Antitubercular activity of lomefloxacin in an experiment

The effect of lomefloxacin was studied on mice with experimental infection due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The antibiotic was administered in doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg. It was shown that the use of lomefloxacin for a month provided a lower death rate of the animals with progressing acute generalized tuberculosis, a lower level of the lesions in the internal organs and a lower number of the Mycobacterium isolates from them. The efficacy of the treatment depended on the drug dose. When lomefloxacin was used in a dose of 200 mg/kg, the survival rate was much higher and the number of the epithelial unicellular granulomas in the tissue of the lung and spleen was markedly decreased while with the lower dose the indices did not differ from those in the control.     

Vitamin allowance of cosmonauts during preflight training and after completing short space flights

Supply of the main and doubling crews of cosmonauts with vitamins C, A, D, E, B1, B2, B6, PP, and B12, folic acid and carotinoids was studied during training and after the completion of short-term space flights (from 4 to 13 days). As the result of the investigation conducted during the intensive training, 1 month before the space flight some cases of certain vitamins deficiency were revealed. Administration of additional vitamins during 2 weeks before the flight led to a rise in the cosmonauts' supply with vitamins. The findings obtained after the short-term space flights evidence an intensive metabolization of vitamins and increased vitamin requirements during this period.     

Human gamma-interferon expression in the mammary gland of transgenic mice

Transgenic mice carrying a hybrid gene consisting of ovine beta-lactoglobulin gene sequences and human gamma-interferon (hIFN-g) cDNA were produced. hIFN-g expression in the mammary gland of two lactating transgenic founder females was found. The concentration of active hIFN-g in the milk was estimated as being ca. 1800 IU/ml. The hIFN-g ability to express in the mammary gland was found in the progeny of transgenic founder male.     

Wavy surface nanostructures formed in amorphous silicon films by sputtering with nitrogen ions

Wavy nanostructures are formed on the ion-bombarded surface of single-crystal and amorphous silicon films prepared by various methods. The period and depth of this structure have been determined as functions of the angle of incidence and the energy of nitrogen ions used for the surface sputtering. A comparative analysis of SEM images of the wavy surface nanostructures on various silicon films has been performed using a two-dimensional Fourier transform. The films of amorphous silicon obtained by electron beam deposition and magnetron sputtering techniques are closest to single-crystal silicon films with respect to the wavy surface nanostructure formation.     

Contribution of the Khlopin Radium Institute to the development of nuclear explosion technology for preparing actinides

The main stages in the development of a process for preparing actinides by underground nuclear explosions in rock salt at the Galit field are considered. The data of experiments performed by researchers of the Khlopin Radium Institute in the course of the process development are analyzed. The results of detailed study of the cavities after underground nuclear explosions and properties of the resulting radioactive products reprocessed for recovery of actinides are presented.     

The course and outcome of viral hepatitis B in drug-addicted patients

In this paper, characterization is given of clinical and biochemical features of VH B course against the background of narcomania. Recordable in such patient populations are high percentage of delta hepatitis (14.2%), unusual severity of the intoxication syndrome, protracted course with exacerbations (12.2%) and recurrences (8%), outcome being a chronic hepatitis (14.2%), slower normalization of biochemical indicators, persistently low ratio of AIAT activity in diluted and whole blood sera. The persistence of viral markers in drug addicts discharged from the hospital (68%) is fraught with danger of spreading viral hepatitis of prophylactic measures are not strictly observed.     

Evaluation of the equilibrium sorption characteristics of textile fibres

The water vapor sorption — desorption isotherms of a series of natural and chemical fibres were determined and the hysteresis coefficients characterizing the nonequilibrium character of the structure and irreversibility of changes in it in sorption of water vapors were calculated. The moisture sorption — desorption isotherms are described by a single equation for a theoretical-probability model. The coefficients of the TPM equation were found for all types of fibres and can be used for predicting the magnitude of sorption and the change in the properties of textile materials in a wide range of external conditions. The points of the beginning of devitrification of the polymer under the effect of moisture were determined.St. Petersburg State University of Design and Technology. Translated from Khimicheskie Volokna, No. 4, pp. 20–23, July–August, 1995.