No abstract

This article describes the mathematical model for an immunochromatographic assay for the detection of specific immunoglobulins against a target antigen (antibodies) in blood/serum (serodiagnosis). The model utilizes an analytical (non-numerical) approach and allows the calculation of the kinetics of immune complexes' formation in a continuous-flow system using commonly available software, such as Microsoft Excel. The developed model could identify the nature of the influence of immunochemical interaction constants and reagent concentrations on the kinetics of the formation of the detected target complex. On the basis of the model, recommendations are developed to decrease the detection limit for an immunochromatographic assay of specific immunoglobulins.

A method was developed for determining the composition of the conjugates between gold nanoparticles and proteins based on the intrinsic fluorescence of unbound protein molecules. The fluorescence was evaluated after separation of the conjugates from the reaction mixture by centrifugation. Gold nanoparticles obtained using the citrate technique (average diameter 24 nm) were conjugated at pH 5.4 with the following four proteins: human immunoglobulin G (IgG), bovine serum albumin (BSA), recombinant streptococcal protein G (protein G), and Kunitz-type soybean trypsin inhibitor (STI). The compositions of these conjugates were determined using the developed method. The conjugate compositions were dependent on the concentration of the added protein, and in all cases reached saturation. The equilibrium dissociation constants of the gold nanoparticle conjugates with IgG, BSA, protein G, STI in the initial section of the concentration dependence curve were 4, 6, 10, and 15 nM, respectively. Close to saturation, the corresponding values were 25, 76, 175, and 100 nM, respectively. The maximal binding capacities of a single gold nanoparticle for IgG, BSA, Protein G, and STI were 52, 90, 500, and 550, respectively, which agrees well with the hypothesis of monolayer immobilization.

The superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) for a nominal voltage of 220 kV and a rated current of 1200 A was developed by SuperOx company to be applied in high voltage substation in Moscow, Russia. The device is a three-phase dead-tank apparatus and is equipped with a closed-cycle cryocooling system. Liquid nitrogen serves simultaneously as a cooling and an insulating media. The device makes use of about 25 km of 12 mm wide high-performance 2G HTS wire with uniform properties along the length. High-voltage tests of the device were performed at Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute (KERI) in accordance with the IEEE C37.302-2015 test guide and Russian national standards for high voltage electrical equipment. The installation of the SFCL at substation in parallel with the existing air core reactors was completed in 2019. Since then, the device is in a daily operation. Over this period, SFCL has fully confirmed its design specifications including transmitting over 80 million kWh to customers and experiencing three fault current events. High temperature superconductors, superconducting fault current limiter, cryogenic power equipment, electrical grid