Investigation of the Neutron Quantum States in the Earth's Gravitational Field

We studied the neutron quantum states in the potential well formed by the Earth's gravitational field and a horizontal mirror. The estimated characteristic sizes of the neutron wave functions in two lowest quantum states correspond to their expectations with an accuracy of ≈25 %. The spatial density distribution in a standing neutron wave above a mirror was measured for a set of a few lowest quantum states. A position-sensitive neutron detector with an extra high spatial resolution of 1 μm to 2 μm was developed and tested for this particular task. Although this experiment was not designed or optimized to search for an additional short-range force, nevertheless it allowed us to slightly improve the published boundary in the nanometer range of characteristic distances. We studied systematical uncertainties in the chosen "flow-through" method as well as the feasibility to improve further the accuracy in this experiment.

Quantum states of neutrons in the Earth's gravitational field

The discrete quantum properties of matter are manifest in a variety of phenomena. Any particle that is trapped in a sufficiently deep and wide potential well is settled in quantum bound states. For example, the existence of quantum states of electrons in an electromagnetic field is responsible for the structure of atoms, and quantum states of nucleons in a strong nuclear field give rise to the structure of atomic nuclei. In an analogous way, the gravitational field should lead to the formation of quantum states. But the gravitational force is extremely weak compared to the electromagnetic and nuclear force, so the observation of quantum states of matter in a gravitational field is extremely challenging. Because of their charge neutrality and long lifetime, neutrons are promising candidates with which to observe such an effect. Here we report experimental evidence for gravitational quantum bound states of neutrons. The particles are allowed to fall towards a horizontal mirror which, together with the Earth's gravitational field, provides the necessary confining potential well. Under such conditions, the falling neutrons do not move continuously along the vertical direction, but rather jump from one height to another, as predicted by quantum theory.

[The effect of the life style of machinery operators in metallurgical production on their health status]

The influence of social and living conditions and lifestyle on the health status of operators engaged in metallurgy was determined. Physical exercises and balanced diets were demonstrated to have a positive impact on their health. The results of investigations were used to prepare guidelines for the prevention of occupational diseases of metallurgical operators.

Odogenic change of blood coagulation in humans

The blood coagulation time as an integral sign of human homeostasis is revealed to be influenced by conscious or unconscious olfactory stimuli through autonomic mechanisms. The hemostasis of subjects with predominance of sympathetic activity is more sensitive to the olfactory stimuli than that of subjects with vagal prevalence. The effects of the olfactory stimuli upon hemostasis in humans support the viewpoint that simultaneous information and physico-chemical processes act together in parallel to play and important role in life activities of human organism (Simonov, 1981; Sudakov, 1995). Emotions, therefore, are essential in the transfer of information from the environment (Anokhin, 1966; Miltner et al., 1994). It is not excluded that even very weak stimuli which are subthreshold for conscious perception might be informational for the organism as those engaging emotional response.

[Morbidity with temporary loss of work capacity in workers in the operational jobs of the main metallurgical manufactures]

Study into morbidity involving temporary unfitness for work among workers of operating vocations in the basic metallurgy industries versus those working in the repair-and-machine shops, maintenance workshops, revealed high levels of temporary disability in the former working populations, especially in respect of such health disorders as diseases of the digestive organs, affections of the nervous, cardiovascular and osseomuscular systems, that were noted to go upwards with length of service and age of the workmen. Significant differences in morbidity pattern and level in vocational groups as a whole and in respect of classes of disorders and nosological forms were found out to be related to labour pattern and its conditions, degree of strain, physical strength and mental concentration the work to be done was demanding of, level of exposure to adverse occupational factors common in metallurgy industry. Methodical recommendations have been worked out concerning preventive strategies toward occupational health problems.

[The isolation of the surface antigen from vegetative cells of Bacillus anthracis STI-1 and study of its protective properties]

The method for the extraction of native surface protein antigen with a mol. wt. of 92 kD from vegetative cells of B.anthracis STI-1 and its purification was developed. The antigen was extracted with 3% sodium lauryl sarcosylate at 4 degrees C from bacterial mass previously treated with 0.1 M tris-HCl buffer solution, pH 8.0 Purification was carried out by adsorption chromatography on hydroxylapatite. The isolated protein antigen with a mol. wt. of 92 kD was electrophoretically and immunochemically homogeneous. The study of the protective properties of this protein in combination with Freund's adjuvant, made on white mice, revealed that it had good prospects for use in the creation of chemical vaccines against the causative agent of anthrax.

[The morbidity characteristics of diseases of the bone and muscle systems in workers in iron-ore mines and quarries depending on the conditions and nature of the work]

In terms of applying for medical advice in osteomuscular disorders, taking second place in the structure, it has been established that in practically identical values for the general level of morbidity, the incidence rate of lumbosacral radiculites, myalgias and myosites in drifters and drillers is 5.8 and 2.5 times as high respectively, that of thoracic and lumbar, cervical osteochondrosis, epicondylitis in drivers--3.9, 2.4, and 3.3 times as high, which facts might suggest an important role in the etiology of the above conditions, in the first place, of great physical loads plus high levels of noise, vibration, cooling microclimate, in the former case, and such loads coupled with high nervous and emotional tension, general low frequency vibration, noise, in the latter case. The established level and structure of occupational disorders of the locomotor system in both groups workers suggest their inadequate identification in respect of both amount and nosology.

[Hemodynamics and mechanisms of the regulation of the cardiovascular system in workers in hot shops]

Furnace workers showed definite changes of indices of the central hemodynamics against the background of a pronounced "sympathetic alteration" in controlling the cardiac rhythm. These findings evidence significant increase of tension in the mechanisms of adaptation and development of premorbid states in workers with a 10-year length of work and over 40 years of age.