Methods of Verifying Continuous Automatic Belt Weighers: State and Prospects

The basic methods of verifying continuous automatic belt weighers are described. A comparative analysis of these methods on the basis of experimental studies is made and ways of implementing the results in industry are recommended.     

Kinetic parameters during the tempering of low-alloy steel through the non-isothermal dilatometry

The kinetic study of the tempering reactions of a low-alloy steel (AISI 1050) was carried out through non-isothermal dilatometry. The kinetic parameters of the first and third stages on tempering (here referred to as processes I and II) are calculated by procedures which assume that the nucleation and growth reactions obey a Kolmogorov–Johnson–Mehl–Avrami (KJMA) kinetic model. The recipes to obtain the kinetic parameters (E, K ₀, n) of the reactions on tempering are presented. The first stage of tempering is characterized by the growth of the transition carbide nuclei formed during the quenching, n = 1 (site saturation situation). This stage is controlled by the pipe diffusion of the iron atoms. The third stage of tempering is characterized by the cementite nucleation on dislocations due to the gradual dissolution of the transition carbide, n = 0.66. The cementite growth is controlled by diffusion of the iron atoms through dislocations and in the matrix.     

Heart rate changes during the Valsalva maneuver in patients with isolated aortic insufficiency

To determine the possible relationship between left ventricular dilatation and heart rate changes provoked by the Valsalva maneuver (Valsalva ratio), we studied 9 patients with isolated chronic aortic insufficiency. Left ventricular systolic function was assessed by two-dimensional echocardiography and cardiac catheterization. All patients were asymptomatic (functional class I of the New York Heart Association). The left ventricular internal diameters and volumes were significantly increased in all patients. The asymptomatic patients had either normal or slightly depressed ejection fraction (EF > 0.40). The Valsalva ratio of these asymptomatic patients showed no significant correlation with the left ventricular volumes or with the left ventricular ejection fraction. In other words, parasympathetic heart rate control, as expressed by the Valsalva ratio, was normal in the asymptomatic patients with left ventricular dilatation and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction. Therefore, left ventricular dilatation may not be the major mechanism responsible for the abnormal parasympathetic heart rate control of patients with acquired heart disease.     

Factors involved in the non-compliance of the pharmacologic treatment of dyslipidemia

This paper reexamines the law of Starling on the exchanges of liquids through the capillaries at the light of the most recent data available in the literature.     

Factors involved in noncompliance with drug treatment in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE: To find the level of non-compliance with treatment with oral hypoglycemics, its causes and the profile of non-compliant patients. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Primary Care Centres in the province of Alicante. PATIENTS: 107 diabetics not dependent on insulin on the lists of five General Medicine practices and all receiving pharmacological treatment. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The method used to value compliance was a surprise count of pills in the patient's home. Patients achieving 80-110% compliance were considered compliant. The level of non-compliance was 51.5% (C.I. 42.1%-61%), 36.5% being hypocompliers and 15% hypercompliers. Forgetting (40.7%) and lack of knowledge (29.5%) were the most frequent reasons for non-compliance. The factors associated with non-compliance were: over four years evolution of the disease (p = 0.02), the diet not properly observed (p = 0.03), over a year in regular treatment (p = 0.006), poor control of the disease valued by HbA1C (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: A high level of non-compliance with pharmacological treatment was found for patients with Diabetes Mellitus not dependent on insulin. Its causes were identified and factors associated with poor compliance were profiled.     

A mathematical model of a control rod drop

A mathematical model of a control rod drop for a pressurized water reactor is presented. A hybrid computer program is used to solve the non-linear differential equations which describe the model. The computer solution is briefly described. The rod drop time computed by using the model is compared with available data from experimental results for a rack and pinion control system. Additional applications of the mathematical model are described and presented.