Calcium and phosphorus levels as indices of textured milk proteins being substituted for meat proteins

Textured milk proteins were tested in a meat model system with an exchange level of 34-87% of the meat proteins. The correlation between the substitution index and the calcium and phosphorus content was statistically significant.     

Formation and retention of local melted films in AZ91 friction stir spot welds

The formation of local melted films during friction stir spot welding of as-cast AZ91D and thixomolded AZ91 material is investigated. The average temperatures close to the tip of the rotating pin vary from 438 to 454 °C during the dwell period in friction stir spot welding. These measured temperature values are higher than the melting temperature of α-Mg + Mg₁₇Al₁₂ eutectic (437 °C). It is suggested that the temperature in the stir zone during the dwell period is determined by the relative proportions of α-Mg and (α-Mg + Mg₁₇Al₁₂) eutectic material, which are incorporated during friction stir spot welding. Based on the stir zone temperature measurements and a detailed examination of material located at the root of the pin thread it is suggested that material is moved downwards via the pin thread and into the stir zone during the dwell period in friction stir spot welding. Evidence of local melted film formation is observed in the stir zone of AZ91 spot welds. It is suggested that melted films are retained since their dissolution rate is much slower in the high temperature stir zone than it is when melted films is formed in the stir zone during Al 7075-T6 friction stir spot welding. The spontaneous melting temperature, solute diffusion rate and the thermodynamic driving force for droplet dissolution are much higher during Al 7075-T6 friction stir spot welding.     

Fluctuations of Turbulent Bed Shear Stress

With the assumption that the bed shear stress fluctuates in a lognormal fashion, the probability density function (PDF) of the standardized bed shear stress is derived as a function of the relative shear stress intensity. The PDF is more skewed with larger relative intensities, but approaches a Gaussian function when the relative intensity is small. The computed PDF agrees well with the reported experimental data for flows over a smooth boundary. The higher-order moments of the bed shear stress, skewness, and kurtosis, are shown analytically to be also dependent on the relative intensity. The theoretical dependencies are then compared to a number of measurements available in the literature. The Reynolds number effect on the relative intensity is also discussed.     

Flux Jumps and H-T Diagram of Instability for MgB2

We present a study of magneto-thermal instabilities in polycrystalline MgB₂ superconductor, by magnetic hysteresis loop measurements and by investigations of magnetic flux dynamics with a miniature Hall probe. Temperature and magnetic field ranges where the flux jumps may be observed have been determined. On the basis of measurements of the magnetic flux dynamics, an average magnetic diffusivity describing the process of the flux jump is estimated. This parameter is compared with the thermal and magnetic diffusivities calculated on the basis of available data for thermal conductivity, heat capacity and resistivity. It is shown that the estimated value of the field of the first flux jump is influenced significantly by the field dependence of specific heat. In order to explain the observed phenomenon, the temperature reached by the sample during the flux jump at different magnetic fields is calculated.     

Transcutaneous balloon angioplasty in the treatment of subclavian steal syndrome. Characteristics of vertebral basal flow with transcranial Doppler technique

Subclavian steal syndrome (SSS) appears when the origin of the subclavian artery (SA) is occluded or stenosed. Introduction of transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) provided an opportunity to evaluate parameters of the blood flow in the vertebral (VA) and basilar artery (BA). Measurements of blood flow velocities performed at rest and after the brachial hyperemia test allow one to classify hemodynamic types of SSS. The aim of the study was to categorize types of steal and to compare the differences of flow patterns before and after percutaneous transluminal SA balloon angioplasty (SA-PTA). Fourty-eight patients with angiographically confirmed SSS (aged from 27 to 68 years, mean 53; 2/1 f/m ratio) were examined with 2 MHz range-gated, pulsed transcranial Doppler device (TC 2-64B EME). Both VA and BA were evaluated by the transoccipital approach at rest and during the brachial hyperemia. In 5 cases (10.4%) permanent reversal blood flow in the BA was observed (complete basilar steal). In flow in the BA blood flow was in the normal direction at rest and altered (reversed or decreased) when induced with brachial hyperemia test (transient basilar steal). In the next 14 patients (29.2%) permanently reversed VA blood flow was observed with only a slight or no alterations of the BA flow after the hyperemia test (complete vertebral steal). In the last 19 cases (39.6%) alterations of the VA blood flow without changes in BA flow were observed (latent vertebral steal). Between 1991 and 1994 twenty seven symptomatic patients with different hemodynamic types of SSS were treated with SA-PTA. TCD evaluation of VA's and BA using the hyperemia test was performed before, 3 to 7 days and 3 months after morphologically and hemodynamically successful subclavian artery balloon PTA. Normal results of vertebrobasilar examinations were obtained in 26 cases after this procedure. In one case the latent vertebral steal was detected. The 28 months mean follow-up revealed no significant changes in TCD flow patterns recorded from VA's and BA. After collecting data of about 60 patients with SSS we examined with TCD we conclude that: in patients with a hemodynamically significant SA stenosis the presence of reversed ipsilateral VA blood flow (a radiologic steal) its not a good determinant of either the presence or type of presenting symptoms and after successful PTA or recanalisation and PTA of SA in almost all cases we examined close to normal TCD recordings in BA and VA.     

Volatile organo-halogen trace analysis in beverages by thin-layer headspace enrichment and electron-capture gas-chromatography

Applicability of thin-layer headspace (TLHS) procedure giving an aqueous concentrate and also classical purge and trap (PT) in off-line mode to isolate and enrich volatile organohalogen compounds in common beverages was tested. Both enrichment tech-niques were used in combination with gas chromatography – electron capture detection (GC-ECD). TLHS, combined with direct aqueous injection (DAI)-GC-ECD, proved applicable in the determination of volatile organohalogen compounds in all studied beverages, while the PT in a version with no preliminary sample pre-treatment was of limited applicability. Detection limits of the TLHS-based procedure were in the order of 1 ppt. Content of volatile organohalogen compounds in a number of beverages available on the Polish market including mineral waters, beers, juices, carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks, etc. was determined by means of TLHS-DAI-GC-ECD.     

Gelling of alginate fibres

Equipment was developed to measure the time for complete gelling of sodium alginate fibres in calcium chloride solution, taken as the time to achieve maximum tensile strength. The effects of fibre diameter, alginate concentration, alginate composition and calcium chloride concentration on gelling time were investigated. A diffusional model, developed to predict the gelling time, agreed with experimental results except for the effect of calcium ion concentration which was modelled empirically.     

Location of Aluminum in Substituted Calcium Silicate Hydrate (C-S-H) Gels as Determined by 29Si and 27Al NMR and EELS

Solid-state ²⁷Al and ²⁹Si magic angle spinning NMR spectroscopy has been combined with electron energy loss spectroscopy carried out in the transmission electron microscope to determine the location of Al substituting in a semicrystalline C-S-H gel present in a hydrated synthetic slag glass. The gel is found to contain mainly pentameric silicate chains in which the central silicon is substituted by aluminum.     

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.     

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.