Effects of pressure and composition on Raman spectra of CO-H2-CO2-CH4 mixtures.

There is great interest in the development of renewable and environmentally friendly fuel sources such as biogas and syngas for generation of heat and electricity. Raman spectroscopy is a promising method for rapid quantitative analysis of the composition of such gases. To improve the accuracy of the method, information is needed on changes in the spectra of the main components as a function of pressure and gas composition. In this work the spectral characteristics of the most intense peaks of methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen in the range of 200-3800 cm-1 were investigated in the range of 1-25 bar for pure gases and binary mixtures. It has been revealed that, under these conditions, the change in the characteristics of pure rotational hydrogen lines is negligible, while the Q-branches of the main vibrational bands of methane, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide shift to a few tenths of cm-1. The values of errors that can occur in the case of ignoring such changes in the spectra are estimated.

Raman spectrum of methane in nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, ethane, and propane environments.

Using binary CH4 - mixtures with varied concentrations of H2, N2, CO2, C2H6 and C3H8 and a fixed ambient pressure of 25bar, the influence of the environment on spectral characteristics (Raman shift, half-width, peak intensity) of Q-branches of the ν1, ν2, ν3, and 2ν4 methane Raman bands are investigated. It is found that depending on the environment these bands demonstrate different changes in their Raman shifts and half-widths. It is shown that the ratios of peak intensities I(ν2)/I(ν1), I(ν3)/I(ν1) and I(2ν4)/I(ν1) are very sensitive to the environment. The Raman shifts and half-widths of CH4 bands are assumed to depend on the absolute concentration of molecules in the analyzed medium. The data obtained would be useful in Raman diagnostics of natural gas.

[Rengalin, a New Efficacious and Safe Antitussive Agent. Results of a Randomized, Comparative, Multicenter Clinical Trial in Patients with Acute Respiratory Tract Infections].

UNLABELLED: Rengalin is a release-active combination antitussive drug based on antibodies to bradykinin, to histamine and morphine. It acts at various mechanisms of cough reflex by modifying endogenous target molecules and their interaction with receptors. The drug's efficacy, as demonstrated previously in experimental and clinical studies, is mediated by specific release-activity obtained as a result of the production process. METHODS: Efficacy and safety assessment of rengalin in the treatment of cough induced by acute upper respiratory tract infections (URIs) in comparison with a complex codeine-containing drug (codelac) was performed as part of a multicenter, randomized clinical trial involving 143 patients. All the participants presented with dry/non-productive cough caused by URIs (pharyngitis, laryngitis, tracheitis, tracheobronchitis, bronchitis). The duration of cough varied between 12 hours and 7 days. Rengalin was administered in 73 patients receiving 2 tablets 3 times daily for initial three days, and half reduced doses--for the subsequent four days; codelac was administered in 70 patients who were given 1 tablet 3 times daily for the entire treatment period (7 days). Primary efficacy endpoints were time to cough resolution and reduction in the severity of the cough (scored using a Cough Severity Scale). One patient in Rengalin group and three patients in Codelac group were withdrawn from the study. The article presents treatment outcomes obtained for 139 participants who completed the study in accordance with the protocol (Per Protokol-analysis). The data analysis was based on a non-inferiority (or comparability) statistical design for efficacy endpoints. RESULTS: The antitussive effect of rengalin was significantly comparable (p < 0.025) with that of codelac; the time to complete resolution of cough (both daytime and nocturnal) was 7.2 ± 1.0 days (versus 7.0 ± 1.1 in the group of codelac). Rengalin's efficacy was evidenced by a sufficiently reduced cough severity in the initial few days after treatment onset. As a result of the entire 7-day treatment, the severity score was reduced by 3.1 ± 09 (versus 3.1 ± 1.0 in the group of codelac; p < 0.05), totaling 0.2 ± 0.5 point in both groups at the end of the administration period. The frequent non-productive/dry cough was fully resolved in 76% of patients. All the participants in Rengalin group achieved either convalescent outcomes or significant improvement; none of the patients developed secondary bacterial complications. Positive changes in the patients' state over the week were finally confirmed by evaluating the total quality of life scores, including physical and mental component scores (SF-36 questionnaire), and total sleep quality scores, which were comparative between patients treated with rengalin and codelac (p < 0.025). At the end of the administration period, the effect of rengalin was rated by the physician investigators as 'pronounced'. The Clinical Global Impression Scale-Efficacy Indices (CGI-EI) in the groups of rengalin and codelac were comparable, equating a score of 3.7 ± 0.5 (p < 0.025). The safety outcomes of rengalin treatment were assessed across all 143 randomized patients. The drug's high safety profile was confirmed by the absence of adverse events that could be reliably related to the study treatment, and by monitoring of laboratory variables. Rengalin demonstrated good tolerability and favorable compatibility with other medications for URIs with concomitant pathology. The patients showed 100% treatment compliance. CONCLUSIONS: Rengalin is a new efficacious and safe drug indicated for the treatment of URI-induced cough. The severity of daytime and nocturnal cough begins to decrease as soon as on the first day after rengalin administration, with severity reduction observed throughout the whole treatment period. At the completion of the 7-day administration, cough severity is reduced by almost 100% and its changes are comparable with the outcomes of treatment with codelac. By targeting various cough reflex mediators, rengalin enables achieving an antitussive effect in the early days after URI onset (in dry, irritative cough episodes), and a protussive effect at later points of treatment. Rengalin promotes resolution of URI-induced cough without development of secondary bacterial complications.

[Multicenter retrospective analysis of the patients with sarcoidosis with a 10 year interval in observations].

Comparison of the state of 83 patients with histologically confirmed sarcoidosis observed with a 10 year interval revealed remission in 47% of the cases. The main factors having negative effect on prognosis of the disease included extrapulmonary symptoms, the use ofcorticosteroids (at all stages, especially at stage I and in Lofgren syndrome) and antituberculosis drugs, positive TB test. Risk factors of relapses were stage II sarcoidosis, the use of systemic corticosteroids in patients with Lofgren syndrome and antituberculosis drugs, initially low FEV1/FVLC ratio and the number of lymphocytes in peripheral blood.

[The effects of geomagnetic storms on proteinase and glycosidase activities in fish intestinal mucosa].

It has been demonstrated that the glycosidase activity of cyprinoid fishes (carp and crucian carp) exposed to a geomagnetic storm for up to 20 h considerably decreases; however, the proteinase activity is weakly altered (a statistically significant decrease in the enzyme activity has been observed only in fasting fish). An in vitro study of the effects of individual half hour intervals of the geomagnetic storm that correspond to the main and recovery phases on the same enzyme activities demonstrates the opposite trend. Independently of the experimental conditions, geomagnetic storms have been shown to influence the enzyme system of fasting fish negatively.

[Ergoferon and oseltamivir in treatment of influenza: results of multicentre randomized comparative clinical trial].

The narrow range of choice and virus resistance to the most common drugs require search and introduction of new drugs with proven efficacy and safety for the treatment of influenza. Ergoferon is a new combined medicine containing release active antibodies to interferon-gamma (anti-IFNgamma), CD4-coreceptor and histamine. The formulation influences various links of antiviral defense and provides antiinflammatory effect. The efficacy of the drug is related to its production process during which multiple reduction of the initial concentration of every component leads to release of special release activity. Previous experimental studies showed that anti-IFNgamma had antiviral activity against pandemic influenza virus A (H1N1) 2009 comparable to that ofoseltamivir (suppression of virus replication in the lung tissue, increase of the lifespan and reduction of the laboratory animals mortality). The aim of the multicentre randomized clinical trial was to compare (versus oseltamivir) the efficacy and safety of ergoferon in the treatment of influenza in adults. 213 patients with flu-like symptoms were examined in 8 medical centres of Russia during two epidemiological seasons (2010-11 and 2011-12). The inclusion criteria were: the first 48 hours after the onset; fever > or =37.8 degrees C, at least one common symptom and at least one respiratory symptom. Influenza was confirmed in 52 patients by QuickVue rapid diagnosis. 23 patients received ergoferon according to the treatment scheme and 29 received oseltamivir (daily dose 150 mg). Duration of the treatment was 5 days. The patients were followed up for 7 days. The primary endpoint was the percentage of the patients with the body temperature normalization for 2-5 days of the treatment. The maximum efficacy of ergoferon was observed on the second day of the treatment: almost half (48%) of the initially febrile patients had normal body temperature (versus 28% in the patients treated with oseltamivir). The comparison of the two groups of the patients by the morning and evening measurements of the body temperature every five days of the treatment by Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel revealed a significant difference between the two groups (chi2 = 7.1; p = 0.008). The average duration of the fever in the group of ergoferon was 2.3 +/- 1.2 days, in the group of oseltamivir--2.6 +/- 1.3 days (the efficacy of oseltamivir in the present study was comparable with the previously published data). The percentage of the patients treated with antipyretics because of hyperthermia on the second day of the treatment lowered 3 times and amounted to 17% (versus 41% in the oseltamivir group). The severity of common and respiratory symptoms (nose/throat/chest) significantly decreased on the third day of the treatment in both groups, the majority of the patients had either minimum severity or no signs of influenza. The clinical improvement was associated with positive changes in the life quality. No cases of the disease aggravation were recorded. Complications requiring antibiotic treatment or hospitalization were not observed during the followup. There were no adverse events recorded due to the drug use. No deviations in the laboratory indices were stated. Ergoferon is a new safe drug for the treatment of influenza. Its clinical efficacy was comparable to that of oseltamivir. The therapeutic effects of the drug were evident from: significant reduction of the disease severity, duration of febricity and general toxicity and respiratory flu symptoms, lower percentage of the patients with fever for 2 days. The febrile period in most of the patients did not exceed 2 days.

[Acute gestation pyelonephritis in terms of systemic inflammatory reaction syndrome].

Laboratory indices reflecting phases and level of systemic inflammatory reaction were analysed in 30 patients with acute gestation pyelonephritis (AGP). The patients were divided into two groups depending on clinical manifestations and drainage of the kidney. AGP course runs according to major regularities of systemic inflammatory reaction the analysis of which enables formulation of principles of optimal AGP treatment.

Observation of the orbital angular momentum spectrum of a light beam.

We demonstrate an experimental scheme that allows the elucidation of the orbital angular momentum discrete spectrum of an arbitrary light signal. The orbital angular momentum spectrum is represented in a Laguerre-Gaussian mode base, and the spectral components are resolved in the frequency domain by exploiting the Doppler frequency shift that is imparted to rotating light beams.

Vortex streets in walking parametric wave mixing.

The combined effects of diffraction and Poynting vector walk-off in second-harmonic generation with pump beams that contain screw phase dislocations is addressed for what is believed to be the first time. We predict the spontaneous nucleation of multiple vortex twins whose subsequent explosion can yield quasi-aligned patterns of single-charge vortices.

Observation of azimuthal modulational instability and formation of patterns of optical solitons in a quadratic nonlinear crystal.

We report what is believed to be the first experimental demonstration of the azimuthal self-breaking of intense beams containing a vortex phase dislocation into sets of optical spatial solitons in a quadratic nonlinear material. The observations were performed in a KTP crystal.

Nonlinear-optical properties of a poly(vinyl alcohol)-polyaniline interpenetrating polymer network.

The nonlinear-optical properties of a semi-interpenetrating polymer network of poly(vinyl alcohol) glutaralde-hyde-polyaniline were studied. Large (>/=10(-12) cm(2)/W) and fast (<50 ps) refractive optical nonlinearites were observed. The potential of this novel material for photonic applications is evaluated.

[Comparative efficacy of the long-term use of long-acting nitroglycerin (sustak) and molsidomine after myocardial infarct complicated by heart failure]. / Sravnitel'naia éffektivnost' dlitel'nogo primeneniia prolongirovannogo nitroglitserina (sustaka) i molsidomina u bol'nykh, perenesshikh infarkt miokarda, oslozhnennyi nedostatochnost'iu krovoobrashcheniia.

Clinical and hemodynamic efficiency of long-term treatment with sustak and molsidomin was assessed in 56 patients following myocardial infarction complicated by circulatory insufficiency within 9 months after discharge from hospital. In spite of the same mechanism of action, long-term treatment with these drugs produces different clinical and hemodynamic effects. The efficiency of prolonged and continuous sustak treatment is shown to decline after 3 months, as reflected in weaker antianginal and hemodynamic effects of the drug. Molsidomin, on the contrary, retains its positive clinical and hemodynamic effects throughout 9 months of use. The long-term use of the peripheral vasodilator molsidomin effectively prevents heart failure in myocardial infarction survivors.