Uncertainty Budget of Rubidium Fountain: Preliminary Results

Measurement Techniques - The structure, principle of operation, and metrological performance of the rubidium atomic fountain developed at VNIIFTRI are presented. The aim of the present work is to...     

Termites as human foods—A comprehensive review

Global food production is anticipated to rise along with the growth of the global population. As a result, creative solutions must be devised to ensure that everyone has access to nutritious, affordable, and safe food. Consequently, including insects in diets has the potential to improve global food and nutrition security. This paper aims to share recent findings by covering edible termites as the main aspect, from their consumption record until consumer acceptance. A total of 53 termite species are reported as edible ones and distributed in 6 biogeographic realms. Generally, termites have a nutrient composition that is suitable for human consumption, and cooked termites are a better dietary choice than their raw counterparts. Besides, increasing customer interest in eating termite-based food can be achieved by making it more palatable and tastier through various cooking processes, that is, boiling, frying, grilling, roasting, smoking, and sun-drying. Moreover, edible termites can also be used as a new source of medication by exhibiting antimicrobial activity. Regarding their advantages, it is strongly encouraged to implement a seminatural rearing system to sustain the supply of edible termites. Overall, this paper makes it evident that termites are an important natural resource for food or medicine. Hence, the long-term objective is to stimulate scientific inquiry into the potential of edible insects as an answer to the problem of global food security.     

Hydrogen storage and electrochemical properties of annealed low-Co AB5 type intermetallic compounds

The structure, hydrogen storage and electrochemical properties of annealed low-Co AB₅-type intermetallic compounds have been investigated. La-alloy, Nd-alloy and Cr-alloy are used to represent La_0.8Ce_0.2Ni₄Co_0.4Mn_0.3Al_0.3, La_0.6Ce_0.2Nd_0.2Ni₄Co_0.4Mn_0.3Al_0.3 and La_0.6Ce_0.2Nd_0.2Ni_3.8Co_0.4Mn_0.3Al_0.3Cr_0.2, respectively. The XRD results indicated that annealed samples are all single-phase alloys with CaCu₅ type structure. The maximum of both hydrogen content and discharge capacity is obtained for La-alloy 1.23 wt%H₂ and 321.1 mA h/g, respectively. All the investigated alloys are quiet stable with ΔH of hydrogen desorption about 36–38 kJ/mol H₂. Cycle life of alloy electrode has been improved by partial substitution of La for Nd and Ni for Cr. The highest capacity retention of 92.2% after 100 charge/discharge cycles at 1C has been observed for Nd-alloy. The hydrogen diffusion coefficient measured by PITT is higher at the start of charging process and dramatically reduces by 2–3 order of magnitude with saturation of β-hydride. The highest value 6.9 × 10^?13 cm²/s is observed for La alloy at 100% SOC. Partial substitution La for Nd and Cr for Ni in low-Co AB₅ metal hydride alloys slightly reduces maximum discharge capacity, HRD performance and hydrogen diffusion kinetics. Low-Co alloys show good overall electrochemical properties compared to high-Co alloys and might be perspective materials for various electrochemical applications.     

Simulating and Ensuring the Reliability of the Elements and Joints of Three-Dimensional Microelectronics Modules

Russian Microelectronics - In order to ensure the operability, durability, and reliability of three-dimensional microelectronic modules, the engineering calculation of the structures, including the...     

The importance of studies of the glycosaminoglycans in the peripheral blood leukocytes of patients in the diagnosis of the phases of chronic myeloleukemia]

To elucidate new diagnostic markers of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) phases, we investigated quantitative and qualitative composition of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) of leukocytes from peripheral blood of 72 patients. Chronic CML phase was characterized by elevated GAG levels (2 times compared to normal values), weakening of anionic properties of chondroitin sulfate (CS) and high amount of heparan sulfate (HS). In CML transformation in the progressive phase overall concentration of GAG grew still higher, GAG fraction composition changed. In the blast crisis there was a sharp fall in the overall GAG, new electrophoretic fractions emerged. In the myeloid variant of the crisis an additional GAG component appeared (GAG-m), whereas in the lymphoid variant another component was found (GAG-1). It is suggested that the number and composition of GAG in peripheral blood leukocytes may serve markers of CML phase.     

Interrelation between the ribosome content of lymphocytes and hypogammaglobulinemia in chronic B-cell lymphatic leukemia

The serum immunoglobulin levels, ribosome contents and protein synthesis rate in peripheral blood lymphocytes have been studied in 35 patients with chronic lymphatic leukemia. It is shown that in patients whose lymphocyte ribosome content corresponds to that of the donors IgG, IgA, IgM levels were on the average normal whereas in the patients with the decreased ribosome content IgG and IgA were 2-2.7 times lower, while the IgM concentration was normal. Hypogammaglobulinemia of IgG, IgA and IgM types in 47% of patients with the normal ribosome contents was 23%, 29% and 23%, respectively, and in 100% of patients with the low ribosome content it was 72%, 83% and 68%, respectively. There was no distinct correlation between the immunoglobulin levels and the protein synthesis rate. The ribosome pattern in the lymphocyte maturation in chronic lymphatic leukemia is discussed.     

Improved accuracy of individual determinations of human arterial blood pressure parameters

A method is given for analytically calculating human arterial blood pressure parameters and improving their accuracy while individualizing the results. The possibility of implementing instrumentation is demonstrated.Translated from Izmeritel'naya Tekhnika, No. 3, pp. 10–12, March, 1995.     

Influence of Modes of Thermoplastic Treatment on the Development of Microplastic Strain in Nitrogen-Bearing Steel Kh21G10N7MBF

The effect of the degree of reduction in cold rolling and subsequent heat holds on the development of microplastic strain in the bending of ribbon specimens fabricated from corrosion-resistant austenitic high-nitrogen steel Kh21G10N7MBF is studied.__________Translated from Metallovedenie i Termicheskaya Obrabotka Metallov, No. 2, pp. 3 – 6, February, 2005.     

A study of luminescence centers related to copper and oxygen in ZnSe

The effects of deviation from stoichiometry and the copper and oxygen concentrations on cathodoluminescence spectra were studied in ZnSe condensates obtained by chemical vapor deposition and doped with Cu during growth. The results were supplemented with the study of the microstructure and microcomposition using scanning electron microscopy, measurements of electrical conductivity, and calculations of the equilibrium between the native point defects. It is shown that three types of Cu-related centers are always accompanied with self-activated centers that include oxygen at the Se lattice site (O_Se). The paired centers SA(I)-Cu(I), SAL(II)-Cu(II), and III-Cu(III) are typical of all II-VI compounds. All observed I-III Cu-containing centers are associative. Models of emission centers are suggested. A change of the emission type I-III is related to the recharging of the same group of defects that include O_Se, Zn(Cu), and V _Zn. New phenomena that occurred in the region of I-III bands and were related to the profound purification of the material were observed.