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For smelting of high-quality metal for transport purposes, it is necessary to limit the content of harmful impurities in it, including dissolved gases. For example, hydrogen content in the finished product should not exceed more than 2 ppm. In order to obtain low residual hydrogen content in steel in the converter shop of JSC EVRAZ NTMK, the transport metal is processed at circulating vacuuming plants. Circulating vacuum degasser is the last stage of steel processing before casting on continuous casting machine, so it is important to study and improve the technological processes in it. To investigate the physico-chemical processes occurring in this metallurgical unit, a hydrodynamic model of the system circulating vacuum degasser – steel ladle was created. Based on theoretical calculations and experiments conducted on a physical model, the main dependencies between the structural and technological parameters of the metallurgical unit were determined. The resulting equation makes it possible to determine the rate of metal circulation in vacuum chamber depending on gas flow rate supplied to inlet snorkel and its inner diameter at circulating vacuuming plants designed for metal processing in steel ladles with a capacity of 140 – 180 tons. Theoretical calculations were confirmed by practical smelting in a steelmaking unit. It is shown that during the wear of lining of the inlet snorkel vacuum chamber, in order to obtain stable residual hydrogen content, it is necessary to make changes in the technological process of vacuuming. Additionally, rational technological parameters of steel processing at the circulating vacuuming plant were determined on the basis of theoretical calculations.

The article considers the issues of sulfur removal in the ladle-furnace unit. The sulfur distribution coefficient depends on sulfide capacity of the slag, sulfur activity coefficient, oxidizing potential of the medium and equilibrium constant. The sulfide capacity CS of slags is one of the most important characteristics of refining capacity of the slags used in extra-furnace steel processing. One of the factors affecting the sulfide capacity is temperature. The formula was proposed showing the dependence of sulfide capacity on the optical basicity and temperature, in the temperature range of 1650 – 1400 °C and when the optical basicity Λ is not more than 0.75; the error of the presented formula does not exceed 6 %. The formula for calculating the optical basicity is proposed, which takes into account the influence of basic, acidic oxides and amphoteric oxide Al2O3. It is shown that slags, completely consisting of a homogeneous phase, have an increased optical basicity of aluminum oxide. Heterogeneous slags have a reduced optical basicity of Al2O3 in comparison with homogeneous slags. Perhaps, this fact can be explained by the fact that in homogeneous slags there is a deficiency of the basic oxide CaO and in the conditions under consideration Al2O3 compound begins to exhibit more basic properties than acidic ones, thus, in homogeneous slags, the optical basicity of aluminum oxide is increased and approaches optical basicity of CaO oxide. Calculations carried out on the basis of real heats have shown that with an increase in the content of Al2O3 oxide in the slag, its optical basicity decreases. Known value of the optical basicity makes it possible to determine sulfide capacity of the slag, sulfur distribution coefficient between metal and slag, and, accordingly, final sulfur content in the metal. The research results have shown that it is advisable to apply the ionic theory of slags for the sulfide capacity determination.

This article discusses the issues of sulfur removal in a ladle–furnace unit. The coefficient of sulfur distribution depends on sulfide capacity of slag, the coefficient of sulfur activity, as well as oxidation potential of medium and equilibrium constant. The sulfide capacity of slags CS is one of the most important properties of refining power of slags used upon extra furnace steel processing. One of the factors influencing on sulfide capacity is temperature. The equation is proposed to determine the sulfide capacity as a function of optical basicity and temperature in the range of 1400–1650°C. At optical basicity Λ not higher than 0.75, the error of the equation does not exceed 6%. The equation for estimation of optical basicity is proposed, which accounts for the influence of basic, acidic oxides and amphoteric oxide Al2O3. It is demonstrated that the slags comprised totally of homogeneous phase are characterized by higher optical basicity of aluminum oxide. The heterogeneous slags are characterized by lower optical basicity of Al2O3 in comparison with homogeneous slags. Most likely, this can be attributed to the fact that the homogenous slags are characterized by deficit of basic oxide CaO and, under the considered conditions, the compound Al2O3 starts to exert more basic properties than acidic ones. Therefore, in homogeneous slags, the optical basicity of aluminum oxide is higher and approaches the optical basicity of the oxide CaO. The estimations performed on real heats demonstrate that its optical basicity decreases upon increase in Al2O3 content in slag. A known value of optical basicity allows to determine sulfide capacity of slag, distribution coefficient of sulfur between metal and slag, and, respectively, final content of sulfur in metal. Theoretical estimations carried out for actual heats demonstrate that the sulfide capacity can be reasonably determined by ionic theory of slags.

Objective. To identify the features of cognitive impairments (CI) in patients with alcoholic (AE) and dyscirculatory (DE) encephalopathies. Materials and methods. The study included 32 patients with DE and 30 with AE. Along with clinical observations, patients underwent computerized electroencephalography (EEG), recording of cognitive event-related potentials, and neuropsychological testing. Results and conclusions. The pathologies studied here showed both common and distinct signs in the clinical picture, in the emotional-personality domain, and impairments to cognitive processes. Common features of encephalopathies of different etiologies were CI and asthenic syndrome; AE was characterized by hyposthenic and DE by mixed (hyper- and hyposthenic) syndromes. The EEG showed that changes in bioelectrical activity in DE were predominantly located in the occipital-parietal areas of the cortex, while in AE they were located in the temporal and occipital-parietal areas. CI in DE and AE consisted of disorders to categorial thinking, long-term memory, reciprocal coordination, and digital gnosis, pointing to dysfunction of the frontal and parietal lobes of the left hemisphere, hippocampus, and corpus callosum. The indexes of the δ, β1, and β2 rhythms were discriminating features of CI in AE and DE.

The aim of the study was to assess changes in serum concentrations of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in patients with vibration disease (VD). Methods. In total, 28 patients with VD associated with the combined effects of local and general vibration comprised the study group while 24 men were included in the reference group with no exposure to vibration in their professional activities. Serum concentrations of IL-2, IL-4, IL-8, IFN-y) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The severity of neuroenergy exchange was assessed using the neuroenergy mapping method based on measuring the levels of constant potential (DC-potential level). Data were analyzed using Shapiro-Wilk test, Student test, Mann-Whitney test, Fisher's angular transformation method and Spearman's rank correlation. Results. The proportion of study participants with increased brain DC-potential level was greater (67.9 %) among patients with VD (p = 0.001). The concentration of IL-8 was 24.29 (14.42-65.16) pg / ml in the VD-group vs. 14.35 (6.24-19.14) pg / ml. in the comparison group. Concentration of IFN-y - was 21.38 (1.68-94.28) pg / ml. in the VD-group vs. 0.01 (0.01-0.28) pg / ml in the reference group. We observed significant correlations between the levels of IL-4, IL-8, TNF-γ and DC-potential (rs = 0.61; 0.55; 0.57, respectively) suggesting their role in disruption of the processes of neuroenergy exchange. Conclusions. More than two thirds of patients with VD have an increased DC-potential level and greater concentrations of IL-8 and TNF-y. Disrupted functioning of the mechanisms of cytokine regulation seems to be associated with neuuroenergy exchange and may activate neuroinflammatory processes.

The aim of the study was to assess constant potential levels (CP level) in patients with vibration disease (VD) in combination with metabolic disorders. Methods. Measurements were taken in three gorups: Group I (n = 94) - patients with VD, Group II (n = 42) - patients with VD and metabolic syndrome (MS), Group III (n = 31) - patients with VD and Type 2 diabetes (DM2), Group IV (n = 14) - patients with DM2 and V (n = 50) - reference group. Data were analyzed using Shapiro-Wilk, Mann-Whitney tests and discriminant analysis. Results. In groups I-IV, the percentage of individuals with altered neuroenergetic activity was higher than in the experimental group (p = 0.001; 0.003; 0.01; 0.009, respectively). CP level in group I prevailed in the central, in group II - in the left central, right temporal, in group III - in the left central, central, in group IV - in the right frontal, central, and left parietal leads when compared with group V at p < 0.01. CP level decrease in the anterior cortex (frontal, temporal: 16.6 (15-18) mV, 14.7 (12-17) mV, 17.6 (16-20) mV respectively), and its amplification in the posterior (Central, parietal: 20.4 (16-25) mV, 18.2 (14-20) mV, 23.3 (17-28) mV respectively) at p < 0.01 was diagnosed in patients of groups II-IV. As a result of discriminative analysis, two signs were identified in groups I and III: the values of CP level indicators in the left temporal and right central leads. Conclusions. Disorders of neuroenergy exchange in patients with VD in combination with MS and DM2 are manifested by an increase in CP level in the centrotemporal areas, with DM2- in the frontal-central-parietal areas. The signs of neuroenergetic mapping in patients with VD, associated with the fact of DM2 presence as a concomitant pathology are: an increase in the CP level in the right central and its decrease in the left temporal leads.

—The aim of the study was to identify changes in serum concentrations of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in workers exposed to metallic mercury vapors and in patients with chronic mercury intoxication (CMI), depending on the level of depression. We found unidirectional changes in the cytokine profile in workers with moderate and severe depression chronically exposed to vapors of metallic mercury, which include an increase in the production of proinflammatory IL-6 and TNF-α, and a decrease in IL-2. The most pronounced activity of inflammatory reactions was observed in subjects with moderate depression. In patients with severe depression associated with CMI, we found IL-4 overproduction associated with a decrease in the activation of pro-inflammatory reactions (IL-6, TNF-α) and an increase in IL-2 concentrations relative to subjects with moderate depression, which may reflect disturbance of the adequate functioning of the mechanisms cytokine regulation of the immune response. The revealed changes in the cytokine profile may be due to the comorbidity of depression with organic disorders of the nervous system characteristic of CMI, which can alter the state of the immune system. Further analysis of the role of inflammatory mediators in the pathophysiological mechanisms of the formation and development of depressive disorders will make it possible to more accurately determine objective risk criteria and develop preventive measures that will help to reduce the contribution of depression to the overall picture of neurointoxication.

The aim of the study was to identify the characteristics of energy metabolism of the brain according to neuroenergy mapping in patients with hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) and occupational sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL). Methods. 45 patients with HAVS associated with the combined effects of local and general vibration, and 71 patients with SNHL of professional origin were examined. The comparison group was represented by 38 men who were not exposed to the studied factors in their professional activities. The method of neuroenergy mapping was used, based on measuring of constant potential level. Results. Increased values of level of constant potential were observed in 62 % of patients with HAVS, 39 % of patients with SNHL, 31 and 52 % of patients, respectively, had a normal average level of neurometabolism, 7 and 9 % had reduced values of the constant potential level. An increase in metabolic intensity in relation to the average constant potential level in patients with HAVS was determined in the central (p = 0.027), right temporal (p = 0.043) regions. Patients with SNHL demonstrated an increase in bipolar indices in the central lead (Fpz-Cz = -5.0 (-13.1...3.8) mV) (p = 0.003), temporal right (Fpz -Td = -2.1 (-10.9...6.6) mV) (p = 0.014), temporal left (Fpz-Ts = -6.3 (-15.3...1.8) mV) (p = 0.031), occipital (Pz-Oz = -4.2 (-9.4...5.1) mV) (p = 0.022) regions of the brain associated with a decrease in constant potential level in frontal areas. According to the results of a discriminative analysis, the most informative neurometabolic signs in patients with HAVS were the indicators of constant potential level in the central lead (Cz, F = 9.672), in patients with SNHL - in the central parietal (Pz, F = 12.816). Conclusions. Functional disorders of the brain were observed in 69 % of the examined with HAVS and 48 % with SNHL; they were represented by increased energy exchange mainly in the central and temporal sections. Neurometabolic signs peculiar to HAVS were an increase in constant potential level of centralized lead and a decrease in the Td-Ts interhemispheric ratio; for SNHL, an increase in the left parietal, central parietal, and occipital divisions.

Results of the clinical and neurophysiological examinations of 42 workers with operating history at the chemical plant exposed to vinyl chloride (VC) are presented. The purpose of research was the identification ofpeculiarities of clinical manifestations and disorders of the functional activity of the brain in workers at the vinyl chloride production, with taking into account the exposure toxic load (ETL). There were made clinical and electroencephalographic examinations with the detection of cognitive evoked potentials (CEP) and statistical analysis of results with the use of the Mann-Whitney U-test, Fisher’s F-test, calculation of Spearman’s correlation coefficient. The features in clinical picture of the pathology of the nervous system were detected in the form of asthenic disorders with cognitive impairment and autonomic dysfunction syndrome. There was established the increase in the cognitive impairment rate (p = 0.03), the decline in a-EEG activity (p = 0.01) and the worsening of indices of the amplitude (p = 0.011) and latency (p = 0,05) of CEP in extremely high level of ETL in comparison with same indices in the group with moderately high ETL. In the first group there was revealed a statistically significant exceedance of the frequency of hypertension - by 1.6 times, skin diseases - by 9 times, chronic subatrophic rhino-pharyngitis by 1.4 times in comparison with cases from the second group. In the group with moderately high level of ETL there was established the statistically significant inverse correlationship between the ETL and the index of P300 amplitude from the left side (r = -0.38, p = 0.019) and in the group with extremely high level ETL - between ETL and index of the β2 - rhythm (r = - 0.73, p = 0.0008).

Introduction. In the Irkutsk region, chronic mercury intoxication (CRI) occupies a leading place among occupational neurointoxications. An organic personality disorder with insomnia is one of the manifestations of brain damage in CRI. The aim of the study was to establish diagnostic criteria for secondary insomnia in patients with professional CRI for the selection of effective treatment. Material and methods. The study involved 30 people in the long-term CRI and 30 people in the comparison group with sleep disorders that are not in contact with harmful factors. Electroencephalographic, polysomnographic research and questioning were carried out with the assessment of the subjective characteristics of sleep. Information was processed using the Statistika 6.0 application package. Results. It was shown that CRI patients were shown to complain statistically significantly more frequent sleep disturbances than in the comparison group (p = 0.0003), difficulty in maintaining sleep (p = 0.004). As a result of EEG in the group of patients in the long-term CRI, the integral index and the ratio α/β were statistically significantly different from those in the comparison group, and according to the results of polysomnography, more pronounced qualitative and quantitative violations of the night sleep pattern were found in CRI patients; as a decrease in total sleep time (p = 0.0001), increase in sleep time (p = 0.008), number of activations and total wakefulness inside sleep (p = 0.03), decrease in sleep efficiency index (p = 0.006) and increase in an integrative sleep quality index (p = 0.03). According to the discriminant analysis, 4 criteria for diagnosing insomnia in CRI were established: total sleep time (min.), duration of the first stage of slow sleep (%), rhythm ratio α/β, EEG (%) and integral EEG index (%). Conclusion. Considering the data obtained, it is possible to improve approaches to treating insomnia in CRI by prescribing a complex of treatment, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, antidepressants with a sedative effect, as well as alpha training using biofeedback.

During the high hardness grinding balls production the following to the process parameters is the key requirement. The temperature and the deformation uniformity are main parameters at the high hardness grinding balls rolling. Reduction forces can be estimated by modeling, but in this case, they were determined analytically, based on the distribution of the real specific reduction force over the observed temperature fields on the surface of the ball. Revealed a significant increase in the temperature of ball during the cross-helical rolling from equator to the poles from 880 °С to 940 °С. Established temperature increase (up to 60 °C) was observed in the area of the roll flange penetration into the workpiece, where significant deformations occur. Maximum average power of rolling generated on the top of the roll flanges has been determined, which reaches 350 MPa and decreases linearly with the distance from the top of the flange of the deformation tool and is practically reduced to zero on the equator of the ball. It was shown that linear nature of the change of the specific power of rolling is in good agreement with the linear dependence of the mill roll flange growth when it is introduced into the workpiece.

Identification of features of cognitive impairment at patients with alcoholic and discirculatory encephalopathy.30 patients with the alcoholic encephalopathy (AE) and 32 - with discirculatory encephalopathy (DE) participated in research. To patients conducted clinical examination, a computer electroencephalography with determination of cognitive evoked potentials, neuropsychological testing.General and distinguishing characters of a clinical picture, cognitive deficiency, disturbances in the emotional and personal sphere at patients with encephalopathies alcoholic and vascular genesis are established.It is established that a basis of a clinical picture of encephalopathy of various genesis are the cognitive disturbances (CD) and an asthenic syndrome, of AE it is characteristic hyposthenic, and at DE - hyper - and hyposthenic syndromes. Changes of bioelectric activity of a brain at DE had primary localization in occipitoparietal departments of a brain, at AE - in temporal and occipitoparietal assignments. Disorder of categorial thinking, the long-term memory, reciprocal coordination, manual gnosis indicating dysfunction by a frontal, parietal lobe of the left hemisphere, a hippocampus, a corpus collosum are provided to CD in DE and AE patients. It is established that distinguishing characters of CD in AE and DE patients are values of indexes Δ-, β1-, β2-rhythms, the indicators characterizing the impressive speech, volume of visual figurative memory, level of severity of hypochondria.Выявление особенностей когнитивных нарушений (КН) у пациентов с алкогольной (АЭ) и дисциркуляторной энцефалопатией (ДЭ).В работу были включены 32 пациента с ДЭ и 30 больных с АЭ. Наряду с клиническим обследованием проводили компьютерную электроэнцефалографию (ЭЭГ), регистрацию когнитивных вызванных потенциалов и нейропсихологическое тестирование.При изучавшихся формах патологии установлены как общие, так и отличительные признаки клинической картины, эмоционально-личностной сферы пациентов и нарушений когнитивных процессов. Общей особенностью энцефалопатии различного генеза являются КН и астенический синдром, при этом для АЭ характерны гипостенический, а для ДЭ — смешанный (гипер- и гипостенический) синдромы. ЭЭГ показала при ДЭ преимущественную локализацию изменений биоэлектрической активности в затылочно-теменных отделах головного мозга, при АЭ — в височных и затылочно-теменных. КН при ДЭ и АЭ представлены расстройством категориального мышления, долговременной памяти, реципрокной координации, пальцевого гнозиса, указывающим на дисфункцию лобной, теменной долей левого полушария, гиппокампа, мозолистого тела. Установлено, что отличительными признаками КН при АЭ и ДЭ являются значения индексов дельта-, бета1- и бета2-ритмов.

The downtime of ball-rolling mills is largely associated with the replacement of worn rollers. In the present work, the degree and location of critical roller wear are studied: the greatest wear is observed at the flanges in the billet-capture zone. The conditions required for billet capture and successful rolling are determined analytically. Variation in roller speed during billet supply is proposed. Tests are conducted with linear and quadratic variation in roller speed. The familiar formulas for the mean deformation rate are modified for linear and quadratic variation in roller speed. Experiments are conducted on the ball-rolling mill of AO EVRAZ Nizhnetagil’skii Metallurgicheskii Kombinat (NTMK), in rolling 60-mm ШЗГsteel grinding balls on a 40–80 rolling mill. In the experiments, the roller speed is varied manually according to a specified program, with billet capture by the rollers. It is found that speed variation significantly affects the mean pressure at the instant of billet capture. Time dependences of the torque and the mean contact pressure are plotted on the basis of calculation results and experimental data. Empirical characteristics with linear and quadratic variation in roller speed are presented. The permissible agreement of the calculated and empirical results is determined. The installation of a thyristor converter is proposed, so as to decrease the roller speed before billet capture and restore the speed to the rated value in specified fashion after capture. That yields a uniform distribution of the mean contact pressure over the roller length during automatic operation of the mill in different conditions. As a result, the roller wear is decreased, without loss of mill productivity. That reduces roller consumption and the mill downtime for roller replacement.

Presented is the state of ball rolling production, review of existing techniques for roll pass design ball-rolling today development. Possibilities of roll pass design with regard to the existing metal cutting equipment and variation of pitch parameters. The priority is set for the use of rolling rolls with a continuously varying pitch, in comparison with rolls with discretely varying pitch. Possibility of using 5-axis milling equipment for obtaining a given profile, with several variable values, is shown. Model is developed for calculating the roll pass design for rolls with a continuously varying pitch, the save constant amounts of metall of workpiece between the rolls in every moments. Pitch change functions for roll pass design of ball rolling with a constant and variable flange width are derived, using which it is possible to determine the theoretical pitch at any rolls rotation angle. Technique for constructing a 3-D model is developed, based use on obtained curve of the 2nd order, which is the basis helical surface with a continuously varying pitch. Production of profile on a 5-axis machining center, according to the the 3D models suggest. Roll pass design was used ob the experience practical, with production example ball with a diameter of 120 mm, which were calculated from the deduced function for rolls with a constant width of the flange. He was tested in the conditions of the newly introduced ball-rolling mill of JSC "EVRAZ-NTMK". After introduction of a new roll pass design, were resived technical results: the reduction in force rolling, in contrast at use operating rolls with discretely varying pitch, by 25–30%, obtaining ball sizes that are as close to nominal values GOST standard, decreased of defects, uniformity forge along entire length of the rolls forming-part obtaining.The analytical solutions presented in this article, in combination with industrial approbation, make it possible to use a new method roll pass design rolls of a ball rolling mill with a continuously changing pitch for educational and production purposes.

Brain functional activity was studied patients hospitalized with occupational neurontoxications in order to reveal the neurophysiological features of the development of accelerated biological aging in working persons exposed to neurotoxicants. The study showed that patients with occupational neurointoxications are characterized in an average of 85% cases by premature aging. The typical neurophysiological feature of this contingent is an increased latency of the P2 peak of visual evoked potentials. The common signs of lesions of cerebral structures in occupational mercury intoxication in accelerated biological aging were determined, irrespective of the disease stage. On the basis of the analysis of the correlations, it is established that the consequence of chronic exposure to metal mercury vapors and the cause of accelerated biological aging at occupational neurointoxications is a permanent disorganization of the functional activity of the brain, which manifests itself as cortical and subcortical disturbances of sensory regulatory systems of the brain.

Aim. The detection of cognitive deficiency after heart bypass surgery, the evaluation of the influence of piribedil on the higher cerebral function in the early postoperative period during the follow-up. Materials and methods. 64 patients with ischemic heart disease were examined. They were divided into two groups. Patients of the main group (n=32) were treated with pronoran (piribedil) at a daily dose of 50 mg for 3 months. 32 patients of the control group received standard therapy in the postoperative period. All patients had undergone heart bypass surgery. Cognitive functions were examined before operation, 10 days , three and six months after surgery. Results. Positive dynamics of all tested parameters was documented in the patients of the main group within 6 months after the onset of therapy. In control patients, cognitive disorders remained at the preoperative level based on the results of three tests. Conclusion. The positive results of piribedil therapy suggest that piribedil has positive effect on memory, attention and psychomotor activity of the patients

This paper presents a quantitative assessment of the aging process in the occupational neurotoxicosis. Acceleration rate of biological aging has been demonstrated in trained workers of a chemical factory exposed to vinylchloride, metallic mercury vapor in patients with newly proven diagnosis - chronic elemental mercury intoxication and chronic elemental mercury intoxication in the long-term period in 1.9; 2.8; 7.2; 7.5 times compared to the rate of a control group. Six-time increase in the proportion of patients with acceleration rate of aging compared to the norm (70 % vs. 12 %) has been found out among fireman-liquidators. To study the interdependence of indicators characterizing the state of cognitive sphere and the rate of biological aging in patients with occupational neurointoxication a correlation analysis of the data of neuropsychological and clinical and physiological studies has been carried out. Raising of biological age and acceleration rate of biological aging in patients with neurointoxications are accompanied by disorders of categoric, conceptual, analytical - synthetical thinking, audio-verbal (short-term) and the visual image memory, spatial and dynamic praxis, objective gnosis, impressive and expressive speech, caused by deficiency of functioning of the frontal, parietal-temporal, parietal-occipital lobes, premotor and parietal regions of the left brain, overlap zone (tertiary temporo-parietal-occipital cortex).

The current level of development of the industry requires the manufacture of steel with high purity in relation to detrimental impurities. Sulfur is one of such impurities that significantly reduces the service properties, the content of which is strictly regulated in the finished product. Deep desulfurization may be achieved through development of cross-cutting technology of metal production as a single process including agglomeration and blast-furnace process and steelmaking. Sulfur partition by metallurgical process stages via conversion from raw materials of the blast-furnace process to steel continuously cast blank is studied in this work. It is shown that removal of sulfur from the half-finished product at the desulfurization plant will not provide the required sulfur content (less than 0.005 %) in the steel ingot. It is determined that the activity plan comprising treatment of the half-finished product at the desulfurization plant, smelting in the converter, treatment of steel at the ladle furnace unit and then in the vacuum vessel is required to obtain the final content of sulfur of less than 0.005%.

This article describes issues of sulfur removal in ladle furnace unit. First of all, metal desulfurization in ladle steel treatment units is achieved due to transition of sulfur to the slag phase. Coefficient of partition of sulfur between metal and slag is affected by sulfide capacity of slag, coefficient of activity of sulfur in the metal, oxidation potential of medium and reaction equilibrium constant of partition of sulfur between metal and slag. Temperature of liquid state in the ladle has significant impact on sulfide capacity of slag. Proposed calculation procedure based on provisions of ionic structure of slags allows evaluating a concentration of sulfur in steel on the basis of determination of coefficient of its partition between metal and slag. Optical basicity is suggested as criterion of refining property of slag, it has been shown that the amphoteric oxide Al2O3 is essential to calculation of this indicator. Its impact on sulfide capacity of slag is detected.

This article outlines modern approaches to the creation of roll passes for helical rolling mills for the production of grinding balls. The key feature is the roll design with continually varying parameters of its elements. Such elements include: flange width varying along the length of the roll; flange height, with a nonlinear function of flange rising; pitch of the helical groove which maintains constancy of the volume of the metal being deformed. Particular attention is paid to a new conceptual pass design for ball-rolling rolls with a variable groove depth, the prospects of which are connected with uniformity of reduction and the production of balls not only with the correct geometry, but also with a more homogeneous structure. The article shows functions of a continuously varying pitch of a helical groove of rolls with a constant and variable flange width, as well as with a variable depth of the groove. A practical test was conducted on ball-rolling rolls for production of balls with a nominal diameter 120 mm with continuously varying pitch. Experience has shown positive results both in reducing loads and in increasing the dimensional accuracy.

The process of carburizing is well-studied and is one of the traditional processes of the thermochemical treatment of steel. The process has disadvantages such as high energy consumption, long exposure time, complicated processing of large products and surfaces. Electrospark deposition with a carbon electrode is proposed as an alternative process. The carburizing extent and the working layer depth can be increased when the process is used in the ultrasonic vibration field. A resonant vibration introducing circuit with a standing wave generated in the specimen tested is implemented to identify the influence of specific ultrasonic wave areas on the hardened layer formed. The highest carbon saturation of the surface layer was found in the standing ultrasonic wave oscillation node area, where cyclic stretching and compression of the medium contribute to the excess phases release. The carbon in the martensite estimated by the c/a ratio was 0.78% by weight. The highest cementite layer depth and transition zone size are in the ultrasonic wave antinode area, where the highest dynamic medium particles displacement is observed under the influence of vibrations. It is shown that the base metal structure component dispersiveness is responsible for the increased hardened layer depth.

This work features research findings on causes of deterioration occurring in ball-rolling rolls. The causes of such deterioration may originate not only in the excessive loads application and the use of bottleneck operating parameters but also in the specific process being implemented and the equipment used to heat-treat the rolling rolls. The deterioration occurring in roll flanges having a relatively small thickness was used to demonstrate that, to prevent the deterioration of ball-rolling roll flanges, the mill design must accommodate the minimum allowable flange widths obtained as a function of maximum allowable loads and the roll pass calculations. The next example of roll deterioration involved the use of a gas furnace to implement the heating stage of the quench hardening process for rolls made of 35KhGSA steel, which, as a result, developed roll deterioration. The use of rolls of the same steel grade, which were heat-treated in an arc furnace prior to being quenched, has been shown to deliver long-lasting positive results evidenced by many years of their operation. Rolls made of 5KhNM steel have also been shown to respond well to the heat treatment preceding the quenching process, but this time, the treatment was implemented in a gas furnace.

Electrospark coating deposited on the surfaces of machine parts is a common surface hardening method. Hard materials are normally used for depositing to improve wear resistance or other properties. In this investigation electrospark deposition intended for use as micro-alloying of welds by deposition on to the surface of the base metal and in this case it remelts completely. Intense heating and destruction occurs before remelting, which changes the chemical composition of the melt. The aluminum and titanium coatings is shown to deteriorate at 500 to 650 °C generating a liquid phase due to eutectic available in both metals in this temperature range. Most of titanium and aluminum oxidized at that. It is found that a solid layer, appears after electrospark depositing using both coatings. For aluminum coating, after high-temperature heating, a thicker white layer appears with the same microhardness level as that of the base metal, and a thin layer of partial decarburizing. Fusion sectors are detected in the titanium coating that are harder than the base metal and have a dendritic structure, followed by a thin zone of complete decarburization and quite an extended zone of partial decarburization.

The results of neuroenergical mapping of patients with vibration disease associated with the combined effects of local and general vibration before and after the training with biological feedback on the support reaction are presented.

Results of the clinical and neurophysiological examinations of 42 workers with operating history at the chemical plant exposed to vinyl chloride (VC) are presented. The purpose of research was the identification ofpeculiarities of clinical manifestations and disorders of the functional activity of the brain in workers at the vinyl chloride production, with taking into account the exposure toxic load (ETL). There were made clinical and electroencephalographic examinations with the detection of cognitive evoked potentials (CEP) and statistical analysis of results with the use of the Mann-Whitney U-test, Fisher’s F-test, calculation of Spearman’s correlation coefficient. The features in clinical picture of the pathology of the nervous system were detected in the form of asthenic disorders with cognitive impairment and autonomic dysfunction syndrome. There was established the increase in the cognitive impairment rate (p = 0.03), the decline in a-EEG activity (p = 0.01) and the worsening of indices of the amplitude (p = 0.011) and latency (p = 0,05) of CEP in extremely high level of ETL in comparison with same indices in the group with moderately high ETL. In the first group there was revealed a statistically significant exceedance of the frequency of hypertension - by 1.6 times, skin diseases - by 9 times, chronic subatrophic rhino-pharyngitis by 1.4 times in comparison with cases from the second group. In the group with moderately high level of ETL there was established the statistically significant inverse correlationship between the ETL and the index of P300 amplitude from the left side (r = -0.38, p = 0.019) and in the group with extremely high level ETL - between ETL and index of the β2 - rhythm (r = - 0.73, p = 0.0008).

Нестероїдні протизапальні препарати (НПЗП) є однією з найбільш широко застосовуваних груп лікарських засобів. Незважаючи на незаперечну клінічну ефективність, їх застосування пов'язане з ризиком розвитку ряду побічних ефектів, внаслідок чого актуальним напрямком наукового дослідження є пошук комбінацій НПЗП з іншими лікарськими речовинами з метою виявити такі поєднання, які дозволять знизити дозування НПЗП без втрати ефективності у впливі на запальний процес . У світлі вищесказаного, інтерес представляє новий комбінований препарат «Діклокор», що розробляється ПАТ НВЦ "Борщагівський ХФЗ" (Україна). У статті представлені результати експериментального дослідження протизапального ефекту комбінованого препарату «Діклокор» у порівнянні з його активними монокомпонентами – диклофенком натрію та кверцетином. Альтеративна фаза запалення вивчалася на моделі скарифікованих ран, ексудативна – на моделі карагенінового набряку, а проліферативна – на моделі «ватної» гранульоми; всі дослідження проводилися на щурах. За результатами експерименту Диклокор проявив перевагу у впливі на всі три стадії запалення в порівнянні з референс-препаратами у відповідних дозах. Найбільш виражену дію Діклокор справив на фази альтерації і ексудації, тому він може бути охарактеризований як перспективний препарат для лікування деструктивних і проліферативних запальних захворювань., Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are among the most widely used groups of medicines. Despite the undeniable clinical effectiveness, their use is associated with the risk of side effects. This fact directs scientific research to searching combinations of NSAIDs with other substances in order to identify compositions which will allow reducing the dose of the NSAID without losing its anti-inflammatory effectiveness. In view of all this, a new combined drug “Diclocor” developed by “Borshchahivskiy CPP” (Ukraine) is of interest. The article presents the results of the experimental study of the anti-inflammatory effect of the combined drug “Diclocor” in comparison with its active monocomponents – diclofenac sodium and quercetin. The alterative stage of inflammation was studied on the model of scarified wounds, the exudative stage – on the model of carrageenin edema, and the proliferative stage – on the model of cotton pellet-induced granuloma. All studies were conducted in rats. The experimental results have shown the superiority of Diclocor in influencing on all three stages of inflammation compared to the reference drugs in the appropriate doses. Diclocor has exhibited the most pronounced effect on the stages of alteration and exudation, and can be described as a promising drug for the treatment of proliferative and destructive inflammatory diseases., Нестероидные противовоспалительные препараты (НПВП) являются одной из самых широко применяемых групп лекарственных средств. Несмотря на неоспоримую клиническую эффективность, их применение сопряжено с риском развития ряда побочных эффектов, вследствие чего актуальным направлением научного исследования является поиск комбинаций НПВП с другими лекарственными веществами с целью выявления таких сочетаний, которые позволят снизить дозировку НПВП без потери эффективности влияния на воспалительный процесс. В свете вышесказанного интерес представляет новый комбинированный препарат «Диклокор», разрабатываемый ПАО НПЦ «Борщаговский ХФЗ» (Украина). В статье представлены результаты экспериментального исследования противовоспалительного эффекта комбинированного препарата «Диклокор» в сравнении с его активными монокомпонентами – диклофенком натрия и кверцетином. Альтеративная фаза воспаления изучалась на модели скарифицированных ран, экссудативная – на модели карагенинового отека, а пролиферативная – на модели «ватной» гранулемы; все исследования проводились на крысах. По результатам эксперимента Диклокор проявил превосходство влияния на все три стадии воспаления в сравнении с референс-препаратами в соответствующих дозах. Наиболее выраженное действие Диклокор оказал на фазы альтерации и экссудации, поэтому он может быть охарактеризован как перспективный препарат для лечения деструктивных и пролиферативных воспалительных заболеваний.

In the hospital conducted studying of functional activity of a brain of patients with professional neurointoxications for the purpose of detection of neurophysiological features of formation of the accelerated rates of biological aging at the working, being affected neurotoxicant is carried out. During the research it is shown that rates of aging at patients with professional neurointoxications on average in 85% of cases have premature character. The general signs of defeat of structures of a brain at professional intoxication are defined by mercury irrespective of a disease stage at the accelerated biological aging. For toxic impacts on a nervous system the characteristic, uniting sign distinguishing from the accelerated rates of aging of other etiology is the indicator characterizing augmentation of a latence of peak of P2 of the visual caused potentials. Based on the analysis of the received correlations it is set that in case of professional neurointoxications permanent disorganization of the functional activity of a brain in the form of cortical and subcortical violations of sensor regulatory systems of a brain is a consequence of chronic influence of vapors of metal mercury and a complex of toxic substances and the reason of the accelerated biological aging.В условиях стационара изучена функциональная активность головного мозга у пациентов с профессиональными нейроинтоксикациями для выявления нейрофизиологических особенностей формирования ускоренных темпов биологического старения у работающих, подвергавшихся воздействию нейротоксикантов. В ходе исследования показано, что темпы старения у пациентов с профессиональными нейроинтоксикациями в среднем в 85% случаев носят преждевременный характер. Для данного контингента типичным нейрофизиологическим признаком является показатель, характеризующий увеличение латентности пика Р2 зрительных вызванных потенциалов. Определены общие признаки поражения структур головного мозга при профессиональной интоксикации ртутью независимо от стадии заболевания при ускоренном биологическом старении. На основании анализа полученных взаимосвязей установлено, что следствием хронического воздействия паров металлической ртути и комплекса токсических веществ, а также причиной ускоренного биологического старения при профессиональных нейроинтоксикациях является стойкая дезорганизация функциональной активности головного мозга в виде корково-подкорковых нарушений сенсорных регуляторных систем головного мозга.

Optimization of the lining life in converters is considered. The relation between the converter productivity and the lining life is established. With long lining life, the time for lining maintenance is greatly increased, with corresponding decrease in converter productivity. The optimal lining life is calculated for the converter shop at AO EVRAZ NTMK.