Adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (AAV2) represents a promising basis for developing a virus-vector vaccine against African swine fever (ASF). This study aimed to create genetic constructs based on AAV2 to deliver the immunodominant genes of ASF virus (ASFV) and to evaluate their functionality in vitro. The efficiency and specificity of transgene expression, as well as their non-toxicity in cells of target animals, were evaluated. Bioinformatics analysis methods were used to identify the immunodominant genes of ASFV. The target genes B646L, E183L, CP204L, and CP530R were identified and subsequently cloned into the pAAV-MCS vector. Assembly of recombinant AAV2 (rAAV2) was performed by cotransfection of AAV293 cells with the following plasmids: pAAV-MCS with the gene of interest, envelope, and packaging. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to determine the AAV2 titer. The functionality of the constructs was evaluated in HEK293 and SPEV cells by determining the presence of mature proteins in the cell lysate and the expression levels of messenger RNA. The specificity of the target proteins in cell lysates was confirmed by Western blotting. The proposed AAV2 assembly protocol makes it possible to achieve a concentration of mature viral particles of at least 280 billion/mL of virus-containing material. The rAAV2 could effectively transduce host SPEV cells. The expression of both cistrons was detectable during the transduction of cells; therefore, the combined expression of immunogens in the cells of target animals should be possible using this method. This study demonstrated the potential of using genetic constructs based on AAV2 for the delivery of ASFV genes in vitro.

AbstractThe research relevance is connected with the need to increase dairy resources in small forms of farming, increase the level of organization of dairy cattle breeding, and form a stock of dairy products in the conditions of sanctions and embargo. Using the methods of economic research, the authors analyze the development of dairy cattle breeding in the Republic of Tatarstan. Moreover, the authors reveal current trends in production, procurement, and sales of milk and milk products by agricultural producers of different management forms. Additionally, the authors reveal the reserves for increasing the efficiency of the potential use in the dairy sector. The authors develop proposals for expanding economic activity in cattle breeding for small farms. Moreover, the authors propose ways of increasing the role of consumer agricultural cooperation in the development of dairy cattle breeding in peasant (farm) enterprises and private subsidiary farms by improving the forms and methods of state support for the replenishment of dairy herds with pedigree cows. The authors also put forward proposals on creating consumer purchasing and marketing cooperatives to sell milk and dairy products produced by rural residents and farms. Additionally, it is proposed to increase the competitiveness of consumer purchasing and marketing cooperatives in the market of milk and dairy products by increasing scientific support for their activities.KeywordsRegional economic policyMilkPeasant (farm) enterprisesPrivate householdPrivate subsidiary farmsPrivate householdsDairy cattle breedingConsumer cooperativesFarmersJEL codesO13P25P48

The paper analyzes the effect of climatic factors on forest succession in the forest-steppe zone of the Republic of Tatarstan. A reliable relationship was revealed between a decrease of the oak forested area and extremely low frosts in 1939–1940, 1941–1942 and 1978–1979, and a decrease in the area of birch after the 2010 drought. Birch and oak are replaced by maple, linden and aspen. Insignificant amount of young trees and the predominance of ripe and overripe plantations of oak and birch will lead to the continuation of forest succession in the forest-steppe zone. Impossibility of reverse succession at this stage by natural rehabilitation is associated with the biological characteristics of these species. Oak and birch forest rehabilitation is only possible with measures to promote natural or artificial regeneration with due regard to the biological characteristics of tree species.

Regions of Russia enjoy substantial independence in shaping their own education systems. However, there is extremely little empirical data on the specific features of development, for instance, of preschool and elementary school children in this or that region. This situation renders it difficult to make informed decisions on corrections required to meet region-specific needs. We analyzed basic mathematical and reading abilities of preschoolers in two regional centers — Krasnoyarsk and Kazan. We applied IPIPS study, which allows assessing the skills of children starting school, to a sample of about 2,750 first-graders in the two cities. As we found out, the level of basic mathematical and reading abilities correlated most strongly with such factors as sociocultural capital, preschool learning experience, and language spoken at home. Meanwhile,location in a specific region had virtually no impact on the skills analyzed.

Changes in the composition of organic matter of rocks and residual oil from multiage deposits of the Romashkino oil field in a reducing environment in a continuous-flow aqueous system were studied. It was shown that, as a result of the action of hydrothermal factors, the amount of hydrocarbon fractions increases and the amounts of alcohol-benzene-extractable resins, asphaltenes, and total sulfur decrease in organic extracts obtained from the rocks after hydrothermal experiments. The concentration of free radicals, as well as tetravalent vanadium (which is present in the form of vanadyl prophyrin complexes) and other heavy metals, in asphaltenes decreases. The hydrothermal treatment of petroliferous rock leads to the degradation of the structure of insoluble kerogen and unrecoverable components of residual oil, as well as to the washout of free hydrocarbons from the rock with the aqueous phase, n-Alkanes; ethyl, butyl, and octyl phthalates; furan; acids; and unsaturated oxygen-containing compounds with the isoprenoid structure were detected in the products of hydrothermal experiments isolated from aqueous extracts.

The principles of design, problems of engineering realization, some results of first applications of two- frequency scanning Linear Frequency Modulation (LFM) lidars are discussed in the present paper. Basic method of transformation of one-frequency radiation into two-frequency one is described. The requirements to parameters of probing radiation, dept of modulation, band of scanning and modulating frequencies, laws of scanning and modulation are defined, spectral and temporal resolution are calculated. The different variants of two-frequency scanning LFM lidars with direct and heterodyne detection are examined, in particular: with probing frequencies being located inside absorption line; with the first probing frequency inside the absorption line and the second one outside it. The block- scheme of a two-frequency scanning LFM lidar is described, and parameter requirements of two-frequency radiators and lidar photoreceivers are discussed.

A new method was proposed on the basis of computer-assisted IR spectrometry for the separate determination of aliphatic (Alk) and aromatic (Ar) petroleum products in water samples. The integral intensities of absorption bands were measured with a Fourier-transform IR spectrophotometric complex. A series of individual hydrocarbons and their mixtures was studied, and real water samples were analyzed. The conditions for recording and computer processing of IR spectra were selected. Based on the published data and experimental data obtained using reference samples, optimal regions for recording IR spectra were characterized, and integration intervals were found for characteristic band areas of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons. Regression equations were derived on an assumption that the system is binary. Working coefficients in the Bouguer–Lambert–Beer's law were found. Interval estimates of errors in the proposed method were calculated. Practical recommendations were given.

Snow cover in the middle of Russia stays for up to 5 months per year, during which it accumulates various air pollutants. Snow contamination as such indirectly reflects the degree of air pollution and its distribution over a particular territory. A first attempt has been made to use microbiotests in complement to chemical analyses to evaluate the toxic hazard of the pollutants in the snow cover, which after melting will enter into surface and groundwaters. Bioassays were performed with the crustaceans Daphnia magna and Ceriodaphnia dubia, with the protozoan ciliate Paramecium caudatum and with the bacterial ToxiChromotest. Snow samples have been taken in snow dumps of the City of Kazan from 1995 to 1997, and over the entire territory of the Republic of Tatarstan in 1998 in regions classified as having “ low ” or “ intermediate ” industrial emissions. Samples of road dirt were also collected in several streets of the City of Kazan for chemical and ecotoxicological investigations. The toxic effects found in the snow samples taken in 1995 and 1996, and the absence of toxicity in the snow samples taken in 1997 confirms the overall decrease of contamination of the snow cover revealed by the chemical analyses. The samples of road dirt in turn appeared to be seriously polluted with polycyclic aromatic carbons and were all acutely toxic to the crustacean D. magna. Toxic effects were also found in a number of the 87 snow samples collected in various regions of the Republic of Tatarstan, despite the rather low concentrations of the inorganic compounds analyzed. This points to the need of biotesting in complement to chemical investigations for a realistic evaluation of the hazard of air contaminants in snow.

One of the main ways to develop testing nondestructive devices for fiber communication systems is to use optical reflectometry in frequency domain (OFDR) and LFM-technique. There are some problems in OFDR-systems which are determined by complexity degree of modulation type realization and its law, low energy characteristics of frequency modulators and large scattering losses on reflectometer units in general. In present paper we want to consider some common and special solutions for these problems. Especially a new LFM-technique based on two frequency laser radiation, which can help us to develop compact reflectometer, is presented. Basic consideration of one frequency radiation transformation into two frequency is given. The elements of LFM technique for reflectometers are given. We determined informative parameters of output radiation and their connection with degree of internal and external disturbances and coordinates along the axis of fiber, calculated the accuracy characteristics of system. We showed that two frequency output radiation carried more information and could help us to get results closed to two mode reflectometers. The experimental set-up of structural testing system and first practical results are given.

One of the main ways to develop nondestructive testing devices for fiber communication systems is to use optical reflectometry in the frequency domain (OFDR) and the LFM-technique. There are some problems in OFDR-systems which are determined by the complexity degree of modulation type realization, low energy characteristics of frequency modulators and large scattering losses on reflectometer units in general. In the present paper we consider some common and special solutions for these problems. Especially a new LFM-technique based on dual-frequency laser radiation, which can help us to develop a compact reflectometer, is presented. Basic consideration of single frequency radiation transformation into two frequency radiation is given. The elements of the LFM technique for the reflectometer are given. We determined the output radiation parameters and their connection with the degree of internal and external disturbances and coordinates along the axis of the fiber, and calculated the accuracy characteristics of system. We showed that two frequency output radiation carried more information and could help us to obtain results close to that of the two-mode reflectometer. The experimental set-up of a structural testing system and the first practical results are given.