- mentation for offering me this special opportunity ploration. In the spirit of contemporary interna- to present our recent research efforts as an ex- tional research, we are working in cooperation on ample of the current research activities in Bulgaria. both national and international levels, expecting successful joint achievements. Particular efforts References are lately focused on the increase of partici pation 1. http://nobelprize.org/chemistry/laureates/1998/ of Bulgarian research groups in the European re- index.html search area in the frame of the 6th Framework 2. http://www.chem.uni-sofia.bg/depart/ochem/ca- talysis/ program, although the very tight competition in 3. K. Hadjiivanov „Identification of Neutral and FP6 discourages many good teams in this coun- Charged NxO y Surface Species by IR Spectroscopy“, Catal. try. We have also restored the organization of Rev. - Sci. Eng. 42 (2000) 71. scientific meetings and conferences, which is an- 4. G. N. Vayssilov «Structural and Physico-Chemical Features of Titanium Silicalites», Catal. Rev. - Sci. Eng. 39 other important part of the national and interna- (1997) 209. tional collaboration. In recent years, owing to the 5. K. Hadjiivanov, J. Saussey, J.L. Freysz, J.C. Lavalley „FT-

○○○○○ 13

Advances in Bulgarian Science

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

IR Study of NO+O2 co-Adsorption on H-ZSM-5 Reassign- Ommen, N. Rösch, J.A. Lercher “Interaction of Methanol ment of the 2133 cm-1 Band to NO+ Species“, Catal. Lett. with Alkali Metal Exchanged Molecular Sieves. I. IR Spec- 52 (1998) 103. troscopy Study”, J. Phys. Chem. B, 104 (2000) 8624. 6. S. Mintova, N.H. Olson, V. Valtchev, T. Bein „Mecha- 22. J.A. Biscardi, G.D. Meitzner, E. Iglesia “Structure and nism of Zeolite A Nanocrystal Growth from Colloids at Density of Active Zn Species in Zn/H-ZSM5 Propane Aro- Room Temperature“, Science 283 (1999) 958. matization Catalysts”, J. Catal. 179 (1998) 192. 7. K. I. Hadjiivanov, G. N. Vayssilov „Characterization of 23. V. A. Nasluzov, E. A. Ivanova, A. M. Shor, G. N. Oxide Surfaces and Zeolites by Carbon Monoxide as an Vayssilov, U. Birkenheuer, N. Rösch “Elastic Polarizable En- IR Probe Molecule“, Adv. Catal. 47 (2002) 307. vironment Cluster Embedding Approach for Covalent 8. For more details: http://www.chem.uni-sofia.bg/ Oxides and Zeolites Based on a Density Functional micro2005/ Method”, J. Phys. Chem. B, 107 (2003) 2228. 9. T. Belling, T. Grauschopf, S. Krüger, F. Nörtemann, M. 24. E. A. Ivanova-Shor, A. M. Shor, V. A. Nasluzov, G. N. Staufer, M. Mayer, V.A. Nasluzov, U. Birkenheuer, A. Hu, A.V. Vayssilov, N. Rösch “Effects of the Aluminum Content of Matveev, A.M. Shor, M.S.K. Fuchs-Rohr, K.M. Neyman, D.I. a Zeolite Framework: A DFT/MM Hybrid Approach Based Ganyushin, T. Kerdcharoen, A. Woiterski, A. B. Gordienko, S. on Cluster Models Embedded in an Elastic Polarizable En- Majumder, N. Rösch, PARAGAUSS, version 3.0, Technische vironment”, J. Chem. Theory Comput., (2005) in the press Universität München, 2004. 25. H. Miessner „Surface Chemistry in a Zeolite Matrix 10. G. N. Vayssilov «Quantum Chemical Modeling the - Well-Defined Dinitrogen Complexes of Rhodium Sup- Location of Extraframework Metal Cations in Zeolites», ported on Dealuminated Y-zeolite” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 116 Chapter 2 in Theoretical Aspects of Heterogeneous Ca- (1994) 11522. talysis, M. A. C. Nascimento (editor), Kluwer, Dordrecht, 26. N. Petkova, G. N. Vayssilov, R. Nikolova, A. Bojilova 2001, pp. 29. «Key role of the complex with counter cation for acyla- 11. G. N. Vayssilov, M. Staufer, T. Belling, K. M. Neyman, tion of diethylphosphonocoumarin under hydrogenation H. Knözinger, N. Rösch «Density Functional Studies of Al- conditions», (2005) submitted. kali-exchanged Zeolites. Cation Location at Six-rings of 27. NBO Version 3.1, E.D. Glendening; A.E. Reed, J.E. Car- Different Aluminium Content», J. Phys. Chem. B, 103 penter, F. Weinhold, A. E. Reed, L.A. Curtiss and F. Weinhold, (1999) 7920. Chem. Rev., 88 (1988) 899. 12. G. N. Vayssilov, A. Hu, U. Birkenheuer, N. Rösch 28. H.-J. Freund “Clusters and Islands on Oxides: from «Dinitrogen as Probe Molecule of Alkali-Exchanged Zeo- Catalysis via Electronics and Magnetism to Optics”, Surf. lites. A Density Functional Study», J. Molec. Catal. A, 162, Sci., 500 (2002) 271. (2000) 135. 29. W. A. Weber, B. C. Gates “Hexarhodium Clusters in 13. G. N. Vayssilov, N. Rösch «Influence of Alkali and NaY Zeolite: Characterization by Infrared and Extended Alkaline Earth Cations on the Brønsted Acidity of Zeo- X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Spectroscopies”, J. Phys. lites», J. Phys. Chem. B, 105 (2001) 4277. Chem. B 101 (1997) 10423. 14. J. F. Goellner, B. C. Gates, G. N. Vayssilov, N. Rösch 30. J. Guzman, B. C. Gates “Supported Molecular Cata- «Structure and Bonding of a Site-Isolated Transition lysts: Metal Complexes and Clusters on Oxides and Zeo- Metal Complex: Rhodium Dicarbonyl in Highly lites”, Dalton Trans. (2003) 3303. Dealuminated Zeolite Y», J. Am. Chem. Soc. 122 (2000) 31. G. N. Vayssilov, B. C. Gates, N. Rösch “Oxidation of 8056. Supported Rhodium Clusters from Surface Hydroxyl 15. G. N. Vayssilov, N. Rösch «A New Interpretation of Groups of the Support” Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Eng. 42 the IR Bands of Supported Rh(I) Monocarbonyl Com- (2003) 1391. plexes», J. Am. Chem. Soc. 124 (2002) 3783. 32. G. N. Vayssilov, N. Rösch “Free and Zeolite-Sup- 16. H. A. Aleksandrov, G. N. Vayssilov, N. Rösch “Theo- ported Hexarhodium Clusters Affected by Adsorbed retical Investigation of Zn-containing Species in Pores of Light Atoms”, J. Phys. Chem. B, 108 (2004) 108. ZSM-5 Zeolites”, Stud. Surf. Sci. Catal. (2005) in the press. 33. P. St. Petkov, G. N. Vayssilov, S. Krüger, N. Rösch 17. G. N. Vayssilov, N. Rösch «Density Functional Stud- “Structure, Stability, Electronic and Magnetic Properties of

ies of Alkali-exchanged Zeolites. Basicity and Core Level Ni4 Clusters Containing Impurity Atoms”, in preparation. Shifts of Framework Oxygen Atoms.», J. Catal., 186, (1999) 34. H. A. Aleksandrov, G. N. Vayssilov, N. Rösch “Theo-

423. retical Investigation of the Coordination of N2 Ligands to 18. B.E. Mills, R.L. Martin, D.A. Shirley “Further Studies of the Cluster Ni3”, J. Phys. Chem. B, 108 (2004) 6127. Core Binding Energy-Proton Affinity Correlation in Mol- 35. M. Sierka, J. Sauer “Combining Quantum Mechan- ecules” J. Am. Chem. Soc. 98 (1976) 2380. ics and Interatomic Potential Functions in Ab Initio Stud- 19. G. N. Vayssilov, J. A. Lercher, N. Rösch «Interaction ies of Extended Systems’ J. Comput. Chem. 21 (2000) of Methanol with Alkali-Exchanged Molecular Sieves. II. 1470. Density Functional Study», J. Phys. Chem. B, 104 (2000) 36 V. A. Nasluzov, V. V. Rivanenkov, A. B. Gordienko, K. 8614. M. Neyman, U. Birkenheuer, N. Rösch “Cluster Embedding 20. G. N. Vayssilov, N. Rösch «Determination of the in an Elastic Polarizable Environment: Density Functional Basicity of Alkali-Exchanged Molecular Sieves», Phys. Study of Pd Atoms Adsorbed at Oxygen Vacancies of Chem. Chem. Phys., 4 (2002) 146. MgO(001)”, J. Chem. Phys. 115 (2001) 8157. 21. M. Rep, A.E. Palomares, G. Eder-Mirth, J.G. van

14 ○○○○○

National Scientific Programmes with European Dimensions

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

Figure 1. Framework structures of MFI (a) and BEA (b) zeolites.

Figure 2. Sketch of the cationic positions at four-membered (a) and six-membered (b) rings of FAU zeolite framework. Atoms partici pating in the fragment of the zeolite framework used in computational modeling are shown as balls.

○○○○○ 15

Advances in Bulgarian Science

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

+ Figure 3. Structure and location of Rh (CO)2 complex in dealuminated Y zeolite determined by DF modeling and comparison with experimental spectra.

Figure 4. Sketch for the immobilization of the organic compound in zeolite cavity by formation of chelate complex with extraframework metal cation (a). Corresponding model calculations are performed with larger phosphonocoumarine molecule and isolated (b) or coordinated to acetate anion cation.

16 ○○○○○

National Scientific Programmes with European Dimensions

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

a b

Figure 5. Structure of Rh6 cluster embedded in Y zeolite without migration of the protons from the zeolite OH groups (a) and after migration of the protons onto the metal cluster (b).

Figure 6. Structure of Cu6 cluster embedded in Y zeolite without migration of the protons from the zeolite OH groups (a) and after migration of the protons onto the metal cluster (b).

○○○○○ 17

Advances in Bulgarian Science

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

Figure 7. Density of states (DOS) plot for Ni4 (a) and Ni4C (b) clusters. The contributions of the frontier s and d orbitals of Ni atoms are shown in red and blue, respectively.

a) b)

c)

Figure 8. Optimized structures of Ni3 cluster with 3 (a), 5 (b) and 7 (c) N2 ligand molecules.

18 ○○○○○

Bulgarian Added Value to ERA

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

BULGARIAN ADDED VALUE TO ERA

ABI - AGROBIOINSTITUTE - CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE IN PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY

Address: 8, Dragan Tsankov Blvd., 1164 Sofia, BULGARIA, Tel.: +359 2 963 54 07, Fax: +359 2 963 54 08, E-mail: [email protected]

AGROBIOINSTITUTE (ABI) is an indepen- pean Plant Science Organization (EPSO). dent state administrative institution formed un- · Since 2002 ABI is a member of European der the supervision of National Center of Agri- Federation of Biotechnology (EFB). cultural Sciences (NCAS), under the Ministry of · In 2002 ABI was selected as a sub-re- Agriculture and Forestry. It was formed in 2000 gional centre for Eastern Europe in the field of as a result of reorganization in NCAS and incor- regulations and control of GMO. poration of the Institute of Floriculture, Negovan and the Central Experimental Station, Samokov MANAGEMENT with the Institute of Genetic Engineering (IGE). Director: Under the new system ABI is trying to Prof. Atanas Ivanov Atanassov conduct flexible research programs with the mis- (Prof. Dr. Sci., Member of Bulgarian Acad- sion of promoting the development of sustain- emy of Sciences, Member of Agricultural able agriculture and forestry compatible with the Academy of the Ukraine, Member of Agri- environmental preservation but not ignoring the cultural Academy of Russia, Doctor Honoris opportunities that the modern plant biotechnol- Causa of Agricultural University and Vet- ogy offers. erinary Medicine, Kluj-Napoca, )

MILESTONES Address: · Since 1995 ABI represents Bulgaria at 8, Dragan Tsankov” Blvd., the International Centre of Genetic Engineering 1164 Sofia and Biotechnology (I.C.G.E.B.), Trieste, . BULGARIA · Since 1995 former IGE (ABI) is a mem- Phone: +359 2 963 54 07 ber of Norman Borlaug Institute for Plant Re- Fax: +359 2 963 54 08 search at the De Montfort University (DMU), Le- Mobile 0888714154 icester, UK, together with institutes and universi- E-mail: [email protected] ties from UK, Czech Republic and China. · In 1999 the Institute was selected as a AGROBIOINSTITUTE is the only research Centre of Excellence in the frames of INCO 2, FP5 institute in the country, whose activities are gov- EC Program, responsible for co-ordination of sci- erned by the International Consultative Council entific investigations and training in the field of (ICC) (VIII-th ICC will take place on October 1– plant biotechnology on the national and regional 2, 2005). Leading world-recognized scientists in level. the field of plant biotechnology are included. · Since 2000 ABI is a member of Euro- Members of the National Council of ABI are also

○○○○○ 19

Advances in Bulgarian Science

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

included in the staff of the ICC. According to International funds: the decision of the First meeting of ICC in 1988 · Bilateral cooperation 12 projects and the scientific policy of the Institute, guests (Belgium, China, , Japan, , Vietnam) (national and international) may take part in the · GEF/UNEP 1 project meetings, too. · NATO 2 projects · EC FP 5 6 projects RESOURCES (three of them already finished) In March 2003 AgroBioInstitute (ABI) · EC FP 6 4 projects moved from Kostinbrod to Sofia. Now, experi- · COST Actions 9 projects mental work is carried out in the new premises Annual budget of ABI during the recent of AgroBioTech Park (joint initiative between ABI three years is about 800 000 EURO. and Faculty of Biology, Sofia University “St. Kl. The structure of ABI is very flexible. Ohridski”). Working groups are the main research struc- There is complete and rather new modern tural units. At present there are 14 working biotech equi pment for in vitro culturing and groups. Research topics are as under: analysis in ABI – Department Sofia. Research A. Development of systems for direct and and technical staff is trained in leading foreign indirect in vitro regeneration and somatic em- plant biotech laboratories and successfully uses bryogenesis of economically important crops modern methods and technologies for the main (diploid and tetraploid Medicago sp., cereals, veg- crop species: (i) in vitro regeneration; (ii) gene etables (tomato, pepper, etc.), Vitis sp., ornamen- cloning and transfer; (iii) molecular markers; (iv) tal and oil rose, small fruits, herbs, flax, medicinal analysis of transgenic plants; (v) techniques and and ornamental plants) - molecular and cellular methods for clonal micropropagation and diag- aspects. nosis, etc. B. Engineering of abiotic (drought, tem- Tissue Culture Lab near Negovan is built in perature, heavy metals, herbicides etc.) and biotic 1986 both to establish new technologies for (disease’, parasitic plants, etc.) stress resistance in micropropagation of virus free planting material model (tobacco) and various crop plants (barley, and to develop protocols for regeneration and wheat, maize). Parasitic plant management in clonal micropropagation of different ornamental sustainable agriculture. Development of systems species. There are arable lands to produce orna- for fast screening and evaluation for stress re- mentals and potatoes in other two departments. sponse. Genomic studies of model stress toler- Total staff of ABI numbers 97 persons. ant plants. The research staff is a multidisci plinary team of C. Genetic transformation (direct and indi- 42 well-trained specialists: 20 – senior research- rect gene transfer) for crop improvement: (i) ers and 22 – researchers. 162 specializations in 20 tetraploid alfalfa, wheat, barley, maize, etc. – for countries are realized during 1985 – 2003. The food and feed quality; (ii) production of thera- institute is accredited to teach PhD students on peutic proteins (hLF) (in barley and tetraploid al- GENETICS, PLANT PROTECTION and ORNAMEN- falfa); (iii) fiber quality – in flax; (iv); rose, car- TAL PLANTS. At present there are 23 PhD stu- nation and Antirrhinum majus - for improvement dents in ABI. of ornamental traits. The list of current (2005) projects of D. Development and application of SSR AGROBIOINSTITUTE includes: and TD markers in Vitis sp., Rose sp., small fruits, barley, wheat and maize for variety identification National funds: and MAS for food and feed quality improve- · National Center of Agricultural Sciences ment and abiotic stress factors. - 23 projects E. Evaluation of the quality (protein, fat, fi- · National Council “Scientific Investigations” bers, ash and moisture content) of crops and - 9 projects agricultural products and development of spe-

20 ○○○○○

Bulgarian Added Value to ERA

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ cific calibration models for NIRS detection of ge- practical contribution of ABI to the Bulgarian ag- netically modified plant material (GMO) by Near riculture especially for the farmers and entrepre- Infrared Spectroscopie (NIRS analysis) neurs. F. Good agricultural practices for optimiz- For several years the Institute is coordinat- ing of variety trials in conformity with the EC-di- ing the activities related to the development and rectives and reduction of soil erosion by “re- implementation of the National biosafety duced-tillage” cultivation technique. framework for utilization of genetically G. Gene bank of vegetatively propagated modified organisms (GMO). For its activities species (Vitis sp., ornamental and oil rose, small and initiatives in the area of Biosafety in 1999 fruits, herbs). Identification & Detection of Virus ABI was selected as a Sub-regional Centre for Diseases – by grafting and serological analyses Eastern Europe in the field of regulations and (ELISA), DNA identification, somaclonal variation, control of GMO. clonal micropropagartion and long-term in vitro Alliances/Partners Sought: storage in low temperatures. ABI dedicates its work to multidisci plinary H. Development and adoption of strategic research, combining the traditional biological and documents on biosafety (GMO laws). Develop- breeding approaches with techniques relevant to ment of a system for handling requests for per- functional genomics, looking for biological pro- mits for certain activities with GMOs, as con- cess by which we can design better crops with tained use, releases into the environment and higher-yield, low-impact agriculture, but also to placing on the market. The system provides for the development of novel products valuable for administrative handling, risk assessment, decision- their food quality and friendly to human health making and public partici pation. Development of and environment. The institute is looking for systems for enforcement and monitoring, public partners for joint venture projects, product de- information and public partici pation, i.e. systems velopment and scientific co-operation and ex- for providing information to stakeholders and in- change that will further support the main scien- volve them in the development and implementa- tific and scientifically applied priorities of the or- tion of the national biosafety framework. Devel- ganization as: opment of national biosafety database · Creation of a database bank for the avail- I. Participation of the Bulgarian Biotechnol- able biodiversity of collections of plant re- ogy Information Center (Bg BIC), as a pilot ini- sources, forms and plant lines; molecular-ge- tiative within the frame of Global Knowledge netic assessment of their suitability for including Center on Plant Biotechnology, in the Interna- into the selection process as well as their use in tional S ervice for the Acquisition of Agri-biotech practice; Applications (ISAAA, www.isaaa.org). BgBIC is a · Creation of a database bank for the avail- part of a global network of 13 similar centers able varieties, hybrids and animal breeds; spread on four continents: Asia, Africa, Latin assessment of their commercial value and possi- America and Europe. The AgroBioTech Park bility for their genetic improvement; creation of (ABTP) – a joint initiative between the AgroBio- molecular marker systems for the purpose of ef- Institute (National Center of Agricultural Sci- fective realization in practice of the plant variet- ences) and the Faculty of Biology (Sofia Univer- ies and animal breeds with high productive po- sity) host BgBIC. ABTP was officially opened in tential; 2003. · Creation of seed and planting material AgroBioInstitute was able to come to part from local and introduced sorts and hybrid of our efforts on the official establishment and plants, appropriate for the purposes of the alter- operation of Accredited laboratory in regard to native and/or organic agriculture; the evaluation and testing of phytosanitary sta- · Creation of technologies for effective manu- tus, genetic authenticity, DNA detection and for- facturing of biological (ecological) products and age quality of plants. It will definitely strengthen safe foods; analysis and assessment of the ex-

○○○○○ 21

Advances in Bulgarian Science

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

isting methods for biosafety and control re- quality of the seed and planting material for garding their timely use in the systems of organic agricultural crops, assessment of the existing and intensive agriculture; but not used at the moment genetic diver- · Use of biotech methods connected with sity of wild and/or crop ecotypes. The aim is microclonal propagation, analysis of the plant for them to be included in the genome programs health and genetic status with the purpose of and/or to be used directly for selection of plant improving the existing technologies for acceler- varieties suitable for alternative agriculture; ated creation of quality base and super elite · Developing and/or adapting of effective seed and planting material from economically systems for genetic cloning and genetic important agricultural crops and herbs. transfer necessary for the genetic–breeding · Creation of a working system for coop- programs for plants and animals; eration between scientific-applied laborato- · Creation of data bank of the available ries and final consumers of seed and planting genetic resources in animal breeding and es- material; pecially of the becoming extinct and threatened · Development and applying of contemporary with extinction native animals. approaches based on DNA molecular markers, · Developing systems for restoring the improving effectiveness of the breeding pro- threatened with extinction local populations cess, saving and keeping the purity and due to small volume.

22 ○○○○

Made in Bulgaria with European Support

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

MADE IN BULGARIA WITH EUROPEAN SUPPORT

Use of Organogenic-mineral Sediments from the Bottom of the Black Sea as Ameliorant and for Other Aims

Prof. Petko Dimitrov Institute of Oceanology, P.O. Box 152, 9000 Varna, BULGARIA

Area of application: Agriculture dioactive elements. It stimulates growth of plants, Scientific teams from the Institute of accelerates their ri pening, increases yields, neutral- Oceanology – BAS in Varna and Agriculture Uni- izes soil acidity and increases their moisture ab- versity in Plovdiv are working jointly on the prob- sorption. The ameliorant is a deep-water Black lem of using deepwater organogenic-mineral de- S ea sapropel with the following composition, in posits (sapropel, diatomitic and cocolithic oozes %: Corg 3,SiO2 3.13, CaO 14.5, MgO 2.75, Fe2O3 4.57, disposed at 500 to 2200 meters depth at the Al2O3 11.6, P2O3 1.32, TiO2 0.4, chloroform extract Black S ea bottom) as ameliorant for soils and 0.35, ethanolacetone-benzene extract 1:1:1 0.30, substrates. Cu 0.03, Cr 0.0125, Mn 0.0365, Zn 0.0085, Mo From 1997 to 2004 were carried out a se- 0.0175, Co 0.0155, Ni 0.0073, Li 0.0025, Sr 0.0061 ries of experiments on different agricultures as and V 0.0088. wheat, tomatoes, pepper, eggplants, oleaginous 7 papers presenting the problem with the rose and others. alternative raw materials used as ameliorant for Reasons for these joint research investiga- soil and substrate improver were reported dur- tions give: ing the First International Workshop which was · The presence of inexhaustible reserves held from October 23rd to October 26th, 2004 in of alternative materials appropriate for improve- Varna, in the frames of European project within ment of soils; the 5th Framework (2003–2006) ASSEMBLAGE · Eventual exploitation of these materials (Assessment of the Black S ea sedimentary sys- will not give negative consequences for marine tem since the Last Glacial Extreme). These papers environment; will be presented to the attention of EU experts · The existed technical base for their ex- in the beginning of 2005. traction for scientific and technological tests; They are looking for possibilities for coop- · The policy of European Union concerning eration in the system of BAS, EU and private agricultural needs, search for new alternative raw firms for introduction of the ameliorant in rural materials for improvement of the soil structure economy. aiming ecologic agricultural production. The patent for invention No. 63868 is is- · The present-day condition of the soils in sued on April 30, 2003 http://www.bpo.bg/ab- our country needs a new approach for their im- stracts/pdf/2003/2003-04-p.pdf. provement and recultivation. Besides as an ameliorant for soils and sub- The ameliorant is applicable for reclaiming strates this alternative raw material can be used acid, microelement-poor and destroyed soils, as in ceramic industry, mud-cure, pharmacy and cos- well as a substrate improver and also for metics as well as filters for purification of wa- recultivation of soils polluted with heavy and ra- ters and gases, etc.

○○○○ 23

Advances in Bulgarian Science

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

Using Natural Products Such as Pesticides and Growth-regulating Substances

Ass. Prof. Georgi T. Georgiev, MD, Academician M. Popov Institute of Physiology of Plants, Acad. Georgi Bonchev Str., Bl. 21, 1113 Sofia, BULGARIA

Area of application: Biologic farming cits to different nutrition elements. Two new The growing requirements to making food modifications are being developed at the mo- products in the recent years lead to the restric- ment. At the same time a team dealing with tion of the synthetic pesticides application or to ethereal-oil and medical plants shaped up in the their full elimination in organic farming. Recently recent 10 years. The influence of various growth developed and proposed, the so-called Inte- regulators for increasing the quantity and qual- grated Pest Management (IPM) programme ity of ethereal oils is monitored, chemical activity aims at embracing the issue maximally by using of isolated oils and vegetable extracts, their im- different approaches. Biological pest-control in- pact on elimination of the harmful influence of cluding utilization of various allelochemicals – some herbicides, as well as the growth-regulat- herbicides, insecticides, repellents, phytoalexines ing and pesticide properties of these natural and fungicides, is the basic strategy in this chemical substances are studied. As a result of programme. European legislation also focuses on these investigations, an agrotechnology was de- the restriction of the use of synthetic chemical veloped for influencing the growth and develop- substances (fertilizers and pesticides) and stimu- ment of different types of wheat cultures as lating the development of alternative methods well as for carrying out pesticide control with the for protecting and growing farming cultures help of various plant extracts and ethereal oils (Council Regulation no. 2092/91; Law on Envi- from plants belonging to the families Labiatae, ronmental Protection No. 137/1995). As an an- Compositae, Cupressaceae, Malvaceae and swer to these requirements the recent years in Umbelliferae. Bulgaria experienced the onset of the production Studying the impact of vegetable extracts of various preparations made from natural com- from species belonging to the family Malvaceae ponents. In answer to the pressing need of de- on sprouts of plants (soya, beans, sunflower, veloping new technologies for the production maize and barley) treated with the Fluridon her- and estimation of preparations applied in agricul- bicide, Iliev et al. (Patent No 64220 B1/2004) es- ture with a view to obtaining ecologically clean tablished that the extracts eliminate the blocking products, in the 1980s a team from the Institute effect of the herbicide on carotenoid biosynthe- of Physiology of Plants created new original sis (“bleaching” effect) and help the fast recov- technologies for obtaining and practical utiliza- ery of the damaged plants. In the different vari- tion of Lactofol leaf suspension fertilizers. The ants for establishing an allelopathic effect, elimi- suspensions are a new generation of complex nation of the herbicide-induced changes after leaf fertilizers in which all the metal ions are treating with vegetable extracts is observed. As bound to lactic acid that, after its assimilation by early as after the very beginning of sprouting, up the plants, directly enters the metabolism and to the 2nd or 3rd leaf in monocotyledonous and there are no remains of organic solvents in the up to the 1st or 2nd true leaf in dicotyledonous production. Lactofol products have been regis- cultures, visible greening of the leaf mass occurs. tered by the Ministry of Agriculture and have Recorded in each of the following phases of been applied both in Bulgaria and in many other development are: an increase of chlorophyll and countries in the course of many years. Licensed soluble protein content in the leaves, of the in- so far are 8 modifications adapted in agriculture tensity of 14ÑÎ2-fixation and of chlorophyll with a view to the availability of items, the speci- fluorescence. As a consequence of the allelo- ficity of the climate, the soils and the phase defi- pathic effect, stimulation of the growth of the

24 ○○○○

Made in Bulgaria with European Support

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ sprouts and the roots is also observed, as well as various phytotoxic factors is of major impor- an increase of the fresh and dry weight of the tance for the protection of the environment and vegetative mass. The use of biologically active especially for the development of organic farm- substances of vegetable origin for protecting the ing, which is a priority in the common agricultural cultural species of plants from the impact of policy of the European Union.

Novel Nematode Lipid Binding Protein from Ascaridia galli

Associate Professor Ilia Bankov, DSc, PhD Rositsa Jordanova Institute of Experimental Pathology and Parasitology Akad. Georgi Bonchev Str., Bl. 25,1113 Sofia, BULGARIA

Area of application: Parasitology functions suggest that this novel LBP plays an im- The Institute of Experimental Pathology portant role in lipid transport of the parasites and and Parasitology at the Bulgarian Academy of might be involved in parasite-host interactions and Sciences made a novel 55kDa LBP (Li pid Binding for receiving of immunological biopreparations. Protein) (ag50) (GenBank No AY587609) from This work has been presented at IX European the nematode Ascaridia galli. It was first identified Multicolloquium of Parasitology held on July 18- as a LBP by its high binding affinity to [14Ñ] palm- 23, 2004 in Valencia, Spain. European Federation of itic acid. The partial amino acid sequence was ob- Parasitologists conducts these multicolloquiums tained by direct N-terminal sequencing of the every 4 years. Concurs of the best presented re- native protein, combined with protease digestion ports by young scientists was announced. Jury of and sequencing of the internal peptides. Based on outstanding scientists awarded the first prize in these data, primers could be designed and the section “Basic investigations” to PhD student full-length cDNA sequence was obtained. S e- Rositsa Jordanova from the Institute of Experi- quence analysis revealed the presence of the sig- mental Pathology and Parasitology. Her report nal peptide of 25 amino acid residues at the N- entitled “Novel Nematode Li pid Binding Protein terminus and a conserved FAR (fatty acid and from Ascaridia galli: Structural and Functional retinoid binding) domain at the C-terminus. Studies” provoked keen interest. Part of the inves- Ag50 revealed no significant homologies to tigations has been conducted in Bulgaria and the other described LBPs. That is why it proposed other part in the Institute of Tropical Medicine ag50 as a novel parasitic LBP class. The wide oc- and EMBL, Hamburg, Germany and were financed currence of ag50 in Ascaridia galli, highly restricted by the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Sci- li pid metabolism in nematodes and its affinities to ences, DAAD, DFG and Marie Curie Training Site- hydrophobic ligands with different metabolic EMBL, Hamburg.

Method for Real-time Communication in the Mother Tongue

Koycho Mitev E-mail: [email protected]; phone: +359 82 272436, mobile: 0887879330, BULGARIA

Constant pursuit of counteraction to achieved by inventing new ones. Contemporary threats, overcoming difficulties and discovering complex and global problems, one of which is in- new possibilities for development are inherent in ternational terrorism, may also be approached by human nature. The mankind has sought for other decisions to counteracting. resolution of its key problems through known If we look over the possibilities from sci- approaches, but more often success has been entific and philosophical point of view, they con-

○○○○ 25

Advances in Bulgarian Science

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

tain two components: cause and effect, manda- Please let me enjoy the privilege as a tory integrated with cause and effect chain. The leader of this team to offer to your attention same refers to political decisions - possible ap- the main technical essence of this solution, which proaches for action here are: may also appear a powerful weapon to fight the 1. Struggle with the consequences of facts, in- terrorism. evitably originating in real life and/or Our solution suggests the use of the al- 2. Struggle with the cause of origin of a nega- ready implemented technical decisions based on tive phenomena. The chain of cause and effect phone, computer and the Internet. is the social and political environment and the I would make an effort to explain the es- degree of information on this environment. sence of the solution, patented by Patent BG The war with international terrorism from 63704 B1 - 04.10.2002 (Remarkably, exactly on strategic point of view should above all be a this date John Atanassov, the Bulgarian who in- struggle with the causes for existence of terror- vented the first computer was born). ism. The causes lay in the social environment and The patented invention has a working title its exceptionally limited level of information. Method for Communication in the Mother The knowledge about the values of the Tongue. Awarding of the patent suggests the others is missing. There is a wall between availability of three features at the same time: these two worlds and it should be torn down. world novelty, a step ahead in the devel- Communication between the values is absent. opment of a specific problem, e.g. communica- The system of communication is facing the wall tions, and industrial applicability. of the huge language diversity and impossibility The invention is industrial property of the for everyone to learn many foreign languages in authors-claimants. We aimed at checking order to communicate with the others. whether there are common things between all In his book “The Road Ahead” Bill Gates the languages and dialects all around the world. says “…the developed communication systems Differences between all the 6800 languages offer to enlarging the resemblance between the worldwide are obvious. Many of these languages different countries and to diminishing the signifi- are disappearing and we never think about it. If cance of the national boundaries. The facsimile the process proceeds, we have to create a “Red machine, portable video camera and the cable Book of the Disappearing Languages” in the vis- news network CNN are amongst the powers that ible future. The impact of this onto our common forced the end of the communist regimes and future would be even heavier than the extinction the cold war, as due to them became possible for of animal and vegetable species. the news to pass through the Iron Curtain in We should never let this happen. both directions. Most of the information in the The aim of the inventors was to find out Internet now is in English and it will bring eco- a common tool to communicate in the mother nomical and entertainment benefits to all tongue, which will make all the languages and around the world who speak English. English- dialects equal. This kind of communication will speaking people will enjoy advantages until permit tolerant dialogue between religions, ra- translation software becomes better and a large cial and ethnical communities. Right after the amount of content is published in different lan- awarding of the patent on 04.10.2002, the news guages, or until the software starts to handle was disseminated by the Bulgarian media and by with the high-ranked task to translate the text France Press Agency to Canada, Africa, India, Aus- in real time.’’ tralia, Brazil, etc. Eight years ago a team of inventors as- International jury of the exhibition of In- signed themselves a task to look for a possibility ventions, research and innovations, East West of organizing software for real time commu- Euro Intellect’03 awarded the invention the nication in the mother tongue, with the help of John Atanassov Grand Prix. computing devices. The invention is built on the common fea-

26 ○○○○

Made in Bulgaria with European Support

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ tures of human speech, but not on the immense goods. diversities between them. We believe this is the · The task for voice recognition has already right approach in the political dialogue - to look been given a scientific solution. Now everyone for what integrates us, not for the differences. can pronounce to his/her cellular phone the Here are some of the main features of name of the respondent and the device will au- the invention: tomatically write out the phone number. In our · The discovered method consists of NEW case, the phone will transcribe into its memory DIGITAL LITERACY, UNKNOWN BY NOW, com- the phonetic equivalent of the words to their mon for all the languages and dialects around digital code. the world. Mathematics as well as the figures · Each language and dialect may receive its from 0 to 9 carry the same information in all the unique digital code. The device will recognize the languages. words from the relevant language having set the · Digital script is an equivalent computer me- kind of the language, as in case with the country dia to the already familiar graphic means to de- phone codes. The familiar word processing soft- pict human speech, like Latin, Cyrillic, Greek, Arab, ware has also settled this task. Hebrew, Chinese, Japanese, Korean alphabet, etc. · The device for processing the human speech Any other graphic scri pt is equal to the digital translation with the help of the digital scri pt may computer scri pt. be a small electronic chi p, post stamp size, inside · Regardless of the language origin, the sen- the telephone receiver or the microphones, e.g. in tence is the basic component of human speech, the European Parliament or the UN General As- which is significant for communication. sembly. The mother tongue communication via · Each kind of human speech contains 10 Internet will be achieved in the same way. grammatical partitions: noun, adjective, verb, etc. · This kind of scri pt is common for the pho- - exactly 10. Such is the number of the figures: netic speech and the speech in writing and this from 0 to 9. Therefore we may ci pher the words will allow communication in the mother tongue from each language in figures, so that the nouns in the modes: voice - to voice; text - to text; voice are assigned number “1”; “2” for adjectives; “3” - to text and vice versa. for verbs, etc. The digital scri pt, being an integral part of · The changeable parts of the words - person, the method for communication in the mother number, gender, tense, etc., will be assigned an tongue, according to the patent, is an industrial appropriate digital code. property. It is not reasonable for it to remain a · Composition of two and more words, which private property. The music notes are common is a holder of synonymous semantic information, graphic alphabet, and they are not private own- but is not a complete sentence, will be a sum of ership. digital codes of separate words. The invention may turn into a tool of com- · For the needs of syntactic analysis, the com- munication in the mother tongue having all the puter device will read the initial figures of the languages and dialects fully equal. The first words from the completed sentences and after stage of accomplishment of the aim is to create implementing the respective rules for sequence a demo model for communication between three and control from each language grammar, will or four languages with a digital coding of the translate the text in real time, sentence by sen- words of each language according to the de- tence, in the respective word order. scribed technology. Let · The mother tongue communication will be us not leave this only to achieved through juxtaposing of the digital the software giants, codes from one language with those from the which might do much other. The software will read only figures in a to embrace our idea, but way the bar code readers identify the numerical might do everything to bar codes from the package labels of millions of discomfit it. They have

○○○○ 27

Advances in Bulgarian Science

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

sufficient area to operate. have to look in the maze of the intellectual We would appreciate attracting young ownership. During the recent 14 years, painful people, students and the intellectual elite from processes of shifting the political systems from different countries to the process of develop- communism to democracy have been passing. At ment of software products. They might perform the same time, the world economy entered glo- the digital coding following the matrix which bal changes. Now intellectual ownershi p is a will be consigned to them. Intellectual elite in political strategy for the economical and social each country strongly influences its nation’s sys- planning of companies, regions, and state govern- tem of values. ments within the developed countries. I believe that, provided this elite is given the Today, the colossal difference between credibility to achieve something significant for its the countries with a high GDP and desperately ethnos, it will do it. The thought for a possible poor countries is measured by the amount of in- equality of my mother tongue with those of the tellectual property rights from the economic ac- “the big” or less big nations will create commit- tors. In the developed countries, the market price ment. This newly established environment would of small and medium-sized companies is deter- struggle against those, who instead of giving mined by ownershi p of more than 70% intan- support to the concept of equality, look for ter- gible assets in their balance sheets. The share of rorist tools. This same environment, giving birth to the fixed assets - immovable and movable, is less terrorism, may tear down the 21st century Ber- than 30%. lin wall, beyond which the information about The rights over the intellectual property: systems of values of the others is dimmed. And hi-tech, know-how, trademarks and industrial de- then such individuals as Martin Luther King might sign, chips topology, patents, new plant’s sorts of come, saying I have a dream…: all the nations, and animal’s breeds are the main engine of eco- races and religions to be equal. nomic growth. Intellectual products in the devel- The notion that every foreigner who oped countries are also the result of the Brain doesn’t speak my language will have possibility Drain processes from our region. If you have a to touch my history and culture, and vice versa, look at the statistics of the USA Patent Office will be an outstanding motivation for behav- about the number of registered patents from ior. Think about the students’ motivation, their foreign countries, you will notice the discourag- confidence, when understanding that they might ing difference between them. be holders of a part of the Copyright © for the The Balkan countries: Bulgaria, Romania, software, allowing their mother tongue to com- S erbia and Montenegro, Macedonia, Albania, municate with all the others. And these rights are Croatia, Bosnia are really drained. They are at held 70 years after the death of the last co-au- the bottom in the rank of the number of regis- thor! Both their energy and attention of people tered patents. from the relevant social environment would be Thousands of young researchers obtain directed to positive expectations and messages. their university degrees here, and now create in- NATO and politicians from the Balkan re- tellectual products in the USA and Western Eu- gion might invest in this invention. Investments in rope. The situation in the countries that cradle in- education, in software development, in rewards ternational terrorism is similar. for the accomplishers are very promising invest- The Brain Drain processes cannot be ne- ments. The Balkan countries might become a glected. In this respect, investments in education model for such kind of cooperation, focusing at and in high-tech communication, which undoubt- the creation of an environment for communica- edly our invention is, are investments in the se- tion in the mother tongue. What would be the curity of the Balkan region. better field for dialogue of equal rights between We all desire such a security. Invest in this the Orthodox, Catholic and Islam values? project. We believe this invention will transform When speaking about authors’ rights, we our ideas about communications.

28 ○○○○○

Equal in European Research Area

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

EQUAL IN EUROPEAN RESEARCH AREA

BULGARIAN VIPs:

Academician DOTCHI EXEROWA, DSc.

Prof. Exerowa is a highly qualified scientist ity of this thinnest liquid formation at the same and researcher with wide international recognition, time. leader of younger scientists, university professor, As it can be further seen, some of the results and supervisor of many PhD or MSc theses. presented in the considered papers can be directly Contributions of Prof. Exerowa are mainly in used in practice. Particularly remarkable is their the field of thin liquid films. Many of the results application in biomedicine. obtained are pioneer results. They have stimulated The main achievements in the presented 174 new directions in the development of knowledge in papers, including 13 review papers and two mono- the field of thin liquid films as well as physics and graphs, can be arranged in groups under several chemistry of the surface phenomena. In thin liquid topics. films surface forces are acting highly depending on 1. Unique experimental methods for thin liq- the two phases in contact and determining the for- uid films study have been developed. They allow to mation and stability of the films. Already in the six- measure important parameters characterizing their ties of the past century Professor Scheludko (her properties: equilibrium thickness, critical thickness of teacher) and Dr. Exerowa developed unique experi- rupture, disjoining pressure, contact angle film/bulk mental methods for liquid films study. The equi p- liquid, etc. The method for direct measurement of ment for microscopic thin liquid films investigations the interaction forces (disjoining pressure) in mi- is known as microinterferometric technique of croscopic liquid films and the transition from long- Scheludko-Exerowa. The first quantitative assess- range to short-range molecular interactions de- ment of the theory of colloid stability - the DLVO serves special attention. These methods allow mea- theory, was made. As it is well known, it is one of suring DLVO and non-DLVO forces (i.e. structural, the first successful quantitative theories of colloid steric). Recently they are used in a number of labo- systems stability, which determines to a great ex- ratories all over the world: University of California tent their development and investigation. Further in Berkley (USA), Technical University of Virginia development of Prof. Exerowa’s investigations led (USA), Max-Planck Institute of Colloid and Inter- to the study of interactions between two phases face Research in Potsdam and Technical University through the thin liquid film resulting in bilayer con- in Berlin (Germany), Moscow State University (Rus- tact between them. This serious fundamental prob- sia), Institute of Surface Chemistry (Sweden), Ecole lem was solved by the creation of new unique ex- Normale (Paris), Institute of Food Research (Nor- perimental methods, new quantitative experiments wich), etc. Methods allowing investigation of for- and new theories. It is worth to note, that success- mation and stability of the thinnest black films, in- ful development of the experiment is based on the cluding Newton black films, i.e. bilayers, have been introduction of the model - microscopic horizontal created as well. Their investigation was started by thin liquid film (film radius about 100 |0.m). This Perrin a century ago. Nowadays these methods model allows working at very low surfactant con- using modern technique allow investigation of the centration and to study the formation and stabil- metastable states at the transition of common

○○○○○ 29

Advances in Bulgarian Science

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

black/Newton black film; forced rupture by a-par- hole formation is treated as a nucleation process ticles irradiation; FTIR spectroscopy of black films; of a new phase in a two-dimensional system with foam films formation by feeding the surfactant short-range intermolecular forces. Free rupture and from the gas phase, etc. The parameters deter- deliberate rupture (by a-particles) of bilayers are mined by these methods give possibility of a new described. The role of bulk surfactant concentra- approach to the study of the phenomena at inter- tion for formation and stability of amphi phile bi- faces and small volumes. layers is shown. The combination between theories 2. Surface Forces. A new vision of the elec- has led to the determination of a number of im- trostatic interactions in liquid films has been devel- portant parameters, such as the binding energy of oped. For the first time the values of the diffuse amphiphile molecules in the bilayers, and specific electric layer potential at the interface liquid/air hole linear energy, which are important characteris- and the isoelectric points at this interface have tics of the short-range surface forces in bilayers. been determined. The critical isoelectric points at Also for the first time the equilibrium surfactant the barrier overcoming in the isotherms disjoining concentration has been found, at which the bilayer pressure/thickness have been determined. These (in contact with the bulk phase) is thermodynami- parameters are very informative for the under- cally stable. In that way the ruptured films, the standing of the charge nature and the electrostatic metastable and stable amphi phile bilayers can be interaction respectively. clearly differentiated in good agreement with the For the first time foam films from li posome theory and experiment. suspensions of phospholi pids are obtained. Barrier Occurrence of two-dimensional chain-melt- and non-barrier transitions in the isotherm of ing phase transition in foam bilayers was estab- disjoining pressure are experimentally obtained. lished for the first time. This became possible by Multilayer foam films from solutions of the hole mediated theory in accordance with the mixed surfactants in the presence of organic phase experimental study of the influence of tempera- are experimentally obtained and a “step like” iso- ture on the foam bilayer thickness and the critical therm of the disjoining pressure is measured. This concentration for formation of foam bilayer. The allows their quantitative study and puts the basis binding energy of two neighbouring phospholi pid for the study of a new type stabilization of dis- molecules was determined for the gel and liquid perse systems. crystalline state of the bilayers from several phos- DLVO and non-DLVO surface forces in liquid pholipids. Concentration/temperature phase dia- films from amphi philic block copolymers (PEO- grams of DPPC bilayers which contain regions of PPO-PEO type) are determined, i.e. the interaction gaseous (ruptured), gel and liquid crystalline foam between two aqueous solution/air interfaces. The bilayers were drawn. It is to be expected that foam results obtained in this direction present certain in- bilayers from phospholi pids could be used as a terest in the field of polymeric investigations. The model for investigation of short-range forces in transition from electrostatic to steric stabilization is biological structures, of interaction between mem- found by determination of the critical electrolytic branes, etc. concentration, which divides the two types of inter- 4. Bilayer contact in liquid disperse systems. actions. It is found that the electrostatic repulsion The last stage of interaction between bubbles, par- arises from the charge at the water/air interface ticles, droplets, vesicles, etc. in a liquid has been stud- due to the preferential adsorption of OH” ions. For ied by models on basis of the results (theoretical the non-DLVO surface forces - brush-to-brush con- and experimental) of amphi phile bilayers. Differen- tact is established and the disjoining pressure iso- tiation and comparison between the two types of therm follows the de Gennes scaling theory. bilayer contact is interesting: amphi phile bilayers 3. Amphi phile bilayers. A new approach to from surfactants and brush-to-brush contacts of the thinnest black film is developed. A microscopic amphiphilic block copolymers, the latter in agree- theory of formation and stability of amphi phile ment with de Gennes scaling theory. bilayers is created. The rupture of bilayers is con- 5. New theoretical visions of polyedric foams sidered on the basis of a fluctuation mechanism of are developed. They are experimentally verified for formation of nanoscopical holes in the bilayers. The solutions of different surfactants, amphi philic poly-

30 ○○○○○

Equal in European Research Area

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ mers, natural and technological mixtures. Methods these conditions a foam bilayer stabilized by short- for the differentiation of the processes connected range interaction forces is formed and new param- to syneresis and stability of foams have been de- eters characterizing its formation and stability are veloped. These are the methods for “drainage” and introduced. On this basis new clinical methods for rupture of foams by creating a pressure gradient diagnosis of lung maturity and assessment of sur- in the liquid phase. In that way the processes and factant lung maturity of newborns are created. factors acting in liquid channels and foam films are The very good fit of the clinical results and the pa- distinguished. This allows the quantitative study of rameters of the in vitro model have allowed creat- foam films role and the introduction of new char- ing a new hypothesis for the structure of the al- acteristics of their stability. Applications - new veoli, namely ordered structure in the contrary to method and equi pment for foam stability determi- the widely accepted “monolayer” model. The most nation at constant capillary pressure; methods for significant feature of the offered new model for rapid rupture; effective foam concentration and the alveolar structure is that its stability is deter- separation; water purification from surfactants; mined by the lateral short-range interactions as foam elimination at waste materials of nuclear fuel well as by the normal interactions between the processing; effective foam formation at surfac- ordered molecules. This gives possibility for quanti- tants with high self-stabilizing ability during oil re- tative study of the lung surfactant system, and the covery, etc. processes related to the main physiological process 6. Self-assembly in thin liquid films. It is in- - breathing. Applications. The new created teresting to note the investigations that have method for fetal lung maturity assessment has a started in the recent few years related to the number of advantages: high precision (90%), small amphiphile self-assembly in foam films, i.e. self-as- quantity of liquid used (1 cm3), very fast - the re- sembly process study in the field of disjoining pres- sult is ready in about 20 minutes. It is used for re- sure in thin liquid films and its experimental obser- search purposes in Medical University of New Jer- vation as a block pattern formation in the low con- sey (USA), University Clinic “La Sapienza” (Rome, centration range of the surfactant solutions. Italy), University Clinic (Sofia), etc. The method for 7. Wetting films. Another very useful direc- lung maturity diagnosis is also very successfully de- tion of Prof. Exerowa’s investigations is the parallel veloped for therapy control, i.e. defining the action studies of foam and wetting films from aqueous of therapeutic surfactants, which cure the respira- cationic surfactants and amphi philic block copoly- tory distress syndrome. The correlation between mers. Parallel investigation of symmetric and non- the experimentally determined parameters and symmetric thin liquid films shows that the electro- their in vivo action is found. This creates possibility static interactions between identical or different to look for the most effective medicines to influ- interfaces could differ when the surfactant con- ence the lung surfactant system at respiratory dis- centration is varied, and the transition from electro- tress. Famous American physiologist Prof. Scarpelli static to steric interactions is established for the supports this in his article “Rapid in Vitro Tests of cases of wetting films. Surfactant Film Formation: Advantages of the 8. Lung Surfactant System. A study of the Exerowa Black Film Method”, Pediatric Pulmonology, lung surfactant system is carried out on the basis 21 (1996) 373 (a copy is enclosed). of theoretical and experimental investigations of It is worth noting that the scientific results amphiphile bilayers from amniotic fluid and alveo- of Prof. Dotchi Exerowa and co-workers are well lar surfactant. A new in vitro model to study alveo- accepted in the international specialized literature lar surface and stability, namely a microscopic foam (there are over 2000 citations) and at international film method, is introduced at the conditions in the conferences. A number of plenary or invited lec- lung alveolus: capillary pressure, radius, electrolyte tures have been delivered. concentration and temperature. It is shown that at

○○○○○ 31

Advances in Bulgarian Science

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

Professor GEORGY FOTEV, DSc. sociologist

Professor Georgy Fotev is an eminent Bul- Sociological Theories of E. Durkheim, W. garian sociologist, the author of more than 200 sci- Pareto, M. Weber (1979); entific publications, among which more than 20 Principles of Positivist Sociology (1982); books. Publications by him have come out in 15 Social Reality and Imagination (1986), 2nd. countries besides Bulgaria. edition 1996, translated into Greek 1996; His main scholarly contributions are in the Civil Society (1992), translated into Greek 1996; fields of history and theory of sociology and a History of Sociology in two volumes (1993); number of disci plines of contemporary sociolgy. He 2nd edition 2000; has presented original arguments in support of the The Other Ethnos (1994); poly-paradigmal character of modern sociology Crisis of Legitimacy (1999); and has particularly focussed his research on a The Meaning of Politics (1999); very difficult problem, that of the incommensura- Ethnicity, Religion and Politics (1999); bility between sociological paradigms, as a result of Limits of Politics (2001); which he has come to view sociology in a dialogical Dialogical Sociology (2004). perspective. With regard to the cleavage between In the time of the totalitarian communist re- the sociological paradigm treating of social reality gime, Prof. Fotev met with difficulties in his aca- as of “things” and that which views it as a subjec- demic career. After the democratic changes in Bul- tive construction of the social world in terms of garia, he was for many years the Director of the meaning, the author opposes the view that the two Institute of Sociology of the Bulgarian Academy of paradigms are mutually complementary. He has Sciences. He has also had a long teaching career in made important contributions to historical sociol- the University of Sofia St. Kliment Ohridski (read- ogy, to the problem of the periodic legitimacy cri- ing courses in the history of sociology, sociology of ses in modern societies, to the field of religion, epistemology of sociological knowledge, ethnosociology, sociology of religions, etc. In the dialogical sociology). He was Minister of Science large-scale treatise entitled “Limits of Politics”, he and Higher Education (1991) and is a member of has studied fundamental problems of the civil so- the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, as ciety of modern democracy, of social conflicts, so- well as of a number of other prestigious interna- cial inequalities, etc. His latest monumental work tional organizations. He has been a guest lecturer “Dialogical Sociology” has met exceptional interest at foreign universities. in the academic community of specialists. Prof. Fotev’s more important books are:

32 ○○○○○

Equal in European Research Area

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

AWARDS The Minister of Education and Science awarded the following prizes for encouraging scientific research for 2004:

1/ In the field of the social and humanitar- 2/ In the field of the medical sciences - to ian sciences - to Academician Vassil Todorov Associate Professor Dr. Yordan Dimitrov Dimit- Gyuzelev: an honorary di ploma for special contri- rakov , Dr. of Med. Sc.: an honorary di ploma for butions to science, a plaque of the Ministry of Edu- special contributions to science for 2004 for young cation and Science and a financial prize. scientist up to 35 years of age, a plaque of the Ministry of Education and Science.

The Evrika Foundation awarded the following prizes for 2004:

For achievements in science

IVANKA MILOSHEVA TSAKOVSKA Central Laboratory for Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, BAS

Ivanka Tsakovska was born in 1972 in QSAR and Modeling Society. Mrs. Tsakovska re- Radomir. She has graduated from the Chemical- ceives the joint award of the Evrika Foundation Technological and Metallurgical University in Sofia and the Higher Attestation Committee at the with the qualification of engineer-chemist. She has Council of Ministers for the excellent defence of worked as a technologist at “Medbioengineering” the dissertation “Quantitative structure activity re- Ltd. Since 1997 she has been a full-time Ph.D. stu- lationships (QSAR) of selected classes of biologi- dent at the Central Laboratory for Biomedical En- cally active compounds”, for which she is awarded gineering of BAS. Since 2002 she is a research asso- the educational and scientific degree Doctor. ciate (II rank), continuing to work in the same labo- Through classical QSAR approaches and molecular ratory. modelling approaches, in her thesis she has exam- Ivanka Tsakovska participated in research ined selected classes of biologically active com- teams for scientific projects, financed by the Na- pounds of princi pal importance for pharmacologi- tional Fund “Scientific Research”. She was awarded cal and clinical practice. QSAR models have been the first prize in the competition “Young Scientists built for quantitative characterization of the influ- 2002”. She has given lectures on eleven scientific ence of structural parameters on the biological ac- forums, nine of which were with international par- tivity of the compounds, receiving of more informa- ticipation. In 2001/2002 she was awarded a schol- tion on the molecular mechanisms of activity of the arshi p by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation. investigated compounds and for directing the ra- She has eleven scientific publications and is a mem- tional construction of new active compounds. ber of the professional scientific organization The

For young inventor

DIMITAR IVANOV NIKOLOV Institute of Control and System Research, BAS

Dimitar Nikolov was born in 1975 in Sofia. He search associate II rank and research associate I has graduated from the Technical University in rank. His professional interests are in the sphere of Sofia with specialty “Microelectronics”. Since 2000 sensors and microsystems for magnetic field and he has been working at the Institute of Control temperature. and System Research of BAS, consecutively as an Mr. Nikolov was awarded the ICSR prize for engineer-researcher, research associate III rank, re- best scientific publication for 2000, and in 2002 he

○○○○○ 33

Advances in Bulgarian Science

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

received the prestigious BAS award for the young- tomatics and military science. The scientific-applied est scientist up to 30 years of age in the field of effect of the invention is connected with increas- technical sciences. The prize “Evrika” is awarded to ing the knowledge about technologies of Dimitar Nikolov for his invention “High-temperature magnetosensitive sensors and microsystems, and Hall Sensor with Parallel Axis of S ensitivity”. The the expected economic effect of its introduction is purpose of the invention is to eliminate the exist- around 500 000 lv. ing parasitic pressure of unequi potentiality through With his colleagues from the Institute of balancing of the potentials inside of the pad and Control and System Research Dimitar Nikolov is a to achieve their equality on the two outgoing plugs. co-author of 7 more inventions that are awaiting The advantages of the invention are the increased patents. accuracy of measuring of the magnetic field and In the young inventor competition hon- the possibility of high-temperature (up to 400 C) orary diplomas for excellent performance are functioning of the Hall sensor. It can be applied in awarded to Bistra Markova from Vratsa, the control measurement technology, tool-building Krassimir Ganev from Rakitovo, Bogdan industry, high-temperature electronics and electrical Rangelov, Emil Stoyanov and Viktoria engineering, automobile electronics, no-contact au- Gentcheva from Sofia.

For young manager

HRISTO TEODOROV ILIEV Chairman of the Board of Directors of “Address Bulgaria Holding” Ltd.

Hristo Iliev was born in 1972. He holds a (a growth of 125 % compared to 2003), owns 55 Bachelor’s degree in “Economics and industrial offices (a growth of 111% compared with 2003) management” and a Master’s degree in “Market- with staff of over 500 people (a growth of 97%), ing” from the University of Economy in Varna. He and has increased its turnover by 120 %. In 2004 started his career in 1993 in the field of real estate the company structured an international section as a consultant, passed through management of responsible for penetration not only into one of the ADDRESS offices and since 1996 has traditional markets such as Great Britain and been the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ireland, but also Russia, EU, the Far East and the “ADDRESS Bulgaria Holding” Ltd. USA. The company presented itself exceptionally Mr. Iliev is one of the founders of the first successfully at the first Bulgarian real estate fairs Bulgarian real estate index REM1. He is the winner “Imoti Expo” and “Dve strehi”, as well as at fairs of the award for considerable contributions to the in Great Britain, and France. In S eptember development of the profession, awarded to him by 2004 ADDRESS opened an office in London, and the National Real Estate Association. Hristo Iliev is in November successfully completed the ISO one of the three Bulgarians, owning the interna- 9001:2000 certification process. tional license CIPS, giving him the right to make The company is a long-standing member of deals on an international scale. the following prestigious organizations: National The company headed by Mr. Iliev Real Estate Association (NREA), Bulgarian Interna- distinguishes itself from the others in the real tional Business Association (BIBA), American Cham- estate branch with its national scope, its modern ber of Commerce in Bulgaria, Italian Chamber of information system connecting the offices in real Commerce in Bulgaria, CEREAN, FIABCI, REALTOR. time, implemented systems for education and For their excellent performance in the development of the staff, achievements in the field national competition, Slavin Dimitrov Yanakiev of marketing and advertising, information (chief executive of “Progress” Ltd. - Stara technologies, and raising the quality of the offered Zagora) and Dimitar Milanov Badzhov (chief services. Thanks to the application of its business executive of ICYGEN) are awarded honorary models ADDRESS is already represented in 8 cities diplomas.

34 ○○○○○

Equal in European Research Area

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF BULGARIAN SCIENTISTS

ARTICLES

Title: Computational Challenges in the Numerical Treatment of Large Àir Pollution Models Authors: Dimov, I. 1), Georgiev, K. 1) [email protected], Ostromsky, Tz. 1), Zlatev, Z. 2) Source: Ecological Modeling, Vol. 179, 2 (Nov. 2004), 187-204 Author Affiliations: 1) Institute of Parallel Processing, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Street, Bl.25-A, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria 2) National Environmental Research Institute, Frederiksborgvej 399, P.O. Box

358, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

Title: Modelling the Influence of Conductivity Profiles on Red Sprite Forma- tion and Structure Authors: Tonev, P. T. [email protected], Velinov, P. I.Y.1) Source: Advances in Space Research, Vol. 34, 8 (Oct. 2004), 1792-1798 Author Affiliations: 1) Central Solar-Terrestrial Influences Laboratory, Bulgarian Academy of

Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Street, Bl. 3, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

Title: Moessbauer Transmission and Back Scattered Conversion Electron Study of Fe Nanowires Encapsulated in Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Authors: Ruskov, T. 1), Assenov, S. 1) Spirov, I. 1) Caria, C. 1) Moench I. 2) imoench@ifw- dresden.de, Graff A. 2) Kozhuharova, R. 2) Leonhardt, A. 2) Schneider, C. M. 2), Groudeva-Zotova, S. 2) Source: Journal of Applied Physics; Vol.96, 2 (Dec. 2004), 7514-7519, Author Affiliations: 1) Institute for Nuclear Research and Nuclear Energy, 72, Tsarigradsko Chaussee, BG-1784, Sofia, Bulgaria 2) Leibniz Institute of Solid State and

Materials Research, Dresden, Helmholtzstrasse, Germany ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

Title: New Index to Remove from Spectral Mixture an Unknown Spectral Component Authors: Yanev, T. K. 1) Choudhury, B. J. 2) Mishev, D. N. 1) Source: Acta Austronautica, Vol. 56,4 (Feb. 2005), 471-476, Author Affiliations: 1) Solar-Terrestrial Influences Laboratory, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Acad. G. Bonchev Street, Bl.3, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria 2) NASA Goddard Space

Flight Center, Code 974, Greenbelt, MD 20771, USA ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

○○○○○ 35

Advances in Bulgarian Science

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

Title: 3D QSAR Investigation of the Blood-brain Barrier Penetration of Chemical Compounds Authors: Lessigiarska, I. 1, 2) [email protected] Pajeva I. 3), Cronin M. T. D. 2) Worth, A. P. 1) Source: SAR & QSAR in Environmental Research, Vol. 16, 1/2(Feb. 2005), 79, 5 charts, 2 diagrams Author Affiliations: 1) ECVAM, Institute for Health and Consumer Protection, European Commis- sion Joint Research Centre, 21020 Ispa, Italy 2) School of Pharmacy and Chemistry, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK, 3) Centre of Biomedical Engineering, Bulgarian Academy of Science, 1113

Sofia, Bulgaria ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

Title: Investigation of the Retaining Effect of a Pectin-Containing Edible Film upon the Crumb Ageing of Dietetic Sucrose- Free Sponge Cake Authors: Baeva, Marianna 1)[email protected] Panchev, Ivan 2) [email protected] Source: Food Chemistry, Vol. 92 , 2 (Sept. 2005), 343-349. Author Affiliations: 1) Technical University of Sofia, College in Sliven, 59 A Bourgasko Chaussee Blvd., 9800 Sliven, Bulgaria, 2) University of Food Technologies in Plovdiv, 4002

Plovdiv, Bulgaria ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

Title: Moisture Sorption Characteristics of Chickpea Flour Authors: Durakova, Albena G. 1) [email protected] Menkov, Nikolaj D. [email protected] Source: Journal of Food Engineering, Vol. 68, 4 (Jun2005), 535-540 Author Affiliations: 1) Department of Process Engineering, University of Food Technologies, 26 Maritza Blvd., 4200 Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Title: Visual Modeling as a Motivation for Studing Mathematics and Art Authors: Sendova, Evgenia 1) [email protected], Grkovska, Slavica 2) Source: Educational Media International, Vol. 42, 2 (Jun. 2005) 173-191 Author Affiliations: 1) Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Bulgaria, 2) Institute of Mathematics,

Republic of Macedonia ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

Title: Rotation of the Cluster of Galaxies A 2107 Authors: Kalinkov, M. 1) [email protected], Valchanov, T. 1) [email protected],Valtchanov, I. 2)[email protected], Kuneva, I. 1) Dissanska, M. 1) Source: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society; Vol. 359, 4, (Jan.2005), 1491-1498. Author Affiliations: 1) Institute of Astronomy, 72 Tsarigradsko Chaussee Blvd., Sofia 1784, Bulgaria, 2) Blackett Laboratory, Imperial College, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2 BW

36 ○○○○○

E v e n t s

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

E V E N T S

June 1– 4, 2005 Istanbul University, Turkey 3rd International Symposium Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski” HUMANITY 2005 University of Mining and Geology “St. Ivan Rilsky” Challenges and Achievements Bulgarian Academy of Science Sunny Beach resort, Bulgaria Address: S ecretariat Bureau Union of Scientists in Bulgaria 14,”Kliment Ohridsky” Blvd. “Prof. Dr. Assen Zlatarov” University 1797 Sofia, BULGARIA Science Invest LTD - branch Bourgas Phone: +359 2 975 3982 (+ voice mail box) Address: Fax: +359 2 817 2477 Phone: +359 56 846075 E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] GSM: +359 8 999 444 10, www.sgem.org E-Mail: [email protected], ICQ#: 295588455 June 13– 17, 2005 www.sciencebg.net/sciencebg/index.htm 14th International Symposium ECOLOGY 2005 June 9- 11, 2005 Sunny Beach resort, Bulgaria International Scientific Conference FMNS-2005, Bulgarian Academy of Science Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria Union of Scientists in Bulgaria LUKoil Neftochim Bourgas AD Faculty of Mathematics & Natural Science Russian Ecological Federal Information Agency South-West University “NEOFIT RILSKI” «Prof. Dr. Assen Zlatarov» University Blagoevgrad Address: Address: Phone: +359 56 846075 International scientific conference GSM: +359 8 99944410 Faculty of Mathematics & Natural Science-2005 E-Mail: [email protected] Phone: +359 73/ 8889 131, 0899 190304 / 131 ICQ#: 295588455 Faculty Major Office: 1464 room www.sciencebg.net/science bg/index.htm Iv. Mihailov str. 66 www.swu.bg June 16- 17, 2005 International Conference on Computer Systems June 13- 17, 2005 and Technologies International Scientific Conference CompSysTech 2005 SGEM 2005. Technical University, Varna, Bulgaria Congress Center “Dobrudzha” Technical University, Varna Albena Complex, Bulgaria Address: Ministry of Environment and Waters E-mail: [email protected], University of Architecture http://ecet.ecs.ru.acad.bg/cst05/ Civil Engineering and Geodesy

○○○○○ 37

Advances in Bulgarian Science

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

June 21- 22, 2005 September 7– 10, 2005 International Workshop on Scientific Practical Conference Artificial Intelligence in the Web MEDBIOPHARM 2005 Sofia, Bulgaria Modern Materials, Methods and Technologies Institute of Mathematics and Informatics - in Medicine, Biology and Pharmaceutics Bulgaria Sunny Beach resort, Bulgaria Address: Union of Scientists in Bulgaria Mr. Georgi Furnadzhiev «Prof. Dr. Assen Zlatarov» University Acad. G. Bonchev Str., Block 8, Sofia 1113, Bulgaria Science Invest LTD - branch Bourgas Phone: +3592 979-3813 Address: E-mail: [email protected] Phone: +359 56 846075 http://www.math.bas.bg/infres/aiw/ index.html GSM: +359 8 999 444 10 E-Mail:[email protected] September 2- 5, 2005 www.sciencebg.net/sciencebg/index.htm International Symposium Catalytic Processes on Advanced Micro- September 12– 17, 2005 and Mesoporous Materials 4th International Symposium Nessebar, Bulgaria ECONOMY & BUSINESS 2005 University of Sofia Economic Development and Growth IGIC- BAS Sunny Beach resort, Bulgaria IC-BAS Union of Scientists in Bulgaria University of Munich «Prof. Dr. Assen Zlatarov» University Universite de Haute Alsace Science Invest LTD - branch Bourgas Address: Address: Georgi N. Vayssilov Phone: +359 56 846075 Faculty of Chemistry GSM: +359 8 999 444 10 University of Sofia E-Mail: [email protected] 1 J. Boucher Blvd., 1126 Sofia, Bulgaria ICQ#: 295588455 Phone: +359 2 8161338 www.sciencebg.net/sciencebg/index.htm Fax: +359 2 9625438 www.chem.uni-sofia.bg/micro2005/ September 13– 17, 2005 E-mail: [email protected] XV National Scientific Symposium with interna- tional participation September 7– 10, 2005 “METROLOGY AND METROLOGY 7th International Symposium ASSURANCE 2005” TECHNOMAT & INFOTEL 2005 Sozopol, Bulgaria Materials, Methods and Technology Sunny Beach resort, Bulgaria Technical University of Sofia - Department “Electrical Measurements” and Bulgarian Academy of Science Department “Precision Engineering Union of Scientists in Bulgaria and Measuring Instruments” «Prof. Dr. Assen Zlatarov» University Co-organizers - Science Invest LTD - branch Bourgas State Agency of Metrology Address: and Technical Surveillance Phone: +359 56 846075 Union of Metrologists in Bulgaria GSM: +359 8 999 444 10 Kozloduy Nuclear Power Plant www.sciencebg.net/sciencebg/Congress/ Address: Tehnomat/techno_eng.htm, Metrology and Metrology Assurance 2005 E-Mail: [email protected] Faculty of Automation ICQ#: 295588455 Department of Electrical Measurements

38 ○○○○○

E v e n t s

○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○

Technical University of Sofia November 3-4, 2005 8, Kl. Ohridski blvd., Sofia 1000, BULGARIA, THE TOURIST SCIENCE AND Assoc. Prof. Plamen Tzvetkov, PhD CHALLENGES OF THE 21ST CENTURY E-mail: [email protected] University of Economics, Varna, Bulgaria Phone: +359 2 965-2366; „Tourism Economics and Organisation“ Assoc. Prof. Ivan Kodjabashev, PhD Departmen E-mail: [email protected] University of Economics - Varna Phone:+ 359 2 965-2438 Varna Chamber of Tourism Fax: +3592 683215 Address: E-mail: [email protected] Office H-108; University of Economics www.tu-sofia.bg/meetings/metrology/ N 77, „Knjaz Boris I“ Blvd. metrology.htm 9002 Varna, Bulgaria Phone: +359 52 660434; +359 52 660288 + 359 52 602 417 e-mail:[email protected] www.vct-bg.org/eng/ue40years_eng/ invitation_eng.htm

○○○○○ 39