Integrative phylogenetic, phylogeographic and morphological characterisation of the Unio crassus species complex reveals cryptic diversity with important conservation implications.

The global decline of freshwater mussels and their crucial ecological services highlight the need to understand their phylogeny, phylogeography and patterns of genetic diversity to guide conservation efforts. Such knowledge is urgently needed for Unio crassus, a highly imperilled species originally widespread throughout Europe and southwest Asia. Recent studies have resurrected several species from synonymy based on mitochondrial data, revealing U. crassus to be a complex of cryptic species. To address long-standing taxonomic uncertainties hindering effective conservation, we integrate morphometric, phylogenetic, and phylogeographic analyses to examine species diversity within the U. crassus complex across its entire range. Phylogenetic analyses were performed using cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (815 specimens from 182 populations) and, for selected specimens, whole mitogenome sequences and Anchored Hybrid Enrichment (AHE) data on âˆ¼ 600 nuclear loci. Mito-nuclear discordance was detected, consistent with mitochondrial DNA gene flow between some species during the Pliocene and Pleistocene. Fossil-calibrated phylogenies based on AHE data support a Mediterranean origin for the U. crassus complex in the Early Miocene. The results of our integrative approach support 12 species in the group: the previously recognised Unio bruguierianus, Unio carneus, Unio crassus, Unio damascensis, Unio ionicus, Unio sesirmensis, and Unio tumidiformis, and the reinstatement of five nominal taxa: Unio desectusstat. rev., Unio gontieriistat. rev., Unio mardinensisstat. rev., Unio nanusstat. rev., and Unio vicariusstat. rev. Morphometric analyses of shell contours reveal important morphospace overlaps among these species, highlighting cryptic, but geographically structured, diversity. The distribution, taxonomy, phylogeography, and conservation of each species are succinctly described.

[Capabilities of using a multifunctional led device in the study of objects of forensic examination]. / Vozmozhnosti ispol'zovaniya mnogofunktsional'nogo svetodiodnogo pribora v issledovanii ob"ektov sudebnykh ekspertiz.

The purpose of the work is to determine the capabilities of the modern multifunctional device «Photobox 3138¼ with LED illuminators with a high color rendering index for photofixation, colorimetric, spectrozonal and multispectral analyzes of forensic objects. The competencies of the «Photobox 3138¼ device were experimentally revealed in terms of visualization and photofixation of both traces of biological origin (blood, sweat fat, saliva, etc.) and traces of traditional examinations, including shot products, oil products. The design of the device with a working field of 300×300 mm provides for the optimal arrangement of LED illuminators, including white light with a high color rendering index; spectrum-zonal illuminator with 4 types of LEDs with narrow non-intersecting spectral lines (458.1; 523.1; 594.1 and 630.6 nm) in the visible range of the spectrum; UV- (370 nm) and IR- (850 nm) illuminators. The fundamental possibility of using the resulting digital images of forensic objects for subsequent mathematical processing is experimentally shown. Images taken in different spectral ranges help to detect traces and damage. It was found that «Photobox 3138¼ allows you to solve a variety of diagnostic tasks related to the search, visualization, fixation and analysis of trace information.

The Use of Technetium-99m for Intravital Tracing of Transplanted Multipotent Stromal Cells.

We studied the possibility of in vivo tracing of multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells labeled with a radiophermaceutic preparation based on metastable isotope Technetium-99m and injected to rats with modeled traumatic brain injury. Accumulation of labeled cells occurred primarily in the liver and lungs. The cells distribution in internal organs greatly varied depending on the administration route. Cell injection into the carotid artery led to their significant accumulation in the damaged brain hemisphere, while intravenous injection was followed by diffuse cell distribution in all brain structures. Scintigraphy data were confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging and histological staining of cells. Visualization of stem cells labeled with Technetium-99m-based preparation by scintigraphy is an objective and highly informative method allowing real-time in vivo cell tracing in the body.

Inductively driven surface-plasma negative ion source for N-NBI use (invited).

The long-pulse surface-plasma source prototype is developed at Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics for negative-ion based neutral beam injector use. The essential source features are (1) an active temperature control of the ion-optical system electrodes by circulation of hot thermal fluid through the channels, drilled in the electrode bodies, (2) the concaved transverse magnetic field in the extraction and acceleration gaps, preventing the electrons trapping and avalanching, and (3) the directed cesium deposition via distribution tubes adjacent to the plasma grid periphery. The long term effect of cesium was obtained just with the single cesium deposition. The high voltage strength of ion-optical system electrodes was improved with actively heated electrodes. A stable H(-) beam with a current ∼1 A and energy 90 keV was routinely extracted and accelerated.

[Comparative Evaluation of Healing Wounds at a Local and Combined Radiation Injury in an Experiment].

Wound healing activity of 20 different means of conservative treatment of radiation burns was studies in the experiments on the rats subjected to local ß-radiation (at a dose of 60 Gy) and combined radiation damage (ß-radiation at a dose of 60 Gy and the whole-body γ-irradiation at a dose of 4 Gy). It was found that reparative processes in the irradiated,skin in the case of the local radiation injuries are most effectively accelerated by ointments Biopin, Panthenol-Ratiopharm, IL-1ß and Iruksol; Dimexidum solution; aerosols Olazol, Gipozol and Polkortolon; wound coverings Procell-super and Selenopol. Ointments containing IL-1ß, Dimexidum solution, aerosols and wound coverings have a healing effect in the case of combined radiation injury.

Development of a negative ion-based neutral beam injector in Novosibirsk.

A 1000 keV, 5 MW, 1000 s neutral beam injector based on negative ions is being developed in the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics, Novosibirsk in collaboration with Tri Alpha Energy, Inc. The innovative design of the injector features the spatially separated ion source and an electrostatic accelerator. Plasma or photon neutralizer and energy recuperation of the remaining ion species is employed in the injector to provide an overall energy efficiency of the system as high as 80%. A test stand for the beam acceleration is now under construction. A prototype of the negative ion beam source has been fabricated and installed at the test stand. The prototype ion source is designed to produce 120 keV, 1.5 A beam.

Modulated active charge exchange fast ion diagnostic for the C-2 field-reversed configuration experiment.

A diagnostic technique for measuring the fast-ion energy distribution in a field-reversed configuration plasma was developed and tested on the C-2 experiment. A deuterium neutral beam modulated at 22 kHz is injected into the plasma, producing a localized charge-exchange target for the confined fast protons. The escaping fast neutrals are detected by a neutral particle analyzer. The target beam transverse size (∼15 cm) defines the spatial resolution of the method. The equivalent current density of the target beam is ≤0.15 A/cm(2), which corresponds to a neutral density (∼6 × 10(9) cm(-3)) that highly exceeds the background neutral density in the core of C-2. The deuterium fast-ions due to the target beam (E ∼27 keV), are not confined in C-2 and thus make a negligible contribution to the measured signals.

[The functional tests in clinical diagnostic laboratory: the detection of magnesium deficiency in the loading test].

The article deals with the value and role of functional tests in practice of clinical diagnostic laboratories. The possibilities of evaluation of biological function of homeostasis according the changes of magnesium ions or calcium concentration in urine or blood hence reflecting the deficiency of these ions in vivo. The magnesium tolerant test is described It is demonstrated that it can be applied both in curative preventive institutions and ambulatories. In the examined group of patients, 78% had physiologic parameters of magnesium concentration, 17% suffered from hypermagnesiumuria and 5%--from hypermagnesiumuria. The magnesium deficiency of different degree was detected in 87% of patients. In the most part of patients with magnesium deficiency normomagnesiumuria was detected. Only in one case with normomagnesiumuria the magnesium deficiency was absent. In 30% of patients with magnesium deficiency the concentration of cation in day urine decreased up to 2.2 times after load dose. In absence of deficiency the monotony of cation's excretion was noted. Under the magnesium deficiency the character of process changed but velocity of excretion of magnesium after load probe slightly decreased relative to values before the load. The impact of alcohol under established magnesium deficiency results in increasing of velocity of excretion of this analyte. In patient with diabetes mellitus type II six months before the diagnosis of this disease the hidden deficiency of magnesium was detected. The magnesium deficiency was not detected after the antidiabetic treatment was applied The results permit to postulate the possibility of application oral load test with magnesium to assess the impact of various stress, physical, emotional and psychological factors. The detection of magnesium deficiency permit to broad the complex treatment, to accelerate and to enhance the results of treatment of diseases. Besides, the evaluation of patient's condition according the reaction of the organism to the probe with magnesium load is an essential element of personalized medicine.

Commissioning of heating neutral beams for COMPASS-D tokamak.

Two neutral beam injectors have been developed for plasma heating on COMPASS-D tokamak (Institute of Plasma Physics, Prague). The 4-electrodes multihole ion-optical system with beam focusing was chosen to provide the low divergence 300 kW power in both deuterium and hydrogen atoms. The accelerating voltage is 40 kV at extracted ion current up to 15 A. The power supply system provides the continuous and modulated mode of the beam injection at a maximal pulse length 300 ms. The optimal arrangement of the cryopanels and the beam duct elements provides sufficiently short-length beamline which reduces the beam losses. The evolution of the impurities and molecular fraction content is studied in the process of the high voltage conditioning of the newly made ion sources. Two injectors of the same type have been successfully tested and are ready for operation at tokamak in IPP, Prague.

Commissioning of the accelerator-recuperator for the FEL at the Siberian Center for Photochemical Research.

A 100 MeV eight-turn accelerator-recuperator intended to drive a high-power infrared free-electron laser (FEL) is currently under construction in Novosibirsk. The first stage of the machine includes a one-turn accelerator-recuperator that contains a full-scale RF system. It was commissioned successfully in June 2002.

[Epidemiological aspects of leptospirosis in the eastern regions of the Russian Federation]. / Epidemiologicheskie aspekty leptospirozov v vostochnykh regionakh Rossiiskoi Federatsii.

There have recently substantial changes in the basic parameters of Leptospira infection in the eastern regions. The infection is characterized by a pronounced and steady-state rise in morbidity rates, by its trend for urbanization, by the spread of the disease in recreational areas, by a primary role of dogs as sources of infection, by polymorphism and atypical nature of the clinical picture of Canicola leptospirosis, which make its diagnosis difficult. The anthropurgic foci where dogs and pigs are the main sources of pathogenic leptospiras are of the leading epidemiological significance. The optimum package of measures reducing a risk of human infection is recommended.

[Cardiovascular system function in mitral valve prolapse in fighter pilots]. / Funktsional'noe sostoianie serdechno-sosudistoi sistemy pri prolapse mitral'nogo klapana u letchikov istrebitel'noi aviatsii.

Echocardiogram examination of 250 young fighter pilots has revealed that 15 aviators had mitral valve prolapse (MVP) without symptoms of pronounced regurgitation. Their functional indexes of cardiovascular system at rest or dosed physical load at veloergometer tests were normal. Only in 3 pilots were marked rare supraventricular or ventricular extrasystoles during ECG monitoring or veloergometria. Performance capability of all pilots was sufficient. 13 pilots with MVP in examination of their tolerance to +Gz hypergravity at the levels of 6 G or more for 15 s had frequent polytop or group ventricular extrasystole. There was an ordinary aggravation of extrasystole in aviators with more deep and bilateral MVP. The article makes a conclusion that on the basis of medical flight expertise a thorough selection must be made concerning possibility of every pilot with MVP to carry out flight at high manoeuvring aircraft of new generation taking into account the gravity of prolapse and tolerance to high +Gz hypergravity more than 5 G.

[Electric stimulation of skeletal muscles as the optimal method of left-ventricular bypass]. / Elektrostimuliatsiia skeletnykh myshts kak sredstvo optimizatsii levozheludochkovogo obkhoda.

Experiments were performed on 15 mongrel dogs to evaluate the influence of electrostimulated contractions of the hind limb and abdominal skeletal muscles on the efficacy of assisted circulation (AC). The influence of massage of the abdomen on AC efficacy was studied in 10 experiments. In electrostimulation of the hind limb muscles the drainage along the femoral vein, measured by the direct method, increased threefold: from 58 +/- 9 to 162 +/- 7 ml/min under conditions of an intact heart and from 5.8 +/- 0.8 to 15 +/- 1.2 ml/min in cardiac insufficiency. The efficacy of AC by the method of left-ventricular bypass by means of the Module artificial heart ventricle (AHV) increased through the flow of blood to the heart, which was manifested by greater AHV performance with rise of systolic and diastolic pressure to 7-8 mm Hg. In cardiovascular insufficiency the influence of electrostimulation on AC efficacy was weaker, the systolic and diastolic pressure increased only by 2-4 mm Hg, in massage of the abdomen both indices increased by 8-10 mm Hg.

[Hemodynamic reactions to modified orthostatic test in persons with different +Gz tolerance]. / Issledovanie reaktsii gemodinamiki pri modifitsirovannoi ortostaticheskoi probe u lits s razlichnoi ustoichivost'iu k peregruzkam +Gz.

Hemodynamic responses to the passive and modified orthostatic tests were investigated in 27 low and 13 high +Gz susceptibility individuals. The modified orthostatic test included 5 min head-down tilt (-30 degrees) and head-up tilt (78 degrees) with occlusion cuffs (50 mm Hg and 100 mm Hg) applied to the upper third of the hip. Analysis of typological reactions in low and high +Gz susceptibility individuals revealed no significant differences in their tolerance to the above tests. It was found that during the 1st minute of the modified orthostatic test with 100 mm Hg pressure in the occlusion cuffs heart rate was lower and systolic blood volume was higher (p less than 0.05) than during the passive test. Differences in these parameters disappeared by the 10th minute of exposure. During the modified orthostatic test with 50 mm Hg pressure in the occlusion cuffs these parameters did not show statistically significant differences.

[Hemodynamic reactions to positive intrathoracic pressure in + Gz overload]. / Gemodinamicheskie reaktsii na izbytochnoe vnutrigrudnoe davlenie pri peregruzkakh + Gz.

Eight male test subjects, aged 20-28, were exposed to acceleration +Gz and positive breathing pressure (PBP) of 30 mm Hg to study their hemodynamics under these conditions. The calculated and experimental decrease of blood pressure at the eye level during increasing acceleration and voluntary myorelaxation was comparable. The exposure to PBP helped tolerate higher (by 1.1 +/- 0.2 G) acceleration values without visual disorders. The exposure to 7.0 G and PBP caused a lower increase in heart rate and breathing frequency (by 6% and 12%, respectively), a smaller reduction of blood pressure at the eye level (by 20%), and a decreased muscular tension (by 18%).

[Effect of water immersion as a model of weightlessness on lung closing volume]. / Vliianie vodnoi immersii kak modeli nevesomosti na ob'emy zakrytiia legkikh.

The effect of 7-day water immersion combined at night with head-down (6 degrees) tilting on the volumes of lung expiratory closing was examined in 6 healthy male test subjects, aged 25-35. During immersion they showed, along with a stable reduction of the lung vital and functional residual capacity (by 4.2 and 14.8%, respectively), an increase in the fraction parameters of the expiratory closing volumes. The increase in the closing volume (up to 40%) (P less than 0.05) was particularly distinct on immersion day 2. Subsequent changes indicated gradual recovery of the closing volumes and a decline in regional nonuniformity of lung ventilation. The time-course variations in the closing volumes may be attributed to an increase in the intrapulmonary blood volume at the early stage of adaptation to immersion and to a decrease in the nonuniformity of the ventilation-perfusion ratios.