Volatile N-nitrosamines in sausage products

The authors studied the content of volatile N-nitrosamines (NA) in the most common sausage products. It was established that the total content of NA in sausage products is not high and ranges from trace amounts up to 10 micrograms/kg product. The allowable doses of nitrite in the sausage manufacture being low, no relationship was discovered between the content of NA and residual nitrite in meat products.     

Erbium ion electroluminescence in p ++/n +/n-Si:Er/n ++ silicon diode structures

Results of experimental studies of erbium ion electroluminescence in p ⁺⁺/n ⁺/n-Si:Er/n ⁺⁺ silicon diode structures grown by sublimation molecular-beam epitaxy are discussed. The distinctive feature of these structures is that the regions of electron flux formation of (n ⁺-Si) and impact excitation of erbium ions (n-Si:Er) are spaced. The influence of the n ⁺-Si layer thickness on electrical and electroluminescent properties of diodes was studied. It was shown that n ⁺-Si layer thinning causes the transformation of the structure breakdown mechanism from tunneling to avalanche. The dependence of the Er³⁺ ion electroluminescence on the thickness of the heavily doped n ⁺-Si region is bell-shaped. At the n ⁺-Si-layer doping level n ≈ 2 × 10¹⁸ cm^?3, the maximum electroluminescence intensity is attained at an n ⁺-Si layer thickness of ～23 nm.     

Effect of yttrium and chromium on the recrystallization of Al-Sc alloys

The effect of small chromium and yttrium additions (0.14–1.0 wt%) on the recrystallization of Al-Sc alloys having 0.1–0.4% Sc is studied with polarized light. The microstructure of cold-rolled samples annealed at 100–630°C for 1 h is examined. The chromium and yttrium additions are found to slightly affect the recrystallization temperature of the Al-Sc alloys: they increase or decrease it slightly depending on the scandium content.     

Wear resistance of plasma coatings for a constant work of friction

We analyze the wear resistance of plasma coatings for a constant work of friction. The dependences of the wear resistance of the coatings are obtained for a broad range of loading conditions. It is shown that the minimum sensitivity to loading conditions is exhibited by the molybdenum coatings. It is also established that the wear resistance of the coatings decreases as the amplitude of displacements increases and the cyclic frequency of the tests decreases due to the intensification of fatigue processes on the surfaces. The comparative characteristics of coatings are presented. __________ Translated from Problemy Prochnosti, No. 5, pp. 94–100, September–October, 2007.     

Dietary Fiber and Other Constituents of Some Tongan Foods

Components of dietary fiber (soluble nonstarch polysaccharide, pectin, hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin), water, energy, protein, lipid and starch were measured in banana, breadfruit, cassava, coconut, mango, pawpaw, plantain, sweet potato, taro and Pacific yam, all from the Pacific Island Kingdom of Tonga. The Tongan foods were generally higher in dietary fiber than New Zealand foods, consistent with the hypothesis that dietary fiber is an important factor contributing to a lower incidence of certain gastrointestinal disorders in Tonga, than in New Zealand.     

Selection for different growth parameters in laboratory mice and its correlated effects on body composition and organ weights

Body composition and organ weights were determined in male mice sampled from 4 different lines of a selection experiment: DU-6P (selected for high protein amount), DU-6 (selected for high body weight), DU-6 + LB (selected for an index combining body weight and endurance fitness) and DU-K (unselected control line). Selection was carried out under the conditions of ad libitum feeding and standardization of litter size at birth. In all 3 selection lines a significant direct selection response was shown. While fat in lines DU-6P and DU-6 + LB remained normal, it increased after selection for body weight (DU-6) significantly. Up to generation 13 the average increase of fat was 0.32% per generation. Investigations on 28 to 80 days old mice showed, that males of this line were fatter before, at and after the age of selection (42 days). After 9 generations the body weight of selected mice was significantly increased by 23 to 29%. The absolute organ weights of hearts, livers and kidneys were also significantly higher, while the relative weights of hearts and kidneys decreased. The relative liver weights were in the selected lines higher, but only the difference DU-6 vs. DU-K was significant.     

A NOTE: POLYVALENT RADIOVACCINE AGAINST SALMONELLA

Salmonella strains exposed to lethal doses of gamma radiation are detoxified but retain their antigenic properties. Using eight Salmonella strains representative of each of the Salmonella serogroups A to G, a polyvalent radiovaccine has been developed which effectively immunizes mice to several Salmonella serotypes.