Energy Confinement in Self-Organized Tokamak Plasma (without Transport Barriers)

Plasma Physics Reports - The phenomenon of improved energy confinement during radiative cooling at the plasma edge was studied experimentally in the T-10 tokamak. It was shown that the effect is...     

Development of a rapid method for the detection of prostate-specific antigen by immunochromatography

A single-step qualitative rapid test for the determination of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in samples of human blood serum by immunochromatography using a complex of colloidal gold with monoclonal antibodies to PSA as the detection agent was developed. The determination limit for PSA in serum blood samples is 10 ng/ml; the analysis time, 15–25 min; the sensitivity of the method, 100%; and its specificity, 92.5%.     

Effect of temperature on spontaneous interneuron activity in grasshoppers Tettigonia cantans and Metrioptera roeselii (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae)

Using electrophysiological methods, effects of temperature on rhythmic impulsation of spontaneously active neurons of thoracic ganglia was studied in grasshoppers Tettigonia cantans and Metrioptera roeselii. Several types of response to temperature changes were observed. Its elevation caused an increase or decrease of the discharge dispersion and a gradual, proportional or abrupt rise of the impulse rate. On decreasing temperature, the impulsation usually returned to its original state, although sometimes at different rate. In neurons whose impulse rate was close to that of pulse repetition rate in male advertisement calls, this dependence was preserved at temperature changes. On the whole, there is reason to believe that changes of temperature in CNS are accompanied not only by a simple change of the neuronal activity level, but also by a complex readjustment in the neuronal network functioning, which allow preserving optimal level of insect metabolic processes and adequate behavior.     

Effect of sound signals on spontaneous activity in grasshopper interneurons (Orthoptera,Tettigonidae)

According to one of hypotheses proposed for explaining mechanisms of sound signal recognition in insects, their CNS contains a group of rhythmically active neurons that function as a reference standard for comparison with perceived acoustic information. To check this hypothesis, the spontaneous neuronal activity and its changes in perception of conspecific and heterospecific signals (CS and HS) were analyzed in the CNS of two sympatric grasshopper species Tettigonia cantans and Metrioptera roeselii. The activity of individual neurons was assayed in fixed and freely moving insects. The results of the experiment have shown that in the thoracic part of the CNS there is a group of rhythmically active neurons that do not directly respond to sound signal but readjust their impulses under effect of its action. On presentation of CS the following reactions were observed: attenuation or enhancement of impulses; stabilization or destabilization of rhythm; regular increase or decrease in interspike intervals; phasic readjustments leading to synchronization of impulses with sound stimuli (pulses). No similar alterations were usually produced by HS; still, if they did appear, they were less pronounced or of opposite direction. These data indicate that the grasshopper auditory system affects markedly the rhythmically active neurons, their reaction depending considerably on temporal organization of sound signals. Selectivity of these reactions allows us to suggest that the rhythmically active neurons are directly related to the neuronal networks providing the sound signal recognition.Translated from Zhurnal Evolyutsionnoi Biokhimii i Fiziologii, Vol. 40, No. 6, 2004, pp. 531–538.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Zhantiev, Korsunovskaya, Chukanov.To the 100-Anniversary of A. K. VoskresenskayaThis revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date.     

Development of a rapid method for the detection of prostate-specific antigen by immunochromatography

A single-step qualitative rapid test for the determination of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in samples of human blood serum by immunochromatography using a complex of colloidal gold with monoclonal antibodies to PSA as the detection agent was developed. The determination limit for PSA in serum blood samples is 10 ng/ml; the analysis time, 15-25 min; the sensitivity of the method, 100%; and its specificity, 92.5%.     

Comparative characteristics of the wing apparatus and flight of Syrphid flies (Diptera: Syrphidae)

Comparative analysis of the wing apparatus and flight in nine species of flower flies (Syrphidae) has been performed. Data on the flight velocity, aerodynamic force, wing-beat frequency, stroke amplitude and stroke plane angle, wing area, body mass and volume, as well as correlations between these parameters at the intraspecific and family levels, have been obtained. Based on the obtained data, the subfamilies Syrphinae and Eristalinae have been compared.     

Comparative description of the wing apparatus and flight of some flies (diptera, brachycera)

Comparative analysis of the wing apparatus and flight characteristics has been performed on members of five dipteran families (Bombyliidae, Syrphidae, Calliphoridae, Scathophagidae, and Sarcophagidae). We obtained data on flight velocity, aerodynamic force, stroke plane angle, stroke amplitude, wingbeat frequency, wing area, and body mass and volume. The relations between these parameters are analyzed. Characters distinguishing between species of the same genus, members of different genera of the same family, and members of different families have been determined.