* Scientists from the Blagonravov Institute of Machine Sciences (Russian Academy of Sciences) and their colleagues from other organizations have created a unique failure prevention system for nuclear power plants. The system features an interchangeable tensile, thermal and vibrometer module that consists of several mini-sensors. The sensors react to specific deformations, temperature changes and vibrations. No other country in the world has a similar device. It can operate inside nuclear reactor cores, in the super-low temperatures inside a thermonuclear superconductor unit, inside a turbine spinning at a tremendous speed, as well as inside liquid-metal, gas and plasma flows and other aggressive mediums. One thousand Russian-made sensors worth $1,000-2,000 each were installed at the Number 5 power unit in Bulgaria's Kozloduj nuclear power plant at scientists' recommendation.
* Scientists at the Koltsov Institute of Developmental Biology have developed a new treatment for burns and wounds; a skin pseudo-suspension that can literally be poured over a wound or burn. The suspension contains tiny 0.2-0.3 mm collagen balls. (Collagen is a protein that forms strong connective tissue: tendons, cartilage and bones.) The collagen balls are used to grow two types of skin cells: fibroblasts for dermis (the lower layer of skin) and keratinocytes for epidermis (the upper layer of skin). The cell suspension can coat any wound and feed on the tissue cells.
Collagen ball cells can be placed inside a special solution and stored in a refrigerator.
Scientists used this production process to develop a collagen gel, which speeds up the regeneration processes. Clinical tests have demonstrated that the new gel can quickly and effectively treat large and deep burns, different fistulas and persisting wounds, as well as cornea defects. Collagen-chitosan gel, another medical preparation, helps quickly treat parodontosis.
* Galen, an enterprise in Cheboksary, Chuvashia (a republic in Russia's Volga region), has developed a new and virtually everlasting construction material - basalt fibers. Russia and Ukraine, the Soviet Union's legal successors, possess the unique technology to produce these fibers. Galen, which has ten patents, is still the only Russian enterprise that produces basalt-plastic accessories for the construction industry.
Galen also produces another unusual product - monolithic foam concrete for insulating ceilings. The foam concrete can be used for roofs, which will cost 30%-40% less than traditional insulation methods and only requires 24-48 hours, rather than 60 days, to complete. The substance can be used to insulate buildings any time of the year because it withstands subzero temperatures (down to -200 degrees Celsius).
* This September, the first Russian business innovation center for students will open in Tomsk, a major science and industrial center in Siberia. Professor Anatoly Kobzev, the rector of the Tomsk Guidance and Radio-Electronic Systems State University, suggested this project. There are plans that the center will give a start in life for four hi-tech companies and 40 self-employed businessmen a year, so by 2007 about 60,000 well-paid jobs will be created each year. Over the last few years the university has helped establish a number of science-intensive companies that have expanded production twelve-fold.
The center, which will involve students from other local colleges and universities, has already attracted the attention of the Siberian Medical University because some rather promising medical and radio-electronics R&D projects are currently being implemented.
