Thermal conductivity vs depth profiling using the hot disk technique-Analysis of anisotropic, inhomogeneous structures.

A recently developed method for analyzing the thermal conductivity vs depth variation near a sample surface has been extended to include inhomogeneous samples with anisotropy. If not considered, the anisotropy ratio in the sample structure can distort the depth-position data of the original test method. The anisotropy ratio is introduced in the original computational scheme in order to improve the depth-position estimations for inhomogeneous structures with anisotropy. The proposed approach has been tested in experiments and shown to improve depth position mapping.

Synthesis of organosilicon derivatives of [1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]-benzothiophene for efficient monolayer Langmuir-Blodgett organic field effect transistors.

For the first time, the synthesis of organosilicon derivatives of dialkyl[1]benzothieno[3,2-b][1]-benzothiophene (BTBT) capable of forming a semiconducting monolayer at the water-air interface is reported. Self-assembled monolayer organic field-effect transistors prepared from these materials using the Langmuir-Blodgett technique showed high hole mobilities and excellent air stability.

Thermal conductivity versus depth profiling of inhomogeneous materials using the hot disc technique.

Transient measurements of thermal conductivity are performed with hot disc sensors on samples having a thermal conductivity variation adjacent to the sample surface. A modified computational approach is introduced, which provides a method of connecting the time-variable to a corresponding depth-position. This allows highly approximate-yet reproducible-estimations of the thermal conductivity vs. depth. Tests are made on samples incorporating different degrees of sharp structural defects at a certain depth position inside a sample. The proposed methodology opens up new possibilities to perform non-destructive testing; for instance, verifying thermal conductivity homogeneity in a sample, or estimating the thickness of a deviating zone near the sample surface (such as a skin tumor), or testing for presence of other defects.

Multi-electrode microbial fuel cell with horizontal liquid flow.

A plug flow multi-electrode bioelectrochemical reactor for wastewater treatment and simultaneous generation of electricity has been developed and its efficiency investigated. It employs a horizontally located anodic zone in which the anodic electrodes comprise porous graphite plates coated with palladium. The aerated immersed cathodic electrodes contain iron(II) phthalocyanine as a catalyst. The parameters of the device were obtained using glycerol and acetate as fuels and anaerobic sludge as an inoculum. The maximal volumetric power and current densities obtained, relative to the total volume of the anodic zone, were: glycerol: 73+/-1 mA/L; 43+/-1 mW/L; acetate: 75+/-1 mA/L; 40+/-1 mW/L. It was shown that biotransformation of glycerol into volatile fatty acids does not depend on the presence of anodic electrodes in the reaction zone, while acetate degradation takes place only if the reaction zone contains anodic electrodes as a final electron acceptor.

[New single-photon emission computed tomograph]. / Novyi odnofotonnyi émissionnyi komp'iuternyi tomograf.

The "OFEKT-1" emission tomograph, worked out on the basis of gamma camera, is described. The results of technical and medical testing of the tomograph are presented.

[Experimental molecular design of recombinant vaccines]. / Eksperimental'noe modelirovanie molekuliarnykh konstruktsii kombinirovannykh vaktsin.

A method was elaborated to construct combined artificial immunogens mimicking virus particles. The gist was exposing protein antigenic determinants of one virus on the particle surface and delivering plasmids with genes for antigenic proteins of another virus to specialized immune cells. Such immunogens were constructed and shown to induce biosynthesis of specific antibodies against HIV-1 and the tick-borne encephalitis virus. The level and duration of the humoral and cell responses were assayed.

[Molecular construction of experimental combined vaccines]. / Molekuliarnye konstruktsii éksperimental'nykh kombinirovannykh vaktsin.

A method for designing molecular constructions of combined artificial immunogens mimicking viral particles is proposed. Using this method, it is possible to expose antigenic determinants of any viral protein on the surface of such particles and to deliver plasmids containing genes encoding the synthesis of protein antigens to target cells. This approach was used to create the constructions of combined artificial immunogens inducing the production of specific antibodies to HIV-1 and to evaluate the extent and duration of B-cellular immune response depending on the way of antigen exposure to immunocompetent cells.

[A possible correlation between "anomalous" signals in the Wheatstone bridge and positions of planets]. / Vozmozhnaia sviaz' "anomal'nykh" signalov v mostike Yitstona i polozheniem planet.

Current fluctuations in diagonal of nonbalanced Wheatstone bridge were investigated. Correlations of parameters of these fluctuations with culmination times of Moon, Sun and some planet configurations were revealed. The probably biological importance of these phenomena is discussed.

[Study of antibiotic sensitivity of microorganisms by the method of diffusion in agar layers]. / Issledovanie chuvstvitel'nosti mikroorganizmov k antibiotikam metodom diffuzii v agarovykh sloiakh.

The proposed method for assessing microorganism sensitivity in solid and semisolid liquid nutrient media provides more accurate results and permits isolation of resistant forms of bacteria and studies of antibiotic interactions. Bacteriological study of latent growth zones of bacteria, although rather long, makes the results more reliable. The method can be used for assessing the microflora sensitivity in patients without resorting to isolation of pure cultures and in biotechnology for isolation of new antibiotics.

[Morphometric characterization of median brain structures using intravital magnetic resonance tomography]. / Morfometricheskaia kharakteristika sredinnykh struktur golovnogo mozga po dannym prizhiznennoi magnito-rezonansnoi tomografii.

Linear parameters of corpus callosum and submucosal structures (transparent septum, cupula, thalamus, pineal body and the third ventricle choroid plexus) were measured using 80 MR tomograms and 40 craniograms of 20 patients aged 20-50. Linear parameters were compared with the cranium shape and statistically processed. The dependence of linear parameters of the structures mentioned upon the shape of the cranium was demonstrated. They were characterized morphometrically in dolychomeso- and brachiocephals. The data obtained are of interest in assessment of MR tomograms with pathological changes and individualization of surgical interventions in median structures of brain.

[Lipid composition of mechanosensitive cell cilia and mechanoreceptor organ of bivalve molluscs]. / Osobennosti lipidnykh sostavov resnichek mekhanochuvstvitel'nykh kletok i mekhanoretseptornogo organa dvustvorchatykh molliuskov.

The lipid composition of the mechanoreceptive organ of two marine molluscs in comparison with other molluscan tissues and of isolated cilia of sense organ hair cells in comparison with the gill cilia has been studied. It was shown that the lipid composition of the mechanoreceptive organ differs in a number of features from that of other organs and that the ratios of individual phospholipid classes vary in cilia and intact organs. Ciliary aminophospholipids make up to approximately 89%, whereas choline-containing phospholipids--only 6-8% of the total phospholipid pool. No qualitative phospholipid differences between sense cell cilia and gill cilia were found. However, hair cell cilia contain less phosphatidylethanolamine and choline phospholipids, but more phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol. This suggests that the observed peculiarities of hair cell cilia may play a role in the maintenance of the proper arrangement of hair bundles and the distance between the cilium and stereovilli and/or in the regulation of Ca2(+)-dependent processes.