[Determination of changes in the mineral content of the bones of diabetics by photon absorption measurements].

The absolute value of mineral content of the bones (MCB), obtained from a single measurement and compared with the so called mean or normal value for a certain age-sex population, cannot be a reliable diagnostic index owing to the great individual discrepancies of MCB, reaching even to +/- 40%. Only the successive, dynamic and compared within each other values of MCB could be of use for the purposes of medical diagnostics and therapy. As a result for periodic measurements in patients with diabetes, the juvenile diabetes was concluded to be characterized by a higher initial MCB value and a faster demineralization, contrary to diabetes that advanced at an older age.

Rapid determination of nitrate nitrogen in soils.

A simple but effective method for pretreatment of soil samples is suggested. The application of an electrodynamic vibrator or ultrasonic device eliminates the necessity for continuous stirring in direct potentiometric determination of nitrate nitrogen. It also makes the extraction process faster, and the apparatus could easily be used in automatic systems for continuous soil control.