Flux of nutrients from Russian rivers to the Arctic Ocean: Can we establish a baseline against which to judge future changes?

Climate models predict significant warming in the Arctic in the 21st century, which will impact the functioning of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems as well as alter land‐ocean interactions in the Arctic. Because river discharge and nutrient flux integrate large‐scale processes, they should be sensitive indicators of change, but detection of future changes requires knowledge of current conditions. Our objective in this paper is to evaluate the current state of affairs with respect to estimating nutrient flux to the Arctic Ocean from Russian rivers. To this end we provide estimates of contemporary (1970s–1990s) nitrate, ammonium, and phosphate fluxes to the Arctic Ocean for 15 large Russian rivers. We rely primarily on the extensive data archives of the former Soviet Union and current Russian Federation and compare these values to other estimates and to model predictions. Large discrepancies exist among the various estimates. These uncertainties must be resolved so that the scientific community will have reliable data with which to calibrate Arctic biogeochemical models and so that we will have a baseline against which to judge future changes (either natural or anthropogenic) in the Arctic watershed

Production of solid dosage forms of immunoglobulin products

At the moment, there are no scientific publications devoted to the technological aspects of production of immunoglobulin solid dosage forms. The aim of the study was to review Russian and foreign literature on production of immunoglobulin solid dosage forms, and present the results of the authors’ own research. The authors analysed data of the National Register of Medicines of the Russian Federation as of mid-2021 on the authorised medicines with a generic name ‘globulin in a solid dosage form’, and summarised their characteristics. They reviewed data on the qualitative and quantitative composition of excipients used in lyophilisation, preparation of tablets and capsules. A number of examples were used to illustrate the effect of technological parameters of immunoglobulin solid form production on the quality of the finished products. It was demonstrated that the production of solid forms of immunoglobulin products prevents aggregation and fragmentation of proteins during storage, which affect the product’s specific activity, and also help to preserve the product’s target characteristics for a longer period of time as compared to liquid dosage forms of immunoglobulins. The results of the study may be used as a basis for development of a manufacturing technology for solid forms of immunoglobulin products

The value of the terricolous lichen Cetrariella delisei in the biomonitoring of heavy-metal levels in Svalbard

The aim of this study was to identify a suitable lichen species for the long−term monitoring of heavy−metal atmospheric pollution in Svalbard. Cladonia and Cetraria s.l. species that have been widely used until now for assessing heavy−metal deposition in the Arctic are in decline over extensive areas of Svalbard, mainly due to climate change and over−grazing by reindeer. Cetrariella delisei, rarely used for biomonitoring, is still common and widespread in this area. Levels of Cr, Ni, Fe, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd and Mn were measured in three lichen species: Cetrariella delisei, Cladonia uncialis, Flavocetraria nivalis and in a moss Racomitrium lanuginosum from Sørkapp Land, South Spitsbergen. The results imply that Cetrariella delisei can be safely compared to Cladonia uncialis for identifying the levels of heavy metals, but direct comparison between Cetrariella delisei and other species studied is more difficult owing to differences in levels of heavy metals even in samples from the same site

Dissolved organic matter sources in large Arctic rivers

The biomarker composition of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) of the six largest Arctic rivers was studied between 2003 and 2007 as part of the PARTNERS Project. Samples were collected over seasonal cycles relatively close to the river mouths. Here we report the lignin phenol and p-hydroxybenzene composition of Arctic river DOC in order to identify major sources of carbon. Arctic river DOC represents an important carbon conduit linking the large pools of organic carbon in the Arctic/Subarctic watersheds to the Arctic Ocean. Most of the annual lignin discharge (>75%) occurs during the two month of spring freshet with extremely high lignin concentrations and a lignin phenol composition indicative of fresh vegetation from boreal forests. The three large Siberian rivers, Lena, Yenisei, and Ob, which also have the highest proportion of forests within their watersheds, contribute about 90% of the total lignin discharge to the Arctic Ocean. The composition of river DOC is also characterized by elevated levels of p-hydroxybenzenes, particularly during the low flow season, which indicates a larger contribution from mosses and peat bogs. The lignin composition was strongly related to the average 14C-age of DOC supporting the abundance of young, boreal-vegetation-derived leachates during spring flood, and older, soil-, peat-, and wetland-derived DOC during groundwater dominated low flow conditions, particularly in the Ob and Yukon Rivers. We observed significant differences in DOC concentration and composition between the rivers over the seasonal cycles with the Mackenzie River being the most unique, the Lena River being similar to the Yenisei, and the Yukon being most similar to the Ob. The observed relationship between the lignin phenol composition and watershed characteristics suggests that DOC discharge from these rivers could increase in a warmer climate under otherwise undisturbed conditions

Optimization of Specifications for Scaled-Up Fixed Rabies Virus Cultivation (“Moscow 3253” Strain) in Vero Cell Culture

/cell, using maintenance media 199 with admixture of 0.1 % human serum albumin or 2 % bovine serum. Optimum media volume in the roll-bottle for fixed rabies virus strain, “Moscow 3253”, cultivation is 200-400 ml. It depends upon the proliferating surface area. Specifications stated above provide for the obtainment of culture liquid with rabies virus titer - 1:256 - 1:512, if assayed in ELISA. This cultural virus is recommended as a basis for immunization material obtainment with a view to produce anti-rabies immunoglobulin from equine blood serum

Particulate organic carbon and nitrogen export from major Arctic rivers

Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2016. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Global Biogeochemical Cycles 30 (2016): 629–643, doi:10.1002/2015GB005351.Northern rivers connect a land area of approximately 20.5 million km2 to the Arctic Ocean and surrounding seas. These rivers account for ~10% of global river discharge and transport massive quantities of dissolved and particulate materials that reflect watershed sources and impact biogeochemical cycling in the ocean. In this paper, multiyear data sets from a coordinated sampling program are used to characterize particulate organic carbon (POC) and particulate nitrogen (PN) export from the six largest rivers within the pan-Arctic watershed (Yenisey, Lena, Ob', Mackenzie, Yukon, Kolyma). Together, these rivers export an average of 3055 × 109 g of POC and 368 × 109 g of PN each year. Scaled up to the pan-Arctic watershed as a whole, fluvial export estimates increase to 5767 × 109 g and 695 × 109 g of POC and PN per year, respectively. POC export is substantially lower than dissolved organic carbon export by these rivers, whereas PN export is roughly equal to dissolved nitrogen export. Seasonal patterns in concentrations and source/composition indicators (C:N, δ13C, Δ14C, δ15N) are broadly similar among rivers, but distinct regional differences are also evident. For example, average radiocarbon ages of POC range from ~2000 (Ob') to ~5500 (Mackenzie) years before present. Rapid changes within the Arctic system as a consequence of global warming make it challenging to establish a contemporary baseline of fluvial export, but the results presented in this paper capture variability and quantify average conditions for nearly a decade at the beginning of the 21st century.National Science Foundation Grant Numbers: 0229302, 0732985; U.S. Geological Survey; Department of Indian and Northern Affairs2016-11-1

Experimental Substantiation of Cultural Technologies Introduction into Manufacturing of Anti-Rabies Immunoglobulin

The review provides information on the major outcomes of research and development work, performed within the frames of the Federal Target Program “National system of chemical and biological safety” (2009-2014), aimed at elaboration and introduction of cultural techniques into the manufacturing of anti-rabies immunoglobulin. Described are the key phases in methodology engineering, deployed for the large-scale cultivation of fixed rabies virus, concentration of cultural liquid, quantitation of rabies virus using PCR, and immunization of producers. Obtained pilot batches of the enhanced anti-rabies immunoglobulin, complying with normative requirements to commercial formulations, testify to the effectiveness of the developed biotechnological and methodological procedures, as well as of the designed engineering-manufacturing project documentation

Seasonal and annual fluxes of nutrients and organic matter from large rivers to the Arctic Ocean and surrounding seas

Author Posting. © The Author(s), 2011. This is the author's version of the work. It is posted here by permission of Springer for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Estuaries and Coasts 35 (2012): 369-382, doi:10.1007/s12237-011-9386-6.River inputs of nutrients and organic matter impact the biogeochemistry of arctic estuaries and the Arctic Ocean as a whole, yet there is considerable uncertainty about the magnitude of fluvial fluxes at the pan-arctic scale. Samples from the six largest arctic rivers, with a combined watershed area of 11.3 x 106 km2, have revealed strong seasonal variations in constituent concentrations and fluxes within rivers as well as large differences among the rivers. Specifically, we investigate fluxes of dissolved organic carbon, dissolved organic nitrogen, total dissolved phosphorus, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, nitrate, and silica. This is the first time that seasonal and annual constituent fluxes have been determined using consistent sampling and analytical methods at the pan arctic scale, and consequently provide the best available estimates for constituent flux from land to the Arctic Ocean and surrounding seas. Given the large inputs of river water to the relatively small Arctic Ocean, and the dramatic impacts that climate change is having in the Arctic, it is particularly urgent that we establish the contemporary river fluxes so that we will be able to detect future changes and evaluate the impact of the changes on the biogeochemistry of the receiving coastal and ocean systems.This work was supported by the National Science Foundation through grants OPP-0229302, OPP-0519840, OPP-0732522, and OPP-0732944. Additional support was provided by the U. S. Geological Survey (Yukon River) and the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs (Mackenzie River)

Water quality monitoring in the former Soviet Union and the Russian Federation : Assessment of analytical methods

Monitoring of surface water quality in the former Soviet Union (FSU) and the present-day Russian Federation historically held an important place in the hierarchy of science, legal framework and relations between agencies. Sadly, the gap between the intentions, qualification of managers and effective programmes has always been sizeable. Since disintegration of the FSU this gap has become a formidable barrier for collecting reliable monitoring information and producing effective water quality management decisions in the Russian Federation. Updating the federal system for freshwater quality monitoring in the Russian Federation is complicated by several unresolved problems. The principal issues are political, technical, institutional and financial. The existing Russian model of water chemistry data collection inherited from the FSU has proved unreliable, outdated and unrelated to modern national issues of water management. The quality of produced data is one of the greatest weaknesses of the federal monitoring system both in the Russian Federation and in other states of the FSU. A significant cause of the low reliability of the produced information is the analytical methods used in monitoring, their inappropriate use, non-compliance to laboratory practices when following expert recommendations, insufficient training level of managers and laboratory personnel and under-funding of the federal monitoring system. The growing national priorities in the field of surface water quality control and improvement conflict with the capacity of the Russian Federation to provide necessary information of guaranteed high quality. Here we make the first attempt to present a critical analysis of the analytical methods used to assess and control surface water quality, to show the main errors arising when applying the recommended analytical methods, and to assess the degree of reliability of produced monitoring information from 1977-1978 and to the present. Our overall objective is to summarize the current situation in order to facilitate implementation of future improvements

Cultural Antigen in the Technology for Anti-Rabies Immunoglobulin Obtainment from Equine Blood Serum

week after immunization (specific activity is identified using neutralization reaction on the model of white mice and dot-blot immunoassay). This level of activity is sufficient for the fractioning of immune serum and extraction of anti-rabies immunoglobulin. Physicochemical and biological properties of the anti-rabies immunoglobulin, obtained with the help of cultural antigen technique, meet the requirements stated in the normative documentation on anti-rabies immunoglobulins extracted from equine blood serum. Specific activity level of experimental batches of anti-rabies immunoglobulin, obtained with the help of cultural technologies, corresponds to 242 and 214 IU/ml