Comment and discussion on digital processing of PD pulses

Some of the more salient aspects of the digital processing technology of PD signals are examined. Most of the efforts in this field are concentrated on the application of digital analyzers for pulse height analysis, pattern recognition and identification of the physical phenomena. It is demonstrated that errors in the signal processing unit can lead to dominant mistakes in the interpretation of the test results     

An engineering equation for corona devices

Engineers who either design or apply any charge-generating device are faced with characterizing the charge output of their device. This charge output per unit time is the net current output of the device. Such devices are referred to as corona-generating devices, corona chargers, or simply corona devices, and unfortunately they do not follow Ohm's Law; instead these devices display a nonlinear IV or current-voltage curve. This article deals with the development of a nonlinear IV equation that allows the characterization of the device over a large voltage range. To obtain the equation the unipolar charge injection equation is modified to account for the potential necessary to create charge injection. For a gas this potential is shown to be equal to the corona onset potential. The resulting equation is applied to some data discussed by Schaffert in his book on electrophotography and to new data from corona wires at high positive potential. Good agreement is obtained both near and away from the onset potential. The equation suggests that in the charge injection region the resistance is linearly related to the length of the injection region. The new corona data supports this hypothesis. The data also indicates the charge development region is fixed for a given geometry     

Longitudinal diffusion and resistance to mass transfer as causes of nonideality in chromatography : J. J. van Deemter, F. J. Zuiderweg and A. Klinkenberg, Chem. Engng Sci. 5 271–289, 1956

The sharpness of separation in a gas-liquid chromatographic column is effected by longitudinal molecular diffusion, slowness to reach absorption equilibrium, and by flow irregularities in channels and across the column. The total effect of all these causes can be described by a simple equation which can be derived from the rigorous mathematical solution by introducing reasonable simplifying assumptions.     

Analyses of rhythms of the body temperature in free running in rats

The objective of this study was to determine the disturbances of urea in serum and urine of endurance trained volunteers during prolonged exposure to hypokinesia (decreased number of km/day). The studies during hypokinesia (HK) were performed for 364 days on twenty long-distance runners in the age of 23 to 26 years, with an average peak oxygen uptake, of 66 ml.kg.min-1. All volunteers were divided into two equal groups: Ten volunteers were placed on a continuous regime of exercise 14.8 km/day and served as control subjects (CS). The remaining volunteers were subjected to continuous HK without the use of any preventive measures and were considered as the hypokinetic subjects (HS). For the simulation of the hypokinetic effect, the HS were kept continuously under an average of 2.7 km/day for the duration of the study. Prior to exposure to HK, the HS were on the same exercise regime as the CS. During a 60 day pre-HK period and during the experimental period, urinary excretion of urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium and calcium and concentrations thereof in serum were measured. In the HS the concentrations of urea, creatinine, sodium, potassium and calcium in serum and the rate of excretion thereof in urine increased significantly when compared to the CS. It was concluded that prolonged restriction of muscular activity induces significant disturbances of urea in serum and urine of endurance trained volunteers.     

The effects of the pretreatment of intravenous high dose methylprednisolone on Na(+)-K(+)/Mg(+2) ATPase and lipid peroxidation and early ultrastructural findings following middle cerebral artery occlusion in the rat

The sodium-potassium activated and magnesium dependent adenosine-5'-triphosphatase (Na(+)-K(+)/Mg(+2) ATPase EC.3.6.1.3.) activity and lipid peroxidation and early ultrastructural findings were determined in rat brain at the acute stage of ischaemia produced by permanent unilateral occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). The effects of the pretreatment with intravenous high-dose methylprednisolone (MP) on these biochemical indices and ultrastructural findings were also evaluated in the same model. The rats were divided into four groups. In group I, 10 rats were used to determine Na(+)-K(+)/Mg(+2) ATPase activity and the extent of lipid peroxidation by measuring the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and normal ultrastructural findings. In group II on 20 rats, only subtemporal craniectomy was done in order to determine the effects of the surgical procedure on these indices and findings. This group was treated intravenously with saline solution before occlusion. In group III with MCA occlusion, saline solution was administered intravenously to 20 rats in the same amount of methylprednisolone used in group IV, ten minutes before the occlusion. In Group IV, a single high-dose (30 mg/kg) of methylprednisolone was administered intravenously, ten minutes before occlusion in 20 rats. After occlusion of the middle cerebral artery, Na(+)-K(+)/Mg(+2) ATPase activity was decreased promptly in the first ten minutes in the ischaemic hemisphere and remained at a lower level than the contralateral hemispheres in the same group and the normal levels in group I, during 120 minutes of ischaemia. A single dose methylprednisolone pretreatment prohibited the inactivation of Na(+)-K(+)/Mg(+2) ATPase. On the other hand, there was significant difference in malondialdehyde content between group I and group III. Malondialdehyde levels were significantly increased following ischaemia and a non-significant increase was observed in the contralateral hemisphere. Methylprednisolone treatment significantly decreased malondialdehyde content on the side of the ischaemic hemisphere. We conclude that there is a positive relationship between membrane-bound enzyme Na(+)-K(+)/Mg(+2) ATPase activity, malondialdehyde content and early ultrastructural changes in the treated group with MP. These data suggest that the pretreatment injection of high doses (30 mg/kg) methylprednisolone contribute to the protection of the brain from ischaemia with stabilization of the cell membrane by effecting the lipid peroxidation and the activation of Na(+)-K(+)/Mg(+2) ATPase.     

Altered basal and insulin-stimulated phosphotyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) activity in skeletal muscle from NIDDM patients compared with control subjects

To measure possible changes in basal and insulin-stimulated phosphotyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) activity in skeletal muscle from insulin-resistant individuals, soluble and particulate muscle fractions were prepared from biopsies taken before and after a 3-h hyperinsulinaemic euglycaemic clamp in eight non-insulin-dependent diabetic (NIDDM) patients and nine control subjects. We used a sensitive sandwich-immunofluorescence assay and the human insulin receptor as the substrate. PTPase activity was expressed as percentage of dephosphorylation of phosphotyrosyl-residues in immobilized insulin receptors per 2 h incubation time per 83 micrograms and 19 micrograms muscle fraction protein (soluble and particulate fraction, respectively). In the diabetic soluble muscle fractions, the basal PTPase activity was decreased compared with that of control subjects (11.5 +/- 5.5 vs 27.5 +/- 3.3, p < 0.04, mean +/- SEM). In the particulate muscle fractions from the control subjects, PTPase activity was increased after 3 h hyperinsulinaemia (20.0 +/- 3.2 vs 30.2 +/- 3.6, p < 0.03) and in the corresponding soluble fractions PTPase activity seemed decreased (27.5 +/- 3.3 vs 19.9 +/- 5.9, NS). No effect of insulin on PTPase activity was found in NIDDM patients (25.1 +/- 4.1 vs 27.2 +/- 5.2, 11.5 +/- 5.5 vs 15.1 +/- 4.5 [particulate and soluble fractions], NS). In conclusion, we found that the basal PTPase activity in soluble muscle fractions was decreased in NIDDM patients; furthermore, insulin stimulation was unable to increase PTPase activities in the particulate fractions, as opposed to the effect of insulin in control subjects.     

Structure and properties of continuously cast low-carbon steel as a function of the reeling temperature

Investigation of continuously cast low-carbon aluminum-killed steel has great practical importance. Its structure and properties depend on the reeling temperature after hot rolling. After reeling at a low temperature the steel exhibits a capacity for deep drawing, whereas after reeling at a high temperature it is suitable for enameling.Translated from Metallovedenie i Tetmicheskaya Obrabotka Metallov, No. 8, pp. 23 – 24, August, 1996.     

Cold forging and chemical heat treatment of the casing of the internal joint for VAZ cars

The technological process of cold forging applied for the first time in the production of the casing of the internal joint with races is described. The process operations of cold forging and the annealing and carburizing regimes for this part me described.