Steady-state axisymmetric configurations of a weakly ionized plasma in the field of a rotating magnetized spherical body

Self-consistent steady-state axisymmetric configurations of a plasma envelope with a uniform anisotropic conductivity around a rotating magnetized spherical body are considered. A set of electrodynamic and magnetohydrodynamic equations is analyzed under the assumption that the mass velocity of a moving weakly ionized plasma has only the azimuthal component. The equations describing the profile of the angular frequency of the rotating plasma envelope, the magnetic field, the conduction currents, and the plasma density distribution are solved in the limit of a strong anisotropy of the conductivity of a weakly ionized gas. The applicability of the results obtained to a qualitative interpretation of the phenomena occurring in the plasmaspheres of magnetized planets is discussed.     

Effect of various methods of immobilization on the stability of a microbial biosensor for surfactants based onPseudomonas rathonis T

The operating and storage stability of a receptor element of an amperometric biosensor based on thePseudomonas rathonis strain T capable of degrading surfactants was tested. Microbial cells were immobilized by incorporation in gels (agar, agarose, and calcium-alginate), polyvinyl alcohol membrane, adhesion to Chromatographic paper GF/A, or by cross-linking induced by glutaric aldehyde. Incorporation of microbial cells in agar gel provides long-standing conservation of their activity and viability during measurements of high concentrations of surfactants and allows the receptor element of the biosensor to be rapidly recovered after measurements.     

Effect of separator and inoculum type on electricity generation and microbial community in single-chamber microbial fuel cells

Single-chamber microbial fuel cell (SMFC)-I consisted of 4 separator-electrode assemblies (SEAs) with two types of cation exchange membrane (CEM: Nafion and CMI 7000) and an anion exchange membrane (AEM: AMI 7001). SMFC-II consisted of 4 SEAs with Nafion and three types of nonwoven fabric. SMFC-I and -II were inoculated with anaerobic digested and activated sludge, respectively, and operated under fed-batch mode. In SMFC I, AEM-SEA showed a maximum power density (PD_max). Nafion-SEA showed a PD_max in SMFC II, which was similar to that of Nafion–SEA of SMFC I. Although different bacteria were developed in SMFC-I (Deltaproteobacteria and Firmicutes) and SMFC-II (Gammaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria and Bacteroidetes), the inoculum type little affects electricity generation. Variations of pH and oxygen in biofilm have influenced microbial community structure and electricity generation according to the electrode and separator material. Although the electricity generation of non-woven fabric-SEA was less than that of Nafion-SEA, the use of non-woven fabrics is expected to reduce the construction and operating costs of MFCs.     

Identification of the structure of large-scale MHD perturbations in a tokamak from Mirnov signals

An algorithm is proposed that allows one to identify the MHD mode structure in toroidal plasmas by processing signals from Mirnov probes measuring plasma MHD activity. The algorithm differs fundamentally from the diagnostic methods presently used in tokamaks, being simpler and more efficient. The algorithm is based on constructing an analytic signal using the Hilbert transformation of the Mirnov signals at a given instant. The phase and amplitude dependences obtained take into account the toroidal effects and allow one to determine the number and amplitude of the excited MHD mode. The algorithm was approbated with both test signals and actual signals from MHD diagnostics in the T-10 tokamak. It is demonstrated that the algorithm can be used to analyze single-mode MHD instabilities in toroidal plasmas.     

Lung tissue mechanics and extracellular matrix composition in a murine model of silicosis.

The dynamic mechanical properties of lung tissue and its contents of collagen and elastic fibers were studied in strips prepared from mice instilled intratracheally with saline (C) or silica [15 (S15) and 30 days (S30) after instillation]. Resistance, elastance, and hysteresivity were studied during oscillations at different frequencies on S15 and S30. Elastance increased from C to silica groups but was similar between S15 and S30. Resistance was augmented from C to S15 and S30 and was greater in S30 than in S15 at higher frequencies. Hysteresivity was higher in S30 than in C and S15. Silica groups presented a greater amount of collagen than did C. Elastic fiber content increased progressively along time. This increment was related to the higher amount of oxytalan fibers at 15 and 30 days, whereas elaunin and fully developed elastic fibers were augmented only at 30 days. Silicosis led not only to pulmonary fibrosis but also to fibroelastosis, thus assigning a major role to the elastic system in the silicotic lung.     

Tests of the accuracy of cladograms in Gilia (Polemoniaceae) and some other angiosperm genera

 This paper deals with the use of cladistic methods and cladograms in phylogeny reconstruction in plant groups containing numerous taxa. How accurate are the cladograms as to details? Accuracy tests at the level of details require an independently known phylogeny, which excludes most plant groups, but such tests can be carried out in domesticated and experimental plant groups which have documented pedigrees. Four such tests are known and are presented here: a new case in Gilia and three previously published cases in Avena, Hordeum, and Helianthus. The four cases include domesticated and experimental plants, use of morphological and molecular evidence, and presence of dichotomous as well as reticulate phylogenies. The cladograms of the four plant groups all differ in significant details from the known pedigrees. These results are discussed in relation to problems of interpretation of cladograms. Received March 21, 2000 Accepted August 16, 2001     

Distribution of matter in the current-carrying plasma and dense core of the discharge channel formed upon electrical wire explosion

Distribution of matter in the discharge channel formed upon a nanosecond electrical explosion of a single wire in air and vacuum was studied experimentally. Simultaneous use of optical, UV, and X-ray diagnostics made it possible to distinguish qualitatively different regions of the discharge channel, such as the current-carrying layers and the region occupied by a weakly conducting cold plasma. Several series of experiments with 25-μm-diameter 12-mm-long wires made of different materials were performed. The charging voltage and the current amplitude were varied in the ranges of U ₀ = 10–20 kV and I _max ∼ 5–10 kA, respectively. Explosion regimes with a current pause and with and without current interruption, as well as with wire preheating in air and vacuum, were studied. Shadow and schlieren images of the discharge channel were obtained using optical probing at the second harmonic of a YAG: Nd⁺³ laser (λ = 0.532 μm, τ ∼ 10 ns). In the experiments carried out in vacuum, X-ray images of the discharge channel were also obtained using an X-pinch as a point source of probing radiation and UV images were recorded using a four-frame MCP camera.     

Structural transformations of arabinogalactan from the Siberian larch during mechanochemical processing and the biological properties of the products

It has been found by gel-penetrating chromatography and quantitative ¹³C NMR spectroscopy that mechanochemical processing of arabinogalactan isolated from the wood of the Siberian larch changes the molecular mass distribution, monosaccharide composition, and the degree of branching of its macromolecules. This is due to the partial destruction of polysaccharide macromolecules and subsequent recombination of resulting fragments. The intensity of these processes depends on the conditions of mechanochemical processing. Based on the data of IR and ¹³C NMR spectra, the conclusion has been drawn that no functionalization of arabinogalactan macromolecules occurs under these conditions. The toxicopharmacological properties of mechanically processed arabinogalactan have been studied. Its acute toxicity is >5000 mg/kg.     

Protein metal-binding sites.

Metal ions have a role in a variety of important functions in proteins including protein folding, assembly, stability, conformational change, and catalysis. The presence or absence of a given metal ion is crucial to the conformation or activity of over one third of all proteins. Recent developments have been made in the understanding and design of metal-binding sites in proteins, an important and rapidly advancing area of protein engineering.