Synthesis of the nitrogen-fixing enzyme system in oligonitrophilic bacteria

Oligonitrophilic bacteria were cultivated on a medium containing only 2.5--10.0 mg/litre of nitrogen compounds. They assimilated elementary nitrogen only after utilization of these nitrogen compounds during growth and formation of nitrogen-fixing enzyme system. Their cells grown on a medium containing high concentrations of bound nitrogen did not fix nitrogen during further incubation in the atmosphere of 15N; therefore, the enzymes involved in nitrogen fixation were induced. These organisms are characterized by diauxia during their growth on media containing "start" doses of nitrogen. Enzymes catalysing nitrogen fixation in azotobacter are also induced. But, contrary to oligonitrophilic bacteria, the azotobacter does not require nitrogen compounds in the medium in order to adapt to molecular nitrogen, and its growth curve is not of a biphasal character. These data and the evidence of other authors suggest that all nitrogen-fixing microorganisms are characterized by the induced, not constitutive, enzymes involved in reduction of molecular nitrogen.     

Thermal stability of nickel structure obtained by high-pressure torsion in liquid nitrogen

Using transmission electron microscopy and durometry, the structural evolution of commercially pure nickel (99.6%) under high-pressure torsion (HPT) in liquid nitrogen and subsequent annealings in the temperature range 100–400°C has been investigated. In this nickel, at cryogenic temperature, HPT gives rise to a nanocrystalline structure with the record high microhardness (6200 MPa) and average crystallite size ～80 nm. The obtained structure is stable at room temperature and possesses a relatively low thermal stability, since recrystallization occurs at lower temperatures than after conventional deformation or HPT at room temperature.     

Candidate Genes and Proteomic Biomarkers of Serum and Urine in Medication-Overuse Headache

Chronic headache is a topical problem of neurology, psychiatry and general practice. The medication-overuse headache (MOH) is one of the leading pathologies in the structure of chronic headache. However, early diagnosis of the MOH is challenging. We analyzed potential proteomic biomarkers of serum and urine in patients with MOH. Methods: We searched PubMed, Springer, Scopus, Web of Science, ClinicalKey, and Google Scholar databases for English publications over the past 10 years using keywords and their combinations. Results: We found and analyzed seven studies that met the search criteria for the purpose of the review, including 24 serum proteomic biomarkers and 25 urine proteomic biomarkers of MOH. Moreover, the candidate genes and locus of the studied serum (vitamin D-binding protein, lipocalin-type prostaglandin D2 synthase, apolipoprotein E, etc.) and urine proteomic biomarkers (uromodulin, alpha-1-microglobulin, zinc-alpha-2-glycoprotein, etc.) of MOH are presented in this review. Conclusions: The serum and urine proteomic biomarkers of MOH can potentially help with the identification of patients with MOH development. Due to the relevance of the problem, the authors believe that further investigation of the MOH proteomic biomarkers in different ethnic and racial groups of patients with primary headache is necessary. In addition, it is important to investigate whether medications of different drug classes influence the levels of serum and urine proteomic biomarkers.     

Toroidal structures due to anisotropy of DNA-like molecules

We suggest that toroidal structures in the state of psi-condensation of DNA may be caused by anisotropy on a meso-scale of several thousand A, the conformation of a DNA-molecule being determined by its elasticity and neutralization of phosphate charge. We model a molecule of B-DNA on an anisotropic elastic rod subject to a torque, and make the numerical simulation of the model that reveals that under appropriate conditions, which may be effected in experimental setting by changing the concentration of polymeric solutions, there are toroidal structures having the size of a few persistence lengths, in agreement with the experimental data. On changing the elastic modulii or characteristics of the counterion layer, we see the toroidal structures turn into the spherical ones. To understand the function of anisotropy it would be interesting to investigate the Z-DNA as regards psi-condensation.     

Moderator poison design and burn-up calculations at the SNS

The spallation neutron source (SNS) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory was commissioned in April 2006. At the nominal operating power (1.4 MW), it will have thermal neutron fluxes approximately an order of magnitude greater than any existing pulsed spallation source. It thus brings a serious challenge to the lifetime of the moderator poison sheets. The SNS moderators are integrated with the inner reflector plug (IRP) at a cost of ∼$2 million a piece. A replacement of the inner reflector plug presents a significant drawback to the facility due to the activation and the operation cost. Although there are a lot of factors limiting the lifetime of the inner reflector plug, like radiation damage to the structural material and helium production of beryllium, the bottle-neck is the lifetime of the moderator poison sheets. Increasing the thickness of the poison sheet extends the lifetime but would sacrifice the neutronic performance of the moderators. A compromise is accepted at the current SNS target system which uses thick Gd poison sheets at a projected lifetime of 6 MW-years of operation. The calculations in this paper reveal that Cd may be a better poison material from the perspective of lifetime and neutronic performance. In replacing Gd, the inner reflector plug could reach a lifetime of 8 MW-years with ∼5% higher peak neutron fluxes at almost no loss of energy resolution.     

Prospects for creating new optically transparent materials with yttrium oxide and yttrium aluminum garnet (review)

The properties of optically transparent ceramic materials made of yttrium oxide and yttrium — aluminum garnet were analyzed. The promise of preparing a transparent ceramic that combines both of these compounds was demonstrated. Methods of synthesizing yttrium oxide and yttrium — aluminum garnet were examined. Selection of the method of synthesis was substantiated. The possibility of creating such materials without modifying additives was confirmed.     

Interaction of a mixture of oxides of tungsten and silicon with carbon

Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, No. 3(327), pp. 72–75, March, 1990.     

Mutual influence of receiving loops in multichannel superconducting gradiometers

Translated from Izmeritel'naya Tekhnika, No. 11, pp. 56–58, November, 1990.