Changes in activity of alpha amylase and its salivary isoenzyme in serum and urine after surgical treatment of ovarian neoplasms

Serum and urinary activity of alpha-amylase and isoamylase salivary was assessed in 40 patients with different types of ovarian cancer. The measurements were performed before surgical procedure and the 7th day after surgical removal of the tumor. Significant increases activity was found in patients with serosal ovarian cancer p < 0.001. On the 7th day after operation the activity of alpha-amylase and her of isoenzyme salivary reached control values.     

Effect of vitamin A and protein levels in the diet of chickens infected with Ascaridia galli on activity of digestive enzymes in pancreas and small intestine

Hybrid chickens Astra S fed vitamin A deficiency diet containing 11 or 19% protein were infected with 500 invasive eggs of Ascaridia galli. One part of them received vitamin A in a dose corresponding to daily requirement, other part in double dose. After 7 weeks the extensity and intensity of ascaridiosis were determined. In pancreas and intestinal contents the activities of alpha-amylase, lipase and trypsin were measured. The invasion index was the highest in the group of chickens fed the protein and vitamin A deficiency diet. Vitamin A in a requirement dose lowered the parasite index. The results with double dose of vitamin A were worse in comparison with single dose. The activities of digestive enzymes were lower in infected animals than in the control groups. Vitamin A acted as moderator of the enzymatic changes during ascaridiosis.     

Inhibition of nitrification in the packed bed reactors by selected organic compounds

The effect of methanol, acetone, formalin and glucose on the nitrification process in the packed bed reactors has been investigated. For the utilized compounds the inhibition constant K_i was determined according to Dixon's method. The determined values were as follows: methanol K_i = 116.0 mg l^?1; acetone K_i = 804.2 mg l^?1; formalin K_i = 61.5 mg l^?1. The value of K_i for glucose has not been determined because glucose in applied concentration up to 11,325 mg l^?1 had no effect on the nitrification course.     

Optimal predictor for a singular random process

An optimal predictor is developed for a singular random process generated by a known system driven by a white noise sequence. The properties of the predictor are compared with those of the optimal predictor for a nonsingular random process.     

Co-carbonization of hard coals and coal extracts 2. The co-carbonization of medium- and high-rank coals with extracts

Studies on the influence of anthracene coal extracts on the carbonization process of medium- and high-rank coals were undertaken. Extracts from flame coal (Int. Class. 900) and gas-coking coal (Int. Class. 632) were used as additives. The blends prepared from the examined coals and the extracts exhibited better coking properties than the parent coals. The addition of extract to the coals gave an increase in the microstrength of the resultant cokes. The effects of co-carbonization of coking coals with extracts were increases in the size of the optical texture as well as in the degree of structural ordering of cokes. In the co-carbonization of semicoking coal with addition of coal extracts, a reduction in the size of the anisotropic units and a decrease in the crystallite height of cokes were observed. No modification of the basic anisotropy of coke from anthracite by coal extract was observed. With increasing extract content in anthracite/extract blends there was an increase in the degree of structural ordering of co-carbonization products. Extract addition was unable to modify the behaviour of fusinite. Based on the results of investigation of the influence of coal extracts on the carbonization of different-rank coals, a division of coals according to the modification of the optical texture of coke is given.     

Opinions regarding the importance of body image disorders in the development and in the course of eating disorders

The article presents a review of most important research results as well as opinions about the role and importance of body image disturbances in the development and the course of eating disorders. It also contains a review of definitions of body image, and techniques used in the evaluation of this type of disorders.     

Porphyrin fluorescence in plasma of various types of porphyria

Fluorescence spectra of plasma porphyrin were measured in 6 patients with the acute intermittent porphyria (AIP), 30 patients with variegate porphyria (PV), 2 patients with hereditary coproporphyria, 2 patients with porphyria cutanea tarda, and in 6 patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP). It was found that the excitation and emission wavelengths at which maximum fluorescence is seen may help to diagnose and differentiate PV and EPP. In patients with AIP spectrum characteristic for porphyria of such a type was noted in all patients during the attack of disease and in only 33% of patients in remission. Fluorescence spectrum was normal in asymptomatic family members. In variegate porphyria spectrum with a characteristic maximum of fluorescence was noted in all patients during an attack and remission, and 62% of the asymptomatic family members.     

Prospects of the use of beta-carotene enriched food products in the prevention and therapy of radiation injuries]

Radio-protective effectiveness of short-term (19 and 4 h before, 4 and 24 h after irradiation), long-term (3 times/week during 30 days after irradiation) and delayed (1 or 2 days after irradiation) enrichment with crystallized beta-carotene, in single doses of 0.1, 1.0 or 5.0 mg was evaluated in experimental acute external gamma-irradiation (0.029 Gy/sec) within the range of absorbed doses 9--6 Gy. The results obtained have permitted the authors to recommend the ration enriched with carotinoid for prevention and therapy of acute radiation injuries.     

Influence of the amount of ferromagnetic addition on the rheological properties of spinning solutions,the structure,the strength,and thermal properties of polyacrylonitrile fibres

The rheological properties of spinning solutions of polyacrylonitrile in dimethyl formamide (DMF) containing various amounts of a ferromagnetic nanoaddition were investigated. The porous structure, the strength and thermal properties of fibers obtained from these solutions were assessed, as well as the uniformity of the nanoaddition distribution on the fiber surface was estimated. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Morphological aspects of rubber fracture and wear

Morphology of carbon black (CB)‐filled rubber was studied with AFM and SEM and the classification of filler agglomerates, based on their internal structure and filler–matrix interactions, has been proposed. It varies according to the activity of CB and the kind of rubber. It has been shown that fracture of rubber starts either inside filler agglomerates (de‐cohesion) or in a filler–matrix interphase (de‐adhesion) initiating wear of the material. Microscopic observations correlate well with TGA and EPR data of wear debris collected during friction of rubber. The increase of thermal stability of CB and the appearance of additional spin signals, respectively, for elongated samples or debris, are proposed to be associated with de‐cohesion or de‐adhesion of the agglomerates. New approach to the fracture of rubber called “fatal agglomerate concept” is presented. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008