Superconducting spin valve effect in Co/Pb/Co heterostructures with insulating interlayers.

We report the superconducting properties of Co/Pb/Co heterostructures with thin insulating interlayers. The main specific feature of these structures is the intentional oxidation of both superconductor/ferromagnet (S/F) interfaces. We study the variation of the critical temperature of our systems due to switching between parallel and antiparallel configurations of the magnetizations of the two magnetic layers.

[Prophage CTXphi genome variability and its role in alteration of Vibrio cholerae El Tor virulence characteristics].

Comparative analysis of CTXphi prophage genome of 366 V. cholerae El Tor strains isolated from infected people and water was carried out using the polymerase chain reaction. Four groups of vibrios, which carry different combinations of ctxA, zot, and ace genes from core region of CTXphi prophage coding key (cholera enterotoxin) and accessory (Zot and Ace toxins) pathogenicity factors, were determined: ctxA(+) zot(-) ace(+), ctxA(-) zot(+) ace(+), ctxA(-) zot(+) ace(-), ctxA(-) zot(-) ace(+).

[A study of the prevalence of regulatory genes controlling virulence gene expression among Vibrio choleraeeltor biovariant strains varying in their pandemic potential].

The evolution of the genome of the pathogenic agent of the seventh cholera pandemia Vibrio cholerae eltor biovariant was thought to occur by acquiring not only structural genes of virulence but also regulatory systems as a result of horizontal transfer events. The polymerase chain reaction revealed the presence of the following regulatory genes that control the virulence gene expression in the chromosome of pre-pandemic and pandemic strains of cholera vibrios eltor: toxR, toxT, tcpP, tcpH, luxS, luxO, crp, vicH, pepA. The avirulent V.

[Genomic variability of vibrio cholerae El Tor biovariant strains].

The authors performed comparative analysis of the genomes of 145 clinical and environmental isolates of Vibrio cholerae El Tor biovariants using single locus and multiplex PCR. The study found that clinical strains isolated from patients with cholera formed a genetically homogenous group, where bacterial chromosome contained all the tested virulence genes, situated on mobile genetic elements that had been acquired by the pathogen at various stages of its evolution. Strains isolated from water ecosystems during interepidemic period were heterogeneous and formed three groups: a small number of virulent strains; non-toxigenic vibrio strains that, in the process of reductional variation in their new econiche, had only managed to maintain individual virulence genes; non-pathogenic "water" vibrios, whose chromosome contained only the genes from its core part, mobile genetic elements being optionally represented only by the persistence island.

[Comparative genomic analysis of vibrio cholerae El Tor preseventh and seventh pandemic strains isolated in various periods].

Genetic organization of 52 Vibrio cholerae El Tor biotype preseventh and seventh pandemic strains isolated in various periods was studied by PCR assay and DNA-DNA hybridization. It was established that the genome of most ancient of analyzed strains isolated from a diarrhea patient in 1910 was devoid of CTX and RS1 prophages, vibrio pathogenicity islands (VPI and VPI-2), and pandemic islands (VSP-1 and VSP-2) that contain key virulence genes. The appearance of pathogenic properties in cholera vibrios for the first time causing a local outbreak of cholera in 1937 is connected with the acquisition of VPI and CTX that carried genes tcpA and ctx-AB, respectively, which are responsible for the colonization of small intestine and encode the production of cholera toxin.

[A comparative analysis of genomes of virulent and avirulent strains of Vibrio cholerae O139].

A comparative analysis of the genome of V. cholerae O139 strains isolated in Russia's territory from patients with cholera and from the environment showed essential differences in their structures. The genome of clinical strains possessed all tested genes associated with virulence (ctxAB, zot, ace, rstC, rtxA, hap, toxR and toxT) and the at-tRS site for the CTXp phage DNA integration.

[The organization and efficacy of the rehabilitative therapy of children with respiratory diseases at a sanatorium-preventorium in the Far East region].

The findings from 706 children suffering from bronchial and pulmonary diseases who attended sanatoria in the Far East of the Soviet Union provided the underlying material for suggestions made on efficient programmes of health improvement. The most social and economic significance implies combined nonpharmacological treatment of children employing local nature and climate factors.

[Irrigation-inhalation methods of pelotherapy in the rehabilitation of children with diseases of the respiratory organs].

Basing on clinical cytological evidence obtained for 366 children with respiratory disorders, new techniques of local pelotherapy are introduced. A solution of mud got from deposits of Sadgorod resort (Maritime Territory) was employed for irrigation and inhalation. Long-term and end results of the treatment obtained for nasal mucosa, mesopharyngeal region and tracheobronchial tree provided evidence in favour of introduction of such pelotherapy in multimodality rehabilitation of children suffering from respiratory disorders.

[Evaluation of functional correlations of intracellular defense factors of neutrophils in children during postnatal ontogenesis].

A total of 310 children aged 1 month to 15 years were examined for functional interrelations between components of the intracellular system of blood neutrophil defence based on the use of a discrete-dynamic analysis. The ontogenetic characteristics and regularities in the development of functional relations of intracellular defence factors were established. The periods of physiologic deficiency in children aged 1 month to 2 years and in those aged 2 to 15 years were defined.

[Evaluation of indices of the immune status in children during ambulatory care of the entire population].

Confidence intervals have been used to derive the reference values of certain immune status parameters in children. Mathematical analysis has helped define such values for every age group. These values permit singling out children with normal or mean values of these parameters and with deviations from the norm in respect of the immunity status.

[The possible use of PKZh-type devices (liquid purity control devices) in the analysis of cell suspensions].

PKZh means "device for liquid purity control". A possibility is considered to use the native PKZh type device for carrying out quantitative analyses of cellular suspension components, for routine bacterial suspension, agglutinated bacterial suspension and erythrocyte suspension. The flowing photometric principle of particle recording, used in the device, allows to analyse biological suspensions with small amounts of components.