Polarographically active fraction of alpha 1-unstable glycoprotein in the blood serum during the malignant process

The simple method of polarographical testing of the peripheral blood serum is recommended as a part of the complex cancer diagnosis for the evaluation of the effectivity of cancer treatment and for the mass preventive examination. This method modified by I. A. Pelishenko (POISK-test) has permitted detecting a protein substance in the serum of cancer patients as well as in the serum both of the rats bearing Pliss sarcoma and in the serum of the irradiated dogs. It was proved that this protein indicates the presence of malignancy and represents polarographically active fraction of the alpha 1-unstable glycoprotein. This substance was designated as "Informative Pelishenko Protein" (IPP), and may be revealed by the polarographic indicator (IPM-01) made in Leningrad.     

Propagation of transverse bulk and surface acoustic waves in LiNbO (3) variable time-delay devices

Experimental measurements are reported on voltage-controlled acoustic time-delay lines operating at 1 GHz in the nearly pure shear-horizontal (S-H) mode in 38 degrees rotated Y-cut LiNbO(3). The high-acoustic velocity (4800 m/s) in conjunction with the large electroacoustic effect exhibited by this orientation allows high-frequency operation and optimum time-delay tuning sensitivity with a planar, single surface, device geometry. The authors demonstrate fractional time delay of 0.3x10(-6) V(-1 ) for surface electrodes that produce an in-plane E-field. However, the simultaneous excitation and propagation of both a leaky surface-acoustic wave (LSAW) and surface skimming bulk wave (SSBW), both as (nearly pure) S-H waves in these devices, seriously restricts the extent to which it is possible to maximize the time delay modulation sensitivity by reducing electrode gap spacing as done in similar SAW devices. The LSAW and surface-skimming body wave (SSBW) propagate at nearly the same velocity on a free surface, and perturbation of their velocity and relative attenuation rates by surface electrodes causes pronounced interference effects between the two modes for some device geometries.     

Collagen and its rational content in meat products: Part 1. Analytical studies

Computer-assisted simulation has been used to study the effect of collagen content on the biological value of meat proteins. It has been shown that an increase in the collagen content from 2·5% to 15-20% of the total amount of proteins contained in minced meat tangibly enhances protein utilization for tissue synthesis. Hence, the above collagen content in meat products heightens their nutritional and biological value and renders them more suited for human metabolism.     

The minimum quantity of nitrite required to stain sliced and homogenised cooked pork

The levels of nitrite used in curing pork are in excess of those required to produce an adequate cured colour, but the minimum level for pink coloration to be visible has not been established experimentally. This paper demonstrates the effect of low nitrite levels from local surface application to pork muscle, simulating inadvertent contamination from work surfaces. An homogenate is used for comparison in which the nitrite was evenly distributed throughout the product. The results indicate that surface contact with nitrite produces essentially the same pattern of colour change as in the homogenate. Visible pink coloration was evident from 1-2 mg kg(-1) sodium nitrite absorbed.     

Vapor pressure measurements of para-hydrogen adsorbed on exfoliated graphite

Monolayer isotherms were measured for 15, 18, and 20 K for para-hydrogen adsorbed on exfoliated graphite foam, and for the second, third, and fourth layers in the temperature interval of 8 to 20 K, using the standard volumetric method. From the data, the isosteric heat of adsorption, molar entropies and internal energies were obtained as a function of coverage. The values for coverages above the third layer were compared to those at the p-H₂ bulk triple point, showing that, within our experimental uncertainty, the results are closer to the values of bulk solid para-hydrogen. Critical temperatures for the second and third layers and the triple point temperature for the second layer, were determined, yielding values of T_c2 = (10.0±0.1) K, T_c3 = (11.0±0.5) K and T_t2 = (6.5±0.1) K respectively. Features occurring along the monolayer coverages are compared to transitions which occur in the para-hydrogen phase diagrams adsorbed on graphite, obtained from heat capacity measurements by other authors. From the isotherms, compressibilities were calculated as a function of coverage for several temperatures. Whenever possible the obtained results were compared to existing data in the literature.     

Simulation of the condition of plane sections in the finite element method

An approach making it possible to simulate the condition of plane sections in solution of two-dimensional elastoplastic problems by the finite-element method is proposed.Translated from Problemy Prochnosti, No. 5, pp. 35–38, May, 1992.     

Estimation procedure for the Weibull parameters used in the local approach

The local approach was recently proposed by Beremin and Mudry for evaluating the statistical behaviour of toughness results of materials. This approach introduces a stress parameter _w , termed the Weibull stress, as a measure of the fracture resistance of materials instead of the conventional toughness parameters such as K _c, _c and J _cl (critical stress intensity factor, CTOD and J-integral, respectively). The Weibull stress _w obeys the Weibull distribution with the two parameters m and _u (the shape and the scale parameter, respectively). The first parameter m is normally estimated to be 22 irrespective of the kind of material. In this paper a procedure for the determination of the Weibull parameters m and _u is developed. This procedure consists of the determination of the plastic zone ahead of the crack tip, from which cleavage fracture originates, and of the maximum likelihood estimation of the parameters m and _u based on the stress distribution in the plastic zone. Calculations using this procedure confirm that the distribution of the Weibull stress _w is a material property independent of specimen thickness, and in particular that the shape parameter m depends on the material, e.g. m12 for a German reactor pressure vessel steel (20 Mn Mo Ni 5 5). Using these parameters for the distribution of the Weibull stress the size effect in fracture toughness values is predicted and an improved agreement between theory and experiments is obtained compared to the Weakest Link model.     

Human error identification in human reliability assessment. Part 2: Detailed comparison of techniques

This is the second part of a two-part review of human error identification (HEI) approaches in human reliability assessment (HRA). Part 1 reviewed the probabilistic risk assessment (PRA) context in which HRA occurs, and then detailed 12 HEI techniques which have evolved in the field of HRA. Part 2 attempts to compare the way these techniques perform against a range of criteria relevant to HEI theoretical and empirical validity, and practical usefulness in applied HRA. It is hoped that these comparisons will help assessors in the selection of techniques for practical applications. The comparisons also point to research and development needs in the area of applied HEI.     

Work environment functions in small enterprises in Sweden

In Sweden, a governmental commission has formed new strategies concerning the work environment with the aims of reducing employee absenteeism and re-employing those individuals who have already left employment as a result of bad working conditions. The main features in this new approach are: strengthening of the legislation; a responsibility for work injury costs; and a distinct rehabilitation responsibility. In this paper the authors discuss how these proposals suited the constraints and facilities of small enterprises, employing less than 50 persons. The results are based on interviews carried out with company directors, safety representatives and labour inspectors. The interviews revealed that the company directors had a negative attitude towards both the strengthening of legislation and responsibility for work injury costs. It was also revealed that the small companies lack both knowledge of how a good environment can be created and the state of their own work environment. It seems that the small companies cannot handle work environment questions in a systematic way without comprehensive education and training or without seeking expert assistance outside the company.     

Effects of silicon powder structure of nitriding

A study has been made on how the structural state of the silicon affects the nitriding at 1200–1400C. As the initial powder becomes more defective, the nitriding accelerates, and there is an increase in the importance of reactions in the gas phase, with an increase in the proportion of the a modification of silicon nitride, and a tendency for elongated crystals to form.Translated from Poroshkovaya Metallurgiya, No. 10, pp. 1–7, October, 1992.