Status of Activities on Rehabilitation Of Radioactively Contaminated Facilities and the Site of Russian Research Center ''Kurchatov Institute''

This paper describes the program, the status, and the course of activities on rehabilitation of radioactively contaminated facilities and the territory of temporary radioactive waste (radwaste) disposal at the Russian Research Center ''Kurchatov Institute'' (RRC KI) in Moscow as performed in 2001-2002. The accumulation of significant amounts of radwaste at RRC KI territory is shown to be the inevitable result of Institute's activity performed in the days of former USSR nuclear weapons project and multiple initial nuclear power projects (performed from 1950's to early 1970's). A characterization of RRC KI temporary radwaste disposal site is given. Described is the system of radiation control and monitoring as implemented on this site. A potential hazard of adverse impacts on the environment and population of the nearby housing area is noted, which is due to possible spread of the radioactive plume by subsoil waters. A description of the concept and project of the RRC KI temporary radwaste disposal site is presented. Specific nature of the activities planned and performed stems from the nearness of housing area. This paper describes main stages of the planned activities for rehabilitation, their expected terms and sources of funding, as well as current status of the project advancement. Outlined are the problems faced in the performance and planning of works. The latter include: diagnostics of the concrete-grouted repositories, dust-suppression technologies, packaging of the fragmented ILW and HLW, soil clean-up, radioactive plume spread prevention, broad radiation monitoring of the work zone and environment in the performance of rehabilitation works. Noted is the intention of RRC KI to establish cooperation with foreign, first of all, the U.S. partners for the solution of problems mentioned above

Power broadening of saturation absorption resonance on the D2 line of rubidium

Doppler-free resonances in saturated absorption on the D2 line 85Rb are investigated by using a tunable external-cavity-diode laser. The linewidths of the most prominent crossover resonances are investigated as a function of the saturating beam intensity. In spite of the fact that many levels and different mechanisms of optical pumping are involved in the saturation, the dependences are found to fit well the simple formula, obtained for a two-level system with a phenomenologically defined saturation parameter

Comparative Analysis of Apicoplast-Targeted Protein Extension Lengths in Apicomplexan Parasites

In general, the mechanism of protein translocation through the apicoplast membrane requires a specific extension of a functionally important region of the apicoplast-targeted proteins. The corresponding signal peptides were detected in many apicomplexans but not in the majority of apicoplast-targeted proteins in Toxoplasma gondii. In T. gondii signal peptides are either much diverged or their extension region is processed, which in either case makes the situation different from other studied apicomplexans. We propose a statistic method to compare extensions of the functionally important regions of apicoplast-targeted proteins. More specifically, we provide a comparison of extension lengths of orthologous apicoplast-targeted proteins in apicomplexan parasites. We focus on results obtained for the model species T. gondii, Neospora caninum, and Plasmodium falciparum. With our method, cross species comparisons demonstrate that, in average, apicoplast-targeted protein extensions in T. gondii are 1.5-fold longer than in N. caninum and 2-fold longer than in P. falciparum. Extensions in P. falciparum less than 87 residues in size are longer than the corresponding extensions in N. caninum and, reversely, are shorter if they exceed 88 residues

Comparative Analysis of Apicoplast-Targeted Protein Extension Lengths in Apicomplexan Parasites

In general, the mechanism of protein translocation through the apicoplast membrane requires a specific extension of a functionally important region of the apicoplast-targeted proteins. The corresponding signal peptides were detected in many apicomplexans but not in the majority of apicoplast-targeted proteins in Toxoplasma gondii. In T. gondii signal peptides are either much diverged or their extension region is processed, which in either case makes the situation different from other studied apicomplexans. We propose a statistic method to compare extensions of the functionally important regions of apicoplast-targeted proteins. More specifically, we provide a comparison of extension lengths of orthologous apicoplast-targeted proteins in apicomplexan parasites. We focus on results obtained for the model species T. gondii, Neospora caninum, and Plasmodium falciparum. With our method, cross species comparisons demonstrate that, in average, apicoplast-targeted protein extensions in T. gondii are 1.5-fold longer than in N. caninum and 2-fold longer than in P. falciparum. Extensions in P. falciparum less than 87 residues in size are longer than the corresponding extensions in N. caninum and, reversely, are shorter if they exceed 88 residues

CLINICAL AND PHARMACOKINETIC EQUIVALENCE OF ORIGINAL AND GENERIC AMLODIPINE IN PATIENTS WITH MILD-TO-MODERATE ARTERIAL HYPERTENSION

Aim. To study clinical equivalence of two amlodipines under the control of their plasma levels and evaluate their pharmacoeconomical efficacy in patients with arterial hypertension (AH).Material and methods. 31 patient with AH were included in the study (14 men and 17 women). 21 (66 %) patients had AH of 1 stage and 10 (34 %) patients had AH of 2 stage. All patients were 39-81 y.o. (average - 60 y.o.) with AH duration 0,5-43 years (average - 17,9 years). Antihypertensive effect of Amlorus (Synthesis, Russia) and Norvasc (Pfizer, USA) was evaluated in the study. Blood pressure (BP), amlodipine plasma levels (by liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry) and side effects were registered before and after 2, 4 and 6 weeks of therapy. Hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg/d was added if the monotherapy with amlodipine10 mg/d had not been efficient. Therapy with the second studied amlodipine followed the therapy with the first drug.Results. Both drugs provided similar plasma amlodipine concentrations with significant BP reduction. 96,6 % and 90 % of patients reached BP target level (&lt;140/90 mm Hg) after 6 weeks of Amlorus and Norvasc therapy, respectively. Hydrochlorothiazide was needed in 23,3 % and 26,7 % of patients taking Amlorus and Norvasc, respectively. Cost of Amlorus therapy per patient was 221 rbl/month in comparison with cost of 727 rbl/month for Norvasc therapy.Conclusion. Generic Amlorus showed clinical and pharmacokinetic equivalency with an original amlodipine Norvasc and lower cost of therapy.</p

Remediation of the high-level radwaste repositories at Russian Research Center “Kurchatov Institute”

The paper presents peculiarities of organization and performance of activities on disposition of the high level activity radwaste repository located at the radwaste disposal site of the Russian Research Center “Kurchatov Institute” in Moscow. The process of the radwaste extraction from the repository is described in comparison with similar activities in other old repositories. Tools and equipment used for the radwaste extraction from the repository are listed. Conventional construction machines equipped with a hydraulic hammer or a clamshell were used for destruction of the concrete-encased radwaste mass and extraction of low-level radwaste. Intermediate- and high-level radwaste was extracted by remotely controlled robots operating inside the shielding structure. Gamma visor was used for detection of high-level radwaste or fragments in the mass concrete being destroyed and for pointing remotely controlled robots accordingly. The paper describes peculiarities of radiation monitoring in the course of operations on disposition of the repository. For rapid detection of changes in radiation conditions in the working areas, there was used a gamma locator with on-line transmission of its data to a PC and their processing. The same measuring and extraction equipment were used for remediation of high-level radwaste repository at the Gas Plant complexes

Matching of a stripe injection laser to an external resonator MIRRORS, RESONATORS Matching of a stripe injection laser to an external resonator

Theoretical and experimental investigations of the characteristics of matching of a planar active waveguide to an external axially symmetric resonator are reported. The dependences of the threshold current on the external resonator length are obtained for stripe injection lasers with the waveguide amplification effect. These dependences are shown to be opposite for a resonator with a parallel beam in the external part and for a system with beam focusing by an external mirror. In the case of lasers with a dispersive external resonator the slopes of the dependences are sensitive to the spectral tuning of a selective element. It is shown that the observed characteristics of the dependences of the threshold pumping rate on the length of the external resonator are related to the change in the curvature of the wavefront of the field during the passage through the external part