Experimental verification of increased electronic excitation energy of water in hydrate-melt water by attenuated total reflection-far-ultraviolet spectroscopy.

The demand for Li secondary batteries is increasing, with the need for batteries with a higher level of performance and improved safety features. The use of a highly concentrated aqueous electrolyte solution is an effective way to increase the safety of batteries because it is possible to use "water-in-salt" (WIS) and "hydrate-melt" (HM) electrolytes for practical applications. These electrolytes exhibit a potential window of >3.0 V, which is attributed to the difference between the HOMO and the LUMO energies of the n orbital of the pure water molecules and that of the water molecules in the hydration shells of a metal ion, according to theoretical predictions. Thus, in the present study, the attenuated total reflectance (ATR)-far-ultraviolet (FUV) spectra of water and super-concentrated aqueous solutions, such as WIS and HM using a Li salt, were experimentally investigated. The effects of anions, cations, and deuteriums on the ATR-FUV spectra were examined. The ATR-FUV method is an excellent means of studying highly concentrated aqueous salt solutions. The results suggest that the transition energy of water molecules in an ultrahighly concentrated aqueous electrolyte containing HM and WIS increased by nearly 0.4 eV (corresponding to an energy shift of over 10 nm) compared to an aqueous electrolyte with a typical water concentration. It was also revealed that the transition energy of water changes depending on the environment of the non-bonding electron, which is directly connected with or affected by hydrogen bonding with other water molecules or directly connected with Li+.

New Methodology of Human Health Express Diagnostics Based on Pulse Wave Measurements and Occlusion Test.

Nowadays, with the increase in the rhythm of life, the relevance of using express diagnostics methods for human health state estimation has significantly increased. We present a new express diagnostics method based on non-invasive measurements (the pulse wave shape, heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation of blood vessels and tissues). A feature of these measurements is that they can be carried out both in the hospital and at home. The new compact and portable optical hardware-software complex has been developed to measure tissue oxygen saturation. This complex makes it possible to reduce the measurement time from 60 min to 7-8 min, which reduces the likelihood of artifacts in the measurement process and increases its reliability. A new technique has been developed to carry out these measurements. A new optical sensor based on a line of charge-coupled devices has been developed to register a pulse wave in the far peripheral zone. The developed new technique for processing the pulse waveform and data on the oxygen saturation of hemoglobin in the blood and tissues allows a person to obtain additional information about their state of health independently. It will help to make conclusions about taking the necessary measures. This additional information allows the attending physician to provide more effective control over the course of treatment of the patient at any time since the methods of express diagnostics proposed by us have no restrictions on the number of applications. The functional state of more than 300 patients was studied. The results of various measurements are presented.

The Role of Acidosis in the Pathogenesis of Severe Forms of COVID-19.

COVID-19 has specific characteristics that distinguish this disease from many other infections. We suggest that the pathogenesis of severe forms of COVID-19 can be associated with acidosis. This review article discusses several mechanisms potentially linking the damaging effects of COVID-19 with acidosis and shows the existence of a vicious cycle between the development of hypoxia and acidosis in COVID-19 patients. At the early stages of the disease, inflammation, difficulty in gas exchange in the lungs and thrombosis collectively contribute to the onset of acidosis. In accordance with the Verigo-Bohr effect, a decrease in blood pH leads to a decrease in oxygen saturation, which contributes to the exacerbation of acidosis and results in a deterioration of the patient's condition. A decrease in pH can also cause conformational changes in the S-protein of the virus and thus lead to a decrease in the affinity and avidity of protective antibodies. Hypoxia and acidosis lead to dysregulation of the immune system and multidirectional pro- and anti-inflammatory reactions, resulting in the development of a "cytokine storm". In this review, we highlight the potential importance of supporting normal blood pH as an approach to COVID-19 therapy.