Clinical and functional aspects of adverse effects of toxic substance complexes in firefighters

The study covered influence of combined toxic chemicals on fire extinguishers. Acute exposure of respiratory and peripheral nervous systems was demonstrated. Consequences of the exposure were proved to include polyneuropathies, neuroses and other health disorders.     

Strain hardening and wear resistance of nitrated steels and alloys

This study considers the results of an experimental evaluation of the ability of superficial layers of nitrated steels and alloys to resist damage in the conditions of frictional deformation and superficial plastic deformation. A new approach is offered to evaluate and choose modes of nitration of parts of friction assemblies.     

Structurally perfect silicon layers produced on sapphire by oxygen ion implantation

We demonstrate that the structural perfection of silicon layers on sapphire can be improved through high-temperature solid-state recrystallization after preamorphization of the most imperfect silicon layer near the silicon/sapphire interface by high-energy oxygen ions, followed by high-temperature recrystallization in an inert atmosphere.     

Application of uncooled microbolometer detector arrays for recording radiation of the terahertz spectral range

The mechanism of occurrence of sensitivity of microbolometer detector arrays based on vanadium oxide to terahertz radiation are analyzed. Experimental data are given showing the possibility of increasing the sensitivity of microbolometer detectors in the terahertz range by using an additional thin metal absorbing layer applied on the microbolometer membrane. A polarization dependence of the sensitivity of microbolometers in the terahertz and far infrared spectral ranges is found. It is shown that the sensitivity of microbolometers in the terahertz range is due to the absorption of radiation in the narrow metal runs placed on the support legs of the microbolometers and playing the role of an ohmic contact between the heat-sensitive layer and the processing curcuit.     

Photoaffinity labeling of DNA polymerase from Thermus thermophilus and DNA template by photoreactive analogs of dCTP

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of nicotine on the daily rhythms of heart rate, body temperature and locomotor activity in unrestrained rats by use of implanted radiotelemetry transmitters. The study was divided into three seven-day periods: a control period, a treatment period and a recovery period. The control period was used for baseline measurement of heart rate, body temperature and locomotor activity. During the treatment period three rats received nicotine (1 mg kg(-1), s.c.) at 0900 h. Three rats received saline under the same experimental conditions. Heart rate, body temperature and locomotor activity were continuously monitored and plotted every 10 min. During the three periods a power spectrum analysis was used to determine the dominant period of rhythmicity. If daily rhythms of heart rate, body temperature and locomotor activity were detected, the characteristics of these rhythms, i.e. the mesors, amplitudes and acrophases, were determined by cosinor analysis, expressed as means +/- s.e.m. and compared by analysis of variance. Nicotine did not suppress daily rhythmicity but induced decreases of amplitudes and phase-advances of acrophases for heart rate, body temperature and locomotor activity. These perturbations might result from the effects of nicotine on the suprachiasmatic nucleus, the hypothalamic clock that co-ordinates biological rhythms.     

Detection of lead in environmental objects and biologic materials during monitoring]

The authors specified methods to detect lead in biologic materials. The quality control covered use of Russian and foreign standard samples, the results proved to agree. Lead was detected by AAS technique (direct and flow-type variants with preliminary concentration of lead) and ELRA method. The authors determined measurement limits sufficient for analysis of complex biologic materials. The measurement range for lead varied from 0.002 mg/kg (plants) to 3,000 mg/kg (soil); the range of serum lead levels was < 0.5-39 mg/dl.