US/Russian cooperative efforts in nuclear material protection, control, and accounting at the Siberian Chemical Combine

The Siberian Chemical Combine (SKhK) is the largest multifunction nuclear production facility in the Russian nuclear complex. Until recently, it produced and processed special nuclear material for the Russian Defense Ministry. SKhK and its US partners in the Department of Energy (DOE) US/Russian Materials Protection, Control, and Accountability (MPC and A) Program are nearing completion of the initial MPC and A upgrades at the six SKhK plant sites that were begun three years ago. Comprehensive enhancements to the physical protection and access control systems are progressing on a site-wide basis while a comprehensive MC and A system is being implemented at the Radiochemical Plant site. SKhK now produces thermal and electrical power, enriches uranium for commercial reactor fuel, reprocesses irradiated fuel, converts high-enriched uranium metal into high-enriched oxide for blending into reactor-grade, low-enriched uranium, and manufactures civilian products. The authors review the progress to date and outline plans for continuing the work in 1999

Physical characteristics of concentration fields of tropospheric bioaerosols in the South of Western Siberia

The State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector" and the Institute of Optics SB RAS are performing systematic study of tropospheric bioaerosols in the South of Western Siberia. The work summarizes the results of analysis of some physical characteristics of the data array on bioaerosol concentration obtained with an airplane laboratory at the altitudes of 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5.5 and 7 km. The flights were performed during the last 10 days of each month in 1999-2003. It was shown that the concentration of total protein aerosols obeyed the laws of continual statistics, and the concentration of culturable microorganism aerosols obeyed the laws of discrete statistics. The analysis of correlation coefficients and cross correlation of bioaerosol concentration fields was performed. Wavelet analysis of the data showed that variations of tropospheric bioaerosol concentration were mainly determined by typical seasonal processes with periods of 12, 6, 4 and 8-9 months. Seasonal variations cause approximately 80% of the total dispersion of variations of total protein concentration, and the amplitudes of variations of culturable microorganism concentration are small as compared with the constant component. Harmonic analysis of bioaerosol concentration fields was performed. Harmonics that are significant in wavelet spectra for all time series were taken for the approximation of the series. It was revealed that four-month periodicity was internal and was caused by a wave spreading from above with a vertical rate of about 4 km/month. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Physical characteristics of concentration fields of tropospheric bioaerosols in the South of Western Siberia

The State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology "Vector" and the Institute of Optics SB RAS are performing systematic study of tropospheric bioaerosols in the South of Western Siberia. The work summarizes the results of analysis of some physical characteristics of the data array on bioaerosol concentration obtained with an airplane laboratory at the altitudes of 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5.5 and 7 km. The flights were performed during the last 10 days of each month in 1999-2003. It was shown that the concentration of total protein aerosols obeyed the laws of continual statistics, and the concentration of culturable microorganism aerosols obeyed the laws of discrete statistics. The analysis of correlation coefficients and cross correlation of bioaerosol concentration fields was performed. Wavelet analysis of the data showed that variations of tropospheric bioaerosol concentration were mainly determined by typical seasonal processes with periods of 12, 6, 4 and 8-9 months. Seasonal variations cause approximately 80% of the total dispersion of variations of total protein concentration, and the amplitudes of variations of culturable microorganism concentration are small as compared with the constant component. Harmonic analysis of bioaerosol concentration fields was performed. Harmonics that are significant in wavelet spectra for all time series were taken for the approximation of the series. It was revealed that four-month periodicity was internal and was caused by a wave spreading from above with a vertical rate of about 4 km/month. © 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Аутотрансплантация Т-лимфоцитов как инструмент для антиген-специфической иммунотерапии онкологических заболеваний

Autotransplantation of immune cells to induce immunological rejection of tumors can be a useful approach in tumor treatment. Despite the low efficiency of this  approach demonstrated in the past, the active development of cell technologies and  genetic engineering has led to the significant improvement in clinical outcomes. A  great success was achieved in adoptive immunotherapy with the T-lymphocytes  specific to tumor antigens. This review describes the clinical experience in  application of various antigen-specific adoptive immunotherapy methods including  tumor-infiltrating T-lymphocytes, T-lymphocytes with redirected transgenic T-cell  and chimeric antigenrecognizing receptors. The possibilities and limitations of these  biomedical technologies are also analyzed in the article.Аутотрансплантация клеток иммунной системы с целью вызвать реакцию иммунологического отторжения опухоли может оказаться востребованным инструментом в руках врачей. Несмотря  на невысокую эффективность, продемонстрированную в прошлом, активное развитие  биомедицинских клеточных технологий и генной инженерии привело к значительному  улучшению результатов, получаемых при клинической апробации этого подхода. Наибольших  успехов удалось добиться в области адоптивной иммунотерапии с использованием Т-лимфоцитов,  специфичных к опухолевым антигенам. В данном обзоре описывается клинический опыт  применения различных вариантов антиген-специфической адоптивной иммунотерапии опухолей,  включая использование опухоль-инфильтрирующих T-лимфоцитов, T-лимфоцитов с перенаправленными трансгенными антигенраспознающими рецепторами, в том числе химерными.  В статье также анализируются возможности и ограничения этих биомедицинских технологий

Способ определения изометричности расположения бедренного и большеберцового тоннелей до их формирования при пластике передней крестообразной связки

Relevance. One of the key points in plasty of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) is the isometric position of the graft, in which its tension remains the same during flexion and extension of the knee joint. However, no method has been described today for the intraoperative determination of the isometricity of the location of the femoral and tibial tunnels (for placing the graft) before their formation.Purpose of the study. To develop a method for intraoperative determination of the isometricity of the location of the femoral and tibial tunnels before their formation during ACL plasty and to study its effectiveness.Material and methods. The study included 30 patients who underwent ACL repair. For a preliminary intraoperative assessment of the isometric areas of graft fixation on the femur and tibia, the proposed original method with the use of two knot pushers and a thread passing through them. Isometry was assessed by the degree of displacement of this thread. After determining the isometric areas of fixation, the femoral and tibial tunnels were formed, and the isometric position of the graft before its fixation in the tibia was checked by the degree of displacement of the threads with which the graft was sutured relative to the aperture of the tibial tunnel.Results. The average displacement of the thread relative to the pusher of the knot in the preliminary determination of the isometric areas of fixation according to the proposed method corresponded to the displacement of the threads with which the distal end of the graft was sewn relative to the outer aperture of the tibial tunnel (this value did not exceed 2 mm on average) until the final fixation of the graft in the tibial tunnel.Conclusion. The developed method makes it possible to determine the isometric location of the femoral and tibial tunnels during arthroscopic plasty of the anterior cruciate ligament before their formation. If the location of the fixation points on the femur and tibia is determined non-isometric, it is possible to correct their position.Актуальность. Одним из ключевых моментов при пластике передней крестообразной связки (ПКС) является изометричное расположение трансплантата, при котором его натяжение остается одинаковым при сгибании и разгибании в коленном суставе. Тем не менее на сегодняшний день не описано способа интраоперационного определения изометричности расположения бедренного и большеберцового тоннелей (для установки трансплантата) до их формирования.Цель исследования. Разработать способ интраоперационного определения изометричности расположения бедренного и большеберцового тоннелей до их формирования при пластике ПКС и изучить его эффективность.Материал и методы. В исследование были включены 30 пациентов, которым выполнялась пластика ПКС. Для предварительной интраоперационной оценки изометричных областей фиксации трансплантата на бедренной и большеберцовой костях использовали предложенный оригинальный способ с применением двух толкателей узла и проходящей через них нити. Изометрию оценивали по степени смещения этой нити. После определения изометричных областей фиксации формировали бедренный и большеберцовый тоннели и проверяли изометричность положения трансплантата до его фиксации в большеберцовой кости по степени смещения нитей, которыми прошит трансплантат, относительно апертуры большеберцового тоннеля.Результаты. Средняя величина смещения нити относительно толкателя узла при предварительном определении изометрических областей фиксации по предложенному способу соответствовала величине смещения нитей, которыми прошит дистальный конец трансплантата, относительно наружной апертуры большеберцового тоннеля (данная величина в среднем не превышала 2 мм) до окончательной фиксации трансплантата в большеберцовом тоннеле.Вывод. Разработанный метод позволяет определить изометричное расположение бедренного и большеберцового тоннелей при артроскопической пластике передней крестообразной связки до их формирования. В случае определения неизометричности расположения точек фиксации на бедренной и большеберцовой костях возможна корректировка их положения

Nuclear Polarization of Molecular Hydrogen Recombined on a Non-metallic Surface

The nuclear polarization of $\mathrm{H}_2$ molecules formed by recombination of nuclear polarized H atoms on the surface of a storage cell initially coated with a silicon-based polymer has been measured by using the longitudinal double-spin asymmetry in deep-inelastic positron-proton scattering. The molecules are found to have a substantial nuclear polarization, which is evidence that initially polarized atoms retain their nuclear polarization when absorbed on this type of surfac

Сравнительное исследование процесса хондрогенной дифференцировки мезенхимальных стромальных клеток, выделенных из разных источников

Introduction. As an alternative to autochondral transplantation, variants of chondrocyte replacement with mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) were considered, since these cells are present in all organs and tissues of human body and possess multilinear potential for differentiation. A number of studies demonstrate that the ability for chondrogenic differentiation of MSCs from different tissues varies, however, those studies are few and controversial. In accordance with the ethical principles and the technical ease of obtaining, adipose tissue, Wharton’s jelly (stroma) and dental pulp are the most attractive sources of MSCs for tissue engineering.Aim: to compare the chondrogenic potential of MSCs allocated from adipose tissue, Wharton’s jelly of the umbilical cord, and human deciduous teeth pulp cultured in the composition of microspheres (pellets).Materials and methods. The phenotype of primary cultures of MSCs was studied via flow microscopy. Chondrogenic differentiation was performed with 3D-culture in microspheres in the presence of TGFβ1 for two weeks under standard conditions. Human chondroblasts were used as a positive control. Cell viability was determined by fluorescent staining. Morphological study was performed using histological and immunohistochemical staining methods.Results. Cultures of MSCs from all sources had similar phenotypes CD29+, CD34–, CD44+, CD49b+, CD45–, CD73+, CD90+, HLADR. In the mass of living cells in microspheres only singular dead cells were visualized. A significant production of extracellular matrix (ECM) was observed in the chondroblast and adipose tissue microspheres, whereas in the microspheres of dental pulp and umbilical cord stroma derived MSCs, no significant ECM was detected. Among the MSCs, the highest production of collagen and glycosaminoglycans (GAG) in the ECM was observed in the microspheres of adipose tissue-derived MSCs, and the lowest production – in the microspheres of dental pulp-derived MSCs. Conclusion. A histological analysis of all microspheres after 14 days of culturing in the chondrogenic medium revealed the signs of differentiation in the chondrogenic direction, a progressive increase of the ECM produced by cells, and the presence of total collagen and GAG in it. Of all the MSCs studied, the greatest chondrogenic potential in vitro (the intensity of development of ECM components) is possessed by the adipose tissue-derived MSCs.Введение. В качестве альтернативы аутохондротрансплантации рассматриваются варианты замены хондроцитов на мезенхимальные стромальные клетки (МСК), которые присутствуют во всех органах и тканях человеческого организма и обладают мультилинейным потенциалом дифференцировки. В ряде исследований показано, что способность к хондрогенной дифференцировке МСК из разных тканей различается, однако работы, посвященные данному вопросу, единичны и противоречивы. В соответствии с этическими принципами и технической простотой получения наиболее привлекательными для тканевой инженерии источниками МСК представляются жировая ткань, Вартонов студень пуповины (строма) и пульпа зуба.Целью настоящего исследования было сравнение хондрогенного потенциала МСК, выделенных из жировой ткани, Вартонова студня пуповины и пульпы молочного зуба человека, при культивировании в составе микросфер (пеллет).Материалы и методы. Фенотип первичных культур МСК исследовали методом проточной микроскопии. Хондрогенную дифференцировку проводили при 3D-культивировании в составе микросфер в присутствии TGFβ1 в течение двух недель при стандартных условиях. В качестве положительного контроля использовали хондробласты человека. Жизнеспособность клеток определяли методом флуоресцентного окрашивания. Морфологическое исследование проводили с использованием гистологических и иммуногистохимических методов окрашивания.Результаты. Культуры МСК из всех источников обладали сходным фенотипом CD29+, CD34–, CD44+, CD49b+, CD45–, CD73+, CD90+, HLADR. В составе микросфер визуализировались лишь единичные мертвые клетки в массе живых. Значительная продукция внеклеточного матрикса (ВКМ) отмечалась в микросферах из хондробластов и жировой ткани, тогда как в микросферах из МСК пульпы зуба и стромы пуповины выраженной наработки ВКМ не обнаружили. Среди МСК наибольшую наработку коллагена и гликозаминогликанов (ГАГ) в ВКМ наблюдали в микросферах из МСК жировой ткани, а наименьшую – в микросферах из МСК пульпы зуба.Заключение. Гистологический анализ всех микросфер через 14 суток культивирования в хондрогенной среде выявил признаки дифференцировки в хондрогенном направлении, прогрессивное увеличение продуцируемого клетками ВКМ и присутствие в нем общего коллагена и ГАГ. Из всех исследованных МСК наибольшим хондрогенным потенциалом in vitro (интенсивность наработки компонентов ВКМ) обладают МСК жировой ткани

Precision bond lengths for Rydberg Matter clusters KN (N = 19, 37, 61 and 91) in excitation levels n = 4 - 8 from rotational radio-frequency emission spectra

Clusters of the electronically excited condensed matter Rydberg Matter (RM) are planar and six-fold symmetric with magic numbers N = 7, 19, 37, 61 and 91. The bond distances in the clusters are known with a precision of +- 5% both from theory and Coulomb explosion experiments. Long series of up to 40 consecutive lines from rotational transitions in such clusters are now observed in emission in the radio-frequency range 7-90 MHz. The clusters are produced in five different vacuum chambers equipped with RM emitters. The most prominent series with B = 0.9292 +- 0.0001 MHz agrees accurately with expectation (within 2%) for the planar six-fold symmetric cluster K19 in excitation level n = 4. Other long series agree even better with K19 at n = 5 and 6. The ratio between the interatomic distance and the theoretical electron orbit radius (the dimensional ratio) for K19 in n = 4 is found to be 2.8470 +- 0.0003. For clusters K19 (n = 6) and K37 (n = 7 and 8) the dimensional ratio 2.90 is the highest value that is found, which happens to be exactly the theoretical value. Clusters K61 and K91 in n = 5 and 6 have slightly lower dimensional ratios. This is expected since the edge effects are smaller. Intensity alternations are observed of approximately 7:3. The nuclear spins interact strongly with the magnetic field from the orbiting electrons. Spin transitions are observed with energy differences corresponding accurately (within 0.6%) to transitions with apparent total (delta)F = -3 at excitation levels n = 5 and 6. The angular momentum coupling schemes in the clusters are complex but well understood.Comment: 37 pages, 14 figure