When mechanisms of coalescence and sintering at the nanoscale fundamentally differ: Molecular dynamics study.

Employing classical isothermal molecular dynamics, we simulated coalescence of mesoscopic Au nanodroplets, containing from several thousands to several hundred thousands of atoms, and sintering of mesoscopic solid Au nanoparticles. For our atomistic simulations, we used the embedded atom method. The employed open access program large-scale atomic/molecular massively parallel simulator makes it possible to realize parallel graphical processing unit calculations. We have made a conclusion that the regularities and mechanisms of the nanodroplet coalescence (temperature is higher than the nanoparticle melting temperature) and of the solid nanoparticle sintering differ from each other. We have also concluded that the nanodroplet coalescence may be interpreted as a hydrodynamic phenomenon at the nanoscale whereas sintering of solid nanoparticles is a much more complex phenomenon related to different mechanisms, including collective rearrangements of atoms, the surface diffusion, and other types of diffusion. At the same time, collective rearrangements of atoms relate not only to the solid nanoparticle sintering but also to the nanodroplet coalescence. In general, our molecular dynamics results on sintering of Au nanoparticles consisting of 10 000-30 000 atoms agree with the Ferrando-Minnai kinetic trapping concept that was earlier confirmed in molecular dynamics experiments on Au nanoclusters consisting of about 100 atoms.

[THE BIOCHEMICAL AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MARKERS OF CHEMICAL EFFECT ON ORGANISM, THEIR INFORMATIVENESS AND DIAGNOSTIC SIGNIFICANCE].

The sampling of study included 185 examined workers. Out of them 90 work at "Opitnii zavod Neftekhim" (67 females and 23 males) and 95--at "Kaustik" (64 females and 31 males) from various workshops of the given enterprises. To determine biochemical indicators samples of blood, saliva and urine were collected. The study was carried out in concordance with ethic principles of the Helsinki world medical association declaration, 2008 ed. with receiving written consent of patient to participate in study.

[Contemporary state of work conditions and occupational morbidity of workers engaged into rubber, mechanical rubber and tire industries].

Based on analysis of materials provided by occupational safety department PC "UZEMiK" and JSC "Kauchuk", the authors evaluate contemporary work conditions and occupational morbidity in workers engaged into rubber, mechanical rubber and tyre industries.

[The energy status of erythrocytes upon exposure to chemical pollutants].

The paper gives the results of a study of energy metabolism in the red blood cells of the workers from OAO "Salavatnefteorgsinthez" of petrochemical industry. The energy metabolism has been found to substantially change in the examinees in contact with a mixture of organic solvents and a mixture of chlorinated solvents under industrial conditions.

[The morbidity with temporary disability among workers of petrochemical industry].

The article deals with the data on morbidity with temporary disability among workers producing rubber and mechanical rubber articles in petrochemical industry. The leading place in the structure of morbidity is taken by the diseases of nervous and cardiovascular systems, liver, gastrointestinal tract, respiratory system and thyroid gland.

[Metabolic processes in the body exposed to chemical pollutants].

The paper gives the results of studying the processes of free radical and microsomal oxidation, antioxidant defense, and energy and electrolyte metabolism in the workers of OAO "Salavatnefteorgsintez", one of the leading petrochemical plants in the Republic of Bashkortostan. The metabolic processes have been found to substantially change in the persons contacting a mixture of chlorinated and aromatic hydrocarbons under industrial conditions.

[Free radical oxidation-antioxidant defense system upon exposure to industrial chemical pollutants].

The paper gives the results of studying the free radical oxidation-antioxidant defense (FRO-AOD) system in the blood, saliva, and urine of workers from the petrochemical industry OAO "Salavatnefteorgsintez". The FRO-AOD system has been ascertained to be considerably changed in the plasma, tear, and urine of persons contacting a mixture of petrol and Grade BP-1 solvent with organic solvents and aromatic hydrocarbons and a mixture of 1,2-dichloroethane with chlorinated hydrocarbons under industrial conditions.

[Acid and osmotic erythrocyte resistance in workers at a petroleum factory]. / Issledovanie kislotnoi i osmoticheskoi rezistentnosti éritrotsitov u rabochikh neftekhimicheskogo proizvodstva.

Data on the impact exerted by industrial products, i.e. pyromellitic dianhydride, on the acidic and osmotic resistance of erythrocytes in workers are described. The influence of hazardous factors of the oil-and-chemical production was found to result in a changing erythrocytes' resistance (of workers) to the osmotic and acidic hemolytics with regard for a labor record and duration of contact with toxicants. The shifts in acidic and osmotic resistance can serve as an early marker of changes in the functional erythron's status in workers occupied under hazardous industrial factors.