The relationship between bioelectrical impedance phase angle and subjective global assessment in advanced colorectal cancer

Background  

Bioelectrical Impedance (BIA) derived phase angle is increasingly being used as an objective indicator of nutritional status in advanced cancer. Subjective Global Assessment (SGA) is a subjective method of nutritional status. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between BIA derived phase angle and SGA in advanced colorectal cancer.     

Highly heat-resistant mullite-silicon carbide materials

Cross-linking additions of silicon carbide and waste material from ferroalloy production make it possible to increase the heat-resistance index for mullite-containing refractories. For briquette specimens based on a charge containing aluminum powder it reaches 45 thermal cycles (1300°C – water). Translated from Novye Ogneupory, No. 11, pp. 44–46, November 2008.     

Corundum concretes based on modified phosphate-containing binders

Physicotechnical properties are provided for concretes based on mechanically-activated phosphate suspensions previously modified with magnesium and aluminum hydroxides and silicic acid. The results obtained demonstrate the efficiency of using modifying additions in order to increase the strength and heat resistance of corundum concretes. Translated from Novye Ogneupory, No. 5, pp. 32–35, May 2008.     

Single and matrix HgCdTe photovoltaic detectors

The recent researches and technological developments of middle and long wavelength infrared HgCdTe photovoltaic detectors are presented. Structure, topology, design and performance of HgCdTe photodiodes, silicon readout electronics, Focal Plane Arrays both staring and time delay and integration types, thermal imagers are discussed. Negative differential conductance, bistability and high frequency oscillations under background infrared radiation in HgCdTe photodiodes are reported.     

Analysis of an algorithm for solution of conditional optimization problems with linear-fractional objective functions over permutations

A method is considered to solve a conditional optimization problem with a linear-fractional objective function over permutations. The performance of sub algorithms to solve this problem is evaluated. The practical efficiency of the algorithm is analyzed by conducting numerical experiments. __________ Translated from Kibernetika i Sistemnyi Analiz, No. 4, pp. 133–146, July–August 2007.     

Joint Measurements on Qubits and Cloning of Observables

Cloning of observables, unlike standard cloning of states, aims at copying the information encoded in the statistics of a class of observables rather then on quantum states themselves. In such a process the emphasis is on the quantum operation (evolution plus measurement) necessary to retrieve the original information. We analyze, for qubit systems, the cloning of a class generated by two noncommuting observables, elucidating the relationship between such a process and joint measurements. This helps in establishing an optimality criterion for cloning of observables. We see that, even if the cloning machine is designed to act on the whole class generated by two noncommuting observables, the same optimal performances of a joint measurement can be attained. Finally, the connection with state dependent cloning is enlightened.     

Alpha induced reactions on Sn: An experimental study of excitation functions and possible production pathways

In the frame of a systematic study of light ion induced threshold reactions on natural tin (Sn) excitation functions for alpha particles induced reactions are presented in a 12–38 MeV energy domain. Using a stacked foil activation method the following radioisotopes were identified: ¹¹⁶Te, ¹¹⁷Te, ¹¹⁸Te, ¹¹⁹Te, ¹²¹Te, ¹²³Te, ¹¹⁷Sb, ¹¹⁸Sb, ¹²⁰Sb, ¹²²Sb, ¹²⁴Sb, ¹²⁶Sb, ¹¹⁷Sn, ¹¹¹In. The experimental cross sections for these isotopes are presented for the first time in this energy range and a direct comparison with values calculated with the ALICE-IPPE code is discussed. Possible use of these data for production of some isotopes relevant in nuclear medicine is suggested.     

Rehabilitation of the radioactively contaminated objects and territory of the Russian Science Center Kurchatov Institute

This article is devoted to work done in 2002–2006 as part of the unified project Reabilitatsiya to rehabilitate radiation hazardous objects and sections of the radioactively contaminated territory of the Russian Science Center Kurchatov Institute. The main objects of the rehabilitation work were old storage sites built for radioactive wastes on the territory of the Institute when military and civilian nuclear technologies were under development. The structural features of the storage sites, including the volumes and characteristics of the wastes stored, are presented. The salient aspects of the disposal sites, taken into account during the rehabilitation work, are discussed. The organization of the rehabilitation operations and the sequence in which they are performed, the special features of the technical design solutions used, the technological methods, and ways for conducting the work are described. __________ Translated from Atomnaya énergiya, Vol. 102, No. 5, pp. 300–306, May, 2007.     

Effect of tempering temperature on the wear resistance and corrosive properties of nitrogen-bearing austenite-martensite steel 08Kh14AN4MDB

The effect of tempering temperature on the structure, wear resistance, and corrosive properties of steel 08Kh14AN4MDB is studied. The results of mechanical and corrosion tests are used for constructing an optimization matrix for determining the optimum tempering temperature. __________ Translated from Metallovedenie i Termicheskaya Obrabotka Metallov, No. 2, pp. 29–32, February, 2007.