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Important progress in the development of high-temperature superconductors (HTSC) of the second group made it possible to design the quasi-stationary tokamak with reactor technologies (TRT) with the high magnetic field (Bt0 = 8 T). The high magnetic field will ensure the achievement of plasma fusion regimes in the tokamak with the fusion energy gain Q > 1 at the considerably reduced size of the facility (R0 = 2.15 m, a = 0.57 m), and, consequently, at its reduced cost. TRT will be capable of operating in the quasi-stationary regimes (≥100 s) with hydrogen, helium, and deuterium plasmas (with the densities ne of up to 2 × 1020 m–3) and in the regimes with short (duration Δt < 10 s) deuterium–tritium plasma shots with the fusion energy gain Q > 1 limited by the radiation heating of toroidal coils. TRT is being designed as a plasma prototype for both the pure fusion reactor and the fusion neutron source for the hybrid (fusion–fission) reactor. The TRT missions are the development of the key fusion technologies and their integration in one facility. These technologies are as follows: the HTSC electromagnetic system operating at the extremely high magnetic fields; the metal and liquid-metal (lithium) first wall and innovative divertor; the unique advanced systems for the auxiliary plasma heating and non-inductive current drive, including the systems for atomic beam injection with energy of 0.5 MeV and power of several tens of megawatts, the electron cyclotron heating system based on the megawatt-power gyrotrons with a frequency of 230 GHz and a total power of ~10 MW, and the ion cyclotron heating system at frequencies of 60–80 MHz with a power of several megawatts; the tritium fuel cycle; the remote control technologies; the technologies for diagnostics capable of operating under the fusion reactor conditions; the technologies for maintaining quasi-stationary plasma discharges; and the technologies for the tokamak operation in the fusion ignition regime, in which the heating by alpha particles is the dominant heating mechanism at the axis of the plasma column, in the deuterium–tritium experiments limited by the radiation heating of the toroidal coils. The results are presented from the conceptual design of the basic TRT components, as well as the expected characteristics of its operation. It is shown that TRT has a wide window of working parameters suitable for studying the reactor operating regimes. The high magnetic field provides the necessary margins of the pressure, MHD stability, and plasma controllability variation. Implementation of the advanced divertor and first wall concepts, including those using the liquid-metal technologies, will provide the optimum choice of design options in order to reliably control the heat and particle fluxes under the reactor conditions. The advanced systems for the auxiliary heating and current drive will make it possible to implement both the pulsed and stationary regimes of the reactor operation. Calculations of the TRT discharge scenarios show that, for the DT mixture with equal content of components, the long discharges (with duration exceeding 100 s) can be realized with a neutron flux of more than 0.5 MW/m2 onto the wall, as well as the stationary discharges with a flux of approximately 0.2 MW/m2. Thus, TRT can be a real prototype of the fusion neutron source for the hybrid reactor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates muscle proteins in Russian (Acipenser gueldensiaedtii Brandt), Siberian (Acipenser baerii Brandt), and Amur (Acipenser shrencki Brandt) sturgeons using the method of polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. A group of fractions, which is presumably the product of a polyallelic duplicated MY-1* locus, is recorded among the general pool of proteins. Data from densitometric analysis makes it possible to put forward a hypothesis about an eight-gene determination of this system of proteins. The highest heterogeneity and polymorphism was revealed in the Russian sturgeon. Analysis of the genotype distribution in samples of the studied species allowed us to make an assumption that the genetic structure of spawning sturgeon stocks is significantlymetamorphosed under the influence of anthropogenic and natural factors.

Analysis of electrophoregrams of water-soluble proteins of white skeletal muscle of 10 fish species belonging to three genera of the Acipenseridae family has allowed revealing an earlier not described system that can serve as a biochemical marker. This protein system represents a set of five fractions (A, B, C, D, E). A part of the studied species is monomorphous for one of these fractions (sterlet, starred sturgeon, great sturgeon, and big shovelnose had phenotype A, barbel sturgeon--phenotype C, great Siberian sturgeon--phenotype D). In all individuals of the Amur sturgeon the identical three-component specter (phenotype ACE) was revealed. In the Sakhalin, Siberian, and Russian sturgeons a clearly expressed polymorphism was observed. Among the studied species the Russian sturgeon was characterized by the highest degree of heterogeneity and polymorphism. In the studied sample of this species all five protein variants are found, whereas in other species--only a part of this set.

Creatine kinase (E.C. 2.7.3.2) was examined in stellate sturgeon Acipenser stellatus Pallas, Russian sturgeon A. gueldenstaedtii Brandt, European sterlet A. ruthenus L., Siberian sterlet A. ruthenus marsiglii Brandt, and great sturgeon (beluga) Huso huso L., using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Two loci for creatine kinase were identified: CK-A* in white skeletal muscle and CK-C* in stomach wall muscle. Most species proved to be monomorphic at the CK-A* locus, showing the same phenotype represented by a single band. Heterogeneity and polymorphism in creatine kinase, determined by the CK-A* locus, were found only in Russian sturgeon. Based on the results of densitometric analysis of band staining intensity, we have advanced a hypothesis that synthesis of subunits of the CK-A* product in this species was controlled by eight genes. However, the genotype frequencies in the sample were significantly different from those theoretically expected upon free and independent gene recombination. The results of this study support the hypothesis on the absence of heterodimeric creatine kinase molecules in the skeletal muscle of Russian sturgeon. Locus CK-C* in sterlet was revealed as a single, intensely stained, rapidly migrating fraction, whereas in Russian sturgeon, the enzyme activity in this zone was very weak. No creatine kinase was found in liver, kidneys, spleen, heart, and intestine mucous tunic.

We studied blood serum albumins in European (Acipencer ruthensis L.) and Siberian (A. ruthensis marsiglii Brandt) sterlet using disk electrophoresis in polyacrylamide gel. The albumins were shown to be controlled by three codominant alleles of a single locus (ALB*a, b, c). In European sterlet, all three theoretically possible genotypes were described, one of which (ALB*c/c) occurred extremely rarely (one individual). Siberian sterlet was found to be monomorphic for albumins: all fish examined had the ALB*a/a genotype. There was no correlation between albumin patterns and fish fatness. In a number of samples from the Volga River basin, spatial and temporal differentiation was found and analyzed. The results suggest that construction of hydroelectric plants may provoke massive and prolonged starlet migrations.

Cross-over, controlled, randomized and triple-blind study of F-milk efficacy and monitoring of F excretion with urine under conditions of wide availability of fluoride containing toothpastes was performed in Voronezh during last 10 years. F-milk project increasingly covered annually from 10 to 15 thousand of pre-school children. From them 335 children (11 kindergarteners -- age 6 years) regularly consuming F-milk during 3 years and 175 children (6 kindergarteners -- age 6 years) of the control group were examined. Statistics of the received data with 2 tail t-test has shown that between dmf (1.59+/-1.82) in children consuming F-milk and dmf (2.58+/-2.67) in children of the control group there is significant difference (p<0.001) with 96% of the statistical power. When implementing F-milk for 10 years running there were collected and analyzed data on caries experience in children 3, 6, 9 and 12 years (2004 vs. 1994). There is considerable reduction of caries incidence in all age groups in 2004, probably due to F containing toothpastes wide use and very active hygienic education of the population in Voronezh. At the same time dmf index in 6 year old children receiving F-milk was by 39% lower than in their contemporaries from the control group. F-intake monitoring in children 3, 4, 5 and 6 years of age has shown that F-milk (daily appr. 0.2 l with the level 2.5 ppm) use is a very effective method of F-deficiency elimination, leaving out any possibility of F-overdosage exceeding its physiologic needs.

Electrophoresis in 7% polyacrylamide gel was used to analyze nonspecific esterases from different organs and tissues of Russian sturgeon. The basic enzymatic activity was observed the four zymogram zones. In sixteen cases the patterns of isozyme distribution in these zones allowed to consider them as allele systems (14 polymorphic and 2 monomorphic) corresponding to the four structural genes. The observed genotype frequencies of the nine of these systems (EST-1* of brain and intestine; EST-2* of serum and intestine; EST-3* of spleen and kidney; and EST-4* of spleen, brain, and heart) were largely concordant with Hardy-Weinberg proportions for codominant disomic inheritance. Genetic control of other polymorphic systems is unknown, but, high enzymatic activity of these esterases, sufficient for qualitative electrophretic detection, permits utilization of these polymorphisms for phenotypic monitoring of Russian sturgeon populations.

The 5'-terminal fragment (containing 1-565th codons) of Bacillus thuringiensis var. tenebrionis gene for the Coleoptera-specific delta-endotoxin CryIIIA was cloned. This sequence was extended with either only a homologous fragment of CryIA(a) or that one together with in-frame NPTII or GUS coding sequences. The obtained gene derivatives were expressed in E. coli. The analysis of hybrid polypeptides confirmed the enzymatic activities of bifunctional proteins and showed toxic properties of "insectotoxin-NPTII" against Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata).

Three RNA fractions (12SE, 9SE and 8SE) were isolated from highly purified mitochondrial preparations of Crithidia oncopelti. Using inhibitory analysis and competitive hybridization, it was shown that the mitochondrial fractions under study are synthesized in the kinetoplasts and do not belong to ribosomal RNA. It was demonstrated that these fractions possess template activity, since they stimulate protein synthesis in a cell-free system of E. coli. Each fraction is subjected to translation to form one predominant polypeptide with molecular weight of about 20 000, 10 000 and 7000, respectively.

The ability of a complex associate made up of maxi- and mini-circular molecules of kinetoplast DNA from C oncopelti to perform polypeptide synthesis in a cell-free system of conjugate transcription and translation of E. coli was demonstrated. The coding function of maxi-circular molecules and genetic inertness of mini-circular molecules of kinetoplast DNA during polypeptide synthesis in vitro was found. Total RNA from the kinetoplasts was shown to undergo translation in cell-free protein-synthesizing system of E. coli to form 9-10 polypeptides. The molecular weights of many polypeptides, whose synthesis in this system is performed by DNA and RNA from Kinetoplasts were found to be similar.

Blood from the adrenal gland can flow in two directions--into the caudal vena cava and by anastomoses into the portal vein. A method of multiple blood procuring from these vessels in dogs for the purpose of studying the adrenal gland function is suggested. Polyethylene catheters, 0.9 mm in diameter and 35--40 mm in length glued to capron plates, mandrins, Gordeev's needles and blood-drawing needles are necessary. Transperitoneal surgical approach to the caudal and mesenteric veins is to be provided. Purse-string suture is applied on the wall of the mesenteric vein. The catheter is washed with heparin, the mandrin is introduced into it and it is inserted into the Gordeev's needle. A puncture is made in the centre of the purse-string suture with this needle, which is introduced into the vein together with the catheter. Gordeev's needle is withdrawn and the catheter is pushed through to the portal vein. The purse-string suture is tightened, and the capron plate is fixed in the wall of the vein. The mandrin is recovered from the catheter, heparin is administered into its canal, polyethylene plug is inserted and withdrawn through the abdominal wall outside with the aid of the blood-drawing needle. The catheter is introduced into the caudal vena cava in the same way. Blood samples can be obtained on the 14th postoperative day.

Kinetoplast DNA of trypanosomatids represents a complex associate composed of mini- and maxicircular molecules, the latter being analogous to mitochondrial DNA of other eukaryotic species. Some new data on the structural organization and transcription of trypanosomatid mitochondrial genome are given. Detailed genetic and transcriptional maps of maxicircular kinetoplast DNAs of trypanosome and leishmania are presented. The replication mechanisms of mini- and maxicircular molecules of kinetoplast DNA are analyzed. Some characteristic features of trypanosomatid mitochondrial genome organization similar and different with respect to mitochondrial genomes of other eukaryotic species are discussed.