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Data on the partial synthesis of enantiomerically pure sesquiterpenoids of the drimane group, including valuable biologically active natural compounds, from accessible labdane diterpenoids are surveyed.

To perform preclinical assessment of new live monovalent vaccine Influvir against pandemic influenza virus A/H1N1 [strainA/17/California/2009/38 (H1N1)].Preclinical studies of acute toxicity and effect of Influvir vaccine on systems and organs of laboratory animals (rats and outbred white mice) was performed according to modern requirements of Institute of Toxicology.According to results of toxicometry and necroscopy, live monovalent influenza vaccine Influvir during intransal application was safe and had good tolerability during 14 days of observation for experimental animals after acute application. Performed preclinical studies allow to label the studied vaccine as class V virtually nontoxic drugs.According to results of preclinical studies, clinical trials of live monovalent intranasal influenza vaccine Influvir can be permitted.

Results of phase II of a clinical trial of the influenza allantoic intranasal live vaccine "Ultragrivac" (type A/H5N2) are presented. The vaccine was developed based on strain /17/Duck/Potsdam/86/92 H5N2 [17/H5] - reassortant of two viruses, /Leningrad/134/17/57 (H2N2) and /Duck/Potsdam/1402-86 (H5N2), obtained from the Virology Department, St. Petersburg Institute of Experimental Medicine.Two schemes of immunization (with revaccination on days 10 and 21) were used. Evaluation of vaccine immunogenicity included determination of local, cellular and humoral immunity. A significant rise in the level of secretory IgA in the nasal cavity of vaccinated volunteers (with revaccination on days 10 and 21) was documented after application of the vaccine. The postvaccination humoral immune response was estimated from the level of significant (4-fold and more) antibody seroconversions, geometric mean titers of antibodies to two strains of influenza virus /17/Duck/Potsdam/86/92 H5N2 [17/H5] and /Chicken/Suzdalka/Nov-11/2005 (H5N1), and their incremental rate. Results of measurement of antibody titers in hemagglutination-inhibition assay are presented, with two antigens being used to analyse all serum samples from volunteers twice vaccinated with influenza vaccine "Ultragrivac" at 10 and 21 day intervals. Result of phase II of this clinical study show that influenza allantoic intranasal live vaccine "Ultragrivac" is nonreactogenic and safe for both vaccinated and surrounding individuals. Moreover, it is sufficiently immunogenic with respect not only to homologous virus A(H5N2) but also to the A(H5N1) strain.

Perspectives of using reverse genetics methods for constructing of recombinant influenza virus strains acceptable for use as live attenuated vaccines are discussed. Using of attenuated NS-vectors of influenza virus opens possibilities for the development of recombinant vaccines with optimal ratio of immunogenicity and safety. Reverse genetics is applicable for development of effective vaccines against new pathogens such as highly pathogenic avian influenza A/H5N1.

To confirm and prove on the extended contingent of volunteers the non-reactogenicity, safety and immunogenicity of "Grifor" vaccine in comparative trial with registered in Russia commercial vaccine "Vaxigrip".Phase II clinical trial was performed on the research bases of Mechnikov Institute of Vaccines and Sera and Institute of Influenza. In single-blind comparative prospective randomized trial 300 adult volunteers (150 volunteers on each base) aged 18 - 60 y.o. were divided on 3 equivalent groups. Assessment of antigenic characteristics of "Grifor" vaccine was performed using hemagglutination inhibition assay (HAI) with chicken erythrocytes measuring geometric mean titer (GMT), seroconversion factor as well as level of seroconversion and seroprotection.Previously performed studies proved non-reactogenicity, safety and high immunogenicity of "Grifor", whereas this comparative trial performed with commercial vaccine "Vaxigrip" did not reveal significant advantage in any of studied vaccine."Grifor" vaccine meet the requirements of both EMEA CPMP and methodic guidelines MY 3.3.2. 1758-03 for inactivated influenza vaccines, which allows to register vaccine "Grifor" in Russian Federation.

Phase I clinical trial of inactivated virosomal split influenza vaccine "Grifor" was conducted in the Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera as accredited base for such trials. Forty healthy volunteers (males and females) aged 18 - 50 years consented to participate in the trial. Reactogenicity, safety, and immunogenicity of new Russian influenza vaccine were assessed. Analysis of obtained results showed that there was evidence of safety and low reactogenicity of the vaccine as well as of its high immunogenic characteristics, which satisfied both the EMEA's Committee for Proprietal Medicinal Products criteria and requirements of Federal Service for Surveillance for Protection of Consumers Rights and Human Welfare (MU 3.3.2.1758-03) for inactivated influenza vaccines.

New Russian virosomal split vaccine against influenza "Grifor" was developed. The vaccine is represented by mix of highly purified protective external and internal antigens of influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2) and B viruses. Developed technology of manufacture allowed to provide presentation of external antigens of influenza virus in the form of virosomes, and presentation of internal antigens in the form of micelles with maximal preservation of their antigenic activity. Using electron microscopy, electrophoresis in 10% polyacrilamide gel with sodium dodecyl sulfate, and polymerase chain reaction, morphologic and biochemical properties of the vaccine were studied. Preclinical study, including assessment of antigenic characteristics of "Grifor" vaccine compared to vaccine "Vaxigrip" (France), was performed. It was established that administration of the vaccine did not result in death of experimental animals, decrease of body mass, development of pathologic (including inflammatory, dystrophic and necrobiotic) changes in viscera or render adverse effects on blood hematologic and biochemical parameters and on the immune system. The vaccine was not pyrogenic and allergenic, did not have local irritating effects. Obtained results supported the appropriateness of conducting the clinical trials of "Grifor" vaccine on limited number of volunteers.

The trial enrolled 64 females with genital prolapse corrected in 2003-2007 with transvaginal synthetic aids. Urinary incontinence of effort was detected in 53.1% patients with cystocele. Efficacy of surgical treatment of vaginal prolapse was 73.3% in use of anterior colporaphy with implantation of prolen net and 100% in reconstruction of the pelvic fundus by PROLIFT technique. Early postoperative complications (vaginal wall erosion) occurred in 16.7 and 15% patients, respectively. Thus, reconstruction of the pelvic fundus is an operation of choice in severe and combined forms of pelvic prolapse in women.

The deep-sea holasteroid Calymne relicta was first described from a few fragments discovered by the HMS ‘Challenger’ in the Bermuda abyssal plain more than a century ago. In addition to re-examining the type material, we describe herein new specimens from unpublished material collected between 3720 and 4860 m during three scientific expeditions that took place on both sides of the North Atlantic between 1966 and 1991. The new material includes juvenile and adult specimens in sufficiently good preservational state to allow a full redescription, including all types of appendages, some of which have never been described. These new observations confirm the atypical characteristics of C. relicta, including test morphology and spines that have no equivalent in other extant taxa. We explore in detail characteristics of this species that were almost impossible to interpret previously. © 2009 The Linnean Society of London, Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2009, 155, 630–648.

Russian Cities. An important peculiarity of Russian urbanization from 1740-1870 was the deceleration of its tempo at precisely the moment when urbanization increased in Western Europe (to the mid-eighteenth century Russia lagged behind only England and France in relative numbers of urban population). The main reasons for this deceleration, in the comparative context, are that the industrial revolution began later in Russia and pro ceeded more slowly than in Western Europe, and that the character of Russian indus trialization was more diffused, in particular industrialization took place in equal parts in the city and the countryside. As result, urban industrialization, the main factor in rapid urbanization in Western European countries was weakened by rural industrialization. In 1725, 78% of all industrial enterprises and 86% of the labor force were concentrated in cities, but by 1868 Russian cities controlled only 41% of industry and 39% of labor., Mironov Boris. Les villes de Russie entre l'Occident et l'Orient (1750-1850). In: Annales. Économies, Sociétés, Civilisations. 46ᵉ année, N. 3, 1991. pp. 705-733.

El problema de la relación entre educación y crecimiento económico es muy pertinente a la situación socioeconómica actual de la URSS. El pais con el nivel más alto, o al menos uno de los más altos, de educación entre las naciones desarrolladas tiene uno de los más bajos en términos de renta nationalper capita. ¿Es ello paradójico? Sí, si somos de la opinión de que la renta nacional responde de modo inmediato y directo a la educación profesional de la población activa de un país. No es paradójico, no obstante, si se acepta la hipótesis de que hay que dejar pasar un cierto período de tiempo para que la educación dé fruto. En este sentido se nos plantea la siguiente cuestión: ¿con qué desfase han tenido los cambios en el nivel educativo un efecto apreciable sobre la renta nacional en Rusia/URSS?

The ozonolysis of a mixture of 13Z- and 13E-neoabienols (I and III) leads, depending on the conditions, either to 8α-hydroxy-14,15-bis-norlabd-11-en-13-one (IV) or to 8α-hydroxdriman-11-oic acid (VI) or to driman-8α,11-diol (VII). Compound (IV) undergoes hydrogenation smoothly with the formation of a mixture of 8α-hydroxy-14,15-bisnorlabdan-13-one (X) and “sclareol oxide” (XI).

A four-stage synthesis of (+)-drim-8-en-11-oic acid (IX) from norambreinolide (II) has been developed. The latter was converted by boiling with ethanolic sulfuric acid into a mixture of the methyl esters of bicyclohomofarnes-7- and -8-enoic acids which, on reaction with methyllithium, gave a mixture of 12-methyl-14,15,16-trinorlabd-7-and -8-en-12-ols. The alcohol with the Δ8 double bond was dehydrated with p-toluenesulfonic acid to 11-methyl-14,15,16-trinorlabd-8,11-diene, the ozoization of which yielded (+)-drim-8-en-11-oic acid.

The ozonization of abienol in ethyl acetate in the presence of pyridine or in methanol followed by the reduction of the peroxides by methyl sulfide has given ambreinolide. On reduction of the peroxide products of the ozonolysis of isoabienol in methanol with potassium tetrahydroborate, the main reaction product was 15,16-bisnorlabdane-8,13,14-triol. Dimethyl sulfide first caused the rearrangement of the peroxide products of ozonization with the cleavage of the ordinary C-13-C-14 carbon bond, and then their reduction.

A synthetic route to 11-hydroxydrim-8(9)-en-7-one and 11,12-hydroxydrim-8(9)-en-7-one, valuable key intermediates for the preparation of naturally occurring biologically active drimanic sesquiterpenoids, starting from easily available drim-8(9)-en-7-one was developed. 11-Hydroxydrim-8(9)-en-7-one was obtained by peracidic oxidation of the enol acetate of drim-8(9)-en-7-one. 11,12-Dihydroxydrim-8(9)-en-7-one was synthesized from drim-8(9)-en-7-one by two routes, namely, by a five-step procedurevia 11-hydroxydrim-8(9)-en-7-one and by bromination of drim-8(9)-en-7-one with NBS to give 11,12-dibromodrim-8(9)-en-7-one followed by its acetoxylation and deacetylation.

According to opinion of WHO's experts, development and use of tetravaccine, which contains both interdemic and pandemic (H5N1) serotypes of influenza viruses, is one of the most promising approaches to control possible influenza pandemic. Results of recently obtained data from clinical trials allowed experts from WHO to make a conclusion that protective immunity against avian influenza virus can be achieved after 2-doses immunization, when the immune system will be primed to hemagglutinin after the 1st dose and sufficient protective immunity level will be formed after the 2nd dose. However, in case of real threat of pandemic, the time for immunization with 2 doses of the vaccine will be absent. In order to provide protection for population of Russia in a limited time frame it is reasonable to vaccinate them with H5 hemagglutinin beforehand. In that case, when real threat of pandemic will arise, not two but one injection with monovalent vaccine against avian influenza will be sufficient. This idea formed the basis for concept of development of tetravaccine. The essence of the concept is vaccination of population with tetravaccine, consisting of antigens of influenza virus serotypes H3N2, H1N1, B, and H5, before the influenza pandemic caused by H5N1 virus will begin. Such vaccination will induce immunologic memory to hemagglutinin of avian influenza virus serotype H5 and, when the real threat of the pandemic will occur, only single immunization with monovaccine against avian influenza instead of 2 doses will be required. In 2006 Scientific-Production Association "Microgen" conducted extended preclinical study of immunogenic and protective characteristics of candidate vaccines against avian influenza prepared from vaccine strains of H5N1 and H5N2 serotypes. It has been shown that candidate vaccines prepared from both strains have high protective ability against Russian epidemic isolate A/chicken/Kurgan/Russia/2/2005(H5N1). To this time Scientific-Production Association "Microgen" has produced monovalent bulk of H3N2, H1N1, and B serotypes, which are included in interdemic influenza vaccines, as well as monovalent bulk of H5N1 and H5N2 serotypes. This intermediate products are ready to be produced into tetravaccine for conducting extended preclinical studies of its safety, reactogenicity, immunogenicity, and protective properties. If results of such studies will be positive then it is possible to begin clinical trials of the tetravaccine in 2007 and to discuss the questions about its dosage, methods of challenge and schedule.

Scientic-production association "Microgen" has finished 1st phase of clinical trials of candidate vaccines against avian influenza in order to assess their reactogenicity, safety, and immunogenicity. Two vaccines constructed from NIBRG-14 vaccine strain [A/Vietnam/1 194/2004 (H5N1)], obtained from World Health Organization, were studied: "OrniFlu" (inactivated subunit influenza vaccine adsorbed on aluminium hydroxide) and inactivated polymer-subunit influenza vaccine with polyoxydonium (IPSIV). Clinical trial of the vaccines with different quantity of antigen (15, 30, and 45 mcg of H5N1 virus hemagglutinin) was carried out in Influenza Research Institute (St. Petersburg) and in Mechnikov Research Institute of Vaccines and Sera (Moscow). Analysis of results allowed to conclude that both vaccines were safe, well tolerated and characterized by low reactogenicity. Two-doses vaccination schedule was needed to meet required seroconversion and seroprotection rates (or =1:40 inor =70% of vaccinated volunteers). "Orni-Flu" vaccine containing 15 mcg of hemagglutinin and optimal quantity of aluminium hydroxide (0.5 mg) in one dose as well as IPSIV containing 45 mcg of hemagglutinin and 0.75 mg of polyoxydonium in one dose were most immunogenic after 2 doses - seroprotection rates in microneutralization assay were 72.2% and 77.0% respectively. Marked influence of aluminium hydroxide content on immunogenicity of the "OrniFlu" vaccine was confirmed in the study. Optimal quantity of adjuvant was 0.5 mg per dose. According to basic concept of vaccine development, preference is given to vaccine that under minimal quantity of antigen induces sufficient specific immune response and is safe in volunteers. "OrniFlu" vaccine containing 15 mcg of H5N1 virus hemagglutinin and optimal quantity of aluminium hydroxide (0.5 mg) corresponded to these requirements that allowed researchers to recommend it for clinical trials of 2nd phase.

Our experimental activity in the field of femtosecond electron optics is described. The final purpose is to generate and characterize a sub-100-fs femtosecond electron beam.

A clinicomorphological study of 660 patients with acute traumatic intracranial hematomas has shown that pneummonia develops in 56% of cases, intracranial complications (purulent meningitis) in 14%.Pyoinflammatory complications were 1.5-1.7 times less common in small-sized hematomas, their total rate and the rate of pneumonias was twice higher in left cerebral hemispheric lesion. On the contrary, intracranial complications were twice more common in right cerebral hemispheric lesion. The structural bases of the regional meningeal immunity system were as follows: the pathways of blood and spinal fluid circulation and dural arachnoidal intercellular fluid; cellular cooperation of the meninx and tissue of the brain; the network of lymph vessels of the dura mater encephali and adventitia of large blood vessels and middle and inferior jugular (regional) lymph nodes. Morphodunctional changes in the local meningeal immunity system in patients with hematomas point to the development of secondary immunodeficiency. Inclusion of regional immunotherapy with T-activin into multimodality treatment decreases the incidence of extra- and intracranial pyoinflammatory complications and mortality.

From 1700-1704 to 1795-1799 the average stature of Russian recruits decreased from 164.7 to 159.5 cm. It means that the eighteenth century is noted for the fall in the biological status of the Russian population. The decrease occurred against the background of a considerable economic growth and was caused not by economic depression but by the rise in taxes and obligations. Increase in payments to the state was linked with the wars Russia waged for outlets to the Baltic and Black seas, and for the status of a great power, and with reforms carried out by the supreme power catching up with the West European countries.

It is shown that the high-resolution laser photoelectron microscope with subwavelength-spatial resolution can be used for an absolute values of the two-photon external photoelectric effect measurements with high (a few nm—scale) localization. The spatial distribution of light intensity in the near field is studied by observing the photoelectron projection images of a subwavelength nanoaperture. The imaging electrons are obtained as a result oftwo-photon external photoelectric effect induced in the aperture formed at the end of an optical fiber by femtosecondpulses of the second-harmonic radiation (410 mu) of a Ti:sapphire laser. The light-field distribution in the aperture isnot distorted by any near-by object, which allows the first nonperturbing measurement of such a distribution. Key words: femtosecondpulses, two-photon ionization, laser photoelectron microscope. 1. INTRODUCTION. The near-field optical microscopy makes it possible to obtain optical images of various objects with a spatialresolution much better than the optical wavelength ? and is at present a widespread investigation method in biophysics,nanotechnology, surface physics, etc. (see, for example, Refs.1 for review). The most important element in the near-fieldoptical microscopy is the light source (detector) with an aperture smaller than 2. It is precisely the aperture size that

A laboratory study in order to establish etiology of acute epididymitis (AE) was made in 243 patients. The complex of etiological diagnosis included: microscopic investigation of urethral discharge or urine, bacteriological examination of an initial urine portion and wound discharge in the operated on patients. In addition, urethral discharge/urine was studied with polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 96 patients; in 46 men PCR examined operative material. It was found that in sexually active young patients AE was caused primarily by infectious agents of sexually transmitted diseases. Targeted etiotropic therapy results in clinical cure in the majority of the cases. In older patients the disease was of bacterial origin (gram-negative bacteria, as a rule, are causative agents) and in some cases is associated with development of pyodestructive epidydimitis.

It is shown that field emission microscopy and related methods can be used to analyze the metal coated fiber tips, which nowadays are the most frequently used sensor for the scanning near-field optical microscopy (SNOM). Metal free and thus non field-emitting aperture for the light transmission on the tip apex can be directly seen and its parameters can be measured, which is very important for the interpretation of SNOM data.

The results of the molecular biological detection of the etiologic agent of hemorrhagic fever in Rostov Province are presented. The role of the causative agents of Astrakhan rickettsial fever, hemorrhagic fever with the renal syndrome, Q fever, leptospirosis and listeriosis has been excluded by means of such immunochemical reactions as the direct and indirect immunofluorescent tests, the solid-phase immunoenzyme assay, the complement fixation test and the agglutination test. The relationship between the cases of hemorrhagic fever in the focus of the outbreak and Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus has been demonstrated due to the use of the polymerase chain reaction with preliminary reverse transcription.

A five-stage synthesis of 8α-acetoxydriman-11-oic acid from the readily available bicyclohomofarnesane-8α,12-diol has been developed.

Malignant cells usually show altered gap junctional intercellular communication and are often associated with aberrant expression or localization of connexins. Transfection of connexin genes into tumorigenic cells restores normal cell growth, suggesting that connexins form a family of tumour suppressor genes. Some studies have also shown that specific connexins may be necessary to control growth of specific cell types. Although we have found that genes encoding connexin32 (Cx32; beta 1), Cx37 (alpha 4) and Cx43 (alpha 1) are rarely mutated in tumours, our recent studies suggest that methylation of the connexin gene promoter may be a mechanism by which connexin gene expression is down-regulated in certain tumors. We have produced various dominant negative mutants of the genes encoding Cx26 (beta 2), Cx32 and Cx43, some of which prevent the growth control exerted by the corresponding wild-type genes. A decade ago, we proposed a method to enhance killing of cancer cells by diffusion of therapeutic agents through gap junctions. Recently, we and others have shown that gap junctional intercellular communication is responsible for the bystander effect seen in herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase/ganciclovir gene therapy. Thus, connexin genes can exert dual effects in tumour control: tumour suppression and a bystander effect for cancer therapy.

To test the hypothesis that intact gap-junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) is necessary for genomic stability, we compared the spontaneous and chemically induced mutation frequencies in GJIC-proficient and -deficient HeLa cells. Thus, we determined microsatellite instability and mutation frequency in the HPRT gene in parental HeLa cells, which have no GJIC ability, and in HeLa cells in which GJIC was restored by transfection with the connexin 43 (Cx43) gene. When HeLa cells with (Cx43+) or without Cx43 gene (Cx43-) were treated with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) or methylnitrosourea, the Cx43+ cells survived better than Cx43- cells. The mutation frequency at CA repeats was measured with a shuttle vector; in the vector, the coding region of the beta-galactosidase gene was rendered out of frame by insertion of CA repeats, and the frame could be restored by insertion or deletion mutations of the CA repeats. The mutation frequency at CA repeats was 2-fold lower in Cx43+ cells than in Cx43-, both before and after exposure to MNNG or methylnitrosourea (P0.05). The frequency of spontaneous HPRT gene mutations, selected by their resistance to 6-thioguanine, was 3-fold lower in Cx43+ cells than Cx43- cells. Similarly, the frequency of MNNG-induced HPRT mutations was significantly higher in Cx43- cells (P0.001). Similar results were obtained even when the mutant selection process was carried out in the presence of alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid, a long-term inhibitor of GJIC, suggesting that the observed effect is not due to unwanted killing of cells by GJIC-mediated metabolic cooperation. Thus, our data demonstrate that HeLa cells transfected with the Cx43 gene become more resistant to spontaneous as well as chemically induced genetic changes.

In the past 7-8 years considerable effort has been expended to produce transgenic plants that resist virus infection, insects, herbicides and disease development. The crop improvement and the desired phenotype is conferred by transformation, usually with a single foreign gene. Selection of transformants demands the use of selectable markers, which usually encode enzymes which inactivate either a herbicide or an antibiotic. Also we use certain foreign genes known as reporter genes (for review see [7]).

Pulsed desorption of organic conducting polymer by XUV-photons, formed by a thin capillary collimator, has been investigated. Short-wavelength radiation has been resulted from a metal target irradiated by a sharply focused Ti:Sa laser beam (0.8 μm, 40 fs, 3 mJ∕pulse) and has been filtered by Mylar-gold substrate. Single shot and 1-kHz pulses regimes of driving femtosecond laser have been compared using a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. A stepwise function of photoion signal vs laser pulse energy has been observed.

Connexins are phylogenetically conserved proteins responsible for gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC). In tumours, GJIC is frequently disrupted. We have tested the hypothesis that the connexin 37 (Cx37) gene might be mutated in human tumours from tissues in which the Cx37 gene is known to be expressed. Eight lung adenocarcinomas and 18 sporadic breast carcinomas were analysed. While most tumours had GTA at codon 130, a base change GTA--ATA converting valine into isoleucine was found in three breast cancers (one homozygous for ATA) and two lung tumour samples. However, screening of normal DNA from the same patients and DNA from 42 healthy donors revealed that such base change also exists in normal tissue. Thus, we conclude that there is polymorphism of the connexin 37 gene in the human population. This is the first finding of polymorphism in the connexin gene family.

The paper describes the technique of plasma spraying used to fortify the coating of permanent dentures. This method helps improve the quality of permanent dentures and strengthen the adhesion of coatings on retention layers. Hence, dentures with very thin retention layer and vary strong coating adhesion can be made by traditional methods of denture making, thus improving the quality of prosthetic treatment. Traditional plastic may be used as coating material.

We have sequenced 6006 bp DNA of a region from the Bacillus subtilis SHgw chromosome known to contain riboflavin biosynthesis genes (rib gene cluster, 210 degrees on the B. subtilis genetic map). Five of the seven open reading frames found within the sequence are shown to represent the genes ribG, ribB, ribA, ribH and ribTD. The calculated molecular masses for the putative translation products are 39,305, 23,481, 44,121, 16,287 and 14,574 daltons respectively. The five rib genes are transcribed as a polycistronic 4277 nucleotide messenger RNA. The steady-state level of the transcript is negatively regulated by riboflavin. A cis-acting element necessary for regulation was mapped by analysis of constitutive mutations within the 5' untranslated region of the operon. The element is at least 48 bp in length and does not bear obvious similarity to well defined prokaryotic regulatory elements. The molecular mechanism of regulation remains unknown, but the data presented argue against regulation by attenuation.

Rouxicrinus vestitus new genus, new species, collected during submersible dives at depths of 421–887 m near Barbados, Colombia and the Bahamas is described, and notes on ecology are included. It is referred to the family Septocrinidae Mironov, 2000, which now comprises three genera, Zeuctocrinus A.M. Clark, 1973, Septocrinus Mironov, 2000, and Rouxicrinus new genus. This new genus differs significantly from both Septocrinus and Zeuctocrinus in having numerous low columnals in the proxistele, which tapers toward the crown, first pinnule arising more proximally, thorns on brachials and pinnulars, and a thick covering of soft tissue on arms and pinnules.

We describe several improvements of chain-termination DNA sequencing procedure of Sanger et al. For template preparation we use 0.3 ml cultures of M13 clones, grown in standard 1,5 ml polypropylene tubes. The sequencing experiment differs from the previously described by the use of deoxyNTP, labelled with phosphorus-33 (a low energy isotope with a half-life of 25 days, commercially produced in the USSR), and by a "quasi-end labelling" reaction, preceding the DNA synthesis in the presence of dideoxyNTPs. The combination of the phosphorus-33 and the quasi-end labelling produces very sharp sequencing ladders, that equal or exceed in quality those obtained with sulphur-35, and only an overnight exposure with a conventional X-ray film is required. The use of plastic tubes for bacterial growth and the 60-well microchambers for carrying out sequencing reactions results in substantial saving of time and cost in routine "middle scale" sequencing (both types of plasticware are produced in the USSR).

Double stranded multimers (C2A6C2)n, (C2A6G2)n and (G2A6G2)n were prepared from chemically synthesized oligonucleotides to study the influence of sequences flanking the An tract on the curvature of DNA. All these duplexes, including polypurine.polypyrimidine one, exhibit strong retardation in polyacrylamide gel which is indicative of pronounced DNA curvature. It has been proposed previously that among the bends at the boundary with the oligo(A) tract two types should be distinguished: 5'-bends and 3'-bends (Koo et al., 1986) This distinction was deduced from different relative mobilities of two specially designed sequences having phased 5'-bends and 3'-bends, respectively. Our data indicate that the substitutions of nucleotides at both 5' and 3' boundaries of A6 tract result in comparable changes in relative mobility. Therefore, for B-B' bends it is important to take into account not only whether they are at the 5' or 3' end of an oligo(dA) tract, but also the particular sequences at the boundaries of this tract.