Search

The results of tests of the engineering, economic, and environmental performance and some of the maneuverability characteristics of PGU-80 and PGU-39 steam-gas power generation units at the Sochi thermal power plant are discussed.

Biallelic mutations in the human breast cancer susceptibility gene, BRCA2, are associated with Fanconi anemia, implying that some persons who inherit 2 deleterious variants of BRCA2 are able to survive even though it is well established that BRCA2 is indispensable for viability in mice. One such variant, IVS7 + 2T > G, results in premature protein truncation because of skipping of exon 7. Surprisingly, the persons who are either IVS7 + 2T > G homozygous or compound heterozygous are born alive but die of malignancy associated with Fanconi anemia. Using a mouse embryonic stem cell–based functional assay, we found that the IVS7 + 2T > G allele produces an alternatively spliced transcript lacking exons 4-7, encoding an in-frame BRCA2 protein with an internal deletion of 105 amino acids (BRCA2Δ105). We demonstrate that BRCA2Δ105 is proficient in homologous recombination-mediated DNA repair as measured by different functional assays. Evaluation of this transcript in normal and leukemia cells suggests that BRCA2Δ105 may contribute to the viability of persons inheriting this mutation. In this study, we have also characterized 5 other BRCA2 variants and found 3 of these (p.L2510P, p.R2336H, and p.W2626C) to be deleterious and 2 (p.I2490T and p.K2729N) probably neutral. Such studies are important to understand the functional significance of unclassified BRCA2 variants.

Major types of coarse-detrital carbonate and sulfate rocks (psephites) are considered. Two large (allochthonous and autochthonous) genetic groups are defined. Characteristics of some representatives are given for each group. It is shown that psephites of the carbonate and sulfate composition differ from similar rocks of the quartz and quartz-silicate composition in terms of formation mechanisms and depositional environments.

The principle scheme and parameters of overhead transmission line distance protection capable of detecting a rupture of a self-supporting insulated wire over 1000 V hanging on railroad AC towers are presented. The protection is based upon phase-to-ground voltage measurement at a line end made in a resistor-capacitor zero-sequence compensation cubicle. A communication carried out over the overhead transmission line.

NICA is the new accelerator complex being under design and construction at JINR. The facility is aimed at providing collider experiments with heavy ions up to Uranium in a center of mass energy range from 4 to 11 GeV/u and an average luminosity up to 1027 cm-2 · s-1. The collisions of polarized deuterons are also foreseen. The facility includes two injector chains, a new superconducting Booster synchrotron, the existing 6 A · GeV superconducting synchrotron-Nuclotron, and the new superconducting Collider consisting of two rings of about 500 m circumference each. The Booster synchrotron and the NICA Collider are based on an iron-dominated “window frame”- type magnet with a hollow superconductor winding analogous to the Nuclotron magnet. The status of the design and construction of the full size model magnets for the Booster synchrotron as well as for the NICA Collider is presented.

Bacteriophage T4 was visualized using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The images were consistent with, and complementary to electron microscopy images. Head heights of dried particles containing DNA were about 75 nm in length and 60 nm in width, or about 100 nm and 85 nm respectively when scanned in fluid. The diameter of hydrated tail assemblies was 28 nm and their lengths about 130 nm. Seven to eight pronounced, right-handed helical turns with a pitch of 15 nm were evident on the tail assemblies. At the distal end of the tail was a knob shaped mass, presumably the baseplate. The opposite end, where the tail assembly joins the head, was tapered and connected to the portal complex, which was also visible. Phage that had ejected their DNA revealed the internal injection tube of the tail assembly. Heads disrupted by osmotic shock yielded boluses of closely packed DNA that unraveled slowly to expose threads composed of multiple twisted strands of nucleic acid. Assembly errors resulted in the appearance of several percent of the phage exhibiting two rather than one tail assemblies that were consistently oriented at about 72° to one another. No pattern of capsomeres was visible on native T4 heads. A mutant that is negative for the surface proteins hoc and soc, however, clearly revealed the icosahedral arrangement of ring shaped capsomeres on the surface. The hexameric rings have an outside diameter of about 14 nm, a pronounced central depression, and a center-to-center distance of 15 nm. Phage collapsed on cell surfaces appeared to be dissolving, possibly into the cell membrane.

A universal software-hardware architecture of the automatic control system (ACS) of the X-ray experiment for synchrotron stations is designed. The designed ACS ensures the reliable long-time control of the station equipment from remote terminals located in safety zones. A hierarchical three-level architecture of the control system based on personal industrial computers and specialized microcontrollers is selected to realize the hardware part. Data channels are based on Ethernet, RS-485, and RS-232 interfaces. The ACS software embodies the functional-modular principle and contains monitor modules with parametric adjustment, group control modules of functional station blocks, and modules for individual control of mechanisms. Data exchange between the modules is supported by TCP/IP, DCON, and other standard communication protocols. When the control system was being designed, the possibility of expanding the system by embedding bought articles from leading manufacturers was without fail taken into account. The designed system allows its integration with automated experiment control systems. The work presents details of the designed ACS realization on the LANGMUIR multipurpose research technological system of the synchrotron radiation source of the Russian Research Centre (RRC) Kurchatov Institute, the Russian synchrotron station intended for studying interfaces of various nature by using a wide spectrum of precision surface-sensitive and spectrum-selective X-ray technologies, in particular, for studying organic and bioorganic nanosystems on liquid surfaces and various planar nanostructures on solid substrates. The specific character of the LANGMUIR station invited development of a unique software-hardware module for controlling optical elements deflecting the beam from the horizontal line (beam control module), and creation of a special software unit for integrating the fluorescence signal recording section into the ACS and synchronization of the X-ray and fluorescence sections.

Cells expressing the yeast retrotransposon Ty3 form concentrated foci of Ty3 proteins and RNA within which virus-like particle (VLP) assembly occurs. Gag3, the major structural protein of the Ty3 retrotransposon, is composed of capsid (CA), spacer (SP), and nucleocapsid (NC) domains analogous to retroviral domains. Unlike the known SP domains of retroviruses, Ty3 SP is highly acidic. The current studies investigated the role of this domain. Although deletion of Ty3 SP dramatically reduced retrotransposition, significant Gag3 processing and cDNA synthesis occurred. Mutations that interfered with cleavage at the SP-NC junction disrupted CA-SP processing, cDNA synthesis, and electron-dense core formation. Mutations that interfered with cleavage of CA-SP allowed cleavage of the SP-NC junction, production of electron-dense cores, and cDNA synthesis but blocked retrotransposition. A mutant in which acidic residues of SP were replaced with alanine failed to form both Gag3 foci and VLPs. We propose a speculative “spring” model for Gag3 during assembly. In the first phase during concentration of Gag3 into foci, intramolecular interactions between negatively charged SP and positively charged NC domains of Gag3 limit multimerization. In the second phase, the NC domain binds RNA, and the bound form is stabilized by intermolecular interactions with the SP domain. These interactions promote CA domain multimerization. In the third phase, a negatively charged SP domain destabilizes the remaining CA-SP shell for cDNA release.

Ch. Lyell’s works, the main work among which entitled Principles of Geology was published 180 years ago in 1830, created a new concept and laid the groundwork for modern geological science, methods for the study of geological processes and geological history based on the investigation of recent environments and processes. These propositions with natural corrections are also used in geological works at present. They have demonstrated persistence of the geological history and absence of global geological catastrophes. This fact was of great importance in science and ideology, because it changed basically the perception of the Earth’s nature and history based on the biblical world pattern.

The frequency doubling and tripling in a Q-switched all-fiber laser are studied. It is demonstrated that the main limitations on the efficiency of the harmonic generation are related to the random polarization that is nonuniform with respect to axes, the asymmetric pulse shape with a flat trailing edge, and the significant spectral broadening of the multimode radiation of the fiber master oscillator in the fiber amplifier. The methods to increase the efficiency are proposed. For an IR pulse energy of about 0.3 mJ, duration of about 40 ns, and repetition rate of 1 kHz, the second- and third-harmonic pulse energies are greater than 60 and about 10 μJ, respectively.

The investigation results of the possibility of manufacturing radiation tolerant microwave amplifiers implementing in domestic GaAs D-mode pHEMT 0.5 μm process are presented in this work. The amplifier with an operating frequency range from 0.1 GHz to 3.5 GHz, gain above 15 dB, noise figure below 2.2 dB, output linearity above 17 dBm is designed, produced and measured. The characteristic property of the amplifier is a single positive supply voltage and extended frequency range up to 100 MHz provided by the external capacitor circuit. Transient radiation effects in the amplifier are investigated up to the dose rate value of 4.9·109 a.u./s. The recovery time does not exceed 4 μs according to the experimental results.

Results of development of MEMS sensors for control systems of Tu-204, Il-96, Tu-334, Yak-130 aircraft performed at the Moscow Institute of Electromechanics and Automatics are presented. Design features and obtained technical parameters of the developed devices are considered. Prospects for their application in a wide range of aircraft are shown.

The mathematical model for assessment of tractive and coupling properties of four-wheel drive wheeled tractors, taking into account kinematic imbalance of driving axles’ movers, is considered.

Mathematical model determining parameters of tractor longitudinal and angular oscillations based on known design parameters of tractor and driving tires is considered. It permits to determine parameters of horizontal load stabilizers of machine and tractor unit without field tests.

A significant nuclear-physical feature of boron-containing systems, distinguishing them from all other, except fluoride, systems, is considerable flux of fast neutrons generated by the (α,n) reaction on boron nuclei. The neutron flux generated on boron nuclei is higher by approximately an order of magnitude than that excited on nuclei of other components of the borobasalt matrix. The calculated and measured neutron flux values are well consistent. The neutron generation is mainly determined by the reaction of α-particles with O, Si, and Al nuclei and is thus characteristic of any aluminosilicate system.

In the course of an atomic force microscopy investigation of mimivirus, we observed that disrupted virions released masses of fibers that were several hundreds of nanometers in length and that could not be explained as nucleic acid or polysaccharide. The fibers exhibited a strong 7 nm periodicity along their lengths. They existed singly, and also as ribbons, cables, and in multi stranded coils. In the aggregate structures, the periodic bands of the individual fibers aligned laterally to produce ribbons and other superstructures having a corresponding pattern of 7 nm periodic transverse bands. We have not observed such fibers in studies of other virus and cellular systems. The fibers are mechanically flexible and resistant to breakage. Occasionally fibers were associated with toroidal protein complexes, assumed to be processive enzyme complexes, apparently in the act of modifying the fibers. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 95: 234–239, 2011.

The effect of crystallization induced by self-α-irradiation on the leaching with water of basalt-like matrices with the incorporated α-emitting radioactive waste components was studied. Both the total leaching and the leaching of particular radionuclides (Pu and Am) were studied. Although radiation-induced crystallization leads to a certain increase in the leach rate, the effect is observed within a short period. Generally the crystallization of boron-containing basalt-like systems does not significantly impair their hydrolytic stability.

A tailed cyanophage, S-CAM4 (family Myoviridae) from California coastal waters that infects Synechococcus, was characterized by atomic force microscopy. Capsomeric clusters of protein composing the 85 nm diameter icosahedral head were resolved and indicated a triangulation number of T=16. The 140 nm tail assembly, exhibiting a helical appearance with a 13 nm pitch, was seen in both extended and contracted states, the latter exposing the injection tube within. Attached below the base plate were six 50 nm long fibres, and six fibres 275-300 nm in length protruded from the periphery of the base plate. Protein-free DNA was abundant from ruptured heads. Virus attached en masse, in clusters and individually to cells, and cell fragments were recorded, as were perforated cells lysed by the phages. The capsid structure appears most closely related to that of the cyanophage Syn9 and the Bacillus subtilis phage SPO1, which may, in turn, be evolutionarily related to herpesvirus.

Two types of fiber-optical measurement systems are compared: a line with a large number of point sensors based on fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) interrogated by a tunable continuous fiber laser and a distributed system based on optical time-domain reflectometry (OTDR) of the Raman scattering of radiation of a pulsed fiber laser. Methods for increasing the measurement accuracy with the use of additional calibration of the Bragg wavelength shift over a fiber interferometer in the FBG system and spectral filtration of the Stokes and anti-Stokes components of the Raman scattering with the use of spectral-selective fiber couplers in the OTDR system are proposed and implemented. Physical effects on system parameters are analyzed, compared, and optimized for applications with monitoring of the temperature distribution in turbogenerators and oil wells.

Agarose gel electrophoresis, circular dichroism and differential scanning calorimetry showed that single-stranded RNA from satellite tobacco mosaic virus transforms from a conformationally ‘closed state’ at 4 � C to a more conformationally ‘open state’ at 65 � C. The transition is reversible and shows no hysteresis. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) allowed visualization of the two states and indicated that the conformationally ‘closed state’ probably corresponds to the native encapsidated conformation, and that the ‘open state’ represents a conformation, characterized as short, thick chains of domains, as a consequence of the loss of tertiary interactions. Heating from 75 � Ct o 85 � C in the presence of EDTA was necessary to further unravel the ‘open’ conformation RNA into extended chains of lengths >280nm. Virus exposed to low concentrations of phenol at 65 � C, extruded RNA as distinctive ‘pigtails’ in a synchronous fashion, and these ‘pigtails’ then elongated, as the RNA was further discharged by the particles. Moderate concentrations of phenol at 65 � C produced complete disruption of virions and only remains of decomposed particles and disordered RNA were evident. AFM images of RNA emerging from disrupted virions appear most consistent with linear arrangements of structural domains.

It is shown that the impact of cathode spot of vacuum-arc discharge on the plastically deformed surface may be partially or fully recovered her form. This effect was detected during vacuum-arc cleaning of the inner surface of the cylinder. Mathematical and experimental modeling of the process of restoring the inside diameter of the cylinder confirmed the effect of shape recovery upon exposure of the cathode spots of a vacuum arc on the surface.

Results are presented from the development of a method for measuring plasma temperature in indirect (X-ray) drive targets by recording the shock wave velocity in the Iskra-5 facility. The samples under investigation were irradiated by X-rays in a converter box, and the shock wave velocity was determined from the time at which the wave reached the back surface of the sample and the surface began to emit visible radiation. This emission, in turn, was detected by a streak camera. The results of experiments on the interaction of X radiation with a hot dense plasma, as well as the accompanying gas-dynamic processes in aluminum samples, are analyzed both theoretically and numerically. In experiments with Al and Pb samples, the shock wave velocity was measured to vary in the range U = 8–35 km/s, and the range of variation of the temperature of the box walls was measured to be Te = 140–170 eV.

A-Q switched pulsed ytterbium-doped fiber laser is created and optimized for frequency doubling and tripling. The spectral width of the laser radiation (less than 0.13 nm) is controlled using a Bragg grating. At a pulse repetition rate of 1 kHz, the peak power is greater than 13 kW and the pulse duration is 30 ns.

New constructions are considered for single- and multistage flotation units. It is shown that in single-stage equipment high quality cleaning of liquid insoluble suspensions from water with a continuous operating regime is impossible. Six-stage cleaning is necessary with a periodic water cleaning regime in order to remove the content of liquid impurities within it (for example industrial oil) to 40 mg/liter. The advantages of gravity flotation compared with gravity settling are noted.

Two types of distributed fiber sensor systems for temperature measurements have been developed: the first one is multi-point Fiber Bragg Grating based system with interrogation by CW tunable laser and nonlinearity compensation by reference interferometer. The second device is Raman scattering system based on optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) with a pulsed laser providing spatial resolution of several meters and efficient spectral filtering of the Stokes and anti-Sokes signals by means of WDM couplers. Physical effects important for the systems operation are analyzed and their parameters are compared and optimized for applications in oil-gas industry and turbogenerator temperature monitoring.

Murine leukemia viruses encode a unique form of Gag polyprotein, gPr80 gag or glyco-gag. Translation of this protein is initiated from full-length viral mRNA at an upstream initiation site in the same reading frame as Pr65 gag , the precursor for internal structural (Gag) proteins. Whereas gPr80 gag is evolutionarily conserved among gammaretroviruses, its mechanism of action has been unclear, although it facilitates virus production at a late assembly or release step. Here, it is shown that gPr80 gag facilitates release of Moloney murine leukemia virus (M-MuLV) from cells along an IFN-sensitive pathway. In particular, gPr80 gag -facilitated release occurs through lipid rafts, because gPr80 gag -negative M-MuLV has a lower cholesterol content, is less sensitive to inhibition of release by the cholesterol-depleting agent MβCD, and there is less Pr65 gag associated with detergent-resistant membranes in mutant-infected cells. gPr80 gag can also facilitate the release of HIV-1-based vector particles from human 293T cells.

We demonstrate a Raman-based all-fibre temperature sensor utilising a pulsed erbium fibre laser. The sensor is made of a standard single-mode telecom fibre, SMF-28, and includes a number of directional couplers as band-pass filters. The temperature profile along a 7-km fibreoptic line is measured with an accuracy of 2oC and a spatial resolution of 10 m. In data processing, we take into account the difference in attenuation between the spectral components of the backscatter signal.

Variants of unknown significance (VUS) in BRCA1 and BRCA2 are common, and present significant challenges for genetic counseling. We observed that BRCA2: c.6853A>G (p.I2285V) (Breast Cancer Information Core [BIC] name: 7081A>G; http://research.nhgri.nih.gov/bic/) co-occurs in trans with the founder mutation c.5946delT (p.S1982RfsX22) (BIC name: 6174delT), supporting the published classification of p.I2285V as a neutral variant. However, we also noted that when compared with wild-type BRCA2, p.I2285V resulted in increased exclusion of exon 12. Functional assay using allelic complementation in Brca2-null mouse embryonic stem cells revealed that p.I2285V, an allele with exon 12 deleted and wild-type BRCA2 were all phenotypically indistinguishable, as measured by sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents, effect on irradiation-induced Rad51 foci formation, homologous recombination, and overall genomic integrity. An allele frequency study showed the p.I2285V variant was identified in 15 out of 722 (2.1%) Ashkenazi Jewish cases and 10 out of 475 (2.1%) ethnically-matched controls (odds ratio, 0.99; 95% confidence interval: 0.44-2.21; P=0.97). Thus the p.I2285V variant is not associated with an increased risk for breast cancer. Taken together, our clinical and functional studies strongly suggest that exon 12 is functionally redundant and therefore missense variants in this exon are likely to be neutral. Such comprehensive functional studies will be important adjuncts to genetic studies of variants.

Solid samples of vitrified model liquid radioactive wastes (LRWs) are produced by treating their components with hydrochloric acid-water-alcohol solutions containing ethoxysilane hydrolysates and aqueous silica sols at pH 1.5–4.0. The silica sols are prepared by the membrane concentration of natural hydrothermal solutions. The characteristics of solid vitrified samples are determined using X-ray powder diffraction, thermogravimetry, IR spectroscopy, and electron microscopy. It is established that, in the acidic water-alcohol medium, ethoxysilane hydrolysates, silica sol nanoparticles, and dissolved salts of liquid radioactive wastes form a spatially structured inorganic siloxane copolymer.

The operation of various types of deaeration systems is analyzed and experience with introducing centrifugal-jet sprayers in the condenser and deaeration towers of boiler drums is described.

The possibility of using intermetallic compounds or alloys of actinides with nickel for preparing matrices incorporating radioactive wastes was examined. Such intermetallic compounds or alloys are prepared by electrolytic deposition of a lanthanide or actinide from a melt of its salt in eutectic mixtures of alkali metal chlorides. The process is performed under the conditions when an actinide being reduced reacts with the cathode material to form a layer of an intermetallic compound. Based on the results of the physicochemical studies performed, an electrochemical process was developed for compacting highly radioactive toxic nuclides of Am, Pu, and REE in environmentally safe forms with high chemical, thermal, and radiation resistance: (a) in the form of alloys or intermetallic compounds containing up to 90 wt % radionuclide, with the leaching rate in water of 10−5–10−6 g cm−2 day−1; (b) in the form of layers of alloys or intermetallic compounds of the radionuclides on metal supports, with the radionuclide content of up to 80 wt % and leaching rate in water of ∼10−6–10−7 g cm−2 day−1.

The linear unsteady problem describing the forward motion of a hovercraft with an oscillating forward velocity is considered. A two-term asymptotic representation of a solution is derived provided that the oscillation period is small. Estimates for the remainder in Sobolev spaces and some hydrodynamical consequences are also obtained. Bibliography: 17 titles. Illustrations: 1 figure.

The effect of thermal annealing on the resistance of borosilicate systems to crystallization and on the hydrolytic resistance of the materials was examined. The systems containing individual components of radioactive wastes of both REE + TUE and, for comparison, Cs + Sr fractions were examined. Under the experimental conditions (annealing temperature 800°C, time 100 h), the materials of all the examined compositions crystallize to certain extent. The matrices incorporating REE crystallize to the least extent. In all the cases, the crystalline phase contains mainly compounds of the component being incorporated and also Fe compounds. A distinctive feature of the matrices containing lanthanide oxide and of the boron-containing basalt matrix itself is increased resistance to leaching in water after annealing in the temperature range 400–500°C.

RecA/Rad51 protein family members (Rad51, Rad51b, Rad51c, Rad51d, Xrcc2, and Xrcc3) are essential for DNA repair by homologous recombination, and their role in cancers has been anticipated. Here we provide the first direct evidence for a tumor suppressor function for a member of the Rad51 family. We show that Rad51c deficiency leads to early embryonic lethality, which can be delayed on a Trp53-null background. To uncover the role of Rad51c in tumorigenesis, we have exploited the fact that Rad51c and Trp53 are both closely located on the mouse chromosome 11. We have generated double heterozygous (DH) mice carrying mutant alleles of both genes either on different (DH-trans) or on the same chromosome (DH-cis), the latter allowing for a deletion of wild-type alleles of both genes by loss of heterozygosity. DH-trans mice, in contrast to DH-cis, developed tumors with latency and spectrum similar to Trp53 heterozygous mice. Strikingly, Rad51c mutation in DH-cis mice promoted the development of tumors of specialized sebaceous glands and suppressed tumors characteristic of Trp53 mutation. In addition, DH-cis females developed tumors significantly earlier than any other group. [Cancer Res 2009;69(3):863–72]

The cohesin complex is responsible for the accurate separation of sister chromatids into two daughter cells. Several models for the cohesin complex have been proposed, but the one-ring embrace model currently predominates the field. However, the static configuration of the embrace model is not flexible enough for cohesins to perform their functions during DNA replication, transcription, and DNA repair. We used coimmunoprecipitation, a protein fragment complement assay, and a yeast two-hybrid assay to analyze the protein–protein interactions among cohesin subunits. The results show that three of the four human cohesin core subunits (Smc1, Smc3, and Rad21) interact with themselves in an Scc3 (SA1/SA2)-dependent manner. These data support a two-ring handcuff model for the cohesin complex, which is flexible enough to establish and maintain sister chromatid cohesion as well as ensure the fidelity of chromosome segregation in higher eukaryotes.

Vaccinia virus was treated in a controlled manner with various combinations of nonionic detergents, reducing agents, and proteolytic enzymes, and successive products of the reactions were visualized using atomic force microscopy (AFM). Following removal of the outer lipid/protein membrane, a layer 20 to 40 nm in thickness was encountered that was composed of fibrous elements which, under reducing conditions, rapidly decomposed into individual monomers on the substrate. Beneath this layer was the virus core and its prominent lateral bodies, which could be dissociated or degraded with proteases. The core, in addition to the lateral bodies, was composed of a thick, multilayered shell of proteins of diverse sizes and shapes. The shell, which was readily etched with proteases, was thoroughly permeated with pores, or channels. Prolonged exposure to proteases and reductants produced disgorgement of the viral DNA from the remainders of the cores and also left residual, flattened, protease-resistant sacs on the imaging substrate. The DNA was readily visualized by AFM, which revealed some regions to be “soldered” by proteins, others to be heavily complexed with protein, and yet other parts to apparently exist as bundled, naked DNA. Prolonged exposure to proteases deproteinized the DNA, leaving masses of extended, free DNA. Estimates of the interior core volume suggest moderate but not extreme compaction of the genome.

Individuals with mutations in breast cancer susceptibility genes BRCA1 and BRCA2 have up to an 80% risk of developing breast cancer by the age of 70. Sequencing-based genetic tests are now available to identify mutation carriers in an effort to reduce mortality through prevention and early diagnosis. However, lack of a suitable functional assay hinders the risk assessment of more than 1,900 BRCA1 and BRCA2 variants in the Breast Cancer Information Core database that do not clearly disrupt the gene product. We have established a simple, versatile and reliable assay to test for the functional significance of mutations in BRCA2 using mouse embryonic stem cells (ES cells) and bacterial artificial chromosomes and have used it to classify 17 sequence variants. The assay is based on the ability of human BRCA2 to complement the loss of endogenous Brca2 in mouse ES cells. This technique may also serve as a paradigm for functional analysis of mutations found in other genes linked to human diseases.

The probabilities of x ray dipole transitions in free atoms C, O, Al, Si, and Ge and their ions are calculated. The wave functions of the initial and final states were calculated in terms of the density functional method using norm-conserving and ultrasoft pseudopotentials. Various methods of reconstruction of all-electron wave functions from pseudo-single-electron orbitals are considered. Using the reconstructed all-electron wave functions, the transition probabilities are calculated in the velocity and length gauges. The calculations are compared with the results of atomic all-electron calculations. At least for ultrasoft pseudopotentials, the error of the reconstruction procedure used in the study is about 1–3%.

In this paper, the nonlinear boundary problem describing two-dimensional steady waves on the surface of water with finite depth is discussed. The problem is formulated in the conventional statement (the gravity is taken into account, but the surface tension is neglected). The latter one allows discussing the whole class of bounded waves that includes periodic waves, solitary waves, and other types of waves (for instance, almost-periodic waves, although their existence has not been established yet). This fact suggests that the results obtained fall within the domain of the qualitative theory of differential equations (investigation of the properties of solutions without finding them). In this paper, two approaches to the qualitative theory are discussed. The first approach consists in averaging the solution along the vertical sections of the region, and the second approach is based on the authors’ modification of Byatt-Smith’s integro-differential equation. Thus, the paper contains an overview of the results obtained for the problem of nonlinear stationary waves on water with finite depth. Two approaches to this problem form a basis of the qualitative theory of such waves, because there are no constraints imposed on the waves except for the boundedness of their profiles and steepness restrictions.

We consider the plane linear boundary value problem describing the behavior of time-harmonic water waves with an obstacle formed by partially and totally immersed bodies of infinite length and also by the part of bottom the topography of which is different from that in the plane case. We study a special two-dimensional case where the crests of waves incoming on the obstacle are parallel to the obstacle generators. Bibliography: 10 titles.

The combinatorial identity $$\sum\limits_{k = m}^n {( - 1)^k } \left( \begin{gathered} n \hfill \\ k \hfill \\ \end{gathered} \right)\left( \begin{gathered} k - 1 \hfill \\ m - 1 \hfill \\ \end{gathered} \right) = ( - 1)^m , 1 \leqslant m \leqslant n$$ is established with the help of the differentiation of the convolution of some function with the sine function. Bibliography: 5 titles.

Analysis of the growth pattern of stromatolites and relationships of their thick carbonate bodies with host rocks are used to substantiate the lack of reefs sensu stricto, i.e., buildups notably towering above the sea bottom, in the Proterozoic.

Poorly available 5-iodo- and 5-bromoindolizines were prepared via regioselective lithiation of indolizines followed by halogenation. 5-Halogenoindolizines were found to be passive toward nucleophiles, whereas they may be trifluoroacetylated at C-3 and involved in reaction with DMAD giving cycl[3.2.2]azine. The first successful Suzuki-coupling of 5-bromo(iodo)indolizines with different arylboronic acids (performed as a parallel synthesis) led to a series of 5-arylindolizines; the effect of substituents on the reaction yield was examined.

The Kuril islands constitute a volcanic island arc-trench system, stretching from eastern Hokkaido (Japan) to Kamchatka (Russia) along the northwestern Pacific subduction system. The current arc consists of several volcanic islands mainly with Neogene basement and capped by several, predominantly andesitic, active subduction stratovolcanoes. Kunashir Island is the southwestern-most island of the arc, just off the Hokkaido coast and represents the study area in this paper. The island is composed of a Lower Complex of mainly late Miocene to Pliocene volcanic rocks, covered by an Upper Complex of younger (basaltic) andesitic lava flows and tuffs on which currently four active volcanic edifices are built. In the Lower Complex sub-volcanic and deeper-seated intrusives of the so-called Prasolov and Dokuchaev magmatic complexes are found. More differentiated, tonalitic-granodioritic rocks were collected from these small intrusive bodies. An early Oligocene zircon LA-ICP-MS U/Pb age of 31 Ma for the Prasolov Complex was obtained, showing that the basement of Kunashir Island is older than previously thought. Thermochronometry (apatite fission-track and U-Th-Sm/He and zircon U-Th/He analyses) further shows that the magmatic basement of the island was rapidly exhumed in the Pleistocene to present levels in a differential pattern, with He-ages ranging from 1.9 to 0.8 Ma. It is shown that the northern section of the island was hereby exhumed more intensely. (C) 2015, China University of Geosciences (Beijing) and Peking University