Room temperature Fe2+:Cd1-xMnxTe laser generating at 5.4-6 µm.

Six-µm laser generation at room temperature was achieved from Fe2+-doped Cd1-xMnxTe solid-solution active media for the first time, to the best of our knowledge. Laser properties of Fe2+:Cd1-xMnxTe crystals with various concentrations of manganese Mn (x=0.1, 0.52, 0.56, 0.68, and 0.76) were investigated. The increase of Mn content in these crystals was shown to result in an almost similar long-wavelength shift of absorption, fluorescence, and laser output spectra of about ∼60 nm per each 10% of Mn. Laser generation was achieved in all crystals with maximum output energies up to 30 µJ (for x=0.52). The laser central oscillation wavelength is significantly influenced by Mn concentration and varies in the range from 5400 nm up to 6000 nm.

Spectroscopic and laser properties of bulk iron doped zinc magnesium selenide Fe:ZnMgSe generating at 4.5 - 5.1 µm.

The Fe:Zn(1-x)Mg(x)Se (x = 0.19, 0.27, and 0.38) solid solutions spectroscopic properties were investigated and laser oscillations were achieved for the first time. The increase of the magnesium concentration in the Fe:ZnMgSe crystal was shown to result in an almost similar long wavelength shift of both absorption and fluorescence spectra of about 60 nm per each 10% of magnesium. With the Fe:ZnMgSe crystal temperature decrease, the fluorescence spectrum maximum shifts towards shorter wavelength resulting mainly from strong narrowing of the longest wavelength fluorescence line. Laser radiation wavelength dependence on the magnesium concentration as well as on temperature was observed. The Fe:ZnMgSe x = 0.38 laser oscillation wavelength increased from 4780 nm at 80 K to 4920 nm at 240 K using the optical resonator without any intracavity spectrally-selective element. In comparison with the Fe:ZnSe laser operating in similar conditions, these wavelengths at both temperatures were shifted by about 500 nm towards mid-IR region.

Take-off speed in jumping mantises depends on body size and a power-limited mechanism.

Many insects such as fleas, froghoppers and grasshoppers use a catapult mechanism to jump, and a direct consequence of this is that their take-off velocities are independent of their mass. In contrast, insects such as mantises, caddis flies and bush crickets propel their jumps by direct muscle contractions. What constrains the jumping performance of insects that use this second mechanism? To answer this question, the jumping performance of the mantis Stagmomantis theophila was measured through all its developmental stages, from 5 mg first instar nymphs to 1200 mg adults. Older and heavier mantises have longer hind and middle legs and higher take-off velocities than younger and lighter mantises. The length of the propulsive hind and middle legs scaled approximately isometrically with body mass (exponent=0.29 and 0.32, respectively). The front legs, which do not contribute to propulsion, scaled with an exponent of 0.37. Take-off velocity increased with increasing body mass (exponent=0.12). Time to accelerate increased and maximum acceleration decreased, but the measured power that a given mass of jumping muscle produced remained constant throughout all stages. Mathematical models were used to distinguish between three possible limitations to the scaling relationships: first, an energy-limited model (which explains catapult jumpers); second, a power-limited model; and third, an acceleration -: limited model. Only the model limited by muscle power explained the experimental data. Therefore, the two biomechanical mechanisms impose different limitations on jumping: those involving direct muscle contractions (mantises) are constrained by muscle power, whereas those involving catapult mechanisms are constrained by muscle energy.

SrF2:Nd3+ laser fluoride ceramics.

SrF(2):Nd(3+) fluoride ceramics of high optical quality was prepared and its spectroscopic and laser properties investigated. Oscillations of different optical centers depending on the excitation wavelength were obtained with a slope efficiency of up to 19%.

Search for a light pseudoscalar particle in the decay K_{L};{0}-->pi;{0}pi;{0}X.

We performed a search for a light pseudoscalar particle X in the decay K_{L};{0}-->pi;{0}pi;{0}X, X-->gammagamma with the E391a detector at KEK. Such a particle with a mass of 214.3 MeV/c;{2} was suggested by the HyperCP experiment. We found no evidence for X and set an upper limit on the product branching ratio for K_{L};{0}-->pi;{0}pi;{0}X, X-->gammagamma of 2.4x10;{-7} at the 90% confidence level. Upper limits on the branching ratios in the mass region of X from 194.3 to 219.3 MeV/c;{2} are also presented.

Search for the Decay K L0-->pi0nu nu[over].

We performed a search for the K L0-->pi0nu nu[over] decay at the KEK 12-GeV proton synchrotron. No candidate events were observed. An upper limit on the branching ratio for the decay was set to be 6.7 x 10(-8) at the 90% confidence level.

Efficient laser based on CaF(2)-SrF(2)-YbF(3) nanoceramics.

CaF(2)-SrF(2)-YbF(3) fluoride ceramics of high optical quality was prepared, and its absorption, fluorescence, and laser oscillation properties were investigated. Oscillation slope efficiency that was only a few percent lower than that for a single crystal of similar composition was demonstrated under diode pumping.

[Melanoma cell lines as the basis for antitumor vaccine preparation].

The aim of the study was to obtain cell lines from tumor samples, and to determine phenotypic cell characteristics in order to choose the optimal line for vaccine preparation. 15 cell lines with stable growth, varying in cultural growth character and cytomorphology, were obtained from samples taken from patients with metastatic skin melanoma. Immunofluorescense method was used to determine the expression of T- and B-lymphocyte markers, antigens of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II, and CD86 co-stimulating molecule in the cell lines. The expression of melanocyte differentiation antigens and cancer/testicular antigens was evaluated using immunocytochemical assay. The results allowed the authors to distinguish three types of melanoma cell lines according to the expression of MHC molecules: MHC-negative; MHC class I positive; MHC classes I and II positive.

[Surface structure of the olfactory organ of marine teleosts]. / Struktura poverkhnosti organa obonianiia morskikh kostistykh ryb.

By means of the electron scanning microscope, structure of the olfactory rosella has been investigated in 5 species of marine Teleostei. Among the species investigated variability in number and arrangement is observed in the olfactory rosella folds. Arrangement order of the receptor and indifferent epithelia of the fold is presented by four types. Interspecies differences in organization of the sensory epithelium is revealed in ratio of various types of receptor and secretory cells. In Teleostei flagellar olfactory cells are the most numerous. In the Limanda yokohamae sensory epithelium certain flagella are described, that essentially differ by their size from usual receptor flagella and, evidently, are their complexes. The secretory cells are found in indifferent and sometimes in sensory epithelium as dark ostia; they are most numerous in mediosmatics. Some of the ostia are like wide craters and are, evidently, ostia of ducts of multicellular olfactory glands.

Olfactory epithelium of marine fishes in scanning electron microscopy.

The olfactory organs of six teleost fish species were studied using scanning electron microscopy. Differences were found in number and arrangement of lamellae in the olfactory rosette, and five types of arrangement were distinguished. Four types of arrangement of sensory and indifferent epithelium were established in rosettes of the species studied. Differences in organization of the sensory epithelium in teleost fish species are seen in quantitative relationships of different receptor and secretory cells. In teleost fish, flagellar receptor cells were most numerous. In the sensory epithelium of flounder, separate flagellae distinguishable from ordinary flagella of receptor and supporting cells by their large size and membrane structure, were described. Secretory cells were observed in sensory and indifferent epithelium as dark openings which often occurred in marine teleosts, mediosmatics. In some species (greenling, sea bullhead), the openings look like wide craters and may be stomata of secretory ducts of the epithelial olfactory glands described earlier.

[Morphohistochemical analysis of secretory elements of the olfactory epithelium of marine fish]. / Morfogistokhimicheskii analiz sekretornykh élementov oboniatel'noi vystilki morskikh ryb.

Morphohistochemical characteristics of various secretory elements of the olfactory lining have been analysed in sea fishes. In the investigation epithelium of Chondrostei and Teleostei has been used. For secrete formation, besides supporting cells, specialized secretory elements take part; among them cells of the I, II and III types can be revealed, as well as tubular and alveolar epithelial glands in some species of fishes. The secretory elements of the olfactory lining of the sea fishes produce substances of various chemical nature specific for the given type of formations and not depending on species-specific and ecological specialization. Essential species-specific differences are revealed in distribution, combinations, size and amount of the secretory elements per one unit of the olfactory lining surface. The analysis of these parameters in macro-, medio- and microsmatics, in fishes of various ecology and different systemic position, also demonstrates their differentiation.