New Insights into the mineralogy of the Atlantis II deep metalliferous sediments, Red Sea

The Atlantis II Deep of the Red Sea hosts the largest known hydrothermal ore deposit on the ocean floor and the only modern analog of brine pool-type metal deposition. The deposit consists mainly of chemical-clastic sediments with input from basin-scale hydrothermal and detrital sources. A characteristic feature is the millimeter-scale layering of the sediments, which bears a strong resemblance to banded iron formation (BIF). Quantitative assessment of the mineralogy based on relogging of archived cores, detailed petrography, and sequential leaching experiments shows that Fe-(oxy)hydroxides, hydrothermal carbonates, sulfides, and authigenic clays are the main “ore” minerals. Mn-oxides were mainly deposited when the brine pool was more oxidized than it is today, but detailed logging shows that Fe-deposition and Mn-deposition also alternated at the scale of individual laminae, reflecting short-term fluctuations in the Lower Brine. Previous studies underestimated the importance of nonsulfide metal-bearing components, which formed by metal adsorption onto poorly crystalline Si-Fe-OOH particles. During diagenesis, the crystallinity of all phases increased, and the fine layering of the sediment was enhanced. Within a few meters of burial (corresponding to a few thousand years of deposition), biogenic (Ca)-carbonate was dissolved, manganosiderite formed, and metals originally in poorly crystalline phases or in pore water were incorporated into diagenetic sulfides, clays, and Fe-oxides. Permeable layers with abundant radiolarian tests were the focus for late-stage hydrothermal alteration and replacement, including deposition of amorphous silica and enrichment in elements such as Ba and Au

ЭФФЕКТИВНОСТЬ И БЕЗОПАСНОСТЬ ЛЕКАРСТВЕННЫХ ФОРМ МОРФИНА ГИДРОХЛОРИДА У ОНКОЛОГИЧЕСКИХ ПАЦИЕНТОВ С ХРОНИЧЕСКИМ БОЛЕВЫМ СИНДРОМОМ

Purpose of the study: to assess the efficacy and safety of morphine hydrochloride in the form of 10 mg filmcoated tablets and 1 % solution for injection in cancer patients with chronic pain syndrome of strong intensity.Material and Methods. The study included 110 cancer patients with chronic pain syndrome of strong intensity. The study was conducted in compliance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration, ICH GCP, GOST R 52379-2005, as well as other Russian laws regulating the conduct of clinical trials and work with opioid analgesics. Patients were randomized at a 1:1 ratio. Group I received 10 mg film-coated morphine tablets, 1 tablet orally every 4 hours for 7 days. Group II received 1 % morphine solution for injection, intramuscularly, 4 mg every 4 hours for 7 days. A Numeric Rating Scale for Pain (NRS, 0–100 mm) was used to assess the level of pain. The safety assessment was based on the collection of data on the registration of adverse events, including opioid-associated adverse effects.Results. Enteral and parenteral morphine administration for 7 days demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in the intensity of pain syndrome in cancer patients. The use of morphine hydrochloride in tablets reduced the number of additional analgesics prescribed for cancer patients. Regarding opioid-associated adverse effects, a statistically significant difference in the incidence of constipation between two groups was observed.Conclusion. The study showed that tablets and injectable dosage forms of morphine hydrochloride were comparable in efficacy and safety profile, thus predetermining the widespread clinical use of drugs produced by the domestic manufacturer in accordance with the “pain relief ladder”, proposed by WHO. Цель исследования – провести сравнительную оценку эффективности и безопасности морфина гидрохлорида в форме таблеток 10 мг, покрытых пленочной оболочкой, и 1 % раствора для инъекций у онкологических пациентов с хроническим болевым синдромом сильной интенсивности.Материал и методы. В исследование было включено 110 онкологических больных с хроническим болевым синдромом сильной интенсивности на базе 6 региональных исследовательских центров, охватывающих территорию Сибирского и Центрального федерального округов. Процедура проведения исследования соответствовала принципам Хельсинкской декларации, ICH GCP, ГОСТ Р 52379-2005, а также российским законам, регламентирующим проведение клинических исследований и работу с НЛП. Пациенты были рандомизированы в соотношении 1:1. Группа I получала таблетки морфина 10 мг, покрытые пленочной оболочкой, по 1 таблетке перорально каждые 4 ч в течение 7 дней. Группа II получала раствор морфина для инъекций 1 % внутримышечно по 4 мг каждые 4 ч на протяжении 7 дней. Для оценки уровня боли использовали общепринятую 100 мм цифровую рейтинговую шкалу оценки боли (NRS). Оценка безопасности лечения проводилась на основании сбора данных о регистрации нежелательных явлений, в том числе опиоид-ассоциированных.Результаты. Энтеральная и парентеральные формы отечественного морфина продемонстрировали статистически значимое снижение интенсивности болевого синдрома на фоне 7-дневной терапии. Применение таблетированной формы морфина гидрохлорида способствует снижению числа назначений дополнительных анальгетиков у онкологических больных. Безопасность лекарственных форм морфина гидрохлорида в целом была сопоставима, обращает на себя внимание при оценке опиоид-ассоциированных нежелательных явлений статистически значимая разница между сравниваемыми группами по частоте запоров.Заключение. В проведенном исследовании было показано, что таблетированная и инъекционная лекарственные формы препаратов морфина гидрохлорида сопоставимы по эффективности и профилю безопасности, что может предопределять широкое клиническое применение препаратов отечественного производителя, согласно принципам терапии «Лестница обезболивания ВОЗ».

Blazar spectral variability as explained by a twisted inhomogeneous jet

Blazars are active galactic nuclei, which are powerful sources of radiation whose central engine is located in the core of the host galaxy. Blazar emission is dominated by non-thermal radiation from a jet that moves relativistically towards us, and therefore undergoes Doppler beaming1. This beaming causes flux enhancement and contraction of the variability timescales, so that most blazars appear as luminous sources characterized by noticeable and fast changes in brightness at all frequencies. The mechanism that produces this unpredictable variability is under debate, but proposed mechanisms include injection, acceleration and cooling of particles2, with possible intervention of shock waves3,4 or turbulence5. Changes in the viewing angle of the observed emitting knots or jet regions have also been suggested as an explanation of flaring events6,7,8,9,10 and can also explain specific properties of blazar emission, such as intra-day variability11, quasi-periodicity12,13 and the delay of radio flux variations relative to optical changes14. Such a geometric interpretation, however, is not universally accepted because alternative explanations based on changes in physical conditions—such as the size and speed of the emitting zone, the magnetic field, the number of emitting particles and their energy distribution—can explain snapshots of the spectral behaviour of blazars in many cases15,16. Here we report the results of optical-to-radio-wavelength monitoring of the blazar CTA 102 and show that the observed long-term trends of the flux and spectral variability are best explained by an inhomogeneous, curved jet that undergoes changes in orientation over time. We propose that magnetohydrodynamic instabilities17 or rotation of the twisted jet6 cause different jet regions to change their orientation and hence their relative Doppler factors. In particular, the extreme optical outburst of 2016–2017 (brightness increase of six magnitudes) occurred when the corresponding emitting region had a small viewing angle. The agreement between observations and theoretical predictions can be seen as further validation of the relativistic beaming theory

Blazar spectral variability as explained by a twisted inhomogeneous jet

© 2017 Macmillan Publishers Limited, part of Springer Nature. All rights reserved. Blazars are active galactic nuclei, which are powerful sources of radiation whose central engine is located in the core of the host galaxy. Blazar emission is dominated by non-thermal radiation from a jet that moves relativistically towards us, and therefore undergoes Doppler beaming. This beaming causes flux enhancement and contraction of the variability timescales, so that most blazars appear as luminous sources characterized by noticeable and fast changes in brightness at all frequencies. The mechanism that produces this unpredictable variability is under debate, but proposed mechanisms include injection, acceleration and cooling of particles, with possible intervention of shock waves or turbulence. Changes in the viewing angle of the observed emitting knots or jet regions have also been suggested as an explanation of flaring events and can also explain specific properties of blazar emission, such as intra-day variability, quasi-periodicity and the delay of radio flux variations relative to optical changes. Such a geometric interpretation, however, is not universally accepted because alternative explanations based on changes in physical conditions - such as the size and speed of the emitting zone, the magnetic field, the number of emitting particles and their energy distribution - can explain snapshots of the spectral behaviour of blazars in many cases. Here we report the results of optical-to-radio-wavelength monitoring of the blazar CTA 102 and show that the observed long-term trends of the flux and spectral variability are best explained by an inhomogeneous, curved jet that undergoes changes in orientation over time. We propose that magnetohydrodynamic instabilities or rotation of the twisted jet cause different jet regions to change their orientation and hence their relative Doppler factors. In particular, the extreme optical outburst of 2016-2017 (brightness increase of six magnitudes) occurred when the corresponding emitting region had a small viewing angle. The agreement between observations and theoretical predictions can be seen as further validation of the relativistic beaming theory

Investigating the multiwavelength behaviour of the flat spectrum radio quasar CTA 102 during 2013-2017

We present a multiwavelength study of the flat-spectrum radio quasar CTA 102 during 2013-2017. We use radio-to-optical data obtained by the Whole Earth Blazar Telescope, 15 GHz data from the Owens Valley Radio Observatory, 91 and 103 GHz data from the Atacama Large Millimeter Array, near-infrared data from the Rapid Eye Monitor telescope, as well as data from the Swift (optical-UV and X-rays) and Fermi (gamma-rays) satellites to study flux and spectral variability and the correlation between flux changes at different wavelengths. Unprecedented gamma-ray flaring activity was observed during 2016 November-2017 February, with four major outbursts. A peak flux of (2158 +/- 63) x 10(-8) ph cm(-2) s(-1), corresponding to a luminosity of (2.2 +/- 0.1) x10(50) erg s(-1), was reached on 2016 December 28. These four gamma-ray outbursts have corresponding events in the near-infrared, optical, and UV bands, with the peaks observed at the same time. A general agreement between X-ray and gamma-ray activity is found. The gamma-ray flux variations show a general, strong correlation with the optical ones with no time lag between the two bands and a comparable variability amplitude. This gamma-ray/optical relationship is in agreement with the geometrical model that has successfully explained the low-energy flux and spectral behaviour, suggesting that the long-term flux variations are mainly due to changes in the Doppler factor produced by variations of the viewing angle of the emitting regions. The difference in behaviour between radio and higher energy emission would be ascribed to different viewing angles of the jet regions producing their emission

The Study of Pharmacokinetics Parameters of Morphine Hydrochloride, Long-acting Tablets in Cancer Patients with Severe Chronic Pain Syndrome

Introduction. Effective drug therapy for cancer patients with chronic pain syndrome (CPS) of high intensity is one of the priorities of modern healthcare. Currently, non-narcotic and narcotic analgesics are used for pain relief according to a three-steps scheme. In the absence of contraindications, it is preferable to prescribe medications per os and prolonged forms, which will allow the patient to maintain selfcare and comfort.Aim. To study the pharmacokinetic properties of a drug with a prolonged mechanism of action «Morphine hydrochloride», in a film-coated tablet formof a dosage 30 mg, in cancer patients with severe CPS.Materials and methods. For the analysis of the pharmacokinetics of the studied drug after single and multiple doses of 20 patients who received 10-day analgesic therapy with the studied drug «Morphine hydrochloride», long-acting film-coated 30 mgtablets. manufacturer FSUE Moscow Endocrine Plant, Russia. Route of administration: per os. The study duration was 17 days: screening duration up to 7 days; duration of therapy up to 10 days.Results and discussion. The concentration of morphine in plasma was determined by HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry, within 12 hours after taking the study drug (1 of long-acting, film-coated tablet 30 mg). The following pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained on Day 5: T1/2 – 6.08 ± 4.37 hours and 14.46 ± 30.86 hours, Tmax – 2.5 ± 1.86 hours, Cmax – 43.91 ± 27.24 ng/ml. Values of pharmacokinetic parameters averaged over all days are presented. It was found that T1/2 for the studied drug T1/2 is 9.21 ± 14.94 hours, Tmax 2.87 ± 2.36 hours. The average maximum concentration (Cmax) on the day of the study drug was 36.52 ng/ml.Conclusion. As a result of the study of pharmacokinetics, it was found that the drug «Morphine hydrochloride», long-acting tablets film-coated with a of 30 mg was found in serum after oral administration after 15 minutes and reaches a maximum concentration in the blood in 3 hours, the half-life is on average 9 hours, the maximum concentration is 36.52 ng/ml

EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF MORPHINE HYDROCHLORIDE IN CANCER PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC PAIN

Purpose of the study: to assess the efficacy and safety of morphine hydrochloride in the form of 10 mg filmcoated tablets and 1 % solution for injection in cancer patients with chronic pain syndrome of strong intensity.Material and Methods. The study included 110 cancer patients with chronic pain syndrome of strong intensity. The study was conducted in compliance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration, ICH GCP, GOST R 52379-2005, as well as other Russian laws regulating the conduct of clinical trials and work with opioid analgesics. Patients were randomized at a 1:1 ratio. Group I received 10 mg film-coated morphine tablets, 1 tablet orally every 4 hours for 7 days. Group II received 1 % morphine solution for injection, intramuscularly, 4 mg every 4 hours for 7 days. A Numeric Rating Scale for Pain (NRS, 0–100 mm) was used to assess the level of pain. The safety assessment was based on the collection of data on the registration of adverse events, including opioid-associated adverse effects.Results. Enteral and parenteral morphine administration for 7 days demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in the intensity of pain syndrome in cancer patients. The use of morphine hydrochloride in tablets reduced the number of additional analgesics prescribed for cancer patients. Regarding opioid-associated adverse effects, a statistically significant difference in the incidence of constipation between two groups was observed.Conclusion. The study showed that tablets and injectable dosage forms of morphine hydrochloride were comparable in efficacy and safety profile, thus predetermining the widespread clinical use of drugs produced by the domestic manufacturer in accordance with the “pain relief ladder”, proposed by WHO