Spatial structure of emission from an electrode microwave discharge in hydrogen

The structure of electrode microwave (2.45 GHz) discharges in hydrogen with electrodes of various shapes and sizes at pressures of 1–8 torr and incident powers of 2–150 W is studied. It is found that the discharges exhibit a common feature that is independent of the antenna-electrode design: near the electrode surface, there is a thin bright sheath surrounded by a less bright, sharply bounded region, which is usually shaped like a sphere. It is suggested that the structure observed arises because the microwave field maintaining the discharge is strongly nonuniform. Near the electrode, there exists a thin dense plasma sheath with a high electron density gradient. A strong dependence of the electron-impact excitation coefficient on the electric field makes the effect even more pronounced. As the electron density decreases due to dissociative recombination, the microwave field gradient decreases and the discharge emission intensity tends to a nearly constant value. Presumably, in the boundary region of the discharge, there exists a surface wave, which increases the emission intensity at the periphery of the discharge.     

Formation of an internal transport barrier in the ohmic H-mode in the TUMAN-3M tokamak

In experiments on studying the ohmic H-mode in the TUMAN-3M tokamak, it is found that, in high-current (I _p～120–170 kA) discharges, a region with high electron-temperature and density gradients is formed in the plasma core. In this case, the energy confinement time τ _E attains 9–18 ms, which is nearly twice as large as that predicted by the ELM-free ITER-93H scaling. This is evidence that the internal transport barrier in a plasma can exist without auxiliary heating. Calculations of the effective thermal diffusivity by the ASTRA transport code demonstrate a strong suppression of heat transport in the region where the temperature and density gradients are high.     

Application of MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry for differentiation of closely related species of the “Arthrobacter crystallopoietes” phylogenetic group

MALDI mass spectra were generated for the type strain of Arthrobacter crystallopoietes VKM Ac-1107^T and for closely related (99.6?C100% 16S rRNA gene similarity) halotolerant Arthrobacter strains, as well as for some other Arthrobacter species. Results of the cluster analysis of the spectra were in agreement with the genotypic characteristics of bacteria (DNA-DNA hybridization and BOX-PCR). The data obtained in this study indicate that the halotolerant strains belong to two new Arthrobacter species. Specific peaks which can serve as chemotaxonomic markers of the species composing the phylogenetic group ??Arthrobacter crystallopoietes?? were revealed.     

Physiology of chronic inflammatory processes and their treatment

Proceeding from the known views of the functioning of the immune system, the main mechanism of its effector activity in fighting foreign material is development of an inflammatory process. The process also involves other systems or components, which results in the formation of a functional system intended for the most efficient elimination of the foreign agent. Thus, an inflammatory process is a normal defensive reaction of the body and, in a favorable case, reflects the normal work of the immune system. Two types of the inflammatory response have been identified depending on the character of the functional system formed: the subclinical inflammatory response (SIR) to minor stimuli and the clinically full-blown inflammatory response (FIR) to high doses of an antigen. A normally proceeding acute inflammatory process is clearly differentiated from a chronic inflammatory process (CIP). The latter may proceed with an impaired or normal reaction of the immune system to a foreign agent (specific and nonspecific CIPs) or with a hyperreaction of the immune system (allergic CIPs). A preformed dominant of the unbalanced functioning of the immune system is maintained by a CIP focus in a shock organ and underlies the CIP. However, this extends only to the FIR functional system. Adaptive activation of the SIR inhibits the unbalance dominant in any CIP. These theoretical conceptions underlie an original method of dosed immunotherapy, which consists in SIR activation with low doses of various agents in order to normalize the inflammatory process. Considering the different reactivity of the body in different individuals, the main problems are selection of the starting dose and further control of the doses administered. This difficulty has been overcome as a result of the development of a simple sensitive test for controlling the drug dose. Practical application of the proposed principle enabled stable results to be obtained in curing CIPs.Translated from Fiziologiya Cheloveka, Vol. 31, No. 1, 2005, pp. 100–113.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Lebedev, Ponyakina, Kozachenko.     

Genomic architecture of human chromosomal diseases

The genomic architecture predisposed to the emergence of DNA copy number variation causing a new class of human chromosomal diseases—reciprocal microdeletion and microduplication syndromes— is reviewed in the paper. The molecular mechanisms of such chromosomal abnormalities are described. The problems of the interpretation of their clinical significance and genotype-phenotype correlations are discussed. The classification of phenotypes due to reciprocal chromosomal microdeletions and microduplications is shown. Published by 2015, reciprocal mutations associated with inherited and congenital human pathology and involving 58 chromosomal regions are summarized.     

Genetc divergence and phylogeny of the Salmoninae based on allozyme data

The data on 31–37 allozyme loci in 21 species of nine salmonid genera are used for phylogenetic analysis by seven distance methods and several variants of cladistic analysis. Monophyletic origin for all genera and three sub-families of the Salmonidae is corroborated. The closest phylogenetic relationships are characteristic of Parasalmo and Oncorhynchus (bootstrap support is 88–99%), Brachymystax and Hucho (68–97%), and the clade ( Brachymystax + Hucho )+ Salmo (up to 85%). The patterns of phylogenetic relationships in the group Salmo-Parasalmo-Oncorhynchus are analogous to those in the group Parahucho-Hucho-Brachymystax. The position of Parahucho in phylogenetic trees of the Salmoninae is extremely unstable, although it is most likely associated with the clade ( Brachymystax + Hucho)+Salmo ) or Salvelinus. When using the out group analysis, Salvelinus appears as the earliest branch of the Salmoninae tree, whereas if the molecular clock is assumed, the basal position is occupied by Oncorhynchus. However, the latter genus is probably characterized by a substantially increased rate of molecular evolution.     

Study of the spatial structure of the duplex d(pTGTTTGGC) d(pCCAAAC)A in aqueous solution by methods of uni- and two-dimensional (1)H-NMR spectroscopy and organic molecular mechanics

Structure of the complementary complex d(pTGTTTGGC) d(pCCAAAC)A in the aqueous solution has been investigated by one- and two-dimensional 1H NMR spectroscopy. The resonances of nonexchangeable protons of bases as well as methyl and deoxyribose 1', 2'a, 2'b, 3' and 4' protons have been assigned by means of two-dimensional J-correlated spectroscopy (COSY) and two-dimensional nuclear Overhauser enhancement spectroscopy (NOESY). Using one-dimensional NOE measurements, 62 interproton distances (intranucleotide: (H6/H8)i--(H1')t, (H6/H8)i--(H2'a)i, (H1')i--(H2'a)i, (H1')i--(H2'b)i; internucleotide: (H6/H8)i--(H1')i-1, (H6/H8)i--(H2'a)i-1, (H6/H8)i--(H2'b)i-1, (H5/CH3)i--(H6/H8)i-1, (H5/CH3)i--(H2'a/H2'b)i-1) have been determined for nearest-neighbour protons. Spin-coupling constant values for some sugar protons have been obtained from COSY spectra. The restrained molecular mechanics calculations have yielded the possible solution structures of duplex fitting the experimental set of interproton distances and coupling constants.     

Antitoxic properties of monoclonal antibodies against diphtheria toxin

Antitoxin properties of monoclonal antibodies to diphtheria toxin were studied in chick fibroblast culture and during the dermonecrotic tests in guinea pigs. Antitoxic properties were shown for antibodies specific to B subunit of the toxin but not for the ones specific to a subunit. The mixture of monoclonal B subunit specific antibodies reveals a higher neutralizing activity as compared with the activity produced by any single monoclonal antibody tested. The protective activity demonstrated by antibodies is connected with the preventing of toxin molecules fixation on the cellular receptors.