On the phenomenology of a Z' coupling only to third-family fermions

The phenomenology of an additional U(1) neutral gauge boson Z' coupled to the third family of fermions is discussed. One might expect such a particle to contribute to processes where taus, b and t quarks are produced. Precision data from LEP1 put severe constraints on the mixing and heavy-boson mass. We find that the effects of such a particle could not be observed at hadronic colliders, be it at the Tevatron or the LHC, because of the QCD background. At LEP2 and future e^+e^- linear colliders, one could instead hope to observe such effects, in particular for b\bar b final states.Comment: 36 pages, LaTeX, including 12 figure

Development and Testing of Monoclonal Antibodies-Based Diagnostic Preparation for <i>Bacillus anthracis</i> Spores Detection Using Latex Agglutination Method

Immobilization of anti-B. anthracis monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) on latex microparticles was studied, the optimal load of these MAbs was determined to be 20 µg for 50 µl of the stock latex suspension. The highest sensitivity of latex agglutination test was observed for 1E6 MAbs. Latex suspensions with immobilized MAbs were lyophilized. Their sensitivity and specificity were shown to be highly competitive with those of the stock liquid latex suspension. Latex diagnosticum for Bacillus anthracis spores detection was constructed on the basis of these lyophilized reagents, developed and approved was the regulatory documentation that included their application instructions and technical specifications. Carried out were inter-laboratory and commission tests of experimental prototypes of the designed latex diagnosticum. These preparations demonstrated high sensitivity (from 1·105 to 2·106 spores/ml and even more) and specificity (absence of cross-reactions with spores of different species of sporogenous bacilli at concentration of 108 spores/ml)

High orders of perturbation theory: are renormalons significant?

According to Lipatov, the high orders of perturbation theory are determined by saddle-point configurations (instantons) of the corresponding functional integrals. According to t'Hooft, some individual large diagrams, renormalons, are also significant and they are not contained in the Lipatov contribution. The history of the conception of renormalons is presented, and the arguments in favor of and against their significance are discussed. The analytic properties of the Borel transforms of functional integrals, Green functions, vertex parts, and scaling functions are investigated in the case of \phi^4 theory. Their analyticity in a complex plane with a cut from the first instanton singularity to infinity (the Le Guillou - Zinn-Justin hypothesis) is proved. It rules out the existence of the renormalon singularities pointed out by t'Hooft and demonstrates the nonconstructiveness of the conception of renormalons as a whole. The results can be interpreted as an indication of the internal consistency of \phi^4 theory.Comment: 28 pages, 8 figures include

Immunobiological Properties of <i>Francisella tularensis</i> 15/10 Strain with Deleted recA Gene

Deletion of recA gene in Francisella tularensis 15/10 genome leads to the increase in its sensitivity to ultraviolet irradiation, reduction of the homologous recombination capacity, and a slight decline of virulence for mice. Efficacy of Francisella tularensis 15/10ΔrecA reproduction within microphage-like cells, its resistance to normal rabbit serum, and protective properties on the mouse model of tularemia are the same as in original Francisella tularensis 15/10

Study of the UV Irradiation and Nalidicsic Acid Effect on the RecA-protein Induction in <i>Francisella tularensis</i> 15/10 Cells

Studied is the UV irradiation and nalidicsic acid effect on the RecA-protein synthesis in Francisella tularensis 15/10 cells. Obtained is the specific murine serum to the recombinant RecA-protein. The results of immunoblotting with this specific serum demonstrate that the amount of RecA-protein in Francisella tularensis 15/10 cells is not increased after the exposure to these damaging factors

Construction and Investigation of the Vaccine Strain Francisella tularensis without iglC genes. Communication 1

Using site-specific mutagenesis constructed were the variants of the vaccine strain F. tularensis subsp. holarctica 15 with the deleted iglC genes. Identified was the fact that genome of the strain 15 contained two copies of iglC gene. Deletion of one of them as well as both had little effect on the cultural-morphological and growth properties of the microbe. At the same time F. tularensis 15 lacking one copy of the iglC gene propagated in mice macrophages several times slower, than the original strain. Inactivation of both of the copies in the chromosome leaded to the emergence of a variant incapable of intracellular reproduction. This capacity in F. tularensis 15/23-2 with two inactivated iglC gene copies was partially recovered after integration of a complementing plasmid. Therewith the data mentioned above testifies to the significance of iglC gene for the process of reproduction in macrophages

Construction and Investigation of the Variants of the Vaccine Strain <I>Francisella tularensis</I> Lacking <I>iglC </I>Genes. Communication 2

for BALB/c mice by an order while retaining protective properties. Strain Francisella tularensis 15 lacking two copies of the iglC gene cannot replicate in mice organism, induces weak humoral response, is fully avirulent, and has decreased protective activity. Treatment of mice with sera obtained from the animals immunized on day 49 post immunization both with the stock F. tularensis 15 strain and its variants with one or two inactivated iglC genes has provided for 100 % protection from challenge with 200 DCL of F. tularensis 15 strain. However in case of BALB/c mice exposure to virulent F. tularensis 503 and F. tularensis Schu strains (50 DCL and 25 DSL, respectively), treated with immune sera 24 hours before, registered has been only mean lifetime increase

Isolation of Central Asian Subspecies of Tularemia Agent in the Altai Territory

Within the frames of activities attributed to the Reference Center for tularemia monitoring at SRC AMB, genetically identified are 4 isolates of Francisella tularensis , isolated in 2011 in the Altai Territory. These bacteria prove to be virulent for BALB/c mice, DCL being lower than 10 CFU. Using single-primer PCR-typing and MLVA assay distinguished have been the subspecies of the isolates. Three of them refer to the Central Asian subspecies, one – to the Holarctic, the former being isolated in the territory of the Russian Federation for the first time ever

The Influence of an External Chromomagnetic Field on Color Superconductivity

We study the competition of quark-antiquark and diquark condensates under the influence of an external chromomagnetic field modelling the gluon condensate and in dependence on the chemical potential and temperature. As our results indicate, an external chromomagnetic field might produce remarkable qualitative changes in the picture of the color superconducting (CSC) phase formation. This concerns, in particular, the possibility of a transition to the CSC phase and diquark condensation at finite temperature.Comment: 27 pages, RevTex, 8 figures; the version accepted for the publication in PRD (few references added; new numerical results added; main conclusions are not changed

Provision of the Preparedness and Management of Work of the Specialized Anti-Epidemic Team at the Premises of the Rospotrebnadzor Stavropol Anti-Plague Institute during the XXII Olympic and XI Paralympic Winter Games in Sochi

The paper contains the data on the management of work of the specialized anti-epidemic team (SAET) of the Stavropol Anti-Plague Institute during the XXII Olympic and XI Paralympic Winter Games (2014) in Sochi. Reviewed are the issues of SAET’s preparedness provision: staffing of the team, facility equipping, fitting with diagnostic preparations, professional training and development in view of the mass event mission - participation in interagency exercises, educational courses, seminars, and response drills. For the first time ever, SAET’s reinforced personnel comprised 60 specialists from research institutions and some other Rospotrebnadzor Organization. Provided was preparedness to perform laboratory diagnostics and indicate the agents of 82 nosological forms, including exotic ones. The team conducted investigations at the premises of the two facilities and bacteriological laboratory mounted on the trucks