First Measurement of a Long-Lived π

The adapted DIRAC experiment at the CERN PS accelerator observed for the first time long-lived hydrogenlike π^{+}π^{-} atoms, produced by protons hitting a beryllium target. A part of these atoms crossed the gap of 96 mm between the target and a 2.1 µm thick platinum foil, in which most of them dissociated. Analyzing the observed number of atomic pairs, n_{A}^{L}=436_{-61}^{+157}|_{tot}, the lifetime of the 2p state is found to be τ_{2p}=(0.45_{-0.30}^{+1.08}|_{tot})×10^{-11} s, not contradicting the corresponding QED 2p state lifetime τ_{2p}^{QED}=1.17×10^{-11} s. This lifetime value is three orders of magnitude larger than our previously measured value of the π^{+}π^{-} atom ground state lifetime τ=(3.15_{-0.26}^{+0.28}|_{tot})×10^{-15} s. Further studies of long-lived π^{+}π^{-} atoms will allow us to measure energy differences between p and s atomic states and so to discriminate between the isoscalar and isotensor ππ scattering lengths with the aim to check QCD predictions.

Observation of π

The observation of hydrogenlike πK atoms, consisting of π^{-}K^{+} or π^{+}K^{-} mesons, is presented. The atoms are produced by 24 GeV/c protons from the CERN PS accelerator, interacting with platinum or nickel foil targets. The breakup (ionization) of πK atoms in the same targets yields characteristic πK pairs, called "atomic pairs," with small relative momenta Q in the pair center-of-mass system. The upgraded DIRAC experiment observed 349±62 such atomic πK pairs, corresponding to a signal of 5.6 standard deviations. This is the first statistically significant observation of the strange dimesonic πK atom.

[Intensive methods of sewage treatment]. / Intensivnye metody ochistki stochnykh vod.

The results of the study on intensive treatment of sewage are presented and the general approach to it is proposed. Formation of oxygen active forms in biological systems, their generation during physico-chemical treatment under definite conditions and interaction with organic substances provide higher purity levels in treatment of sewage.

[UV-irradiation in the technology of purification of sewage waters from antibiotic production plants]. / UF-izluchenie v tekhnologii ochistki stochnykh vod proizvodstva antibiotikov.

Methods used in purification of sewage from organic pollution with UV irradiation, oxidants (O2, O3, H2O2, NaClO-, KMnO4, ClO- and HOCl) and photosensitizers are discussed on the basis of the literature data analysis. Certain trends in promising studies on sewage treatment in manufacture of antibiotics were defined.

[Biodegradation of pollutants in the aerial discharges from antibiotic biosynthesis]. / Izuchenie biodegradatsii zagriaznenii vozdushnykh vybrosov pri biosinteze antibiotikov.

Possible biodegradation of air pollution from antibiotic biosynthesis in the form of water condensates was studied in a 1000 ml laboratory bioreactor with using active sludge. The biodegradation of such a pollution was shown possible. The process kinetics was described by the Michaelis-Menten equation. The values of the equation constants were calculated.

[Utilization of modified waste from the antibiotic industry for the production of construction materials]. / Utilizatsiia modifitsirovannykh otkhodov proizvodstva antibiotikov dlia polucheniia stroitel'nykh materialov.

Possible utilization of treated streptomycin fermentation broth modified with waste hydrochloric acid solution followed by lime neutralization was studied. Such a complex additive to concrete increased its strength by 36-41 per cent. With saving cement by 7 per cent the concrete strength increased by 22-29 per cent as compared to the control samples. Therefore, utilization of antibiotic industry waste in production of building material allowed not only to improve its quality but also to lower the environmental pollution.

[Effect of carbohydrates on possible utilization of wastes from antibiotic-manufacturing plants in the construction industry]. / O vliianii uglevodov na vozmozhnos't utilizatsii otkhodov proizvodstva antibiotikov v stroite'lnoi industrii.

Utilization of antibiotic manufacture waste containing a certain amount of carbohydrates in concrete preparation requires their control. It was shown that the content of not more than 0.5 per cent of carbohydrates in the waste had no unfavourable effect on the concrete hardening.

[Purification of waste water from the antibiotic-producing industry using synthetic sorbents]. / Doochistka stochnykh vod proizvodstva antibiotikov na sinteticheskom sorbente.

It was shown possible to use Polysorb S-40/100, a synthetic sorbent, for after treatment of sewage from antibiotic production. Kinetic relationships between the sorption and sorbent regeneration are presented.

[Electroflotation packing of mycelial wastes]. / Elektroflotatsionnoe uplotnenie mitselial'nykh otkhodov.

Data on testing a pilot plant for electroflotative packing of mycelial wastes are presented. Both the mycelial wastes and their mixtures were used. Concentration of dry substances raged from 3.5 to 131 g/l. The process was performed with varying flow density and consumption rate of the liquid supplied to the plant. Insoluble magnetite and ruthenium oxide anodes were used. The moister content in the packed phase was 81-97.5 per cent. The study provided specification of the process technological parameters and investigation of the flotator hydroulic characteristics.

[Assessment of the degree of electrochemical treatment of sewage using biotesting]. / Otsenka stepeni élektrokhimicheskoi obrabotki stochnykh vod s pomoshch'iu biotestirovaniia.

Studies were conducted on estimation of the toxicity levels in various oxygen-containing chlorine compounds formed during electrochemical treatment of sewage by using a culture isolated from activated sludge purifying antibiotic production waste. It was shown that the products formed during electrocatalytic treatment of solutions (concentration of NaCl 1.5-5 g/l, pH 2.0-12.0, volumetric current density up to 10 A/l) were not toxic and stimulated the growth of P. fluorescens.

[The possible approaches to the theoretical validation of the use of cytostatics and corticosteroids in treating glomerulonephritis]. / Vozmozhnye podkhody k teoreticheskomu obosnovaniiu primeneniia tsitostatikov i kortikosteroidov pri lechenii glomerulonefrita.

Cyclophosphamide (CP) and methylprednisolone (MP) were tried on rats with experimental nephrotoxic serum nephritis and mice with experimental acute serum nephritis. Pathological processes were analyzed simultaneously in vivo and in vitro. CP reduced the antibody impairment and stimulated glomerular infiltration by mononuclear leukocytes whose mediator spectrum was oriented to repair. MP failed to stop the impairment and aggravated the infiltration. The resultant chaotic accumulation of the extracellular matrix raised the risk of sclerosis. CP showed the advantages in experiment demonstrable also in the clinical setting.