Bioanode for a microbial fuel cell based on Gluconobacter oxydans immobilized into a polymer matrix

Acetic acid bacteria Gluconobacter oxydans subsp. industrius RKM V-1280 were immobilized into a synthetic matrix based on polyvinyl alcohol modified with N-vinylpyrrolidone and used as biocatalysts for the development of bioanodes for microbial fuel cells. The immobilization method did not significantly affect bacterial substrate specificity. Bioanodes based on immobilized bacteria functioned stably for 7 days. The maximum voltage (fuel cell signal) was reached when 100–130 μM of an electron transport mediator, 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol, was added into the anode compartment. The fuel cell signals reached a maximum at a glucose concentration higher than 6 mM. The power output of the laboratory model of a fuel cell based on the developed bioanode reached 7 mW/m² with the use of fermentation industry wastes as fuel.     

Epidemiology of Congenital Malformations in Gorno-Altaisk,Altai Republic,Russia

A retrospective epidemiological study has been performed using the data from healthcare institutions of the city of Gorno-Altaisk, Altai Republic, Russia for the period from 1983 to 2001. Congenital malformations (CMFs) have been studied in newborns, infants that died at ages under one year, and fetuses after 22 weeks of gestation. The most frequent malformations are those of the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems and multiple malformations, which account for 37.68, 18.22, and 8.9% of all congenital malformations, respectively. Their frequencies are 7.38, 3.57, and 1.74, respectively. The frequency of congenital malformations subject to registration by the national system of CMF monitoring of the Russian Federation (21 malformation forms) is 6.08 per 1000 births and varies from 8.59 to 21.24. The frequency of the Down syndrome is 0.93 per 1000 births; it did not vary significantly during the period studied. The frequency of limb reduction deformities in the urban population of Altai Republic (0.32 per 1000 births) is higher than in other Siberian regions, including the cities of Kyzyl (Tyva Republic) and Tomsk and the Nyurba and Ust-Aldan uluses of Sakha Republic (Yakutia)     

Variability and identification power of 60 X-chromosome in two native Siberian populations

Genetic diversity of 60 X-chromosome single nucleotide polymorphisms (XSNPid panel) in populations of Siberian Tatars and Tuvinians is described. A close spectrum of allele frequencies and a low level of their genetic differentiation (G_st = 0.021) is revealed. High discriminating power of the XSNPid panel in populations under study is demonstrated. The random matching probability (MP) of multilocus genotypes in males is 1.12 × 10^–18 in Siberian Tatars and 7.77 × 10^–16 in Tuvans. In females, MP is several orders of magnitude lower: 1.51 × 10^–25 in Siberian Tatars and 1.83 × 10^–23 in Tuvinians.