THE ASSESSMENT OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND WATERSHED EFFECT ON THE HETEROTROPHIC METABOLISM IN THE LAKE ONEGO ECOSYSTEM

Lake Onego, as one of the largest water bodies in a humid zone, is the recipient of terrestrial carbon and plays an important role in the global balance of this element. Due to heterotrophic metabolism in the Lake Onego ecosystem, substantial emissions of carbon dioxide from this lake into the atmosphere can be assumed. However, the extent of this phenomenon is still poorly known. As a climate change has led to an increase in water and organic matter flow into the northern water bodies, the carbon balance study of aquatic ecosystems is of particular relevance. The elements of the water balance for the Lake Onego catchment area in the current climate conditions are assessed. Based on satellite images the model of Lake Onego watershed terrestrial ecosystems is used to simulate the flow of organic matter into the lake with different types of vegetation and topography consideration. The assessment of the benthic communities habitat is carried out taking into account the accumulation of organic matter in various parts of Lake Onego

A high throughput molecular force assay for protein-DNA interactions.

An accurate and genome-wide characterization of protein–DNA interactions such as transcription factor binding is of utmost importance for modern biology. Powerful screening methods emerged. But the vast majority of these techniques depend on special labels or markers against the ligand of interest and moreover most of them are not suitable for detecting low-affinity binders. In this article a molecular force assay is described based on measuring comparative unbinding forces of biomolecules for the detection of protein–DNA interactions. The measurement of binding or unbinding forces has several unique advantages in biological applications since the interaction between certain molecules and not the mere presence of one of them is detected. No label or marker against the protein is needed and only specifically bound ligands are detected. In addition the force-based assay permits the detection of ligands over a broad range of affinities in a crowded and opaque ambient environment. We demonstrate that the molecular force assay allows highly sensitive and fast detection of protein–DNA interactions. As a proof of principle, binding of the protein EcoRI to its DNA recognition sequence is measured and the corresponding dissociation constant in the sub-nanomolar range is determined. Furthermore, we introduce a new, simplified setup employing FRET pairs on the molecular level and standard epi-fluorescence for readout. Due to these advancements we can now demonstrate that a feature size of a few microns is sufficient for the measurement process. This will open a new paradigm in high-throughput screening with all the advantages of force-based ligand detection. Graphical abstract: A high throughput molecular force assay for protein–DNA interaction

The use of WebQuests in foreign language training of students of nonlinguistic specialties

The purpose of this study is to establish the advantages of using WebQuests in foreign language training of students of non-linguistic specialtie

PECULIARITIES OF TERRITORIAL DISTRIBUTION OF TICK-BORNE ENCEPHALITIS MORBIDITY WITHIN IRKUTSK RESIDENTS

Irkutsk residents are infected, with, tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) mainly in Pribaykalie (Irkutsk region and Buryat Republic). TBE foci are rather various on this territory. Differences in some parameters of morbidity structure at the infection in different areas of this territory are reviewed, in this article

The Current State of Natural Foci of Tick-Borne Encephalitis near Irkutsk City

Among main factors that influence intensity of tick-borne encephalitis foci one can distinguish the numbers of core vector (here, taiga tick Ixodes persulcatus) and the percentage of infected ticks. This paper shows the results of five-year monitoring of the tick-borne encephalitis focus, which is situated near Irkutsk city. Detected are the variations in numbers and infestation of the core vector of tick-borne encephalitis, both spatial and temporal. Cause-effect connection between these factors and human TBE morbidity is not found. However, morbidity rates of the Irkutsk population, observed on the annual basis, bear evidence of high activity and intensity of the foci. In this regard, a number of preventive measures is put forward, but further observations concerning all the parameters that influence foci activity are required

LONG-LIVED BONE MARROW PLASMA CELLS DURING IMMUNE RESPONSE TO ALPHA (1→3) DEXTRAN

Production kinetics and some functional properties of long-lived marrow plasma cells were studied in mice immunized with T-independent type 2 antigens. Alpha (1→3) dextran was used as an antigen for immunization. The mice were immunized by dextran, and the numbers of IgM antibody producing cells were determined by ELISPOT method. The cell phenotype was determined by cytofluorimetric technique. In the area of normal bone marrow lymphocytes ~4% of T and ~85% of B cells were detected. About 35% of the cells expressed a plasmocyte marker (CD138); 3% were CD138+IgM+, and about 6% of the lymphocytes were double-positive for CD138+IgA+. Among spleen lymphocytes, 50% of T and 47% of B cells were detected. About 1.5% lymphocytes were CD138+, and 0.5% were positive for CD138 and IgM. Time kinetics of antibody-producing cells in bone marrow and spleen was different. In spleen populations, the peak amounts of antibody-secreting cells have been shown on the day 4; the process abated by the day 28. Vice versa, the numbers of the antibody-producing cells in bone marrow started to increase on the day 4. The process reached its maximum on day 14, and after 28th day became stationary. The in vitro experiments have shown that supplementation of bone marrow cells from immune mice with dextran did not influence their functional activity. It was previously shown for cells responding to T-dependent antigens only. A specific marker for the long-lived plasma cells is still unknown. However, these cells possess a common CD138 marker specific for all plasma cells. A method for isolation of bone marrow CD138+ cells was developed. The CD138+ cells were of 87-97% purity, being enriched in long-lived bone marrow cells, and produced monospecific antibodies

Symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes as a genetic and selection trait

The results of long-term studies on legume symbiogenetics and breeding are summarized by the example of pea Pisum sativum L. A collection of symbiotic mutants was developed by chemical and radiational mutagenesis of pea varieties and genetically characterized. Various sym genes were recognized. From the large set, supernodulating (proved to be recessive) and dominant hypernodulating types of symbiotic mutants were chosen for breeding programs. Varieties differed dramatically in hypernodulation degree. Aiming at nitrogen fixation intensification, accessions bearing recessive genes for supernodulation (nod4) and dominant genes for hypernodulation (Nod5) were selected. The recurrent method of symbiotic mutants utilization in pea breeding for nitrogen fixation intensification was developed. The best results were obtained by combining two sym genes in one pea genotype: the dominant hypernodulation gene Nod5 and the recessive supernodulation gene nod4. A set of recurrent lines tagged with both these genes was raised to use in breeding programs as donors of intense nitrogen fixation combined with good performance. In addition, they are good preceding crops. After their harvesting, soil accumulates large amounts of nitrogen-rich root and bacterial biomass. The nitrogen is preserved for years, whereas mineral nitrogen is rapidly washed out with precipitation. Endemic pea accessions originated from various regions can be successful starting material in breeding for nitrogen fixation intensification, accessions from Egypt and Syria having provided best results. Nodulation and nitrogen fixation intensities were assessed in seven cultivars derived from three promising pea lines raised at the Siberian Research Institute of Plant Breeding and Selection

Ideological narrative in modern American political discourse

The discourse of American politicians like any other political figures prominently features a narrative - a system of interconnected stories that transition from one into another from speech to speech. The ideological narrative in political discourse plays an important part in myth creation in supporting the concept of Exceptional Americ

Epidemiological Situation on the Tick-Borne Viral Encephalitis in the Russian Federation in 2009-2011 and Prognosis for 2012

Analysis of the epidemiological situation on the tick-borne viral encephalitis in the territory of the Russian Federation with due consideration to weekly epidemiological monitoring data (2009-2011), conducted by Rospotrebnadzor organizations in the corresponding constituent entities, testifies of the fact that continuous decrease in morbidity, characteristic of the early XXI century, has given way to a slight increase within the past three years. Given that there are no spring or early-summer weather anomalies or forest fires, morbidity rates among the population of the Russian Federation in 2012 can tend to exceed 2011 rates. Comprehensive set of measures applied for the disease control and prevention in the majority of endemic territories is quite effective in view of averting sharp upturn of morbidity rates, but nevertheless is not sufficient in view of the suppression of epidemiological situation