Radiation experiments with hydrogen-containing materials on the URAM-2 cryogenic irradiation facility at the IBR-2 reactor

The URAM-2 irradiation system facility at the IBR-2 reactor is described. The results of experiments performed with this facility to study the behavior of water ice, solid methane, aromatic hydrocarbons, and other materials exposed to fast neutrons and rays are presented. The rate of energy accumulation in these materials under irradiation and the amount of accumulated hydrogen and the temperature at which the hydrogen leaves the material matrices are determined. Recommendations are made for the working temperature of these materials for use in cold neutron moderators.Translated from Atomnaya Énergiya, Vol. 97, No. 3, pp. 183–189, September, 2004.     

Peripheral synapses at identified mechanosensory neurons in spiders: three-dimensional reconstruction and GABA immunocytochemistry

The mechanosensory organs of arachnids receive diverse peripheral inputs. Little is known about the origin, distribution, and function of these chemical synapses, which we examined in lyriform slit sense organ VS-3 of the spider Cupiennius salei. The cuticular slits of this organ are each associated with two large bipolar mechanosensory neurons with different adaptation rates. With intracellular recording, we have now been able to correlate directly the staining intensity of a neuron for acetylcholinesterase with its adaptation rate, thus allowing us simply to stain a neuron to identify its functional type. All rapidly adapting neurons stain more heavily than slowly adapting neurons. Immunostaining of whole-mount preparations reveals GABA-like immunoreactive fibers forming numerous varicosities at the surface of all sensory neurons in VS-3; peripheral GABA-like immunoreactive somata are lacking. Sectioning the leg nerve procures rapid degeneration of most fiber profiles, confirming that the fibers are efferent. Punctate synapsin-like immunoreactivity colocalizes to these varicosities, although some synapsin-like immunoreactive puncta are GABA-immunonegative. Fibers with similar immunoreactivities are also associated with trichobothria, tactile hairs, internal joint receptors, i.e. other types of spider mechanosensory organs. In organ VS-3, immunoreactivity is most dense across the initial axon segment. The exact distribution of peripheral synapses was reconstructed from a 10-microm-long electron micrograph series of the dendritic, somatic, and initial axon regions of acetylcholinesterase-stained VS-3 neurons. These reveal a pattern similar to that of the synapsin-like immunoreactivity. Two different types of synapse were distinguished on the basis of their presynaptic vesicle populations. Many peripheral synapses thus appear to derive from efferent GABA-like immunoreactive fibers and probably provide centrifugal inhibitory control of primary mechanosensory activities.     

A longitudinal study of the relationships between haemostatic, lipid, and oestradiol changes during normal human pregnancy

BACKGROUND: Chronic leukemia is a disease characterized by the malignant proliferation of immunologically incompetent lymphocytes. The knowledge of open heart surgery in patients with this disorder is limited. METHODS: Twelve patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia underwent open heart surgery (nine coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), two aortic valve replacement (AVR), one CABG and AVR) from September 1991 to September 1996. There were nine males and three females with a mean age of 68 years (41-81 years). Staging was assigned according to the Rai Classification. There were seven Stage 0, two Stage I, zero Stage II, one Stage III and two Stage IV patients. Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was performed using standard techniques of cannulation, moderate hypothermia and antegrade/retrograde cardioplegia. RESULTS: Hospital mortality occurred in two (17%) patients. Both patients died of sepsis. Hospital morbidity occurred in seven (58%) patients. The most common complications were infections. Five patients were found to have other malignancies (basal cell, laryngeal, prostate, bladder and breast cancers). Transfusion of blood products was required in eight (67%) patients. The average length of stay was 15 days (7-50 days). Follow-up was complete. Late mortality occurred in four patients at a mean of 7 months (1-18 months). All deaths were non-cardiac related (ruptured AAA, kidney failure, respiratory failure and sepsis). Six patients remain alive at a mean of 25 months (1-48 months). CONCLUSION: Hospital mortality and morbidity in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia undergoing open heart surgery are high. Infection is the leading cause of hospital death, as well as the most common complication. The majority of patients receive blood products during the course of their hospitalization. Late mortality is high and non-cardiac related. Based on these findings, a re-definition of the aims, goals and expectations of open heart surgery in patients with chronic leukemia is necessary. Suggestions in management are presented.     

Interaction of L-glutamic acid with human T-lymphocytes

A specific interaction of [3H]Glu with T lymphocytes from the blood of healthy donors (Kd = 0.236 microM) was revealed and described. It was found that unlabeled quisqualate, a structural analogue of L-glutamic acid, and unlabeled dipeptides Ala-Glu, Glu-Ala, and Glu-Glu competitively inhibit the specific binding of [3H]Glu to T lymphocytes (with Ki 0.19, 2.4, 3.4, and 1.2 microM, respectively). Binding experiments with conjugates of labeled and unlabeled glutamic acid with dextran showed that the receptors of [3H]Glu are localized on the outer surface of the plasma membrane of T lymphocytes.     

Laser-induced breakdown method for code detection (identification) in explosion products of coded explosives

The results of a study on the development of a method for coding explosives are presented. As coding additives (CAs), it is proposed to use aluminum alloy powders with dosed amounts of rare-earth coding elements (CEs). This choice is dictated by the fact that aluminum alloys are commonly used as efficient additives in explosive compositions, while rare-earth elements are used as additives in technological operations, but are absent in the composition of standard explosives. In this case, the key to information on a given explosive and its manufacturer is the ratio of CE concentrations determined when analyzing explosives, e.g., when investigating an act of terrorism. Examples of explosion product decoding using a LIES laser-spark express analyzer.     

光纤通信系统在输油管道工程中的设计与应用

靖—惠输油管道工程沿线山峰起伏,沟壑纵横,约有30km的无人区,冬春两季多沙尘暴,故该线路对通信系统的实时性和误码率要求很高。通过对卫星通信和光纤通信的经济技术指标对比,并考虑管道沿线通信发展的趋势,选用了光纤通信方案。文章介绍了靖—惠输油管道工程通信系统设计方案,讨论了该通信系统的经济合理性、先进性与实用性,并介绍了该通信系统投入运行后的技术特点。     

Reasons for the formation and growth of edge cracks on hot-rolled plates of steel 10KhSNDA

A thorough study of the technology used to obtain hot-rolled plates of steel 10KhSNDA at Ural Steel determined the mechanism responsible for the formation and growth of edge cracks in the plates. The implementation of suitable technical measures has reduced the incidence of plate rejection for this defect to almost zero.     

SENSORY AND INSTRUMENTAL TEXTURE ANALYSIS OF CASSAVA (MANIHOT ESCULENTA, CRANTZ) ROOTS

Two cassava varieties, at three harvesting ages, 6, 12 and 24 months, were analyzed for sensory flavor and texture development. Maximum shear force, Texture Profile Analysis (TPA) and water absorption during cooking were determined at various sampling times. Changes during cooking were described by pseudo‐zero order models for water absorption, flavor and texture development for the fast cooking samples. The 24‐month‐old roots had higher variability and never reached optimum texture or flavor development. Significant pseudo first order models could represent hardness, cohesiveness and chewiness of the TPA, while springiness and adhesiveness varied in a non‐linear fashion. Maximum shear force was 111 N for raw samples and 8.1 N for samples that cooked in less than 25 min. Samples that required longer cook time had on the average a maximum shear force of 19 N.